Best Practices in Human Capital Development Essay

Human capital refers to the stock of productive skills and technical knowledge embodied in labor. Many early economic theories refer to it simply as labor, one of three factors of production, and consider it to be a fungible resource – homogeneous and easily interchangeable. Other conceptions of labor dispense with these assumptions. Today’s Globalization and competition among companies made companies to select the best practices for Human Capital Development. This Research contributes to the Best Human Capital Development Practices that are implemented by the companies and continues with in-depth study of its Weakness and Strengths and calculate the production metrics of each practice. Accenture Human Capital Development Framework (HCDF) Research from HCI (Human Capital Institute) shows that Human Capital Development Framework is one of the best Human Capital Development practice in the corporate world. The Accenture HCDF uses four distinct measurement tiers in arriving at an assessment of an organization’s human capital practices. These tiers reflect the key variables that influence the relationship between a company’s human capital assets and its financial performance: Tier 1, Business results, consists of measures of organizational performance (e. g. , traditional financial analyses featuring EVA TM, revenue growth, market share and stock performance). Tier 2, Key performance drivers, consists of measures of intermediate organizational outcomes (e. g. , productivity, quality, innovation and customer satisfaction) often captured on a balanced scorecard. Tier 3, Human Capital Capabilities, consists of the most immediate and visible people-related qualities (including employee attitudes and abilities) that are necessary for achieving critical business outcomes. Their influence is felt through key performance drivers. Page 2 Tier 4, Human Capital Processes, consists of practices that lead to robust and effective human capital capabilities. Included in this tier are core HR processes (e. g. , competency management and performance appraisal) and broader human capital processes such as learning and knowledge management. Strengths: Individual Development is focused, Growth Oriented, Human Resource Identification and Performance Appraisal. Weakness: Team Management is Absent, Production rates and costly. 360-Degree Performance Management Feedback System As per Research with HR Capital Management and Development, Report, 2007: This system, which solicits feedback from seniors (including the boss), peers and subordinates, has been increasingly embraced as the best of all available methods for collecting performance feedback. Gone are the days of working hard to impress only one person, now the opinions of all matter, especially if you are in a leadership role (at any level). Every person in the team is responsible for giving relevant, positive and constructive feedback. Such systems also help in identifying leaders for higher level positions in the organization. Senior managers could use this feed back for self development. Sony and Acer are implementing this HR tool for development of Human Capital. (The Best HR Capital Development Practice, Geetha Sharma 2007) Strengths: Motivational, Higher Retention of Employees, Leadership and Higher Production rates. Weakness: Misunderstanding and Disputes between executives and Managers. Page 3 Knowledge Sharing Adopt a systematic approach to ensure that knowledge management supports strategy. Store knowledge in databases to provide greater access to information posted either by the company or the employees on the knowledge portals of the company. When an employee returns after Attending any competencies or skills development program, sharing essential knowledge with others could be made mandatory. Innovative ideas (implemented at the work place) are good to be posted on these knowledge sharing platforms. However, what to store & how to maintain a Knowledge base requires deep thinking to avoid clutter. This HR Practice is performed at Google, Inc. and other large companies. Strengths: Responsibility of employees, Development in Teams. Weakness: Only Innovative Groups are encouraged leading to inequality. Fair Evaluation System for Employees Develop an evaluation system that clearly links individual performance to corporate business goals and priorities. Each employee should have well defined reporting relationships. Self rating as a part of evaluation process empowers employees. Evaluation becomes fairer if it is based on the records of periodic counseling & achievements of the employee, tracked over the year. For higher objectivity, besides the immediate boss, each employee should be screened by the next higher level (often called a Reviewer). Cross – functional feedback, if obtained by the immediate boss from another manager (for whom this employee’s work is also important), will add to the fairness of the system. A relative rating of all subordinates reporting to the same manager is another tool for fairness of evaluation. Normalization of evaluation is yet another dimension Page 4 Of improving fairness. This is practiced at many companies around the globe with Equal Opportunity Provider Including HSBC and American Embassy. Performance linked Bonuses Research with SBA, USA on Human Resources Practice: Paying out bonuses or having any kind of variable compensation plan can be both an incentive and disillusionment, based on how it is administered and communicated. Bonus must be designed in such a way that people understand that there is no payout unless the company hits a certain level of profitability. Additional criteria could be the team’s success and the individual’s performance. Never pay out bonus without measuring performance, unless it is a statutory obligation. Companies like Nokia and GM are implementing this practice. Strengths: High Productivity and Determination among Human Resources. Weakness: Cost Effective to the Company. Metrics to evaluate Organization Human Capital Development Processes: Research with Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA), Companies should evaluate the Human Capital Development by Estimating the ROI (Return on Investment) with the staff and other functionalities like revenue growth, market share and stock performance. Employee Retention and High Productive nature helps the companies to evaluate the Organizations Human Capital Development. Page 5 Companies should take Staffing as a Profit Center. Companies are spending more than ever on training programs to drive specific strategic initiatives and improve performance, yet they often fail to demonstrate the business value of their investments. Research with HR Metrics and Development Seminar, 2005: Each metric contains 2 to 5 performance indicators. For instance, â€Å"employee attitudes† metric includes the following indicators: Job Contentment (the percentage of employees satisfied with their job), and Manager Contentment (the percentage of employees satisfied with their manager). References †¢ Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, First Break All the Rules (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999). †¢ Accenture High Performance Workforce Study, 2002-2003. †¢ HR Capital Management and Development, Report, 2007. †¢ HR Metrics and Development Seminar, 2005. †¢ Human Resource Capital Institute, New York †¢ The Best HR Capital Development Practice, Geetha Sharma 2007. †¢ Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA), Website for HR Managers.

History †The American Revolution Essay

Throughout the colonial period, there were many factors that led to the Revolutionary war, and it was when Britain began passing increasingly oppressive restrictions that colonists began to see independence as the only alternative to British rule. More than anything else, the actions of the British government fostered the feelings of nationalism in the loose collection of isolated colonies. There were many classical examples of British encroachment against liberty in the eyes of the colonists. After the French and Indian War, Britain changed its policies regarding the colonies. These changes in policy, especially the British attempt to raise revenue through direct taxation aroused resentment and in the colonies. Because of the war, Americans gained self-confidence and military experience, saw the need for colonial unity to meet common problems, and had the danger of attack by the French and certain Indian tribes removed from their frontiers and thus become less dependent on Britain. The British policies enacted were meant to place the colonies under strict British political and economic control, compel the colonies to respect and obey British law, and make the colonies bear their part of the cost of maintaining the British Empire (Gordon, 1993). The series of British decrees that followed faced strong opposition in the colonies and did little but encourage nationalism. The Navigation Acts and Writs of Assistance greatly hindered the colonists’ freedom to pursue maximum profit from their labor, as well as freedom from unfair searches by British authorities. No single act did more to unify opposition to imperial rule as the Stamp Act, which led directly to colonists taking the name of â€Å"Patriots† to show their solidarity and opposition (â€Å"The American Revolution: Causes and Consequences,† p. 4). The Stamp Act was the first internal tax levied on the colonies and negatively affected influential lawyers, clergy, and printers, who would increase the sense of national unity and opposition to the crown. The Townshend Acts were a new tax levied on colonial imports, and those colonists in violation were forced to submit to a military trial instead of trial by jury in colonial court (Gordon, 1993). The Quartering Act also imposed upon colonists to provide food and shelter to British soldiers. These taxes and acts, mostly designed to create subordination amongst colonists, had the opposite effect. Colonist began to protest, and delegates from nine colonies even created a Stamp Act Congress in 1765 to protest British tax and boycott British goods. With widespread opposition continuing to grow, the Boston massacre enraging colonists, and the Intolerable Acts coming as the final blow, the First Continental Congress was formed in 1774 and the first steps towards complete national unity had been taken (Gordon, 1993). By 1776, the colonists were ready for a complete break from Britain, no matter the costs, even war against a world power. Despite being untrained and outgunned, the American colonists enjoyed many advantages that enabled them to win the war. The colonies were separated from Britain by 3000 miles of ocean with contacts maintained only by slow moving ships. This slow and sometimes non-existent communication only widened the gap between the genteel British nobility and forces in America. Although most colonists were British in origin, their environment had transformed them into Americans, with intimate knowledge of the makeup of the land. Interaction with Indians, the often difficult North American environment, and the feeling of independence from home rule created a situation in which the Americans were simply more motivated and willing to fight than their British counterparts. Furthermore, many Americans had come from countries hostile to Britain, contributing to the anti-British sentiment. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a small but highly active minority resented the British monarchy and desired independence which inspired the country to fight. Likewise, the British authorities failed to comprehend the seriousness of colonial resolve. King George III, seeking to revive executive power in Britain, considered the colonists ungrateful and disloyal, rejected efforts at compromise, and pursued a policy of suppressing the colony by force (Gordon, 1993). Presented with a harsh, growing opposition from Britain, colonists began to see themselves as something unique—Americans. Their European way of living was modified by the American environment, especially the frontier with its great tracts of available land, its danger from the Indians, and its challenges from Nature. In adjusting to the new environment, the colonists were forced to change and it only aided their separation from British rule. They developed a spirit of individualism, self-reliance, independence, and faith in the future. With the passing of time, a new person emerged that was no longer a European, but an American in character and outlook (Gordon, 1993). This independent spirit did echo many of the ideals that encouraged British peasants centuries earlier to challenge the monarchy for increased rights, and may have been inevitable. The former British quest for independence saw the creation of the Magna Carta, Parliament, the passage of English Common Law, and eventually the English Bill of Rights during the Glorious Revolution of the late seventeenth century. American desire for self-rule and democracy was uniquely British in that regard, and the distance from the kingdom allowed the colonists to actively seek full independence in a way that the British common man could not. And, through perseverance and high ideals, the colonies succeeded in uniting to defeat their common enemy and create the United States of America.

Rand Corporation

In spite of what we see on television regarding crime scenes and detective work, detectives are more complex than what they are showing us. According to the Bureau of Labor, a police officers Job is to protect the citizens and our land(Bureau of Labor 2014). While the Job of a detective is to investigate crimes, gather facts and collect evidence, for a potential crime (Bureau of Labor 2014), there are severe types of detectives within a police department. There are homicide detectives, who work specifically on finding the person who committed the homicide.Cyber Crime detectives, and their focus is strictly on protecting the citizens from internet abuse kind computer crimes. Computer crimes would consist of fraud and identity thief. Cyber detectives also protect our youth from predators on the internet. There is also have a gang and narcotics unit, in which some of the detectives will go undercover, just to get the information they need to start an investigation. (Dempsey & Frost 2011 ). Last but not least, there is a detective unit for cold cases.These cases are asses that could not be solved, boot other detectives from different departments(Retested 2014). I believe that they should leave the policing to the police and the Investigative work to the detectives. Keeping their work separate is beneficial to the citizens and the police department. This way they can be more attentive and peduncle to the citizens in specific areas. Police are being pulled Into many different directions on a dally basis.. They are called for emergency and non-emergency situations everyday.The police wouldn't be as effective doing their day to day, If they add detective work to their plate. I believe that the detective annuls that I mentioned above are needed and should be kept separately. While I do agree that the police should do the preliminary work, but I do not agree with them doing the Investigative work as well. I don't believe the police departments wouldn't be as successful If they didn't have them separate. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Police and Detective Occupational Outlook. Shinto DC: SSP suite. Dempsey, J. , & Frost, L. (2011). Police (e). Clifton Park, NY: Delmarva Retested, A. (2014).

Promotional Budget-Magic knife Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Promotional Budget-Magic knife - Essay Example The heat produced, therefore, has the capability of melting butter in seconds during when it is spread on the bread slices. This makes it easy and simple for butter application process to occur. The knife can also cut ice cream cakes, cupcakes and many others, very simply and in a very easy and efficient way. It makes the cutting process simple and very easy to occur. Being a new product in the market, I will be faced with the challenge of ensuring that the product and its brand penetrate the market and gain popularity among consumers. The only way to do this will be through carrying out promotional services to ensure that the information about the knife and its capabilities and workability is spread to the targeted audiences. The major promotional services or strategies will include the use of radios, television, roadshows, online advertising, print advertising, trade shows, publications, and catalogues and brochures. The choice of the right promotional channel will depend on the prevalence of the targeted audience in that channel. Knives are used by every family households, but it becomes the responsibility of the parents, more so, mothers to purchase them. However, restaurants, butcheries, ice cream parlors, fruit parlors, and food courts also use the knives a great deal. The above chosen media for promotional services will, therefore, be appropriate as they are all accessible to the targeted groups mentioned. However, allocation of funds in the promotional budget will depend on the extent of promotional services in that particular medium as well as the effectiveness of advertising in such a medium (Bizmove, 2013). The promotional budget will be considered to be 23% of the total sales realized. However, as the sales increase due to more awareness creation by advertising, the budget will be increasing. It will, therefore, mean that, if more sales are realized, there will be more investment in

The Impact Of Retaining Older Workers In Modern Organizations In North Thesis

The Impact Of Retaining Older Workers In Modern Organizations In North America - Thesis Example This, when read in conjunction with the above valid hypothesis, implies that the surveyed organizations do not have adequate policies of motivating and retaining older employees. The research recommended that these organizations should pay attention to providing training and development opportunities, clarity of purpose and decision making to the younger employees in order for them to make greater contribution to the organization. The current paper aims to examine the relationship between organizational policies of motivation and retention of older employees and the older workers morale and performance on customer relationship management. The above is found to be worth researching as the organizations are faced with the dilemma of retaining older workers who they presume to have redundant or debilitating abilities or to retire them. However, the researcher believes that the older workers are able to provide their distinct contribution in the form of experience and wisdom and should be encouraged in the organizations. The following paper therefore hopes to provide a valid reason for making the above recommendations. The research will undertake a non-human approach, where secondary data will be collected and analyzed. The research will firstly will delve into the available literature related to the costs and benefits of retaining older workers. This will help in formulating a background for the next section of the research that would deal with a statistical analysis of the research data collected by a consultancy organization, Denison Consulting, LLC. The data collected by Denison Consulting, LLC via its Organizational Culture Survey will be analyzed to test the research hypotheses. The workplace is increasingly becoming diverse with people from different genders, ethnicity, cultures or even different nations come together to perform their jobs. There have been great

Com law and ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Com law and ethics - Essay Example There are several issues that portray the publisher of the Larry Flynt as to have violated several ethical concerns. These ethical concerns revolve around privacy, objectivity and accuracy. First, was the issue of accuracy; when Flynt was approached with the nude pictures of the First Lady Jacqueline Keneddy Onassis, he never sought to establish the facts and context on which the pictures were taken. The first lady is said to have been sunbathing when the photos were taken, and yet the same would not be said in the hustler magazine. Secondly, Flynt had violated the right of children. The daughter had reported that at 19, Flynt forced him to appear in the magazine posing naked and threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate. This was one of the ethical considerations he failed to observe in his publication. He did not seek the consent of some of the images he wanted to appear in his magazine. The involvement of many courts in the case of Larry Flynt was because of appeals that were being made in reaction to dissatisfaction that was witnessed in the lower courts. Usually, when there is dissatisfaction on the findings of a particular court verdict, the parties involved may seek redress of the same matter in higher court through appeal. That is why the people felt that the matter should be addressed in the higher courts. The Supreme Court ruling set some precedence in the criminal justice system. It further proved that individual rights were much protected than any other rights. Though it seemed like Larry was favored by the court, the ultimate victory was the people since the court proved that the rights of individuals would be protected by the constitution. Flynt, Larry, and David Eisenbach. One nation under sex: how the private lives of presidents, first ladies and their lovers changed the course of American history. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

Clinial Excercise physiology(Osteoporosis) Literature review

Clinial Excercise physiology(Osteoporosis) - Literature review Example Recent research recommends that regular exercise at all stages play an imperative role in preventing osteoporosis. Various features serve as a contributing aspects in the development of osteoporosis. A reduction in the level of estrogen, calcium and reduced physical activities pave the way for the augmentation of depletion in bone mass (Chesnut, 1984). Sufficient levels of calcium is required to suppress bone resorption (Korcok, 1982), moreover, bone mineralization or calcification strengthens the bone (Williams, 1984). Physiotherapy plays a pivotal role in treating patients who are at the potential risk or those who are afflicted with this condition. It is essential that physiotherapist must possess sound awareness and knowledge regarding the condition and management of osteoporosis. The present article provides an overview about osteoporosis along with the information regarding features for the development of osteoporosis. It is highly recommended that postural guidance accompanied by weight-bearing workouts play key role in managing patients with indicative osteoporosis (Kanis, 1994). Recent study conducted by Bergland et al (2010) concludes that exercise improved mobility, balance and HRQOL (Health Related Quality of Life) in osteoporosis with a history of vertebral fractures. Similar recommendations are given by Nikander et al (2010), stated that exercise has a great implication on bone strength in children but could not gather enough data to prove the implication of exercise on adults. Another approach was made by Lirani-Galvà £o and Lazaretti-Castro (2010) emphasising that osteoporosis and its consequential fractures are emerging as major health issues amongst the elderly population. They emphasized that impact exercises, specific strength training, balance and co-ordination training enable one to sustain or enhance the density of spine and hip bones and diminish the incidence of falls amongst the elderly group. It is also suggested that

Customer involvement in new product development Essay

Customer involvement in new product development - Essay Example 84). At the end of the day when the products are introduced to the market it is the customers who will buy them. This is the reason as to why some marketing professionals have the assertion that customer contribution can be of high importance to the process of introducing a new product (Hesselbach & Herrmann 2011, p. 207). Some people disagree with this assertion with claims that customers cannot really know if they want something that does not exist already. The purpose of this report is to enhance the understanding on the role that customers can play in the product development process. By the use of marketing theory, practice, and other marketing concepts this reports will prove just how important customer contribution can be to the development process of new products. It is important for a business organization to know that improving the relationship between them and the customers should go beyond just the economic relationship of buyers and sellers. The main aim of all organizations in the business world is to get a competitive advantage that cannot be undone. The ways through which they can be able to get such an advantage is through making sure that their products are valuable, rare, un-substitutable and un-imitable. Developing such a product is in no way something that can be considered a walk in the park. If in any case a product is to become valuable it is the customers who have to value it if in any case it has to do well in the market (Sandmeier 2008, p. 56). Therefore, it will be important for a business organization to know exactly what their targeted market values (Foss 2012, p. 129). By knowing what they value the company can also come up with a product that is not substitutable because they will be able to add the values that the oth er products that are already in the market are missing. In the process of developing and introducing a new product to the market, there is always some uncertainty. The

Filme review Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Filme - Movie Review Example What impressed me most about the movie is that it has captured the exact economic, social, political and psychological conditions of the victims of the post world war era through showing ladies who stand in queues to get water, ruined buildings, behavior of the society when the lead character accuses the boy of stealing his bicycle etc. The visuals all point to the torn apart post war city and the dialogs of the characters further exemplify the economic situation of that era. This is evidenced when the protagonist, Antonio, tells his wife that he feels â€Å"like a man in chains† (Bicycle Thieves, 1948). This dialog right here is the epitome of the helpless situation of the working class people, that is, although they were ready to work hard for a living, they were constrained by various elements thus entailing in their jobless state and miserable life. However, on the other hand, the movie also portrays the selfless love a wife must possess towards her husband and furthermore illustrates the concepts of familial relationship and sacrifices giving them the most importance. As far as I am concerned, familial relationships are of great prominence and it is this kind of relationships and concepts that I value the most, and since the movie deftly demonstrates this, it appeals the most to me. Therefore, according to me, this was the best film I have seen as compared to other movies shown in this semester. 2) Name some of the special effects, camera techniques and camera composition used in â€Å"Citizen Kane† and how was this evidenced in the film itself? The camera techniques used in the movie â€Å"Citizen Kane† (1941), directed by Orson Wells who also performs in the title role, become evident from the scene presenting Xanadu, Kane’s old age retreat. The protagonist withdraws to this location in his old age as a symbol of his isolation from the society. The audience is first given a long shot view of the old fortress like residence wit h its gates towering over the frame. By providing such a view of his home, the audience receives a sense of Kane’s power through the overbearing view of the gate that separates the home from the rest of the world. Again, in the scene where the animals are shown, the camera pans onto the cage, again giving the viewers a sense of Kane’s power that has enabled him to create his own world, by eschewing the American way of life. Many similar cases can be seen in the movie which exemplifies the deft use of camera and angles. 3) We watched De Sica’s â€Å"Bicycle Thieves† this semester. What was so important about Italian Neorealism and how was this evidenced in the film itself? Italian Neorealism was the first post war cinematic movement that freed filmmaking from the realm of perfect worlds portrayed in the movies, thus its significance cannot be overlooked. Prior to this movement, the Italian films were greatly influenced by Hollywood movies, with which littl e could the people of Italy relate to. However, once this new trend surfaced, it transformed cinematography and boosted it into a new phase that brought to the fore movies reflecting the real life conditions of the working class people from all aspects including economic, psychological, social, moral, political etc. Bicycle Thieves evidences neorealism through the portrayal of non professional actors, natural settings and

Project Management Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Project Management Report - Essay Example In this regard employee training is an extremely imperative trend that has recently grasped a great deal of attention in the corporate world. Business leaders like Accenture Ltd. and Macquere Bank have specifically focused on educating their employees, in the meantime a number of firms that provide training facilities to businesses have also developed, thus creating an entirely new faction of organizational structure, that is, Human Resource Management. Technological Advancements and progress in Information Technology have made computer proficiency a requirement of the modern business. These developments simultaneously entail employees to be skilled in IT in order to effectively compete for career improvement. With the above objectives in sight a Postgraduate Professional MIS course was designed to train IT consultants the art of Systems Development and Mechanism so as to enhance the IS efficiency within the organization and to simultaneously reap advantages through research and development. The Project designed under the title of 'Organizational IT Change (OTC)', is an eighteen-month comprehensive training course. OTC has been specifically developed to address some extremely important aspects of current corporate requirements. It will comprise of coaching in the following modules OTC would involve a provision of compl... OTC would involve a provision of complete theoretical knowledge pooled with practical exposure and a close analysis of the recent patterns of IT development in the industry with a particular emphasis on research and consultancy. The project would aim not only at developing the technological skills of the individuals but simultaneously nourishing their communication and critical expertise so as to enable them to effectively apply the abstract knowledge to realistic circumstances. Classes for the course would be held within the organizational premises while the lecturers will be outsourced from some of the leading universities in the Computer Science Departments. Accenture Limited has also been contacted and we are expecting a regular supply of Guest Speakers who would frequently relate the growing trends and IT solutions to employees. Project Scope OTC was the result of a detailed analysis and was gauged on the basis of SMART objectives before outlining its final design. It was extremely vital to design a specific, tangible and measurable scope in order to clearly define the deliverables to the stakeholders and to facilitate a successful achievement of the objectives. OTC has been specially designed for skilled IT professionals who are at least acquainted with the fundamental IS knowledge and possess a bachelor's degree or under any circumstances a minimum diploma in Information Systems. For the function of testing the capacity of the employees has been fixed to twenty initially and these individuals will be entirely selected from the IT department. A basic 20 minute test would be conducted to serve as the source for selection. The purpose of OTC is to convey skills that enhance the system designing and development

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay Example for Free

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s early twentieth century masterpiece serves as the author’s critique on the 1920’s culture of extravagance to which he was admittedly was part of. The prosperous economy of the early twentieth century allowed the upper strata of the population to lead entirely leisure-filled lifestyles and it was in this setting that Fitzgerald framed his social criticisms, told through a first personal narrative account by the character, Nick. The theme of carelessness presents itself again and again throughout the course of the novel, mainly manifested through the actions of every major character in the book. The way carelessness is manifested in each character differs; however, the underlying commonality between all the characters is the availability of money. This is purposefully woven into the story by Fitzgerald to reflect the superfluous times of the period.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tom and Daisy were careless with regards to many aspects of their lives, especially their marriage and their money. Tom took his relationship with Daisy for granted, unabashedly flaunting his affair with Myrtle without the least bit of consideration for Daisy. It is Tom’s egotistical personality that ultimately haunts him. Having been raised in luxury and privilege his entire life, Tom considered his actions to be without effect having never been forced to deal with the causalities of responsibility. As Nick observes, They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. . . .(189) Tom’s refusal to acknowledge consequences created the possibility and motivation for Daisy and Gatsby to fall in love. Tom’s solution was, of course, to take Daisy and run away from the problem at hand. Daisy also provides the perfect example of her carelessness during a conversation with Nick in which he tells her she is a â€Å"careless† driver. I am careful. No, youre not Well, other people are, she said lightly. Whats that got to do with it? Theyll keep out of my way, she insisted. It takes two to make an accident. Suppose you meet somebody just as careless as yourself. I hope I never will, she answered. I hate careless people.(63) Jordan, like Tom and Daisy, was raised in privilege and also displayed the utterly self-centered attitude of them as well. Jordan differed in her carelessness in the sense that she was used to men being attracted to her and having them at her disposal that she developed an inability to empathize with those coping with the effects of her actions. She also displayed the trademark characteristic during the golf tournament when she won the match after kicking the golf-ball into the hole. She was careless both by cheating in the first place as well as not being mindful of the crowd watching her while she cheated. The theme of carelessness resurfaces many times throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s â€Å"The Great Gatsby.† Each of the main characters exhibits this trait, and all are affected negatively by their careless actions. The theme was intentionally utilized as a focal point serving to highlight the general atmosphere of 1920’s decadence and free-spiritedness. â€Å"The Great Gatsby† continues to serve as a unique internal criticism of a decade that concerned itself the frivolities of aristocratic life. Outline Introduction – The story serves as Fitzgerald’s critique of his own   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     society. The leisurely lifestyle was allowed by the economic prosperity of the time The underlying characteristic is the presence of money Tom and Daisy – Tom took Daisy for granted in their marriage by affair with Myrtle Tom took Myrtle for granted and then lost her because of Daisy’s Carelessness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      He does not acknowledge the effects of his actions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Quote by Nick observing this carelessness in both Tom and Daisy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   -Daisy’s conversation with Nick concerning her reckless driving Jordan – Considers men to be disposable -She was born into privilege like Nick, Tom and Daisy -Example of the golf tournament used to illustrate her carelessness and selfishness Conclusion – Every character in the story is effected by their own carelessness or by that of another person. -Carelessness was chosen as a theme intentionally by Fitzgerald to serve as a critique on his society at the time

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird incorporates historically accurate material into an otherwise fictional story. Drawing upon current events, social conditions, and attitudes prevalent in the United States during the 1930s, the novel’s setting, characters and themes depict a realistic interpretation of life in a southern town during the Depression. This classic novel takes place during the early 1930s. The novel accurately portrays the social system and troubles of the Depression era, where poverty and unemployment affected numerous states, including Alabama. Poverty seemed to have been the main struggle for families in the 1930s. Atticus Finch, the protagonist of the novel, an educated lawyer, who goes to work in clean clothes, and owns enough money to hire a black housekeeper to watch over his children belonged to the elite of local society, however they too were low on money. Poverty seemed to have contributed to making the south a class-conscious society. As Jem said â€Å"There’s four kinds of folks in the word. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.† (page 103) To further explain, the Finches stand towards the top of Maycomb’s social hierarchy, following the townspeople beneath them. After the townspeople come the ignorant farmers such as the Cunninghams, then the white trash Ewells resting at the bottom of the totem pole. However at the very bottom of the list come the African-Americans. These social divisions are what make up Maycomb, causing children’s perplexity at the class status, and prejudice in human interaction amongst Maycomb’s few residents. It is evident that the way things are in the small town of Maycomb, are the way they have always been. At this time, in the early 1930’s, automobiles had only been around for a few years, it was common for most families to depend on horses for transportation, while the more elite were fortunate enough to drive automobiles. The Great Depression affected every group of Americans during the tough era. Whether one was a farmer like Mr. Cunningham or a lawyer like Atticus Finch, black or white, young or old, they were affected. However in those years, there was a clear hierarchy and difference between those that had money and lived in nice, furnished houses, compared to those who struggled to operate their own farm. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee focused more on the differences between whites and blacks in the society. To Kill a Mockingbird portrayed the racial injustices and prejudice against African Americans in the United States during the Great Depression. These criminal rights issues were shown during the Trial of Tom Robinson. All black men were viewed as rapists, after a false rumor and accusation. It is evident Maycomb has always been racially segregated. The African-Americans of Maycomb have their own church and cemetery outside the cities border. Inside the courtroom, the white hav e good seats on the floor, while the blacks sit up in the balcony in their own separate section. Similar to this, in movie theatres designated doors were assigned to coloured and whites with signs written on separate doors. White and black children attended different schools until school segregation was established in 1954. Whites and blacks were not allowed in the same jail cells, and the inequality amongst races in the courtroom during trials. Once Mayella, Mr. Ewell and Tom Robinson had all testified, even though it was clear Tom Robinson was innocent, the jury claimed him guilty because they wouldn’t allow a black man free against the testimony of two white people. Similar to Tom Robinson’s trail is the Scottsboro trial that took place in March of 1931 in Alabama. That day, two white girls were allegedly raped by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad. Although there was no evidence connecting the boys to the women, they were all charged with rape and sent t o jail. This court case caused many trails, convictions and punishments for a crime that was never committed. Both Tom Robinson and the Scottsboro trial dealt with the word of a white woman against the word of an African-American and the fact there was no real evidence. There were several instances where a black man had been killed before he was put on trial. This type of racism occurred because the white people saw themselves as better and more civilized people The families and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird were accurately portrayed in traditional, old fashioned households in the early 1930’s. Girls were expected to act like ladies, and boys to act like gentlemen. The traditional woman jobs included stay at home house wives, and teachers such as Miss Caroline. Scout is unlike more girls her age. She prefers overalls and a button up shirt as supposed to a dress with stockings. However, Atticus’s sister, Aunt Alexandra is the perfect southern lady. She has very strict and traditional ideas of how Maycomb’s society works and the roles a Southern woman must play. She earnestly tried to pass along and teach Scout to becoming a lady, who is not predominantly interested. Her concernedness and determination lead to her stay with the family the summer of Tom Robinson’s trail to â€Å"properly† raise Jem and Scout. Atticus treats his children as adults, and expects to be treated with respect. Majority of the population of Alabama at this time were Christians, and attended church every Sunday morning. Calpurnia, the Finchs coloured house keeper took Jem and Scout to the church for African-Americans outside of town on Sundays. There, the kids saw that Calpurnia acted differently with her friends they she did in the Finches household. That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages. (page 128). Back in 1930, the majority of the African-American population was uneducated. They did not have the same opportunities as the whites. A typical colored family in the 1930s consisted of the wife working as a maid or housekeeper, the man working a very low income job, and the children often did not attend school, and instead helped provide an income for the family. After Tom Robinson was put in jail, Helen, his wife, no longer had an income. The old fashioned households are to say were due to the stubbornness of the society, and the unwillingness to change. Atticus Finch, unlike most Maycomb residents, was the only one to come into Tom Robinson’s defense, demonstrating his kindness and his firm beliefs of equality. To Kill a Mockingbird depicts multiple themes, however the most important theme is the exploration of moral nature of humans. In other words, whether people are good or evil. This is shown through Jem and Scout’s childhood innocence being transitioned into a more adult perspective. Like any kids, Jem and Scout assumed that all people are good, because they had never seen evil. However, after witnessing the Tom Robinson trial, the children see that there is evil that exists. Despite Tom’s conviction Scout struggled to understand yet still maintained faith in human nature. However Jem’s faith in humanity was damaged once discovery the evil of racism. A prime example of goodness is Atticus Finch. All throughout the novel, he stood up for his personal beliefs. He taught his children, as well as the town that people contain aspects of good and evil, however the good often will prevail. Atticus struggles to change the society’s perspective, however continues to stand wall because he believes goodness will prevail over all evil, including racism and racial equality will soon exist. Conflicts are caused between certain individuals and the community, when each has a different standard of right and wrong. Due to Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson in his trial, the farmers, including Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Ewell were not happy with Mr. Finch. Atti cus stood tall from the beginning to the very end of the trial, in hopes of proving to the town about goodness. Scout developed as a character in the novel through her gradual development towards understanding Atticus’s lessons about goodness. In the final chapters, she viewed the world from Boo Radley’s perspective and has a strong belief that in the end, goodness prevails. Published in 1960, some believe To Kill a Mockingbird is an autobiography of Harper Lee’s life. However she denied that the story is not an autobiography and simply wrote â€Å"what she knows†. There are numerous similarities between the characters and setting and her own childhood and life growing up. Harper Lee grew up in Monroeville, a small town in Alabama similar to Maycomb. Similarities between herself and Scout’s life are unmistakable. Her father, A.C. Lee, was her inspiration for Atticus’s character. He too was a lawyer and defended two black men accused of murder. However these two men were found guilty and were hung. Lee described her childhood in an interview as being a â€Å"rough n tough tomboy†. Growing up she was surrounded by racism and occasional violence, and said her childhood inspired her to write To Kill a Mockingbird. Through the use of setting, characters and one of the many themes, To Kill a Mockingbird accurately represented the southern United States in the early 1930s. Written 30 years later, Harper Lee was able to loosely incorporate similar events, environments, and social aspects of Alabama during the years of the Great Depression. One reason why this novel is considered an all-time classic is because of its lasting significance that portrays different aspects or events and issues, making it worthwhile and memorable. Works Cited Crow, Jim. The Scottsboro Case (1931). PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_scotts.html To Kill a Mockingbird: Scottsboro Trials. To Kill a Mockingbird: Scottsboro Trials. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/mockingbird/scottsboro.htm Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. N.p., 09 July 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://www.slideshare.net/es99.trish.turner/themes-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird. Study Guides Essay Editing. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/.

Microsoft Corporation Company Review

Microsoft Corporation Company Review INTRODUCTION Computers have come to be vital technologies in every single line of work at present. Bulk of the present obligations and tasks being completed at assorted firms and associations are by now computer-based, and this is a sure signal that they are keen to invest deeply in these technologies to make their procedures far extra competent and productive. Even if the computer multimedia marketplace is loaded alongside tough competitors, there is no mistrust that Microsoft is method in front of the pack in words of being the most reliable and progressive computer multimedia producing firm all above the world. Its large resources and competent people have allowed the association to produce a expansive array of produce that are able to address the disparate computing needs and hobbies of its globe customers. Microsoft’s attendance all above the globe has additionally come to be stronger above the past couple of years as the firm aims to distinct itself from the rest of the contest and h ave a stable grasp at the top spot of the computer multimedia and hardware industry. With CEO Steve Ballmer grasping the date-to-date procedures of the firm, Microsoft has honestly not ever looked back and has stayed forceful and lucrative even as the present commercial disaster has negatively altered the procedures of its competitors. Specialists forecast that Microsoft will tolerate to solidify its by now dominant locale in the computer multimedia and hardware industry above the subsequent couple of years as they retain on maximising their profitability and comprehensive globe reach. COMPANY BACKGROUND Microsoft Corporation is the leading software company with at least one of its product on virtually every computer on this planet. Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company on April 4, 1975. Bill Gates is among the top 3 richest person in this world as declared by Forbes Magazine. Microsoft Corporation deals in developing, licensing designing a range of software products. It also manufactures and sells hardware products. The company has products in entertainment consoles like Xbox360 and Kinect for Xbox. Role of organisational behaviour at the company Microsoft Corporation has a wide range of products under its belt. It is critical for a company of this size to manage its organisational strategies and behaviour to sustain in the market and its position. The company functions in five segments: Windows and Windows Live Division, Server and Tools, Online Services Division Microsoft Business Division. In recent times, Microsoft has given importance to the concept of sustainability. It has initiated an unusual strategy of taxing internal fee on carbon. It will charge its clients for every ton of carbon it produces that means they will charge to recycle every ton of carbon produced. However, it has pointed out a few major reasons this strategy: Behaviour Change – Microsoft aims to reduce the overall carbon emissions and energy utilisation. They have analysed previous reports and emphasised on the use of renewable energy to increase the efficiency. As per the statement by Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Strategist, if someone decides to use carbon based power resources, they’ll be charge an additional fee as a tax to discourage such pathways. Organisation Accountability – Microsoft has learnt from the past to imply new changes to the organisation, it needs to divide it into smaller divisions. The executives that run that facility will be empowered to address any sustainability concerns to drive better efficiency figures and adopt greener power resources. It initiated to tax on carbon power use internally before charging its external clients. Risk Reduction – Microsoft has encouraged all its employees to understand the energy related risks. Microsoft has begun to address its employees and customers to operate through cloud-based services. They utilize significantly their own power and reduce predictable variable cost that brings down the costs and adds to the renewable energy figures. Sales at Vendor Choice – Through its customer feedbacks and previous reports analysis, they have found that the customers are in search of reliable service providers at lower costs and lower carbon emissions. Thus, they have emphasised on alternative energy resources to land new customers and expand their operations with existing clients. (http://blogs.hbr.org/2012/05/microsoft-taxes-itself/) Human Resource Management Human Resource at Microsoft is a priority as the company drives on the path of success based on their employee’s performance. In the beginning, Microsoft used to recruit employee based on their experience over intelligence. But during the slow down of the company’s success, it realised that their employee performance was going down. Bill Gates re-invented the recruitment strategy model by recruiting intelligent staff over experienced staff. According to his experience, he found that intelligence drives aggression in performance. CEO Steve Ballmer says, â€Å"whenever you meet a kick-ass guy, get him† (Bartlett 2). They re-modeled the human resource hiring strategy policies: Attract retain employees, Increase organizational insight, Store and access employee information, Personalize Role Centers to speed productivity Provide online access with employee Portal. Soon, realizing that employee’s are the greatest assets of a company. Microsoft’s strate gies started to reflect this philosophy. The human resource management had the following steps: Recruitment selection, Employee motivation, Employee loyalty satisfaction and Employee rewards. They broke down projects and decided to coherent a strategy of center of excellence to enhance project timing and coordination. Thus, you can measure Microsoft’s success in the recent years based on their employee performance and efficiency. (http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/za/products/ax-hr-management.aspx) (http://mgmt.talkingvillage.com/article.x/1866) International Business Technology Management Microsoft partners with CA Technologies to address its top IT needs. IT companies face fierce competition and challenges like sustainability, IT innovation, management and greener computing. It delivers solutions combine current technology with advanced technology. Technology helps to maximise investments along with security and redundancy to match with the current and future business goals. (http://www.ca.com/us/partners/spotlights/microsoft-corporation.aspx) Analysis of entrepreneurship and innovation at the company Future Strategies Management Adaptive Systems and Interaction: The Adaptive Systems Interaction group (ASI) pursues research on automated reasoning, adaptation, and human-computer interaction. Interests of the group include principles and applications of decision-making and learning, computation in the face of complexity, techniques for information management and search, and the development and evaluation of innovative designs for visualization and interaction. Research goals include both the pursuit of basic science and the development of computing and communications applications that demonstrate new functionalities and flexibility. ASI is at the center of user modelling at Microsoft Research, focused on inferring the goals and needs of users from multiple sources of information about activity and interests. The group is also home to research on information retrieval and management, including work in automated text classification and clustering. The ASI team continually attempts to identify new means for enriching the user experience through advances in automated reasoning and user interface design. (http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/groups/adapt/) Speech technology: Our main aim is to craft requests that make computers obtainable everywhere, and work alongside our product-side partners to make this vision a reality. We are interested not merely in crafting state-of-the-art articulated speech constituents and additionally in how these disparate constituents can come jointly alongside supplementary modes of human-computer contact to form a fused, consistent computing environment. We are pursuing countless undertakings to aid us grasp our vision of a fully speech-enabled computer. (http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/groups/srg/) Natural Language Processing: The aim of the Natural Speech Processing (NLP) group is to design and craft multimedia that will examine, comprehend, and produce tongues that humans use naturally, so that in the end you will be able to address your computer as nevertheless you were addressing one more person. This aim is not facile to reach Understanding speech way, amid supplementary things, knowing what thoughts a word or phrase stands for and knowing how to link those thoughts jointly in a meaningful way. Its ironic that usual speech, the signal arrangement that is easiest for humans to discover and use, is hardest for a computer to master. Long afterward mechanisms have proven capable of inverting colossal matrices alongside speed and grace, they yet flounder to chief the basics of our articulated and composed languages. We address these setbacks employing a blend of knowledge-engineered and statistical/machine-learning methods to disambiguate and answer to usual speech input. Our work has implications for requests like text assessing, data retrieval, question responding, summarization, gaming, and translation. The syntax checkers in Workplace for English, French, German, and Spanish are outgrowths of our research; Encarta uses our knowledge to reclaim answers to user questions; Intellishrink uses usual speech knowledge to compress cellphone messages; Microsoft Product Prop uses our contraption translation multimedia to elucidate the Microsoft Vision Center into supplementary languages. As our work evolves, we anticipate it to enable each span whereas human users can benefit by conversing alongside their computers in a usual way. (http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/groups/nlp/)

Burns :: essays research papers

Burns Epidemiology: US – 2M seek serious burns  70k require hospitalizations, 5k die Usually caused by careless and ignorance, nearly half are smoking or alcohol -related. Goal: well healed durable skin with normal function and near-normal appearance. Pathology Cutaneous burns – caused primarily by the application of heat to the skin resulting in coagulative necrosis of some or all of the epidermis and dermis. Depth of burn – depends on heat of the burn source, thickness of the skin, duration of contact, and the blood flow. Classifications: Shallow burns †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First Degree – involve only the epidermis; no blisters; painful and erythematous due to dermal vasodilation; erythema and pain subsides in 2-3 days; desquamation occurs in day 4 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Superficial Dermal Burns (Second Degree) - include the upper layer of the dermis; form blisters at the interface of the epidermis and dermis; when blisters are removed, wound is pink and wet, and currents of air passing over it cause pain; wound is hypersensitive and blanches with pressure; if without infection, spontaneous healing in 5% TBSA in any age group 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electrical burns including lightning injury 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chemical injury 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inhalation injury 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns of any size in patients with pre-existing medical disorders that could complicate management, prolong recovery, or affect mortality 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns with concomitant mechanical trauma (e.g. fractures) where the burn injury poses the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns in children if there are no qualified personnel or equipment for pediatric care at the initial hospital 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns in patients requiring special social, emotional, and/or long-term rehabilitative support, including cases of suspected child abuse, substance abuse, etc Emergency Care Airway – initial attention must be directed to this; if patient is rescued from a burning building or exposed to a smoky fire, place on 100% oxygen by tight-fitting mask; if patient unconscious, place ET tube attached to a source of 100% oxygen Once airway is secured, assess patient for other injuries and transport to the nearest hospital. Begin fluid administration of crystalloid solution at a rate of approximately 1L/h. Wrap patient in clean sheet, remove constricting clothing and jewelries. Cold application is used in smaller burns, particularly scalds. Ice should not be used. Assessment of Inhalational Injury - suspect for patients with a flame burn, esp in enclosed space. Hoarseness and expiratory wheezes are signs of potentially serious airway edema or smoke poisoning; inspect mouth for swelling, blisters, soot; copious mucus production and carbonaceous sputum are signs of smoke inhalation and other products of combustion; get ABGs and carboxyhemoglobin levels (if >1, smoke inhalation) Burns :: essays research papers Burns Epidemiology: US – 2M seek serious burns  70k require hospitalizations, 5k die Usually caused by careless and ignorance, nearly half are smoking or alcohol -related. Goal: well healed durable skin with normal function and near-normal appearance. Pathology Cutaneous burns – caused primarily by the application of heat to the skin resulting in coagulative necrosis of some or all of the epidermis and dermis. Depth of burn – depends on heat of the burn source, thickness of the skin, duration of contact, and the blood flow. Classifications: Shallow burns †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First Degree – involve only the epidermis; no blisters; painful and erythematous due to dermal vasodilation; erythema and pain subsides in 2-3 days; desquamation occurs in day 4 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Superficial Dermal Burns (Second Degree) - include the upper layer of the dermis; form blisters at the interface of the epidermis and dermis; when blisters are removed, wound is pink and wet, and currents of air passing over it cause pain; wound is hypersensitive and blanches with pressure; if without infection, spontaneous healing in 5% TBSA in any age group 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electrical burns including lightning injury 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chemical injury 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Inhalation injury 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns of any size in patients with pre-existing medical disorders that could complicate management, prolong recovery, or affect mortality 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns with concomitant mechanical trauma (e.g. fractures) where the burn injury poses the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns in children if there are no qualified personnel or equipment for pediatric care at the initial hospital 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Burns in patients requiring special social, emotional, and/or long-term rehabilitative support, including cases of suspected child abuse, substance abuse, etc Emergency Care Airway – initial attention must be directed to this; if patient is rescued from a burning building or exposed to a smoky fire, place on 100% oxygen by tight-fitting mask; if patient unconscious, place ET tube attached to a source of 100% oxygen Once airway is secured, assess patient for other injuries and transport to the nearest hospital. Begin fluid administration of crystalloid solution at a rate of approximately 1L/h. Wrap patient in clean sheet, remove constricting clothing and jewelries. Cold application is used in smaller burns, particularly scalds. Ice should not be used. Assessment of Inhalational Injury - suspect for patients with a flame burn, esp in enclosed space. Hoarseness and expiratory wheezes are signs of potentially serious airway edema or smoke poisoning; inspect mouth for swelling, blisters, soot; copious mucus production and carbonaceous sputum are signs of smoke inhalation and other products of combustion; get ABGs and carboxyhemoglobin levels (if >1, smoke inhalation)

dynamics of groups :: essays research papers

In the beginning, God made an individual - and then he made a pair. The pair formed a group, together they begat others and thus the group grew. Unfortunately, working in a group led to friction, the group disintegrated in conflict and Caian settled in the land of Nod - there has been trouble with groups ever since. When people work in groups, there are two quite separate issues involved. The first is the task and the problems involved in getting the job done. Frequently this is the only issue which the group considers. The second is the process of the group work itself: the mechanisms by which the group acts as a unit and not as a loose rabble. However, without due attention to this process the value of the group can be diminished or even destroyed; yet with a little explicit management of the process, it can enhance the worth of the group to be many times the sum of the worth of its individuals. It is this synergy which makes group work attractive in corporate organization despite the possible problems (and time spent) in group formation. This article examines the group process and how it can best be utilized. The key is that the group should be viewed as an important resource whose maintenance must be managed just like any other resource and that this management should be undertaken by the group itself so that it forms a normal part of the group's activities. What is a Group? A group of people working in the same room, or even on a common project, does not necessarily invoke the group process. If the group is managed in a totally autocratic manner, there may be little opportunity for interaction relating to the work; if there is factioning within the group, the process may never evolve. On the other hand, the group process may be utilized by normally distant individuals working on different projects; for instance, at IEE colloquia. In simple terms, the group process leads to a spirit of cooperation, coordination and commonly understood procedures and mores. If this is present within a group of people, then their performance will be enhanced by their mutual support (both practical and moral). If you think this is a nebulous concept when applied to the world of industry, consider the opposite effect that a self-opinionated, cantankerous loud-mouth would have on your performance and then contrast that to working with a friendly, open, helpful associate.

Essay --

Providing a high and consistent level of care to patients and their families is something that I feel strongly about, and wish to become a part of. Becoming a nurse is far more than going to work and coming home again. To be a great nurse requires certain skills, some of which we are taught, others that we have instilled in us from a young age. These include compassion, sympathy and the ability to treat everyone as equals regardless of background, ethnicity or cultural beliefs. These are not things we are taught in education, but we teach ourselves and learn from others. The ability to provide high quality care should not be compromised. Having to watch a loved one deteriorate in front of your eyes can be heart wrenching, to be able to deal with the situation with the upmost respect is something that needs to be done on a daily basis for people in the medical profession. After leaving school I trained to be a hairdresser as I knew working with people was something I always wanted to do. During this time I was taught the skills required to style peoples hair, however I also gained v...

Hutu Tribe

Hutu The mention of the word â€Å"Hutu† immediately conjures up images of mass murder from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The recent film Hotel Rwanda brought the horrible atrocities of that genocide to the public eye. However, it is not only in Rwanda that the Hutu have been involved in ethnic war. The country of Burundi, a neighbor to Rwanda, was the site of the first violence between the Hutu and the Tutsi. The Hutu people of Burundi have a rich culture and history that has been largely overshadowed by ethnic conflict. The Hutu are a Bantu tribe numbering about thirteen million (Newbury 2001).Traditionally the Hutu organized themselves in clans and family groups through patrilineal decent (Ndarishikanye 1998). Within these groups they practiced polygyny and bridewealth as part of the institution of marriage (McDonald et. al 1969). Like many African tribes the Hutu’s religious beliefs include the spirit world. The supreme God Imana is seen as the giver of all good whil e there are lesser spirits who do evil (book). The Hutu inhabit the high plateau of the central African Rift Valley and inhabited 85% of Rwanda and Burundi before the ethnic wars in those countries (CIA World Factbook).The Hutu inhabit diverse geographies. In the southeast region of the Rwanda and Burundi territory there are open grasslands which are ideal for pastoral people. In the western region of the countries there are mountains. The west is good land for agriculture because it reliably receives rainfall. In the northeast there are lowlands that are along Lake Tanganyika (Newbury, 2001). This vast array of ecologies provides different possibilities for food production or procurement.The Hutu are traditionally agriculturalist but they did get involved in herding cattle because of the closely related Tutsi tribe. The Hutu wanted cattle and the Tutsi wanted laborers. To appease both groups, agreements called ubuhake were made. These agreements exchanged the Tutsi cattle for the H utu labor. In other words when a Hutu entered this agreement he received cattle but in return became submissive to a Tutsi owner (Louis 1963). This is one reason that the minority Tutsi rose to control economics and rule over the majority Hutu, this would later lead to ethnic conflict.The ethnic conflict between the Tutsi and the Hutu is most famous in Rwanda but the Hutu of Burundi have also been severely affected by ethnic tension throughout the years. Understanding the causes and effects of the violence is a part of understanding the history of the Hutu people. The causes of the ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi are not simply explained. In fact, in 1931 Bernard Zuure, a missionary with seventeen years of work in Burundi, noted that it was pointless to distinguish between the Hutu and Tutsi because their cultures were so similar (Zuure 1931).What then caused the separation between the two ethnicities? According to Alphonse Rugambarara the separation of identities came wh en there was a specific political agenda to create separate Tutsi and Hutu ideologies. These terms created animosity and dichotomist identities where there was actually little difference (Rugambarara 1990). The identities of Hutu and Tutsi were so significant that other ethnicities or social segregations became less important. The role of the Hutu as submissive to the Tutsi was engrained in society.An example of this is that in the Kirundi language (spoken by the Hutu) there is not a word equivalent to the English equality or liberty so Hutu’s could not even verbalize a desire for freedom (Lermarchand 1995). Given the strong identity associated with ethnicity in Burundi the complications behind the explanation of the 1972 genocide are understandable. To get to the root of the problem or causes of the genocide is difficult because the perceptions of the Hutu and Tutsi about the conflict are very different (Lermachand 1995). Liisa Malkki studied Hutu refugees in Tanzania who ha d fled from the genocide.She discovered that in the refugee camps â€Å"mythico-histories† were created. These were stories or parables that the Hutu told which constructed their history and moral truths (Milkka, 1989). These stories were not necessarily untrue or true but they served to construct the identity of the Hutu and the cause of the genocide. The Hutu were not the only tribe developing â€Å"mythico-histories. † The truth is very hard to discern among many â€Å"histories† (Lermarchand 1995). Beyond the â€Å"why’s† of the conflict we can conclude the â€Å"what’s. † What actually took place in Burundi in 1972?In the spring of 1972 on April 29th the Hutu attempted a rebellion against the ruling Tutsi. In response the Tutsi retaliated with warfare. Within several weeks roughly 100,000 people were killed in the ethnic conflict. Of the total population of Burundi 3. 5 percent were wiped out (Mikksa 1989). This was not the last of ethnic violence in Burundi. In 1993 the country saw more violence when its first Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, was assassinated (Lemarchand 2001). The Hutu reacted to the Tutsi murder of their president by killing an estimated 20,000 Tutsi in the two months following the assassination (Lemarchand 2001).Blame for the violence between the two ethnicities cannot be placed on one group or the other, they are both responsible. The history between the Tutsi and the Hutu is full of attack and reaction sequences. Both the Tutsi and the Hutu wanted to have, â€Å"the last word. † With a long history of violence between Tutsi and Hutu in Burundi there have been severe repercussions. The largest affect of the genocide has been the diaspora of Burundi. The conflict in Burundi created both Tutsi and Hutu refugees in search of safety.The UN Refugee Agency (UN Refugee Agency 2007) estimated in June 2007 that a total of 464,026 Burundians had been displaced from their homes. Of that g roup 48,144 had returned to Burundi and 396,541 were still in refugee status (UN Refugee Agency 2007) Of the refugees still in refugee status, not including internally displaced persons (IDP) the UNHCR is assisting 164,191 (UN Refugee Agency 2007). What exactly do all these terms and numbers mean? Put simply they mean that there are hundreds of thousands of people who were forced or chased away from their homes and livelihoods.The UNHCR defines a refugee as â€Å"a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution† (UN Refugee Agency 2007) Under such conditions it is expected that any people group will undergo significant changes. Liisa Milkka has written a book about the ref ugee status of the Hutu’s in Tanzania.She spent one year in Tanzania studying two groups of refugees. Many refugees fled to Tanzania after the genocide of 1972 in Burundi. The first group lived in an isolated refugee camp and the other settled near the town of Kigoma. The town refugees tended to be dispersed amongst non-refugees while the camp refugees were concentrated all in one place (Milkka 1989). Because of these arrangements the town refugees assimilated into the town culture. They took on many identities and did not solely live as â€Å"Hutu† or as â€Å"refugees† (Milkka 1992). Naturally it was more ifficult for the camp people to do the same because they had isolated themselves from the Tanzanians. The camp culture glorified the Hutu identity as the original inhabitants of Burundi who would one day return there to reestablish their kingdom (Milkka 1989). The status of refugee for these camp people was a great thing. It made them become â€Å"a purer an d more powerful Hutu† (Milkka, 1992). These differences between refugee definitions of â€Å"Hutu† complicate the Hutu ethnicity further. Instead of creating more confusion and uncertainty for the Hutu there should be a movement toward unity.This is exactly the approach that the Burundi government has taken to appease the violence between the Hutu and the Tutsi. Instead of stressing differences the government wants to stress unity. By focusing on national unity, democracy, and individual rights the Burundi government has tried to dissolve ethnic tensions (Ndarishikany, 1998). Some discussion has been made about the benefit that could come from reinstating the Burundian abashingatahe (Herisse 2002), which in traditional Burundian society was a judge, moral interpreter and well respected man (Newbury, 2001).The abashingatahe served to reconcile families with communities, certify marriages, settle litigations, maintain peace, and in general speak in favor of human rights ( Herisse 2002). It is argued that bringing this social force back into practice will begin to reconstruct social unity in Burundi. This may be just what the Hutu people need to come together and rebuild. The troubles of the genocides between the Tutsi and Hutu have strained both cultures. Many refugees created by the genocides in Rwanda and Burundi have integrated themselves into foreign cultures.Just an hour to the north of us there are Burundi refugees in the city of Buffalo. These refugees come to the US speaking little if any English. They eventually get jobs and become functioning civilians. As Burundians assimilate into American culture they will eventually lose some of their â€Å"distinct† cultural features. Understanding some of the history of Burundian Hutu’s and the reasons behind the ethnic conflict with the Tutsi can increase the effectiveness with which we help refugees integrate into American society. Works Citied CIA World Factbook. (Nov. 1 2007). Burund i.Retrieved Nov. 13, 2007. https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/by. html#People Lemarchand, Rene. (1998). Genocide in the Greak Lakes: Which Genocide? Whose genocide? African Studies Review, 41, 3-16. Retrieved November 7, 2001, from JSTOR. Malkki, Liisa. (1992). National Geographic: The Rooting of Peoples and Territorialization of National Identity among Scholars and Refugees. Cultural Anthropology, 7, 24-44. from JSTOR. Malkka, Liisa. (1989). Purity and Exile  : Transformations in Historical-National Consciousness among Hutu Refugees in Tanzania.Ann Arbor: University Microfilsm. Malkki, Liisa H. (1996). Speechless Emissaries: Refugees, Humanitarianism, and Dehistoricization. Cultural Anthropology, 11, 377-404. Retrieved November 11, 2007, from JSTOR. McDonald, Gordon C. Brenneman, Lyle E. , Hibbs, Roy V. , James Charlene, A. , Vincenti, Violeta. (1969). Area handbook for Burundi. Ndarishikanye, Barnabe. (1998). The Question of the Protection of Mino rities in Burundi. Issue: A Journal of Opinion, 26, 5-9, Retrieved November 8, 2007, from JSTOR. Newbury, David. 2001) Precolonial Burundi and Rwanda: Local Loyalties, Regional Royalties. The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 34,. 255-314. Retrieved November 8, 2007, from JSTOR. Rockfeler, Herisse, P. (2002). Democracy, Governance and Conflict in Burundi. Peace Studies Journal. 1-10. Rugambarara, Alphonse. (1990). Conscience ethnique. Le Reveil, July-August, 35-40. The UN Refugee Agency. (daily updated). 2006 Refugee Statistics. Retrieved Nov. 11, 2007. http://www. unhcr. org/statistics/STATISTICS/4676a71d4. pdf. Zuure, Bernard. (1931). L’ame du Murundi. Paris: Beauchesne.

A Literature Review About Mecication Errors Essay

Introduction An error rate of 5% is acceptable in most industries, however, in the health care industry; one single error can result in death. (Berntsen, 2004, p5) This paper discusses medication errors in relation to pharmacology and drug treatment. It will summarize three academic peer reviewed journal articles, followed by general information in relation to medication errors, the impact of medication errors on client care, strategies to prevent medication errors  and conclude with the relationship to nursing. Summary of Articles Related to Medication Errors. The first article is by Karin Berntsen, 2004, and is entitled â€Å"How Far Has Health Care Come Since ‘To Err is Human’? Exploring Use of Medical Error Data†. This is a review of what changes have been made since a medication error report written by the Institute of Medicine was published in 1999. This article depicts how the health care system has changed since this 1999 report was written, and how the information was utilized for our benefit. They concluded that in the USA, medical errors were one of the top 8 leading causes of death. They reported the cost for these errors was between $17 Billion to $29 billion dollars. Until a new report is completed, health care providers will be unaware whether their goals in increasing patient safety were accomplished. The article finalizes that there has been progress in regards to prevention of medication errors and health care leaders feel passionate about increasing patient safety. (Berntsen 2004) The second article is by William N. Kelly, 2004, and is titled â€Å"Medication Errors: Lessons Learned and Actions Needed† and highlights the death of a one year old child who was diagnosed with cancer. She subsequently died, not from the cancer, but from receiving an incorrect dosage of a drug that she was being treated with. This report indicates that medications are systematically checked and balanced and errors are usually caught before a drug is administered to a patient. The article states that problems are not being solved in a timely manner since the industry has been â€Å"putting ‘band aids’ on problems that need ‘major surgery’.(Kelly 2004). In conclusion, the article questions whether or not they are taking the right approach in preventing errors. Many people are trying to fix this problem however; errors are still made too frequently. (Kelly 2004) The final article is by Rosemary M. Preston, 2004, and is titled â€Å"Drug Errors and Patient Safety: A Need for Change in Practice†. This article presents that errors continue to happen for many reasons. It concentrates upon calculations errors, lack of knowledge of drugs, over/under dosing drugs,  interactions with drugs and food, and legalities regarding drug administration. It also presents recommendations to minimize the risk of drug errors with good communication and honesty. The article closes by stating that â€Å"nurses should never estimate the skills needed for safe administration of medicines.† (Preston 2004) Key aspects: medication errors and their causes. To understand the impact that medication errors have on a patient, we have to understand what a medication error is. According to Health Canada online, a medication error is defined as: Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order communication; product labelling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use.† [Developed for use by the National Coordinating Council on Medication Error Reporting and Prevention]( http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html) Medication errors occur for a variety of reasons. An error can affect all areas of a health care facility from health care management, staff, physicians, pharmacy and especially patients. Studies have indicated that errors will usually occur when the staff demonstrates signs of fatigue, stress, are over-worked or encounter frequent interruptions and distractions. When physicians display bad handwriting, ineffective communication with patients, and do not educate staff and patients effectively, a medication error is more likely to happen. Poor management can result in more medication errors when there is an emphasis on volume, over service quality. This results in inadequate staffing and disorganization. Medication errors affect all components of the health care environment. (http://www.napra.org/docs/0/95/157-/166.asp) Impact on client care. As disturbing as it sounds, one miniscule error can result in a patient’s injury or can even lead to their death. According to the American Journal of Medicine, statistics reveal that â€Å"more than two million American hospitalized patients suffered a serious adverse drug reaction in relation to injury within the 12-month period and, of these, over 100,000 died as a result.† http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news) Death and injury is a sad reality to any single error. The government established six rights of drug administration to prevent medication errors and ensure accuracy. These six rights include: Right drug, right dose, Right client, right route, right time and right documentation. (Kozier & Erb 2004) Injuries that result from a medication error are called adverse drug events. Usually, these unpleasant effects can be eliminated and injury can be avoided. However, every drug produces harmful side effects, but the severities of these effects vary from individual to individual. These side effects also depend on the drug and the dose given. (Kozier & Erb 2004) Health care professionals must report all errors and are accountable for their actions. No matter how insignificant, nurses are taught to document and report all mistakes. When statistics show what types of errors are made, an analysis can be done. This analysis can be used to plan ways to prevent them medication errors. (Berntsen, 2004)When a nurse does not report a mistake, the probability that it will happen again will increase. Medication errors have a huge impact on client care. They can result in death, injury, and result in unwanted effects of drugs. It is our responsibility as nurses to comply with the clients’ six rights of drug administration, to prevent errors from taking place. Strategies to prevent medication errors. There are many efficient ways to prevent nurses from making an error. To ensure patient safety in all aspects of client care, nurses are taught to think critically, and to problem solve. Nurses use critical thinking to ensure safe, knowledgeable, nursing performance and they must be able to keep up with updated health facts by constantly educating themselves with new information. (Kozier & Erb 2004) Critical thinking assists in the prevention of medication errors. The six rights in drug administration help prevent medication errors from occurring. It is important to maintain the highest standards of practice of these rights for a drug to be prepared properly. Failure to adhere to any one of these rights will definitely result in a medication error. (Clayton & Stock, 2004) Take your time when preparing medications and research any unknown drugs. Rushing should be avoided when preparing, administering and reading medication labels. Proper research must be done before an unfamiliar drug is administered it to a client. Even when in a rushed emergency situation, drugs should be looked at carefully to know the correct concentration and name of the drug, to prevent injury. (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html) Labels should be read carefully and accurately. Before a drug is given to a patient, three checks should be done to ensure you are giving the proper drug and dose. In a situation where you are unsure of a drug order, you are expected to refuse the order and clarify it by law. If an individual is unfamiliar with a particular drug, the drug should not be given. (http://www.napra.org/docs/0/95/157-/166.asp) When a label is unclear, do not try not to examine the drug order yourself. Do not ask an associate, or ask for anyone else’s interpretation of the drug. To get the correct information, contact the individual who ordered the drug to clarify the label. In order to decrease the chances of error, verify all unclear hand writing, abbreviations, decimal points, decimal places and dosages. (http://www.napra.org/docs/0/95/157-/166.asp) Use of dosage abbreviations should not be used to avoid drug miscalculations. Dosage abbreviations are misinterpreted more often, than any other type of abbreviation. Using standardized abbreviations, would assist in preventing misinterpretation of abbreviations. (Preston 2004) A drug check should be done three times prior to the administration of a drug. The drug label should correspond with the physician’s orders. The three checks should be done; â€Å"Before removing the drug from the shelf or dosage cart, before preparing or measuring the actual prescribed dose, and before replacing the drug on the shelf or before opening a unit dose container, just before administering a dose to a patient.† (Clayton & Stock, 2004) Do not make assumptions regarding drugs. Physicians, pharmacists, make mistakes and other parts of the health system may be flawed. For example, when documentation shows the patient has no drug allergy, it is wrongful to assume the patient will have no adverse reaction to a new drug. This could result in detrimental results to a client’s health. Therefore no assumptions should ever me made. (http://www.ismp.org-/ToolsAllina-Orientation.html) A quiet environment for preparing medications will prevent prescription errors from occurring. Sometimes, nurses are repeatedly interrupted when preparing a medication. Distractions interfere with processing information and decision making. Errors will least likely occur when preparations are done when there are no distractions. (http://www.ismp.org-/ToolsAllina-Orientation.html) When preventing errors, staff must be certain all dosage calculations are correct and clarified. It may be beneficial to ask a colleague to assist you in checking doses, to minimize the chance of miscalculations. Other suggestions to minimize error include; â€Å"making pre-calculated conversion cards, always use a leading zero before a decimal, never use a zero after the decimal and include indications whenever possible. Miscalculations are preventable if proper methods of inspecting calculations are used.† (Preston  2004, p.72) Assess for the effects of drugs to avoid harming a client. A client must be assessed before and after a drug is given. For instance, before giving an oral medication, assess whether the client can swallow or feels nauseated. An appropriate follow up should be done after a medication is administered. It is important to check if the client experienced the desired effect of the drug. Significant abnormal responses to drug should be reported to the physician. (Kozier & Erb 2004) Conclusion. To finalize this assignment, medication errors are mistakes that can cause harm to patients and can even result in death. The articles that have been summarized illustrate situations where medication errors have occurred and review what the health care industry is doing to prevent errors. A medication error is preventable and errors can be caused by a variety of reasons. This paper has discussed the impact medication errors have on client care and strategies of how to prevent errors from occurring. As a nurse, this knowledge will assist me in keeping beneficence a priority for client care. References Clayton, Bruce D., BS, RPh, PharmD, and Yvonne N. Stock, MS, BSN, RN. Basic Pharmacology for Nurses. 13th ed. United States of America: Mosby, 2004. Government of Canada Online. (2004, Summer). Retrieved July 18, 2004, from Health Canada Web site: (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html) Kelly, William N. â€Å"Medication Errors.† Professional Safety 49: 35. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Assiniboine Community College. 22 July 2004 . Government of Canada Online. (2004, Summer). Retrieved July 18, 2004, from Health Canada Web site: (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html) Kozier & Erb, Barbara, et al. Fundamentals of Nursing. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. Minimizing Medication Errors. (n.d.). In NAPRA: National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. Retrieved July 17, 2004, from NAPRA: National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities Web site: http://www.napra.org/docs/0/95/157/166.asp Preston, Rosemary M. â€Å"Drug errors and patients safety: the need for a change in practice.† British Journal of Nursing (BJN) 13: 72. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Assiniboine Community College. 22 July 2004 .

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 2. LONG NIGHT

â€Å"I miss you already.† â€Å"I don't need to leave. I can stay___† â€Å"Mmm.† It was quiet for a long moment, just the thud of my heart hammering, the broken rhythm of our ragged breathing, and the whisper of our lips moving in synchronization. Sometimes it was so easy to forget that I was kissing a vampire. Not because he seemed ordinary or human – I could never for a second forget that I was holding someone more angel than man in my arms – but because he made it seem like nothing at all to have his lips against my lips, my face, my throat. He claimed he was long past the temptation my blood used to be for him, that the idea of losing me had cured him of any desire for it. But I knew the smell of my blood still caused him pain – still burned his throat like he was inhaling flames. I opened my eyes and found his open, too, staring at my face. It made no sense when he looked at me that way. Like I was the prize rather than the outrageously lucky winner. Our gazes locked for a moment; his golden eyes were so deep that I imagined I could see all the way into his soul. It seemed silly that this fact – the existence of his soul – had ever been in question, even if he was a vampire. He had the most beautiful soul, more beautiful than his brilliant mind or his incomparable face or his glorious body. He looked back at me as if he could see my soul, too, and as if he liked what he saw. He couldn't see into my mind, though, the way he saw into everyone else's. Who knew why – some strange glitch in my brain that made it immune to all the extraordinary and frightening things some immortals could do. (Only my mind was immune; my body was still subject to vampires with abilities that worked in ways other than Edward's.) But I was seriously grateful to whatever malfunction it was that kept my thoughts a secret. It was just too embarrassing to consider the alternative. I pulled his face to mine again. â€Å"Definitely staying,† he murmured a moment later. â€Å"No, no. It's your bachelor party. You have to go.† I said the words, but the fingers of my right hand locked into his bronze hair, my left pressed tighter against the small of his back. His cool hands stroked my face. â€Å"Bachelor parties are designed for those who are sad to see the passing of their single days. I couldn't be more eager to have mine behind me. So there's really no point.† â€Å"True.† I breathed against the winter-cold skin of his throat. This was pretty close to my happy place. Charlie slept obliviously in his room, which was almost as good as being alone. We were curled up on my small bed, intertwined as much as it was possible, considering the thick afghan I was swathed in like a cocoon. I hated the necessity of the blanket, but it sort of ruined the romance when my teeth started chattering. Charlie would notice if I turned the heat on in August___ At least, if had to be bundled up, Edward's shirt was on the floor. I never got over the shock of how perfect his body was – white, cool, and polished as marble. I ran my hand down his stone chest now, tracing across the flat planes of his stomach, just marveling. A light shudder rippled through him, and his mouth found mine again. Carefully, I let the tip of my tongue press against his glass-smooth lip, and he sighed. His sweet breath washed – cold and delicious – over my face. He started to pull away – that was his automatic response whenever he decided things had gone too far, his reflex reaction whenever he most wanted to keep going. Edward had spent most of his life rejecting any kind of physical gratification. I knew it was terrifying to him trying to change those habits now. â€Å"Wait,† I said, gripping his shoulders and hugging myself close to him. I kicked one leg free and wrapped it around his waist. â€Å"Practice makes perfect.† He chuckled. â€Å"Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldn't we? Have you slept at all in the last month?† â€Å"But this is the dress rehearsal,† I reminded him, â€Å"and we've only practiced certain scenes. It's no time for playing safe.† I thought he would laugh, but he didn't answer, and his body was motionless with sudden stress. The gold in his eyes seemed to harden from a liquid to a solid. I thought over my words, realized what he would have heard in them. â€Å"Bella†¦,† he whispered. â€Å"Don't start this again,† I said. â€Å"A deal's a deal.† â€Å"I don't know. It's too hard to concentrate when you're with me like this. I – I can't think straight. I won't be able to control myself. You'll get hurt.† â€Å"I'll be fine.† â€Å"Bella . ..† â€Å"Shh!† I pressed my lips to his to stop his panic attack. I'd heard it before. He wasn't getting out of this deal. Not after insisting I marry him first. He kissed me back for a moment, but I could tell he wasn't as into it as before. Worrying, always worrying. How different it would be when he didn't need to worry about me anymore. What would he do with all his free time? He'd have to get a new hobby. â€Å"How are your feet?† he asked. Knowing he didn't mean that literally, I answered, Toasty warm.† â€Å"Really? No second thoughts? It's not too late to change your mind.† â€Å"Are you trying to ditch me?† He chuckled. â€Å"Just making sure. I don't want you to do anything you're not sure about.† â€Å"I'm sure about you. The rest I can live through.† He hesitated, and I wondered if I'd put my foot in my mouth again. â€Å"Can you?† he asked quietly. â€Å"I don't mean the wedding – which I am positive you will survive despite your qualms – but afterward†¦ what about Renee, what about Charlie?† I sighed. â€Å"I'll miss them.† Worse, that they would miss me, but I didn't want to give him any fuel. â€Å"Angela and Ben and Jessica and Mike.† â€Å"I'll miss my friends, too.† I smiled in the darkness. â€Å"Especially Mike. Oh, Mike! How will I go on?† He growled. I laughed but then was serious. â€Å"Edward, we've been through this and through this. I know it will be hard, but this is what I want. I want you, and I want you forever. One lifetime is simply not enough for me.† â€Å"Frozen forever at eighteen,† he whispered. â€Å"Every woman's dream come true,† I teased. â€Å"Never changing†¦ never moving forward.† â€Å"What does that mean?† He answered slowly. â€Å"Do you remember when we told Charlie we were getting married? And he thought you were†¦ pregnant?† â€Å"And he thought about shooting you,† I guessed with a laugh. â€Å"Admit it – for one second, he honestly considered it.† He didn't answer. â€Å"What, Edward?† â€Å"I just wish†¦ well, I wish that he'd been right.† â€Å"Gah,† I gasped. â€Å"More that there was some way he could have been. That we had that kind of potential. I hate taking that away from you, too.† It took me a minute. â€Å"I know what I'm doinq.† â€Å"How could you know that, Bella? Look at my mother, look at my sister. It's not as easy a sacrifice as youimagine.† â€Å"Esme and Rosalie get by just fine. If it's a problem later, we can do what Esme did – we'll adopt.† He sighed, and then his voice was fierce. â€Å"It's not right I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for me. I want to give you things, not take things away from you. I don't want to steal your future. If I were human – â€Å" I put my hand over his lips. â€Å"You are my future. Now stop. No moping, or I'm calling your brothers to come and get you. Maybe you need a bachelor party.† â€Å"I'm sorry. I am moping, aren't I? Must be the nerves.† â€Å"Are your feet cold?† â€Å"Not in that sense. I've been waiting a century to marry you, Miss Swan. The wedding ceremony is the one thing I can't wait – † He broke off mid-thought. â€Å"Oh, for the love of all that's holy!† â€Å"What's wrong?† He gritted his teeth. â€Å"You don't have to call my brothers. Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to let me bow out tonight.† I clutched him closer for one second and then released him. I didn't have a prayer of winning a tug-of-war with Emmett. â€Å"Have fun.† There was a squeal against the window – someone deliberately scraping their steel nails across the glass to make a horrible, cover-your-ears, goose-bumps-down-your-spine noise. I shuddered. â€Å"If you don't send Edward out,† Emmett – still invisible in the night – hissed menacingly, â€Å"we're coming in after him!† â€Å"Go,† I laughed. â€Å"Before they break my house.† Edward rolled his eyes, but he got to his feet in one fluid movement and had his shirt back on in another. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. â€Å"Get to sleep. You've got a big day tomorrow.† â€Å"Thanks! That's sure to help me wind down.† â€Å"I'll meet you at the altar.† â€Å"HI be the one in white.† I smiled at how perfectly blase I sounded. He chuckled, said, â€Å"Very convincing,† and then suddenly sank into a crouch, his muscles coiled like a spring. He vanished – launching himself out my window too swiftly for my eyes to follow. Outside, there was a muted thud, and I heard Emmett curse. â€Å"You'd better not make him late,† I murmured, knowing they could hear. And then Jaspers face was peering in my window, his honey hair silver in the weak moonlight that worked through the clouds. â€Å"Don't worry, Bella. We'll get him home in plenty of time.† I was suddenly very calm, and my qualms all seemed unimportant. Jasper was, in his own way, just as talented as Alice with her uncannily accurate predictions. Jasper's medium was moods rather than the future, and it was impossible to resist feeling the way he wanted you to feel. I sat up awkwardly, still tangled in my blanket. â€Å"Jasper? What do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not taking him to a strip club, are you?† â€Å"Don't tell her anything!† Emmett growled from below. There was another thud, and Edward laughed quietly. â€Å"Relax,† Jasper told me – and I did. â€Å"We Cullens have our own version. Just a few mountain lions, a couple of grizzly bears. Pretty much an ordinary night out.† I wondered if I would ever be able to sound so cavalier about the â€Å"vegetarian† vampire diet. â€Å"Thanks, Jasper.† He winked and dropped from sight. It was completely silent outside. Charlie's muffled snores droned through the walls. I lay back against my pillow, sleepy now. I stared at the walls of my little room, bleached pale in the moonlight, from under heavy lids. My last night in my room. My last night as Isabella Swan. Tomorrow night, I would be Bella Cullen. Though the whole marriage ordeal was a thorn in my side, I had to admit that I liked the sound of that. I let my mind wander idly for a moment, expecting sleep to take me. But, after a few minutes, I found myself more alert, anxiety creeping back into my stomach, twisting it into uncomfortable positions. The bed seemed too soft, too warm without Edward in it. Jasper was far away, and all the peaceful, relaxed feelings were gone with him. It was going to be a very long day tomorrow. I was aware that most of my fears were stupid – I just had to get over myself. Attention was an inevitable part of life. I couldn't always blend in with the scenery. However, I did have a few specific worries that were completely valid. First there was the wedding dress's train. Alice clearly had let her artistic sense overpower practicalities on that one. Maneuvering the Cullens' staircase in heels and a train sounded impossible. I should have practiced. Then there was the guest list. Tanya's family, the Denali clan, would be arriving sometime before the ceremony. It would be touchy to have Tanya's family in the same room with our guests from the Quileute reservation, Jacob's father and the Clearwaters. The Denalis were no fans of the werewolves. In fact, Tanya's sister irina was not coming to the wedding at all. She still nursed a vendetta against the werewolves for killing her friend Laurent (just as he was about to kill me). Thanks to that grudge, the Denalis had abandoned Edward's family in their worst hour of need. It had been the unlikely alliance with the Quileute wolves that had saved all our lives when the horde of newborn vampires had attacked___ Edward had promised me it wouldn't be dangerous to have the Denalis near the Quileutes. Tanya and all herfamily – besides Irina – felt horribly guilty for that defection. A truce with the werewolves was a small price to make up some of that debt, a price they were prepared to pay. That was the big problem, but there was a small problem, too: my fragile self-esteem. I'd never seen Tanya before, but I was sure that meeting her wouldn't be a pleasant experience for my ego. Once upon a time, before I was born probably, she'd made her play for Edward – not that I blamed her or anyone else for wanting him. Still, she would be beautiful at the very least and magnificent at best. Though Edward clearly – if inconceivably – preferred me, I wouldn't be able to help making comparisons. I had grumbled a little until Edward, who knew my weaknesses, made me feel guilty. â€Å"We're the closest thing they have to family, Bella,'7he'd reminded me. â€Å"They still feel like orphans, you know, even after all this time.† So I'd conceded, hiding my frown. Tanya had a big family now, almost as big as the Cullens. There were five of them; Tanya, Kate, and Irina had been joined by Carmen and Eleazar much the same way the Cullens had been joined by Alice and Jasper, all of them bonded by their desire to live more compassionately than normal vampires did. For all the company, though, Tanya and her sisters were still alone in one way. Still in mourning. Because a very long time ago, they'd had a mother, too. I could imagine the hole that loss would leave, even after a thousand years; I tried to visualize the Cullen family without their creator, their center, and their guide – their father, Carlisle. I couldn't see it. Carlisle had explained Tanya's history during one of the many nights I'd stayed late at the Cullens' home, learning as much as I could, preparing as much as was possible for the future I'd chosen. Tanya's mother's story was one among many, a cautionary tale illustrating just one of the rules I would need to be aware of when I joined the immortal world. Only one rule, actually – one law that broke down into a thousand different facets: Keep the secret. Keeping the secret meant a lot of things – living inconspicuously like the Cullens, moving on before humans could suspect they weren't aging. Or keeping clear of humans altogether – except at mealtime – the way nomads like James and Victoria had lived; the way Jasper's friends, Peter and Charlotte, still lived. It meant keeping control of whatever new vampires you created, like Jasper had done when he'd lived with Maria. Like Victoria had failed to do with her newborns. And it meant not creating some things in the first place, because some creations were uncontrollable. â€Å"I don't know Tanya's mother's name,† Carlisle had admitted, his golden eyes, almost the exact shade of his fair hair, sad with remembering Tanya's pain. â€Å"They never speak of her if they can avoid it, never think ofherwillingly. â€Å"The woman who created Tanya, Kate, and Irina – who loved them, I believe – lived many years before I was born, during a time of plague in our world, the plague of the immortal children. â€Å"What they were thinking, those ancient ones, I can't begin to understand. They created vampires out of humans who were barely more than infants.† I'd had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat as I'd pictured what he was describing. â€Å"They were very beautiful,† Carlisle had explained quickly, seeing my reaction. â€Å"So endearing, so enchanting, you can't imagine. You had but to be near them to love them; it was an automatic thing. â€Å"However, they could not be taught. They were frozen at whatever level of development they'd achieved before being bitten. Adorable two-year-olds with dimples and lisps that could destroy half a village in one of their tantrums. If they hungered, they fed, and no words of warning could restrain them. Humans saw them, stories circulated, fear spread like fire in dry brush___ â€Å"Tanya's mother created such a child. As with the other ancients, i cannot fathom her reasons.† He'd taken a deep, steadying breath. â€Å"The Volturi became involved, of course.† I'd flinched as I always did at that name, but of course the legion of Italian vampires – royalty in their own estimation – was central to this story. There couldn't be a law if there was no punishment; there couldn't be a punishment if there was no one to deliver it. The ancients Aro, Caius, and Marcus ruled the Volturi forces; I'd only met them once, but in that brief encounter, it seemed to me that Aro, with his powerful mind-reading gift – one touch, and he knew every thought a mind had ever held – was the true leader. â€Å"The Volturi studied the immortal children, at home in Volterra and all around the world. Caius decided the young ones were incapable of protecting our secret. And so they had to be destroyed. â€Å"I told you they were loveable. Well, covens fought to the last man – were utterly decimated – to protect them. The carnage was not as widespread as the southern wars on this continent, but more devastating in its own way. Long-established covens, old traditions, friends†¦ Much was lost. In the end, the practice was completely eliminated. The immortal children became unmentionable, a taboo. â€Å"When I lived with the Volturi, I met two immortal children, so I know firsthand the appeal they had. Aro studied the little ones for many years after the catastrophe they'd caused was over. You know his inquisitive disposition; he was hopeful that they could be tamed. But in the end, the decision was unanimous: the immortal children could not be allowed to exist.† I'd all but forgotten the Denali sisters' mother when the story returned to her. â€Å"It is unclear precisely what happened with Tanya's mother,† Carlisle had said. â€Å"Tanya, Kate, and irina were entirely oblivious until the day the Volturi came for them, their mother and her illegal creation already their prisoners. It was ignorance that saved Tanya's and her sisters' lives. Aro touched them and saw their total innocence, so they were not punished with their mother. â€Å"None of them had ever seen the boy before, or dreamed of his existence, until the day they watched him burn in their mother's arms. I can only guess that their mother had kept her secret to protect them from this exact outcome. But why had she created him in the first place? Who was he, and what had he meant to her that would cause her to cross this most uncrossable of lines? Tanya and the others never received an answer to any of these questions. But they could not doubt their mother's guilt, and I don't think they've ever truly forgiven her. â€Å"Even with Aro's perfect assurance that Tanya, Kate, and Irina were innocent, Caius wanted them to burn. Guilty by association. They were lucky that Aro felt like being merciful that day. Tanya and her sisters were pardoned, but left with unhealing hearts and a very healthy respect for the law___† I'm not sure where exactly the memory turned into a dream. One moment it seemed that I was listening to Carlisle in my memory, looking at his face, and then a moment later I was looking at a gray, barren field and smelling the thick scent of burning incense in the air. I was not alone there. The huddle of figures in the center of the field, all shrouded in ashy cloaks, should have terrified me – they could only be Volturi, and I was, against what they'd decreed at our last meeting, still human. But I knew, as I sometimes did in dreams, that I was invisible to them. Scattered all around me were smoking heaps. I recognized the sweetness in the air and did not examine the mounds too closely. I had no desire to see the faces of the vampires they had executed, half afraid that I might recognize someone in the smoldering pyres. The Volturi soldiers stood in a circle around something or someone, and I heard their whispery voices raised in agitation. I edged closer to the cloaks, compelled by the dream to see whatever thing or person they were examining with such intensity. Creeping carefully between two of the tall hissing shrouds, I finally saw the object of their debate, raised up on a little hillock above them. He was beautiful, adorable, just as Carlisle had described. The boy was a toddler still, maybe two years of age. Light brown curls framed his cherubic face with its round cheeks and full lips. And he was trembling, his eyes closed as if he was too frightened to watch death coming closer every second. I was struck with such a powerful need to save the lovely, terrified child that the Volturi, despite all their devastating menace, no longer mattered to me. I shoved past them, not caring if they realized my presence. Breaking free of them altogether, I sprinted toward the boy. Only to stagger to a halt as I got a clear view of the hillock that he sat upon. It was not earth and rock, but a pile of human bodies, drained and lifeless. Too late not to see these faces. I knew them all – Angela, Ben, Jessica, Mike†¦. And directly beneath the adorable boy were the bodies of my father and my mother. The child opened his bright, bloodred eyes.