Money and Academics

Different schools and learning institutions perform differently in terms of providing better academic services. The output is measured using the student output both in the academic and the professional field. However, the underpinnings that characterize all these learning institutions that offer outstanding performances seem to boil down to finances. All schools world wide that display outstanding performance hugely rely on research activities. On the other hand, schools that have no enough funds to support research projects are left confined to pure classroom academics. Research activities expand the scope of the learner’s understanding in a practical manner, thus not only helping to deeply inculcate a concept in the student’s mind, but also equips the same with the capacity to apply knowledge practically. To underscore this fact, all governments in the developed economies disburse funds to learning institutions to boost research activities. In Ohio State University alone, a big fraction of its 750 American Dollars, which has been partially sourced by the Federal government, has been slotted for research activities which will take the shape of field work and internet connectivity. Moreover, the top nine American benchmarks of the research universities are rated highly in academic performance in America. Within this rubric are the Arizona University, Illinois University, Minnesota University, Michigan University, Texas University, the Pennstate University, Wisconsin University, the Washington University and the UCLA (National Science Foundation, 1979). Money playing a pivotal role in eliciting sound academic performance is always concomitant with qualified and well trained teaching and non teaching staff. A qualified teaching staff is always instrumental in explaining both simple and complex concepts in the most effective way, while on the other hand, a qualified non teaching staff ensures effective and efficient coordination and administration of the school. A school that is well administered has all the strategies for success to follow through and does so efficiently. All the intellectual and academic resources that are brought into a common pool ensure success. Learning institutions that are short of finance cannot afford the payment of such personnel. Schools with efficient teaching facilities have better accruals compared to those that lack these. Primary learning facilities such as lecture halls, and writing boards are much needed for effective learning. Schools with dilapidated lecture halls, writing boards, seats and light will definitely produce stunted academic results. Conversely, secondary learning facilities such as laboratories, libraries and computers are also very important if there is to be academic success. Libraries ensure accessibility of information and also shields away distraction while the computer enhances and maintains quick access of knowledge. All top leading learning institutions have adapted the computers which have been installed with the fiber optic cables. Apart from this, their libraries are well supplied with computers which are serviced with the internet. Even the Ohio state university’s one of the smallest branches in the Sillicon Valley has connection with research universities. Almost all researches that aim at ranking universities peg their judgments on internet connectivity in relation to accessibility of information and research output. All these facilities call for money. The schools’ ability to create and sustain departments that provide aids to learning such as counseling centers, centers for linkages and exchange programs is not automatic since their maintenance call for huge capital to maintain the workforce and other running expenses. Centers for linkages apart from establishing direct links between the students and potential employers, also feeds the student fraternity with information on internship opportunities and advise the student on the courses to take in relation to the dynamics of the employment market as well. Exchange programs on the other hand oversee the interschool transfers to help willing students acquire a wider global perspective both on the scope of life and in the field of study. To underscore the importance of counseling in academic excellence, the UCLA University for instance, has the Academic Advantage Program, a counseling center at the UCLA campus to ensure academic based counseling and mentoring program for the 6,000 undergraduates with a dominant aim of bolstering academic excellence. The need for academic based counseling is so rife that centers such as Costello Center which has no affiliation to any school whatsoever, have emerged to offer these services to students who are concerned with the need to realize personal growth in terms of personal, academic, career and social goals. In addition to this, mental health services are offered by the same institutions (Clarke, 2003). Learning institutions that have enough money to support these arrangements have higher propensity to produce more intellectuals than institutions that are financially challenged. Educational institutions that are endowed with enough resources have the capability to sustain continuous spates of free public lectures, talks from professionals, and forums. These programs are of untold values since they do not only allow open dissemination of information or knowledge due to open attendance, but also through the questioning and answering methodology, the student fraternity is challenged to seek more information by further reading. Besides, these schools that are privileged enough to support debates and quiz competitions boost academic dexterity among students. The concept of rewards and punishment are well known and has been recommended by psychologists, educationists and sociologists to be a very effective methodology in teaching and learning. This concept involves rewarding desirable traits and punishing bad ones. Since it is innate in man the desire to have one’s efforts appreciated, it has been the practice of many to use the concept of rewards to motivate hard work so as to elicit good performance. Having known the impact of this methodology, the federal government through the Boston Police Athletic League recently stepped in to congratulate over 100 students for their outstanding performance records. A similar case to this is that one of Charlotte Hand, a Bachelor of Education student in English language, linguistic studies and literature. The above student had given up on pursuing her educational programs due to inability to service her school fees until when she heard of the UCLA’ s incentives that come in the form of rewards of raw academic excellence. Many institutions such as the Ede and Ravenscroft which issue academic gowns in each graduating ceremony and also give 1,000 pounds to the Combined Honors Department to reward non finalists who have an excellent academic track record have increased in number. All these are but few illustrations that stress the importance of issuing of rewards to increase the zest in academic excellence. Schools with large pools of resources are able to achieve this feat and even to stretch it to a broader extent while the financially distressed learning institutions can do this but only in a much constrained condition (Dirks, Elley and Oriner, 1994). Whenever money and resource are scarce, there is a direct effect on school’s examining program by limiting it to the traditional method of examining which is solely exam based. This conventional method of testing is limited in its scope since it does not delve on all the topics and is always occasional. One of the demerits of this procedure is that it places labels on students with low marks as weak, or poor. This stigmatization in turn plummets the student’s ability to learn. In the same wavelength, these financially challenged educational institutions on the backdrop of financial challenges are not able to obtain external exams that would capture well the expected standards of the rest of the students within the learning fraternity. However, other learning institutions are able to embrace more comprehensive methods of examining the students so that their other talents are discovered and nourished as the weak areas are worked on. This has a cathartic effect on the stigma, and therefore accords the student with the chance to improve on feeble areas. Conversely, learning institutions that are bedeviled by financial problems are not able to procure the services of the external markers, making the students vulnerable to subjectivity. This problem is not familiar in developed economies but is very rampart in the developing economies where the latter problem was being exploited by unscrupulous college and university lecturers to award marks to students in exchange of sexual favors. The African continent is rife with such cases. Ameliorations are however being seen in pockets of Africa such as Kenya which has adopted the methodology of using external markers in the end of semester exams since the dawn of the 21 century. Schools and learning institutions that have the financial capability to accord student with learning incentives such as bursaries and educational loans also boost the students’ academic output compared to those that do not. This is because the anxiety that sets in resulting from lack and the fear that occurs out of the anticipation of being dismissed or being suspended from learning always have a reducing effect on one’s the academic output. Just as a government that does not offer learning incentives should not anticipate an intellectually rich population, so should a school that does not issue bursaries and scholarship services to its students expect academic results that only maintain the status quo. It is true that there are cases where students excel in financially challenged schools but this fact must be taken into consideration with the ratio that do not make it in the same schools. The fact that only one student manages decent grades from an institution that is financially challenged is a pointer to the truth that there are many pupils with vast untapped potential from the disadvantaged schools due to the adverse socio-economic conditions. References. Clarke, C. H. (2003). Growth of Canadian universities. US: UBC. Press. Dirks, B. N., Elley, G., Ortner, B. S. (1994). A reader in contemporary social theory. US: Princeton University Press. National Science Foundation (1979).Importance of maintaining Research excellence.US: NAS Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â  

Benefits of Conducting a Business Online Essay

What benefits do you think Knight Enterprises Ltd and their customers could gain from conducting their business online? An online presence for Knight Enterprises Ltd is a powerful marketing and communication tool, an incredible source of cost-efficiency, an environmentally friendly way to work, a sign of professionalism and pretty much a requirement today. Benefits for the organisation The first benefit identified that organisation have an advantage of from internet marketing is that is it cost effective – this is because using the marketing on the internet can reach a wide range of audience from one and businesses would not need to promote themselves over other marketing mediums that cost more than using the internet. Businesses based only online are able to make profits by saving money on promotions and also just being based online is another way of saving money as they do not need to pay for buildings (includes rent, bills etc). Knights Enterprises Ltd will also be able to save money which they use for other expanding business methods which can attract various customers. The organisation could benefit from an online presence because the opportunity is given to use social networking, emailing, their website, banner ads as their marketing strategy which is much cheaper and also easier than other marketing techniques that does not involve the internet. It is also cheaper to get more customer awareness for their business as their internet marketing (website, ads) can be seen all over the world and now their products will available for international customers as well as national. A website can be changed anytime, so businesses are able to update their online view anytime to stay with the latest trend etc. The business can constantly add more products to their collection and update their business. With internet marketing available the organisation is able to do this anytime making it cheaper and quicker. A forum can also be added to the website for customers where they can comment and give opinion and the organisation will reply to them instantly like an online conversation giving them the advantage of gaining customer awareness; attracting more customers; retaining their customers they have already and gaining their trust Two-Way Communicative Marketing The two way communication is second advantage of online business because they can get their feedback really quickly and also can improve their Customers service and products. Cheap Market Research Market research is information about consumers, competitors and the effectiveness of marketing programs. Small business owners use market research to determine the feasibility of a new business, test interest in new products or services, and improve aspects of their businesses. Improve credibility The website gives the organisation opportunity to tell potential customers what their company is all about and why customers should trust them have confidence when they use website. Growth Opportunity A website serves as a great place to refer potential investors to, to show them what your company is about, this will provided all the information about the company to the customers, how well the company is doing, in terms of profit, revenue total sales etc. We can also guess from their customer’s reply how much better they are than before. Awareness Internet marketing enables businesses to see and compare with other businesses and compete with them more easily. They can view how much customers they have whether they are female or male and can use this to segment their targeted audience and market their business and products in ways that suit their customers. 24/7 Presence One of the biggest advantage of online business is that they don’t have to worry about time because they are available 27/ 7 no risk of losing customer. The website can provide all the information that customers need can see the latest product been offered; it also saves people travel cost they can do shopping anytime with even thinking about day and night. They can gain more customers by this as customers that aren’t able to go to the shops in person at a certain time can access a business website anytime. Benefits for the customers Offer Convenience This is more convenient then going somewhere else to buy or find out something because it’s just one click of a button and all the information will come in front of the screen we need; it’s much better than ringing a company and waiting in the queue talking to or asking them about their product. Some customers prefer website rather than taking or travelling which is quicker and best service. 24/7 Shop One needs not to worry about the closing time of a store as it 24/7 online. They can whenever they feel like. Online business now meets people’s lifestyle. There is no need to worry about leaving work then popping into stores. People now have the opportunity to shop within the comfort of their own home. †¢People with disabilities or other special needs can stay at home and make orders. †¢Discounted prices and voucher savings.

Dangerous Minds and Diversity Essay

In writing a review of a narrative in pop culture that includes a significant illustration of diversity in a school community, I chose Dangerous Minds by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (Bruckheimer, 1995). The film Dangerous Minds is based on the autobiography My Posse Don’t Do Homework by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where most of the students were Hispanic and African-American. This film exhibits cultural diversity in school community in several ways from lower-class and under-privileged backgrounds to being involved in gang and drug warfare activities to simply refusing to engage in any type of learning. Determined to reach the students, LouAnne devises classroom exercises that teach similar principles to the prearranged work, but using themes and language that fascinate the streetwise students. She also tries to motivate them by giving them all an A grade from the beginning of the year, and arguing that the only thing required of them is that they maintain it. Through poetry and other reading methods, she attempts to teach symbolism and metaphor. Once that was achieved, she progresses on to other poems and rewarded the students with a trip to a theme park, candy bar incentives, and a dinner at a nice restaurant. She also tried to teach the students how to use a verb correctly in a sentence. Her initial sentence on the board was, â€Å"We ____ meat for dinner.† The students were not interested in learning through the curriculum based instruction that was pushed onto LouAnne through the principal and assistant principal of the school. Since the students would not respond to that way of learning, she quickly revised and reiterated her way of teaching by asking them, â€Å"What is the verb in the following sentence, â€Å"We want to die.† Since this was a relative way of thinking about things for the students, they responded quickly (Bruckheimer, 1995). The most interesting thing about the way she taught through diversity was that she related the information to their real-life circumstances. Taking the transdisciplinary approach, she was able to teach across the curriculum by integrating poetry and the history of where it originated (Bruckheimer, 1995). LouAnne also reaches out to individual students that draw attention through their personal problems. Renoly is a Hispanic boy who is regularly involved in gang and street crime. LouAnne tries to encourage him to focus by paying a special visit to his family to congratulate him on his work, and going to dinner with him as a way of instilling confidence and self-respect. Callie is an African-American girl who is unusually bright girl in English, but is removed from the school halfway through the semester when she becomes pregnant. LouAnne visits her outside of school hours to try to persuade her to continue with further education. Finally, Emilio is the most troubled of them all. He believes strongly in the sense of personal respect and doesn’t want to ask her for help. She finds that his life is in danger and reaches out to help him. She directs him to talk to the principal and because of a bad attitude from the principal, Emilio is killed (Bruckheimer, 1995). Toward the end of the movie, LouAnne gets overwhelmed with trying to help all the students and wants to quit. The main reason I think that LouAnne was successful in meeting the needs of the diverse school community is because at the end of the movie the students take a stand for her and insist that stays and finishes helping them so they can graduate. They refer to her as their â€Å"light† in learning which was derived from a poem that she had taught them. That in itself shows how she was able to get through to a group of culturally diverse students in the school community (Bruckheimer, 1995). Bibliography Bruckheimer, D. S. (Director). (1995). Dangerous Minds [Motion Picture].

Education Patient with Written Information to Reduce Anxiety and Dissertation

Education Patient with Written Information to Reduce Anxiety and Better Compliance in Undergoing Cadiac Catheterization - Dissertation Example __________________ for their unwavering guidance and direction throughout the course of this dissertation planning, preparing and drafting. The points needed to mention in the acknowledgements as below. I would also like to thank and acknowledge the support of the staff of ____________ Education (U.K.) administrative office. A special thanks and appreciation goes out to my family members, classmates and colleagues for their sincere support and encouragement without which I could not have completed this dissertation. I also want to thank everyone who helped me in anyway whatsoever. Abstract Aims This research study is a critical appraisal of the effectiveness of educational information intervention on patient anxiety in preparing for cardiac catheterization. Methods This is a critical literature review. The critical literature review is conducted using a framework for conducting a critical appraisal of quantitative research as recommended by Coughlan, et. al.,(2007). The critical appr aisal is also conducted using a framework for conducting a critical appraisal of qualitative research as recommended by Ryan, et. al.,(2007). Six journal articles were selected based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. ... Specifically, this study finds that patient education prior to undergoing cardiac catheterization significantly decreases fear, uncertainty and distress among patients anticipating the experience of undergoing cardiac catheterization. In turn, patients are more willing to comply with pre-cardiac catheterization and post-catheterization instructions. The combined effect of compliance and reduced anxiety helps patients make a more fruitful and time efficient recovery. Discussion Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. The weaknesses and strengths of the research and the underlying research studies critically appraised are revealed. The study makes recommendations informed by the results and the analysis of the results. This study is important because it can contribute to existing knowledge by identifying the current status of the knowledge relative to the reduction of patient anxiety over undergoing cardiac catheterization via education and what areas may require further research for improving on the current knowledge base. Moreover, by identifying the current status of knowledge relative to reducing patient anxiety via education for improving the effectiveness of cardiac catheterization, nursing practices can be informed by the benefits of using education as a method of managing patient anxiety. Conclusion Essentially, this research report identifies and explains how this research can inform research and practice relative to the reduction of patient anxiety in anticipation of cardiac catheterization. This study concludes that the reduction of anxiety and psychological distress prior to undergoing cardiac

Managing under Uncertainty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing under Uncertainty - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to explore the formulation and implementation of a strategic approach to Human Resource Management (HRM), especially in times of uncertainty. HRM represents a principal element of an organization’s modernization agenda and is critical to the organization’s performance and productivity. The case offers a unique and unstructured situation in which the new CEO is expected to make a decision under uncertainty. The core problem in the case details low motivation among staff, high staff turnover, and increasing complaints regarding the delivery of the organization’s services and the urge to restore confidence in the system. The organization should invest in its employees and pursue the strengthening of their capabilities to deliver. The proposed human resource system must evolve to collect, develop, and deliver the expected competencies, notwithstanding the fact that the capability of the existing system to accomplish this is doubtful. The new CEO should also embark on creating a job design that allows flexibility of working and accommodates team-working and information provision. The cross cutting issue should be to guaranteeing an effective module, which is accommodative to the change process. The underlying aim of the human resource system is to oversee human resources concurrent  with the set organizational goals. Introduction The critical task facing Tim (the new CEO) centres on implementing a fresh organizational structure and human resource system that matches the organization stature. On top of the low pay to its staff, the club also experiences lack of a concise organizational structure. This is manifested by confusion stemming from directors who overstep their mandate and give work instructions that contradict those given by the immediate supervisors or managers. Moreover, there is substantial factional tension between staff at various operational departments coupled with reported incidences of bullying and di scrimination. The organization faces critical problems manifested by low staff morale and motivation, which impact on behaviour, efficiency, effectiveness, and role performance of most staff. The situation within the organization demands an overhaul of the human resource system pertaining to position descriptions, job specifications, systems and procedures guides, as well as human resource policies and operational policies, all of which are absent. Tim’s proposed solution lies in engaging the employees in the creation, development, and implementation of an all encompassing set of position descriptions, job specifications, system and procedure guides, and human resource policies and operational policies. The CEO believes that staff involvement in all of the processes will aid them to take ownership of their positions and subsequently the resultant operational policies. The inclusive programs are designed to aid the staff in deriving enhanced sense of reward from their future e mployment with the club. In addition, the adoption of competency based succession planning grounded in position descriptions, job specifications and systems and procedures guides avail staff with a tangible incentive to adhere to the new documentation and process as a mechanism designed to enhance their wages via internal promotions. Executives are  frequently  required to implement decisions so as to solve challenges or problems. Decision

Security Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Security Plan - Essay Example Hacking 6 Human Errors 7 Unauthorized Access 7 Information Destruction By Dissatisfied Employees 7 Electronic Threats To Organization’s Information Holdings 8 Organization’s Actual Threat For Information Holdings 9 Security Plan 9 Physical Countermeasures 10 Electronic Countermeasures 12 Human Countermeasures 15 Information Security Education And Awareness Program 16 Updating The Education And Awareness Program 18 Measures Used To Test The Efficacy Of Plan 19 Conclusion and Recommendations 20 References 21 Bibliography 24 Introduction With the rapid improvement in information system and exceptional development of internet, the information security has become a critical issue for every organization. Information is acknowledged as an important monetary asset for organizations, thus, it needs to be secured consequently. In present days, organizations are becoming greatly dependent on information system which clearly manages serious portion of organization’s fundamental activities. The role of technology has transformed from a validation tool to the center of main business (Aoufi, 2011). As the technology has improved, people have also become more aware regarding possible threats for information theft, cybercrime and other fraudulent activities. Thus, there is a need to strengthen the information security system in every organization by identifying and removing potential threats. ObjectivesObjectives The objective of this study is to identify and describe the risks of organizations information holdings with respect to physical, human and electronic threats. The study also illuminates a security plan for physical, human and electronic counter measures for reducing the information threats of a business organization situated in an Australian city. Besides, there is need for adequate education and awareness program for minimizing risks in the information system. A comprehensive information security education and awareness plan is developed in this paper which can help to enhance the information security. Scope The scope of information security is to support the safety, control and administration of organization’s valuable information. This study covers the areas such as known threats for organization’s security and several countermeasures which can help people to gain insight about maintaining strong information system in organization. Furthermore, the study describes the methods for developing education and training to employees for increasing knowledge and skill to avoid security problems. Physical Threat To Organization’s Information Holdings In this digital information age, physical threats can have significant impact on the information holdings of organizations. Thus, physical threats need adequate attention besides other cyber threats. The scope of physical threat is much inclusive compared to other threats in terms of financial loss. Physical threat can arise at any form and at any time. An organization can face the following physical threats for their information holdings (Bidgoli, 2006). Theft Theft is regarded as one of most common risks for organizations’ information holdings. Digital information can be physically stolen by people who come from security and Information Technology (IT) background. Outsiders might break or sneak into any organization’s network and steal information. Insiders also can enter into a part of organization for accessing information which they have no right to access or they may abuse access rights which are part of their tasks. Furthermore, physical assaults against rational security can simply be executed by experts (Lindstrom, 2003). Sabotage Sabotage is fairly similar to theft. Sabotage is intentional damage of information holdi

A piece of art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A piece of art - Essay Example The artist also mentions that the exhibition happens to the second within a curatorial projects series that the artist has initiated within year 2011 which demonstrated means through which contemporary art as well as artists are able to create a platform for discussing political, social as well as cultural situations importance around the world as well as exploration of their effects on regional and local communities. The artist talks about what a good contemporary art entails which explains that it should interrogate cultural, political as well as social practices and realities. The artist explains that the purpose of their art as one of a university art museum is to give chances for artistic education, exploration as well as reflection. The artists argument is artwork should represent effects of political events on people socially, politically as well as culturally. Artistic work may turn to be political while political may turn into artwork. From this context, the artist has shown how artwork has been used to represent political matters happening especially between the Palestine Israeli war. Most of the art reflects the effects of the war. For instance, the video within which the artist is carrying a greed paint can that is dripping along the green line within Jerusalem as well as areas around it for two days (2007). A declaring by Yael Bartana (2006) that requests that individuals to consider the olive tree changing symbolism in the existing context and the (Sa) Mira by Dor Guez (2009) that deals with some Israeli citizens felt discrimination due to decent by the Arabs. The artist has used the past to express events of the time ahead. For instance the art piece Pan of Qalandia 2014 by Wafa Hourani is an imagination of a huge checkpoint’s future which is in between Ramallah and Jerusalem. Again, the artist has made use of time to represent matters that took place earlier

Difference between theology and religious studies Essay

Difference between theology and religious studies - Essay Example On the conventional account, theology differs from other forms of reflection, including religious studies, for one or both of two reasons: (1) because it has to appeal to special criteria of truth for some if not all of its assertions; and (2) because the theologian has to be a believer who already holds these assertions to be true. (Ogden) People of the Christian faith cannot accept principles of other religions, unless they conform to Christianity. An example would be a Christian believes Jesus Christ is the Savior and is equal to God the Creator. This means a Christian would not adopt views contrary to this, such the Islamic or Judeo belief in one God. Theology only reaffirms the belief in Jesus Christ. different from religious studies, as well as from other forms of reflection, even it it were in full compliance with the same standards of reflection, since the sufficient ground of its difference is the question that constitutes it a distinct field of reflection—namely, the reflective question as to the meaning and truth of the Christian religion, or witness of faith. (Ogden) â€Å"Religious Studies" is often used as a general heading, covering a multiplicity of possibly conflicting methodological approaches to religion. Some of them still tend to be regarded as alternatives to "Theology". (Leirvick) Many of the non-Christian religions have religious instruction in their Temples, Mosques, and other institutions instead of teaching their religion in colleges. College courses for these religions are for knowledge, not the believer. Theology is taught at colleges and universities built around the theological study. Religious studies are for knowledge, whereas theology is for the believer in Christianity. Theology is the study of the Christian faith, whereas religious study deal with every other religion. Theology is taught in mainstream colleges and universities. Religious studies are also taught in mainstream colleges and universities,

Education and Public Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education and Public Policy - Research Paper Example While the industrial educational policy regime emerged and spread fast at the start of the 20th century, the rights education period started with the emergence of civil rights movements and anti-poverty campaigns in the mid-20th century. The industrial education regime was characterized by policies, which supported vocational educational programs in the sectors of the economy. On the other hand, rights educational policies sought to address poverty and racial and socioeconomic segregation of the 19th and the 20th century. In addition, rights education movements fought for the creation and implementation of educational policies that promote human rights and equality. During the rights education regime, a rather detailed global framework was developed to promote human rights education and awareness where human rights violations were rampant. To achieve this objective, stakeholder partnership, especially by multilateral institutions was necessary.In particular,a vibrant and dispersed system of civil society activists and associations had to be created and involved in the human rights education policy development and implementation. In this partnership,the civil and human rights movements managed to achieve quite a lot. However,the institutionalization and implementation processes dragged on rather slowly and at different paces.Although reinforcement and implementation of suggestion courses of action remain relatively slow,the efforts of rights education have tremendously improved global responses to mass atrocities and other forms of human rights violations ... inforcement and implementation of suggestion courses of action remain relatively slow and inconsistent, the efforts of rights education have tremendously improved global responses to mass atrocities and other forms of human rights violations (Beitz, 2009). Rights education policies have made positive strides since its emergence in the mid 20th century. First, there has been an increase in the international community’s responsiveness to atrocities across the globe, especially in the Middle East (Beitz, 2009). Second, a lot of attention is currently directed at prevention of human rights abuse and accountability by governments. Furthermore, rights education has made citizens aware of their rights, making it rather difficult for great powers to block certain favorable courses of action at world bodies such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) (Beitz, 2009). Regarding industrial educational regime, a lot of positive strides have been made and success registered given its emphasis on industrial education that empowers the marginalized and the vulnerable. The regime was characterized by an approach to education that emphasized learning from an industrial perspective (Kincheloe, 1995). A core area in which industry-oriented education has been applied is in vocational education. Although in earlier time it was majorly offered to students with sub-degree education and in industrial setting training, it has been introduced and offered even for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students since 2004. Based on one’s employment, industrial educational policies prepared learners for specific crafts or trades at different levels. One advantage of industrial educational regime policies is that they are relevant to professions such as nursing, medicine, architecture, trade,

Improvement of the Quality of Service in a Hospital Case Study

Improvement of the Quality of Service in a Hospital - Case Study Example Public services in London based hospitals provide urgent concern to the public with acute ill health or harm. The hospitals provide emergency ambulance services, blood courier services, and other voluntary services. English National Health Services has largely benefited by the recent introduction of Service delivery targets under a more meticulous management regime. But proper use of HR tools can ensure less staff turnover, better organizational productivity, and corporate financial performance. Even in developed countries like the United Kingdom where there is a sufficient number of nurses, they are often utilized inefficiently, because they do not possess adequate skills or are more focused on urban areas than rural areas. This case study includes the following: Public services and its comparison with private service. SERVQUAL and dimensions of service quality. Measures to improve the SERVQUAL Emotions and work Organizational climate Service climate Ways to measure the service clim ate. Creation of service climate and its relation with human resource tools. Conclusion â€Å"Public sector  productivity  and  service  quality  is  often  held  to  be  dependent, at least in  part, on beliefs, values, and  attitudes  that go  beyond self-interest  to include  concerns  for  the needs  of  others  and the  greater  common  good (Have NHS Regulatory Reforms Undermined Altruism in the Health Workforce? 2012)† â€Å"Public ambulance services across the UK are required by law to respond to four types of requests for care, which are: Emergency calls Doctor's urgent admission requests High dependency and urgent inter-hospital transfers Major incidents† (Emergency Medical Services in the United Kingdom 2012, para. 1). The private service generally includes organizations that are in private ownership, and not owned by the government. These generally include partnerships, corporation, and charities. The organiza tions are not own or operated by the government, for example, local businesses, retail stores, credit unions, are run by the private sector.  Ã‚  

Pancreatitis and Peptic Ulcer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pancreatitis and Peptic Ulcer - Essay Example Pancreatitis is caused by autoimmune problems, damage to the pancreas, blockage of the pancreatic ducts, hypertriglyceridemia, certain medications, complications of certain diseases and viral infections. The symptoms of pancreatitis include upper or middle abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, sweating, weight loss, jaundice and clay-colored stools. Pancreatitis complications include kidney failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pacreatitis cysts, heart failure and low blood pressure. Pancreatitis is treated through fasting, intravenous fluids, pain medication, removal of blockages and gallstones, draining of fluid in pancreas and diet regulation. (PubMed Health). A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer), the duodenum (duodenal ulcer), or sometimes in the oesophagus (esophageal ulcer). When the mucuos membrane which protects the alimentary canal from digestive juices and acids is damaged, stomach acids penetrate the sensitive lining underneath, causing an ulcer. Peptic ulcer is caused by the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and spreads through contact witth the stool, vomit and saliva of infected persons. Petic ulcers are also caused by the long-term use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and stomach tumors. The symptoms of peptic ulcers are abdominal pain, loss of weight and appetite, and vomiting. Complications include peritonitis, internal bleeding and blockage of the alimentary canal. Treatment of peptic ulcers consists of antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori and acid reducing medicines.

Project Time Management Essay Example for Free

Project Time Management Essay This essay on project management will briefly give a proper description of the project management and what it entails. It will further discuss all the tasks that are normally involved in proper time management. The major focus of this particular essay will be on the time constraint and how time can be properly managed and the general importance of managing time in IT projects. It will then be concluded by giving reasons as to why project managers should actually have their projects well managed especially in the time part of it if at all he would want to realize success at the end of the projects. Introduction Project management is that discipline that is concerned with planning, organization and resource management to bringing a specific project to a successful completion of its major objectives and goals (Baker, 2000). The major challenge of managing projects is to achieve its set objectives and goals while at the same time adhering to the constraints of project management which are normally scope, time, quality and budget. The secondary challenge is normally the optimization of the allocation and to integrate the necessary inputs in such a way that the pre-defined objectives may be met. A project may be well defined as set of different or even similar activities that make use of available resources such as money, materials, people, space and many others to achieve the set project goals and objectives. According to Conn, M (2007) the job of managing a project is quite often the major responsibility of an individual person who in this case is the project manager or the project management team. In most cases the project manager seldom takes part in a direct way in the various activities that will produce the final result, but rather he will strive to make sure that the general progress and the mutual interaction between his workers is well maintained so that the overall risk of the project failing is reduced or eradicated. The manager of a project is often an ambassador of his clients and therefore the needs of his clients are well determined and implemented by the project manager and this is usually based on the kind of enterprise they are representing. In any given field, the project manager should be able to envision the whole project that is from start to finish. He should also have the ability to ensure that the vision is realized by the project. This clearly tells someone that before you become a project manager, one should make sure that he is well informed and be ready to listen to the needs of clients which in most cases they are varied. Just like any other human undertaking, all projects have to be done and delivered through some well known constraints. Traditionally, the constraints are listed as time, scope and scope. These constraints are better known as the triangle of project management, where constraints are represented by each side of the triangle. This particular essay will have its major focus on the time constraint of project management (Cable, D. 2004). Project time management Project time management basically means the planning of the processes and organization of resources in a project to ensure its well-timed completion. The management of time is an important skill that is very critical and any project manager should have this vital skill. From surveys done by scholars on project management, the survey reports claim that most of the successful project managers have the history of completing their projects within their stipulated time and the project budget. Project failure from the past may have been caused by lack or absence of schedule management that is, defining, scheduling and implementing these tasks or activities that are to be undertaken by the steering team or manager. In the present world, there are so many softwares that project managers can use in time or schedule management within a project (Brooks, 2001). Tasks in a project The first task in a project time management is the activity definition. Here the main activities in the project are defined so that the management team knows what they are dealing within as the progress goes on. In preparation of the project schedule, the manager of the project should be fully aware of the content of each given tasks that are involved in the project, the length of time the task will require to be completed, the kind of resources that the tasks will need and the exact order the tasks should be done. The project manager should know that each of the said elements normally will have direct bearing on the time or schedule of the project. And if the project manager omits certain tasks then the project stands higher chances of not being completed. Once more, if a manager of a task does not take seriously the amount of required resources or the length of time required for a particular task then the project manager stands higher chances of missing the time schedule for his project. The time schedule can also be missed or rather be blown if the project manager makes a bad sequencing of the project tasks. While project schedule can be build by either listing, in a particular order, all the important tasks that have to be completed in some specific manner. This task is often referred to as activity sequencing. Assigning of order and specific duration in which it should occur in every given task will also help the project management team a great deal. After assigning of this sequence requirement project management team should now allocate all the required resources for that particular task. This should be followed by determining the tasks that should first be completed (predecessors) and determining the tasks should be completed last (successors) and this is normally a pretty simple exercise. Normally difficulties do arise in managing project schedule. In most cases the difficulty will arise when there is not enough time and resources for the proper completion of the tasks of a given project sequentially. It is therefore advised that the given tasks in a project be overlapped in such a way that more than one task is attended to at the same time (Cable, 2004). The softwares that are commonly used in managing projects normally simplify the tasks that are involved in the creation and management of project schedules by handling all sorts of iterations in the time logic for the project manager. When all the required tasks have been put in an ordered list, then they have been well resourced and put in a correct sequence, the manager of the project will be able to notice that some of the laid down tasks are flexible in terms of start and finish dates. Such flexibility in project management is well known as float. And other tasks do not have any kind of flexibility at all and therefore are zero floats. Therefore any line through all the given tasks that have zero floats is referred to as the critical path. All the tasks that are found on the critical path, and there is possibility that there can be multiple of them, paths that are parallel, they must come to a completion on the stated time if the entire project has also to be completed on time. The key task of a project manager is time management and the management of the critical path (Cavendish, 2003). The project manager should however be aware of any items can be removed or even added in the critical path, this may be due to changing of circumstances that may occur during the project execution. Regardless of how well a project manager manages his time schedule and the available resources then the project manager would only have budget management as the only critical element left. At this particular point, it is therefore advised that all managers of different projects be fully aware of all the tasks that are involved in the projects that they are managing. This will enable them to have full control of every progress in the tasks and it will ensure that the project in progress is completed within the specified time in the budget (Clough, 2005). Importance of project time management Project time management is an important aspect of project management. The following are some of the major importance of project time management. Proper project time management will ensure that project managers deliver their projects within the stated time on the project budget. That means that time and good schedule management will always work to the advantage of the project manager in that the project manager will always be delivering his projects without unnecessary delays that are normally brought about by poor time management (Baker, 2000). Another importance of time management in an IT project is that the project manager will be in a very good position to allocate resources and everything that will be needed in that particular project because when time is managed properly, the manager will be able to tell all that will required by specific tasks in the project. This will have a very positive impact on the IT project in that time will be well managed and resources well allocated and the end result will completion of the project in good time (Cohn, 2007). With time management in a project, the project manager will be able to plan everything that will have to take in every step. And this is one of the most vital things of time management that most managers of different projects agree upon. Effective management of time in projects often motivates the participating team members in such a way that they will always be willing to actively involved in planning the project. Involvement of the fellow members of the team in planning for the project will definitely increase the chances of the project realizing success. Time management will help the project manager to have his deadlines set. Normally projects should be done within a set period of time, but deadlines most of the times if not so well planned become unrealistic. With proper project time management skills together with skilled project manager, proper and realistic deadlines will be set which will ensure that a sense of urgency has been inducted into the team members. Again, the use of project time management skills in managing IT projects will ensure that the project manager keeps good track of the progress of the project and he will also be able to make priorities in his own work (Duane, 2007). Another important task in time project management is the scheduling of the project activities in the order that they should occur. This is very vital because it defines the activities to be prioritized and the trailing ones. This helps in determining the most important step from the less important step at any given time. Project time management is an important tool in project management in such a way that it helps the manager of the project to sift and sort out ideas concerning the progress of the project before the manager of the project commits himself in allocating resources. This is normally achieved by having objective criteria for his project selection and this will enable the manager to only approve those projects that are on priority (David, 2000). Conclusion Drawing from the essay, it can be said that it is very important for a project manager to be fully aware of what his project entails. Putting down all the activities in an ordered list or manner will help in time allocation of the various activities in the project. Using all the available tools of project management, a project manager will be able to deliver his projects on time since his work will be well planned. Meeting the deadlines in project management is the most important thing and using project time management is the only way towards achieving it.

Archaeological Excavation: Pros and Cons

Archaeological Excavation: Pros and Cons Can archaeological excavation of sites not under immediate threat of development or erosion be justified morally? Explore the pros and cons of research (as opposed to rescue and salvage) excavation and non-destructive archaeological research methods using specific examples. Many people believe that archaeology and archaeologists are mainly concerned with excavation – with digging sites. This may be the common public image of archaeology, as often portrayed on television, although Rahtz (1991, 65-86) has made clear that archaeologists in fact do many things besides excavate. Drewett (1999, 76) goes further, commenting that ‘it must never be assumed that excavation is an essential part of any archaeological fieldwork’. Excavation itself is a costly and destructive research tool, destroying the object of its research forever (Renfrew and Bahn 1996, 100). Of the present day it has been noted that rather than desiring to dig every site they know about, the majority of archaeologists work within a conservation ethic that has grown up in the past few decades (Carmichael et al. 2003, 41). Given the shift to excavation taking place mostly in a rescue or salvage context where the archaeology would otherwise face destruction and the inherently destructive nature of excavation, it has become appropriate to ask whether research excavation can be morally justified. This essay will seek to answer that question in the affirmative and also explore the pros and cons of research excavation and non-destructive archaeological research methods. If the moral justification of research excavation is questionable in comparison to the excavation of threatened sites, it would seem that what makes rescue excavation morally acceptable is the fact that the site would be lost to human knowledge if it was not investigated. It seems clear from this, and seems widely accepted that excavation itself is a useful investigative technique. Renfrew and Bahn (1996, 97) suggest that excavation ‘retains its central role in fieldwork because it yields the most reliable evidence archaeologists are interested in’. Carmichael et al. (2003, 32) note that ‘excavation is the means by which we access the past’ and that it is the most basic, defining aspect of archaeology. As mentioned above, excavation is a costly and destructive process that destroys the object of its study. Bearing this in mind, it seems that it is perhaps the context in which excavation is used that has a bearing on whether or not it is morally justifiable. If the archaeology is bound to be destroyed through erosion or development then its destruction through excavation is vindicated since much data that would otherwise be lost will be created (Drewett 1999, 76). If rescue excavation is justifiable on the grounds that it prevents total loss in terms of the potential data, does this mean that research excavation is not morally justifiable because it is not simply ‘making the best use of archaeological sites that must be consumed’ (Carmichael et al. 2003, 34)? Many would disagree. Critics of research excavation may point out that the archaeology itself is a finite resource that must be preserved wherever possible for the future. The destruction of archaeological evidence through unnecessary (ie non-emergency) excavation denies the opportunity of research or enjoyment to future generations to whom we may owe a custodial duty of care (Rahtz 1991, 139). Even during the most responsible excavations where detailed records are made, 100% recording of a site is not possible, making any non-essential excavation almost a wilful destruction of evidence. These criticisms are not wholly valid though, and certainly the latter holds true during any excavation, not only research excavations, and surely during a research project there is likely to be more time available for a full recording effort than during the statutory access period of a rescue project. It is also debateable whether archaeology is a finite resource, since ‘new’ archaeology is created all the time. It seems inescapable though, that individual sites are unique and can suffer destruction but although it is more difficult and perhaps undesirable to deny that we have some responsibility to preserve this archaeology for future generations, is it not also the case that the present generations are entitled to make responsible use of it, if not to destroy it? Research excavation, best directed at answering potentially important research questions, can be done on a partial or selective basis, without disturbing or destroying a whole site, thus leaving areas for later researchers to investigate (Carmichael et al. 2003, 41). Furthermore, this can and sh ould be done in conjunction with non-invasive techniques such as aerial photography, ground, geophysical and chemical survey (Drewett 1999, 76). Continued research excavation also allows the practice and development of new techniques, without which such skills would be lost, preventing future excavation technique from being improved. An excellent example of the benefits of a combination of research excavation and non-destructive archaeological techniques is the work that has been done, despite objections, at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Sutton Hoo, in eastern England (Rahtz 1991 136-47; Renfrew and Bahn 1996, 98-99). Excavation originally took place on the site in 1938-39 revealing many treasures and the impression in sand of a wooden ship used for a burial, though the body was not found. The focus of these campaigns and those of the 1960s were traditional in their approach, being concerned with the opening of burial mounds, their contents, dating and identifying historical connections such as the identity of the occupants. In the 1980s a new campaign with different aims was undertaken, directed by Martin Carver. Rather than beginning and ending with excavation, a regional survey was carried out over an area of some 14ha, helping to set the site in its local context. Electronic distance measuring was used to creat e a topographical contour map prior to other work. A grass expert examined the variety of grass species on-site and identified the positions of some 200 holes dug into the site. Other environmental studies examined beetles, pollen and snails. In addition, a phosphate survey, indicative of likely areas of human occupation, corresponded with results of the surface survey. Other non-destructive tools were used such as metal detectors, used to map modern rubbish. A proton magnetometer, fluxgate gradiometer and soil resistivity were all used on a small part of the site to the east, which was later excavated. Of those techniques, resistivity proved the most informative, revealing a modern ditch and a double palisade, as well as some other features (see comparative illustrations in Renfrew and Bahn 1996, 99). Excavation later revealed features that had not been remotely detected. Resistivity has since been used on the area of the mounds while soil-sounding radar, which penetrates deeper th an resistivity, is being used on the mounds themselves. At Sutton Hoo, the techniques of geophysical survey are seen to operate as a complement to excavation, not merely a preliminary nor yet a replacement. By trialling such techniques in conjunction with excavation, their effectiveness can be gauged and new and more effective techniques developed. The results at Sutton Hoo suggest that research excavation and non-destructive methods of archaeological research remain morally justifiable. However, simply because such techniques can be applied efficiently does not mean that excavation should be the priority nor that all sites should be excavated, but such a scenario has never been a likely one due to the usual constraints such as funding. Besides, it has been noted above that there is already a trend towards conservation. Continued research excavation at famous sites such as Sutton Hoo, as Rahtz notes (1991, 140-41), is justified since it serves avowedly to develop archaeological practice itself; the physical remains, or shapes in the landscape can be and are restored to their former appearance with the bonus of being better understood, more educational and interesting; such exotic and special sites capture the imagination of the public and the media and raise the profile of archaeology as a whole. There are other sites that could prove equally good examples of morally justifiable long term research archaeology, such as Wharram Percy (for which see Rahtz 1991, 148-57). Progressing from a straightforward excavation in 1950, with the aim of showing that the earthworks represented medieval buildings, the site grew to represent much more in time, space and complexity. Techniques used expanded from excavation to include survey techniques and aerial photography to set the village into a local context. In conclusion, it can be seen that while excavation is destructive, there is a morally justifiable place for research archaeology and non-destructive archaeological techniques: excavation should not be reduced only to rescue circumstances. Research excavation projects, such as Sutton Hoo, have provided many positive aspects to the development of archaeology and knowledge of the past. While excavation should not be undertaken lightly, and non-destructive techniques should be employed in the first place, it is clear that as yet they cannot replace excavation in terms of the amount and types of data provided. Non-destructive techniques such as environmental sampling and resistivity survey have, provided significant complementary data to that which excavation provides and both should be employed. Bibliography Carmichael, D.L., Lafferty III, R.H. and Molyneaux, B.L. 2003. Excavation. Walnut Creek and Oxford: Altamira Press. Drewett, P.L. 1999. Field Archaeology: An Introduction. London: UCL Press. Rahtz, P. 1991. Invitation to Archaeology. 2nd edition. Oxford: Blackwell. Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P.1996. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. 2nd edition. London: Thames Hudson.

Male Expectations Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Effects of Male Expectations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Male expectations are ever present in our world creating an adverse effect on men making them feel inferior if they are unable to succeed financially. Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman explicitly shows just how harmful these expectations can be to a person and their families. The main character in the play Death of a Salesman Willy Loman is greatly affected by these male expectations. The man is expected to not only support his family but must also be able to climb to the top of the corporate ladder. Willy’s inability to succeed financially as expected from society in turn affects his two sons Biff and Happy and his loving wife Linda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Willy’s oldest son Biff is the most affected by his father’s failures. Biff is more affected by his father’s failure to his mother than his father’s financial failures. Biff’s whole life is ruined when he finds out that his father is cheating on his mother after all she has done for him. When Biff realizes that he has been idolizing a failure he is devestated. Biffs life begins to tumble downhill uncontrollably. Biff is so affected by is father’s wrongdoings that is creates never-ending animosity between Willy and Biff. Biff feels that the reason him and his father are always fighting is because â€Å"he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!† (Miller 1221) Happy, Willy’s younger son, is also greatly affected by Willy’s antics. Happy is affected differently than Biff because Happy never realizes that his father is a failure. Happy is always competing for his father’s attention but is never able to steal the spotlight away from Biff. Throughout the play Happy defends his father and never admits to himself that his father is the main reason for his and his brother’s failures in life. A downfall of the Loman boys is their father’s ideas of how to be successful in life. Willy builds up his sons so much that they end up failing. Willy fills his sons with hot air because he himself is the failure and cannot imagine his sons being the same way. Because of everything his father has instilled in him, Biff is so sure that being popular and well liked is the key to success. This belief leads to him flunking out of school and not making anything of his life. Willy has convinced his children that the most important thing in life... ...s own life because of the ideas Willy had instilled in him his entire life. Willy’s failure not only affects him but also his family because now they are left without a father and a husband. The belief Biff would be unable to succeed without his father’s life insurance money is enough to drive Willy to committ suicide. Willy believed that in death he would be giving Biff twenty thousand dollars to help him become a success. Male expectations put too much pressure on men to be the most successful. If a man does not achieve â€Å"the ultimate goal† he is made to feel inferior and like a failure. We see that in Death of a Salesman when a man is unable to achieve ultimate success it can destroy one’s life and can drive a person to insanity and suicide. Works Cited Gill, M.S. â€Å"Boning Up.† Rolling Stone; 3/19/92 Issue 626, p62. Miller, Arthur. Literature an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005. Sander, Fred M. â€Å"Psychoanalysis, Drama, and the Family: The Ever-Widening Scope.† Annual of Psychoanalysis; 2001, Vol. 29, p279. Siegel, Lee. â€Å"Cultural Misconceptions.† New Republic; 08/02/99, Vol. 221 Issue 5, p18. Male Expectations Essay -- essays research papers fc The Effects of Male Expectations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Male expectations are ever present in our world creating an adverse effect on men making them feel inferior if they are unable to succeed financially. Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman explicitly shows just how harmful these expectations can be to a person and their families. The main character in the play Death of a Salesman Willy Loman is greatly affected by these male expectations. The man is expected to not only support his family but must also be able to climb to the top of the corporate ladder. Willy’s inability to succeed financially as expected from society in turn affects his two sons Biff and Happy and his loving wife Linda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Willy’s oldest son Biff is the most affected by his father’s failures. Biff is more affected by his father’s failure to his mother than his father’s financial failures. Biff’s whole life is ruined when he finds out that his father is cheating on his mother after all she has done for him. When Biff realizes that he has been idolizing a failure he is devestated. Biffs life begins to tumble downhill uncontrollably. Biff is so affected by is father’s wrongdoings that is creates never-ending animosity between Willy and Biff. Biff feels that the reason him and his father are always fighting is because â€Å"he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!† (Miller 1221) Happy, Willy’s younger son, is also greatly affected by Willy’s antics. Happy is affected differently than Biff because Happy never realizes that his father is a failure. Happy is always competing for his father’s attention but is never able to steal the spotlight away from Biff. Throughout the play Happy defends his father and never admits to himself that his father is the main reason for his and his brother’s failures in life. A downfall of the Loman boys is their father’s ideas of how to be successful in life. Willy builds up his sons so much that they end up failing. Willy fills his sons with hot air because he himself is the failure and cannot imagine his sons being the same way. Because of everything his father has instilled in him, Biff is so sure that being popular and well liked is the key to success. This belief leads to him flunking out of school and not making anything of his life. Willy has convinced his children that the most important thing in life... ...s own life because of the ideas Willy had instilled in him his entire life. Willy’s failure not only affects him but also his family because now they are left without a father and a husband. The belief Biff would be unable to succeed without his father’s life insurance money is enough to drive Willy to committ suicide. Willy believed that in death he would be giving Biff twenty thousand dollars to help him become a success. Male expectations put too much pressure on men to be the most successful. If a man does not achieve â€Å"the ultimate goal† he is made to feel inferior and like a failure. We see that in Death of a Salesman when a man is unable to achieve ultimate success it can destroy one’s life and can drive a person to insanity and suicide. Works Cited Gill, M.S. â€Å"Boning Up.† Rolling Stone; 3/19/92 Issue 626, p62. Miller, Arthur. Literature an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005. Sander, Fred M. â€Å"Psychoanalysis, Drama, and the Family: The Ever-Widening Scope.† Annual of Psychoanalysis; 2001, Vol. 29, p279. Siegel, Lee. â€Å"Cultural Misconceptions.† New Republic; 08/02/99, Vol. 221 Issue 5, p18.

The Reconstruction Period :: after the Civil War, 1865 - 1877

The period after the Civil War, 1865 - 1877, was called the Reconstruction period. Abraham Lincoln started planning for the reconstruction of the South during the Civil War as Union soldiers occupied huge areas of the South. He wanted to bring the Nation back together as quickly as possible and in December 1863 he offered his plan for Reconstruction which required that the States new constitutions prohibit slavery. In January 1865, Congress proposed an amendment to the Constitution which would abolish slavery in the United States. On December 18, 1865, Congress ratified the Thirteenth Amendment formally abolishing slavery. The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated less than one week later. Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's Vice President, briefly continued Lincoln's policies after Lincoln's assassination and in May 1865 announced his own plans for Reconstruction which included a vow of loyalty to the Nation and the abolition of slavery that Southern states were required to take before they could be readmitted to the Nation. Black codes were adopted by midwestern states to regulate or inhibit the migration of free African-Americans to the midwest. Cruel and severe black code laws were adopted by southern states after the Civil War to control or reimpose the old social structure. Southern legislatures passed laws that restricted the civil rights of the emancipated former slaves. Mississippi was the first state to institute laws that abolished the full civil rights of African-Americans. "An Act to Confer Civil Rights on Freedmen, and for Other Purposes," a very misleading title, was passed in 1865. Other states quickly adopted their own versions of the codes, some of which were so restrictive that they resembled the old system of slavery such as forced labor for various offenses. The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (or the Freedmen's Bureau) was organized to provide relief and assistance to the former slaves, including health services, educational services, and abandoned land services. Congress passed an act on March 3, 1865 to establish the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. The program was administered by the Department of War and was first headed by General Oliver Otis Howard who was appointed to the position on May 13, 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln. Although Congress responded with legislation that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, States kept on the books laws that continued the legacy of the black codes and, therefore, second-class citizenship for the newly freed slaves.

The Unwavering Character of James Fenimore Coppers Deerslayer :: Character Analysis, Deerslayer

The Unwavering Character of James Fenimore Copper's Deerslayer James Fenimore Copper presents Deerslayer as a man of integrity, virtue, and honor. He is a warrior who lives by his word. Even if the situation places his life in jeopardy, he refuses to abandon what he believes in and what he says he will do. Deerslayer’s greatest display of character and honor is seen when he refuses to compromise his standards even though it threatens his life. After saving Hist from the Hurons, Deerslayer was taken captive by them. The Hurons respected Deerslayer for his honesty and integrity and therefore treated him accordingly. When the time came for Deerslayer to pay for his crimes the Hurons devised a situation that would spare his life. To pay for the life Deerslayer took the Indians requested that Deerslayer stay among their people and provide for the fallen Indians family and take the widow for his wife. â€Å"Take the gun; go forth and shoot a deer; bring the venison and lay it before the widow†¦feed her children; call yourself her husband† (Cooper 458). To take an Indian wife went against Deerslayer’s beliefs and convictions. Marrying a woman outside his religion and traditions would cause him to compromise his morals and standards. Even though marrying the Indian woman would spare his life he politely objects and refuses their conditions. â€Å"I feared this,† answered Deerslayer,†¦I did dread that it would come to this. He then proceeds to explain to Mingo, â€Å"I ‘m white, and Christian – born; ‘twould ill become me to take a wife, under redskin forms, from among the heathen. That which I wouldn’t do in peaceable time†¦still less would I do behind clouds, in order to save my life† (Cooper 458)

Romeo and Juliet Answer-to-Study-Guide

Romeo and Juliet – Answer Key to Study Guide 1. Although they are servants, they maintain the Montague/Capulet feud. 2. Gregory 3. These men are too quick to fight. 4. The punishment for more fighting is death. 5. quick-tempered 6. moody and depressed 7. Juliet is too young for marriage, she is his only hope, and she must give her consent also. 8. to see Rosaline 9. He falls in love too easily. 10. They fall in love. 11. an infatuated Romeo 12. The names of things do not change their basic traits. 13. metaphor 14. hyperbole 15. love 16. to foreshadow the use of an herbal brew 17. perform a marriage 18. making a pun on Tybalt’s name 9. Juliet has no interest in Paris. 20. She should meet Romeo at Friar Lawrence’s to get married. 21. a villain 22. He tells Tybalt that he loves him. 23. Tybalt draws his sword, and Romeo moves to stop him. 24. The day seems endless. 25. Juliet thinks that the nurse is saying that Romeo is dead. 26. oxymorons 27. sorrowful 28. Juliet does not feel that Romeo is a villain. 29. She is already married to Romeo but her parents do not know. 30. marry Paris 31. a marriage 32. She does not want to marry Paris. 33. imagery 34. Juliet will drink an herbal potion, she will be buried in the Capulet tomb, and Romeo will return from Mantua. 5. She is afraid. 36. finding herself in the tomb among the bodies of her relatives 37. dramatic irony 38. personification 39. uncontrolled sorrow 40. comic relief 41. Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. 42. He is taking action without thinking clearly. 43. to buy poison 44. Friar John returns without having delivered Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo. 45. Paris 46. to become a nun 47. She stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. 48. Lady Montague 49. There never was a sadder story than this. 50. Love at first sight is not real love.

Human Security Essay

The article aims at bringing the important issue of Human Security to the forefront. It focuses on the urgent need to understand the concept of human security, and to develop the proposals for translating these ideas into policy practice. An attempt has been made to clarify and correlate the terms ‘human development’ and ‘human security’. The interrelation of freedom from ‘fear’ and ‘want’ is discussed and the coherence between the two has been achieved successfully. The author has emphasised on the fact that to enable a real shift in policy making, serious effort needs to be made to operationalize the term Human Security. Human security workers need to develop a holistic and human centered ethos. They need to maintain the military spirits of sacrifice, heroism, discipline, but combined with civilian spirit of individual responsibility, empathy as well as gender awareness. The holistic development of human security worker makes them capable of carrying out both ‘protection-from-fear’ and ‘protection-from-want’ tasks. The article tries to highlight the attractions of human security as a paradigm shifting and bridging concept, as well as converse attempts to appropriate and restrict its usage. The article tries to trace the different usages of concept of Human Security. The holistic and innovative concept of Human Security leads to vague and utopian ideas that need great efforts to operationalize. Proponents of human security urgently need to demonstrate that operationalization is possible and necessary. The key strategies for strengthening human security were identified as strengthening legal norms and building capacity to enforce them. Human Security at present sits in the middle of tug-of-war. It is neither irrelevant to power holders nor has been successfully co-opted by them. The interrelation of poverty and violence used to express Human Security is complex and under-researched. From Roman Times security was universally understood as pertaining to individuals. Attempts were made to reorient thinking about security as Human Security. In the post cold era the term suddenly began to feature as global security and comprehensive security. Amartya Sen proposed that Human Security is concerned with downside risks that threaten human survival. The focus on ‘freedom from want’ has a transformatory effect on ‘freedom from fear’. This article has traced different usages of concept of Human Security and argues that the concept has withstood attempts at compartmentalization and instrumentalization. Its greatest potential continues to lie in its bridging and paradigm shifting properties. It emphasises human security to be indivisible. It debates on the tension between foreign policymaking and ethical considerations. Another one being poverty breeds violence and tackling poverty will also tackle violence. The article discusses necessary connections with wider policy shifts. It draws a sketch of the ‘Ideal Human Security Worker’ of the future. Adoption of Human Security concept as Canadian-Norwegian approach, joined by nine other nations and then adopted by Japan marked the realisation of the importance of this concept. The debate typically centres on narrowing down violence rather than poverty in order to come out with an operational concept that can guide policy. Human Security is also a bridging concept and it should be malleable enough to be used by diverse parties, while robust enough to keep sufficient shared meanings across this range of users. It should span between ideals, life situations and actions. The adoption of Human security as both a holistic and a normative concept will definitely lead to practical consequences. Critical Analysis Internal Analysis: The article discusses the bridging and shifting properties of Human Security Concept. It has made an excellent effort to trace the different usages of concept of human security. The work done by the author is commendable . She has collected the information related to the meaning of human security and its usage from Roman times through the span of the present time. She has taken into consideration security of all types physical and material. The different concepts of security and its shaping up into present day concept of human security. She has laid special emphasis on the urgent need for the operationalisation of human security. She has not just discussed the need for operationalisation but has also provided excellent ways to instrumentalise and operationalise human security concept. She has tried to both materialise and personify the concept of human security. By discussing both the malleable and robust nature of human security concept that makes the text effective . The writing and explanation style of the author includes active alert and comprehensive analysis of the term Human Security. She has tried to touch every aspect that surrounds and affects Human Security directly or indirectly. The article has clearly described the role of Human security worker that combines both military spirit and civilian responsibility and empathy. The detailed explaination of the role of Human security worker tries to present a very accurate and live sketch of Human security worker. This refreshes the reader with motivation and enthusiasm to operationalise the concept of human security worker. It presents the very possibility of the operationalisation and functionality of Human security. Weakness: The article ahs discussed the concept of human security very comprehensively , yet the inter-relation of poverty and violence use to express human security remains complex and under –researched. The weakness of analysis lies in the vague idea development of poverty and violence. It seems to be a vicious circle rather than a focused approach to resolve th problem. External analysis â€Å"Dr. Glasius’s research concerns both the theory and practice of global civil society and its relationship to international law, particularly human rights law. ( Glasius ) This article on human security also witnesses the research or comprehensive study conducted by the author. The collection of information as evident from the article that defines the term human security from the initial stage of security in Roman Times to the present concept of Human Security approves the writing style of the author. The author is a research officer ,which is also reflected by her comprehensive writing style. Her present research focuses on economic and social rights , human security and social forums . In the given article she has elaborated upon the urgent need to operationalise the concept of Human Security. She has also described the role of a Human Security Worker for effective functonalisation of the concept. The idea conveyed through the article is operationalisation of the theory to practice that reflects the originality and urge to reform the society. Clarity and Coherence of the Arguements:- The author has tried his best to achieve clarity and coherence of the arguments. The evidence being the discussion of various usages of the concept of Human Security . he has discussed each usage of the concept with clarity and focus on the era when the terms were prevalent . She has attempted to clarify the inter-relation of Human Development and Human Security and their impact on each other. She has clearly and explicitly described the role of human security worker. The coherence of the arguments can be viewed beginning from paradigm shifting and bridging aspect of Human Security leading to holistic development of human security worker. Through this the author has very coherently explained the realisation of the ultimate goal of operationalisation of human security . Relevance of the Arguments : The author argues through the medium of the article that the different usage of concept of Human security has withstood attempts at compartmentalisation and operationalisation. This is quite relevant because with understanding of the term Human security grew an awareness to operationalise this concept. Also paradigm shifting and bridging has further helped in the functional realisation of human security concept and thus the need for training Human security workers. Thus the gist of the article is perfectly relevant so as to define the role of human security worker for its operationalisation.

Negative Effects of Technology Essay

The advantages of technology are undeniable, electronic devices make our life much easier as we can save time and money when using them: cars, microwaves, mobile phones†¦ In contrast, there are a lot of disadvantages that we don’t take into account. The recession is not the only cause of unemployment: technology has enabled multinational companies to replace their workers with machines. This business process has created job redundancies and downsizing. In addition, local agencies and music stores have been forced to shut down since items are available online. Technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient but it has also brought along privacy issues. People are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge. In order to feel secure at the work place is necessary to be in constant learning mode, as technology keeps on changing every day. There is always a new discovery or development that may be useful to make our job safer. Also, the more technology that we create the more technology that we dispose of. This problem is exponentially growing. Practically everyone has a cell phone which has a life span of about 3 or 4 years, when we replace them they are usually thrown into a big pile and released harmful agents into the environment. Related to cell phones, I have found 3 key points that explain how do they affect on humans health: 1. First of all, studies have not shown a consistent link between cell phone use and cancers of the brain, nerves, or other tissues of the head or neck. More research is needed because cell phone technology and how people use cell phones have been changing rapidly. 2. Nevertheless, you need to know that cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held. 3. The amount of radiofrequency energy we are exposed to depends on the technology of the phone, the distance between the phone’s antenna and the user, the extent and type of use, and the userâ €™s distance from cell phone towers. Technology has also affected society in general. Even the fact that we can now communicate at any time anywhere may sound like a good thing, the fact remains that people do not interact personally with one another as often as they used to. This has affected the interaction between people as it has created a barrier in personable, face-to-face communication. As a result, there are certain habits that are losing relevance among people such as going out to play a basketball match or meeting a friend at a coffee shop. This is happening because people don’t feel the need to step outside of their home to find entertainment and fun. Technology is a privilege to have but interaction with other people is crucial, and being responsible for one’s actions and not letting technology rule our lives is very important too. I am not saying that all technology is bad or evil, but we do need to be careful that we don’t become slaves to our own creations. http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/128143/the-negative-effects-of-advancing-technology-on-society.html http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-impact-of-technology.html http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/negative-effects-of-modern-day-technology-1106666.html Bibliography:  · Anon, 2009. Negative effects of modern day technology. Available at: http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/negative-effects-of-modern-day-technology-1106666.html [Accessed December 13, 2012].  · Aydan Corkern, 2009. The Negative Effects Of Advancing Technology On Society. Available at: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/128143/the-negative-effects-of-advancing-technology-on-society.html [Accessed December 14, 2012].  · Veethi Telang, 2011. Negative Impact of technology. Available at: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-impact-of-technology.html [Accessed December 14, 2012].

The Stupidest Angel Chapter 2

Chapter 2 THE LOCAL GIRLS HAVE A WAY ABOUT THEM The Warrior Babe of the Outland steered her Honda station wagon down Cypress Street, stopping every ten feet or so for tourists who were stepping into the street from between parked cars, completely oblivious of any automobile traffic. My kingdom for a razor-blade cowcatcher and Cuisinart wheel covers to cut my path through this herd of ignorant peasant meat, she thought. Then: Whoa, I guess I really do need the meds. So she said, â€Å"They act like Cypress Street is the midway at Disneyland – like no one actually has to use the street to drive on. You guys wouldn't do that, would you?† She glanced over her shoulder at the two damp teenage boys who were huddled in the corner of the backseat of the car. They shook their heads furiously. One said, â€Å"No, Miss Michon, no we'd never. No.† Her real name was Molly Michon, but years ago, as a B-movie queen, she'd done eight movies as Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland. She had a wild mane of blond hair shot with gray and the body of a fitness model. She could pass for thirty or fifty, depending on the time of day, what she was wearing, and how deeply medicated she was. Fans agreed that she was probably somewhere in her early to midforties. Fans. The two teenage boys in the backseat of the car were fans. They'd made the mistake of taking part of their Christmas break to go to Pine Cove in search of the famed cult-film star, Molly Michon, and get her autograph on their copies of Warrior Babe VI: Revenge of the Savage Skank, just released on DVD, with never-before-seen outtakes of Molly's boobs popping out of her gun-metal bra. Molly had seen them skulking around the outside of the cabin she shared with her husband, Theo Crowe. She'd snuck out the back door and ambushed them on the side of the house with a garden hose – sprayed them down good, chased them through the pine forest till the hose reeled out of its cart, then she tackled the taller one and threatened to snap his neck if the other one didn't stop in his tracks. Realizing at that point that she might have made a public relations error, Molly invited her fans to come along to help pick out a Christmas tree for the Santa Rosa Chapel Christmas Party for the Lonesome. (She had been making more than a few minor misjudgments lately, as she'd stopped taking her meds a week ago in order to save money for Theo's Christmas present.) â€Å"So, where are you guys from?† she said cheerfully. â€Å"Please don't hurt us,† said Bert, the taller, thinner of the two kids (She had been thinking of them as Bert and Ernie – not because they really looked like the puppets, but because they had the same relative shapes – except for the big hand up their bottoms, of course.) â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you. It's great to have you along. The guys at the Christmas-tree lot are a little wary of me since I fed one of their coworkers to a sea monster a few years ago, so you guys can sort of act as a social buffer.† Damn, she shouldn't have mentioned the sea monster. She'd had so many years of obscurity between the time she'd been pushed out of the movie business until the revival to cult status of her movies that she'd lost most of her people skills. And then there was that fifteen-year disconnect with reality when she'd been known as Pine Cove's crazy lady – but since she'd hooked up with Theo, and had stayed on her anti-psychotics, things had been a lot better. She turned into the parking lot of Pine Cove Hardware and Gift, where a half acre of tarmac was corralled off for the Christmas-tree lot. Upon spotting her car, three middle-aged guys in canvas aprons quickstepped their way into the store, threw the bolt, and turned the  «Open » sign to CLOSED. She'd thought this might happen, but she wanted to surprise Theo, prove that she could handle getting the big Christmas tree for the chapel party. Now these narrow-minded minions of Black & Decker were foiling her plans for a perfect Christmas. She took a deep breath and tried to exhale herself into a calm moment as her yoga teacher had instructed. Well, she did live in the middle of a pine forest, didn't she? Maybe she should just go cut a Christmas tree herself. â€Å"Let's just go back to the cabin, guys I have an ax there that will work.† â€Å"Noooooooo!† screamed Ernie as he reached across his damp friend, threw the latch on the Honda's door, and rolled them both out of the moving car into a pallet of plastic reindeer. â€Å"Okay, then,† Molly said, â€Å"you guys take care. I'll just see if I can cut a tree out of the front yard.† She swung around in the parking lot and headed back home. Slick with sweat, Lena Marquez slid out of her Santa suit like a baby lizard emerging from a fuzzy red egg. The temperature had risen into the high seventies before she'd finished her shift at the Thrifty-Mart, and she was sure she'd probably lost five pounds in water in the heavy suit. Wearing only her bra and panties, she padded into the bathroom and jumped on the scale to enjoy the surprise bonus weight loss. The disk spun and settled on her usual preshower weight. Perfect for her height, light for her age, but dammit, she'd fought with her ex, been pounded with ice, rang out good cheer for the less fortunate, and endured the jolly heat of the Santa suit for eight hours, she deserved something for her efforts. She took off her bra and panties and hopped back on the scale. No discernible difference. Dammit! She sat, peed, wiped, and jumped back on the scale. Maybe a third of a pound below normal. Ah! she thought, brushing her beard aside so she could read the scale more clearly, this could be the problem. She pulled off the white beard and Santa hat, flung them into the nearby bedroom, shook out her long black hair, and waited for the scale to settle. Oh yeah. Four pounds. She did a quick Tae Bo kick of celebration and stepped into the shower. She winced as she soaped up, hitting a sore spot there by her solar plexus. There were a couple of purple bruises developing on her ribs where the ice bag had hit her. She'd had more pain after doing too many crunches at the gym, but this pain seemed to shoot on through to her heart. Maybe it was the thought of spending Christmas alone. This would be her first since the divorce. Her sister, whom she'd spent the last few Christmases with, was going with her husband and the kids to Europe. Dale, total prick that he was, had involved her in all sorts of holiday activities from which she was now excluded. The rest of her family was back in Chicago, and she hadn't had any luck with men since Dale – too much residual anger and mistrust. (He hadn't just been a prick, he had cheated on her.) Her girlfriends, all of them married or paired up with semipermanent boyfriends, told her that she needed to be single for a while, spend some time getting to know herself. That, of course, was total bullshit. She knew herself, liked herself, washed herself, dressed herself, bought herself presents, took herself out on dates, and even had sex with herself from time to time, which always ended better than it used to with Dale. â€Å"Oh, that get-to-know-yourself stuff will send you full-blown batshit,† said her friend Molly Michon. â€Å"And believe me, I am the uncrowned queen of batshit. Last time I really got to know myself it turned out there was a whole gang of bitches in there to deal with. I felt like the receptionist at a rehab center. They all had nice tits, though, I gotta say. Anyway, forget that. Go out and do stuff for someone else. That's much better for you. ‘Get to know yourself' – what good is that? What if you get to know yourself and find out you're a total harpy? Sure, I like you, but you can't trust my judgment. Go do something for other people.† It was true. Molly could be – uh, eccentric, but she did make sense occasionally. So Lena had volunteered to man the Salvation Army kettle, she'd collected canned food and frozen turkeys for the Pine Cove Anonymous Neighbors food drive, and tomorrow night, as soon as it got dark, she was going to go out and collect live Christmas trees and drop them off at the homes of people who probably wouldn't be able to afford them. That should take her mind off herself. And if it didn't work, she'd spend Christmas Eve at the Santa Rosa Chapel Party for the Lonesome. Oh God, there it was. It was Christmastime, and she was in the Christmas spirit – she was feeling lonesome. To Mavis Sand, the owner of the Head of the Slug saloon, the word lonesome rang like the bell on a cash register. Come Christmas break, Pine Cove filled up with tourists seeking small-town charm, and the Head of the Slug filled up with lonesome, disenfranchised winners seeking solace Mavis was glad to serve it up in the form of her signature (and overpriced) Christmas cocktail, the Slow Comfortable Screw in the Back of Santa's Sleigh, which consisted of – â€Å"Well, fuck off if you need to know what's in it,† Mavis would say. â€Å"I'm a professional bartender since your daddy flushed the condom that held your only hope of havin' a brain, so get in the spirit and order the goddamn drink.† Mavis was always in the Christmas spirit, right down to the Christmas-tree earrings that she wore year-round to give her that â€Å"new-car smell.† A sheaf of mistletoe the size of a moose head hung over the order station at her bar, and throughout the season, any unsuspecting drunk who leaned too far over the bar to shout his order into one of Mavis's hearing aids would find that beyond the fluttering black nylon whips of her mascara-plastered pseudo lashes, behind the mole with the hair and the palette knife-applied cakes of Red Seduction lipstick, past the Tareyton 100s breath and the clacking dentures, Mavis still had some respectable tongue action left in her. One guy, breathless and staggering toward the door, claimed that she had tongued his medulla oblongata and stimulated visions of being choked in Death's dark closet – which Mavis took as a compliment. About the same time that Dale and Lena were having their go-round down at the Thrifty-Mart, Mavis, perched on her stool behind the bar, looked up from a crossword puzzle to see the most beautiful man she'd ever lain eyes on coming through Slug's double doors. What had once been a desert bloomed down under; where for years lay a dusty streambed, a mighty river did now flow. Her heart skipped a beat and the defibrillator implanted in her chest gave her a little jolt that sent her sluicing electric off her bar stool to his service. If he ordered a wallbanger she'd come so hard her tennis shoes would rip out from the toe curl, she knew it, she felt it, she wanted it. Mavis was a romantic. â€Å"Can I help you?† she asked, batting her eyelashes, which gave the appearance of spastic wolf spiders convulsing behind her glasses. A half-dozen daytime regulars who had been sitting at the bar turned on their stools to behold the source of that oily courtesy – there was no way that voice had come out of Mavis, who normally spoke to them in tones of disdain and nicotine. â€Å"I'm looking for a child,† said the stranger. He had long blond hair that fanned out over the rain flap of a black trench coat. His eyes were violet, his facial features both rugged and delicate, finely cut and yet with no lines of age or experience. Mavis tweaked the little knob on her right hearing aid and tilted her head like a dog who has just bitten into a plastic pork chop. Oh, how the pillars of lust can crumble under the weight of stupidity. â€Å"You're looking for a child?† asked Mavis. â€Å"Yes,† said the stranger. â€Å"In a bar? On a Monday afternoon? You're looking for a child?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"A particular child, or will just any child do?† â€Å"I'll know it when I see it,† said the stranger. â€Å"You sick fuck,† said one of the daytime regulars, and Mavis, for once, nodded in agreement, her neck vertebrae clicking like a socket wrench. â€Å"Get the hell out of my bar,† she said. A long, lacquered fingernail pointed the way back out the door. â€Å"Go on, get out. What do you think this is, Bangkok?† The stranger looked at her finger. â€Å"The Nativity is approaching, am I correct?† â€Å"Yeah, Christmas is Saturday.† Mavis growled. â€Å"The hell does that have anything to do with anything?† â€Å"Then I'll need a child before Saturday,† said the stranger. Mavis reached under the bar and pulled out her miniature baseball bat. Just because he was pretty didn't mean he couldn't be improved by a smack upside the head with a piece of earnest hickory. Men: a wink, a thrill, a damp squish, and before you knew it it was time to start raising lumps and loosening teeth. Mavis was a pragmatic romantic: love – correctly performed, she believed – hurts. â€Å"Smack ‘im, Mavis,† cheered one of the daytime regulars. â€Å"What kind of perv wears an overcoat in seventy-five-degree weather?† said another. â€Å"I say brain him.† Bets were beginning to be exchanged back by the pool table. Mavis tugged at an errant chin hair and peered over her glasses at the stranger. â€Å"Think you might want to move your little search on down the road some?† â€Å"What day is it?† asked the stranger. â€Å"Monday.† â€Å"Then I'll have a diet Coke.† â€Å"What about the kid?† asked Mavis, punctuating the question by smacking the baseball bat against her palm (which hurt like hell, but she wasn't going to flinch, not a chance). â€Å"I have until Saturday,† said the beautiful perv. â€Å"For now, just a diet Coke – and a Snickers bar. Please.† â€Å"That's it,† Mavis said. â€Å"You're a dead man.† â€Å"But, I said please,† said Blondie, missing the point, somewhat. She didn't even bother to throw open the lift-away through the bar but ducked under it and charged. At that moment a bell rang, and a beam of light blasted into the bar, indicating that someone had come in from outside. When Mavis stood back up, leaning heavily on her back foot as she wound up to knock the stranger's nads well into the next county, he was gone. â€Å"Problem, Mavis?† asked Theophilus Crowe. The constable was standing right where the stranger had been. â€Å"Damn, where'd he go?† Mavis looked around behind Theo, then back at the daytime regulars. â€Å"Where'd he go?† â€Å"Got me,† they said, a chorus of shrugs. â€Å"Who?† asked Theo. â€Å"Blond guy in a black trench coat,† said Mavis. â€Å"You had to pass him on the way in.† â€Å"Trench coat? It's seventy-five degrees out,† said Theo. â€Å"I'd have noticed someone in a trench coat.† â€Å"He was a perv!† someone shouted from the back. Theo looked down at Mavis. â€Å"This guy flash you?† Their height difference was nearly two feet and Mavis had to back up a step to look him in the eye. â€Å"Hell no. I like a man who believes in truth in advertising. This guy was looking for a child.† â€Å"He told you that? He came in here and said he was looking for a kid?† â€Å"That's it. I was just getting ready to teach him some –  » â€Å"You're sure he hadn't lost his kid? That happens, Christmas shopping, they wander away – ; â€Å"No, he wasn't looking for a particular kid, he was just looking for a kid.† â€Å"Well, maybe he wanted to be a Big Brother or Secret Santa or something,† said Theo, expressing a faith in the goodness of man for which he had little to no evidence, â€Å"do something nice for Christmas.† â€Å"Goddammit, Theo, you dumbfuck, you don't have to pry a priest off an altar boy with a crowbar to figure out that he's not helping the kid with his Rosary. The guy was a perv.† â€Å"Well, I should probably go look for him.† â€Å"Well, you probably oughta should.† Theo started to turn to go out the door, then turned back. â€Å"I'm not a dumbfuck, Mavis. There's no need for that kind of talk.† â€Å"Sorry, Theo,† said Mavis, lowering her baseball bat to show the sincerity of her contrition. â€Å"Why was it you came in, then?† â€Å"Can't remember.† Theo raised his eyebrows, daring her. Mavis grinned at him. Theo was a good guy – a little flaky but a good guy. â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Nah, I just wanted to check with you on the food for the Christmas party. You were going to barbecue, right?† â€Å"I was planning on it.† â€Å"Well, I just heard on the radio that there's a pretty good chance of rain, so you might want to have a backup plan.† â€Å"More liquor?† â€Å"I was thinking something that wouldn't involve cooking outdoors.† â€Å"Like more liquor?† Theo shook his head and started toward the door. â€Å"Call me or Molly if you need any help.† â€Å"It won't rain,† said Mavis. â€Å"It never rains in December.† But Theo was gone, out on the street looking for the trench-coated stranger. â€Å"It could rain,† said one of the daytime regulars. â€Å"Scientists say we could see El Nià ±o this year.† â€Å"Yeah, like they ever tell us until after half the state has washed away,† said Mavis. â€Å"Screw the scientists.† But El Ni;o was coming. El Ni;o. The Child.