The Most Dangerous Game And The Cask Of Amontillado

Narcissism is characterized by grandiosity, a lack of empathy for other people, and a need for admiration. Both General Zaroff from â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† by Richard Connell, and Fortunato from â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† by Edgar Allen Poe exhibit these qualities, when General Zaroff killed his prey and when Montresor got revenge on Fortunato. They were too absorbed in themselves to see how their humanity was impaired. In both texts, the authors utilize a violent conflict, an isolated setting, and vivid characterization to illustrate how excessive pride can distort one’s judgement, demonstrating the importance of humility and humaneness. A violent conflict reveals one s personality and values. Their fighting style, self-defense or†¦show more content†¦In both of the passages, the characters intentions to build or justify their pride lead them to compromise or completely disregard on the qualities that make them a human and humane. Setting greatly influences the actions and confidence of characters. In â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†, Montresor lures Fortunato into his family catacombs with the promise of Amontillado and in turn, proving Fortunato the best. â€Å"I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent and stood together on the damp ground of the catacomb of the Montresors† (Poe 375). Later in the story, Montresor is leading Fortunato through the catacombs, deeper and deeper, to where the air is too far from the surface to be filtered. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame (Poe 376). These quotes show the isolation and vastness of the catacombs to which they had descended. Because Montresor has lured Fo rtunato so far from the partying crowds of the carnival to be heard or seen, he can slowly torture Fortunato with starvation and dehydration with no possible way of being caught and punished. Similarly, in The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell writes, Off there to the right-Show MoreRelatedThe Most Dangerous Game By Edgar Allen Poe And The Cask Of Amontillado942 Words   |  4 Pagesyou’re looking for that amazing taste of the rare wine Amontillado, and now he is the last thing you see before they buries you in the darkness of an underground tomb, chained to the wall. These are the two frightening stories â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† by Edgar Allen Poe, who writes about a most despicable man, Montresor, who murders a victim named Fortunato, in the damp, darkness of his own catacombs. The second story, â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† by Richard Connell, creates a different sort of characterRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe And Richard Connells Use Of Suspense765 Wor ds   |  4 Pagesreads books and they get their captured by the suspense the authors use to write their stories. Suspense is a key point for most readers it keeps them reading the book to see what happens next. Both Edgar Allan Poe and Richard Connell are very good authors that use a lot of suspense throughout their short stories. Poe’s â€Å"Cask of Amontillado† and Connell’s â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† are two stories full of suspense. It’s unpredictable, surprising that we can’t figure out what happens next. .Through conflictRead MoreSuspense Short Stories1660 Words   |  7 PagesEveryone has read a book that ended on a cliffhanger. That is called suspense. Suspense is when an author leaves you with questions. There are many different stories that use suspense as an ending such as â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game,† by Richard Connell; â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† by Edgar Allan Poe; and â€Å"The Adventure of the Spe ckled Band,† by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, all of which are in the collection of short stories titled Characters in Conflict. All of these stories have a great use of suspenseRead MoreInfluence Of A Life By Richard Connell And Edgar Allan Poe1600 Words   |  7 PagesThe Influence of a Life Richard Connell and Edgar Allan Poe, two of the most famous authors at the time, are recognize by the different types of literature they wrote. Several of these pieces are still popular today. In many cases the life of the author can impact the different themes, or the techniques they use in their stories. Richard Connell’s and Edgar Allan Poe’s backgrounds reflects in the writing techniques they used to captivate their audience. Biography of Richard Connell The famous writerRead MoreLiterary Techniques : Edgar Allan Poe And Richard Connell1598 Words   |  7 Pagestechnique. Only the most skilled authors have successfully used various literary elements, like suspense and foreshadowing, to create ageless stories and earn a position in the history of literature. Well known authors, such as Edgar Allan Poe and Richard Connell, use specific literary techniques to inspire and horrify young minds through their timeless works of literature. Biography of Edgar A. Poe To start, Edgar Allan Poe suffered through tragedy, poverty, and failure most of his life, all trialsRead MoreMontresor And The Most Dangerous Game Analysis961 Words   |  4 Pagesfriend. It’s devastating. This was the crime committed by a man (or rather monster) named Montresor in the famous Edgar Allan Poe story â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†. Though Montresor’s crime was sinister beyond what any normal person would ever consider, it is nothing compared to General Zaroff’s crimes against humanity in Richard Connell’s â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game†. Now imagine that story’s scenario. You were ready for a fun time alone, but you are suddenly abducted by an unfathomably rich man. Soon,Read MoreMontresor And Zaroff Essay1074 Words   |  5 PagesMontresor, or the author of the story Edgar Allan Poe. Montresor, from the short story of â€Å"the cask of amontillado† is a serial killer who murders people who insult him. In this short tale he murders a man by the name of Fortunato who ends up insulting the wrong person. Another character that would make great friends with Montresor would be General Zaroff, from the short story â€Å"the most dangerous game† by Richard Connell. General Zaroff is a ruthless man who loves to hunt people, not just anyone

Ban the Box Argumentative Essay Free Essays

With America being the land of opportunity, the U. S has presented quite a few disadvantaged Americans’ with not so many opportunities. Especially those people of who have been arrested for a criminal crime. We will write a custom essay sample on Ban the Box Argumentative Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now This also includes freshly released from prison, probation and/or parole. A study in 2012 shows with one in four Americans in the United States today, have been arrested. (Solomon). That same study shows most Americans being arrested at the age of twenty three. This poses dilemmas as for employment breaks. Another disadvantage that comes to play is the initiative filling out the form of employment (The application). On that application for employment; reads a box that states criminal history, arrests previous to applying, also asks you to report any form convictions and the natures of the crimes. That little box tends to be not only discouraging to an applicant trying to better ones selves, but it also prevents reestablishing, and rehabilitating. From whatever it is they undergo. From whatever might lead up to that background. Whether it is drugs addictions or reasons they performed those crimes, such as a way of survival. Thank fully enough that’s where Ban the Box Act comes into play. This is an act, which removes those horrible anxieties and pressures when applying for employment opportunities. Ban the box should be a federal law because it enables people to find recovery in the job market and not return to crime, and it also puts income back into America that could be used for more imperative issues to this country; also disables employers from discriminating against the job seeker; by seeing that box checked on a form of application for employment. Originally originated in California; Ban the box yet is involved in over 43 cities in America as of 2012 reports NELP (National Employment Law Project)(see NELP). Minnesota was the first state to apply this bill. It also narrows employers’ liability for criminal records (NELP). Incentives are now being offered, and insurances to prevent as much liability for employers taking the risk of employing offenders, such as a tax break/credit. Delaware for example is trying to allow a grace period of time hired, and if performance is not acceptable then they may use the criminal history as a termination of employment. Although recently denied by congress in July 2012(BJS. Gov), it should be a federal law nationwide. With prison and or jails being the most highly funded besides Medicare in the country (Katel), it’d definitely lead to less recidivism to institutions which would put the funds to more imperative things; such as children’s education amongst many more federally applicable prospects. With incarceration rates in the United States higher than any other country in the world, and it’s one of those most funded as well (Katel). Besides Medicare the prison system alone in 2008 showed that it sucks up the most state funded money. An astonishing state coverage of $22,000 yearly (Katel). With the United States almost exceeding count of 22 million of Americans’ institutionalized in some kind of jail and/or prison system. As of 2011, (Solomon) each year over 12 million people are admitted to local jails, and more than 700,000 are admitted to state and federal facilities. The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population but almost a quarter of its population is prisoners! (Solomon) About three fourths of a million of those prisoners or inmates will be released from the institution that they are in. Within a three year period, almost more than half of them will return to jail or prison due to committing either new or relevant crimes (Kamel) for ways of survival or violating the community corrections program they were obligated to. These include not just parole, also probation or drug court. The easiest way of violating one of the community programs above is employment. It is not just a suggestion; it’s a requirement to remain to one’s freedom. Which is uncovered challenging, and in this day and time nearly unrealistic! Not only due to today’s economy; also due to that bad choice(s) or a criminal history can make finding employment difficult. NIJ (National Institute of Justice) found that a criminal record reduces the likelihood of a job or offer by over 50%! Solomon) With another study showing that 92% of employers use some sort of background check. With any kind of simple arrest or criminal history (even if it didn’t lead to a conviction. ) that shows quite a problem. So being on a community corrections program and the conditions of the job employment is very discouraging to more than half of those sentenced to these programs. Recidivism is bound to occur for most unfortunately. How to cite Ban the Box Argumentative Essay, Essay examples

A Strategic Analysis of the Brewing Industry in Nigeria free essay sample

However, Competition in the Nigerian beer market is getting fiercer as environmental and economic conditions affect the disposable income of the consumer. Growths in this industry in recent times have been achieved through innovation, market share increase and exploration of new frontiers through exports. With so few options for growth, companies that operate in the industry are under considerable pressure to deliver to their shareholders. Consequently, they must streamline their processes in order to drive real, profitable growth, while ensuring that they effectively meet the demands of both customers and consumers. Guinness Nigeria Plc, the second largest player (by Volume) in the brewery industry in Nigeria has experienced significant growth in recent years in spite of the harsh terrain. This is attributable to the strategy it adopted in addressing the challenges posed by the environment. Their strategy is to continue to leverage on its existing competitive advantages it enjoys with its Stout brand where it has a virtual dominance of the market, promoting and growing all its other brands, while diversifying its product base to cut across all classes, tastes and geographic regions. We will write a custom essay sample on A Strategic Analysis of the Brewing Industry in Nigeria or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is manifested in their efforts at;  ·Maintaining Cost leadership  ·Enhancing Price stabilisation Driving for excellence in product quality and  ·Striving to attain exceptional operational efficiencies. The future of the beer market is however more complex. This is as a result of,  ·The increasing complexities associated with distribution systems,  ·Demographics and changing lifestyles, including an increasingly health conscious population,  ·Fierce competition in the market place,  ·The increasing powers of the distributors and retailers, who can choose to sell only products that gives them maximum profit. The key to managing these challenges, and ultimately to driving profitable growth, lies in adopting and implementing effective strategies and supporting them with a flexible, integrated information system capable of meeting the distinct, and constantly evolving, needs of the beer industry. Guinness Nigeria Plc has built some of these challenges into its strategy, and has also recently acquired the SAP business solution software, that will provide the platform to drive the resolution of some of the key issues outlined above.

Toxic Waste Effects Essays - Waste, Toxic Waste, Chemical Waste

Toxic Waste Effects Canada and all of the developed countries in the world produce some kind of toxic waste(s). It doesn't matter whether it's a chocolate bar wrapper or a canister of highly radioactive plutonium, they're potentially dangerous to us and/or our natural environment unless properly disposed of. Toxic waste is defined as any waste that is hazardous to human health or to our natural environment. According to the Institute of Chemical Waste Management, about 15% of our garbage is classified as toxic, and only 85% (approximately) of that is disposed of properly. The rest is either illegally dumped or accidentally mixed up with non-toxic garbage. That 15% may not seem like a lot, but when you consider the millions of tons of toxic waste that we produce every year, that 15% is enormous. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that we produce one ton of toxic wastes for every single person living in Canada every year. That means that the 15% represents about 4.2 million tons of toxic waste. Toxic wastes which are dumped in improper sites can seep into underground water supplies and contaminate huge areas. If the land that is intoxicated supports plant life, most of the plants and trees will die off. If the area is lived on by humans, it could cause serious illness or death. For example, an area by Niagara Falls (US side) was used during the 1930s by a chemical company to dump it's wastes. Most of them were hazardous, and the containers that held the chemicals later (after the company had gone out of business) began to leak. The chemicals spread for miles killing off plants and causing cancers and deadly diseases in humans. Included in these wastes was a chemical called dioxin... one ounce of it used under the right circumstances was enough to kill off everyone in living in Toronto. One of the most popular places to dump toxic wastes is in the oceans. People figured that the oceans were so huge that garbage would just disappear, and sink to the bottom. Well, they were wrong. Chemicals have turned up in dead whale bodies and dead fish in high enough concentrations to kill people. Medical wastes such as used needles and vials of blood (some carrying the AIDS virus) have washed up along the Atlantic coast and in one of the Great Lakes. Mutated and disfigured fish as well as other water animals have washed up dead or been caught by fishermen. The list of stories goes on, and it's still growing. Canada and the USA have created laws and regulations to try to stop the illegal dumping of toxic wastes and the destruction of our environment. The US has created a multi-billion dollar fund called SuperFund to try and clean up areas that have been contaminated. Canada is also working along those lines. The government has made a prioritized list of recognised hazardous dump sites, and is forcing the company that owns the land to pay for the clean-up of the area. If the company no longer exists, or the exact origin of the waste is unknown, the government will pay for the clean-up. Some toxic wastes can actually been turned into something useful, or in other words 'recycled'. For example, several kinds of metals can be recycled. Lead and silver (both are heavy metals, which are classified as toxic wastes) are both recycled and used again. About ? of the lead used in the country is recycled, and about ? of the silver is recycled. Other toxic wastes can be chemically 'transformed' into new products. This is done by adding chemicals to the waste, which causes it to change into something new. Philadelphia and Chicago transform sewage sludge into fertilizer, which is put to use on farms. A huge pile of toxic waste looms over Canada. This waste is not the product of some Natural disaster like a tidal wave or a hurricane. It is a man-made pile of deadly garbage that threatens our very existance. Who is responsible for this pile? The answer, is 'us'. We are the people who buy the cheap food which was grown with the help of chemical pestisides. We are the people who demand the electricity created by the nuclear power plants. We are our own worst enemies. Pogo, a comic strip character who I learned about last year in english once said... We have met the enemy, and he is us. Science Essays

Words Made Using Periodic Table Element Symbols

Words Made Using Periodic Table Element Symbols Chemical element symbols are one- and two-letter abbreviations for the element names. They are used to make the periodic table and chemical formulas easier to read. You can combine the symbols to make words. Here is  a list of English words made from periodic table  element symbols. There are thousands of words that can be written using these symbols, so experiment to see if you can write your name or fun messages that show your chemistry savvy. Words Made From Element Symbols AcAcIAs AcNe AcTiON AgITaTiON AgNOSTiC AlCoHoLiC AlIMoNY Am AmErICaN AmISH AmPUTaTiON ArGeNTiNa AsPIrIn AtLaNTa AtTeNTiON AuTiSTiC BaNaNa BAlLiSTiC BaPTiSm BArF Be BeArS BeErS BErSErK BODy BONFIRe BUNCH BrUNCH BUTaNe CaN CaNDY CaNNIBAl CHeErS CHINa ClOCK CoOK CoPErNiCuS CuFFLiNKS CuIrAsS CuISiNe CuP CuTeNeSS CYCLiC CYClONe CYNiCs CYSTeINe DYEs DyNAmITe DySFUNCTiONAl FeTiSH FIRe FLaSH FrAcTiOn FrOLiC FrY GeNeSiS HeINOUS HeLiCoPtEr HeReTic HOOK HOOKErS HoSe HYMn HYPErBOLiC I IRaN IReLaNd IrON KNIFe LaDy LaOs LuBrICaTiON LuCIFEr MoCK MoCKEry MoNaCo MoNTaNa MoRe MoTiOn, MoTiON NArC NAtO NeON NePAl NO NON AlCoHoLiC NUN OF OHIO OsMoSiS PaKISTaN PAlEsTiNe PIRaTe PLaY POISON PoLiSH PSYCHIC SCaNdAl ScOTCH SePTic SiCKNeSS SiNGaPoRe SiPHON SNIPEr SOCIOPaTh SPAm SPaN TeAm ThAt TiCK US USe UTaH VAtICaN VIRuS VOICe VOTe WAr WAtEr WAtCH WASH WASP WITh YArN YIKEs YOU YOUTh YUCCa YUCKY YUPPIEs

British Airways have a wonderful Employer Brand

British Airways have a wonderful Employer Brand 1. Introduction of British Airways: British Airways have a wonderful Employer Brand and are one of those companies that virtually everyone wants to work for. Consequently, the difference that we bring is around the intelligence of candidate screening and filtering – helping candidates know if a particular job is appropriate for them, right from the start. And enabling the recruitment team to spot the best people and fast track them through interview to offer, for a rapid contribution to the business. British Airways is the UK’s largest international scheduled airline, flying to over 550 destinations at convenient times, to the best-located airports. Whether customers are in the air or on the ground, British Airways takes pride in providing a full service experience. The British Airways Group consists of British Airways PLC and a number of subsidiary companies including in particular British Airways Holidays Limited and British Airways Travel Shops Limited In an incredi bly tough trading environment we have to focus hard on pulling ourselves through the immediate crisis, while prepare the business for the better economic times. Our aim to fill the drive and competition of the Olympic spirit into the way we work and perform as a team, and it puts our customers at the heart of our culture. The structure of the world’s leading global premium airline focuses on the improving operational performance and financially fit. To achieve the strategic goals we need to measure our HR performance across the business and to make our managers accountable for delivery of our targets. In order to become the leading global premium airline, we need to look at the way we work as well as what we are doing as a business. Reuters reported one source as stating that under the plan ‘British Airways would have a 100% economic interest in a subsidiary that is KLM which will have some ingenious bits and pieces in the way it is structured to satisfy Dutch corporate governance rules and the aero-political implications of foreign ownership.’ Furthermore, BA would own only 49% of voting shares, with the remaining 51% held by Dutch investors and financial institutions brought in as ‘friendly’ shareholders who would hold an ‘A’ share equivalent that had no real economic value. BA meanwhile would own a ‘B’ share which would have no nominal value or voting rights, but which would capture some 99% of the economic interest. It is not certain yet whether the proposed structure would satisfy the requirements of certain bilateral treaties that have ‘ownership and control’ clauses. United Airways, a US carrier, has said that the USA might be willing to waive any objection to KLM ceasing to be Dutch and still maintain its position under a bilateral agreement with the Netherlands if Britain agreed to open the British trans-Atlantic aviation market, according to Reuters. 2. Strategy & Objectives: Pro vide a human capital management (â€Å"HCM†) solution for the recruitment process that mirrors the full service experience enjoyed by passengers. A more sophisticated, cost effective HCM solution to reduce the time attract and retain new employees and improve the candidate experience. Support opportunities at a number of levels – from school leavers to experienced professionals, with positions ranging from engineers to customer services.

S Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

S - Essay Example However, others deem otherwise. The super accumulation of profits by MNEs made them so powerful, to push shifts in the development strategies of governments and international institutions, specifically, international financial institutions (IFIs). Whichever way shows direct inter-relationship between these international organisations and the international business. It is this relationship that concerns this paper. Believing that the main reasons for the two succeeding world wars were due to national economic disparities and trade conflict, and that unrestricted fair trade would bring about equal opportunity for the economic development of nation-states thereby eliminating the reasons for war (Hull, 1948, p. 81), developed nations concurred to John Maynard Keynes’ neo-liberal model of development: a liberal international economic system coupled with government intervention (Stewart, 1987, p. 465). The necessity of an international body to regulate international trade and international business was acknowledged – without a high degree of economic cooperation among powerful nations economic conflict will certainly recur that most likely will heighten into a fiercer military war. (Polard, 1985, p. 8) Within these premises, the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, more known as the Bretton Woods Conference, held on July1-22, 1944 and attended by 730 delegates from 44 allied nations (Halm, 1945, p. 5; ‘Bretton Woods Conference’ 2007, p. 7057), agreed to establish the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) known today as the World Bank (WB) to preclude similar depression experienced in 1930: â€Å"massive unemployment, escalating tariffs, and collapsing commodity prices† (Stewart, 1987, p. 465). Specifically, the IMF was a mutual agreement of the member countries to ensure the stability of currencies by circumventing protective exchange practices and to provide pre-conditioned

Business Ethic (Case study) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Ethic (Case study) - Essay Example The term ethics loosely refers to a distinction that is made between something that is morally good from bad in the way individuals behave. On the other hand, business ethics refers to the values, principles and standards that operate within an organisation and these attempt to make a distinction between business practice that is morally good from bad (Rossouw 2004). From this assertion, it can be noted that the concept of business ethics mainly derives from the value system that is used by a particular organisation in its operations towards the attainment of its set goals. Thus, DesJardins (2006) defines values as â€Å"essential and enduring tenets that help define the company and are not to be compromised for financial gain or short term expediency,† (p. 5). In view of the above definition of ethics, it can however, be noted that at times there is no universal agreement on what constitutes something that is good or bad. Thus, certain incidences arise at times in business wh ere some people are no longer certain whether some actions should be considered as right or wrong (Hiti, 1999). People may look at the same thing but some may view it as morally bad while others will have a different view. This constitutes an ethical dilemma in business when people have conflicting views over a particular issue. In as far as business is concerned, it can be noted that the main objective is to gain profits and at times the issue of ethics is compromised for financial gains. Against this background, the ethical dilemma facing Gerald Smarten, CEO of Kaspa Financial Services is making a decision whether or not to offer assistance through providing the lobby and cafeteria of their building as temporary shelter for the victims of the fatal subway bombing as requested by the police department which is disputed by Ben and others. Ben the general counsel could not imagine the first floor of the Kaspa Tower being transformed into a shelter of bleeding victims and bodies of th e dead citing that the facilities will suffer bad damages and create a bad image to the investors who may pull out their money as there would be chances that they may link the firm to the terrorist attack. The dilemma here is whether they can be humane by offering the requested shelter against the need to safeguard the business interests of the firm with regards to the long term relations with the investors. Of notable concern is that the bombing has taken place very close to their office building and 23 of their employees are missing which entails that they may also have been caught up in the attack. Legally they may say no, but morally, they also ought to show a humane face by offering assistance during an unprecedented crisis. 2. The utilitarian, virtue, deontological and libertarian ethics perspectives will be used in this section to compare and contrast the dilemma(s) that have been identified in the given case study. According to the utilitarian theory, â€Å"the choice that yields the greatest benefit to the majority of people is ethically correct compared to the choice that only benefit the organisation as well as its financial gains,† (Rainbow, 2002). This ethical perspective actually encourages people to work towards the outcomes that will give an advantage to the majority o

Euthanasia vs Palliative Sedation Essay Example for Free

Euthanasia vs Palliative Sedation Essay In this paper the author will discuss the difference between euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and palliative sedation. The author will discuss the legal and ethical side of palliative sedation. Palliative sedation is where they use education to induce or decrease awareness of ones intractable suffering at the end of life (Olsen, Swetz, Mueller, 2010, p. 949). They use this type of sedation when other most common forms of pain control does not relieve the pain the patient is feeling. Not only is it used to treat pain but it is also used to treat delirium, pain, dyspnea, nausea or other physical symptoms (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 950). In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina reviewers concluded that physicians choice of benzodiazepines instead of barbiturates indicated a goal of palliative rather than euthanasia, stating that barbiturates were more deadly. Some institutions used ketamine or propoful in patients condition is refractory to opioids and midazolam. Opiates should not be used for primary purpose of sedation, but rather should be continued adjunctively during palliative sedation for analgesic purpose to prevent opiate withdrawal (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 950). Usually palliative sedation is given in a form of continuous drip but there has been times when palliative sedation has been given intermittently. Palliative sedation should be given in the areas of general care or hospice settings, ICU settings can be too hectic and uncomfortable for families. Cardiac monitoring is no good in achieving the goals of palliative sedation (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 951). Before palliative care is given written consent should be obtained by the patient or the patients family. In the state f Arizona the Arizona State Board of Nursing has develop an advisory opinion of the scope of practice of what palliative sedation is. it states that it is in the scope of practice for the register nurse to administer medications that provide palliative sedation at the end of life (Brewer Ridenour, 2010, p. 1). Arizona State board of Nursing defined palliative sedation as follows: The monitored use of medications intended to provide relief of refractory symptoms but not to intentionally hasten death (Brewer Ridenour, 2010, p. 1). What is a refractory symptom? It is one that cannot be adequately controlled in a tolerable time frame despite aggressive use of usual therapies and seems unlikely to be adequately controlled by further invasive or noninvasive therapies without excessive or intolerable acute or chronic side effects or complications (Brewer Ridenour, 2010, p. ). In Arizonas advisory opinion they rote general requirements that must be followed and they are listed below: * Written Policy and Procedure is maintained by the employer. * Administration of medications must be on the order of a person licensed in this state to prescribe such medications. * The patent has to have sufficient level of nursing care to maintained sedation. * The agency has identified medications allowed for palliative sedation, preferably y an interdisciplinary committee including nurses. * Pre-sedation symptom assessment is performed by the RN Post-sedation symptom assessment and ongoing assessments performed by the RN (Brewer Ridenour, 2010, p. 1) * Only an RN with all of the following criteria are permitted to administer medications for palliative sedation. * Current certification in basic Life Support ( BLS). * The RN must possess sufficient knowledge about the issues surrounding the use of palliative sedation to inform patients, families, and other health care providers in making decisions about its use. (Brewer Ridenour, 2010, p. 1). Palliative sedation is also referred to as terminal sedation. The role of the oncology nurse is to be able to administer the medications used n palliative sedation, be able to teach the patient and family what palliative sedation is and its purpose(Lawson, 2011). She has to be able to assess the patients signs and symptoms to know if the palliative sedation is working . One must understand the role of palliative sedation and its role in management of the patients symptoms in providing care of patients with advanced cancer at the end of life(Lawson, 2011). Euthanasia is defined as the act of a third party, usually physician, ending a patients life in response to severe pain or suffering. Euthanasia can be voluntary meaning that the physician has obtained the patients informed consent, on it can be involuntary meaning without the knowledge of consent of the patient (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 953). Voluntary euthanasia is not legal in most parts of the world but the Netherlands and Belgium are currently the only countries who allow the practice (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 954). Involuntary euthanasia is not legal anywhere. Physician-assisted suicide is the act of the physician writing a prescription for a lethal dose of medication that the patient takes himself to cause death. The main difference here is that the patient has to take the medication himself no other person can give it to him (Olsen et al. , 2010, p. 955). Physician assisted suicide is legal in the states of Oregon and Washington and in a handful of other countries (Olsen et al. , 2010). It can only be done when a patient has a terminal diagnosis and is suffering and wants to control when and how they die. If a physician or family member or a friend would give this legal dose of medicine it would not be considered physician assisted suicide but euthanasia. In considering the legal ramifications of palliative sedation we will discuss beneficence, non malfeasance, doctrine of double effect, and the principle of proportionality. Beneficence refers to the practice of treating individuals in an ethical manor. Not only by respecting their decisions and protecting them from harm, but also by making efforts to secure their wellbeing(Olsen et al. , 2010). The moral obligation of beneficence is paramount to ethics since actions are weighed for their possible good against the cost of possible Harm. Beneficence provides benefits to the patient and balances the benefits against risk and cost(Olsen et al. , 2010). Any treatment embarked upon should be with the intent to benefit and burden or discomfort o the treatment (Lawson, 2011). If the treatment will not benefit the patient it would be sound clinical judgment to withhold the treatment or even withdrawal the treatment after the discussion with the patient, family members and other members of the care team. Such decision-making would be considered both legal and ethically acceptable (Berghs, Dierckx, Gastmans, 2013).

Death: The End or a New Beginning Essays -- Loss of Life, Perspective

What is death? Looking up the meaning in the dictionary would probably read â€Å"the loss of life† or â€Å"ceasing of all vital functions†. As human beings the word could mean one of many things depending on what you believe in. To most of humanity throughout history it meant the end of a life, to others a shortcut to avoid the inevitable, or even what might be the beginning of something new. Unfortunately, today in our modern time our conception of death has changed drastically throughout history. Many like you and me will never truly understand death’s true meaning unless experienced firsthand. â€Å"The subject of death is shrouded in mystery, folklore, and different meanings from every culture on this planet†. Although death should not be something to be feared, for it’s a natural part of life. Nevertheless it shouldn’t be taken lightly; it could happen to any of us at any moment, but it shouldn’t stop you from living your life to the fullest and making every last second count. â€Å"Throughout history, specific cultural contexts have always played a crucial role in how people perceived death. Different societies have held widely diverging views on the â€Å"breath of life† and on â€Å"how the soul left the body† at the time of death.† In the past, death was embraced and was believed to be caused by some sort of divine intervention. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians believed that preparing for their death will allow them to cross into the afterlife. It was popular amongst the people even the Pharos of Egypt would undergo a mummification process and be buried with their belongings to ensure their place in the afterlife. Many other cultures would perform similar or other rituals to hold on to their belief that death wasn’t the end. If they had a strong eno... ...ays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. New York: Doubleday, 1997. Print. Bryan, Susan Montoya. "NM Ruling Will Allow Doctors to Help Patients Die." Santa Fe New Mexican. 14 Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. http://sks.sirs.com. Wood, Daniel B. "When Does Life End? Two Emotional Cases Probe the Complexities." Christian Science Monitor. 19 Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. http://sks.sirs.com "Death." Britannica School. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. . "Death Rite." Britannica School. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. . "Capital Punishment." Britannica School.Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. .

Efficiency Ratios

Efficiency Ratios The efficiency ratio is an indicator of how well Johnson and Johnson (J&J) is run on an organizational wide basis. Efficiency ratios are also defined as asset turnover ratios (Finkler, Kovner & Jones, 2007). The asset turnover ratio measures how productive J&J is in managing all of its assets to generate Sales. This efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing sales by total assets by total revenue. For year 2010, J&J had an asset turnover of 0. 6. Comparing J&J’s asset ratio to the industry, it is the same (Key Financial Ratios: Financial Results – Johnson & Johnson,  2011). Thus J&J is as efficient in the use of its assets as its healthcare competitors in the industry. Revenue to assets = Total revenueTotal assets Total revenue $61,587. 0= 0. 598 or 0. 6 Asset turnover Total assets $102,908. 0| The days' receivables ratio is calculated by dividing the accounts receivable by the revenue per day. The days' receivables will indicate how long, on average, it takes for J&J to collect on its sales to customers on credit. This ratio is also known as the average collection period (ACP). The shorter the collection period, the sooner the organization can pay bills or invest to earn interest (Finkler, Kovner & Jones, 2007). A short ACP is more efficient for the organization. J&J had an ACP of 58 days in 2010. This is a slight increase from previous year’s ACP of 57 days. Revenue per day = Total revenue 365$61,857. 0 = $168. 731 365 days Day’s receivable = Accounts receivable Revenue per day AR $9774. 0 = 57. 92 days DR $168. 731/day| Reference Key financial ratios: financial results – johnson & johnson . (2011). Retrieved from http://moneycentral. msn. com/investor/invsub/results/compare. asp? Page=ManagementEfficiency&symbol=JNJ

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Yet another reason that I loathe the heavenly scum with whom I share this room: today I found that I had offended our intrepid room service waiter, Jesus. How was I to know? When he brought our pizza for dinner, I gave him one of the American silver coins that we received from the airport sweet shop called Cinnabon. He scoffed at me – scoffed – then, thinking better of it, he said, â€Å"Seà ±or, I know you are foreign, so you do not know, but this is a very insulting tip. Better you just sign the room service slip so I get the fee that is added automatically. I tell you this because you have been very kind, and I know you do not mean to offend, but another of the waiters would spit in your food if you should offer him this.† I glared at the angel, who, as usual, was lying on the bed watching television, and for the first time I realized that he did not understand Jesus' language. He did not possess the gift of tongues he had bestowed on me. He spoke Aramaic to me, and he seemed to know Hebrew and enough English to understand television, but of Spanish he understood not a word. I apologized to Jesus and sent him on his way with a promise that I would make it up to him, then I wheeled on the angel. â€Å"You fool, these coins, these dimes, are nearly worthless in this country.† â€Å"What do you mean, they look like the silver dinars we dug up in Jerusalem, they are worth a fortune.† He was right, in a way. After he called me up from the dead I led him to a cemetery in the valley of Ben Hiddon, and there, hidden behind a stone where Judas had put it two thousand years ago, was the blood money – thirty silver dinars. But for a little tarnish, they looked just as they did on the day I had taken them, and they were almost identical to the coin this country calls the dime (except for the image of Tiberius on the dinars, and some other Caesar on the dime). We had taken the dinars to an antiquities dealer in the old city (which looked nearly the same as it did when I'd last walked there, except that the Temple was gone and in its place two great mosques). The merchant gave us twenty thousand dollars in American money for them. It was this money that we had traveled on, and deposited at the hotel desk for our expenses. The angel told me the dimes must have the same worth as the dinars, and I, like a fool, believed him. â€Å"You should have told me,† I said to the angel. â€Å"If I could leave this room I would know myself.† â€Å"You have work to do,† the angel said. Then he leapt to his feet and shouted at the television, â€Å"The wrath of the Lord shall fall upon ye, Stephanos!† â€Å"What in the hell are you shouting at?† The angel wagged a finger at the screen, â€Å"He has exchanged Catherine's baby for its evil twin, which he fathered with her sister while she was in a coma, yet Catherine does not realize his evil deed, as he has had his face changed to impersonate the bank manager who is foreclosing on Catherine's husband's business. If I was not trapped here I would personally drag the fiend straight to hell.† For days now the angel had been watching serial dramas on television, alternately shouting at the screen or bursting into tears. He had stopped reading over my shoulder, so I had just tried to ignore him, but now I realized what was going on. â€Å"It's not real, Raziel.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"It's drama, like the Greeks used to do. They are actors in a play.† â€Å"No, no one could pretend to such evil.† â€Å"That's not all. Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus? Not real. Characters in a play.† â€Å"You lying dog!† â€Å"If you'd ever leave the room and look at how real people talk you'd know that, you yellow-haired cretin. But no, you stay here perched on my shoulder like a trained bird. I am dead two thousand years and even I know better.† (I still need to get a look at that book in the dresser. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could goad the angel into giving me five minutes privacy.) â€Å"You know nothing,† said Raziel. â€Å"I have destroyed whole cities in my time.† â€Å"Sort of makes me wonder if you destroyed the right ones. That'd be embarrassing, huh?† Then an advertisement came on the screen for a magazine that promised to â€Å"fill in all the blanks† and give the real inside story to all of soap operas: Soap Opera Digest. I watched the angel's eyes widen. He grabbed the phone and rang the front desk. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"I need that book.† â€Å"Have them send up Jesus,† I said. â€Å"He'll help you get it.† On our first day of work, Joshua and I were up before dawn. We met near the well and filled the waterskins our fathers had given us, then ate our breakfasts, flatbread and cheese, as we walked together to Sepphoris. The road, although packed dirt most of the way, was smooth and easy to walk. (If Rome saw to anything in its territories, it was the lifelines of its army.) As we walked we watched the rock-strewn hills turn pink under the rising sun, and I saw Joshua shudder as if a chill wind had danced up his spine. â€Å"The glory of God is in everything we see,† he said. â€Å"We must never forget that.† â€Å"I just stepped in camel dung. Tomorrow let's leave after it's light out.† â€Å"I just realized it, that is why the old woman wouldn't live again. I forgot that it wasn't my power that made her arise, it was the Lord's. I brought her back for the wrong reason, out of arrogance, so she died a second time.† â€Å"It squished over the side of my sandal. Well, that's going to smell all day.† â€Å"But perhaps it was because I did not touch her. When I've brought other creatures back to life, I've always touched them.† â€Å"Is there something in the Law about taking your camel off the road to do his business? There should be. If not the Law of Moses, then the Romans should have one. I mean, they won't hesitate to crucify a Jew who rebels, there should be some punishment for messing up their roads. Don't you think? I'm not saying crucifixion, but a good smiting in the mouth or something.† â€Å"But how could I have touched the corpse when it is forbidden by the Law? The mourners would have stopped me.† â€Å"Can we stop for a second so I can scrape off my sandal? Help me find a stick. That pile was as big as my head.† â€Å"You're not listening to me, Biff.† â€Å"I am listening. Look, Joshua, I don't think the Law applies to you. I mean, you're the Messiah, God is supposed to tell you what he wants, isn't he?† â€Å"I ask, but I receive no answer.† â€Å"Look, you're doing fine. Maybe that woman didn't live again because she was stubborn. Old people are that way. You have to throw water on my grandfather to get him up from his nap. Try a young dead person next time.† â€Å"What if I am not really the Messiah?† â€Å"You mean you're not sure? The angel didn't give it away? You think that God might be playing a joke on you? I don't think so. I don't know the Torah as well as you, Joshua, but I don't remember God having a sense of humor.† Finally, a grin. â€Å"He gave me you as a best friend, didn't he?† â€Å"Help me find a stick.† â€Å"Do you think I'll make a good stonemason?† â€Å"Just don't be better at it than I am. That's all I ask.† â€Å"You stink.† â€Å"What have I been saying?† â€Å"You really think Maggie likes me?† â€Å"Are you going to be like this every morning? Because if you are, you can walk to work alone.† The gates of Sepphoris were like a funnel of humanity. Farmers poured out into their fields and groves, craftsmen and builders crowded in, while merchants hawked their wares and beggars moaned at the roadside. Joshua and I stopped outside the gates to marvel and were nearly run down by a man leading a string of donkeys laden with baskets of stone. It wasn't that we had never seen a city before. Jerusalem was fifty times larger than Sepphoris, and we had been there many times for feast days, but Jerusalem was a Jewish city – it was the Jewish city. Sepphoris was the Roman fortress city of Galilee, and as soon as we saw the statue of Venus at the gates we knew that this was something different. I elbowed Joshua in the ribs. â€Å"Graven image.† I had never seen the human form depicted before. â€Å"Sinful,† Joshua said. â€Å"She's naked.† â€Å"Don't look.† â€Å"She's completely naked.† â€Å"It is forbidden. We should go away from here, find your father.† He caught me by my sleeve and dragged me through the gates into the city. â€Å"How can they allow that?† I asked. â€Å"You'd think that our people would tear it down.† â€Å"They did, a band of Zealots. Joseph told me. The Romans caught them and crucified them by this road.† â€Å"You never told me that.† â€Å"Joseph told me not to speak of it.† â€Å"You could see her breasts.† â€Å"Don't think about it.† â€Å"How can I not think about it? I've never seen a breast without a baby attached to it. They're more – more friendly in pairs like that.† â€Å"Which way to where we are supposed to work?† â€Å"My father said to come to the western corner of the city and we would see where the work was being done.† â€Å"Then come along.† He was still dragging me, his head down, stomping along like an angry mule. â€Å"Do you think Maggie's breasts will look like that?† My father had been commissioned to build a house for a wealthy Greek on the western side of the city. When Joshua and I arrived my father was already there, directing the slaves who were hoisting a cut stone into place on the wall. I suppose I expected something different. I suppose I was surprised that anyone, even a slave, would do as my father instructed. The slaves were Nubians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, criminals, debtors, spoils of war, accidents of birth; they were wiry, filthy men, many wearing nothing more than sandals and a loincloth. In another life they might have commanded an army or lived in a palace, but now they sweated in the morning chill, moving stones heavy enough to break a donkey. â€Å"Are these your slaves?† Joshua asked my father. â€Å"Am I a rich man, Joshua? No, these slaves belong to the Romans. The Greek who is building this house has hired them for the construction.† â€Å"Why do they do as you ask? There are so many of them. You are only one man.† My father hung his head. â€Å"I hope that you never see what the lead tips of a Roman whip do to a man's body. All of these men have, and even seeing it has broken their spirit as men. I pray for them every night.† â€Å"I hate the Romans,† I said. â€Å"Do you, little one, do you?† A man's voice from behind. â€Å"Hail, Centurion,† my father said, his eyes going wide. Joshua and I turned to see Justus Gallicus, the centurion from the funeral at Japhia, standing among the slaves. â€Å"Alphaeus, it seems you are raising a litter of Zealots.† My father put his hands on my and Joshua's shoulders. â€Å"This is my son, Levi, and his friend Joshua. They begin their apprenticeship today. Just boys,† he said, by way of apology. Justus approached, looked quickly at me, then stared at Joshua for a long time. â€Å"I know you, boy. I've seen you before.† â€Å"The funeral at Japhia,† I said quickly. I couldn't take my eyes off of the wasp-waisted short sword that hung from the centurion's belt. â€Å"No,† the Roman seemed to be searching his memory. â€Å"Not Japhia. I've seen this face in a picture.† â€Å"That can't be,† my father said. â€Å"We are forbidden by our faith from depicting the human form.† Justus glared at him. â€Å"I am not a stranger to your people's primitive beliefs, Alphaeus. Still, this boy is familiar.† Joshua stared up at the centurion with a completely blank expression. â€Å"You feel for these slaves, boy? You would free them if you could?† Joshua nodded. â€Å"I would. A man's spirit should be his own to give to God.† â€Å"You know, there was a slave about eighty years ago who talked like you. He raised an army of slaves against Rome, beat back two of our armies, took over all the territories south of Rome. It's a story every Roman soldier must learn.† â€Å"Why, what happened?† I asked. â€Å"We crucified him,† Justus said. â€Å"By the side of the road, and his body was eaten by ravens. The lesson we all learn is that nothing can stand against Rome. A lesson you need to learn, boy, along with your stonecutting.† Just then another Roman soldier approached, a legionnaire, not wearing the cape or the helmet crest of the centurion. He said something to Justus in Latin, then looked at Joshua and paused. In rough Aramaic he said, â€Å"Hey, didn't I see that kid on some bread once?† â€Å"Wasn't him,† I said. â€Å"Really? Sure looks like him.† â€Å"Nope, that was another kid on the bread.† â€Å"It was me,† said Joshua. I backhanded him across the forehead, knocking him to the ground. â€Å"No it wasn't. He's insane. Sorry.† The soldier shook his head and hurried off after Justus. I offered a hand to help Joshua up. â€Å"You're going to have to learn to lie.† â€Å"I am? But I feel like I'm here to tell the truth.† â€Å"Yeah, sure, but not now.† I don't exactly know what I expected it would be like working as a stonemason, but I know that in less than a week Joshua was having second thoughts about not becoming a carpenter. Cutting great stones with small iron chisels was very hard work. Who knew? â€Å"Look around, do you see any trees?† Joshua mocked. â€Å"Rocks, Josh, rocks.† â€Å"It's only hard because we don't know what we're doing. It will get easier.† Joshua looked at my father, who was stripped to the waist, chiseling away on a stone the size of a donkey, while a dozen slaves waited to hoist it into place. He was covered with gray dust and streams of sweat drew dark lines between cords of muscle straining in his back and arms. â€Å"Alphaeus,† Joshua called, â€Å"does the work get easier once you know what you are doing?† â€Å"Your lungs grow thick with stone dust and your eyes bleary from the sun and fragments thrown up by the chisel. You pour your lifeblood out into works of stone for Romans who will take your money in taxes to feed soldiers who will nail your people to crosses for wanting to be free. Your back breaks, your bones creak, your wife screeches at you, and your children torment you with open, begging mouths, like greedy baby birds in the nest. You go to bed every night so tired and beaten that you pray to the Lord to send the angel of death to take you in your sleep so you don't have to face another morning. It also has its downside.† â€Å"Thanks,† Joshua said. He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. â€Å"I for one, am excited,† I said. â€Å"I'm ready to cut some stone. Stand back, Josh, my chisel is on fire. Life is stretched out before us like a great bazaar, and I can't wait to taste the sweets to be found there.† Josh tilted his head like a bewildered dog. â€Å"I didn't get that from your father's answer.† â€Å"It's sarcasm, Josh.† â€Å"Sarcasm?† â€Å"It's from the Greek, sarkasmos. To bite the lips. It means that you aren't really saying what you mean, but people will get your point. I invented it, Bartholomew named it.† â€Å"Well, if the village idiot named it, I'm sure it's a good thing.† â€Å"There you go, you got it.† â€Å"Got what?† â€Å"Sarcasm.† â€Å"No, I meant it.† â€Å"Sure you did.† â€Å"Is that sarcasm?† â€Å"Irony, I think.† â€Å"What's the difference?† â€Å"I haven't the slightest idea.† â€Å"So you're being ironic now, right?† â€Å"No, I really don't know.† â€Å"Maybe you should ask the idiot.† â€Å"Now you've got it.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Sarcasm.† â€Å"Biff, are you sure you weren't sent here by the Devil to vex me?† â€Å"Could be. How am I doing so far? You feel vexed?† â€Å"Yep. And my hands hurt from holding the chisel and mallet.† He struck the chisel with his wooden mallet and sprayed us both with stone fragments. â€Å"Maybe God sent me to talk you into being a stonemason so you would hurry up and go be the Messiah.† He struck the chisel again, then spit and sputtered through the fragments that flew. â€Å"I don't know how to be the Messiah.† â€Å"So what, a week ago we didn't know how to be stonemasons and look at us now. It gets easier once you know what you're doing.† â€Å"Are you being ironic again?† â€Å"God, I hope not.† It was two months before we actually saw the Greek who had commissioned my father to build the house. He was a short, soft-looking little man, who wore a robe that was as white as any worn by the Levite priests, with a border of interlocking rectangles woven around the hem in gold. He arrived in a pair of chariots, followed on foot by two body slaves and a half-dozen bodyguards who looked like Phoenicians. I say a pair of chariots because he rode with a driver in the lead chariot, but behind them they pulled a second chariot in which stood the ten-foot-tall marble statue of a naked man. The Greek climbed down from his chariot and went directly to my father. Joshua and I were mixing a batch of mortar at the time and we paused to watch. â€Å"Graven image,† Joshua said. â€Å"Saw it,† I said. â€Å"As graven images go, I like Venus over by the gate better.† â€Å"That statue is not Jewish,† Joshua said. â€Å"Definitely not Jewish,† I said. The statue's manhood, although abundant, was not circumcised. â€Å"Alphaeus,† the Greek said, â€Å"why haven't you set the floor of the gymnasium yet? I've brought this statue to display in the gymnasium, and there's just a hole in the ground instead of a gymnasium.† â€Å"I told you, this ground is not suitable for building. I can't build on sand. I've had the slaves dig down in the sand until they hit bedrock. Now it has to be back-filled in with stone, then pounded.† â€Å"But I want to place my statue,† the Greek whined. â€Å"It's come all the way from Athens.† â€Å"Would you rather your house fall down around your precious statue?† â€Å"Don't talk to me that way, Jew, I am paying you well to build this house.† â€Å"And I am building this house well, which means not on the sand. So store your statue and let me do my work.† â€Å"Well, unload it. You, slaves, help unload my statue.† The Greek was talking to Joshua and me. â€Å"All of you, help unload my statue.† He pointed to the slaves who had been pretending to work since the Greek arrived, but who weren't sure that it was in their best interest to look like a part of a project about which the master seemed displeased. They all looked up with a surprised â€Å"Who, me?† expression on their faces, which I noticed was the same in any language. The slaves moved to the chariot and began untying the ropes that held the statue in place. The Greek looked to us. â€Å"Are you deaf, slaves? Help them!† He stormed back to his chariot and grabbed a whip out of the driver's hand. â€Å"Those are not slaves,† my father said. â€Å"Those are my apprentices.† The Greek wheeled on him. â€Å"And I should care about that? Move, boys! Now!† â€Å"No,† Joshua said. I thought the Greek would explode. He raised the whip as if to strike. â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"He said, no.† I stepped up to Joshua's side. â€Å"My people believe that graven images, statues, are sinful,† my father said, his voice on the edge of panic. â€Å"The boys are only being true to our God.† â€Å"Well, that is a statue of Apollo, a real god, so they will help unload it, as will you, or I'll find another mason to build my house.† â€Å"No,† Joshua repeated. â€Å"We will not.† â€Å"Right, you leprous jar of camel snot,† I said. Joshua looked at me, sort of disgusted. â€Å"Jeez, Biff.† â€Å"Too much?† The Greek screeched and started to swing the whip. The last thing I saw as I covered my face was my father diving toward the Greek. I would take a lash for Joshua, but I didn't want to lose an eye. I braced for the sting that never came. There was a thump, then a twanging sound, and when I uncovered my face, the Greek was lying on his back in the dirt, his white robe covered with dust, his face red with rage. The whip was extended out behind him, and on its tip stood the armored hobnail boot of Gaius Justus Gallicus, the centurion. The Greek rolled in the dirt, ready to vent his ire on whoever had stayed his hand, but when he saw who it was, he went limp and pretended to cough. One of the Greek's bodyguards started to step forward. Justus pointed a finger at the guard. â€Å"Will you stand down, or would you rather feel the foot of the Roman Empire on your neck?† The guard stepped back into line with his companions. The Roman was grinning like a mule eating an apple, not in the least concerned with allowing the Greek to save face. â€Å"So, Castor, am I to gather that you need to conscript more Roman slaves to help build your house? Or is it true what I hear about you Greeks, that whipping young boys is an entertainment for you, not a disciplinary action?† The Greek spit out a mouthful of dust as he climbed to his feet. â€Å"The slaves I have will be sufficient for the task, won't they, Alphaeus?† He turned to my father, his eyes pleading. My father seemed to be caught between two evils, and unable to decide which was the lesser of them. â€Å"Probably,† he said, finally. â€Å"Well, good, then,† Justus said. â€Å"I will expect a bonus payment for the extra work they are doing. Carry on.† Justus walked through the construction site, acting as if every eye was not on him, or not caring, and paused as he passed Joshua and me. â€Å"Leprous jar of camel snot?† he said under his breath. â€Å"Old Hebrew blessing?† I ventured. â€Å"You two should be in the hills with the other Hebrew rebels.† The Roman laughed, tousled our hair, then walked away. The sunset was turning the hillsides pink as we walked home to Nazareth that evening. In addition to being almost exhausted from the work, Joshua seemed vexed by the events of the day. â€Å"Did you know that – about not being able to build on sand?† he asked. â€Å"Of course, my father's been talking about it for a long time. You can build on sand, but what you build will fall down.† Joshua nodded thoughtfully. â€Å"What about soil? Dirt? Is it okay to build on that?† â€Å"Rock is best, but I suppose hard dirt is good.† â€Å"I need to remember that.† We seldom saw Maggie in those days after we began working with my father. I found myself looking forward to the Sabbath, when we would go to the synagogue and I would mill around outside, among the women, while the men were inside listening to the reading of the Torah or the arguments of the Pharisees. It was one of the few times I could talk to Maggie without Joshua around, for though he resented the Pharisees even then, he knew he could learn from them, so he spent the Sabbath listening to their teachings. I still wonder if this time I stole with Maggie somehow represented a disloyalty to Joshua, but later, when I asked him about it, he said, â€Å"God is willing to forgive you the sin that you carry for being a child of man, but you must forgive yourself for having once been a child.† â€Å"I suppose that's right.† â€Å"Of course it's right, I'm the Son of God, you dolt. Besides, Maggie always wanted to talk about me anyway, didn't she?† â€Å"Not always,† I lied. On the Sabbath before the murder, I found Maggie outside the synagogue, sitting by herself under a date palm tree. I shuffled up to her to talk, but kept looking at my feet. I knew that if I looked into her eyes I would forget what I was talking about, so I only looked at her in brief takes, the way a man will glance up at the sun on a sweltering day to confirm the source of the heat. â€Å"Where's Joshua?† were the first words out of her mouth, of course. â€Å"Studying with the men.† She seemed disappointed for a moment, but then brightened. â€Å"How is your work?† â€Å"Hard, I like playing better.† â€Å"What is Sepphoris like? Is it like Jerusalem?† â€Å"No, it's smaller. But there are a lot of Romans there.† She'd seen Romans. I needed something to impress her. â€Å"And there are graven images – statues of people.† Maggie covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. â€Å"Statues, really? I would love to see them.† â€Å"Then come with us, we are leaving tomorrow very early, before anyone is awake.† â€Å"I couldn't. Where would I tell my mother I was going?† â€Å"Tell her that you are going to Sepphoris with the Messiah and his pal.† Her eyes went wide and I looked away quickly, before I was caught in their spell. â€Å"You shouldn't talk that way, Biff.† â€Å"I saw the angel.† â€Å"You said yourself that we shouldn't say it.† â€Å"I was only joking. Tell your mother that I told you about a beehive that I found and that you want to go find some honey while the bees are still groggy from the morning cold. It's a full moon tonight, so you'll be able to see. She just might believe you.† â€Å"She might, but she'll know I was lying when I don't bring home any honey.† â€Å"Tell her it was a hornets' nest. She thinks Josh and I are stupid anyway, doesn't she?† â€Å"She thinks that Joshua is touched in the head, but you, yes, she thinks you're stupid.† â€Å"You see, my plan is working. For it is written that ‘if the wise man always appears stupid, his failures do not disappoint, and his success gives pleasant surprise.'† Maggie smacked me on the leg. â€Å"That is not written.† â€Å"Sure it is, Imbeciles three, verse seven.† â€Å"There is no book of Imbeciles.† â€Å"Drudges five-four?† â€Å"You're making that up.† â€Å"Come with us, you can be back to Nazareth before it's time to fetch the morning water.† â€Å"Why so early? What are you two up to?† â€Å"We're going to circumcise Apollo.† She didn't say anything, she just looked at me, as if she would see â€Å"Liar† written across my forehead in fire. â€Å"It wasn't my idea,† I said. â€Å"It was Joshua's.† â€Å"I'll go then,† she said.

Skoda UKs management Essay Example

Skoda UKs management Essay Example Skoda UKs management Essay Skoda UKs management Essay This case study focuses on how Skoda UKs management built on all the areas of the strategic audit. The outcome of the SWOT analysis was a strategy for effective competition in the car industry. The audit provided a summary of the businesss overall strategic position by using a SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym which stands for: * Strengths the internal elements of the business that contribute to improvement and growth * Weaknesses the attributes that will hinder a business or make it vulnerable to failure Opportunities the external conditions that could enable future growth * Threats the external factors which could negatively affect the business. INTRODUCTION Skoda is a global brand offering a range of products in a highly competitive and fragmented market. The company must respond positively to internal and external issues to avoid losing sales and market share. A SWOT analysis brings order and structure to otherwise random information. The SWOT model helps managers to look int ernally as well as externally. The information derived from the analysis gives direction to the strategy.It highlights the key internal weaknesses in a business, it focuses on strengths and it alerts managers to opportunities and threats. Skoda was able to identify where it had strengths to compete. The structured review of internal and external factors helped transform Skoda UKs strategic direction. The case study shows how Skoda UK transformed its brand image in the eyes of potential customers and build its competitive edge over rivals. By developing a marketing strategy playing on clearly identified strengths of customer happiness, Skoda was able to overcome weaknesses.It turned its previously defensive position of the brand to a positive customer-focused experience. The various awards Skoda has won demonstrate how its communications are reaching customers. Improved sales show that Skoda UKs new strategy has delivered benefits. In 1895 in Czechoslovakia, two keen cyclists, Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, designed and produced their own bicycle. Their business became Skoda in 1925. Skoda went on to manufacture cycles, cars, farm ploughs and airplanes in Eastern Europe. Skoda overcame hard times over the next 65 years. These included war, economic depression and political change.By 1990 the Czech management of Skoda was looking for a strong foreign partner. Volkswagen AG (VAG) was chosen because of its reputation for strength, quality and reliability. It is the largest car manufacturer in Europe providing an average of more than five million cars a year giving it a 12% share of the world car market. Volkswagen AG comprises the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti brands. Each brand has its own specific character and is independent in the market. Skoda UK sells Skoda cars through its network of independent franchised dealers.To improve its performance in the competitive car market, Skoda UK†s m anagement needed to assess its brand positioning. Brand positioning means establishing a distinctive image for the brand compared to competing brands. Only then could it grow from being a small player. To aid its decision-making, Skoda UK obtained market research data from internal and external strategic audits. This enabled it to take advantage of new opportunities and respond to threats. To work on the strengths, Skoda UK carried out research. It asked customers directly for their opinions about its cars.It also used reliable independent surveys that tested customers feelings. For example, the annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey asks owners what they feel about cars they have owned for at least six months. JD Power surveys almost 20,000 car owners using detailed questionnaires. Skoda has been in the top five manufacturers in this survey for the past 13 years. In Top Gears 2007 customer satisfaction survey, 56,000 viewers gave their opinions on 152 models and voted Skoda t he number 1 car maker. Skodas Octavia model has also won the 2008  Auto Express  Driver Power Best Car.Skoda attributes these results to the business concentrating on owner experience rather than on sales. It has considered the human touch from design through to sale. Skoda knows that 98% of its drivers would recommend Skoda to a friend. This is a clearly identifiable and quantifiable strength. Skoda uses this to guide its future strategic development and marketing of its brand image. Strategic management guides a business so that it can compete and grow in its market. Skoda adopted a strategy focused on building cars that their owners would enjoy. This is different from simply maximizing sales of a product.As a result, Skodas biggest strength was the satisfaction of its customers. This means the brand is associated with a quality product and happy customers. Skoda UKs analysis showed that in order to grow it needed to address key questions about the brand position. Skoda has on ly 1. 7% market share. This made it a very small player in the market for cars. The main issue it needed to address was: how did Skoda fit into this highly competitive, fragmented market? Perceptions of the brand This weakness was partly due to out-dated perceptions of the brand. These related to Skodas eastern European origins.In the past the cars had an image of poor vehicle quality, design, assembly and materials. Crucially, this poor perception also affected Skoda owners. For many people, car ownership is all about image. If you are a Skoda driver, what do other people think? From 1999 onwards, under Volkswagen AG ownership, Skoda changed this negative image. Skoda cars were no longer seen as low-budget or low quality. However, a brand health check in 2006 showed that Skoda still had a weak and neutral image in the mid-market range it occupies, compared to other players in this area, for example, Ford, Peugeot and Renault.This meant that, whilst the brand no longer had a poor im age, it did not have a strong appeal either. - Change of direction This understanding showed Skoda in which direction it needed to go. It needed to stop being defensive in promotional campaigns. The company had sought to correct old perceptions and demonstrate what Skoda cars were not. It realized it was now time to say what the brand does stand for. The marketing message for the change was simple: Skoda owners were known to be happy and contented with their cars.The car-buying public and the car industry as a whole needed convincing that Skoda cars were great to own and drive. Opportunities occur in the external environment of a business. These include for example, gaps in the market for new products or services. In analyzing the external market, Skoda noted that its competitors marketing approaches focused on the product itself. Many brands place emphasis on the machine and the driving experience: * Audi emphasizes the technology through its strapline, Vorsprung Durch Technik (adv antage through technology). * BMW promotes the ultimate driving machine.Skoda UK discovered that its customers loved their cars more than owners of competitor brands, such as Renault or Ford. - Differentiation Information from the SWOT analysis helped Skoda to differentiate its product range. Having a complete understanding of the brands weaknesses allowed it to develop a strategy to strengthen the brand and take advantage of the opportunities in the market. It focused on its existing strengths and provided cars focused on the customer experience. The focus on happy Skoda customers is an opportunity.It enables Skoda to differentiate the Skoda brand to make it stand out from the competition. This is Skodas unique selling proposition (USP) in the motor industry. Threats come from outside of a business. These involve for example, a competitor launching cheaper products. A careful analysis of the nature, source and likelihood of these threats is a key part of the SWOT process. The UK ca r market includes 50 different car makers selling 200 models. Within these there are over 2,000 model derivatives. Skoda UK needed to ensure that its messages were powerful enough for customers to hear within such a crowded and competitive environment.If not, potential buyers would overlook Skoda. This posed the threat of a further loss of market share. Skoda needed a strong product range to compete in the UK and globally In the UK the Skoda brand is represented by seven different cars. Each one is designed to appeal to different market segments. For example: * Skoda Fabia is sold as a basic but quality city car * Skoda Superb offers a more luxurious, up-market appeal * Skoda Octavia Estate provides a family with a fun drive but also a great big boot. Pricing reflects the competitive nature of Skodas market. Each model range s priced to appeal to different groups within the mainstream car market. The combination of a clear range with competitive pricing has overcome the threat of th e crowded market. Environmental constraints The following example illustrates how Skoda responded to another of its threats, namely, the need to respond to EU legal and environmental regulations. Skoda responded by designing products that are environmentally friendly at every stage of their life cycle. For example:- * Recycling as much as possible. Skoda parts are marked for quick and easy identification when the car is taken apart. Using the latest, most environmentally-friendly manufacturing technologies and facilities available. For instance, painting areas to protect against corrosion use lead-free, water based colours. * Designing processes to cut fuel consumption and emissions in petrol and diesel engines. These use lighter parts making vehicles as aerodynamic as possible to use less energy. * Using technology to design cars with lower noise levels and improved sound quality. Benefits of the analysis Skoda UKs analysis answered some key questions. It discovered that: * Skoda c ar owners were happy about owning a Skoda The brand was no longer seen as a poorer version of competitors cars. However: * the brand was still very much within a niche market * A change in public perception was vital for Skoda to compete and increase its market share of the mainstream car market. The challenge was how to build on this and develop the brand so that it was viewed positively. It required a whole new marketing strategy. - Unique selling proposition Skoda UK has responded with a new marketing strategy based on the confident slogan, the manufacturer of happy drivers.The campaigns promotional activities support the new brand position. The key messages for the campaign focus on the happy customer experience and appeal at an emotional rather than a practical level. The campaign includes: * The Fabia Cake TV advertisement. This showed that the car was full of lovely stuff with the happy music (Favorite things) in the background. * An improved and redesigned website which is e asy and fun to use. This is to appeal to a young audience. It embodies the message experience the happiness of Skoda online.Customers are able to book test drives and order brochures online. The result is that potential customers will feel a Skoda is not only a reliable and sensible car to own, it is also lovely to own. Analyzing the external opportunities and threats allows Skoda UK to pinpoint precisely how it should target its marketing messages. No other market player has driver happiness as its USP. By building on the understanding derived from the SWOT, Skoda UK has given new impetus to its campaign. At the same time, the campaign has addressed the threat of external competition by setting Skoda apart from its rivals.

Why Black and Minority Ethnics seem not to accept mainstream Essay

Why Black and Minority Ethnics seem not to accept mainstream opportunities like The Princes Trust 12 week development Programme - Essay Example llege students in the UK is the Princes Trust 12 week programme which â€Å"features confidence building, team events, challenges, outdoor activities and fundraising events† (The Birmingham Post, 2006). The program intends to give students from minority communities a chance to gain practical skills that would make a real difference to their community. But in spite of this promise, the statistics pertaining to student enrolment into this programme paints a disappointing picture. The rest of this essay will delve deeper into the underlying causes for this situation. Firstly, despite several flaws inherent in the 12-Week personal development programme, it has had its share of success as well. For instance, a team of young students participating in a Princes Trust 12-week programme run at Bournville College â€Å"chose to revamp the neglected memorial garden at Witton Cemetery. The memorial garden was created after the Second World War as a tribute to civilians who had lost their lives and was in desperate need of a facelift. Countless visitors have come to pay their respects since the gardens restitution, with its upkeep actively undertaken by many local residents.† (The Birmingham Post, 2006) Talking on the occasion of the team’s success, Steve Perkins of the Prince’s Trust noted that â€Å"this team is a great example of how a diverse group of people can learn to look at things in an entirely new way. The enthusiasm and commitment they put into this project after initially showing signs of apathy, has been exceptional." (Coventry Evening Telegraph, 2008) The story of one particular team member, Danny McErlean, who comes from an ethnic minority background, is quite exceptional. Having left school in his early teens and later running away from his home, Danny found refuge in youth hostels for a while. Throughout these years he was also involved in petty offences and drug abuse. It was in this troubled condition that the 12-Week programme offer came his way.

Economics of Industry - Market structure in the aircraft manufacturing Research Paper

Economics of Industry - Market structure in the aircraft manufacturing industry - Research Paper Example (Boeing, 2011) Boeing, then expanded by acquiring Vertol Aircraft Corporation in 1960. (The Boeing Company, 2011) In 1996, Boeing took over  Rockwell’s aerospace and defense units. Then in August 1997, Boeing merged with  McDonnell Douglas. This merger allowed Boeing's leadership to increase as it joined with the line of Douglas airplanes. (The Boeing Company, 2011) The tax breaks given to Boeing by the US government have also helped in the expansion of the firm. It is believed that subsidies for the defense wing of Boeing have also helped with the commercial side of aircraft manufacturing. (Irwin & Pavcnik, 2003) In 2002, Boeing’s market share was 54%, however it is now struggling to maintain it. (Taylor & tillman, 2002) Airbus Airbus  is a  subsidiary of  EADS, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company. (Airbus, 2011) It was a government initiative by France, Germany and UK in 1967. It started off as a  consortium  of aerospace manufacturers,  Airb us Industry. The combination of the European defense and aerospace companies in 2000 led to a company  being established in 2001. BAE Systems and EADS transferred their assets to Airbus  SAS, for ownership in that company. EADS  owned 80% and  BAE Systems  20%. (BBC News, 2000) In October 2006, BAE sold its ownership to EADS. Airbus Industry was officially recognized in December 1970. It is believed that Airbus has only been successful due to protection used by the European countries and a large launch aid. WTO reached a decision in August 2010 and May 2011 that Airbus had indeed received unacceptable government subsidies from several European countries which resulted in lower sales of Boeing aircrafts. (New York Times, 2011) Airbus’ market share has been steadily increasing sine its share of 46% in 2002. (Taylor & tillman, 2002) Product Development Boeing Boeing has approximately 12,000 commercial aircrafts in use globally, which constitutes around 75 percent of th e world fleet. Through Boeing Training & Flight Services, it trains maintenance and flight staff in the 100-seat-and-above airliner market. Boeing has over 159000 employees, working in 71 countries (The telegraph, 2011). Through this diverse workforce and extensive training, the company’s product development ability has increased. In aircraft manufacturing, focus has always been on developing low cost, high quality aircrafts. Hence, approximately half of the current commercial aircrafts will be replaced in the next 20 years due to technological obsolescence and inefficiencies. This will increase the demand for new ones. Approximately 1,362 commercial aircraft orders were placed in 2010, greater than twice the amount placed in 2009. (Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, 2011) Emphasis is also on fuel efficient and environmentally friendly productions. Boeing, together with Air New Zealand has undertaken research on sustainable alternatives to conventional fuel. (Boeing, 2011) Exten sive and expensive research allows better versions of existing aircrafts to be developed and new aircrafts to be launched in this oligopolistic market. Boeing has also resorted to outsourcing its production to Japanese suppliers including  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries  and  Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The use of advanced technology has allowed Boeing to enhance its production capabilities. (Reuters, 2011) Airbus An internal air transportation system is used to airlift