The Host Chapter 22: Cracked

Jeb put his hands behind his head and looked up at the dark ceiling, his face thoughtful. His chatty mood had not passed. â€Å"I've wondered a lot what it's like-getting caught, you know. Saw it happen more than once, come close a few times myself. What would it be like, I wondered. Would it hurt, having something put in your head? I've seen it done, you know.† My eyes widened in surprise, but he wasn't looking at me. â€Å"Seems like you all use some kind of anesthetic, but that's just a guess. Nobody was screaming in agony or anything, though, so it couldn't be too torturous.† I wrinkled my nose. Torture. No, that was the humans' specialty. â€Å"Those stories you were telling the kid were real interesting.† I stiffened and he laughed lightly. â€Å"Yeah, I was listening. Eavesdropping, I'll admit it. I'm not sorry-it was great stuff, and you won't talk to me the way you do with Jamie. I really got a kick out of those bats and the plants and spiders. Gives a man lots to think about. Always liked to read crazy, out-there stuff, science fiction and whatnot. Ate that stuff up. And the kid's like me-he's read all the books I've got, two, three times apiece. Must be a treat for him to get some new stories. Sure is for me. You're a good storyteller.† I kept my eyes down, but I felt myself softening, losing my guard a bit. Like anyone inside these emotional bodies, I was a sucker for flattery. â€Å"Everyone here thinks you hunted us out to turn us over to the Seekers.† The word sent a shock jolting through me. My jaw stiffened and my teeth cut my tongue. I tasted blood. â€Å"What other reason could there be?† he went on, oblivious to my reaction or ignoring it. â€Å"But they're just trapped in fixed notions, I think. I'm the only one with questions†¦ I mean, what kind of a plan was that, to wander off into the desert without any way to get back?† He chuckled. â€Å"Wandering-guess that's your specialty, eh, Wanda?† He leaned toward me and nudged me with one elbow. Wide with uncertainty, my eyes flickered to the floor, to his face, and back to the floor. He laughed again. â€Å"That trek was just a few steps shy of a successful suicide, in my opinion. Definitely not a Seeker's MO, if you know what I mean. I've tried to reason it out. Use logic, right? So, if you didn't have backup, which I've seen no sign of, and you had no way to get back, then you must've had a different goal. You haven't been real talkative since you got here, ‘cept with the kid just now, but I've listened to what you have said. Kind of seems to me like the reason you almost died out there was 'cause you were hell-bent on finding that kid and Jared.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Only why would you care?† Jeb asked, expecting no answer, just musing. â€Å"So, this is how I see it: either you're a really good actress-like a super-Seeker, some new breed, sneakier than the first-with some kind of a plan I can't figure out, or you're not acting. The first seems like a pretty complicated explanation for your behavior, then and now, and I don't buy it. â€Å"But if you're not acting†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused for a moment. â€Å"Spent a lot of time watching your kind. I was always waiting for them to change, you know, when they didn't have to act like us anymore, because there was no one to act for. I kept on watching and waiting, but they just kept on actin' like humans. Staying with their bodies' families, going out for picnics in good weather, plantin' flowers and paintin' pictures and all the rest of it. I've been wondering if you all aren't turning sort of human. If we don't have some real influence, in the end.† He waited, giving me a chance to respond. I didn't. â€Å"Saw something a few years ago that stuck with me. Old man and woman, well, the bodies of an old man and an old woman. Been together so long that the skin on their fingers grew in ridges around their wedding rings. They were holding hands, and he kissed her on her cheek, and she blushed under all those wrinkles. Occurred to me that you have all the same feelings we have, because you're really us, not just hands in a puppet.† â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"We have all the same feelings. Human feelings. Hope, and pain, and love.† â€Å"So, if you aren't acting†¦ well, then I'd swear to it that you loved them both. You do. Wanda, not just Mel's body.† I put my head down on my arms. The gesture was tantamount to an admission, but I didn't care. I couldn't hold it up anymore. â€Å"So that's you. But I wonder about my niece, too. What it was like for her, what it would be like for me. When they put somebody inside your head, are you just†¦ gone? Erased? Like being dead? Or is it like being asleep? Are you aware of the outside control? Is it aware of you? Are you trapped there, screaming inside?† I sat very still, trying to keep my face smooth. â€Å"Plainly, your memories and behaviors, all that is left behind. But your consciousness†¦ Seems like some people wouldn't go down without a fight. Hell, I know I would try to stay-never been one to take no for an answer, anyone will tell you that. I'm a fighter. All of us who are left are fighters. And, you know, I woulda pegged Mel for a fighter, too.† He didn't move his eyes from the ceiling, but I looked at the floor-stared at it, memorizing the patterns in the purple gray dust. â€Å"Yeah, I've wondered about that a lot.† I could feel his eyes on me now, though my head was still down. I didn't move, except to breathe slowly in and out. It took a great deal of effort to keep that slow rhythm smooth. I had to swallow; the blood was still flowing in my mouth. Why did we ever think he was crazy? Mel wondered. He sees everything. He's a genius. He's both. Well, maybe this means we don't have to keep quiet anymore. He knows. She was hopeful. She'd been very quiet lately, absent almost half the time. It wasn't as easy for her to concentrate when she was relatively happy. She'd won her big fight. She'd gotten us here. Her secrets were no longer in jeopardy; Jared and Jamie could never be betrayed by her memories. With the fight taken out of her, it was harder for her to find the will to speak, even to me. I could see how the idea of discovery-of having the other humans recognize her existence-invigorated her. Jeb knows, yes. Does that really change anything? She thought about the way the other humans looked at Jeb. Right. She sighed. But I think Jamie†¦ well, he doesn't know or guess, but I think he feels the truth. You might be right. I guess we'll see if that does him or us any good, in the end. Jeb could only manage to keep quiet for a few seconds, and then he was off again, interrupting us. â€Å"Pretty interesting stuff. Not as much bang! bang! as the movies I used to like. But still pretty interesting. I'd like to hear more about those spider thingies. I'm real curious†¦ real curious, for sure.† I took a deep breath and raised my head. â€Å"What do you want to know?† He smiled at me warmly, his eyes crinkling into half moons. â€Å"Three brains, right?† I nodded. â€Å"How many eyes?† â€Å"Twelve-one at each juncture of the leg and the body. We didn't have lids, just a lot of fibers-like steel wool eyelashes-to protect them.† He nodded, his eyes bright. â€Å"Were they furry, like tarantulas?† â€Å"No. Sort of†¦ armored-scaled, like a reptile or a fish.† I slouched against the wall, settling myself in for a long conversation. Jeb didn't disappoint on that count. I lost track of how many questions he asked me. He wanted details-the Spiders' looks, their behaviors, and how they'd handled Earth. He didn't flinch away from the invasion details; on the contrary, he almost seemed to enjoy that part more than the rest. His questions came fast on the heels of my answers, and his grins were frequent. When he was satisfied about the Spiders, hours later, he wanted to know more about the Flowers. â€Å"You didn't half explain that one,† he reminded me. So I told him about that most beautiful and placid of planets. Almost every time I stopped to breathe, he interrupted me with a new question. He liked to guess the answers before I could speak and didn't seem to mind getting them wrong in the least. â€Å"So did ya eat flies, like a Venus flytrap? I'll bet you did-or maybe something bigger, like a bird-like a pterodactyl!† â€Å"No, we used sunlight for food, like most plants here.† â€Å"Well, that's not as much fun as my idea.† Sometimes I found myself laughing with him. We were just moving on to the Dragons when Jamie showed up with dinner for three. â€Å"Hi, Wanderer,† he said, a little embarrassed. â€Å"Hi, Jamie,† I answered, a little shy, not sure if he would regret the closeness we'd shared. I was, after all, the bad guy. But he sat down right next to me, between me and Jeb, crossing his legs and setting the food tray in the middle of our little conclave. I was starving, and parched from all the talking. I took a bowl of soup and downed it in a few gulps. â€Å"Shoulda known you were just being polite in the mess hall today. Gotta speak up when you're hungry, Wanda. I'm no mind reader.† I didn't agree with that last part, but I was too busy chewing a mouthful of bread to answer. â€Å"Wanda?† Jamie asked. I nodded, letting him know that I didn't mind. â€Å"Kinda suits her, doncha think?† Jeb was so proud of himself, I was surprised he didn't pat himself on the back, just for effect. â€Å"Kinda, I guess,† Jamie said. â€Å"Were you guys talking about dragons?† â€Å"Yeah,† Jeb told him enthusiastically, â€Å"but not the lizardy kind. They're all made up of jelly. They can fly, though†¦ sort of. The air's thicker, sort of jelly, too. So it's almost like swimming. And they can breathe acid-that's about as good as fire, wouldn't you say?† I let Jeb fill Jamie in on the details while I ate more than my share of food and drained a water bottle. When my mouth was free, Jeb started in with the questions again. â€Å"Now, this acid†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jamie didn't ask questions the way Jeb did, and I was more careful about what I said with him there. However, this time Jeb never asked anything that might lead to a touchy subject, whether by coincidence or design, so my caution wasn't necessary. The light slowly faded until the hallway was black. Then it was silver, a tiny, dim reflection from the moon that was just enough, as my eyes adjusted, to see the man and the boy beside me. Jamie edged closer to me as the night wore on. I didn't realize that I was combing my fingers through his hair as I talked until I noticed Jeb staring at my hand. I folded my arms across my body. Finally, Jeb yawned a huge yawn that had me and Jamie doing the same. â€Å"You tell a good story, Wanda,† Jeb said when we were all done stretching. â€Å"It's what I did†¦ before. I was a teacher, at the university in San Diego. I taught history.† â€Å"A teacher!† Jeb repeated, excited. â€Å"Well, ain't that amazin'? There's something we could use around here. Mag's girl Sharon does the teaching for the three kids, but there's a lot she can't help with. She's most comfortable with math and the like. History, now -â€Å" â€Å"I only taught our history,† I interrupted. Waiting for him to take a breath wasn't going to work, it seemed. â€Å"I wouldn't be much help as a teacher here. I don't have any training.† â€Å"Your history is better than nothing. Things we human folks ought to know, seeing as we live in a more populated universe than we were aware of.† â€Å"But I wasn't a real teacher,† I told him, desperate. Did he honestly think anyone wanted to hear my voice, let alone listen to my stories? â€Å"I was sort of an honorary professor, almost a guest lecturer. They only wanted me because†¦ well, because of the story that goes along with my name.† â€Å"That's the next one I was going to ask for,† Jeb said complacently. â€Å"We can talk about your teaching experience later. Now-why did they call you Wanderer? I've heard a bunch of odd ones, Dry Water, Fingers in the Sky, Falling Upward-all mixed in, of course, with the Pams and the Jims. I tell you, it's the kind of thing that can drive a man crazy with curiosity.† I waited till I was sure he was done to begin. â€Å"Well, the way it usually works is that a soul will try out a planet or two-two's the average-and then they'll settle in their favorite place. They just move to new hosts in the same species on the same planet when their body gets close to death. It's very disorienting moving from one kind of body to the next. Most souls really hate that. Some never move from the planet they are born on. Occasionally, someone has a hard time finding a good fit. They may try three planets. I met a soul once who'd been to five before he'd settled with the Bats. I liked it there-I suppose that's the closest I've ever come to choosing a planet. If it hadn't been for the blindness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"How many planets have you lived on?† Jamie asked in a hushed voice. Somehow, while I'd been talking, his hand had found its way into mine. â€Å"This is my ninth,† I told him, squeezing his fingers gently. â€Å"Wow, nine!† he breathed. â€Å"That's why they wanted me to teach. Anybody can tell them our statistics, but I have personal experience from most of the planets we've†¦ taken.† I hesitated at that word, but it didn't seem to bother Jamie. â€Å"There are only three I've never been to-well, now four. They just opened a new world.† I expected Jeb to jump in with questions about the new world, or the ones I'd skipped, but he just played absently with the ends of his beard. â€Å"Why did you never stay anywhere?† Jamie asked. â€Å"I never found a place I liked enough to stay.† â€Å"What about Earth? Do you think you'll stay here?† I wanted to smile at his child's confidence-as if I were going to get the chance to ever move on to another host. As if I were going to get the chance to live out even another month in the one I had. â€Å"Earth is†¦ very interesting,† I murmured. â€Å"It's harder than any place I've been before.† â€Å"Harder than the place with the frozen air and the claw beasts?† he asked. â€Å"In its own way, yes.† How could I explain that the Mists Planet only came at you from the outside-it was much more difficult to be attacked from within. Attacked, Melanie scoffed. I yawned. I wasn't actually thinking of you, I told her. I was thinking of these unstable emotions, always betraying me. But you did attack me. Pushing your memories on me that way. I learned my lesson, she assured me dryly. I could feel how intensely aware she was of the hand in mine. There was an emotion slowly building in her that I didn't recognize. Something on the edge of anger, with a hint of desire and a portion of despair. Jealousy, she enlightened me. Jeb yawned again. â€Å"I'm being downright rude, I guess. You must be bushed-walking all over today and then me keepin' you up half the night talking. Ought to be a better host. C'mon, Jamie, let's go and let Wanda get some sleep.† I was exhausted. It felt as if it had been a very long day, and, from Jeb's words, perhaps that wasn't in my imagination. â€Å"Okay, Uncle Jeb.† Jamie jumped lightly to his feet and then offered his hand to the old man. â€Å"Thanks, kid.† Jeb groaned as he got up. â€Å"And thanks to you, too,† he added in my direction. â€Å"Most interesting conversation I've had in†¦ well, probably forever. Rest your voice up, Wanda, because my curiosity is a powerful thing. Ah, there he is! ‘Bout time.† Only then did I hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Automatically, I shrank against the wall and scooted farther back into the cave-room, and then felt more exposed because the moonlight was brighter inside. I was surprised that this was the first person to turn in for the night; the corridor appeared to house many. â€Å"Sorry, Jeb. I got to talking with Sharon, and then I sort of dozed off.† It was impossible not to recognize this easy, gentle voice. My stomach rolled, unstable, and I wished it were empty. â€Å"We didn't even notice, Doc,† Jeb said. â€Å"We were having the time of our lives here. Someday you'll have to get her to tell you some of her stories-great stuff. Not tonight, though. She's got to be pretty worn out, I'd bet. We'll see you in the morning.† The doctor was spreading a mat out in front of the cave entrance, just as Jared had. â€Å"Keep an eye on this,† Jeb said, laying the gun beside the mat. â€Å"Are you okay, Wanda?† Jamie asked. â€Å"You're shaking.† I hadn't realized it, but my whole body was quivering. I didn't answer him-my throat felt swollen shut. â€Å"Now, now,† Jeb said in a soothing voice. â€Å"I asked Doc if he minded taking a shift. You don't need to worry about anything. Doc's an honorable man.† The doctor smiled a sleepy smile. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you†¦ Wanda, is it? I promise. I'll just keep watch while you sleep.† I bit my lip, and the quivering didn't stop. Jeb seemed to think everything was settled, though. â€Å"Night, Wanda. Night, Doc,† he said as he started back down the hall. Jamie hesitated, looking at me with a worried expression. â€Å"Doc's okay,† he promised in a whisper. â€Å"C'mon, boy, it's late!† Jamie hurried off after Jeb. I watched the doctor when they were gone, waiting for some change. Doc's relaxed expression didn't waver, though, and he didn't touch the gun. He stretched his long frame out on the mat, his calves and feet hanging off the end. Lying down, he looked much smaller, he was so rail thin. â€Å"Good night,† he murmured drowsily. Of course I didn't answer. I watched him in the dull moonlight, timing the rise and fall of his chest by the sound of the pulse thudding in my ears. His breathing slowed and got deeper, and then he began to quietly snore. It could have been an act, but even if it was, there wasn't much I could do about it. Silently, I crept deeper into the room, till I felt the edge of the mattress against my back. I'd promised myself that I would not disturb this place, but it probably wouldn't hurt anything if I just curled up on the foot of the bed. The floor was rough and so hard. The sound of the doctor's soft snoring was comforting; even if it was put on to calm me, at least I knew exactly where he was in the darkness. Live or die, I figured I might as well go ahead and sleep. I was dog tired, as Melanie would say. I let my eyes close. The mattress was softer than anything I'd touched since coming here. I relaxed, sinking in†¦ There was a low shuffling sound-it was inside the room with me. My eyes popped open, and I could see a shadow between the moonlit ceiling and me. Outside, the doctor's snores continued uninterrupted.

Intention Letter Exchange Program Essay

With this letter my intention is to express the reasons for why an academic exchange is of interest to me, especially one for the ISC Paris. I am a Business Administration student at â€Å"Universidad La Salle†, I find my career very interesting and I really enjoy being a part of it, that’s why it developed great interest in me to know that the ISC was a school specialized in Administration committed to train students to become first class business people. In Mexico, we do not have a reputable University or Institute focused in Administrative Sciences, which is why from that moment, I knew that the ISC was the educational option that I was looking for. I researched more about the Institute and I realized that it is part of the prestigious French system â€Å"Grandes Ecoles† which immediately makes it an excellent choice in education and an institution that will be very important to my profession, boosting my career as well. I think France is a beautiful country that has too much to offer: from culture, food, landscapes, people, modernity, to its geographic location and boundaries with other major countries. Speaking of its capital, I believe Paris is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the world and it would be an honor to be a part of its student population, I think it will have a very good influence in me, studying in the city where most major French multinational corporations are located, where professional forums, conferences and fairs also take place, not mentioning it is full of culture and history to acknowledge and admire. I consider that this exchange is an ideal opportunity to relate and learn influenced by a vast diversity of cultures that will form a new international perspective in me. It will be a different experience in which I will be interacting in foreign languages such as English and French, something that will be invaluable in my future life. I’m sure ISC Paris is the right place for me, and it would be an honor to me to contribute with my knowledge and skills being part of the student community.

Using different teaching strategies to improve the performance of Assignment

Using different teaching strategies to improve the performance of nursing students with different learning styles - Assignment Example Over the past years, the utility derived from matching the learning styles to the appropriate teaching methods has widely been discussed (Bostrà ¶m, 2013). It is believed that in a case where the students are presented with difficult information and new courses, a great change is observed when the individual’s learning style is correctly matched to the teaching strategy (Aina-Popoola, 2014; Luo et.al, 2014). This literature review seeks to establish the different student’s learning styles, the specific challenges facing the facilitators in nursing education as well as the creative teaching strategies that can be integrated in nursing teaching to improve on the learning efficiency. It is hypothesized that the different learning styles and teaching strategies have an effect on nursing student learning. The following literature review from the last five years therefore seeks to demonstrate and support this hypothesis. In a study by Amina and Houaida (2012) that sought to identify the learning styles preferred by the nursing students in Nursing and Technical Institute of Alexandria, 288 nursing students were involved in the study. 169 of the students were from the faculty of nursing while 119 were from the technical nursing institution. Both the comparative and the descriptive research study designs were used in the study. From this study, it was evident that the most prominent learning style preferred by the nursing students in Egypt was kinesthetic style. Further, statistical analysis of the data collected in the study revealed a significant difference between age and the score of the particular nursing courses. It is from these findings that the researcher concluded that there exist a number of learning styles preferred by the nursing students of which can be adequately exploited by the nursing educators in coming up with appropriate techniques and

Analysis of American Gun Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis of American Gun Culture - Essay Example There is too much violence today; people everywhere they go are rightly concerned of their safety at school, at the mall, at the office, at the church, at a parking lot, at supermarkets, and even along the country’s highways when simple traffic altercations can turn violent in a sudden manner as people vent their road rage on innocent fellow travelers who might cross their path unwittingly. While the debate on guns continues to rage seemingly without an end in sight, politicians, academicians, and concerned citizens who worry about the state of civil society in America today argue for stricter gun controls to reduce this violence. On the other hand, supporters and advocates of the Second Amendment assert their own right to carry guns for protection but unfortunately, this had also bred a culture of violence in which simple arguments can escalate into the use of guns. Further, a permissive gun culture is contributory to the proliferation of guns almost everywhere to the point even people who are supposedly not qualified to have guns carry these guns around with them. This situation is now spinning out of control and so many people argue for more gun regulations. This paper takes this view and argues violence can be reduced through stricter gun control laws. The right to bear arms contained in the Second Amendment has outlived its usefulness as people today now live in a modern and civilized society. This means people need not resort to the use of guns or any other form of violence to settle certain disputes. Moreover, the police are the ones who are properly deputized by law to protect citizens from harm and the Second Amendment is actually an anachronism today because it transfers responsibility of protecting the citizens from the police to the citizens themselves. In other words, the right to bear arms needs to be amended through stricter gun control laws or even rescinded

Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party Research Paper

Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party - Research Paper Example With the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, there was a vacuum as far as the leadership of the underprivileged blacks was concerned. This was filled with the arrival of the Black Panther Party on the scene. The establishment of the political party was done by Huey P Newton and Bobby G. Seale, in Oakland (Jeffries x, 2002). While the party may not have lasted too long and may not seem to have done much, the truth is that in certain pockets of the nation, it did improve the living conditions of the African American community. They helped in improving the self-esteem of the members of this community in a place like Oakland. In a place like Oakland, the energies of the African American male youth were dissipated and untapped. One of the most important achievements of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton was to attempt to harness these energies into one single channel- the betterment of the race and to stand up to racist behavior from people in seats of authority. Newton speaks of his own experiences of having been a criminal in his essay â€Å"scoring†. The path of crime is not, according to Newton, one that every black man needs to take but the structural forces in American society often did force African American youths to take up this path. He argues that white communities in America committed burglary at a larger level, by taking what was rightfully the property of the African American community. He argues that the proclivity that street youth display for drugs and crime is related primarily to their inability to validate themselves. He cites his reading of existential philosophy as one of the reasons as to why he is able to decode the reasons as to why the black youth behaved the way they did in society (28-32, 2002). Another important contribution of the Black Panther Party to Oakland was the fact that they had organized the youth of this place into a force. Bobby Seale speaks of the poverty alleviation programs that were put in place in Oakland during the heyday of the Black Panthers Party in his book, Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton. He argues that these programs were beneficial to the community because they created awareness in the community regarding the opportunities that they could seize rather than wait for. The objective of the program would be, according to Seale, the eradication of poverty. One of the main ways in which Seale and Newton sought to do this in the Oakland area was to create awareness about Black history. He says, My objective in the program was to teach Black American History if I could, and teach them also some degree of responsibility; not teach them responsibility in old Establishment terms, but in terms of their own people living in the community (35). The Panthers’ solution to the problem of poverty among the Black community of Oakland was to trace the history of the African American community and enable them to understand the structural reasons fo r their poverty. They were made to also understand that problems of drinking and cards were eroding the values of their society without leading to prosperity. The main problem that haunted the blacks was, according to the Panthers, American capitalism which led to the upliftment of a few blacks while leaving the rests in doldrums (MIA: History: USA: The Black Panther P

Religion and Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion and Violence - Essay Example It primarily aims to discipline people and encourage them to cohabit harmoniously within the framework of certain codes of social conduct. Besides, throughout human history, it has remained a major influence in determining the social and political structure of nations across the world. Religions, in general, seek the well being of humans and spread the messages of universal brotherhood and love, peace and harmony. Prophets in every cult have emphasized the need of spirituality and implored their followers to have sympathy for fellow beings. However, throughout human history, one comes across wars among different sects of people in the name of religion. In the modern world, in which humans have become a sophisticated species, bloodshed in the name of religion still prevails obviously due to misconceptions about religion. The instances of violence, in the name of religion, that characterize everyday life in the modern society, rather tend to substantiate the hypothesis that religion do es cause violence. The Jihad, which the Muslim radicals consider as a Holy War against nonbelievers, has become an excuse for some members of that community to indulge in terrorist activities against the US and other non-Muslim nations. According to them, their war is for justice that they have to wage against the nonbelievers to adhere to Allah’s wish. ... The reason, according to Osama Bin Laden, was to warn America of the support it extends to the Jewish community which has resulted in the oppression of their Muslim brethren in Israel. He has further threatened that the war would continue until justice is restored to the Muslim community, which is being â€Å"tortured and assaulted† by the Jews. (Motives for 9/11 Terrorist Attacks). The bombings in London on July 7, 2005, which claimed â€Å"52 lives and injured 700 people† is yet another instance of violence perpetrated by the Al Qaeda, in the name of religion (London Bombers Staged ‘Dummy Run’). The motive behind this mission, according to Osama, has been to â€Å"take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader Government† for the atrocities committed by them in Iraq and Afghanistan (Quinn par. 5). The problem of violence in the name of religion does not confine to the West alone. In the Orient, the strained relationship between India and Pakista n, apart from border controversies, can also be attributed to the difference in the major religious faiths in both countries. There have been many instances of terrorist attacks in India and in most cases, the allegations indicate the involvement of Pakistani citizens or the radical Muslim outfits based in or operating out of Pakistan. The most significant of such episodes is the terrorist attack in Mumbai, which lasted for almost four days from November 26 to November 29, 2008. An Indian author, B. Raman, in his book titled â€Å"Mumbai 26/11: A Day of Infamy,† suggests that the Indian Mujahidin tout their attack on India as the â€Å"war of civilization between the Muslims and the infidels† (Raman 17). This

Legislation that affects on the school funding Essay

Legislation that affects on the school funding - Essay Example In the paper, each issue of the main factor will be briefly discussed, then a solution is proposed after the issue to allow improvement within the university in the long term. In Fall 2004, when Vice Chancellor Neal Smatresk transferred to the UHM from the University of Texas at Arlington where he served as a dean of science department for the past 20 years, he immediately noticed of the severity of the class shortage problem at UHM. Since then, he had been activity involved in designing an information system that would increase the efficiency and searched for cause of the problem. He noted that UHM is a traditional university where changes to the infrastructure are frequently faced with administrators' resilient. This made chancellor position more difficult since he is always on a crusade to convince the university to place student needs as the top priority. Through a transparency in administration and high emphasis on student needs, he stated, it would create more trust in the system and shed more lights on the values UHM is projecting. Many of the Smatresk's solutions were partially implemented in the system, and the statistic and student feedbacks provided him the confidence to continue the direction he is at.

Literature review (plz read the instruction) Essay

Literature review (plz read the instruction) - Essay Example The literature review of this study would mainly focus on the strategic planning practice on a micro activities level and it requires the organization to put in place a number of initiatives such as design, planning and implementation strategies. Critics points out that the strategic environment demands attention to be paid to such variables as internal quality management, Human Resource Management (HRM), internal value chain analysis, supply chain management, product portfolio development, product & marketing mix, market segmentation, event life cycle management, strategic product/customer/market orientation, a sound communication strategy and above all a competitor orientation strategy. Butler (2001) pointed that a perceptual mapping process to achieve strategic and organizational goals is nothing new in the micro level firm’s own operational environment. Thus the current dichotomy between strategic competitive environment and strategic operational environment is based on the organizational outcomes. The micro level activities of the firm are subject to a greater amount of competitive pressure than those firms which exclusively produce in order to sell in the domestic market or export physically. Thus the competitor orientation strategy of the micro level firm is determined by the level of internal and external competition. How best to meet this competitive pressure depends on the micro level firm’s ability to absorb excess demand through capacity and value creation. Internal value chain management process of the firm decisively places some limitations on its ability to meet this extra demand. Therefore it’s the pricing policy, HRM and internal management culture that ultimately enable the firm to meet this demand successfully. If the attendant VRIO (value, rarity, inimitability and organization) framework is sound enough to enable the management of the company to withstand pressure and devise

Data Envelopment Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Data Envelopment Analysis - Essay Example Their job involves selecting the efficient player for the match out of the whole team. Coaches tend to have problems in choosing the first eleven players to field for crucial football matches. Most football teams have more than twenty players yet; only fourteen players—eleven active players and three substitutes take up the slots. To beat this dilemma, the coaching staffs have come up with various strategies that help them to determine the finest players for the crucial matches facing the teams. For a player, good performance in the preference list for the coaching staff means that he is able to deliver for the team. The overall performance for any team relies solely on the effort of each player because a win for any football team, is an ultimate goal for any football team in the world. The Castrol EDGE index is the latest common technology that analyses and ranks each player’s performance in a football match. The ranking system is a creation of Castrol, which initially was to rank the players at the Men’s club association football under the sponsorship of FIFA. The system considers the duration for the players actions and the power of the opposition team. Currently, the Castrol EDGE index is used to rank the performance of all the footballer players participating in the top five Europe’s leagues in the football season, 12-month period. To build the Castrol Index Ranking, the first step involves finding the â€Å"Castrol Index Score† for every player in each tournament, league, or Championship league match. The second step is to weigh the Castrol Index Score to get the â€Å"Castrol Ranking Points†. The final step, the cumulative points, earned in each match played in the tournament or 90 the divided by the total number of minutes the player played multiply league. The Castrol Index Ranking = {(90 x the Total Castrol Ranking Points) / Total minutes played} During the UEFA EURO 2012, for each player, the Castrol EDGE Ind ex considered every save; pass, tackle, and shot to determine the effect of such actions on the respective team’s probability to either score or concede a goal. The number of points that a player receives depends on the zone of the action within the pitch. So are the number of points awarded for blocked shots, intercessions, and tackles. As for attempts to score, the Castrol EDGE index points to the attacking player but penalizes the goalkeeper conceding the goal. Deductions results for the fouls that arise. Table 1 The Table beside shows the top ten Players of the UEFA EURO 2012 according to the Castrol EDGE index ranking. The ranking scales down the magnitude of prowess the football player ever displayed during the UEFA EURO 2012 event alongside the rest of the players. The ranking also determines a player’s ability to perform in the game of football, and further helps to estimate the market value of a football player during the inter-clubs transfer window. The coach ing staffs around the world easily rely on the Castrol EDGE index to prepare line-ups for various matches ahead of their football teams. Good rankings for a player tend to boost the confidence in the coaching staffs for their players, a fact that can be justified since each player earns a point for every complete action during the football match, which also reflects the player’s ability

Crisis in Movies Assignment Essay Example for Free

Crisis in Movies Assignment Essay 1. Identify precipitating event(s). (10 pts.) The movie I chose to watch is Courageous. The precipitating event in this movie is the car accident that takes the life of Emily Mitchell. Her father, Adam Mitchell, and the rest of her family are traumatized by the sudden death of their 9 year old daughter/sister. In thinking about information that would be gained in the first contact with Adam Mitchell, one thing that stands out about his previous state of mind/functioning is that he was somewhat uninvolved with his children, taking them for granted. This fact can also be a trigger for how he processes this event, causing a crisis for him as he realized his young daughter is now gone. In another scene, Emily’s brother, Dylan Mitchell, shares that he feels guilty that he wasn’t a better brother. Both of these relational states prior to Emily’s death can be a precipitating factor in how they process this trauma – influencing whether they get stuck in crisis of guilt, depression over lost time, etc. or whether they see this as an opportunity for change in the way they handle relationships from now on. 2. Identify the type of crisis (Situational, Developmental, Existential). (10 pts.) This crisis is a situational crisis, in that it is brought about by the sudden death of Emily. However, it can also produce developmental and existential crises in the lives of this family, as they process their loss. A traumatic event is known to potentially create problems in the future development of the individual or family, and it is certainly known to create existential crises, as the individual’s core beliefs about self, others, and the world are extremely challenged during crisis. Beliefs about meaning, purpose, and the existence of God are often questioned after major tragedy. 3. Identify the material, personal, and social resources available to the individual. (10 pts.) The material resources available to this family were that they were a middle class family, with a stable home, and no financial worries that were evident to complicate their loss. The personal resources of the family were that they seemed to be a fairly strong, intact family prior to the crisis. They were clearly a family of great faith in God, and this personal resource literally becomes what carries them through the crisis. As a result of their involvement in church and community, they had the social support of their friends/church members in the early days following the loss. Adam Mitchell also has the ongoing counsel of his pastor, who walks through the process with him, comforting him yet challenging him to grow and not get stuck. 4. What were the differing perceptions of the crisis? (the client, family, community, friends, legal perspectives) (10 pts.) The perspectives within the family are the most obvious. Adam led his family to accept the tragedy as God’s will for their lives and to trust Him with their pain and healing. He seemed to grieve for a while and then dive right in to trying to be a better dad. The mother is shown grieving, and then l ater supporting him as he sought to change his parenting; therefore, her perception seemed to be a fairly healthy one. The brother, Dylan, did not seem to do as well at first. He isolated for a while, but the reason came out one night at the dinner table when he cried, saying he should have been a better brother. The guilt had obviously been causing him to withdraw, but when he finally talked about his real feelings, he is seen making improvements. 5. Briefly, how was the crisis handled by the protagonist? (10 pts.) The protagonist in this movie was Adam Mitchell, the father of Emily who died in the car crash. Adam handled this crisis very well, as it became a catalyst for growth for him. In one session, he is talking with his pastor after a few scenes that have shown him grieving, his wife grieving, and his son beginning to isolate from the family. It is at this time that Adam has a choice in how he handles his opportunity to move forward or stay stuck. He tells his pastor that he does not want to get stuck and bitter, that he wants to heal and he wants his family to heal. It is at this point in the movie that Adam begins to pour himself into studying what God’s word has to say about being a father. After discovering that he was only doing a small portion of what God required of him as a dad, he makes a resolution to change that. Indeed, he does so and brings several other men along with him as well. By choosing to grieve in a healthy way, Adam allowed his crisis to make him a better father and to develop his relationship with his wife and son to a stronger place than it had been even before his daughter’s death. 6. Suggest several steps for your client that could be used to handle the crisis. (10 pts.) Since this crisis did not put Adam, or anyone else in his family, in direct danger, I would take on the role of a facilitator. As a facilitator, I would collaborate with Adam to set some goals for himself. An important thing to remember would be to help him survive and rebuild. This ultimate goal can be accomplished through smaller goals that center on bridging the past, accepting and living with the present, and finding a new path for the future. Practical steps for Adam in processing his loss would be to suggest that he remain connected to his support system, gently guide him to face his pain versus repress it, and have him identify secondary losses and unfinished business due to his daughter’s death. One poignant example of resolving unfinished business in the movie is when Adam goes and pretends to dance with his daughter in the place where he had rejected her invitation a few days before she died. While we can’t always recover secondary losses, we can allow the secondary losses to teach us about how to handle relationships differently in the future. This information can be used in finding a new path. Lastly, if my client was a Christian and I could talk openly about God, I would help to reframe their understanding based on a biblical perception of how God promises to use crises for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Lastly, considering that this was a sudden and traumatic death, I would likely suggest a grief support group for the family. 7. Suggest steps for teaching coping skills and developing resiliency (preventing the crisis from reoccurring). (10 pts.) It’s hard to keep a death from reoccurring, but a client can be strengthened so that they do not move into active crisis each time they fear a new loss. In the case of sudden death of a loved one, a sense of fear over a new loss can almost cripple a client. I have had personal experience with this myself after losing my son in a drowning accident. Therefore, I would immediately want to help the client frame healthy perceptions about the event so that fear patterns do not get locked into the brain. Therefore, when it comes to re-traumatization after an initial trauma, early intervention is critical. Crisis debriefing can help to prevent trauma loops from being formed in the brain, which would contribute to possible crisis reoccurrence. As far as resiliency is concerned, I would suggest that the client remain connected to social support and remain connected to God. Trusting Him in crisis can help tremendously toward a healthy outcome. 8. What referral sources would be available to the client if he/she lived in your area? (specific names of organizations in your area to which you might refer your client. You might have to research your area for this.) (10 pts.) Grief Share groups at several churches in the area (i.e. Hebron Baptist), Cornerstone Counseling (provides trauma recovery services), Paraclete Counseling Center, Robbie Sherrill, LCC 9. Discuss a Biblical worldview or principal related to the crisis. (10 pts.) Anytime there is a tragedy or loss, one might be tempted to question the goodness of God, or even the reality of God. However, God is in control and never surprised by tragedy. A good principle to remember when God does allow suffering is to trust that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Also, Scripture makes it clear that God uses suffering to refine us. Therefore, processing tragedy by asking â€Å"what can I learn from this† is healthier and more biblical than seeking to know why. God knows the end from the beginning, and even though we may not know why while on earth, we can know the peace that comes from trusting Him to bring good from our suffering.

Rises in Rates of Cesarean Section Births

Rises in Rates of Cesarean Section Births In recent history, advancements in medical technology have resulted in an increase in labour and birth interventions. This has in turn, greatly increased caesarean section rates. Birth was once a natural, normal event in a woman’s life, however this has been replaced by a maternity system where intervention is routine and interferes with the normal physiological birth process, putting women and their babies at risk unnecessarily (Romano Lothian, 2008). Normal birth is associated with the best emotional and physical outcomes for women and their babies (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). However women have lost confidence in their own ability to give birth without the assistance of technological interventions. Where midwives previously spent their time supporting and comforting labouring women they now spend their time managing technology (Romano Lothian, 2008). This essay will discuss factors which promote or adversely affect the normal physiology of birth and how we can promote the normal physiology of birth within a public maternity hospital setting. Environmental factors which may negatively or positively affect the normal physiology of labour will also be explored. Normal physiological birth follows a natural sequence. Regular painful contractions of the uterus, stimulate and progress the cervix to efface and dilate along with foetal decent. This results in the spontaneous vaginal delivery of the baby and the placenta without complication to either mother or baby (Page McCandlish, 2006). It can be difficult to facilitate normal physiological birth within an environment dominated by a medical approach, where technology and medical expertise are highly valued. The midwife leaders need to show strong leadership to support all midwives. Midwives need to be well educated and competent in the facilitation of normal birth to increase the rate of normal physiological birth (Midwives experience of facilitating normal birth in an obstetric-led unit: a feminist perspective, 2009). Many of the factors that promote normal physiology are environmental in nature. When women are in labour they are extremely sensitive to feeling observed, disrupted or disturbed, this disrupts the natural hormone responses and progress of labour. Women generally find a warm environment preferable so that they feel comfortable to take off their clothing if they wish to do so. When women labour in a calm and quiet environment they feel a change in consciousness to a more primitive brain where birth instincts take over. Privacy and a home like environment also help to facilitate normal birth (Sara Wickham – Midwifery: Best practice, volume 5, 2008). Migrant women have reported that privacy is of particular importance to them (Hennegan, Redshaw Miller, 2014). Women benefit from freedom of movement during labour (Thies-Lagergren, Hildingsson, Christensson Kvist, 2013) and if given the opportunity will instinctively choose a variety of movements to help them cope with labour inclu ding walking, swaying, standing, leaning and the hands and knees position. Allowing freedom of movement benefits the mother in a number of ways including comfort, shortening labour, increased uterine contractions and less need for pharmacologic pain relief. It can also correct poor progress, malposition and sometimes foetal heart rate anomalies (Romano Lothian, 2008). When women push spontaneously without being coached they are less likely to require suturing from trauma and have less pelvic floor dysfunction than women who are coached to push (Romano Lothian, 2008). The AWHONN (2013) recommends women should not push until they feel the urge to push and should do so spontaneously without direction. Women’s experiences of control during labour and birth are overwhelmingly associated with their involvement in the decision making process (Christiaens, 2010). The process of writing a birth plan also increases a woman’s feelings of control as it gives her the opportunity to think about possible scenario’s and plan her responses and choices (Kuo, Hsu, Yang, Chang, Tsao Lin, 2010). Freedom to move around, scream out or make decisions about who enters the birthing space contributes further to the perception of control (Ford, 2009). Women also feel more in control if they have access to information during labour (Tiedje Price, 2008). Health care providers can help to facilitate a woman’s access to information by answering any questions she may have allowing her to make informed choices. When women feel a sense of personal security, derived from feeling respected, trusted and supported by the health care provider who is looking after them, they will experience less fear and an increased feeling of control (Meyer, 2012). Continuous support for women in labour from a female with specialised training is thought to reduce anxiety and stress hormones known to cause vasoconstriction and lower uterine blood flow, which may slow down progress and potentially harm the foetus. Continuous support is said to increase the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth, lower the use of analgesia, epidural, risk of caesarean and instrumental delivery (Sosa, Crozier Robinson, 2012; Romano Lothian, 2008). These are all important factors in the facilitation and promotion of normal birth and positively affect the woman’s labour and birth environment. There are also many factors that adversely affect the normal physiology of birth, including induction of labour which increases a women’s need for analgesia or epidural and puts her baby at an increased risk of needing neonatal resuscitation. Induction of labour also increases a woman’s risk of caesarean section, instrumental birth, shoulder dystocia, intrapartum fever, low birthweight babies and admission to neonatal intensive care (Tracey et al, 2007). Augmentation of labour can be a tempting option to speed up labour, however amniotomy and oxytocin administration are not without risk. Options such as changing position and talking to women about their emotions, which are low or not risk options, can be as effective and more pleasant for labouring women (Romano Lothian, 2008). Amniotomy can increase the risk of infection, may cause pressure injuries or ruptured placental veins or arteries resulting in significant foetal blood loss. It is also associated with cord prol apse (Cohain, 2013). If amniotomy is carried out early in pregnancy it can set off a cascade of intervention and increase the risk of caesarean section. If labour is still not progressing oxytocin is usually administered and makes contractions stronger and more difficult to cope with as it is exogenous and does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so endorphins are not released to decrease pain perception (Romano Lothian, 2008). Oxytocin administration also puts women at risk of hyperstimulation (Selin, Almstrom, Wallin Berg, 2009). Other interventions such as intravenous cannula and electronic foetal monitoring are also used in this intervention and there is an increase in other interventions such as epidurial which all have added risks. Amniotomy should only be used if progress is truly abnormal while oxytocin augmentation should only be used if labour is truly prolonged with sluggish uterine activity (Romano Lothian, 2008). Epidural analgesia relaxes the pelvic floor muscles mak ing foetal decent and rotation difficult (Al-Metwalli, Mostafa Mousa, 2012). The absence of pain in labour can interfere with the natural oxytocin release. There is also a risk of hypotension so electronic foetal monitoring is used along with an intravenous cannula. Women who use this type of pain relief are less likely to have a vaginal birth and at a higher risk of instrumental delivery, prolonged labour and fever. Their babies are more likely to have infection (Romano Lothian, 2008). All of these interventions carry risks to mother and baby and adversely impact upon the normal physiological birth process. Some of the environmental factors that adversely affect the normal progress of labour include restriction of eating and drinking which began in the1940’s when general anaesthetic was commonly used in obstetrics to reduce the chance of aspiration. General anaesthetic is now rare in obstetrics as is aspiration due to the use of airway protection. Women prefer to have the choice to eat and drink during labour and there is no benefit in restricting them to do so (Singata, Tranmer Gyte, 2013). When women are prevented from eating or drinking they are hydrated with iv fluids, this is also used to access a vein in case of an emergency. Although emergencies do happen there is no evidence to suggest iv access in low risk labouring women improves outcomes. Women with Intravenous lines are not free to move around, may have increased stress levels, may result in fluid overload in both mother and foetus and does not adequately hydrate or provide nutrients. Continuous foetal monitoring has been found to reduce neonatal seizures when babies have been exposed to high doses of oxytocin but has not been linked to positive long term outcomes. It does however increase the risk of caesarean section and instrumental delivery without a clear benefit to the baby and reduces the mother’s ability to mobilise (Alfirevic, Devane Gyte, 2013). These environmental factors have a negative affect on a woman’s normal progress in labour and should be avoided if possible. A midwife-led continuity of care model has been found to benefit women and their babies in a number of ways when compared with medical and shared models of care. Benefits include decreased use of epidural, less episiotomies and instrumental births and less preterm birth or loss of baby prior to 24 weeks gestation. Women also had more chance of having a spontaneous vaginal delivery. As a result a midwife-led continuity of care model gives women the best chance of having a normal physiological birth (Sandall, Soltani, Gates, Shennan Devane, 2013). For a midwife to promote the normal physiological birth process and give effective and appropriate care, she needs to establish a relationship with women antenatally. It is important for the midwife to get to know each woman and her wishes and dreams for her impending birth (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). This allows a partnership of trust and respect and helps to alleviate any fears or anxieties and share appropriate and correct information before the birth. When women talk about their fears with the midwife, she will be better informed and able to provide woman centred care (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to use evidenced based practice staying within their scope of practice. Whenever a midwife interacts with a woman, she needs to support normal physiological birth and the natural cascade of normal labour. Every interaction she has with a woman affects this cascade either positively or negatively (New Zealand College of Midwives, 2009). When wome n are in labour midwives need to consider the woman’s birth plan while maintaining a private warm room. It is also important to encourage her to find a comfortable position with appropriate comforts such as pillows and beanbags. Encouraging partners to support women by providing drinks, cool washers, and other physical support is an important midwifery role (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to be unobtrusive and well prepared with safety equipment. When women are in the second stage of labour midwives need to encourage position changes to help decent where appropriate. Soothing hot compresses can be used on the perineum and vulva while the midwife gives clear and calm reassurance until the baby is born and given to the mother for skin to skin contact. These factors will help midwives to facilitate the normal physiological birth process (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood Pincombe, 2010). Midwives need to practice cultural safety by reflecting on their own cul tural values and identity in an effort to recognise the impact their own culture has on their practice. It is important for midwives to understand their position of power within the healthcare system (Page McCandlish, 2006). It is in most women’s best interest to have a normal physiological labour and birth as it provides the best physical and emotional outcomes for both mothers and their babies. It is the midwife’s role to ensure birth proceeds as normally as possible and interventions are only used when absolutely necessary. To achieve this, midwives need to understand the factors that promote and adversely affect the normal physiological birth process and any environmental factors that may negatively or positively impact on a woman’s labour and birth. There are a number of different models of care available to pregnant women, however it has been found that a midwife-led continuity of care model gives the best possible chance for a normal physiological birth and labour. Midwives need to create a calm, quiet, culturally safe, supportive environment where women feel safe and secure to use their natural birthing instincts and encourage position changes where appropriate. The environme nt needs to be well equipped with comforts such as pillows and beanbags and any safety equipment that may be needed. Although it can be difficult to facilitate a normal physiological labour and birth within a medically dominated environment, if midwives have strong leadership and are well educated to facilitate normal physiological birth they are more likely to increase the rates of normal birth.

A Comparison of the Supernatural in Tempest, Julius Caesar, and Midsum

Supernatural Phenomena in The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and Midsummer Night's Dream  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   The Oxford English Dictionary defines "supernatural" as something "that is out of the ordinary course of nature; beyond, surpassing, or differing from what is natural."   In light of this definition, I shall be discussing the plays The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and A Midsummer Night's Dream through three successive pairings, drawing distinctions and comparisons between each play and its significant others as relate to some aspect of the supernatural realm. In any discussion of two Shakespeare plays, the issue of chronology deserves at least a passing nod. In the case of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream, knowledge of the chronology of the plays is of paramount importance in understanding the differences in tone, language, and the relationship dynamics between Oberon/Puck and Prospero/Ariel/Caliban. A Midsummer Night's Dream came out roughly 1594-5, The Tempest around 1611-12, some seventeen years later. The development of Shakespeare's imagination, as well as his powers as a playwright and poet, are certainly evident in The Tempest: The language is richer and more convoluted, the tone darker, more brooding, as are the characters (a feature characteristic of Shakespeare's Jacobean phase), and the whole message of revenge transmuted into forgiveness and resignation is a remarkable departure from traditional Senecan motifs. Also, as often seen in the later plays, a particular character or group dynamic seen in an earlier play is u pdated, expanded, and elaborated upon, in this case that of Oberon and Puck. In MND, Oberon is proud and imperious, but basically helps the course of true love run smooth in the end with the help of... ...20th century might consider a quaint dramatic expedient, a colorful, fanciful, booga-booga quality, for the Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre-goer of the time, the world of fairies and ghosts and demons and witches was very much a real one, and it pays to bear this in mind when reading and attending the plays. To try and imagine that such things really people one's world, really have a place somewhere in the immense chain of being, is to feel a very vital resonance within that nothing in the gray, bleak, so-called post-modern landscape can ever provide.    Works Cited Badawi, M.M., Background to Shakespeare, London, MacMillan Education Ltd., 1981. Boyce, Charles, Shakespeare A to Z, New York, Roundtable Press Inc., 1990. All act, scene, and line number citations refer to the Arden editions of the various plays discussed in this monograph.   

Estrangement in Joseph Conrads Amy Foster and in Rebecca Wests The Re

Estrangement in Joseph Conrad's Amy Foster and in Rebecca West's The Return of the Soldier The concept of male estrangement in an alien environment is portrayed in both Joseph Conrad’s short story, Amy Foster, as well as in Rebecca West’s book, The Return of the Soldier. First, there are adverse reactions to the male protagonists’ placement in their environments. The reactions vary between the protagonists and the people they come into contact with. Second, there are similarities and differences between the way the two authors chose to explore the situations presented. Third, both protagonists handle their estrangement differently. It is hard to behave appropriately when you are among peculiar customs. It seems ironic that in both instances, the protagonist has reached the alien environment from violent circumstances. In Amy Foster, the main character, Yanko Goorall, falls victim to a shipwreck, leaving him stranded in a mysterious land. For instance, Conrad writes: â€Å"†¦he was a castaway†¦washed ashore here in a storm. And for him†¦England was an undiscovered country† (Conrad 140). Upon arrival, he was desperate and in need of shelter and sustenance, causing him to appear as though he was behaving erratically. â€Å"The driver of Mr. Bradley’s milk-cart made no secret of it that he had lashed with his whip at a hairy sort of gipsy fellow who, jumping at a turn of the road†¦made a snatch at the pony’s bridle† (Conrad 145). This is justified by the narrator who claims: â€Å"Maybe that in his desperate endeavours to get help, and in his need to get in touch with some one, the poor devil had tried to stop the cart† (Con rad 145). Although Yanko had appeared to be behaving oddly, his behaviors were also responded to in a rather harsh f... ... from his present life, back to a time when he was safe and happy. In conclusion, the idea of male estrangement in an alien environment is examined in both Joseph Conrad’s fabulous short story, Amy Foster, as well as in Rebecca West’s sad tale, The Return of the Soldier. First, various reactions occur. There are the reactions to the protagonists as well as the reactions of the protagonists. Second, the authors chose to explore different situations. Despite this fact, there are a few similarities in both situations. Third, each protagonist explores his situation differently. One runs from his past, his eyes gleaming with a brighter future. The other openly embraces his past, while rejecting his present life and hoping for a second chance. There is no easy way of going about it, and it is interesting how similar yet different both of these adventures are.

America Can Save Its Schools from Violence Essay -- Argumentative Pers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The late 1990s brought some frightening headlines to the public consciousness. Deadly shootings were happening in our public schools (Columbine, Littleton). Unfortunately like all other events that appear for the first time, we went from being shocked and dismayed, to a feeling of numbness as they continued and continued. To understand why this is happening in American culture, we need to look at the last two decades of social evolution. We had a distortion of the classic family, an abundance of role conflict, and a move towards sensationalism in our media. We are constantly being bombarded by images of violence on the television and lyrics about acts or threats of violence on the radio. All members of society need to take an active part in a revolution of our priorities. The violence in our school systems will decrease when parents, teachers, peers, and role models start paying more attention to our students.    Breakdown of Traditional Family    Many correlations can be made between acts of violence and the breakdown of the traditional family. In a 1995 study conducted by the Council of Families in America, "50% of first marriages end in divorce"(A1). As result families have been forced to mutate. This often results in a household consisting of one parent (mom or dad) and the child/children. Typically the parent, who has custody, has a job to provide for the family. Oftentimes this leaves the child/children home alone or with some sort of caretaker (daycare, babysitter, nanny). This situation could lead to a wide array of problems. The child may not receive the attention they need from their parent that is proven to aid in the development of proper morals and values. Doctor John Gottman of the Marital an... ...ools can be curbed.    Works Cited Alexander, Kelly. "Is spanking Ever Okay?" Parent. May 2001 Vl. 76 #5: 94. Council of Families in America. "Low Marriage, High Divorce Rates Hits Kids Hard." Reuters. 4 Apr. 1995 <http://www.vix.com/pub/men/nofather/articles/usa-marriages.html: A1. Dominick, Joseph R. "Social Effects of Mass Communication." The Dynamics of Mass Communication. 6th Ed. 1999: child 1; B. Gottman, John. Marital and Family Research Institute. Pamphlet. Feb. 2001: A2. Kagan, Donald; Steven Ozment; Frank M. Turner. "The Age of Napoleon and the Triumph of Romanticism." The Western Heritage. 2001 Vl. C 7th Edition: 690. Kornblum, William. "Education and Communications Media" Sociology: In A Changing World. 2000 5th Edition: Hamburg 1992. Pearlman, Robert. "Cruelty of Culture." Time 27 Dec. 1999 Vl. 54 I. 25: 40.

The Ethical Issues behind Cosmetic Surgery

The article I chose is entitled â€Å"Ethnic Differences Emerge in Plastic Surgery† and was written by Sam Dolnick for the New York Times on February 19, 2011. It explains that cosmetic plastic surgery is no longer an opportunity limited to wealthy suburbanites. In New York City, there has been a surge of immigrants having plastic surgeries that are correlated with their ethnic beauty standards.Furthermore, doctors practicing in various ethnic enclaves throughout the city have seen; Italians having their knees reshaped, Egyptians getting face-lifts, Iranians getting nose jobs, Dominican women getting their buttocks’ lifted, Asians having â€Å"double eye-lid surgery† or receiving a crease in their eyelids to make their eyes appear rounder, and Russians getting breast implants.The article goes on to contrast the cultural beauty standards or tastes between one group of wealthy Long Island suburbanites with Washington Heights’ ancestrally Dominican citizens, where, in Long Island suburbs they want fat removed from their behinds, and in Washington Heights they want their rear ends enlarged and rounded. There are three ethical issues present in this article, the first being the usage of surgery to improve patients’ psychological self-esteem issues versus the usage of surgery for traditional health reasons.The second issue is the fact that doctors are willing to offer layaway plans to help patients afford operations, but even more precarious, unlicensed practitioners are performing illegal surgery throughout most ethnic enclaves. The third is the belief that American pop culture and media have a role in affecting people’s personal awareness and ideals of beauty, and this is making them much more willing to have unnecessary cosmetic plastic surgery performed. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian doctrine is the first ethical theory I chose to apply to these ethical problems.Mill argued that morality is based on the consequenc es you take, and that consequences must be a means to increase utility or pleasure (Utilitarianism: Of What Sort of Proof the, para 3,9). To the first ethical issue, Mill would most likely say that people who undergo cosmetic plastic surgery are moral because they are acting accordance with increasing happiness. However, they are acting upon a lower pleasure, which is vanity, and although this may bring some joy, it is something that can become an endless pursuit.Towards the second issue, Mill would most likely say that the legality of the operations, and how the surgery is paid for, is superfluous to morality. If there is a tendency for patients to come out feeling and looking better, than the surgeon has done his or her job and there is nothing immoral going on. However, if there is a tendency for people to leave these places, where layaway is acceptable and the surgeons do not have licenses to practice, in pain and vexation, there is something immoral about this particular situat ion.One could further argue, that performing surgery illegally and allowing layaway for surgery is based in greed. To this I believe Mill would still say that it is the patients responses that matter, for they are the ones who choose to have the surgery illegally, and if they have gained more pleasure through the experience, the actions taken by the illegal surgeons or greedy doctors was moral (Utilitarianism: Of What Sort of Proof, para 6).To the last part, is media and pop culture responsible for unnecessary surgery, and people unhealthy personal beauty obsessions, he would say, generally no. Although he might say that certain parts of media are potent at changing the way people view their bodies and other people’s bodies, and may make people obsessively drawn into the lower pleasures of cosmetic bodily improvement. Immanuel Kant’s Deontological ethics is the second theory I chose to administer to the article. Kant argues that for an action to have genuine moral wort h, it must be done out of duty, or from pure intentions.People or semi-rational beings must not allow subjective experiences and past events, or particular circumstances, determine what actions are morally right, but must act to achieve the categorical imperative, thus making every intention and every action together an end in itself (Groundwork: Moving from popular, para 2-4, 6-7). To the first, again being the usage of surgery for traditional reasons, versus the usage of surgery for patients who have psychological self-esteem issues; they believe that having cosmetic surgery will result in looking better and therefore bring happiness.Kant would strongly see this as immoral, as it is first off not being used to preserve one’s life, and it is seeking out happiness through picking means which Kant believes will only lead to pain (Groundwork: Moving from popular moral, para 15-16). Also cosmetic plastic surgery is not universafiable because it means that our self-love is based off of subjective contingent circumstances, and not based off of self-love because we are semi-rational beings.To the second ethical theory being layaway plans and illegal surgery, Kant would probably see the layaway plans as bad in that if everyone had layaway, there would not be any true ownership, and everyone would be in debt to someone else. Illegal surgery is also not universifiable in that, if it were universifiable, there would be no legality, and the state laws for surgical practices would not exist. As to whether Kant would see people receiving cosmetic plastic surgery as victims of our hyper-idealized beauty popular culture and media, he would probably say yes, there is a problem.Pop culture, the media, and social networks certainly do have an insidiously furtive part in how we behave, and what we believe is beautiful. To go out of your way to make yourself more beautiful because someone or something tells you to do so, especially if it is instilled upon you in a covert w ay, is not acting in accordance with freedom. It is dually leading you to use surgery as a mere means to happiness, and using you as a mere means to waste your money on advertised beauty/ diet products, more surgery, and more repetitive mindless television shows.In terms of which ethical theory best resolves the ethical issues spurred by this article, I would have to say Kant’s theory of good intentions is most critical and affirmative. All of these ethical issues I have raised have questionable intentions behind them. If I were to go with Mill, I certainly would be a lot more lenient with these issues. That is not necessarily a bad thing, since these peoples actions are not necessarily questionable. Their actions are somewhat good, because whether you are the patient, the doctor, or the pop culture media (entertainment) you are aiming at or supposedly affecting happiness (in a Mill sense).But their intentions are somewhat convoluted, and in my opinion, impure. I believe most of the doctors have greed as their intention, especially those who are willing to perform surgery illegally. Sure, the illegal surgeons may be acting in a proper way, that is, they may perform the surgery properly. But behind it all is an intention of surreptitiously avoiding the rules of the state to save money, meanwhile being completely liable to malpractice and putting in jeopardy their lives and the lives of their patients.The patients may know that these doctors are quacks, but if they don’t, then in fact they are being lied to and are being placed under the knives of surgeons who are dishonest and hence treating the patients as a mere means. Furthermore, I believe anyone who is getting cosmetic plastic surgery based off of established beauty standards, unless in some horrific accident or bearing some horrific deformity is impure in their reasoning.They are giving into standards that are not their own, but have been environmentally, and artificially created, beefed up and branded. Thus, in a Kantian sense, people are acting not under a categorical imperative, but under empirical knowledge that has been conjured through culturally relative or subjective circumstances. In sum, Kant would say be happy with what you look like, and don’t attempt to change it based off of your cultural preferences or media created beauty bombardments, because you are not acting freely and with duty.

Bonds and Their Valuation Mini-Case Essay

Sam Strother and Shawna Tibbs are vice-presidents of Mutual of Seattle Insurance Company and co-directors of the company’s pension fund management division. A major new client, the Northwestern Municipal Alliance, has requested that Mutual of Seattle present an investment seminar to the mayors of the represented cities, and Strother and Tibbs, who will make the actual presentation, have asked you to help them by answering the following questions. Because the Boeing Company operates in one of the league’s cities, you are to work Boeing into the presentation. a.What are the key features of a bond? Answer: 1.Par or face value. We generally assume a $1,000 par value, but par can be anything, and often $5,000 or more is used. With registered bonds, which is what are issued today, if you bought $50,000 worth, that amount would appear on the certificate. 2.Coupon rate. The dollar coupon is the â€Å"rent† on the money borrowed, which is generally the par value of the bond. The coupon rate is the annual interest payment divided by the par value, and it is generally set at the value of r on the day the bond is issued. 3.Maturity. This is the number of years until the bond matures and the issuer must repay the loan (return the par value). 4.Issue date. This is the date the bonds were issued. 5.Default risk is inherent in all bonds except treasury bonds–will the issuer have the cash to make the promised payments? Bonds are rated from AAA to D, and the lower the rating the riskier the bond, the higher its default risk premium, and, consequently, the higher its required rate of return.

Others vs. leaders Essay

To further test why there was a difference in the above results, t-test was further conducted between the two groups to identify the items where there are possible differences between the two groups under study. B. 1. Leadership, Item 1: There was no significant difference between the Leadership mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group. This means that as far as the Leadership indicators were concerned the two groups could be considered as belonging to the same population, Table 4. Table 4. T-Test Results of Leadership Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance. Leadership 3. 805 4. 186 -1. 68 p=0. 10n. s. n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) This implied that although the respondents belonged to different echelons in the organization studied, as far as the Leadership, Item 1, measures are concerned; the Junior Officers and the Senior Officers perform at the same level. B. 2. Strategic Planning, Item 2: The t-test showed there was no significant difference between mean scores of the two groups suggesting uniformity in perception as far as the indicators of strategic planning were concerned, Table 5. Table 5. T-Test Results of Strategic Planning Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance Strategic Planning 3. 852 4. 19 -1. 13 p=0. 265n. s. n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 3. Customer and Market Focus, Item 3: The t-test on comparing the mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group showed a significant difference between the two groups with the Leaders Group considerably had higher mean score, Table 6. Table 6. T-Test Results of Customer and Market Focus Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance Customer and Market Focus 2. 708 3. 143 -2. 09 p=0. 043 * n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 4. Measurement, Analyses and Knowledge Management, Item 4: There is no significant difference between the Measurement, Analyses, and Knowledge Management mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group, Table 7. Table 7. T-Test Results of Measurement, Analyses, and Knowledge Management Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance Measurement, Analyses, and Knowledge Management 3. 795 3. 531 0. 64 p=0. 527n. s. n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 5. Human Resource Focus, Item 5: There is no significant difference between the Human Resource Focus mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group, Table 8. Table 8. T-Test Results of Human Resource Focus Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance Human Resource Focus 3. 217 3. 35 -0. 55 p=0. 587n. s. n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 6. Process Management, Item 6: There is no significant difference between the Process Management mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group. Table 9. T-Test Results of Process Management Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance. Process Management 3. 772 3. 819 -0. 24 p=0. 813n. s. n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 7. Business Results, Item 7: There is significant difference between the Business Results mean scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group. The Others and the Leaders Group differed in their responses for Business Results. The Leaders Group had higher responses for these types of questions, Table 10. Table 10. T-Test Results of Business Results Mean Scores of the Others Group and the Leaders Group. Variables Others Leaders t-test Significance Business Results 2. 245 2. 926 -2. 23 p=0. 031* n. s. = not significant (accept hypothesis: mean scores of others = leaders) * significant at 1% level (reject null hypothesis) B. 8. Implications of the t-test Results The t-test conducted revealed significant difference between the two groups on two items, namely Customer and Market Focus, Item 3 and Business Results, Item 7. According to the Baldrige Criteria, the Customer and Market Focus Category, Item 3, â€Å"examines how the organization determines requirements, needs, expectations, and preferences of customers and markets. Also examined is how the organization builds relationships with customers and determines the Key Factors that lead to customer acquisition and satisfaction, loyalty and retention, and to business expansion and sustainability. † We take note that this concern is a concern essentially external to the organization but defines the rationale or importance of the organization to the bigger society through which the organization was dedicated in serving. In the military service, the â€Å"customer and market† are presumably not only the men and women in the service but the public at large and all its agencies. It could be expected that the top echelon of the military leadership surveyed in the study were concerned not only with how the organization works but whether the expectations of its function to serve the public at large were being met. Another item which showed significant difference with the Leaders Group scoring higher than the Others Groups is Business Results, Item 7. Based from the Baldrige indicators, this item is customer-oriented and measures performance geared at satisfying the â€Å"customer† as well as performance in the â€Å"marketplace†. In other words, this item is concerned with results which would accomplish the mandate or mission of the organization. Again, we take note that this item is external to the organization which leads us to a possible explanation for such a result. The differences between the two groups suggested that there was a sort of a transformation in perception of officers as they go up in the hierarchy. This support the earlier observation that positions in the organization may have its own requirements given its functions which shape the perception or point of view of those occupying such positions. C. Excerpt from the Correlation Matrix for the Leaders Group To further probe into the nature of the difference of point of views or priorities between the two groups, cross-correlation between the items were conducted on the Leader Group. The results revealed a negative or inverse correlation between Strategic Planning, Item 2, and Customer Market Focus, Item 3; whereas, a positive correlation between Strategic Planning, Item 2 and Process Management, Item 6, Table 11. Table 11. Excerpt from the Correlation Matrix for Leaders Strategic Planning Item 2. Customer and Market Focus, Item 3 -0. 811 0. 027 Process Management, Item 6 0. 955 0. 001 Cell Contents: Pearson correlation p-Value These results further showed us some trends which were not shown in the cross correlation test conducted for the Others Group. That is, for leaders in key positions, the concern is satisfying the goals and achieving the results and the details like strategy become a lesser concern. Arguably, the top echelon of the military leadership has the whole organization working under its wings which would deliver and perform. Specifics, then have to be largely delegated to the Junior Officers. The positive correlation between strategy and process management suggested that top leadership in the case of the respondents surveyed in this study, likewise did not bother much with the details of certain processes possibly as in the case of strategy relegating the meticulous tasks to Junior Officers. Again, this supported the previous trend of position based perspectives suggesting opposing point views may be due to position occupied.

Coursework †Metamorphosis Essay

Gregor must work at a job he hates to pay off his family’s debts. The family is in debt, but he is the only one who has a job. While he wakes up early and goes on the train until late at night, his father has a leisurely life. Kafka writes, â€Å"for his father breakfast was the most important meal time in the day, which he prolonged for hours by reading various newspapers. † Instead of working, he is eating and reading newspapers for many hours. At this time, Gregor must work to support the whole family. Later, he finds out that the family has enough money to live on for a few years and maybe Gregor did not have to work so hard. Kafka writes, â€Å"with this excess money, he could have paid off more of his father’s debt to his employer and the day on which he could be rid of this position would have been a lot closer. † He is like a servant, and this is not natural for a family member. Changing into the insect is symbolic of being liberated from this life. Since he is now a bug and cannot work, he does not have to be responsible for paying off the family’s debt anymore. Instead, the family has to be responsible. Therefore, the metamorphosis is also symbolic of the family being liberated because they do not depend on Gregor anymore. They depend on themselves for support. After the change, the mother and sister must do the cooking and the family must all get jobs. Once that happens, the family quickly decides that they do not want or need Gregor anymore. They are independent and decide that Gregor is not an important part of the family. Question 2: If the story was set in contemporary America and Gregor was working two jobs, the plot would change in many ways. If he is working two jobs, it is probably because they are barely able to pay the debts. The family would already be working, they would not get new jobs so easily, and there would be no servant girl or lodgers. If Gregor had two jobs, the other family would probably be working too. This would change the plot significantly. If all the family is working, Gregor would not be the only one responsible for the debts. After the metamorphosis, the family would not have enough money. If they are already working and Gregor loses two jobs, the family would be more in debt every day. Also, in the story, the family starts working soon after Gregor is changed to an insect. However, today it is not so simple to get a job like in the story. If the family has to get new jobs, it would take a long time and their debts would be higher. In addition, there would not have been a servant in the story. Kafka writes, â€Å"The servant girl was now let go. A huge bony cleaning woman with white hair flying all over her head came in the morning and evening to do the heaviest work. The mother took care of everything else in addition to her considerable sewing work. † If Gregor was working two jobs, the family would not have a servant girl or cleaning woman. They would not have enough money and the family would do this work themselves. Also, the family gets rent from three lodgers. Today, lodgers are not so common so the family would be forced to find other ways to get money. The story does not say if the rent is a lot of money, but one of the family would have to get another job to replace the rent. Question 3: I researched â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and found two very good resources: 1. The Modern World. 16 Mar. 2007 . This website is a collection of information about Franz Kafka and â€Å"The Metamorphosis. † It has a biography, review of the story, and a collection of other resources like papers, research, and websites. 2. Bloom, Harold, ed. Franz Kafka’s the Metamorphosis. New York: Chelsea House, 1988. This is a book with many essays about â€Å"The Metamorphosis. † I read â€Å"Metamorphosis of the Metapho r† by Stanley Corngold and â€Å"From Marx to Myth: The Structure and Function of Self-Alienation in Kafka’s Metamorphosis† by Walter H. Sokel. In â€Å"From Marx to Myth: The Structure and Function of Self-Alienation in Kafka’s Metamorphosis,† Walter H. Sokel writes Gregor turns into an insect because he has self-contempt. Sokel writes, â€Å"Seeing himself as vermin, and being treated as such by his business and family, the traveling salesman Gregor Samsa literally turns into vermin† (105). I agree with the author when he says vermin represents the way Gregor is treated, but I do not agree that Gregor sees himself this way. Gregor does not like his job, but must go to work to â€Å"pay off my parents’ debt† to his boss. His family uses him because he can make money and pay off the debts. His boss uses him because he can make money for the company. Kafka writes about Gregor, â€Å"He was the boss’s minion, without backbone or intelligence. † He cannot even miss work if he is sick. He certainly is treated like vermin by his family and boss. However, I do not see that Gregor thinks he is vermin until after he turns into an insect. He seems to be proud that he supports his family.

Moyou financial projection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Moyou financial projection - Essay Example The information is based on forecasts. Forecasting is used in estimating future performance of the business (Shim and Siegel 2007). It is useful in the financial planning process which entails assessing future financial needs. Investors use forecasting to value a company and determine its security. Pro forma statements show forecasts for periods ranging from 1-5 years. This report will assess the financial viability of MoYou by carrying out financial projections. The projections are based on the data obtained from the entrepreneur of the organization during an interview. According to the entrepreneur, annual sales add up to ?1 million. The Cost structure is as follows: The average cost is 3-5 USD per bundle unit. plate - 1$, nail polish 0.9$; Moyou is paying manufactures for labor according to their supply as mentioned above; variable- delivery and dispatch cost varies according to speed of delivery, and its range is from 0.3- 0.7 USD per unit. Service cost- Moyou customer service is based in Brent cross; fixed cost- ?900 per month, variable cost- ?150 per month, staff wages- ?2750 per month. Media and Public relations cost;  Exhibitions cost- ?750 annual and cost Marketing and brand development cost- ?2150 annual cost Income statement projections In the income statement forecast as shown in appendix 1 we assume: Sales grow at 10% annually Variable costs vary with the number of units sold All units produced are assumed to be sold Fixed costs remain constant throughout except the marketing, and product development costs Tax rate of 24% is to remain constant Marginal costing method has been used in projecting the income statement. Appendix INCOME STATEMENT FORECAST                2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Number of units sold 100,000 110,000 121,000 133,100 146,410 sales 1,000,000 1,100,000 1,210,000 1,331,000 1,464,100 Less variable costs:    Variable service costs 1,800 1,980 2,178 2,396 2,635 variable delivery & dispatch costs 50,000 55,000 60,500 66,550 73,205 Direct labor costs:    Plate 90,000 99,000 108,900 119,790 131,769 Nail 100,000 110,000 121,000 133,100 146,410 Total Variable costs 241,800 265,980 292,578 321,836 354,019 Less overheads costs:    Fixed service costs 10,800 10,800 10,800 10,800 10,800 Staff wages 33,000 33,000 33,000 33,000 33,000 Media and Public relations:    Exhibitions costs 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 Marketing and brand development 25,800 28,380 31,218 34,340 37,774    78,600 81,180 84,018 87,140 90,574 Net Profit Before Tax 679,600 752,840 833,404 922,024 1,019,507 Tax @24% (163,104) (180,682) (200,017) (221,286) (244,682) Operating income 516,496 572,158 633,387 700,739 774,825                   The operating income is a projection of financing the company needs. Projected balance sheet BALANCE SHEET FORECAST                Fixed Assets 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Property, plant & Equipment 1,200,000 1,080,000 972,000 874,800 787,320       Current Assets    Inventories 300,500 301,500 301,500 301,500 301,500 Cash 500,000 730,658 600,000 650,000 730,000 Accounts receivables 215,996 150,000 450,887 524,439 557,905 Total Assets 2,216,496 2,262,158 2,324,387

Why We Root For Some Antagonist Portrayed in Film, Literature and Article

Why We Root For Some Antagonist Portrayed in Film, Literature and Television - Article Example Why we root for villains and antagonists is a manifestation of morbid curiosity. Most people want to know something they rarely knew about or just heard about in whispers such that the more you deny these villains and antagonists, the more people are attracted to them. It certainly defies logic why this is so but then again the human mind is really hard to fathom. The enduring attraction of Count Dracula attests to this unusual curiosity. Villains become the fodder of speculations and conjectures but more than that, there is the abiding yearning effort to know more just for the sake of knowing; it seems knowledge is its own reward. People go to great lengths to visit his old castle in Transylvania and spend plenty of dollars there. Psychologists and sociologists attribute this unhealthy and unwholesome fascination as sort of an unexpressed death wish. Yes, people can sometimes really have this unusual and inexplicable wish which they are not even aware of. This is why black films or film noire has made a comeback in Hollywood. This death wish is the exact opposite of the survival instinct but as to why people can have this trait, nobody knows exactly. Some posit the idea this is the form of sexual inversion, a pseudo-sexual attraction of an opposite (Ellis 288). There are many plausible reasons why we root for antagonists and villains despite how much we know about their bad or undesirable side. This can be due to their being authentic. Antagonists, whether in literature, film, television, and even in real life (such as Hitler) are the kinds of people who are true to themselves, no matter what the odds are against them. Society is against them and yet they still pursue their dreams, do what they want, or persist whatever it is that drives them even if public opinion is definitely against them. Perhaps there is a hidden sense of communal grief when people prefer the macabre over what is

Internet Banking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internet Banking - Research Paper Example As to the exposure to the internet is concerned almost all those who said they did have exposure to internet for over a year also said that they had internet banking exposure for over a year which is very welcome since most of the people who are on the internet seem to be more inclined towards using internet for this purpose. Most people (40%) felt that the internet banking enabled them to do their job quickly and only 20% felt that it does not help them do their job quickly. Others felt neither or did not comment. This indicates there is an overall speed increase in the process. This has also resulted in 40% of the people saying that their productivity has gone up and 45% said that their effectiveness in utilizing the services have gone up. The same is not the case with the utilization of banking services, which the respondents seem to feel is more towards disagreeing. 40% said the internet banking has NOT improved their services. Around 35% said they perceived an improvement in the service. Nearly 45% of the respondents also felt that it was not easy to use the internet banking facility. This implies that the sites are not really user friendly and the usability factor of the websites has to be analyzed. The overall banking usefulness as percei... The overall banking usefulness as perceived was checked and was found to be more in favor of yes as shown above. The number of people who perceived that the internet banking is not useful was just 15%. This implies that the overall reaction of the people is towards satisfactory internet banking. The above pie chart shows that there are also undecided people of almost 45% of the surveyed lot who could be turned positive with a little effort. Trust From the analysis of the survey results, it is found that the overall satisfaction levels in the case of trust is also in favor of the bank. However, some of the important questions in this regard, 'I feel trustworthy towards my bank' and 'Using internet banking is secure' has evoked a strong neutral stand from the respondents. This indicates that the majority of them are still in a dilemma as to use the internet banking or not to use it. This dilemma can easily be turned positive by suitable promotion and clarifications for the clients of the bank. Another interesting point to note is the fact that nearly 40% of the people have said they may not trust the bank with their private information. This possibly stems from the idea that the respondents might be getting from the bank that they are sharing their personal information with others merchants. But the overall trust in the bank has not diminished as per the figure below. There are more people who are saying they trust their bank without any holds. There is also 40% of people who say that they are neutral; not saying no but at the same time not saying yes either. This is a group that needs further analysis by the bank as to why this is happening and may be efforts to be taken to set this right. Perceived Ease