Oracle

How is the IKEA operations design different from that of most furniture retail operations? IKEA is known as one of the world’s largest furniture retailer that focuses highly on cost control, operational process and product development. IKEA differentiates itself from most furniture retailers by offering a wide range of well designed array of home furniture at very attractive prices that remain affordable to a large group of diverse customers. There are some unique features of IKEA as compared to most furniture retail stores (IKEA, 2012) Self – Service’ (minimal service or influence from sales person) Details of all products are made ubiquitous in the showroom thus making sales assistance unnecessary which this in return helps to reduce the hiring cost of labor. Layout of Products (product exposure) Ikea stores are designed in a one-way ‘walk-through layout’ that requires customers to be exposed to the entire products which is unlike from most furnitu re retail stores where by customers may choose to go directly to the section they preferred.Hence, the flow allows increased efficiency from entering the showroom, selecting of products to lastly making payments. Furniture Most of Ikea products are self – assembled products, this helps to reduce the costs of shipping as higher volume of bulk packaging can be done. Unlike most furniture retail stores where free delivery and assembly is given, additional charges apply if fixing of product is required by the customers. Lastly, four dimensions of operations (Volume, Variety, Variation and Visibility) will be used to determine the differences between IKEA operations to that of most furniture retail stores.High Volume – IKEA’s operations are of very large scale, major land space and huge car parks are developed to cater to all customers, everything about the design of IKEA’s operations encourages high volume of throughput as compared to most furniture retail st ores (IKEA, 2012). High Variety of product but Low Variety of service – The variety of products showcase in IKEA is much more than most furniture retail stores, from small items such as kitchen appliances to large items such as tables.However, as far as the variety of service is concerned it is relatively narrow. Most products are self – assembled and there is no sales person to provide any service to the customers, leaving themselves to figure out and make their own decision for the purchase. High Variation on demand – Public holidays and weekends usually attracts more crowded as compared to normal week days, hence result in high variation.However, there will not be any difficulty of getting part-time staff into IKEA during the peak period as the operations in IKEA are well designed. Unlike most retail store which require staff with specific expertise that requires time to hire. Low Visibility – Customer contact is high in certain extend, but overall it is lower than most furniture retail stores considering most of the things are done (‘self-service’) solely by the customers from the start till it reaches the point of payment where it is also a standardized process by IKEA.This ultimately reduces the costs of the transaction as far as IKEA is concerned. What do you think might be the major problems in running an operation like IKEA? Having such huge variety and high volume of product being transacted, it may be tough for them to manage the inventory for all items. Shipping of high volume bulk items may take time and IKEA may face stock-out period, hence their operations planning has to be done and calculated accurately.As all sales are done on ‘self-serviced’ manner, it may not create a great shopping experience as compared to most retail stores where sales person are able to cater a more specific and unique first-hand experience to all customers to create loyalty. Lastly, IKEA being the largest furniture retailer require a lot of natural material such as wood, which may harm the global environment (IKEA, 2012). Reference IKEA (2012) Our Vision and Business Idea. Available at: http://www. ikea. com/ms/en_SG/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/our_business_idea/index. html (Accessed 29 January 2013)

Ethics in ICT Education: Utilizing Mobile Gadgets in Teaching and Learning Process Essay

In a technology-driven and digital society, getting information quickly is important to both instructors and students. The expansion and everyday use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made it possible to quickly and instantly find information, share ideas among peer groups, allow instructors to easily interact with their students, and provide them with enabling platform for research and exploring new ideas. According to FBI-Internet Crime Complaint Center, Nigeria ranked third in the world after US and UK, in internet fraudulent activities. Yet, there is no cyber security law to checkmates these issues locally. Thus, government should work closely with the ICT community (NCC, NITDA, NigComSat, Galaxy backbone,Telecoms firms, and Consultants), in conjunction with legal community, to enact appropriate cybercrime laws. The write-up, bring to light the importance and application of mobile gadgets in learning process, issues associated with using mobile devices and ways to combat them. Keywords: Digital society, learning, students, instructors, education, mobile gadgets. Introduction: Mobile gadgets and phones can be a double-edge sword; the two can be used as a source of many benefits, for instance, the ease with which digital information can be analyzed, transmitted, and shared among numerous people and groups. On the other hand, they can be used to create ways of breaking laws or taking benefits away from others. For example, sending unsolicited e-mails is one of the compelling ethical issues raised by contemporary mobile gadgets users. Generally, information and communication technology (ICT) and the used of mobile gadgets are applied for the good of humankind; however it can also be abused and used as a tool for felony (L&N Long, 2005). Thus, the evolution of mobile gadgets have generated intense controversy and raised serious issues about information and communication technology ethics. An ethical individual accepts and lives by a set of moral principles and values. These principles define what is socially accepted as â€Å"good† and on the other hand what is â€Å"bad†, until today society continues to raise questions about what is or not ethical in the used of information technology gadgets. These issues are so important to our society, to the extent that educators see it as core subject that shall be integrated into college curricula. Educators believe that, if members of the society are made aware of the consequences of their actions, then there would be only fewer(marginal) people that will be motivated to commit computer crimes, contaminate systems with false information, post pornographic material to the internet, or abuse sanctity of intellectual property (K & J Laudon, 2003). . Ethics, Education, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Ethics in information technology â€Å"can be defined as the moral conducts and decisions confronting individuals, groups or institutions engaged in information and communication technology (ICT) practices (Martin M. 2009). It could also be defined as the study of moral ideals, character, policies and relationships of people and institutions involved in the activities of information and communication technology (Martin M. 2009). Whereas; educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources (AECT, 2004). Conversely, information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be defined as a set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information. These technologies include internet, tablet computers, smart phones, and broadcasting technologies such as radio and television (Kukulska-Hulme et. al. 2005). The use of ICT (mobile gadgets and phones) for a range of different learning processes has been the prime concern of every right-thinking individual in this era. It is realized that, mobile gadgets and phones could add a completely new dimension to the teaching and learning process due to a wide range of attributes, such as being portable, ubiquitous, pervasiveness and the functions such as voice, video and data services, camera, video, radio, and the internet connectivity (Kukulska-Hulme et. al. 2005). Besides, Bressler, D, et.al. (2007) states that youth should be the target and first priority user group of mobile based teaching and learning, because research showed that teenagers and college students have a higher interest in every mobile phone activity than any other age group. Research Questions: This text endeavor to address the following questions raised by mobile gadgets and users: I. What ethical, social, and political issue arises by the uses of mobile technology gadgets? II. What are the specific codes of conduct that may be used to guide decision about cybercrime? III. Why do contemporary mobile gadgets pose challenges to the protection of individual rights and intellectual property? IV. How do mobile gadgets affect everyday life of instructors and students? V. How could mobile gadgets allow continuous access to education and reach marginalized groups of a society? RQ1-What ethical, social, and political issues arises by the uses of mobile technology gadgets? Ethical, social, and political issues are closely linked together. The ethical dilemma we may face in our academic system typically is reflected in social and political settings of the society (K & J Laudon, 2003). Let’s imagine our society, in which we are all living before the advent and penetration of mobile gadgets as a calm pond, an ecosystem in partial equilibrium with individual, society, and political institutions. Under this condition, everyone knows how to act in this pond because social institutions (family, colleges, polytechnics, universities, and organizations) have developed well-honed rules of behaviors and these are backed by laws developed in the political zone of the society that stipulate different do and promises appropriate penalty for violation any of the laid down policy and guiding principles. Now, information technologies development tosses a rock into the pond. The forces and pulsation as a result of tossing rock (mobile gadgets evolution) into the ponds, which is a powerful shock of new information technology revolutions that hit our social systems which is more or less (at rest or partial equilibrium) and thus generates positive and negative pulses. Suddenly, individuals, and society are confronted with new situations often not covered by the old laws (rules and code of conduct of the nation). The figure below portrays moral dimensions that connect ethical, social and political issues (K & J Laudon, 2003). Figure 1: Moral Dimensions (Ethical, Social, & Political) Issues Related To Mobile Gadgets: Excerpt from: Essential of Management Information Systems, Fifth Edition. Information /Property rights and obligations: what information rights do individual or institutions posses with respect to the information about themselves? What can they protect? How will traditional intellectual property be protected in a digital society in which accounting of ownership is difficult? Accountability and Control: who will be held responsible and liable for the harm done to individual, institutions and collective information and property rights? System and Life Quality: what services should we demand to protect individual rights and the safety of the society? What services and practices are supported and accepted by the society? RQ2- What are the specific codes of conducts that can be used to guide decision about cybercrime? Cybercrime can be referred to as the use of mobile gadgets or computers and internet to commit illicit act. Cybercrime (computer assisted crime) includes e-mail scams, hacking, distribution of hostile software (viruses and worms), denial of service(DoS) attacks, theft of data, fraud and impersonation, online auction fraud, phishing, child pornography, espionage (theft of trade secrets), cyber contraband and so on (Uwaje Chris, 2009). With the proliferation of mobile gadgets that allow easy access to internet and online resources, it becomes more disturbing because the cyber space, through which these crimes are perpetuated, is not defined by political or geographical boundaries, thus enacting or amending laws to curb them becomes a challenge. According to FBI-Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3 report, 2009), Nigeria ranked third in the world after US and UK, in internet fraudulent activities. Yet, there is no cyber security law to checkmate these issues locally. Similarly, Ewelukwa (2012), lamented that various legislative bills before the National Assembly, aimed at preventing cybercrime, have been neglected by the lawmakers including â€Å"The Computer Security and Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Bill 2005 sponsored by the Executive failed to become law (Ewelukwa, 2012). Ewelukwa (2012) further stated â€Å"Other related legislative bills that have not yet been passed by the National Assembly include the Cyber Security and Data Protection Agency (Establishment, etc) Bill 2008, Electronic Fraud Prohibition Bill 2008, Nigeria Computer Security and Protection Agency Bill 2009, and the Computer Misuse Bill 2009. Cyber security entails all measures taken proactively to prevent and ensure safety from cyber attacks and related crimes. Cyber attacks vary and evolve on daily basis with advances in ICT gadgets. Therefore, government should work closely with the ICT community (NCC, NITDA, NigComSat, Galaxy Backbone, Telecoms firms, Experts and Consultants), legal community, to enact appropriate cybercrime laws, and expedite action to sign the aforementioned bills into laws. Thus, would boost the nation’s image before the online community and globally. RQ3- Why do contemporary mobile gadgets pose challenges to the protection of individual right and intellectual property? Ethical issues have long preceded the evolution of information technology, they are the abiding concerns of every society everywhere on earth, nevertheless, information technology has raised and heightened ethical concerns, put stress on existing social arrangement, and made existing law obsolete or severely crippled. There are three key technological trends that are responsible for these ethical traumas (K & J Laudon, 2003): I. Increases in Computing Power: Everyday people are getting possession of different mobile gadgets for their day to day undertakings (research works, businesses, leisure and entertainment), due to invention of high powered gadgets with varieties of features made available by the manufacturers. II. Advancement in Data Analysis & Declining Data Storage Costs: it is clear that with contemporary information systems technology and data analysis techniques, one can assemble and combine myriad pieces of information about an individual much more easily than in the past. For instances, information about an individual such as credit card purchases, telephone calls, magazine subscriptions, video rentals, mail order purchases, banking records, local, state, and federal governments(including court and police records), can all be gathered and mined properly. III. Networking and advances in Internet: sharing and accessing large quantities of data over the internet, open the possibility of mining large pools of data remotely using mobile gadgets, and thus permitting the invasion of privacy of others. RQ4- How do mobile gadgets affect everyday life of instructors and students? ICT and mobile gadgets in schools, colleges and universities have affected everyday life of both instructors and students, either in positive or negative directions as pointed out below: Students can record homework and assignments on their phone calendar. Help instructors to monitor their lecture schedules. Use of camera functions in geography and physical sciences subjects to records things and report back to class. Some teachers learned to teach in different ways with an emphasis on independent study, and thus incorporated mobile gadgets in their lessons. Disruption during lectures in cyber- bullying one another using text and blackberry messaging(BBM) Spiteful comments or spreading malicious gossips. Some students used mobile gadgets (for fashion) to chase opposite sexes RQ5- How could mobile gadgets allow continuous access to education and reach marginalized groups of a society? It would be very difficult or impossible for the conventional (class-room) delivery method of education to provide continuous and educational opportunities for majority members of a society. ICTs and mobile gadgets have the answers and potential to help reach this objective. They are portable, pervasive, personal, affordable, ubiquitous, and interactive and hence, instruction can be delivered anywhere and at anytime through it. Moreover, it is an aid to formal and informal learning, it supplement and enrich formal schooling, make learning more accessible, personalized and flexible for students everywhere. And thus holds enormous potential to transform the delivery of teaching and learning process. Mobile devices can overcome geographic, social, and infrastructure barriers to reach populations, and marginalized groups by providing them with access to further learning and development. These devices facilitate distance learning in situations where access to education is difficult or interrupted because of geographical barriers. And therefore, m-learning or mobile learning, offers modern ways to support learning process through mobile devices, such as handheld tablet computers, MP3/MP4 players, smart phones and mobile phones. And thus, a mobile gadget is not only a device, but a door to greater education and continuous interactive learning process. Advantages of using Mobile Gadgets: Students, teachers, and researchers have many reasons to consider using mobile gadgets, since these devices are one of the most versatile electronics gadgets in the market today. Besides the obvious communication advantages, mobile phones have features, such as cameras and internet accessibility, that can help students and researchers in all aspects of their learning processes, from their studies to their social and professional lives and practices. Kat Stafford (2013) stated in his write-up some advantages of mobile phone to college students, among which are: emergency communication, parental connection, studying and research, capture memories, social and professional networking and organization. Issues and Crimes Associated with Mobile Gadgets: As cell phones have rapidly become ubiquitous in everyday life, the issue of cell phones in school has become a hotly debated topic. Many disadvantages also exist concerning student cell phone use, Rebecca Richards (2012), mentioned few such as: causes distractions, exams cheating, e-mail scams, pornography and cyber contraband. Recommendation: Provision of redundant internet services (both wired & wireless) in our various institutions of learning using technology such as WIFI, or WIMAX, to facilitate learning processes using ICT gadgets. Universities, polytechnics, COEs, and other institution of learning should use proper network administrative tools to police students over inappropriate use of services provided to them; it can equally ban and restrict access to ALL social networks that can cause distractions to their studies. Use of software tools like web anonymizers (such as Psiphon, Surfola, Silent Surf, and Merletn) to hide user tracks from their predators. Every institution should review its code of conducts to include contemporary netiquettes, so that students and researchers are made aware of the cause of actions of every crime they committed. Likewise, at national level government should work closely with the ICT community (NCC, NITDA, NigComSat, Galaxy Backbone, Telecoms and IT firms, Experts and Consultants) and Legal community to enact appropriate cybercrime laws, and expedite action to sign all the legislative bills before them into laws. Conclusion: While there are enormous benefits to be gained out of mobile gadgets in terms of m-learning, enrichment, portability and flexibility in using ICTs throughout formal educational systems, there is even greater value to be gained in using the mobile technologies to increase access to millions of instructional resources who are currently outside the educational footprints. A combination of mobile technologies and relevant applications softwares, have the potential to overcome the barriers of time, distance, and allow adult education for those who have not been properly educated and now wish to be informed, well educated, trained or enlightened. It is apparent that ICTs offer opportunities not available previously to educators, using tools such as e-mail; Webinar, audio-video, computer–conferencing, both synchronously and asynchronously. With aid of ICT and appropriate set of application tools, a very rich interactive and learning environment can be created that allows learners to dictate their pace of learning, or place of learning. While the ICT tools empower our communities, they need not take away the role of the instructors or research supervisors; instead, students, firms, researchers and instructors should come together for a common purpose, work collaboratively with clearly defined roles on a shared platform to attain the set objectives of any kind. These communities encompass all levels and sectors of human endeavor, from basic education to postgraduate studies, from teacher training to business studies, and from non formal studies to language instruction, companies and research institutes. However, only infrastructure, fiscal resources, and policy support, would inhibit exploitation of this potential. And thus, an ICT world is an exciting planet of continuous learning process. References: AECT (2004). â€Å"Association for Educational Communications and Technology† Retrieved from: http://ocw.metu.edu.tr/file.php/118/molenda_definition.pdf visited on 05-04-2013. Bressler, D, et.al.(2007). â€Å"Information and Communication Technology in Education, Retrieved frm. http://www.schoolnet.lk/research/mobile_phones_for_teaching_learning_science/ visited on 07-05-2013. Ewelukwa (2012).† Wanted: A law on cyber security† Retrieved from: http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/35334-wanted-a-law-on-cyber-security.html , visited on 07-05-2013. IC3,(2009). â€Å"Internet Crime Complain Center 2009†Retrieved from: www.ic3.gov/media/annualreport/2009_ic3report.pdf , visited on 19-04-2013. Kukulska Hulme et.al .(2005). â€Å"Innovation in Mobile Learning: a European Perspective† Retrieved from : http://www.schoolnet.lk/research/mobile_phones_for_teaching_learning_science/ , visited on 19-04-2013 Kat Stafford, 2013). â€Å"Use of Cell Phones and College Students† http://www.ehow.com/list_5961606_advantages-cell-phones-college-students.html, visited on 07-05-2013. Laudon K.J, (2003). Essential of Management Information Systems, Fifth Edition, Chapter 5: Ethical and Social Issues in the Digital Firm, P. 142-143 Long L.N, (2005).Computers Information Technology in Perspective, 12th edition, Chapter IT ethics, Crime, and Privacy. P. 278 Martin M. (2009).Ethics in Engineering, 3rd edition New Delhi: MC Graw-Hill P.2-3 Rebecca, Richards (2012). â€Å"Use of Cell Phones and College Students† Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/list_5961606_advantages-cell-phones-college-students.html, visited on 07-05-2013. Uwaje, Chris (2009). â€Å"Cyber Crime: Its Implications for Internet Business Growth In Nigeria† Retrieved from: http://techtrendsng.com/cybercrime-its-implications-for-internet-business-growth-in-nigeria/, visited on 15-05-2013.

The Technique of Sampling in Music and Notions of Authorship Essay

The Technique of Sampling in Music and Notions of Authorship - Essay Example The credit for having composed the piece of music that was borrowed may or may not be explicitly given to the person who had originally composed it. This technique offends the sacrosanct position that music is given in the lives of many. Issues of plagiarism arise and royalties are almost never offered to the composer of the original tune. This leads to many problems within the music industry as well. Sampling is a technique whereby a part of a certain recording is used as a part of another song that may be the composition of an entirely different person who is then the ‘author’ of that particular song. The extensive use of this song and the attitude of its author shall also form a part of the analysis in this paper that shall attempt to dissect the issues of ownership that this song and the technique of sampling destabilize. The metaphorical death of the author that Roland Barthes talks of in his essay, The Death of the Author is one that can be seen in the extensive us e of the technique of sampling in the music of today. A particular portion of a song may be used in another as a part of it. The now ubiquitous discotheque where tunes and songs are mixed and remixed are places that question the notions of ownership that artists may raise when their tunes are being reworked. In today’s world, however, exclusive ownership of a work of art is impractical and is not enjoyed by anybody. A shared ownership of the music or any other work of art that is all that an artist can expect. This is tied in with several notions of authorship that have emerged in the modern world. In his seminal essay that was referred to earlier, Barthes talks of how the interpretation that a reader provides a text is what provides the text with its meaning (2004). The meaning that the author intended for a text only forms one of the many meanings that may be attributed to a text. The creation of meaning and essence, the till then inalienable right of the author and owner o f a text, thus passed on to the person who received the text. A piece of music is according to modern theorists, a cultural text that allows for multiple interpretations. The theory that applied to traditional texts, that is, books, would thus be applicable also to music. Music videos and recordings are thus texts that are able to elicit multiple interpretations from its audience. The destabilization of the roles of authors thus extends also to the authors of these cultural texts, musicians. The creation of these new roles for the audience and the artists is a modern phenomenon. The modern age is characterized by the rise of science and technology and it is widely agreed upon that technology has had a great part to play in the way the modern age functions. The technique of sampling is a very good example to prove this point. The technique of sampling makes the ‘primary text’, the original recording, available to the world to twist into any shape that it wants to. Each v ersion or song that features a portion of the original song can then be considered to be an interpretation of the original by the person who creates the new version. As Andrew Goodwin puts it, in â€Å"an age of electronic reproduction†

Radio 1 report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Radio 1 report - Essay Example BBC has many local stations in different cities of the UK. Around 40 local radio stations are working in England and Channel Islands under the name of BBC. BBC Radio 1 was established in 1967 with an intention to broadcast popular music and other entertainment activities. The popularity and the rating of Radio 1 were extremely high until recent times. However, the popularity of radio 1 seems to be declining in recent times. â€Å"Radio 1 had 10.87 million listeners in the third quarter of 2008, up from 10.58 million in the third period of 2007. However, listeners tuned in for less time, with a fall in its audience share to 9.8% from a seven-year high of 10.6% the same period last year† (Plunkett, 2008). This paper explains the station policy, play lists, and specific programs that are broadcasted by radio 1. Also, this paper analyses how fully and completely does radio 1 provides access to culture, music and public service inspired ideas specified in its service remit Unlike many other radio stations in the UK, radio 1 works on some unique policies. For example, radio 1 usually conducts roadshows with the DJs and pop stars in order to reach out even distant audience. The direct experiences received from the audiences will be broadcasted from 16:00-19:00 every weekday, with a 15-minute break at 17:45(BBC Radio 1, 2014) There are hundreds of programs broadcasted by Radio 1. A unique program of radio 1 is the breakfast show. It is broadcasting between 6:30 am and 10:00 am, Monday to Friday and is hosted by Nick Grimshaw at present. Dance Anthems, Xtra’s stories, Essential mix, Xtra live, chart shows such as UK singles chart (aired on Sunday afternoons) etc are some of the other popular shows on radio 1 (BBC Radio 1, 2014). Apart from regular shows, radio 1 airs many special shows and events time to time. For example, radio 1 has celebrated its 40

Economics cuurent macroeconomic situation Research Paper

Economics cuurent macroeconomic situation - Research Paper Example These figures are significantly showing progress but by no means indicate that things are turning out for the best (Avent, 2010). Unemployment and its direct correlation with inflation clearly show on these figures. This indicates that stimulus packages and the low interest rates provided by the government is showing its effects. Without these, businesses would not venture into accruing capital and entrenchment would ensue. More and more firms and departments are hiring temporary workers including census jobs which will show countercyclical effects. This suggests that confidence and optimism is slowly gaining momentum. It is a clear indication that more needs to be done before the country can truthfully say that it is out of the recession slump. Robert Reich (2010) suggests that only reason the economy is not in a double-dip recession is due to the boosts injected by the government. He further adds that 41,000 new jobs provided in May which mostly consisted of temporary Census workers is not enough. At the minimum, 100,000 new employments are needed every month to cope with the population growth. Apprehensions are now directed over what will happen once these are directly withdrawn from the economy. Policy makers play an integral role in ensuring the health of the economy doesn’t flat line. The applied easy money policy tools which are apparent in the contingency efforts of the government to stabilize the economy are already in place. It becomes indispensable at the current situation but â€Å"Effectively zero interest rates are creating distortions in capital markets. Monetary conditions need to be back to normal by the time economic slack disappears and inflationary pressures begin to reassert themselves† (Padoan, 2010). Government hand can only go so far before it reverts into prioritizing the need for other programs before money runs out and the Federal Reserve reverts to government

Evaluating Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evaluating Culture - Essay Example If this value is missed, then this will limit my personal success, thinking and behaviours. I remember, once I was working on my assignment and there was not much research available for me, like I was stuck what i suppose to do, from where I get related data. At that time the value of self-awareness plays a vital role and I consulted my teachers and think ways to overcome such problems and finally due to self-awareness I did not panic but tried to find more positive ways and outcomes to resolve my problems. This value enabled me to think what motives are essential to free yourself from your own de-motivating behaviours. Many people failed to realize the importance between value statements and learning. These values are always beneficial to overcome many issues when we are involved in something. It is very important for us to act properly, identify our values which will allow us to create more productive options while we are doing any task and ways to accomplish them effectively (Troc him and Donnelly, 2008). References Trochim, W.K. & Donnelly, J.P. (2008), Research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning

Social Networking Practices and Interactions Essay

Social Networking Practices and Interactions - Essay Example The paper tells that social sites to have a contrast with the real lives that people lead. The likes and interests often posted on social sites are only meant to give people social status but are different from the reality; thus firms will be targeting virtual people who will eventually not consume the products. People fall into various social classes, and the way in which one person lives is not the manner in which the next person will live. But in social media due to the imminent influence, people always strive to fit in certain social classes just to stay in touch with the current trends in the world. For instance, if a new fashion line of designer clothes is released and someone posts a photo wearing that clothes his/her followers will always be influenced by purchasing the same cloth to be at a bar with the current trend. Social media is emerging to be essential in business as it is perceived to be the marketing platform that takes heed of the needs of consumers. The 21st centur y is characterized by massive technological advancements that have led to the emergence of new methods in which people interact. Previously people were limited to telephone calls or at least sending emails and thus was a preserve of a few individuals with the internet connection. Today, virtually every locality inhabited by people has internet signal and thus people are accessing the World Wide Web from anywhere. With a technological improvement in mobile gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, iPads and even microcomputers, many people have gained access to the internet connection. This has revolutionized the modern era of information processing, and dissemination has become almost instant. Online presence in social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp has been soaring by each day now running into hundreds of million subscribers, thus creating a new niche of consumers for businesses with an online presence.

African Americans as the Vulnerable Population Term Paper

African Americans as the Vulnerable Population - Term Paper Example Within the United States, racial segregation often implied the physical separation together with provision of separate services or facilities (mostly during the era of Jim Crow), although it could also refer to other distinct racial discrimination manifestations. For at least two hundred years before the beginning of the civil war, slavery is said to have existed within America. However, after this war, things moved from bad to worse for the black community. The southern part of America, especially, felt that they actually needed to move with speed and come up with legislation that would restrict the movement and association of blacks with other majority races. The former confederates, southern legislatures opted to pass laws popularly regarded as black codes, which immensely limited the blacks’ rights and subsequently segregated them from the white community. There had been no need for separating blacks and whites since approximately 95% of the blacks had been salves. However, they were still separated at taverns, theatres, schools and other social places. The blacks, therefore, witnessed a series of segregation tendencies from their white counterparts and with time, they got to adopt the situation. It is with this regard that congress swiftly moved to respond to this legislation in 1866 and managed to seize the responsibility of remaking the south. The Republican group demanded that the remaking of the south be marked by the viability of freed blacks in the society (John, 1997). By 1868, most of the laws, which happened to discriminate against the blacks, were effectively repealed.

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its Essay

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its time Discuss - Essay Example Moreover, the era gave birth to television, which changed many aspects of the British society (Campbell). During these years of technological advancements many other elements were also becoming popular in Britain. People were fascinated with TV shows and greatly appreciated them. One of the most famous TV shows of all times is Doctor Who broadcasted on BBC, the first story of the series began on 23 November 1963 (Hyland). The caste of Doctor Who is fascinating and interesting, the science fiction elements in the series is its major attraction. the first episode of ‘Unearthly Child’, Doctor Who has been at the heart of its viewers (Britton). This paper aims to analyze whether Doctor Who tells us more about science and fiction or Britain of that time. Moreover, the paper will discuss some of the many technological elements from Doctor Who. Thesis Statement: Doctor Who is a science fiction show which was first presented in 1963. The show has presented many technological ele ments which are either inevitably possible or impossible. It has merged science fiction with science fantasy and has grasped what was going on in the British society of that particular time. Background The longest running British science fiction series, Doctor Who first began in 1963. The series is based on about 800 episodes that have been broadcasted periodically, and celebrates its 50 years anniversary. The theme of the series revolves around the science fiction and science fantasy, as some of the critics identify it as science fiction where as some believe it’s a science fiction. Doctor Who portrays some of the most amazing and fascinating adventures for humans. The series incorporates elements of science and technology, through illusions, imaginary narrative, through its unique representation of character and events, like Aliens, Cyber men, Sonic Screwdrivers etc. The entries story of the series focuses on the concept of time travel that allows the characters of the seri es to travel anywhere, even in the past and future. Doctor Who presents advanced science, technology and fiction in a very innovative manner, attracting several viewers around the world. Some believe that the ideas in the series are beyond human imagination, whereas some ideas seemed quite reasonable with the foreseeable science and are believed to be possible. Another chief element, which contributed towards the longevity of the show, is that it has effectively portrayed the fact of technological development and transformation of British society. Doctor Who certainly highlights science and fiction, which has tapped fear and curiosity among the viewers with the help of strong imaginary narratives and comments of the technological issues. The argument Doctor Who is undoubtedly a brilliant piece of science and fiction, but the need is to understand whether the show has actually tried to portray science fiction or science fantasy and whether it has reflected the Britain of that period. The science and technology that has been showed in Doctor Who is certainly beyond ones imagination (Campbell). Doctor Who is a science fiction series and viewers enjoy watching it as it is fun (Mckee). It gives the viewer an escape from their routine life and exhausted schedule so that they can fire up their imagination with some extra imaginary story. Some of the concepts in the serieshave become a part of reality whereas some are

Choose one faith tradition and offer a critical reflection on the role Essay

Choose one faith tradition and offer a critical reflection on the role of food - Essay Example When it comes to Islam, eating is considered as a matter of faith and the dietary practices associated with the religion are essentially about the obedience of God (Dudek, 2006, p. 251). All the true Muslim adherents show their obedience to God through consumption of foods that the religion allows -halal. These foods are defined in the Quran and also in the sayings that are linked to the prophet, Muhammad. Muslims abide by these recommendations since it is the word of God in the Quran. The health benefits associated with the Muslim diets have been acknowledged by science, and thus qualify God’s wisdom while highlighting His benevolence (Brunk and Coward, 2009, p. 149). It is actually the directives of Allah that are important with the advantages in terms of health being ancillary. The Muslims are required to recite the Quran before the start eating a meal and after they finish thanking God for the provision. It is considered appropriate to eat using the right hand and in the c ompany of people. They are also required to pronounce Allah’s name when they are in the process of slaughtering animals. Muslims are required to think and envisage all the items of food they eat through remembering God as the Creator and Designer, as well as the Organizer and the one who provides (Tottoli, 2015, p. 112). A state that resembles a prayer may be achieved in the process of doing this. Islam teaches that it is important to feed when one develops hunger and when one sits down to eat; the eating should be done in moderation. According to the advice of the Prophet, an individual’s stomach should be divided in to three equal parts that will accommodate food, fluids and space for respiration. As an individual is eating, he must remember those who are hungry. A person may avoid damnation through feeding people or animals that are dying. Days that Muslims feast fluctuate according to the lunar calendar and include Eid al-Fitr, which comes after the conclusion of the month

Social Contract Essay Example for Free

Social Contract Essay Is the aim of the social contract to establish freedom, equality or merely ‘peace’? How far is it successful, and at what cost? (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau) The Social Contract is a theory that originated during the Enlightenment, which addresses the questions of the origin of society and the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual. Social contract arguments typically posit that individuals have consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler or the decision of a majority, in exchange for protection of their remaining rights. Its main proponents were Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. However, while they all advocated a social contract their formulations and ideas about it do differ to some extent. This essay will attempt to argue that Hobbes hoped his social contract would establish peace, amongst naturally competitive men; whilst Rousseau valued securing freedom and Locke wanted it to secure rights for people and stop them living in fear. However, all of these do come at some price, namely the cost of some liberties, however, as Locke agreed what was important was that relative to the state of nature, man now lived in a better, freer, more equal and peaceful society. The first modern philosopher to articulate a detailed contract theory was Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679). According to Hobbes, the lives of individuals in the state of nature were ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’ (Leviathan. Ch13. p89), a state in which self-interest and the absence of rights prevented the social, or society. Life was anarchic, without leadership or the concept of a sovereign. Individuals in the state of nature were apolitical and asocial. Thus for Hobbes the state of nature is necessarily followed by the social contract. He believed the social contract would involve individuals ceding some of their individual rights so that others would cede theirs. This resulted in the establishment of the state, a sovereign entity like the individuals now under its rule used to be, which would create laws to regulate social interactions, in the hope that human life would no longer be ‘a war of all against all. ’ (Leviathan. Ch13. p89). Thus Hobbes attempts to prove the necessity of the Leviathan for preserving peace and preventing civil war, thus he is most concerned with securing a safe, protected state for man. This is necessary because Hobbes has a negative view of man. He claims we are merely motivated by what he calls ‘aversion’ and ‘appetite. ’ (Leviathan. Ch6. p38) due to his belief that humans are all ‘self-seeking individuals, with no pre-disposition to cooperate with others or help them unless it is within their own interests. ’ (Trigg. 1988. ) Thus the ‘general inclination of all mankind (is) a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death’ (Leviathan. Ch11. p70) and that ‘men are continually in competition for honour and dignity. (Leviathan. Ch17. p119) Thus the social contract becomes necessary as a way of reducing such competition and securing peace. Furthermore, Hobbes believes it is possible to mitigate this competition with reference to his laws of nature. The first that we ‘seek peace, and follow it’ (Leviathan. Ch14. p92) as it would clearly never be advantageous for us to reside in an insecure society, where we constantly feared being destroyed and competed with, as Hobbes writes, ‘that every man, ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it. ’ (Leviathan. Ch14. 92) This is successful and Hobbes has a strong point here, we can agree that we are stronger as a group and that it is prudent to ‘confer all power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices into one will’ (Leviathan. Ch17. p126) This is clear in the modern day, we elect those people we wish to represent our will, we do not all feel a need to self-govern. So although we are defined by our power and competitiveness in the state of nature, we will value peace and security so necessarily opt for this contract. Furthermore Hobbes second fundamental law of nature is ‘that a man be willing, when others are so too, as far as for peace and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men as he would allow other men against himself’ (Leviathan. Ch14. p92). This idea of mutual contracts concords with the ideas of Locke’s and Rousseau’s social contracts, that people would choose to live in society to maintain or create freedom and uphold natural values. However, for Hobbes, men cannot know good and evil, and in consequence can only live in peace together by subjection to the absolute power of a common master, thus a cost of Hobbes’ social contract is that man is now subjected to absolute rule and appears to lose more of his freedoms than either Locke or Rousseau deemed necessary, yet for Hobbes this is the only way to ensure peace, despite it seeming that such controlled rule would only engender disagreement and revolt. Hobbes theory has implications and his work emphasises some important aims of humanity, especially that peace is worth having at any cost, ‘a view Hobbes wants us to adopt after his reasoning in Leviathan. ’ It is common sense that without the base instinct of survival and survival itself, nothing else would be truly possible. (Bagby. 2009. p47) Furthermore Hobbes discusses fear as the basis of the existence of the state and although our world is a very different context to the world Hobbes experienced, Professor Ginzburg ‘does not see any change in the fear factor that sustains authority. (Kumar. 2007) However, John Locke, although another social contract theorist, his conception differed from Hobbes in several fundamental ways, retaining only the central notion that persons in a state of nature would willingly come together to form a state. Locke believed that individuals in a state of nature would be bound morally, by the Law of Nature, not to harm each other in their lives or possession, but without government to defend them against those seeking to injure or enslave them; people would have no security in their rights and would live in fear, rather like Hobbes suggested. Locke argued that individuals would agree to form a state that would provide a ‘neutral judge’ (Locke. 2003) acting to protect the lives, liberty, and property of those who lived within it. While Hobbes argued for near-absolute authority, Locke argued for inviolate freedom under law in his Second Treatise of Government. Locke argued that governments legitimacy comes from the citizens delegation to the government of their right of self-defence of ‘self-preservation; (Locke. 2003). The government thus acts as an impartial, objective agent of that self-defence, rather than each man acting as his own judge, jury, and executioner, the condition in the state of nature. In this view, government derives its ‘just powers from the consent (delegation) of the governed. ’ (Locke. 2003) Furthermore, for Locke peace is the norm, and should be the norm. We can and should live together in peace by refraining from molesting each other’s property and persons, and for the most part we do. Yet it is clear in Hobbes that he believes man is naturally self-interest and will compete for resources. Locke’s fundamental target is political absolutism, understood as the exercise of power unconstrained by law or by any procedures for settling disputes between rulers and ruled. (Boucher. 2003. p. 184) Where Hobbes argued that absolute power was necessary to keep the peace between humans; instead Locke insists the point of political institutions is ‘to avoid, and remedy those inconveniences of the State of Nature, which necessarily follow from every Man’s being judge in his own case. (Locke. SecondTreatise. 2003) as Locke believed humans were born free and that by nature human beings are one another’s equals, so should not be dominated or restrained to the extent of Hobbes. These inconveniences, such as a social atmosphere of miserable uncertainty are not solved by subjecting all but one person in society to the rule of law. Thus Locke believed that peo ple would be worse off under absolute power than they would in the uncertain mercy of other’s judgement, so he did not advocate this. Locke’s contract aims to benefit individuals, it is an individualised functionalism. Thus for Locke an institution that is detrimental to individuals, relative to what they might secure on their own without government, is illegitimate, as ‘no rational creature can be supposed to change his condition with an intention to be worse. ’ (Locke. Second Treatise. 2003) Furthermore, Rousseau (1712–1778), in his influential 1762 treatise The Social Contract, outlined a different version of social contract theory. Rousseau’s social contract can be summarised as, ‘each of us puts his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will; and in a body we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole. ’ (Rousseau. Social Contract. 2002). For Rousseau the fundamental aim of the social contract is to establish freedom, believing that liberty was possible only where there was direct rule by the people as a whole in law making, where popular sovereignty was indivisible and inalienable. However, people also desire the advantages of living in a society, because it is only as a citizen that man can fulfil himself and become virtuous. ‘Man was born free, but he is everywhere in chains. ’ (Social Contract. p. 141). Thus Rousseau aimed to create a political and social order where this contradiction would be resolved, the key purpose being ‘to find a form of association that defends and protects with all common forces the person and goods of each associate, and by means of uniting with all, nevertheless obeys only himself, and remains as free as before. (Social Contract. p. 148). For Rousseau the answer lay in the social contract. Thus everyone entering into civil association must give up his rights to the whole community; this is the ‘cost’ for Rousseau. Yet there are benefits too, as Rousseau argued ‘this passage from the state of nature to the civil state produces quite a remarkable change in man, for it substitutes justice for instinct in his behaviour and gives his actions a moral quality they previously lacked. ’ (Social Contract. p. 150). This is successful because the whole citizen body is the sovereign, thus is cannot have interests contrary to the individuals who comprise it (Boucher. 2003. p. 247) as ‘the sovereign need give no guarantee to the citizens ‘the sovereign by the mere fact it exists, is always all that is should be. ’ (Social Contract. p. 150). Additionally, Rousseau rejected Hobbes’ view that man is self-seeking and competitive by nature. (Boucher. 2003. p. 240) However his notion does have similarities with Hobbes. For Rousseau, in contrast with Locke, the state of nature is neither a social nor moral condition (Boucher. 2003. p. 241) and in fact nature gives us no sanction for legitimate authority, rather it is the condition where no one has a right to rule over another. There is no justice or injustice, man is merely solitary and self-sufficient. Furthermore Rousseau is hoping to diminish the dependence of man, however this cannot be done in its entirety; rather one form of dependence can be substituted for another. Boucher. 2003. p. 251) Rousseaus political theory differs in important ways from that of Locke and Hobbes. Rousseaus collectivism is most evident in his development of the ‘luminous conception’ (which he credited to Diderot) of the general will. Rousseau argues a citizen cannot pursue his true interest by being an egoist but must instead subordinate himself to the law created by the citizenry acting as a collective. Rousseaus striking phrase that man must be forced to be free’ (Social Contract) reveals that the indivisible and inalienable popular sovereignty decides what is good for the whole, then if an individual lapses back into his ordinary egoism and disobeys the leadership, he will be forced to listen to what they decided as a member of the collective, as citizens. Thus, the law, in as much as it is created by the people acting as a body, is not a limitation of individual freedom, but its expression. Moreover, Rousseau believed that the laws that govern a people helped to mould their character, so law is a civilizing force. Laws represent the restraints of civil freedom; they represent the leap made from humans in the state of nature into civil society. Thus enforcement of law, which may seem a ‘cost’ in his contract theory, is actually not a restriction on individual liberty, as the individual, as a citizen, explicitly agreed to be constrained. Ultimately the social contracts of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are successful for the conception of man in the state of nature that each held; however due to this they all had varying aims. For Hobbes, man begins as necessarily competitive and unsocial, thus his contract must aim to establish peace and thus requires absolute rule. However, for Locke, man is by nature a social animal and not purely self-interested, thus securing peace primarily is less important, rather man here retains the right to life and liberty, and gains the right to just, impartial protection of their property, as this is more prudent than each trying to protect their own and living in constant fear. Yet for Rousseau the fundamental aim of the social contract was to establish freedom, as man was naturally free, but was restrained and this freedom needed realising and maintaining. Overall, the social contract of the three thinkers is markedly different, however each is justifiable given their different views of the state of nature and man’s inherent nature, nonetheless there are costs to man’s total freedom as he must give up rights to the rulers and follow new laws, to varying degrees. Fundamentally, the society posited by all three is seen to be an improvement on the state of nature in terms of its freedom, equality and peacefulness.

Theories Compare And Contrast Nursing Essay

Theories Compare And Contrast Nursing Essay Draper states that nursing theory is a tool This simile, although quite crude, captures the notion of goal orientation that a nursing theory is said to require. Drapper focuses on two goals that a nursing theory has or should have in view. First, a nursing theory serves as a framework to provisionally understand some part of the nursing world by identifying relevant phenomena that need examining, and second, it identifies a special task of nursing, i.e. to postulate an ideal world of nursing. It is the combination of ideas, explanations, relations, and assumptions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines and project. Actually theory is an idea or mixture of ideas that is suggested to explain phenomena. For understanding of theory, it is important to learn about the concept, conceptual frame work, and other elements of the theory. Nursing theories have greater impact on todays nursing, it helps in education, nursing care, and research. In this paper I am discussing the Or em theory and Roy adaption model, and will compare and contrast to conclude the better applicability of it. Orems theory Every human has the capability to perform self-care and maintain his/her health and life met paradigm of the theory is human, health, environment, and nursing. Orems theory is made up of three related theories Theory of self-care Theory of self-care deficit Theory of nursing process First is theory of self-care, Orem explains that if individual can attain all the needs are capable for self-care. Self-care comprises those activities performed independently by an individual to promote and maintain personal well-being throughout life. She suggested that human beings are capable and responsible for taking action to adjust their health, and life. The term she provided to this capability to take action on ones own behalf is self-care agency. The second is self-care deficit theory, which tells us that human beings have some need for survival, and are capable to attain it for health, and life. Human beings take some action to attain their needs and sustain life, which is called therapeutic self-care demand. When these actions are insufficient to fulfill all or part of the therapeutic self-care demand (needs), a self-care deficit develops. In this way the person is unable to perform and manage everything she/he needs to maintain health, and life. Third is theory of nursi ng process, to develop and organize an action plan that connects the identified gap between self-care agency and therapeutic self-care demand. (Whitener, 1998, PG). It build up the capabilities to meet their self-care, for example a person is unable to maintain his health. In this way the nurses will help the person to perform the needed action, or find someone to assist in the performance of the actions. Nursing goal focuses to overcome human limitation for needs and self-care. Nursing process is further divided in to nursing practice and fundamental nursing science. Nursing practice is based on observation, judgment and decision in nursing practice.it is evidence based practice awareness and critical thinking in nursing practice. Critical thinking further divide into diagnostic, prescriptive, regulatory and control evaluation. Orem explains five ways, on the basis of that nurses can help their patients in enhancing self-care: acting and doing for others, guiding, supporting, promoting personal development and teaching. Roy Nursing Model Roy developed adaptation model of nursing, and define the delivery of nursing care. Roy explain the Human beings as a set of interrelated system(psychological, biological, and social).human beings are in struggle to bring equilibrium between their system and environment. Human beings are facing factor (stimuli) from the environment, which alter the balance between the individual and environment. Stimuli may be external or internal which help or hinder in the process of adaptation. To bring balance human beings develop coping mechanism (behavior) to the stressor. It is a framework between environment and human beings, and stimuli, human beings changes his capabilities for adaptation.it also comprises the four domain concepts of person, health, environment, and nursing. In Roys model goal for nursing is to help in adaptation to improve person health, quality of life, and dying with dignity. These are four modes which she used in her model are physiological, self-concept, role function and interdependence. She used six step nursing process assessment of behavior, assessment of stimuli, nursing diagnosis, goal sitting, intervention, and evaluation. It is a complete process, on the basis of which we can do assessment and plan for intervention to get the desire goal. Roys model has three basic concepts: the human being, adaptation, and nursing. The human being is continually interacting with the environment (stimuli), and nursing is the helping to bring balance and adaptation. The person has two major internal processing subsystems, the regulator and the cognator. These subsystems are the mechanisms used by human beings to cope with stimuli from the internal and external environment. The regulator mechanism works through the autonomic nervous system and includes chemical, neural, and perception pathways. This mechanism prepares the individual for coping with environmental stimuli. The cognator mechanism includes emotions, perception, processing, learning, and judgment. There are three types of stimuli focal, contextual, and residual. Important factors in all human beings adaptation include developmental stage, family and culture. In the same way adaptation level of the life process is explained on three different levels: integrated, compensatory, and compromised. Adaptation is a mechanism in which a person is coping mentally, physically, socially, spiritually and emotionally. Nursing role in adaptation process is to help out in adaptation and improve capabilities. Roy adaptation model has a great implication in nursing care, education, and research. Compare and contrast between the Orem and Roy nursing theory Dorothy Orems Self-Care Deficit Theory and Sister Callista Roys Adaptation Model are grand nursing theories, but their applicability are the same as the middle range theory. The grand nursing theories consist of conceptual model, which find out the main point of nursing investigation and monitor the development of mid-range theories that will be suitable to nurses and as well as to other health professionals. According to Walker and Avant (2011), these theories contributed in conceptually sorting the nursing from the practice of medicine by demonstrating the presence of distinct nursing perspectives. Orems Health Care Deficit Theory and Sister Callista Roys Adaptation Model are compared and analyzed for their importance in nursing. The main aim and purpose of the nursing theories is to provide nursing care to the human beings. Orem and Roy nursing theories based on the interrelating framework, which emphasis on the nursing practice. Therefore these theories promote better patient care, improve the status of nursing profession, and help in communication between the nurses, and provide supervision to the researches and education.in both theories the nursing process are the same, first we do assessment, identify the problems, plan goal, intervention , and evaluation. They used the different word for nursing but the process and approach are the same. Orem and Roy used the same paradigms system which is related to nursing-person, health, environment, and nursing-are basic and important to nursing practice, but the main focus is health and improvement of life. Today the main focus of health professionals is prevent illness, give medication, and implementation. These paradigm have greater relation with each other, help in every intervention of nursing as well as the other professionals. In both of the models age, past experiences, developmental, and sociocultural environment influences the individuals. These factors are directly and indirectly affect the person for self-care and adaptation with the internal and external environment. Nurses, patients, other family members, and environment are involved to improve capabilities, possibilities to attain necessary needs to sustain life and growth Furthermore, Zarkowska and Clements (1994) share Orems (1991) concept of the dynamic interplay between social, physical, environmental and psychological issues in relation to the adjustment of personal behaviors. They suggest that it is through the manipulation of the environmental settings, triggers, human actions and responses that an individual can be motivated to adjust personal behavior. In both models the nurses assess patients potential and capabilities to attain their needs, nurse select the most appropriate and effective process and take actions survival and health. Orem and Roy model are preventive and rehabilitative nursing models. In the Orem nursing theory, she focus on the needs which are required for sustaining life, growth and development. It is used for rehabilitation and as a primary care, in which the individual is encouraged to be independent. The main purpose of this theory is to assess the individual at different level and provide care accordingly to the needs .Roy model of adaptation is also a rehabilitative and preventive model, according to her nursing is a service to the society. Human beings have the capabilities to change the stimuli or adapt the stimuli to promote health and life. Adaptation is a positive response to the surrounding environment and changes; it is the response from the individual and choice to bring equilibrium between self and environment. Before the stimuli to harm the individual, individual responded to the stimuli to build adaptation. The goal of adaptation is build coping mechanism to achieve survival, de velopment and mastering to the stimuli. Orems and Roys nursing theories, addressed each theory with respect to the four meta-paradigms of nursing, and finally compared the one meta-paradigm of health across both theories. This analysis has shown that Orems theory is more occupied with activities that promote health, while Roys theory is more concerned with where the patient stands on the health-illness continuum and how he can be brought to greater wholeness. It is argued that Orem nursing theory is always applicable; it is only a theoretical model. Orem model only focus the individual, that each individual has the capabilities to perform self-care. Every person will perform activities for his/ her needs to survive, maintain growth, health, and life. (Polit Henderson p. 103). The fundamental principle of the model is that individual will take responsibility for his/ her health and the health of other; it is the main drawback in her theory.in Roy model the there are four adaptive modes for survival, physiological, role function, self-concept, and interdependence mode.it means that Roy adaptive model focus on different perspective of the patient. In Roys Adaptation Model, humans are bios psychosocial adaptive systems who cope with environmental change through the process of adaptation. (Polit Henderson, p. 104). Orem theory has one limitation i.e. it doesnt not comprise all aspects of care and needs of a specific client. Therefore some dilemma and miss conception has been found with Orem theory, having unclear definition of family, community, nurse society relationship, and public education area. Although the family, community and environment are considered in self-care action, the focus is primarily on the individual (Balabagno, et.al, 2006). Roy model explain the definition of family, community, environment and nurse society relationship it is the nurse role to enhance capabilities in situation of health and illness and to improve the involvement of human systems with the environment, and promote survival (Roy Andrew, 1999, p.55) The most noticeable limitation of Orem theory is that in her theory, she did not explain well the individual emotional needs. She focuses on physical care and provides limited stress to psychological care. Roy nursing model explains it very well in detail, but at the same time it needs time and deep knowledge for understanding.. Orems theory of self-care is more applicable to acute care settings, whereas Roys adaptation model is more useful in the chronic care setting as elaborated by Alligood and Tommy (2010). The assessment process in adaptation model takes longer time and often happens to be a repetitive process for various components of assessment. So, in acute care setting like in emergency care and in ICU, a less need to adaptation to stimuli is less pronounced. However, self-care model is more applicable in acute care settings. Moreover, Self-care model incorporate concepts of nursing process as developed by American Nursing Association (ANA) that are espoused by North American Nursing Application in nursing Every theory has its own implications and importance in nursing, both the theories have greater impact on todays nursing, it help in education, nursing care, and research. Dorothy Orems Self-Care Deficit Theory and Sister Callista Roys Adaptation Model are using as a grand nursing theories, but their applicability are the same as the middle range theory. Orem and Roy nursing theories based on the interrelating framework, which emphasis on the nursing practice. These theories follow the same approaches, both the theories help in curriculum development, and nursing care to prioritize the nursing needs. After discussion I conclude that Orem nursing theory is best suited in the clinical practice. Orem nursing theory is more applicable in hospital set up and community, and based on the evidence base critical decision. The self-care theory associates the patient assessments with nursing diagnosis, expected patient outcome, discharge planning, quality assurance, clinical research, and exter nal agency reports. Many researches has been done on the Orem nursing theory application in different area of health .it is applicable acute care units, ambulatory clinics, community, nursing homes, hospice, and rehabilitation center. Orem theory is applicable to a variety of patients, specific diseases, chronic disease, alcoholic, head and neck surgery, arthritis, and cardiac condition (Conway, McMillan, Solman, 2006). This theory is also applicable to different ages, children, and mother with newborns. Conclusion All the nursing theories have their significances; nursing theories create new approaches, and method to nursing practice. Theories challenge the existing knowledge and practice, and change the structure of laws and principle. The main purpose of theory is to improve nursing practice, and the goal is guide the nursing practice. We are familiar that nursing practices are totally based on theories. We are using these theories directly and indirectly in our practice, but it that variety of definitions and concepts explain in nursing theories does not predict anything. It cannot be applied to the clinical practice and have a little impact on nursing practice. All the concepts, paradigm, and frame work guide and provide rationale for practice, but due to advancement in practices the incorporation become problematic.

Mycoplasma vs Mycobacterium

Mycoplasma vs Mycobacterium Mycobacteria are aerobic and slender, curved rod shaped species. Since they are aerobic they like to live in areas where oxygen levels are high; such as, apical or upper part of the lungs. Thus, a decrease in oxygen concentration can be dangerous for these organisms. On the other hand, Mycoplasma is a bacterial genus that has more than 100 species. It was first described in the late 1800s and members of this genus are very tiny. Even though most of the species of this genus are harmless, there are some that appear to be virulent and thus are responsible for specific medial conditions in humans (1). Mycobacteria cell wall is composed of waxes and mycolic acids, which makes them resistant to Gram staining; however, they can be stained acid-fast. Whereas, Mycoplasmas are gram negative bacteria and one interesting characteristic of these bacteria is that they dont have a cell wall; which gives them an elastic shape that can vary easily (1). The unusual cell wall of Mycobacterium and the absence of cell wall in Mycoplasmas make them invulnerable to many drugs. Plus, both, Mycobacterium and Mycoplasma, grow very slow, this also accounts for the long time to make observable colonies on laboratory media. Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are pathogenic bacterial species that causes respiratory tract disease. The disease that Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause is called tuberculosis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are responsible for causing mild upper respiratory tract infection known as atypical pneumonia. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was first discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch and it belongs to the genus Mycobacterium; whereas, Mycoplasma pneumoniae belong to genus Mycoplasma. Atypical pneumonia symptoms are different from typical pneumonia. In addition, sometimes patients dont even have any symptoms related to the respiratory tract. Frequently, patients remain ambulatory, therefore this condition is also sometimes called walking pneumonia. Tuberculosis (TB) is spread from person to person via air. If a person, who has TB, coughs, sneezes, or speaks, he can put M. tuberculosis into the air. If nearby people breathe in these bacteria they can become infected. On the other hand, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is also transmitted from one person to another through close personal contact by respiratory droplets. Symptoms, such as fever, chest pain and cough, can be seen after the organism is in the hosts system for 12 to 14 days. Common characteristics of walking pneumonia are that the size of alveoli is decreased due to inward swelling of the alveolar walls and alveoli dont fill with fluid. Whereas a typical pathogenesis for tuberculosis is that once the bacteria are inhaled, they start dividing at a very slow pace inside the cells (white blood cells) that have phagocytized them. They then educe a host response such as infiltration of neutrophil and accumulation of fluid in the alveoli of the lung. The neutrophils are ruptured and destroyed by the organisms. Then, macrophages and lymphocytes come to the alveoli and phagocytize living tubercle bacilli. These organisms again divide within the new host cell and destroy it; as the phagocytes rupture they release infective organisms. This process goes on until enough cells have been ruptured and an acute inflammatory response has occurred. If lesions are not healed, they can result in tissue necrosis or harden to become chronic granulomas, also known as tubercles. These tubercles may contain live tubercle bacilli or macrophages, and lung tissues and function in these areas are permanently destroyed. Also, some tubercle bacil li can also enter lymphatic and circulatory system. They spread through the body and form numerous lesions; this condition is called military tuberculosis Tuberculosis and walking pneumonia can be diagnosed in a clinical sample such as sputum; however, since the bacteria grow very slowly sputum culturing process can take weeks before it is declared negative. Other options for diagnosis of tuberculosis are X-rays or skin test and for walking pneumonia other serologic tests are ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence, etc. But usually treatment is given based on clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae dont possess a cell wall which results in osmotic instability, so they utilize sterol in their membrane for structural support. However, survival without a cell wall is not a problem for these organisms, because they live in an animal (human) host, which is osmotically stable (2). M. pneumoniae are invulnerable to B-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, because they disturb the cell wall and these microorganisms dont have a cell wall (2). So drugs, such as azithromycine or fluroquinolone, are used to fight these microorganisms. On the other hand, Mycobacteria unusual cell wall hinders the access of drugs and makes many antibiotics ineffective. However, drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin can be given to the patients for at least one year. In addition, bacillus of Calmette and Guà ©rin (BCG) vaccine is world-widely used to prevent tuberculosis, but there is no vaccine currently available for walking pneumonia. Thus to prevent atypical pneumonia close contac t with infected people is avoided. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the smallest bacterial pathogen from the genus Mycoplasma. This microorganism is responsible for causing mild upper respiratory tract infection known as atypical pneumonia. This type of pneumonia has symptoms that are different from the typical pneumonia. In addition, sometimes patients dont even have any symptoms related to the respiratory tract. Frequently, patients remain ambulatory, therefore this condition is also sometimes called walking pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is transmitted from one person to another via respiratory droplets. Symptoms, such as fever, chest pain and cough, can be seen after the organism is in the hosts system for 12 to 14 days. Common characteristics of walking pneumonia are that the size of alveoli is decreased due to inward swelling of the alveolar walls and alveoli dont fill with fluid. Atypical pneumonia is diagnosed by isolating M. pneumoniae from sputum or from a nasopharyngeal swab; however, since these bacteria grow very slowly this process can take up to 3 weeks. There are other serologic tests such as ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence, etc., but usually treatment is given based on clinical symptoms. These microorganisms dont possess a cell wall which results in osmotic instability, so they utilize sterol in their membrane for structural support. However, survival without a cell wall is not a problem for these organisms, because they live in an animal (human) host, which is osmotically stable (2). M. pneumoniae are invulnerable to B-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, because they disturb the cell wall and these microorganisms dont have a cell wall (2). So drugs, such as azithromycine or fluroquinolone, are used to fight these microorganisms. Plus, currently there is no vaccine available, thus to prevent atypical pneumonia avoid close contact with infected people. References What is Mycoplasma? WiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. . M. pneumoniae. Index of /. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. .

The Benefits of Enterprise and Innovation :: essays research papers

The Benefits of Enterprise and Innovation Teens are facing a major unemployment rate when they come out of High School. This unemployment rate could be cut if students would learn and grasp knowledge of business, economy, and new technology. This course should help in grasping all those ideas. This essay will start this process of learning by setting goals and showing how they can be met. The real world is tuff and unpredictable. With this course, preparing for the real world will be much easier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Signing up for Enterprise and Innovation is as simple as watching the news. Just watching the news tell us about the roller coaster ride called economy and our unemployment rate will make anyone jump and sign up. Signing up just is smart. To succeed in the real world, an edge is needed. This edge starts by picking up a pencil and signing up for Enterprise and Innovation. With this edge a job should be easier to get and more enjoyable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The goals that were set for this course are quite simple, relative to each other, and helpful. My major goal is to comprehend an edge and understanding in searching for a job and/or running a successful business. This goal also branches off into many smaller goals or steps. One of these steps is to gain experience by taking this course. The experience I will gain is about running a business and by getting knowledge of our economy to help get a job and help keep or get a job promotion . Another step is to seize more experience in interacting with people in a business. This experience will help extremely at giving better knowledge of how a business runs by its job force.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many things have to be done and met to reach these goals. Though they may seem hard or easy to reach, all goals may grow, shrink, or change entirely. Through this course, focus and concentration is essential. Another way to reach these goals is to not just focus in one direction but open your mind to focus in many directions. This may need information from others, but that is another way of reaching these goals. Cooperation with people is major key in reaching goals. This cooperation is an easy way to reach the goals that were set.

Sleep :: essays research papers

The article I chose is called â€Å"Reinventing yourself† and it talks about research on memory. According to the author â€Å"who you are is limited only by your imagination†. What does it mean? That’s what I will try to explain on the following couple pages. As I understood this article, it’s talking about how our imagination influences the memory. It starts with the examples from people’s lives. Bill Clinton told American people that he never served for Vietnam, and the reasons he gave appeared to be totally different from the reasons that came up after a research. Or, Gary Trudeau, cartoonist, that was telling people the same story for about 20 years about the way he avoided army, saying that he was a student and â€Å"his three-year student deferment had run out, which meant his call-up was imminent†. In fact, what appeared after a research, his dad was a doctor, and he didn’t serve in Vietnam because of his health condition. This is a good example of how our present life develops our imagination that adds to the memory and makes it different from a reality. But this is the way our imagination reflects and connects our past, present and future. And sometimes we start to think about what do we need a memory for. And the answer is â€Å"to learn from our experiences without having to repeat them endlessly†. That’s why very few moments in our life can repeat exactly. And when we share the personal histories, it helps to keep the relationships going, but, as a matter of fact, what really happened is not that dramatic and critical as the way we talk about it afterwards. Let’s imagine talking about memories from childhood, and suddenly somebody interrupts us and says that it couldn’t happened and you are wrong. What are you going to do? How are you going to prove it? And what the statistics show now is that many people instead of trying to find a proof such as pictures, tapes, videos will prefer just to imagine what could happen and how would it feel if this could happen now. Psychologist Helen Hembrook discovered this. In 1996 psychologists made a research by giving the example of the same events to the same people twice that could happen to them in their childhood, and it appeared that many of them gave different answers twice and, besides this, some of them just imagined that it could happened to them and this made them to really believe that it happened. Sleep :: essays research papers The article I chose is called â€Å"Reinventing yourself† and it talks about research on memory. According to the author â€Å"who you are is limited only by your imagination†. What does it mean? That’s what I will try to explain on the following couple pages. As I understood this article, it’s talking about how our imagination influences the memory. It starts with the examples from people’s lives. Bill Clinton told American people that he never served for Vietnam, and the reasons he gave appeared to be totally different from the reasons that came up after a research. Or, Gary Trudeau, cartoonist, that was telling people the same story for about 20 years about the way he avoided army, saying that he was a student and â€Å"his three-year student deferment had run out, which meant his call-up was imminent†. In fact, what appeared after a research, his dad was a doctor, and he didn’t serve in Vietnam because of his health condition. This is a good example of how our present life develops our imagination that adds to the memory and makes it different from a reality. But this is the way our imagination reflects and connects our past, present and future. And sometimes we start to think about what do we need a memory for. And the answer is â€Å"to learn from our experiences without having to repeat them endlessly†. That’s why very few moments in our life can repeat exactly. And when we share the personal histories, it helps to keep the relationships going, but, as a matter of fact, what really happened is not that dramatic and critical as the way we talk about it afterwards. Let’s imagine talking about memories from childhood, and suddenly somebody interrupts us and says that it couldn’t happened and you are wrong. What are you going to do? How are you going to prove it? And what the statistics show now is that many people instead of trying to find a proof such as pictures, tapes, videos will prefer just to imagine what could happen and how would it feel if this could happen now. Psychologist Helen Hembrook discovered this. In 1996 psychologists made a research by giving the example of the same events to the same people twice that could happen to them in their childhood, and it appeared that many of them gave different answers twice and, besides this, some of them just imagined that it could happened to them and this made them to really believe that it happened.

Wedding Reception Speech †Best Man -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Reception Speech – Best Man Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you’ll all agree it’s been a fantastic day so far, but unfortunately for every silver lining there’s a cloud, and I’m yours. For those of you that haven’t bought me a drink yet, I’m Simon and I’ve been sentenced to being Randy’s best man today. It’s said that, being asked to be best man is one of the greatest honours you can be given, on the other hand it’s also one of the most terrible things you can do to a friend, so thank you Randy. Seeing as though this is my first time being best man, I was a little worried as to how long the speech should last so I asked around and the general consensus was that it should go on for about as long as it takes the groom to perform his manly duties in the bedroom. So with that ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much, you’ve been a great crowd !! †¦. [sit down briefly] Thanks Seriously though and more importantly, I’d like to start off by congratulating the happy couple. I’m sure you’ll all agree what a great couple they make. Marriage asks that couples take each other for better or worse and Randy, you really couldn’t have done any better. And Judy, †¦. I suppose it could be worse! I’d also like to echo Randys comments and thank everyone again on their behalf for coming and sharing their special day, particularly those that have travelled long distances. I know how hard i... ... honour it’s been to be best man today. On behalf of the bride and groom, I’d like to echo what I said earlier and thank everyone for sharing their special day. On behalf of myself, I would just like to say that if you have enjoyed this speech half as much as I’ve enjoyed giving it, then I can only apologise. I started planning it about a month ago and you must feel that I’ve been delivering it for equally as long. So then, Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me immense pleasure, not to mention relief, to invite you all to stand and raise your glasses in a toast to Randy and Judy, the new Mr and Mrs Brown. We wish them well for the future, and hope they enjoy a long and happy marriage. Randy and Judy.

Procurement Essay

1. A buyer who communicates expectations clearly. The number one quality of a good customer is that they are able to express what they want and need. This ability is vital for a supplier to deliver the right product or service. A supplier can’t deliver what wasn’t asked for. As with pretty much every project of any sort that involves more than one person communication is the biggest factor in success. Poor communication will without a doubt cripple your project and it most often comes in one of two different forms. First there is slow communication. When clients take weeks to get back to you on simple updates projects drag and you don’t get paid. Additionally your motivation for the project will probably drop significantly causing you to take shortcuts when you finally do hear back on changes or approval or make assumptions when you don’t hear back. While your mindset may be that you just want to get this project out the door it could result in sub par work and a poor reflection of your capabilities. Second there is miscommunication. While your client may get back to you in a timely manner there is just something off between the two parties. This road can go both ways, as a designer working with clients its up to you to find out what their comfort level may be when communicating ‘techy’ things. Some clients are plenty familiar with the technology and best practices that go into web design while others will need to be walked through the process more. The positive side of this problem is that it is very avoidable. Communication issues are often glaringly obvious before a project ever gets under way. If you are looking for a project and not a headache you will likely be better off passing on projects that appear to be ridden with communication issues from the get go. 2. Allows a reasonable amount of time for the work. The business world is filled with customers who want it â€Å"yesterday.† Often, what these customers actually get is a rushed job full of mistakes and needing a lot of rework. A good customer, however, understands that quality service from the supplier takes time and plans accordingly. 3. Available for questions. While most suppliers can and do work independently, there’s nothing more frustrating for a supplier than being surprised by an obstacle and being unable to reach the customer for questions and clarifications. Smart customers therefore know that it’s cheaper to get it right the first time than to fix it later. They make themselves available. 4. Pays a fair amount for work required. A bargain is a bargain, except when it’s not. Often paying less than market rate for work results in getting work of less than average quality. That’s because a supplier who works on the cheap often must take on more work than they can really do well just to make ends meet. 5. Pays in a timely fashion. This is a buyer who discusses their payment terms with the supplier before the project begins and then honor those terms. If you say that you will pay within x days of the project’s completion, be sure to pay that amount within that timeframe. Don’t make the supplier beg you for their payment. You could ruin your professional reputation and even your credit history. 6. Has high integrity. Honesty is at the core of every successful business relationship. Suppliers like to deal with customers who conduct all of their business in an honest and transparent fashion. Not only is this a great way to conduct oneself in general, it will also enhance the buyer’s business reputation. 7. A buyer who allows the supplier to do their job. Once the buyer has hired the right person, then they the supplier possess the talent and skill to do the job well. The buyer therefore keeps an open mind about what their supplier proposes. They don’t be constantly second-guessing their supplier’s abilities. 8. A buyer who seeks an ongoing relationship. The best customers understand the value of an ongoing relationship. They don’t want to have to â€Å"break-in† a new supplier with each new project that they have. This will encourage loyalty from both parties which is very essential in any business undertaking. 9. A buyer who gives credit where credit is due. While it’s not always possible to give a supplier authorship credit for a product or service, a discerning customer notices when a supplier puts in extra effort or goes the extra mile in a project. 10. Committed to quality. Most suppliers take pride in their work and want to produce high quality work. They dislike it when a customer asks them to take shortcuts. 11. Project Attachment: Look for clients who are attached to the project at hand. If a project has a high personal or financial value to a client it can help solve a lot of the problems on this list. Working for a client who doesn’t care about the project at hand can be a demoralizing experience. While it might be counter-intuitive try to avoid clients that ‘need’ to have a project done. 12. Additional Work: It’s a little bit of a bonus but also one of the best characteristics about any client. A client that refers their friends to you or has multiple projects to tackle is a huge value to any designer. Be sure to reward your loyal customers with discounts and your best work. After all these clients are saving you a huge amount of time and the effort of finding additional work, time that would otherwise go unpaid. If you like a client that you work with and had a project that went well don’t hesitate to ask them for a testimonial and suggest that they share your contact information with anyone they know who needs a web site as well. 13. Save a large deposit (or buy with cash!) A large deposit shows a level of commitment to the property, as that money is non-refundable when you exchange contracts. The only thing that trumps a massive deposit is, of course, a cash buyer. Assuming the buyer has the funds in place and can prove it, the sale is much more likely to go through quickly without business owners being involved. 14. Flexible buyer: Sellers absolutely love flexible buyers because it means they can do things in the way they want, at the pace they want. This is one reason they like chain-free buyers because they tend to be able to move very quickly if necessary. But the opposite is also true. Perhaps your seller has been unable to find a suitable property themselves so they may want to agree a price with a buyer who is prepared to wait for them. If you are happy to proceed quickly, or slowly, and you make this clear to the seller, it could work in your favor.

My Road to Success Essay

My Road to Success Many people believe that natural ability is of pivotal importance for success while others argue that hard work is the key factor. However, the person, who has a gift of ability but lack of experience gains from hard-working, may not succeed. In my opinion hard work is still more important as it helps us to attain the higher levels than what lazy individuals with special ability can have. Natural ability does benefit us a lot in order to achieve success in life.Individuals, whose special abilities, do not have to study much to have essential skills that are needed for their success. For example, math geniuses are able to do math problems easily at school without spending much time doing homework. People who have acute intelligence in the business field can drive their firms to gain more profits while others have to struggle to get out of debts. Obviously, natural ability facilitates our ways to success while we do not have to suffer much.However, in order to attain success, hard work is still much more important. As skills can be learned, through hard work, we are possibly able to gain new essential skills that we are not born with. For example, behind the success of famous reporters, they have to spend hours of practicing to communicate. The more they practice, the more influent they talk and as a result, they can convey their ideas at ease on television. Moreover, mere natural ability cannot guarantee us success.If a person has exceptional ability but is always lazy and reluctant to work, his ability is likely not to be discovered and remains meaningless. On the other hand, people who always strive for new things are able to be exposed to new opportunities, which can drive them to more success. In short, though natural ability can facilitate us a lot, hard work is always the most crucial part to success. If we work diligently, we not only have new skills but also have more opportunities to achieve success in life.

The Host Chapter 58: Finished

I was so tightly wound that I shrieked in terror; I was so terrified that my shriek was only a breathless little squeal. â€Å"Sorry!† Jared's arm went around my shoulders, comforting. â€Å"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.† â€Å"What are you doing here?† I demanded, still breathless. â€Å"Following you. I've been following you all night.† â€Å"Well, stop it now.† There was a hesitation in the dark, and his arm didn't move. I shrugged out from under it, but he caught my wrist. His grip was firm; I wouldn't be able to shake free easily. â€Å"You're going to see Doc?† he asked, and there was no confusion in the question. It was obvious that he wasn't talking about a social visit. â€Å"Of course I am.† I hissed the words so that he wouldn't hear the panic in my voice. â€Å"What else can I do after today? It's not going to get any better. And this isn't Jeb's decision to make.† â€Å"I know. I'm on your side.† It made me angry that these words still had the power to hurt me, to bring tears stinging into my eyes. I tried to hold on to the thought of Ian-he was the anchor, as Kyle somehow had been for Sunny-but it was hard with Jared's hand touching me, with the smell of him in my nose. Like trying to make out the song of one violin when the entire percussion section was bashing away†¦ â€Å"Then let me go, Jared. Go away. I want to be alone.† The words came out fierce and fast and hard. It was easy to hear that they weren't lies. â€Å"I should come with you.† â€Å"You'll have Melanie back soon enough,† I snapped. â€Å"I'm only asking for a few minutes, Jared. Give me that much.† Another pause; his hand didn't loosen. â€Å"Wanda, I would come to be with you.† The tears spilled over. I was grateful for the darkness. â€Å"It wouldn't feel that way,† I whispered. â€Å"So there's no point.† Of course Jared could not be allowed to be there. Only Doc could be trusted. Only he had promised me. And I wasn't leaving this planet. I wasn't going to go live as a Dolphin or a Flower, always grieving for the loves I'd left behind me, all dead by the time I opened my eyes again-if I even had eyes. This was my planet, and they wouldn't make me leave. I would stay in the dirt, in the dark grotto with my friends. A human grave for the human I had become. â€Å"But Wanda, I†¦ There's so much that I need to say to you.† â€Å"I don't want your gratitude, Jared. Trust me on that.† â€Å"What do you want?† he whispered, his voice strained and choked. â€Å"I would give you anything.† â€Å"Take care of my family. Don't let the others kill them.† â€Å"Of course I'll take care of them.† He dismissed my request brusquely. â€Å"I meant you. What can I give you?† â€Å"I can't take anything with me, Jared.† â€Å"Not even a memory, Wanda? What do you want?† I brushed the tears away with my free hand, but others took their place too quickly for it to matter. No, I couldn't take even a memory. â€Å"What can I give you, Wanda?† he insisted. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice steady. â€Å"Give me a lie, Jared. Tell me you want me to stay.† There was no hesitation this time. His arms wound around me in the dark, held me securely against his chest. He pressed his lips against my forehead, and I felt his breath move my hair when he spoke. Melanie was holding her breath in my head. She was trying to bury herself again, trying to give me my freedom for these last minutes. Maybe she was afraid to listen to these lies. She wouldn't want this memory when I was gone. â€Å"Stay here, Wanda. With us. With me. I don't want you to go. Please. I can't imagine having you gone. I can't see that. I don't know how to†¦ how to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice broke. He was a very good liar. And he must have been very, very sure of me to say those things. I rested against him for a moment, but I could feel the time pulling me away. Time was up. Time was up. â€Å"Thank you,† I whispered, and I tried to extricate myself. His arms tightened. â€Å"I'm not done.† Our faces were only inches apart. He closed the distance, and even here, on the edge of my last breath on this planet, I couldn't help responding. Gasoline and an open flame-we exploded again. It wasn't the same, though. I could feel that. This was for me. It was my name that he gasped when he held this body-and he thought of it as my body, thought of it as me. I could feel the difference. For one moment, it was just us, just Wanderer and Jared, both of us burning. No one had ever lied better than Jared lied with his body in my last minutes, and for that I was grateful. I couldn't take it with me, because I wasn't going anywhere, but it eased some of the pain of leaving. I could believe the lie. I could believe that he would miss me so much that it might even mar some of his joy. I shouldn't want that, but it felt good to believe it anyway. I couldn't ignore the time, the seconds ticking like a countdown. Even on fire, I could feel them dragging at me, sucking me down the dark corridor. Taking me away from all this heat and feeling. I managed to pull my lips away from his. We panted in the dark, our breath warm on each other's faces. â€Å"Thank you,† I said again. â€Å"Wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I can't. I can't†¦ bear any more. Okay?† â€Å"Okay,† he whispered. â€Å"I just want one more thing. Let me do this alone. Please?† â€Å"If†¦ if you're sure that's what you want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off, unsure. â€Å"It's what I need, Jared.† â€Å"Then I'll stay here,† he said hoarsely. â€Å"I'll send Doc to get you when it's over.† His arms were still locked around me. â€Å"You know that Ian is going to try to kill me for letting you do this? Maybe I should let him. And Jamie. He'll never forgive either of us.† â€Å"I can't think about them right now. Please. Let me go.† Slowly, with a palpable reluctance that warmed some of the cold emptiness in the center of my body, Jared let his arms slide away. â€Å"I love you, Wanda.† I sighed. â€Å"Thanks, Jared. You know how much I love you. With my whole heart.† Heart and soul. Not the same thing, in my case. I'd been divided too long. It was time to make something whole again, make a whole person. Even if that excluded me. The ticking seconds pulled me toward the end. It was cold when he no longer held me. It got colder every step I took away from him. Just my imagination, of course. It was still summer here. It would always be summer here for me. â€Å"What happens here when it rains, Jared?† I whispered. â€Å"Where do people sleep?† It took him a moment to answer, and I could hear tears in his voice. â€Å"We†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He swallowed. â€Å"We all move into the game room. Everyone sleeps in there together.† I nodded to myself. I wondered what the atmosphere would be like. Awkward, with all the conflicting personalities? Or was it fun? A change? Like a slumber party? â€Å"Why?† he whispered. â€Å"I just wanted to†¦ imagine. How it will be.† Life and love would go on. Even though it would happen without me, the idea brought me joy. â€Å"Goodbye, Jared. Mel says she'll see you soon.† Liar. â€Å"Wait†¦ Wanda†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hurried down the tunnel, hurried away from any chance that he might, with his grateful lies, convince me not to go. There was only silence behind me. His pain did not hurt me the way Ian's had. For Jared, pain would be over soon. Joy was only minutes away. The happy ending. The southern tunnel felt only a few yards long. I could see the bright lantern burning ahead, and I knew Doc was waiting for me. I walked into the room that had always frightened me with my shoulders squared. Doc had everything prepared. In the dimmest corner, I could see two cots pushed together, Kyle snoring with his arm around Jodi's motionless form. His other arm was still curled around Sunny's tank. She would have liked that. I wished there was some way to tell her. â€Å"Hey, Doc,† I whispered. He looked up from the table where he was setting out the medicine. There were already tears streaming down his face. And suddenly, I was brave. My heart slowed to an even pace. My breath deepened and relaxed. The hardest parts were over. I had done this before. Many times. I had closed my eyes and gone away. Always knowing new eyes would open again, but still. This was familiar. Nothing to fear. I went to the cot and hopped up so that I was sitting on it. I reached for the No Pain with steady hands and screwed the lid off. I put the little tissue square on my tongue, let it dissolve. There was no change. I wasn't in any pain this time. No physical pain. â€Å"Tell me something, Doc. What's your real name?† I wanted to answer all the little puzzles before the end. Doc sniffed and wiped the back of his hand under his eyes. â€Å"Eustace. It's a family name, and my parents were cruel people.† I laughed once. Then I sighed. â€Å"Jared's waiting, back by the big cave. I promised him you'd tell him when it was over. Just wait until I-until I†¦ stop moving, okay? It will be too late for him to do anything about my decision then.† â€Å"I don't want to do this, Wanda.† â€Å"I know. Thanks for that, Doc. But I'm holding you to your promise.† â€Å"Please?† â€Å"No. You gave me your word. I did my part, didn't I?† â€Å"You did.† â€Å"Then do yours. Let me stay with Walt and Wes.† His thin face worked as he tried to keep back a sob. â€Å"Will you be†¦ in pain?† â€Å"No, Doc,† I lied. â€Å"I won't feel anything.† I waited for the euphoria to come, for the No Pain to set everything glowing the way it had the last time. I still didn't feel any difference. It must not have been the No Pain after all-it had just been being loved. I sighed again. I stretched out on the cot, on my stomach, and turned my face toward him. â€Å"Put me under, Doc.† The bottle opened. I heard him shake it onto the cloth in his hand. â€Å"You are the noblest, purest creature I've ever met. The universe will be a darker place without you,† he whispered. These were his words over my grave, my epitaph, and I was glad that I got to hear them. Thank you, Wanda. My sister. I will never forget you. Be happy, Mel. Enjoy it all. Appreciate it for me. I will, she promised. Bye, we thought together. Doc's hand pressed the cloth gently over my face. I breathed in deeply, ignoring the thick, uncomfortable scent. As I took another breath, I saw the three stars again. They were not calling to me; they were letting me go, leaving me to the black universe I had wandered for so many lifetimes. I drifted into the black, and it got brighter and brighter. It wasn't black at all-it was blue. Warm, vibrant, brilliant blue†¦ I floated into it with no fear at all.