Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 16

I'msorry. Was I interrupting something?† he said, Maggie had to struggle not to draw in her breath sharply. It was always a little bit of a shock seeing him. And even in a room with Hunter Redfern and thepale and dazzling Sylvia, he stood out. Like a coldwind blowing through the door, he seemed to bringcoiled energy in with him, to slap everyone awakewith the chilly smell of snow. And of course he was gorgeous, too. And not awed by Hunter, Maggie thought. Hefaced his greatgrandfather with those fearless yellow eyes level, and a measuring look on his fineboned face. â€Å"Nothing at all,† Hunter Redfern said amiably.†We were waiting for you. And planningthecelebrations.† â€Å"Celebrations?† â€Å"To honor our agreement. I'm so pleased that we've come to an understanding at last. Aren'tyou?† â€Å"Of course,† Delos said, pulling off his gloveswithout any change in expression. â€Å"When we docome to an understanding, I'll be very pleased.† Maggie had to bite her lip on a snicker. At thatmoment, looking at Hunter's facile smile and Sylvia's pinned-on simper, she had never liked Delos'sdour, cold grimness better. Idiot, she told herself. When did you ever like itat all? The guy's an icicle. But there was something clean and sharp-edgedabout his iciness, and she couldn't help admiring the way he faced Hunter. There was a little aching knot in her chest as she watched himstandingthere, tense and elegant, with his dark hair tousled from riding. Which wasn't to say she wasn't scared. That auraof power Delos carried along with him was veryreal. He had sensed her before, even with Aradiablockingthe signs of her lifeforce. And now here he was, maybe twelve feet away, with only a pieceof linen between them. There was nothing Maggie could do but sit asstillas possible. â€Å"Sylvia has taken the liberty of beginning thepreparations,† Hunter said. â€Å"I hope you don't mind.I think we can work out any little details that areleft before tomorrow, don't you?† Suddenly Delos looked tired. He tossed his gloveson the bed and nodded, conceding a point. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Essentially,† Hunter Redfern said,†we are agreed. This time Delos just nodded without speaking. â€Å"I can't wait to show you off to the world outside,† Hunter said, and this time Maggie thought the note of pride and eagerness in his voice was sincere. â€Å"My great-grandson. And to think that ayear ago I didn't know of your existence.† Hecrossed to slap Delos on the back. It was a gestureso much like the old king's that Maggie's eyeswidened. â€Å"I'm going to make some preparations of myown,† he said. â€Å"I think the last hunt before youleave should be special, don't you?† He was smilingashe left. Delos stared moodily at the fur coverlet. â€Å"Well,† Sylvia said, sounding almost chirpy.†How's the arm?† Delos glanced down at it. He was still wearingthe complicated brace thing Maggie had seen him in yesterday. â€Å"It's allriot.† â€Å"Hurts?† â€Å"A little.† Sylvia sighed and shook her head. â€Å"That's because you used it for practice. I did warn you,you know.† â€Å"Can you make it better or not?† Delos saidbrusquely. Sylvia was already opening the basket. â€Å"I toldyou, it'll take time. But it should improve with each treatment as longas you don't use it.† She was fiddling with the brace, doing thingsthat Maggie couldn't see. And Maggie's heart wasbeating hard with anger and an unreasonableprotectiveness. I can't let her do that to Delosbut how can istop her? There's no way. If she sees me, it's allover†¦ . â€Å"There,† Sylvia said. â€Å"That should hold you fora while.† Maggie ground her teeth. But at least maybe she'll go now, she thought. Itfeels like about a century I've been sitting in herelistening to her. And this stool isn't getting anymore comfortable. â€Å"Now,† Sylvia said briskly, tidying. â€Å"Just let meput your gloves away-â€Å" Oh, no,Maggie thought, horrified. On the shelf beside her was a pile of gloves. â€Å"No,†Delos said, so quickly it was almost anecho. â€Å"I need them.† â€Å"Don't be silly. You're not going out again-â€Å" â€Å"I'll take them.† Delos had wonderful reflexes. Heput himself between Sylvia and the wardrobe, andan instant later he was holding on to the gloves,almost tugging them from her hands. Sylvia looked up at him wonderingly for a longmoment. Maggie could see her face, the creamy skin delicately flushed, and her eyes, the color of r-drenched violets. She could see the shimmerof her pale blondhairas Sylvia shook her head slightly. Delos stared down at her implacably. Then Sylvia shrugged her ft-agile shoulders andletgo of the gloves. â€Å"I'll go see to the feast,† she said lightly andsmiled. She picked up her basket and moved gracefully to the door. Delos watched her go. Maggiesimply sat, speechless and paralyzed.When Delos followed Sylvia and closed the door firmly behind her, she made herself get slowly offthe stool. She backed away from the curtainsslightly, but she could still see a strip of thebedroom. Delos walked unerringly straight to the wardrobe.†You can come out now,† he said, his voice flatand hard. Maggie shut her eyes. Great. Well, I should have known. But he hadn't let Sylvia come in and discoverher, and he hadn't simply turned her over to his guards. Those were very good signs, she told herself stoutly. In fact, maybe she wasn't going to haveto persuade him of anything at all; maybe he wasalready going to be reasonable. â€Å"Or do I have to come in?† Delos said dangerously. Or maybe not, Maggie thought. She felt a sudden idiotic desire to get the dust out of her hair. She shook her head a few times, brushing at it, then gave up. Terribly conscious of her smudged face and slaveclothing, she parted the linen hangings andwalked out. â€Å"I warned you,† Delos said. He was facing her squarely, his jaw set and hismouth as grimas she had ever seen it. His eyeswere hooded, a dull and eerie gold in the shadows.He looked every inch the dark and mysterious vam pire prince. And here I am, Maggie thought. Looking like†¦well, like vermin, I bet. Like something fished outof the gutter. Not much of a representative forhumanity. She had never cared about clothes or hairstylesor things like that, but just now she wished thatshe could at least look presentable. Since the fateof the world might just depend on her. Even so, there was something in the air betweenDelos and herself. A sort of quivering aliveness that quickened the blood in Maggie's veins. That stirredsomething in her chest, and started her heartpounding with an odd mixture of fear and hope. She faced Delos just assquarelyashe was facing her. â€Å"I know some things that I think you need toknow,† she said quietly. He ignored that. â€Å"I told you what would happenif you came here. I told you I wouldn't protectyou again.† â€Å"I remember. But you didprotect me again. AndI thank you-but I really think I'd better tell youwhat's going on. Sylvia is the suspicious type, andif she's gone to Hunter Redfern to say that youdon't want people looking in your closet-â€Å" â€Å"Don't you understand?†he said with such sudden violence that Maggie's throat closed, chokingoff her words. She stared at him. â€Å"You're so closeto dying, but you don't seem to care. Are you toostupid to grasp it, or do you just have a deathwish?† The thumping in Maggie's chest now was definitelyfear. â€Å"I do understand,† she began slowly, when shecould get her voice to work. â€Å"No, you don't, â€Å"he said. `But I'll make you.† All at once his eyes were blazing. Not just theirnormal brilliant yellow, but a dazzling and unnatural gold that seemed to hold its own light. Even though Maggie had seen it before, it wasstill a shock to watch his features change. His face going paler, even more beautiful and clearly defined, chiseled in ice. His pupils widening like a predator's, holding a darkness that a human coulddrown in. And that proud and willful mouth twist ing in anger. It all happened in a second or so. And then hewas advancing on her, with dark fire in his eyes,and his lips pulling back from his teeth. Maggie stared at the fangs, helplessly horrifiedall over again. They were even sharper than she remembered them looking. They indented hislower lip on either side, even with his mouth partly .open. And, yes, they were definitely scary. â€Å"This is what I am,† Delos said, speaking easily around the fangs. â€Å"A hunting animal. Part of a world of darkness that you couldn't survive for aminute in. I've told you over and over to stay awayfrom it, but you won't listen. You turn up in my own castle, and you just won't believe your danger.So now I'm going to show you.† Maggie took a step backward. She wasn't in agood position; the wall was behind her and thehuge bed was on her left. Delos was between her and the door. And she had already seen how fasthis reflexes were. Her legs felt unsteady; her pulse was beating erratically. Her breath was coming fast. He doesn't really mean ithe won't really do it. He isn't serious†¦. But for all her mind's desperate chanting, panicwas beginning to riot inside her. The instincts of forgotten ancestors, long buried, were surfacing.Some ancient part of her remembered being chased by hunting animals, being prey. She backed up until she came in contact with the tapestry-hung wall behind her. And then therewas nowhere else to go. â€Å"Now,† Delos said and closed the distance between them with the grace of a tiger. He was right in front of her. Maggie couldn't helplooking up at him, looking directly into that alienand beautiful face. She could smell a scent like autumn leaves and fresh snow, but she could feel theheat from his body. He's nothing dead or undead, some very distantpart of her mind thought. He's ruthless, he's beenraised to be a weapon, but he's definitely alivemaybe the most alive thing I've ever seen. When he moved, there was nowhere she couldgo to avoid him. His hands closed on her shoulderslike implacable bands of steel. And then he waspulling her forward, not roughly but not gently either, pulling her until her body rested lightlyagainst his. And he was looking down at her withgolden eyes that burned like twin flames. Looking at my throat, Maggie thought. She couldfeel the pulse beating there, and with her chin tiltedup to look at him and her upper body arched away from him, she knew he could see it. His eyes werefixed on it with a different kind of hunger than shehad ever seen in a human face. For just one instant the panic overwhelmed her,flooding up blackly to engulf everything else. Shecouldn't think; she was nothing but a terrified massof instinct, and all she wanted to do was to run,toget away. Then, slowly at first, the panic receded. It simplypoured off her, draining away. She feltasif she were rising from deep water into air clear ascrystal. She looked straight into the golden eyes aboveher and said, â€Å"Go ahead.† She had the pleasure of seeing the golden eyeslook startled. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Go ahead,† Maggie said distinctly. â€Å"It doesn'tmatter. You're stronger than me; we both knowthat. But whatever you do, you can't make me yourprey. You don't have that power. You can't control me.† Delos hissed in fury, a reptilian sound. â€Å"You are â€Å". so â€Å"You wanted me scared; I'm scared. But, then, Iwas scared before. And it doesn't matter. There's something more important than me at stake here.Prove whatever you've got to prove and then I'll tell you about it. â€Å"So completely stupid,† Delos raged. But Maggiehad the odd feeling that his anger was more against himself than her. â€Å"You don't think I'll hurt you,†he said. â€Å"You're wrong there.† â€Å"I willhurt you. I'll show you-â€Å" â€Å"You can kill me,† Maggie said clearly. â€Å"But that'sall you can do. I told you, you can't control me. And you cant change what's between us.† He was very, very angry now. The fathomless pupils of his eyes were like black holes, and Maggie suddenly remembered that he wasn't just a vampire, or just a weapon, but some doomsday creature with powers meant for the end of the world.He hovered over her with his fangs showing. â€Å"I willhurt you,† he said. â€Å"Watch me hurt you.†He bent to her angrily, and she could see his intent in his eyes. He meant to frighten and disillusion †¦ †¦ and he kissed her mouth like raindrops falling on cool water. Maggie clung to him desperately and kissed back. Where they touched they dissolved into each other.Then she felt him tremble in her arms and they were both lost. It was like the first time when their minds had joined. Maggie felt a pulsing thrill that enveloped her entire body. She could feel the pure line ofcommunication open between them, she could feelherself lifted into that wonderful still place whereonly the two of them existed and nothing else mattered. Dimly, she knew that her physical self was fallingforward, that they were both falling, still clasped in each other's arms. But in the hushed place of crystalline beauty where she really was, they werefacing each other in a white light. It was like being inside his mind again, but thistime he was there opposite her, gazing at her directly. He didn't look like a doomsday weapon anymore, or even like a vampire. His black-lashedgolden eyes were large, like a solemn child's. Therewas a terrible wistfulness in his face. He swallowed, and then she heard his mentalvoice. It was just the barest breath of sound. Idon'twant this Yes, you do, she interrupted, indignant. The normal barriers that existed between two people had melted; she knew what he was feeling, and shedidn't like being lied to. -to end,he finished. Oh. Maggie's eyes filled with sudden hot tears. She did what was instinctive to her. She reachedout to him. And then they were embracing in their minds, justastheir physical bodies embraced, andthere was that feeling of invisible wings allaround them. Maggie could catch fragments of his thoughts,not just the surface ones, but things so deep shewasn't sure he even knew he was thinking them. So lonely †¦ always been lonely. Meant to be that way. Always alone †¦ No, you're not,she told him, trying to communicate it to the deepest part of him. Iwon't let you be alone. And wewere meant to be like this; can't you feel it? What she could feel was his powerful longing.But he couldn't be convinced all at once. She heard something like Destiny †¦ And shesaw images of his past. His father. His teachers.The nobles. Even the slaves who had heard theprophecies. They all believed he had only one purpose, and it had to do with the end of the world. You canchange your destiny, she said. Youdon't have to go along with it. I don't know what's going to happen with the world, but you don't have to be what they say. You have the power to fight them! For one heartbeat the image of his father seemed to loom closer, tall and terrible, a father seen through the eyes of childhood. Then the featuresblurred, changing just enough to become HunterRedfern with the same cruel and accusing light in his yellow eyes. And then the picture was swept away by a tidalwave of anger from Delos. I am not a weapon. I know that,Maggie told him. I can choose what I am from now on. I can choose what path to follow. Yes,Maggie said. Delos said simply, Ichoose to go with you. His anger was gone. Just briefly, she got theflicker of another image from him, as she had once before seeing herself through his eyes. He didn't see her as a slave girl with dusty hairand a smudged face and coarse sacking for clothes.He saw her as the girl with autumn-colored hairand endlessly deep sorrel eyes-the kind of eyesthat never wavered, but looked straight into his soul. He saw her as warm and real and vibrant,melting the black ice of his heart and setting him free. And then this image was gone, too, and they weresimply holding on to each other, lapped in peace. They stayed like that for a while, their spiritsflowing in and out of each other. Delos didn't seeminclined to move. And Maggie wanted it to last, too. She wanted tostay here for a long time, exploring all the deepestand most secret places of the mind that was nowopen to her. To touch him in ways he'd never beentouched before, this person who, beyond all logic,was the other half of her. Who belonged to her.Who was her soulmate. But there was something nagging at her consciousness. She couldn't ignore it, and when shefinally allowed herself to look at it, she remembered everything. And she was swept with a wave of alarm sostrong it snapped her right out of Delos's mind. She could feel the shock of separation reverberate in him as she sat up, aware of her own bodyagain. They were still linked enough that ithurther just as it hurt him. But she was too frightenedto care. â€Å"Delos,† she said urgently. â€Å"We've got to do something. There's going to be trouble.† He blinked at her,asif he were coming fromvery far away. â€Å"It will be all right,† he said. â€Å"No. It won't. You don't understand.† He sighed, very nearly his old exasperated snort.†If it's Hunter Redfern you're worried about-â€Å" â€Å"It's him-and Sylvia. Delos, I heard them talkingwhen I was in the wardrobe. You don't know what they've got planned.† â€Å"It doesn't matter what they've got planned. I cantake care of them.† He straightened a little, looked down at his left arm. â€Å"No, you can't,†Maggie said fiercely. â€Å"And that'sthe problem. Sylvia put a spell on you, a bindingspell, she called it. You can't use your power.†

Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy â€Å"Duke† Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. Duke Ellington was thought to be one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. After his death in 1974, he became even more popular. He even received a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board. Ellington called his music â€Å"American Music† rather than jazz. He liked to describe those who impressed him as â€Å"beyond category†. Those belonging to this group included many of the musicians who served with his orchestra. Some of his band members were among the giants of jazz and performed with Ellington's orchestra for decades. It was Duke Ellington, however, who melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz. He often composed specifically for the style and skills of these individuals. Some of these songs included â€Å"Jeep's Blues† for Johnny Hodges, â€Å"Concerto for Cootie† (â€Å"Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me†) for Cootie Williams and â€Å"The Mooche† for Tricky Sam Nanton. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol's â€Å"Caravan† and â€Å"Perdido† which brought the â€Å"Spanish Tinge† to big-band jazz. After 1941, he began to collaborate with composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn. Ellington often referred to Billy Strayhorn as his â€Å"alter-ego†. Duke Ellington is considered one of the 20th century's best-known artists. He also recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II. He led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974. His son, Mercer Ellington, continued touring with the band until his death from cancer in 1996. Paul Ellington, Mercer's youngest son, took over the orchestra in 1996. After his mother's passing, Paul Ellington took over the estate of Duke and Mercer Ellington. Duke Ellington

History of Life on Earth

Chapter 25: History of Life on Earth Synthesis of Organic Compounds on Early Earth * The Earth probably formed about 4. 6 billion years ago, and was bombarded with rocks and other material until about 3. 9 billion years ago. * The Earth then cooled, allowing for the formation of oceans. Scientists hypothesize the general atmosphere, or at least some regions, were naturally reducing environments, meaning that they added electrons to compounds. * Activation energy provided by lightening or UV radiation may have been able to create organic compounds and amino acids, as demonstrated by a number of modern experiments.Abiotic Synthesis of Macromolecules * Experiments have been done in which amino acid solutions in hot sand have formed polymers, but not true proteins. These polymers may have functioned as basic catalysts of some kind, however. Protobionts * Cells have genetic material in the form of DNA and RNA, which they are also capable of replicating. Nothing like this has been generate d spontaneously in lab experiments. * However, early structures called  protobionts  have had some of the capabilities associated with life.Experiments have spontaneously create protobionts, which are simple sphere of membrane that can perform simple metabolic and reproductive functions. * Note: phospholipids spontaneously form a bilayer, like the membrane that surrounds cells, so that part of the puzzle is easy to solve. Self-Replicating RNA and the Dawn of Natural Selection * Simple RNA structures called  ribozymes  can carry out basic chemical reactions and are even capable of replicating themselves. * As ribozymes replicated themselves (with errors) protobionts could have developed internal collections of slightly different enzymes that formed a rudimentary metabolic system.The RNA in these early â€Å"cells† may have served as a template for the eventual creation of a DNA genome, which would have reduced the number of errors made during replication. The Fossil Re cord * The fossil record gives a glimpse of life on Earth during different time periods and provides clues for evolutionary research. However, the fossil record also has significant gaps, but some are being filled by new discoveries. How Rocks and Fossils are Dated * Fossils appear in individual sediment layers, which tell us the order that they were formed in but not an actual age in years.Scientists use  radiometric dating  to determine absolute ages. * Radiometric dating is based on the fact that some radioactive elements have predictable  half-lives, or periods in which half of the substance will decay. If you know how much of a certain radioactive element an organism has when it died, such as carbon-14, you can determine its age by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining today. * Older fossils are harder to date, but you can at least guess based on the age of fossils in the surrounding layers. The Origin of New Groups of Organisms The presence of certain bones, differ ent kinds of teeth and other characteristics can help researchers make inferences about what an animal may been like while it was alive. Changes between similar fossils of different time periods also show the pace of evolutionary change. The First Single-Celled Organisms * Scientists have found fossilized  stromolites  that are thought to have lived 3. 5 billion years ago – the earliest organisms discovered to date. Stromolites are mounds of prokaryotes that bind to their kin and other inorganic material. Photosynthesis and the Oxygen Revolution 2. 7 billion years ago, there were probably cynobacteria in the ocean that used  photosynthesis  for energy and released oxygen in the process.The oxygen that these bacteria released would have eventually begun reacting with iron, and finally escaped into the atmosphere as a gas. * This buildup of oxygen actually killed many prokaryotes, and provided a strong selective force in favor of cells that could use oxygen in their met abolism. The cells that survived the â€Å"oxygen revolution† are probably the ancestors of today’s  aerobic  organisms. The First Eukaryotes The earliest eukaryotes are thought to have lived around 2. 1 billion years ago. These early eukaryotes probably formed through  endosymbiosis, in which they engulfed small, living, cells and developed a mutualistic (mutually beneficial) relationship with them. * The  mitochondria, for example, may have been â€Å"formed† in this way. The mitochondria has a double membrane, maintains and replicates its own DNA and reproduce independently of the rest of the cell. The Origin of Multicellularity * As cells became more complex, they also came to exhibit greater diversity.Multicellular structures also began to form. The Earliest Multicellular Eukaryotes The earliest multicellular eukaryotes probably lived around 1. 5 billion years ago. Earth had a few ice ages between 750-580 million years ago. Eukaryote diversity incre ased after the end of this period. The Cambrian Explosion * Scientists have found a whole bunch of animal fossils from the Cambrian Period (535-525 million years ago). While previous animals seem to have mostly been herbivores or filter-feeders, the animals that arose during the  Cambrian Explosion  had claws and armor. Recent evidence, however, suggests that some of these animals were living before the Cambrian Period, so maybe â€Å"explosion† isn’t the best term.The Colonization of Land * Prokaryotes lived on land as long as 1 billion years ago, but larger organisms wouldn’t get there until around 500 million years ago. Plants, which often had mutually beneficial relationships with fungi, colonized the land and began developing specialized structures suited to life out of water. Arthropods, such as insects, also spread on to the land. Continental Drift Here’s something weird: the continents move. They might move really slowly, when you’re ta lking about millions of years, those tiny movements add up. This process, called  continental drift, involves the movement of the Earth’s plates. The collision of two plates can form mountain ranges, cause earthquakes, and so forth. Consequences of Continental Drift * Around 250 million years ago, most of the Earth’s land was concentrated into once massive continent called  Pangaea. As the plates moved, climates changed (sometimes dramatically) and many species went extinct.The separation of plates, in contrast, promotes  allopatric speciation. * These changes in the Earth’s geography help explain similarities between distant organisms, for example. Mass Extinctions * Species go extinct all the time, but there are also major events that are particularly important in evolutionary history –  mass extinctions. The â€Å"Big Five† Mass Extinction Events * Here are a few stats involving fives for you: * Over the past 500 million years * Weâ€⠄¢ve had 5 mass extinctions Each of which caused the deaths of more than 50% of the world’s species * In the  Permian mass extinction, massive volcanic activity spewed lava over 1. 6 million square kilometers and released a huge amount of carbon dioxide, which may have warmed the planet and indirectly caused the deaths of many aquatic organisms. * In the  Cretaceous mass extinction, which killed many of the dinosaurs, an asteroid probably struck the Earth. This would have created a huge cloud of debris that could block the sun and alter the planet’s climate rather significantly.Such an impact may have created the Chicxulub crater in Mexico. Is a Sixth Mass Extinction Under Way? * Humans haven’t killed as many species as the other mass extinctions did, but we’re killing them between 100-1,000 times faster than they normally die. And that could be a big problem. Consequences of Mass Extinctions * It generally takes a few million years for the number of species on the Earth to rebound after a mass extinction. These events also generally wipe out species without regard to their fitness or environmental adaptations.Adaptive Radiations * The diversity of organisms has increased in the last 250 million years, as populations adapt to new environmental conditions and undergo speciation. These  adaptive radiations  generally occur on a large scale after mass extinctions, which leave many ecological niches open. Worldwide Adaptive Radiations * After the dinosaurs went extinct around 65. 5 million years ago, mammals underwent significant adaptive radiation, filling the roles that now-extinct species had occupied in individual ecosystems. Regional Adaptive Radiations Hawaii, which is far from any other continent, is a particularly stark example of adaptive radiation. There are hundreds of species on Hawaii that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Evolutionary Effects of Developmental Genes * Developmental patterns have also ch anged over time.* Changes in Rate and Timing * One common developmental change is  heterochrony, in which different parts of the body grow at different rates or at different times. Some organisms can undergo  phetomorphosis, in which the adult form of the organism retains traits that previously had been confined to children. Basically, if human adults started looking like babies, we would have a phetomorphosis situation on our hands. Changes in Spatial Pattern * Changes in the  homeotic genes, which control how and where individual body structures develop, could have led to the development of vertebrates and other organisms. The Evolution of Development * There are a few different ways that mutations can significantly influence body structure. Changes in Genes * Many organisms have similar genes that are nevertheless different enough to produce very different outcomes.By identifying and testing each difference between the two genes, researchers can pinpoint the precise changes that alter the gene’s function. Changes in Gene Regulation * Sometimes changes in gene regulation, and thus gene expression, can alter an organism’s body structure. These changes can be localized to specific types of cells, and thus are less potentially dangerous than changes to the genome itself. Evolutionary Novelties * Evolution doesn’t proceed with a final goal in mind, and just involves slight changes from one generation to the next. Over time, simpler structures can become more complex and useful.Structures can also develop into something that serves a totally different purpose than their original function. Evolutionary Trends * The problem with looking at evolutionary trends (such as â€Å"horses are getting bigger†), you’re examining a linear succession of different horse ancestors but rather a branched tree of ancestors that diverged in all different directions. * However, natural selection also works on entire species. If speciation is t he birth of a species and extinction is its death, natural selection could guide the development of these successive â€Å"generations† and thus create a trend.

Using of Tidal Model of Mental Health Nursing Essay

Using of Tidal Model of Mental Health Nursing - Essay Example As a link between the doctor and client, the nurse needs to be aware of minute details that could play significant roles in treatment and recovery. The present case is of an 80 year old female within an APATT based community setting, who has a history of mental illness from before the present incidence. The Tidal Model of Care shall be used in the process of assessment and treatment to enable recovery. The Role of the Professional Nurse and Its Impact on Patient Care As a link between the client and doctor, the nurse plays a key role at each stage of treatment. The RCN defines Nursing as â€Å"the use of clinical judgment in the provision of care to enabled people to improve, maintain or recover health; to cope with health problems, and to achieve the best possible quality of life, whatever their disease or disability, until death† (RCN, 2003). The professional nurse has a range of responsibilities and roles (GMC, 1995) that parallel in importance to that of the doctor. Irresp ective of the reasons for this growth in the responsibilities shouldered by the nursing community; an evident fact is that nursing now has a strong impact on the process of care and recovery experienced by a client. It is thus necessary to establish processes that are most beneficial, and to develop a perspective that allows the nurse to interpret the process of treatment to the specific needs of the client. The Tidal Model of Care provides just this philosophical approach to mental health nursing. The Tidal Model A nursing model has been defined as â€Å"A collection of interrelated concepts that provides direction for nursing practice; research and education that approaches the nursing process in a logical, systematic way and influences the very data the nurse collects.† (Rambo, 1984). The Tidal Model of Mental Health Nursing was suggested by Professors Phil Barker, Chris Stevenson and Poppy Buchanan-Barker amongst others. The basis for the approach is the continuous change in all individuals at all times Kitson, 1999. The Tidal Model attempts to make sense of the personal experiences of people, and the role these experiences play in recovery. It believes that a client is capable of leading their own recovery instead of being directed by professionals (Barkway, 2009). The model is based on 6 philosophical assumptions: Barker (2008). 1. Virtue of curiosity: Genuine curiosity can help the professional learn about experiences central to the clients’ illness and recovery. 2. Power of resourcefulness: Available resources need to be identified and used effectively to aid recovery. 3. Respect for the person’s wishes: Patients are cognisant of their own needs and abilities. It is important to listen to them. 4. Paradox of crisis: Every crisis situation can be used as a pointer to the needs of the individual; and can be used to fuel eventual recovery. 5. All goals must belong to the person: Ownership over recovery goals gives the client a feeling of control over the direction and pace of recovery; and is important in the long term maintenance of health. 6. Pursuing elegance: It is easy to be overrun by complex and tedious treatments. The most optimal treatment is often the one that requires the least effort in covering all chosen goals. These assumptions have become the base for the development of a set of 10 commitments that a nurse using the Tidal

Review of of John Kotter and Dan Cohen's book, The Heart of Change Essay

Review of of John Kotter and Dan Cohen's book, The Heart of Change - Essay Example For people to change their behaviour, they should be shown the truth that influences their feelings. Failures in change management occur mostly in large organizations where managers deal with mergers, acquisitions, new strategies, globalization, cultural transformation, e-business, new technologies, and new structuring of the whole organization or departments of an organization. The two authors found out that: Successful organizations know how to defend the organization against anything that rejects changes. The organizations know how to avoid risks and make use of arising opportunities. They recognize the importance of continuous improvement and know that taking big leaps have bigger rewards. That change is a complex affair that goes through eight stages. The stages are; creation of a sense of urgency, creation of visions and strategies, putting together a guiding team, removal of barriers of action, effective communication of vision and strategies, carrying out short term wins, cre ation of a new culture and making it persist, and keeping the work consistent (Kotter & Cohen, 2002, p. 2). Main focus in change management in the eight stages is the people’s behaviour. ... Ivancevich, Robert Konopaske and Michael T. Matteson†. Discussion Summary of ‘Organizational Behaviour and Management’ by John M. Ivancevich, Robert Konopaske and Michael T. Matteson The book covers organizational management through explanation of various issues in organizational behaviour, organizational culture, individual differences and work behaviour, perceptions, attributions and emotions, and motivation. Organizational behaviour: This is viewed in a multidisciplinary manner. This explains various points about it. Organizational behaviour is believed as operating at individual, organization and group levels. These levels must be defined when studying organizational behaviour. Organizational behaviour makes use of theories, principles, models, and methods from other disciplines. A third point is that organizational behaviour encompasses a distinct humanistic orientation. People and their learning capacities, attitudes, goals, perceptions and feelings are very important to the organization (Ivancevich, Konopaske & Matteson, 2011). Organizational behaviour is performance oriented. The book recognises the role of leaders in organizational behaviour. It describes how everything facing a leader in an organization is in motion and churning. It also explains that a leader accomplishes success through properly aligning the human resources of the organization with the changing conditions, understanding of the organizational structure and design, the organization's environment, group behaviour, individual characteristics, decision making, and organizational change processes. It communicates the following about workers. That workers feel important when recognized, individual behaviours are modified by

Women, Work and Class Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Women, Work and Class - Assignment Example However, masculinity represents power not only of any men but white men that too those who leadership positions in the society. Hegemonic masculinity represents power that is attributed to men in high positions and such power is taken for granted whenever any man holds a certain position in the society. Hegemonic masculinity â€Å"legitimates the power of those who embody it† (Acker, 2006, p.82). In essential, hegemonic masculinity can be associated with violent acts like using violence for colonial conquests. In modern capitalism, violence is often masked by objective conditions like top managers in any organization can fire employees to increase profits thus creating unemployment (Acker, 2006, p.83). Hegemonic masculinity represents a country’s culture and heritage and this can be different in each country. Acker (2006) has given the example of Swedish banks trained and ambitious men in high positions give more priority to making profits than satisfying the needs of t he customers (Acker, 2006, p.84). Hegemonic masculinity is the power bestowed on men in position, and in the real sense it gives men in authority to use their power to bring positive changes in the society. Political leaders of a country can use the power bestowed on them to promote goodwill and harmony with other countries. 2. Means of provisioning In economic perspective, class differentiation is based on access of means of provisioning and survival. In a capitalistic society, production process and finances are executed with the objective of maximizing profit. Therefore, although some classes are provided with maximum resources, there are other classes whose production and resource accumulation capacities are undermined. Education and community play an important role in access to provisions, because these factors contribute towards â€Å"finding paid job at living wages† (Acker, 2006, p.55). Those who have control over production jobs receive highest returns in the field o f distribution. An economic structure of a nation is formed on the basis of distribution of provisions i.e. necessary supplies like food and clothing needed for survival. Provisioning occurs through paid or unpaid method of production, and distribution of results of production like wages and profits. Provisioning also affects gender and race. Many employees hire male workers in skilled trades or specific racial people for menial jobs for lower wages (Acker, 2006, p.170). However, with increase of service sector jobs, women labour is increasing thus making women breadwinners for families (Acker, 2006, p.172). Acker (2006) has given the example of housewife who does unpaid work of maintaining family. She has little control over means of provisions since she is dependent for provisions on others who are engaged in production and distribution processes (Acker, 2006, p.63). Today, education has become universal and also with increased job opportunities for all gender and races, power ove r means of provisioning is no more restricted to specific gender or race. Therefore, by contribution towards provisioning it is possible for any individual to become a significant shaper of a nation’s economy. 3. Corporate nonresponsibility Corporate nonresponsibility emphasizes the role of household women in the field of care and survival. This concept actually moves the responsibility of those with power and wealth and shifts it to women from poor and minority communities. It devalues their position but they are bound by responsibilities to take care of their lives and lives of others (Acker, 2006, p.9) Nonresponsibility can be turned to globalization processes. The scopes for profit and production without challenges to nonresponsibility act as encouraging factors for shifting production from

The Modern Temper by Lynn Dumenil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Modern Temper by Lynn Dumenil - Essay Example This stage of history is claimed by the author to have established â€Å"the central motifs that have shaped the modern American temper.† While she acknowledges how important the role is of World War I being a tool or process of making the ‘roaring twenties’ happen, Dumenil does not believe in the common knowledge which infers that World War I is hugely responsible for such an outcome on which various aspects of change in American society, politics, economy, and culture are embedded. To her, it seems that the main source points to the major events of the industrial revolution as well as the consequences of a rapidly industrialized culture within a capitalist society. This is to say that World War I serves only to polish the results in the overall image of progressive economy or the idea of prosperity which caused population to shift from rural regions to urban locations believed to possess centers of commerce and adequate employment to support good living standards. Among a number of trends which are quite vivid in her investigation of the 1920s, the expanding bureaucratic form of government is prominent yet somewhat notorious for yielding to excessive power which had stirred general distrust across the nation. By noting how a U.S. representative kept an argument about daylight-savings time in a wartime program, Dumenil demonstrates how federal laws are exercised even in handling petty matters of politics, sarcastically reacting â€Å"we might soon have laws passed attempting to regulate the volume of air a man should breathe, suspend the laws of gravity, or change the colors of the rainbow.† Alongside the increasing state of bureaucracy emerged urban liberalism and pluralism in America’s heterogeneous society. Coupled with a mass-consumer culture, this led to unequal distribution of wealth so that social movements which influenced different religious, ethnic, and cultural groups were

Try to pick something thats not boring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Try to pick something thats not boring - Essay Example Every parent of every American child is responsible for the health and well being of their child so they need to be actively inculcating and encouraging a momentum towards a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits within and outside the home. Doctors, scientists and health promoters expound advice telling us that although obesity can sometimes be caused by physiological factors, such as genetics, hormonal problems or slow metabolism, it is more commonly caused by poor diet. We are told that obesity is the result of eating more calories than necessary and indulging in a diet high in saturated fats and sugars, or leading an inactive life, or both; it increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes, as well as other emotional and psychological problems. Without doubt however, obesity is growing rapidly in the United States in adults and children. The First Lady’s Move to Schools campaign is a step in the right direction, and the â€Å"project is a small piece of the big picture† (Sweet, 2010) but the problem of obesity is multifaceted and the solution cannot rest on government campaigns, Acts or Legislations; the problem requires cooperation and action from everybody, including schools, health providers, food industries and most importantly the American public themselves. Governments and other stakeholders can advise, promote and assist in promoting healthy lifestyles but the reality is that it is up to the individual to make choices and it is up to the parents to make the right choices for their children. Obesity may be caused by wrong diet but we also need to consider other factors that impact on the issue; factors like the environment which in itself promotes a more sedentary lifestyle than in the past with more public transport options, more convenience stores, inadequate security in parks, unsafe walking areas and poor

Bankruptcy of Companies in Qatar Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bankruptcy of Companies in Qatar - Assignment Example Despite this, there is a well laid-down framework that governs the insolvency and subsequent liquidation of companies in Qatar. These rules and regulations mainly anchor on Chapter 10 of the Qatar Commercial Companies Law, Law No.5 of 2002. This legal regime in Qatar resembles the one that governs bankruptcy and insolvency in the United Arab Emirates. The only difference is that the Qatar regime lacks the provision that gives shareholders, with more than 25 per cent of the company’s shares, the right to declare the company bankrupt. This is usually a provision when a company suffers capital losses amounting to more than 75 per cent of its capital turnover. Instead, the provisions of Article 290 of the Qatari Code stipulate that if a limited liability company suffers losses amounting to equivalent of 50 per cent of the company’s capital, the directors of the company are expected to consider dissolving the company. Failure to institute a dissolution procedure makes the di rectors solely responsible for any further losses that may accrue from the company’s failure, to meet its legal obligations. According to (Latham & Watkins 2011), the legal framework that governs the application for dissolution of a company in Qatar still resembles that of the United Arab Emirates. ... There may be other circumstances such as the expiry of the term of the company as noted in the constitution of the company. A merger between two companies may also require the liquidation of the companies as per the constitutional terms. Dissolution due to bankruptcy materializes when a company incurs losses amounting to more than 50 per cent of the company’s financial capital. In such circumstances, the company directors are required to convene an extraordinary general meeting in order for the shareholders to make a determination on whether to dissolve the company. In cases where the board fails to convene the general meeting or where the general assembly fails to reach a general resolution pertaining to the dissolution of the company, any interested shareholder may initiate legal proceedings for the dissolution of the company as stipulated in Article 285 of the Company’s Law. The meeting of the general assembly is at liberty to dissolve the company if a majority of th e shareholders support the resolution to dissolve the company. Similarly, dissolution may be initiated by any shareholder with more than 25 per cent of the company’s shareholding. However, this only applies when the company returns a loss amounting to more than 75 per cent of its total financial capital for any given financial year. This framework is anchored on Article 289 of the Companies Law. When the liquidation of a company gets approved by the required majority, the dissolution process commences immediately and the term ‘liquidation’ is incorporated to the company’s name. It is worth noting that the Companies Law only stipulates the general guidelines that should govern the liquidation process. It does not lay out a formal dissolution

Is there a conflict between the new public management and ethics Essay

Is there a conflict between the new public management and ethics - Essay Example A minimum ethical standard is expected from the behaviour of public servants and this has become a major issue for every government. NPM involves maintaining proper allocation of responsibilities for public servants, managing budgetary constraints and implementing innovations in public services. In this era of globalization, where almost every country is participating in the international trade of goods and services, it has become even more vital that public services be conducted in ethical manner to enhance international economic relations. For conduct management of public servants, it is necessary that an efficient management system be in place. The principles that are to be used by any government should comply with the socioeconomic structure of its country. These principles can be used by political leaders to assess how efficiently ethic management regulations are followed and how well ethics is maintained at every operational level of the government. The Basics of New Public Man agement The overall success of NPM and its businesslike approach depends on further development of management principles to ensure that NPM is effective in sustaining ethical efficiency in public sector. The purpose is to manage integrity in public services within the framework of NPM. ... The three aspects are virtues that need to be developed, rules that need to be duly followed, and focus should be on getting positive results. In order to work within the framework of the triangle, certain drawbacks of public services need to be avoided like overstating the advantages of any proposal, hiding errors, not making maximum usage of established systems, practicing favoritism, not accepting responsibilities for a mistake, etc. In order to do maximum good to the maximum number of people in a community, emphasis should be on doing the right thing according to the set rules (Bowman, et al., 2010, pp.78-79). The principle of NPM includes various elements like consistent increase in efficiency, use of recently developed technologies, public servants with the goal to maintain discipline in their activities, proper implementation of professional management role, and managers being given liberty in performing their tasks (Kolthoff et al., 2007, p.400). However, in spite of the abov e mentioned elements, the businesslike approach of public administration can have a serious negative impact on democracy because such technique is faced by a consistent accountability problem. Even the strong advocators of public entrepreneurship policies in democratic governance cannot ignore the questions of accountability. The elements attached to public entrepreneurs like promoting own virtues, tendency towards non-compliance with rules and regulations, striving for power, taking risks, all these conflict with the democratic theory (Terry, 1998, pp.197-198). Ethics is often defined as acting in accordance with one’s â€Å"good personal conscience† (Somerville, 2004, p.284). This is not always right as doing ethics is a long and complicated process. One aspect of public

Richman Investments Essay Example for Free

Richman Investments Essay Overview To stop malware problems from occurring at Richman Investments Protecting Richman investments employees, partners and company from illegal or damaging actions by individuals either knowingly or unknowingly Internet /intranet/ extranet related systems including but not limited to computer equipment, software, operating systems, storage media, network accounts providing electronic mail, www browsing, and FTP, are the property of Richman investments. These systems are to be used for business purposes in serving the interests of the company and of our clients and customers in the course of normal operations Purpose The purpose of this policy is to mitigate the improper use of company computer asset these rules are in place to protect the employee and Richman investments. Inappropriate use exposes Richman investments to risks including virus attacks, compromise of network systems and services, and legal issues. Scope I would like to implement a new AUP policy to stop these problems from occurring they need to design an AUP to let user know what they can or can’t do on the system. And use the IT department to restrict access to removable devices. Policy 1.While Richman investments network administration desires to provide a reasonable level of privacy, users should be aware that the data they create on the corporate systems remains the property of Richman investments. Because of the need to protect Richman investments network, management cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information stored on any network device belonging to Richman investments. 2.Employees are responsible for creating guidelines concerning personal use of Internet/Intranet/Extranet systems. In the absence of such policies, employees should be guided by departmental policies on personal use and if there is any uncertainty, employees should consult their supervisor or manager. 3.For security and network maintenance purposes, authorized individuals within Richman investments may monitor equipment systems and network traffic at any time. 4.Richman investments reserve the right to audit networks and systems on a  periodic basis to ensure compliance with this poli cy. Security and Proprietary Information 1.The user interface for information contained on internet/intranet/Extranet related systems should be classified as either confidential or not confidential, as defined by corporate confidentiality guidelines details of which can be found in the HR policies. Examples of confidential information include but are not limited to company private, corporate strategies, competitor sensitive, trade secrets specifications, customer lists, and research data. Employees should take all necessary steps to prevent unauthorized access to this information. 2.Keep passwords secure and do not share accounts. Authorized users are responsible for the security of their passwords and accounts. System level passwords should be changed quarterly; user level passwords should be changed every six months. 3.All PCs, laptops and workstations should be secured with a password protected screensaver with the automatic activation feature set at 10 minutes or less or by logging off when the host will be unattended. 4.Use encryption of information in compliance with acceptable encryption n use policy 5.Postings by employees from a Richman investments email address to new groups should contain a disclaimer stating that the opinions expressed are strictly their own and not necessarily those of Richman investments unless posting is in the course of business duties. 6.All host used by the employee that are connected to the Richman investments , Internet/Intranet/Extranet, whether owned by the employee or Richman investments shall be continually executing approved virus scanning software with a current virus database unless overridden by departmental or group policy. 7.Employees must use extreme caution when opening email attachments received from unknown senders which may contain viruses, email bombs, or Trojan horse code. Unacceptable use The following activities are in general prohibited. Employees may be exempted from these restrictions during the course of their legitimate job responsibilities system administration staff may have a need to disable the network access of a host if that host is disrupting production services. Under no circumstances is an employee of Richman investments authorized to  engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state, federal or international law while utilizing Richman investments owned resources. Email and communications activities 1.Sending unsolicited email messages including the sending of junk mail or other advertising material to individuals who did not specifically request such material email spam. 2.Any form of harassment via email, telephone or paging whether through language, frequency or size messages. 3.Unauthorized use or forging of email header information. 4.Solicitation of email for any other email address other than that of the poster’s account with the intent to harass or collect replies. Enforcement  Any employee found to have violated this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment

The film Madagascar 2 Essay Example for Free

The film Madagascar 2 Essay The film Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa is an excellent film filled with beautiful animation and great humor. The theme of the movies is more on friendship and how the characters manage to deal with one another despite the troubles along their way and the differences of their personalities. The film is highly recommended for viewers of all ages. It also depicts simple lessons in life but has great impact in everyday lives. The production of the film is really splendid. The way characters dances and jokes around gives viewer the chance to laugh their hearts out. It teaches viewers how to be grateful for simple things. The colors used in the film are really enticing especially for the young viewers. Adults also enjoy the movie because of the script and the added humor. The film centers on the four main characters struggle to go back to the New York Zoo from Madagascar but they accidentally landed on their homeland Africa. Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman find their own pieces of memory right on the very island which they have landed. They were able to see their families and had adventures of their own. It also shows how New Yorker animals survived the African jungle. Madagascar 2 is really a family film. It shows how to find one’s sense of individuality and how to battle against the problems that life is giving you. The music embedded on the film makes viewers more stuck into their seats as they see characters dancing and singing on screen. This sequel to the first Madagascar is more beautiful and more worthy of time, money and effort. References Darnell, Eric McGrath, Tom (2008). Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa. USA: DreamWorks Distribution Paramount Pictures Schembri, Jim (20 December 2008). Madagascar 2 Movie Review. The Age Website. Retrieved 21 January 2008 from http://www. theage. com. au/news/entertainment/film/film-reviews/madagascar-escape-2-africa/2008/12/18/1229189771014. html

The real food company

The real food company The real food company 1.0 Background of EAT the real food company: Eat was founded in 1996 with ambition of providing the best food, soup and coffee in London at reasonable prices. The first shop was opened at Villers street, WC2, London. At present EAT with 100 shops continue to strive for highest possible quality of food, service and shop standards in the same way they used to do since from the beginning. EATs secret of success is in their kitchen, they make all food products on their own i.e. they dont buy a single mass produced sandwich, soup or salad from any supplier. They offer variety of foods like sandwiches, soups, pies, salads, wraps, sushi, desserts, baked goods, breakfast, cold drinks juices and great coffees. 2.0 Planning process and its importance: Planning is a formalised procedure to produce an articulated result, in the form of an integrated system of decisions. The importance of planning to organisations will help in co-ordinating their activities; to make sure that their business is accounted for future and to have control on the business. Chernev (2009) describes marketing management consists of three step process and they are analysing the situation, developing an action plan and implementing the plan. Situation analysis will help in providing the overview of the company and environment in which it operates and also it helps in identifying potential markets to compete. It begins with analysing five key factors which are as follows as identified by Chernev (2009). Potential customers- Most of the EAT shops are located near offices, tourist places and transit places. So their major customers are tourists, workers and tourists visiting to London. Companys goals- EAT goal is to provide best food, soup and coffee in London at reasonable prices. Collaborators- Competitors- EAT companys potential competitors are Pret a Manger, Starbucks, McDonald and KFC. All these companies are also in the same market targeting same customers. Economic, social-cultural, technological, regulatory and physical factors- The current economic situation of the UK is under recession. Many people are unemployed and still losing their jobs. Recession has had an impact on tourist coming from different parts of the UK, as well as from other parts of the world. Social-cultural effect on EAT has had a very little impact on its business, because the type of food EAT produces suits the eat habits of most of the Londoners. Except the fact that London is multi cultural ethnicity, and among them most of the Muslim community and they do not eat non-veg food other than halal ones. According to official research collated for The Times as cited in Kerbaj (2009) Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years. Technology has had a significant effect on the EAT business, the introduction of readymade coffee machines reduced the customer waiting time and increased the productivity of the business. 3.0 Internal analysis of EAT 3.1 Mc Kinsey 7-S frame work: Mc Kinseys 7-S recognises seven important factors for internal effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation. The key elements of 7-S are as follows and is depicted in the below figure. Strategy: EAT prepares all food products in their own kitchen, and do not buy any single mass produced sandwich from any supplier. One day is the shelf life of all products for maximum freshness and quality Structure: Each EAT shop has shop manager, assistant shop manager followed by team leader, lead barista and team member. Skills: Employees of EAT are skilled in preparing delicious sandwiches, soups, pies, salads, desserts, and drinks. Moreover they are also skilled at delivering great customer services. Staff: EAT staff get training in their academy, and recognised for doing a great job. They are further encouraged to improve on personal development. All these factors motivate the employees and increases their productivity and loyalty to organisation. Style: EAT is adopting team management style in Blake and Mouton managerial grid as cited in Mullins (2005) which gives equally high concern to productivity as well as to the staff. This type of management style is the best in the business. Systems: EAT follows the system of delivering best quality food, along with it providing friendly and fun experience to every customers. Shared values: EAT believes in honest, simple and natural work space environment providing quality food and great customer service. 3.2 Advantages and disadvantages of Mckinsey 7-S Advantages: This tool covers the almost every aspect of the business and all major parts of the firm. This tool helps in analysing the internal situation of the organisation. This tool helps in implementing the organisational changes once the organisation has understood its internal situation. Disadvantages: A detailed case study on the firm is required to analyse it using this tool. This tool does not consider about the external factors influencing the organisation and presents only of the internal situation of firm. All the 7-S of Mckinsey are interrelated and if any one element is changed it affects others as well. 4.0 External analysis of EAT 4.1 PEST analysis 4.1.1 Political factors: Elections will be held before May 2010 and new government may alter the environmental rules which will have low impact on the organisation. Labour government might win the upcoming elections, and increase the basic pay rise of an employee which will have high impact on the firm. Customer protection law has a great impact on the firm especially for service and hospitality organisation. EAT has to ensure that it provides sufficient information about the food they produce and its ingredient. 4.1.2 Economical factors: Current market is struggling with recession; many people have lost the jobs and still losing it. It has negative impact on the firm. The firm has to pay tax for the government. 4.1.3 Social factors: London is a multi ethnic city, so eating habits of the people differs from person to person. This factor has a medium impact on the firm. Lifestyle of the people has a great impact on the firm. Now a days people like to carry their food along with them, rather than sitting and eating in the restaurant. Considering the fact that Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years, according to official research collated for The Times as cited in Kerbaj (2009). This factor has a medium impact on the firm. 4.1.4 Technological factors: Technology has been evolving and there is no end for it, introduction of readymade coffee machine have had a great impact on sales reducing the customer waiting time. Internet has a strong impact on the business helping customers to know about the locations of EAT braches near to place where they live or work. Also they get to know about the variety of products they make. 4.2 Advantages and disadvantages of PEST analysis: Advantages: This tool helps in determining the external factors which have positive and negative impact on the firms growth. This tool helps in identifying its business survival according to the surroundings. This tool is simple and only costs time to do. Disadvantages: This tool tells focuses only on the external environmental analysis based on assumptions. But in reality assumptions may go wrong and strategy is not of worth. This tool covers only external environment, but the results to need to be considered along with other factors for example firm itself, competitors and type of industry in which it is operating. Changes in the environment make this tool difficult to implement developments and it will affect the firm in the future. 4.2 Porters five forces Industry rivalry: EAT is in food industry sector where in, there are lot of other big competitors like Pret a manger, Star bucks coffee, McDonalds and KFC. These companies are also well settled in the business and have good market share. So industry rivalry among the competitors is high because of too many competitors in the same market. Supplier power: The supplier has a low bargaining power with firm because, because there are lot of suppliers producing the same raw materials for the food industry sector. Buyer power: Since EAT business is retail one the buyer power has less influence on its business. On the contrary, care should be taken to deliver quality food and great customer service if not it brings bad reputation to the business. The effect of it will be losing customers in large proportion. New entrants: It is very difficult for a new entrant to start business in the same industry as EAT is doing. Because since EAT is in hospitality sector, it takes years to get recognised with quality food and great customer service. Threat of substitutes: Now a days people are turning to readymade packed foods which are convenient to carry to their work places or homes. Because of recession as the prices of packed foods are cheap they are attracted to them. Advantages of porters five forces: This tool helps in identifying the profitability of a new product or business. It helps in identifying who has better power buyer or supplier. Disadvantages of porters five forces: It does not account the rapid changes that are happening in present world, so even a new entrant can come with some new methods and straight away make profits. 5.0 SWOT analysis Strengths Skills of employees. Strategy of firm. Trained employees in cooking delicious foods and delivering great customer service. Wide range of food products in menu. Brand reputation doesnt allow new entrants to succeed immediately. Opportunities Joint ventures with supermarkets to increase the market share. Introduction of online order and delivery systems. Introduction of low priced food products consisting of only basic ingredients. Weakness High priced food products. Limited funds available to expand the business. Inconsistence of quality and service across all branches. Threats Recession has had an impact on the business. Changing eat habits of the people. Similar products offered by other companies at low price. 6.0 Ansoff matrix: The EAT can make profits by stepping into product development by adopting one of the two strategies introducing online delivery system to their products gives tough competition to Pret a manger that are already in the same business. Because there are some factors which are in favour of this purpose and they are weather conditions may hamper the interest of going to restaurants and some people want to enjoy their meals at their residence itself. The second strategy EAT can adopt is introduction of low priced food products. According to Farnham (2009) most of the people are abandoning restaurants and are turning to low priced food products because of recession. EAT can turn to low priced food range by reducing the number of ingredients but not all comprising with quality or service. 7.0 Marketing Mix elements Product: According to Chernev (2009) a product should have certain features that make it unique in the market. EATs products are known for its delicious and high quality, but introduction of Halal foods in their menu will attract handsome of customers to their restaurant. As we have discussed in the external environment analysis, London is a multi ethnicity city and in it Muslim population is increasing day by day. It has grown to more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years Kerbaj (2009). Price: EATs food price has had a significant effect on the customer behaviour, as majority of them were abandoning the restaurants and are turning to basic foods with less ingredients in it. Because of recession many people are losing their jobs and reducing their level of expenditure and trying to save money. Introduction of low priced foods with less ingredients but not comprising with quality of food will help in attracting the customers. Place: Most of the EAT shops are located near commercial places, tourist places and transit places which are easily accessible places by people. However to increase further sales of the firm, it is suggestible to implement online order and delivery systems with the help of internet technology. In this way it can target the customers who are of big families and like to have meals at their premises itself. Promotion: EAT has to promote its brand in one of the fastest way of communication channels. By advertising in the daily news paper, radio channels, local television channels in London, internet and by leaflet distribution it has chances of promoting its new products in the market. References Chernev, A. (2009) Strategic marketing management 5th edition. Bright star media, Inc.: Chicago, USA. Eat (2009a) www.eat.co.uk [online] available from: http://www.eat.co.uk/pages/facts.html [accessed on: 26 November 2009] Farnham, J. (2009) Recession bites into eating habits, June [online] available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8124352.stm [accessed on : 24 November 2009] Doyle, P. and Stern, P. (2006) Marketing management and strategy 4th edition. Pearson education ltd.: Harlow, England. Fifield, P. (2007) Marketing strategy: The difference between marketing and markets. 3rd edition. Elsevier ltd: London, UK. Kerbaj, R. (2009) www.timesonline.co.uk January 30 2009 [online] available from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece [accessed on: 01 December 2009]

Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development Applied to Teaching Techno

Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development Applied to Teaching Technology Erik Erikson believed that individual development takes place in a social context. He believed that development is a lifelong process. His theory contains eight stages of development that occur at different points in an individual’s life. At each stage, the individual has, what he coined as, a developmental crisis. Developmental crises are issues in the stage that must be dealt with in order to move on to the next stage. Each stage offers an outcome as to what will happen if the crisis is not resolved. Incomplete development of one stage can effect later development. Erikson’s developmental model can be used to determine when it is appropriate for an individual to learn how to use computers. The model can also help determine what computer skills are appropriate for each stage. Erikson’s first stage of development is trust versus mistrust. This stage occurs from birth until about one year. During the first year of life infants rely on others for their basic needs. Infants must learn to rely and trust their caregivers to provide for them. If the infant’s needs are met, then the he or she will develop a secure attachment to the caregivers and learn to trust his or her environment. If the infants do not pass this stage, then they will likely mistrust others and the things in their environment. The infant will either view the world as supportive or unsupportive. For successful completion of this stage, parents should aid in the developmental process by responding consistently to the needs of the infant. During this stage of development, teaching computers is not a possibility. Children in this stage have not yet reached the ability t... ...Longitudinal analysis of midlife generativity, intergenerational roles, and caregiving. Psychology and Aging, 17, 161-168. Sharey, J., Son, L., Kuehne, V., Hauser, S., & Vaillant, G. (1987). The role of parenting in men's psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of early adulthood infertility and midlife generativity. Developmental Psychology, 23, 593-603. Smart Solutions Partners, LLC Enterprises. (2003). Smart solutions. Retrieved Mar 7, 2004 from http://www.sspdirect.com. Sternberg, R. & Williams, W. (2002). Educational Psychology. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Too old for computers? (1999). Retrieved Mar 7 2004, from http://web.pdx.edu/~psu01435/tooold.html. Zucker, A., Ostrove, J., and Stewart, A. (2002). College-educated women's personality development in adulthood: Perceptions and age differences. Psychology and Aging, 17, 236-244.

Defenses for Democracy Essay -- Papers Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Defenses for Democracy Is liberty a bad thing? Socrates seemed to think so. In Book VIII of Plato's Republic, Socrates criticizes democracy by attacking three of its most important aspects: liberty, equality, and majority rule. He asserts that because of these things, a democratic city will always fall into tyranny. I disagree, and feel that all three of the principles are essential to a fair and just city, and only in their absence can a city be taken into tyranny. Socrates begins his observations on the defects of a democratic government by first attacking liberty. His main argument is that there is entirely too much of it. People in a democracy are free to do what they wish in their lives and are free to chose what if any job they will do. Socrates asks if, like the man with the democratic soul, they will not just pass the time and not get much done (Plato, 557e). This may be true, but people who do not work do not eat. In Socrates city, much like in a communist regime, all of the people in a city are responsible for the common good of all of the other members of their city. A man who does nothing would truly be a burden on this society, but unlike in Socrates city, or a communist state, in a capitalist democracy people are responsible for their own survival, and a man must work if he is to have a food, shelter, and all of the other necessities of life. When describing his just city, Socrates was very much in favor of specialization of labor (Plato, 367e-372b), so for a man to try many things would go against his concept of what belongs in a good city. But Shouldn?t one try one?s hand at many tasks until one find a job that best fulfills one?s soul? In Alienated Labor, Ka... ...ey would still be in existence today. Bibliography: Davis, Michael. The Politics of Philosophy. London: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1996 Hamilton, Alexander. Constitutional Convention Address. Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia. 29 Jul. 1787 Durant, Will. The Story of Philosophy. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1961 Guigon, Charles, ed. The Good Life. Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, 1999 Kennedy, John F. Speech at San Diego State College. San Diego State College, San Diego. 06 Jun. 1963 Macaulay, Thomas Babbington Ed. Scott, Allan. The Works of Thomas Babbington Macaulay. London: Wordsworth Poetry Library, 1995 Marx, Karl. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts. Germany: 1844 Plato, Ed. Allan Bloom. Republic. USA: Basic Books, 1991 Spooner, Lysander. An Essay on the Trial By Jury. London: 1852

Darkness At Noon Essay -- essays research papers

The Saving Grace of Rubashov Despite its brevity Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler packs an enormous amount of thought provoking dialog and insight into what may go through the mind of someone who is going through an extreme ordeal. One theme which ran throughout the book was Rubashov’s actions that were taken as matters of self-preservation and what he must do to atone for them. The first instance of this was on page 45 where he asked if it is necessary to pay for deeds that were necessary and right. This was brought on by Rubashov’s attempt and his witnessing of his neighbor’s attempt on his behalf. More is said about this during Rubashov’s first journal entry on page 80. Here he attempts to explain the logic behind the party’s eradication of thought that goes against party doctrine. That the party is in fact more interested in wiping out these ideas which can act as seeds taking root in future generations. Then it is in punishing people. During this entry Rubashov makes no attempt but rather feels that everything shall be sorted out by history. But for him the most painful of all of his sacrifices, was his surrendering of in his secretary and lover, Arlova. Rubashov suffered much as he antagonized over weather this was in fact the correct choice to be made. The pain felt by Rubashov over this decision was amplified by his wi tnessing his old friend being taken much the same way as Avolora. After finishing this book I was amazed at how I did not feel...

Rhetorical Devices in Great Gatsby

Gatsby Essay Honors English II Asura Louise Osborne In the 1920’s, the world was full of new inventions, dances, and drinks. The standards of even the most rigorously structured social classes were changed, allowing the rich to cut loose and throw elaborate and entertaining parties. Every day, the world was changing for the better. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work â€Å"The Great Gatsby† reflects these ideas, communicating through various rhetorical devices that the world is a magical place, and that even in times of sadness, anything is possible. Prior to the Jazz Age, growing up was associated with a loss of happiness and hope.During the 20’s, however, this standard seemed to change, pushing the perception of adulthood into something magical and frivolous. Fitzgerald reflects this in the archetypal portrayal of a city, describing it as â€Å"in white heaps and sugar lumps†. White is an archetype for purity, innocence, and hope. It illuminates the hope that the young adults living in the 1920’s felt, as well as the innocent parties they danced at, innocent not because of what took place in them, but because they were blissfully unaware of the harsh realities that existed elsewhere in the world.Happiness is also communicated in the use of the word â€Å"sunlight†, because the sun is an archetype for energy and hope. Through the personification of the city â€Å"rising up†, it is illuminated that the roaring twenties came from seemingly nowhere, almost like a fairytale. The magic of the upper classes’ world was also portrayed in the hyperbole, â€Å"all built with a wish. † In reality, the city merely began as a wish, but Fitzgerald portrays it as something that sprung up from a thought.Potentially the most illuminatory literary device is the imagery in the sentence â€Å"its wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world. † The picture painted is one of excitement, hope, and perhaps most importantly, the creation of a wonderful world borne from fancy. In times of loss, a traditional coping mechanism is bargaining. This is generally portrayed as â€Å"If I do such and such, so and so will come back. † It is usually a time when the bargainer believes in part that anything is possible. F. Scott Fitzgerald dives into that idea when Jay and Nick become part of a funeral procession.One way he communicates the idea that anything is possible is in the juxtaposition of life and death, â€Å"A dead man†¦in a hearse†¦heaped with blooms†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His diction also illuminates this concept through the use of the word â€Å"blinds†, suggesting that most people are blind to the presence of possibility. In addition to diction and juxtaposition, Nick’s reaction to seeing blacks in an affluent setting also illuminates that Fitzgerald is communicating through him, â€Å"Anything can happen now†¦anything at all. † Even in the presence of a â€Å"somber holiday†, the world is still coming up with new possibilities.The world is ever changing, which is one thing that makes life on Earth so exciting. All of the changes that are present today really began in the 1920’s though, a time of new ideas and hopes. F. Scott Fitzgerald led America’s run head-first into the Jazz Age, and gave future generations a peek inside what life was like at the time with his novels. In his book, â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, he uses many literary devices to illuminate the concepts that life is magical, and that even in times of sadness, the world is filling itself with new possibilities.

Voter

Voter ignorance and special interests often result to bad policy-choices and erroneous policy making processes. In a democracy, where people’s votes are important, policy-choices are largely affected by whatever wrong or right information people may have as regards issues. Unfortunately, biases and misinformation are rampant among people, especially among voters. The problem is that, instead of correcting these biases, politicians tend to play them up to acquire votes. Many of these biases come from the field of economics, a field which is very important to voters because of its effect in the quality of people’s lives. Four of these biases are discussed by Bryan Caplan in his article, The Myth of the Rational Voter. They are the anti-market bias, anti-foreign bias, make-work and the pessimistic bias. The Anti-Market Bias may be characterized as a bias against capitalism and free-market itself, or at least most of their features. The explained cause of this bias is usually the fact that actors in a free-market model of economy are all profit-seekers. This attribution of self-interest gives birth to a prejudice that no socially-beneficial outcome may possibly result from a free market (See Caplan, 2007, p.7). The result is â€Å"a tendency to underestimate the economic benefits of market mechanism (Caplan, 2007, p.7), such as the effect of competition in lowering prices, savings and maximization of resources or efficiency. There are many variations of the anti-market bias. One of them is â€Å"to equate market payments with transfers, [while] ignoring their incentive properties (Caplan, 2007, p.8). Under this, a profit is seen to be earned by the rich, at the expense of the poor, as if there is no exchange of value that happened. It ignores the fact that profits are not acquired without doing something, and that an increase in profits is often a result of increasing efficiency in the use of resources. The second is the monopoly theories of price. Under this variation, price is seen as a function of the decision, mood and agreement among CEO’s and other similar persons, without giving due regard to the interaction between supply and demand. (Caplan, 2007, p. 9) The Anti-Foreign Bias is an argument towards protectionism. Under this, foreigners are often seen as a source of economic downfall. â€Å"Whatever the reason, [foreigners] supposedly have a special power to exploit [locals] (Caplan, 2007, p. 11). They are often used as scapegoats for all economic problems that may exist such as lack of jobs, high price of goods and others. This bias may have brought about by a similar theory between a profit-seeker individual and a poor buyer from the point of view of the anti-market bias. â€Å"A rich country, in the same manner as a rich man, is supposed to be a country abounding in money; and to heap up gold and silver in any country is supposed to be the best way to enrich it† (Caplan, 2007, p. 12). The assumption is that no country may be better off without making another country less off. The problem with this belief is that it ignores the benefit of an open market from the point of view of comparative advantage. Under the theory comparative advantage, all countries will be better off if they all specialize. Even a country that is less productive compared to other countries in all products may benefit from specializing. It is more expensive to try producing all products for consumption rather than in specializing in some and trading for the others (Caplan, 2007, p. 11-12). The Make-Work Bias refers to the conflict between the businesses’ and economists’ desire to minimize waste of resources caused by paying for unneeded or inefficient labor and the belief that, to achieve economic growth, people need to be employed. The general tendency is to underestimate the benefits of conserving labor (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). Often, the rate of unemployment is seen as an indicator of economic growth. The policy is often to give jobs to more people. This is despite the fact that the same amount of jobs are required to be done. Employment is increased at the expense of efficiency (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). Instead of trying to increase employment by increasing the GNP through efficient use of resources, the work of one is divided between two or three people, making each of them less productive (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). The result is a prospect for prosperity for the individuals who are able to obtain the jobs and a decrease in efficiency and growth for the whole economy. Pessimistic Bias refers to the people’s negative, or even cynical beliefs, about economic conditions or growth. The general rule, as observed by Caplan (2007), is that â€Å"the public believes economic conditions are not as good as they really are† (p. 16). There may be advances in the economy, but they are taken for granted by people. In times of minimal economic growth, the perception is not of growth, but of stagnation. The problem with this is that, in terms of over-all economic growth, â€Å"progress is so gradual that a few pockets of decay hide it from the public view† (Caplan, 2007, p. 17). To measure whether an economy has actually achieved growth, it is best to compare the present condition to that of a distant past (Caplan, 2007, p. 16). Moreover, over-all success is not often observable across the whole country. There are some areas where economic conditions may not be good. However, these isolated instances of economic regression give rise to â€Å"a suspicion that the riches and industry of the whole are decaying† (Caplan, 2007, p. 17), when the reality is that the country is experiencing economic growth as a whole. It is also common for the pessimistic rhetoric â€Å"to idealize conditions in the more distant past in order to put recent conditions in a negative light† (Caplan, 2007, p. 16). This is a good way to emphasize economic decline. This is a nostalgic way of viewing things wherein the lament is always that things are better in the past, prices are cheaper, living is simpler, but better and others. Increase in prices and living standards are emphasized, while the values exchanged for such increases are ignored such as improvements in goods and services (See Caplan, 2007, p. 17). As Caplan has stated in this article, these biases show that â€Å"[p]eople do not grasp the invisible hand of the market, with its ability to harmonize private greed and the public interest† (See Caplan, 2007, p. 1). For the uninformed public, free market is the enemy. This belief translates into the policies that are adopted in a democracy. Since the power is now given to the people, policy choices by candidates are geared towards pleasing them. The best way to acquire votes is not to go against the wrong beliefs of people and to correct them, but to play up the same beliefs and use them to one’s own advantage. Reference Caplan, Bryan. â€Å"The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies.†

American Foreign Policy and the War on Terror

In the 21st century, the world is one in chaos- nations go to war for the slimmest of reasons, economies can topple overnight, and the ever-present threat of global terrorism holds the very real potential to kill thousands of innocent people in mere moments. Meanwhile, the United States holds the precarious position of being the largest and best established superpower in the world, generating an equal share of admirers and deadly enemies among the nations of the world.This being understood, the question begs as to what present day American hurdles such as the War on Terror have done to change American foreign policy? This research will attempt to answer this question through a comprehensive comparison of today’s foreign policy to that of the past, to the post and pre-9/11 world, and in conclusion, what all of this means for the future. American Foreign Policy Throughout History An excellent way to see how American Foreign Policy has seemingly evolved is to compare it in the mo dern day to how it functioned in earlier times of modern American history.For example, as the US recovered from the horrors and deprivations of World War II, a very real and stark situation emerged on the foreign policy front. Despite the eradication of Nazism and the defeat of the threat that the Empire of Japan had represented to the US on a global scale, the threat of Communism in the form of the Soviet Union essentially kicked the Cold War into high gear, from the late 1940s to the mid 1990s.With two superpowers- the US and USSR-both possessing the awesome power to literally destroy the planet through the use of nuclear weapons, there was a vested interest in both nations, while maintaining a defensive position against each other, avoiding armed conflict at all costs (Jenkins, 2006). Therefore, decades of stalemates existed until the Communist regime of the USSR collapsed under its own weight and unwieldy power. In contrast, terrorism is more of an invisible enemy, albeit just a s deadly as any opposing nation.Because of the difficulty in identifying exactly who terrorists are, from where they have come, and how they can be guarded against, it seems that the only way for a meaningful American foreign policy on this front to exist would be for the usual avenues of diplomacy, adherence to established rules and convention to be set aside- the governmental equivalent of taking off the gloves (Harding, 2004). Given such a scenario, it is possible to better understand the transformation of American Foreign Policy in a modern era of terror. Post and Pre- 9/11 American Foreign PolicyOn a clear, crisp day in September, 2001, the US was changed forever with the brutal terrorist attacks on New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, the nation’s capital. This change not only effected the ways that Americans viewed each other and the safety level in their very own country, but the change also effected the way that the US created and carried out foreign policy. Ea rlier, the point was made that a fight against terrorists is vastly different than the battle against an organized, uniformed enemy and this calls for measures far different than ever carried out before.Perhaps it was easier for foreign policy to take shape in the days when the enemy was clearly identified and the US faced very little challenge to its power, anywhere in the world. However, once enemies began to come out of the shadows, and what were previously small, insignificant nations such as China, North Korea and India rose to levels of military, financial and diplomatic significance, the US was forced to reexamine foreign policy and adjust accordingly (Washington Times, 2007).With so many formidable nations on the international radar screen of sorts, every move that America made had to be studied before played out, much like a chess match, where each move could have a devastating response from an opponent. With such nations rising to prominence, their cultural, racial and rel igious differences also became more pronounced than ever before because in the past, these diverse nations were all somewhat insulated from one another due to the inability to lay claim to any kind of international clout.With the attainment of such clout, however, opposing nations began to clash on fundamental differences, and the US stood in the middle of it. In generations gone by, the US would have been able to merely step in and dictate how the disputes would be resolved, but that was essentially no more, and the US would essentially have to worry about retribution from both organized nations and the terrorists that hid in the shadows, ready to strike (Jenkins, 2006).This new era of American Foreign Policy would likewise bring forth another issue- aside from merely maintaining clout on the world diplomatic stage, how could a nation like the US promote democracy as it had in the past? American Imperialism, Pre and Post-Terror A key to the ongoing power of the American nation thro ughout its history has always been the ability to parlay military power into a means of spreading democracy across the globe, operating under the premise that if an opponent could not be defeated, they could be swayed more to the American way of thinking and thereby draw them closer to the alliance of the United States.After 9/11, however, all of this changed as well, as the US became diverted by the fight to protect its own native soil. Here, a great deal of controversy began to brew, and it continues today. The chaos that terrorism created in the US gave President George W. Bush and his administration the unique ability, under the premise of fighting terrorism and protecting the nation, to craft foreign policy with a dangerously sharp edge on it- policy, which essentially gave Bush permission to destroy any international haystack in search of a few small needles, as the search for terrorists often seems.Also, using the reasoning that the US needed to continue to have a free flow o f oil from the volatile Middle East, policy which put the US on the offensive rather than the defense of the past likewise made it possible for US troops to be deployed to any nation that supposedly harbored terrorists or posed some type of threat to American interests (Fouskas, et al, 2005). This has, in recent years, generated resentment not only from other nations, but from the American people as well, evidenced by President Bush having the lowest public approval numbers of any president in history. ConclusionTo sum up this research, what can be said about American Foreign Policy in relation to the War on Terror? In summary, what can be said is this- policy has seemed to derail as of late, focusing more on the interests of wealthy oil companies than the average American citizen and their need to be protected from terror. Therefore, what needs to be closely watched as the 21st century unfolds for America is that policy comes back to better mirror liberty and justice-for all. Works Cited Foreign Policy Adrift?. (2007, March 19). The Washington Times, p. A16. Fouskas, V. K. , & Gokay, B. (2005).The New American Imperialism: Bush's War on Terror and Blood for Oil. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International. Harding, B. (2004). An Orwellian Moment: The Myth of American Multilateralism Bruce Harding Reflects on the State of US Foreign Policy, in Terms of Its Self-Interest and Imperial Anchoring, as This Relates to the Current Administration's New Security Strategy and the War on Terror. New Zealand International Review, 29(3), 23+. Jenkins, G. (2006, June). From Kennedy's Cold War to the War on Terror: Gareth Jenkins Looks for Continuities in American Foreign Policy from the 1960s to the 2000s. History Today, 56, 39+.

Management Control System Essay

Detector -> measure what actually happening in the process being control. 2. Assessor -> what is actually happening by comparing with some standard/expectation. 3. Affector -> feedback. 4. Communication Network -> transmit information between the three above. Management Control process is the process by which managers at all levels ensure that the people they supervise implement their intended strategies. Management Control process characteristics: 1. The standar is not preset -> management decide what organization should do. 2. Management control is not automatic. 3. Management Control requires coordination among individuals 4. The connection from perceiving the need for action to determining the action required to obtain the desired result may not be clear. 5. Much Management Control is self control. System is a prescribed and usually repetitious way of carrying out an activity or a set of activities. Boundaries of Management Control: 1. Budget -> conforming to budget is not necessarily good and departure from budget is not necessarily bad. 2. Goal congruence -> it means that, insofar as is feasible, the goals of organization’s individual members should be consistent with the goals of the organization itself. 3. Tool for implementing strategy -> organizational structure specifies the roles, reporting relationship and division of responsibilities that shape decision making within an organization. Human resource management is the selection, training, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees so as to develop the knowledge and skills required to execute organizational strategy. Culture refers to the set of common beliefs, attitudes, and norms that explicitly or implicitly guide managerial action. 4. MCS encompass both financial and nonfinancial performance measures. 5. Aid in developing new strategies. Strategy formulation is the process of deciding on the goals of the organization an d the strategies for attaining these goals. Management control is the process of implementing those strategies. Task control is the process of ensuring that specified tasks are carried out effectively and efficiently. Task control system is scientific, whereas management control can never be reduced to a science. By definition, management control involves the behavior of managers, and this cannot be expressed by equations. Impact of the internet on management control -> difference between internet and phone: 1. Instant access. 2. Multi-targeted communication. 3. Costless communication. 4. Ability to display images. 5. Shifting power and control to individual.