The Argument For Stricter Gun Control Laws Essay Example for Free

Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman Essay Example For Students

Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman Essay The misrepresentation in the story Skinwalkers was submitted for the sole motivation behind giving just desserts to the American government. The thinking behind the misrepresentation was on the grounds that an arrangement that was marked at Fort Summer decades back. This arrangement guaranteed things to the Indian individuals things, which were never conveyed, for example, one educator for each thirty inhabitants. Fundamentally Dr. Yellowhorse was currently causing the legislature to repay the emergency clinic for the bills of individuals who had just been discharged and in any event, for individuals who were at that point expired. This because done so handily was on the grounds that there were no demise endorsements for the expired and numerous individuals that were dead had no date of death alongside there name. The situations where Dr. Yellowhorse effectively concealed individuals that were all the while living since he worked in the emergency clinic and approached the money relat ed information. This implied it was practically easy for him to record flawed reports as frequently as could be expected under the circumstances. The main issue that Yellowhorse ran into was that a few people were beginning to get on. Onesalt had gotten on to the clinic misrepresentation and was building an argument against Dr. Yellowhorse and the clinic. This is likewise the thinking for why Endocheeney, Wilson Sam and Roosevelt Bistie had all been slaughtered and besides why an endeavor had been made on Jim Chees life. Yellowhorse dreaded she would uncover him so he had her killed by making up a story that she simply like the others was a skinwalker and they had put a revile on whomever did the specific slaughtering (the mother). Before being shot Onesalt had addressed official Chee and Yellowhorse expected that now he knew also or would discover with time. Chee presumably ought to have found out about what was happening some time before the finish of the book. He was the criminologist looking into the issue and I even acknowledged what was happening before he did. The hardest piece of coming to an obvious conclusion was finding a rationale, which all through a large portion of the book there didnt appear to be one. This was obviously until Yellowhorse spilled his beans to Chee directly before he was going to execute him. The administration would need to investigate passing records and even perhaps screen the Badwater Clinic all the more near stay away from a reoccurrence of this sort. Fundamentally the administration needs to adopt an additional hands on strategy to managing these sorts of circumstances. There ought to be examinations like in protection cheats where an analyst or sorts investigates arbitrary or specific cases. The administration could likewise begin a record of the Navajo births and passings around the booking. In the event that the legislature had a kind of monetary record they could monitor what was happening inside the network. Yellowhorse claims that what he was doing was legitimized for two principle reasons. First he was conning the administration that had been deceiving his kin for a long time. This I felt was reasonable. Besides he was helping more individuals then he was killing. For this situation I dont feel it is ethically plausible to try and endeavor to guard yourself or legitimize your thinking on the off chance that I were in Yellowhorses shoes. Nobody life is worth less then another. You cannot execute one blameless man to spare another keeps an eye on life. With the conditions pending I can perceive how it could be seen as achievable to deceive somebody on the off chance that it was for there own great. In spite of the fact that it may not generally be moral, in the event that it will profit more noteworthy's benefit without harming the minority or any other person besides I could see it being ethically defendable. However, this was not the situation.

MAST Michigan Alcohol Screening Test

MAST Michigan Alcohol Screening Test Addiction Alcohol Use Print The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Updated on February 03, 2020 John Fedele / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Developed in 1971, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is one of the oldest and most accurate alcohol screening tests available.?? Questions on the MAST test relate to the patients self-appraisal of social, vocational, and family problems frequently associated with heavy drinking. The test was developed to screen for alcohol problems in the general population. Drawbacks There are two drawbacks to the MAST test, compared with other alcohol screening tests available today. The length of the test makes it less convenient to administer in a busy primary care office or emergency room setting, compared to the shorter four- or five-question tests available. The questions on the MAST test also focus on problems over the patients lifetime, rather than on current problems. This means the test is less likely to detect alcohol problems in the early stages. Over the years, there have been several variations of the MAST developed, including the brief MAST, the short MAST, as well as the self-administered MAST. The following is the 22-question, self-administered MAST. The MAST Test The MAST Test is a simple, self-scoring test that helps assess if you have a drinking problem. Answer yes or no to the following questions: 1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker? (normal is defined as drinking as much or less than most other people) ___ Yes      ___ No 2. Have you ever awakened the morning after drinking the night before and found that you could not remember a part of the evening? ___ Yes      ___ No 3. Does any near relative or close friend ever worry or complain about your drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 4. Can you stop drinking without difficulty after one or two drinks? ___ Yes      ___ No 5. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 6. Have you ever attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? ___ Yes      ___ No 7. Have you ever gotten into physical fights when drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 8. Has drinking ever created problems between you and a near relative or close friend? ___ Yes      ___ No 9. Has any family member or close friend gone to anyone for help about your drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 10. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 11. Have you ever gotten into trouble at work because of drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 12. Have you ever lost a job because of drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 13. Have you ever neglected your obligations, family, or work for two or more days in a row because you were drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 14. Do you drink before noon fairly often? ___ Yes      ___ No 15. Have you ever been told you have liver trouble, such as cirrhosis? ___ Yes      ___ No 16. After heavy drinking, have you ever had delirium tremens (DTs), severe shaking, visual or auditory (hearing) hallucinations? ___ Yes      ___ No 17. Have you ever gone to anyone for help with your drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 18. Have you ever been hospitalized because of drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No 19. Has your drinking ever resulted in your being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward? ___ Yes      ___ No 20. Have you ever gone to any doctor, social worker, clergyman, or mental health clinic for help with any emotional problem in which drinking was part of the problem? ___ Yes      ___ No 21. Have you been arrested more than once for driving under the influence of alcohol? ___ Yes      ___ No 22. Have you ever been arrested, or detained by an official for a few hours, because of other behavior while drinking? ___ Yes      ___ No Scoring Score one point if you answered no to the following questions: 1 or 4. Score one point if you answered yes to the following questions: 2, 3, 5 through 22. A total score of six or more indicates hazardous drinking or alcohol dependence and further evaluation by a healthcare professional is recommended. Do you think you may have a drinking problem? Take the online alcohol abuse screening quiz.

Personality Is A Definition Of Personality - 1483 Words

Personality is a word that is known to come from the Latin word persona which is defined as the ‘mask’. The definition of personality is quite eclectic as there are many opinions on what a personality is and what it consists of. â€Å"†¦the most adequate conceptualisation of a person’s behaviour in all its detail† (McClelland, 1951, p.69) is a historical definition of personality. More narrowly, personality is described as the amalgamation of qualities or characteristics and the behavioural attitudes that form an individual’s distinctive character. There has been much debate as to whether one’s personality can change throughout their lifetime or if it’s ‘set in plaster’ after a specific age. Longitudinal studies were undertaken on the aspects of the five-factor model in an attempt to come to a conclusion about whether or not one’s personality can change. Changes in personality may occur due to certain life exper iences which can leave indents in one’s personality, forcing it to change negatively or positively for a temporary or permanent amount of time in order to adapt to the environment. John Bowlby suggests the attachment theory is necessary in early life in order to shape an individual’s personality. Early life experiences as well as an individual’s personality are primarily influenced by one’s parents until they’re mature enough to form their own identity. There are also opposing views on personality as numerous amounts of people believe it doesn’t change after a certain age.Show MoreRelatedThe Five Personality Traits Definitions813 Words   |  4 PagesThe five personality traits, a person’s, portray Neuroticism, Extroversion, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to experience. A person does have a small genetic bias relates to personality. Men and Women do have different genetic makeup that is more prone to gender-based soci al encounters. For example, with two different sexes experience the same incident and the outcome results being different. The unanswered question is Men from Mars and Women from Venus. The Five personality traitsRead MoreMy Own Definition Of Personality916 Words   |  4 PagesDoes anyone ever really know what personality really means? Everyone has their own definition of what personality means to them individually. My own personal definition of personality is, a characteristic of our emotions, thoughts and how we react to certain situations that differentiate between various individuals. Following this paragraph I will explain why this is my own definition of personality. To begin with, some say culture can determine personality. The real question is, does it? AccordingRead MoreThis paper will reflect on the definition of personality and some key definitions that define our700 Words   |  3 Pagesreflect on the definition of personality and some key definitions that define our behavior but not us as individuals. Understanding personality differences is a start of knowing how to adapt when other personalities are presented. In order to understand what personality is let start by defining personality. Personality is a combination of his or her interests, attitude behavior patterns and other traits that may continue throughout his or her life span. â€Å"The definition has two importantRead MoreGordon Allport : Personality Psychology And Trait Theory718 Words   |  3 Pagesfounder of â€Å"personality psychology† and â€Å"trait theory†. Allport, just like any other psychologist, had his own definition on what personality is. According to Allport, â€Å" no two psychologists could easily agree on one definition of the term ‘personality’† (Kendall, 2010, p. 282), Allport believed that personality could be characterized in two ways, idiographic and nomothetic; while Freud believed that personality is composed by the Id, Ego and Superego. Allport had his own very definition of personalityRead MorePersonality Is Developed From Genes ( Nature ) Or Influenced By Environment ( Nurture ) Essay1436 Words   |  6 Pagesperson’s personality is developed from genes (nature) or influenced by environment (nurture). Personality is something every human has and is an essential element in their social world. This research is important to know if, how, and why personalities change. Different scholarly-based material was used to support either stance on the issue. The articles and research helped to decipher the roles of parents, genes, biology, the environment, experiences, and culture in a person’s personality. PersonalityRead MoreExplain Eysencks Approach to Understanding Personality. Is Personalit1734 Words   |  7 PagesBefore examining Eysencks approach to understanding personality, we need to define what personality is. Dictionary definition (1) Personality Ââ€" the sum of all the behavioral and mental characteristics by means of which an individual is recognised as being unique. What is meant by personality? It is the inner quality of a person, the sum of their life experiences, the way the environment affects a persons outlook and a conscious choice. Personality is not better or worse than any other personsRead MoreThe Human Mind For Millennia Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Personality is a topic that has interested the human mind for millennia. As early as the fourth century BC, Aristotle was writing about the differences within individuals based on â€Å"determinants of moral and immoral behavior (Matthews Deary),† which he identified as cowardice, vanity, and modesty. Aristotle’s student, Theophrastus, continued this thought process through a book detailing thirty personality traits, thus bringing forth the idea that an individual’s personality could be brokenRead MoreIntroduction to Personality Essay940 Words   |  4 Pages Introduction to Personality Personality has been part of debate amongst theorists for decades. Many theories have been developed about what human personality is and how it develops. Even after so many years of research and studies, no one definition has been agreed by all theorists. This paper will briefly talk about different aspects of personality and what influence in the development of personality. A persons personality is made up with his or her interests, attitude, behavioral patternsRead MoreThe Personality Of Personality Psychology Essay1051 Words   |  5 Pages some researchers believe that the personality is the one thing about a person that does not change over time. Genetics and environment equally contribute to the development of the personality. This is shown through the nature/nurture principle. The way a person behaves towards others, and reacts towards the world around them is determined by that person’s individual personality. No two personalities are alike. This is because a person’s individual personality is made up of a unique variety of characteristicsRead MoreScientific Study of Personality1081 Words   |  5 PagesScientific Study of Personality Scientific Study of Personality In the search for understanding behavior, the quest takes one to the subject of â€Å"personality†. There have always been questions as to why people do what they do, whether or not people have the ability to shape their own personality, and why people are so different. There are individuals that are predictable and others that are completely unpredictable, and what exactly controls or is a factor in one’s personality. Personality is a complex

The Earliest Forms Of Writing - 1432 Words

The Earliest Forms of Writing, A Better Understanding of History Writing is a key root in the history that we learn today. It serves as a very useful translator for historians. This is made possible as historians can use the first forms of writing-which derive from 3,500 BCE, to serve as a direct source of hearing a point of view from a witness of that time period. Writing began with pictographs, and emerged onto cuneiform, hieroglyphics, ideograms, and phonograms that were carried out by scribes. Writing served its purpose of developing a way to document trades and business accounts, cultural practices- especially those of religion, and government issues and orders. Writing of the past cultures serves as an essential factor in understanding the previous cultures, as the earliest forms of writing can indicate events of their causes, but what is left unsaid, can be interpreted as something which has derived from an earlier period of time. The different forms of writing display what the people’s values, needs, and expectations once were. Understanding history is much more clear as artifacts portray actual documentations of earlier cultures. The first form of writing, cuneiform, was a system of symbols that was used by Sumerians in order to represent and somewhat describe the type and amounts of goods traded. Cuneiform was simply a form of symbols, therefore it was a very vague description, but it served the purpose of establishing a form of documentation which was needed byShow MoreRelatedSumerians, Egyptians, and Chinese Contributions868 Words   |  4 Pagesyou know that Sumerians developed the world’s first form of writing? That many of todays household objects were invented or used by the ancient Egyptians (lock and keys, combs, scissors, wigs, makeup, deodorants, toothbrush and toothpaste)? Or that for the last 4,000 years China has been the oldest continuous civilization on Earth? The Sumerians, Egyptians, and Chinese created flourishing civilizations filled with many achievements in writing, architectu re, and technology that made lasting contributionsRead More Mesopotamia Urbanization Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagessystem) .The two rivers provided everything the earliest civilizations needed in order to survive. The Sumerians, who were considered the greatest of the earliest civilizations, depended on the two rivers for food supply, water and a vehicle for their trade. The two rivers had a major impact on the earliest civilizations advancement in technology and agriculture. Also, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers contributed to the development of the earliest civilizations beliefs systems and values. Read MoreCuneiform Vs. Cuneiform : Cuneiform1199 Words   |  5 Pagesdevelopment of early writing methods? The answers to this questions lies in the uncovering of the past remains of our oldest deciphered evidence of writing: Cuneiform. Cuneiform is a style of writing that is the earliest known. The oldest archaeological evidence of it was found in the ancient city Uruk in Mesopotamia where they have unearthed nearly 4000 clay tablets. Their estimated age is dated to roughly 3000 BC; any more specific of a time frame is debated. Cuneiform was a style of writing written onRead MoreThe Invention Of Writing Is A Fundamental Pillar Of Human Interaction879 Words   |  4 Pagesvisual examples, that the invention of writing was the decisive turning point in the evolution of human growth. From primal hunter-gathers to functioning members of an ancient civilization, writing has acted more than a mere stepping stone in the technological and cultural advancement of mankind, writing is a fundamental pillar of human interaction. The essay will also convey how computers, when acting as the main medium of writing, write upon layers of more writing opposed to a slate, piece of paperRead MoreEssay on Writing and Technology1120 Words   |  5 PagesWriting and Technology The fact that we do not commonly feel the influence of writing on our thoughts shows that we have interiorized the technology of writing so deeply that without tremendous effort we cannot separate it from ourselves or even recognize its presence and influence (Ong, 317). In this modern age of computers, disposable pens, and mechanical pencils, it is easy to forget that at one time writing was not so simple or convenient. Most of us have . . . become so used toRead MoreRiver Valley Civilizations Essay726 Words   |  3 Pagescivilizations are one of the earliest societies in the world. The rises of these ancient river valley civilizations started the first cradle of civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient China are the earliest civilizations that were successful enough to make enough food for everybody. Every one of these civilizations had three things in common: they all had a special relationship with the river, they created their own writing system, and they all reliedRead MoreThe Mayan Civilization And The Maya Empire1677 Words   |  7 Pages The Mayan civilization or the Maya Empire, centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala, reached the peak of its power and influence aroun d the sixth century A.D. The Maya excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making and mathematics, and left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork. Most of the great stone cities of the Maya were abandoned by A.D. 900. The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societiesRead MoreEssay on Egyptian Mathematics664 Words   |  3 PagesEgyptians are one of the earliest known and most well documented people to inhabit the Earth. They were one of the first people to respond to practical needs within agriculture, business, and industry. Moreover, archaeological and historical artifacts suggest that the Egyptians were among the first to develop the study of mathematics. This paper will discuss the development of mathematics in ancient Egypt, focusing on the use of hieroglyphs, the decimal system, and hieratic writing and numerals to demonstrateRead MoreAncient Greeks And The Sumerians1143 Words   |  5 Pa gesSumerians, from 4800 to 1750BC, with 19 dynasties and 103 kings that developed into one of the earliest civilizations on earth. Their existence as a civilization was not even discovered until the middle of 1800AD. As a result of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who wrote about the Babylonians most people did not realize that the Sumerians preceded the Babylonians. Furthermore, it was the Sumerians that developed writing, a religion and numerous agricultural methods, which continued on with the following civilizationsRead More What is Art? Essay845 Words   |  4 Pagesmean many different things to many different people and was one of the earliest ways in which man has expressed him or herself to others, whether it was through cave drawings or hieroglyphics. It does not begin or end with just drawing or painting, items typically considered art, or the many other recognized facets of art including architecture, drama, literature, sculpting, and music. The writing of Beowulf, one of the earliest known written prose, or the Greek plays which have influenced drama since

Survey of Research Literature †Identity Theft Free Essays

string(145) " biased based on how that information came about, and therefore might require additional information to provide clear evidence and confirmation\." Research Analysis Survey of Research Literature in Information Technology Management Infrastructure Abstract: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. There are many definitions of identity theft, however this type of crime typically involves illegally utilizing somebody else’s personal information for both personal and or financial gain. Thieves acquire personal information through different methods ranging from stealing physical documents all the way to hacking into corporate databases. We will write a custom essay sample on Survey of Research Literature – Identity Theft or any similar topic only for you Order Now The field of Information Technology is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. Daily innovations and discoveries are flooding our lives. The continual strive for speed and efficiency make the world move faster into the new era of digital information. In addition to advances in computing, many other fields are forced to innovate and comply with the demands of the new 21st century consumer. However with all the convenience and access to this digital information the world faces those who use the technology to destroy information and control others for their own benefit. The two most evident industries that face such challenges are the health industry and the financial industry. Both consists of billions of dollars in revenue each year and pose a lucrative target for the digital underground. The finance industry is a more interesting topic when it comes to identity theft since it involves the financial system for businesses, financial institutions and consumers. By looking at this industry directly we can see how these affects influence each other and what can be done to protect the consumer and the business sector. This paper will be separated into consumer and business parts and then further divided into sub parts where the focus would be on specific sections on what is closely related to or can result in identity theft. Once such threats and security issues are identified and thoroughly described, the paper will also cover some of the existing solutions that are currently being implemented by, businesses, financial institutions and even consumers themselves. Looking at all sides of the problem, identity theft touches upon a variety of issues such as tools that are used to identify ones credentials, information that is stored on computers of thousands or retailers, financial institutions as well as taking into account the technology that makes authentication and financial transactions possible. The spectrum of this is so large that only a small part of it can be analyzed and covered in this paper. What is Identity Theft? According to numerous sources, identity theft is a way to take someone else’s identity and utilize it for either financial or gains of being accountable for certain actions or consequences. The term identity theft has actually came from the word impersonation or cloning which describes a process of making an exact copy of something or in this case assuming an identity of another person. In this paper there is only one side to the identity theft and it is the financial loss or gain that occurs during the process. Looking at the identity theft from several prospective and analyzing how it affects the consumer, business, or financial institution is what this analysis is attempting to identify. â€Å"Each year, millions of consumers are victimized by identity theft—the practice of using the identity of another to obtain credit. After the identity thief defaults, lenders and credit bureaus attribute the default to the impersonated consumer. Sovern 2004)† According to Sovern 2004, the default that occurs between the lender and the pretend consumer, in the end falls upon the innocent consumer whose information has been stolen in one way or another and misused for financial gain. Typically there are numerous parts to what results in identity theft. First of all identity thieves typically obtain personal information that is used to identify an individual, as we ll as credentials that can be used to authenticate themselves. Then, they would utilize the credentials to impersonate other individuals and proceed to gain access to financial documents and finally actual monetary assets. â€Å"Identity theft—the appropriation of someone else’s identity to commit fraud or theft (Milne 2003)—is a serious consumer problem (Sovern 2004)†. Identity theft is a commission of fraud that not only poses a serious threat to consumers but is a very serious crime that has unlimited consequences for everyone involved in the process. Although it is a serious crime and a wide spread problem there are many different ways that thieves can approach this type of method. The initial process of acquiring personal information that is needed to impersonate another individual can consist anywhere from finding the information in public records at the library, all the way to stealing financial documents like credit cards, checks, and digital information by hacking computer networks. The spectrum of this problem is endless and continues to grow on the daily basis, while financial information becomes ore widespread with the innovation of technology. Before looking at the specific areas of theft and their origins, identifying the meaning behind identity as being part of identity theft would be beneficial to the true understanding behind impersonating someone else. â€Å"Identity is a means of denoting an entity in a particular namespace and is the basis of security and privacy -regardless if the context is digital identificati on or non-digital identification ( Katzan 2010 )†. Unlike theft, identity is much harder to describe especially when looking at how it can be stolen and utilized for personal and financial gain. Katzan 2010 illustrates how an identity can also be referred to as a subject, which have several identities and belong to more than just one namespace. Identity is part of the management system which can establish a process to another system and therefore result in a trust that is facilitated by a third party and acknowledges the basis for the digital identity in the computer-based information systems. Another side is the information that’s provided by a third party that claims the identity of a person but can be biased based on how that information came about, and therefore might require additional information to provide clear evidence and confirmation. You read "Survey of Research Literature – Identity Theft" in category "Free Research Paper Samples" † Identity is primarily used to establish a relationship between an attribute or set of attributes and a person, object, event, concept, or theory. The relationship can be direct, based on physical evidence, and in other cases, the relationship is indirect and based on a reference to other entities ( Katzan 2010)†. Thieves acquire such attributes of the identity through resource such as customer service representatives, Trojan horse computer programs, dumpster diving, corporate databases, and physically stealing computers. To prevent such occurrences the author suggests implementing reponsibilized and individualized forms of risk management where individuals are encouraged to incorporate informational security practices into their daily lives and care for their virtual self in the digital world. Phishing Attacks Moving forward beyond what both identity and theft really mean, identifying he most popular ways of gaining access to individual identity data is the first step to preventing consumers from being the victims of such thefts. The first most common approach to gathering the necessary information to impersonate an individual is a Phishing Attack. A Phishing Attack is a way to deceive a consumer into revealing personal information to the attacker through digital communication. â€Å"Phishin g has been a major problem for information systems managers and users for several years now. In 2008, it was estimated that phishing resulted in close to $50 billion in damages to U. S. onsumers and businesses (Wright, Marett, 2010). This obfuscation method of both email and Web sites is how thieves are able to convince users into fulfilling requests for personal information. Once that information is obtained it can be used to stage theft of either company or personal intellectual property. â€Å"In the most common phishing scam, the â€Å"phisher† sends an e-mail disguised to look like it is from a financial institution or e-commerce site. To appear credible and to attract the recipient’s attention, the e-mail uses the company’s logos and trademarks and employs â€Å"scare tactics† such as threats of account closure (Lynch 2005)† This method of obtaining identity information carries a relatively low risk in both legality and cost. The phisher who is carrying out the crime usually resides in an international location to avoid authorities which makes the apprehension and prosecuting of the fraud that is committed to be far more difficult. One of the studies that utilized analytical approach to find the reasoning behind the success of such a technique concluded that there are four phases in studying behavioral factors, which influence the replies coming from the consumer in regard to answering emails that request them to provide sensitive information. The study covered 299 subjects and analyzed the percentage of those who responded to different methods within the study of phishing. The final factor to the study is the awareness level that the communicator posses in regard to the security threats that are currently present in the digital world. Security awareness training is important in teaching Web users how to appropriately utilize both network and system resources. Complete review of security policies and their congruency with current threats is crucial in identifying noncompliance of both users and systems. Once systems are updated and users are aware of the different tactics that can be used against them and the different ways they can protect themselves from becoming victims the world can move closer to eliminating phishing as an urgent threat. Driver’s License Moving past the phishing technique on the consumer side, taking an in-depth look at how identification has become an essential part of identity theft and what are the different tools that we use as consumers to present that trust between our identity and the business entity from which we want to acquire services. The first and probably the most widespread tool of identification in United States of America is a driver’s license. A driver’s license is an identification document that corresponds to a Department of Motor Vehicles database record, therefore is considered to be a legitimate identification document. It is very valuable and the most circulated picture credential that gives one the ability to operate a vehicle as well. One of the reasons behind counterfeiting driver’s licenses is due to the broad spectrum of different types of licenses that exist in the USA. These counterfeits vary from simple laminates that are created on matrix printers, all the way to sophisticated and authentic, 45 degree hologram based laminates utilizing the same materials and even printing equipment that is used by the DMV. â€Å" The typical criminal would use fungible credentials as an instrument to defraud because it offers reduced risk, minimal effort, and increased effectiveness. Financial frauds, money laundering, and identity theft are three common exploits that typically rely on fungible credentials. Fungible credentials are useful precisely because they simultaneously obscure the criminal’s real identity and facilitate any authentication that may be required. (Berghel 2006) This type of credentials is a way to shield the thief’s real identity while still utilizing the facial identification with different credentials. Typically financial transactions are the most common way to utilize fungible credentials to gain access to the victim’s assets. Since the process involves getting several versions of identification based on the verification process, in the end the original counterfeit documents are disposable. This means that the final identifiers that are obtained, such as the drivers license are legitimate due to its issuance from the government agency. This type of a scheme makes the detection of the final credentials impossible to detect since it was acquired from a legitimate source. The only way to really prevent this from happening is by having all government agencies and law enforcement to authenticate all documents no matter where they came from. However currently due to the extreme overhead for such process, this is currently not possible to achieve. A threat analysis of RFID Passports The second and most widespread tool in the world is the passport. A passport is a document that is issued by a national government for the sole purpose of traveling between countries and having the ability to identify the nationality of the traveler as well as the identity of the holder. Since 2007 all passports that have been issued in USA, contain an imbedded RFID chip, which is valid for a time period of ten years. The reason behind such change in passport policy is to provide a safer way to store critical identification data on the chip as well as encrypt such data and keep it safe. However in the last few years there have been approaches that defy the design and the security of the chip and permit the identification information to be stolen. â€Å"this individual used a small antenna connected to a computer in his backpack to eavesdrop on the radio communication between the security agent’s reader, which has the capacity to decrypt the highly sensitive and secured data on the passport, and the RFID-enabled passport itself(RAMOS, A. , SCOTT, W. , SCOTT, W. , LLOYD, D. , O’LEARY, K. , ; WALDO, J. 2009)† The process that is described above creates a way to find and obtain the information that is contained on the RFID chip, however in order to do so the proximity of the listening device and the timing of the transition are critical to its success. In addition to acquiring the data, the ability to decrypt the information before it can be utilized is a process in itself. â€Å"Six pieces of information can be stolen from the RFID chip on a U. S. passport: your name, nationality, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and a digitized photograph. Numerous problems of identity theft could arise from someone taking that information, but this article focuses on the financial risk. (RAMOS, A. , SCOTT, W. , SCOTT, W. , LLOYD, D. , O’LEARY, K. , WALDO, J. 2009)† The information that is acquired during the intercept process is sufficient enough to create a duplicate passport and utilize it for financial gain. However due to the difficulty of this attack, cost of the equipment invo lved and the limited financial return as opposed to the high cost of blank passports, this type of scenario is not very likely. As a solution to this possible downside of RFID chips, integrating basic access-control and encryption using the secret key that is integrated right into the passport help mitigate the risk of data interception. Another approach would be to control the RF signals that occur between the reader and the passport during the verification process. This would help minimize the chances for eavesdropping on the RF signals and interception of all identity information. Identity Cards In order to go beyond the complications of the passport and the specialization of the driver’s license there is another way to identify a person and verify their credentials. This tool is called an Identity Card and is utilized on the government basis in several different countries. The idea behind the identity card is very similar to what a driver’s license does, however it only focuses on proving that the person who presents the card matches the credentials that the identity cards holds, without granting driving privileges as does the driver’s license. This new concept of identity card consists of two components, one is the database identity and the other is token identity. Database identity is the gathering of all information about a certain individual and recorded into databases, which is then accessible by the government. Token identity on the other hand only comprises of very specific information about the individual. This information consists of name, gender, date and place of birth, date of death, signature, photograph and biometrics. In addition biometrics consists of a face scan, two iris scans and ten fingerprints. In the context of identity theft, token identity is considered to be more than just information about an individual. â€Å"Unlike the individual pieces of information that comprise it, token identity has the essential characteristics of intangible property. Its misuse by another person not only infringes the individual’s personal right to identity, it infringes the individual’s proprietary rights in his/her registered identity, particularly in token identity. Sullivan 2009)† Utilization of token identity for transactional purposes constitutes an individuals’ identity which is all the information that the token holds. This is the information that is most useful for an identity thief since it is all that is required to enable a transaction. Not all of the information in the token is used for every transaction and therefore depends on the nature of the transaction, therefore the required information is automatically chosen from the token to match the transactional requirements. The phrase ‘identity theft’ is a misnomer, as identity theft does not actually deprive a person of their identity. The offence of theft or larceny traditionally involves an appropriation of the personal property of another with the intention to deprive him or her of that property permanently. Wrongfully accessing and using a person’s personal information or forging proof of identity documents, without taking any physical document or thing, would not deprive the person of the ability to use that information. (Sullivan 2009) Although wrongfully accessing or forging of the documents does not deprive the person of access to such information, it does however fundamentally damage the integrity of the individual token identity by denying exclusive use of the identity. Personally Identifiable Information Utilizing tools that identify oneself are needed to acquire, obtain and steal financial information, however in addition to that and the rapid innovation of the digital world, all the information that identifies us is freely available on the internet. In the last several years the internet progressed so rapidly that it is being used for social interaction, product purchases and financial transactions. In addition to that many companies are continuously collect personal information utilizing social networks, service providers, and retail sites. These companies claim that under the customer license agreements information provided will be safe guarded and released in a non identifiable form. This means that the information will be de-identified by changing the fixed set of attributes that it currently resides in. Once it is de-identified it will become safe enough to release to the public and will prevent others from using it for marketing or advertising purposes. â€Å"The emergence of powerful re-identification algorithms demonstrates not just a flaw in a specific anonymization technique(s), but the fundamental inadequacy of the entire privacy protection paradigm based on â€Å"de-identifying† the data. De-identification provides only a weak form of privacy. (Narayanan, A. , Shmatikov, V. 2010)† This type of technique is only part of the solution when it comes to privacy protection. The ability to develop effective technologies to protect private information is being developed on continuous basis and there is still no definite answer as to what the best approach really is. Utilizing the de-identifying approach is a step in the right direction but it only patches the problem instead of solving it. Currently there are limitation to the way privacy is preserved and protected, therefore a better method of protection needs to be build and implemented. Security through Technology Now that we covered the outstanding issues with the identity tools and even ways of how to protect the personal identifiable information, next step is to identify technology flaws that jeopardize the security of the process. The technology plays a crucial role in how secure the data is both inside and outside the primary location. When it comes to computer systems and security, the weakest components are the end users, especially when they are accessing corporate information from their home location. With progression of wireless based network technology, the adaptation rate has been enormous and is justified by the convenience that wireless technology provides for both basic and business consumer. Numerous applications have been developed to utilize the convenience of working from home for employee and to have them access databases of their organization using just the Internet browser. This scenario also works for those who are continuously traveling and therefore use wireless services at the hotels or other lodge places. Many of such systems only rely on passwords to authenticate users and pose a real threat when it comes to accessing corporate information. In such a case a hacker can intercept such credential information and utilize it to access the corporate databases and therefore conduct an intrusion which will go undetected since it relies on real user account information. â€Å"Hackers do not require specific hacking tools, as operating systems can find nearby routers and connect to them almost automatically. Hackers can then perform illegal operations such as hacking other computers, spreading viruses, organizing terrorist activities, and so on. (Loo 2008)† As the technology progresses and innovation takes place it would still be close to impossible to solve all security problems no matter what technology is in place. Security depends on several different factors including coordination between employers, end user and manufactures of the technology that is being used. It is up to the employees to be aware of security risks and protect the technology they are using no matter where they are. Investing time into learning about countermeasures is a worthy investment which can eventually prevent unrecoverable events such as an intrusion. Employers and providers of technology should focus on the usability and simplicity of the technology as well as establishing the necessary guidelines for usability and finding the right tools to address it. Protect Government Information Identity theft has an enormous impact on both time and finance of a consumer who becomes the target of it; however it’s not only consumers that see the consequences of such thefts. Businesses are being impacted by this occurrence as well. Organizations need to protect their assets from cyber crime, web attacks, data breaches and fraud. Criminals utilize such attacks to harvest data through these means for financial, political and personal gain. Such actions are becoming firm motivators for adaptation of information system security approach to protect assets of companies. The ISS approach utilizes an accreditation process that mandates that all government agencies are complying with such standard. A unified security approach would have been ideal in the case of government agencies however even with proper accreditation and mandated requirements, more than half the agencies demonstrated resistance by their management to implement such rules. One of the reasons for such resistance was the norms and culture with the organizations which could not be unified by one system covering all the agencies. Secondly the management of the government branches that lacked the accreditation pointed out that it was due to the lack of resources that was being committed by Treasury to pay for the needed changes that were part of the compliance process. â€Å"The key lesson learned from this study was that a large-scale IS/IT project conducted across multiple government agencies and sites of varying sizes requires that the implementation be staggered and suited to agency size, thus breaking down the complexity of the tasks enabling resources (people and budgets) to be put in place and allocated to future project phases. Smith, S. , Winchester, D. , Bunker, D. , Jamieson, R. 2010)† The authors point out that the failure of implementation was mostly due to the long term financial backing of the project and that adequate resources and senior management commitment is crucial to the success of ISS. Data Breaches and Identity Theft Data security is an ongoing process and affects both consumer s and businesses, however retailers and financial institutions are responsible for storing and processing consumer financial data, and they are solely responsible for the security of it. One of the leading causes of identity theft is data breaches which are a process of loosing data due to a security or network flaw. This is why a proportionate combination of security vs. amount of data collected needs to be found. If there is too much data and not enough security than the potential cost of a data breach is very high. â€Å"Dollar estimates of the cost of identity theft do not by themselves indicate that too much identity theft is occurring. However, press accounts of data breaches suggest that personal identifying data (PID) is being stolen too frequently, and that the data thefts are unduly facilitating various kinds of identity theft. 2 (Roberds, W. , Schreft, S. 2008)† Establishing policies that can ensure that the balance between data collection and security is properly maintained will be crucial in preventing data breaches. Data network can help prevent theft by securing its databases better as well as increasing the amount of PID compiled in order to identify possible fraudulent attempts on the network. The downside of over collecting is the spillover effect where the data can be stolen and used on another network, therefore breaching the other network. â€Å"†¦the approach here allows for explicit calculation of the efficient levels of data accumulation and data security, and for straightforward evaluation of policies meant to attain efficiency. More generally, it offers an illustration of how any such calculation should balance the costs associated with data misuse against the substantial gains afforded by the relaxation of anonymity. (Roberds, W. , Schreft, S. 2008)† There are specific variables that need to be adjusted in order to achieve the highest possible degree of security and consider the costs that are associated with implementing this specific formula. Formal Identity Theft Prevention Programs As was already discussed previously, identity theft is a serious problem, and can take a very long time to even notice that it is taking place in our lives. Due to the amount of damage that is caused to the consumer’s life and financial situation, the government has taken steps to combat identity theft at federal, state and local levels therefore attempting to assist victims of this crime. There are several steps that have been taken in legislation, however there are still no laws in place that can regulate the general use of personally identifiable information in regard to government branches and both public and private sector. The key piece of information that is considered to be most valuable to the identity thieves is the Social Security Number (SSN), therefore one of the prevention initiatives is in regard to displaying and using Social Security Numbers in easily accessible laces. Other initiatives include securing the availability of personal information though information resellers, security weaknesses in the federal agency information systems, and breaches in data security. â€Å".. federal systems and sensitive information are at increased risk of unauthorized access and disclosure, modification, or destruction, as well as inadvertent or deliberate disruption of system operations and services. ( Bertoni, D. 2009)†. According to the GAO study it has been reported that federal agencies still experience a large number of security related incidents and that provides access to large amounts of personally identifiable information that reside in the federal records that could be utilized for identity theft purposes. Protecting personally identifiable information that is stored in the federal system is critical since its loss and unauthorized disclosure could result in devastating consequences for the individuals. The consequences could range from fraud, theft, embarrassment and even inconvenience in the cases of identity and financial related transactions. Results of identity theft have direct impact on the credit records of individuals and can also carry substantial costs related to this activity; in addition denial of loans and even convictions for crimes that an individual did not commit is a possible outcome of identity theft on the federal level. Solutions: Identifying all the sub categories of identity theft is outside the scope of this paper, however with a general understanding of how it affects consumers and business, as well as the severity of the issue; the next step is to see what can really be done to minimize the damage. One approach to combating identity theft is the implementation of smart cards into the financial system. These cards are designed to incorporate embedded computer chips that rely on encryption algorithms to safe guard the information and aid in authorization of transactions and identity verifications. If the technology is properly implemented it can really aid consumers, merchants, banks and others in securing transaction and combating identity theft. In addition it will help lower the costs of fraud prevention and provide benefits in the form of creating a more efficient payment system. Such technology has already seen implementation internationally and have proven to be a much more secure and efficient method of payments. â€Å"Payment smart cards hold the promise to improve the security of payment authorization and help reduce the costs of identity theft and payments fraud. Smart cards allow a range of security options and some issuers have implemented the strongest upgrades, while others have not. (Sullivan 2008) The reduced infrastructure costs are yet another benefit that financial institutions can use in favor of implementing the system in United States. However there are some significant challenges moving forward with this system in regard to adaptation of smart cards by issuers, as well as having the whole industry agree on specific security protocols that will be used in the new smart cards. Identifying the true cost and both hardware and software limitation of the new product is also crucial in preventing adoption limitations. There is also the problem of having criminals shift efforts towards areas of weakness in the security of payments, however due to the lack of competitive advantage in the security standard there is a lack of willingness from the provider’s side in investing time and money. The complex network structure that is required to support the new standards is also a roadblock for implementation and development. Smart cards have the potential to become the new payment authorization standard but at this time they are facing a number of adaptation and development challenges that are discouraging financial institutions from moving towards them. Enforcement of physical identification cards to improve security is viable way; however a bigger issue of security and lack of it still takes places in many businesses. In the case of ID cards the outcome of implementing such a system would result in large databases of information that will utilize the technology for identification purposes. The problem here is what goes on behind the closed doors of the organization that houses such large amount of personal data. Part of it has to do with proper disposal of sensitive documents which most consumers don’t shred and even businesses that don’t properly take care of them. Once the information is housed in a database and is protected by firewalls and encryption routines, there is no clear process of how to prevent it from leaving the organization through unauthorized parties, computer theft, loss of physical media or records. †¦there is a significant need to widely implement measures for tracking and tracing identity thieves and fraudsters once a breach has occurred. There are various means of doing so, whether electronic or physical (Gregory, A. 2008). These undercover tracking and tracing agents can log all the activity that is taking place by phone or email and then can be used for verification purposes and zero out any anomalies or breach attacks. This type of tracking can help companies stay on top of the activities that are taking place and even intervene in the process in order to minimize the outcome of the breach or fraudulent transactions. It will also help prevent the amount of complains, loss of reputation and damage to the company and its brand. The database of personal data can become quite large and is continuously exposed to security threats and data corruption, that’s why companies hire consultants to investigate risk and exposures of the database information. Consultants check for compliance with Data Protection Act as well as other required transactional practices. In some cases the database can be subjected to quality assessment and data hygiene as to keep the information up to date and as accurate as possible. The results of the analysis can then be used to create an actionable strategy to manage the databases and maintain integrity and efficiency for both short and long term. An increasing amount of identity theft incidents have also provoked major changes in the financial industry, especially with banking applications and the way that they protect data and ensure legitimate transactions. To insure such security and integrity, financial institutions have integrated biometric technologies such as fingerprint and facial recognition that are mandatory for customers and ensure higher level of security. Biometric methods are based on physiological or behavioral characteristics. Since they take advantage of mostly unchangeable characteristics, they are more reliable than traditional methods of authorization (Koltzsch, G. 2006)† The usage of such technology that can be so closely bound to a physical attribute of a person is very promising, especially in the financial sector and has been lo oked at it for the last 10 years. However due to the cost and the complexity on the implementation part as well as inconvenience to the consumer, it has not been as widespread as originally planned. Today this technology is mostly used for standalone applications, such as guarding vaults, high security areas and employee authentication. Customer oriented solutions are still in early development stages and are not fully implemented due to the fear of alienating customers and pushing them away from what they are used to. Another reason for the lack of implementation is the difficulty in standardizing this technology on the international scale. The fear of investing in technology that will not be supported by others is what is slowing the adaptation process down. However due to the rise in identity theft and phishing cases there has been a new movement towards the development of this technology to prevent loss of information and financial resources. Protecting the payment system depends on the adoption of industry standards for data security and implementation of the new digitally aware way to personally identify an individual. Currently the identification process depends on the Social Security Number as we discussed previously, which is one of the main reasons that identity theft still occurs. To be affective in protecting the payment system there needs to be a way to properly monitor the compliance of the system and enforce proper penalties in the case of its absence. Payment system participants can also hold each other accountable for the damage in the incompliance of contractual agreements in place. Due to high litigation costs in the event of identity theft, merchants are now implementing new policies that allow them to discard transactional information much faster in order to prevent its exposure to theft. Another fairly recent step taken by the private sector is the development of insurance products to cover losses from identity theft. Coverage for consumers is available from several sources, at a cost of approximately $120 per year, and appears to provide minimal coverage against lost wages, legal fees for defending against lawsuits brought by creditors or collection agencies, and select out-of-pocket expenses (Schreft, S. 2007)†. The down fall of this type of coverage is its limitations. Neither type of uch insurances or proposed coverage will really protect against identity theft risk because the financial sector cannot ensure against systematic risk. This results in the loss of confidence in the system all together therefore creating the possibility of users accessing such services less frequently. Imperfections in the ability to protect the consumer against crime, results in having the government oversee the failures and driving it towards protecting the integrity and efficiency of the financial system. Shortcomings of the System To combat identity theft is an enormous task that even the government is struggling to achieve. The reason for this is time, money and consistency between financial providers and government levels. Several different attempts have been made to provide tools for consumers to identify theft and report it to the institutions. However even though such systems are in place, many consumers complain that even when such theft occurs and notices are placed on accounts, thieves are still able to steal money under fraudulent identities. They are even able to successfully apply for loans when there are errors in the information provided. In addition to that the Credit Bureaus have made it close to impossible for an everyday consumer to reach an actual human customer support representative due to the automated telephone systems that have been implemented. Another reason why the system just does not work the way it was proposed, is the cost that the credit bureaus are enduring with the escalation of identity theft cases. The actual costs of thefts are not reflected on the bureaus since they only provide credit reports and credit monitoring services which consumers buy in most cases even if they have been a victim of theft. The bureaus have no real incentive in helping consumers prevent identity fraud, which is in this case is a conflict of interest for one of the parties involved. This conflict of interests entails in the amount of early revenues that are generates from products such as credit reports and credit monitoring services. The latest offering from the bureaus is an email notification service that notifies the consumers if any changes in the credit records occur and charges a fee for it. One observer has estimated that credit bureaus received $600 million in 2003 from sales of credit reports, credit scores, and credit monitoring services (Hendricks 2003). In such a case the credit bureaus are profiting from the sales of preventive service that prevent the client from the theft that the bureau makes possible. Overestimation of losses is also a shortcoming of the system that is geared toward protecting the consumer in the business of financial transaction and identity information. A claim that i dentity theft is the fastest growing crime in U. S. is what the consumers are being told on the continuous basis. Lately the press coverage of this topic has grown significantly and provided a number of related events that claims an affected population of 4. 6% and losses of more than $60 billion dollars a year. What consumers need to take into account is the $50 maximum liability that is provided by the financial institutions, as well as the fact the media is taking into account information theft that did not result in financial losses to the institutions. Such overestimation are leading many consumers away from doing business on the internet and providing erroneous information, while forcing them to implement monitoring services that cost them money. As was covered before, smart cards is viable solution to the new identifiable information problem, however its shortcoming is the same problem as it exists with current financial tools. The exchange of personal information between the consumer and merchant can still result in letting an impersonator utilize the information to initiate a payment therefore making the smart card inefficient at securing the customer. Conclusion Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in United States, and the real reason behind that is the fact technology innovated at a much greater speed than businesses and consumers have been able to adapt to it. Because of that the tools that we use to identify ourselves are no longer safe and need to be updated. On the consumer side a variety of tools are available to protect oneself from identity theft. However the cost of such tools can be a draw back in their implementation. On the business sides tools such as high level encryption, RFID chips and transition standards are in development stages and are planned to be implemented in the near future. Identity cards and centralized databases can be the key to solving security epidemic but are not versatile enough and carry overhead cost during the implementation process. There are many viable solutions to protect both the consumer and the business; the path really depends on cost and time available to either one. Awareness is the best approach to keeping you data safe and secure. How to cite Survey of Research Literature – Identity Theft, Essays

Couple Interview Marital Challenges Essay Example

Couple Interview Marital Challenges Essay I interviewed John and Cindy about their marriage and the challenges they’ve faced together as a married couple. I am encouraged by their relationship and have decided to use their relationship as a model for my second interview. John and Cindy have been married for almost 5 years. In addition to this union, there is McKenna, Cindy’s son. They are a blended family, of course, and are part of the more modern structure of families in our society. When reflecting upon their ideas about marriage, prior to actually being married, I noticed that Cindy’s outlook was positive. She knew she would be married one day and looked forward to it. Even though she was in a long-term romantic relationship prior to meeting John, that relationship wasn’t what she considered a foundation for a good marriage. Her former boyfriend was good friends with the family and spent a great amount of time with them. Cindy also spent a great deal of time with his family as well. This allowed them to witness each other’s family of origin. However, the time that John spends with her family, she says, is different. It’s full of quality and genuine caring for her people. We will write a custom essay sample on Couple Interview Marital Challenges specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Couple Interview Marital Challenges specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Couple Interview Marital Challenges specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer John also added that Cindy’s first meeting with his mother and sister exceeded his expectations. They took to her right away and have had a good relationship ever since. As a matter of fact, several of his family members have traveled from their home states to stay with them for weeks at a time. I decided to ask about the differences between men and women, and if either of them has heard of the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by author John Gray, the feedback was instant. They both chimed in with the same answer. John has always believed that men will never understand what goes on in a woman’s mind. Cindy believes that men are a different species, and not necessarily human. They way men and women problem solve, in her opinion, are polar opposites. However, when she comes to John with a problem or a task she tries to remember that she asked him for help. He doesn’t need to have the solution dictated to him; she must trust him to help in his own way. She also believes that there is more than one way to solve a problem, and it doesn’t matter whose way is used, as long as the problem is solved. I take this piece of advice to heart, as I’ve been told that I am impatient and a bit of a control freak. John states that he tries his best to work out his own dilemmas because he knows that Cindy has a stressful full-time job, and she’s also a full-time mom to McKenna. Between her schedule and McKenna’s extra-curricular activities, John doesn’t like to add anything extra on her plate if he doesn’t need to. That, he says, is the reason he takes such a large role in McKenna’s activities. It brings a sense of peace to the home when he knows his wife and son’s needs are met. Our next subject was the topic of â€Å"deadly habits† that ruin a relationship. Another excellent example of their understanding is Cindy’s approach to getting help with household chores. Instead of nagging John to take out the garbage, which is initially what she used to do, she tried a different approach. Now she asks him once or twice, and if he doesn’t get to it, she kindly lets him know how uncomfortable she is with trash sitting and the extra work it makes for her in the long run with cleaning the mess or airing out the lingering odor. She admits that she doesn’t go overboard because she is a â€Å"junky† person and doesn’t want to look like a hypocrite. John, however, has fallen into her pattern of â€Å"junkiness,† stating that he used to be quite neat and before he knew it, he had clothes on the floor right next to Cindy’s. And he appreciates her new approach when asking him to complete tasks because he feels respected and needed instead of criticized or scolded like a child. I brought up the topic of the four stages of love and asked both John and Cindy if they were aware that four stages existed. They both replied no, and I proceeded to explain each stage and ask which one they were in. John feels as if they are still in the infatuation stage, based on his love for Cindy. He doesn’t feel as if the honeymoon has ended because he loves her more each day. Cindy feels the same, but recognizes realistically that they are in the connection stage. She said they have gone through the discovery stage and now focus on staying together and constantly working to better their relationship. While it does still feel new to her, she takes into consideration the challenges they’ve overcome and the challenges that await them in the future. One of the many challenges couples face is dealing with financial issues. Cindy makes a great living and had done so prior to meeting John. And the same goes for him. But Cindy realized, upon marriage, that John was better at managing finances than she was. After being independent for many years it was an adjustment for her to have someone else make suggestions to her on saving money or cutting back on her spending. However, trusting her husband and seeing the way he managed his own money, she took his advice and is glad she did. They consult on big purchases and realize that not every dollar spent has to be accounted for to the other person. They, especially Cindy, realize that being on one accord in money matters benefits the family. It’s not about one person’s money anymore. It’s their money regardless of who makes more or who spends it. Being that John and Cindy are both in their early 40’s, I asked both of them if they felt there was an ideal age to get married. Cindy believes there isn’t an ideal age to get married. If she had met John fifteen years ago and still feels as she does now, she would have married him then. However, she is thankful that she was able to do all the things she loved doing as a single woman such as traveling, going out with girlfriends as she pleased and shopping. She’s also thankful from a parental standpoint because her habits changed after having McKenna. She was able to satisfy her single self, and can now be happy and content being a wife and mother without feeling as if she missed out on anything. John says he was content not being married or even being on the path to marriage. He feels there is no ideal age to get married. When you’re ready, you’ll know it, no matter how old or young you are. He shares Cindy’s sentiments on satisfying his single self prior to meeting and marrying her. He is content with what he accomplished on his own and now loves that they accomplish things together. From the many topics we discussed, on and off the record, I am so inspired by John and Cindy’s approach to love and life. I enjoy being in their presence because they radiate a positive vibe. I don’t enjoy being around couples that argue or have tension between them. It’s uncomfortable for me and can change the mood of the environment. I have listened to both of them intently and have related their challenges to challenges I’ve had. The approach they take toward each other is remarkable. They have a mutual respect that goes beyond loving each other. They respect each other as individuals with their own respective levels of intelligence. I appreciate the example they provide to me and to other people they encounter. I know Cindy very well and it has really pleased me to watch her grow in love with someone who compliments her so well. I have seen the subtle changes she’s made such as cooking. I’ve also seen the more apparent changes, such as the reduction in her stress level. Talking to them and watching their words in action has redefined my beliefs in marriage. I don’t have many examples of a happily married couple. But knowing that Cindy and John are in my life makes it easier for me to have a blueprint of what marriage can be.