Dialogue between an Atheist and a Theist on The Problem of Evil from Speech or Presentation

Dialogue between an Atheist and a Theist on The Problem of Evil from Hick - Speech or Presentation Example Amy: Uhh...I guess so. Why do you ask? John: Well, a retired old man doesn’t have much to do these days, and I want to see what these professors are teaching you kids these days. But let me ask, how come you are reading Russell? Are you an Atheist? Amy: Yes. John: May I ask why? Amy: See, my main problem with believing in God, is that when you look around the world, there are so many problems. Not just small problems, but real, serious, heartrending problems. There is world hunger and starvation. There is violence, hatred, war and genocide. There are natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and volcanoes, which wreak havoc and cause terror amongst fellow humans. There are egregious crimes we commit against each other, like rape, kidnapping and murder. If God really exists, how could he ever allow all of these terrible things? John: Ah, I as most other practicing Christians have ran into some of these existential type worries, which have caused me to doubt my faith. But in th e end, after working hard and maintaining my relationship with God, the answers have been revealed to me, and my faith has in turn become stronger. Amy: That’s all well and good to the practicing Christian. However, I admit that I am not too familiar with the bible, many of your religious teachings, and your personal esoteric spiritual experiences, so before we can have this discussion, we are going to have to define God in purely ontological terms. Exactly what sort of entity is God? What are his characteristics? John: Fair enough. As a theologian, I had to read many of the works of the great metaphysicians back in divinity school, so I am comfortable having this sort of discussion. It seems to me that God would have to be the best possible being, with all the best possible characteristics. Amy: And why is that? John: Because as the creator of the Universe and all of being itself, God must be the best possible being because nothing created can be greater than its creator. Am y: But certainly you have seen instances where a child grows up to be far more powerful and noble than his or her parents. Is this not an example of a creation being greater than its creator? John: Well in my opinion God created humanity. So even though a child may be born from parents, they descend from a long line of human history that started with God’s creation of Adam and Eve, and thus are technically God’s creation. Amy: Well, that theory may work for you. But it assumes the existence of God, and that God created Humanity. However I do not believe in God, and I believe that life evolved on Earth. John: Touche my friend. It’s good that you caught me in my assumptions. I must point out though, that even if you believe in the theory of evolution, their parents do still not create children. Rather, human genes are passed on through Natural Selection. If the female attracts a strong mate with good genes, and the chance combination of those genes results in stro nger offspring, then it seems it’s not the case that the parents are creating the children. The situation can better be described as resulting from the biologically necessary process of natural selection, combined with luck in the genetic lottery. Amy: Wow, I must say I am impressed by your knowledge of Biology! You are certainly no ignorant believer, who detests science and seeks to explain everything strictly through religion. And I admit that what you say is true. Furthermore, I cannot think of any more counterexamples to the assertion that no creation turns out

Harley Davidsons Customer-centered supply Chain Essay Example for Free

Harley Davidsons Customer-centered supply Chain Essay 1. How can Harley Davidson marketing and sales, personnel interact with its purchasing personnel to further strengthen the supply chain and improve customer loyalty? To further strengthen the supply chain and improve customer loyalty. Harley Davidson marketing and sales personnel must interact with its purchasing personnel to integrate the supply chain from supplier of raw materials and getting the product delivered into the hand of user at the right time, cost and quality user need it. Harley integrated effort must focuses on people, process and technology to improve supply chain development by enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time to make sure every stage of supply chain reach their objective and satisfy customer need and wants. People The Supply chain improvement effort involves participation from all Harley productions such as marketing, sales, supplier, engineers, transporter and other involver with Harley. All of them must have the knowledge about customer need and wants. Marketing and sales personnel must have a good knowledge about customer need and wants. This is to ensure the best information can be transferred to purchasing personnel for making purchasing material that can suite customers need and wants. Harley marketing and sales personnel make a community marketing; they dont just sell a motorcycle but also selling an ownership experience. Harley Davidson delivers membership in a community, arranges adventure tours and sells a lifestyle for the Harley purchaser, it can be concluded total product far exceeds the motorcycle. All activities are to make sure the marketing and sales personnel kumpulkan data about the customer need and want, and easily transfer to purchasing personnel to make development about the material. Marketing and sales personnel also must make market-based assets, such as strong branding, strong customer base and strong partner networks, when product development from the customers information database launches the new product introduction. It will help maintain firm performance and greater chance of success, as customers are more willing to try a new offer from a strong brand. This supply chain development through enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time can easily be done if the people in the Harley fully participate to achieve it and indirectly improve customer loyalty. Process Harley-Davidson is known for delivering a consistently high quality product. There are a number of different areas in the process that affect their quality, starting with product design. They work to design quality into the products they develop, and they do this through a concurrent pride methodology, which is very specific for both product development and the input that they get on design from marketing and sales people, engineers, manufacturing people, and suppliers. They involve everyone in the early stages, and everyone effectively designs products together to suite customer need and wants and indirectly improves customer loyalty. Technology. Fast information from marketing and sales personnel is important, so Harley use communication technology via web portal to transform customer buying habits through their dealer and supply chain control for their demand on material. It makes all the material came to factory just in time and safe a lot of money. Just in time inventory was driving force of Harley quality-improvement program. As they operate with lower inventories, it becomes essential that all inventories are usable and it all have to be a good one. Harley-Davidson could not compete on price against the Japanese motorcycle producers, so it had to establish other market values and improve quality. Harley had to change from a company which dictated what its customers could have to strategies based on direct input from customers. A marketing philosophy was developed based on the customers desires, gathered through surveys, interviews and focus groups. For example Harley image promotes: a mystique appearance, individualism, the feeling of riding free, and the pride of owning a legend. Harley customer relations give a free 1-year membership to the Harley Owners Group (HOG), which was developed in 1983 as a program to keep people active with their Harley and community advertising campaign. 2. What is the role of technology in Harleys supply chain? What additional uses of technology can you identify that might be useful to Harley focus on dealer and ultimate customer? The role of technology in Harley is to cut on communication and administrative time via their department, suppliers, dealers and customers. Harley use Harley-Davidson Suppliers Network (www. hdsn.com), the portal with web base technology to let all department, suppliers and dealer view purchasing order, inventory and material information order in real time. This should make Harley buying system more efficient, reducing time and reducing the amount of inventory in plant in other worth it enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time. From the technology Harley can easily identified which dealer have a problem from their database. The company implemented a program to concentrate on helping its dealers develop the up-to-date business skills they need to sell motorcycles more effectively. The headquarters sponsored training programs that call Harley-Davidson University via this technology. The dealers are considered to be business partners and the headquarters plays an active role in developing programs, financing improvements, implementing support and management consultants. The dealers also invest their own money into these programs which allows them to feel like apart of the company. Harley-Davidson treats the dealers not only as partners, but also as customers. Harley has developed a very effective marketing strategy, but it is the responsibility of manufacturing to produce high quality and reliable motorcycles. 3. Some of Harleys suppliers also supply key Harley competitors. How can Harley be sure these suppliers will not share competitive information with its competitors? How important is trust between suppliers and business buyers? Global business environment has become more unstable, supplier negotiations have taken important new role on helping improve corporate competitiveness. The goal of most supplier negotiations today is no longer just to get the lowest price. It is also to find new and innovative ways to meet a wide variety of business challenges, often by tapping into the knowledge and expertise of the supplier community and a good relationship. Harley can be sure their suppliers will not share competitive information with competitors on 3reasons. i. Harley is focused on building closer relationships with suppliers. The company does not use contracts but has instead begun to use the master supply agreement (MSA). The MSA is a list of guidelines for the relationship, rules to follow, and resolutions should problems arise, used with ?strategic suppliers with whom they anticipate having long-term relationships. Harley is just beginning to formalize the process of certifying suppliers as strategic, the cycle maker has such relationships with about 250 of its 350 suppliers. These suppliers command special attention from Harley and are invited quarterly for business planning meetings (BP). BPs are thematically organized meetings designed to help supplier understand Harleys strategic issues. They give suppliers an opportunity to provide input and feedback, as well as coordinate on new projects. Strategic suppliers are brought in early to the design phase. They are brought in house, and many even have desks at Harleys Capitol Drive research and design facility. Their input is solicited at the idea phase so that there do not have to be many revisions during the development process. They are also kept informed of the latest Harley strategies through a company newsletter, Harley World. ii. Supplier Management Procurement Strategies of Wisconsin OEMs- Instead of purchasing all the parts for its brake systems and then assembling them in-house Harley would purchase an assembly that it would integrate with other purchased assemblies. Now, entrance into the Harley supply base will increasingly be secured through possession of the technologies and capabilities to build whole systems. Even if a supplier still supplies discrete parts directly to Harley, they will increasingly need to be able to apply new processes to those parts in order to continue doing business with the company, and new suppliers are added yearly as Harley pursues new technological capacities. iii. Suppliers have opportunity to have direct business buyer with full effort to help them to meet demands through its continuous improvement team. Harley good relationship makes them think twice to share competitive information with its competitors. For example Unisource Com. Supplier to Harley has grown from RM1. 5million in 1998 to between RM15-20million on 2001. This opportunity is like a gold mine to let go and broke master supply agreement that they have promise. Trust between suppliers and business buyer have advantage and disadvantage: i. Trust between suppliers and buyers generates significant benefits including motivating better performance and reducing negotiation time ii. Breaking apart, a trusted buyer-supplier relationship can be a significant barrier to entry for competitors. iii. The negative side of trust is that it can blind you to opportunities that arise outside established relationships The important of trust depend on both relationship, are those relationship have the objective to help each other to reach their objective. If yes the trust is most important thing between supplier and business buyer in other word they must have win-win situation.

Smiths Outlook on Life in Sillitoes The Loneliness of the Long Distan

There are two basic facts in Smith’s life: one, that he’s in a war with the â€Å"In-laws,† and two, that he’s going to fight it until the day he dies, or die fighting. From Smith’s perspective, there is an impassable line between him and the In-laws, who are out to get him, and his best method of success is beating them down. In taking revenge on the governor of Borstal, Smith thinks he has succeeded. What Smith doesn’t realize is that he, not the governor, truly loses when he loses the race. Smith needs to revise his world view to realize that there is a better way of getting what he wants, and the revenge he seeks is only a sign of his weakness and unhappiness with his own life. By focusing his energy on getting revenge, Smith compromises his opportunities and ability to succeed. Ultimately, his actions are a loss for Smith more than for the people he is fighting. Smith sees the authority figures around him as a threat to his happiness. To Smith, the cops and the governor of Borstal block his success. This is such a strong reality for him that the idea of them being on his side is impossible: â€Å"If only ‘them’ and ‘us’ had the same ideas we’d get [along]†¦but they don’t see eye to eye with us and we don’t see eye to eye with them, so that’s how it stands and how it will always stand† (7-8). The â€Å"them† he refers to are people like the governor of Borstal and the cops, the â€Å"In-law blokes† who, according to him, are â€Å"all on the watch for Out-law blokes like [Smith]†¦waiting to ‘phone for the coppers as soon as [he makes] a false move† (10). Furthermore, his strongest truth is that he is alone: â€Å"I knew what the loneliness of the long-distance runner running across country felt like, realizing that as far as I was concerned this feeling was... ...ke Smith, they become ever more revengeful towards those who end up punishing them for not being something they have no real incentive to be. Ultimately, criminals such as Smith end up wasting society’s resources (cops’ time and citizens’ money), wasting their own energy which could be better used to make them economically productive and contributing members of society, and making society less safe by reducing the mutual trust of society’s members due to thefts. The society does not seem to have a good way of dealing with criminals—Smith is not rectified in any manner by Borstal, and merely punished. Perhaps society needs to focus on increasing financial opportunities for the poor rather than trying to change values that are really an outcome of the society in which they grow up. The core problem is the society; once that is fixed, values will change automatically.

Term Limits: We Dont Need Career Politicians Essay -- Members of Cong

"Elections, especially of representatives and counselors, should be annual, there not being in the whole circle of the sciences a maxim more infallible than this, 'where annual elections end, there slavery begins.' These great men . . . should be [chosen] once a year — Like bubbles on the sea of matter bourn, they rise, they break, and to the sea return. This will teach them the great political virtues of humility, patience, and moderation, without which every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey." —John Adams Government exists to serve the people, and not the politicians, American citizens know this. Polls show that Americans want term limitation by margins as high as three-to-one, even four-to-one. Congressional term limitation is the most important issue of our time because the future direction of our country depends upon it. There is no other way to restore government to, us, the people. There is no substitute for term limits. There are many second steps, depending upon where you sit, but there is only one first step toward turning the country around. It is con...

Importance Of High School Sports

?Many people do not realize the importance of high school sports; let me tell a story. There were two completely different kids that went to the same high school. One of them participated in high school sports from Fall to Spring. This kid kept up with his grades and kept busy with sports and homework. The other kid did not participate in any kind of school sports. The kid who didn’t play any sports went home after school every day, so instead of playing sports or doing homework in the free time available, he had to find something else to keep busy. Having all this free time led trouble.There is no need to go into more depth in the story; the point is that people do not realize that high school sports are a crucial part of being a good student and becoming a successful adult. â€Å"The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming†¦ It has the power to combat everything from racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate† (Ca stle). One of the many benefits of playing high school athletics is that the Student has to sign a code of conduct that will keep the student athlete responsible for his or her actions.â€Å"1) Use or possession of tobacco products. 2) Being present more than 5 minutes at a function where alcohol and/or drugs are being consumed/used or have been consumed or used. 3) Use or possession of intoxicating beverages and illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia. 4) Committing unlawful acts that have or could have resulted in a misdemeanor or higher penalty. 5) Serious and/or repeated violation of school rules. 6) Serious and/or repeated unsportsmanlike conduct. † This is a list of the rules that must be strictly followed in order to participate in a sports team at Nooksack Valley High School.If any of these rules are broken during season the athlete is penalized by being ineligible to play for 60% of the season. If the code is violated during the off-season, the penalty is disqualificatio n for 40% of the season. Athletes that take their sport seriously, and hope to move on to a collegiate level know that missing 40% to 60% percent of a season will hurt their chances of being scouted substantially. The risk taken by breaking the athletic code is not worth losing a chance of a scholarship to continue playing a sport a student loves at a competitive level.The Sumner School District has a great way of explaining the code of conduct to the community. â€Å"This activities code is designed to establish a reasonable, high standard for participants in co-curricular activities that empower our participants to make appropriate decisions, rather than to be punitive and deny access to such activities. Co-curricular activities are a privilege and completely voluntary. Along with this privilege comes the expectation of a higher standard of behavior and conduct.Participants in these activities are considered to be in positions of leadership representing themselves, their families , the team, school, district and community† (Sumner Athletics). This brief blurb from the Sumner Athletics Code of Conduct represents the higher standard athletes, actors, singers, dancers, and all participants of extracurricular activities are held to. Being involved in sports does not only reflect the athlete, but is a representation of the entire student body and staff members.The responsibility of athletes to uphold this good reputation is one of the main reasons student athletes are proven to perform better in school, and stay out of trouble. Being a student athlete in high school does not only keep the student responsible, it also provides physical activity for students who have been sitting in the classroom all day. Not only does physical activity contribute to a healthy body weight and prevention of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but also shows astounding benefits in academic performance and lowering depression.Penny McCullagh, a psychologist, found in her research that exercise has the ability to work like an anti-depressant. McCullagh states, â€Å"The most common treatments for depression, for example, are psychotherapy or medication. Psychologists have found that exercise is a third successful alternative† (McCullagh). The article states the best results to help depression comes when a combination of exercise and psychotherapy happens together. The physical exercise from sports also helps brain function.â€Å"According to a study done by the Department of Exercise Science at the University of Georgia, even briefly exercising for 20 minutes facilitates information processing and memory functions† (Physical Exercise for Brain Health). Just the exercise alone from sports is already helping with depression, brain functions, or just staying fit and in shape. There are many studies with evidence to support the benefit exercise has in the classroom. â€Å"Researchers at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan tracked the grade s and exercise habits of 266 undergraduates.It was found that students who regularly participate in vigorous physical activity had higher G. P. A. ’s† (Parker-Pope). Regular exercise has a tremendous effect on the brain, especially in the high school years when it is still developing. Along with these benefits, being part of a sports team influences attitudes on and off the court or field. Student athletes are proven to have a stronger sense of leadership, motivation, and work ethic than their peers who do not participate in after school activities. Belonging to a team or club creates a drive in students to succeed in all aspects of life.Many Americans today are suffering from being obese or overweight. According to the American Heart Association, â€Å"23. 9 million children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese; 33. 0% of boys and 30. 4% of girls† (Overweight & Obesity – 2013 Statistical Fact Sheet). That means almost two thirds of all the Americans are a t an unhealthy weight. According to Centers for Disease Control, obesity brings in $147 billion in healthcare costs per year. There are many different causes for obesity such as stress, inactivity, and depression.There is one simple solution to decrease the amount of obese adults and children in America. Playing sports helps with all three of the problems. Habits are formed at a young age, so if sports are a part of a lifestyle as a young child, they will most likely be a part of their future. When some people think about exercise, they instantly think boring, tedious, painful workouts in an over packed gym. What most people don’t know is that exercise can be fun! All it takes is the motivation to get off the couch. Exercising with others increases the chance that you will stick with it.Sports teams are the ultimate example of this. When a support system is built in, with the drive to not let your teammates down, the motivation to be physically fit comes naturally. People arg ue that playing sports leaves no time for homework. However, there is a system at Nooksack Valley High School called study table. Study table is an hour long class where any missing homework can be complete before school. This system was made to give extra help to kids that are failing classes while playing sports. Nooksack Valley’s athletic director, Tom Harmon, checks the grades of each student athlete every Sunday.If any students are failing a class a study table is assigned each morning for the entire week. If the student is failing more than one class then they are not allowed to participate in any games or tournaments held that week. The phrase â€Å"student before athlete† is commonly used among coaches and staff members. Being a successful student is far more important than making touchdowns or scoring goals. Student first, athlete second is the only way to ensure students are prepared for higher education or entering the work force after graduation.Some people may argue that high school sports need to be cut due to lack of funding. Personally, I think without the opportunity to participate in sports students will lack the development of very important life skills. From experience, players can say that being a member of a high school sports team has taught them how to work hard for what they want, how to step up and be a leader, and how to communicate with others and be a team player. These skills and personality traits are all things that future employers are looking for when making hiring decisions.Managers know that people who have grown up being involved in sports teams and clubs are trained to work well with others, and have a strong work ethic. Marty Brounstein lists ten qualities of an effective team player as the ability to demonstrate reliability, communicate constructively, listen actively, function as an active participant, share openly and willingly, exhibit flexibility, show commitment, work as a problem solver, and, finally, treat others with respect and support. â€Å"Team players with commitment look beyond their own piece of the work and care about the team's overall work.In the end, their commitment is about winning — not in the sports sense of beating your opponent but about seeing the team succeed and knowing they have contributed to this success. Winning as a team is one of the great motivators of employee performance. Good team players have and show this motivation† (Brounstein). In conclusion, being actively involved in high school sports shows success on and off the court or field as well as in future career choices. Participation in sports teams is not only beneficial while in high school but in all stages of life.Skills learned from coaches and teammates can be applied in meeting new friends in college, at job interviews, and in many other instances. â€Å"We have data indicating sports and other extracurricular activities do better than academic classes in teaching leadershi p, teamwork, time management and other skills crucial for success in the workplace† (Mathews). While some may say that high school athletics need to be cut because the money spent on them could be put to better use, the evidence of many studies proves this statement to be false.Without the opportunity to be a part of a team or club, students lose out on a great learning experience that acts as a foundation for the rest of their lives. The ability to manage being a successful student as well as a good athlete takes a special skill that is developed during the high school years. There needs to be a balance between academic and athletic commitment. A student’s high school career cannot only be based on one or the other. It needs a combination of the two in order for the student to reach full potential.Michael Jordan is one of the most inspiring athletes to kids around the world. He often stems his success back to his experiences with high school sports. I believe it is sto ries like his that demonstrate the importance of being involved in sports teams, and the life lessons that are learned throughout the experience. A famous quote from Jordan states, â€Å"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † Importance of High School Sports Many people do not realize the importance of high school sports; let me tell a story. There were two completely different kids that went to the same high school. One of them participated in high school sports from Fall to Spring. This kid kept up with his grades and kept busy with sports and homework. The other kid did not participate in any kind of school sports. The kid who didn’t play any sports went home after school every day, so instead of playing sports or doing homework in the free time available, he had to find something else to keep busy. Having all this free time led trouble.There is no need to go into more depth in the story; the point is that people do not realize that high school sports are a crucial part of being a good student and becoming a successful adult. â€Å"The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming†¦ It has the power to combat everything from racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate† (Cas tle). One of the many benefits of playing high school athletics is that the Student has to sign a code of conduct that will keep the student athlete responsible for his or her actions.â€Å"1)Use or possession of tobacco products. 2) Being present more than 5 minutes at a function where alcohol and/or drugs are being consumed/used or have been consumed or used. 3) Use or possession of intoxicating beverages and illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia. 4) Committing unlawful acts that have or could have resulted in a misdemeanor or higher penalty. 5) Serious and/or repeated violation of school rules. 6) Serious and/or repeated unsportsmanlike conduct. † This is a list of the rules that must be strictly followed in order to participate in a sports team at Nooksack Valley High School.If any of these rules are broken during season the athlete is penalized by being ineligible to play for 60% of the season. If the code is violated during the off-season, the penalty is disqualification for 40% of the season. Athletes that take their sport seriously, and hope to move on to a collegiate level know that missing 40% to 60% percent of a season will hurt their chances of being scouted substantially. The risk taken by breaking the athletic code is not worth losing a chance of a scholarship to continue playing a sport a student loves at a competitive level.The Sumner School District has a great way of explaining the code of conduct to the community. â€Å"This activities code is designed to establish a reasonable, high standard for participants in co-curricular activities that empower our participants to make appropriate decisions, rather than to be punitive and deny access to such activities. Co-curricular activities are a privilege and completely voluntary. Along with this privilege comes the expectation of a higher standard of behavior and conduct.Participants in these activities are considered to be in positions of leadership representing themselves, their families, the team, school, district and community† (Sumner Athletics). This brief blurb from the Sumner Athletics Code of Conduct represents the higher standard athletes, actors, singers, dancers, and all participants of extracurricular activities are held to. Being involved in sports does not only reflect the athlete, but is a representation of the entire student body and staff members.The responsibility of athletes to uphold this good reputation is one of the main reasons student athletes are proven to perform better in school, and stay out of trouble. Being a student athlete in high school does not only keep the student responsible, it also provides physical activity for students who have been sitting in the classroom all day. Not only does physical activity contribute to a healthy body weight and prevention of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but also shows astounding benefits in academic performance and lowering depression.Penny McCullagh, a psychologist, found in her research t hat exercise has the ability to work like an anti-depressant. McCullagh states, â€Å"The most common treatments for depression, for example, are psychotherapy or medication. Psychologists have found that exercise is a third successful alternative† (McCullagh). The article states the best results to help depression comes when a combination of exercise and psychotherapy happens together. The physical exercise from sports also helps brain function.â€Å"According to a study done by the Department of Exercise Science at the University of Georgia, even briefly exercising for 20 minutes facilitates information processing and memory functions† (Physical Exercise for Brain Health). Just the exercise alone from sports is already helping with depression, brain functions, or just staying fit and in shape. There are many studies with evidence to support the benefit exercise has in the classroom. â€Å"Researchers at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan tracked the grades and exercise habits of 266 undergraduates.It was found that students who regularly participate in vigorous physical activity had higher G. P. A. ’s† (Parker-Pope). Regular exercise has a tremendous effect on the brain, especially in the high school years when it is still developing. Along with these benefits, being part of a sports team influences attitudes on and off the court or field. Student athletes are proven to have a stronger sense of leadership, motivation, and work ethic than their peers who do not participate in after school activities. Belonging to a team or club creates a drive in students to succeed in all aspects of life.Many Americans today are suffering from being obese or overweight. According to the American Heart Association, â€Å"23. 9 million children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese; 33. 0% of boys and 30. 4% of girls† (Overweight & Obesity – 2013 Statistical Fact Sheet). That means almost two thirds of all the Americans are at an unhealthy weight. According to Centers for Disease Control, obesity brings in $147 billion in healthcare costs per year. There are many different causes for obesity such as stress, inactivity, and depression.There is one simple solution to decrease the amount of obese adults and children in America. Playing sports helps with all three of the problems. Habits are formed at a young age, so if sports are a part of a lifestyle as a young child, they will most likely be a part of their future. When some people think about exercise, they instantly think boring, tedious, painful workouts in an over packed gym. What most people don’t know is that exercise can be fun! All it takes is the motivation to get off the couch. Exercising with others increases the chance that you will stick with it.Sports teams are the ultimate example of this. When a support system is built in, with the drive to not let your teammates down, the motivation to be physically fit comes naturally. People argue that playing sports leaves no time for homework. However, there is a system at Nooksack Valley High School called study table. Study table is an hour long class where any missing homework can be complete before school. This system was made to give extra help to kids that are failing classes while playing sports. Nooksack Valley’s athletic director, Tom Harmon, checks the grades of each student athlete every Sunday.If any students are failing a class a study table is assigned each morning for the entire week. If the student is failing more than one class then they are not allowed to participate in any games or tournaments held that week. The phrase â€Å"student before athlete† is commonly used among coaches and staff members. Being a successful student is far more important than making touchdowns or scoring goals. Student first, athlete second is the only way to ensure students are prepared for higher education or entering the work force after graduation.Some people m ay argue that high school sports need to be cut due to lack of funding. Personally, I think without the opportunity to participate in sports students will lack the development of very important life skills. From experience, players can say that being a member of a high school sports team has taught them how to work hard for what they want, how to step up and be a leader, and how to communicate with others and be a team player. These skills and personality traits are all things that future employers are looking for when making hiring decisions.Managers know that people who have grown up being involved in sports teams and clubs are trained to work well with others, and have a strong work ethic. Marty Brounstein lists ten qualities of an effective team player as the ability to demonstrate reliability, communicate constructively, listen actively, function as an active participant, share openly and willingly, exhibit flexibility, show commitment, work as a problem solver, and, finally, t reat others with respect and support. â€Å"Team players with commitment look beyond their own piece of the work and care about the team's overall work.In the end, their commitment is about winning — not in the sports sense of beating your opponent but about seeing the team succeed and knowing they have contributed to this success. Winning as a team is one of the great motivators of employee performance. Good team players have and show this motivation† (Brounstein). In conclusion, being actively involved in high school sports shows success on and off the court or field as well as in future career choices. Participation in sports teams is not only beneficial while in high school but in all stages of life.Skills learned from coaches and teammates can be applied in meeting new friends in college, at job interviews, and in many other instances. â€Å"We have data indicating sports and other extracurricular activities do better than academic classes in teaching leadership, teamwork, time management and other skills crucial for success in the workplace† (Mathews). While some may say that high school athletics need to be cut because the money spent on them could be put to better use, the evidence of many studies proves this statement to be false.Without the opportunity to be a part of a team or club, students lose out on a great learning experience that acts as a foundation for the rest of their lives. The ability to manage being a successful student as well as a good athlete takes a special skill that is developed during the high school years. There needs to be a balance between academic and athletic commitment. A student’s high school career cannot only be based on one or the other. It needs a combination of the two in order for the student to reach full potential.Michael Jordan is one of the most inspiring athletes to kids around the world. He often stems his success back to his experiences with high school sports. I believe it is stori es like his that demonstrate the importance of being involved in sports teams, and the life lessons that are learned throughout the experience. A famous quote from Jordan states, â€Å"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. †

Crusades1 essays

Crusades1 essays In the Middle Ages, Christians considered Palestine the Holy Land because it was where Jesus had lived and taught. The Arabs had conquered Palestine in the 600s. Most Arabs were Muslims, but they usually tolerated other religions. Jews and Christians who paid their taxes and observed other regulations were free to live in Palestine and practice their own religion. The Arab rulers didnt usually interfere with Christian pilgrims visiting Palestine, and European traders could generally do business there. During the 1000s the Seljuk Turks, people from central Asia who had adopted the Muslim faith, conquered Palestine and attacked Asia Minor, which was part of the Byzantine Empire. When the Turks threatened the capital city of Constantinople, the Byzantine emperor appealed to the pope in Rome. Because Christian pilgrims going to Palestine came home with reports of persecution from the Turks, the Byzantine emperors appeal for help found a reception in Europe. Pope Urban I wanted to regain the Holy Land from the Muslims. He called a great meeting of church leaders and French nobles at Clermont France in 1095. At the meeting he encouraged the powerful feudal nobles to stop fighting with each other, and to join in one big war against the unbelievers. Urbans request made his listeners very enthusiastic and they joined in one big cry, God wills it! From Clermont people traveled through France preaching the cause. The people who joined the expeditions sewed a cloth cross on their clothes. They were called crusaders, from the Latin word cruciata, which means, marked with a cross. People joined the Crusades, the expeditions to regain the Holy Land, for many different reasons. Most knights joined the crusades for the land and plunder in the rich Middle East. Merchants saw a chance to make money. The pope promised both heavenly and earthly rewards. Those who died on a Cr...

Consumer Behavior in South Korea and Australia

Consumer Behavior in South Korea and Australia Consumer behavior varies according to countries and markets. This paper will analyse the consumer behavior of two countries, and where they differ. The two countries to be analysed are South Korea and Australia. Culture influences the behavior of a given market.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Consumer Behavior in South Korea and Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is a need to analyse a market before doing business in that market. Australia and South Korea are two countries that differ in culture. South Korea consumers are known to be homogeneous in character, and in the way they purchase products. This is evident, especially when it comes to food consumption. The specific products that will be analysed in this paper is that of cosmestic products that are used by women. Women have been using cosmetics since time immemorial to enhance their attractiveness. Attractive women are thought to be intelligent, socially acceptable, confident about themselves, and seem to have professional success. Women spend on cosmetics for mainly emotional reasons. They hope to avoid guilt of not paying attention to their looks. Women prefer cosmetic brands based on packaging, effectiveness on use and sensorial experiences like smell, smoothness or coolness (Majumdar, 2010). South Korea is estimated to be the biggest per capita market for cosmetics and cosmetic procedures. The figures stand at an astounding 20% between the ages of 19 and 49 in Seoul, who have gone through cosmetic surgery (plastic), laser hair removal and Botox (Botolinum Toxin Type A). This chemical is is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (Tyagi, Kumar, 2009).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Koreans are obsessed with these procedures. It is fou nd out that 16% of South Koreans go for surgery as compared to about 6.2% in Australia, meaning Koreans represent one among the highest numbers in the world. Reasons behind South Korea’s rise in cosmetic surgery specifically is the adoption of pop culture with the desire to look like popular celebrities like Michael Jackson. Australia, on the other hand, represents a different consumer market altogether. Women in Australia spend more because of brand loyalty, coupled with the fact that they perceive these products to be of high quality. Australia has been experiencing for the last few years a bit of decelerating economic growth like any western country which has greatly impacted of consumer spending. The working middle class population has been spending less because their disposable income has been coming down. In some industries, there has been lay offs due to low demand for their goods, whereas in some, workers have had to content with salary reduction to reduce the wage bi ll on company finances being squeezed every other day. Cosmetic consumers have had to reduce, therefore, to the bear minimum requirements or completely abandon expenditure, thus, become luxury in this market. Food and other basic necessities like servicing mortgage, medicine, and clothing have taken precedence (Samli, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Consumer Behavior in South Korea and Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the contrary, consumers of cosmetics in South Korea are growing every other day in numbers. The country has been experiencing double-digit growth in the GDP with the economy creating jobs. Companys have been posting improved profitability out of increased sales and high business turnover therefore able to higher more. Fourthermore, new industries are coming up, new trades increasese in public spending and, improved communication through all channels (phone, social media, general in ternet, mass media), whereby manufacturers have been able to reach more potential consumers via advertisements. Adverts, especially towards working class, upper middle and the affluent has been so intense so much so that even manufacturers are giving free gifts with some amount of purchase. This has greatly improved market penetration (Lake, 2009). References Lake, L 2009, Consumer behavior for dummies, John Wiley Sons, New York. Majumdar, H 2010, Consumer behavior: Insights from Indian Market. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Samli, AC 2006, International consumer behavior: Its impact on marketing strategy development, Greenwood Publishing Group, London.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Tyagi, CL, Kumar, A 2009, Consumer behavior, Atlantic Publishers Distributors, Atlanta.

Americans Getting Taller, Bigger, Fatter, Says CDC

Americans Getting Taller, Bigger, Fatter, Says CDC Average adult Americans are about one inch taller, but nearly a whopping 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960, according to a 2002 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bad news, says CDC is that average BMI (body mass index, a weight-for-height formula used to measure obesity) has increased among adults from approximately 25 in 1960 to 28 in 2002. The report, Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 1960-2002: United States, shows that the average height of a men aged 20-74 years increased from just over 58 in 1960 to 59 and 1/2 in 2002, while the average height of a woman the same age increased from slightly over 53 1960 to 54 in 2002. Meanwhile, the average weight for men aged 20-74 years rose dramatically from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002, while the average weight for women the same age increased from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 pounds in 2002. Though the average weight for men aged 20-39 years increased by nearly 20 pounds over the last four decades, the increase was greater among older men: Men between the ages of 40 and 49 were nearly 27 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Men between the ages of 50 and 59 were nearly 28 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Men between the ages of 60 and 74 were almost 33 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960. As to the average weights for women: Women aged 20-29 were nearly 29 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Women aged 40-49 were about 25 ½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Women aged 60-74 were about 17 ½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960. Meanwhile, the report documented that average weights for children are increasing as well: The average weight for a 10 year-old-boy in 1963 was 74.2 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 85 pounds.The average weight for a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was 77.4 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 88 pounds.A 15-year-old boy weighed 135.5 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight of a boy that age increased to 150.3 pounds.A 15-year-old girl weighed 124.2 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight for a girl that age was 134.4 pounds According to the report, average heights for children increased as well over the past four decades. For example: The average height of a 10-year-old boy in 1963 was 55.2 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old boy had increased to 55.7 inches.The average height of a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was about 55.5 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old girl had increased to 56.4 inches.In 1966, the average height of a 15-year-old boy was 67.5 inches or almost 57 ½; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-old boy was 68.4 or almost 58 and 1/2.In 1996, the average height of a 15-year-old girl was 63.9 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-old girl had not changed significantly (63.8 inches). Average Body Mass Index (BMI) for children and teens has increased as well: In 1963, the average BMI for a 7-year-old boy was 15.9; in 2002 it was 17.0. For girls the same age, the average BMI increased from 15.8 to 16.6 over the same period.In 1966, the average BMI for a 16-year-old boy was 21.3; in 2002, it was 24.1. For girls the same age, the average BMI increased from 21.9 to 24.0 over the same period. The BMI is a single number that evaluates an individuals weight status in relation to height. BMI is generally used as the first indicator in assessing body fat and has been the most common method of tracking weight problems and obesity among adults. Even Heavier by 2014 In its latest â€Å"tale-of-the-scale† on Americans, the CDC reported that both men and women had, on average, grown even heavier than in 2002. According to the report â€Å"Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2011–2014,†   the average weight for men over age 20 had increased by 4.7 pounds, from 191 pounds in 2002 to 195.7 pounds in 2014. At the same time, the average weight for men over age 20 increased by 4.2 pounds, from 164.3 pounds in 2002 to 168.5 pounds in 2014.

Team Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Team Leadership - Essay Example rspective on how the concepts can be utilized in the workplace in the 21st century to enhanced productivity or how the ideas may receive resistance among the people working in an organization. The first article studied is called Team Leadership2. The article discusses various principles, theory, concepts and viewpoints regarding the internal functioning of a team and the importance of leadership inside a team. One concept of importance mentioned in the literature is the need for teams to work applying coordination. The work of the different team members must be coordinated by the leader in order to achieve the work tasks in an orderly and sequential manner. The leader has to coordinate the work and stay on top of the internal affairs of the team in order to ensure the work of each is aligned so that everyone understands the relationship among each other work and a coordinated effort is applied to achieve the desired team and organizational goals. Coordination takes a higher level of importance in team work of complex and complicated tasks. The team members realize the delicate steps involved in for example a sophisticated high cost experiment that requires precise timing and coordination in each step of the project. A second idea mentioned in the article is the concept of functional leadership. Functional leadership is a model whose emphasis is practical applications of leadership to get things done, irregardless of who in the team is doing the leading within the team unit3. The ideas is greatly accepted among employees since it recognizes the contribution being perform by certain employees with leadership abilities which are do not necessarily hold a management position which are typically associated with leadership abilities. Inside a team function of a small team all member can and should demonstrate leadership in order to ensure the success of the project. The project manager is not the only employee responsible of the success of a project, since a project

For and Against Criminal Justice Management Essay

For and Against Criminal Justice Management - Essay Example For and Against Criminal Justice Management In any species, whether among humans or lesser developed genus like mammals, reptiles, birds, and even insects, communication is seen as an essential component for survival and growth. The subject of the group discussion is criminal justice management (overview). â€Å"In its broadest terms, criminal justice management is defined as the management, supervision, and overseeing of the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system covers a broad range of areas of justice. It includes police departments, federal agencies, state agencies, the courts, and correctional facilities† (Strayer University 2011) The successful discussion will be referred to as Discussion A, and the unsuccessful one as Discussion B. The writer of this paper was the leader in Discussion A while remaining a participant in the other one. Welcome and thank you for agreeing to participate in this discussion. You are all aware (in different ways) about increasing crime rates in the country. But instead of just punishing the criminals, it is felt that a management system be effectively implemented so that criminals have a chance to get back into the mainstream society and also to prevent individuals with criminal intent (for whatever reasons) not to indulge in such activities. Before moving on to the actual discussion, let me just outline the roles to be played by each member. The three golden rules are listen to the speaker without any bias, not to whisper or talk to the person sitting next to you (for example, conspiring), and when required speak out your mind sincerely and boldly (Bulatao, 1999, 4). There are other do’s and don’ts that need to be followed (Ganguly, 2002). and I shall be strict with these guidelines. Intervention will be necessary if the discussion turns hostile or goes outside the topic. Do not go on repeating what you have once already said and please be sure that you have some facts and figures to back up your points. Participation and reciprocation and important and last but not least, be polite enough to thank the listeners at the beginning and end of your opinions. Being loud and aggressive will not be tolerated, and do not interrupt a person while he is speaking. Irrelevant questions, being depreciative, and exhibiting of emotional outbursts is not a accepted norm in group discussions. If you find another speaker putting across views in a better way, do not get nervous- either accept them or put across lucid and valid arguments as the case may be. I apologize for this long introduction, but hope I have made my points clear? The group as a whole – Yes Leader- Shall we then begin, ladies and gentlemen? Who shall speak first, how about you Ms D? Ms D – Okay. I feel that there are not enough policemen to control crime, especially by immigrants and b lacks in the country. Mr B – I object to that comment. Do you have any figures or even reasons for such a statement? Mr A – No. I am just stating from the information from the media. (The group members begin to talk themselves regarding this matter) Leader – Ladies and gentlemen, please, we are moving away from the core issue of the discussion. You have already forgotten what I

Reflection Paper Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflection Paper - Case Study Example A good instance is a person who is avoiding members of a certain religious group that is affiliated with certain beliefs and acts. A Christian may avoid or depict an Islam based on the acts of terrorism that are linked to Muslims. The notion of reference group is significant in appreciating conformity, socialization, and how individuals take in and assess themselves (Koch 56). A reference group offers a setting of reference that has a positive or negative effect on the attitude and conduct of a person. These groups also carry out a comparable role by playing the role of a standard figure against which persons can do self-evaluation and other people (Sheehy 127). The reference group is likely to be different due to a different culture or a different society. For instance, a person who was raised in the Middle East countries in the Islam religion and teachings is likely to have a different reference group from an individual who has been brought up as a Catholic Christian. A reference group plays the primary source of self-evaluation and attainment of certain goal in life. An individual who decides to become a lawyer starts to be categorized with that reference group due to their goals and

Bankruptcy of Businesses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Bankruptcy of Businesses - Research Paper Example In such cases, when businesses run out of cash and are unable to cope with their debts and costs, they may be declared bankrupt or may declare bankruptcy themselves (White, 2011). This is a very crucial time for a business and is a state of emergency for their debtors as they may be unable to recover most of their debts. Such situations ruin a business’s reputation, their chances of gaining future credit, and their chances at being able to survive in the market. However, bankruptcy is an ever-increasing phenomenon for most new businesses and many older businesses as well (White, 2011). There may be several reasons for a firm to go bankrupt, which include overspending, high advantage on loans, losses in business, mismanagement, and sudden economic disasters, which may completely change a business’s circumstances. Hence, when debtors provide businesses with loans they usually make a point to see whether the business is highly leveraged and how much earning potential the b usiness has before they grant the loan (White, 2011). Accordingly, when a business declares bankruptcy, several legal issues involved must be settled before a business can go into proper liquidation. The proper legal definition of bankruptcy and the legal implications that businesses must face before/ during their bankruptcy stage will be discussed in detail. The psychology of the management of businesses that are going through the stages of bankruptcy will be explained within the paper and the history of bankruptcy of businesses and the situations that prevailed will be discussed. The paper will continue to discuss the possible causes of bankruptcy, how they affect the businesses in question, and the way such situations can be prevented. The paper will conclude with an analysis of the future prospects of businesses that suffer from such circumstances and provide possible means of improving the situation (Vinten, 2002). BANKRUPTCY The legal and appropriate definition of bankruptcy i n the case of businesses or corporations is when a business is unable to repay its outstanding debts and thus files a petition in order to reduce the amount owed or remunerate its creditors by paying off a portion of their debts and putting their business into a state of liquidation (Vinten, 2002). The common proceedings for filing bankruptcy usually begin with the filing of a petition by the debtor in which the business shows its financial position and proves that it does not have enough cash nor sources of finance to repay its creditors. In this situation, the businesses assets are usually evaluated to determine their saleable value and then their assets are liquefied in order to be sold or auctioned. The money obtained from this sell-off is then given to the creditors in return for the debt that the debtor owes them as a full settlement of the debt. The amount paid to the creditor may be less than what the creditor has paid to the business initially. However, the creditor will ha ve to settle for a portion of the debt owed to them in the situation of bankruptcy as the business has officially shown that they do not have the ability to

Experimental Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Experimental Economics - Essay Example The students are supposed to sit in the computer lab and follow all the instructions provided by the instructor. The students bid for this particular product in rounds. The bid must range from $0 up to $20. Every student must be independent and must not be influenced by the decision of the other students (Salmon 34). However, for this to be efficient, no student will be able see the bid of his or her opponent, on all cases. The value to be bidden by the student will be decided randomly. However, the highest bidder will win the auction. If any student does not win the auction, there will be no return or compensation for them. The students are to bid twice for the product. The experiment is carried out to prove that the higher the first bidding price, the higher the chances of winning the auction. The experiment takes few minutes since students involved will only bid and then wait for the next one to bid too. The experiment requires the student to bid in rounds. However, they have to b e divided in groups of two. In every round, a student’s makes a bid of his wish. The students should have no knowledge on the bidding process. However, the instructor will have provided the prize value of the product being auctioned. All the bidders who lose will earn nothing. The students too must chose prices above the prize value of the product. This experiment will target at answering the economics question above. At first, students decide to bid their highest price possible in order to win the auction. Most of them even bid the total amount they have, remaining with nothing. However, bidding a first high price increases the chances of winning, as the experiment will show (Ginib 65). Instructions to the students and the instructor will be important to prevent confusion during the experiment. The students are to sit strategically in the computer room. The instructor will advise the students to rely on

Bankruptcy of Businesses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Bankruptcy of Businesses - Research Paper Example In such cases, when businesses run out of cash and are unable to cope with their debts and costs, they may be declared bankrupt or may declare bankruptcy themselves (White, 2011). This is a very crucial time for a business and is a state of emergency for their debtors as they may be unable to recover most of their debts. Such situations ruin a business’s reputation, their chances of gaining future credit, and their chances at being able to survive in the market. However, bankruptcy is an ever-increasing phenomenon for most new businesses and many older businesses as well (White, 2011). There may be several reasons for a firm to go bankrupt, which include overspending, high advantage on loans, losses in business, mismanagement, and sudden economic disasters, which may completely change a business’s circumstances. Hence, when debtors provide businesses with loans they usually make a point to see whether the business is highly leveraged and how much earning potential the b usiness has before they grant the loan (White, 2011). Accordingly, when a business declares bankruptcy, several legal issues involved must be settled before a business can go into proper liquidation. The proper legal definition of bankruptcy and the legal implications that businesses must face before/ during their bankruptcy stage will be discussed in detail. The psychology of the management of businesses that are going through the stages of bankruptcy will be explained within the paper and the history of bankruptcy of businesses and the situations that prevailed will be discussed. The paper will continue to discuss the possible causes of bankruptcy, how they affect the businesses in question, and the way such situations can be prevented. The paper will conclude with an analysis of the future prospects of businesses that suffer from such circumstances and provide possible means of improving the situation (Vinten, 2002). BANKRUPTCY The legal and appropriate definition of bankruptcy i n the case of businesses or corporations is when a business is unable to repay its outstanding debts and thus files a petition in order to reduce the amount owed or remunerate its creditors by paying off a portion of their debts and putting their business into a state of liquidation (Vinten, 2002). The common proceedings for filing bankruptcy usually begin with the filing of a petition by the debtor in which the business shows its financial position and proves that it does not have enough cash nor sources of finance to repay its creditors. In this situation, the businesses assets are usually evaluated to determine their saleable value and then their assets are liquefied in order to be sold or auctioned. The money obtained from this sell-off is then given to the creditors in return for the debt that the debtor owes them as a full settlement of the debt. The amount paid to the creditor may be less than what the creditor has paid to the business initially. However, the creditor will ha ve to settle for a portion of the debt owed to them in the situation of bankruptcy as the business has officially shown that they do not have the ability to

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The broad membership of the panel includes people from investor community, law practitioners in the city and people from business houses. The panel became a statuary body in May-06, thereby giving it the power to enforce its rules and lows in compliance of the code. The code of the panel is also included in the part 28 of the Companies Act 2006. It is the overall responsibility of the panel towards policy making, financing and administrating functions or the Panel and its code. The two committees of Panel include the Hearing Committee and the Code Committee. It also has a Panel Executive that carries out the daily work of the Panel and is creditworthy of general administration. The Panel operates with 6 general principles, 38 rules and 4 fundamental objectives which include equal and fair treatment for shareholders, availability of information to the shareholders in proper and timely manner, restoring fair markets and preventing frustration action against any of them. B. Identify and examine economic reasons for acquisitions and mergers and discuss why the expected economic benefits may not be achieved? The primary reason for acquisitions and mergers by a firm is its desire and effort to increase its market power. For increase the size and market capitalization of the firm, company’s go for horizontal, vertical and conglomerate mergers. Other economic reasons for acquisitions and mergers include overcoming of market barriers, increased speed to the market by increasing market capitalization and gaining access to new markets, overcoming the high risk and high costs of new product development, diversification into other activities/businesses, and reshaping the firm’s competitive scope. Some companies go for mergers and acquisitions to restructure their cost of capital by increasing/diluting equity and through leverage buyouts. More often cross border acquisitions offer the company with cheap access to resources like labour and raw materials, modern technology and sometimes benefits from legality. Sometimes the expected benefits out of a merger and acquisition may not be achieved by the firms. Many firms tend to increase their cost of capital post merger rather than decreasing it. Moreover, in case of leverage buyouts many companies fall in liquidity and solvency risks by increasing their debt equity ratio more than anticipated. For a successful merger and acquisition a firm needs to understand the culture of the organization it is aiming to acquire. The firm many not receive a good support from the employees and stakeholders of the organization acquired which reduces the economic benefits expected out of the acquisition. Another primary concern in the acquisitions is the valuation of company to be acquired. In case of high valuations where a company pays high price in excess of market value for acquiring other company, economic benefits tend to dry down over a period of time. Part 2 Identify the long term funding options avail able for unquoted small and medium business enterprises, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these funding options. Small and medium businesses (SME’s) include the companies that are not listed in stock exchange and wherein business is owned by a limited number of people. Moreover, there includes family partnerships in which individuals start-off with the purpose of achieving self employment. SME’s face problems in getting financing primarily due to

Philosophies of Education Essay Example for Free

Philosophies of Education Essay There are different theories that govern the procedure of learning among students today. Likely, because of the modern culture learning, the said theories are now changed towards the possibility of supporting the modern needs and demands of the students today. Such theories include the philosophies of idealism, realism, neo-thomism, experimentalism and existentialism. Each philosophy addresses different aspects of an individual’s learning and also presents different ways of approaching the subject of education. Idealism  The philosophy of idealism stresses the belief that ideas are the sole truth and the only real things that are worth knowing. Everything that is in this world are mere shadows and distorted images of a more genuine, a more real world. There is a world of ideas on which this world is based and it is only that world which is worth knowing. Proponents of this philosophy focus on the mind and intellectual mechanisms of students. The world of ideas, in the educational setting, becomes the world of the mind. This means an emphasis on fields dealing with symbols and ideas such as history, literature, art, and the like. Realism The philosophy of realism espouses the belief not in a world of ideas but rather in a world of things and beings. Truth, for the realist, is found in observable facts. This means that the realist believes in the world as we see it. The strength of the laws of nature are emphasized. The realist student relies on his or her senses. Learning is thus geared towards fields like math, chemistry, physics, biology, and the like. Neo-Thomism Neo-thomism believes that reality is the universal truth of God. Reality is something that is eternal and unchanging to the neo-thomist. Reality, or universal truth, is only revealed through holy text, such as the Scriptures or through revelations of a divine nature. Although it is only through these two mechanisms that reality can be learned, neo-thomists assert that truth is always supported by human reason. Experimentalism Experimentalism believes in a continuously changing world. Reality, for experimentalists, is what an individual experiences at every precise moment. Experimentalists discover reality through testing and group decisions. An experimentalist student would thus be viewed as an individual who is able to experience different things and coming into contact with other individuals who either add, do nothing, or detract from the said experiences. Emphasis is placed on fields such as sociology, political science, psychology, and other such socially driven fields as well as fields that deal with problem-solving. Existentialism Lastly, existentialism is discussed. This philosophy, originating from the likes of Sartre and Kierkegaard, believes in one’s own interpretation of everything that is around him or her. An individual is able to set for himself or herself a standard for reality and truth. Also, because the individual has this freedom, he or she also has the responsibility over his or her decisions and actions. Reality is, for the true existentialist, subjective. There is no one truth because everyone has their own version of truths and realities. Existentiallist students are free to learn what they want. Discussion is not structured in an existentialist school. Educational Implications of other Philosophies of Education It is undeniable that many of the philosophies of education have had varying impacts and implications on education as a whole. Some of the many theories that have done so include existentialism, behaviorism, perennialism, essentialism, and reconstruction. Existentialsim Existentialism believes in a relative world where every individual is free to create his or her own standards of truth and reality. Because of the propagation of this belief, education has expanded. Curricula are no longer based solely on the scientific method, in symbols, or in the words of a few significant individuals in history. Rather, learning has also become about dialogue between the student and the teacher. It is no longer rare to find teachers believing that they too have learned something from their students. This development is rooted in the principles of existentialism. Teachers are able to see that students are not merely empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge. Rather, they are also capable of setting their own versions of reality and of creating their own truths. This is why there are now many classrooms encouraging discourse and free expression. Behaviorism The philosophy of behaviorism emphasizes an individual’s nature to be conditioned, at an early age, to act in particular ways. Students are viewed through the mechanisms of stimulus-response. Behaviorism is behind the educational system’s drive of teaching through modeling and of teaching through a strict implementation of schedules. Rules and regulations in education as well as punishments that come from not following them are based on stimulus-response mechanisms. The most popular impact behaviorism has had on education is the use of grades as a form of reward for those who achieve well in school. Perennialism, as an educational philosophy, espouses a strict and inflexible form of education. It is the philosophy of perennialism that espoused the importance of rational thinking and reasoning. The structure of education, today, is based on the rigidity and conservatism of perennialism. Disciplining of the learner’s behavior in order to achieve reason is a common practice in today’s education and is based on perennialist form. Teaching through structured lessons, controlled teacher-led discussions and class drills are also a few examples of the palpable impacts perennialism has had on education. Essentialism Essentialists believe that there are certain specific skills that an individual must gain in order to have a rational life. The impact of essentialism is clear in today’s educational curricula. There are set subjects for students to learn and basic topics that are believed to be essential in rational living. The basics of reading, writing and math, for example, are never left out of learning. The emphasis education has had on such fundamental concepts are all a result of the teachings of the essentialists. Reconstruction Finally, education has also been impacted by the philosophy of reconstruction. This philosophy revolves on the concept of constant change. The world is constantly changing and humans have to constantly change in order to keep up. The greatest impact it has had on education is the way educators have handled other aspects of the field. Intelligence, for example, is now studied through a multi-dimensional eyepiece. There are now alternative learning procedures developed for the purposes of learners that fall outside the norm. There is more freedom to change educational machinations because of the concepts espoused by reconstruction.

Use of Enzymes for Clinical Diagnosis

Use of Enzymes for Clinical Diagnosis Clinical enzymology is branch off medical science deals with the usage of enzymes for diagnosis prognosis of various diseases. In general, each enzyme of clinical significance is found in many tissues of the body, and in healthy individuals, these enzyme exhibit very low levels in serum. In certain disease states or with cell injury, these intracellular enzymes are released into the blood and are indicative of the presence of a pathological condition. Quantification of enzyme levels in serum is useful in determining the presence of disease. Based on the individuals physical symptoms, several enzymes may be chosen for analysis to determine if a pattern develops that aids in identifying the tissue source of the enzyme elevation in the serum(2). The understanding of enzyme kinetics allows for laboratory measurement of plasma levels. Damaged or dying cells within organ can release enzymes into the circulation, these plasma enzyme levels can be used to develop a differential diagnosis of a patient with respect to specific organ disease and dysfunction(1). Like others analyte use for clinical chemistry analysis, specific pre-analytical influences have to be taken into consideration. Analysis of enzyme measurement would involve the process from the start to the end that comprises the pre-analytical factors, analytical and post analytical factors. Pre- analytical issues in the enzyme measurement include the types of specimens, the specific anticoagulants and preservative in the tubes and the specimen collection procedure. Table 2.0 describe the type of enzymes, the specimen of choice and the pre-analytical factors that can affect the enzyme measurement. Slight hemolysis can be accepted as there is no CK ain rbc, however severe or moderate hemolysis can cause enzymes and intermediates (adenylate kinase,ATP,glucose 6-phosphatea) liberated from the erytrocytes and may affect the lag phase and the side reactions occurring in the assay system(3) Lactate Dehydrogenase LDH Serum or heparanised plasma Plasma containing anticoagulant especially oxalate, should not be used. Haemolysed specimen 150 times LDH in rbc than serum(3) Alkaline Phosphatare ALP Serum or haparinized plasma ALP-, free hemolysis. Complexing anticoagulants such as citrate,oxalate, and edta must be avoided. Storage and doing test later than 4 hours can cause loss of activity EDTA concentration in the sample-reagent mixture, causing chelation of metallic cations, and this can affect the activity of the alkaline phosphatase Gamma Glutamyl Transferase GGT Serum free from hemolysis preferred. EDTA -plasma ( up to 1 mg/mL blood) can be used Heparin produces turbidity in the reaction mixture; citrate, oxalate and fluoride depress activity by 10 15 % The rate of disappearance of substrate or the rate of appearance of product had been utilized for enzyme measurement. Usually, measuring small increase in product it is much easier than to measure small decrease in a large amount of substrate. In some enzyme measurements, neither the product not the substrate of a chemical reaction can be measured conveniently. In such cases the enzymatic reaction can be coupled to another reaction that uses the product of the enzyme catalyzed reaction to produce an indicator substance (1). The rate of change in concentration of substrate or product is the principle of kinetic method for most of the enzyme measurement. The accuracy of Kinetic makes it easier to detect changes in reaction conditions and samples requiring dilution. In a kinetic reaction, the rate of reaction can be expressed as ΔP/ΔT, the change in amount of per unit time. The amount of enzyme in a sample is measured by the rate of reaction  catalyzed by the enzyme. This rate is directly proportioned to the amount of enzyme and is expressed in enzyme unit, IU/L (4). Substrate depletion phase is a period during an enzyme assay when the concentration of substrate is falling and the assay is not following zero-order kinetics(5). The amount of substrate must be present in sufficient quantity, so that the reaction rate is limited only by the amount of enzymes. In order to get optimal method of enzyme measurement, the substrate concentration is one of the important parameters. It is essential for the concentration of the substrate(s) is saturating during the measured period of the reaction(6). At saturating substrate concentrations, the reaction velocity is pseudo zero order with respect to the substrate and the velocity is proportional only to the enzyme concentration. Figure 1.0; describe the importance of substrate depletion in enzyme measurement. Enzyme activity High Moderate Low Substrate depletion Substrate depletion Lag phase Absorbance Time Figure 1.0 Enzyme activity can be calculated from a plot of absorbance versus time when monitoring an enzyme-catalysed reaction. When reagents and serum are mixed, there may initially be a period of a time when mixing and any preliminary reactions occur; this is termed the lag period. Following this phase, the reaction will proceed at zero-order kinetics (V max); at this point, the rate of appearance of product (as measured from the slope of the line, ΔA/ΔT) is directly proportional to the enzyme activity present. As the reaction proceeds and substrate is depleted, the rate of reaction will fall below V max and the plot is no longer linear. At this point, the reaction is no longer zero order with respect to substrate concentration; rate of reaction is now dependent on both amount of substrate (which is declining) and amount of enzyme present, making it difficult to calculate amount of enzyme present. (Adapted from Henrys Clinical Diagnostic and Management by Laboratory Metho ds) An organic component of enzymes is called coenzyme. Coenzymes participate in many of the enzyme analyses performed in the clinical laboratory. As the coenzyme make up a part of the active site, the role of this coenzyme in enzymatic transamination is crucial as an example the use of pyridoxal phosphate for expression of enzyme activity for aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase measurement(7). Table 3.0 describe the enzyme, the coenzyme and the clinical relevance of the enzyme measurement for laboratory diagnosis. In conclusion, the type of assay method, sample preparation, age and storage conditions are the variables that have to be taken into consideration in the determination of enzyme activity. Other important variables in determining enzyme activity include temperature, pH, concentration of substrate, concentration of cofactors of the assay, use of other enzyme reactions as indicators, and whether the forward or backward reaction is used to measure the enzyme. All of these variables can lead to significant differences in enzyme activity between methods (1). Enzyme Co-enzyme Clinical relevance Creatinine kinase (CK) Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide Elevations of total CK in serum are associated with cardiac disorders, such as AMI, and skeletal muscle disorder, such as muscular dystrophy. Occasionally,elevations are due to central nervous system, including seizures and cerebral vascular accidents. CK-MB values greater than 6 % of total CK are suggestive of AMI. When AMI is suspected, troponin is assayed in conjunction with CK-MB, and sometimes myoglobin is assayed. Following AMI, Ck-MB levels rise within 4-6 hrs,peak at 12-24 hours, and return to normal within 2-3 days(2). Aspartate aminotransferase pyridoxal phosphate AST is used to evaluate hepatocellular disorders (up to 100 times upper reference limit in infectious mononucleosis, and up to 4 times upper reference limit in cirrhosis), skeletal muscle disorders ( up to 8 times upper reference limit) and acute pancreatitis(8). In AMI, AST rises within 6-8 hours, peaks at 18-24 hours, and return to normal within 4-5 days. AST is not used to diagnose AMI, but awareness of the AST pattern may be useful when ruling out other disorders, including concurrent liver damage(2). Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) NAD Elevated in cardiac disorders (AMI), hepatic diseases (viral hepatitis,cirrhosis,infectious mononucleosis),skeletal muscle diseases, haemolytic and haematological disorders (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) In AMI, LD levels rise within 8-12 hours, peak at 24-48 hours, and return to normal in 7 10 days. Although LD and LD isoenzymes are not used to diagnose AMI, knowledge of their pattern may be useful when assessing concurrent liver damage(2).

Meeting Mila :: Children Personal Narrative Friendship Essays

Meeting Mila Children used to annoy me. They cried. They pooped. They cried some more. They yelled obvious questions at the movies, screamed constantly in the grocery store, and seemed to have an affinity for yelling out facts that the general public did not need to know (such as when in a department store, Bobby informs the sales clerk, "MOMMY SAYS MY BROTHER BILLY WAS AN ACCIDENT!") Furthermore, I had no idea how to deal with children. I was the youngest sibling in my family, and unlike most girls my age, I had never been a babysitter. All of that would change, however, when I met Mila. She would show me just how intelligent, honest, and wonderful children can be. It was around Valentine's Day when I met a strange and interesting young man named Jack. He was a writer, chain smoker, and lover of all cartoons -- especially those involving giant fighting robots. I was going to Topeka West High School, he was a freshman at Washburn University and despite our age difference, we clicked. He told me when we first met that he had a little girl, that her name was Mila, and that she was two years old. I like to think that the fact he had a child didn't freak me out, but it did. As a sixteen year old, I was too young to have to deal with a kid. Also, I was convinced that I didn't have the time or patience to spend time with both Jack and his daughter. Mila had a squinty-eyed smile that could lighten up my foulest mood. Her eyes were like a prized Husky's, a beautiful, piercing ice blue--just like her father's. Her hair was so blond, it was white. It amazed me (and still does) that so much beauty could be bundled into such a small package. I noticed right away that she also had his ears--they stuck out from the sides of her head just like his, but hers were more feminine, with earrings adorning her tiny lobes. At first, she was shy around me. (Of course, back then, she hadn't mastered opening doors yet, and oh, how that's changed!) But over the weekends she spent at Jack's house, I became "Her Sara." She started becoming more comfortable around me when I began driving Jack to Lawrence to pick her up and then driving back with her in tow.

What is the importance of the description of Alison in the Context of t

In â€Å"The Miller’s Tale†, the poet Chaucer depicts the tale of a â€Å"hende† man and his attempt to tempt the â€Å"primerole† Alisoun to commit adultery and therefore render her husband, John a â€Å"cokewold†. The Miller’s Tale is just one story amongst a collection of greater works known collectively as â€Å"The Canterbury Tales†. The placing of this tale is significant becomes it comes directly after the Knight’s Tale revolving around nobility and chivalry and forms a direct contrast due to the fact it is bawdy, lewd and highly inappropriate. The tale is a fabliau, a versified short story designed to make you laugh; concerned usually with sexual or excretory functions. The plot often involves members of the clergy, and is usually in the form of a practical joke carried out for love or revenge and fabliaux are often viewed as a lower class genre. One of the central characters in the poem is that of Alison, a woman who is married to an older man called John the carpenter, â€Å"this carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf†. Alison's attractions are suggested primarily by animal similes and she is described as radiant â€Å"ful brighter was the shining of hir hewe†. Alison’s beauty cannot be separated from her animation and vitality. This, with a hint of naivety, is suggested by the comparisons to "kide or calf" and (twice) to a colt. Alison is soft as a â€Å"wether's wolle† and her voice is like the swallow's. A supple, sinuous quality of her figure is suggested in the sim...

The Stupidest Angel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 HOLIDAY HEARTBREAK Christmas Amnesty. You can fall out of contact with a friend, fail to return calls, ignore e-mails, avoid eye contact at the Thrifty-Mart, forget birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions, and if you show up at their house during the holidays (with a gift) they are socially bound to forgive you – act like nothing happened. Decorum dictates that the friendship move forward from that point, without guilt or recrimination. If you started a chess game ten years ago in October, you need only remember whose move it is – or why you sold the chessboard and bought an Xbox in the interim. (Look, Christmas Amnesty is a wonderful thing, but it's not a dimensional shift. The laws of time and space continue to apply, even if you have been avoiding your friends. But don't try using the expansion of the universe as an excuse – like you kept meaning to stop by, but their house kept getting farther away. That crap won't wash. Just say, â€Å"Sorry I haven't called. Merry Chris tmas.† Then show the present. Christmas Amnesty protocol dictates that your friend say, â€Å"That's okay,† and let you in without further comment. This is the way it has always been done.) â€Å"Where the fuck have you been?† said Gabe Fenton when he opened the door and saw his old friend Theophilus Crowe standing there, holding a present. Gabe, forty-five, short and wiry, unshaven and slightly balding, was wearing khakis that looked like he'd slept in them for a week. â€Å"Merry Christmas, Gabe,† said Theo, holding out the present, a big red bow on it – sort of waving the box back and forth as if to say, Hey, I have a present here, you're not supposed to sandbag me for not calling for three years. â€Å"Yeah, nice,† said Gabe. â€Å"But you might have called.† â€Å"Sorry. I meant to, but you were involved with Val, I didn't want to interrupt.† â€Å"She dumped me, you know?† Gabe had been seeing Valerie Riordan, the town's only psychiatrist, for several years now. Not for the last month, however. â€Å"Yeah, I heard about that.† Theo had heard that Val wanted someone who was a little more involved with human culture than Gabe. Gabe was a behavioral field biologist who studied wild rodents or marine mammals, depending on who was providing the funding. He lived at a small federally owned cottage by the lighthouse with his hundred-pound black Labrador retriever, Skinner. â€Å"You heard? And you didn't call?† It was nearly noon, and Theo's buzz had mostly worn off, but he was still thrown. Guys were not supposed to lament the lack of support from a friend, unless it was backup in a bar fight or help in moving heavy stuff. This was not normal behavior. Maybe Gabe really did need to spend more time around human beings. â€Å"Look, Gabe, I brought you a present,† Theo said. â€Å"Look at how glad Skinner is to see me.† Skinner was, in fact, glad to see Theo. He was crowding Gabe in the doorway, his beefy tail beating against the open door like a Snausage war drum. He associated Theo with hamburgers and pizza, and had once thought of him as the emergency backup Food Guy (Gabe being the primary Food Guy). â€Å"Well, I suppose you should come in,† said Gabe. The biologist stepped away from the door and allowed Theo to enter. Skinner said hi by shoving his nose into Theo's crotch. â€Å"I'm working in here, so things are a little messy.† A little messy? An understatement on a par with calling the Bataan Death March a nature hike – it looked like someone had loaded all of Gabe's belongings into a cannon and fired them into the room through the wall. Dirty laundry and dishes covered every surface except for Gabe's worktable, which, except for the rats, was immaculate. â€Å"Nice rats,† Theo said. â€Å"What are you doing with them?† â€Å"I'm studying them.† Gabe sat down in front of a series of five-gallon aquariums arranged around a center tank in a star pattern and linked by Habitrail tubes, with gates for routing rats from one chamber to another. Each of the rats had a silver disk about the size of a quarter glued to its back. Theo watched as Gabe opened a gate and one of the rats rushed to the center tank and immediately tried to mount its occupant. Gabe picked up a small remote control and hit the button. The attacking rat nearly did a backflip trying to retreat. â€Å"Ha! That'll teach ‘im,† Gabe shouted. â€Å"The female in the center cage is in estrus.† The rat backed away tentatively and did some sniffing, then attempted to mount the female again. Gabe hit the button. The male was jolted off of her. â€Å"Ha! Now do you get it?!† Gabe said maniacally. He looked up from the cages to Theo. â€Å"There are electrodes on their testes. The silver disks are batteries and remote receivers. Every time he gets sexually aroused, I'm hitting his little nuts with fifty volts.† The rat made another attempt and again Gabe hit the button. The rat spazzed its way to the corner of the cage. â€Å"You stupid shit!† Gabe shouted. â€Å"You think they'd learn. I'll hit each of them with the jolt a dozen times today, but when I open the cage tomorrow, they'll all run back in and try to mount her again. You see, you see how we are?† â€Å"We?† â€Å"Us. Males. See how we are. We know there's going to be nothing but pain, but we go back again and again.† Gabe had always been so steady, so calm, so professionally detached, scientifically obsessed, so dependably nerdy – Theo felt as if he were talking to a whole different person, like someone had scrubbed off all the intellect and had exposed the nerves. â€Å"Uh, Gabe, I'm not sure that we should equate ourselves with rodents. I mean – ; â€Å"Oh, sure. That's what you say now. But you'll call me and tell me I was right. Something will happen and you'll call. She'll stomp your heart and you'll finish the destruction she starts. Am I right? Am I right?† â€Å"Uh, I – † Theo was thinking about the graveyard sex followed by the fight he'd had with Molly last night. â€Å"So I'm going to change the association. Watch this.† Gabe stormed over to a bookshelf, threw aside a bunch of professional journals and notebooks until he found what he was looking for. â€Å"See. See her.† Gabe held up a recent Victoria's Secret catalog. The model on the front was wearing garments spectacularly inadequate in concealing her appeal. She looked as if she just couldn't be happier about it. â€Å"Beautiful, right? Amazing, right? Hold that thought.† Gabe reached into the pocket of his khakis and pulled out a stainless remote just like the one on the rat table. â€Å"Beautiful,† he said, and he hit the button. The biologist's back arched and he suddenly became six inches taller, all the muscles of his body seeming to flex at once. He convulsed twice, then fell to the floor, the crumpled catalog still in his hand. Skinner lapsed into a barking fit. Don't die, Food Guy, my bowl is on the porch and I can't open the door by myself, he was saying. It was the same every time, he was always glad when the Food Guy wasn't actually dead, but the Food Guy's convulsions made him anxious. Theo rushed to his friend's aid. Gabe's eyes were rolled back and he twitched a couple of times before he sucked in a deep breath and looked Theo in the eye. â€Å"See. You change the association. Won't be long and I'll have that reaction without the electrodes glued to my scrotum.† â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Oh yeah. It will take hold, I know it. It hasn't worked with the rats yet, but I'm hoping it will before they all die.† â€Å"They're dying of this?† â€Å"Well, it has to hurt or they'll never learn.† Gabe held up his remote again and Theo snatched it out of his hand. â€Å"Stop it!† â€Å"I have another set of electrodes and receiver. You want to try it? I've been dying to try it out in the field. We could go to a titty bar.† Theo helped Gabe to his feet, then set him in a chair facing away from the rat table and pulled a chair around for himself. â€Å"Gabe, you are out of control. I'm sorry I didn't call.† â€Å"I know you've been busy. It's okay.† Great, now he has the appropriate Christmas Amnesty reaction, Theo thought. â€Å"These rats, the electrodes, all of it, it's just wrong. You're just going to end up with either a bunch of paranoid misogynist males, or a pile of corpses.† â€Å"You make that sound like a bad thing.† â€Å"You got your heart broken. It will heal.† â€Å"She said I was dull.† â€Å"She should see this.† Theo gestured around the room. â€Å"She wasn't interested in my work.† â€Å"You guys had a good run. Five years. Maybe it was just time. You told me yourself that the human male was not evolved for monogamy.† â€Å"Yeah, but I had a girlfriend when I said that.† â€Å"So it's not true?† â€Å"No, it's true, but it didn't bother me when I had a girlfriend. Now I know that I am biologically programmed to spread the seed of my loins far and wide, to as many females as possible, a series of torrid, meaningless matings, only to move on to the next fertile female. My genes are demanding that I pass them on, and I don't know where to start.† â€Å"You might want to shower before you start the seed spreading.† â€Å"You don't think I know that? That's why I was trying to reprogram my impulses. Tame the animus, as it were.† â€Å"Because you don't want to shower?† â€Å"No, because I don't know how to talk to women. I could talk to Val.† â€Å"Val was a pro.† â€Å"She was not. She never turned a trick in her life.† â€Å"Listener, Gabe. She was a pro listener – a psychiatrist.† â€Å"Oh, right. Do you think I should start with a prostitute, or ‘tutes?† â€Å"For a broken heart? Yeah, I'm sure that will work just as well as the electrodes on your scrotum, but first I need you to do something for me.† Theo thought maybe, just maybe, work – nonfreakish work – might bring his friend back from the brink. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the hank of yellow hair he'd taken out of the Volvo's wheel well. â€Å"I need you to look at this and tell me about it.† Gabe took the hair and looked at it. â€Å"Is this crime stuff?† â€Å"Sort of.† â€Å"Where did you get it? What do you need to know?† â€Å"Tell me everything you can about it before I tell you anything, okay?† â€Å"Well, it appears to be blond.† â€Å"Thanks, Gabe, I was thinking maybe you could look at it under the microscope or something.† â€Å"Doesn't the county have a crime lab for that?† â€Å"Yeah, but I can't take it to them. There are circumstances.† â€Å"Like?† â€Å"Like they will think I'm stoned or nuts or both. Look at the hair,† Theo said. â€Å"You tell me. I'll tell you. â€Å"Okay, but I don't have all that cool CSI stuff.† â€Å"Yeah, but the guys at the crime lab don't have batteries Super-Glued to their gonads. You've got them there.† Ten minutes later Gabe looked up from his microscope. â€Å"Well, it's not human,† he said. â€Å"Swell.† â€Å"In fact, it doesn't appear to be hair.† â€Å"So what is it?† â€Å"Well, it seems to have a lot of the qualities of optic fiber.† â€Å"So it's man-made?† â€Å"Not so fast. It has a root, and what appears to be a cuticle, but it doesn't look like keratin. I'd have to have it tested for proteins. If it's manufactured, there's no evidence of the process. It looks as if it was grown, not made. You know polar-bear hair has fiber-optic properties – channels light energy through to the black skin for heat.† â€Å"So it's polar-bear hair?† â€Å"Not so fast.† â€Å"Gabe, goddammit, where in the hell did it come from?† â€Å"You tell me.† â€Å"Just us, okay? This doesn't leave this cottage unless We get some confirmation, okay?† â€Å"Of course. Are you okay, Theo?† â€Å"Am I okay? You're asking me if I'm okay?† â€Å"Everything all right with you and Molly? The job? You're not smoking dope again, are you?† Theo hung his head. â€Å"You say you have another one of those electrodes?† Gabe brightened. â€Å"You'll need to shave a spot. Can I open my present while you're in the bathroom? You can use my razor.† â€Å"No, go ahead and open your present. I have some stuff I need to tell you.† â€Å"Wow, a salad shooter. Thanks, Theo.† â€Å"He took the salad shooter,† Molly said. â€Å"Wow, was that important to him?† Lena asked. â€Å"It was a wedding present.† â€Å"I know, I gave it to you. It was a wedding present to me and Dale, too.† â€Å"See, there was tradition.† Molly was inconsolable. She drank off half of her diet Coke and slammed the plastic Budweiser cup down on the bar like a pirate cursing over a schooner of grog. â€Å"Bastard!† It was Wednesday evening, and they were at the Head of the Slug saloon to coordinate the replanning of the food for the Christmas for the Lonesome party. Lena's first reaction to Molly's call to help was to beg off and stay at home, but even as she was creating an excuse, she realized that she'd only sit home obsessing alternately on getting caught for killing Dale and getting her heart broken by this strange, strange helicopter pilot. She decided that maybe meeting with Molly and Mavis down at the Slug wasn't such a bad idea. And she might be able to find out from Molly if Theo suspected her in Dale's disappearance. Yeah, fat chance, with Molly obsessing on Theo's – whatever it was that Theo was supposed to have done wrong. It sounded to Lena like he had just taken a salad shooter to work with him. You were supposed to empathize with your friend's problems, but they were, after all, your friend's problems, and Lena's friends, Molly in particular, could be a little wacky. The bar was full of singles in their twenties and thirties and you could feel a desperate energy sparking around the dark room, like loneliness was the negative and sex was the positive and someone was brushing the wires together over an open bucket of gasoline. This was the fallout of the holiday heartbreak cycle that started with young men who, lacking any stronger motivation toward changing their lives, would break up with their current girlfriend in order to avoid having to buy her a Christmas present. The distraught women would sulk for a few days, eat ice cream, and avoid calling relatives, but then, as the idea of a solitary Christmas and New Year started to loom large, they swarmed into the Slug in search of a companion, virtually any companion, with whom they could pass the holidays. Full speed ahead and forget the presents. Pine Cove's male singles, to display their newfound freedom, would descend on the Slug, and avail themselves of the affections of dejected women in a ga me of small-town sexual musical chairs played hungrily to the tune of â€Å"Deck the Halls† – everyone hoping to have slipped drunkenly into someone more comfortable before the last fa was la-la-ed. There might have been a bubble around Lena and Molly, however, for they were obviously not part of the game. While both were certainly more than attractive enough to garner attention from the younger men, they had about them a mystique of experience, of having been there and moved on, of unbullshitability. Essentially, they scared the hell out of all but the drunkest of the Slug's suitors, and the fact that they were drinking straight diet Coke scared the hell out of the drunks. Molly and Lena, despite their own personal distress, had slain their own holiday desperation dragons, which was how the Lonesome Christmas party had started in the first place. Now they were on to new, individual anxieties. â€Å"Sloppy joes,† said Mavis, a great cloud of low-tar smoke powering the announcement and washing over Lena and Molly. It had been illegal to smoke in California bars for years, but Mavis ignored the law and the authorities (Theophilus Crowe) and smoked on. â€Å"Who doesn't like his meat sloppy on a bun?† â€Å"Mavis, it's Christmas,† Lena said. So far Mavis had only suggested soupy or saucy entres – Lena suspected that Mavis had misplaced her dentures again and was therefore lobbying for a gummable feast. â€Å"With pickles, then. Red sauce, green pickles, Christmas theme.† â€Å"I mean shouldn't we do something nice for Christmas? Not just sloppy joes?† â€Å"At five bucks a head, I told her that barbecue was the only way to feed them.† Mavis leaned in and looked at Molly, who was muttering malevolently into her ice cubes. â€Å"But everyone seems to think it's going to rain. Like it ever rains in December.† Molly looked up and growled a little, then looked at the television screen behind Mavis and pointed. The sound was muted, but there was a weather map of California. About eight hundred miles off the coast there was a great blob of color whirling in jump-frame satellite-photo motion, making it appear that a Technicolor amoeba was about to consume the Bay Area. â€Å"Ain't nothin',† Mavis said. â€Å"They won't even give it a name. If that thing was crouched like that over Bermuda, they'd have given it a name two days ago. Know why? ‘Cause they don't come onshore here. That bitch will turn right a hundred miles off Anacapa Island and go down and dump all over the Yucatan. Meanwhile we won't be able to wash our cars because of the drought.† â€Å"The rain at least will stop any sand-pirate attacks,† Molly said, crunching an ice cube. â€Å"Huh?† said Lena. â€Å"The hell did you say?† Mavis adjusted her hearing aid. â€Å"Nothing,† Molly said. â€Å"What do you guys think about lasagna? You know, some garlic bread, a little salad.† â€Å"Yeah, we can probably do it for five bucks a head if we don't use sauce or cheese,† said Mavis. â€Å"Lasagna just doesn't seem very Christmasy,† said Lena. â€Å"We could put it in Santa Claus pans,† Molly suggested. â€Å"No!† Lena snapped. â€Å"No Santas! We can do a snowman or something, but no friggin' Santas.† Mavis reached over and patted Lena's hand. â€Å"Santa played a little grab-ass with a lot of us when we were little, darlin'. Once your mustache starts growing you're supposed to let go of that shit.† â€Å"I am not growing a mustache.† â€Å"Do you wax? Because you can't see a thing,† said Molly, being supportive. â€Å"I do not have a mustache,† said Lena. â€Å"You think it's bad being a Mexican, Romanian women have to start shaving when they're twelve,† Mavis said. Lena took that opportunity to plant her elbows squarely on the bar and grip two great handfuls of her hair, which she began to pull, slowly and steadily, to make her point. â€Å"What?† said Mavis. â€Å"What?† said Molly. And there was an awkward moment of silence among the three – only the muted jukebox thumping in the background and the low murmur of people lying to one another. They looked around to avoid talking, then turned to the front door as Vance McNally, Pine Cove's senior EMT, came through it and let loose a long, growling belch. Vance was in his midfifties, and fancied himself a charmer and a hero, when, in fact, he was a bit of a dolt. He had been driving the ambulance for over twenty years now, and nothing gave him pleasure like being the bearer of bad news. It was the measure of his importance. â€Å"You guys hear that the highway patrol found Dale Pearson's truck parked up in Big Sur by Lime Kiln Rock? Looks like he was fishing and fell in. Yep, surf coming up from that storm, they'll never find him. Theo's up there now investigating.† Lena stumbled back to her bar stool and climbed up. She was sure everyone in the bar, all the locals anyway, were looking at her for a reaction. She let her long hair hang down by her face, hiding in it. â€Å"So, lasagna it is,† said Mavis. â€Å"But no fucking Santa pans!† Lena snapped, not looking up. Mavis pulled both of their plastic cups off the bar. â€Å"Normal circumstances, you'd be cut off, but as it is, I think you two really need to start drinking.†