A Brief History of Autism Essay - 1389 Words

The term autism was first used by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908. He used it to describe one of his patients that had schizophrenia. He used it to describe his patient who had withdrawn into his own world. The pioneers of the study of ASDs were Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger. They both worked separately and studied different children. In their research, both of their studies showed that the children that they were studying showed similar characteristics. Both Kanner’s and Asperger’s children had problems in social activity and were different from normal children in terms of fine motor skills. (Mandal) What is Autism? Autism spectrum disorder is a broad term for many diseases, one of them being autism, that affect how a kid thinks,†¦show more content†¦These children also have low muscle tone and mass. Mostly because they are inactive. This limits their motor skills. Most of them are also very sensitive to sounds, touch, taste, and smells that are unusual. For example, an alarm, a fluorescent light, scratchy fabrics, etc. They have deficiency problems with their immune system and severe allergies. This includes harsh rashes, allergic sensitivities, gastrointestinal and ear infections as well. Some of them also have hearing and visual impailments. Many of you have probably wondered. Is there a cure for ASD? Can you recover from ASD? â€Å"You cannot recover from autism, but you can improve†(Wiseman 41). Professionals believe that once a child has been diagnosed with an ASD it can’t fully recover. This does not mean that the person cannot improve; just that ASD is a lifelong diagnosis. You can’t fully recover, but you can work hard to be almost completely normal. Usually, the cure begins with a lot of expert advice. You should also spend more time with your child. Jacob’s mom was told that her kid would never be able to even tie his shoes, but she worked with him numerous hours in order to achieve that long desired goal. You can also work with your kid. Everything is possible through God. You should always pray and ask God for advice. The recovery process won’t be easy. In fact, it will be horrible. But it is not impossible. There have been multiple stories of kids with autism that have notShow MoreRelatedEssay about A Brief History of Autism Spectrum Disorder1558 Words   |  7 PagesAutism was first presented in 1943 by Leo Kanner when he was conducting a several children study; he later described the children as having withdrawn behaviour. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the suitable treatments used in behavioural therapy were focused on medications such as LSD and electrical shock as a form of pain and punishment (WebMD Medical Reference, 2014). Tens of millions of people have been diagnosed with Autism worldwide, effecting both genders, all races, ethnicities and people fromRead MoreAutism s Point Of View On Autism1448 Words   |  6 PagesAwesomeness Spectrum Disorder A 14-year old’s point of view on Autism Contents A Brief Description of Autism Stereotypes 101 My Life in Words Thinking in Pictures I’m Not Stupid...Am I? What I’m Capable of vs. What I do Of Pills and Doctors Socially Impaired Relationships With People Becoming Who I am Goals Autism Facts Famous Autistics About Me î ¿ ¾ A Brief Description of Autism Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASD. Autism. When people hear any of these, it’s either â€Å"avoid that person at all costs†Read MoreVaccinations : Harmful Or Helpful?1288 Words   |  6 Pagesdiseases as polio, measles and mumps. The parents who refuse to vaccinate their children are doing so out of fear that their child may develop autism. There has been unlimited amounts of research performed which show there is no link between vaccinations and autism. Researchers have found there may be a genetic link to autism. Vaccinations have a history as far back as ancient Greece. Doctors then were beginning to realize that getting infected with a virus would later help prevent becoming reinfectedRead MoreThe Causes Of Childhood Autism1414 Words   |  6 Pagestopic about â€Å"possible causes of childhood autism.† For example, one is because my little brother is in the process of being diagnosed with autism. Autism can mean a number of things. When people talk about autism, it can either mean autism spectrum disorder, which is a category of disorders, or classical autism ASD includes classical autism. So ASD and autism may be two different things. Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. ASD stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder and can sometimes beRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) And Autism1544 Words   |  7 PagesAUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER â€Å"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.† Those with autism may have a number of difficulties such as in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. It is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with impairments that have lifelong consequences. This paper will discuss how it is found in people, what the effects are, the levels of autism, and how you can helpRead MoreThe Use Of Thimerosal And Its Effects On The World Health Organization1311 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom parents and health administrations were raised on the theory that vaccinating children under the age of two would cause autism. By 2001, thimerosal was taken out of all childhood vaccines in the United States, with the exception of various flu vaccines, in regard to these concerns and merely as a safety precaution. However, there has proven to be no link between autism and vaccines containing t himerosal through various scientific studies by officials. In order to comprehend why there are certainRead MoreEssay on Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Does the Diagnosis Mean?1630 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"What does Today’s diagnosis of Autism mean?† December 6, 2011 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a topic that is not addressed the way it should be. Many people have heard the work autism, but could not define it if asked. Two essays I recently came across, â€Å"Joey: A ‘Mechanical Boy’† written by Bruno Bettelheim and â€Å"Thinking in Pictures†, written by Temple Grandin, share the common topic at hand, autism. Both essays talk about the struggles autism brings to not only the one diagnosedRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) And Autism1569 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.† Those with autism may have a number of developmental difficulties such as problems with social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. It is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with impairments that have lifelong consequences. This paper will discuss how it is found in people, wha t the effects are, the levels of autism, and how you can helpRead MoreSpecial Education vs Inclusive Education887 Words   |  4 Pagesbefore their inclusion into the mainstream. He states, â€Å"Autistic learning is of a disconnected kind and therefore pupils with autism need to be shown what connections are as well as what the specific connections are within the particular learning experience with which they are engaged.† (Powell, 2000) He explains that using visual cues will help students with autism make these specific connections. Clearly, in order to put Powell’s suggestions in use in a mainstream school, the provision of resourcesRead MoreChoosing The Joey s History, One Of The Possible Diagnoses Is Adhd For Joey786 Words   |  4 PagesConsidering the Joey’s history, one of the possible diagnoses is ADHD for Joey. Joey’s hyperactive and inattentive behavioral pattern impairs his social and academic activities. However, Joey’s presenting symptoms do not meet full ADHD criteria. Based on the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2012), he meets following criteria of ADHD. 1-Inattention (Six or more symptoms have to be met, bur Joey meets following

Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms - 1888 Words

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the rights of Canadian citizens and provides them with assurance that all Canadians will be treated equally under the law. The Charter claims to guarantee rights and freedoms, fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, equality rights, language rights, legal rights, and enforcement rights, and Aboriginal rights. Although the Charter claims to guarantee the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens, the government is still able to restrict these freedoms under circumstances. It is not, however, easy for the government to do so as there is a process it must initially undergo in order to restrict freedoms from Canadians. Consequently, some claim that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not adequately safeguard individual rights of Canadian citizens from inequitable governmental or other interference. Section 1 of â€Å"the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subj ect only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society† (Boyd, 2015, p. 118, para. 4). This section of the charter protects the rights of Canadian citizens by ensuring that the government must justify their reasons to place limits on the rights of individuals and must ensure that their objective is of sufficient importance (Boyd, 2015, pg. 118, para. 6). Luckily, the government cannot simply interfere without the ruling of a judge as theShow MoreRelatedThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1617 Words   |  7 Pages Since its inception in 1982 the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, very much like its primary architect Pierre Trudeau, has been one of the most celebrated yet controversial elements of Canadian politics and governance. Revealing how this dynamic emerged requires a nuanced understanding of the motivation behind the Charter and the techniques it employed to succeed. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, like the entire patriation process, was motivated by and mobilized support throughRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1258 Words   |  6 PagesThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was established in 1982 and was put into place by the Trudeau government. The purpose of the Charter was to protect the rights of Canadian individuals and to establish independence from Britain. However, one section of the charter sparked much controversy, this was section 33, also known as The Notwithstanding Clause. The purpose of this clause was to allow the state to override a right protected by the charter, for various reasons. These reasons includeRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1531 Words   |  7 PagesBasing the Basics on a Belief in Something Bigger The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, implemented in 1982 outlines the rights and freedoms that Canadians have as citizens of this country. In this paper I will ask whether we need such a charter, whether we can trust the interpretation of the Charter by the Supreme Court and how the Charter balances power in a democratic way. I will then contemplate the foundational place morality holds in the lawmaking process. In all of this I argue thatRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1613 Words   |  7 Pages The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms simply referred to as the â€Å"Charter†, is a significant document in regards to the Canadian constitution. Its primary aim is to uphold individual rights and freedoms and promote equality in administering justice. However, its passage in 1982 has led to increased controversies given that the Charter gives courts more power in interpreting its provisions while sidelining the legislature (Boyd 118). This means that the advent of this Charter was the end ofRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms840 Words   |  4 PagesThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is an important milestone in Canadian history. An effort through rigorous debate and compromise gave birth to this document that defines our collective values and principles by guaranteeing and protecting the fundamental rights of its citizens. Prior to the Charter, there was no gurantee in Canada that rights and freedoms would not be taken away by legislation. T he Charter also allows courts to render the constitutional duty so that any decisions made areRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1386 Words   |  6 Pagesprinciple by entitling an accused of even the most heinous crimes to civil liberties and processes as not to compromise the criminal trial process. A fair trial is an intrinsic right of all members of society making it fundamental to our being, and is ergo ensured to us all under s.11 of the Canadian Charter of Rights Freedoms. Provided with other preemptive measures to guarantee justice is achieved in the criminal trial proceedings. Additionally, the courts help facilitate an understanding of theRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms883 Words   |  4 PagesRainbow Nation of South Africa in 1994, the first democratically elected government was tasked with drawing up a new constitution that would properly enshrine the human rights that had so long been denied the majority of citizens. One source drawn upon in developing the new constitution was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, itself then little more than a decade old. It is not necessary to be a constitutional scholar to detect many similarities between the two; indeed, Canada’s pride in thisRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms2016 Words   |  9 PagesFreedom of expression, set under section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is one of Canada’s most valued rights in the bill of r ights of the Constitution. It has paved the way for the society in which thirty-five million people reside today. With this level of influence and admiration, it is truly a fundamental right. However, many ground-breaking cases have illustrated the need to limit freedom of expression. A prime example is the landmark case that took place in 1990 surroundingRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1504 Words   |  7 PagesThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms(CCORAF) Guarantees a Free and Democratic Society The Charter of Rights and Freedoms upholds the individual rights of all Canadians. Agree or disagree with the following statement. The Charter is part of Canada’s constitution; the highest law of Canada, which sets out the framework for how Canada is to be governed. The CCORAF sets out those rights and freedoms that Canadians feel are necessary to maintain Canada as a free and democratic community. The CharterRead MoreThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1635 Words   |  7 PagesThe Supreme Court of Canada uses the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to limit the scope of legislation and administrative power by implementing section one of the charter; which results in an open dialogue between the government and the courts on various legislation deemed unconstitutional. In this essay I will discuss the extent in which section one of the Canadian Charter allows the Supreme Court of Canada to dictate legislation, how they go about narrowing legislation and administrative

Child Development and Attachment Theory Free Essays

In this essay I will critically consider how social workers can use their understanding of Child Development and Attachment Theory in the assessment of children and families. To do this I will first discuss the aims of assessment in order to talk about how Development and Attachment theory can be used by social workers to meet these aims as well as the limitations of these theories. In order to critically discuss the use of Developmental and Attachment Theory in assessment it is first important to understand what assessment is, and what its aims are. We will write a custom essay sample on Child Development and Attachment Theory or any similar topic only for you Order Now The assessment of children and families is nothing new but until the late 1970s it was something that was generally perceived to be a task of when children were taken into care. In 1981 it was recommended that a boarder approach should be used for children who required support but it was not until 1988 that the government produced practice guidance on assessment (Horwath, 2010). The Children Act 1989 gave local authorities the duty of working with and supporting carers and families of ‘children in need’ defined under Part III section 17 of the Act. The focus was not just on protecting children from harm, but also promoting their welfare. In 1997 the Labour Government came into power and in 1998 announced the development of a national assessment framework as part of the Governments aim to modernise services and improve outcomes for children (Horwath, 2010). In 2000 The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families was published and emphasised the importance of a systematic and comprehensive assessment of children and their families (Bingley-Miller and Bentovim, 2003). Its is important to note that the framework is not meant to be a checklist but rather a framework that can be used to suit individual circumstances (Gray 2002), the framework is not just for social workers but has been constructed to assist practitioners in all disciplines think about what is happening to a child and the family. The Framework emphasises the importance of children’s development and promoting and safeguarding their welfare by preventing developmental impairment (Rose, 2010). The purpose of the framework is to see both the inner and outer worlds of children and to help the practitioner explore these worlds with the child, families and others involved and come to an agreement about what is happening and what support is needed. The framework has been modelled as a triangle and represents three domains to show the key aspects of the child’s inner and outer world, as shown below the triangle shows the importance of the child’s development needs, parenting capacity and family and environmental factors. How to cite Child Development and Attachment Theory, Papers

Security Plan free essay sample

There is no check in/check out points for any of the employees which can be easier for them to steal. The furnace of the building prevents the fire protection system. The building does not have any fire extinguishers systems only alarm switches. The sprinkler system can only be activated by pulling one of the alarm switches located along the production line. My first recommendation for this plant is to have the property more closed to stop anybody from trying to burglarize or vandalize. For example they can have all the plant ensured with high security fence which won’t allow anybody to jump over the fence. The fence that has swirled wire on top so if anybody tries jumping it, it will cut their hands. I know that this fence can’t be 100 percent to stop them from jumping but it can deter them from jumping it and this can give the security guard some time to notice anybody trying to jump over. We will write a custom essay sample on Security Plan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It should have fence even around the parking lot and the parking spaces should be closed with a gate not allowing any one to come in or come out until their working hours are over. Their should also be a security guard at the ront gate just in case if anybody from work has to leave early he can open the gate and check him for any property stolen from inside the company. Another thing this plant would have to be stricter with their employees. Like for example to don’t let them get out of the premises until their job is finished. Allow them to take their lunch so they won’t have to leave the property this can help stop any employees from stealing. Also after leaving having them stop at a check point by a security officer were he can check if they have stolen any property from the plant. Since theirs 800 employees their should be more than one security guard checking at the check point and not all should get checked only randomly because that would just deter them from leaving to their house since theirs 800 of them. There should only be one entrance and exist to the parking lot and plant. They should also have an ID from the company just to double check they are currently working in the plant and its no one else just trying to get in easy. Every time they go into work they should present that ID to the security officer. Without that ID they shouldn’t be allowed in the plant even if they are workers who forgot it. Every business or building has security cameras and I believe this plant should have way more security cameras than any other business. There should be a couple hundred cameras inside the large valve plant even in the blind spots. In the small valve plant there should be less since it’s smaller but definitely the same security measure for both plants. Some cameras outside the plant would be a good idea too. For example the parking lots around the building making sure no ones trying to jump over the fences or cause property damage. Of course their should also be a couple of security officers watching the security cameras making sure everything is going good. Im sure that these cameras can help save the company more money when it comes to loss prevention. Security officers are very important to the business when it comes to safety. This plant only has one security officer patrolling the premises. I think that is irresponsible just to have one security officer for the whole plant. That’s why I believe more security officers should be hired to patrol the plant, to stand by the gate, to monitor the security cameras. At least four to five officers patrolling the plant and one or two standing near the gate. Another four inside monitoring the security cameras. I understood that at night time the plant was only lighted by four mercury vapor street lights located at the corners of each intersection. They should add the new L. E. D lights all around the premises to keep everything well lighted in the night time. This will help the security officers in their job and also doing a better job because if they can see better they can spot an intruder easier. When the business tries to prevent any accidents they should prepare for the worst accidents that can occur. The plant isn’t very well protected against fires because the fire protection system consists of a dry pipe sprinkler system that can only be activated by pulling one of the alarm switches located along the production line. It only affects the building in which the switch is pulled. The alarm activates a signal which is transmitted to the fire department. The building does not have any type of fire extinguisher system, only alarm switches. This plant should have the best sprinkler system which can detect any fire and it should activate by itself. Once the sprinkler system activates by itself it should notify the fire department without anybody having to pull any switch. There should also be fire extinguishers all around the plant. Like I said the owners should have everything prepared for the worst accident that can happen. Im sure the company can afford all this. It’s also great to apply all these security measures. Fence around the Plant L. E. D lights for the plant lightning

A Nobel Writing Style Reviewed Essays - English-language Films

A Nobel Writing Style Reviewed Earnest Hemmingway is an accomplished author with a large audience. While short novels like The Old Man and the Sea have intrigued many, his war stories have won him a Nobel Prize. Hemmingway possesses a writing style all his own, his ability to write descriptively is unparalleled. His use of similar themes, symbolism, irony, and similar main characters is very profound. Hemmingway's use of theme makes his writing style significant. In The Old Man and the Sea Santiago went through a lot of trouble to catch his magnificent fish and didn't want to loose it. The author writes, ?He did not want to look at the fish. He knew that half of him had been destroyed.? This quote shows Santiago's sadness over the destruction of the fish, due to a shark attack. After Santiago caught his gigantic fish, it was totally destroyed by a series of shark attacks as Santiago sailed it home. Hemmingway states, ?The shark came in a rush and the old man hit him as he shut his jaws.? This passage shows how Santiago's moment of happiness was ruined, and his desperate effort to protect his historical catch. In A Farewell to Arms Fredric did not want to lose Catherine. The hardships they experienced together drew them very close, so losing Catherine was ver difficult for Fredric. A quotation from page 332 states, ?It was like saying good-by to a statue.? This sentence reflects Fr edric' trouble with letting her go and his desire for a last good-by with Catherine the person, not just her lifeless body. Also, in the two novels, once an awaited moment of happiness arrives, it is ruined shortly thereafter by an undesirable event. After Catherine had her baby, they discovered that it was dead. A quote from the final chapter refers to this, ?They couldn't start him breathing. The cord was caught around his neck or something.? This quote tells a reader that the baby was born lifeless, or else died shortly after birth. Catherine also died after she had her baby. Once again the quote, ?It was like saying good-by to a statue,? come into play. This time the quotation simply shows that Catherine is dead, and the happiness that the birth of a new child should bring was destroyed. Hemmingway also utilizes symbolism in his unique writing style. Earnest Hemmingway uses symbolism in his method of writhing. He writes, ?He is a great fish.? The amazing mass of the fish, as shown in the quote, symbolizes the extreme effort it would take to capture such a creature. However, the effort would normally reward a fisherman greatly. In A Farewell to Arms the author states, ?I'm afraid of the rain because sometimes I see me dead in it.? This quote not only symbolizes but also foreshadows how unpleasant and sometimes dreadful things seem to happen to Catherine while it is raining. In chapter 16 it says, ?That night a bat flew into the room through the open door.? This occurs the night before Fredric is due to have an operation against the advise of three doctors, and symbolizes the possibility that he is not ready for the procedure and could be permanently damaged. ?They (the X-rays Fredric had taken of his legs) were in red envelopes.? Red is a symbol of death, war, and terror. A red envelope could symbolize the disastrous contents. Alo ng with symbolism, Hemmingway makes a habit of using irony in his works of literature. Hemmingway's use of irony in his stories is very evident. On page 110 of The Old Man and the Sea Santiago says, ?I wish it were a dream and that I had never hooked him. I'm sorry about it fish. It makes everything wrong.? This is verbal irony because the old man had always wanted to catch such a fish. In chapter 14 of A Farewell to Arms Fredric is lying wounded in a hospital bed, the author states, ?'Good morning,' she said. ?Did you have a good night?' ?Yes thanks very much.? This is verbal irony because Fredric was recently injured by a Mortar shell, the physical pain as well as the emotional pain of being uncertain of what the near future holds

Crocodile Physics Essays - Electromagnetic Radiation, Free Essays

Crocodile Physics Essays - Electromagnetic Radiation, Free Essays Crocodile Physics Crocodile Physics Crocodile Physics is like a well-stocked physics lab where you can experiment to your hearts content. Covering many syllabus topics, here is the hardware flattened for the small screen. There are masses, trolleys, lenses and electronic components to assemble, experiment and take measurements with. You can swing pendulums, change gravity, change angle of ramps to learn about forces. Excellent are the optics tools which let you split light into its colours with a prism and see how fibre optics transmit light. A section on eye defects, where you increase the focal length of a spectacle lens and see what that does to the light rays will make an awesome teaching tool. Though it comes with worksheets, those with time to spare can use it to create impressive interactive tutorials. Crocodile Physics has been developed from Crocodile Clips 3, the acclaimed High School Physics simulator used in over 35 countries and recommended by governments worldwide. It's a simulator for Middle and High school and college physics courses. Crocodile Physics includes a powerful optics simulator, with a range of components including lenses, prisms, mirrors and light sources.You can set the wavelength of the light being emitted from your source, and choose parallel beams, diverging beams or rays. You can also set the dimensions of the source. Crocodile Physics contains a full range of electrical components. Every school subject area is covered: from the basic batteries, bulbs and switches - which are also given in pictorial form, to help understanding of the first principles - to more advanced logic gates, integrated circuits and semiconductors. A vast component library gives you the freedom to experiment in a way that suits your teaching, and allows interested students to explore the subject more deeply. One of the key features which marks Crocodile Physics out from other teaching software is the Integrated Multimedia Editor. This allows you to alter our activities to suit your needs, or to write your own from scratch. The simulation is mathematically accurate, allowing you to test designs and explore the laws of Physics. Most component values can be changed at will. Crocodile Physics comes complete with over 100 interactive on-screen lessons, covering a range of subjects in electricity, electronics, optics, mechanics, dynamics and sound. They combine full simulation with information, questions and answers. It's easy to integrate them into Bibliography Not available

EQUITY AND TRUST (LAW) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EQUITY AND TRUST (LAW) - Case Study Example The law requires that a trustee exercises the same degree of diligence that a man of ordinary prudence would exercise in the management of his affairs. In this report we shall examine the role of the trustees and the standard care he is required to take in some specific instances and also the reasons for the difference in the standards of care in such instances in the light of established case laws and the provisions of the Trustee Act 2000. " As a general rule, a trustee sufficiently discharges his duty if he takes, in managing he trust affairs, all those precautions which an ordinary prudent man of business would take in managing similar affairs of his own"- this was the court ruling in the appeal case of Speight v. Gaunt as early as in the year 1883. According to this settled law the standard care that a trustee is expected to take is limited to the extent that the trustee takes all precautions in administering the trust assets by taking such care which an ordinary prudent man of business would be taking in his own case. The trustee is exonerated from his liability so long as he proves that he has strictly followed the covenants of the trust deed and there is no willful deviation from the purposes for which the trust properties were put to use. The trustee is not expected to use any special skill or expertise with regard to the investment of the trust properties. As has been decided in the case of Fales v. Canada Per manent Trust Co.(1977) 2 SCR 302 "that of a man of ordinary prudence in managing his own affairs and traditionally the standard has been applied equally to professional and non-professional trustees. The standard has been of general application and objective". Hence traditionally there had been no distinction between professional and non professional trustees in the matter of deciding on the standard care to be exercised by the trustees with regard to the trust properties. This was the legal position at a time when the investment opportunities that were available for the trust properties were limited and hence there was no major problem encountered with the administration of the trust properties. However with the passage of time the possible avenues for investments had increased and this has created additional responsibilities for the trustees to consider the portfolios or assets in which they contemplate to invest the trust properties and decide whether the properties would be safe in such investments. Case of Learoyd v. Whiteley (1887) 12 App. Cas.727: "When the trustee serves both a life tenant and a remainderman beneficiary, the trustee must invest impartially and balance the preservation of the property for the remainderman with the need to produce a reasonable income for the life tenant"- this was the observation made in the case of Learoyd v. Whitely (1887) as regards the fiduciary position of the trustees. This ruling altered the degree of the standard care to be exercised by the trustees in that the responsibility of the trustee is extended to ensure that the safety of the investments is also taken into account while investing the trust property, so that the capital is not eroded. The argument of reliance by the trustee on a third person supposed to be an expert on the investments of the sort covered by the case will not exonerate the trustee from his fiduciary liability to the

Research for Registered Nurses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Research for Registered Nurses - Essay Example Two relevant skills are important for making contribution in the clinical care in such scenarios. These are ability to examine the evidence in support of the proposed course of treatments and the ability to use the evidence in practice. However, extracting evidence from research is not easy so it can be used straightforward for clinical decision making. Although it is a commonly held idea that comprehending the research finding is what is necessary, but those who have tried this in practice know very well that finding a relevant evidence for facilitating decision making is not that easy (McDonnell, 2004). Usable evidence must support a proposed clinical activity and clinical intervention so the course of treatment can be modified. Familiarity with research process and research methods are two important requisites for a healthcare professional, and they should at the baseline be able to search the requisite information through a comprehensive, rigorous, and methodologically valid sear ch ultimately assisting them to select and deliver the most effective care. Stone and Rowles (2007) indicated that as far as nursing is concerned, most research has demonstrated that there are barriers to use research findings in practice, and the main reason is a gap of knowledge in research methods and deficiency in critical appraisal skills. A realistic, problem-based structured approach to find and evaluate research could solve the problem. Along with that, there must be approaches to have academic learning on research methodologies. Although there has been argument that evidence is lacking in all fields of nursing and in many cases review and implementation of evidence is not straightforward, it is clear that nurses most often do research for finding evidence with less than optimal methodological rigour. It has also been complained that the workload prevents the nurses to have adequate time to engage in research activity. Nursing as a profession is nascent, and lack of maturity of the science might have prevented practice guided by robust evidences fro m research (Stone and Rowles (2007). Focus Question Given these different views, it is necessary to find out the truth about nursing research, and consequently, doing a systemic literature review would be the best possible option with the focus question, what are the barriers of evidence based practice in nursing What could be the possible solutions Methodology Based on these focus questions, there were a set of inclusion criteria developed for finding relevant articles for this review. The articles which were included were all on evidence based practice in nursing, which identified the barriers to implement a process of finding relevant literature, evaluating and extracting evidence, categorizing evidence, and applying them in practice. It was expected that there would be certain number of studies in each of these themes along or in combination. The literature available in the University database will only be included which were relatively recent published within the period of last 5 years in English language will be included. It was also expected that many of these studies will also focus on evidence based nursing in different specialities. Since specialty-oriented nursing research evidence may have specific pitfalls or positive points specific

Explication of a poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Explication of a poem - Essay Example He attempts to be cool and at the same time acts like the reader knows The Weary Blues. The speaker himself has memorized the lyrics of the song. The poem contains numerous literary devices, which are used in explaining the tone and theme of the poem. There is also catchy use of symbols in the poem, including long O sounds and hard C and T sounds. However, the poem is simplistic in terms of its words and no phrases were confusing. The use of the word Negro is one controversial aspect in the lyrics. The unusual aspect of the poem, one that is appreciated is that Hughes combines both poetry and music. In fact one is not likely to read three lines of the poem with coming across something related to music. In addition, Hughes utilizes words such as â€Å"rocking†, â€Å"drowsy†, â€Å"pale dull pallor† and â€Å"rickety stool† to suggest a melancholy feeling. Hughes also utilizes colloquial language to woo his audience. The speaker skillfully illustrates elements of jazz and blues throughout the poem. Once one familiarizes himself with the characters and the atmosphere in the poem, he/she is likely to get into it straight away. The poem is more of sharing an experience of jazz and blues rather than a complicated

Importance of Customer Service in Hospitality

Importance of Customer Service in Hospitality Exceptional Service Quality in the Hospitality Industry: It’s Role in Good and Bad Times Abstract Customer satisfaction is widely acknowledged to be causal in driving repeat and new business of hospitality enterprises and is considered to be integral to their success. With the delivery of service quality being vital to customer satisfaction, hospitality enterprises make great efforts to maintain, improve and distinguish their service quality through the adoption of corporate strategies and operational policies and procedures. Recent years have seen enormous expansion in the hospitality industry and the introduction of sophisticated technology, not just in areas of computerisation and Internet, but also through the use of various applications that aim to increase the comfort, convenience and safety of guests. With competition in the industry having become intense and advances in technology having become available across the spectrum of hospitality organisations, delivery of exceptional service quality is considered crucial for achievement of competitive advantage. Again whilst the last two decades have been a period of growth for the industry, current global developments, namely the astonishing increase in prices of oil, worldwide inflation in food and commodity prices, the banking crisis, the credit squeeze, and the impending recession in the United States indicate the onset of very difficult times for the hospitality business. The spectre of lower occupancy, lesser rates, and higher costs stares the industry in its face and the prospect of an industry shakeout, accompanied by the closure of inefficient units and the survival of the fittest is imminent. Whilst such situations could possibly entail cost cutting exercises by industry members, along with reduction in services offered to guests, providing of exceptional service quality may well be vital to maintenance and improvement of competitive advantage and be the key to riding out difficult times. This dissertation investigates the phenomenon of customer service, its importance in the success of hospitality organisations, and its role during periods of economic downturn. Table of Contents Introduction A. Overview Achievement of customer satisfaction is widely accepted by business leaders and academics to be the most significant criterion for shaping the quality of products or services that are deliverable to customers, both through the actual product or service, and the corresponding service.[1] With the intensely competitive nature of the modern customer-centric business environment ensuring the elimination of businesses that dissatisfy their clients with their products/services, customer satisfaction is vital not just for corporate growth, and profitability, but for the very survival of today’s corporations.[2] Customer satisfaction, which is greatly dependent upon the quality of the customer service provided, is recognised to be critical to business success, primarily because of its role in driving future sales from both new and existing customers. Numerous studies have corroborated the theory that it costs five times the amount of time, money, and resources to attract new customers as it does to retain existing clients.[3] Losing existing clients very clearly is among the worst things that can happen to business firms. Customer satisfaction is also accepted to be one of the cheapest and most effective ways of promoting goods and services; with no form of advertising being as effective as word-of-mouth publicity and actual customer endorsements. Satisfaction strengthens affirmative feelings toward the product or service and leads to a superior probability of repurchase; dissatisfaction on the other hand leads to downbeat perceptions and reduces the probability of repeat purchases.[4] â€Å"Or as others put it: if consumers are satisfied with a product or brand, they will be more likely to continue to purchase and use it and to tell others of their favourable experience with it if they are dissatisfied, they will be more likely to switch brands and complain to manufacturers, retailers, and other consumers about the product.†[5] Achieving high levels of customer satisfaction poses intense business challenges because of the ambiguity embedded in the concept as well as because of its abstract nature. With the actual manifestation of the level of satisfaction varying both between individuals, and between products and services, satisfaction levels depend upon a range psychological and physical variables that evidence positive correlation with behaviours indicative of satisfaction, like repeat purchase and recommendation rate.[6] Such levels of satisfaction can also depend on other options available to customers and on the qualities of other products or services against which the organisation’s products or services can be compared.[7] Despite the very broad range of parameters involved in its assessment and determination, customer satisfaction is overly dependent upon, related to, and driven by customer service. â€Å"Substantial empirical and theoretical evidence in the literature suggests that there is a direct link between service quality and behavioural intentions (Bitner, 1990; Bolton and Drew, 1991a). Among the various behavioural intentions, considerable emphasis has been placed on the impact of service quality in determining repeat purchase and customer loyalty (Jones and Farquhar, 2003). As pointed out by Bolton (1998), service quality influences a customer’s subsequent behaviour, intentions and preferences. When a customer chooses a provider that provides service quality that meets or exceeds his or her expectations, he or she is more likely to choose the same provider again. Besides, Cronin and Taylor (1994)† also found that service quality has a significant effect on repurchase intentions. [8] The delivery of quality service is expected to be a major challenge that is likely to confront hospitality managers in the immediate future and will be vital for achieving success in the intensely competitive modern day global markets.[9] Hospitality service experiences are overly complex because they range from the exceedingly trivial to the extremely vital.[10] They differ to a great extent in their character and may be straightforward or multifaceted, standard or bespoke, low or high technology, distant or responsive, little or highly skilled, or recurrent or infrequent.[11] They can furthermore concern the execution of obligatory utilitarian actions or can involve grand and highly-strung hospitality events.Hospitality encounters, as distinct from material products or pure services, consist of a fusion of products and services, and satisfaction, (in such situations), represents the sum total of satisfactions with the individual traits of all the products and services that make up the experience.[12] B. Elaboration of Problem The last few decades have witnessed enormous growth in the hospitality industry. Driven by a range of technological, social, economic, and political developments like the tremendous advances achieved in communication technology, the ever-increasing use of the internet, the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the formation of the European Union, the crumbling of travel barriers, economic liberalisation across countries, the proliferation of budget airlines, cheaper travel, and the opening of numerous new travel and tourism destinations, the hospitality industry has expanded like never before and that too across the world. New hotels, new restaurants, new resorts and new spas have mushroomed in near and distant locations to provide people with numerous hospitality options. Whilst the industry has been buffeted by events like the September 11 bombings, the London Tube explosions, and the SARS and Bird Flu epidemics, the steadily increasing economic affluence in the western countries, as also in the countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, in the last two decades, has ensured that such setbacks were overcome and the hospitality sector remained vibrant and prosperous. Such a period of inexhaustible growth now appears to be coming to an end. With oil prices having neared USD 140 per barrel and currently hovering at around USD 125, the days of cheap air travel appear to be irrevocably over. Whilst local and international airlines had started ringing alarm bells when the price of oil crossed USD 70 per barrel last year, the events of the last few months have shaken up the whole airline and travel and tourism industry, cast doubts on the survival of several airlines, and led to the cancellation of thousands of airline bookings and hotel reservations. Apart from the price of oil, the disastrous denouement to the risky home mortgage policies adopted by major international banks, followed by thousands of home loan bankruptcies, billions of dollars in banking industry losses and a credit squeeze on business and personal lending have also contributed to the onset of a recession in the USA. The deepening recession in the United States, the biggest global consumer of goods and services, accompanied by cut downs in jobs and mortgage bankruptcies, is bringing in a global economic downturn that is expected to bring extremely difficult times for the hospitality industry, not just in the United States but also in the UK and in other countries. â€Å"More than one in three hospitality businesses in the UK are feeling less confident about economic prospects over the next 12 months than they do now, according to research launched by American Express. The survey also found that overall confidence has decreased in the last 12 months, with only 29% feeling more confident about the economic environment, down from 38% in 2007. Among hoteliers the number feeling confident has dropped to 34% from 41% a year ago. In comparison for restaurateurs the figure is only 24%, a fall of 10%. For pubs the picture is similar with only 20% stating that they feel more confident about the economic prospects facing their businesses over the next year than they do today.†[13] Whilst the probability of a shakeout in the industry seems to be imminent many veterans in the business appear confident of riding it out on the strength of enhanced customer service and total customer experience. â€Å"Kathryn Pretzel-Shiels, Head of Hotels and Restaurants at American Express explains: ‘Like any other the hospitality sector is not immune to prevailing economic conditions, so it comes as no surprise that Britains hospitality industry feels more circumspect about business prospects than it did last year. The economy is forcing the agenda to a certain extent but the industry is fighting back. There are still opportunities to make money by providing a quality product and memorable service, as consumers are still willing to dine out and are doing it more than ever before.’†[14] A hotel chain like the Ritz Carlton, (the winner of two Baldridge quality awards and a byword in the area of service quality), which has weathered several economic downturns and has yet grown from strength to strength over the years, provides an outstanding example of the importance of exceptional service quality. â€Å"The Ritz-Carlton is well-known for providing consistent service throughout all of its properties. The company began its commitment to quality in 1983 with such simple touches as fresh flowers throughout its hotels, white ties and aprons, and gourmet cuisine. It also established its Gold Standards for customer service—which include its credo, motto, employee promise, three steps of service, and the 12 service values—leading the company to repeatedly outperform its competition, increase customer loyalty (the average guest spends $250,000 at a Ritz over his lifetime), and win the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award twice†[15] Whilst the Ritz Carlton is of course the most well known example of a customer-centric and service quality oriented organisation in the hospitality industry, a number of other establishments like the Four Seasons, the Mandarin Oriental, The Marriott and the Red Carnation provide brilliant examples of how focus on exceptional customer service can increase the competitive advantage of organisations and ensure performance, business and profitability during the worst of times. On the flip side, whilst most business managers are aware of the need to maintain if not improve quality during economic downturns, the actual picture on the ground becomes significantly different in many establishments; where quality programmes are cut down or even abandoned; very often at the cost of quality. â€Å"When economic troubles loom, weve found the usual knee-jerk reaction is to sacrifice programs associated with quality and the customer experience training, quality assurance and mystery shopping programs, guest research, etc.†[16] C. Determination of Objective With the price of oil showing no sign of rebating to previously unimaginable levels of 80-90 US dollars per barrel and the global economy caught in a cleft stick; of severe inflation in prices of food as well as commodities like steel and cement on one side and an impending and long-lasting recession in the United States on the other, all indications point to difficult economic times and squeezes on travelling, holidays, discretionary spending, hotel accommodation and restaurant visits. One of the most important routes to achieving competitive advantage in such difficult and worrying situations is through enhancement of customer service quality to superior levels and improvement of hospitality experiences of customers, not only when compared to previous experiences in the same establishment, but also in comparison with that available elsewhere. Whilst the truth behind this theory is widely accepted and beyond doubt, embattled organisations, challenged by dropping revenue figures, higher costs and lesser margins, frequently adopt the opposite route, taking action to reduce and even abandon quality improvement programmes and actions in order to effect organisational economies and cost savings. This study aims to examine the components of customer service with special emphasis on the hospitality industry and the ways and means in which it can be enhanced in times of economic downturn to increase the competitive advantage of organisations. 2. Literature Review A. Service Quality The key objective of organisational and marketing strategies of business firms in today’s intensely competitive and fast changing business environment is to make profits and further organisational growth. Customer satisfaction, quality and retention have become global management imperatives that are important for all organisations. With the maturing of different industry sectors high quality service has increasingly become an important tool in business success. The hospitality industry and its various components, mainly different types of hotels and restaurants, are certainly not exempt from the challenges of increased competition or rising consumer expectations of quality. Researchers have defined service quality in different ways â€Å"There are many researchers who have defined service quality in different ways. For instance, Bitner, Booms and Mohr define service quality as ‘the consumer’s overall impression of the relative inferiority / superiority of the organisation and its services’. While other researchers view service quality as a form of attitude representing a long-run overall evaluation, Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry defined service quality as ‘a function of the differences between expectation and performance along the quality dimensions’. This has appeared to be consistent with Roest and Pieters’ definition that service quality is a relativistic and cognitive discrepancy between experience-based norms and performances concerning service benefits.†[17] Other researchers have conceptualised customer satisfaction as â€Å"an individual’s feeling of pleasure or disappointment resulting from comparing a product’s perceived performance (or outcome) in relation to his or her expectations.†[18] Conceptualisations of satisfaction are of two main types, i.e. transaction-specific satisfaction and cumulative satisfaction, transaction specific satisfaction being the customer’s evaluation of his or her experience and reactions to a particular service encounter and cumulative satisfaction being the customer’s overall evaluation of the consumption experience to date [19] The satisfaction level of a service encounter arises from differences between the expectations of customers and the actual experience from the provided services, the perceptions of service encounters being vital factors in creating long-term loyalty, customer satisfaction and quality awareness.[20] Whilst the Nordic conceptualisation of service quality was developed in the mid 1980s by Gronroos and emphasised the role of technical and functional quality on service encounters, Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry developed a new model of service quality, called the SERVQUAL model in 1988.[21] The SERVQUAL model has five dimensions, reliability, responsiveness, empathy, assurances, and tangibles, which together form a basis to measure, quantify, and assess the service experience and to determine the ways in which the viewed and expected service would influence the perceived service quality. Reliability is the ability to perform the promised services dependably and accurately. Responsiveness is the willingness to help customers and provide prompt service. Assurance is the knowledge and courtesy of employees as well as their ability to convey trust and confidence. Empathy is the provision of caring, individualised attention to customers. Tangibles are the appearance of physical facilities, equipment, personnel and communication materials.[22] The SERVQUAL model views service quality to be the gap between the expectations of customers (E) and their perceptions of the performance (P) of the service providers. â€Å"According to Parasuraman et al. (1985), service quality should be measured by subtracting customers perception scores from customer expectation scores (Q = P  ± E). The greater the positive score represents the greater the positive amount of service quality or vice versa.†[23] Whilst the model has been the subject of criticism, mainly because of its inadequacy in quantifying and thus in measuring expectations of service from customers, it has nevertheless been used as the basis for investigation by other researchers who have developed modified versions of the model. Despite the essentially theoretical nature of the models discussed above most quality conscious organisations take actions across a wide front of organisational activities to follow their underlying principles and take actions for minimisation of negative customer perceptions and strengthening of positive hospitality experiences. â€Å"Companies that achieve high levels of customer satisfaction display a zeal for superior service from the very top of the organization chart. This dedication constitutes the foundation of customer-centricity. Without the values and culture that leaders inspire, none of the other principles can be effective for long. Customer-centric values and culture inform the hiring process and animate the systems of training and rewards. Instilling values of this sort may be the ultimate test of leadership. Leaders of customer-centric companies clearly articulate what kind of organisational culture they want and consistently sell employeeson its key principles, leaving no doubt about the significance that members of senior management attach to customer-centricity. More important than communications, however, is the leaders’ willingness to take action when the primacy of high-quality service is challenged.[24] B. Routes to Achievement of Exceptional Service Quality The relationship between quality of service and successful hospitality establishments is frequently noticed but rarely recognised as a causal relationship. Reppa and Hersh (2007) report that interviews with 40 executives of truly successful companies operating in intensely competitive environments during a study by Booz Allen suggest that these organisations are distinguished by superb levels of service, which very often are viewed not just as being integral to the organisations but also as their important differentiators. Most such companies consciously route their organisations towards customer-centric behaviour and constant enhancement of service quality. Companies known for high levels of customer satisfaction exhibit an enthusiasm for providing better service from the very summit of the organisation.[25] This commitment makes up the basis of customer-centricity. Corporate strategies that are exclusive of the principles and mores of their leaders cannot really be effectual for long. Customer-centric values and traditions drive the recruitment processes of such companies, provide vitality to training, motivation and reward systems; experts state that building value systems of this type can well prove to be the definitive criterion of leadership. Leaders of such businesses are eloquent about their requirements of organisational culture and leave no doubt about the importance they attach to service quality.[26] Whilst most organisations by and large follow their own strategies for achieving of exceptional service quality, certain principles, policies, and strategies are important for the continued success of all hospitality organisations. i. Human Resource Policies Whilst strong HR policies are accepted to be utmost importance for achievement of high levels of service quality, especially so in the hospitality industry where interaction between organisational employees and guests occur at various points, actual HR practices leave much to be desired in many establishments, and much of the hospitality industry, especially in the middle level and economy level hotels and restaurant segments, is characterised by low wages, part-time workers and high turnover.[27] This is especially true of the London budget hotel and restaurant segment, which is peopled by workers from East Europe and Asia, many of whom are paid low wages, have essentially temporary jobs, and are weak in communicating in English. Staff turnover in many hospitality establishments is often as high as 100 %.[28] Hotels Chains like the Marriott, the Four Seasons, and the Ritz Carlton, on the other hand, are obsessed with issues concerning employee selection, training, remuneration, and retention, believing and very rightly so, that the quality of service is predominantly dependent upon employee calibre. [29]Such organisations populate their establishments with superior staff who are specifically chosen for their natural predispositions for caring for people. The Marriott recruitment philosophy of â€Å"get (ting) it right, first time† conceals a complex and well thought out strategy of recruiting people with great care in order to provide for near perfect fits. Again most such establishments pay as much attention to training, motivating and developing employees as they do to selecting and recruiting them.[30] â€Å"Ritz-Carlton uses a process that may set the standard for methodical rigor. It evaluates each applicant using scientific, behaviour-based assessment tools developed by the human resources consulting firm Talent+, tools derived from statistical analysis of top performers’ behavioural characteristics in each job category. Potential hires are tested both for cultural fit and for traits associated with customer service excellence, including what Ritz calls an innate ‘passion to serve.’ Says John Timmerman, vice president for quality and program management: ‘The smile has to come naturally.’† [31] The interview process furthermore requires candidates to spend time with hotel staff whilst they operate on their regular functions, giving prospective employees a practical picture of the rigours and responsibilities involved in the job and the opportunity to withdraw in case of any apprehensions or misgivings. With in-house company research indicating that wrongly recruited employees could cost the organisation many times their annual salary, the Ritz tries out initiatives like these to minimise attrition. The company’s staff turnover, which is less than 15 % of the industry average, adds, both to stability and to profitability. [32] ii. Essential Areas of Focus Whilst service quality is integral to customer satisfaction, its delivery, in the hospitality industry and elsewhere, is essentially multifaceted and subjective, and thus far more challenging than product quality. The issue has become more complex because of the fact that whilst hospitality clients have until now been satisfied with basic and fundamentally simple products and services, the technological advances of recent years have introduced new dimensions of comfort and convenience that have come to be regarded as part of high quality service.[33] Despite a plethora of innovative products, services and technologies now available in hotels, people still share a basic set of requirements critical to their experience. The top five factors that drive loyalty across all industry segments are (a) value for price, (b) room cleanliness, (c) employees â€Å"can do† attitude, (d) friendliness of the front desk staff, and (e) comfortable bed and furniture. [34] These factors play key roles in the provisioning of service quality and all successful hotels are fanatical about issues like guest comfort, cleanliness, and housekeeping. At the Mandarin Oriental, which won the highest ranking for Housekeeping in the Market Metrix Hospitality Index ranking for 2006, Barsky and Nash state that customers expressed their appreciation on various facets of housekeeping services like twice a day turndown of sheets and carefully chosen flowers. iii. Technological Advances and Service Quality Recent times have seen incredible progress in technical knowledge, expertise, and know-how, and their use in across almost all areas of human action. Hardware technology, software development and the expansion of the World Wide Web have provided new facets to the hospitality sector. Technological development has led to improvement in efficiencies, reduction of expenses, heightening of customer satisfaction, expansion of revenues, and increase in competitive advantage of members of the hospitality industry. The emergence and the progressive adoption of the Internet by millions of individuals across the world has opened up new dimensions in human connectivity and influenced the actions of all business sectors. â€Å"The Internet, as a collection of interconnected computer networks, provides free exchanging of information. Over 400 millions of computers on more

The Peach Tree Essay -- Observation Essay, Descriptive Essay

The Peach Tree When I reminisce about my childhood, the fondest memories I have revolve around food. We often went on picnics to the beach. There at the water's edge, my father would struggle to light the charcoal in the wind that kept both the hot dogs and the kids cold. My mothers' anise-sweetened bread was the perfect match for ham every Easter morning, afternoon, and the days that followed. On my birthday we always had gnocchi, fluffy pillows of pasta that melted in our mouths, tossed with an ethereal tomato sauce. In August we had peaches and not just any peaches, peaches from our peach tree. I loved our peach tree. I love the memory of that tree. In retrospect, the peach tree was an integral part of my childhood. I cannot recall when we first got the peach tree. It seems as if it was always there in the backyard. I do know that it was a gift from my aunt and uncle who worked at Del Monte's Agricultural Research Facility. Whether it was a rare or special breed, I wonder. The fruit was so sweet that I can't imagine Del Monte choosing such a fine specimen only to douse it in heavy simple syrup. Whatever its parentage, it was our good fortune to receive such a tree; it produced the sweetest, most succulent peaches I've ever eaten. The peach tree was special to us. It was, in fact, the only tree in our small yard. We grew through the seasons with it. Every February the first bits of pink showed through the tightly closed flower buds. By March, it was covered in pink, like overgrown cotton candy. In April, little flecks of green accented the pink blossoms and slowly pushed out the pink until a fresh, vibrant green blanketed the crown of the tree. During this transition, the lawn became a carpet of pink. Then slowly th... ... the old tree was producing only a few runt-sized fruit. One winter my parents cut down the tree. It left a scar on the lawn and a barren space in the yard. I hadn't thought much about that old tree for some time. It was the peach tree, after all, along with my grandparents' vegetable garden that planted the seed, so to speak, of my passion for the garden. The first fruit trees I planted in my own backyard were peaches. When I told my sisters that I was writing about the peach tree, they both smiled a familiar smile. For a moment, they were transported to another place and time. And I knew that it wasn't simply nostalgia seen through the nearsighted eyes of memory, it was real. In the years that have followed I have never found a peach as large, juicy and luscious as the ones from our tree. It may have been Del Monte's secret special breed, but I think it was more.