Managing Workforce Diversity at Cityside Financial Services Free Essay Example, 750 words

Desired State the company wants everybody to work as a single team, regardless of skin color or market segment, as competition heats up for clients and depositors in the industry. Usual Problems some long-term wealthy customers who closed or terminated their accounts because they no longer lived in the neighborhood complained they were never offered investment products similar to what was offered at the External Deposits section (Ely, 2006, p. 2) and either felt neglected or were offended by the lack of similar offers for them. Furthermore, Retail Operations started offering corporate banking services, traditionally offered by the External Deposits group, while External Deposits' unit also ventured into retail banking services. Recommendations put people where they will fit best, based on skills, work attitudes, rapport with clients, and knowledge of their client le; regardless of ethnic or racial background. At present, the company seems to unconsciously or unintentionally perpe tuate this division of workers and employees based on their race, because the two sales units were departmentalized or segregated based on their target market segments. Career paths and advancements, as well as all promotions, should be based on merit alone (Cornelius, 2002, p. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing Workforce Diversity at Cityside Financial Services or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page What is unequal is in the distribution of the type of jobs, as some 90% of support staff are blacks. To put it more succinctly, the company must pursue a policy of inclusion (Mor Barak, 2010, p. 101); it should put more blacks in positions of authority, in middle and senior management positions. Right now, most blacks are in routine, low-paying, white-collar jobs. The idea is to acknowledge African-Americans are not only good order takers (follow orders) but also as decision makers. In addition, the company must change its corporate culture to embrace an inclusive meritocracy.

Professional Presence Essay - 3928 Words

PROFESSIONAL PRESCENCE AND INFLUENCE Western Governments University January 12, 2016 PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE What does it mean to be human, and how do we as nurses provide care to our patients? According to Jean Watson â€Å"The future of nursing is tied back to Nightingales sense of calling guided by a sense of commitment and covenantal ethic of human service; cherishing our phenomena, our subject matter and those we serve. It is when we include caring and love in our work and our life we discover and affirm that nursing, like teaching is more than just a job but a life giving and life receiving career for a lifetime of growth and learning† (Watson, J. 1978). There have been many different†¦show more content†¦The newest and most recent of Larry Dossey’s Eras is Era III which took shape in the 1990’s. Era III is considered the body, mind, spirit and biopsychosocial model. In this model Dossey explains that healing is not only on a physical level but a conscious level. Dossey states â€Å"Consciousness is not confined to an individual body, an individual mind may affect not just their body but also other people around them† (Dossey,L. nd). The Eastern models of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and the Ayurvedic beliefs about being human and caring for people are similar to Dossey’s theories. These theories underlying belief in how to provide care are the body is made of 5 elements and disease is caused when there is an imbalance between the elements (â€Å"Traditional Chinese Medicine: In Depth amp; What is the Philosophy of Ayurvedic Medicine, nd). There are many different styles in the way a presents a caring presence to their patients, such as a nurse’s personality, and mindfulness practice to the way they provide a healing environment. As a nurse the caring model that I can relate to most is Dossey Era III. I believe that health and healing is not just about the physical aspect but involves the person as a whole. 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Models of Health and Healing- The candidate provides a logical discussion, with substantial detail, of the differences between 2 models of health and healing as they relate to what it means to be human. Since the mid-19th century, there have been three distinct models of health and healing. The first era began in the mid-1960s and dealt primarily with the physical body. It is known as theRead MoreDeveloping a Professional Presence2036 Words   |  9 PagesProfessional presence Professional presence is a dynamic blend of poise, self confidence, control, and style that empowers us to be able to command respect in any situation. Once acquired, it permits us to project a confidence that others can quickly perceive the first time they meet us. The importance of making a good first impression A positive first impression can be thought of as the first step in building a long-term relationship. 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To be a nurse and choose the many sacrifices it takes to spend one’s life caring for others requires knowledge of one’s own personal beliefs and values. Our own past experiences with life and how they have shaped us also influence how we relate and treat our patientsRead MoreProfessional Presence and Influence5087 Words   |  21 PagesRunning head: PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE 1 Professional Presence and Influence Esther Lopez Western Governors University PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE 2 Over the last one hundred years there has been a great change in the way nurses, doctors, and others in the medical field, as well as the general public, have come to view health and wellness. Where once health was thought to only be comprised of our physical body and the physical things thatRead MoreProfessional Presence Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesYOT2 PROF. PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE (GRAD 0714) A. Professional Presence: 1)Era I (Physical Body) is based mainly on the physical aspect of health such as â€Å"surgery and drugs†. â€Å"The mind of consciousness is equated with functioning†, Whereas Era III(bio-psycho-social) is based more on consciousness. Era I focuses mainly on the human as a â€Å"Physical Body† and what can be done to correct it physically. Era III states that the â€Å"mind is boundless and unlimited†. In Era III the realizationRead MoreProfessional Presence and Influence2190 Words   |  9 PagesProfessional Presence and Influence Melissa A. Cummings Western Governor’s University Abstract This paper examines my personal professional presence and how my personality influences both my personal and professional life. It will examine how I can use mindfulness and self-awareness to improve my professional practice with co-workers and patients and how I can bring mindfulness into my own life. Professional Presence and Influence Professional Presence Larry Dossey discusses three erasRead MoreProfessional Presence Essay3394 Words   |  14 PagesProfessional Presence and Influence Professional presence is something of a nebulous concept. Before this course, I honestly never considered what it was and how my nursing practice was defined by it. During my journey through this course I discovered what it truly meant. â€Å"Presence is an intersubjective encounter between a nurse and a patient in which the nurse encounters the patient as a unique human being in a unique situation and chooses to spend her/himself on the patient’s behalf’’ (WingateRead MoreProfessional Presence and Influence2709 Words   |  11 PagesProfessional Presence and Influence Professional Presence and Influences To feel completely human one have to be able to care for themselves and also for someone else in a respected and nurtured manner. According to Dr. Koerner, one consider them self valuable and useful when they are able to contribute to wellbeing of themselves

Strategic Analyses for Estia Health Aged-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Conduct a strategic analyses for Estia Health Aged Care, an Australia's publicly listed company. Answer: Introduction Estia was established in 2005. Today the company is one of the biggest residential aged care providers in Australia. The company offers more than 67 facilities and the activities are conducted in more than 5,910 places. 7,000 employees are operating the activities across victoria, South Australia, Queensland. Estia motive is to offer its consumers with the good standards of aged care services in an innovative and supportive environment. The company has an experienced management team who are dedicated towards the work and has the capability to conduct the activities effectively. The operational efficiency of the company is to give proper results via its corporate center situated in Melbourne and also across Australia. The market share of the company is large and the financial strength of the company is strong as compared to other health aged care companies. In this report, the discussion will be made by taking into consideration pestle, Porter 5 five forces, strategic capabilities, VRIO and SWOT. In Australia, the problems that are faced are related to aging population and making policies and healthcare for the aged people. There are many policies measures that are taken into consideration by the government to aim at social support. There are also some policies that are successful and have been faced at the time of implementation. So there are many problems in the residential aged care (Marttunen et al., 2017). External analysis Pestle Political analysis It is seen that the public expenditure on health is low as compared to other countries and the residential aged care is more dominant in the private sector. The facilities of the government assist to attract foreign investors by considering the investor-friendly policies and tax incentives. The government hopes to offer innovative drugs and also to offer modern medical equipment. By giving emphasis on telemedicine in Australia the services can be availed easily and also information technology and communication can assist the customers (Attoe et al., 2017). The government is also giving focus on encouraging good partnerships that are both private and public. It also helps to promote medical tourism. The Australian government is giving emphasis on giving proper and affordable healthcare services so that the vulnerable sections of many areas can be developed (D'Andreamatteo et al., 2015). The major part is of government to give priority to the residential aged care in developing the agenda. There are also many hospital schemes that will help to create opportunities so that residential aged care can grow. Estia has to consider many policies at the time of implementing the plans. Economic environment The healthcare expenditure is availed from private patients just because of the high income. The rise in the income can increase the middle age group people (McCarthy et al., 2015). The government investment policies also help to give proper opportunities as the large investments require good scale to raise the infrastructure of the healthcare. It is also evaluated that majority of healthcare services are offered by the private sectors. The spending behavior of the public in Estia will rise as there are many chances of rising and low income (Al-Abri and Al-Balushi, 2014). Socio-cultural environment It is seen that there is a shift in diseases profiles. The diseases are shifted from infectious to lifestyle-related disease. In Estia the people who are aged are offered good quality services so that they can take care of their health. The people who are not able to take care of themselves come here so that they can take care of themselves in a proper manner (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2018). The population rate in Australia is high so there is a huge shift in the old age homes as people go there so that they can live happy and safe life. The rise in the literacy rate is improving the awareness in the health sector about the lifestyle diseases that can be very costly for the old age people (Barzman et al., 2015). Technological environment The healthcare system in Australia is under high pressure. There is a long list of old age people who need good treatment and also emphasizes on enhancing the living standards (Vergados, 2010). Estia offers cost competitive medical treatment so that the people can be satisfied and happy. If the company considers the latest technology then proper assistance can be given to the people who are the part of the aged care hub (Kelly, 2017). It is seen that the company should also give emphasis on speeding up the technology that disrupts the industry. The slow speed of the technology can take more time as well as the fast speed of technology can enhance the profits (Canuto et al., 2017). In estia the technological impact takes into consideration the overall technology impact on product offering and also on the rate of technological diffusion. The impact is also seen in the value chain structure in health and service sector and also the cost structure is affected (Moro Visconti, 2016). Legal environment In many countries, there is a legal framework so that intellectual property can be protected by the rights of a company. The organization should analyze everything before entering the markets so that competitive edge can be achieved. The legal factors that should be taken into consideration at the time of entering the market are employment law, data protection, health and safety law, discrimination law and consumer protection law (Nilsagrd et al., 2015). Environmental factor There are many different markets that have different standards which can impact on the overall profits of the market. Before entering the new market the company analyzes the environmental standards that are necessary to be conducted in those markets. The environmental factors that should be considered by the company are: weather, climate change, endangered species, recycling, and management of waste. It is important to consider proper regulations so that the activities can be conducted smoothly (Krause, 2015). Porter 5 force Model Estia can take into consideration porter five forces analysis so that proper understanding can be made of the competitive forces so that profitability and proper strategies can be made. Porter five forces analysis gives major impact on the overall profitability of the company in the operations are conducted. The five forces are: Threat of new entrants The new entries in healthcare equipment and services create innovation and many other ways of conducting the activities as it gives pressure on low pricing strategy and offering new value propositions to the consumers. The company has the responsibility to manage all the issues and to create proper barriers so that competitive edge can be protected (McCarthy and Chaplin, 2016). The company can manage the threats of new entrants by taking into consideration innovative products so that new customers can be given chance and also old customer can be given reason to purchase the product and services of the company. By creating economies of scale so that the fixed cost proportion can be reduced by giving focus on per unit. (van Raaij, 2016). Also by creating capabilities and spending money on research and development the new entrants can easily enter into the dynamic industry where the payers are set and proper standards are maintained. The major significance is that it minimizes the overall profits for the new entrants and also discourages the new players in the company (Newman and Newman, 2017). Bargaining power of Suppliers The companies in the residential aged care can purchase the raw materials easily as the suppliers are many. The suppliers can minimize the overall margins. The suppliers who are powerful in this sector can consider their power of negotiation to gain high prices from the companies in the health industry. The impact is seen on the higher supplier bargaining power as it reduces the profits of the health industry. The power of the suppliers can be managed by creating a good supply chain with many suppliers. The experimentation with the designs of the product can also be sued so that the prices can be low of the raw materials. It is also important to develop dedicated suppliers whose overall profit depends on the firm. The major lesson of the company is to learn from Wal-Mart and Nike that how they create the manufacturers of the third party and have less bargaining power (Makai et al., 2014). Bargaining power of Buyers It is analyzed that buyers demand more. They purchase the best product available by giving fewer prices. This can put pressure on the overall profitability and also can reduce the customer base of the company as the bargaining power is high of the customers and they can also avail high discounts (Zalengera et al., 2014). The bargaining power of buyers can be handled if they build a large base of customers and also it will help to reduce the bargaining power of buyers and offer an opportunity to the company so that they can streamline the process of production. By considering innovative products the customers can easily offer discounts and offers on established products so that new products can limit the bargaining power of the buyer. New products will also minimize the defection of the old customer of estia to its competitors (Naccarella et al., 2018). Threats of substitute products or services When the new product and services satisfy the requirement of the customers the overall profitability of the company enhances. The threat of substitute is high if it gives a value proposition that is unique to the company and its customers. The estia can manage the threat of substitute by being service oriented rather than product oriented. By evaluating the core requirements of the customers rather than what actually customer wants to purchase. The switching cost of the customers can also help to manage the threat of substitutes. Rivalry among the existing competitors If the rivalry in the company is intense then it can reduce the prices and also reduce the overall profits of the company. The company conducts in a competitive residential aged care . The competition does not consider overall profits of the company. Estia can manage the rivalry competition by creating sustainable differentiation and also by building the scale that can compete properly. By collaboration with the competitors, the market size can be increased rather than giving a competition in the small market (Cadar et al., 2017). So, by evaluating all the competitive forces it is seen that to achieve the strategic picture of the company the profitability is considered and the main focus is given on the changing trends that can exploit the emerging opportunity. SWOT Analysis Strength of Estia As the company is one of the leading companies so there is much strength that assists to grab the large market share. The organization has a good performance in the new markets and it has entered into the new markets to achieve success. The expansion has given an opportunity to the company to enhance the new revenue stream and diversifies the economic cycle risk in the overall market where the activities are operated. The major strength of the company is that it has a strong cash flow that offers resources to the company so that new projects can be expanded (Ahmadi et al., 2016). There are reliable suppliers of raw material that helps to overcome any supply chain bottlenecks. The company also has the good dealer community that helps to create a good culture among the distributor and dealers so that they can promote the products and can also invest in training so that maximum benefit can be achieved. Estia has good success at going to market strategies for its products. The company is also giving emphasis on investing in training and development so that proper results can be considered. Weakness It is seen that the company require a huge investment to consider the latest technology so that the expansion can take place effectively. The company has to put more money so that the process can be integrated. In the current scenario, the investment in technologies is not at par by considering the vision of the company. Estia is not able to manage the challenges by new entrants in the segment and lost small market share. It is also evaluated that the financial planning is not done properly and effectively as the current ratio and liquid assets gives the idea that the cash can be used more properly and also the company is focusing on raising the capital so that positive impact can be achieved in the long term (Kapoor et al., 2016). Opportunities The company has following opportunities that can be availed. There are more customers from the online platform. The company is investing in an online platform so that more and more customers can be attracted. The competency of the company can achieve success in similar products. It is important for the company to open new markets so that proper adoption of latest technology can take place and the free trade agreement can be made effectively. Latest technology offers differentiated pricing strategy that can help to maintain loyal customers with good service for long term. The new taxation policy can also give direct impact on the activities of the business as it opens a new opportunity for the company (Ajmera, 2017). Threats For the long term, the threat to the company can be new technologies that are taking place in the market. Liability laws in many countries are different and it can bring change in the overall policies of the company. Estia also faces a problem of different laws and continuous fluctuations in relation to the standards of the products. The profitability can be enhanced in the industry if the pressure is downwards and also the focus should be on sales so that overall activities can be conducted smoothly. Currency fluctuation is also the major threat to the company. Strategic capabilities Strategic capability is the ability through which the company conducts the activities so that the strategies related to competition can enhance the value over the time. So, estia is the company in which proper care is taken of old age people so that they can live their life in a happy manner. In this section the resources and competencies will be discussed of Estia Company: Resources based view The resources that are used by the company are beneficial for the people who are aged. Estia requires threshold resources so that they can compete in a market. The company gives necessary needs to the customers so that they can compete in the market. Resources and technology are important for the company to sustain in the market. It is analyzed that if it is managed properly then it can be easy to achieve competitive advantage. It also assists to enhance the overall profits and revenue of Estia (Sweeney et al., 2015). A resource-based view is a strategy through which overview is done by considering the strategies of competitive advantage. Estia resources should have many characteristics so that competitive advantage can be achieved. The characteristics are: Estia gives value to its customers in the global market. Like for example, the organization should offer products and services at a low price so that everyone can avail easily. Resources should be unique so that competitive advantage can be achieved to estia if comparison is made with other competitors. The competitive advantage must be imitable. Like for example: the products and services should be offered to the customers in a proper manner and it should not be copied from the competitors. Also, the resources should not be replaced and exchanged with other resources of the competitors. The resources should be utilized to initiate the same strategy and approach that is necessary to achieve success in the market. Competencies Estia can achieve competitive advantage by giving proper services to the customers so that the satisfaction level can be enhanced. It is seen that if products and services are not offered at less price as compare to the competitors then it can be not easy to survive in the competitive environment. Estia also focuses on giving good products and services to the customers. VRIO MODEL This framework is important as it considers the capabilities and potential that is favorable to sustain the competitive advantage. It also gives a positive impact on the overall activities of the organization. It also diversifies the products and services in the competitive market. Valuable In this step, it is evaluated that a resource adds value to the product and service of the company. The resources that are offered by the company are valuable as they help the old age people to be happy. It is valuable as the value of the customers is enhanced. Estia gives emphasis on offering products and services at low cost if the comparison is made with other competitors. It is seen if the resources so not meet this condition then it can give disadvantage related to competition. It is essential to analyze the value of the resources so that internal and external conditions can be less valuable. The resources that are provided to the customers are for long term. Rare Resources that can be attained by the companies are known as rare. In this, it is important that the products should be valuable to the customers so that they can easily compete in the market. This situation arises when the companies have the same type of resources that lead to tough competition in the market. The companies use same resources so that effective strategies can be implemented and superior performance can be achieved. Costly to imitate If the resources of the company are not imitated then it can be costly for the organization to imitate the product. Imitation can take place in two ways. The first way is by considering the duplication of the resource and secondly by giving comparable products and services in the market. Estia has valuable resources and by this, the competitive advantage can be achieved effectively. Organized to capture value It is seen that the resources not only give an advantage to the company but if it is not recognized then it can give negative impact on the value of the customers. The company should take proper management systems and policies so that potential can be realized and the resources and capabilities can be evaluated. Conclusion So it is concluded that resources play an essential role to enhance the market share of the company. In this report SWOT analysis, pestle analysis, Porter 5 forces and competitive advantage are considered to evaluate the market condition of estia. It is recommended that to maintain the proper image in the market the company should try to enhance the goodwill and also the resource-based view characteristics can help to reach a large audience in less time. References Ahmadi, M., Dileepan, P. and Wheatley, K.K., 2016. A SWOT analysis of big data.Journal of Education for Business,91(5), pp.289-294. Ajmera, P., 2017. Ranking the strategies for Indian medical tourism sector through the integration of SWOT analysis and TOPSIS method.International journal of health care quality assurance,30(8), pp.668-679. Al-Abri, R. and Al-Balushi, A., 2014. Patient satisfaction survey as a tool towards quality improvement.Oman medical journal,29(1), p.3. Attoe, C., Billon, G., Riches, S., Marshall-Tate, K., Wheildon, J. and Cross, S., 2017. Actors with intellectual disabilities in mental health simulation training.The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice,12(4), pp.272-278. Barzman, M., Brberi, P., Birch, A.N.E., Boonekamp, P., Dachbrodt-Saaydeh, S., Graf, B., Hommel, B., Jensen, J.E., Kiss, J., Kudsk, P. and Lamichhane, J.R., 2015. Eight principles of integrated pest management.Agronomy for sustainable development,35(4), pp.1199-1215. Cadar, D., Robitaille, A., Clouston, S., Hofer, S.M., Piccinin, A.M. and Muniz-Terrera, G., 2017. An international evaluation of cognitive reserve and memory changes in early old age in 10 European countries.Neuroepidemiology,48(1-2), pp.9-20. Canuto, A., Weber, K., Baertschi, M., Andreas, S., Volkert, J., Dehoust, M.C., Sehner, S., Suling, A., Wegscheider, K., Ausn, B. and Crawford, M.J., 2017. Anxiety disorders in old age: psychiatric comorbidities, quality of life, and prevalence according to age, gender, and country.The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. DAndreamatteo, A., Ianni, L., Lega, F. and Sargiacomo, M., 2015. Lean in healthcare: A comprehensive review.Health policy,119(9), pp.1197-1209. Kail, R.V. and Cavanaugh, J.C., 2018.Human development: A life-span view. Cengage Learning. Kapoor, R., Tan-Koi, W.C. and Teo, Y.Y., 2016. Role of pharmacogenetics in public health and clinical health care: a SWOT analysis.European Journal of Human Genetics,24(12), p.1651. Kelly, M., 2017. The implementation of the Care Programme Approach for service users with a learning disability. Building Bridges to the same Old Horizons?.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing. Krause, N., 2015. Early Parental Support, Relationships With God, and Self-Rated Health in Advanced Old Age.Journal of Religion, Spirituality Aging,27(4), pp.305-322. Makai, P., Brouwer, W.B., Koopmanschap, M.A., Stolk, E.A. and Nieboer, A.P., 2014. Quality of life instruments for economic evaluations in health and social care for older people: a systematic review.Social science medicine,102, pp.83-93. Marttunen, M., Lienert, J. and Belton, V., 2017. Structuring problems for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in practice: A literature review of method combinations.European Journal of Operational Research,263(1), pp.1-17. McCarthy, J. and Chaplin, E., 2016. Reducing barriers to accessing services and improving engagement with interventions.Advances in Autism,2(1). McCarthy, J., Chaplin, E., Underwood, L., Forrester, A., Hayward, H., Sabet, J., Young, S., Asherson, P., Mills, R. and Murphy, D., 2015. Screening and diagnostic assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders in a male prison.Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour,6(2), pp.102-111. Moro Visconti, R., 2016. Healthcare public-private partnerships in Italy: Assessing risk sharing and governance issues with PESTLE and SWOT analysis.Since empirical considerations about Italy may be globally extended, even beyond the residential aged care , the audience of this study may conveniently widen well beyond its apparently narrow focus. Naccarella, L., Newton, C., Pert, A., Seemann, K., Williams, R., Sellick, K. and Dow, B., 2018. Workplace design for the Australian residential aged care workforce.Australasian journal on ageing. Newman, B.M. and Newman, P.R., 2017.Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning. Nilsagrd, Y., Gunn, H., Freeman, J., Hoang, P., Lord, S., Mazumder, R. and Cameron, M., 2015. Falls in people with MSan individual data meta-analysis from studies from Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.Multiple Sclerosis Journal,21(1), pp.92-100. Sweeney, J.C., Danaher, T.S. and McColl-Kennedy, J.R., 2015. Customer effort in value cocreation activities: improving quality of life and behavioral intentions of health care customers.Journal of Service Research,18(3), pp.318-335. van Raaij, E., 2016. Purchasing Value: Purchasing and Supply Management's Contribution to Health Service Performance. Vergados, D.D., 2010. Service personalization for assistive living in a mobile ambient healthcare-networked environment.Personal and Ubiquitous Computing,14(6), pp.575-590. Zalengera, C., Blanchard, R.E., Eames, P.C., Juma, A.M., Chitawo, M.L. and Gondwe, K.T., 2014. Overview of the Malawi energy situation and A PESTLE analysis for sustainable development of renewable energy.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,38, pp.335-347

Understand Cultural Paradoxes Publications â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Understand Cultural Paradoxes Publications? Answer: Introducation Commonwealth Serum Laboratories recognised in Australia in 1916 to service the fitness requirements of a country. CSL Limited stood again in 1991 and listed itself on ASX in 1994. From that time onward CSL procured numerous organizations including CSL Behring and Novartis' flu immunization business. CSL is following its corporate origins back to Emil von Behring, an innovator with serum cures who attained the major Nobel Prize in psychology and Drugs. Sustainability practices done by CSL Innovationthrough focus on product research and expansion to achieve effective excellence. They also ensure that their therapies are safe and of the premier classby maintaining the maximum criteria all over the phases of the product life cycle. Functioning sensibly in the marketby promoting medicine in an ethical method, employed with others to enhance fairness of access and involvement of stakeholder in financial success; Providing a constructive workplace for our kin by inducing a culture of common trust and regard, empowering them to carry out their employments securely and adequately, and fulfilling and perceiving their commitments; and Assisting patients, biomedical and neighbourhood groups by enhancing access to their treatments and upgrading the personal satisfaction for patients, progressing logical information and backing up future medicinal specialists, and connecting with our staff in the help of nearby groups (Peter Donnelly, 2011). Product offering made by the company Plasma-derived therapies- Used in treating bleeding disorders, infections and autoimmune diseases. And also used in treating patients during serious care Vaccines Used to bring resistance to guard people against a range of viral and bacterial diseases. Antivenoms- Used to treating fatalities of venomous snake and spider bites Diagnostics products- Used in determining compatibility of donor-recipient blood in transfusion settings. Pharmaceuticals- Used in treatinga range ofhuman medical conditions. TARGET CUSTOMER OF CSL Doctors: These can be individual doctor practicing in their own clinic. These can increase sale of medicines of CSL by prescribing to patients moving to them. Patients: Those persons suffering from some diseases and moving to company products for healing. Medical shops: These are most important in increasing the sales of company, as through this company can make recommend their products to all customers. Hospitals: All types of hospitals in which medicines produced by company can be utilised in efficient way to treat customer. Product vs. sustainability Product characteristic: it discusses the quality, feature, elegance, and strategy of the product. With the assistance of the quality, the producer can provide the customers guaranteed a quality product (Luan Sudhir, 2010). Features help in distinguishing the product from other products offered by competitors. Sustainability in product characteristics attracts customer to purchase and attach more towards CSL as nowadays customers are the very using product which is environmentally friendly. Product branding: It is very important for a company to give the product a brand name. Through the help of brand tag, the consumer can distinguish CSL products from the other products. Branding enables the CSL in sponsoring the product and creating brand consciousness in mind of the consumers. Product packaging: Packaging means the wrapping which comprises the product. Packaging is acting as a silent marketing practice to attract the customer (De Mooij, 2013). It is through the aid of the packaging the buyer comes to distinguish about the product quality, quantity, weight, price etc. It helps CSL to retain customers through sustainable practices of packaging like disposable rappers, reusable material and much more helping to create sustainability in the environment. Product labelling: Labelling gives the customer figures related to the manufacturers name, location, and date of manufacturing, expiry, celluloses, nutritional value etc. By labelling CSL can help its customers to detect the product sustainability towards the environment. Product support services: - It means the amenities which are provided to the consumer after selling the product to the buyer like after sale services, installation etc. Definition and pricing strategies The word is used when prices are based on the company on the value of a product as observed from the customer's perception. The perceived value regulates the consumer's enthusiasm to pay and the maximum value a company can charge for its product. An important constituent of the value-based rating is the requirement to regulate the value for the consumer (Chattopadhyay, Shivani Krishnan, 2010). In order to determine the value a consumer associates with a product, the customer value model can be applied. Pricing strategies are of following types: Cost-plus pricing is a technique utilized by companies to exploit their incomes. There are numerous diversities, but the general trend is that one first computes the cost of the product, and at that point adds a fraction of it as rising. Essentially, this methodology sets prices which are covering the cost of manufacturing and deliver adequate income margin to the company to earn its target rate of return. It is a way for corporations to calculate how much profit they can make in future. Market-based pricing strategy: Numerous factors are taken for attention thought about while valuing a product. These integrate one's own actual cost of supplying the product, the force of demand and supply, or the contenders' costs. Rivalry based valuing is the evaluating component wherein costs are set in agreement to the costs of the competing products (Huang Sarigll, 2014). CSL pricing strategy: In the market-oriented pricing strategy, competitors prices and linked pricing trends are used in defining the values of many of CSLs customer goods. For instance, this policy is functional for the daily pharmaceuticals products consumed by customers. On the other side, the product-bundle pricing strategy implements prices used for sets of goods. CSL practices this pricing strategy in dealing with companies of competitive in nature. This policy is also seldom is useful for exceptional proposals that management definite products through retail stores (Powers, Loyka, 2010). New pricing strategy: The premium pricing strategy defines prices that are comparatively greater than the marketplace average. CSL practices this approach for selected products, such products as hospitals and insurers cannot walk away from CSL. Based on above analysis, CSL ltd has a multi-pronged methodology to set the prices for its consumer goods. How product prices normally adjusted: CSL ltd might be dropping the cost on entry-level products while leaving costs on other, more element improved and gainful items unaltered. The CSL dominant market position, economies of scale, and the industrys barriers to entry, must made it a preferred of shareholders. The corporation enlarged operating profits by 12% with a business leading profit of 31%. But supporting those stages over the next few years is not easy. CSL has profited in current years from volume constraints at competitors with the businesss antibody sales increasing 22% over the previous years, in comparison to more than 10% for the business as a whole (Alex, 2012). Promotion vs. sustainability It is the most critical, the best and the most expensive type of promotion. It is the best methods for oral or close and personal or direct correspondence. The individual introduction has the possibility of affecting deals. Its impact is to push the item through the appropriation channel. CSL sales can increase by personal selling through efforts of agents and retailers. Advertisement: It is a mass communicating of data proposed to influence purchasers to buy items with a view to increasing the companys benefits. It is an indifferent technique for correspondence and additionally an impersonal salesmanship skill for the mass offering. CSL advertises its product to increase the popularity amongst consumers. Public relation: It is a type of promotional activity. It creates and keeps up an excellent picture of an association on general culture. Along these lines the goodwill of the dealer raises and prompts great contribution and progresses the offer of products. These also can CSL to increase the revenue of company. Point of display: It is the quiet businessperson that pulls in the purchasers' regard for the item and influences them to choose to purchase. Promotion for the purpose of procurement is more influential. Appropriate demonstration of things is done by producers or merchants. It fluctuates generally. Online marketing: It defines promoting and marketing practices that use the Web and email to drive synchronize deals by means of electronic trade, notwithstanding prospective customers from Web sites or messages. Web marketing and internet promoting endeavours are usually utilized as a part of combination with the historical type of publicizing, for example CSL advertisement through radio, TV, daily papers and magazines (Peattie Belz, 2010). CSL efforts towards sustainability: Social benefit- Maintenance of high standards by CSL as it is adopting high standards worldwide in order to bring global change control system. Their electronic support system also supports this by effect of implemented changes to all qualified system, continuous improvement and facilities. CSL also contracted for global contract management system for achieving all quality agreement, and assuring that current agreements are according to prescribed standard or not. Environment benefits: CSL has developed and adopted a supply chain security system which is combining product security requirement. Also it helps in loss prevention activities, reduce waste activities, and many more. CSL also adopts various practices and take effort to improve awareness amongst public related to diseases, epidemics and orphan drugs. Economic benefit: CSL is dedicated to caring for its workforces and the world by incorporating safety principles and design for the economic environment in the roots of its industries. CSL is devoted to the thought that the expansion of a strong individual value for Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS) will too deliver a serious strategic business value. Place vs. sustainability CSL successfully practices the channels of distribution to track its processes. It is a recognized influential delivery network, which comprises industrial businesses, suppliers, vendors, customers, and much more. The channel members enable to create the marketplace which is cost-effective and well-organized. Hence, the products of CSL are dispersed excessively and widely. They are sold in all classes of provisions, like supermarkets, convenience stores, and medical shops (Tapp Spotswood, 2013). It has a widespread distribution system. Moreover, fast moving goods are looked as lower cost product. This help in company products is purchased spontaneously and regularly. Also, CSL concentrates on giving Biotechnology and Health care goods which are comparatively economical and substituted regularly. Sustainability in distribution: The security of the supply of basic items is vital to CSL's capacity to supply life - sparing treatments to patients. Through an entire understanding of the sourcing, starting point and supply network dangers of all materials required in making CSL's products, CSL can guarantee regularity in supply. Maintaining the security of distribution is a nonstop procedure where both new and existing distributors are checked on and actions made to mitigate any dangers to supply that are distinguished. To relieve the probability of basic deficiencies in their supply chain, CSL watch rundown of basic medications, Setting up a vigorous checking framework to prevent and foresee conceivable deficiencies of CSL's essential medications and procedural set up for the warning of healing centres and other pertinent bodies in case of medication supply deficiencies. Comparing marketing mix of CSL with Cipla and Pfizer. Product: Cipla: It combines 1500 items for restorative portions and nearly sixty measurements frames. The organization gives managements like dispatching, plant building, treatment and specialized know-how support and exchange (Srivastava, 2010). Pfizer: It is one of the worlds largest companies known for pharmaceuticals. It has distributed itsproceduresin divisions like Capsuget, Animal Health, Nourishment, Customer Healthcare, RecognizedProducts, Developing Markets, Oncology, Specialty Care and Primary Care Price: Cipla:In order to fulfill the demands of its patients, it has selected to keep an economical and practical evaluating strategy. Its aim is to make life cautious medicines accessible to each poor patient and for those prescriptions it has reserved a strong valuing approach. Pfizer: Pfizer has a multistep pricing framework that experiences a few stages to descend at a specific value alternative. It is a difficult investigation and is additionally reliant on dangers, benefits, aggressive drugs and feelings of doctor. Place: Cipla: It sends out numerous of its products to almost 150 nations on the world including the United States and various nations in the Middle East, Latin America, Australia, Africa and Europe (Serrat, 2017). Pfizer: It is a worldwide organization with its presence in one hundred and eighty universal markets like Hungary, Mexico, Spain, Nigeria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, Angola and Ireland. Its corporate home office base is in New York City and research-head at Groton in United States (Gordon, 2012). Promotion: Cipla has comprised diverse special exercises to advertise its products. Its slogan is Caring for Life and which has turned to its main goal, this thought has been consolidated in its governments, procedures, and products (Pomering, Noble Johnson, 2011). Pfizer: It has a solid brand review and has received solid promoting efforts. It has pushed its advertisements in a few therapeutic diaries to accumulate greatest brand awareness and visibility. Pfizer knows about its obligation towards nature and society. Recommendation Use LinkedIn to improve marketing mix: Utilize this business interpersonal organization as an extended business card. As individuals hear name around the Web and at meetings, there is a higher possibility that they will look at the company on LinkedIn (Leonidou, Katsikeas Morgan, 2013). E-mail marketing: It's about the relationship, and email is a standout amongst the most persevering approaches to grow that relationship (Ioannou, Serafeim, 2010). For customers, it is convenient to approach to the customer through E-mails to the company. This will help CSL in building a personal relationship with its customers. Enhancing online presence: CSL should increase its online presence in order to reach the customer at the urban area as well. This will help CSL to become popular amongst all group of people and enhancing its business sales (Peattie, 2010). Strengths Biotechnology business is one of the highest growing business in the world Wide-ranging RD capacity CSL functions in the niche section of injections, anti-venom, inheritances etc. The corporation has products like blood plasma derivatives, vaccines, antivenom, and cell culture reagents (Helms Nixon, 2010). Weaknesses Diseconomies to scale. Ethical concerns associated to genetics. Huge reserves of both period and money are required to develop new machinery. Opportunities Growing consciousness about uses of stem cells, enzymes etc. CSL can enlarge into these industry areas New skills like nanotechnology are developing which can be joined with biotechnology to produce next generations of drugs and technologies. Tie ups with big clinics to encourage the experience in stem cells. Threats Strict principles from management. Expert labour is required for the business. The amount of biotech companies have already originated offshoring certain actions, one of the main ones being the absolute capacity of medical chemistry bond effort that is now also existence completed in China. References: Alex, N.J., 2012. An enquiry into selected marketing mix elements and their impact on brand equity.IUP Journal of Brand Management,9(2), p.29. Chattopadhyay, T., Shivani, S. and Krishnan, M., 2010. Marketing mix elements influencing brand equity and brand choice.vikalpa,35(3), pp.67-84. De Mooij, M., 2013.Global marketing and advertising: Understanding cultural paradoxes. Sage Publications. Gordon, R., 2012. Re-thinking and re-tooling the social marketing mix.Australasian Marketing Journal (AMJ),20(2), pp.122-126. Helms, M.M. and Nixon, J., 2010. Exploring SWOT analysiswhere are we now? A review of academic research from the last decade.Journal of strategy and management,3(3), pp.215-251. Huang, R. and Sarigll, E., 2014. How brand awareness relates to market outcome, brand equity, and the marketing mix. InFashion Branding and Consumer Behaviors(pp. 113-132). Springer New York. Ioannou, I. and Serafeim, G., 2010, August. THE IMPACT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS. InAcademy of Management Proceedings(Vol. 2010, No. 1, pp. 1-6). Academy of Management. Leonidou, C.N., Katsikeas, C.S. and Morgan, N.A., 2013. Greening the marketing mix: do firms do it and does it pay off?.Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,41(2), pp.151-170. Luan, Y.J. and Sudhir, K., 2010. Forecasting marketing-mix responsiveness for new products.Journal of Marketing Research,47(3), pp.444-457. MacInnis, D.J., 2011. A framework for conceptual contributions in marketing.Journal of Marketing,75(4), pp.136-154. Peattie, K. and Belz, F.M., 2010. Sustainability marketingAn innovative conception of marketing.Marketing Review St. Gallen,27(5), pp.8-15. Peattie, K., 2010. Rethinking marketing.Long Lasting Products: Alternatives To The Throwaway Society, pp.243-272. Peter, J.P. and Donnelly, J.H., 2011.Marketing management: knowledge and skills: text, analysis, cases, plans. Plano: Business pub., INC. Pomering, A., Johnson, L.W. and Noble, G., 2010. Conceptualising a contemporary marketing mix for sustainable tourism marketing. Powers, T.L. and Loyka, J.J., 2010. Adaptation of marketing mix elements in international markets.Journal of global marketing,23(1), pp.65-79. Serrat, O., 2017. The future of social marketing. InKnowledge solutions(pp. 119-128). Springer Singapore. Singh, M., 2012. Marketing mix of 4Ps for competitive advantage.Journal of Business and Management,3(6), pp.40-45. Srivastava, D., 2010. Marketing to rural India: A changing paradigm.Sri Krishna International research education consortium, Vol1, (3). Tapp, A. and Spotswood, F., 2013. From the 4Ps to COM-SM: reconfiguring the social marketing mix.Journal of Social Marketing,3(3), pp.206-222.

Balance Redox Reaction Example Problem

Balance Redox Reaction Example Problem When balancing redox reactions, the overall electronic charge must be balanced in addition to the usual molar ratios of the component reactants and products. This example problem illustrates how to use the half-reaction method to balance a redox reaction in a solution. Question Balance the following redox reaction in an acidic solution: Cu(s) HNO3(aq) → Cu2(aq) NO(g) Solution Step 1: Identify what is being oxidized and what is being reduced. To identify which atoms are being reduced or oxidized, assign oxidation states to each atom of the reaction. For review: Rules for Assigning Oxidation StatesAssigning Oxidation States Example ProblemOxidation and Reduction Reaction Example Problem Cu(s): Cu 0HNO3: H 1, N 5, O -6Cu2: Cu 2NO(g): N 2, O -2 Cu went from oxidation state 0 to 2, losing two electrons. Copper is oxidized by this reaction.N went from oxidation state 5 to 2, gaining three electrons. Nitrogen is reduced by this reaction. Step 2: Break the reaction into two half-reactions: oxidation and reduction. Oxidation: Cu → Cu2 Reduction: HNO3 → NO Step 3: Balance each half-reaction by both stoichiometry and electronic charge. This is accomplished by adding substances to the reaction. The only rule is that the only substances you can add must already be in the solution. These include water (H2O), H ions (in acidic solutions), OH- ions (in basic solutions) and electrons. Start with the oxidation half-reaction: The half-reaction is already balanced atomically. To balance electronically, two electrons must be added to the product side. Cu → Cu2 2 e- Now, balance the reduction reaction. This reaction requires more work. The first step is to balance all atoms except oxygen and hydrogen. HNO3 → NO There is only one nitrogen atom on both sides, so nitrogen is already balanced. The second step is to balance the oxygen atoms. This is done by adding water to the side that needs more oxygen. In this case, the reactant side has three oxygens and the product side has only one oxygen. Add two water molecules to the product side. HNO3 → NO 2 H2O The third step is to balance the hydrogen atoms. This is accomplished by adding H ions to the side that needs more hydrogen. The reactant side has one hydrogen atom while the product side has four. Add 3 H ions to the reactant side. HNO3 3 H → NO 2 H2O The equation is balanced atomically, but not electrically. The final step is to balance the charge by adding electrons to the more positive side of the reaction. One the reactant side, the overall charge is 3, while the product side is neutral. To counteract the 3 charge, add three electrons to the reactant side. HNO3 3 H 3 e- → NO 2 H2O Now the reduction half-equation is balanced. Step 4: Equalize the electron transfer. In redox reactions, the number of electrons gained must equal the number of electrons lost. To accomplish this, each reaction is multiplied by whole numbers to contain the same number of electrons. The oxidation half-reaction has two electrons while the reduction half-reaction has three electrons. The lowest common denominator between them is six electrons. Multiply the oxidation half-reaction by 3 and the reduction half-reaction by 2. 3 Cu → 3 Cu2 6 e-2 HNO3 6 H 6 e- → 2 NO 4 H2O Step 5: Recombine the half-reactions. This is accomplished by adding the two reactions together. Once they are added, cancel out anything that appears on both sides of the reaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  3 Cu → 3 Cu2 6 e- 2 HNO3 6 H 6 e- → 2 NO 4 H2O 3 Cu 2 HNO3 6H 6 e- → 3 Cu2 2 NO 4 H2O 6 e- Both sides have six electrons that can be canceled. 3 Cu 2 HNO3 6 H → 3 Cu2 2 NO 4 H2O The complete redox reaction is now balanced. Answer 3 Cu 2 HNO3 6 H → 3 Cu2 2 NO 4 H2O To summarize: Identify the oxidation and reduction components of the reaction.Separate the reaction into the oxidation half-reaction and reduction half-reaction.Balance each half-reaction both atomically and electronically.Equalize the electron transfer between oxidation and reduction half-equations.Recombine the half-reactions to form the complete redox reaction.

The eNotes Blog The Magic of MarquezRemains

The Magic of MarquezRemains Many of you have probably already read the sad news this week that celebrated Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez is suffering from dementia. At the age of 85, it is apparent that the Nobel Prize winner’s career is for all intensive purposes at an end. The accounts of this news have already lamented that his memoirs will likely remain unfinished, and noted the sad foreshadowing laid out by the opening of One Hundred Years of Solitude (the novel deals with a family struggling to care for its patriarch, also suffering from dementia), so I will not comment anymore on that. Instead, I decided to take a look back at an old interview with the author at the height of his magical realist powers. What I found was a conversation printed in a 1981 edition of The Paris Review, just before Garcia Marquez won the Nobel Prize. In it, I was surprised to read the writer’s perception of the role reality takes in his work, and the influence journalism has had on his career in fiction. The author even comments on what it would be like to win the Nobel Prize (â€Å"a catastrophe†amusing, given that he won it less than a year later) and details his plans for the future. In all, the interview reminds us that Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his work are still very much with us. He may never write another word, but the magic of his work will always remainready to be discovered anew, as I found hereand that is what I choose to remember now in the face of this sad news. Below are some interesting excerpts from the authors conversation with The Paris Review. On how he began writing: One night a friend lent me a book of short stories by Franz Kafka. I went back to the pension where I was staying and began to read  The Metamorphosis. The first line almost knocked me off the bed. I was so surprised. The first line reads, â€Å"As Gregor Samsa awoke that morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. . . .† When I read the line I thought to myself that I didn’t know anyone was allowed to write things like that. If I had known, I would have started writing a long time ago. So I immediately started writing short stories. How he developed the writing style of magical realism by way of his grandmother’s storytelling: What was most important was the expression she had on her face. She did not change her expression at all when telling her stories, and everyone was surprised. In previous attempts to write  One Hundred Years of Solitude, I tried to tell the story without believing in it. I discovered that what I had to do was believe in them myself and write them with the same expression with which my grandmother told them: with a brick face. On the surprisingly close relationship he believed his work shared with reality and journalism: In journalism just one fact that is false prejudices the entire work. In contrast, in fiction one single fact that is true gives legitimacy to the entire work. That’s the only difference, and it lies in the commitment of the writer. A novelist can do anything he wants so long as he makes people believe in it†¦ Pablo Neruda has a line in a poem that says â€Å"God help me from inventing when I sing.† It always amuses me that the biggest praise for my work comes for the imagination, while the truth is that there’s not a single line in all my work that does not have a basis in reality. The problem is that Caribbean reality resembles the wildest imagination. †¦ many people believe that I’m a writer of fantastic fiction, when actually I’m a very realistic person and write what I believe is the true socialist realism. When asked about his ambitions and regrets, he responds: I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be an absolute catastrophe. I would certainly be interested in deserving it, but to receive it would be terrible. It would just complicate even more the problems of fame. The only thing I really regret in life is not having a daughter. Looking towards the future: I’m absolutely convinced that I’m going to write the greatest book of my life, but I don’t know which one it will be or when. When I feel something like this- which I have been feeling now for a while- I stay very quiet, so that if it passes by I can capture it.

Final Exam Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Exam - Research Paper Example On the other hand, bblowfish is a symmetric block cipher and operates in 64-bit block size and a variable key length - from 32 bits to 448bits with 16-round Feistel cipher and uses large key-dependent S-boxes. Moreover it encrypts data on a 32-bit processor at the rate of 18 clock cycles/byte and can run in less than 5K of memory. It is easy to implement The algorithm used in RC4 initialization phase is a key scheduling algorithm(KSA). This algorithm takes the secret key K of length l as the input and begins with the initialization of the internal state S to set it as identity permutation and then uses the key K to generate a random permutation. Thus the algorithm can be summed up as Upon initialization, the internal state S would be [0 1 2 3 †¦ N-1]. During the next step, the value of j is calculated as j = (j + S[i] + K[i mod l]) mod N. Upon swapping value in S[i] becomes value in S[j] and vice versa. From this, it is clear that, only way to keep the initial permutation state unchanged is to keep the value of i and j equal. In order to do that, the value of k should be chosen in such a way that, whenever j is calculated using this formula, it always needs to be equal to the value of i. Upon investing the formula, if we make the values within the bracket i.e j = (j + S[i] + K[i mod l]) mod N equal to N+ i, then upon Mod the result will be equal to i. Upon analysis, we can say(in this case): j+i+K[i], since the value of j depends on itself which in turn depends on the previous value of S[i] (=i) we can say that j will increment to a minimum value of i+(i-1) (Except for i=0) for each iteration. Hence 2i-1+K = N+i. Assuming N =256, we can say K should be equal to 257-i except for i=0, in which case it can be either 256 or 0 to achieve the desired result. Now K takes: Answer: It is not possible to perform encryption operations in parallel on multiple blocks of plaintext in DES CBC mode because in

David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole - Essay Example Even though Lindsay-Abaire foregrounds the intensity of Becca and Howie’s loss, he strongly puts forward the necessity to overcome their mourning in order to survive and appreciate life. Through the plot, the characterization, the setting and the theme, the audience perceives that Lindsay-Abaire encourages people not to let grief destroy their lives. The plot turns around the interaction between the main characters, but it especially points out the effects Danny’s tragic death has on his parents, Becca and Howie, and even on other members of the family. Killed in a tragic accident, Danny’s death causes much grief to the family and has a negative effect on the relationship between the members, especially between Becca and Howie. Even though both parents deeply suffer from the loss, each of them has a different way to express his/ her bereavement. The following statement informs: â€Å"With sly judiciousness, Lindsay-Abaire layers fragments from each segment of th eir years together into the story, letting us learn by indirection about the accident, the family's life before it, the couple's shattered condition now† (Feingold). In fact, it is through the characters’ interaction that the audience learns about the mourning and evaluates the impact the grief has on their everyday life. Becca is so involved with mourning the loss of her son that she cannot fully enjoy the fact that her sister Izzy is going to have a baby whereas she lost her child. Moreover, her relationship with her husband is even more estranged since they have stopped having sexual relations. Becca’s bereavement for her son does not even allow her to have sex because she will not let any moment of joy interfere with her grief. She even fails to feel some empathy for her mother, Nat, who also lost a son. She feels her pain is unique and cannot be compared to any other loss. Even though Howie is also suffering, he handles his mourning more decently. Lindsay-Ab aire chooses a very specific characterization which reveals the destruction that Becca and Howie’s grief causes to their relationship, and he advocates an imminent need for change. All the main characters in the play feel the impact of the mourning on themselves and on their relationships with the others. Becca used to be a very strong professional woman and a mother until the fatal accident that took her son rendered her psychologically vulnerable. Commenting about her, this author states â€Å"Becca is an enlightened woman whose coping mechanisms clearly are being tested to their limits. We learn she was successful in her former job but that motherhood redefined her as a person, leaving her now feeling rootless, purposeless and empty† (Rooney). She feels a deep grief that impacts everything in her life, including her relationship with her husband who is very caring and tries to dissimilate his loss by watching Danny’s videos. Despite his own bereavement, Howie finds the strength to console his wife and suggests a therapist to help her out. However, his sadness comes out during their arguments leading him to accuse Becca of attempting to erase any sign of Danny. Referring to the tension within the couple James MacKillop argues:

Animal Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

Animal Rights - Research Paper Example Another group argues that the criterion of having rationality and consciousness should not be the sole basis against animal-testing; rather the fact that every animal suffers from pain is strong enough to ban animal-testing. Obviously, this contra-animal-testing group fails to perceive that a firm and steadfast opposition against animal-test is as harmful as the view of ‘animal as thing’ is. For example, whereas a scientific experiment on animal could save thousands of man and animals lives, ban on animal-testing may destroy the possibility of living a healthy and disease free life. Therefore, though animals have the rights to live a pain-free life, such rights can be repealed for the sake of the humanity’s betterment. Moreover, any ethical perspective on animal-rights must include human’s interest in animal. Otherwise, any attempt to view animals as self-independent beings and detached from humanity must fail to bring about good for humankind as well as an imal. The origin of the arguments for animal-testing can be traced in Biblical affirmation. The â€Å"Book of Genesis† asserts that Man has a divine right over the animal kingdom. It says that man’s dominion over the animal kingdom is divine, as the â€Å"Book of Genesis† says that God has given Adam dominion over â€Å"the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.† (Francione, 1996, p. 45) Such biblical evidence necessarily infers that man can use animals for his own happiness and comfort. Therefore, if animal-testing can bring something good to humankind, then it is thoroughly permissible. Indeed, the utilitarian perspective seems to dominate the pro-animal-test arguments. The pro-animal-test debaters argue that animals can serve as good specimens for medical experiments. Even some animals such as rats, dogs, frogs and many others are efficient replic as

Information Technology In The Tourism Government

Information Technology In The Tourism Government Involving information and communication technology on a range of modern methods and techniques used to simplify a particular activity and lifting tool, a group gathered the necessary equipment to process information and circulation of computers and software and hardware for saving and retrieving and electronic transport across wired and wireless means of communication in all its forms and different kinds: written, audio and video, which enables two-way communication and teamwork and provide transmission of the message from the sender to the recipient; through closed networks and open; and globalization has allowed information and communication technology to benefit from services a four-Twenty hours (24 h / 7 days), from any point on earth, especially with the spread of electronic financial settlement of transactions on Line. Nowadays technology involves every aspects of life. One of these aspects is tourism. People who work in tourism sector use technology to execute their work. Technology helps to distribute information about different places for tourism. Tourists can gain information from the internet and know the accurate things to decide the best places to visit. Technology makes the work easier related to the tourists need like hiring cars, getting rooms and tickets. It becomes very easy register your information online. Tourists will have more time to enjoy themselves because their information has been already registered online. Tourism use technology to make records about their usual customers to know their favorite food, places and activities to attract them to come again. Briefly this issue will discuss the concept of Information technology in tourism industry and will cover those main points: Concept of information technology. E-Government. Information Technology and Tourism. E-Tourism. The importance of e-tourism and its impact on national economy. Tourism applications. Government internet website Information Technology? Information technology mean possessed the manufacture and storage and dissemination of information by a microelectronics-based computing and communications. When we say Information technology that means, computer programming, internet, computer engineering, and technician and so on. All of that make big change in tourism industry so; the government should use this technology to be number one in this sector. E-Government: The common definition of e-government as a network of computer systems that enable public access to a large number of government services and transactions automated, online or through other electronic letters . The intellectual and political content of the e-government, and historical and cultural context that led to it. The concept e-government integrated mean the effective use of all information and communication technologies in order to facilitate the daily administrative operations of the government sectors. We can say in light of the foregoing that the electronic government in terms of the concept is: the environment where it is information be for all by easy way IT and Tourism: Because the tourism industry is rapidly changing and evolving. It was necessary to use information technology to keep pace with the evolution in the world and is noted on this basis that the tourism market has been affected a lot of this technology over recent years has been known an exponential growth in e-tourism Through the Internet. The countries which used the e-government and considering tourism as one of main economic recourse faces to use technology in this sector and this helped to appearance of the concept of E-Tourism. E-Tourism: Appeared a few years ago the concept of e-tourism, and dealt with many international organizations of different applications and their impact on increasing tourism growth, especially in least developed countries, which constitute the tourism revenues, a large proportion of GDP. Has contributed to further spread the concept and applications of various factors such as high proportion of the contribution of e-tourism in the total international e-commerce, and the resulting integration of this concept in the institutional structures of the bodies involved in tourism from the reduction in the cost of tourism services provided and thus prices, and the development of tourist product submitted in the development of new touristic activities consistent with the different segments of tourists, as well as increasing the competitiveness of tourism enterprises, and the consequent increase in the value added of the tourism sector in the national economy. We can say the e-tourism is Pattern of tourist transactions are executed through the use of information and communication technology. The importance of e-tourism and its impact on national economy The importance of e-tourism, which provided huge benefits for both providers of tourism services for tourists or tourists themselves , which contribute to overcome traditional barriers in the typical tourist transactions, and most important of these benefits : 1. Facilitate the provision of information, which depends on tourism industry. When we use the technology it is will be easy to get information about tourism destination. 2. Reduce the cost of tourism services provided. Because the services provided online with lees price and time . 3. Ease of product development, tourism and the emergence of new tourism activities in accordance with the different segments of tourists. That happen when we use the technology to know what tourists need and what his her opinion about certain destination. 4. Increase the competitiveness of tourism enterprises. That depends for how we use the Information technology in our work . All of that helped to increase the benefit of tourism in national income so; the use of information technology is strategic choice and necessary. Tourism applications: Before tock about tourism applications in IT sector we should know who use the IT. In general we can divide them to four groups which are: Tourists:, Travel agents. Service providers.. Tourism offices. In tourism we use information technology in airlines, hotels, car rent, Tourism offices and travel agencies. The government use information technology in several way s for example, marketing research, promotional plan and exchange the information between the countries and so on. Also the government use computers, Mobil phones, and satellites to control and administration the staff and the process in easy ways. Government Internet Website It is the biggest and useful part of information technology and the government use it to promotional the country and market it in good ways. This website provides all information for all and it easy to access and get what you want about the country so, that will be increase the number of visitor. Moreover the government uses the internet to provide direct services like, reservation, tickets and other things. Conclusion: In conclusion, I can say the information technology effect the tourism industry in different ways and change day by day. Also the exact impacts are far from clear, the future of e-tourism. In the end of this report we can see the important of information technology in tourism sector and who it is affect it. In my opinion the information technology becomes the important issue and I have the right to say no live without information technology.

Great Britain :: History

Great Britain Great Britain is made up of three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. It is an island off the coast of north ­west of Europe. Britain is part of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital is London. Relief There are many different landscapes in Britain, from high mountains to rolling hill sand valleys. Places like Wales, the Lake District and northwest Scotland have high mountains and steep slopes made out of solid rocks. This landscape was made millions of years ago during the ice ages, when moving glaciers of ice made deep valleys, steep mountain slopes and long lakes. The southern and eastern parts of Britain are made up of smaller rocks that have weathered and become fertile farmland. The highest point is Ben Nevis  ­ 1343 metres above sea level and the lowest point is Holme Fen  ­ 3 metres below sea level. The population is 57,970,200 people, the population density at 239 people per square km. 92% of British people live in urban areas while only 8% live in rural areas. Great Britain is completely surrounded by sea, isolating it from the rest of Europe. No part of Britain is far from the sea, which is an important resource for fishing, tourism and ports. Britain’s rivers provide drinking water for towns, and irrigate farmers’ crops. However rivers can cause floods. England The northern and western portions are mountainous. The highlands - the Pennine Chain, forms the backbone of northern England. Rolling plains occupy most of central and eastern England. The western part of the central region is known as the Midlands. To the east lies The Fens, a marsh area. To the south, an elevated plateau slopes upward. Scotland The terrain of Scotland is mountainous but is divided into three regions, from north to south: the Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands. The Highlands occupy more than a half of Scotland, the most rugged region on the island of Great Britain. Wales Wales has an irregular coastline and many bays; the biggest is Cardigan Bay. Except for narrow and low coastal areas, mainly in the south and west, Wales is mostly mountainous. Area England  ­ 130,439km2 Scotland  ­ 78,772km2 Wales  ­ 20,768km2 Total  ­ 229,979km2 Climate Great Britain has quite cool summers and mild winters. The weather changes from day to day. The climate is temperate  ­ the country does not have long periods when it is hot or cold.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Two

Elena was surrounded the instant she stepped into the high school parking lot. Everyone was there, the whole crowd she hadn't seen since late June, plus four or five hangers-on who hoped to gain popularity by association. One by one she accepted the welcoming hugs of her own group. Caroline had grown at least an inch and was slinkier and more like aVogue model than ever. She greeted Elena coolly and stepped back again with her green eyes narrowed like a cat's. Bonnie hadn't grown at all, and her curly red head barely came up to Elena's chin as she flung her arms around Elena. Wait a minute-curls? thought Elena. She pushed the smaller girl back. â€Å"Bonnie! What did you do to your hair?† â€Å"Do you like it? I think it makes me look taller.† Bonnie fluffed up the already fluffy bangs and smiled, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement, her little heart-shaped face alight. Elena moved on. â€Å"Meredith. You haven't changed at all.† This hug was equally warm on both sides. She had missed Meredith more than anyone, Elena thought, looking at the tall girl. Meredith never wore any makeup; but then, with perfect olive skin and heavy black lashes, she didn't need any. Right now she had one elegant eyebrow raised as she studied Elena. â€Å"Well, your hair is two shades lighter from the sun†¦ But where's your tan? I thought you were living it up on the French Riviera.† â€Å"You know I never tan.† Elena held up her hands for her own inspection. The skin was flawless, like porcelain, but almost as fair and translucent as Bonnie's. â€Å"Just a minute; that reminds me,† Bonnie interjected, snatching one of Elena's hands. â€Å"Guess what I learned from my cousin this summer?† Before anyone could speak, she informed them triumphantly: â€Å"Palm reading!† There were groans, and some laughter. â€Å"Laugh while you can,† said Bonnie, not at all disturbed. â€Å"My cousin told me I'm psychic. Now, let me see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She peered into Elena's palm. â€Å"Hurry up or we're going to be late,† said Elena a bit impatiently. â€Å"All right, all right. Now, this is your life line-or is it your heart line?† In the crowd, someone snickered. â€Å"Quiet; I'm reaching into the void. I see†¦ I see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  All at once, Bonnie's face went blank, as if she were startled. Her brown eyes widened, but she no longer seemed to be staring at Elena's hand. It was as if she were lookingthrough it-at something frightening. â€Å"You will meet a tall, dark stranger,† Meredith murmured from behind her. There was a flurry of giggles. â€Å"Dark, yes, and a stranger†¦ but not tall.† Bonnie's voice was hushed and faraway. â€Å"Although,† she continued after a moment, looking puzzled, â€Å"he was tall, once.† Her wide brown eyes lifted to Elena's in bewilderment. â€Å"But that's impossible†¦ isn't it?† She dropped Elena's hand, almost flinging it away. â€Å"I don't want to see any more.† â€Å"Okay, show's over. Let's go,† Elena told the others, vaguely irritated. She'd always felt psychic tricks were just that-tricks. So why was she annoyed? Just because that morning she'd almost freaked out herself†¦ The girls started toward the school building, but the roar of a finely tuned motor stopped them all in their tracks. â€Å"Well, now,† Caroline said, staring. â€Å"Quite a car.† â€Å"Quite a Porsche,† Meredith corrected dryly. The sleek black 911 Turbo purred through the parking lot, searching for a space, moving as lazily as a panther stalking prey. When the car came to a stop, the door opened, and they glimpsed the driver. â€Å"Oh, my God,† Caroline whispered. â€Å"You can say that again,† breathed Bonnie. From where she stood, Elena could see he had a lean, flat-muscled body. Faded jeans he probably had to peel off at night, tight T-shirt, and a leather jacket of unusual cut. His hair was wavy-and dark. He wasn't tall, though. Just average height. Elena let out her breath. â€Å"Whois that masked man?† said Meredith. And the remark was apt-dark sunglasses completely covered the boy's eyes, shielding his face like a mask. â€Å"That maskedstranger ,† someone else said, and a babble of voices rose up. â€Å"Do you see that jacket? That's Italian, as in Roma.† â€Å"How would you know? You've never been farther than Rome, New York, in your life!† â€Å"Uh-oh. Elena's got that look again. The hunting look.† â€Å"Short-Dark-and-Handsome had better be careful.† â€Å"He isn't short; he's perfect!† Through the chatter, Caroline's voice suddenly rang out. â€Å"Oh, come on, Elena. You've already got Matt. What more do you want? What can you do with two that you can't do with one?† â€Å"The same thing-only longer,† drawled Meredith, and the group dissolved into laughter. The boy had locked his car and was walking toward school. Casually, Elena started after him, the other girls right behind her in a close-knit pack. For an instant, annoyance bubbled up inside her. Couldn't she goanywhere without a parade on her heels? But Meredith caught her eye, and she smiled in spite of herself. â€Å"Noblesse oblige,† Meredith said softly. â€Å"What?† â€Å"If you're going to be queen of the school, you have to put up with the consequences.† Elena frowned at this as they entered the building. A long corridor stretched before them, and a figure in jeans and leather jacket was disappearing through the office doorway up ahead. Elena slowed her pace as she walked up to the office, finally stopping to glance thoughtfully at the messages on the cork bulletin board by the door. There was a large window here, through which the entire office was visible. The other girls were openly gazing through the window, and giggling. â€Å"Nice rear view.† â€Å"That isdefinitely an Armani jacket.† â€Å"You think he's from out of state?† Elena was straining her ears for the boy's name. There seemed to be some kind of trouble in there: Mrs. Clarke, the admissions secretary, was looking at a list and shaking her head. The boy said something, and Mrs. Clarke lifted her hands in a â€Å"What can I say?† gesture. She ran a finger down the list and shook her head again, conclusively. The boy started to turn away, then turned back. And when Mrs. Clarke looked up at him, her expression changed. The boy's sunglasses were now in his hand. Mrs. Clarke seemed startled by something; Elena could see her blink several times. Her lips opened and closed as if she were trying to speak. Elena wished she could see more than the back of the boy's head. Mrs. Clarke was fumbling through piles of paper now, looking dazed. At last she found a form of some kind and wrote on it, then turned it around and pushed it toward the boy. The boy wrote briefly on the form-signing it, probably-and returned it. Mrs. Clarke stared at it a second, then fumbled through a new pile of papers, finally handing what looked like a class schedule to him. Her eyes never left the boy as he took it, inclined his head in thanks, and turned to the door. Elena was wild with curiosity by now. What had just happened in there? And what did this stranger's face look like? But as he emerged from the office, he was settling his sunglasses in place again. Disappointment coursed through her. Still, she could see the rest of his face as he paused in the doorway. The dark curly hair framed features so fine that they might have been taken from an old Roman coin or medallion. High cheekbones, classical straight nose†¦ and a mouth to keep you awake at night, Elena thought. The upper lip was beautifully sculpted, a little sensitive, a whole lot sensual. The chatter of the girls in the hallway had stopped as if someone had thrown a switch. Most of them were turning away from the boy now, looking anywhere but at him. Elena held her place by the window and gave a little toss to her head, pulling the ribbon out of her hair so that it fell loose around her shoulders. Without looking to either side, the boy moved on down the hallway. A chorus of sighs and whispers flared up the moment he was out of earshot. Elena didn't hear any of it. He'd walked right by her, she thought, dazed. Right by without a glance. Dimly, she realized the bell was ringing. Meredith was tugging her arm. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I said here's your schedule. We've got trig on the second floor right now. Come on!† Elena allowed Meredith to propel her down the corridor, up a flight of stairs, and into a classroom. She slid into an empty seat automatically and fixed her eyes on the teacher at the front without really seeing her. The shock still hadn't worn off. He'd walked right by. Without a glance. She couldn't remember how long it had been since a boy had done that. They all looked, at least. Some whistled. Some stopped to talk. Some just stared. And that had always been fine with Elena. After all, what was more important than boys? They were the mark of how popular you were, of how beautiful you were. And they could be useful for all sorts of things. Sometimes they were exciting, but usually that didn't last long. Sometimes they were creeps from the beginning. Most boys, Elena reflected, were like puppies. Adorable in their place, but expendable. A very few could be more than that, could become real friends. Like Matt. Oh, Matt. Last year she'd hoped that he was the one she was looking for, the boy who could make her feel†¦ well, something more. More than the rush of triumph at making a conquest, the pride in showing your new acquisition off to the other girls. And shehad come to feel a strong affection for Matt. But over the summer, when she'd had time to think, she'd realized it was the affection of a cousin or sister. Ms. Halpern was passing out trigonometry books. Elena took hers mechanically and wrote her name inside, still wrapped in thought. She liked Matt more than any other boy she'd known. And that was why she was going to have to tell him it was over. She hadn't known how to tell him in a letter. She didn't know how to tell him now. It wasn't that she was afraid he'd kick up a fuss; he just wouldn't understand. She didn't really understand herself. It was as if she were always reaching for†¦ something. Only, when she thought she'd got it, it wasn't there. Not with Matt, not with any of the boys she'd had. And then she had to start all over again. Fortunately, there was always fresh material. No boy had ever resisted her successfully, and no boy had ever ignored her. Until now. Until now. Remembering that moment in the hall, Elena found that her fingers were clenched on the pen she held. She still couldn't believe he'd brushed by her that way. The bell rang and everyone flooded out of the classroom, but Elena paused in the doorway. She bit her lip, scanning the river of students flowing through the hall. Then she spotted one of the hangers-on from the parking lot. â€Å"Frances! Come here.† Frances came eagerly, her plain face brightening. â€Å"Listen, Frances, you remember that boy this morning?† â€Å"With the Porsche and the-er-assets? How could I forget?† â€Å"Well, I want his class schedule. Get it from the office if you can, or copy it from him if you have to. But do it!† Frances looked surprised for a moment, then grinned and nodded. â€Å"Okay, Elena. I'll try. I'll meet you at lunch if I can get it.† â€Å"Thanks.† Elena watched the girl go. â€Å"You know, you really are crazy,† Meredith's voice said in her ear. â€Å"What's the use of being queen of the school if you can't pull a little rank sometimes?† returned Elena calmly. â€Å"Where do I go now?† â€Å"General Business. Here, take it yourself.† Meredith thrust a schedule at her. â€Å"I've got to run for chemistry. Later!† General Business and the rest of the morning passed in a blur. Elena had hoped to catch another glimpse of the new student, but he was in none of her classes. Mattwas in one, and she felt a pang as his blue eyes met hers with a smile. At the lunch bell, she nodded greetings right and left as she walked to the cafeteria. Caroline was outside, posed casually against a wall with chin up, shoulders back, hips forward. The two boys she was talking to fell silent and nudged each other as Elena approached. â€Å"Hi,† Elena said briefly to the boys; and to Caroline: â€Å"Ready to go in and eat?† Caroline's green eyes barely flickered toward Elena, and she pushed glossy auburn hair out of her face. â€Å"What, at theroyal table ?† she said. Elena was taken aback. She and Caroline had been friends since kindergarten, and they had always competed with each other good-naturedly. But lately something had happened to Caroline. She'd begun to take the rivalry more and more seriously. And now Elena was surprised at the bitterness in the other girl's voice. â€Å"Well, it's hardly as if you were a commoner,† she said lightly. â€Å"Oh, you're so right about that,† said Caroline, turning to face Elena fully. Those green cat-eyes were slitted and smoky, and Elena was shocked by the hostility she saw there. The two boys smiled uneasily and edged away. Caroline didn't seem to notice. â€Å"A lot of things changed while you were gone this summer, Elena,† she continued. â€Å"And just maybe your time on the throne is running out.† Elena had flushed; she could feel it. She struggled to keep her voice steady. â€Å"Maybe,† she said. â€Å"But I wouldn't buy a scepter just yet if I were you, Caroline.† She turned and went into the lunchroom. It was a relief to see Meredith and Bonnie, and Frances beside them. Elena felt her cheeks cool as she selected her lunch and went to join them. She wouldn't let Caroline upset her; she wouldn't think of Caroline at all. â€Å"I got it,† said Frances, waving a piece of paper as Elena sat down. â€Å"And I have some good stuff,† said Bonnie importantly. â€Å"Elena, listen to this. He's in my biology class, and I sit right across from him. And his name is Stefan, Stefan Salvatore, and he's from Italy, and he's boarding with old Mrs. Flowers on the edge of town.† She sighed. â€Å"He isso romantic. Caroline dropped her books, and he picked them up for her.† Elena made a wry face. â€Å"How clumsy of Caroline. What else happened?† â€Å"Well, that's all. He didn't really talk to her. He's ver-r-ry mysterious, you see. Mrs. Endicott, my biology teacher, tried to get him to take off his glasses, but he wouldn't. He has a medical condition.† â€Å"What kind of medical condition?† â€Å"I don't know. Maybe it's terminal and his days are numbered. Wouldn't that be romantic?† â€Å"Oh, very,† said Meredith. Elena was looking over Frances's sheet of paper, biting her lip. â€Å"He's in my seventh period, History of Europe. â€Å"Anybody else have that class?† â€Å"I do,† said Bonnie. â€Å"And I think Caroline does, too. Oh, and maybe Matt; he said something yesterday about how it was just his luck, getting Mr. Tanner.† Marvelous, Elena thought, picking up a fork and stabbing at her mashed potatoes. It looked as if seventh period was going to beextremely interesting. Stefan was glad the school day was almost over. He wanted to get out of these crowded rooms and corridors, just for a few minutes. So many minds. The pressure of so many thought patterns, so many mental voices surrounding him, was making him dizzy. It had been years since he had been in a swarm of people like this. One mind in particular stood out from the others. She had been among those watching him in the main corridor of the school building. He didn't know what she looked like, but her personality was powerful. He felt sure he'd recognize it again. So far, at least, he'd survived the first day of the masquerade. He'd used the Powers only twice, and then sparingly. But he was tired, and, he admitted ruefully, hungry. The rabbit hadn't been enough. Worry about that later. He found his last classroom and sat down. And immediately he felt the presence of that mind again. It glowed at the edge of his consciousness, a golden light, soft and yet vibrant. And, for the first time, he could locate the girl it was coming from. She was seated right in front of him. Even as he thought it, she turned around and he saw her face. It was all he could do not to gasp in shock. Katherine! But of course it couldn't be. Katherine was dead; no one knew that better than he did. Still, the resemblance was uncanny. That pale golden hair, so fair it almost seemed to shimmer. That creamy skin, which had always made him think of swans, or alabaster, flushing faintly pink over the cheekbones. And the eyes†¦ Katherine's eyes had been a color he had never seen before; darker than sky blue, as rich as the lapis lazuli in her jeweled headband. This girl had those same eyes. And they were fixed directly on his as she smiled. He looked down from the smile quickly. Of all things, he did not want to think about Katherine. He didn't want to look at this girl who reminded him of her, and he didn't want to feel her presence any longer. He kept his eyes on the desk, blocking his mind as strongly as he knew how. And at last, slowly, she turned around again. She was hurt. Even through the blocks, he could feel that. He didn't care. In fact, he was glad of it, and he hoped it would keep her away from him. Other than that, he had no feelings about her at all. He kept telling himself this as he sat, the droning voice of the teacher pouring over him unheard. But he could smell a subtle hint of some perfume-violets, he thought. And her slender white neck was bowed over her book, the fair hair falling on either side of it. In anger and frustration he recognized the seductive feeling in his teeth-more a tickling or a tingling than an ache. It was hunger, a specific hunger. And not one he was about to indulge. The teacher was pacing about the room like a ferret, asking questions, and Stefan deliberately fixed his attention on the man. At first he was puzzled, for although none of the students knew the answers, the questions kept coming. Then he realized that that was the man's purpose. To shame the students with what they didn't know. Just now he'd found another victim, a small girl with clusters of red curls and a heart-shaped face. Stefan watched in distaste as the teacher badgered her with questions. She looked wretched as he turned away from her to address the entire class. â€Å"You see what I mean? You think you're pretty hot stuff; you're seniors now, ready to graduate. Well, let me tell you, some of you aren't ready to graduate kindergarten. Like this!† He gestured toward the red-haired girl. â€Å"No idea about the French Revolution. Thinks Marie Antoinette was a silent film star.† Students all around Stefan were shifting uncomfortably. He could feel the resentment in their minds, and the humiliation. And the fear. They were all afraid of this thin little man with eyes like a weasel, even the husky boys who were taller than he was. â€Å"All right, let's try another era.† The teacher swung back to the same girl he'd been questioning. â€Å"During the Renaissance-† He broke off. â€Å"Youdo know what the Renaissance is, don't you? The period between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, in which Europe rediscovered the great ideas of ancient Greece and Rome? The period that produced so many of Europe's greatest artists and thinkers?† When the girl nodded confusedly, he continued. â€Å"During the Renaissance, what would students your age be doing at school? Well? Any idea at all? Any guesses?† The girl swallowed hard. With a weak smile she said, â€Å"Playing football?† At the ensuing laughter, the teacher's face darkened. â€Å"Hardly!† he snapped, and the classroom quieted. â€Å"You think this is a joke? Well, in those days, students your age would already be proficient in several languages. They would also have mastered logic, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and grammar. They would be ready to go on to a university, in which every course was taught in Latin. Football would be absolutely the last thing on-† â€Å"Excuse me.† The quiet voice stopped the teacher in midharangue. Everyone turned to stare at Stefan. â€Å"What? What did you say?† â€Å"I said, excuse me,† Stefan repeated, removing his glasses and standing up. â€Å"But you're wrong. Students in the Renaissance were encouraged to participate in games. They were taught that a healthy body goes with a healthy mind. And they certainly played team sports, like cricket, tennis-and even football.† He turned to the red-haired girl and smiled, and she smiled back gratefully. To the teacher, he added, â€Å"But the most important things they learned were good manners and courtesy. I'm sure your book will tell you that.† Students were grinning. The teacher's face was red with blood, and he was sputtering. But Stefan continued to hold his eyes, and after another minute it was the teacher who looked away. The bell rang. Stefan put his glasses on quickly and gathered his books. He'd already drawn more attention to himself than he should, and he didn't want to have to look at the blond girl again. Besides, he needed to get out of here quickly; there was a familiar burning sensation in his veins. As he reached the door, someone shouted, â€Å"Hey! Did they really play football back then?† He couldn't help throwing a grin over his shoulder. â€Å"Oh, yes. Sometimes with the severed heads of prisoners of war.† Elena watched him as he went. He'd deliberately turned away from her. He'd snubbed her on purpose, and in front of Caroline, who'd been watching like a hawk. Tears burned in her eyes, but at that moment only one thought burned in her mind. She'd have him, even if it killed her. If it killed both of them, she'd have him.