Tuesday, August 25, 2020

A Lies Poison As Illustrated In Billy Collins The History Teacher

A Lie's Poison As Illustrated In Billy Collin's The History Teacher Consider the possibility that you discovered that all that you learned in school was a falsehood. The whole time you sat learning math, in vein, the entirety of the realities about the administration just a mellowed truth, the wars that were battled to make America an incredible nation all untruths. Well in this sonnet â€Å"The History Teacher† by Billy Collins, he shows what the outcomes would be in glossing over a genuine subjects, in school as well as in every day life. Despite the fact that you’d need to save somebody the hard truth it is ideal to come clean with them. In this story the principle character is an instructor, this educator doesn’t need to acquaint his understudies with the hard truth of History hence he finds various approaches to making things more amicable for kids as to not desensitize them, or damage them yet as yet showing them history. The result of him relaxing reality, his children go out into the play area region and single out the children that really knew the genuine story since, they felt that different children weren't right, which the educator needed to manage in light of the fact that he couldn’t tell the children other insightful and ruin their â€Å"innocence†. I see how the educator needs to safeguard the children guiltlessness yet their instruction isn’t something to settle. Collins sonnet exposes the damage that not telling individuals every bit of relevant information, and/or keeping others in obscurity can present. I can identify with the instructor on the grounds that, as an educator you must show kids life, the past, present, this is likewise essential abilities so on the off chance that you don’t show them accurately, at that point it’ll be difficult for them to become familiar with reality further down the road. After that I understood that despite the fact that he was saving the kids their youngster hood he was additionally making an issue for different children that realized that what he was instructing wasn’t genuine on the grounds that his children would â€Å"torment the powerless and the savvy, destroying their hair and breaking their glasses†(Collins). These children are currently representing a danger to different children at the school because of their absent numbness. Toward the finish of the sonnet the educator strolls home considering better approaches to mislead the children tomorrow. The way that shocks me the most is that he sees that the children aren’t picking up anything, and their numbness is by implication hurting different children yet he doesn’t put forth any attempt to stop it or reexamine his strategies. The significance of this story is that it is smarter to uncover reality to somebody as opposed to deceiving them and letting them meander this coldblooded, uncompassionate world careless in regards to reality. Not coming clean with individuals, yea it very well may be once in a while to their benefit, or possibly just to keep your inner voice unmistakable yet in the end somebody is going to come clean with them or they will need to encounter the hard truth and all your exertion of protecting their â€Å"innocence† would be in vein there for so as to save yourself the shame and extra them the hard acknowledgment on the grounds that, let’s be extremely genuine nobody can remain guiltless for eternity. Everybody needs to in the long run face reality in life in this manner let not one critical point in time be saved in light of the fact that it could be essential to their development as a person, to summarize everything Just come clean with individuals and spare others inju ry and dramatization.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

A Beautiful Mind - A film review essays

A Beautiful Mind - A film audit articles The executive Ron Howard's most recent film, A Beautiful Mind, is an engaging, illuminating and merciful show witch handles the hardships of a virtuoso experiencing schizophrenia. The film is a the genuine story of a mathematician named John Forbes Nash Jr. who is played by Russell Crowe whom won an Academy Oscar for his representation as Maximus in The Gladiator. We initially meet John Nash at Princeton University in 1947 as a mathematician with social issues because of suspicious schizophrenia. Hes splendid and doesnt keep down on communicating the limit and merits of his mind to his companions. In actuality he is now so over the institutional principles that he decides to skip classes. He doesnt have a lot of karma with ladies either and wound up being smacked in the face very regularly with his dull, for what reason don't we jump to the sex line. All things considered, he comprehend his own condition, so he has as meager contact with individuals as could reasonably be expected, and invests the majority of his energy in his apartment looking for a disclosure of another hypothesis. He is essentially a savvy, modest jolt with a wry comical inclination. Soon after accepting acknowledgment for his hypotheses at Princeton, he turns into a teacher at the renowned school of MIT and starts instructing. He draws in the consideration of one of his physic understudies, Alicia Larde, (played by Jennifer Connelly) and she discovers Nash's erraticisms enchanting and asks him out to supper. By 1957 the two were hitched. However, at about a similar time he meets his future spouse, he additionally meets the convincing government specialist (Ed Harris) who selects the educator to break codes for the Department of Defense. It is just a couple of years after the fact that Nash's schizophrenia is analyzed. He gets suspicious and silly and on occasion fierce. His reality comes slamming down around him. Individuals and things he accepts are genuine are just in his mind. Nash can never again be persuaded about who is genuine and who is in his h... <!

Friday, August 7, 2020

Are Bookworms Killing The Bookstore

Are Bookworms Killing The Bookstore Here in Memphis, The Booksellers is going belly up â€" causing an emotional shock among my friends almost as great as the election. Since I’m a senior citizen Book Rioter, Ive seen countless bookstores come and go. I remember the thrill of their openings  and the depression of their closings. I know of only one bookstore older than myself, and I think Ill outlive it. But hell, nothing seems to last anymore. Im truly sad bookstores are going out of business, but arent we to blame? Among my bookish friends lamenting the demise of our favorite bookstore, we feel something significant has changed in our lives. The Booksellers used to be Davis-Kidd Booksellers, which at one time had several locations across Tennessee, with legions of devoted fans. Evidently not enough. Will any bookstore stay in business in these changing technological  times? I admit my guilt. I’ve bought dozens of books this month.   None from a new bookstore. I now prefer digital books â€" either Kindle editions or Audible audiobooks. I own over two thousand books I carry around in my iPhone 6s Plus. I’d need a Class 4 truck do that with hardbacks. I went to Barnes Noble Monday, our last remaining bookstore selling new books, and spent $35. But I bought two expensive computer magazines and a remaindered coloring book no new books. For over forty years in my younger life, I’d visit bookstores two or three times a week, always hanging out in the science and science fiction sections. My Barnes Noble have large sections for those books. However, I didn’t even glance at them. I’ve decided it’s unfair to use their shelves for perusing books I would only buy at Amazon. And if I’m extra honest, how I select books is far more sophisticated than the old days. I used to spend a few minutes flipping through a volume before making an impulse purchase. Now I research books on the internet before I hit the order button, getting to know them in ways no store clerk could. If I only buy magazines and pick over the remaindered books will bookstores stay in business? Are my buying habits typical? Even those buying habits are changing. I subscribe to Texture where I have access to 200+ digital magazines, and I’ve been thinking about subscribing to  Comixology because young Book Rioters are making me feel I’m missing something by not reading comics. By the way, am I wrong in thinking comic fans mostly buy their comics digitally, rather than collect paper editions? What will bookstores sell in the future? Now that I think of it, all the comic book stores I used to see are no longer in business. Most bookworms wail and gnash their teeth when their favorite bookstore  dies, but aren’t we killing their business? Aren’t we killing libraries too? We’re living through a paradigm shift. Some younger Book Rioters will even wonder why I’m writing this essay because digital books are all they’ve ever known. Most bookworms, of all ages, still love physical books and will riot over the idea of them disappearing. Yet, how many of you buy books at your local bookstore paying full list price? I feel really bad that bookstores are going out of business, but arent we bookworms to blame? Or is that fair? Is this a natural business evolution and no one is to blame?  Bookstores are going the way of video stores. That’s deeply sad. I often lament not owning a typewriter or an 8-bit computer. I miss them. But if I owned one, they’d be gathering dust in the attic. Change is relentless. If you live long enough everything becomes nostalgia.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Self-Discovery in Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Equus...

Through the incorporation of figurative language in both Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Equus by Peter Shaffer, they set the characters in isolation during the experience of hiding emotions and focusing on other’s needs in order for the undergoing of self-discovery and peace within self. Therefore analyzing the behavior that occurs during the process and the aftermath of their seclusion will determine the success of their accomplishment with the breakthrough of peace. When comparing the two texts along with their historical context of sense of loss and alienation of individuals, the main characters, Gregor Samsa and Alan Strang, undergo the allusion of isolation and finds the understanding of self. Through the merging of†¦show more content†¦Due to his tragic metamorphosis, he then realizes his need for â€Å"shut[ing] himself all together† in order for his family’s relief (Kafka 29). Also, when alienating self, it encourages Gregor’s belief tha t he trifles his family. Since he causes grief among them, it pushes his isolation and relationship blockage further with his family. Thus, his silence and insecurity causes him to gradually think of his self happiness rather than their judgment. Likewise, Shaffer also characterizes Alan as isolating towards society and his family. Most importantly, Alan has a way of avoiding questions by either ignoring them or contain an ulterior motive of changing the subject. Therefore when ask: DYSART: What did he say in Court? HESTHER: Nothing. He just [sings]. DYSART: [Sings]? HESTHER: Any time anyone ask[s] him anything. (Shaffer 1.2) This encounter leads to his hiding of emotions and truth. Hence, Alan attempt in subduing society’s involvement with his life and hiding his inner thoughts. Also through his actions, others view him as diverse from society. Since Alan defends his emotions and isolates himself, when someone observes him, they see him as â€Å"a modern citizen for whom society doesn’t exist† (Shaffer 2.25). Through society’s surveillance of Alan, it proves his alienation and abnormality among others. Due to that, Alan continues to hide emotions, which causes pain to self. However, once he stops hiding the truth, he will then realize

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 19 Free Essays

string(27) " of us certain what to do\." The next day, Dante was off to work, and I called Cody right after breakfast. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Are you guys still being beach bunnies?† â€Å"You bet,† he said brightly. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Heat CHAPTER 19 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"One of our neighbors has a sailboat and offered to let us go with him and-â€Å" â€Å"That’s not quite what I had in mind,† I interrupted. An hour and a half later, Peter echoed my thoughts. â€Å"This wasn’t what I had in mind.† I’d convinced them to come out with me on my beach hunt. Unfortunately, the day was cold and threatened rain. As we walked along the water at Dash Point, icy wind ripped off the waves and cut across our faces. I snuggled into my jacket, thinking of how many times I’d taken the ability to shape-shift warmer coats for granted. â€Å"Look, I know you guys think you’re on spring break, but eventually, we will get another archdemon, and I’d rather it be Jerome.† â€Å"Yes, but it’s not like this is exactly an airtight plan,† Peter argued. â€Å"We’re pretty much going to beaches at random, in the hopes of finding white sand. Look at this stuff. It’s beige†¦is that close enough to white?† I cut him a sidelong glance. â€Å"You once got in an argument with Carter about the difference between ‘Denim Days Blue’ and ‘Summer Cobalt.’ You tell me. Is there a difference between white and beige?† Peter kicked sand up with the toe of his boot. â€Å"It was ‘ Winter Cobalt,’ and Carter was wrong. There’s a huge difference between those two.† Cody and I hid our grins as we continued our trek. Dash Point State Park was near Federal Way, down on the south side of Puget Sound. It had seemed reasonable to start there and work our way around the coast, back up toward Seattle. This was our second park of the day, and so far, we’d seen nothing to match the seal’s cryptic clues. On our drive to the third place, Peter was still pessimistic. â€Å"You know, this would be a lot easier if we had your dead-beat boyfriend along. We can only go off visual clues at this point. We need someone who can actually sense the power around the vessel.† â€Å"Dante’s busy at work,† I explained. â€Å"Huh,† Cody mused. â€Å"I never expected to hear ‘busy’ and ‘at work’ used together when it came to Dante.† â€Å"Be quiet,† I said. â€Å"Leave the snark to Hugh and Peter.† â€Å"What about Erik?† asked Peter. â€Å"He’s psychic.† â€Å"Yeah, I considered that, but he’s getting old and his back’s been bothering him. I hate to ask him to walk around and around with me†¦but well, I haven’t ruled it out.† â€Å"And you don’t know any more psychics?† â€Å"Nope. Not that I trust, at least.† â€Å"Me either,† admitted Peter. â€Å"But I bet Hugh does.† â€Å"Yeah, you’re probably-† I stopped mid-sentence. â€Å"I might know one more†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was crazy idea, one I wasn’t sure I should put any real effort toward. â€Å"Who?† asked Cody. I shook my head and drove through the entrance of our next state park. â€Å"It’s a long story, one I’m going to have to work on.† Our third stop yielded nothing either, save an inability for Peter to get sand out of his boots. It had started raining by that point, and even my mood was down by then. Sunset was still a couple of hours away, but the overcast sky was effectively killing our light. Glancing at my watch, I saw that the dance lesson was looming, so we turned north and headed back to Seattle. I dropped the vampires off at their apartment and then drove home to get ready. My closet’s dress selection seemed old and tired, but I had no new fashions to magically summon. So, I opted for a sleeveless minidress with a bright pattern of orange, green, and black flowers that had been blurred together like a water-color painting. It was a bit shorter than it should have been for a dance with this much movement, but the colors seemed suitable and cheerful on a day like this. It also seemed cold, though, and on impulse, I added black thigh-high stockings to keep my legs warm. Between that, black heels, and dark lipstick, I seemed to be channeling my succubus self more than my mild-mannered bookstore manager self. Of course, considering the whore wear I’d shown up in a week or so ago, this was kind of tame. Doug naturally still teased me about it, though deep down inside, I knew he thought I looked hot. I took a smug satisfaction in knowing I’d done it without any shape-shifting. Plus, I’d practically burned my hair off trying to flat iron it tonight. I dared anyone to accuse me of frizziness. Maddie was ecstatic, and her enthusiasm spread to those among the staff who’d decided to stay after closing for the lesson. A few of their friends had shown up as well, giving us around a dozen. It was a good, manageable size. We cleared space upstairs, and I set up my portable CD player. Cody had helped me teach swing before, but I hadn’t thought to enlist his assistance this time. Instead, I used Doug as my demo. Maybe it was part of being a musician, but he had a solid sense of rhythm and could pick up moves really quickly. A half-hour in, I trusted him enough to start assisting others, and we split up to work with some of our students. Despite my hesitation in agreeing to the lesson, I had fun, and most people were so nervous about touching their manager that I didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting my back. Maddie, enthusiastic or not, was having a bit of trouble and complained loudly when her brother came in to help her. He swept her away, leaving me with her former dance partner: Seth. I’d known he was here, of course, but I’d been trying to avoid eye contact. There was no good way around it now, and we stood there awkwardly, eyeing each other, neither of us certain what to do. You read "Succubus Heat CHAPTER 19" in category "Essay examples" Autopilot kicked in, and I held my hands out to him. I was the teacher here, and since he was one of the worst dancers on the floor, it was only natural that he’d need my help more than others. Seth held up his hands in return, and as I took a step forward, my heel snagged on the carpet. I knelt down to check, thinking it would be pretty embarrassing to trip and fall when I was the alleged model of grace and balance here. Glancing up, I met Seth’s eyes. He was looking down at me, and his face was no longer shy or confused. His expression was considering and†¦well, hungry. Looking down, I suddenly realized the view I was offering up. He was able to see right into the heart of my cleavage, which was already considerably exposed by the dress’s low neckline. From kneeling, my skirt had ridden up, showing off the black lace top of one of my thigh-highs. I don’t know what in particular he found the most alluring, but his gaze raked across my body, and everywhere it touched, heat swept me. I rose, suddenly feeling like the shy and awkward one. Desire was written all over him, and it was a wonder the entire room didn’t notice. He extended his hands again, and when we touched, electricity shot through my body. Finding the beat, I led him into the steps. He was every bit as bad as I remembered, yet as I worked to guide him in the right moves, our bodies brushing together out of necessity, I couldn’t help but think that while his dance rhythm might be lacking, there’d been nothing uncoordinated about the way he made love. Neither of us spoke for a minute or so, and I was sure he was caught up in the same physical spell as me, probably reliving our encounter from yesterday as well. My arousal was growing too, and wrong as I knew it was, I actually went out of my way to make sure we occasionally touched as I guided his body. Finally, sexually charged or not, I couldn’t help but laugh. â€Å"I think this is the worst I’ve ever seen you dance,† I told him. â€Å"And believe me, that’s saying something.† He smiled ruefully, but I suspected dancing was the last thing on his mind right now. â€Å"I’m out of practice.† â€Å"Well, I’m glad you’re actually here this time, instead of sitting on the sidelines.† â€Å"Things change, I guess.† I held his eyes for a few moments. â€Å"Yes. Yes, they do.† A few more moments of silence passed before he asked, â€Å"How’s your immortal, um, situation going?† â€Å"Hmm?† Seth’s hand had come within millimeters of brushing against my breast when we turned. Sternly, I chastised myself to forget about the way his body had felt-and looked and smelled and tasted-yesterday and remember my other problems. â€Å"Oh, well. Not so great, actually. I got some more info, except it’s hard to-â€Å" When I fell silent, Seth tilted his head and gave me a puzzled look. â€Å"What?† I’d forgotten the idea that I’d briefly hinted at to the vampires. â€Å"Seth†¦I have a strange question to ask you†¦and you can feel free to say no.† The look on his face still seemed to say he wanted to rip my clothes off, but there was something else†¦something serious and concerned that made sweet, sentimental feelings mingle with my own lust. â€Å"If there’s anything I can do to help, I will.† â€Å"I know,† I said. â€Å"Except this isn’t exactly your help†¦it’s Kayla’s.† If Seth had been doing any semblance of dancing now, he might have stumbled and missed a beat. As it was, it was kind of hard to tell the difference. â€Å"Kayla?† His four-year-old niece’s name was clearly not what he’d been expecting to hear. â€Å"Do you remember when I said she had psychic powers?† â€Å"Yeah†¦but I didn’t really think much of it.† â€Å"Well, I told you the logistics of summoning, right? Now I’ve got a lead on where Jerome is but not how to find him once we’re in the right spot. I could do it if I was back to normal, or a psychic might be able to do it. Unfortunately, my usual ones aren’t easily accessible.† Worry was rapidly dominating over desire now. I was sad to see the arousal leave him, but this was a serious topic. â€Å"I’m not sure I like the idea of Kayla getting mixed up in any of this. In fact, I know I don’t like it.† I nodded. â€Å"I know. I figured you’d feel that way-believe me, I don’t like it either.† I loved all of Seth’s nieces, but Kayla in particular always tugged at my heartstrings. â€Å"Just something that crossed my mind earlier.† â€Å"Well, I-ah!† Another couple slammed into my back, shoving me forward into his arms. My hands reached out to catch myself, but it didn’t stop our bodies from pressing together. Every part of me tingled at that contact, and if I’d had any remaining delusions that I could forget about what we’d done yesterday, they shattered for good now. â€Å"Sorry,† said Andy. He was dancing with Casey, and like her, he was a longtime staff member. Casey groaned. â€Å"Georgina, please take him. Even Seth can’t be that bad.† â€Å"Debatable,† I murmured. I didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break my hold with Seth. I wanted to stay there and keep touching him, and because of that very impulse, I stepped back. My breathing was heavy, and it took me a moment to gather myself. I drew in one more deep breath and grinned at Andy. â€Å"Okay. Let’s see what we can do with you.† Casey led Seth away, and I managed to avoid him for the rest of the dance lesson. When it wrapped up, everyone clapped in my honor and demanded I teach a follow-up. I assured them I would, but I was too flustered and preoccupied to settle on a date right now. I promised to get back to them later. Several of them immediately jumped in to put the room back together, and seeing no further reason to stay, I hurried off to my office. My plan was to check up on some of the paperwork and hide out until everyone was gone so that I wouldn’t have to see Seth again. I was half-way down the hall when I heard someone call my name. â€Å"Georgina?† I halted. It was Maddie. I turned, hoping the smile on my face looked neither fake nor panicked. Fuck. She was here to bust me for cozying up with her boyfriend on the dance floor. And honestly, it was no more than I deserved. But her face was all smiles and good cheer as she handed me a stack of papers. â€Å"I went kind of crazy,† she said sheepishly, â€Å"but these are some condo listings I printed for you. I’ve been searching online the last couple of days and kind of looked at everything since you still weren’t one hundred percent sure of what you wanted. Got a lot of good hits by the beach.† I took the stack from her, stunned. This was the last thing I’d expected. â€Å"It’s probably overkill, but it should give you a lot to look at. Then, if you get some ideas, we can go on from there.† I glanced down at the top sheet, displaying a three-bedroom condo out on Alki. â€Å"I†¦wow. Thank you, Maddie. You shouldn’t have.† She beamed at my thanks. â€Å"Happy to. Let me know what you think-and thanks again for the lesson. It was so much fun! Hopefully I’ll be less horrible next time. Maybe I can get Seth to practice at home.† She gave me a quick hug and then hurried off to catch a ride with Doug. I trudged to my office, papers in hand, and set them on my desk. I collapsed into the chair, feeling horrible. While I’d been out doing bad, wicked things with her boyfriend, she’d been working diligently to find me a new home. I tried hard after that to browse some spreadsheets, but my heart wasn’t in it. I mostly stared at numbers without really comprehending them, and when a knock came at the door, I welcomed the distraction. I jumped up from my chair. â€Å"Come in.† I wondered if Maddie had forgotten to give me another ream. But it wasn’t her. Seth stood in the doorway. I stared, hoping my mouth hadn’t dropped open or anything embarrassing like that. â€Å"What†¦what are you doing here? I thought you left.† He looked as though he wanted to step inside but was afraid to. â€Å"Doug took Maddie home, and I came back to†¦to get†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stopped and shook his head, unable to continue with a lie about having forgotten something. â€Å"I came back to see you.† I remembered the way his eyes had watched my body, the smoke in them when the skirt had ridden up my leg. That same smokiness was there now, and I felt my own body’s desire flare up in response. Really, though, after the way we’d touched while dancing, the desire had never really left me. Nonetheless, I tried to be reasonable. â€Å"Seth, we can’t†¦not again†¦it’s†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know,† he said. At last, he crossed the threshold. â€Å"And I told myself†¦told myself I’d let it go†¦but I haven’t stopped thinking about you since yesterday. And after tonight.† Hesitantly, as though afraid someone might be lurking, he shut the door behind him. â€Å"Just the way you looked out there. It was†¦amazing. Believe me, I didn’t screw up dancing because I’m bad at it-which I am. It’s because I wasn’t thinking about it at all. I was thinking about you. God, I couldn’t stop. And it’s not just how sexy you are tonight. It was more. It was the way you lit up the room, the way you charmed everyone and made them happy. You don’t need any special powers to do that, Georgina. It’s just in you, part of who you are. How funny you are, how smart. It’s what made me fall in love you back then, and it’s what†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn’t finish, and I was glad. If he had said â€Å"†¦makes me love you now,† I wouldn’t have been able to handle it. I noticed that he’d moved a lot closer. I took a deep breath. â€Å"It would have been easier on me if you said you just thought I was sexy.† Shallowness I could handle. Not this emotional depth. He gave a rueful smile and stepped even closer so that we were only a couple feet apart. â€Å"Oh, believe me, I do. And it would be a lot easier on me if you weren’t.† I could scarcely breathe. We were so close now, and every atom in the room felt charged. I felt charged. There was no mistaking the look on his face. He wanted me too-badly. Lust and desire spilled off him, and I knew my own face mirrored those feelings. He was careful, though, standing as close as he dared, waiting for my signal. There was a tension to him, like it would only take one small sign from me for him to explode. Desperately, I tried to grasp a hold of everything reasonable that I knew. I remembered how miserable I’d felt when he left to go see Maddie yesterday. Hell, I tried to think of Maddie herself-that cheerful, guileless face that trusted me so much. I tried to think of Dante. None of that worked, though, because all that was in my head was Seth, how perfect it had felt being with him. How perfect it felt being with him even now. Reaching out, I took his hand and brought it up to my collarbone. It was all he needed. He stepped closer and traced the lines of my neck, then moved down to my shoulder. He pushed the dress’s strap so that it slid down my arm. His fingers followed it, pulling it farther so that the top of my dress fell forward, revealing most of my breast. My nipple was already hard and ready when his hand moved over and pulled the rest of that side of the dress down, completely exposing my breast. He cupped it, squeezing its fullness and running his fingers along the curve. His other hand moved to my other side, cupping that breast and teasing its nipple underneath the dress’s silk. My body pressed closer to his, and our mouths met, hot and intense. Yesterday had been sweet and full of emotion. There was emotion here today, but it was intermingled with raw passion, with an animal instinct that made me wish he’d ravage my body right now. And honestly, that wasn’t too far from what happened. I stumbled from the press of our bodies and found my back pressed-gently-against the wall as he continued caressing my breasts. My hands wrapped around his neck, moving up to half-tangle and half-pull his hair. He finally released my breasts and ran his hands over the length of my body, down my hips and thighs, across the sheer, silky fabric covering my legs. Sliding his hands back up, he pushed my skirt up and slipped one hand under my thigh, so that it wrapped around his waist and kept the dress up. His other hand moved down under my black lace thong panties, probing to see if I was ready. I was. I was warm and wet and slick, and the finger he slipped into me went in so easily that he then tried two, then three. I groaned and arched my back as he moved his fingers in and out of me and his mouth left hard, bruising kisses on my neck. My own hands fumbled down, trying to unfasten his pants. When I’d tugged them and his boxers down, he gripped my hips and turned me around so that I faced the wall. He shoved my skirt back up and tugged my panties halfway down my thighs. I bent over and extended my arms, using my hands to brace myself against the wall. He entered me, forceful and deep, with no buildup or teasing. He was just as hard and long as I remembered, just as wonderful. Steadying his hands on my hips, he thrust roughly into me, desperately trying to sate the need I’d seen in him earlier, the need I shared. I cried out each time he shoved into me, knowing I should be quiet in case someone else had come back to the store. But I couldn’t be. I was too caught up in the out-of-control passion of this moment, in the sinuous, primal lust that had consumed us both. And underscoring all of it was the realization that it was Seth. Seth, Seth, Seth†¦whom I loved more than anyone else. You are the world . He moved his hands up from my hips to cup my breasts, forcing me to readjust my position. All the time, he never broke his rhythm, staying fast and urgent. His fingers pinched my nipples hard, and I cried out louder. I think that turned him on even more, spurring him to thrust harder into me. Hoping to excite him further, I completely gave myself over and let go of any restraint with my voice. The louder I moaned, the more his body pounded into mine. It was all I could do to keep myself from getting pressed against the wall, and as I moaned over and over, it had nothing to do with arousing him and everything to do with the ecstatic and exquisite force of what we were doing. And when I finally came, the heat between my thighs building to an unbearable high, it was his name I screamed. A surge of new wetness came with my orgasm, and then I heard him groan and give a thrust so hard that it did shove me against the wall. His hands still clenched my breasts, his nails digging into my tender flesh, as he shuddered and took his release. He came for a long time, his low cry slowly fading. When he pulled out, the loss of him in my body made me feel incomplete. Nonetheless, I straightened up and leaned against the wall, gasping to catch my breath. My voice was hoarse. â€Å"Jesus,† I said. â€Å"That was bad.† Seth looked startled-and then hurt. â€Å"Bad?† â€Å"No, not performance bad-more like dirty, wicked bad. The kind of stuff that gets an R rating.† â€Å"What, we can’t do that?† He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck. â€Å"Well, yeah†¦er, well, damn it. We’re not supposed to be. Not at all. It’s just that last time, it was like†¦I don’t know. It was making love. This time it was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Fucking?† he supplied. â€Å"Oh God,† I groaned. â€Å"Seth Mortensen just said ‘fucking’ out loud. The end times are near.† He laughed and placed tiny kisses over my cheek. â€Å"I’m not some innocent. You should know that from my books.† â€Å"Yeah, but still. You aren’t O’Neill. Unless you’re getting into fistfights that I don’t know about.† â€Å"Mmm†¦not lately.† We stood there in each other’s arms, both warm in the afterglow of what we’d done. Then, just like last time, a strange awkwardness began to grow. We didn’t even need Maddie calling now. I carefully pulled away. â€Å"You should probably go, huh?† I didn’t say it, but I was certain he’d be seeing her later. â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed and rubbed his forehead. â€Å"This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.† â€Å"What, having an illicit and cheap affair?† He grimaced. â€Å"No. But I mean, I’ve spent ages imagining what it’d be like to be with you and wishing you weren’t a succubus. I was always down on myself†¦I felt so shallow to be consumed by sex like that. And now that it’s finally happened-now that you aren’t a succubus-it’s not superficial or shallow at all. It’s so†¦I don’t know. It’s powerful. I wish this was an illicit, cheap affair. I wish I didn’t feel this so deeply. Otherwise, when we said yesterday was it, it really would have been it.† I wished then, more than anything, that he’d say he was going to leave Maddie and we could be together again. He didn’t, though, and I certainly wasn’t going to bring it up. Besides, what good would it do? In only a few more days, I’d be back to normal, and our relationship would be as dysfunctional as before. What I wanted was pointless. â€Å"Can I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He took a deep breath. â€Å"Can I see you again? I know we said no more†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I knew that by â€Å"see you again† he meant â€Å"have sex with you again.† And somehow, I realized we were on a precipice here. The first time had been†¦well, not accidental†¦but certainly unexpected. This time had been an out-of-control animal lust. But now? An open declaration of this affair-premeditated sex-it took things to a whole new level. There was no going back. I studied those eyes I loved, the warm and gentle lips. I assessed my body, how it ached yet still burned with pleasure. Then I glanced over at Maddie’s painstakingly researched real estate packet. That should have been my mood killer, my warning. It was a reminder of who we were both betraying here. Seth had given in, but though I was on the verge, I could still pull back and save us from this. I had the power to say no. â€Å"Yes,† I said at last. â€Å"You can see me again.† How to cite Succubus Heat CHAPTER 19, Essay examples

Friday, May 1, 2020

The Importance of Performance Appraisal-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Evaluate the Importance of Performance appraisal in the Beauty Salon Chain Zubias Threading. Answer: Introduction The purpose of the research project is to evaluate the importance of performance appraisal in the beauty salon chain Zubias Threading. Although the company is an emerging one with more than 30 salons in different locations, the future prospects are not so bright. Lack of employee engagement and customer dissatisfaction are impeding the growth of the company (Bernardin Wiatrowski, 2013). Hence, it is important to understand the importance of performance evaluation in the organization and link the organizational goals with the motivational needs of the employees. This is why the research project aims to find out the employees problems working at Zubias Threading and accordingly recommend performance appraisal strategies. Rationale: The research project is of great significance as it intends to enhance employee motivation through the introduction of employee appraisal system. The employees lack expertise as most of them are students, and the appraisal will help in identifying the skill gap so that training sessions can be arranged. Employees when monitored will always deliver better performance (Dusterhoff et al., 2014). Hence, it is important to know the methods of performance appraisal in the company. Reviewed Literature: Performance appraisal is regarded as chief motivational tool for most of the companies. Once the employees realize that their performance is being monitored, they will keep with the quality (Aggarwal Thakur, 2013). Employee development and increased profitability are the obvious results of a sound performance appraisal method. It is not sufficient to reward the employees, based on their performance but also provide proper employer and management feedback explaining the skill gaps as well as the unique contribution of the worker to the company. Performance appraisal is nothing without proper feedback on the employee performance and proper communication about the existent human resource policies (Turgut Mert, 2014). Figure 1: Employee Performance Appraisal Method Source: (Cheng, 2014) The Equity Theory as propounded by J.S Adams claims that employee motivation is largely based on ones perception of fairness and justice. Hence, it is highly important to ensure performance appraisal takes place in a just way and any form of management bias is removed in the process (Greenberg Cohen, 2014). Further, the management must communicate the ways and norms of employee appraisal so that the less deserving employees do not expect to be highly paid in the pre-appraisal period. Performance appraisal helps in enhancing employee loyalty towards the organization. It is only when an old employee who has been working with a company for a prolonged period of time, gets appraised that he sticks to the company instead of switching to a new organization (Ohme Zacher, 2015). Research Methodology: The research project will employ the use of both qualitative as well as quantitiave research method. The primary data will be collected from the managers of Zubias Threading, the employees as well as the consumers. The managers will be asked to participate in a focus group interview whereby they will be asked about the appraisal policy of the company as well as the employee performance. The customers will also be interviewed to understand the quality of service the employees are able to deliver. This qualitative data will be derived with the help of explorative study that will help in identifying the problem (Taylor et al., 2015). Next, the quantitiave data will be derived through the survey that will be conducted on the employees to identify their needs of employee appraisal programs and this form of conclusive research will help in offering useful information regarding the recommendations to be adopted by the company (Bryman Bell, 2015). The literature review has been used to develop comprehensive knowledge about the basic concepts and motivational theories. After reviewing the business articles and management journals, it has become evident that performance appraisal is a chief motivational tool that increases employee engagement with the organization and hence is deemed useful for Zubias . However, since the performance appraisal methods of Zubias Threading is still unknown, a focus group interview will have to be conducted with the managers to gain an insight into the workplace policies and performance appraisal methods of the company (Vamsi et al., 2014). At the same time, the literature review also enlightened how at times, lack of effective communication between the management and the employees, or an absence of employee feedback policies, the appraisal needs of the employees are overlooked by the organization. This is exactly the reason, why a survey would be conducted to develop an understanding of the employ ees needs and expectations as well. By fulfilling these expectations employee engagement can be increased by manifold times (Bratton Gold, 2012). Conclusion: Zubias Threading is a growing salon chain. However, in order to ensure its future growth, it is important to ensure that the company is able to motivate and retain its employees. However, without employee appraisal schemes, the same is not possible. Hence, the research will help in identifying the needs and demands of the employees, as well as the offer appraisal recommendations accordingly. Reference List: Bednall, T. C., Sanders, K., Runhaar, P. (2014). Stimulating informal learning activities through perceptions of performance appraisal quality and human resource management system strength: A two-wave study.Academy of Management Learning Education,13(1), 45-61. Bernardin, H. J., Wiatrowski, M. (2013). Performance appraisal.Psychology and Policing,257. Bratton, J. Gold, J. (2012). Human resource management. Theory and practice. (5th ed). London: Palgrave Macmillan. Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2015).Business research methods. Oxford University Press, USA. Cheng, S. Y. (2014). The mediating role of organizational justice on the relationship between administrative performance appraisal practices and organizational commitment.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,25(8), 1131-1148. Dusterhoff, C., Cunningham, J. B., MacGregor, J. N. (2014). The effects of performance rating, leadermember exchange, perceived utility, and organizational justice on performance appraisal satisfaction: Applying a moral judgment perspective.Journal of Business Ethics,119(2), 265-273. Greenberg, J., Cohen, R. L. (Eds.). (2014).Equity and justice in social behavior. Academic press. Grigoroudis, E., Tsitsiridi, E., Zopounidis, C. (2013). Linking customer satisfaction, employee appraisal, and business performance: an evaluation methodology in the banking sector.Annals of Operations Research,205(1), 5-27. Kramar, R; Bartram, T; DeCieri, H; Noe, R; Hollenbeck, JR; Gerhart, B; Wright, P.M. (2014). Human resource management in Australia: Strategy/people/performance. (5th ed). Sydney: McGraw-Hill Australia Pty. Ltd. Ohme, M., Zacher, H. (2015). Job performance ratings: The relative importance of mental ability, conscientiousness, and career adaptability.Journal of Vocational Behavior,87, 161-170. Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., DeVault, M. (2015).Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons. Turgut, H., Mert, I. S. (2014). Evaluation of performance appraisal methods through appraisal errors by using fuzzy VIKOR method.International Business Research,7(10), 170. Vamsi Krishna Jasti, N., Kodali, R. (2014). A literature review of empirical research methodology in lean manufacturing.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(8), 1080-1122.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

The American Dream Essays (1877 words) - , Term Papers

The American Dream It is the intent of this paper to prove that the "American Dream" can best be explained as a "ciity upon a hill." "Ciity upon a hill" meaning being above and superior over those below. The Civil War, the imperialistic race of the 19th century, the Korean War, the KKK, and the Gulf War are all examples of the "American Dream" of superiority playing a part in American History. Each American has a different idea of this superiority, but nonetheless strive to achieve it, whatever it may be in. The Civil War which split the United States, was a clash of two aspects of approaching the "American Dream" in a young America. Both sides felt their idea's and philosophies were superior to those of the opposing side and therefore would benefit the country more and make it superior. Both North and South wanted to better the country to have it achieve the "American Dream". Unfortunately, each side had a different perspective on how to approach it. Slavery was a major issue, the North against, the South pro. The disagreement on slavery lead to difficulty in the issue of Westward expansion. Both agreed to it, but whether to admit them as free or slave states was where the split occurred. The compromise of 1850 stated that California enters free, and New Mexico and Utah decided on their own which is giving them more state rights in which the South heavily supported. This compromise did not satisfy each side fully. The issue of State rights intensified by the issue of slavery because the Southern states felt they had the right to decide on their own about Slavery without Federal intervention. It seems the Southern states felt that the "American dream" was out of their reach because they felt powerless and inferior with the Central government. When the American revolution was fought to break from Britain, the Southern States thought they would be treated as sovereign and free. With the State's limited power, they felt as if the Federal government would become a monarchy. The Northern States wanted the "American dream" achieved for the whole country to be industrial, anti-slavery, and very federalist. Upon these institutions they planned to make the U.S a superior nation in the world. The South wanted to achieve the same ultimate goal for the U.S but with agricultural, pro- slavery, and states sovereignty institutions. These are the differences between both sides in achieving "the American Dream." In order to resolve the conflict of interests, North and South had to go to war to prove superiority thus proving which side is "the ciity upon the hill" in which the losing side would follow. During the time of Imperialism in the 19th century, the U.S wanted to expand worldwide and strive for the lead in the "imperialistic race." In 1871, the U.S and Canada signed the Washington treaty meaning that the U.S recognized Canada as an independent dominion. Any schemes to forcefully annex Canada and to unite the North American continent under the U.S flag had been rejected. The U.S could not expand any further in North America and had to look at other parts of the world for expansion. At the time, there were many other nations looking to expand its empire such as Britain and Germany. Some Southern expansionists saw Cuba as an interest because it could have possibly been used as a slave territory. Because Northerners were highly against slavery, the plan was dropped. After the Civil War, Secretary of State Seward had negotiated a treaty to purchase the virgin Islands from Denmark, but the senate rejected this treaty. They were not purchased until 1917. In 1859, the U.S annexed t he Midway Islands in the South Pacific, and half the Samoan Islands; the other half belonging to Germany. Hawaii, another Pacific island, had always been important to the U.S. It served as an important base for trade with Japan and China. When the U.S annexed Hawaii in 1893 after a coup, to justify it, the U.S claimed it was an important strategic military foothold. They also claimed that the inferior Hawaiian natives were incapable of self government, and that it was in their best interests. After the annexation

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The Noble Savage in Oroonoko essays

The Noble Savage in Oroonoko essays Oroonoko cannot be classified as fact or fiction, realism or romance. In the still unshaped field of prose narrative where a history could mean any story, true or false Behn combines the attractions of three older forms. First, she presents the work as a memoir. According to a friend, Behn has told this tale over and over; perhaps that explains the conversational ease with which she turns back and forth, interpreting faraway scenes for her readers at home. Second, Oroonoko is a travel narrative in three parts. It turns west to a new world often exalted as a paradise, then east to Africa and the erotic conspiracies of a corrupt old-world court (popular reading fare), then finally west again with its hero across the infamous Middle Passage where over millions of slaves will be transported during the next century to the conflicts of a raw colonial world. Exotic scenes fascinate Behn, but she wants even more to talk to people and learn about their ways of life. As in imaginary voyages , from Sir Thomas Mores Utopia to Gullivers Travels and Rasselas, encounters with foreign cultures sharply challenge Europeans to reexamine themselves. Behns primitive Indians and noble Africans live by a code of virtue of loyalty and honor, which civilized Christians often ignore. Oroonoko embodies this code. Above all, the book is his biography. Courageous, high-mined, and great-hearted, he rivals the heroes of classical epics and Plutarchs Lives and its equally worthy of fame. Nor does he lack gentler virtues. Like the heroes of the seventeenth-century heroic dramas and romances, he shines in the company of women and proves his nobility by his passionate and constant love for Imoinda, his ideal counterpart. Humanity has fallen from bad to worse since Adam and Eve had the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Humans, in classical mythology, have fallen from a Golden Age, t...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Why do states want nuclear weapons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why do states want nuclear weapons - Essay Example First and foremost we have to understand that many states view the nuclear club as a prestigious guild, for them it is a quick and sure-fire way to not only gain entry into the club but also gain international standing and stature. (Perkovich (1998) p.2) On the other hand gaining the status of a nuclear state can also bolster support for a regime in a particular country. Cases in point are both India and Pakistan. The surge in popularity of the BJP the ruling coalition party in power at the time of weaponized nuclear tests and massive popularity for the Prime minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his ruling party after the nuclear tests both illustrate the point. The double standards of the worlds only super power the US, towards Israel has caused some dissent in other nations. This has caused a letup in nonproliferation efforts and leads to decreasing pressure on countries trying to acquire nuclear status, hence more countries try to acquire these weapons. (Perkovich (1998) p.3-4) Another possible reason given to justify the acquisition of nuclear capability is that nuclear weapons can prevent regional and international conflicts due to the threat of mutual destruction. The apprehension countries with regards to its adversaries' present or future strength can serve as a strong motivation for a country to go nuclear as nuclear weapons may be a cheaper (on the whole) alternative to an economically disastrous and militarily dangerous conventional arms race. (Perkovich (1998) p.4) India and Pakistan as well as Israel, the U.S, Russia and China all developed nuclear weapons for reasons of national security. But in some cases as mentioned earlier security was not the only concern. India, U.K, France and even South Africa (which later abandoned its nuclear programme and was declared a nuclear weapons free country) all developed nuclear weapons to further their standing in the regional and international arena, to show-off their national scientific competency and establish themselves as key players in regional and international politics. (Perkovich (1998) p.6) Finally there can only be two views of the current situation and the future line of action. One idea is allowing the induction of more states in to the nuclear club i.e. allowing them to have the weapons. Since the threat of mutual destruction increases, the idea of minimal deterrence pops up. The other option is to limit proliferation of nuclear weapons moving into phased reduction of weapons till the ultimate goal of de-armament is achieved (Perkovich (1998) p.10). But one has to admit regardless of however much optimistic one might be that this scenario at least in the present or in the near future is not probable "at all", given the never-ending quest of countries to acquire nuclear capability and the disagreement amongst the members of the nuclear club on major non-proliferation issues. Work Cited Perkovich, George (Autumn, 1998), "Nuclear Proliferation". Foreign Policy, Volume No.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Upwardly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Upwardly - Essay Example For instance, the people of Muruguru village have been for a long time suffered because of impassable roads; thus difficult to reach customers in the market easily. However, the introduction of the mobile phone use has significantly changed their lifestyles because they are nowadays able to reach their customers in the market easily; thus improving their business activities. Ewing (380) argues that the mobile phone use can dramatically improve the living standards through saving time on wasted trips, offering information about prices of the products and even conducting banking services. It also affects the living standards of people through changing the developing markets faster. There are many millions of mobile subscribers across the globe and the effect of mobile use is more dramatic than in Africa, where mobile technology represents the modern infrastructure (Ewing 380). The increasing research evidence reveals that access to communications boost the income levels and makes the local economies efficient; thus improving the standards of living (Ewing (381). The mobile phone use has also fueled the growth of financial services in the global market. This is because many subscribers have nowadays started using mobile money transfer services. Hence, the mobile phones have extended the financial services to billions of poor citizens, who do not have acces s to the bank (Ewing (381). For instance, the M-Pesa services in Kenya, that was launched by Safaricom Company has enabled many clients to make money transfer effectively; thus contributing to economic growth. However, the mobile phone use in Africa differs from that of the U.S and Europe because it is widely used in developing nations for money transfer more than in the developed nations. This has encouraged many investors from developed nations to invest in poor nations. The local operators operating communal phone services for money transferring business

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Ryanair Business Strategy: Internal and External Analysis

Ryanair Business Strategy: Internal and External Analysis Ryanair:  Case Analysis Report Introduction Ryanair, established in 1985, is considered the main instigators of the â€Å"low cost â€Å" airline carriers, creating a new niche in a market previously dominated by former national airlines such as BA. The company has grown to a position where in 2005 it has 15 bases and 150 aircraft operating throughout Europe, carrying thirty million passengers (see figure 1), with a five year target to increase this to seventy million (Ryanair 2007). This position has been achieved by creating a â€Å"no-frills† approach on price (Pettigrew et al 2002), which gave it a competitive advantage over the established airlines (Porter 2004, p.207 and Kotler et al 2004, p.407), although attempts to extend this to include charging for ice used in in-flight drinks (Creaton 2004, p.169) was rescinded after customer complaints. The objective of the business is to become Europe’s leading â€Å"low-cost† airline and first for customer service, the latter position which was first reached in 2002 according to independent sources (see appendix A, figure 3). Similarly, the company also seeks to maintain value growth for shareholders. External Analysis Liberalisation of the airline industry in the 1970’s opened up the industry to new entrants and a new business model. Being one of the â€Å"first movers† in this new sector (Faulkner and Campbell 2006) Ryanair has taken advantage of the growth opportunities offered by creating a â€Å"low Cost† model based on the successful Southwest Airline (2007) strategy. This move has been partially responsible for increase in passenger numbers using UK airports in the last three decades (see table 1), with expectations of a threefold increase by 2030. Table 1 Airline passengers Year Passengers (m) 1980 50 1990 90 2000 180 With former eastern bloc countries converting from communistic to democratic political structures this growth is set to continue, providing the business with further opportunities (see appendix A, figure 4). Many of these former Baltic States have now joined the EU, which also provides Ryanair with the opportunity of expanding its destination network. However, the industry growth has also seen new competitors enter this niche market, including EasyJet, BMI, Virgin express and Aer Lingus. To maintain its competitive advantage the two major players have sought to consolidate their position by strategic acquisitions. In this area Ryanair, with its successful acquisition and integration of the â€Å"Buzz† lo-cost carrier, has been more successful that EasyJet’s experience when acquiring â€Å"Go.† Although the major airlines such as BA have responded to threats from Ryanair, to date these have not proved successful. The creation of this niche industry sector has also led to significant changes in the consumer’s perception (OConnell, J., and G. Williams 2005). Demands for cheaper fares has increased as prices have fallen, and the consumer perception and lifestyle has changed with regard to types of holidays has expanded rapidly, with weekend breaks and formerly unknown destinations increasing in popularity. Ryanair has also made full use of the advances in technology and digital processes within its â€Å"low-cost† business model. It was one of the first â€Å"low-cost† airlines to recognise the changes in the consumer buying habits resulting from these technological advances, using this diffusion to improve its services, encourage further consumer change and continue cost reduction advantages (Johnson et al 2007, p.481). Evidence of this can be found in the business move to paperless tickets, with more bookings being made through the Internet and, more recently, a move towards automated booking–in procedures at the airport, reducing the need for expansion of human resources to meet demand increase. At the same time, this technology use also helps Ryanair to maintain one of its key corporate objectives, which is to return success and value to the shareholders. There are two other external factors that impact upon the business and affect the determination of strategy. The first is environmental issues., which includes the concerns expressed by consumers and governments relating to the impact that air travel growth has upon the local communities and infrastructure and the second is the natural environment, where businesses are now required to consider the impact that their operations have upon issues such as climate change. The second issue is in the increase of legislation, particularly from the EU. In this respect Ryanair operations have to comply with regulations in terms of fair competition, which affects mergers and acquisitions and unfair practices, and targets set by the EU in relation to emission reductions required to address climate change.[PL1] Internal Analysis As Lynch (2006) and Faulkner and Campbell (2005) stated within their respective researches, for organisation’s such as Ryanair, who have targeted their strategy at a â€Å"low-price† product, it is imperative that, to maintain competitive advantage, who submitted that to achieve and maintain low price in the market place, the business itself had to be structured in a way that provided a limited cost base throughout all aspects of the business, in order to retain a profitable result. Porter (2004) suggests that this cost reduction process has to be communicated throughout the value chain (see appendix B, figure 6). Michael O’Leary, and the Ryanair management team have strived to achieve this position through a number of measures. Use of resources Ryanair makes good use of its resources. For example, all of the aircraft are of one design, the Boeing 737-800 series. This has several positives. Firstly, the company receives a discount from Boeing. Secondly, It reduces costs in terms of maintenance and training. In the latter case, unlike EasyJet, which has to train pilot and cabin crew to operate on a number of different aircraft designs, Ryanair’s staff only have to familiarise themselves with the one. Similarly, the turnaround of aircraft at destinations is quick and efficient, thus reducing unit cost. Human resources Despite the number of routes operated and the logistical problems of running a business of the magnitude of Ryanair, the company operates with a minimalist attitude towards head office, admin, aircraft and maintenance crews and administration staff. At the end of the 2005 financial year the business employed around 2,800 personnel, a figure which has changed very little over a five-year period. All of the Ryanair employees are expected to multitask. For example, cabin crew are required to clean cabins and remove rubbish between flights. Technology As mentioned earlier, Ryanair computerises as many services as possible. With Internet booking, paperless tickets, automated booking-in processes and many other parts of the operations being streamlined in this manner, this ensures that production and other costs remain low. Destinations Another imp0ortant aspect of the Ryanair cost reduction strategy is the concentration of its destinations into secondary rather than primary airports. Landing fees and other charges at these airports is substantially lower than the main airports and, even with the â€Å"sweetners† paid by Ryanair, the unit costs per passenger of flight into these destinations remains cheaper. Travel format Finally, the product itself has been simplified. There is only one class on a Ryanair flight and no pre-booking of seats. Furthermore, virtually everything but the seat costs. This includes drinks, meals and the other retail products available on board, with even free levels of baggage is limited. The success of this strategy can be evidenced when comparing the met profit margin of Ryanair with other carriers. The following data, taken from the various organisation’s websites and financial statements show the differnce (see table 2 below): Table 2 Net profit percentages Company Percentage Ryanair 17.81% EasyJet 7.98% British Airways 7.28% Diagnosis of current challenges However, like all businesses, Ryanair is not immune from challenges as it moves into the future. From the analysis of the business operations it is apparent that these challenges and threats will come from five main areas (appendix A, figure 4). Competition As mentioned earlier, with the emerging democracies within Europe, together with the regional and global harmonisation of competition rules, Ryanair is likely to find increased competition developing from these areas within the next few years to a decade. With the increased market place and, as can be seen from the share of the market that low cost airlines have (see figure 2), there is ample scope for new competition. The discussions about the â€Å"open skies† agreement between the EU and US (Milmo and Gow 2007), if these come to fruition, will also pose a threat as it creates a potential for US airlines to enter the industry sector. These actions could adversely affect the business continued financial success. Consolidation and growth There has already been some consolidation within the sector. It is likely that this will continue for the foreseeable future, and this could pose a threat to Ryanair’s dominant position. Furthermore, the corporations own growth pattern could impact negatively upon profitability. Despite growth attracting economies of scale, it can involve additional costs that threaten efficiency (Creaton 2004, p.250). Political intervention There are three main aspects of political intervention that are like to affect Ryanair in respect of its future development within Europe. The first of these relates to the EU’s competition laws, which is an area where Ryanair has come into conflict with the commissioners in terms of payments being made to secondary airports and other similar issues (BBC News 2004). The second is the threat by the EU to reduce or eliminate the subsidies given to the sector, worth an estimated  £6 billion annually (Bized 2004). This includes report, this VAT, Landing and Fuel tax benefits. The removal of these benefits will have a significant impact upon profitability. The third issue is the EU intention to force budget airlines to pay compensation for cancellations, which is not done at present. Environmental issues One of the major issues is the environment. Following the EU adoption of the IPCC[1] report recommendations, focus has been concentrated upon setting emissions targets for airline industry player, with stringent targets being set (see table 3). Future strategic options All researches promote the need for corporations to ensure corporate strategy addresses future challenges (Lynch (2006) and Faulkner and Campbell (2006)). In Ryanair’s case, it is suggested there are three strategic options that could be adopted (see appendix C, figure 7). Low price – low added value The aim of this strategy is to achieve the lowest price by a process of continually reducing the additional elements that attach to the service. For example, in terms of the budget airlines, from the consumers’ viewpoint this has meant reducing the facilities offered in-flight, such as changes to the quality of seating, increasing the seating capacity on the aircraft and reducing choice of services that involve human resources, such as hot meals, snacks and drinks. For the business is requires a continual drive to continue cost reduction throughout the value chain. Low price The intention of the low price strategy per se it to achieve reduction in the cost of fares, whilst retaining the consumers’ perception of the value of the product. To implement this strategy means that the business will need to seek cost reductions in areas other than those that directly impact upon the quality of the in-=flight service provided. This could be achieved by the further use of technology to automate in additional areas of the operational processes. Focused differentiation A strategy if focused differentiation is intended to set the business product apart from that of its competitors. Price can be used in the differentiation process, but in this case it needs to be inclusive with other elements that make the product unique. Evaluation of strategic options Following an evaluation of these strategic options, using the criteria recommended by Rumselt (see appendix D, figure 8), the following is an outline of the results that this produced. Option 1 – Low price – love value added This strategic option is consistence with the policy that Ryanair has followed in the past and is in accord with the previous intentions of the business strategy, which has been to reduce price at the cost of services, in other words achieving a â€Å"no frills† situation. However, it would seem that Ryanair would find it difficult to further reduce the level of service provided to its customers and it is unlikely that this approach would secure its market position. Option 2 – Low price Low price, as with option one, is in line with the business existing strategy. However, from the analysis of the internal situation at Ryanair, it would seem that there are limited options in terms of reducing existing resources, particularly if the business wishes to maintained a sustained growth programme and market share. Furthermore, it is not in accord with external trends, which indicates that consumers are becoming more discerning and the political arena more concerned with the consumers’ rights and environmental costs. Option 3 – Focused differentiation Focused differential, which could still include low price, would also be consistent with the Ryanair strategy. The differential of â€Å"low price, no frills† has been the core differential upon which the business has promoted itself previously. However, with other competitors entering the market place, that differential needs to be extended to other areas. In summary therefore, it is felt that the focused differentiation option would be most appropriate for the business future and will assist it to retain and improve its competitive advantage. Overview of selected strategy The core elements of the proposed â€Å"focused differentiation† strategy being proposed will be threefold. Free flights An aggressive strategy aimed at achieving free flights to be pursued. This can be achieved by seeking third party turnover to replace the ticket cost. For example, the business could introduce sponsoring, where travel and venue destinations, such as holiday locations, theme parks and local tourist boards pay for flights. Similarly, in-flight facilities could be introduced, such as Internet shopping, gambling and pay to view telephone. Furthermore, other services such as car rental and insurances could be used to cover the lost ticket revenue. Consolidation The business should be looking to make acquisitions, particularly with organisations within the Eastern European countries that have recently joined the EU. This enables the business to achieve market growth and maintain its dominant position. It also reduces the future competition. Aircraft fleet Fleet replacement is an area that Ryanair has concentrated upon in the past. In the future, in addition to discounts, this should be linked to conditions that ensure the fleet includes the latest environmentally friendly specifications, with aircraft being regularly upgraded as part of the purchase options. Implementation plan To enable the selected strategy to be implemented, several courses of action need to be undertaken. Short term Moves towards a â€Å"free-flight† position can be commenced within the immediate future, with the management and marketing departments of Ryanair discussing this concept with potential sponsor from the commercial leisure world, as well as tourism boards within the region and in specific destinations. Medium Term In the medium term two actions required for the strategy can be undertaken. The first of these is the gradual refits that will be required to aircraft to include the various new technological facilities that have been recommended. The second action would be to assess the potential market players to ascertain which, if any, would provide the business with a strategic fit for expansion of its market reach within the region. Long term Contracts with Boeing need to be re-negotiated to ensure that environment related conditions are included as an inherent part of the purchase process for replacement aircraft. Conclusion There is no doubt that Ryanair faces a number of key challenges in the future. To ensure that the business can successfully deal with the changes these challenges present, it is important that the future strategy is sufficiently robust to be able ensure that the business retains its competitive advantage and profitability levels. The aggressive strategies recommended within this analysis study are designed to achieve this objective. The â€Å"Free-flight† with added services, albeit being paid for, will maintain the unique and differentiated service that the Ryanair brand has become known for. Bibliography BBC News (2004). Ryanair faces new payment probe. Retrieved 17 May 2007 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3458423.stm Bized (2004). Low Flying Fares: An End to Cheap, No Frills? Retrieved 27 July 2007 from http://www.bized.co.uk/current/leisure/2003_4/010304.htm Brassington Frances and Pettitt, Stephen (2006). Principles of Marketing, 4th edition, Pearson Education Ltd. London, UK Channel 4 News (2007). If you care about the environment, you should fly Easyjet. Really? Retrieved 16 May 2007 from http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/environment/factcheck+how+green+is+easyjet/509642 Creaton, Siobhan (2004). Ryanair: How a Small Irish Airline Conquered Europe. Aurum Press Ltd. London, UK. De Groote, P.D (2005). The Success Story of European Low-Cost Carriers in a Changing Airworld. GaWC Research Bulletin 174. Retrieved 27 July 2007 from http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/rb/rb174.html Doganis, Rigas (2000). The Airline Business in the 21st Century. Routledge. London, UK. Faulkner, David and Campbell, Andrew (2006). The Oxford Book of Strategy: A Strategy Overview and Competitive Strategy. New ed. Oxford University Press. Oxford, UK. Haslam, Chris and Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (2007). Ryanair denies baggage ‘scam’. The Times. London, UK. Johnson, Gerry., Scholes, Kevan and Whittington, Richard (2007). Exploring Corporate Strategy. FT Prentice Hall, Harlow, UK. Kotler, Philip. Wong, Veronica., Saunders John A and Armstrong, Gary (2004). Principles of Marketing, 4th European edition, Pearson Education Ltd. London, UK. OConnell, J., and G. Williams (2005). Passengers Perceptions of Low Cost Airlines and Full Service Carriers. Journal of Air Transport Management, 11: 259-272. Porter, Michael E (2004). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competitors. The Free Press. New ed. The Free Press. New York, US. Press association (2007). Budget airline offers low cost New York flights. Retrieved 17 May 2007 from http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/travel_and_leisure/reports/holiday_advice/Flights/zoom_flights_news_article_557_112479.jsp Report (2007). The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight. Royal Commission of Environmental Pollution. Retrieved 29 July 2007 from http://www.rcep.org.uk/avreport.htm Ryanair (2007). About us. Retrieved 14 May 2007 from http://www.ryanair.com Southwest Airlines (2007). About SWA. Retrieved 28 July 2007 from http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html Stragler, Joos (1999). Current issues arising with airline alliances. Retrieved 17 May 2007 from http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/speeches/text/sp1999678_en.html Appendix A – external environment Figure 4 Pestel analysis Political Airline liberalisation Extension of democracy in EU Open skies policy Economic Internal financial performance Disposable income Abolishing of international tariffs Competition Acquisition Social Consumer attitudes Brand image Lifestyle and travel changes Technological Automatic booking in systems Online activity Change in consumer buying habits Environment Investor added value EU and international environment concerns Legal issues European legislation Environment regulations Competition rules Figure 5 Opportunities and Threats Opportunities Threats Growth of network Increased competition Growth of passenger numbers Industry consolidation Maintenance of cost reductions Political intervention Continuing price reductions (free?) Environmental issues Expand cooperation between â€Å"Low cost† carriers Further acquisitions Appendix B – Internal environment Figure 6 Value Chain Source: Porter (2004) Appendix C – strategic options Figure 7 The strategy clock Source: www.marketing teacher.com Appendix D – evaluation criteria Figure 8 Rumelts evaluation criteria Consistency Are the external strategies consistent with (supported by) the various internal aspects of the organization? You must examine all the various functional and internal management strategies employed by the organization and compare them with the external business strategy. Consonance Are the strategies in agreement with the various external trends (and sets of trends) in the environment? To answer this questions, you need to look at all the major trends that impact the selected strategy both positively and negatively. Feasibility Is the strategy reasonable in terms of the organizations resources? Money and capital Management, professional, and technical resources Time span Advantage Does the strategy create and/or maintain a competitive advantage? Resources Skills Position Source: Johnson et al (2007, p.593) 1 Footnotes [1] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [PL1]1

Saturday, January 18, 2020

A Comparison between Drug Policy as Social Control

Nicolas Beltran English 101 /Ms. Jackson March 13 2012 While reading â€Å"Drug Policy as Social Control† by Noam Chomsky and â€Å"Crito† by Plato I noticed a similarity between the two. People in higher power have ways of stabilizing populations. The government is customized to make people fail and the less fortunate are targeted. The inequalities of the government aren’t dealt with but they surely do exist. Law’s are strictly enforced to populations where mostly black males live and populations where crime rates are high. Not all people have to deal with the law the same way due to social class.The government has it’s own way of controlling people who are thought to be dangerous. How does the government control people? The government is able to put fear in the hearts of people. Governments have tried to take away programs which help people who are struggling. People worry about public assistance such as welfare because they need it and the govern ment uses the poor populations weakness to their advantage. The government has it’s own way of silencing people who they feel might be a threat to people in higher power like Socrates.Socrates from â€Å"Crito† had information that might have endangered the government. That is the main reason why he was sentenced to prison. Both Socrates and Martin Luther King served time in jail. Neither of them were a threat to their communities. They were wise men who both were the voice of their community’s. The government seen them as dangerous so they were killed. This is why I believe the governments selected method of keeping things stabilized is unfair to the thought to be dangerous population. Countries are unfair when it comes to giving everyone equal rights.There are people who are superior to the law. Did you notice not one sentence in â€Å"Drug Policy as Social Control† said anything about targeted rich or white people ? I wonder why no upper class people a re being arrested. No one is perfect and we know the poor and dangerous aren’t the only people who get their hands on drugs. Many people get away with illegal transactions but they fly under the radar because they are rich. The upper class people do the same things the less fortunate populations are doing by taking and selling drugs but are less likely to be imprisoned.In â€Å"Drug policy as Social Control its specifically says â€Å"none of this has anything to do with drugs†. The main purpose in the so called drug control is to criminalize dangerous black populations. Our country is known to give people equal rights and freedom. It isn’t as it appears as you can see our country has favorites and the poor are targeted. While the upper class seems more united the government makes the poor hate each other. The way the government works the less fortunate are setup to fail.Job opportunities are decreasing and so are job wages. There are less support systems for t he people who need them. The Percentage of poverty is increasing while the rich get all the attention as their wealth keeps growing. In â€Å"Drug Policy as Social Control† it says, â€Å" If we wanted to stop drug use in the United States there’s an easy way to do it†. This means that the government can prevent drugs from getting into the country but they don’t because it helps them control populations by using drugs to criminalize black men.Where is the justice in this method of controlling people ? In my opinion this is a setup. These problems continue occurring in our country but there is no change. The voices of dangerous populations will continue to be controlled by the government. Hopefully one day poor and thought to be dangerous communities will not be recognized as what they are thought to be. The voices of these communities have been silenced for thousands of years, so has Jesus Christ. All these leaders have died for what they believed in.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Rationale for the Biblical Worldview Essay Essay

Every person has a worldview whether he realizes it or not. What is a worldview? James W. Sire defines a worldview as: [A] commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being. Stated more succinctly, â€Å"†¦[A] worldview is simply the total set of beliefs that a person has about the biggest questions in life.† F. Leroy Forlines describes such questions as the â€Å"inescapable questions of life.† Life’s inescapable questions include the following: â€Å"Is there a God? If so, what is He like? How can I know Him? Who am I? Where am I? How can I tell right from wrong? Is there life after death? What should I and what can I do about guilt? How can I deal with my inner pain?† Life’s biggest, inescapable questions relate to whether there is a God, human origins, identity, purpose, and the hereafter, just to mention a few. Satisfying answers to the â€Å"inescapable questions of life† are provided by the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, form the starting point and foundation for the biblical worldview. More specifically related to our purposes, the apostle Paul reflects several components of the biblical worldview in his letter to the Romans. The apostle Paul authored Romans toward the end of his third missionary journey, about 57 A.D. He addressed this letter specifically to the Christians in Rome. At the time the church in Rome consisted of Jewish and Gentile believers, with Gentile Christians in the majority. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome in order to address specific concerns and challenges they were facing. While Romans was an occasional letter (not a systematic  theology), Paul presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a very systematic fashion. The Gospel is actually the overarching theme of Romans as Paul spells this out in his programmatic statement in 1:16–17. As the systematic presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Romans is foundational to the biblical/Christian worldview. Recognizing that Romans is not a systematic theology and does not contain all the essential truths that are relevant to a worldview per se, the apostle Paul articulates truths that are foundational to the biblical worldview. In Romans 1–8, Paul addresses certain components of a worldview that relate to the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture. In a 750–1000-word essay, describe what Romans 1–8 teaches regarding (1)the natural world, (2)human identity,(3) human relationships, and (4) culture. Furthermore, (5)explain how this teaching of these topics affects your worldview. Make sure that you address each of these topics in your essay. †¢As an essay, it must be written with excellent grammar, spelling, and style. †¢Begin your essay with an interesting introduction that contains a precisely stated thesis. End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points succinctly. Structure of assignment paragraphs: †¢Introduction/Thesis (approximately 75 words) †¢The Natural World (approximately 150–200 words) †¢Human Identity (approximately 150–200 words) †¢Human Relationships (approximately 150–200 words) †¢Culture (approximately 150–200 words) †¢Conclusion (approximately 75 words) †¢Use each of the categories above as headers for each paragraph in your essay. †¢The body of your essay must address the specified components of the assignment in excellent grammatical style. †¢Your essay must be typed in a Microsoft Word document using Times New Roman, 12-point font. †¢It must be single spaced, and must contain 750–1000 words. †¢All sources must be cited, and a bibliography must be included. †¢Format your paper in a Microsoft Word  document using current APA, MLA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program). Review the Biblical Worldview Essay Grading Rubric to see the specific grading criteria by which you will be evaluated before submitting your essay. †¢Do not footnote Scripture references; cite them parenthetically within the essay body following the quotation or allusion to the biblical text. Submit this assignment using SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 7.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

The Implications of the Title Wuthering Heights Essay

It is a question that has baffled readers and critics alike through generations, a question that can be endlessly pondered upon and debated over, as to why Emily Bronte chose to name her first and only novel, after the house in which a sizable part of the action chronicled takes place, despite being armed with characters of such extra-ordinary strength and passion as Heathcliff or Catherine. But on close scrutiny, a reader can perhaps discern the reason behind her choice, the fact that Wuthering Heights is at once a motif, a setting and according to a few critics, even a ‘premonitory indication’ of the tempestuous nature of things soon to occur. ‘Wuthering Heights’, although having survived the test of time as a work that is poignant and†¦show more content†¦But leaving aside Wuthering Heights’ importance as the site of most of the action, the very word Wuthering is pregnant with meaning in the context of the story. To quote from the story itself, â€Å"‘Wuthering’ being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather.† ‘Wuthering’ is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather, and it is this turbulence that rages on and propels the story forward for most of its length. As a building also, Wuthering Heights, with its imposing, almost brooding faà §ade, characterizes the story better than Thrushcross Grange which is opulent and placid. The narrative is non-linear, switching between the voice of Mr.Lockwood, and that of Ellen Dean (called Nelly by most of the characters), a former housekeeper of Wuthering Heights and at the point where the narrative starts, present housekeeper of Thrushcross Grange. Mr.Lockwood describes the house at the very beginning, ‘happily, the architect had the foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large, jutting stones.’ He also mentions that there is a â€Å"quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door, above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The 491st Sin In Wuthering Heights1243 Words   |  5 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The 491st sin, or the failure to listen, is considered to be the unforgivable sin. In Wuthering Heights, a novel written by Emily Brontà «, Mr. Lockwood comes to Thrushcross Grange to learn a lesson about love and listening. While staying there, Lockwood learns the stories of many characters as lessons on refraining to commit the 491st sin. Catherine Earnshaw Linton has the most to teach him about this lesson.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Nelly, while able to teach Lockwood valuable lessons about listening, fails to teachRead MoreIssues in Philippine Cinema5002 Words   |  21 Pagesmovie houses. Though the obviousness of the Hollywoodization of Philippine cinema is less forgiving than before, there are still manifestations of the infamous colonial mentality in the Philippine movie texts. Clear examples are movies that carry titles of American songs like Dont Give Up on Us and I Will Always Love You (with San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge in the posters background) among others, in a tropical climate like ours bad guys in the action films never fail to forget wearingRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 PagesGentlewoman s Companion (1673), one of many early modern conduct books I surveyed this past year for an honors thesis entitled Chaste, Silent, and Hungry : The Problem of Female Appetite in Early Modern England, 1550-1700. As indicated by the title, this project explores a provocative but as of yet scarcely studied facet of early modern gender constructions: female food desire. I use the word desire here rather deliberately, as early modern definitions of appetite extended well beyond the physiological