Personal Development: Time Management Essay

Effective Time Management is a valuable resource. Those who learn to value it go much ahead in life. On the other hand, the people who take time for granted often end up losing much. Prioritizing well is the key to time management and proper management of time can improve the quality of your life, almost dramatically. These are some of the benefits of Effective Time Management: Allows You To Be In Control Everyone keeps harping about how life is beyond their control. While certain things really are, it is still possible to take command of most of the things in life with much ease. Reduces Stress & Frustration Effective Time management is the most valuable resource and yet, the most undervalued. It needs to be acknowledged that a paucity of time for finishing tasks makes you feel stressed out and frustrated and the spill-over effect is to be seen in every aspect of your life. Saves Quality Time Managing time also helps you in saving precious time, which you can utilize in pursuing your hobbies or spending quality time with your family. Boosts Confidence And A Sense Of Achievement Completing tasks within a set time period boosts your confidence and self belief, as your life seems to be under your control. REVIEW TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS TO ACHIEVE ORGANASATIONAL AND PERSONAL OBJECTIVES. Time management skills to achieve organisational and personal objective are: MAKE USE OF DOWN TIME by Using walking, driving, showering, or otherwise â€Å"dead† times to plan. Think about what your goals are for that day or the next. Again, REWARD YOURSELF Whenever you accomplish something, especially the important things, make sure to take the time to reward yourself. Also AVOID PROCRASTINATION AT ALL COST When trying to be more productive and trying to save time, procrastination should be avoided like nothing else. APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO CONDUCT A TIME MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS Activity logs are the key component to any sort of time management. Record your time spent on tasks and spot what areas that need improvement. Prioritization is the next critical ingredient to time management success; it’s what lets you know what you should be spending the most time and effort on. Another crucial part to add to your time management tools is the enforcement of setting goals for you and your team. SECTION 2: SKILLS AUDIT EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUAL SELF DEVELOPMENT Continual self Development are activities that improve self-knowledge and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realisation of dreams and aspirations. This encourages one be the complete entity, it allows an open frame of mind and encourages positivity. The importance of continual self development are: It helps you understand yourself better It assist you in creating your goals and life purpose It guides you in managing and spending your time effectively It enhances your ability to handle stress, adversity and change It supports you in managing your finances more wisely It teaches you to build better relationship with people It allows you to live a balanced lifestyle It provides an opportunity to take care of your health. USE APPROPRIATE METHOS TO ASSESS SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES AGAINST ORGANISATION AND PERSONAL OBJECTIVES. 1. Thinking critically and making judgments: Present a case for an interest group, prepare a committee briefing paper for a specific meeting 2. Solving problems and developing plans : Identifying problems, analyzing data, reviewing and applying information 3. Performing procedures and demonstrating techniques: By following protocols, carrying out instructions, observing real or simulated professional practice 4. Managing and developing oneself : working co-operatively, learning independently, being self directed, manage time, manage task 6. Demonstrating knowledge and understanding: By relating and interrelating, recognizing and identifying. MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR FILLING IDENTIFIED SKILLS GAPS Know your organization â€Å"Many companies these days are taking on the ‘lean philosophy’ to cut expenses,†. individuals study the organization, and look for the positions that will likely take on greater responsibilities if and when positions are cut. Know where your company is going â€Å"Employees should look at future goals that are outlined in company-wide annual goal-setting meetings,†. By reviewing these goals, it’s easy for employees to uncover other educational frameworks that will meet these goals. Focus on customer service Employees should dig into their customer base to uncover any customer service improvement ideas that can be brought to the superiors. Find a mentor Connecting with a professional mentor or becoming active in relevant professional organizations can help employees learn more about the trends within their industry. SECTION 3: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PRODUCE A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AGAINST S.M.A.R.T OBJECTIVES Personal Development Plan is a continuous process of targeted reflection and self-improvement – identifying your current and future needs, and working out how you can meet them. It also includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. Producing a personal development plan against S.M.A.R.T objectives by: Improving self-awareness, improving self-knowledge, improving or learning new skills, becoming a self-leader, building or renewing identity/self-esteem, developing strengths or talents, improving wealth, spiritual development, identifying or improving potential, building employability or human capital, enhancing lifestyle or the quality of life, fulfilling aspirations, initiating a life enterprise or personal autonomy PLAN RESOURCES NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Questionnaires; Semester planners; Details of your meetings with your personal tutor; Academic and/or personal problems you may have encountered; Your academic targets; Personal records of your progress in course units; Exam results and other achievements; Your career goals. SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTING A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN The importance of monitoring a personal development plan is to ensure that activities are kept within the parameters of the agreed strategic aims and objectives; Also to ensure that activities are consistent with personal vision, mission and values; and keep under review internal and external changes which may require changes to the personal’s strategy or affect their ability to achieve their objectives. It also helps in monitoring one’s progress, it helps in evaluating personal performance. USE APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUES TO REVIEW THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. Solicit Feedback Regularly: Perception is reality. Seek to understand how people perceive you. You may not be achieving the impact you expected in leading or working with others. You cannot adjust your approach without the benefit of feedback that can inform you in terms of how your intentions were received by others. Be proactive in finding out what people think about you and your style of interacting and your approach. Be open to and appreciative of the feedback you receive, not defensive. Reflect on Performance: Some successful people are gregarious and extroverted while others are reserved and introverted. But all successful people know how to spend time alone being reflective and thoughtful about recent performance and behaviour. Always take ample time at the conclusion of major elements of work to reflect on the quality of what you produced and the effectiveness of your work with others. The key to reflecting on performance is remaining balanced in your self-assessment. Be self -critical: understand what you could have done better and learn from these mistakes. Know Your Strengths  and Weaknesses: As you collect feedback and reflections, come to understand your personal strengths and weaknesses. Know that everyone has both. Successful people build success from their strengths while they limit the negative impact of their weaknesses. UPDATE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN To develop the ability to make choices, set goals and take action. Develop a rational opinion and explain the reasoning behind it. Seek solutions/alternative options Listen and observe Be aware of disadvantage and changing needs – old age/ illness/ disability Develop positive relationships with a variety of people Share responsibility for group tasks Anticipate and counter negative reaction and rationale Resolve conflicts Make choices and decisions Set goals, plan, organise, promote, implement, evaluate. Recognized their own worth Demonstrate assertiveness, to enable active citizenship, at home, at school and in the community. REFLECTIVE LEARNING STATEMENT The main theme of this unit which is PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT have a significant impact in my work role and has helped me to realised the talent and competency in me. It allows me to be in control of my time, managing it effectively and utilizing it to the fullest. It also boost my confidence and sense of achievement with self belief as my life seems to be under my control. It assist me in setting adequate goals for myself and avoid procrastination at all cost The belief that I can achieve and be successful in whatsoever am doing is my strength at the start and end of this unit While time interval and access to books from the library serve as a weakness.

Mcdonald’s Practices/Operations in Turbulent Environment

McDonald’s strategic plan is called ‘plan to win’ which helps McDonald’s to be the best fast food restaurant chain rather than the biggest fast food restaurant chain. (kspain, 2008) In turbulent environment, McDonald’s tries to achieve high performance by applying the 5 P’s: people, product, price, promotion, and place or distribution. Product involves both intangible and tangible offerings of the business which customer can see, feel, taste or smell. (Kukreja, 2011) Next, price consists of all the costs of production and delivery of the product or service. Then, promotion comprises all the types and manner of communication that companies use to make products or services known to the customer. Finally, place or distribution is the channel that connects the products or services to the consumers. McDonald’s focuses primarily on its people or focusing on maintaining and improving employee satisfaction in order to maintain good relationship between the employees and the customers. In order to improve employee satisfaction, McDonald’s uses flexible schedules for the employees to fit their working schedule into the way they live their life. McDonald’s also uses celebrating diversity in their hiring way to combining their ideal work force with different people from different backgrounds with different interests. (Mcdonalds, 2011) Besides that, McDonald’s also simplifies the restaurant environment for their staff and customers in a faster speed. To enhance the relationship between employees and the customers, McDonald’s ensures their staffs are friendly and as well as fast with hospitality training. Finally, McDonald’s also provides cost-efficient, relevant training for their world-wide workforce and provide career opportunities for people to achieve their potential. In the product strategy, McDonald’s offered a wider variety of food. McDonald’s strategic planning focuses on breakfasts, chicken, beverages and convenience. The Southern Style Chicken Biscuits are launched for breakfast in McDonald’s. However, the Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches are launched for lunch and dinner. McDonald’s introduced new hot specialty coffee offerings on a market-by-market basis in their beverages business. Besides that, McDonald’s also offered burgers-and-fries instead of just offering snack foods and desserts. Despite of negative image of McDonald’s for the unhealthy food, McDonald’s offers oatmeal and salads to replace high calorie breakfast sandwiches for somewhat healthier options. Lastly, the Happy Meal is one of the good product strategies which aim kids providing kid’s favorites such as small French fries and chicken nuggets along with a small toy. ECUATORIALL, 2012)These planning enables McDonald’s to satisfy customers’ desire for food that fit into today’s lifestyle. For the price strategy, McDonald’s had introduced value meal for their customers. The value meal allows customers to buy a sandwich, French fries, and beverages at a discount price when purchased together. McDonald’s restaurant offer seven to twelve value meals for the lunch and breakfast menu. McDonald’s also offers a dollar menu which consisting many individual items costing only $1. 00 each. investopedia, 2009) Other than that, some of the individual franchise owners offer daily specials of special menu items with lower price such as Big Mac Mondays. These helps McDonald’s to offer affordable prices to customers and also to be profitable for the company. McDonald's spent huge amount of money on promotion which is presented in marketing, leadership and trust. McDonald’s focuses primarily on targeting the children. With this, McDonald’s offers happy meals which targeted children by giving along the small toys with the meals. ECUATORIALL, 2012) McDonald’s also offers various schemes for winning prices by giving lucky draws and also scratch cards when an order is placed on various mean combos. On the other hand, McDonald’s also does its promotion by advertising to make people aware of an item, feel positive about it and remember it. They do their promotion through television, hoardings and bus shelters. Some of the most famous marketing campaigns of McDonald’s are â€Å"You Deserve a break today, so get up and get away- To McDonald’s†, â€Å"Aap ke zamane mein ,baap ke zamane ke daam†, â€Å"Food, Folks, and Fun† and â€Å"I’m loving it†. (scribd)

The English Legal System assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The English Legal System assignment - Essay Example The construction process is, therefore, a cohesive process that begins with the survey of the land and the determination of the effective terrestrial features thus influencing the development of property that sustains the investment for all the parties involved. The land surveyor may face legal responsibility for negligence on their jobs in the survey and design of the house depending on the complaints and conflicts that arise thereafter. Such complaints may arise from either the property owner or the eventual client who either buys or rents the property. The complaints may include any boundary feuds that arise thereafter or the nature of the structure that arises from the design. Surveyors inform the architect on the nature of the land and its ability to support particular designs and populations. A surveyor should determine if a land is swampy and therefore advise the architect on the design of the structure and the possible reclamation methods capable of making the land usable for the purposes of constructing a residential property. Legal cases would arise in case a building sinks later since such portrays evident lack of effective land survey. In a bid to ascertain the security of the citizen, the government of Britain asserts more importance on the practice and, consequently, evaluates every surveyor. The government certifies the survey schools and the courses taught in such facilities. Additionally, it certifies every surveyor thus permitting their practice. This way, it becomes possible to track any fraudulent surveyors who cause the loss of either property or lives. The property owner always contracts a surveyor who may be a real estate agent. The agent then...England, unlike most of the European countries, has a unique constitution; the country’s constitution arises from several acts of parliament, legal documents, and judicial decisions. In determining the negligence as discussed above, the court uses such acts of parliament, torts, and past pr ecedence . The courts employ relative yet effective applications of the statutes. In doing this, the courts must ensure that they protect the interests of all the parties involved by instituting fairness to all. The courts consider precedents as set by the courts in past similar cases. By doing this, the courts avoid instances of unfairness as either party in such cases may compare past cases to their current case and identify inconsistencies. In the case of unique cases, the courts analyse the statutes and state laws thus maintaining fairness in the determination and in the setting precedents for future cases. In retrospect, land surveyors may face negligence cases depending on the manner in which they offer their services to the public. The English legal system provides an elaborate process of falsifying a contractor and determining negligence in their cases. The courts thus use the existing legislations to ensure effective compensation for the losses incurred by the parties conce rned.

Essay model answers Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Model answers - Essay Example Pershing Square accounts 18% of J.C. Penney while Vornado 9.9%. J.C.Penney anticipate that if Pershing Square Capital’s Bill Ackman and its ally Vornado will make a position for a bid to take-over the company, J.C. Penney will swallow a â€Å"poison pill† to avert the siege. The plan will be activated the moment an investor will buy at least 10% of the company shares in addition to the shares that they already have. The poison pill is an age old strategy against hostile take-overs to dilute the holdings of an investor whose stake exceeds that threshold (Egain 2013). In the case o f J.C. Penney, if anyone builds a stake in the company in a move for a takeover, J.C. Penney will â€Å"issue a dividend of one right for each outstanding common share not owned by the raider. The right will have an exercise price of $55, and it’ll allow investors to, say, buy $110 worth of J.C. Penney shares for only $55 (Brown 2013). In effect, J.C. Penney board can buy back its stocks at a fraction of a penny if a hostile takeover is launched. The strategy was effective because J.C. Penney was able to avert the stand-off and potential takeover of Pershing Square Capital’s Bill Ackman. It also discouraged any potential hostile takeover from other companies and/or individuals. The poison pill was effective that the potential raider Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital mulled an exit from holding any shares of J.C. The poison pill may have been an effective strategy to avert any potential takeover. It was able to guard against the standoff from Pershing Square Capital but its shares fell 1.43% which is $13.14 the day after it announced the use of poison pill â€Å"leaving them off 33% on the year and 45% over the past 12 months† (Egan 2013). This was indeed a poison pill to swallow to avoid hostile takeover because the strategy compound the loss of J.C. Penney by the deterioration of its shares in the stock market. But as J.C. Penney’s CEO

The Inter-relationship between Structural Engineering and Architecture Essay

The Inter-relationship between Structural Engineering and Architecture - Essay Example Throughout human history, architects have ranged from learned men revered by royalty, to anonymous craftsmen rising through the ranks of guilds. Both have built castles, cathedrals, and chateaux. Until the last century, there were no schools of architecture, no building codes, etc. There were no ready-made building materials to purchase structures. Anyone could hang out a shingle as an architect, and did (Schekkerman). Barbacci (Barbacci) describes; traditionally, the architect was a master in control of all functional, structural, and aesthetic decisions; the method of construction; and the supervision of the building process. This tradition continued until the 19th century, where the complexity of the application of structural steel forced architects to deligate the matter to the structural engineers. The primary role of the architect as the overall builder was further diminished during the 20th century by the growth in complexity of building systems such as the passenger elevators (Schekkerman). Today, building human shelter is no longer a work of any single individual, rather by a group of specialists from various fields. Thus, building a shelter is already a collective effort amongst talents of a team. Architects now had to collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers as well. Engineers in these disciplines were experts in their subject matter but not on buildings and could not assume the role of the architect. The need for people whose professional focus was on the design of buildings but whose education as engineers allowed them to master the technologies and materials in structural, mechanical, and electrical systems led to the emergence of architectural engineering as a new profession (Schekkerman). The relationship between practising architects and structural engineers is to achieve the common goal of creating a work of architecture. Yet the very roots of modern misconceptions about this process are that the conventional' architect purports to represent art while the conventional' engineer purports to represent science. This was not, however how the creators of Gothic Cathedrals saw it (Ardill).Circa 25 BCE, Vitruvius described the role of an architect as (Schekkerman): The ideal architect should be a man of letters, a mathematician, familiar with historical studies, a diligent of philosophy, acquainted with music, not ignorant of medicine, learned in the responses of jurisconsultis, familiar with astronomy andastronomical calculations. The architect has the vision; the structural engineer creates the reality. Engineers are artists grounded in concrete, steel, and glass (among other materials), and it is up to them to ensure that a building can be built as it was designed. Engineers work in close partnership with architects throughout the design process, and when analysing the finished product, it is often difficult to clearly define between the two professionals (Hagberg).The Architect has always been perceived as the "Artist". Most Architectural drawings can be a true work of art that has been affectionately created with a zealous eye for detail. The architect coordinates the entire design and ensures that from the aesthetic point of view his intentions are being conveyed with every

The Confidence In Of International Brands Dissertation

The Confidence In Of International Brands - Dissertation Example Figure 2: Age distribution in Saudi Arabia (male and female combined). Data sourced from Central Intelligence Agency The Saudi Fashion Market Western brands are very common in Saudi Arabia. Growth in franchising has been estimated at 27% in the Middle East in general, and in Saudi Arabia more than 70% of all franchised operations are American owned. Fashion from UK, Europe and the USA are all experiencing strong growth in the Saudi market, especially in the area of female fashion. While UK fashion initially had a strong hold over the market, there is now increasing trends towards US brands such as Gap, Gucci and Louis Vitton . The fashion market in Saudi is very seasonally based, with sales following religious holidays as well as the seasons. With the relatively young population, there is large potential for the fashion market. The habits of the nation are changing to become more in line with Western culture, a trend that is especially strong in the younger generation. Women are leav ing their traditional roles and many going into work. These trends are driving the boom in the fashion industry . Despite the fact that women wear the Abaya over their clothes, a traditional black dress that covers them, they often wear western clothing underneath . In addition there is a trend of fashion designers producing colored Abayas that are popular, especially for the younger generation. Teenage girls and young adult females have developed ways of wearing their Abayas that reveal their western clothing underneath, such as leaving the front wide open, or tying the edge around their waists, so their tight western jeans can be seen . There are also many different styles and cuts of Abayas and... While malls in Saudi Arabia resemble the western style of malls in many ways, but there is also strong evidence of the strict religious and cultural guidelines that are in place. Images on the front of music CDs are often censored, such as the sleeveless dress that Celine Dion wears on the front of one of her albums was replaced with a black shawl. Other differences are also noticeable, male and female Saudis are only able to work together in hospitals, so all sales people on the mall’s mixed floors are male foreign workers. At McDonald's the women must eat in a separate walled off section, while men eat in the open. The country has large segregation between men and women, so much so that paranoia about men hiding in dressing rooms has resulted in the absence of any dressing rooms in malls. The Kingdom Centre in Riyadh is attempting to turn this into a business advantage rather than a logistical hassle. They offer a female only floor, where all staff and security are female an d females are free to walk around in western style clothing, checking in their Abayas if they wish). Both products and sales are advertised in a wide number of ways, similar to in the western market. Internet advertisements are common, especially with the increasing use of the internet. Blogging has become a popular means of expressing the opinion, especially as media is tightly controlled. Because of this, flash and static advertising are common through blogging sites, although these are mainly for fashion stores in general.

Issues Arising in International Human Relations Management Essay

Issues Arising in International Human Relations Management - Essay Example Language translation services in IHRM†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 iv. Host government relations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 Risks associated with IHRM†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦7 Risk management practices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................†¦...10 Executive summary International human resource management involves human resource management functions such as staffing, assortment, guidance and growth, performance assessment and firing at the international level. IHRM is concerned with multinational companies hence deals with three types of employee, that is, parent country employees, host country employees and third country employees. Due to the broad scope of the multinational companies there are a number of issues such as international taxation, international orientation and transfer, administrative services for expatriates, host government relations and language translation services associated with international human resource management. ... Introduction Human Resource Management refers to the management of an entity’s workforce or employees. It is also based on the postulation that the workforce of an organization consists of individuals with different objectives and needs. It therefore requires effective and efficient strategic focus within the organization to ensure that peoples resources facilitates the achievement of organizational goals.i According to Dave Ulrich, there are four major fields which help in defining the HRM function; these include the strategic associate which helps in putting human resource in line with business approach, the administration specialist which helps in restructuring organizational processes, the employee champion which aims at listening and reacting to employee needs and finally the change manager which helps in managing transformations within the organization. HRM therefore involves a number of activities such as making decisions on the staffing needs of the organization, recru iting and training employees, performance issues and ensuring that employee and management practices conform to the relevant regulations.1 International Human Resource Management (IHRM) can therefore be defined as a set of activities aimed managing organizational personnel at worldwide rank to accomplish managerial goals and attain competitive pro over other competitors at both nationwide and worldwide level. IHRM includes typical HRM functions such as staffing, assortment, guidance and growth, performance assessment and firing done at international level and extra activities such as global skills  management and expatriate management.2 Since IHRM is concerned with personnel at

Business Ethics In an Organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Ethics In an Organisation - Essay Example TCF has to its credit more than 330 schools to date and it plans to build a total of 1000 schools before it decides to go on the support mode – meaning whereby it would just look after the schools already built and not construct any further. TCF schools are a mark of quality and dedication – built from strength to strength of the organizational employees, its varied stakeholders and the innumerable donors who have done more than they could in such a short period of time. For TCF to remain committed to its cause of providing state of the art and free education there is a dire need to comprehend the fact that TCF remains ethically correct in all its actions, behaviors and talks. For this, there are several departments working within its realms which take care of these facets from time to time. In fact the vision is set on a very proactive level within the lengths and breadths of TCF itself. TCF provides complete financial details and break up of the tasks to it donors on a periodic basis and makes sure that the donors remain on board with the ethical domains of the organization at all times. There is a separate department that looks at the way these donors are managed. It is known as the Resource Mobilization department which essentially takes care of the donors and the resources that are mobilized through them towards the schools that they build in either their own name or of their company’s. Coming to the quarters of understanding the ethical undertakings within the business realms of TCF itself, one finds that TCF has long adhered to the principle of being transparent to all its stakeholders and thus the fact that its annual reports, financial ledgers and other similar resources are shared not only within the organization itself but also with the stakeholders and the general public at large. What this does is to have a proper one-on-one interaction with the people who want to donate just about anything under the banner of

Should the U.S. intervene in some way in Syria or should it stay out Research Paper - 1

Should the U.S. intervene in some way in Syria or should it stay out - Research Paper Example Assad of backing up Kurdish rebels with the intention of inflaming pressures between the Turkey and Kurds. American intervention could therefore contain the situation and avoid more conflicts (Yossi 56). United States’ involvement in Syria could form a fortification against terrorist groups such as the Al Qaeda. American can only achieve this by equipping and training trustworthy partners in Syria’s interior opposition. Most of these extremists have found safe havens in the non-administered spots in Syria. American move will not only assist Syria but the American too by apprehending some of these extremists and bringing them to justice (Zisser 24). Additionally, American involvement on Syria might mend associations with crucial allies like Qatar and Turkey. The prime minister of Turkey and his Qatari equivalent have condemned America for presenting only non-fatal backing to the revolt. Both approved the establishment of a no-fly area and â€Å"secure areas† for civilians in the territory of Syria yet these precautions will end the conflict (Perthes 65). Lastly, American intervention in Syria might culminate a dreadful human-rights catastrophe in Syria and halt the migration of emigrants, which is establishing a liability on bordering states. President Obama guaranteed prior this year to reinforce the government’s capacity â€Å"to predict, avoid and act to mass and genocide atrocities.† As a result, United States can avoid and stop the atrocities by positioning allies in the front-run and thereby avoid slithering down the greasy slope to ground warfare (Tucker and Roberts89). One of the cons for US intervention in Syria is the huge American’s debt. American debt is a threat its national security and economic stability. American debt has already raged over the $16 trillion dollar obligation mark. Keep in mind that United States’

Economic in Society Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economic in Society - Case Study Example This time the customer would think again and again before buying the medicine. On the other hand, due to much improved drug's quality, the pharmaceutical companies would have to do some more investment and also there is a possibility that they would outsource or even import the foreign material for usage, which means that they now would have to make the foreign payments resulting in a lot of local currency going out of the money cycle. The possibility is again that the country would get a bit unstable and if someone who would then be responsible to keep the country's economy stable then it is the people living there. People would now be forced to take any measures to buy those medicines that are at least prescribed by the doctors for serious patents. India although have controlled their growth rate but the deceases are growing commonly in the South-east Asia, and this is the part by which the Indian planners might have thought about increasing the prices and to bring much of the currency from the savers to the deficit spending units. India is basically a poor country, the average income t... als being operated there and if they would now be asked to product fine quality medicines that are just having their own name and are according to the international standards, then it does require India to invest even more in bringing those structures and processes that could make the international standard products. The documentation work would also be their and the overall investment would be far more that companies would merely have a breakeven point within even 5 years. The decision taken by the Indian government might just be in relation to their modernization but it has got no real concerns as the majority in India is yet living below poverty line. The question which is related to the people around the world getting deprived to use the cheap drugs might not be as valid as the people living in India would be deprived to use the cheap drugs. The simple answer to that is due to the much poor outcome of any such strategy, the global companies manufacturing patented material would c riticize any such law and so the law enforcing governments would move against any such law. After all, human life has got more value than any of the law and the concerns are directly related to the saving of human life and not the cheaper drugs. Since in that case, the majority of people would not even be able to use the drugs, then they cannot expect to live longer and there when the problem arises causing human lives. Lets talk about the real world case in which the demand is never equal to supply. Always there would be greater deviations in the market and somehow both, supply and demand would get disturbed, of course it is unintentional but that is inevitable as a consequence of which we have to keep the constraints and solutions in mind. Imagine if the world is consuming what has been

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost Essay Example for Free

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost Essay Robert Frost constructed this poem with four stanzas in iambic tetrameter. Frost’s rhyme scheme is intriguing; the first, second, and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme, where as the third rhymes with the next set of first, second, and fourth lines. Although, this pattern is broken in the fourth and final stanza, where Frost rhymes all the lines with the third line in the third stanza. To finish off the poem, the fifteenth line is repeated as the last line (aaba, bbcb, ccdc, dddd). The poem’s title is a very straightforward description of the poem itself, since it says exactly what is going on in the delicately placed An Explication of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost constructed this poem with four stanzas in iambic tetrameter. Frost’s rhyme scheme is intriguing; the first, second, and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme, where as the third rhymes with the next set of first, second, and fourth lines. Although, this pattern is broken in the fourth and final stanza, where Frost rhymes all the lines with the third line in the third stanza. To finish off the poem, the fifteenth line is repeated as the last line (aaba, bbcb, ccdc, dddd). The poem’s title is a very straightforward description of the poem itself, since it says exactly what is going on in the delicately placed words below it. Starting with the first stanza, the speaker decides to stop in the woods to, â€Å"To watch [it] fill up with snow† (Frost). He believes that he is acquainted with the owner of these woods; though the owner does not reside there but, â€Å"his house is in the village† (Frost). Therefore, the speaker is not worried about the owner spotting him on his property enjoying a tranquil moment on his journey. words below it. Starting with the first stanza, the speaker decides to stop in the woods to, â€Å"To watch [it] fill up with snow† (Frost). He believes that he is acquainted with the owner of these woods; though the owner does not reside there but, â€Å"his house is in the village† (Frost). Therefore, the speaker is not worried about the owner spotting him on his property enjoying a tranquil moment on his journey.

Ethical Marketing Strategies in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Ethical Marketing Strategies in the Pharmaceutical Industry Ethical marketing refers to the application of marketing ethics into the marketing process. Ethical marketing generally results in a more socially responsible and culturally sensitive business community. The establishment of marketing ethics has the potential to benefit society as a whole, both in the short- and long-term. Ethical marketing should be part of business ethics in the sense that marketing forms a significant part of any business model. Marketing strategy can be arranged into five categories, (1) Physicians-targeted promotions, (2) direct-to-consumer advertising, (3) unethical recruitment of physicians, (4) researchers conflicts of interest, and (5) data manipulation in clinical trials. Drug companies promotions subconsciously influence physicians prescription patterns. Heavy advertising to consumers results in more prescriptions being written, whether or not the new drug is in the best interests of patients, and therefore strongly correlates with sales increases for the promoted new drug. It has been estimated that pharmaceutical companies spend Rs.7 Billions every year prompting their product to Physician in Pakistan. Although pharmaceutical marketing strategies are primarily directed toward practicing physicians and residents, medical student are targeted as well. The goal of this study is to asses the importance of ethical marketing strategies of pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan. A questionnaire is design to assess the attitudes of Doctors and pharmaceutical professionals about pharmaceutical promotion, including the acceptability of receiving various gifts, foreign and local sponsorships, and incentives. In this study, Pharmaceutical market will be direct variable, marketing strategies will be indirect variable where as doctors and Pharmaceutical representatives will be population. The scale will use from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Total 180 Questionnaire will be distributed by the researcher. Rresearcher will elaborate here the different choices of m ethodology that have been adopted in this research paper. Research-findings based on data analysis will be discussed in general and exclusively. Finally conclusions and recommendations will be made accordingly. Problem and Its Background Introduction Mark Twain once remarked: Always try to do the right thing. It will surprise a lot of people. And it will astonish the rest. There has long been a close relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. It has been estimated that 85-90% of doctors in Pakistan see to pharmaceutical representative. These representatives often visit physician offices to discuss their products, provides free samples, and offer gifts. According to industry estimates, pharmaceutical promotional expenditure in Pakistan amounted to Rs.7 Billions in 2009. Approximately 25% of this amount was spend on detailing to doctors, 4% on hospital detailing, 2% on journal ads, 56% on samples, and 12.5% on direct-to-consumer advertisement. The precision and the worth of drug advertisements has been the subject of debate for more than a century now. According to World Health Organizations (WHO) criteria for medicinal drug promotion, promotion refers to all the informational and convincing activities of manufacturers and distributors, the effect of which is to encourage the prescription, supply, purchase and / or use of medicinal drugs. Drug promotion and marketing make up a very large part of the activities of pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan. For the drug promotion, in addition to other activities, companies usually use the written material supposedly showing all the good and bad aspects about the concerned drug. These advertisements can be highly informative as long as they are critically appraised. However, when these are accepted without any question, can contribute to illogical prescribing. Ideally, drug promotional literature should provide health care professionals with considerable information. However, the information contained in promotional material may be inadequate or altogether inaccurate Undoubtedly, the pharmaceutical promotional activities have powerful influences on prescribing behaviour of the doctors although this influence may be more hidden rather than explicit. Being a member state of the United Nations Organization, efforts to regulate drug promotions in Pakistan were also initiated with the proliferation of the Drug Licensing, Registering and Advertising Rules by the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. However, there is no mechanism to monitor the drug promotional campaign by pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan despite the fact that there is enough evidence that logical drug utilization problems are increasingly encountered even in developed countries due to unethical practices of pharmaceutical promotion. Since promotional activities influence the prescribing behaviour of the health care providers, it is of utmost importance to critically analyze the claims made in the promotional material of the drugs. Internationally, aspects of contents in pharmaceutical advertising pertinent to evidence based decision-making have been studied. The extent to which pharmaceutical companies promote the merits of their products and whether such c laims are supported by evidence, has not been studied in Pakistan. The results of the present analytical study show that unethical and biased claims regarding the medicinal products are uncontrolled in Pakistan. These drug promotions influence the prescribing behaviour of the General Practitioners, Consultants thus accounting for one of the potentially major causes of illogical prescription. Pakistan Medical Association has developed Ethical Code of conduct for Doctors and pharmaceutical organizations but are not followed by National companies. All Multinational organizations in Pakistan are following the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) code of conduct and International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) code of conduct. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations is the global nonprofit NGO representing the research-based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine sectors. All the Multinational pharmaceuticals companies running in Pakistan are members of this NGO and bound to follow the code of ethics. Definition of Construct Ethical Marketing Strategies in pharmaceutical industry are the tools and techniques to sell medicines ethically. The strategy must be such that it doesnt not influence the decision making criteria of doctors. Background Information The researcher is working as Field Manger in Roche Pakistan Ltd since last three and half years. Roche Pakistan Ltd is a member of Halfman La Roche Basel, a Switzerland research based multinational organization that is running its businesses in more than 70 countries of 6 continents of the world. Halfman La Roche started it business in 1886 from Basel Switzerland from multivitamins medicines to new innovative biotechnology products. In 1946 they discovered metabolic and antibiotics product. In 1980, they discovered anxiolitic and psychiatric medicines. In 1990s, they discovered cancer and hepatitis medicines. Now Halfman La Roche Basel has discovered 100 more molecules that are in different phases of clinical trails for different diseases. Roche Pakistan Ltd started its operation in Pakistan in 1982. Initially they imported their products and sell in the Pakistan Market but they started their manufacturing in Pakistan in 2001. Now Roche Pakistan Ltd selling its product in 8 segments in Pakistani pharmaceutical market that are; Hepatitis Cancer Transplant Anaemia Antibiotics Antihypertensive Metabolic Diseases Diagnostic Halfman La Roche is at 4th ranking world wide in pharmaceutical industry and is Market leader in Hepatitis, Cancer, Transplant and Anaemia, Metabolic diseases and Diagnostic. The annual sale is CHF. 49051 Millions grew by 10% and operating profit in 2009 was 15012 Millions that grew by 6%. Roche is invested CHF. 9874 Millions on RD in 2009. The free cash flow in 2009 was 8893 that was 79% more than 2008. The total employee of Roche are 81507. Out of them 80115 are permanent. The Sales contribution is more from US that is 38% than West Europe that is 28%. Since pharmaceutical marketing activities influence the prescribing behaviour of doctors, it is of utmost importance to critically analyze the claims made in the promotional material of the drugs. The extent to which pharmaceutical companies promote the merits of their products and relevant clinical trails provide to doctors are not studied in Pakistan. The results of the present analytical study show that unethical and biased claims regarding the pharmaceutical products are uncontrolled in Pakistan. These drug promotions influence the prescribing behaviour of the General Practitioners, Consultants thus accounting for one of the potentially major causes of illogical prescription. Roche Pakistan Ltd is a Member of IFPMA and PMA and follow their ethical business guidelines to sell its products. Roche Paksitan Ltd is at 6th ranking in Pakistan Pharmaceutical Market and its annual sale is Rs. 5.2 Billions in 2009 in Pakistan. Problem Statement Unethical Marketing strategies effect the prescribing habit of doctors that can lead to serious life threatening results for patients. Research Questions Research Q 1: What Ethical Marketing Strategies formulated for business in pharmaceutical industry? Research Q 2: What type of studies should be formulated? Research Q 3: what are the Marketing strategies that effect the decision making criteria of doctors.? 1.6 Research Objectives To find out the problem associated with unethical marketing strategies in pharmaceutical industry. To enlist the ethical strategies that will not effect the decision making criteria of doctors. Hypothesis Ho: There is no relationship between ethical marketing strategies and unethical marketing strategies. H1: There is relationship between ethical marketing strategies and unethical marketing strategies. Scope and Limitations of Study Scope of the research: As this research will be carried out with in single organization that is Roche Pakistan Ltd, based on the population from the different pharmaceuticals representative and doctors so the targeted low population narrows down the scope of the study. Limitations: Following limitation may also be observed during the research procedure and methodology adopted in collection of data from the resources within the organization: Data will be collected only from those respondent who directly and indirectly involved in the decision making process at different levels. Researcher may lave limited access to all authorities in respondent. Respondent may not responded answer due to tight schedule Respondent may not have proper information about variable and their relationship. respondent personal liking and disliking may create some biasness. Respondent may feel hesitation while attempting to questions Respondent may have personal reservations in responding to some questions relevant to their field or job. As the population under study is lessened to 132 respondent only, hence the scale of the study is restricted. Due to inadequate time, Research may cover and pass influential information only Data will be collected by the researcher himself. It is not possible to cover all variables. Significance of the research The study will explore that how the marketing strategies effect the decision making process of healthcare professionals. This research will also helpful to understand the importance of ethical marketing strategies. It will elaborate the impact of ethical marketing strategies on patients life. Moreover another aspect of this study is to elaborate the significance of ethical pharmaceutical strategies for doctor, pharmaceuticals industry and patients. It will assist to confirm that following the ethical marketing codes in pharmaceutical industry not only save the cost of patients but also life. It will also increase the moral and dignity of doctors also. CHAPTER 2 Literature Review Ethical marketing is the application of marketing ethics into the marketing process (Patrick, 2005). Ethical marketing generally results in a more socially responsible and culturally responsive business community (Eugene, 1978). Pharmaceutical strategy can be arranged into five categories (Brownlee, April 2004). Heavy pharmaceuticfal promotional activities to doctors results in more prescriptions being written (Elliott, Oct 2004). It has been estimated that 85-90% of doctors in Pakistan see to pharmaceutical representative (Gutknecht, 2001). pharmaceutical promotional expenditure in Pakistan amounted to Rs.7 Billions in 2009 (Gutknecht, 2001). (WHO) criteria for medicinal drug promotion, Marketing Strategies by Pharmaceutical companies is to encourage the prescription, supply, purchase and / or use of medical drugs, (WHO 33rd World Health Assembly, May 1986). The pharmaceutical promotional activities have powerful influences on prescribing behaviour of the doctors although this influence may be more hidden rather than explicit. (Lexchin, 1999). There is no mechanism to monitor the drug promotional campaign by pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan (Lober, 1993). Pakistan Medical Association has developed Ethical Code of conduct for Doctors and pharmaceutical organizations (www.jpma.gov.pk). International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) has developed code of conduct for pharmaceutical organizations. (www.ifpma.org). The strategy must be such that it doesnt not influence the decision making criteria of doctors. (Lober, 1993). Roche Pakistan Ltd is a member of Halfman La Roche Basel (www.roche.com). The annual sale of Roche is CHF. 49051 Millions and operating profit in 2009 was 15012 Millions. Roche is invested CHF. 9874 Millions on RD in 2009. (www.roche.com). In 2002, the pharmaceutical industry spent $15.63 billion on promotions, which include free office supplies, all-expenses-paid events, sales representatives, and awards to physicians (Parker, 2003). A 10-year study of internists at seven university hospitals, published in 1990, found that frequent contact with sales representatives also changed prescription practice (Israel, 2003). New drugs are not time tested; their long-term effects are unknown; many patients who can be just as effectively treated with less expensive, older drugs are risking their health when using newer drugs (Elliott, 2004). Dr. Drummond Rennie, Deputy Editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, stated, I suppose I had about 20 at one time (Spears, 2003,). Brett and Colleagues found that physicians make distinction about the ethical acceptability of drug company gifts ( Brett, 2003). Drug information provided by pharmaceutical representative and drug advertisements are inaccurate ( Wilkes, 1992). Medical practitioners are dependent on the pharmaceutical industry for much of their drug information in Pakistan (Ahmad,1990). Unethical practices regarding the medicinal drug promotion are uncontrolled in Pakistan and it is suggested that physicians should be careful and decisive in assessment of advertised claims of greater efficacy, safety or convenience made by the pharmaceutical companies (Ahmad, 1990). Gifts DinnerNetwork Diagram Samples Pharmaceutical Market Doctors à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ International Trip Clinical Trails Cash Chapter 3 Research Methodology In order to answer the research questions mentioned in chapter 1, researcher will elaborate here the different choices of methodology that have been adopted in this research paper. For historical viewpoint, I will conduct a Qualitative (content based) study of the previous researches on the role ethical marketing strategies in pharmaceutical industry. For present view, I will conduct a Quantitative (based on survey) analysis. 3.1 Population In the given research study, the population will be all employees of Roche Pakistan Ltd, Doctors of Medical Unit Sir Gangaram Hospital Lahore. 3.2 Sample The sample will consist of both males and females, Seniors and Juniors Doctors, pharmaceutical representative. According to the designations of the respondents their qualifications, professional experience, age will vary. 3.3 Sampling Technique/Strategy: In order to select the sample from the target population i.e. Roche Pakistan Ltd, Sir Gangaram Hospital Lahore, Non-Probability Convenience (purposive) sampling technique will be used. 3.4 Sample Size For the present study sample size will consist of 132 respondents (Pharmaceutical Representative, Doctors and Chemist). 3.5 Survey Instrument A questionnaire (English language) will be designed to collect the required Information. All the questions will be close-ended. A Cover letter to highlight the purpose of the study and instructions to fill the questionnaire, and a Demographic Data Sheet will be prepared and attached with the Questionnaire as well. 3.6 Data Collection The data for the proposed study will be collected through sell-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire will be circulated, explained and collected by the researcher himself. The questionnaire will be based on Likert Scale and will have five levels of responses against every question from the respondent. Since the company contains different hierarchies of employees and management so the respondents will be categories and manipulated accordingly. The five levels of responses will be: 1. Strongly Agree 2. Agree 3. Undecided/ Neutral 4. Disagree 5. Strongly Disagree 3.7 Pre-Testing Before the full scale administration of the questionnaire it will also be pre-tested on a  very small segment of the population (10-15 respondents) so that any ambiguity in  any question/s can be dealt with. CHAPTER 4 Data Analysis and Interpretation Available research soft ware for social sciences i.e. SPSS. Will be uses for analysis on Data collected for the proposed research study. Statistical and Arithmetical formulae Correlation or Regression will be applied as per demand and need of the study. Statistical tables and graphs / figures will also be obtained / drawn if needed. CHAPTER 5 Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations In order to achieve the basic purposes and objectives of the proposed research study, research-findings based on data analysis will be discussed in general and exclusively. Finally conclusions and recommendations will be made accordingly.

Cause And Effects Of Smog Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay

Cause And Effects Of Smog Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay Smog pollution is a major problem that this planet is suffering from everyday. It has affected our homes, weather, and health. It is a very dangerous situation for us if we do not do anything about it. Smog pollution is caused by chemicals, automobiles, factories and corporations. The greatest thing we can do as a society is try to find a way to help prevent and stop smog pollution. If the people on this planet do not do anything to stop smog pollution we are going to have a BIG problem and it will hurt us in the future. We need a plan and we need to put a stop to smog pollution. The American Lung Association (ALA) has been trying to find ways to help stop and prevent smog pollution from hurting us and the environment. If we can just do our part and find a way to prevent this problem from getting any bigger, it will benefit us all. We all have heard of smog pollution, but do we really know what it is. Smog pollution has many causes that can be hazardous and dangerous to our health and well being. The term smog pollution is also known as photochemical smog. It is formed by the interaction with sunlight with different types of chemicals in earths atmosphere (Oblack). The main component of smog pollution or photochemical pollution is ozone. Ozone is in the earths stratosphere, which the shields the earth from dangerous UV radiation from the sun. The problem with ozone is when it touches down on the earths surface it can be very dangerous and can cause serious health problems for people on the planet (Oblack). The ground level ozone is made by the emissions of automobiles that put nitrogen oxide into the air, which is caused by the vehicles exhaust fumes (Oblack). The organic components from the fumes combined with the ozone and fume evaporation that combines with sunlight, causes smog pollution on the planet (Oblack). Many people try to find ways to help avoid smog in a more planet friendly environment, so some people use substitutes for their everyday use. There is just one problem with that, and that is the sun. Many people dont understand that sunlight and warm climates cause pollution. For example, places like California, Florida, and Arizona and even North America are some of the most polluted places in the country (Oblack). Another problem that causes an increase in smog pollution is the increased usage of fossil fuels for industrial, heating, and of course transportation purposes (All that smog). Also, cutting down, burning trees, and disposing of agricultural and organic waste can also lead to emissions of smog pollution and harmful problems for the planet (All that Smog). Sunlight mixed with different types of dangerous chemicals (se condary pollution) also makes it difficult to stop smog pollution from occurring on the surface of the planet (All that Smog), which creates another big problem. Climate is a major factor for the cause of smog pollution. Many places in the world can try to be more environmental friendly to help save our planet. Some people ride bicycles instead of driving cars. Other people try to reduce their use of using fire to warm themselves. The only problem that these people cannot get away from is something that they cannot control, and that is the sun. California is ranked in the top 10 most polluted areas in the United States. Ozone pollution that is caused by the sun has a major affect on this planet. Smog and air pollution is having a serious impact on the environment and can condemn all ecosystems (seirraclub). The reason why the sun causes so many problems is because the ozone layer that is supposed to protect planet earth is practically destroyed. Without the protection, the sun is able to shine radiation onto the planet and is the main reason for many health issues that people go through every day. Issues like skin cancer, radiation poisoning, and sun burn are having fatal affects on people. This type of pollution not only harms humans, but it can also harm wild life and the environment. Smog can harm different plants, which can lead to damaging consequences. Because the plants are damaged, it makes it hard for plants to make and save food for themselves in their living environment (seirraclub). In addition, the sun and smog can destroy leaves and plants it would make many of the plants vulnerable to getting diseases. And, they cannot defend themselves from different types of bugs and insects that can cause a huge decrease in plant life (seirraclub). Smog pollution is a yearly problem for places like Texas, Georgia, Florida, and many other southern and sunny parts of the world, but there is also a big increase in smog pollution in the summer (seirraclub). This is caused by strong sunlight that burns the earths surface. However, the one thing that is helping smog pollution is all of the problems that are on this planet. A ll of the power plants, automobile emissions, industrial, and chemical vapors are other causes of pollution (seirraclub). Climate changes are part of the problem as well. Within the months of June, July, and August, it makes it harder to try and control the smog pollution, due to the sun. This planet has gone through billions of years of evolution. It survived dinosaurs, the ice age, and the black plague, but because of smog pollution this planet might not be able to survive this new attack. A major problem smog pollution is causing is health concerns for the public. Smog pollution is affecting human health because it is making it harder to breathe the smog induced air. Because of this and sun radiation, this is resulting in many fatalities, including skin and lung cancer. Peoples lungs and hearts can be dangerously affected by smog and air pollution (Oblack). Many people are still skeptical about smog pollution, but one thing that is known is long term exposure can result in dangerous and even fatal heath affects to people (Oblack). Some of the long term affects caused by exposure to smog pollution are problems breathing, coughing, wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis, inflammation of the pulmonarys, lung cancer, heart problems, asthma like symptoms, pre mature aging of lungs, and last, but not least, death (Oblack). Smog pollution, even in small doses, can be very dangerous and harmful to all people. The American Lung Association estimated that 48 percent of people in the w orld live with very high levels of smog (seirraclub). Even though exposure to smog is dangerous, there are three types of people who can be severely damaged from smog, which include children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems (seirraclub). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created the Air Quality Index which lets you check the air density and pollution level around your areas (seirraclub). Furthermore, The Department of Motor vehicles have been trying to develop a plan to reduce vehicle emission and try to improve on air quality for the planet and help save the planet (Malone). The DMV has also been trying to encourage the residents of the United States to help stop smog. They are trying to do their part by asking people to report anyone who has visible exhaust coming out of their automobiles (Malone). If we can all do our fair share and help support this plan we can be able to help stop smog pollution. In all, smog pollution is a major concern for our environment and this planet. If we do not find a way to try and stop smog pollution, we will have many more health problems. Fortunately, there are people who are trying to find ways to stop smog pollution. Many people who are trying to create plans that can help bring this planet back to a healthier state. In 1996, smoking vehicle program was passed that stated that anyone who sees smoking exhaust coming from cars, trucks, or any other motor vehicles were to voluntarily report it to the authorities as a way of preventing polluted air (Malone). It is also there to help educate people about smog pollution and what they can do to help stop it (Malone). The American Lung Association (ALA) also came up with certain help to bring attention to the issue of smog pollution. They advised people to pay more attention to the Air Quality Index (AQI) around their area. They tried to educate people about Ozone action days and how not to ignore them . Finally, ALA attempted to help people get familiar with how smog adversely affects their health (Oblack). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes it upon them to check evidence every five years to see whether or not the situation of smog pollution has changed for better or worse (seirraclub). It is very simple to stop smog pollution. We can all use our cars, trucks, and motorcycles, sparingly. We all must try to do our fair share and we must be able to bring awareness to how dangerous the sun can really be. We need to fight back against smog. If we do not do anything about it, this planet and everything on it will suffer. Group against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is a non-profit citizens group in Southwestern Pennsylvania working for a healthy, sustainable environment. GASP was founded in 1969, with a group of volunteers who were worried about air quality issues here in Pennsylvania. GASP has been a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator, and policy-maker on many environment al issues, with a focus on air quality in the Pittsburgh region. Their objective is to teach and enlighten the public about pollution and its remedies. Their Mission Statement is will act to obtain for the residents of Western Pennsylvania clean air, water, and land in order to create a healthy, sustainable environment and quality of life to which we are entitled (Groups against Smog and Pollution.) Obviously GASP is doing their part, but what are we doing as individuals to help?

Time, Love, and Poetry in Shakespearian Sonnets :: essays research papers

Show how Shakespeare writes about time, love and poetry in these sonnets. (Sonnet 18, 73, 104). William Shakespeare is probably the most well known writer in the English speaking world. His plays have become classics and have been translated into many languages. Who doesn’t know the story of Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet? Shakespeare’s unique styles of writing and passionate poetic verses are the factors that make him distinctive of the writers of his era. One of the things that make him so exceptional is the way he makes words flow by blending their rhythms and at the same time creating perfect quatrains. â€Å"Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed: And every fair from fair sometimes declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed.† Shakespeare’s ‘sugared sonnets’ combine the themes of love and time. These sonnets tell the story of a couple who are in love but have been separated for three years. Although the story inside the sonnets can be summarized in a couple of lines, Shakespeare makes the meaning of one word extend to a stanza making clear the art of writing a sonnet. It is not easy to understand a sonnet the first time you read it. Each verse needs to be examined in order to completely understand the essence and significance of every single word. â€Å"Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turned In process of the seasons have I seen, Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burned, Since first I saw you fresh, which yet are green.† This quatrain from sonnet 104 shows the way Shakespeare wrote about time. He didn’t just use straight forward words but change in nature and seasons to represent time and at the same time given the sonnet a more nostalgic mood. The three beauteous springs that have turned to autumns and the Aprils to Junes represent the three years that have past since the moment he last saw his lover. The narrator also describes his lover as being prettier and more perfect than a summer’s day and that his love was so pure that could never die. â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate† â€Å"Ere you were born was beauty’s summer dead† It says that her art was lovelier and more constant than a summer’s day as summer ends each year but her beauty is eternal.

Factors Contributing to Poverty Essay -- Essays on Poverty

Factors Contributing to Poverty There are many factors that aid the prevalence of poverty. Firstly, it is difficult to assess these causes because the word ‘poverty’ can be very subjective and difficult to define. In attempting to define what poverty is, one would suggest having a lack of income and resources not consistent with the requirements of the poverty line. Three factors that play major roles as causes of poverty would be having a lack of education, systemic discrimination, and inequities based on a capitalist system. This paper will look at ways in which these causes can be combated and at the same time evaluated in regards to it’s positive and negative aspects. Education has long been a problem in society, because the lack of this essential tool of survival doesn’t allow for growth of any sort. It is a known fact that the risk of poverty usually decreases as people get more schooling. Poor education can be either a cause of poverty or an effect. Young people who drop out of school may be poor because they lack the required skills needed to get good jobs, therefore adding to a system that forces them to only be able to live in low-income, economically starving areas. Moreover, education is a basic requirement in order to climb a hierarchy of income in our society, so uneducated people are forced to become content with their surroundings. Systemic discrimination can be said to be a form of institutional injustice that depends on this quiet oppression in order to maintain a history of past dominance. There are many types of barriers that are not openly blatant and are in place so that minorities don’t get the opportunity to overcome these obstacles. As a result, many minorities including women cannot overcome ranks in the workforce and are left with the lower paying jobs. Furthermore, legislation in the Canadian government helps provide a structure for these proceedings, for example laws that were passed as a result of affirmative action programs might be said to be unjust and unconstitutional. Canada operates under a capitalist system so it should really be no wonder as to why poverty really exists in this country. It is necessary to have poverty in order to support capitalism. Failure in our system would result in poverty and therefore this sadly, becomes an incentive to become exceedingly wealthy and rich... ...es. Poverty is a term that can be viewed from many different aspects when attempting to define this opinionated word. This is a major problem in Canada, and it is evident everytime you travel down-town and actually see poverty within just feet of the premier’s office. Even though the actual word may be difficult to define, there are endless causes of it. It doesn’t make sense that we condemn other forms of government that are base on equality and fair opportunity when our own system is based on ‘survival of the fittest’. In essence, it is really based on survival of who can control the most amount of resources first and maintain it. Regardless of our ineptitude to define this word, we do know that lack of education, systemic discrimination, and inequities based on a capitalist system will cause it. I personally believe that absolute poverty can never be solved regardless of what system one might live in. It is because of our form of government that politicians are afraid to implement policies that might not be fully developed when it’s time to call another election. We should battle poverty regardless of how it may effect the deficit in the short-term.

I Remember When… :: Biology Essays Research Papers

I Remember When†¦ This paper was written by a student in a course at Bryn Mawr College, and reflects that student's research and thoughts at the time the paper was written. Like other things on Serendip, the paper is not intended to be "authoritative" but is instead provided to encourage others to themselves learn about and think through subjects of interest, and, by providing relevant web links, to serve as a "window" to help them do so. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. There's a standing joke in our family, or rather between my sister and I. It usually comes up at family get-togethers, about the time that we're all trying to decide what to do, where to go, or what to eat. Mom will say something like, "let's have that spaghetti casserole with turnip greens that I made at last summer's get-together, we all enjoyed it so much." Jackie and I will exchange a look that says, "gross, we hated that," and invariably Mom, seeing the look pass between us, will say in utter seriousness, "no, no. I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER. We all loved that casserole." What continually amuses both Jackie and I, is the degree of confidence with which Mom remembers the same event we do, but so differently. How can people be so certain and yet so mistaken about events in our own histories? And yet, it happens time and again, and not just in my family. The observation that episodic memory retrieval is vulnerable to distortion has been documented thoroughly. Even the pattern of errors can be predicted with some reliability. (1) In order to situate "episodic memory," it's useful to know several distinctions in memory research. The most basic one is between brief and enduring memories, called short-term memories (STM) (or working memory, WM), and long-term memory (LTM). Within LTM, there are qualitative distinctions, such as between explicit and implicit, and declarative and procedural -- both of these distinctions have to do with consciousness about the memory. Explicit/declarative memory encompasses facts, figures, and all of conscious memory. Its what we commonly refer to as memory. (2) This type of memory is flexible, fast, and specialized for one-time learning. (3) Procedural/implicit memory is thought to be the most durable memory, and encompasses learned habits, skills and things that you "know" but don't consciously think about.

Swot Red Bull

STRENGTH – Leadership position The company â€Å"Red Bull† is considered like the â€Å"leader† of the energy drinks market in the world with 70% of market share in 2012. – Marketing strategy * A lot of sports events, promotions and campaigns (like street marketing) * Sponsorship (F1 Red Bull Team, Felix Baumgartner, Shaun White†¦) * Original communication strategy and efficient (http://www. redbull. fr/cs/Satellite/fr_FR/Video/Le-nouveau-clip-du-Monde-de-Red-Bull-au-cinema-021243076490242) -Innovation * Innovating recipe of energy drink containing â€Å"Taurine† – Loyal customers * The creation of an universe encouraged customer loyalty Strong Brand identity and trendy brand – Strong financial position * Turnover of 3,27 Billion of Euros. – Single product Weaknesses – Average price – Lack of product innovation Nowadays, there are a lot of competitors in the market owned by famous brands like Coca-Cola (Burn) or Pepsi (Dark Dog) – Lack of patent on Red Bull’s recipe means anyone can copy it – High logistics costs – Profits linked to exchange rates – High sunk cost (marketing, Advertising) Opportunities – Red bull has opportunities to expanding the target markets as well as product lines extension * Extension of product line can help to retain market share Increase market share with increased opportunities in emerging markets through being trendy * Sunk cost can provide future growth in emerging markets due to a trendy image – Consumer recognition through sponsorship of sports events so can expand product with a loyal customer base * Overcome higher prices than competitors with product expansion and diversification – New ventures like partnership with Facebook – Product and services expansion – International manufacturing opportunities * Manufacturing Internationally can decrease exchange rate risks Keep substantial mar ket share with international operations * High logistics costs can be decreased with decentralized production in emerging markets Threats – Competition * Major competitors such as Coca Cola (burn) and Pepsi (dark dog) are continually seeking to regain market share of Red Bull – Negative publicity * Various media reported that Red Bull is harmful for one’s health * The caffeine levels in Red Bull can be dangerous if consumed by children/teenagers * Red Bull has gone to the extremes of seeking scientific proof that its product is safe for consumption (cost of scientific research) Inability to move forward with the product * The product could be in danger of becoming stale by shunning conventional advertising methods * Large investment in extreme sport events the question is what will be their next step to keep on being innovating and attracting – Ability to gain new customers and retain current customer loyalty * Red Bull’s target market currently ai med at youngsters: so this generation will continue to drink ‘energy drink? * the next upcoming generation accept this product ?

Shi Huang Di

He built new palaces to keep them content. Each of the new palaces were an exact copy of the ones they had to leave behind. He also divided the conquered land into 36 commentaries (areas), and commanded 3 officials to run each commandeer. They received orders from the emperor, and might be sacked if they did not obey. He also ordered citizens to give up all weapons to prevent rebellion. He then melted down these weapons and crafted them into giant statues to â€Å"scare away twelve giants†, which were set up outside his palace.In addition to all these changes, he also ordered the walls around towns and cities to be knocked down. Before Shih Hung Did unified China, each f the states used different kinds of measurements, language etc. So, to make things simpler, he set common standards. Everybody now had to use Gin weights and measures. They also had to use round one-ounce gold coins and half-ounce copper coins with holes in the middle, which were standard Gin money. However, th ese changes paled in comparison to the changes made to the written language.The prime minister at the time, Lie Is, was given the role to standardize all the characters of the language, as Chinese is written with characters that represent pictures and ideas, instead of the alphabet. Once he job was completed, the language was modernized and simplified into 3000 characters. He also set rules for handwriting so everybody that needed to write, such as scholars and government officials could communicate easily with each other. During the period of warring states, there weren't many roads.Even those roads were hard to go across since heavier carts created uneven ground on the soft earth. Many carts were damaged and got stuck in the roads. Shih Hung Did created a law so that all wheels and carts must be the same distance apart. He also built 5 major roads, which he named â€Å"speedways†. These speedways connected the capital with the northern, eastern and southern parts of the emp ire. During his 1 1 years of reign, Shih Hung Did built 6800 km of road. Meanwhile, in the eastern empire, the Romans only built 5984 km of road.When Shih Hung Did became the emperor of China (in 221 BC), all the rules of Gin became the rules of the entire empire. According to Gin law, everybody was responsible for each other's good behavior. And so, Shih Hung Did organized everybody into groups Of 10, and if anybody committed a crime in that family, they had to report it to the authorities, or they would get punished along with the wrongdoer. Not only that, but their father, mother, families, wife/husband and their family would also receive the same punishment.Therefore, lots of people would be punished just because one person committed a crime. Many Mongolia's, named Signing, lived to the north of the empire. They often attacked parts of the empire, so Shih Hung Did ordered many slaves to build the Great Wall. Although this original structure has not been kept in condition until t oday, a renovated version now stands in Beijing. This version follows much of the same route as Shih Hung Id's. Shih Hung Id's Great Wall was made of tightly sacked earth, which was reinforced by bamboo matting. Behind the wall stood watch towers-?3 every kilometer.An artist's impression of Shih Hung Did. None of the paintings of him at the time have survived, so this painting is based on written descriptions. Hero or Villain? Gave himself the new title of Shih Hung Did-?supreme ruler of China. He only ruled for dictator. L, Georgian Lounge will discuss both sides of the Story. Villain On the other hand, many people believe that Shih Hung Did was cruel and merciless. For one, he forced many citizens to become slaves to work on his major projects such as the Great Wall. Thousands died from hunger, exposure or ill-treatment.If they tried to rebel against him, or not follow his orders, he would kill captives publicly without a second thought. Shih Hung Did also increased taxes to pay f or materials that were used in his many projects (for example, his grave, or the Great Wall). These taxes were 20 times of their previous taxes. If the taxes were not paid, the family would all have to endure slave labor. He also took half of all the food that farmers grew as tax. This resulted in extreme poverty and hunger. As a result, many citizens turned to cannibalism, and millions died. Shih Hung Did also set many draconian laws.If these strict laws were not followed, depending on the severity of the crime, wrongdoers were set harsh punishments such as hard labor, mutilation of a person's body, being boiled alive, cut into two at the waist, torn apart by 4 horses, strangled or beheaded. In 213 BC, at a banquet hosted by Shih Hung Did, a scholar openly criticized Shih Hung Did. Shih Hung Did immediately ordered that all scholars could not criticize anything in the present or praise anything in the past. He also ordered all the scholars to hand their books to government official s. These were burned in a huge bonfire.However, some scholars still continued their ways. These scholars were found by the emperor and were executed. 460 scholars were presumably buried alive. According to an extract from SIAM Quinn's â€Å"Records of the Historian†, Shih Hung Did discouraged jobs such as scholars, thinkers and philosophers, because many of these people were against the king, and they could easily influence others to go against the king. In conclusion, Shih Hung Did could be considered a hero because he was the first man to have ever united China. However, his road to success can be perceived as a cruel and violent one, which is why some people think he is a villain.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 17

â€Å"Should I put up Lorelei Biljan's posters now? Or wait until after E. J. Putnam's gone?† I looked up from the invoices on my desk. I'd just reread the same line of numbers about five times without comprehending any of it, and I was having only a little better luck parsing Tammi's question. I rubbed my eyes. â€Å"Why†¦would we wait?† She shrugged. â€Å"Dunno. Just seems kind of rude to be advertising one author during another one's signing.† My mind moved slowly, probably because only 5 percent of it was actually here at the bookstore. The rest of my brainpower attempted to muddle through the disaster that was my life. â€Å"Um†¦no, it doesn't matter. Put them both up. They're only a week apart, and we want Biljan to get a fair shot at publicity too. Besides, I don't think authors really get worked up over competition like that. They're pretty low-key.† Tammi ran a hand through her short red hair. â€Å"I don't know. They're famous and artistic. Seems like that's a bad combination. Temperamental and stuff. Not all writers can be like Seth. In fact, I bet when he gets angry enough about something, he could really let someone have it.† â€Å"Anything else?† I asked, a sharp note of dismissal in my voice. â€Å"Otherwise, just put up all the posters, okay?† She gave me a startled look and left the office. When the door closed, I put my head down on the desk and groaned. Tammi, in her blissful adolescent na §?te, had no idea how close to home she had hit. Like her, I too believed Seth could display a lot of anger if given enough cause. Like, say, his girlfriend cheating on him. True, Bastien had been right in saying Seth and I had loose definitions of â€Å"cheating,† but even I knew what did and did not qualify. There was no gray area here. No mutability. I had fucked up hard-core. I'd known it too, lying there in that unholy union with Bastien. After my sleepless night, I'd left him around dawn and took a cab back to Queen Anne, my body still aching. I hadn't wanted to talk to him. He'd slept so heavily, he hadn't heard me leave. No guilt weighed him down. But me? My cup of guilt was runnething over. Not only that, I still had to make the next decision in this mess: to tell or not to tell? That was what had really bothered me all day at work. The past was over; I could only worry about it for so long. My attention now focused on how to proceed with the future. Fortunately, Seth had worked from home today, which helped a little. He and I eventually had plans to meet up in the evening, but until that happened, I still had time to come up with something. Anything. Yet when I walked home at the end of my shift, I was no closer to an answer than I had been at the beginning of the day. Miserable, I pulled up a chair at my kitchen table and sat down with pen and paper. Aubrey jumped up on the table's flat surface and lay down to watch me, half of her sprawling on the page. I slid her off and made the following list: DONT TELL SETH Pros: status quo resumes, he won't be upset Cons: my own gnawing guilt, totally blowing the honesty thing I considered the list for a moment, surprised that neither the pro nor con side had more items. It was just that simple. Moving farther down the paper, I wrote up the reciprocal list. TELL SETH Pros: right thing to do Cons: admitting I'm an idiot, painfully emotional blowout, inevitable breakup, a literal eternity of heart-wrenching sorrow and regret I held the pen and looked back and forth between both lists. â€Å"This isn't really clearing things up, Aubrey.† In an effort to relieve my frustration, I hurled the pen somewhere into my living room. She watched it sail off with interest and then darted off to confirm the kill. â€Å"What do you need to tell Seth?† â€Å"Jesus!† I yelled, practically jumping ten feet in the air. Carter had appeared out of nowhere and now stood beside the table, looking casual and laconic. He wore a black T-shirt over a gray thermal shirt and the same jeans I swear he'd had on for the last couple decades. â€Å"Don't do that, okay? Knocking isn't a lost art.† â€Å"Sorry.† He pulled a chair out and straddled it, so his long arms draped lazily over the back. Flipping his stringy blond hair out of the way, he gestured toward my list. â€Å"Didn't mean to interrupt.† â€Å"You're not,† I muttered, crumpling up the paper. I tossed that into the living room too, so Aubrey could have more to hunt. â€Å"Anything you want to talk about?† he offered. I hesitated. Of all the people I knew, only Carter had been a steadfast believer in Seth and me having a serious relationship. He was the only one who hadn't treated it as a joke. In some ways, that might have made him a good confidante, yet it also disqualified him. I could not confess to the one person who had believed in me just how seriously I had messed things up in a weak moment. â€Å"No,† I said brusquely. â€Å"But I assume you have something to talk about.† He eyed me a moment, like he might push me on what I clearly held back, but then he let the matter go. â€Å"I have something for you.† He extended a balled fist. When he opened it, I found a small pouch lying on his palm. I picked it up and stroked the material. I had no idea what it was, but the cloth's smooth texture felt like a flower petal. I started to open it. â€Å"Don't,† he warned. His commanding tone instantly made me stop. â€Å"You'll break the spell.† â€Å"What spell?† â€Å"The one that masks what's inside the pouch. And the one that masks your immortal signature. â€Å" I nodded with understanding. I might not know what to do with my own love life, but immortal conspiracies I could follow. â€Å"To hide me and this from Alec's supplier.† The angel nodded in return. I held up the pouch and waggled it at him. â€Å"So do I get to know what's in there?† â€Å"It's a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, not from a reluctance to tell me but to search for the right word. â€Å"It's a dart, I guess. Or maybe†¦like, an arrowhead. But that sounds weird. Nah, let's call it a dart. It's only about an inch long. A dart that looks like a small wooden arrowhead.† â€Å"Um. Okay. Got it. And what do I do with this darting arrowhead thing?† â€Å"You pierce the other immortal's heart with it.† â€Å"Whoa. Like†¦staking a vampire?† â€Å"Uh, not entirely. You'll sort of have to see when the time comes. The key is to move fast. As soon as you open the pouch, he'll know what you are and what's in there. You don't want to give him time to react because it won't be pretty if he does. Act fast, and don't second-guess yourself.† â€Å"How is a small piece of wood going to solve all our problems?† â€Å"It's special wood,† he replied with a grin. â€Å"Oh, yeah, that explains everything.† â€Å"Are you close to meeting him?† â€Å"Terribly close, actually. I probably could have met him yesterday if I'd wanted. Alec was very keen on introducing us.† Carter frowned, turning this over in his mind. â€Å"Hmm. Odd.† â€Å"Should I be worried?† â€Å"No more worried than you already should be at the thought of attacking an immortal.† â€Å"But I'll be fine if I just act fast and don't overthink it, huh?† â€Å"Right. I imagine that's pretty common for you anyway.† â€Å"Anything else I should know?† â€Å"Well†¦let's see. Yeah. One thing. Don't actually do it until there's provocation.† â€Å"What?† I stared. â€Å"Being a bastard who pushes addictive substances that destroy mortals isn't provocation enough?† â€Å"Oddly, no. You have to be threatened in some way.† Annoyed, I tossed the pouch onto the table. This was so typical of Carter and Jerome. A bizarrely complex scheme with ridiculous nuances and loopholes. â€Å"Threatened? How can he threaten me? He can't unless†¦wait, he's not an immortal who could kill me, is he?† â€Å"No, of course not. But he could make things very†¦uncomfortable for you. Anyway, there's a lot of ways to threaten a person. If he hurts you†¦or you feel vulnerable†¦like he could abuse his power over you, then that'll work. He's a stronger immortal than you. Preying on you – especially when you belong to Jerome, so to speak – is a big no-no. You would be justified in protecting yourself. But, if you attack wantonly, you'll get in trouble from the powers that be for targeting other immortals. You'll also get us in trouble for arming you.† â€Å"This sounds kind of like entrapment.† â€Å"That's an ugly word. Let's just keep it in terms of self-defense.† â€Å"So, you think things are going to get rough enough that I'll actually need self-defense?† He hesitated. â€Å"I don't know. I just don't know.† â€Å"Yeah, but then, if this guy's perfectly nice and just sells me a stash of ambrosia, I can't do anything? We've wasted the trip?† â€Å"Like I said, I don't know. Really. But honestly†¦if they're making it this easy to find him, I have to think something weird is going on. Just be careful, okay?† His face was all seriousness now. â€Å"You're smart. You can pull this off.† â€Å"And I don't suppose, at any point in this, you're going to tell me who this guy actually is?† â€Å"I believe ignorance is bliss.† I threw my hands up, not knowing what else to say. Carter traded a few more jokes with me and then rose to go. Hesitating, he gave me a curious look. â€Å"You sure you don't want to talk? You've obviously got something bugging you. â€Å" â€Å"I do. But I've got to deal with it on my own.† â€Å"Fair enough. See ya.† An eyeblink later, the angel disappeared. Seth showed up about an hour later, a little blue paint smudged on his face. â€Å"Terry and Andrea are painting the kitchen now.† I smiled at him, swallowing all the churning emotions within me. â€Å"How can you get so messy when you don't even do the painting?† I found a washcloth and dabbed at his face in a fruitless effort to clean him up. Standing so close, I suddenly had a flashback to last night. His hands stroking my breasts. Feeling him inside of me, filling me up. Our bodies moving together. His lips parting slightly when he came. â€Å"It won't come off,† I said abruptly, jerking away. â€Å"Oh. Okay.† I stayed moody and silent for the rest of the night, stiff and distant at any sort of touching. Seth picked up on the vibe right away and let me have my space. We walked a few blocks down the street to a theater that only showed Oscar nominees and artsy, independent films. We saw one of the latter, and I have to admit, it did take my mind off my love life, if only for two hours. Sitting at an Italian restaurant afterward, I let him draw me into a discussion of the film's merits. It amazed me that my mouth could keep up with the conversation while the rest of me was in an entirely different world. Over and over, I replayed what had happened last night – and not just the sex part. I analyzed everything, the events that had led up to it. Why had I done it? What had made me give in? Had it really been an altruistic attempt to fix Seth and me by removing the temptation? Had it been an aching desire to take comfort in Bastien? Or, most likely, had it been something selfish on my part? A burning desire to touch what I wasn't supposed to have – not because it might help our relationship, but because I just wanted to do it. I had wanted that pleasure. I had craved his body and simply gave in to the hedonism I longed for. I was a creature of hell, after all. I had observed before that we weren't exactly known for our self-control. Yet none of that changed the fact that it had happened. It had happened, and I had to do something about it. Or†¦did I? Seth sat across from me, looking happy and content as we talked. Ignorance really is bliss sometimes. I thought back to the lists. If he never found out, the truth couldn't hurt him. We could go on as we had. The only problem would be that I knew the truth. I had to live with this betrayal, not only of our physical relationship but also of our attempts at honesty and openness. One more entry on the list of dark and nasty secrets I already kept. â€Å"You with me, Thetis?† he asked suddenly. â€Å"Huh?† He gave me a small, sweet smile and moved his hand over to hold mine. I squeezed it back. â€Å"You look like you're miles away. â€Å" I gave him a half-smile in return. Apparently I wasn't as subtle as I thought. I looked at him, studying those beloved features, and shook my head. I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell him. Not yet. â€Å"Just tired,† I lied. We shared a dish of gelato and then returned to my apartment. We had just set up the Scrabble board when I felt immortal signatures approaching. I groaned, not wanting to deal with this. â€Å"Hail, hail, the gang's all here.† Seth looked puzzled until we heard the knock at the door. I opened it, letting in Hugh, Peter, Cody, and Bastien. â€Å"You are alive,† said Peter cheerfully, smothering me in a hug. â€Å"We tried calling you tonight.† â€Å"And I've been trying to get a hold of you all day,† added Bastien pointedly. I was perfectly aware that he had called me many times. I had purposely not answered my phone. â€Å"Sorry,† I said to all of them. â€Å"Hey, Seth,† said Cody, clapping the writer on the back. The vampire and the rest of the immortals spread themselves out around my living room like they lived there. I gave their giggling and careless behavior a withering glance. â€Å"You guys been barhopping?† â€Å"Yup,† said Hugh with pride. â€Å"You – both of you – could have joined us.† â€Å"Fortunately, the night is still young,† declared Bastien. He strolled around the living room, arching an appalled eyebrow at the Scrabble board. â€Å"When you didn't answer, we decided to come issue an invitation in person.† â€Å"We're going to go shoot pool,† explained Cody happily. â€Å"Over at that place in Belltown. You guys should come along.† He gave Seth a conspiratorial grin. â€Å"Georgina's a wicked pool player.† â€Å"Thetis is good at everything,† Seth murmured automatically. I could tell by his body language he wasn't comfortable with a bunch of drunken immortals in the room. I also knew he didn't want to go out. â€Å"Sorry, guys,† I told them. â€Å"We've already been out. We're staying in.† This earned snide remarks and groans of disapproval. â€Å"Oh come on,† begged Hugh, trying to get Aubrey's attention with a cat toy on a string. She didn't fall for it and hissed at him instead. â€Å"We always get better service when you go with us.† â€Å"Besides,† said Bastien nastily. â€Å"It doesn't look you're doing anything else exciting. You should be grateful we came along. We're giving you something. Something you couldn't otherwise get.† I remained calm, but I think the others picked up on the sudden tension in the air. â€Å"Sorry,† I repeated. â€Å"We're staying in. You guys can hang out for a little bit, but then I've got to kick you out. We're doing our own thing. â€Å" â€Å"I wasn't aware you guys did anything at all,† muttered Bastien in a voice only I heard. Maybe the vampires too, with their superhuman hearing. â€Å"You got anything to drink?† asked Peter, gently nudging me toward being a good hostess. I was still locked in a battle of wills and eye contact with the incubus. â€Å"Yeah, I just bought a six-pack of Smirnoff Ice.† â€Å"Oh,† said Cody. â€Å"Score.† He and Hugh raided my refrigerator, passing out bottles of prissy malted beverage to everyone except Seth and me. We abstained. Lounging around, conversation on silly topics soon ensued, although Bastien, Seth, and I did not participate. Seth stayed quiet because he always stayed quiet in such settings. Bastien and I stayed quiet because we were pissed off at each other. I excused myself for the restroom and found Bastien waiting outside the door for me when I finished. â€Å"Alcohol runs right through you, huh?† I asked, pushing past him. He blocked my way, backing me up against the wall. â€Å"What the hell's wrong with you?† he demanded in a low voice. â€Å"Nothing. Let me go.† â€Å"Bullshit. I left you like a hundred messages. You're avoiding me.† â€Å"So? It's my prerogative. Just like that song.† He snorted. â€Å"Let me guess. You're having some sort of melodramatic moral crisis over what happened last night. That's so typical of you lately.† â€Å"Don't talk to me about last night. You shouldn't have done what you did.† â€Å"Is houldn't have? My God, Fleur ,don't act like you're the victim here. Nobody forced you. You more than consented. In fact, I daresay you enjoyed it.† â€Å"It was a mistake.† â€Å"And so avoiding me is going to fix it? Don't delude yourself. It wasn't a mistake. It was good for you. I helped you. I gave you something you would have never gotten otherwise. You'll remember it for the rest of your life.† â€Å"Gee,† I said, dripping sarcasm. â€Å"How kind of you. Because that's really all there was to it, wasn't there? You only did it to help me. Nothing more. You certainly didn't do it just because you could. Because I was ‘beautiful and I was wonderful and you wanted me.' â€Å" â€Å"Listen to me – â€Å" â€Å"No. You listen to me. If I want to avoid you, let me avoid you. Don't show up at my house drunk and try to force your way into a dialogue. It makes you more of an asshole than you'd be otherwise. I don't want to talk to you. Not anytime soon. Maybe not ever.† â€Å"Forever's a long time.† He leaned closer, one hand on my arm. â€Å"Don't you think you're overreacting to one fuck? Besides, you can't cut me off. You've got to help me with Dana.† â€Å"No,† I declared icily. â€Å"I do not. You're on your own with that. And if you get sent to Guam, then it's your own fucking fault. Maybe it'll give you some time to think about your relations with women outside of business.† â€Å"Damn it – â€Å" â€Å"Georgina?† We both turned and saw Seth standing in the hallway. Bastien and I were close – too close – but not romantically close. Anyone with half a brain could tell we were locked in a dispute. Our postures radiated it, as did our expressions. The grip Bastien held on my arm was not friendly. â€Å"Are you okay?† Seth asked carefully. His words came out low and measured, but I saw something unfamiliar in his expression. Not anger, but something else kindling in his eyes. He had told me once he chose his battles carefully, and I wondered then what he would do if he thought the incubus was a real threat to me. â€Å"We're fine,† I said. I broke from Bastien's grasp, and he didn't fight it. â€Å"Yes,† he agreed with a cold smile. â€Å"We're fine.† He walked past me but stopped when he was even with Seth. â€Å"You should be flattered,† Bastien told him. â€Å"Most women invoke God during sex, but Fleur yells your name. One would have thought you were a deity, considering how many times she paid homage to you last night.† He continued on to the living room, and I didn't even stick around to see Seth's reaction. I stormed after Bastien. â€Å"Get out,† I told him. I looked over at the other immortals. â€Å"All of you, get out now.† Peter, Cody, and Hugh stared at me in astonishment. I'd kicked them out a number of times, but none of them had ever heard me use this voice on them. Consequently, they heeded it. They scrambled out the door in under a minute, Bastien shooting me a dark glance as he left. When they were gone, I took a deep breath and turned to Seth. Anger and despair boiled inside of me. â€Å"Let me guess. You want to know what he meant.† His face was unreadable. â€Å"Honestly, I don't know.† He suddenly sounded tired. â€Å"I don't know if I want to.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I'll tell you anyway.† The words tore at me while coming out, but I really didn't want to hold onto the secret anymore. Not only because Bastien had given it away but also because I knew I wasn't going to be able to stand having it fester inside of me. It hurt too much. Talking to the incubus had made me realize that. So while I didn't mention the pictures, I told Seth everything else. Everything. When I finished, he didn't say anything. He stared at some nonexistent spot in the air, face blank once more. After a couple of minutes of aching silence, he finally turned back to me. â€Å"So. How was I?†