Breast Cancer Essay - 1204 Words

BREAST CANCER I) Anatomy of the breast nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The breast is a gland designed to make milk. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; II) What is breast cancer? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;These abnormal growths are called tumors. Not all tumors are cancerous. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Non-cancerous tumors – benign nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Cancerous tumors – malignant nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;If not treated the cancer may spread to other parts of the body. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the†¦show more content†¦V) Breast cancer types nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ductal Carcinoma in-situ nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Infiltrating Ductal – most common type nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Medullary Carcinoma nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Infiltrating Lobular nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Tubular Carcinoma nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mucinous Carcinoma nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Inflammatory Breast Cancer VI) Screening and testing nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Brest self exam nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Breast physical exam – help to find lumps that women may miss with their own nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;self-exams. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mammogram - include 2 views of both breasts nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;detect calcifications, cysts and fibroadenomas nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ultrasound – sends high frequency sound waves through the breast and converts nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;them to images – complements other testing nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – usesShow MoreRelatedBreast Cancer And Cancer Prevention2347 Words   |  10 Pages INTRODUCTION Statistics indicate that breast cancer-related complications are among the top causes of death among women for over 23% of all women’s deaths in the world (Donepudi et al., 2014). The great cases of breast cancer are attributed to lack of information on and hard data on the disease, especially on early diagnosis and treatment options. In America, breast cancer is among the top causes of cancer-related deaths, and the mortality rate is relatively high as compared to the neighboring countriesRead MoreThe For Breast Cancer Action1612 Words   |  7 Pagesintention to give some part of the profit towards breast cancer causes. Ironically, the money made from this marketing will often not significantly benefit somebody with breast cancer. The pink ribbon was originally created by the Susan G Komen foundation yet anybody can use this symbol, because there is no intellectual copyright on it. Pinkwashing is term was first coined by the organization called breast cancer action, whose m ission is to â€Å"Breast Cancer Action’s mission is to achieve health justiceRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer Essay1433 Words   |  6 PagesBreast cancer is a carcinoma that develops due to malignant cells in the breast tissue. Cancerous cells are more likely to produce in the milk-producing ducts and the glands, ductal carcinoma, but in rare cases, breast cancer can develop in the stromal, fatty, tissues or surrounding lymph nodes, especially in the underarm (Breast Cancer). For women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer death – behind skin cancer. While treatment or surgeries canRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1346 Words   |  6 Pagesinternational symbol for breast cancer support and awareness. Breast cancer knows neither racial boundaries nor age restrictions. Females of all ages and ethnicities can develop breast cancer and it is the leading most common cancer among women. Calling at tention to this often fatal disease is important by supporting its victims, families and friends of victims, as well as raising funds for breast cancer research. Though males are not immune from developing a breast cancer, for the purposes of thisRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer946 Words   |  4 PagesSkylar Steinman Period 6 Ms. Jobsz 12 February , 2016 Breast Cancer It is commonly known that Breast Cancer is one of the most insidious diseases that mankind has had to deal with. With the discovery of the BRCA1( BReast Cancer gene one) and BRCA2 (BReast Cancer gene two) genes, breast cancer can be detected with a great amount of certainty on a genetic level in some women and men. 40,000 women and men die of breast cancer each year. Knowing this it is very important to try to detect the mutationRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1530 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Cancer† is the name for a group of diseases that start in the body at the cellular level. Even though there are many different kinds of cancer, they all begin with abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These abnormal cells lump together to form a mass of tissue or â€Å"malignant tumor†. Malignant means that it can spread to other parts of the body or Metastasize . If the breast is the original location of the cancer gr owth or malignant tumor, the tumorRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer Essay1741 Words   |  7 Pages Internationally, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer related death amongst women. (CITE) Each year an estimated 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide, and more than 500,000 women will die of the disease. (CITE) According to (CITE), somewhere in the world one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 19 seconds and more than three women die of breast cancer every five minutes worldwide. (CITE) Breast cancer is a heterogeneous condition thatRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1372 Words   |  6 PagesBreast Cancer Disease Overview Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. (Only skin cancer is more common.) About one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Researchers estimate that more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2015. Cancers occur when aRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1471 Words   |  6 PagesBreast cancer Introduction to Breast cancer Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer only surpassed by lung cancer. It involves a cancerous tumour located inside the breast but spreads if treatment is not administered. (Evert et al 2011) Breast cancer can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages but becomes progressively more difficult upon reaching more advancing malignant stages. Breast cancer can be confused with being a female only disease however both sexes suffer. AccordingRead MoreBreast Cancer : Cancer And Cancer1921 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Cancer is a term that every individual on this planet wants to avoid hearing when they go to their yearly check up at the doctors. However, as person ages, they are prone to develop some sort of sickness and most of the time, they could develop cancer of some sort. For this research paper, I am going to go over breast cancer. Breast cancer is a well-known type of cancer with awareness events going on to support both women and men who has breast cancer. According to American Cancer Society

Islam, By Michael Lipka And Conrad Hackett - 1606 Words

Today, religion is a very controversial topic; and perhaps the most controversial religion of all, is Islam. Islam is the world s second largest religion after Christianity, and the fastest growing religion in the world. Research conducted by Michael Lipka and Conrad Hackett found that, Muslims will grow more than twice as fast as the overall world population between 2010 and 2050 and, in the second half of this century, will likely surpass Christians as the world’s largest religious group. With so many different views on what a Muslim is or should be; one may wonder what Islam actually teaches. If it truly what the media portrays it to be, then we all have a very good reason to be afraid. While many people combat stereotyping, I have developed quite a few negative views about Islam over the years, due to my horrible experiences with Islam. Although I despise stereotyping, I believe that many stereotypes exist for good reasons. Just like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is a monotheistic religion; meaning it is centered on the worship of one divine creator. Most Muslims would agree that Islam is a peaceful religion, and many Muslims claim that the word Islam translates to peace in Arabic. However, this is false, the word Islam actually means Surrender. Islam is a very strict religion, focusing heavily on what you do during the time that you’re alive, rather than what you believe. Many rules must be followed at all times. A person who breaks one of those rules

International Capital Market Law

Question: Briefly explain the difference between a Commercial Letter of Credit, and a Demand Guarantee or Bank Guarantee, also known as a Standby Letter of Credit. Discuss briefly how each major variety of documentary credit is used in the market. Answer: Letter of credit: Letter of credit is a financial instrument, which is issued by the bank to the seller on the behalf of its customers. Thus, if buyers fail to make the payment so that bank will be liable to collect the purchase amount from the buyers. However, letter of credit often issued for international trade business (Sumangil, 2011). Bank guarantee: Bank guarantee is also a financial instrument, having almost similar function that of a letter of credit it means to ensure the liability of debtor will be met. Letter of credit and bank guarantee is the important financial instrument in the international market. Although, in a letter of credit, bank assures the seller that it will receive an amount to provide the goods and services to its buyers for a period of time. Hence, if the buyer fails to make the payment of goods and services so that bank will be liable to cover the cost of liability from the seller. But at the same time, bank guarantee agree to cover the liability (Onyiriuba, 2015). Thus bank contract between seller and buyer to cover debt amount, which is incurred by the buyer. Consequently, contract agreement reduces the financial risk in the market. However, letter of credit is a written document, which has some obligation for the fulfillment of the contract. Thus, the bank pays the total amount to the seller. On the other hand, in the bank guarantee, the seller receives the amount without any obligation as per in the contract. Moreover, letter of credit is mostly used in international business. Whereas bank guarantees are often used in real estates and infrastructure development, which overcomes the credit risk in the market (Todd, 2013). Simultaneously bank guarantee have a large market as compared to the letter of credit. Though, letter of credit issued by the lending institution i.e. import LCs, export LCs, revocable LCs, etc. whereas, bank guarantees comes in payment guarantee, loan guarantee, deferred payment guarantee, trade credit guarantee, etc. Furthermore, letter of credit issued subject to UCP600 that means UCP is the rules, which is prepared by the ICC banking commission. While bank guarantee issues the subject to U RDG758. However, in a letter of credit, the beneficiary receives the amount when he fulfills his duties (Parameswaran, 2011). At the same time, in bank guarantee, beneficiary claims its payment from the guarantor bank in case beneficiary fulfills his duties. Similarly, Letter of credit makes the transaction plain whereas bank guarantee mitigates the loss during failure of the transaction planned. Apart from this, merchants choose a letter of credit for effective delivery and payment system (Brooke and Buckley, 2016). But at the same time, in bank guarantee contractors proves their financial credibility due to effective bidding in infrastructure projects. Moreover, letter of credit is usually used for the international dealings that ensure the payment will be received. As well as, it reduces the nonpayment delivered goods risk in the market. Letter of credit helps to increase the business at international level. Similarly, seller easily calculates the payment date of goods with the help of a letter of credit. Whereas bank guarantee provides the protection to seller and buyer, repayment of advance payment deliveries is made on time, etc. (Onyiriuba, 2015). References Sumangil, C.A. (2011) Keys to Understand Documentary Letters of credit. UK: Lulu Press. Onyiriuba, L. (2015) Emerging Market Bank Lending and Credit Risk Control: Evolving Strategies to Mitigate Credit Risk, Optimize Lending Portfolios, and Check delinquent Loans. UK: Academic Press. Todd, P. (2013) Bills of Lading and Bankers' Documentary Credits. UK: Taylor Francis. Parameswaran, S. (2011) Fundamentals of Financial Instruments: An Introduction to Stocks, Bonds, Foreign Exchange, and Derivatives. USA: John Wiley Sons. Brooke, M.Z. and Buckley, P.J. (2016) Handbook of International Trade. UK: Springer.

Organizations culture

Introduction Culture in an organization refers to the values, beliefs, history and attitudes of a particular organization. Culture also refers to the ideals of an organization that dictate the way members of the organization relate to each other and to the outside environment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organization’s culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More An organization’s culture defines its values; the values of an organization refer to the ideology that the members of an organization have as pertains their goals and the mechanisms to be used to achieve these goals. The organization’s values map out the way employees are required to behave and relate to each other in the workplace (Allan, 2004). There is a very important need to develop healthy cultures in all organizations whether they are religious, commercial or institutional. The culture of an organization determines how it is p erceived both by its own employees and its stakeholders. The managers of an organization are said to be able to influence the culture of the organization. This can be done by the implementation of various policies that lead to a culture change. Many organizations have two types of cultures, the culture that management wants to enforce and a culture that dictates the relationships of the employees among each other. Many institutions have been found to have a persistent and hidden culture among the employees. This is the biggest task to organizational management; how to replace the employee culture with the desired culture (Young, 2007). There are two types of culture; namely strong culture and weak culture. Strong culture is whereby the actions and beliefs of the employees are guided by the values of the company. Such a culture ensures smooth and efficient flow of an organization’s activities. Strong cultures result in successful and united organizations. Weak culture on the o ther hand refers to instances where the activities of the employees are not guided by the values of the company. A weak culture results in the need for a strict administration that is bureaucratic so as to ensure that the company’s activities flow well. Weak cultures result in increased overheads and under motivated employees. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fig. 1: Organization culture (Burke, 1999). There are five dimensions of an organization’s culture namely power distance, risk taking tendencies, gender issues and employee psychology. The power distance aspect refers to the mentality among the employees on who wields more power and how much power they wield. This will vary among organizations as some have more powerful managers as compared to others. Risk taking tendencies refers to the willingness of the employees and the organization to take risks in an attempt to grow and improve (Jack et al, 2003). Employee psychology on the other hand is an aspect that covers issues such as individualism and collectiveness mentalities in an organization. Companies that have a collective psychology have been found to work and do well as compared to individualistic ones. The individualistic psychology has been found to cause a lack of coordination and flow of activities in organizations. Lastly the gender dimension refers to the mentality of an organization’s employees towards members of the male and female genders. Companies that view women as weaker and disadvantaged sexes have been found to discriminate among each other and result in a reduction of the employee cooperation levels (Jack et al, 2003). There are four types of cultures in modern day organizations, role cultures, power cultures, person cultures and task cultures. Role cultures exist in organized and systematic organizations where the amount of power that an employee has is d etermined by the need that they fulfill in the organization. Power cultures are those that have a few powerful individuals who are required to drive and direct the rest of the organization. Person cultures are cultures that exist when an organization’s employees feel superior to the company; this is a common culture in most law firms and firms that are formed by individual professionals who merge with others to form organizations. A tasks culture is a culture that is geared towards accomplishing tasks and doing things. Organisational culture and project management structure It is very important to understand the culture of an organization so as to enable an organization to map out the type of management that suits it. Culture as mentioned, is the accepted standard in which the employees of an organization relate to each other and to the stakeholders.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organization’s culture specifically for you for only $1 6.05 $11/page Learn More There are several factors that affect the culture of an organization. These include technological exposure, environmental conditions, geographical situation, organizational rules and procedures and influence of organizational peers on a subject. Such factors affect the culture of an organization and in the long run its management structure (Johnstone et al, 2002). Organizational cultures can have both positive and negative effects on the organization. Negative and unwanted cultures are those that oppose change in an organization. These cultures have the tendency of inhibiting the innovation and implementation of change in an organization. Therefore the understanding of an organization’s culture can be used to determine: Why certain projects of the organization have failed or are failing Aspects of the culture that hinder innovation and change What needs to corrected so as to improve how the organization operates The origin of certain c ulture within an organization Measures that can be taken so as to introduce new culture or improve on the current culture An in depth understanding of an organization’s culture is important so as to allow project managers and other managers to affect the mode in which activities are carried out. To influence the performance of the organization an understanding of its cultures is very necessary so as it enables the management to filter its employees and choose performers from non performers (Johnstone et al, 2002). The proper understanding of organizational culture and its use in deciding a suitable management structure cannot be stressed further. The success of a project depends on how it is managed. There are three major types of project management namely; project, functional and matrix management structures. Functional management refers to the type of management that focuses on specialty areas and skills. The departments and responsibilities are determined by the skills of the members. There is vertical and horizontal communication between the departments. To allow operation of all arms of the organization bureaucratic means are used so as to ensure smooth flow of the business. This type of management tends to reduce operational costs and encourage the specialization of labour. Specialization in turn leads to better efficiency and standardization of activities. Disadvantages of the functional approach include the integration of budgets, operational plans and procedures into the project activities making it cumbersome to implement (Kloppenborg, 2009). Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fig.1: Functional project management (Young, 2007). Project based organization on the other hand is whereby the activities of a company are organized according to its ongoing projects. This type of management is based on the objectivity principle that emphasizes the importance of solid objectives in improving the efficiency of an organization’s processes. This principle is used in scenarios that require the efficient management of projects that involve activities from different disciplines e.g. medicine, engineering, law. The advantages of such management techniques include the fact that power and responsibility is decentralized and is carried out by managers of different teams. Such a management technique also allows for the proper utilization of time, leads to reduced cost and enhanced quality levels. Such a management technique is suitable for certain company profiles and cultures, for example: Management of large projects and organizations that require the delegation of responsibilities Situations with restricted cost and specification parameters Situations that require the coordination and completion of projects from different but interrelated disciplines In cultures that value responsibility and accountability of ones actions / decisions Cultures that encourage communication among all management levels Fig. 2: Example of a project based management (Allan, 2004). The project based management structure also faces a few limitations like any other structure. Limitations include the inability of a project manager to mobilize all the resources of a company as he has direct control of only what falls under his area of specialty. Employees and managers of such projects have been found to become slack towards the termination of projects due to the fear of losing their jobs once their projects have been completed (Kloppenborg, 2009). Due to the limitations of both the operational and functional management structures the matrix was developed. This structu re combines both structures to form a hybrid structure. In this type of structure there are two types of managers, namely functional and operational who work together in the same system. The functional managers are responsible for the distribution of resources in their specialty departments and the operational managers coordinate and manage the activities of their departments. The functional managers are also responsible for overseeing all the technical decisions that fall under their departments. This method of management has its advantages such as: the project manager oversees all activities that fall under his department. He has all authority and power and thus this eliminates the wastage of time as a result of quarrels and conflicts among the top levels of an organization. Secondly the manager is able to use organization resources in facilitating the execution of the intended goals and objectives of the company. Disadvantages include the conflicts and coercion between project ma nagers and functional managers that is bound to occur in such a setting. This kind of relationship has an eventual effect on employee motivation as it often results in the demoralization of employees (Young, 2007). Fig. 3: Matrix management structure (Burke, 1999) There are various factors that are considered when choosing the management structure of a project. These include the type of activities to be carried out, their importance / order of priority, the human skill required, the amount of time needed and the resources that are required to accomplish the set targets. Situations that require extensive cooperation and interaction of the functions of an organization require matrix types of management. However there is no optimum type of organization and the organization must strive to come up with solutions to its unique needs and situations. For a project to be well managed a healthy culture of communication must be developed. Communication theories propose that the project manage r should always be like the hub of a bicycle. This means that the project manager acts as a focal point through which suggestions and results are received from various stakeholders. The project manager also acts as the supporting point for the communication wheel. It is therefore very important for project managers to assist in maintaining a good communicative culture within the organization (Burke, 1999). Factors such as nature of businesses in which the organization is in, size of projects and type of projects will also have a strong impact on the type of management structure that an organization may use. Formal management structure vs culture of parent organisation Formal management has an overall effect on the operations of an organization. The type of management that an organization has ultimately affects how its activities are carried out. Formal management is important in an organization as it serves as a foundation on which an organization’s goals and principles are g uided. There are various guidelines that dictate the behavior and characters of managers in formal systems. Managers in formal managements are required to have high integrity / moral standards, should be an effective communicators and listeners of others. Managers serve as the basis through which a formal management system is enforced. The project manager should also relate well with people. He should have the ability to motivate and influence his workers positively. The project manager is also bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring that all aspects and stakeholders of a project work together for the common good of the organization. The manager is also responsible for setting time frames and ensuring that the project adheres to the set schedules. This serves the purpose of ensuring that there is timely flow of an organization’s activities. Project managers are also required to make assessment of risks that could affect a project and try to manage the risks. In summary, project managers make up the backbone of any formal project management system and the performance of any project depends on the managers themselves (Burke, 1999). There are three distinct characteristics that define a formal management structure; formality, the presence of groupings and the implementation of various systems. There exist rules and regulations that govern the relationships of the members of the organization. These rules also guide the reporting mechanisms of the members and the responsibilities / power which each member holds. These rules and regulations form the basis of all relationships and activities within the organization. Formal organizations also group their members into teams and taskforces that are designed to suit various needs within the organization. For example accountants will usually be grouped together, designers with fellow designers and so forth. The groupings form departments and many departments form the organization. However formal management has been said to be a very rigid mechanism by which an organization / project should be kept in check. This is because failure on the part of the managers would result in the total collapse of the organization. This is because managers are expected to provide guidance, direction and ensure that all members perform their duties. Culture on the other hand is a better driver as it does not need to be enforced by anyone. Culture is self driven and once the members of an organization have adopted a desirable culture they will conduct themselves in accord to the culture without being supervised by a manager (Johnstone et al 2002). Culture is also a better means of ensuring that a project is completed as it allows people to go out of the set boundaries and make innovations. Culture driven projects are better as they allow for unified and independent thinking at the same time. Whereas a formal management structure relies on the manager to make decisions a culture driven project accepts all dec isions as long as they fall under the culture boundaries of the organization. Formal management structures are slow and time consuming. This is because all major decisions and control is dependent on the managers. This leads to a very slow decision making process as the managers have to receive reports from members, deliberate on the reports and then give their recommendations. In cases where the manager is slow or is not presence this hinders the further development of the project (Young, 2007). Many organizations that employ the formal type of management usually group their employees into departments. The departments are usually made up of people with common skills and areas of expertise. However such departmental setups hinder the exchange and sharing of ideas between people of different areas of expertise. Due to the formal setup members from different departments lack a common factor that would enhance cooperation between the departments. This leads to poor coordination between the departments. In culture driven organizations, the members are unified by the common culture and this enhances the cooperation levels of the employees. Culture driven projects are therefore much more organized and have a better flow of activities as compared to formal projects (Kloppenborg, 2009). Formal management of projects requires the mapping out and development of clear cut systems that will ensure the smooth flow of the project. These systems are essential in ensuring efficient execution of the project and its activities. Culture driven projects however do not need such a system so as to run smoothly. The culture itself forms a dynamic system through which all the activities are executed effectively. Strategic management is a major component of formal management systems. It involves the science and methodologies of formulating cross functional parameters that enable an organization to achieve its objectives. Strategic management involves the development of missions and vi sions, mapping out of objectives and the making of critical decisions for the company (Allan, 2004). Projects in formal management are stepping stones on which a firm uses to achieve its goals and objectives. The project development processes of a firm are driven by its strategic development goals and objectives. Examples of strategic elements include mission, objective, goals, programs and workable strategies. Formal management is however beneficial as it promotes proper and sober decision making as compared to culture based management. This is because decision making and planning activities in a formal management are usually done after careful consideration and assessment. Culture based management is however prone to errors and misguided actions due inadequate consideration and thinking. Conclusion From the study it is evident that culture is an important aspect of any organization. Culture has been found to affect the behavioral attitudes of a company’s employees and the m anner through which these attitudes are manifested. The strong impacts of culture have resulted in the need for managers to find ways to affect the culture of their employees and of the work places. By influencing the culture of an organization the managers are therefore able to influence the way the organization operates. Culture is an unsaid norm which the members of an organization abide to (Jack et al, 2003). Organizations implement different types of organization structures. The type of organization structure implemented depends on the size and project characteristics. The type of project management has an effect on the eventual delivery of the project. The study has shown that there is no perfect method of management. Managers of projects are therefore required to assess and identify the appropriate structure for their specific conditions. Project management structures have a great effect on the quality and effectiveness of the organization’s activities (Allan, 2004). T he study has brought to light the importance of proper culture in an organization. Culture has been found to be a better determinant of employee behavior as compared to formal management. Formal management is dependent on the enforcement of those in authority / wield power. Culture on the other hand is enforced by the members themselves as they are part and pertinent of the culture. Formal management has also been found to be excessively bureaucratic and procedural and thus its implementation is rather cumbersome and expensive. Culture has therefore been found as the most appropriate way of managing a project. References Allan, B., 2004. Project Management: tools and techniques for today’s ILS professional.  London: Facet Publishing. Ashish, D., 2010. Project management Module. Hull: University of Hull. Burke, R., 1999. Project Management, Planning and control Techniques. Chichester: Wiley. Jack, M. Mentel, S., 2003. Project Management: A Managerial Approach. New Jersey: W iley and Sons. Johnston, R. Chambers, S. Slack, N., 2002. Operations management. Essex: Pearson Publishers. Kloppenborg, T., 2009. Project management A Contemporary. Chicago: Xavier University. Young, T., 2007. The Handbook of Project Management, A practical Guide to Effective  Policies and Procedures. Washington: Kogan Page publishers. This essay on Organization’s culture was written and submitted by user Cap'nOz to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom Dental Hygiene Program essay

buy custom Dental Hygiene Program essay Coming from a different cultural background I always had a difficulty in communicating with people as English was my second language. Taking ESL class to help me with my grammar changed me and my life. Initially, I was very timid when I had to speak up in front of the classroom, fearing that people would laugh at me. But I came across other students in my ESL class, who had just moved from different countries and could not even read English. I noticed that as much as I was encountering problems with my English, these other students were having even a harder time. And so my timidity turned to a need to help these students to feel more comfortable in the new environment and help them to cope. With this constant interaction with these students from diverse cultures, I became good friends with a lot of people. In the end, I developed a better understanding and acceptance of others. My ESL teacher became very impressed and rewarded me for helping other students. These experiences progress ively helped to build my confidence and motivated me to pursue excellence in my studies. My interest in dental hygiene started before I got to high school. But it was upon starting high school that it became more profound. And I was fortunate to be selected from one of the sixty students for the Career Day Program at Westlake High School to shadow Dr. Stephen Widner and his staff through a workers perspective. His staff consisted of a surgical techician, a dental hygienist, and registered nurse. Everyday I was exposed to a variety of dental procedures such as cleaning, dental implants, extractions, and jaw surgeries. I especially enjoyed working with a dental hygienist named Cheri, whom I shadowed in patient-care procedures such as doing X-rays, cleanups and removing plaques, as well as teaching patients how to take care of their oral hygiene. The patients who visited were not just from diverse cultures, but also of different ages and coming from different socioeconomic conditions. I witnessed the compassionate spirit in the dental office, which tremendously helped me to improve my communication skills with people. And obviously, I learned more about the field and also got a better understanding about dental hygiene. I was also involved in the American Students Dental Association (ASDA) at the University of Texas, San Antonio. Through ASDA, I interacted with many other students from different cultural backgrounds who shared my interests, as well as professionals in different interrelated fields. Through their knowledge and experiences, I explored further dental hygiene and more detailed. For instance, I was again privileged to shadow Dr. Farrah Agahi DMD, MSD, in her orthodontics office. Her willingness to let me assist her and her staff exposed me to a number of procedures and gave me hands-on experience. Watching her work made mee see the importance of eye-and-hand coordination. Drawing involves more than just passion. It involves accuracy as well, which requires a close coordination between the eye and the hand. This opportunity was a very unique and interesting experience in a dental office. One major lesson that I learnt throughout all these experiences was that when two cultures come together, there is an interaction and exchange of ideas and values, which promotes better growth and understanding of knowledge. My ability to interact and accept people of different cultures from my own will assist me in bringing students from different cultures together. Upon completing my studies on dental hygiene, I would like to gain more experience working hands-on with patients in the dental office. I look forward to being the one to offer assurances as a dental care provider to underprivileged people and teach them the relationship between oral hygiene and how it is related to our general health. TheUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is the place for me to be. It has created the perfect set of programs and curriculum that would assist me in accomplishing my goals. It would be an honor to be given an opportunity to study in your school. A school which draws hard-working students from allover the world and, as a result, presents diversity, and will make a perfect environment for me to study. Buy custom Dental Hygiene Program essay

Is It Time to Subscribe to LinkedIn® Premium

Is It Time to Subscribe to LinkedIn ® Premium You may have been wondering what the difference is between a basic LinkedIn account and a Premium one. Hovering over your photo thumbnail in the upper right corner of your profile will reveal a drop down menu where you can click to try Premium for 1 month free. You will be brought to LinkedIn’s Premium Services Page, where you will then have the option to select a Premium upgrade tailored to whether you are in job search, looking to promote your business, makes sales or hire talent. The cost for each varies and as of January 2017, is as follows: Career: $29.99/mo Business (Business Plus): $47.99/mo Sales (Sales Navigator Professional): $64.99/mo Hiring (Recruiter Lite): $99.95/mo According to LinkedIn Help, a basic account is for anyone who wants to create and maintain a professional profile online. Premium accounts are for those will specific goals, who want to get more out of LinkedIn. My unscientific observation is that more and more people are subscribing to LinkedIn ® Premium. Although I still believe that for most users, a free account will get you most of the value you need,  I feel it’s only fair to mention that there are advantages  to LinkedIn ® Premium. With LinkedIn ® Premium, you get a Premium label in the upper right of your heading that draws attention to your profile. And you have a greater ability to view other people’s profiles, see who has viewed you so you can reach out to them, and write to whomever you want on LinkedIn ®. With Sales Navigator, you’ll have the capability of adding notes and tags for all your connections, a feature that was eliminated from the free account in March 2017. For more about the special features available to Premium users, see LinkedIn Helps Premium Account FAQs under Specific Features Account Types. If these features are important to you, you might choose to subscribe to a paid package and see if you get value that equals or exceeds the investment. I’m holding out for now. 🙂 Log in to Reply Marina says: July 29, 2014 at 4:18 pm Thanks for sharing, Brenda! Ive applied too. Log in to Reply

Teenage Alcoholism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Teenage Alcoholism - Research Paper Example However, when excessive drinking and drinking binges are resorted to, that’s when the trouble starts. A drinking binge can actually lead to alcohol poisoning which can kill a person. â€Å"Alcoholism is a disease that develops over time. It can be treated, but not cured† (Graves 18). II. Causes/Sources Most teens drink alcohol because of peer pressure and want to feel accepted by their close buddies. They feel that if their friends do it, they should too. Sometimes, they want to fit in to the group to achieve popularity in school and be branded as â€Å"cool†. On the other hand, â€Å"many teens drink hoping to find relief from boredom, loneliness, anger, unhappiness or pressure. While the other teenagers perceive drinking as a sign of maturity† (Graves 15). The feeling of maturity gives the teens a temporary license to do whatever they please. Teens are also influenced by the adults surrounding them. Even as young children, when they see their parents are engage in alcohol abuse, they tend to become like them in the future. â€Å"They have a misconception that drinking is an acceptable norm as they see it inside their homes†(Graves 16). Trouble in the home which often times lead to family conflicts, pushes the teens to become alcoholics. Another valid cause which can heavily influence teens is a captivating and luring advertisement. Teens are generally attracted to what they see on television, on the internet, on magazines or even while listening to rock music. Media plays a major role to sway a teen-ager’s choice. â€Å"Television programs an movies often portray drinking in a positive vein, too† (Hyde 13). Most of the time, teens make the wrong options because they do things for the off beam reasons. They are only guided by the way... Most teens drink alcohol because of peer pressure and want to feel accepted by their close buddies. They feel that if their friends do it, they should too. Sometimes, they want to fit into the group to achieve popularity in school and be branded as â€Å"cool†. On the other hand, â€Å"many teens drink hoping to find relief from boredom, loneliness, anger, unhappiness or pressure. While the other teenagers perceive drinking as a sign of maturity† (Graves 15). The feeling of maturity gives the teens a temporary license to do whatever they please.Teens are also influenced by the adults surrounding them. Even as young children, when they see their parents are engaged in alcohol abuse, they tend to become like them in the future. â€Å"They have a misconception that drinking is an acceptable norm as they see it inside their homes†(Graves 16). Trouble in the home which often times lead to family conflicts pushes the teens to become alcoholics.Teens are generally attra cted to what they see on television, on the internet, on magazines or even while listening to rock music. Media plays a major role to sway a teenager's choice. â€Å"Television programs movies often portray drinking in a positive vein, too† (Hyde 13). Most of the time, teens make the wrong options because they do things for the off beam reasons. They are only guided by the way that they feel at the certain moment and fail to use logical basis before arriving at a decision. Examples of these are the fraudulent advertisements which promise joy and pleasure.

The treaty of guadalupe Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The treaty of guadalupe - Research Paper Example Therefore, this decision led to the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe in the late 1840s (Menchaca 215). Since Mexico lost its boundaries, it subsequently lost the current states of Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado including Wyoming. As a result, the country felt the need of finding a solution to compensate the entire loss. A meeting was thus held among commissioners from the two rival countries with the purpose of coming up with some brilliant ideas that would be used in coming up with the final solution (Acuna 123). History reveals that, Nicholas Trist (chief clerk of the State Department) and another American representative to President Polk (General Winfield) set off to meet their Mexican counterpart-General Jose Joaquin. The first meeting bore no fruits and not even a tiny resolution was brought to book (Schultz 422). The delegates to the meeting resolved to arrange for a second one, as their zeal to bring about peace was undoubtedly strong. When the time came , the delegates met a second time, and their talks were in vain lastly coming up without a solution. Failure to come with a long lasting solution meant no peace in the territories USA had acquired from the rival. Thus, USA sent Nicholas Trist for a third time, on the third meeting; he purposely went out to meet other leaders from the fallen government of Mexico. These were, Don Bernado Couto, Don Miguel de Atristain, and don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas. They were all government officials of a government, which in a way had fallen (Porterfield 5). In the treaty, fresh boundaries were set between the two countries, Mexico succeeded to win its bid on a number of territories namely, Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuejiijij o Mexico though not cited in entire treaty. Following the years of 1836, more and precisely straight boundaries were set in an attempt to avoid further war eruptions. The border consisted of Rio Grande at the northwest part with a successive stretch further north to border S anta Fe de Nuevo Mexico. Through the Gila River, to the west, the border took a straight dimension to the port of San Diego (Porterfield 17). This gave a more geographic outlook on the positions of various locations like the Lower California. Mexico realized that it was almost losing some important territories that had steered the occurrence of the war. By the time this realization came, the country had already lost quite a considerable piece of it land to remain on the current area of approximately 1,972,550  km?. as a result, United States succeeded in the seizure of Nevada, California, and Utah with its boundaries cutting further to western parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. At the long run, USA had claimed an additional land of 1.36 million km? naming it the Mexican cession. In accordance to Adams-Onis’ treaty relating to the boundary, Mexico recovered only 45% of the regions fought for. Mexicans agreed in the treaty that Rio Grande would be the Texas border (M enchaca 219). Nicholas Trist and Winfield Scott of the U.S.A conducted the negotiations and drafting of the treaty with the Mexicans since further war would ultimately bear no fruits. This happened in defiance of President’s Polk orders to fight further in an attempt to claim more territories. Trist presented the treaty to the â€Å"House of Senate† in his country U.S.A for complements (Acuna 248). The

Gender and Socialization Essay Example for Free

Gender and Socialization Essay The main purpose of this paper is to focus on gender socialization. Human beings that belong to different societies have varied perceptions, opinions, and manners toward socializing with the same or opposite sex. Categorized in the main gender types, male and female are known to react in different ways when given and exposed in the same situation. Regardless of cultural norms or mores of any society in particular, interaction with peers, family, classmates, and other people depend on the male’s and female’s orientation in gender socialization and gender roles. Some concepts attempt to explain the gender issues faced by the two gender types. These attributions of concepts then play an important role in understanding the different societies’ construct of their existing mechanisms of gender roles and expectations including the societies’ gender markers as determinants of sex and gender (SparkNotes, 2008). Gender Socialization Gender and socialization are two different terms that have a relationship with each other. Gender refers to the behavioral characteristics of an individual regarding an individual’s essence of womanhood or manhood, masculinity or femininity, while socialization refers to the social and interpersonal instincts of human in interacting, communicating, and dealing with others. A newborn infant for instance, may be oriented towards its gender by its first experience of socialization after being born. The infant may be more exposed to male socialization rather than female socialization or vice versa which would later on affect the behavior of the infant while growing up. Another example is the way parents choose what the appropriate toy is to be played by their sons and daughters. Usually, parents buy their baby girl a mini-kitchen or ironing set to orient them (however, it is subconscious for the parents’ part) with the future maternal role. For the baby boy’s part, they are usually given toy trucks or tools for various chores in the house for the same underlying purpose. Moreover, upon receiving the presents, the girls usually react more appreciative and smiling than the boys. The essence of gender socialization then, is for the infants to learn the behavior appropriate for their designated sexes (SparkNotes, 2008). Reaction By the time an infant reaches ten months after the day of birth, gender socialization is already executed through the infant’s interaction with the environment, its family members, and caretakers. This is the time when the infant starts to identify him- or herself in either of the two sexes: male or female. Thus, this is also the time for newborn infants to associate the specific gender roles (the attributes and behavior that the culture constructively defines) that are appropriate for their sex and gender. Later in the life of infants, the effects of the previous experience in gender orientation would reflect in their current behavior. Meanwhile, I should say from personal experience that I was mostly given a Barbie doll for Christmas or birthday present. In so doing, I grew up to become a very neat lady who has the taste for fashion and luxury Further, I attribute the idea that I have become a fashionable and finesse lady to my previous hobby of playing, dressing and undressing my Barbie doll (SparkNotes, 2008). Conclusion Gender socialization teaches the infants that would grow as adults the appropriate roles defined by culture and behaviors that are expected of them by the society. Submission to the expectations of the culture and society is important, as every living individual has to interact with others in whatever society he or she belongs to in order to survive and attain a sense of belongingness. Family, peer groups, school, mass media, and some texts play a part in honing this cultured set of beliefs regarding the appropriate roles and expected behaviors for men and women. Men who are accustomed to playing tough games in their childhood result to be future tough guys and women are the opposite. Reference SparkNotes. (2008). Gender socialization. In SparkNotes 101: Sociology. Retrieved December 9, 2008 from http://www. sparknotes. com/101/sociology/socialization/gender_socialization. html.

Similarities Between Aristophanes Lysistrata and Euripides Medea Ess

Similarities Between Aristophanes' Lysistrata and Euripides' Medea The poetic tone of Aristophanes' Lysistrata differs greatly from the poetic tone of the Greek tragedies we have read in class. However, after analyzing this Greek comedy, it seems to share some of the main characteristics of Euripides' Medea. Within these plays, we meet shrewd, powerful masculine women who use the art of manipulation to get what they want from others and to accomplish their goals. This theme of manipulation is employed through various means and techniques. The women of these plays also seem to contradict the stereotypical woman and have characteristics similar to the Homeric Greek warrior. In the opening scene of the Medea, the nurse tells the audience of Medea's sorrow. Although Medea has done everything possible to please Jason including committing crimes in his behalf, Jason leaves her and decides to wed the daughter of Creon, the king of Corinth. Though Jason is able to manipulate Medea in the beginning, his powers of manipulation are no match for Medea. Jason also tries to rationalize his actions by claiming that his sole purpose in marrying Creon's daughter is to better the lives of Medea and their children. However, after Medea is full of rage, it is impossible for Jason to manipulate her any further. Throughout the rest of the play, we see several examples of her excellent manipulative skills. When Medea admits to her murderous intentions to the women of Corinth, she is able to convince them to keep silent about it. She pleads to them using their feministic views to her advantage. When Aegus, the king of Greece arrives in Corinth, she manipulates him to offers her refuge from her enemies in return for a cure for his in... ...nd coaching them, but never physically joining them in their demonstration against the war. Although Lysistrata is manipulative, her character is more likeable than Medea's character. Lysistrata is not vengeful when carrying out these plans. Although Lysistrata does gain much power when she organized this movement, her intention is not selfish. Lysistrata manipulates these men and women for, what she believes is a greater good, peace. Also, Medea is feared and deemed powerful because of her passionate rages, while Lysistrata's power comes from her ability to remain strong and composed throughout the play. They are both shrewd characters who undermine the stereotypical subservient female. While Lysistrata serves as a great leader and earns the respect of many men and Medea gains power by cruel means, both use manipulative tactics to accomplish their goals.

Feminism Ophelia Hamlet

Aphelion's struggles in the patriarchal society in which she lives and the loss of her identity as a whole, by not only her father, but other authorial males in her life. Throughout the beginning of the play, Aphelia, is used as somewhat of a pawn by all the male figures in her life, emotionally, physically, and even for sheer politics.Her lack of a mother figure and severe dependence on her father and brother, as well as other males, has literally taken away who she really is, her opportunity to make and act on her own decisions. Aphelia is treated by her father as if she is not only his daughter, but his possession. When Aphelia first speaks to her father about Hamlet, he states â€Å"l do not know, my lord, what I should think,† (1. 2). Polonium responds in an authoritative way, basically attesting himself as the decision maker. When he states â€Å"You do not understand yourself so clearly.. â€Å"(l . 3), he attacks her competence to handle herself. He goes on to say â €˜â€ ¦As it behooves my daughter and your honor†(l . 3), making it clear that it would be in her best interest to behave according to the â€Å"set† standards and how she acts and presents herself, reflects onto him as her father and as a member of the kings court. It is clear he doesn't care for Hamlet and ants his daughter to have nothing to do with him, convincing her that she is nothing to him.. But, after hearing more about Hamlet acted towards her by grabbing her and just staring into her, he takes full advantage of the situation and instructs his daughter to behave according to his best interests, to get closer to the king, Claudia.Aphelia, living in a male dominated world, has over the years, lost herself as a person, as a woman, doing things that she wouldn't normally do, such as be a part of her fathers plan to expose Hamlets reason for his â€Å"madness. † During the time when the play was written, women were marginalia, often dewed as property, even with fathers and daughters. In that society a woman would be required to be a dutiful daughter, wife, and mother, and dare not stray away from those approved roles that were placed upon them. Aphelia, growing up always being the dutiful daughter, obeys her fathers wishes and follows through with the plan.The pitfalls to being a dutiful daughter, in her case, is that she lost the one man that made her happy, her lover, not only says horrid remarks to her, but breaks her down, and any little bit of â€Å"reality' she had was lost forever. The hazards of being a dutiful daughter/mother/wife, are always present. There is the immediate consequences, then there are the ones that over time, as her character â€Å"screams† out to the audience, being oneself becomes obsolete. Her brother, Alerter, who is going back to France, also â€Å"advises† his sister to keep away from Hamlet.Expressing that Hamlet being a prince, would marry for the good of the state and due to the differences in class, Hamlet would not marry Aphelia. Alerter also believes that Hamlet cares for her but â€Å"loves† her only for sexual need. â€Å"Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting. † (1. 3). Unfortunately, exposing another â€Å"role† a woman would face in a patriarchal society, sexual roles. He is also concerned with her good name and family reputation, possibly implying that she could get pregnant and he would leave her, thus putting herself in a â€Å"unacceptable† role of a woman; a woman with a past, forever branding her and the family name.Hamlet plays on her emotional strings. He has expressed his love for her and has given her gifts. The sudden death of his father and finding out the reasons behind his death, as well as the disgust of his mother marrying so quickly afterwards, molds Hamlet too man he has never been before; untrusting, and very paranoid about others close to him, and for very good reason. He took out his anger with hi s mother on all who loved him. His only life line was Aphelia, the only one he thought of as true, or tried to make himself believe that she was, by grabbing her and observing her closely, as if he could see right through her.After her ultimate betrayal, by setting him up and lying to him about where her father was, she, cut off his life line. By doing so, he insults her, tells her that he loved her once, and belittles her to no end, until she is ambushed by so many emotions, that she is left in total confusion and heartbreak. With her brother in France, Hamlet rejecting their relationship, Aphelia finds out ere father has been killed by Hamlet. She in a sense, is left â€Å"alone,† and cannot handle herself, without the direction of her father , brother and Hamlet.At this point its clear, Aphelia has gone totally mad, Speaking very little, and if anything it is about her deceased father in chants and song. Now with the males in her life are gone, she has served her purpose i n the story. She starts going down a downward spiral and shortly thereafter, she commits suicide, or at least it was implied that she did, by drowning. In conclusion, although a small, seemingly insignificant character, Aphelia, not only provides the reader to the philanthropic ideals and patriarchal attitudes towards women.But also serves to be somewhat like a mirror to the audience, one by one, â€Å"reflecting† the characters true self/intentions. Maybe being her ONLY purpose in the story to unveil her co-characters motive and who they really are in general. Polonium, her father, uses his daughter as some sort for property, for political gain and interest. Her brother, Alerter, again uses her for political reasons, somewhat, and to protect his name, uses her for the sake of his pride, and introduces sex, as Hamlets true goal with Aphelia.Then Hamlet himself, takes her on a reallocates of love/hate and confusion, labeling her as untrustworthy and corrupt, he destroys her em otional being, rendering her completely helpless and incompetent to handle life on her own. This view was the norm at the time, that many men saw as being true, that a woman will be nothing without a man but also fail to realize that without women men would hardly be anything as well, they need women, as shown in the play, to succeed in their own personal goals, whether financial, political or other. [1180]

Rhetorical Analysis on “An Elementary School in Slum Essay

The poem â€Å"An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum† by Stephen Spender, begins with a stanza depicting the worrying condition of the students in elementary school. As the poem extends further, Spender points out the corruptions in the Government and accuses it for paying little attention to children’s education and health conditions. He argues that the children should break through the confinement of slum, and embrace the beauty of nature. In the slum, Children do not have pleasant moments; they are far away from the â€Å"gusty waves†, and far away from the fields and playgrounds that supposed to accompany them along their childhood memories. They also do not have healthy bodies. A simile compares their hair to â€Å"rootles weed†, which shows that the children are severely malnourished, and are not taken care of. The boy is â€Å"paper-seeming†, and â€Å"of twisted bones†. The â€Å"tall girl with her weighed-down head† implies the fact that she might be looked down by others, and she is physiologically and psychologically fatigue. However, there is â€Å"one unnoted, sweet and young† kid, at the back of the classroom, whose â€Å"eyes live in a dream, of squirrel’s game. † We can see a glimmer of hope from this sweet kid, however, we are not sure if he is simply lost in the â€Å"squirrel’s game†. The school is poorly equipped with donations such as Shakespeare’s portrait that decorates on the â€Å"sour cream walls. † The picture of â€Å"cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities† is in sharp contrast to the dusty sky and shabby building of elementary school in reality. The kids’ future is painted with a fog under a â€Å"lead sky. † The depiction of turbid sky created an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness. Not only the children’s future is foggy and blurred, but also their lives are monotonous and insipid, â€Å"far far from rivers, capes, and the stars of words. The children are confined to the school in slum as well as their imagination. William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright and poet in English language, is â€Å"wicked† to them, because they cannot appreciate the splendidness of language. And â€Å"the map is a bad example, with ships and sun and love tempting them to steal. † The map gives chil dren the taste of charming nature; however, instead of igniting the light of hope, it falsely tempts the children to acquire their goals even at the cost of stealing. They live in â€Å"cramped holes†, a limited and narrow space, with â€Å"slag heap† all around them. Their study environment and living conditions are horrible, that they cannot maintain healthy body, let alone receiving appropriate education. Their future is like â€Å"mended glass,† foggy and blurred, full of despair. The school only operates when â€Å"governor, teacher, inspector, visitor† come to observe, so it does not provide serious teaching. Consequently, â€Å"this map becomes their window and these windows that shut upon their lives like catacombs. † The slum limits the students’ horizon, like catacombs, and the maps are the only way for them to see the world outside. They live in a dream that can never come true as long as they are still in the slum. At last, the poet envisions the students break through the confinement of slum, and finally they can embrace the beautiful nature, that was once on the map but far away from them. Spender harshly criticizes the government’s nonchalance towards the poverty-stricken children, and he appeals to all the people to pay more attention to the children and help ameliorate their education and health conditions. So that they can â€Å"show the children green fields and make their world run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues run naked into books. †

Free Essays on The Internet As A Global Village

Strictly speaking, the term â€Å"Global Village† is an oxymoron. What are some ways today’s international communication system is different from that in a traditional village? Is there another metaphor that is more appropriate? Theoretically, the world’s mass communication system is far from being a village. It has the capacity to reach every corner of the globe at the click of a button via the internet and the technology advances with the television and radio. This new system seems far from complex but differs from previous closed communication systems. In a traditional village, in regards to early newspapers, only the upper class or upper middle class had the opportunity to read and learn about international events. The price for knowledge with previous times was far too expensive for a lower to middle class person. In comparison to today’s communication system, it is easily accessible at low prices. For example, the internet can be found at any public school or library as well as the number of computers in the homes. The internet also opened to door for many other dimensions of the global village. It has allowed many different mass communication agents to be compacted into this low price (as mentioned above). On the internet you can find newspapers, book reviews, radio stations from all around the world, as well as song’s and movies to download and watch, to name only a few. The combination of all of these agents into one place is an innovation that will never be matched. Traditional villages had the means to access only one or two of these agents a day. In regards to television news, once a day at a certain time. News on the internet is updated many times during a day. I think calling the media today a â€Å"Global Village† is a intelligent view. Today’s communications are global. They can stretch to any border and be broadcasted live if intended. While a village refers to a smaller group of people interacting, th... Free Essays on The Internet As A Global Village Free Essays on The Internet As A Global Village Strictly speaking, the term â€Å"Global Village† is an oxymoron. What are some ways today’s international communication system is different from that in a traditional village? Is there another metaphor that is more appropriate? Theoretically, the world’s mass communication system is far from being a village. It has the capacity to reach every corner of the globe at the click of a button via the internet and the technology advances with the television and radio. This new system seems far from complex but differs from previous closed communication systems. In a traditional village, in regards to early newspapers, only the upper class or upper middle class had the opportunity to read and learn about international events. The price for knowledge with previous times was far too expensive for a lower to middle class person. In comparison to today’s communication system, it is easily accessible at low prices. For example, the internet can be found at any public school or library as well as the number of computers in the homes. The internet also opened to door for many other dimensions of the global village. It has allowed many different mass communication agents to be compacted into this low price (as mentioned above). On the internet you can find newspapers, book reviews, radio stations from all around the world, as well as song’s and movies to download and watch, to name only a few. The combination of all of these agents into one place is an innovation that will never be matched. Traditional villages had the means to access only one or two of these agents a day. In regards to television news, once a day at a certain time. News on the internet is updated many times during a day. I think calling the media today a â€Å"Global Village† is a intelligent view. Today’s communications are global. They can stretch to any border and be broadcasted live if intended. While a village refers to a smaller group of people interacting, th...

5 Life Lessons You Can Learn from Martin Luther King, Jr.

5 Life Lessons You Can Learn from Martin Luther King, Jr. There is so much we can all learn from Martin Luther King, Jr, and not just on the day off we get once a year to commemorate his life! But it might not have occurred to you to adapt some of his deep wisdom to your own life and career. Here are 5 powerful lessons from Dr. King that could help you live better, do better, and go further.1. Ask why.And more importantly, ask â€Å"why not?† If someone tells you something is impossible, ask this very important question to figure out why they are so convinced, and whether you might be able to offer a solution no one else had seen. When looking for answers to some of the biggest questions of a generation, Dr. King turned to other sources for inspiration. This  teaches us the answers to our problems will often come from unexpected corners, and how important it is to learn from other people and other cultures as much as we can.2. You can’t change change.Change is constant. Dr. King was initially hesitant to join in the 1963 Mar ch on Washington, but he adapted to the evolving movement and ended up leading one of the most moving and effective platforms for social change. Be adaptable. Realize that change is inevitable. All you can control is what you do in the face of it.3. Find where you can give, not just receive.Dr. King once said, â€Å"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’† In stressful times, it becomes very difficult to focus on anyone but ourselves. But this is a moral requirement, and increasingly more so in our interconnected, fast-paced world. When you’re in a rut, focus on helping people- you’ll be surprised at what a difference that can make.4. Tune out the critics.As long as you’ve chosen a path that’s good and a cause that you are passionate about, and as long as you’re pursuing both with integrity, honesty, and concern for others, then you’ll need to tune out the haters now and then . People will always be critical. Rejection will always happen, particularly in the course of a career. But if you know you’re doing the right thing, you should keep doing it.5. Leave a legacy.Think about what sort of mark you want to leave on the world. Is the work you’re doing going to make a difference to the next generation? Even if you can’t make an impact on the same scale as Dr. King, you can figure out ways to leave your workplace, industry, etc., a little better off for your having been there.

Marketing Audit Approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Audit Approach - Essay Example retaining and growing the value of existing customers-new internal systems and operations are needed to manage the communication demands of relationship marketing. The relevance of marketing audit is the current Marketing management and performance of the organization - the overall marketing strategy of the business and the assumptions on which the strategy is based. The purpose of a marketing audit is not to determine any weaknesses or inefficient activities, but rather to identify whether there are any working practices that could be more effective. The marketing team within a business is fully involved in the marketing audit. They may carry out the audit themselves, or with the support of an outside consultant. A thorough audit of the external and internal environments impacting on marketing is essential in providing the foundation for the marketing plan. A marketing audit is a series of important questions, such as: Consequently, companies are setting up cross-functional processes and making other structural changes to better manage brand relationships. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of such efforts, there is an increasing need to audit these internal processes to make sure that they are, in fact, integrated, and operating efficiently and effectively. Observation, Impact of the observation on marketing objectiv... Impact of the observation on marketing objectives, Recommendations and Final Action of the management to correct the flaw as pointed out in the observation. This can be used to improve current strategies or introduce more effective activities and working practices. The marketing audit aims at observing the functioning of the marketing and sales departments by objectively analyzing the marketing function of a business, by looking in particular at: Efficiency - how the marketing team is structured, the processes employed, and how outside agencies and services are used; this is measured by looking at the infrastructure of the business. Each marketing function is separated into discrete tasks and key issues that affect the business are identified. Effectiveness - results of marketing activity and by looking at how the budget has been spent in relation to the original objectives; this is measured by assessing the impact of the marketing activity, compared to the size of the marketing budget being spent. The marketing spend is analyzed by service, type of activity and intended result Quality - reviewed, by measuring it against external opinions from clients and other stakeholders; this is measured by comparison with 'best practice'. It can also be done by benchmarking. The "benchmark" provides a standard for future campaigns. The cost and impact of marketing is measured against similar activities in other organizations. This information can be difficult to obtain, as it is often confidential. Benchmarking can reap rewards The methods of conducting a marketing audit could be any of the following: 1. Core Competencies Questionnaire: This questionnaire determines the respondents' knowledge of the marketing and marketing communication plans and practices and their attitudes

Conducting a Literature Review; Data Collection Case Study

Conducting a Literature Review; Data Collection - Case Study Example There were almost an equal number of male and female participants who were aged 19 years old and above. The participants were mostly Non-Hispanic Caucasians and only a small number were ethnic minorities such as African-Americans, and Hispanic, among others. They were of varying educational levels. The research employed convenience sampling, gathering related sample by utilizing the patients of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region. They were all provided a health survey questionnaire which gathered information about their demographic profiles and other behavioral and clinical data. The demographic data served as the study’s independent variables while self-reported frequency of SBMG served as the dependent variable. The independent variables were mostly nominal and ordinal in nature while the dependent variable used the scale level of measurement. These information were then analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and means + SD, and the associated P values. In addition, chi-square statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis test, and multivariate logistical regression analysis were likewise used. The results of the study indicate that although most patients reported some level of SMBG monitoring, 60% of those with type 1 diabetes and 67% of those with type 2 diabetes reported practicing SMBG less frequently than recommended by the American Diabetes Association (three to four times daily for type 1 diabetes, and once daily for type 2 diabetes treated pharmacologically). Significant independent predictors of nonadherent practice of SMBG included longer time since diagnosis, less intensive therapy, male sex, age, belonging to an ethnic minority, having a lower education and neighborhood income, difficulty communicating in English, higher out-of-pocket costs for glucometer strips (especially for subjects with lower incomes), smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. This led the researchers to conclude that

TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC - Coursework Example TalkTalk is a company that provides telecommunications, internet, and pay-television services and the headquarters of the company are established in London, United Kingdom (TalkTalkGroup.com). Initially the company was only a fixed landline provider but now the company also provides mobile phone, home phone and broadband services. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (TalkTalkGroup.com). Since the company is incorporated in the United Kingdom therefore the company is bound to fulfill the requirements of the regulations of the UK for the preparation of its annual report (TalkTalkGroup.com). Every company in the UK is required to follow the International Accounting Standards (IASs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Therefore, TalkTalk is also required to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the standards mentioned above. For each head in the financial statements, a specific accounting treatment has been prescribed in the IASs and IFRSs. There are a number of standards that deal with different heads in the financial statements. The financial statements of a company include; statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in equity and the notes to the financial statements. These five documents constitute the financial statements of a company. The statement of comprehensive income provides an extensive view of the revenue earned by the company, the cost incurred by the company throughout the financial year, the profits or loss made by the company. The accounting standards provide certain accounting treatments that are required to be followed for the preparation of the statement of comprehensive income. One of the most important requirements is the treatment regarding recognition of revenue. IAS 18 – Revenue provides the required accounting

The Aspects Of Deep Sea Life

The Aspects Of Deep Sea Life The discoverer of the titanic, Dr Robert Ballard famously referred to the deep sea as far more alien than going to mars or the moon. The deep sea is one of the largest virtually unexplored ecosystems on the planet; it is found at a depth of 1000 fathoms [1] and is subject to adverse changes in temperature, pressure and light penetration amongst other factors. Therefore as expected fish decrease in abundance, and species diversity. This trend is prominent as in order to survive the harsh conditions of the deep sea, fish need a number of specific adaptations. Allowing them to ultimately survive, feed, and reproduce. The deep sea is one of the most hostile environments in the world, which a living organism is subjected to. As you progress from the surface (the epipelagic zone) through to the abyssopelagic zone near the basin of the ocean; the environmental characteristics begin to alter dramatically. Light, pressure, oxygen, temperature and food are abiotic factors that have all led to the fascinating adaptations of deep sea life. Pressure alone increases by 1 atmosphere for each 10m in depth which is an astonishing rate. The deep sea temperature remains between 2-4Â °c, which is just another factor inhabitants must overcome in order to survive, along with a reduced quantity and accessibility of essential factors like ;oxygen, food and light[3]. Figure 1From the surface to its deepest depth the ocean is 11km deep, and with this distance comes a vast change in physiological feature of fish as they try to survive the changing conditions. The bottom of the deep sea exists in darkness as little light penetrates through the surface. Therefore most inhabitants have to rely on their senses to survive. The fish require light to survive; they use it to locate food, during the mating season and to identify prey or predators. It is a vital resource but as light is absent in the deep sea, Many fish have developed special adaptations in order to survive. The viper fish (shown in figure 1) possesses large eyes to catch the little light present. This helps them to locate prey as well as avoid predators. [4] Light cannot penetrate any deeper than the epipelagic layer, therefore the only light present is that produced from the inhabitants themselves. A percentage of deep sea fish are able to create light through the chemical reaction; bioluminescence. Most of the light created by marine organisms is blue-green in colour. As blue light travels best in water and most marine organisms are sensitive to blue light.'[6] Anglerfish produc es the chemical luciferin which reacts with oxygen to create light. The light helps species communicate, attract a mate or prey, or deter predators. As the bioluminescent lure is believe to mimic the movements of zooplankton. [6] Being the lower layer of the ocean, it is no wonder the pressure is immense for the fish of the deep. The pressure exist between 200-600 atm , and in order to survive this immense pressure deep sea creature have special adapted bodies which have no excess cavities, e.g. Swim bladders that would collapse under intense pressure, instead they have neutral buoyancy where there bladders are filled with lipids. The deep sea dragon fish lives at a depth of 5000 meter, to survive the dragon fish has soft ,flabby, flesh and bones this aid its ability to survive under the extreme pressure. The deep waters are extremely cold reaching a maximum temperature of 3 degrees, deep sea temperature is relatively stable with the exception of hydrothermal vent where hot water is emitted, but there is little fluctuation in water temperature. The cold water slows the metabolism of the fish, so many of the deep sea animals move very slow and have special enzymes that deal with the unique environment. The sea cucumbers carry high levels of unsaturated fat in their cell walls to maintain membrane fluidity in this cold, high-pressure environment. The cold water is the poorest environment for oxygen content. As oxygen concentration decrease as the temperature does. Fish have evolved by being more effective at removing oxygen from the water by posing a large gill surface area. However in the deep sea oxygen is not replenished as due to the lack of light penetrating, photosynthesis does not occur. In addition the nutrient salt concentration of the deep sea is much higher than found above a s the sea floor act of a graveyard for dead biological material. Therefore fish of the deep sea have a low metabolic rate to conserve energy reducing their need for oxygen. Also fish posses hemocyanin respiratory protein; this protein has a very high affinity for O2 and large Bohr effects. [6] They also have a short diffuse distance from water to blood allowing the oxygen to be used immediately, satisfying over half of their oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange through the skin, so more oxygen can be collected through the day. Due to the lack of photosynthesis, plant life exists at its lowest percentage in the deep sea. Zooplanktons and phytoplankton rarely find themselves in the deepest depth of the ocean. So many of the deep sea fish are predators but this means food is minimal in the waters. There are a number of fascinating feeding mechanisms that deep sea fish have employed. Firstly the formation and use of the bioluminescence for hunting, fish use their ability to produce light to mimic patterns that attract prey, the angler fish uses light producing bacteria that help create a special fishing rod like fin that hangs over the head. This light helps attract the prey. The viperfish use light in its mouth to lure the prey into its awaiting stomach. [7] Some deep sea fish do migrate upwards during the night when less predatory are present to feed but as food is in such low concentration , energy conservation is a high priority to deep sea fish and therefore most of the fish hunt by the lie and wait metho d. As deep sea fish poses a well developed lateral lines, this is a sense organ that can detect movement and vibrations in the water. This allows the deep sea fish to detect prey passing them so they can dart out to capture them. [8] With the shortage of food available in the deep sea, the inhabitants must be prepared to eat whatever they find and thus must be equipped for this; they have large mouth and huge jaws. piscivorous is a sit and wait predator, its morphological characteristics are large body size, large gape, long sharp depressible teeth and large eyes. Some have non functioning gill racks so that smaller fish can pass through to its mouth easily ,nearly all deep sea fish have protruding, flexible, huge mouth and extended alimentary canal in order to store more food and prolong the digestive time. Other deep sea fish like lamprey feed on the dead carcasses that fall from above, they are adapted to this mode of feeding as they contain barbells around there mouth which help s them feel for food in the mud. But it is the black dragon fish that is most evolved for predation as it has the ability to produce red light below its eye so can see other fauna where most fish have an inability to see red light. In order to live with the lack of food deep sea inhabitants posses a large lipid rich liver that do not function for buoyancy but as an important energy source. This allows them to use this in times of extreme shortage. The most reliable food source for the deep sea environment is the constant rain of organic debris from the organism above. larvaceans have adapted to produce a mucus that can catch this marine snow so it has a steady food supply. With the shortage of food and the increase of carnivores in the deep sea, one of the most important aspects is protection against predators. Deep sea fish have developed many ways to survive the jaws of another inhabitant. Firstly coloration plays a massive role, as fish can produce a variety of colours and some fish like the flat fish can change it coloration to match it surroundings at the time. fish have distinct marking on their body to disguise themselves, the jacknife high hat have dark lines that run through its eyes to hide them, so you cannot tell where the fish or looking or if it is in fact a fish. Butterfly fish trick there predators with the presence of spots on their bodies that resembles eyes. Other fish exhibit collation known as counter shading, this means they are dark on top against the dark background and light on the bottom, so if a fish look up its disguised by the little light showing. Some fish have mirror like scales that reflect the light so the fish will mi rror the background. Most fish that inhabit the deep sea are usually red or transparent as this means they will not be detected by predators. Other forms of protect is the ability to produce venom, sting rays have poison glands that can help catch prey and ecsacpe predators. Others use electric organs that can be used as a defence mechanism or simply to feed . deep sea shrimp has an antennae that sense chemical in the water to help avoid predators whereas giant squid have two eyes , a larger one that looks to the surface catching light , this light in then passed onto the smaller one which can now look down with the possession of light to see any prey or predatory below. Successful reproduction in lightless habitats in based mainly on chemical communication, as the fish must provide effective fertilisation in the absence of any visual orientation [9]. In the deep sea many of the fish are simultaneous hermaphrodites; they can spawn with any individual encounter [10]. Overall reproduction is very similar in the deep ocean to that of the fish at the surface, although fish in the deep sea are known to produce large quantities of sperm and eggs to increase their chances of successful reproduction. The darkness of the habitat makes locating a mate is difficult as they are few and far between, so deep sea fish have evolved to be able to detect the smell of other fish in water, Latern fish have developed small body organs on their sides called photophores, these pigments can produce light that are arranged in specific pattern, these can be seen at long distances and are recognised by potential mates. Viper fish have a unique method of fertilization. Once there eggs are fertilized they float to the surface and become part of plankton, but as larva develop into juveniles they tend descend to the bottom, which mean food is not scarce during their essential development stage. This method increases the survival of viper fish by over 50 %. The angler fish is yet another fish who has a unique method of reproduction , the angler fish method ensure successful reproduction as the male anglerfish has a over developed olfactory organ which allows them to locate the female , the male is small and is therefore more active than the female . Once the female is located the male bites down and becomes a permanent attachment and begins to receive his nourishment from the female while he provides the sperm. The female can have more than one male attach which mean productivity is high and survival is more likely. All fish characteristics their body to suit their environment, deep sea fish are no different those near coral reef are vertically compressed like angel fish; it allows them to move about in the crevices of the reef. As their highest priority is manoeuvrability [11] Sting rays that inhabit the benthic zone of the sea have a depressed shape. They have extended pectoral fins giving them a heart shaped disc. Fish that live on the floor of the ocean rely on their shape and camouflage to catch prey and to survive against predators. The benthic fish bury themselves in the floor of the ocean to hide from their predator; their anterior down turned mouth is useful for bottom feeders. There pectoral fins have sensory receptors and taste buds to locate food. The most amazing adaption of bottom dwelling fish is there negative buoyancy which allows them to lay on the bottom of the ocean with ease. This is just another adaption deep sea inhabitant have secured in order to live. Deep sea fish are often described as bizarre looking as they have adapted their bodies to suit their habitat. These adaptions include large eyes, adjusted body shape, self-luminous cells and sensory organs. The deep sea is virtually unexplored compare to any other environment, meaning knowledge is minimal the only reason for the lack of understanding is our inability to research in the extreme conditions, the fish of this fierce habitat are extremely adapted, removal of the inhabitant alive is rare. proving that deep sea fish have evolved massively. They no longer resemble inhabitant from the layers above. You can go as far as to say they are almost a species of their own. But ultimately adaptations are highly important in surviving any environment but in the deep sea the fish have had to evolve immensely just to survive. [1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats/Deep_sea [2] http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/ocean-layers.html [3] http://marinebio.org/Oceans/Deep [4] http://www.suite101.com/content/adaptations-of-deep-sea-fish-a230044 [] [6] http://www.eoearth.org/article/Bathypelagic_zone?topic=49523 [7] http://www.allthesea.com/Deep-Sea-Fish.html [8] http://www.suite101.com/content/adaptations-of-deep-sea-fish-a230044#ixzz17YRH7Amz [9] Deep sea and extreme shallow water habitats: affinities and adaptions by Franz Uiblein, Jorg Ott and Michael Stacowitsh 1996 [10] http://www.marinebiology.org/fish.htm [11] Adapted from http://www.mbari.org/earth/mar_tech/EITS/ob_deep/od_back.html

Class Distinctions in World War I :: British History

Class Distinctions in World War I Pat Barker's novel Regeneration explores the effects that World War I has on the human condition and more specifically on the condition of the British people. One particular area of exploration is the detrimental presence of class distinctions within the ranks of the British military. This issue of class distinction is addressed specifically on pages 66 and 67 of the novel through a conversation between Billy Prior and Dr. Rivers. The characters' discussion reinforces Barker's theme of the injustices of these class distinctions and the harm they produce on the war front. Class distinctions were only too apparent within Britain's military entities. The Army "structured itself around class" and "in many ways . . . recreated the British class system in miniature: aristocratic generals, middle-class officers, and a working class rank and file" (Robb 84). This structure reinforced on the war front the class distinctions of the home front, and the "long-standing prejudices of the British class system ensured that enlisted men were treated almost like children." Some soldiers played the role of servant and waited on officers of high class who enjoyed luxuries unheard of to those existing in the grime of the trenches (Robb 85). In spite of the large gaps between fellow fighting men as a result of cross over social practices and of class structure within the ranks, the progression of the war caused some class boundaries to begin blurring as a need for more officers arose. The Army's initial officer class of 15, 000 men was expanded with the addition of 235, 000 individuals over the course of the war. The either permanent or temporary commissioning of these individuals gave them the title of "temporary gentlemen" ("Service"). This label of "temporary gentleman" applies to Prior in Barker's story, given his rank of Second Lieutenant. His lower class birth and provisional status place Prior in ridicule's way. During a therapy session with Rivers, Prior is asked how he "fit in" with those on the war front. In response to this question his "face shut[s] tight," and Prior asks, in order to clarify, "You mean, did I encounter any snobbery?" Prior answers his own question in the affirmative and informs Rivers that "it's made perfectly clear" who is immediately accepted at the front and who is not. He cites certain status enhancements such as having attended "the right school" or wearing shirts of "the right colour[,] [w]hich is a deep shade of khaki.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 7

Bonnie was in her new first-floor bedroom, and was feeling very bewildered. Black Magic always made her feel giggly, and then very sleepy, but somehow tonight her body refused to sleep. Her head hurt. She was just about to turn the bedside light on, when a familiar voice said, â€Å"How about some tea for your headache?† â€Å"Damon?† â€Å"I made some from Mrs. Flowers's herbs and I decided to make you a cup as wel . Aren't you the lucky girl?†If Bonnie had been listening closely, she might have heard something almost like self-loathing behind the light words – but she wasn't. â€Å"Yes!†Bonnie said, meaning it. Most of Mrs. Flowers's teas smel ed and tasted good. This one was especial y nice, but grainy on her tongue. And not only was the tea good, but Damon stayed to talk to her while she drank it al . That was sweet of him. Strangely, this tea made her feel not exactly sleepy, but as if she could only concentrate on one thing at a time. Damon swam into her field of view. â€Å"Feeling more relaxed?†he asked. â€Å"Yes, thank you.†Weirder and weirder. Even her voice sounded slow and dragging. â€Å"I wanted to make sure nobody was too hard on you for the sil y mistake about Elena,†he explained. â€Å"They weren't, real y,†she said. â€Å"Actual y everybody was more interested in seeing you and Matt fight – â€Å"Bonnie put a hand over her mouth. â€Å"Oh, no! I didn't mean to say that! I'm so sorry!† â€Å"It's al right. It should heal by tomorrow.† Bonnie couldn't imagine why anyone would be so afraid of Damon, who was so nice as to pick up her mug of tea and say he'd put it in the sink. That was good because she was feeling as if she couldn't get up to save her life. That cozy. That comfy. â€Å"Bonnie, can I ask you just one little thing?†Damon paused. â€Å"I can't tel you why, but†¦I have to find out where Misao's star bal is kept,†he said earnestly. â€Å"Oh†¦that,†Bonnie said fuzzily. She giggled. â€Å"Yes, that. And I am truly sorry to ask you, because you're so very young and innocent†¦but I know you'l tel me the truth.† After this praise and comfort, Bonnie felt she could fly. â€Å"It's been in the same place al the time,†she said with sleepy disgust. â€Å"They tried to make me think they'd moved it†¦but when I saw him chained and going down to the root cel ar I knew they hadn't real y.†In the dark, there was a short shake of curls and then a yawn. â€Å"If they were real y going to move it†¦they should have sent me away or something.† â€Å"Wel , maybe they were concerned for your life.† â€Å"Wha'?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Bonnie yawned again, not sure what he meant. â€Å"I mean, an old, old safe with a combination? I told them†¦that those old safes†¦could be†¦real y be†¦easy to†¦ to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Bonnie let out a sound like a sigh and her voice stopped. â€Å"I'm glad we had this talk,†Damon murmured in the silence. There was no answer from the bed. Pul ing Bonnie's sheet up as high as it would go, he let it drift down. It covered most of her face. â€Å"Requiescat in pace,†Damon said softly. Then he left her room, not forgetting to take the mug. Now†¦ â€Å"him chained and going down to the root cellar.† Damon mused as he washed out the mug careful y and put it back in the cupboard. The line sounded strange but he had almost al the links now, and it was actual y simple. Al he needed were twelve more of Mrs. Flowers's sleeping cachets and two plates heaped with raw beef. He had al the ingredients†¦but he'd never heard of a root cel ar. Shortly thereafter, he opened the door to the basement. Nope. Didn't match the criteria for â€Å"root cel ar†he'd looked up on his mobile. Irritated and knowing that any moment someone was likely to wander downstairs for something, Damon turned around in frustration. There was an elaborately carved wooden panel across from the basement, but nothing else. Curse it, he would not be thwarted at this point. He would have his life as a vampire back, or he didn't want any life at al ! To punctuate the sentiment, he slammed a fist against the wooden panel in front of him. The knock sounded hollow. Immediately al frustration vanished. Damon examined the panel very careful y. Yes, there were hinges at the very edge, where no sane person would expect them. It wasn't a panel but a door – undoubtedly to the root cel ar where the star bal was. It didn't take long for his sensitive fingers – even his human fingers were more sensitive than most – to find a place that clicked – and then the whole door swung open. He could see the stairs. He tucked his parcel under one arm and descended. By the il umination of the smal flashlight he'd taken from the storage room, the root cel ar was just as described: a damp, earthy room to store fruit and vegetables before refrigerators had been invented. And the safe was just as Bonnie had said: an ancient, rusty combination safe, which any whiz cracker could have opened in about sixty seconds. It would take Damon about six minutes, with his stethoscope (he'd heard once that you could find anything in the boardinghouse if you looked hard enough and it seemed to be true) and every atom of his being concentrating on hearing the tumblers quietly click. First, however, there was the Beast to conquer. Saber the black hel hound had unfolded, awake and alert from the moment the secret door had opened. Undoubtedly, they had used Damon's clothes to teach him to howl madly at his scent. But Damon had his own knowledge of herbs and had ransacked Mrs. Flowers's kitchen to find a handful of witch hazel, a smal amount of strawberry wine, aniseed, some peppermint oil, and a few other essential oils she had in stock, sweet and sharp. Mixed, this created a pungent lotion, which he had gingerly applied to himself. The concoction formed for Saber an impossible tangle of strong smel s. The only thing the now-sitting dog knew was that it was surely not Damon sitting on the steps and tossing him hearty bal s of hamburger and delicate strips of filet mignon – each of which he gulped down whole. Damon watched with interest as the animal devoured the mix of sleeping powder and raw meat, tail whisking on the floor. Ten minutes later Saber the hel hound was sprawled out happily unconscious. Six minutes after that, Damon was opening an iron door. One second later he was pul ing a pil owcase out of Mrs. Flowers's antique safe. In the glow of the flashlight he found that he did indeed have a star bal , but that it was just a little more than half ful . Now what did that mean? There was a very neat hole dril ed and corked at the top so that not one precious droplet more need be wasted. But who had used the rest of the fluid – and why? Damon himself had seen the star bal brimful of opalescent, shimmering liquid just days ago. Somehow between that time and now someone had used about a hundred thousand individuals'life energy. Had the others tried to do some remarkable deed with it and failed, at the cost of burning so much Power? Stefan was too kind to have used so much, Damon was certain of that. But†¦ Sage. With an Imperial Summons in his hand, Sage was likely to do anything. So, sometime after the sphere had been brought into the boardinghouse, Sage had poured out almost exactly half the life force from the star bal and then, undoubtedly, left the rest behind for Mutt or someone to cork. And such a colossal amount of Power could only have been used for†¦opening the Gate to the Dark Dimensions. Very slowly, Damon let out his breath and smiled. There were only a few ways to get into the Dark Dimensions, and as a human he obviously could not drive to Arizona and pass through a public Gateway as he had the first time with the girls. But now he had something even better. A star bal to open his own private Gateway. He knew of no other way to cross, unless one was lucky enough to hold one of the almost-mythical Master Keys that al owed one to roam the dimensions at wil . Doubtless, someday in the future, in some nook, Mrs. Flowers would find another thank-you note: this time along with something that was literal y invaluable – something exquisite and priceless and probably from a dimension quite far from Earth. That was how Sage operated. All was quiet above. The humans were relying on their animal companions to keep them safe. Damon gave the root cel ar a single look around and saw nothing more than a dim room completely empty except for the safe, which he now closed. Dumping his own paraphernalia into the pil owcase, he patted Saber, who was gently snoring, and turned toward the steps. That was when he saw that a figure was standing in the doorway. The figure then stepped smoothly behind the door, but Damon had seen enough. In one hand the figure had been holding a fighting stave almost as tal as it was. Which meant that it was a hunter-slayer. Of vampires. Damon had met several hunter-slayers – briefly – in his time. They were, in his consideration, bigoted, unreasonable, and even more stupid than the average human, because they'd usual y been brought up on legends of vampires with fangs like tusks who ripped out the throats of their victims and kil ed them. Damon would be the first to admit that there were some vampires like that, but most were more restrained. Vampire hunters usual y worked in groups, but Damon had a hunch that this one would be alone. He now ascended the steps slowly. He was fairly certain of the identity of this hunter-slayer, but if he was wrong he was going to have to dodge a stave launched straight down at him like a javelin. No problem – if he were stil a vampire. Slightly more difficult, unarmed as he was and at a severe tactical disadvantage. He reached the top of the stairs unharmed. This was real y the most dangerous part of climbing steps, for a weapon of just the right length could send him crashing al the way back down. Of course a vampire wouldn't be permanently injured by that, but – again – he was no longer a vampire. But the person in the kitchen al owed him to climb al the way out of the root cel ar unhindered. A kil er with honor. How sweet. He turned slowly to measure up his vampire hunter. He was immediately impressed. It wasn't the obvious strength that al owed the hunter to be able to whip off a figure eight with the fighting stave that impressed him. It was the weapon itself. Perfectly balanced, it was meant to be held in the middle, and the designs picked out in jewels around the handhold showed that its creator had had excel ent taste. The ends showed that he or she had a sense of humor as wel . The two ends of the stave were made of ironwood for strength – but they were also decorated. In shape, they were made to resemble one of humankind's oldest weapons, the flint-tipped spear. But there were tiny spikes extruding from each of these â€Å"spear flakes,†set firmly into the ironwood. These tiny spikes were of different materials: silver for werewolves, wood for vampires, white ash for Old Ones, iron for al eldritch creatures, and a few that Damon couldn't quite work out. â€Å"They're refil able,†the hunter-slayer explained. â€Å"Hypodermic needles inject on impact. And of course different poisons for different species – quick and simple for humans, wolfsbane for those naughty puppies, and so on. It real y is a jewel of a weapon. I wish I had found it before we met Klaus.† Then she seemed to shake herself back into reality. â€Å"So, Damon, what's it going to be?†asked Meredith.