A Rose by Any Other Name: the Pros and Cons for Each Alternative Essay

What is the best marketing strategy for Rose Partyware? In both options – becoming a manufacturer for Party! private label line of party goods or launching of a branded line of party ware – Rose company will face some issues and will embraced some opportunities. In my opinion, there are pros and cons for each alternative: 1. Becoming a manufacturer for Party! Pros: †¢The possibility to become the manufacturer for one of the biggest retail chain in the field with 300 stores †¢Access granted to a huge market having in mind that retail chains are more and more developing in to the first choice of customers in terms of shopping †¢The sales of Rose Company made through Party! represent 20% of total sales. †¢ Rose products will have a very good exposure on the shelves of Party!, along with merchandising support and sharply reducing the number of competitors. †¢Eliminating the advertising costs Cons: †¢Risk of product’s cannibalization   Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Losing brand personality – Having no decision capacity regarding the design of the products. †¢35% of total sale are coming from independent shops. Moreover, Tom consider that this type of partners were always a great source of good ideas and encouragement and he felt that he owns them a part of his company success. By accepting Party’s! proposal Rose company assumes the risk of losing the partnership with independent shops. †¢Rose brand is a strong one in this field. Their products are the best in terms of quality and customers appreciation. If they accept Party! proposal it occur the risk of losing brand awareness among the customers †¢Lack of trust in retail chains policy regarding the amount of payment for the manufactured products. †¢Losing the opportunity to take advantage of a next-generation technology. †¢Lack of pride among the employees 2. Implement the new technology Pros: †¢Increase brand power which allow Rose to stay ahead of its rivals. †¢This next generation technology will give the opportunities of reducing the total costs by eliminating the expensive filmmaking process. †¢A market research conducted by the company it reveal that, both customers and distributors have positive remarks about the new concept. †¢Some studies results show that the customers are willing to pay even more for Rose’s new brand than it was suggested to them. So the company has the possibility to increase the price by 6-7% at their new products in order to cover the expenses with advertising. †¢Keeping the innovative spirit of the company Cons: †¢Risk involved by price increasing †¢Customers inconstancy regarding what they say in a market research program vs. what they do in a real life situation As we can see, both alternatives imply as well opportunities and risks. If I were the decision maker in this case I would surely choose the alternative to implement the new technology that will allow the company to create innovative products. I would take this decision based on short and medium/long terms factors. On short term, in terms of sales the actual partnership with Party! represent 20% of total sales while the one with independent shops is 35% of total sales. The diminishing of eventual loses, it can be crucial for the business. In addition, as Tom stated, the independent shops represented a success factor in growth of Rose Company over the years. On a medium/long terms the company has the opportunity to be the pioneer in developing a innovative product with a positive impact among clients and distributors. Is a great opportunity to increase the power of the brand and to put its mark over the entire partyware industry.

Nat King Cole

David Chen MUEL 2752 Dr. Daniel Jones Pre-Rock Era Project: Nat King Cole There is no questioning Nat King Cole’s place as one of the most influential and important American popular musicians in history. Although he was initially known as an innovative and skilled jazz pianist, his singing allowed him to become highly successful in the realm of popular music, more specifically in the big band and jazz genres. Nathaniel Adams Coles was born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1919 (Ruhlmann par. 3). His family moved to Chicago in 1921, where he began to play the piano at age four and took classical lessons at age 12 (Ruhlmann par. ). When he was 15, Cole dropped out of high school in order to pursue a career as a jazz pianist (Ruhlmann par. 4). In 1937, Cole formed the King Cole Trio and began doing live performances and occasional recordings for small labels as well as some radio work. After releasing successful singles such as â€Å"That Ain’t Right† and â€Å" All for You,† the King Cole Trio was signed by Capitol Records in 1942 (Teachout par. 15). Cole began to utilize his voice increasingly, and critics began to notice the King Cole Trio’s increasing tendency to emphasize popular music as early as 1945 (Teachout par. 0). In 1951, Cole officially disbanded the King Cole Trio and continued his successful career as more of a standup singer than as a pianist (Teachout par. 25). Cole continues to sell great quantities of music today. However, despite his popularity, Cole has often been the subject of criticism. Many criticize Nat King Cole for compromising his artistic integrity as a jazz musician in order to achieve commercial success. Some even consider his increasing popularity and shifting musical style to be â€Å"betrayal† (Ruhlmann par. 1). One article from NPR music argues that Cole’s â€Å"singing clearly betrayed his jazz sensibilities,† while another even goes as far as to call Cole a â€Å"failed jazzman† (NPR par. 5, Teachout par. 5). Contrary to these critics, Nat King Cole’s transition from pure jazz into popular music only added to his greatness as a musician and as a prominent public figure. Cole still must be considered one of the most important and influential jazz musicians in American music history, and his conversion from pure jazz to the commercial realm of music in fact allowed him to break important racial oundaries in the world of popular culture. Despite accusations that his transition into popular music weakened his integrity as a musician and an artist, Nat King Cole left an indelible mark upon both jazz and popular music during his lifetime. Gunther Schuller, author of The Swing Era, remarks that Cole was â€Å"not only one of the most outstanding jazz pianists of his day but stylistically one of the most advanced† (Teachout par. 4). Many important jazz pianists were influenced by the piano playing of Cole, including Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Hank Jones (Teachout par. 4). It is clear that while Cole is often known only as a popular singer, jazz musicians appreciate his tremendous skill and artistry as a jazz pianist. Nat King Cole’s influence upon jazz did not stop at his playing and improvisational skills. When invited to play at a Hollywood nightclub called the Swannee Inn, Cole decided not to use a drummer (Teachout par. 14). Inadvertently, Cole had utilized the â€Å"jazz trio†, a lineup that consisted only of a piano, guitar and bass. While Cole was not the first to use this setup, jazz experts often argue that he was the first to fully grasp the musical possibilities of this unique instrumentation. According to Terry Teachout of American Scholar, most pianists in groups without drummers tended to overplay in order to fill the musical space and provide additional rhythm; Cole, however, simplified his playing and created a new type of jazz sound (Teachout par. 15, HOWZE par. 6). The King Cole Trio’s lineup was emulated by numerous musicians, including Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Charles Brown, and Ray Charles, and, some assert, helped lead the way in small band jazz (Ruhlmann par. ). Cole explored entirely new territory in jazz, surpassing the influence of other popular musicians of his time. Rather than staying within the confines of jazz as the world knew it, Cole actually created new styles and novel ways of using old instruments, thus furthering the development of jazz as an art form. Nat King Cole’s conversion from pure jazz into popular music, while despised by some, actually increased his significance in popular culture and music. Cole’s status as a popular singer in fact allowed him to reach audiences and to break boundaries he could never have broken as a pure jazz musician. Starting in the 1930s, Cole’s piano style and jazz instrumentation defined the jazz-piano trio; however, it was not until he began to sing that he became a â€Å"consummate and world-famous entertainer† (HOWZE par. 1). Connaitre Miller, a fine arts professor at Howard University, notes that Cole was the first jazz singer promoted on television (Foster par. 6). It was mainly Cole’s popularity as a singer, and not as a jazz musician, that allowed him to be featured on television. If Cole had remained within the confines of instrumental jazz, he may have silenced jazz critics who accuse him of betraying jazz, but he also would not have been able to spread his jazz-influenced singing to such a wide audience as the one afforded him by his television appearances. Nat King Cole’s popularity as a jazz singer even allowed him to challenge racial boundaries of his time. The King Cole Trio was, according to Terry Teachout, about as popular as a black unit could be within the confines of jazz and show business, and â€Å"[broke] through the concrete ceiling that kept most black musical acts from reaching the highest peaks of celebrity† (Teachout par. 14). On November 5, 1956, The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC and became the first of its kind hosted by an African-American (Noble). On one notable occasion, Nat Cole was not allowed to stay at certain hotels or visit certain casinos in Las Vegas. Eventually, Cole sought legal action against those hotels and clubs, using his celebrity status to challenge Las Vegas’s intolerant system (HOWZE par. 6). While Cole’s status as a pure jazz musician may have been jeopardized by his transition into popular music, this very transition allowed him to effectively attack significant racial issues, an undertaking he could not have dreamed of as a jazz musician with a much smaller following. Nat King Cole may be the perfect example of an artist turned popular entertainer. As a jazz musician, Cole was almost unparalleled. Nat King Cole was certainly considered by jazz fans, musicians, and critics to be a leading jazz pianist, and often played in respected jazz venues such as the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts (Murph par. 8). Furthermore, Cole all but pioneered the â€Å"jazz trio,† a lineup that was highly emulated and influential in the development of jazz, proving that he was not only a highly skilled and respected jazz musician, but also an innovative and original one. Later, as a popular singer, he gained a tremendous monetary and commercial success as well as a massive audience. Even though he lost the respect of certain jazz purists, he gained much more influence upon pop culture, and using this influence, Cole popularized and cemented jazz’s influence on popular music while even addressing racial boundaries of his time. These accomplishments would have been much more difficult, or even impossible, to achieve if Cole had remained a pure jazz musician. In this sense, studying the career of Nat King Cole may yield important insights pertaining to the boundary between classical and popular music. As a purely classical musician, a musician such as Nat King Cole may be much more respected within followers of that particular musical genre; however, throughout history, musical figures who have crossed the line between classical, artistic music and popular music are much more memorable than those who do not. By entering popular culture, musicians are much more likely to have the ability to affect significant issues of the time. For example, Bono of U2 or Angelina Jolie possess a relatively great sphere of influence when it comes to political causes. If neither were as engrained in popular culture as they are, it would be safe to say that they would not bring as much attention to the issues they care about. By gaining popularity, prominent figures also gain influence within popular culture and maybe even on the course of history. Although sometimes criticized by jazz purists, Nat King Cole’s commercial success in fact allowed him to affect American popular culture in unprecedented ways and secured his status as one of the most important musicians of his time. Works Cited Foster, Shivonne. â€Å"Cole’s Memory, Legacy is Unforgettable. † The Hilltop (2007). March 2010 < http://www. thehilltoponline. com> Howze, Margaret â€Å"Jazz Profiles from NPR: Nat ‘King’ Cole: the Pianist. † NPR 2010. 9 March 2010 http://www. npr. org/programs/jazzprofiles Murph, John. â€Å"Nat King Cole: Getting their Kicks. † Jazz TimesMay 2009. 9 March 2010 http://jazztimes. com Noble, Amy. â€Å"The Story of Nat King Cole. † March 1998. 9 March 2010 http://members. pcug. org. au Ruhlmann, William. â€Å"Nat King Cole. † All Music Guide 9 March 2010 http://www. pandora. com Teachout, Terry. â€Å"Nat King Cole. † American Scholar 61. 3 (1992): 437-443. 6 March 2010 http://web. ebscohost. com/

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 17

â€Å"Her name's Ulma,† a voice said, and Elena looked down to find Lakshmi holding back the curtains of the litter with a hand over her head. â€Å"Everybody knows Old Drohzne and his slaves. He beats 'em until they pass out and then expects 'em to pick up his rickshaw and go on carrying a load. He kills five or six a year.† â€Å"He didn't kill this one,† Elena murmured. â€Å"He got what he deserved.† She squeezed Ulma's hand. She was vastly relieved when the litter stopped and Damon himself appeared, just as she was about to start bargaining with one of the litter bearers to carry Ulma in their arms to the doctor. Without regard for his clothing, Damon still somehow managed to convey disinterest even as he picked up the woman – Ulma – and nodded to Elena to follow him. Lakshmi skipped around him and took the lead into an intricately patterned stone courtyard and then down a crooked hallway with some solid, respectable-looking doors. Finally, she knocked on one and a wizened man with a huge head and the faintest remnant of a wispy beard opened the door cautiously. â€Å"I don't keep any ketterris here! No hexen, no zemeral! And I don't do love spells!† Then, peering short-sightedly, he seemed to focus on the little group. â€Å"Lakshmi?† he said. â€Å"We've brought a woman who needs help,† Elena said shortly. â€Å"She's pregnant, too. You're a doctor, aren't you? A healer?† â€Å"A healer of some limited ability. Come in, come in.† The doctor was hurrying into a back room. They all followed him, Damon still carrying Ulma. Once she arrived, Elena saw that the healer was in the corner of what looked like a crowded wizard's sanctuary, with quite a bit of voodoo and witch doctor thrown in. Elena, Meredith, and Bonnie glanced at one another nervously, but then Elena heard water splashing and realized that the doctor was in the corner because there was a basin of water there, and the healer was washing his hands thoroughly, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and making a lot of frothy bubbles. He might call himself a â€Å"healer,† yet he did understand basic hygiene, she thought. Damon had put Ulma onto what looked like a clean white-sheeted examining table. The doctor nodded to him. Then, tch-tching, he pulled out a tray of instruments and set Lakshmi about fetching cloths to clean the cuts and staunch the profuse bleeding. He also opened various drawers to pull out strong-smelling bags and stood on a ladder to pull down clumps of herbs that were strung from the ceiling. Finally he opened a small box and took a pinch of snuff, himself. â€Å"Please hurry,† Elena said. â€Å"She's lost a lot of blood.† â€Å"And you've lost not a little,† the man said. â€Å"My name is Kephar Meggar – and this would be Master Drohzne's slave, yes?† He peered at them, looking somehow as if he were wearing glasses, which he wasn't. â€Å"And you would be slaves, too?† He stared at the single rope Elena was still wearing, and then at Bonnie and Meredith, each wearing the same. â€Å"Yes, but – † Elena stopped. Some infiltrator she was. She'd very nearly said â€Å"But not really; it's just to satisfy convention. She settled for saying, â€Å"But our master is very different from hers.† They were very different, she thought. Damon didn't have a broken neck, for one thing. And for another, no matter how vicious and deadly he might be, he would never strike a woman, much less do something like this to one. He seemed to have some kind of internal block against it – except when he was possessed by Shinichi, and couldn't control his own muscles. â€Å"And yet Drohzne allowed you to bring this woman to a healer?† The little man looked doubtful. â€Å"No, he wouldn't have let us, I'm sure,† Elena said flatly. â€Å"But please – she's bleeding and she's going to have a baby†¦.† Dr. Meggar's eyebrows went up and down. But without asking anyone to leave while he treated her, he pulled out an old-fashioned stethoscope and listened carefully to Ulma's heart and lungs. He smelled her breath, and then gently palpated her abdomen below Elena's bloody camisole, all with a professional air, before tipping to her lips a brown bottle, from which she drank a few sips, then sank back, her eyes fluttering closed. â€Å"Now,† the little man said, â€Å"she's resting comfortably. She'll need quite a bit of stitching of course, and you could use a few stitches yourself, but that's as your master says, I suppose.† Dr. Meggar said the word master with a definite implication of dislike. â€Å"But I can almost promise you that she won't die. About her babe I don't know. It may come out marked as a result of this business – striped birthmarks, perhaps – or it may be perfectly all right. But with food and rest† – Dr. Meggar's eyebrows went up and down again, as if the doctor would have liked to say this to Master Drohzne's face – â€Å"she should recover.† â€Å"Take care of Elena first, then,† Damon said. â€Å"No, no!† Elena said, pushing the doctor away. He seemed like a nice man, but obviously around here, masters were masters – and Damon was more masterful and intimidating than most. But not, at this moment, to Elena. She didn't care about herself right now. She'd made a promise – the doctor's words meant that she might be able to keep it. That was what she cared about. Up and down, up and down. Dr. Meggar's eyebrows looked like two caterpillars on one elastic string. One lagged a little behind the other. Clearly, the behavior he was seeing was abnormal, even liable to be punished by serious means. But Elena only noticed him peripherally, the way she was noticing Damon. â€Å"Help her,† she said vehemently – and watched the doctor's eyebrows shoot up as if they were aimed for the ceiling. She'd let her aura escape. Not completely, thank God, but a blast had definitely discharged, like a flash of sheet lightning in the room. And the doctor, who wasn't a vampire, but just an ordinary citizen, had noticed it. Lakshmi had noticed it; even Ulma stirred on the examining table uneasily. I'm going to have to be a whole lot more careful, Elena thought. She cast a quick look at Damon, who was about to explode, himself – she could tell. Too many emotions, too much blood in the room, and the adrenaline of killing still pulsing in his bloodstream. How did she know all that? Because Damon wasn't perfectly in control, either, she realized. She was sensing things directly from his mind. Best to get him out of here quickly. â€Å"We'll wait outside,† she said, catching his arm, to Dr. Meggar's obvious shock. Slaves, even beautiful ones, didn't act that way. â€Å"Go and wait in the courtyard then,† the doctor said, carefully controlling his face and speaking to the air in between Damon and Elena. â€Å"Lakshmi, give them some bandages so they can staunch the young girl's bleeding. Then come back; you can help me.† â€Å"Just one question,† he added as Elena and the others were walking out of the room. â€Å"How did you know that this woman is pregnant? What sort of spell can tell you that?† â€Å"No spell,† Elena said simply. â€Å"Any woman watching her should have known.† She saw Bonnie flash her an injured look, but Meredith remained inscrutable. â€Å"That horrible slaver – Drogsie – or whatever – was whipping her from the front,† Elena said. â€Å"And look at those gashes.† She winced, looking over two stripes that crossed Ulma's sternum. â€Å"In that case, any woman would be trying to protect her breasts, but this one was trying to cover her belly. That meant she was pregnant, and far along enough to be sure about it, too.† Dr. Meggar's eyebrows drew down and together – and then he looked up at Elena as if peering over glasses. Then he nodded slowly. â€Å"You take some bandages and stop your own bleeding,† he said – to Elena, not to Damon. Apparently, slave or not, she had won some kind of respect from him. On the other hand, Elena seemed to have lost stature with Damon – or at least, he'd cut his mind off from hers quite deliberately, leaving her with a blank wall to stare at. In the doctor's waiting room, he waved an imperious hand at Bonnie and Meredith. â€Å"Wait here in this room,† he said – no, he ordered. â€Å"Don't leave it until the doctor comes out. Don't let anyone in the front door – lock it now, and keep it locked. Good. Elena is coming with me into the kitchen – that's the back door. I do not want to be disturbed by anyone unless an angry mob is threatening the house with arson, do you understand? Both of you?† Elena could see Bonnie about to blurt out, â€Å"But Elena's still bleeding!† and Meredith was with her eyes and brows calling council on whether or not they needed to hold an immediate velociraptor sisterhood rebellion. They all knew Plan A for this: Bonnie would throw herself into Damon's arms, passionately weeping or passionately kissing him, whichever best fit the situation, while Elena and Meredith came at him from the sides and did – well, whatever had to be done. Elena, with one flash of her own eyes, had categorically nixed this. Damon was angry, yes, but she could sense that it was more with Drohzne than with her. The blood had agitated him, yes, but he was used to controlling himself in bloody situations. And she needed help with her wounds, which had begun to hurt seriously, ever since she'd heard that the woman she had rescued would live, and might even have her baby. But if Damon had something on his mind, she wanted to know what it was – now. With one last comforting glance at Bonnie, Elena followed Damon through the kitchen door. It had a lock on it. Damon looked at it and opened his mouth; Elena locked it. Then she looked up at her â€Å"master.† He was standing by the kitchen sink, methodically pumping water, with one hand clenched against his forehead. His hair hung over his eyes, getting splashed, getting wet. He didn't seem to care. â€Å"Damon?† Elena said uncertainly. â€Å"Are you†¦all right?† He didn't answer. Damon? she tried telepathically. I let you get hurt. I'm fast enough. I could have killed that bastard Drohzne with one blast of Power. But I never imagined you'd get hurt. His telepathic voice was at once filled with the darkest kind of menace imaginable and a strange, almost gentle, calm. As if he were trying to keep all the ferocity and anger locked away from her. I couldn't even tell him – I couldn't even send words to him to tell him what he was. I couldn't think. He was a telepath; he would have heard me. But I didn't have any words. I could only scream – in my mind. Elena felt a bit light-headed – a little more light-headed than she'd already been feeling. Damon was feeling this anguish – for her? He wasn't angry about her flagrantly breaking rules in front of crowds, maybe breaking their cover? He didn't mind looking bedraggled? â€Å"Damon,† she said. He'd surprised her into speaking out loud. â€Å"It – it – doesn't matter. It's not your fault. You would never even have let me do it – † â€Å"But I should have known you wouldn't ask! I thought you were going to attack him, to jump on his shoulders and throttle him, and I was ready to help you do that, to take him down like two wolves taking down a big buck. But you're not a sword, Elena. Whatever you think, you're a shield. I should have known that you would take the next blow yourself. And because of me, you got – † His eye drifted to her cheekbone and he winced. Then he seemed to get a grip on himself. â€Å"The water is cold, but it's pure. We need to clean those slashes and stop that bleeding now.† â€Å"I don't suppose there's any Black Magic around,† Elena said, half jokingly. This was going to hurt. Damon, however, immediately began opening cupboards. â€Å"Here,† he said after checking only three, triumphantly coming up with a half-full bottle of Black Magic. â€Å"Lots of doctors keep this as a medicine and anesthetic. Don't worry; I'll pay him well.† â€Å"Then I think you should have some, too,† Elena said boldly. â€Å"Come on, it'll do us both good. And it won't be the first time.† She knew that the last sentence would clinch it with Damon. It would be a way of getting back something that Shinichi had taken from him. I'll get the whole of his memories back from Shinichi somehow, Elena decided, doing her best to screen her thoughts from Damon with white noise. I don't know how to do it, and I don't know when I'll get the chance, but I swear I will. I swear. Damon had filled two goblets with the rich, heady-smelling wine and was handing one to Elena. â€Å"Just sip at first,† he said, helpless but to fall into the role of instructor. â€Å"This is a good year.† Elena sipped, then simply gulped. She was thirsty and Clarion Loess Black Magic wine didn't have any alcohol – as such – in it. It certainly didn't taste like regular wine. It tasted like remarkably refreshing effervescent spring water that was flavored with sweet, deep, velvety grapes. Damon, she noticed, had forgotten to sip as well, and when he offered her a second glass to match his, she accepted willingly. His aura sure had calmed down a lot, she thought, as he picked up a wet cloth and began, gently, to clean the cut that almost exactly followed the line of her cheekbone. It had been the one to stop bleeding first, but now he needed to get the blood flowing again, to cleanse it. With two glasses of Black Magic on top of no food since breakfast, Elena found herself relaxing against the back of the chair, letting her head drop back a little, and shutting her eyes. She lost track of time, as he stroked the cut smoothly. And she lost strict control of her aura. When she opened her eyes it was in response to no sound, no visual stimulus. It was a blaze in Damon's aura, one of sudden determination. â€Å"Damon?† He was standing over her. His darkness had flared out behind him like a shadow, tall and wide and almost mesmerizing. Definitely almost frightening. â€Å"Damon?† she said again, uncertainly. â€Å"We're not doing this right,† he said, and her thoughts flashed at once to her disobedience as a slave, and Bonnie and Meredith's less serious infractions. But his voice was like dark velvet, and her body responded to it more accurately than her mind. It shivered. â€Å"How†¦do we do it right?† she asked, and then she made the mistake of opening her eyes. She found that he was stooping over her as she sat on the chair, stroking – no, just touching – her hair so softly that she hadn't even felt it. â€Å"Vampires know how to take care of wounds,† he said confidently, and his great eyes that seemed to hold their own universe of stars caught and held her. â€Å"We can clean them. We can start them bleeding again – or stop them.† I've felt like this before, Elena thought. He's talked to me like this before, too, even if he doesn't remember. And I – I was too frightened. But that was before†¦ Before the motel. The night when he'd told her to run, and she hadn't. The night that Shinichi had taken, just as he'd taken the first time they'd shared Black Magic together. â€Å"Show me,† whispered Elena. And she knew that something else in her mind was whispering too, whispering different words. Words that she would never have said if she had for a moment thought of herself as a slave. Whispering, I'm yours†¦ That was when she felt his mouth lightly brush her mouth. And then she just thought, Oh! and Oh, Damon†¦until he moved to gently touch her cheek with his silky soft tongue, manipulating chemicals first to make cleansing blood flow, and finally when the impurities had all been so softly swept away, to stop the blood and to heal the wound. She could feel his Power now, the dark Power that he had used in a thousand fights, to inflict hundreds of mortal wounds, being held tightly in check to concentrate on this simple, homely task, to heal the mark of a whiplash on a girl's cheek. Elena thought it was like being stroked with the petals of that Black Magic rose, its cool smooth petals gently sweeping away the pain, until she shivered in delight. And then it stopped. Elena knew that she'd once again had too much wine. But this time she didn't feel sick. The deceptively light drink had gone to her head, making her tipsy. Everything had taken on an unreal, dreamlike quality. â€Å"It will finish healing well now,† Damon said, again touching her hair so softly that she could barely feel it. But this time she did feel it, because she sent out fingers of Power to meet the sensation and enjoy every moment of it. And once again he kissed her – so lightly – his lips barely brushing hers. When her head fell back, though, he didn't follow, even when, disappointed, she tried to put pressure on the back of his neck. He simply waited until Elena thought things out†¦slowly. We shouldn't be kissing. Meredith and Bonnie are right next door. How do I get myself in situations like this? But Damon isn't even trying to kiss†¦and we're supposed to be – oh! Her other wounds. They really hurt now. What cruel person had thought up a whip like that, Elena thought, with a razor-thin lash that cut so deeply it didn't even hurt at first – or not that much†¦but got worse and worse over time? And kept bleeding†¦we're supposed to be stopping the bleeding until the doctor can see me†¦. But her next wound, the one that burned like fire now, was diagonally across her collarbone. And the third was near her knee†¦. Damon started to get up, to get another cloth from the sink and cleanse the cut with water. Elena held him back. â€Å"No.† â€Å"No? Are you sure?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"All I want to do is cleanse it†¦.† â€Å"I know.† She did know. His mind was open to hers, all its turbulent power running clear and tranquilly. She didn't know why it had opened to her like this, but it had. â€Å"But let me advise you, don't go donating your blood to some dying vampire; don't let anyone sample it. It's worse than Black Magic – â€Å" â€Å"Worse?† She knew he was complimenting her, but she didn't understand. â€Å"The more you drink, the more you want to drink,† Damon answered, and for a moment Elena saw the turbulence she had caused in those calm waters. â€Å"And the more you drink, the more Power you can absorb,† he added seriously. Elena realized that she had never even thought of this as a problem, but it was. She remembered the agony it had been to try to absorb her own aura before she had learned how to keep it moving with her bloodstream. â€Å"Don't worry,† he added, still serious. â€Å"I know who you're thinking about.† He made a move again to get a cloth. But without knowing it, he had said too much, presumed too far. â€Å"You know who I'm thinking about?† Elena said softly, and she was surprised at how dangerous her own voice could sound, like the soft padding of heavy tigress feet. â€Å"Without asking me?† Damon tried to finesse his way out. â€Å"Well, I assumed†¦.† â€Å"No one knows what I'm thinking about,† Elena said. â€Å"Until I tell them.† She moved and made him kneel to look at her, questioningly. Hungrily. Then, just as it was she who had made him kneel, it was she who drew him to her wound.

How Managerial Changes Influence Organisational Behaviour Issues Research Paper

How Managerial Changes Influence Organisational Behaviour Issues - Research Paper Example One of the main obstacles to the smooth implementation of the change management process is the lack of awareness of the context of change by the workmen and unions. While the top management team is aware of the context in which these changes are being talked about, the workmen and unions are not well informed in this respect. A change seeking management has to overcome the stresses to which the system and the people have to undergo. Leadership is, therefore, required to create the necessary confidence to overcome the stresses and challenges in the change process. A successful leadership has to keep open the channels of communications within the organization and with the outside world. The leader must recognize authority and power system changes in the attitudes, behaviors, and interpersonal relationship of people (Tennenbam, 1999, p.177). As such organization problems can be overcome by four factors, namely, structural, technical, task and people. However, the capacity of individuals and groups in some organizations are underestimated. This is due to a variety of causes emerging from the organization structure, procedures and the traditions of a group of people working within the organization. Human Resource Management is, perhaps, the oldest and most widely researched subject in management. Yet, as technologies change, cultural diversities occur and people's expectations undergo fundamental shifts towards newer and newer dimensions. For instance, professionals are gaining more say in the running of organizations. Even where governance is by people who own the majority stakes, their own positions and the respect they command are contingent upon their competence rather than ownership. " Management is the art of getting things done through other people. Management is the dynamic, life-giving element in every business. Without it, the resources of production remain resources and never become production." (Hersey & Blanchard, 2002, p.211) Â  

Student press freedom Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Student press freedom - Assignment Example The freedom of the press is quite vast, such that a few politicians have referred to the public press as the fourth estate, essentially conferring on it the same degree of importance and significance as the other three branches of the government. It can conduct its own inquiries in search of truth, in the name of public interest, like investigative journalism in which certain anomalies involving public funds can be uncovered, as an example. Freedom of the press carries with it vast powers but imposes the strict standards of ethics and principles adopted by the members of the press who consider their job as a profession. As such, the press refers originally to previous regimes in which news and information are obtained from newspapers, but in todays digital world, press also refers to all types of media available, like print, radio, television, and Internet (e-mails, blogs, and social networking sites) where information can spread very quickly indeed on a worldwide basis. The right to exercise this freedom is synonymous with all the responsibilities to exercise it in a responsible manner, to prevent abuses, promote welfare, and maintain journalistic independence. This paper discusses some of the issues involving the laws on media, and in particular, the specific sub-topic of freedom of the student press. In this regard, students who work in their own student or school publications learn firsthand the basics of what responsible journalism is all about, gaining valuable experience in the exercise of this important basic constitutional right.

Consultancy Management Techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consultancy Management Techniques - Essay Example Such management techniques have led to high expectation in terms of making decisions at the corporate level (JLR, 2015). JLR has invested a lot of resources in research and development.The decision to invest resources of an organization requires contemplation.Information used to make decisions in JLR can be found in the internal systems of the company. Most organizations have been increasingly been relying on MIS to collect data on their employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders of the business. Consequently, transactions made are recorded in the systems of the company (JLR, 2015). The data collected will then be mined and translated into meaningful information that will be used to make decisions (Laudon and Laudon, 2004). To arrive at proper decisions, the data that is accustomed to the best alternative should be credible. The issue of quality data is very imperative since managers may settle for wrong decisions. Given the authority that has been bestowed to senior managers, they cannot afford to make bad decisions. Managers make capital investment decisions that require them to be very careful before making a step. As a result, the data that is availed to them to interpret so as to make decisions must be of high quality. Data can be termed to be of high quality it meets a number of standards. It should easily be interpretable. Further, there must be free from errors, must be reported in time for decisions to be made it time are among the standards used to assess the quality of data (Laudon and Laudon, 2011). The role of Management Information System is to provide managers with valuable information that can be used to make decisions. In most cases, the information collected must be properly organized. Usually, the data have been in a raw state making it necessary for it to be so that it can be easily interpreted. The most relevant information that is

Geology week 8 discussion question 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Geology week 8 discussion question 2 - Essay Example Mineral resources are a form of nonrenewable natural resources in the form of rocks from the ground. These are usually coal, copper, iron, lead, natural gas, oil, silver, tin and uranium (Anderson, 2010). These are considered nonrenewable because they could not be easily replenished and would take millions of years to create. The two major problems associated with the use of fossil fuels are: (1) potential environmental harm of its by-products such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide which are known to be contributory to climate change and global warming; and (2) dangers to human health due to its by-products such as nitrogen oxides which increases preponderance to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular problems (Sustainable Table, n.d.). Anderson, P. (2010, September 23). Mineral Resources: Renewable & Nonrenewable. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from schoolworkhelper.com:

Ear Disorders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ear Disorders - Essay Example Treatment procedures usually include typical treatment modes such as yoga to cope stress in these patients and after that they could be given intratympanic corticosteroids. The function of these corticosteroids is to reduce inflammation in the endolymphatic dust. Also surgical procedures which include decreasing the pressure in the duct in order to maintain the flow of the endolymph in the vestibular system can also be applied in severe cases. But, surgical procedures usually lead to hearing loss as a complication since both the systems are very closely associated (ODonoghue et al 2000). Excessive endolymph pressure in the endolymphatic duct and the whole inner ear leads to the compression of the nerve endings of the outer and inner hair cells. Once compressed for a longer period of time these nerve endings first generate a symptom of timmitis with alternating periods of hearing loss and then if the disease is not treated these nerve cells eventually die. Since nerve cells do not have the capacity to regenerate the damage once done is usually irrereversible (ODonoghue et al

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project management - Essay Example It is usually, a temporary undertaking with specific goals in mind. It, thus, does not fall under the confines of normal business operations. As such, it is bounded by time, resources and the required results from the project. It, however, needs to be planned from the beginning to the end. A project is subjected to some certain constraints. These constraints range from time, personnel, money, equipment and the necessary facilities. The success of a project is hinged on the specific situation in which it has been employed. This stems from the fact that in some situations the concerned parties may be willing to sacrifice certain features for a hastened recovery. In dissimilar situations, parties may be willing to extend the respective timelines so as to build on quality results. The reality, however, is that rarely do projects run smoothly throughout its process. Research has shown that only about thirty four percent of projects are completed on time and on budget (Lock, 2007). Thus, each project that has been implemented has a significant probability of encountering snugs along the way to completion. For a project to be considered a success, it has to meet certain prerequisites. The project must meet its intended objectives and requirements. These are the reasons behind the formation of the project. Thus, it is imperative that it meets these objectives. In the event whereby some of the intended objectives and requirements are not met, it will necessitate a restructuring of the strategy that was employed as this forms the foundation of the project (Lock, 2007). In the event where this occurs, irrespective of the actualization of other factors of success, the project will still be deemed a failure. A project must operate within the confines of a pre-established budget. If it deviates from this budget the probability of failure significantly rises. The goal is to work within the constraints sourced from the budget and still met project goals, thus making the client happy. However, certain situations arise whereby, the set budget is not sufficient to cater for all the required features. The project management team has only two options to employ. It can either choose to ultimately increase the budget or it can decide to cut the scope of the project. Budget concern is the most vital. As such, the project management team must deliberate w ith the client on the features they are willing to sacrifice so as to stay within the allocated budget. This forms one of the reasons behind the rationale that effective project management is not an easy endeavour. The client might insist on the project meeting all the features in a situation where this is near impossible. To avoid such scenarios, it is imperative to iron out such details upfront before embarking on the project. A characteristic of any project is that it has three variables that can be adjusted throughout the process. These variables are the scope, the timing and the allocated budget. As such, it is important to find out from the client which of the variables are vital to them and which ones can be adjusted. Each project must strive to operate within the set timeline. This stems from the fact that it can result into havoc in the event where it is not appropriately managed. When a deadline has been established, the first question becomes whether it is a hard deadline or a soft deadline. A hard deadline does not necessarily indicate the complexities that will be encountered if the project is not complete by that time. Rather, it implies the nature of the deadline is such that, it has dependencies hinged on it. It is not impossible to alter but, it may eventuate in potentially embarrassing the client. In this

East Asian Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

East Asian - Essay Example Qian had the prerogative to choose who, what, why and how things happened in his history. Qian chose to quote his sources as much as possible. An example is the account of the attempt made by Jing Ke on the life of the first Chinese emperor, which was an eyewitness account by the great-grandfather of his father's friend, who served as a low-ranked bureaucrat at court of Qin and happened to be attending the diplomatic ceremony for Jing Ke. Qian also created highly probable and consistent events even when there were none available. His work eventually consisted of 130 chapters about Dynastic houses, the biographies of the Han emperors, dates of events, descriptions of rites and rituals, music, and various other topics of interest. Also included were the histories of the states which existed during pre-Qin China and the biographies of other important personages in history. Before The Records of the Grand Historian, historical texts tended to downplay the role and events from other dynasties and played up their own. This tendency was also present in Sima Qian's historiography. Qian portrayed the Han dynasty as having the Mandate of Heaven and gave lesser importance to the dynasties that preceded it. Among the features that Qian emphasized in his work was the ascendant character of the Han Dynasty. Consequently, he depicted the preceding Qin dynasty, which was Legalist, as evil and as such deserved to be replaced by the Han which prescribed to Confucianism. This theme is recurrent in his biographies which often contained moral lessons and anecdotes. Qian also took every opportunity to point out that Legalist ideals which were abundant and commonplace in the Qin Dynasty did not benefit anyone unlike Confucian ideals which redounded to benefits for the people. Examples of these biographies which justified the ascendant moral plane of the Han were the Chen She, Han Xin and the Empress Lu. This bias of Qian's against the Qin dynasty is fairly evident throughout The Records of the Grand Historian. Qian's favorable disposition towards Confucianism is explained by his belief that it is a more preventive means by which to keep peace among the peasants. He believes that fair, just and moral rulers will beget fair, just and moral peasants for them to rule. This common nature when achieved among both rulers and peasants would result in peace, according to Qian's beliefs. In contrast, he believes that the Legalist approach is able to preserve peace through the rule of a tyrannical government. He contends that a tyrannical government places all its constituents, peasants, nobles and ministers alike, under threat of mistreatment and enslavement. Qian also pointed out that there are major differences in how the Qin and Han perform their rites and treat their ancestors. In Confucianism, rituals and ancestors were central in their beliefs. This was exemplified in the biographies of Han Xin and Chen She. Qian pointed out that the latter's grave was cared for by thirty families which saw it as an honor to perform such duty. Qian also related how Han Xin buried his mother "on a high broad expanse of earth with room enough around to set up 10,000 households," similar to the treatment received by an honored ruler. Both personages were practitioners of Confucianism in their lifetime and were correspondingly rewarded with power and influence. In contrast, Qian's biography of the

A Review of Abraham Verghes’ My Own Country Essay Example for Free

A Review of Abraham Verghes’ My Own Country Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nursing transcends cultures and geographical boundaries. With the emergence of a lot of medical conditions in the world, nurses and even doctors have a lot of stories to share with each other concerning the way they treat patients. Some of these stories are common while some are more peculiar than others. When those from the medical profession write about their experiences, those who read their work are bound to be immersed in their world and in their worldview.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dr. Ambraham Verghese wrote about the emergence of AIDS in Johnson City, Tennessee during the time the HIV virus has not yet become as prevalent as it is now. Dr. Verghese chronicles his journey together with his patients and the way he struggled in balancing his medical profession and his personal life. As Dr. Verghese came in contact with the persons with AIDS, he had to confront his own stereotypes and see his patients for who they really are and not for the labels and the stigma directed against them by society. The families of the persons with AIDS also struggled in accepting their identity as homosexuals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Verghese then spent time with these persons with AIDS, talked with them, listened to their stories, and went to their families so he can know them more deeply. By doing so, Verghese succeeded in presenting the humane side of persons with AIDS. The stories he told were filled with emotions and the experiences of people who have AIDS. He also looked at the health care system in the United States and the kind of health care service delivered to persons with AIDS. Apparently, there are incidences when patients are victimized, privacy problems are impinged on and confidentiality between doctors and patients are compromised. On top of this, a lot of people in the society still have their own prejudices, preconceptions and biases concerning AIDS. Verghese, Identity and AIDS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story is not only about the life of Verghese and his medical practice. It was a book about his awakening to the vocation of being a doctor. His book is a courageous look at a topic considered to be taboo by the rest of the society. It is revolutionary because during the 1980s, AIDS was slowly coming to the consciousness of the American society. Although he focused on Johnson City in Tennessee, his story dealt with the human condition and how love and fear can make changes in the lives of people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The autobiographical work of Dr. Verghese talked about the importance of identity. The doctor, himself wrestled with questions about his identity and various influences. He is of Indian decent although with an Ethiopian birth. To confound things more, he was also a Christian. He speaks of being an outsider because of his ethnicity and the way he was labeled as an â€Å"outsider.† He also thought that he was only needed as a doctor and when there are no longer medical conditions he needs to treat, then the community will no longer need him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Against the backdrop of race and his practice of profession, he managed to identify with the persons suffering with AIDS. He also explored how society gives identity to a disease and by association, such identity is imposed to the persons who are afflicted with such disease. To show this further, Dr. Verghese explained how society equated AIDS with homosexuality and sin. When morality comes in, the society looks at the labels and stereotypes instead of looking at the real identity of the individuals concerned. Because of this, Verghese managed to identify with the persons with AIDS and gathered their trust enough for him to help them reconstruct their identity and explore his own identity. Death, Illness and Narratives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the lost art of medicine that Verghese rediscovered is listening and telling stories and narratives. He wrote that through stories, the dignity of an individual can be reaffirmed. Through stories, too, such dignity could also be denied to a person. Through the book he has written, he showed the way that the narratives of his patients got intertwined with his. Along the process, he becomes changed and even relates the narratives from the family members of those persons with AIDS.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reality of death is very much present in the awareness of the persons living with AIDS. Family members are also aware with the possibility of death. Yet, at first they cannot see beyond the stigma of AIDS. With narratives and stories, however, they get to be made aware of the real personality of the individual with AIDS and recall their love and care for them as family member. Verghese, through his direct interaction with his patients and even with their families learned as much how families react to impending death.    The price of his method of treatment, or rather his going out of his way beyond mere delivery of health care is the way in which he became an â€Å"outsider† from his colleagues from the medical profession. As the persons with AIDS deal with their own lifestyles and impending death, Verghese continues learning from the way they muster courage and inspiration to live. Personal Response   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The approach of Verghese in dealing with his patients with AIDS is amazing. He went beyond the stigma of the society and the accepted way of doing things in his profession just to understand his patients and along the way, he managed to understand himself more deeply. What really touched me is the way that he spoke to persons with AIDS and listened to their stories. The benefit was not only for the patients. Verghese, himself benefited greatly from such an experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If I were in his situation, I might have stuck to the tried and accepted way of dealing with AIDS patients without going the extra mile for them. The example of Dr. Verghese is worth emulating. What he did transcended culture, social norms and stereotypes and eventually empowered the persons with AIDS. He was very brave in pursuing the questions he was asking himself. More than just providing them with health care services, he connected with them as a friend would. That is one thing that I could certainly use in my own medical career. Patients should not be seen as just one disease to be treated after another. Rather, the dynamics of human relationships and narratives should be utilized to the full. Implications to Advanced Nursing Practice   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Narratives and stories are important means of connecting with a person and developing relationships with them. With the example shown by Dr. Verghese, narrative should be a part of the delivery of health care so that they will not only be treated for their medical condition but their treatment could be hastened with the sharing of stories and listening to the concerns of the patients. This may entail additional work for doctors but it is also worth pursuing because of its good effects to the patients and to the doctors and nurses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nurses tend to interact with patients more. As such, they need to learn how to interact effectively with their patients and share stories and narratives. It does not have to be very deliberate or contrived. Rather, it should be as natural as possible so as to encourage better interaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nurses who provide care to patients in the hospital has to engage the assistance of family members too because they can greatly help in the treatment of the medical condition of the patients. Furthermore, as the family members and the patient interact more, they can be drawn closer together. Some nurses already practice this kind of meaningful interaction with patients. Yet as the need for nurses to engage in narratives and stories, they have to learn how to do this. Reference Verghese, A. (1994). My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Steve Jobs Biography Essay Example for Free

Steve Jobs Biography Essay Steve Jobs’ success story began in 1976 when he and a friend built the first personal computer. He founded Apple in April 1, 1976; he was the Chairman and CEO of Apple Computers Inc. until he walked out due to a power struggle. He did not let this obstacle stop him. He went and started other businesses and developments. In 1984, he developed the Macintosh, which was the first small computer with a graphic user interface. In 1985, he started NeXT, a year later he bought Pixar Animated Studios. At Pixar he held the position as the CEO. Jobs contracted with Disney producing a number of popular animated films. Among these films were Cars, The Incredibles, Toy Story, and A Bug’s Life. He was certainly one of the world’s most successful businessmen. Twelve years after leaving Apple, Jobs returned as Apple’s interim CEO. Jobs changed the way the world thinks and feels about technology. Steve Jobs is also known for his unconventional leadership. He was a high-maintenance worker. He expected excellence from both himself and the employees. He was known for his direct criticism when he felt was necessary. There is no doubt that Jobs was an exceptional leader. Introduction Over the past forty years, the computer industry has taken great leaps to where it is today. One of the most influential people during this time was Steve Jobs. He is considered a leading figure in both the computer and entertainment industries. Jobs is listed as Fortune Magazine’s most powerful businessman of 2007. His life had many struggles, but he always found a way to make his ideas succeed. Childhood Steven Paul Jobs was an orphan adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, California in February, 1955. Jobs was not happy at school in Mountain View so the family moved to Los Altos, California, where Steve attended Homestead High School. His electronics teacher at Homestead High, John McCollum, recalled he was something of a loner and always had a different way of looking at things† (Isaacson 23). After school, Jobs would attend lectures at the Hewlett-Packard electronics firm in Palo Alto, California, where he was hired as a summer employee. Another employee at HP was Stephen Wozniak, a recent dropout from the University of California at Berkeley. An engineering whiz with a passion for inventing electronic gadgets, Wozniak at that time was perfecting his blue box. The blue box was an illegal, pocketsize telephone attachment that would allow the user to make free long-distance calls. Jobs helped Wozniak sell a number of the devices to customers. This was the defining moment of their relationship, Wozniak as the brains, Jobs as the business (Isaacson 28). Instead of attending either Berkeley or Stanford, Jobs decided on the very liberal Reed University in Oregon. This is where he was introduced to philosophies, ideas that would shape how he would treat the business world, and LSD. At this time, school was not important and he withdrew after the first semester of college. When he returned home, he was thin and disheveled. He embraced a new goal of traveling to India in pursuit of â€Å"enlightenment (Isaacson 49). He was a very big advocate of Zen Buddhism. Going to work for Atari after leaving Reed College, Jobs renewed his friendship with Steve Wozniak. Jobs and Wozniak put together their first computer, called the Apple I, in Jobs’ family garage. They marketed it in 1976 at a price of $666. The Apple I was the first single-board computer with built-in video interface and on-board ROM, which told the machine how to load other programs from an external source. They managed to make their first killing when the Byte Shop in Mountain View bought their first fifty fully assembled computers (Isaacson 68). On this basis the Apple Inc. was founded, the name based on Jobs favorite fruit and the logo. The following year, Jobs and Wozniak developed the general purpose Apple II. The design of the Apple II did not depart from Apple Is simplistic and compactness design. The Apple II had built-in circuitry allowing it to interface directly to a color video monitor. Shortly after the release of the Apple II, Apple Inc. went public making the company worth $1. 2 billion (Butcher 94). Jobs was smart in that he positioned himself for success. He knew how to be at the right place at the right time. The downside to this was he always wanted more. He had a hard time putting his vision down in a practical manner. He saw a computer with an elegant exterior but the problem with his vision was that the way he had to have it would make production nearly impossible. These unreal expectations were called his â€Å"reality distortion field† (Isaacson 124). Jobs became fixated with a new idea for a personal computer, called the Macintosh. To help him market these new computers Jobs recruited John Sculley from Pepsi Cola for a position as president at Apple. Jobs was so focused that if you did not work in the Macintosh division, he treated you like an entirely separate person. The Macintosh division received higher salaries, invitations to company sponsored parties, and front row seats to company meetings (Butcher 136-148). While Mr. Jobs stated positions on management techniques are all quite noble and worthy, in practice he is a dreadful manager. It is an unfortunate case of mouthing the right ideas but not believing in or executing them when it comes time to do something†¦Jobs regularly misses appointments. He does not give credit where due. Jobs also has favorites, who can do no wrong—and others who can do no right. He interrupts and doesnt listen. He doesnt keep promises. He is a prime example of a manager who takes the credit for his optimistic schedules and then blames the workers when deadlines are not met (Butcher 161). NeXT and Pixar Jobs treated Sculley as if he were his best friend, but he actually despised him being at Apple. After a power struggle with the board of directors in 1985, Jobs left Apple and founded NeXT. His vision with NeXT was to create a computer for the higher-education and business market (Isaacson 211). In 1986, he acquired the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, which was spun off as Pixar. During his time serving as the CEO of Pixar, movies such as Toy Story (1995) and A Bug’s Life (1998) were credited to Jobs as an executive producer. He served as CEO and majority shareholder until Disney purchased Pixar in 2006. Reinstated After the computer industry at NeXT began to fail, Jobs decided to focus on creating software. While this was happening, Gil Amelio had replaced John Sculley at Apple. Apple’s business was suffering due to there being no creative genius striving to invent something new. Amelio noticed that Jobs had created an operating system called NeXTSTEP and decided that it would be in Apple’s best interests to purchase NeXT, bringing Jobs back into the company that he created. NeXTSTEP platform later became the foundation for Mac OS X (Isaacson 305). Jobs returned to Apple as an advisor, and then took control of the company as interim CEO. During this time, he brought Apple from near bankruptcy to profitable by 1998. As the new CEO, Jobs oversaw the development of the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Jobs also developed the Apple Retail Stores, iTunes Store, and the App Store. Apple became the world’s most valuable publicly traded company in 2011 (Isaacson 348-511). Without Jobs’ intervention in 1996, Apple would have went bankrupt and had to close. The reinvigoration of the company is regarded by many commentators as one of the greatest turnarounds in business history (Isaacson 560). In Remembrance In 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with a pancreas neuroendocrine tumor. Jobs was against going to the doctor for most of his life, so he was reluctant to get his stomach pains checked out. Since he waited so long, the tumor was almost untreatable. In 2009 he received a pancreas transplant, but the cancer had already spread to different parts of his body. Jobs resigned from Apple in August of 2011 and was elected Chairman of the Board. As his health continuously declined, he died on October 5, 2011. Conclusion Jobs’ major strength lies in his curiosity and innovation within the market. To say that Steve Jobs is something of an enigma is an understatement; his style of management and his ability to accurately predict trends made him more than just a valuable industry leader, it almost guaranteed that those who paid attention reaped the profits of his predictions. Apple has been ahead of the curve time after time (Brayan 1). Jobs had the ability to see far beyond the limitations of time and space. He lived in his own little world where success was inevitable and the steps to get there would not always be appropriate, but if it meant that those decisions would lead in the direction he wanted, then those steps would not be questioned.

Annotated Bibliography: Fast Dissolving Tablets Research

Annotated Bibliography: Fast Dissolving Tablets Research 3. LITERATURE REVIEW M. Geetha et al. (2015) had prepared fast dissolving tablet of anti-asthmatic drug terbutaline sulphate using direct compression method. Study was related to compare natural super disintegrating agent plantago ovate husk powder with synthetic superdisintegrant crospovidone. They concluded that natural super disintegrant showed better disintegration, dissolution, fast onset of action and it is also cheap easily available, non-toxic. Accelarated stability study was also performed which also showed positive results.[13] Muhammad Talha Usmani et al. (2015) had prepared orally disintegrating tablet of Montelukast sodium by two different formulations using cost effective direct compression method. They have used cherry flavor and aspartame as sweetener. Formulations were evaluated for its performances and obtained better formulation which were subjected for further study by central composite design.[14] Balagani Pavan Kumar et al (2015) had prepared Nizatidine dissolving tablet. Taste masking is done by eudragit E100 using solid dispersion method and tablets were prepared by spray drying and solvent evaporation technique. Tablets were prepared using crospovidone, soy polysaccharide in three different concentrations and evaluate for disintegration time, drug release and taste masking.[15] Vivek Dave et al (2015) had prepared rapidly dissolving tablets and which give quick onset of action to overcome poor patient compliance associated with conventional tablets tablets were evaluated for disintegration time, wetting time, dissolution rate and taste masking. Hence, it lead to improve bioavailability of drug and efficacy.[16] Pradip Solanki et al (2015) had prepared mouth dissolving tablet to treat schizophrenia with clozapine as active agent. Solubility was tested in all complexes of cyclodextrin from which HP ÃŽ ²-CD showed maximum solubility. Trial batches were carried out for Screening of diluents and superdisintegrant. 32 factorial design was used to optimize formulation. The optimize formulation is evaluated for its disintegrstion rate, drug content, drug release, wetting time.[17] Bhavani et al (2015) had prepared rapidly disintegrating tablet to improve patient compliance who have difficulty to swallow the tablets and hard gelatin capsules. MDTs have enhanced safety and improve patient compliance. Mouth dissolving tablet are beneficial for many patients like psychics, geriatric, paediatric, unconscious and bed-ridden patients who have difficulty for swallowing tablets and capsules.[18] Nagar Praveen Kumar et al. (2014) had prepared fast dissolving tablet of piroxicam using three different superdisintegrants. They had prepared 9 batches of natural super disintegrant that is guar gum, isapghula and fenugreek by changing 3 concentrations. For preparation of tablets they used direct compression method. The powder blend and final tablets were evaluated for flow property and release optimization. Accordinhg to their results F4 batch is optimized and that have shown 99.18% of drug release.[19] Anisree. G. S et al. (2014) had developed Levocetrizine hydrochloride mouth dissolving tablet. Drug and excipients were mixed and tablets were formulated using direct compression method. Drug-excipient study was carried out by IR spectra. They had concluded that the formulation having MCC and crospovidone have optimum drug release.[20] Pratibha et al. (2014) had prepared fast disintegrating tablet by using Metoclopramide hydrochloride as active agent to overcome swallowing problems. Prepared tablets by direct compression method. Compatibility were done by FTIR and DSC. Selection and Optimization of superdisintegrant was also done by evaluation of prepared tablets.[21] Taksande JB et al (2014) had developed fast dissolving tablet of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drug Lornoxicam with synthetic and natural superdisintegrant using direct compression method. Banana powder and soy polysaccharide were used as natural superdisintegrant and crospovidone was used as synthetic super disintegrant. They have concluded that natural superdisintegrants showed more disintegration as compared to synthetic agents and can be used instead of Synthetic materials.[22] Deepak Sharma et al (2014) had prepared Cetirizine Hydrochloride fast disintegrating tablet. They have used different binders and disintegrants and their different concentrations in present study. They have optimized sodium starch glycolate as super disintegrant. Direct compression is used for tablet preparation. The optimized formulation is evaluated for drug release, compatibility study, accelerated stability study and concluded that the prepared formulation have quick onset of action and increases patient compliance.[23] Geetha lakshmi et al. (2014) had prepared fast dissolving tablets using different superdisintegrants and its different concentration. Interaction is checked by FTIR spectroscopy. The tablets were prepared and evaluated. From the prepared 9 batches they have optimized F6 as best formulation which disintegrated in 12 sec and released drug in 6 min up to 99.46%.24] Alpana P. Kulkarni et al (2014) had prepared orally disintegrating tablet of Rizatriptan benzoate and also masked its taste. Taste masking of drug was carried out by mass extrusion with eudragit EPO and aminoalkylmethacrylate copolymer with different ratio. The formulation was optimized based on drug polymer interaction and bitterness score. Taste maskin was checke by in vitro release of drug in salivary fluid.[25] Lovleen Kaur et al (2014) had prepared Aceclofenac fast dissolving tablets by direct compression method. Lepidium sativum mucilage was selected as natural superdisintegrant and Different concentrations were also used. A 32 factorial design was applied to optimize the formulation. Nine batches (D1–D9) were formulated accordingly. Two independent variables were selected and their effect on three dependent variables were studied.[26] Rajeshree. et al (2012) had prepared Lisinopril fast dissolving tablets using natural superdisintegrants by direct compression method. Aloe Vera and mucilage of Hibiscus rosasinensis were used as natural superdisintegrants. Compatibility was studied by FTIR spectroscopy between the drug and excipients. The formulation was evaluated for in vitro drug release. Formulation containing Hibiscus rosasinensis was found to be optimized formulation which contain disintegration in 0.26 sec. [2] Murthy. et al (2012) had developed Lisinopril fast dissolving tablets using super disintegrants in different concentration by direct compression method. Superdisintegrants such as croscarmellose, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate were used. All formulations contain various proportion of drug and excipients from them crospovidone showed better drug release then other formulations.[3] Patel. et al (2011) had formulated nimesulide fast dissolving tablet using natural superdisintegrant lepidium sativum which is widely used as herbal medicine. Mucilage was added as disintegrating agent. They have concluded that mucilage had reduced the disintegration time. The formulation also contain mannitol to increase solubility of mucilage.[4] Saini. et al (2011) had developed mouth dissolving tablet of anti- allergic drug Levocetirizine dihydrocloride. Tablets were prepared by using cost effective direct compression method and crospovidone was used as superdisintegrant. Different concentration were taken and they have concluded that as concentration of crospovidone increases disintegration time also increases.[5] Mayank. et al (2011) had formulated Lorazepam fast dissolving tablet. Method was the same direct compression. Tablets were evaluated for disintegration time, drug release, wetting time and also compared with marketed formulation. They have concluded that the prepared tablet showed better release profile than marketed formulation. Formulation containing 12% of Croscarmellose sodium showed disintegration in 33sec and showed 95.99% drug release within 10min.[6] Rahul Nair et al (2011) had prepared polymorphs of Rizatriptan benzoate by solvent evaporation method. They have used many solvents like tween 80, PEG, Polyvinyl pyrrolidine, methanol. Four different polymorphs were prepared and evaluated by Dissolution study, differential scanning calorimetry, infra-red absorption spectrum, scanning electron microscopy. They observed change in melting point of form I and form II with compare to original drug. Final conclusion was that polymorphs prepared by tween 80 showed better drug release than other forms.[27] Rahul Nair et al (2011) had developed solid lipid nanoparticles of Rizatriptan. Solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared by modified solvent Injection method. Characterization were carried out for shape, particle size, surface morphology and drug entrapment. They observed spherical shape, with particle size of 141.1-185.7 nm and smooth surface. The prepared particles showed sustained release of drug.[28] Raghavendra Rao. et al (2010) had developed fast dissolving tablet of chlorthalidone which have low dissolution rate by different techniques to improve its dissolution rate. From that they have showed the sublimation as best technique in which they had used 40% of camphor increases dissolution rate of drug. [7] Shailesh. et al (2010) had prepared promethazine thiolate fast dissolving tablet using sodium starch glycolate, ac-di-sol and crospovidone as a super disintegrating agents. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method and evaluated for post compression parameters. They have concluded that tablets containing ac-di-sol have better drug release and in vitro dispersion time. [8] Raghavendra Rao. et al (2010) had developed fast dissolving tablet of Carbamazepine by using solid dispersion technique. They have used different concentration of super disintegrating agent that is croscarmellose sodium and studied effect of various carriers. From the study they have concluded that formulation having mannitol as a diluent showed disintegration in 12-18 seconds.[9] Shirsand. et al (2010) had formulated and evaluated fast dissolving tablet by using latest solvent evaporation technique. Sodium starch glycolate and Crospovidone was being used as novel co-processed super disintegrating agents. They have concluded that formulation having 4% w/w of crospovidone was the optimized batch.[9] Keny RV et al. (2010) had formulated Rizatriptan benzoate fast dissolving tablet for intended benefit. Direct compression was used to prepare tablets. Crospovidone was used as super disintegrant. Tablets were evaluated for all pre compression and post compression parameters. Assay was performed by high performance liquid chromatography.[18] Gudas GK et al. (2010) had developed chlorpromazine fast dissolving tablet. The tablets were prepared by using croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate, L-HPC, crospovidone, pre-gelatinised starch by using direct compression. Blend was evaluated for flow property and tablets were characterized for its thickness, hardness, disintegration and dissolution.[12] Randale SA et al. (2010) had developed taste masked rapid disintegrating tablet of metoclopramide. Taste masking was done by the extrusion-precipitation method by complexing drug with Eudragit in different ratio. All formulations of drug polymer complex was characterized for in vitro taste in simulated salivary fluid and drug content. Final conclusion was that the batch having drug polymer ratio 1:2 was optimized for taste as well as for drug release.[11] Khemariya P et al. (2010) had developed meloxicam mouth dissolving tablet using sublimation technology. The tablets were formulated by wet granulation method. The tablets were characterized for all post compression parameters e.g. friability, hardness, wetting time and disintegration time. They have concluded that tablets prepared from sublimation of camphor were found better than tablet prepared by exposing to vacuum.[15] Bhardwaj S et al. (2010) had prepared accelofenac fast disintirating tablets. Tablets were prepared by direct compression technique using sodium starch glycolate as super disintegrant. All post compression parameters were tested for its performance. All the batches showed disintegration time within 28 sec.[16] El-Massik MA et al. (2010) had developed meclizine orally disintegrating tablets by using a maltodextrin. Tablets were prepared by direct compression as well as wet granulation method. Effect of concentration of maltodextrin was characterized by tablet’s disintegration time and hardness. They have concluded that maltrodextrin up to certain level produces increase in disintegration but then after decreases.[17] Rajalakshmi G et al. (2010) had prepared pheniramine maleate orodispersible tablets. The tablets were formulated by direct compression method. sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium, low hydroxylpropyl cellulose, pre-gelatinized starch and crospovidone were used as superdisintegrants in different ratios. The blends were characterized for pre-compression parameters. Tablets were characterized for post-compression parameters.[19] Zade. et al (2009) had formulated Tizanidine Hydrochloride tablet and also prepared taste masked granules of drug using eudragit E 100 to make the tablet with no bitter taste. For preparation of taste masked granules mass extrusion technique was used. Tablet were prepared by synthetic disintegrants. The final coclusion was that tablets prepared by using superdisintegrants were better than prepared by sublimation method. [8] Mahamuni SB et al (2009) had developed fast dissolving tablet of Promethazine HCl, which can radily disintegrate in the saliva. Taste-masked granules were prepared to mask bitter taste of drug. The taste masked granules were formulated by Eudragit E-100 using extrusion method. Tablets were formulated using taste-masked granules with other excipients like microcrystalline cellulose and starch.[13] Shirsand SB et al (2009) had prepared prochlorperazine maleate fast disintegrating tablets using direct compression method. One natural superdisintegrant Mucilage of plantago ovata and one synthetic superdisintegrant crospovidone were used with microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol to give sweet mouth feel. The prepared formulations were evaluated friability, wetting time, water absorption ratio, drug content uniformity, and in vitro dispersion time. Batch containing 8% w/w of plantago ovata mucilage was optimized from the data.[14] Kalia A et al. (2009) had designed oxcabazepine mouth dissolving tablets. Tablets were prepared using two different methods, direct compression and solid dispersion. Direct compression was used by crospovidone as a super disintegrating agent and aspartame sweetener. Solid dispersions of drug were carried out with PVP K-30 and PEG 6000 in different concentration ratios to increase its solubility. They concluded that solid dispersions with drug: carrier in ratio of 1:2 showed maximum drug release. From the comparison of two technologies solid dispersion was found better and gives satisfactory and reproducible results.[20] Swamy PV et al. (2009) had developed pheniramine maleate orodispersible tablets using effervescent method.tablets were prepared by using sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, pregelatinized starch and croscarmellose sodium with sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid. Prepared tablets were evaluated for all post-compression parameters. The final conclusion was that the formulation having 4% crospovidone mixed with tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate was best.[21] Devireddy SR et al. (2009) had designed levocetirizine dihydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets of using synthetic superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycollate, croscarmellose sodium, and crospovidone) and mannitol as a diluent. Taste masking was done by poly kyron T-134, Indion-204 and Tulsion-335 ion exchange resins. The drug- resin complex was formulated using the kneading method. By varying the concentration of ion-exchange resine and superdisintegrant using wet granulation method by PVP k-30 used as binder. The tablets were evaluated for disintegration time and degree of taste masked.[22] Okuda Y et al. (2009) had developed new preparation method for orally disintegrating tablet that has high hardness and less disintegration time. For that they have prepared rapid disintegrating granules using mannitol or lactose, saccharide was spray coated with corn starch suspension in fluidized-bed granulator. Crospovidone or hydroxypropyl starch was included in suspension as additional superdisintegrants. The prepared granules have large surface area, micro pore and low particle size distribution. Tablets prepared using this granules increased hardness and increased disintegration time by decreasing plastic deformation.[23] Singh J and Singh R. (2009) had developed meloxicam orodispersible tablets and optimized the formulation using a 22 factorial design for enhanced bioavailability. Tablets were prepared by wet granulation method having non-aqueous solvent. Crospovidone was used as superdisintegrant and mannitol as diluent as well as taste masking agent. Four batches were carried out to investigate optimum concentration of crospovidone and mannitol.[26] Giri TK et al (2009) had designed diazepam rapidly disintegrating tablets. The tablets were formulated by the wet granulation method. Bitter taste of drug was masked by solid dispersion using PEG-4000 and/or PEG-6000. Tablets were prepared using different concentration of PEGs. A 32 factorial design was applied to optimise the formulation and to decrease experimental run. They have concluded that the tablets prepared by PEG-4000 in lowest concentration was disintegrated within 33 sec and drug release was found 85% within 12 mints.[24]

Use with caution: Turnitin.com :: plagiarism detection software

Use with caution: Turnitin.com by Valerie Balester, Executive Director We were informed this past summer by Instructional Technology Services that students should not include identifying information on work submitted to Turnitin.com. ITS is concerned about reservations expressed by the U.S. Department of Education regarding student privacy and FERPA regulations. However, some professionals within the field of composition instruction have other concerns: plagiarism detection software like Turnitin does more damage, many of us fear, than violating privacy. One of the most influential professional organizations in composition, the Conference on College Communication and Composition (CCCC), for example, suggests that plagiarism detection software â€Å"undermines students’ authority over the uses of their own writing† (http://ccccip.org/files/CCCC-IP-PDS-Statement-final.pdf). Why, you might ask, should we care? After all, student writing is just practice writing, and it doesn’t really count for anything. It’s not like our writing, by which we make our bread and butter. But when we treat student writing as inconsequential, so do students, and the result is the careless, poorly written drivel that we have been trying to obliterate with W courses. Students who do not feel pride of ownership and control over their work will not give it the time and attention it needs to be excellent. Beyond this basic concern is the atmosphere plagiarism software detection programs can create, the expectation that students will cheat, that they are basically dishonest in their work. This atmosphere undermines trust and make writing even more distasteful. It’s just another trap, another hurdle to jump before graduation. Students are encouraged to see writing for college as a game rather than as an integral part of their education. We don’t want that. The CCCC also worries that programs like Turnitin will make college faculty complacent by shifting responsibility for detecting plagiarism onto technology. It’s only a matter of time before students learn to beat the software. I have personally tested it with my students, asking them to cheat; many of their transgressions went undetected by Turnitin. Students who run originality reports that come out clean may still have made mistakes, but if they rely too heavily on the report, they will not know it. After all, learning citation properly is far more than learning a set of rules, a style, the correct placement of commas and capital letters. Learning citation is first and foremost learning how a discipline creates and disseminates knowledge. It is subtle, takes many years to master, and is the mark of a professional.

Baldwin Blames Mistreatment of Black Veterans for Increasing Racial Unr

Baldwin Blames Mistreatment of Black Veterans for Increasing Racial Unrest Building a case against racial injustice, Baldwin describes how many blacks joined the U.S. military and were sent to fight in Europe during World War II, although the battles they returned to at home were sometimes worse than the war itself. In ?Down at the Cross,? Baldwin zeroes in on the discrimination against black veterans as the final blow causing many of them to hate their own country and become militant against whites. Historical accounts generally support his argument, even though Baldwin doesn?t speak to a few important points that differ from his personal perspectives on this issue. Overall, Baldwin builds a strong case for the need for social change in America to wipe out this type of racial outrage, especially in the case of black war veterans. Baldwin contends that ?a certain hope died? when black veterans were greeted with contempt by whites when they returned from the war instead of the praise and thanks that they deserved (Baldwin 317). From his observations, this was a wound that had been festering for many years and it was something that had been eating at the heart and soul of the black population since the end of World War II. This was such a terrible insult to blacks that it added fuel to the rage that was growing all across the country, and Baldwin explains that blacks finally felt they had taken too much abuse and that things were going to change ? one way or the other. To summarize his argument, Baldwin reasons it out that if a person is willing to risk his or her life for their country, the very least they should expect is for their country to treat them with the respect they have earned and not as se... ...ry. Baldwin?s essay is, on the whole, true to the facts and feelings in America at that particular period in time as black veterans returned home to face a new battle against racial discrimination in their homeland. Works Cited Baldwin, James. ?Down at the Cross.? 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84. Fournier, Winston C. ?Desegregated Jobs.? The Wall Street Journal 3 April 1956: 1, 10. Huachuca Illustrated, Vol. 2 Web Page (1996). Retrieved March 2, 2004 from http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI2-09.htm#27. Lee, Ulysses. (1966). The Employment of Negro Troops. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Murphy, Carl. (1944). This Is Our War. Atlanta Daily World, pp. 5-12. Wynn, Mike. ?We Were There.? The Augusta Chronicle 2 September 2001: 1-14. Baldwin Blames Mistreatment of Black Veterans for Increasing Racial Unr Baldwin Blames Mistreatment of Black Veterans for Increasing Racial Unrest Building a case against racial injustice, Baldwin describes how many blacks joined the U.S. military and were sent to fight in Europe during World War II, although the battles they returned to at home were sometimes worse than the war itself. In ?Down at the Cross,? Baldwin zeroes in on the discrimination against black veterans as the final blow causing many of them to hate their own country and become militant against whites. Historical accounts generally support his argument, even though Baldwin doesn?t speak to a few important points that differ from his personal perspectives on this issue. Overall, Baldwin builds a strong case for the need for social change in America to wipe out this type of racial outrage, especially in the case of black war veterans. Baldwin contends that ?a certain hope died? when black veterans were greeted with contempt by whites when they returned from the war instead of the praise and thanks that they deserved (Baldwin 317). From his observations, this was a wound that had been festering for many years and it was something that had been eating at the heart and soul of the black population since the end of World War II. This was such a terrible insult to blacks that it added fuel to the rage that was growing all across the country, and Baldwin explains that blacks finally felt they had taken too much abuse and that things were going to change ? one way or the other. To summarize his argument, Baldwin reasons it out that if a person is willing to risk his or her life for their country, the very least they should expect is for their country to treat them with the respect they have earned and not as se... ...ry. Baldwin?s essay is, on the whole, true to the facts and feelings in America at that particular period in time as black veterans returned home to face a new battle against racial discrimination in their homeland. Works Cited Baldwin, James. ?Down at the Cross.? 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84. Fournier, Winston C. ?Desegregated Jobs.? The Wall Street Journal 3 April 1956: 1, 10. Huachuca Illustrated, Vol. 2 Web Page (1996). Retrieved March 2, 2004 from http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI2-09.htm#27. Lee, Ulysses. (1966). The Employment of Negro Troops. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Murphy, Carl. (1944). This Is Our War. Atlanta Daily World, pp. 5-12. Wynn, Mike. ?We Were There.? The Augusta Chronicle 2 September 2001: 1-14.

The Study Of Imagery In Adrian :: essays research papers

In all the aspects of literature, authors use literary devices to add suspense, depth and significance to their works. This concept is valid in 'Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years'; by Sue Townsend . The diary-type story revolves around a young adult named Adrian, who constantly goes through the tragedies of life, but finally with some fortunate fate, achieves to live a life in which he cannot 'fail to see the happiness.'; (p 267) Therefore, in order to make the readers laugh at several tragedies of life, Townsend establishes an accurate use of the literary devices of irony, satire and exaggeration to create a humorous plot.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Irony is a significant literary device, which is used many times to achieve a good sense of humor. A perfect example for a use of irony is seen in the description of the psychologist of the main character, Lenora.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   'After all, she was just a psychologist. God ! She wasn't ! Apart from Pandora [his infatuated love] she was probably the loveliest woman I have ever spoken to. I found it hard to take my eyes off her black suede shoes with high heels. ' (p. 35)';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before the entrance of Adrian to the psychologist's room, he obviously does not expect much of a physical appearance. However, after he enters the room, ironically, Lenora turns out to be a smashing woman. Another use of irony is present in Adrian's description of his mother in the new year's eve: 'As she slopped wine into a plastic glass for me, I could have a chance to take a close look at her. Her lips were surrounded red, her hair was blonde and glossy. Her cleavage wrinkled and her belly protruded from the little black dress (very little) she wore. The poor woman was forty-seven, and twenty-three years older than her second husband.'; (p. 3) Here, first Mrs. Mole is described as if she is a twenty-year-old girl, but in the end of the description, he reveals her actual age – 47 – which is rather ironic for such an appearance. Last and the most obvious, Adrian's Russia Trip turns out to be ironic: 'Saturday, August 17th: There is no cruise ship. There are no passengers. Each member of our party is paddling their own canoe. I am crouched inside a two-man tent. Outside are swarms of huge, black mosquitoes. They are waiting for me to emerge. With a bit of luck, I will die in my sleep.

Hrm and Technology

1. 0 Introduction In today’s rapidly changing business world, the need has arisen to harness the resources to its optimum use in order to gain success in the business arena. Technology plays a vital role as this applies to the most valuable resource of Human resource too. Technology has greatly influenced the transformation from traditional and personal management to a more strategic human resource management approach. The ongoing technology improvement has paved the way for quick access to obtain the preferred resource regardless of geographical and environmental barriers. The extent of technology use across various activities of HRM, especially in recruiting and selection covers from advertising positions, receiving applications, initial screening to final section. This particular search can be for entry level, middle level and high level position as appropriate, according to the external and internal factors of an organization. Huge cost reductions in HR have also been experienced through technology application, while, they have also led to adverse impacts such as redundancies and lay-offs. Communication development technology contributes furthermore, from the recruitment process to career development process through training and development, and creates resource personnel in the organization. Computer based testing leads to unbiased selections, arbitrating to effective and efficient Human Resource Management. Access to Human Resource Information systems (HRIS) has also helped to automate most of the functions of HRM to a greater extent and allows the HR activities to run in a less cumbersome and efficient manner. This report further outlines the adoption of virtual work and outsourcing as a result of modern technological evolution, and the benefits and impacts that technology has embraced towards Human Resource Management. 2. 0 DISCUSSION 2. 0 What is Human Resource Management? According to Samson & Daft, â€Å"Human resource management refers to the activities undertaken to attract, develop and maintain an effective workforce within an organization†. In other words HRM is the function dealing with managing people within the employer – employee relationship (Stone, 2005). HRM function involves the productive use of people in achieving the organisation’s strategic business objectives and the satisfaction of individual employee needs. HRM is closely related to other management aspects, as its main objective is to improve the productive contribution of people. Human Resources Management encompasses a wide range of activities inclusive of identifying and deciding on staffing needs, hiring, recruiting and training the most suitable employees, ensuring and evaluating their performance, , and ensuring that the personnel and management practices conform to various regulations. It also includes activities relating to managing approaches for employee issues such as benefits and compensation, safety, employee records and personnel policies. (Snell & Sherman, 2004). Human Resource managers plan, administer and review activities relating to staff selection, training and development, conditions of employment and other human resource issues within organizations (Peters, 2004). 3. 0 Objectives of using Technology in HRM The study of HRM describes what human resource managers do and what they should do. While there are many definitions of HRM, its primary purpose is to improve the productive contribution of people within an organization. Until the last few years the discipline was known as personnel  management. (Eddie & Smith, 2004). Now the term ‘human resource management' is increasingly used in recognition of the importance of an organization’s workforce in contributing to the goals of that organization. Today's human resource issues are enormous and appear to be ever expanding. The human resource manager faces a multitude of problems ranging from a constantly changing workforce to coping with ever increasing government rules and regulations. Because of the critical nature of human resource concerns, they are receiving increased attention from upper levels of management. It used to be rare to see job advertisements for human resource managers. Now such advertisements are very common and encompass significant organizational responsibilities. People are the common element in every organization. From an organization’s perspective, its staff is its human resources. It is people like you who produce the goods and services that create wealth. It is these goods and services that contribute to our standard of living. (Collins, 2005). There are many challenges facing organizations today. The better our organizations work, the easier it is for society to meet the present and future threats and opportunities. It can be said that the central challenge we face in society is to continually improve the performance of our organizations in both the private and public sectors. Part of this improvement will come from organizations becoming more efficient and effective. This requires the effective management in these organizations. 4. 0 Technology in the modern business An Organization’s Technology is the process by which inputs from an organizations environment are transformed into outputs. This model integrates organizational  level technology research with human resource management strategies. (Robert, Mathis, John Harold 2006). The model relates dimensions of technical processes to human  resource practices, focusing on practices used to develop employees. These relationships are mediated by the type of skills employees  use. An empirical study of 139 employees found support for two  hypotheses developed from the model. Results suggested that  technology and HRM activities are connected through the level  of cognitive skill complexity and the amount of support employees  receive in developing new skills. Due to changes in the way  decisions are made in organizations today (for example, making  more decisions at lower levels) the connection between the work  process, the skills employees need, and the emphasis on developing  employees will become increasingly important. 5. Impact of Technology in HRM The technology has radically changed the way employees and managers access human resource data, and the use of online HR solutions has expanded rapidly over the past year. (Collins, 2005). Self-service and online tools have become important in the continuing effort to improve the management of HR functions and to drive competitive advantage, the survey found. â€Å"As the lines blur between HR data and that used by the rest of the enterprise, organizations find it makes sense to consolidate all employee data using a corporate portal. The importance of HR self-service is increasing, especially those applications that improve employee performance. â€Å"We're seeing the strongest growth among applications focused on managing and enhancing worker skills and productivity–no surprise given that up to 70 percent of an enterprise's expenses are people-related. _New skills required: As new technologies are developed and implemented, there is an Urgent need to upgrade existing employee skills and knowledge if the organization wants to survive and flourish in a competitive world. Additionally there will be growing demand for workers with more sophisticated training and skills especially in emerging ‘hot’ sectors like telecommunications, hospitality, retailing, banking, insurance, biotechnology and financial services. For example, services. For example, service sector employee requires different skills than those utilized in manufacturing. (Peters, 2004). They need strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to handle customer complaints in a flexible way. _ Downsizing: New Technologies have decimated many lower end jobs with frustrating regularity. Increased automation has reduced employee head counts everywhere. The pressure to remain cost effective has also compelled many a firm to go lean, cutting down extra fat at each managerial level. The wave of merger and acquisition activity, in recent A time has often left the new, combined companies to downsize operations ruthlessly. The Positions that have been filled up with workers possessing superior technical skills and Knowledge has also tilted the poser base ( in many emerging industries) from management to technical workers. It is not uncommon today for managers to have limited understanding of the technical aspects of their subordinates’ work. Managing the expectations of knowledge workers is going be major area of concern for all HR Managers in the years ahead. (Akin, Norton, Peg, 2004) _ Collaborative work: Technological change has resulted in hierarchical distinctions being blurred and more collaborative teamwork where managers, technicians and analysts work together on projects. Team based incentive plans have also made it necessary for all classes of employees to work in close coordination with each other. Telecommuting: The rapid advances in technology have led to the relocation of work from the office to the home. Telecommuting has become the order of the day where employees work at home, usually with computers and use phoned and the Internet to transmit letters, data and completed work to the home office. Companies have been able to increase their applicant pool through this mode and empl oyees have also been able to live further away from cities and gain considerably due to savings in rents, transportation etc. _ Internet and intranet revolution: Internet and information technology have enabled companies to become more competitive by cutting costs. Manufacturers, bank, retailers, and you name anything have successfully harnessed computer technology to reduce their costs and deliver want satisfying goods and services to customers at an amazing speed. Even in HR, internets and intranets are being used to handle training, benefit administration, performance management and out placement functions, in recent times. (Peters, 2004). The cumulative impact of new technology is so dramatic that at a broader level, organizations are changing the way they do business. Use of the internet to transact business has become so commonplace for both large and small companies that e-commerce is rapidly becoming the organizational challenge of the new millennium. Managing virtual corporations and virtual workers in this technology driven world is going to pose tough challenges for HR Managers in the years ahead. _ Role of HR in a virtual organization: A virtual organization is network of companies or employees connected by computers. Virtual workers work from home, hostel, their cars, or wherever their work takes them. The human resources function plays a unique role in a virtual organization: i. Psychological fit: The lack of face-to-face interaction in virtual organization, virtually compels HR professionals to determine the psychological fit between different units initially. (Collins, 2005). ii. System alignment: Given the lack of physical proximity, it becomes even more critical that the organization’s mission, vision and measures be aligned and that all parties are familiar with these issues, the HR function can play an important role in this task. iii. Reconsider rewards: In a virtual unit. Very few permanent exit. In many cases, the organization will be staffed with workers having different motivational forces. So rewarding each entity in an effective way becomes an important job. iv. Reconsider staffing needs: In a virtual organization, most employees work on a contractual basis. Finding people with requisite skills, a knowledge and motivation level becomes an important activity. v. Build partnerships: Virtual, teams have to be built from scratch paying attention to their unique requirements. The concept of employment needs to be replaced by the concept of ‘partnership’ especially when most tend to work independently away from the permanent employees or owners of the organization. vi. Develop leaders: Leaders become the major forces for building trust, creating a mission and instilling a sense of belonging to the organization HR can play a major role in ensuring that leaders assume these responsibilities and meet them in an effective away. (Collins, 2005). 6. 0 Technology in HR Activities A human resources officer develops, advises on and implements policies relating to the effective use of personnel within an organization. HR personnel work comprises a number of different but related policies, all of which are required by organizations that employ people, whatever the size or type of business. These cover areas such as working practices, recruitment, pay, conditions of employment and diversity. HR staffs need to ensure that the organization employs the right balance of staff in terms of skills and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to employees to enhance their performance in order to achieve the organization’s objectives. Collins, 2005). Typical work activities As a human resources (HR) officer they must have a clear understanding of their organization’s business objectives and be able to devise and implement policies which select, develop and retain the right staff needed to meet these objectives. (Farquharson, 2006)The exact nature of the work activities varies according to the organization, but is likely to include: working closely with departmen ts, increasingly in a consultancy role, assisting line managers to understand and implement policies and procedures; †¢ promoting equality and diversity as part of the culture of the organization; †¢ liaising with a wide range of organizations involved in areas such as disability, gender, age, religion and health and safety; †¢ recruiting staff – this includes developing job descriptions, preparing advertisements, checking application forms, short listing, interviewing and selecting candidates; †¢ developing policies on issues such as working conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management; †¢ advising on pay and other remuneration issues, including promotion and benefits; †¢ undertaking regular salary reviews; negotiating with staff and their representatives on issues relating to pay and conditions; †¢ administering payroll and maintaining records relating to staff; †¢ interpretin g and advising on employment legislation; †¢ listening to grievances and implementing disciplinary procedures; †¢ developing HR planning strategies with line managers, which consider immediate and long-term staff requirements in terms of numbers and skill levels; †¢ planning and sometimes delivering training, including inductions for new staff; †¢ Analyzing training needs in conjunction with departmental managers. (Farquharson, 2006) When considering all the above accepts of a human resource manager, they must allocate much and more time and energy on selecting the right candidate to the right position. The technology can be used on Selected HRM activities such for Employee recruitment, employee selection, training and development and performance appraisals 6. 1 Recruitment & Selection The HR manager faces the main challenge when it comes to Recruitment and selection the manager has to be much more careful when choosing the right candidate. A recent study showed that the correlation between the ability to deliver well in a job interview and the ability to do well on the job is just 14 percent, or one good employee out of every seven people you hire. (Okpara, 2006). If you or your recruitment agency has found itself in a similar position, there are proven methods to improve this average. The same study considered these methods. Background Checks  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ According to (Okpara, 2006). The 14 percent increases to 26 percent if the candidates passes a series of  employee background checks like falsified educational credentials and other serious liabilities, background checks only reveal information when an individual has been caught being lying. Of equal or greater value are underlying attitudes, as well as actions at which an applicant has not been caught, to most fully protect the organization against negligent hiring lawsuits and to assure the organizations are hiring reliable, ethical, hard-working employees. Knowing this information about the people the company hire is absolutely essential because a business can be held liable for accidents and crimes committed by its employees. Personality Tests  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ consider traditional assessment tools used in the hiring process. These assessments measure personality characteristics. Personality tests  raised the rate of success in hiring to around 50 percent positive. (Okpara, 2006). Many employers want to know a candidate’s aptitude and personality type to ensure an appropriate job match. Some want to know it before they hire a candidate, some before they promote an employee, and some before they create work teams. In an effort to learn more about an employee, employers today administer personality tests. There are many kinds of personality tests available, but in the workplace a validated and reliable occupational assessment is critical to success on the job. (Okpara, 2006). Those professionals do not pass or fail but should be selected for the job that matches their individual personalities. Abilities Assessments  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ When applicants were tested for both abilities and personality, employers found they were hiring the right people just over half or about 54 percent of the time. (Times, 2006) After managers have used to identify their employee’s strengths and areas for development, they can use the Series to software’s available to develop the competencies that are most important to their professional growth and success. (Okpara, 2006). The software’s are conveniently located on the Internet, making it easy to implement and execute. These systems help managers to keep doing the things they do well, stop doing those things that interfere with their effectiveness, and start doing things that will improve their performance. These systems encourage managers to perform their jobs better. It gives emphasis to the importance of managers to the organization and its goals and pays big dividends in the form of improved productivity, fewer â€Å"people problems,† increased employee retention, and greater profits. It is an ideal method for managers to improve their leadership and management skills. It can be used anywhere and at any time because it is on the Internet. After responding to questions and doing online exercises, it gives managers the tools they need to maximize their strengths, become better managers, and lead more effectively. Interest Assessments  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ To take it one step further, the study considered  interest assessments, an even more sophisticated tool. It measures the job-related qualities that make a person productive – Thinking and Reasoning Style, Behavioral character, and Occupational Interests. These systems were used for placement, promotion, self-improvement, coaching, succession planning, and job description development. (Okpara, 2006). It is a flexible management tool that develops Job Match Patterns that can be customized by company, department, manager, position, geography, or any combination of these factors. Job Match  Assessments  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The study found that the most impressive and successful assessments are integrated measures of a combination of factors, and also include the concept of  job match. They use cutting-edge technology combined with empirical data to evaluate the candidate against employees who are exemplary in performing their duties. Okpara, 2006). These recruitment assessments increased an employer's ability to identify excellent candidates more than 75 percent of the time. Hiring top performing employees may be one of the most valuable activities you can do for your business. This system combine tested and reliable data derived from pre-emp loyment screening assessment system, with a customized job analysis survey to create a benchmark by which the manager can hire an employee who best fits for the job and company. Employee Selection Process By including job match as a key factor in your employee hiring process, allocation of human capital will be significantly more effective. Most employee hiring decisions are made with inadequate information, but Profiles International assessments will deliver the information that the manager need to know before tendering a job offer and making a hiring mistake. 6. 2 Performance Appraisal Technology may contribute to performance management and thus to appraisal satisfaction in two primary ways. First, technology may facilitate measuring an individual’s performance via computer monitoring activities. This frequently occurs as an unobtrusive and rote mechanical process that relies on minimal input from individuals beyond their task performance. Jobs that incorporate this type of appraisal technology are frequently scripted or repetitious and involve little personal judgment or discretion. Working in a call centre or performing data entry are examples. (Peters, 2004). In this instance, the very act of performing a job simultaneously becomes the measure of how well a jobholder accomplishes it. Keystrokes, time on task, or numbers of calls made are recorded and at once become both job content and appraisal content. A second approach to technology and performance management changes the emphasis so that technology becomes a tool to facilitate the process of writing reviews or generating performance feedback. Examples here include multi-rater appraisals that supervisors or team members generate online, as well as off-the-shelf appraisal software packages that actually construct an evaluation for a manager. (Peters, 2004). This particular technological approach occurs more often in the ontext of jobs that involve personal judgment, high discretion, and open-ended tasks for which real-time performance monitoring is not an option. 6. 3 Training and Development The activity of Training and development has been made more efficient from the implementation of technology to it. Organizations now use computer based training sessions which use a visually demonstrated and presentation oriented training programme for the employees. (Peters, 2004). Programmes are stored in computers which reduce the necessity of getting trainers to repeat the training programme over and over again. The employees are also equipped with software’s which enable them to re-check and use as manuals for the work they perform, thus influencing a cheaper mechanism of Self Training. (Peters, 2004). Errors and omissions are eliminated in the training programme, making the employees to understand their job processes more efficiently. 6. 4 Reward System The revolution is being driven by new technologies and by the major social and political changes that have led to the globalization of business and to the increasing numbers of democratic, capitalist countries. Billions of people have recently entered, or are about to enter, the capitalist world. (Collins, 2005). A smaller but very significant number have entered the world of electronic connectedness as a result of the growing popularity of the Internet, satellite TV, cellular phones, and videoconferencing. The combined effects of technological and political change on organizations are enormous and multifaceted. Increasingly, organizations are finding that in order to be competitive in the new global economy they have to reinvent themselves in important ways. This is true of their basic organizational structure, their global reach, and their use of information technology. (Collins, 2005). It is also true of their reward systems. The old reward practices and systems that worked well in nationally focused, bureaucratic, capital-intensive, hierarchical, steady-state, near-monopoly corporations. Dramatic change is needed, and it is not difficult to identify what the key theme of today's reward systems should be: a focus on rewarding excellence. Many factors argue for excellence being the number-one focus of any organization's reward system, including the ability to attract and retain the best people and to motivate the kind of performance that an organization needs in order to succeed in the new economy. Creating reward systems that focus on excellence and treat employees as human capital investors requires a major change in the way most systems operate. (Collins, 2005). Reward systems typically treat employees as job holders who are rewarded according to the size and nature of their jobs and how well they perform their jobs. Viewing them as human capital investors suggests a different approach to rewards in two respects. First, it suggests basing rewards on the value of the human capital that people bring to the organization. What their job is at a particular moment is much less important than the value of their knowledge and skills. Second, it suggests rewarding people according to how effectively they use their human capital-their knowledge, skills, and competencies to help the organization improve its business performance. Creating reward systems that recognize the value of human capital and reward performance excellence is not easy. It requires a careful articulation among an organization's reward system, business strategy, organization design, information systems, and employees. (Collins, 2005). I will begin our discussion of how it can be done by considering how reward systems impact organizational effectiveness. 7. 0 HRIS Human resource ‘info system’ The Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is a program or software or online issue solving method for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources, payroll, management, and accounting functions within a business. (Stone, 2005). In general packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities. It is very important to select the HRIS carefully based on the capabilities you need for the organisation. Benefits of a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is no longer a â€Å"nice to have,† but a necessity to help HR manage both a sea of information and the money spent on benefits plans, as HR faces limited resources and constantly changing data. (Stone, 2005). As a result the HRIS that most effectively serves companies tracks: Pay raises and history, pay grades and positions held †¢ Performance development plans, training received †¢ Disciplinary action received, personal em ployee information †¢ High potential employee identification, and applicant tracking, interviewing, and selection. An effective HRIS provides information on just about anything the company needs to track and analyze about employees, former employees, and applicants. Your company will need to select a Human Resources Information System and customize it to meet your needs. 8. 0 Benefits of Technology in HRM Technology is changing the way we work, the roles we undertake, and the interactions through which work gets done. (Peters, 2004). Companies are leveraging to manage the complexity of the global HRM and to deliver high-quality service. Companies use either a common system universal to all location For a example, HSBC uses people soft Ids to identify all the employees dispatched globally. SAP is the system that is used in MAS Holdings Globally, which enables the employees, suppliers and the management and the higher management to make Operational, analytical and strategic decisions, or a set of non standard system in unique to a each location to handle their HR programs and informational needs. The problem with the latter is that data are often late, incomplete and/or inaccurate. However because the time and cost factors they are the most commonly used. To reduce the negative impact of such problems some companies are developing service centers utilizing self service technologies and HRIS databases to eliminate routine work and to push delivery point back the employee or line management. With an appropriate use of HRM technology Human Resources staff enables employees to do their own benefits updates and address changes (example: by creating a data entry format , uploading it to the intranet and later program the filled data to be store into a central location), thus freeing HR staff for more strategic functions. Additionally, data necessary for employee management, knowledge development, career growth and development, and equal treatment is facilitated. (Farquharson, 2006). Finally, managers can access the information they need to legally, ethically, and effectively support the success of their reporting employees. 9. 0 Conclusion Technology and Human Resource have brought about a radical change in meeting with the strategies, policies and implementation of the corporate planning of an organization. In other words, it has become the nucleus of an organization, which caters to the requirements of selecting the right candidate for the suitable job, training and coaching them to develop and achieve the desired levels to maximize objectives and to create a competitive edge in the industry and ultimately sustain them in the organization with a career development plan. In this process, opportunities will be given to those who are really in need of a specific exposure in another country so as to acquire the required skills. This so called valuable resource will be able to cater to the demand with a long-term view, by adopting the right technology advancement at the right time and improve the overall operation of the organization with a clear vision and hence contribute to the bottomline which will enhance the share value and satisfy the shareholders to achieve satisfaction. 10. 0 Reference ? Stone, J, R. (2005). Human Resource Management. (5th Ed. ). John Wiley and sons, Australia ? Anne Osborne Kilpatrick, James A. Johnson, 2004. Handbook of Health Administration, Co. CRC Press ? Collins, M. (2005). Professional recruitment: Journal of proquest education, p. 32. ? Eddie, C. & Smith. (2004). Human Resource and Personnel Management: Text and Cases, Co. Tata-Mcgrawhill, p. 87-89. ? Farquharson, M. (2006). Performance appraisal: Journal of proquest education, p12. ? Grey. . (2005). Human resource planning: Journal of proquest education. ? Robert L. Mathis, John Harold Jackson, 2006. Human Resource Management, Co. Thomson South- Western ? Okpara, J. O. (2006). Job satisfaction: American journal of academy of business, p81. ? Peters, L. (2004). five keys to effective recruiting: Ivey business journal, p 21-24. ? Snell & Sherman, 2004, managing human resource 12th edition