Phonetics and Phonology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Phonetics and Phonology - Essay Example This paper looks at the nature and motivation behind the conventional arrangement of phonetic documentation and examination which depends on units of investigation called â€Å"segments†. It traces the handiness of this idea, and furthermore its impediments, particularly in the light of present day innovations which give an abundance of exceptionally itemized logical information on how sounds are created by the human organs of discourse. The idea of â€Å"coarticulation† is introduced against the foundation of these customary and progressively present day philosophies for investigating human discourse, lastly Laver’s (1994) perspective on coarticulation is assessed top to bottom utilizing models from English and a couple of different dialects. At the point when an individual communicates in any human language the sound rises in a stream with no reasonable breaks between words. This is obviously hard to investigate in one liquid stream thus researchers throughout the years have needed to devise a technique for breaking human discourse into segment parts. A crucial differentiation among vowels and consonants is one of the most clear that can be made and frames the premise of standard phonetic documentation. Vowels are sounds which develop in a flood of air getting through the mouth and consonants are sounds which happen when this air is intruded, or halted by at least one of the discourse organs, for example, the vocal line, tongue, lips and teeth. A vowel and consonant happening together are named a syllable. These differentiations are spoken to in the world’s letter sets by different frameworks of composed images, so a great many people know about these straightforward ideas. In phonetics there are progressively exa ct terms to portray the idea of the stops, and there are a few notational frameworks, for example, the International Phonetic Alphabet which catch singular phonemes. These global shows are valuable for recognizing the hints of various dialects, or of various speakers utilizing a similar language. These descriptors of little parts

family therapy

family treatment The idea of family treatment is seen as a type of psychotherapy including all the individuals from the family unit. Family treatment ought to be directed by a group of specialists or if nothing else a couple. By and large the group should comprise of a man and a lady to treat sexual orientation related issues utilized as a good example to the individuals from the family being referred to. The family treatment models depend on psychodynamic standards or practices while others depend on family frameworks hypotheses which view a family as a unit of treatment, all in all while stressing on such qualities as correspondence designs rather than characteristics and connections (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). The historical backdrop of Murray Bowen enthusiasm for psychiatry as a doctor goes back to second universal War. After the War Bowen got prepared and worked at the Menninger Clinic at Kansas: Topeka which is popular; established by two siblings who were experts of psychoanalytic procedure in psychiatry. Bowen had a sentiment of disarray too caught at the Menninger elements. The specific issue that gave him trouble was the way wherein the two siblings and the workers were including patients and different representatives in insane creation communications. He understood that he was in a situation to think about the issue in the center while voyaging however could become useless quickly he revealed back to work. He found that the groups of schizophrenic patients who were survivors of the War conveyed in upset way. The patients manifestations were noted to rise or fall reliant on the strain between the guardians (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). Bowen went to an acknowledgment that he might think all the more plainly of his own group of cause elements in those occasions that he spent away structure his group of root. He found that relatives tended to gripe to him of different familys individuals without talking straightforwardly to the people about the issue. He went to an acknowledgment that he could be in a situation to think all the more plainly of what was going on when not speaking with any of the relatives experiencing more challenges when correspondence with the complainant (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). Its dependent on these perceptions that he set a course towards intentionally changing his own specific manners of communicating with his family. In a discourse he conveyed in an expert gathering he revealed his undertaking in the family approach breaking advisor custom of failing to disclose own family data and distributed a paper that turned out to be extremely popular on his group of beginning known as Framo in 1972 (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). Bowen conjectured that individuals who are intellectually sick were trapped in the example of their families combination or undifferentiated self image mass to a degree that they are indications professions for the ailment of the whole family instead of characterologically imperfect sick. Bowen would hospitalize the whole family with the goal that he could treat the passionate issue instead of offer treatment to the individual (Medical Psychology, 2009, p. 1). The key ideas in the in Bowens family psychodynamics included: Separated self; the idea of separation of self alludes to a people capacity to keep up solid feeling of self while as yet keeping up solid availability with a compelling passionate framework. An individual can separate what one thinks and feels as isolated from framework elements whereby an individual can think and follow up on his/her own assessment with no impact from the relatives impact; following up on close to home judgment. Such an individual can have different people groups assessments and exhortation yet settle on a free choice. Bowen takes note of that separation of the self in a relational intricacy instead of an individual trademark. The procedure is noticeable through fellowship, family or work. An individual ought to get to a degree of separating feelings from contemplations (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 140). Combination; is simply the contrary separation where Bowen noticed that all individuals try to adjust closeness from self-governance. Without self-sufficiency one will most likely be unable to think for him/herself. This prompts effectively being influenced by different people groups assessments and sentiments radiating from the characteristic inclination to feel associated and have closeness with others. Then again there is an inclination of tension when we begin losing our self-sufficiency subsequently an endeavor to build up a different self. Bowen subsequently contends that a large portion of practices are the sane endeavors to adjust between the separateness and the characteristic harmony. The combination of uneasiness prompts emotionality and reactivity under pressure (Titelman, 1998, p. 21). Triangulation: Bowen called attention to that genuinely critical connections are shadowed by outsiders who may incorporate; family members, coworkers and the work itself, items and recollections. He noticed that connections are elements where there are patterns of closeness of separation whereby triangles may create during separation times. In a circumstance where one individual experiences through more pain he/she is probably going to recognize someone else somewhere else in order to have a partner. Some of the time the noteworthy other may offer assistance when they sense struggle (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137). Instructors job The job of instructor during the time spent advancement of psychodynamic approaches inside family frameworks treatment as introduced by Bowen spins around the objectives of treatment. One of the significant objectives of this treatment is to decrease nervousness as one builds separation of self. Its occupant for the councilor first to take note of the issue in the patient and help the customer initially acknowledge that they have an issue. Any recuperating procedure will exude from conceding that without a doubt the difficult exists (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171). The councilor has a job to utilize his/her involvement with following the family design. As Bowen contends a customer is manifestation bearer for the whole family unit and subsequently an endeavor to treat the patient without treating the whole family will be simply cooling the issue for at some point for the foundation of the issue isn't recognized; following the family design encourages the councilor to comprehend the center of the issue to offer fix to the disorder as opposed to the indications. The guide will do this through focusing on examples of enthusiastic reactivity and focusing on the structures that incorporates interlocking triangles (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171). The guide should attempt to make an association with the relatives while taking a shot at their degrees of nervousness and passionate feelings of excitement in the whole framework. He/she ought to likewise characterize parameters of focal suggestive triangles. The specialist ought to stay liberated from enthusiastic trap so he won't feel stuck. He should mentor the customer in that the customer will develop reactions. He ought to be obvious to the customer of what he feels, not giving befuddling suppositions (Nichols Schwartz, 2001, p. 137-171). The job of a customer in the Bowens model to the advancement of psychodynamic approaches inside family frameworks treatment encourages the treatment procedure. The best job of a customer is to show participation in the treatment procedure, as mach as an advisor may have the pertinent experience, the achievement of this treatment is subject to the customer. Since the councilor plays the job of a love seat the customer should comply with the sofa to get over the issue. He should respond to the inquiries coordinated to him/her honestly. The customer ought to make favorable condition that will empower the advocate to offer the vital assistance. For instance in the following of the family designs a specialist can not have the option to do it without the help of the customer. This calls for trust and transparency with respect to the customer towards the instructor (Williamson, 2002, p, 115-117). The customer should acknowledge that they have an issue and understand the requirement for making sure about arrangement. The customer ought to be quick to tune in to the directions subscribe to the recuperating procedure by conform to and execute all the guidelines precisely. The customer ought to have correction of the psyche. On the off chance that he/she has consistently accepted that he can just settle on a choice dependent on what others particularly relatives state, at that point such requires a flat out go to settling on choices dependent on own character (Williamson, 2002, p. 115-117). Focal points and restrictions of Bowens family treatment This model on family treatment is one of the most unmistakable models for its inside and out methodology an assessment of the family past the side effects in the present. The center which it takes in the on the passionate procedure over people or ages separation in their deliberate setting offers a specialist a staggered see which has been held for psychodynamic treatments (Corey, 2005, p. 421-424). The methodology can focus on the passionate collaboration of the advisor just as that of their customer. This procedure expects that in one manner or the other an advisors life applies to the treatment procedure in one manner or the other. Along these lines the specialist can remain Meta to the customers family framework (Corey, 2005, p. 421-424). Research has recognized family treatment framework as having a few preferences. Its standards have been utilized by numerous specialists in family settings. The methodology has a preferred position of expanding the impression of a specialist through fuse of the family framework hypothesis in treatment process. It furnishes a professional with a comprehensive impression of the issue being referred to and thus effortlessly think of treatment measures (SPB, 2007, para. 4). It likewise has quality corresponding to building up an answer for an issue in that it considers the assembly all in all. It considers a family as a living life form which is persistently influenced by all the components that contain the entire (Prest Protinskey, 1993, 352-360). Consequently it gives a worldwide perspective on a person with a p

Love that dirty water

Love that dirty water Ive returned from France to the States just in time for lots of exciting things: the arrival of the Class of 2008 on campus, the announcemen of MITs new president, a big Red Sox winning streak a pretty exciting time around these parts. Its great to be back in Boston. And now that Ive returned from a long time away, Im getting ready to head out on the road again for my Admissions World Tour 2004. Well, maybe not World Tour per se, but I will be hitting the metropolitan New York City, Baltimore/Washington, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco Bay areas. If youre in one of those areas, I hope youll come see me at one of my meetings (you can RSVP at this link). Yesterday was a pretty good day. For most of the day, the entire Admission staff met to prepare for our respective World Tours. We brought in some speakers to give us some good stories to tell on the road. Perhaps the best stories were provided by Prof. Kim Vandiver, the director of the Edgerton Center. Dont be surprised if at the meeting you attend you hear us repeating some of Kims experiences with, say, the Solar Car Team or D-Lab. After work, I caught up with some friends and students in the Concourse Program lounge in Building 16 for our semi-regular gaming. The game of the day was Puerto Rico, which I had enjoyed previously with my friends Beth Brian in Seattle. I sadly had to leave before we started playing Seafarers so that I could go check out Mitras awesome Class of 2008 party in the Stata Center, then off to do some bar trivia with some of my old MIT Quiz Bowl buddies. One more note about France: I wish I were still an undergraduate, so that I could take advantage of a free trip to Paris! I picked up a copy of the MIT newspaper today and one item caught my eye: it said that MIT was seeking undergraduates with French proficiency to go on a two-week, all-expences paid cultural trip to Paris! The program, which I was just hearing about for the first time but I suppose has been around for at least two years, is called January Scholars in France. MIT has all these secret trips, if you know where to look Civil Engineering students going to Hawaii, Earth Science students going to the Galapagos Islands, City Planning students going to Venice or Barcelona or yes, the list goes on. Current music: R.E.M., Lifes Rich Pageant (their best album and theyll be in Boston on October 29!)

Art And Its Impact During The Era Of The Roman Empire

Art is one of the most valued creations of the human beings. Over the years, famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, the Starry Night, etc., have attracted global attention and interest comparable to none. This special love is a result of the human creativity, skills, and unrivalled drawing techniques put together to create something that people can be fond of for centuries. Without a doubt, art is unique, and its impact was most influential in the era of the Roman Empire, Classical Greece, Etruscan civilization, Roman Republic, and Hellenistic Greece among others. Quite a number of artworks, especially sculptures, drawings, and special vessels have been preserved for the present generation, and to date, they still attract viewership from all corners of the world. Some of the famous artworks are the Coliseum, Aulus Metellus, the classical Greek Amphora (storage jar), Ganymede jewelry, and the Etruscans’ Cinerary Urn among many others. This paper will analyze the significance of t he artworks listed above by discussing their relationship with the related civilization and its impact on the people of the time. The Coliseum The Coliseum is one of the most famous pieces of art dating back to the Roman Empire. The Coliseum constitutes an elliptical amphitheatre made of concrete and stone that was built in the centre of Rome in Italy. It is considered to be among the greatest works of engineering and architecture built in a period of less than ten years. It was constructed under theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book By Nikolaus Pevsner Essay1250 Words   |  5 Pagesis that it is difficult to tell from what time period most art came from. Lots of art pieces are given circa, from a rough period, of about two hundred years, making it difficult for some pieces to be determined as Roman Republic or Empire work. In Strong’s preface to his book, there is an overview about the influences of propaganda in artwork given by his editor, Nikolaus Pevsner, in the foreword of the book. He states that Works of art, especially sculpture, were part of everyday life in ancientRead MoreHum100 - Artistic Themes from Ancient Cultures: Greece and Rome1237 Words   |  5 Pagesancient world without looking at the Greek and Roman empires. Although similar, the Greek and Roman empires are two different cultures. They existed from 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. (Fiero, 2006). One constant in both cultures was their pursuit of perfection in their art and architecture. This paper will examine this pursuit of perfection in both cultures and how their impact is felt in the modern age. One of the most stunning facets of ancient Greece was the art that was created. The Greek artisans madeRead MoreRoman Art : A Picture Book By Christine Alexander Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pages The Roman Republic is famous for many events, people, and histories. In fact, there have been numerous excavations in which a variety of pottery, paintings, mosaics, statues, and coinage have been discovered from the Republic era of Rome. These numerous items have been analyzed and written about for the purpose of identifying their beauty and creation during the time in which they were made. However, there use as and influence as propaganda has not been fully analyzed. While there might be slightRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Miraculous Suckling Of Romulus And Remus Essay1250 Words   |  5 PagesTherein, this statue is more representative of Rome’s founding after the fact than during the early Republic era. According to the Capitoline Museum, the Lupa Romana â€Å"deals with the famous symbol of the city of Rome†¦[and is one of] the most important ancient works associated with the myth of the Lupercal and most of the modern works that portray the Capitoline she-wolf or are in some way derived from it.† As such, the museum has also provided a very detailed description about the different partsRead MoreEssay on His 112/ the Crisis of the Third Century1314 Words   |  6 Pages His/112 September 2 2011 The Crisis of the Third Century The Crisis of the Third Century was the era in which the Roman Empire almost collapsed under the many myriad of pressures including economic depression, civil war, plague and invasion. Because war was expensive, the Roman Empire had to increase taxes and this caused for many of the Romans to be upset and for the economy to be in a crisis. Revolts were also started because many of the civilians retaliated back becauseRead MoreThe Reign Of The Carolingian Dynasty1429 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the reign of the Carolingian dynasty occupied only a brief part of the entirety of the medieval era, the Carolingian Empire that was established during that period made both a historical and cultural impact on medieval society that would resonate for years to come. Until the empire fell in 888, the Carolingian House of the Franks initially brought stability and progress to most of Europe, as well as pioneering a cultural and intellectual renaissance that influenced the remainder of th e MiddleRead MoreGreek and Roman civilizations1262 Words   |  6 Pagesmany great empires, but none have made a greater impact than the Greek and Roman empires. These empires began as small city-states, and grew to become the powerful empires we know today. The Greek and Roman empires were not always enemies, considering the Romans were greatly influenced by the Greek culture. The two civilizations shared many similarities, but had different opinions on government operations. There are three different periods that span the history of the Greek and Roman empires; the HellenicRead MoreAncient Athens: The Prototype for Western Democracy Essays1264 Words   |  6 Pageseducation during the classical period. Considered the prototype for Western Democracy, it allowed for the rise of a citizenship of voters, something unique in the ancient world. The Athenian love of physical activity culminated in the Olympics, an event that though ended by the Roman Empire, inspired the Olympics of th e modern era. Though Athens was later conquered by the Roman Empire, it still served as the center of culture until its ultimate collapse in the 6th century AD via the Eastern Roman EmpireRead MoreVisual Art During The Middle Ages And The Renaissance1013 Words   |  5 PagesIWT1 TASK1 Visual Art in The Middle Ages and The Renaissance The Middle Ages spanned from 400 to 1400 A.D. During this period, often referred to as the Medieval Period, began after the fall of the Roman Empire. After Rome fell Europeans found that they no longer had a single state or government and they turned to the Catholic Church which soon became the most powerful institution of the era. Throughout the Medieval Period Kings, Queens and other leaders relied on their alliances with the church forRead MoreThe Roman And Roman History1542 Words   |  7 Pagesperiod that is known as the Roman Peace (Pax Romana), from his reign in 27 B.C to his death in 14 A.D. In Virgil’s character Anchises (As seen above), Augustus is portrayed to have brought to fruition a golden age in Roman history. His ability to turn Rome from the ravages of civil war into a prosperous empire was accomplished through the harnessing of his exceptional administrative powers. Emphasis placed on religious reinvigoration and social reform helped forge a Roman empire th at ensured political

History of Gamelan Indonesian Music and Dance

Across Indonesia, but particularly on the islands of Java and Bali, gamelan is the most popular form of traditional music. A gamelan ensemble consists of a variety of metal percussion instruments, usually made of bronze or brass, including xylophones, drums, and gongs. It may also feature bamboo flutes, wooden stringed instruments, and vocalists, but the focus is on the percussion. The name gamelan comes from gamel, a Javanese word for a type of hammer used by a blacksmith. Gamelan instruments are often made of metal, and many are played with hammer-shaped mallets, as well. Although metal instruments are expensive to make, compared with those of wood or bamboo, they will not mold or deteriorate in Indonesias hot, steamy climate. Scholars suggest that this may be one of the reasons that gamelan developed, with its signature metallic sound. Where and when was gamelan invented? How has it changed over the centuries? Origins of Gamelan Gamelan seems to have developed early in the history of what is now Indonesia. Unfortunately, however, we have very few good sources of information from the early period. Certainly, gamelan seems to have been a feature of court life during the 8th to 11th centuries, among the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms of Java, Sumatra, and Bali. For example, the great Buddhist monument of Borobudur, in central Java, includes a bas-relief depiction of a gamelan ensemble from the time of the Srivijaya Empire, c. 6th-13th centuries CE. The musicians play stringed instruments, metal drums, and flutes. Of course, we do not have any record of what the music these musicians were playing sounded like, sadly. Classical Era Gamelan During the 12th to 15th centuries, the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms began to leave more complete records of their doings, including their music. Literature from this era mentions the gamelan ensemble as an important element of court life, and further relief carvings on various temples support the importance of metal percussion music during this period. Indeed, members of the royal family and their courtiers were all expected to learn how to play gamelan and were judged on their musical accomplishments as much as their wisdom, bravery, or physical appearance. The Majapahit Empire (1293-1597) even had a government office in charge of supervising the performing arts, including gamelan. The arts office oversaw the construction of musical instruments, as well as scheduling performances at the court. During this period, inscriptions and bas-reliefs from Bali show that the same types of musical ensembles and instruments were prevalent there as in Java; this is not surprising since both islands were under the control of the Majapahit emperors. During the Majapahit era, the gong made its appearance in Indonesian gamelan. Likely imported from China, this instrument joined other foreign additions such as stitched-skin drums from India and bowed strings from Arabia in some types of gamelan ensembles. The gong has been the longest-lasting and most influential of these imports. Music and the Introduction of Islam During the 15th century, the people of Java and many other Indonesian islands gradually converted to Islam, under the influence of Muslim traders from the Arabian peninsula and south Asia. Fortunately for gamelan, the most influential strain of Islam in Indonesia was Sufism, a mystical branch that values music as one of the pathways to experiencing the divine. Had a more legalistic brand of Islam been introduced, it might have resulted in the extinction of gamelan in Java and Sumatra. Bali, the other major center of gamelan, remained predominantly Hindu. This religious schism weakened the cultural ties between Bali and Java, although trade continued between the islands throughout the 15th to 17th centuries. As a result, the islands developed different forms of gamelan. Balinese gamelan began to emphasize virtuosity and quick tempos, a trend later encouraged by Dutch colonists. In keeping with Sufi teachings, Javas gamelan tended to be slower in tempo and more meditative or trance-like. European Incursions In the mid-1400s, the first European explorers reached Indonesia, intent on elbowing their way into the rich Indian Ocean spice and silk trade. The first to arrive were the Portuguese, who started out with small-scale coastal raids and piracy but managed to capture the key straits at Malacca in 1512. The Portuguese, along with the Arab, African, and Indian slaves they brought with them, introduced a new variety of music into Indonesia. Known as kroncong, this new style combined gamelan-like intricate and interlocking musical patterns with western instrumentation, such as the ukulele, cello, guitar, and violin. Dutch Colonization and Gamelan In 1602, a new European power made its way into Indonesia. The powerful Dutch East India Company ousted the Portuguese and began to centralize power over the spice trade. This regime would last until 1800 when the Dutch crown took over directly. Dutch colonial officials left only a few good descriptions of gamelan performances. Rijklof van Goens, for example, noted that the king of Mataram, Amangkurat I (r. 1646-1677), had an orchestra of between thirty and fifty instruments, primarily gongs. The orchestra played on Mondays and Saturdays when the king entered the court for a type of tournament. van Goens describes a dance troupe, as well, of between five and nineteen maidens, who danced for the king to the gamelan music. Gamelan in Post-Independence Indonesia Indonesia became fully independent of the Netherlands in 1949. The new leaders had the unenviable task of creating a nation-state out of a collection of different islands, cultures, religions, and ethnic groups. The Sukarno regime established publicly-funded gamelan schools during the 1950s and 1960s, in order to encourage and sustain this music as one of the national art forms of Indonesia. Some Indonesians objected to this elevation of a musical style associated primarily with Java and Bali as a national art form; in a multiethnic, multicultural country, of course, there are no universal cultural properties. Today, gamelan is an important feature of shadow puppet shows, dances, rituals, and other performances in Indonesia. Although stand-alone gamelan concerts are unusual, the music may also be heard frequently on the radio. Most Indonesians today have embraced this ancient musical form as their national sound. Sources: Bali and Beyond: A History of Gamelan.Gamelan: Venerable Lake of Honey, University of MichiganJavanese Gamelan: A History of Gamelan MusicSpiller, Henry. Gamelan: The Traditional Sounds of Indonesia, Volume 1, ABC-CLIO, 2004.Sumarsam. Gamelan: Cultural Interaction and Musical Development in Central Java, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Beowulf vs. Modern Day Superhero - 726 Words

â€Å"It’s a bird...it’s a plane...no! It’s Superman!† When people say a modern day superhero, the names â€Å"Spiderman†, â€Å"Superman†, and â€Å"Catwoman† flash into mind. However, we forget about one of the most influential superheroes of today’s time; a soldier. Despite the differences, there are many similarities between Beowulf and a soldier because the two have more in common than we realize. As much as two great humans could have so much in common, Beowulf and a soldier have differences as most people in life do. These include the fact that soldiers are paid for their services, whereas Beowulf battles for his people without a fee. However, in all due respect, most soldiers in the United States fight for our country because they are passionate,†¦show more content†¦After Beowulf destroys the monster he gets a boat load of treasure to bring back to his people; and after his death people paid honor and respect to him. The soldiers get rewards for helping out such as money for joining, college education paid, healthcare and better job opportunities With all of these similarities and differences presented, one can see how alike as well as different these two characters can be. Stated earlier, the differences seem to

Ballard Integrated Managed Services, Inc. Essay Sample free essay sample

Solution-problem. intent. research inquiries. and hypothesis. In sing the analysis and overview of the BIMS Ballard Integrated Managed Services. Inc. . This Corporation’s competitory advantage lies in its ability to uniting several services to Fortune 100 companies. You should analyse the chief job which is the ground why staff is non motivated and many preparation staff leaves the organisation. ensuing in a high turnover. which is non cost effectual for the organisation. See that the intent for making the study of employee low morale was to place the factors that were taking to such a blue state of affairs within the organisation. See the work that Barbara. the director charged with seeking to bring out why the morale was so low. did as to why the work end product was progressively acquiring poorer. She and her staff developed research inquiries that addressed psychological factors that deal with how people felt about their employment. See how the hypotheses of the study â€Å"asked workers to show their position about working conditions. displacement hours. quality of preparation. degree of compensation. just intervention. internal company communications. and occupation security† . ( BIMS Case survey ) These are of import hypotheses. because the consequences would cast visible radiation on why the unease is happening. and so the organisation can take a targeted attack in repairing the state of affairs. The employee turnover rate at Ballard Integrated Managed Services. Inc. late has been unexplainably high. General Manager. Barbara Tucker. noticed that the morale of her staff had declined and took action to rectify this. Barbara reached out to the human resources director. Debbie Horner. who developed an employee study to seek replies for the deficiency of morale. Barbara has asked Team C to analyse the information from the study to do certain that it is valid and utile by construing the consequences in a study and PowerPoint presentation. The information included in this study will assist BIMS find the cause of the high turnover and suggestions to change by reversal the tendency. Overview – Problem General Manager. Barbara Tucker. thinks the morale of her staff at the Douglas Medical Center has weakened. Her employer. â€Å"Ballard Integrated Managed Services. Inc. ( BIMS ) . typically experiences an one-year turnover rate of 55 to 60 % † ( University of Phoenix. 2012. p. 2 ) . nevertheless over the past four months the rate has increased to over 64 % . The workers who have chosen to go forth make non uncover their logical thinking that has left many inquiries unreciprocated. Aim The intent of the acquisition squad was to move as a confer withing group to the top direction squad. Barbara Tucker asked the squad to analyse the information from the study to do certain that it is valid and utile. The human resources director. Debbie Horner. developed an employee study to be given to all 449 employees inquiring him or her to show his or her satisfaction with the company. Unfortunately. merely 78 employees responded. a 17. 3 % response rate. Directors and supervisors are still fighting to understand the logical thinking for the increased turnover and were anticipating the study to supply them with more replies. Research Questions Research inquiries could be: How is Ballard Integrated Managed Services. Inc. and its services affected by the negative moral issues of employees? Is a study with a 17. 3 % response rate an equal sample to pull decisions from? Hypothesiss The information from the study does non supply adequate information to cognize the ground for the lessening in employee morale and addition in the turnover rate. The responses were skewed toward the housework employees. doing the informations obtained from the study to be an inaccurate representation of the employee population at the Douglas Medical Center site. Hypothesiss could include: * H0 ( Null ) – workers are satisfied with their compensation. * H1 ( Alternative ) – workers are unsatisfied with their compensation. Data Collection Instrument The instrument used in the BIMS study is the Likert graduated table. The Likert graduated tables is used for developing class ratings and market studies. The study that Debbie conducted was in hopes of the 449 employees of BIMS to show how they feel about certain countries of the company. The study included inquiries in mention to working conditions. displacements. preparation. and pay rate. In this graduated table the top picks used in the study are strongly agree. agree. impersonal. disagree. and strongly differ. The Likert graduated table is used to delegate quantitative values to qualitative informations. This graduated table helps to do the informations responsive to statistical analysis. A numerical value is given to each pick and the mean for responses is computed at the terminal of the rating. Debbie made the study optional and top direction was non required to answer. Type of Data Collected In the BIMS research study the inquiries developed by Debbie were a combination of both quantitative and qualitative informations. The first 10 inquiries on the study are utilizing qualitative informations because it is utilizing a superior system to rate how they feel. In the last five inquiries it uses a combination of both informations types. The study informations will be collected as the employees turn in their studies to Debbie. Debbie is besides roll uping informations for demographics to divide informations. This information will be put into a spreadsheet for farther analysis.

Running Head Wal

Introduction This assignment is a discussion of the topic of pricing in a business context. The discussion is based on Wal-Mart, which is a company operating in the United States of America. The issue of the main concern is to compare and contrast two articleson how Wal-Mart Company deals with its employees in regard to their remunerations and the pricing of its products.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Running Head: Wal-Mart Pricing and Employee Remunerations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The topic of pricing of goods and services and employee relations within organizations is one of the topics which draw a lot of varying view points from various stakeholders, with each side taking a passionate stand. Background Information about the Topic The arguments about employee remunerations and pricing of products are centered on the issue of whether organizations should pass the baggage of reduced prices to their emp loyees, with some people arguing that in a free market economy, market forces should be allowed to take their natural course while others argue that employers are not justified in reducing the wages of their employeesdue to reduced prices. The topic is however very wide,and therefore, requires a wide coverage in research, which should combine both longitudinal and cross sectional studies so as to inform the policies and regulations of the international labor laws and regulations for the labor unions. Information on Sources and Brief Summary of Articles In an attempt to analyze this topic, various authors use various organizations and companies tosupport theirarguments. Some of the authors, who have attempted to give their views on the topic, are Robert B. Reich in an article titled‘Don’t Blame Wal-Mart’ and John Semmens in thearticletitled ‘Wal-Mart is good for the economy’. As the titles of these articles suggest, both articles are based on the Wal- Martcompany. The article by Robert Reich is found in the Blair Reader, while the article by John Semmens is found in an online resource. The article by Robert Reich talks about Wal-Mart and the pricing of its products. The author asserts that the company is justified in having the suppliers drive away the costs out of the supply chain so as to keep the prices of the goods as low as possible. According to Robert, the company heavily relies on Indian and Chinesemanufactures due to their low costs of production.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Theauthorargues that many of the Wal-Marts’ competitors and bitter rivals in business are using political propaganda to destroy a good image of Wal-Mart inthe eyes of the public, who are also its customers (Reich, 2005). The author argues that the company should not be blamed for the way in which it does its business (relying on ex ternal manufactures and paying the employees low wages) but the American people should be blamed for theirconflicting interests in their purchasing behaviors, values and the desire for ‘good deals’. The article by John Semmens is about capitalistic nature of the American economy and the world’s economy in general. The author puts forward a spirited argument in which he completely down plays the allegations made against the Wal-Mart company by providing the evidence that the allegations are not based on facts, rather on a smear campaign by rival companies to bring down the Wal-Martcompany. Thestrongest allegation by the rival companies and individuals is that Wal-Mart is a ‘corporate criminal’ (Semmens, 2005). The author analyzes the allegations one by one, and proves them to be totally misguided, illogical, outdated, irrational and, therefore,unfortunate. He is of the view that the company should,in fact, be commented for its efforts to boost the liv ing standards of many Americans, as well as providing job opportunities to massive populationsin America and across the globe (Semmens, 2005). Thesis From the arguments in the two articles, the Wal-Mart company should not be blamed for the way it operates because its operations, practices, and functions are based on the general principles of capitalistic economy, and, therefore, its rivals should come up with strategies to increase their competitive advantage instead of engaging in petty, illogical, and unsubstantiated allegations against Wal-MartCompany. Discussion Similaritiesof the Articles One similarity between the two articles is that the authors support the Wal-Mart’s idea of offering its customers low prices. They are of the view that the American people and the world in general are in need of many such companies, which are ready to help in uplifting the living standards of many people through providing goods and services which are affordable, accessible, and of a goo d quality. The two articles also agree on the fact that the company is not in any way exploiting its workers but it’s actually helping them. This is because the employees are not forced by the company to work there, but do this because it is their best option.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Running Head: Wal-Mart Pricing and Employee Remunerations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According tothe authors of the two articles, therefore, the allegation that the company is exploiting the employees is simply aimed at damaging the good image of the company in the eyes of its customers. They both cite the good relationshipbetween the company and the surrounding communities, arguing that Wal-Mart is one of the few companies which have involved themselves in tangible corporate social responsibilityactivities. Differencesof the Articles One difference betweenthe articles is in the reasons which they give in their defense of the Wal-Mart’s practices. The article by John Semmens defends the company by arguing that the companyoperates under the principles of capitalisticeconomy. Semmens argues that the company is free to offer low prices to the customers and look for alternatives of minimizing the costs of production, one of which includes using cheap labor, as well as relying on cheap costs of production (Semmens, 2005). On the other hand, the article by Robert Reich defends the company by arguing that the Americans blame the practices of the company because they are not ready or are unable to solve their cognitive dissonance between theirdesire to have the ‘best deals in the market in terms of prices’ as customers and the best ‘deals in the job market’ asemployees. Robertargues that the company uses external manufactures so as to offer the minimal prices as possible so that the American people can get closer to quenching their desire to have good deals (Reich, 2005). Conclusion Summary of the Whole Essay This essay was about the low pricing of goods and servicesprovided byWal-Mart Company in the United States. The essay was based on twoarticles written by differentauthors. The first article was written by John Semmens,and it is tilted ‘Wal-Mart is good for the economy’,while the second article waswritten by Robert Reich and was titled ‘Don’t Blame Wal-Mart’. Both articles support Wal-Mart’s idea of doing business in an aggressive manner and especially the strategy of offering the lowest prices possible on its goods and services.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Restatement of Thesis Inthe two articles, the authors argue that Wal-MartCompanyshould not be blamed on the way it operates because its operations, practices, and functions are based on the general principles of capitalistic economy, and therefore its rivals should come up with strategies to increase their competitive advantage instead of engaging in petty, illogical, and unsubstantiated allegations against Wal-MartCompany. References Reich, R.B. (2005). Don’t Blame Wal-Mart. The New York Times. Semmens, J. (2005). Wal-Mart Is Good for the Economy. The Freeman: Ideas on Liberty. Web. This essay on Running Head: Wal-Mart Pricing and Employee Remunerations was written and submitted by user Miah Mooney to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

4 Things That Define Minerals

4 Things That Define Minerals In the field of geology, you will often hear a variety of terms including the word mineral. What are minerals, exactly? They are any substance that meets these four specific qualities: Minerals are natural: These substances that form without any human help.Minerals are solid: They dont droop or melt or evaporate.Minerals are inorganic: They arent carbon compounds like those found in living things.Minerals are crystalline: They have a distinct recipe and arrangement of atoms. Despite that, though, there are still some exceptions to these criteria. Unnatural Minerals Until the 1990s, mineralogists could propose names for chemical compounds that formed during the breakdown of artificial substances...things found in places like industrial sludge pits and rusting cars. That loophole is now closed, but there are minerals on the books that arent truly natural. Soft Minerals Traditionally and officially, native mercury is considered a mineral, even though the metal is liquid at room temperature. At about -40 C, though, it solidifies and forms crystals like other metals. So there are parts of Antarctica where mercury is unimpeachably a mineral. For a less extreme example, consider the mineral ikaite, a hydrated calcium carbonate that forms only in cold water. It degrades into calcite and water above 8 C. It is significant in the polar regions, the ocean floor, and other cold places, but you cant bring it into the lab except in a freezer. Ice is a mineral, even though it isnt listed in the mineral field guide. When ice collects in large enough bodies, it flows in its solid state thats what glaciers are. And salt (halite) behaves similarly, rising underground in broad domes and sometimes spilling out in salt glaciers. Indeed, all minerals, and the rocks they are part of, slowly deform given enough heat and pressure. Thats what makes plate tectonics possible. So in a sense, no minerals are really solid except maybe diamonds. Other minerals that arent quite solid are instead flexible. The mica minerals are the best-known example, but molybdenite is another. Its metallic flakes can be crumpled like aluminum foil. The asbestos mineral chrysotile  is stringy enough to weave into cloth. Organic Minerals The rule that minerals must be inorganic may be the strictest one. The substances that make up coal, for instance, are different kinds of hydrocarbon compounds derived from cell walls, wood, pollen, and so on. These are called macerals instead of minerals. If coal is squeezed hard enough for long enough, the carbon sheds all its other elements and becomes graphite. Even though it is of organic origin, graphite is a true mineral with carbon atoms arranged in sheets. Diamonds, similarly, are carbon atoms arranged in a rigid framework. After some four billion years of life on Earth, its safe to say that all the worlds diamonds and graphite are of organic origin even if they arent strictly speaking organic. Amorphous Minerals A few things fall short in crystallinity, hard as we try. Many minerals form crystals that are too small to see under the microscope. But even these can be shown to be crystalline at the nanoscale using the technique of X-ray powder diffraction, though, because X-rays are a super-shortwave type of light that can image extremely small things. Having a crystal form means that the substance has a chemical formula. It might be as simple as halites (NaCl) or complex like  epidotes (Ca2Al2(Fe3, Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)), but if you were shrunk to an atoms size, you could tell what mineral you were seeing by its molecular makeup and arrangement. A few substances fail the X-ray test. They are truly glasses or colloids, with a fully random structure at the atomic scale. They are amorphous, scientific Latin for formless. These get the honorary name mineraloid. Mineraloids are a small club of about eight members, and thats stretching things by including some organic substances (violating criterion 3 as well as 4).

Art and Morality Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art and Morality - Movie Review Example Artists are the ones who have to normally face the brunt of this censorship. Whether you consider the criminal obscenity charges against the rap group for the album 2 Live Crew in the 80s or the fatwa issued to kill Salman Rushdie for his book Satanic Verses – artists have always been persecuted for bringing out work which goes against ‘ethos’ of society. (Greenwood) This chant for censorship is not limited to Islamic countries or third world countries which are not considered ‘mature’ enough but extends to the self proclaimed champions of free speech – USA and the Western Europe. From the Comstock Law of 1873 to the 1996 Communications Decency Act; the developed world is full of laws which stifle artistic freedom. (Caso) The question which arises is this – should we allow censorship of controversial art which shows murder, explicit sexual scenes or offends religious sensibilities? The answer is a big NO. The reason is very simple. Censo rship is like a wild poisonous snake – you cannot control whom it will bite. Once power is given to the government to ban someone else; it may turn it head and ban something you like too. The most frequent target of censorship is sexually explicit art forms. Hundreds and thousands of books have been banned all across the world for their sexual content. Some books may be sexually explicit; however sexual content is usually an excuse for the ban. One example which comes to mind for such excuse is the ban of Grapes of Wrath. (Wartzman) Grapes of wrath is a much celebrated and controversial book which was releases in 1939. As a work of art; this book is exemplary which went on to win The National Book award, the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in 1962.It is set during the Great depression and focuses’ on the hardships faced by families during the period. However the book was opposed vehemently by groups of big landowners who were opponents of organized labor. Explicit s exual content was used as an excuse to ban the book at that time from schools. The example of Grapes of Wrath is given here to show how sexuality can be used as an excuse to ban books whose main content is nowhere related to sexuality. Thus obscenity can easily be used as a vehicle by the government or powerful pressure groups to ban books or ideas to which they are opposed .Pornography and sexually explicit material is completely relative. What might be sexually offensive to one person may be normal for other person. We might find it amusing and childish that many Islamic countries ban films which show lip kissing but the same argument can be used for that art forms which majority of Americans find sexually explicit. These famous lines by Justice John Marshall sums up the futility of trying to define obscenity – â€Å"one man’s vulgarity is other’s lyrics!†Not only obscenity but even pornography has no legal definition. Some may consider a little skin sh ow as pornography where as others may consider it as the requirement of the film. In the absence of a formal definition we are left to the whims and fancies of certain individuals who are given the right to decide right and wrong. Laws are those which can be objectively applied, not something which requires subjective treatment. â€Å"Concerning the Gods I am not able to know either that they do exist or that they do not exist.†- The treaties of Protagoras. (Schiappa) Most of us this day will not find the above line offensive as atheists are now an acceptable part of the society. Some openly

Marketing Strategies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Strategies - Case Study Example Factors identified that can affect the marketing strategy of the firm include; the marketing environment which includes everything from lifestyle changes to consumer education and the economic environment. Other than that the demographic environment with a special consideration to those who are interested in convenience eating , the cultural, natural, technological and political environment all play a key role in shaping the marketing strategy of this firm. The target market is an important consideration for any firm selling whichever product. A target market is the group of people for which a certain product is intended. It could be an age group for example products targeted for children such as Nesquik- a milkshake, a social class such as products targeted for the rich and status conscious like Rolex watches and a particular gender like Maybelline- it is a cosmetic targeted at women only. Other factors can also be brought into the picture and often integrated with other variables to form a target profile of the consumer. It is essential that the right target market is targeted so as to achieve the relevant objectives. If the right target market is not targeted any amount of promotional effort will not achieve marketing objectives and all efforts will go to waste. The target group for the product includes people who are health conscious and who are able and willing to invest in their health. They are also people who are willing to pay a premium price for the product therefore being loyal to the product. These are people who want a convenient lifestyle and are looking for on the go breakfasts which serve their nutritional purpose but are still not heavy on the stomach. The rising health concerns amidst the general public can be capitalized on and used for this purpose. It is expected that the target market will have some attachment for the product even though they have not been educated culturally on careful health choices.3 Market segmentation is the process of dividing a market into distinct subsets of consumers with common needs or characteristics and selecting one or more segments to target with a distinct marketing mix. Initially the world began with mass marketing. Products were targeted to anyone and everyone without any changes and modifications. This is exemplified by Henry Ford's model T example; ' in any colour they want it as long as it is black'. With time marketers have learnt that not all consumers are alike and they have different needs and wants. They need to be targeted differently and given different offerings to appeal to their taste. There are certain bases for segmentation that can be used to give a coherent and homogeneous cluster of individuals. These include geographic segmentation, demographic segmentation, psychographic segmentation and use-related segmentation etc. Not all bases are used at one time and only the relevant ones are considered. 9 The relevant segmentation bases for this product include demographic segmentation, psychological segmentation, and psychographic segmentation, use related segmentation and benefit segmentation. Therefore demographically the target market profile that we are looking at is an age group of 16-25, male and female, single and usually studying or just started working. Other than them young executives who have a busy and

Fedex Express In Vietnam Commerce Essay

Fedex Express In Vietnam Commerce Essay This thesis aims to evaluate and formulate business strategy for FedEx Express in Vietnam to further promote the companys competitive advantages. Fred R. Davids Comprehensive strategic management Model is used for this strategic formulation. At the first stage of this process, FedEx Vietnam quantitative evaluations of internal, external environments and its Competitive Ability Profile are created. A strategic group of five managers and specialists who are knowledgeable in air express transportation industry is formed up to determine factors of each matrix and weight/ score of each attributes of these components. Data from this input stage shows the companys Internal Factor score shows companys weakest points are operating under agency contract. FedEx External Factor score reveals the company is responsive to external environment. However the level of responsiveness to competitors and administration style in Vietnam is not high. In Competitive Profile Matrix, FedEx ranks the second position among the four market leaders. The areas that company needs to look into for improvement is customer service and marketing. With the data from input stage, SWOT matrix and Grand strategy matrix are used to formulate all applicable strategies. At final stage of the formulation process, all alternative strategies that were selected in matching stage are put in Qualitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) to determine which strategies out of given alternative strategies are more attractive. With the result, the thesis goes to some recommended tactics for some key functions to implement the two selected strategies for FedEx in Vietnam. RATIONALE THE RESEARCH As an infrastructure service, air express transportation playing more and more important role in the global economy. In Vietnam, the economic booming and dramatic growth of international trade bring very high demands for air express transportation. This demand is critical in both terms of transportation capacity and quality of service. Being in Vietnam for more than 17 years, FedEx Express the world leading air express transportation company, has been operating under agency contract with Seabornes Logistic. This business model gave FedEx an excellent access to Vietnam market at start up. However after more than 17 years of development, in new business context with stronger competition and higher customer demand the company is facing with following challenges: Gap between customer needs and the ability of the operation team Various customer demand for value added service versus the current core products Harder competition from main competitors This situation requires FedEx VN to review its strategy for necessary adjustment in order to maintain the good growth and steadily expand its market share. And that is my purpose to choose this topic for my thesis. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The research has 3 main objectives: Review strategy formulation models and theories that are applicable to the practical business. Evaluate FedExs competition ability in the context of Vietnam air express industry. The research will propose recommendations for FedEx business strategy in Vietnam from now to the year 2018. This research will answer the following questions: Why FedEx need to change its business strategy in Viet Nam? What is attractive strategy for FedEx Vietnam to 2018? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Fred R. Davids strategy formulation framework is used for the strategy evaluation and selection. The model includes three stages: input stage, matching stage and decision stage. In the input stage, a team of strategists with participation of fifteen members from regional and FedEx Express Vietnam sales, marketing, customer service and operation management was formed up. The team discussed and agreed on list for internal factors (for Internal Factor Evaluation IFE Matrix), external factors (for External Factor Evaluation EFE matrix) and key success factors (for Competitiveness Profile Matrix). After the three matrices created, members of the team score weight and rate of each component factor independently. The collective IFE, EFE and CPM are made up by average the score from each team member. These matrices then are brought to team discussion for final review and comment. Secondary data from FedEx profiles, industry surveys/reports and related information from Internet was used for the team analysis and evaluation. In the matching stage, outcome of the input stage is used to generate feasible alternative strategies. SWOT matrix and Grand Strategy Matrix are the two techniques in this stage. Result of matching stage is a consolidated work sheet with all alternative strategies. The strategies which are applicable in both matrices are picked up for analysis in Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). In QSPM strategist can determine which strategy is most attractive to the firm base on attractive score. This is the last stage of the process. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The research is for business strategy of FedEx Express in Vietnam from now to 2018. However strategic management is a continuous process containing of strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation. But in the scope of this research, the thesis will focus on some business strategies recommendation for FedEx Express Vietnam only. Given the scope of the thesis, detail implementation plan and evaluation/feedback for continuous improvement which are equally important to ensure a successful strategy were not deeply mentioned in the research. Without evaluation and feedback, management cannot get all employees involved in the strategic management process and hence cannot take full advantage of the process. CHAPTER I: THEORICAL FRAMEWORK Strategy and Business Strategy Definitions Strategy is not a new concept. In modern economy, when talking about business, strategy is usually the first thing to be mentioned. It is considered as cornerstone of business which determines failure or success of a firm. Thereve been a lot of definitions by scholars and researchers over the world. In an article What is strategy? on Havard Business Review in 1996  [1]  , Micheal E. Porter defined strategy as creating fit among a companys activities. The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well not just a few and integrating among them. If there is no fit among activities, there is no distinctive strategy and little sustainability. Regarding corporate strategy, a definition by Kenneth R. Andrews in 1998  [2]  supposed Corporate strategy is the pattern of decisions in a company that determines and reveals its objectives, purposes and goals and it produces the principle policies and plans for achieving those goals, and defines the range of business the company is to pursue. Strategy also defines the kind of economic and human contribution it intends to make to shareholders, employees, customers and communities. Another definition by John A. Pearce in 2000, a strategy reflects companys awareness of how, when and where it should compete, against whom it should compete and for what purpose it should compete. In all mentioned definitions, strategy and business strategy are almost the same in a corporate or entrepreneur scope. So, in general, a business strategy defines how a business/firm will go to succeed in its industry and market against its competitors. So, it should represent the ways that the management can make to define and secure the future of that business. In particular, a business strategy defines the scope of business, objectives, offering values, competitive advantages to meet customer needs as well as succeed now and in the future. Furthermore, a business strategy should include both objectives to be accomplished and the actions must be done to follow that direction. Business Strategy Management Business strategy management is defined as the set of decisions and actions that result in the formulation and implementation of plan designed to achieve a companys objectives. In general, business strategy management process includes three steps: Figure 1: Strategy management process Source: Strategic Management, Statistic Publishing House 2007  [3]   The formulation step includes analysis of current situation, forecast of future status to select and set up an appropriate strategy. Implementation is a process to achieve strategic target(s) by using strategy formulation that set out in previous step. To make the strategy working well, an important step is evaluate and adjustment. At this phase, the implementation is analyzed to see if there is any area that firms need to change to make the strategy more adaptable. Business strategy management helps enterprise clearly determines its objectives and how to archive it. It is instrumental in archiving high performance, cost effective and action oriented. With setting up of short term objectives in supporting for long-term ones, the process involves all members of the company, from front line employee to senior management level. This in return will enhance the firm to prevent troubles. Manager will get support from subordinates in forecasting of the strategic planning and in monitoring of the implementation stage. The involvement of employees in strategic formulation also improves their knowledge of the productivity reward relationship in all strategic plans hence, it heightens their motivation. The strategy management also helps the firm better adapt to changes of environment. The movement of environment, especially for those fast moving factors, usual creates opportunities as well as risks to the firm. Continuous strategic management which requires managers to analyze and forecast of the near and far future environments, helps manager to better manage and make the best of opportunities while minimize the risk that firm may have to face with. However, business strategy management process usually requires a lot of time and effort from managers. This might has a negative impact to operational responsibilities. Manager must be trained to minimize this impact by scheduling their duties to allow necessary time for strategic activities. Business Strategy Formulation Process: To give out strategic decision, it requires a comprehensive study on internal and external environments of a firm in regard to the firm objectives. Going to further details of the formulation process, it can be divided into 3 stages: Figure 2: Strategy formulation process Source: Strategic management concept and case, Fred R. David 2007  [4]   Input stage In this stage, firm has to gather all basic input information that is required to formulate strategy. They include External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE), Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix (IFE) and Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM). External Factor Evaluation: EFE summaries and evaluates both macro and industry (micro) environments. Base on that evaluation, strategist can determine opportunities and threats to have appropriate solution. The aim is to promote opportunities and avoid or reduce impact of the threats. Macro Environment: PEST model is a good tool for evaluation. The components of this model include: Political: The direction and stability of the political factors are major consideration of managers in formulation strategy. Political factors define legal and regulatory frame in which the firm operates in. It includes law and regulation on fair trade, minimum wage, pollution, patent, trade mark and many other actions. Economics: This regarding the nature, environment and direction the countrys economy in which a company operates. The factors to be evaluated include interest rate, inflation rate, finance policy, unemployment, risk level of investment, level of integration of the economy to world economy or to international organization that it is member of, trade balance, GDP growth rate and trends in growth of each economic sector. Social: demography, social structure, life style, education, religion, etc are social factors that affect a firm. Technology: Technological change can have a big impact on the industry that a firm operates. Creative technological adaptations can lead to possibilities for new products, for improvement of existing product. Industry environment: Michael Porters Five Force Model is the tool for this analysis. Competitors: This is the major determinant of competitiveness of the industry. Factors to be evaluated are number of competitor, rate of industry growth, economic of scale, sustainable competitive advantages and fixed cost allocation per value added etc. Suppliers: The bargaining power of suppliers is measured by determining supplier switching cost versus the firm switching cost, degree of differentiation of inputs, present of substitute inputs. Customers: Bargaining power of customers is the ability of customer to force prices down, ask for more higher quality service and play competitors off each other. The level of this power depends on customer volume, switching cost, availability of substitute products and differentiation of products. New entrants: The new entrants bring threat of higher level of competition. This threat is measured through barriers to entry, switching cost, economics of scale, product differentiation, capital requirement etc. Substitute products: The existence of replacement product brings in threat of customer to switch to other alternatives. The determined factors are relative price of substitute, customer propensity to substitute, buyer switching cost, product differentiation. Figure 3: Industry environment (Porter Five Forces Model) Porters Five Forces Source: Mindtool.com  [5]   After gathering information, all external factors are quantitatively evaluated with weight and rating score. Weight of a factor would indicate the relative importance of the factor to be successful in the firms industry. A weight assign to a factor can be from 0 to 1 with condition that total weight of all factors is 1. Rating score measures responsive level of the firm to respective factor. It ranges from 1 to 4 with 1 = poor response, 2= below average response, 3 = above average response and 4 = superior response. Figure 4: Steps to develop EFE matrix Select key external factors. Weigh importance of the factors from 0 to 1. Total weight of all factors must be equal to 1 Rate the level of response of the firm to each external factor from 1 to 4 with 4 is the highest rate Calculate weighted score for each factor (TAS). TAS = factor weight * rate Total weighted score for the firm The total weighted score (TAS) is equal to weighing score time rating score. The firms EFE TAS is sum of all external factors. This TAS shows the responsiveness of the firm to the external environment. If the score is 2.5 up, it means firm response to the environment well. Internal Factor Evaluation IFE summaries and evaluates major strengths and weaknesses in all areas of a firm. This includes: Human resource: The areas to be evaluated are ability to formulate and implement the firms strategy of it management at all level, readiness of the work force to implement that strategy, capacity of the organization structure in adapting with the changes of business environment. Tangible asset: Finance resource, facility, vehicle, raw material, etc. These items are normally reflected on company balance sheet Intangible asset: These are not assets that we can touch and see, but they are very often critical in creating the firms competitive advantages like brand name, company reputation, technical knowledge, patent and trade mark. Functional groups: Capacity and performance of each function of the firm like marketing, sales, finance, RD, operation, quality managementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Similarly to EFE matrix, the IFE matrix is developed via 5 steps Figure 5: Steps to develop IFE matrix Select key internal factors. Weigh the importance of the factors from 0 to 1. Total weight of all factors must be equal to 1 Rate the level of response of the firm to each internal factor from 1 to 4 with 4 is the highest rate Calculate weighted score for each factor (TAS). TAS = factor weight * rate Total weighted score for the firm The total IFE TAS of the firm shows how strong the firm is. If it is from 2,5 upward, it means the firm is in strong status. Competitive profile Matrix CPM identifies a firm major competitor and their particular strengths and weaknesses in relation to a sample firms strategic position (David, 2007). Different from EFE, critical success factor in a CPM are broader. They dont include specific or fact data and even just focus on internal issues. The critical success factors in a Competitive Profile Matrix also are not grouped into opportunities and threats as they are in EFE. This provides internal strategic information that is also very important to the firm. Matching stage By matching and aligning key external and internal factors, this stage will generate all feasible alternative strategies. The technique use in this stage includes Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) Matrix, Grand strategy Matrix. Other matrices like Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE) Matrix, Internal-External (IE) Matrix, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix can be considered to use in this matching stage. SWOT Matrix The SWOT analysis was made popular by Andrew (1965). Through evaluating of components of a firms internal and external environments, this analysis enable the firm to approach its most feasible and applicable strategy to get its strategic objectives. By answer the question how the company makes the most of its strengths, circumvent its weaknesses, capitalize on its opportunities and manage its threats, SWOT model provides an efficient tool for the company long range planning base on qualitative analysis rather than merely base on quantitative forecast (Edmund P.  Learned, 1965). SWOT matrix presents a mechanism for facilitating the linkage among company strengths weaknesses threats and opportunities in the market place. It also provide framework for strategy formulation with its 4 types of strategies: SO (Strengths-Opportunities) strategy, WO (Weaknesses-Opportunities) strategy, ST (Strength-Threats) strategy and WT (Weaknesses-Threats) strategy (Figure6). Figure 6: SWOT/TOWS Strategic Alternatives Matrix External Opportunities (O) 1. 2. 3. 4. External Threats (T) 1. 2. 3. 4. Internal Strengths (S) 1. 2. 3. 4. SO Maxi-Maxi Strategy Strategies that use strengths to maximize opportunities. ST Maxi-Mini Strategy Strategies that use strengths to minimize threats. Internal Weaknesses (W) 1. 2. 3. 4. WO Mini-Maxi Strategy Strategies that minimize weaknesses by taking advantage of opportunities. WT Mini-Mini Strategy Strategies that minimize weaknesses and avoid threats. Source: Mindtools.com  [6]   Manager can develop these 4 strategies by answering: SO How can his firm use its strengths to take advantage of the opportunities? ST How can his firm take advantage of its strengths to avoid real and potential threats? WO How can his firm use its opportunities to overcome the weaknesses you are experienced? WT How can his firm minimize its weaknesses and avoid threats? Grand Strategy Matrix Grand Strategy Matrix can be used by firm to select applicable strategies from all 15 principal grand strategies base on evaluating of two dimensions: competitive position and market growth. The two dimensions of Grand Strategy Matrix make up a 4 quadrant axis. Quadrant I is for firms which have strong competition position and operate in rapid growth industry. Aggressive strategies like market penetration, market development, and product development strategies are effective choice for the firm to further promote its competitiveness. The firm can also choose vertical integration to acquire business of its supplier or customer if it has excessive resources. If the firm in this Quadrant is too heavily committed to a single product, it can reduce the risk by using concentric diversification to expand its business through acquiring or generating related business in term of technology, market or product. Quadrant II represents for firms that have a weak competitive position in a rapid growth industry. These firms must evaluate its present position to the marketplace and determine what make them to be ineffective in competing in the market. The firms should firstly apply intensive strategies like market penetration, market development, product development to improve it competitiveness. Using horizontal integration to acquire similar firm(s) operating at the same stage of the product-marketing chain is also a suitable alternative in case the firm lack of a distinctive competence or competitive advantage. In the worst case when there is no chance for competitiveness improvement, divestiture or liquidation should be considered. Quadrant III is for firms operate in slow-growth industries and have weak competitive position. To avoid of further lost or even bankruptcy, the firm must take drastic changes. Retrenchment should be the first strategy that the firm considers to cut cost or reduce asset. Other options for firms on this quadrant are divestiture or liquidation. Quadrant IV is for firms that have a strong competitive position but are in a slow growth industry. Diversification to more promising growth areas is the efficient strategy in this case. The firms can pursue concentric diversification strategy to expand its business to related areas or conglomerate diversification strategy to acquire business that not synergic to its current one but have high profit margin. Figure 7: Grand strategy Matrix Rapid Market growth Quadrant II Slow market growth Strong competition Position Weak competition Position Quadrant IV Quadrant I Quadrant III Source: Formulation, Implementation and Control of Competitive Strategy, Pearce/Robinson, 2000 Decision stage At this final stage of strategy formulation, Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) is used to evaluate feasible alternative strategies identified in Stage 2 with input information from Stage 1. Evaluation through QSPM reveals the relative attractiveness of alternative strategies and thus it is base for selecting specific strategies. This technique allows top managers to assess alternative strategies objectively based on a firms internal strengths/weaknesses and external opportunities/threats (David, 1986). In QSPM, left column consists of key internal and external factors from Stage 1, and the top row includes feasible alternative strategies from Stage 2. Information of key internal/external factors and weight of each factors are extracted directly from the EFE Matrix and IFE Matrix. The top row of a QSPM includes alternative strategies derived from matrixes that used in Stage 2. These matching tools usually generate similar feasible alternatives (David, 2007). QSPM determines best strategy to the firms by calculating total attractiveness scores (Multiply Attractiveness Score with Weight of each factor for each alternative strategy) and sum Total Attractiveness Scores of each alternative strategy in the QSPM table. As mentioned above, weights of the internal and external factors are directly transferred from IFE and EFE matrix in Stage 2 and Attractiveness Scores (AS) are defined as quantitative values with 1 for not attractive, 2 for somewhat attractive, 3 for reasonably attractive, and 4 for highly attractive. Figure 8: Qualitative Strategic Planning Management (QSPM) model Internal factors Weight Strategy alternative Strategy 1 Strategy 2 AS TAS AS TAS 1 2 3 External factors 1 2 3 Total attractive core Total Attractiveness Scores will show the relative attractiveness of each optional strategy, considering the impact of the adjacent internal or external critical success factor. The higher the Total Attractiveness Score, the more attractive the strategic alternative is. The Sum Total Attractiveness Scores reveal most attractive strategy in each set of alternatives (Figure 8).

Importance of Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road Essay

Importance of Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road It is Dean Moriarty, in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, who represents the eternal flame of youth that was adopted by the rebellious youth culture of the Beat Generation. He is free from responsibility, â€Å"simply a youth tremendously excited with life†¦want[ing] so much to live and to get involved with people who would otherwise pay no attention to him† (Kerouac 4). Just as the Greek of the Olympics, â€Å"with [the] torch†¦[that] ignites the pagan dream of immortality† (Rodriguez 1), Dean embodies the almost immortal flame of youth, the eternal â€Å"sideburned hero of the snowy West† (Kerouac 2). As â€Å"He was the BEAT—the root, the soul of Beatific† (Kerouac 195), Dean embodied and still embodies the spirit of the immortal Beat Generation. Post-World War Two, the fifties saw the arrival of â€Å"juvenile delinquents, motorcycles, and leather jackets†¦[and the hipsters, who] adopted an ethic at odds with most Americans, and his values and view of the world soon became the Beats’† (Foster 8). The character of Dean Moriarty is literally and figuratively the firebrand of the invincible youth culture known as the Beat Generation, as he was one of â€Å"a youth tremendously excited with life†¦the holy con-man with the shining mind† (Kerouac 5). The passionate madness of life and rebellious con-man life-styles evinced in the character of Dean Moriarty are symbolic of the generation. Tim Hunt proposes that Sal Paradise, the protagonist or perhaps the conventional man, chooses â€Å"his [Dean’s] romanticized version of Denver slum life†¦[this] represents the New World at its most anarchistic and individualistic apex† (Hunt 39). Because Dean Moriarty holds this carefree and enthusiastic nature of the unconq... ... be immortal himself, his actions and Beat are enduring, that is, living within On the Road eternally. As James Dean became a symbol and inspiration for the Rebel, Dean Moriarty became the literary representation of the rebellious Beat Generation, holding onto that eternal flame—the passionate recklessness, the easygoing charisma that can ultimately found in youth. Works Cited Campbell, James. â€Å"The place of dead roads.† This is the Beat Generation. Los Angeles: U of California Press, 1999. Foster, Edward Halsey. â€Å"Kerouac.† Understanding the Beats. Columbia: U of South Carolina, 1992. Holstad, Scott C. â€Å"Kerouac: A look.† Kerouac’s On The Road and the American Quest. 1999. 04 Jan 2002. Hunt, Tim. â€Å"An American Education.† Kerouac’s Crooked Road. Los Angeles: U of California Press, 1996. Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Penguin Books, 1976.

Twilight 7. NIGHTMARE

7. NIGHTMARE I told Charlie I had a lot of homework to do, and that I didn't want anything to eat. There was a basketball game on that he was excited about, though of course I had no idea what was special about it, so he wasn't aware of anything unusual in my face or tone. Once in my room, I locked the door. I dug through my desk until I found my old headphones, and I plugged them into my little CD player. I picked up a CD that Phil had given to me for Christmas. It was one of his favorite bands, but they used a little too much bass and shrieking for my tastes. I popped it into place and lay down on my bed. I put on the headphones, hit Play, and turned up the volume until it hurt my ears. I closed my eyes, but the light still intruded, so I added a pillow over the top half of my face. I concentrated very carefully on the music, trying to understand the lyrics, to unravel the complicated drum patterns. By the third time I'd listened through the CD, I knew all the words to the choruses, at least. I was surprised to find that I really did like the band after all, once I got past the blaring noise. I'd have to thank Phil again. And it worked. The shattering beats made it impossible for me to think – which was the whole purpose of the exercise. I listened to the CD again and again, until I was singing along with all the songs, until, finally, I fell asleep. I opened my eyes to a familiar place. Aware in some corner of my consciousness that I was dreaming, I recognized the green light of the forest. I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks somewhere nearby. And I knew that if I found the ocean, I'd be able to see the sun. I was trying to follow the sound, but then Jacob Black was there, tugging on my hand, pulling me back toward the blackest part of the forest. â€Å"Jacob? What's wrong?† I asked. His face was frightened as he yanked with all his strength against my resistance; I didn't want to go into the dark. â€Å"Run, Bella, you have to run!† he whispered, terrified. â€Å"This way, Bella!† I recognized Mike's voice calling out of the gloomy heart of the trees, but I couldn't see him. â€Å"Why?† I asked, still pulling against Jacob's grasp, desperate now to find the sun. But Jacob let go of my hand and yelped, suddenly shaking, falling to the dim forest floor. He twitched on the ground as I watched in horror. â€Å"Jacob!† I screamed. But he was gone. In his place was a large red-brown wolf with black eyes. The wolf faced away from me, pointing toward the shore, the hair on the back of his shoulders bristling, low growls issuing from between his exposed fangs. â€Å"Bella, run!† Mike cried out again from behind me. But I didn't turn. I was watching a light coming toward me from the beach. And then Edward stepped out from the trees, his skin faintly glowing, his eyes black and dangerous. He held up one hand and beckoned me to come to him. The wolf growled at my feet. I took a step forward, toward Edward. He smiled then, and his teeth were sharp, pointed. â€Å"Trust me,† he purred. I took another step. The wolf launched himself across the space between me and the vampire, fangs aiming for the jugular. â€Å"No!† I screamed, wrenching upright out of my bed. My sudden movement caused the headphones to pull the CD player off the bedside table, and it clattered to the wooden floor. My light was still on, and I was sitting fully dressed on the bed, with my shoes on. I glanced, disoriented, at the clock on my dresser. It was five-thirty in the morning. I groaned, fell back, and rolled over onto my face, kicking off my boots. I was too uncomfortable to get anywhere near sleep, though. I rolled back over and unbuttoned my jeans, yanking them off awkwardly as I tried to stay horizontal. I could feel the braid in my hair, an uncomfortable ridge along the back of my skull. I turned onto my side and ripped the rubber band out, quickly combing through the plaits with my fingers. I pulled the pillow back over my eyes. It was all no use, of course. My subconscious had dredged up exactly the images I'd been trying so desperately to avoid. I was going to have to face them now. I sat up, and my head spun for a minute as the blood flowed downward. First things first, I thought to myself, happy to put it off as long as possible. I grabbed my bathroom bag. The shower didn't last nearly as long as I hoped it would, though. Even taking the time to blow-dry my hair, I was soon out of things to do in the bathroom. Wrapped in a towel, I crossed back to my room. I couldn't tell if Charlie was still asleep, or if he had already left. I went to look out my window, and the cruiser was gone. Fishing again. I dressed slowly in my most comfy sweats and then made my bed – something I never did. I couldn't put it off any longer. I went to my desk and switched on my old computer. I hated using the Internet here. My modem was sadly outdated, my free service substandard; just dialing up took so long that I decided to go get myself a bowl of cereal while I waited. I ate slowly, chewing each bite with care. When I was done, I washed the bowl and spoon, dried them, and put them away. My feet dragged as I climbed the stairs. I went to my CD player first, picking it up off the floor and placing it precisely in the center of the table. I pulled out the headphones, and put them away in the desk drawer. Then I turned the same CD on, turning it down to the point where it was background noise. With another sigh, I turned to my computer. Naturally, the screen was covered in pop-up ads. I sat in my hard folding chair and began closing all the little windows. Eventually I made it to my favorite search engine. I shot down a few more pop-ups and then typed in one word. Vampire. It took an infuriatingly long time, of course. When the results came up, there was a lot to sift through – everything from movies and TV shows to role-playing games, underground metal, and gothic cosmetic companies. Then I found a promising site – Vampires A-Z. I waited impatiently for it to load, quickly clicking closed each ad that flashed across the screen. Finally the screen was finished – simple white background with black text, academic-looking. Two quotes greeted me on the home page: Throughout the vast shadowy world of ghosts and demons there is no figure so terrible, no figure so dreaded and abhorred, yet dight with such fearful fascination, as the vampire, who is himself neither ghost nor demon, but yet who partakes the dark natures and possesses the mysterious and terrible qualities of both. – Rev. Montague Summers If there is in this world a well-attested account, it is that of the vampires. Nothing is lacking: official reports, affidavits of well-known people, of surgeons, of priests, of magistrates; the judicial proof is most complete. And with all that, who is there who believes in vampires? – Rousseau The rest of the site was an alphabetized listing of all the different myths of vampires held throughout the world. The first I clicked on, the Danag, was a Filipino vampire supposedly responsible for planting taro on the islands long ago. The myth continued that the Danag worked with humans for many years, but the partnership ended one day when a woman cut her finger and a Danag sucked her wound, enjoying the taste so much that it drained her body completely of blood. I read carefully through the descriptions, looking for anything that sounded familiar, let alone plausible. It seemed that most vampire myths centered around beautiful women as demons and children as victims; they also seemed like constructs created to explain away the high mortality rates for young children, and to give men an excuse for infidelity. Many of the stories involved bodiless spirits and warnings against improper burials. There wasn't much that sounded like the movies I'd seen, and only a very few, like the Hebrew Estrie and the Polish Upier, who were even preoccupied with drinking blood. Only three entries really caught my attention: the Romanian Varacolaci, a powerful undead being who could appear as a beautiful, pale-skinned human, the Slovak Nelapsi, a creature so strong and fast it could massacre an entire village in the single hour after midnight, and one other, the Stregoni benefici. About this last there was only one brief sentence. Stregoni benefici: An Italian vampire, said to be on the side of goodness, and a mortal enemy of all evil vampires. It was a relief, that one small entry, the one myth among hundreds that claimed the existence of good vampires. Overall, though, there was little that coincided with Jacob's stories or my own observations. I'd made a little catalogue in my mind as I'd read and carefully compared it with each myth. Speed, strength, beauty, pale skin, eyes that shift color; and then Jacob's criteria: blood drinkers, enemies of the werewolf, cold-skinned, and immortal. There were very few myths that matched even one factor. And then another problem, one that I'd remembered from the small number of scary movies that I'd seen and was backed up by today's reading – vampires couldn't come out in the daytime, the sun would burn them to a cinder. They slept in coffins all day and came out only at night. Aggravated, I snapped off the computer's main power switch, not waiting to shut things down properly. Through my irritation, I felt overwhelming embarrassment. It was all so stupid. I was sitting in my room, researching vampires. What was wrong with me? I decided that most of the blame belonged on the doorstep of the town of Forks – and the entire sodden Olympic Peninsula, for that matter. I had to get out of the house, but there was nowhere I wanted to go that didn't involve a three-day drive. I pulled on my boots anyway, unclear where I was headed, and went downstairs. I shrugged into my raincoat without checking the weather and stomped out the door. It was overcast, but not raining yet. I ignored my truck and started east on foot, angling across Charlie's yard toward the ever-encroaching forest. It didn't take long till I was deep enough for the house and the road to be invisible, for the only sound to be the squish of the damp earth under my feet and the sudden cries of the jays. There was a thin ribbon of a trail that led through the forest here, or I wouldn't risk wandering on my own like this. My sense of direction was hopeless; I could get lost in much less helpful surroundings. The trail wound deeper and deeper into the forest, mostly east as far as I could tell. It snaked around the Sitka spruces and the hemlocks, the yews and the maples. I only vaguely knew the names of the trees around me, and all I knew was due to Charlie pointing them out to me from the cruiser window in earlier days. There were many I didn't know, and others I couldn't be sure about because they were so covered in green parasites. I followed the trail as long as my anger at myself pushed me forward. As that started to ebb, I slowed. A few drops of moisture trickled down from the canopy above me, but I couldn't be certain if it was beginning to rain or if it was simply pools left over from yesterday, held high in the leaves above me, slowly dripping their way back to the earth. A recently fallen tree – I knew it was recent because it wasn't entirely carpeted in moss – rested against the trunk of one of her sisters, creating a sheltered little bench just a few safe feet off the trail. I stepped over the ferns and sat carefully, making sure my jacket was between the damp seat and my clothes wherever they touched, and leaned my hooded head back against the living tree. This was the wrong place to have come. I should have known, but where else was there to go? The forest was deep green and far too much like the scene in last night's dream to allow for peace of mind. Now that there was no longer the sound of my soggy footsteps, the silence was piercing. The birds were quiet, too, the drops increasing in frequency, so it must be raining above. The ferns stood higher than my head, now that I was seated, and I knew someone could walk by on the path, three feet away, and not see me. Here in the trees it was much easier to believe the absurdities that embarrassed me indoors. Nothing had changed in this forest for thousands of years, and all the myths and legends of a hundred different lands seemed much more likely in this green haze than they had in my clear-cut bedroom. I forced myself to focus on the two most vital questions I had to answer, but I did so unwillingly. First, I had to decide if it was possible that what Jacob had said about the Cullens could be true. Immediately my mind responded with a resounding negative. It was silly and morbid to entertain such ridiculous notions. But what, then? I asked myself. There was no rational explanation for how I was alive at this moment. I listed again in my head the things I'd observed myself: the impossible speed and strength, the eye color shifting from black to gold and back again, the inhuman beauty, the pale, frigid skin. And more – small things that registered slowly – how they never seemed to eat, the disturbing grace with which they moved. And the way be sometimes spoke, with unfamiliar cadences and phrases that better fit the style of a turn-of-the-century novel than that of a twenty-first-century classroom. He had skipped class the day we'd done blood typing. He hadn't said no to the beach trip till he heard where we were going. He seemed to know what everyone around him was thinking†¦ except me. He had told me he was the villain, dangerous†¦ Could the Cullens be vampires? Well, they were something. Something outside the possibility of rational justification was taking place in front of my incredulous eyes. Whether it be Jacob's cold ones or my own superhero theory, Edward Cullen was not†¦ human. He was something more. So then – maybe. That would have to be my answer for now. And then the most important question of all. What was I going to do if it was true? If Edward was a vampire – I could hardly make myself think the words – then what should I do? Involving someone else was definitely out. I couldn't even believe myself; anyone I told would have me committed. Only two options seemed practical. The first was to take his advice: to be smart, to avoid him as much as possible. To cancel our plans, to go back to ignoring him as far as I was able. To pretend there was an impenetrably thick glass wall between us in the one class where we were forced together. To tell him to leave me alone – and mean it this time. I was gripped in a sudden agony of despair as I considered that alternative. My mind rejected the pain, quickly skipping on to the next option. I could do nothing different. After all, if he was something†¦ sinister, he'd done nothing to hurt me so far. In fact, I would be a dent in Tyler's fender if he hadn't acted so quickly. So quickly, I argued with myself, that it might have been sheer reflexes. But if it was a reflex to save lives, how bad could he be? I retorted. My head spun around in answerless circles. There was one thing I was sure of, if I was sure of anything. The dark Edward in my dream last night was a reflection only of my fear of the word Jacob had spoken, and not Edward himself. Even so, when I'd screamed out in terror at the werewolf's lunge, it wasn't fear for the wolf that brought the cry of â€Å"no† to my lips. It was fear that he would be harmed – even as he called to me with sharp-edged fangs, I feared for him. And I knew in that I had my answer. I didn't know if there ever was a choice, really. I was already in too deep. Now that I knew – if I knew – I could do nothing about my frightening secret. Because when I thought of him, of his voice, his hypnotic eyes, the magnetic force of his personality, I wanted nothing more than to be with him right now. Even if†¦ but I couldn't think it. Not here, alone in the darkening forest. Not while the rain made it dim as twilight under the canopy and pattered like footsteps across the matted earthen floor. I shivered and rose quickly from my place of concealment, worried that somehow the path would have disappeared with the rain. But it was there, safe and clear, winding its way out of the dripping green maze. I followed it hastily, my hood pulled close around my face, becoming surprised, as I nearly ran through the trees, at how far I had come. I started to wonder if I was heading out at all, or following the path farther into the confines of the forest. Before I could get too panicky, though, I began to glimpse some open spaces through the webbed branches. And then I could hear a car passing on the street, and I was free, Charlie's lawn stretched out in front of me, the house beckoning me, promising warmth and dry socks. It was just noon when I got back inside. I went upstairs and got dressed for the day, jeans and a t-shirt, since I was staying indoors. It didn't take too much effort to concentrate on my task for the day, a paper on Macbeth that was due Wednesday. I settled into outlining a rough draft contentedly, more serene than I'd felt since†¦ well, since Thursday afternoon, if I was being honest. That had always been my way, though. Making decisions was the painful part for me, the part I agonized over. But once the decision was made, I simply followed through – usually with relief that the choice was made. Sometimes the relief was tainted by despair, like my decision to come to Forks. But it was still better than wrestling with the alternatives. This decision was ridiculously easy to live with. Dangerously easy. And so the day was quiet, productive – I finished my paper before eight. Charlie came home with a large catch, and I made a mental note to pick up a book of recipes for fish while I was in Seattle next week. The chills that flashed up my spine whenever I thought of that trip were no different than the ones I'd felt before I'd taken my walk with Jacob Black. They should be different, I thought. I should be afraid – I knew I should be, but I couldn't feel the right kind of fear. I slept dreamlessly that night, exhausted from beginning my day so early, and sleeping so poorly the night before. I woke, for the second time since arriving in Forks, to the bright yellow light of a sunny day. I skipped to the window, stunned to see that there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and those there were just fleecy little white puffs that couldn't possibly be carrying any rain. I opened the window – surprised when it opened silently, without sticking, not having opened it in who knows how many years – and sucked in the relatively dry air. It was nearly warm and hardly windy at all. My blood was electric in my veins. Charlie was finishing breakfast when I came downstairs, and he picked up on my mood immediately. â€Å"Nice day out,† he commented. â€Å"Yes,† I agreed with a grin. He smiled back, his brown eyes crinkling around the edges. When Charlie smiled, it was easier to see why he and my mother had jumped too quickly into an early marriage. Most of the young romantic he'd been in those days had faded before I'd known him, as the curly brown hair – the same color, if not the same texture, as mine – had dwindled, slowly revealing more and more of the shiny skin of his forehead. But when he smiled I could see a little of the man who had run away with Ren? ¦e when she was just two years older than I was now. I ate breakfast cheerily, watching the dust moats stirring in the sunlight that streamed in the back window. Charlie called out a goodbye, and I heard the cruiser pull away from the house. I hesitated on my way out the door, hand on my rain jacket. It would be tempting fate to leave it home. With a sigh, I folded it over my arm and stepped out into the brightest light I'd seen in months. By dint of much elbow grease, I was able to get both windows in the truck almost completely rolled down. I was one of the first ones to school; I hadn't even checked the clock in my hurry to get outside. I parked and headed toward the seldom-used picnic benches on the south side of the cafeteria. The benches were still a little damp, so I sat on my jacket, glad to have a use for it. My homework was done – the product of a slow social life – but there were a few Trig problems I wasn't sure I had right. I took out my book industriously, but halfway through rechecking the first problem I was daydreaming, watching the sunlight play on the red-barked trees. I sketched inattentively along the margins of my homework. After a few minutes, I suddenly realized I'd drawn five pairs of dark eyes staring out of the page at me. I scrubbed them out with the eraser. â€Å"Bella!† I heard someone call, and it sounded like Mike. I looked around to realize that the school had become populated while I'd been sitting there, absentminded. Everyone was in t-shirts, some even in shorts though the temperature couldn't be over sixty. Mike was coming toward me in khaki shorts and a striped Rugby shirt, waving. â€Å"Hey, Mike,† I called, waving back, unable to be halfhearted on a morning like this. He came to sit by me, the tidy spikes of his hair shining golden in the light, his grin stretching across his face. He was so delighted to see me, I couldn't help but feel gratified. â€Å"I never noticed before – your hair has red in it,† he commented, catching between his fingers a strand that was fluttering in the light breeze. â€Å"Only in the sun.† I became just a little uncomfortable as he tucked the lock behind my ear. â€Å"Great day, isn't it?† â€Å"My kind of day,† I agreed. â€Å"What did you do yesterday?† His tone was just a bit too proprietary. â€Å"I mostly worked on my essay.† I didn't add that I was finished with it – no need to sound smug. He hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. â€Å"Oh yeah – that's due Thursday, right?† â€Å"Um, Wednesday, I think.† â€Å"Wednesday?† He frowned. â€Å"That's not good†¦ What are you writing yours on?† â€Å"Whether Shakespeare's treatment of the female characters is misogynistic.† He stared at me like I'd just spoken in pig Latin. â€Å"I guess I'll have to get to work on that tonight,† he said, deflated. â€Å"I was going to ask if you wanted to go out.† â€Å"Oh.† I was taken off guard. Why couldn't I ever have a pleasant conversation with Mike anymore without it getting awkward? â€Å"Well, we could go to dinner or something†¦ and I could work on it later.† He smiled at me hopefully. â€Å"Mike†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hated being put on the spot. â€Å"I don't think that would be the best idea.† His face fell. â€Å"Why?† he asked, his eyes guarded. My thoughts flickered to Edward, wondering if that's where his thoughts were as well. â€Å"I think†¦ and if you ever repeat what I'm saying right now I will cheerfully beat you to death,† I threatened, â€Å"but I think that would hurt Jessica's feelings.† He was bewildered, obviously not thinking in that direction at all. â€Å"Jessica?† â€Å"Really, Mike, are you blind?† â€Å"Oh,† he exhaled – clearly dazed. I took advantage of that to make my escape. â€Å"It's time for class, and I can't be late again.† I gathered my books up and stuffed them in my bag. We walked in silence to building three, and his expression was distracted. I hoped whatever thoughts he was immersed in were leading him in the right direction. When I saw Jessica in Trig, she was bubbling with enthusiasm. She, Angela, and Lauren were going to Port Angeles tonight to go dress shopping for the dance, and she wanted me to come, too, even though I didn't need one. I was indecisive. It would be nice to get out of town with some girlfriends, but Lauren would be there. And who knew what I could be doing tonight†¦ But that was definitely the wrong path to let my mind wander down. Of course I was happy about the sunlight. But that wasn't completely responsible for the euphoric mood I was in, not even close. So I gave her a maybe, telling her I'd have to talk with Charlie first. She talked of nothing but the dance on the way to Spanish, continuing as if without an interruption when class finally ended, five minutes late, and we were on our way to lunch. I was far too lost in my own frenzy of anticipation to notice much of what she said. I was painfully eager to see not just him but all the Cullens – to compare them with the new suspicions that plagued my mind. As I crossed the threshold of the cafeteria, I felt the first true tingle of fear slither down my spine and settle in my stomach. Would they be able to know what I was thinking? And then a different feeling jolted through me – would Edward be waiting to sit with me again? As was my routine, I glanced first toward the Cullens' table. A shiver of panic trembled in my stomach as I realized it was empty. With dwindling hope, my eyes scoured the rest of the cafeteria, hoping to find him alone, waiting for me. The place was nearly filled – Spanish had made us late – but there was no sign of Edward or any of his family. Desolation hit me with crippling strength. I shambled along behind Jessica, not bothering to pretend to listen anymore. We were late enough that everyone was already at our table. I avoided the empty chair next to Mike in favor of one by Angela. I vaguely noticed that Mike held the chair out politely for Jessica, and that her face lit up in response. Angela asked a few quiet questions about the Macbeth paper, which I answered as naturally as I could while spiraling downward in misery. She, too, invited me to go with them tonight, and I agreed now, grasping at anything to distract myself. I realized I'd been holding on to a last shred of hope when I entered Biology, saw his empty seat, and felt a new wave of disappointment. The rest of the day passed slowly, dismally. In Gym, we had a lecture on the rules of badminton, the next torture they had lined up for me. But at least it meant I got to sit and listen instead of stumbling around on the court. The best part was the coach didn't finish, so I got another day off tomorrow. Never mind that the day after they would arm me with a racket before unleashing me on the rest of the class. I was glad to leave campus, so I would be free to pout and mope before I went out tonight with Jessica and company. But right after I walked in the door of Charlie's house, Jessica called to cancel our plans. I tried to be happy that Mike had asked her out to dinner – I really was relieved that he finally seemed to be catching on – but my enthusiasm sounded false in my own ears. She rescheduled our shopping trip for tomorrow night. Which left me with little in the way of distractions. I had fish marinating for dinner, with a salad and bread left over from the night before, so there was nothing to do there. I spent a focused half hour on homework, but then I was through with that, too. I checked my e-mail, reading the backlog of letters from my mother, getting snippier as they progressed to the present. I sighed and typed a quick response. Mom, Sorry. I've been out. I went to the beach with some friends. And I had to write a paper. My excuses were fairly pathetic, so I gave up on that. It's sunny outside today – I know, I'm shocked, too – so I'm going to go outside and soak up as much vitamin D as I can. I love you, Bella. I decided to kill an hour with non-school-related reading. I had a small collection of books that came with me to Forks, the shabbiest volume being a compilation of the works of Jane Austen. I selected that one and headed to the backyard, grabbing a ragged old quilt from the linen cupboard at the top of the stairs on my way down. Outside in Charlie's small, square yard, I folded the quilt in half and laid it out of the reach of the trees' shadows on the thick lawn that would always be slightly wet, no matter how long the sun shone. I lay on my stomach, crossing my ankles in the air, flipping through the different novels in the book, trying to decide which would occupy my mind the most thoroughly. My favorites were Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I'd read the first most recently, so I started into Sense and Sensibility, only to remember after I began three that the hero of the story happened to be named Edward. Angrily, I turned to Mansfield Park, but the hero of that piece was named Edmund, and that was just too close. Weren't there any other names available in the late eighteenth century? I snapped the book shut, annoyed, and rolled over onto my back. I pushed my sleeves up as high as they would go, and closed my eyes. I would think of nothing but the warmth on my skin, I told myself severely. The breeze was still light, but it blew tendrils of my hair around my face, and that tickled a bit. I pulled all my hair over my head, letting it fan out on the quilt above me, and focused again on the heat that touched my eyelids, my cheekbones, my nose, my lips, my forearms, my neck, soaked through my light shirt†¦ The next thing I was conscious of was the sound of Charlie's cruiser turning onto the bricks of the driveway. I sat up in surprise, realizing the light was gone, behind the trees, and I had fallen asleep. I looked around, muddled, with the sudden feeling that I wasn't alone. â€Å"Charlie?† I asked. But I could hear his door slamming in front of the house. I jumped up, foolishly edgy, gathering the now-damp quilt and my book. I ran inside to get some oil heating on the stove, realizing that dinner would be late. Charlie was hanging up his gun belt and stepping out of his boots when I came in. â€Å"Sorry, Dad, dinner's not ready yet – I fell asleep outside.† I stifled a yawn. â€Å"Don't worry about it,† he said. â€Å"I wanted to catch the score on the game, anyway.† I watched TV with Charlie after dinner, for something to do. There wasn't anything on I wanted to watch, but he knew I didn't like baseball, so he turned it to some mindless sitcom that neither of us enjoyed. He seemed happy, though, to be doing something together. And it felt good, despite my depression, to make him happy. â€Å"Dad,† I said during a commercial, â€Å"Jessica and Angela are going to look at dresses for the dance tomorrow night in Port Angeles, and they wanted me to help them choose†¦ do you mind if I go with them?† â€Å"Jessica Stanley?† he asked. â€Å"And Angela Weber.† I sighed as I gave him the details. He was confused. â€Å"But you're not going to the dance, right?† â€Å"No, Dad, but I'm helping them find dresses – you know, giving them constructive criticism.† I wouldn't have to explain this to a woman. â€Å"Well, okay.† He seemed to realize that he was out of his depth with the girlie stuff. â€Å"It's a school night, though.† â€Å"We'll leave right after school, so we can get back early. You'll be okay for dinner, right?† â€Å"Bells, I fed myself for seventeen years before you got here,† he reminded me. â€Å"I don't know how you survived,† I muttered, then added more clearly, â€Å"I'll leave some things for cold-cut sandwiches in the fridge, okay? Right on top.† It was sunny again in the morning. I awakened with renewed hope that I grimly tried to suppress. I dressed for the warmer weather in a deep blue V-neck blouse – something I'd worn in the dead of winter in Phoenix. I had planned my arrival at school so that I barely had time to make it to class. With a sinking heart, I circled the full lot looking for a space, while also searching for the silver Volvo that was clearly not there. I parked in the last row and hurried to English, arriving breathless, but subdued, before the final bell. It was the same as yesterday – I just couldn't keep little sprouts of hope from budding in my mind, only to have them squashed painfully as I searched the lunchroom in vain and sat at my empty Biology table. The Port Angeles scheme was back on again for tonight and made all the more attractive by the fact that Lauren had other obligations. I was anxious to get out of town so I could stop glancing over my shoulder, hoping to see him appearing out of the blue the way he always did. I vowed to myself that I would be in a good mood tonight and not ruin Angela's or Jessica's enjoyment in the dress hunting. Maybe I could do a little clothes shopping as well. I refused to think that I might be shopping alone in Seattle this weekend, no longer interested in the earlier arrangement. Surely he wouldn't cancel without at least telling me. After school, Jessica followed me home in her old white Mercury so that I could ditch my books and truck. I brushed through my hair quickly when I was inside, feeling a slight lift of excitement as I contemplated getting out of Forks. I left a note for Charlie on the table, explaining again where to find dinner, switched my scruffy wallet from my school bag to a purse I rarely used, and ran out to join Jessica. We went to Angela's house next, and she was waiting for us. My excitement increased exponentially as we actually drove out of the town limits.