Primary Education and School Children Essay

The Government of India in 2001 launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a nationwide programme to provide universal primary education, thereby encouraging secondary education also. The Center passed The Right to Education Act in 1 April 2010, which guarantees free and compulsory education to every child in the 6-14 age groups. But, the lack of awareness on the requirement of pre-school education & operational challenges including the availability of quality teachers are some of the issues that still limit the widespread benefits from the government act. Though the number of institutes has gone up significantly since then, but most of them provide an average education. Many state-funded schools in India lack even the basic infrastructure. In fact the quality of education, especially in remote villages, is very dismal. The quality of teaching in elementary schools is not up to the mark. Teacher absenteeism is widespread, teachers are not adequately trained and the quality of pedagogy is poor. One of the major challenges is the diminishing inclination of youth towards the teaching profession. The low salary base, lack of incentives and a lethargic job with less of dynamism have made the profession a last resort for the youth. Also, the profession has lost the level of respect that it deserved. Nowadays, it is only been seen as a supplementary income, and they keep trying to enhance their qualification, till they get into a better job. While there is immense shortage of primary and upper primary schools, there are some schools in many parts of the district where a single teacher is taking all classes from 1-5. As per RTE Act norms, the ratio of teacher and students should be 1:30 in primary schools and 1: 35 in upper primary schools. But, past 2 years since the enactment of the RTE act, there is a shortage of 1. 2 million teachers in India. This gap has led to lack of interest in the students too, which led to decline in the enrolment and also shift towards tuitions. Key national highlights by ASER report 2009 * The percentage of all rural children in Std 5 reading text at Std 2 level shows a decline from 56. 2 percent in 2008 to 52. 8 percent in 2009. This means around 40% of all rural children in Std 5 in India are at least three grade levels behind based on their level of learning * In math, for children in Std 5, the ability to do division problems has hardly increased. From 2007-09, for children in government schools the ability has actually declined from 41 percent to 36% * In Government Schools, 17. 1 percent students take private tuitions, and it rises to 30. 8 percent by the time they reach standard 8th * In private schools more than 25 percent students take private tuitions from standard 1 itself. Some of these challenges can be overcome by adopting Innovative teaching/ learning methods to achieve the desired quality: For high quality education throughout, India needs to focus on strengthening nation wide network, which would provide equal quality education to all students, including the students from the rural areas and villages, irrespective of the type of school. New methods of delivery would enable to augment access, quality and improve delivery at various levels of education and also to bridge the gap between the faculty requirements and their availability. Information, Communication and technology (ICT) tools such as videos, television and multimedia computer software that combine text, sound, and colourful, moving images can be used to provide challenging and authentic content that would engage the students in the learning process. ICTs can also be used to improve access to and the quality of teacher training. Some international examples in this regard are: * Cyber Teacher Training Center (CTTC) in South Korea is leveraging on Internet to provide better teacher professional development opportunities to in service teachers. The government-funded CTTC, offers self-directed, self-paced web-based courses for primary and secondary school teachers * In China, large-scale radio and television-based teacher education has for many years been conducted by the China Central Radio and TV, University, the Shanghai Radio and TV University (RTVU) and many other RTVUs in the country. Some progressive approaches the Indian education sector has adopted * Eight hundred and fifty schools in India use Tata Sky Active. Besides over a million Tata Sky homes spend more than INR 30 every month to buy services such as Active English, Active Learning and Active Wizkids. * Activity based learning – * Katha: A Initiative involving Amar Chitra Katha characters to impart education to school children * Hey Math: Content providers are selling different school fundamentals as a learning package to children. Initiatives are now in place to sell science packages * Campus-Connect Programs – Governments are having partnerships with training schools for vocational training, like Government of Delhi and IndiaCan have partnered to impart English education to bus drivers * Voucher Schools – * A school voucher or education voucher is a certificate issued by the government which parents can apply toward tuition at a school * The government of Rajasthan has announced two schemes that use school vouchers- Gyanodaya for classes 6-12 and Shikshak ka Apna Vidyalaya for classes 1-5. Trends in Education Sector in Pre-school: Trends| Examples:| Entry of Big Corporate| * Many corporate houses have / are planning to set up their own chain of pre-schools – Pre schools are viewed as attractive investment opportunities due to the growth potential. * For e.g. Alphakids set up by Camlin group and Globe Tot’ers by Yash Birla Group, P&G’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility Program Shiksha. | Joint Ventures with Builders| * Increasingly preschools are forming joint ventures with builders. Partnering with builders helps in imparting flexibility in the business against high lease rentals * AEZ group and Mothers Pride entered into a JV for a Preschool| Upgrade to K 12| * Preschool chains are moving up the value chain by upgrading to K-12 schools to ensure scalability  for preschool firms * Kidzee, Euro Kids and Kangaroo Kids are upgrading to K-12 school and a large majority of their preschool population is expected to be the potential customers for K-12| Expansion to Tier I & Tier II Cities| * Demand and affordability is increasing in small towns with the growing awareness among people about the need to send children to preschools. * Euro kids plans to add 1000 pre schools in medium term with Tier II and Tier III cities as growth drivers| Leveraging Infrastructure foreconomic viability| * In order to maximize space utilization, preschools are leveraging the existing infrastructure to generate additional revenues * Additional programmes are being offered in the same premise in order to allow higher utilization of the infrastructure|.

Abraham Lincoln and the Self-Made Myth Essay

An ambitious ascent from a poor Illinois farm boy to occupying the highest political office during one of Americas most turbulent times makes for the literature of hero worship. In the essay entitled Abraham Lincoln the self-made myth Rich Hofstadter challenges the reader to penetrate beneath the surface of the American political tradions and investigate the event and actions that contributed to the Lincoln Myth. To begin with Hofstadter states that one of Lincolnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s most endearing qualisties to Americans was his humble origins and the fact that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Lincoln was a preeminent example of that self-help which Americans have always so admired,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (121). But he further goes on to state that Lincoln used this to his advantage. First in his campaign speeches always eluding to himself as humble Abraham Lincoln and in the way he addressed his own wife in public as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“motherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (122). See more: Foot Binding In China essay He received distinguished guests in shirtsleeves, and once during his presidency hailed a soldier out of the ranks with the cry, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Bub! Bub!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The concept of the self-made, simple man played well with the American public thus became à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“fully absorbed into his political being,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (124). Historical novels and fictionalized biographies about Lincoln would be amiss of the greater portion of its contents were not dedicated to the slavery issue. Many only give, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“a tiresome celebration of the America past with a progressive interpretation of American history of her-worship and national self-congratulation,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Forward 2). In Hostadterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s essay he discusses the slavery issue not with a sentimental approach but with critical analysis. Lincoln was a Southerner by birth. He grew up in communities in Illinois where slavery was rare. Laws against runaway slaves were in force when Lincoln served in the s tate legislature. It was here that Lincoln made his first public statement on slavery by voting against a proslavery resolution.

Totalitarianism

Totalitarian is stated as a political authority widely used to describe the kind of state and society engineered by Joseph Stalin. Historians on Soviet politics recognize the two theories focused on the totalitarian model. Basically, there are two totalitarian models- â€Å"an operational one that tried to describe the existing Soviet society and a developmental one that focused on the origins of totalitarianism and on the responsibility of Marxism-Leninism for Stalinist. â€Å"l According to Marxist theory, only through a modern industrialized economy could a true proletariat class be plopped, as Marx makes no mention off peasant class.Marxist theory aside, the need to Industrialized was also a pragmatic matter of self-defense that was rooted on ideology; In a sense, It called for a totalitarian authority to successfully pull off the grandiose project. 2 This paper argues that while there is much discussion about the heavy industrialization and rapid acclimatization done during St alin's reign, there is evident indications that it was during this time that Soviet Union truly became a totalitarian state. In a totalitarian authority, there is an evident indication off nominate leader and a one-party state.There Is also the presence of brutal crushing of Internal opposition. â€Å"The state not only monopolized the Instrumentalities of coercion but also dominated the means of mass communication;†3 totalitarianism allows â€Å"no challenge to the single official ideology. â€Å"4 Those who actually publicly oppose the leader are then faced with brutal suppression. The period during Stalin's reign was perhaps the most transformation period of Soviet history. He consolidated his grip on power and used this to actively transform the culture and economic leslies of the time.It was during Industrialization that the Soviet union became truly totalitarian. Industrialization was the key element of Stalin's revolution Rejecting the prior Bolshevik conviction with the bourgeois institution, he sought to embrace â€Å"socialist realism,†5 denouncing anything that was remotely of â€Å"bourgeois intellect. â€Å"6 However, these cultural changes were minor in comparison to the vast changes of his economic policies. Joseph Stalin understood the inherent problem in starting a communist revolution In Russia: the nation failed capitalism, and It would need to aka a translation from socialism to communism.He understood that the translation would require heavy Industrialization on a massive scale in order to successfully compete with Western modernization. 7 Stalin saw the need to industrialized as a pragmatic matter of self-defense. â€Å"Do you want our socialist fatherland to be beaten and to lose its independence? â€Å"8 he asked in a famous February, 1931 speech. He continued on: â€Å"If you do not want this you must Putnam end to its backwardness in the shortest possible time and develop genuine Bolshevik tempo In building up the socialist system of the economy†¦We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this difference in ten years. Either we do it, or we shall be crushed. â€Å"9 Once Stalin ascended into power, the New Economic Policy introduced by Lenin was gradually destroyed. 10 In agriculture it was replaced by collective farms, while In Industry, It paved the way to a Five-Year Plan which assigned production targets to production figures for heavy industrialization quota at the beginning of the first five year plan in 1929.As Keen pointed out, the unrealistic optimism of these goals were to reached until 1960. 11 It seemed that there was no viable structure behind the planning as â€Å"planning' was reduced to naming target figures which had little more than propaganda significance†12. Abstruse commands were of a more practical importance than carefully elaborated planning; and â€Å"the commands were based on guesses, prejudices, and whims.  "13 The propaganda, however, was extremely successful in that it accomplished its goal which was to increase production.By 1934, there was a fifty percent increase in industrial output with an average annual growth ate of eighteen percent, while the population of industrial workers doubled. 14 The success was due to the effective manipulation of the public in Stalin's grandiose project; the workers' continuous belief that accepting lower standards of living was a small amount to pay for the future modernization of Soviet Union. Cashbook, a peasant, described how his family property was arbitrarily taken and his brother murdered, only to conclude: â€Å"But then, after all, look at what we're doing.In a few years now we'll be ahead of everybody industrially. We'll all have automobiles and here won't be any differentiation between kulaks and anybody else†1 5 The poor were blinded by an unrealistic optimism off utopian society Stalin has laid out. Stalin and his followers undert ook a series of actions that drastically reinforced totalitarianism in the Soviet order. The basic elements were maintained: the single-party state, the single official ideology, the manipulation of legality and the state's economic dominance.Service pointed out that other elements were greatly altered as he â€Å"crucified politics and hyper-centralized administrative institutions. â€Å"16 In 1927, the localization began with voluntary collective farms. However, very few volunteered. In 1928, only less than 1% of arable lands were collective and by 1929, the numbers increased to 7%, which were still not sufficient. 17 As Stalin continued to intimidate those who politically opposed him, the courage of people who wanted to stand up to his wild economic policies faltered. By the spring of 1930, the proportion of collective lands increased to 60%. 8 The reason was Stalin's decision to make acclimatization a mandatory process, which was also increasingly violent and brutal. The gover nment called for the rapid and complete acclimatization, which would eventually lead to the overall colonization of the countryside. Kulaks stood to lose the most from acclimatization; the process of rapid acclimatization was made possible through a governmental assault on the peasant group. Stalin's government proclaimed that the collective farms should be formed exclusively from the poor peasant households.Like Lenin before him, Stalin saw the kulaks, vaguely defined as wealthy peasants, as â€Å"unacceptably capitalist. â€Å"19 Stalin was forceful in denunciation f the kulaks, he said: â€Å"We have gone over from a policy of limiting the exploiting tendencies of the kulak to a policy of eliminating kulaks as a class†¦ Decentralization is now an essential element in forming and developing kolkhoz. Therefore, to keep on discussing decentralization is ridiculous and not serious. When the head is cut off, you do not weep about the hair. â€Å"20 Stalin successfully divided the peasants, which made it easier for them to oppose.The attacks on the kulaks also helped make the impression that it was only the kulaks that resisted acclimatization. They were used for such an impression that they were exploiting their neighbor peasants. The lower peasants felt no empathy towards the Kulaks, who always was a little better off than them. And since kulak was so loosely defined, anyone who resisted acclimatization could be quickly labeled a kulak. The Communists were often dismayed that even after vicious propaganda campaigns, most peasants sympathized more with kulaks than with the Communist Party.So those who sympathized with the pleas of the kulaks were quickly labeled a sub-kulak. 21 Many of these poorer peasants were ultimately reclassified as kulaks themselves s they strongly resisted Stalin's oppression. Most Joined the collective farms reluctantly. Many were executed for trying to sell off or slaughter their livestock rather than donating them to the coll ective farms. Stalin's Russia was a case of a totalitarian state. Stalin was an absolute dictator who used the most conniving means of coercion. The Kulaks who opposed acclimatization were dealt with absolute brutal treatment.Many were killed, sent to Siberia, or thrown in the gulags, forced labor camps. 22 And the one thing that remained consistent was their loss of properties. Local districts were even required to fill quotas of Kulaks to identified. Keen described the violence of this time as â€Å"collaboration's most significant precedent: Mass murder for vaguely defined political and economic goals became a possibility – this was the most important legacy of acclimatization†24 The ultimate results of acclimatization were not what the regime had hoped.Grain production declined ten percent between 1928 and 1932, and in addition delivery quotas were â€Å"two to three times higher than the quantities the peasants had previously marketed†. 5 Many people starve d to death between 1932 and 1933. The grain production was minimal and the statistics were miscalculated. As there was little amount of grains brought in the cities, almost none were left for the people in the countryside. The horrors of the famine were focused in Ukraine. It was estimated that five to seven million people starved to death. 6 Meanwhile, the Cheek, also known as the Main Political Administration, efficiently detected and suppressed any dissent in the city. Stalin and the Cheek chief Yoga scoured for any political opponents. Former Immensities and Socialist-Revolutionaries were hunted out penthouse their political parties had barely existed since the 1922 show-trials. 27 In 1931, newspapers were filled with stories of professional malefactors caught, accused, and sentenced. A witch-hunt atmosphere ascended as â€Å"workers were hallowed into denouncing any superiors who obstructed the implementation of the Five-Year Plan. 28 Stalin had tried to root out any possible opposition. When Bess Laminated and Sergei Sorts, who were supporters of Stalin , had publicly expressed their disgruntlement, the Cheek immediately arrested them and later were punished for factionalism. â€Å"29 Stalin ran a tight political control as he used the Cheek as a weapon to bring terror to all opposition to his economic policies. The rapid acclimatization and industrialization under Stalin's regime had costs millions of lives.The purges which victimized the peasants, workers, the intelligentsia, and the State party itself had been â€Å"previously unequaled in the long and brutal history of Russia. â€Å"30 As Stalin launched his revolution from above, the rapid industrialization and acclimatization of agriculture races of capitalism left by the New Economic Policy was reached. While many historians still argue whether Stalin intentionally starve the people to death or it was simply a matter of miscalculated production , the consistency remains on the fact that it was through acclimatization and industrialization that Soviet Union's totalitarian rule was sealed.Stalin's central planning was immediately heavily emphasized on rapid industrialization, which ultimately led to its collapse due to the high imbalance. Although the goals set out benefited the nation, the process of localization and industrialization bought in violent coercive methods that created a period of famine and left the legacy of broken morale.During Stalin's acclimatization, the difference between public and private spheres of life was utterly destroyed as everything was state-centered. The attempts to immobile the public in Stalin's grandiose projects to gain legitimacy of the act, the tight political and economic control run by violence and threats, as well as the utter destruction of public and private affairs are all substantial evidences of Soviet Union becoming an official totalitarian state.

Critical Thinking questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking questions - Essay Example Financial accounting and managerial accounting basically have the same function but their end results are different. The main difference between the two is that financial accounting is conducted and processed so that information can be made available to third parties that are outside the organization. These reports are basically created over a half yearly or annual period and they are reviewed as per the fiscal year. Managerial accounting is more centered towards decisions that have to be made within an organization. The data and information procured during this process is used by the managers of a business or company. The reports that are created under managerial accounting are for a shorter period of time for example a week, a month or even everyday. Financial reports are used by people who may want to invest in the firm or sell the stocks or shares, where as managerial reports are needed for the smooth running of the firm. Financial risk and financial return can be called siblings in a sense. When an investor is putting capital or money into stocks, bonds or generally putting money into a firm he is taking a considerable risk because there is always a chance that he may lose the money that he has invested. Financial return on the other hand is the profit that the same investor would get from his investment. The amount or significance of the return is dependent on the risk i.e. the lower the risk taken, the lower the return will be and the higher the risk taken the higher the return would be. There is always a potential for higher returns based on the risk being a success or failure, if it results in a failure then there will be no returns. The U.S. health care system is made complex by the different types of networks that are created around providers, payers and patients. Pharmacists may play an important role; however, this role is interlinked with many other professionals. â€Å"Pharmacists are intertwined into a web of

International Organization Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

International Organization Behaviour - Essay Example Communication, which has been variedly defined by authors, is the dissemination of information, conversation between people or passing and receiving information between various people or groups. Culture and communication are closely related in that culture determines the kind of communication among people. Organizational culture also determines the kind of communication used within the organization by the management and employees. Organizational behaviour relates to the feelings and concerns of employees in the organization. This can be defined by their cultural values, attitudes, beliefs, customs and lifestyle. Management, according to international organization behaviour, should consider the views and perspectives of employees in every decision made (McGregor 2005, p. 50). This will ensure communication is effective and the intended information is always disseminated. Culture mediated understanding and perception. It is also true that communication which is one way hinders learning and knowledge acquisition. Therefore the role of culture and communication is very vital in the organization. This is why culture is an important aspect in an organization. Accommodating cultural diversity will also ensure that the relationship between employees and the management is favourable towards achieving the major goals of the organization. This paper therefore seeks to discuss the role of culture and communication. ... Effective communication is also developed over time. This enable the people involved in organizations to share their experiences at work and even work as a team. This is also important in that communication facilitates achievement of organizational goals, customer relations, and promotes feedback both from employees to the management and from customers to the organization. Organizations develop culture that is usually apparent in specific layout of work space, pattern of dress, styles of leadership, styles of functions and meetings, talking about direction and nature of organization, and ways of thinking about the organizational roles, goals and mission of existence. These perspectives are achieved with the help of effective communication within the organization (Graham 2005, p. 40). Culture of an organization may be expressed through both verbal and non verbal communication among the parties in the organization. Organizations that develop a common culture for its employees understan d the role of cultural diversity of its employees and achieve its objectives. In the concept of organizational behaviour, managers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the views and perceptions of employees are understood and incorporated in day to day management of the business. Managers can only understand their employees if they first conceptualize their cultural beliefs, norms, customs, and attitudes. Some employees feel motivated if they are involved in decision making and their suggestions considered in the organization. This can be effectively done where the role of communication is emphasized and cultural diversity within the organization is captured. This introduces the concept of cross cultural communication

Evidence for (or against) water on Mars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence for (or against) water on Mars - Essay Example ncluding volcanic activities, presence of polar ice caps and presence of chemical compounds on the Martian surface rocks are all evidences revealing the presence of water in the Mars planet. The planet Mars consists of water, which is in the form of ice. Mars planet has two polar ice caps, which are permanent. During the winter seasons, the Martian pole lies in constant darkness making the surface chill. This contributes to approximately 30 percent of the atmosphere, which is in the form of carbon dioxide ice (dry ice). However, when the sun strikes the poles, the carbon dioxide ice sublimes through sublimation process; thus forming winds that sweep the poles away at a speed of 400km/h (Murdin, 2009). Sublimation is a process of transforming solid substances into the gaseous state without passing through liquid stage. This is because most chemical compounds at normal pressures possess varied temperatures. Most solid substances that contain vapor pressure can sublime at certain temperatures such as water ice, which is below 0Â °C. Ice and snow undergoes sublimation process although at a slow process but below the melting point. This is seen when a wet cloth, which is hu ng outside in a freezing weather and later removed when it is dry. The freezing to drying of the material dehydrates from freezing; thus allowing water to sublime under low pressure. Murdin (2009) argue that water exist on Mars in the form of ice. The Martian surface rocks occur in high latitude areas and are known as permafrost, which is in a freezing state below the 0Â °C. Most permafrost areas are located in high latitudes, and ice is not always present, but they occur due to hydraulic saturation of the bedrock materials. Water vapor is always presented in the ambiance but the permafrost lack liquid water. The present condition of the surface of many planets does no longer support the existence of water in liquid form for a longer period. This is because the atmospheric temperature is too low; thus

Charitable Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Charitable Organizations - Essay Example They just have to manage funds. Lastly, the intangible benefits are immense when it comes to serving in a charitable organization. As for the disadvantages, employee retention and recruitment is a matter of concern as the salary is low and commitment needed is high. Lastly, when charities are newly established, fund raising is a major issue as people doubt their credibility. Charitable organizations are those companies who are working for the sole purpose of doing something good for the society. The organization has charity-oriented factors as its aims and objectives as opposed to a normal company, whose major aim is to maximize its profits. There can be many types of charitable organizations, namely trusts, foundations and associates which are working as unincorporated (Petit-Zaman, 2006). A company might start off with charitable purposes or might become a charitable organization after some time passes after its establishment. There is a difference between a charitable organization and not-for-profit organizations. Charitable organizations are a subset of not-for-profit organizations. Not-for-profit organizations are those which are incorporated as an organization. They have a separate legal entity. They are neither working for purely charitable purposes nor for profit maximization. ... It is actually the responsibility of the state to fulfill these traditional duties, to work for the welfare of the citizens of the state. But often the state is ignorant of these duties and that is when these charitable organizations step in and do some good work. CHARITIES IN UNITED KINGDOM The United Kingdom has a total number of 200,000 charitable organizations (UK Tax). This is a huge quantity and the graph is rising as the sector of charity is rapidly growing and accelerating. Many of these charities are established as limited liability companies so that the owners, i.e. the trustees, are not liable to pay more than their share of investment in the company and so that this factor results in the establishment of more charitable organizations. Charitable organizations are finding new ways to cater to the humanity. The various charitable organizations are basically registered with three regulatory bodies, namely the Charity Commission, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Inland Revenue. These regulatory bodies are essential to supervise and take care of the activities that these charitable organizations are indulging in. these bodies make sure that these charities do not misuse the money that they collect from the general public for charitable purposes . These charities also have to report its activities to the government. This makes the government fully aware of whether these organizations are fulfilling their purposes or not, as their collections are tax free. This reporting aims to see whether any fraud is being done by an organization opened by the name of charity but eating up money for personal purposes. If a fraud is detected, the license of the

Investigation Theories Of The Problems Of Healthcare Quality Coursework

Investigation Theories Of The Problems Of Healthcare Quality - Coursework Example These strategies will make inquiries from study designs like open-ended question interviews (Handout, 2011). This is specifically inclined towards either pre or post aspects of behaviors and traits. The population to be is quite fundamental and important because, the purpose supports qualitative theories and phenomenology theory, which is of use in supporting phenomenal experiences (Creswell & Stone, 2009). The population also acts to determine scenarios when the investigators can support the general process. Will the population from the qualitative research test the method from both the phenomenology and ground theories the directions taken by health disparities because of the causes by the large chunk of the population without the health insurance? How would this issue be addressed taking note that the large portion cannot access medication and healthcare hence resorting to crude measures to support health? From the phenomenological perspective, a design is created on a mirrored concept from the university current online education framework. The ground theory as stated will also be considered due to the need for quality and reliability of data. This is the ground upon which the researcher is able to reinforce the open process, action or integration because of the education concept. According to the Quality Health Care QHC use, it is if training and development through education to help improve the talent from the family care perspectives to understand the need for quality healthcare and subscribe to health insurance policies (Shadish, Cook & Campbell, 2002). The researcher’s strategy is to support personal development theory, which is directed towards promoting community and change in leadership.  The vision to judge and design ways to adopt modern development strategies to perpetuate values aimed at planning the workforce, community, and culture change in order to promote the skills by individuals to mitigate the healthcare problem.

Googling Out of Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Googling Out of Control - Essay Example In other types of industries, the Googley way of working could potentially spell disaster for sales and overall business success. This paper will show whether the Googley way of working is actually sustainable long-term for the company and will discuss whether or not this way of working could provide higher benefits for different companies in need of change to their organisational structures or systems and processes. Historical theorists such as Frederick Taylor believed in a scientific method for business in which people should be observed over a period of time and then determining, through these observational findings, which method of training is best for performing specialised jobs in the organisation (Bloisi, Cook and Hunsaker, 2006). Combined with the scientific approach, Taylor also viewed workers through a mechanistic standpoint, believing that workers were often inherently difficult and uncooperative and often lacked the ability to absorb knowledge and information successfully. This classical view of management is still at work in many different industries today which have strong leadership hierarchies where virtually all decision-making starts at the top and trickles down the organisation. Google has managed to break away from this classical type of management model where workers are heavily controlled and observed and has given their workers considerable autonomy in most of their own d ecision-making concepts and job roles. It may only be in an environment where change is constant and there is a need for flexible and rapid decision-making where this chaotic type of leadership concept is going to be successful. For example, many of the main global automakers are experiencing sales declines in their auto sales, especially noticeable in the United States. Automakers in this category such as Ford and General

CRITICAL DESCRIPTION OF LITERATURE CHOSEN INCLUDING RATIONALE FOR Lab Report

CRITICAL DESCRIPTION OF LITERATURE CHOSEN INCLUDING RATIONALE FOR CHOICE - Lab Report Example This article is a critical discussion and evaluation of this write-up dealing with the question, whether it is ethical for counsellors to have sexual relations with their ex-clients or not, as laid down by the statutory authority. In the write-up, the writer, Paul Wilkins talks about various psychological concepts and aspects like transference, love, power play, the importance of time and critically analysis if this clause is required and if it is ethical for counsellors to maintain sexual relations with their e x-clients. The rationale behind choosing this write-up, is to highlight the high rate of these occurrences and to critically appraise the clauses laid down. With the number of individuals approaching counsellors increasing by the day, such cases are being more commonly reported and are being accepted as a part of the set-up. The analysis of this write-up can help us come to a conclusion upon the ethical detailing of the clause. This can help implement better codes of ethics in our practical lives. ANALYSIS As already mentioned, the BAC, in its general annual meeting, upheld the clause that sexual relations between counsellors and their ex-clients is unethical and it must take place only after about twelve weeks after the completion of the sessions. A special clause was added that under certain circumstances, a special lifetime ban can also be imposed on such occurrences. This was a debatable issue, since it was not unanimously agreed upon, whether such a ban or such a clause is required. Was it really unethical for a counsellor to carry no sexual relations with his ex-client In order to form the best possible opinion, the writer, Paul Wilkins, has brought about numerous references and psychology-connected theories, besides quotes of eminent authorities. As an initiation, the writer talks about the psychological concept of transference and the relation it bears with the emotion of love. According to psychology, the relation between a counsellor and the client, is that of a student-mentor relationship, wherein the client looks up to the counsellor for guidance and understanding. This relation is called transference.Due to the presence of transference, love between the counsellor and the client, cannot be forged. According to Freud, sexual relations between counsellors and their patients are not possible. However, he is not very vocal about the post-counselling phase, when transference is reduced. The mentor-mentee relation disappears after a period of time and on the completion of this period, sexual relation can be called ethical, it appears! Therefore, this period of transference is impermanent and not an long-standing one. However, this is also criticised on various grounds, the

Social Problems Caused by Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Problems Caused by Abortion - Essay Example For the conclusion, the summary of the researcher's learning outcomes will be enumerated. There is a huge difference between the number of Baby Boomers population (born between 1945 - 1964) with 76 million as compared to the Generation X's (born between 1965 - 1980) with 46 million. (Francis-Smith, 2004; Allen, 2004; Raines, 2002) Basically, the signficant differences on the number of population between the two generations contribute a lot to the increase of social problems related to the future pension plan for the Baby Boomers. Since the population of Generation X is significantly much lesser than the population of Baby Boomers, the amount of taxes that can be collected from Generation X would become insufficient to sustain the large sum of money needed to support the pension pay of each individuals belonging to the Baby In line with this matter, Senator Zell Miller stated that "killing: of unborn children has caused a number of social problems in the United States including limiting the number of people who could be productive workers and contribute to social security." (Ertelt, 2007) Also, given that millions of American fetus were legally aborted either intentionally or against the free-will of the pregnant American woman, the United States need to accept more highly literated foreigners to immigate into the country. Based on medical tests, women who has undergone the process of abortion may result to a long list of negative physical, emotional and psychological adverse effects. (Coleman, Rue, & Spence, 2007) As part of the negative psychological effects of abortion on young girls and women, more than 25% of them are seeking the professional help of a psychiatrist. (Badgley, 1977: 313 - 321) Some women who could not tolerate the emotion and psychological disturbances caused by abortion may also have difficulty in getting some sleep or experience nervous disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which may require them to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. (Barnard, 1990; Ashton, 1980) Some of these women may also have an increased risk to minor and major infections, the symptoms of excessive bleeding, chronic abdominal pain due to the tearing of the uterus, cervical injuries and gastro-intestinal disturbances. (Reardon, 1987) In case these physiological symptoms are not properly taken cared of, the woman may end up losing their own lives. (Frank et al., 1987; Reardon, 1987) Since women who has gone through abortion may be at risk of mental, psychological and physical problems, each of these women would not be effective enough in fulfilling their role in the society as a wife and a mother. Society's Contribution in the Development of these Social Problems The society has a

Introduction To Duty Of Care In Health Essay Example for Free

Introduction To Duty Of Care In Health Essay I heard you were thinking of working in the Care Profession which is excellent, I just wanted to fill you in on a few things which would help you. Health and Social Care work places have what is called a duty of care which means that you have a duty of care towards the people that you are looking after that means you must do everything you can to keep the individuals you look after safe from harm. It is not only the work place that has to prioritise the safety, welfare and interests of the individuals using the service but also the care staff. Care workers must also have a duty of care towards other staff members to ensure that all working conditions are safe and suitable to deliver the best service they can. It also means being a responsible care giver for other individuals who could be too ill or physically unable to care for themselves and requires another person to assist them on a daily basis, this could include assisting the individuals with their personal hygiene, safety, meal preparation or other medical and physical needs until they are met to the highest standards that the individual is happy with. Duty of Care affects the way people work as the employer provides policies and procedures and ways of being aware of any dangers by carrying out Risk Assessments. Social Care workers and Care organisations must do as much as possible to keep individuals safe from harm, we do these Risk Assessments by looking for either a hazard which is an actual or potential such as a chemical or process that may lead to an accident, also risks a situation that can lead to a hazard and carry the possibilities of something serious happening.

Analysis of Zaras Marketing Plan and Strategy

Analysis of Zaras Marketing Plan and Strategy Zara is a retailing chain with several stores situated worldwide. Its marketing strategy is based more on expansion rather than advertising or traditional methods of promotion. This report will provide a brief outline and a critical evaluation of Zaras marketing plan particularly in relation to its environment. The report will also identify and evaluate how technology and the new media could impact on Zaras future marketing plans. The sustainability of Zaras marketing strategy and how it will affect their reputation in the future will also be examined. Zara has already begun the implementation of the marketing strategy so a brief look at the current position and the results has also been included in this report. 2.0 Marketing Plan 2.1 Mission Statement Zara moves at the pace of society, fashion ideas, and trends that society itself has natured. Hence its success among people, cultures and generations that, in spite of their differences, share a special sensitivity for fashion. 2.2 SWOT Analysis Zaras main strengths are its early development in technology which has resulted in smoothly operated logistics, its ability to produce good designs and recent trends promptly and efficiently, its investment intensity and its participative culture (see appendix 1: Company background). Its main weakness is its customer service but it has opportunity for growth in new markets, new countries and on the internet. The firms main threat is the possible effect of the worldwide economic recession on the strength of the Euro which could increase the costs of Zaras outsourcing and ultimately remove the competitive advantage gained by its pricing strategy. 2.3 Marketing Objectives Increase customer equity Increase purchase frequency among plus size customers Continue to grow by extending the Zara fashion brand Increase brand awareness and favourable attitudes among consumers Zaras main corporate objectives are growth through store expansion in large highly populated cities and maintaining a competitive advantage through the constant release of a variety of new fashions regularly. The marketing objectives to increase brand awareness and extend the Zara fashion brand will contribute hugely towards achieving the overall objectives particularly the store expansion. 2.4 Marketing Strategy The target group consists mainly of women aged between 18 40 who are either working in big cities or pursuing higher education, have a mid-range income and are generally interested in fashion trends as well as conscious about their looks. The company has positioned itself as a store selling a variety of medium quality high fashion clothing at affordable prices and has stores in about 70 countries worldwide. The pricing strategy is to produce clothes that are typically inexpensive and affordable by those who cannot spend much on fashionable clothing but want to have appealing and comfortable outfits as well as wealthy consumers who like good quality and style. Zaras marketing strategy is to create a customer focused product that will differentiate Zara from its competitors by bringing a fresh look to the plus size segment, feeding on the existing Zara name and values associated with the brand and stealing the variety-seeking customer from the competitors. 2.5 Marketing Mix Product Price Promotion Place Physical Evidence People Process Quality Inexpensive Store display Logistics Customers Outsourcing Appearance Affordable Public relations Store atmosphere i.e. wide open spaces Suppliers In-house production Brand Inclusive (i.e not exclusive) Advertising in high Fashion magazines e.g Vogue, Harpers etc. Each line with its own section in the store Store managers Backward integration Appeal Internet Designers CSR initiative to create awareness e.g design competition for students According to McDonald M, (2007), all organizations have a mix of products or services that could be classified as either, a disaster, lowest cost, niche or outstanding success products based on M. Porters generic strategies matrix. But Zara has very few disasters, in fact it has a new product failure rate of just 1% in comparison to the industry average of 10% (Pearson, n.d.). Through backward and vertical integration, Zara keeps its costs low and therefore is able to maintain low prices whilst still retaining profitability. It does not particularly aim to produce niche products as most of the designs are either a copy from the catwalk or from other store designs. However most of the time it does have outstanding success with its products as a result of its excellent supply chain which enables it to produce new designs promptly. Zara can produce and distribute new designs within two weeks of a new style appearing on the catwalk, a feat which has given the firm a competitive advantage over competitors such as HM (Hennes Mauritz) and Gap. The firms clothes are advertised mainly through the store displays in their numerous stores located worldwide and through their attentive customer service. They also advertise on the internet and very rarely in other forms of media. The products are distributed through a complex technology based system which ensures that goods are delivered to all the stores simultaneously and on a regular basis. 3.0 The Marketing Plan and its Environment 3.1 Pestel Analysis Zara originated in Spain and with over 500 of its stores currently located there, the market has become rather saturated. Hence it has expanded to 63 countries and consequently faces various challenges usually presented by unfamiliar environments. Zara has a policy of establishing its stores only in the city centre of large cities and each store must have a minimum size of 1000 square metres. In certain countries obtaining this can be a challenge which resulted in Zara partnering with one of its main competitors, Benetton in an attempt to penetrate the Italian market. The joint venture failed after two years as they were unable to secure the required property size in an appropriate location. Furthermore Zara originally had a policy of owning all its stores which it has had to review following the entry into various countries with a restriction on total foreign ownership. Zara was forced to consider joint ventures and franchises to combat this problem and currently has several co-owned stores. The worldwide recession is also an economic factor that could create challenges for Zaras marketing plan. The credit crunch has left the populace with less disposable income and for many people, keeping up with the fashion may not necessarily be a priority in the face of rising prices and costs. In addition, inflation in the less developed countries that Zara operates in could create a risk as the profits may be less than expected. Part of Zaras corporate objectives, is to protect the environment as much as possible, which includes producing less waste, recycling where possible, the use of ecological fabrics, production of PVC footwear and use of biodiesel fuel. Ensuring that this objective is achieved is quite crucial as the companys image could be affected by the activities of pressure groups or stakeholders who might raise environmental issues in the countries that Zara operates in. There are also cultural considerations to Zaras international expansion strategy which forms the basis of its marketing plan. Despite overwhelming success in Europe over the past few years, Zara has been unable to penetrate the American apparel market successfully. It could be as a result of a difference in tastes and preferences added to the fact that the firm has not developed a strong supply chain strategy as they have in Europe. Nevertheless, cultural differences in tastes and styles could remain a challenge for a company focusing on diversification to foreign countries. In Moslem countries, Zara adds extra length to the hemlines of its dresses and in its corporate web page, it states that our international presence allows us to conclude that there are no frontiers that would impede a shared culture of fashion. Efforts will have to be made to ensure that sensitive cultural issues in foreign countries are not ignored. 3.2 Five Forces Analysis The relationship of Zaras marketing plan with its environment can be further analysed with the use of Porters five forces model. Zaras main competitors are Gap, Benetton and HM. Zara has maintained a competitive advantage over its competitors through its ability to control its supply chain. It does not share most of its suppliers as it has acquired some of them through its parent company, Inditex and unlike its competitors, most of its operations are executed in-house such as fabric manufacturing and part of the cutting and sewing processes. Indeed Zara competes with its rivals for customers but through its creation of a brand has secured customer loyalty. Its customers visit the stores on average 17 times a year compared to the industry average of 3 times and on most of those occasions purchases are made. Zara releases around 10,000 different designs every year and deliberately produces styles in small quantities to create an aura of scarcity. This ensures that customers visit regularly to see the latest designs and purchase immediately because there is no certainty that the style will be there the next day. There is always a threat of substitution, as competitors will all release the same design eventually but again, Zaras speed gives it an advantage and it would have sold out its top designs, long before the competitors who have a longer lead production time (usually five months compared to Zaras two weeks), can put the designs on the market. There are no real barriers to entry into the industry that Zara operates in other than the fact that Zara has differentiated its product. It is not a pure differentiation however since it does not charge a premium price for its products nor is it a cost leadership as it does not have the lowest possible price and does not really aim to be the lowest cost producer. What Zara has, is a combination of differentiation and cost leadership which translates to a very successful product that new entrants would have great difficulty competing with. 4.0 Zaras Marketing Plan and the Impact of New Media and Technology In the past few years social media has become increasingly popular as a mode of communication between consumers and companies or institutions. It provides a forum for conversations about a companys actions and also a means for companies to test the publics level of awareness about their activities as well as the peoples perception of them. Social media such as Twitter, Facebook and other blogs or discussion groups can also provide companies with a unique platform to raise awareness of their corporate responsibility activities. Many brands are cautious about online interaction because they are uncertain as to how they will be perceived and also the limited control they would have over dissenting views and negative reactions voiced publicly. Many CR managers are hesitant to highlight corporate responsibility issues and enable debates because they feel that they may be inviting unwanted attention. (WGSN, 2009). Yet online environments actually offer companies a broader space in which to connect with customers, NGOs and peers around sustainability issues. Social media can also be used for advertising purposes which most of the companies in the retailing industry seem to use it for including Zara and its competitors. Zara has an impressive movement on Facebook where latest designs are advertised and consumers comment on each post with an average of 400 700 comments and about 10,000 likes. However Zaras stance on corporate responsibility issues are not highlighted in the social media like their competitor HM who have detailed positions on corporate responsibility in every country they operate in. They also have a full sustainability report in relation to their activities and its impact on the environment with a section inviting the public to email them with feedback and questions. Interestingly they do not have a public forum for the publics responses and views to be aired but addressing the issues publicly is a first step in the right direction. Zara could use the social media to have a more positive impact on the public by opening up discussion boards to debate ethical and social responsibility issues in relation to their activities in all the countries they operate in. Sustainability has become a core issue for business operations and widespread stakeholder participation is critical. The social media is a relatively cheap method of communicating with a vast number of people worldwide and presents an opportunity that no company should overlook. Zara has a small blog which outlines a few sustainability and global issues or activities that the firm has engaged in such as global warming, climate change and more recently help given to the victims of the Japanese tsunami. However, this blog is not widely publicised and is more likely to be stumbled upon rather than sought out as a Facebook or Twitter page would. Zara has in the past found itself in the midst of a corporate responsibility storm such as a link to a supplier with a sweat shop factory in Bangladesh, (Procurement Leaders Forum, 2008) and another factory (also in Bangladesh) occasionally used for production which collapsed killing three people. In each incident, Zara responded swiftly and offered reparations which has earned it a high rating in terms of social responsibility. Zaras timely and effective response was further emphasised by the fact that competitor firms who also used the same factory, offered less and in some cases refused to accept responsibility altogether. Zara would however benefit immensely from having a social site where such issues could be discussed publicly and potential dangers could be highlighted to prevent such disasters from recurring. 5.0 Sustainability of Zaras marketing Strategy The sustainability of Zaras marketing strategy depends on two major factors that could have a crucial impact on Zaras activities in the long term. Unlike most of its competitors, Zara tends to avoid outsourcing to developing countries where labour is very cheap. The main reason for this is to have more control over its suppliers and to enable a rapid delivery process in addition to contributing to the employment market of its home country Spain. The result of this is that the labour costs are higher than those of its competitors but this is compensated by the speedy production of the latest styles with reasonably consistent quality. Zara does produce some generic lines in developing countries but 60% of its outsourcing is in Spain or Portugal. The current worldwide recession may however have a serious impact on this strategy. With rising labour costs and the effect of the recession on the Euro, Zara may be forced to increase the outsourcing to developing countries. This would make them lose the competitive advantage of speed and may affect their corporate image as a result of the stigma attached to the use of cheap labour in sweat shops. Pressure groups and international campaigns are constantly demanding an improvement to working conditions for employees in developing countries. Consequently even outsourcing to the Far East may cease to be a profitable option in the long term too. Another factor that could have an impact on the marketing strategy is the ever increasing focus on environmental issues. The major environmental impacts in the fabric sector arise from the use of energy and toxic chemicals which are utilised widely in many manufacturing stages such as pre-treatment, dyeing and printing. Zara currently executes most of these tasks in-house and could therefore face pressure from consumers making demands for environmentally sensitive production. This may mean that Zara would have to invest in research to find alternative materials or recycling options that could reduce the threat to the environment. Zaras marketing strategy could also face other challenges which might arise from the use of the new media. As discussed earlier, Facebook is used quite extensively for advertising and other forms of promotion. The question is how sustainable is the use of this new media for marketing purposes? Seth Godin, author of Meatball Sundae, in his presentation14 Trends No Marketer Should Ignore (XXXX), described the web as a world of new marketing which requires various trends for its successful implementation. He stressed the importance of communication between consumers and the manufacturers and also suggested that with the advent of the internet, everyone is now a critic that cannot be avoided or ignored. One picture on Youtube showing a serious lapse could undo millions of dollars of advertising. The underlying message is that the internet is a new world that companies could embrace for their marketing potential at low cost or ignore at their peril. If a company is not on any of the socia l media, they may be unaware if a campaign is carried out against them and consequently unable to execute a damage control program. Any sustainable marketing strategy should include a role for social sites. Zaras marketing strategy is mainly based on expansion which the internet could play a vital role in. Last year the company launched its first tranche of websites for some of its European markets including the UK and two weeks ago it also launched websites for Denmark, Sweden, Monaco and Switzerland. It plans to open further sites in two of the worlds largest e-commerce markets, US and Japan later this year which will increase its presence online. Seth Godin believes that we are in the middle of the next, possibly biggest industrial revolution and that the internet represents a tremendous opportunity for people who understand it. The reality is that any marketing strategy that does not include expansion online may not be sustainable in the long term. Robert Hellar (Internet Selling, ) stated that shopping has already begun to move in some force out of the high street and onto the Website. Traditional retailers will have to join this revolution that will cut costs, increase variety and make home deliveries. This development however exposes the investments in high streets to a new vulnerability and risk. As part of its expansion, Zara purchased several properties where stores are owned and these assets may in future become liabilities. The Amazon experience and the internet banking developments have shown that stores as we know them could become quite redundant and possibly mutate into nothing more than showrooms and warehouses. The sustainability of the high street stores cannot be determined; however the expansion of the websites is likely to be a sustainable strategy and a good fall back option in the event that shopping on the high street does eventually become unfashionable.

Proposal for Reality Show

Proposal for Reality Show Melody gear Logline: Thirty simple Australians battle for a chance to get a recording deal with one of the world’s leading music production houses, Sony music. Pitch: Genre: reality Target audience: teens/adults/family Thirty adults are picked from the entire country through auditions. The adults are picked based on their competition to sing and perform to a live audience. Three professional musicians from different genres proceed over the auditions. All Australian citizens are given a fair to chance to participate in the study. The auditions take place for a period of three months countrywide. The initial number of contestants is one thousand two hundred. These people qualified for the first auditions. They are further subjected to more auditions to reduce the number of participants to six hundred contents. The process continuous until the number of participants is down to thirty participants. The process of auditioning is long enough to allow the audience to identify themselves with the participant before the main auditioning starts. The final participants are trained for a period of three weeks before the competition is now aired on Australian broadcasting corporation. The training helps the participants of the competition who will be the characters in the reality show to know how to act in public. The public is involved in the process of selecting the contestants that remain in the house. The thirty contestants are then put in a house that will be their home for the next couple of months. They are provided with all requirements that they will need during the reality show. The thirty contestants are trained on weekdays on various music aspects that help them to compete during the weekends. All the contestants perform a music that is chosen by their musical directors. They perform the song on Saturdays to a live audience. The best performers on Saturdays go back to the house while the poor performers are put on probation. The contestants that are put on probation are expected to perform the following week on Saturday. Four contestants are put on probation simultaneously. They are given a second chance to perform and impress the judges. After their performance, one of the contestants on probation loses their position and is evicted from the house. The fellow contestants have the privilege of saving one of the contestants that are put on probation. The judges save one contestant and the public saves one more contestant. The contestant left out is evicted from the house. The show will air two times in a week for a period forty-five minutes each. The reality show will be hosted by a famous celebrity and will be cohosted by another celebrity of the opposite sex. This aspect is expected to attract the attention of both sexes unlike the programs that are only watched by one of the sexes.The show will attract teenagers, adults and the whole family at large. The audience will have the option of choosing which participant remains in the competition .the audience will decide who will eventually win the competition. To: Australian television network From: media commentator Date: 27 February 2014 Subject: Program pitch proposal Introduction Television industry is a very significant industry to the economy and to the public(Allen Hill, 2004). For instance, candidates for public office use money to create and air television commercials, which in turn build name recognition, promote their issues, and attack their opponents. Television advertising in this environment influences the agenda-setting, learning and voting phases of election campaigns. The commercials of other products such as detergents, household equipment and institutions among other products and services normally utilize the same strategies.The television industry is today an instrument for imposing ideologies on the population it serves. Television influences behaviour through the symbols and messages they broadcast. A single thirty-minuteprogram can take months to produce, starting with research into the target audience and what excites or attracts their attention. Every image and every word is carefully chosen to achieve the best representation of the pro duct and the get the viewer’s interest(Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2000). Television programsare the art and science of impact. Program producers always aim at ensuring that their target audience do not critically think about their programs. They want the message to slip in underneath the radar of critical judgment to achieve the greatest results (Jacka Dolin, 2007). Therefore, advertisers will always make use of emotional messages and images. They also take advantage of the brain’s unconscious processing.Scriptwriters have learnt that there are highly effective techniques they can use with great skill to motivate the audience to alter the way they feel about the programs being aired. If they are successful, the audience will without being aware that they have been influenced, change the way they behave. This process is blind but the manipulators of the process are not. The most effective television programs create an emotional state. Television programs geared towards specific target audience is often visual, interactive, employs catchy slogans, uses celebrities to pitch the products, and is simple yet effective in its language(Holmes Jermyn, 2004). Televised viewing disclosures are supposedly designed to supply consumers with important information for decision-making. Television has the power to persuade since it has features that appeal to our senses. This appeal comes from sound, movement, vision and colour thereby attracting the eye. Television also has a psychological, sociological and visual impact on the young.Due to the above reasons, television industry is a very significant section of the Australian system. It allows the manufactures of goods to display their products to the public. Television industry lubricates productivity by ensuring that buyers meet sellers. In addition, television viewing maintains the culture of a society through the airing of cultural programs. The cultural programs contain val ues that are embraced by the people in the society.The television network in Australia currently comprises of programs that have huge followings by one of the sexes. The programs have either a huge male following or a huge male following. The resulting outcome is that none of the programs has a huge following from the entire Australian population. The industry has therefore no much influence on the citizens of the country. Problem statement The Australian television network is facing increased competition from online digital sources. Technology allows people to stream television networks that are offered in other countries(Skeggs Wood, 2012). Aussies are constantly embracing television programs that are produced in Hollywood. For instance, several online webpage traffic watchers in 2014 indicated that the most watched television program was game of thrones. The program is an epic television program that is developed in Hollywood in the United States.The most watched comedy was reported to be modern family, a program that is also a Hollywood production. The television industry in Australia therefore needs to introduce a new program in their major television network(Turner, 2005). This practice will enable the television network to get more viewers and overcome the international competition.The television network has the advantage of having local actors that they can use in their production. The audience will identify themselves with the local actors.However, the television network will need to come up with an interesting program that will embraced by the entire Aussies population. Reality show choice There has been an increasing interest in reality television shows globally. The genre has the ability of attracting a huge audience. The audience is emotionally attached to the characters of their choice that are in the reality shows(Deaville, 2011).The most interesting fact about reality television shows is the fact that nobody knows the final winner. Both the audience and the producers of the show do not know who is going to be the final winner of the competition. This is because the audience through a valid online voting scheme that is vetted by top statistical organizations determines the final winners(Murray Ouellette, 2004). Furthermore, the contestants are exposed to a range of circumstances to find out how they handle different issues that may arise(Kraidy Sender, 2011). The subsequent interesting fact that sets reality shows above other genres in television programs is the love relationships that are developed by the contestants while they are in the house. The audience is intensively attracted to such relationships and therefore increases their viewing of the program(In Slade, In Narro, In Buchanan, 2014). After the production of the show, people will watch the program for different reasons. True fans of music will watch melody gear because they have a passion of music and hence want to see a good competition between the contesters(Kopp Dawson, 2013). A section of the audience will be attracted to the drama that takes place in the house. For instance, several competitors may develop a serious competition between them and the audience will be attracted to the actions that these contestants will take while they are in the house. Competitive Edge of Melody Gear Since the online streaming requires the services of an internet service producer, the internet service providers in Australia should come up with policies where streaming melody gear will be charged at a very cheaper rate that will allow the people to stream the show at a cheaper rate than the international content. The Australian television network should also approach a programming developer that will come up with an application that will enable the people to stream from their internet enabled devices and not just the conventional desktop computers. The Australian television network should use the following concepts to get a competitive edge against the international online digital streaming content. Currently, the audience can only give their feedback via computers. However, majority of the customers use internet-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets often than they use computers. There is hence need to develop a mobile application that will enable the audience to watch melody gear from their Internet enabled devices. The proposed mobile application will provide real time processing services. These services will enable several audiences to interact with the system at the same time and get all their feedbacks on claims quickly (Raasch, 2012). The system will employ distributed processing capabilities. These capabilities will make customers interact with the system in such a way that they will think the system is on their computer. They will not be aware that the system is distributed a concept that means other audiences are also accessing the system The new mobile application will require the Australian television network to adjust its website design. This is mainly because the mobile application requires that the website being accessed be responsive so that the customers can get all the programs on the website. Failure to adjust the process would increase the chances of failure of the new program proposed Cochran. (2006). A good responsive design allows the television network to gauge and change centered on the device it is seen from without creating separate sites. Content focused site is the second aspect that will be considered during design of the mobile application. There is a strong positive connection between a superior focus on content and the upsurge use of receptive websites. The site will provide a good web experience for customers. The third trend is increasing custom typography. The typography has been a trend over the past years. It places emphasis of type in mobile web design. Fourthly, a simple flat design should be used. The design tends to use fewer colors and avoids textures, gradients, and shadows. As the web becomes responsive companies should opt for simple designs with flat design elements. Single page scrolling sites is the fifth trend. This trend allows visitors to find everything that they are looking for in the same page. The sixth trend is video usage. The Australian television network should increase the broadband internet speeds and use novel web technologies like HTML5 video. These two practices will increase online video usage. The audience will have the option to send and view television episodes to their friends that do not have internet access. A larger layout, photography, video material, and designs will be available on the mobile application. This trend will help the Australian utilize screen real estate on large screens and escalate usability on lesser displays. The final trend is scalable vector graphics and other vector images. The company needs images that are large enough to look good on large displays. This aspect should however not increase the load times for visitors accessing the site on a mobile device. Vector images however do not provide scalability of photographs. Future designs of vector images are expected to allow the vector images to provide for scalability of photographs (McWherter, 2012). The websites act as a platform for the television network to meet the audience directly. Therefore, the mobile application has to provide a favorable platform for the feedback to take place. A good web design of Australian television network will attract more audience and therefore increase the revenue of the business (Fling, 2009). The fact that the audience can give their feedback and get prompt responses from the website will increase customer satisfaction. The customers will find the process to be convenient and timesaving and will, therefore, choose to watch the program through the mobile application developed and interact with other viewers on the contents of the show. The mobile application would enable faster transfer of information between the audience and the television network. Customers would make their claims, and they would be able to get feedback quicker than the current system. The processes that will be available on the mobile application are not limited. Customers would be able to access all the services with huge convenience that would translate to a higher customer satisfaction level. After adjusting the Australiantelevision network website, the mobile application would now have higher chances of success and hence melody gear will be accessible easily. The mobile application process would follow the stages of system development. All the current inefficiencies will be identified. This process can be achieved by interviewing the audience (Neighbor, Ramsay, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC-TV (Australia), 2002). The new system requirements are defined. The proposed system is then configured to incorporate all the specified requirements. The system is then developed and tested in pilot phases. The pilot phases are significant since it allows the television network to return to the previous system in the event of failure of the new structure. Once the mobile application is up and running, it should be maintained regularly and exhaustively evaluated (McLean-Conner, 2006). Audience The program will attract teenagers, adults and the whole family. The program will be aired at eight in the evening. It will be a rated parental guidance and therefore can be viewed by the whole family(Ouellette, 2013). This aspect will enable the program to attract a huge audience. However, the program would also be aired late in the night at eleven. The content aired at the time would include the love relationships and other adult themes. This move will be to attract the adults while maintaining the standards of television viewing. Majority of the children are often sound asleep at the time and would therefore not have access to this adult version of the program. Challenges Reality television requires a lot partnership with several stakeholders to guarantee success. The Australian television network will therefore need to come with favorable policies while developing the program to ensure its success. The reality show also costs more than other genres hence a sufficient amount of funds and time would be required. Adjusting the website to allow users to stream efficiently from smartphones is time consuming. Recommendations The simultaneous adoption of the program pitch and the adjustment of the Australian television network will guarantee the success of melody gear. The program would win back the audience from the international content. The Australiannetwork should collaborate with IINET to reduce the internet charges required in streaming melody gear and other local content. IINET is one of the leading internet providers in Australia. The partnership between the two organizations will reduce the charges that Aussies will incur while streaming melody gear. This trend will increase the viewers for the program and hence the network would achieve its intended purpose of winning back the audience from online digital streaming competitors. References Allen,R.C., Hill,A. (2004). The television studies reader. London: Routledge. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2000). National Broadband Network. Ultimo, N.S.W: Author. Brian Fling. (2009). Mobile Design and Development: Practical concepts and techniques for creating mobile sites and web apps. OReilly Media, Inc. Craig Cochran. (2006). Becoming a Customer-focused Organization. Paton Professional. Deaville,J.A. (2011). Music in television: Channels of listening. New York: Routledge. Holmes,S., Jermyn,D. (2004). Understanding reality television. London: Routledge. In Slade,A., In Narro,A.J., In Buchanan,B.P. (2014). Reality television: Oddities of culture. Jacka,L., Dolin,T. (2007). Australian television history. Perth, W.A: Network Books. Jeff McWherter. (2012). Professional Mobile Application Development. John Wiley Sons. Jon Raasch. (2012). Smashing Mobile Web Development. John Wiley Sons. Kopp,M., Dawson,M. (2013). Reality television. Minneapolis, MN: Core Library. Kraidy,M.M., Sender,K. (2011). The politics of reality television: Global perspectives. London: Routledge. Murray,S., Ouellette,L. (2004). Reality TV: Remaking television culture. New York: New York University Press. Neighbour,S., Ramsay,M., Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC-TV (Australia). (2002). The network. Nigel Hill., Greg Roche, Rachel Allen. (2007). Customer Satisfaction: The Customer Experience through the Customers Eyes. The Leadership Factor. Ouellette,L. (2013). A companion to reality television. Penni McLean-Conner. (2006). Customer Service: Utility Style: Proven Strategies for Improving Customer Service and Reducing Customer Care Costs. PennWell Books. Sender,K. (2012). The makeover: Reality television and reflexive audiences. New York: New York University Press. Skeggs,B., Wood,H. (2012). Reality television and class. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Turner,G. (2005). Ending the affair: The decline of television current affairs in Australia. Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press.

Essay --

These days, all the new technologies and new media made people’s life easier but also it made it stressful so before we define happiness we need to understand the actual situation of our modern life. Researchers agreed that modern life especially in big cities such as London or New York has created a new type of living and working. However, this new lifestyle brought stress as well, due to long working hours, traffic jams and fewer hours to relax. Psychologists admit that in recent years more people living in big cities are taking anti-stress medication. Furthermore, the number of depressed, unhappy and anxious people has multiplied. So making people find happiness became an important task in our modern life. So at first, what is happiness? All the great thinkers and philosophers throughout history have debated about the meaning of happiness. Moreover, psychologists have effectively advanced to this debate by analyzing numerous of researches to determine happiness. In spite of these efforts made until this day, we do not have a proper definition of happiness. Aristotle (2011, 1098a13...

Muckrakers :: essays research papers

Muckrakers were early twentieth-century reformers whose 1 mission was to look for and uncover political and business corruption. The term muckraker, which referred to the "man with a muckrake" in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, was first used in a pejorative sense by Theodore Roosevelt, whose opinion of the muckrakers was that they were biased and overreacting. The movement began about 1902 and died down by 1917. Despite its brief duration, however, it had a significant impact on the political, commercial, and even literary climate of the period. 2 Many popular magazines featured articles whose purpose was 3 to expose corruption. Some of these muckraking periodicals included The Arena, Everybody's, The Independent, and McClure's. Lincoln Steffens, managing editor of McClure's (and later associate editor of American Magazine and Everybody's), was an important leader of the muckraking movement. Some of his exposà ©s were collected in his 1904 book The Shame of the Cities and in two other volumes, and his 1931 autobiography also discusses the corruption he uncovered and the development of the muckraking movement. Ida Tarbell, another noted muckraker, wrote a number of articles for McClure's, some of which were gathered in her 1904 book The History of the Standard Oil Company. Muckraking appeared in fiction as well. David Graham Phillips, 4 who began his career as a newspaperman, went on to write muckraking magazine articles and eventually novels about contemporary economic, political, and social problems such as insurance scandals, state and municipal corruption, shady Wall Street dealings, slum life, and women's emancipation. Perhaps the best-known muckraking novel was Upton Sinclair's 5 The Jungle, the 1906 exposà © of the Chicago meatpacking industry. The novel focuses on an immigrant family and sympathetically and realistically describes their struggles with loan sharks and others who take advantage of their innocence. More importantly, Sinclair graphically describes the brutal working conditions of those who find work in the stockyards. Sinclair's description of the main character's

Safe Personal Computing to National Security :: Computers Technology Internet Essays

Safe Personal Computing to National Security Am I Safe at my computer? I’ve posed that question and others to myself many times. Are the e-mail’s I send almost daily truly secure? Are my confidential e-mails from the Ohio University’s server truly confidential? Who else can see what I see? Sure in a perfect world we all would like to believe we‘re safe but the simple fact is that we are not safe all the time and the world is not perfect. People â€Å"hack†, as it is referred to, into almost anything or anywhere. I’d like to think that most people would have the ethics not to violate my personal security, but that’s just it they don’t. This since increasingly our â€Å"e-criminal† of today has the technical skills of an adult and the ethics of a small child (Shuchman). Most astonishing of all is that this is occurring because they are small children, or teens. I choose this topic because computers, e-mail, and the World Wide Web are increasingly becoming the dominate necessity of m y daily life. I am at a computer a least three times a day for lengthy periods of time. I send out personal account information, my social security number and other important secure information across the web and not mention all the information I store my computers hard drive. So I ask once again am I safe? Hacked at Home and Nation Wide You use to only here about the â€Å"serious† e-crimes. You know the ones that try to take down the CIA or the stock exchange. Now the hackers and security risks are hitting home. In the form virus that can do anything from crippling your PC to sending in worms that eat up your files. The attacks aren’t just personal wither. In the spring of 2001 there were attacks on hundreds of personal computers connected to the web via the new broad band connections. Two attacks involving nearly 500 Windows-powered PCs with broadband connections were used to shut down a security consultant's Web site in Southern California (Thorsburg). Hundreds of home computers were seemingly recruited into some sort of malicious cyber army. This or these hackers used computer like yours and mine to work for them turn them against a larger network.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 14

I wasn't prepared for Dana to answer Bastien's door the next day. Oh my God, I thought. He finally slept with her. The truth turned out to be far less exciting. Bastien – as Mitch – was covered up to his elbows in flour, his hands busily kneading a medium-sized lump of dough. â€Å"Hey Tabby Cat,† he said upon seeing me and my startled expression. â€Å"Dana's teaching me to bake bread.† â€Å"Wow,† I said. Really, there was no other way to respond to a statement like that. I had personally seen Bastien make bread in far more primitive conditions, but he apparently believed the old teacher-student routine was going to pave the way to Dana's bed for him now. It did have its merits, of course. Human nature liked showing superiority in areas of expertise, and a teaching relationship provided lots of alone time together. I suspected that even with that tactic, Dana might still be out of reach, but hey, maybe it was worth a shot. The fact that she actually made time for this struck me as odd. I figured she'd be too busy bombing abortion clinics and handing out school uniforms. Speaking of alone time, I worried that I'd blundered into some meaningful opportunity for the incubus. I met his eyes. â€Å"I can come back later if it's a bad time,† I told him. â€Å"No, no. Dana's got to go to a meeting soon. You can keep me company once this baby's in the oven.† His tone was genuine. He'd probably already exhausted efforts to get her to stay. Uneasy in her presence, I sat on one of the stools by the counter and sipped the white-chocolate mocha I'd picked up on my way over. Dana sat down beside me. I resisted the urge to move away. Glancing at his kitchen table, I saw stacks of CPFV pamphlets and brochures. â€Å"Why the interest in cooking?† I asked blandly when no one said anything. â€Å"A bachelor can't live on fast food and frozen dinners forever, huh?† He turned up the dial on his smile. â€Å"And hey, I'm always open to new experiences. Next time she's going to teach me to make creme brulee.† I grunted. â€Å"You learn to makecreme brulee, and I might have to move in.† Dana turned to me, elegantly crossing her legs, showing that oh-so-wholesome slip obtained during the infamous shopping trip. I'd given up on slips a while ago. They just delayed the main event. â€Å"I could show you too.† Hell no. I'd gotten roped into yard work by pursuing a similar vein of conversation with Jody. No more domestic vices for me. Besides, I knew Bastien wouldn't welcome my presence. â€Å"Thanks, but I'll just leave it to Mitch. He's the brilliant one in this family anyway.† Bastien gave the bread a final pat. â€Å"Okay, now what?† â€Å"Now we put it in the pan.† She walked over to show him. As she did, he leaned in extra close, supposedly to get a better look. He even reached out his hand to brush hers, following her motions as they transferred the bread. Perhaps it would have been polite to look away, but there was nothing overtly romantic going on, and besides, I felt a professional interest in the matter. Histechniquewas good, I had to admit. Very subtle. Nothing that could be misconstrued as more than a polite accident. Yet, I saw Dana – just as subtly – stiffen and step away once the bread was in its pan. â€Å"Now you just let it rise,† she said, in a somewhat cooler tone. â€Å"Then it goes in the oven.† Interesting. She hadn't liked Bastien's proximity. That didn't bode well for him. I didn't think he noticed, however. I would have expected her to leave, but she sat down next to me again. I could never think of anything interesting to say around her; she unnerved me too much. So I let the two of them talk, answering only when spoken to and otherwise letting Bastien run the show. He positively glowed. Dana tried to draw me in a number of times, again asking me things about my life I really didn't want to answer. When she finally rose to go, she commented, â€Å"I'm off to a board meeting to plan our upcoming rally against gay marriage. You two should join us when it happens.† â€Å"Absolutely,† said Bastien, who probably would have agreed to an anti-incubus rally at this point. She glanced over at me. My tongue suddenly felt thick, words again eluding me. â€Å"Are you for gay marriage?† she asked with surprise. â€Å"I thought when we talked about this at the mall, you had implied you were more in favor of helping them see the error of their ways.† Christ. Had we discussed this on the mall trip? I couldn't remember. The only thing I recalled clearly was the lingerie debacle. I wanted to argue right then that I didn't think homosexuality was a â€Å"choice† for all people, nor did I believe there should be laws about who people loved. Fortunately, my control switch was fully operational. That, combined with Bastien's heavy gaze, made me redirect my answer and evade the question. â€Å"I'd love to go to the rally,† I said flatly. â€Å"It'll depend on my schedule.† She smiled thinly, made a few parting remarks, and then left. I exhaled. â€Å"Sorry about that, Bas. I nearly choked up on you.† â€Å"Not a problem. You recovered. Besides, I think things are turning around. I thought of it the last time she and Jody were over. This cooking thing is going to be what does it.† He peered into the oven at his now-baking bread before sitting at the kitchen table happily. â€Å"Can't you see it? We'll be like, I don't know, baking a cake together, and I'll say, ‘Why Dana, you have chocolate frosting on your cheek.' Then she'll say, ‘Will you get it off for me?' Then I will, only I'll lick it off – â€Å" â€Å"Okay, just stop now, please. I get the picture. I really don't want to hear about you two rolling around in cake batter.† â€Å"You'll have to once it's on the evening news.† I smiled, relieved to see him so cheered up after our last encounter. I couldn't bring myself to tell him I didn't think the cooking lessons were making Dana quite as hot and heavy as he would have liked. If we were going to save Bastien from demonic wrath, I believed we needed a better understanding of what – if anything – turned that woman on. And I had the distasteful feeling that I would be a better agent for that particular piece of reconnaissance than he would be. One more thing to add to my list. â€Å"So what's new with you?† â€Å"Oh, the usual. Another awkward physical encounter with Seth. Not nearly as big a deal as the last one, but still.† Bastien shrugged. â€Å"Alas for mortal weakness.† Dana left my mind as my own personal relations came to the forefront. â€Å"That's the thing. Everyone's been going on and on about how he wouldn't be able to handle our relationship, but it's not his weakness that's the problem. It's me. I'm the faulty piece here. Seth's done exactly what he's supposed to. He handles every horrible thing I tell him about myself, and he never does anything to cross the sexual line. His one moment of weakness was when I initiated things. He's perfect.† â€Å"Nobody's perfect, Fleur .If there's anything I feel certain of in this world, it's that. Even the angels themselves are imperfect.† I thought about Carter's chain-smoking and penchant for hard liquor. â€Å"That's for damned sure. But Seth comes pretty close. At least as mortals go. Whereas me†¦I don't know. I feel so useless in our relationship.† He stood up and drew me to him. â€Å"What is this, your day to feel melodramatic and depressed? Look. No way are you useless – not if you've been with him this long. He's in it for more than sex. He's in it for you. For that delightful wit and charm that manages to cheer even grumpy bastards like me up. What I can't figure out is what the hell you're getting out of it.† â€Å"Plenty,† I said, thinking of Seth's humor and intelligence, his serious and steady nature. â€Å"And I suppose he's happy with what he's got, but he must still, you know, feel unfulfilled. He's a man, right? I see him looking at me sometimes, and I know what he's thinking†¦what he wants.† I thought about my toe-teasing. â€Å"I don't think I really make it easy on him either. I flirt without thinking about it. I wish I could give him, I don't know, something. Something nonlethal to reward his amazing celibate strength – and overall amazingness with everything that's happened so far. â€Å" â€Å"Nonlethal's going to be hard for you. You're the ultimate look-don't-touch girl.† My slumping head shot up. â€Å"That's it.† â€Å"What's it?† â€Å"Looking without touching. You're going to help me.† I felt my natural optimism and vigor seizing me as I flashed the incubus a saucy grin. â€Å"You're going to be my photographer.† His eyebrows rose, but I think he already knew where I was going with this. â€Å"And pray tell, what will I be photographing, my dear?† â€Å"Me. In a bevy of alluring poses and skimpy underwear. Or nothing at all. We'll do a whole spread.† His smile twitched at the word spread. â€Å"And you think this will help him? All it'll do is drive him into the bathroom alone for ten hours.† â€Å"Hey, he can do whatever he wants with them, but it's a great idea. It'll be a treat. A safe way of having me without having me.† I poked the incubus in the arm. â€Å"You'll help, won't you? You're the only person I trust to take these.† â€Å"Of course I'll help you. Why'd you even ask?† I sighed happily, like a great load had been taken off of me. â€Å"Of course, even if this is good for Seth, it doesn't solve the problem of me being a weak-willed strumpet. I'll still be thinking about him all the time. Still wondering what it'd be like to touch – really touch – him. Still breaking down with him in moments of weakness.† I sighed again, this time with frustration. â€Å"There's no helping me, I guess. Pictures of him won't do it.† â€Å"Hey,† said Bastien, touching my chin. â€Å"Smile again. You'll figure out something. And if not, I promise you I will. The brother you never had, remember? We're here for each other, n,est-ce pas ?† I smiled and leaned my head against his chest. â€Å"Oui.† We stayed like that for a few pleasant minutes until I remembered far less sentimental issues. I sat up. â€Å"Oh, hey, you have got to check something out.† I picked up my purse and pulled out the bag of crystals Alec had given me. Bastien recoiled when I held them out to him. â€Å"What the hell are those?† â€Å"That's the million-dollar question. These are what's causing my friend at the bookstore to act so weird.† Regaining his composure, he leaned in to look closer but wouldn't touch the bag. â€Å"They're strange,† he said slowly. â€Å"They give off something†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Like an immortal signature,† I agreed. â€Å"But I've never felt an inanimate object that did this. It's not the same as an enchantment.† â€Å"It doesn't feel bad exactly†¦just not right.† â€Å"I asked Seth about it. Mortals don't feel anything, only us. Ever come across anything like this?† â€Å"No, but then I'm the novice next to you, right?† I slid the crystals back into my purse, to the relief of both of us, and then explained what Alec had said about mixing them in liquid. â€Å"Curiouser and curiouser,† mused Bastien. â€Å"Not like any drug I know, but it's not giving off any legitimate potion vibes either. If you want to know what this is, Fleur ,you're going to have to break out the big guns.† I knew he was right. We hung out together a while longer, moving on to less weird subjects. The bread smelled so good cooking that there was no way I could leave until I'd tried a piece. Upon tasting it, I decided that whatever her other faults, Dana knew what she was doing with food. I ended up getting away with a good half loaf of the bread and then drove back downtown to find the â€Å"big guns.† I got a lucky break, and Jerome actually answered his cell phone and gave me his location. Even if he hadn't, it would have been on my list of places to try. The Cellar was an old, dark pub in Pioneer Square, Seattle's historic district. You had to take a flight of stairs down to get to the Cellar, and I always had the feeling the place wouldn't survive the Northwest's next big earthquake. The Cellar was one of Jerome and Carter's favorite haunts. I found them both there in their usual corner. The place was dark, as always, and was starting to pick up a little with happy-hour traffic. Angel and demon watched me enter with their typically amused expressions, both having sensed me before I cleared the door. Jerome always gave the impression over the phone that I was taking up his time, but neither seemed particularly busy now. I ordered a gimlet at the bar, smiling at the two guys who made conversation while I waited, and then moved on to join the dynamic duo. â€Å"A working lunch?† I asked, inclining my head at the empty shot glasses in front of them. The two practically sat side by side, so the only other chair was across from them, like I was at an interview. Carter picked up one of the empty glasses and offered me a mock toast. I clinked my glass with his. â€Å"Don't question the divine workings of the universe, Daughter of Lilith. â€Å" â€Å"The Lord's work is never done,† added Jerome solemnly. They both seemed a little loopy, but I wasn't fooled. Higher immortals like angels and demons could control their levels of intoxication. The other lesser immortals and I had said a number of stupid things in front of them when we thought either Jerome or Carter had been wasted. Their eyes held a shrewd scrutiny even now that told me they were both curious about why I'd sought out my supervisor in the middle of the day. â€Å"Been to see the incubus?† Jerome asked a moment later. I nodded. â€Å"He thinks he's making progress.† â€Å"Thinks?† asked the demon, raising one eyebrow. I wondered if John Cusack could actually do that. â€Å"Is there a doubt?† â€Å"I didn't say that.† â€Å"But you also didn't say that he is making progress.† â€Å"A slip of the tongue. I misspoke.† â€Å"You don't misspeak often, Georgie. And I've come to actually believe you do know something about seduction after all. And maybe even human nature.† â€Å"Something?† Carter laughed at my incredulous tone. â€Å"So,† continued Jerome, â€Å"in your expert opinion, is your friend going to be able to do this or not?† I was about to say â€Å"of course,† but knew Carter would recognize the lie. Hell, even Jerome probably would. â€Å"I don't know. She's hard to read. Very strange woman.† I pursed my lips, thinking. â€Å"If anyone is capable of seducing her, though, it'll be him. With my help.† I hesitated before adding, â€Å"You know about the Barton thing, don't you?† â€Å"Of course. Very foolish on Bastien's part.† â€Å"I guess.† I didn't want to slam one of my best friends in this company. â€Å"But it's not like our side is really known for impulse control. And it seems kind of stupid for Barton to get so worked up over a woman who sleeps around all the time anyway. What's one more person, immortal or not?† â€Å"Because the immortal meant something,† said Carter seriously. â€Å"You of all people should recognize the nuances here. What would Seth think if you slept with me?† â€Å"Are you offering?† I turned to Jerome, feigning excitement. â€Å"I get to retire if I bag an angel, right? Full pension and everything?† â€Å"Depends on the angel,† yawned Jerome. Carter kept his complacent smile, unfazed by jokes about his celibacy or immortal standing. â€Å"You know what I mean. There's a difference between business and choice.† I nodded. I did know what he meant, and he was right – being with Seth made me especially cognizant of the subtleties. â€Å"You know, I didn't come here to discuss this,† I told them. Both had the tendency to steer me off topic into subjects I didn't want to explore. â€Å"Well, do enlighten us then,† said the archdemon indulgently. â€Å"I'm dying to know what would draw you away from suburban conspiracy and mortal intrigue in the middle of the day.† â€Å"Actually, it involves mortal intrigue.† I gave them a debriefing on the Doug situation. Jerome maintained his perpetual look of disinterest. Carter almost did, but snide or not, he was still an angel, and I saw compassion flicker in his eyes as I spoke. He couldn't help it. â€Å"So, I finally managed to get Alec to give me the stuff, and now I need to know what it is. You two seemed like my best shots at identification. â€Å" Jerome's disinterest turned to astonishment. â€Å"This is what we've been reduced to? Drug identification? Do we look like the DEA?† Carter stretched lazily. â€Å"Remember the good old days when succubi used to want our help defending them from nephilim and other lethal creatures? This is a sign of the times, I tell you. â€Å" I let them have a good laugh at my expense, forcing myself to stay calm and not say something that would get me into trouble. â€Å"Are you guys done?† I asked a minute later. â€Å"Because I'd really like to get moving on this.† â€Å"Are you going to share some of it with us if we can tell you what it is?† asked Jerome. Rolling my eyes, I reached into my purse. With a flourish, I tossed the little bag out onto the table so it slid across the surface and came to rest just in front of both of them. Their smiles disappeared. They stared at the bag for a moment and then – in almost perfect synchronization – looked at each other and back to me. When Carter spoke, he was amused, but grimly amused. â€Å"Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to rule out supernatural monsters after all.† â€Å"How,† exclaimed Jerome, nostrils flaring, â€Å"do you always manage to get yourself mixed up in the middle of this shit?† I looked back and forth between the two of them. â€Å"What? What is it?† â€Å"This, Georgina,† announced Carter, tapping the bag with his finger, â€Å"is the Food of the Gods.†