Management functions Essay

I. Planning Great ideas do not achieve greatness until their originator posits some plan to get there. In management science, no grand expectation or promise of future growth is likely to ever be fully realized unless its predictor develops some well-organized plan to turn figures on paper into genuine productivity. The plan is essentially a road map to success and when it is clear and well written, the this map helps travelers find their way with little or no difficulty. Perhaps one of the most common examples of planning is in those functions, which relate to management of a sales force. Forecasting expected sales volume enables administrators to make decisions based upon the next fiscal period’s predictions. In many case studies, that I’ve reviewed, planning proved it more effective when it was more long-term. Sales forecasts that evaluate an entire year are generally considered more useful those that only seek to assess the next quarter or two. A long-term plan is generally better suited for change, if the need for such arises. When a one or two quarter plan has failed, it is often to late to change it. Planning is the fundamental and core essence of management in that it enables leaders to become leaders. Human resource operations are performed according to the executive â€Å"master plans† set forth by key managerial personnel who alone have authorship and a full understanding of what is being done and what needs to be done. Thus, the function of planning not only helps to make predictions about the company, but it also inherently help to draw the dividing line between upper management and general human resources. The former is aware and in charge of planning operations while divisions of the latter each only play some individual role in achieving the company’s ultimate goal but are rarely made aware of every minuscule detail. Without a plan, an organization has no direction, no purpose, no mission. A plan is a company’s future and success or failure is often based  upon one’s ability to achieve the tenets of the plan and to devise a new and improved plan for the next period. II. Leading Over the years, various theories of leadership have evolved, surfaced, and then disappeared. From top-down theories to inclusive structures and to the more empathic, human resource-focused leadership style of today’s contemporary, management, one theme has remained perennially clear: leaders must present themselves as role models within the organization for us to learn from and aspire to. Traditionally and throughout history, leaders of all sorts have been figures or icons that other people could ‘look up to’ and respect. Therefore, when a manager is not effectively leading his or her subordinates, disorganization is likely to erupt and ripple throughout an organization. The majority of people need someone to model their actions after and to come to when they have questions. Leaders present themselves as â€Å"touchstones†, seemingly capable of resolving problems and improving operations. Entire entities revolve around the leadership styles of a few and the masses are led by the minority. Those with power, rank, and an insightful plan which facilitates the culmination their leadership ability. When a manager can not effectively lead, she or he is disrespected and consequently, is ineffective. An effective leader must have traits and/or qualities that others will admire. Ethics are important and projecting a positive image can be done only when a leader is self-confident, self-motivated, and self-disciplined. In order for people to believe in their manager, she or he must communicate their ideas effectively and be able to empathetically handle any adverse situations that may arise. When managers have achieved truly empathetic leadership, the organization will run more efficiently. III. Organizing Similar in theme to planning, organizing is the function of management that ensures that every step will be met along the way. Even the best laid plans  of talented managers can fall to the waste side when administrators do not know how to ensure that each task will fall into a properly-organized chain that will promote maximum productivity at minimum cost and time expenditure. In contemporary management, several theories of organization have improved overall efficiency. Among these is time management; now an essential element in the administrator’s functionality. By budgeting and organizing one’s time, managers are more likely to be able to work out sub-plans which will enable them to accomplish a greater number of tasks over a short time span. First, by looking at everything on paper the effective leader can see precisely how steps of their plan should be organized throughout the course of a day or other period and then go ahead and act completely with regard to the allotted time budget. Delegation of power helps the leader to actually organize and handout, or delegate tasks, responsibility, and authority. Often, it is impossibly burdensome to expect a manager to handle all job tasks alone and so by taking the various steps outlined in the original administrative plan, and handing them out in group lets to those who are most capable of executing them properly, the manager is more likely to ultimately get his or her job done. If one group of employees is known to be better at empathetic customer relations, they might be given an important account to handle from a customer service-related perspective. If another segment is more computer-literate, they might work to accomplish technical tasks or even to cost-effectively train others within the organization. Other people might be organized as minimal â€Å"pawns† so-to-speak, serving the primary function of just doing whatever menial tasks are necessary. The organizational element of management’s plan is in tegral in deciding its ultimate success or lack thereof. IV. Controlling Control is an easy function to misunderstand or abuse. Definitively, it suggests that one person or group has power over another. No matter how we  define the tasks of managers and no matter how empathetically open-minded their individual styles might be the existence of superiority and power is unavoidable. Managers are, in fact, â€Å"above† their subordinates and are intrinsically endowed with the responsibility of exercising some control over their actions and activities. One of the many things that distinguish followers from leaders is that the latter are supposed to be more self-motivated. Administrators usually make their own decisions and are motivated to achieve greater personal goals and work for the betterment of the organization at the same time. In order to ensure that their constituents all do the same, managers must then, exercise a reasonable degree of control over them; Executive orders must be given and followed out†¦ People must be punctual and attentive†¦Disciplinary actions must be enforced when workers are indulging in actions that are counterproductive to the success and productivity of the organization. It is through the element of control that these things are all possible. When a manger loses control she or he is no longer able to function as an effective leader. As indicated earlier in this section, it is always possible for a poor manager to abuse their control over subordinates and to develop a non-empathetic tyrannical style. It is therefore important for a company’s various levels of management to have a system of checks-and-balances making it virtually impossible for any one people to attain to much power for themselves. Abuses of control will ultimately backfire though, as they tyrannical manager will usually find themselves spending more and more to hire replacements for all of the personnel that they lose. V. Implementing Of course, no aspect, element, or constituent of the plan will serve its purpose until it is implemented. Implementation inherently suggests that everything pre-conceived and designed is going to be acted out and accomplished. This is the culmination of the manager’s job and of their responsibility. All elements must now fall into place the plan must be  well-led and organized by an effectively-controlling leader who will do everything in their power to ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan. In most organizations, implementation relies upon the periodic assurance that all parts of the plan are being executed and that everything is on time and going ‘according to schedule.’ A good manager must be willing and prepared to assess the plan’s effectiveness every step of the way. One must learn to troubleshoot problems and to quickly and effectively brainstorm solutions to devise numerous alternatives for difficult situations and to keep the organization running as smoothly as possible. Finally, implementation acts as the final transitory stage, helping to create a cycle in which planning begins once again at its conclusion. As a plan is implemented, the manager must constantly learn from the experience and begin to forecast and plan for the next period. At the climax of implementation, a new plan is set forth and everything describes in this essay begins once again with the hope that it will be better than it was the time before.

Home video game Essay

1: Why the rapid growth of Atari? Why the 1982-85 collapse? How did Nintendo rebuild the industry? What was its strategy? After Bushnell settled on Atari, his first built was the simplest game, which people knew the rules immediately, and this game could be played with only one hand. Then, Bushnell talked his way into a $ 50000 line of credit from a local bank to start his business. By 1974, 100,000 Pong-like games were sold worldwide, and although Atari manufactured only 10 percent of the game, the company still made $3. 2 million that year. Atari had a rapid growth because it is a new industry, and Atari does not have any competitor at that time. So, Atari is the only company in this home video game industry, and it has a huge power of supplier with no competitors and substitutes. After 1976, about twenty different companies were crowding into the home videogame market, Atari still has more than 50% market share in the industry. Until 1978, Atari estimated that total demand would reach 2 million units. In 1982, Atari lost $500 in the first nine months of the year. Part of the blame for the collapse was laid at the feet of an enormous inventory overhang of unsold games. With more and more new games hit the market, the average price would goes down and the profits goes down as well. Nintendo established a commanding worldwide position by the end of the decade. The first step of Nintendo was to license video game technology from Magnavox. Then, Nintendo tried to develop its own video game machine (Famicom) that combined superior graphics processing capabilities and low cost. In the US, Nintendo established a subsidiary named as Nintendo of America (NOA) by 1980, and Nintendo repositioned the market in U. S. NOA spent about 2% of sales budget for advertising and also sought out promotion partner, and it practiced careful inventory management in releasing its new games. In conclusion, Nintendo made an innovative new game system which had some competitive advantages such as cheaper, superior image quality, faster hardware processing and a connector that can be used for future addition of a modem and keyboard. 2: How was Nintendo able to capture value from the home video game business? First of all, with the video game industry’s collapse, none of the company seems to have anything to do with the with the home video business except Nintendo. So, it was a big chance for Nintendo to monopolize the video game business, and it was a good chance to negotiate and license other companies to develop games for its system. Secondly, Nintendo has good market position and distribution in United Stated. Thirdly, Nintendo has good game designing and technology, and it uses the regulation, contract and patent license to limit the market share of other game companies. 3: How was Sega able to gain market share from Nintendo? With Sega’s first game Periscope, Sega built up a respectable export business. Then, Sega realized that great games drove sales and more powerful technology gave game developers the tools to develop more appealing games. Sega also licensed other companies to develop games for the Genesis platform, but asked for lower royalty rates than Nintendo. Despite aggressive marketing in the 80s, it wasn’t until the introduction of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 as a direct competitor to Nintendo’s Mario character that Sega was able to capture a meaningful amount of the market with its Genesis console. The key point was Genesis does what Nintendo don’t, and Sega version out sold Nintendo’s two to one. 4: Evaluate the competitive strategy of 3DO. What flaws can you see in 3DO’s approach? The vision for 3DO was to shift the home video game business away from the existing cartridge-based format and toward a CD-ROM-based platform. The belief at 3DO is that the superior storage and graphics processing capabilities of the 3DO system would prove very attractive to game developers, allowing them to be far more creative. In turn, better games would attract customers away from Nintendo and Sega. The 3DO’s strategy was to license its hardware technology for free. However, only a few 3DO titles were available by the Christmas period where reports suggested 150 titles, and sales of the hardware were slow. As can be seen, 3DO did good at its software, but bad at its hardware. As a result, 3DO announced that it would either sell its hardware system or move into joint venture. 5: How come the Sony Play Station has succeeded where 3DO failed? Sony set up a retail channel separate from its consumer electronics sales force, and Sony has a good communication with retailers before the launch to find out how it could help them sell the play station. Sony targets its advertising for PlayStation at specific generation and age range. So, Sony focused on it retailers and customers, and it has a good market position. On the other side, 3DO only focused on its products but lack of the communication with its retailers and customers. 6: What drove Microsoft’s decision to enter the industry with its X-box offering? Because before Microsoft entered the home video game industry, it was no stranger to games. Microsoft had long participated in the PC gaming industry and was one of the largest publishers of PC games. X-box was based on Microsoft’s PC technology, and it would be much easier for software developers to write game for. Microsoft enter the industry because with annual revenues in excess of $20 billion worldwide, the home video game industry is huge and an important source of potential growth for Microsoft. 7: What lessons can be learned from the history of the home video game industry that has been used to help launch the Sony PlayStation II and Microsoft’s X-Box? Do Microsoft and Sony appear to have learned and applied these lessons? The lesson can be learned from the history of the home video industry was to focus on R&D, market positioning, cost leadership, innovation, technology and communications. Sony PlayStation II has consumed about 1. 3 billion in R&D, and Sony actually loses money on Sony PlayStation machine but gain from game CDs. On the other side, Microsoft’s X-Box cut X-box price over time but guaranteed a profit margin. There are three technical factors determined the quality of a video game: data width (in bits), clock speed (in MHz), and the amount of RAM (in bytes). Both Sony PlayStation II and Microsoft’s X-Box have their own competitive advantage in these technologies, and they also both are good game designers.

The Stupidest Angel Chapter 15~17

Chapter 15 A MOMENTARY FLASH OF MOLLY â€Å"By the purple horn of Nigoth, I command thee to boil!† screeched the Warrior Babe. What good was a higher power, after all, if he wouldn't help you cook your ramen noodles? Molly stood over the stove, naked, except for a wide sash from which was slung the scabbard for her broadsword at the center of her back, giving the impression that she had won honors in the Miss Nude Random Violence Pageant. Her skin was slick with sweat, not because she'd been working out, but because she'd chopped up the coffee table with her broken broadsword and burned it, along with two chairs from the dining-room set, in the fireplace. The cabin was sweltering. The power hadn't gone out yet, but it would soon, and the Warrior Babe of the Outland dropped into survival mode a little sooner than most people. It was in her job description. â€Å"It's Christmas Eve,† said the Narrator. â€Å"Shouldn't we eat something more festive? Eggnog? How about sugar cookies in the shape of Nigoth? Do you have purple sprinkles?† â€Å"You'll get nothing and like it! You are but a soulless ghost that vexes me and stirs in my mind like spiders. When my check arrives on the fifth, you shall be banished to the abyss forever.† â€Å"I'm just saying, hacking up the coffee table? Screaming at the soup? I think you could channel your energies in a more positive way. Something in the holiday spirit.† In a momentary flash of Molly, the Warrior Babe realized that there was a line she could cross, when the Narrator actually became the voice of reason, as opposed to a niggling voice trying to get her to act out. She turned the burner down to medium and went to the bedroom. She pulled a stool over to the closet and climbed up on it so she could reach to the back shelf. The problem with marrying a guy who was six foot six, is you often find yourself scaling the counters to get to stuff that he placed there for convenience. That, and you needed a riding steam iron in order to press one of his shirts. Not that she did that very often, but if you try to get a crease straight in a forty-inch sleeve once, you're as likely as not to give up ironing altogether. She was nuts already, she didn't need help from trying to perform frustrating tasks After feeling around on the top shelf, brushing over the spare holster for Theo's Glock, her hand closed on a velvet-wrapped bundle. She climbed down from the stool and took the long bundle to the couch, where she sat down and slowly unwrapped it. The scabbard was made of wood. Somehow it had been laminated with layers of black silk, so that it appeared to drink the light out of the room. The handle was wrapped in black silk cord and there was a cast bronze hand guard with a filigreed dragon design. The ivory head of a dragon protruded from the pommel. When she pulled the sword from the scabbard, her breath caught in her throat. She knew immediately that it was real, it was ancient, and it had to have been exorbitantly expensive. It was the finest blade she had ever seen in person, and a tashi, not a katana. Theo knew she would want the longer, heavier sword for working out, that she would spend hours training with this valuable antique, not lock it in a glass case to be looked at. Tears welled up in her eyes and the blade turned to a silver blur in her vision. He had risked his freedom and his pride to buy her this, to acknowledge that part of her that everyone else seemed to want to get rid of. â€Å"Your soup is boiling over,† said the Narrator, â€Å"you sentimental sissy-girl â€Å" And it was. She could hear the hiss of the water hitting the hot burner. Molly leaped to her feet and looked around for a place to set the sword. The coffee table had long since gone to ash in the fireplace. She looked to the bookshelf under the front window, and in that second there was a deafening snap as the trunk of a big pine gave way outside, followed by lighter crackles and snaps as it took out branches and smaller trees on the way to the ground. Sparks lit up the night outside, and the lights went out as the entire cabin shook with the impact of the tree hitting in the front yard. Molly could see the downed power lines out by the road arcing orange and blue through the night. Silhouetted in the window was a tall dark figure, standing there,just looking at her. Although a lot of single people attended, the Lonesome Christmas party was never supposed to have been a pickup scene, an extension of the holiday musical chairs that went on at the Head of the Slug. People did occasionally meet there, become lovers, mates, but that wasn't the purpose. Originally it was just a get-together for people who had no family or friends in the area with whom to spend Christmas, and who didn't want to spend it alone, or in an alcohol-induced coma, or both. Over the years it had become somewhat more – an anticipated event that people actually chose to attend instead of more traditional gatherings with friends and family. â€Å"I can't imagine a more heinous horror show than spending the holidays with my family,† said Tucker Case as Theo rejoined the group. â€Å"How about you, Theo?† There was another guy standing with Tuck and Gabe, a balding blond guy who looked like an athlete gone to fat, wearing a red Star Fleet Command shirt and dress slacks. Theo recognized him as Joshua Barker's stepfather/mom's boyfriend/whatever, Brian Henderson. â€Å"Brian,† Theo said, remembering the guy's name at the last second and offering his hand. â€Å"How are you? Are Emily and Josh here?† â€Å"Uh, yeah, but not with me,† Brian said. â€Å"We sort of had a falling-out.† Tucker Case stepped in. â€Å"He told the kid that there was no Santa Claus and that Christmas was just a brilliant scheme cooked up by retailers to sell more stuff. What else was it? Oh yeah, that Saint Nicholas was originally famous because he brought back to life some children who'd been dismembered and stuffed into a pickle jar. The kid's mom threw him out.† â€Å"Oh, sorry,† Theo said. Brian nodded. â€Å"We hadn't been getting along that well.† â€Å"He sort of fits right in with us,† Gabe said. â€Å"Check out the cool shirt.† Brian shrugged, a little embarrassed. â€Å"It's red. I thought it would be Christmasy. Now I feel –  » â€Å"Ha,† Gabe interrupted. â€Å"Don't worry about it. The guys in the red shirts never make it to the second commercial break.† He punched Brian gently in the arm in a gesture of nerd solidarity. â€Å"Well, I'm going to run out to the car and grab another shirt,† said Brian. â€Å"I feel silly. I have all my clothes in the Jetta. Everything I own, really.† As Brian walked toward the door, Theo suddenly remembered. â€Å"Oh, Gabe, I forgot. Skinner got out of the car. He's rolling in something foul out there in the mud. Maybe you should go with Brian and see if you can get him back in the car.† â€Å"He's a water dog. He'll be fine. He can stay out until the party is over. Maybe he'll jump up on Val with muddy paws. Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope.† â€Å"Wow, that's kinda bitter,† Tuck said. â€Å"That's because I'm a bitter little man,† Gabe said. â€Å"In my spare time, I mean. Not all the time. My work keeps me pretty busy.† Brian had skulked away in his Star Trek shirt. As he opened one side of the double doors, the wind caught the door and whipped it back against the outside church wall with a gunshot report. Everyone turned to watch the big man shrug sheepishly, and Skinner, muddy and wet to the core, came trotting in, carrying something in his jaws. â€Å"Wow, he's really tracking in a mess,† Tuck said. â€Å"I never realized the perks of having a flying mammal as a pet before.† â€Å"What's that he's carrying in his mouth?† asked Theo. â€Å"Probably a pinecone,† Gabe said without looking. Then he looked â€Å"Or not.† There was a scream, a long protracted one, that started with Valerie Riordan and sort of passed through all the women near the buffet. Skinner had presented his prize to Val, dropped it on her foot, in fact, thinking that because she was standing near food, and she was still the Food Guy's female (for who could think of food without thinking of the Food Guy?), she would, therefore, appreciate it, and perhaps reward him. She didn't. â€Å"Grab him!† Gabe yelled to Val, who looked up at him with the most articulate glare he had ever seen. Perhaps it was the weight of her M D. that gave it eloquence, but without a word, it said: You have got to be out of your fucking mind. â€Å"Or not,† Gabe said. Theo crossed the room and made a grab for Skinner's collar, but at the last second the Lab grabbed the arm, threw a head fake, then ducked out of Theo's reach. The three men started to give chase, and Skinner frisked back and forth across the pine floor, his head high and proud as a Lippizaner stallion, pausing occasionally to shake a spray of mud onto the horrified onlookers. â€Å"Tell me it's not moving,† shouted Tuck, trying to cut Skinner off at the buffet table. â€Å"That hand is not moving.† â€Å"Just the kinetic energy of the dog moving through the arm,† said Gabe, having gone into a sort of wrestling stance. He was used to catching animals in the wild and knew that you had to be nimble and keep your center of gravity low and use a lot of profanity. â€Å"Goddammit, Skinner, come here. Bad dog, bad dog!† Well, there it was. Tragedy. A thousand trips to the vet, a grass-eating nausea, a flea you will never, ever reach. Bad dog. For the love of Dog! He was a bad dog. Skinner dropped his prize and assumed the tail-tucked posture of absolute humility, shame, remorse, and overt sadness He whimpered and ventured a look at the Food Guy, a sideways glance, pained but ready, should another BD come his way. But the Food Guy wasn't even looking at him. No one was even looking at him. Everything was fine. He was good. Were those sausages he smelled over by that table? Sausages are good. â€Å"That thing is moving,† Tuck said. â€Å"No, it's not. Oh, yes it is,† said Gabe. There was another series of screams, this time a couple of man-screams among the women and children. The hand was trying to crawl away, dragging the arm along behind it. â€Å"How fresh does that have to be to do that?† Tuck asked. â€Å"That's not fresh,† said Joshua Barker, one of the few kids in the room. â€Å"Hi, Josh,† said Theo Crowe. â€Å"I didn't see you come in.† â€Å"You were out in your car hitting a bong when we got here,† Josh said cheerfully. â€Å"Merry Christmas, Constable Crowe.† † ‘Kay,† Theo said. Thinking fast, or what seemed like it was fast, Theo took off his Gore-Tex cop coat and threw it over the twitching arm. â€Å"Folks, it's okay. I have a little confession to make. I should have told you all before, but I couldn't believe my own observations. It's time I was honest with you all.† Theo had gotten very good at telling embarrassing things about himself at Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and confession seemed to be coming even easier since he was a little baked. â€Å"A few days ago I ran into a man, or what I thought was a man, but was actually some kind of indestructible cybernetic robot. I hit him doing about fifty in my Volvo, and he didn't even seem to notice.† â€Å"The Terminator?† asked Mavis Sand. â€Å"I'd fuck him.† â€Å"Don't ask me how he got here, or what he really is. I think we've all learned over the years that the sooner we accept the simple explanation for the unexplained, the better chance we have of surviving a crisis. Anyway, I think that this arm may be part of that machine.† â€Å"Bullshit!† came a shout from outside the front doors. Just then the doors flew open, the wind whipped into the room carrying with it a horrid stench. Standing there, framed in the cathedral doorway, stood Santa Claus, holding Brian Henderson in his red Star Trek shirt, by the throat. A group of dark figures were moving behind them, moaning something about IKEA, as Santa pressed a .38 snub-nose revolver to Brian's temple and pulled the trigger. Blood splattered across the front wall and Santa threw the body back to Marty in the Morning, who began to suck the brains out of dead Brian's exit wound. â€Å"Merry Christmas, you doomed sons a' bitches!† said Santa. Chapter 16 SO So that sucked. Chapter 17 HE KNOWS IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD OR GOOD†¦ While she was horrified by what was going on in the doorway of the chapel, with the gunfire and brain-sucking and the threats, Lena Marquez couldn't help but think: Oh, this is so awkward – both my exes are here. Dale was standing there in a Santa suit, mud and gore dripping onto the floor while he roared with anger, and Tucker Case had immediately headed to the back of the room and dived under one of the folding buffet tables. There was screaming and a lot of running, but mostly people stood there, paralyzed by the shock. And Tucker Case, of course, was acting the consummate coward. She was so ashamed. â€Å"You, bitch!† dead Dale Pearson shouted, pointing at her with the snub-nose .38. â€Å"You're lunch!† He started across the open pine floor. â€Å"Look out, Lena,† came a shout from behind her. She turned just in time to sidestep as the buffet table behind her rose, spilling chafing dishes full of lasagna onto the floor. The alcohol burners beneath the pans spilled blue flame across the tabletops and onto the floor as Tucker Case stood up with the table in front of him and let out a war cry. Theo Crowe saw what was happening and pulled an armload of people aside as Tuck barreled through the room, the tabletop in front of him, toward the throng of undead. Dale Pearson fired at the tabletop as it approached, getting off three shots before Tuck impacted with him. â€Å"Crowe, get the door, get the door,† Tuck shouted, driving Dale and his undead followers back out into the rain. The blue alcohol flame climbed up Dale's white beard, as well as spilling down Tuck's legs as he pushed out into the darkness. Theo loped across the room and reached outside to catch the edge of the door. A one-armed corpse in a leather jacket ducked around the edge of Tuck's buffet-table barrier and grabbed at Theo, who put a foot on the corpse's chest and drove him back down the steps. Theo pulled the door shut, then reached around and grabbed the other one. He hesitated. â€Å"Close the damned door!† Tuck screamed, his legs pumping, losing momentum against the undead as he reached the bottom of the steps. Theo could see decayed hands clawing at Tuck over the edge of the table; a man whose lower jaw flapped on a slip of skin was screeching at the pilot and trying to drive his upper teeth into Tuck's hand. The last thing Theo saw as he pulled the door shut was Tucker Case's legs burning blue and steaming in the rain. â€Å"Bring one of those tables over here,† Theo shouted. â€Å"Brace this door. Jam the table under the handles.† There was a second of peace, just the sound of the wind and rain and Emily Barker, who had just seen her ex-boyfriend shot and brain-sucked, sobbing. â€Å"What was that?† shouted Ignacio Nuà ±ez, a rotund Hispanic who owned the village nursery. â€Å"What in the hell was that?† Lena Marquez had instinctively gone to Emily Barker, and knelt with her arm around the bereft woman. She looked to Theo. â€Å"Tucker is out there. He's out there.† Theo Crowe realized that everyone was looking at him. He was having trouble catching his breath and he could feel his pulse pounding in his ears. He really wanted to look to someone else for the answers, but as he scanned the room – some forty terrified faces – he saw all the responsibility reflected back to him. â€Å"Oh fuck,† he said, his hand falling to his hip where his holster was usually clipped. â€Å"It's on the table at my house,† Gabe Fenton said. Gabe was holding the buffet table that was braced sideways under the double latches of the church doors. â€Å"Pull the table,† Theo said, thinking, I don't even like the guy. He helped Gabe pull the table aside and crouched in a sprinter's stance, ready to go, as Gabe manned the latches. â€Å"Close it behind me. When you hear me scream, ‘Let me in, well – ; Just then there was a crash behind them and something came flying through one of the high, stained-glass windows – throwing glass out into the middle of the room. Tucker Case, wet, charred, and covered with blood, pushed himself up from the floor where he had landed and said, â€Å"I don't know who parked under that window, but you'd better move your car, because if those things climb on it, they'll be coming through that window behind me.† Theo looked at the line of stained-glass windows running down the sides of the chapel, eight on each side, each about eight feet off the ground and about two feet across. When the chapel had been built, stained glass was at a premium and the community poor, thus the small, high windows, which were going to be an asset in defending this place. There was only one large window in the whole building – behind where the altar used to stand, but where now stood Molly's thirty-foot Christmas tree – a six-by-ten-foot large cathedral-shaped stained-glass depiction of Saint Rose, patron saint of interior decorators, presenting a throw pillow to the Blessed Virgin. â€Å"Nacho,† Theo barked to Ignacio Nuà ±ez, â€Å"see if you can find something in the basement to board up that window.† As if on cue, two muddy, decaying faces appeared at the opening through which Tuck had just dived, moaning and trying to get purchase on the windowsill with their skeletal hands to climb in. â€Å"Shoot them!† Tuck screamed from the floor. â€Å"Shoot those fucking things, Theo!† Theo shrugged, shook his head. No gun. Something flashed by Theo and he spun to see Gabe Fenton running hell-bent-for-leather at the window, holding before him a long stainless-steel pan full of lasagna, evidently intent upon diving through the window in a pastafarian act of self-sacrifice. Theo caught the biologist by the collar, stopping him like a running dog at the end of his leash. His arms and legs flew out before him and he managed to hang on to the pan, but nearly eight pounds of steaming cheesy goodness sailed on through the window, scorching the attackers and Pollocking the wall around the window with red sauce. â€Å"That's it, throw snacks at them, that'll slow them up,† shouted Tuck. â€Å"Fire a salvo of garlic bread next!† Gabe regained his feet and jumped right up in Theo's face, or he would have if he had been a foot or so taller. â€Å"I was trying to save us,† he said sternly to Theo's sternum. Before Theo could answer, Ignacio Nunez and Ben Miller, a tall, ex-track star in his early thirties, called for them to clear the way. The two men were coming to the broken window with another of the buffet tables. Gabe and Theo helped Ben hold the table against the wall while Nacho nailed the table to the wall. â€Å"I found some tools in the basement,† Nacho said between hammer blows. Animated dead fingernails clawed at the tabletop as they worked. â€Å"I hate cheese!† screamed the corpse, who had enough equipment to still scream. â€Å"It binds me up.† The rest of the undead mob began pounding on the walls around them. â€Å"I need to think,† Theo said. â€Å"I just need a second to think.† Lena was dressing Tucker Case's wounds with gauze and antibiotic ointment from the chapel's first-aid kit. The burns on his legs and torso were superficial, most of the alcohol fire having been put out by the rain before it could penetrate his clothing, and while his leather bomber jacket had protected him somewhat from his dive through the window, there was a deep cut on his forehead and another on his thigh. One of the bullets that Dale had fired through the table had grazed Tuck's ribs, leaving a gash four inches long and a half inch wide. â€Å"That was the bravest thing I've ever seen,† Lena said. â€Å"You know, I'm a pilot,† said Tuck, like he did this sort of thing every day. â€Å"I couldn't let them hurt you.† â€Å"Really?† Lena said, pausing for a moment to look into his eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry I was – you were –  » â€Å"Actually, you probably couldn't tell, but that thing with the table? Just a really badly executed escape attempt.† Tuck winced as she fastened the bandage over his ribs with some tape. â€Å"You're going to need stitches,† Lena said. â€Å"Any place I missed?† Tuck held up his right hand – there were tooth marks on the back of it welling up with blood. â€Å"Oh my God!† Lena said. â€Å"You're going to have to cut his head off,† said Joshua Barker, who was standing by watching. â€Å"Whose?† Tuck said. â€Å"The guy in the Santa suit, right?† â€Å"No, I mean your head,† said Josh. â€Å"They're going to have to cut off your head or you'll turn into one of them.† Most everyone in the chapel had stopped what they were doing and gathered around Tuck and Lena, seemingly grateful for a point of focus. The pounding on the walls had ceased, and with the exception of the occasional rattling of the door handles, there was only the sound of the wind and rain. The Lonesome Christmas crowd was stunned. â€Å"Go away, kid,† said Tuck. â€Å"This is no time to be a kid.† â€Å"What should we use?† asked Mavis Sand. â€Å"This okay, kid?† She held a serrated knife that they'd been using to cut garlic bread. â€Å"That is not acceptable,† Tuck said. â€Å"If you don't cut his head off,† said Joshua, â€Å"he'll turn into one of them and let them in.† â€Å"What an imagination this kid has,† said Tuck, flashing a grin from face to face, looking for an ally. â€Å"It's Christmas! Ah, Christmas, the time when all good people go about not decapitating each other.† Theo Crowe came out of the back room, where he'd been looking for something they could use as a weapon. â€Å"Phone lines are down. We'll lose power any minute. Is anyone's cell phone working?† No one answered. They were all looking at Tuck and Lena. â€Å"We're going to cut off his head, Theo,† Mavis said, holding out the bread knife, handle first. â€Å"Since you're the law, I think you should do it.† â€Å"No, no, no, no, no, no,† said Tuck. â€Å"And furthermore, no.† â€Å"No,† said Lena, in support of her man. â€Å"You guys have something you want to tell me?† Theo said. He took the bread knife from Mavis and shoved it down the back of his belt. â€Å"I think you were onto something with that killer-robot thing,† Tuck said. Lena stood up and put herself between Theo and Tuck. â€Å"It was an accident, Theo. I was digging Christmas trees like I do every year and Dale came by drunk and angry. I'm not sure how it happened. One minute he was going to shoot me and the next the shovel was sticking out of his neck. Tucker didn't have anything to do with it. He just happened along and was trying to help.† Theo looked at Tuck. â€Å"So you buried him with his gun? Tuck climbed painfully to his feet and stood behind Lena. â€Å"I was supposed to see this coming? I was supposed to anticipate that he might come back from the grave all angry and brain hungry, so I should hide his gun from him? This is your town, Constable, you explain it. Usually when you bury a body they don't come back and try to eat your brains the next day.† â€Å"Brains! Brains! Brains!† chanted the undead from outside the chapel. The pounding on the walls started again. â€Å"Shut up!† screamed Tucker Case, and to everyone's amazement, they did. Tuck grinned at Theo. â€Å"So, I fucked up.† â€Å"Ya think?† Theo said. â€Å"How many?† â€Å"You should cut his head off over the sink,† said Joshua Barker. â€Å"That way it won't make as big a mess.† Without a word, Theo reached down and picked Josh up by the biceps, then walked over and handed him to his mother, who looked as if she were going into the first stages of shock. Theo touched his finger to Josh's lips in a shush gesture. Theo looked more serious, more intimidating, more in control than anyone had ever seen him. The boy hid his face in his mother's breasts. Theo turned to Tuck. â€Å"How many?† Theo repeated. â€Å"I saw maybe thirty, forty?† â€Å"About that,† Tuck said. â€Å"They're in different states of decay. Some of them just look like there's little more than bone, others look relatively fresh, and pretty well preserved. None of them seems particularly fast or strong. Dale maybe, some of the fresher ones. It's like they're learning to walk again or something.† There was a loud snap from outside and everyone jumped – one woman literally leaping into a man's arms with a shriek. They all fell into a crouch, listening to a tree falling through branches, expecting the trunk to come crashing through the ceiling beams. The lights went out and the whole church shook with the impact of the big pine hitting the forest floor. Without missing a beat, Theo snapped on a flashlight he'd had in his back pocket in anticipation of a power outage. Small emergency lamps ignited above the front door, casting everyone in a deep-shadowed directional light. â€Å"Those should last about an hour,† Theo said. â€Å"There should be some flashlights in the basement, too. Go on. What else did you see, Tuck?† â€Å"Well, they're pissed off and they're hungry. I was kind of busy trying not to get my brains eaten. They seemed pretty adamant about the brain-eating thing. Then they're going to IKEA, I guess.† â€Å"This is ridiculous,† said Val Riordan, the elegantly coiffed psychiatrist, speaking up for the first time since the whole thing had started. â€Å"There's no such thing as a zombie. I don't know what you think is happening here, but you don't have a crowd of brain-eating zombies.† â€Å"I'd have to agree with Val,† Gabe Fenton said, stepping up beside her. â€Å"There's no scientific basis for zombieism – except for some experiments in the Caribbean with blowfish toxins that put people in a state of near death with almost imperceptible respiration and pulse, but there was no actual, you know, raising of the dead.† â€Å"Yeah?† said Theo, giving them an eloquent deadpan stare. â€Å"Brains!† he shouted. â€Å"Brains! Brains! Brains!† came the responding chant from outside; the pounding on the walls resumed. â€Å"Shut up!† Tuck shouted. The dead did. Theo looked at Val and Gabe and raised an eyebrow. Well? â€Å"Okay,† Gabe said. â€Å"We may need more data.† â€Å"No, this can't be happening,† said Valerie Riordan. â€Å"This is impossible.† â€Å"Dr. Val,† Theo said. â€Å"We know what's happening here. We don't know why, and we don't know how, but we haven't lived in a vacuum all our lives, have we? In this case, denial ain't just a river in Egypt, denial will kill you.† Just then a brick came crashing through one of the windows and thumped into the middle of the chapel floor. Two clawlike hands caught the window ledge and a beat-up male face appeared at the window. The zombie pulled up enough so that he could hook one elbow inside the window, then shouted: â€Å"Val Riordan went down on the pimply kid who bags groceries at the Thrifty-Mart!† A second later, Ben Miller picked up the brick and hurled it back through the window, taking out the zombie face with a sickening squish. As Ben and Theo lifted the last of the buffet tables into place to be nailed over the window, Gabe Fenton stepped away from Valerie Riordan and looked at her like she'd been dipped in radioactive marmot spittle. â€Å"You said you were allergic!† â€Å"We were almost broken up at the time,† said Val. â€Å"Almost! Almost! I have third-degree electrical burns on my scrotum because of you!† Across the room, into Lena Marquez's ear, Tucker Case whispered, â€Å"I don't feel so bad about hiding the body now, how 'bout you?† She turned and kissed him hard enough to make him forget for a second that he'd just been shot, set on fire, beaten up, and bitten. For years the dead had listened, and the dead knew. They knew who was cheating with whom, who was stealing what, and where the bodies were hidden, as it were. Besides the passive listening – those sneaking out for a smoke, sideline conversations at funerals, the walking and talking in the woods, and the sex and scare-yourself activities some of the living indulged in in the graveyard – there were also those among the living who used a tombstone as some sort of confessional, sharing their deepest secrets with someone who they thought could never talk, saying things they could never say in life. There were some things that people thought no one else, the living or the dead, could possibly know, but they did. â€Å"Gabe Fenton watches squirrel porn!† screeched Bess Leander, her dead cheek pressed against the wet clapboard siding of the chapel. â€Å"That is not porn, that's my work,† Gabe explained to his fellow partyers. â€Å"He doesn't wear pants! Squirrels, doing it, in slow motion. Pantsless.† â€Å"Just that one time. Besides, you have to watch in slow motion,† Gabe said. â€Å"They're squirrels.† Everyone turned their flashlights on something else, like they really weren't looking at Gabe. â€Å"Ignacio Nuà ±ez voted for Carter,† came a call from outside. The staunch Republican nursery owner was caught like a deer in the flashlights as everyone looked at him. â€Å"I was only in this country a year. I'd just become a citizen. I didn't even speak English very well. He said he wanted to help the poor. I was poor.† Theo Crowe reached over and patted Nacho's shoulder. â€Å"Ben Miller used steroids in high school. His gonads are the size of BBs!† â€Å"That is not true,† exclaimed the track star. â€Å"My testicles are perfectly normal size.† â€Å"Yeah, if you were seven inches tall,† said Marty in the Morning, all dead, all the time. Ben turned to Theo. â€Å"We've got to do something about this.† The others in the room were looking from one to the other, each with a look on his or her face that was much more horrified than when they'd been only facing the prospect of an undead mob eating their brains. These zombies had secrets. â€Å"Theo Crowe's wife thinks she's some kind of warrior mutant killer!† shouted a rotted woman who had once been a psych nurse at the county hospital. Everybody in the chapel sort of looked at one another and nodded, shrugged, let out a sigh of relief. â€Å"We knew that,† yelled Mavis. â€Å"Everybody knows that. That's not news.† â€Å"Oh, sorry,† said the dead nurse. There was a pause; then, â€Å"Okay, then. Wally Beerbinder is addicted to painkillers.† â€Å"Wally's not here,† said Mavis. â€Å"He's spending Christmas with his daughter in L.A.† â€Å"I got nothing,† said the nurse. â€Å"Someone else go.† â€Å"Tucker Case thinks his bat can talk,† shouted Arthur Tannbeau, the dead citrus farmer. â€Å"Who wants to sing Christmas carols?† said Tuck. â€Å"I'll start. ‘Deck the halls†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And so they sang, loud enough to drown out the secrets of the undead. They sang with great Christmas spirit, loud and off-key, until the battering ram hit the front doors.

To explore the relationship between motivation, job satisfaction & its Thesis Proposal

To explore the relationship between motivation, job satisfaction & its impact on employees performance - A study of 4.5 star hotel in Australia - Melbourne - Thesis Proposal Example Egan, Yang, and Bartlett (2004) carried out a study on how job satisfaction and organizational learning culture affected turnover intention and motivation to transfer learning where they carried out an examination of the relationship between job satisfaction, organizational outcome variables, and organization learning culture using IT employees sample in the USA. They then realized that Motivation to transfer learning and IT employee job satisfaction were associated together with organizational culture. They also found out that job satisfaction and organizational learning culture negatively influenced the turnover intention. The people who most of their times are cheerful and positive do tend to have a higher job satisfaction, and they express it rather than those who are gloomy and down most of their time. This is according to the research carried out by R. Ilies and T. Judge (2003, p. 754). They continued saying that the match between outcomes of the individual value in the jobs and how they perceive the availability of outcomes of such kind, more especially for the facets of jobs that are highly valued, primarily determine the job satisfaction (Hirsch, 2004, p. 114). Boswell, Boudreau, and Tichy (2005, p. 885) give the concept of honeymoon and hangover effect in job satisfaction. They view honeymoon effect as the propensity of enjoying high satisfaction level on new jobs, which they have taken as a response to dissatisfaction of the old jobs. They also explain the hangover effect as the tendency of the satisfaction level to drop with time, from the time when a position is new to the time more experience is gained. On comparing job involvement, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction, Moynihan and Sanjay (2007) examined the effects of job characteristics, organizational variables, and individual attributes on some aspects on work motivation,

Faulkner, Absalom Absalom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Faulkner, Absalom Absalom - Essay Example Though this method allows the reader to see differing points of view, as well as examine the contribution of memory to the myth-making process as the story is told and retold, it raises the issue about how personal experience has a bending effect on memory and narrative. Speculation, guesswork, and alleged fact all play roles in the narrative process – with the accompanying contradictions in logic – leading us to wonder about a larger question – what is the actual truth, and whether truth can only be relative and selective, and never absolute. It also emphasizes how narrative is understood – often not by what is literally said, but by what is hinted at or implied, and often left unsaid. Faulkner does highlight the racial issues that plagued the South before and after the Civil War in this novel, and indeed race is a central theme in most of his work. However, it is disappointing to note that none of his works present an opportunity for black characters to speak in their own voices. The story is wholly from the white point of view, which is a one-sided approach to say the least. The downfall of the novel’s protagonist, Thomas Sutpen, can be traced back to his obsession with the founding of a dynasty. The single-minded pursuit of this goal precludes Sutpen from engaging emotionally with the people around him, be the family or townspeople, and this is the cause of his descent into alcoholism, ruin, and ultimately his murder by Wash Jones, a squatter on the Sutpen plantation. While Faulkner does not try to base his novel on research and factual data, such as dates and historical incidents, it is obvious his aim is to present an equally powerful history, â€Å"a few old mouth-to-mouth tales†, based on sentiment. (Faulkner 100). Thus what we see is an emotional history of the Civil War period contrasted with the factual history of the era. Faulkner’s epic novel mirrors the unsure feelings of love and hate, most Southerners, including

The Modern Woman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Modern Woman - Essay Example A majority of the water reserve is being held by a water and power (W&P) plant, therefore taking advantage of the scarce resources to control the earth’s population. The main actress ‘tank girl,’ also referred to as Lori Pretty, is a member of a rebellious crew which aims about stealing any water that they can find, in order to sustain their community. However, Kesslee (W&P’s leader) finds and attacks the crew’s hideout, thereby killing Rebeca’s boyfriend and capturing her young friend Sam. Lori Pretty is also captured but due to her defiant nature, is enslaved and tortured. Tank girl meets a new friend ‘Jet girl,’ who convinces her to make less trouble for W&P but her efforts are futile. Meanwhile, another W&P encounters difficulty with ‘the rippers,’ which consists of a group of mutated Kangaroos. Kesslee uses Tank girl as bait to draw out the rippers but they come out clever. They gravely injure Kesslee and in the process, Tank girl is freed up. Afterwards, Lori Pretty and Jet girl learn where Sam is held and they ask the help of the rippers to help them carry out a mission to free him. This results to a killing of the W&P personnel with Jet girl angrily confronting one of them who in fact had sexually assaulted her. The purpose of this film was to show how the woman could stand up and protect the ones she cares for, against all odds. However, throughout this film, there are a couple of sexual references. Therefore, the film should be watched by young adults with absolute parental guidance. On the other hand, the documentary ‘One woman One Vote,’ is an exceptional account of the long suffrage experiences that the American woman has endured to win the right to vote. This film documents the 70 years period that men and women worked towards enfranchising women. The film emphasizes that this suffrage undertaking did not really depict an amalgamated fight towards equivalent

Reigious Toleration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reigious Toleration - Essay Example Jonathan Spence’ presentation of Emperor Kangxi’s views on religion articulates in English the thought processes and rationale given by Kangxi to justify his policies. Emperor Kangxi is one of the great kings of the Qing dynasty that ruled China for several centuries. Under Emperor Kangxi’s rule, the kingdom reached unprecedented expansion of territory and power. It is assumed that the audience for this retrospective lecture is all the subjects of his empire as well as foreign diplomats, merchants and missionaries. Defined narrowly, Emperor Kangxi’s policies toward Western religious missionaries are generally intolerant. But his rationale for taking certain decisions in this regard are well thought out and well expressed. One of the worries expressed by the Emperor is how foreigners, especially from the West, who visit China for temporary reasons – either commercial or cultural or religious – are a drain on the spirit of authentic Chinese tra ditions. He feels that such visitors leave China exploited of wealth and culture. As he reasons it out to the Christian Missionary Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon: â€Å"Hereafter we will permit residence in China to all those who come from the West and will not return there. Residence permission will not be granted to those who come one year expecting to go home the next – because such people are like those who stand outside the main gate and discuss what people are doing inside the house. Besides these meddlers there are also those out for profit, greedy traders, who should not be allowed to live here†. ... As he reasons it out to the Christian Missionary Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon: â€Å"Hereafter we will permit residence in China to all those who come from the West and will not return there. Residence permission will not be granted to those who come one year expecting to go home the next – because such people are like those who stand outside the main gate and discuss what people are doing inside the house. Besides these meddlers there are also those out for profit, greedy traders, who should not be allowed to live here† (Kangxi 639). The emperor’s strict stance toward de Tournon and his ilk is quite legitimate when one considers the fact that the latter actually tried to prohibit converted Chinese Christians from practicing local Chinese customs or assimilate Chinese language phrases in Biblical renditions. Seen in this context, Emperor Kangxi’s stance is a protest against religious intolerance that his people have suffered under the decrees of the papacy. So, while outwardly stringent and intolerant, Emperor Kangxi’s position is actually fair and balanced. Galileo Galilei’s makes an impassioned defence of scientific advancement in his letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany. Written in 1615, this letter captures the essence of the perennial battle between religious fundamentalism and scientific discovery upsetting the dogma. It is important to remember that Galileo was a religious man. He never saw his controversial scientific discoveries as subverting or disproving the Christian faith. Instead, he saw as part of the conscientious Christian mission to promote scientific enquiry alongside following the Christian doctrine. He quotes the words of St. Augustine’s views on truth and epistemology to back up his own position. Moreover,

Grant proposal+SOP Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Grant proposal+SOP - Coursework Example 1. Title of Project Incidence of the lateral flagella Flag-2 genes in clinical isolates of E. coli. Supervisor(s) surname(s) Forename(s) Title(s) Current post(s) and Employer End date of current funding or normal retirement date Dr J. N. Fletcher J. N. Doctor 3. Proposed Student (where applicable) Forename(s) Title(s) Current post(s and Employer End date of current funding or normal retirement date Fatima Alshannag Fatima PhD student 4. Organisation (administering award if approved) Yorkshire Cancer Research Department accommodating project (and Organisation if other than above) City or Town Bradford Applicant’s Tel. No. and Email address 5. Number of hours per week individuals named in (2) above will devote personally to this studentship. 6. Proposed starting date for period of funding Proposed duration 7. Abstract of Research (10 lines of text in Times New Roman 11-point single spacing). Do not increase size of text box. 8. Full official postal address of applicant Telephone number Fax number Email address 9.1 Does this application follow on from a previously funded YCR award? Please give details. No, this application does not follow previously funded YCR award. 9.2 Is this a resubmission in any part of an application to YCR? No, there are no resubmissions in any part of an application to YCR. ... d summarise the support provided (including its tenure) 10.2 Are you currently applying elsewhere for support for work relating to the present proposal? No, I am not currently applying elsewhere for support for work relating to the present. If so, to which Organisation? 10.3 Is this application or any part of it, currently being submitted elsewhere? No, any part of this application is not being submitted elsewhere. If so, to which Organisation; and by what date is a decision expected? 10.4 Has this application, or any part of it, been submitted elsewhere over the past year? No, this application has not been submitted elsewhere over the past year. If so, to which Organisation? 11. Acceptance of regulations and conditions I/We have read the conditions set out in the Award Conditions and, if my/our application is successful, I/we agree to abide by them. I/We shall be actively engaged in, and in day-to-day control of, the project. I I/We have read the specific Award Information, Award Co nditions and Policies for Awards regarding disclosure of research data, intellectual property and commercial development activity and if my/our application is successful I/we agree to abide by them. Signature of applicant(s) Date: This application should be submitted by/through (i) the Head of Department and (ii) the officer who will be responsible for administering any award that may be awarded (e.g. Finance Officer, Bursar, Registrar, Secretary). Each should sign the following declaration: I confirm that I have read this application and that, if granted, the work will be accommodated and administered in the Department/ Organisation in accordance with the Award Conditions. The staff gradings and salaries quoted are correct and in accordance with the normal practice of this Organisation.

The Legal and Ethical Impacts That Managed Care Practices Have on Research Paper - 1

The Legal and Ethical Impacts That Managed Care Practices Have on Quality and Access to Patient Care in USA - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that managed care practices have caused legal and ethical effects that have made the quality of care and access to patient care a problem. Managed care institutions have to work within the limits of the available resources. Because the cost of healthcare is high, healthcare practitioners give limited health care to patients. Only the very sick and those who have a great need for care are given priority. Physicians are trapped by monetary incentives that make them compromise decision making between patients’ needs and their own remuneration. There are poor guidelines that make needy patients lack access to procedures or appropriate medication for their specific medical needs. The cost of healthcare has become the motivation of the managed care practices as Kongtvedt points out. The problem with the managed care practices is the cost consciousness that is emphasized. The high cost of healthcare has led managed care practices to reduce the number of referra ls to a specialist. Less costly medication is prescribed to cut on cost. The physicians are restricted on the number of tests and procedures they can request. Cost consciousness could lead to misdiagnosis for lack of tests or inappropriate medication because of giving available less costly treatment. Cost consciousness causes the quality and access to quality care to be reduced. The growth of managed care in the United States has caused various ethical concerns. The concerns emerge from the practices and policies that cause certain deficiencies. Many people lack insurance, others are partly insured while a small fraction of citizens has comprehensive insurance cover. The cost of health is constantly increasing and very few can be able to purchase a comprehensive insurance cover.

Public Administration Theory application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Public Administration Theory application - Essay Example Included in the paper will be a theoretical perspective of the problem and theory selected. Various areas that may be specifically impacted and a problem analysis addressing the rates of graduation and test scores, additionally a solution analysis will be included with hypothetical returns based on current observations and available data. Ohio High Schools and the need for change Public education in Ohio In the school year ending in 2006 approximately 74% of all students in Ohio high schools graduated with a regular diploma. One contributing factor in this may be the earnings gap that exists with those not graduating generally making $10,000 less annually. (Alliance of an excellent education, 2009) In a 2008 report by the Americas Promise Alliance education group found that there was a large disparity in urban graduation rates versus suburban graduation rates, Columbus Ohio for instance averaged 40.9% graduation rate while the suburban districts had an average graduation rate of 82.9 % showing a glaring disparity in the two geographical areas. (Swanson, P.h.D, 2008 p. 12) This glaring disparity does bring the idea that there may be race related issues as well, though it is likely it is simply the result of economic changes and geographical location. As can be seen with the available information there is a difference between urban and suburban locations and school districts. Overall scores in the state of Ohio increased in the school year ending in 2008 from the school year ending in 2000; however, these scores were down from the school year ending in 2006 from 92.9 to 92.3. (Ohio Department of Education, 2008) More importantly the disparity in graduation numbers still exists, which while the test scores are improving the reduced graduation in urban areas remains a problem. There have been local attempts at improving the level of education and rates of students graduating specifically from Cleveland Ohio. One of those efforts encompasses the philosophy that livin g away from home may in fact assist with the student’s ability to learn. Educational Options LLC., offers a private solution for a public issue. The founder Ms. Simon offers a service which locates educational opportunities for teens with learning disabilities, from oppositional behavior through Autistic Spectrum Disorders. (Simon, 2011) Organizational theory, symbolic interactionism relating to the disparity of rates Symbolic interactionism as a theory focuses on the individual versus the more general societal implications of organizational theory. Within the public school system specifically within the Ohio High School public education program this approach would be a positive benefit. Sociologist Herbert Blumer defined the theory with three core principles. The first was meaning which states that humans act or react based on the meaning they have given those people or things they are reacting to. The second was language, which allows humans a means to negotiate through the meanings they have devised for the objects or persons. This further allows the basis for society as we understand it. The third principle is thought, each person’s thoughts changes the meanings of the symbols and or language. (Nelson, 1998 np) This administration approach applied within the school system would allow for a more specific approach which could assist in preventing the large disparity

Jails and Prisons History and Development Essay Example for Free

Jails and Prisons History and Development Essay Jails and prisons lay at the heart of the Criminal Justice System. These facilities helped forge the concept of rehabilitation. These institutions have changed over time and now reflect the modern methods of housing convicted individuals who need to be reformed or punished. Description of jails The clear concise difference between a jail and a prison is the time limit a convicted person is sentenced to and what offenses were committed. In a jail, prisoners are usually confined because they were convicted of a lesser or petty offense. Examples of petty offenses are driving without a license or a misdemeanor drug possession charge. Most of these offenses come with a sentence of a year or less and anyone with over a year sentence is usually sent to a prison facility (Seiter, 2011). Jails act as holding facilities where inmates rarely get time to be out of their cells, to reflect, or to engage in recreational time. Because jails are so short term the focus is on inward reflection of crime through solitude. Some of these restrictions are a product themselves of the lesser amount of time spent in the correctional facilities. Criminals are charged more in a jail facility with reflecting on their crime by being exposed to sheer solitude. Furthermore, jails rarely have any vocational or rehabilitation programs utilized within their walls. On the other hand, prisons have an ample amount of time to work with, rehabilitate, and reform offenders. Prisons do this with the hope that offenders can eventually be placed back into society and limit their recidivism back to crime. History of state and federal prisons The jail component of the American corrections system came well before the initiation of any prisons, probation, parole, or even halfway houses. The historical origins of jails or local corrections facilities in America come from England. American jails have developed and progressed so much further than that of its roots. Jails served a different purpose in England. Throughout the progression to the modern age, past mentality was altered from a place of confinement before harsh punishment could be administered to a place that rehabilitation and reflection could occur. The historical developments of jails and prisons overtime have gone from detention for purpose of public humiliation or deterrence, to an â€Å"out of sight out of mind† mentality, which segregated convicted individuals from the rest of society. State prisons have their roots in the penitentiary reform ideals of the Age of Enlightenment. The Three Prisons Act is the first law that authorized the establishment of federal prisons. This act was an important milestone for U.S. prison reform. This most important fact is that this act laid the foundation for the federal prison system to be created. Prior to the act being passed there were few penal facilities in the United States. Before this time period and the passing of this act only one facility, the Walnut Street Jail located in Philadelphia, stood the possibility of housing a large capacity of inmates charged with federal crimes. The role of a jail is a diverse one and conducts a very difficult mission. Few offenders skip the step of passing through a jail as they enter the correctional system. Jails hold a variety of offenders: including those arrested; those detained pending trial; those sentenced to short terms of confinement for minor crimes; those awaiting transfer to another facility; and those who are held administratively for a criminal justice agency. Some jail systems are larger than all but a few state prison systems while others are extremely small and have only four or five beds. Jails face unique issues such as dealing with unknown offenders, detoxification and medical problems, and serving the court with security and prisoner transportation. Jails are operated by local authorities and primarily hold pretrial detainees. Other jail inmates are serving time for misdemeanors, while others are held for a variety of reasons. Comparison of security levels The jail-prison distinction, however, is a very simplified label to attach to a very diverse set of facilities. There are in fact a myriad of confinement facilities meant to house criminals of all levels of seriousness. These facilities are broken up by government boundaries of local, state, and federal confinement facilities. The time needing to be served and the severity of the crime determine which of the facilities a convicted person might be sent. Prisons range starting from the most basic minimum security that houses the offenders that are less violent and are often for more administrative type offenses like white collar offenders or drug related crimes where no one else was affected or harmed. These types of prisons are considered more like camps, because they have a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing. These institutions are work-and program-oriented and many are located adjacent to larger institutions or on military bases, where inmates help serve the labor needs of the larger institution or base. The next step above the minimum security is low security institutions which have double-fenced perimeters, mostly dormitory or cubicle housing, and strong work and program components. The staff-to-inmate ratio is increased compared to the previous stage. Medium security prisons are the next level up. They are stronger facilities with hardened perimeters that have double chain link fences and an electronic monitoring system surrounding the facility and its corridors. Confinement in the medium-security prisons is cell type but treatment programs are available to convicts to help propel them forward in their reformation. Here the ratio is reversed and the staff greatly outnumbers the inmates. The strictest of prison facilities is the high or maximum security institution. Within its walls are some of the most severe criminals who have committed some of the most heinous acts. This final type of institution is comprised of reinforced fences and walls. Prisoners are contained in solitary cells and their movements are controlled and monitored extremely closely. Because of the severity of the crimes committed by the convicted individuals that are incarcerated in these maximum security facilities, there is an extremely high ratio of staff to inmates (Prison Types General Information, 2012). For prisons to be safe and secure there must be sufficient physical security, consistent implementation of security practices, established methods to control inmate behavior, and adequate preparation to reduce the likelihood or to respond to inmate unrest. For prison staff to provide effective rehabilitative services there must be an assessment of the needs and best practices of a programs focusing on substance abuse, mental health, religious services, education recreation, rehabilitation, and work opportunities. Fully understanding the importance of these programs and implementing them effectively is crucial for prisons to accomplish their dual mission of confinement and rehabilitation. Factors that influence growth The United States currently incarcerates more people of its citizens per capita than any other country in the world. If you count the amount of prisoners which currently reside in the U.S. prison system, it is approximately two million. This would mean that one out of every hundred and fifty residents are incarcerated in a U.S. prison of jail at any given time. Some of the factors that have led to the explosion of the prison population are poverty driven crime and the increased regulation of human and social behaviors (Ruddel, 2011). In the 21st century, we are still contemplating the dilemmas of overcrowding and the best way to correct criminal’s behaviors. The world needs to constantly evolve its correctional systems to meet the concerns of its society and effectively reform criminal behavior to create less of a strain on law abiding citizens. Jails and Prisons are a tremendous and vital piece to the Criminal Justice process. These facilities have been a part of the correctional system for over 200 years. It stands to reason that while the system will change based on new technologies and ideas, the principals of reform and correction will always hold true (U.S. Prison Populations-Trends and Implications, 2012). Conclusion It is hoped that justice will prevail through the rehabilitation and reform of convicted individuals, and our prison system is the best way of correcting the factors that may influence a person to commit such offenses. Incarcerated individuals today should feel fortunate that the times and ideals of prison life have changed and criminals are classified and housed based on the type and severity of the crime, rather than one large melting pot of criminals. Crime will never be completely eradicated therefore the necessity for facilities to incarcerate offenders will perpetually be needed. Free will is one of the greatest inherent rights human kind has but this right makes some people commit crimes and others remain compliant with the rules and regulations of society. The fact that we have free will conclude that criminal behavior will not ever truly disappear and every attempt should be made to inform/reform and rehabilitate offenders, making them act in an appropriate manner that is so cially acceptable. References: Prison Types General Information. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/index.jsp Ruddel, R. (2011). American Jails: A Retrospective Examination. U.S. Prison populations-trends and implications. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/1044.pdf Mackenzie, D. L. (2001). Sentencing and Corrections in the 21st Century:Setting the Stage for the Future. College Park, Maryland: Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Seiter, R. (2011). Corrections an Introduction (3rd ed.). Upper saddle Hall, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

People often complain about life in the U.S. Essay Example for Free

People often complain about life in the U.S. Essay People complain when most of their needs are not met. The irony of it lies when complaints are just piled up without any further insights on how to solve such problems. In the long run, complaints become a part of the lifestyle of people who are good at pointing at the loopholes most especially of the government, and of the leaders. As there would always be a reason for every action that is done, and for every result that is produced, man is also by nature never contented. Furthermore, the will to seek for the ‘best’ is always an intention to make life worth living. Power, fame, and money tops the priority of why people choose the option of fulfilling their daily agenda from dusk ‘til dawn. Although, with the exception of the few who does their work for the common people’s welfare and interest. It may also be considered a selfish ambition to seek good only for one’s self advantage and leave or ignore others behind while they struggle for the well being of everyone. From birth, the very basics of life are taught –following instructions, and that it is in the individual’s prerogative to obey, and afterwards reap the consequences of such actions. On the other hand, citizens do have their obligations and responsibilities. From simple instructions of following the rules and regulations or by becoming a â€Å"law abiding citizen† then, at least one is a big step ahead of fulfilling his obligations and responsibilities. Other concerns such as the payment of taxes for which some would dare not to are obligations that are intentionally forgotten. These are just simple, and few to mention that when taken for granted are enough reasons for making a citizen’s life fluctuate. Self-examination is important and should be carried before bursting in dismay the various injustices committed by the government and by the leaders or officials. For whatever reasons people complain about life in the U. S. is according to their own generalization and judgement on whatever situation or experiences they are basing it. On the other hand, a patriot will readily and passionately criticize his government when it is evil, corrupt, and infamous; and that refusing to do so is considered treason. It is the duty of every citizen to criticize, censure and scourge the political fiends that pretend to serve the public when those villainous brutes serve only tyranny, greed, hatred, and prejudice. In addition, complaints may have been germinated and nurtured from the compost heap of tyranny, imperialism, and international widespread liberal acts of butchery, despotism, and horror. The exposure of such a regime and its operations has become a primary duty of citizens who still believe in the Rule of Law and in the freedoms, which a country is supposed to represent. On the other hand, as a citizen who loves his country, his nation or his homeland, such complaints should be put aside and instead â€Å"take part† in the reforms that are taking place and â€Å"be a part† of whatever changes that will occur. For what would one gain complaining against the government – it only leads to further chaos and destruction that would later affect the stability of a country. Instead, an action of commitment is necessary for a change. Citizens cannot be required to take part in the political process, and they are free to express their dissatisfaction by not participating. However, without the lifeblood of citizens’ action, there can be no hope of making life much better. Teamwork is at its best when everyone participates in the fulfillment of such goals and objectives. For this reason, citizens play a very major role in the development of a country or a nation. Their â€Å"actions† speak â€Å"louder† when joined in one voice for the rehabilitation and development of their country. Most often, people are only joined on an aftermath, citing the 9/11 as an example. World leaders were heard on radio and seen on television joining against terrorism as worldwide threat to political-economic progress of every state or nation. Citizens therefore, should not take their responsibilities only as an option but as a mandate for which they should put into action and make commitments. US enjoy a government whereby the supreme power lies in the body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. In which case, election of public officials is the most visible and common form of participation for which people could exercise their genuinity as citizens. However, there are problems faced by the electorate before and during election that would stop or make them have a second thought in casting their votes. Thus, the agenda of â€Å"making life better† by taking part in the election is at stake. Needless to say, as a citizen who loves his country, taking part on a crucial endeavor is worth an honor for standing on such beliefs and life principles – taking part for the better. In other areas, opportunities in which to participate to be able to have a part in the development and rehabilitation of a country and make it a better place to live is to take advantage of joining a host of private organizations, associations, and volunteer groups. For which many of these are concerned with issues of public policy and pay close attention to public opinion, making every effort to widen their base of support as they seek simultaneously to educate the public and influence government policies. The right of individuals to associate freely and to organize themselves into different sorts of nongovernmental groups is fundamental in shaping a better society, a better environment. When people of common interest band together, their voices can be heard and their chances of influencing the political debate increases. As there are no perfect leaders and perfect government that provides and meets the demands and expectations of its citizens, there are the advantages of opportunities vested upon the people to exercise their civil rights whenever it is necessary and while maintaining public order and countering attempts that ignites violence. Every circumstance that an individual faces everyday is a part of the spices of life that one should face courageously. That with his body, mind, and his character, should consider it as strengths for further growth and development. To make life better entails a long practice of patience and humility from which one could invest and influence others to follow. History records of people who have done it, and were able to successfully pursue their agendas after a long historic battle. Furthermore, citizens have the option of either to criticize and act, or to criticize and watch how complaints get piled and returns like a boomerang that backfires. It takes time, effort and most often investing money to make a goal successful. However in the long run, it pays an action for a legacy worthy for future generations. As the world advances, and so do the expectations of every individual, of every citizen. In addition, as government leaders occupy government offices from time to time, new agenda are always sought. Accordingly, to the best interest of the people! Whosoever leads, citizens’ action makes a difference when joined with a common goal – to make life better. REFERENCES: Felkins, Leon. â€Å"How to Avoid Wasting Your Vote†. The Election. 26 May 1996. 19 http://www. spectacle. org/1096/felkins. html Kettenhofen, Colleen. â€Å"Difficult People: Dealing with Difficult People 101†. Beyond Better Communications. 19 March 2007 http://www. livingbeyondbetter. com/difficult101. html â€Å"Politics, Economicsc, and Pluralism†. USINFO. STATE. GOV. 19 March 2007 http://usinfo. state. gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm8. htm

Factors Affecting Healing Capabilities of the Body

Factors Affecting Healing Capabilities of the Body Analyse Health Information James Rowe 1.3) Intracellular fluid makes up approximately 60-67% of total body fluid. With Intracellular fluid making up approximately 33-40% in both these compartments it is water making up a majority of the solvent in the different body compartments. The total body weight that the fluid makes up is about 60% in Men and about 55% in Women. This is lower due to the higher fat content. Fluid Physiology: 2.1 Fluid Compartments. 2014. Fluid Physiology: 2.1 Fluid Compartments. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.anaesthesiamcq.com/FluidBook/fl2_1.php. [Accessed 13 February 2014]. An electrolyte is an electrically charged ion that can affect the amount of water in the body. It is also responsible for determining the acidity of the blood (alters PH). And is responsible for a change in muscle function. Sodium maintains the osmotic pressure and volume of the extracellular fluid within the body. Whereas the intracellular fluid is controlled by potassium. By effecting these the body can effect the amount of fluid being drawn into the ECF and ICF. 2.1) Dehydration is a danger because the body requires water to maintain homeostasis. Water is also a key ingredient in blood volume. The less water in the blood the thicker it becomes. The function of the skin have been impaired because the skin integrity itself is compromised. Depending on wound depth many problems can occur. 1st degree burns à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Superficial skin 2nd degree burns à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Some underlying skin damage 3rd degree burns à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   All skin layers damage After an area of the body has been burnt many things will happen. Including an increase in the amount of WBC that migrate to the area to help fight off infection and start repairing the body. Also the capillaries of the damaged area will be blocked off to prevent and blood loss. And to stop a possible entrance route for any blood infection. Factors affecting the healing capabilities of the body can be categorised into 2 category’s Internal and External. Internal à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Health status (any other illness that may prevent healing) Age Lifestyle Nutritional status External à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Mechanical damage Stress Temperature Debridement of a wound can happen through many different methods. Including surgically, chemically or even by the body’ defence itself. Debridement is where unhealthy tissue is removed from the wound to aid healing. The top 2 layers of the skin are used in a full thickness graft. These are the Dermus and EpiDermus. 3.1) OBS chart Neurovascular OBS Fluid balance chart Referral/Appointment 4.2) Hypertension is high blood pressure. This is where the blood in the artery is being forced around the body under a higher pressure than normal. Arteriosclerosis is the thickening and hardening of the artery walls. Meaning that there is a loss in the elasticity of the artery wall. Hypertension and Arteriosclerosis are often related. Due to the pressure hypertension puts on the arterial wall they lose their elasticity and become hard and thick (Arteriosclerosis) Hypertension is referred to as ‘the silent killer’ due to the fact so many people are unaware that they have the disease. The signs and symptoms of hypertension are very discreet and can go un-diagnosed for a lifetime. Cardiovascular disease and old age are often associated. This is because the development of the disease over time and the disease becoming worse with age. Some changes that can be to reduce the risk of developing the disease are improving diet, don’t live under stress for prolonged periods of time, tests for and hereditary factors. If there is an increased amount of platelets in the blood and therefore you have a very high clotting factor then you may be at risk of a blockage in a blood vessel. 5.2) A blue or purple colouration of the skin is referred to as cyanosis. Hypoxia is where an area of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Hypoxia can be generalized or local. Ischemia is the insufficient blood flow to a tissue Hypoxemic hypoxia is where the arterial content of O ² insufficient. This can be caused by a pulmonary embolus or a sudden change in the environment pressure (Diving) 5.3) A tracheostomy is a surgical incision into the next. Opening the airway straight through a hole in the trachea. Endotracheal is a type of tracheal tube inserted through the mouth or nose. Both are a type of tracheal tube that’s purpose is to act as a catheter to establish and maintain a airway. And to ensure enough oxygen gets into the body to allow adequate gas exchange. 5.4) Anaemia is a decrease in the number of RBC or less than normal amount of haemoglobin. This will cause the patient to complain of SOB due to lack of oxygen being supplied to the body due to the lack of haemoglobin. 5.5) The problems that Paul is experiencing with breathing can be due to the muscle spasm down the airway. And the swelling narrows the airway makes it difficult for Paul to breathe. An increase in the production of mucus also explains the wheeze in Pauls breathing. This is because the air being exhaled is being forced through mucus. 6.1) If left untreated then the appendix will rupture causing toxicity in the body. In some extreme cases this poisoning of the body can cause death. 6.2) Because without fibre in the diet stools become difficult to pass. Causing a higher pressure and stronger muscle contraction to be needed. Over a prolonged period this causes damage to the intestine. 6.3) Bile is required to breakdown and aid digestion. If the bile duct is blocked then this would hinder the digestion of some protein and fats. The is because of the bile not reaching the areas that it is meant to. This would mean the body would not be able to absorb essential nutrients during the digestive process meaning there would be a deficiency in the body. 6.4) Jaundice (Yellow skin) Pale colour stool. Dark Urine 8.2) BP increase amount of oxygen to muscles. Vasodilation aids this. Heart beat increase rate of blood pumps around the body and increases the amount of gas exchange occurring in the lungs to help the muscle fuel. Resp Rate increases to allow as much oxygen as possible into the body and to get rid of the CO2. This all allows muscles adequate energy for a fight or flight response. 9.1) When blood enters the kidney (Site of urine formation) it passes through juxtaglomerular that detect blood pressure and blood volume before entering the nephron. When in the Nephron blood needs to be under pressure to force out fluid and solutes (smaller than protein) After reabsorption occurs the remaining waste is urine. Without a suitable BP or BV this wouldn’t occur. 10.1) Concave lenses. This is because the positive diopetes of myopic eye. This will help her see things further away (Refrence Marieb) 10.2) Sensorineural deafness – Degeneration or damage to the nerve, neuron and receptor cell. The MP3 caused damage to the nerves in the ear and the neurons of the auditory cortex. This is more serious than conductive deafness as it effects the ability to hear both conduction routes (Air conduction and Bone conduction) Conduction deafness – Something interferes with sound vibration waves. This means that waves do not reach the inner ear fluid (Ear wax and Blockage)

Sublime and Fantastic Elements in The Day We Were Dogs :: Day We Were Dogs Essays

Sublime and Fantastic Elements in The Day We Were Dogs      Ã‚   "The Day We Were Dogs" is a short story written by an author born in Puebla, Mexico, in 1993. Elena Garro's major themes revolve around the concepts of time and memory. I do not believe this story is a true example of magical realism; however I do see the sublime and the fantastic used in this story. I think that this story is really a misidentification of magical realism. To start out, I was moved by the way the author talked about a day with two days inside of it. How could this occurrence be? It is two days and two realities. There also were two afternoons and two heavens, dogs talking, dogs named Buddha and Christ. I just see Garro trying to imitate magical realism, but she did a bad job of it. I do have to give her credit for bringing the sublime and the fantastic in, though. The characteristics of magical realism are phenomenal, deeper realm, visibility, mysterious, opinionated, timeless fluidity, and fascinating. This story has none of those characteristics, or at least it does not express them the way a magical realism story would. "We recognize the world, although now-not only because we have emerged from a dream-we look on it with new eyes"(Roh 17). I see what Roh is trying to say about magical realism, and I do not think one can use these certain strategies to figure out this story because it is fantastical and sublime. The fantastic is characterized by the marvelous, the uncanny, the natural, and the supernatural. The marvelous to me in this story would be the two parallel days. It seems so normal how Garro talks about it. They looked at one day or thing and saw what happened, and then they looked at another. Being able to experience time this way seems so wild and crazy. Rabkin states that "we recognize this reversal (90 to 180) through certain textual (signals):the reactions of the characters, the statements of the narrators, and the implications of structures provided by implied authors."(Rabkin 11). The story does show a big reversal as the dogs act as dogs and the people act as dogs. Also, the character questions, "I'm a dog"? Then another dog replies, "Yes we are dogs." I saw that later on in the story she realizes that she was a dog by replying ,"Woof, Woof, Woof," when someone asked her a question.

Alls Fair in Love and War Essay -- American International Relations

Today’s society, so focused on defining, coveting, attaining, protecting and fighting for freedom and justice globally, still always seems to fall short. While the majority of American’s would agree that they live in a generally free country, there will always be those who demand even more freedoms. Abraham Lincoln called on poet John Lydgate’s now famous words, succinctly stating, â€Å"†¦you can’t please all the people all the time.† Never has a phrase been truer than in these times. For along with the people’s cries for freedom and justice, they still want to maintain their right to bear arms and freedoms of speech and expression. While each of these things in and of themselves seem harmless and basic, trying to balance them all together gets tricky, and sometimes dangerous. Where does the balance lie to keep the peace and protect our country? Can we really maintain just our own borders and not be concerned with the lands beyon d? In Arundhati Roy's "Come September," she recounts atrocities of passing decades, including those against the Palestinians and Japanese, to highlight war's failures, forgetting that in America there is an innate responsibility to do whatever is necessary, including war, to maintain democracy, to ensure freedom and justice within, and to limit the spread of injustice and tyranny to countries unable to fight for themselves. Roy details the suffering the Palestinian people have endured not only to survive, but to even be recognized as a people. Giving a generalized history of Israel and Palestine, she details conflict and ongoing violence in the pursuit of their homeland. While this is not a battle that America seems to be involved with, it is fairly well known that the United States gives a sign... ...ther countries affect our own. As the world evolves and grows, there will continue to be conflict, but hopefully along the way there will be more education and all will learn from mistakes of the past. One day we may be able to mutually think outside the box and avoid many conflicts altogether. Until then, the United States must maintain our own democracy, ensure freedom and justice within our own borders, and go beyond those borders when needed to prevent injustices to those countries unable to fend for themselves. Works Cited Roy, Arundhati. â€Å"Come September.† Reading the World: Ideas that Matter. Ed. Michael Austin. New York: Norton, 2007. 254-266. Print. Amnesty International Public Statement. AI Index: MDE 15/033/2005 (Public). News Service No: 134. 23 May 2005.

The Great Potato Famine :: Essays Papers

The Great Potato Famine The Great Potato Famine was a huge disaster that would change Ireland forever. The people in Ireland were extremely dependent on potatoes and when the blight came the economy went down. When the fungus attacked the potato crops slowly crop by crop throughout Ireland, people began to lose their main source of food. With the people in Ireland’s huge dependency on the potato, people began to starve or get sick from the potatoes. No one had any food to eat. The potatoes were black inside with molds through out it that came from the fungus from something in nature. The weather that brought the blight also was one of the causes because they could not control how the weather was bringing the fungus. Ireland was under the British government and did not help Ireland when they needed Britain. The aftermath of the Great Famine was not only a huge drop in population, but emigration, and much more. The potato famine killed many people. â€Å"The famine brought starvation and disease which claimed 1 million lives† (Jackson 69). The death toll from the Great Famine took a good portion of the Irish population and left a landmark as being one of the most costly disasters of modern times. â€Å"Additionally, over 50,000 people died of diseases: typhus, scurvy, dysentery [†¦] Within a decade, the population of Ireland plummeted from over eight million to less than six million† (Irish Potato). Either the people that died during the famine were forgotten about from the surviving relatives, or there were no remaining survivors in a household there for, no was there to report it (Mokyr and O Grada 343). Sadly, death was one only of the effects of the Great Potato Famine. Another thing that was an effect of the Great Famine was emigration. Many people moved to different countries, mostly America, to find new land and get away from the horrible famine. Soon the government passed the Poor Law Extension Act of 1847, which was approved to refuse any farmer help with over a quarter acre of land. This Act influenced emigration, increased land clearance, and the structure of rural society slowly decreased.

Clothes of the future Essay

With this new time and age of technological advancements, the manufacturing of smart clothes has brought about a textile revolution. This involves the integration of electronic components and Nano-technology within fabrics and fibres resulting in the birth of intelligent fabrics possessing specific properties. Smart materials are capable of ‘thinking’ and ‘acting’ by sensing the conditions of the immediate environment. These are sensitive to the wearer’s body conditions (sweating & trembling), temperature requirements & stability and their movements. Classification of Smart Textiles: Passive Smart Textiles- These can only sense the environment conditions or stimuli, and hence are also known as 1st Generation Smart Textiles. Active Smart Textiles-These 2nd Generation Smart Textiles have both sensors and actuators. The actuators act upon the signal or stimuli detected either directly or from a central control unit. They are chameleonic, water resistant, shape memory, vapor absorbing, heat evolving fabrics or electrically heated suits. Ultra Smart Textiles- These are the 3rd Generation very Smart Textiles which can sense, react, and adopt themselves to the environment conditions and stimuli. Applications of Smart Textile can be very interesting to know. The usage of Smart textiles range from protective wear, sports, medical and fashion to clothes having anti stress properties. Functional Textiles† are designed to serve a specific purpose having added features. Therefore, we now have fabrics that protect against U.V Radiation and anti-bacterial products. Fibres designed with moisture management systems help in quick evaporation of sweat & perspiration. Similarly, there are Reflective Textiles used for preparing safety garments. Some interesting examples of such extraordinary Functional Textiles used today are: The jacket that can see: This technology boasts the development of GPSoverIP Jacket which has an inbuilt mobile phone, an mp3 player at the same time containing features for locating people. The person wearing this jacket can be easily located within buildings with its’ inbuilt tracking system that works just like a GPS. The Smart Bra: Developed by Wallace et al at the University of Wollongong, the Smart Bra can change its properties according to the breast movement, i.e. it can tighten, loosen the straps,  stiffen or relax its’ cups to adjust the breast motion, preventing breast pain and sag. This bra is essentially useful for women who are active in sports. Fitness component inside sports underwear: This technology, again is very useful for athletes as it incorporates ‘beat clip’ i.e., a fitness component with a mobile radio connection sewn into sports underwear. It then displays on a mobile phone, the wearers’ fitness conditions such as heart rate signals. Fabric protection against mobile phone radiation: a German engineered fabric using special yarns called ‘eBlocker’ is being incorporated into the inner pockets of jackets, which absorbs almost 100% of radiation emanating from mobile phones without affecting the functioning of the mobile phone in any way. Sensory baby vest: A team of researchers have improvised a special vest for babies .This special vest has sensors attached to it that help in constant monitoring of the baby’s’ vital organs such as heart, lungs ,skin and at the same time detects body temperature. The sensors are attached such that they, in no way, disturb the baby while it is asleep. Light Emitting: Luminex is a new fabric (non reflective) that can emit light. They are optical capable of illuminating themselves in darkened situations. Developing Future U.S. Soldier Uniforms: DuPont in alliance with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) attempts to develop materials that would help equip the U.S. soldier of the future with uniforms and gear that keep them safe them against chemical and biological warfare. Engineers and scientists are working to develop ideas such as a uniform that is almost invisible and soft clothing that can become a rigid cast when a soldier breaks his or her leg. Fibres That Can Change Colour and Shape on Command: Smart fibres can function as conductive â€Å"wires† and react to signals from electricity, heat or pressure. Researchers are experimenting with different fibre profiles – of various shapes — that can be made to contract or expand to loosen and tighten clothing to make the wearer warmer or cooler. For example, conductive fibres could change colour on command from an electric signal that changes the reflective quality of specially dyed fibre/cloth Emitting Scents: The Smart Second Skin Dress – emitting scents depending on your mood and requirements. One such invention is the ‘Sleep Suit’ which gives out the scent of lavender for insomniacs when they wake to calm the wearer and send them back to sleep. One can manage music and mobile phone from a control panel, with backlit digital display, located externally on  your sleeve. Fashion is moving forward†¦and so is technology. As computers keep getting smaller, it enables us to incorporate miniaturised hi-tech components into clothes and shoes. Textile manufacturers have to redefine ‘functionality’ and move beyond the historical focus of protection and appearance and find their way onto the high street renamed as ‘Warp Wear’, ‘Smart Clothes’ and ‘E-textiles’.