Metal vs. Mettle

Metal versus Courage Metal versus Strength Metal versus Strength By Maeve Maddox At once, metal and courage were elective spellings for the material or substance a thing was made of. Traditional Latin metallum had the significance of mine or quarry just as the substances acquired from them. Metal is a hard, sparkly, flexible material like gold, silver, or copper that is utilized in the production of devices or antiquities. It’s sparkly, flexible, and it conducts heat. The word metal can be utilized either as a mass thing or as a check thing: Pot handles are generally produced using wood or plastic since they don’t move heat just as metal. (mass thing) Metals assume a basic job in the production of contemporary adornments by influencing appearance, strength and cost. (tally thing) Determination gets from a similar source as metal and was once utilized similarly. Since about the eighteenth century, be that as it may, fortitude has been saved for non-literal use. It alludes to what an individual is â€Å"made of.† Mettle incorporates character, attitude, and personality. It is regularly utilized with the action words test, demonstrate, and appear, especially in sports composing: Bruins Marchand shows his determination Djokovic must demonstrate his guts against Nadal on mud Youthful sprinters test their guts during Hy-Vee runs Kelso demonstrated his guts and won by 75% of a length. Shakespeare utilizes the word in Macbeth’s misogynist praise to his better half after she chides him for faltering to slaughter Duncan: Deliver men-youngsters as it were; For thy resolute grit ought to create Only guys. â€Macbeth, I, vii, 72-74. The descriptor relentless depicts a cheerful, vivacious, energetic individual: In The Taming of the Shrew, Kate is Baptista’s relentless senior girl. Relentless can likewise mean gallant: Lã ¼ Kuang is straight from his triumphs in the west, and his officers are vivacious and mettlesome. â€The Art of War, XI. Applied to a creature, particularly a pony, it implies â€Å"lively, excited, energetic, frisky.† It can likewise be applied to an occasion: [The tennis players] conveyed a dauntless exhibition through and through, bringing a definitive title under their names. Dauntless from the thing grit isn't to be mistaken for intrusive, the modifier that goes with the action word intrude, â€Å"to interfere.† Hillsdale College Chief Remark Pricks Meddlesome Bureaucrats The most effective method to Handle Your Meddlesome In Laws Interfere originates from a word meaning â€Å"to mix.† Meddlesome individuals blend in where they are not needed. Relentless individuals are frequently enjoyable to know. Need to improve your English shortly a day? Get a membership and begin getting our composing tips and activities every day! Continue learning! Peruse the Misused Words class, check our famous posts, or pick a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†55 Boxing IdiomsHow to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

Reflection and analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Visitor and destination management plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Guest and goal the board plan - Essay Example The Canary Islands comprise of Isla de Gran Canaria, Isla de Tenerife, Isla de la Palma, Isla de la Gomera, Isla de El Hierro, Isla de Alegranza, and Isla de Fuerteventura. The travel industry is one of the principle income hotspot for the isands, with Gran Canaria and Tenerife pulling in the most guests, in any case, the travel industry proliferates all through the chain (McLeod, 1999). The Canary Islands, which will concentrate on Gran Canaria of the island chain, as the subject area for this investigation of the travel industry and goal the executives in that the area is notable just as offered reasonable data that is accessible to empower an assessment of the shifted focuses to be tended to in this. In inspecting guest and goal the board, a comprehension of the term is important to situate it inside this investigation. The Association of Destination Management Executives characterizes goal the board as expert administration that practices in the structure and conveyance of occasions, exercises, visits, staffing and transportation, having and using broad nearby information, skill and assets (Lee, 1998). The World Trade Organization Business Council prompts that the present pattern in practically all districts of the world is towards semi-open yet self-ruling the travel industry associations including an association with both private part and territorial or potentially neighborhood specialists (George Washington University, 2003). The first denotes an unmistakable takeoff from the past as the jobs just as duties of the private part and governments have experienced a huge change in that the express no longer has the primary obligation regarding the turn of events and advancement of the travel industry (George Washington University, 2003). The new circumstance requires the arrangement of the two premiums because of the gigantic monetary repercussions of the travel industry that requires participation and arranging between the state, nearby governments, the personal business segment, just as neighborhood networks in the creating of long range plans concerning foundation speculation, that comprises of air terminal, transport, street, vitality conveyance, and related enhancements just as outside venture fascination for inns, general and explicit enterprises (World Travel and Tourism Organization, 1999). The reality

Development Leadership and Change Management

Question: Talk about the Development Leadership and Change Management. Answer: Presentation The authority is fundamental for the association as it advances the commencement of the activity from each working staff who are working cooperatively for achieving the authoritative objectives. Shetty (2014) depicts that successful initiative assumes a pivotal job in spurring their representatives and give them direction so they can give their best for the authoritative procedures. Building confidence and defining powerful workplace are the two extra advantages of the nearness of administration inside an association. Around here report, the hypothesis of administration style followed in the COCA-COLA will be investigated. Additionally, the hole examination of the idea model of administration and authority case in COCA-COLA will likewise be talked about alongside the SWOT investigation of the concerned association and the utilization of Lewin's change model. Finally, the report wraps up with the proposal and a general finish of the whole conversation. Hole investigation The initiative style that is represented in the principal task is the possibility hypothesis and way objective hypothesis while for the situation investigation of the Coca-Cola is inventive administration, culturally diverse authority and visionary administration. In the principal task, it is expressed that steady administration, where the representatives are treated as the significant resources and participative authority mirrors the sharing of information inside the association. Later in the subsequent task, it is seen that packaging accomplices are in steady contact with the goal that nearby technique of the coca-cola can be executed. Notwithstanding that, the principal task underlines on the initiative styles of mandate authority and accomplishment arranged administration. Mandate initiative connotes that the pioneers direct their worker to tails one certain technique; in any case, Coca-Cola offers significance to imaginative administration (Kerr, 2014). This gives the worker the support to recommend new thoughts. This advancement additionally prompts the interests in the RD. Adekola and Sergi (2016) characterizes that Cross-Cultural Leadership is likewise received by the organization so their great highlights can be mulled over like efficiency of Japan, difficult work of Indians and reliability of Chinese; while, in the customary authority, expansion isn't presented and it brings about clashes. The hole depends on the exploiting the broadened information on the representative with the goal that view of there can be better comprehend a modified items as per their need can be created. SWOT investigation of the contextual analysis SWOT Factors Investigation of the elements Qualities Coca-Cola is a notable brand over the world and they have their image ubiquity wherever with the exception of Cuba and North Korea. They likewise have some eminent auxiliary brands like Kinley, Limca,and Minute Made, and so on. Their pioneers viably break down the patterns of the territory and individuals requests and figure new items like Diet Coke for wellbeing cognizant individuals (Mirvis et al. 2016). Their powerful authority styles likewise bring about the worker quality of around 150,000 individuals over the globe (Foster, 2014). They have a few heads following transformational initiative attributes and accordingly, they have received a cutting edge way to deal with advancing their brands. These pioneers likewise accentuate on the CSR exercises and Coca-Cola consistently gives a bit of their yearly income for the advantages of reusing, training, wellbeing, and so forth. Sports, social occasions and competitions sponsorship likewise help them to pick up the acknowledgment among the network. Shortcoming Inadequate observing of the overseeing specialists and the pioneer's outcomes in poor hierarchical procedures like the nearness of hints of pesticides are found in the beverage. Steady solid rivalry from other driving association like PepsiCo over the administration styles and pieces of the pie The association just spotlights on the assembling of the beverage items and not yet began the plan of the nibble thing as like different contenders do (Rubin, 2013) Opportunity Initiative styles in the Coca-Cola get the opportunity to distinguish the prerequisite of nibble items so more clients can get pulled in towards their image (Pfitzer et al., 2013). They have the chance to obtain different organizations Dangers So as to extend their business objectives, they have the danger of legitimate commitments of those nations and spots. Market expansion, financial lull and precariousness of the countries where Coca-Cola is working their business is an incredible danger to the concerned association. Table 1: SWOT examination of the contextual investigation (Source: Created by Author) Lewin's change model Lewin's change model has three stages to follow-unfreezing,changing andrefreezing (van nook Heuvel et al., 2013). Manchester et al. (2014) expressed that as indicated by Kurt Lewin, the procedure first beginnings from the observation that change is required and afterward get little changes the conduct and afterward changing those adjustments in conduct into a standard. Lewin's Change Model Factors Clarification Application Unfreezing Worley and Mohrman (2014) characterizes that an association when comprehends that there is a prerequisite of progress, they test the Lewin's change model. Sutherland (2013) portrays that the prime target of this progression is to assessment whether the use of the change inside the working environment is ruining the association somehow or another, as certain individuals don't avoid change abruptly. In this procedure, the overseeing authority needs to assess the hierarchical structure cautiously and give the workers a substantial explanation behind how vital change is for the association and what will be the advantages of the progressions in applied in the association. In the main phase of the Lewin's Change Model, the pioneer of the Coca-Cola distinguishes that there is a change that must be made in its items and business methodologies that can fulfill the requirements of the clients and outer condition. The primary change saw is the development of their business to different nations other than the United States. The second change they expect to actualize is to advance their image by accomplishing social work. The execution of the third change was to conquered the circumstance of budgetary emergency like in the hours of the Asian money related emergency they procured packaging, espresso and coffee bar. The fourth change is to improve their items for fulfilling each purchaser need and progressively secure bundling. They additionally want to change the publicizing method of their image and target gathering. They additionally change their exercises of Employee Engagement Evolving In this stage, the association must progress into the new state for the usage of the change rule (Karnani, 2013). In addition, in this stage worker battles with new changes. Notwithstanding that, Kapferer (2012) states that at one hand, some worker takes this change rule eagerly while some of them are experiencing vulnerability and dread. A constructive aspect concerning this stage is that individuals start to get familiar with the new practices and innovative points of interest that the association executes in the working environment and training, correspondence, backing and time are given to representatives so they can figure out how to use these progressions for better efficiency. Coca-cola takes the activities for lawful commitments with the goal that they can grow their organization to different nations. For this, they have to actualize enhancement in the organization. Karnani (2013) expressed that for accomplishing better CSR rating, Coco-Cola took activities for the selecting their representatives in intentional works. So as to execute procurement, exchange was done that require in the selection of other association's way of life and conduct. RD assumes a urgent job in the advancement of the items that expects preparing to the worker with the goal that they can propose something better for the association (Cummings Worley, 2014). Preparing in IT with the goal that new advanced media can be focused for the ads (Greenfield, 2016). Change in the prize framework to propel workers that may set various objectives and focuses for representatives. Refreezing The last phase of his change model is the demonstration ofreinforcing, settling and actualizing the change rule in the working environment. The essential target to roll out this improvement as a standard is to assess whether a worker is returning to their old reasoning and business methodology. Benn et al. (2014) further expressed that some association positive prizes and affirmation are being offered to the representatives with the goal that they can decidedly fortify the changed strategy in the work environment. The viable initiative outcomes in the foundation of 64 plants over the 200 nations to flexibly drinks. Coca-Cola gives free beverages and drinks to the penniless individuals and accomplishes social work (Metzger, 2014). They had effectively gained packaging, espresso and bistro organizations in Korea and Malaysia so they can utilize their innovation for the advantages of their image. The examination has effectively actualized by planning the wellbeing drinks like eating regimen Coke and improved bundling that can keep the beverage from hurtful impacts. Change has been actualized in the publicizing methodologies like a Facebook fan page, Twitter and Instagram (Dempster et al., 2015). Worker preparing for social occasion the information on the new difficulties to accomplish the objectives while exploiting the prize framework (Nachiappan et al., 2016). Table 2: Lewin's change model and its clarification and application (Source: Created by Author) Suggestion The overseeing experts in the Coca-Cola must find out the center issues that are required for the change managemen

Analysis of “Death of a Salesman” opening stage directions Essay

Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ (1949) opens with a broad depiction of the Loman house. Mill operator utilizes amazingly exact and nitty gritty stage bearings, including prop situation, sound and lighting, giving substantial noteworthiness to every one of these components and painting an unchangeable picture to guarantee that it is safeguarded in each translation of his work. All through the initial stage bearings of Act 1, in spite of the structure and tone being authentic, made out of short, clear sentences, Miller indicates basic subjects and messages through a scope of complex gadgets, setting up the crowd for the play, and laying the right foundation. As the play is set in Brooklyn, New York a few years after the incredible melancholy, numerous references are made as of now at this beginning period to vision and the American dream; the edgy and longing vision of numerous Americans around then of a superior life. This saturating subject becomes clear in the past even to the presentation of the characters, as the unimportant view and props go about as representative components, which mirror this theme. Mill operator anyway subconsciously makes it obvious that this fantasy is absolutely a figment, through symbolic expressions in his stage headings, for example, ‘rising out of reality’ and physical portrayals, for example the wrecked limits where ‘characters go into or leave a room by venturing through a divider onto the forestage’ which make an emanation of dream. The primary stage bearings incorporate a tune played on a woodwind, ‘telling of grass and trees and the horizon’. This normal symbolism enveloping three physical components joined by the delicate and agreeable sound, establishes a peaceful pace which is then profoundly compared with the accompanying delineation of the house and it’s neighborhood, included with haziness and antagonistic vibe. This overwhelming differentiation might be representative of the contention between the fantasies which the individual hopes for and the real brutality of society’s reality. The portrayal of the encompassing bunch of condo squares appears to be nearly to have a more noteworthy conspicuousness than the house itself, as this is the principal thing the crowd ‘becomes mindful of’. The tall and ‘angular’ outline of Manhattan that lies in the scenery has expressionistic highlights andâ surrounds the Loman house in a manner that proposes some allegorical type of mistreatment or imprisonment. The ‘glow of orange’ that falls upon the ‘fragile-seeming’ house is represented as ‘angry’, maybe mirroring the antagonistic occasions where the play is set. This encasing and scaring threatening vibe is to some extent what causes the home to show up so delicate, a delicacy that may speak to shortcoming in family bonds or similarly, shortcoming in he who speaks to the house, sentencing him promptly to the job of an awful hero. Willy sticks to his fantasies similarly as ‘an quality of the fantasy sticks to the place’. This thought becomes present again in the depiction of Linda’s sentiments towards her significant other and his attributes. ‘his enormous dreams’ are the wellspring of his awful nature, dreams that he imparts to the remainder of society, yet that for him become an undesirable fixation. Willy is reviled with the perpetual want to seek after his fantasies ‘to their end’ and these words forecast a destiny that unfurls because of this obsession. Generally the opening of this play furnishes the crowd with a feeling of the topics that will penetrate all through, by keenly utilizing stage plans and components that suggest profounder criticalness of what is to come.

A Descriptive Essay That Makes Your Job Easier

A Descriptive Essay That Makes Your Job EasierIf you need help writing a descriptive essay, there are many reasons to choose some of the best descriptive essay samples about a place available. From France to California, you'll find that each and every place has it's own set of characteristics. By choosing the best samples you can achieve the results you want.Using descriptive essay samples about a place will help you explain all the things that make that place unique. You can provide some interesting information about what is unique about the places. You can even take a closer look at what makes each place unique by using an example. The more detailed you are about the place you are writing about, the better the descriptive essay samples you write will be.The reason it is so important to choose a sample is because it gives you a variety of examples. You will be able to compare different types of samples and understand which one best suits your style of writing. By knowing the rules o f writing a descriptive essay, you will be able to enjoy the process of writing and will have a better chance of landing the job.Many times, you won't even need a sample. Simply doing research and understanding what is needed will get you going. But if you really need examples to assist you, they are easily found.You can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to find descriptions for a place. Doing a search for something as specific as 'descriptive essay samples about a place' and then looking at the first couple of pages will give you a good idea of what to expect. Using the examples will make it easier to write your essay. It can also help you to have an idea of what kind of information you will need to provide for your description.If you have never written a descriptive essay before, there are many free samples online that you can use to learn. There are many ways you can learn. One way is to go to a college class on the topic and practice writing a description. Another way is to look online for a description that has been written about a place and read through it closely.Whatever method you decide to use, you will be able to make an educated decision on what information you want to include. When you use the sample you are looking at, you can take a look at the information you want to include. Then you can write it down. You can then rewrite it or delete what you don't want to include. Writing from memory isn't the best way to describe a place because you can miss out on information.With the many locations you can describe, there are good examples to help you along the way. With a little help and some practice, you will find that writing a descriptive essay is easy.

What HRM approaches need to be taken to ensure competitive advantage - Free Essay Example

The immediate objective of any HR policy should be to retain the existing employees and prevent them from leaving the company. The medium term strategy would focus on how to incentivize them to stay with the company while the long term strategy will be aimed at making them believe that the company values their contribution. In order to discourage employees from leaving, first the root cause should be identified and accordingly be addressed. Employees are dissatisfied for many reasons which include stringent management policies with regard to punctuality, close monitoring, and sudden shift to a new system (Mathis Jackson, 2004). Since most employees are leaving due to inconsideration from the management towards their personal issues and job flexibility, Bill should first and foremost introduce the flexible hour system. Bill can make use of the various theoretical concepts to structure an HR system in the company. Practical application of theoretical concepts can hel p in the construction of an HR strategy. The goal setting theory states that there exists a relationship between the difficulty and specificity of a goal and an individuals performance of that task. Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. Bill also needs to use this goal theory and give each team specific goals to achieve. This will aid in team building while at the same time making employees competitive and performance driven. An HR strategy needs to be designed that will accommodate the needs of all the employees. There exist various motivation concepts and theories that can be applied in this situation. One main reason for the disgruntlement among employees was the lack of fulfillment of their basic needs. According to Maslows hierarchy of needs, an individual is self satisfied once all his needs are met (Robbins Judge, 2004). In the case mentioned, employees did not feel autonomous as they were constantly being monitored which affected thei r self esteem making them believe that they were irresponsible or incapable of fulfilling their jobs appropriately. This constant watch was not only de-motivating; it was rather humiliating for those employees to be watched over who had been in the company since its inception and were partly responsible for its success. Bearing this issue in mind, a HR plan will cater to all employee needs. Not only do employees need to be provided with basic motivators, the higher they climb the hierarchy, the more sophisticated their needs become and they have to be addressed in order to prevent them from leaving. Therefore, to facilitate the transition to a structured HR system, a change management plan will have to be initiated. According to reactance theory, individuals tend to react in a contradictory manner if certain guidelines and policies are forced upon them. Since the employees are not accustomed to following guidelines, it will take time for them to adjust to the new system (Heller, 2007). They might feel resistant as was the case with Bills company; employees felt that the implemented system was too strict or was not aligned with their working habits. In such a case, change management plan plays a pivotal role. Employees need to be explained as to why the change is being taken place and how it would benefit them. Their benefits then need to be aligned with the organizational benefits. A change agent also needs to be assigned who employees can refer to every time they have confusion regarding the change. Bill should then move forward with implementing a comprehensive HR plan that will comprise of different HR strategies to ensure employee involvement and retention in the company. As a part of medium term strategy, Bill can implement an HR policy that will ensure employee satisfaction. Bills HR strategy should focus on implementing a performance management system that monitors the performance but does not interfere with employee empowerment (Fletcher, 1992 ). Employees need to be given the freedom to make their own decisions and do their work according at their own convenience. Furthermore, flextime should be introduced to give employees the comfort level. As long as employees are delivering on time, the flextime can be implemented. Moreover, the company should provision for emergencies and be considerate towards the employees in such situations extending them support. The more management support an employee has, the faster will be his ability to get back to work and make adjustments. Also, since previously there was no proper HR system intact at the company, employees had a hard time getting used to the new policies (DeVries, Morrison, Shullman Gerlach, 1981). However, for any company to advance and grow, presence of HR department is essential as it guides employees to do what will benefit them and the company. The employees at Medtech are finding this hard. Since it is a change that they will have to experience, it is importa nt that the HR implement a change management plan and take employees into confidence before making any decisions. Also, the medium term HR strategy will clearly define the job description for each employee; clarifying his role in the organization and allowing him to exercise his authority within the specified scope. The HR departments role will be to identify areas of improvement and share them with employees to apprise them of their job performance (Dowling, 1999). This process will result in a transparent mechanism and enhance employee confidence in the management. As a part of his long term strategy, Bill will have to take a number of steps. He should replace the cost driven system with an output based system. He should incorporate a new performance management system. Employees should be rewarded on the basis of the output they produce rather than the process they use to produce it. Also, since these employees had been working at Medtech since the beginning they have certai n implicit expectations from the company. According to the expectancy theory, individuals are quick to form a linkage between effort and outcome. They believe that by performing a certain way, they will be rewarded in the expected manner. Failure to comply with such expectations by the management leads to dissatisfaction among employees as in the above case. Therefore Bill should ensure that the expectations of the employees as well as the management are clearly communicated. In order to understand employee expectations, Bill should emphasize on open communication. Employees should be encouraged to voice their concerns and grievances. Since no structured HR system exists at Medtech, Bill should proceed with developing feedback forms (Nohria, Groysberg Lee, 2008). The feedback forms will ask employees to give their opinion on different factors such as the organization culture, job satisfaction, perks and benefits, career growth etc. This feedback will allow the management to u nderstand employee concerns and address them accordingly. Not only will this remove barriers between the employees and the management, it will also help in laying the foundations for a strong and concrete HR policy. Employees should not be discouraged from asking questions rather be incentivized to give their opinion to make them feel like they are an important part of the company. Furthermore, it becomes the managements responsibility to remind the employees that the company values their presence and contribution. Bills strategy should therefore be accommodating towards employee problems and help and support them instead of making it hard for them to remain in the company. In this case, Sarahs problem could have been addressed by allowing her to come late for the specified period or giving her the provision to work from home. The company should have focused on the quality of work done by Sarah instead of her punctuality. Temporary employee problems should be addressed and accoun ted for in an effective HR policy (Fletcher, 1992). The HR strategy should comprise of a strong performance management system that will replace the flawed monitoring system currently in place. The objective of this performance system will be to evaluate employees based on their output and then provide them training and other growth opportunities in line with their expertise and areas of interest. The new HR system should constitute training and mentoring sessions. Training can help in honing an individuals skill set while mentoring will allow him to learn through experience of other senior employees. Mentoring will make the employees realize that there is always someone who encourages their development (Briscoe Schuler, 2004). The environment needs to be supportive and management should extend appreciation to employees for their success at any work. This will not only motivate them but encourage them to take up more challenging tasks in the future and perform in the best possibl e manner. Moreover, Bill will have to incorporate a reward system in the new HR policy. Employees should be given perks and benefits based on the number of years served, their performance and their experience. In addition to recognition, employees also want diversity in work and projects. After a certain time period, work becomes monotonous and it is essential for their growth for them to be given different and challenging projects to work on. This will add to their learning and experience while simultaneously shaping their personality for executive positions. The role of HR will be to ensure that employees are assigned tasks that they are proficient at (Rose, 2006). The management should encourage employees to give in their input on key decisions and managerial policies. This will empower employees while allowing them to engage with the top managers incentivizing them to perform better. Performance standards need to be clarified and communicated to employees and they should k now the acceptable attitudes and behaviors. Their values should be aligned with the organizational values and they the HR should ensure that they feel comfortable in the existing organizational environment. The HRs utmost responsibility should be to create a positive environment that reinforces employee commitment to work hard and deliver. They should feel valued and worthwhile. Also, the environment should be stimulating (Mathis Jackson, 2006). This is possible if fun and enjoyment are also made a part of the culture. This will help in keeping the employees energized and enthusiastic about the work. Therefore, the HRs role is critical to an organizations success. The more structured the HR mechanism, the better will be the results. Bill will have to incorporate all the above mentioned strategies in his approach to be able to build that relationship between the employees and the company that existed earlier. In order to remain competitive in the market and secure from all threat from new competitors, Medtech will have to retain its skilled resources and retention will only be possible if Bill adopts the right approach and implements strategies that will motivate and incentivize the employees to not only stay with the organization but also improve their performance.

Journey of Gilgamesh - 643 Words

Despite coming from two different parts of the world, Gilgamesh and Sunjata have many similarities within being an epic character. First, the two stories share the fundamental aspects, intrinsic upon epics. Both tales are told in a poetic format. In addition, the two tales both involve a hero who embarks on some sort of journey. For example, after witnessing the death of his good friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh has trouble coming to terms with his own mortality. In turn, he leaves Uruk hoping to find the secret to eternal life. This is comparable to Sunjatas obstacles in his quest to become king. Sunjata had to come to terms with being a lame child unable to walk properly. Furthermore, Sunjata was forced to travel to foreign kingdoms in exile†¦show more content†¦This mechanism was designed to ensure young listeners were focused and engaged in the tale, which demonstrates how the story of Sunjata was, perhaps, more important ritualistically than Gilgamesh was. This reflects upon th e differences in Mande culture verses that of the more northern Middle Eastern culture that produced Gilgamesh. The content, characters, and plot of both stories share more differences than similarities. Gilgamesh is presented as a vicious, chaotic ruler all too eager to do wrong and harm others. Sunjata, on the other hand, is born troubled and cursed and rules nothing. Gilgamesh constantly has help in his ordeals such as his best friend Enkidu or from Shamash during the battle against Humbaba. Alternatively, Sunjata is exiled and forced to wander around virtually by himself. He raises his own armies and wins his battles out of bravery and skill instead of from outside forces helping him. Another distinction can be drawn at the motives for each characters journey. Gilgamesh sets out to attain eternal life for himself because he personally cannot come to terms with the idea of mortality. This demonstrates a clear, personal reason for his escapade through the mountains. Sunjata, fight s for his tribe, his family, and for the prophecy. In its simplest form it can be said that a main difference between the two stories is Gilgameshs quest for self satisfaction against Sunjatas journey for his people. This stark difference can be analyzed culturally asShow MoreRelatedThe Journey Of Gilgamesh And Enkidu904 Words   |  4 PagesGilgamesh had a journey that he had begun with Enkidu which they had to travel to Cedar Forest to defeat Humbaba. When Enkidu died, Gilgamesh had to deal with his own journey that’s when everything begins for him. He learned immortality from which he got from Utnapishtim. His journey ended when he had return to Uruk. The second part of his journey was for wisdom. When Gilgamesh had to find Utnapishtim, he believes that it was for immortality. But it was impossible. It was not possible.Read MoreGilgamesh: a Heros Journey Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pages2/29/12 Gilgamesh the Hero Gilgamesh, written by David Ferry, illustrates a story about a man who knows everything, but continues to try and learn more. Although Gilgamesh may be arrogant, he still remains a great ruler and commander of Uruk. Throughout the book, the adventures of Gilgamesh fit Joseph Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey. After analyzing the pieces to the hero’s journey, Gilgamesh is proven to be a true hero because his journey parallels that of the hero’s journey describedRead MoreGilgamesh Heros Journey Analysis1052 Words   |  5 Pages In The Epic of Gilgamesh we see an epic hero, Gilgamesh, rule over the town of Urik. He is a harsh ruler who makes his power known to his people. Shortly after this, he meets his equal in strength, Enkidu, who is a man from nature. Together these two conquer many lands until the gods decide that they are two powerful together, and they kill Enkidu. This loss to Gilgamesh forces him to go out wandering the land looking for answers to immorality. Everything that Gilgamesh does follows the characterRead MoreThe Heros Journey In The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Matrix1291 Words   |  6 PagesIn all of literature, patterns and stages of the hero’s journey can be seen and identified within every story. Joseph Campbell applied the term â€Å"monomyth† to stories in order to describe basic stages that every hero quest goes through. When Joseph identified these common parts of stories, he helped connect the world of literature and establish recurring characters, actions, an d situations. Even when pieces of literature that seem to have no connection to each other are examined, such as The MatrixRead MoreThe Characteristics Of A Hero Journey In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1035 Words   |  5 Pagessimilar. Traits of a modern day hero can be traced back to â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† which dates back to two-thousand BC. This reflects the power of a hero and its message that it portrays to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The ability to capture the attention and resonate with a universal crowd is unique to a hero. That being said, even though there exists a multitude of hero stories, all of heroes in them share a common journey with distinct actions and conflicts. In order to be considered a heroRead MoreThe Hero s Journeys Of Gilgamesh And J.k. Rowling1590 Words   |  7 PagesTHESIS The hero’s journeys of Gilgamesh and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series shape the central characters and develop their qualities so they can rise to their station and overcome their difficult tasks along the way. PURPOSE STATEMENT By reviewing textual sources of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and The Gilgamesh, and sources on the monomyth, it can be made clear that the Harry Potter books and the story of Gilgamesh are similar due to their use of the hero’s journey. INTRODUCTION TheRead MoreAnalysis of Internal and Eternal Journeys Within Gilgamesh674 Words   |  3 PagesJourneys within Gilgamesh: Internal and external The Epic of Gilgamesh details two fundamental types of heroic journeys or questions: external and internal ones. The first journey is an external one, in which Gilgamesh proves himself to be the most valiant of all warriors, overcoming Enkidu and Humbaba. The second type of journey is an internal one, in which Gilgamesh seeks to understand the meaning of life, after the death of his beloved friend Enkidu. When Gilgamesh realizes that his strengthRead MoreThe Hero s Journey From The Epic Of Gilgamesh942 Words   |  4 Pages Gilgamesh was a powerful king of Uruk an ancient city in Sumer now known as Iraq. Created by the gods, Gilgamesh was 2/3 god and 1/3 man he thought of himself as undefeatable, and carried himself immorally, taking advantage of his people. Being tired of this the people of Uruk began sobbing, and the goddess Aruru heard their cries and created Gilgamesh s equal Enkidu. Together they would go on to venture into battles, one of which leads to the death of Enkidu th at brings Gilgamesh to his veryRead MoreEssay Gilgamesh and John Campbells Heros Journey1778 Words   |  8 PagesWhen reading Gilgamesh, it is not uncommon for many to relate the tales protagonist to John Campbells theory on the twelve steps of a Heros journey, which characterizes the typical progression of most epic stories. However, I make the claim that, as per Campbells theory, it is not Gilgamesh himself who is the hero of the tale. Rather, Gilgamesh and his ally Enkindu combine to form the single hero of the story, with Enkindu actually meeting most of Campbells criteria. Together, both charactersRead MoreEpic Journeys towards Improvement in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Oedipus Rex670 Words   |  3 Pagesreadings, The Epic of Gilgamesh and Oedipus Rex, both protagonists embark in an epic journey to either better themselves, or their kingdoms. Gilgamesh slays a monster with the help of Enkidu for fame, but then leaves his kingdom of Uruk to go on a quest for immortality. Oedi pus outsmarts a monster and saves the city of Thebes once, but then has to save it once more by leaving Thebes. Both protagonists have similarities and differences in each of their journeys. Oedipus and Gilgamesh both similarly have

The Beginning of the American Civil War

On February 4, 1861, delegates from the seven seceded states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) met in Montgomery, AL and formed the Confederate States of America. Working through the month, they produced the Confederate States Constitution which was adopted on March 11. This document mirrored the US Constitution in many ways, but provided for the explicit protection of slavery as well as espoused a stronger philosophy of states rights. To lead the new government, the convention selected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as president and Alexander Stephens of Georgia as vice president. Davis, a Mexican-American War veteran, had previously served as a US Senator and Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Moving quickly, Davis called for 100,000 volunteers to defend the Confederacy and directed that federal property in the seceded states immediately be seized. Lincoln and the South At his inauguration on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stated that the US Constitution was a binding contract and that the Southern states secession had no legal basis. Continuing, he said that he had no intention of ending slavery where it already existed and did not plan on invading the South.  Additionally, he commented that he would take no action that would give the South justification for armed rebellion, but would be willing to use force to retain possession of federal installations in the seceded states. As of April 1861, the US only retained control of a few forts in the South: Fort Pickens at Pensacola, FL and Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC as well as Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas and Fort Zachary Taylor at Key West, FL. Attempts to Relieve Fort Sumter Shortly after South Carolina seceded, the commander of the Charleston harbor defenses, Major Robert Anderson of the 1st US Artillery Regiment, moved his men from Fort Moultrie to the nearly-complete Fort Sumter, located on a sandbar in the middle of the harbor. A favorite of general in chief General Winfield Scott, Anderson was considered an able officer and capable of negotiating the increasing tensions in Charleston. Under increasingly siege-like conditions through early 1861, that included South Carolina picket boats observing the Union troops, Andersons men worked to complete construction on the fort and emplace guns in its batteries. After refusing requests from the South Carolina government to vacate the fort, Anderson and the eighty-five men of his garrison settled in to await relief and resupply. In January 1861, President Buchanan attempted to resupply the fort, however, the supply ship, Star of the West, was driven away by guns manned by cadets from the Citadel. First Shot Fired During Attack on Fort Sumter During March 1861, a debate raged in the Confederate government regarding how forceful they should be in trying to take possession of Forts Sumter and Pickens. Davis, like Lincoln, did not wish to anger the border states by appearing as the aggressor. With supplies low, Lincoln informed the governor of South Carolina, Francis W. Pickens, that he intended to have the fort re-provisioned, but promised that no additional men or munitions would be sent. He did stipulate that should the relief expedition be attacked, efforts would be made to fully reinforce the garrison. This news was passed to Davis in Montgomery, where the decision was made to compel the forts surrender before Lincolns ships arrived. This duty fell to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard who had been given command of the siege by Davis. Ironically, Beauregard had previously been a protà ©gà © of Anderson. On April 11, Beauregard sent an aide to demand the forts surrender. Anderson refused and further discussions after midnight failed to resolve the situation. At 4:30 am on April 12, a single mortar round burst over Fort Sumter signaling the other harbor forts to open fire. Anderson did not reply until 7:00 AM when Captain Abner Doubleday fired the first shot for the Union. Short on food and ammunition, Anderson sought to protect his men and limit their exposure to danger. As a result, he only permitted them to use the forts lower, casemated guns which were not positioned to effectively damage the other forts in the harbor. Bombarded through the day and night, Fort Sumters officers quarters caught fire and its main flag pole was toppled. After a 34-hour bombardment, and with his ammunition almost exhausted, Anderson elected t o surrender the fort. Lincolns Call for Volunteers Further Secession In response to the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 90-day volunteers to put the rebellion down and ordered the US Navy to blockade Southern ports. While the Northern states readily sent troops, those states in the upper South hesitated. Unwilling to fight fellow Southerners, the states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina opted to secede and joined the Confederacy. In response, the capital was moved from Montgomery to Richmond, VA. On April 19, 1861, the first Union troops arrived in Baltimore, MD on their way to Washington. While marching from one train station to another they were attacked by a pro-Southern mob. In the riot that ensued twelve civilians and four soldiers were killed. To pacify the city, protect Washington, and ensure that Maryland remained in the Union, Lincoln declared martial law in the state and sent troops. The Anaconda Plan Created by Mexican-American War hero and commanding general of the US Army Winfield Scott, the Anaconda Plan was designed to end the conflict as quickly and bloodlessly as possible. Scott called for the blockade of Southern ports and capture of the vital Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two, as well as advised against a direct attack on Richmond. This approach was mocked by the press and public which believed that a rapid march against the Confederate capital would lead Southern resistance to collapse. Despite this ridicule, as the war unfolded over the next four years, many elements of the plan were implemented and ultimately led the Union to victory. The First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) As troops gathered in Washington, Lincoln appointed Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell to organize them into the Army of Northeastern Virginia. Though concerned about his mens inexperience, McDowell was forced to advance south in July due to growing political pressure and the impending expiration of the volunteers enlistments. Moving with 28,500 men, McDowell planned to attack a 21,900-man Confederate army under Beauregard near Manassas Junction. This was to be supported by Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson who was to march against an 8,900-man Confederate force commanded by Gen. Joseph Johnston in the western part of the state. As McDowell approached Beauregards position, he looked for a way to outflank his opponent. This led to a skirmish at Blackburns Ford on July 18. To the west, Patterson had failed to pin down Johnstons men, allowing them to board trains and move east to reinforce Beauregard. On July 21, McDowell moved forward and attacked Beauregard. His troops succeeded in breaking the Confederate line and forcing them to fall back on their reserves. Rallying around Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jacksons Virginia Brigade, the Confederates stopped the retreat and, with the addition of fresh troops, turned the tide of the battle, routing McDowells army and forcing them to flee back to Washington. Casualties for the battle were 2,896 (460 killed, 1,124 wounded, 1,312 captured) for the Union and 982 (387 killed, 1,582 wounded, 13 missing) for the Confederates.

Comparing Plato s Xi Of The Republic - 1376 Words

In Book XI of The Republic, Socrates introduces three metaphors to help us understand his Theory of the Forms, which says that the only way to acquire true knowledge of the Good, we must turn away from the world of the sensible, and turn to the world of the Forms and intellect. These analogies follow Socrates’ argument earlier in Book XI which is that the only way to correctly rule a city is to master the Forms and understand that ultimate form of the Good which only a true philosopher can achieve. These metaphors are famously called the Analogy of The Sun, The Divided Line, and The Cave, and although these three theories stand alone in revealing insight of what they represent, they are deeply intertwined and essential in understanding†¦show more content†¦Without the sun, there would be no light, and therefore there would be no knowledge which is why Socrates uses the sun to symbolize the closest object that could represent the ultimate Good. In order to better under stand and appreciate the sun analogy, and to further the argument on how to acquire true knowledge, Socrates introduces the analogy of the divided line. The divided line analogy seeks to illustrate four levels of reality; he asks us to imagine a line broken into four segments where the bottom two segments represent the sensory realm and the top two represent our ascension into the realm of true knowledge. The first line is the line of imagination and illusions which is considered by Socrates to be the lowest level of self-actualization and achievement of true knowledge. Often times things that provide instant gratification have no essence, and no true meaning. Things of this nature belong in this line. The next line up is characterized by beliefs. This line signifies a slight ascension into the realm of true knowledge because it deals with the creation of beliefs as a result of slight contact with what is real. The ascension here is minimal because the beliefs deal with physical obj ects rather

Benefits of Adopting a Corporate Code of Ethics

Question: Discuss about theBenefits of Adopting a Corporate Code of Ethics. Answer: Introduction A good corporate governance in a company implies a disciplined and productive workforce followed by a collaborative environment with clear line of understanding and code of ethics. It is very crucial for the top management to adopt stronger principles of ethics that will uplift the company's image and profitability. This report briefs on the importance of corporate code of ethics with successful cases to highlight the need of such codes in an organization. Importance of Corporate Code of Ethics In an organization, good ethics is the key to customer loyalty, stakeholder confidence, long term growth and staff satisfaction (Robberts, 2016). The corporations act states the need for proper ethics in order to manage information trading and also ensure protection of liabilities and not affect the positions of others. Insider Trading Case Study Mr and Ms Lim were responsible for not following the principles as stated under Securities and Futures Act and they supported false trading and this was identified by Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2015. They were identified to promote insider information about a Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) Ltd and some misleading information of shares about it. Having known to be the 14th richest person in Singapore, Ms Lim is enforced with civil penalty of $2.241 million (MAS, 2015). This case gives a clear understanding of the lack of ethics by the board of directors of SPC Ltd that eventually led to industrial espionage. Further, the section 1041A under Corporations Act 2001 indicate prohibition of market manipulation of perpetrator. ASIC takes the accountability to perform stronger investigations against such cases. Asset Impairment Case Study The case of asset impairment happened at Fairfax Media Ltd where the directors of the company have overstated the actual value of assets that created false impression among shareholders about company. This also limited its borrowing capacity and financial image in the market (Ong, 2016). The case is a clear example to note that it is an act of misleading conduct which is strongly prohibited as per section 1041H of Corporations Act and Section 52 of Trade Practices Act 1974. It is the civil liability of a company to promote only true information to third parties. BHP Billiton Tragedy This case involves board of directors who provided wrong values during its asset valuation and one out of three dams that they have built has burst. However, BHP has given incorrect values in its remediation programs so as to build the asset portfolio (Ker, 2016). However, this case clearly says that it is illegal when a company attempts to protect information to be secret and omit regulation and balanced disclosure of financial statements. Conclusion and Recommendations Corporate code of ethics is primary for organizations not only because it saves the image of firm but also regulates every action including financial and operational divisions to ensure satisfaction of all the stakeholders. The three case studies also indicate the importance of clear asset evaluation and need for board of directors to give accurate statements and also to prohibit insider trading in a business. References MAS (2015), MAS takes civil penalty action against Lim Oon Cheng and Lim Huey Yih for insider trading [online]. Available at: https://www.mas.gov.sg/news-and-publications/enforcement-actions/2015/singapore-petroleum-company.aspx [Accessed on 9th October 2016] Ker, P. (2016), BHP Billiton takes $1.4b hit after Samarco dam disaster [online]. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/bhp-billiton-takes-14b-hit-after-samarco-dam-disaster-20160727-gqfdlk.html [Accessed on 9th October 2016] Ong, T. (2016), Fairfax to book nearly $1b in write downs, hints of domain spit [online]. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-01/fairfax-writedown-domain-report-separate/7677264 [Accessed on 9th October 2016] Robberts, R. (2016), Corporate governance. NSW: Southern Cross University.

Dell computer free essay sample

Dell Computers was founded by Michael Dell in 1984 and has its corporate headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. Michael Dell’s winning idea was to sell computer systems directly to customers, allowing him and his company to understand customer needs well and therefore to provide the customer with the most appropriate computing solutions. Dell still practices the direct business model, saving time and cost by bypassing retailers and passing on the cost savings to the customer. Dell takes pride in its ability to provide customers with the most up-to-date technology more quickly than its competitors that still rely on slower indirect distribution channels. Dell has a major presence on the internet, having launched dell. com in 1994. By 1997, Dell was generating $1 million daily in online sales – the first company to achieve this mark. At dell. com, customers can put together their own computer system, order it online, and track its flow from manufacturing to shipping. We will write a custom essay sample on Dell computer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dell also offers its premier. dell. com Web pages, allowing business and institutional customers to conduct online business. Currently, Dell receives about two billion page requests per quarter, covering 81 country sites, 28 languages and dialects, and in 26 different currencies. The Computer Industry The market for personal computers has been growing rapidly for several years with little end in sight. As of the end of the year 2000, approximately 120 million PCs were sold worldwide. Projections for the next five years of industry sales are as shown below: Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Market Size (in millions) 136 152 168 184 200 Competition The PC industry has four major competitors: IBM, Dell, Compaq, and Hewlett-Packard (HP). All four make and sell competitive mid-range performance PCs, with the typical configuration for home or small business use costing approximately $1000. Dell’s variable costs per unit total about $800, and it is believed that competitors face a similar variable cost structure. The Executive would be priced competitively, at about the same price level of $1000. A recent study of the home/small-business PC market found that most customers considered two important non-price attributes when selecting a PC, flexibility and performance. Flexibility refers in this situation to a PC’s ability to run several different kinds of software, to be easily connected to printers and other peripherals, suitability for business as well as educational or game use, and so forth. Performance, by contrast, referred to speed of internet connection and internal calculations, support of the highest-end software programs, and reliability and accuracy of calculations (the study was done soon after the infamous Pentium â€Å"bug† was found, which caused a very small percentage of numerical calculations to be slightly wrong). Using familiar customer survey methods, the consultants conducting the study found the perceived positions of each of the four major brands on the two key non-price attributes. In the same survey, customer preferences were also gathered, and these were used to identify â€Å"ideal brands† and assess the number and size of customer benefit segments in the marketplace. Three segments were identified. Segment 1 (about 20% of the market) prefers highly flexible PCs, Segment 2 (about 50% of the market) likes  high-performance machines, and Segment 3 (about 30% of the market) values a combination of the two attributes. The results of the study are summarized below. Attribute 1 (Performance) Attribute 2 (Flexibility) Size of Segment Relative to Market Ideal Brands by Segment Segment 1 -0. 5 3 0. 2 Segment 2 2 -1 0. 5 Segment 3 1. 5 1. 5 0. 3 Brand Positions Dell 1 -1 IBM 2 -1. 5 HP 1 3 Compaq 0. 5 0. 5 Dell’s Marketing Budget As its product line has expanded and competition has continued to be fierce, Dell has allocated significant budgets to both advertising and distribution. Considering first its distribution policies, Dell uses two principal channels. First is the lower-end channel, used to target PC users who need simple, stand-alone solutions to their PC needs. These users include a large number of both home users and small businesses, and are primarily targeted through superstores and discount clubs as well as through on-line shopping. Users with more complex needs are targeted via specialty computer stores that can provide more high-touch customer solutions. This target group also comprises both home and business customers. If Dell is to launch its new Executive PC, the extensive, multiple distribution channel arrangement is expected to cost in the order of $500 million yearly. The advertising budget is similarly in the range of about $500 million as extensive consumer advertising across multiple media and vehicles is complemented with substantial trade advertising to all dealer sizes and types. In preparation for a financial analysis, Dell’s consultants developed the following set of estimates regarding the impacts of the advertising and distributional expenditures on Executive PC sales. Note: in this durable-goods context, certain terms need to be redefined carefully. â€Å"Switching† refers to a current non-Dell user switching to a Dell Executive PC the next time he or she purchases a PC, and â€Å"repurchasing† refers to a current Dell user purchasing a Dell Executive. Note also that sales promotions such as coupons are irrelevant for this particular firm, so sales promotion budget should be left at zero and the â€Å"probability of trying a received sample† line should be ignored, as it has no effect on the calculations. Long-Run Trial Probability (F)  0. 7 Prob. of Trying a Received Sample (U) 0 Prob. of Switching to New Brand (Qkz) 0. 8 Prob. of Repurchasing New Brand (Qzz) 0. 8 Financial Evaluation of the Executive PC Dell wants to do a financial analysis of the Executive PC to assess the proposed new product’s value. Much of the information presented or calculated above can be used in making this assessment, though the consultant team had to estimate some additional figures with the help of top management. Estimates and managerial input useful for the financial analysis include the following: Fixed (indirect) production costs = $100,000,000 yearly. Corporate overheads (exclusive of RD) charged to the new product = $100,000,000 yearly. RD to be charged to the new product: 2% of dollar sales, beginning in Year 1. Cannibalization: negligible. Project abandonment: negligible. Tax rate: 34%, with no applicable tax credits. Cost of capital: 15%. Working capital: Cash as percent of sales: 10%. Inventory as percent of sales: 10%. Accounts Receivable as percent of sales: 15%. Working capital recovery in Year 5: Percent of cash: 100%. Percent of inventory: 80%. Percent of accounts receivable: 100%. Investment in production facilities: one-time-only $100,000,000 charge in Year 0 (now), depreciated over five years using the straight line method. Dell Computer Discussion Questions 1. According to the PERCEPTOR model, what are the positions of Dell and its competitors in the product space defined by the two most important attributes? How do your positions, and competitive positions, relate to the ideal brand positions of the segments? Which of the brands are well positioned in this market, in your opinion? What are the projected market shares for Dell and its competitors based on this model? 2. What marketing mix (advertising and distribution) will you recommend? Use ASSESSOR to allocate the marketing budget and develop a market share estimate. Use the initial proposed budgets for yearly advertising and distribution, and assess how much market share is affected if these budgets are changed (keeping the total amount expended the same as Dell considers this to be an absolute ceiling on marketing expense). How do the market share estimates obtained by PERCEPTOR and ASSESSOR compare? To answer this question, use the information provided in the case, together with the following additional information obtained from the consultants: FOR THE ADVERTISING RESPONSE FUNCTION Reference Budget: $200,000,000 Minimum Share: 5. 0% Maximum Share: 90. 0% Exponent: 1. 3 FOR THE DISTRIBUTION RESPONSE FUNCTION Reference Budget: $200,000,000 Minimum Share: 0. 0% Maximum Share: 90. 0% Exponent: 0. 8 3. Using the FINANCIAL worksheet, do a five-year projection for Dell’s Executive PC using market shares obtained from PERCEPTOR or ASSESSOR. Assume the market share projected for Year 1 by PERCEPTOR or ASSESSOR is maintained through Year 5. Hint: When using the FINANCIAL worksheet, make your entries of unit sales in thousands of units, and dollar figures in thousands of dollars. That is, to enter 30 million units, type â€Å"30000,† or to enter indirect costs of $100,000,000, enter â€Å"100000. † This minimizes the number of zeroes in the spreadsheet and facilitates interpretation. Caution: Add back the zeroes when obtaining results. So if your NPV shows â€Å"$2,000,000,† it really means $2 billion!  4. Suppose Compaq repositions positively on the performance attribute at the end of year 2. Go back and recalculate market shares for the four brands, and use this market share estimate for years 2 through 5 to recalculate your five-year projection using the FINANCIAL worksheet. How much is Dell affected by this repositioning by Compaq? What steps could Dell take now to protect its position? Explain. 5. Considering all of the above information, should Dell launch the new Executive PC? Explain why or why not.

What Psychology is to Me Essay Example For Students

What Psychology is to Me Essay What Psychology is to MeAfter taking Psychology 1000, psychology means much more to me than itdid prior to taking the class. At the beginning of the semester, I was asked todefine the word psychology, and the best definition I could muster was simplythe study of the mind and how it works. After examining the large realm of thescience of psychology I now realize that this definition was quite incomplete. My initial definition simply covered the branch of psychology known ascognitive psychology, and this is only one of many areas that are actuallyincluded under the title psychology. Many psychologists focus on morequantitative aspects than the function of the human mind. There are severaldifferent areas that are more easily researched than that of the brainsfunctionality. An example would be behavioral psychology in which the focus isput on observing behavior rather than on the processes going on inside thebrain that invoke the subjects behavior. This is just one of the many examplesthat illustrate this point, and that makes developing a working definition ofthe term psychology extremely difficult to attain. We will write a custom essay on What Psychology is to Me specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The range of topics that are considered psychology is very surprising toa newcomer in the field. Everything from determining which parts of the brainare responsible for controlling certain senses to analyzing the influence ofsociety on behavior and development is considered psychology. So it isobvious that my original definition was extremely limited, but it has now beenvastly broadened. In addition to recognizing the broad range of topics that psychologycovers, I also realized that there is large number of different occupations aperson trained in psychology can hold. My original idea was that a psychologistwas a person who dealt only with psychoanalysis, and I would imagine that thisis a common misconception. The possible career fields for a psychologist ismuch greater than I had imagined it to be, it includes everything from schoolcounselors to psychiatrists to sensation and perception researchers. Each different area of psychology has many differences from all of theother areas, but the origins of these areas enables them all to fall under theincredibly large topic of psychology. Although psychology is a very large topicthis immense field is still relatively young and has many unopened doors. Sonot only is the science much larger than I originally thought, but it is stillgrowing and the possibility of making new discoveries is still very open tofuture psychologists. After taking this class, I have realized that through outthe years much has been learned about psychology, and much more is yet to belearned. Social Issues

Returning a Call and Replying to a Message

Returning a Call and Replying to a Message Returning a Call and Replying to a Message Returning a Call and Replying to a Message By Maeve Maddox A person who is not able to speak to a caller at the time a call is placed, telephones the person who called at a later time. The phrase used to describe this exchange of phone calls is â€Å"to return a phone call.† This use of return is suitable in the context of telephoning, but it is not the best choice for other forms of communication. In the context of written messages, â€Å"to return† is commonly understood to mean â€Å"to send back† or â€Å"to reject.† For example: She returned his letters unread. I keep getting all these emails returned undelivered. Senders are getting their  emails returned  when sending to our gmail account. Some speakers, perhaps by analogy with telephoning, use return as if it meant, reply, respond, or respond to. Here are some examples, together with revisions: He returned my message right away. BETTER: He replied to my message right away. I suggested a date to visit his institution but  he never returned my email. BETTER: I suggested a date to visit his institution, but he never replied to my email. The doctor never returned my message  or sent any kind of confirmation that  he  received it. BETTER: The doctor never responded to my message or sent any kind of confirmation that he received it. They  never returned my request  for information. BETTER: They never responded to my request for information. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsYay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsPassed vs Past

Eliminating Superfluous Phrases

Eliminating Superfluous Phrases Eliminating Superfluous Phrases Eliminating Superfluous Phrases By Catherine Osborn In classes I have taught, students lean towards using phrases that they think make them â€Å"sound smarter† but end up making their work wordy and clunky. By streamlining your sentences and cutting out a few phrases, you can communicate your point much more effectively. For example, here is a list of some that crop up frequently: â€Å"Needless to say†¦Ã¢â‚¬  If it’s so needless to say, then why are you saying it? â€Å"It goes without saying†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Same problem here; easier to get right to your point â€Å"For all intents and purposes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Again, this could easily be cut and your sentence would begin with exactly what you intend to say. â€Å"In light of the fact that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  You could easily just say â€Å"Since†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Clear concise writing applies to all genres and helps your audience understand your point without being bogged down. Here are some quotations from newspapers that illustrate the cumbersome use of those phrases: Payne, who turns 70 in October, will be succeeded by Fred Ridley, 65, a former U.S. Amateur champion and U.S. Golf Association president who has served as chair of Augusta National’s competition committee. The change becomes effective Oct. 16, although for all intents and purposes, Ridley is now in charge, taking over a vital leadership role in golf at a time of transition and challenge for the game throughout the world. USA Today It goes without saying that Democrats would view President Trumps North Korean negotiations quite differently than Republicans, but I was honestly surprised by the strong negative reaction of Trump critics on the right. USA Today Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Dialogue Dos and Don'ts8 Proofreading Tips And Techniques150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A COUNTRY OF YOUR CHOICE Essay

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A COUNTRY OF YOUR CHOICE - Essay Example However the modern UK banking and Finance owe their evolution to the Crown's dissolution of the monasteries which acted as money keepers in the 1530s.( Chen 1983:1400). Today the UK banking system is extremely advanced in terms of the globalization of its financial markets. The constant development and innovation in its financial operations and strategies has changed both its operational and structural financial landscape. Currently it is highly influenced by the Basel Committee (under the Bank of International Settlements) which was formed in response to the crises caused by the insolvency of Bankaus Herstatt and the problems caused by Nixon's announcement of the closure of the Golden Window ,has worked since 1974 to prevent such risks from injuring the health and wealth of such financial institutions. Of more importance however is the UK's current monetary policy which is aimed at delivering price stability which is a result of low inflation (with the Government's inflation target of 2%. expressed in terms of an annual rate of inflation based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).)Currently the Bank of England with its powers under the Bank of England Act 1998 has the role of the financial regulator and can set interest rates with little interference from the government.(expressed in terms of an annual rate of inflation based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). The decade of the nineties demonstrated low and relatively stable interest rates in contrast to the high and volatile interest rates which haunted the economy in the seventies.The interest rates also fell following the 9/11 incident,yet the UK financial sector saw definite booms with in the housing sector as interest rates increased in 2004.However the current low interest rates are affecting the system of bond markets, curre ncy markets and stock markets. This has also reportedly led to an increase in the to income ratio for consumers.Before the FSA (Financial Services Authority) became the statutory banking supervisor of the UK through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000,UK bank supervision was the responsibility of the Bank of England. The Bank of England has been an informal supervisor for British Banks ever since the mid nineteenth century but the Bank of England Act 1979 confirmed these powers by granting it be able to approve or refuse authorization to carry out banking business in the UK. Employment and Inflation Recent statistics show that things are improving in terms of microeconomic indicators like that of employment and reduced inflation.The diagram below gives a rough estimate of the UK interest rates This is because during the past few years the UK has had much success in controlling interest rate fuelled inflationary problems. Employment in the UK reached 29 million in 2006 for the first time; the highest figure since comparable records began in 19711. New evidence from the Bank of England however Inflation Report2 suggests that UK has been hit by stagflation in its financial sector "In the central projection, higher energy and import prices push inflation above the target in the near term. Inflation then falls back to

EasyJet plc (airline strategy report) Assignment - 1

EasyJet plc (airline strategy report) - Assignment Example Its technology is at a strong point though there is need for improvement with constant growth of new technology (Simister 2011). Threat of entry is very low compared to heavy budget connected to airline demands. Globalization is providing the company with new opportunities for new markets allowing the company expands through different nations. EasyJet has a great potential of growth within the airline industry because of its ability to operate in small airports where other airlines in these airports is very low (Bamber et al. 2009). The diagram above indicates that EasyJet is in a favorable position giving it the ability to take up a growth strategy which is aggressive. It is evident that the airline is operating in a stable and attractive industry giving it competitive advantages coupled with significant financial strength. From the above analysis, it is quite evident that EasyJet strategy is adequate in relation to the airline industry market demand. However, there are several issues that the company needs to address to strengthen its strategies. The following recommendations are necessary; There is need for EasyJet to expand its geographical market to other market apart from its concentration in Europe and countries near Europe. By so doing the company will be able to capture low cost airline demand especially in developing countries. In order to increase its competition in the low cost airlines, it is important for EasyJet to improve its facilities of operating the flights. Improving its facilities will provide the airline with opportunities to operate better in markets. Even in establishment of low cost flights, EasyJet need to create different boarding classes to fit a wide segment of its target market. For instance, businessmen prefer business class while travelling which cannot be the same case for other individuals. The company can engage its customer through offering group discounts for customer travelling as group. For

Essay --

ii. The ICC and Restorative Justice The recognition of victim’s rights as an integral part of the ICC is exemplified in the Preamble of the Rome Statute, which declares that the ICC was created, in part, in recognition of the fact that â€Å"during this century millions of children, women and men have been the victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.† However, the ICC’s recognition of victim’s rights does not go towards the effectiveness of the ICC at achieving the victim’s goals. The ICC cannot effectively achieve the goals of restorative justice because of: (1) it’s inflexible demand for Western methods of adjudication; and (2) its inherent emphasis on societal rehabilitation as opposed to individual rehabilitation. First, the ICC places an unabated amount of pressure on the demand for a criminal prosecution in the context of a courtroom. The Preamble and Article 1 of the Rome Statute sets forth an important restriction on power of the ICC: it â€Å"shall be complementary to national criminal jurisdictions.† A case will be considered inadmissible when it is â€Å"being investigated or prosecuted by a State which has jurisdiction over it† or â€Å"has been investigated by a State which has jurisdiction over it and the State has decided not to prosecute†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The question most often posed by commentators is: can non-prosecutorial measures demonstrate â€Å"an intent to bring the person concerned to justice?† In the trial against Congolese warlords Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, Katanga’s defense counsel challenged the admissibility of the case. The Trial Chamber offers two interpretations of the word â€Å"unwillingness† as used in Article 1 7: (1) unwillingness â€Å"motivated by the desire to obstruct the course o... ...avior, i.e. laws, prosecutions support societal rehabilitation by influencing the moral values of that society. Such societal rehabilitation can inoculate the population against lapses into oppressive behavior and repressive regimes. However, prosecutions do not attempt to rehabilitate or change the moral values of the perpetrator, or individual victims. This is primarily brought about by the challenge to balance the goal of restorative justice with the interests of efficiency and fairness. Also, the remoteness of the ICC may play a role in its inability to serve as a rehabilitative function for individuals. Prosecutions at The Hague builds further distance between the conflict and those who participated in and were victims of it. The empirical weight of the ICC’s geographic remoteness has been long disputed; however, no conclusive determinations have been reached.

Zoe’s Tale PART II Chapter Sixteen

â€Å"We're looking for Joe Loong,† Jane said, to the assembled search team, at the edge of the forest by Joe's house. Dad, who was standing with her and Savitri, was letting her run the show. â€Å"He's been missing for the last two days. Therese Arlien, his companion, tells me that he was excited about the return of the fanties to the area and told her he was thinking of trying to get close to one of the herds. We're working under the assumption that's what he did, and then either got lost, or perhaps got injured by one of the animals.† Jane motioned at the line of trees. â€Å"We're going to search the area in teams of four, spreading out in a line from here. Everyone in a group stays in voice contact with the group members on either side; every one at the left or right of a group also stays in voice contact with your opposite number from the next group over. Call to each other every couple of minutes. We'll do this slow and careful; I don't want any of us adding to the number of the lost, understand? If you lose voice contact with the other members of your group, stop and stay where you are, and let your group members reestablish contact. If the person next to you doesn't respond when you call, stop and alert those you are in contact with. Again, let's not lose anyone else, especially when we're trying to find Joe. Now, you all know who we are looking for?† There were general nods; most of the hundred and fifty or so folks who'd showed up to look for Loong were friends of his. I personally had only the vaguest of ideas of what he looked like, but I was going on the idea that if someone came running toward us, waving his hands and saying, â€Å"Thank God you found me,† it was likely to be him. And joining the search party was getting me a day out of school. You can't argue with that. â€Å"All right, then,† Mom said. â€Å"Let's organize into teams.† People started grouping together in fours; I turned to Gretchen and figured she and I would be a team with Hickory and Dickory. â€Å"Zoe,† Mom said. â€Å"You're with me. Bring Hickory and Dickory.† â€Å"Can Gretchen come with us?† I asked. â€Å"No,† Jane said. â€Å"Too large. Sorry, Gretchen.† â€Å"It's all right,† Gretchen said to Mom, and then turned back to me. â€Å"Try to survive without me,† she said. â€Å"Stop,† I said. â€Å"It's not like we're dating.† She grinned and wandered off to join another group. After several minutes three dozen groups of four were spread out over more than half a klick of tree line. Jane gave the signal and we started in. Then came the boring: three hours of stomping through the woods, slowly, searching for signs that Joe Loong had wandered in this direction, calling out to each other every few minutes. I found nothing, Mom to my left found nothing, Hickory to my right found nothing, and Dickory to its right found nothing either. Not to be hopelessly shallow about it, but I thought it would be at least a little more interesting than it was. â€Å"Are we going to take a break anytime soon?† I asked Jane, walking up to her when she wandered into visual range. â€Å"You're tired?† she said. â€Å"I would think that after all the training you do, a walk in the woods would be an easy thing.† I paused at this comment; I didn't make any secret of my training with Hickory and Dickory – it would be hard to hide, given how much time I gave to it – but it's not something that the two of us talked about much. â€Å"It's not a stamina issue,† I said. â€Å"It's a boredom issue. I've been scanning the forest floor for three hours. I'm getting a little punchy.† Jane nodded. â€Å"We'll take a rest soon. If we don't find something in this area in the next hour, I'll regather people on the other side of Joe's homestead and try over there,† she said. â€Å"You don't mind me doing what I do with Hickory and Dickory, do you?† I asked. â€Å"It's not like I talk about it to you much. Either with you or Dad.† â€Å"It worried us the first couple of weeks, when you came in covered with bruises and then went to sleep without actually saying hello to us,† Jane said. She kept walking and scanning as she talked. â€Å"And I was sorry it broke up your friendship with Enzo. But you're old enough now to make your own choices about what you want to do with your time, and we both decided that we weren't going to breathe down your neck about it.† I was about to say, Well, it wasn't entirely my own choice to do this, but Jane kept talking. â€Å"Beside that, we think it's smart,† she said. â€Å"I don't know when we'll be found, but I think we will be. I can take care of myself; John can take care of himself. We were soldiers. We're happy to see that you're learning to take care of yourself, too. When it comes down to it, it might be the thing that makes a difference.† I stopped walking. â€Å"Well, that was a depressing thing to say,† I said. Jane stopped and came back to me. â€Å"I didn't mean it that way,† she said. â€Å"You just said I might be alone at the end of all this,† I said. â€Å"That each of us will have to take care of ourselves. That's not exactly a happy thought, you know.† â€Å"I didn't mean it that way,† Jane said. She reached over and touched the jade elephant pendant she had given me years ago. â€Å"John and I will never leave you, Zoe. Never abandon you. You need to know that. It's a promise we made to you. What I am saying is that we will need each other. Knowing how to take care of ourselves means we are better able to help each other. It means that you will be able to help us. Think about that, Zoe. Everything might come down to what you are able to do. For us. And for the colony. That's what I'm saying.† â€Å"I doubt it's going to come to that,† I said. â€Å"Well, I doubt it too,† Jane said. â€Å"Or at least I hope it doesn't come to that.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said, wryly. â€Å"You know what I mean,† Mom said. â€Å"I do,† I said. â€Å"I think it's funny how bluntly you put it.† To the left of us there was a faint scream. Jane swiveled in its direction and then turned back to face me; her expression left very little doubt that whatever mom-daughter bonding moment we'd been having was at a very abrupt end. â€Å"Stay here,† she said. â€Å"Send word down the line to halt. Hickory, come with me.† The two of them sped off in the direction of the scream quietly at what seemed like an almost impossible high speed; I was suddenly reminded that, yes, in fact, my mom was a veteran warrior. There's a thought for you. It was just now I finally had the tools to really appreciate it. Several minutes later Hickory returned to us, clicked something to Dickory in their native tongue as he passed, and looked at me. â€Å"Lieutenant Sagan says that you are to return to the colony with Dickory,† Hickory said. â€Å"Why?† I asked. â€Å"Have they found Joe?† â€Å"They have,† Hickory said. â€Å"Is he all right?† I asked. â€Å"He is dead,† Hickory said. â€Å"And Lieutenant Sagan believes there is reason to worry that the search parties may be in danger if they stay out here much longer.† â€Å"Why?† I asked. â€Å"Because of the fanties? Was he trampled or something?† Hickory looked at me levelly. â€Å"Zoe, you do not need me to remind you of your last trip into the forest and what followed you then.† I went very cold. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Whatever they are, they appear to follow the fantie herds as they migrate,† Hickory said. â€Å"They have followed those herds back here. And it appears that they found Joseph Loong in the woods.† â€Å"Oh my God,† I said. â€Å"I have to tell Jane.† â€Å"I assure you, she has figured it out,† Hickory said. â€Å"And I am to find Major Perry now, so he will know presently. This is being taken care of. The lieutenant asks for you to return to Croatoan. As do I. Dickory will accompany you. Go now. And I advise silence until your parents speak of this publicly.† Hickory strode off into the distance. I watched it go, and then headed home, fast, Dickory matching my strides, both of us moving quietly, as we had practiced so many times. The fact that Joe Loong was dead spread fast in the colony. Rumors of how he died spread even faster. Gretchen and I sat in front of Croatoan's community center and watched a revolving cast of rumormongers offer up their takes. Jun Lee and Evan Black were the first to talk; they had been part of the group that had found Loong's body. They were enjoying their moment in the spotlight as they told everyone who would listen about how they found Loong, and how he had been attacked, and how whatever had attacked him had eaten part of him. Some people speculated that a pack of yotes, the local carnivores, had cornered Joe Loong and brought him down, but Jun and Evan laughed at that. We'd all seen the yotes; they were the size of small dogs and ran from the colonists whenever they saw them (and for good reason, since the colonists had taken to shooting at them for bothering the livestock). No yote, or even a pack of yotes, they said, could have done to Joe what they'd seen had been done to him. Shortly after these gory tidbits had gotten around, the entire colony council met in Croatoan's medical bay, where Loong's body had been taken. The fact that the government was being pulled into it made people suspect it might actually have been murder (the fact that the â€Å"government† in this case was just twelve people who spent most of their time hoeing rows like everyone else didn't matter). Loong had been seeing a woman who'd recently dumped her husband, so now the husband was a prime suspect; maybe he'd followed Loong into the woods, killed him, and then yotes had at him. This theory made Jun and Evan unhappy – their version with a mysterious predator was much more sexy – but everyone else seemed to like it better. The inconvenient fact that the presumed murderer in this case had already been in Jane's custody on a different charge and couldn't possibly have done the deed seemed to escape most people's notice. Gretchen and I knew the murder rumor had nothing to it, and that Jun and Evan's theory was closer to reality than not, but we kept our mouths shut. Adding what we knew wouldn't make anyone feel less paranoid at the moment. â€Å"I know what it is,† Magdy said, to a bunch of male friends. I nudged Gretchen with an elbow and motioned with my head at Magdy. She rolled her eyes and very loudly called him over before he could say anything else. â€Å"Yes?† he said. â€Å"Are you stupid?† Gretchen asked. â€Å"See, this is what I miss about you, Gretchen,† Magdy said. â€Å"Your charm.† â€Å"Just like what I miss about you is your brains,† Gretchen said. â€Å"What were you about to say to your little group of friends, I wonder?† â€Å"I was going to tell them about what happened when we followed the fanties,† Magdy said. â€Å"Because you think it would be smart at the moment to give people another reason to panic,† Gretchen said. â€Å"No one's panicking,† Magdy said. â€Å"Not yet,† I said. â€Å"But if you start telling that story, you're not going to help things, Magdy.† â€Å"I think people should know what we're up against,† Magdy said. â€Å"We don't know what we're up against,† I said. â€Å"We never actually saw anything. You're just going to be adding to the rumors. Let my parents and Gretchen's dad and the rest of the council do their jobs right now and figure out what's actually going on and what to tell people without you making their job harder.† â€Å"I'll take that under advisement, Zoe,† Magdy said, and turned to go back to his pals. â€Å"Fine,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Take this under advisement, too: You tell your pals there about what followed us out there in the woods, and I'll tell them the part where you ended up eating dirt because Hickory dropped you to the ground after you panicked and took a shot at him.† â€Å"A really lousy shot,† I said. â€Å"One where you almost blew off your own toe.† â€Å"Good point,† Gretchen said. â€Å"We'll have fun telling that part.† Magdy narrowed his eyes at both of us and stomped off toward his pals without another word. â€Å"Think it'll work?† I asked. â€Å"Of course it'll work,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Magdy's ego is the size of a planet. The amount of time and effort he puts into doing things to make himself look good is astounding. He's not going to let us mess with that.† As if on cue, Magdy glanced over at Gretchen. She waved and smiled. Magdy surreptitiously flipped her off and started talking to his friends. â€Å"See,† Gretchen said. â€Å"He's not that hard to understand.† â€Å"You liked him once,† I reminded her. â€Å"I still like him,† Gretchen said. â€Å"He's very cute, you know. And funny. He just needs to pull his head out of a certain part of his anatomy. Maybe in another year he'll be tolerable.† â€Å"Or two,† I said. â€Å"I'm optimistic,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Anyway, that's one rumor squashed for now.† â€Å"It's not really a rumor,† I said. â€Å"We really were followed that night. Hickory said so.† â€Å"I know,† Gretchen said. â€Å"And it's going to come out sooner or later. I'd just rather not have it involve us. My dad still doesn't know I did all that sneaking out, and he's the sort of guy that believes in retroactive punishment.† â€Å"So you're not really worried about avoiding panic,† I said. â€Å"You're just covering your own tail.† â€Å"Guilty,† Gretchen said. â€Å"But avoiding panic is how I'm rationalizing it.† But as it happens, we didn't avoid panic for long. Paulo Gutierrez was a member of the colonial council, and it was there he found out that Joe Loong had not only been killed, but that he'd been murdered – and not by a human being. There really was something else out there. Something smart enough to make spears and knives. Something smart enough to turn poor Joe Loong into food. The council members had been ordered by my parents not to talk about this fact yet, in order to avoid a panic. Paulo Gutierrez ignored them. Or, actually, defied them. â€Å"They told me it was covered by something called the State Secrets Act, and that I couldn't tell you about it,† Gutierrez told a group that surrounded him and a few other men, all carrying rifles. â€Å"I say to hell with that. There's something that's out there right now, killing us. They have weapons. They say they follow the fantie herds, but I think they could have just been in the woods all this time, sizing us up, so they would know how to hunt us. They hunted Joe Loong. Hunted him and killed him. Me and the boys here are planning to return the favor.† And then Gutierrez and his hunting party tromped off in the direction of the woods. Gutierrez's declaration and news of his hunting party raced through the colony. I heard about it as kids came running up to the community center with all the latest; by that time Gutierrez and his crew had already been in the woods for a while. I went to tell my parents, but John and Jane were already off to bring back the hunting party. The two of them were former military; I didn't think they would have any trouble bringing them back. But I was wrong. John and Jane found the hunting party, but before they could drag them back, the creatures in the woods ambushed them all. Gutierrez and all his men were killed in the attack. Jane was stabbed in the gut. John chased after the fleeing creatures and caught up with them at the tree line, where they attacked another colonist at his homestead. That colonist was Hiram Yoder, one of the Mennonites who helped save the colony by training the rest of us how to plant and farm without the help of computerized machinery. He was a pacifist and didn't try to fight the creatures. They killed him anyway. In the space of a couple of hours, six colonists were dead, and we learned that we weren't alone on Roanoke – and what was here with us was getting used to hunting us. But I was more worried about my mom. â€Å"You can't see her yet,† Dad said to me. â€Å"Dr. Tsao is working on her right now.† â€Å"Is she going to be okay?† I asked. â€Å"She'll be okay,† Dad said. â€Å"She said it was not as bad as it looked.† â€Å"How bad did it look?† I asked him. â€Å"It looked bad,† Dad said, and then realized that honesty wasn't really what I was looking for at the moment. â€Å"But, look, she ran after those things after she'd been wounded. If she had been really injured, she wouldn't have been able to do that, right? Your mom knows her own body. I think she'll be fine. And anyway, she's being worked on right now. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she's walking around like nothing happened by this time tomorrow.† â€Å"You don't have to lie to me,† I said, although per the previous comment he was actually telling me what I wanted to hear. â€Å"I'm not lying,† Dad said. â€Å"Dr. Tsao is excellent at what she does. And your mom is a very fast healer these days.† â€Å"Are you okay?† I asked. â€Å"I've had better days,† he said, and something flat and tired in his voice made me decide not to press the matter any further. I gave him a hug and told him I was going to visit Gretchen and would be over there for a while, in order to stay out of his hair. Night was falling as I stepped out of our bungalow. I looked out toward Croatoan's gate and saw colonists streaming in from their homesteads; no one, it seemed, wanted to spend the night outside the walls of the colony village. I didn't blame them one bit. I turned to head to Gretchen's and was mildly surprised to see her striding up under full steam. â€Å"We have a problem,† she said to me. â€Å"What is it?† I said. â€Å"Our idiot friend Magdy has taken a group of his friends into the forest,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Oh, God,† I said. â€Å"Tell me Enzo isn't with him.† â€Å"Of course Enzo's with him,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Enzo's always with him. Trying to talk sense to him even as he's following him right off a cliff.†