5 Things to Do the Day of the Test

Genocide in Darfur Essay - 1479 Words

In recent times, the media has highlighted the genocide that has been occurring in Darfur, Sudan. Darfur, Sudan is a country roughly the size of the state of Texas (Darfur Scores, n.d.). Genocide is the systematic killing of an entire ethnic group of people from a national, ethnic, or religious group, or an attempt to do away with them all (Darfur Scores, n.d.). Beginning around 2003, according to Darfur Scores (n.d.), â€Å"the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the government-sponsored Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement, organized starvation, threats against aid workers and mass murder. Violence, disease, and displacement continue to kill thousands of innocent Darfurians every month.† Genocide, begins when the target group of†¦show more content†¦Genocide occurs in several nations and causes millions of lives to be lost. The slaughter of innocent men, women, and children continue daily, and will happen until the world and its people grow tired of the unnecessary loss of life and work to aid those in need. Darfurians are a prime example of what can happen when ones lives are not valued because of the difference in beliefs. The Genocide in Sudan has gone through a serious phase, some of which overlaps, and continues to destroy the civilians identified with the Fur, Zaghawa, Mass alit and other â€Å"African’ tribes living in the Western Region. In researching, articles indicate Human Rights have described the traditional livelihoods of black Africans in Darfur as a huge crop. Most of these black African tribal populations grow their crop by farming millet and other grains, fruits, gum trees, raising herds of castle, camels, horses, donkeys, and other smaller animals. Unfortunately, the majority of Sudanese, African and Darfurians claim their living from the land they have to inherit over the generations, which they have to cultivate. The Africans that control the village has to report to the tribal leaders and the regional Sheikhs. Settling a dispute, land tights and the claims carried out through the people. This has to be oral arrangements and agreements, from a point of view, these people ha ve the right to work the land and tradeShow MoreRelatedGenocide in Darfur Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesHolocaust of Today: Genocide in Darfur By definition, genocide is â€Å"the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.† According to Eric Reeves, writer for the Sudan Tribune, genocide â€Å"encompasses not only the killing of members of a national, ethical, racial, or religious group, as such, but also deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or part.† Whatever genocide may be definedRead MoreGenocide In Darfur Essay1462 Words   |  6 Pages000 people have died in Darfur, Sudan due to genocide. That is equivalent to the entire population of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Genocide started back in February of 2003 in Darfur, Sudan. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the liberties set for everyone in the World. Established in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights displays the rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled to.   The situation in Darfur, Sudan is known as Genocide, Genocide is defined as a systematicRead MoreGenocide in Darfur Essay2011 Words   |  9 Pagesconflicts that stood out from the rest, and still remains present in today’s society. This conflict is called a genocide; the deliberate and systematic extermination of a nation, racial, political or cultural group ( United States ). According to the united sates holocaust memorial museum the term genocide didn’t really come about until 1944. A Jewish- Polish lawyer coined the name genocide in 1944. He did so surfing the reign of Nazis to describe the constant murder. He formed this word from theRead MoreTaking a Look at the Darfur Genocide529 Words   |  2 PagesThe Darfur genocide was the first genocide in the twentieth century and it is also the first genocide to be declared genocide. Sadly the Darfur genocide still remains and millions of people are still being affected as of today. Roughly around 400,000 innocent lives were lost. (Society in Darfur, Chiff.com) In the year 2011 more than 500,000 Sudanese civilians were being driven out of their homes by the government’s harsh actions and decisions and this number is still rising. (It’s in my blood, stopgenocideRead MoreGenocide in Darfur Essay examples1155 Words   |  5 PagesGenocide in Darfur Darfur is the western region of the African country of Sudan. Currently, the people of Darfur have been continually attacked by the Sudanese army and by proxy-militia controlled by the Sudanese government. Families are being uprooted and starved, children tormented and murdered by the thousands and women raped without punishment. Innocent civilians in Darfur continue to be victims of unthinkable brutality. Many people have become homeless and seek protection in refugee campsRead MoreEssay on Conflicts in Sudan: Genocide in Darfur1547 Words   |  7 PagesThe Republic of Sudan, or Sudan as it more commonly known, is currently in a state of crisis. Darfur, in western Sudan, is in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world right now. They are on the brink of genocide, the deliberate killing of a very large number of people from a particular ethnic group or background. Like Most civil wars the incidents have been occurring for over twenty years. The armed conflict began to get serious in February of 2003. It was then that the SudaneseRead MoreWhat Caused the Darfur Genocide? Essay894 Words   |  4 Pagesmarginalization of the area in Darfur. Darfur is a region in the western part of Sudan, where it is home to 6 million people from around 100 tribes. In response to the attack, the Janjaweed, which is the government-supported Arab tribesman, raided non-Arab villages in Darfur to create a Pan-Arab state by eradicating all the non-Arab farmers from the land. The Darfur genocide arose when the Sudan Liberation Movement and the JEM, which is the largest rebel group in Darfur, entered Al-Fashir, the capitalRead MoreGenocide in Darfur Essay examples666 Words   |  3 Pageseven worse because this world has so many resources and has learned over the years to use it, but they don’t act on Durfur. Nothing has been done by the United Nations, which is full aware of the situation and has more then enough power to stop the genocide, to actually act. It’s up to you, your going to be the people in charge of the future, to make sure that none of this will ever happen again. In history, we learned about WW2 and The Holocaust. In 1932, Hitler rose to power as chancellor of GermanyRead MoreEssay about Examining Genocides in Germany, Armenia, and Darfur991 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom 1933 to 1945 (Roth). Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines the word, ‘holocaust’, as â€Å"a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire†. This definition describes the Nazi Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and genocide in Darfur, to name a few (UHRC). In 1933, Hitler’s Nazi regime took power in Germany at a time where the people lacked patriotism and were upset with their government. After losing World War I, Hitler’s anti-Semitism mindset was based on hisRead MoreThe Genocide Still Going on in Darfur, Sudan Essay examples1048 Words   |  5 PagesNot everybody believes in genocides, other may have a different opinion or thoughts. Sometimes people don’t realize its genocide because they believe in what they are doing and they think there is no harm done because it’s not affecting them. To be taken away from your family, to go live somewhere else or to be killed can have a huge impact on your life. Genocides play a huge role in the world; it has and will affect many people. In Darfur there is a genocide going on, it has been going on for a

Contrast/Comparison free essay sample

The country lifestyle and city lifestyle have a lot of differences, so we saw them such as work, the environment and the entertainment. Let me tell about these below. The first difference is work. Both of them people usually work , but how they work different . To begin with, farmers work outside and harvest. Employee of the company work inside and work on machine. Second, the country has small markets and the city has big markets.The third way, is the people in country dont need more money. Every Time, they need to buy something , they can trade each other such as rice,potato. Etc But the people In the city make more money because they need more thing such as food, flash,etc. . Next, it is the environment . The two places have different environments. First, the country is quiet, but the city Is noisy . Second, the country has clear climate and few vehicles ; but the city has pollution and too many vehicles. We will write a custom essay sample on Contrast/Comparison or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Finally, one has cows and their life is peaceful , but the other doesnt have cows and their life Is stressful.Finally, of It Is the entertainment. They have very big different . The people In country have few friend, but the people In the city have a lot of friends, Next, the country has a few theatre but the city has a lot of theatre. Third, the country doesnt have college but the city has a lot of colleges. For example, the people In the country go to the city to learn. All of It told above such as work, environment , entertainment usually show the different between of them. The country Is quiet but the city Is bustling. All In all,. The both of them have special qualities.

Stresemann free essay sample

As a chancellor Stresemann also called off the ‘passive resistance’ in the Ruhr. He saw that the conflict would only result in degraded dealings with the French. This decision upset the Right, who saw it as giving in to the French, however more importantly it showed that Stresemann was prepared to take difficult political decision and resulted in positive economic integration between Germany and the Allies. Evaluate his role as foreign minister. Stresemann, unlike many German nationalists, recognized the real causes to the collapse of the economy. The Dawes Plan which was agreed in April 1924 was a great success as it did everything Stresemann set out to do – it encouraged co-operation and peace between Germany and the Western powers and it even improved relations between Germany and France since reparations were regularly being paid. This was in Germany’s interest because it was the key to restoring the nation as a great power economically. We will write a custom essay sample on Stresemann or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In addition Germany received a lot of capital from abroad (USA) and the economy was in no way weakened. The Dawes Plan did perhaps make Germany too dangerously dependant on USA and its economic power and stability, however for the time it was the correct thing for Stresemann to do – he could not have foreseen the depression in 1929. How successful was he – do you agree with his appraisal of his own achievements by 1929? Although Stresemann did not reverse Versailles fundamentally and never managed to generate real domestic support, he did improve relations with both the East and the West. The Treaty of Berlin in 1926 reduced fears from the USSR and the Locarno Pact was vital because Germany was freed from its isolation by the Allies and was once again treated as equal supported by Germany’s invitation to join the League of Nations, since they were originally banned. This is crucial in studying Stresemann’s methods of success because in this particular aspect he achieved exactly what he set out to in the way he wanted to – the Treaty of Versailles was reversed as a result of peaceful co-operation by Germany and improved relations with the Allies. Do you think Stresemann brought stability to Germany in the period 1924-1929? Although no party won an overall majority the Social Democrats always won the most votes during this period. Furthermore there was a fall in support for extremist parties. Stresemann therefore did improve conditions in Germany during his time as a foreign minister and chancellor with enhanced external co-operation, resulting in a, what seemed like, more prosperous economy and support for the Republic. The economic recovery was however built on unstable foundations that created an illusion of wealth which was temporal. Government was still lacking harmony and the Constitution was not built upon or improved into a more mature system. Compared to the war period before and the crisis after, the years from 1924 to 29 were stable and Stresemann’s decisions effective. The problems inherited from the war, however, were not fully resolved.

Timeline of Events in Ancient Babylonia

Timeline of Events in Ancient Babylonia [Sumer Timeline] Late 3rd Millennium B.C. Babylon exists as a city.Shamshi-Adad I (1813 - 1781 B.C.), an Amorite, has power in northern Mesopotamia, from the Euphrates River to the Zagros Mountains. Â   1st Half of 18th Century B.C. 1792 - 1750 B.C. Collapse of Shamshi-Adads kingdom after his death. Hammurabi incorporates all of southern Mesopotamia into the kingdom of Babylon. 1749 - 1712 B.C. Hammurabis son Samsuiluna rules. The course of the Euphrates River shifts for unclear reasons at this time. 1595 Hittite king Mursilis I sacks Babylon. Sealand Dynasty kings appear to rule Babylonia after the Hittite raid. Almost noting is known of Babylonia for 150 years after the raid. Kassite Period Mid-15th Century B.C. The non-Mesopotamian Kassites take power in Babylonia and re-establish Babylonia as the power in the southern Mesopotamian area. Kassite-controlled Babylonia lasts (with a short break) for about 3 centuries. It is a time of literature and canal building. Nippur is rebuilt. Early 14th Century B.C. Kurigalzu I builds Dur-Kurigalzu (Aqar Quf), near modern Baghdad probably to defend Babylonia from northern invaders. There are 4 major world powers, Egypt, Mitanni, Hittite, and Babylonia. Babylonian is the international language of diplomacy. Mid-14th Century Assyria emerges as a major power under Ashur-uballit I (1363 - 1328 B.C.). 1220s Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243 - 1207 B.C.) atttacks Babylonia and takes the throne in 1224. Kassites eventually depose him, but damage has been done to the irrigation system. Mid-12th Century Elamites and Assyrians attack Babylonia. An Elamite, Kutir-Nahhunte, captures the last Kassite king, Enlil-nadin-ahi (1157 - 1155 B.C.). 1125 - 1104 B.C. Nebuchadrezzar I rules Babylonia and retakes the statue of Marduk the Elamites had taken to Susa. 1114 - 1076 B.C. Assyrians under Tiglathpileser I sack Babylon. 11th - 9th Centuries Aramaean and Chaldean tribes migrate and settle in Babylonia. Mid-9th to End of the 7th Century Assyria increasingly dominates Babylonia.Assyrian king Sennacherib (704 - 681 B.C.) destroys Babylon. Sennacheribs son Esarhaddon (680 - 669 B.C.) rebuilds Babylon. His son Shamash-shuma-ukin (667 - 648 B.C.), takes the Babylonian throne.Nabopolassar (625 - 605 B.C.) gets rid of the Assyrians and then strikes against the Assyrians in a coalition with Medes in campaigns from 615 - 609. Neo-Babylonian Empire Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadrezzar II (604 - 562 B.C.) rule the western part of the Assyrian Empire. Nebuchadrezzar II conquers Jerusalem in 597 and destroys it in 586.Babylonians renovate Babylon to suit the capital city of an empire, including 3 square miles enclosed in city walls. When Nebuchadnezzar dies, his son, son-in-law, and grandson assume the throne in rapid succession. Assassins next give the throne to Nabonidus (555 - 539 B.C.).Cyrus II (559 - 530) of Persia takes Babylonia. Babylonia is no longer independent. Source: James A. Armstrong Mesopotamia The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Brian M. Fagan, ed., Oxford University Press 1996. Oxford University Press.

Everything You Need to Know About Anti-Vaxxers

Everything You Need to Know About Anti-Vaxxers Per the CDC, during January 2015, there were 102 reported cases of measles across 14 states; most linked to an outbreak at Disney Land in Anaheim, California. In 2014, a record 644 cases were reported across 27 states- the highest number since measles was considered eliminated in 2000. The majority of these cases were reported among unvaccinated individuals, with more than half  located in an Amish community in Ohio. According to the  CDC, this resulted in a dramatic 340 percent increase in measles cases between 2013 and 2014. Despite the fact that ample scientific research has disproven the falsely asserted connection between Autism and vaccinations, increasing numbers of parents are choosing to not vaccinate their children for a number of preventable and potentially fatal diseases, including measles, polio, meningitis, and whooping cough. So, who are the anti-vaxxers? And, what motivates their behavior? Pew Research Center found in a recent study of the difference between scientists and the publics views on key issues that just 68 percent of U.S. adults believe that childhood vaccinations should be required by law. Digging deeper into this data, Pew released another report in 2015 that sheds more light on views on vaccinations. Given all the media attention to the purported wealthy nature of anti-vaxxers, what they found might surprise you. Their survey revealed that the only key variable that significantly shapes whether one believes vaccinations should be required or be the decision of parents is age. Young adults are much more likely to believe that parents should have the right to choose, with 41 percent of those 18-29 years old claiming this, compared with 30 percent of the overall adult population.  They found no significant effect of class,  race, gender, education, or parental status. However, Pews findings are limited to views on vaccines. When we examine practices- who is vaccinating their children versus who is not- very clear economic, educational, and cultural trends emerge. Anti-Vaxxers Are Predominantly Wealthy and White Several studies have found that recent outbreaks among unvaccinated populations have been clustered among upper and middle-income populations. A study published in 2010 in  Pediatrics  that examined a 2008 measles outbreak in San Diego, CA found that  reluctance to vaccinate ... was associated with health beliefs, particularly among well-educated, upper- and middle-income segments of the population, similar to those seen in measles outbreak patterns elsewhere in 2008 [emphasis added]. An older study, published in Pediatrics  in 2004, found similar trends, but in addition, tracked race. The researchers found,  Unvaccinated children tended to be white, to have a mother who was married and had a college degree, [and] to live in a household with an annual income exceeding 75,000 dollars. Writing in  Los Angeles Times, Dr. Nina Shapiro,  Director of Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat at the Mattel Childrens Hospital UCLA, used data from Los Angeles to reiterate this socio-economic trend. She noted that in Malibu, one of the citys wealthier areas, one elementary school reported that just 58 percent of kindergartners were vaccinated, as compared to 90 percent of all kindergartners across the state. Similar rates were found at other schools in wealthy areas, and some private schools had just 20 percent of kindergartners vaccinated.  Other unvaccinated clusters have been identified in wealthy enclaves including Ashland, OR and Boulder, CO. Anti-Vaxxers Trust in Social Networks, Not Medical Professionals So, why is this predominantly wealthy, white minority choosing to not vaccinate their children, thereby putting at risk those who are under-vaccinated due to economic inequality and legitimate health risks? A 2011 study published in  Archives of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine  found that parents who chose to not vaccinate did not believe vaccines to be safe and effective, did not believe their children at risk of the disease in question, and had little trust in the government and medical establishment on this issue. The 2004 study cited above found similar results. Importantly, a 2005 study found that social networks exerted the strongest influence in the decision to not vaccinate. Having anti-vaxxers in ones social network makes a parent significantly less likely to vaccinate their children. This means that as much as non-vaccination is an economic and racial trend, it is also a cultural  trend, reinforced through the shared values, beliefs, norms, and expectations common to ones social network. Sociologically speaking, this collection of evidence points to a very particular habitus, as elaborated by late French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. This term refers, in essence, to ones disposition, values, and beliefs, which act as forces that shape ones behavior. It is the totality of ones experience in the world, and ones access to material and cultural resources, that determines ones habitus, and so cultural capital plays a significant role in shaping it. The Costs of Race and Class Privilege These studies reveal that anti-vaxxers have very particular forms of cultural capital, as they are mostly highly educated, with mid- to upper-level incomes. It is quite possible that for anti-vaxxers, a confluence of educational, economic, and racial privilege  produces the belief that one knows better than the scientific and medical communities at large, and a blindness to the negative implications that ones actions may have on others. Unfortunately, the costs to society and to those without economic security are potentially quite great. Per the studies cited above, those opting out of vaccines for their children put at risk those who are unvaccinated due to limited access to material resources and health care- a population composed primarily of children living in poverty, many of whom are racial minorities. This means that wealthy, white, highly educated anti-vaccination parents are mostly putting at risk the health of poor, unvaccinated children. Viewed this way, the anti-vaxxer issue looks a lot like arrogant privilege running rogue over the structurally oppressed. In the wake of the 2015 California measles outbreak, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement urging vaccination and reminding parents of the very serious and potentially fatal outcomes of contracting preventable diseases like measles. Readers interested in learning more about the social and cultural trends behind anti-vaccination should look to  The Panic Virus  by Seth Mnookin.

Euthanasia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Euthanasia - Research Paper Example Thereafter, the attitudes of medical personnel are examined, in light of individuals’ ethics and morality, and based on academic studies cited. In summary, it is established that the level of commitment medical personnel – both physicians and nurses – have to their chosen religion, the more negative their attitudes to euthanasia are. The paper then touches on legislative and public approaches to this phenomenon, and contrasts these to the nature and aims of medicine, as these are understood by the public. Both the reliability of, and the absolute nature of medical diagnoses, as well as the ability of a terminally ill patient to make rational decisions are highlighted. Both are found to be less than satisfactory, and the paper concludes with the Christian perspective that God has ultimate power over life and death. Euthanasia, therefore, is not a morally or ethically acceptable practice. Gielen, J., Van den Branden, S., Van Iersel, T., & Broeckaert, B. (2011) â€Å"The Diverse Influence of Religion and world View on Palliative-Care Nurses’ Attitudes towards Euthanasia† Journal of Empirical Theology 24 (2011) pp. 36-56  © Brill Publishing Holt, J. (2008) â€Å"Nurses’ attitudes to euthanasia: the influence of empirical studies and methodological concerns on nursing practice† Nursing Philosophy (2008) Vol. 9 pp. 257-272  ©The Author and Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Van den Branden, S. & Broeckaert, B. (2011) â€Å"Living in the hands of God. English Sunni e-fatwas an (non-) voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide† Med Health Care and Philos (2011) Vol. 14 pp. 29-41 DOI 10.1007/s1 1091-010-9280-1 Published online: 1 September 2010  © Springer Science+business Media B.V. 2010 Varelius, J. (2006) â€Å"Voluntary Euthanasia, Physician-Assisted Suicide, and the Goals of Medicine† Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 2006 Vol. 31 pp. 121-137 ISSN: 0360-4310

Introduction to mass communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Introduction to mass communication - Essay Example However with the passage of time, it exponentially increased to such proportions that now it is a very huge entity and one can be sure that its benefits will easily outweigh the disadvantages that are found within its auspices. Internet is a force that will change the face of this earth in the next decade or so and hence efforts are underway to extract the best possible mileage from the aegis of Internet. This paper discusses the basis of Internet as it has been playing an important role since the historic times. It has also touched upon the pertinent role within the time and age of today whilst keeping the pros and cons in due perspective. What the world of Internet has brought to the fore is the chance for the people to understand what lies within their vicinity and what they can expect from the technological manifestations, if only they are ready to get up and ask for a change. This change is the one that will be a positive one, and create a sense of success within their lives. The Internet is a huge force that is waiting to be unleashed. One can safely state that it has still not reached to a point where it can be remarked as the revealed one, yet much remains to be seen and explored within its midst. Internet is indeed a magical tool which has changed the lives of millions worldwide. There is just so much happening within its folds that man becomes much dumfounded whenever he finds out something totally new. The element of creativity and innovation seems to exist in a number of different ways and there is reason enough to justify this very logic. Internet is indeed a giant today than it used to be when it was laun ched in the yesteryears. Some 10 years back no one knew that Internet would develop into such a huge force, which could easily change the viewpoints of the people yet this has happened today, for the betterment of all and sundry. The digital age has had a number of positives since the Internet has brought

Purchasing and supplies Essay Example for Free

Purchasing and supplies Essay Purchasing can be traced as far back as 2800 BC in cuneiform clay tablets purchasing orders. Curiously only during the past two countries has purchasing been addressed in trade books and text books. In 1832 Charles Babbage addressed purchasing in his book â€Å"On the Economy, Machinery and Manufacturing† The first book devoted specifically to purchasing, â€Å"The Handling of Railway Supplies: The Purchase and Disposition† published in 1887 was authored by Marshall M. Kirkman. The first college textbook on purchasing was authorized by Howard T. Lewis of Harvard University in 1933. Although interest of purchasing and supply function has been a phenomenon in the 20th, it was recognized as independent and importing function well before 1900. Growth of interest and attention to purchasing was rather uneven in the early 1900’s but by 1915, several books on purchase had appeared and several articles had been published in trade press primarily in the engineering journals. Yet prior to World War I (1914-1918) most firms regarded the purchase function primarily as a clerical activity. However during the world war, the ability to obtain raw materials supplies ad services needed to keep the factories and mines operating were the 3 key determinates of organizational success. Attention was given to the organization policies and procedures for purchase functions, and so it emerged as a recognized management activity. Historically since management interest has focused on research and development, marketing, finance and operations, purchasing has frequently been subordinated to these functions. Mangers are however becoming aware impact on the bottom line that does any other functions. It is with such insights the purchasing has evolved and evolves through the following four stages. Passive stage- Purchasing function has no strategic direction and primarily reacts to the requests of other functions, This stage is characterized by: a) High proportion and individual communications due to purchasing low visibility b) Supplier selections based on price and availability. Independent stage- Purchasing functions adopts the latest purchasing techniques and processes, but its strategic direction is independent of the firms competitive strategic. In this stage; a) Performance is based primary on cost reduction and efficiency measures. b) Coordination links are established between purchasing and technical discipline. c) Top management recognizes the importance of professional development. d) Top management recognizes the opportunities in purchasing for contribution to profitability Supportive- Purchasing function support the firm’s competitive strategy by adoption purchasing techniques and products which strengthens the firm’s competitive position In this stage; a) Purchase is included in sales proposal teams. b) Suppliers are considered a resource with emphases on experience motivation and attitude. c) Market product and suppliers are continuously monitored and analyzed. iv) Integrative stage- Purchasing strategy is fully integrated into the firm’s competitive strategy and constitutes part of an integrated effort among peers to formulate and implement a strategic plan. In this stage; a) Cross-functional training of purchasing professionals executive is made available b) Permanent lines of communication are established among other functional areas. c) Professional development focuses on strategic elements of the competitive strategy d) Purchasing performance is measures in terms of contributions to the firm’s success 1.3 The Role of the Purchasing Department The purchasing department is expected by the management to fulfill the following five rights Right Time Right Price These rights are also referred to as the principles of purchasing. In order to undertake these rights the purchasing department delineates the following as in roles;   To support company operations with an uninterrupted flow of materials and services. ii)To buy competitively- Keep abreast of the forces of demand and supply that regulate prices and material availability on the market; understanding suppliers cost structure and ability to help reduce it further; price negotiation to help reach a fair price. To buy wisely- Continual search for better vales that yield the best combination of quality service and price; reconciling users needs with suppliers capabilities by use of cross functional teams; To keep inventory investment and inventory losses at a practical minimum. To develop good relationship with suppliers community and good Continuing relationship with active suppliers- good relationship with potential suppliers is invaluable. To achieve maximum integration with other departments of the firmUnderstanding major needs of user departments and provide such support as; standardization of programmes, future price forecasting, make or buy analysis and providing a repository of information and data from suppliers. To handle the purchasing and supply management function proactively and in a professional cost effective manner- Continual analysis of activities to eliminate those that only marginally contribute to the effectiveness of the organization and establishing policies and procedures that achieve departments objectives in the most cost effective manner 1.4 The Contribution of Purchasing Department to the Overall Firm’s Performance As a function, purchasing is common to all types of business operations. The purchasing department however is an organizational unit of a firm whose duties may include responsibility for part or all of the purchasing function and additional activities as well. As a matter of fact, the purchasing function is usually performed most effectively and efficiently by a centralized unit made of buying specialist who a time may work in conjunction with a more comprehensive cross-functional team of specialists. Prior to the 1950, the purchasing department was a clerically oriented order placing unit. In the ensuing years however, managerial emphasis has focused on specialization of individual buying activities, professionalism and contribution to the firm’s profit. This emphasis by the management on the purchasing department has been borne out to of the realization of the profit potential of purchasing as a function. Every shilling saved in purchasing is equivalent to a new shilling in profit. The profit margin of a firm is usually given as.

Essay on Lies and Self-realization in A Dolls House -- Dolls House es

Lies and Self-realization in A Doll's House    In Ibsen's play,   A Doll's House,   the characters willingly exist in a situation of untruth or inadequate truth that conceals conflict.   Nora's independent nature is in contradiction to the tyrannical authority of Torvald.   This conflict is concealed by the way they both hide their true selves from society, each other, and ultimately themselves.   Just like Nora and Torvald, every character in this play is trapped in a situation of untruth. "A Doll's House", can be misinterpreted as simply an attack on the religious values of Ibsen's society.   While this is certainly an important aspect of the play, it is not, however, Ibsen's main point.   "A Doll's House" established a method Ibsen would use to convey his views about individuality and the pursuit of social freedom.   The characters of "A Doll's House" display Henrik Ibsen's belief that although people have a natural longing for freedom, they often do not act upon this desire until a person or event forces them to do so. Readers can be quick to point out that Nora's change was gradual and marked by several incidents.   A more critical look reveals these gradual changes are actually not changes at all, but small revelations for the reader to see Nora's true independent nature.   These incidents also allow the reader to see this nature has been tucked far under a facade of a happy and simple wife.   In the first act, she admits to Christine that she will "dance and dress up and play the fool" to keep Torvald happy (Ibsen).   This was Ibsen's way of telling the reader Nora had a hidden personality that was more serious and controlling.   He wants the reader to realize that Nora was not the fool she allows herself to be seen as.   ... ...in A Doll's House is the importance of the individual and the search for self-realization.      Works Cited Brunsdale, Mitzi. "Herik Ibsen."   Critical Survey of Drama.   Ed.   Frank N. Magill.   Englewood Cliffs, NJ:   Salem Press 1986. pg982. Clurman, Harold.   Ibsen.   Macmillan, 1977, pg223.   Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism.   Ed. Sharon K. Hall. Vol. 8.   Detroit:   Gale, 1982. pg154. Heiberg, Hans. 1967. Ibsen. A Portrait of the Artist. Coral Gables, Florida: University of Miami. Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll’s House." Perrine's Literature.   Forth Worth:   Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1998.   pp. 967-1023 Shaw, Bernard.   "A Doll's House Again."   The Saturday Review, London, Vol. 83, No. 2168, May 15, 1897:   539-541.   Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism.   Ed.   Sharon K.   Hall.   Vol. 8. Detroit:   Gale, 1982. pg.143.   

Nursing Exemplar Essay

I arrived to work well rested and ready to start the day. I had just returned after a two week long vacation. Because of the time off, I arrived to 7 East to find that the assortment of patients was not familiar at all. As I began getting reports on my patients, one in particular I started to feel a little anxious and stressed. At first glance I could tell I would be busy for the next twelve hours. Lynda was a 45 year old woman that was admitted almost a week ago after having an emergent tracheostomy placed. Lynda was newly diagnosed with laryngeal cancer with already having several other diagnoses including: seizure disorders, mild mental retardation, behavioral issues, and was legally blind. Lynda also lived in an apartment for assisted living, and her only support that was occasional present was her brother, Steven. That first day I have Lynda, she was started on a full liquid diet. It quickly became clear that she was aspirating food. She was very angry with me after I took away her first real meal she was having in 5 days. After the physicians came to see Lynda and she had a swallow evaluation preformed it was decided that the best option for Lynda would be to have a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placed, for feedings. Lynda was added to the schedule and had her PEG tube placed that day. She was not happy with me and blamed me. I explained to Lynda why she needed to have the PEG tube, she told me that she understood why, but just wanted to go home. I told her that we just had to look at this as another path she had to take in order to get home. I told her that if she was able to care for her tracheostomy that a PEG tube would be nothing. It was at about this point I learned that even though, she had already been on our floor for almost a week with what would be a permanent tracheostomy no one had yet taught her to suction herself. As they were calling for her to go downstairs for the PEG tube placement, I assured Lynda that she was strong and that she would be able to do this. I told her that I would be there when she came back, and I would be there all week to teach her. With that Lynda felt confident and off she went. As Lynda was having her PEG tube I was thinking about all the questions I had about Lynda. I started reading her history and physicals, and the clinic reports. The first clinic appointment she had was when she came in almost one week ago. At this visit she was told that she was not breathing adequately enough and it was because she had a large tumor that was starting to block off her airway. She was told that she need to have a tracheostomy and soon before it would close off her airway, and then she had two options radiation so see if it would shrink the tumor or surgery to remove the tumor. She agreed to have the tracheostomy and planed to have surgery as it was explained to be her best option. It really didn’t say if Lynda understood the full extent of the surgery she would have, she just saw it as something she had to do and then she could go home. While waiting for Lynda to come back I met her friend Sister Mary. Sister Mary told me all about Lynda, about how she has known her since she was a teenager and all the hardships that Lynda has gone though. Of the many things I learned about Lynda from Sister Mary was that Lynda was a trooper and she would be able to care for her tracheostomy and PEG tube. As my shift came to an end, and Lynda was still in recovery. I decided to write Lynda a note that state for her to get some rest because we had a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Day two, my mission was to teach Lynda the basics of self suctioning. As I walked into her room this morning she was all smiles and told me she was ready to learn. We started with the basics showing and explaining her tracheostomy tube and the suction catheters to her. I then gave her a dummy doll we teach patients how to suction on, and she was able to show all the correct steps that I have taught her on the dummy. At this point in the day after lots of practicing Lynda was able to remove the inner cannula tube of her tracheostomy and clean it. The look on Lynda’s face was that of incredible confidence, I was truly impressed with her. By the end of our second twelve hour shift, Lynda had learned how to suction herself. It was passed along in report to simply encourage her independence in suctioning herself. Day three, my mission was to teach Lynda the proper care of her PEG tube, and to continue with the encouragement of her suctioning herself. After walking her though a bolus feeding in the morning, she agreed to do the next one. Lunch time came around and sure enough, she was able to complete the bolus feeding with minimum assistance. By the time came for the next feeding she was going to get the can of food to do it herself when I had walked in the room. She laughed and told me I was right that the PEG tube was a lot easier than suctioning. At this point in Lynda’s stay I knew that she would be going home soon. Later that evening, while discussing Lynda’s progress over the last few days with the physicians I asked them what the plan was and instructed them that we needed to get nutrition, social work, and case management involved so that she could go home. The physicians stated that they would place the consults that I requested but as for discharge they were unsure about when this would happen because Lynda’s brother doesn’t think she can care for herself on her own. I was shocked to hear this, the brother who I had not seen in the last three days, and from what I heard hadn’t even come to visit Lynda at all. I voiced my concerns with this to the physicians, and told them she has shown myself and other nurses her ability to care for herself, and maybe they should suggest that her brother come in and see her care for herself. I had their attention, and they called the brother to tell him all that she has done and suggested that he come in to see her new abilities because they would like to send her home. Before I left that evening I told Lynda about what the physicians had said and about her brother’s fears. I told her that it was now her time to shine if she wanted to go home and that I believed in her. After being off for two days, I was so delighted to hear that Lynda was going to go home that day. Lynda requested to have me be her nurse that day, from what I gathered she had been asking where I was. Her discharge went off like a breeze, everything fell right into place. Lynda told me that she was going to miss me, and I told her she would see me soon enough. She was coming back for her surgery in two weeks. When Lynda came back for her surgery, she had wrote me a letter, telling me that I was more that her nurse, I was her friend and that she was grateful I believed in her. Lynda had become a more difficult patient to have after her surgery, and she would need frequent encouragement to perform the tasks that we already knew she could do. It took Lynda a period of time to realize that all the nurse’s and not just I knew that she could do all these things. Once Lynda realized that it was her choice and responsibility, she started suctioning and feeding herself again. Even to this day Lynda comes to visit me on the floor when she comes in for her clinic visits. I always get a big hug and smile from her. She reminds me that the things I do every day as a nurse make such a positive impact on my patients. This experience taught to trust my instincts and to believe in my patients. I am no longer afraid to speak up with it comes to advocating for my patients. My role as an advocate for Lynda helped her to obtain her main goal of going home. I was able to offer support, guidance, and knowledge to help ensure that she would be able to care for herself in a safe manner.

Axe Analysis Essay

The environment Axe was inspired by another Unilever’s brand, Impulse. Like Axe, Impulse was a fragranced deodorant body spray for women that promised wearers male attention. Thanks to Axe’ success in France, Unilever decided to launch the brand in other European countries from 1985. However, in United Kingdom, the brand was renamed Lynx. Then, Axe encountered the same success in Latin America but it was less important in Asia and Africa. In 2000, the brand has been launched in the USA and Canada and encounters an important success. Since 1983, Axe is offering new fragrances every year. Therefore, from 1983 to 1989, the variant name was a description of fragrance inside. From 1990 to 1996, the names were geographic names like Africa, Alaska and Inca. Then it uses abstract names like Apollo and Gravity. Since 2003, Axe’s deodorants give the possibility for the men to attract many women. Its last launching was in 2008: Dark Temptation. It is a smelling chocolate smelling fragrance; thanks to chocolate, the women will find Axe users irresistible. Axe also launches limited edition variants like Recover and Shock in 2008. However, Axe encountered many controversies like its sexist and depraving advertisement and its deodorants include ingredients tested on animals. The industry Axe is a one of the European leader of the male grooming products thanks especially to the marketing of it lead product: the deodorant body spray. However, several competitors with the same product exist in the market. On one hand, direct competitors who have or will have an important place in the market (TAG Fragrance Company, Old Spice and RGX) and on the other hand, competitors like Adidas and Power Stick, who are â€Å"weaker† and less known than others on the market. I will focus here on the serious competitors of Axe and especially on their marketing and their packaging. First of all, I will insist on the TAG Fragrance Company who dominates the European body spray market with Axe. TAG Fragrance Company was a subsidiary of Global Gillette when his lead product, TAG Body Spray, was released in 2005. Then, in 2007, Procter and Gamble bought Gillette and dissolved this company. {draw:a} As you can see, the packaging is very similar from Axe. Also, the advertising for TAG Body Spray looks alike Axe: this product helps boys getting women. Actually, TAG’s advertising campaign shows that having this body spray will attract women in a way that they will want to attack him. Secondly, we’ll focus on the brand Old Spice who is the American leader of deodorant stick and body wash brand. His product is also manufactured by Procter and Gamble who bought the brand in 1990 from the Shulton Company. {draw:a} Here, the packaging of the product is developed around a colonial theme. Therefore, sailing ships are used as a trademark. Over the years, those various ships have become a valuable trademark for Old Spice male product. Old Spice managed to advertise his products in famous movies (for example, E. T. ) or in commercials with famous actors like Neil Patrick Harris in 2008. Thus, Old Spice is using a different kind of advertising than Axe and it works in the American market. Now, I will describe the main new entrant in the market – the brand RGX – and how the brand tries to break into the body spray market. RGX is owned by Dial and was launched in January 2007. As a new entrant, the main difficulty for the RGX’s product is to enter a body spray market with an excellent marketing strategy. First, the RGX’s product is mainly directed at older men that is to say customers who don’t actually use a competitor product. Secondly, the brand tries to create buzz on Internet via a website called RGX Life but also he tries to do commercials and online banners with a famous actress Rachel Specter. Men’s magazines are also a part of the advertising campaign. The advertising will also be like Axe and TAG (how boy can get girls) but will be more focused on mature men (what a girl wants in a man and what separates a man from a boy). {draw:a} The packaging is also an appeal to maturity. Instead of the black plastic of Axe (which suggests affairs), the RGX’s packaging will be modified as an â€Å"updated aerosol can† more futuristic and made in aluminum. Axe’s lead product is a deodorant body spray which has a specific smell that s to say it mixes a deodorant and a perfume. So, substitute products might be a simple deodorant (for example, Narta Deodorant), a perfume or Cologne. In this market, a simple deodorant will please consumers who don’t like the smell of Axe’s or TAG’s body spray. Actually, despite the high sales of the Axe’s product, a lot of consumers aren’t satisfied about the strong smell of it. In case of the perfume, consumers could prefer a lighter smell than Axe’s product.

Progressive Era1 essays

Progressive Era1 essays During the Progressive Era in the United States, there were many changes happening. Some were happening with the people in the United States, some with the people controlling the United States, and some changes were just going on around both of them. This Era of time for the United States helped them out a lot. They were tired of things going bad for them. They wanted the "good 'ol times" back. They wanted to be happy again and they would do anything to make this happen. We had two new presidents during the Progressive Era in the United States. They both knew that people of their country wanted to be happy. The people believed in the governments ability to cure bad things. So the presidents came in and took over the country, starting to control things more and more. This is what was making the people happy. Women also started speaking out against the laws that were set against them. They started club meetings. They wanted to the same rights as the men did. They also helped with he child labor laws and with the minorities. They got everything under good condition for the minorities. They also wanted prostitution cleared up on the streets. Women wouldn't have a lot of rights that they have now, if it wasn't for the women in the Progressive Era. The working class started looking up on life. People believe in the advancement of the United States as a whole and not just individual. The working class knew they'd have a chance to make it in life. A lot of people started believing in the church. They knew that church would make things better. They started going a lot more. Everything in the United States was starting to look up. People were happier and the United States was getting back on track to be the good nation it knew it could be. ...

Systematic and Systemic

Systematic and Systemic Systematic and Systemic Systematic and Systemic By Maeve Maddox Mark, one of our readers, requests a discussion of the difference between systematic and systemic. Both adjectives derive from the noun system which, in late Latin, meant a musical interval, that is, a difference in pitch between two notes. While retaining its original meaning, the Latin word came to mean, in addition: a union of several metres into a whole, the universe, body of the articles of faith, an organized whole, government, constitution, and a body of men or animals systematic [sis tuh MA tik] In its most common use by the general speaker and writer, the adjective systematic means Arranged or conducted according to a system, plan, or organized method. A novelist, for example, may have a systematic method of organizing note cards. More specialized meanings of systematic occur in the writings of philosophers, statisticians, and biologists, as the following examples from the OED illustrate: Logic: When the same words are used in sentences which express different kinds of propositions, yet in each case the usage is significant, then these words are said to have ‘systematic ambiguity’ This ambiguity is systematic because it can be formulated according to a rule. Statistics: an error with a non-zero mean, so that its effect is not reduced when observations are averaged. Natural history: Pertaining to, following, or arranged according to a system of classification; of or pertaining to classification, classificatory. systemic [sis TEM ik] Note: Beware the pronunciation. I once heard a radio reporter pronounce it as sus tee mik.) The adjective systemic is chiefly a scientific term meaning belonging to, supplying, or affecting the system or body as a whole. It is often used to refer to a condition that affects the nervous system in particular. Read the labels on your gardening supplies. If your herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide is described as systemic, it kills the pest youre after by entering its system and making its way throughout the plants or animals tissues. In 1961 M. A. K. Halliday came up with the term systemic grammar to describe a method of linguistic analysis. The rationale for the use of systemic instead of systematic in this instance eludes me, but then, so does the meaning of this OED example which records the use of the expression: The grammar that assigns to sentences structures like the one in Fig. 1 is generative fusion of elements of American-style immediate-constituent analysis, European-style dependency theory, and British-style systemic grammar. Unless you are referring to an organism, you probably want the word systematic. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Capitalize Animal and Plant NamesLatin Plural EndingsKn- Words in English

Will Catalan split from Spain Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Will Catalan split from Spain - Research Paper Example succession ended in September 1714, Bourbon monarchy that emerged victorious suppressed Catalonia’s medieval institution of self-governance (The Trials,† economist.com). The former Spanish empire secluded Catalonia from diverse economic activities and trade and tried to dismantle its cultures for several decades before it permitted it to enjoy similar benefits. Towards the end of the 19th century, there was an emergence of political catalanism through Catalan Almirall, who was at the frontline in campaigning for the regions autonomy and later ‘Lliga de Catalunya’s political party was formed to promote economic, political and moral interests of Catalonia (Grejsen 7). Catalonia’s political parties and the society aimed for the democratic constitution and autonomy of Catalonia, which they needed established on Catalans own terms. The monarchy system was replaced by military dictatorship in the 1920s and though it initially supported catalanism, General Rivera’s authoritarian rule became inimical, which in turn spurred Catalania’s opposition and hostility to the Spanish government (Cameron, Ranis and Zinn 254). The fall of dictatorship and abolishment of the supportive monarchy in the 1930s led to Catalonia regaining regional government autonomy; a republic of Catalonia was announced in Spain and catalan language officiated by the Spanish republican parliament. The government did not last long and after trials for secession, it was returned to Spanish rule and after the Spanish civil war, General Franco overthrew the Catalan government. To suppress the Catalan culture and in effort to maintain national unity, his army completely occupied catalonia, executed hundreds of thousands of people, sacked most of Catalonia origins and replaced them with those loyal to the regime, rebels had to run into e xile for their safety in places like France; all this aimed to uproot the separatism, atheism and communism of Catalans (Eaude n.p.). Despite the forbidden

Memory Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Memory Activity - Essay Example Alphabet technique could also be of help, in this strategy, you need to identify a word which begins with the same sound as each letter in the alphabet and then associate the word's image with the item to be remembered. Encoding information in an elaborate, meaningful way helps in retention. When possible convert verbal information into mental images, when learning about events and facts, try to focus on their meaning rather than their superficial characteristics. Another example is when you are memorizing for numbers, it is easy to memorize letters or words than numbers, put some codes in your number to have some meaning, for example, 5=L (because there are five fingers on our left hand). It takes time to fully memorize everything that is needed to memorize. For example you are about to memorize 20 words, divide it by 5, memorize each 5 items one at a time until you can remember all of them without looking, then memorize the next group and so on. Take your time in memorizing because, patience is a virtue especially if you are going to memorize lone lines. Take time out Our brains need also to rest to function very well. Study at night and get plenty

The Legacy Admissions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Legacy Admissions - Essay Example The first argument in favor of legacy admissions raised by Thomas and Shepard (2008) has been that if a student inside a state is given preference in admission to an educational institution inside the state, just because his family pays the taxes that sustain the institution, on the same logic, it can be argued that legacy preferences are permissible (p.221). But is the payment of taxes which is obligatory for all citizens and which cannot be skipped even if your student does not get an admission in a college inside your state, comparable to the payment of a donation for a legacy admission? This is the million dollar question here. It is common sense that the element of choice is present only in the case of a legacy admission and the tax payer has no such choice. And also the payment of taxes makes it obligatory for the state to take care of the tax payers’ welfare. Further, even a student from an affluent family has the same right as his/her family is also paying tax. Hence, though convincing on first encounter, it can be seen that the comparison is flawed. And it is to this aspect that Megalli (2008) is also drawing attention to, when she pointed out, with supportive evidence, this practice will eventually lead to discrimination (p.230). And the evidence has also shown that â€Å"96 percent of all living Ivy League alumni are white† (Megalli, 2008, p.230).     The second major case in the article of Thomas and Shepard (2008) that legacy admissions amount to only a very small percentage of total admissions has also been contested by Megalli (2008) with the support of factual data. But while Thomas and Shepard (2008) have pointed out the comparatively less number of institutions where competition is so high that legacy admissions matter (p.222), Megalli (2008) has made a comparison between the percentage of all applications accepted and the percentage of legacy applications accepted in various ducational institutions and shown a disparity is t here (p.230). But both these sets of figures represent only convenient manipulation and partial presentation of data to support one’s argument.

Types and Functions of Organizational Structures

Types and Functions of Organizational Structures The structure of an organization is very similar to that of a house or any other building. Before the building will stand up, it has to be based on solid foundations. Then the organization structure generally is establishing internal authority relationships, responsibility for work performance, and paths of communication and control required for a company to achieve its objective. After that, what is the function of organization structure? Well, there is few function are there. First is setting strategic direction, by this function we know how the organization was going and how it is going to get there. Next is identifying core values, this is about what the organization stands for and also what it does not stand for. Leading with vision, is to encourage the employees, the customers and the other stakeholders. Setting objectives, important for the company to set goals of the organization, or what it is going to try to achieve next. Next function is talking decisions and action to move toward the objectives, this is about what the future planning for the company and know which direction is the company heading. Directing, controlling and coordinating, this is for moving the organization towards its goals. Next is evaluating performance and lastly is reviewing strategic direction, to make sure the organization is using the correct strategic to avoid any lost. Type of organization structure There is still many other type of organization structure around like cluster structure, regional structure, flat structure and more. But then the chosen organization structure by me is Customer Structure, Functional Structure, Matrix Structure, Network Structure, Process Structure, and Product Structure which is easier to see in the real world. Based on the research the functional structure is most beneficial to the company we have selected. Below is the chosen organization structure for this assignment. Customer Structure Structures around customer segments are successful where there are obvious customer segments defined by need, economics, distribution and other key attributes. Divisional/customer structures are effective: where well-defined customer segments have been identified; or when selling products/services unique to segment; or when using buyer strength; or when leveraging customer knowledge advantage; or when requiring rapid customer service and product cycles; or when perceiving minimum efficiencies of scale in functions or outsourcing; or when promoting a strong marketing/customer-focused culture. Royal Philips Electronics  [1]  is an example of a customer-facing structure. Functional Structure A functional structure is a highly traditional structure and is often found in strong command and control organizations such as the military. The key strategy of functionally focused organizations is to maximize margins through leveraging economies of scale and functional expertise. Functional structures are effective when: there are stable and undifferentiated markets with well-understood customer requirements; or there is a successful, control-focused enterprise culture; or there is a small, single product line; or there is scale or expertise within each function; or there is long product development and life cycles; or the organization works to common standards. The functional organization has some obvious advantages, but it also has large disadvantages. The expertise in the organization is centralized and enabled to develop further. This will also involve a kind of cultural homogeneity: People have the same academic background, they use the same technical models, and they perform tasks within the same function. All these factors are seemingly fine, but the problem is that the different professional groups distinguish themselves, distance themselves from each other, do not understand each other and easily come into conflicts with each other. Under the functional structure, major functions are the focus. Product knowledge is centered in manufacturing, engineering, and marketing, and management of each of these departments is responsible for both domestic and international activities. Advantages of the Functional Structure First is Emphasis on functional expertise. The key business tasks define work and functional expertise is brought to bear on all aspects of the operation. Second is tight control. This centralized functional approach permits a small staff to control the firms operations. Top management has authority and operational responsibility. Third is Prevents We versus Them conflicts. The absence of secondary profit centers prevents internal conflicts. Disadvantages of the Functional Structure First is weak regional coordination. Disputes between functional managers must often be resolved at the corporate level. The CEO is often asked to solve problems in areas in which he or she lacks expertise, such as international business. Second is in firms with multiple product lines, functional structure can lead to top-heaviness. In multiproduct firms, functional managers need expertise in each product, or a functional manager is needed for each product. Matrix Structure An overused word, the Matrix has a particular meaning in structural terms. In organizational structure terms, Matrix is the version in which staff from different function work together on projects in a matrix pattern. So, a finance manager can cooperate with a sales person to secure a new contract or to rescue the costs of serving a client. The benefit is that the organization can respond quickly and effectively to changing demands from either a client or the business environment. In the process, the skills and experience of the team can be developed and honed quickly and successfully. Against this, there can be confusion on reporting conflicts and the organization can appear to be fragmented and constantly in a state of flux but, then many organizations are constantly changing anyway. Matrix structures typically operate in two dimensions and are usually one of three types: functional matrix, balanced matrix or project matrix. The aim of the matrix structure is to provide customers with innovative where: or core work is project-based or the work requires small groups of people; or projects require highly specialized skills and knowledge; or project skill requirements vary greatly; or labor cost is a prime economic driver. General Motors  [3]  is an example of a matrix structure. Network Structure Network structures are valuable for fast-moving organizations that are highly innovative and operating in an environment that requires speed, flexibility and high levels of customer focus. In network enterprises work is organized around team and unit delivery, often because units have distinctively different ways of working. However, as the units work in combination, the delivery to the customer is seamless. The movement of a parcel from point of dispatch to point of delivery, via a company such as UPS  [4]  , is an illustration of a network structure. Process Structure As the name suggests, the focus here is on the process of how to go about the work, usually in a smooth, almost horizontal way. There is often virtually no vertical function in that, provided a team keeps its clients and other stakeholders happy, it is left alone to get on with its job. This type of structure can enhance cross functional working and general cooperation. On the downside, it can also result in the work flow being regarded as more important that the end product, so quality can suffer. Responsibility can also be diffuse, which can be disadvantages to some employees and customers alike. Perhaps the major issue is that the vertical chimney effect can blind managers to the possibilities of stronger cooperation, tighter cohesive strategic thinking and the benefits of centralized, corporate planning. In this structure the focus is on processes where core services are operated across the enterprise. Internal support services are frequently organized in this way but customer-facing services are equally well served by this structure, which is a good alternative to the functional structure. Process focused structures work well when: or there are well-defined processes serving different customers (internal/external); or there is potential for new processes and/or radical change to processes; or there is a requirement to reduce working capital; or there is a need to reduce process cycle times; or there is little interdependency between core processes; or there are different cultures/workforces between core processes. Product Structure A divisional/product structure is the most appropriate in a business where there are low synergies between the buyers and the distribution channels of the different divisions. Typically, in this structure each division runs as an independent business unit. Divisional/product structures are effective when: stakeholders perceive low synergies between products; or there are different purchasing process/distribution channels; or there are different operating requirements for success; or there is a different competitive environment; or there are short product development and life cycles; or there is a minimum efficiency of scale for functions or outsourcing. Product organization is a significant form of organization today. It is particularly useful in organizations with clearly separated product groups or services. Quick changes in competitive conditions and technology cause great advantages for this organizational form in preference to functional organization. The advantages of product organization are that the specialists in the organization are able to focus on one specific product group and make quick decisions. Also, the final result will also be much clearer than in functional organization where responsibilities are often volatilized. Danone  [5]  is an example of an organization structured on product lines as the following extract from its website illustrates. In order to handle such a task, many organizations have experimented with different structural solutions, which include setting up groups or project groups across the established structure (basic organization). The language use in there solutions is a bit hesitant. There are three types of organizations; ad hoc organizations, project organizations or matrix organizations. It is not a matter of making repairs on an organization but of developing a double-acting organization in which large parts of the organization is prepared to live with crossing lines. Comparing Structures Conclusion For the organization structure, the decision of structure that has chosen is functional structure. Why choose this? Because

Genetic Engineering :: Bioengineering Essays

Bioengineering, or genetic engineering is an altering of genes in a particular species for a particular outcome. It involves taking genes from their normal location in one organism and either transferring them elsewhere or putting them back into the original organism in different combinations. Most biomolecules exist in low concentrations and as complex, mixed populations which it is not possible to work efficiently. This problem was solved in 1970 using a bug, Escherichia coli, a normally innocuous commensal occupant of the human gut. By inserting a piece of DNA of interest into a vector molecule, a molecule with a bacterial origin of replication, when the whole recombinant construction is introduced into a bacterial colonies all derived from a single original cell bearing the recombinant vector, in a short time a large amount of DNA of interest is produced. This can be purified from contaminating bacterial DNA easily and the resulting product is said to have been "cloned". So far, scientists have used genetic engineering to produce, for example: - improve vaccines against animal diseases such as footrot and pig scours; - pure human products such as insulin, and human growth hormone in commercial quantities; - existing antibiotics by more economical methods; - new kinds of antibiotics not otherwise available; - plants with resistance to some pesticides, insects and diseases; - plants with improved nutritional qualities to enhance livestock productivity. Methods: - Manipulation of the Gene pool, which is related to Hybridization which is the breeding of species but the species are not the same but they are related. - Chain reaction is the production of many identical copies of a particular DNA fragment. - The utility of cloning is important, it provides the ability to determine the genetic organization of particular regions or whole genome. However, it also facilitates the production of naturally-occurring and artificially-modified biological products by the expression of cloned genes. - Insertion of selectable marker genes to pick out recombinant molecules containing foreign inserts -

Hot Wheels

HOT WHEELS ® Kicks Off 40th Anniversary With Diamond-Encrusted Car At N. Y. Toy Fair Year-Long Celebration of Activities by  HWC Press 02-15-08 Hot Wheels ® today announced its year-long plans to celebrate the brand's 40-year heritage at the 105th American International Toy Fair ®. Anniversary activities were kicked off with the unveiling of a custom jeweled 1:64-scale Hot Wheels ® car, designed by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills.This one-of-a-kind car, the most expensive in Hot Wheels ® history, was made to commemorate the production of the four-billionth Hot Wheels ® vehicle. The diamonds on the custom-made jeweled car, valued at $140,000, total more than 2,700 and weigh nearly 23 carats. The car is cast in 18-karat white gold, while the majority of the vehicle is detailed with micro pave-set brilliant blue diamonds, mimicking Hot Wheels ® Spectraflame ® blue paint. Under the functional hood, the engine showcases additional micro pave-set white and black diamonds.The Hot Wheels ® flame logo found on the underbelly of the car is lined with white and black diamonds. Red rubies are set as the tail lights, while black diamonds and red enamel create the â€Å"Red Line ®Ã¢â‚¬  wheels. The custom-made case that houses the jewel-encrusted vehicle also holds 40 individual white diamonds, signifying each year in the legacy of the Hot Wheels ® brand. | â€Å"Collaborating with Mattel on the jeweled Hot Wheels car was a dream project for me,† said Jason Arasheben, president ; CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills. The car is truly spectacular and will be a brilliant addition to anyone’s collection. † The vehicle was unveiled by multi-platinum recording artist and car enthusiast Nick Lachey, who grew up playing with the die-cast car line. In late 2008, this unique Hot Wheels ® vehicle will be auctioned off to benefit Lachey's charity of choice. â€Å"Since its introduction, Hot Wheels has revolutionized boys' toys and insp ired automotive trends,† said Tim Kilpin, general manager and senior vice president, Boys and Entertainment, Mattel Brands. â€Å"The historic ctivities we have planned are a fitting tribute to the brand's heritage and will allow us, and our fans, to celebrate this milestone year in true Hot Wheels style. † In 2008, Hot Wheels ® will honor the partners that have helped make the brand successful and will take to the road to celebrate the brand's heritage with its faithful fans. These activities include: Hot Wheels ® Designer's Challengeâ„ ¢ For the first time in its history, Mattel went outside of its in-house design team to seek new car designs and to honor the automotive partners that attributed to the success of Hot Wheels ® cars over the years.Car designers from Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lotus and Mitsubishi designed their version of a Hot Wheels ® concept car based on the brand's attributes of speed, power, performance and attitude. Each submitt ed design was created in a 1:5-scale model and unveiled this past October at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. In late March the 1:64-scale versions will be available at retailers nationwide as part of the Designer's Challengeâ„ ¢ product line. I’ve been involved in multi-million dollar concept car designs but not everyone can relate to these kinds of projects,† said Amaury Diaz Serrano, creative designer, General Motors. â€Å"But, everyone can relate to a Hot Wheels. Regardless of age, race or background, everyone has fond memories of playing with them. To be able to design for Hot Wheels is the closest I will ever get to winning an Oscar. † Hot Wheels ® Cross-Country Road Trip This summer, fans across the country will be invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary as Hot Wheels ® travels Highway 40 to bring together automotive enthusiasts of all ages.Kicking off at Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo in mid-August, the road trip will make stops at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah; Speed, KS; Indianapolis; and Detroit, before culminating in a grand finale celebration on September 5 in Watkins Glen, NY — home to American road racing. There, Hot Wheels ® will partner with the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen to participate in the annual celebratory kick-off event honoring the history of the town and race track. At each road trip stop, Hot Wheels ® will host a free event that will be open to the public.Each event will feature life-size Hot Wheels ® cars, kiosks where people can create their own custom Hot Wheels ® â€Å"drivers license,† family-friendly activities, and the opportunity to receive a commemorative 1:64-scale Hot Wheels ® car created especially for each stop, available in limited quantities. â€Å"40 years. Four billion cars. It is a year of exciting milestones for Hot Wheels,† said Geoff Walker, vice president, Wheels Marketing, Mattel Brands. †Å"We just can't wait to get on the road to celebrate with the millions that share the Hot Wheels passion. â€Å"

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 6. Blood Type

I followed her all day through other people's eyes, barely aware of my own surroundings. Not Mike Newton's eyes, because I couldn't stand any more of his offensive fantasies, and not Jessica Stanley's, because her resentment toward Bella made me angry in a way that was not safe for the petty girl. Angela Weber was a good choice when her eyes were available; she was kind – her head was an easy place to be. And then sometimes it was the teachers who provided the best view. I was surprised, watching her stumble through the day – tripping over cracks in the sidewalk, stray books, and, most often, her own feet – that the people I eavesdropped on thought of Bella as clumsy. I considered that. It was true that she often had trouble staying upright. I remembered her stumbling into the desk that first day, sliding around on the ice before the accident, falling over the low lip of the doorframe yesterday†¦ How odd, they were right. She was clumsy. I didn't know why this was so funny to me, but I laughed out loud as I walked from American History to English and several people shot me wary looks. How had I never noticed this before? Perhaps because there was something very graceful about her in stillness, the way she held her head, the arch of her neck†¦ There was nothing graceful about her now. Mr. Varner watched as she caught the toe of her boot on the carpet and literally fell into her chair. I laughed again. The time moved with incredible sluggishness while I waited for my chance to see her with my own eyes. Finally, the bell rang. I strode quickly to the cafeteria to secure my spot. I was one of the first there. I chose a table that was usually empty, and was sure to remain that way with me seated here. When my family entered and saw me sitting alone in a new place, they were not surprised. Alice must have warned them. Rosalie stalked past me without a glance. Idiot. Rosalie and I had never had an easy relationship – I'd offended her the very first time she'd heard me speak, and it was downhill from there – but it seemed like she was even more ill-tempered than usual the last few days. I sighed. Rosalie made everything about herself. Jasper gave me half a smile as he walked by. Good luck, he thought doubtfully. Emmett rolled his eyes and shook his head. Lost his mind, poor kid. Alice was beaming, her teeth shining too brightly. Can I talk to Bella now â€Å"Keep out of it,† I said under my breath. Her face fell, and then brightened again. Fine. Be stubborn. It's only a matter of time. I sighed again. Don't forget about today's biology lab, she reminded me. I nodded. No, I hadn't forgotten that. While I waited for Bella to arrive, I followed her in the eyes of the freshman who was walking behind Jessica on his way to the cafeteria. Jessica was babbling about the upcoming dance, but Bella said nothing in response. Not that Jessica gave her much of a chance. The moment Bella walked through the door, her eyes flashed to the table where my siblings sat. She stared for a moment, and then her forehead crumpled and her eyes dropped to the floor. She hadn't noticed me here. She looked so†¦sad. I felt a powerful urge to get up and go to her side, to comfort her somehow, only I didn't know what she would find comforting. I had no idea what made her look that way. Jessica continued to jabber about the dance. Was Bella sad that she was going to miss it? That didn't seem likely†¦ But that could be remedied, if she wished. She bought a drink for her lunch and nothing else. Was that right? Didn't she need more nutrition than that? I'd never paid much attention to a human's diet before. Humans were quite exasperatingly fragile! There were a million different things to worry about†¦ â€Å"Edward Cullen is staring at you again,† I heard Jessica say. â€Å"I wonder why he's sitting alone today?† I was grateful to Jessica – though she was even more resentful now – because Bella's head snapped up and her eyes searched until they met mine. There was no trace of sadness in her face now. I let myself hope that she'd been sad because she'd thought I'd left school early, and that hope made me smile. I motioned with my finger for her to join me. She looked so startled by this that I wanted to tease her again. So I winked, and her mouth fell open. â€Å"Does he mean you?† Jessica asked rudely. â€Å"Maybe he needs help with his Biology homework,† she said in a low, uncertain voice. â€Å"Um, I'd better go see what he wants.† This was another yes. She stumbled twice on her way to my table, though there was nothing in her way but perfectly even linoleum. Seriously, how had I missed this before? I'd been paying more attention to her silent thoughts, I supposed†¦ What else had I missed? Keep it honest, keep it light, I chanted to myself. She stopped behind the chair across from me, hesitating. I inhaled deeply, through my nose this time rather than my mouth. Feel the burn, I thought dryly. â€Å"Why don't you sit with me today?† I asked her. She pulled the chair out and sat, staring at me the whole while. She seemed nervous, but her physical acceptance was yet another yes. I waited for her to speak. It took a moment, but, finally, she said, â€Å"This is different.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. â€Å"I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.† What had made me say that? I supposed it was honest, at least. And perhaps she'd hear the unsubtle warning my words implied. Maybe she would realize that she should get up and walk away as quickly as possible†¦ She didn't get up. She stared at me, waiting, as if I'd left my sentence unfinished. â€Å"You know I don't have any idea what you mean,† she said when I didn't continue. That was a relief. I smiled. â€Å"I know.† It was hard to ignore the thoughts screaming at me from behind her back – and I wanted to change the subject anyway. â€Å"I think your friends are angry at me for stealing you.† This did not appear to concern her. â€Å"They'll survive.† â€Å"I may not give you back, though.† I didn't even know if I was trying to be honest now, or just trying to tease her again. Being near her made it hard to make sense of my own thoughts. Bella swallowed loudly. I laughed at her expression. â€Å"You look worried.† It really shouldn't be funny†¦ She should worry. â€Å"No.† She was a bad liar; it didn't help that her voice broke. â€Å"Surprised, actually†¦. What brought this on?† â€Å"I told you,† I reminded her. â€Å"I got tired of trying to stay away from you. So I'm giving up.† I held my smile in place with a bit of effort. This wasn't working at all – trying to be honest and casual at the same time. â€Å"Giving up?† she repeated, baffled. â€Å"Yes – giving up trying to be good.† And, apparently, giving up trying to be casual. â€Å"I'm just going to do what I want now, and let the chips fall where they may.† That was honest enough. Let her see my selfishness. Let that warn her, too. â€Å"You lost me again.† I was selfish enough to be glad that this was the case. â€Å"I always say too much when I'm talking to you – that's one of the problems.† A rather insignificant problem, compared to the rest. â€Å"Don't worry,† she reassured me. â€Å"I don't understand any of it.† Good. Then she'd stay. â€Å"I'm counting on that.† â€Å"So, in plain English, are we friends now?† I pondered that for a second. â€Å"Friends†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I repeated. I didn't like the sound of that. It wasn't enough. â€Å"Or not,† she mumbled, looking embarrassed. Did she think I didn't like her that much? I smiled. â€Å"Well, we can try, I suppose. But I'm warning you now that I'm not a good friend for you.† I waited for her response, torn in two – wishing she would finally hear and understand, thinking I might die if she did. How melodramatic. I was turning into such a human. Her heart beat faster. â€Å"You say that a lot.† â€Å"Yes, because you're not listening to me,† I said, too intense again. â€Å"I'm still waiting for you to believe it. If you're smart, you'll avoid me.† Ah, but would I allow her to do that, if she tried? Her eyes tightened. â€Å"I think you've made your opinion on the subject of my intellect clear, too.† I wasn't exactly sure what she meant, but I smiled in apology, guessing that I must have offended her accidentally. â€Å"So,† she said slowly. â€Å"As long as I'm being†¦not smart, we'll try to be friends?† â€Å"That sounds about right.† She looked down, staring intently at the lemonade bottle in her hands. The old curiosity tormented me. â€Å"What are you thinking?† I asked – it was a relief to say the words out loud at last. She met my gaze, and her breathing sped while her cheeks flushed faint pink. I inhaled, tasting that in the air. â€Å"I'm trying to figure out what you are.† I held the smile on my face, locking my features that way, while panic twisted through my body. Of course she was wondering that. She wasn't stupid. I couldn't hope for her to be oblivious to something so obvious. â€Å"Are you having any luck with that?† I asked as lightly as I could manage. â€Å"Not too much,† she admitted. I chuckled in sudden relief. â€Å"What are your theories?† They couldn't be worse than the truth, no matter what she'd come up with. Her cheeks turned brighter red, and she said nothing. I could feel the warmth of her blush in the air. I tried using my persuasive tone on her. It worked well on normal humans. â€Å"Won't you tell me?† I smiled encouragingly. She shook her head. â€Å"Too embarrassing.† Ugh. Not knowing was worse than anything else. Why would her speculations embarrass her? I couldn't stand not knowing. â€Å"That's really frustrating, you know.† My complaint sparked something in her. Her eyes flashed and her words flowed more swiftly than usual. â€Å"No, I can't imagine why that would be frustrating at all – just because someone refuses to tell you what they're thinking, even if all the while they're making cryptic little remarks specifically designed to keep you up at night wondering what they could possibly mean†¦now, why would that be frustrating?† I frowned at her, upset to realize that she was right. I wasn't being fair. She went on. â€Å"Or better, say that person also did a wide range of bizarre things – from saving your life under impossible circumstances one day to treating you like a pariah the next, and he never explained any of that either, even after he promised. That, also, would be very non-frustrating.† It was the longest speech I'd ever heard her make, and it gave me a new quality for my list. â€Å"You've got a bit of a temper, don't you?† â€Å"I don't like double standards.† She was completely justified in her irritation, of course. I stared at Bella, wondering how I could possibly do anything right by her, until the silent shouting in Mike Newton's head distracted me. He was so irate that it made me chuckle. â€Å"What?† she demanded. â€Å"Your boyfriend seems to think I'm being unpleasant to you – he's debating whether or not to come break up our fight.† I would love to see him try. I laughed again. â€Å"I don't know who you're talking about,† she said in an icy voice. â€Å"But I'm sure you're wrong anyway.† I very much enjoyed the way she disowned him with her dismissive sentence. â€Å"I'm not. I told you, most people are easy to read.† â€Å"Except me, of course.† â€Å"Yes. Except for you.† Did she have to be the exception to everything? Wouldn't it have been more fair – considering everything else I had to deal with now – if I could have at least heard something from her head? Was that so much to ask? â€Å"I wonder why that is?† I stared into her eyes, trying again†¦ She looked away. She opened her lemonade and took a quick drink, her eyes on the table. â€Å"Aren't you hungry?† I asked. â€Å"No.† She eyed the empty table between us. â€Å"You?† â€Å"No, I'm not hungry,† I said. I was definitely not that. She stared at the table her lips pursed. I waited. â€Å"Could you do me a favor?† she asked, suddenly meeting my gaze again. What would she want from me? Would she ask for the truth that I wasn't allowed to tell her – the truth I didn't want her to ever, ever know? â€Å"That depends on what you want.† â€Å"It's not much,† she promised. I waited, curious again. â€Å"I just wondered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said slowly, staring at the lemonade bottle, tracing its lip with her littlest finger. â€Å"If you could warn me beforehand the next time you decide to ignore me for my own good? Just so I'm prepared.† She wanted a warning? Then being ignored by me must be a bad thing†¦ I smiled. â€Å"That sounds fair,† I agreed. â€Å"Thanks,† she said, looking up. Her face was so relieved that I wanted to laugh with my own relief. â€Å"Then can I have one in return?† I asked hopefully. â€Å"One,† she allowed. â€Å"Tell me one theory.† She flushed. â€Å"Not that one.† â€Å"You didn't qualify, you just promised one answer,† I argued. â€Å"And you've broken promises yourself,† she argued back. She had me there. â€Å"Just one theory – I won't laugh.† â€Å"Yes, you will.† She seemed very sure of that, though I couldn't imagine anything that would be funny about it. I gave persuasion another try. I stared deep into her eyes – an easy thing to do, with eyes so deep – and whispered, â€Å"Please?† She blinked, and her face went blank. Well, that wasn't exactly the reaction I'd been going for. â€Å"Er, what?† she asked. She looked dizzy. What was wrong with her? But I wasn't giving up yet. â€Å"Please tell me just one little theory,† I pleaded in my soft, non-scary voice, holding her eyes in mine. To my surprise and satisfaction, it finally worked. â€Å"Um, well, bitten by a radioactive spider?† Comic books? No wonder she thought I would laugh. â€Å"That's not very creative,† I chided her, trying to hide my fresh relief. â€Å"I'm sorry, that's all I've got,† she said, offended. This relieved me even more. I was able to tease her again. â€Å"You're not even close.† â€Å"No spiders?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"And no radioactivity?† â€Å"None.† â€Å"Dang,† she sighed. â€Å"Kryptonite doesn't bother me either,† I said quickly – before she could ask about bites – and then I had to laugh, because she thought I was a superhero. â€Å"You're not supposed to laugh, remember?† I pressed my lips together. â€Å"I'll figure it out eventually,† she promised. And when she did, she would run. â€Å"I wish you wouldn't try,† I said, all teasing gone. â€Å"Because†¦?† I owed her honesty. Still, I tried to smile, to make my words sound less threatening. â€Å"What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?† Her eyes widened by a fraction and her lips fell slightly apart. â€Å"Oh,† she said. And then, after another second, â€Å"I see.† She'd finally heard me. â€Å"Do you?† I asked, working to conceal my agony. â€Å"You're dangerous?† she guessed. Her breathing hiked, and her heart raced. I couldn't answer her. Was this my last moment with her? Would she run now? Could I be allowed to tell her that I loved her before she left? Or would that frighten her more? â€Å"But not bad,† she whispered, shaking her head, no fear in her clear eyes. â€Å"No, I don't believe that you're bad.† â€Å"You're wrong,† I breathed. Of course I was bad. Wasn't I rejoicing now, that she thought better of me than I deserved? If I were a good person, I would have stayed away from her. I stretched my hand across the table, reaching for the lid to her lemonade bottle as an excuse. She did not flinch away from my suddenly closer hand. She really was not afraid of me. Not yet. I spun the lid like a top, watching it instead of her. My thoughts were in a snarl. Run, Bella, run. I couldn't make myself say the words out loud. She jumped to her feet. â€Å"We're going to be late,† she said, just as I'd started to worry that she'd somehow heard my silent warning. â€Å"I'm not going to class.† â€Å"Why not?† Because I don't want to kill you. â€Å"It's healthy to ditch class now and then.† To be precise, it was healthier for the humans if the vampires ditched on days when human blood would be spilt. Mr. Banner was blood typing today. Alice had already ditched her morning class. â€Å"Well, I'm going,† she said. This didn't surprise me. She was responsible – she always did the right thing. She was my opposite. â€Å"I'll see you later then,† I said, trying for casual again, staring down at the whirling lid. And, by the way, I adore you†¦in frightening, dangerous ways. She hesitated, and I hoped for a moment that she would stay with me after all. But the bell rang and she hurried away. I waited until she was gone, and then I put the lid in my pocket – a souvenir of this most consequential conversation – and walked through the rain to my car. I put on my favorite calming CD – the same one I'd listened to that first day – but I wasn't hearing Debussy's notes for long. Other notes were running through my head, a fragment of a tune that pleased and intrigued me. I turned down the stereo and listened to the music in my head, playing with the fragment until it evolved into a fuller harmony. Instinctively, my fingers moved in the air over imaginary piano keys. The new composition was really coming along when my attention was caught by a wave of mental anguish. I looked toward the distress. Is she going to pass out? What do I do? Mike panicked. A hundred yards away, Mike Newton was lowering Bella's limp body to the sidewalk. She slumped unresponsively against the wet concrete, her eyes closed, her skin chalky as a corpse. I almost took the door off the car. â€Å"Bella?† I shouted. There was no change in her lifeless face when I yelled her name. My whole body went colder than ice. I was aware of Mike's aggravated surprise as I sifted furiously through his thoughts. He was only thinking of his anger toward me, so I didn't know what was wrong with Bella. If he'd done something to harm her, I would annihilate him. â€Å"What's wrong – is she hurt?† I demanded, trying to focus his thoughts. It was maddening to have to walk at a human pace. I should not have called attention to my approach. Then I could hear her heart beating and her even breath. As I watched, she squeezed her eyes more tightly shut. That eased some of my panic. I saw a flicker of memories in Mike's head, a splash of images from the Biology room. Bella's head on our table, her fair skin turning green. Drops of red against the white cards†¦ Blood typing. I stopped where I was, holding my breath. Her scent was one thing, her flowing blood was another altogether. â€Å"I think she's fainted,† Mike said, anxious and resentful at the same time. â€Å"I don't know what happened, she didn't even stick her finger.† Relief washed through me, and I breathed again, tasting the air. Ah, I could smell the tiny flow of Mike Newton's puncture wound. Once, that might have appealed to me. I knelt beside her while Mike hovered next to me, furious at my intervention. â€Å"Bella. Can you hear me?† â€Å"No,† she moaned. â€Å"Go away.† The relief was so exquisite that I laughed. She was fine. â€Å"I was taking her to the nurse,† Mike said. â€Å"But she wouldn't go any farther.† â€Å"I'll take her. You can go back to class,† I said dismissively. Mike's teeth clenched together. â€Å"No. I'm supposed to do it.† I wasn't going to stand around arguing with the wretch. Thrilled and terrified, half-grateful to and half-aggrieved by the predicament which made touching her a necessity, I gently lifted Bella from the sidewalk and held her in my arms, touching only her clothes, keeping as much distance between our bodies as possible. I was striding forward in the same movement, in a hurry to have her safe – farther away from me, in other words. Her eyes popped open, astonished. â€Å"Put me down,† she ordered in a weak voice – embarrassed again, I guessed from her expression. She didn't like to show weakness. I barely heard Mike's shouted protest behind us. â€Å"You look awful,† I told her, grinning because there was nothing wrong with her but a light head and a weak stomach. â€Å"Put me back on the sidewalk,† she said. Her lips were white. â€Å"So you faint at the sight of blood?† Could it get any more ironic? She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. â€Å"And not even your own blood,† I added, my grin widening. We were to the front office. The door was propped an inch open, and I kicked it out of my way. Ms. Cope jumped, startled. â€Å"Oh, my,† she gasped as she examined the ashen girl in my arms. â€Å"She fainted in Biology,† I explained, before her imagination could get too out of hand. Ms. Cope hurried to open the door to the nurse's office. Bella's eyes were open again, watching her. I heard the elderly nurse's internal astonishment as I laid the girl carefully on the one shabby bed. As soon as Bella was out of my arms, I put the width of the room between us. My body was too excited, too eager, my muscles tense and the venom flowing. She was so warm and fragrant. â€Å"She's just a little faint,† I reassured Mrs. Hammond. â€Å"They're blood typing in biology.† She nodded, understanding now. â€Å"There's always one.† I stifled a laugh. Trust Bella to be that one. â€Å"Just lie down for a minute, honey,† Mrs. Hammond said. â€Å"It'll pass.† â€Å"I know,† Bella said. â€Å"Does this happen often?† the nurse asked. â€Å"Sometimes,† Bella admitted. I tried to disguise my laughter as coughing. This brought me to the nurse's attention. â€Å"You can go back to class now,† she said. I looked her straight in the eye and lied with perfect confidence. â€Å"I'm supposed to stay with her.† Hmm. I wonder†¦ oh well. Mrs. Hammond nodded. It worked just fine on her. Why did Bella have to be so difficult? â€Å"I'll go get you some ice for your forehead, dear,† the nurse said, slightly uncomfortable from looking into my eyes – the way a human should be – and left the room. â€Å"You were right,† Bella moaned, closing her eyes. What did she mean? I jumped to the worst conclusion: she'd accepted my warnings. â€Å"I usually am,† I said, trying to keep the amusement in my voice; it sounded sour now. â€Å"But about what in particular this time?† â€Å"Ditching is healthy,† she sighed. Ah, relief again. She was silent then. She just breathed slowly in and out. Her lips were beginning to turn pink. Her mouth was slightly out of balance, her lower lip just a little too full to match the top. Staring at her mouth made me feel strange. Made me want to move closer to her, which was not a good idea. â€Å"You scared me for a minute there,† I said – to restart the conversation so that I could hear her voice again. â€Å"I thought Newton was dragging your dead body off to bury it in the woods.† â€Å"Ha ha,† she said. â€Å"Honestly – I've seen corpses with better color.† This was actually true. â€Å"I was concerned that I might have to avenge your murder.† And I would have. â€Å"Poor Mike,† she sighed. â€Å"I'll bet he's mad.† Fury pulsed through me, but I contained it quickly. Her concern was surely just pity. She was kind. That was all. â€Å"He absolutely loathes me,† I told her, cheered by that idea. â€Å"You can't know that.† â€Å"I saw his face – I could tell.† It was probably true that reading his face would have given me enough information to make that particular deduction. All this practice with Bella was sharpening my skill at reading human expressions. â€Å"How did you see me? I thought you were ditching.† Her face looked better – the green undertone had vanished from her translucent skin. â€Å"I was in my car, listening to a CD.† Her expression twitched, like my very ordinary answer had surprised her somehow. She opened her eyes again when Mrs. Hammond returned with an ice pack. â€Å"Here you go, dear,† the nurse said as she laid it across Bella's forehead. â€Å"You're looking better.† â€Å"I think I'm fine,† Bella said, and she sat up while pulling the ice pack away. Of course. She didn't like to be taken care of. Mrs. Hammond's wrinkled hands fluttered toward the girl, as if she were going to push her back down, but just then Ms. Cope opened the door to the office and leaned in. With her appearance came the smell of fresh blood, just a whiff. Invisible in the office behind her, Mike Newton was still very angry, wishing the heavy boy he dragged now was the girl who was in here with me. â€Å"We've got another one,† Ms. Cope said. Bella quickly jumped down from the cot, eager to be out of the spotlight. â€Å"Here,† she said, handing the compress back to Mrs. Hammond. â€Å"I don't need this.† Mike grunted as he half-shoved Lee Stevens through the door. Blood was still dripping down the hand Lee held to his face, trickling toward his wrist. â€Å"Oh no.† This was my cue to leave – and Bella's, too, it seemed. â€Å"Get out to the office, Bella.† She stared up at me with bewildered eyes. â€Å"Trust me – go.† She whirled and caught the door before it had swung shut, rushing through to the office. I followed a few inches behind her. Her swinging hair brushed my hand†¦ She turned to look at me, still wide-eyed. â€Å"You actually listened to me.† That was a first. Her small nose wrinkled. â€Å"I smelled the blood.† I stared at her in blank surprise. â€Å"People can't smell blood.† â€Å"Well, I can – that's what makes me sick. It smells like rust†¦and salt.† My face froze, still staring. Was she really even human? She looked human. She felt soft as a human. She smelled human – well, better actually. She acted human†¦sort of. But she didn't think like a human, or respond like one. What other option was there, though? â€Å"What?† she demanded. â€Å"It's nothing.† Mike Newton interrupted us then, entering the room with resentful, violent thoughts. â€Å"You look better,† he said to her rudely. My hand twitched, wanting to teach him some manners. I would have to watch myself, or I would end up actually killing this obnoxious boy. â€Å"Just keep your hand in your pocket,† she said. For one wild second, I thought she was talking to me. â€Å"It's not bleeding anymore,† he answered sullenly. â€Å"Are you going back to class?† â€Å"Are you kidding? I'd just have to turn around and come back.† That was very good. I'd thought I was going to have to miss this whole hour with her, and now I got extra time instead. I felt greedy, a miser hording over each minute. â€Å"Yeah, I guess†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mike mumbled. â€Å"So are you going this weekend? To the beach?† Ah, they had plans. Anger froze me in place. It was a group trip, though. I'd seen some of this in other students' heads. It wasn't just the two of them. I was still furious. I leaned motionlessly against the counter, trying to control myself. â€Å"Sure, I said I was in,† she promised him. So she'd said yes to him, too. The jealousy burned, more painful than thirst. No, it was just a group outing, I tried to convince myself. She was just spending the day with friends. Nothing more. â€Å"We're meeting at my dad's store, at ten.† And Cullen's NOT invited. â€Å"I'll be there,† she said. â€Å"I'll see you in Gym, then.† â€Å"See you,† she replied. He shuffled off to his class, his thoughts full of ire. What does she see in that freak? Sure, he's rich, I guess. Chicks think he's hot, but I don't see that. Too†¦too perfect. I bet his dad experiments with plastic surgery on all of them. That's why they're all so white and pretty. It's not natural. And he's sort of†¦scary-looking. Sometimes, when he stares at me, I'd swear he's thinking about killing me†¦ Freak†¦ Mike wasn't entirely unperceptive. â€Å"Gym,† Bella repeated quietly. A groan. I looked at her, and saw that she was sad about something again. I wasn't sure why, but it was clear that she didn't want to go to her next class with Mike, and I was all for that plan. I went to her side and bent close to her face, feeling the warmth of her skin radiating out to my lips. I didn't dare breathe. â€Å"I can take care of that,† I murmured. â€Å"Go sit down and look pale.† She did as I asked, sitting in one of the folding chairs and leaning her head back against the wall, while, behind me, Ms. Cope came out of the back room and went to her desk. With her eyes closed, Bella looked as if she'd passed out again. Her full color hadn't returned yet. I turned to the secretary. Hopefully Bella was paying attention to this, I thought sardonically. This was how a human was supposed to respond. â€Å"Ms. Cope?† I asked, using my persuasive voice again. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her heart sped up. Too young, get a hold of yourself! â€Å"Yes?† That was interesting. When Shelly Cope's pulse quickened, it was because she found me physically attractive, not because she was frightened. I was used to that around human females†¦yet I hadn't considered that explanation for Bella's racing heart. I rather liked that. Too much, in fact. I smiled, and Mrs. Cope's breathing got louder. â€Å"Bella has gym next hour, and I don't think she feels well enough. Actually, I was thinking I should take her home now. Do you think you could excuse her from class?† I stared into her depthless eyes, enjoying the havoc that this wreaked on her thought processes. Was it possible that Bella†¦? Mrs. Cope had to swallow loudly before she answered. â€Å"Do you need to be excused, too, Edward?† â€Å"No, I have Mrs. Goff, she won't mind.† I wasn't paying much attention to her now. I was exploring this new possibility. Hmm. I'd like to believe that Bella found me attractive like other humans did, but when did Bella ever have the same reactions as other humans? I shouldn't get my hopes up. â€Å"Okay, it's all taken care of. You feel better, Bella.† Bella nodded weakly – overacting a bit. â€Å"Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you again?† I asked, amused by her poor theatrics. I knew she would want to walk – she wouldn't want to be weak. â€Å"I'll walk,† she said. Right again. I was getting better at this. She got up, hesitating for a moment as if to check her balance. I held the door for her, and we walked out into the rain. I watched her as she lifted her face to the light rain with her eyes closed, a slight smile on her lips. What was she thinking? Something about this action seemed off, and I quickly realized why the posture looked unfamiliar to me. Normal human girls wouldn't raise their faces to the drizzle that way; normal human girls usually wore makeup, even here in this wet place. Bella never wore makeup, nor should she. The cosmetics industry made billions of dollars a year from women who were trying to attain skin like hers. â€Å"Thanks,† she said, smiling at me now. â€Å"It's worth getting sick to miss Gym.† I stared across the campus, wondering how to prolong my time with her. â€Å"Anytime,† I said. â€Å"So are you going? This Saturday, I mean?† She sounded hopeful. Ah, her hope was soothing. She wanted me with her, not Mike Newton. And I wanted to say yes. But there were many things to consider. For one, the sun would be shining this Saturday†¦ â€Å"Where are you all going, exactly?† I tried to keep my voice nonchalant, as if it didn't matter much. Mike had said beach, though. Not much chance of avoiding sunlight there. â€Å"Down to La Push, to First Beach.† Damn. Well, it was impossible, then. Anyway, Emmett would be irritated if I cancelled our plans. I glanced down at her, smiling wryly. â€Å"I really don't think I was invited.† She sighed, already resigned. â€Å"I just invited you.† â€Å"Let's you and I not push poor Mike any further this week. We don't want him to snap.† I thought about snapping poor Mike myself, and enjoyed the mental picture intensely. â€Å"Mike-schmike,† she said, dismissive again. I smiled widely. And then she started to walk away from me. Without thinking about my action, I reached out and caught her by the back of her rain jacket. She jerked to a stop. â€Å"Where do you think you're going?† I was almost angry that she was leaving me. I hadn't had enough time with her. She couldn't go, not yet. â€Å"I'm going home,† she said, baffled as to why this should upset me. â€Å"Didn't you hear me promise to take you safely home? Do you think I'm going to let you drive in your condition?† I knew she wouldn't like that – my implication of weakness on her part. But I needed to practice for the Seattle trip, anyway. See if I could handle her proximity in an enclosed space. This was a much shorter journey. â€Å"What condition?† she demanded. â€Å"And what about my truck?† â€Å"I'll have Alice drop it off after school.† I pulled her back to my car carefully, as I now knew that walking forward was challenging enough for her. â€Å"Let go!† she said, twisting sideways and nearly tripping. I held one hand out to catch her, but she righted herself before it was necessary. I shouldn't be looking for excuses to touch her. That started me thinking about Ms. Cope's reaction to me, but I filed it away for later. There was much to be considered on that front. I let her go beside the car, and she stumbled into the door. I would have to be even more careful, to take into account her poor balance†¦ â€Å"You are so pushy!† â€Å"It's open.† I got in on my side and started the car. She held her body rigidly, still outside, though the rain had picked up and I knew she didn't like the cold and wet. Water was soaking through her thick hair, darkening it to near black. â€Å"I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!† Of course she was – I just wasn't capable of letting her go. I rolled her window down and leaned toward her. â€Å"Get in, Bella.† Her eyes narrowed, and I guessed that she was debating whether or not to make a run for it. â€Å"I'll just drag you back,† I promised, enjoying the chagrin on her face when she realized I meant it. Her chin stiffly in the air, she opened her door and climbed in. Her hair dripped on the leather and her boots squeaked against each other. â€Å"This is completely unnecessary,† she said coldly. I thought she looked embarrassed under the pique. I just turned up the heater so she wouldn't be uncomfortable, and set the music to a nice background level. I drove out toward the exit, watching her from the corner of my eye. Her lower lip was jutting out stubbornly. I stared at this, examining how it made me feel†¦ thinking of the secretary's reaction again†¦ Suddenly she looked at the stereo and smiled, her eyes widening. â€Å"Clair de Lune?† she asked. A fan of the classics? â€Å"You know Debussy?† â€Å"Not well,† she said. â€Å"My mother plays a lot of classical music around the house – I only know my favorites.† â€Å"It's one of my favorites, too.† I stared at the rain, considering that. I actually had something in common with the girl. I'd begun to think that we were opposites in every way. She seemed more relaxed now, staring at the rain like me, with unseeing eyes. I used her momentary distraction to experiment with breathing. I inhaled carefully through my nose. Potent. I clutched the steering wheel tighter. The rain made her smell better. I wouldn't have thought that was possible. Stupidly, I was suddenly imaging how she would taste. I tried to swallow against the burn in my throat, to think of something else. â€Å"What is your mother like?† I asked as a distraction. Bella smiled. â€Å"She looks a lot like me, but she's prettier.† I doubted that. â€Å"I have too much Charlie in me,† she went on. â€Å"She's more outgoing than I am, and braver.† I doubted that, too. â€Å"She's irresponsible and slightly eccentric, and she's a very unpredictable cook. She's my best friend.† Her voice had turned melancholy; her forehead creased. Again, she sounded more like parent than child. I stopped in front of her house, wondering too late if I was supposed to know where she lived. No, this wouldn't be suspicious in such a small town, with her father a public figure†¦ â€Å"How old are you, Bella?† She must be older than her peers. Perhaps she'd been late to start school, or been held back†¦that wasn't likely, though. â€Å"I'm seventeen,† she answered. â€Å"You don't seem seventeen.† She laughed. â€Å"What?† â€Å"My mom always says I was born thirty-five years old and that I get more middleaged every year.† She laughed again, and then sighed. â€Å"Well, someone has to be the adult.† This clarified things for me. I could see it now†¦how the irresponsible mother helped explain Bella's maturity. She'd had to grow up early, to become the caretaker. That's why she didn't like being cared for – she felt it was her job. â€Å"You don't seem much like a junior in high school yourself,† she said, pulling me from my reverie. I grimaced. For everything I perceived about her, she perceived too much in return. I changed the subject. â€Å"So why did your mother marry Phil?† She hesitated a minute before answering. â€Å"My mother†¦she's very young for her age. I think Phil makes her feel even younger. At any rate, she's crazy about him.† She shook her head indulgently. â€Å"Do you approve?† I wondered. â€Å"Does it matter?† she asked. â€Å"I want her to be happy†¦and he is who she wants.† The unselfishness of her comment would have shocked me, except that it fit in all too well with what I'd learned of her character. â€Å"That's very generous†¦I wonder.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Would she extend the same courtesy to you, do you think? No matter who your choice was?† It was a foolish question, and I could not keep my voice casual while I asked it. How stupid to even consider someone approving of me for their daughter. How stupid to even think of Bella choosing me. â€Å"I-I think so,† she stuttered, reacting in some way to my gaze. Fear†¦or attraction? â€Å"But she's the parent, after all. It's a little bit different,† she finished. I smiled wryly. â€Å"No one too scary then.† She grinned at me. â€Å"What do you mean by scary? Multiple facial piercings and extensive tattoos?† â€Å"That's one definition, I suppose.† A very nonthreatening definition, to my mind. â€Å"What's your definition?† She always asked the wrong questions. Or exactly the right questions, maybe. The ones I didn't want to answer, at any rate. â€Å"Do you think that I could be scary?† I asked her, trying to smile a little. She thought it through before answering me in a serious voice. â€Å"Hmm†¦I think you could be, if you wanted to.† I was serious, too. â€Å"Are you frightened of me now?† She answered at once, not thinking this one through. â€Å"No.† I smiled more easily. I did not think she was entirely telling the truth, but nor was she truly lying. She wasn't frightened enough to want to leave, at least. I wondered how she would feel if I told her she was having this discussion with a vampire. I cringed internally at her imagined reaction. â€Å"So, now are you going to tell me about your family? It's got to be a much more interesting story than mine.† A more frightening one, at least. â€Å"What do you want to know?† I asked cautiously. â€Å"The Cullens adopted you?† â€Å"Yes.† She hesitated, then spoke in a small voice. â€Å"What happened to your parents?† This wasn't so hard; I wasn't even having to lie to her. â€Å"They died a very long time ago.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† she mumbled, clearly worried about having hurt me. She was worried about me. â€Å"I don't really remember them that clearly,† I assured her. â€Å"Carlisle and Esme have been my parents for a long time now.† â€Å"And you love them,† she deduced. I smiled. â€Å"Yes. I couldn't imagine two better people.† â€Å"You're very lucky.† â€Å"I know I am.† In that one circumstance, the matter of parents, my luck could not be denied. â€Å"And your brother and sisters?† If I let her push for too many details, I would have to lie. I glanced at the clock, disheartened that my time with her was up. â€Å"My brother and sister, and Jasper and Rosalie for that matter, are going to be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me.† â€Å"Oh, sorry, I guess you have to go.† She didn't move. She didn't want our time to be up, either. I liked that very, very much. â€Å"And you probably want your truck back before Chief Swan gets home, so you don't have to tell him about the Biology incident.† I grinned at the memory of her embarrassment in my arms. â€Å"I'm sure he's already heard. There are no secrets in Forks.† She said the name of the town with distinct distaste. I laughed at her words. No secrets, indeed. â€Å"Have fun at the beach.† I glanced at the pouring rain, knowing it would not last, and wishing more strongly than usual that it could. â€Å"Good weather for sunbathing.† Well, it would be by Saturday. She would enjoy that. â€Å"Won't I see you tomorrow?† The worry in her tone pleased me. â€Å"No. Emmett and I are starting the weekend early.† I was mad at myself now for having made the plans. I could break them†¦but there was no such thing as too much hunting at this point, and my family was going to be concerned enough about my behavior without me revealing how obsessive I was turning. â€Å"What are you going to do?† she asked, not sounded happy with my revelation. Good. â€Å"We're going to be hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, just south of Rainier.† Emmett was eager for bear season. â€Å"Oh, well, have fun,† she said halfheartedly. Her lack of enthusiasm pleased me again. As I stared at her, I began to feel almost agonized at the thought of saying even a temporary goodbye. She was just so soft and vulnerable. It seemed foolhardy to let her out of my sight, where anything could happen to her. And yet, the worst things that could happen to her would result from being with me. â€Å"Will you do something for me this weekend?† I asked seriously. She nodded, her eyes wide and bewildered by my intensity. Keep it light. â€Å"Don't be offended, but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a magnet. So†¦try not to fall into the ocean or get run over or anything, all right?† I smiled ruefully at her, hoping she couldn't see the sadness in my eyes. How much I wished that she wasn't so much better off away from me, no matter what might happen to her there. Run, Bella, run. I love you too much, for your good or mine. She was offended by my teasing. She glared at me. â€Å"I'll see what I can do,† she snapped, jumping out into the rain and slamming the door as hard as she could behind her. Just like an angry kitten that believes it's a tiger. I curled my hand around the key I'd just picked from her jacket pocket, and smiled as I drove away.