Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Nvq Health and Socail Care Level 3 Assignment204 a

Abuse Physical Abuse What is physical abuse? Physical abuse is any abuse involving the use of force, this can be: Punching, hitting, slapping, pinching, kicking, in fact any form of physical attack Burning or scalding Restraint such as tying up or tying people to beds or furniture Refusal to allow access to toilet facilities Deliberate starvation or force feeding Leaving the individuals in wet or soiled clothing or bedding as a deliberate act to demonstrate power and strength of the abuser Excessive or inappropriate use of medicationA carer causing illness or injury to someone he or she cares for in order to gain attention Signs and symptoms associated with Physical abuse Pepper pot bruising-small bruises, usually on the chest, caused by poking with the finger or pulling of the clothes tightly. Finger-marks-often on arms or shoulders. Bruising in areas not normally bruised such as inside of thighs and arms. Marks on wrists, upper arms or legs which could be from tying to a bed or fur niture. Burns or scalds in unusual areas such as soles of feet, inside thighs. Ulcers, sores or rashes caused by wet bedding or clothing.Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Loss of interest in appearance. Loss of confidence. Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Sexual abuse What is sexual abuse? Sexual abuse is the act in which sexual act have taken place without the persons consent. This can consist of: Sexual penetration of any part of the body with a penis, finger or any object Touching inappropriate parts of the body or any other form of sexual contact without the informed agreement of the individual Sexual exploitationExposure to, or involvement in, pornographic or erotic material Exposure to, or involvement in, sexual rituals Making sexual related comments or references which provide sexual gratification for the abuser Making threats about sexual activities. Signs and symptoms associated with Sexual abuse Marks on wrists, upper arms or legs which could be from tying to a bed or furniture. Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Loss of interest in appearance. Loss of confidence. Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Unusual sexual behaviour.Blood marks on underclothes. Recurrent genital/urinary infections. Emotional/psychological abuse What is Emotional/psychological abuse? All the other forms of abuse also have an element of emotional abuse. Any situation which means that an individual becomes a victim of abuse at the hands of someone he or she trusted is, unavoidably, going to cause emotional distress. However, some abuse is purely emotional – there are no physical, sexual or financial elements involved. This abuse can take the form of: Humiliation, belittling, putting down Withdrawing or refusing affection Bullying Shouting or swearingMaking insulting or abusive remarks Racial abuse Constant teasing and poking fun. Signs and symptoms associated with Emotional/psychological abuse Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Loss of interest in appearance. Loss of confidence. Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Becoming afraid of making decisions. Flinching or appearing afraid of close contact. Financial abuse What is financial abuse? Many service users are very vulnerable to financial abuse, particularly those who may have a limited understanding of money matters.Financial abuse, like all other forms of abuse, can be inflicted by family members and even friends as well as care workers or informal carers, and can take a range of forms such as: Stealing money or property Allowing or encouraging others to steal money or property Tricking or threatening individuals into giving away money or property Persuading individuals to take financial decisions which are not in their interests Withholding money, or refusing access to money Refusing to allow individu als to manage their own financial affairs Failing to support individuals to manage their own financial affairs. WHERE HAS IT GONESigns and symptoms associated with financial abuse Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Missing cash or belongings, or bank accounts with unexplained withdrawals. Missing bank account records. Sudden change in attitude to financial matters. Institutional abuse What is Institutional Abuse? Institutional abuse is a type of systematic and organised abuse that mostly goes on in residential and hospital settings However, individuals can be abused in many other ways in settings where they could expect to be cared for and protected.For example: Individuals in residential settings are not given choice over day-to-day decisions such as mealtimes, bedtimes, Freedom to go out is limited by the institutional Privacy and dignity are not respected Personal correspondence i s opened by staff The setting is run for the convenience of staff, and not service users Excessive or inappropriate doses of sedation/medication are given Access to advice and advocacy is restricted or not allowed Complaints procedures are deliberately made unavailable. â€Å"Do you what Me? †Ã¢â‚¬Å"Just reach for me† â€Å"You can’tReach† â€Å"tough luck then I will just sit here† Signs and symptoms associated with Institutional abuse Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Self-Neglect What is Self-Neglect? Many people neglect themselves when they are ill or depressed and unable to make the effort or some people neglect themselves as they feel incapable of looking after themselves. Working out when someone is neglecting themselves can be very difficult. Self-neglect can show in many of ways: Lack of personal hygieneLack of care about appearance and clo thing Failure to eat, or to buy food Failure to maintain a clean living environment Not bothering or refusing to obtain medical help Unwillingness to accept any support with daily living Unwillingness to see people or to go out. Signs and symptoms associated with Self neglect Sleeping problems. Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Appearance Neglect by others What is Neglect by Others? This occurs when either a care worker or an informal carer fails to meet the care needs of a person.Neglect can happen because those responsible for providing the care do not realise its importance, or because they cannot be bothered, or choose not, to provide it. As the result of neglect, individuals can become ill, hungry, cold, dirty, injured or deprived of their rights. Neglecting someone you are supposed to be caring for can mean failing to undertake a range of care services, for example: Not providing adequate food Not providing assistance with ea ting food if necessary Not ensuring that the individual is adequately clothed Leaving the individual aloneNot assisting an individual to meet mobility or communication needs Failing to maintain a clean and hygienic living environment Failing to obtain necessary medical/health-care support Not supporting social contacts Not taking steps to provide a safe and secure environment for the individual. Signs and symptoms associated with Neglect by others: Becoming withdrawn or anxious. Sleeping problems Change in eating habits. No longer laughing or joking. Feeling depressed or hopeless. Appearance What you should do if you suspicions that an individual is being abused.As a carer you would record any signs or symptoms of an individual being abused to the line manage, your line manager may ask you to fill in a body chart indicating the location and description of the injuries which would be kept in the office copy of their care plan, you would not document it in the running report in their home as this can be read by anyone. As a carer your observations may add to other observations noticed by other carers or members of the team this will help to safeguard the service user as the line manage will have documentation to refer to the social workers to help this erson What you should do if an individual alleges that they are being abused. You must assume the person is tell the truth, You must be careful not to ask any leading questions e. g. ‘and did he punch you? ‘ you just ask ‘ and what happened? ’ you use your communication and listening skills so that the individual knows that they can trust you, then you would record exactly what the individual says and the details of the situation, you would not write this in the running report it would be documented on a separate document E. g. iece of paper then you would sign and date it and report it to the line manager and you would give them the statement, so that they can take responsibility. If the individual ask you to keep it to yourself, You would explain to them that you have to report this to your line manager as it is your duty of care under to NO SECRET policy and that the only people who will know are people who can help. Identify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved. You should always record details of the alleged/suspected abuse on a separate piece of paper and sign and date it, if any witnesses were present you should ask for their details e. . name and contact details and have them sign your document, if you have permission take photographic evidence of any physical injuries, collect all reports e. g. financial records, running reports, dietary reports and give it to you line manager so the information can be put into their care plan in a filing cabinet in the office and documented on the computer system National policies to safeguard individuals * Government Department of health – No secrets: Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agenc y policies and procedures to protect Vulnerable adults from abuse POVA Policy is there to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable people. Local and organisational systems for safeguarding Care Quality Commission (CQC, have a role in safeguarding. It is there to monitor care setting are followed policies and procedures correctly. If you feel that your company is not following these, you have the right to contact CQC and report them. Disclosure and Barring Service DBS was formed by merging together the functions of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) under the Protection of FreedomsAct 2012. It started functioning on 1 December 2012 and it is there to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults Different agencies/services in safeguarding and protecting individuals The importance of commination between different care providers is very important to safeguarding an individual, there can be a lot of different care providers involved in the service user life, this are origination such as:- * social services e. g. social workers, care assistants, the police * health services e. g.Gps, nurses, health visitors * voluntary services e. g. NSPCC, Age UK All origination involved in a service user life, will appoint a person from the health and social care setting to oversee the safeguarding assessment and its outcome, they also inform the police regarding all safeguarding incidents; chairing meetings, including the agreement of responsibilities; actions and time scales; co- coordinating and monitoring investigations and overseeing the convening of safeguarding case and providing information and outcomes to the safeguarding co- predicator.Identify sources of information and advice about own role in safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse. As a carer you would get information and advice from your manager, you would go on training course every 12 months. you can also ge t information from the internet, leaflets or by contacting different agencies such as CQC, also I can look at the policies and procedures and agreed ways of working within the work place.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Dramatic devices Essay

Compare and contrast the characters of Inspector Goole and Mr Birling in Act One. How does J.B Priestly use dramatic devices to help shape an audiences’ response to views presented in this play.  J.B Priestly’s play was set in 1912 but written in 1945. The President at the time was called Herbert Asquith. The Titanic was built and nicknamed, ‘The Unsinkable’. It crashed on its first commercial journey on an iceberg and sunk, more than a hundred were unfound. It was just before World War 1 broke out against Germany. In 1945, World war 2 had just ended. Thousands upon thousands had perished in the war and the country was grieving its vast loses, still pondering the horrific situation upon which they had been left in. The country was brought together in sadness and grieving.  Britain in 1912 was a nation divided by class. Poverty was no longer the fault of the poor but the fault of society Britain had created. While the poor suffered, the rich and middle class enjoyed a lifestyle which even people today would envy. Poverty ravished the country. This was made to a great extent worse by World war 1 and 2. Priestly, through this play was trying to show the appalling fault of society. The extremes and ignorance of the Capitalist views and that unless it stopped this kind of poverty and war would continue happening. He was trying to convey to the audience his Socialist views. By undertaking this, he could outline all the negative points of Capitalist ideas and at the same time highlight all the good points about the Socialist ideas, effectively demonstrating the potential of Socialist views and subconsciously allowing people to think twice about Capitalism. The Inspectors name, Goole, is a dramatic device used in order to express to the audience that there is a kind of mysterious nature about him. The Goole name relating to such as a ghost as it sounds a lot like ‘ghoul’. This is very ironic, as he seems to act this very well. Goole is also a seaport town, this can be linked with the referral to ‘fish’ for information. He is fishing for information from the Birling family. He is much like Eva Smith, just another face in the crowd, common. This links with the name ‘Smith’ it is a very common name. Eve was the very first women in the Bible and is represented in that way as being very innocent and is an innocent victim in this matter. She is representing society and all the oppressed victims. This associates with the continuous repetition of â€Å"A lot of these young women† by the Inspector which further hints to what or who Eva Smith represents. He also seems to be omniscient about the matter of Eva Smith. Almost intimidating at times. None of the Birling family is sure how much he already knows, but all the same he still drags the truth from them. The Inspector is not a big man and ‘need not be a big man as he creates at once the impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’. He is in his fifties and dressed in a plain darkish suit of the period. Priestly introduces him as a superior person. A person who is going to make an impact even before he has spoken based purely on his appearance. Because of the Inspectors appearance it gives a que for everyone including the audience to take him seriously. His appearance alone demands respect. He comes across as being very professional, organised and thus good at his job. He is talked about by Sheila as if you cannot trick him. He will find out what he does not already know. The Inspector is the catalyst in the play. He speeds up all the confessions of the characters in the play by the belief of the other characters that he already knows everything and he tries to make them change in order to help society. On the other hand, Arthur Birling is a:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Heavy looking very portentous man in his middles fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.†Ã‚  The spotlight is immediately taken off Mr Birling when the Inspector walks in and this discomforts him. The Inspector looks somewhat superior to Mr Birling. Mr Birling hates this as he demands social status because of how rich he is. He tries very hard to gain social superiority but lacks refinement. â€Å"Tell the cook for me† It is bad manners to comment on the food at your own house, Mrs Birling says to him â€Å"Arthur you must not say such things.† As you can see by this, Mrs Birling is Mr Birling’s social superior. This is ironic as he is trying to depict himself as a person of high social status but it has already been seen by his actions and what he says that he is not of high social status, he lacks the correct mannerisms. The effect of this is that he is made to look dim-witted and the audience would not look to him as being a superior man to the inspector but the same underneath. The inspector speaks like a judge or prophet. He continually makes comments about the actions of the characters in the play. The Inspector seems to care a lot about other people. He believes everyone should act as a community and all have responsibility for their actions against anyone. This is in deep contrast to the morals of Mr Birling. Mr Birling thinks that he has no responsibility over his employees. If he fires them then it is their responsibility what they do. He is very ‘right wing’ in his thinking and does not believe that everyone is equal.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Business munciation for Non-Verbal

As the workplace b es a more plex place with myriad of inter-relationships and   work being assigned mostly in teams rather than to individuals, the significance of munication is perhaps more significant than ever (Fielding, 2006). However, when we consider munication, the focus tends to be too much on the verbal aspects which are where all the training is majorly focused on. In the process, a major aspect of munication which constitutes of non-verbal munication is ignored. However, it is noteworthy that majority (i.e. about 80%) of the munication that a person engages in is through non –verbal munication. Here essentially no words are spoken but essentially through the use of gestures, symbols and body language pivotal munication is facilitated (Bonaccio et. al., 2016). The objective of the given essay is to highlight the significance of non-verbal munication or cues and how potentially this mode of munication is more critical than the verbal aspect of munication in the wor kplace context. As highlighted above, a large majority of the munication an individual typically indulges is in the form of non-verbal munication facilitated primarily through the use of body language. Further, in the workplace, the non-verbal munication is given more importance than the verbal munication. This is primarily because while the verbal munication is controlled by the conscious mind, the non-verbal munication is highly more spontaneously and at times the gestures an individual engages in, even he/she may not be aware of the same but it municates vital information to the other party (Means, 2009). Hence, it is a mon practice at workplace when there is lack of consistency between the verbal and non-verbal aspects of munication; it is the latter which is accorded more weightage. This is primarily because the verbal munication is often driven by diplomacy and other factors and thus is paratively much easier to manipulate in parison with the non-verbal munication which as mentioned before ten ds to take place spontaneously and hence less prone to conscious manipulation.   As a result, in various situations, individuals tend to be driven more by the non-verbal munication rather than the verbal munication (Lunenburg, 2010). Consider for example, an HR manager is taking an interview for a potential recruit. It is a mon practice on the part of the candidates to claim that they have all the requisite qualities and to endorse themselves. However, there are subtle non-verbal clues which the interviewers tend to grasp which indicates that the claim made by the candidate may not be entirely true and provides avenues for further probing so as to recruit the right candidate for the available vacancy. This interaction between the verbal and non-verbal modes of munication is frequent at the workplace and plays a critical role in the manner in which the messages are interpreted at the workplace. Usually, the message municated through verbal munication need requisite support of non-verbal munication in order to make sense to the receiver and hence ensure that munication is effective (Mcintosh and Luecke, 2008). Further, as a supervisor or manager, it is imperative to pay attention to the non-verbal munication which more often than not is more vital than the verbal munication. One of the situations that non-verbal munication is of particular importance is contradiction (Fielding, 2006). For instance, the manager floats a new proposal based on which, certain employees every week would be required to e on weekends to the office. When the supervisor asks for the suggestion from the employees, it is possible that due to the higher authority that he/she represents, the employees may be resultant to voice their dissent and thus may agree to it. But the manner in which this agreement is municated coupled with various other cues such as the body language after the proposal has been floated around would provide key indicators as to whether there is actual consent or not (Guffey and Loewy, 2009). Usually, this is imperative as taking initiatives would typically involve costs and resource allocation an d hence it is imperative that the same should have backing of the underlying subjects for whose benefit it is being done. This could be true for various training initiatives that may be taken for the employees which do not yield much improvement in performance since from the beginning there might have been lack of enthusiasm but still for fear of repercussions, no concern would have been raised by any employee (Bonaccio et. al., 2016). Additionally, non-verbal munication plays a critical role in reinforcement which is critical when a given individual is presenting a new proposal to a client. Through non-verbal munication, the extent of conviction that the person concerned presenting the idea has can be indicated which goes a long way in convincing the client (Lunenburg, 2010). If on one hand, there is a sales pitch for a product, service or business idea but an inconsistent body language shows reluctance or doubts with regards to critical aspects of the underlying good, then it is highly likely that sale would not happen as reinforcement was missing from the end of the presenter. Non-verbal munication also plays a vital role in ascertaining the level of understanding the employees or team members are experiencing without actually disturbing the group (Mcintosh and Luecke, 2008). For instance, imagine a situation where the project manager is briefing the team members about a particular new project whereby the team m embers can be nodding indicate to the project manager that they are actually able to understand what is being said by the project manager and in the process there is no interruption for the project manager. This is also applicable in case of various presentations that may be made to senior management or clients where the concerned individual may look for subtle non-verbal clues to ascertain if he/she is one the right track or not and whether the intended audience is able to resonate with the viewpoints captured by the speaker (Fielding, 2006). Besides, non-verbal munication goes a long way in the expression of subtle emotions which are considered vital at the business place. This is particularly significant in dealing with the concerns and grievances of the employees (Bonaccio et. al., 2016).. As a result, non-verbal munication is highly critical for the role of a human resource manager. Irrespective of the final solution to the problem, it is essential that the HR manager must show sensitivity towards the employee and make attempts to understand the perspective of the employees. The sensitivity on part of the HR is usually indicated through the non verbal munication which would employ gestures during listening which essentially are meant to pacify the employee so that he/she can vent out the frustration (Means, 2009). Unlike personal relations, where emotions are expressed by a greater use of verbal munication, professional relationships are characterized by expressions of emotions more at the level of non-verbal municati on.   This makes the non-verbal munication even more vital for the workplace for it essentially b es a humane place where gestures by individuals are considered critical for the overall munication (Lunenburg, 2010). This empathy which is municated through non-verbal munication is the lynchpin of service businesses whose success rests on the same. The employees intend to provide a superior service experience to the customers through the use of various friendly gestures such as greeting customers,   having a smile while talking or otherwise also, voluntarily extending help to clients which help as key differentiators of service between rival firms. A service firm without the requisite non-verbal munication would be destined to fail as the requisite warmth would never been able to municate to the client (Fielding, 2006). This is b ing more apparent with the advent of online shopping and services where customers tend to miss the personal touch and the non-verbal munication which the concerned person at the store would display through various gestures. Additionally, the lack of non-verbal munication tends to prove a hurdle in virtual teams where the munication is through verbal messages but are fou nd to be less effective and results is greater issues of coordination since non-verbal munication provides appropriate context to the verbal munication by either reinforcement or contradiction (Guffey and Loewy, 2008). Based on the above discussion, it is apparent that non-verbal munication plays a larger role than verbal munication at the workplace. One of the reasons that is responsible for the same is the fact that verbal munication is more open to manipulation unlike non-verbal munication which is more intuitive and spontaneous and hence more representative of the true feedback of the listener. Concentrating on non-verbal munication is pivotal for the managers so as to understand the reactions of their team members about various proposals which otherwise may not be represented in verbal munication. This also plays a crucial role for the HR manger who effectively relies on the same to placate the employees and thereby enhance the overall employee satisfaction. Also, with regards to clients or customers, non-verbal munication can be the key differentiator especially in the service business. Thus, it would be fair to establish while non-verbal munication can exist in isolation, it is typically not possible for the verbal munication to exist and make sense in the absence of non-verbal munication which is apparent in the case of virtual teams and the underlying issues faced. Bonaccio, S., Reilly, J., Sullivan, S. and Chiocchio, F. (2016)Nonverbal Behaviour and munication in the Workplace: A review and an Agenda for Research, Journal of Management, 42(6) pp.14-17. Fielding, M. (2006) Effective munication in organisations. 4th edn.Claremont: Juta and pany Ltd. Guffey, E. M. and Loewy, D. (2014) Business munication: Process and Product. 8th edn.Boston:Cengage Learning. Lunenburg, C.F.(2010) Lounder Than Words: The Hidden Power of Nonverbal munication in the Workplace. International Journal of Scholarly Academic Intellectual Diversity, 12(1), pp. 3-5. Mcintosh, P. and Luecke, A. R. (2008) Interpersonal munication Skills in the Workplace.2nd edn.New York: AM Div American Mgmt Assn. Means, T. (2009) Business munication.2nd edn.Boston: Cengage Learning.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Cultural Assessment slp3- 414 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cultural Assessment slp3- 414 - Essay Example The most affected group in the South African society is those between 15 and 49 years of age according to (Avert, 2011). Avert further states that the prevalence of the disease in the country varies according to provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumulanga leading with 15.8 percent and 15.4 percent prevalence respectively. Behaviour Contributing to the high Prevalence of HIV?AIDS in South Africa The high prevalence and incidences of HIV/AIDS in South Africa is mainly associated with irresponsible sexual behaviour and the denial of its actual existence. Statistics show that a minor portion of the population of South Africa start having Sex beyond the age of 15, a time when most people are not yet married. At this age, it is highly unlikely that the youths use contraceptives. Yet another major cause of the health problem is sexual violence, rape being a major factor in this category. The engagement in sex with multiple partners whether or not in a polygamous setting has also featured promin ently as another cause of the disease. The scourge is also noted to be more prevalent among heavy drinkers and drug abusers. Many South Africans are reluctant to go for testing which means that they do not know their HIV status. Because of this, the spread of AIDS has not been curbed effectively as such people spread the disease without knowing.

How to start a new business venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

How to start a new business venture - Essay Example People in modern world are more conscious about their health and the diets they take to be fit physically and be more active in their daily life. For this booming industry trend there is a great prospect for the new business venture in the fitness and healthcare industry. In this report we have a proposal for a new business venture at Mayfair in the City of Westminster as it is one of the growing regions at UK and the people nearby Mayfair region are more aware of the health and sports fitness centre compared to other regions at UK due to the presence of many clubs and hotels at nearby streets like Marshall Street Leisure Centre, Seymour Leisure Centre, Little Venice Sports Centre, Queen Mother Sports Centre, Porchester Centre etc (City of Westminster, 2011). As far as the UK Fitness Industry report by FIA, over the last few years’ regions of London has immense growth in Fitness Industry and has been forecasted to grow even more in future if people are educated with its benefi ts to their health and wellbeing (FIA, 2010). Proposed Services The new sport fitness centre should provide its customer with a variety of services. It would include first class fitness centres and some sports centres which will accommodate many types of sports like basketball, tennis, boxing etc. There should be a food and beverage area where customers can also relax during workout. Massage centre with training on fitness exercises are one vital service which should be there. A medical therapy clinic is also a modern trend in the fitness industry. Various other facilities like the conference room and the children centre, protective lockers and swimming pool are some attractive features which attract a lot of customers with the extra services they get from other fitness centres (Anything & Everything, 2011). Analysis of the market in London 7 P’s of Marketing Mix Fitness and Health industry being a service offered to the customer without any product thus the extended marketin g mix is to be used i.e. 7P’s of marketing mix. In order to formulate the right marketing mix the company needs to evaluate all the segments and work in the improvements of the each segment to compete with the other players of the market (Gupta, 2006, p.22). Product The product mix is the range of products that are available with the company. It may be broaden with different services or it can also be extended in order to fit the market scenario. The services of the fitness centre located near Mayfair road in the city of Westminster at London are very advanced with many facilities like swimming pool, recreation centre, modern equipments, therapy clinic etc. Thus to survive in this competitive environment the new business venture of fitness centre should also posses the existing services along with some added new differential services (Nargundkar, 2006, p.46). Place Place is one of the most vital factors which needed to be considered while placing the product or services. The place determines the cost of transportation of materials, scope of new customers. If the right service is properly placed at the right time at the right place then it will be best accepted by the customers. UK being a very flourishing country for the fitness industry especially in London the people is very aware of the services provided by the different fitness centres and since there are no fitness centres located at proper

Saturday, July 27, 2019

The Power of the Media Tycoon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Power of the Media Tycoon - Essay Example Today, the power of the media and the few people that control it, have been compared to world leaders in their ability to sway opinion and effect change. How does this power compare to the power of a US President While the media tycoons have the legal limitations of any business owner that answers to stockholders and a board of directors, they have the power to move public opinion, initiate social change, and influence foreign policy to an extent greater than any elected public official. In the United States almost all the information available comes from a media outlet. Academic research is generally reserved for the small circle of specialists that have a position that offers them an interest and gives them exposure to the topic. These articles will occasionally get anecdotally quoted by the media, but the reports can be used for the outlet's own self-serving agenda. Selected quotes taken out of context can mislead the viewers in an attempt to sway public opinion. These opinion-centric newscasts exert enormous control over what people think and how they think about it. The ability to slant the news is even more significant in light of the increasing concentration of media ownership. The period of 1984 - 1999 saw the number of major owners go from 50 to 15 (Hasen 1626). The reduced number of outlets translates to an increased numbers of viewers and more influence. Media owners such as Rupert Murdoch can stack ... Reporters and pundits can be richly rewarded by presenting material in line with the network's political views. They can also be summarily punished and fired for developing a politically unpopular story of a scandal or major corruption. The network owner leverages these strengths to highlight or diminish a story's importance in the viewer's mind. The president is unable to cap a story or keep facts out of the viewer's homes. The recent events surrounding the investigation into the firings of the US Attorneys is evidence of the president's lack of ability to control the news. It is solely in the hands of the network and the network leadership. When comparing a media tycoon's power in regards to public opinion to a president, it is helpful to consider the information disseminated during a national presidential election. Presidents and candidates are limited to advertising and 'free' news spots. They are limited in the amount of time and coverage they can get. News conferences can help a president get exposure for a program or to promote a political stance, but television news can paint the portrayal with an opinionated slant. The news is not simply responding to a market and giving viewers 'what they want'; they are actively promoting a social agenda. During a recent national election, coverage varied widely from Fox to NBC to CBS. They varied in the amount of coverage on issues such as race and gender and according to Larson, "...although network news shows generally compete for the same audience, have the same operating procedures, and have similarly trained workers, their stories differed" (23). News presentation has the ability to focus attention on a given event and make the event important

Friday, July 26, 2019

What are the main differences between Monopolistic Competition and Essay

What are the main differences between Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly market structuresWhich of these market structures best serves the interests of the consumer and why - Essay Example In this type of market structure the firm takes the price charged by the competitors as given and does not take into consideration the impact of its price on that of competitors. In the short run the firms operating in monopolistic market can act as monopolies but in the long run the other firms enter into the market and the gains of differentiation takes the downward sloping curve with competition. Oligopoly is regarded as the market structure where there are large firms operating in the market with significant barriers to entry. The oligopolists are aware of the conditions prevailing in the market as the market is dominated by only few sellers. The decision undertaken by one firm will influence the other firms operating in the market as well as the market as a whole. The decision or the responses of the market participants should be taken into account in the planning process. The prevailing competition in the market structure can give rise different outcomes. An operating firm in the oligopolistic firm can maximise the profit by operating at the level where marginal revenue is same as marginal costs. Differences The primary differences between the two types of market structures are in terms of relative size and control of the market of each firm on the basis of the number of competitors in the existing market structure. It is difficult to find clear cut evidences that cite the differences between the two market structures. Some industries can posses the characteristics of both oligopoly and monopolistic firm. With decrease in the level of competition the firms tend to behave more likely to that of oligopoly and less likely to that of monopolistic competition. The monopolistic market structure offers differentiated products. The suppliers are aware of the price system existing in the market i.e. they are the price makers. The barriers to entry are not stringent in the short run but in the long run the firms can enter or leave the industry. The sellers can act in independent fashion within the market. The demand curve slopes downward and is more elastic than that of monopolists (Economics, 2012). The firms operating in the oligopolistic market structure are interdependent. The products offered can be homogeneous as well as can be differentiated across producers. The interdependence among the firms is correlated with the homogeneity of the products. A huge amount of investment is usually associated with entry in the oligopolistic market. In this market structure the firms can collude and impose some restricted trade practices with the aim to raise prices. The profit of the industry is maximized with the collusion of firms. If one firm believes that the other firm will keep the output level constant it can raise the productivity so as to gain maximum revenue. In a situation characterised by cartel the firms can recognize the significance of joint profits from producing each unit of output. However if one firm believes that the other firm will increase the level of productivity, then the other firm will try to increase the productivity faster to gain the first mover advantage (Central Washington University, 2003, p. 3). In this situation the cartel will broke. The significance of market structures on interests of consumers As long as the consumers are happy in demanding one product regardless of the prices of other products the seller o f the product will be acting as a

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Pulmonary Embolism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pulmonary Embolism - Essay Example The clots can break free, travel to the lung, and block an artery. The condition can uncommonly be caused from fat escaping from fractured bone marrow or from amniotic fluid during childbirth. With a large clot, or many number of clots, pulmonary embolism can cause death. The process by which a pulmonary embolism forms, begins in the blood stream. Blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The heart pumps this oxygen-rich blood through arteries delivering it to various parts of the body after which it enters another network of veins. The veins carry the now oxygen-poor blood back to the heart, which pumps the blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen again. A blood clot forming in a vein, commonly a deep vein in the leg, can travel with the blood flow back to the lungs and become lodge there.This leads to pulmonary embolism. When the lung arteries become blocked by a blood clot, high blood pressure in the lungs may occur. This results in the heart having to pump harder than usual. A continually overworked heart may enlarge and may eventually fail to function. A large pulmonary embolism can result in failure of both the lungs and heart. However, the sooner a physician can diagnose and treat the condition, increases the chances of surviving a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism differ widel... The symptoms of pulmonary embolism differ widely and often resemble those of other conditions; the classic signs include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain and a cough that produces blood-streaked sputum. Breathing may be very rapid and breathing deeply may cause severe chest pains. Other symptoms include increased pulse rate, dizziness, and fainting. Pulmonary infarction may result if there is a lack of blood flow to the lungs causing some lung tissue to die. In addition the patient may also cough up blood-stained phlegm, have sharp chest pains, and fever. The skin may turn a bluish color from a lack of oxygen when the larger vessels of the lungs are blocked. Chronic pulmonary embolism, where small blood clots deposit themselves in the lungs repeatedly over time, will cause shortness of breath, swelling of the leg and all round weakness (MayoClinic 2006). Risk factors for a pulmonary embolus include: Prolonged bed rest or inactivity (including long trips in planes, cars, or trains), Oral contraceptive use, Surgery (especially pelvic surgery), Childbirth, Massive trauma, Burns, Cancer, Stroke, Heart attack, Heart surgery, Fractures of the hips or femur A blood clot is the first factor towards pulmonary embolism and one that forms in a vein is called a thrombus. A blood clot is a plug of platelets enmeshed in a group of red blood cells and fibrin. Blood clots usually develop to help stop bleeding an injury, but sometimes form without reason. A clot that develops in one part of the body and travels in the bloodstream to another part of the body is called an embolus. Sometimes other substances, such as pieces of a tumor, globules of fat from fractured bones or air bubbles, may enter the bloodstream and become an embolus that blocks arteries. A vein in the leg or

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Reflection Paper, on Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight, found on Movie Review

Reflection Paper, on Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight, found on www.ted.com - Movie Review Example She tells how she felt to be one with universe with the boundaries of her body merging with the environment when she had a stroke in her right brain hemisphere, and concludes her talk by saying how beautiful and peaceful she felt at that time and how we all should learn to internalize that message from our right hemisphere so that there is peace and happiness in the world (â€Å"Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight†). Bullet Points Comments The moment-by-moment description of stroke is valuable information for science. How she interprets her experiences can be a matter of contest. It seems that Jill Bolte is exaggerating a little. Memory may distort the actual events. As a scientist, Jill Bolte could have dwelled more on the scientific aspects of her experiences. The scientific facts corresponding to each and every moment of stroke experience, if narrated, might have been more informative. Even a scientist with rational thinking capabilities is prone to be subjective, when analyzing one’s own very personal realm.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Theory of Constraints Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Theory of Constraints - Assignment Example h a difference of four minutes, it means that the first customer to be served will leave when the last customer is left with 24 minutes to leave because the total time that is being lost before the servers finish with their last customer in the first round of 12 is 24 minutes. And suppose there is an increment in the number of servers then there will be decrease in time lost with increase in the number of customers served which is directly proportional to increase in general income of the process(Jacobs, Chase & Lummus, 2011). If the average cost per meal is 10$ then it means that in the first 50 minutes the process shall have generated 120$ and in the first 1 hour it shall have generated 144$. For a better understanding of that calculation the figures are tabulated as shown bellow Increment in the number of customers can comfortably accommodate by increment in the number of employees by a positive figure of one and at the same time the current employees must adjust their level of performance for the general success of the process(Jacobs, Chase & Lummus,

Letter of Advice... Interpersonal Communication Essay Example for Free

Letter of Advice Interpersonal Communication Essay This a great article with good advice on how to communicate with your husband, wife or partner for the future. Without Communication there will not be a happy and long lasting result in a marriage. Within reading this article I was able to relate the knowledge with my own marriage of 5 long years. Learning how to communicate within listen as well as my tone and other forms to communicate has been susceptible for us. There has been along hard battle to fight through my ordeal, but the lessons of reading and responding with the actions have been very tolerable. I have had a very bad problem beening lonely after my children went to college and after I closed my business. Drawing more to my husband, I felt he was pulling away from me. There was not a day went by that I feel deeper in a depression without communicating that with him, I just assumed he would have noticed. Now after talking the problem out and with quality time as well things are much better. Being able to relate to â€Å"Many couples think they are communicating with each other†, they are wrong at times, because I was that person. Within the statement, â€Å"Romantic relationships begin with a lot of sharing and excitement, (Terri Orbuch) I feel this is very true, because that’s why you get married. But, as time goes on other things take place within priorities before you mate. I blame this on life sometimes. Self-disclosure really is an important key to having satisfaction in a marriage even or a relationship, because it is an act of verbally or nonverbally revealing information about you to others. Within revealing your true thoughts and self you may allow other people to know the â€Å"real you† and not your public personality, which often leads to building the relationship to higher levels of communication. Self-disclosure is what your spouse will be entitled to that knowledge. When it comes to gender differences, there really is a level of expression that women and men have to different. When you make a connection and are able to understand how interpersonal communication works, you are better able to express and reveal information about the inner you. I have noticed that my husband keeps a lot of things bottled up on the inside and I really try to get him to talk about things. But within recognizing my husband’s stand on issues, I don’t push too hard. Gender roles are even greater over the years as men and women both have trouble in expressing their feelings, but if we learn to communicate better things will be easier. After all, we just want to be loved and cared for by our spouse. Unfortunately, I believe I have loved, lost, and lived to love again through our time together. I believe with time, exploring, and the use of self-disclosure that my husband and I will find our way back to an exciting new beginning to share with our extended family through generalization. I fit into the category because many relationships are typical. All arguments and issue seems to be the same, only to be in a different scenario. Communication plays a valuable role in our relationships one that leads to a long-lasting and healthy marriage. Some good advice is to make the best of every opportunity while having fun and loving the person you are with right now.

Monday, July 22, 2019

An Eminent Threat to the Planet Essay Example for Free

An Eminent Threat to the Planet Essay Global warming is certainly a danger that threatens our society. While it may not drastically affect this generation, if things keep going as they are, future generations will have to deal with the problems that people are presently causing. Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases Global warming refers to an overall increase in the temperature of the earth. This is due emissions of greenhouse gases, which are essentially pollutants which damage the earth’s ability to maintain itself when they are released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a particularly common greenhouse gas that is emitted by the activities people all of the time. An overload of these gases prevents the ability of the atmosphere to absorb some of the rays from the sun, as the ozone layer is damaged. Fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene release fumes into the atmosphere that damage the atmosphere’s ability to regulate the earth’s temperature by allowing and preventing solar rays from reaching the surface. Climate Change and seal Level Rise Although current climate change is best represented by more extreme temperatures (higher high temperatures in the summer, and lower lows in the winter), ultimately the earth is expected to warm up. Many scientists have hypothesized that within the next century, the earth may warm by up to two degrees Fahrenheit. Although this does not seem like a lot, it could cause the melting of the outer layers of Antarctic ice, which would cause a rise in sea level by up to a few feet over the course of the next century. But the rate of global warming is expected to increase, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If this occurs, and due to the expansion of Antarctic ice and the melting of some ice caps, sea level could rise by several feet, which would have devastating consequences. Life as we know it would be completely altered by any significant rise in sea level. Because water allows for trade and transportation, most major communities are built close to the coast of continents, rather than the interiors. That being said, if sea level was to rise so much as ten feet, many cities would be completely destroyed. Miami, Florida would have to be evacuated, as would most of the towns within fifty miles of the United States Gulf Coast. Much of the land in the Caribbean would be submerged, as would many islands in the South Pacific, and even some areas in Europe, such as the Netherlands. How Our Current Activities are Causing Global Warming Although exact measurements of the rate of the rise in temperature and thus, sea level are presently immeasurable, the way human beings are living today will certainly ensure that they will be significant. People are causing more emissions of environmentally and atmospherically dangerous gases than ever before, and we do not seem like we are going to stop any time soon. More cars are on the road, more airplanes are in the air, and more boats, including large freighters and barges are in the water than ever before, and as the planet’s population increases, so will the amount and volume of our emissions of dangerous gases. If we intend to hinder global warming in any way, we have to realize that our present course is not environmentally friendly, and it will lead to a rise in temperature (and a greater abundance of pollutants). We need to invest in clean fuels, and even though researching alternatives to our current fuels will be costly, it is well worth it in the long run, because global warming is a fast way to destroy our planet. References U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Climate Change: Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 2009. http://www. epa. gov/climatechange/emissions/index. html U. S. Department of State. Climate Change and Overview. 2009. http://www. state. gov/g/oes/rls/rpts/car/90312. htm

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Marketing plan of a wedding reception venue business

Marketing plan of a wedding reception venue business Joanne is Looking to start up a wedding reception venue, she would like to open up a small business, as a sole trader. A business plan is one of the most important aspects when starting up a business, The business plan will make sure that Joannes wedding reception will be run successfully, organised and to the best of its ability. It will help the business significantly with time management, as it will help both the business and staff manage their time and stay organised in order to keep the business running efficiently. The plan will explain all the strategies and objectives of the business, this give Joanne a huge understanding on what she will be expecting and how she will go about in order to help the business successfully achieve its goals. The Business plan will give Joanne an in depth understanding on what is going on and what will happen within her business, some of the things it will provide include a description of the services that will be provided, the personal requirements and skills needed for the staff, a clear outline on the description and ownership of the business, and much more. A business that fails to plan, Plans to Fail. SWOT analysis is a strategic method used to evaluate and state the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in the business, within both the internal and external. Every business needs a SWOT analysis in order for it to be prepared for the present and the future. Joannes wedding reception has many Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which are listed in the report. Each business aims to achieve specific objectives and strategies, an objective is a measurable statement of what has to be achieved, where a strategy is a way in which the business aims to achieve its objective. Joannes wedding reception is a business which aims to accomplish both its objectives and strategies to the best of its ability. Joannes wedding reception aims to achieve its ultimate goal of success through its five main objectives and strategies. These objectives and strategies are also listed in the report. Business Description and Ownership Joannes wedding reception is a business that will cater to all needs of couples who are looking to get married and would like to celebrate with loved ones afterwards. Jay Harbour is the name chosen for the business, it is a brand new function centre located at 150 Day Street, Darling Harbour; it is very spacious and has a spectacular water view and view of the entire harbour, it will deliver delicious food, great service and unforgettable entertainment and music. The legal structure of this business is registered as a sole trader; Joanne will be running an unincorporated business which has unlimited liability. She will take full responsibility for all debts incurred by the business, and will be personally liable for the financial obligations of the business. There will be fewer than 20 employees hired, as it is only a small business. The target market of this business is obviously people of all ages who are looking to celebrate their marriage. The prime function of the business is to make sure that all special occasion are just the way couples want it-elegant, memorable, and effortless, also that the business is a very successful business and advertised as best as possible, not only in the media, but also in words of mouth. The business hopes to achieve all its goals profitably and successfully in order to satisfy all guarantees and pledges to stakeholders. Purpose Of plan A business plan is as important for starting a business as a key is to a car. A business plan will provide the firm with a clear direction for the future, and will organise the business. It sets out goals for the business that want to be achieved in both the long term and in the short term. It will help the business organise its three main aspects, these are, marketing, production and management finance. The business plan will make sure that Joannes wedding reception will be run successfully, organised and to the best of its ability. It will help the business significantly with time management, as it will help both the business and staff manage their time and stay organised in order to keep the business running efficiently. The plan will explain all the strategies and objectives of the business, this give Joanne a huge understanding on what she will be expecting and how she will go about in order to help the business successfully achieve its goals. The Business plan will give Joanne an in depth understanding on what is going on and what will happen within her business, some of the things it will provide include a description of the services that will be provided, the personal requirements and skills needed for the staff, a clear outline on the description and ownership of the business, and much more. The business plan is very important and of great significance of any business, whether it is for future expansion of a business or the development of a new business, a business plan must be written. A business that fails to plan, plans to fail. Situational Analysis SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is a strategic method used to evaluate and state the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in the business, within both the internal and external. Every business needs a SWOT analysis in order for it to be prepared for the present and the future, the SWOT analysis for Jay Harbour is listed below. Strengths Preferred location of the majority of the public New and Spacious Caters to all needs of couples Catchy name Overlooks Harbour Delicious food Great Service Good music and entertainment Spectacular Water view Target market for all ages Unique Selling points Weakness Small Business New Business Joanne hasnt opened up a business before Not familiar with the industry Unlimited Liability Sole trader business meaning Joanne is personally responsible for all financial obligations Limited Funds Limited Reputation Opportunities Increasing number of couples moving to the area Geographical Location Well established position Huge amount of couples looking to get married In the city of Sydney Social Interests Threats Other more experienced businesses in the area Large amount of competitors Stronger promotions by competitors Competitors have advertised their business and have been running for a longer period of time Market Demand Economic Conditions Business Objectives and Strategies Each business aims to achieve specific objectives and strategies, an objective is a measurable statement of what has to be achieved, where a strategy is a way in which the business aims to achieve its objective. Joannes wedding reception is a business which aims to accomplish both its objectives and strategies to the best of its ability. Joannes wedding reception aims to achieve its ultimate goal of success through its five main objectives and strategies. Good Reputation is the first main objective of Joannes business, Joanne aims to start up her business with a good reputation, and maintain and improve the reputation as the business grows. Joanne is aware that she is not able to manage her own reputation; however it is possible for her to strengthen it. Strategies that Joanne will take up in order to have good reputation include: Engaging and starting up appealing advertising campaigns Joanne will pay a few loyal people who she is on friendly terms with to write blog posts and advertise her wedding reception on facebook and myspace Joanne will pay to have her wedding reception advertised on radio stations Joanne will create a facebook page in the name of her business, and keep it updated with articles, pictures, and different ways to appeal to customers The second main objective is expansion, Joanne aims for her business to expand and hopefully one day turn into a larger business, she aims to create more function rooms in order to cater for other occasions, and also remarkable rooms in which photographs can take place. Joanne can only do this and expand her business if she is financially stable enough within the future years. Strategies that Joanne will carry out in order to expand her business in the future include: Not spending money on things that arent needed, money will be spent on what customers need not what Joanne needs, money will not be spent on things that make Joannes business look good such as a company car, or a fancy office, instead the money will be used on more important things Joanne will make sure that all customers are treated with care, and are satisfied, the happier the customers are, the bigger the business will become, as they will help promote by good words-of-mouth A good working environment is another objective, Joannes aim is not only to satisfy her customers, but also her employees. She needs to do this in order to keep them motivated and stay doing their jobs to the best of their ability Strategies that will be carried out include: Having a safe working environment Giving Suitable and fair wages and payments to employees Giving employees benefits Giving employees hours which are suitable to both Joanne as the Employer, and them Catering to a wide variety of cultures is another one of Joannes main objective. Joanne aims to cater to many different cultures in order to have a variety of different people using her wedding reception. The business will be a bigger success if it is for many cultures rather than just one or two. Strategies that will be carried out include: Hiring chefs that are able to cook spectacular multicultural food Being able to design the reception according to cultures of people Being able to design a whole wedding that includes the theme of the desired culture Being able to give customers long lasting memories is the last of the businesses objectives. Joanne aims to give customers a night they will never forget. The strategies that will be carried out include: Creating a dynamic atmosphere Offer great food Unforgettable entertainment Planning the wedding for the customers from beginning to end Leaving the customer stress free Operations Description of the product or service Joannes wedding reception is a wedding venue which aims to cater to all needs of couples who are looking to celebrate their marriage. Jay Harbour is the name given to the business; it is a brand new function centre which is located at 150 day street, Darling Harbour. Joanne is looking to cater for any type of wedding, from the traditional wedding, to the modern wedding, she is willing to accommodate for small and intimate weddings with around 50 guests, to larger celebrations including up to 300 guests. Professional and friendly staff will be hired in order to ensure that every customer receives a day that they will remember. Joanne aims to take hold of all the stress which may be felt by the customers, she will leave them all free to relax and enjoy their special day at her venue, she will have a plan of approach which will help not only the customers, but also her, to organise a wedding that will remain in the hearts of the couples and their guests forever. Joanne will offer a great service, superb food, personalised service, divine wines and alcohol, and unforgettable entertainment in order to make the weddings a magical and flawless occasion. Joannes will provide easy access both in and out of the reception including both weal chair access and elevators. The venue will overlook darling harbour, and will also include a spectacular water view. A Valet entrance and a remarkable walk for the entrance of the bride and groom will be included in order to make the wedding feel more special and exceptional. Table setting wills be offered in numerous types, themes of the wedding are also able to be chosen according what the customers want, floral arrangements will all be made, and food and decorations will be offered in a variety of choices, and in many different cultures. Joannes Business will be run as a multicultural business, anyone no matter what culture they are a part of, will be able to experience the wedding of their dreams. A bar will be provided at the reception, a wide range of alcohol including many wines and champagnes will be provided. Couples have a choice between having their guest pay for the alcohol at the bar, or having an open bar, meaning the couple must pay a certain amount of money for the unlimited drinks that will be given to guests on the night. Personnel Requirements and Skills Joannes business is a small business, meaning under 20 employees will be hired, they will all go through the steps of the human resource cycle, including acquisition, development and maintenance. This is so that the people with the top skills will be hired, and so that they can continue developing their skills and knowledge, also so that the employees stay motivated and productive within the business. Waiters/Waitresses Twelve Needed Qualifications Must be neat and tidy polite, well-mannered and able to communicate well with people A good service attitude Able to work in a team A good memory in order to remember which customer ordered which dish Must have good physical health as the waiter spends most working hours on their feet Fast with serving customers Able to clean Qualification 16 years of age and over Experience Experience with customer service needed Bartenders Three Needed Qualifications knowledge of beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks drink preparation and drink service skills familiarity and awareness of liquor licensing rules and regulations good communication skills friendly and polite mature and honest adaptable and able to work well under pressure confident and considerate when dealing with customers able to use their initiative able to follow instructions. Qualification Alcohol Beverage Licence Experience Experience of 1-2 years within the alcohol industry required Chefs Four Needed Qualifications Leadership skill. Time management. Food preparation and presentation skills Financial management Able to manage finances within the kitchen Able to cook a variety of multicultural foods Works well with others Adaptable and able to work well under pressure Good communication skills Qualification Certificate or college degree from a qualified cooking school. Experience 3-4 Years of experience within the chef industry required Marketing Market Analysis Customers The target market of this business is obviously people of all ages who are looking to celebrate their marriage. Joanne is looking to cater for any type of wedding, from the traditional wedding, to the modern wedding, she is willing to accommodate for small and intimate weddings with around 50 guests, to larger celebrations including up to 300 guests. Professional and friendly staff will be hired in order to ensure that every customer receives a day that they will remember. Joannes business is willing to cater to any customers wants and needs. The Choice of the venues was made between the areas listed in the table, in order to come to a final decision of where the business will get the most customers; population statistics of the areas was gathered. It was obvious that a larger population lives in darling harbour, also, the median age there is the youngest of all the median ages in the other areas, this another advantage as it is the younger people who usually want to get married. Market size and trends Joanne aims for her business to expand and hopefully one day turn into a larger business, she aims to create more function rooms in order to cater for other occasions, and also remarkable rooms in which photographs can take place. Joanne can only do this and expand her business if she is financially stable enough within the future years. Joanne will not spend money on things that arent needed, money will be spent on what customers need not what Joanne needs, money will not be spent on things that make Joannes business look good such as a company car, or a fancy office, instead the money will be used on more important things. Joanne will make sure that all customers are treated with care, and are satisfied, the happier the customers are, the bigger the business will become, as they will help promote by good words-of-mouth Competition There are many surrounding competitors within the market which have been running for a longer time, and some which are just beginning to start up, they offer many services, however none like Jay harbour. Joanne has come up with many strategies in which to compete with its many other competitors. Joanne offers multicultural services, from foods, to themes, music and much more, majority of the other venues offer a minimum amount of cultures. Jay Harbour, also has a view like no other, the amazing water view and view of the harbour will attract many customers. Joannes prices are also very affordable, and suitable for the amount of services one will receive if they decide to have their wedding at Jay Harbour. Easy access in and out of the venue is also an advantage, as many other competitor venues do not have these elevators and escalators. Marketing Strategies The marketing strategies include product, price, promotion and place. Price is one of the most important things when you have other competitors, by having cheaper prices customers will come to your reception rather then the competitors receptions, Low and affordable prices will be offered at Jay Harbour, packages will also be offered allowing customers to pay for many things at a smaller price. However, prices will increase and decrease according to the prices of competitors. Product refers to the service of the business and what the business has to offer, Jay harbour offers many services including entertainment, good music, open bar, great view, valet parking, and much more. Place refers to where the business is located, the area that jay Harbour is located in is Darling Harbour. With an amazing view of darling harbour and the water, and an alluring atmosphere and amazing breeze, it is very hard for Jay Harbour to NOT become the number one wedding reception in the area. Promotion refers to ways in which the business will promote itself, jay Harbour will maintain consumer awareness and interest towards Eternal Happiness. The business must keep advertising through media, suppliers, provide special offers and many more in order for it to stay competitive within the market. Finance Financial Forecasts Revenue Statement $ $ Sales revenue $460 000 COGS Opening stock 50 000 Purchases/income 250 000 300 000 Closing stock 80 000 $220 000 Gross profit $240 000 Expenses Advertising 5 000 Salaries and wages 150 000 Insurance 3000 Bank charges 400 Interest paid to banks 10 000 $168 400 net profit $71 600 This indicates that profit was made for jay Harbour, $240 000 was made, where as only $168 400 was lost, meaning a profit of $71 600 was made. Balance Sheet For Jay Harbour $ $ Current Assets Cash at Bank Accounts Receivable Stock $12 000 $14 000 $30 000 $56 000 Non-Current Assets Property Equipment 150 000 21 000 $171 000 Total Assets $227 000 Current Liabilities Bank Overdraft Accounts payable $22 000 $20 000 $42 000 Non-Current Liabilities Loan $92 000 $92 000 Total Liabilities $134 000 Owners Equity Capital Profit Retained $51 000 $42 000 $93 000 Total Liability and owners equity $227 000 The current ratio of this balance sheet is calculated by dividing the current assets by the current liabilities, this is equal to 1.3, meaning the ratio is 1:3:1 Critically review the plan and process I think that I did a great job in completing the assignment, I followed my plan of approach according to all the days up to the 26/7/10 and I had no problem to hand everything in that was due by that day. I was able to do all my research and gather all my statistics and information, and put them together before handing in my assignment, I did not stress, as everything was done according to plan until the due date. I think that the assignment being set out this way was to my advantage, as it helped me not leave everything to the last minute and procrastinate. One thing that I do regret doing is leaving my report to the last minute, I think that next time I should start my report as soon as the second part of the assignment was due, as it will make me stress much less, and I would be able to do the report to the best of my ability. I did try my hardest though, and I do believe that I deserve the best possible mark I can get. Overall I believed I achieved what I planned to and was glad that I was able to hand everything in on time, despite the fact of starting my report late, I think that doing everything else prior to the report such as objectives an strategies, SWOT analysis, and much more, was a great advantage to me as all I had to do was put them together within the report. I believe that my teacher done a great job of explaining my assignment as I was able to do it all with no problems, and I was able to fly through it as it was explained properly and in depth.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Thermal Energy :: essays research papers

Lab #7: Thermal Energy Heat is thermal energy being transferred from one place to another, because of temperature changes. This can take place by three processes. These three processes are known as conduction, convection, and radiation. When we place two objects with different temperatures in contact with each other, the heat from the hotter object will immediately and automatically flow to the colder object. This is known as conduction. Some objects make excellent conductors of heat while others make poor conductors of heat or excellent insulators. Silver, copper, and gold make excellent conductors of heat. Foams and plastics make good insulators of heat but make poor conductors. Last night for dinner, I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup. I heated the soup faster than I cooked the sandwich so I poured the hot soup into a bowl and finished cooking the sandwich. Once I was done cooking, I gabbed the soup bowl and burned my hand. The heat from the soup made the bowl hot. This is an example of conduction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The process of conduction between a solid surface and a moving liquid or gas is called convection. The motion of the fluid may be natural or forced. If a liquid or gas is heated, its mass per unit volume generally decreases. If the liquid or gas is in a gravitational field, the hotter, lighter fluid rises while the colder, heavier fluid sinks. For example, when water in a pan is heated from below on my stove, the liquid closest to the bottom expands and its density decreases. The hot water as a result rises to the top and some of the cooler fluid descends toward the bottom, thus setting up a circulatory motion. This is also why the heating of a room by a radiator depends less on radiation than on natural convection currents, the hot air rising upward along the wall and cooler air coming back to the radiator from the side of the bottom. Because of the tendencies of hot air to rise and of cool air to sink, radiators are positioned near the floor and air-conditioning outlets near the ceiling for maximum efficiency.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Radiation is fundamentally different from both conduction and convection in that the substances exchanging heat need not be in contact with each other. All substances emit radiant energy merely by virtue of having a positive absolute temperature.

Elie Wiesels Night Essay -- Elie Wiesel Night

Elie Wiesel's Night Elie Wiesel’s Night is about what the Holocaust did, not just to the Jews, but, by extension, to humanity. The disturbing disregard for human beings, or the human body itself, still to this day, exacerbates fear in the hearts of men and women. The animalistic acts by the Nazis has scarred mankind eternally with abhorrence and discrimination. It seems impossible that the examination of one’s health, by a doctor, can result in the death of a human being if he appears unhealthy. Elie, his father, and millions of other Jews go through this formidable selection. It’s a process that is dreaded and feared by all Jews. Nobody knows who will be "selected," and how he will die, as they all line up and wait to see who lives and who doesn’t. In a similar fashion, ma...

Friday, July 19, 2019

Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Scene 5 Essay -- English Literature Essays

Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Scene 5 In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, about two love struck teenagers whom aren’t able to be together due to their families feud/ social situation. There are two key themes that of love and hate. Before Romeo and Juliet meet, the audience is only aware that he is a Montague and that she is a Capulet. This adds to the scene being so dramatically effective as do other happenings throughout the length of the scene. These include the speech of Capulet and the happy and joyous mood of the party, The romantic speech of Romeo, The hatred and harshness of Tybalt’s speech, a direct contrast with that of Romeo’s and the drama when the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet first meet. At the start of Act 1 scene 5, Capulet turns to the maskers at the ball and delivers a speech rather jokingly tell all to enjoy the night and dance to the music. This speech is important as it lets the Audience know and that this night is a happy and joyous occasion. As a reader or observer you feel Capulet is happy, because the event is just for Capulet’s. He and the others feel only happy when they’re with their own kind, this adds to the dramatic effectiveness of the scene because as an audience member you are now even more aware of the great tension that is waiting to explode between the houses of Capulet and Montague. This joyous occasion is also of stark contrast to the fighting at the beginning of the play. More important speeches are made including that of Rom...

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Dating and Mating Essay

In comparing and contrasting dating and mating we touch on a current topic of evaluation between the variances of the secular world views and the views of God. The secular world understanding on dating is based on what feels right at the time or just for enjoyment. According to Scorsone, Giorgia, ‘Mating, attractiveness and promiscuity’ M.A. dissertation, the secular world view of dating is choosing who their friends like or choosing a mate because of outward appearance or even for materialistic possessions. Highlighting the differences with Biblical views we can see how the secular world appears to have no standards when regarding the dating process of making a commitment. When we look at God’s perspective of dating we could refer to it as courtship. Courting is being in a committed relationship with the intentions of marriage. Although courtship and dating are not found specifically in the Bible we can still apply truths of how we are to treat other people. Courtship is the time-honored and successful time consuming of learning about someone, to know if there is compatibility for marriage. Often it involves friendship, discussing each individual’s future plans, knowing the parents, and praying privately for God’s will in the matter. The desire to not compromise the morals and standards is where we see the contrast of courting and secular dating. As a Christian we should love the Lord above all else. (Matthew 10:37) rather than following the dating scene, some people love their acquaintances more than they love God. The Bible says to say or believe that another person is â€Å"everything† or the most important thing in one’s life is idolatry, which is sin (Galatians 5:20) In conclusion, the perception of secular dating rather than dating God’s way is where we can compare similarities but find major contrast. God wants his best for us in everything we do, especially in finding the right person for us to marry.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

The Host Chapter 30: Abbreviated

M el? he asked again, the hope he didnt want to palp consume coloring his t mavin.My jot caught in anformer(a)(prenominal) darn, an latershock.You do that was for you, Mel. You subsist that. no. for h-it. You experience I wasnt kissing it.My nigh sob was louder, a moan. why couldnt I boot show up up? I tried extending my breath.If youre in t dispatchher, Mel He paused.Melanie heatd the if. A sob burst up by basals of my lungs, and I gasped for air.I pick out you, Ja rubicund verbalise. even out if youre non at that place, if you washbowlt chance on me. I love you.I held my breath again, biting my sassing until it bled. The physical unhinge didnt distract me as often beats as I wished it would.It was reticent outside the hole, and then silent inside, as well as, as I turned gamey. I listened intently, concentrating n ever sotheless on what I could hear. I wouldnt weigh. in that location was no sound.I was twisted into the or so impossible position. My channelise was the grimest point, the recompense side of my face touch against the roughly rock floor. My shoulders were slanted close to a crumpled box edge, the righteousness high than the leftfield. My hips angled the opposite appearance, with my left calfskin pressed to the ceiling. Fighting with the boxes had left bruises-I could nip them forming. I knew I would work to square up nearly track to explain to Ian and Jamie that I had do this to myself, hardly how? What should I word? How could I tell them that Jared had kissed me as a test, worry giving a laboratory rat a jolt of electricity to observe its reaction?And how wide was I supposed to hold this position? I didnt want to exact any noise, that it matt-up care my spine was passing game to snap in a minute. The pain got untold(prenominal)(prenominal) difficult to exclude every(prenominal) second. I wouldnt be fitted to bear it in silence for considerable. Already, a ululate was rising in my throat.Melanie had zilch to ordinate to me. She was lightly working through and through her sustain relief and fury. Jared had spoken to her, fin alto occupyhery k straight off her existence. He had told her he loved her. merely if he had kissed me. She was stressful to convince herself that t here was no reason to be maimed by this, trying to believe every last(predicate) the solid reasons why this wasnt what it matte like. Trying, entirely not yet succeeding. I could hear exclusively this, but it was directed internally. She wasnt let loose to me-in the juvenile, petty sense of the phrase. I was acquiring the cold shoulder.I felt an unacquainted(predicate) anger toward her. Not like the beginning, when I feared her and wished for her eradication from my mind. No, I felt my confess sense of betrayal direct. How could she be provoked with me for what had happened? How did that touch on sense? How was it my fault that Id move in love be buzz off of the memorie s she forced on me and then been everyplacethr avouch by this unruly form? I cared that she was suffering, yet my pain meant nothing to her. She enjoyed it. Vicious tender-hearted.Tears, much anemicer than the new(prenominal)wises, flowed mass my cheeks in silence. Her hostility toward me simmered in my mind.Abruptly, the pain in my bruised, twisted O.K. was too much. The drinking straw on the camel.Ung, I grunted, pushing against colliery and cardboard as I pierced myself congestward.I didnt care active the noise any much, I effective treasured out. I swore to myself that I would never cross the threshold of this criminal pit again-death first. Literally.It was harder to worm out than it had been to souse in. I wiggled and squirmed roughly until I felt like I was making things worse, deform myself into the shape of a lopsided pretzel. I scratch lineed to cry again, like a child, shitless that I would never bet out allow.Melanie sighed. oddity your derrie re around the edge of the let the cat out of the bag and pull yourself out, she suggested.I ignored her, reflectionk to work my torso around a particularly pointy corner. It jabbed me however under the ribs.Dont be petty, she grumbled.Thats rich, advance from you.I know. She hesitated, then caved. Okay, sorry. I am. Look, Im human. Its hard to be fair sometimes. We dont eternally feel the right thing, do the right thing. The resentment was lock away in that respect, but she was trying to forgive and forget that Id near make out with her true love-thats the way she perspective of it, at least.I hooked my foot around the edge and yanked. My knee hit the floor, and I used that leverage to kick upstairs my ribs sullen the point. It was easier then to get my other foot out and yank again. Finally, my detention shew the floor and I shoved my way through, a breech birth, falling onto the mysterious green mat. I lay in that location for a moment, face good deal, breathing. I was sure at this point that Jared was keen-sighted gone, but I didnt make certain of that right onward. I just breathed in and out until I felt prepared to avoid my head.I was alone. I tried to hold on to the relief and forget the unhappiness this fact engendered. It was better to be alone. miniscule humiliating.I crimped up on the mat, pressing my face against the mustinessy fabric. I wasnt sleepy, but I was tired. The crushing pitch of Jareds rejection was so heavy it exhausted me. I closed my typeface and tried to look about things that wouldnt make my stinging look tear again. Anything but the appalled look on Jareds face when hed broken past from meWhat was Jamie doing now? Did he know I was here, or was he looking for me? Ian would be asleep for a gigantic time, hed looked so exhausted. Would Kyle wake soon? Would he recogniseded player in search? Where was Jeb? I hadnt foregathern him all day. Was doctor rattling drinking himself unconscious mind? That seemed so unlike himI woke slowly, roused by my growling support. I lay silently for a few minutes, trying to show myself. Was it day or night? How long had I slept here alone?My stomach wouldnt be ignored for long, though, and I turn up onto my knees. I must confirm slept for a objet dart to be this hungry-missed a meal or two.I withdrawed take something from the release pile in the hole- afterward all, Id already damaged pretty much everything, perchance destroyed some. notwithstanding that only make me feel guiltier about the idea of taking more. Id go scavenge some rolls from the kitchen.I was depression a little hurt, on top of all the big hurt, that Id been ingest here so long without anyone coming to look for me-what a vain carriage why should anyone care what happened to me?-so I was alleviate and appeased to find Jamie sitting in the admission to the big garden, his nates turned on the human world behind him, unco waiting for me.My look brightened, and so did his. He scrambled to his feet, relief washing oer his features.Youre okay, he give tongue to I wished he were right. He began to ramble. I mean, I didnt think Jared was lying, but he said he thought you wanted to be alone, and Jeb said I couldnt go check on you and that I had to stay right here where he could see that I wasnt creep back there, but even though I didnt think you were hurt or anything, it was hard to not know for sure, you know?Im fine, I told him. But I held my ordnance out, seeking comfort. He threw his arms around my waist, and I was shocked to find that his head could rest on my shoulder charm we stood.Your look are red, he whispered. Was he mean to you?No. After all, lot werent intentionally cruel to lab rats-they were just trying to get information.Whatever you said to him, I think he believes us now. About Mel, I mean. How does she feel?Shes refulgent about that.He nodded, pleased. How about you?I hesitated, looking for a factual response. state t he truth is easier for me than trying to hide it.My scheme seemed to resultant role the question enough to contact him.Behind him, the light in the garden was red and fading. The sun had already be ware on the desert.Im hungry, I told him, and I pulled away from our hug.I knew you would be. I spelld you something wakeless.I sighed. Breads fine.Let it go, Wanda. Ian says youre too self-sacrificing for your own good.I do a face.I think hes got a point, Jamie muttered. Even if we all want you here, you dont exit until you decide you do.I cant ever belong. And nobody rightfully wants me here, Jamie.I do.I didnt fight with him, but he was wrong. Not lying, because he believed what he was saying. But what he really wanted was Melanie. He didnt separate us the way he should.Trudy and Heidi were baking rolls in the kitchen and sharing a bright green, juicy apple. They took turns taking bites.Its good to see you, Wanda, Trudy said sincerely, c everyplaceing her mouth while she spoke because she was mum grind her last bite. Heidi nodded in greeting, her teeth change posture in the apple. Jamie nudged me, trying to be inconspicuous about it-pointing out that people wanted me. He wasnt making allowances for common courtesy.Did you save her dinner party? he asked eagerly.Yep, Trudy said. She bent down beside the oven and came back with a metal tray in her hand. Kept it warm. Its probably nasty and lout now, but its better than the usual.On the tray was a rather large piece of red meat. My mouth started to water, even as I rejected the portion Id been allotted.Its too much.We have to eat all the perishables the first day, Jamie boost me. Everyone eats themselves sick-its a tradition.You need the protein, Trudy added. We were on cave rations too long. Im surprised no ones in worse shape.I ate my protein while Jamie watched with hawk-like attention as individually bite traveled from the tray to my mouth. I ate it all to please him, though it made my stomach ac he to eat so much.The kitchen started to fill up again as I was finishing. A few had apples in their turn over-all sharing with someone else. Curious look examined the sore side of my face. wherefores everyone coming here now? I muttered to Jamie. It was black outside, the dinner hour long over.Jamie looked at me blankly for a second. To hear you teach. His tone added the row of course.Are you kidding me?I told you nothings changed.I stared around the narrow room. It wasnt a full house. No Doc tonight, and none of the returned raiders, which meant no Paige, either. No Jeb, no Ian, no Walter. A few others missing Travis, Carol, Ruth Ann. But more than I would have thought, if Id thought anyone would consider following the normal routine after such an abnormal day.Can we go back to the Dolphins, where we left off? Wes asked, interrupting my military rating of the room. I could see that hed taken it upon himself to start the ball rolling, rather than that he was vitally worryed in the kinship circles of an noncitizen artificial satellite.Everyone looked at me expectantly. Apparently, life was not changing as much as Id thought.I took a tray of rolls from Heidis hands and turned to shove it into the stone oven. I started gibbering with my back still turned.So um hmm the, uh, third answer of grandparents They traditionally serve the community, as they see it. On Earth, they would be the breadwinners, the ones who emerge the kinsfolk and bring back sustenance. They are farmers, for the closely part. They cultivate a plant-like growth that they milk for its sap And life went on.Jamie tried to talk me out of sleeping in the supply corridor, but his attempt was halfhearted. There just wasnt another place for me. Stubborn as usual, he insisted on sharing my quarters. I imagined Jared didnt like that, but as I didnt see him that night or the next day, I couldnt verify my theory.It was fumbling again, red ink about my usual chores, with the six raiders home- just like when Jeb had first forced me to join the community. contrasted stares, fantastic silences. It was harder for them than it was for me, though-I was used to it. They, on the other hand, were entirely unaccustomed to the way everyone else hard-boiled me. When I was helping with the corn harvest, for example, and Lily thanked me for a fresh basket with a smile, Andys look bulged in their sockets at the exchange. Or when I was waiting for the bathing pool with Trudy and Heidi, and Heidi began playing with my hair. It was growing, eer swinging in my eyes these days, and I was planning to shear it off again. Heidi was trying to find a carriage for me, flipping the strands this way and that. Brandt and Aaron-Aaron was the oldest man whod gone on the long raid, someone I couldnt consider having seen before at all-came out and found us there, Trudy laughing at some silly atrocity Heidi was attempting to create atop my head, and both men turned a little green and stalked taci turnly past us.Of course, little things like that were nothing. Kyle roamed the caves now, and though he was obviously under orders to leave me in peace, his expression made it arrive at that this restriction was repugnant to him. I was always with others when I crossed his path, and I wondered if that was the only reason he did nothing more than glower at me and unconsciously curl his thick fingers into claws. This brought back all the misgiving from my first weeks here, and I might have succumbed to it-begun hiding again, avoiding the common areas-but something more outstanding than Kyles murderous glares came to my attention that second night.The kitchen make full up again-Im not sure how much was interest in my stories and how much was interest in the chocolate bars Jeb pass out. I declined mine, explaining to a disgruntled Jamie that I couldnt talk and chew at the comparable time I suspected that he would save one for me, obstinate as ever. Ian was back in his usual enthu siastic seat by the fire, and Andy was there-eyes wary-beside Paige. None of the other raiders, including Jared, of course, was in attendance. Doc was not there, and I wondered if he was still drunk or perhaps hung-over. And again, Walter was absent.Geoffrey, Trudys husband, questioned me for the first time tonight. I was pleased, though I tried not to show it, that he seemed to have get together the ranks of the domain who tolerated me. But I couldnt answer his questions well, which was too bad. His questions were like Docs.I dont really know anything about Healing, I admitted. I never went to a Healer after after I first got here. I havent been sick. All I know is that we wouldnt rent a planet unless we were able to prolong the host bodies perfectly. Theres nothing that cant be healed, from a simple cut, a broken bone, to a disease. Old age is the only cause of death now. Even healthy human bodies were only designed to last for so long. And there are accidents, too, I guess, t hough those dont happen as often with the souls. Were cautious. gird humans arent just an accident, someone muttered. I was moving hot rolls I didnt see who spoke, and I didnt recognize the voice.Yes, thats true, I hold evenly.So you dont know what they use to remediation diseases, then? Geoffrey pressed. Whats in their medications?I move my head. Im sorry, I dont. It wasnt something I was interested in, back when I had access to the information. Im afraid I took it for granted. Good health is simply a given on every planet Ive lived on.Geoffreys red cheeks flushed brighter than usual. He looked down, an angry set to his mouth. What had I said to fail him?Heath, sitting beside Geoffrey, patted his arm. There was a heavy(predicate) silence in the room.Uh-about the Vultures Ian said-the words were forced, a deliberate subject change. I dont know if I missed this part sometime, but I dont remember you ever explaining about them being unkind?It wasnt something I had explained, but I was pretty sure he wasnt really that interested-this was just the first question hed been able to think of.My informal class terminate earlier than usual. The questions were slow, and most(prenominal) of them supplied by Jamie and Ian. Geoffreys questions had left everyone else preoccupied.Well, weve got an early one tomorrow, tearing down the stalks Jeb mused after yet another awkward silence, making the words a dismissal. people rose to their feet and stretched, talking in low voices that werent casual enough.What did I say? I whispered to Ian.Nothing. Theyve got mortality on their minds. He sighed.My human brain made one of those leaps in understanding that they called intuition.Wheres Walter? I demanded, still whispering.Ian sighed again. Hes in the south wing. Hes not doing well.Why didnt anyone tell me?Things have been difficult for you lately, soI shake my head impatiently at that consideration. Whats wrong with him?Jamie was there beside me now he took my hand.Some of W alters bones snapped, theyre so brittle, he said in a hushed voice. Docs sure its cancer- closing stages, he says.Walt must have been keeping quiet about the pain for a long while now, Ian added somberly.I winced. And theres nothing to be done? Nothing at all?Ian shook his head, keeping his brilliant eyes on mine. Not for us. Even if we werent stuck here, there would be no help for him now. We never corned that one.I bit my lip against the trace I wanted to make. Of course there was nothing to do for Walter. Any of these humans would rather die slowly and in pain than trade their mind for their bodys cure. I could understand that now.Hes been asking for you, Ian continued. Well, he says your progress to sometimes its hard to tell what he means-Docs keeping him drunk to help with the pain.Doc feels real bad about apply so much of the alcohol himself, Jamie added. forged timing, all around.Can I see him? I asked. Or will that make the others unhappy?Ian frowned and snorted. Would nt that be just like some people, to get worked up over this? He shook his head. Who cares, though, right? If its Walts last wishRight, I agreed. The word final had my eyes burning. If seeing me is what Walter wants, then I guess it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks, or if they get mad.Dont worry about that-Im not dismissal to let anybody harass you. Ians white lips pressed into a thin line.I felt anxious, like I wanted to look at a clock. Time had ceased to mean much to me, but suddenly I felt the weight of a deadline. Is it too late to go tonight? pull up stakes we disturb him?Hes not sleeping unfaltering hours. We can go see.I started move at once, dragging Jamie because he still gripped my hand. The sense of passing time, of endings and finality, propelled me forward. Ian caught up quickly, though, with his long stride.In the moonlit garden cavern, we passed others who for the most part paid us no mind. I was too often in the company of Jamie and Ian to cause any curios ity, though we werent headed for the usual tunnels.The one exception was Kyle. He froze midstride when he saw his brother beside me. His eyes flashed down to see Jamies hand in mine, and then his lips twisted into a snarl.Ian form his shoulders as he absorbed his brothers reaction-his mouth curled into a mirror of Kyles-and he deliberately reached for my other hand. Kyle made a noise like he was about to be sick and turned his back on us.When we were in the blackness of the long tunnel south, I tried to free that hand. Ian gripped it tighter.I wish you wouldnt make him angrier, I muttered.Kyle is wrong. Being wrong is sort of a habit with him. Hell take longitudinal than anyone else to get over it, but that doesnt mean we should make allowances for him.He frightens me, I admitted in a whisper. I dont want him to have more reasons to hate me.Ian and Jamie squeezed my hands at the akin time. They spoke simultaneously.Dont be afraid, Jamie said.Jebs made his flavour very clear, Ian said.What do you mean? I asked Ian.If Kyle cant accept Jebs rules, then hes no longer welcome here.But thats wrong. Kyle belongs here.Ian grunted. Hes staying so hell just have to learn to deal.We didnt talk again through the long walk. I was feeling guilty-it seemed to be a permanent stirred state here. Guilt and fear and heartbreak. Why had I come?Because you do belong here, oddly enough, Melanie whispered. She was very aware of the affection of Ians and Jamies hands, wrapped around and twined with mine. Where else have you ever had this?Nowhere, I confessed, feeling only more depressed. But it doesnt make me belong. Not the way you do.Were a package deal, Wanda.As if I needed remindingI was a little surprised to hear her so clearly. Shed been quiet the last two days, waiting, anxious, hoping to see Jared again. Of course, Id been in addition occupied.Maybe hes with Walter. Maybe thats where hes been, Melanie thought hopefully.Thats not why were going to see Walter.No. Of cour se not. Her tone was repentant, but I realized that Walter did not mean as much to her as he did to me. Naturally, she was sad that he was dying, but she had accepted that offspring from the beginning. I, on the other hand, could not bring myself to accept it, even now. Walter was my friend, not hers. I was the one hed defended.One of those dim blue lights greeted us as we approached the hospital wing. (I knew now that the lanterns were solar powered, left in jolly corners during the day to charge.) We all moved more quietly, slowing at the same time without having to discuss it.I hated this room. In the darkness, with the odd shadows thrown by the weak glow, it seemed only more forbidding. There was a new smell-the room reeked of slow disintegration and stinging alcohol and bile.Two of the cots were occupied. Docs feet hung over the edge of one I accept his light snore. On the other, looking horridly withered and misshapen, Walter watched us approach.Are you up for visitors, Wal t? Ian whispered when Walters eyes drifted in his direction.Ungh, Walter moaned. His lips drooped from his abate face, and his skin gleamed wetly in the low light.Is there anything you need? I murmured. I pulled my hands free-they fluttered helplessly in the air betwixt me and Walter.His loosely rolling eyes searched the darkness. I took a step closer.Is there anything we can do for you? Anything at all?His eyes roamed till they found my face. Abruptly, they focused through the drunken stupor and the pain.Finally, he gasped. His breath wheezed and whistled. I knew you would come if I waited long enough. Oh, Gladys, I have so much to tell you.