Contradictions of War in the Things They Carried/Real Life

Alison Schiffner Contradictions of war 10/20/12 To most people war is a way that we settle disputes with other nations, but they don’t fully understand the intricate details that go along with it. Its not just about the guns, gernades and tanks, it brings out different aspects of soldiers personalities and I think should be more focused on the hardships that individual and groups of soldiers endure. The horrific situations that soldiers undergo can cause different types of actions that they would take because war is contradictory.Soldiers experience unimaginable stress that can make them appear weak or strong. Which is the biggest contradiction that war presents; war makes you strong and war makes you weak. There are numerous examples which can easily be found in the book The things they carried by Tim O’brien. Two stories that demonstrate it best are â€Å"the man I killed† and â€Å"speaking of courage. † Looking back through history also farther promote s the idea, like when America created the atomic bomb, and started a draft.Tim O’brian was a soldier in the **** he was young and didn’t want to go to war, but he had to. During his term he killed a young vietnemese soldier, even though that’s what he was sent there to do, his kind heart couldn’t forgive himself for doing something so terrible. His gut mistrict to throw the grenade gave him strength, because throwing something at someone with the intent to kill someone is something that majority of people will not be able to follow through with.This burst of courage gave him the strength to save his life. But after he killed him and the adrenalin thinned out in his veins he became weak. This is displayed by the dialogue, which on his part was entirely absent. Kiowa spent six hours telling him he did the right thing and they needed to move out, but Tim sat there staring at the body unresponsive. It shows that the sight of a dead body alone was too much for him to handle. To his platoon he appeared inadequit.Individual soldiers are exceptional demonstrations of the contradiction, looking back at history and the military power as a whole also establishes the inconsistency just as well. America produced the strongest fire power that the world has ever seen when creating the atomic bomb which its sheer power was enough to wipe out a whole city in one blow. The strength that America obtained from the bomb was not seen until after the use, but even during the production fear of American had been greatly increasing. Though our Amunition was top notch.

Ethics in Groups Essay

Abstract In today’s society more and more people are starting to seek guidance and/or assistance with personal matters or issues from counselors. This essay will not only state the benefits of counseling to a group or to an individual but it will also discuss and state the many challenges that counselors/associates may encounter during their sessions and elaborate on the hot topics of ethics in the field of counseling. It will provide the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of group counseling as well as that of individual counseling. It is very important for counselors and associates of all professional levels to implement ethical values in their everyday practice so that they may familiarize their self with the dos and don’ts they could make or break their career. Research from various scholarly journals, articles and textbook readings will be used as factors for this essay paper. Ethics In Groups The implementations of ethics in counseling is not to micromanage and/or try to inform someone of how to do their job, it is provided in order to help counselors and other professionals maintain standards within the profession one is in and it is the standard of behavior or action in relation to others. â€Å"A code of ethics for most professional organizations or associations is designed to articulate the standards of practice for a group of people. † (Kocet, 2006). Although ethics have many definitions, they are all intertwined to state the same meaning. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"Most ethical problems and situations deal with therapy and growth groups, although ethical standards apply to leaders of all kinds of groups. † (p. 27) These types of problems or unethical behavior usually occurs when a leader is not knowledgeable enough to lead a group or the leader shows or have a lack of care for their members. â€Å"All professional associations, such as the American Counseling Association, the National Association for Social Workers, and the Psychological Association, have ethical standards regarding working with clients in groups. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 27) Apart from the fore mentioned organizations, there are other distinctive organizations that consist of professionals that do group work such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). When it comes to ethics, these associations have their own code of ethics. In order to be an effective counselor or leader one must be able to include their knowledge of and the ability to integrate the code of ethics into their professional day-to-day practice. In the field of counseling there are two central components of a code of ethics. The first component is â€Å"a code outlines the prescribed or mandatory professional behaviors by which counselors are expected to govern their conduct† and the second component is â€Å"a code that contains aspirational components, which encourage active ethical reflection that fosters clarification of fundamental ethical beliefs of the profession†. (Kocet, 2006) Due to the many errors that counselors or any other associate may encounter in their career not every code of ethics can encompass every potential ethical dilemma faced by a professional. To help professionals in this area, the code of ethics can serve as a regulatory guide for laying the foundation necessary to promote the competency and value of counselors. It is up to that person to abide and follow and/or do what is morally right. However, not everyone is perfect. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God. The hot topics that are consistently being a problem in the field of counseling are those of leaders who are not prepared and/or qualified, lack the knowledge of being an effective leader, leaders having a dual relationship with its members, confidentiality of the leader and some of the members that are in attendance in the group. Counselors can have successful group sessions only if they were to prepare themselves and follow the guidance that is provided to them within the code of ethics. In the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Best Practice Guidelines (2008) it states â€Å"Group counselors do not attempt any techniques unless thoroughly trained in its use or under supervision by a counselor familiar with the intervention. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 28) Following the guidance provided within the Best Practices can help counselors or any other associate not make the many errors that are made when the lack of knowledge is not present. Leading a group without knowledge is also unethical, especially trying to lead one without the proper materials, guidance, and/or a seasoned counselor/leader. It is very imperative for a leader to have the knowledge of the group they are going to lead. The lack of knowledge is like â€Å"the blind leading the blind†. If problems, questions or situations occur in a group a leader should have some sense of knowledge on how to handle them and/or what steps to take to get the group back in order, if it comes to that point. In an article that addresses education/training and professional competency along with other ethical issues in exercise psychology (i. e. counseling or clinical physiology), it too abides by the same guidance in reference to ethics. In their field of training â€Å"licensed psychologists with limited or no training in the movement sciences should not ethically refer to themselves as â€Å"exercise psychologists† because of a lack of proper training in exercise science. † (Pauline, Pauline, Johnson, Gamble, 2006) Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly. Relationships outside of the group session are not always harmful however; the leader (professional) and member (client) must be able to still maintain a â€Å"business† relationship without things getting out of hand, in which sometimes they do. In reality â€Å"It is the leaders’ responsibility to make sure the therapeutic relationship is not being jeopardized. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 29) Dual relationships/multiple-role relationships occur when the therapeutic connection has geared towards a friendship relationship. During these relationships leaders must maintain ethically proper professional boundaries to include the atmosphere that they will be in. If leaders are going to form relationships outside of the group setting and/or office environment boundaries must clarified prior to. If a leader finds himself or herself gaining emotional feelings for the client or vice versa, the leader needs to take the more conservative approach that was suggested by Bernstein and Hartsell and follow it â€Å"once a client, always a client† (Pauline, 2006) Confidentiality is another major ethical issue in counseling that often arises in a variety of modern and exercise counseling settings. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"There are two issues regarding confidentiality that nay group leader should understand: the leader’s ethical responsibility for keeping material confidential and the leader’s lack of total control regarding members keeping matters confidential. Members turning to counselors for assistance with their matter and/or guidance go to them because they feel as their issues, matters or concerns will remain in the setting that was chosen for them to talk confidentially. Leaders divulging information about clients/members to anyone is unethical; the only time that a leader may divulge information about a member is when it is a case dealing with a child or it is an adolescent group. In China, the field of counseling psychology also faces the same ethical issues that many other counselor, associate or professional encounter. In a survey-based study of Chinese professionals to explore general ethical awareness and features of ethical dilemmas, â€Å"Chinese professionals demonstrate a strong awareness of professional ethics, but they require more training in regards to the issue of confidentiality. † (Qian, Gao, Yao, Rodriguez, 2009) In comparison to American participants, a larger number of Chinese participants regarded not to inform the client of the aim of psychological assessment or to record a session without receiving prior consent from the client. The most prominent ethical problem that was reported by athletes that was receiving counseling was â€Å"The counselor breaks the rule of confidentiality and reveals the content of counseling to one’s coach†. (Qian, 2009) Although confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed, â€Å"The best way to prevent any breach of confidentiality is to stress its importance and discuss the subject whenever it seems necessary. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 30) Counseling deals with providing professional guidance by the usage of standard psychological methods such as that of collecting case-history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes. In the process of counseling, the counselor’s goal is to help the individual toward opportunities that can grant the greatest fulfillment of his or her personal needs and aspirations. The counselor set their best efforts forth in order to clarify the client’s own thinking rather than to solve his or her problems. â€Å"Professional counselors (such as educational guidance and career counselors) and counseling psychologists (such as marriage and bereavement counselors) are found in a wide variety of institutional settings and in private practice. † (Merriam-Webster, 2013) In the field of counseling there are many principles and standards that counselors must abide by. â€Å"Personal and professional values often predict and guide one’s choices, decisions, and behaviors in interpersonal, social, and professional realms. † (Crether & Winterowd, 2011) Counselors having these qualities in the field of counseling can help prevent some of the ethical issues and/or concerns that occur in counseling. Social counseling, another approach in the field of counseling, â€Å"is both a goal and a process for counselors who believe in developing an increasingly socially just world, one in which all people receive equitable opportunities to access resources and participate in policy and law development that affect them, ultimately resulting in a society that embodies harmony between the needs of individuals and the needs of the whole. † (Crether, 2011). Social justice is used in individually counseling as well as that of family counseling. Issues In Group Counseling In group counseling many problems may occur in different areas, especially when it comes to trying to have a productive group session. Issues that may occur in group counseling has been known to occur in the areas of coleading, legal issues, research, training, and future trends. Each of the stated issues are very important for counselors to learn about prior to their leading of a group. â€Å"The environment in which counseling is practiced is complex and ever changing, and new ethical issues are constantly emerging. This makes it difficult for even the most ethically conscientious practitioners to keep current. (Herlihy & Dufrene, 2011) According to an article that was produced by Journal of Psychology and Christianity, â€Å"It is incumbent upon all professionals who provide counseling, therapy, or mental health services to offer quality care and to work within the bounds of their professional ethical guidelines. † (Schneller, Swenson, Sanders, 2010) These guidelines have been developed by major professionals that provide â€Å"subject matter expert† services, including those professions in the psychology field, social workers, licensed professional counselor, and psychiatrists. The codes that each of these professionals use address issues such as maintaining client confidentiality, advocating for client/patient welfare, and appropriately handling multiple-relationship issues. Counselors seem to make many errors within the counseling field; this could be from the lack of training, knowledge and education of counseling. One should never use group therapy for their own personal growth. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"We have heard of numerous instances of leaders drawing attention to themselves and using the group for their own therapy. This is unethical. † (p. 29) Leaders making mistakes in group sessions may cause a group to fail at disjunctive tasks when a too-confident leader rejects a superior solution offered by a subordinate. Seeking advice from someone that is not â€Å"equal† to another individual is not always an unwise decision. Seeking and/or accepting advice from another individual is not always harmful. When they put their minds together and/or work together on a task, discussion or whatever the case may be a resolution to a task, problem, or situation can be resolved without looking back and stating should’ve, would’ve, could’ve after its failure. Coleading in counseling is when a leader has one or more colleagues assisting with leading a group. Although this could be an advantage for some due to a coleader offering additional ideas, pointers, feedback, support, etc in group sessions, especially when therapy groups are intense and difficult to handle and/or work with. According to Jacobs, (2012), â€Å"One disadvantage for some agencies and settings is that coleading takes time away from other counseling duties and can add stress to an already demanding work schedule. † (p. 451) Other disadvantages that my occur when having a coleader is that of different personalities, styles and goals. It is known that no matter how much in similar two or three people are, there is going to be some type of disagreement or differences amongst them because God did not make everyone the same and people are entitled to have their own opinions and use their way of thinking. Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether Prophecy, let us Prophesy according to the proportion of Faith. Also, within the disadvantages of coleading is that of interpersonal conflict, ineffective communication, competition between leaders, envy and overdependence on the coleader. Not having effective communication amongst the leader and coleader will continue to have problems within the group because neither will be willing to listen to what the other has to say. Effective communication is important in any line of business, relationships, and work settings. In the coleader relationship â€Å"it is noted that the relationship between coleaders promotes a potential dynamic that would either facilitate or complicate the group process. In order to have an effective relationship in such a group setting it is important that the â€Å"counseling profession learn as much as possible about the relationship dynamics and how they affect the group process. † (Luke & Hackney, 2007) When leaders are incapable of working together, it will be almost impossible for them to lead an effective group and members may not see them as being capable to provide them guidance and/or assistance with their reason of being a part of the group. Legal issues occur in counseling when counselors fail to take into consideration the act of due care of their members and acting in good faith of their well-being. When leading a group, leaders must practice within their limits of expertise and not neglect their duties as a group leader. Counselors have been sued in cases where malpractice was not within the â€Å"professional setting† of the particular group or individual session being held (i. e. Female Patient Wins $1,423,000 in a Physical and Sexual Abuse Case Against her Psychotherapist). Counselors are being sued for in malpractice pitfalls in the following areas: excessive or inappropriate self-disclosure; business relationships with patients; using techniques without proper training; using incorrect diagnosis deliberately; the true love exception for sexual relationships and out of office contact. The fore mentioned pitfalls are common problems that may arise in time of litigation and once these pitfalls are acknowledge by counselors or any other profession they can be avoided. â€Å"Ethical standards require counselors to monitor their professional actions and to take responsibility for those actions, including those that are considered minor infractions. † (Welfel, 2005) It is in the best interest of the counselor to keep everything professional amongst the group and/or individual that is being counseled in order to prevent a trajectory in their life. Great emphasis is being put on group therapy in order to for researchers to determine the effectiveness of group work. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"Overall, research on the effectiveness of groups needs to be greatly expanded to reach the level of sophistication that has been established on the effectiveness of individual counseling. † (p. 459) In reasoning for editorials findings of why research is limited in the group field it is due to the lack of time, finances, lack of interest and the difficulty of designing a research project where the variables can be controlled enough to study different aspects of group counseling. In an article titled Review of School Counseling Outcome Research, attempts were made in order to try and combine research studies of school counseling interventions to explore the overall effectiveness of such interventions. In order for this research to get started, the American School Counselor Association (2005) published The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs, which is also well known as the ASCA National Model. â€Å"The ACA National Model was developed in order to guide school counselors in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program. † (Whiston & Quinby, 2009) Although this model was intended for great purpose of implementing comprehensive school programs, very few research studies have been conducted on the comprehensive programs. This goes back to the fore mention of Jacobs readings of why research is not effective in group research. It is in the hopes within the reading of Jacobs that researchers â€Å"will empirically study different ways that students are taught to lead groups and what ways are more effective. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 459) In the future of counseling, â€Å"Most experts seem to agree that group work will continue to be a major force in the field of counseling. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 461) Research is a continuous job that experts in the field of counseling must continue to do because of the many changes that occur, especially ethical challenges and changes. Researchers are needed in the future to continue the investigation of the new Codes that may arise and analyze the effectiveness of them in the counseling profession. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"More training in specific group leadership skills is essential if leaders are going to be prepared for all the different kinds of groups that will exist in the next 10 years. Leaders that are going to continue to lead in areas of professions such as counseling they need to learn more ways to involve their members in the therapeutic process while integrating counseling theories. â€Å"Research activities are subjected to higher demands on ethics and safety than similar activities that are not classified as research. Therefore, the boundary between research and non-research will often determine the ethical demands on an activity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hansson, 2011) It is very important that researchers make a continuous attempt on ensuring research will continue in the field of counseling so that leaders will have the knowledge and leadership abilities to work towards successful counseling/therapeutic sessions. Group Versus Individual Counseling The question of which is better individual counseling or group therapy has probably been a question of many years. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"This is difficult to answer because people and situations are so different. † With the question being asked of which is better it will have to be based upon the individual to decide due to him or her personal decision. There can be many advantages to both forms of counseling; group counseling is not made for everyone and neither is individual counseling. Group counseling can be an advantage to some people because they find it important to receive feedback/input from others as well as learning more from other individuals that are talking and within groups of teenagers they will often talk more readily to other teenagers than they will with adults. Group counseling assists with an individual’s growth and problem solving with certain issues and/or concerns they have encountered (i. e. loss of a love one, addiction). In group therapy sessions, members are encouraged, not forced, to discuss openly and honestly about their reason(s) for being there. The leader/counselor works to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance that will allow members to feel more comfortable and to support one another. In the article of Therapists’ views of the relative benefits and pitfalls of group work and one-to-one counseling for bereavement, explored to see which form of counseling was beneficial for the bereavement. This case consisted of nine experienced bereavement therapies that had experienced both groups and individual forms of counseling. During their research it was determined that â€Å"there is ample evidence that bereavement is a major health risk, involving enormous psychological and physical health costs to individual and society. † (Vlasto, 2010). Their findings in both individual and group counseling forms of bereavement are basically the same results from any other group session of counseling. For a group session members benefited more from the following areas: social contact, social skills practice, support, challenge of witnessing difference, generate a culture of honest sharing, and normalcy of grief. Members in group settings can find a sense of hope by sharing their thoughts and feelings from other members in the group. Although group settings can be a challenge at times it is still beneficial to those who desires a â€Å"need† of support from other individuals due to them not being able to do it on their own. This type of support was described as a ‘dual thing’ of ‘being supported and supporting’ thereby indicating the inter-active nature of this function. (Vlasto, 2010) In individual counseling for the bereavement, individuals benefited safety, formation of reparative relationship, expressing extreme emotion and dealing with blocks and accessing deeper material. Individual counseling is more of a gentler and safer process for those individuals that are not yet ready to express or let out their total emotions amongst a group of people. Individual counseling can also be looked upon as â€Å"enabling the initial story-telling and release of emotion. The ‘building of trust’ and confidentiality, assured in a one to one situation, was thought to be particularly important for ‘shy’ people or those who have difficult experiences of groups or families. Groups and individual counseling also have disadvantages to them. The disadvantages for group counseling sessions were that of non-disclosure of feelings and information, ‘competition’, and over-exposure. Individual counseling had disadvantages of power imbalance and intensity for both parties. Although these type of group settings have disadvantages they are not disadvantages that cannot be resolved in a civil manner. â€Å"Groups, being primarily a social intervention, were thought to help clients feel less isolated and to see how other people grieve. Individual counseling was perceived as a safer experience providing clients with a chance to tell their story in depth, and to release deep feelings without embarrassment. † (Vlasto, 2010) In an outcome research that was developed in school groups related to specific issues, whereas other schools focus more on assisting students individually. The outcome of this researched â€Å"found that individual counseling is generally more effective than group counseling. † (Whiston, & Quinby, 2009) Also within their findings individual counseling does not require a long process in order to be effective. Again, trying to figure which is better will be based upon people’s issues/concerns and the ability of the therapist. A therapist choosing group therapy over individual counseling or vice versa will solely be based upon the therapist because they have to find within themselves what area are they more successful in. Working with groups or individually counseling? This decision making process can be factored upon the knowledge, education, and leadership skills that the therapist have. Personal Leadership Qualities My personal leadership qualities did not derive only from the teachings within this course on how to lead a group or an individual counseling setting, it goes back many years. The leadership qualities came throughout my life of living. On a personal note I have had to lead by a â€Å"good† example due to being a single mother for over 21 years and serving my country for over 16 years. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. In order for one to be an effective leader they must instill within themselves the characteristics of caring, openness, flexibility, trustworthiness, honesty, patience, etc. Once someone sees these traits within an individual, more than likely they will be more than willing to seek that individual for guidance and/or support. Outside of the aforementioned characteristics a leader needs the following leadership qualities in leadership as well: comfort and confidence within self to lead a group or an individual; the ability to tune into other people’s feelings, reactions, moods and words. Of the characteristics that are listed above I believe I now have all the qualities, not saying that I have had them the whole time. These personal qualities were within me but it came to a point when I wanted to share with others what I have learned from others leaders that were in leadership positions and from the education I have received. Leadership to some could possibly mean that they are in just in charge, but where they fell to realize is when that approach is taken no one will is willing to follow. When one falls into leadership rolls they must be able to lead and have the attributes of what it takes to be a leader. My beliefs of leadership skills are similar to the definition itself. I believe that one must have the knowledge, experience, the capability of motivating and taking care of people that looks for them for guidance and support. According to Jacobs (2012) â€Å"Leading groups successfully requires a great deal from the leader. Often people lead groups when they simply do not possess the necessary leadership characteristics. † (p. 26) In the Army we live by the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Self-less Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, in which it spells out the Army acronym of LDRSHIP (leadership). For this course I conducted four Psychoeducational Group Sessions with co-workers from my place of employment. Prior to me starting I almost did not have a clue as to how this was going to turn out because this type of setting was my first in my life of me having to conduct. I have had to conduct classes within the military setting but never within a counseling group session. But with prayer and support I was able to get through it. Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. The individuals were not forced to be a part of the group and none of them were required to state any personal information unless they wanted to. The first two group sessions that I conducted were more in tuned because of the number of personnel in attendance. In these sessions I wanted to ensure I used the leadership qualities that I had within me because I wanted to have a successful group session. Receiving feedback from individuals after the session I had used the majority of the leadership characteristics that were aforementioned. After receiving feedback from several of the members, it made me feel good that I was able to conduct a â€Å"successful† group session and to know that the sessions I was holding should be something that is done more often. Approach To Group Counseling â€Å"Our approach to groups is based on the principles of impact therapy, which is a multisensory approach that recognizes that change or impact comes not only from verbal, but also visual and kinesthetic exchanges. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 20) Over the last several weeks I have had to use certain approaches to hold group sessions. I had to ensure while holding these sessions that I had the right tone and body language to conduct them. If I was to show nervousness or my inability to lead the group the members probably would have thought I was incapable of leading or holding the group session successfully. In the group session I ensure that the members were well informed of what each session was going to be about. The leader approach that I used during the sessions was that of leader-directed. â€Å"A leader-directed style can be of great benefit by provoking structure, thought-provoking questions, and group exercises. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 23) The leader-direct approach was a successful approach with the group because they were allowed to discuss and express their concerns about change and show their support for one another. At times an individual would want to continue for a long period of time but they had no issue with me informing them I would come back to them because other members wanted to speak. The members in my group sessions were all eager and willing to participate, although for the last two sessions, the participation for some was not feasible due to work or their absence from work. Overall, the outcome of each session held was a success regardless of the amount of members that attended. It was also a success because the members that attended were able to share information that was bottled up inside of them for quite some time. The ethical challenges they I encountered within the course was that, from the beginning I had to understand the meaning of ethical issues or concerns in the field of counseling. In everyday living I cannot say that I actually think of ethically living although it is a highly recommended practice in the military. The unethical challenges that I/we face in our everyday way of living is implementing the ethical values into our day-to-day living. This will help prevent many of the unethical behaviors that occur. It is critical that all professions understand and apply the code of ethics into their day-to-day practices. Isaiah 1:17-19 (KJV) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18-Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19-If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Conclusion The one thing that is very important within the area of ethics in group counseling, the counselor that is providing the counseling must have the leadership skills, knowledge and training in order to run a successful group session in counseling and/or individual counseling. Counseling is a field of profession that can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience not only to the counselor that is providing the counseling but to the individual or group that is receiving the counseling. It can be rewarding to both because if it was a success and issues/concerns were resolved and/or results were shown from the individual that was receiving counseling, although trials and tribulations may have occurred during the session, it was a success. A counselor/leader must be able to find within themselves which works best for them in the field of counseling, individually or group counseling. A leader should never jeopardize their career or lose sight of what counseling really is by not following the guidance that is provided for them, especially the ethical practices. The most important lessons or attributes that a counselor or associate can have in the field of counseling and that is of having a well-educated background, experience, and knowledge of how to be an effective counselor/leader. Reaching People. Restoring Lives.

Critique of a qualitative research article Essay

Critique of a qualitative research article - Essay Example 4. The study shows no any stated hypothesis. 5. The study was an original one and not a replication of past studies because it was the first study to apply longitudinal and repeated measures design in children. This is unique because previous studies were done through the cohort design. Through the unique approach, the study added new information to what was already from previous studies. First, the study found that self-determined health judgment reduced significantly over the 6 month period after intervention. This decline portrayed a change from intrinsic to extrinsic direction unlike previous studies that used the cohort design, which found the change to move from extrinsic to intrinsic direction (Chen & Kennedy, 2009). 6. The study participants in this study were children aged 8 to 9 years and their mothers. In selecting, the study participants, children and their mothers were supposed to self identify as either white or Latino. The second criterion was that the child should be in good health, which meant that the child should not have any acute or life threatening medical condition. In addition, the child was supposed to have the ability to attend to daily activities such as attending school. Thirdly, the mothers we required, in addition to speaking Spanish, English or both, were also required to be able to read in either of the two languages for them to be able to fill questionnaires that were written at fourth to sixth grade levels. Finally, both the child and mother were required to reside in the same household (Chen & Kennedy, 2009). The independent variables in this study were; one, consistent use of media rules in families under investigation. The other independent variables were age, ethnicity, and poor affective responsiveness in the family. The dependent variable was the level of children involvement in risk taking behaviors. The study fails to provide a definition of each of the independent variables, as well as the dependent variable (Chen & Ke nnedy, 2009). 7. The sample population was made of study subjects of the White and Latino origin. There were 16 sites that offered a total of 34 groups with about 4 children in a group. There were a total of 122 children aged 8 to 9 years and their mothers. The number of the white participants was 58 while the Latinos were 64. The randomly selected sample comprised of 58 girls, who represented 47.5% of the participants, and 64 boys, which was 52.5%, of the study participants. The groups were well balanced in terms of ethnicity and gender (Chen & Kennedy, 2009). Based on the objective of the study, which was to research on school age children to reduce their risk taking behaviors and increase safety behaviors, I feel that the study also ought to have included teachers who teach in the schools attended by the children under investigation. Therefore, the study was to some extent not comprehensive because teachers spend more time with the children than the mothers and are much aware of children behaviors. By targeting two ethnic groups; the Whites and the Latinos, the population appears not to be a generalizable one because there are varying factors among ethnic groups that would determine the level of exposure to risky behaviors by children. Therefore, ethnicity being one of the variables under investiga

Goals and Objectives Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Goals and Objectives Assignment - Essay Example The event product or purpose is important because it presents the attendees with opportunities to network and find out more about it from other attendees. The reason for the symposium is clearly pivotal for setting the basis for issues that will be tackled in the course of the event. Lastly, the location for the symposium is crucial for organizers to plan and determine the setting. One detail that can be used to develop the goal is the names and profiles of the attending students. Knowing the performance of each student can help know the product or ends of the symposium in terms of what the attendees want addressed. Offering an environment for graduates to share their findings relates to the symposium in the sense that it determines how good the presenter’s planning will be. Offering graduates experiencing in presenting in an educational context relates to the symposium in the sense that it sharpens their time management skills. Lastly, forming networking opportunities relates to the symposium in the sense that attendees need to interact with each other and expound on the presentations. The objective for giving each presenter 15 minutes to present is measurable with a timer on their presenting devices and possibly another on the desk immediately before them. The objective of giving all formats a total of 25 minutes is measurable by timers on the presenter’s desks and the length of each slide. Lastly, the objective of 20 minute morning breaks relates is measurable through the amount of time needed for attendees to leave their seats, head outside or to rests rooms, and interact with others before coming back to the symposium. A different objective for goal one is submitting an abstract that will be accessible on the internet. This objective is an action because it alerts the presenter of the amount of time he or she has for presentation, Q&A, and the next presentation. For the second

Health care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Health care - Assignment Example The reasons for this gendered violence range from many factors, from psychological to economical reasons, and I will attempt to elaborate more on these triggers of violence and also offer solutions marital partners can take to put an end to domestic partner violence. Firestone claims that there are two very important psychological factors that influence why domestic partner violence occurs; a "destructive thought process," and what is called a "fantasy bond," (Firestone, n.p). The destructive thought process that Firestone mentions refers to the case where the abuser has this thought in his head that he/she must abuse their partner; the abuser keeps imagining negative things that he/she assumes that their partner is thinking of them, for instance, "She/he is controlling you. Dont let her/him act like you are weak," (Firestone, n.p). In my opinion, men are more likely to act upon this inner voice than are women, because there are external pressures from society on men to act a certain way; men today are still expected to be strong and dominant and powerful, and when imagine that their wives are acting in a way that makes them look unmanly, they lash out at their wives on the whims of this "inner voice," (Firestone, n.p). Also, the "fantasy bond" that Firestone mentions, refers to the belief a person has that he/she is only complete with their partner; this belief also supports the idea that one person in the relationship has power over the other (Firestone, n.p). For me, I believe men like to imagine that they are in control in this "fantasy bond," since patriarchal values extol them to be more powerful than women; this entitles men to physically abuse their partners. Panda and Agarwal offer an economic reason for why men are more likely to physically abuse their female partners; for him, womens economic dependence on men sets the scene for them being physically abused, (Panda & Agarwal, page 824). He claims for example that when a woman has her own house, the

Learning style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Learning style - Essay Example Solitary is my best way of learning, where I carry out study on my own. Some prefer studying through social or group discussions among other styles. The reflection matches with mine since I have the unique learning style that I also prefer most, in addition, I also combine other learning styles as mentioned above. Generally, I prefer the use of solitary learning style which involves personal learning that does not involve the help of the other people. Personally, I am very shy to talk in front of other people, therefore, I do not feel comfortable in the other style like social which has to involve many people as well as the group discussions that will do have to contribute. Even though group discussions are good study habits, I do not participate so much when it comes to the group study. I do not speak so much in class, and I like keeping everything to myself, and fail to participate in the group discussion, or class participation like answering questions, demonstrations among others. Being a Non-American, I am afraid of raising my hand in front of other learners even when I know the answer because I feel they might laugh or mock me. Since I do not have the courage to face everyone, I do not contribute so much in class. Even though I do not interact so much with people, but I relate with very social friends. Physically, I enjoy playing with other people. Even though I do not talk too much, I use a lot of vocabulary to write (Erickson, p 12). My current study habit is that reading on my own in a quiet place, by so doing, I realize that I utilize my time well when I am seriously studying alone than when being with others. In fact, I sometimes prefer locking myself alone in the room to avoid external distractions. In my current study, I find it not working well with my learning style since; I realize that I need to combine a number of my learning style in order to achieve my objectives. I would prefer to adopt group

Letrery anaylesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Letrery anaylesis - Essay Example As the author, John Updike sets the story in an ordinary environment, where people have become accustomed to the monotony of everyday life. Sammy and the other attendants are used to serving grumpy customers, for example that woman who is at the counter when the three girls come in. Sammy describes her as â€Å"†¦one of those cash-register-watchers, a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Updike 31). This kind of setting makes the girls stand out from the rest of the crowd, thus making Sammy mesmerized (Updike 32). The characters in the story are also well presented to fit their roles. For instance, Sammy is portrayed as a light-hearted teenager who is naturally attracted to the sight of the half-clothed girls. Sammy’s colleague Stokesie is portrayed as a young man who is forced to be responsible due to the fact he is married and has two kids. The most interesting character is Queenie who is the leader of the girls and is the epitome of beauty in a woman. Her beauty and the way she carries herself is enough to cause Sammy to quit his job in protest after Lengel embarrasses the girls because of their dressing. Updike uses a lot of imagery to add flavor to the story. For example, the herring snacks and beer glasses are used to show how rich the girls are, to be able to afford all those items. Updike also uses imagery to give the reader a clear picture of how the old people are stubborn. For example, Sammy talks about the old witch whose feathers he has to smooth. On the contrary, Queenie symbolizes beauty, and all that a woman should have (Updike

Objective and subjecive ( you have the file you can read and see its Essay

Objective and subjecive ( you have the file you can read and see its dont have to be the room at algoma u any room - Essay Example The classroom floor uses white glazed tiles. The classroom is lit by rows of fluorescent lighting. This particular classroom has a more professional feel and design to it. Comprised of 3 rows of semi modular computer tables, each row seats up to 4 persons. The computers are mounted to each table and each student uses a top of the line LCD monitor for class lecture purposes. The seats themselves are modern and ergonomic in design and look so that each student can be seated comfortably during the long stretches of class hours. Most of the class lectures in this modern classroom are done via power point presentation as evidenced by the projection screen hanging in front of the students area. The professor has his own table off to the right side corner of the room. The table houses his own computer and other teaching paraphernalia. Mounted to the back of the teachers desk is the white board where manual drawings and notes may be written down for further reference during the lecture. Off to the left side of the room is another small counter that is used to hold other teaching equipmen t or

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Freemark Case Essay Harvesting Riesling grapes immediately , or leave them on the vines despite the approaching storm the place of the vineyard. Light rain and storms are detrimental to the crop of grapes, as these cause or may develop Botrytis cinerea , a fungus that causes damage in the skins of grapes . The Freemark winery wine produced only first best grape varieties bottled 25,000 cases of wine each year as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay . The Grapes of Freemark Abbey came from an ideal environment in the central and southern California -Napa valley . The type of wooden barrel used for storing wine influences the style of wine produced. The winemaker is to harvest the grapes when they have achieved the right balance of sugar and acidity to the wine style order. But maturity is a variable process , however , and if the weather is not appropriate, the right balance could never exist . If the grapes are harvested at 20 % sugar, the wine is fermented Dry ( all the sugar alcohol is exchanged for carbon dioxide ) or almost dry . If the grapes are harvested at 25 % sugar, the winemaker can produce a wine with the same alcohol (10 % ) but with 5 % residual sugar , this wine is sweet and relatively intense . Freemark Abbey had already produced a crop of botrytis Riesling in 1973. Jaeger concluded that there was a 50% chance that rain would hit the Napa Valley. Because the storm had originated on the warm waters of Mexico , and thought there was a 40% chance that if the storm hit , would result in the development of botrytis mold . Freemark Abbey had the option to sell the wine in large quantities, or could sell grapes directly . These alternatives would bring only a means of income, but avoid the damaging reputation of the winery, which would be risky engrossed an inferior product. If Jaeger decided not to harvest the grapes immediately in anticipation of the storm , and the storm did not hit the crop , Jaeger leave the grapes to ripen fully and probably , hopefully, sugar grapes reach 25 %, resulting in a wine that is sold about $ 3. 50 wholesaler. With less appropriate climate , the level of sugar would exceed 20 % producing a lighter wine probably sell about $ 3. The same process that resulted in increasing sugar concentration also caused a 30% reduction in overall juice . The highest price was therefore offset by a reduction in part on the amount . Expenses for the winery were about the same for each of the possible styles of wine and were small compared to the wholesale price . Evaluate the facts : Light rain and storms are detrimental to the crop of grapes, as these cause or may develop Botrytis cinerea , a fungus that causes damage in the skins of grapes . The winemaker is to harvest the grapes when they have achieved the right balance of sugar and acidity to the wine style order. But maturity is a variable process , however , and if the weather is not appropriate, the right balance could never exist . If Jaeger decided not to harvest the grapes immediately in anticipation of the storm , and the storm did not hit the crop , Jaeger leave the grapes to ripen fully and probably , hopefully, sugar grapes reach 25 %, resulting in a wine that is sold about $ 3. 50 wholesaler. Define the problem : Should riesling grapes harvested immediately or leave them on the vines despite the storm that is approaching -Napa Valley ? Establish alternative solutions : A possible solution would be to hire a provider or a scientist , to help provide a pesticide. A class of microorganisms which may inhibit the fungus concentration of grapes, but this would generate overruns while better production and lower losses . One possible solution would be to harvest the grapes immediately and directly , avoiding possible contamination but a possible change in the fermentation and maturation of these . Choose the most appropriate alternative solution A class of microorganisms which may inhibit the fungus concentration of grapes, but this would generate overruns while better production and lower losses . Prepare an action plan It would have to execute a plan of action by companies and providers that help Freemark grape production using microorganisms that help break down and improve the quality of the grapes. It would be an amicable solution with the environment , and help to prevent accidents of rain and being productive .

Domestic Politics and International Relations Essay Example for Free

Domestic Politics and International Relations Essay I. International relations as venerable subject. A. People were studying international relations before there were nations. B. Kautilya, Sun Tzu, Thucydides, and Herodotus were the first philosophers and scientists to write about international relations more than 2,500 years ago. C. The key fundamental law of international relations states that politics is rooted in domestic affairs. D. The moral law causes people to remain subjected to their ruler and moral law restrains the use of force. II. Methods to investigate the history of international relations are combining logic and evidence, mathematical method and statistical analysis. A. The method of combining logic and evidence or case studies. 1. Knowledge of international relations will be improved. 2. The path to insight is to analyze individual events or, in other words, to develop a case study. 3. Case studies are effective in evaluating the verisimilitude between the theory and practice (action). B. Statistical analysis suggests aims at investigating general patterns among the cases and examines large numbers of events. 1. Predicted patterns should include the probability distribution across the outcomes, not across deterministic results. 2. The method uncovers ideas and key points about the general orderliness of the origin of international relations. 3. In contrast to case study approach, statistical method probes the generality of the hypothesis under investigation, as well as its extreme validity. C. Mathematical analysis ensures internal consistency in arguments about complex relations about variables. 1. Mathematics is claimed to be the best tool for pursuing logical analysis of the complex problems as the alternative contains greater ambiguity and imprecision in meaning. 2. Still many scientists denounce the importance of mathematical method in learning international relations as they argue that ‘the interesting problems of politics are too complex to be reduced to mathematical equations’, but mathematics is exact when dealing with complex problems. 3. Mathematical approach is necessary for linking case study and archival techniques. III. Fundamental insight in the nature of international affairs through effectiveness and combination of key methods. A. Case studies should be facilitated because of their nature unique and not indicative of general laws. B. Productive collaboration with colleagues should be encouraged by combing mathematical, statistical and formal methods. C. The benefits of case studies are well-known, whereas the benefits of logical and mathematical methods are still under debate. D. Nowadays, all three methodologies are used for evaluation how international relations are shaped to domestic politics.

Categorising a Quistclose Trust

Categorising a Quistclose Trust Mark must find out whether the transaction between himself and Dave is to be regarded as a pure loan or a Quistclose trust. [1] If it is the former, the beneficial interest in the funds passes to Inchester Football Club and Dave has his remedy against the Club in debt, as would the Club’s other ordinary creditors. If, however the transaction is to be regarded as a Quistclose trust, authoritative opinion suggests that the beneficial interest remains with Dave throughout,[2] and thus in the event of a failed trust purpose, the trust funds revert back to Dave on resulting trust. Mark is advised that the  £5m loan received from Dave, should be properly categorised as a Quistclose trust. The leading authorities governing Quistclose trusts are Barclays Bank v Quistclose Investments Ltd[3] and Twinsectra v Yardley.[4] The chief facts in both authorities are analogous to this case and thus do not need to be restated. In Quistclose, Lord Wilberforce makes it clear that since the loan â€Å"was made only so as to enable [the borrowers] to pay a dividend and for no other purpose†¦ the mutual intention of the lender and the borrower â€Å"was that the sum advanced should not become part of the assets of [the borrower] but should be used exclusively for payment of the dividend.† Lord Wilberforce maintains that ‘if, for any reason, the purpose could not be met, the money was to be returned to the lender.’[5] Mark should note that Dave’s insistence that the money be placed in a separate bank (regardless of it being in the Club’s name) implies his intention that the money was not to form part of the Club’s general assets.[6] One advises Mark that Lord Wilberforce’s interpretation applies to his case. Dave clearly imposes conditions on the loan stipulating that it is to be ‘used only to buy Gary Sparrow.’ The word ‘only’ suggests that the loan was advanced ‘exclusively’ for this purpose.[7] Dave thus has an equitable right in the funds to see that is applied for its primary designated purpose.[8] As a result, Mark, as Chairman of the club, is â€Å"not free to apply the money for any other purpose† and the nature of this transaction â€Å"gives rise to fiduciary obligations on the part of the borrower which a court of equity will enforce.†[9] Dave has placed his trust and confidence in Mark to ensure that the money is properly applied,[10] and it would be unconscionable of Mark not to properly apply it. Since Mark has agreed to the conditions of the loan, he is bound by them and owes a fiduciary obligation to Dave, to see that those conditions ar e met. Gary’s decision to sign with another Club means that the purpose of trust has been defeated and the money should therefore be returned to Dave. The loan advanced to Mark is to be regarded as a Quistclose trust since, as highlighted by Oakley, â€Å"an intention that the money should be segregated is †¦likely to lead the court to infer that the parties intended to create a trust, even if that word was never actually used by anyone.†[11] This fact, in addition to the conditions imposed by Dave, negates any possibility of the courts regarding the  £5m as being a pure loan. As a business entrepreneur, it is clear that Dave was not making a gesture of goodwill in advancing the loan, but a business decision. Conclusively, unless Mark can find a way to persuade Gary to sign with Inchester Football Club, the  £5m must be returned to Dave. Mark has validly declared a trust in favour of Gary. First, by declaring himself as trustee of the shares, the court will regard Mark has having done â€Å"everything which, according to the nature of the property comprised in the settlement, was necessary to be done in order to transfer the property and render the settlement binding upon him.†[12] Second, in the case of Comiskey,[13] the court held that the testator’s direction to his wife, that his nieces should acquire an interest in his property was to be construed as a mandatory, not just a mere moral obligation. The ‘substance’ and ‘effect’[14] of the words used, denoted an intention on the testators’ part to create a separate trust in favour of his nieces. One must advise that, Mark does not fall within the ambit of this case. The substance and effect of Mark’s words were such that he intended to create a trust in favour of Gary regardless of whether or not he joined the club. The fact that Mark made the trust declaration in front of the Board of Directors suggests further that his offer was a genuine one. Thus, the court would regard his words as being neither precatory[15] nor said in loose conversation.[16] His underlying intention might have been to gently pressure Gary into signing with Inchester, by making this stateme nt in front of the directors, however one cannot escape the fact that it was his intention for Gary to receive the shares. His words ‘I hope that this gives you a good reason to join the club,’ will not be regarded by the court as a necessary prerequisite or mandatory obligation in order for Gary to receive the shares, but rather; a moral obligation, which Gary could choose to regard or disregard. In the case of Re Adams[17] the court held that the purpose of the testator’s words was to merely to call to his widow’s attention the moral obligations[18], which had weighed upon his mind and to make express his motivation in making an absolute gift to her.[19] The same can be said of Mark’s declaration to Gary. His words have resulted in an absolute gift to Gary, with the ‘hope’ or ‘confidence’ that it would encourage Gary to join the club. Therefore, although Gary chose not to sign with Inchester, the trust remains valid. Third, Mark cannot rely on the fact that he has not segregated the shares to evince a lack of certainty of subject matter and thus an inconstituted trust. As clearly established in Hunter v Moss,[20] with regards to a declaration of trust of personality â€Å"the requirement of certainty of subject matter does not necessarily entail segregation of the property which was to form the subject matter of the trust.†[21] As long as the shares held by Mark are indistinguishable from one another, they will be capable of satisfying the trust without need for appropriation. It must be acknowledged however, that if Mark’s shares are distinguishable from one another, the trust will fail for uncertainty of subject matter since, as neatly surmised by Sir Hobhouse in the case of Mussoorie Bank Ltd v. Raynor, ‘uncertainty in the subject of the gift has a reflex action upon the previous words and throws doubts upon the intention of the testator, and seems to show that he could not have possibly intended his words†¦ to be imperative.’[22] BIBLIOGRAPHY Books A.J Oakley Parker and Mellows: The Modern Law of Trusts Ninth Edition (Sweet Maxwell 2008) G. Watt Trusts Fifth Edition (Oxford University Press 2005) N Stockwell and R Edwards Trusts and Equity Seventh Edition (Pearson Longman 2005) Cases Barclays Bank v Quistclose Investments Ltd [1970] AC 567 Comiskey v Bowring-Hanbury [1905] AC 84 HL Hunter v Moss [1994] 1 WLR 452 Jones v Lock (1865) 1 Ch App 25 Milroy v. Lord (1862) 4 De G.F. J. 264 Mussoorie Bank Ltd v Raynor (1882) 7 App Cas 321 Paul v Constance [1977] 1 WLR 527 Re Adams and Kensington Vestry (1884) 27 Ch D394 Re Snowden [1979] 2 All ERM 172 Twinsectra v Yardley [2002] 2 AC 164 1 Footnotes [1] [1970] AC 567 [2] [2002] 2 AC 164 per Lord Millett and A.J Oakley The Modern Law of Trusts (2008) p.322 [3] n.1 [4] n.2 [5] n.1 per Lord Wilberforce at 580 [6] N Stockwell and R Edwards, Trusts and Equity (2005) p.20 [7] n.1 per Lord Wilberforce at 580 [8] Ibid. [9] n.2 per Lord Millett at 184 [10] Ibid para. 99 [11] Oakley n.2 p.317 –18 [12] Milroy v. Lord (1862) 4 De G.F. J. 264 per Turner L.J at 274–275 [13] [1905] AC 84 HL [14] Paul v Constance [1977] 1 WLR 527 per Scarman L.J [15] Ibid. [16] Jones v Lock (1865) 1 Ch App 25 [17] (1884) 27 Ch D394 [18] See Re Snowden [1979] 2 All ERM 172 [19] G. Watt Trusts (2005) at p.71 [20] [1994] 1 WLR 452 [21] Ibid per Dillon L.J [22] (1882) 7 App Cas 321 at 331

Civil Rights, Equality and the Music of Nina Simone Essay -- Autobiogr

Nina Simone used music to challenge, provoke, incite, and inform the masses during the period that we know as the Civil Rights Era. In the songs† Four Women†, â€Å"Young Gifted and Black†, and Mississippi God Damn†, Nina Simone musically maps a personal "intersectionality" as it relates to being a black American female artist. Kimberly Crenshaw defines "intersectionality" as an inability for black women to separate race, class and gender. Nina Simone’s music directly addresses this paradigm. While she is celebrated as a prolific artist her political and social activism is understated despite her front- line presence in the movement. According to Ruth Feldstein â€Å"Nina Simone recast black activism in the 1960’s.† Feldstein goes on to say that â€Å"Simone was known to have supported the struggle for black freedom in the United States much earlier, and in a more outspoken manner around the world than had many other African Ame rican entertainers.† Her family ties to the south, her unique talent, her ability to travel and make money are similar to the Blues women movement that preceded her. It can be said that Nina Simone goes a step further the by directly attacking inequities pertaining to race and gender in her music. However, what distinguishes her is her unique musicianship and that is what ultimately garners her massive exposure and experiences than those of her past contemporaries. Like the Blues women Simone expands ideas pertaining to self-expression, identity and beauty as they relate to black women. She does this by embracing what is definitively African American and connecting that to a historical context. By doing so she is the embodiment of a political statement. Her journey which began like many entertaine... ...utobiography Of Nina Simone, Da Capo Press; 2003. Additional Sources Consulted: Brooks, Daphne A. . "Nina Simone's Triple Play." Callaloo. 35.4 (2011): 176-194. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. . Lewis, Andrea. "Nina Simone remains a powerful inspiration for black women." Progressive. (2003): n. page. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. . Simone, Nina, perf. Mississippi Goddam. 1964. Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQjGGJVSXc Simone, Nina, perf. To Be Young, Gifted and Black. 1970. Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3OIfuVpocU Simone, Nina, perf. Four Women, 1966. Song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf9Bj1CXPH8 Tsuruta, Dorothy Randall. "`I Ain't About To Be Non-Violent, Honey.'." Black Scholar 29.2/3 (1999): 54. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Sterling Seagraves Dragon Lady Essay -- Sterling Seagrave Dragon Lady

Empress Dowager Tzu His Exposed in Sterling Seagrave's Dragon Lady China’s great ancient empire has been the source of stories, fables, and fascination throughout the world for generations. The Asian culture has a long history of powerful leaders and ruthless battles making it one of the longest standing powers that the world has ever known. Yet, what took centuries to create was destroyed during the reign of a single ruler, plunging the country into chaos and confusion. The one who often is believed to have generated this collapse is the Empress Dowager Tzu His, the last Empress of China. Until the end of her reign in the early 1900s, the life of the Empress was shrouded in mystery. Once people gained access to the court records, not long after the Boxer rebellion (1901), the â€Å"true† nature of the women was brought to the world. Sir Edmund Blackhouse, a European writer, gained access to this information and painted a less than favorable portrait of the Dowager saying: â€Å"Tzu His was of a ruthless, single-minded tyrant, an iron-willed, oversexed Manchu concubine who usurped...

Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is defined as the systematic data collection, data analysis and interpretation of the results in order to enable effective planning in the aspect of disease control. It enables infectious diseases to be detected early so that their potential threat to the public is minimized. The threats may be due to cases of food borne infections, bioterrorism and communicable diseases (Lombardo and Buckeridge, 2007). There are several systems and networks that have been put in place in order to help in the surveillance of infectious diseases.Disease surveillance also requires the collaboration of different partners and officials, an effective communication system and reliable laboratory networks in order to be effective. BioSense involves the use of syndromic data derived from different electronic sources. This improves the speed at which disease is detected. It enables outbreaks to be detected early enough before they lead to serious problems. It has been applied in different sectors by the state such as to detect any cases of bioterrorism and other threats that may put the lives of the citizens in danger.This system has been employed by CDC (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Electronic Laboratory Exchange Networks (eLEXNET) is a surveillance system used in food safety. It is a web-based system used in state, federal and even local agencies. It enables the collaboration of both the government and health officials in that the data regarding food safety is shared and therefore the potential risk of a possible outbreak of food borne diseases is detected early enough (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).The other type of syndromic system is the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community based Epidemics (ESSENCE). It relies on data that is got from hospitals, dispensaries and clinics. This data is collected daily and assist in the tracking of the common syndromes found in a particular area. H istorical data is also helpful in this system since it acts as a starting point for the epidemiologists. The officials can also pin point the specific area or region with a high number of a certain syndrome through the use of a geographic information system (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) is a web based communication system usually used by CDC. It enables the sharing of information with the state, federal and other pubic health officials. It is an effective system since it enables the authorized users to share information and get feedbacks on every issue such as the efforts put in place for the control of infectious diseases (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Food borne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) is a system which is designed to respond to any new food borne disease that is of public importance.It also monitors the trend and identifies the specific sources of these diseases. It is a more reliable and an accurate system in the estimation of incidences of these diseases (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) enable keen surveillance of diseases which have either been confirmed or rumored. It is mostly used by WHO in the surveillance of diseases that are of worldwide importance. The information is gotten from different sources such as the media, institutions and health ministries in different countries (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).Other systems that have also been used include Global Public Health Intelligence (GPHIN), Health Alert Network (HAN), Laboratory Response Network (LRN), National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS), National Retail Data Monitor (NRDM), Real Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) and Sexually Transmitted Disease Management Information System (STDMIS) (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).These systems require a number of key factors in order for disease surveillance to be effective. First, the source of data must be reliable to enable the accurate and fast response during surveillance. The data is the baseline for surveillance as seen in all the systems above such as ESSENCE and BioSense. Therefore, surveillance cannot be possible without data. Secondly, effective communication networks which enables the information to be shared with other partners such as the state, federal and public health officials. References Lombardo, J.S. & Buckeridge, D.L. (2007).Disease Surveillance: A Public Health Informatics Approach. New Jersey: John Wiley & sons, Inc. United States Government Accountability Office. (2004). Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts. Retrieved on 12th May 2010 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04877.pdf

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is a five-star hotel in Bangkok owned in part and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the original structure was the first hotel built in Thailand when it opened as The Oriental in 1879. Today, the hotel is one of two flagship properties of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and is known for service, which consistently places it among the world's best hotels Background and HistoryWhen Siam opened to foreign trade after the signing of the Bowring Treaty the sailors that manned the ships which conveyed this trade though Bangkok required accommodation on shore. To meet this demand, Captain Dyers, an American and his partner J. E. Barnes opened a hotel called the Oriental Hotel. This burnt down in 1865. Several years later a partnership of Danish captains opened a replacement hotel. In the 1970s the board of the Oriental Hotel decided with the opening of the new River Wing, upon 18 76 as the official establishment date of the Oriental Hotel.In 1881 29-year-old Hans Niels Andersen, a Danish businessman, bought the premises. His various business ventures led to him becoming a much respected member of the Western community in Siam. Andersen identified a need for a respectable hotel with good accommodation, a bar and a western menu to meet the needs of travellers and businessmen visiting to Siam. Encouraged by Prince Prisdang Jumsai, Hans Niels Andersen formed a partnership with Peter Andersen and Frederick Kinch to build a luxury hotel. Designed by Cardu & Rossi, a team of local Italian architects, the Oriental was the first luxury hotel in Siam.The hotel opened on 19 May 1887 with 40 rooms and features which at the time had never been seen in Siam outside of a royal palace: a second floor (during a time of single-storey bungalows), 1 carpeted hallways, smoking and ladies rooms, a billiards room and a bar capable of seating 50 patrons. To ensure the success of th e restaurant and a satisfactory level of service the owners lured the chef and butler away from the French Consulate to work at the hotel. The first major event that the hotel hosted was a grand banquet on 24 May 1888 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.After personally inspecting the hotel? s facilities in December 1890, King Chulalongkorn decided the hotel was up to the standard necessary to host visiting royalty. The hotel's first royal guests were the entourage of Crown Prince Nicholas of Russia, (later Tsar Nicholas) in April 1891. A succession of owners followed until Marie Maire took over the ownership in 1910. She immediately went to work revamping the hotel. She sold it in 1932. During the Second World War the hotel was leased to the Japanese Army who used it as an officer? club (who under the management of the Imperial Hotel of Tokyo). At the end of the war it was used to house liberated Allied prisoners of war, who in the belief that it was a Japanese proper ty ransacked the building. At the end of the war a six-person partnership each contributed US$250 to buy the hotel. The partnership consisted of Germaine Krull (1897–1985), Prince Bhanu, General Chai Prateepasen, Pote Sarasin (a Thai lawyer) and John Webster and Jim Thompson, two Americans who had served in the Organization for Strategic Security (OSS) and who had stayed on in Thailand.Krull took the position of manager in 1947, despite no prior experience in the hotel field. Born in Poland, she had been best known as a photographer during the 1920s before service in the Pacific as a war correspondent for Agence France Presse. Badly run down after its wartime service, the partnership immediately began restoration and restocking of the hotel which offered to put Thompson? s an opportunity to use his architectural and artistic abilities. The hotel reopened for business on 12 June 1947.Krull turned out to be a natural hotelier and during her reign restored the hotel to it positi on as the premier hotel in Thailand. Thompson soon left the partnership over a plan to build a new wing, though he stayed on in residence at the hotel for some time. To compete with popular clubs and a new local bar called Chez Eve, Krull established the Bamboo Bar, which soon became one of the leading bars in Bangkok. 2 In 1958 the ten-storey Garden Wing was built. It featured the city? s first elevator and was home to the Le Normandie Restaurant. In 1967, fearful thatThailand would fall to the communists, Krull sold her share to Italthai which at the time was well on its way to becoming one of the country? s most significant mercantile groups eventually totally some 60 companies involved in almost all aspects of the Thai economy. Italthai had been founded in the mid-fifties by Giorgio Berlingieri, an Italian born in Genoa and Dr Chaijudh Karnasuta, a Thai. Berlingieri felt that the Oriental had begun to rest on its laurels and had dropped behind its competitors. He wanted to devel op the Oriental into one of the best hotels in the world.Too involved with his various businesses to devote time to the project, Berlingieri in November 1967 appointed 30-year-old Kurt Wachtveitl (1937– ), at that time manager of Nipa Lodge (a hotel that Italthai owned in Pattaya), as general manager of the Oriental. In 1972 the hotel acquired an adjacent property upon which it erected the 350-room River Wing. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok The Group began with the opening of its flagship property, The Mandarin, in Hong Kong in 1963, which soon built up a reputation for luxurious service.In 1974, Mandarin International Hotels Limited was formed as a hotel management company. The Group's intention was to expand into Asia and operate hotels that would reflect the standard of service synonymous with their property in Hong Kong. In 1974 the company's hotel interests expanded further through the acquisition of a 49% interest in The Oriental, Bangkok. The Oriental, built in 1876, was already a legendary property and acknowledged as one of the world's great hotels.Through the management of both The Mandarin in Hong Kong and The Oriental, Bangkok, the Group was in an unusual position of having two â€Å"flagship† hotels whose names represented the best in hospitality. In 1985, the Company rationalized its corporate structure by combining these two renowned properties under a common name, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. 3 The hotel opened its renowned Oriental Spa in 1993 and finished a complete renovation of its rooms and suites in 2003. In 2006, The Oriental, Bangkok celebrated its 130th anniversary.In September 2008, the hotel formally changed its name from The Oriental, Bangkok to Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Asia Continent 1. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok 2. Mandarin Oriental, Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai 3. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 4. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 5. The Excelsior, Ho ng Kong 6. Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta 7. Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumper 8. Mandarin Oriental, Macao 9. Mandarin Oriental, Manila 10. The Oriental, Singapore 11. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo 12. Mandarin Oriental, Sanya 13. Mandarin Oriental, Lago Nam Van, Macau 14.Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou 15. Mandarin Oriental, Taipei America Continent 1. Elbow Beach, Bermuda 2. Mandarin Oriental, New York 3. Mandarin Oriental, Miami 4. Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco 5. Mandarin Oriental, Washington D. C. 6. Mandarin Oriental, Riviera Maya, Mexico 7. Mandarin Oriental, Boston 8. Mandarin Oriental, Grand Cayman 4 9. Mandarin Oriental, Chicago 10. Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas 11. Mandarin Oriental, Dallas 12. Mandarin Oriental, Dellis Cay, Turks Europe Continent 1. Mandarin Oriental, Du Rhone, Geneva 2. Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London 3.Mandarin Oriental, Munich 4. Mandarin Oriental, Prague, Czech 5. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona 6. Mandarin Oriental, Jnan Rahma, Marrakech 7. Mandarin Oriental, Paris Hotel Map 5 The hotel located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The Hotel The hotel contains 358 rooms and 35 unique suites. The two-story Authors' Wing, the only remaining structure of the original 19th century hotel, houses suites named after Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener. The River Wing contains deluxe two bedroom suites named after former guests r personages associated with the hotel including Barbara Cartland, Gore Vidal, Graham Greene, Wilbur Smith, John le Carre, Jim Thompson, Norman Mailer, Thai author Kukrit Pramoj. Other suites are named after ships associated with the early Bangkok trade such as Otago (once captained by Joseph Conrad), HMS Melita, Vesatri and Natuna. 6 Accommodations Rooms All of rooms in the River Wing or Garden Wing Rooms have their own personalities. They have been designed with traditional Thai flair and luxuriously appointed for your utmost comfort.The standard of in room facilities are as follow: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Private Butler service Work desk with in-built international plugs and Internet access plugs Complimentary fax machine/printer on request 3 IDD telephones with two lines Individual thermostatic controller for air-conditioning and humidity Remote control TV with on command in-house movies Bose CD player and CD library Radio Personal mini bar refrigerator Fresh fruit and flowers daily Large in-room safe Spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower and double vanity Hair dryer Bathrobe and slippers Rooms Bed Size (Sqm/Sqf) View Partial Rate (USD) Superior Room King/Twin 40/428 River/Main Wing 425 Relax and take in the partial river view in the elegant surroundings of teak wood and traditional Thai silks. Thailand? s signature fabric is everywhere adding to the sense of luxury. Fresh fruit and flowers refreshed daily. A personal butler is at your service. Full River/ Main Deluxe Room King/Twin 40/428 Wing 465 Located on higher floors, our Deluxe Rooms o ffer full river views and sumptuous comfort.The elegant decor features traditional Thai elements such as genuine teak furniture, beautiful silks, and a daily delivery of fresh exotic fruits and flowers. Guests will also enjoy enhanced bathroom amenities, with a personal butler at your service. River Front/ Premier Room King/Twin 35/377 Garden Wing 495 Elements of the hotel? s long and illustrious heritage are still to be seen in these colonial-style rooms, which feature vintage chandeliers, evocative artwork and parquet flooring, all complemented by ottomans and comfortable sofas, in a mix that is satisfyingly eclectic.The floor plan changes from room to room; some are split-level, with a bedroom above and seating area below. All Premier Rooms enjoy full river views, and some feature a private conservatory. River & City/ Mandarin Room King 63/678 Main Wing 545 8 These rooms enjoy a strong flow of natural daylight, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony that partially overl ooks the river. They also have a spacious seating area, with comfortable sofas and a coffee table. Throughout, the furnishings are upholstered in Thai silk, harmoniously designed in neutral colors. 3/678 or State Room King/Twin 67/721 River / Main Wing 695 These spacious rooms are located between the 3rd and 9th floors of the River Wing and offer unobstructed river views. A teakwoodpanelled hallway leads guests into the room, which is decorated in traditional Thai style with dark teakwood furnishings and bright Thai silks. Large floor-to-ceiling windows encircle the room, which also features a balcony from which to watch the bustling river activity. There is a sitting area within the bedroom featuring a comfortable sofa and coffee table.Floor-to-ceiling windows surround a semiprivate work area, which has a large working desk and every amenity you need to conduct business in comfort. Suites The standard of in room facilities for Suites ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Private Butler service Work desk w ith in-built international plugs and Internet access plugs Complimentary fax machine/printer on request 3 IDD telephones with two lines Individual thermostatic controller for air-conditioning and humidity Remote control TV with on command in-house movies Bose CD player and CD library 9 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Radio Personal mini bar refrigerator Fresh fruit and flowers daily Large in-room safe Spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower and double vanity Hair dryer Bathrobe and slippers Rooms Bed Size (Sqm/Sqf) View River / Rate (USD) Executive Suite King 55/592 Main Wing 675 Located in the River Wing, these elegant and spacious one-bedroom suites are flooded with natural daylight and offer impressive river views; the perfect setting in which to relax and unwind. Approximately 55 square metres/592 square feet. River / Family Two-Bedroom Suites King & 2 Twins 95/1,022 Main Wing 800These elegant and spacious suites are ideal for families who will appreciate the extra space and ame nities. There? s a separate sitting area for family gatherings as well as a desk, which complements the exotic finery on display in the traditional Thai style decor of dark teak and silk furnishings. Light floods in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, ideal for admiring the beautiful river view. River / Authors Suites King/Twin 99/985 Main Wing 1,000 10 Located in the River Wing, these individually designed and decorated suites re tributes to some of the great literary figures that have stayed with us over the years. In their names, decor and ambience, they each reflect accents of the author? s personality. All feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic river views, a balcony, spacious sitting room, a large bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower as well as a powder room off the living room; many also have a walk-in closet. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered to your suite daily with the services of your own personal butler. River / Deluxe 2-Bedroom Theme Suit es King & 2 Twins 125/1344 Main Wing 1,500The lavish two-bedroom suites feature many rich decorative details, including brass-inlaid teak furniture and soft furnishings that are upholstered in sumptuous Thai silk. Immaculate parquet floors and hand-woven Persian carpets further accentuate these lavish suites. Located on the 16th floor of the River Wing, these suites offer spectacular views of the River of Kings and the City of Angels. Garden / Joseph Conrad Suite King 100/1070 Original Wing 1,500 A giant among authors, Joseph Conrad wrote novels considered by many to be the greatest in the English language. It? only fitting then that our Joseph Conrad Suite should be a remarkable space filled with special details. The suite is the only one in our Authors Wing with its own open terrace, which is attached to the spacious living room and 11 overlooks our lush gardens and the river. The gently sophisticated decor, including carefully selected furnishings and objects d? art, is the perfe ct sanctuary from bustling Bangkok where you? re every need is attended to by your personal butler. Garden / Heritage Authors Suites Queen 100/1070 Original Wing 1,300 Located in the hotel? s original Authors' Wing, the magnificent HeritageAuthors' Suites celebrate three of the great writers who have stayed here. Reflecting the colonial character of the original site of the hotel, each of the three suites – Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener – feature spacious bedrooms and lounge areas as well as Victorian-style marble bathrooms. The three suites are individually designed to reflect the Author? s distinct personality. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered daily by your personal butler ready to anticipate and attend to your every need. Garden / Original Adisorn Lodge Heritage Suites Queen 100/1070 Wing 800 Located in the hotel? original Authors Wing, The Adisorn Lodge celebrates the life and times of our former Chairman. Rich colours and high ceilings, as well as a charming Victorian-style bathroom make this a very unique and historic suite. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered to your suite daily with the services of your own personal butler. Top Floor Main Siam Suites Twin 130/1398 Wing 3,000 12 Inspired by the beauty of Northern Thailand, the two-bedroom suite features rich furnishings in Thai silk, with the living and dining areas panelled in teak to match the luxurious flooring. Main Wing Selandia Suites King 185/1989 3,000A beautiful suite that evokes the glamour of life aboard the legendary ship The Selandia, with teak floors and walls, ivory cotton draperies and brass-cornered tables, classically but richly decorated. Top Floor Main Royal Oriental Suites King 295/3157 Wing 4,500 The timeless Royal Oriental suite, renowned for its beautiful decor and impressive artworks, has served as the home away from home of royalty, world leaders, and countless celebrities. Facilities The Oriental Spa The multi-award winning Oriental Spa is the ultimate temple of well-being for many guests and VIPs including European royalty, Hollywood legends and political stars.Visit the Oriental Spa and experience the ultimate rejuvenation of body, mind and soul. 13 The Ayurvedic Penthouse India? s 5000 year-old science of wholesome living, Ayurveda touches every aspect of life: physical, mental, social and spiritual. Ayurvedic Treatments are usually recommended as a course of three days but guests will find individual treatments beneficial and with equally long lasting effects. Yoga Session The Oriental Spa offers an extensive range of Yoga sessions conducted by yogic expert Neelam Khatri. The Oriental? Yoga programmes run the gamut from lively group sessions to one- on-one private sessions, each created to suit the specific needs and convenience of guests and yoga lovers. Health Center The Health Centre has recently been expanded to provide the utmost in luxury for sports and health enthusiasts alike, in a tranquil environment. The renovation includes stateof-the-art equipment. Pro 14 The Oriental Thai Cooking School The Oriental Thai Cooking School operates every Monday to Saturday from 9am-12:30pm with a renowned curriculum that teaches the secrets of purely authentic Thai food.Learn everything from basic ingredients to local techniques from our highly regarded instructors who are not only talented experts in Thai cuisine, they are also all-time favorites with our guests. â€Å"Sanook† Oriental Kid? s Club Open for children from the ages 3 to 14 years old the â€Å"Sanook† Oriental Kid? s Club keeps our youngest guests entertained throughout their holidays with an action-packed program featuring an endless variety of outdoor activities, arts and crafts projects, and games that are fun, educational and culturally enriching.All are under the supervision of our Kid? s Coordinators. The Oriental Boutique We are delighted to introduce the opening of The Oriental Boutique, which carries a full r ange of hotel amenities and gifts that make the perfect souvenirs to take home to loved ones. The Oriental Boutique also offers exclusive products such as Oriental Polo shirts, Oriental stuffed animals, the exquisite cutlery and tableware used at the newly renovated China House, our famed cotton and silk bathrobes, and many other items unique to Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. 5 Sports Tennis Day or night, you can practice your backhand on our two outdoor tennis courts. And don? t worry, if you forgot your racquet, we? ll happily provide one for you to use. Squash Our fitness centre also has one squash court available for rent. The rental fee of THB 700++ includes equipment. Jogging The Oriental Health Centre has an outdoor jogging track that runs right along the tennis courts, perfect for an early morning or evening run. Guests can also use the jogging map that we provide for a jaunt that goes further afield.Swimming Perhaps nothing is more enticing after an excursion into the city hea t than a dip in a pool. At the Oriental Health Club the prospect is doubly irresistible. Those who just want to bask in the sun and relax will love our new wading pool, which is surrounded by cabanas. Our newly upgraded big pool finished in rich mosaics and natural stones as well as new lighting enhancements, 25 metres long and is ideal for swimming laps. Both pools are open daily from 6am to 8pm.Thai Boxing Muay Thai, as Thai boxing is known here, is growing in popularity around the world and is considered an especially tough martial art. Boxers can use almost any part of their bodies in the contest, which can be quick and brutal. The main venue for matches is Lumpini Stadium. Fights are every Tuesday and Friday 6:30pm to11pm 16 and Saturdays 5pm-8pm and 8:30pm to midnight. Prices range from THB 220-800. Private Thai Boxing lessons can also be arranged with at least one-day prior notice via our concierge. Prices are approximately THB 5,400 for 2 hours.Restaurants and Entertainments There are nine venues to choose from, offering a wide range of international cuisine. Le Normandie Considered by many to be the finest French dining experience in Asia. Patrons choose from a set menu or full French a la carte. Lord Jim's This quintessential seafood restaurant offers a very popular international lunch time buffet and an a la carte dinner. Sala Rim Naam Sala Rim Naam serves a buffet lunch and set Thai dinner with traditional dance show, while the Terrace Rim Naam offers a la carte Thai dining by the River. 17The China House Inspired by the vibrant 1930's Shanghai Art Deco period featuring authentic Cantonese flavors with contemporary variations in presentation. Riverside Terrace The dinner buffet served here has an amazing selection of grilled seafood and meat plus the best Europe, the Middle East and Asia has to offer. The Verandah This casually elegant restaurant offers international all-day a la carte dining with a huge selection of freshly baked cakes. It's also the place for breakfast. 18 Ciao Dine under the stars at this riverside venue, which serves the city? finest pizza from our wood -fired oven and the very best Italian ice creams. Authors' Lounge On the ground floor of the Authors' Wing, this lounge has old colonial charm, with its white rattan furniture and English afternoon tea. The Bamboo Bar Known as the best live jazz spot in town, Bamboo Bar serves an extensive menu of cocktails and drinks in a relaxing, jungle-like ambience. 19 L’Espace by Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok This all-day international dining venue is the perfect way to relax and recuperate in the midst of your shopping day. Siam Paragon? most stylish contemporary cafe epitomises both the elegance and the culinary excellence of the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Set amid cream marble water gardens, L? Espace by Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has an all-day menu that caters to every whim, offering everything from crisp salads or sandwiches, to home-made pastas, soups, noodles and tacos. Sip on refreshing cocktails or savour some of the splendid desserts, including delectable pastries, puddings and our unforgettable New York vanilla cheesecake. 20 Services Conference and Banqueting Rooms The Royal Ballroom This is both a grand and entirely versatile space.You can enjoy its historic appearance, with high ceiling, extravagant chandelier and river life murals, alternatively it can be transformed into the most contemporary scene to reflect your event theme.. The ballroom can be set up as one large space or reconfigured into three smaller rooms (Chao Phra Ya room , Ta Jeen room and Maeklong room) to create a „journey? for delegates to travel through, or simply separated for break out rooms. 21 The Embassy Room – Designed and appointed in the same opulent style as the Ballroom, this is the smaller sized option – but with the same luxurious ambience.Executive Boardroom – Situated within the business centre; our boardroo m has plenty of daylight, with windows overlooking the main entrance. The Regency Room – Recently restored to their former elegance with hand-woven Thai silk panels in a turn-of-the-century French pattern and full length mirrors at either end. The set up is a residential living room, with comfortable sofas; however it can be re arranged for cocktails or a private dinner. French windows open on to the cool Authors? Terrace. The Author’s Lounge – A sophisticated atmosphere in a summery, colonial setting – perfect for informal meetings.It is located in the Author? s Wing, within the hotel? s original site, and is named in tribute to the many famous writers who have stepped through the doors of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok over the years, from Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham to Noel Coward and James Michener. Recently renovated to its former glory, delicate, whitewashed rattan furniture with handpainted upholstery and Siamese umbrellas now grace the lounge, amid towering bamboo and palm trees. It? s the perfect place for a relaxed event, romantic wedding reception or cocktail party for 150-200 guests. 2 Business Center Opening hours are from 7:30am-11pm Monday to Friday, and 8am–10pm on Weekends and National Holidays. We have four work stations available for delegates use; three PCs and one Mac. Each station is equipped with a laser printer and web camera, access points for electric data and high speed internet sockets for guests who would like to use their own laptops. There are two boardrooms, one larger for up to 18 delegates, a light space overlooking the hotel entrance and another smaller boardroom for six delegates. ? ? ? ?Secretarial services Translation, both written and simultaneous Video conferencing equipment Butler service is available with a simple press button Thai Culture Programs Whether for business or purely for your own enjoyment, there? s not a more perfect setting to learn about the intricacies of Thai cultu re than Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and in one of our highly acclaimed courses. You? ll be following in the footsteps of the many 23 diplomats and journalists who have attended them to enhance their knowledge of our vibrant and fascinating culture.Enrich your joy and understanding of the Kingdom of Thailand during your stay at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. There? s nowhere in the world like Thailand. As the only country in Southeast Asia never to be colonized, its deep cultural roots are fascinating, yet often mysterious to many visitors. That? s why we created our comprehensive cultural programme, enlisting renowned professors and scholars from leading universities. For more than fifteen years, their afternoon lectures, daily from Monday to Friday, have unlocked the mysteries of the Kingdom for thousands of our guests.Guests have included many diplomats, journalists and travel writers, who take pleasure in understanding more about Thai culture. Programmes Thai Ways Monday 2pm-4pm, Klo ng Tour 3:20pm (Minimum 3 persons). Thai Beliefs Tuesday 2pm-4pm (Minimum 3 persons). Thai Dance and Music Wednesday 1pm-3pm (Minimum 5 persons). Contemporary Thai Culture Thursday 1pm-3pm (Minimum 5 persons). Thai Art and Architecture Friday 2pm-4pm (Minimum 5 persons). Thai Culture Programme Classes are THB 4,000 per person per class. 24 Children’s Day Care CentreOffering many facilities and supervised fun-filled to keep young guest from newlyborn babies to 8 years old, occupied and amused while their parents spend the extra time by themselves whether it is for a relaxing spa treatment or romantic dinner. Open daily from 3 p. m. to 11 p. m. The Oriental Shop at the shopping centers The oriental shops are famous for their tempting array of freshly baked breads and pantries, home-made chocolates, smoked meats, aromatic cheese and wonderful selection of salads, sandwiches, ice-creams and the ground blended coffee.The shops open daily at Emporium, Central Chidlom and Siam Parag on. Limousine Service Mandarin Oriental? s limousine are available 24 hours for either a short trip in the city or longer journey. The qualified and experienced chauffeurs are English speaking and all vehicles are fully ensured by the BMW series 7. 25 References www. mandarinoriental. com/bangkok/ Banqueting Department, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Training Department, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok 26