Elder abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Elder abuse - Essay Example Remember that perpetrators spend months, and sometimes years, to set up their victims for exploitation. Conclusion: By the time Patricia Murtaugh was finished with her two victims, she had emptied their bank accounts of almost half-a-million dollars and used the money to open up a business and purchase homes, cars, and a boat. Her victims were broke and although Murtaugh was arrested and convicted for her crimes, it is doubtful that they will ever see their money again. Murtaugh went to jail, but most victimizers get away with their crimes. Breton, T. (January 9, 2007). A Trust Betrayed: How Two Women in Their 90s Were Fleeced by a Helper. Rhode Island News. Retrieved from http://www.projo.com/news/content/Murtaugh_01-07-07_2034LD5.21a31c1.html. We’ve all heard, I’m sure, of severe cases of elder abuse, in which older people are physically abused by younger people, usually family members. There are some horrific cases of the elderly being victimized, sometimes to the point of death. I’d like to talk about another type of elder abuse—economic exploitation, which is often just as devastating. One of the most notorious cases of economic exploitation of the elderly happened in 2007 in New York. Patricia Murtaugh swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from two women in their nineties, women who had spent fifty years wisely saving their money. Over a period of months, she gained their trust and then stole their life savings. At first, she was helpful, providing both women with the assistance so that they could keep their independence, in the form of bill paying and much-appreciated companionship. Eventually, she was able to gain access to their finances, a common approach of many a victimizer. This kind of elderly abuse is more common than you may think. One in five elderly Americans are victims of financial exploitation, and in some areas, that figure may be as high as 50%.

Enabling a Remote Workforce. Essay Example for Free

Enabling a Remote Workforce. Essay Productivity Are employees who telecommute more productive than their traditional office colleagues? 1 Savings What types of savings from a telecommuting program should employers expect? 2 Planning What kind of planning does an organization need to do to properly implement a successful telecommuting program? 2 Eligibility How do managers determine the eligibility of employees for telecommuting? 3 Social Interaction What types of social limitations do remote workers experience? 3 Communication Limitations Are organizations disadvantaged due to communication limitations with remote workers? 4 Management How do managers successfully manage and support remote workers? 5 Technical Issues 5 Network What are the security, bandwidth, and infrastructure implications for the company network to support remote access? 5 Hardware/Software Needs What are the hardware, home infrastructure, and software licensing needs for the remote user? 6 Telecommuting Variations What are alternative solutions or variations for telecommuting programs? 7 Connectivity What are the tools and considerations to accommodate remote network access? 8 Communication How do you allow your employees to communicate electronically and verbally from home? 9 Collaboration What are the tools that foster communication? 9 IT Support What are the options and challenges to providing remote employees with technical support? 10 Cost How much does deploying a remote workforce cost? 10 Conclusion 11 Introduction There are a number of good reasons why companies should consider supporting a remote worker program including an expanded labor pool, reduced traffic congestion costs (late arriving/stressed out employees), improved recruitment and retention of staff, facility cost savings, reduced parking costs, reduced sick leave and improved worker productivity. Conversely, there are some disadvantages that companies should also be aware of including an isolated work force, family turf problems, lack of social interaction with other employees and the fear by remote workers that they will be overlooked for promotions. Companies obviously have a lot to factor in deciding whether or not to implement a telecommuting program. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide consideration points to many of the common questions facing such companies. The questions and discussion herein are divided into two primary categories: technical and organizational. They are intended to provide more generalized information that decision makers can use to enhance their understanding of telecommuting issues. Organizational Issues Productivity Are employees who telecommute more productive than their traditional office colleagues? In general, remote workers appear to be more productive than traditional office workers. In an October 1995 survey of Fortune 1000 managers, 58% reported increased productivity by employees who telecommuted. Also, according to the State of Californias Telecommuting Pilot Program, companies that implemented a remote work force experienced productivity increases ranging from 10 30%. Further, telecommuters working for American Express produced 43% more business than their office-based counterparts1. Clearly the case can be made that remote workers are indeed more productive. The primary explanation for improved productivity is a quieter work environment, which offers fewer interruptions. Certainly the remote worker also faces interruptions in their daily work, such as family business, neighbors, chores, television, etc. However these interruptions are generally much fewer than those experienced by the traditional office worker. Savings What types of savings from a telecommuting program should employers expect? The biggest savings for companies result from reduced absenteeism costs and reduced real estate costs. Oftentimes when employees need to take care of personal business such as doctor visits, car repair, tending to children, etc. they call in sick for the entire day. However, remote workers can take care of personal business and still accomplish some or most of their work tasks from home. The International Telework Association Council estimates that employees who telecommute can save their employers $10,000 each in reduced absenteeism costs2. According to PC World, telework can cut corporate real estate costs from 25 to 90%, which can result in substantial savings for employers. In fact, ATT saves $25 million per year from employees who are full-time telecommuters3. Many companies who have implemented a successful telecommuting program have instituted hoteling systems in their offices. A hotel is essentially an empty cubicle that is set up with a phone, network connections and basic office supplies that any employee can use, often by making a reservation with an office administrator. Hoteling offers telecommuting employees a place to work in the office when necessary without employers having to provide them with a full-time workspace. Planning What kind of planning does an organization need to do to properly implement a successful telecommuting program? Without doubt one of the most important keys to implementing a successful telecommuting program is proper planning. And since every organization has their unique differences (i.e. size, industry, complexity, culture, locale), there is no single formula for such planning. However, successful telecommuting programs should address the following at a minimum: * Perform an initial assessment * Consider organizational strategy and culture * Consider the role of management * Consider the need for staff input * Determine which staff tasks are most amenable to telecommuting * Consider regulatory compliance and legal issues * Determine technology needs * Prepare a cost-benefit analysis and/or ROI analysis4 Eligibility How do managers determine the eligibility of employees for telecommuting? According to Langhoff, tasks that are most appropriate for telecommuting are jobs where a person works alone, handling information such as reports, proposals, data or research. Writers, salespersons, accountants, programmers, graphic artists, researchers, engineers, architects, public relations professionals all are prime candidates for telecommuting5. In determining eligibility for telecommuting, managers should first consider whether the employees tasks can be performed remotely. Second, an examination of the individuals level of performance should be made (i.e. are they hard working and self-motivated or do they need constant supervision and coaching?). Of course it can be tricky selecting who can and cannot telecommute; therefore companies should be aware of the potential legal implications stemming from employees who wished to work remotely but were turned down. Social Interaction What types of social limitations do remote workers experience? Too often companies only view telecommuting as providing benefits to them and to their employees; however, there remains potential downsides. One potential downside is the lack of social interaction between employees. Employees who work at an office setting spend a considerable amount of their day interacting with other employees. These water-cooler discussions foster a camaraderie that translates into value for companies when the same employees work on projects together or are in need of support from each other. Also, the camaraderie indirectly benefits the company when management is trying to achieve buy-in on various initiatives. Lastly, having close relationships allow employees to maintain a healthy mental balance at work resulting in an overall higher level of morale. Once telecommuting is introduced into the mixed, some or all of those relationships are lost. Analysis of past telecommuting research shows that the most cited problem associated with negative impacts of telecommuting is the feeling of isolation and loss of morale6. Although isolation feelings and loss of morale (and the resulting decrease in a companys value) are difficult metrics to measure, some workable solutions have been devised to combat these negative issues. Other solutions have included limiting telecommuting days and making sure to include telecommuting employees in company events7. Communication Limitations Are organizations disadvantaged due to communication limitations with remote workers? The office environment offers some benefits that telecommuting cannot provide. Most important amongst these benefits is the companys ability to communicate to its employees. Most offices display signs of the companys direct communication whether it is embodied in mission statements, annual goal and targets, or newsletters. Indirectly, the company communicates with corporate color schemes, promotion company clothing, and other branding material such as coffee mugs. All of these communications are omnipresent throughout the corporate office setting and help to build company pride, employee loyalty, and a sense of corporate culture. Employees who tend to work remotely are only exposed slightly to this communication through email, conference calls, and other mailed material. This lack of corporate communication may lead to low motivation, lack of identification with the company, and reduced company loyalty8. The solution to the communication challenge is to ensure that corporate communication includes channels to the remote worker. In fact, companies should recognize that off-site employees need more direct and indirect communication such that employees do not develop those negative feelings. Also, companies should make a concerted effort to limit telecommuting days and to include all telecommuting employees in company events9. Management How do managers successfully manage and support remote workers? Another challenge with telecommuting employees revolves around their direct management. Not only do managers find it much more difficult to monitor the productivity and effectiveness of their telecommuting employee, but they are also challenged by having to change their management style to incorporate the limitations brought about by telecommuting10. Managers who have telecommuting employees are also faced with more potential issues such as family conflicts arising from their employee working from home. These conflicts cross the boundary of work and personal life, and almost always negatively impact productivity. Lastly, it is the role of managers to provide organizational support to the telecommuting employee. With the employee being off-site, the manager is usually limited to email and telephone to support his employee. This limitation further restricts a managers effectiveness and typically utilizes more of a managers time in sorting out support logistic11. Solutions to the managers challenge involve setting up a detailed action plan between manager and telecommuting employee. This action plan should be supplemented with an active communication plan12. Once expectations for both parties are clearly outlined in the action plan, both parties can then communicate progress or support needs more efficiently. Moreover, managers can adapt their management styles to telecommuting employees by setting results-based milestones and orienting tasks into projects such that managers still retain control of certain processes13. Technical Issues Network What are the security, bandwidth, and infrastructure implications for the company network to support remote access? Before considering the strategy to deploying remote access for a company, a survey should be done of the existing network and current remote access configurations. Once a complete analysis of the current configuration and future needs are assessed, then the following issues need to be included in your strategy of preparing and deploying the company network for a remote force: security, bandwidth, and infrastructure.14 Table N1 3 Areas of Security15 Internal Network Usually the most secure of the three, but still should be reviewed for any fallacies. External Network Must secure the PC in the remote location (i.e. firewalls, RSA encryption, etc) to prevent unauthorized access and snooping from the remote location. Remote Worker Least secure, must require security policies to be followed about passwords, where to connect, and who to trust. With more remote workers, there will be an increased demand of bandwidth on the network. Will the remote employees be productive with the current infrastructure that your network can provide? Perhaps considerations for upgrading from16: From To Dial-up (56K) ISDN (128K-256K) ISDN (128K-256K) T1 (up to 1.5M) T1 (up to1.5M) T3 (44.736 Mbps) With the increase demand more infrastructure will be required for allowing an increasing number of remote workers to connect to the corporate network (more servers, security hardware, and routing hardware). Hardware/Software Needs What are the hardware, home infrastructure, and software licensing needs for the remote user? For the employees who travel often, they are usually provided some mobile computing solutions and they have found ways to work from remote locations. However the new generation of employees, the remote worker will work from the comfort of their home. Working from home brings a new set of issues in to play. HARDWARE * Can the employee keep work and personal items separated? * If not, should the company provide additional hardware? * If the company does NOT provide additional hardware, then how much of the employees hardware can be expensed if upgrades are necessary? * The employee may need/require a fax machine, an additional phone line, or other office equipment. SOFTWARE * Software licensing has be clear-cut as far as how many computers can use the same license, however what about home workers? * The companys site licensing may not cover home computers and will require the company to pay extra for these licenses. INFRASTRUCTURE * For someone at home who has a DSL, Cable, or Dial-Up connecting, how much of that should the company pay for? * Support, Support, Support. Who will provide the maintenance and support? * Is the home PC secure? If not, who will provide the hardware/software in order to secure it? Also consider how much of the companys data should be on the personal machine. What happens if the home PC is hacked? Telecommuting Variations What are alternative solutions or variations for telecommuting programs? Outlined in this paper is the most common setup for a company to develop telecommuting options for their employees. However most of these configurations allow the employee to use limited resources over the Internet (access to shared folders, documents and e-mail). Depending on the size, the costs of setting up an infrastructure for telecommuting workforce could be unaffordable. The following are other options available to companies who wish to have a telecommuting workforce. Citrix Remember or heard about the mainframe days? Well, history tends to repeat itself. As more PCs were becoming powerful, we moved away from the mainframe days. However with the Internet, the paradigm of sharing resources has returned and now software applications and operating systems have the enhanced ability to handle more than one user concurrently. Citrix17 allows concurrent remote users access to a single server that will give a separate session for each user. Each user will have access to the same set applications on one machine. This solves the software licensing issues of working from a remote location as well as reduces amount of maintenance of hardware/software for the IT department. Satellite Offices Companies are opening satellite offices to reduce commute times for employees and help alleviate city traffic and parking congestion problems. This will result in reduced land costs since these centers are away from the city where the cost of living is lower.18 Telework centers are similar to a satellite office, but operate by independent parties. Unlike satellite offices, numerous employees use them. Think of these options as outsourcing building/infrastructure issues. Connectivity What are the tools and considerations to accommodate remote network access? In todays information environment, connectivity has become essential for a significant portion of the workplace. Access to email, network resources, server applications, and the Internet is a continual activity for the white-collar professional. At a minimum, companies would be well served to support webmail. In much the same vein as portal email (Hotmail, Yahoo), mail is maintained on the company server. This server is then linked to a website, and employees can gain secure access to the company server via any browser. Once logged in, an individual has the full functionality of their account to compose, receive, store, and delete email without explicitly needing to connect to the company network. However, there will be a resulting lack of security employees need to be encouraged to create and regularly modify complex passwords, and to close public web sessions. That said, the security risk is only to an individual email account; not the company network as a whole. A second logical step for an IT department is to enable Virtual Private Networking (VPN). This will allow employees to connect their remote machines to the company network after establishing an Internet connection through an ISP. This machine then behaves just as a networked office-located computer. For users maintaining both an office and remote computer, this solution requires any desktop applications be maintained on both systems. To avoid this duality, many users will first establish a VPN connection and then emulate their office computer with built-in Windows 2000 and Windows XP remote desktop tools or 3rd party tools such as VNC19. In essence, the remote machine then acts as a terminal or monitor to the office computer, and the user can run the applications found on that machine without any needs for secondary software. The downside to this solution is that emulation is only as good as the connection speed. Communication How do you allow your employees to communicate electronically and verbally from home? Todays telephone solutions for the telecommuter generally consist of providing an office phone with call-forwarding features to an employees business cell phone an often times reimbursed expense. This avoids some of the problems associated with using a home line for a combination of business, personal, and dial-up use. The office system simplifies contacting an individual (Simply dial an extension and press 7 to connect to the forwarded line rather than maintaining a constantly changing set of employee contact information). A home line alternative is a distinctive ring system multiple phone numbers (home, office, fax) use a single line with each producing a unique ring that can be directed to an appropriate voice mail box or machine (PC, fax). A second alternative consists of an off-premise-extension (OPX) or foreign exchange (FX) system. While more expensive, these systems truly mimic the office with a separate home line that is identical to an office extension20. Electronic mail is a requirement for most remote users. IT departments can help support employees using multiple computers to access their email by allowing mail to be retained on the company server rather than downloaded to the individual PC. (As an unrelated benefit, this provides much greater redundancy in the event of a computer hard drive crash). Please see the discussion on web mail for more on remote e-mail use. A less intrusive substitute to phone conversations is instant messaging. While this has potential for both misuse and unproductive use (where conversation is more efficient), this is often times an ideal mechanism for sharing small tidbits of information and is especially valuable for troubleshooting. A more extensive tool would be the newsgroup in combination with a company intranet. Here, employees can develop an extensive knowledge base of processes, questions and answers. Collaboration What are the tools that foster communication? At the lowest end of the technology spectrum, there is the traditional conference call a virtual audio meeting with many parties. In an effort to fight the inherent isolationism of remote workers, the videoconference personalizes the conference call as participants better identify with the visual image than the audio. To implement, however, youll need additional webcam hardware, videoconferencing software and a fast Internet connection. Chat rooms (a variation on the aforementioned instant messaging) are suitable for short discussions or as supplements to a meeting (agenda, minutes, links, data, follow-ups) Web conferencing often includes both videoconferencing and chat room features, but distinguishes itself in that it allows a moderator to emulate his/her desktop to the attendees. Among the forefront of the software leaders in this area is WebEx21. IT Support What are the options and challenges to providing remote employees with technical support? One of the drawbacks to working remotely is the absence of immediate technical support for both trivial and complex hardware and software issues. Given that troubleshooting is often a hands-on activity, solving problems for telecommuters is likely to be frustrating and time-consuming. However IT managers can take a number of steps to reduce downtime. * Standardize the equipment and installation. The more alike your users systems are, the better positioned you will be to reproduce and diagnose problems. * Maintain an inventory of back-up equipment in the same way that a car repair shop offers loaner cars. * Set up remote users so their desktops can be emulated by technical support in this way an IT department can provide step by step demonstrations to fix problems * Maintain an easily accessible FAQ and update it with each new problem and solution Managers may also want to consider outsourcing their technical support requirements. Companies like Voyus22 provide 24 hour help desk support and web-based support applications. Cost How much does deploying a remote workforce cost? The decision that the companies face is how much ownership the company will take for each of the types of telecommuters. For an occasional telecommuter, the employee will more than likely take on the costs. For a heavy telecommuter, the company will probably need to cover the costs to the employee. Telecommuter Type Frequency Implementation Costs Involved Occasional Infrequently Dial-up, Web-based applications Regular Scheduled intervals Remote Connection, 3rd Party Software, Laptop, Firewall, Router. Heavy Frequently to Full Time Provide second computer, VPN connection, ISP costs, other office equipment, maintenance. It is not the technology costs that make or break the telecommuting decision, but its the organizational issues that should benefit the company if deployed properly. Conclusion Telecommuting seems to be the answer to the increased workload versus work/personal life balance issue that many companies are seeking. While there exist many challenges towards implementing a successful telecommuting plan, there also seem to be many practical solutions. The real issue seems to stem from whether a company will change its processes and standards to allow for telecommuting to co-exist with office employees. Such a decision, as this paper has outlined, is not as simple as providing remote employees with an internet connection. Rather, the decision has significant technical and organizational ramifications that need to be well thought out before implementation; otherwise, the company is doomed to make the mistakes of many companies that have haphazardly gone down this path. 1 http://www.langhoff.com/faqs.html 2 http://www.youcanworkfromanywhere.com/infocenter/facts.htm 3 http://www.youcanworkfromanywhere.com/infocenter/facts.htm 4 http://www.tfw.org.uk/teleworking/contents.htm 5 http://www.langhoff.com/faqs.html 6 Pinsonneault, A. (1999). The Impacts of Telecommuting on Organizations and Individuals: A Review of the Literature, Cahier du GreSI, 99(9). 7 Guimaraes, T., and Dallow, P. (1999). Empiracally Testing the Benefits, Problems, and Success Factors for Telecommuting Programs, European Journal of Information Systems, 8, 40-54. 8 Davenport, T.H. and Pearlson, K. (1998). Two Cheers for the Virtual Office, Sloan Management Review, 39(4), 51-65. 9 Guimaraes, T., and Dallow, P. (1999). Empiracally Testing the Benefits, Problems, and Success Factors for Telecommuting Programs, European Journal of Information Systems, 8, 40-54. 10 Kirvan, P. (1995). How to Manage Systems for Remote Workers, Communications News, 33, 67. 11 Kirvan, P. (1995). How to Manage Systems for Remote Workers, Communications News, 33, 67. 12 Guimaraes, T., and Dallow, P. (1999). Empiracally Testing the Benefits, Problems, and Success Factors for Telecommuting Programs, European Journal of Information Systems, 8, 40-54. 13 Davenport, T.H. and Pearlson, K. (1998). Two Cheers for the Virtual Office, Sloan Management Review, 39(4), 51-65. 14 Ascend Communications, 2002, Telecommuting Network Guide: A Resource for Planners, Excutives, and Information Managers, http://users.skynet.be/teletravail/PDF/solut_technique.pdf 15 Jessica L. Hirsch, 2000, Telecommuting: Security Policies and Procedures for the Work-From-Home Workforce, http://www.teleworker.org/articles/telework_security.html 16 Bandwidth Savings, 2003, Services In Detailed, http://www.bandwidthsavings.net/servicesdetail.cfm 17 Citrix.com, 2003, Home Page, http://www.citrix.com 18 Hall, Aric, Bilski, Alicia, Wadman, Scott, 2003, Ways People Telecommute, http://members.tripod.com/~trom/page3.html 19 http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc 20 Wrobel, Leo A., February 1997, Helpful Hints for MIS Managers Supporting Telecommuters and Nomadic Users -Part I: Voice Communications, http://www.rewireit.com/articles/w0297.pdf 21 http://www.webx.com 22 http://www.pcsupport.com/

Electronic File Sharing Essays -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Electronic File Sharing Often times new technology enables completely new activities, discoveries, and ways of living, once not possible without that particular technology. An example of this would be the microscope and telescope, which now allow us to see things not possible before. Other times, new technology allows us to do things which we did before, but in a different way.1 A good example of this is electronic file sharing over the Internet. Unauthorized file sharing was possible before the Internet, but on a much smaller scale. One person might have physically borrowed a music cd from another person and made a copy. With the Internet, it became possible for a single person to share (more like distribute without authorization) with the whole world with ease. This has allowed for the much more significant financial damage to the parties being taken advantage of, in this case, the music industry. In my view, this is wrong. Unauthorized file sharing is bad for all parties, whether they know it o r not, and should not be allowed. There are a couple of technologies that have really helped facilitate electronic file sharing. The first one is the MP3 file format. MP3 is a file format (like JPEG, DOC) which is used to store audible data (songs). It is a file compression format that reduces the size of files by 10-12 times. This compression is very valuable in that it allows quicker transfer of songs over the Internet.2 The second one is peer-to-peer architecture. The main characteristic of a pure peer to peer architecture is that peers interact directly with other peers without any centralized servers. This is different from most web applications (like amazon.com), which are client-server architectures. In c... ...on Post, 24 Jan. 2004, . 15. David McGuire, A Winning Strategy on Internet Piracy?, 2004, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2004, . 16. Santa Clara University, Chapter 6. Ethics, 3. 17. Santa Clara University, Chapter 6. Ethics, 3. 18. Santa Clara University, Chapter 6. Ethics, 3. 19. Santa Clara University, Chapter 6. Ethics, 3. 20. Santa Clara University, Chapter 6. Ethics, 3. 21. BBC, EMI Boss Defends Music Industry, 2003, BBC, 24 Jan. 2004, . 22. BBC, Strong Debut for iTunes for PCs, 2003, BBC, 24 Jan. 2004, .

Eddie Mabo is not only a hero of the film Mabo? Essay

In the film , the director Rachel Perkin demonstrate us that Eddie Mabo is a hero . He commit himself fully to fight tirelessly for aboriginal rights of land. In the process , Eddie Mabo get much support by his wife, his lawyers, his friends. These people sacrifice something and bear pressure for supporting Eddie Mabo. So these people also are heroes. Meanwhile , Australia government also is anti-hero, the government admit the mistake and reconcile with aboriginals and apology. Nera . Eddie Mabo’s wife. As a wife she bring up their family with Eddie often absent, ans in the early days has to work at night in a prawn-packing factory to help when she heavily pregnant with their fourth child. Nera’s support for Eddie does not only involve bringing up their family for Eddie,she also develops deep faith in his cause, her attitude changed completely. In the early,she says to Eddie†if you do not stop mixing with those commos I am leaving you and take children away from you.After she hears about The Aboriginal Advancement League from Eddie,she becomes a committed worker for aboriginal right She teaches aboriginal children skill in the Aboriginal school Eddie establishes . When the family receive death threats, Eddie wants to send Nera and children away, but Nera says she is not going anywhere. In fact , she is aware of the danger,but she still stay with Eddie Mabo , not going to run away from Eddie Mabo. Those situation show us Nera is strong, loyal , hard-working . So Nera is a hero. Bryan Keon-Cohen is Eddie Mabo’s lawyer. After Eddie Mabo lose his land-right case in supreme court, Eddie decide to take the case to the High Court ,he meet Bryan Melbourne,this is their first meet.As a lawyer he tirelessly fight for Eddie’s cause. He know there is no money in the case for him and his action is also likely to lose him many other big briefs such as with mining companies or with government. Bryan’s friend says to him:† you’re gonna have to think very carefully, Bryan. It’ll pretty much shape the rest of your career.† .However, in this situation , Bryan still decide to help Eddie Mabo. Finally, he helps Eddie win the case Those example tell us that Bryan is justicial, so he also is a hero. Dave passi is Mer Islander who with Eddie fight , in the supreme court, Killoran intimidates David Passi and his two brothers withraw as plaintiffs. But when the case take to the High Court , Dave Passi returns as a plaintiff, the return of Dave Passi provides new hope for case. We can see Dave Passi bear much pressure. But he still decide to give Mabo support. This action show us  Dave Passi is full of justicial energy as well as Bryan. So , Dave Passi also is a hero. In the film , we can fell the white society is full of racism. In north western Australia , Eddie Mabo going for a drink after work with his fellow white co-workers, he is denied service by the publican , who says, â€Å" you! Out the back!† Later in Townsville he finds this attitude is actually entrenched in white law. Again refused a drink at a bar. Eddie Mabo is told â€Å" It’s not me, mate. It’s the law†. On 26 January , British invade New South Wales.They entrench European culture and customs in the life of the aborigines.they enforce aborigines learn European culture and do not respect the aboriginal culture. However, At the beginning of the film , we can see the Australia government reconcile with Aboriginals. The first screen , Paul kneating says â€Å" Mabo establishes a fundamental truth and lays the basis for.† In fact, The action tell us the government admit these action that they didi are injustice and wrong. The Australia government be brave in admit mistakes and apology .So to an extent the action of the Australia government is a anti-hero. As we have seen, in the film,Eddie Mabo is a hero of the film, but his wife ,his lawyer and his friends bear much pressure and sacrifice something to support Eddie Mabo , so they also are heroes. Even though the Australia government carry out some false measure for aborigines ,but in the end , the government admit the mistakes and apology. so the government is a anti-hero.

Tesco India

Introduction Tesco plc is a multinational grocery store originated from British. Tesco general merchandise retailer headquartered located in United Kingdom. It’s the third-largest retailer in the world as we measured according by revenues its stand after Wal-Mart and Carrefour and is the second-largest if we calculated profits then, its stand after Wal-Mart. Tesco deals in approximately 14 countries across Asia, Europe and North America and is the grocery market leader in the UK and capture the 30% market share, Malaysia, the Republic of Ireland and Thailand.The reason Tesco increase their growth rapidly is increasingly diversified geographically and into areas such as the retailing of books, clothing, electronics, furniture, petrol and software; financial services; telecoms and internet services; DVD rental; and music downloads. Tesco’s corporate strategy In behind every successful industry they have their own strategy. That strategy will be their core of the business and industry. Tesco also has its own strategy. Tesco is using its own brand product everywhere and selling with cheap rate. Also read: How Does Tesco Communicate With Their CustomersAnother important part of their strategy is the use and innovation of new technologies. They are the first to introduce self billing and use camera to reduce theft. Reason’s Tesco choose India, Marketing Opportunities of Tesco in India Tesco has had a limited presence in India with a service centre in Bangalore. As part of their internationalization Tesco is planning to implement their full presence in India. Tesco is planning for opening a wholesale cash-and-carry business in the biggest commercial city of India, Mumbai.Tesco will start its operation by joining with the Tata, one of the giant business groups in India. Factors Tesco has chosen India to start their new business Rising Income In India people with high income have a tendency to use new taste and prefer brand new items. So here Tesco have a wide opportunity because Tesco sell their own product with their label and is not available elsewhere in India. So as a new comer with branded products Tesco will have a good opening in market. So rising income is an important factor of their opportunities. Liberalization of Indian EconomyThis is also an important opportunity of Tesco in India. They can invest large amount to attract the consumer mind by giving a variety of goods. Foreign direct investment is also a great factor that helps Tesco. Indian government is supporting FDI because it provides huge profit and development for the country. So Tesco can utilize this chance and can get a good opportunity in India (Accessed from report of Corporate Catalyst India). High population growth and suitable places Another opportunity which is in front of Tesco is the large population in India and the metro cities.There are a lot supermarkets and retail outlets in India and are making huge profits. But the customer satisfaction guaranteed by them is low. Here Tesco have a good opportunity when they are using a core strategy to attract customers into the ir outlets. Cheap labor with high qualified personal India is a country with high population. So there is no much strain for Tesco to rent a labor. They will get skilled and educated labor because India has a wide labor pool range with cheap wages. Skilled workers are needed for retail industries.So Tesco can choose the skilled workers through agency. This is also an opportunity for Tesco for operating in India. All in One This is the main opportunity of Tesco in India. By the term ‘All in One’ it means that people can shop everything they want from Tesco itself. There is no need for them to go to different shops for purchasing. People can save time by purchasing in Tesco. If Tesco can exploit this opportunity very well they will be the market leaders in India. (Anjana (2010); ‘Business India Retail Market Overview’) Developed technology and InfrastructureIndia is a country with high technology and infrastructure. So Tesco can utilize easily all the technol ogies and infrastructure they require when they start their production in India. Technology is also the key variable that which has direct influence in the supply chain, operation and process of grocery and food retailers. Newer technologies like selecting products through mobiles can also attract customers as it can save their time. (Ben; ‘PEST analysis of Tesco in UK’) Difficulties and hurdles Tesco has faced when starting its business in IndiaThe main problem TESCO has faced is the criticism by the Indian Population. If we consider most of the population in India is middle class and most are in the business of retailing in small levels so they have the fear that when such a multinational start its operation in India then there business will destroyed so they were against of it by this behavior of People the political opposition parties take this issue in headlines strikes are called by this all the planning of TESCO is changed according to the environment change so T esco have to reschedule its planning.The other problem is that religious issue is also come into existence which is animal welfare. The other main reason is the Foreign Direct Investment Policy regarding Retailing in India which is: * FDI up to 100% cash and carry wholesale * FDI is not permitted in Multi Brand retailing in India The other factors which effect are the * Unstable environment As Indian financial position or economy not remains the same all the time, other than that there is Political instability, by which rules and regulation change rapidly. * A lot of political pressuresThis creates in this sense that in India there are many casts and religion one party is in favor of one cast and vice versa. The party which is ruling has pressure on such stores and multinational companies to follow their customs and deals with there peoples. * Culture diversity * Difficulty to understand the Indian market * High risk of failure * Indirect access to market figures. Etc Hurdles in liv e streaming NO TESCO’S HERE! Shops and schools were forced to close during demonstrations against a government decision to open India's retail market to foreign companies such as Tesco and Wal-Mart.The partly successful national strike saw protesters burn effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Sing and holding signs reading ‘Go Back Wal-Mart’ whilst disrupting train services, blocking the tracks. A key partner in India's ruling coalition has withdrawn support from the government and said its ministers would resign in protest over a plan to allow foreign retailers such as Tesco into the country. â€Å"Our ministers will go to Delhi to resign. We will not stay in UPA II,† the head of the regional Trinamool Congress party, Mamata Banerjee, told reporters, referring to the ruling coalition led by the Indian National Congress party.The withdrawal of Trinamool, which is staunchly opposed to a move to allow foreign supermarkets into the retail sector, leaves the gov ernment weakened and dependent on outside support to pass legislation, AFP reported. The reforms unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week include allowing in foreign retail giants such as Walmart and Tesco, as well foreign airlines, and included a 12% hike in the price of subsidised diesel. Opposition Role and Benefit The opposition parties protested against these measures with a nationwide strike.More damaging for the government is the decision of the Trinamool Congress, headed by the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee to pull out of the government, with its ministers to resign. The popular anger against the rise in diesel prices is easy to understand – Indian prices of this essential fuel are already among the highest in the world. This increase will affect all other prices, raising farmers' costs and causing already high food prices to soar.If the government is really concerned with controlling inflation, this is a foolish and unjust measure, bound t o cause further inflation without delivering much in public savings. Against to it Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the reforms would â€Å"help strengthen our growth process and generate employment in these difficult times†. While opposition neither criticizes nor will food inflation is brought down by this measure – certainly not immediately, or even in the medium term.Distribution margins in India are quite low precisely because the various levels are so highly competitive – and if they are to be improved, that is best done through public investment in cold storage and efficient transport, as well as by encouraging co-operatives. The employment impact is likely to be very negative. The retail trade in India employs about 40 million – mostly very small-scale traders who are largely self-employed, who would not be able to compete with large organized corporations.It has been estimated that one Wal-Mart can displace up to 1,400 small stores, costing around 5,000 jobs. Since Indian growth has been mostly jobless already, this is obviously a huge concern. So the hue and  cry about opening up retail trade in India is hardly surprising. What is more surprising is the government's insistence on pushing through this relatively minor â€Å"reform† barely a month after it had promised parliament it would do so only by consensus. The entire episode speaks of a tired regime that has run out of ideas.The party, which has been extremely critical of the reform package, postponed a meeting it had called for Thursday evening to determine its next step. Top ministers downplayed any talk of a teetering government. ‘We have enough friends today, we had enough friends yesterday †¦ So I don't see any reason why you should doubt our stability,† Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told reporters. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, protesters blocked railroad tracks. Some held up placards reading ‘Go back Tesco' a reference to the U. S. retail giant expected to enter the Indian market under the new regulations.By use all of these issues the opposition parties want to take out the advantage and by demolish this government they want to create out their own government. Conclusion Although Tesco is doing well in all of the territories, But in India Tesco can be failed because India is too much emotionally involved with its cultural and economical perspective. Traders and retailers of India will not easily accept it which could become and unfavorable loss for Tesco. People are not adopt to change there but once Tesco start its operation fully as Tesco is signing contract with Tata slowly this impact will change the environment.

Greek statues--kouros essays

Greek statueskouros essays Kouros are life size or larger, freestanding stone figures of unclothed young man striding forward. They are considered today to be one of the most distinctive products of the Archaic era, the period of ancient Greek history from roughly about 650 to 500 BCE. The statue's head, feet and hands all point rigidly straight forward emphasizing the frontal view. As a standing figure, the statue is taller than it is wide. Its vertical orientation is emphasized by a central axis running vertically between the legs, through the navel, the cleft of the chest and between the eyes. When viewed frontally the figure is disposed symmetrically about this central axis. Auguste Rodin is generally recognized as the most important sculptor of the nineteenth century. The Age of Bronze is Rodins first masterpiece. To the academic practice of creating a balance between nature and an ideal, Rodin brought three innovations: an equal attention to every detail of the work; an insistence that the figure itself is the subject, not that the figure portrays a subject; and the dynamism supplied by complex asymmetrical axes. Such innovations would have remained intellectual and technical were it not for the genius of Rodin's hands. Rodin was able to translate his immense passion for work and his abiding love of the human form into "Nature" and "movement" were terms used by Rodin as touchstones for making sculpture Their beauty, energy, and sexuality-expressed in figures expressed the aesthetics of the fragment reveal a depth of feeling for humanity Rodin made the legs and lower torso of the figure slimmer than those of the model, and he also made the head somewhat smaller. Such details, which recall Hellenistic sculptures Rodin had seen in the Louvre and in Italy, confirm his remark that he found inspiration for his figure in a Greek Apollo. He was devoted to Greek and Roman art. ...

A brief history of sport in Australia Essays - Free Essays

A brief history of sport in Australia Essays - Free Essays A brief history of sport in Australia Australias sporting culture is deeply affected by history as a British colony formed. Early colonizers from Britain and Ireland transported with them attitudes and views about sport, and they also transported with them the games which were popular in Britain. What is tennis? Tennis is a sport which played on a rectangular court by two players or two pairs of players armed with rackets, in which a ball is driven back and forth over a low net that divides the court in half. History of tennis Tennis became popular as a public game from its arrival in Australia in the late 1870s, and courts sprang up everywhere in community and private grounds. It was a game that was taken up enthusiastically by both men and women, both for fun and as an elite sport. Since 1900, Australian men and women tennis players have been classified as some of the world's best. Australia's first international champion was Norm Brookes who was the first Australian to win the Wimbledon Singles titles in 1907. In the same year Brookes was the first outsider to break the dominance of the UK and USA with his win in the Doubles of the Davis Cup, the international men's championship. Australia then hosted international championship events in 1908 and Brookes went on to dominate tennis administration in Australia for the next 50 years. Across the four major Open titles, known as Grand Slam tournaments the Australian, French and United States Open and Wimbledon, UK there have been five Australian Grand Slam winners. The first Grand Slam winners were Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman for the Doubles in 1951. Rod Laver, who won it twice, in 1962 and 1969, is arguably the greatest tennis player in the world. Margaret Court also won all four tournaments in one year when she completed the Grand Slam in 1970, one of only three women in the world to achieve this. From its early days, tennis was extremely popular with women in Australia even though there was no financial support for them to travel to overseas tournaments. Never-the-less, with fund raising, made the finals of Wimbledon in 1928. In 1938, Nancy Bolton became the first Australian woman to play in a US Championship final when she was 22. Lesley Bowrey was the first Australian women to win two French Open singles titles in 1963 and 1964, and the Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon in 1961 and 1967. From the 1920s onwards, there was such an increased demand for tennis racquets, balls and equipment that an Australian industry began exporting to both the UK and USA in the 1930s. The images of well-known players were featured on Australian made racquets which made their way into overseas markets. This arrangement of sporting companies endorsing players helped support the amateur status of Australian players competing in the Davis Cup and Grand Slam tournaments until 1969. Australian players ruled the world amateur tournaments until the 1960s. In 1969 a wider group of players could contest when the Grand Slam tournaments consented to permit professionals and amateur players. Still, even after Australia's domination of world tennis was broken in the 1960s, tennis stayed popular as a sport for both contributors and audiences. Australian tennis troops hold their own world archives for watching single live tennis games. Tennis fashion a fashionable freedom The deficiency of an identified uniform in tennis has given players a fashionable freedom. In the 1800s, players generally dressed white clothing as it reversed the heat. Men would dress long trousers and a shirt which was long sleeved but could be rolled up to the elbow, and a hat or cricket cap would accompany the outfit. Women wore an everyday dress (ankle length) complete with petticoat, stockings, a corset, and a wide-brimmed hat. Ultimately fashions started to change and men dressed short sleeved shirts and shorts, with women wearing lighter cotton dresses without the stockings and corset. These changes however were not always met with encouragement. At Wimbledon in 1905, the US player May Sutton swapped the popular tight sleeved blouses for her father's button-up shirt and shocked the crowd when she rolled her sleeves up. Sutton went on to win the women's Singles. During the 1920s, the French champion

Definition and Discussion of Classical Rhetoric

Definition and Discussion of Classical Rhetoric Definition The expression classical rhetoric refers to the  practice and teaching of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome from roughly the fifth century B.C. to the early Middle Ages. Though rhetorical studies began in Greece in the fifth century B.C., the practice of rhetoric began much earlier with the emergence of Homo sapiens. Rhetoric became a subject of academic study at a time when ancient Greece was evolving from an oral culture to a literate one. See the observations below. Also see: Definitions of Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and RomeAn Overview of Classical Rhetoric: Origins, Branches, Canons, Concepts, and ExercisesRhetoric Review QuestionsDialecticDissoi LogoiGlossary of Rhetorical TermsLetteraturizzazioneOrality Oratory  and  The Parts of a Speech PraxisSophistsStoic GrammarTechneWhat Are the Five Canons of Rhetoric?What Are the Progymnasmata?What Are the Three Branches of Rhetoric? Periods of Western Rhetoric Classical RhetoricMedieval RhetoricRenaissance RhetoricEnlightenment RhetoricNineteenth-Century RhetoricNew Rhetoric(s) Observations [T]he earliest surviving use of the term rhetorike is in Platos Gorgias in the early fourth century BCE. . . . [I]t is likely, although impossible to prove definitively, that Plato himself coined the term.(David M. Timmerman and Edward Schiappa, Classical Greek Rhetorical Theory and the Disciplining of Discourse. Cambridge University Press, 2010) Rhetoric in Ancient GreeceClassical writers regarded rhetoric as having been invented, or more accurately, discovered, in the fifth century B.C. in the democracies of Syracuse and Athens. . . . [T]hen, for the first time in Europe, attempts were made to describe the features of an effective speech and to teach someone how to plan and deliver one. Under democracies citizens were expected to participate in political debate, and they were expected to speak on their own behalf in courts of law. A theory of public speaking evolved, which developed an extensive technical vocabulary to describe features of argument, arrangement, style, and delivery . . . .Classical rhetoriciansthat is, teachers of rhetoricrecognized that many features of their subject could be found in Greek literature before the invention of rhetoric . . .. Conversely, the teaching of rhetoric in the schools, ostensibly concerned primarily with training in public address, had a significant effect on written composition, and thus on literature.(George Kennedy, A New History of Classical Rhetoric. Princeton University Press, 1994) Roman RhetoricEarly Rome was a republic rather than a direct democracy, but it was a society in which public speaking was as important to civic life as it had been in Athens . . ..The ruling elite [in Rome] viewed rhetoric with suspicion, leading the Roman Senate to ban the teaching of rhetoric and close all the schools in 161 BC. Although this move was partially motivated by strong anti-Greek sentiments among the Romans, it is clear that the Senate also was motivated by a desire to eliminate a powerful tool for social change. In the hands of demagogues like the Gracchi, rhetoric had the potential to stir the restless poor, inciting them to riots as part of the endless internal conflicts among the ruling elite. In the hands of skillful legal orators like Lucius Licinius Crassus and Cicero, it had the power to undermine Romes traditionally rigid interpretation and application of law.(James D. Williams, An Introduction to Classical Rhetoric: Essential Readings. Wiley, 2009) Rhetoric a nd WritingFrom its origin in 5th century BC Greece through its flourishing period in Rome and its reign in the medieval trivium, rhetoric was associated primarily with the art of oratory. During the Middle Ages, the precepts of classical rhetoric began to be applied to letter-writing, but it was not until the Renaissance . . . that the precepts governing the spoken art began to be applied, on any large scale, to written discourse.(Edward Corbett and Robert Connors, Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. Oxford University Press, 1999) Women in Classical RhetoricThough most historical texts focus on the father figures of classical rhetoric, women (though generally excluded from educational opportunities and political offices) also contributed to the rhetorical tradition in ancient Greece and Rome. Women such as Aspasia and Theodote have sometimes been described as the muted rhetoricians; unfortunately, because they left no texts, we know few details about their contributions. To learn more about the roles played by women in classical rhetoric, see Rhetoric Retold: Regendering the Tradition from Antiquity Through the Renaissance, by Cheryl Glenn (1997); Rhetorical Theory by Women Before 1900, edited by Jane Donawerth (2002); and Jan Swearingens Rhetoric and Irony: Western Literacy and Western Lies (1991). Primary Rhetoric, Secondary Rhetoric, and LetteraturizzazionePrimary rhetoric involves utterance on a specific occasion; it is an act not a text, though subsequently it can be treated as a text. The primacy of pri mary rhetoric is a fundamental fact in the classical tradition: through the time of the Roman Empire teachers of rhetoric, whatever was the real situation of their students, took as their nominal goal the training of persuasive public speakers; even in the early Middle Ages, when there was reduced practical opportunity to exercise civic rhetoric, the definition and content of rhetorical theory as set forth by Isidore and Alcuin, for example, show the same civic assumption; the revival of classical rhetoric in Renaissance Italy was foreshadowed by renewed need for civic rhetoric in the cities of the 12th and 13th centuries; and the great period of neoclassical rhetoric was the time when public speaking emerged as a major force in church and state in France, England, and America.Secondary rhetoric, on the other hand, refers to rhetorical techniques as found in discourse, literature and art forms when those techniques are not being used for an oral, persuasive purpose. . . . Frequent m anifestations of secondary rhetoric are commonplaces, figures of speech, and tropes in written works. Much literature, art and informal discourse is decorated by secondary rhetoric, which may be a mannerism of the historical period in which it is composed. . . .It has been a persistent characteristic of classical rhetoric in almost every stage of its history to move from primary to secondary forms, occasionally then reversing the pattern. For this phenomenon the Italian term letteraturizzazione has been coined. Letteraturizzazione is the tendency of rhetoric to shift focus from persuasion to narration, from civic to personal contexts, and from speech to literature, including poetry.(George Kennedy, Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition, 2nd ed. University of North Carolina Press, 1999)

Corporate Goal of Maximizing Shareholder Value Essay

Corporate Goal of Maximizing Shareholder Value - Essay Example Enhancing shareholder value cannot be stretched beyond the limits that start breaching the fundamental requirements of corporate governance. Ireland (1996. pp289) established an empirical generalization that the legal existence of the company and the shareholders is entirely separate. Although acts like Sarbanes Oxley in United States have made the leadership of the organization (CEO or CFO!!) legally responsible for the accuracy in accounting statements, many countries around the world still lacks such acts. Moreover, the act does not make shareholders responsible always because in many companies the shareholders do not sign on accounting statements or manage the company operations. Sundaram and Inkpen (2004. pp353) argue that the shareholder value maximization should be considered after all the liabilities of the corporate has been fulfilled - including incentives of managers, contractual liabilities, payments of dividends, principal & interest payments to bond holders, supplier du es, wages, salaries, etc. The net value addition in shareholder wealth needs to be taken care of after all such liabilities have been fulfilled that can be effectively managed through corporate governance. ... ffective corporate governance are conflicting objectives and hence need to be managed by different individuals to reduce the risk of conflict of interest. The non shareholding stakeholders should be engaged in corporate governance whereas the shareholders should be engaged in wealth maximization and the both parties should have a congenial environment to resolve conflicting situations. These roles should be normally fixed in support of the argument by Sundaram and Inkpen (2004. pp355) that the transition from non-shareholding stakeholders to shareholders is easy but vice versa is very difficult. Example, a CEO practicing effective corporate governance should be kept out of shareholding otherwise the conflict of interest scenarios will happen. Non shareholding CEOs will not indulge into high risk taking attitudes in the attempt to maximize shareholder wealth that may lead to the corporate failing miserably in meeting their obligations and the backfiring on shareholder wealth leading t o complete crash. The meltdown of organizations like Lehman Brothers is an ideal example of failure of control procedures on risk taking attitudes. To what extent the objective of shareholder maximization is constrained by agency theory Agency theory is an important aspect of corporate balancing acts given that individuals will divulge into those actions that maximize their personal utility. This forms an excellent baseline for creating a balance between shareholder wealth maximization and corporate governance. The current financial crisis that we are witnessing is the result of stretched risk appetite in the attempt to maximize shareholder wealth to the largest possible extent. Denis & Denis (1999. pp1072) presents the influence of agency theory on risk taking attitudes of corporate

2500 word essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

2500 word - Essay Example In his Things Fall Apart, Achebe demonstrates that the African writer carries recognizing and celebrating the culture as his or her biggest job in order to make people from Africa start salvaging their dignity. King Solomon’s mine is a classical Victorian rendition of the unexplored Africa at the start of the 18th century. From the book, the realization that Africa was just like other continents comes out clearly. Throughout the narration in the book, imperialism comes out in many instances. For instance, the title of the book symbolically infers to the biblical times of King Solomon. From the biblical perspective, the King is known to be so wise. Other than being wise, the biblical conquests for wealth are something which are akin to the modern day imperialism. In the times of King Solomon, there were fights over territories, mines included. For instance, the book is a quest to show proof of the existence of the mines that were owned by the King. In the course of doing this, the mines that were causes of war with the Edomites, for instance, get unearthed. The revelation from this narration is that forms of leadership which border on autocracy and imperialism have been in existence from the olden days. The book only goes ahead to make the reader have a different perspective of the happenings at the time. The perception by Westerners over Africa is a clear example of imperialism. For instance, the description of the Zulu tribe in the narration when the author meets them is a clear bias which is influenced by imperialist thoughts. For instance, the author’s description of the Zulu was that of a tribe which were primitive even in their language. Based on the fcat that the Zulus are normal people and their culture differs from the Author’s, it is wrong to classify their culture as primitive. In fact, such a perception is what leads to the imperialism that was later to

What can we get on the web on our mobiles Is it worth having Essay

What can we get on the web on our mobiles Is it worth having - Essay Example This paper will look closely at mobile phones and internet as two aspects of modern technology. It will look into how these two technologies have changed the way we interact with one another in life. The growth in technology has revolutionized not only the way we live but in also the way we communicate. Mobile phones and internet have been one of the leading devices that have revolutionized communication technology. Communication technology has been the backbone of the current revolution in the way we live. Information and communication technology have contributed in a great way to the wave of globalization that has changed the way we interact in the world. The concept of globalization has reduced the world to a global village. In its simple definition, globalization can be simply said as reduction of distance between different parts of the world. This means that one can easily get in touch with someone in another continent same as once can get in touch with someone in the neighborho od. This has been a great achievement in life since it has affected the way people interact.As we have seen, information and communication technology have been in the forefront in enabling globalization to take root in the world. Both have enabled people to interact and communicate with one another in a much simpler way than ever before. There have been some aspects of information and communication technology that have been the most influential. ... Both are recent technology in life and they are very influential in the way we talk and communicate with one another. Apart from their initial intention of providing communication and information to people, development in technology have enabled them to be used for many other purposes in normal life and in business world. Mobile phone and internet industry in one of the rapidly growing technologies in modern life. The industry has been driven by increased use of the two technologies in life. The industry has grown in all part of the world unlike other industries which records growth only in some geographical regions where they are relevant. This means that there has been increased use of the technology in all parts of the world. Let us look at what we can get from each of the technology and evaluate how relevant is what we get from each. This will help us to dig deep in each technology and understand how it functions and how important it is to the concept of information and communication technology. Mobile phones Mobile phone can be defined as a small and portable communication device the is used by people to make phone calls in any place they are. Mobile phones receive and gives out signals with are provided through a service provider's transmitting satellites. Mobile phones have enabled people to communicate in any location they are in without limitation of time and regions. The basic concept of mobile phones is transmitting of signals. It uses radio wave theories similarly as they are used by ordinary radios. However, mobile phones uses stronger frequencies and are higher compared to those of the common radios. Mobile phone technology started in the mid twenties and the first mobile phone service was used in Sweden used

Elements of and Distinctions Between Ethics and the Law Assignment - 1

Elements of and Distinctions Between Ethics and the Law - Assignment Example From these truths are based many civil and criminal laws. For instance, the law on not causing physical harm or injury to another is based on the principle of nonmaleficence. Confidentiality of information is an expression of fidelity. The ethics-law relationship can be exemplified by the confidentiality rule in counseling relationship. The counselor has to respect all the private information that he or she has obtained from the client. But in the case of a dying client who expressed the intention of hastening one’s death, the counselor may break the confidentiality rule after determining the propriety of such act, and as allowed by law and particular circumstances (ACA Code, 2005). The counselor may also break confidentiality if the client has a life-threatening or contagious disease after verification and due consideration of the situation (ACA Code, 2005). At present, the law prescribes a mode of conduct and professional practice for counselors. The code of ethics of counseling organizations mandate that members should conduct one’s practice in accordance with law (ACA Code, 2005); thus, indicating the relationship between law and ethics. Ethical concerns often affect counselors in making decisions (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). Counselors also face an ethical dilemma when deciding which action to take (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). Thus, counseling organizations, such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) issue ethics manual to serve as guide of its members and other professional counselors in deciding the proper action to take when faced with a difficult issue (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). In the same manner, the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) also enjoins its members to promote â€Å"healthy growth and development of the family,† as well as co-equality and empowerment of

Siemens Case Study. Exam Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Siemens . Exam - Case Study Example Further investigation into the corruption cases involving Siemens shows that there are more cases in its overseas branches where the company maintains slush funds for the purpose of paying bribes as was the case in Greece, where it had a large amount of euros set aside for bribes to win contracts and tenders. The cases involve different governments covering sensitive areas such as intelligence and surveillance. In this cases, top government official in Greece reaped massive gains. Other counties involved in the scandal other than Greece include Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the USA for paying large sums to win contracts. Defenses by the company towards the bribery charges indicate the lack of ethics and it actually admits to have paid bribes to different companies and different government officials. One of the main defense claims was that it was never a crime to bribe a company outside of Germany, in the cases that occurred prior to 2002. This covered cases that occurred from 1999 and up until 2002, in which case the bribery became public knowledge in 2003. The validity of the claims made by Siemens were questionable and were deemed to be invalid following the existence of regulation outlawing bribery of companies outside of Germany before 2002 as it was still effective before 1999. The ethical standing of Siemens in this case indicates that the company is ethically corrupt when a utilitarian approach is used to define the case of Siemens. This is where the company overlooked the effects of its action towards other well deserving companies prior to bribery to win foreign contracts. As such, the company sought the cheapest way to bring business to itself while ruining other companies instead of following the right channels as expected. The main concern for the company lies with the shareholder and its ability to maintain their wealth as well as increase it. Therefore, this drives the company towards bribery as the immediate economic benefits are appealing and rewarding, while the long-term can be borne by future leaders of the same company saving shareholder a lot of immediate trouble in poor share sales. Using the different theories of ethics to discern this issue brings utilitarianism into perspective, as it is the only theory that focuses on the product and not on the means through which it is achieved. In any case, when it does pay attention to the means through which objectives are achieved, it only does so in relation to the cheapest and most convenient way and not on its impact on others. Thus, Siemens paid attention to the utilitarian theory that saw it ignore fundamental knowledge on bribery to bring unfair advantage and profits to itself denying other firms their own fair chance at winning contracts the legal way. In addition, the company could have used other means to secure contracts in foreign countries without having to pay bribes such as improving their own conduct, as considering the amount of funds used in bribes and com paring it to the profits, legal business would result in better returns. This denies the executives a proper defense since it does not even safeguard the interests and needs of the shareholders since when caught

Are entrepreneurs born or made Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Are entrepreneurs born or made - Essay Example From these definitions, it logically follows that entrepreneurship is the process that the entrepreneur undertakes to achieve his goals; or in simplistic terms, what an entrepreneur does. This paper will present a number of behaviours skills and attributes that are necessary for entrepreneurial success and will try to understand if these behaviours and skills are inherent or if they can be acquired through learning and social conditioning. Furthermore there exists rich literature on entrepreneurial processes that delineates theories and models which form the bases of entrepreneurial success. These theories and models provide insight into the undertaking successful entrepreneurial ventures. Together these models and behaviours will prove or disprove the notion that entrepreneurs can only be born. An entrepreneur is characterized by behaviours and endowed with skills that set him apart from other people. These particular attributes are the essential constituencies of an entrepreneur an d their underlying theories become the focal point of the discussion of whether entrepreneurs are born or made. This paper will seek to critically evaluate a number of theories and models of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process in order to reach to a conclusive answer to this question. Entrepreneurs are creative, innovative and opportunity-seeking individuals who have a preference for taking initiative and moderate risk. This creativity enables them to see things in different contexts, devise new solutions to problems and craft new approaches to doing business. An entrepreneur will desire sense of responsibility to and ownership of his work as he is committed to it. Another distinguishing characteristic of entrepreneurs is that they are very flexible. They adapt very easily to the changing environment to meet the need of their customers and businesses. One reason for this is that they have an internal locus of control. Entrepreneurs believe that they are responsible for the outcomes of their businesses and therefore do not attribute failure to external factors. They believe in making their own luck and shaping their own destiny. An entrepreneur is more likely to prefer achievement over money which makes him a highly motivated individual. This motivation then channels positive energy that transcends to the enterprise too. Behaviours are different from skills and, as such, an entrepreneur also possesses some distinctive skills. As decision makers entrepreneurs rely on their gut feeling and this skill aids in decision making when there are information constraints. They can think strategically and possess negotiation and persuasion skills. Entrepreneurs make their enterprises a success as they have a vision for leading their organization, shaping its dynamics and seeing through to its commitments. A number of models and theories have been coined to explain entrepreneurial behavior and process. The Stage model of growth by Scott and Bruce (1987) explain s the growth of enterprises in terms of five stages; inception, survival, growth, expansion and maturity. During the inception stage the business is starting up with inconsistent growth. The business and its products are constantly being modified and the functions of the business are not

Siemens Case Study. Exam Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Siemens . Exam - Case Study Example Further investigation into the corruption cases involving Siemens shows that there are more cases in its overseas branches where the company maintains slush funds for the purpose of paying bribes as was the case in Greece, where it had a large amount of euros set aside for bribes to win contracts and tenders. The cases involve different governments covering sensitive areas such as intelligence and surveillance. In this cases, top government official in Greece reaped massive gains. Other counties involved in the scandal other than Greece include Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the USA for paying large sums to win contracts. Defenses by the company towards the bribery charges indicate the lack of ethics and it actually admits to have paid bribes to different companies and different government officials. One of the main defense claims was that it was never a crime to bribe a company outside of Germany, in the cases that occurred prior to 2002. This covered cases that occurred from 1999 and up until 2002, in which case the bribery became public knowledge in 2003. The validity of the claims made by Siemens were questionable and were deemed to be invalid following the existence of regulation outlawing bribery of companies outside of Germany before 2002 as it was still effective before 1999. The ethical standing of Siemens in this case indicates that the company is ethically corrupt when a utilitarian approach is used to define the case of Siemens. This is where the company overlooked the effects of its action towards other well deserving companies prior to bribery to win foreign contracts. As such, the company sought the cheapest way to bring business to itself while ruining other companies instead of following the right channels as expected. The main concern for the company lies with the shareholder and its ability to maintain their wealth as well as increase it. Therefore, this drives the company towards bribery as the immediate economic benefits are appealing and rewarding, while the long-term can be borne by future leaders of the same company saving shareholder a lot of immediate trouble in poor share sales. Using the different theories of ethics to discern this issue brings utilitarianism into perspective, as it is the only theory that focuses on the product and not on the means through which it is achieved. In any case, when it does pay attention to the means through which objectives are achieved, it only does so in relation to the cheapest and most convenient way and not on its impact on others. Thus, Siemens paid attention to the utilitarian theory that saw it ignore fundamental knowledge on bribery to bring unfair advantage and profits to itself denying other firms their own fair chance at winning contracts the legal way. In addition, the company could have used other means to secure contracts in foreign countries without having to pay bribes such as improving their own conduct, as considering the amount of funds used in bribes and com paring it to the profits, legal business would result in better returns. This denies the executives a proper defense since it does not even safeguard the interests and needs of the shareholders since when caught

What Was The Dominant Theological Issues At Stake In The Resolution Of Essay

What Was The Dominant Theological Issues At Stake In The Resolution Of Nicene Crede - Essay Example It was not a new concept that was brought in by the Nicene Crede; it was an agreement between the east and the west on the basis of Christian theology. In AD 325, the first Ecumenical Council adopted the Nicene Crede. This listed out the basic tenets that would make the Nicene Crede as accepted by the Ecumenical church. Ecumenical was a world wide general council that adopted the standard practices that the church should follow and this applied to all the churches everywhere in the world. Therefore, Nicene Creed can be looked at as the set of rules that were adopted by the entire world for the church. The Nicene Creed went through changes in the Constantinople Council in 381 AD (Collins, Ken., 2006). The canons went through alterations and included the terms 'and the son' in the decrees in addition to the 'holy spirit'. This council firmed the Nicene Creed and indicated that no more creeds will be recognised by the Ecumenical council. Whereas Nicene Creed was about one and the only Holy Spirit and his one and only son, there were other theologies that came out in the later creeds like Chalcedonian, Apostle and others. Nicene Creed has been accepted by a number of Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Some of the Protestant churches are also subscribers to these thoughts. Nicene Creed puts the entire Christian theology as accepted by the Ecumenical council into a summary or doctrine. History is resplendent with the changes that were brought into the creed at different points of time. The changes that were introduced in the creed were brought in by the western thinking Roman Catholics mostly and many changes in these were subsequently accepted. Nicene Creed was later etched on stone and metal to be made the basic faith on which Christianity laid its stress on. In short, Nicene Creed theology espouses the cause of one universal God and his Son, who was born as the saviour of the world and the human beings here. He was the one who came in the body of the human being and He was the one who was resurrected on the third day after He was crucified by Pontius Pilate. He will come back again on the judgement day to judge the dead and the living. Every true Christian would believe in the Holy Spirit and would worship the Father and the Son. There is only one Single Church and one Baptism that would forgive all the sins (Creeds, 1997). They would also believe in the 'resurrection of the dead and that the life of the world to come'. Thesis Nicene Creed theology states that there is only one God, the Father. It also believes in the making of the earth and all the things that are visible and invisible by him. The later filioque addition to the theology is in the form of 'the son' in addition to the Father. This meant that the Son was a part of the entire process from the very beginning even before the commencement of the creation. The creed was created to adjudge the faith of the individual and had to insist on the existence of one church for all Catholic and Apostle. The Nicene Creed could therefore, be said in a short summary, that there is only one God, the Father and his Son, and he created the universe and the Son came in the body of the human being to deliver the people off their sins. It also said that they are to be worshipped and glorified and that there is only one church for Catholic and Apostolic communions. It also said that there will be a judgement day when the world, both the dead and the living will be j udged and when every person who lived here

Inferences for One Population Standard Deviation Essay Example for Free

Inferences for One Population Standard Deviation Essay The Standard deviation is a measure of the variation (or spread) of a data set. For a variable x, the standard deviation of all possible observations for the entire population is called the population standard deviation or standard deviation of the variable x. It is denoted ÏÆ'x or, when no confusion will arise, simply ÏÆ'. Suppose that we want to obtain information about a population standard deviation. If the population is small, we can often determine ÏÆ' exactly by first taking a census and then computing ÏÆ' from the population data. However, if the population is large, which is usually the case, a census is generally not feasible, and we must use inferential methods to obtain the required information about ÏÆ'. In this section, we describe how to perform hypothesis tests and construct confidence intervals for the standard deviation of a normally distributed variable. Such inferences are based on a distribution called the chi-square distribution. Chi is a Greek letter whose lowercase form is χ. A variable has a chi-square distribution if its distribution has the shape of a special type of right-skewed curve, called a chi-square (χ2) curve. Actually, there are infinitely many chi-square distributions, and we identify the chi-square distribution (and χ2-curve) in question by its number of degrees of freedom. Basic Properties of χ2-Curves are: Property 1: The total area under a χ2-curve equals 1. Property 2: A χ2-curve starts at 0 on the horizontal axis and extends indefinitely to the right, approaching, but never touching, the horizontal axis as it does so. Property 3: A χ2-curve is right skewed. Property 4: As the number of degrees of freedom becomes larger, χ2- curves look increasingly like normal curves. Percentages (and probabilities) for a variable having a chi-square distribution are equal to areas under its associated χ2-curve. The one-standard-deviation χ2-test is also known as the χ2-test for one population standard deviation. This test is often formulated in terms of variance instead of standard deviation. Unlike the z-tests and t-tests for one and two population means, the one-standard deviation χ2-test is not robust to moderate violations of the normality assumption. In fact, it is so non robust that many statisticians advice against its use unless there is considerable evidence that the variable under consideration is normally distributed or very nearly so. The non-parametric procedures, which do not require normality, have been developed to perform inferences for a population standard deviation. If you have doubts about the normality of the variable under consideration, you can often use one of those procedures to perform a hypothesis test or find a confidence interval for a population standard deviation. The one-standard-deviation χ2-interval procedure is also known as the χ2-interval procedure for one population standard deviation. This confidence-interval procedure is often formulated in terms of variance instead of standard deviation. Reference: http://classof1.com/homework-help/statistics-homework-help View as multi-pages

Synergy in Project Management :: Project Management

Project management synergy beyond traditional processes Abstract Project Management - The term that dictates the future of a project. A successful project owes all its credits to the Project Management and the evidence is obvious when the service (result of the project) meets all its expectations. Yet we have witnessed several projects failing even after having a plan in place, following the plan and meeting all the requirements. Why have these projects failed and what more is critical to the success of the project? All projects are conceived with a vision to satisfy certain needs of the business. Hence the beneficiary of these needs become key stakeholders. Appropriate participation of this key stakeholder in steering the project insures the success of the project. Also businesses are impacted by competition and changing market place resulting in skewed expectation management. Managing expectations enhances the success of the project immensely. Now, goal of the project plays a pivotal role and hence respecting it, is an important task, in project management. Governance in projects plays this role in guaranteeing the projects success. This is what I call Project Management Synergy beyond traditional processes. Introduction The connotation that has always been associated with Project Management is more like "€˜an inward focused activity". An assignment given by the customer has to be delivered in time and within cost constraints by working out permutations and combinations of resources across the phases of the project lifecycle. The execution has almost become a mechanical process of following and adhering to a set of predefined rules. What is missed out in the process is the main objective for which the project was conceived, the need, the business requirement. Business Improvement Architect's annual research of project managers at ProjectWorld 2005 in Toronto, Canada indicated that à ¢Ã‚€Â˜Training of Project Sponsors' fifty-eight percent (58%) as something that would benefit them most to improve their ability to manage a project. As well they said they would benefit from 'Communication Skills' (42%) and à ¢Ã‚€Â˜Leadership Skills' (36%). These knowledge areas have increased in importance over previous years. (Figure 1) Migrating from Crisis to Controlled environment is the need of this Era and it can be achieved by Synergistic Project Management. Several research studies indicate that organizations are in a crisis with respect to how projects are managed. The key factors contributing to this crisis that need to be managed is discussed in this paper. Figure 1 * Source  © Business Improvement Architects Stakeholders Participation Right from the initiation stage, a legal contract dominates the relationship between the customer and the vendor based on the terms and conditions.

Free Essays on The Stranger (The Outsider): Freedom and Death :: Camus Stranger Essays

Freedom and Death in The Stranger (The Outsider)  Ã‚      In The Stranger (The Outsider), as in all Camus’ works, Camus’ views on freedom and death – one dependent on the other – are major themes. For Camus, freedom arises in awareness of one’s life, the every-moment life, an intense glorious life that needs no redeeming, no regrets, no tears. Death is unjustifiable, absurd; it is but a reintegration into the cosmos for a â€Å"free† man. Until a person reaches this awareness, life, like death, is absurd, and indeed, generically, life remains absurd, though each individual’s life can be valuable and meaningful to him. In a sense, The Stranger is a parable of Camus’ philosophy, with emphasis on that which is required for freedom. Meursault, hero of The Stranger, is not a person one would be apt to meet in reality in this respect; Meursault does not achieve the awakening of consciousness, so essential to freedom and to living Camus’ philosophy until the very end of the book, yet h e has lived his entire life in according with the morality of Camus’ philosophy. His equivalent in the Christian philosophy would be an irreligious person whose homeland has never encountered Christianity who, upon having it explained by a missionary, realizes he has never sinned. What is the morality, the qualities necessary for freedom, which Meursault manifested? First, the ruling trait of his character is his passion for the absolute truth. While in Meursault this takes the form of a truth of being and feeling, it is still the truth necessary to the conquest of the self or of the world. This passion is so profound that it obtains even when denying it might save his life. Second, and not unrelated to the first, is Meursault’s acceptance of nature as what it is and nothing more, his rejection of the supernatural, including any god. Actually, â€Å"rejection† of God is not accurate until later when he is challenged to accept the concept; Meursault simply has ne ver considered God and religion worthwhile pursuing. The natural makes sense; the supernatural doesn’t. It follows that death to Meursault also is what it is naturally; the end of life, cessation, and that is all. Third, and logically following, Meursault lives entirely in the present. The past is past and dwelling upon it in any mood is simply a waste of the present. As to the future, the ultimate future is death; to sacrifice the present to the future is equivalent to sacrificing life to death.

Interpersonal Needs, Firo

Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation Interpersonal, FIRO, are the relations between people. Each party takes account of the other; behavior is affected by the other or determined by expectations of another. Interpersonal Behavior, otherwise known as FIRO-B, refers to a person’s feelings and actions. People join groups to satisfy interpersonal needs. Interpersonal needs are based on self-image. Being a distinct person – having a particular identity, happens and shows early in the group formation process.Our needs to be included help drive how we communicate, three basic human needs are Inclusion, control and affection. Inclusion The need to matter so people will care about you. Refers to feeling of importance to the extent to which we include ourselves with others. Inclusion reveals itself in people that want to be attended to, wanting to attract attention and/or wanting interaction with others. People with low inclusion needs tend to be introverted and wit hdrawn.An example would be; â€Å"No one is interested in me, because I am worthless, I’m not going to risk being ignored, so I will stay away. † Control Refers to feelings of competence, being seen as able to cope with the world, to the extent of which we control other’s actions or desire for them to guide us. If inclusion is about belonging, then control is about winning. A person seeking inclusion wants to be part of the argument, win or lose. One seeing control wants to win, even if he’s not accepted by the group. Control also deals in areas of power, influence and authority.Someone in the extremes of control needs, desire the control over others – and over one’s future, or the desire to be controlled – to have responsibility lifted The person who will not take responsibility for anything, an example, â€Å"Whatever you say boss. † Affection Refers to the feeling of being lovable, definition in your text is simplistic. An a mount to which we express affection to others and desire that from them. Close emotional feelings between two people – only between two people. Inclusion needs and control needs can exit between dyads or etween one person and the group. Last phase to emerge in human relationship Conclusions Inclusion is about prominence, control is about winning and affection is about interpersonal relationships. In inclusion phase people encounter each-other and decide if they will continue the association. In control the confront each other and work out how they will be related. In order to continue the relationship, affection ties must form and people must embrace each other to form a lasting bond, and also say goodbye. Control deals with power while affection deals with emotional ties.Get down to business vs. get to know each other. References Class Book Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills Custom Tenth Edition David W. Johnson, Frank R. Johnson Websites * About Personality htt p://www. aboutpersonality. co. uk/about_firob. html * Cowsfrommywindow http://www. cowsfrommywindow. com/assessmentsfirob. php * Leadership Champions http://leadershipchamps. wordpress. com/2011/03/28/firo-b-an-excellent-instrument-to-assess-your-interpersonal-behavioral-needs/ * Wikipedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fundamental_interpersonal_relations_orientation

The Return: Midnight Chapter 23

In the car, Matt sat by the sleeping Meredith with Saber crammed in at their feet, listening in shock and horror as they recounted Meredith's story. When they were done, he was able to speak about his own experiences. â€Å"I'm going to have nightmares al my life about Cole Reece,†he admitted. â€Å"And even though I slapped an amulet on him, and he cried, Dr. Alpert said he was Stillinfected. How can we fight something this far out of control?† Elena knew he was looking at her. She dug her nails into her palms. â€Å"It isn't that I haven't tried to use Wings of Purification over the town. I've tried so hard that I feel as if I'l burst. But it's no good. I can't control any Wings Powers at all! I think – after what I've learned about Meredith – that I may need training. But how do I get it? Where? From who?† There was a long silence in the car. At last Matt said, â€Å"We're al in the dark. Look at that courtroom! How can they have so many werewolves in one town?† â€Å"Wolves are sociable,†Stefan said quietly. â€Å"It looks as if there is a whole community of werewolves in Ridgemont. Seeded among the various Bear and Moose and Lions Clubs of course. For spying on the only creatures they're scared of: humans.† At the boardinghouse Stefan carried Meredith to the first-floor bedroom and Elena pul ed the covers over her. Then she went to the kitchen, where the conversation was continuing. â€Å"What about those werewolves'families? Their wives?†she demanded as she rubbed Matt's shoulders where she knew the muscles must hurt fiercely from being handcuffed behind his back. Her soft fingers soothed bruises, but her hands were strong, and she kept kneading and kneading until her own shoulder muscles began to swear at her†¦and beyond. Stefan stopped her. â€Å"Move over, love, I've got evil vampire magic. This is necessary medical treatment,†he added sternly to Matt. â€Å"So you have to take it no matter how much it hurts.†Elena could Stillfeel him, if faintly, through their connection and she saw how he anesthetized Matt's mind and then dug into the knotted shoulders as if he was kneading stiff dough, meanwhile reaching out with his Powers of healing. Mrs. Flowers came by just then with mugs of hot, sweet cinnamon tea. Matt drained his mug and his head fel back slightly. His eyes were shut, his lips parted. Elena felt a huge wave of pain and tension flood away from him. And then she hugged both of her boys and cried. â€Å"They picked me up on my own driveway,†Matt admitted as Elena sniffled. â€Å"And they did it by the book, but they wouldn't even look at the – the chaos al around them.† Mrs. Flowers approached again, looking serious. â€Å"Dear Matt, you've had a terrible day. What you need is a long rest.†She glanced at Stefan, as if to see how this would impact him, with so few blood donors. Stefan smiled reassuringly at her. Matt, Stillbeing kneaded pliant, had just nodded. After that his color started coming back and a little smile curved his lips. â€Å"There's m'main man,†he said, when Saber butted his way through traffic to pant directly in Matt's face. â€Å"Buddy, I love your dog breath,†he declared. â€Å"You saved me. Can he have a treat, Mrs. Flowers?†he asked, turning slightly unfocused blue eyes on her. â€Å"I know just what he'd like. I have half a roast left in the refrigerator that just needs to be heated a bit.†She punched buttons and in a short while, said, â€Å"Matt, would you like to do the honors? Remember to take the bone out – he might choke on it.† Matt took the large pot roast, which, heated, smel ed so good it made him aware that he was starving. He felt his morals col apse. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, do you think I could make a sandwich before I give it to him?† â€Å"Oh, you poor dear boy!†she cried. â€Å"And I never even thought – of course they wouldn't give you lunch or dinner.† Mrs. Flowers got bread and Matt was happy enough with that, bread and meat, the simplest sandwich imaginable – and so good it curled his toes. Elena wept just a little more. So easy to make two creatures happy with one simple thing. More than two – they were al happy to see Matt safe and to watch Saber get his proper reward. The enormous dog had fol owed every movement of that roast with his eyes, tail swishing back and forth on the floor. But when Matt, Stillchomping, offered him the large piece of meat that was left, Saber just cocked his head to one side, staring at it as if to say, â€Å"You have to be joking.† â€Å"Yes, it's for you. Go on and take it now,†Mrs. Flowers said firmly. Final y, Saber opened his enormous mouth to take hold of the end of the roast, tail twirling like a helicopter blade. His body language was so clear that Matt laughed out loud. â€Å"This once on the floor with us,†Mrs. Flowers added magnificently, spreading a large rug over the kitchen floorboards. Saber's joy was only surpassed by his good manners. He put the roast on the rug and then trotted up to each of the humans to push a wet nose into hand or waist or under a chin, and then he trotted back and attacked his prize. â€Å"I wonder if he misses Sage?†Elena murmured. â€Å"I miss Sage,†Matt said indistinctly. â€Å"We need al the magic help we can get.† Meanwhile Mrs. Flowers was hurrying around the kitchen making ham and cheese sandwiches and bagging them like school lunches. â€Å"Anybody who wakes up tonight hungry must have something to eat,†she said. â€Å"Ham and cheese, chicken salad, some nice crisp carrots, and a big hunk of apple pie.†Elena went to help her. She didn't know why, but she wanted to cry some more. Mrs. Flowers patted her. â€Å"We are al feeling – er, strung out, â€Å"she announced gravely. â€Å"Anyone who doesn't feel like going right to sleep is probably running on too much adrenaline. My sleeping aid wil help with that. And I think we can trust our animal friends and the wards on the roof to keep us safe tonight.† Matt was practical y asleep on his feet now. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers – someday I'l repay you†¦but for now, I can't keep my eyes open.† â€Å"In other words, bedtime, kiddies,†Stefan said. He closed Matt's fingers firmly around a packed lunch, then steered him toward the stairs. Elena gathered several more lunches, kissed Mrs. Flowers twice, and went up to Stefan's room. She had the attic bed straightened and was opening a plastic bag when Stefan came in from putting Matt to bed. â€Å"Is he okay?†she said anxiously. â€Å"I mean, wil he be okay tomorrow?† â€Å"He'l be okay in his body. I got most of the damage healed.† â€Å"And in his mind?† â€Å"It's a tough thing. He just ran smack into Real Life. Arrested, knowing they might lynch him, not knowing if anybody would be able to figure out what had happened to him. He thought that even if we tracked him it would come down to a fight, which would have been hard to win – with so few of us, and not much magic left.† â€Å"But Saber fixed 'em,†Elena said. She looked thoughtful y at the sandwiches she'd laid out on the bed. â€Å"Stefan, do you want chicken salad or ham?†she asked. There was a silence. But it was moments before Elena looked up at him in astonishment. â€Å"Oh, Stefan – I – I actual y forgot. I just – today has been so strange – I forgot – â€Å" â€Å"I'm flattered,†Stefan said. â€Å"And you're sleepy. Whatever Mrs. Flowers puts in her tea – â€Å" â€Å"I think the government would be interested in it,†Elena offered. â€Å"For spies and things. But for now†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She held her arms out, head bent back, neck exposed. â€Å"No, love. I remember this afternoon, if you don't. And I swore I was going to start hunting, and I am,†Stefan said firmly. â€Å"You're going to leave me?†Elena said, startled out of her warm satisfaction. They stared at each other. â€Å"Don't leave,†Elena said, combing her hair away from her neck. â€Å"I had it al planned out, how you'l drink, and how we'l sleep holding each other. Please don't leave, Stefan.† She knew how hard he found it to leave her. Even if she was grimy and worn out, even if she was wearing grungy jeans and had dirt under her fingernails. She was endlessly beautiful and endlessly powerful and mysterious to him. He longed for her. Elena could feel it through their bond, which was beginning to hum, beginning to warm up, beginning to draw him in close. â€Å"But, Elena,†he said. He was trying to be sensible! Didn't he know she didn't want sensible at this particular moment? â€Å"Right here.†Elena tapped the soft spot on her neck. Their bond was singing like an electric power line now. But Stefan was stubborn. â€Å"You need to eat, yourself. You have to keep your strength up.† Elena immediately picked up a chicken salad sandwich and bit into it. Mmm†¦yummy. Real y good. She would have to pick Mrs. Flowers a wildflower bouquet. They were al so well taken care of here. She had to think of more ways to help. Stefan was watching her eat. It made him hungry, but that was because he was used to being fed round the clock, and not used to exercise. Elena could hear everything through their connection and she heard him thinking that he was glad to see Elena renewing herself. That he had learned discipline now; that it wouldn't do him any harm to go to bed one night feeling hungry. He would hold his sleepy adorable Elena al night. No! Elena was horrified. Since he'd been imprisoned in the Dark Dimension, anything that hinted at Stefan going without fil ed her with appal ing terror. Suddenly she had trouble swal owing the bite she'd taken. â€Å"Right here, right here†¦please?†she begged him. She didn't want to have to seduce him into it, but she would if he forced her to. She would wash her hands into pristine cleanliness, and change into a long, clinging nightgown, and stroke his stubborn canines in between kisses, and touch them with her tongue tip gently, just at the base where they wouldn't cut her as they responded and grew. And by then he would be dizzy, he would be out of control, he would be hers completely. All right, All right! Stefan thought to her. Mercy! â€Å"I don't want to give you mercy. I don't want you to let me go,†she said, holding her arms out to him, and heard her own voice soft and tender and yearning. â€Å"I want you to hold me and keep me forever, and I want to hold you and keep you forever.† Stefan's face had changed. He looked at her with the look he'd worn in prison when she had come to visit him in an outfit – very unlike the grubby one she wore now – and he'd said, bewildered, â€Å"Al this†¦it's for me?† There had been razor wire between them then. Now there was nothing to separate them and Elena could see how much Stefan wanted to come to her. She reached a little farther and then Stefan came into the circle of her arms and held her tightly but with infinite care not to use enough strength to hurt her. When he relaxed and leaned his forehead against hers, Elena realized that she would never be tired or sad or frightened without being able to think of this feeling and that it would uphold her for the rest of her life. At last they sank down together on the sheets, comforting each other in equal measure; exchanging sweet, warm kisses. With each kiss, Elena felt the outside world and al its horrors drift farther and farther away. How could anything be wrong when she herself felt that heaven was near? Matt and Meredith, Damon and Bonnie would surely al be safe and happy too. Meanwhile, every kiss brought her closer to paradise, and she knew Stefan felt the same way. They were so happy together that Elena knew that soon the entire universe would echo with their own joy, which overflowed like pure light and transformed everything it touched. Bonnie woke and realized she had only been unconscious for a few minutes. She began to shiver, and once she started she couldn't seem to stop. She felt a wave of heat envelop her, and she knew that Damon was trying to warm her, but Stillthe trembling wouldn't go away. â€Å"What's wrong?†Damon asked, and his voice was different from usual. â€Å"I don't know,†Bonnie said. She didn't. â€Å"Maybe it's because they kept starting to throw me out the window. I wasn't going to scream about that,†she added hastily, in case he assumed she would. â€Å"But then when they talked about torturing me – â€Å" She felt a sort of spasm go through Damon. He was holding her too hard. â€Å"Torturing you! They threatened you with that?† â€Å"Yes, because, you know, Misao's star bal was gone. They knew that it had been poured out; I didn't tel them that. But I had to tel them that it was my fault that the last half got poured out, and then they got mad at me. Oh! Damon, you're hurting me!† â€Å"So it was your fault it got poured out, was it?† â€Å"Well, I figure it was. You couldn't have done it if I hadn't gotten drunk, and – wh-what's wrong, Damon? Are you mad too?†He real y was holding her so that she real y couldn't breathe. Slowly, she felt his arms loosen a little. â€Å"A word of advice, little redbird. When people are threatening to torture and kil you, it might be more – expedient – to tel them that it's someone else's fault. Especial y if that happens to be the truth.† â€Å"I know that!†Bonnie said indignantly. â€Å"But they were going to kil me anyway. If I'd told about you, they'd've hurt you, too.† Damon pul ed her roughly back now, so that she had to look him in the face. Bonnie could also feel the delicate touch of a telepathic mind probe. She didn't resist; she was too busy wondering why he had plum-colored shadows under his eyes. Then he shook her a little, and she stopped wondering. â€Å"Don't you understand even the basics of self-preservation?†he said, and she thought he looked angry again. He was certainly different from any other time that she'd seen him – except once, she thought, and that was when Elena had been â€Å"Disciplined†for saving Lady Ulma's life, back when Ulma had been a slave. He'd had the same expression then, so menacing that even Meredith had been frightened of him, and yet so fil ed with guilt that Bonnie had longed to comfort him. But there had to be some other reason, Bonnie's mind told her. Because you're not Elena, and he's never going to treat you the way he treats Elena. A vision of the brown room rose before her, and she felt certain that he would never have put Elena there. Elena wouldn't have let him, for one thing. â€Å"Do I have to go back?†she asked, realizing that she was being petty and sil y and that the brown room had seemed like a haven just a little while ago. â€Å"Go back?†Damon said, a little too quickly. She had the feeling that he'd seen the brown room too, now, through her eyes. â€Å"Why? The landlady gave me everything in the room. So I have your real clothes and a bunch of star bal s down there, in case you weren't through with one. But why would you think you might have to go back?† â€Å"Well, I know you were looking for a lady of quality, and I'm not one,†Bonnie said simply. â€Å"That was just so I could change back into a vampire,†Damon said. â€Å"And what do you think is holding you up in the air right now?†But this time Bonnie knew somehow that the sensations from the â€Å"Never Ever†star bal s were Stillin her mind and that Damon was seeing them too. He was a vampire again. And the contents of these star bal s were so abominable that Damon's stony exterior final y cracked. Bonnie could almost guess what he thought of them, and of her, left to shiver under her one blanket every night. And then, to her total astonishment, Damon, the ever-composed, brand-new vampire blurted, â€Å"I'm sorry. I didn't think about how that place would be for you. Is there anything that wil make you feel better?† Bonnie blinked. She wondered, seriously, if she were dreaming. Damon didn't apologize. Damon famously didn't apologize, or explain, or speak so nicely to people, unless he wanted something from them. But one thing seemed real. She didn't have to sleep in the brown room anymore. This was so exciting that she flushed a little, and dared say, â€Å"Could we go down to the ground? Slowly? Because the truth is that I'm just terrified of heights.† Damon blinked, but said, â€Å"Yes, I think I can manage that. Is there anything else you'd like?† â€Å"Well – there are a couple of girls who'd be donors – happily – if – well – if there's any money left – if you could save them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Damon said a little sharply, â€Å"Of course there's some money left. I even wrung your share back out of that hag of a landlady.† â€Å"Well, then, there's that secret that I told you, but I don't know if you remember.† â€Å"How soon do you think you'l feel well enough to start?†asked Damon.