The Hardships of Growing Up essays

The Hardships of Growing Up essays It's 2:00 p.m., and as I sit here, the respirators, monitors and beeping noises are slowly driving me insane. I am desperately trying to find something that will take my mind off of him. After reading the hospital's visiting procedures innumerable times, I find that my attempts have yielded no encouraging results. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see his cold, lifeless body lying there. In all the times that I had seen him, not once did I ever conceive of ever seeing him like this. It is difficult to understand how life can sometimes be so callous even to the young. I keep replaying over in my mind the summer days that we had just spent laughing and poking fun of one another. Never could I have imagined we would end up here. Though in life he and I were mere acquaintances, in death he would unquestionably leave a lasting imprint in my own life. Despite all of the academic lessons I had been taught throughout school, nothing had prepared me for this one, one of life's lessons. Last week, my first dilemma was what I was going to wear the next day. Sometimes it takes something so major, so traumatic to make one realize how trivial our everyday gripes and complaints are. Watching a friend fight to live and to hear him cry, "I don't want to die," turned my life and priorities upside down. We as teenagers never discern the idea of dying or going through any true painstaking experience. Our ideas of trauma consist of breaking up with significant others or not having a date to the prom. We take everyone and everything for granted. Youth can be construed as a sanctuary, misleading us into thinking that tragedy is a far-fetched notion, leaving us unprepared to face any devastating experience. We think we are young and therefore immortal. We have our entire lives ahead of us and never fathom the notion that any one of us will die. Those were the same ideals I had held, up until last week when I saw my once vivaciou...

US Budget Deficit History

US Budget Deficit History The budget deficit is the difference between the money federal government takes in, called receipts, and what it spends, called outlays  each year. The U.S. government has run a multibillion-dollar deficit almost every year in modern history, spending much more than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit, a budget surplus occurs when the government’s revenue exceeds current expenditures resulting in an excess of money that can be used as needed. In fact, the government has recorded budget  surpluses in only five years since 1969, most of them under Democratic President Bill Clinton.   In all-too-rare times when revenue equals spending, the budget is called â€Å"balanced.†Ã‚   [  Debt Ceiling History  ] Running a budget deficit adds to the national debt and, in the past, has forced Congress to increase the debt ceiling under numerous presidential administrations, both Republican and Democrat, to allow the government to meet its statutory obligations. Although federal deficits have shrunk markedly in recent years, the CBO projects that under current law increased spending for Social Security and major health care programs, like Medicare, along with increasing interest costs will cause the national debt to rise steadily over the long term. The larger deficits would cause federal debt to grow faster than the economy. By 2040, CBO projects, the national debt will be more than 100% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and continue on an upward path – â€Å"a trend that cannot be sustained indefinitely,† notes the CBO.   Notice particularly the sudden jump in the deficit from $162 billion in 2007, to $1.4 trillion in 2009. This increase was due primarily to spending for special, temporary government programs intended to re-stimulate the economy during the great recession of that period. Here is the actual and projected budget deficit or surplus by fiscal year, according to Congressional Budget Office data for modern history. 2021 -  $916 billion budget deficit (projected)2020 - $987  billion budget deficit (projected)2019 - $984  billion budget deficit (projected)2018 - $833  billion budget deficit (projected)2017 - $665  billion budget deficit2016 - $585  billion budget deficit2015 - $439  billion budget deficit2014 - $514 billion budget deficit2013 - $719 billion budget deficit 2012 - $1.1 trillion budget deficit 2011 - $1.3 trillion budget deficit 2010 - $1.3 trillion budget deficit 2009 - $1.4 trillion budget deficit 2008 - $455 billion budget deficit 2007 - $162 billion budget deficit 2006 - $248.2 billion budget deficit 2005 - $319 billion budget deficit 2004 - $412.7 billion budget deficit 2003 - $377.6 billion budget deficit 2002 - $157.8 billion budget deficit 2001 - $128.2 billion budget surplus 2000 - $236.2 billion budget surplus 1999 - $125.6 billion budget surplus 1998 - $69.3 billion budget surplus 1997 - $21.9 billion budget deficit 1996 - $107.4 billion budget deficit 1995 - $164 billion budget deficit 1994 - $203.2 billion budget deficit 1993 - $255.1 billion budget deficit 1992 - $290.3 billion budget deficit 1991 - $269.2 billion budget deficit 1990 - $221 billion budget deficit 1989 - $152.6 billion budget deficit 1988 - $155.2 billion budget deficit 1987 - $149.7 billion budget deficit 1986 - $221.2 billion budget deficit 1985 - $212.3 billion budget deficit 1984 - $185.4 billion budget deficit 1983 - $207.8 billion budget deficit 1982 - $128 billion budget deficit 1981 - $79 billion budget deficit 1980 - $73.8 billion budget deficit 1979 - $40.7 billion budget deficit 1978 - $59.2 billion budget deficit 1977 - $53.7 billion budget deficit 1976 - $73.7 billion budget deficit 1975 - $53.2 billion budget deficit 1974 - $6.1 billion budget deficit 1973 - $14.9 billion budget deficit 1972 - $23.4 billion budget deficit 1971 - $23 billion budget deficit 1970 - $2.8 billion budget deficit 1969 - $3.2 billion budget surplus Looking at the Deficit as a Percent of GDP In order to put the federal deficit into proper perspective, it must be viewed in terms of the government’s ability to pay it back. Economists do this by comparing the deficit to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)- the measure of the overall size and strength of the U.S. economy. This â€Å"debt-to-GDP ratio† is a ratio between the cumulative government debt and the GDP over time. A low debt-to-GDP ratio indicates that the nation’s economy is producing and selling enough goods and services to pay back the federal deficit without incurring further debt. In simple terms, a larger economy can sustain a larger budget, and thus a larger budget deficit. According to the Senate Budget Committee, in the fiscal year 2017, the federal deficit was 3.4% of GDP. For the fiscal year 2018, when the U.S. government operated under its largest budget in history, the deficit was estimated to be 4.2% of GDP.   Remember, the lower the debt-to-GDP percentage, the better. Clearly, the more you spend, the harder it is to pay back your debts.

Discuss with reference to current working practice how the Essay

Discuss with reference to current working practice how the implementation of good risk management practice on the part of the en - Essay Example In addition, possible contractual disputes deserve to be resolved timely in order to avert possible financial losses that may be annexed upon their eventuality. On that note, it is wise to examine the possible risks that may amount to financial losses will undertaking a construction contract. Evaluation However, prior to venture into this quest, a reflection of the activities that comprise of a construction-engineering venture is essential for the provision of an insight on the study matter. Construction engineering entertains a fleet of events, including the assembly of materials from the sources or suppliers to the field of construction. This is a rather demanding activity since it involves the development of a safety store in the construction area prior to the establishment of the real facility described under the project. Apparently, a significant proportion of possible financial losses that may be annexed to construction contracts are built on the grounds of safety compromise. T he assessments of the possible risks that may be associated to this development include the loss of the facilities/ equipment utilized in construction. Such loss is realized under incidents such as theft and natural calamities; an eventuality that may cause severe dents to the financial archives of the proposed project (S.C.P.C.U. (2000). Subsequently, construction engineering involves the development of the designs that are to see the realization of substantial buildings with regard to their durability. This formulates the central reasons upon which the project contract is developed. All these elements amount to platforms that may eventuate to serious occurrence of significant financial risks during or before the contract period. This assertion calls for the development of ultimate measures towards their address. Subsequently, the involvement of a spree of diversified experts in the acquisition of the mentioned tasks, for examples the raw materials, implies that the process of cons truction is a mammoth task by its own self. Challenges amounting to logistical concern can lead to serious financial losses while procuring the contract. The details of the contract make a sincere effort towards the address of the possible risk that may eventuate from the execution of the project, including accidents to the deployed employees. However, the provided cover cannot be described as sufficient for the whole construction project in terms of the expenses that may be accrued from the occurrence of the anticipated risks. This observation prompts the evaluation of the possible risks that may be associated to construction in terms of the expenses they may annex to the whole exercise. The nature of risks associated to a construction-engineering project is grossly pegged on the magnitude of the project. This assertion can be utilized in the categorization of the whole concept, in that various projects can be characterized in accordance to the stipulations of the exercise. On this regard, the projects can be classified as either high financial risk or low financial risk projects. High financial risk projects involve the projects pursued under public environment, for example, road construction, stadia establishment and events of such relation. The financial risks that may be associated to such projects proceeds beyond the captions that may be availed

Alcohol-related Motor Vehicle Trafic Crashed Essay

Alcohol-related Motor Vehicle Trafic Crashed - Essay Example It has been decreasing owing to the efforts by patrol police who have worked hard to bring sanity. From 2009, the police have seen the number of death toll from university students. This made the Florida Highway Patrol to provide the names of all the students that have lost their lives in such bizarre incidents. Sixty percent of these deaths were caused by drunk driving (cited in SAMHSA 45). However, the police and hospitals have noted with concern the influence of other substances that the students use alongside alcohol. Students consume alcohol alongside marijuana thus putting them to extreme risks. SAMHSA (substance abuse and mental health services administration in their report, gives the names of students who have lost their lives in the since 2009. A good number comes from the University of Florida that is situated in the Miami De County (cited in SAMHSA 47). These statistics can be compared to the recent trends as from the year 2012. In the year 2013, a 30-year-old was sent to hospital (cited in SAMHSA 45). Officers found out that he was driving while drunk. In the year 2010, approximately 2,220 people were convicted of drunk driving. They were irresponsible enough, putting their lives and that of passengers at risk. According to high department, they recorded close to 228, 000-accident cases in the year 2011. Of these accidents, 108,000 were alcohol induced. Fatal accidents were 850 with 900 casualties. Statistics also show that many students have fallen victims of drunk driving. Most of them are from the Universities and the University of Florida is mostly affected. These students live the high life, go to parties, get drunk and choose to drive themselves. It is so painful to see the large list at the high department, which states that all of these students... This essay approves that the nurses must develop empathy before embarking on helping the victims. It helps them develop passion to help the victims. A nurse must have a positive attitude towards helping accident victims. In most cases, reckless drivers are receiving limited attention from the nurses. Nurses should also receive training from the top management to enable them develop a positive attitude towards their work. Care must also be taken to control the overacting personnel like the ones who develop compassion fatigue. This report makes a conclusion that the Miami De County is facing road accident nightmares. The county is recording a worrying trend in the alcohol-related road crashes. This is attributed to the drinking habit of the county. Statistics show that the county did record high accident numbers between the years 2010 and 2012. Recently the numbers have been increasing with alcohol contributing to almost a third of the accidents. The traffic police have worked endlessly to salvage the situation to no avail. There is a new group of drinkers: the teenagers in university. These groups lead affluent lives occasioned with drinking. The resulted is many road accidents and death tolls. The only professionals that can handle this situation are nurses. This paper recommends that nurses can use their influence on the patients they attend to reduce these road accidents. They have a variety of intervention stages, from the education sector to the alcohol advertising companies. Throughout this paper, i t is notable that nurses have less intervention with regard accidents. This paper also should bring awareness to the nurses and encourage their participation in reducing alcohol-related road crashes.

The Catcher In The Rye: Book Review :: essays research papers

The Catcher In The Rye: Book Review The Catcher In The Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, is a fictional novel that was first published in 1965. The novel takes place in New York City and in Pennsylvania over a duration of four days. This novel tells the story of an emotionally disturbed teenager who has been kicked out of a boarding school. The story is told from the point of view of a teenager who is the narrator of the story. The main character in this novel is Holden Caulfield. He is sixteen years old and serves as the narrator of this novel. Holden does not like anybody or anything around him. He is an emotionally troubled kid and has many problems with his life. Phoebe is Holden's little sister. She is ten years old and lives at home with their parents. Phoebe really admires and loves her big brother, Holden. This novel begins when Holden is in a mental hospital in California. The novel is a flashback of the events over a time period of four days. The flashback starts off when Holden gets kicked out of his boarding school, Pency Prep, because he is failing most of his classes. Holden decides to go into New York City for a couple of days until his parents will be expecting him home for Christmas vacation. Holden goes to bars and meets with friends during this time. On the third night, Holden decides to go and visit his sister, Phoebe. Phoebe is one of the only people that Holden actually loves. Holden talks to Phoebe about his life being a failure. He is trying to understand life and his place in the world. Holden decides that he wants to go see Mr. Antolini, an old teacher, to help him get a better understanding of his life. At Mr. Antolini's home, Holden discusses many of the problems that he is facing. Mr. Antolini tells Holden that he has to learn not to hate everyone around him. He has to learn to love people. Holden is told that he has to think about his future. He has to decide when he is going to start to take life seriously and apply himself in school. Holden's conversation with Mr. Antolini is the climax of the novel. This is the point of the novel when Holden starts to listen and understand his problems. He realizes that it is time he put his life back on the right track. The next day, Holden returns home to his family. Holden is taken directly to a

The Mark of Athena

Rick Ordain Intro: When you find yourself on a flying ship waiting to land and then suddenly meet an exploding statue you're in Amenable Chases life. The crew of the 4 demigods in the Prophecy Seven venture out to Camp Jupiter, a Roman camp. They go there to find Percy, Frank, and Hazel the 3 other demigods for the prophecy. They ride on the Argon 2nd, a ship that one of the demigods made which can travel in the air and water. After landing in peace, one of the seven demigods started firing the ballista at the Romans and had no control over his body!The seven demigods barely made it out alive. Speeding away from the Romans as fast as they could they head out to save Nice did Angelo and stop the giants from destroying the gods. Amenable has her own dilemma though. She has to follow the Mark of Athena to find and bring back something that the Romans stole from the Greeks that was dedicated to Athena. The catch is that she can only go alone. No help, no powers Just her smarts. Go with h er as she unravels why so many children of Athena have never come back from trying to mind that holy figure that was taken by the Romans.Will the seven demigods make it in time to save Nice did Angelo? Will Amenable complete the mission that her mother sent her on, which nobody has ever came back successfully or have even survived? Will they stop the giants who imprisoned Nice? Read â€Å"The Mark of Athena† to find out because, I'm not telling you. My favorite character in this book is Amenable because; she goes through denial with her mother and gets the Job to follow the Mark of Athena. She is a very realistic teenager in America.Having a boyfriend and having problems with her mother. The only real difference between the seven demigods and real teenagers is that they have weapons, godly parent's and powers according to their godly parent. I could only find one thing in this book that I didn't like. It is that Rick put almost all of the bad luck on Percy and Amenable. All t he other demigods just helped out and barely shared the bad luck except Leo. The rating I give to this book is 9. 99/10 only for the unjust distribution of bad luck.

Indias Look East Policy

India’s Look East Policy is an effort being made by the Indian government to cultivate and strengthen economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia in order to solidify its standing as a  regional power.  This aspect of India’s foreign policy also serves to position India as a counterweight to the strategic influence of the Peoples Republic of China in the region. The Look East Policy Initiated in 1991, it marked a strategic shift in India’s perspective of the world. It was developed and enacted during the government of Prime Minister  P.V. Narasimha Rao  and has continued to enjoy energetic support from the successive administrations of  Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi, each of whom represents a different political party in India. India’s Pre-1991 Foreign Policy Before the fall of the Soviet Union, India made scant efforts to foster close relationships with the governments of Southeast Asia. There are several reasons for this. First, due to its colonial history, India’s ruling elite in the post-1947 era had an overwhelmingly pro-Western orientation. Western countries also made for better trade partners as they were significantly more developed than India’s neighbors. Second, India’s physical access to Southeast Asia was barred by Myanmar’s isolationist policies as well as Bangladesh’s refusal to provide transit facilities through its territory. Third, India and the Southeast Asian countries were on opposing sides of the Cold War divide.   India’s lack of interest in and access to Southeast Asia between its independence and the fall of the Soviet Union left much of Southeast Asia open to China’s influence. This came first in the form of China’s territorial expansionist policies. Following Deng Xiaoping’s ascent to leadership in China in 1979, China replaced its policy of expansionism with campaigns to foster extensive trade and economic relations with other Asian nations. During this period, China became the closest partner and supporter of the  military junta  of Burma, which had been ostracized from the international community following the violent suppression of pro-democracy activities  in 1988. According to former Indian Ambassador Rajiv Sikri, India missed a crucial opportunity during this period to leverage India’s shared colonial experience, cultural affinities, and lack of historical baggage to build strong economic and strategic relations with Southeast Asia. Implementation of the Policy In 1991, India experienced an economic crisis that coincided with the fall of the Soviet Union, which had previously been one of India’s most valued economic and strategic partners. This prompted Indian leaders to reevaluate their economic and foreign policy, which led to at least two major shifts in India’s position toward its neighbors. First, India replaced its protectionist economic policy with a more liberal one, opening up to higher levels of trade and striving to expand regional markets. Second, under the leadership of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, India ceased to view South Asia and Southeast Asia as separate strategic theaters.   Much of India’s Look East Policy involves Myanmar, which is the only Southeast Asian country that shares a border with India and is seen as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia. In 1993, India reversed its policy of support for Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement and began courting the friendship of the ruling military junta. Since then, the Indian government and, to a lesser extent, private Indian corporations, have sought and secured lucrative contracts for industrial and infrastructure projects, including the construction of highways, pipelines, and ports. Before the implementation of the Look East Policy, China enjoyed a monopoly over Myanmar’s vast oil and natural gas reserves. Today, competition between India and China over these energy resources remains high.   Furthermore, while China remains Myanmar’s biggest weapons supplier, India has boosted its military cooperation with Myanmar. India has offered to train elements of the Myanmar Armed Forces and share intelligence with Myanmar in an effort to increase coordination between the two countries in combating insurgents in India’s Northeastern States. Several insurgent groups maintain bases in Myanmar territory. India Reaches Out Since 2003, India has also embarked on a campaign to forge free trade agreements with countries and regional blocs throughout Asia. The South Asia Free Trade Agreement, which created a  free trade area  of 1.6 billion people in  Bangladesh,  Bhutan,  India,  Maldives,  Nepal,  Pakistan, and  Sri Lanka, came into effect in 2006. The  ASEAN-India Free Trade Area  (AIFTA), a  free trade area  among the 10 member states of the  Association of Southeast Asian Nations  (ASEAN) and  India, came into effect in 2010. India also has separate free trade agreements with Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. India has also boosted its cooperation with Asian regional groupings such as ASEAN, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). High-level diplomatic visits between India and the countries associated with these groupings have become increasingly common in the last decade.   During his state visit to Myanmar in 2012, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced many new bilateral initiatives and signed around a dozen MOUs, in addition to extending a line of credit for $500 million. Since then, Indian companies have made significant economic and trade agreements in infrastructure and other areas. Some of the major projects taken up by India include the resurfacing and upgrading of the 160-kilometer Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road and the Kaladan project that will connect Kolkata Port with Sittwe Port in Myanmar (which is still in progress). Bus service from Imphal, India, to Mandalay, Myanmar, was planned to launch in October 2014. After these infrastructure projects, Indias next step is connecting the India-Myanmar highway network to the existing portions of the Asian Highway Network, which will connect India to Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia.