Economic Systems Essay

The world’s economic systems fall into one of four main categories: Traditional economy Capitalism economy Socialism economy Mixed economy However, there are unlimited variations of each type.  An economic system must define what to produce, how to produce it and for whom to produce it. Depending on the products produced and the environment, certain economic strategies will be more successful than others â€Å"Traditional† A traditional economic system is one in which each new generation retains the economic position of its parents and grandparents. Traditional economies rely on the historic success of social customs. South America, Asia and Africa support some traditional economies of thriving agricultural villages. Tradition decides what an individual does for his living, so industry, clothing and shelter are the same as in previous generations One of the few advantages existing in a traditional economy is that the roles of individuals are clearly defined. Every member of the society knows exactly what they are to do and most don’t have any complaints about it. There are also many disadvantages to this type of society. These societies are often very slow to change and when new technologies are introduced, these ideas and techniques are discouraged. â€Å"Capitalism† Market economies are based on consumers and their buying decisions rather than government control. Market trends and product popularity generate what businesses produce. The producers choose how to make products based on the most economically sound decision: that might mean machine labor to save costs or human labor for specific skills. The buyers decide who gets which products by what they are willing to pay for what they want. Complete market economies do not utilize price controls or subsidies and prefer less regulation of industry and production. Market decisions rely on supply and demand for pricing. Government’s role is to create a stable economy for the market to operate properly. The market system relies on many factors to ensure its success. The profit motive or incentive for a financial reward for enterprise stimulates production. Information regarding available products and services needs to be available to producers and consumers. Producers use the information to set accurate prices and procure supplies at the lowest cost. Price relates directly to the costs and benefits of product creation and use and required profit. In recent years, market economies have been coming more and more popular. Three major examples of market economies are The United States, Japan, and France. There are many advantages to a market economy: One major advantage is that market economies can adjust to change easily. If there is a demand for one thing, companies have the ability to change what they produce instead of having to go through too much government protocol first. Rational self inte rest in market economies are also encouraged. People have the ability to make as much money as they can and do what is in their best interest. Another positive to market economies is that the government tries to stay out of the way of businesses. Although the government sets certain standards businesses must follow, for the most part businesses can do as they please, allowing them to produce what they want, how they want. A fourth advantage to the market economy is that there is a great variety of goods and services for consumers. If there is a demand for a good or service, the demand will almost always be met in a market econom Although there are a lot of positives to market economies, there are also many negatives that go along with it too. One major problem with this type of economy is that it doesn’t always provide the basic needs to everyone in the society. The weak, sick, disabled, and old sometimes have trouble providing for themselves and often slip into poverty. Another problem is that it becomes hard for a government with so many private businesses to provide adequate defense, education, and health care to its people. A third disadvantage to this type of economy is that there is uncertainty in the business world. One company could easily be forced out of business causing all of its employees to become unemployed and lose their means of income. The final major disadvantage is that occasionally there are market failures. This can cause some companies to become way to powerful and become a  monopoly. If the government doesn’t step in, the monopoly can take advantage of the consumers and charge ridiculously high prices â€Å"Socialism† In a command economy, the government controls all economic activity. One example of a command economy is communism.  In a government-directed economy, the market plays little to no role in production decisions. Command economies are less flexible than market economies and react slower to changes in consumer purchasing patterns and fluctuations in supply and demand Command economies have many advantages: One advantage is that equality is focused on. The government tries to eliminate all private property and distribute its good equally. If done correctly no one is in poverty and no one is wealthier than another. Social services are also emphasized in this type of economy. The government will provide equal health care, education opportunities, and make sure all people are fed. A third advantage to this type of economy is that it is capable of rapid change for major problems. The government owns the companies, so if production needs need to be shifted into a different area, the governm ent is capable of doing it rather quickly. A final major advantage of command economies is that they are very stable. Command economies will never have sudden depressions. Although command economies may seem like a utopian form of economics, they also have many disadvantages. In command economies there is very little freedom. The individual usually doesn’t have the opportunity to decide what they want to do for a career, and they have no control over the goods they receive. Another major problem is that there is little reason for innovations, hard work, or quality of the work. Since no one makes more money than everyone else, the people feel like there is no reason to work hard. A third disadvantage is that there is little focus on consumer wants. Finally, when it comes to minor day-to-day changes, the government has a hard time cooping with them. â€Å"Mixed Economy† A mixed economy combines qualities of market, command, and/or traditional systems into one. In many countries where neither the government nor the business entities can maintain the economy alone, both sectors are integral  to economic success. Certain resources are allocated through the market and others through the state. Theoretically, this system should be able to combine the best policies of both systems, but in practice the proportion government controls and response to market forces varies.

Eating Disorders Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the three main types of eating disorders. Central Idea: To inform my audience about anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Introduction: Two years ago, I was hit with the news that my mentor was leaving to go to Remuda Ranch, which I learned was a rehabilitation center for women struggling with eating or anxiety disorders. This was extremely hard for me to hear because she is like my big sister and I care a lot about her and hated that she had to go through something like this. After she left, I did a lot of research on eating disorders. I did this just so I would have a better understanding on what she was going through, and also to find out how I could help her, things I could say or do. So today I am going to share with you about three different types of eating disorders. Body: (Transition: First, I am going to talk about Anorexia Nervosa.) I. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, they define anorexia by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. A. Anorexia is a mental health condition and is rated one of the highest death rates. 1. Anorexia is one of the more frequent psychiatric diagnoses in young women. 2. Around 90-95% of individuals who suffer from anorexia are female. 3. Anywhere from 5-20% of people who suffer from anorexia will die. B. Although those who fight anorexia have a list of different symptoms, there are four key ones to look for. 1. They refuse to maintain body weight at a minimal normal weight that is healthy for their body shape, age, and height. 2. The second one is that they have a deep fear of weight gain. 3. Also, they have a severe concern with their body weight and shape. 4. Finally, in women, a loss of menstrual periods will occur. (Transition:  Next, I am going to talk about Bulimia.) II. Based off of the website, nationaleatingdisorder.com, Bulimia is a disorder where a person indulges in habitual binges and then tries to avert any sort of weight gain by vomiting, taking pills, fasting, laxatives, or excessive exercising. A. Bulimia is extremely dangerous because it is one of the harder eating disorders to detect in individuals. 1. More commonly, it is preceded by dieting behavior. 2. Those who are bulimic are usually at an average or normal weight. B. Sufferers of bulimia compare their self-worth too heavily on their size and weight. 1. This mindset usually leads to constant feelings of isolation, harmful thoughts, and extreme low self-esteem. 2. Another thing is that more often than not, they recognize that their behaviors and actions are not normal, which sets in an extra feeling of guilt and loneliness. C. Again, there are a ton of symptoms that follow up with having bulimia, but there are four main ones that usually reside in most bulimics. 1. Bulimics repeatedly go through the cycle of bingeing and purging. 2. When they binge, they eat way beyond the feeling of being comfortably full. 3. Most times, bingeing will cause them to feel guilty which points them in the direction of dieting. 4. Last thing is again, they have extreme concern with their body and weight, in other words really low self-esteem and insecurity issues. (Transition: Finally, I am going to end with Binge eating.) III. Binge eating, also known as compulsive eating, a lot of the time gets confused with Bulimia. Although they are a lot alike, they have one major difference that sets them apart. People who endure binge eating do not purge. A. Binge eating is defined by uncontrollable, excessive eating. 1. Binge eaters often use food to replace a void, in other words, they use it as a way to block out feelings, emotions, and daily stresses. 2. After a binge, the person feels a enormous amount of guilt and shame. 3. Following the feelings of guilt and shame often leads to fasts and dieting. B. A binge eating disorder isn’t caused by just one factor, but many. A couple examples of these factors could be a person’s genetics, life experiences, and emotions. 1. Recent research has shown that binge eating, along with other eating disorders, is dealing with  biological abnormalities. The website www.mirror-mirro.com, says that one cause of binge eating is related to the hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain that controls the appetite. It is said that the hypothalamus sends false signals to the brain in regards to hunger. 2. A lot of the time, emotional feelings of depression, is connected to binge eating. Statistics show that half of those struggling with binge eating are depressed or have been, usually dealing with a monumental moment which changed their life. 3. Life changing experiences, like being sexually or emotionally abused, are a huge factor in anyone’s life who suffers from any kind of an eating disorder. Family plays a huge role, whether being extremely critical, especially regarding the body, can lead to being a victim of an eating disorder later in life. IV. Conclusion Whether it be anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, eight million people in the United States alone, battle with an eating disorder. This number is disturbingly high and continues to increase each year. Although all different: anorexics fight starvation, bulimics wrestle with bingeing and purging, and binge eaters battle with bingeing and fasting. It is important to realize that eating disorders aren’t all about poor self-images and low self esteem, but dealing with many other factors like genetic make-up and the need for control. Works Cited Eating Disorder Information; Bulimia, Anorexia, Binge/Purge & Compulsive Overeating. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. . National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. . National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. .

An Analysis of Google’s Internal Management

An analysis of Google's internal management and its possible application to other industries. Abstract Google is a company which is well known for providing a unique work environment, welfare system and flat structure for employees. It has also been awarded â€Å"The best company for work† many times. We are going to do the research on their internal management, and then define their key factors of success; moreover applying Google's management to different industry. Keywords: Google, internal management, welfare system, work environment, different industry. List of figures Figure   Introduction In a company, the internal management is the most important factor. In addition, if a company has a good internal management, employees will not only enhance their effectiveness but also keep those employees with good performance to stay in the company and reduce errors.Consequently, my topic is to investigate how the internal management encourages employees to be creative and effect ive. I am going to do the research on Google, which is a well-known search engine. Google's internal management is also well known to the whole world for its work environment, welfare system and company culture. I have chosen this topic for my research report, on the one hand, I want to be a successful leader and I am going to study business management for my master degree.On the other hand, my father and his friends are all successful businessmen, who always teach me some practical and professional knowledge about management and share their personal experiences to me. Furthermore, they once suggested me studying business management, which may be useful in the future, for the reason that if you want to organize a company profitably and prosperously, you must master in good management skills. As a result, I am Interested in business management. I strongly believe that a good management method could affect the whole enterprise.Every year, Fortune Magazine sorts out a list, named †Å"Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work for†. In preparing the list, the magazine relies on two criteria: the culture and the policies of each company as well as the opinions of the company's own employees. Google has topped the Fortune's list for many times. It can be proven that Google's internal management has done very well. Thus, the following research objectives were set: 1. To analyse Google's internal management (SWOT). 2. To estimate how well Google's internal management could be applied to different industries. 2. Literature Review 2. Work environment A good work environment could influence employees very much. For example, to reduce stress, Google's employees can play volleyball, football, video games, table tennis or even roller hockey on the campus, which makes employees feel like they are still at the college campus rather than being in the office. (Kuntze, R. and Matulich, E. 2010). Another remarkable example is that respecting the employees who are from different cultures. Google currently has 14 offices in different states and more than 40 countries worldwide; it must have many workers from different nationalities.In different offices have various local customs of decoration and interior decoration (Google). 2. 2 Welfare system Google provides its employees with a wide range of benefits to make sure that the employees are satisfied and loyal to the company. These benefits include: free food, onsite childcare, healthcare services, transportation services, laundry and dry cleaning services, sport facilities, pets allowed, 20% creative time program, environmentalism, numerous holiday and leave days, and other services (Kuntze, R. and Matulich, E. 2010). The other companies have never executed these benefits mentioned above.In addition, their welfare system has few innovative rules, â€Å"The company has a policy of unlimited sick leave, and only expects employees to work 70% of the time. It factors in opportunities for staff to think of ways to work better, and allows impromptu sport during the work day. † (Logan, 2008:3). 2. 3 Company culture Although Google is a Large-scale company, their leader tries to maintain their atmosphere feels like a small company without hierarchy, employees can say whatever they want to say, they can bring up all of their ideas or thinking to their manager whenever they want. Google). Furthermore, Google attempts to keep the good employees in the company and have a good relationship between leaders and employees. Every Friday afternoon the founders gather all employees into an open area for a TGIF meeting. (Raphael: 2003). 3. Methodology A SWOT analysis is a well known management tool, one of which could very quickly to find strengths and weaknesses. It could apply to all kinds of research. That is the reason why SWOT is one of the most common used management tools recently. Strengths |Weaknesses | | | | |Opportunities |Threats | | | | Figure 1: SWOT analysis table. In this research d oes not need to calculate the data. SWOT analysis is one of suitable management tools in this research, it is also easy and clear to use and understand.Therefore, I will use SWOT to analyse Google's internal management, after that I will apply Google’s management method to manufacture industry, and do the SWOT analysis again, interpreting the analysis according to my own working experiences. First of all, the data will be collected from Google website and my work experience, moreover, some of the research which had published from experts. The collected data will be consisting of work environment, employee's welfare system, company culture, relationship between leader and team members. After that, using SWOT analysis to analyse all the aspects mentioned above.Followed by an investigation to see whether Google's internal management can be applied to different industry or not. 4. Analysis and results |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Good work environment. |High costs. | |Good welfare s ystem. |Low pay. | |Keep structures flat. |Lost in the crowd. | |Opportunities |Threats | |Create new policy for welfare system. More and more competitors use the same method. | |Encourage employee to work at home. | | Figure 2: SWOT analysis of Google's internal management. Strengths Google's internal management has many strengths, one of strengths is that all of its offices have good work environments; they design different interior decorations according to different culture, and build up many recreational facilities, for the sack of reducing stress as well as increasing creativity and efficiency.The second strength is good welfare system, Google formulates some benefits not only to keep the good employees and encourage them to do their best but also devote to the company. Hamel reports that The Founders' Awards, an annual multimillion dollar payout to teams who've made outsize contributions to Google's growth, is one key retention mechanism The goal: to ensure that internal entre preneurs have no incentive to take their best ideas somewhere else. (2006: A16).The third strength is to keep structures flat, in a large company usually has hierarchy that would waste lots of time on paper works and have difficulty in retaining a good relationship between high level managers and low level employees, however Google try to keep the office's atmosphere like a small company. In Google, employees could raise their queries or propose their ideas to the managers or founders directly. It is unlike usual management which needs lots of paper works. Weaknesses Certainly, not everything could be perfect; Google also has some problems about its management.The first problem is cost; Google spends about 50% of revenue on their welfare system. (Kafka, 2009). Although founders thinks that could increase productivity and efficiency of the organization, the budget of welfare system spending still too much. The second problem is low salary, Google sets up many employees’ benefi ts and bonus system are better than other competitors; however, their pay is lower than the others. Most of Google's employees have fixed salaries that are significantly lower than the industry average, even when those base salaries are supplemented by stock options. (About. com 2009).The last example is lost in the crowds, the problem is some of employees want to issue their ideas but there are too many ideas in Google. Consequently, employees feel depressed when they can not issue their ideas. Hardy (2007) reports that with more than 20,000 people working for Google, some people feel their ideas are lost in crowds. It is a highly competitive environment with everybody trying to make the next â€Å"in† thing. Opportunities Google could create new policy or develop their welfare system, trying to find the new thing could let workers pay more attention to their works and elevate employee's creativity.In addition, encourage employee to work at home. Even though offices are deco rated like home or any places make employee feels relaxed, it is still a office not home, as s result, enable the workers to work at home could be one of the new solution to increase efficiency also reduce the costs. Threats After Google created the new vision of internal management, there are more and more enterprises copying Google's management method, not only the same industry but also others industries and applied to their companies. Accordingly, Google's competitors could provide the same or better condition o attract Google's good employees to their company. |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Good work environment. |Working environment atmosphere too relax. | |Good welfare system. |Poor management. | |Opportunities |Threats | |Good relationship between managers and employees. |Worker's education level. | Figure 3: SWOT analysis of Google's internal management is applied on different industry (Manufacture).Strengths All of the employees who are from different industries, they all need to work at a good environment. In manufacture industry, employees work at dangerous environment, they need a place to release their stress. Like Google's office, there are many places or equipments to help their workers reduce their stress. The next point is welfare system, most of the manufacture companies use original management, they do not have a good welfare system. As a result, if manufacture companies use Google's management method might urge worker's morale.Employees would feel satisfied staying in the company for a long time, it is good for those manufacture companies, because in this industry, company prefer employee who has long experience. In manufacturing, experienced worker's efficiency is more than apprentice. Weaknesses Many employees find the work environment far too much fun and perhaps even an ‘overload' of happiness. Most workers are able to find their focus and sanctuary at work but for some, a more professional and structured work environment is necessary . Arrington, 2009). In manufacture industry, workers should be very engrossed when they are working. If employees feel too relaxed when they were working, an accident might happen. The other point is hierarchy structure, most of employees who work for manufacture industry, and the education level is less than employees who work for information industry. Thus, in manufacture industry should use hierarchy structure to contain every step, because it would be easier to find the problem if error happens during the process.Moreover, the last point is industry's character is different, the duty of the manufacture industry is to produce goods, company must have done their work in time, however information industries mainly focus on creating new things, time is not a big issue as for them. Opportunities As we known, manufacture industry usually use original management. This management has a big gap between leader and worker, because they are very difficult to meet each other. Using Google's method might ameliorate the relationship between leader and worker.Thanks to the low hierarchy, workers and managers can interact intimately, in this way; relationship between them will definitely become closer. Threats The Google's management style is free; it gives their worker to organize their time management by themselves. Although Google's employees have a lot of free time, they still do their job very well. The main problem is education level. In the information industry, most of employee's education levels are higher than people who are working for the manufacture industry.The meaning is high level education employees are more positive, their time management organization are better than those employees with low level education. 5. Conclusion I used SWOT analysis to define the unique aspects of Google's management and assumed that it is applied to different industries; I learned two important points from this research as well. The first one is that I understood why Google can win â€Å"The best company for work† many times. Actuality, Google's salary is lower than industry average but it

Why should the indigenous languages of Panama be preserved Research Paper

Why should the indigenous languages of Panama be preserved - Research Paper Example bout a half of the indigenous populations of the state, and are thus an important facet of the existing agitation for state recognition and subsequent preservation of indigenous languages. A majority of these tribes do inhabit administrative regions – Comarca indigenas – that are present in areas with considerable Indian populations (Indigenous Groups of Panama, 2014). Concerning these administrative regions, three main comarcas exist, which are equated to a province. Two others, which are smaller, are subordinate to another of the state’s provinces, hence being considered as equating to a municipality. The sheer presence of these five regions of administration, supporting the minority populations, which make up Panama’s indigenous people, ought to be enough reason for government concern and consideration. This is in respect to not only considering, but also protecting and further enhancing the rights of these indigenous populations; of which one avenue would be the preservation of their languages and/ dialects. These indigenous languages include the Ngà ¤be-Bugle and Kuna languages (spoken by the majority), in addition to the Embera, Wounaan, Naso-Teribe, and Bri-bri languages (Major Languages of Panama, 2014). Comprising of seven indigenous nations living within the Republic of Panama, as the agency – IWGIA (2012) provides, these include the Bugle, Kuna, Ngabe, Wounaan, Bri-bri, Embera and the Naso Tjerdi. As a minority, they have and continued being fundamentally influenced by the Spanish Influence traceable to the reign of the Spanish Empire in Latin America. As a result, Spanish (Latino) is the most-widely spoken of languages, not only in the Panama Republic, but the larger Latin American region. With the advent of Spanish colonization and influence role, the Catholic Church’s reach attesting to this being the fact that majority of Latin Americans are Catholics. This religious influence, augmented by Spanish socio-cultural, political and economic

8.6 case study Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

8.6 case study - Coursework Example In the perspective of the second meaning, organizations promote corporate ethics so as to define a set of corporate values, to meet consumer expectations and employee demands, and to deal with economic pressures effectively (p.620). When it comes to IT practices, the first definition (meaning) implies that firms must develop improved IT policies and procedures to operate in well compliance with federal laws and regulations. From the same viewpoint, the second definition implies that organizations need to maintain well established IT practices to ensure that consumers enjoy the benefits of convenient shopping and consumers’ tastes, and specifications are adequately addressed. The firm’s economic environment can have a great influence on these practices. Companies have more choices when economic conditions are favorable but choices may have to be limited under the situations of economic downturns. 2. The advancements in IT greatly benefit corporate enterprises to address ethical issues effectively, and to take advantages of emerging opportunities with regard to corporate governance. The case study tells that IT can contribute significantly to corporate strategy. CIOs can identify the misuses of those IT capabilities, and they will be also able to flag those issues timely and thereby prevent the firm from becoming exposed to scandals. The case described about the business fraud committed by marketing workers at a large telephone company can be cited as a good example. The company executives had identified the fraud before the marketing department actually executed it. Then they developed a comprehensive IT system to monitor the use and prevent the unauthorized access to such sensitive information in future. Similarly, Intel’s IT system helps the company meet its legal and regulatory requirements in addition to enhancing its own corporate values and ethical principles (p p.620-621). 3. In my personal view, organizations should pursue high ethical standards in

Correlation between GDP per capita and immigration rates in Canada Essay

Correlation between GDP per capita and immigration rates in Canada - Essay Example Immigration often affect the employment of the native residents but mainly being determined by the role the host country’s residents play in the labor market (Nadeau 2011). Immigration is always caused by an individual decision to seek for a job opportunity and that is why the economy of the host country plays key role in instigating the immigration (Nadeau 2011). Especially when immigrants are very skilled labor they will be preferred over the host’s nations residents who might not be having both experience and skilled manpower. High growth in a country’s GDP means that more good things for a country and even though growth may not be the only requirement for better well being it is very essential because income and consumption is very important (Nadeau 2011). The cause for the rise of crisis within the employment sector as a result of immigration is partly due to the fact that immigrants create few employments opportunities as compared to the positions they are filling in. In Canada, immigration rate didn’t affect the country’s economic growth until around 1980s when it then started affecting unemployment rate (Grubel and Grady 2011). In the last 10 years, there had been over 240,000 immigrants into Canada per year who have become permanent residents by virtue of admission. In 2003 there were a total of 221, 300 but later in 2010 the figure rose to 280,600 a big rise indeed (Grubel and Grady 2011). Among this immigrants majority are women who make up over half the total number of those admitted. Immigrants being admitted have women that are more represented in comparison with the other gender. Women also do make big portion of those dependents on the immigrants. In the above mentioned period women have made up to 60.2 % in family category, this range from 58.6 percent to 60.2 percent over the last 10 years (Grubel and Grady 2011). On the side of economic applicants principal men outnumbered women. Despite the fact that women are smaller in number among the economic principal applicants in relation to men their figure have been rising steadily over the past few years starting from 26.1 percent in 2003 and hitting 40.2 later in 2011 (Grubel and Grady 2011). There are a proportion of immigrants whom they are women mainly who came in as live caregivers. Over the last 10Â  years (2002–2011), 68.5Â  percent (roughly 1.3 million) of all new immigrants aged between 15 and 64 indicating an intention to work upon arrival (Grubel 2009). This proportion ranged from a low of 66.4Â  percent in 2006 to a high of 70Â  percent in 2010. Furthermore, 38.8Â  percent of spouses and dependants of economic immigrants indicated an intention to work upon arrival, as did 99.8Â  percent of economic principal applicants. Across all categories, immigrant men (82Â  percent) are more likely than women (55Â  percent) to join the labour force upon arrival (Grubel 2009). Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita results fro m the GDP divided by the country population at the middle of the year. To find the GDP of a country, the cross value of all producers in the economy are added together plus any product taxes and subtract subsidies. The calculations do not consider the depreciation of assets or degradation of natural resources (Grubel 2009). The GDP calculation is normally done by the World Bank and IMF. The wealth of the country is normally determined by the GDP and in many occasions it does not reflect the real cost of living in a country. The GDP per capita for Canada for the last 10 years with percentage change is shown below. 2002 =$23,425=3.47 % 2003 =$27,335=3.06 % 2004 =$31,012=4.92 % 2005

International Event Management in Year 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International Event Management in Year 3 - Essay Example This paper intends to examine the environmental strategies in organizing an international event. Essentially, the organisers should consider the components of products used in the event. It is imperative to deliver products with improved environmental profile. This will reduce the environmental impact to the ecosystem components and its functions (Jones, 14). These products should delight the consumers without any tradeoffs in performance. Another strategy should reflect on improving the environmental profile of operations. It is vital for the overall environmental performance of supply chain and logistics of finished products to be improved such to attain the global environmental sustainability standards. For instance, suppliers should be encouraged to use non-pollutant packing materials. Additionally, local contractors should be encouraged to supply the products such that, the product miles or distance can be reduced (Bhe, 12). It is vital to consider and implement low –emission strategy intended to have transport and mobility means emit less toxic materials to the environment. The transport and logistics strategy should ensure local contractors should embrace carbon free transport means such as electric cars. This will reduce emission of gases and other materials to the environment. Further, more, the materials used during the events should uphold the principles of reuse and recycling (Yeoman, 13). It is noteworthy that, this strategy should encourage use of public transport to and from the event to reduce the number of private cars used consequently reduction of emission of smoke and gases to the environment. Water and energy efficiency is a fundamental strategy that will see effective utilisation of water and energy (Zineldin, 14). Inclusion sustainability is a management competence intended from incorporation of liable

Role of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Essay - 1

Role of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Essay Example In a nutshell, it can be concluded that a family nurse practitioner is any nurse specially trained to work with patients of all ages to manage their conditions and must be in possession of a FNP certification (Lugo, O’Gradey, Hodnicki & Hanson, 2007). Entry requirements for one to practice as a family nurse practitioner vary from state to state although some requirements have become basic. Generally, a family nurse practitioner is currently required to possess a minimum of a master’s degree in addition to a post-master’s qualifications as cited by Lesley (2007). Additionally, one is also required to possess a national certification from either the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners before being allowed to practice as a family nurse practitioner. Lugo et.al (2007) further explain that this scenario is poised to change because the two bodies are planning to require a doctoral degree in future as the minimum a candidate should present to qualify for the certification test. This will be in addition to the inclusion of a special language at a master’s degree level by some states. In comparing the role of family nurse practitioner with that of family practice physician (FPP), it is noticed that the two register more similarities than differences. From the outset, both are trained to provide continuing and comprehensive health care to each member of the family encompassing all ages regardless of gender and type of problem (Lugo et. al, 2007). Similarly, both roles involve education and training in family practice and operation in a variety of nontraditional settings. Moreover, family physicians may be a good choice for those who do not want to do a lot of procedures or surgeries as opposed to other practitioners. This may allow family physicians to enjoy a more predictable schedule and better quality of life than some other specialists who have to be more available

Compare and contrast the difference between a psychotherapy threatment Literature review

Compare and contrast the difference between a psychotherapy threatment and religion - Literature review Example However, the psychotherapy treatment intervention is highly based on the psychologist’s dealing with the clients by stating them their level of independent competencies required for coping. Moreover, psychotherapy treatment involves various theoretical methods as well as the behavioural assessments of the patients. Nevertheless, in religious therapy, intervention plan is highly dependent upon the patient’s willingness to cope with health disparities, difficulties, and sacrifice (DeRubeis & et. al., 2008). Correspondingly, the approach of psychotherapy treatment mechanism is regarded as the process, which works on developing interpersonal interventions to mitigate the mental health problems of the patient. Besides, the approach of the treatment helps to develop the social well-being of the client in the most effective and rapid manner and reduce the discomfort that they face. Moreover, during the course of treatment, practitioners utilise various techniques, which is based on enriching the relationship as well as the communication and changing the behaviour that will likely contribute to improve the mental state of the patient. Similarly, intervention of the therapy is highly based on the problem of the patient, as some of the therapy highly focuses on changing their current behaviour whereas, other mechanisms emphasise over determining the previous issues and resolving the existing problems. Nevertheless, the approach of psychotherapy treatment undertakes mental health issues includi ng bulimia, depression, anger management, anxiety, phobias and chronic pain among others (Ritchey & et. al., 2011; Combs & Romm, n.d.). Apparently, the means of religion therapy treatment also plays an integral role to eradicate the issue of patient conditions and prove to be effective as a form of therapy. It is in this context that the means of

Recommendation Letter for Studying at the Oxford University Essay

Recommendation Letter for Studying at the Oxford University - Essay Example Since his graduation, he is conducting researches under my direct supervision as I am his scientific advisor for past two years. His dissertation topic is based on institutional aspects of states of Central Asian states. We co-operate each other strongly while handling different scientific and educational issues. Sergey has shown great efficiency and accuracy in carrying out his responsibilities while working on joint scientific projects (like ‘World Political dynamics’). He also has an innovative and creative approach towards problem-solving. The qualities of responsible nature, positive energy and optimism have gained him respect from his colleagues. All these dynamic qualities have led Sergey to achieve steady and fast progress. Sergey has passed all his University examinations with an â€Å"A† grade marking. Sergey’s distinguished qualities have helped him to outperform students not only from his own academic group but also from the whole department. His academic achievements, especially in the scientific field, are worth mentioning. Sergey’s projects were always among the best in his academic group. The depth of analysis, precision and the logical conclusions of his scientific work have always brought him victory and recognition at different contests and conferences. Also, a number of his scientific works are extremely impressive. At present, ten of Sergey’s articles are published in Political Science publications. Two of the ten articles are published in scientific magazines registered by the SCC (Superior Certification Commission). Getting ten articles published at this early phase of career is a great achievement in itself. Now, under my supervision, he has written a new article, ‘Stateness problems: basic approaches to conceptualization’, which will be his eleventh published article.

Assessment and Office Equipment Essay Example for Free

Assessment and Office Equipment Essay Unit purpose and aim This unit is about using a variety of different office equipment following manufacturer’s and organisational guidelines. Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria The Learner will: The Learner can: 1. Know about different types of office equipment and its uses 1. 1 Identify different types of equipment and their uses 1. 2 Describe the different features of different types of office equipment 1. 3 Explain why different types of equipment are chosen for tasks 2. Understand the purpose of following instructions and health and safety procedures Exemplification Learning outcomes 1 to 6 must be assessed using methods appropriate to the assessment of knowledge and understanding. A holistic approach to assessment should be adopted so that one piece of evidence covers more than one learning outcome and several assessment criteria. 2. 1 Explain the purpose of following manufacturer’s instructions when using equipment 2. 2 Explain the purpose of following organisational instructions when using equipment 2. 3 Identify health and safety procedures for using different types of equipment 2. 4 Explain the purpose of following health and safety. Procedures when using equipment 2. 5 Explain the purpose of  © OCR 2010 1 keeping equipment clean and hygienic 3. Understand how to use equipment in a way that minimises waste 3. 1 Give examples of waste when using equipment 3. 2 Give examples of ways to reduce waste 3. 3 Explain the purpose of minimising waste 4. Know about the different types of problems that may occur when using equipment and how to deal with them 4. 1 Give examples of equipment problems 4. 2 Explain the purpose of following manufacturer’s instructions and organisational procedures when dealing with problems 4. 3 Give examples of how to deal with problems 5. Understand the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines 5. 1 Explain the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines when using equipment 6. Understand the purpose of leaving equipment and the work area ready for the next user 6. 1 Explain the purpose of leaving equipment and the work area ready for the next user 7. Be able to use office equipment 7. 1 Locate and select equipment needed for a task 7. 2 Use equipment following manufacturer’s and organisational guidelines Assessment should be planned. To maximise the opportunities for the candidate to demonstrate their ability to use office equipment. 7. 3 Use equipment minimising waste 7. 4 Keep equipment clean and hygienic 7. 5 Deal with equipment problems following manufacturer’s and organisational procedures 7. 6 Refer problems, if required 7. 7 Make sure final work product meets agreed requirements 7. 8 Make sure that product is delivered to agreed timescale 7. 9 Make sure equipment, 2  © OCR 2010 resources and work area are ready for the next user Assessment This unit is centre assessed and externally verified. A holistic approach to assessment should be adopted so that one piece of evidence covers more than one learning outcome and several assessment criteria and where appropriate, provides evidence across several units. Your assessor will use a range of assessment methods which may include: ? observation of performance in the work environment ? examination of work products ? questioning the learner ? discussing with the learner ? use of others (witness testimony) ? looking at learner statements ? recognising prior learning Evidence requirements A range of evidence should be gathered to cover the Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. Examples may include: ? Job requests/briefs from colleagues ? Copies of work produced using equipment ? Fault/problem logs indicating your response ? Records of training in use of equipment ? Minutes of team/1 to 1 meetings, relating to use of equipment ? Annotated copies of relevant sections in user manuals. The candidate must demonstrate their ability to use a range of office equipment including a computer, printer, and photocopier along with other equipment necessary to carry out their job eg telephone, franking machine,fax machine, data projector, shredder, laminator, binder, paper folder. Guidance on assessment and evidence requirements Refer to sections on Assessment and Evidence requirements above. National Occupational Standards (NOS) mapping/signposting This unit is based on the NOS BAA231 Use office equipment. Functional skills signposting This section indicates where candidates may have an opportunity to develop their functional skills.  © OCR 2010 3 Link to functional skills standards http://www. qcda. gov. uk/15565.aspx Functional Skills Standards English Mathematics ICT Speaking and Listening ? Representing ? Use ICT systems ? Reading ? Analysing ? Find and select information ? Writing ? Interpreting ? Develop, present and communicate information ? Resources Access to a wo rking environment with associated equipment and resources Additional information For further information regarding administration for this qualification, please refer to the OCR document ‘Admin Guide: Vocational Qualifications’ (A850) on the OCR website www. ocr. org. uk.

Working With Family Essay Example for Free

Working With Family Essay traumatizing to the close family and friends and to a larger extent to the society. The close family members faces the worst blunt, they have to comfort and care for the affected person and share in the pain and agonizing moments. This paper shall be looking at how a woman’s breast cancer impacts on the normal functioning of a family, its impact on the family member and the need for support and counseling to both the woman and the family. Cancer refers to any malignant tumor that is as a result of an unusual and incontrollable dividing of the cells in the body. Breast cancer too is as a result of a tumor developing in a person’s breast. It starts as a lump in one breast ten further spreads to both breasts if not treated in time. There are three factors that can lead to a woman getting breast cancer, it can be genetical. A woman who comes from a family where there is prevalence in breast cancer, if for example her sisters, mother or aunts have had it, she has higher chances of developing cancer in later life (Colerman, 2000, p. 43). Age too is another factor and women develop breast cancer as they grow older starting from the early forties. Diet has also been identified as another lead factor. Women who don’t get enough exercises are at more risk as too those who have unhealthy habits like excessive smoking, drinking and consumption of high fat meals (James Fahner, 2007). My case study takes me to a small neighborhood in Maryland, U. S. A. ; here we will encounter a lady named Georgina, a wife and a mother of two boys and a girl. She is in her late forties and still struggling with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of thirty seven. This is the year that her life changed dramatically, it continues to change day in day out and has seen the removal of her left breast in a bid to arrest the spread of the disease. Amid tears, she says her condition was exacerbated by the fact that her lump was not detected early (Alberg A. J, 2000, p. 22). Early detection of breast cancer makes it easy to seek for easier and effective treatment. Statistics are in favor of early detection, modern technology can enable more than 90% of those diagnosed early to be cured (Family doctor. org; 2005, p.117).Despite her being highly educated, she was very ignorant of the disease and was unconcerned with the lumps developing in her left breast. She only sought expert assistance when the cancerous growth had already spread too far. She has all along attributed the lumps in her breasts to having been emanating from hormonal changes and age. She is paying dearly for that. Cancer diagnosis or any diagnosis associated with terminal illness is a s cary affair. Equally disturbing is the thought of how your loved ones will cope with the sad news. Georgina’s husband is a public relations manger with a local bank; she herself works with an advertising firm in the same locality. Her three kids have yet not gone beyond 10th grade and might be too young to understand her situation. She could not too understand how she came to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age of 33 despite the statistics predicting the occurrences to be more prevalent in post menopausal periods (Colditz GA et al, 1995, p. 52). The rest of the family lives in Europe where they tend to the family business. Although they have been there to help her cope with the trying moments, the distance apart has not helped much and she has to rely with her husband and close friends for physical and emotional support. How families cope with breast cancer cases is one of the most explored topics. Different people react in varied manner after learning that the close friend or partner has been diagnosed with breast cancer (Heiney et al, 2001, p. 134). Women with breast cancer should be cared for and comforted by their families as they go through the hallowing process in search of cure. While it is important for family members and friends to be there for her and encourage her to think positively, intimate partners are shouldered with the duty to reassure the woman of their unconditional love and commitment (Invision, 2007). Breast cancer is physically, mentally and emotionally devastating to all those involved especially to the close family members. If not handled with care, it might lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction and even a major break up in a family, more so between the affected partners.

Individual Differences A Brief Overview Psychology Essay

Individual Differences A Brief Overview Psychology Essay A person differing from others is understandable, but how and why a person differs is less clear and is therefore a subject of the study of individual differences (Revelle, 2000). Individual differences are the differences among individuals, in regards to a single characteristic or number of characteristics, which in their totality distinguish one individual from another and make oneself a unique individual (Mangal, 2007). Characteristics that define individual differences can be classified into four main categories: Learning Style, Aptitude, Personality and Emotional Intelligence. 1.2 Learning Style Learning Style refers to the idea that every individual is different in regard to what manner of coaching or study is most useful for them (Pashler, et al., 2008). Some learn best by hearing information, while others see and/or write down information (Cherry, 2012). According to David Kolb; learning involves the gaining of abstract concepts, which are the intangible ideas that can be applied fluidly in a variety of situations, leading to knowledge (McLeod, 2013). Kolbs experience-based learning style theory is a four stage learning cycle in which effective learning can only be seen when an individual is able to accomplish all four stages of the cycle (McLeod, 2013). The cycle consists of: Concrete Experience Æ’Â   Reflective Observation Æ’Â   Abstract Conceptualization Æ’Â   Active Experimentation (McLeod, 2013). Concrete Experience: A new experience or situation is encountered, or a reinterpretation of an existing experience. Reflective Observation: Surveillance of others or developing interpretations about ones own knowledge/experience. Abstract Conceptualization: Daydreaming/Intuition/Reflection leads to a new idea, or a variation of an existing abstract concept learners create theories to explain observations. Active Experimentation: The learner applies its knowledge/experience/observations to the world around them in real time to see its outcome using theories to explain/answer problems and make proper judgments. 1.3 Aptitude The term aptitude is sometimes treated the same as abilities, particularly when the focus is on prediction of performance in other settings or occasions (Kyllonen Gitomer, 2002). Abilities are cognitive or mental characteristics that affect ones potential to learn or to perform, whereas aptitude includes any number of individual-differences factors that influence ones willingness or chances of learning or performing successfully (Kyllonen Gitomer, 2002). Even Aptitude and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tend to relate in view of human mental ability, however, they are in fact quite the opposite. IQ sees intelligence as being a single measurable characteristic affecting all mental ability, whereas aptitude breaks mental ability down into many different characteristics which are supposed to be more or less independent of each other (wikia.com, 2013). Similarly skills, abilities and aptitudes are related but are separate descriptions of what a person can do, and thus, should not be conflated (wikia.com, 2013). Skills describe what a person has learned to do in the past (wikia.com, 2013); abilities describe what a person can do now (wikia.com, 2013); aptitudes, however, describe a persons potential to learn from the past and apply its learning in the future (wikia.com, 2013). All these describe what and how a person can learn to do something effectively. 1.4 Personality Personality explains the unique characteristics of individuals, as well as relationships among groups of people (Cherry, 2011). A person is able to stand out in the crowd due its personality; this is made up of the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an individual (Cherry, 2011). Although some outer forces can influence how certain characteristics are expressed, personality originates from inside an individual. While a few characteristics of personality may change with age, personality is likely to remain somewhat reliable during the whole life (Cherry, 2011). The major characteristics of personality are (Cherry, 2011): Personality is Organized and Consistent: People tend to communicate certain features of their personality in various circumstances and their responses are usually stable. Personality is Psychological, but is influenced by Biological Needs and Processes: While an individuals personality might lead him/her to be calm in normal situations, but when threatened or provoked it might lead him/her to be more aggressive. Personality causes behaviors to happen: People respond to others and objects in their surroundings based on their personality. From private preferences to choice of profession, every facet of their existence is affected by their personality. Personality is displayed through thoughts, feelings, behaviors and many other ways: An individuals presence/existence all together releases energy of good or bad vibes depending on how they connect with all that encompasses their surroundings. 1.5 Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to process emotions (Toyota, 2011); it is the ability to monitor ones own and others feelings, to differentiate among them, and to use this information to guide ones thinking and action (Salovey Grewal, 2005). A four-branch model, proposed by Mayer and Salovey, identifies EI as a set of four related abilities: Perceiving, Using, Understanding, and Managing Emotions (Salovey Grewal, 2005). Perceiving Emotions: The ability to detect and interpret emotions in faces, pictures, voices, and cultural artifacts. It also includes the ability to identify ones own emotions. Using Emotions: The ability to control emotions to smooth the progress of various cognitive activities, such as thinking and problem solving. Understanding Emotions: The ability to understand emotion language and to value complex affairs among emotions. Furthermore, it includes the ability to recognize and describe how emotions develop over time, such as how shock can turn into grief. Managing Emotions: Consists of the ability to manage and normalize emotions in both ourselves and in others. Task for M1: 2.0 Choose a psychometric test for each type that would yield the most valid and reliable results in the workplace. 2.1 Psychometric Test A Brief Overview Psychometric tests are structured assessments that aim to measure, without bias, characteristics of an individuals mental capacity, or aspects of their personality (Price, 2010). Business employers use it as it offers greater objectivity, reliability and validity than interviews; and also helps provide additional information that helps the employer to create an overall profile of employees and to foresee how they will function in the workplace (HJB.com, 2013). The tests are homogeneous, which means that all applicants sit the same assessment and are scored according to the same criteria, no matter where or when the test is completed (HJB.com, 2013). However, taking a wide range of tests depends upon individuals needs as to how they approach or want to approach their personal development (Becker, 2011). Focusing on improving weak areas of performance can lead to great progress in achieving objectives when strengths are identified and developed (Becker, 2011). Therefore, psychometric t esting can assist in choosing the approach that will deliver the most benefit. 2.2 Types of Psychometric Tests Psychometric assessments fall under two groups. The first measures and evaluates an individuals ability to understand verbal/written words or their ability to reason with numerical figures (Farrington, 2007), or to follow directions as asked (Price, 2010). The second measures personality traits through personality tests (Farrington, 2007), assessing everything from motivation to values, from personality inclinations to working preferences (Price, 2010). In the world of employment, the choice of test is extremely vital since such tests are used: during the recruitment phase to select the best candidate, or to help select candidates for career advancement (Price, 2010). As a result, tests are gradually more customized to the jobs they are used for. 2.3 Learning Style Psychometric Test The Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) was developed to determine an individuals preferred learning style (PsychPress.com, 2013). There are four learning styles (Watts, 2007): Activist: Engage themselves fully in all new experiences. Reflector: Like to pause and take time to evaluate their experiences from every angle. Theorist: Like to adapt what they see into their own words in order to create their own theories, which are accurate but can appear overly complicated. Pragmatist: Are eager to try out fresh ways of doing things to see if they can be put into practice and yield results. Most people prefer certain learning styles over others. As a result, their preference tends to misrepresent the learning procedure as such that greater emphasis is placed on some stages to the disadvantage of the other stages (PsychPress.com, 2013). Therefore, LSQs provide a key to understanding these different preferences. People gain learning styles through repetition of successful strategies and tactics while they put an end to those that are not, which leads to the development of preferences for different behavioral patterns that become habitual (PsychPress.com, 2013). Therefore, LSQs help people to learn effectively about themselves so that they may be saved from inapt learning experiences. A thorough understanding of learning styles through LSQs enable the tailoring of education and training programs to suit an individual or group (PsychPress.com, 2013). Particular forms of learning to which individuals respond can be identified through LSQs which aids in improving individual a nd group performance. This also makes training and development as well as other learning activities valuable and less challenging for the participants, and thus helps in reducing training costs by saving valuable time (PsychPress.com, 2013). 2.4 Aptitude Psychometric Test Aptitude tests attempt to measure trait intelligence (IQ) and cognitive ability in individuals from the indication of their efficiency in processing information (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). Intelligence is either fluid or crystallized (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). Crystallized intelligence involves verbal or language-based accumulated knowledge developed mainly through education and other life experiences (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). However, fluid intelligence indicates adaptability and flexibility in the face of new experiences that do not allow automated reasoning (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). An example would be where logic is needed in identifying an odd shape from a number of shapes in an odd-one-out type question. Since an individuals aptitude is complex, Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) is used. It is a widely accepted method of online psychometric testing that includes aptitude tests, reasoning tests, verbal reasoning tests and numerical reasoning tests (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). Although the programming, testing properties and science behind CAT are quite complex, the course, as experienced by the candidate, is not (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). Even though the test is taken online, it has many advantages compared to written tests such as: reduced administration time, reduced test-taking time, increased reliability for measuring applicants aptitude, trims down the quantity of items in online psychometric tests by optimally customizing items to the candidate, practice for CAT-based tests is identical to practicing traditional online psychometric tests, all of it is computer-based and administered online, thus, practicing for these types of psychometric tests is considered idea l (PsychometricInstitute.com, 2013). 2.5 Personality Psychometric Test Personality tests are assessments which assess an individuals somewhat stable behavioral trends and preferences within an occupational perspective (PsychPress.com, 2013). Such tests also require the least preparation (PsychPress.com, 2013). Personality tests are based on behavior mainly due to the indirect and complex nature of an individuals personality (PsychPress.com, 2013). If used appropriately, these tests can be extremely helpful in improving knowledge of ones self and other people. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test designed to indicate the psychological types of an individuals personality, its strengths and preferences (Cherry, 2012) so as to find out the reasons for individual differences (Price, 2012). MBTI aims to let candidates discover and understand more about their own personalities which includes; likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, job preferences and compatibility with others (Cherry, 2012). One other thing worth noting is that the questions in these tests have no allocated correct answer (Price, 2012) because no one personality type is best or better than any other one (Cherry, 2012). This test isnt a means to look for dysfunction or abnormality, but rather help individuals learn more about themselves (Cherry, 2012). The test is made up of four different scales (Cherry, 2012): Extraversion (E) Introversion (I): Extraverts are more open and lively, they are more social, and they are filled with energy after spending time with other people. Introverts are more into themselves; they tend to think a lot, they enjoy meaningful social interactions, and are filled with energy after spending time alone. Sensing (S) Intuition (N): This scale indicates how people collect information from their surroundings. Individuals, who pay a great deal of attention to reality, especially to what they can learn from their own senses, are sensing. Those who are intuitive consider stuff like patterns and impressions. Thinking (T) Feeling (F): This scale focuses on decisions people make that are based on information they gather through their sensing or intuition functions. People are more into thinking when they stress on facts and objectives data. People who put greater emphasis on feelings arrive at a conclusion based on people and emotions. Judging (J) Perceiving (P): This scale is about how people tend to deal with the outside world. People who like structure and firm decisions are more judging. People who are more open, flexible and adaptable, are more perceiving. Due to MBTI ease of use, it has become one of the most popular psychological instruments. According to the Myers Briggs Foundation, the MBTI meets accepted standards of reliability and validity (Cherry, 2012). 2.6 Emotional Intelligence Psychometric Test Emotional Intelligence (EI) tests help evaluate several aspects of an individuals EI and suggest ways to improve it (Queendom.com, 2013), so that they can understand the level of their relation with emotions (Agarwal, 2007). It helps an individual to understand themselves better in order to deal better with themselves, and know what to avoid and what not to (Agarwal, 2007). The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) is the most often used test of emotional intelligence (Daniels, 2010). This test focuses on emotions rather than intellectual skills (Daniels, 2010). MSCEIT comprises items such as to; identify the emotion in given pictures of peoples faces, select which emotion can help achieve particular tasks, understand the way emotions interact and blend among them, and to recognize how they can use their emotions in difficult social situations (Daniels, 2010). The MSCEIT measures emotional intelligence in terms of four key competencies, including an individuals ability to: (i) Recognize their own and others emotions, (ii) Generate and use emotions in problem solving, (iii) Understand emotions and how emotions may change, and (iv) Manage their own and others emotions (Onetest.com, 2010). It has been confirmed that people with high EI prove to be thriving in life than those with lower EI, even if their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is average (Queendom.com, 2013). This is because people with higher EI are better able to express their emotions in a healthy way, and better able to understand the emotions of colleagues; therefore, leading to better work relationships and performance. In the workplace, it leads to successful leadership, increased productivity and higher customer satisfaction (Onetest.com, 2010). On a personal level, it ultimately leads to a more successful and fruitful life. Task for P2: 3.0 Assess the usefulness of psychometric instruments in the workplace. 3.1 Psychometric Tests As mentioned in M1 Task; Psychometric tests include personality profiles, reasoning tests, motivation questionnaires, and ability assessments. These tests try to provide objective data for otherwise subjective measurements. For example, if you want to determine someones attitude, you can ask the person directly, observe the person in action, or even gather observations about the person from other people. However, all of these methods can be affected by personal bias and perspective. By using a psychometric test, you make a more objective and impartial judgment. Since objectivity is the key to using these assessments, a good psychometric test provides fair and accurate results each time its given. To ensure this, the test must meet these three key criteria: Standardization: The test must be based on results from a sample population thats truly representative of the people wholl be taking the test. You cant realistically test every working person in a country. But you can test a representative sample of that group, and then apply the results to the specific people whom you test. Also, a standardized test is administered the same way every time to help reduce any test bias. By using a standardized test, you can compare the results with anyone whose characteristics are similar to those of the sample group. Reliability: The test must produce consistent results, and not be significantly influenced by outside factors. For instance, if youre feeling stressed when you take the test, the test results shouldnt be overly different from times when you were excited or relaxed. Validity: This is perhaps the most important quality of a test. A valid test has to measure what its intended to measure. If a test is supposed to measure a persons interests, then it must clearly demonstrate that it does actually measure interests, and not something else thats just related to interests. 3.2 Psychometric Tests in the Workplace Psychometric tests have become a well established tool in the workplace, particularly in large organizations where 70% claim to use some form of psychometric measure as part of the recruitment process. They are also increasingly used for career planning, team building, management development, counseling and succession planning. Many individuals also use them to evaluate their own attributes and as evidence for potential employers. 3.3 Usefulness of Psychometric Tests Workplace Psychometric test is useful in: Selection of Personnel: By applying psychometric tests when hiring workers, we are able to judge their competency core objectively. For example, here at Galactic Space, when we were hiring someone for monitoring gaming, we interviewed a person named Raees Gul. He applied for the post of working as a waiter, but when we interviewed him and gave him a set of questionnaires which consisted of different questions on the different departments of the lounge, we concluded he was better at gaming. Task Allocation: It has great use in task allocation of employees when we gain in-depth knowledge of their strength and weaknesses, through which we can easily judge which area they would work best at. Finding Personality: Having detailed knowledge of employees personality helps us in understanding how to communicate with them and deal with them during various circumstances. Task for D1: 4.0 Make justified recommendations for the use of two types of measures in making business decisions. 4.1 Decision-Making Predicament The present-day world presents complex decision-making challenges, be it in a business environment or day-to-day personal situations. As were discussing issues related to a business environment, we will focus on decisions that are related to the various dilemmas in the business world. For example; decisions made during staff selection and training, since companies request for specific profiles with precise individual qualities and knowledge about competencies related to a specific field; or decisions related to making an investment with high risk but with high returns, since shareholders are looking forward to high profits. 4.2 Aptitude Business Decisions Since we mentioned in P1 that every human being is complex, therefore their aptitudes are also complex. Employment specialists, that are part of the Human Resource Department, mostly use aptitude tests to determine whether someone is a good fit for a job or promotion, have the ability to adapt to a new work environment and culture, and are able to process information systematically. It is very important because to understand aptitude is to understand their mental and physical attributes. For example; a person who has good analytical skills, the will to take justified risks and bear pressure, can well be suited in the finance department (provided that he has a finance background). Since peoples ability to process information is limited; therefore, knowing that they can adopt a variety of heuristics or rules of thumb when making decisions can help solve business problems, assist in product choice and consumption option, and most importantly, their personal lives. A heuristic is a menta l shortcut that allows people to solve problems and make decisions fast and efficiently (Cherry, 2011). Thus, this helps shorten decision-making time and allow people to function without constantly stopping to think about the next course of action (Cherry, 2011). Although heuristics are helpful in many situations, they can also lead to biases in decision making. Nevertheless, how they influence business and consumer decisions in everyday life is golden. 4.3 Emotional Intelligence in Business Decisions In a world where people are facing unparalleled hardships, their emotions are spilling out in uncontrollable measures. Since experts claim that EI could be responsible for as much as 80% of any success (StarlightPsych, 2013); therefore, many businesses are interested in the EI of their workforce because understanding the EI of future employees can have clear benefits. It can be the difference between a successful and a risky hire (StarlightPsych, 2013); the latter should obviously be avoided to prevent a business, especially a big one, from facing dire consequences. Conducting EI tests also helps evaluate important aspects of work-related activities where the management can know beforehand on; how to deal with emotionally charged situations where stress and anger is involved, the manner of workforce relating themselves to their superiors and colleagues, the ability to learn, follow leadership, and so on. We also mentioned in M1 that work relationships and performance are directly rel ated to the EI of the workforce. Every human being has emotions, and motivation plays a large role in pushing emotions to its limit. Therefore, when management tap into the positive energy of EI, it can not only make work life easier for them and the workforce, but also lead to a better connection with top-level management through; top notch performance, lowered employee absenteeism, improved productivity and efficiency, and last but not the least, increased overall profits. 4.4 Conclusion Although there is no right answer as to which type of measure can lead to good or near-perfect business decisions, employing some or all measures can at least reduce bias in the results. For example, in a situation where a person seems to have a low IQ does not make him/her a dumb person, since that person might have a better EI, or even a great personality that makes him a much better person when it comes to ethics. Its a never-ending battle between right and wrong, true and false, dumb and smart, etc. All we can hope is that all this brings human beings closer together, regardless of their psychoanalytic assumptions.

studying media Essay -- essays research papers

Much of what we know about the world, beyond our immediate experience, comes to us through the media. Media studies gives us the tools to respond thoughtfully and critically to media content, and recognise media productions as deliberate constructions rather than windows on reality. The ‘mediated’ society in which we live, is heavily shaped by the transfer of information. Many of our values, our ideas, and our knowledge of the world come from beyond our individual daily or immediate experience, usually via the media. They play a vital role in democracy, shaping citizens\' understanding of social and political issues and functioning as gatekeepers through which issues, and events must be passed. By studying the media, and understanding the implications of mass communication, we are able to develop an understanding of how things work, how people become informed, and misinformed, and how the myths and ideologies that govern all of our lives are created and sustained. The media are an important part of our lives for many reasons. Primarily, they help to keep us informed about current affairs, both in the world at large and on the home front. The media are a central part of our lives. Think about how much time we spend being ‘exposed’ to their product’s everyday and how many different ways it can be used. Everyday, we use the media for information and perhaps less willingly, we also accept the media as a source of persuasion, most notably through advertising. Another way in which media represents an important part of our lives is through the influence and power they hold in society. Although it is not always clear what influence is held or whether it is good or bad, the media are often blamed for many of the problems in today’s society, most commonly with reference to the portrayal of violence. There are a disturbingly large number of cases in which the perpetrator of a violent crime has cited a relationship to the media, and in some cases has admitted to imitating a character or scene from a film. Though the media are a prevalent part of our lives, we need to recognise that there are other influences that are as strong, or even stronger. Family, education, religion, and peer groups all help to shape our ideas, values, beliefs and behavior. Whilst it is generally accepted that Hollywood films may desensitise children to the consequences of violence, we shou... ...dia and the way it reacts is especially important in society today. Everyday, interpretations of texts are made available to us in the form of mass media such as newspapers and television and it is in our interpretation of these media texts where the basis of public opinion is formed. In summary, the study of media is a crucial tool for regulating what is said and what should not be said. It gives us the power of choice and the power to question. Its main concern is with helping us develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of media, the techniques used, and the impact of these techniques. More specifically, it aims to increase understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. It teaches us to understand the enjoyment people derive from texts and how audiences may be manipulated and deluded by stereotypical material. It helps us to develop important critical insights, and generate questions rather than taking what we are told at face value. Most importantly, it empowers us, its students, with the knowledge required to be active consumers and producers of the media. Words: 1,102.

Determination of the Enthalpy Change of a Reaction :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

Determination of the Enthalpy Change of a Reaction Determine the enthalpy change of the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate by an indirect method based on Hess' law. Determination of the Enthalpy Change of a Reaction Determine the enthalpy change of the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate by an indirect method based on Hess' law. Using the proposed method of obtaining results, these values were gathered: Reaction 1: CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) GRAPH Â ¼ in both cases represents the mean of the data. Using the equation for enthalpy change: H = mcT Where: m = Mass of liquid to which heat is transferred to (g) c = Specific heat capacity of aqueous solution (taken as water = 4.18 J.g-1.K-1) T = Temperature change (oK) We can thus determine the enthalpy changes of reaction 1 and reaction 2 using the mean (Â ¼) of the data obtained. Reaction 1: H = 50 x 4.18 x -2.12 H = -443.08 This value is for 2.51g of calcium carbonate, not 100.1g which is its molecular weight. Therefore: H = -443.08 x (100.1 / 2.51) = -17670.2 J.mol-1. H = -17.67 kJ.mol-1. Reaction 2: H = 50 x 4.18 x -10.3 H = -2152.7 This value is for 1.37g of calcium oxide, not 56.1g which is its relative molecular mass. Therefore: H = -2152.7 x (56.1 / 1.37) = -88150.7 J.mol-1. H = -88.15 kJ.mol-1. Hess' law states that: 1"The total enthalpy change for a chemical reaction is independent of the route by which the reaction takes place, provided initial and final conditions are the same." This means that therefore the enthalpy change of a reaction can be measured by the calculation of 2 other reactions which relate directly to the reactants used in the first reaction and provided the same reaction conditions are used, the results will not be affected. We have the problem set by the experiment: to determine the enthalpy change of the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate. This is difficult because we cannot accurately measure how much thermal energy is taken from the surroundings and provided via thermal energy from a Bunsen flame into the reactants, due to its endothermic nature. Therefore using the enthalpy changes obtained in reaction 1 and reaction 2 we can set up a Hess cycle: Thus using Hess' law we can calculate the enthalpy change of reaction 3. Reaction 3: H = Reaction 1 - Reaction 2 H = -17.67 - (-88.15) = +70.48 kJ.mol-1. Comparing the value +70.

Dealing With Drugs :: essays research papers

My mother knew sports were the most important thing in my life. She tried to use my love of sports to keep me away from drugs. She told me drugs would keep me from performing at my best when I played football. But I had been reading the sports page since I was a little kid. I knew some of the best athletes in America were using drugs. Guys who could run a hundred yards in less than ten seconds were using drugs. They were doing great. Drugs weren’t hurting their performance. So I didn’t pay any attention to my mother’s warnings, and I started using drugs when I was fifteen (qtd. in Perkins and McMurtrie-Perkins 25-26). On the weekends, there is at least one party planned. Teens will find someway, no matter what to get either drunk or high. Many will lie, steal, or cheat so they can use. Some teens even spend an entire day trying to obtain their drugs of choice. Although many teens don’t use drugs because it is unacceptable, there is an increase in drug use among teens today, because sports athletes, movies, and music make it appear acceptable. It is true, of course, that athletes will and do get reprimanded for the use of drugs, but many still run the risk, and don’t get caught. They either use substances that are illegal in the sport or on the street. Steroids were first used by the Germans in World War II, then the Soviets started using them in sports in the late 1940’s(Cox). It seems that if an athlete gets caught with drugs they receive more publicity, young people see this and think that if they do drugs too then they will get more attention. Furthermore, Many young people consider athletes, actors, actresses, and musicians as role models. They try to model their lives after them, this, many times includes the celebrity’s drug use if they have used before. There are many biographies on television that deal with a celebrity and their drug use. Young people see these bios and think that drug use is just a part of growing up and that they will have to do it sometime so why not get it out of the way (Duncan). Undoubtedly, many actors and actresses have been involved in anti-drug campaigns; still many have been caught or confessed using drugs. They also play many roles in movies and shows in which they use drugs, granted older people know that they are only playing a role, but many younger viewers don’t.

A Dirty Job Chapter 5

5 DARKNESS GETS UPPITY Hey, Ray,† Charlie said as he came down the steps into the storeroom. He always tried to make a lot of noise on the steps and usually fired a loud and early â€Å"hello† to warn his employees that he was coming. He'd worked a number of jobs before coming back to take over the family business, and had learned from experience that nobody liked a sneaky boss. â€Å"Hey, Charlie,† Ray said. Ray was out front, sitting on a stool behind the counter. He was pushing forty, tall, balding, and moved through the world without ever turning his head. He couldn't. As a San Francisco policeman, he'd caught a gangbanger's bullet in the neck six years ago, and that was the last time he'd looked over his shoulder without using a mirror. Ray lived on a generous disability pension from the city and worked for Charlie in exchange for free rent on his fourth-floor apartment, thus keeping the transaction off both their books. He spun around on the stool to face Charlie. â€Å"Hey – uh – I wanted to say that, you know, your situation, I mean, your loss. Everybody liked Rachel. You know, if I can do anything – â€Å" It was the first time Charlie had seen Ray since the funeral, so the awkwardness of secondary condolences had yet to be forded. â€Å"You've done more than enough by picking up my shifts. Whatcha working on?† Charlie was trying desperately to not look at the various objects in the shop that were glowing dull red. â€Å"Oh, this.† Ray rotated and pushed back so that Charlie could see the computer screen, where there were displayed rows of portraits of smiling, young Asian women. â€Å"It's called Desperate Filipinas dot-com.† â€Å"Is this where you met Miss LoveYouLongTime?† â€Å"That was not her name. Did Lily tell you that? That kid has problems.† â€Å"Yeah, well, kids,† Charlie said, suddenly noticing a matronly woman in tweed who was browsing the curio shelves at the front of the store. She was carrying a porcelain frog that was glowing dull red. Ray clicked on one of the pictures, which opened a profile. â€Å"Look at this one, boss. It says she's into sculling.† He spun on his stool again and bounced his eyebrows at Charlie. Charlie pulled his attention from the woman with the glowing frog and looked at the screen. â€Å"That's rowing, Ray.† â€Å"No it's not. Look, it says she was a coxswain in college.† Again with the eyebrow bounce, he offered a high five. â€Å"Also rowing,† Charlie said, leaving the ex-cop hanging. â€Å"The person at the back of the boat who yells at the rowers is called the coxswain.† â€Å"Really?† Ray said, disappointed. He'd been married three times, and been left by all three wives because of an inability to develop normal adult social skills. Ray reacted to the world as a cop, and while many women found that attractive initially, they expected him eventually to leave the attitude, along with his service weapon, in the coat closet when he arrived home. He didn't. When Ray had first come to work at Asher's Secondhand, it had taken two months for Charlie to get him to stop ordering customers to â€Å"move along, there's nothing to see here.† Ray spent a lot of time being disappointed in himself and humanity in general. â€Å"But, dude, rowing!† Charlie said, trying to make it all better. He liked the ex-cop in spite of his awkwardness. Ray was basically a good guy, kindhearted and loyal, hardworking and punctual, but most important, Ray was losing his hair faster than Charlie. Ray sighed. â€Å"Maybe I should search for another Web site. What's a word that means that your standards are lower than the desperate?† Charlie read down the page a little. â€Å"This woman has a master's degree in English lit from Cambridge, Ray. And look at her. She's gorgeous. And nineteen. Why is she desperate?† â€Å"Hey, wait a minute. A master's degree at nineteen, this girl is too smart for me.† â€Å"No she's not. She's lying.† Ray spun on the stool as if Charlie had poked him in the ear with a pencil. â€Å"No!† â€Å"Ray, look at her. She looks like one of those Asian models for Sour Apple Flavored Calamari Treats.† â€Å"They have that?† Charlie pointed to the left side of the front window. â€Å"Ray, let me introduce you to Chinatown. Chinatown, this is Ray. Ray, Chinatown.† Ray smiled, embarrassed. There was a store two blocks up that sold nothing but dried shark parts, the windows full of pictures of beautiful Chinese women holding shark spleens and eyeballs like they'd just received an Academy Award. â€Å"Well, the last woman I met through here did have a few errors and omissions in her profile.† â€Å"Like?† Charlie was watching the woman in tweed with the glowing frog, who was approaching the counter. â€Å"Well, she said that she was twenty-three, five feet tall, a hundred five pounds, so I thought, ‘Okay, I can have fun with a petite woman.' Turns out it was a hundred and five kilos.† â€Å"So, not what you expected?† Charlie said. He smiled at the approaching woman, feeling panic rise. She was going to buy the frog! â€Å"Five foot – two-thirty. She was built like a mailbox. I might have gotten past that, but she wasn't even twenty-three, she was sixty-three. One of her grandsons tried to sell her to me.† â€Å"Ma'am, I'm sorry, you can't buy that,† Charlie said to the woman. â€Å"You hear the expression all the time,† Ray went on, â€Å"but you hardly ever meet anyone really trying to sell his own grandmother.† â€Å"Why not?† the woman asked. â€Å"Fifty bucks,† Ray said. â€Å"That's outrageous,† the woman said. â€Å"It's marked ten.† â€Å"No, it's fifty for the grandmother Ray is dating,† Charlie said. â€Å"The frog is not for sale, ma'am, I'm sorry. It's defective.† â€Å"Then why do you have it on the shelf? Why is it marked for sale? I don't see any defect.† Evidently she couldn't see that the goofy porcelain frog was not only glowing in her hands, it had started to pulsate. Charlie reached across the counter and snatched it away from her. â€Å"It's radioactive, ma'am. I'm sorry. You can't buy it.† â€Å"I wasn't dating her,† Ray said. â€Å"I just flew to the Philippines to meet her.† â€Å"It is not radioactive,† the woman said. â€Å"You're just trying to jack up the price. Fine, I'll give you twenty for it.† â€Å"No, ma'am, public safety,† Charlie said, trying to look concerned, holding the frog to his chest as if shielding her from its dangerous energy. â€Å"And it's clearly ridiculous. You'll note that this frog is playing a banjo with only two strings. A travesty, really. Why don't you let my colleague show you something in a cymbal-playing monkey. Ray, could you show this young woman something in a monkey, please.† Charlie hoped that the â€Å"young woman† would win him points. The woman backed away from the counter, holding her purse before her like a shield. â€Å"I'm not sure I want to buy anything from you wack jobs.† â€Å"Hey!† Ray protested, as if to say that there was only one wack job on duty and he wasn't it. Then she did it, she quickstepped to a rack of shoes and picked up a pair of size-twelve, red Converse All Stars. They, too, were glowing. â€Å"I want these.† â€Å"No.† Charlie tossed the frog over his shoulder to Ray, who fumbled it and almost dropped it. â€Å"Those aren't for sale either.† The tweed woman backed away toward the door, holding the sneakers behind her. Charlie stalked her down the aisle, taking the occasional grab at the All Stars. â€Å"Give them.† When the woman butt-bumped into the front door and the bell over the jamb jingled, she looked up and Charlie made his move, faking hard left, then going right, reaching around her and grabbing the laces of the sneakers, as well as a scoop of big, tweedy ass in the bargain. He quickstepped back toward the counter, tossed the sneakers to Ray, and then turned and fell into a sumo stance to challenge the tweed woman. She was still at the door, looking as if she couldn't decide to be terrified or disgusted. â€Å"You people need to be put away. I'm reporting you to the Better Business Bureau and the local merchants' association. And you, Mr. Asher, can tell Ms. Severo that I will be back.† And with that, she was through the door and gone. Charlie turned to Ray. â€Å"Ms. Severo? Lily? She was here to see Lily?† â€Å"Truant officer,† Ray said. â€Å"She's been in a couple of times.† â€Å"You might have said something.† â€Å"I didn't want to lose the sale.† â€Å"So, Lily – â€Å" â€Å"Ducks out the back when she sees her coming. The woman also wanted to check with you that the notes for Lily's absences were legitimate. I vouched.† â€Å"Well, Lily is going back to school, and as of right now, I'm back to work.† â€Å"That's great. I took this call today – an estate in Pacific Heights. Lots of nice women's clothes.† Ray tapped a piece of notepaper on the counter. â€Å"I'm not really qualified to handle it.† â€Å"I'll do it, but first we have a lot to catch up on. Flip the ‘Closed' sign and lock the front door, would you, Ray?† Ray didn't move. â€Å"Sure, but – Charlie, are you sure that you're ready to go back to work?† He nodded to the sneakers and frog on the counter. â€Å"Oh, those, I think there's something wrong with them. You don't see anything unusual about those two items?† Ray looked again. â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Or that once I took the frog away from her, she went right for a pair of sneakers that are clearly not her size?† Ray weighed the truth against the sweet deal he had here, with an apartment and under-the-table income and a boss that had really been a decent guy before he went 51/50, and he said, â€Å"Yeah, there was something strange about her.† â€Å"Aha!† said Charlie. â€Å"I just wish I knew where I could get a Geiger counter.† â€Å"I have a Geiger counter,† Ray said. â€Å"You do?† â€Å"Sure, you want me to get it?† â€Å"Maybe later,† Charlie said. â€Å"Just lock up, and help me gather up some of the merchandise.† Over the next hour Ray watched as Charlie moved a set of what seemed randomly chosen items from the store to the back room, directing him to under no circumstances put them back out or sell them to anyone. Then he retrieved the Geiger counter that he'd obtained on a sweet trade for a stringless oversized tennis racket and tested each item as Charlie instructed. And, of course, they were as inert as dirt. â€Å"And you don't see any glowing or pulsating or anything in this pile?† Charlie asked. â€Å"Sorry.† Ray shook his head, feeling a little embarrassed that he was witnessing this. â€Å"Good first day back to work, though,† Ray said, trying to make it all better. â€Å"Maybe you should call it a day, go check on the baby, and make that estate call in the morning. I'll box this stuff up and mark it so Lily won't sell or trade it.† â€Å"Okay,† Charlie said. â€Å"But don't throw it out, either. I'm going to figure this out.† â€Å"You betcha, boss. See you in the morning.† â€Å"Yeah, thanks, Ray. You can go home when you finish.† Charlie went back to his apartment, checking his hands the whole way to see if any of the red glow from the pile of objects had rubbed off on them, but they seemed normal. He sent Jane home, fed and bathed Sophie, and read her to sleep with a few pages from Slaughterhouse-Five, then went to bed early and slept fitfully. He awoke the next morning in a haze, then sat bolt upright in bed, eyes wide and heart pounding when he saw the note sitting on the nightstand. Another one. Then he noticed that this time it wasn't his handwriting, and the number was obviously a phone number, and he sighed. It was the estate appointment that Ray had made for him. He'd put it on the nightstand so he wouldn't forget. Mr. Michael Mainheart, it read; then upscale women's clothing and furs, with a double underline. The phone number had a local exchange. He picked up the note, and under it was a second piece of notepaper, this one with the same name, written in his own handwriting, and under it, the numeral 5. He didn't remember writing any of it. At that moment, something large and dark passed by the second-story bedroom window, but by the time he looked up, it was gone. A blanket of fog lay over the Bay and from Pacific Heights the great orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge jutted through the fog bank like carrots from the faces of sleeping conjoined twin snowmen. In the Heights, the morning sun had already opened the sky and workmen were scurrying about, tending yards and gardens around the mansions. When he arrived at the home of Michael Mainheart the first thing Charlie noticed was that no one noticed him. There were two guys working in the yard, to whom Charlie waved as he passed, but they did not wave back. Then the mailman, who was coming off the big porch, drove him off the walkway into the dewy grass without so much as an â€Å"excuse me.† â€Å"Excuse me!† Charlie said, sarcastically, but the mailman was wearing headphones and listening to something that was inspiring him to bob his head like a pigeon feeding on amphetamines, and he bopped on. Charlie was going to shout something devastatingly clever, then thought better of it, for although it had been some years since he'd heard of a postal employee perpetrating a massacre, as long as the term â€Å"going postal† referred to anything besides choosing a shipping carrier, he felt he shouldn't press his luck. Called a wack job by a complete stranger one day and shouldered off the sidewalk by a civil servant the next: this city was becoming a jungle. Charlie rang the bell and waited to the side of the twelve-foot leaded-glass door. A minute later he heard light, shuffling steps approaching and a diminutive silhouette moved behind the glass. The door swung open slowly. â€Å"Mr. Asher,† said Michael Mainheart. â€Å"Thank you for coming.† The old man was swimming in a houndstooth suit that he must have bought thirty years ago when he was a more robust fellow. When he shook Charlie's hand his skin felt like an old wonton wrapper, cool and a little powdery. Charlie tried not to shudder as the old man led him into a grand marble rotunda, with leaded-glass windows running to a vaulted, forty-foot ceiling and a circular staircase that swept up to a landing that led off to the upper wings of the house. Charlie had often wondered what it was like to have a house with wings. How would you ever find your car keys? â€Å"Come this way,† Mainheart said. â€Å"I'll show you where my wife kept her clothes.† â€Å"I'm sorry about your loss,† Charlie said automatically. He'd been on scores of estate calls. You don't want to come off as some kind of vulture, his father used to say. Always compliment the merchandise; it might be a piece of crap to you, but they might have a lot of their soul poured into it. Compliment but never covet. You can make a profit and preserve everyone's dignity in the process. â€Å"Holy shit,† Charlie said as he followed the old man into a walk-in closet the size of his own apartment. â€Å"I mean – your wife had exquisite taste, Mr. Mainheart.† There was row upon row of designer couture clothing, everything from evening gowns to racks, two tiers high, of knit suits, arranged by color and level of formality – an opulent rainbow of silk and linen and wool. Cashmere sweaters, coats, capes, jackets, skirts, blouses, lingerie. The closet was shaped like a T, with a large vanity and mirror at the apex, and accessories on each wing (even the closet with wings!), shoes on one side, belts, scarves, and handbags on the other. A whole wing of shoes, Italian and French, handmade, from the skins of animals who had led happy, blemish-free lives. Full-length mirrors flanked the vanity at the end of the closet and Charlie caught the reflection of himself and Michael Mainheart in the mirror, he in his secondhand gray pinstripe and Mainheart in his ill-fitting houndstooth, studies in gray and black, stark and lifeless-looking in this vibrant garden. The old man went to the chair at the vanity and sat down with a creak and a wheeze. â€Å"I expect it will take you some time to assess it,† he said. Charlie stood in the middle of the closet and looked around for a second before replying. â€Å"It depends, Mr. Mainheart, on what you want to part with.† â€Å"All of it. Every stitch. I can't stand the feel of her in here.† His voice broke. â€Å"I want it gone.† He looked away from Charlie at the shoe wing, trying not to show that he was tearing up. â€Å"I understand,† Charlie said, not sure what to say. This collection was completely out of his league. â€Å"No, you don't understand, young man. You couldn't understand. Emily was my life. I got up in the morning for her, I went to work for her, I built a business for her. I couldn't wait to get home at night to tell her about my day. I went to bed with her and I dreamed about her when I slept. She was my passion, my wife, my best friend, the love of my life. And one day, without warning, she was gone and my life is a void. You couldn't possibly understand.† But Charlie did. â€Å"Do you have any children, Mr. Mainheart?† â€Å"Two sons. They came back for the funeral, then they went home to their own families. They offer to do whatever they can, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They can't,† Charlie finished for him. â€Å"No one can.† Now the old man looked up at him, his face as bereft and barren as a mummified basset hound. â€Å"I just want to die.† â€Å"Don't say that,† Charlie said, because that's what you say. â€Å"That feeling will pass.† Which he said because everyone had been saying it to him. As far as he knew, he was just slinging bullshit clichs. â€Å"She was – † Mainheart's voice caught on the edge of a sob. A strong man, at once overcome by his grief and embarrassed that he was showing it. â€Å"I know,† Charlie said, thinking about how Rachel still occupied that place in his heart, and when he turned in the kitchen to say something to her, and she wasn't there, it took his breath. â€Å"She was – â€Å" â€Å"I know,† Charlie interrupted, trying to give the old man a pass, because he knew what Mainheart was feeling. She was meaning and order and light, and now that she's gone, chaos falls like a dark leaden cloud. â€Å"She was so phenomenally stupid.† â€Å"What?† Charlie looked up so quickly he heard a vertebra pop in his neck. Hadn't seen that coming. â€Å"The dumb broad ate silica gel,† Mainheart said, irritated as well as agonized. â€Å"What?† Charlie was shaking his head, as if trying to rattle something loose. â€Å"Silica gel.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Silica gel! Silica gel! Silica gel, you idiot!† Charlie felt as if he should shout the name of some arcane stuff back at him: Well, symethicone! Symethicone! Symethicone, you butt-nugget! Instead he said, â€Å"The stuff fake breasts are made of? She ate that?† The image of a well-dressed older woman macking on a goopish spoonful of artificial boob spooge was running across the lobes of his brain like a stuttering nightmare. Mainheart pushed himself to his feet on the vanity. â€Å"No, the little packets of stuff they pack in with electronic equipment and cameras.† â€Å"The ‘Do Not Eat' stuff?† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"But it says right on the packet – she ate that?† â€Å"Yes. The furrier put packets of it in with her furs when he installed that cabinet.† Mainheart pointed. Charlie turned, and behind the large closet door where they had entered was a lighted glass cabinet – inside hung a dozen or so fur coats. The cabinet probably had its own air-conditioning unit to control the humidity, but that wasn't what Charlie was noticing. Even under the recessed fluorescent light inside the cabinet, one of the coats was clearly glowing red and pulsating. He turned back to Mainheart slowly, trying not to overreact, not sure, in fact, what would constitute an overreaction in this case, so he tried to sound calm, but not willing to take any shit. â€Å"Mr. Mainheart, I appreciate your loss, but is there something more going on here than you've told me?† â€Å"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean.† â€Å"I mean,† Charlie said, â€Å"why, of all the used-clothing dealers in the Bay Area, did you decide to call me? There are people who are much more qualified to deal with a collection of this size and quality.† Charlie stormed over to the fur cabinet and pulled open the door. It made a floof-tha sound that the seal on a refrigerator door makes when opened. He grabbed the glowing jacket – fox fur, it appeared to be. â€Å"Or was it this? Did the call have something to do with this?† Charlie brandished the jacket like he was holding a murder weapon before the accused. In short, he thought about adding, are you fucking with me? â€Å"You were the first used-clothing dealer in the phone book.† Charlie let the jacket drop. â€Å"Asher's Secondhand?† â€Å"Starts with an A,† Mainheart said, slowly, carefully – obviously resisting the urge to call Charlie an idiot again. â€Å"So it has nothing to do with this jacket?† â€Å"Well, it has something to do with that jacket. I'd like you to take it away with all the rest of it.† â€Å"Oh,† Charlie said, trying to recover. â€Å"Mr. Mainheart, I appreciate the call, and this is certainly a beautiful collection, amazing, really, but I'm not equipped to take on this kind of inventory. And I'll be honest with you, even though my father would be spinning in his grave for telling you this, there is probably a million dollars' worth of clothes in this closet. Maybe more. And given the time and space to resell it, it's probably worth a quarter of that. I just don't have that kind of money.† â€Å"We can work something out,† Mainheart said. â€Å"Just to get it out of the house – â€Å" â€Å"I could take some of it on consignment, I suppose – â€Å" â€Å"Five hundred dollars.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Give me five hundred dollars and get it out of here by tomorrow and it's yours.† Charlie started to object, but he could feel what felt like the ghost of his father rising up to bonk him on the head with a spittoon if he didn't stop himself. We provide a valuable service, son. We are like an orphanage to art and artifact, because we are willing to handle the unwanted, we give them value. â€Å"I couldn't do that, Mr. Mainheart, I feel as if I'd be taking advantage of your grief.† Oh for Christ's sake, you fucking loser, you are no son of mine. I have no son. Was that the ghost of Charlie's father, rattling chains in his head? Why, then, did it have the voice and vocabulary of Lily? Can a conscience be greedy? â€Å"You would be doing me a favor, Mr. Asher. A huge favor. If you don't take it, my next call is to the Goodwill. I promised Emily that if something ever happened to her that I wouldn't just give her things away. Please.† And there was so much pain in the old man's voice that Charlie had to look away. Charlie felt for the old man because he did understand. He couldn't do anything to help, couldn't say, It will get better, like everyone kept saying to him. It wasn't getting better. Different, but not better. And this fellow had fifty more years in which to pack his hopes, or in his case, his history. â€Å"Let me think about it. Check into storage. If I can handle it, I'll call you tomorrow, would that be all right?† â€Å"I'd be grateful,† Mainheart said. Then, for no reason that he could think of, Charlie said, â€Å"May I take this jacket with me? As an example of the quality of the collection, in case I have to divide it among other dealers.† â€Å"That would be fine. Let me show you out.† As they passed into the rotunda, a shadow passed across the leaded-glass windows, three stories up. A large shadow. Charlie paused on the steps and waited for the old man to react, but he just tottered on down the staircase, leaning heavily on the railing as he went. When Mainheart reached the door he turned to Charlie, extending his hand. â€Å"I'm sorry about that, uh, outburst upstairs. I haven't been myself since – â€Å" As the old man began to open the door a figure dropped outside, casting the silhouette of a bird as tall as a man through the glass. â€Å"No!† Charlie dove forward, knocking the old man aside and slamming the door on the great bird's head, the heavy black beak stabbing through and snapping like hedge clippers, rattling an umbrella stand and scattering its contents across the marble floor. Charlie's face was only inches from the bird's eye, and he shoved the door with his shoulder, trying to keep the beak from snapping off one of his hands. The bird's claws raked against the glass, cracking one of the thick beveled panels as the animal thrashed to free itself. Charlie threw his hip against the doorjamb then slid down it, dropped the fox jacket, and snatched one of the umbrellas from the floor. He stabbed up into the bird's neck feathers, but lost his purchase on the doorjamb – one of the black talons snaked through the opening and raked across his forearm, cutting through his jacket, his shirtsleeve, and into the flesh. Charlie shoved the umbrella with all he had, driving the bird's head back through the opening. The raven let out a screech and took flight, its wings making a great whooshing noise as it went. Charlie lay on his back, out of breath, staring at the leaded-glass panels, as if any moment the shadow of the giant raven would come back, then he looked to Michael Mainheart, who lay crumpled on his side like a stringless marionette. Beside his head lay a cane with an ivory handle that had been carved into the shape of a polar bear that had fallen from the umbrella stand. The cane was glowing red. The old man was not breathing. â€Å"Well that's fucked up,† Charlie said.