How Do You Define Success?

Success is defined differently by different people. For some, success means becoming rich, for others reaching high social position. Everyone has his / her own definition of success. Depending on how you see the world, your definition of success will differ from others. However, achieving success is far from easy. Depending on the definition of success, it can be achieved through many ways and come in different forms. Nonetheless, whether small or big, success in any form carries the same worth as long as people continue to strive for it.There are many different ways to achieving success, you should just consider which way is the most appropriate for your desired results. Perseverance also plays a role, if you are willing to put in the effort; you will achieve more success and thus will be more satisfied in the end. To achieve success you should never give up. There is no use in just waiting for wishes and dreams to come true. Success can only be achieved if people learn from their m istakes.You never come close to success unless you experience failure. Believe me; you can embrace success if you only believe in yourself and your abilities. Moris Meterling said, â€Å"People are born of their thought, so think positively. † In short, no matter what situation you are involved in, in order for your goal to be achieved, you must always give your best effort, persevere, learn from your mistakes and believe in yourself. The most important thing to remember is that all you achieved is only to your benefit.

Conceptual framework

Put together all the materials that deal with similar topics. This way, you can relate the studies with one another. 3. From the card catalogue in a library, you will be able to identify a book that is closely related to your study. Go to the shelf and pick out the book you have identified. The materials in this book will have supporting materials in other books on the same shelf. Look at other books located above, below, to the right, and to the left of the book you have picked out. They may contain relevant materials. 4. Refer to the list of references at the end of the book or journal you have found. Those references will give you the needed relevant materials. How do you organize your RL?Cute concept(s) and variables can serve as your heading and subheadings Chitin the write up, you can further organize based on: – chronology – themes Writing skills required n building up the RL C Paraphrasing C Summarizing Ã'Å¡ Managing quotations CA Synthesizing C Citing or docume nting sources What is a paraphrase? – restating an authors idea in your own words and style (Plat et al. , 2007) – putting a passage from an author into â€Å"your own words (The Writers Handbook, online) ; restating in your own words the statement of others; a Techniques in paraphrasing 1. Imagine as if you were explaining the original text to someone who doesn't share the same background with that of the author of the original material. 2. Write the paraphrase the way you loud give that explanation. 3.Simplify the material, but keep its original ideas intact. Sample paraphrase . PDF Summary or prà ©cis – a condensed version of a longer text that represents the original ideas of the writer's but written in the words of the one writing the summary (Plat et al. , 2007) – a condensation of the original usually one fourth to one third of the length (Tellurium, 2003 in Gonzales et al, no date) How to produce a summary: 1. Read the article to be summarized a nd be sure you understand it. 2. Outline the article. Note the major points. 4. Always use paraphrase when rating a summary. If you do copy a phrase from the original be sure it is a very important phrase that is necessary and cannot be paraphrased.In this case put â€Å"quotation marks† around the phrase. The features of a 1. Start your summary with a clear identification of the type of work, title, author, and main point in the present tense. Example: In the feature article â€Å"Four Kinds of Reading,† the author, Donald Hall, explains his opinion about different types of reading. 2. Check with your outline and your 3. Never put any of your own ideas, opinions, or interpretations into the marry. This means you have to be very careful of your word choice. 4. Write using â€Å"summarizing language. † Periodically remind your reader that this is a summary by using phrases such as the article sample summary. UDF Quotation – a reproduction of the author's e xact words, spelling and grammar Reminder: Make sure you do not overuse quotations in your paper. Otherwise, your paper is simply a representation of other people's work. (Plat et al. , 2007) Rules for placing quotations 1. Put quotation marks around the quotation. 2. Introduce the quotation or place It in proper context. . Copy quotations exactly as they are written. Synthesizing â€Å"to combine the ideas of more than one source with your own† Synthesis ; Report information from the sources using different phrases and sentences. ; Organize so that readers can immediately see where information from the sources overlap. ; Make sense of the sources and help the reader understand them in greater depth. Conceptual framework Put together all the materials that deal with similar topics. This way, you can relate the studies with one another. 3. From the card catalogue in a library, you will be able to identify a book that is closely related to your study. Go to the shelf and pick out the book you have identified. The materials in this book will have supporting materials in other books on the same shelf. Look at other books located above, below, to the right, and to the left of the book you have picked out. They may contain relevant materials. 4. Refer to the list of references at the end of the book or journal you have found. Those references will give you the needed relevant materials. How do you organize your RL?Cute concept(s) and variables can serve as your heading and subheadings Chitin the write up, you can further organize based on: – chronology – themes Writing skills required n building up the RL C Paraphrasing C Summarizing Ã'Å¡ Managing quotations CA Synthesizing C Citing or docume nting sources What is a paraphrase? – restating an authors idea in your own words and style (Plat et al. , 2007) – putting a passage from an author into â€Å"your own words (The Writers Handbook, online) ; restating in your own words the statement of others; a Techniques in paraphrasing 1. Imagine as if you were explaining the original text to someone who doesn't share the same background with that of the author of the original material. 2. Write the paraphrase the way you loud give that explanation. 3.Simplify the material, but keep its original ideas intact. Sample paraphrase . PDF Summary or prà ©cis – a condensed version of a longer text that represents the original ideas of the writer's but written in the words of the one writing the summary (Plat et al. , 2007) – a condensation of the original usually one fourth to one third of the length (Tellurium, 2003 in Gonzales et al, no date) How to produce a summary: 1. Read the article to be summarized a nd be sure you understand it. 2. Outline the article. Note the major points. 4. Always use paraphrase when rating a summary. If you do copy a phrase from the original be sure it is a very important phrase that is necessary and cannot be paraphrased.In this case put â€Å"quotation marks† around the phrase. The features of a 1. Start your summary with a clear identification of the type of work, title, author, and main point in the present tense. Example: In the feature article â€Å"Four Kinds of Reading,† the author, Donald Hall, explains his opinion about different types of reading. 2. Check with your outline and your 3. Never put any of your own ideas, opinions, or interpretations into the marry. This means you have to be very careful of your word choice. 4. Write using â€Å"summarizing language. † Periodically remind your reader that this is a summary by using phrases such as the article sample summary. UDF Quotation – a reproduction of the author's e xact words, spelling and grammar Reminder: Make sure you do not overuse quotations in your paper. Otherwise, your paper is simply a representation of other people's work. (Plat et al. , 2007) Rules for placing quotations 1. Put quotation marks around the quotation. 2. Introduce the quotation or place It in proper context. . Copy quotations exactly as they are written. Synthesizing â€Å"to combine the ideas of more than one source with your own† Synthesis ; Report information from the sources using different phrases and sentences. ; Organize so that readers can immediately see where information from the sources overlap. ; Make sense of the sources and help the reader understand them in greater depth. Conceptual framework Put together all the materials that deal with similar topics. This way, you can relate the studies with one another. 3. From the card catalogue in a library, you will be able to identify a book that is closely related to your study. Go to the shelf and pick out the book you have identified. The materials in this book will have supporting materials in other books on the same shelf. Look at other books located above, below, to the right, and to the left of the book you have picked out. They may contain relevant materials. 4. Refer to the list of references at the end of the book or journal you have found. Those references will give you the needed relevant materials. How do you organize your RL?Cute concept(s) and variables can serve as your heading and subheadings Chitin the write up, you can further organize based on: – chronology – themes Writing skills required n building up the RL C Paraphrasing C Summarizing Ã'Å¡ Managing quotations CA Synthesizing C Citing or docume nting sources What is a paraphrase? – restating an authors idea in your own words and style (Plat et al. , 2007) – putting a passage from an author into â€Å"your own words (The Writers Handbook, online) ; restating in your own words the statement of others; a Techniques in paraphrasing 1. Imagine as if you were explaining the original text to someone who doesn't share the same background with that of the author of the original material. 2. Write the paraphrase the way you loud give that explanation. 3.Simplify the material, but keep its original ideas intact. Sample paraphrase . PDF Summary or prà ©cis – a condensed version of a longer text that represents the original ideas of the writer's but written in the words of the one writing the summary (Plat et al. , 2007) – a condensation of the original usually one fourth to one third of the length (Tellurium, 2003 in Gonzales et al, no date) How to produce a summary: 1. Read the article to be summarized a nd be sure you understand it. 2. Outline the article. Note the major points. 4. Always use paraphrase when rating a summary. If you do copy a phrase from the original be sure it is a very important phrase that is necessary and cannot be paraphrased.In this case put â€Å"quotation marks† around the phrase. The features of a 1. Start your summary with a clear identification of the type of work, title, author, and main point in the present tense. Example: In the feature article â€Å"Four Kinds of Reading,† the author, Donald Hall, explains his opinion about different types of reading. 2. Check with your outline and your 3. Never put any of your own ideas, opinions, or interpretations into the marry. This means you have to be very careful of your word choice. 4. Write using â€Å"summarizing language. † Periodically remind your reader that this is a summary by using phrases such as the article sample summary. UDF Quotation – a reproduction of the author's e xact words, spelling and grammar Reminder: Make sure you do not overuse quotations in your paper. Otherwise, your paper is simply a representation of other people's work. (Plat et al. , 2007) Rules for placing quotations 1. Put quotation marks around the quotation. 2. Introduce the quotation or place It in proper context. . Copy quotations exactly as they are written. Synthesizing â€Å"to combine the ideas of more than one source with your own† Synthesis ; Report information from the sources using different phrases and sentences. ; Organize so that readers can immediately see where information from the sources overlap. ; Make sense of the sources and help the reader understand them in greater depth.

Case on Industrial Dispute Essay

Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Corporation’), has been constituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. The respondent which is a Trade Union of the appellant-Corporation, filed an Application before the Labour Court, Dehradun under Section 11-C of the U. P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 read with Section 13A of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, praying for a declaration that the 15 persons who were appointed on contract basis as ‘drivers’ and ‘conductors’ as shown in the annexed chart, be declared as regular and substantive workmen of the Corporation. It was also prayed in the said Application that the concerned workmen be given all the benefits and facilities of regular employees. The aforesaid Application was allowed by the Labour Court, Dehradun by its order dated 19. 9. 2001. The Labour Court directed that the concerned workmen be given the minimum wages admissible to the regular employees in the pay scales of ‘drivers’ and ‘conductors’. The Labour Court also held that the said workmen are employees of the Corporation. It is not disputed that the concerned workmen were appointed on contract basis. Before the Labour Court, the Corporation had contended that Rule 2 of U. P. S. R. T. C Employees (Other than Officers) Service Regulations, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Regulations’) clearly mentions that these regulations shall not apply to employees working on contract basis. The persons working on contract basis filed Writ Petition No. 41349/1999 Kanchi Lal and others vs. U. P. S. R. T. C before the Allahabad High Court for grant of same benefits as the regular employees of the Corporation, but the said writ petition had been dismissed. However, the bjection of the Corporation was rejected by the Labour Court. It filed a writ petition thereafter before the High Court which was dismissed by the impugned judgment. It was contended in the writ petition by the appellant that the concerned workmen had not been selected in terms of the process of selection required for appointment of regular employees and hence they cannot be directed to be given minimum pay scales of regular employees. It was also contended that the Labour Court acted beyond its jurisdiction by passing the impugned order dated. In our opinion, the Labour Court could not have granted the relief it granted by the order dated 19. 9. 2001, as that could only have been granted on a regular reference under Section 4-K of the U. P. Industrial Disputes Act or under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act. A perusal of the order of the Labour Court dated 19. 9. 2001 shows that it has not referred to any standing order of the appellant. On the other hand, paragraph 3 of the said order refers to Rule 2 of the 1981 Regulations which clearly provides that the Regulations do not apply to employees engaged on contract basis. In our opinion, the Labour Court cannot amend the Regulations while hearing an application under Section 11-C of the Industrial Disputes Act. As already stated above, the scope of Section 11-C is limited to decide a question arising out of an application or interpretation of a standing order and the Labour Court cannot go beyond the scope of Section 11-C of the U. P. Industrial Disputes Act. For the reasons given above, the appeals are allowed. The impugned judgment of the High Court as well as the order of the Labour Court dated 19. 9. 2001 are set aside. However, it is open to the concerned workmen to raise their grievances before the concerned authority under Section 4-K of the U. P. Industrial Disputes Act or under Section 10 of Industrial Disputes Act, as the case may be, and if the State Government refers such a dispute to the Labour Court or Tribunal, we hope that the same will be decided expeditiously. No costs

International management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International management - Essay Example Even though my previous academic achievements qualify me for a high-level employment opportunity in a management profession, becoming an all-round and outstanding chief executive is my immediate objective. Completing the program in a recognized institution and working for an outstanding organization are, therefore, the important ladders to my dream. Getting an opportunity with such kind of an employer, however, depends on the program that I intend to pursue and the institution from which the degree is acquired. The high level of competition that has arisen in the job market has also prompted my desire to take international management as my second master’s degree in order to match the current high and diversified academic qualifications employers require. Upon completion of the program, I intend to work with a multinational hotel, in which I shall have an opportunity to manage diversified cultures in different legal environments. Using my acquired skills from the course to contribute back to the society is also my aim. I, for instance, intend to apply the acquired knowledge to lecture in ‘business-oriented’ institutions besides contributing in public forums. Upon achieving my professional objective, I also aim at attaining a social status that will command authority to influence and mobilize the youth into productive activities such as entrepreneurial ventures and pursuit for higher education. This is because the youth currently lack professional figures with such authority and my level of passion. However, I can achieve such a social goal only through completing this master’s degree in international management for a highly regarded professional status. Besides my professional and social interest in the program, I have a wide base of strengths that guarantee my ability to complete the degree within the duration stipulated by the institution. Apart from completing my bachelor’s degree, which

Ways To Improve Starbucks' Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ways To Improve Starbucks' Services - Essay Example Indeed, Starbucks needs to drastically change the way they distributes their service so as to increase customer satisfaction to remain competitive in the particular industry. Starbuck was founded in 1971 as a Seattle coffee bean retailer and roaster and since then has expanded quickly. Thus Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegel obtained the idea from Peet Alfred(of the famous Peet’s coffee)/.Initially the store just sold coffee making equipment and coffee beans as opposed to selling drinks, of which they have become popular globally. After a decade, Schultz Howard was contracted as a Director of Retail Operations and concluded that they ought to be selling drinks instead of machines and beans. Failing to convince the owners, they parted ways and Howard started the II Giornale series of coffee bars in the year 1986. The following year, Baldwin and company decided to sell Starbucks to Schultz who immediately changed the name of his II Giornale locations to Starbucks and began expanding. After dominating Seattle the chain of coffeehouses spread throughout the US and later on became international. Over the length of time, Starbucks has been in e xistence, it has acquired and bought companies such as Seattle’s and Peet’s Best Coffee and taken over several locations of Coffee people and Diedrich Coffee stores. From 1987, Starbucks has been opening 2 new stores everyday on average. The first ever store outside of the US or Canada was opened in 1996 in Tokyo and it Starbucks still maintains a considerable presence in Japan even to date. Today Starbucks has been able to expand to more than 17,200 stores in more than 55 nations worldwide. They have the biggest presence in the US, which has over 11,200 stores. Starbucks can be located in such diverse nations as Romania, Chile, Bulgaria and Bahrain. The very recent expansion took place in Budapest. Presently the overseas stores make up about one third of Starbuck’s

Infection control enabling and assessing teaching Essay

Infection control enabling and assessing teaching - Essay Example Therefore, educational knowledge or nursing knowledge is integrated practical knowledge (Stake, R., 1977, p. 121-124). Life-long Learning: Life-long education is not a new concept, but the rapidly changing social conditions of the contemporary society has provided a wider impetus for a wider acceptance of this idea, and the adult educators have been a major force in drawing attention to the practice of life-long learning. To assess learning, the educator utilizes a wide range of methods for evaluating pupil performance and attainment. These include formal testing and examinations, practical and oral assessments, and classroom based assessment. Theoretically, there are three types of assessments. Formative assessment takes place during the course of the teaching and is used essentially to feed back into the teaching or learning process. Summative assessment takes place at the end of the term or a course and is used to provide information about how much the students have learned and how well as course has worked. Ipsative assessment is the third and the most important category in which the pupil evalu ates his/her performance against his/her previous performance (Wilkinson, W. J. and George, N. J., 1982, p. 222-235). This indicates that the process of assessment is undergoing a shift in the paradigm from psychometrics to a broader model of educational assessment and from the culture of testing and examination to the culture of assessment. There is a wider range of assessments that are in use now. These include teacher assessment, standard tasks, coursework, records of achievement, practical and oral assessments mentioned earlier, written examinations, and standardized tests. There are criterion-referenced, formative, and performance-based assessments as well as norm-referenced testing. The consequent high-profile status of assessment is mainly due to the fact that assessment is required to achieve a wide range of purposes (Carr, W., and Kemmis, S., 1986, p. 86-94). The assessment process is mainly designed to support teaching and learning; it would provide information about pupil s, teachers, and schools. In this way, assessment would drive curriculum and teaching and act as a selection and certification device and as an accountability procedure (Briton, D., 1996, p 101-102). Adult learning theory has been strongly influenced by humanistic psychology, although there is no single theory that represents the humanistic approach. All such theories share a common view that this approach involves the study of a man as a human being, with his thoughts, feelings, and experiences (Brookfield, S., 1985, p. 23-28). This is in direct contrast to the stimulus-response theories, which study man from the point of view of overt behaviour, disregarding his inner feelings and experiences. Humanistic theories differ from cognitive theory in that the latter is concerned with the thinking aspects of a man's behaviour with little emphasis on the affective components. Humanistic theory is closely related to the philosophical approach called phenomenology, which asserts that reality lies in a person's perception of an event and not in the event itself. This also underpins three other concepts,

All Forms of Tobacco Should Be Made Illegal Essay

All Forms of Tobacco Should Be Made Illegal - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that tobacco items in widespread use and business preparation are derived from three sorts of tobacco preparation; rolls of tobacco smoked (e.g. Cigar, cigarette) pipes (counting water pipes) oral arrangements for biting and holding in the mouth or putting in the nose (e.g. snuff, snus, betel quid). Smoking in broad daylight was, for quite some time, done only by men, and when done by females was sometimes connected with promiscuity; In Japan, throughout the Edo period, prostitutes and their customers regularly approached each other under the appearance of offering a smoke. The same was correct for nineteenth-century Europe. At present, there are an expected 1.3 billion smokers on the planet. The death rate from tobacco utilization is currently 5 million individuals a year; if present usage examples continue, the number of deaths will be about twofold, reaching near 10 million by the year 2020. The higher rate of death and ailment is quickly moving to developing nations. Nearly one-half of cigarette smokers die early from tobacco intake. That is to say that in regards to 650 million individuals alive today will, in the end, die from a tobacco-related illness if they keep on smoking. In spite of what we think about tobacco use today, tobacco utilization keeps on increasing around the world. The plague is still growing, particularly in low- and moderate income nations. The tobacco business has an enormous potential market in these nations, where they regularly confront weaker tobacco control measures and ï ¬ nd an extraordinary number of possible new clients, around females specifically. Different sorts of tobacco items are connected with various sorts of diseases. For instance, despite the fact that smokeless tobacco items may not result in lung disease and different infections connected to smoke inhalation, their numerous other unfavorable effects still make them the real health concern in a few regions. Cigarettes, P ipes, water pipes and Cigars are the most commonly used forms of tobacco. Cigarettes are the most fatal and addictive items ever made by humans. At the point when utilized as intended by their producers, they kill more or less one a large portion of their clients. There are a few parts of the smoke and its advancement that have an extraordinary effect on the degree of the harm it does in health terms.

Cigarette Taxes and Smoking Bans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Cigarette Taxes and Smoking Bans - Essay Example Before the provision of this report, taxes fixed on cigarettes were intended just to raise the revenue on the sale of cigarettes. However, after the provision of the Surgeon General's report, the taxes fixed on cigarettes had an additional purpose of discouraging cigarette smoking (Meier & Licari, 1997). The idea of cigarette tax is obtained from "economic theory". An increase in cigarette tax is a direct cause of increase in the selling cost of per cigarette, and hence, as the law of supply and demand states, a comparatively less amount of cigarettes will be sold. (Meier & Licari, 1997). A long-stated supposition of the 'economic theory' declared above was that a rise in cigarette tax would reduce its sales and thus hurt the financial system. On the other hand, Jha, Beyer and Heller (1999) reports that the rise in cigarette tax in reality increased the cigarette tax revenue and hence doesn't harm the economy at all. Tax revenue is actually a source of government income. For this reason, an increase in cigarette taxes is an increase in government income. Cigarette taxes have been increased in thirty one states since 2000 (Capehart, 2004). Further research has shown that these thirty one states have also imposed bans against smoking (Smoke Free World, 2005). Many studies have clearly showed the decrease in the amount of cigarette consumed by the individuals (Brown, 1995; Meier & Licari, 1997; and Showalter, 1998). On the other hand Tax revenues have increased on every sale (Capehart, 2004). Most literature analysis has examined cigarette taxes and cigarette tax revenues without taking the states with smoking bans into consideration. If we consider both sides of the story, the finalized decision of our research both agrees and disagrees with that of the literature. We agree with Meier & Licari (1997) and Gallet (2004) that smoking has been reduced in those states where cigarette bans and higher cigarette taxes have been imposed and differ with Showalter (1998) that higher cigarette taxes reduces higher tax revenue. The limit to which the literature has bounded itself is still clearly observed if the relation between the effects of the bans on smoking and the tax revenue is analyzed. It clearly shows that both these are not related to each other particularly. The revenue generated by the tax imposed on cigarettes was compared and contrasted with the amount of taxes that were imposed on cigarettes. But the laws passed for smoking were never compared or contrasted with these factors. The feature of our research expands its influence by analyzing the affect of the taxes imposed by governments in different states. We developed a new way of thought. One may carry out the fact that states, which imposed smoking bans, obtain a decreased amount of sales and hence have a decreased amount of tax revenue. This fact clearly shows that economy is adversely affected in those states. We proved the theory of demand and supply in relationship to state smoking bans and cigarette tax revenues. We determined if the smoking bans affect cigarette tax

Marketing analysis for Construction Forensic Thesis

Marketing analysis for Construction Forensic - Thesis Example Hence, we see that the construction industry has taken over a number of services that were offered by A/E consultants. The contractors have taken over a large share of the service market of A/E consultants and thus, A/E firms need to expand the services offered to retain their market shares. They need to venture into service segments such as providing financial assistance to the clients, assistance with regulations, cost analysis of project life cycle, O&M functions, and renovation services. The situation has changed dramatically for marketing professionals and construction services providers and it is not as simple as it used to be. The shift in the project delivery system and the advances in communication technology requires the architects and the engineers to change themselves from their usual procedures of working. For example, in the past architects relied on their name and recognition whereas consulting engineers relied on 80/20 rule2 , and general contractors used to bid low i n competitive bidding situations3. The A/E consultants can retain their market shares by strengthening their market niche, marketing plans that increase customer retention, and restructuring of the organization to increase flexibility in the human resource and the services offered. If we take a look at the US construction industry, it is a pretty large profitable market and the barriers to entry in the market for foreign firms are low as there have been indications that a number of foreign firms have entered the heavily civil and public works markets in California, Massachusetts, and Florida. Statistically, Construction industry is a huge one. According to the US Census Bureau, the total value of business done in 2007 was $748,4994 (in millions of dollars). Similarly, in the state of Washington, there were a total of 21,701 establishments in 2007 and the dollar value of business done was $27, 916, 1235. Construction Litigation Industry The function that Construction Litigation serve s is dealing with legal disputes that result from construction projects. The disputes could result from disagreements in construction contracts and from injury claims or accidental deaths caused by ignorant behavior. In any case, construction litigation consultants are responsible for dealing with civil lawsuits involving private parties that are governed under separate rule and regulations from those of criminal prosecution6. Several new methods have evolved in the construction industry such as design/build, at-risk construction management, built-operate-transfer methods7. Difference of opinion exists on the claims and litigations under these methods. Proponents of these methods are of the view that these methods tend to bring down the hostility of the relationship between the concerned parties, hence resulting in an overall reduction in claims and litigations whereas advocates of litigation believe that despite the use of alternate methods; these methods just place the associated risks within the construction process. Consequently, there is no significant impact on the claims or litigation. On the contrary, they believe that

Human Activity and Climate Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Activity and Climate Change - Assignment Example Carbon dioxide has been described as one of the most anthropogenic greenhouse gas. That is it is caused by human activity and the influence that they have on the environment. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from 280 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial revolution to 379 ppm3 in 2005. Additionally, the concentration of to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2005 was much greater than the natural range of 180 to 300ppm over the last 650,000 years. This information has been determined from ice cores spanning thousands of years. Continuous measurements show that during the ten years spanning 1995 to 2005 the annual growth rate of the concentration of carbon dioxide was 1.9ppm and this is more than that for the period 1960 to 2005 when the concentration was 1.4ppm. The use of fossil fuel has been found to be the main source of the increased concentration of carbon dioxide ever since the pre-industrial period which dates from 1900 to 1926 with annual emission increasing from an average of 6.4 GIC per annum in the 1990’s to 7.2 per year during the period 2000 to 2005. Greenhouse gas emissions that have been attributed to the change in the way land is used has been found to be significantly less when compared to greenhouse gas emissions from carbon dioxide at a rate of 1.6 GtC per year throughout the 1990’s. However, these estimates According to California Energy Commission, there are three major forms of fossil fuel – coal, oil and natural gas. They have formed millions of years ago during the Carboniferous period which is part of the Paleozoic Era. Carboniferous comes from the word carbon and carbon is the basic element that makes up coal, oil and natural gas. Coal is used to fuel power plants and other factories.

Red Cross's Crisis Communications Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Red Cross's Crisis Communications Plan - Essay Example Crisis Communication addresses the process of managing a crisis situation, by roping in measures to counter the ill-effects of the situation. Crisis communication helps in analyzing the detriments and then working on the strengths, while also accentuating the positives. It helps in limiting, restricting and then, countering the negatives achieved during the crisis. Hence, it is a very important function for any organization. This paper is an attempt to analyse the Crisis Communication Strategy for one of the leading stores in Britain---John Lewis. John Lewis the retail store that is one of the most popular ones, in Britain. The store has been functional since 1864 and hence, it carries a legacy, robust management and a favourable position amongst the masses. The retail stores are extremely popular, and has branches in almost every city in the country. John Lewis has an employee base of 60,000 employees and hence, is a huge organization. With the level of popularity and the size of the organization, the stakes are rather high for John Lewis when it comes to handling situations that could be detrimental to its image. Crises situations in the past have occurred. For instance, once there was an instance when fire broke out and the retail company had to handle the situation by developing a good communication plan, to balance and fill in the lacunae. The crisis situation we can take up, is that of a new product launch and its consequent withdrawal. A company invests a large amount of planning, efforts, finance and publicity in the launching of a new product. However, when it is required to be taken off the shelves, it is indeed a crisis situation for the company, since it entails the handling of the stakeholders' interests, besides the financial community and also, the general public who procure a bad image of the company. The situation in John Lewis is the same, and hence, a robust crisis communication plan needs to be chalked out. For this, one must first look at the aims and objectives of the plan: Firstly, the main objective is to reach out to the stake holders, to ensure them that their interests are not at stake and is in the process of betterment. Secondly, it involves reaching out to the masses and delivering the exact scenario, while dispelling myths or apprehensions and ensuring that the company will be back with a bang, with their support. Thirdly, it is to convey to the media, the exact problem, the manner in which it is being solved and how the company is concerned about returning back to the grind, in all positivity. For John Lewis, the policy statement for the addressing of the crisis would be, the revealing of the exact reason behind withdrawal of the product. The product here is a new kitchenware. The appliance is an electrical water heater that can also turn hard water into soft

That Was Then, This is Now” and “The Chocolate War” Essay Example for Free

That Was Then, This is Now† and â€Å"The Chocolate War† Essay â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now† by S.E. Hinton (1971)   and â€Å"The Chocolate War† (1974) by Robert Cormier are boundary-shattering young-adult novels, each of which penetrates to the heart of issues with which adolescent readers can readily identify. However, as groundbreaking as these novels were upon their initial publications, both of the novels conform to an established literary idiom, prevalent throughout young-adult literature for many centuries. Both â€Å"The Chocolate War† and â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now† present novels of initiation; more specifically, novels of male-initiation. Aspects of the male-initiation novel include specific conditional criteria that both define and structure the concept of manhood; among these criteria are issues of heterosexuality, embodiment, and collectivism. (Bereska, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The prominence of traditional male-initiation archetypes and notions of masculinity in the novels, together with the novels’ unconventional narrative styles, pace, and conventions helped generate two of the more popular, controversial, and memorable titles in the 1970s YA catalog. â€Å"Like classics or current adult fiction, some YAL includes a variety of situational archetypes such as the test/trial as a rite of passage, the journey or quest of the hero, birth/death/rebirth, and the search for self.† (Herz Gallo, 1996, p. 11)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In both novels, notions of manhood and sexual orientation play key roles in defining character and plot development, as well as thematic development. Bryon, the main character in ‘That Was Then, This is Now† prides himself as a ladies’ man and is compared to (or confused with) the Romantic Poet Lord Byron, who was an infamous womanizer, on different occasions during the story.   â€Å"While not explicitly stated, it is an implicit assumption that the boys world is a heterosexual world; there are no logical alternatives to heterosexuality.   In books from the 1940s to the late 1990s[] A normal male body is presumed to be both masculine in gender and heterosexual (Nelson (Bereska, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Along with heterosexuality as a harbinger of normalcy, the male world in YA initiation novels is â€Å"characterized by particular types and degrees of emotional expression, naturalized aggression, male hang-out groups, hierarchies within those groups [and] competition,† (Bereska, 2003). In both â€Å"The Chocolate War† and â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now† the world is portrayed as a male-dominated â€Å"war zone† where a survival of the fittest mentality reigns above issues of emotionality, sensitivity, or compassion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While drugs, street-fights, and casual sex present controversial and very stark terrors in the world of â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now,†in Cormier’s   male-dominated world, the male-hierarchy is not only prevalent, its strictures are living law: â€Å"football is easy compared to Jerrys other extracurricular activities at Trinity High: placating the Vigils, the schools secret society, and avoiding Brother Leon, the acting headmaster[] Archie Costello, de facto leader of the Vigils, orders Jerry to refuse to sell chocolate for ten days, as a way of exerting power† (Cheaney, 2001, p. 256).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The aspect of embodiment: that is, the physical manifestation of male characteristics (or defining manhood by male bodily capacities and functions) is a vital component of both novels, symbolized by, not only erotic scenes and passages, but by visceral acts of violence. Foremost among the explicit symbolism of male initiation as male-body-experience is the climactic brutality of â€Å"The Chocolate War†when raffle-tickets are drawn to direct blows against bodies. Raffle tickets are drawn to see when and where Jerry and Emile Janza (a thug) will strike one another with boxing blows. One of the members of the school gang The Vigils finally draws a raffle ticket that allows Janza to strike Jerry below the belt.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     In â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now,† Mark and Bryon vital, viral male bodies are contrasted with Bryon’s ailing mother, a victim of the poverty and desperation that hangs over her household. While Bryon’s healthy erotic-physical response to Cathy brings about a sense of patriarchal responsibility for MM, Mark, whose sexuality had never been as pronounced as Bryon’s deviates from a â€Å"pure† state of male-embodiment, becoming a drug-user and drug-pusher, selling drugs to help support Bryon’s mother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The corruption of the communal (but male dominated and protected space) in this case comes by way of drugs with threaten MM’s physical and mental maturity; during his LSD hallucinations, he seems to regress to a childlike, vulnerable state. It is at the point of Bryon’s decision to turn Mark in as a drug dealer despite their â€Å"brotherhood† that Bryon’s initiation is completed and the transformation of his masculinity from purely male-identified to communally-identified takes place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both â€Å"The Chocolate War† and â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now† end ambiguously— if not tragically. Although Bryon makes a successful transition from self-motivated and socially alienated to selflessness and social responsibility, his initiation into manhood exacts a heavy toll and violates the previously established intimacy between the stories two main characters. Keeping in mind the aforementioned â€Å"classical† motifs of male-initiation, Bryon’s â€Å"sacrifice† of his male-to-male friendship with Mark in favor of his traditional familial relationships with Cathy and MM fulfill the classical notion of heterosexual manhood as established via physical embodiment, and collectivism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The Chocolate War† ends with pyrrhic victory, in that Jerry dares to â€Å"disturb the universe† by challenging the male-on-male hierarchy generated by The Vigils, but at the novel’s close Jerry is beaten and physically injured; with a broken jaw, he tells his friend, The Goober,  not to disturb the universe—that it’s not worth it. The book ends as Archie displays no remorse for the past, and Jerry no hope for the future. Cormier’s themes for â€Å"The Chocolate War† were rooted in â€Å"the individuals response to evil, a concern deeply rooted in Cormiers Roman Catholic conscience[]I was made aware of evil, and Im aware of it now. I mean, we constantly try to be good, and most of us are because of the lack of opportunities to do evil. Opportunities for evil abound at Trinity High because most of the boys dont recognize it for what it is.†(Cheaney, 2001, p. 256) Though Hinton’s themes seem less explicitly grounded in traditional religious morality, her work, like Cormier’s, deals with issues of profound sociological consequence, along with themes of dynamic individuation and social integration. Perhaps â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now† can be rightfully regarded as offering a somewhat less tragic arc than â€Å"The Chocolate War,† the impact of both of the novels on the YA genre was (and remains) explosive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Classical literature often fails to exert the kind of hypnotically personal impact on young-adult readers that commercially published YAL sometimes offers. â€Å"Literature can be a way for teens to release these tensions.† This point remains highly valid as the enduring appeal and success of â€Å"The Chocolate War† and â€Å"That Was Then, This is Now’ demonstrates. â€Å"Students can read a book, for example, about a teenager reaching puberty and can talk about what the character is feeling in the third person, not the first. They can say she felt instead of I felt.[]Why do they want to read it? Perhaps because it helps them feel as if they are not alone.† (Alsup, 2003)   Each of these novels melded traditional elements of the male-initiation story while simultaneously breaking through previously held notions regarding the thematic scope and sociological relevance of YA novels. References Bereska, T. M. (2003). The Changing Boys World in the 20th Century: Reality and Fiction.    The Journal of Mens Studies, 11(2), 157+. Herz, S. K., Gallo, D. R. (1996). From Hinton to Hamlet: Building Bridges between Young Adult Literature and the Classics. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Alsup, J. (2003). Politicizing Young Adult Literature: Reading Andersons Speak as a Critical Text Critical Texts Confront Difficult Topics. Students Need to Read, Write, and Talk about These Relevant Issues. Journal of Adolescent Adult Literacy, 47(2), 158+. Cheaney, J. (2001, December). Teen Wars : The Young Adult Fiction of Robert Cormier. World and I, 16, 256.

Pestle Analysis Of The Car Industry

Pestle Analysis Of The Car Industry This report is a PESTLE analysis of the Car Industry. We have looked at Political, Environmental, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental issues that affect the car industry based on innovations that have and are taking place. It is political factors which are creating market pulls on innovation in the automobile industry and having the greatest affect on the innovations which are produced. This is because the governments of many countries are concerned about global warming and lowering their emissions. And one way to lower its affects is for the automobile industry to create innovations which have less of an impact on the environment. The main ways through which governments are intervening are, Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, FreedomCAR, emission standards and the Kyoto Protocol. Â  The number of accidents and alcohol related accidents, which are social factors, are starting to increase. This has caused the automotive to innovate to help reverse this increase and lower the number of accidents on the road. 2. INTRODUCTION The aim of this report is to have an insight of the automobile industry, how it has been affected by innovation and what actions the car companies have taken in terms of innovation. We will analyse the external factors of the industry through a PESTLE analysis. The word PESTLE is an abbreviation of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental. A PESTLE analysis is an audit of an organisations environmental influences (CIPD, 2009) that are having an effect on the organisation/industry. The analysis can lead to seeing possible opportunities that lie within the industry and where the major influences on the industry come from. An innovation is the generation of a new idea and its implementation into a product, process or service (Urabe et al, 1986, p.3). An innovation can fall under one of the following categories: Product Changes in the things (products/services) which an organisation offers. Process Changes in the ways they are created and delivered. Position Changes in the context the product/services are introduced Paradigm Changes in the underlying mental models which frame what the organisation does. (Tidd, Bessant and Pavitt, 2005, p.10) We will refer to this classification of different types of innovations throughout this report. The Henderson and Clark model of innovation will also be used, and according to it there are 4 types of innovation: Incremental innovation is the enhancement of existing products or services. (Gaynor, 2002, p. 25) Modular innovation is when new knowledge is required on a product as one part of a product is significantly improved but the overall the architecture of the product remains the same. (Innovation Zen, 2006) Architectural innovation reconfigures a system of components that constitute a product, process or service (Gaynor, 2002, p.26). Radical innovation is the introduction of new products or services that develop into major new businesses or spawn new industries, or that cause significant change in a whole industry (Gaynor, 2002, p.27). 3. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A NEW GENERATION OF VEHICLES The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) was a program that started in 1993 by U.S president Bill Clinton and vice president Al Gore (PNGV, 2009). The partnership was between many government agencies including the United States Council for Automotive Research. (USCAR) This consisted of the big three American automotive manufacturers (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler), over 300 suppliers of automotive parts, small businesses, Universities and federal Labs (see appendix 1) (Turner et al, 2000). In this partnership the U.S government would match the amount of capital the big 3 manufacturers invested into the research of technologies that would help achieve the partnerships objectives and the big 3 manufacturers, small businesses, universities and laboratories would carry out the research (Jewett, 1997). When this program first started, it had 3 objectives: To increase the competitiveness of the U.S automotive industry. Create a mid -sized vehicle that has the fuel efficiency of 80 miles to the gallon whilst keeping the performance and cost similar to those of vehicles that were available in 1993. This vehicle would need to apply to the emissions standards of 2004. Employ the innovations that were created in the program to conventional vehicles once the innovations became commercially viable. (Fosgard, 1995) The government created this partnership for two main reasons: The first is that they wanted to lower Americas need on foreign oil (an economic factor) through the fact that more efficient vehicles would use less oil and this would increase Americas national security (a social factor) (PNGV, 2009) because the country would be less reliant on other nations for fuel. Secondly, the U.S government wanted to lower the amount of harmful greenhouse emissions that the United States emitted as a whole and lowering the level of emissions that the cars in the U.S was one way to fulfil this reason (PNGV, 2009). This was an environmental factor causing the creation of PNGV. There was a requirement of the vehicles that were to be created in 2004, which was that they should be able to travel a certain distance on a full tank of fuel. Also there were short deadlines within the program an example was that by 1997 production prototypes of the vehicles that were most likely to meet the objectives were to be created. These two factors meant that architectural innovations over the regular internal combustion engine like a fuel cell or pure electric vehicle couldnt be pursued because they could not meet the range requirement and required much longer to research than the deadline allowed (Sperling, 1996). These are architectural innovations as they reconfigure the power source of the vehicle and no longer use an internal combustion engine. Such innovations would have been better at meeting objectives as they required little or no oil and emitted far less greenhouse gases. The only option available to the automobile manufacturers was a hybrid electric vehicle. A product and modular innovation over internal combustion engines as they use a regular internal combustion engine in partnership with one or more electric motors (Toyota, 2009). The hybrid electric vehicle was originally created in 1899 by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche (Truett, 2006), which makes the hybrid the big three manufacturers created was an incremental innovation on Porsches hybrid vehicle as their version was an enhancement of an existing technology. In the end no vehicles were produced which could meet all the requirements (Washington Times, 2009) so it could be seen as a failure. However many incremental innovations were created because of this partnership. Examples are, all of todays hybrid vehicles use some battery technology that was created in PNGV (Business Week, 2006), and DaimlerChrysler made large strides in technology which makes vehicles lighter, up to 46% lighter than conventional vehicles which they use in their latest models (Vasilash, 2000). Overall PNGV was a political factor affecting innovation because it was initiated by the government. This caused market pull on innovation in the automotive sector as the innovation was being carried out to meet a specific need. A marketing pull is when a stimulus of innovation comes from the needs of the society or from a particular sector of the market (Open University, ND).This political factor was caused by environmental, social and economical elements. Even though the government wanted to free themselves from the need on foreign oil the conflicting objectives of the partnership did not allow pursuit of architectural innovations which would have allowed this but many useful incremental innovations did come out of the partnership. 4. FREEDOM CAR PROGRAM Due to the failure of PNGV the U.S government created the FreedomCAR program (FreedomCAR, 2002). This program is a partnership between the U.S government, USCAR and five major energy companies (Green Car Congress, 2008). The program is based on the following principles: Freedom from dependence on imported oil. Freedom from pollutant emissions Freedom for Americans to choose the kind of vehicle they want to drive, to drive where they want and when they want. Freedom to obtain fuel affordably and conveniently. (U.S Department of Energy, 2009) The program is based on similar economic, social and environmental issues as PNGV however the latter 2 principles are further social factors that caused the creation of FreedomCAR. The long term focus of the program is to see whether hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can become the norm in the U.S by 2015 (Green Car Congress, 2005), this is because as previously explained the vehicles are an architectural innovation that do not require oil and produces no harmful emissions. The short term focus is to make internal combustion vehicles and electric hybrid vehicles as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible (Green Car Congress, 2005). In terms of innovation in the automotive industry, the partnership is exploring research in a wide range of areas from creating lithium ion batteries for use in vehicles to making carbon fibre much cheaper to produce (Business Week, 2006). These are incremental innovations as they are improvement on existing technology and so it may seem that they are not pursuing the long term focus of the partnership but these incremental innovations are required to make the architectural innovation possible (Business week, 2006). Just like PNGV, FreedomCAR is a political element that is having an effect on innovation in the automotive industry as it was created by the government because of several economic, social and environmental issues. The difference between the two programs is that FreedomCAR lacks restrictive deadlines and its main focus is architectural innovation which will hopefully meet the principles set. 5. CAR EMMISSIONS Car emissions have become an increasingly important issue for car owners and reducing individuals carbon footprints. Buying smaller cars have been encouraged to car owners by the media and many politicians. (Quirk, 2008) The European Union is trying to reduce the CO2 emissions from cars and also improve their fuel efficiency which led to the creation of the ACEA agreement. The agreement is between the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), and the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). The table below shows how these targets can change into fuel efficiency standards for petrol and diesel cars according to the ACEA agreement. Relationships between CO2 targets and fuel consumption Year Target Petrol (Litres of fuel consumed per 100 km) Diesel (Litres of fuel consumed per 100 km) 2012 120 gCO2/km 5.1 4.6 2008 140 gCO2/km 5.9 5.4 A failure for the car industry to meet the 2008/9 targets could lead to mandatory regulation in the future (Rajagopalan Saini 2007). For example BMW has built the Mini Cooper Diesel which meets the targets set above as they are below the criteria, making it an efficient car of its time. 64mpg is the cars combined fuel consumption and 104g/km of carbon dioxide is emitted. The 5-series saloon is also achieving these quality emissions where the 2.0 litre diesel version emits just 136g/km about the same as a hatchback. (Quirk, 2008) The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trades chief executive said that average emissions have fallen every year during the last decade. Through technological innovation and consumer education, manufacturers have made genuine progress towards meeting tough environmental targets, (Young, 2009) Several manufacturers including Saab think the solution to reducing vehicle emissions is through the use of Flex-fuel cars or bio powered cars. These types of vehicles can run on emissions free E85 ethanol or petrol or a combination of the two (Quirk, 2008) Flexible fuel vehicles have been in production since the 1980s and have been made available to many customers who might not even know they have this type of engine in their car. (U.S Department of Energy, 2009). Flexible fuel vehicles do not experience any loss of performance when using E85 ethanol. However, since a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, flexible fuel vehicles typically get about 20-30% fewer miles per gallon when fuelled with E85. U.S Department of Energy (2009). Flexible fuel vehicles are an incremental innovation on regular internal combustion engine vehicles as most of the technology is the same. The only difference is that they can run on a different type of fuel. Flexible fuel vehicles produce no harmful emissions so they will help meet emissions targets but first consumers need to switch to using e85 ethanol and this will only happen if the price of e85 is not high as it has lower fuel efficiency than petrol. E85 ethanol is still some way off from being readily made available to the public because there is a lack in the number of refineries to create the fuel and pumping stations to provide it. (Quirk, 2008). Flexible fuel cars are in the fluid phase of the Abernathy and Utterback model (see Appendix 3 for full definition) as a core component (the e85 ethanol fuel) is not widely available. This lack of availability of the fuel is also slowing the innovation of flexible fuel vehicles as the fuel is not there to run flexible fuel vehicles so the vehicle manufacturers are not going to put their full effort into improving the technology. 6. CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY CAR INNOVATIONS There have been many road accidents and the main contributors to these are alcohol and careless driving. To discourage drink-driving there have been many campaigns to reduce the number of casualties from road accidents. (National Statistics, 2009). In recent years there has been an increase in accidents involving alcohol compared to a sharp fall in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. In 1986, 560 people were killed compared to 1000 people in 2000. (See Appendix 2 for full statistics) (National Statistics, 2009). Also according to Volvo, driver sleepiness is responsible for more road deaths than alcohol. In Germany, it is thought to account for a quarter of all fatal accidents and in the US about 1,500 deaths a year. (Automotive Engineer, 2006).This has therefore meant that car manufacturers have created innovations to help prevent these from happening again such as: Volvo has created the collision warning system to help prevent accidents from occurring. This system uses a wide angle sensor to scan around the car for any objects that may be near much like radar technology. A signal alerts the driver to react, if for example the car is approaching a pedestrian which will give the driver enough time to divert the vehicle away from the pedestrian (Quirk, 2008). To help lower alcohol related accidents Saab has created the Alco-Key. Saab has begun fitting this device as standard in their cars; it is a fully integrated system that requests the driver to blow into a wireless hand-held unit before driving the car. Their breath is then analysed and if the blood-alcohol limit is exceeded, a red LED will appear and the engine will not start (Quirk, 2008). Volvo has introduced the Sleep Detection system which includes Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Driver Alert Control (DAC). LDW uses cameras located between the windscreen and the rear view mirror and monitors the cars position between the road markings. Only after a certain speed is reached does the system become active, if the car then wanders across any lane markings without using an indicator, the driver is audibly alerted (Quirk, 2008). These creations are product innovations as they are new innovations that car manufacturers have created and offer with their vehicles. The fact they have been produced as a response to help prevent alcohol related accidents, which is a social factor, makes them a response to a market pull. The fact that the Alco-key is the first system that prevents drinking driving could lead to Saab gaining the first mover advantage, if such technology was to become mandatory. This advantage would be kept through the fact Saab has a patent on the technology (Free Patents Online, 2009) and a patent prevents other companies from using the technology without Saabs permission. 7. THE KYOTO PROTOCOL The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement originally created in 1997 but in 2005 it was made legally binding, and is linked to the United Nations Framework of Climate Control. The agreement set targets for industrialised countries to cut their emission of harmful greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, plus several others) which are partially the cause of the increase of global warming. The countries that signed the Kyoto Protocol agreed to set their own targets e.g. Japan agreed to meet a 5% cut in emissions by 2008-2012 and most EU countries agreed to an 8% cut (BBC, 2005). Carbon dioxide is created by internal combustion engine vehicles and given off from their exhaust; therefore its a cause of global warming. To meet the targets agreed, governments and automobile manufacturers need to work together. In 2007, the Japanese government agreed to spend 200 billion yen on the improvement of hybrid vehicles to lower their emissions (Reuters, 2007) as HEVs emit less harmful gases than a petrol engine (What Green Car, 2009). Also in Japan, Toyota has achieved its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, from 2.12 million to 1.78 million tons. It did this through decreasing their energy usage by 40% and replacing multiple production lines with single lines capable of producing different vehicles (I. Rowley, 2005). The change in their use of production lines which increased efficiency is a process innovation as it is a change in the way the vehicles were created. Both of the above examples are market pulls on innovation for the fact the change is a response to a market/government requirement. The Kyoto Protocol is a political factor based on an environmental factor (global warming), having an effect on innovation as the governments in many countries are trying to adhere to it and to adhere to it requires the government to intervene change the vehicles that the automobile industry produces and the way they are produced. 8. CONCLUSION It is clear that out of the PESTLE factors, the main one which is having the greatest effect on innovation in the automobile industry is political. Many governments are concerned about global warming and it is the automotive industry which is adding to worsening of the effects of global warming through the emissions of their vehicles and their manufacturing plants. This has led to governments to intervene in the automotive industry to make vehicle manufacturers improve their own vehicles and facilities, through innovations which have mostly been incremental. However FreedomCAR looks promising for the environment as it is hoping to create an architectural innovation, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that have little impact on the environment, and help meet the governments reason for creating these market pulls on innovation. It also lacks the restrictive deadlines and conflicting objectives that PNGV had which will help increase the programs chance of success. So it may be political fa ctors that are having a direct affect on innovation but these political influences are mainly based environmental factors. Social aspects are also having an affect on innovation through the improvement of safety of the vehicles that are produced. The increase in the number of accidents and alcohol related accidents has led to a market pull on innovation for vehicle manufacturers, as they have created these improvements in safety due to this increase. As it is the political factors that are directly influencing the innovations that manufacturers create, means they are not doing it in response to the environmental factors themselves. This means the automotive industry are not wanting to help lower their affect on the environment even though it is them adding to global warming. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS This report shows that the vehicle manufacturers have only begun being environmentally concerned because of political factors their having on the industry. We would recommend that the manufacturers start thinking in a more environmentally friendly manner e.g. by investing in new machinery and production facilities similar to those of Toyota which emit lower carbon emissions. Another recommendation is the manufacturers start to create more flexible fuel vehicles and promote their availability which will increase the likeliness that consumers will switch to them. But also for consumers to switch will require that more refineries which can produce the e85 ethanol needed for the vehicles to be created. Also the price of the fuel will need to regulate as to prevent it from being too high as consumers may decide not to use e85 for the fact it has a lower fuel efficiency than petrol. 10. APPENDIX Appendix 1 Diagram showing the structure of PNGV. APPENDIX 2 Casualties from road accidents involving illegal alcohol levels, 1986-2000 United Kingdom Thousands Source: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; Royal Ulster Constabulary Casualties from road accidents involving illegal alcohol levels, 1986-2000 ThousandsSeriousSlightAllFatalinjuriesinjuriescasualties 1986United Kingdom 1.03 6.57 19.60 27.20 1987 0.93 6.01 17.99 24.93 1988 0.81 5.18 17.25 23.24 1989 0.84 4.92 17.05 22.81 1990 0.80 4.23 16.01 21.04 1991 0.69 3.72 14.00 18.41 1992 0.69 3.40 13.28 17.37 1993 0.57 2.82 12.25 15.63 1994 0.54 2.95 12.26 15.75 1995 0.56 3.10 12.89 16.56 1996 0.60 3.13 13.93 17.67 1997 0.57 3.07 13.90 17.55 1998 0.49 2.68 13.25 16.42 1999 0.48 2.60 14.64 17.72 2000 0.56 2.71 15.75 19.02 Source: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; Royal Ulster Constabulary National Statistics (2009) Appendix 3 The Abernathy and Utterback model says that technology can be in 3 different phases, fluid, transitional or specific. Fluid Many uncertainties with the technology and in the market prevail. Large amounts of experimentation going on with the technology and core components are not fully available/developed. Very few competitors. Transitional Firms are learning more about the technology and a dominant design has been accepted by many of the competing firms. Specific Companies are creating incremental innovation on the dominant design and are targeting specific market segments (Innovation Zen, 2006)

The relationship between board diversity and firm performance

The relationship between board diversity and firm performance The Research Questions In the course of their research on the Demographic Diversity in the Boardroom, Miller and Triana sought to answers the questions bothering on the relationship between board diversity and firm performance using mediating variables reputation and innovation and how board diversity impact firm performance using mediating variables of innovation and reputation. Theoretical Framework Underpinning the Study There are two theories underpinning the study and these are: the Behavioural Theory and the Signaling Theory (Miller and Triana 2009). The behavioural theory as proposed by Cyert and March (cited in Miller and Triana, 2009) suggests that there is a direct correlation between the availability and use of information in a decision-making process and innovation in a groups decision. In other words, the more the information available, the better the decision making process will be which leads to creativity. Arthurs, Busenitz, Hoskisson and Johnson (2008) view signaling as a way of bringing to notice the innate worth or value of a firm and that any signal must be noticeable and hard to emulate or replicate. The Signaling Theory posits that firms use visible signals to gain reputation and status among the public (Miller and Triana 2009: 756). Methodology In testing their hypotheses, Miller and Triana presented three sets of variables: independent variables, dependent variables and control variables. The independent variables which were board diversity, innovation and firm reputation were investigated using Blaus index (1977) of heterogeneity, Research and development expenses as proxies and 2004 Fortune Corporate Reputation Survey accordingly. The dependent variable; Firm Performance was measured using and Return on investment and Return on sales and finally, Control variables which as key components were vital to the research and they were firm age, liquidity, size, product and international diversification. The research explored the empirical link between these variables and four hundred and thirty two Fortune 500 firms which were selected in investigating innovation as mediating factor between board diversity and firm performance and also three hundred and twenty six Fortune 1000 firms which were selected to investigate reputation as mediating factor between board diversity and firm performance. The result from the test of the various hypotheses was then analysed using the Least Squares (OLS) Regression (pg 768). The methods of research were disputable and therefore open to further research due to two noticeable reasons. First, the inconsistency and ambiguity in the selected year of assessment. The research explored the empirical linkage of board diversity, reputation, innovation, and performance (pg 765) but did not specify a year or period of assessment for which they gathered their data. Example, sample of firms selected were for year 2003, measurement of board diversity was for year 2002, measurement of innovation using research and development expenses were for year 2003, measurement of reputation were for 2003 and finally firm performance is measured in 2005, lagged two years to allow time for mediating effects of reputation and innovation to occur (pg 767). The effect of this inconsistency is that it would be difficult to know the accuracy of result arrived at. Rather it would have been a lot of easier if the various data gathered were being assessed for a period of time e.g. data betw een years 2002 and 2005 to ensure uniformity in the assessment. Secondly the sample of Fortune 500 firms chosen were because these firms represent leaders in their industryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.had external reports listing the race of board members as a way of validating data (pg 765) but no mention was made on a report of gender of board members. Result The answer to question bothering on the relationship between board diversity and firm performance using mediating variables reputation and innovation was striking as the authors were of the opinion that increasing diversity on the board leads to more varied ideas, perspectives and networks (Miller and Triana 2009:764). In other words, in a multitude of opinions as a result of diversity, cogent and innovative ideas usually emanate. This view is supported by Hillman, Cannella and Harris (2001) where they reasoned that each director is unique and different and when all their skills and proficiencies are put together, various ideas spring forth which could enhance firms performance. However, Adams and Ferreira (2008:305) argue that the more dissimilar directors are, the more they could disagree and the more conflict there could be on the board which could eventually impede firms performance. The result for the question on how board diversity impact firm performance using mediating variables: innovation and reputation proved arguable as the authors posits having a gender and racially diverse board signals that the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of a diverse market (Miller and Triana 2009: 762) but from the test of their hypotheses, it was discovered that there was no correlation between gender diversity and reputation (pg 775). This could have been as a result of the method of research which could have led to a biased opinion. Dalton and Dalton (2010) observed that there has been a lot of criticism and reservation due to the presence and achievement of women on Fortune 500 boards. This shows that generally the opinion that women can hold positions of top management is still not been accepted by multitudes. However, Krishnan and Park (2004) argued that the presence of women as leaders is usually appreciated in an environment that calls for a lot public relations and that they are able to break grounds in an otherwise impossible situation due the emotional side of their personality which results in them working with a lot of passion. Conclusion The research was interesting as it provided the first empirical analysis of the correlation between boardroom diversity and firm performance using innovation and reputation as mediators. However, the research involved the use of secondary data i.e. data collected by someone else and most likely be subject to sample limitations (Anonymous 2008). This could infer that data collected were collated originally for a different purpose and therefore be biased. Also the research highlights that diversity using mediating factors innovation and reputation has benefits as Cox and Blake (1991:45) reasoned that a well managed, diverse workforce (board) holds potential competitive advantages for organizations but for it to be fruitful and effective, it comes with a price and firms have to be able to look at their structures and be guided in their cultural needs; either gender or racial and be able to discern between what is needful or unnecessary as Slater, Weigand and Zwirlein (2008) argued that achieving productive diversity is not easy and that diversity if not managed properly usually leads to a high level of turnover. Therefore, based on all the information gathered and analysis carried out, would it be ideal to say that board diversity positively impacts firm performance?

The Truth About Partial-Birth Abortion :: Persuasive Essay, Argumentative

The Truth About Partial-Birth Abortion Three Works cited On June 28, 2000, Justice Clarence Thomas of the US Supreme Court explained a partial-birth abortion in his dissent re the court's ruling which overturned Nebraska's ban on such abortions: "After dilating the cervix, the physician will grab the fetus by its feet and pull the fetal body out of the uterus into the vaginal cavity. At this stage of development, the head is the largest part of the body. [. . .] the head will be held inside the uterus by the woman's cervix. While the fetus is stuck in this position, dangling partly out of the woman's body, and just a few inches from a completed birth, the physician uses an instrument such as a pair of scissors to tear or perforate the skull. The physician will then either crush the skull or will use a vacuum to remove the brain and other intracranial contents from the fetal skull, collapse the fetus' head, and pull the fetus from the uterus." (Thomas) Justic Thomas' statement describes the surrealistic administration of partial-birth abortion, or the near-complete delivery and then puncture-killing of the baby. Most people's consciences do not disturb them re this procedure because they do not fully understand that the killing occurs when the baby has been almost entirely delivered. A fully viable baby is killed! Regarding this approach to abortion, a common misunderstanding is reflected by a corrective letter to the Editor of the Wall Street Journal on May 14, 2001, which attempted to right certain wrong statements from a Journal article about partial-birth abortion: The Journal has informed its readers that partial-birth abortion is a "rare" procedure, "typically performed when the life of the mother is at risk, or the fetus is determined to have severe abnormalities" ("Drive to Ban Abortion Procedure Slows," April 27.) But those claims, fabricated by pro-abortion advocacy groups in 1995, had been thoroughly discredited by early 1997. The Journal said that "critics . . . contend the procedure sometimes is used in less dire circumstances." Actually, it was abortionists and their paid spokespersons who admitted that partial-birth abortion is routinely used for purely elective abortions, usually in the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy. For example, Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, told The New York Times that "in the vast majority of cases, the procedure is performed on a healthy mother with a healthy fetus" (Feb.

Fire as technology and influence on society :: essays research papers fc

Fire and Me: A Growing Experience Throughout human history, people have made discoveries and innovations which made their lives easier and more efficient. Many of these creations have advanced our culture, while others have paved the way for future advancements and inspired new ways of thought. One example of this is the discovery of fire, which revolutionized the way humans act and think. Fire has a unique connection to humans, evolving alongside humanity, each growing in ways that wouldn't have been possible without the other. We can only speculate as to how humans began to control fire, yet it can safely be assumed that humans are not the only species able to work with fire. Chimpanzees have been taught to light cigarettes, and orangutans have been observed maneuvering sticks, which they caught on fire, for a short time before the fire burned out (Goudsblom 25). The interesting thing; however, is that fire is universally used by humans (Goudsblom 20). Human cultures which have never had interactions with other human societies have developed control over fire. By control of fire, it is meant that a culture is able to consistently manipulate fire, keeping a fire burning for extended periods of time. This shows humans who have been isolated from all other cultures have learned to control fire themselves, rather than this control of fire being taught to them from an outside source, such as a separate culture which has already harnessed fire. This would imply a natural connection between humans and fire as all humans can control fire, and no other species other than humans have been successful in consistently using fire. Why did primitive man harness fire? At first glance, fire appears to have few natural advantages, and yet has many potentially harmful effects. Fire is destructive, devastating anything which comes across its path. This devastation is irreversible as once something is burned it cannot be returned to its unburned state (Goudsblom Intro). These characteristics are far from attractive, and yet humans, rather than fearing fire, came to adopt it. The adoption of fire could be attributed to several factors which occur during a natural fire. First, game can easily be seen fleeing a fire since the underbrush has been burned away, and some animals can be found killed and cooked by the fire. After a fire has died, warmth can still be found in the embers of the blaze (Goudsblom 14).

My Counseling Theory Paper Essay

Running head:Finding Meaning Finding Meaning in Life Sandy Patty Made Up University Abstract What is to be said about life and circumstances? There are many different theories and perspectives about it, but my concern is when someone feels they have to be subject to their circumstance. Further in this paper I will discuss my personal counseling theory and how I believe that not one person has to be ruled by a certain circumstance and that they are not by any means validated by one person because they have the opportunity to discover meaning in their life for themselves and discover an array of opportunities in life. Finding Meaning in Life Introduction My story is not something new or one that has never been told before, but it is unique to me and bears significant value due to the way that it shaped and formed me into the person I am today and the reason for me pursuing a career in counseling. I come from a mixed, biracial, and very religious family. The women in my family all seem to have gone through significant and grave hardships and/or traumatic experiences. My grandmother was sold as a sex slave when she was 3 years old because her Mother was dirt poor and needed money to sustain her drug/alcohol addiction. At an early age my grandmother was forced into prostitution as a way of life and a means to sustain herself. She then later met my grandfather who was a minister in a local religious church and they married. My mother was born into a very religious environment, strict dress codes, no jewelry, makeup, pants, they were forcefully instructed that they were the lesser of men, and they were to always obey their husband regardless of the issue or circumstance. During my Mother’s adolescent years she was a victim of child molest and the perpetrator was an important figure in the church. When my Mother attempted to tell my grandmother what had happened, she was severely physically punished and accused of lying. Since then, she never once told a soul as it continued to occur. She had become a pin-cushion for a â€Å"religious leader† within the church. Later on in life, my Mother met my father who was a young youth pastor in town and they married. My father was also a very religious man and held strongly to his beliefs. My parents struggled financially and experienced many hardships due to church and family. I believe my parents were somewhat forced in marriage at such an early age due to their religious setting and they were not prepared at all for what faced them ahead. My mother had children by age 19 and her life changed dramatically. My one and only older sibling was born and he became the closest thing to a mentor that I had. I too, grew up in a very religious and strict home environment. We were taught that there was only one way to live and it was according to the Bible and the rules taught in Church, anything else was unacceptable and reprimanded. My father was always a very hard worker and was hardly home due to working so many jobs in order to provide for the family. When he was home, I remember him and my mother arguing constantly due to issues with his family interfering with their marriage and finances. From an early age, I remember my mother crying and coming to me to talk about what was bothering her or issues with my father. I would just listen and offer advice as best as an 8 yr. old could and I remember thinking to myself, â€Å"Is this normal, am I supposed to be doing this?It felt strange and hard to not be biased in a situation involving my family, but I learned at a very young age things a child should not know or experience. I definitely had to grow up quick and learned to figure things out on my own. My older brother pretty much raised me and was the only person I could confide in or talk to. My family was not very affectionate, but rather very cold and distant and always brought everything back to a religious setting. I have always been told I was very mature for my age and I attribute this to my childhood or lack thereof and being forced to play an adult role due to circumstance. I do not write this story for pity, but rather because I believe it played a significant role in me pursuing counseling as a career path. It feels so natural for me when I’m talking to people because it was something I can always remember doing. From such an early age, I have always been engaged with older people and hearing about issues from failed relationships to traumatic/crisis situations. I strongly believe that this is one of the reasons I am not a very judgmental person because I feel I have experienced so much that I know what it is like to go through many different situations and not so pleasant circumstances. Core Theoretical Principles My counseling theory is that even though human beings have the need for approval or longing of someone else to bring substantial meaning in their life, they are not by any means validated by any one person or situation because you focus on the present and future and make the most of your circumstance. I experienced that in my childhood every time I saw my mother and father arguing and later I would hear from her what exactly happened between them. I remember thinking to myself that why would someone stay in an abusive situation or at least not stand up for themselves. I concluded that she needed to be validated by the relationship and for her to leave the relationship or stand up for herself would mean to defy her husband, church, and God. The Existential theory really brought insight into my life because it helped me understand what I always knew and from what I had experienced at an early age. In essence Existentialism states that we are not victims of circumstance because, to a large extent, we are what we choose to be (Corey, 2009, pg. 133). It is about recognizing certain tragedies experienced in life, but also embracing and understanding the positive opportunities that lie ahead, and to also comprehend the fact that we are human and what it means to be just that. It is a difficult concept to grasp at first because society teaches us that it is about building relationships and finding someone to validate who you are as a person, but existentialism is about understanding and facing the fact that we are essentially alone and facing that anxiety. It is in this theory that we tend to discover just who we are as a person and are able to discover more about ourselves and make sense of our existence. According to Carl Rogers, his experience taught him that if one is able to get to the core of an individual, one finds a trustworthy, positive center. He believed that people are trustworthy, resourceful, capable of self-understanding and self-direction, able to make constructive changes, and able to live effective and productive lives. In this theory, I believe that despite circumstance, a person is able to â€Å"bounce back† and still be able to live a healthy and high functioning life. I would incorporate what Car Rogers expressed as the three main attributes needed to foster change, Congruence, Unconditional Positive Regard, and Accurate Empathic Understanding. For me, it has always been very important for me to deal with someone on a personal level, never forgetting that we are all humans and not above anyone else. I honestly believe that when you treat someone with respect regardless of age, gender, race, etc. then trust and respect is created and that is the number one element in any counseling relationship. Gestalt is another form of holistic psychology theory and one that I would strongly employ because I am a firm believer in perception and the meaning-making process. Gestalt therapy suggests that the objective is to enable the client to become more fully and creatively alive and to become free from the blocks and unfinished business that may diminish satisfaction, fulfillment, and growth, and to experiment with new ways of being (Corey, 2009, pg. 204). It looks at the bigger picture as a whole not just one part of the whole because I believe in order to truly understand someone you need to perhaps dissect pieces, but only in order to understand the whole. Anticipated Settings I currently am employed at a Child & Family Advocacy Center that helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse. I have always been interested in the helping profession and because of my childhood and the many different experiences and circumstances I encountered, I have always known I wanted to work in this specific area in order to attempt to make a change and help people who fall victims of such a terrible circumstance. As a future counselor I would like to remain relatively in the same field of helping victims of a crime, which include sexual assault, child molest, and domestic violence. I have seen and experienced all of this personally whether with family or friends and I have a passion and urge to help make a difference. I believe that life is definitely not fair, people are played the cards they are dealt, but also that a person is not validated by their past circumstances or anyone and it is up to them to find meaning in their life and discover who they are and want to become. Techniques I believe that it is necessary to provide adequate education and training to all the community because there are many people who unaware of the laws that can protect them from crimes and they are also unaware of the many various options they have to change their situation. I would employ an ongoing community education program offering free training to local offices, schools, day cares, etc. , just to spread the word of the different community resources available to help the people. In working closely with and advocacy center, I would incorporate a domestic violence group that is not biased and one that actually helpful to people and does not enable them. Unfortunately, services in this area are limited to the same service providers and people are left with limited options. Too many times, clients have approached me with disappointment in therapist they have encountered and they are turned off by the idea of counseling because of several negative experiences. I am very passionate about this type of work specifically because of my past and I would like to genuinely be able to help people in these types of situations and therefore, would in the future, like to offer counseling services specifically to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or child abuse. I would not be biased, and because of my past I understand what it is like to live in that type of situation and I also understand leaving is not always the easiest decision a person can make because there are many factors to consider. People in these types of situations are very unique in the fact that they have learned to survive on their own and know what they need to do or to say the right thing in order to survive. This is not a situation where one counseling theory covers all clients, so I would tailor each to the specific person because I understand their situation is unique and requires a technique to match. Also, I believe that it is vital to establish a healthy relationship with the client in order for them to trust you and open up to you. I would incorporate many of the Rogerian techniques regarding the genuine relationship with the client, trusting environment. Victims of any of these types of crime have been through some of the most horrendous situations and they have learned to adapt to the perpetrators needs and threats. If a counselor walks into a session with an â€Å"all knowing† authoritative attitude it will discourage the victim from speaking the truth and the counselor will have lost, which may have been the only opportunity, to help the victim possible change their circumstance. I would enter into the counselor/client relationship giving respect and trust on my part and genuinely attempting to get to know the client and their unique situation. I would also involve the client every step of the way because it is this same client that returns to their situation at home and not me so I would always need to have their best interest and safety in mind. The clients would not just be another file on my desk, but rather a person who’s life can be altered by perhaps just one meeting in counseling so what better change to reach out and try and help someone. It is with this that I would definitely incorporate many of the existential techniques in helping clients find meaning in their life by exploring their different life situations. Limitations A very common limitation that I experience already in the line of work I do now is the fact that even though I am passionate about this field, the actuality of it is that I cannot change a person, they have to decide for themselves when that change is appropriate. Many times I have seen counselors burnout in this field because they feel they are not making any significant change due to many victims returning to the same abusive relationship or circumstance. So in theory, all of these techniques and theories are wonderful, but in reality they are dependent on the client. Summary Life is simple, it’s just not easy. People have to play the cards they are dealt. Life is not fair by any means and we could use this as an excuse to wallow in pity or use it to motivate us to overcome and conquer our situation. We are not validated by any one circumstance or person, we can choose to discover for ourselves who we are and who we wish to become. My personal counseling theory is just that, very personal because it was unknowingly developed over time due mostly through what I have experienced in life.

Night World : The Chosen Chapter 10

Or not to meet them so much as graze past them, before concentrating on his chin. She didn't dare stare directly into them for long. â€Å"Maybe she is from another planet,† Quinn was saying to the girl. â€Å"Maybe she's not human. Maybe I'm not, either.† That's right, Rashel thought. Make fun of them by telling them a truth they won't believe. But, she noticed, Quinn looked more as if he didn't care what they found out than as if he were mocking them. â€Å"Maybe she's from another world. Did you ever think of that?† Rashel was confused again. Quinn seemed to be trying to get himself killed. He appeared to be verging on telling these girls about the Night World, and under the laws of the Night World, that was punishable by death. You're really slipping, Rashel thought. First the slave trade, now this. I thought you were supposed to be such a stickler for the law. â€Å"There are darker dimensions,† Quinn was confiding to the group, â€Å"than you have ever imagined. But, you see, it's all part of life's grand design, so it's all right. Did you know†-he put his arm around a girl's shoulders, gesturing outward as if inviting her to look at some horizon-â€Å"that there's a certain kind of wasp that lays its eggs in the body of a caterpillar? A live caterpillar. And it stays alive, you see, while the eggs hatch and the little waspettes eat it from the inside out. Now, who do you think invented that?† Rashel wondered if vampires could get drunk. â€Å"That would probably be the most horrible way to die,† Daphne chimed in, her musical voice ghoulish. â€Å"Being eaten by insects. Or maybe being burned.† â€Å"It would probably depend on how fast you burned,† Quinn said meditatively. â€Å"A flash of fire-high enough temperature-you bum the nerves out in the first few seconds. Slow baking would be different.† â€Å"I'm writing a poem about fire,† Rashel said. She was surprised to find that she was annoyed because Quinn didn't really seem to have noticed her. On second thought, she should be annoyed; her plan depended on him not only noticing but choosing her. She was going to have to capture his attention. â€Å"Do you have it with you?† Daphne was asking helpfully. â€Å"No, but I can tell you the beginning,† Rashel said. She braced herself to look at Quinn as she recited: â€Å"There's warmth in ice; there's cooling peace in fire, And midnight light to show us all the way. The dancing flame becomes a funeral pyre; The Dark was more enticing than the Day.† Quinn blinked. Then he smiled, and he looked Rashel over, dearly taking notice of the velvet jumpsuit and ending with her face. He looked everywhere†¦ except into her eyes. â€Å"That's right; you've got it,† he said with that same brittle exhilaration. â€Å"And there's plenty of dark out there for everyone.† Rashel's worry that he might look too deep if he met her gaze was groundless. Quinn didn't seem to be really seeing anybody here. â€Å"There is plenty of darkness,† Rashel said. She moved toward him, feeling strangely brave. Her instincts sensed a weakness in him, a flaw. â€Å"It's everywhere. It's inescapable. So the only thing we can do is embrace it.† She was standing right in front of him now, looking at his mouth. â€Å"If we hold it dose, it won't hurt so much.† â€Å"Well. Exactly.† Quinn showed his teeth, but it wasn't the manic smile. It was a grimace. He didn't look happy anymore; suddenly, for just an instant, he looked tired and sick. He was almost leaning away from Rashel. â€Å"I came here so I could do that,† Rashel said in a sultry voice. She was scaring herself a little. In the name of the charade, she was doing everything she could to seduce him-but it was surprisingly easy and surprisingly enjoyable. There was a sort of tingling all over her body, as if the jumpsuit had picked up a charge. â€Å"I came to look for the darkness,† she said. Softly. Quinn laughed abruptly. The feverish good humor came flooding back. â€Å"And you found it,† he said. He went on laughing and laughing, and he reached out to touch Rashel's cheek. Don't let him touch you! The thought flashed through Rashel's mind and communicated to her muscles in an instant. Without knowing how she knew, she was certain that if he touched her, it would all be over. It was skin-to-skin contact that had nearly fried every circuit in her brain before. She danced back from his fingertips and smiled teasingly, while her heart tried to pound its way out of her chest. â€Å"This place is so crowded,† she said throatily. â€Å"Huh? Oh. Then why don't we schedule something more private? I could pick you up tomorrow night. Say seven o'clock in the parking lot.† Bingo. â€Å"But Quinn.† It was Daphne, looking aggrieved. â€Å"You told me to meet you tomorrow.† She trembled her chin. Quinn stared at her, and for once, Rashel could read his face easily. He was thinking that anybody that stupid deserved it. â€Å"Well, you can both come,† he said expansively. â€Å"Why not? The more the merrier.† He walked away laughing and laughing. Rashel watched him go, resisting an impulse to shake her head. She'd done it; she'd passed the last test and been chosen. So why was her heart still pounding? She glanced out of the side of her eye at Daphne. â€Å"Well, I don't know about anybody else, but I've had enough excitement for tonight.† She went to get her coat, with the rest of Quinn's coterie glaring jealously after her. She had one enjoyable experience on the way out. Ivan, still slouching, tried to stop her at the door. â€Å"Shelly, hey. I thought we were going to get to know each other better.† Rashel didn't need him anymore; she had her invitation. â€Å"I'd rather get to know a head louse,† she said in her sweet chatty voice, and she stepped on his foot hard with her high heel. In the car, she waited a full twenty minutes, watching the front of the club, before Daphne joined her. â€Å"Sorry, but I didn't want anybody to think we were leaving together.† â€Å"You did a great job,† Rashel said, driving away. â€Å"You even managed to get both of us invited to meet Quinn together-that was dangerous, but it worked. The only thing that surprised me is that he invited us in front of everybody. Is that how he did it before?† â€Å"No. Not at all. Last time, he sort of whispered it to me when nobody was around. But, you know, nothing was normal tonight. I mean, he usually asks new girls questions-I guess to figure out if they have families who'll miss them. And he isn't usually that-that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Manic?† â€Å"Yeah. I wonder what's going on with him?† Rashel pressed her lips together and stared straight ahead through the windshield. â€Å"You sure you want to go through with this?† It was Sunday night and they were nearing the parking lot of the Crypt. â€Å"I've told you and told you,† Daphne said. â€Å"I'm ready. I can do it.† â€Å"Okay. But, listen, if there's any trouble, I want you to run. Run away from the club and don't look back for me. All right?† Daphne nodded. At Rashel's suggestion, she was wearing something more sensible tonight: black pants heavy enough to provide some warmth, a dark sweater, and shoes she could run in. Rashel was dressed the same way, except that she was wearing high boots. The knife was in one. â€Å"You go first,† Rashel said, parking a street away from the club. â€Å"I'll come in a minute.† She watched Daphne walk away, hoping she wasn't going to get this little blond bunny killed. She herself was the danger. Quinn was going to use mind control on them to get them to go to the warehouse quietly. And Rashel wasn't sure what would happen when he did it. Just don't let him touch you, she told herself. You can carry it off as long as he doesn't touch you. Five minutes later, she started toward the Crypt. Quinn was in the dark parking lot, standing by a silvery-gray Lexus. As Rashel reached the car, she saw the pale blob of Daphne's face through the window. â€Å"I almost thought you weren't coming.† There was now a sort of savagery mixed in with Quinn's lunatic good humor. As if he was angry she wasn't smart enough to save herself. â€Å"Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world.† Rashel kept her eyes on the car. She wanted to get this over with. â€Å"Are we going somewhere?† There was that tiny hesitation that seemed to come every time she spoke to him, as if it were taking him a minute to focus. Or as if he were trying to figure something out, she thought nervously. Then he answered smoothly, â€Å"Oh, right, get in.† Rashel got in. She glanced once at Daphne in the back seat. Daphne said, â€Å"What's up?† in a chirpy voice laced with feminine rivalry. Good girl. Quinn was getting in the driver's side. Once the door was shut, he turned the engine on to run the heater. The windows immediately began to fog. Rashel sat in a state of continuing mind, ready for the unexpected at any moment. Only the unexpected didn't come. Nothing came. Quinn was just sitting there in the driver's seat. Watching her. With a sudden void in her stomach that threatened her zanshin, Rashel realized that it was too dark. Too familiar. They were sitting here together in silence, so close, visible to each other only in silhouette, just as they had in the cellar. She could almost feel Quinn's confusion as he tried to figure out what was bothering him. And Rashel was afraid to say anything, afraid that her chirpiest voice wouldn't be a good-enough disguise. The horrible feeling of connection was mounting, like some giant green wave looming over them both. In a moment it would break, and Quinn would say, â€Å"I know you,† and switch on the light to see the face without the veil. Rashel's fingers edged toward her knife. Then, through the electric buzzing in her ears, she heard Daphne say, â€Å"You know, I just love this car. I bet it goes really fast, too. This is all so exciting-I'm just so glad I got here this time. Not like last week.† She went on, blathering easily, while Rashel sank back lightheaded with relief. The connection was broken; Quinn was now looking at his instrument panel as if trying to escape the chatter. And now Daphne was talking about how exciting it was to ride in the dark. Smart, smart girl. Quinn had to interrupt her to say, â€Å"So, you two girls want to surrender to the darkness?† He said it as if he were asking if they wanted to order pizza. â€Å"Yes,† Rashel said. â€Å"Oh, yes,† Daphne said. â€Å"It's just like we always say. I think that would be just the most seriously cool-â€Å" Quinn made a gesture at her as if to say, â€Å"For God's sake, shut up.† Not a rough gesture. It was more like an exasperated choir director trying to get through to some soprano who wouldn't stop at the end of the measure. Stop here. And Daphne shut up.' Like that. As if he'd turned off a switch in her. Rashel twisted slightly to look at the backseat and saw that Daphne had slumped to one side, body limp, her breathing peaceful. Oh, God, Rashel thought. She was used to the kind of mind control other vampires had tried on her. The persuasive, whispery-voice-in-the-head type. And when Quinn hadn't tried to use that, or to call for help in the cellar, she'd assumed he was low on telepathy. Now she knew the truth. He packed a telepathic punch like a pile driver. No, like a karate blow: swift, precise, and deadly. He turned to look at her, a dark shape against a lighter darkness. Rashel tried to brace herself. â€Å"And the rest is silence,† Quinn said, and gestured at her. Rashel fell into a void. She woke up as she was being carried into the warehouse. She had enough presence of mind not to open her eyes or make any other sign that she was conscious. It was Quinn carrying her; she could tell even with her eyes shut. When he dumped her on a mattress, she deliberately fell so that her head was turned away from him and her hair was over her face. She had a moment's fear that he was going to discover the knife in her boot when he shackled her ankles. But he didn't even roll up her pant leg. He seemed to be doing everything as quickly as possible, without really paying attention. Rashel heard the shackle snap shut. She kept perfectly still. She lay and listened as he brought Daphne in and chained her. Then she heard voices close by and the sound of other footsteps. â€Å"Put that one down here-what happened to her purse?† That was Lily. â€Å"It's still in the car.† Ivan. â€Å"Okay, bring it in with the other one. I'll do her feet.† Thump of a body hitting a mattress. Footsteps going away. The metallic clink of chains. Then a sigh from Lily. Rashel could imagine her straightening up and looking around in satisfaction. â€Å"Well, that's it. Ivan's got number twenty-four in the car. I guess we're going to have one very happy client.† â€Å"Joy,† Quinn said flatly. Twenty-four? One client? â€Å"I'll leave a message that everything's going to be ready for the big day.† â€Å"Do that.† â€Å"You're awfully moody, you know. It's not just me who's noticed it.† A pause, and Rashel imagined Quinn giving one of his black looks. â€Å"I was just thinking it was ironic. I turned down a job as a slave trader once. That was before. Do you remember before, Lily? When we lived in Charlestown and your sister Dove was still alive. A captain from Marblehead asked if I wanted to ship out to Guinea for some human cargo. Black gold, I think he called it. As I remember, I hit him on the nose. And Fight-the-Good-fight-for-Faith Johnson reported me for brawling.† â€Å"Quinn, what's wrong with you?† â€Å"Just reminiscing about the old days in the sunlight. Of course, you wouldn't know about that, would you? You're lamia; you were born this way. Technically, I suppose, you were born dead.† â€Å"And technically, I suppose, you're going peculiar. My father always said it would happen.† â€Å"Yes, and I wonder what your father would think about all this? His daughter selling humans for money. And to such a client, and for such a reason-â€Å" At that moment, while Rashel was listening desperately, hanging on every word, heavy footsteps interrupted. Ivan had returned. Quinn broke off, and he and Lily remained silent as another body thumped on a bed. Rashel cursed mentally. What client? What reason? She'd supposed the girls were being sold as regular house slaves or food supplies. But clearly that wasn't the case. And then something happened that drove thoughts of the future right out of her mind. She heard footsteps next to her bed, and she was aware of someone leaning close. Not Quinn, the smell was wrong. Ivan. A rough hand grabbed her hair and pulled her head back. Another arm slid under her waist, lifting her up. Panic shot through Rashel, and she tried to push it away. She forced herself to stay limp, eyes shut, arms dangling passively. I ought to have been prepared for this. She'd realized from the beginning that playing her part might include allowing herself to get bitten. To feel vampire teeth on her throat, to allow them to spill her blood. But it bad never happened to her before, and it took every ounce of her will to keep from fighting. She was scared. Her arched throat felt exposed and vulnerable, and she could feel a pulse beating in it wildly. â€Å"What are you doing?† Quinn's voice was sharp as the crack of glacier ice. Rashel felt Ivan go still. â€Å"I've got something to settle with this girl. She's a smartass.† â€Å"Take your hands off her. Before I knock you through the wall.† â€Å"Quinn-† Lily said. Quinn's voice was painfully distinct. â€Å"Drop her. Now.† Ivan dropped Rashel. â€Å"He's right,† Lily said coolly. â€Å"They're not for you, Ivan, and they have to be in perfect shape.† Ivan muttered something sullen and Rashel heard footsteps moving away. She lay and listened to her heart slowly calming. â€Å"I'm going to get some sleep,† Quinn said, sounding flat and dull. â€Å"See you Tuesday,† lily said. Tuesday, Rashel thought. Great. It's going to be a very long two days. They were the most boring two days of her life. She got to know every corner of the small glass-windowed office. The windows were a problem, since she was never absolutely sure if Lily or Ivan were outside one of them, standing in the warehouse proper and looking through. She listened carefully for the warehouse doors, froze instantly at any suspicious sound, and trusted to luck. Daphne woke up Monday morning. Rashel had her neck twisted sideways and was staring through the office glass up at the one tiny window set high in the warehouse wall. Just as it turned gray with dawn, Daphne sat up and screamed. â€Å"Sh! It's all right! You're here in the warehouse with me.† â€Å"Rashel?† â€Å"Yeah. We made it. And I'm glad you're awake.† â€Å"Are we alone?† â€Å"More or less,† Rashel said. â€Å"There are two other girls, but they're both hypnotized. You'll see when it gets lighter.† Daphne let out her breath. â€Å"Wow†¦ we did it. That's great. So how come I'm so completely and utterly terrified?† â€Å"Because you're a smart girl,† Rashel said grimly. â€Å"Just wait until Tuesday when they take us out.† â€Å"Take us out where?† â€Å"That's the question.†