Smart Perimeter Mapping Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smart Perimeter Mapping - Assignment Example Some of the technologies in use include the use of smart perimeters that help in automating supervisionand monitoring of prisoner movements (South University, 2012). Introduction Smart perimeter mapping basically utilizes a combination of electronic equipment and technology such as closed circuit TV, biometric identification, and sensors to keep track of movement of inmates in and around the entire prison area (Bulman, 2008). With some of the systems, the prisoners have their biometric identification including their fingerprints, the electronic identification of their eyes and other unique identification features to monitor the movement of inmates. The tracking can also be done via bracelets or Radio Frequency Identification that the inmates wear or have and which are then monitored electronically to generate real time maps of where each inmate or prison officer is at at any given time. This sort of monitoring is useful in not only ensuing inmates do no get to unauthorized areas but also to guard against any prison breaks and detect any criminal or violent behavior (Bulman, 2008). 1. Smart perimeter mapping is a form of electronic monitoring of inmates in a prison that uses electronic sensors to produce real-time maps of movements and location of all inmates and prison wardens at the prison. The mapping is also used to check for any metallic or other objects that the prisoners may have on their person that may be used to harm others (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). This is done through monitoring their movement through metal and other detectors. In addition the monitors are also used to detect any other contraband items such as drugs that the inmates may be in possession of. The movement of the inmates is also monitored via monitoring stations where real-time maps of the position and location of everyone within the prison can be looked at. 2. This type of mapping will be used to monitor the movement of everyone within the prison area be they inmates, correcti onal officers or visitors. The mapping will be used to account for all the prisoners that are in the prison at any given time instead of relying on a person manually doing a count of the persons who are in the prison (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). The mapping will also be used to restrict access to certain parts of the prison for those who are not authorized to be in those areas. In addition the mapping will also be used to monitor the provision of services such as delivery of meals to the inmates, as well as the movement of the inmates to recreational or other areas of the prison. The type of mapping is essentially used to ensure that every one is accounted for and to monitor service delivery at the prisons (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). 2. A. The smart perimeter mapping will increase the security in the prison in that it will be used to detect any prisoners who may have weapons and other objects that may be harmful to themselves and others. By constantly monitoring the mov ement of prisoners through all doorways for example the system will ensure that one does not leave the dining are with a concealed knife for example and thus reduce or eliminate the possibility of the inmates carrying harmful objects on their person (Stowell, n.d.). The system by providing real time imaging of where

Mintzberg and Management Essay Example for Free

Mintzberg and Management Essay Throughout the 20th century a strong focus was placed on the principles behind management with Henri Fayols 1916 publication Administration Industrielle et Gà ©nà ©rale being one of the first books aimed solely at deciphering and understanding the intricate concepts of management. In his book Fayol presents his classical model of management from the perspective on an executive. Fayol lists and discusses fourteen principles of management which, although non-exhaustive, provides a guide on the execution of what he proposed to be the five elemental processes of management. These five primary processes consisted of planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling which advocated Fayols support of a dynamic system of management. In response to changing contexts, other new theories have been placed forward by other distinguished academia such as Henry Mintzberg (1973), John Kotter (1982) and C.P. Hales (1986) which offer more concurrent perspectives on the concept of management. Born in 1841 Henri Fayol had, after a three decade career as a mining practitioner, committed himself to the promotion of his theories on administration in 1916 through the publication of his book Administration Industrielle et Gà ©nà ©rale up until his death in 1925. Contextually influenced by the bourgeois environment of a post revolutionized France, Fayol advocated the notion of a flexible system of management which could be applied to more than just one setting. In his book, Fayol devotes more time and focuses on the five processes of management in contrast to the fourteen management principles as claimed by (Fells, M.J., 2000, p. 358). The first element, planning, is defined â€Å"both to assess the future and make provision for it† (Fayol, 1949, p.43). He goes on to describe that this dynamic plan must take into account a list of factors such as resources, work-in-progress, and future trends. Organizing considers the functional components of organizations along with the personnel and discusses the ideal conditions required of them. Commanding considers the responsibility that falls on every manager. The goal of managers is to achieve maximum contribution from personnel towards the welfare of the company through a number of factors. An example of these factors would be elimination of the unproductive, having a thorough knowledge of personnel and their respective binding agreements and an aim to be a role model. The third element of  management is coordinating which is defined as the harmonisation of resources in their optimum proportions in order to achieve results (Fayol, 1949, p. 103). The indicators of a well coordinated organization include efficient departments which harmonize well with the rest, are well informed of their responsibilities and also work to constantly adjusted schedules based on circumstantial demands. The last element, control, focuses on the timely verification of plan implementations. This element is applicable to all the other processes and its sole purpose is to identify any complications, amend any issues and prevent future recurrences. Due to their flexibility in implementation, the correlation between the introduction of Fayols model and the sharp rise in US productivity levels as well as living standards supports his approach to management (Fells, M.J., 2000, p. 348). Fayols approach is supported by another academic source (Hales, 1989, p. 12) which claims that â€Å"Fayol grasped the essence of management† through his classical formulation of the management functions. In 1973, Henry Mintzberg provided a new conceptualization about the roles of managers through his book The Nature of Managerial Work. Through his composition Mintzberg proposed and argued that the previously accepted role of managers which adhered to a systematic approach of planning, organizing, coordinating, leading and controlling were in fact false as through his diary analysis, Mintzberg was able to demonstrate that â€Å"the manager is not a planner in a reflective sense, and no amount of admonition in the literature will make him so. His milieu is stimulus-response.† (Mintzberg, 1973, p. 182). By performing an unstructured observation and interview procedure over a two week period, Mintzberg concluded the activities of his study managers could be categorized into three sets of behaviors or roles. He conceptualized these clusters of roles as: interpersonal, informational and decisions (Pearson et al, 2003, p. 696). Mintzberg also recognizes that all managers at some time exercise each of these rules but also that different levels of managers will give different priorities to them (Mumford, 1988, p. 3). In terms of contemporary management, Fayol and Mintzberg have contributed greatly to the understanding regarding the concept of management. However  both authors are not exempt from criticisms regarding their approaches. Fayols approach is widely considered to be too theoretical whilst Mintzbergs approach has been criticized for not being theoretical enough. Despite their differences in approach, fundamentally the two theories not only share the same elements under the guise of differently labelled terms, they compliment each other in terms of validity due to the strong correlation between results regarding the behaviour of managerial positions. (Fells, M.J., 2000, p. 359) supports this judgement as the journalist goes on to state that not only are Fayols principles still relevant, they are interrelated at an elemental level with the model of Mintzberg. (Lamond, 2004, p. 350) reinforces this argument through study conducted on a large sample of male and female managers of different ages and at different managerial levels. Not only did the survey confirm that there were indeed a central set of manager functions, as placed forward by Fayol, there were also a generic set of managerial behaviours as proposed by Mintzberg. In concluding despite their contextual differences, Henri Fayols Administration Industrielle et Gà ©nà ©rale and Henry Mintzbergs The Nature of Managerial Work fundamentally share the same innate elements. This is supported by the results which derived from studies conducted by academic sources such as (Lamond, 2004) as well as the research by other academic sources (Fells, M.J. 2000), (Pearson et al, 2003), (Hales, 1989) and (Mumford, 1988). Subsequently both approaches are considered valid and have without a doubt contributed greatly to contemporary management theory. Bibliography Fells, M.J. 2000 â€Å"Fayol stands the test of time.† Journal of Management History, vol 6, no.8, 345-360 Lamond, D. 2004, â€Å"A matter of style: reconciling Henri and Henry.† Management Decision, vol. 42, no.2 p. 330-356 Pearson, C.A.L. And Chatterjee, S.R. 2003, â€Å"Managerial work roles in Asia. An empirical study of Mintzbergs role formulation in four Asian countries.† Journal of Management Development, vol. 22, no. 8 p. 694-707 Hales, C. 1989, â€Å"Management Processes, Management Divisions of Labour and Managerial Work: Towards a Synthesis.† International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 9, no. 5/6, p. 9-38 Mumford, A. 1988, â€Å"What Managers Really Do† Management Decision, vol. 26, no. 5, p. 28-30

September 11 and the Death of Moral Judgment :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

September 11 and the Death of Moral Judgment The nation is in crisis: a national security crisis and a crisis of moral judgment. What is the right thing to do? People disagree. Then comes the big mistake: observing disagreement, people conclude that there is no right answer, no way to make a judgment. Worse, they conclude that to judge is arrogant and dangerous, so that in an odd twist, the only thing that appears to be morally irresponsible is the attempt to make a morally responsible judgment. On the contrary, abdicating judgment is the problem. Democracy itself is based on the notion that reasonable people will disagree and that it is possible to make judgments about our disagreements - not that there is necessarily one right answer; there may be several partially right answers. But there are certainly some wrong answers and better and worse judgments about them. So, how do we judge? First, we can think clearly about the words we use. Second, we can stop looking for pure good or pure evil; innocence and guilt are not found in pure forms in the real world. Third, we can learn to distinguish among kinds and degrees of evils (And there are plenty of kinds: cruelty, neglect, exploitation, etc.) To illustrate: "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." Many people fighting for very different causes call themselves "freedom fighters." But they usually let us know what they mean. Osama bin Laden's statements tell us that his goal is to free the Muslim world of infidels and their influence. He seeks freedom to establish theocratic regimes that would suppress women, as well as religious and political dissidents. We can argue about whether or not this is "freedom" in any meaningful sense, but the important thing is to be clear about what he means. For the sake of argument, let us say that he is a freedom fighter. Martin Luther King was a freedom fighter. Mahatma Gandhi was a freedom fighter. Neither could be called "terrorist" by any stretch of the imagination. They renounced violence as a means. Osama Bin Laden, on the other hand, embraces a strategy of targeting civilians in order to terrify and intimidate the population, undermine opposing governments, and achieve his political aims. Whether he is a freedom fighter or not, he is a te rrorist. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" This is an important practical principle, but it is not a moral principle.

Comparing Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Chinua Archebe’s

Comparing Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Chinua Archebe’s Things Fall Apart Literature is an amazing form of expression. A multitude of things can be said so in so many creative ways. Whether the story that is being told is true or fiction, the important thing is how it is told. The structure of a story is what gives it power, strength and the ability to move readers. Arundhati Roy and Chinua Achebe are two very talented authors who express their stories in two very different and unique ways. Although their stories are structurally different they have many similarities regarding class structure, societal issues, moral and family betrayals, and tragedy. The God of Small Things, a novel, by Arundhati Roy unravels the secrets of a family in India. Arundhati Roy uses an intriguing technique to tell the story of Ammu, Rahel, Estha, Sophie Mol, Velutha, Mammachi, Chacko, Margaret Kochamma, and Baby Kochamma. Roy starts the story by in a way paraphrasing all the events that are to occur throughout the story. She then proceeds to tell about the funeral of Sophie Mol and Ammu, Rahel, and Estha’s trip to the police station. She begins the story at the end. The reader does not find out until much later who Sophie Mol is and why Ammu and the twins went to the police station. Roy continues the story by jumping from Rahel and Estha’s childhood to their adulthood. Every chapter jumps from past to present. In every chapter Arundhati Roy answers or creates more questions about her characters lives for the reader. She uses repetition throughout the story to make the reader pay attention, remember, and wonder what she is trying to get across. Roy also uses wonderful metaphors, similes, and figurative language to ... ... one who killed his own son. He did not want to look weak in front of his fellow clan members. Okonkwo suffered internally for what he did. Despite the fact that these novels by Roy and Archebe differ widely in structure, they share many common themes. Both authors had their own special way of getting the story out, yet wanted to show the same things. Class structures, societal issues, moral and family betrayal all play a huge part in the lives of their characters. Many times these themes had terrible consequences and even ended up causing tragedy. These three things had the ability to change history forever. Â   Work Cited: Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. New York. 1997. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 2c seventh edition. Archebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart.

Research Paper on Langston Hughes

Name English 1302. FE1 April 19, 2013 Research project: Langston Hughes Anybody can be philosopher, and come up with wonderful ideas and thoughts in their head. How many of those people can actually get those ideas and thoughts on to paper. For others to cherish or criticize, to love or hate. Only a select few can achieve such a task and it doesn't come easy; to be able to relate to a great amount of people and know that they have the same ideas. It is almost as if you are talking for a group of people when you write a poem cause those feelings you have when you are writing it transcends to those that are reading the poem.Creating feelings with just a group of words and bringing back past emotions or new emotions to the reader. Langston Hughes is one of those incredible people. The way his poems bring a sensation to them that some other poets can’t even process. â€Å"Hughes was a very complex person, split between a sophisticated consciousness and a fierce determination to c reate a popular and simplified poetic art† (Bloom 10). Langston Hughes had a way of reaching his people by speaking to the black people and putting down everyday life for them. He helped form a new kind of poetry with more rhythm style. Hughes was an established figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement characterized by an explosion of black literature, theater, music, painting, and political and racial consciousness†(Meyers 908). Jazz was growing during the Harlem Renaissance and Langston captured that in jazz poetry. â€Å"Jazz poetry is a literary genre defined as poetry necessarily informed by jazz music†¦ Jazz poetry, like the music itself, encompasses a variety of forms, rhythms, and sounds. † (A Brief Guide to Jazz Poetry). Jazz poetry can be seen as a thread that runs through the Harlem Renaissance, the Beat movement, and the Black Arts Movement.Jazz poems are supposed to bring a vivid imagery in your head. To which Langston could write po ems that could almost make you feel like you were there dancing and galloping in joy. Langston Hughes was born in a regular black family. The talent of Langston Hughes really emerged in high school where he participated on the yearbook staff, wrote for the school newspaper, and began his short stories. He found that he loved writing. He brought black culture into books and poetry. â€Å"Hughes’s poems, populist and expressionistic, rarely demand, or receive, ‘close reading’† (Bloom 8). He died a great poet, activist, and novelist.His â€Å"impressive body of work makes him an important literary artist and a leading African American voice of the twentieth century. † (Meyers 913). Poetry is such a strong and magical force that is too hard not to be ignored. Poems can come from great depths from death to dreams. Theme in poems are endless, they can be anything. Many poets play off of one theme their whole careers, because they have so much meaning that they felt yet haven’t seen the light of many people. Langston Hughes has a broad amount of themes in his poems, such as uplifting the black people and to help them not be ashamed of whom they are.He kept that one of his major themes for most of his poems. I believe that can also be a broad theme for all his poems. All of Hughes’ poems helped with getting the black culture up and rising and fighting cause things would get better. He gave blacks a sense of optimism. He brought many of his followers to a better place every time they read his poems. Langston Hughes wrote many great poems, I have chosen a select few to write about and try to dig deep inside of them to know where he was coming from. Langston Hughes, a great poet has presented many themes in his works. A theme is the overall process of a poem and gives it life.I will be discovering and understanding the themes Langston Hughes uses in four chosen poems. â€Å"Mother to Son,† by Langston Hughes, is a po em about a mother telling her son about all the hardships that she had to go through in her life. Then she tells her son not to give up no matter how hard it is to keep going on. The stairs and everything on or not on it are a metaphor for her life. This poem is about never giving up. â€Å"So boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps. † (Mother to Son lines 14-15) Sometimes everything just feels like nothing is going right and you feel like there is no point in even trying anymore.Life â€Å"ain’t been no crystal stair† (Mother to Son line 20) but its essential to press on. You can overcome anything. There are always ups, and downs in life and you have to endure whatever life throws at you and push through it. â€Å"Park Bench,† Is a story of two different lives and how ambitions of one lead to the same status as his counterpart. Park Bench has an undertone of being an underdog and coming from nothing, a â€Å"rags to riche s† story. We all look at people within a higher class and desire to have that lifestyle. Everybody wants to be the wealthiest or part of the higher class, but how many of them actually go out and do that? That I might, just maybe, in a year or two, Move on over To Park Avenue? † (Park Bench lines 9-12) is a good line to represent the ambitions people have; to move up in the world and to have the dream to be able to afford living in high status. Just having the strength to have the ambition to set a goal with so much meaning and fulfilling it. It plays on the American Dream of coming from a next to nothing situation and having the will power to show the world that you aren't just â€Å"anybody† but a â€Å"somebody†. Hughes has a way of making it seem as if anything is possible.If he can do it, I can too. This poem really brings out something that lies deep inside of me and I want to make it. I could see this poem inspiring the black man wanting to strive fo r more. â€Å"I, Too,† is an excellent poem. It is about the life of a black person who grows up mentally and believes that he can achieve a lot by just standing up for himself. It is almost as if he decided to go against the grain and start a revolution. â€Å"Besides, they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed. † (I, Too Lines 15-17). By being a gentlemen and being nice, the people had nothing to do, but like him.This poem shows you don’t have to have violence to be a bigger man. Also he is saying that everyone in this country is equal and we are all American, so why are we degraded people just because of the color of their skin. â€Å"I, Too Am American. † â€Å"(I, Too Lines 18). We are all created the same, so he was saying the world itself is fucked up enough, so why are we here disgracing others and believing some are better than others. This was a strong poem and painted a great picture of how life was back then. â€Å"Frederick Dougla ss,† is a poem about a man who strived to be free.The theme of this poem shows drive and perseverance to freedom. â€Å"On which he set his feet, to route each path toward freedom’s goal† (Frederick Douglass lines 10-13). Douglass’ strength of character is so great, Hughes says, that he cannot die. Though he has been formally dead since 1895, his spirit's vitality remains as strong as ever. His strength came not from sheer will but from his will to liberate the enslaved. â€Å"From the beginning of his career to the end of it, Hughes spoke out clearly and courageously for racial justice. † (Taylor). Hughes poetry reveals his hearty appetite for all humanity, his insistence on justice for all, and his faith in the transcendent possibilities of joy and hope that make room for everyone at Americas table. † (Meyers 916). Langston Hughes brought a new view to many people and let many people in on the life of a regular black lifestyle. He was a true activist and brought hope and inspiration to many black people. â€Å"Langston Hughes is one of the essential figures in American literature. His career is much larger than the body of his poetry alone.By his work and his example, he has enriched our lives† (Taylor). What makes a poet great is that they can paint a picture in your head as well as give you a new view of things and make you feel what they are saying. You can basically see the poet writing down the words for the first time, as your mind starts painting the picture word by word stroke by stroke. As soon as a word comes out a new stroke emerges and brings you to new depths. You can feel the life and feel the pain and triumph in many of Hughes’ poems. Langston Hughes, a great poet has presented many themes in his works and gives them life.Works Cited Author Unknown. â€Å"A Brief Guide to Jazz Poetry. †Academy of American Poets. n. d. Web. 2 April. 2013. ;www. poets. org/viewmedia. php/prmMID/5660;. Bloom, Harold, ed. Langston Hughes: Comprehensive Research and Study Guide. Broomall: Chelsea House Publishers, 1998. Web. Hughes, Langston: â€Å"Frederick Douglas. † The Compact Bedford Introduction toLiterature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8thed. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 931-932. Print. —. â€Å"I, Too. †The Compact Bedford Introduction toLiterature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8thed. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 15. Print. —. â€Å"Mother to Son. † The Compact Bedford Introduction toLiterature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8thed. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 917. Print. —. â€Å"Park Bench. †The Compact Bedford Introduction toLiterature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 924. Print. Meyer, Michael. â€Å"A Study of Langston Hughes. †The Compact Bedford Introductionto Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8thed. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 907-936. Print. Taylor, Henry. â€Å"He Heard America Jiving. † The New York Times. December 25, 1994. Web. 3 Apr. 2013.

buy custom The School Leadership Triangle essay

buy custom The School Leadership Triangle essay The chapter of innovation is addresses by Paul with aims to actually reaching educators. It was a fact that educators were intending to shift from a given initiative to another without gaining a strong knowledge foundation, so as to make some improvements to an extent where it is flawlessly implemented by the initiative. From the book, it reveals that innovations arise because of the small improvements that are being made by educators that they continuously introduce out of what already exist. However, educators have not considered innovation their first priority. From the little that has been done by educators, they have brought about the success despite the fact they were not taught by anyone. Innovation is simple unlike technological devices whose complexities surprise customers. In education basically, innovation is considered as something that can make complicated tasks easier in a day-to-day life. Challenging tasks are always avoided by many, and this is therefore the reason that demands for ease in the education sector. Innovations that are not challenging are usually successful. From the presentations that the author has given, he employs metaphors in his paper clip, so as to demonstrate innovation greatness. Though the paper clip has been used for over a decade now, it is still considered as one of the greatest parts of daily chores, because the paper organization into various sheets of papers held together is making the task easier and even more enjoyable. For all the innovations that have been made within this period, this has been so amazing. The surgical process for the corrective eye surgery has been transformed by laser. Although the innovation is quite complicated, those in medicine have found it useful in the everyday operations. In order to achieve success in learning and even greater teaching, it is therefore the role of educators to ensure that they come up with innovative ideas that meet global competition. Similar outcomes are acquired when things are always done the usual way. Focusing on business, Toyota is a popularly known business innovator which has led in the business sector for quite a longer time. With materials for literacy learning, it was released by the pacific learning which has integration with the interactive whiteboard. In authors view, Toyota with Pacific Learning together with some other few have tried their best with the hope that they have put in place innovation initiatives be taken to school. In this book, the author has made some efforts to focus on innovation. In employing such a concept and combining it with the other leadership and triangulated compliances, they will be able to offer framework for their use and maybe for the sake of others in the compliance-driven environment. Powerful Professional Development by Diane Hoppey Cultivating Powerful Job- Embedded Professional Development From this chapter, the author focuses on some phrases that mostly apply to the life of teachers. They include; I hear and I forget, I see and I forget and so much more. The phases are quite helpful to teachers as they contribute towards education of their students. It is clear that more often, professional learning always start through new innovations that are first heard. From this chapter, teachers find it complicated in delivering their services, they add to say that the complexities that are realized should not be underestimated. There is something that seems to have been assumed, and that is what has made the author of this book so critically focused on them. Some of these are that people have assumed that achieving effective teaching has always been a routine which is not true; the issue that students are passive seems to have also been assumed. Questions that are being asked for practice purpose are not simple and can neither be predicted nor standardized as people usually say , according to a report given by the author. In his effort to illustrate the complexities of teaching, he established four things that are core foundation of job-embedded professional development. They include; knowledge type, knowledge source, orientation and finally learning needs. It is from these four building blocks that the author feels that a better understanding would be attaind on the complexities that are attached to the complexity of teacher knowledge. Within the source of knowledge, he further subdivided them into subsections: knowledge for practice which is responsible for letting educators to acquire information concerning new educational-research-based practices where their worth has been legitimized. Knowledge in practice, this basic block is quite important to teachers, as it helps them put what they have acquired into practice, it is basically meant to improve the teaching practice. Thirdly, knowledge of practice has struck much attention from professional developers. It addresses the issue that when teachers apply their own knowledge, there is a high chance of making mistakes. Knowledge type is being a second building block which illustrates that teachers are supposed to posses a wider range of knowledge as it is important in their service delivery. With time teachers have gained this knowledge such as pedagogical knowledge, curriculum knowledge, content knowledge, student knowledge, context knowledge among others. Teachers nowadays have been accused in their mode teaching, as policy makers see it to lack content knowledge in it. In the view of policy makers, teachers should be in a position to first aware of what they are to deliver in their teaching practices, by doing so they will be able to deliver the effective instructional decisions. The chapter was actually aiming at developing powerful professional development, so that the National Staff Development Council will be utilized. It will also help develop strong approaches to job-embedded professional development. Some of these are people who have assumed that achieving effective teaching has always been a routine which is not true; the issue that students are passive seems to have also been assumed Questions that are being asked for the practice purpose are not simple and can neither be predicted nor standardized as people usually say according to a report given by the author. How Can You Make it Happen? Educators often make innovation happen, especially in the students in a situation when they are faced with a challenge or when professionals demand for a new innovation. Professionals are being affected by upcoming challenges of educating and rapid increment in the proportion of population awaiting their services. The pushing demand has called for efficiency and high productivity thus eating up finances. The decision makers have taken the role of funding the entire sector by engaging in programmes which will end up lending loans for the project completion. A part from being funders to innovation, they also assume the responsibility of ensuring that quality is focused. They therefore developed a quality assurance within their committee. It was after Dianne analyzed this that she developed the question how can you make it happen? and how can it be managed? Dianne believed that it was possible for innovation to begin from a small group individual and spread to all other parts thus changing the entire system. This type of innovation has been termed as disruptive innovation in other sectors of the economy. She explains that disruptive economy is technology-driven and its key objective is to provide what have not yet been met by the existing systems. Innovation for professionals keeps its own improving and the main target of innovators is to provide their service to that new group of individuals believing they will be impressed. Innovation is characterized by its simplicities which can easily be adopted by anyone willing. In adopting the new idea it should be affordable so that everyone could be in a position to adopt it. It order to succeed in developing the intended innovation, it should employ the enabling technology, everything simple and also be a routine. Lastly, the innovation will be able to pave way for new models that should provide a new way of organizing technology, people, and processes during the service delivery at a friendly cost. In higher education, innovation has to be realized to take a better path at evident in the online education occupationally focusing programmes on hold. Such kind of education has been addopted by students whose mode of learning requires flexibility in order to achieve their goal of education. In her book, Dianne states that educators have learned that two types of students exist; nontraditional and traditional. For nontraditional they have two missions that they should administer at the same time, while for traditional students, educators should employ on those teaching strategies that will make them acquire knowledge and skills to be successful in their labor market. Nontraditional students is continuously increasing, this will improve the quality of learning as they are going to change the mode of teaching because they differ from the declining traditional students who are at incumbent universities. According to some professionals, innovation will be in a position to measure learning of the student, will come up with ways in which they can interact with peers and learn, and finally redesign ways for hybrid learning. This type of innovation has been termed as disruptive innovation in other sectors of the economy. She explains that disruptive economy is technology-driven and its key objective is to provide what have not yet been met by the existing systems. Professional Learning Communities Powerful Professional Development Culturally responsive teaching has been described by Dianne as adopting the cultural knowledge in respect to experiences and the style of performance of diverse students, in order to make learning appropriate and even effective to them. In her description, Dianne gave several features of responsive teaching; in validating towards the cultural teaching its heritage that exists in different ethnic groups would be legitimately acknowledged. Its attitudes, depositions and approaches of learning would be left a legacy and contained what is to be taught in the formal curriculum. In responding to the cultural learning, a link will be created between homes and school experiences and also links between socio-cultural life and academic life. In addition, students will have been taught how to embrace their cultures as they extend their learning to other cultural heritages. This kind of learning employs a wide range of strategies which is in most cases instructions so as to connect different types of learning. Information, materials and resources at the multicultural level will be incorporated in all the subjects that are being taught in institutions. In order to improve the cultural responsiveness, classroom environment should be put into consideration. This is mainly because a classroom is a composition of varied ethnicities and literal genres. For instance, instructions pertaining math concepts would incorporate day-to-day life, economics, consumer habits, employment of the various ethnic backgrounds. Culturally responsive educators establish social, emotional, intellectual and political learning through culture referent so as to impart knowledge, attitudes and skills. In the real sense, cultural responsive educators teach the child as a whole. Educators found out that in teaching culture responsiveness, academic achievement are not only met but the heritage and identity remains intact. Dianne took her time to study actual instructional elementary classroom and experienced the values being practiced. She concluded that a group of learners will be a motivating factor towards excellence, because there were clear expressions of expectations. Skills are better taught in an exhibition of interpersonal relations. In a culturally responsive teaching, students behave as if they are from an extended family, where they assist one another and also support others which will motivate them to move forward. In her findings, she realized that culturally responsive teaching will train students to more of a human being and excel in their learning. Traditional educational practices are not incorporated by the culturally responsive teachings as far as color is concern. It is ensuring that culture is respected with the various groups experiences so that it can be utilized as resources for teaching and learning. She asserts that it should be informative in order to serve groups from marginalized area (Hoppey Dana, 2010). Buy custom The School Leadership Triangle essay

Skills Essays

Skills Essays Skills Essay Skills Essay ScientifIc, psychologists ate among the least likely to believe in physics palmistry astrology and other paranormal phenomena. Why might that be? Scientific psychologist believes In total science, they believe that anything happen Is have a clientele phenomena, which cant be explain by palmistry and astrology. Those are mere prediction of future without having any valid ground to support their prediction which irrelevant in the eye of science. 3. Why is the scientific method described as a cycle rather than as a simple six step process? The scientific method has evolved, over many centuries, to ensure that scientists make meaningful discoveries, founded upon logic and reason rather than emotion. 5. Which modern methods of examining how the brain influences behavior are noninvasive? Pharmacological methods are non-invasive and can, therefore, be used to study the human brain. Medicines known as antagonists and Zionists are given to the patient to either increase or reduce the effects of neurotransmitters Page 59. Naming that scientists were able to identify pacific genes linked to serious criminal behavior, and It was possible to remove or redesign these genes. Would you be In favor of this type of gene manipulation? Why or Why not I now see genetic engineering the same way. God gave us the knowledge to help or heal ourselves. Ergo it isnt playing God It Is utilizing his gifts to help ourselves. So, the next time you think you wouldnt do something because that would be playing God, think about it when you are ill or sick in any amount, then take a long look at that medicine you so badly want to take.. Page 429. Have you ever changed a strongly held attitude? What caused the changed for you ? Yes when I was in the Navy I had to realize that I needed a change on the way I look at things. The reason why is that I had the wrong outlook on life because I was in my own head and I really realized that I had to changed my attitude on life so that I could succeed How do Amalgams result particularly the finding that the remoteness of the victim affected obedience related to some aspects of modern warfare? We are more willing to attack other countries If we are all nice and safe In our own country and all we have to do Is push a button that sends a missile to the enemy. It would be harder for us to bomb the same town if we were there and we saw the children and families that would be killed by the attack. Have you ever done something in a group that you would not have done if you were alone? What happened ? How did you feel ? What have you learned from this chapter that might help you avoid this behavior in the future? I didnt go all out on the guy because there was six of us and only one of him.

The History of Deodorants and Antiperspirants

The History of Deodorants and Antiperspirants Mum deodorant is generally recognized as being the first-ever commercial deodorant... but we dont actually know who invented it.    Mum Deodorant Before the advent of deodorant, people generally battled their offensive smells by masking them with perfumes (a practice dating to the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks).  That changed when Mum deodorant came onto the scene in 1888. Unfortunately, we dont actually know whom to thank for saving us all from our stink, as the inventors name has been lost. All we know is that this Philadelphia-based inventor trademarked his invention and distributed it through his nurse under the name of Mum.   Mum also had very little in common with the deodorants found in drugstores today. Unlike todays roll-on, stick or aerosol deodorants, the zinc-based Mum deodorant was originally sold as a cream applied to the underarms by the fingers.    In the late 1940s, Helen Barnett Diserens joined the Mum production team. A suggestion by a colleague inspired Helen to develop an underarm deodorant based on the same principle as a newfangled invention called the  ballpoint pen. This new type of deodorant applicator was tested in the USA in 1952, and marketed under the name of Ban Roll-On. The First Antiperspirant Deodorants can take care of smells, but theyre not as effective at taking care of excessive sweating. Fortunately, the first antiperspirant came onto the scene just 15 years: Everdry, which launched in 1903, used aluminum salts to block pores and inhibit sweating. These early antiperspirants caused skin irritation, however, and in 1941 Jules Montenier patented a more modern formulation of antiperspirant that reduced irritation, and which hit the market as Stopette. The first antiperspirant aerosol deodorant was launched in 1965. However, antiperspirant sprays lost popularity due to health and environmental concerns, and today stick deodorants and antiperspirants are most popular.

Introduction of Econometric Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction of Econometric - Assignment Example The study aimed at determining the determinants of hourly pay (dependent variable). The estimated constant and coefficients had a p- value approximately equal to zero and therefore were statistically significant at 5% significant level. Secondly the model was found to be correctly specified with a probability F approximately equal to 0. However, R-squared equalled to 0.2571, implying that the model was not that good, as the explanatory variables , education and experience only accounted for 25.7% of all changes accruing to hour pay, worse though, they accounted for 25.56% when adjusted for degrees of freedom( adjusted R squared =0.2556). Given poor goodness of fit, it was hypothesized there was gender discrimination in hourly pay distribution, hence making gender an explanatory variable. As matter of fact, male hourly wages averaged higher than females’ (table 2). The implication is that men generally earnings are higher than women. The overall model remained significant (prob. F approximately equal to zero). Goodness of fit improved to 0.3042 and 0.3021 when adjusted for degrees of freedom. Although the constant tested not statistically different from zero (p-value 0.073) at 95% confidence level, the coefficients remained statistically significant and hence it was induced that holding education and experience constant, males earn 2.389 euros more than females per hour. The overall fitness of the model improved (R2 = 0.3160 and adjusted R2 = 0.3132), hence making it better than the previous. F-test maintained that the overall model was correctly specified and all coefficients as well as the constant were statistically different from zero with at 1% significance level. According to the estimated model, the reward for an extra year of experience was 0.5632 euros higher in male than in females, holding other variables constant. Secondly, ceteris paribus, females were rewarded 0.3903 euros less

Parenting Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Parenting Education - Essay Example They must be told at the initial phase of their lives that a little mischief is always permissible but doing this in an all-out manner is not a very acceptable thing. This paper takes a keen look at the critical standpoint of the relationships that exist within the parents and the kids’ spheres. It also studies the basis of the parents being at the helm of complete control and exerting their influence in nearly all the kids’ activities and undertakings. One sees this relationship between the parents and the kids in such a way that allows for their positive association with one another. However it is when the kids stop realizing that they are answerable to their parents that the whole problem creeps into the related domains. This is one of the most important aspects that one should understand before delving deep into the study basis of associations between the parents and their kids. The parents are unaware of the new ways and means through which their kids are bent upon deceiving them (Levine 2007). They are also unknowing the realms that their kids are outsmarting them in terms of technological prowess and related technical details that they are learning by the day. The ignorance therefore is very detrimental towards the cause of raising kids on a solid footing, as the repercussions are immensely hazardous for the parents as well as their kids. The parents might not live long enough to see their kids getting to good ages but what they can do is to inculcate a sense of sound.

Data warehouse presentation evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data warehouse presentation evaluation - Essay Example On the downside, a top-down approach may take longer and cost more to deploy than other approaches, especially in the initial increments. (para.8-11) Bottom-Up Approach uses the bus structure that contains all the common elements that are used by data marts such as conformed dimensions, measures etc defined for the enterprise as a whole. The major benefit of a Bottom-Up Approach is user-friendly, flexible data structure using dimensional, star schema models. It also delivers value rapidly. One problem is that it requires organizations to enforce the use of standard dimensions and facts to ensure integration and deliver a single version of the truth. (Eckerson para.12-18) Hybrid Approach aims to harness the speed and user orientation of the Bottom-Up Approach to the integration of the Top-Down Approach. By Eckerson (para.19-25), Hybrid Approach recommends spending about two weeks developing an enterprise model in third normal form before developing the first data mart. The first several data marts are also designed in third normal form but deployed using star schema physical models. Federated Appro

Mary Kay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Kay - Assignment Example One direct selling technique that was employed by Mary Kay was over-the-counter selling. After two financial years, direct sales from the two skin care products led to a 120% increase in the company’s revenue (Davies & Dewhirst, 2005). With respect to Mary Kay’s direct selling strategy, over-the-counter sales persons had to employ excellent interpersonal communication skills in enticing potential consumers to make purchases. Among the necessary requirements for Mary Kay’s direct sales persons included confidence, assertiveness, and persuasiveness (Davies & Dewhirst, 2005). In essence, most sales persons were skilled in expressing friendly demeanors and possessed in-depth knowledge on the products as a means of improving their art of persuasion. Admittedly, the 120% increase in Mar Kay’s revenue was attributable to the advantages of direct selling over other marketing strategies. Among the benefits of direct selling include enhanced customer satisfaction resulting from personalized product deliveries, and minimum marketing risks associated with positioning of products. Contrarily, direct selling strategies like those employed by Mary Kay possess certain setbacks which may include poor quality leads and inability to enhance repeat sales (Palade, 2011). Beauty Control TM is a results-oriented beauty product that allows consumers to get a clear skin within a minimum of only seven days. In essence, Beauty Control TM can be described as a new generation product that acts as a foundation for clear skin. As a new product in the market, the best marketing strategy to employ would be promotional marketing. Basically, promotional marketing entails the use of attractive sales techniques in enticing potential consumers, and influencing them to make purchases. Currently, there are multiple competitors within the beauty products market whose brand reputations are the main source of their competitive advantages in

Law enforcement Cameras Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Law enforcement Cameras - Research Paper Example Even so, the source cautions of how these cameras capture unintended images from private locations. Thus, despite its support for surveillance cameras, this source provides appropriate arguments for both sides of the divide on way privacy gets affected by surveillance cameras. This article uses the story of a victim of crime to illustrate the usefulness of police surveillance cameras in protecting people in the cities in America. On the other hand, it also discusses the limitation of this technology, including its inability to selectively capture what is useful to deter crime, thus bringing it out as a technology that invades privacy. As such, the research paper could borrow critical arguments on law enforcement cameras for protection and their limitation with regards to invading privacy. This book articulates pressing issues on privacy from the 17th Century to date, giving an account of how governments have abused some of its privileges. Of particular importance to this research paper is its discussion of the sophisticated cameras used for surveillance by the police. The ability of these cameras to peer through private settings provides the basis for argument for infringement of privacy by law enforcement cameras. In this article, Lynch discusses the use of cameras in traffic to reduce pedestrian fatalities. With a focus on New York City, the article educates on the powerfulness of these cameras in capturing images even in places considered as private. However, the author concludes by noting no evidenced reduction in pedestrian fatalities as a result of installation of these cameras. Apart from being useful in appreciating the functionality of surveillance cameras with regards to crime prevention, this source is also useful in arguing for law enforcement cameras as privacy invaders. This publication discusses the technological advancement in law enforcement, particularly

Mary Kay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Kay - Assignment Example One direct selling technique that was employed by Mary Kay was over-the-counter selling. After two financial years, direct sales from the two skin care products led to a 120% increase in the company’s revenue (Davies & Dewhirst, 2005). With respect to Mary Kay’s direct selling strategy, over-the-counter sales persons had to employ excellent interpersonal communication skills in enticing potential consumers to make purchases. Among the necessary requirements for Mary Kay’s direct sales persons included confidence, assertiveness, and persuasiveness (Davies & Dewhirst, 2005). In essence, most sales persons were skilled in expressing friendly demeanors and possessed in-depth knowledge on the products as a means of improving their art of persuasion. Admittedly, the 120% increase in Mar Kay’s revenue was attributable to the advantages of direct selling over other marketing strategies. Among the benefits of direct selling include enhanced customer satisfaction resulting from personalized product deliveries, and minimum marketing risks associated with positioning of products. Contrarily, direct selling strategies like those employed by Mary Kay possess certain setbacks which may include poor quality leads and inability to enhance repeat sales (Palade, 2011). Beauty Control TM is a results-oriented beauty product that allows consumers to get a clear skin within a minimum of only seven days. In essence, Beauty Control TM can be described as a new generation product that acts as a foundation for clear skin. As a new product in the market, the best marketing strategy to employ would be promotional marketing. Basically, promotional marketing entails the use of attractive sales techniques in enticing potential consumers, and influencing them to make purchases. Currently, there are multiple competitors within the beauty products market whose brand reputations are the main source of their competitive advantages in

Extent which UK Government has Opted Fundamental Reform of the Essay

Extent which UK Government has Opted Fundamental Reform of the Education Provision with SEN - Essay Example These have raised two arguments from the disabled Activists who want the society to include the disability clause in the policies. The first focuses upon the ways in which disability and learning difficulties are problems created socially by the society's power structure. The arguments clearly points out that physical and also mental impairment are there to show the large diversity of human nature and should not be viewed as disabilities. Mistreating people with physical and mental impairments is what transforms the impairments into disabilities. Isolated Special education institutions are viewed as oppression to the disabled. The New Labour initiative which supports inclusive schooling has been the Strategy for special education needs which remove barriers to educational achievement (DfES, 2004). The importance of this strategy is that it takes special education within the wider policy initiative of the Green Paper Every child matters (The Stationery Office, 2003) 144 D. Armstrong offers the most comprehensive expression of inclusive education policy within New Labour's wider ideological vision of the inclusive society. With its origin bein... SEN (DfES, 2004) strategy by the Government seeks to signify inclusive education in the same cocoon of protecting the child and promoting learning activities for those children with special needs. The four essential areas of activities for chid protection are; Parents of children with special needs should be given access to suitable healthcare and children with learning problems should receive help in the early stages Inclusive practice should be adopted in early years in every school which will considerably remove barriers to learning. Developing and improving teachers' proficiency and policies for meeting children with special education needs which will raise expectations and the general school leading to the learner's progress. Involving parents in delivering which will help parents develop confidence on the education needs obtained by their children. Pursuing this child protection model of inclusion, the Strategy for special education needs locates special educational interventions within the broader context of social disadvantages experienced by young people whose origins lie within 'risk factors' associated with educational failure, community breakdown, parenting inadequacies, school disorganisation and individual and/or peer group difficulties. These risk factors have been widely proclaimed as giving rise to concerns for the welfare of young people across the domains of education health, social welfare and youth justice (Lupton, 1999; Bessant et al., 2003). The risk factor model is one that has been instrumental in promoting an interventionist strategy of risk reduction to be delivered by cross-agency childhood services. The DEE, (1994) Code of Practice came

My Understanding of Parents-Children Relationship Essay Example for Free

My Understanding of Parents-Children Relationship Essay During the past twenty years of my life, I was always regarding my parents as extraordinary and authoritative models of my life. I adored them so much as if everything they had done was not only right but also great. As for my parents, they paid much attention to setting a good example for me since I was a little girl. The situation lasts and I have never thought of any possible changes in the relationship between my parents and me. However, after reading the passage Predictable Crises of Adulthood written by Gail Sheehy, my old understanding of parents-children relationship is replaced by a totally new one - nothing remains unchanged forever and the parents-children relationship is no exception. Actually, there are changes in my relationship although I did not detect them before reading the passage. As I mentioned above, my parents were regarded as the models of my life and this impression was established firmly from my early childhood, influencing me greatly during the past years. In my eyes, they were so preeminent that they could have everything done well. In fact, they were intent on setting an example to me by building up such kind of holy and authoritative image in my mind. However, as I was growing up, I gradually found that my parents were not the God. It was impossible for them to control everything in life and sometimes they were confronted with difficulties. In the recent years, with the broadening of my horizons, I gain my own beliefs, some of which are quite differently from that of my parents. I find that they are no long as holy and remote as they used to be. Now my parents and I am sharing a more equal relationship. On the one hand, they respect my opinions, treating me as an adult. On the other hand, I would like to consult with them whenever I am confronted with difficulties. Therefore, the relationship between my parents and me has changed. They are no long holy and authoritative, but amiable and friendly. They are more like my friends rather than parents. In the next decade when I become a mother, my relationship with parents will be likely to get into a new stage. My parents are such good models of my life that I firmly believe that they are excellent and extraordinary parents. As a result, it is quite possible for me to develop similar parenting pattern. Also, my parents will certainly offer me suggestions whenever I am confused. The role of my parents in the  relationship changes again. At this stage, they will become my model in terms of parenting. At the last stage of their life, parents may become too old to take good care of themselves. Thus, special care for them will be needed, which will wholly shift the relationship between my parents and me. There exists an interesting phenomenon: the senior tend to become more childlike when they are getting older and older, while their children, who are at the best stage in their life, become the reliance of their parents. Thus, the roles of my parents and I will exchange as the process of life. I, in return, will take care of my old parents just as they took care of me years ago. The relationship will go to the opposite side of the one in the earlier stage of life. Except for the love between parents and children, nothing remains unchanged forever. The relationship between parents and children changes as the stage of life processes. These changes are inevitable, just as the life cycle goes on. We should accept the changes positively and face them bravely. Only by adopting the right relationship at the right stage can one lives a better life with the relationship between parents and children.

Wealth Maximization and the NPV Method

Wealth Maximization and the NPV Method It has long been an accepted perception that the objective of management is the maximization of shareholder wealth. As we know the corporate objective of a firm is to maximization share holders wealth in order to achieve this corporate goal there is a problem arising called agency problem. The corporate firms are managed by professional managers these managers do not own a 100% share so managers may not work to wards the best of firms goal of maximizing shareholders wealth because of the conflicting interests, in this assignment we will examine the firms corporate goal. The this study contends that it is to evaluate the usefulness of Net Present Value but also taking to the account the effect of agency problem inside the company. 2. Introduction Owners are primarily interested in the wealth creation ability of an entity, and they typically monitor their investments by the valuating of the investments financial return. Shareholders tend to prefer that all long-term corporate decisions to be evaluated based on the investments contribution to the maximization of shareholder wealth. Dean (1994) suggests that the primary objective of the modern corporation should be to maximize the present worth at the companys cost of capital of the future stream of benefits to the stockholder. All other objectives should be either intermediate or subsidiary to this overriding companys financial objective Question1 3.0. Shareholders Wealth Maximization Concept The maximization of shareholders wealth is a significant objective of management. According to Dr.R.Srinivasan,(2010)Any action which results wealth or which has a net present value is a preferable one and should be undertaken. The wealth of the company is based on the maximization of the present value of the entity. i.e., the present worth of the entity, This wealth may be measured if the organization has shares that are traded by the public, this because the market price of the share is indicative of the value of the organization. And to a shareholder, the word wealth is based upon the amount of shareholders current dividends and the market price of share. Ezra Solomon has described a wealth maximization goal in these terms: The gross present worth of a course of action is equal to the capitalized value of the flow of future expected benefits, discounted (or capitalized) at a rate which reflects the uncertainty or certainty. Wealth or net present worth is the difference between gross present worth and the amount of capital investment required to achieve the benefits. On the other hand a public sector company which its equity stock is fully owned by the government, and also not traded in stock market? In such companies, the objective of management should be to maximize the present value of the stream of equity returns. Of course in determining the present value of stream of equity returns, and must use the most appropriate discount rate. A same observation may be made with regarding to other entities which their equity shares are either not traded or very rarely traded. In the above definition, one thing is for sure that the wealth maximization is a long-term strategy that emphasizes raising the net present value of the owners investment in a company and the implementation of this objective that will appraise the market value of the companys securities. This concept, if applied, meets the briars raised against the old concept of profit maximization. The manager also faces with the uncertainty problems by considering the trade-off between the different returns and their associated levels of risks. It also considers the dividends payment to shareholders. All these components of the wealth maximization goal are the outcome of the investment, financing and dividend decisions of the company. Question2 4.0. The Agency Problem Theory Agency problems exist in large companies because of the conflicting of interests which sometimes arise between shareholders and managements. In most large organizations, managers only own a small percentage of the stock. They may consider by placing their own interests above those of the shareholders. For example, the managers may multiple their personal wealth by doubling their salaries, bonuses, or option grants as high as possible and by increasing their perquisites including luxurious offices, corporate jets, generous retirement plans, and the like at the expense of outside shareholders. Shareholders may take actions through their companys managers that affect the riskiness of the company like investing in more risky assets. Increasing a companys riskiness can negatively affect the safety of its debt. A potential agency conflict comes whenever the manager of a company owns less than 100 percent of the companys common stock. If a company is a sole proprietorship company and managed by its owner, the owner-manager will always consider maximizing his or her own wealth. The owner-manager will carefully control cost by individual wealth, but may trade off other considerations, such as perquisites and leisure, against individual wealth. If the owner-manager forgoes a portion of his or her ownership by selling some of the entitys stock to external investors, a potential conflict of interest may arise, called an agency problem. E.g. the owner-manager may prefer a more leisurely lifestyle and not work as to maximize shareholder wealth, because less of the wealth will now accrue to the owner-manager. In addition, the owner-manager may decide to consume more perquisites, because some of the cost of the consumption of benefits will now be borne by the external shareholders. As defined by Robert T. Kleiman. Agency theory raises a fundamental problem in company, self-interested behavior. A corporations managers may have their own personal objectives that challenges with the owners objective of maximization of shareholder wealth. Although the shareholders recognize managers to manage the companys assets, a potential conflict of interest may exist between these two groups. According to Jensen/Meckling (1976) an agency relationship exists when one or more persons (the shareholders or the principles) negotiate another person (the agent) to do some service on their behalf which involves delegation of some authority to make decision. If both parties maximize their own utility there is good proof to consider that the management (agent) will not always act in the best interest of the shareholders (principal). As a result the principal will try to limit the divergence from his interests by monitoring the agent. The dilemma is, that the cost of monitoring the agents actions (monitoring expenditures) can be significant and can in fact exceed the loss due to the agency relationship. The principal will therefore try to establish incentives for the agent in a contract so that the agents actions are in the interest of the principal without costly monitoring. Additionally there will be situations where it will pay for the agent to expend resources on actions to guar antee that he will act in the sense of the principal (bonding expenditures) or to ensure that the principal will be compensated in such cases. As a result it is impossible for the principal and the agent to ensure at zero cost that the agent will make optimal decisions from the viewpoint of the principal. Given the complex structure of agency relationships these costs will be pecuniary and no pecuniary as well. In general, the principal and the agent will have positive monitoring and bonding costs and there will still be some divergence between the agents decisions, subject to the optimal monitoring and bonding activities, and those decisions that would maximize the welfare of the principal. The value (in money terms) of this divergence is often referred to as the residual loss. According to Jensen/Meckling (1976) agency costs could therefore be defined as the amount of: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The evaluating expenditures by the principal, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The bonding expenditures by the management and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The residual loss 5.0. NPV Method of Investment Appraisal The net present value (NPV) is described very fully both in principle and application and in how the decision rules are derived. Different sets of circumstances are introduced to show how the NPV approach can cope with the situations met in an imperfect world, (e.g. taxation, inflation, different interest rates, repeat investments, mutually exclusive investments, capital rationing). As clarified by Averkampt H. (d.t) who defined NPV as the acronym for net present value. Net present value is a computation that differentiates the amount invested today to the present value of the future cash receipts from the investment. In other words, the amount invested is compared to the future cash amounts after they are discounted by a specified rate of return. 5.1. Advantages and disadvantages of NPV method The NPV method has pros and cons I mean negative and positive sides. First, the NPV method makes more appropriate adjustments for the time value of money. Second, the NPV rule focuses on cash flow, not accounting earnings. Third, the decision rule to invest when NPVs are positive and to refrain when from investing when NPVs are negative reflects the firms need to compete for funds in the marketplace rather than an arbitrary judgment. Fourth, the NPV approach offers a relatively straight forward way to control for differences in risk among alternative investments. Cash flows on riskier investments should be discounted at higher at higher rates. Fifth, the NPV method incorporates all the cash flows that a project generates over its life, not just those that occur in the projects early years. Sixth, the NPV gives a direct estimate of the change in shareholder wealth resulting from a given investment. Although we are enthusiastic supporters of the NPV approach, especially when compared with the other decision methods, we must acknowledge that the NPV suffers from a few weaknesses. Relative to alternative capital budgeting tools, the NPV rule seems less intuitive to many users. 5.2. Recommendations Finally, at the starting of an NPV analysis it is very significant to identify the objective of the project. If the goal is to reduce the costs of operations and also prices. As to enhance the organizations revenues, the forecasted increase in revenues needs to be evaluated and included as a positive cash flow in the computation. But if the objective in mind is to survival then a negative NPV might be reasonable if the negative financial impact of the investment is influenced by the potential financial losses that may be related with the ignored project. In some cases, the analysis led to the conclusion that mobilizing the capital required implementing the core lab project is in keeping with a strategy to maximize potential returns. The NPV method evaluates the present value of the future cash flows that a project will have. A positive NPV is that the investment should appreciate the value of the company and also promote to maximizing shareholder wealth. A positive NPV project gives a return that is more than enough to compensate for the required return on the investment. Thus, using NPV as a guideline for capital investment decisions is consistent with the goal of creating wealth. Moreover the NPV of the future benefits is the difference between net present value of the benefits and the investment required to achieve those benefits. A financial action resulting negative NPV should be rejected, because this will not generate a wealth to the shareholders. Therefore the organization should take a course of financial action e.g. invest in a project where there is a increase in the wealth of the firm or a project which have a positive NPV. 6.0. Conclusion The efficiency of management is assessed by the success in achieving the companys objective. The shareholder wealth maximization objective as defined that management should work towards maximizing the net present value of the expected future cash flows to the shareholders of the company. Net present value is the discounted sum of the expected net cash flows. Some of the cash flows, such as capital outlays, are cash outflows, while some, such as cash generated from sales, are cash inflows. Net cash flows are obtained the different between cash outflows and cash inflows. The discount rate considers the time framework and risk of the future cash flows that are available from an investment. The longer it takes to receive a cash flow, the lower the value investors wants to put on that cash flow now. The greater the risk associated with receiving a future cash flow, the lower the value investors place on that cash flow.

Feminism in Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Essay -- Femini

Feminism in Uncle Tom’s Cabin  Ã‚   While Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin overtly deals with the wrongs of slavery from a Christian standpoint, there is a subtle yet strong emphasis on the moral and physical strength of women. Eliza, Eva, Aunt Chloe, and Mrs. Shelby all exhibit remarkable power and understanding of good over evil in ways that most of the male characters in Stowe’s novel. Even Mrs. St. Claire, who is ill throughout most of the book, proves later that she was always physically in control of her actions, however immoral they were. This emotional strength, when compared with the strength of the male characters, shows a belief in women as equals to men (if not more so) uncommon to 19th century literature. In 1848, the first ever Women’s Rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Though Stowe did not attend, many of those who were strong in the abolitionist movement, such as Fredrick Douglas and Amy Post, did. Thus a correlation was drawn between the abolitionist movement and women’s rights. Both fights were about equality, so naturally those who were supportive of emancipation were supportive of gender equality as well. Uncle Tom’s Cabin not only follows the life of Uncle Tom, spanning from the time he is sold from his longtime master until Tom’s death, but also follows the life of Eliza, another slave who lives on the Shelby plantation with Tom as the novel begins. But unl... ...Topsy, but help her repent as well, for Topsy later says, "I will try, I will try; I never did care nothin' about it before" (94). Uncle Tom’s Cabin contains almost as basic of a moral as any story could; love has no physical barriers. The goal of Stowe’s novel is to show that in terms of race. But at the same time Stowe shows it in terms of gender as well. By making the female characters more morally righteous than the male characters and displaying the women’s physical feats more overtly than the men’s, Stowe enables the audience to see a side of women relatively unseen in 19th century American culture. Works Cited Stowe, Harriet Beecher. "Uncle Tom’s Cabin." New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1927    Feminism in Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Essay -- Femini Feminism in Uncle Tom’s Cabin  Ã‚   While Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin overtly deals with the wrongs of slavery from a Christian standpoint, there is a subtle yet strong emphasis on the moral and physical strength of women. Eliza, Eva, Aunt Chloe, and Mrs. Shelby all exhibit remarkable power and understanding of good over evil in ways that most of the male characters in Stowe’s novel. Even Mrs. St. Claire, who is ill throughout most of the book, proves later that she was always physically in control of her actions, however immoral they were. This emotional strength, when compared with the strength of the male characters, shows a belief in women as equals to men (if not more so) uncommon to 19th century literature. In 1848, the first ever Women’s Rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Though Stowe did not attend, many of those who were strong in the abolitionist movement, such as Fredrick Douglas and Amy Post, did. Thus a correlation was drawn between the abolitionist movement and women’s rights. Both fights were about equality, so naturally those who were supportive of emancipation were supportive of gender equality as well. Uncle Tom’s Cabin not only follows the life of Uncle Tom, spanning from the time he is sold from his longtime master until Tom’s death, but also follows the life of Eliza, another slave who lives on the Shelby plantation with Tom as the novel begins. But unl... ...Topsy, but help her repent as well, for Topsy later says, "I will try, I will try; I never did care nothin' about it before" (94). Uncle Tom’s Cabin contains almost as basic of a moral as any story could; love has no physical barriers. The goal of Stowe’s novel is to show that in terms of race. But at the same time Stowe shows it in terms of gender as well. By making the female characters more morally righteous than the male characters and displaying the women’s physical feats more overtly than the men’s, Stowe enables the audience to see a side of women relatively unseen in 19th century American culture. Works Cited Stowe, Harriet Beecher. "Uncle Tom’s Cabin." New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1927   

Influenza in New York City :: Journalism Media Studies Influenza Health Essays

Influenza in New York City NEW YORK--The Influenza epidemic arrived in the city last month, and it has remained a constant presence since then. The epidemic, which is now present in most major cities in America, lingers in and around the city, affecting everyone. Dr. Copeland, Health Commissioner Royal, has declared influenza to be a reportable disease. Influenza presents itself in a manner not unlike a cold: runny nose, chills, fever, coughing, sneezing. Influenza is a stronger version of the cold, as it can lead to extreme pain and congestion, and, as we have seen, it can often result in death. Because influenza is so much like the cold, doctors urge all New Yorkers to suspect and prepare for influenza first when these symptoms arise. For their part, city officials have outlawed sneezing, coughing, and spitting in public. Doctors say the disease is spread through expelled mucus and saliva. It is expected that the new municipal codes will help to slow the spread of the disease. While the precautions strike many as odd and unnecessary, doctors insist that being more careful about our fluids will end the epidemic in the city sooner rather than later. Transgressors, along with receiving the disdain of the public, will be fined arrested and fined. Doctors and City officials alike insist that everyone cooperate to contain this disease. City-dwellers will also notice new opening and closing times for bars, restaurants, shops, theaters, businesses, and factories. The Board of Health has begun to regulate hours in order to reduce crowds. Doctors say that smaller crowds of people reduce the chance of the disease being spread. New Yorkers won't be stuck in large crowds of people which may or may not contain sick people. A few Board of Health officials anonymously and jokingly point out that for the first time in modern ages, New Yorkers will enjoy serenity and space when they go into the city. Even when sick people are out and about, smaller crowds will reduce the number of people exposed to the germs. New York remains a large, crowded city even with the restrictions, but Board of Health officials assert that even a small reduction in the number of people will lend to the fight against influenza. City officials are also monitoring travelers, keeping the sick off of trains, buses, and subways.

Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six

â€Å"Sheba,† she said, her dark eyes widening. â€Å"Sheba†¦ Smith.† â€Å"Well, would you like to dance then, Sheba Smith? If you feel well enough.† â€Å"Yes,† she breathed, half to herself. â€Å"Yes, why not?† Her eyes never left his. Not moving from where they were, Gabe and Sheba began swaying to the rhythm of yet another wretched song. This time, the horrid music didn't offend Gabe as much. Gabe put it together then. New girl. Amazing dress. Sheba. This was Logan's date, the one who'd asked him to the prom and then wanted nothing more to do with him. For a half second, Gabe worried if it was wrong for him to infringe on his friend's date. But the worry passed quickly. For one thing, Logan was happy with Libby. There was no sense in interrupting something that was clearly meant to be. For another, Sheba and Logan were clearly not meant to be. Gabe had always had a good instinct for that-for the personalities that belonged together, for compatible natures that would pull together harmoniously. He'd been the butt of many jokes about matchmaking, but he didn't mind. Gabe liked people to be happy. And this intense girl with the deep pools in her eyes-Sheba-did not belong with Logan. That desperate sense of need had calmed when he'd touched her. Gabe felt much better with her in his arms-holding her seemed to soothe the strange call. She was safe here, no longer drowning, no longer lost. Gabe was afraid to let her go, worried that the burning need would return. It was an odd first for Gabe, this feeling of being in exactly the right place, of being the only one that belonged here. It wasn't that he'd never had a girlfriend before-girls liked Gabe, and he'd had many casual relationships. But they never lasted. There was always someone else they belonged with. None of them really needed Gabe, except as a friend. And they'd always stayed good friends. It had never been like this. Was this where Gabe belonged? Shielding this slender girl, holding her safe in his arms? It was silly to think so fatalistically. Gabe tried hard to act normal. â€Å"You're new at Reed River, aren't you?† he asked her. â€Å"I've only been here a few weeks,† she confirmed. â€Å"I don't think we have any classes together.† â€Å"No, I would have remembered if I'd been close to you before.† It was an odd way of phrasing it. She stared into his eyes, her hands clinging gently to his shoulders. Instinctively, he pulled her a little closer. â€Å"Are you having a good time tonight?† he asked. She sighed, a deep sigh from the center of her being. â€Å"I am now,† she said, oddly rueful. â€Å"A very good time.† Trapped! Like an idiot, like a new-spawned whelp, a novice, a rookie! Sheba leaned into Gabe, unable to resist. Unable to want to resist. She stared into his heavenly eyes and had the most ridiculous urge to sigh. How had she not seen the signs? The way goodness itself surrounded him like a shield. The way her suggestions bounced right off him harmlessly. The way the only ones safe from her evil tonight-those little bubbles of happiness outside of her control-were the people he'd touched and interacted with, his friends. The eyes alone should have been warning enough! Celeste was smarter than Sheba. At least her instincts had kept her away from this dangerous boy. Once she was free of his piercing gaze, she'd kept a safe distance between them. Why hadn't Sheba understood the reason behind this? And the reason Gabe had chosen Celeste in the first place. Of course he'd been drawn to Celeste! It all made sense now. Sheba swayed to the beat that rumbled through the air, feeling the security of his body around her, protecting her. Tiny, unfamiliar tendrils of happiness twisted their way through her empty core. No-not that! Not happiness! If she was already feeling happy, then better things couldn't be too far behind. Was there no way to avoid the horrible wonder of love? That wasn't very likely when you were in an angel's arms. Not a true angel. Gabe didn't have wings, he'd never had them-he wasn't one of those sappy birdbrains who'd traded feathers and eternity for human love. But one of his parents had done just that. Gabe was fully half-angel-though he didn't have a clue about his nature. If he'd had any idea, Sheba would have heard that in his mind and escaped this divine horror. Now it was only too obvious to Sheba-this close, she could smell the scent of asphodel clinging to his skin. And, clearly, he'd inherited his angel-parent's eyes. The heaven-blue eyes that should have been a dead giveaway, if Sheba hadn't been so wrapped up in her evil plotting. There was a reason even experienced demons like Jezebel were wary of angels. If it was hazardous for a human to stare into a demon's eyes, it was doubly so for a demon to get locked into an angel's. If ever a demon met an angel's gaze for too long, pfffffft! – out went the fires of hell and the demon was trapped until the angel gave up on saving him. Because that's what angels did. They saved. Sheba was an eternal being, and she was trapped for however long Gabe decided to keep her. A full angel would have known what Sheba was at once, and driven her out if he were strong enough, or given her a wide berth if he wasn't. But Sheba could imagine what her presence would feel like to someone with Gabe's instinct to save. Innocent of the knowledge he needed to understand, Sheba's damned state must have been like a siren's call. She stared helplessly into Gabe's beautiful face, her body filling with happiness, and wondered how long the torture would last. Already too long to save her perfect prom. Without her hellfire, Sheba had no influence over the mortals here. But she was still fully aware, watching helpless and disgustingly blissful, as it all fell apart. Cooper Silverdale gasped in horror as he looked at the gun glistening in his shaking hand. What was he thinking? He shoved the weapon back into its hiding place and half ran to the bathroom, where he violently vomited the punch into the sink. Cooper's stomach problems interrupted Matt and Derek's fistfight, which was just warming up in the men's room. The two friends squinted through their swollen eyes at each other. Why were they fighting? Over a girl that neither of them even liked? How stupid! Suddenly, they were interrupting each other in their urgent need to apologize. With smiles on split lips and arms around shoulders, they headed back to the ballroom. David Alvarado had given up his plans to jump Heath after the dance, because Evie had forgiven him for disappearing with Celeste. Her cheek was soft and warm against his now as they swayed to the slow music, and there was no way he would hurt her by disappearing again, not for any reason. David was not the only one who felt that way. As if the new song was magical rather than insipid, the dancers in the big ballroom each moved instinctively toward the person they should have come with in the first place, the one that would transform the night's misery into happiness. Coach Lauder, lonely and depressed, looked up from the unappetizing cookies straight into Vice Principal Finkle's sad eyes. She looked lonely, too. The coach walked toward her, smiling hesitantly. Shaking her head and blinking her eyes like someone trying to escape a nightmare, Melissa Harris pulled away from Tyson and ran for the exit. She would find the concierge and get a cab†¦ Like a rubber band that had been stretched too far, the atmosphere at Reed River's prom now snapped back with a vengeance. If Sheba had been herself, she would have pulled that rubber band until it exploded into pieces. But now all the misery and wrath and hate vanished. The human minds had been stuck in their grip too long. With relief, everyone at the prom relaxed into happiness, grasped at love with two hands. Even Celeste was tired of the mayhem. She stayed in Rob's arms, shuddering slightly at the memory of those perfect blue eyes, as one slow song melted into the next. Neither Sheba nor Gabe even noticed the song change. All her delicious pain and misery destroyed! Even if she did get free, Sheba was destined for middle school now. Where was the injustice?! And Jezebel! Had she planned this? Tried to distract Sheba from the fact that a dangerous half-angel was here tonight? Or would she be disappointed? Was she really there in encouragement? Sheba had no way to find out. She wouldn't even be able to see Jezebel now-whether the horned demoness was laughing or chagrined-with her fires extinguished. Disgusted with herself, Sheba sighed in happiness. Gabe was just so good. And, in his arms, she felt good, too. She felt wonderful. Sheba simply had to get free before happiness and love ruined her! Would she be trapped with some feather-back's heavenly offspring forever? Gabe smiled at her, and she sighed again. Sheba knew what Gabe would be feeling now. Angels were never happier than when they were making someone else happy, and the bigger the lift in that other person's spirit, the more ecstatic the angel. As perfectly miserable and damned as Sheba had been, Gabe must be flying now-it would be almost as good as having wings. He would never want to let her go. There was just one chance left for Sheba, just one way back to her wretched, miserable, burning, stinking home. Gabe had to order her there. Thinking of this chance, Sheba felt much worse, felt a welcome wave of her former misery. Gabe tightened his hold on her as he sensed her slipping down, and the misery was drowned in contentment, but Sheba remained hopeful. She stared up into his love-filled angel-eyes and smiled dreamily. You're evil incarnate, Sheba told herself. You have a true talent for misery. You know suffering inside and out. You can get yourself out of this trap and everything will be like it used to be. After all, with as much pain and havoc as Sheba was capable of causing, how hard could it possibly be to get this angelic boy to tell her to go to hell? Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six â€Å"Put them up,† Glasses Geek said. â€Å"I mean your arms. Miranda did what he said because his hands were shaking so much she was afraid he'd shoot her by accident. â€Å"Who are you? What are you doing here?† he demanded in a voice that shook almost as much as his hands. â€Å"I just wanted to get a glimpse of Her,† she said, hoping she made it sound right. He narrowed his eyes. â€Å"How did you know She was here?† â€Å"The Gardener told me, but I didn't know where She was being kept so I climbed up that tree to look.† â€Å"Which affiliate are you with?† I knew this would end in tears. What now, smarty pants? Miranda raised an eyebrow and said, â€Å"Which affiliate are you with?† Adding for good measure, â€Å"I mean, I would remember a guy like you if I'd seen you before.† It worked! She saw him swallow hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. She would never doubt How to Get-And Kiss-Your Guy again! He said, â€Å"I'd remember you, too.† She hit him with a dose of Winsome Smile and saw the Adam's apple do some more moving. She said, â€Å"If I give you my hand to shake, will you shoot me?† He chortled and put down the gun. â€Å"No,† still chortling. Holding out his hand now. â€Å"I'm Craig.† â€Å"Hi, Craig, I'm Miranda,† she said, taking it. Then flipped him onto his back and knocked him out cold in a single silent move. She looked at her hand for a second in shock. She'd definitely never done that before. That had been very cool. If you're going to be an idiot and risk everything, you might as well do what you came for. You know, instead of just staring at the guy you knocked out? She bent to whisper, â€Å"Sorry. Take three aspirin for your head when you wake up and you'll feel better,† in his ear, and moved around the edge of the safe house. There must have been an open window because she could hear voices here, the man who had been outside before now saying to someone, â€Å"Are you comfortable?† And Sibby answering, â€Å"No. I don't like this couch. I can't believe this is the nicest room in the house. It looks like a place for a grandma.† Heh! Miranda followed the sound of Sibby's voice and found herself standing in front of one of the street-facing plate-glass windows, looking through a gap in dark blue drapes into a living room. There was a spindly-looking couch, chair, and coffee table. Sibby was in the chair, her profile to Miranda, with a plate of Oreos in front of her. She looked fine. The man was perched on the couch, smiling at Sibby, saying, â€Å"So, where are we supposed to drop you?† Sibby took the top cookie off the Oreo and ate it. â€Å"I'll tell you later.† The man kept smiling. â€Å"I'd like to know so I can plan the route. We can't be too careful.† â€Å"Oh my gods, there's like hours before we go. I want to watch some TV.† Miranda heard the man's heart speed up and saw his hand flex but he kept his tone light when he said, â€Å"Of course.† Then added, â€Å"As soon as you tell me where we're taking you.† Sibby frowned at him. â€Å"Are you deaf or something? I said I'd tell you later.† â€Å"It's in your best interest to talk to me. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll have to bring in someone else. Someone a bit more†¦ forceful.† â€Å"Fine. But while I'm waiting, can I please watch TV? Tell me you get cable. Oh gods, if you don't have MTV, I'm going to be really pissed.† The man stood up with an expression on his face like he wanted to break something, then abruptly turned to face the door. Miranda heard footsteps coming toward the room from the hallway, and with them a familiar cha-cha heartbeat. Two seconds later Deputy Sergeant Caleb Reynolds burst through the door. See? Sibby's in no danger. The police are here. Scram. Deputy Reynolds said to the man, â€Å"What's taking so long?† â€Å"She won't talk.† â€Å"I'm sure she'll change her mind.† His heartbeat picked up. Sibby glanced at him. â€Å"Who are you?† Caleb said, â€Å"I'm the Gardener.† This was extremely not good, Miranda decided. â€Å"I wasn't very impressed with the front lawn,† Sibby told him. â€Å"I'm not that kind of Gardener. It's a nickname. They call me that because-â€Å" â€Å"Actually, I'm not even vaguely interested. I don't know what you're planning, Plant Boy-â€Å" â€Å"Gardener,† he corrected, going a touch red. † – but if you need to know where I'm supposed to be picked up by the Overseer, then you have to keep me alive, right? So you can't exactly threaten me with death.† â€Å"Not death, no. But pain.† He addressed the man. â€Å"Go get me my tools, Byron.† As the man left the room, Sibby said, â€Å"I'm not going to tell you anything.† Deputy Reynolds circled around so he was leaning over her chair, his back to the window. â€Å"Listen to me-† he said, his heartbeat slowing down suddenly. Miranda did a round-off, smashing through the window feet first, then knocked him unconscious with a side kick to the neck before he could turn around. She bent to whisper, â€Å"Sorry,† in his ear, decided as punishment not to tell him about the aspirins, grabbed Sibby, sprinted to the car, and stepped on the gas. Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six Yun Sun's voice grew sharp. â€Å"Frankie, no!† â€Å"I'm such an idiot-why didn't I think of it before?† â€Å"Wait. Don't do it, don't make the-† She broke off. I heard a â€Å"whoops,† followed by drunken apologies and someone saying, â€Å"Oh, I love your dress!† It sounded like everyone was having fun. I'd soon be having fun with them. I made it to the den and approached the bookshelf where I'd left the corsage. I patted the tops of the books and then the space behind them. My fingers found softness, like petals of skin. â€Å"I'm back,† Yun Sun said. The background sounds had diminished, suggesting she'd stepped outside. â€Å"And, Frankie, I know you're hurting. I know that. But what happened to Will was just a coincidence. A terrible, terrible coincidence.† â€Å"Call it what you want,† I said. â€Å"I'm making my second wish.† I plucked the corsage from behind the books. Yun Sun's anxiety intensified. â€Å"Frankie, no, you can't!† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"He fell from three hundred feet! His body was†¦ they said he was mangled beyond†¦ that's why they had a closed casket, remember?† â€Å"So?† â€Å"He's been rotting in a coffin for thirteen days!† she cried. â€Å"Yun Sun, that is a tasteless thing to say. Honestly, if it were Jeremy being brought back to life, would we even be having this conversation?† I drew the flowers to my face, lightly touching the petals with my lips. â€Å"Listen, I've got to go. But save some punch for me! And Will! Ooo, make that lots of punch for Will-I bet he'll be absolutely crazed with thirst!† I flipped my phone shut. I held the corsage aloft. â€Å"I wish for Will to be alive again!† I cried exultantly. The stench of decay thickened the air. The corsage curled, as if the petals were shrinking in on themselves. I flung it away on autopilot, just as I'd shake off an earwig that chanced to light on my hand. But whatever. The corsage wasn't important. What was important was Will. Where was he? I glanced around, ridiculously expecting him to be sitting on the sofa, looking at me like You're scared of a bunch of dried flowers? Pitiful! The sofa was empty, a gloomy, looming shape by the wall. I darted to the window and peered out. Nothing. Just the wind, fluttering the leaves on the trees. â€Å"Will?† I said. Again nothing. A tremendous well of disappointment opened inside me, and I sank into my father's leather armchair. Stupid Frankie. Stupid, foolish, pathetic me. Time passed. Cicadas chirped. Stupid cicadas. And then, so faint, a thud. And then another. I straightened my spine. Gravel popped on the road†¦ or maybe the driveway? The thuds came closer. They were labored and with the odd offbeat of a limp, or of something being dragged. I strained to hear. There-a thump, ten feet away on the porch. A thump that was distinctly inhuman. My throat closed as Yun Sun's words wormed back to me. Mangled, she'd said. Rotting. I wasn't paying attention before. Now it was too late. What had I done? I jumped out of the chair and fled to the entry hall, safe from the eyes of anyone-or anything-who might choose to peer through the den's wide windows. What, exactly, had I brought back to life? A knock echoed through the house. I whimpered, then clapped my hand over my mouth. â€Å"Frankie?† a voice called. â€Å"I'm, uh†¦ yikes. I'm kind of a mess.† He laughed his self-deprecating laugh. â€Å"But I'm here. That's the important thing. I'm here to take you to prom!† â€Å"We don't have to go to prom,† I said. Was that me sounding so shrill? â€Å"Who needs prom? I mean, seriously!† â€Å"Yeah, sure, this from the girl who would kill for the perfect romantic evening.† The knob rattled. â€Å"Aren't you going to let me in?† I hyperventilated. There was a series of plops, like overripe strawberries being dropped into the trash, and then, â€Å"Aw, dude. Not good.† â€Å"Will?† I whispered. â€Å"This is so uncool†¦ but do you have any stain remover?† Holy crap. Holy, holy, holy crap. â€Å"You're not mad, are you?† Will asked. He sounded worried. â€Å"I came as fast as I could. But it was so frickin' weird, Frankie. Because, like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My mind flew to airless caskets, deep in the ground. Please, no, I thought. â€Å"Forget it. It was weird-let's leave it at that.† He tried to lighten things up. â€Å"Now are you going to let me in, or what? I'm falling to pieces out here!† I pressed my body against the hall wall. My knees buckled, I wasn't doing too well with muscle control, but I reminded myself that I was safe behind the solid front door. Whatever else he was, Will was still flesh and bones. Well, partially. But not yet a ghost who could move through walls. â€Å"Will, you've got to go,† I said. â€Å"I made a mistake, okay?† â€Å"A mistake? What do you mean?† His confusion broke my heart. â€Å"It's just†¦ oh God.† I started crying. â€Å"We're not right for each other anymore. You understand, don't you?† â€Å"No, I don't. You wanted me to ask you to prom, so I asked you to prom. And now for no good reason†¦ ohhh! I get it!† â€Å"You do?† â€Å"You don't want me to see you! That's it, isn't it? You're nervous about how you look!† â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Should I run with this? Should I say yes just so he would leave? â€Å"Frankie. Dude. You have nothing to worry about.† He laughed. â€Å"One, you're beautiful; and two, compared to me, there's no way you won't look like†¦ I don't know, an angel from heaven.† He sounded relieved, as if he'd had a niggling sense of something being off, but couldn't quite place his finger on it. But now he knew: It was Frankie having self-esteem issues, that's all! Silly Frankie! I heard a shuffling, and then the bump of a small wooden lid. My body tensed, because I knew that bump. The milk box-crap. He'd remembered the key in the milk box. â€Å"I'm letting myself in,† he called, slump-thumping back to the front door.† ‘Kay, Franks? ‘Cause all of a sudden I'm, like, dying to see you!† He laughed, jubilant. â€Å"I mean, wait, that came out wrong†¦ but, heck, guess that's the theme of the night. Everything's coming out wrong-and I do mean everything!† I fled to the den, where I got on my hands and knees and frantically patted the floor. If only it weren't so dark! The deadbolt stuck, and Will jangled the key. His breathing was clotted. â€Å"I'm coming, Frankie!† he called. Jangle, jangle. â€Å"I'm coming as fast as I can!† My fear ratcheted so high that I was thrown into an altered state of reality. I was gasping and crying out, I could hear myself, and my hands were blind feelers, pawing and slapping as I crawled. With a thunk, the bolt slid home. â€Å"Yes,† Will crowed. The door swished over the frayed carpet at the exact instant my fingers closed on the crumbling corsage. â€Å"Frankie? Why is it so dark? And why aren't you-â€Å" I squeezed my eyes shut and spoke my final wish. All sounds ceased, save for the rustle of wind in the leaves. The door, continuing its slow trajectory, bumped against the doorjamb. I stayed where I was on the floor. I sobbed, because my heart was breaking. No, my heart was broken. After several moments, the cicadas once again took up their yearning chorus. I rose to my feet, stumbled across the room, and stood, shivering, in the open doorway. Outside, a pale shaft of moonlight shone on the deserted road. Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Six I'm too stunned to do anything to stop him, really. Well, okay, as the initial shock of it is wearing off, I find I don't want to stop him. I'm stunned to realize that†¦ well, I like how it feels, being in Adam's arms. It feels good. It feels safe. It feels warm. It feels†¦ well, almost as if I were a normal girl, for a change. Not the new girl. Not the exterminator's daughter. Just†¦ me. Mary. It's a feeling I could get used to. â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. He's so much taller than me that his breath tickles the tendrils that have fallen from the updo that I've twisted my hair into. I don't mind, though, because his breath smells good. I look up at him dreamily. I can't believe I never noticed-really noticed-how handsome he is before now. Well, last night, actually. Or maybe I noticed, but it never really registered, because what would a guy like him ever see in a girl like me? In a million years, I never thought I'd end up at the prom with Adam Blum†¦ And okay, sure, he only asked me because he obviously feels sorry for me, on account of my mother being a vampire and all. But still. â€Å"Hmmm?† I say, smiling up at him. â€Å"Uh.† Adam seems uncomfortable, for some reason. â€Å"I was wondering if-you know, when this is all over, and you've dusted Drake, and Lila and Ted are back together-you'd want to, um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh God. What's happening? Is he†¦ is he about to ask me out?. Like on a real date? One that doesn't include sharp, pointy objects? No. This isn't happening. This is a dream or something. In a minute, I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to go away. Because how could such a thing even be possible? I can't breathe, I'm so sure I'll break whatever spell we're both under if I do†¦ â€Å"Yes, Adam?† I ask. â€Å"Well.† He can't seem to make eye contact anymore. â€Å"Just if you'd want to, you know, maybe hang out-â€Å" â€Å"Excuse me.† The deep voice that interrupts Adam then is all too familiar. â€Å"But may I have this dance?† I close my eyes in frustration. I cannot believe this. I am never going to get a guy I actually like to ask me out at this rate. Never. Never. Never. I am going to stay a freak-the product of similar freaks-for the rest of my life. Why would a guy like Adam Blum ever want to go out with me in the first place? The child of a vampire and a mad scientist? Let's face it. Not going to happen. And I've had it. I've had it up to here. â€Å"Listen, you,† I say, whirling around to face Sebastian Drake, whose blue eyes widen a little at the fire in mine. â€Å"How dare you come oozing around†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But then my voice trails off. Because suddenly all I can see are those eyes†¦ †¦ those hypnotically blue eyes, which suddenly make me feel like I could dive into them, letting their warmth wash over me in sweet, soft waves†¦ It's true he's no Adam Blum. But he's looking at me in a way that makes it clear he knows that, and that he's sorry for it, and that he's going to do everything he can to make it up to me†¦ more than make it up to me, even†¦ And the next thing I know, Sebastian Drake is taking me into his arms-gently, so gently-and leading me from the dance floor toward a set of French doors through which I can see a night-darkened garden, bathed in twinkling fairy lights and moonlight†¦ just the kind of place to which you'd expect to be led by the golden-haired descendant of a Transylvanian count. â€Å"I'm so glad we finally have the chance to meet,† Sebastian is saying to me in a voice that seems to caress me like a feather-soft touch. Everyone and everything we've left behind us-the other couples; Adam; a stunned Lila, staring after us jealously; Ted, staring jealously at her; even the streamers and rosettes-seems to melt away as if all that exists in the world is me, the garden that I find myself in, and Sebastian Drake. Who is reaching up to smooth some loose tendrils away from my face. In a dim, inner recess of my mind, I remember that I'm supposed to be afraid of him†¦ to hate him, even. Only I can't think why. How could I possibly hate someone as handsome and sweet and gentle as he is? He wants to make me feel better. He wants to help me. â€Å"You see?† Sebastian Drake is saying, as he lifts one of my hands and presses it, softly, against his lips. â€Å"I'm not so terrifying, am I? I'm just like you, actually. Just the child of-let's face it-a very formidable person, who's trying to figure out his own place in the world. We have our burdens, do we not, you and I, Mary? Your mother says hello, by the way.† â€Å"M-my mother?† My brain seems to be as filled with fog as this garden we're standing in. Because while I can picture my mother's face, I can't remember how Sebastian Drake could possibly know her. â€Å"Yes,† Sebastian says, his lips now moving from my hand and up toward the crook of my elbow. His mouth feels like liquid fire against my skin. â€Å"She misses you, you know. She doesn't understand why you won't join her. She's so happy now†¦ she doesn't know the pain of illness†¦ or the indignity of aging†¦ or the heartbreak of loneliness.† His lips are on my bare shoulder now. I'm having trouble breathing. But in a good way. â€Å"She is surrounded by beauty and love†¦ just like you could be, Mary.† His lips are by my throat. His breath, so warm, has seemed to cause my spine to go limp. But it's all right, because one of his strong arms has gone around my waist, and he's holding me up, even as my body, as if of its own volition, is arching backward, allowing him an unobstructed view of my bare throat. â€Å"Mary,† he whispers against my neck. And I feel so peaceful, so serene-something I haven't felt in years, not since Mom left-that my eyelids drift closed†¦ And the next thing I know, something cold and wet hits me in the neck. â€Å"Ow,† I say, opening my eyes and slapping a hand there†¦ then pulling it away to find my fingers slick with some kind of clear moisture. â€Å"Sorry,† Adam calls from where he's standing a few feet away, his arms stretched out in front of him, the mouth of his Beretta 9mm water pistol aimed right at me. â€Å"I missed.† A second later, I am gasping for air as a thick cloud of acrid, burning smoke hits me in the face. Coughing, I stagger away from the man who, just seconds before, had been holding me so tenderly, but is now clutching at his smoldering chest. â€Å"Wha-† Sebastian Drake gasps, pounding at the flames leaping from his chest. â€Å"What is this?† â€Å"Just a little holy water, dude,† Adam says, as he continues pumping away at Drake's chest. â€Å"Shouldn't bother you. Unless, of course, you're a member of the undead. Which, unfortunately for you, it appears you are.† And a second later, I've come back to my senses and am reaching beneath my skirt for my stake. â€Å"Sebastian Drake,† I hiss, as he sinks to his knees before me, howling in pain. And rage. â€Å"This is for my mother.† And I plunge the hand-carved piece of ash deep into the place where his heart would have been. If he'd had one. â€Å"Ted,† Lila says, in a syrupy voice, as her boyfriend lies across the contoured plastic bench with his head in her lap. â€Å"Yes?† Ted asks, looking up at her adoringly. â€Å"No,† Lila says. â€Å"That's what I'm getting for my tattoo next time I'm in Cancn. Across the small of my back. The word Ted. So from now on, everyone will know I belong to you.† â€Å"Oh, honey,† Ted says. And pulls her head down so he can stick his tongue in her mouth. â€Å"Oh my God,† I say, looking away. â€Å"I know.† Adam's returned from throwing a glow-in-the-dark twelve-pound bowling ball down the disco-lit lane. â€Å"I almost liked her better when she was under Drake's spell. But I guess it works out better this way. Ted'll hurt a lot less than Sebastian. That was a strike, by the way. In case you missed it.† He slides onto the bench beside me and looks down at the scoring sheet in the glow of the lamp just above my head. â€Å"Well, what do you know? I'm winning.† â€Å"Don't get cocky,† I say. Although I have to admit, he has a lot to brag about. Not just winning at Night Strike bowling, either. â€Å"Just tell me,† I say as he reaches up and finally pulls off his bow tie. Even in the weird disco lights of Bowlmor Lanes-the bowling alley where we'd retreated for our post-prom activities, a mere nine-dollar cab ride from the Waldorf-Adam still looks obscenely handsome. â€Å"Where'd you get the holy water?† â€Å"You gave a bunch of it to Ted,† Adam says, looking down at me in some surprise. â€Å"Remember?† â€Å"But how'd you get the idea to put it in the water gun?† I demand. I'm still reeling from the evening's earlier activities. Midnight bowling is fun and all. But nothing can really compare with slaying a two-hundred-year-old vampire at the prom. Too bad he'd fizzled into ash out in the garden, where no one but Adam and I could see it. We'd have been voted prom king and queen for sure, instead of Lila and Ted, who are both still wearing their crowns†¦ although they've tilted a little rakishly, due to all the kissing. â€Å"I don't know, Mare,† Adam says, filling in his own score. â€Å"It just seemed like a good idea at the time.† Mare. No one has ever called me Mare before. â€Å"But how did you know?† I ask. â€Å"I mean, that Drake had-well, whatever? I mean, how could you tell that I wasn't faking it? To lull him into a false sense of security?† â€Å"You mean besides the fact that he was about to bite you on the neck?† Adam raises a single dark brow. â€Å"And that you weren't doing a damned thing to stop him? Yeah, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on.† â€Å"I'd have snapped out of it,† I assure him, with a confidence I most definitely do not feel, â€Å"as soon as I felt his teeth.† â€Å"No,† Adam says. Now he's grinning down at me, his face illuminated by the light from the scoring desk's single lamp. The rest of the bowling alley is in darkness, except for the balls and pins, which glow with an eerie fluorescence. â€Å"You wouldn't have. Admit it, Mary. You needed me back there.† His face is so close to mine-closer than Sebastian Drake's ever got. Only instead of feeling as if I could dive into his gaze, I feel as if I'm about to melt under it. My heartbeat staggers. â€Å"Yeah,† I say, unable to keep my gaze from drifting toward his lips. â€Å"I guess I kinda did.† â€Å"We make a good team,† Adam says. His own gaze, I can't help noticing, isn't straying far from my mouth, either. â€Å"Wouldn't you say? I mean, especially in light of the coming apocalyptic event? When Drake's dad finds out what we did tonight?† I can't help gasping a little at that. â€Å"That's right,† I cry. â€Å"Oh, Adam! He's not just going to come after me. He's going to come after you, too!† â€Å"You know,† Adam says. And now his gaze has drifted from my mouth, and downward. â€Å"I really do like that dress. It goes great with bowling shoes.† â€Å"Adam,† I say. â€Å"This is serious! Dracula could be getting ready to descend upon Manhattan at any moment, and we're wasting time bowling! We've got to start getting ready! We need to prepare a counterattack. We need to-â€Å" â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. â€Å"Dracula can wait.† â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"Mary,† Adam says. â€Å"Shut up.† And I do. Because I'm too busy kissing him back to do anything else. Besides, he's right. Dracula can wait.