Business Communications Assignment - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2074 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Business Communications Table of Contents Question 1 Q1.1 Q1.2 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5 Q5.1 Q.5.2 Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Business Communications Assignment" essay for you Create order Question 1 Q1.1 The staff all could have taken her email in a number of ways, such as some may have been very annoyed with Sarah and saddened to see that their once trusted fellow employee could act out in this way .Sarah has lost a lot of respect by sending out this email. She was mad at the time that the email was typed and at the time she was angry at one employee but she then lashed out towards multiple employees. She didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t take into consider that some employees have other responsibilities, such as religious or family matters, so they may from time to time have to address these other issues. Sarah wants the job to be finished as soon as possible so she is not going to focus too much on quality and therefore she is going to rush a lot, but she needs to understand that some employees like to produce a high quality of work and that takes time. The perceptions of this email is going to be different to everyone, some may think that it is very unethical, while some may think that t his is a wakeup call and really start focusing on their work. Every employee is in a different environment and has their own pressures to deal with and Sarah need to come to terms with that. Q1.2(Fielding du Plooy-Cilliers, 2014) Participant as sender: It is important as the sender in this case Sarah that you are to remain ethical and impartial when you are encoding the message. In this email that was send she used unnecessary capitalisation in her email and emoticons, this is very unethical in a work environment, because the capitalised letters could be received as a threat. Participant as receiver: The receivers are the employees and would interpret this email as threatening because Sarah did say that they would lose their jobs and this caused commotion and now some employees are seeking other employment for fear of being fired. A receiver sent feedback to Sarah resigning from the company; this may hinder the company and slow down progress on the big project. Message: This email was sent out to grab the attention of the employees, but this message was typed when the sender was mad and thus she went overboard and frightened employees into searching for other jobs. This email is full of errors and bad uses of punctuation and she even sent the message out as a representative of the company, putting the company in a bad light from the point of view of the public if this ever was released to the public. Medium: The medium that has been used here is an email that has been sent to all staff, this medium is how the business would normally communicate between employees, but there are strict guidelines to sending emails that are work related. Her choice of medium in order to address everyone would be email because it is the fastest way. Channel: This emails channel was the entire company, because she sent the email to all the employees, even the CEO of the company, this may not have been the best channel to use because the people that she would have been wanting to address would be those that are working on the project with her, so a downward channel would have been the ideal channel to utilise. Feedback: The feedback from this email was horrible, causing panic among the company and even having a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“highly skilled technicianà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  resign from the company. The CEO has acted on the feedback and made a statement to calm down the panic from the threats of employees being fired. The feedback has reached the funding company and the public; this is bad in terms of our corporate image. Noise: The employees have lost their respect for Sarah and are likely not to trust her very much in the future; this is internal noise that the staff is creating in response to the email. This incident will probably put a Sarah in a tough position and make it difficult to function within the workplace. Sarah when sending the email was probably thinking that she was doing right, so her interpretation of the email was semantic from everyone elseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s interpretation. When Sarah composed this email she wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t thinking about the different situations that other staff are in, like family and other responsibilities. Context: The context in which Sarah was speaking was not as if she was addressing an entire company but it was informal and rude, this type of communication was not suited for a large group, her wording was not suited for a workplace environment. This type of context was not suitable and she should have gone to higher management and logged a complaint instead of putting the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s image at stake. Result: The result of Sarahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s email was not effective as the message that she was trying to convey was not the message that the staff received and therefore there has been very poor communication and it is mostly the fault of Sarah for not understanding how the staff were going to perceive it and for not taking in to consider the extent of how damaging it is to label an innocent party into her complaint. Question 2 I think that the company needs to build on public relations practises and also the behaviour of staff. With the recent events regarding the email from Sarah, I think that enough time has passed that we can now look at improving ourselves and the company from that incident. In order to improve our image that the public has of our company since the incident with the email got leaked to social media, we are going to have a selected few from our staff to participate in events that will aid the community. Such as a few staff will go to schools and talk about clean energy and the different ways in which we can save electricity in our households. The company will donate and install mini wind turbines to the community to provide electricity to those that are either too poor to pay for electricity or just donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have access. There have been reports that one of the persons that were mentioned in the Sarahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s email has been treated negatively because they we re mentioned in this email. This is very unprofessional of our staff and is to see to it that all of the staff is to attend a work shop that will compromise of professionalism and teamwork. This is mainly cause there is friction among the staff and Sarah, there is going to have to be teamwork in order for the project and future projects to be completed. Question 3 In the case study, from Nontsasaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s observation it appeared that Sarah stomping past Nontsasaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s office and then slamming her office door, this is a type non-verbal communication called kinesics or her body language, so referring to the way she was walking, she was mad and irritated. In Sarahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s email she regularly capitalises her text, this emphasises the capitalised text, but also makes the text loud, harsh as she tries to convey her emotions through the text and this is very deterring to the receiver and is called paralanguage. Question 4 (Business email etiquette basics) This email is very unprofessional and is full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Paragraph: There is a spelling mistake on the word à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"unacceptableà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. There is also unnecessary capitalisation of the text and improper use of exclamation marks. It is not fair to Nontsasa that she is being singled out in this email, she is also being portrayed as an accomplice, and the use of emoticons is unprofessional in a business email. Unnecessary use of capitalisation in this paragraph and improper use of question and exclamation marks, there is a very harsh and threatening tone in this paragraph and some insulting statements that could offend the receiver. There is a grammatical mistake on the words à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å". There is an error on the first line where à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“wereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  is supposed to be weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re and there is a spelling mistake after the words à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“dumb questionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . This paragraph is very threatening as she threatens to fire staff for trivial reasons. There is unnecessary use of capitalisation, this paragraph is completely unnecessary as it does not pertain to the original purpose of the email, this is a personal paragraph that shouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be in a business email. She is again including an innocent person in her email, this leads to prejudice among staff. Sarah is pointing out the fact that she works more but she is a career driven person who works overtime, she canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t expect the same from her staff that have other responsibilities to deal with. Unnecessary use of capitalisation and spelling mistake for the word sacrifices on the last line. Threatening sentence with unnecessary capitalisation. Grammar mistake on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢reà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . Question 5 Q5.1 Summary of report This investigative report outlines the dissatisfaction of the staff after the incident with Sarahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s email and ways in which this incident can be dealt with. Reason for report The reason for this report is that there was a unprofessional email that was sent out to all staff by the companies managing director, that sent a wave of panic and discomfort among staff who feared for their jobs. Main purposes of the summary report Illuminate staff discontent with the recent involving Sarahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s unprofessional email. Outline any prejudices that staff have been displaying towards other staff or could display. Ways in which we can solve this situation. Procedures used to gather information Interviewing employees on their feedback from the email in secrecy A survey which was emailed to all staff on their personal opinions External group was asked their opinion Interviewed some staff that may be subject to shunning because of email Conclusions based on information My conclusions based on the information that I have gathered is: Employees were shocked and offended that Sarah could act in such a way, many of them say that they were in fear for their jobs until the CEO made that statement about the email. I find I that it will take time for the staff to regain trust in Sarah after this incident. Teamwork will be lacking and this incident may have just caused the project to be late on completion. The company is in a bad PR situation as this makes the business seem unprofessional in the light of the public and SAAIG. The external group concluded that Sarah seek out training on professionalism and email etiquette. The Main recommendations I recommend that: Sarah not be fired but be given a warning since she is a highly skilled engineer and that she submit a public apology to all staff, hopefully this may help staff to see that it was all a mistake, this should stop any discrimination to any innocent staff mentioned in the email. The company should outsource a company that would set up a workshop on team building for Sarah and the staff. If the project is late it could be dire for the company so outsourcing some professionals to aid in this project will hopefully get the project finish faster. The company need to show the public and SAAIG that they are professional and a respectful business, the PR department should contribute in some Corporate Social Investment, by donating to schools and the community. Sarah should receive one on one training with someone to help her more understand her faults and improve on them. The results of the investigation My findings following the investigation are: That the employees are very displeased that their superior is acting in such a manner. That Sarah keeps her position for the remainder of the project but her position will be revised based on the results following the feedback of the project. A replacement for the employees that we lost due to the email scandal. Q.5.2 Works Cited Business email etiquette basics. (n.d.). Retrieved 05 24, 2015, from Business email etiquette: https://www.businessemailetiquette.com/business-e-mail-etiquette-basics/ Email Etiquette rules to avoid Embarrassment in Future ! (n.d.). Retrieved 05 24, 2015, from TALK OF WEB: https://www.talkofweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Email-Etiquettes-rules.jpg (2014). In M. Fielding, F. du Plooy-Cilliers, Effective Business Communication in Organisations (pp. 14-25). Cape Town: Juta Company Ltd. 1

The Issue Of Gun Control - 903 Words

Gun Control The controversy surrounding the need for more gun control in the United States is a hot topic. Do we need more gun control? What about the 2nd Amendment? What about crime, protection, the mentally ill? There is a great amount of gun violence in this country and every time something happens, the argument starts up again. Maybe it is time to do more. Adam Gopnik wrote about this subject in his essay â€Å"Shootings†. His view is that there needs to be better gun control laws. Gopnik started his article with ringing cell phones at the site of the Virginia Tech shooting â€Å" To imagine the feelings of police†¦heartrending†¦the parents†¦unbearable† as the victims cell phones kept ringing. Parents and others were told that asking about how this tragedy happened was not for the immediate time or place. How a student with a history of mental illness and who was clearly disturbed was able to buy guns whose purpose is only to kill? Virginia’s governor, Tim Kaine, said, â€Å"At this point, what it’s about is comforting family members†¦ and helping the community heal. And so to those who want to try to make this into a crusade, I say take that elsewhere.† Gopnik used this to incite emotion in his audience, and to set the tone. He spoke of how we talk about things like mental illness, and evil when this happens in our country, but other countries â€Å"are eager to talk about it another way, and even embark on a little crusade.† Gopnik says, â€Å"The whole world saw that the United States hasShow MoreRelatedGun Issue And Gun Control1401 Words   |  6 PagesUniversity, Gun Politics has been a course I have aspired to take. While many enroll in such a course looking for an escape from the â€Å"collegiate liberal echo chamber† or as an outlet for their conservative agendas, I saw the class as an â€Å"entrance to the dark side.† My views on guns prior to the class were, I would call, polarized yet uninformed. 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Since 1791 when the second amendment was ratified there have beenRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1705 Words   |  7 Pagesaway without preface or reason. All someone needs to do is pull the trigger. In today’s world, guns are far too accessible to the people of society. We hear in the news, stories of mass shootings, homicides, and suicides; most of which are caused by the activation of a gun. A hot-button issue, gun control is one of the most debated topics in American politics. Should we, or should we not, be able to own guns? Although it infringes on the Second Amendment that provides the right to bear arms, this amendmentRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control951 Words   |  4 PagesGun control has been a big topic for the past decade in the united states. These debates will rise and fall time in and time out after something horrific happens in the state. 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Firearm can be used as defending or an assaulting weapon. In United States, firearm increase the rate of homicide, suicide and gun violence, which can harm and murder people. Moreover, taking away people’s gun will not work effectively because the murder and criminal will find another ways to get guns. Also, the black market will appear for the people who cannot get guns from regulated market s. In addition, if regulated guns are banned, murderers may useRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1678 Words   |  7 PagesJanuary 2014 The 2nd Amendment Over the past few years, the issue of gun control has been widely discussed. You surely have heard the phrase, â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people† uttered and i wholeheartedly support this statement. It is important to treat guns responsibly so they do not end up in the wrong hands. I believe gun control violates our inalienable rights. Another piece of our liberty will surely be taken away if guns are banned, and socialism and totalitarianism will be rightRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1208 Words   |  5 PagesWill Christopherson Traverson English 2 1 March 2017 Gun Control The United States has 88.8 guns per 100 people, or about 270,000,000 guns, which is the highest total and per capita number across the globe. The current public gun control debate in the United States seems to be placed on standby until it is sparked up by a major mass shooting. There were at least 126 mass shootings between January 2000 and July 2014.(pro). Opponents of more gun laws accuse supporters of using a horrific event to further

Let It Be ... Naked free essay sample

The history lesson Let It Be was intended to be a return to the Beatles original sound as a simple four-piece rock band. Then things changed and the live in-studio recordings were going to be made into a film. Whether it was because of creativity-daunting cameras surrounding the group, or that some of the band was too acidic, tension mounted so much that George Harrison actually quit at one point. The resulting album was a mess and the project was postponed. The Beatles began recording Abbey Road, which was released before the Fab Four picked up Let It Be again, but the recordings needed so much help they called in Phil Spector to clean things up a bit. The result was a mess of overdubbed horns and strings, the opposite of what the Beatles wanted. And so, years later, Paul McCartney finally decided to have it his way. Naked is the stripped down version of Let It Be, without the orchestral accompaniment. We will write a custom essay sample on Let It Be Naked or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is nice to hear the songs without the overbearing background noise. After listening to the rather deflated versions of The Long And Winding Road and Get Back, I discovered several nice guitar solos that had struggled to be heard over the blaring strings. The addition of Dont Let Me Down, the replacement of two of the more sub-standard tracks from the original, and the changes in the order all help make the recording a consistent, understandable work. Overall, the simplicity and rawness of the sound creates a closeness to the music that was not attained previously. Even though it may be only the by-product of McCartneys grudge against Spector for adulterating his songs, this album is worth a listen. It depicts a time when life was a creative work-in-progress and love was more than just a four-letter word. It also recalls a time when the band was all about the music.

My Pop Culture free essay sample

It is the reason God gave humans opposable thumbs. Sure, it sets man apart from animal and I am able to hold a spoon without serious problems, but those are such boring explanations. God is smarter than that. Which is why he blessed us with two stumpy friends that are designed to handle even the toughest of its job. I’m talking about the act we only dare to commit in private, the thing our mothers told us never to do, and the sin that keeps on giving; popping pimples. I know, its weird but it became part of my life and I adapted easily when I made my first encounter with the zit in sixth grade. â€Å"Pop it and it’ll scar!† I usually listen to my mother’s advice but thank goodness I decided to take a risk. I flicked the switch up, primed my skin with water, and strained my face just enough to make my mouth touch my cheek in order to stretch the opposing side and create a firm base to work on. We will write a custom essay sample on My Pop Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The right and left thumbs took their place on either side and started to butt heads. The pimple didn’t stand a chance, it tried to escape by growing taller as the thumbs approached closer and closer with greater force but it was defeated and put up its white flag, literally. My skin is not perfect, but when I do get the rare opportunity to put a pimple to shame my day is just that much better. It is not some weird fetish or a sign that I’m psychologically impaired, it is just a little secret of mine I choose not to share. After all, I do enjoy the little things in life.

How Teachers Can Ease Students First Day Jitters

How Teachers Can Ease Students' First Day Jitters As elementary school teachers, we can sometimes find ourselves easing our young students through times of transition. For some children, the first day of school brings anxiety and an intense desire to cling to parents. This is known as First Day Jitters, and its a natural occurrence that we may even have experienced ourselves when we were children. Beyond whole class Ice Breaker activities, its important to be aware of the following simple strategies that teachers can employ to help young students feel comfortable in their new classrooms and ready to learn in school all year long. Introduce a Buddy Sometimes one friendly face is all it takes to help a child transition from tears to smiles. Find a more outgoing, confident student to introduce to the nervous child as a buddy who will help him or her learn about the new surroundings and routines. Partnering up with a peer is a practical shortcut to helping a child feel more at home in a new classroom. The buddies should stay connected during recess and lunch for at least the first week of school. After that, make sure the student is meeting lots of new people and making several new friends at school. Give the Child Responsibility Help the anxious child feel useful and part of the group by giving him or her a simple responsibility to help you out. It could be something as simple as erasing the whiteboard or counting out colored construction paper. Children often crave acceptance and attention from their new teacher; so by showing them you rely on them for a certain task, you are instilling confidence and purpose during a critical time. Plus, staying busy will help the child focus on something concrete outside of his or her own feelings at that moment. Share Your Own Story Nervous students can make themselves feel even worse by imagining that they are the only ones who feel so worried about the first day of school. Consider sharing your own first day of school story with the child in order to reassure him or her that such feelings are common, natural, and surmountable. Personal stories make teachers appear more human and approachable to children. Make sure you mention specific strategies you used to overcome your feelings of anxiety and suggest the child try the same techniques. Give a Classroom Tour Help the child feel more comfortable in his or her new surroundings by offering a short guided tour of the classroom. Sometimes, just seeing his or her desk can go a long way toward easing uncertainty. Focus on all of the fun activities that will happen around the classroom that day and all year long. If possible, ask the childs advice for a certain detail, such as where best to place a potted plant or what color construction paper to use on a display. Helping the child feel connected to the classroom will help him or she visualizes life in the new space. Set Expectations with Parents Often, parents exacerbate nervous children by hovering, fretting, and refusing to leave the classroom. Children pick up on parental ambivalence and perhaps will be just fine once theyre left on their own with their classmates. Dont indulge these helicopter parents and allow them to stay past the school bell. Politely (but firmly) tell the parents as a group, Ok, parents. Were going to get our school day started now. See you at 2:15 for pickup! Thank you! You are the leader of your classroom and its best to take the lead, setting healthy boundaries and productive routines that will last all year long. Address the Whole Class Once the school day gets started, address the whole class about how were all feeling jittery today. Assure the students that these feelings are normal and will fade with time. Say something along the lines of, Im nervous, too, and Im the teacher! I get nervous every year on the first day! By addressing the whole class as a group, the anxious student wont feel singled out. Read a Book About First Day Jitters: Find a childrens book that covers the topic of first-day anxiety. A popular one is called First Day Jitters. Or, consider Mr. Ouchys First Day which is about a teacher with a bad case of back to school nerves. Literature provides insight and comfort for a wide variety of situations, and first-day jitters are no exception. So work it to your advantage by using the book as a springboard for discussing the issue and how to deal with it effectively Compliment the Student At the end of the first day, reinforce positive behavior by telling the student that you noticed how well he or she did that day. Be specific and sincere, but not overly indulgent. Try something like, I noticed how you played with the other kids at recess today. Im so proud of you! Tomorrows going to be great! You might also try complimenting the student in front of his or her parents at pickup time. Be careful not to give this special attention for a long while; after the first week or so of school, its important for the child to start feeling confident on his or her own, not dependent upon teacher praise.

If the French Supposer Hypothesizes, Add Subjunctive

If the French Supposer Hypothesizes, Add Subjunctive When  supposer  (to  suppose or to assume) is used with a dependent clause beginning with  que, the dependent clause may use a subjunctive verb, depending on how supposer is used. When it expresses an assumption, no:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je suppose quil le fait.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I assume that he is doing it. When the subject is presenting a hypothesis, yes:      Supposons quil le fasse.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lets suppose that he does it. Supposer que joins a long list of similar verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion; they all also need the subjunctive in the  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹que  subordinate clause. Supposer and Supposer Que Supposer que,  when used to express an hypothesis,  fulfills the subjunctives underlying requirement  of  expressing actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain. As with  this use of supposer  que,  the French subjunctive  is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by  que  or  qui, and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different, as in:      Je veux que tu le fasses.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I want you to do it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il faut que nous partions.  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is necessary that we leave. French Verbs and Expressions Similar to Supposer Que Here are other verbs and expressions that, like  supposer que,  can communicate  doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion. They all require the subjunctive in the dependent clause that  begins with  que.  There are many other types of constructions that need the French subjunctive as well, which are explained and listed in the full-on  subjunctivator  (our term). accepter que   to acceptsattendre ce que  Ã‚  to expect thatchercher ... qui*  Ã‚  to look fordà ©tester que  Ã‚  to hate thatdouter que**  Ã‚  to doubt thatil est convenable que  Ã‚  it is proper/fitting/appropriate thatil est douteux que**  Ã‚  it is doubtful thatil est faux que  Ã‚  it is false thatil est impossible que  Ã‚  it is impossible thatil est improbable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil est juste que  Ã‚  it is right/fair thatil est possible que  Ã‚  it is possible thatil est peu probable que  Ã‚  it is not very likely  thatil nest pas certain que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas clair que  Ã‚  it is not clear thatil nest pas à ©vident que  Ã‚  it is not obvious thatil nest pas exact que  Ã‚  it is not correct thatil nest pas probable que  Ã‚  it is unlikely thatil nest pas sà »r que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas vrai que  Ã‚  it is not true thatil semble que  Ã‚  it seems thatil se peut que  Ã‚  it may be t hatle fait que  Ã‚  the fact thatnier que***  Ã‚  to deny thatrefuser que  Ã‚  to refusesupposer que  Ã‚  to suppose / assume; to hypothesize *When you are looking for someone who may not exist, this indicates doubt and therefore requires the subjunctive in the dependent clause:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je cherche un homme qui sache la và ©rità ©.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Im looking for a man who knows the truth. **These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je doute quil vienne. I  doubt hes coming.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je ne doute pas quil vient.   I dont doubt hes coming. ***When  nier  is in the negative, its followed by the the more formal ne explà ©tif, which uses only ne  (without pas).      Il na pas nià © quelle ne soit partie.  Ã‚  Ã‚  He didnt deny that she left. Additional Resources The SubjunctivatorQuiz: Subjunctive or indicative?

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Sociology - Essay Example Likewise, if the polling takes place in the daytime, it will be under-represented by working people. One of the keys to using these polls is to assume that the margin of error is far greater than the polls would lead us to believe. Generally, the margin is plus or minus 3 percent. However, the reasons given above would inject more than this amount of error. News outlets are challenged to produce polls almost daily that have a headline grabbing quality. The consumer needs to be aware that these polls are used to sell news and attract an audience. They are not scientific or for the benefit of the viewer. While it would be a bit overboard to regulate the polling, it is the responsibility of the source to be as accurate as possible. In an election, the candidate that is reported as the frontrunner may have an advantage, as people like to vote with the winner. This is why momentum is regularly brought up as a desirable feature of a

European Film Studies - How useful is the concept of the auteur in the Essay

European Film Studies - How useful is the concept of the auteur in the context of post-war European cinema - Essay Example This system emerged due to the increase in demand for films from Hollywood. The system evolved gradually in the years following the World War 1, which ended in 1918. To meet the demand for more movies, it focused more on quantity than on quality. It was Thomas Ince, himself a film director (Civilization, [1916] was his best known film) who conceived film production as a factory system, thus paving the way for the emergence of Hollywood studio system. Adolph Zukor, the long time head of Paramount Pictures, was another key personality who played a major role in the development of the studio system in Hollywood. He is the one who conceived the idea of the star system, which converted actors into stars and made them commercially salable icons. The studio system consisted of companies that owned the studios where films were produced. These companies decided the material to be filmed; they owned and controlled regularly paid stars who were treated like workers, (â€Å"More stars than there are in the heaven† was the motto of Metro –Goldwyn Mayer, one of the five major film producing companies in Hollywood, during it’s hey day), dictated which directors would make which films. Their motto was to produce more movies at lower cost. It was this powerful studio system that ran Hollywood from the late 20s through the 60s. Thus production process was broken down to and organized into various compartments. The producer with a budget was the central figure. Under him there were directors, Script writers, actors, technicians, mechanics, costumers, makeup men and people who took care of the publicity materials. It was an entertainment factory with clear division of labor. The production plan for every year is prep ared well in advance; budget decided and the assembly line is kept flowing. EMERGENCE OF ATEURISM: The problems with the trends in Hollywood stem from the fact that they are

Ray Bradbury Comparative Paper Essay Example for Free

Ray Bradbury Comparative Paper Essay Ray Bradbury, well-known American author, playwright, and poet, created his success on no more than his high school diploma. He did, however, learn many valuable lessons in life which he incorporates in his works. Ray Bradbury uses figurative language such as irony, personification, and imagery to artistically present his vision of life’s morals. Bradbury’s use of irony in his pieces establishes how mankind commonly contradicts himself. In â€Å"The Veldt†, George and Lydia hear screams that â€Å"sound familiar† but ignore them. The couple also finds their wallet and scarf and disregards how these items were chewed and covered in blood when they found them. George and Lydia receive their last clue when they enter the nursery and see the lions in the background feasting on an unknown prey. â€Å"They’ve just been eating†¦ [but they] don’t know what. † Ray Bradbury turns these foreshadowing events into irony when the parents are killed by the lions. It is ironic that they have seen the lions devouring something, saw the wallet and scarf, and heard the screams but do not realize that they were the lion’s meal and it was their screams that they heard and the scarf and wallet were chewed by the lions and covered in their own blood. Bradbury also uses irony in the â€Å"Happiness Machine. † Leo Auffmann created a machine which he claimed brought happiness to the occupant. He convinced his wife to â€Å"try it on† but when she got out she shouted, â€Å"It lies, that Sadness Machine. † This is ironic because what Leo thought was a Happiness Machine is really a Sadness Machine. Leo then finds that true happiness cannot be created by a machine but is found in the heart of his family. In â€Å"There Will Come Soft Rains†, the house reads a poem to the emptiness where a family once was. The poem explains how nature â€Å"would not mind†¦if mankind perished utterly. † It is ironic because the poem is warning the family how the war will destroy them but nature will continue on when that is exactly what has happened. The family has been killed and the house soon after dies but the sun continues to rise and set as if nothing has happened. Personification is another common literary device in Bradbury’s work. It is most prominent in â€Å"There Will Come Soft Rains. † Bradbury describes the house with human like qualities in how it defends itself against the fire which is also personified. The house â€Å"quivered at each sound† and is described as the attic being the brain and the exposed oak beams as â€Å"its bare skeleton† and all of â€Å"its nerves revealed. † The fire was personified when it â€Å"fed upon Picassos and Matisses†¦ [and] lay in beds, stood in windows. † Bradbury also described the fire as being â€Å"clever† as it attacked â€Å"the attic brain† and â€Å"rushed back into every closet and felt of the clothes hung there. † Bradbury also uses personification in â€Å"The Foghorn. † He gives the foghorn human-like characteristics when relating it to the monster. The foghorn made a â€Å"great deep cry† that vibrated in the â€Å"throat of the tower† as the â€Å"light, switching its tail,† shone bright in the distance. Bradbury continues to use personification in â€Å"The Veldt. † The nursery that Wendy and Peter spend most of their time in is described with human-like qualities. The walls changed from blankness to the veldt with a â€Å"purr† and â€Å"reproduced to the final pebble and bit of straw. † It is further personified when the room itself kills the parents. Bradbury also frequently uses imagery in his work. In â€Å"The Pedestrian†, he described the highways as â€Å"only dry riverbeds† empty of vehicles. Bradbury also points out the â€Å"tomblike buildings† and â€Å"gray phantoms† along the sides of the road. These vivid descriptions allow the reader to feel the loneliness and absence of life in the city and its streets. The imagery in â€Å"The Pedestrian† sets the mood and describes the setting. â€Å"The Foghorn† portrays another source of imagery. Bradbury makes the reader visualize the â€Å"long grey lawn of the sea stretching away into nothing and nowhere† with his descriptive vocabulary. He describes how the â€Å"stone tower† emitted a light that flashed red and white out to the â€Å"lonely ships† â€Å"in the cold water far from land. † This makes the reader understand how secluded McDunn and Johnny were out at the lighthouse and intensifies the oddness of the appearance of the sea monster. Imagery is also present when McDunn explains to Johnny how the monster â€Å"hid away in the Deeps. † The way he describes the â€Å"Deeps† makes it all seem magical yet realistic. Bradbury continues to use imagery in â€Å"The Happiness Machine. † Towards the end of the short story, Leo discovers a real happiness machine. When he describes this â€Å"machine,† he makes the reader visualize a pleasant and warm home filled with joy. This example of imagery contrasts how Bradbury typically uses his words to display desolation and despair. Ray Bradbury expresses similar patterns in his work by using irony, personification, and imagery. He writes with these three types of figurative language in different ways in all of his pieces of work. Bradbury takes common techniques of writing and makes them his own by using them in a certain way to present his ideas in a unique style.

The Jewish Community in Greece Essay -- Judaism Religion Papers

The Jewish Community in Greece Problems with format ?The Jewish community in Greece has a very colorful and intriguing past, but it is also a history filled with undeserved discriminatory acts and hatred.? The earliest Jews came to Greece either in chains or because of persecution, and soon experienced more hardships and troubles.? And just when Greece had overcome its discrimination and its Jews began to breathe easily, the worst persecution of all befell the community.? The Jewish community in Greece was once large and prominent.? In fact, ?the country once boasted some of the most distinguished and ancient Jewish communities in the world.1 But only a shadow of its once glorious past remains, and Jews are currently facing discrimination today.? The best example of Greek Jewry is the city of Thessaloniki, which exemplifies the shifting community throughout history.? Greek Jews are still facing discrimination, but hopefully, Greek sentiment will change. Greek Jews Throughout History ?Scholars are unsure when Jews first settled on the Greek isles, but most agree the earliest were slaves ?forcibly transported to Greece by way of Cyprus, Ionia, and the Greek isles by various enemies of Judah during the biblical period.?2? Jews came in waves to Greece, usually sold into slavery during wars, such as the Hasmonean War and the Maccabean Wars.? Later, when Rome conquered Asia, even more Jews came to Greece to escape Roman rule, and their numbers continued to increase.? Erich Kahler believes that this is just one reason why the number of Jews in Greece increased so steadily.? The other explanation is ?that Judaism was the first proselytizing religion, the first religion with a mission not only for its own tribe, but fo... ...aughtered Jews. The Times Higher Education Supplement? iss. 1241 (Aug. 16 1996):? 18. Murphy, Brian.? ?Israel Complains About Greek Composer?s ?Anti-Semitic? Comments. Associated Press Worldstream.? 12 Nov. 2003, International News. ?State Department Backs US Envoy to Greece in Spat with Athens. Agence France Presse.? 14 Nov. 2003, Domestic. ?Vandals Attack Jewish Site in Northern Greece. Associated Press Worldstream, 9 Oct. 2003, International News. ?Vandals Spray Holocaust Monument in Greece. Agence France Presse, 9 Oct. 2003, International News. Varouhakis, Miron.? ?Jewish Group Issues Olympic Threat Over Suicide Bombings Exhibit. Associated Press Worldstream.? 9 Oct. 2003, International News. ?Wiesenthal Center Urges Jews to Avoid ?Xenophobic? Greece Before Olympics. Associated Press Worldstream.? 20 Nov. 2003, International News.

Latest Development in Ict

1. 0. INTRODUCTION Meaning of Open Source Software (OSS) Open source software (OSS) is defined as computer software for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that meets the Open Source Definition or that is in the public domain. This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified forms. Meaning of Hardware A computer's hardware consists of the physical components necessary to operate and interact with a  computer.Since a computer's primary language is binary, devices are necessary to convert our input into that language. The binary code coming out of the computer must also be translated into something usable for the operator. Meaning of Software Software is often divided into two categories: 1. System software: Includes the operating system and all the utilities that enables the computer to function. `2. Application software: Includes prog rams that do real work for users. For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems fall under the category of applications software. 4. The Latest Development in ICT 4. 1 Hardware |a) Canon Pixma MP280 |b) Canon Pixma MX360 | |[pic] |[pic] | | | | |-The Canon Pixma MP280 is an entry level all-in-one printer, |-The Canon Pixma MX360 was first introduced by Canon in January | |scanner, and copier with enhanced photo printing capabilities.It|during CES 2011. It is  an entry level model designed  for small | |was the budget-friendly model out of its line of eight photo |office/home office use, alongside the Pixma MX410. We have | |printers released by Canon in 2010. Taking on the new Pixma photo|already reviewed the leading flagship inkjet out of the bunch, | |printer look, it features a simple glossy black design with |the  Pixma MX882, and the inkjet that is one step down from it, | |silver accents just like the previously reviewed sister |the  Pix ma MX420. Now we will take a look at the MX360.This | |product,  the Canon Pixma MP495. Canon has included Full HD Movie |four-in-one can print, scan, copy, and fax and connects to a | |Print and photo editing software, as well as the Easy Photo Print|computer via HighSpeed USB 2. 0 (note that the MX410 has wireless | |app for Android smartphones in the package. Moreover, this photo |connectivity). It has an automatic document feeder that can fit | |all-in-one offers high color resolution color photo capabilities |up to 30 sheets and a 100-sheet rear feed tray. We tested the | |with a maximum of  4800 x 1200 dpi and is Energy Star certified. MX360 and found that it can print up to 8 black and white pages | |It is currently selling for only $70 from Canon's website; so |per minute under the default settings. The MX360 has a list price| |keep reading to find out if this is the right printer for you. |of $79. 99; check out our full review below to find out if this is| |Our reviews include an overview of specifications, testing |the suitable inkjet for your office at that price. | |results, a summary of the build and design, and more. | | 4. 2 Software a) Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. 0 |b) Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. 0 | | |[pic] | |[pic] | | |-Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. 0 Beta was advertised in official |-Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3. 0 beta was released on October 22, | |emails from Adobe in April 2008. New features include: |2009.New features include: | | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Localized corrections (edit specific parts | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New chroma noise reduction | |of an image) | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Improved sharpening tool | | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Improved organization tools | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã ‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New import pseudo module | | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Multiple monitor support | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Watermarking | | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Flexible printing options | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Grain | | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   64-bit support | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Publish services | |The official release of Lightroom v2 was on July 29, 2008, along | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Custom package for print | |with the release of Adobe Camera Raw v4. 5 and DNG Converter 4. 5. |On March 23, 2010, Adobe released a second beta, which added the | |Adobe has added DNG Camera Profiling to both releases. This |following features: | |technology allows custom camera colour profiles, or looks, to be | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New luminance noise reduction | |created by the user and saved. It also allows profiles matching | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tethered shooting for selected Nikon and | |the creative styles built in to cameras to be replicated.Adobe |Canon cameras | |released a complete set of such Camera Profiles for Nikon and | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Basic video file support | |Canon models, in addition to basic Standard Profiles for all | ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Point curve | |supported makes and models, through Adobe Labs, at the same time |Although not in cluded in any beta release, version 3 also | |as the Lightroom v2 release. This technology is open to all |contains built-in lens correction and perspective control. | |programs compliant with the DNG file format standard. | | 5. 0 Pervasive Computing 5. 1 Meaning of Pervasive ComputingPervasive computing (also called ubiquitous computing) is the growing trend towards embedding  microprocessors  in everyday objects so they can communicate information. The words pervasive and ubiquitous mean â€Å"existing everywhere. †Ã‚  Pervasive computing devices are completely connected and constantly available. Pervasive computing relies on the convergence of   wireless  technologies, advanced electronics and the Internet. The goal of researchers working in pervasive computing is to create  smart  products that communicate unobtrusively. The products are connected to the Internet and the data they generate is easily available. 5. 2 Examples of Pervasive Computing Smart TV [p ic]*Samsung Smart TVSmart TV, which is also sometimes referred to as â€Å"Connected TV† or â€Å"Hybrid TV†, (not to be confused with  Internet TV,  Web TV, or  LG Electronics's upcoming â€Å"SMART TV† branded  NetCast Entertainment Access  devices), is the phrase used to describe the current  trend  of integration of the  internet  and  Web 2. 0  features into modern  television sets  and  set-top boxes, as well as the technological convergence  between  computers  and these television sets /set-top boxes. These new  devices  most often also have a much higher focus on  online  interactive media,  Internet TV,  over-the-top content, as well as  on-demand  streaming media, and less focus on traditional  broadcast  media like previous generations of  television sets  and  set-top boxes  always have had.The technology that enables Smart TVs is not only incorporated into television sets, but also devic es such as set-top boxes,  Blu-ray  players,  game consoles, and other companion devices. These devices allow viewers to search and find videos, movies, photos and other content on the web, on a local cable TV channel, on a satellite TV channel, or stored on a local  hard drive. GPS [pic]*Garmin GPS The  Global Positioning System  (GPS) is a space-based  global navigation satellite system  (GNSS) that provides  location  and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. It is maintained by the  United States  government and is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver.The GPS project was developed in 1973 to overcome the limitations of previous navigation systems,  integrating ideas from several predecessors, including a number of classified engineering design studies from the 1960s. GPS was created and realized by the  U. S. Department of Defense  (USDO D) and was originally run with 24  satellites. It became fully operational in 1994. 6. 0 Conclusion Open Source can be used by anyone and because it has no copyright claims, so users are free to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified forms. Pervasive Computing is to make our lives easier because we can interact with computers. Besides that, we can easily give the computer commands and the computer will grant your wish. 2. 0 The Latest Open Source Operating System (OS) 2. 1 Meaning of Open Source OSOpen Source Operating System is the most important program that runs on a computer that is free to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified forms. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on t he disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. 2. 2 Examples of Open Source OS a) Dream Linux [pic] DreamLinux  is a modern and modular Linux system that can be run directly from the CD and optionally be easily installed onto your HD. Dreamlinux comes with a selection of the best applications designed to meet mostly of your daily needs.It is based on Debian and Morphix, which means it takes advantages of their best features and adds its own modern development tools. b) Haiku [pic] Haiku  is an open-source operating system currently in development designed from the ground up for desktop computing. Inspired by the BeOS, Haiku aims to provide users of all levels with a personal computing experience that is simple yet powerful, and free of any unnecessary complexities. Haiku is developed mostly by volunteers around the world in their spare time. 3. 0 The Latest Open Source Application Software 3. 1 Meaning of Open Source Application Software Open Sourc e Application Software includes database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets and others.It is free to use, change, and improve the software, and to  redistribute  it in  modified  or  unmodified  forms. 3. 2 Examples of Open Source Application Software Web Browser [pic]*Mozilla Firefox A  web browser  is a  software application  for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the  World Wide Web. An information resourceis identified by a  Uniform Resource Identifier  (URI) and may be a  web page, image, video, or other piece of content. Hyperlinks  present in resources enable users easily to navigate their browsers to related resources. The major web browsers are  Internet Explorer,  Mozilla Firefox,  Google Chrome,  Apple Safari, and  Opera. Spreadsheet [pic]*Microsoft Office ExcelA  spreadsheet  is a  computer application  that simulates a paper, accounting  worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains  alphanumeric  text, numeric values or formulas. A  formula  defines how the content of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for  financial  information because of their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made. A pseudo third dimension to the matrix is sometimes applied as another layer, or layers/sheets, of two-dimensional data.

De-Scalers Essay

When water is heated limescale deposits can form, especially in machines such as fully automatic coffee makers, espresso machines and all hot water units. In this context you often hear about hard and soft water. The hardness of the water indicates the proportion of limescale. Your water supply company will provide more information about hardness of your water. If your groundwater flows through calcareous rock layers, eroded magnesium and calcium carbonate will cause limescale deposits in your water. Why do I need to remove limescale? In addition to loss of coffee flavor limescale deposits can severely damage your machine and shorten its lifespan significantly. Limescale deposits in your machine lead to: Longer scalding time with higher electricity charges Lower water temperatures causing inferior coffee flavor Blocked machines pipe Corrosion of metal parts and sealing gaskets Expensive repairs Only regular and timely descaling with a high-quality descaler, such as ceragol ultra Premium Descaler, ensures a long lifespan and optimal coffee flavor. Your coffee maker is a high-tech machine which needs regular, gentle care. What do you expect from your descaler? Limescale deposits are removed by acids in the descaler. Only the right mixture of effective acids and gentle additives for the metal parts and sealing gaskets allows for optimal results during descaling. The quick reaction time and immediate reusability of the machine after rinsing are basic demands on a premium descaler. Why amidosulfonic acid? Descaling with citric or acetic acids The big problem when descaling with citric or acetic acids are the released flavor additives which cause an obtrusive smell during descaling. The plastic parts of your fully automated coffee maker tend to taken on these smells and influence the smell and taste of your coffee negatively. Plastic parts and sealing gaskets of your unit can be attacked by the vinegar or acetic acid. Citric acid tends to flake during descaling. This can block the valves and water pipes and lead to high repair charges. An additional problem is that the limescale is actually sealed in by an indissoluble layer which occurs repeatedly when using descalers based on citric acids. Descaling with vinegar, acetic acid or citric acid takes significantly longer than descaling with ceragol ultra Premium Descaler. Descaling with amidosulfonic acid Descaling with amidosulfonic acid, the active ingredient of our ceragol ultra Premium Descaler, does not require any reaction time. During the descaling program the limescale is dissolved and flushed away. This process is completely odorless and neutral in taste. After thorough rinsing your machine is once again food-safe. The additives in ceragol ultra Premium Descaler guard and protect the metal and plastic components of your fully automatic coffee maker. The right time to descale Automatic coffee machine w. auto descaling indicator Please ask your water supply company about the hardness of your water and set the water hardness according to the operating instructions of your manufacturer. Your machine will indicate when descaling is needed. Automatic coffee machine w/o descaling indicator Descaling becomes necessary as soon as you notice a delay in operation or irregularities during coffee preparation. Another telltale sign is the reduction of the amount of foam produced on the coffee. The machine must be descaled periodically and in due time.

Isolation (Of Mice and Men) essays

Isolation (Of Mice and Men) essays Isolation is the term used when a being is confined to himself without any outside contact. In the story, Of Mice and Men, isolation was a major role forced upon Crooks and Curleys wife. Crooks is an old black man whom lives in a little hut beside the manure pile, and lives and sleeps by himself, with no contact besides orders. Curleys wife was isolated, simply because Curley didnt not trust her, and considered her to be a tart. These two characters have a lot in common as shown through this story. Crooks is a slave, an old black man whom is literate and tends to be crabby. He is crabby because his whole life he has seen failure been pushed around and not taken seriously, and every time he does something good and starts to get somewhere or make something of himself, he gets shot down to rock bottom. Thus causes people to become isolated and keep to them selves, however, Lennie, a man who isnt aware of social and cultural barriers, talks to crooks, and tells him about his farm. For the first time ever in his life Crooks sees a light, an opportunity for success and to be free, thus sorta bring himself out of isolation, to life in a happier place, a dream land, the land in which every hard working man such as himself, George, Candy, and even Lennie dream of. That takes Crooks to a new level of thinking. Curleys wife and himself were married at a young age, he promised her to have a good life and be happy. Unfortunately she was too young to know what she had gotten herself into. Curley couldnt love his wife because he didnt trust her, nor did he trust is co-workers, he considered he to be a tart because of the looks she gave people. However, little id anyone notice, those were not looks of lust, nearly looks of conversation. She was lonely, very lonely, and didnt have a single person to talk to, didnt have a job and could not get out fending for herself. She was isolated in...

Stellers Sea Cow - Facts and Figures

Stellers Sea Cow - Facts and Figures Name: Stellers Sea Cow; also known as Hydrodamalis Habitat: Shores of the northern Pacific Historical Epoch: Pleistocene-Modern (2 million-200 years ago) Size and Weight: About 25-30 feet long and 8-10 tons Diet: Seaweed Distinguishing Characteristics: Enormous size; small, flexible head About Stellers Sea Cow Although its much less well known than the Dodo Bird or the Giant Moa, Stellers Sea Cow (genus name Hydrodamalis) shared the unfortunate fate of these famous birds. Widespread across the northern Pacific Ocean for hundreds of thousands of years, by the mid-18th century this giant, 10-ton ancestor of modern dugongs and manatees was restricted to the obscure Commander Islands. There, in 1741, a population of a thousand or so survivors was studied by the early naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, who remarked on this megafauna mammals tame disposition, undersized head perched on an oversized body, and exclusive diet of kelp (a type of seaweed). You can probably guess what happened next. As soon as word of Stellers Sea Cow got out, various sailors, hunters and traders made it a point to stop over at the Commander Islands and bag themselves a few of these gentle beasts, which were valued for their fur, their meat, and most of all their whale-like oil, which could be used to fuel lamps. Within three decades, Stellers Sea Cow had breathed its last; fortunately, though, Steller himself bequeathed his studies of live specimens on future generations of paleontologists. (Its important to realize that Stellers Sea Cow had been on the decline for tens of thousands of years before Europeans arrived on the scene; according to one theory, early human settlers of the Pacific Basin overhunted sea otters, thus allowing the unchecked proliferation of sea urchins, which feasted on the same kelp as Hydrodamalis!) By the way, it may yet be possible for scientists to resurrect Stellers Sea Cow by harvesting scraps of its fossil DNA, under a controversial research program known as de-extinction.

Child Development, Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Child Development, - Essay Example As "all aspects of the development are interrelated," (Chesebrough, 163) the report describes the results of the comparative analysis of the child development in the four domains and relates them to the specific skills and abilities of child growth. The infant I selected for my observation, collection of data, and assessment of the child development in physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains is my elder sister's five month old boy John. I would observe him closely at the house of my sister for several hours a day as they resided near to my apartment. My observations of the baby were basically guided by specific objectives which help me interpret its development through various domains. Thus, I watched the baby closely to find how it perceives moving objects and I was interested to know how fast the child acquires the awareness of things. The information on how infants perceive moving objects from the text Discovering Child Development was greatly useful in my observations and I was interested to know how quickly the infant grasps the perception of objects. (Fabes et al) Using some moving toys, I challenged his skill of perception and he took much time to get attracted to the toys. Once he noticed the object, he seemed to be interested in the movement, though his attention lasted just for a very short period of time. John could not maintain his concentration for more than thirty seconds continuously and he would direct his attention to some other substance. Similarly, he would again draw his attention to the object after a very short interval. All these correspond to the characteristics of his cognitive domain and its peculiarities. Every time the object reached near to him, John would move his hands and legs upward and be greatly rejuvenated which presents his physical domain. The child needed longer time to recognize the object compared to his brother Tom who is three years old. However, the moving objects are recognized by the child much faster compared to the stationary objects and all these suggest the features of his cognitive domain. In an assessment of the development of the infant with regard to the social and emotional domains, I observed his several responses in different social situations. Whenever people new to him tried to get his attention, he would be careful to give his responses and when there were forced attempts to enter his psychological realm he would feel disturbed and resist. However, in the socially friendly environments, the child was very much at ease and the presence of parents was particularly comfortable to him. Personally, I had created a great rapport with the child and he responded positively to my motivations and behaved in the most convincing manner. The social as well as emotional domain of the child has reached a reasonably competent stage and the child began to express the indicators of these faculties. Towards the final days of my observation period, the infant had developed its skills considerably with regard to a variety of elements. Therefore, the pace of these improvements in t he physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains suggests that the child development in this age is rapid. My observations concluded that the infants have a more holistic

Individual Paper Industry Profitability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Individual Paper Industry Profitability - Essay Example The country comprises of 29,360 numbers of total shoe stores and the industry employs 188,866 people (Statisticbrain, 2015). Due to the rising imports, the revenue of the footwear industry as well as the consumer spending is declining. To stay afloat especially in the footwear market, the only way is to create a presence or existence in the niche markets (Sorenson & Audia, 2000). The essay will focus on the relationship between industry structure, environmental change and industry attractiveness by taking into consideration the industrial structure and attractiveness of Aeolus Air in order to show the level of the industry profitability. The comparison of Aeolus Air, which is a hypothetical company; will be shown with other three companies which are also fictitious companies in order to reflect the management and performance of Aeolus Air on several grounds. The PEST analysis of the footwear industry of the United States has been done in order to show the positive as well as negative effect of the environmental factors. This will further help to examine the opportunities as well as threats for the footwear industry. Political factors: The competitive tax structure and the currency exposure risk hold a threat for the footwear industry. The policies of the foreign direct investment disallow full ownership of the retail stores. Therefore, these policies generally hold threat towards internationalization (Marx, 2008). Economic factors: Due to the economic recovery, the footwear industry has been growing. However, increasing rates of interest will adversely affect the growth of this industry. Rise in the imports is affecting the revenues of the companies within the footwear segment. High dependency on the overseas manufacturing as well as outsourcing is a threat for the industry. Moreover, increase in the company resources and raw materials’ shipping costs also affects

International marketing Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

International marketing - Dissertation Example The main focus of an interpretive approach is on processes which help in surfacing up the meanings and negotiating them (Schwandt, 1999). Interpretive approach focuses on the individual and uses one of among several qualitative data collection techniques and analysis processes. This approach further branch out into several other approaches, having different views (Alvesson and Skoldberg, 2000; Lindlof, 1995). The one used in this research is Hermeneutic; which according to Martin and Sugarman (2001) is an approach which â€Å"moves beyond both scientism and social constructionist, accepting the self-interpreting nature of humans within their social-cultural context, but not reducing them completely to these origins†. Hermeneutics can be considered as an approach which enables the researcher to further explore the meaning of the desired topic so as to get an in-depth understanding of it (Alvesson & Skoldberg, 2000). This approach is subjective and uses more personal qualitative techniques. It focuses more on comprehending the situation involved and analysis of qualitative data (Gummesson, 2000). According to Patton (2002), the qualitative data can be collected by means of interviews; structured or semi structured; documents and observations. For this research, data was collected by conducting semi structured interviews. This technique was employed owing to the fact that the research so far done in this area has data and results that have certainly become outdated. Thus to emanate more latest information from within the concerned industries so that it could be useful for further study and exploration, interviews were done which would yield rather up to date and more interesting facts. These interviews have helped the... From this research it is clear that every country has its own communication pattern. For the success of an international business there is a strong need of focusing on relationship development that is â€Å"an integrated effort to identify, build up and maintain a network of relationships with employees, inter-organizational partners and customers for mutual benefit† which significantly require a well thought integrated communication strategy. Thus success of Mc Donald’s working in over 115 countries simultaneously can be taken as an example of it modification of selling and communication techniques to effectively communicate with its various stakeholders. Owing to the importance of relationship building among various stakeholders with varied cultural background, comprehending the role of communication is essential for any company with international business. The intercultural barriers can be effectively removed by imporved and adapted and selling process accordingly be cause if not it leads to the widening of gap between the two culturally different parties thus affecting the rapport of the company, personal bonding and log term compatibility which in turn can badly impact the marketing efforts of the company thus it becomes essentially significant for any company to first analyze the communication pattern of the country it wants to work in and then build the relationship by appropriate communication channel and thus communication. According to the second respondent, they have well established guidelines for conducting marketing in varied countries, however, owing to the fact that culture varies these guidelines are modified accordingly.

Current State Of Ethics In Business Commerce Essay

Current State Of Ethics In Business Commerce Essay The pace, scale and complexity of modern business has forced a change in how business is done. While it is accepted that it is foolish to do business with someone who is not trustworthy, the question arises whether you can trust those who are not ethical in all of their behaviour. Short timelines, tight supply chains and narrowing margins mean that chances cannot be taken that suppliers or customers will not honour their contracts as expected. Suppliers and customers are now becoming partners and stakeholders in business, and relationships with them are becoming more and more underpinned by trust. Trust is built on expectations of truth in words and consistency in behaviour. It is impossible to do profitable business with someone who says one thing one day and does something different the next. Ethical leadership is vital in business today. It is the backbone to any long lasting successful company in todays business market. It is important for companies to clearly layout their stance on ethical leadership to employees and the public, to have members of the company lead by example, and to reinforce the ethical leadership concept through out the year. By following these steps, the company will sustain or acquire ethical leadership in their companys culture. Although business accepted ethics slightly change through out the years, everyone should know if an action is ethical or unethical before they take an action. The importance of companies clearly defining their stance on ethical behavior will let individuals know how making an unethical decision will impact them, their fellow workers, and the company as a whole. On the other hand members of the company will also know how making an ethical decision will have a positive impact. Once a clear ethical leadership stance is taken, rewarding or punishing ethical or unethical actions should strictly uphold the rules. There should be an unbiased group to facilitate this activity, for example a Human Resources Department. Every employee, from the CEO to the mailroom clerk, should practice ethical leadership. Every member and every group can and should exhibit ethical leadership. This concept should not just be thought of as a manager to his report. Ethical leadership can happen in unexpected situations, for example where a CFO of a company asks the mailroom clerk to do an unethical act and the mailroom clerk refuses the CFOs request. The clerk refused based on the companys stance on ethical behavior. In this example, the clerk presented ethical leadership, but was in no way in a leadership role. The clerk would also feel safe taking this stance because he believes in his companies set rules on ethical leadership. He will not be negatively impacted due to the fact that he can contact his unbiased Human Resources department with issues of this nature, on top of the fact that he maybe rewarded for taking this ethical stance. Reinforcing the ethical leadership concept through out the year is also important for businesses. Not only reinforcing, but also reinforcing with meaning and showing the value of ethical leadership. Making positive examples of employees through rewards, have mandatory yearly training (make it fun), send positive ethical leadership examples out as part of company newsletter, ensure that unethical behavior is dealt with in an ethical way, restate companys stance during large meetings, make ethical leadership apart of each employees personal evaluation each year (make them give examples) and have ethical workshops. All of these examples will ensure that every employee knows the companys stance on ethical leadership through reinforcement. The over all concept of ethical leadership is that it is as important as making a profit in the business world. Profit and ethical leadership should be top priorities for any company that plans to have a long lasting existence. Ethics in itself can become a very pliable term with many grey areas, so focusing on specific ethics may prove futile. However, focusing on doing the right thing along with the reinforcement of ethical leadership may be the answer. Baking ethical leadership into a companys culture is key. Ethical leadership holds a positive outlook with great potential in the current business environment is the improvement that we have seen in ethical issues over the relatively recent years. As we all know accepted ethical behaviors have slightly changed over the years and will continue to do so. Ethical leadership along with the help from laws has driven the implementation of the halt or reduction of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual discrimination. It is believe that accepted ethics have made great leaps and ethical leadership is one of the driving tools to solidify these concepts. Recent huge companies like Enron and World Com have made great examples of the importance of ethical leadership. It is said that the CEO of Enron, who was just sentenced to many years in prison, had the saying that nothing else matters besides profit. This is apparently not the best way to lead a long-term successful company. The fall of companies that disregard ethical leadership cost all Americans, the companys employees, and share holders billions of dollars. Based on this fact, the health of economies depends on companies to lead with strong ethics. One positive aspect that these unethical companies did do for America is to drive home the absolute importance of ethical leadership in business. Due to the unethical acts of these huge companies, everyone has taken notice. Many colleges are driving ethics harder then they ever have, the media attention has been enormous, and US companies are really sticking to ethical leadership programs better now than in the past. Recent changes in the business environment have deeply affected businesses and ethics consultancies that are concerned that the word ethics, in a business context, has lost its original meaning. They consider ethics to be unregulated behavior as well as regulated and talk about what is ought to be done as well as what we is compelled to be done. Not only would an ethical person not break the law or flout a regulation, but he/she also would think hard about doing something perfectly legal that gave the person ethical concerns. The ethics industry, now called the ethics and compliance industry, dwells almost entirely on issues of law and regulation. It is thought that ethics, as an important business tool, has been sidelined. The ethics industry emerged in the 1970s with defense scandals that resulted in the Defense Industry Initiative, a self-regulatory body of defense contractors. It really launched in 1991 with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations, which helped judges to determine consequences for corporate misbehavior and, critically, identified seven steps that businesses could take to mitigate those consequences. The suggested steps included a code of ethics or conduct, training in the code, and a high-ranking person to oversee the program Many of the early providers were academics and nonprofits, like IGE, who believed that it was possible to guide corporate behavior through improved corporate decision-making. The waves of scandal that culminated in the 2008 financial tsunami have all but erased our formal ethics beginnings in business. A backwash of regulation, prompted by an outraged public, followed each wave. Companies, ethical and otherwise, are drowning in rules, expensive rules and regulations that make global competition difficult. Good companies are still doing the right things, but the focus has shifted from thinking ethically to complying with myriad regulations. In other cases, a whole new workaround ethic focuses on ways to skirt the rules. Following the recession, companies are demanding that people make their numbers while still following the rules, which even ethics professionals see as difficult. Professionals who used to direct their employers ethics programs are disappearing, replaced by legal professionals with specific expertise in bribery and corruption, export controls, insider trading, money laundering, and other topics of special interest. Were unhappy with the retrogressive sea change, but our respondents found some treasure silver lining, perhaps washed up on the beach. Anticorruption has a surprising ally, social networking, which has become a global phenomenon. Although the United States has a new portfolio of laws governing business (especially financial business) called the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which encourages whistle-blowers with offers of cash bounties and protection, social networking already has leapt far beyond. It is almost impossible to escape the reach of texting, tweeting, YouTube, and Facebook. Employees, customers and suppliers stay connected and theres really no place to hide when people take pictures and movies with their smart phones and make their observations public on the Internet. Although staff departments responsible for ethics have experienced cutbacks in funding, they are now working more closely with other departments that help to manage their companys risk. Its common to find close cooperation among ethics and compliance, internal audit, security, health, safety and environment, legal, and human resources. The benefit is that companies are likely to spot and avert misbehavior more quickly. Additionally, ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) now work more closely because their intentions are similar making the corporation a responsible citizen through attention to environmental and human rights issues. There is also exposure to legal penalties. Companies involved in international trade have to represent their products to potential or current clients based on their expected inputs by the suppliers. Â  A company that is involved in illegal activities, or that knowingly falsifies information on inputs supplied can create serious problems for its business partners. Â  A company with a good reputation and solid brands has much to lose, and should not take chances with its brand value. Another issue challenging the practice of good business ethics is the values, which employees bring to the work environment. Much has been said over the years about the deterioration of employees work ethics. The impact of poor work ethics results in low productivity owed to high levels of absenteeism, tardiness, theft and acceptance of bribe taking. A company that wishes to be efficient and competitive in the future cannot accept this state of affairs. There is a strong business case for the introduction of structured programs to support ethical behaviour in companies, size notwithstanding. These programs should be more than a mere encouragement to be honest, and should be based on clearly articulated values that are linked to the overall vision and mission of the company. The Manual of Business Ethics for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises prepared by the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) and the US Department of Commerce describes the following benefits among others: Enhanced Reputation and Goodwill: A reputation for integrity is important for securing the loyalty of customers, for recruiting and training the best staff, for winning community acceptance and accessing bank and supplier credit. Risk reduction: The process of developing a business ethics program involves the company in identifying and assessing the factors that could pose risks to reputation and financial performance, and developing and implementing the business processes that reduce those risks. Reduced costs: Providing employees with clear guidelines of how to conduct day to day business such as where and when to obtain quotations; how to carry out tenders; how to conclude contracts and how to avoid conflicts of interest can reduce transaction costs and improve the supply chain function. Protection from Unethical Employees: A program would include clear guidance in respect of the misappropriation and unauthorised use of company resources, and the consequences that could flow from violations, information that employees with undeveloped values may not fully appreciate. Recommendations for efforts that build ethical cultures without increasing expenses are as follows: Improve communication practices. Ethics programs are usually well constructed, but poorly disseminated. Require middle managers to train their direct reports and keep the message alive with ethics meetings. Employees often dont know or recognize the CEO and merely tolerate E-learning, but they actually pay attention to their managers. Encourage government to recognize and reward the value of ethics and compliance programs. Focus on corporate culture. Perhaps more emphasis on culture will galvanize corporate intentions and resources toward long-term corporate health in addition to dealing with the emergency of the moment. Operating according to values, accentuating the positives, telling the stories, and removing the negatives would empower good employees and managers and boost productivity. People actually like to work when the culture is right. Ever hopeful, we expect corporate ethics to rebound with serious attention paid to aligning individuals within positive values-driven cultures. It wont happen until the recession fades and businesses start spending the cash theyve hoarded for the last several years to acquire the human and intellectual resources needed to make it happen.

Female Genital Mutilation Essay -- essays research papers fc

Female Genital Mutilation: Barbaric Custom or Cultural Rite â€Å"I was shaking out of my skin with fear. I sat at Netsent’s head so she couldn’t cry out. The circumciser began to cut with a razor blade. She cut everything: the clitoris, the inner and outer labia. There was so much blood!† This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in Marie Claire in April 2003. The speaker is a girl by the name of Genet Girma, an Ethiopian, describing the conditions under which her sister Netsent was forced to have her genitalia removed. Each year, two million girls undergo the devastating and disfiguring practice of genital cutting (Goodwin 157). Genital cutting, widely known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), is the practice of cutting away parts of the external female genitalia. Although many people may see FGM as barbaric and dangerous, most of those who practice it see FGM as a religious rite and as a deeply rooted cultural practice. The three broad categories of FGM are clitoridectomy, excision and infibulation. The mildest form of FGM, clitoridectomy, is the removal of all or part of the clitoris. Excision includes the removal of the clitoris and the cutting of the labia minora. The most extreme form of FGM is infibulation, the removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and the stitching together of the labia majora. Infibulation leaves just a small opening in the vagina for the passage of urine and menstrual fluid, and requires binding together of the legs until stitches adhere. Often the removal of the stitches is part of a wedding night ritual (Taylor 31). If the terrifying nature of the procedure were not enough, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that FGM is â€Å"normally performed by traditional practitioners with crude instruments, such as knives, razor blades and broken glass, usually without anesthetics.† The invasive characteristics of FGM and the unsanitary conditions under which it is usually performed can have serious consequences. Pediatric Nursing writes â€Å"FGM may cause numerous physical complications, including hemorrhage and severe pain, which can cause shock, even death.† It also writes â€Å"FGM may create long-term complications resulting from scarring and interference with the drainage of urine and menstrual blood, such as chronic pelvic infections, which may cause pelvic and back pain, dysmenorrhea, infertility, chronic urinary tract infe... ...ce (Ahmad). As WHO has stated, â€Å"We have to realize that female genital mutilation is a deeply-rooted traditional practice. As such, it can only be abolished completely when attitudes have been changed† (Taylor 31). As this statement suggests, there has to be a line drawn in the sand when discussing the practice of FGM. On one side, there are Western idealists who believe that FGM is barbaric and should be abolished, with their own hands if necessary. On the other side, there are the people who believe FGM is a tradition and a cultural rite, one that should be continued for centuries to come. And somewhere in the middle there are those that believe that change must come, but must come only when the countries involved are ready. Change cannot be put upon them. Works Cited Ahmad, Imad-ad-Dean. â€Å"Female Genital Mutilation: An Islamic Perspective.† Minaret. 1 May 2003 . English, Veronica. â€Å"Female Genital Mutilation.† Journal of Medical Ethics 27.3 (2001): 203-205. Goodwin, Jan. â€Å"I Said No to Female Genital Mutilation.† Marie Claire 10.4 (2003): 157-159. Taylor, Vivienne. â€Å"Female Genital Mutilation: Cultural Practice or Child Abuse?† Pediatric Nursing 15.1 (2003): 31-34.

Autism: Identification and Characteristics

â€Å"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development† (Unknown, 2013). However, there are multiple definitions of Autism spectrum disorder and autism. The two most accepted definitions are those outlined in IDEA and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, The IDEA definition of ASD and Autism has these disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and academic performance, that can be observed prior to the child turning three years of age. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, these disorders are grouped under Pervasive Developmental Disorder. These disorders include, but are not limited to, autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Asperger syndrome (APA, 2000). Characteristics of Autism or ASD include difficulties in language development, ranging from no verbal communication to complex communication, delayed language development, and echolalia. Echolalia is the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person or sounds in the surrounding environment. It also includes difficulties in Social Development. These difficulties include delays in social interactions and social skills such as, impaired use of nonverbal behavior, lack of peer relationships, failure to spontaneously share enjoyment, interests, and achievements, as well as a Lack of reciprocity. Autism and ASDs are also characterized by repetitive behavior such as obsessions, tics, and perseverations. Those diagnosed with Autism or ASD are also said to display problem behavior such as self-injurious behavior or aggression, a need for environmental predictability, symptoms of sensory and movement disorders, as well as, symptoms of Savant Syndrome. Savant Syndrome is a rare condition in which persons with various developmental disorders, including autistic disorder, have astonishing islands of ability, brilliance or talent in areas such as the fine arts. Many savants are also very good with remembering facts such as phone numbers or birthdays, after only seeing them a few imes. Causes and Prevalence The causes of autism range from different aspects. Some people's perspective about it comes from history which is where the phrase â€Å"refrigerator mothers† comes from. Refrigerator mothers were women who were emotionally frigid to towards their children, showing their children little to no affection whatsoever. However, in the 1970s, researchers had established that autism is c aused by brain or biochemical dysfunction that occurs before, during, or after birth. Today, parents are not seen as the cause of their child's autism, but as partners with educators when helping solve their child's problems. The biomedical causes show that a child that has a sibling is 10 times more likely to develop autism than a child that does not have any siblings. There also seems to be a connection between environmental factors and genes. Parents also report that they see regression in their child directly following an immunization. But with this being said, parents also see a regression in their unvaccinated children. If a pair of identical twins share the same gene, and one has autism, then 9 out of 10 times, the other twin has autism as well. Researchers believe that the biggest causes of autism are vaccinations, environmental exposures, pesticide exposure, parental age, pharmaceuticals, freeway proximity, and limited prenatal vitamin intake. The prevalence of autism suggests a range from 10 to 60 per 10,000 children. Principles of Effective Instruction and Assessment of Progress There are different kinds of effective instructions in order to help out the child that is diagnosed with Autism. Some of the strategies include keyword, pegword, and letter. Keyword strategies â€Å"teach students to link a keyword to a new word or concept to help them remember the new material† (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). This allows the Autistic children understand and learn the material a lot easier. Pegword strategy â€Å"helps students remember numbered or ordered information by linking words and numbers that rhyme† (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). This strategy is great for students to visual the objects being represented. The last strategy is the letter strategy â€Å"employs acronyms or a string of letters to help students remember a list of words or concepts. Recalling the acronym helps them recall the list or sequence. † (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). â€Å"The Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning (ASIEP-2) has five components or subtests that enable educators to evaluate a student’s capacity across communication, social interactions, behavior, academic content, and other domains. (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). The behavior checklist is used as a screening tool to identify the need for further assessment to determine whether the student has autism. (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, ; Shogren, 2013). These assessments can be used at home and during school hours. These methods are very effective for an Autism child. The technology and methods continue to grow and change for this disability. This particular disability has become more prominent within the United States each and every year. Researchers are becoming more and more familiar with Autism allowing those that have it able to have more help. The progress of this disability has rapidly increased as well as the technology for Autism. Family Issues Autism does not only affect the child, but autism also affects the parents of the child as well. Parents or guardians of children with ASD must place their child’s needs as their primary focus. When parents with autistic children put their full attention in being a caregiver to these children sometimes this adds stress on their marriage, other children, finances, and personal relationships and responsibilities. Also when having a child with ASD with siblings there may be some lack of attention for the other children in the family. In saying this, it is the parent’s job to best respond to the need of the family as a whole in able to show an equal amount of love to each child. Transition into Adulthood Children with autism are just like children without autism. They grow up wanting to make something of their lives, wanting to attend college, to get married, have a family, ect. Having autism makes dreams and goals harder, but not impossible. Young adults on the autistic spectrum may qualify academically for college, but may not be able to handle other aspects of college life. Also when it comes to employment also depending on the severity of his or her symptoms many organizations hire extra help for adults with autism and other disabilities for pay in order to help them grow as a person and help to work everyday tasks. Just little things like going to college with the help of an assistant or having a small job helps to better them and help to make their transition into adulthood smoother and simpler. References American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC. American Psychiatric Association. Pelt, J. (2008, September/October). Autism Into Adulthood-Making the Transition. Retrieved from Social Work Today: http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/090208p12.shtml Turnbull, A., Turnbull, R., Wehmeyer, M. L., ; Shogren, K. A. (2013). Exceptional Lives Special Education in Today's Schools. Boston. Unknown. (2013). Family Issues. Retrieved from Autism Society: Improving the Lives of All Affected by Autism: http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/ Unknown. (2013). What is Autism? Retrieved from Autism Speaks: http://www.autismspeaks.org

Frostbite Chapter 10

Ten THE SKI TRIP COULDN'T HAVE come a moment too soon. It was impossible to get the Dimitri and Tasha thing out of my head, but at least packing and getting ready made sure I didn't devote 100 percent of my brain power to him. More like 95 percent. I had other things to distract me, too. The Academy might- rightfully- be overprotective when it came to us, but sometimes that translated into pretty cool stuff. Example: The Academy had access to a couple of private jets. This meant no Strigoi could attack us at an airport, and it also meant we got to travel in style. Each jet was smaller than a commercial plane, but the seats were cushy and had lots of leg room. They extended far enough back that you could practically lie down to sleep. On long flights, we had little consoles in the seats that gave us TV movie options. Sometimes they'd even break out fancy meals. I was betting this flight, however, would be too short for any movies or substantial food. We left late on the twenty-sixth. When I boarded the jet, I looked around for Lissa, wanting to talk to her. We hadn't really spoken after the Christmas brunch. I wasn't surprised to see her sitting with Christian, and they didn't look like they wanted to be interrupted. I couldn't hear their conversation, but he'd put his arm around her and had that relaxed, flirty expression that only she could bring out. I remained fully convinced that he could never do as good a job as me of taking care of her, but he clearly made her happy. I put on a smile and nodded at them as I passed down the aisle toward where Mason was waving at me. As I did, I also walked by Dimitri and Tasha sitting together. I pointedly ignored them. â€Å"Hey,† I said sliding into the seat beside Mason. He smiled at me. â€Å"Hey. You ready for the ski challenge?† â€Å"As ready as I'll ever be.† â€Å"Don't worry,† he said. â€Å"I'll go easy on you.† I scoffed and leaned my head back against the seat. â€Å"You're so delusional.† â€Å"Sane guys are boring.† To my surprise, he slid his hand over mine. His skin was warm, and I felt my own skin tingle where he touched me. It startled me. I'd convinced myself Dimitri was the only one I'd ever respond to again. It's time to move on, I thought. Dimitri obviously has. You should have done it a long time ago. I laced my fingers with Mason's, catching him off guard. â€Å"I do. This is going to be fun.† And it was. I tried to keep reminding myself that we were here because of a tragedy, that there were Strigoi and humans out there who might strike again. No one else seemed to remember that, though, and I admit, I was having a difficult time myself. The resort was gorgeous. It was built to sort of look like a log cabin, but no pioneer cabin could have held hundreds of people or had such luxury accommodations. Three stories of gleaming, golden-colored wood sat among lofty pine trees. The windows were tall and gracefully arched, tinted for Moroi convenience. Crystal lanterns- electric, but shaped to look like torches- hung around all the entrances, giving the entire building a glittering, almost bejeweled look. Mountains- which my enhanced eyes could just barely make out in the night- surrounded us, and I bet the view would have been breathtaking when it was light out. One side of the grounds led off to the skiing area, complete with steep hills and moguls, as well as lifts and tow ropes. Another side of the lodge had an ice rink, which delighted me since I'd missed out that one day by the cabin. Near that, smooth hills were reserved for sledding. And that was just the outside. Inside, all sorts of arrangements had been made to cater to Moroi needs. Feeders stayed on hand, ready to serve twenty-four hours a day. The slopes ran on a nocturnal schedule. Wards and guardians circled the entire place. Everything a living vampire could want. The main lobby had a cathedral ceiling and an enormous chandelier hanging over it. Its floor was intricately tiled marble, and the front desk stayed open around the clock, ready to indulge our every need. The rest of the lodge, hallways and lounges, had a red, black, and gold color scheme. The deep shade of red dominated over the other hues, and I wondered if its resemblance to blood was a coincidence. Mirrors and art adorned the walls, and little ornamental tables had been placed here and there. They held vases of pale green, purple-spotted orchids that filled the air with a spicy scent. The room I shared with Lissa was bigger than our dorm rooms put together and had the same rich colors as the rest of the lodge. The carpet was so plush and deep that I immediately shed my shoes at the door and walked in barefoot, luxuriating in the way my feet sank into that softness. We had king-size beds, covered in feather duvets and set with so many pillows that I swore a person could get lost in them all and never be seen again. French doors opened on to a spacious balcony, which, considering we were on the top floor, would have been cool if not for the fact it was freezing outside. I suspected the two-person hot tub on the far end would go a long way to make up for the cold. Drowning in so much luxury, I reached an overload point where the rest of the accommodations started swimming together. The jetted marble bathtub. The plasma-screen TV. The basket of chocolate and other snacks. When we finally decided to go skiing, I had to practically drag myself from the room. I could probably have spent the rest of my vacation lounging in there and been perfectly content. But we finally ventured outside, and once I managed to push Dimitri and my mother out of my head, I started to enjoy myself. It helped that the lodge was so enormous; there was little chance of running into them. For the first time in weeks, I was able to finally focus on Mason and realize just how much fun he was. I also got to hang out with Lissa more than I had in a while, which put me in an even better mood. With Lissa, Christian, Mason, and me, we were able to get kind of a double-date thing going. The four of us spent almost all of the first day skiing, though the two Moroi had a bit of trouble keeping up. Considering what Mason and I went through in our classes, he and I weren't afraid to try daring stunts. Our competitive natures made us eager to go out of our way to outdo each other. â€Å"You guys are suicidal,† remarked Christian at one point. It was dark outside, and tall light posts illuminated his bemused face. He and Lissa had been waiting at the bottom of the mogul hill, watching Mason and me come down. We'd been moving at insane speeds. The part of me that had been trying to learn control and wisdom from Dimitri knew it was dangerous, but the rest of me liked embracing that recklessness. That dark streak of rebelliousness still hadn't let me go. Mason grinned as we skidded to a halt, sending up a spray of snow. â€Å"Nah, this is just a warm-up. I mean, Rose has been able to keep up with me the whole time. Kid stuff.† Lissa shook her head. â€Å"Aren't you guys taking this too far?† Mason and I looked at each other. â€Å"No.† She shook her head. â€Å"Well, we're going inside. Try not to kill yourselves.† She and Christian left, arm and arm. I watched them go, then turned back to Mason. â€Å"I'm good for a while longer. You?† â€Å"Absolutely.† We took a lift back up to the top of the hill. When we were just about to head down, Mason pointed. â€Å"Okay, how about this? Hit those moguls there, then jump over that ridge, swing back with a hairpin turn, dodge those trees, and land there.† I followed his finger as he pointed out a jagged path down one of the biggest slopes. I frowned. â€Å"That one really is insane, Mase.† â€Å"Ah,† he said triumphantly. â€Å"She finally cracks.† I glowered. â€Å"She does not.† After another survey of his crazy route, I conceded. â€Å"Okay. Let's do it.† He gestured. â€Å"You first.† I took a deep breath and leapt off. My skis slid smoothly over the snow, and piercing wind blasted into my face. I made the first jump neatly and precisely, but as the next part of the course sped forward, I realized just how dangerous it really was. In that split second, I had a decision to make. If I didn't do it, I'd never hear the end of it from Mason- and I really wanted to show him up. If I did manage it, I could feel pretty secure about my awesomeness. But if I tried and messed up †¦ I could break my neck. Somewhere in my head, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Dimitri's started talking about wise choices and learning when to show restraint. I decided to ignore that voice and went for it. This course was as hard as I'd feared, but I pulled it off flawlessly, one insane move after another. Snow flew up around me as I made each sharp, dangerous turn. When I safely reached bottom, I looked up and saw Mason gesturing wildly. I couldn't make out his expression or words, but I could imagine his cheers. I waved back and waited for him to follow suit. But he didn't. Because when Mason got halfway down, he wasn't able to pull off one of the jumps. His skis caught, and his legs twisted. Down he went. I reached him at about the same time some of the resort staff did. To everyone's relief, Mason hadn't broken his neck or anything else. His ankle did appear to have a nasty sprain, however, which was probably going to limit his skiing for the rest of the trip. One of the instructors monitoring the slopes ran forward, fury all over her face. â€Å"What were you kids thinking?† she exclaimed. She turned on me. â€Å"I couldn't believe it when you did those stupid stunts!† Her glare fixed on Mason next. â€Å"And then you had to go ahead and copy her!† I wanted to argue that it had all been his idea, but blame didn't matter at this point. I was just glad he was all right. But as we all went inside, guilt began to gnaw at me. I had acted irresponsibly. What if he'd been seriously injured? Horrible visions danced through my mind. Mason with a broken leg †¦ a broken neck†¦ What had I been thinking? No one had made me do that course. Mason had suggested it†¦ but I hadn't fought back. Goodness knew I probably could have. I might have had to endure some mockery, but Mason was crazy enough about me that feminine wiles probably would have stopped this madness. I'd gotten caught up in the excitement and the risk- much as I had in kissing Dimitri- not giving enough thought to the consequences because secretly, inside of me, that impulsive desire to be wild still lurked. Mason had it too, and his called to me. That mental Dimitri voice chastised me once more. After Mason was safely returned to the lodge and had ice on his ankle, I carried our equipment back outside toward the storage buildings. When I went back inside, I went through a different doorway than I normally used. This entrance was set behind a huge, open porch with an ornate wooden railing. The porch was built into the side of the mountain and had a breathtaking view of the other peaks and valleys around us- if you felt like standing around long enough in freezing temperatures to admire it. Which most people didn't. I walked up the steps to the porch, stomping snow off my boots as I did. A thick scent, both spicy and sweet, hung in the air. Something about it felt familiar, but before I could identify it, a voice suddenly spoke to me out of the shadows. â€Å"Hey, little dhampir.† Startled, I realized someone was indeed standing on the porch. A guy- a Moroi- leaned against the wall not far from the door. He brought a cigarette up to his mouth, took a long drag, and then dropped it to the floor. He stamped the butt out and crooked me a smile. That was the scent, I realized. Clove cigarettes. Warily, I stopped and crossed my arms as I took him in. He was a little shorter than Dimitri but wasn't as lanky as some Moroi guys ended up looking. A long, charcoal coat- probably made out of some insanely expensive cashmere-wool blend- fit his body exceptionally well, and the leather dress shoes he wore indicated more money still. He had brown hair that looked like it had been purposely styled to appear a little unkempt, and his eyes were either blue or green- I didn't have quite enough light to know for sure. His face was cute, I supposed, and I pegged him to be a couple years older than me. He looked like he'd just come from a dinner party. â€Å"Yeah?† I asked. His eyes swept over my body. I was used to attention from Moroi guys. It just usually wasn't so obvious. And I usually wasn't bundled up in winter clothing and sporting a black eye. He shrugged. â€Å"Just saying hi, that's all.† I waited for more, but all he did was stuff his hands into the coat's pockets. With a shrug of my own, I took a couple steps forward. â€Å"You smell good, you know,† he suddenly said. I stopped walking again and gave him a puzzled look, which only made his sly smile grow a little bigger. â€Å"I†¦ um, what?† â€Å"You smell good,† he repeated. â€Å"Are you joking? I've been sweating all day. I'm disgusting.† I wanted to walk away, but there was something eerily compelling about this guy. Like a train wreck. I didn't find him attractive per se; I was just suddenly interested in talking to him. â€Å"Sweat isn't a bad thing,† he said, leaning his head against the wall and looking upward thoughtfully. â€Å"Some of the best things in life happen while sweating. Yeah, if you get too much of it and it gets old and stale, it turns pretty gross. But on a beautiful woman? Intoxicating. If you could smell things like a vampire does, you'd know what I'm talking about. Most people mess it all up and drown themselves in perfume. Perfume can be good†¦especially if you get one that goes with your chemistry. But you only need a hint. Mix about 20 percent of that with 80 percent of your own perspiration†¦mmm.† He tilted his head to the side and looked at me. â€Å"Dead sexy.† I suddenly remembered Dimitri and his aftershave. Yeah. That had been dead sexy, but I certainly wasn't going to tell this guy about it. â€Å"Well, thanks for the hygiene lesson,† I said. â€Å"But I don't own any perfume, and I'm going to go shower all this hot sweaty action off me. Sorry.† He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to me. He moved only a step closer, but it was enough for me to smell something else on him. Alcohol. I shook my head at the cigarettes, and he tapped one out for himself. â€Å"Bad habit,† I said, watching him light it. â€Å"One of many,† he replied. He inhaled deeply. â€Å"You here with St. Vlad's?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"So you're going to be a guardian when you grow up.† â€Å"Obviously.† He exhaled smoke, and I watched it drift away into the night. Heightened vampire senses or no, it was a wonder he could smell anything around those cloves. â€Å"How long until you grow up?† he asked. â€Å"I might need a guardian.† â€Å"I graduate in the spring. But I'm already spoken for. Sorry.† Surprise flickered in his eyes. â€Å"Yeah? Who is he?† â€Å"She's Vasilisa Dragomir.† â€Å"Ah.† His face split into a huge grin. â€Å"I knew you were trouble as soon as I saw you. You're Janine Hathaway's daughter.† â€Å"I'm Rose Hathaway,† I corrected, not wanting to be defined by my mother. â€Å"Nice to meet you, Rose Hathaway.† He extended a gloved hand to me that I hesitantly took. â€Å"Adrian Ivashkov.† â€Å"And you think I'm trouble,† I muttered. The Ivashkovs were a royal family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful. They were the kind of people who thought they could get anything they wanted and walked over those in their way. No wonder he was so arrogant. He laughed. He had a nice laugh, rich and almost melodious. It made me think of warm caramel, dripping from a spoon. â€Å"Handy, huh? Each of our reputations precedes us.† I shook my head. â€Å"You don't know anything about me. And I only know of your family. I don't know anything about you.† â€Å"Want to?† he asked tauntingly. â€Å"Sorry. I'm not into older guys.† â€Å"I'm twenty-one. Not that much older.† â€Å"I have a boyfriend.† It was a small lie. Mason certainly wasn't my boyfriend yet, but I hoped Adrian would leave me alone if he thought I was taken. â€Å"Funny you didn't mention that right away,† Adrian mused. â€Å"He didn't give you that black eye, did he?† I felt myself blushing, even in the cold. I'd been hoping he wouldn't notice the eye, which was stupid. With his vampire eyes, he'd probably noticed as soon as I stepped onto the porch. â€Å"He wouldn't be alive if he did. I got it during †¦ practice. I mean, I'm training to be a guardian. Our classes are always rough.† â€Å"That's pretty hot,† he said. He dropped this second cigarette to the ground and put it out with his foot. â€Å"Punching me in the eye?† â€Å"Well, no. Of course not. I meant that the idea of getting rough with you is hot. I'm a big fan of full-contact sports.† â€Å"I'm sure you are,† I said dryly. He was arrogant and presumptuous, yet I still couldn't quite force myself to leave. The sound of footsteps behind me made me turn. Mia came around the path and walked up the steps. When she saw us, she stopped suddenly. â€Å"Hey, Mia.† She glanced between the two of us. â€Å"Another guy?† she asked. From her tone, you would have thought I had my own harem of men. Adrian gave me a questioning, amused look. I gritted my teeth and decided not to dignify that with a response. I opted for uncharacteristic politeness. â€Å"Mia, this is Adrian Ivashkov.† Adrian turned on the same charm he'd used on me. He shook her hand. â€Å"Always a pleasure to meet a friend of Rose's, especially a pretty one.† He spoke like he and I had known each other since childhood. â€Å"We aren't friends,† I said. So much for politeness. â€Å"Rose only hangs out with guys and psychopaths,† said Mia. Her voice carried the usual scorn she harbored for me, but there was a look on her face that showed Adrian had clearly caught her interest. â€Å"Well,† he said cheerfully, â€Å"since I'm both a psychopath and a guy, that would explain why we're such good friends.† â€Å"You and I aren't friends either,† I told him. He laughed. â€Å"Always playing hard to get, huh?† â€Å"She's not that hard to get,† said Mia, clearly upset that Adrian was paying more attention to me. â€Å"Just ask half the guys at our school.† â€Å"Yeah,† I retorted, â€Å"and you can ask the other half about Mia. If you can do a favor for her, she'll do lots of favors for you.† When she'd declared war on Lissa and me, Mia had managed to get a couple of guys to tell everyone at school that I'd done some pretty awful things with them. The ironic thing was that she'd gotten them to lie for her by sleeping with them herself. A flicker of embarrassment passed over her face, but she held her ground. â€Å"Well,† she said, â€Å"at least I don't do them for free.† Adrian made some cat noises. â€Å"Are you done?† I asked. â€Å"It's past your bedtime, and the grown-ups would like to talk now.† Mia's youthful looks were a sore point with her, one I frequently enjoyed exploiting. â€Å"Sure,† she said crisply. Her cheeks turned pink, intensifying her porcelain-doll appearance. â€Å"I have better things to do anyway.† She turned toward the door, then paused with her hand resting on it. She glanced toward Adrian. â€Å"Her mom gave her that black eye, you know.† She went inside. The fancy glass doors swung shut behind her. Adrian and I stood there in silence. Finally, he took out the cigarettes again and lit another. â€Å"Your mom?† â€Å"Shut up.† â€Å"You're one of those people who either has soul mates or mortal enemies, aren't you? No in-between. You and Vasilisa are probably like sisters, huh?† â€Å"I guess.† â€Å"How is she?† â€Å"Huh? What do you mean?† He shrugged, and if I didn't know better, I'd have said he was overdoing casualness. â€Å"I don't know. I mean, I know you guys ran away†¦and there was that stuff with her family and Victor Dashkov†¦.† I stiffened at the reference to Victor. â€Å"So?† â€Å"Dunno. Just figured it might be a lot for her to, you know, handle.† I studied him carefully, wondering what he was getting at. There had been a brief leak about Lissa's fragile mental health, but it had been well-contained. Most people had forgotten about it or assumed it was a lie. â€Å"I've got to go.† I decided avoidance was the best tactic just now. â€Å"Are you sure?† He sounded only mildly disappointed. Mostly he seemed as cocky and amused as before. Something about him still intrigued me, but whatever it was, it wasn't enough to combat everything else I was feeling, or to risk discussing Lissa. â€Å"I thought it was time for the grown-ups to talk. Lots of grown-up things I'd like to talk about.† â€Å"It's late, I'm tired, and your cigarettes are giving me a headache,† I growled. â€Å"I suppose that's fair.† He drew in on the cigarette and let out the smoke. â€Å"Some women think they make me look sexy.† â€Å"I think you smoke them so you have something to do while thinking up your next witty line.† He choked on the smoke, caught between inhaling and laughing. â€Å"Rose Hathaway, I can't wait to see you again. If you're this charming while tired and annoyed and this gorgeous while bruised and in ski clothes, you must be devastating at your peak.† â€Å"If by ‘devastating' you mean that you should fear for your life, then yeah. You're right.† I jerked open the door. â€Å"Good night, Adrian.† â€Å"I'll see you soon.† â€Å"Not likely. I told you, I'm not into older guys.† I walked into the lodge. As the door closed, I just barely heard him call behind me, â€Å"Sure, you aren't.†