What Is a Squat Lobster

In their book The Biology of Squat Lobsters, Poor, et. al. say that despite the fact that many have not heard of them,  squat lobsters are far from hidden. They say they are dominant, numerous and highly visible crustaceans on seamounts, continental margins, many shelf environments and coral reefs at all depths, and at hydrothermal vents. These often colorful animals  are also featured in many underwater photos and video. Squat Lobster Species There are over 900 species of squat lobsters, and it is thought that there are  many more yet to be discovered. One of the most famous squat lobsters in recent times is the yeti crab, which was discovered during surveys conducted in conjunction with the Census of Marine Life.   Identification Squat lobsters are small, often colorful animals. They can be less than one inch to about 4 inches  in length, depending upon the species.  Squat lobsters have 10 legs. The first pair of legs are  very long and contain  claws.   The three pairs of legs after that are used for walking. The fifth pair has small claws and may be used for cleaning gills. This fifth pair of legs is much smaller than the legs in true crabs.    Squat lobsters have a short abdomen that is  folded under their body.  Unlike lobsters and crayfish, squat lobsters dont have true uropods (the appendages that form the tail fan).   Lobster Cocktail? Squat lobsters are in the  infraorder  Anomura - many of the animals in this  infraorder  are called crabs, but they are not true crabs. They arent lobsters, either. In fact, squat lobsters are more closely related to hermit crabs than to lobsters (e.g., the American lobster). In the seafood world, they may be marketed as  langostino  lobsters (langostino  is Spanish for prawn) and even sold as shrimp cocktail. Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Subclass: Eumalacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Anomura Families: Chirostylidae and Galatheidae Habitat and Distribution Squat lobsters live in oceans around the world, with the exception of the coldest Arctic and Antarctic waters.   They can be found on sandy bottoms and hidden in rocks and crevices. They also may be found in the deep sea around seamounts, hydrothermal vents  and in underwater canyons. Feeding Depending on the species, squat lobsters may eat plankton, detritus or dead animals.   Some feed on bacteria at hydrothermal vents. Some (e.g.,  Munidopsis  andamanica) are even specialized to eat wood from sunken trees and shipwrecks.   Reproduction The reproductive habits of squat lobsters are not well known. Like other crustaceans, they lay eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae that eventually develop into juvenile, and then adult, squat lobsters.   Conservation and Human Uses Squat lobsters are relatively small, so fisheries around them have not developed in many areas. However, as mentioned above, they may be harvested and sold as cocktail shrimp or in lobster dishes, and can be  used as feed stock for chickens and at fish farms. References and Further Information Aquarium of the Pacific. Squat Lobster. Accessed April 29, 2014.Bok, M. 2010. Wood-eating Squat Lobsters of the Deep. Arthropoda Blog. Accessed April 29, 2014.Kilgour, M. 2008. Squat Lobsters: More Questions Than Answers. NOAA Ocean Explorer. Accessed May 5, 2014.  McLaughlin, P., S. Ahyong J.K. Lowry (2002 onwards). Anomura: Families. Version: 2 October 2002. http://crustacea.net.Poor, G., Ahyong, S. and J. Taylor. 2011. The Biology of Squat Lobsters. Accessed online via Google Books, April 29, 2014.Schmidt, C. 2007. No Matter What You Call It, Squat Isnt Lobster. Wild Catch Magazine. Accessed April 29, 2014.WoRMS. 2014. Anomura. Accessed through World Register of Marine Species, May 5, 2014.

The Core Competencies Of Public Health Essay - 1642 Words

One of the core competencies of public health is partnership and collaboration, and over the years, the need for collaborative partnerships between primary care and public health has grown substantially. Studies have shown that collaborative partnerships between primary care and public health working together towards a common goal, is essential for improving health quality (Valaitis, 2012). Bramalea Community Health Centre (BCHC) is a non-profit organization located at 40 Finchgate Boulevard (Suite 224), Brampton Ontario. This organization is a community governed organization funded by the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and is a partner within the broader Health Care System (Bramalae Community Health Centre, 2016). BCHC is committed to providing inclusive, accessible, and sustainable programs and services to the members of Bramalae community who face the most significant barriers to accessing primary health care, and who are the most negatively impacted by social and environmental determinates of health (BCHC, 2016). This organization delivers innovative client-centered services through the use of various interdisciplinary teams such as physicians, nurses, community health educators, medical office assistants, dieticians, a social worker, and a physiotherapist (BCHC, 2016). Some of the services rendered by BCHC are; providing primary health care with doctors and nurses; helping people prevent or manage diabetes; developing after school programs to support youth;Show MoreRelatedInterview Of A Family Nurse Practitioner1718 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience of and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) can be of value when examining core competencies. 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Nursing is an extremely diverse profession and among the highest educated with several levels ranging from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to a registered nurse (RN) on up to a Doctorate in Nursing. Diane Viens (2003) perfectly states that ‘The NP is a critical member of the workforce to assume the leadership roles within practice, education, research, health systems, and health policy’. In order to better understand the role ofRead MoreThe American Association Of Nurse Practitioners1631 Words   |  7 Pages(SFCAPN, 2015). Core Competencies and Certification Requirements The curriculum for nurses in advance practice requires that every APRN is academically prepared by adhering to the seven core competencies for APRNs. Moreover, NP students of all specialty tracks and population foci, have to meet a set of criteria and academic standards developed by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). This framework, known as the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies, is comprised ofRead MoreThe Advanced Practice Nurse Is A Qualified Professional Nurse Organized At The Masters Level / Or Doctoral Level1144 Words   |  5 Pagesand public wellbeing disciplines to reach particular health results for the public. A nurse practitioner is commonly a master’s prepared nurse who put on advanced practice nursing information with physical, psychosocial, and conservation evaluation abilities to answer to common wellbeing and disease difficulties. The NP’s patient is an individual or family, typically in a secure situation who has the occasion to recognize individual inclinations in their practices. The core competencies wereRead MoreNursing Profession : Developing Core Nursing Standard And Different Ethical Principles1211 Words   |  5 Pagesdeveloped core nursing standard and different ethical principles that nurses must follow. An understanding of the profession and what is expected of a nurse will help in providing good patient- centered care. This paper describes the core competencies, characteristics of nursing, and offers a definition of nursing. The caring model and my definition of nursing will also be discussed. Five Core Competencies The Institution of Medicine (IOM) developed core competencies to make sure that† all health professionalsRead MoreThe Issue Of Pay Reimbursement In Healthcare1258 Words   |  6 Pagesnurses still need to justify their value in a historically hierarchical framework of health care where the physician is the chief authority (Melby, 1998, par. 5). The value of APRN is not limited to the receiving a lower wage, 85% less (Melby, 1998, par. 2) but the value of the APRN comes from improved management of patient’s health care and prevention of complications (Bauer, 2010, p. 230). â€Å"A new paradigm of health care delivery is being realized and our reimbursement should not be compared to physicians

Persuasive Essay free essay sample

Did you know that students are now required to complete at least ten hours of community service in order to graduate? In order for students to have a more positive experience, school administrators should add more activities within the guidelines. Some activities that will give students a more positive experience are serving at food kitchens, disturbing gifts at salvation armies, and helping out at nursing homes. Community service should be a positive experience for all students. The first activity that should be included in the guidelines for community service is serving food at food kitchens. This activity will be positive for students because they’ll be helping to feed the homeless. Also students will be able to see the happiness they bring to others by giving back. This option should be added to the guidelines because it’s an amazing opportunity. Students are able to help others, which is something they’ll feel good about afterwards. With a baby being underweight at the time of birth could mean the baby’s lungs have not fully developed which would lead to their first few days or weeks of life on a respirator to help the baby breath. However, after the baby has the ability to breathe their still susceptible to asthma. The combined effect of premature delivery and low birth rate has shown ten percent of these babies suffer from Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome is when their lungs have not developed a normal surface tact coating and the air sacs collapse. One of the most serious effects and risks of smoking while pregnant is ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. In all cases the baby will not live if this occurs there are not enough nutrients for a fetus to survive anywhere besides the womb. When the detection of an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, it is treated through medication and surgery. In both cases it is termination of the baby to prevent possible death of both the baby and mother. Placental abruption is another occurrence that happens from smoking during pregnancy. It is the separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus. The baby is deprived of oxygen and nutrients when a placental abruption is detected. The mother can also experience life-threatening bleeding. A stillbirth is the death of a fetus that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also an occurrence that can happen from smoking during pregnancy. Stillbirth can be very painful emotionally because the baby still has to be delivered. After the pregnancy is over, and the baby has been delivered, the smoking may have still caused damage to the baby. Smoking during a pregnancy can have an effect on the baby’s brain. Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are likely to have learning disorders, behavioral problems and relatively low IQ’s. Children of smokers also have less muscle mass and fatter than a child of a non- smoker. Cleft is a gap in the body structure that results from incomplete closing of a specific structure during development. Clefts that occur from smoking during pregnancy usually occur orally. Cleft lip is a complete opening at the lip extending into the bottom of the nose. Cleft palate is an opening at the front roof of the mouth extending to the back of the mouth. Smoking during pregnancy can also cause babies to be born prematurely. Premature birth is a serious health problem. Long-lasting disabilities such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung problems, hearing, and vision loss are health problems that can occur from premature birth. Mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy are more likely of losing their babies to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS is the sudden unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age. Occurring without warning, SIDS can happen to babies who seem perfectly normal. In conclusion, once a baby is born with damages caused by smoking, it is too late. There is a lifetime of regret on the mother and the suffering of the child can be tremendous. Women should quit smoking before their baby is conceived. The sooner a woman quits smoking, the better her chances are of having a healthier pregnancy for herself and the baby. To quit smoking is a hard task to do, but the awareness of the effects of smoking during a pregnancy should persuade a woman to quit smoking before, during and after the pregnancy.

Allegory in Jurassic Park and The Lost World free essay sample

A paper which discusses the use of allegory in Michael Crichtons books Jurassic Park and The Lost World. This paper presents a detailed discussion on the use of allegory in Michael Crichtons Jurassic Park and the Lost World. The writer draws several examples from the story to illustrate the use of allegory and then discusses its effectiveness. The paper shows how the two works leave the reader with a better understanding of the way the world at large works and with a better understanding of blind idealism, greed, and pure science and how those things can relate to real life after reading these stories. The use of dinosaurs to stand in for human beings is not unheard of and at times is actually a popular literary and film making fad. In the case of this story however, it had been awhile so the concept was relatively new. The dinosaur species represents human society. We will write a custom essay sample on Allegory in Jurassic Park and The Lost World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They have many different races and cultures by virtue of their meat eating or vegetarian eating habits as well as their refusal to mingle with other types of dinosaurs. They separated their types in the same manner that humans have often separated their types. This allegory is further explained by one of the novels characters when it is said that one type of the parks creatures are tiny and cute and others in the park are massive and scary. It parallels the human tradition of division by cultures.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Introduction This paper is based on the topic of globalization of logistics and supply chain management. It explores the topic using Wales as a case study. The paper is divided into two parts namely part one and part two. Part one is an overview of the current rail system in Wales.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Logistics and Supply Chain Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Part two is a comparison of the proposed high-speed rail and an integrated transport system. At the end is a conclusion which provides a definite solution to the client. The main issue in the paper is that the Welsh government wants to improve its transport infrastructure for transporting people and freight. It is, however, not decided on whether to build the proposed high-speed rail or set up an integrated transport infrastructure. On the one hand, the high-speed rail is expected to reduce the time used to transport people and freigh t between various cities in the United Kingdom, which would attract new investors. It is also expected to enhance efficiency of the supply chains. On the other hand, focusing on the high-speed rail at the expense of the other modes of transport would be counterproductive because trains are not the only means of transportation in Wales. As the consultant, I have addressed these issues in my analysis of the situation and the implications of the various options which are available to the client (the Welsh government). In the review, I have used different theoretical frameworks such as gap analysis and the theory of absolute advantage to illustrate the arguments. I have argued that the proposed high-speed rail is not adequate to deal with the challenge of poor transport infrastructure in Wales and as a result, there is need for an integrated transport system which would link the entire transport infrastructure in Wales.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The reason is that an integrated transport system would have more benefits than the proposed high-speed rail. Discussion Part one Gap analysis is a situation in which organizations ask themselves the questions of ‘where are we’ and ‘where do we want to be.’ It is very useful for managers because it helps them to focus on the real issues which affect their organizations. It also enables the managers to come up with the proper means of realizing their desired outcomes (Franklin 2006). In an effort to fill the gaps in organizations, managers use differentiation and positioning (McLoughlin Aaker 2010). According to Thompson and Martins, differentiation has to do with enhancing the popularity of products or services among the customers. For an organization to claim that it has differentiated its products and services, it has to ensure that it provides extensive details about the uniquene ss of its products or services. Many organizations engage in differentiation of their products and services for various reasons. However, economic analysts have argued that the whole idea of differentiation is to increase the competitiveness of organizations. Differentiation has the potential of influencing consumer behavior by ensuring that consumers understand what is unique about different products or services (Thompson Martin 2010). According to Armstrong and Kotler positioning is a strategy which complements differentiation. It has to do with using various strategies like product distribution and production of unique products with low prices to build an identity of a particular Company in the minds of consumers (Armstrong Kotler 2009).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Logistics and Supply Chain Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In many cases, positioning is done after differentiation so as to sta bilize and retain the positions of the differentiated products or services. It also ensures that organizations retain their competitive advantage in any given market. The current rail system in Wales is outdated since it was established many years back when the population of Wales was relatively small. At the time when the rail system was established, globalization had not taken effect and as a result, the demand for transport services was very low (Kendall Cole 2006). However, with the advent of globalization, there has emerged the need for people to move frequently from one point to another in different parts of the globe. Due to globalization, the business environment has become more competitive than ever. According to Scholte, the drivers of globalization include advancement in information and communication technology, improvement of transport infrastructure, and liberalization of trade and immigration policies (Scholte 2005). Due to globalization, people from different countri es are able to work anywhere in the world, irrespective of their cultural orientation. Through globalization also, people are able to study, marry, and stay in any part of the world (Cole 2005). Globalization has also enabled different cultures to coexist peacefully without cultural prejudice. The interaction of people in different spheres of life has made them to appreciate their cultural differences, a situation which has greatly reduced instances of racism and ethnicity (Chrysanthopoulos 2010). Due to its outdated status, the current rail system lacks the capacity to handle huge volumes of freight. It is also not suitable for transporting people because it is too slow compared to other modes of transport such as road and air.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some cases, the current rail system makes firms to miss business opportunities due to the inability of the rail system to deliver goods on time. It also makes the supply chains of many firms to be inefficient, which increases the cost of production (Lan Unhelkar 2006). This situation is threatening the stability of the economy of Wales because many firms have threatened to relocate their businesses in other countries or cities which have efficient and reliable rail transport. As a result, there is need to upgrade the current rail system so as to restore the confidence of investors and attract others. That is why the high-speed rail has been proposed. Once in place, the high-speed rail would not only attract new investors to Wales, but it would also enable the existing firms to expand their businesses due to increased efficiency. It is essential to mention that the objective of multinational firms is to get access to cheap factors of production, such as raw materials, capital, la nd, and labor. The reason is that the cost of these factors of production varies from one country to another (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2010). Consequently, the high-speed rail would enable the firms in Wales to get access to these factors of production. The interest of the Welsh government is to ensure that there are no barriers which restrict investors from getting opportunities to invest in Wales. However, the outdated rail system is a hindering factor to the growth of the economy of Wales. As a result, the high-speed rail would expand the economy of Wales and enhance growth. It would also have a multiplier effect in form of enhanced social and economic well-being of the citizens of Wales. For instance, many firms would be able to make huge profits due to reduced cost of transport. As a result, they would increase funding to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. Different scholars have written about the concept of CSR. According to Carroll, CSR is generally used to explain the relationship between businesses and their environments. The reason is that almost all organizations operate in dynamic social, political, economic, and natural environments. CSR, therefore, looks into how businesses interact with these environments, either positively or negatively. Different scholars have come up with various components of CSR. However, the elements which are mentioned by many scholars include the ethical, regulatory, philanthropic, and legal components. When an organization establishes a business in any given society, the people in that society usually have different expectations from the business. While some expect to purchase goods and services at low prices, others expect to be employed by the organization. There also those who expect the organization to operate in manner which does not raise questions as far as quality of products and services are concerned. These concerns comprise the ethical component of CSR (Carroll, 1979). Due to the reduced cos t of transport, the firms in Wales would make huge profits. As a result, the tendency of the firms to engage in unethical behavior would be minimized. According to Aras and Crowther, the regulatory component has to do with abiding by all regulations which are established to protect shareholders, investors, and customers from unethical business practices. It also has to do with ensuring that organizations maximize their profits and minimize their operation costs with the aim of making more profits. Once organizations generate more profits, they are expected to increase the salary of employees because employees are essential stakeholders in the success of organizations (Aras Crowther 2010). The reduced cost of transport would enable the firms in Wales to generate more profits than before, which would enable them to take care of the interests of shareholders and customers. The legal component has to do with compliance to various laws and regulations which have been established in diff erent jurisdictions to govern all businesses and ensure that they operate legally. For example, there are laws and regulations which touch on protection of the environment, respect of employees’ rights, and production of quality products. The philanthropic component has to do with charity work. It is based on the argument that businesses must give back to the communities where they operate. There are many ways of giving back to the community. Some of them include initiating programs which directly benefit the community through provision of health and education services to the less fortunate in the community (Carroll 2008). The high-speed rail would enable the firms in Wales to generate more profits than before and as a result, they would be able to pay the various taxes to government authorities. Rail transport has been successful in many countries. In China, for example, there are modernized rails which are used by electric trains. These trains have made transport in China n ot only reliable but also cheaper than in other countries which do not have electric trains. Since the trains are powered using electricity, they move fast and are able to reach their destinations within a short time. Wales should, therefore, borrow the example of China and boost its economy and social well-being of its people through the high-speed rail. Part two Rail transport is a very reliable mode of transporting heavy goods. The reason is that the cost of transporting heavy goods using rail transport is usually less than the cost of transporting them using road transport. Transporting heavy goods using road transport also makes the roads to wear out too fast. When that happens, governments incur a lot of expenses in repairing the roads, which negatively affects the economy of countries. As a result, rail transport is not only cheap, but it is also durable because it does not require frequent repair like roads (Lysons Farrington 2012). In terms of conservation of the environme nt, rail transport is better than road transport because trains do not emit a lot of carbon dioxide like vehicles. Carbon dioxide is associated with greenhouse gases which lead to global warming. Rail transport is not affected by adverse weather conditions like road transport. For instance, when it rains heavily, vehicles may be unable to move due to flooding or poor visibility. Rail transport is also better than road transport when it comes to connecting with different countries. The reason is that there are more railway lines which connect countries than roads and as a result, firms are able to import goods in bulk from other countries and transport them using rail transport. Rail transport is also more secure for transporting containers carrying valuable goods than road transport. Even though the high-speed rail would have various benefits to various stakeholders, it might not provide long-term solutions to the problem of poor transport infrastructure in Wales. As mentioned earli er, rail transport is just a part of a wider transport network and as a result, the high-speed rail would need to be complemented by other modes of transportation such as air, sea, and road. An integrated transport system would have a higher economic value than the high-speed rail. It would also be more sustainable than the high-speed rail because it would provide various options for firms to transport their goods, labor, and raw materials. Using an integrated transport system lowers the cost of transport in a given sector or country. The reason is that in an integrated transport system, each mode of transport transports what it is capable of transporting. In other words, the transport infrastructure is not strained. Allowing each mode of transport to transport what it is capable of transporting enables firms to avoid the risks which are associated with transporting goods using the wrong mode of transport. For example, rail and sea are suitable for transporting heavy goods while roa d and air are suitable for transporting light goods and people. An integrated transport system also increases the competitiveness of a country. According to the theory of absolute advantage, competitiveness refers to the ability of a country to take a share of foreign markets. For countries to become competitive, they aim at exporting more than what they import. In fact, the theory of absolute advantage states that the objective of any country is to export almost everything and import nothing. However, it is almost impossible for any country to achieve this objective. Using an integrated transport system produces higher returns than using one type of transport such as rail. The reason is that an integrated transport system relies on public and private infrastructure. For example, a government of a country may authorize private companies to operate commuter services. It may also authorize them to operate cross-border transportation of commercial goods. At the same time, the governmen t may operate air and sea transport services. This combination enhances efficiency and maximizes productivity of different sectors of the economy. In addition, an integrated transport system has the benefit of enabling people of different social and economic status to get access to transport. For example, the elderly, the sick, and the disabled may be uncomfortable when they travel in a train. However, they may be comfortable when they travel in a vehicle because it enables them to reach their destinations within a short time. In any country, there are people of different economic status. Some are low-income earners, while others are high-income earners. The low-income earners may not be able to afford air transport, but they may be able to afford road transport. As a result, having an integrated transport system makes life comfortable for everybody because people use the type of transport which they are able to afford. Further to that, an integrated transport system is associated w ith minimal energy consumption. The reason is that each mode of transport uses a different type of energy. For example, some trains use electricity while vehicles use fuel. Relying on one type of transport may put pressure on a particular type of energy. For example, if a country relies on road transport alone, it means that the consumption of fuel in that country is higher than in a country which relies on several modes of transport. As a result, there is minimal pollution of the environment in a country with an integrated transport system (Mangan, Lalwani Butcher 2008). From the above discussion, it can be argued that the transport industry plays a vital role in enhancing the economic and social well-being of people in any country. It is therefore essential for governments to ensure that they have integrated transport systems which are reliable and sustainable. Sustainability addresses the issue of how resources are utilized. Economic analysts have argued that there is need for c ountries to utilize their resources in a sustainable manner so that the future generations would not face shortages of crucial resources. Utilisation of resources in a sustainable manner is the basis of sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development has gained popularity in recent years (Rugman Collinson 2006). In the transport industry, the reliance on high-speed rails is not sustainable as reliance on integrated transport systems. According to Elkington, sustainable development must emphasize on economic and social development as well as protection of the environment (Elkington 1994). As a result, it is unethical for corporations to be driven by utilitarianism. According to Sher, utilitarianism focuses on maximizing profits irrespective of the effects of the maximization. According to utilitarians such as Jeremy Bentham, any outcome which is desirable is also justifiable. It means that the means of arriving at a particular end are not as important as the end itse lf. An outcome is, therefore considered as good if it makes many people to be happy (Sher 2012). For example, if an organization is able to increase its profits by exploiting its employees by overworking them, then the act of exploitation is justifiable as long as the employees do not complain. If a legal action produces outcomes which do not make many people to be happy, then the action is not ethical. On the other hand, if an illegal action makes many people to be satisfied, then the action is not only ethical but also morally acceptable. Utilitarianism has the danger of destroying the values in a society. There is, therefore, the need of governments to enforce regulations which govern ethics in the society as well as in business. Utilitarianism makes many firms to use unethical means to generate profits. For example, some firms have been accused of giving false information to shareholders regarding the number of profits generated in a year with the aim of denying them their divid ends. Other firms have been accused of failing to pay taxes to the relevant government authorities. These practices are not only unethical, but they also compromise the ability of any country to realize sustainable development. Conclusion Based on the above discussion and analysis, I would advise the Welsh government to set up an integrated transport system comprising of road, rail, air, and sea transport. The reason is that for the proposed high-speed rail to be effective, it needs to be complemented by the other modes of transport. The integrated transport system would also be more sustainable than the high-speed rail. The Welsh government, therefore, needs to set aside resources for upgrading all the other modes of transport in Wales. For instance, it needs to expand the existing roads and build new ones. It also needs to expand the ports and the airports. The integrated system would not only boost the confidence of multinational corporations, but it would also attract other inve stors to invest in Wales. As a result, the economy of Wales would realize an exponential growth. The growth would have multiplier effects such as creation of employment opportunities, reduction of pressure on various energy resources, and increased competitiveness of Wales in international trade. Reference List Aras, G Crowther, D. 2010, A handbook of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility series, Gower Publishing Ltd, Farnham. Armstrong, G Kotler, P 2009, Marketing. An introduction, Pearson Education Company, Prentice Hall. Carroll, A.B 1979, ‘Three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate social performance’, Academy of Management Review, vol.4, pp.497-505. Carroll, A.B 2008, A history of corporate social responsibility, Oxford university press, Oxford. Cole, S 2005, Applied transport economics, Kogan Page, London. Chrysanthopoulos, M 2010, Cultural diversity and education, Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, New York, NY. Elkington, J 1994, ‘T owards the sustainable corporation: Win-win-win business strategies for sustainable development’, California Management Review, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 90-100. Franklin, M 2006, Performance gap analysis: human performance improvement, ASTD Press, Alexandria, VA: Johnson, G, Scholes, K Whittington, R 2010, Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases, Prentice Hall, FT. Kendall, S Cole, S 2006, Wales and the Atlantic arc: developing ports, wales transport research centre, Kogan Page, London. Lan, Y Unhelkar, B 2006, Global integrated supply chain systems, Idea Group Publ, cop, Hershey, PA. Lysons, K Farrington, B 2012, Purchasing and supply chain management, Pearson Education Limited, Prentice Hall. Mangan, J, Lalwani, C Butcher, T 2008, Global logistics and supply chain management, Wiley, Malden, MA. McLoughlin, D Aaker, D 2010, Strategic market management: global perspectives, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J. Rugman, A.M Collinson, S 2006, International business, Prentice Hall, FT. S cholte, J.A 2005, Globalisation: A critical introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, Great Yarmouth. Sher, G 2012, Ethics: essential readings in moral theory, Routledge, New York, NY. Thompson, J Martin, F 2010, Strategic management: awareness and change, Cengage Learning, South Western. This essay on Logistics and Supply Chain Management was written and submitted by user Haley Pennington to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Strategic Analysis (SWOT and BCG Matrix) of Apple Inc The WritePass Journal

Strategic Analysis (SWOT and BCG Matrix) of Apple Inc Introduction Strategic Analysis (SWOT and BCG Matrix) of Apple Inc IntroductionWhat is Strategic Management?Definition:  Strategy Formulation:Strategy Implementation:Strategy evaluation:History Apple Inc:Vision Statement of Apple:Explanation of Vision Statement:Mission Statement of Apple:SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc:Apple SWOT AnalysisStrength:Weaknesses:Opportunities:Threats:BCG Model:RECOMMENDATIONS:FOR COMPANY:FOR OTHERS:CONCLUSIONRelated Introduction In this project I am going to describe the Strategic and Marketing Plan of Apple Inc, Which is the biggest consumer electronics provider in the world. It provides wide range of consumer electronics in the market like MAC computers, IPOD, I Phone, LAPTOP, IPAD.   It has about 49,400 employs and over 240 Retails Store all around the world wide out of it 218 are in US and 24 in UK rest in other countries. I personally think that before studying the strategy of any organization we need to understand the basic of Strategic Management like What Strategic Management is? What is Strategic Management? Strategic Management is nothing else but plans defined by the management of an organization to achieve a long term goals which are predefined and monitored towards reaching the organization’s goal. The steps that are taken till now are being monitored to make sure that they have been carried out in the most efficient manner possible to achieve organizational predefined goal as described in the mission statement  which directs the  strategic management  process. Definition:   â€Å"The on-going process of formulating, implementing and controlling broad plans guide the organizational in achieving the strategic goods given to its internal and external environment† This is an ongoing process which keeps changing according to the circumstances and requirements of the internal and external environments but it keeps moving towards to achieve its predefined organizational goal. Strategic Management is comprised of its three main processes which manager of an organization has been familiar with. These Processes are as given below. Strategy Formulation Strategy Implementation Strategy Evaluation Strategy Formulation: Strategy formulation means a strategy formulate to execute the business activities. Strategy formulation Includes developing:- Vision and Mission (The target of the business) Strength and weakness (Strong points of business and also weaknesses) Opportunities and threats (These are related with external environment or   the business) Strategy formulation is also concerned about setting  long term goals and objectives, generating alternative strategies to achieve that long term goals and choosing particular strategy to pursue. The considerations for the best strategy formulation should be as follows: Allocation of resources Business to enter or retain Business to divest or liquidate Joint ventures or mergers Whether to expand or not Moving into foreign markets Trying to avoid take over Strategy Implementation: Strategy implementation requires a firm to establish annual objectives, devise policies, motivating employees and allocate resources so that formulated strategies can be executed. Strategy implementation includes developing strategy supportive culture, creating an effective organizational structure, redirecting marketing efforts, preparing budgets, developing and utilizing information system and linking employee compensation to organizational performance. Strategy implementation is often called the action stage of strategic management. Implementing means mobilizing employees and managers in order to put formulated strategies into action. It is often considered to be most difficult stage of strategic management. It requires personal discipline, commitment and sacrifice. Strategy formulated but not implemented serve no useful purpose. Strategy evaluation: Strategy evaluation is the final stage in the strategic management process. Management desperately needs to know when particular strategies are not working well; strategy evaluation is the primary means for obtaining this information. All strategies are subject to future modification because external and internal forces are constantly changing. History Apple Inc: Apple Inc formerly known as Apple Computer Inc which provides corporate Server, MAC OS Systems and   Operating System.   Apples core product lines are the iPhone, iPod and Macintosh System. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozaniak, The founder of Apple has created the Apple Computer on 1st April 1976 and integrated in the company on 3rd January 1977, in Cupertino California. It has driven the Computer manufacturing market for more than two decades. Mr. Steve Jobs who was expelled in 1985 was return as CEO of the APPLE Inc in 1996 with new Ideas and corporate philosophy. With introduction of successful IPod Player in to 2001 Apple has again proved itself as a Market leader in consumer electronics.   Latest era of extraordinary success of the company is in iOS based Apple products like I Phone, IPod slim, I Pad and now I Pad 2. Now a day’s Apple is a biggest technology corporation in the planet with the profits of more than $65 billion. It has about 49,400 employs all over the world. Fortune Magazine most Admired company in United State in 2008 and in the world in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Apple has over 240 Store all over the world and the bifurcation of these store in different countries are as below. Vision Statement of Apple: Man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them. Explanation of Vision Statement: Apple lives this vision through the technologies it develops for consumers and corporations. It strives to make its customers masters of the products they have bought. Apple doesn’t simply make a statement. It lives it by ensuring that its employees understand the vision and strive to reach it. It has put systems in place to enable smooth customer interaction. It has put objectives in place to continuously move forward; implemented strategies to fulfil these objectives; and ensured that the right marketing, financial and operational structures are in place to apply the strategies. Mission Statement of Apple: â€Å"Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.† corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=aaplscript=1800layout=7#corpinfo2 SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc: Although participation in such activities may add value, they may not be a source of competitive advantage. Ultimately, the value, rarity, inimitability, and/or organization (VRIO) of an activity or resource determine its sustainability as a source of competitive advantage. Within this context, we can identify a firm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). In SWOT analysis Strength and Weaknesses are depends on Internal factors and Opportunities and Threats Depends on External Factors of and Organization. SWOT analysis is useful in decision making about the organization going for any new or existing project. Apple SWOT Analysis Strength: iTunes Music Store is a excellent source of revenue, especially with the iPod and the accessibility on Windows platform. Apple Computer are expert in  Developing own software and hardware. Apple’s niche audience provides the company with some lagging from the direct price  competition. Giving a  face-lift  to desktop and notebook lines.   technology can be used to improve product awareness and sales. Low debt- more maneuverable. Apple Computers have good brand loyalty. Partnership with Intel Computers in 2006 – Present. Strong Research   Development  Department. Weaknesses: Weak relationship with Intel and Microsoft. Weak presence in business arena. The product  life cycle  of Apple products are very small for that reasons revenues are more depend on launch of new products and   services. Weak presence in markets other than education and publishing. Slow turn around on high demand products. Apples market share is far behind from major competitor Microsoft. In past the relationship between Steve  jobs  and employee were not good which result in reputation loss. Opportunities: Increase in  worms and viruses  on PCs so the  antivirus solution  can be developed by Apple Large population (Gen XY) which are extremely individualistic and name brand conscious.   The ties of apple other companies are weak, Apple can develop good relationship for joint ventures Downloadable music and MP3 players are highly marketable. The  online sales  of computer are increasing with rapid speed. The laptop market growth is high; Apple Computers should focus to develop new models to cater the need of customers. Threats: Companies not seeing Apple as compatible with their software. Apple   facing strong  competition  from Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba in laptop segment. Downloading free music from other online source without paying cost is common it may impact the iTunes sales. Apple software, Cell phone and hardware are expensive as compared to other competitors such as Dell. The  long lasting  recession may impact the sales of the company due to higher prices of the products and services Microsoft launched Microsoft Vista, Windows 7 which is gaining market share. The switching in technology is very fast BCG Model: Boston Cusnsulting Group (BCG) model is a technique developed by BRUCE HENDERSON of the Boston Cunsulting Group in early 1970’s. According to this technique businesses or products are classified as low or high performers depending upon their market growth rate and relative market share. It is very useful tool to identify the product line of an organization. BCG model classified in four main. 1.)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Star   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2.)   Cash Cow   Ã‚  Ã‚   3.)   Question Mark   Ã‚   4.) Dog                                                                                                                                          Ã‚   RECOMMENDATIONS: FOR COMPANY: Lowering the cost of products and maintaining the same quality standards Can form joint – ventures Knowledge Management More number of retail stores for easy access Continuous innovation to expand FOR OTHERS: Does not compromise on price for quality Choose the products based on individual needs Be unique and different    CONCLUSION I feel that Apple must focus on several key aspects to continue to grow and succeed. They must continue a stable commitment to licensing, push for economies of scope between media and computers, and become a learning organization. Apple apparently made a commitment to licensing. Although it should continue, Apple may want to consider other forms of strategic alliances. An equity strategic alliance may offer Apple the opportunity to obtain additional competencies. An effective way for a company like Apple to accomplish this would be in the form of a joint venture. Apple should continue pushing the new line of media-centric products. Meanwhile, Apple should not lose focus on its computers. Macintosh computers were 39% of Apple’s sales in 2005. (Burrows)This very innovative company exploits its second-mover position. In the future, they will need to continue innovating to expand the boundaries of both media and  computers

Images of the disabled and the aged in modern Japanese novels Essay

Images of the disabled and the aged in modern Japanese novels - Essay Example The novels are contradictory in that while Oe represents a nuclear family, Ariyoshi depicts a Japanese family with all the three generations living together, however, the transition, though slow, towards a modern society is shown through protagonist’s thoughts. The two novels thus can be compared through their depiction of Japanese families. We shall first discuss ‘A Personal Matter’ by Oe Kenzaburo. Nobel Laureate Oe Kenzaburo (received Nobel Prize in 1994), is a famous novelist who first entered the literary scene in 1958. Despite his initial successes, the real international reputation came to him with ‘A Personal Matter’, a story written with the perspective of a young father, Bird, who has to deal with the fact that his child is a â€Å"monster†. The story draws inspiration from Oe’s personal experience. Oe’s son, Hikari, was born with a severe brain-damage disorder. The story is almost an outlet for Oe to show how he dealt with various feelings when he had to decide about his own â€Å"monster’s† future. No doubt, he chose the protagonist’s way. Bird is a rebellious character to begin with (maybe that is what makes him choose the right path in the end); in the opening chapter, Oe shows how Bird thinks that a child is like a â€Å"cage†. Bird thinks that marriage itself is a cage but with a child, that open cage is now shut down. With his skeptical view of marriage and child, a brain-damaged child proves an ultimate shock. He just cannot believe that his own child is a â€Å"monster†. He is afraid to raise the child; he pities him and resents him. His conflicted emotions that arise as the child’s father and as a normal human being leads the events in the story. Bird goes through feelings of disgust to acceptance in the novel. Initially Bird wants to kill the baby, something that even Oe contemplated for Hikari. When he finds himself unable to do that, he thinks of allowing the child to die a natural

Human resources management (Employee Recruitment PRACTICES) SESSION Essay

Human resources management (Employee Recruitment PRACTICES) SESSION LONG PROJECT 1 - Essay Example The company was started with the mission of providing its customers with best products and services at reasonable prices. The company’s signature states its main aim and clearly highlights what the company has to offer to its customers – ‘Save Money. Live Better’. Wal – Mart’s focuses on its main values – Respecting individuals, Service to the customers and Striving for excellence (Wal-mart, 2008). Wal – Mart has over 971 discount stores, 2447 supercentres, 132 neighbourhood stores and 591 Sam’s club in the US at present. The company has seen immense growth and is spread over 14 countries with a total of almost 2.1 million employees. The company’s profits have been enormous. Wal – Mart has recorded revenues of over $378,799 million as of the year end January 2008. The company mainly earns its revenues from the United States; however it does face a lot of competition from both the local as well as the global retailers (Money Central, 2008). Wal – Mart holds such a high number of personnel in terms of their employee details. This is not an easy task and requires a high level of expertise. Wal – Mart realises that it is essential to have good people at work is a very essential aspect of every business. According to Lee Scott the CEO of the company, "To grow, we have to attract and retain good people" (Retail Merchandiser, 2003). With the increased globalisation and the increases expansion of Wal – Mart worldwide, the CEO believes that the rising standards and needs of this is clearly seen on the need for excellent quality employees. Wal – Mart’s chairperson also mentioned that the company provides for jobs to everyone across the globe with a choice of flexibility where the person can decide how much they want to do, i.e. either work in a small town and be content or move to a more faster and competitive metro. The company basically provides for

The Effective Manager Cw3 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Effective Manager Cw3 - Coursework Example The mangers are responsible for the optimum utilization of resources in order to achieve the goals of the organization. Management is a set of activities which is directed towards the resources of the organization with a aim of achieving the required goal in an effective and efficient manner. In general a successful organization comprises of both effective as well as efficient mangers. In the competitive world managers tends to face new as well as interesting and challenging situations. The average working time is about 60 hours per week and has a huge demand place upon the mangers time and at the same time faces complexities due to globalization, completion, government regulations and other uncertainties. The job role of a manger is unpredictable and filled with challenges but it is also filled with opportunity which has the potential to make difference. Good managers have the potential to bring in success in the organization (Griffin, 2011, p.4). ... The quality and effective management styles of the mangers can determine the organizational culture, productivity of the staff and success or failure of the organization (Francis, 2012). Characteristics of Effective Management An effective manger is one who makes the right decisions and successfully implements the decisions. However there are many different characteristic that a manger should posses for the effective working of the organization. But according to me the most important characteristic for a manger should be a good team player and time management should be the next important characteristic for an effective manger. A team builder can be defined as a person who is strong and provides the required substance which holds the team together towards achieving the set goals and objectives (Francis, 2012). At the same time effective time management skills are important for mangers to perform the task. I would like to emphasis more on the aspect of time management. Literature defin itions With respect to the definition of time management, there are many different definitions as per different authors. However most of the authors referred to Lakein (1973) who said that time management involve a process which determines the need sets the goals which are to be achieved, planning and prioritising the task which are required in the process of achieving the goals. Therefore according to Elacqua and Jex, 1999; Davis, 2000; Macan, 1994, 1996; Macan et al., 1990; Mudrack, 1997) time management has been referred to as a technique used to manage time; a technique which can be used for effective use the many different task which are required Orpen, (1994) Slaven and Totterdell, (1993); Woolfolk & Woolfolk, (1986); according to

The central limit theorem

The central limit theorem The Central Limit Theorem The central limit theorem is the second fundamental theorem in probability after the ‘law of large numbers. The‘law of large numbersis atheoremthat describes the result of performing the same experiment a large number of times. According to the law, theaverageof the results obtained after a large number of trials should be close to theexpected value, and will tend to become closer to this value as more trials are carried out. For example, a single roll of afair diceproduces one of the numbers {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} each with equalprobability. Therefore, the expected value (E(x)), of a single dice roll is (1+2+3+4+5+6) à · 6 = 3.5. If this dice is rolled a large number of times, the law of large numbers states average of the result of all these trials known as the sample mean , will be approximately equal to 3.5. = 1Nk=1Nxk≈Ex=3.5 If the number of trials was to further increase, the average would further approach the expected value. So in general, as N→∞, →Ex This is the main premise of the law of large numbers. The central limit theorem is similar to the law of large numbers in that it involves the behaviour of a distribution as N→∞. The central limit theorem states that given a distribution with a mean (ÃŽ ¼) and variance (ÏÆ' ²), the samplingdistribution of the mean approaches anormal distributionwith a mean (ÃŽ ¼) and a variance (ÏÆ' ²N) as N, thesample size,increases. In other words, the central limit theorem predicts that regardless of the distribution of the parent population: Themeanof the population of means isalwaysequal to the mean of the parent population from which the population samples were drawn. Thestandard deviationof the population of means is always equal to the standard deviation of the parent population divided by the square root of the sample size (N). Thedistribution of means will increasingly approximate anormal distributionas the size N of samples increases. →X~N(ÃŽ ¼, ÏÆ'2N) (This is the main consequence of the theorem.) The origin of this celebrated theorem is said to have come from Abraham de Moivre, a French born mathematician who used the normal distribution to approximate the distribution of the number of heads resulting from many tosses of a fair coin. This was documented in his book ‘The Doctrine of Chances published in 1733 which was essentially a handbook for gamblers. This finding was somewhat forgotten until the famous French mathematicianPierre-Simon Laplacerevived it in his monumental work‘Thà ©orie Analytique des Probabilità ©s, which was published in 1812. Laplace was able to expand on de Moivres findings by approximating the binomial distribution with the normal distribution. De Moivre Laplace But as with de Moivre, Laplaces finding received little attention in his own time. It was not until the nineteenth century was at an end that the importance of the central limit theorem was discerned, when, in 1901, Russian mathematicianAleksandr Lyapunovdefined it in general terms and proved precisely how it worked mathematically.A full proof of the central limit theorem will be given later in this document. One may be familiar with the normal distribution and the famous ‘bell shaped curve that is associated with it. This curve is often found when presenting data for something like the heights or weights of people in a large population. Where ÃŽ ¼ is the mean . When the central limit theorem is applied, the distribution will approach something similar to the graph above. However, the amazing implication The central limit theorem explains why many non-normal distributions tend towards the normal distribution as the sample size N increases. This includes uniform, triangular, inverse and even parabolic distributions. The following illustrations show how they tends towards a normal distribution:

Oran: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly :: essays research papers fc

Oran: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Oran, peaceful and unprepared, is overcome by Bubonic plague. Separation, isolation and indigence become the common lot of distinct characters whose actions, thoughts and feelings constitute a dynamic story of man imprisoned. Prior to the closing, people went about their business as usual, almost oblivious to the plague. When Oran was shut off from the world, its residents had to adapt to the new conditions of life. Men reacted to the terrible visitation in different ways, according to their beliefs and characters. I believe their reactions were based on their personality and their experience during the plague. Each react to the circumstances of the plague in a unique way, and emerge from the plague with his own new perspective of life and its values. The residents of Oran are as travelers on a long, straight, boring road. They came upon the plague as a traveler comes upon an unexpected fork in the road. Some veer left, some right. A few are unaffected by (or unaware of) the fork in the road, and proceed straight ahead with their lives with very little change in habit. These persons lift themselves above the desperation and focus their actions on the grueling responsibility of making life better for themselves and others. The greatest affliction the citizens of Oran suffer when visited by the plague is not fear but the sense of separation, the loneliness of exile, the pain of imprisonment. The plague has an affect on most everyone in Oran. Some become better people, some worse. Grand, Rambert and Paneloux are all markedly changed afterward. Dr. Rieux and Tarrou are virtually unaffected. Cottard undergoes but a temporary metamorphosis. Monsieur Cottard is a criminal hunted by the law. A silent, secretive, plump little man, he comes to Oran to hide from prosecution. M. Cottard is basically a man lacking in morals, drive and direction, a, " a traveling salesman in wines and spirits." He tries unsuccessfully to hang himself when life seems hopeless. Prior to the plague, he had an aloofness and mistrusted everyone. When the plague descends upon the city, he develops an altruistic side. He sets out to help people. He becomes more amiable as the plague progressed through the population. He tries to take control of his life but becomes discouraged by circumstances. Rather than dealing with the circumstances effectively, he allows them to dominate his life. When the plague passes, and his philanthropic efforts are outmoded, he looses his humanitarian side and starts randomly shooting. The plague gave him only a temporary suspension from prosecution and the plague had

Teacher who changed my life

Teacher Life is unexpected experience, so full of surprises that nobody knows what will happen the very next moment, especially when you meet a person who has the ability to change your life in complete way. Most of us have met a teacher during our lifetime in school that made a difference and touched our lives in some way to make it better and to open our eyes for success. I remember when the first day of high school started. I was very nervous and stressed, scared to the point that I didn't want to be at the school.I had six classes that I had to attend that day. At the end of the afternoon, I walked in my last class and it was Social Studies. I usually don't like this subject but the teacher started to change the way I thought about social studies. Her name was Mrs.. Jennifer Smith she impressed me the way she was confident, and she told us about her story from high school to college and the success that she gained over the years of studying also the fears that she had. The bell r ang, and the class is over. I stayed after class to talk to her about how I feel and how stressed I was about school.She was very nice and she welcomed me. She said â€Å"I'm here for you anytime â€Å". I introduced myself to her , and I told her how lonely I felt being in school and that I had no one to talk to which make me feel really awkward, plus that wasn't everything I was afraid of. I was worried about my classes too because they seemed a little hard. We talked for about an hour. She was a very good listener. She gave me a lot of advice that I needed at that time, and she told me to come to her whenever I feel like I need someone to talk to. I came back home really happy and confident.Everything I felt earlier had disappeared. My homework was perfectly done, and I was excited to start my next day of high school and meet Mrs.. Jennifer again. Years of high school was about to be over. Mrs.. Jennifer walked me to senior year even though I had one class with her. Through tho se three years she taught me a lot of stuff. She made from me a man for life, she opened my eyes for a bright future, and made me feel so special, but that wasn't everything. When senior year started, I were in need of help and I went to her.I wasn't sure if I'm going right after I graduate from high school I will go right after to college and I really wanted to know if I did the right thing or not. She gave me the best words that actually convinced me to decide what I should do after graduation. She said â€Å"through the years that I knew you, I have always seen you as a successful guy that has good head on his shoulders, I want you to go to college and prove to yourself and to me and everybody that you will never fail or take a step back† Mrs..Jennifer has changed my whole life, because of everything she did for me and that I actually listened to her advice. She played the part where I choose to attend college and look forward to be successful as I made a promise with her. Mrs.. Jennifer wasn't Just a teacher for me, but she was like a mother who really cares about her son, and she wanted to see me in a good place all he time where I can find the happiness and Joy in my life. That's how I see her in my eyes.Maybe that could be Just a little about how I feel about her because she is indescribable person to me. I will never forget the experience that I had with her and what she taught me through high school years. Sometimes people appear in our lives suddenly, and they flip it upside down. They change us for better ones, and that's what Mrs.. Jennifer did for my life. I couldn't be more thankful than any day in my life for having her. She shaped my life in Just a way that should be shaped.

There once was a day when politics

There once was a day when politics was about quick witted men speaking directly to the constituency. The Last Hurrah by Edwin OConnor is about the end of those days in Boston. The mayor of Boston is running for one last term as mayor. This is the tale of that race and of Frank Skeffingtons life in politics. OConnor uses comic relief through out the book to tell an entertaining story of how American politics really operated. Frank Skeffington is a seventy-two year old man and a veteran in politics. He is now the mayor of Boston and was governor for two terms in a row. Because he held office as governor, many people still refer to him as governor. He is a devote Irish Catholic whos wife had an early demise, and so he was left with a son and daughter. He does not have a good relationship with his children because his life is consumed with politics. He is an average man who spends his spare time reading poetry. He built his political life upon personal contact; he is well respected and has an irresistible charm. Skeffington is an orthodox democrat who loved to win, but he loved the fight to win more. Some say Skeffington is financially corrupt and becomes morally corrupt in his pursuit of power. Skeffington was not going to run in the election but changed his mind. At first he said it was because he wanted to, but then later explained it was because he felt there was not any good candid! ates and he did not want to leave the city in the hands of a weak mayor. Kevin McCluskey is young, vibrant lawyer who decides to run for mayor. He is also an Irish Catholic democrat who everyone seems to like. He is a good man who does not drink or smoke and spends every morning in church. In a television broadcast, there was a picture of the Pope in the background. As a lawyer, he did not win many cases. McCluskey is very family-oriented and he brings his family along on a...

Free Essays on How To Change A Tire

How To Prevent And Change A Flat Tire One of peoples' worst nightmares is having a flat tire and chances are, it will happen to each one of us at some point in our lifetime. If we are lucky, there will be someone around who both knows how to change a tire and is willing to help us. If not, we are faced with finding a phone and summoning the help of a professional, or changing the tire ourselves. In most cases, hiring a professional can prove to be somewhat expensive, so it would be beneficial for each of us to know how to safely and effectively change a tire. Some problems exist simply because people are unaware of the correct tire changing process. They will often find themselves with a spare that has gone flat or is low in air pressure. Or when everything appears to be in order for changing a tire you find that parts of the jack or some tools are missing. Having a flat tire can be a nuisance, however, the following process will help you to prevent a flat and instruct you how to change one if needed. The first thing you should remember is to check the pressure in your spare tire each and every time you check the tires which are on your vehicle. Spare tires can lose pressure just as easy as the tires you are using. As rule of thumb, tires should be checked a minimum of once a month. When you check the pressure be sure to also check for any irregular wear patterns or any other non-conformities. When the pressure is low, add air as soon as possible. A tire gauge is a handy and inexpensive item to carry in your glove box since one is not always available at all air stations. Also check the depth of the tread of the tires. This can be done easily by using an ordinary penny. Simply stick the penny into the grooves of the tires headfirst. If the top of Lincoln’s head is above the tread rubber the tires should be replaces as soon as possible. Next check the tire changing tools in the trunk of your car. Most times these ... Free Essays on How To Change A Tire Free Essays on How To Change A Tire How To Prevent And Change A Flat Tire One of peoples' worst nightmares is having a flat tire and chances are, it will happen to each one of us at some point in our lifetime. If we are lucky, there will be someone around who both knows how to change a tire and is willing to help us. If not, we are faced with finding a phone and summoning the help of a professional, or changing the tire ourselves. In most cases, hiring a professional can prove to be somewhat expensive, so it would be beneficial for each of us to know how to safely and effectively change a tire. Some problems exist simply because people are unaware of the correct tire changing process. They will often find themselves with a spare that has gone flat or is low in air pressure. Or when everything appears to be in order for changing a tire you find that parts of the jack or some tools are missing. Having a flat tire can be a nuisance, however, the following process will help you to prevent a flat and instruct you how to change one if needed. The first thing you should remember is to check the pressure in your spare tire each and every time you check the tires which are on your vehicle. Spare tires can lose pressure just as easy as the tires you are using. As rule of thumb, tires should be checked a minimum of once a month. When you check the pressure be sure to also check for any irregular wear patterns or any other non-conformities. When the pressure is low, add air as soon as possible. A tire gauge is a handy and inexpensive item to carry in your glove box since one is not always available at all air stations. Also check the depth of the tread of the tires. This can be done easily by using an ordinary penny. Simply stick the penny into the grooves of the tires headfirst. If the top of Lincoln’s head is above the tread rubber the tires should be replaces as soon as possible. Next check the tire changing tools in the trunk of your car. Most times these ...

ASSIGNMENT - List relevant regulations for information security in an

- List relevant regulations for information security in an industry segment of your choice. Healthcare (HIPPA) - Assignment Example Innovation can generally be defined as changing or creating more effective and efficient processes, products and ideas that increase the likelihood of business succeeding. For the business, innovation could mean implementing new ideas, creation of more dynamic products and improving the already existing products. Businesses that employ technology create more effective and efficient work processes and have better performance and productivity (Brotby, 2009). Technology can catalyze the growth and success of the business and enable the adaptation of business in the marketplace. For a business to compete strongly in the market, the ability to come up with new strategies, products or even services play an important role in ensuring that the business forge onwards. This creativity is usually deemed to produce products of higher quality, smarter and more enticing to the clients (Cuff, 2014). In this study, however, we discuss the impact of technology as far as regulation for information security is concerned. In the healthcare security, technology has an undisputable crucial role to play, otherwise known as the Electronic protected health information (ePHI). However, ePHI is run by the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which specifically focuses on safeguarding it (Khansa, Cook, James & Bruyaka, 2012). All the entities covered by the HIPAA, which includes a number of federal agencies must comply with the security regulation; which primarily deals with the safeguarding of the confidentially, integrity and the presence of ePHI as outlined in the security rule or regulation. Some of the regulations covered by the HIPAA for information security are outlined below (Khansa, Cook, James & Bruyaka, 2012). The first one is the security standards or the general rules. This is an explanation of all the requirements

Use of Communication Skills to Facilitate Therapeutic Relationships Essay

Use of Communication Skills to Facilitate Therapeutic Relationships - Essay Example In psychiatric setup, the nurse aims at helping the Client to become independent and establishing confidence. Williams& Irurita (2004), states that disclosure is the cornerstone for this relationship to be effective and also for the achievement of self-disclosure. There is need for trust, intimacy, effective relational communication and the assurance of confidentiality (Popoola et al 2012). According to Cull (2012), the Nurse uses their communication skills to understand human behaviors and personal growth so as to ensure Client’s growth. Communication enhanced through an emotional supportive enquiry. The nurse aims to familiarize themselves with the Client and their situation. This can be done through listening, taking notes, clarifying and checking perceptions. It is important to confirm that one has understood what the Client needs. This can be achieved through reflective conversation, reflecting feelings and silence. Thereafter, the Nurse should lead the conversation. Focus should be on the Client’s ideas, expression and feelings and the nurse should be friendly but not a friend to the client. This line needs to be clearly drawn by the nurse. It is important that the Client should be safe, confidential, reliable and consistent with the existing boundaries. For these to happen, the nurse should be genuine, empathetic and positively regard all Clients re gardless of their mental state. Genuineness in this case is the self awareness of the Client’s feelings as they arise in the relationship and the ability to communicate them when necessary. This works to build trust and further prompt the client to open up. The Nurse should be capable of empathy.

Money and banking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Money and banking - Essay Example The Central Bank can grant overnight credit on a regular basis through a standing liquidity facility to banks and non-bank institutions in the financial system as part of its functions. This automatic provision of liquidity provides assurance to all participants in the system that they will be able to cover provisional shortfalls in settlement balances. The Central Bank provides emergency lending assistance to various deposit-taking institutions that are deemed solvent and which require additional credit. This assistance is given to institutions which have a significant share of their liabilities as deposits and hold assets that are illiquid. In an economic crisis where the Governor of a country’s Central Bank believes that there is a severe stress on a financial system, he can allow the Bank to be a supplier of liquidity by purchasing securities issued by local and foreign entities. The Central Bank makes this move to maintain financial stability. (Sharma, 2003) The loans gra nted by the Central Bank are made on a secured basis. The collateral eligible to secure credit from the Bank refers to highly liquid assets such as government securities. New issues may impact on the lender of last (LLR) resort role. One issue is with respect to the expansion of the types of institutions eligible to become members of the financial system and able to participate directly in the payments system. A second issue is the international linkages created with the entry of foreign bank branches into the country. The third issue is the greater sensitivity to the potential need by local institution for foreign currency liquidity changes in the supervisory framework. The fourth isssue is to craft a lender of last resort regime in a globalized banking environment as a way to promote financial stability. The lender of last resort (LLR) facility cannot be handled by the financial banks of the private

Argument in Encounters with the Archdruid Essay Example for Free

Argument in Encounters with the Archdruid Essay In the third section of John McPhees Encounters with the Archdruid, the author observes the discourse between conservationist David Brower and Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, Floyd Dominy, on the merits of dams in the southwestern United States. Brower hates all dams, large and small, while Dominy sees dams as essential to our civilization. The Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, which Dominy created, are the main issue of debate between the two men. Floyd Dominy graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1932 and, after an unsuccessful stint as a teacher, became a county agricultural agent for the federal government in Wyomings Gillette County. This was the time of the Great Depression and also a great drought in the American Midwest, which quickly garnered the name of the dust bowl. Frustrated by the lack of water available to farmers in his county, Dominy orchestrated the building of many dams in Gillette County, providing water to thirsty farmers and their livestock. Rewarded with a job in the Bureau of Reclamation for his efforts, Dominy became the Bureaus director in 1959 and oversaw the construction of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Completed in 1962, the 710 foot tall dam built out of 4.9 million cubic yards of concrete has a reservoir (Lake Powell) that has a maximum capacity of 27 million acre-feet and is the one of the largest reservoirs in the world. Lake Powell has become a popular water recreation site and provides homes with about 1 million kilowatts of hydroelectric power and 8.23 million acre-feet of water and irrigation per year. Dominy views the dam as a great asset, both to provide utilities and to provide recreation Now people can fish, swim, water-ski, sun-bathe. Cant you imagine going there with your family for a weekend, getting away from everybody? But Mr. Brower says we destroyed it. (174) David Brower was born in 1912 in Berkeley Hills, California. When he was young his father used to take him to the Sierra, where Brower found his love for nature. After leaving his study of entomology at UC-Berkeley, Brower left for the Sierra, and became a world-class mountaineer, conquering over seventy mountain peaks. John McPhee even mused that if he were to be set  down at night anywhere in the Sierra Nevada, with the coming morning he would know just where he is. After serving as a decorated platoon leader in World War II, Brower started his work with the Sierra Club, becoming the first executive director of the club in 1952. Over this remarkable period until his dismissal in 1969, Brower would become the worlds foremost naturalist and environmental conservationist. The flooding of Glen Canyon was very personal to Brower, and his failure to stop the dams construction haunted him for the rest his life. He referred to it as Americas most regretted environmental mistake, and the greatest failure of his life. (163) In 1952, the Echo Park and Split Mountain Dams were proposed, which threatened the Green and Yampa Rivers and Dinosaur National Monument. Brower led the Sierra Club into action. Successfully, under his leadership, the Sierra Club defeated the Bureau of Reclamation hands down. But the victory at Dinosaur Monument was tempered by the Sierra Clubs offer of support for a dam downstream at Glen Canyon a higher dam, in fact, than one proposed earlier by the Bureau of Reclamation. Brower spoke in favor of a high dam at Glen Canyon, a speech he came to regret until the very end. While his supporters urged him not to blame himself, he repeatedly reminded whoever would listen that he could have done more to stop it. He believed that the fact he da m existed was his fault. He felt that he was not adequately prepared for his own mission, and if he had been, the dam would not have been built. Brower referred to Glen Canyon as the place no one knew. Before the construction of the dam and the creation of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon was one of the remotest places in the United States. Few people ever set foot in the Canyon, and after the construction of the dam, no one else would ever see it. Brower viewed nature as a sacred place, a place that must be earned. He hated the idea of people developing wilderness areas. He felt that cities should have strict boundaries, and people should stay there. Brower and Dominy have conflicting views in this situation. Brower is disgusted by the development around Lake Powell and the destruction of the wilderness that is now beneath it. Lake Powell is a drag strip for power boats. Its for people who wont do things except the easy way. The magic of Glen Canyon is  dead. It has been vulgarized. (240) Dominy, on the other hand, is proud that he has created such a beautiful lake and has made it accessible to the masses. Dominy is tired of trying to satisfy a noisy minority while trying to bring water, power, and recreation to the people. Im a greater conservationist that you are, by far. I do things. I make things available to man. Unregulated, the Colorado River wouldnt be worth a good God damn to anybodyDo you want to keep this country the way it is for a handful of people? (240) Beside these arguments, there is also a more quantitative side to the debate. The ecological detriments of the Glen Canyon Dam have been well-documented. Extensive changes were brought about in the Colorado River ecosystem by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. Most of these alterations negatively affected the functioning of the system and the native aquatic species of the river. The reduced supply and transport of sediment is the primary factor responsible for the degradation of the post-dam Glen Canyon ecosystem. When the dam was completed, and the flow of the Colorado River was stifled, sediment traveling along with the river was blocked by the dam and began to build up in the Lake Powell reservoir. Due to the sediment-free water flowing evenly out of the dam and the associated extreme drop in water temperature, many species of fish, amphibians, and insects which use sediments for habitats, spawning ground, and protection, have been put at great risk. Another problem arising from the dam is silt aggradation. Aggradation is the accumulation of sediment where the river flow slows as it approaches Lake Powell. Aggraded sediment deposits accumulate upstream, eventually piling up hundreds of feet above the current reservoir level. Huge sediment deposits have already filled some of the upper sections of the reservoir. Under current hydrological conditions, enough sediment flows into Lake Powell to potentially fill it up to the river outlet valve level within 100 years. When silt reaches these safety valves, the dam will become unsafe and need to be decommissioned. Since the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, enormous amounts of sediment have been steadily accumulating behind the dam.  While the impacts of sedimentation werent understood prior to the construction of the dam, significant problems have emerged with the relentless buildup of sediment behind Glen Canyon Dam. Economically, on the other hand, the Glen Canyon Dam has provided many benefits since its 1963 completion. It has provided water supply and power for much of the southwestern United States, and parts of Mexico. The Glen Canyon Dam is part of the Colorado River Storage Project, implemented mainly to supply power to Native American reservations, Rural Electric Co-ops, government facilities, and municipalities. The Glen Canyon Dam supplies 75-85% of the power generation for this project. 85% of the dams water goes to irrigation projects. With the input of irrigation, the arid regions of these states have become fertile agricultural lands. Because of the high productivity of these areas, many customers in the United States are provided with fruits and vegetables year-round. Lake Powell has also provided many economic benefits. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in the southwest, bringing in about 4 million tourists and $2.5 million each year. The Glen Canyon Dam issue is a complicated one. Do the benefits of electricity and water outweigh the ecological detriments? Is there any other option besides building a dam to provide these utilities? It is difficult to find unbiased information weighing these issues fairly. In addition there are the more metaphysical, moral issues surrounding dams. Is it right to impose ourselves upon nature is such a way? Are we really harming our future with short-sighted projects like the Glen Canyon Dam? The question is one of the true nature of progress and the advancement of civilization. Is the Earth meant to be subdued by man or to be preserved in a constant search for paradise? The ultimate goal, I suppose, is to find a way to make advance and enrich our lives without detriment to our environment.

Nuclear Brinkmanship :: essays research papers

â€Å"The world would be a better place if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mutual Assured Destruction. Nuclear holocaust. The destruction of whole nations in the blink of an eye. We cannot hide from the threat that nuclear weapons pose to humanity and all life. These are not ordinary weapons, but instruments of mass annihilation that could destroy civilization and end all life on Earth. Nuclear weapons are morally and legally unjustifiable. They destroy indiscriminately - soldiers and civilians; men, women and children; the aged and the newly born; the healthy and the infirm. The world would be a far safer and better place if the Pandora’s Box of nuclear weapons had never been opened. Many historians argue that the United States began the Cold War by ending World War II with the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Four years later, on August 9, 1949, the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear weapons. At the time, both sides lacked the means to effectively use the nuclear devices against each other. However, with the development of aircraft like the B-36 Peacemaker, both sides were gaining more ability to deliver nuclear weapons effectively. The official nuclear policy of the United States was one of "massive retaliation", as coined by President Eisenhower, which called for massive nuclear attack against the Soviet Union if they were to invade Europe. It was only with the advent of ballistic missile submarines, starting with the George Washington class submarine in 1959, that a survivable nuclear force became possible and that a second strike capability became credible. It was generally assumed that any combat in Europe would end wit h apocalyptic conclusions. An idea that has not sunk into the politicians and generals of the nuclear powers skulls is the fact that nuclear weapons are expensive. In 1983, a missile submarine cost more than the education budgets of twenty-three 3rd world countries. A comparison for nuclear weapons would be akin to that of computers: It becomes obsolete very quickly, and the state of the art technology used is astronomically maintenance expensive. Building nuclear weapons is like dumping your money in a hole: It is not going to be coming back. The world would be a far safer place had nuclear weapons not been developed. The possibilities of a small terrorist cell building a nuclear bomb and detonating it in a city are probable within the next twenty years.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 11

Hospitals are creepy places, cold and sterile. A true reminder of the tenuous nature of mortality. The thought of Hugh here made me nauseous, but I squelched the feeling as best I could, sprinting through the halls to the room Samantha had named. When I reached it, I found Hugh lying calmly in a bed, his large body clad in a gown, his skin bruised and bandaged. A blond figure sat next to the bed with him, holding his hand. She turned in surprise when I burst into the room. â€Å"Georgina,† Hugh said, giving me a weak smile. â€Å"Nice of you to stop by.† The blond woman, presumably Samantha, studied me uneasily. Slim and doe-eyed, she tightened her grip on Hugh's hand, and I figured this must be the twenty-year old from work. Her unnatural breasts verified as much. â€Å"It's all right,† he told her reassuringly. â€Å"This is my friend Georgina. Georgina, Samantha.† â€Å"Hi,† I told her, offering my hand. She took it. Hers was cold, and I realized then that her nervousness was not so much at meeting me as general concern over what had happened to Hugh. It was touching. â€Å"Sweetie, would you excuse Georgina and me for a bit? Maybe go get yourself a drink from the cafeteria?† He spoke gently and kindly to her, a tone he rarely used with the rest of us on our pub nights. Samantha turned to Hugh anxiously. â€Å"I don't want to leave you alone.† â€Å"I won't be alone. Georgina and I just need to talk. Besides, she's a, uh, black belt; nothing will happen to me.† I made a face at him behind her back as she considered. â€Å"I suppose that's all right†¦ you'll call my cell if you need me, right? I'll come right back.† â€Å"Of course,† he promised, kissing her hand. â€Å"I'll miss you.† â€Å"I'll miss you more.† She rose, gave me another uncertain look, and retreated out the door. I watched her go a moment before taking her chair beside Hugh. â€Å"Very sweet. I think I'm getting cavities.† â€Å"No need to be bitter. Just because you can't form meaningful attachments with mortals.† His jest hurt a lot more than it probably should have, but then, I still had Roman on the brain. â€Å"Besides,† he continued, â€Å"she's a little upset about what happened today.† â€Å"Yeah, I imagine so. Jesus. Look at you.† I surveyed his wounds in greater detail. Hints of stitches appeared beneath some bandages, and dark blotchy bruises blossomed here and there. â€Å"Could be worse.† â€Å"Could it?† I wondered archly. I'd never seen any immortal sustain so much injury. â€Å"Sure. First, I could be dead, and I'm not. Second, I heal just like you do. You should have seen me this afternoon when they brought me in. The trick now will be to get me out of here before someone notices just how fast I'm recovering.† â€Å"Does Jerome know about this?† â€Å"Of course. I called him earlier, but he'd already felt it. I expect him to show up any time now. Did he call you?† â€Å"Not exactly,† I admitted, hesitant to bring up the note quite yet. â€Å"What happened? When you were attacked?† â€Å"I don't remember a lot of details.† Hugh shrugged slightly, an awkward maneuver for one lying down. I suspected he'd already gone through this story with a number of others. â€Å"I stepped out for coffee. I was the only one in the parking lot, and while coming back to my car, this†¦ person, I guess, just jumped out and attacked me. No warning.† â€Å"You guess?† He frowned. â€Å"I never really got a good look. He was big, though, I could peg that much. And strong – really strong. A lot stronger than I would have thought.† Hugh himself was no weakling. True, he didn't work out or do much with his body, but he had a big frame and a lot of density to fill that frame out. â€Å"Why did he stop?† I asked. â€Å"Did someone find you guys?† â€Å"Nah, I don't know why he quit. It was all beating and slashing one minute; the next, he's gone. Took about fifteen minutes before someone else came along and helped me.† â€Å"You keep saying ‘he.' You think it was a guy?† He attempted another shrug. â€Å"I don't really know. Just an impression I got. Could have been a hot blonde for all I know.† â€Å"Yeah? Should I question Samantha?† â€Å"You shouldn't be questioning anyone, according to Jerome. Did you ever talk to Erik?† â€Å"Yeah†¦ he's looking into some things for me. He also reaffirmed that vampire hunters can't kill you or me, nor has he ever heard of anything that can.† Hugh turned thoughtful. â€Å"This person didn't kill me.† â€Å"Do you think he was trying?† â€Å"He was certainly trying to do something. Seems like if he could have killed me, he would have.† â€Å"But he couldn't,† a voice behind me pointed out, â€Å"because, as I've said, vampire hunters can only inconvenience you, not kill you.† I turned, startled at hearing Jerome's voice. It startled me further to see Carter with him. â€Å"Leave it to Jerome to play devil's advocate,† joked the angel. â€Å"What are you doing here, Georgina?† demanded the demon icily. My mouth gaped, and it took me a moment to speak. â€Å"How†¦ how did you do that?† Carter stood there dressed as disreputably as ever. Whereas Doug and Bruce looked like they were in a grunge band, the angel looked like the band had kicked him out. He gave me a lopsided grin. â€Å"Do what? Come up with a clever pun referencing Jerome's demonic status? The truth is, I usually keep a stash of them on hand and – â€Å" â€Å"No. Not that. I can't feel you†¦ can't sense you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could see Carter with my eyes, but I could not feel that powerful signature, aura, or whatever, that normally radiated from an immortal. Turning to Jerome suddenly, I realized he was the same. â€Å"Or you. I can't sense either of you. I couldn't the other night either.† Angel and demon exchanged glances over my head. â€Å"We can mask it,† said Carter at last. â€Å"What, like a light switch or something? You can turn it on and off?† â€Å"It's a bit more complicated than that.† â€Å"Well, this is news to me. Can we do it? Hugh and I?† â€Å"No,† both Jerome and Carter answered together. Jerome elaborated, â€Å"Only higher immortals can do it.† Hugh weakly attempted to sit up. â€Å"Why†¦ are you doing it?† â€Å"You never answered my question, Georgie,† Jerome pointed out, obviously avoiding the subject. He glanced at the imp. â€Å"I told you not to contact the others.† â€Å"I didn't. She just came.† Jerome turned his gaze back on me, and I fished the mysterious note out of my purse. I handed it to him, and the demon read it expressionlessly before handing it over to Carter. When the angel finished, he and Jerome looked at each other again in that annoying way of theirs. Jerome deposited the note into an inner pocket of his suit jacket. â€Å"Hey, that's mine.† â€Å"Not anymore.† â€Å"Don't tell me you're going to stick to your party line about this being a vampire hunter,† I shot back. Jerome's dark eyes narrowed shrewdly at me. â€Å"Why wouldn't I? This person mistook Hugh for a vampire, but as you've already observed, Nancy Drew, Hugh could not be killed.† â€Å"I think this person knew Hugh wasn't a vampire.† â€Å"Oh? Why do you say that?† â€Å"The note. The person who wrote it mentions my shape-shifting. He knows I'm a succubus. He probably knows Hugh's an imp.† â€Å"His knowing you're a succubus explains why he didn't attack you. He knew he couldn't kill you. He wasn't sure about Hugh, however, so he took his chances.† â€Å"With a knife.† Again, I remembered: How do you know if a demon is lying? His lips are moving. â€Å"I thought the story was that this was some amateur vampire hunter arbitrarily going after people with a stake because he didn't know any better. Instead, this person somehow knows about me and took on Hugh with a knife.† Carter stifled a yawn and joined in on Jerome's game. â€Å"Maybe this person's learning. You know, expanding their choice of weapons. After all, no one stays an amateur for long. Even new vampire hunters wise up eventually.† I jumped on the one detail here no one had addressed yet. â€Å"And even children know that vampires don't come out in daylight. What time were you attacked, Hugh?† A strange look crossed the imp's face. â€Å"Late this afternoon. When the sun was up.† I looked exultantly at Jerome. â€Å"This person knew Hugh wasn't a vampire.† Jerome leaned against a wall, appearing unfazed as he picked nonexistent pieces of lint from his slacks. He looked more like John Cusack than ever today. â€Å"So? Mortals get delusions of grandeur. He kills one vampire and decides to do his part against the rest of the evil forces inhabiting this city. That changes nothing.† â€Å"I don't think it was a mortal.† Both Jerome and Carter, looking at other things in the room, now snapped their heads toward me. â€Å"Oh?† I swallowed, slightly flustered under that scrutiny. â€Å"I mean†¦ you guys prove higher immortals can go around without being sensed, and no one's been able to sense anything from this guy. Plus, look at Hugh's damage. Erik said mortals can't really do substantial – † I bit off my words, realizing my error. Carter laughed softly. â€Å"Damn it, Georgie.† Jerome straightened like a whip. â€Å"I told you to let us handle this. Who else have you talked to?† Whatever cloaking Jerome had been doing vanished, and I suddenly became aware of the power crackling around him. It reminded me of one of those sci-fi movies when a door opens into outer space, and all the debris gets sucked out as a result of the vacuum. Everything in the room seemed to be drawn into Jerome, toward his swelling power and might. To my immortal perceptions, he became a glowing bonfire of terror and energy. I cringed against Hugh's bed, resisting the urge to shade my eyes. The imp put a hand on my arm, though whether it was for my comfort or his own, I didn't know. â€Å"No one. I swear it, no one else. I just asked Erik some questions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Carter took a step toward the furious demon, face angelically calm. â€Å"Easy there. You're sending up a beacon to any immortal in a ten-mile radius.† Jerome's eyes stayed fixed on me, and I felt true fear for the first time in centuries in the focus of all that intensity. Then, like the light switch I'd joked about earlier, it all vanished. Just like that, Jerome stood before me completely incognito for all arcane intents and purposes. Like a mortal. He exhaled heavily and rubbed a spot between his eyes. â€Å"Georgina,† he said at last. â€Å"Contrary to whatever you believe, this is not all some elaborate attempt to vex you. Please stop going against me. We're doing what we're doing for a reason. Your best interests really are at heart here.† My catty nature wanted to ask if demons had hearts, but something else struck me as more pressing. â€Å"Why the ‘we' here? I assume you mean him.† I nodded toward Carter. â€Å"What could involve both a demon and an angel and make them skulk around hiding their presence? Are you guys afraid of something?† â€Å"Skulking?† Carter sounded jovially indignant. â€Å"Please, Georgie,† intoned Jerome, patience obviously at a breaking point, â€Å"leave well-enough alone. If you really want to do something useful, you will avoid dangerous situations like I advised before. I can't make you stay in protected company, but if you persist in being a nuisance otherwise, I can find a convenient place to stash you until this all blows over. This is not about anyone's ‘side,' and you only run the risk of muddling up matters you don't understand.† I unconsciously squeezed Hugh's hand for support. I did not want to think about what sort of â€Å"convenient place† Jerome had in mind. â€Å"Do we understand each other?† the demon asked softly. I nodded. â€Å"Good. You will be of most assistance to me by keeping yourself safe. I have too many things to worry about now without adding you to the list.† I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak. His small display had had its intended effect on temporarily cowing me, though some niggling part of me knew I would be unable to â€Å"leave well-enough alone† once I walked out of here. It would be best to keep that knowledge to myself. â€Å"That will be all, Georgie,† Jerome added. I heard the dismissal. â€Å"I'll walk you out,† offered Carter. â€Å"No thanks.† But the angel followed in my wake anyway. â€Å"So how'd it go with Seth Mortensen?† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"Just okay?† â€Å"Just okay.† â€Å"I hear he's living here now. And spends a lot of time at Emerald City.† I eyed him askance. â€Å"Where'd you hear that?† He only grinned. â€Å"So? Tell me about it.† â€Å"There's nothing to tell,† I snapped, uncertain why I was even discussing this. â€Å"I've talked to him a few times, toured him around. We don't really click. We can't communicate.† â€Å"Why not?† Carter wanted to know. â€Å"He's a hardcore introvert. Doesn't talk much. Just watches. Besides, I don't want to encourage him.† â€Å"So you're increasing his silence.† I shrugged and pushed the button for an elevator. â€Å"I think I know a book that might help you. I'll dig it out and let you borrow it.† â€Å"No thanks.† â€Å"Don't knock it. It'll improve your communication skills with Seth. I saw it on a talk show.† â€Å"Aren't you listening? I don't want to improve things.† â€Å"Ah,† said Carter sagely. â€Å"You don't go for introverts.† â€Å"I – no, that's not it. I don't have a problem with introverts. â€Å" â€Å"Then why don't you like Seth?† â€Å"I do like him! Damn it, stop this.† The angel quirked me a grin. â€Å"It's all right to feel that way. I mean, past evidence shows you tend to go for showy, flirty guys anyway.† â€Å"What's that supposed to mean?† I immediately thought of my attraction to Roman. Carter's eyes flashed mischievously. We were at the hospital's exit now. â€Å"I don't know. You tell me, Letha.† I had nearly walked out the door, but his comment jerked me back. I spun around so fast, my hair whipped around and hit me in the face. â€Å"Where did you hear that name?† â€Å"I have my sources.† A great nebulous emotion swelled up in my chest, something I couldn't entirely identify. It fell somewhere on the continuum of hate and despair, not really subscribing to either one. Hotter and hotter it grew within me, making me want to scream at Carter and that smug, knowing look on his face. I wanted to beat my fists against him or shape-shift into something horrific. I didn't know where he'd learned that name, but it woke up some sort of sleeping monster within me, something that had been tightly coiled up. He continued watching me coolly, undoubtedly reading my thoughts. Slowly, I became aware of my surroundings. The chilly corridors. The anxious visitors. The efficient staff. I calmed my breathing and fixed the angel with a scathing look. â€Å"Don't you ever call me that again. Ever.† He shrugged, still smiling. â€Å"My mistake.† I turned smartly on my heels and left him there. I stormed out to my car and didn't even realize I was driving until I was halfway across the bridge, tears leaking from the corners of my eyes.