Explain the new Features of the New Deal Essay

In October 1929 the Wall Street stock market crashed in New York and panic selling of shares caused a wave of bankruptcies, destroying all confidence in businesses and investors. The great Depression led to 13 million people being unemployed. President Hoover, the government did nothing at all to help the Americans, he didn’t even think of helping them rebuild the American economy. In 1932 president Roosevelt came into power in the presidential elections. He had many concerns and considerations for the Americans and the economy. The first stage of the act of the New Deal to put the US back to work and create jobs in 1933 he introduced the first Acts during the hundred days, which involved the creation of Alphabet Agencies to deal with the economic problems. By 1935, the Supreme Court thought some of the New Deal laws as interfering too much. , so then Roosevelt’s response was to introduce the second stage of reform- The second New Deal. The 3 aims of the New Deal were: Relief; Recovery and Reform. Which were introduced by Roosevelt- the three ‘R’s’. Relief was measures to help relieve the suffering of the unemployed. Recovery was to try to rebuild the depression-shattered economy and Reform was aimed to give workers better working conditions and fairer wages. The aim of the relief was achieved by the: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA); public works Administration (PWA); Home owners Loans Corporation (HOLC) and the works Progress Administration (WPA). The Civilian Conservation Act was set up to provide work for unemployed men under 25 years by encouraging them to work on projects in the countryside such as fish farming, planting trees and strengthening river banks. They also organised the army. The PWA stood for Public Works Administration, their aim was to use Unemployed unskilled workers to work on a large scale of public construction such as roads and bridges. The main part of the act was to set up public construction for the large scale building work, to build schools, hospitals and city halls. The FERA was set up to stop the threat of starvation that existed by making grants to local and state governments to help them give relief to the unemployed. Roosevelt thought that the right way to help the unemployed was to put them back to work after the threat of starvation was over instead of just giving them money. The HOLC stood for Home Owners Loans Corporation, the aim of this act was to ensure that people could continue to repay their mortgages. The government gave low interest rates to home owners to allow them to continue paying their mortgages until they were unemployed. The WPA stood for Works Progress Administration. Their aim was to find emergency short-term employment for unskilled workers in construction projects. The Acts that were part of the New Deal and helped with Recovery were: The Emergency Banking Act; the Securities Act; the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA); the National Recovery Administration (NRA) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The Emergency Banking Act aimed to solve the financial crisis after the Wall Street Crash by forcing all banks to remain close for 4 days. This actually worked and saved all the banks. The Securities Act was about providing full information about the companies issuing new shares, to the public. This established with a Securities and Exchange Commission in 1934 which was giving powers to control the activities of the stock market. It was the AAA’s duty to solve agriculture’s most serious problem which was over-production. Prices were low and farmers were unable to make a decent living. Roosevelt paid farmers to stop producing. The AAA gave the government power to destroy surplus food and give farmers compensation. The NRA stood for National Recovery Administration; they tried to create partnership between government and Industry to get rid of Child Labour, Long hours and Low pay. Each industry would agree an employment code with a government. The code was to guarantee workers fairer working conditions and wages. The TVA stood for Tennessee Valley Authority. The main parts of the act was to help encourage industry come to the hard hit valley and to build damn to use hydroelectric power of the river. Finally, there were parts of the New Deal that helped to reform the USA. They were: Collecting Bargaining; the Wagner Act and the social securities Act. Collective bargaining was where workers had the right to collective bargaining of wages. This gave an enormous boost to the trade unions. The Wagner act (1935) was the given right for workers to join the trade union which restored protection for the workers also. The Social Securities Act was introduced in 1935. This provided old age pensions, unemployment benefits and financial support for the handicapped. It was funded by contributions paid by workers, employers and the government. In Conclusion, when Roosevelt came into power he aimed to achieve relief, recovery and reform. The CCC, FERA, WPA and the HOLC. The emergency banking act, the Securities Act, NRA, AAA and the WPA achieved recovery. Collective Bargaining, Wagner Act and the Social Securities Act achieved reform. These Acts were all produced to help America by these 3 aims.

Exploratory Writing Essay

I came from a family with a hereditary disease called diabetes. All my relatives in the father side already have diabetes and as we all know, this is a killer disease. If people with diabetes do not consider control of their blood sugar and use sugar-free products then what would become of them. Most likely, they could have organ malfunction and worse, dead. Based on experience, most dieticians recommend that we, diabetics use sugar free products. However, maybe the lot of them has not read the article that I had come across with when I was researching about sugar-free products. It has been stated in Science Daily last February 13, 2006 that sugar-free products contain substances that can cause cancer to rats. It was stated in the article there is a certain percentage of consumption of the artificial sweeteners that we call â€Å"sugar-free† sweeteners. These substances have been already used in many products in the market. This does not only include sodas but also in the bread and candies available in the market. Even though it has not yet been proven that humans are really affected by these substances there are evidences that rats develop carcinogenic cells. Rats are also living creatures and if the sugar-free substance affects the rats, then it would definitely affect humans. I asked some of the member of the family and they also agree about the matter. There are possible solutions to this problem, my family and I could consider stopping the use of sugar-free substances. However, this proves to be difficult because if not for the sugar-free substances then this may cause our blood sugars to go sky high. It is really hard for diabetics to control their own cravings for sugar. Almost everybody that I know have a sweet tooth. However, since artificial sweeteners could prove to be very harmful to our health then maybe we ought to think twice before eating foods that contain artificial sweeteners. Works Cited â€Å"Rats At Levels Currently Approved For Humans. † Science Daily 13 February 2006. 26 February 2008 .

Research in Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Research in Politics - Essay Example However, according to Toulmin (2003, Pp. 3 – 8), only logically correct and sound argument that is well presented will lead to the right inference and impression. Toulmin (2003, Pp. 8 – 10) goes further to state that a sound argument and a well-grounded and firmly backed claim should be able to stand against criticism, one for which a case can be presented coming up to the standard required if it is to deserve a favourable consideration. Thus, it makes sense for political scientists and other intellectuals to know how to present sound arguments and to examine rigorously the soundness of arguments that interest them. Baggini and Fosl (2010, Pp. 1 – 58) present a discussion about the basic tools for argument, including deduction, induction, validity and soundness, fallacies, etc., which enable individuals to recognise the worth of an argument and to present sound arguments that appeal to reason. However, although the previously mentioned authors have presented a discussion that introduces readers to the most basic tools or ideas that help with arguments, the term ‘relevance’ merits only a brief mention in the whole reading, even though according to Walton (2004, Chapters 1 and 2), relevance in arguments is of profound significance. Thus, it is clear that despite the excellent arguments and the logic of the discussion presented by Baggini and Fosl (2010, Pp. 1 – 58), it is possible to examine this discussion more critically. The discussion presented herein is a thorough, but critical, analysis of the ideas presented by Baggini and Fosl (2010, Pp. 1 – 58) in their discussion about arguments, which should appeal to all those with an interest in politics, philosophy, logic and the force in arguments. Baggini and Fosl (2010, Pp. 1 – 5) commence their discussion by emphasising the worth of philosophy and philosophers as being seriously concerned

Globalization Influence on Big Companies Management Research Paper

Globalization Influence on Big Companies Management - Research Paper Example However, latter 20th-century managers have faced some new challenges coming along with age of information, and particularly, globalization. Nowadays, globalization has influenced big company’s management on levels of organization and administration making specific impacts and bringing certain ramifications in managers’ work. On a field of economy and business, for big companies, globalization is â€Å"a process of interaction and integration† among companies from different countries around the world, a process, which is â€Å"driven by international trade and investment† (Globalization101, 2015). Globalization reasons most of the innovations and renewals, which world companies come through because under the conditions of globalization business competition increases omnidirectionally. Globalization also â€Å"forces† companies to interact, and be open to the world market because national economies of world countries (especially, developed ones) are deeply involved in process of globalization too. Thus, in the world market all the internal companies’ organizations, as well as companies’ business-to-business partnerships, are in need to be reorganized according to general modern tendencies (Globalization101, 2015). The case is that along with the modernization, big companies face the new sort of dependency. Earlier â€Å"dependency† implied a kind of business relationships when peripheral economic areas were subdued to core national economic where big companies usually came from. â€Å"With globalizing tendencies taking over†, a current situation is changing â€Å"from dependence on interdependence† (Zafarullah and Huque, 2012). Subdual is replaced by cooperation. National economic development starts to matter less for big companies because they are organized according to regionalization tendency (Zafarullah and Huque, 2012).  

Assigment 4 - Questions Contemporary World Assignment

Assigment 4 - Questions Contemporary World - Assignment Example Basically, the administration was focused on stockpiling enough nuclear weapons and arsenal to prevent the country in case of an attack from the Soviet Union. The resulting outcome would be so immense that the enemy would be assured of â€Å"total destruction†. This led to the establishment of the philosophy of nuclear deterrence (Brown, 31). The concept of MAD was not only put into practice by the US/USSR but also the Cuban. The concept almost came into practice eight months after McNamara’s speech by the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, the conflict was solved amicably without military intervention. The Korean and Vietnam’s proxy wars played vital roles in the duration of the Cold war. The Vietnam War was major accredited to the latter stages of the development and the start of the cold war. On the other hand, the Korean War mainly contributed to the causes and development of the Cold War. These two wars exhibit some similarities and some contrasts mainly in the causes and development. These include; The Korean war was fought in the early 1950’s. It was characterized by heightened tension that resulted to communist threat to Asian borders. Coincidentally, Korean war coincided with China’s involvement in Cold War. Importantly, the war leads to massive increase in Cold war tensions hence the concept of McCarthyism. The war brought China in the limelight following the decision by US to cross Chinese borders. The stalemate that existed between the two countries signified change in leadership for USSR, hence reduced tension between the countries. The ideas of Glasnost and Gorbachev played a vital role in shaping the current status of Europe. The ideas of Glasnost and Gorbachev were characterized by openness and played a major role in political and economic restructuring of Europe (Gibbs, 17). It is worth noting that these ideologies deviated from the old centralized control and communists that had dominated major parts of

Principles of Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Principles of Microeconomics - Essay Example The river which the company emits chemical waste has plenty of uses to the society. The society fetch water for domestic use from the river, practice fishing on the river and swim on the river for leisure. Emission of chemical waste onto this river pollutes it discouraging fetching of water for domestic use and swimming. This pollution also contaminate the water killing fish and other aquatic lives discouraging fishing which create income to some individuals in the society. Due to the seriousness of these adverse effects, the manufacturing company’s activities have to be controlled to reduce the impact of these effects. The company itself can initiate projects to reduce these negative effects. The company can do that by cleaning the river to avoid contamination of the water. The company can also channel its chemical waste into another site or devise a good means of disposing them. In a bid to control this negative externality, the local government can impose rules and regulations that prevent the water pollution. Some of these laws will include heavy taxation of this company and charging it fines on water pollution. Regulations that control the disposing of waste in the water would also help the situation (Mankiw,

Aristotles Views Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aristotles Views - Essay Example However, since man is not capable of being a god, they are capable of becoming beasts, and for Aristotle, this is the worst kind of beast (Clayton). Webster dictionary defines self-sufficient as sufficient for one's self without external aid or cooperation and having an overweening confidence in one's own ability or worth; hence, haughty; overbearing (http://www.webster-dictionary.net). Independence of a person from his society makes him arrogant, in Aristotle's words; a beast. In applying the thought created by Aristotle in the life of Achilles, it is proper to have short profile on Achilles. "Achilles was the son of the mortal Peleus and the Nereid Thetis and he was the mightiest of the Greeks who fought in the Trojan War" (Hunter, Achilles). He was the hero in Homer's Iliad, which was a famous narration of the War of Troy. Achilles was prophesied to be the only person who can help to defeat Troy. Without his help, Troy will continue to be dominated by the current kind Priasm and his dynasty, his son Hector and Paris (Hunter, Achilles). He had an amazing background as he was told to have been made immortal by his mother, leaving only his heel as the vulnerable part of his body. It was indeed through this part of his body which he was hit by Paris (the brother of Hector, an enemy which he has killed), was wounded and killed. Achilles was described as having "the greatest fighting ability" so that once got "disenfranchised from the rest of his fellow warriors and refused to fight for the Achaeans" (http://www.123helpme.com). With all this strength, both physically and in terms of power, Achilles had the air not to need anyone. His strength was sufficient for his own safety, and because he was feared he was did not feel threatened by anyone. To anyone who goes against him, his might is enough for revenge. The rage of Achilles was simply unquenchable until it makes the enemy pays. He also had problems with his fellow soldiers as he was characterized by arrogance, anger and rage. When he was wronged by Agamemnon, by taking Briseis, the war-prize in exchange for Chrysies, Achilles refused to fight for the Greeks anymore, despite several offers of handsome reparation (Hunter). This act has made him look selfless and proud, divesting him of the nobility of a true hero (Mega Essays LLC). In that way Achilles displayed the character described by Aristotle in "having no need for others and is self-sufficient". Achilles was seen to be driven more by pride and anger rather than love for people, and with this some consider him inferior to Hector, the latter died in fighting for his people and his family, was seen to be a loving husband and was more of a patriot (Mega Essays LLC). Achilles then was more of the beast as described by Aristotle. We will also take a look at another character in Homer's work: Odysseus of the epic poem Odyssey. Odysseus was a "legendary Greek king of Ithaca" (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). He also had a role in the epic poem, Iliad. Unlike Achilles, Odysseus was described to be wiser, had better relationship with his fellow soldiers thus being more influential and had the character of a real

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Thinking - Essay Example 3. The production of wealth is mainly based on the exploitation of the earth’s natural resources. Unchecked exploitation of these finite resources is an off-shoot of the need to engender wealth, and leads to imbalances in the ecosystem. Conversion of these natural resources into manufactured consumer goods often uses technology which causes pollution and global warming. In this context, economists tend to ignore the environmental problems which accompany economic growth. This puts them in direct confrontation with environmental scientists who are concerned with the protection of the environment. 4. (a) Environmental issues, such as clean air, conservation of wildlife, and green energy, cannot be judged in purely monetary terms. While clean air cuts medical costs due to lung disorders, and green energy, such as more efficient refrigeration techniques, can reduce wastage and energy bills, it is more difficult to define the benefits of wildlife conservation in financial terms. Lo ve of wildlife involves social and emotional aspects which cannot be quantified. (b) I would be prepared to pay about five percent of my income towards environmental issues. 5. The question in the title is, â€Å"Why do economists and environmental scientists have such a hard time communicating?†... 7. (a) The problem defined in the essay is the irreconcilable difference in attitude between economists and environmental scientists in assigning monetary values to environmental goods. (b) The proposed solution is to assign monetary values to environmental goods, so that there can be trade-offs between the competing needs of wealth generation and environmental protection. (c) The writer doubts that an agreement can be reached between economists and environmentalists, as the latter will not accept the assignment of a cash equivalent, however large, to environmental goods or agree to a cap on environmental spending. 8. Summary of Article 1. The article, â€Å"Never the Twain Shall Meet: Why do economists and environmental scientists have such a hard time communicating?† deals with the wide gap in the perspectives of economists and environmentalists. While economists firmly believe that environmental goods can be reduced to cash equivalents, this idea is anathema to environmenta lists. Economists argue that by assigning monetary values to environmental goods, such as clean air and biological diversity, compromises can be made to achieve a balance between the consumption of these goods and environmental protection. The writer declares that it is inevitable that monetary values be assigned to environmental goods, so that a policy can be formulated and choices can be made regarding the consumption of such goods. Philip Graves, an economist, states that environmental goods are substantially undervalued by economists using standard methods of measurement. He contends that there will be a significant difference in the amount consumers would spend on environmental goods if they were actually available on the market, and the amount they give as a theoretical estimate.

Human Resource Management in Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Resource Management in Europe - Essay Example 1998; Roderiguez and Ventura, 2003). The difference in perspective on the value of people in organizations and the validity of HRM, particularly in non-Western Countries may be best understood in terms of the concept of locus of human value (Jackson et al., 2003). Jackson et al. (2003) came up with conceptual map of international organization and human resource management in different countries. HRM as a concept emerged in the mid-1980 in the US when two models-the Harvard framework (Beer et al. 1984) and the Michigan Model (Fombrun et al., 1984) were produced. Harvard model is also known as soft model of HRM / Harvard Map of HRM / multiple stakeholders model, argues that human resource policies are to be influenced by two significant considerations: (1) Situational factors: The internal and external environmental factor of the organizations that include (i) labour market conditions (ii) societal Values (iii) business strategies (iv) technologies (v) managerial philosophies and (vi) market conditions will constrain the formation of HRM policies. (2) Stakeholders interests. The stakeholders influence the short-tern HRM policies. They include (i) management employees (ii) unions and (iii) govt. agencies. Further, the model classifies HRM policies and practices in to four themes as follows: HR flows, Recruitment, selection, placement, appraisal and assessment, promotion, termi nation and the like. The Harvard model has existed considerable influence over the theory and practice of HRM, particularly as a result of its contention that strategy is the concern of management in general rather than a personnel function in particular (Armstrong, 1999). The Michigan Model has a harder, less humanistic touch, holding that employees are resources in the same way as any other business resource. They must be obtained (i) as cheaply as possible (ii) used sparingly and (iii) developed and exploited as much as possible. John Storey (1987) termed it as utilitarian instrumentalism. The hard model of HRM focuses on the crucial importance of the close integration of HR policies, systems and activities with business strategies on HR system to achieve the strategic objectives oh the organization. This model emphasized the quantitative strategic business aspects of managing the headcount resource, in a rational way (Storey, 1987). The Michigan theorist highlighted the followin g as being the most important HR issues to achieve such a match. Selection of the most suitable people to meet business needs, Performance in the pursuit of business objectives, appraisal, monitoring performance and providing feed back to the organization and its employee, Rewards for appropriate performance development of skills and knowledge required to meet business objectives. The essential features of their model are that it is focused on individual and organizational performance is based on strategic control, organizational structure, system for managing people concentrates on managing human assets to achieve strategic goals contributes to human resource

Morality & Social Justice-Rubric for Essay Essay Example for Free

Morality Social Justice-Rubric for Essay Essay Seven influential moral thinkers hammered just war tradition which has been distilled into seven principles where five of the principles judge whether a decision to go to war is actually justifiable while the other two are a guide to just conduct in waging a war. The principles of a just war include: legitimate authority, just cause, just intent, last resort, reasonable chance of success, principle of discrimination and the principle of proportionality. The Spanish and Portuguese were not justified to go to war with the Guarani but the Guarani were justified to war with the Portuguese and the Spanish. Subjecting the Portuguese and the Spanish to the seven principles of a just war they were not justified to go to war. The first principle which requires that before a war is started, it must be declared by a legally recognized authority which in most cases is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces while in United states it the Congress was not met by the Spanish and Portuguese soldiers. The soldier according to Alves were sent to relocate the Guarani but when they resisted they resorted to military action where many natives were killed and other were taken as slaves without the order of the legal authorities of the two nations (4). Before going to war with the Guarani the just war principles demand that Spanish and Portuguese leaders and soldiers were to seek an order from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of their respective countries before waging a war with the natives which they did not do. The second principle of a just war that requires that a war should not be started on the basis of expanding a territory or national pride but only for a just cause like resistance to aggression by means of threat of attack or attack was not met either by the Portuguese and the Spanish in fighting the Guarani people. They instead invaded the people with an aim to relocate them to take them as slaves but when the Guarani resisted they started war with them thereby breaching the just cause (Alves 4). Another principle require that before starting a war the aims of the war should be just and limited which should be restoring justice and peace and not vengeance. The Spanish and the Portuguese breached this principle as well since their intention was not to restore peace or justice among the Guarani people. They waged the war out of their own selfish gain because the natives were living peacefully before. Their interest was the land of the Guarani and to enslave them as well. It was not the last resort for the Portuguese and the Spanish to start war with the Guarani people. The principles requires that all other means should be used to resolve dispute between contending parties and that the means must have been tried and found to fail before going to war. In the situation of the Portuguese, Spanish and the Guarani people there was no dispute in the first place. It is the Spanish and Portuguese that were determined to take the land that belonged to the natives and to take them as slaves and even after the natives resisted their effort they never used any other means to resolve the dispute but war. There should be reasonable chance of success before starting a war which the Portuguese and the Spanish did not take to consideration. The principle requires that the situation should be accessed to ascertain if there is a possibility of success before initiating or continuing a war. They never considered this fact and that is the reason why the war continued for several decades and they were eventually defeated (Elves 6). Another principle of a just war tradition that the Portuguese and Spanish violated is the principle of civilian immunity or honor of noncombatant where the noncombatants are not targeted to avoid civilian deaths. It also requires that prisoners captured should be treated humanely and that military forces desist from rapes, massacres, looting and other atrocities. This was not the case in the wars of the Guarani where all sorts of atrocities were committed against the people since children, women and men alike were taken captives and were not treated humanely. The principle of proportionality which requires that the harm to be caused by a war must not exceed the good the war can accomplish. Before the Europeans invaded the natives they were living peacefully in their land but after they attacked them they were left with sorrows since some died, others were enslaved, property destroyed and families disunited forever. It therefore goes without saying that the Spanish and the Portuguese caused several harm and zero good to the Guarani which is against this principle of just war. The Portuguese and the Spanish were not justified to initiate and continue the war with the Guarani after being subjected to the seven principles of a just war tradition. In all the instances they went contrary to the principles. They were not interested in the plight of the people or the outcome of the war but their own selfish gains. Works Cited Alves, Wesley. The Mission. 2007. 3 May 2010 http://people. bu. edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/thth/projects/thth_projects_2007wesley_alves. pdf

Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction in a Bank

Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction in a Bank Introduction This research is on the effects of employee motivation and job satisfaction to CIMB Bank Berhdad. CIMB Group is the second largest in terms of providing financial services in Malaysia, and is one of the leading banking groups in Southeast Asia today. Listed in the Malysian stock exchange since 1987 the company was formerly known as Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Berhad. The CIMB Group became the third largest company listed on the Malaysian stock exchange on November 20, 2009. During this time its market capitalisation was listed at about a RM46.6 billion, and it also has substantial investments in Indonesia and Thailand with its Bank CIMB Niaga and the CIMB Thai. The CIMB group gives financial products and services which spans different areas in the banking industry. The company does business through its three corporate entities which are the CIMB bank, its investment arm CIMB Investment and an Islamic bank CIMB Islamic. The company provides services to a very diverse customer base. It actually serves everyone from large corporations in the region, local companies, small entrepreneurs, individuals with high profitability, and it even has savings programs concerning pensions for old people and savings accounts for children. CIMB group is a big company that employs 36,000 banking staff and employees. As an indicator of success CIMB groups earnings amounts to 80% of the gross domestic product of the whole ASEAN region and its operations services about 58% of the population in the region. Its retail banking operations have expanded to 1,150 branches making it the largest banking company operating in the region. Problem Statement This research on CIMB BANK BERHAD will identify the factors that affect the motivation and job satisfaction of employees in CIMB BANK BERHAD. This research also seeks to identify the strategies use to ensure employee motivation and job satisfaction and what is its effects. Objectives of the research These objectives pay attention to the problems and objectives that are selected to clarify the intended information and also be able to derive specific information that are not limited by the previous questions. This study intended to get the suitable data to help in building the proper assessment. This includes: To determine methods that CIMB BANK BERHAD practice to inspire or motivate their employees. To determine the accomplished strategies by CIMB BANK BERHAD in giving job satisfaction to their employees. To create an appropriate solution for CIMB BANK BERHAD problems. Scope of the Study The scope of the study is relied on the employees of CIMB BANK BERHAD. This focuses on determine which factors create desirable influence to their employees towards satisfaction. And to know what factors of independent variables that could have the greatest impact on employees satisfaction.-studying the factors that lead to employees loyal with CIMB BANK Significance of the Study This research was created to comprehend the significant factors of employees fulfillment to enable efficiency, quality, service, and loyalty to CIMB BANK. Definition of Terms Job Satisfaction Employee Motivation Herzbergs motivation-hygiene theory Maslows hierarchy of needs Research Hypothesis Hypothesis 1 H1: This study shows that adequate salary or monetary income plays a major role in allowing employees to be satisfied in their jobs. H0: There is no significant relationship between salary and job satisfaction Hypothesis 2 H1: This study shows that work recognition plays a role to have a sense of importance and motivates employees to work diligently. H0: There is no significant relationship between work recognition and job satisfaction. Hypothesis 3 H1: This study shows giving professional growth to employees such as trainings, seminars, etc. allows employees to have mental growth which they apply to their daily duties as employees. H0: There is no significant relationship between professional growth to employees creativity and development. Literary Review Herzbergs Motivation-Hygiene Theory Frederick Herzbergs two factor motivation hygiene theory categorizes incentives as being either hygiene factors or motivators. Hygiene factors are potentially dissatisfiers†factors associated with the job itself but not intrinsic to it. These factors such as salary, job security, administration, interpersonal relations, if not adequate could operate to dissatisfy someone but would not necessarily motivate someone when adequate. On the other hand, motivator-factors are directly intrinsic to the job itself and critical in the process of doing the job, including sense of achievement and recognition by colleagues, level of felt responsibility and empowerment are keys to real motivation (Herzberg, 1959). What is essential to understanding this concept is the distinction made between a motivator and a satisfier. A satisfier is that factor which, when fulfilled, is enough to get the employee to come to work at all. On the upper end, a motivator is that which actively drives the employee to go beyond the minimum standard of simply showing up. Herzberg promoted such concepts as Job Enrichment, Job Enlargement, and Job Rotation as potential motivators that worked well for those operating at the higher levels of Maslows need hierarchy. It is important to keep in mind that once an individual has thoroughly pursued a motivator, it is likely to become a hygiene factor, and the search for motivating factors continues. Herzbergs Motivation-Hygiene Theory According to Herzberg, factors causing work satisfaction (motivators) are rather in connection with the content of work, while those causing dissatisfaction (hygiene) are in connection with work environment. Good examples of the first factors are taking responsibility, career advancement, recognition and the possibility to develop (achievement), while salary, status, inter-personal relations, company policy and administration as well as work conditions are examples of factors of dissatisfaction Hull and Read confirm that quality relationships, that key factor in excellence, are dependent on high levels of trust. Yet building trust is a major challenge for many Australian organisations. Research suggests that a trust deficit has emerged. A loss of trust can be devastating to organisational performance. When people no longer have confidence in management, productivity falls, turnover rises, gossip spreads, cynicism sets in, and initiative evaporates. But trust is a long term proposition, the result of countless management decisions made over a long period that help employees feel secure about their own and the organisations future. Like confidence in the quality of our graduates it can be lost in an instant yet take years to regain. Hull and Read suggest that workplace trust has two dimensions â€Å" our views of ourselves (self worth) and our views of others. Hull and Read believe these were sustained in their research. Hull and Read interviewed hundreds of employees at all levels of the selected organizations. From this one central factor emerged â€Å" the quality of relationships at work, which concretely manifests itself in the bond between co-workers, friends and colleagues. They note that there is a relationship between excellent workplaces and how this is shaped by the trust and respect among the employees. But building and maintaining a good working relationship is not easy and it requires cultivating a long lasting connection between the one supervising the group and the groups members. In examining research from the Australian Quality Agency the authors noted that Australian workplace cultures, in their focus on people, differed from other cultures. High quality workplace relationships were, in turn, supported by a number of other factors. Four factors were particularly important. The first was the quality of leadership. In excellent workplaces leaders at all levels were aware of the impact that their behaviour has on the way people feel about the workplace and their job. They recognise that their behaviour sets the example. Leaders who behaved as a captain/coach were particularly valued. These leaders were available providing support when needed but not getting in the way when they were not. Good leaders choose their approach to suit the different needs of their staff, helping out when there was a crisis and allowing trial and learning when there was not. This is in keeping with Australias egalitarian ethos supervisors in excellent workplaces often choose not to display the trappings of their position. Most importantly they inspired trust. The research demonstrated, too, that essential to quality leadership is the communication of clear values that become intrinsic to the way business is done. They influenced the way people related to each other thereby in turn helping to generate the quality working relationships. In this environment the inevitable dilemmas, conflicts and competing priorities can be immediately and openly discussed. In excellent workplaces managers really do practice what they preach. Excellent workplaces, too, are marked by a sense of common goals and objectives where workers support each other and show respect for one another. People have the skills to do their jobs and seek to develop these skills further. They have the confidence to have a say about how the work is done. They are encouraged by a management style that is open to new and different ways of working and values diversity. This is not seen as a way to exercise power but rather to add value. People are encouraged to operate with some autonomy. Of course some managers feel uncomfortable with giving their employees a high degree of independence but it is a feature of excellent workplaces. Excellent workplaces are also safe workplaces, where people care for the well being of their colleagues and are committed to safe practices â€Å" not just formal policies and manuals. In such environments a culture of safety, including the psychological safety of a respectful workplace, develops that all staff are able to share. None of these factors operates in isolation. Together they build a culture that further enhances the quality of working relationships. The research suggests that excellent workplaces must have all fifteen drivers present although they combine in unique ways. There is a form of hierarchy with one set of factors building upon. Adult learners are often characterized as learning-oriented and goal-oriented. Based on the results of this study, these characteristics seemed to be related to the satisfaction-dissatisfaction profiles of e-learners. The most frequently stated satisfying factors were learning-oriented factors such as interesting and relevant learning content, effective teaching methods, instructors expertise, and effective learning activities; and the most frequently stated dissatisfying factors were goal-related factors such as unclear directions or expectations that caused confusion or frustration while trying to accomplish their goals. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Current risk organization theory and standards have the same opinion that risk and taking risk are not necessarily negative for development. Alongside the threat that a risk might entail more often than not this risk situation also provides opportunities. Managing chance through the risk procedure is often seen either as an not obligatory extra, or as only for advanced practitioners, or as just plain wrong. Why is this? This paper draws on human motivation theory (Maslow) and the latest ideas in information science (memetics) to explain the discrepancy. It also proposes practical solutions to promote management of opportunity within the risk process. Maslows hierarchy of needs? seeks to explain human motivation, and proposes a layered series of motivators ranging from survival to self-actualisation. Applying this framework to risk management reveals why individuals and organisations think first about threats, and why they see opportunities as optional extras to be addressed later if at all. Memetics suggests that ideas (or memes?) can be seen as packets of information which self-replicate like genes. According to this theory, the risk is bad? meme appears to be better adapted to the current environment maslows hierarchy of needs diagramthan the risk includes both threat and opportunity? meme. The paper describes how to motivate project teams and organisations to address opportunity based on Maslows theory, and how to enhance the competitiveness of the threat-plus-opportunity meme through memetic engineering. Over ten years ago, a debate arose within the project risk management community concerning the nature of the types of risk to be managed within the scope of the project risk management process (summarised in Hulett etal, 2002). Until then project risk had been seen as exclusively negative, defined in terms of uncertain events which could result in loss, harm, delay, additional cost etc, with risk? being synonymous with threat?. This definition reflected the secular definitions found in non-technical dictionaries (for example Collins, 1979). From the late 1990s project management professionals began to realise that there were other types of uncertainty that mattered. Sometimes good things might occur on a project which would result in saved time or reduced cost, or which would enhance productivity or performance. Such opportunities? could be brought under the existing definition of risk by simply expanding the types of impact to include positive as well as negative effects. This resulted in a change in approach by a number of organisations, including the Project Management Institute (PMI ®). The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK ® Guide, 2000 Edition) adopted a definition of project risk as an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on a project objective.? (Project Management Institute, 2000). This broader definition has been retained in the current PMBoK Guide and PMIs Combined Standards Glossary (Project Management Institute, 2004, 2005). It is also reflected in a number of other leading standards, both in the project management area (for example Association for Project Management, 2004, 2006) as well as in more general risk standards (Australian/New Zealand Standard, 2004; Institution of Civil Engineers et al, 2005; Institute of Risk Management et al, 2002; Office of Government Commerce, 2007). The forthcoming ISO risk management standard is also expected to adopt a similar position. The use of the project risk process to manage both upside and downside risk is not only embodied in a wide range of standards, but it has been described in textbooks as good practice? (for example Chapman Ward, 2003; Hillson, 2004; Cooper et al., 2004; Hillson Simon, 2007). There are a number of benefits available to those who include opportunities in the risk process (see figure 1). The first potential explanatory framework for why organisations might find it hard to address opportunities as part of their risk management process comes from the work of Abraham Maslow on human motivation, as encapsulated in his hierarchy of needs? (Maslow, 1943, 1987). He postulated that humans are motivated by the drive to satisfy needs, of which there are a variety of different types. However not all needs are equal, and Maslow arranged the various needs in order of their pre-potence? or influence over people. This ordering is usually represented as a pyramid, with the higher needs? at the top and base needs? at the bottom. There are several alternative versions of Maslows hierarchy of needs, one of which is shown in figure1. A key feature of Maslows hierarchy of needs is his contention that people are driven to satisfy lower needs before higher needs exert any influence. So for example, the most basic needs of air, water, sleep and food must be met first, and are the over-riding concern of each individual, even more important than being safe or feeling self-esteem. Once these are satisfied a person is free to be concerned about other things. As each level of hunger? is met (with literal physical hunger at the lowest level), higher needs emerge which require satisfying. Maslow divided his hierarchy of needs into two groups, with deficiency needs? towards the base, and growth needs? (or being needs?) at the top. Deficiency needs are those which must be satisfied, and without which a person might be said to be deficient or needy?. The individual does not necessarily feel anything positive if these needs are met, but feels anxious if they are not. When these needs are met, they are removed as active drivers of behaviour. Deficiency needs are mostly physical and emotional. Growth needs by contrast are those which add to a person, which are not necessarily required for a healthy existence, but which make a person more fully rounded and complete. This type of need is psychological and spiritual, and they form more enduring and permanent motivators. How is this relevant to the question of why individuals and organisations might find it difficult to implement opportunity management as part of an integrated risk process? Assuming that Maslows hierarchy of needs is as valid for organisational motivation as it is for individuals, this framework would predict a strong preference for actions which satisfy deficiency needs?, and that these would take precedence over actions which target growth needs?. Translating this to the risk domain requires an understanding of which risks relate to the different types of needs. Deficiency needs are about survival, ensuring that the essentials are available to maintain life. In the organisational risk context, this naturally leads to a focus on threats. A threat is any uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, will have an effect on objectives which is negative, unwelcome, harmful, adverse etc. According to Maslow, both individuals and organisations will be motivated to address these risks as the highest priority. For individuals, the concern is to avoid problems, save face, protect ones reputation etc. At the organisational level, this is the realm of business continuity and disaster recovery, which aim to protect the business and ensure corporate survival. Deficiency needs are also addressed by operational risk management and health safety, since these are also about feeding and protecting the corporate organism. At project and tactical levels, the need to tackle deficiency needs is also likely to be strongly influential, with a focus on dealing with threats to achievement of project objectives. By contrast, opportunities would appear in Maslows hierarchy as growth needs, being those uncertainties that, if they occurred, would have a positive, welcome, helpful effect on achievement of objectives. Such growth needs exist in such areas as marketing and business development, as well as strategic decision-making, and they also exist at project level in the form of project opportunities. While these are undoubtedly good things, and in themselves they are clearly worth pursuing, Maslows hierarchy of needs predicts that there is likely to be less motivation to satisfy these higher needs than there is to address more basic deficiencies. In other words, given a limited amount of time, effort or resources (which is the normal situation in most projects), an organisation will be driven to address threats before opportunities. If the environment is perceived as threatening, then the need to remove or minimise threats will always take precedence over the option of exploiting opportunitie s, since the drive to survive is stronger than the attraction of growth. Maslows hierarchy of needs seems to explain why both individuals and organisations are motivated to deal with threats before opportunities, since threats operate at the lower levels of the hierarchy and threaten deficiency needs, whereas opportunities exist at the higher levels and are seen as lower priority. A second useful framework for understanding the current reluctance to adopt an inclusive approach to risk management is the recently-developed hypothesis of memetics (Brodie, 1996; Blackmore, 2000). This wasintroduced by Richard Dawkins as a development of the selfish gene? approach to biology (Dawkins, 1989). Dawkins proposed an extension of this idea, applying it to information theory, postulating the existence of a hypothetical meme? as a self-replicating unit of information, analogous to a gene, which drives human behaviour and culture. From this initial innovation, the ideas of memetics mirror genetics, with such principles as survival of the fittest, competitive adaptation, mutation, replication, propagation etc. Whitty has applied the memetic approach to project management and found it to be a useful paradigm to generate new insights (Whitty, 2005). A meme is defined as a package of informational content, approximating to an idea or concept, which exists in the human brain or mind, and which seeks to replicate by transfer to other brains or minds. It is the basic unit of cultural transmission, and culture can be seen as the sum total of all memes. Clearly there are very many memes currently in existence, all of which are competing for the limited resources of human attention and absorption into current culture. The most successful memes are those which are best adapted to the environment in which they operate, which leads them to replicate and become dominant. Dawkins argues that dominant memes are not necessarily beneficial to human individuals or society, and that harmful memes can take root in the same way that viruses can cause pandemics. The important feature which determines the persistence of a particular memeis its competitive advantage when compared to the other memes against which it competes. Having created this hypothetical framework, it is possible to develop an approach called memetics?, analogous to genetics, to describe how memes operate. The term memetic engineering? can be used to describe attempts to manipulate memes in order to produce a desired outcome. While the basis for memetics is challenged by many as entirely hypothetical and unproven, the memetic paradigm offers useful insights into many aspects of human behaviour and culture, including management of risk. Solutions from Maslow Taking Maslows model first, there are three ways in which an organisation might proceed if it wishes to adopt the broader risk approach including management of opportunities equally alongside threats. Ensure effective threat management. The first is simply to make sure that all the lower-level motivators are fully satisfied all the time, allowing the organisation to move on to the higher levels. In other words, a risk process which deals effectively with threats will result in an organisation which is confident and relaxed, and which feels secure in its ability to handle both foreseen and emergent negative events and circumstances. Once these more basic deficiency needs are met, the organisation will feel free to release energy and resources to address the growth needs represented by opportunities. Develop conscious opportunity management. A positive focus within the organisational culture on the benefits available from proactive management of opportunities will create a motivational force to counter that of the lower-level need to deal with threats. If management express a requirement for projects to identify and capture opportunities, and reward such behaviour visibly, then teams will respond appropriately. Making management of opportunities both explicit and required will maximise the chances of this approach being adopted. By emphasising the value of the higher growth needs, their motivational value can be increased, even if the lower-level deficiency needs are not all met. Practice emotional literacy. Maslows hierarchy of needs is not universally accepted, and some researchers and practitioners believe the linear hierarchy oversimplifies human motivation (for example Wahba Bridgewell, 1976). The reality of human motivation is like to be much more complex. Studies of disadvantaged communities where deficiency needs are clearly unmet often find unexpectedly high levels of contentment and fulfilment, indicative of the higher needs being met. For example the Kingdom of Bhutan is renowned for its high Gross National Happiness (GNH), introduced as a key national measure by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972 (Kinga et al., 1999), despite its low development status. Maslows hierarchy of needs seems to explain why both individuals and organisations are motivated to deal with threats before opportunities, since threats operate at the lower levels of the hierarchy and threaten deficiency needs, whereas opportunities exist at the higher levels and are seen as lower priority. A second useful framework for understanding the current reluctance to adopt an inclusive approach to risk management is the recently-developed hypothesis of memetics (Brodie, 1996; Blackmore, 2000). This wasintroduced by Richard Dawkins as a development of the selfish gene? approach to biology (Dawkins, 1989). Dawkins proposed an extension of this idea, applying it to information theory, postulating the existence of a hypothetical meme? as a self-replicating unit of information, analogous to a gene, which drives human behaviour and culture. From this initial innovation, the ideas of memetics mirror genetics, with such principles as survival of the fittest, competitive adaptation, mutation, replication, propagation etc. Whitty has applied the memetic approach to project management and found it to be a useful paradigm to generate new insights (Whitty, 2005). A meme is defined as a package of informational content, approximating to an idea or concept, which exists in the human brain or mind, and which seeks to replicate by transfer to other brains or minds. It is the basic unit of cultural transmission, and culture can be seen as the sum total of all memes. Clearly there are very many memes currently in existence, all of which are competing for the limited resources of human attention and absorption into current culture. The most successful memes are those which are best adapted to the environment in which they operate, which leads them to replicate and become dominant. Dawkins argues that dominant memes are not necessarily beneficial to human individuals or society, and that harmful memes can take root in the same way that viruses can cause pandemics. The important feature which determines the persistence of a particular memeis its competitive advantage when compared to the other memes against which it competes. Having created this hypothetical framework, it is possible to develop an approach called memetics?, analogous to genetics, to describe how memes operate. The term memetic engineering? can be used to describe attempts to manipulate memes in order to produce a desired outcome. While the basis for memetics is challenged by many as entirely hypothetical and unproven, the memetic paradigm offers useful insights into many aspects of human behaviour and culture, including management of risk. Solutions from Maslow Theoretical framework, population sample, data collection, data analysis The researcher visited the different libraries for journals, articles and studies needed for the research. The researchers gathered time-series data from different Banking institutions to assure of its validity and consistency. The researchers would also gathered different news and articles regarding the past events that involves or has consistent customer interaction as its main issue. It would tackle evidences of how proper services, awareness serves as the means affect the profit and increase the margin for more clients. The researcher has also researched data of the banks that have similar situations with CIMD The researcher would gather data from 2007-2009 to be able to assure consistency and reliability. This study will took place within CIMB BANK BERHAD in Malaysia. Participants will be selected according to their desire to participate in this study. Narrative data will be generated from all researched studies such as journals, articles, academic references, etc. The data analysis will Quantitative research enables the researcher to generate new theories from gathering descriptive data about the research topic. Quantitative research process involves the result of a certain procedure. The type of qualitative research studies undertaken are ethnographical, which refers to the description of a phenomenon from a cultural group or society, grounded theory, which focuses on real life settings and phenomenological which describes different experiences. Quantitative research is used to identify the specific effect which leads to using statistical evidence and appropriate statistical tools. It is also used for intervention studies and randomized control trials, which is the gold standard, ob servational and cohort studies. The quantitative approach is applicable to smaller sample group to generate rich data. Hopkins (2008) defined quantitative research method in the following words, In quantitative research your aspire is to settle on the relationship flanked by one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent result variable) in a population. Isolated research design is either evocative (subjects usually measured once) or new (subject for assessment before and after a treatment). A evocative study establish only relations between variables.?Hopkins (2008) defined quantitative research method in the following words, In quantitative research your aspire is to settle on the relationship flanked by one thing (an independent variable) different (a dependent or outcome variable) in a population. Quantitative research design are either evocative (subjects usually measured once) or new evocative study establish only relations between variables.? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The research methodology used in the study is an analytical survey that measures consumer satisfaction of CIMB BANK BERHAD. The analytical survey through the use of statistics and data measures the correlation of consumer satisfaction with company measures that ensure employee satisfaction and delivers customer service. This research explores the possible correlation of customer satisfaction with factors such as employee motivation, company values, services rendered, and policies affecting its efficiency. In order to carry out the analytical survey, a questionnaire was developed that measures the level of customer satisfaction for CIMB BANK BERHARD, how the company is perceived by costumers, and what factors affect its customer service. The interview recipients of the study were composed of a cross-sectional group that represents different consumers from different age groups, sexes and income level. Interview questions were also distributed among employees and managers of CIMB BANK BERHARD and their response was correlated with the responses culled from the customers of the company. The survey also used open ended questions that is unstructured and which was administered personally by the researcher to ensure rapport, and elicit immediate responses from the interviewees. The data gathered was analyzed by determining the level of customer satisfaction, and what aspect of customer satisfaction cuts across different income and age groups. The survey also analyzed the response of CIMB BANK BERHARD employees and managers to questions pertaining to their role

Howard Dean for President :: Politics Political Essays

Howard Dean for President As more and more polls and data seem to indicate the Howard Dean will be the Democratic nominee for president next year (barring a last minute entry by Hillary Clinton) more and more pundits are pulling out their history books to find comparisons to the front-runner. Most point to Dean as an old-school liberal, in the vain of men such as George McGovern, Lyndon Johnson, and Jimmy Carter. An advocate of increased taxes and bigger government, one can find his photo in the dictionary under â€Å"tax and spend liberal†. But while Dean is a member of the Old Left, his entrance in the 2004 presidential election bears stronger to the rise of Barry Goldwater than Michael Dukakis. Dean has been catapulted onto the scene through the efforts of the hard left, anti-war, Bush-hating liberal Democrats which turned out for him in an early summer Internet primary, and won it for him. In 1964, conservative Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater was given the Republican nod for president through the intensive efforts of right-wing grassroots groups like the Young Republicans and Young Americans for Freedom. Like Dean, his critics charged that he was â€Å"unelectable† for his extreme views, and they were proven right when Lyndon Johnson trounced him in the greatest landslide ever. The lesson to be learned from all this is not that the Bush/Rove team can let down their guard in 2004, but that Republicans need to realize, when Dean loses, that it is not the end of the fight. After the 1964 election most pundits declared that extremism was dead, and that all presidential elections would be fought between two moderates. Yet in 1980, Ronald Reagan swept into office on an equally conservative platform. How’d he do it? By using the grassroots forces left in place by Goldwater while presenting himself as a less acidic candidate who would invigorate a stagnant American dream. In 2008 Hillary Clinton will attempt to repeat the success of Ronald Reagan by using the grassroots left behind by Howard Dean while de-emphasizing her own Bush-hating.

Education: The Road to a Better Life :: Teaching Philosophy

Education: The Road to a Better Life Education is an institution we use to teach people what they wouldn't normally learn. Teaching has to give an educator satisfaction in making a difference in someone's life. I want to become an educator so I can teach what I never had much of an opportunity to learn in my years In school. Education is completely necessary in life, without it, life would hold less meaning and excitement. My classroom would be very relaxed. Art posters would hang on the walls, along with diagrams, maps, and sculptures. Projects would vary in accordance to my class levels and areas of concentration and, seats would be moved in according to the media we would work in. I would set up still-lifes when working in painting or drawing. When studying history, I would show the students slides of famous works and people. When painting or drawing, the seating would be surrounding the subject in a circle. When seeing slides or having lectures, seats would be more organized in rows. Bulletin boards would display student works and class assignment reminders. My classroom would be a mixture between authoritarian and non-authoritarian. I certainly do not want to scare them into listening to me, and I do not want them to fear me or hesitate in asking for my help. But, I do not want them to take advantage of me or think that they can get by with not working. Being an art teacher, I would keep my classroom visually interesting without distracting the student's attention needlessly. I would never tell a student he or she is wrong in their artwork, I would only try to help that student reach their goals in the project. Personal art is never wrong and it should only be graded on following directions and putting forth effort. In cases of discipline, I would never verbally castigate a child, that does nothing for their self-esteem. I would tell them to stay on task or else they wouldn't receive a grade for that specific project. I would try to be their friend so that they would feel comfortable telling me things that were important, but I would never lose sight in position. I would be the teacher, therefore I would be in charge of them. I would want them to feel free to tell me things that were bothering them, joke around, and be comfortable in class.

The Mask of Hamlet Essay -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

The Mask of Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   When people put on a mask or costume it is usually because they are trying to hide themselves or portray a certain feeling to onlookers. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet puts on a "antic disposition" as a strategy to get closer to Claudius. Hamlet tells his friends this by saying (I,iv,170-173) "how strange or odd some'er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on), That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, with arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake, or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase," Hamlet's strategy is successful at the beginning in that he is able to fool Ophilia, Gertrude, Polonius and Claudius but as the play proceeds Polonius and Claudius began to see that there is logic behind his madness and actions. Toward the end Hamlets strategy becomes a tragic error when he begins to act solely on emotion instead of logic. In doing so he makes the mistake of killing Polonius instead of Claudius. Claudius then realize s that it would have been him dead instead of Polonius if he had been there. This scares Claudius in to trying to get rid of Hamlet any way he can. This explains the old saying "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."      Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet's reason for putting on his antic disposition is that he wants to fool Claudius into believing that he is fanatical and is no threat to him physically or to his anarchy. The reason for doing this is that Claudius secretly killed Old Hamlet, who was king to gain the thrown for himself. Hamlet after conversing with the ghost of his dead father learns that Claudius killed his father and swears revenge on Claudius. By Hamlet putting o... ...we mourn for" Claudius was not fooled for very long but at first he was sorry for, and was trying to help his past nephew now son get rid of his madness.      Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion Hamlet's plan did exactly what it was supposed to allow him to do. Hamlet shows really well the natural reaction to stressful situations by which he acts through emotion not logic. Hamlet would have been a exeptional king because of his logical thinking, but a short lived king because of his inability to act upon it.    Works Cited and Consulted: Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Interpretations Of Hamlet. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Charney, Maurice. All of Shakespeare. New York, NY. Columbia University Press. 1993. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The Riverside Shakespeare. ED. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Haughton Mifflin Company, 1974.

E.M Forster

E. M Forster Essay â€Å"I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country. † It appears to me that E. M Forster does make a valuable point in her personal speculation to believe that personal relations are more important than a simple cause or patriotism. In this essay I will give reason to Forster’s opinion as well as the other view of things. Without beloved friends, not only would there be no country,but also the world would seem lonely and one would be lost. (Correlative conj. At some unexpected point in all our lives, we must come to an end, and when we do we want to be able to think, â€Å" When I must leave this world, I’m actually going to be satisfied† (complex sentence) Friends engender a certain warmth that your country will never be able to formulate within. â€Å"A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally conf ide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity. † (Compound Sentence) This quote is a true definition of a dear friend. The comprehension between two friends is something that you simply cannot get anywhere else, let alone from your country. A single rose can be my garden, but a single friend can be my world. † Friends are roses. (metaphor) Friends blossom with you, helping you grow as a person, enlightening you, every step you take. Friendship is like a violin; the music may stop now and then, but the strings will last forever. (simile) Although this esoteric view may seem like the correct way into choosing a friend over a country, others may contradict that and think otherwise. One may think that being there for one’s country is the absolute least thing you can do to show honor and pride. The love of one's country is a splendid thing. † It’s true, having pride of what land you reside in is great. Some may argue with t he thought of standing by their country rather than a friend is a much wiser idea simply because of how your country will physically never abandon you like some friends might do over time. â€Å"Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country† One can create a certain barrier of so-called protection by simply protecting their country in hope of receiving something spiritual in return.Loyalty and pride are two traits everyone should have when speaking of their homeland, how far they take it, is entirely their own path and choice to take. Overall, I agree with E. M Forster’s main idea in choosing friends over her own country if it would ever result to that. â€Å"As the year go by our friendship will never die† Even when it may not be physically visible friendship will always be there to comfort you with lengthy arms of warmth, encouragement, and companionship, traits that your own shining country will never have.

PEST Analysis Essay

Q) On the basis of PEST analysis launch a Pakistani product in Belgium? In order to launch a Pakistani product in foreign country we have to look macro economic conditions of that country. There are different accept and measurement. As to market Pakistani product certain thing are important for instance culture, area, age, group, buying power, availability of raw material etc. Macroeconomic play vital role to sell a product in any country of the world. In macroeconomic PEST analysis is very important. PEST analysis means political economical social and technological condition of a country where we launching our product. I am launching Shan plain spices in Belgium. INTRODUCTION OF BELGIUM CUISINE Belgian cuisine is widely varied with significant regional variations while also reflecting the cuisines of neighboring France, Germany and the Netherlands. It is sometimes said that Belgian food is served in the quantity of German cuisine but with quality of French food. Outside the country, Belgium is best known for its chocolate and beer. Belgian cuisine traditionally prizes regional and seasonal ingredients, leading to distinctive dishes Belgians typically eat three meals a day, with a light breakfast, light or medium sized lunch and large dinner. Though Belgium has many distinctive national dishes, it should be noted that many internationally-popular foods like hamburgers or spaghetti Bolognese are also eaten in Belgium. The list incorporates dishes of Belgian origin, or those which can be considered typically Belgian. Fries and other fast-food establishments tend to offer a number of different sauces for the fries and meats. INTRODUCTION OF SHAN FOODS Shan Foods started from a single small room some twenty five years ago. Management decided to launch its very own brand and start a full-scale manufacturing unit to cater to the taste of the local public. Shan is one of the largest exporters of premium quality packaged spices, recipe mixes, pickles and desserts with products adding taste and flavors .Shan Foods (Pvt) Ltd. Is a rapidly growing food company with presence in over 50 countries Strengthening their departments with candidates having extraordinary positive energy, obtain and edge in technology, and determined in execution, with a passion for excellence. The main objective of Shan foods sourcing department is to work with quality suppliers. The department diligently pick and select the best quality spices. Company pays extra attention in obtaining raw material. The planning process of Shan foods is depending on S&OP. The planning purpose of Shan foods is to achieved the target of R=R.. The make process of SCOR model is referred to the production or manufacturing facilities. Shan foods are dedicated to ensure the consistency of product by using well equipped production techniques. The supply chain team ensure that the goods or shipments reach their destinations well in time to match market trends and customer demand. PICTURE OF SHAN FOODSShan Foods started from a single small room some twenty five years ago. Management decided to launch its very own brand and start a full-scale manufacturing unit to cater to the taste of the local public. Shan is one of the largest exporters of premium quality packaged spices, recipe mixes, pickles and desserts with products adding taste and flavours .Shan Foods (Pvt) Ltd. Is a rapidly growing food company with presence in over 50 countries. Strengthening their departments with candidates having extraordinary positive energy, obtain and edge in technology, and determined in execution, with a passion for excellence. The main objective of Shan foods sourcing department is to work with quality suppliers. The department diligently pick and select the best quality spices. Company pays extra attention in obtaining raw material. The planning process of Shan foods is depending on S&OP. The planning purpose of shan foods is to achieved the target of R=R. Shan foods believed that planning should be right and in efficient manner. The make process of SCOR model is referred to the production or manufacturing facilities.Shan foods are dedicated to ensure the consistency of product by using well equipped production techniques. The supply chain team ensure that the goods or shipments reach their destinations well in time to match market trends and customer demand. PEST ANALYSIS P = Political E = Economical S = Social T = technological B) ECONOMICAL FACTORS IN BELGIUM 1)Nature of the Belgium economy: The modern, private enterprise economy of Belgium has capitalized on its central geographic location, industrial and commercial base. Most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy. Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways to integrate with its industry. Belgium has one of the most open economies in the world. This nature of economy suitable for Shan product 2) GENERAL ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE REGION: Belgium currency is Euro. Belgium is a very open economy. This country allows foreign investor to invest in their economy. Euro is strong currency because of strong hold in economy as Shan product earn profit which in return help Belgium’s economy to rise more. 3) STRENGTH OF BELGIUM MARKET: Belgium has a well-developed free market economy, based on both industrial and service sectors. It is heavily dependent on international trade. Strong research and development team. Our lay man giligentally pick and select best quality species. Company pays extra attention in obtaining raw material. Our product is certified from international standards like ISO 9000 which is globally recognized throughout the world. 4)PRUCHASING POWER OF CONSUMERS: Belgium’s economy was based on the nation’s manufacturing capabilities. The country was the first in continental Europe to undergo the Industrial Revolution. Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium’s trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location. We introduce our product in family pack as well as sachet so that every individual can take pleasure of spices in their cuisine. 5) PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION PATTERN: Supply chain team ensures that the goods or shipment reaches their destination well in time to match the market trends and customer demand. There Should in some stock in ware houses as a backup line ounce’s the stocks end in the store we immediately fill up store shelves through our product. Belgium developed a highly efficient and capable transportation infrastructure that included roads, ports, canals, and rail links. 6) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN BELGIUM: Food Industry is highly developed in Belgium, is devoted mainly to the processing of imported raw materials into semi finished and finished products, which are then Consume by Native. 7) Level of the economic income of the country: The rate of inflation in Belgium, this often refers to the rate of inflation based on the consumer price index, or CPI for short. The Belgian CPI shows the change in prices of a standard package of our product Belgian house holds purchase for consumption. 8) GROWTH OF OTHER BUSINESS: A unique strategic vision of the market in Belgium is presented, in particular identifying the numerous companies present together with their market shares and major brands by country and product. Standard data tables for each product provide a panorama of companies’ strengths and presence 9) INFLATION IN BELGIUM: The inflation is based upon the Belgian consumer price index. The index is a measure of the average price which consumers spend on a goods and services. Inflation based upon the consumer price index (CPI) is the main inflation indicator in Belgium. Our Shan product is easily adjust in the market. A) POLITICAL FACTORS IN BELGIUM 1) POLITICAL STABILITY: Political environment refer political and governmental and legal environment. It has close relationship with the economic system and economic policy. for instance Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which ultimate power rest with bicameral parliament. Belgium is an EU member state and as a member of EU Belgium have to follow regulation on trade treaties, import treaties, custom duties and other trade regulations. This political stability help Shan product to launch easily and archive the desire result. 2) GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: The Belgium government welcomes foreign investment and once established foreign owned company Is treated in the same way as Belgium owned company. Belgium tax incentive tend to favour new service industries and high tech companies. 3) TAXATION SYSTEM IN BELGIUM: The principle taxes effecting the companies are the cooperate income tax, pay tax on remuneration paid to employes and directors, insurance premium tax and depending on the location of the company certain regional and local taxes. Belgium has fully implemented the EU parent subsidiary intrest royalties and saving directive into domestic law. 4) CHEAP LABOUR: Belgium labor law encompasses laws on the terms of environment on rules of health and safety. All major Belgian companies have European work council agreement. Foreign employee who want to work in Belgium must have work permit and this work permit can be obtained relatively fast and easy. As permission form the Belgium government Shan food company easily take cheap labor from Pakistan which help the company to reduce its liability. 5) LAW AND ORDER SITUATION: As a law and order situation in Belgium is far better than Pakistan. no hap hazards, blast or other issues regarding the security. Suppler deliver the product on time. There’s no peril of theft of product aur raw material.prdust arrive on time in the market,at the right palce and on the right time. 6) CORRUPTION Belgium has a very open economy and offers a reliable environment for direct inbound investment. Because the country has a federal structure and is also subject to European regulations, decisions affecting the investment climate are taken at a variety of levels. Changes in corporation tax are making Belgium an increasingly interesting place. Belgium is least corrupt country. Corruption is minimal, and the government prohibits and punishes all forms of bribery. 7)ACCOUNTING,FILLING AND AUDITING REQUIREMENT: The annual report of Belgian companies must be drafted in accordance with Belgian GAAP(generally accepted accounting principle).foreign companies are required to deposits each year financial report in central bank. Financial statement must be audited by a statutory auditor because of well organized accounting system this country help a lot to accomplish Shan plain spices. 8) OPEN MARKETS: Belgium has low tariffs along with other members of the European Union, and non-tariff barriers are relatively low. The investment regime is largely open. The Financial Crisis Law passed in June 2010 grants the government stronger powers to step in during crises. In order of loss in sale of Shan plain spices Belgian government come forward to help the company. In rainy days government help company to pay its liabilities. 9)REGULATORY EFFICIENCY: The cost of establishing a company has been reduced to below 20 percent of the level of average annual income, and starting a business takes only three days and four procedures. price control policies continue to affect a range of products and services. 10) AVAILABILITY OF LAND: Belgium is a federal state consisting of three culturally different regions: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels. In the 19th century, the area began to industrialize, and Wallonia was the first fully industrialized area This brought the region great economic prosperity. Regulation duties apply on leasing of real state located in Belgium at rates ranging from 0.2% to 12.5% is depending on the area where the company is located.

Review of the Article About Gopher It Essay

The business plan of Goffer It is all about the plans and strategies for the establishment of an errand service for professionals in the business district of Boston. The service includes standard service, which includes usual time-consuming errand works of professionals, and custom service, which includes services according to the needs of the people. This partnership firm is to be founded by three highly experienced professionals with adequate knowledge in management and administration. The new venture they plan out is apt as there are not many similar ventures around their targeted locality and it is highly felt to be of need for the people. The population and the potential people interaction is quiet high in that locality. The services offered are quiet many and no competitor is as good as Goffer It. They had a very good marketing strategy and the formost among it is to utilize the benefits of the locality. As many thousands of people travel through the area it gives a natural opportunity for them to expose the firm to many without much of expenditure. This untapped market can be also expanded by way of short advertising campaigns too. The core of it included: * Needs of the target market on the basis of geography, demography, life style and buyer intentions. * Product differentiation. * Effective and profitable marketing mix. They also had a clear plan for the future, ways and means for expansion and to make it a profitable business in short time span of more than a year. They were very clear about the service to be delivered and the pricing of it. Their idea is to give the best service and gain customers through word of mouth. As the founders of this venture the three of them are well experienced and that they have prior experience in managing other but somewhat similar ventures. The best part of the organizational structure is that the three at the top are professionally fit for this work and they are good and qualified in finance and marketing, which can be considered the key areas of a business. Their advantages can be summarized in the following points. Untapped errand market * Large customer base * Low cost of marketing * Geographical advantage * Lifestyle of the people and their need for errand services * Experience of the partners in management * Their professional qualification in finance and marketing * Possibility of future expantion All these make this business very attractive and a possible success in the near future. There are no areas as such that are not addressed by them. Thus in this business plan we see a clear vision of a great firm in the years to come.

Twilight 22. HIDE-AND-SEEK

22. HIDE-AND-SEEK It had taken much less time than I'd thought – all the terror, the despair, the shattering of my heart. The minutes were ticking by more slowly than usual. Jasper still hadn't come back when I returned to Alice. I was afraid to be in the same room with her, afraid that she would guess†¦ and afraid to hide from her for the same reason. I would have thought I was far beyond the ability to be surprised, my thoughts tortured and unstable, but I was surprised when I saw Alice bent over the desk, gripping the edge with two hands. â€Å"Alice?† She didn't react when I called her name, but her head was slowly rocking side to side, and I saw her face. Her eyes were blank, dazed†¦ My thoughts flew to my mother. Was I already too late? I hurried to her side, reaching out automatically to touch her hand. â€Å"Alice!† Jasper's voice whipped, and then he was right behind her, his hands curling over hers, loosening them from their grip on the table. Across the room, the door swung shut with a low click. â€Å"What is it?† he demanded. She turned her face away from me, into his chest. â€Å"Bella,† she said. â€Å"I'm right here,† I replied. Her head twisted around, her eyes locking on mine, their expression still strangely blank. I realized at once that she hadn't been speaking to me, she'd been answering Jasper's question. â€Å"What did you see?† I said – and there was no question in my flat, uncaring voice. Jasper looked at me sharply. I kept my expression vacant and waited. His eyes were confused as they flickered swiftly between Alice's face and mine, feeling the chaos†¦ for I could guess what Alice had seen now. I felt a tranquil atmosphere settle around me. I welcomed it, using it to keep my emotions disciplined, under control. Alice, too, recovered herself. â€Å"Nothing, really,† she answered finally, her voice remarkably calm and convincing. â€Å"Just the same room as before.† She finally looked at me, her expression smooth and withdrawn. â€Å"Did you want breakfast?† â€Å"No, I'll eat at the airport.† I was very calm, too. I went to the bathroom to shower. Almost as if I were borrowing Jasper's strange extra sense, I could feel Alice's wild – though well-concealed – desperation to have me out of the room, to be alone with Jasper. So she could tell him that they were doing something wrong, that they were going to fail†¦ I got ready methodically, concentrating on each little task. I left my hair down, swirling around me, covering my face. The peaceful mood Jasper created worked its way through me and helped me think clearly. Helped me plan. I dug through my bag until I found my sock full of money. I emptied it into my pocket. I was anxious to get to the airport, and glad when we left by seven. I sat alone this time in the back of the dark car. Alice leaned against the door, her face toward Jasper but, behind her sunglasses, shooting glances in my direction every few seconds. â€Å"Alice?† I asked indifferently. She was wary. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"How does it work? The things that you see?† I stared out the side window, and my voice sounded bored. â€Å"Edward said it wasn't definite†¦ that things change?† It was harder than I would have thought to say his name. That must have been what alerted Jasper, why a fresh wave of serenity filled the car. â€Å"Yes, things change†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she murmured – hopefully, I thought. â€Å"Some things are more certain than others†¦ like the weather. People are harder. I only see the course they're on while they're on it. Once they change their minds – make a new decision, no matter how small – the whole future shifts.† I nodded thoughtfully. â€Å"So you couldn't see James in Phoenix until he decided to come here.† â€Å"Yes,† she agreed, wary again. And she hadn't seen me in the mirror room with James until I'd made the decision to meet him there. I tried not to think about what else she might have seen. I didn't want my panic to make Jasper more suspicious. They would be watching me twice as carefully now, anyway, after Alice's vision. This was going to be impossible. We got to the airport. Luck was with me, or maybe it was just good odds. Edward's plane was landing in terminal four, the largest terminal, where most flights landed – so it wasn't surprising that his was. But it was the terminal I needed: the biggest, the most confusing. And there was a door on level three that might be the only chance. We parked on the fourth floor of the huge garage. I led the way, for once more knowledgeable about my surroundings than they were. We took the elevator down to level three, where the passengers unloaded. Alice and Jasper spent a long time looking at the departing flights board. I could hear them discussing the pros and cons of New York, Atlanta, Chicago. Places I'd never seen. And would never see. I waited for my opportunity, impatient, unable to stop my toe from tapping. We sat in the long rows of chairs by the metal detectors, Jasper and Alice pretending to people-watch but really watching me. Every inch I shifted in my seat was followed by a quick glance out of the corner of their eyes. It was hopeless. Should I run? Would they dare to stop me physically in this public place? Or would they simply follow? I pulled the unmarked envelope out of my pocket and set it on top of Alice's black leather bag. She looked at me. â€Å"My letter,† I said. She nodded, tucking it under the top flap. He would find it soon enough. The minutes passed and Edward's arrival grew closer. It was amazing how every cell in my body seemed to know he was coming, to long for his coming. That made it very hard. I found myself trying to think of excuses to stay, to see him first and then make my escape. But I knew that was impossible if I was going to have any chance to get away. Several times Alice offered to go get breakfast with me. Later, I told her, not yet. I stared at the arrival board, watching as flight after flight arrived on time. The flight from Seattle crept closer to the top of the board. And then, when I had only thirty minutes to make my escape, the numbers changed. His plane was ten minutes early. I had no more time. â€Å"I think I'll eat now,† I said quickly. Alice stood. â€Å"I'll come with you.† â€Å"Do you mind if Jasper comes instead?† I asked. â€Å"I'm feeling a little†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I didn't finish the sentence. My eyes were wild enough to convey what I didn't say. Jasper stood up. Alice's eyes were confused, but – I saw to my relief- not suspicious. She must be attributing the change in her vision to some maneuver of the tracker's rather than a betrayal by me. Jasper walked silently beside me, his hand on the small of my back, as if he were guiding me. I pretended a lack of interest in the first few airport cafes, my head scanning for what I really wanted. And there it was, around the corner, out of Alice's sharp sight: the level-three ladies' room. â€Å"Do you mind?† I asked Jasper as we passed. â€Å"I'll just be a moment.† â€Å"I'll be right here,† he said. As soon as the door shut behind me, I was running. I remembered the time I had gotten lost from this bathroom, because it had two exits. Outside the far door it was only a short sprint to the elevators, and if Jasper stayed where he said he would, I'd never be in his line of sight. I didn't look behind me as I ran. This was my only chance, and even if he saw me, I had to keep going. People stared, but I ignored them. Around the corner the elevators were waiting, and I dashed forward, throwing my hand between the closing doors of a full elevator headed down. I squeezed in beside the irritated passengers, and checked to make sure that the button for level one had been pushed. It was already lit, and the doors closed. As soon as the door opened I was off again, to the sound of annoyed murmurs behind me. I slowed myself as I passed the security guards by the luggage carousels, only to break into a run again as the exit doors came into view. I had no way of knowing if Jasper was looking for me yet. I would have only seconds if he was following my scent. I jumped out the automatic doors, nearly smacking into the glass when they opened too slowly. Along the crowded curb there wasn't a cab in sight. I had no time. Alice and Jasper were either about to realize I was gone, or they already had. They would find me in a heartbeat. A shuttle to the Hyatt was just closing its doors a few feet behind me. â€Å"Wait!† I called, running, waving at the driver. â€Å"This is the shuttle to the Hyatt,† the driver said in confusion as he opened the doors. â€Å"Yes,† I huffed, â€Å"that's where I'm going.† I hurried up the steps. He looked askance at my luggage-less state, but then shrugged, not caring enough to ask. Most of the seats were empty. I sat as far from the other travelers as possible, and watched out the window as first the sidewalk, and then the airport, drifted away. I couldn't help imagining Edward, where he would stand at the edge of the road when he found the end of my trail. I couldn't cry yet, I told myself. I still had a long way to go. My luck held. In front of the Hyatt, a tired-looking couple was getting their last suitcase out of the trunk of a cab. I jumped out of the shuttle and ran to the cab, sliding into the seat behind the driver. The tired couple and the shuttle driver stared at me. I told the surprised cabbie my mother's address. â€Å"I need to get there as soon as possible.† â€Å"That's in Scottsdale,† he complained. I threw four twenties over the seat. â€Å"Will that be enough?† â€Å"Sure, kid, no problem.† I sat back against the seat, folding my arms across my lap. The familiar city began to rush around me, but I didn't look out the windows. I exerted myself to maintain control. I was determined not to lose myself at this point, now that my plan was successfully completed. There was no point in indulging in more terror, more anxiety. My path was set. I just had to follow it now. So, instead of panicking, I closed my eyes and spent the twenty minutes' drive with Edward. I imagined that I had stayed at the airport to meet Edward. I visualized how I would stand on my toes, the sooner to see his face. How quickly, how gracefully he would move through the crowds of people separating us. And then I would run to close those last few feet between us – reckless as always – and I would be in his marble arms, finally safe. I wondered where we would have gone. North somewhere, so he could be outside in the day. Or maybe somewhere very remote, so we could lay in the sun together again. I imagined him by the shore, his skin sparkling like the sea. It wouldn't matter how long we had to hide. To be trapped in a hotel room with him would be a kind of heaven. So many questions I still had for him. I could talk to him forever, never sleeping, never leaving his side. I could see his face so clearly now†¦ almost hear his voice. And, despite all the horror and hopelessness, I was fleetingly happy. So involved was I in my escapist daydreams, I lost all track of the seconds racing by. â€Å"Hey, what was the number?† The cabbie's question punctured my fantasy, letting all the colors run out of my lovely delusions. Fear, bleak and hard, was waiting to fill the empty space they left behind. â€Å"Fifty-eight twenty-one.† My voice sounded strangled. The cabbie looked at me, nervous that I was having an episode or something. â€Å"Here we are, then.† He was anxious to get me out of his car, probably hoping I wouldn't ask for my change. â€Å"Thank you,† I whispered. There was no need to be afraid, I reminded myself. The house was empty. I had to hurry; my mom was waiting for me, frightened, depending on me. I ran to the door, reaching up automatically to grab the key under the eave. I unlocked the door. It was dark inside, empty, normal. I ran to the phone, turning on the kitchen light on my way. There, on the whiteboard, was a ten-digit number written in a small, neat hand. My fingers stumbled over the keypad, making mistakes. I had to hang up and start again. I concentrated only on the buttons this time, carefully pressing each one in turn. I was successful. I held the phone to my ear with a shaking hand. It rang only once. â€Å"Hello, Bella,† that easy voice answered. â€Å"That was very quick. I'm impressed.† â€Å"Is my mom all right?† â€Å"She's perfectly fine. Don't worry, Bella, I have no quarrel with her. Unless you didn't come alone, of course.† Light, amused. â€Å"I'm alone.† I'd never been more alone in my entire life. â€Å"Very good. Now, do you know the ballet studio just around the corner from your home?† â€Å"Yes. I know how to get there.† â€Å"Well, then, I'll see you very soon.† I hung up. I ran from the room, through the door, out into the baking heat. There was no time to look back at my house, and I didn't want to see it as it was now – empty, a symbol of fear instead of sanctuary. The last person to walk through those familiar rooms was my enemy. From the corner of my eye, I could almost see my mother standing in the shade of the big eucalyptus tree where I'd played as a child. Or kneeling by the little plot of dirt around the mailbox, the cemetery of all the flowers she'd tried to grow. The memories were better than any reality I would see today. But I raced away from them, toward the corner, leaving everything behind me. I felt so slow, like I was running through wet sand – I couldn't seem to get enough purchase from the concrete. I tripped several times, once falling, catching myself with my hands, scraping them on the sidewalk, and then lurching up to plunge forward again. But at last I made it to the corner. Just another street now; I ran, sweat pouring down my face, gasping. The sun was hot on my skin, too bright as it bounced off the white concrete and blinded me. I felt dangerously exposed. More fiercely than I would have dreamed I was capable of, I wished for the green, protective forests of Forks†¦ of home. When I rounded the last corner, onto Cactus, I could see the studio, looking just as I remembered it. The parking lot in front was empty, the vertical blinds in all the windows drawn. I couldn't run anymore – I couldn't breathe; exertion and fear had gotten the best of me. I thought of my mother to keep my feet moving, one in front of the other. As I got closer, I could see the sign inside the door. It was handwritten on hot pink paper; it said the dance studio was closed for spring break. I touched the handle, tugged on it cautiously. It was unlocked. I fought to catch my breath, and opened the door. The lobby was dark and empty, cool, the air conditioner thrumming. The plastic molded chairs were stacked along the walls, and the carpet smelled like shampoo. The west dance floor was dark, I could see through the open viewing window. The east dance floor, the bigger room, was lit. But the blinds were closed on the window. Terror seized me so strongly that I was literally trapped by it. I couldn't make my feet move forward. And then my mother's voice called. â€Å"Bella? Bella?† That same tone of hysterical panic. I sprinted to the door, to the sound of her voice. â€Å"Bella, you scared me! Don't you ever do that to me again!† Her voice continued as I ran into the long, high-ceilinged room. I stared around me, trying to find where her voice was coming from. I heard her laugh, and I whirled to the sound. There she was, on the TV screen, tousling my hair in relief. It was Thanksgiving, and I was twelve. We'd gone to see my grandmother in California, the last year before she died. We went to the beach one day, and I'd leaned too far over the edge of the pier. She'd seen my feet flailing, trying to reclaim my balance. â€Å"Bella? Bella?† she'd called to me in fear. And then the TV screen was blue. I turned slowly. He was standing very still by the back exit, so still I hadn't noticed him at first. In his hand was a remote control. We stared at each other for a long moment, and then he smiled. He walked toward me, quite close, and then passed me to put the remote down next to the VCR. I turned carefully to watch him. â€Å"Sorry about that, Bella, but isn't it better that your mother didn't really have to be involved in all this?† His voice was courteous, kind. And suddenly it hit me. My mother was safe. She was still in Florida. She'd never gotten my message. She'd never been terrified by the dark red eyes in the abnormally pale face before me. She was safe. â€Å"Yes,† I answered, my voice saturated with relief. â€Å"You don't sound angry that I tricked you.† â€Å"I'm not.† My sudden high made me brave. What did it matter now? It would soon be over. Charlie and Mom would never be harmed, would never have to fear. I felt almost giddy. Some analytical part of my mind warned me that I was dangerously close to snapping from the stress. â€Å"How odd. You really mean it.† His dark eyes assessed me with interest. The irises were nearly black, just a hint of ruby around the edges. Thirsty. â€Å"I will give your strange coven this much, you humans can be quite interesting. I guess I can see the draw of observing you. It's amazing – some of you seem to have no sense of your own self-interest at all.† He was standing a few feet away from me, arms folded, looking at me curiously. There was no menace in his face or stance. He was so very average-looking, nothing remarkable about his face or body at all. Just the white skin, the circled eyes I'd grown so used to. He wore a pale blue, long-sleeved shirt and faded blue jeans. â€Å"I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you?† he asked, hopefully it seemed to me. â€Å"No, I don't think so. At least, I asked him not to.† â€Å"And what was his reply to that?† â€Å"I don't know.† It was strangely easy to converse with this genteel hunter. â€Å"I left him a letter.† â€Å"How romantic, a last letter. And do you think he will honor it?† His voice was just a little harder now, a hint of sarcasm marring his polite tone. â€Å"I hope so.† â€Å"Hmmm. Well, our hopes differ then. You see, this was all just a little too easy, too quick. To be quite honest, I'm disappointed. I expected a much greater challenge. And, after all, I only needed a little luck.† I waited in silence. â€Å"When Victoria couldn't get to your father, I had her find out more about you. There was no sense in running all over the planet chasing you down when I could comfortably wait for you in a place of my choosing. So, after I talked to Victoria, I decided to come to Phoenix to pay your mother a visit. I'd heard you say you were going home. At first, I never dreamed you meant it. But then I wondered. Humans can be very predictable; they like to be somewhere familiar, somewhere safe. And wouldn't it be the perfect ploy, to go to the last place you should be when you're hiding – the place that you said you'd be. â€Å"But of course I wasn't sure, it was just a hunch. I usually get a feeling about the prey that I'm hunting, a sixth sense, if you will. I listened to your message when I got to your mother's house, but of course I couldn't be sure where you'd called from. It was very useful to have your number, but you could have been in Antarctica for all I knew, and the game wouldn't work unless you were close by. â€Å"Then your boyfriend got on a plane to Phoenix. Victoria was monitoring them for me, naturally; in a game with this many players, I couldn't be working alone. And so they told me what I'd hoped, that you were here after all. I was prepared; I'd already been through your charming home movies. And then it was simply a matter of the bluff. â€Å"Very easy, you know, not really up to my standards. So, you see, I'm hoping you're wrong about your boyfriend. Edward, isn't it?† I didn't answer. The bravado was wearing off. I sensed that he was coming to the end of his gloat. It wasn't meant for me anyway. There was no glory in beating me, a weak human. â€Å"Would you mind, very much, if I left a little letter of my own for your Edward?† He took a step back and touched a palm-sized digital video camera balanced carefully on top of the stereo. A small red light indicated that it was already running. He adjusted it a few times, widened the frame. I stared at him in horror. â€Å"I'm sorry, but I just don't think he'll be able to resist hunting me after he watches this. And I wouldn't want him to miss anything. It was all for him, of course. You're simply a human, who unfortunately was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, I might add.† He stepped toward me, smiling. â€Å"Before we begin†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I felt a curl of nausea in the pit of my stomach as he spoke. This was something I had not anticipated. â€Å"I would just like to rub it in, just a little bit. The answer was there all along, and I was so afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun. It happened once, oh, ages ago. The one and only time my prey escaped me. â€Å"You see, the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made the choice that your Edward was too weak to make. When the old one knew I was after his little friend, he stole her from the asylum where he worked – I never will understand the obsession some vampires seem to form with you humans – and as soon as he freed her he made her safe. She didn't even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature. She'd been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her visions. In the nineteen-twenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments. When she opened her eyes, strong with her fresh youth, it was like she'd never seen the sun before. The old vampire made her a strong new vampire, and there was no reason for me to touch her then.† He sighed. â€Å"I destroyed the old one in vengeance.† â€Å"Alice,† I breathed, astonished. â€Å"Yes, your little friend. I was surprised to see her in the clearing. So I guess her coven ought to be able to derive some comfort from this experience. I get you, but they get her. The one victim who escaped me, quite an honor, actually. â€Å"And she did smell so delicious. I still regret that I never got to taste†¦ She smelled even better than you do. Sorry – I don't mean to be offensive. You have a very nice smell. Floral, somehow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He took another step toward me, till he was just inches away. He lifted a lock of my hair and sniffed at it delicately. Then he gently patted the strand back into place, and I felt his cool fingertips against my throat. He reached up to stroke my cheek once quickly with his thumb, his face curious. I wanted so badly to run, but I was frozen. I couldn't even flinch away. â€Å"No,† he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand, â€Å"I don't understand.† He sighed. â€Å"Well, I suppose we should get on with it. And then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you, and my little message.† I was definitely sick now. There was pain coming, I could see it in his eyes. It wouldn't be enough for him to win, to feed and go. There would be no quick end like I'd been counting on. My knees began to shake, and I was afraid I was going to fall. He stepped back, and began to circle, casually, as if he were trying to get a better view of a statue in a museum. His face was still open and friendly as he decided where to start. Then he slumped forward, into a crouch I recognized, and his pleasant smile slowly widened, grew, till it wasn't a smile at all but a contortion of teeth, exposed and glistening. I couldn't help myself- I tried to run. As useless as I knew it would be, as weak as my knees already were, panic took over and I bolted for the emergency door. He was in front of me in a flash. I didn't see if he used his hand or his foot, it was too fast. A crushing blow struck my chest – I felt myself flying backward, and then heard the crunch as my head bashed into the mirrors. The glass buckled, some of the pieces shattering and splintering on the floor beside me. I was too stunned to feel the pain. I couldn't breathe yet. He walked toward me slowly. â€Å"That's a very nice effect,† he said, examining the mess of glass, his voice friendly again. â€Å"I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That's why I picked this place to meet you. It's perfect, isn't it?† I ignored him, scrambling on my hands and knees, crawling toward the other door. He was over me at once, his foot stepping down hard on my leg. I heard the sickening snap before I felt it. But then I did feel it, and I couldn't hold back my scream of agony. I twisted up to reach for my leg, and he was standing over me, smiling. â€Å"Would you like to rethink your last request?† he asked pleasantly. His toe nudged my broken leg and I heard a piercing scream. With a shock, I realized it was mine. â€Å"Wouldn't you rather have Edward try to find me?† he prompted. â€Å"No!† I croaked. â€Å"No, Edward, don't-† And then something smashed into my face, throwing me back into the broken mirrors. Over the pain of my leg, I felt the sharp rip across my scalp where the glass cut into it. And then the warm wetness began to spread through my hair with alarming speed. I could feel it soaking the shoulder of my shirt, hear it dripping on the wood below. The smell of it twisted my stomach. Through the nausea and dizziness I saw something that gave me a sudden, final shred of hope. His eyes, merely intent before, now burned with an uncontrollable need. The blood – spreading crimson across my white shirt, pooling rapidly on the floor – was driving him mad with thirst. No matter his original intentions, he couldn't draw this out much longer. Let it be quick now, was all I could hope as the flow of blood from my head sucked my consciousness away with it. My eyes were closing. I heard, as if from underwater, the final growl of the hunter. I could see, through the long tunnels my eyes had become, his dark shape coming toward me. With my last effort, my hand instinctively raised to protect my face. My eyes closed, and I drifted.