Thursday, August 27, 2020

Prayer in Public Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Petition in Public Schools - Essay Example Petition in schools has been bantered for a serious significant stretch of time now. This is on the grounds that supplications are extremely near one’s heart, and ought to be regarded for the connection that a kid (or so far as that is concerned an individual) has with his God. There is positively nobody else to fill the relationship as it is a two-overlay interface and can't be viewed as inadequate in any way shape or form. Subsequently approaching the youngsters to ask only for satisfying a condition is illicit and doesn't carry legitimate equity to the domains of opportunity. Despite the fact that the youthful ones find out about religion, it is absolutely up to them regarding how they need to see their reality and their God basically. The perspective that becomes visible here is that imploring in schools is led since understudies are being molded into picking up something otherworldly. What the educators and the school specialists are overlooking basically is that it can't be imbued into a kid on the off chance that he has not been instructed about such subtleties from his home (Bergel, 1988). There must be a gap here in light of the fact that petition is something that is extremely near one’s heart, and no substitute answers appear to exist or come to fruition for appreciating similar standards. Further, since the understudies leave the class during petition timings, both the guardians and the instructors would be against this marvel. No educator might want his understudies to leave the class at basic points of the talks or meetings (Hannabuss, 2011). Consequently it is consistently a hint of something to look forward to think about these exercises considering development and improvement instead of preferring or disfavoring a specific religion or society so far as that is concerned. In the event that this is done, achievement would consequently be accomplished inside the discussion of supplications in schools. It would be a sound exhortation to have an impartial supplication in the first part of the day instead of a petition that is slanted towards a particular religion. This nonpartisan supplication would tell the understudies that humanity is a higher priority than bad habit and consequently goodness will stay preeminent regardless of how troublesome the occasions are and what the world thinks about these situations that continue coming about from time to time.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Analysis of Local Government Finances in Multan District

Investigation of Local Government Finances in Multan District Unique Open fund manages the budgetary administration of open substances. This paper gives a diagram of the monetary issues of nearby administration of locale Multan and recognizes issues looked by the frameworks to convey productively and successfully. It likewise features territories or improvement and chances to subsidize these exercises. The locale government vigorously depends on the common awards and has exceptionally constrained self created income. In spite of the fact that it is dependable to oversee different organizations of social administrations and do formative exercises in the area, its dependence on commonplace awards put forth its attempt less powerful. TMA then again have huge income age and utilize this furthering their potential benefit and work with self-governance. Anyway they despite everything depend on commonplace awards for any formative exercises. The stale business procedure and obstacles in the legitimate structure likewise contribute altogether towards the in p roductivity of the frameworks. There are arrangements that can help pivot the circumstance yet it needs a genuine exertion on part the common and nearby government. Robotization and legitimate changes could cover a great deal of issues. They would expand effectiveness as well as would help reduce defilement at different levels. Anyway solid political could change the scene inside and out. A far reaching process was embraced in gathering optional information through legitimate archives, format and gatherings with authorities. Locale Multan was picked because of its significance uniquely in the current political arrangement and dependent on comfort. Presentation Regardless of some humble accomplishments, the financial and social advancement in Pakistan has been a long way from good during the last over five many years of autonomy. Normal yearly development pace of 6.8, 4.8, 6.5 and 4.6% (Government of Pakistan, 2003) individually in the times of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s isn't similar with the fast financial advancement made by South Korea, Malaysia, China and numerous different nations which were at first at about a similar degree of monetary turn of events (or even beneath) as that of Pakistan. The exhibition on social pointers has been gloomier. Regardless of normal figures for financial development, numerous nations like Vietnam and Cuba have had the option to destroy absence of education and have accomplished wellbeing insights practically identical with created nations (Zaidi, 2000). Pakistan despite everything positions at the last part of social improvement positioning. Pakistan is additionally a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, a milestone occasion indicating responsibility of political, corporate and common society administration to dispose of outrageous appetite and neediness and to improve instruction, wellbeing, sex and condition circumstance through worldwide associations for advancement. An investigation of the advancement accomplished on accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shows that the presentation of Pakistan has not been vital in the time of 90s. There has been a progressive assembly of feeling among all partners à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" government, common society just as worldwide improvement accomplices à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" that the disappointment in social divisions is an immediate result of the emergency of administration and full scale monetary irregular characteristics. Further, there is a wide accord that administration can't be improved without a significant devolution of power to practical levels and without gu aranteeing people groups investment in dynamic procedures at all levels. This partner accord gave the important catalyst to the current government to present its devolution changes imagined in 2000 and propelled all the while in all areas of Pakistan through presentation of Local Government Ordinances in 2001. Until the proclamation of Local Government Ordinances, the chosen nearby government levels had an unsafe presence relying on the desire of the common governments. Commonly these eventual disintegrated and un-chose executives named. Working under the ambit of Local government Ordinances of 1979, there were urban and country nearby committees. While urban nearby gatherings comprised of Metropolitan/Municipal Corporations and Municipal/Town advisory groups, the provincial committees were called District Councils and Union Councils. Customarily the neighborhood committees in Pakistan have performed metropolitan capacities like water flexibly, sanitation, strong waste administration, putting out fires, upkeep of butcher houses, advancement of cows markets, fairs and presentations and road lighting. They additionally had fluctuating jobs in essential and preventive human services, maternal and youngster wellbeing, advancement of proficiency and rustic framework improvement. Devolution changes in Pakistan, presented by the proclamation of Local Government Ordinances of 2001 have given a 3-level nearby government framework comprising of District Government (DG), Tehsil/Town Municipal Administration (TMA) and Union Administrations (UA). Working under the heading and control of chose gatherings and Nazims, the current nearby government framework endeavors to make establishments and components for open cooperation in structure, the executives, observing and control of social help conveyance. Huge numbers of the capacities recently performed by the nearby workplaces of common government divisions currently obviously fall inside the area of DGs. These changes are expected to expand neighborhood governments duty regarding proficient and viable social and city administrations conveyance. Metropolitan capacities with a more extensive degree are being done by Town Municipal Administrations and City District Governments (set up at first in common central command ye t accordingly in chose large urban communities also). Access to sufficient assets for the neighborhood governments is currently viewed as fundamental. Extra monetary space is required for improved designations for the social part just as foundation advancement. These assets are likewise required to meet the social shortages that have collected over the past because of deficient financing combined with low use in social segments. Devolution changes, as initially imagined and enunciated, conceived huge scope financial decentralization to follow the managerial and political decentralization. While a monetary relationship has been manufactured between the territory and the locale, a broad rearrangement of assets has not occurred and the vertical money related irregularity remains set up with the major budgetary assortments being made at the government (and to a lesser degree at the common) level. Then again, the administration arrangement has fallen at the DG level where the assessment base and assortment potential is the most minimal. Civility: Decentralization Support Program, Role Book: 4-day workshop for chose neighborhood leadershipResultantly, the greatest test confronting the nearby gatherings in Pakistan (which are increasingly engaged today and have a more extensive extent of capacities than at any other time) is to guarantee steady, dependable and idiot proof components of moves from common governments and to grow own source incomes so as to offer proficient and viable assistance conveyance as conceived in devolution changes. Open Financeã‚â is that piece of fund which drifts around the focal inquiry of distribution of assets exposed to the spending limitation of the administration or open elements. It is that part of financial matters which distinguishes and assesses the methods and impacts of the arrangements of the administration. Open division fund attempts to look at the impacts and outcomes of various sorts of tax collection and consumptions on the financial operators (people, foundations, associations, and so forth.) of the general public and at last on the whole economy. Open fund likewise breaks down the adequacy of the strategies focused on specific targets and thus to the advancement of methodology and procedures for expanding the viability of the arrangement (Economy Watch, 2010). Writing Review A significant part of the practical self-sufficiency of the neighborhood governments relies on their capacity to raise the necessary assets from their own sources and to get the parity from the common/government through steady and guaranteed components. This requires not just concocting institutional components for recipe and standards based monetary exchanges yet in addition investigating income possibilities of nearby own source incomes. These own source incomes can be as charges and expenses for administrations gave. It is very astonishing that in spite of the noteworthiness of this, not many neighborhood contemplates have been completed to analyze the asset capability of the nearby bodies in Pakistan. Neediness Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) of Pakistan, defined after significant discussion and contribution from every single significant partner, concedes that the nearby governments rely essentially on monetary exchanges from common governments and perceives the requirement for neighborhood income activation as a significant action for the manageability of nearby government framework. Components saturated with political economy and world class structures have affected neighborhood income age choices. Howe and Reeb (1997) directing an overview of the nearby duty framework in USA since the pilgrim times have discovered that financial and political contemplations have affected the assessment frameworks. Winged animal (2000) gives the alluring attributes of a neighborhood charge. To begin with, the assessment base ought to be generally stationary so neighborhood governments can fluctuate the rates without losing a critical segment of the base. Second, the expense yield ought to be satisfactory to meet the neighborhood needs, increment additional time as consumption increments, and be generally steady and unsurprising. Third, the assessment ought to be one that isn't anything but difficult to fare to non occupants. Fourth, the assessment base ought to be noticeable to guarantee responsibility. Fifth, the citizens ought to see the assessment to be sensibly reasonable. 6th, the expense ought to be sensibly simple to oversee. As per Bird (1999), universal experience

Friday, August 21, 2020

8 Most Creative Entrepreneurs in History

8 Most Creative Entrepreneurs in History © Shutterstock.com | BloomuaIn this article, you will learn about 1) the key characteristics of entrepreneurs and 2) a list of the most creative entrepreneurs in history.CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTREPRENEURSWhat do these creative entrepreneurs, who have made significant contributions and indelible marks in history have in common?They are inventors and innovators.There is a clear distinction between an inventor and an innovator (or an invention and an innovation) that is not often seen by many people, thinking that they are one and the same. Invention is the creation â€" or introduction for the first time â€" of something completely new and has not been seen anywhere in the world, ever. It could be something tangible like a product, tool, or equipment, or intangible such as a process or service. Meanwhile, innovation is the process of coming up with something new, but is primarily an improvement, enhancement or modification of an existing product or process, thereby increasing its value.T he creative entrepreneurs that we will be looking at later in this article are either inventors or innovators, or both. Their creations have left such a huge impact, even long after they have died or stepped away and ceased involvement with their inventions or innovations.They are risk-takers.They are not averse to entertaining what-if questions, but they do not let uncertainties dissuade them. They are cognizant of the fact that nothing is certain, and they will not know what will happen unless they try or do first. Taking risks comes natural to these creative entrepreneurs.They are passionate about their chosen causes.When they get an idea, they are dogged about pursuing it. You will note that, even at an early age, these entrepreneurs already have certain interests that they focused on even later in life. Alexander Graham Bell had great interest for sound and the human voice, and it went on to influence his later inventions, most notably the telephone.They used what they are good at.It’s a perfect representation of “doing what you love” or what you are interested in. These entrepreneurs mostly grew up having deep interest in several things, and they carried these on in later years, cultivating that interest to go into business. Whether it is a passion for sound, solving problems, or anything electrical, they all had one thing in common: they want to create.Wanna know whether you are a real entrepreneur? Answer the questions in this presentation and find out.[slideshare id=56998980doc=areyouentrepreneurmaloomaat-160113104458w=640h=330]1. THOMAS ALVA EDISON © Wikimedia Commons | Louis Bachrach, Bachrach Studios, restored by Michel VuijlstekeThomas Alva Edison will forever be known as “that guy who invented the incandescent lightbulb and the phonograph” and the one who said the famous quote, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”. But this American inventor was more than that; he was also one of the savviest businessmen and entrepreneur of his time, coming out with inventions and innovations that have become so widespread, their benefits are still being reaped â€" in large doses â€" to this day. He was the founder of the giant General Electric Corporation (formerly Edison General Electric), and also owned Edison Manufacturing, Edison Studios (a film studio).This Ohio native did not have formal education; he was mostly self-educated, which is very impressive, considering the long list of his accomplishments and contributions. In his lifetime â€" he was born February 11, 1847 and died October 18, 1931 â€" he had more than 1,000 patents to his name, and that’s in the United States alone. His first innovation, at the age of 22, was the Universal Stock Printer, a stock ticker that is also said to be the first broadcast system to run on electricity. Through this, he was able to improve the existing stock ticker by making some transactions synchronized. This was purchased by the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, and Edison used the proceeds from the sale to set up a small laboratory where he could continue inventing. He also resigned from his day job as a telegraph operator.From there, he continued inventing, and even dipping his toes in various industries, such as mining, mass communication, military weapons, and motion picture.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Forming numerous partnerships with industry leaders. At first, Edison was an independent entrepreneur with only a small laboratory and few machinists. He recognized that he did not have enough resources to go at i t alone, so he formed partnerships with large companies, and worked on inventing and developing products for whoever among these partner companies had the highest bid.Application of mass production. Edison was credited to be one of the first inventors to integrate the concepts of mass production to invention. As a result, he was able to create the first ever industrial research laboratory, setting it up in West Orange, New Jersey.Development of systems for illumination using electrical power. He was one of the first to develop a system for the generation and distribution of electrical power to residences, businesses, and industries. This later became known as the General Electric Corporation.Turning failures into successes. Edison developed a method for processing magnetic iron ore, but this turned out to be a dismal failure. He did not entirely give up on it, though, and instead modified the method, until he was able to come up with a better cement production method.Military-relate d projects. Edison worked on more than a handful projects for the U.S. government, primarily on the invention of defensive tools and weapons that can be used by the US military. He is credited for inventing submarine detectors and introducing gun-location techniques.Other inventions and innovations:Storage battery for the self-starter on Ford Company’s Model T car (1912)Carbon microphone transmitter for telephones (1878)Fluoroscope used by X-rays to capture radiographs (1890s)The “Kinetograph”, a motion picture camera, and the “Kinetoscope”, a peep-hole viewer (1891)Vitascope, a motion picture projector (1896)2. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL © Wikimedia CommonsWhenever the telephone rings, we rarely â€" if ever â€" remember the guy who started it all: Alexander Graham Bell. Come to think of it, those ringtones we use on our mobile phones had their start in that first ever telephone ringing sound that Bell was able to produce when he invented the telephone and made the first call.Originally from Scotland, Bell was born on March 3, 1847 and died on August 2, 1922 with 30 patents to his name, 12 of which are shared with co-inventors. Even at a young age, he has shown an amazing aptitude for experimentation and solving problems, and a passion for studying sound and the human voice. He took this up as the focus of his attention when he moved to Canada in 1870. By joining forces with an electrician named Thomas Watson, they successfully created the first voice transmitting device â€" the telephone â€" in 1876. The success of this invention led Bell to establish the Bell Telephone Company.Most notable contributions or accompli shments as an entrepreneur:Despite the fact that Bell did not consider himself a businessman in the strictest sense of the word, his accomplishments show his grit as an entrepreneur, particularly in the fields of telecommunications and aeronautics.Development of flying machines. Through the Aerial Experiment Association he co-founded with several associates in 1907, Bell introduced the Silver Dart, the first powered machine that was flown over parts of Canada.Improvement of hydrofoil design. He also set out to make modifications on the hydrofoil, focusing on its speed capability. He succeeded when he was able to set a world record for the fastest hydrofoil at the time, clocking 70.86 miles per hour.Other inventions and innovations:A photophone, or a wireless telephone (1880), which became the precursor of modern fiber-optic communication systemsAn early version of a metal detector (1881)3. STEVE JOBS © Wikimedia Commons | Matthew YoheWhen we speak of revolutionizing technology, there is no better example of that than Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computers, which came out with some of the most innovative products and inspired future innovations in computing and mobile technology.He was only 21 years old when he founded Apple with his partner Steve Wozniak in their family garage. They had a shared passion for electronics and computer design, and their vision was to make computing more accessible to more users by making computers and computing machines smaller and compact, more intuitive and user-friendly, and cheaper than the other computers at the time.Jobs’ history with the company he co-founded was quite rocky. Their first products â€" the Apple I and Apple II â€" were successes, but the next releases were not so much, especially when IBM entered the picture and took the lion’s share of the computer market. Jobs was also edged out of Apple, and he left in 1985. He pr oceeded on his own ventures, including setting up Pixar Animation Studios.Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 as CEO and this is when the company started its “golden age”. He died at the age of 56 on October 5, 2011, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. It was a short life, but his accomplishments and contributions have made him an icon and one of the greatest innovators and entrepreneurs of all time.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Revitalization of Apple Company. The first thing that Jobs did when he was reinstalled as CEO was to instigate changes to the existing organizational structure and system. This included putting a new management team in place and even opted to have a $1 annual salary. He also focused on the company’s branding campaigns and reiterated the emphasis of being “stylish” and “sophisticated” in Apple’s product designs.A very long list of revolutionary products. They are, among others. The Macbook Air, the iPod, t he iPhone, and iTunes.4. WALT DISNEY © Wikimedia Commons | Boy Scouts of AmericaMany people easily identify Walt Disney as a filmmaker, and the creator of the Disneyland theme parks. But we should give credit to where it is due, because Disney did more than build theme parks and produce movies.Walter Elias Disney spent his younger years in Chicago, Illinois, drawing and painting pictures and selling them to friends and neighbors. He took this further by taking formal classes in drawing and photography. His work experience included being a contributing cartoonist for a local newspaper, making commercials using cutout animation, and even an ambulance driver for the Red Cross during a short stint in France.Disney set up a small animation business and released several cartoon series, such as Laugh-O-Grams and Alice in Cartoonland. However, it did not last long, as they had to declare bankruptcy when the studio was not able to repay all its debts. He took this as his cue to move to Hollywood with his brother, and they set u p the Disney Brothers’ Studio. They had a met a few snags at first, but it wasn’t until Walt created “Mickey Mouse” that everything took off.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Mickey and friends. While working on several cartoons, Disney had been developing another character he called “Mickey Mouse”. When one of his previous characters â€" Oswald the Lucky Rabbit â€" was stolen by their distributor, he focused on making Mickey the star of their succeeding animated short cartoons. He even used his own voice as the voice of Mickey in the animated short Steamboat Willie, and Mickey Mouse became a huge hit.  But that did not end there, because Disney went on to introduce several more characters as the friends of Mickey Mouse, including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto.Pioneering contributions in animation and motion picture industry. Disney was the first to produce animated cartoons in color via Flowers and Trees. It went on to win an Oscar Award. In 1937, the company also produced the first full-length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.Disneyland theme parks. The first Disneyland theme park, which was built in Anaheim, California, was formally opened on July 17, 1955. Its main draws were attractions and rides that were inspired by movies and characters produced by Walt Disney’s company. It has now become a chain, with Disneyland theme parks in Europe and Asia.5. BILL GATES © Flickr | Masaru KamikuraIt is safe to say that computers, as we know it, would not be what it is today if not for William Henry Gates III. Most of the world knows Bill Gates as one of the richest men alive, and that he amassed his wealth from having founded Microsoft, which is undisputedly the largest software business in the world. But behind the businessman and the philanthropist is one of the most creative entrepreneurs the world has ever seen.Gates started to become interested in computer programming at a very young age, pursuing it in college. It was still during his high school years when he first went into business, in partnership with his friend and schoolmate Paul Allen. Together, they developed a traffic pattern monitoring computer program that they called “Traf-o-Data”. This partnership was carried on to college, until Gates decided to quit Harvard and set up the company they called “Microsoft”. This was in 1975.The start of Microsoft was shaky in the beginning. They started by developing software for Altair computers of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems or MITS. The two companies parted ways in 1977 and in 1978, Gates moved the center of operations of Microsoft to Bellevue, Washington.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Establishing a good team. Gates knew what the company needed, so he handpicked the members of his team very well, matching their skill sets with the tasks. He made it a point that all members of the team are knowledgeable about, and have responsibilities, in all aspects of the organization, ranging from product development, marketing, and overall operation of the business.Software development. Microsoft Windows is undoubtedly the most notable contribution of Gates and his company to the world. This was also the perfect example of how much of a risk-taker Gates was. In 1993, he made the announcement about Microsoft currently working on an operating system that uses a graphic interface and will be compatible with all PC software products that are developed using MS-DOS when, in reality, no such system was under development. This, however, increased anticipation for the new system, and attempts by other software developers of a similar system pretty much failed or did not pan out. It was only after making the announcement that Microsoft did get on the development of Windows until, finally, it was launched in 1995.6. JEFF BEZOS © Flickr | John FischerWe cannot talk about modern business and commerce without mentioning Amazon, currently the largest e-commerce portal and marketplace in the world, and the brains behind the whole operation: Jeff Bezos.Jeff Bezos is credited for being the one who pioneered e-commerce when he founded Amazon.com, initially as an online bookstore. He, too, was interested in computers, and would later study electrical engineering and computer science in college. For a while, he worked at Wall Street, and even became the youngest vice president in a Wall Street investment company. But that was not where his interest lies, so he quit his job â€" lucrative though it is â€" and took a risk. He started developing Amazon.com.Amazon.com officially opened on July 16, 1995, and it became a worldwide sensation in just over a month. Granted, Amazon.com was not the first e-commerce site at that time, as other retailers also had their own online stores. However, Amazon.com was able to come out on top.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Making Amazon an e-commerce leader. It started out as a virtual bookstore, but it soon diversified its offerings, branching out into electronics, music, toys, clothing, and more.Innovation on tablets. The Kindle and its succeeding versions were Amazon’s attempts to enter the marketplace for tablets, which was dominated by Apple’s iPad series.7. LARRY PAGE © Wikimedia Commons | Stansfield PL“Google” is one of the most recognizable names and brands today, so much so that almost everybody now uses it even as a verb. If you want to know something about anything, all you have to do is Google it.The creative entrepreneur behind this phenomenon is Larry Page, undisputedly one of the best internet entrepreneurs the computing world has ever seen. He is, first and foremost, a computer scientist, having studied computer engineering when he attended Stanford University.Together with his friend Sergey Brin, Page set up a search engine that “listed results according to popularity of the pages”. This was in 1998, and they called it Google. Today, it is the most popular and widely used search engine, and the company itself has now become a conglomerate, having purchased YouTube.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Revolutionizing how search engines work. Working on the assumption that the most popular pages are th e most relevant and useful ones, Page and Brin developed Google.Acquisitions, mergers and partnerships. One of the most relevant examples is Google’s acquisition of YouTube in 2006. This brought about the merger of two internet behemoths: the largest search engine and the largest streaming site. Some of the other notable partnerships that Page made include that with Sun Microsystems and American Online (AOL). It has also acquired Motorola Mobility as part of its efforts to solidify its footing in mobile development, particularly using its Android operating system.8. MARK ZUCKERBERG © Flickr | Alessio JaconaArguably, Mark Zuckerberg is the most popular internet personality, and a success story that a film was made about him and his founding of what is now the largest social networking website, Facebook.Thanks to Facebook, Zuckerberg became one of the youngest billionaires in the world, and his story goes a long way back, even when he was a young boy creating computer games just for the fun of it. He was only 12 years old when he successfully created a computer messaging program that he called “Zucknet”. While studying at Harvard, he continued developing software and programs and, on June 2004, he and his friends ran “The Facebook” from his Harvard dorm room.Most notable contributions or accomplishments as an entrepreneur:Retaining Facebook’s identity. Despite receiving very lucrative and tempting offers from companies such as Yahoo! and MTV, Zuckerberg opted to expand Facebook instead, letting other developers work with him on the project.Continuous e xpansion of Facebook. Zuckerberg and his team are continuously improving the features of Facebook, adding to it, and enhancing the ones that already exist. No wonder it now has over 1.5 billion active users monthly.Image credit: Wikimedia Commons | Louis Bachrach, Bachrach Studios, restored by Michel Vuijlsteke under the public domain, Wikimedia Commons under the public domain, Wikimedia Commons | Matthew Yohe under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license, Wikimedia Commons | Boy Scouts of America under the public domain, Flickr | Masaru Kamikura under Attribution 2.0 Generic, Flickr | John Fischer (adapted) under Attribution 2.0 Generic, Wikimedia Commons | Stansfield PL under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license, Flickr | Alessio Jacona (adapted) under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Essay - 1381 Words

The reviewed article reports the findings of a self-reported study of how mothers of children with down syndrome feel about noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), especially the impact they think it will have on their families and other families with children who have down syndrome. NIPT is a highly sensitive blood test that allows doctors to detect Down syndrome early on in pregnancy with no risk of miscarriage, therefore increasing the number of pregnancies identified with Down syndrome. Seventy-three mothers of children with Down syndrome responded to an anonymous survey that was posted on and emailed to users of message boards of various Down syndrome networks and support groups. Fifty-nine percent of the mothers indicated they would use†¦show more content†¦However, given NIPT’s highly sensitive results and no risk to the fetus, its use is expected to grow dramatically in the near future. There is some concern that an increase in NIPT could lead to decreased births of children with Down syndrome therefore leading to a decrease in social support and services for those who have Down syndrome and their families. Since NIPT has the potential to significantly impact the down syndrome community it is important to understand their respective views. This study assesses both current attitudes towards NIPT and what impact mothers of children with Down syndrome think increased use of NIPT in the future will have on their families and other families with children who have Down syndrome. Method Sample Self-reported mothers of children with Down syndrome. A link to the online survey was emailed to users of and posted on the message boards of regional and local Down syndrome support groups between October and December 2012. Instrumentation The survey began with a short description of NIPT. It was described as a test that â€Å"can diagnose some chromosome differences, like Down syndrome, earlier in pregnancy† and as a test that does â€Å"NOT have a risk of miscarriage and is very accurate.† The description included options available to women if a chromosome abnormality was found during testing, including termination of pregnancy and expectantShow MoreRelated Prenatal Diagnostic Tests and the Social, Legal, and Ethical Implications1805 Words   |  8 PagesPrenatal Diagnostic Tests and the Social, Legal, and Ethical Implications Introduction Jackie and Michael are expecting their first baby. Jackie is 32 years old and is in good health. She is 15 weeks pregnant and wants to do everything possible to ensure a healthy baby. Even though they do not have risk factors within their families, she and Michael decide to have an amniocentesis. The results indicate that their baby is a female with Turner Syndrome. This condition is caused by a missing

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Make Ectoplasm Slime for Halloween

You can make this non-sticky, edible slime from two easy-to-find ingredients. It can be used as ectoplasm for Halloween costumes, haunted houses, and Halloween parties. Ectoplasm Slime Materials You only need two ingredients to make the basic slime, though you can add coloring to make the slime any combination of colors that you like or to make it glow in the dark. 1 teaspoon soluble fiber (e.g., Metamucil psyllium fiber)8 ounces (1 cup) waterFood coloring (optional)Glow paint or pigment (optional) Make Your Ectoplasm Pour the water and fiber into a large microwave-safe bowl.Microwave the ectoplasm on high power for 3 minutes.​Stir the ectoplasm. Return it to the microwave and heat it for another 3 minutes.Stir the ectoplasm and check its consistency. If you want drier ectoplasm, microwave the ectoplasm another minute or two. Continue checking the ectoplasm and microwaving it until you achieve the desired consistency.Add a drop of food coloring and/or some glow paint, if desired. Youll get an interesting effect if you incompletely mix the coloring into the ectoplasm, such as multicolored ectoplasm or ectoplasm slime with glowing streaks.Store the ectoplasm in a sealed baggie to prevent dehydration. The slime will last for a week or longer, as long as you keep it from drying out. Safety and Clean Up Made with fiber, water, and food coloring, the ectoplasm slime is safe enough to eat (but might not taste great). If you make the slime glow, check the product details to determine the safety of the slime. If will likely be non-toxic, but not edible. This slime is not sticky, so clean up should be as easy as wiping it off surfaces. If it gets onto clothing or carpets, use warm, soapy water. Bleach may be required to remove stains caused by food coloring,

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Physical Database Design Lecture Exampl Essay example

PHYSICAL DATABASE DESIGN EXAMPLES Example 1 – Consider the following relational database for the Super Baseball League. It keeps track of teams in the league, coaches and players on the teams, work experience of the coaches, bats belonging to each team, and which players have played on which teams. Note the following facts about this environment: The database keeps track of the history of all of the teams that each player has played on and all of the players who have played on each team. The database only keeps track of the current team that a coach works for. Team number, team name, and player number are each unique attributes across the league. Coach name is only unique within a team (and we assume that a team cannot have two†¦show more content†¦The Team Number field. ii. The Player Name field. b) Construct a B+-tree index of the type shown in this chapter for the Player file, assuming that now there are many more records than are shown above. The file and the index have the following characteristics: The file is stored on eight cylinders of the disk. The highest key values on the eight cylinders, in order, are: Cylinder 1: 1427 Cylinder 2: 1965 Cylinder 3: 2848 Cylinder 4: 3721 Cylinder 5: 4508 Cylinder 6: 5396 Cylinder 7: 6530 Cylinder 8: 7442 Each index record can hold four key value/pointer pairs. There are three index records at the lowest level of the tree index. c) The same as part b above, but now there are four index records at the lowest level of the tree index. d) The same as part b above, but each index record can hold two key value/pointer pairs and there are four index records at the lowest level of the tree index. Answer - a) Simple linear index. i. (Based on Team Number.) 12 1 12 3 12 8 15 9 18 5 18 6 20 4 20 7 35 2 35 10 ii. (Based on Player Name.) Barry Morton 10 Chico Lopez 8 Chris Vernon 9 Dave Lester 6 Fred Williams 1 Juan Gomez 3 Rod Smith 7 Steve

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts - Mix Marketing Strategies

Question: Discuss about the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney Home Marketing Strategies. Answer: Introduction Companies in the hotel and tourism industry are increasingly utilizing the concept of home to enhance marketing and hospitality experiences. Managers adopt home attributes to design, market, and deliver augmented services to customers. This practice is influenced by increased awareness of diversity around the globe and the need to create a unique positioning that can earn competitive advantages. The contemporary market environment is turbulent, and firms can counter competition from global rivals through differentiation strategies such as embracing national heritage. Hotels all over the world use home attributes to create a strong attachment with locals in host countries as well as attract foreigners to enjoy new experiences. Global hotel firms such as Shangri-La group need to incorporate more home elements like other accommodation providers to cope with trends and competition levels. Information about the use of home concepts can give insights for improving the Shangri-La hotel comm ercial practices. Therefore, exploring how other hotel players integrate home ideas would help to formulate appropriate recommendations for adoption and implementation in the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney. Shangri-La Hotel Background Information Shangri-La Hotel Sydney is one of the hotels operated by the Shangri-La Group. The group manages five-star hotels and resorts all over the world. The Shangri-La brand was born in Singapore before expanding to other Asian countries and parts of the world including Europe, North America, and Middle East (Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. 2016). Shangri-La hotels are situated in prime cities and offer luxury services to their customers. The Sydney hotel is among the leading hospitality firms in the city. Its location gives visitors a clear view of the glowing Opera House and the majestic Harbor Bridge. Customers can also enjoy the spectacle look of the citys exuberant colors from the hotel. The hotel offers a variety of world-class services and facilities. Facilities include hospitality lounge, business center, and conferences rooms among others. Services offered include laundry, postal, shoe-shine, and check-in facilities, among others. The hotel also has children care fac ilities, travel and transport services to airports, and shopping places (Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. 2016). Shangri-La Hotel provides a range of food and beverages in service rooms, all-time restaurants, a bar, and a lounge. Cuisines and drinks from local and international places are available. Check-in rooms and meeting suites are fitted with contemporary furnishings and signature materials. The hotel attains world-class services and is a preferred choice for many locals as well as foreigners visiting Sydney. However, it does not apply home concepts extensively to promote marketing activities like in other hotels. Use of Home Concepts in Other Hotels Hotels employ various features of home heritage to support their business operations and attract more customers. One way of achieving these activities is through the provision of local cuisines (Enz 2011). The local food dishes and beverages differ from those in other countries due to cultural diversity and environmental conditions. Culture influences the food preferences as well as methods of preparation. Since Australian culture is different from that of foreigners, local dishes and drinks are also different. Although globalization is transforming Australian cultures, providing traditional foods in hotels attract locals and foreigners to enjoy. People visiting Australia would want to enjoy local dishes and beverages that are not available in their home countries. Visitors are also excited to learn methods of cooking as a way of understanding Australian food cultures (Wyshak 2014). The ingredients used differ or are not available in other communities, and offering local dishes enabl es visitors to enjoy new food substances. Hotels seeking to attract more customers incorporate the local foods in their menu (Lehr 2015). Additionally, their commercials include these local cuisines as part of what they offer. Potential customers access this information and make plans to visit. By doing this, the hotels create awareness to the global community and reap improved revenues from new clients. Another way of utilizing home advantages includes supporting local and cultural functions. Hotel industry plays important role in facilitating social activities such as cultural celebrations, beauty contests, or music festivals, among others (Chu 2014). Hotels host the events or individuals participating in such activities. During these periods, the hotels utilize the opportunities to pass information about their services. For instance, hotels carry out commercials in conjunction with event organizers. Hotels that facilitate major occasions benefit by reaching many people. Some local events attract foreigners or people from far regions in the country who check-in hotels near the venues. As a result, hotels that work together with the event organizers stand a better chance of hosting visitors and boost revenues (Rao 2014). The visitors would refer friends to these hotels hence promoting marketing campaigns. Hospitality firms also sponsor events through monetary contributions or provis ion of other equipment such as kits. Hotels that engage in local activities create rapport with the people who support its continued operations. Thus, participating in local events enables hotels to market their services to the populations in host countries and increase the likelihood of success. Some hotels exploit the power of corporate social responsibility practices that involve home attributes. CSR is becoming a common practice for companies in the hotel industry. These programs are instrumental in marketing a firm to the locals (Bunda 2014). The public can identify with a hotel that adopts plans to give back to the society and support its continued operations. The CSR events create a long-lasting positive perception about an organization. This positive image is desirable to help the hotel enjoy support of the locals. Some hotels operate in a global environment and lack strong local attachment. As a result, domestic customers can opt to seek services in local firms. CSR activities help the public to view a global company as one of their own (Scott 2009). There are many forms of CSR practices adopted by different hotels. Examples include giving donations to benevolent centers, providing material support during disasters, and sponsoring sport events. Many people can resona te with these practices and in turn, visit the hotels and take items or services offered. Hotels also utilize concepts of home by linking services provided to physical features and unique attributes in their surroundings. Hotels located in strategic places or near important structures take advantage of associating with them to market their services (Oh, Pizam 2008). Fascinating and spectacle scenery is desirable to customers, and hotels that have a beautiful environment attract more visitors. Hotels are recognizing the beautiful elements near their premises and use them to promote marketing performances. For instance, hospitality firms near elegant buildings or seas link these features to service experiences for their clients. Potential customers learn about these structures through marketing activities of the hotel company and plan visits to go and enjoy. As the customers view the scenery around these hotels, they stay and consume meals or other services offered. Managers implement changes such as modifying layouts and facilities to enable customers experience the attra ctiveness of nearby features that promote satisfaction (Enz 2009). Moreover, hotels capture natural features of their home countries such as landscape, mountains, and wild animals to market their services. Images of these features accompany advertisements or are used to beautify the hotel structures. People interested in these features visit the hotels, enjoy attractiveness, and consume substances offered. Moreover, some hotels partner with tourist agencies to direct interested customers to explore local heritage. Hotels complement the tourist agencies by providing accommodation for the visitors (Dahlstrom et al. 2009). Similarly, the people touring different places in a country provide market for hotel services and facilities. The two sectors sub-sectors are interdependent. Hotels take advantage of the tourism services to enhance their marketing campaigns. Hospitality firms partner with the tourism agencies to enable tourists travel to sites with ease (Tanford, Raab, Kim 2012). Partnerships with other businesses allow hotels to incorporate travel features in their marketing commercials. The tourism communities access the information and plan to seek accommodation services from these hotels. Firms that exploit opportunities of partnering with travel firms embrace the diversity of local heritage through the marketing practices. Consequently, they can attract more customers including fo reign tourists. Even though the hotels do not manage the tourism sites, they benefit from associations with these agencies by receiving more clients who improve the revenue levels. Without the partnerships, some tourists seek accommodation services elsewhere, and hence hotels realize reduced revenues for the hotel. Recommendations Other hotels incorporate home concepts in their marketing operations to attract more visitors and realize sustainable profits. Shangri-La Hotel does not apply these aspects extensively and therefore has untapped opportunities to grow its customer base. The hotel would implement home ideas that fit with its operations (Rao 2014). Despite this, many practices are applicable in the Shangri-La hotel. However, this report recommends for implementation of most promising attributes. Firstly, the hotel needs to introduce more local dishes and drinks in the menu. Shangri-La Hotel Sydney has a variety of food and beverage products from Australia and international markets. Adopting more Australian cuisines would help many people perceive the hotel like other local companies. Shangri-La can take advantage of its global presence to reach and inspire people to visit the Australian branch and enjoy a broad range of domestic foods. People from other countries can plan to visit the hotel to enjoy Aus tralian delicacies. Moreover, customers from other regions in the country can visit the hotel to gain experiences and consume local dishes (Wyshak 2014). Providing more Australian cuisines is desirable to earn favorable perceptions from the people. Although Shangri-La is a world-class hotel, many people can view it as similar to other firms based on the range of local foods offered. Another strategy to ensure the Shangri-La hotel applies more home practices is through the formation of partnerships with local tourist firms. Through the partnerships, Shangri-La hotel would use features of Australian heritage such as tourism sites, wild animals, and natural landscapes to attract many people (Crossley 2011). The hotel is based in Sydney city that receives many foreign and local visitors. By utilizing association with locals, many people would adopt the brand like the domestic firms. Working together with locals and using home features portrays the hotel company as supportive to the domestic environment. Local groups of people can approach the hotel as if it has Australian roots that enhance chances of realizing increased sales (Enz, 2009). Through the partnerships, the hotel would also provide easy access to the tourist sites and fast transport means. The existing activities provide access to the airports and limit the number of tourists who can locate the hotel. Pa rtnerships would thus help increase number of visitors that ultimately lead to improved sales. Conclusion The firms in the global hotel industry utilize home concepts to promote their activities and deliver augmented experiences to the customers. Common attributes include the introduction of local foods and beverages, supporting local and cultural events, running corporate social responsibility programs, and partnerships with domestic players. These practices create a perception that the hotel values home features in a country, and in turn offer continued support by visiting the businesses to consume services or spa products provided. Shangri-La hotel needs to improve its home aspects to increase chances of receiving more visitors that raise the revenue levels. More appropriate practices for the Shangri-La hotel include widening the variety of local cuisines and partnering with domestic companies such as the tourist firms to directs visitors to the hotel. Adopting these capabilities encourages more people from the local as well as the international places to visit the hotel and experienc e fulfilling moments that heighten satisfaction levels. Therefore, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney has opportunities to utilize home concepts to improve marketing performances. Reference List Reference generated Bunda, R. B. 2014. The Business of Beds: An Exploration of Hotel and Hostel Business Strategy. Honors Scholar Theses. Paper 350. [ONLINE] Available at: https://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/350 [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Chu, Y. 2014. A review of studies on luxury hotels over the past two decades. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 13913. [ONLINE] Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4920context=etd [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Crossley, J. C. 2011. Introduction to Commercial Recreation and Tourism. 6 Edition. Sagamore Pub Llc. Dahlstrom, R., Haugland, S. A., Nygaard, A., Rokkan, A. I. 2009. Governance structures in the hotel industry. Journal of Business Research, 62:8, pp.841-847. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/10.1016/j.jbusres.2007.07.033 [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Enz, C. A. 2009. Hospitality Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. 2nd Edition. Wiley. Enz, C. A. 2011. Competing successfully with other hotels: The role of strategy. Cornell University, School of Hospitality Administration. [Online] Available at: https://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/articles/308 [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Lehr, D. D. 2015. An Analysis of the Changing Competitive Landscape in the Hotel Industry Regarding Airbnb. Master's Theses and Capstone Projects. Paper 188. [ONLINE] Available at: https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1189context=masters-theses [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Oh, H. Pizam, A. 2008. Handbook of Hospitality Marketing Management (Handbooks of Hospitality Management, Vol. 3). Edition. Routledge. Rao, R. S. 2014. Emerging Trends in Hospitality and Tourism. International Journal of Research 1:1, pp.1-8. [ONLINE] Available at: https://granthaalayah.com/Articles/Vol1Iss1/01_IJRG14_A08_09.pdf [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Scott, D. M. 2009. The new rules of marketing and PR: how to use news releases, blogs, podcasting, viral marketing, online media to reach buyers directly. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley Sons. Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. 2016. About Shangri-La Hotel Sydney: Quality Five Star Hotel. [Online] Available at: https://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/about/ [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Tanford, S., Raab, C., Kim, Y. 2012. Determinants of customer loyalty and purchasing behavior for full-service and limited-service hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31:2, pp.319-328. [Online] Available at: https://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/10.1016/j.ijhm.2011.04.006 [Accessed 23 September 2016]. Wyshak, S. 2014. Good food, great business. San Francisco, Calif, Chronicle Books LLC

Monday, April 6, 2020

Why You Should become a vegetarian an Example by

Why You Should become a vegetarian There are several reasons why you should become a vegetarian. Basically, it is because of health reasons and the other reason entails that of animal rights. Please allow me to reintroduce and reiterate some of them to you: Need essay sample on "Why You Should become a vegetarian" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed First of all, to lead a vegetarian lifestyle is to take in greater amounts of Vitamin E (Leitzmann, 2005). Vitamin E or Tocopherol in turn is extremely beneficial because it helps prevent heart disease (Gandelman, 2006). Explaining further, it has the capacity to guard the body from oxidation or cell damage (Gandelman, 2006). Thus, it follows that Atherosclerosis may then be prevented if the body takes in Vitamin E as well (Gandelman, 2006). Atherosclerosis is a condition wherein the arteries hardens and narrows which eventually leads to heart disease and stroke (Gandelman, 2006). On a final note and summarily, Vitamin E then plays a large role in the prevention of heart disease (Gandelman, 2006). Second, to lead a vegetarian lifestyle is to take in low amount (if not none at all) of saturated fat and cholesterol (Leitzmann, 2005). LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol is lower because vegetarian diets have lower saturated fat content as well (Brown, 2006). This in turn is exceedingly beneficial in the deterrence and even management of medical conditions including the following cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, renal disease and dementia, as well as diverticular disease, gallstones and rheumatoid arthritis (Leitzmann, 2005). Third, to lead a vegetarian lifestyle reduces the risk of acquiring a coronary heart disease vegetarian diets have larger amounts of high-fiber fruits and vegetables, thus more antioxidants are taken in fighting off the toxins in the body (Brown, 2006). Fourth, clotting factors are lessened because vegetarian diets have larger amounts of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals (Brown, 2006). Fifth, blood pressure is surely lower because vegetarian diets have lower salt content (Brown, 2006). Sixth, diabetes is less likely to occur because vegetarian diets have more complex carbohydrates and fewer simple sugars (Brown, 2006). Seventh, the risk of cancer, specifically of the colon cancer, may be significantly reduced(Brown, 2006). Breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and cancer of the kidney may also be avoided through a vegetarian diet (Brown, 2006). Eighth, since a vegetarian diet is said to have: 1) less protein; 2) lower cholesterol; 3) lower saturated fat; 4) lower total fat; 5) more carbohydrates; 6) more fiber; 7) more minerals; 8) more vitamins, it is very advantageous and beneficial because of the possibility of the following: 1) less hypertension; 2) more endurance; 3) longevity; 4) lesser possibility of acquiring obesity; 5) less possibility of having osteoporosis, bowel disease, cancer, as well as heart disease (Brown, 2006). Last but not least, it is beneficial to lead a vegetarian diet so that we no longer have to violate any of the rights of the animals. Leading a vegetarian lifestyle is an excellent way of living the good life then. References Brown, C. (2006). Vegetarian vs. Meat Diet. Gandelman, G. (2006). Vitamin E and Heart Disease. Leitzmann, C. (2005). Vegetarian Diets: What are the Advantages? Forum of Nutrition, 57, 147 56.

Monday, March 9, 2020

What do you know about computers essays

What do you know about computers essays Prior to attending this class I thought I knew a lot about computers. What Ive learned is that all I really knew was "buzz" words: megahertz, gigabyte, ram, megabyte, etc. I also assumed bigger was better, and there "may" be some truth to that statement. However, it is equally true that bigger is not always necessary. I needed to purchase a computer that would satisfy all the needs and wants of the family. I needed a system that could run accounting software, my wife needed the ability to run graphic programs and the children needed educational software. In addition to having a system with sufficient power to handle these tasks, I wanted the ability to expand the system at a later date, if necessary. Finally, I needed a sufficient warranty. After listening to the advice of friends and sales people, I was no better off than when I started. So I decided to go out on faith and buy what I thought was the best deal for my money. I researched Compaq, Dell, Gateway and some no frills machines. The no frills systems were immediately ruled out; the price was right, the warranty was not. In some instances the warranty was ok, but I was not sure if I would ever see the person who built the system again. I purchased a Gateway select 600 for $2273.00. The system had: 600 MHz Athlon chip, 128 MB ram, 20.0 GB hard drive, CD-RW, DVD, ZIP, 16 MB video, 17" Color monitor(15.9 viewable), HP scanner and Epson 740 stylus color printer(ink jet). All things considering I dont think I did bad, but I now realize that all that hardware was not necessary. I could have forgone the ZIP drive, my main purpose for it purchase was storage, which I now realize that the CD-RW could have done the same job. Not to mention that the CD-RW can hold up to 650 MB, as opposed to the 100 MB on the ZIP. I could have also forgone the DVD, the CD-RW is sufficient. I figured that maybe one day I would watch movies on the system. Not purchas...

Friday, February 21, 2020

Project writting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project writting - Essay Example some cases may be investigated after the outbreak which may result in failure to get appropriate information since other people thought to be involved would no longer be available which would result in getting skewed information with regards to the outbreak of the foodborne illness. The transmission patterns of the disease are often complex hence there would be need for getting detailed information that could be helpful in the determination of such outbreaks. As a result of language barriers or poor employee communication, it can also be difficult to get useful information that could be useful when attempting to determine the outbreak of foodborne diseases. It is often difficult to extract relevant information regarding the role of the food worker in the cause or spread of the outbreak. In some cases, other workers are employed on contract basis and are bound to shift from place to place hence it would be difficult to identify these and observe for symptoms in case of outbreak of disease. Workers are sometimes infected with agents such as norovirus, hepatitis A virus (HAV), salmonella and shigella for instance, hence there would be need to gather all the information that may be relevant. (i) The Brazilian case of multiple foods in which staphylococcus aureus is cited as agent where 2000 were hospitalised and 16 died could have easily been avoided if the prepared food was refrigerated to avoid contamination rather than leaving it at room temperature for a long period. (ii) An outbreak caused by fruit salad in California where hepatitis A virus is agent was responsible for 166 hospitalisations. This outbreak could have been avoided if measures were taken to relieve the ill person from duty until fully recovered. (iv) Salmonella Typhimurium caused an outbreak of diseases in Oregon as a result of intentional contamination of salad bars. This outbreak could have been avoided if all the bars were disinfected using detergents such as jik or other effective

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the Essay

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the setting , narrative strategies (Point of View ,Characteriza - Essay Example Circumstantial marriages and love affairs are the most affected kind of affairs around the globe and always end up in painful circumstances as they occur due to the pre-meditated intensions that certain people involved harbors from the beginning usually without the knowledge of the other innocent parties. Once these plans are achieved, the affairs always have a painful ending as the two part ways. Most love affairs today are of such kind as is what is often narrated in most of the love novel commonly referred to as the romantic novels. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt and Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles are among the many romantic stories that have been written by various authors to air out what goes on in the world of romance. The two stories involve the circumstances surrounding the two men and women and the feelings they bear as the aftermath of their affair. Though the two stories have different settings, they carry almost the same message to the reader. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt is a narration of a love story between two German citizens. The pledge has its setting in a small ton in Switzerland where the couple lives and spends the rest of their lives. The novel narrates the story of a police officer, Matthai, who falls in love with and marries a German lady and a house keeper whose daughter, Annemarie, he uses as a spy to trace the disappearance of a serial killer. On the other hand, the sheltering sky has a double setting with one instance in Africa and another in New York, America. The two novels narrate the stories of two set of couples trying to solve their problems in different ways. The setting of these two novels on the first instance suggests the difficulties that underlie the whole process of conflict resolution in each case. While north Africa where the couples in Bowles story moves to settle their disputes is a dry and does not show signs of live, the pledge has its setting in a small town in Switzerland where life is at its full as evidenced by the presence of enough wealth circulating within the city as Matthai has enough money to purchase a petrol station while in search of a murderer who has been noted to be a serial killer in the region. â€Å"Immediately when you arrive in Sahara, for the first or the tenth time, you notice the stillness†¦ Once he has been under the spell of the vast luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for him; no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. He will go back, whatever the cost in time or money, for the absolute has no price.† (Bowles 240) We can argue that the pledge is a narration of a love affair which is circumstantial as Agee terms it. While Matthai knows very well what he wants in his got lady and daughter, the two remains in total darkness and when his plans fails to work out as he aspires, the two parts ways without the knowledge of the woman . On the other hand, the sheltering sky narrates the story of a real or an almost real love affair a direct contrast of the other affair. These two novels therefore give the sharp contrast in the two contradicting affairs giving an explicit and tacit controversy which goes on in a life shared between two people. It reveals that in most marriages where we see the couples laugh from outward perspective, the inner

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Bus Company JMB: Fare Increase Causes

Bus Company JMB: Fare Increase Causes JMB TRAVEL GRADED UNIT 2 REPORT DEVELOPMENT STAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is about primary and secondary research that was carried out on the bus company JMB. Increase in fares within the company JMB. Looking at the reasons for the increase in fares and the economic implications of this and the advantages that the improvements that the company has been able to make due to the increase in fares and the external factors that have also determined the price increase. The impact this has had on the passengers and exactly what they think about the increase and how it has affected their daily life commuting back and forth to their destinations and to find out what effect this has had on demand for this service. Evaluating the impact this has had on the company and its employees and how this has effected employee motivation within the company and what external factors have affected the company. Looking at the government subsidies that are available to the bus companies and what rules they have in place for a transport company to receive this grant. 1.1 REASONS FOR PRICE INCREASE Investigations have found that when the company first started operating they used an introductory price so customer would use the services, so customer would be able to see what a reliable and flexible bus service they provided. As there was only one other bus competitor running in that area First Buses that only run services to and from Glasgow but didnt have the direct routes that JMB were providing and the reliability that the service would run every 15 minutes from Lanark to Hamilton and returning which made the demand for their service greater than the other bus service run by First Buses. This would be known as price elasticity where the price of fares had risen but demand for the bus services stays the same as there is no direct competitive competition to stop them from implementing there 40% fare increase as they seem to have the biggest percentage of market share in this area. Other reasons for the increase is so they can could run a reliable service for customers in the Lanark to Hamilton route which allowed them to employ more staff to make the company run efficiently as possible. The company spoke of the expansion that is being planned which would allow more child friendly buses to be available for buggy and pram access, wider bus aisles and ramps that can be moved up and down for easy manoeuvring for wheelchairs and prams. School contract service available which would be run on a large scale to help build up their customer base and the company would be able to operate services to a lot of schools within south and north Lanarkshire. Due to the expansion of the company had decided to run bus services in other areas to expand their space in the travel network so that this would bring in more revenue for the company although the company would not allow any revenue figures to be published and management were very specific on this. Luxury coaches have also been introduced that are available for coach trips, private functions and other outings which brings in a great deal of revenue which could lead to further expansion within the Travel network. Revenue figures or any other figures relating to the company was not available. It was seen the actual number of passengers on the gov.scot website published these figures over the past three years seen in (appendix 1) has increased which would allow JMB to consider branching into other areas in Scotland as demand for bus services is on the rise and would enable them to expand their market share in the travel network, which would allow customer to have a preference on who they would want to travel with every day. 1.2 External Factors External factors affecting this price increase is due to the price increase this year because The Scottish Governments flagship concessionary travel scheme for the over 60s and disabled people has run out of money to fund this The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK which is representing 1000 bus and coach firms said fare hikes and cuts in services were on the cards as members could no longer afford the losses (Herald, 2016) which means that the bus companies are going to have to make their contribution towards the concessionary fares for the over 60s and disabled customers. 1.2.1 Congestion Congestion on the roads is a big factor as drivers are not able to reach punctuality targets which could mean Higher operating costs and higher fares Higher in Vehicle times Deteriorating reliability and being punctual to fit with scheduled time tables 1.3 Conclusion Investigations found that the company started with an introductory price of  £2.50 for return tickets from Lanark to Hamilton but in order the company to flourish and extend their market share in the travel industry they had to increase their fares to  £3.50, although the company is flourishing it did need to overcome external factors concerning concessionary fares for over 60s and disabled customers as they now pay into this scheme which also triggered the price increase. Studies also showed that congestion is on the roads is a huge issue on the price increase as this causes higher operating which results in higher fares and cause problems with the service being provided which would cause the company to lose revenue. 2.0 IMPACT ON PASSENGERS A Social Media Survey was carried out with 30 customers in the Lanark to Hamilton area to find out what they felt about the increase in fares and if they still used the services provided by JMB due to increase in price. It was found that a large percentage of customer that used the bus service were not impressed by the increase in fares but still used the services regardless as it was their only reliable means of transport to travel back and forward to their desired destination as mostly every customer commented that rail services are not reliable in these areas so they used the bus services as more of a necessity, where as a small percentage said they used the bus services because it was reliable and friendly. (Appendix 2) illustrates these results. Customer stated that the service that JMB provided was very reliable and the staff were always friendly and on hand to helpful, while other customer said that they pay this amount for fares as it was the only bus service available to them to commute back and forth to work on a day to day basis where as other people used this service for leisure use. As porters five forces suggests see (appendix 3) customers have no other means of getting to their destination as there is no competitive choice in this area. JMB can put prices up as this is their only means of getting to their desired destination because theyre very little choice customers cannot change to another bus company and it seems that now there is not any new entrants in this area in the travel industry. This would suggest that customer that use the JMB services are more than happy to pay the fares as it is there only means of getting to and from their destination with the minimum of time and fuss and because this is a reliable, friendly and well known Travel provider. Although if there was any other means of transport in this area they would consider using it. 2.1 Other factors that determine if customers are receiving good service (1) Public transport needs to be clean and tidy at during operations as it could be a danger to the public health if Health and Safety rules are not adhered to. (2) Making sure that customers perceptions of the service meet their expectations to make sure that the customers completely satisfied with the service being provided. (3) Making sure that bus stops are accessible for customers as you dont want customer having to walk a long distance to the nearest bus stop, the perceived distance that is accessible is a 10 to15 minute walk away from the customers residency or location that the customer might be in at that time. 2.2 Conclusions Conclusions raised were that customer will pay the fare because the train services are not available in this area as it is a necessity to use them but if any other services were to be provided in this area they would probably consider trying a different bus service to commute also other factors such as cleanliness, accessibility and reliability are the key elements that customer look for in a transport services. 3.0 IMPACT ON THE COMPANY A Swot analysis was carried out on JMB to see what its strengths, weaknesses opportunities and threats were to the company. It was found that JMB had a lot of strengths as they were a well- known company with a well-known service provided to the public. JMB also have an advantage over their competitors as the journey routes that they operate are different from their competitors as they over a varied selection of bus routes and over a friendly helpful service to their customer. In the two years the company has been operating they have managed to secure different school contracts and have run a luxury coach service for the public for functions and other private events. The introduction of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 bus that was introduced in 2016 is this is fuel efficient and has great manoeuvrability that gives customers a luxury driving experience which makes them miles ahead of their competitors. The weaknesses that they have are being able to keep their services running smoothly day to day basis to keep their customers happy as customers are their customers are everything to the company. Being able to keep their fares to a minimum so that customers are not paying too much for the customers will not be able to afford their fares. Opportunities that the company has is they will be able to expand into new areas with the business such as providing services for different areas out with south and north Lanarkshire for example rural areas as they dont have a lot of transport operating in these areas by offering competitive prices so they can phase out their competitors. Threats that may affect them are If new competitors were to run a new bus service in their areas which would affect their business over a better price and service for the public. If the government cut funding that would enable them to run a reliable transport service. 3.1 Employee Motivation As staff are important to JMBs business morale is a big issue in their business because happy workers mean happy customers. Maslow motivational theory as executed in this company as Maslow talks about the five stages of hierarchy of needs these stages include see (appendix 4) for illustration. JMB has implemented this theory because they have provided their staff with good working conditions and a satisfactory salary for all. JMB have also employed more driver to deal with the demand for their bus services and has enough staff to delegate to different journeys and on different services everyday which allows their workers to get the time off for holidays or appointment or any other time they may need off without the minimum of fuss. The company also has good safety elements implemented as the drivers have direct contact with the depot in Wishaw in case there is any emergencies such as buses breaking down or if there was a medical issue with customer or a customer attacking another commuting on the bus or worst case scenario attacking one of the company bus drivers. Staff that work for the company also have works night out on a regular basis where they can bring their partner along to join in and they also have a Christmas party every year at different venues across Scotland. Mostly all the job vacancies within the company are all internal which means if people have the right credentials to apply for jobs they are urged to do so they are promoted for a job well done as one of the staff in the company was recently promoted to inspector for his outstanding contribution and commitment as a bus driver. 3.2 External factors affecting the business 3.2.1 CO2 Emissions A PESTLE analysis was done on the issue of CO2 emissions which outlined Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal and Environmental impact on the need to reduce CO2 emissions Political The government have set out clear guidelines for these CO2 emissions to be cut which could affect the company as these guidelines put in place need to be adhered to. Economic In 2010 there was an initiative put in place for all bus services called carbon reduction commitment which meant that bus companies had to buy carbon credits which would permit JMB to generate specific qualities of carbon emissions. In 2010 the company had to put in place a budget and set out very clear plans to measure how much CO2 emissions will be produced going forward. Which could affect the company as if they were to produce more emissions than stated in their plan then this could be an expense for the company which means it may lead to an increase in fares for customers. Sociological If the company does not abide by the guide lines, then the public could lose all expectations of the company at what it stands for. Technological The company may have to get another system built into the buses so they can monitor the CO2 emissions so they know what is being used every day. Legal If the company do not commit to the initiative to reduce emission they may find themselves with a hefty fine or worst case scenario they could lose grant which means they wouldnt be able to operate their business to its full potential. Environmental CO2 emissions are dangerous to the environment and the planet and is one of the biggest problems causing greenhouse gas that is destroying our planet today. 3.3 Steps JMB are taking to comply with the emissions initiative As CO2 emissions are a short and long term problem for JMB and have put in place a plan to reduce these emissions by 2020 from 25% to 20% and the introduction of the envir0 200 bus which would give them a clearer advantage over the competition. 3.4 Conclusion Although a SWOT was performed the results were positive on the company as the company has grown from strength to strength over the last 2 years as it is now able to provide transport to other areas in the North and South Lanarkshire area which has created more jobs for the population of North and South Lanarkshire which has made them able to strengthen the economy by creating jobs such as bus drivers, school escorts and other depot staff. The way the company is fair to their staff and give them the motivation to perform their jobs daily to a high standard that benefits their customers. Other aspects JMB are how user friendly the buses are to the environment because of fuel emission that could be a danger to the environment and could have legal implications if this was not rectified and the guidelines for emissions set by the government followed in the best interests of the company. 4.0 GOVERNMENT SUBSIDES Government subsidies are the main source of funding for JMB Travels business as they receive a (BSOG) Bus Services Operators Grant Scheme this is a discretionary grant paid under section 38 of The Transport Scotland Act 2001 which is regulated by the (DFT) Department for Transport to get this you need to adhere to certain terms and conditions. These conditions include the company needs to maintain adequate records of the mileage and distances that the bus service runs on a day to day basis. Checks are also performed by Transport Scotland to see that all the necessary requirements under the Transport Scotland Act have been fulfilled. DFT provide these grants to keep customers fares to a minimum and the distances the bus services to travel. This (BSOG) is applied for every year and consists of 4 quarterly payments that are paid directly into the company bank account. JMB also receive money from the government for their school contracts which has a great impact on their business and brings in a great deal of revenue. 4.1 Reforms to the (BSOG) Reforming the (BSOG) will create better incentives for local authorities and bus operators to work with one another to provide a better service for commuters and help with keeping the environment safe to provide value. Investing in fuel efficient buses to improve services for customers and to minimise regulatory burdens and reduce the cost of administration. Although these reforms to this policy are in place it will impact in different ways as no measure will completely deliver the objectives highlighted in this reform. Even though the objectives highlighted in this reform will ensure improvement in the value from the bus subsidy thats paid to the company every year. 4.2 Conclusion Investigations show that government subsidies are the main source of funding and keeping to the terms and conditions set for the public transport sector are followed then they will be able to continue receiving this grant and can provide the best service expected of them by their customers. Reforms that have been put in place by (BSOG) are going to benefit the operation of the service because as well as providing a good service to customers they will be able to see that JMB cares about what happens to our planet. APPENDIX Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Porters 5 Forces   Ã‚   BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13052185.Bus_fares_going_up_to_pay_for_free_OAP_travel/ http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j415388-05.htm Arline, Katherine (2015) Porters five forces analysing the competition. Available at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5446-porters-five-forces.html (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Boddy, D. and Paton, R. (2002) Management: An introduction. New York: Prentice Hall Europe. begg, prof david (2016) Congestion. Available at: http://www.greenerjourneys.com//2016//Prof-David-Begg-The-Impact-of- (Accessed: 20 January 2017). abstracts.aetransport.org/paper/download/id/3735 http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/first-group/managing-external-influences http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads//impact-assessment.pdf Activity Log DATE DURATION ACTIVITY RESOURCES USED 2ND November 2016 20 mins Phoned to arrange interview with manager from JMB Mobile, Paper, Pen 9th November 2016 2 hours Compiled questionnaire to ask manager from JMB Pen, paper, computer, printer 11th November 2016 3 hours Travelled to JMB depot to interview Martin Bell a manager from JMB asked him question to help with primary research for report Money, pen, paper 18th November 2016 2 hours Looked at the results from questionnaires on face book and recorded the information Face book page, computer, pen, paper 22nd November 2016 1 hour Went to college library to get reference books on economics and business strategy for secondary research for my report Library, books, student card 27th December 2016 3 hours Compiled information and put this into some sort of order and used planning stage to see aims and objectives Planning stage of report, reference books, notes, pen, paper, computer 6th December 2016 2 hours Started typing up my findings for 1st aim and objective relating to price Notes, paper, computer, pen, printer, reference books 13th November 2016 3 hours Compiled information on my 1st aim and objective. Notes, paper, computer, pen, printer, reference books 20th December 2016 3 hours Started compiling information for my 2nd aim of how customer feel about the increase Notes, paper, computer, pen, printer, reference books 17th January 20177 3 hours Typed up my findings for 1st aim and objective started to put this into report format Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save 18th January 2017 2 hours 30 mins Typed findings for first aim and objective Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save 19th January 2017 4 hours Collated all my information and started typing up 2nd aim into report format Notes, paper, pen, computer reference books, hard drive to save 20th January 2017 7 hours Typed up data for 2nd aim of report. Started collating information for my 3rd aim of my report Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save 21st January 2017 6 hours Typed up 3rd aim of my report. Started working on data for my 4th aim of report Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save 22nd January 2017 6 hours Typed up findings for 4th sim of report Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save 23rd January 2017 5 hours Wrote my acknowledgements, Executive summary and contents page and Activity log for report Notes, paper, computer reference books, hard drive to save, planning stage of report 24th January 2017 1 hour Checked over my report, sent report through turn tin Computer, report, college email and access to turn tin

Monday, January 20, 2020

Benefits of Multi-Level Watershed Management :: Watershed Management Essays

Benefits of Multi-Level Watershed Management Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) have played a significant role in establishing grassroots methods of environmental protection while incorporating citizen involvement. The most prevalent types of NGO’s in the United States are ones that rally public opinion and advocate legislative and/or social change. Among these are the various Public Interest Groups (PIRG’s), the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Greenpeace. Public education and involvement are seminal components to the success of these organizations. Hence, the application of NGO’s to other issues might prove successful in advocating and implementing change while bettering the community that they inhabit. Such is the case with the relatively newly established watershed management associations in New Jersey. These organizations employ grassroots tactics to increase community education and establish stronger environmental protection. Thus I assert that inter-munic ipal (and inter-state as we will see later) watershed management, through the use of non-governmental organization, has the ability to have a profound impact on how natural resources are managed and subsequently on how an area is developed. This is extremely valuable to a state like New Jersey, where uncoordinated development has led to a sprawling landscape causing fragmentation of natural features and severe depletion of water quality. Furthermore, in the large bureaucratic system of development that dominates New Jersey, this NGO method of watershed management is a qualitative and creative way to promote democracy, public education, and public participation. To examine how watershed management associations can improve environmental superintendence and consequently development patterns, one must first examine the existing landscape pattern on physical and political scales. New Jersey is composed of 566 municipalities, each functioning pseudo-independently from one another. These municipalities, â€Å"†¦each with home-rule authority to make decisions and policies concerning development without regard [of] their potential negative effects on neighboring towns, â€Å" (Shutkin 2000) create an atmosphere of competition and discordance. This unproductive circumstance is a product of human invention. For it is â€Å"multiple ownership or administration within watersheds [that] present some major challenges for watershed management policy and planning† (Satterlund and Adams 1992). Municipal boundaries do not account for broader natural boundaries. While it is true that a municipal boundary might coincide with a stre am or ridge, municipalities generally overlook broader, more important delineations like watersheds.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 10

Ella I can remember the first time I wanted to kiss Micha as clearly as the day I found my mother dead. Both times were equally as terrifying, but in two different ways. Micha and I had been sitting on the hood of his car at our secret spot tucked away in the trees, staring out at the lake. It was harder than hell to get back to the spot, but the view and serenity made it worth it. It had been quiet between the two of us for a while, which was normal except for the jealousy stirring inside me over Micha's latest hook up, Cassandra. I'd never felt this way before and it puzzled me. It wasn't like the girl was anything special to Micha, but he'd told Ethan that she had the potential to be girlfriend material and it was bugging me. Micha's arms were tucked under his head and his eyes were shut as the sunlight beamed down on him. His shirt had ridden up and I could see his tattoo peeking out. As I stared at it the urge to run my fingers along it drove me crazy. â€Å"I don't like Cassandra,† I abruptly sputtered out, sitting up quickly. Micha's eyebrows knitted as his eyes gradually opened against the sunlight. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"That Cassandra girl you were talking about the other day,† I said, staring out at the water rippling in the gentle breeze. â€Å"I don't think you should date her.† He rose up on his elbows. â€Å"Because you don't like her?† â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tucked strands of my auburn hair out of my eyes. â€Å"I just don't want you to date her.† The wind filled the silence. Micha sat up and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. â€Å"Okay, I won't,† he said as if it was as simple as breathing. I pressed back a smile, not fully understanding why the hell I was so happy. Micha lay back down and drew me with him. I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heart beating, steady as a rock, unlike mine which was dancing inside my chest. The longer I stayed in his arms, the more content I became. I felt safe, like nothing could hurt me, but I was in complete denial that I was starting to fall in love with my best friend. *** It's been a week since the car racing incident and I've been hiding out in my bedroom living on mac n' cheese and Diet Dr. Pepper. Dean still hasn't headed home, but Lila did the morning after the race. She wanted to stay, but I didn't want her to and I think her dad wasn't too keen on the idea either. It's been kind of lonely, though. I still haven't listened to Micha's voicemail, and the constant flashing on the screen torments me. I decide to take a break from the house today and do something I've been meaning to do for a while. I want to sketch my mother's grave because I won't always be close enough to visit it. It's been bothering me the entire eight months that I've been gone. I feel guilty because it was me who put her there and then I just left her. I collect my sketch book and pencils from the drawer of my night stand, slip on my shoes and sunglasses, and head out the front door where I'm less likely to run into Micha. It's a warm day and the blue sky glitters with sunshine. I walk up the sidewalk toward Cherry Hill and decide to make a last minute stop at Grady's. I knock on the trailer door and Amy, the nurse, answers it wearing blue scrubs. â€Å"Oh, hi Ella, I don't think Grady's up for any visitors today, sweetie.† â€Å"But he told me to stop by,† I say stupidly. â€Å"I know it's a little later than I told him and I'm sorry.† â€Å"He's not mad at you, Ella,† she says kindly. â€Å"I've just got him hooked up on oxygen and he's got a cough.† I shield my eyes from the sun and stare up at her. â€Å"Is he okay?† She sighs, leaning against the doorframe. â€Å"He's just having a rough day today, but try back in a few days, okay hun.† I nod and back down the steps as she shuts the door. I stare helplessly at the back window which leads to Grady's room. He's sick and there's nothing I can do. I have no control over this. Micha was right. I can't control everything. As horrid images of my mom's death flash through my mind, I run into the field and throw up. *** The town's cemetery is located up on Cherry Hill, which on foot is quite a hike, but I enjoy the break from the reality of life. There is no one up there – there hardly ever is. I push through the gate and situate by a tree right in front of my mom's headstone. It's a small cemetery bordered by trees and the grass is covered with dry leaves. As I sketch the lines of the fence and the vines that coil it, I angle downward and draw the curve of her tombstone. I become lost in the movements, adding wings to the side of it, because she was always so fascinated with flying. A few weeks before her death, my mother begged me to go on a walk with her. I gave in even though I had plans that day. It was sunny and the air smelled like cut grass. It felt like nothing could go wrong. She wanted to go to the bridge so we walked all the way across town to the lake. When we arrived there, she climbed on the railing and spread her hands out to balance as her long auburn hair flapped in the wind. â€Å"Mom, what are you doing?† I said, reaching for the back of her shirt to pull her down. She sidestepped down the railing out of my reach and stared at the water below. â€Å"Ella May, I think I can fly.† â€Å"Mom, stop it and get down,† I said, not taking her very seriously at first. But when she turned her head and looked at me, I could see in her eyes that she wasn't joking. She really believed she could fly. I tried to stay as composed as possible. â€Å"Mom, please get down. You're scaring me.† She shook her head and her legs wobbled a little. â€Å"It's okay honey. I'll be fine. I can feel it in my body that I can fly.† I took a cautious step toward her and my foot bumped the curb of the bridge. The cement rubbed my toe raw and I could feel blood oozing out, but I didn't look down at it. I was too afraid to take my eyes off her. â€Å"Mom, you can't fly. People can't fly.† â€Å"Then maybe I'm a bird,† she said seriously. â€Å"Maybe I have wings and feathers and they can carry me away and I can become one with the wind.† â€Å"You're not a bird!† I shouted and reached for her again, but she hopped onto one of the beams and laughed like it was a game. I tugged my fingers through my hair and steadied onto the railing. It was a far fall, one that would crush our bodies on impact, even in the water. I braced my hands on the beams above my head. â€Å"Mom, if you love me at all, you'll get down.† She shook her head. â€Å"No, I'm going to fly today.† A truck rolled up and stopped on the middle of the bridge as I edged toward her. Ethan jumped out and didn't so much as flinch at the scenario. â€Å"Hey, Mrs. Daniels. How's it going?† I gaped at him and hissed, â€Å"What are you doing?† He ignored me. â€Å"You know it's not really safe out there.† My mom angled her head to the side. â€Å"I think I'll be okay. My wings will carry me away.† I was mortified, but Ethan didn't miss a beat. He rested his arms on the railing. â€Å"As much as that could be true, what if it's not? Then what? I mean is it really worth the risk?† I glanced back at my mom and she looked like she was weighing the options. She stared at the dark water below her feet and then at the bright sky above her head. â€Å"Maybe I should think about it for a little bit.† Ethan nodded. â€Å"I think that's probably a good idea.† She made a path across the beam and planted her feet on the railing. Ethan helped her down and we got her into the backseat of his truck. She fell asleep within minutes and I slumped my head back against the chair. â€Å"How did you do that?† I asked quietly. â€Å"One of my friends was tripping out of their mind one night and I had to talk him out of jumping off the roof,† he explained. â€Å"It was all about making her realize that there was more than one scenario.† I nodded and we stayed quiet for the rest of the drive to my house. Ethan never brought it up to me, nor did he treat me differently and I was grateful for it. After a doctor's visit, it was determined that my mother had started to suffer from ‘Delusions of Grandeur,' which happens sometimes in bipolar patients. I finally pull away from the drawing when it's nearly dark. I gather my sketchpad and pencils and head down the hill. In front of the arch iron entryway is Micha, sitting on the hood of his mom's car, wearing jeans, and a black and red plaid shirt. His head is tipped down and wisps of his blonde hair cover his forehead as he messes around with his phone. I stop a little ways off from him. â€Å"What are you doing here?† His eyes lift from his phone. â€Å"I'm waiting for you.† â€Å"How did you know I was here?† â€Å"I saw you leave with your sketchpad and head this way, so I came up to check on you.† I take a tentative step forward. â€Å"How long have you been sitting here?† He slides off the hood and puts his phone away. â€Å"For a while, but I didn't want to disturb you. You looked too peaceful.† I press my lips together and stare at him, craving to sketch him like I used to. He would sit on my bed and it was like he owned my hand. â€Å"Look, about the other night, I think – â€Å" He strides across the grass toward me, moving so impulsively that there's no time to react as his finger covers my lips. â€Å"Just let it be for a while, okay?† Uncertain of his exact meaning, I nod anyway. He lets his finger fall from my lips, trailing a line down my chest, finally pulling away at the bottom of my stomach. â€Å"You want a ride home?† His voice comes out ragged. I glance at the grey sky and the birds flying across it. â€Å"That would be nice. Thank you.† Micha She's preoccupied during the drive and so am I. I was so pissed off about my father that I got into the car about to do something reckless, however, then I saw Ella wandering down the street, and I followed her. The way she walked was very entertaining, her auburn hair blowing in the wind, and the way she swayed her ass in the short denim shorts she was wearing. It calmed me down watching her sit up on the hill and draw, but I can't stop thinking about the phone conversation. â€Å"We should go somewhere,† I announce when we drive onto the main road. Ella jolts in her seat and turns away from the window. â€Å"I should probably go home.† â€Å"Come on.† I pout, hoping it'll win her over. â€Å"Just come with me somewhere and we can relax.† She's tempted. â€Å"Where exactly?† I turn the volume of the stereo down and let my arm rest on the top of the steering wheel. â€Å"To our spot by the lake.† â€Å"But it takes forever to get there.† Her eyes rise to the dark sky. â€Å"And it's getting late.† â€Å"Since when have you been afraid of the dark?† â€Å"It's not the dark I'm afraid of.† I sigh and downshift. â€Å"Come on, just you and me. We don't even have to talk. We can just sit in silence.† â€Å"Fine,† she surrenders, tossing her sketchpad into the backseat. â€Å"Just as long as you don't ask me questions.† I hold up my hand innocently. â€Å"Scouts honor. I'll keep my questions to myself.† Her eyes narrow. â€Å"I know you've never been in the scouts before.† I laugh, feeling the pressure lift from my chest. â€Å"It doesn't matter. I'll keep my questions to myself, but with everything else, all bets are off.† She pretends to have an itch on her nose, but really it's to obscure her smile and it makes me smile myself. *** Its pitch black by the time we reach our spot on the shore that's secluded by tall trees. The moon reflects against the water and the night air is a little chilly. I get my jacket out of the trunk and offer it to Ella, knowing she's cold because of the goosebumps on her arms and the way her nipples are poking through her shirt. She slips the jacket on and zips it up, covering up her perky nipples. I sigh, hop onto the hood, and open my arms for her to join me. Hesitantly, she climbs onto the hood, but stays at the front, with her feet propped up on the bumper, gazing out at the water. I scoot down by her and keep my knees up, resting my elbows on them. â€Å"What are you thinking about?† Her eyes are huge in the moonlight. â€Å"Death.† â€Å"What about death?† I wonder if we're finally going to go back to that night. â€Å"That Grady's going to die,† she whispers softly. â€Å"And there's nothing I can do about it.† I brush her hair back from her forehead. â€Å"You need to stop worrying about everything that can't be controlled.† She sighs and leans away from my hand. â€Å"That's just it, though. It's all I can think about anymore. It's like this fixation I have no control over which makes no sense because I'm fixated on controlling the uncontrollable.† She's breathing wildly. Shit. I need to calm her down. â€Å"Hey, come here.† I loop my arms around her waist and lie her down on the windshield with me. She rests her head on my chest and I play with her hair, breathing in her vanilla scent. â€Å"Do you remember when you decided that it would be a good idea if you climbed up the scaffolding in the gym?† â€Å"I wanted to prove to Gary Bennitt that I was as tough as the boys.† She buries her face into my shirt, ashamed. â€Å"Why do you remember everything?† â€Å"How could I forget that? You scared the hell out of me when you fell. Yet, somehow you managed to land on the board just below it.† â€Å"I thought I was going to die,† she murmurs. â€Å"I was so stupid.† â€Å"You weren't stupid, you just saw life at a different angle,† I say. â€Å"I've always envied you for it. Like when you used to dance in a room where no one was dancing or how you stuck up for people. But there was always that wall you put up. You would never let anyone completely through.† She's soundless for a while and I expect for her to push me away. But she sits up and hovers over me, her hair veiling our faces. Her breath is ragged, like she's terrified out of her mind. â€Å"I opened up to you once,† she whispers. â€Å"When we were here in this spot doing this same thing.† I can't take my eyes off her lips. â€Å"I'm not sure what you're talking about.† She licks her lips. â€Å"I told you I didn't want you dating Cassandra.† â€Å"Cassandra†¦ Oh, was that what that was about?† I start to laugh. â€Å"What's so funny?† she asks, but I can't stop laughing. She pinches my nipple and I jerk upward, smacking my forehead against hers. â€Å"Ow.† She blinks, rubbing her forehead and a laugh escapes her lips. â€Å"Tell me what's so funny.† She looks beautiful, trying to be pissed, when deep down she's relishing the moment. I'm enjoying myself, which I didn't envisage tonight, but if anyone can cheer me up, it's her. Like when my dad left and she caught me in the garage, clutching onto his tool box crying like a baby. She gave me her Popsicle and then just sat there with me until I ran out of tears. I eye her over and she fusses with her hair self-consciously. With one quick movement, I flip us over so my body is covering hers. â€Å"When I told Ethan about that day when you told me not to see Cassandra, he told me you had a thing for me. He's usually not right about those things.† â€Å"I didn't have a thing for you,† she argues. â€Å"I just didn't want anyone else to have a thing for you.† â€Å"You're adorable when you deny the truth. You always have been.† â€Å"Micha, I used to have studs on every item of clothing I owned and enough black eyeliner to make an entire sketch. That's not adorable.† â€Å"It is on you.† I wink at her. She shakes her head and pokes a finger at my chest. â€Å"Don't try and use your player moves on me.† We remain silent, frozen in the moment, until I finally speak again. â€Å"I have an idea.† Curiosity slowly takes over her face as I shift over her body. My arms are at the side of her head, barely holding my weight up. My face hovers above hers, our lips only an inch apart, and she lies perfectly still. â€Å"I want to kiss you.† She shakes her head promptly. â€Å"I don't think that's a good idea.† I trace one of my fingers over her lips. I've been going about this all wrong. I can't force myself on her. I have to move slow and think of her as a skittish cat that needs to be approached cautiously. â€Å"Just kiss. I swear to God that's all we'll do.† I move my finger away from her lips. â€Å"And kissing's not that scary, right?† â€Å"With you it is,† she says truthfully. â€Å"If you want me not to, just say it.† Taking my time, I leisurely lower my lips toward hers. She stays stationary, her big green eyes targeted on my mouth. Slowly, so she has time to let her thoughts slow down, I caress my lips across hers. A small gasp flees from her lips and I slip my tongue into her mouth. Her hands glide up my back and into my hair. My body conforms to hers as I explore her mouth with my tongue. She bites down on my bottom lip, sucking my lip ring into her mouth before releasing it. Fuck. She's making this hard. I intensify the kiss as my body becomes more impatient, but I keep my promise and only kiss her, even when she fastens her legs around my waist and rubs up against me. Ella He said just kiss and it seemed okay, but now my body has developed a mind of its own. I'm writhing my hips against him enjoying the pleasure erupting inside me. He's hard between my legs as he kisses me so fiercely that my lips are swollen. His fingers tangle in my hair and his tongue plunges deeper and deeper into my mouth the more I rock against him. My head falls back and my eyes open to the stars shining in the sky. It feels like I'm falling or flying†¦ I'm not sure, but whatever it is I can't seem to control it. For a second, I want to capture the moment, put it in a jar, and always have it with me, but panic seizes my mind and I jerk away from his lips. His eyes snap open and his pupils are vast. â€Å"What's wrong?† â€Å"Nothing†¦ It's just†¦ I have to calm down.† I take a deep breath, my skin still tingling in the spots his hands touched. Micha nods, breathless. Carefully, he moves off of me and leans back against the window, securing his hand around mine. We don't speak as we stare up at the sky. He traces his finger along the folds between my fingers and my eyelids drift shut. I feel a wall crumble, leaving behind dust, debris, and pieces that desperately need to be put back together. *** â€Å"Are you okay?† I ask Micha when we pull into my driveway. He's been quiet the whole drive home and I can tell something's bothering him. â€Å"Yeah, I'm fine,† he says with a shrug and then his gaze darts to the back window as headlights shine up behind us. â€Å"Although, you might not be.† My eyebrows furrow. â€Å"Why? What's wrong?† He points a finger at a car parking at the curb in front of my house; a shiny black Mercedes with a familiar blonde-haired driver sitting in it. â€Å"Oh my God, is that Lila's car?† I ask. â€Å"I'm guessing yes, since I doubt anyone around here owns a Mercedes.† Lila climbs out of the car and it's clear that she's been crying. Her eyes are swollen and her cheeks are red. She has her pajama bottoms on and a hoodie pulled over her head. The last time she walked around in an outfit like that she'd just broken up with her boyfriend. â€Å"I think she might have some issues at home,† I tell him, grabbing the door handle. â€Å"She acted like she didn't want to go home.† â€Å"But you didn't ask her about it?† he questions with an arch of his eyebrow. I bite my lip guiltily. â€Å"I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.† God, I'm a terrible friend. Lila heads up the driveway and we get out to meet her around the back. Before I can say anything, she hugs me and starts to sob. I tense, not used to being hugged, except by Micha. â€Å"I didn't want to go back there,† she cries. â€Å"I knew this was going to happen.† I look over Lila's head at Micha for help. â€Å"It'll be okay.† He gives me a sympathetic look and mouths, take her inside. I nod and he waves at me, getting back into his car. I guide Lila into the house holding her weight up for her like she's ill. When I get her into my room, she curls up on my bed and hugs a pillow. I wait a minute before I speak. â€Å"Do you want to talk about it?† She shakes her head. â€Å"I just want to go to sleep.† â€Å"Alright.† I turn off the light and collapse onto the trundle. I need to get into my pajamas, but it's been an exhausting day. â€Å"My dad hates me,† Lila whispers through sobs. I freeze and then sit up, squinting at her through the dark. â€Å"I'm sure he doesn't hate you.† â€Å"Yes, he does,† she says. â€Å"He always says so – that he wished he had sons instead of daughters because they're easier to deal with.† â€Å"Are you going to be okay?† I ask, unsure what else to say. â€Å"I will be. It'll just take some time.† Was that the magical cure? Time. I flop back down and fall asleep to the murmur of her sobs.