Worked Empirical Formula Chemistry Problem

The empirical formula of a chemical compound gives the ratio of elements, using subscripts to indicate the number of each atom. Its also known as the simplest formula. Here is how to find the empirical formula, with an example: Steps for Finding the Empirical Formula You can find the empirical formula of a compound using percent composition data. If you know the total molar mass of the compound, the molecular formula usually can be determined as well. The easiest way to find the formula is: Assume you have 100 g of the substance (makes the math easier because everything is a straight percent).Consider the amounts you are given as being in units of grams.Convert the grams to moles for each element.Find the smallest whole number ratio of moles for each element. Empirical Formula Problem Find the empirical formula for a compound consisting of 63% Mn and 37% O Solution for Finding the Empirical Formula Assuming 100 g of the compound, there would be 63 g Mn and 37 g OLook up the number of grams per mole for each element using the Periodic Table. There are 54.94 grams in each mole of manganese and 16.00 grams in a mole of oxygen.63 g Mn Ãâ€" (1 mol Mn)/(54.94 g Mn) 1.1 mol Mn37 g O Ãâ€" (1 mol O)/(16.00 g O) 2.3 mol O Find the smallest whole number ratio by dividing the number of moles of each element by the number of moles for the element present in the smallest molar amount. In this case, there is less Mn than O, so divide by the number of moles of Mn: 1.1 mol Mn/1.1 1 mol Mn2.3 mol O/1.1 2.1 mol O The best ratio is Mn:O of 1:2 and the formula is MnO2 The empirical formula is MnO2

The Evolution Of Competing Secret Intelligence Agencies

The evolution of competing secret intelligence agencies only began to occur during world war one when developing technologies meant gathering information on the enemy was entering new phases of complexity. The need for information became an increasingly more desperate pursuit as new devastating weapons were created which could inflict widespread and catastrophic damage, escalating from chemical weapons, to nuclear warheads. But as the 20th century proved conflicts became increasingly focused on the clash of political ideologies, while the two world wars managed to quash right wing fascism, a new perceived threat came from the opposite side of the political spectrum, communism. Here was an ideology to threaten and challenge the sacred ideals of American capitalist democracy, and those in the US who had climbed to power through this system saw the possible undoing of this in communism. As the US-soviet Union cold war developed, the national security council advised the president for th e creation of a central intelligence agency whose task would be to ‘correlate and evaluate intelligence relating to the national security, but not to have any police, subpoena, law enforcing powers or internal security functions’. Its duties mainly involved to advise the NSC, to make recommendations, to correlate and evaluate intelligence, in effect it was a tool of the NSC. However two years later it was further empowered its secrecy allowing it to hide names, spending and allow it to haveShow MoreRelatedThe Military And Military Intelligence5950 Words   |  24 PagesTo understand the shift in military knowledge requirements, as an element of military intelligence, it is necessary to examine the evolution of employment of intelligence to support military operations. 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Type of particles with dimensions Free Essays

string(85) " has been noted for a few atom types, illustration for semisynthetic mineral fibers\." Nanoparticles include any type of atoms with dimensions of less than 500 nanometres. Nanoparticles play a major function in a assortment of Fieldss including advanced stuffs, pharmaceuticals, and environmental sensing and monitoring, as stated by ( J.B. We will write a custom essay sample on Type of particles with dimensions or any similar topic only for you Order Now Donnet et Al 1998 ) . Nanoparticles classified as one of two types, engineered or nonengineered. Engineered nanoparticles are deliberately designed to run into the demands of specific intents, such as chemical or biological. They can be end merchandises of a procedure eg.pharmaceuticals, or ultrafine atoms have tradition ­ally been used by the aerosol research and occupational and environmental wellness communities to depict airborne atoms. Nonengineered nanoparticles are accidentally generated or of course produced, such as burning from firing wood fuel or gasoline from vehicle emanations in the ambiance. Exposure of workers in different environments to assorted hazards nanoparticle engineering exists is legion. Nanoparticle engineering are applied in assorted industries, such as chemical industry catalysts, adhesives, car industry fuel additives, abrasion immune pigment, Health attention, pharmaceuticals, biocompatible stuffs, and building industry merchandises bettering wear-resistance. Occupational exposure bound ( OEL ) is an of import instrument for decrease of exposure to occupational jeopardies and bar of occupational diseases as stated by, M.I. Mikheev ( 1995 ) Toxicology Letters Vol. 77 ( 3 ) , pp 183-187. The intent of ( OEL ) is to move as a precaution in protection of the wellness of individuals in their several working environment from exposure to concentrations good over their allowable exposure bounds. The chief paths of occupational exposure to nanoparticles include inspiration, transdermic desorption and consumption ( BORM et.al, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to ( HOET et.al, 2004 ) the most common and investigated signifier of occupational exposure to nanoparticles is inspiration. A possible hazard arises when a individual within the working environment illustration, chemical industry performs everyday procedure where conditions as possible jeopardies exist. The hazards of nanoparticles are present and enter the human organic structure through one of the assorted paths of exposure and there are interactions of the stuffs with the organic structure ‘s biological systems. There can be inauspicious wellness hazards following exposure to the peculiar substance. Acute and Chronic exposure of the substance associated with the magnitude and dose of the exposure, good above the threshold value and continuity of the stuff in the organic structure. The built-in toxicity of the stuff, and the exposure or wellness position of the individual exposed along with age, sex, will find the type of wellness consequence impacting the worker. Hardman R ( 2006 ) A toxicologic reappraisal of quan ­tum points VOL 2, pp165-172.According to ( Duffin et al. 2007 ) which made mention to the fact that harmonizing to the substance of engineered nanoparticles features will change in footings of toxicity in the biological system of the organic structure and that there are uncertainnesss because the features of nanoparticles may be different from those of larger atoms with the same chemical composing. Inhalation is the most common signifier of exposure taking to respiratory diseases in footings of lung infection due to sedimentation of particulate affair within the respiratory piece of land over a period of clip due to dosage from point of beginning. ( Daigle et al. 2003 ) has made mention to the fact that ultrafine nanoparticles are deposited in the liner of the lungs which is the epithelial cells, to a greater extent than larger atoms of the same substance. The sum deposited in to the lungs increases with take a breathing rate due to strenuous activities and alteration from rhinal pit to talk external respiration. This tends to worsen individuals with bing lung conditions illustration occupational asthma and chronic effects can be linked to mesothelioma or lung malignant neoplastic disease, silicosis. Based on surveies, distinct nano ­particles may come in the blood stream from the lungs and disperse to other variety meats ( Takenaka et al.2001 ) . These indissoluble or low solubility atoms deposited in the pneumonic system are eliminated from the respiratory system by transporting them elsewhere in the organic structure. The motion of these ultrafine atoms in the blood stream could impact endothelial map and promote thrombosis in the arterias and other blood system jobs, including increased blood curdling ( Nemmar et al. 2002 ) , which leads to cardiovascular upsets. Expelled atoms from the lungs into the blood watercourse have effects on cardiovascular physiology, with changes of cardiac beat and arterial diameter. Several epidemiological surveies ( Wichmann et al. , 2000 ) which made mention to ultrafine atoms can go through through the extrapulmonary variety meats via the blood stream. Some atoms can be transported along the centripetal axons to the cardinal nervous systems which affect the encephalon doing neurological effects. The possible for neural consumption and translocation of inhaled particulates and pathogens to the encephalon was researched by ( Oberdorster et al. 2005 ) . Consumption may besides attach to inspiration exposure because atoms that are cleared from the respiratory piece of land via the mucociliary escala ­tor may be swallowed, ( Chen, Z et Al. 2007 ) . Nanoparticles can be straight ingested from H2O, nutrient, pharmaceutical drugs. Consumption can happen from unwilled manus to talk transportation of stuffs, this has been found to go on with established stuffs, and it can be assumed that it besides could go on dur ­ing managing nanomaterials. Harmonizing to research done by ( Behrens et al.2002 ) after consumption ultrafine atoms can be transferred across the enteric wall easy than larger atoms of the same substance. Surveies suggest that nanoparticles could come in the organic structure through the tegument during occupational exposure or through cosmetics. ( Tin ­kle et al. 2003 ) illustrated that atom smaller than 1  µm in diameter may pene ­trate into stamp tegument of the organic structure, and farther stated that it perforate the stratum core ­num barrier by inactive diffusion and local ­ize within the cuticular and cuticular beds within 24 hours. ( Lademann et al. 1999 ) stated that atoms making the corium can be transported to the lymphatic system by macrophages and dendritic cells. This leads to the release of in ­flammatory cytokines, oxidative emphasis, and reduced viability ( Monteiro-Riviere et al. 2005 ) . Skin annoyance has been noted for a few atom types, illustration for semisynthetic mineral fibers. You read "Type of particles with dimensions" in category "Essay examples" This consequence is greater for larger fibers than smaller fibers. Within the working environment there are hazards, with mention to nanoparticles such as a chemical province as indissoluble atoms or fibers nanoparticles and ultrafine atoms, Diesel fumes, and semisynthetic mineral fibers. Harmonizing to Hannah, W. ( 2008 ) Nanotechnology, hazard and the environment Journal of Environmental Monitoring VOL.10 pp291-300. Research workers agree that ultrafine atoms pose the strongest emerging hazard with respects to occupational exposure. Hazard appraisal is an indispensable measure to find what command degree must be implemented to restrict emanations in the air or H2O and prevent a toxic substance from impacting certain mark variety meats in workers. The control measures must be relative to the hazard ( Roberge et al. 2004 ) . Measures must implemented to guarantee that associated hazards are minimal to workers who might be exposed to nanoparticles through inspiration, transdermic desorption and consumption. There must be applications of hazard appraisal methods from bing informations to the peculiar working environment which is under reappraisal for appraisal. From the appraisal 1 must determine a description of the nanomaterial whether it is engineered or nonengineered, its chemical composing, H2O solubility, aspect ratio, surface alterations and its intended use as stated by ( Aitken RJ et Al. 2006 ) . There must besides be hazard designation in which information is collected about the nanomaterial and its effects on the volume of emanations on the environment, and scattering to environing countries thereby doing wellness effects to individuals at the immediate point of release and besides long range scattering. Helland, A. ( 2008 ) Reviewing the environmental and Human wellness cognition base of C nanotubes Vol.115 pp 1125-1131 The jeopardies which are identified must be categorised, an epidemiological survey in footings of who will be affected that is the workers in the environment, consumers, and other individuals in the general populace. ( Schulte et al. 2008 ) . Invitromethods which refer to local effects on the oculus and tegument, skin pervasion and genotoxicity, invitro proving refers to illustration, possible effects in the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. Inflammation, cytotoxicity or genotoxicity, which contribute to lung toxicity in vivo ( such as fibrosis or tumour formation ) are examined. ( Hess et al.2005 ) . Another jeopardy exists when there is exposure which occurs when a individual within the working environment comes into direct contact with a nanomaterial during a normal procedure or when a nanomaterial is released into the air, H2O, dirt, deposit, nutrient, or a merchandise. Exposure may be followed by existent entry into the organic structure via intake inspiration or consumption or transdermic soaking up though other open tissue, such as the oculus. The nature of the nanomaterial based merchandise may take to assorted paths of exposure. ( Nasterlack, M. et al 2008 ) . Potential hazards must be evaluated and quantified due to the nature and frequence of the jeopardy that is intake emanation concentration and maximal workplace concentration in footings of a high or low dosage. The hazard degree must be adjusted harmonizing to the badness or uncertainnesss of the documented hazard. Harmonizing to ( Singh, S.et al 2007 ) sometimes due to a low frequence of the jeopardy or exposure informations a full quantitative and qualitative appraisal of hazards, can be done, this may be done by comparing the trial stuff to a stuff with well-characterized toxicity judged to be more terrible as a benchmark. After the information would be assessed for divergences in stuff and applications. Risk direction involves cut downing hazard of nanomaterial procedures or merchandises to worlds and the environment. A hazard direction appraisal would supply the sequence to supervise activities, procedures, and dispose of or recycle the merchandise. It besides minimises any possible inauspicious impacts towards individuals and the environment. The degree of protection must be determined and command steps should be proportionate with the hazard. Decisions should be based on bing criterions of wellness and safety, and the effectivity of the chosen control method in cut downing exposure to below the maximal degree determined acceptable in the hazard rating harmonizing to ( Paik, S.Y. ( 2008 ) Application of a Pilot Control Banding Tool for Risk Level Assessment and Control of Nanoparticle Exposures Vol 52 pp419-428. Health jeopardies identified above illustrates the demand to look into thorough hazard appraisals and fix protocols which include steps for minimising staff exposure. Such steps include administrative controls and direction determinations for nanoparticles and other risky chemicals must be included in the appraisal. Engineering control techniques such as insulating the gen ­eration beginning from the worker and lo ­cal fumes airing systems must be effectual for restricting airborne nano ­particles. The usage of good work patterns helps in understating worker exposures to nanomaterials, such as forestalling the ingestion of nutrient or drinks in workplaces where nanomaterials are handled. The instruction and preparation of workers in protocols of good work patterns reduces incidents although hazards are present at different procedures. The development of processs and rating of types of exposure to find the choice and type of PPE for employees. Although nanoparticles are present in many workplaces, from beginnings such as procedures, burning, vehicle emanations, when a hazard appraisal is undertaken trying methods may be given to take readings at points other than atom beginning doing it hard to dif ­ferentiate between incidental and caused emanations. Harmonizing to ( Silkoff et al. 2005 ) persons with asthma and long term wellness effects have early noticeable symptoms can non wholly be attributed to nanoparticles, illustration, and familial cistrons. From the research of ( Takenaka et al.2001 ) at that place needs to be detailed research saying if the ultrafine nanoparticles which transrelocate to variety meats organic structure from the lungs are more prevailing to engineered or non engineered and if the ultrafine are more toxic than the larger versions of the said substance which causes amendss to cell construction. Although from the research done by ( Tin ­kle et al. 2003 ) , which gave a value of atom smaller than 1  µm in diameter may pene ­trate the cuticular beds of the tegument it does non print information as to the concentration of toxicity towards the several beds of the tegument to do annoyance and besides research on the cuticular exposure of nanomaterials is ongoing. ( Wichmann et al. 2000 ) in their research made reference of ultrafine atoms altering location from organ to organ via the blood watercourse but did non uncover any informations about the continuance of these within the organic structure peculiarly the liver and kidneys, since these organ remove toxins from the blood watercourse, or after digestion as most nanoparticles are expelled from the system via faces. Little is known about possible inauspicious effects from the consumption of nanomaterials. Another country which warrants research is the transportation of nanoparticles across the placenta, the exposure which is critical to fetal development. Within some states Government face an inevitable undertaking in maintaining up to day of the month with the hazards which nanomaterial airs to the population and the environment due to inefficiency of information. There are betterments in nanoparticles development which offer a broad scope of chances particularly in footings of medical research for sensing, diagnosing and intervention of diseases. Research has besides begun in utilizing nanoparticles in term of environmental decontamination. How to cite Type of particles with dimensions, Essay examples

Factors Of Manage Change Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Factors Of Manage Changes. Answer: Three Factors to Manage Change There are many factors that pertain to manage the change. The three main factors are: Communication Organizational structure Support/ Coalition Communication To manage the change the communication plays a great role. It is very important to have proper communication between the employees and the management. Communication is considered as one of the difficult parameter in which the ideas and feelings are exchanged. It consists of the ideas and feelings that are possessed in the people who are working in the organization. It is also considered as one of the difficult issue that should be taken into consideration to manage the change in the organization. To implement the change in a proper way it is very essential that the messages that are sent by the organization should be clear and properly presented. If the organization has to manage change it is seen that there should be proper strategies which should be taken into consideration (Hrebiniak, 2013). In the organization if any change takes place, then it is seen that the people are affected by that change. The employee maintains the cooperation and supports the organization to implement th e change. Without the engagement and motivation of the stakeholders, it is not possible to attain the success from the change program that is implemented by the organization. As, it is seen that the positive and negative initiatives are taken by the management. If the employees are happy with the change then it can be easy for the organization to attain the goals and objectives of the organization (Pandey, Pandey, Breslin Broadus, 2017).To attain the positive results the acceptance and commitment by the employees is very necessary as it will help to implement the changes in the organization. It is the responsibility of the organization to tell about the changes that are going to be implemented in the organization, so that the employees can easily accept the change process. The communication factor is the integral part that helps to implement the change in the organization. The change plan should be taken into consideration by the organization in which the questions should be addres sed like how, what and why the change is taken into consideration (Cummings Worley, 2014).The organization should take into consideration effective communication plan as it assists to control the fear that is seen in changing the process. The communication will give direct impact on understanding the objectives of the change and there will be more chances that people will act according to the change in the situation and can give their cooperation accordingly. So to manage the change, communication is an essential aspect that should be implemented or taken into consideration, so that the profitability and success of change can be attained successfully. Communication is important so that the change can be managed by each and every employee of the organization in a proper way (Beedles Bergin, 2017). Organizational Structure One of the factors which manage the change is concerned with the organizational structure. Organizational structure plays a great role in accepting the change. If the structure of the organization is not in a proper manner, then it can be difficult for the organization to implement the change in an effective manner. The organization structure should be in a manner that all the changes can be accepted in a positive way. Also, in this case positivity gives direct impact on the working pattern (Anguelov Angelova, 2017). Environment of the organization should possess positivity so that the employees or the activities that are conducted can be accepted in an effective manner. If the organization structure is proper, then the change can be accepted in a successful way. It can also enhance the profitability from the change that is implemented in the organization. Organizational structure should be in such a way that the change can be managed and implemented. If the change is managed and im plemented properly, then the employees working in the organization can perform their task in an efficient manner (Claassen, 2014). Support/ Coalition Support plays a great role in managing the change. The organization should have a good support from each department, so that the change that is implemented by the organization can be taken into a positive way. The success can only be attained when there is a proper support from the top management. Support from the directors and managers are very essential to implement the change in the organization (Fullan, 2014). The commitment and support from the executive members like managers, directors, and ministers is an important factor which help the organization to implement and manage the change. If there is no support from the topmanagement of the organization, then the change cannot be implemented in the organization. If there are many people from the top management who believes in the new vision, then the chances for the success can be enhanced (Hancock, 2016). If the employees who are working in the organization strongly support the change then the benefits can be attained by the orga nization. It is seen that the supportive team gives positive results to the organization. To implement the change in the organization, it is seen that support from the employees is a crucial aspect of the organization. Support is important so that the organization can easily accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization. For changing the operations of the business, it is necessary that proper acceptance should be there of the employees, so that the organization can easily attain the goals and objectives. The change that is implemented by the organization should be taken into consideration by the employees, so that the efficiency and productivity of the work can be maintained. Support is an important aspect that helps the organization to enhance its growth and also helps to assist the changes that are made by the organization (Santos Quilliam, 2015). Three factors less influenced by the managers own personal ability There are various factors that are less influenced by the personal ability of the managers. The factors are Vision Milestone Continuity Vision It is the main factor which is less influenced by the managers own personal ability. As it is seen that the vision is developed by the organization and the manager has no control over it. The vision is an important part of the organization. If the organization does not have vision then it can result in confusion and also gives wrong direction to conduct the operations of the business. It considers the plans and programs that are implemented by the organization (White, 2014). It is very difficult for the organization to operate its operations without vision, so it is established by the organization. Vision is considered as a great factor that is less influenced by the managers own personal ability. It provides direction to the employees, to work in an effective manner. If the direction is blurry, then it can be difficult for the employees to conduct the operations in the right direction. The vision helps to guide the behavior and also assist in decision making (Goodrum, Cleland-Huang, Lutz, Cheng Metoyer, 2017). Milestone It is the factor that is less influenced by the managers own personal ability. The organization goals and targets have no connection with the personal ability of the manager. The objective of the organization is not linked with the manager. The targets are decided by the organization (Lee, Park Baker, 2017). It is seen that the manager keep on changing but the goals and targets of the organization do not change. Milestone is considered as a good management change practice that should be taken into consideration by the organization but it has no connection with the manager own personal ability. It can be said that the ability helps to attain the target of the organization, but the personal ability of the manager is not influenced. So, this can be a major factor that is less influenced by the managers own personal ability (Brazil, 2014). Continuity Continuity of the organization has very less influence on the managers own personal ability. The working pattern of the organization has no relation with the personal ability of the manager. The manager has the ability to motivate the employee, so that they can perform their best to attain the goals and objectives of the organization (Camps, Oltra, Alds?Manzano, Buenaventura?Vera Torres?Carballo, 2016). They can motivate the employees by their ability but it does not influence the manager own ability. It is seen that for continuity it is important for the organization to attain the targets. So, by giving motivation the efficiency or the production capacity can be enhanced. It is the duty of the manager to motivate the employees, so that the activities of the organization can be accomplished in the proper way (Travaglione, Scott-Ladd, Hancock Chang, 2017). Motivation can be given easily by the managers ability, but it does not influence the personal ability of the manager. References Anguelov, K., Angelova, M. (2017, June). Challenges for Bulgarian Industrial Small and Medium sized Enterprises to manage change effectively. InElectrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems (ELMA), 2017 15th International Conference on(pp. 471-475). IEEE. Beedles, M., Bergin, J. (2017). Management matters: Are you neophobic or ready to manage change?.AJP: The Australian Journal of Pharmacy,98(1161), 76. Brazil, J. (2014). Security metrics to manage change.Network Security,2014(10), 5-7. Camps, J., Oltra, V., Alds?Manzano, J., Buenaventura?Vera, G., Torres?Carballo, F. (2016). Individual performance in turbulent environments: the role of organizational learning capability and employee flexibility.Human Resource Management,55(3), 363-383. Claassen, J. (2014). Manage change for success: opinion-challenge the status quo.The Dairy Mail,21(1), 11-13. Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. G. (2014).Organization development and change. Cengage learning. Fullan, M. (2014).Leading in a culture of change personal action guide and workbook. John Wiley Sons. Goodrum, M., Cleland-Huang, J., Lutz, R., Cheng, J., Metoyer, R. (2017, September). What Requirements Knowledge Do Developers Need to Manage Change in Safety-Critical Systems?. InRequirements Engineering Conference (RE), 2017 IEEE 25th International(pp. 90-99). IEEE. Hancock, M. S. (2016). Going beyond to manage change.Healthcare Financial Management,70(3), 28-29. Hrebiniak, L. G. (2013).Making strategy work: Leading effective execution and change. FT Press. Lee, J. Y., Park, S., Baker, R. (2017). The moderating role of top management support on employees attitudes in response to human resource development efforts.Journal of Management Organization, 1-19. Pandey, S. K., Pandey, S., Breslin, R. A., Broadus, E. D. (2017). Public service motivation research program: Key challenges and future prospects. Santos, A., Quilliam, W. (2015). An Overview of the Change Management Process and Examples of Software to Help Organizations Effectively Manage Change.GSTF Journal on Business Review (GBR),4(1). Travaglione, A., Scott-Ladd, B., Hancock, J., Chang, J. (2017). Managerial support: Renewing the role of managers amidst declining union support for employees.Journal of General Management,43(1), 24-32. White, B. (2014). How can I support exiting employees?.Strategic HR Review,13(3).

An Inspector calls by J.B Priestly Essays

An Inspector calls by J.B Priestly Essays An Inspector calls by J.B Priestly Essay An Inspector calls by J.B Priestly Essay This story made me think about how we should help others and showed me the consequences of the family, in this case Eva Smith died because neither the Birlings nor Gerald considered her circumstances or her feelings. J. B Priestly was a socialist and thought that you should look after everyone, so in this play he shows how bad it can be if you just think about yourself. The Edwardian attitudes to working class women were that they were not important. They were necessary to working factories but the owners expected them to keep quiet and get their work done. Middle class people called the working class the criminal class Just like Mrs Birling, Mrs Birling says, as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money and they didnt know the difference between right and wrong rubbish if you dont come down sharply on some of these people theyd soon be asking for the world. The working class men and women were treated like toys to be used by the middle and upper classes. Croft though, he at lest had some affection this shows how things could be if they thought about other people. In 1946 many things that were mentioned in the play had happened. Titanic unsinkable absolutely unsinkable and of course the Titanic sank on its first voyage on April 1912. People were different after the war. When people were separated they thought about others. Many things in 1946 were better e. g. less poverty people thought about each other and there was less people on the streets. But still there was no welfare Just as before so the play would encourage the audience Max McKenzie-cook 25 November 2000 An Inspector calls by J. B Priestly to support the government, there are more equal opportunities e. g. women had to work during the war because the men were at war fighting but there wasnt as many opportunities and also in the Edwardian ere people were judged on their class (working, middle, upper) but today it is not as bad as before although classes still exists today. Nowadays although people realised that there are other people who needed care apart from yourself and your family, people still didnt take much responsibility, because if a police officer came in your house and said that youd sacked someone from a job and they committed suicide you probably still wouldnt take your part of the blame. Just as Mr Birling would say still I cant accept any responsibility. J. B Priestly, I think wrote this play to show people the meaning of life and that even though the people may be different like Eva Smith we still should do all we can to help the people who need it most.

How-To Essay Topics for a Process Essay

How-To Essay Topics for a Process Essay Your first challenge in writing a how-to essay is deciding on a topic. If youre like many students, you might feel as though you dont know anything well enough to teach others. But thats not true! All people have something that they can do so well that they dont even think about how to do it anymore- they just do it. Choosing the Right Topic When you read over the list below you will realize that you do know many things in depth, well enough to teach. Typically, your inspiration will be based on lateral thinking. For example, from the list below, you may decide to write an essay on how to cook a Scottish egg after you see Crack an egg in the list. Or you may decide to write about how to make an Excel spreadsheet with all of your homework listed, after seeing Organize your homework on the list.   Narrow your choices to a few topics, and then brainstorm for a few minutes about each topic. Determine which one has the most potential because it can be divided into five to 10 clear paragraphs that you can explain well. Writing Tips Some topics are easier than others to explain. Straightforward processes versus ones with lots of contingencies will be much less complicated to write out, for instance. If you find that youve chosen a topic thats just too broad, pick one portion of it to explain. Remember, you want your reader to be able to follow your instructions to successfully complete the process. In your drafting, err on the side of too much detail and description rather than too little. (Its easier to cut material that you dont need than to add in it later.) If youre not allowed to use images with your instructions, choosing a topic that is aided by visuals makes writing the instructional process much more challenging, so take your assignment parameters into consideration as you choose what to write about. If you know your topic so well that it comes naturally to you, it may be tough to write instructions for a beginner who has no knowledge of the topic, because you forget how much you didnt know when you first started. Have a partner try out your instructions during the drafting or revision phase (or both) to see what youve left out or what isnt explained clearly enough. How-To Topics for a Process Essay   Raccoon-proof your campsiteMake an obstacle course for squirrelsSet a tableMake a pet costumeEarn $100Start a bandMake a pià ±ataMake an omeletMilk a cowStart beekeepingRead palmsMake a quiltWash a carDecorate a bedroomMake a podcastBurn a CDStart a recycling programCollect stampsClean a bedroomMake a pizzaMake a volcanoOrganize your homeworkPlay the guitarMake a sock puppetMake a doll dressWrite a letter to the editorWrite a complaintPlan a partyPlant a treeCreate a cartoon characterImprove your spellingBake a layer cakeChange a tireDrive a stick shiftMake a Christmas stockingLearn to dancePlay chessDo a magic trickGo bird watchingMake a music videoMake a candleMake soapPaint a pictureCreate art with crayonsCreate a web pageStay safe on the InternetWrite a songWrite a poemMake a handbagTie a scarfMow the lawnMake a hamburgerMake pancakesMake a pillowPlay footballMake a sculptureMake a lampMake shadow puppetsMake a boxCare for petsBuild a tree housePlay tagPlay hide and seekPaint fi ngernails Make homemade slippersTie macramà © knotsMake a sandwichMake chocolate milkMake hot chocolateMake a pot of coffeeMake a milkshakeBraid hairSell old toysSkateboardEat crab legsBecome a vegetarianMake a saladDesign a jack-o-lanternRide a horseRace turtlesCatch lightning bugsMake a wildflower bouquetCut paper dollsEat an ice cream coneChange a diaperMake fruit punchMake a campaign posterFrame artMake a fake tattooInterview a celebrityCatch a fishMake a snowmanMake an iglooMake a fanWrite a newsletterCrack an eggMake a necklaceTie a necktieRide the subwayWalk like a modelRide a motorcyclePitch a tentFind something youve lostCurl your hairSaddle a horseMake a sandcastleBob for applesGo hikingApply for a jobDraw stick figuresOpen a bank accountLearn a new languageAsk for a later curfewBehave at a fancy dinnerAsk somebody outPose for a pictureWake up in a good moodSend Morse code messagesMake a kiteHem your jeansPitch a fastballBe a ghost hunterMake string artFly aloneShaveMop a floorPeel an apple String popcornRemix a songWalk a tightropeStand on your headFind the Big DipperWrap a giftRoast a marshmallowClean a windowMake a campfireHave a yard saleCreate a carnival in your yardMake balloon animalsPlan a surprise partyWear eye makeupInvent a secret codeRecognize animal tracksTrain a dog to shake handsMake a paper airplaneSwat fliesPull a toothCreate playlistsPlay rock, paper, scissorsHula danceFloss your teeth

Disclosing Officer Untruthfulness to the Defense in Court proceedings Research Paper

Disclosing Officer Untruthfulness to the Defense in Court proceedings - Research Paper Example An officer is just as a common citizen and should be charged, convicted and punished as any other person. But what if an officer is terminated? Is that punishment enough or more punishment is needed? These big questions have put law enforcement officers in to pressure since they are unable to produce answers to these questions. Many departments in the country have been influenced by the court orders and court decisions that have significant roles when it comes to decision making, serious debates and not forgetting long court wars with the labour organizations revolving around the issue of expectations in policy and disciplinary actions. Keywords: law enforcement officer, punishment, court orders, policy, disciplinary actions This paper has an equitable chance of disclosing the right decisions on law enforcement officers who have been untruthful in the workplace. Reasons for convicting the officer are given herein while reasons for termination only are also produced. The main article revolves around how an officer should be dealt with when he/she does a wrong thing at the work place. Should he/she be terminated only or should he be terminated and punished alongside other punishment? With this questions acting as the main research questions, the paper give satisfied points and decisions on an officer who is supposed to be judged because of his/her wrong doing. The officer is charged with allegations saying that he/she misused the office computers by accessing pornographic media while at work. First he denies such allegations but with further investigation, the same officer is charged with another allegation that his password was used to access unauthorised websites. This time the officer accepts the allegation put against him and begs for forgiveness. With this criminal activity in mind, the paper gives the right decision to be imposed on the officer alleged and also it gives the reasons why the officer was put under such punishment (Maryland, 1963, 83). The U.S justice department has produced necessary instructions on the conduct of the federal law enforcement case which may have local and state police employees involved. This local and state police may have records of untruthfulness in the workplace thus subjected to the instructions provided by the U.S justice department. Several publications including magazines such as the police chief magazine and others have published articles posing discussions on such matters of breaking law. This has led to a number of enforcement departments to provide instructive procedures and rules regarding such matters. Some of these procedures have been published and posted on notice boards and work places. Such publications may include: do not watch or download pornographic movies. But with these signs around the work places, the mission of stopping such criminal activities have not stopped nor reduced at all thus court orders are employed at such situations. If such incidences are to be stopped then some m ethods should be done. The following are the revolutionary methods for stopping such criminal activities. First credibility is essential in the working place. It is noticed that dilemmas in ethical issues have led to serious problems to many professionals over a long period of time. However, those who pay attention to such issues are very few than those who do involve law enforcement officers. Law enforcement

Weighing the Evidence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Weighing the Evidence - Research Paper Example After comparing all the findings of all the articles, the researchers found out that the frequency of the study concepts is directly proportional to the strength of the study evidence. This is means that if the frequency with which a concept is studied is low, the resulting strength also becomes low especially when one focuses on the quality of outcomes of the weighing process. This was discovered after the researchers compared the checklist appraisal results with the expert judgment made. The researchers used transparency as the reasoning process that allowed them to draw their conclusion. They concluded that the use of checklist appraisal in weighing the study evidence is better than using expert judgment. This is because checklist appraisal is transparent and can easily be discussed by the team members or other people. This conclusion was weak because the researchers focused on a single aspect: transparency. The researchers concluded that checklist appraisals are better than the e xpert judgment because they are transparency.However, additional research is necessary to strengthen the findings. For example, the researcher should conduct research to investigate the effects of the frequency of the study themes on the two methods used in weighing the strength of the study results. Additionally, the reliability of the weighing scale used in the study is not determined making it crucial for the researchers to conduct an additional study to evaluate the validity and reliability of the weighing scale .

An Analysis of six Infrastructure projects that take place in two Dissertation

An Analysis of six Infrastructure projects that take place in two countries - Dissertation Example Differences in organizational cultures between companies or disparities in professional cultures between consultants, contractors and clients may exist. This dissertation aims to address the impact of political and cultural differences in project management of cross national projects. Apart from identifying the political and cultural differences that affect project management, case studies of six infrastructure construction projects in two countries have been conducted. The research suggests that differences in professional cultures, politics and institutions affect the successful management of the projects. The results on how cultural disparities affect cross national projects can help project managers in the identification of potential areas of possible conflict in cross national projects apart from suggesting areas of future research. Keywords: culture, cultural differences, cross national, cross border, project management, politics, institutions Outline 1. INTRODUCTION†¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 2.1 Definitions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 2.2. ... RESEARCH OBJECTIVES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 Search Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 4. LITERATURE REVIEW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...17 4.1 . Institutional Theory........................................................................17 4.2 Relevance of the application of institutional theory to construction project management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 4.3 Impact of culture and politics in the management and organization of cross national projects: a review of literature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 4.4 Cultural Dimensions †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 4.4.1 Hofstede’s cultural variability†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...20 4.4.2 Schwartz’s Cultural Value Type†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 4.4.3 Trompenaars’ cultural diversity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦,,,,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦23 4.4.4 House and colleagues project GLOBE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.24 4.5 Cross-National Cultural Differences†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.26 4.6 Cross-national Conflicts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦ .27 4.7 Project Performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦...29 4.8 Cultural management of cross national projects†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.30 5. METHODOLOGY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.32 5.1 Approaches and methodologies in project management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦32 5.2 Influences and difficulties in cross cultural collaboration†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..34 5.2.1 Suitability of the Research Approach†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.34 5.2.2 Reliability and Relevance of Research finding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦..35 5.3 Project Choice and

The Supply Chain Management Of Nike Marketing Essay

The Supply Chain Management Of Nike Marketing Essay Nike is an innovation company, designing and planning for the sustainable economy of tomorrow, not just today. Climate change, and reducing Nikes environmental footprint, is something the company has been focused on for well over a decade, in conjunction with broader sustainability work.   By setting strong targets greenhouse gas emissions from owned operations and business travel were reduced by 18 percent from 1998 to 2005, despite an increase in the square footage of Nikes operations.   The majority of Nikes climate change impact derives from the operations of the more than 700 contract factories producing Nike-branded product.   Given that the transport operations which move Nike product from the point of manufacturing to the distribution centers account for about 25 percent of Nikes CO2 emissions, the company has set a target to reduce the inbound logistics footprint by 30 percent. Supply Chain Management which Nike have in its Considered Design becomes a di ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ erentiator for brands and a source of competitive advantage, company think it is crucial that the consumer has accurate, complete information on not just the delivery of green products, but the extent to which the company is committed to greening its entire supply chain. As early as 2003, Nike developed a baseline of its supply chain general environmental footprint, including inbound logistics and subcontracted manufacturing.As part of the companys Climate Savers agreement, Nike partnered with the University of Delaware to develop a model for measuring inbound emissions of product transportation from factory to  ¬Ã‚ rst distribution facility. Nike is working to expand that model to measure outbound shipments from distribution facility to retail. Footwear contract manufacturing, a majority of which is in Vietnam and China, is another major challenge for Nike. The company has began with audits of key factories to identify energy-intensive processes and potential areas of savings. Nikes US supply chain team has set goals to reduce its overall carbon footprint and is working closely with third-party logistics providers to  ¬Ã‚ nd opportunities to optimize fuel consumption and accelerate the use of alternative fuels. Nike also assessed its packaging footprint as part of a company-wide waste mapping exercise in making excellence in all aspects. The Challenge Finding a business solution that allows this leading apparel and footwear maker to align its demand and supply in a way that minimizes inventory and improve customer service levels. Business users were not satisfied with existing implementation of the demand planning system. The Solution Bristlecone developed and deployed planner DA and SC Policy Manager, composite pre-configured applications that allowed Nike to enforce higher level supply chain policies without having to deal with voluminous SKU Level demand and supply information. The composite apps bridged the gaps between Nikes existing ERP and SCM systems.   Business Impact   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  > Better ROI from existing ERP and SCM solutions     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  > Improved visibility into supply and demand     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  > Planners empowered to better align supply with demand   NIKE, Inc. recognizes the need for a well-coordinated and efficient supply chain for its business and the industry. Because the supply chain spans multiple jurisdictions from raw materials to production to shipping to retail and, ultimately, to consumers, a consistent and mature public policy position is needed. Nike support policies that deliver efficient, cost-effective delivery of NIKE Inc. products in a responsible manner. Our efforts concentrate on ensuring efficient transport, security and safety of NIKE, Inc. products throughout the supply chain. In addition, we advocate for policies that help to ensure that NIKE, Inc.s supply chain from factory to consumer operates in a manner that considers both people and the environment at each step of the way. We work with a number of bodies to advocate for these policies. These include national governments, industry associations and NGOs. Nike see two major changes in their supply chain management system. The first involves the apparel side of our business. With the elimination of quotas,they have changed their sourcing strategy to enter into many more strategic partnerships than they did in the past. Not all of apparel will necessarily be made in China. But going forward,they see many more apparel companies focusing on partnerships, and that should help in injecting more speed and agility into the supply chain management of Nike. 1) The second major change hinges on the need to be more demand-driven. Point-of-sale [POS] technology has progressed significantly in recent years, and POS information is more readily available and also a lot cleaner than it was in the past. At this point, it is up to company to figure out how to use that information to become much more responsive to the needs of our customers and deliver the products at a best suitable procedure and creates the value for time. 2) RFID will no doubt help Nike in a number of ways for continous improvement of supply chain management .RFID is being used to identify inbound and outbound product. RFID is being used in the warehouse to locate product. It is being used in manufacturing and processing industries to track and locate WIP (Work in Progress) and finished goods. RFID is being used to monitor and track product in transit, and RFID is being used to ensure store shelves are replenished.GAO RFID understands that the Supply Chain requires more than one type of RFID technology to satisfy all these different requirements and has developed different solutions for tracking as well locating.But they believe that it has the potential to help us build more demand responsiveness into our supply chain.   Nike has played a leadership role, along with other businesses and multilateral development organizations, in supporting infrastructure development in Vietnam and encouraging supply chain management of nike inc. The first component of the program involved having key Vietnamese government officials visit a Nike footwear factory in Vietnam and subsequently physically follow the movement of finished products from the factory to the port. The group traveled to southern China, an area well known for its development of physical infrastructure. They also visited Singapore to see world-class port facilities and operations and learn about infrastructure planning and financing. Not only the operation of nike in many countries today than they did 10-to-15 years ago, but the regulations in these countries are always changing. For example, back in 1990, the average tariff in India was about 58% for products coming in, and now its about 20% or so. Similarly, the average tariff in China used to be 30%, and today its about 6%. As a result, Nike operates differently today in the global marketplace even in countries where they had a presence for years. Formerly, because of the high tariffs, Nike tended to do mostly local sourcing. But now that tariff rates have fallen and subsequently increasingly starting to do much more deployment of global sourcing space, and thats changing the whole Nikes supply chain network Nike also overhauled its supply-chain system, which often left retailers either desperatel. The old jerry-built compilation strung together 27 different computer systems worldwide, most of which couldnt talk with the others. Under Densons direction, Nike has spent $500 million to build a new system. Almost complete, it is already contributing to quicker design and manufacturing times, and fatter gross margins 42.9% last year. That still-modest portfolio of different brands helps to lessen the companys dependence on hit shoes and could help Nike turn in a more consistent performance. Thats why Nike is eager to snap up complementary brands as they become available. In mid-August it paid $43 million for Official Starter Properties, licensors of sneakers and athletic apparel whose brands include the budget-level Shaq label. What were trying to do is move toward more of a consumer, noncyclical model, says Blair. The key is trying to find the right balance of discipline, innovation, creativity, and structure. Nikes Supply Value Chain In 1984, Nike owned just 16% of the athletic-shoe market, and for much of the 1980s it was running neck-and-neck with Reebok (Wilson 1).    Now, with somewhere between 43-47% of that market, Nike is the undisputed leader. However, things are not perfect with the company.    In the late 1990s, Nike began to see the results of many unresolved issues concerning competitive forces exterior to the company and a value chain, unrepresentative of its marketplace and enormous growth, interior to the company.    Both issues affected its bottom line negatively.    One significant issue was simply a function of poor inventory management and demand forecasting, coupled with the ongoing and dramatic slump in Asian sales. Nike had anticipated a doubling of Asian revenues, but saw instead a decline .   Nike also had recurring problems managing the flow of goods from manufacturers to retailers.    Finally, Nikes competitors, most notably Rebox, New Balance, Adidas and Fila, were copying m uch of the look of Nikes advertising campaigns, making its image projection much less effective.  Ã‚   Nike faced many challenges that they face in building, managing, and expanding global supply chains. Following are some of the nuggets gleaned from their remarks: Ocean freight between Asia and North America routinely takes 45 days or even as long as 60 days, in the event of missed sailing schedules or other problems. When an order is delayed, it has to be expedited through the manufacturing process, and the burden falls on transportation to offset the delays. But trying to make up for lost time by air freighting containers has a ruinous effect on freight budgets. Cross-country cost comparisons for sourcing product should be calculated on an all-in basis, including the costs of ownership along with all other costs incurred across the supply chain. Global supply chains daily involve such vexing problems as complex import-export processes, inadequate logistics infrastructures, and a gauntlet of regulations and trade agreements that are forever changing. When network optimization studies are prepared, they must identify and include the infrastructure-related challenges that are commonplace in emerging markets. Owing to escalating product proliferation, a key challenge is to build more speed, responsiveness, and adaptability into supply chains while still meeting the diverse needs of consumers in different markets. Customers are becoming more sophisticated and demanding, insisting on shorter lead times and faster inventory-turns. To be competitive, suppliers must accommodate these requirements without inflating their cost structures. Looking ahead, freight transport looms as a major source of concern including rising costs, capacity bottlenecks, and homeland security. The relative costs of manufacturing onshore versus offshore are shifting, and the balance could tip in favor of manufacturing beginning to migrate back to the U.S. from offshore locations. Worldwide, Nike faces a huge amount of product proliferation, and their challenge is to build more speed, responsiveness, and adaptability into our supply chains while still meeting the diverse needs of consumers in different markets.They started to create more partnerships with suppliers and carriers and implementing lean manufacturing programs everything and anything that can help us get more flexibility into their supply chain SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OF NIKE IN INDIA At Nike which has $16 billion in revenues today with the goal of getting to $23 billion by 2011 process excellence is a key component of the companys supply chain strategy. Nikes three businesses footwear, apparel and equipment have some similarities since most of the products are made in Asia and sold to similar customers worldwide. Their production processes, though, are completely different. Much of this has to do with the fact that from the time Nike began in 1964, it has never owned a factory but has chosen to work through contract manufacturing. They are trying to build our strength in process excellence through standardization and also doing this through the concept of lean manufacturing, which Toyota has made popular. Nike is also working towards what it calls delivery precision. Nike conceives its products in the form of collections. A collection could consist of a top apparel, a bottom apparel, shoes, bag, cap, etc. This is how customers typically like to buy products. While Nike designs these products as part of one collection, each category of items is made in different locations. As a result, if supply chain execution goes awry, these products are not available as complete collections, and that leads to loss of sales. Getting this streamlined is extremely challenging because it involves changing the way contract manufacturers work. Nike supply chains need to support our different businesses and different business models, One of our key challenges is to design supply chains that can leverage what is common and use common platforms and, at the same time, customize parts of the supply chain wherever necessary to meet the end needs of the markets specially in countries like india.

Sub-Saharan Africa Essay -- Africa Geography Essays Geographical

Sub-Saharan Africa Africa is the second largest of the earth's seven continents, covering about twenty-two percent of the world's total land area. From its northern most point, to its southern most tip is the distance of nearly five thousand miles. Africa is both north and south of the equator. The Atlantic Ocean is located west of the continent, and the Indian Ocean is on the east. Width of the continent is also nearly five thousand miles. Although Africa is so large, much of it is inhabitable. Desert soils, which have little organic content, cover large areas. The Sahara Desert, in the northern part, covers more than one fourth of Africa, and the Kalahari Desert is in the southern part of the continent. These two deserts are a natural detriment to the African continent because they make it difficult to reach the inland where most of the people live. Although Africa is relatively close to Europe, travel by land over the Sahara desert is very prohibitive. Another topographical feature that also isolate s the central region of Africa is the coastline. Africa has a regular coastline characterized by few indentations. Because of the smooth coastline, natural harbors were non-existent. Today, however, there are important coastal cities, such as Lagos and Dakar. With the exception of the Mediterranean coast, most of the coastline is low-lying , generally narrow and rising sharply to high elevations. The African climate and topography varies greatly. Although temperatures are usually high, due to being so close to the equator, rainfall, soil quality and elevations are of various degrees. Because most of the African continent has not been covered by water for millions of years, soils have developed according to their weathering e... ...bances began to emerge, and the economy began to drop. Unrest cost many lives, until demands for change were heard and the political system was revised. In 1994, the South African people went to the polls for the first time and held a democratic election in which Nelson Mandela became president. The country of South Africa has made strides in healing their broken country. Economic ways started in the nineteenth century, still have a hold on the countries of the sub-Sahara today. These countries are all impoverished and have seen horrific civil wars, however, the general consensus is that they are making slow improvements in their economy. The starvation, overpopulation and health problems are still very evident. Perhaps continued assistance coupled with education and protection will keep them on the road to stability and more rewarding lives for their citizens.

King Lear Act 3 Questions

King Lear Act III Study Questions Scene I 1. Kent reveals to the Gentlemen that tension between Regan’s husband (Albany) and Goneril’s husband (Cornwall) could quite possible result in a civil war. However, aside from the war, the two may be united in plotting against the murder of King Lear. The King of France is preparing to make a move against these two divided house. He may have already sent spies to their households disguised as servants. 2. The mission that Kent asks the Gentlemen to complete is to go to Dover, the place where Cordelia lives, and inform her of how insultingly he was treated by Goneril and Regan.Also, in order to make sure that Cordelia knows the message sent is from him, he instructs to the Gentlemen to also deliver his ring to her. Scene II 3. Shakespeare portrays the great emotional upheaval going on within Lear’s mind by showing us an iconic image of Lear as a white-haired man standing in the middle of a thunderstorm and literally yellin g at the sky, â€Å"Blow winds and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow! † When we see this, we are able to see the extent of his troubled mind since it seems like only a deeply impacted individual would commit to such task or wish to appear as he does.The actual storm that is occurring on the outside is representative of the â€Å"storm† going on inside Lear’s mind. We see this when he talks about how upset he is with his daughters and that ungrateful children should cease to be born. 4. The comment about women that Lear makes in his speech is that â€Å"thou perjured, and thou similar of virtue, that are incestuous†¦ that under covert and convenient seeming has practiced on man’s life† (3. 2. 57-60). 5. Kent’s opinion of the storm’s ferocity is that â€Å"such bursts of horrid thunder, such groans of roaring wind and rain I never remember to have heard,† showing the intensity of the storm. . When King Lear remarks that â€Å"I am a man more sinn’d against than sinning,† it reflects his development as a human being within the play because he comes to realize that he has lost everything. He went from being the King of Britain all the way down the ladder to an individual who has menial value in society. Finally, we come to see that he realizes the big mistake he made by disinheriting Cordelia from his inheritance and giving Cordelia and Regan his kingdom. He is losing so much confidence that he wants to play the part f the victim and believe that everyone is taking advantage of him, without withholding responsibility for the fact that he was the one who acted harshly when he disowned Cordelia. 7. The fool evaluates the state of Britain in his closing â€Å"prophecy† by foreshadow its dark future and when it â€Å"will come to great confusion,† when priests become corrupt, when pickpockets stop preying on large crowds, beer-makers will water down their beverages, and when â€Å"ba wds and whores† build churches.However, this if kind of funny because all this is already occurring in Britain and it has already began its decline. Additionally, he predicts that Merlin will make the same prophecy in the future. Scene III 8. Upon hearing Gloucester’s request to pity the king, Regan, Goneril, and Cornwall are not pleased but also have a nonchalant attitude towards it because they’re not going to let anything convince them of bringing back their father. Their cruel and ruthless come out when they ask Gloucester not to mention Lear’s name in pain of â€Å"perpetual displeasure. They are concerned with their own well-being and do not care whatsoever for the king. 9. The information that Edmund shares with the audience after his father tells him about the â€Å"dangerous† letter is that although it is against his father’s request, he will tell the duke that Gloucester is going to see the king, which is forbidden. Also, being the selfish and deceitful person as he is, Edmund states that Gloucester will get what he wants and he will get everything that is left behind. Scene IV 0. At the beginning of the scene, we see King Lear standing out in the storm with Kent (disguised). When Kent asks him to get cover from the storm Lear states that the pain that the storm is giving him is helping him lock out the pain that his daughters, Goneril and Regan, are bringing him. 11. Edgar’s speech is filled with alliterations when he is telling King Lear about how he is being chased by the devil. He states some interesting things such as â€Å"the fould fiend follows me† (3. 4. 50. ) 12.Upon seeing Edgar emerge from the hovel disguised as poor Tom, Lear immediately assumes that he is a madman and the reason he is in this state is because of his daughters. 13. Edgar responds to Lear’s assumptions by stating that he once used to be a rich courtier who used to drink wine all the time and have women with hi m. 14. Lear tears off his clothes in response to seeing Edgar (disguised as Tom) with an uncovered body. It’s the first time in his life that he actually sympathizes with someone other than himself.As Lear is driven further and further into insanity, he starts to think more about humanity and the way the world perceives him. Lear has actually taken into account some of the things that Edgar says because he realized that the world doesn’t just revolve around him and that material possessions are not everything. This kind of ironic because along with being physically naked, he is also figuratively naked because he has lost all support and must face the cruelties of the world by himself. 15.Gloucester’s appearance at the hovel illustrates the parallel structure between the Lear-daughters plot and the Gloucester-sons subplot because it symbolizes his growing level of compassion for banishing Edgar, his beloved son. He regrets his actions so much that he shows pity o n King Lear by giving him shelter. This is a similar development to King Lear as the abandonment of Cordelia opens his eyes to his regretful actions, wishing that he could also go back and redeem himself, just as Gloucester is attempting to do so. 6. The trait that King Lear is developing in response to his daughter’s treatment is sympathy. We see this when he sees the Fool outside of the shelter and tells him to go first, pitying his condition. Additionally, he reflects on poverty, stating that â€Å"Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,† showing how his eyes have been opened to the fact that there do exist people that aren’t as rich as he supposed them to be (considering that he even thought about them, which I doubt).This trait affects his status as a tragic hero because a tragic hero is always enlightened after realizing the mistake he has made. Because of this error of judgment, he develops a sympathetic trai t that enhances his image is a tragic hero. Scene V 17. Edmund’s reward upon reporting Gloucester’s alleged sympathies for the King of France to the Duke is the position as the Earl of Gloucester. 18. Edmund represents his family obligations to the Duke when he talks about the treason Gloucester has committed.He basically tells the Duke that he is regretful that he has permitted his love for his family to be brushed aside because of his desire to be loyal to him. Instead of protecting his family, Edmund is more concerned with being the Earl of Gloucester. His character is such that he will do anything to get what he wants, may it be to offend someone or completely defeat them. 19. Edmund’s attitude toward the concept of loyalty is that he would put all sense of loyalty to his family aside just so he could achieve some personal gain.What this reveals about his character is that he has remained the same since the start of the play: greedy and a bastard (literally) . He has no sense of morality at all as we see him continually accepting Cornwall’s request to keep misleading Gloucester. 20. The Duke promises Edmund that he will punish Gloucester for his treason and he will become the Earl of Gloucester. Scene VI 21. The imaginary event that Lear stages once he has entered the farmhouse chamber is a mock trial of Goneril and Regan. In the trial, Edgar, Kent, and the Fool server as the jurors while Lear pleads the case against his daughters. 2. During his trial, Lear accuses Goneril by stating that â€Å"she kicked the poor king her father,† basically stating that she has betrayed him. 23. Edgar fears that his true identity might be exposed because he’s showing traces of his sympathy for King Lear. The audience learns about his concerns in his aside when he states that â€Å"My tears begin to take his part so much, they'll mar my counterfeiting. † The fact that the character of Tom doesn’t suit him to show so mu ch sympathy for the king worries Edgar. 24.The news that Gloucester delivers upon his arrival is that someone is plotting to kill King Lear and that he must leave immediately. 25. Lear’s suffering impacts Edgar’s disposition cheers Edgar up. This occurs simply because of the fact that he sees someone so positioned in society as a king in a state as miserable as himself. Additionally, he points out that suffering is more bearable when it is shared with another individual. Also, since Lear is a little more humble now, he is open to conversing and relating with other people not of his status. Scene VII 6. Cornwall orders his servants to pursue Gloucester because he had helped King Lear and the Fool escape to Dover. He apprehends Gloucester at the gate of his own castle. 27. Cornwall vows to torture and inflict as much pain on Gloucester once he has been found because he’s aware that although he needs to hold a formal trial for him, he can still get away with a brut al punishment. 28. Gloucester considers Regan’s and Cornwall’s behavior toward him inappropriate because they have treated Lear immorally and don’t have the right to punish him without a trial.However, being as cruel as they are, they find it appropriate to rip his eyeball’s out (Ouch! ) just for helping Lear. 29. The information that Regan and Cornwall demand from Gloucester is 30. The image that Gloucester evokes when he speaks to Regan is of Lear’s two daughters torturing and causing a lot of pain (both emotional and physical) towards their father. It is also a description of his coming punishment from Gloucester stating that instead of seeing Lear disrespected by his two cruel daughters, he would rather punishment or even death.These words show his absolute loyalty towards the king. 31. This image of the two sisters compares to their words of affection they uttered in the opening scene of the play in that they are completely contrasts. In the b eginning, all they did was flatter their father into getting the largest possible share of his inheritance (and that foolish old man wasn’t able to recognize it. † However, in this scene we see the extent of their cruelty towards Lear. They cast him out of their castles and atop of that refuse to show any sympathy for their actions.He is shown no love and honor whereas in the first scene, it was nothing but that. 32. The servant interferes with the proceedings in Gloucester’s castle because he states that he cannot watch Cornwall commit such an atrocity towards Gloucester. This reveals his supportive character and shows us that he doesn’t let his duty as a soldier get in the way of his morals. Although it’s kind of nice to see that someone is finally standing up against Cornwall, it is sad because instead of it being his son, Edmund, it is a complete strange who realizes that what is happening is incorrect and immoral. 3. The startling news about Ed mund that Gloucester learns from Goneril is that Edmund was the one who turned him in. At this point, Gloucester realizes that Edmund is a traitor and has been all along in addition to the fact that Edgar is innocent. 34. The theme that is advanced by the gouging out of Gloucester’s eyes is vision and blindness. In the first act, Gloucester is â€Å"blinded† by anger as he listens to everything Edmund tells him and doesn’t take a step back to realize that Edgar is a loyal son. It is through the gouging of his eyes that his blindness and ignorance is represented.It’s ironic because it’s not until he loses his sight that he realizes the traitorous Edmund had tricked him. 35. What is significant about the servant’s challenging Cornwall about his treatment of Gloucester because we finally see hope of the rise of good to challenge evil. Although it is not between two major characters, it is this spark that is necessary in order to ultimately win the fight for the good and defeat all the evil characters in this play. Shakespeare probably threw this in there in order to provide a sense of hope, therefore keeping us captivated.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 36

Matt broke a lot of traffic rules on the way to the Saitous'street. Meredith leaned on the console between the two front seats so that she could see the digital clock ticking down to midnight, and so that she could watch the transformation of Mrs. Flowers. At last her recently sane, sensible mind forced words out of her mouth. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers – you're changing.† â€Å"Yes, Meredith, dear. Some of it is due to the little present that Sage left for me. Some of it is my own wil – to return to the days when I was in my prime. I believe that this wil be my last fight, so I don't mind using al my energy in it. Fel ‘s Church must be saved.† â€Å"But – Mrs. Flowers – the people here – Well, they haven't always been – exactly nice – â€Å"Matt stammered his way to a stop. â€Å"The people here are like people everywhere,†Mrs. Flowers said calmly. â€Å"Treat them as you'd like to be treated, and things wil be fine. It was only when I'd let myself become a bitter, lonely old woman, always resentful of the fact that I had had to turn my home into a boardinghouse just to make ends meet, that people began to treat me – Well, at best as a loony old hag.† â€Å"Oh, Mrs. Flowers – and we've been such a bother to you!†Meredith found the words coming without her volition. â€Å"You've been the saving of me, child. Dear Stefan was the start, but as you can imagine, he didn't want to explain al his little differences to me, and I was suspicious of him. But he was always cordial and respectful and Elena was like sunlight, and Bonnie like laughter. Eventual y, when I dropped my hidebound barriers, so did you young ones. I won't say more about those who are present so as not to embarrass you, but you've done me a world of good.† Matt ran another stop sign and cleared his throat. Then, the steering wheel wavering slightly, he cleared his throat again. Meredith took over. â€Å"I think what Matt and I both want to say is†¦Well, it's that you've become very special to us, and we don't want to see you get hurt. This battle – â€Å" â€Å"Is a battle for al I hold dear. For al my memories. Back when I was a child and the boardinghouse was built – it was just a home, then, and I was very happy. As a young woman, I was very happy. And now that I have lived long enough to be an old woman – Well, besides you children, I Stillhave friends like Sophia Alpert and Orime Saitou. They are both healing women, and very good at it. We Stilltalk about different uses for my herbs.† Matt snapped his fingers. â€Å"That's another reason I was confused,†he said. â€Å"Because Dr. Alpert said that you and Mrs. Saitou were such good people. I thought she meant the old Mrs. Saitou – â€Å" â€Å"Who is not a ‘Mrs. Saitou'at all,†Mrs. Flowers said, almost sharply. â€Å"I have no idea what her name real y is – perhaps she is real y Inari, a deity gone bad. Ten years ago, I didn't know what made Orime Saitou suddenly so diffident and quiet. Now I realize that it began just around the time her ‘mother'moved in with her. I was quite fond of young Isobel, but she suddenly became – aloof – in an unchildlike way. Now I understand. And I am determined to fight for her – and for you – and for a town that is worth saving. Human lives are very, very precious. And now – here we are.† Matt had just turned onto the Saitous'block. Meredith took a moment to openly stare at the figure in the front passenger seat. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers!†she exclaimed. This made Matt turn to stare in his turn and what he saw made him clip a Volkswagen Jetta parked by the sidewalk. â€Å"Mrs†¦. Flowers?† â€Å"Please park now, Matt. You needn't cal me Mrs. Flowers if you don't want to. I have returned to the time when I was Theophilia – when my friends cal ed me Theo.† â€Å"But – how – why – ?†Matt stuttered. â€Å"I told you. I felt that it was time. Sage left me a gift that helped me change. An enemy beyond your powers to fight has arisen. I felt this back at the boardinghouse. This is the time that I have been waiting for. The last battle with the true enemy of Fel ‘s Church.† Meredith's heart actual y seemed ready to fly out of her chest. She had to be calm – calm and logical. She had seen magic many times. She knew the look of it, the feel of it. But frequently she had been too busy comforting Bonnie, or too worried about aiding Bonnie to take in what she was facing. Now, it was just her and Matt – and Matt had a stricken, stupefied look, as if he hadn't seen enough magic before. As if he might crack. â€Å"Matt,†she said loudly, and then even louder, â€Å"Matt!† He turned, then, to look at her, with his blue eyes wild and dark. â€Å"They'l kill her, Meredith!†he said. â€Å"Shinichi and Misao – you don't know what it feels like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Come on,†Meredith said. â€Å"We have to make sure that it doesn't kil her.† The dazed look passed from Matt's eyes. â€Å"We have to do this,†he agreed simply. â€Å"Right,†said Meredith, final y releasing him. Together they got out of the car to stand by Mrs. Flowers – no, by Theo. Theo had hair that hung almost to her waist; so fair that it looked silver in the moonlight. Her face was – electrifying. It was young; young and proud, with classic features and a look of quiet determination. Somehow during the drive, her clothes had changed too. Instead of a coat covered with bits of paper, she was wearing a sleeveless white gown that ended in a slight train. In style, it reminded Meredith a little of the â€Å"mermaid†dress she herself had worn when going to a bal in the Dark Dimension. But Meredith's dress had only made her look sultry. Theo looked†¦magnificent. As for the Post-it Note amulets†¦somehow the paper had disappeared and the writing had grown enormously, changing into very large scrawls that wrapped around the white gown. Theo was literal y swathed in haute couture arcane protection. And although she was reed slender, she was tal . Tal er than Meredith, tal er than Matt, tal er than Stefan, wherever he was in the Dark Dimensions. She was this tal not only because she had grown so much, but because the train of her dress was just brushing the ground. She had entirely overcome gravity. The whip, Sage's present to her, was coiled into a circle attached to her waist, shining as silver as her hair. Matt and Meredith simultaneously closed the SUV's doors. Matt left the engine running for a quick getaway. They walked around the garage so that they could see the front of the house. Meredith, not caring what she looked like or whether she seemed cool or in control, wiped her hands, one and then the other, on her jeans. This was the stave's first – and possibly only – true battle. What counted was not appearance, but performance. Both she and Matt stopped dead when they saw the figure standing at the bottom of the steps in front of the porch. It was no one they could identify from the house. But then the crimson lips opened, the delicate hands flew up to cover them, and wind-chime laughter came from somewhere behind the hands. For a moment they could only stare, fascinated, at this woman who was dressed al in black. She was ful y as tal as Theo, ful y as slender and graceful, and she was floating equal y high off the ground. But what Meredith and Matt were staring at was the fact that her hair was like Misao's or Shinichi's – but reversed. Whereas they had black hair with a crimson fringe on the bottom, this woman had crimson hair – yards and yards of it, with a black fringe al around it. Not only that, but she had delicate black fox ears emerging from the crimson hair, and a long sleek crimson tail, tipped with black. â€Å"Obaasan?†Matt gasped in disbelief. â€Å"Inari!†Meredith snapped. The lovely creature didn't even look at them. She was staring at Theo in contempt. â€Å"Tiny witch of a tiny town,†she said. â€Å"You've used nearly al your Power just to stand up to my level. What good are you?† â€Å"I have very smal Powers,†Theo agreed. â€Å"But if the town is worthless, why has it taken you so long to destroy it? Why have you watched others try – or were they all your pawns, Inari? Katherine, Klaus, poor young Tyler – were they your pawns, Kitsune Goddess?† Inari laughed – Stillthat chiming, girlish giggling, behind her fingers. â€Å"I don't need pawns! Shinichi and Misao are my bond-servants, as al kitsune are! If I have left them some freedom, it has been so they can get experience. We'l go on to larger cities now, and ravage them.† â€Å"You have to take Fel ‘s Church first,†Theo said steadily. â€Å"And I won't let you do that.† â€Å"You Stilldon't understand, do you? You are a human, with almost no Power left! Mine is the largest star bal in the worlds! I am a Goddess!† Theo lowered her head, then lifted it to look Inari in the eyes. â€Å"Do you want to know what I think the truth is, Inari?†she said. â€Å"I think that you have come to the end of a long, long, but not immortal life. I think you have dwindled so that at last you need to use a great deal of Power from your star bal – wherever it is – to appear this way. You are a very, very ancient woman and you have been setting children against their own parents, and parents against children across the world because you envy the children's youth. You have even come to envy Shinichi and Misao, and let them be hurt, as revenge.† Matt and Meredith looked at each other with wide eyes. Inari was breathing rapidly, but it seemed she couldn't think of anything to say. â€Å"You've even pretended to have entered a ‘second childhood'to behave girlishly. But none of it satisfies you, because the plain, sad truth is that you have come to the end of your long, long lifetime – no matter how great your Power. We must al take that final journey, and it is your turn now.† â€Å"Liar!†shrieked Inari, looking for a moment more glorious – more radiant than before. But then Meredith saw why. Her scarlet hair had actual y begun to smolder, framing her face in a dancing red light. And at last she spoke venemously. â€Å"Well, then, if you think this is my last battle, I must be sure to cause al the pain I can. Starting with you, witch.† Meredith and Matt both gasped. They were afraid for Theo, especial y as Inari's hair was braiding itself into thick ropes like serpents that floated around her head as if she were Medusa. The gasps were a mistake – they attracted Inari's attention. But she didn't move. She only said, â€Å"Smel that sweet scent on the wind? A roast sacrifice! I think the result wil be oishii – delicious! But perhaps you two would like to speak to Orime or Isobel one last time. I'm afraid they can't come out to see you.† Meredith's heart was pounding violently in her throat, as she realized that the Saitous'house was on fire. It seemed as if there were several smal fires burning, but she was terrified at the implication that Inari had already done something to the mother and daughter. â€Å"No, Matt!†she cried, grabbing Matt's arm. He would have charged straight at the laughing black-clad woman and tried to attack her feet – and seconds were invaluable now. â€Å"Come help me find them!† Theo came to their aid. Drawing up the white bul whip, she whirled it once around her head and cracked it precisely on Inari's raised hands, leaving a bloody gash on one. As a furious Inari turned back to her, Meredith and Matt ran. â€Å"The back door,†Matt said as they careered around the side of the house. Up ahead they saw a wooden fence, but no gate. Meredith was just considering using the stave to pole-vault, when Matt panted, â€Å"Here!†and made a cradle of his hands for her to step into. â€Å"I'l boost you over!† Meredith hesitated only an instant. Then, as he skidded to a stop she jumped to place one foot in his inter-locked fingers. Suddenly she was flying upward. She made the most of it, landing, catlike, on the fence's flat top, and then jumping down. She could hear Matt scrambling up the fence as she was suddenly surrounded by black smoke. She jumped backward three feet and yel ed, â€Å"Matt, the smoke is dangerous! Get low; hold your breath. Stay outside to help them when I bring them out!† Meredith had no idea whether Matt would listen to her or not, but she obeyed her own rules, crouching low, breath held, opening her eyes briefly to try to find the door. Then she almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of an axe crashing into wood, of wood splintering, and of the axe crashing again. She opened her eyes and saw that Matt hadn't listened to her, but she was glad because he'd found the door. His face was black with soot. â€Å"It was locked,†he explained, hefting the axe. Any optimism Meredith might have felt splintered like the door as she looked inside and saw only flames and more flames. My God, she thought, anyone in there is roasting, is probably dead already. But where had that thought come from? Her knowledge or her fear? Meredith couldn't just stop now. She took a step into searing heat and shouted, â€Å"Isobel! Mrs. Saitou! Where are you?† There was a weak, choking cry. â€Å"That's the kitchen!†she said. â€Å"Matt, it's Mrs. Saitou! Please go get her!† Matt obeyed, but threw over his shoulder, â€Å"Don't you go farther in.† Meredith had to go farther in. She remembered very well where Isobel's room was. Directly under her â€Å"grandmother's.† â€Å"Isobel! Isobel! Can you hear me?†Her voice was so low and husky from smoke that she knew she had to keep going. Isobel might be unconscious or too hoarse to answer. Meredith dropped to her knees, crawling on the ground where the air was slightly cooler and more clear. Okay. Isobel's room. She didn't want to touch the door handle with her hand, so she wrapped her T-shirt around it. The handle wouldn't turn. Locked. She didn't bother to investigate how, she simply turned around and mule-kicked the door right beside the handle. Wood splintered. Another kick, and with a wooden scream the door swung free. Meredith was feeling dizzy now, but she needed to see the entire room. She took two strides in, and – there! Sitting up on the bed in the smoky, hot, but otherwise scrupulously tidy little room was Isobel. As Meredith neared the bed she saw – to her fury – that the girl was tied to the brass headboard with duct tape. Two slashes of the stave took care of that. Then, amazingly, Isobel moved, raising a blackened face up to Meredith's. That was when Meredith's fury peaked. The girl had duct tape across her mouth, to prevent her from making any cry for help. Wincing herself to show that she knew this was going to be painful, Meredith grasped the duct tape and stripped it off. Isobel didn't cry out; instead she took in lungful after lungful of smoky air. Meredith stumbled toward the closet, snatched two identical-looking white shirts, and swerved back to Isobel. There was a ful tumbler of water right beside her, on the nightstand. Meredith wondered if it had been put there deliberately to increase Isobel's agony, but she didn't hesitate to use it. She gave Isobel a quick sip, took one herself, and then soaked each shirt. She held one over her own mouth and Isobel mimicked her, holding the wet shirt over her nose and mouth. Then Meredith grabbed her and guided her back to the door. After that it simply became a nightmare journey of crawling and kneeling and choking, pul ing Isobel with her al the time. Meredith thought it would never end, as each inch forward became harder and harder. The stave was an unbearable weight to heave along with her, but she refused to let go of it. It's precious, her mind said, but is it worth your life? No, Meredith thought. Not my life, but who knows what else wil be out there if I get Isobel into the cool darkness? You'l never get her there if you die because of – an object. It's not an object! Painful y Meredith used the stave to clear some smoldering debris from her path. It belonged to Grandpa in the time when he was sane. It fits my hand. It's not just a thing! Have it your own way, the voice said, and disappeared. Meredith was beginning to run into more debris now. Despite the cramping in her lungs, she was sure that she could make it out of the back door. She knew there should be a laundry room on her right. They should be able to feel a space there. And then suddenly in the dark something reared up and struck her a blow on the head. It took her dimming mind a long time to come up with a name for the thing that had hurt her. Armchair. Somehow they'd crawled too far. This was the living room. Meredith was flooded with horror. They'd gone too far – and they couldn't go out the front door into the midst of magical battle. They would have to backtrack, and this time make sure to find the laundry room, their gate to freedom. Meredith turned around, pul ing Isobel with her, hoping the younger girl would understand what they had to do. She left the stave on the burning living room floor. Elena sobbed to get her breath, even though she was al owing Stefan to help her now. He ran, holding Bonnie by one hand and Elena by the other. Damon was somewhere in front – scouting. It can't be far now, she kept thinking. Bonnie and I both saw the brightness – we both did. Just then, like a lantern put into a window, Elena saw it again. It's big, that's the problem. I keep thinking we should reach it because I have the wrong idea of what size it is in my mind. The closer we get, the bigger it gets. And that's good for us. We'l need a lot of Power. But we need to get there soon, or it could be al the Power in the universe and it won't matter. We'l be too late. Shinichi had indicated that they would be too late – but Shinichi had been born a liar. Still, surely just beyond that low branch was†¦ Oh, dear God, she thought. It's a star ball.