Economic analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economic analysis - Assignment Example For the past few years, economists surveyed by NABE have concluded that fiscal policy uncertainty including efforts to rein in the deficit was constraining economic growth. However, the survey released on Monday has indicated that 57% no longer believed uncertainty was holding back the recovery. On the other hand, 38% of the citizens thought the fiscal policy was restraining the recovery compared with 80% in March 2014. According to NABE survey, almost half of the respondents believe the current fiscal policy to be about right. The rest of the respondents are divided with about a fourth indicating it is too stimulative and the other fourth too restrictive (Davidson, 2015). The Federal Research officials Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke have warned that restrictive fiscal policy creates headwinds for recovery rather than supporting it as it did during previous economic downturns. Bernanke said that excessively tight near-term fiscal policies have tremendously been counterproductive. The economists have also differed on the current shortfall with 44% criticizing it on excessive spending, 28% blaming it to the output gap, and 24% citing insufficient revenues. A quarter of the economists suggested that the Fed should raise interest rates this year. About 9 percent of them except the rate increase to occur within the first six months (Mankiw, 2014). On the other hand, two-thirds of the economists expect rates to rise during the second part of the year while a quarter believe that the Fed will keep policy on hold until 2016. In the United States, inadequate demand has tremendously constrained activities in the economy of US which has caused repeated downgrades to growth forecast. The current financial crisis and ensuing recession have put the productive capacity of the nation’s economy on a lower and shallower direction than the ones in the previous years. It is estimated that the potential

Violence in Society Essay Example for Free

Violence in Society Essay Every evening we turn on the news only to see that mankind has developed new and inventive ways of killing each other. Violence has become commonplace in many areas throughout the world. However there is still hope that one day mankind will learn to live together in peace. Violence is caused by a combination of genetics, fear, ignorance, emotional outburst, and prejudice. Most of these causes can be cured by education. However the capacity for violence may always be hard wired into our genes. (www. Yale. du) By educating people as to what causes violence and how to effectively deal with the emotions that lead to violence, I believe that we can eliminate approximately 90% of the violence in the world. However, I do not feel that mankind will ever completely remove violence from society due to the fact that violence is integrated into our genetic structure. Before we can stop violence in our society we must first learn to take responsibility for our actions and for our children. Today we are having children at a younger age than ever before. When children are born to parents who have not reached the emotional maturity necessary to properly raise children then mistakes are made and the proper values are not taught correctly or at all. This problem can be resolved for the most part by teaching our children the consequences of their actions. For example, we need to teach our children that as much fun as sex can be, sex has some very real consequences. These consequences can only be handled correctly be those people who have had the life experience and have the emotional maturity to know how to properly deal with these consequences. Adolescence is a difficult time for most young people, a time of confusion and unstable emotions. The added pressure of parenthood on top of the normal pressure of adolescence is almost unbearable of some young parents. (kidshealth. org) Today’s children are surrounded by images of violence in the media. Parents should take responsibility for what their children of are exposed to. Kidshealth. org offers A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Adolescence which says, â€Å"Television shows, magazines and books, the Internet kids have access to tons of information. Be aware of what your child is watching and reading. Know what your child is learning from the media so you can explain whats being said or clear up mistakes. † By knowing what your child is watching parents can prevent their children from making the assumption that violence is the correct way to handle a situation. Besides taking responsibility for our children we also have to learn to take responsibility for our own actions. People today have a tendency to rationalize whatever action that they feel will benefit them personally. For example, there have been reports in the news about people who have been killed over little more than the change in their pockets. A need for wealth and power can lead some people to rationalize the murder of another person if it would benefit them in some way. In The United States people have been increasingly asking the government to regulate several aspects of our lives, including everything from which video games are allowed to be sold to telling us what our children should be allowed to watch. I am not against a rating system for movies, however I do feel that this rating system should be used only as a guide and the parents should be ultimately be responsible for which television shows or movies that children are allowed to watch. We should be responsible for our own actions. We should not rely on the government or anyone else to tell us how to behave. Millions of years ago when mankind first appeared on this planet we developed the â€Å"fight or flight† response to danger. This response is instinct and takes place on a subconscious level. The â€Å"fight or flight† response was developed to help keep us alive. When faced with danger such as a predator this instinct helps us to determine quickly if we should run for safety or stand our ground and fight. Over time as mankind has evolved and learned to develop the technological marvels we are so accustomed to today this instinct has become almost obsolete. The average person today lives in a well constructed home not a cave or teepee. We have learned to avoid danger in almost every aspect of our lives. There are many ways that we have learned to protect ourselves, from safety equipment to the warning labels on the side of an over the counter medication package. All of these safety measures that have become a part of our everyday lives have all but eliminated the need for the â€Å"fight or flight† response. Although we have virtually eliminated the need for this instinct we have not learned to deal with the emotional impact that fear has on us. This can lead to people making rash and unreasonable decisions during the times that this instinct is in effect. By educating people from a young age about the â€Å"fight or flight† response and the strong emotions that it produces we can learn to control our fear and to have more control over our actions during these times of heightened emotion. Religion has been used to justify violence in places like the Middle East, where people have been killing each other for generations simply because they do not agree with the others religion. There have been several religious conflicts over areas where important religious events have taken place. Anger over another religious group claiming these holy lands have lead to generations of fear and hatred between these religious groups. By educating the children of these religious groups to be tolerant of religions and cultures these groups can learn to compromise, and find nonviolent solutions to these problems. Have you ever been so angry that you wanted to hurt someone? Emotional outbursts are also sometimes used to justify violence. Anger, jealousy, even greed have been known to be motivating factors in violent crimes. Being human we have powerful emotions that can overwhelm us if we do not know how to properly control them. At one point or another we have all felt justified in hurting another person, either through anger, jealousy, fear, or any one of dozens of emotions. At least part of, the key to controlling these emotions is realizing that there is no shame in feeling these emotions. It is only how we choose to act on these emotions that can be wrong. By giving in to emotion and choosing to injure another person we only continue the cycle of violence. Methods such as meditation, counting to ten, and just simply talking to someone can be used to control anger. Fear can usually be resolved through education. A fear of snakes for example can usually be overcome by learning about snakes and how to handle them. Greed is more difficult to control. The desire for wealth and power can lead people to do things that most people would never dream of doing. However, by teaching our children to value life and the lives of others over wealth and material possessions we should be able to all but eliminate greed from our society. Another factor that can lead to violence is stereotypes. Stereotypes are dangerous because they can lead to fear and prejudice. Humans have a tendency to fear that which we don’t understand. Generalized assumptions about a group of people can only lead to unreasonable fear of that group which in turn can lead to violence against that group of people. For example, if I said that all black people believe that all white people are ignorant rednecks, that would be a stereotype, and may result in some white people being angry with black people for thinking that all white people are ignorant rednecks, even though most black people do not actually believe that all white people are all ignorant rednecks. By educating our children in how to deal with emotions such as anger, hate, and prejudice we can make great strides in eliminating violence from our society. (Anger management violence in society) Children in today’s society are constantly struggling with emotions that they have no idea how to deal with properly. Sometimes when overwhelmed by emotions that they do not understand these children lash out violently. When parents help their children to learn how to properly handle their emotions, children are far less likely to react violently to these emotions. Violence is caused by many factors. Although we may never fully eliminate violence from our society, by educating ourselves about these factors we can greatly reduce the amount of violence in our society. Violence is â€Å"wired† into our genes, but, we can learn to use good judgment to help us overcome the outdated responses we have developed as we have evolved. The best defense against the many factors that cause violence is education.

Paradigms Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Paradigms What do you do when the hypothetical becomes reality? What if something not just unthinkable, but unimaginable, is suddenly proposed to you as a truth. Now, what if this new truth shatters your entire view of the world, of the universe, and of man’s place in all of that. This is a drastic example of a paradigm shift, when people are torn between two different beliefs. Galileo Galilei brought on the paradigm shift that yielded this extreme example when he offered proof of a heliocentric universe in his 1610 publishing Sidereus Nuncius. Thomas S. Kuhn discussed paradigm shifts like this in his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. While it is never an easy transition, once the new paradigm gains acceptance it will offer brilliant new ideas and explorations. It’s not possible to give a modern parallel to Galileo’s early 1600 publishing Sidereus Nuncius. So we must attempt to consider this in the context of the 1600s. Many things that we take for granted today, things that we know from our days in elementary school and never bother to question, were not even conceived yet. There was no gravitation theory; everything naturally moved towards the center. The heliocentric Copernican model had not yet been accepted; everything naturally rotated around the earth. That put earth, and more importantly humans, at the center of the universe. Everything literally revolved around us, and that was how God the Almighty designed it. In order to change from this view, a new one must be proposed, proven, and finally accepted. As Kuhn writes, â€Å"The decision to reject one paradigm is always simultaneously the decision to accept another, and the judgment leading to that decision involves the comparison of bot... ...uble sin. I am alone against thirty thousand. No. Protect you, the court; protect, you, deception; let me protect the truth. It is all my strength. If I lose it, I am undone. I shall not lack accusations, and persecutions. But I possess the truth, and we shall see who will take it away† (Pascal #921). Works Cited Galilei, Galileo. Sidereus Nuncius or The Sidereal Messenger. Trans. by Albert Van Helden. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1989. Kuhn, Thomas S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Third Edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996. Pascal, Blaise. â€Å"Pensees.† Online. Internet. 07 Sept. 2000. http://altair.stmarys-ca.edu/studwork/integral/penseesi.txt. â€Å"Philosophy of Science & Information Technology: A Tribute to Thomas Kuhn† Online. Internet. 07 Sept. 2000. http://www.brint.com/kuhn.htm.

Fiction Authors :: Biographies

Fiction Authors For more than half a century science fiction writers have thrilled and challenged readers with visions of the future and future worlds. These authors offered an insight into what they expected man, society, and life to be like at some future time. One such author, Ray Bradbury, utilized this concept in his work, Fahrenheit 451, a futuristic look at a man and his role in society. Bradbury utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations and technological advances, to show what life could be like if the future takes a drastic turn for the worse. He turns man's best friend, the dog, against man, changes the role of public servants and changes the value of a person. Aldous Huxley also uses the concept of society out of control in his science fiction novel Brave New World. Written late in his career, Brave New World also deals with man in a changed society. Huxley asks his readers to look at the role of science and literature in the future world, scared that it may be rendered useless and discarded. Unlike Bradbury, Huxley includes in his book a group of people unaffected by the changes in society, a group that still has religious beliefs and marriage, things no longer part of the changed society, to compare and contrast today's culture with his proposed futuristic culture. But one theme that both Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 use in common is the theme of individual discovery by refusing to accept a passive approach to life, and refusing to conform. In addition, the refusal of various methods of escape from reality is shown to be a path to discovery. In Brave New World, the main characters of Bernard Marx and the "Savage" boy John both come to realize the faults with their own cultures. In Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag begins to discover that things could be better in his society but, sue to some uncontrollable events, his discover happens much faster than it would have. He is forced out on his own, away from society, to live with others like himself who think differently that the society does. Marx, from the civilized culture, seriously questions the lack of history that his society has. He also wonders as to the lack of books, banned because they were old and did not encourage the new culture. By visiting a reservation, home of an "uncivilized" culture of savages, he is able to see first hand something of what life and society use to be like. Afterwards he returns and attempts to incorporate some of what he saw into his work as an

The Buchanan Report And The Monderman Thesis

The statement is false. This is a tricky question! Although the Buchanan Report and the Monderman thesis do offer visions of how to manage traffic they also offer us two competing visions of social order. The Buchanan Report is underpinned by a social order which privileges the segregation of humans and motors through an array of measures in urban design and the regulation of the conduct of both drivers and pedestrians. This social order emphasises the value of a social environment delivering the conditions for individual mobility and car acquisition as a valued mark of success. The Monderman thesis stresses a social order where involvement and cooperation emerges from an individual capable of negotiating with others a shared use of public space. In this shared space approach, people are not segregated from traffic. You're right. Although Goffman's view of the centrality of interaction is visible in Monderman's approach to negotiating ‘shared space', Chapter 7 argues that, as Foucault shows, social order tends to be specified by experts within particular historical discursive frameworks. Although both Buchanan and Monderman were important in their own right, their ideas were developed and taken up within particular contexts that ‘authorised' their development (made their ideas seems appropriate and fitting to the needs of the time). Foucault claims that expert discourses, established by those with power and authority, are often disputed by competing expert discourses. Buchanan's ideas have dominated for a long period. Monderman's are perhaps gathering force and challenging those of centralised planning and direction. Foucault's view of how the authority to order social life is bound up with scientific knowledge is demonstrated in the discourses and practices of both Buchanan and Monderman.

Online Activity Example

Online Activity Example Online Activity – Coursework Example Macro and Micro Economics Microeconomic analysis rests of the concepts of supply and demand for goods and ad services in the market,which later affect the household individuals and other small firms. People typically understand the two words as they get commonly used in everyday conversation but often not in the precise way economists understand the term. Some students often confuse a change as well as a shift in demand as well as a shift in the quantity demanded. Demand can get said as the quantity of goods and services that particular consumers of a given locality are willing and able to buy, at the prevailing price, within a given period. Supply refers to the amount of goods and services that suppliers find themselves able to export the market, at the current price, within a given time (Estrada, 2008). The demand relates to the buyers while supply purely involves the producers, bringing their produce to the market, manufacturers or general companies.In differentiating the two furt her, causes and changes in demand get caused by such factors as price, consumer fashion, and tastes. If the price of a good increases, its demand reduces unless it’s a good having abnormal demand curve such as goods of ostentation, inferior and Giffen goods, and vice versa (Estrada, 2008). For the case of supply, an increase in the price of a product may trigger an increase in its supply. When the price goes up, producers, among other suppliers will get willing to supply more since they will realize more revenue, hence profitability in their productions (Lapide, 2013).There is a clear distinction between change or movement in demand and shift in demand. Changes in demand get caused by non-price factors such as consumer tastes, preference and fashions, demographic patterns, culture among others. On the other hand, change or movement in demand is caused only by price (Lapide, 2013). ReferencesEstrada, M. A. R. (2008). Demand and supply surfaces.  Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies,  45(1), 71-77. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/201592759?accountid=45049 Lapide, L. (2013). Supplys demand-shaping roles.  The Journal of Business Forecasting,  32(3), 18-21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1459714351?accountid=45049

Characteristics of Japanese Employment Relations

Characteristics of Japanese Employment Relations Changes in the some national factors such as institutions, labour markets, capital markets, national relations, businesses, economy, culture and rule triggers the employment relation practices and its changes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Characteristics of Japanese Employment Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Considering the Japanese employment relations, it has some key aspects, which include the lifetime, enterprise based and seniority based amalgamation that determines employment relations. Japan is a country considered as highly cultured but the cultural practices that seem hinder development appear to face sidelining in the resent past. For instance, the trade unions had a significant consideration of enhancing interrelationship between the member groups and the government. This has not been the case recently. According to Bamber et al, (2004, 283) effects on the union show a constant decline due to the general improvement of the living standards. The work ethics of Japan today face influences from customs, traditions, cooperation, collectivism, respect, relationships and handwork among the social members. People consider these as the key elements influencing employment relations and practices form the company’s level. (Havey, 2005, 187) The labour market of Japan indicates features of a declining growth rate, increasing aging workforce and increasing rates of unemployment. National factors and employment relations Management training or practices are not universal they ought to have a developmental basis at the national level or the company’s level. The national or external environmental factor that influences the relations mainly entails the labour markets, culture of the nation and business and economical factors.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Considering the national and other internal factors, they provide a better and more integrative perspective that makes it easy to vary but still relate employment focusing on other independent and developed country’s forces. Every external force has to pass through a management system according to the Lewin’s Change Theory. This means that for a proper examination of the changes that affect practices of employment relations, one should analyze the internal and external forces or the dynamics of the factors. (Sato, 1999, 27) The contingency factors such as magnitude of the employees, technological advancement and the culture or internally developed policies, cause the organizational or countries to change, thus influence the employment relationship. Today the increasing pressure in the domestic and global markets of a country causes the evident changes in the employment relations. As a developed country, Japan’s employment relations directly connect to the in ternational factors such as the economy or political changes. Like the U.K. and the U.S. markets, it mainly depends on the competitiveness at the international and domestic levels. The employees and company practices at the domestic level have stabilized the business environment. After the economic crisis experiences, Japan was able to consciously restructure and rationalize majority of the white collar jobs for better efficiency and under similar compensation rates as before or better. The labour force of 73% in 2000 indicated a growth of over 1 million from 1995 with 83% being employees. (Bamber et al, 2004, 272) This consensus regarding employment practices and industrial relations brought about firm, stable and supportive relations among employment thus the stability of the economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Characteristics of Japanese Employment Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors influenci ng the Japanese Employment relations Beside the institutes, labour markets, economy and the business environments discussed above other factors, include the institutes and culture. National institutions A national institute refers to the practice, customs, the relationships and the culture. The national institutes are government, educational, training, trade unions and associations. The national policies, rules and regulation introduced by the government on these institutes are the micro economic policies frequently governing the labour policies and therefore enhancing the relationships in the employment sector. When the institutes are vigilant to maintain the enforced policies then the country is in a position to maintain its social-economic status at the international level. (Blanpain et al, 2008, 85) As a major source for the human resource of main companies, the education institutions play vital role in recruitment and development. They increase competition thus the need for the in-house training evident in majority of the firms in Japan. A lot of mismatch between the job openings and the seekers is evident in the Nation due to differences between the careers. In line with Bamber et al, (2004, 278) unemployment rates have steadily grown. The young people are not able to find a career matching their qualifications. The IT industries are also subsiding human workforce. Argumentatively, most of the institutes fail to adhere to specification, advocating for creativity and technicality that divert students’ qualifications but equality benefiting the country’s technological advancement evident in most industrial manufactures. (Deery et al, 1999, 172)Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More National Culture These are the social groups in which employees exist they entail the process of building rapport, making reports and enhancing communication between the employer and the employee. Culture shapes and influences the way people interact thus determining the employment relations practices. Influence of globalization on the Japanese employment relation The Japanese economy is arguably the second largest economy after the U.S. (Bamber et al, 2004, 272) The County has been to deep economic crisis but managed stronger comebacks and enhanced innovations for instance the oil crisis catalyzed huge investments into the energy saving products. The country’s business highly integrates to the global economy as evident with the appreciating and depreciating in the growth of the economy. There was a fall on the economy growth of minus 0.75 in 1998, although the employment relation had grate regards as a fundamental element to the economy growth of the country. (Bamber et al, 2004, 272) Currently, there are eminent differences on the size, employee’s number and the sectors of the firms. There is a considerable amount of reduction on the labour force, which is a concern especially for the future endeavours of most companies. Thus might be the cause of the current latent economic growth averaging at 2%. (Bamber et al, 2004, 292) The increase in competition has made companies to consider cutting operation costs, investing in recruitments and utilizing the contractual basis of operational labour forces. Globalization has made the performance-based system to replace the earlier senior-based systems gradually for both the medium and big-sized companies. By the year 2000, the working hours were as low as 1853 per annum and currently they are even lower due to the part-time engagement and contraction. (Bamber et al, 2004, 279) The issue of globalization has also led to decline on the number of employees in member unions. The growth of the service industri es structure cause more part-time employment. These employment practices are mainly because of globalization and increase in competition among the markets both globally and locally. â€Å"In Japan, most of the union’s organization occurs through enterprises as opposed to occupation or job industries.† References Bamber, G., Lansbury, R. D. and Wailes, N. (2004) â€Å"International and comparative  Employment relations: Globalisation and the developed market economies†. (Forth Ed) London: Sage. Blanpain, R., Lansbury, R.D. and Wailes, N. (2008). â€Å"Globalization and employment  Relations in the auto assembly industry† Kluwer Law International Publishers Deery, S. and Mitchell, R. (1999). â€Å"Employment Relations: Individualisation and  Union.† Exclusion Federation Press. Harvey, D. (2007). â€Å"A Brief History of Neoliberalism†. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sato, K. (1999) â€Å"Japan at a Crossroads,† in K. Sato the Tr ansformation of the  Japanese Economy, London: An East Gate Book, 1999.

Body Figures Essays

Body Figures Essays Body Figures Paper Body Figures Paper (1983) Cross culture Differences in the Perception of Female Body Shapes. Psychological Medicine, 1983, 13, 829 – 837. Garner D Garfinkel E (1980) Socio cultural factors in Development of Anorexia Nervosa, Psycho med, 10 (4) pp 647 – 656. Goehring J. Modern standards of Beauty: Nature or Nurture? An evolutionary Perspective; Evolutions Voyage, January 1999 retrieved from www. evoyage. com/evolutionary%20feminim/modernstandarbeauty. htm Regina P. Beauty’s Ugly Spot. The Hindu magazine, no7 2002 retrieved from www. hindu. com /the hindu/mag/2002/11/7/stories/2002/1/700560100. htm. Singh D. Randall P. (2007) Beauty is in the Eye of the Plastic Surgeon: Waist- Hip Ration (WHR) and Women’s Attractiveness. Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 43, issue 2, July 2007 pp 329 – 340. Sing, D. (1993), Adaptive Significance of Female Physical Attractiveness: Role of Waist to Hip- Ratio. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 117 (3), pg 264 – 271. Obesity Measurement retrieved from www. mens-helath. health. canes. net/obesity-measurement. php. Singh, D. ‘An Evolutionary Theory 0f Female Physical Attractiveness, Psi Chi, vol 10 iss3. Swami, V. , Antonakopoulas, N. , Tovee M Furnham A (2006) A Critical Test of Waist to Hip Ratio Hypothesis of Women’s Physical attractiveness in Britain and Greece. Sex roles Springer Netherlands, Vol. 54 no 3-4, Feb 2006, pg 2. 1 – 211. Szabo C, Berk M, Tlou E and Allwood W. (1995) Eating Disorders in Black South African Females: A series of Cases, South African Medical Journal. 1995, (85) 588 – 598. Beumont P. George GCW and Smart D, Dieters and Vomiters and Purgers in Anorexia Nervosa Pubmed Articles retrieved from www. pubmed. com/anorexia_nervosa. html Szabo C, Allwood W (2006) Body Figure Preference in South African Adbileslent Females: A Cross Study. Pubmed Article African Health Sciences, 2006 December 6 (4) 201 – 206. Thomas, W. ‘Beauty in Shape: Fashion- Eva. com retrieved from www. fashionera. com/beauty_is_shape. htm

Auditing - report on the audit of Perfect Pies Lmt Essay

Auditing - report on the audit of Perfect Pies Lmt - Essay Example The company’s reserves have also increased during the current financial year which shows that its investors are considering the company lucrative and are planning to have a long term association with it. The company’s current ratio is also very much stable and presents the fact that the company is utilizing its resources prudently. We have been appointed as the statutory auditor of the company, for the financial year ended March 31, 2012, in order to express an opinion whether the financial statement of the company are free from any misstatement and represent a true and fair view of the affairs of the company. By analyzing the financial performance of the company in the prior year, and considering the asset base, the company has been classified as SME (small and medium sized entity). The audit methodology, risk coverage and materiality have all been considered and devised which are relevant for the audit of a SME. The materiality has been calculated by averaging out the profit of the current year and prior year and applying a haircut of 5% which is suitable for SMEs. After the completion of the interim audit, no such event was identified which could question that the financial statements of the company are materially misstated. ... Due to uncontrollable circumstances, appropriate test of details could not be performed on the closing stock balance, whereas, the result of the test of details on debtor balance has also highlighted few grey areas. Certain discrepancy has also been observed in the carrying value of the non-current assets. Stocks The period from December to May is the busy season, during which our limited number of staff tries to cater a diverse and complex array of client, it becomes difficult sometimes to provide sufficient number of individual in an audit team to carry out the audit as planned. Due to the mentioned issue, the stock count of Perfect Pies Limited at its Wolverhampton site could not be performed. Audit procedure in such situation was only curtailed to management’s enquiry and placing reliance on the client provided schedule. During the visit to the Wolverhampton site, the audit team acquired the detailed report of the stock from the stock keeper and reconciled the total balanc e as of the report with the carrying value of the stock as reported in the financial statement. The previously mentioned audit procedure is quite successful to acquire comfort over the completeness and valuation of the stock balance. As per the applicable financial reporting framework, stock balance is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Without actually assessing the physical condition of the stock it is not possible to identify he stock item over which the NRV testing should be performed. There’s also a chance that the stock item mentioned in the stock list might not be present at all, thus it is important to count the stock as either ‘tag to floor’ or ‘floor to tag’. Since all of the above procedure could

Romanesque, Regency, Revival, Early Christian, Baroque, Rococo, Essay

Romanesque, Regency, Revival, Early Christian, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism - Essay Example This discussion talks that jumping forward over 1000 years, Regency architecture denotes a style of buildings that came to a level of prominence within written during the early 19th century; a point in time when George IV was Prince Regent – the namesake of this particular period of architecture. One of the most defining facets of this particular style is with regards to the prevalence of white painted stucco faà §ades and the exhibition of the entryway usually colored in black frame columns. Additionally, residences which are built within the Regency style of architecture display crescents or terraces. In addition, the use of wrought-iron balconies is also incorporated a large scale. Again, the importance of history cannot be ignored due to the fact that the Regency period of architecture normally exhibits a very clear level of comparison to the colonnades and pillars of ancient Rome and ancient Greeks. Due to the fact that this was one of the periods in which the British Em pire was at its very height, it comes as no surprise that Imperial forms of architecture were utilized as a means of further propagating this particular understanding of general importance within the world structure. Similarly, with regards to a particular building or monument exhibits this style, a very excellent example exists within Regents Park London. As such, the use of columns and crescent shape architecture readily points to the fact that Regency architecture was heavily utilized in employed as a means of inspiring particular monuments. exhibited within the park. Revival As with all forms of art and architecture, a desire to see and elaborate upon previous artistic expressions oftentimes encourages architects to engage in movements of revivalism. Within Western civilization, revivalism has been noted within almost each and every single architectural movement in recorded history. For instance, there has been revivalism of postclassical architecture, medieval architecture, Bar oque architecture, and a litany of many other more modern forms of architecture. Due to the broad range of revival architecture that exists, this particular analysis will focus specifically on Renaissance revival

International Business Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Business Management - Assignment Example The implications of these strategies are recommended to future managers for implementation in the organizational policies for getting competitive advantage in the market. Introduction This assignment is about the position of competitive advantage attained by Procter and Gamble and the study of the various approaches and strategies that have been adopted by the organization to rise to a competitive leadership position in the market. The topic is worth to be studied as it would enable us to validate the theories of the competitive advantage with the real example of Procter and Gamble. The implication of these strategies which are namely innovative strategies, cost leadership strategies, differentiation strategy and operation efficiency could be linked to the recent developments in the business of Procter and Gamble. Due to the innovative strategies, Procter and Gamble has been able to restructure its business process and operations and they have been able to track the demand and needfu l to be done to meet the customer needs (Barner, 1991, p.102). Along with that operational efficiency has been attained supported by the cost effective production. These features put Procter and Gamble in a relatively superior position in the market which was reflected in increased acceptability of its products that has driven the business growth (Mullen and Stumpf, 1987, p.38). The review of literature on the topic has been presented followed by the detailed analysis and findings on the strategies adopted by Procter and Gamble for gaining competitive advantage. Literature Review The diamond model was proposed by Michael Porter in 1985 which highlights some of the drawbacks of the theory of comparative advantage. According to this theory, the nations and the business houses focus on the growth of productivity for gaining competitive advantage. In order to attain growth in productivity, the cheap labour that is available could be utilized by the forces of production. Figure 1: Diamon d Model The model has analysed the notion of competitiveness using six broad factors discussed as follows: Factors conditions include capital resources, physical resources, infrastructure and human resources. The demand conditions prevailing in the domestic market can contribute to create competitiveness for the companies when there is pressure from the domestic buyers to innovate new and differentiated products from that of the competitors. The supporting industries are important for the innovation purposes since they are cost effective and can contribute in the upgrading process whereas the government can contribute to the above determinants by influencing the supply conditions as well as demand conditions. The diamond model reduces the high degree of emphasis on the availability of natural resources inside the geographical boundaries which brings out the limitations of the theory of comparative advantage (Stupmf and Dunbar, 1990, p.22). According to the founder of this theory and many other experts, the competitive advantage could be attained by the organizations due to building up unique capabilities that help them to outperform their competitors (Peteraf, 1993, p.185). The various ways in which the companies have attained competitive advantage in the market are due to the access gained to specialized resources of production.

Mentoring Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mentoring - Assignment Example Mentors help people to solve their problems at work and out of the office as well. Being capable to manage their life, people feel empowered to do more than they usually do. As a result, they show greater performance and experience fewer difficulties while copying with new tasks or carrying greater responsibility than they used to have. Mentors use their personal example to show that their interventions work perfectly well for them in their life. For instance, if a friend gives a piece of advice, it does not mean that this friend acts the way she or she advices in real life. Everything is different with mentors because they believe in what they say and act accordingly. Usually, such examples are very inspiring because if someone can handle everything, other people can also life effectively. Climate of trust is very important for mentor-mentee relationships because only in this way mentors can effectively help their clients to succeed. In order to create relationships of trust, mentors should be understanding and show positive attitude to the mentee. Also, mentors need to share information with their mentees; they need to provide their personal information as well in exchange for their same information about their mentee. In order to work effectively together, mentor and mentee need to facilitate agenda and define long-term and short-term goals they need to set during their sessions. This agenda is necessary because it directs work and makes it clear why certain things need to be done. Set goals and solve problems is possible only when people share information about their past and present. Some problems appeared to have place in the past and their consequences can negatively influence mentees life. On the other hand, mentor can understand mentee better if she or she knows the background of this person. Obviously from the title, traditional one-to-one mentoring is the most frequently met mentoring model. It is

Several writing exercises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Several writing exercises - Essay Example d to the accumulation of wealth, it suggests a life against nature: wealth, according to Aristotle, is only a means to something else; it has no meaning as a self-sufficient goal. Man finds happiness in the performance of his/her human craft. Happiness is the energy, movement, action, and force of the activity of the soul in the implementation of a virtue, performed in one’s life until the end, and in accordance with reason (logos). Perfection, according to Aristotle, is a practical implementation of one’s purpose in life, providing people with both successes and failures. It is a way of self-affirmation in the face of external circumstances. In the second book, Aristotle gives the definition of virtue. Aristotle considers virtue as an inner moral perfection, which became part of the habit. Its culmination is manifested in the activities of the upper part of the irrational soul, full of desires, but restrained by reason. It is a perfection of a reasonable desire, i.e. v irtue manifests itself in human ability to adapt to different situations. 2. Certainly, ethics has a special meaning for me, because I am convinced that it is necessary for each person for his/her harmonious coexistence with other people. Lack of ethics can lead to the collapse of social equilibrium, because ethics defines a respectful, honest and fair cooperation between people. The main importance belongs to applied ethics, which can be defined as an ethics that â€Å"draws upon ethical theory in order to ask what a person is obligated to do in some very specific situation, or within some particular domain of action (such as business)† (â€Å"Ethics†). Ethics, including applied ethics, have several sources. In particular, parents can be seen as one of the first sources of ethical education. Parents give the basics of ethical conduct, which is guided by the knowledge of the differences between good and bad deeds. However, parents are not the only source of ethical education. School ethics plays

Mentoring Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mentoring - Assignment Example Mentors help people to solve their problems at work and out of the office as well. Being capable to manage their life, people feel empowered to do more than they usually do. As a result, they show greater performance and experience fewer difficulties while copying with new tasks or carrying greater responsibility than they used to have. Mentors use their personal example to show that their interventions work perfectly well for them in their life. For instance, if a friend gives a piece of advice, it does not mean that this friend acts the way she or she advices in real life. Everything is different with mentors because they believe in what they say and act accordingly. Usually, such examples are very inspiring because if someone can handle everything, other people can also life effectively. Climate of trust is very important for mentor-mentee relationships because only in this way mentors can effectively help their clients to succeed. In order to create relationships of trust, mentors should be understanding and show positive attitude to the mentee. Also, mentors need to share information with their mentees; they need to provide their personal information as well in exchange for their same information about their mentee. In order to work effectively together, mentor and mentee need to facilitate agenda and define long-term and short-term goals they need to set during their sessions. This agenda is necessary because it directs work and makes it clear why certain things need to be done. Set goals and solve problems is possible only when people share information about their past and present. Some problems appeared to have place in the past and their consequences can negatively influence mentees life. On the other hand, mentor can understand mentee better if she or she knows the background of this person. Obviously from the title, traditional one-to-one mentoring is the most frequently met mentoring model. It is

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20

Reflection - Essay Example ent stages; the first stage is usually characterized by individual centered ideas whereby each persons views life negatively and tend to behave in horrible manners. The second stage is caused by cultural characteristics which make people perceive their lives as unattractive. Consequently, the third stage of tribal development involves a situation whereby people tend to develop positive feelings about their lives and tend to think it is great while in the real sense it is not. The fourth of tribal development is characterized by a situation where individuals are united by similar positive achievements that are distinct from other tribes hence view themselves as great. Lastly, in the fifth stage people perceive life as great and come together to make decisions that affect the entire tribe. I also learnt that leaders have a great influence on the lives of each individual tribe member and has the responsibility to reach all the members especially at stage one of tribal development in order to enable the tribe to move to the second stage. Leaders also have the responsibility to connect the tribe with other tribes through interaction and consultation with the others. To begin with, I will apply the knowledge on consultation between different tribal leaders to conduct consultation with other leaders in order to facilitate the attainment of my group’s objectives as well as goals. In planning of the Group’s activities, I would conduct meetings with my group members in order to formulate common development objectives hence reducing conflicts that may occur. This knowledge has also increased my understanding that it is imperative for leaders to unite their groups with other groups in order to promote peace and development. These two documents discusses one common skill that is imperative in the improving workers’ performance in various fields; the Transdisciplinarity document discusses the importance of the ability of workers to integrate knowledge and skills from

Internal combustion engine Essay Example for Free

Internal combustion engine Essay Electric cars should be used instead of cars that run with gasoline because electric cars do not harm the environment, are quieter, quicker, does not require gasoline and include a significant reduction to air pollution. Firstly, electric cars have a lot of benefits. One of them is that they are quiet, quick and smooth, making most regular cars look clunky and outdated. What surprises people the most is the torque (axle-twisting power) offered by the electric cars. Step on the accelerator and power is delivered immediately to the wheels, providing a thrilling driving experience. Secondly, after a while with an electric car you will forget that gas stations existed. Imagine never going to a gas station and spending all that money for fuel. All you have to do is pull your vehicle in your drive way or garage and plug it in to the charging inlet. It is very convenient to just wake up the next morning and have a fully charged vehicle that can go up to 100 miles. In addition they are cheaper to operate. Almost everywhere in the world, electricity is very cheap. So when you compare an electric vehicle to a regular car, the cost per mile to fuel an electric vehicle is approximately one-third to one-quarter the cost of gasoline (on a cost per mile basis). Nevertheless, owning a car is associated with the responsibility of maintaining it. Regular cars require frequent maintenance but this is not the case in electric cars. These cars do not suffer same level of stress as traditional engines acquire and do not require frequent oil changes and other regular maintenance. On the other hand, electric cars have a lot of disadvantages too. First of all the limited range of the electric cars is probably the biggest disadvantage. Most affordable electric cars only have about 80 to 100 miles of range. Which is not enough if you are for instance going on a long road trip. People who have electric cars need to properly plan, assuring that they will not go over the limited range. Not to mention, they also have a long refueling time. It is not like going to a gas station and adding a couple of hundred miles of range in five or ten minutes. To recharge a completely empty electric car would take about 10 hours depending on the voltage. With 120 volts (which is the current voltage in every house) it will take ten hours. With 240 volts it takes about four to five hours to fully charge the electric vehicle. Also, you would have to have the right place to charge your electric vehicle. You cannot go more than the car’s limit but you the right place to charge it. For instance people who are living in apartments cannot own electric cars because they do not have a garage to charge their vehicle. Big electric car companies have charging stations where you can get your vehicle fully charged in 1-2 hours but there are not a lot like gas stations. Furthermore the higher cost is probably what keeps people away from electric vehicles. The current electric cars are priced between 30. 000 and 40. 000 dollars. While you can buy, for instance the Honda Fit, Ford Focus etc. for less than 20,000 dollars. Last but not least, electric cars are costly to maintain and repair if there is a big problem with the car. Since electric cars are in a class of their own, owners may wind up paying more on repairs and maintenance because not every mechanic is trained to repair and maintain electric cars. In conclusion, when considering the pros and cons of electric cars, it is clear that there are some major advantages and disadvantages of owning an electric car. At the end, if these cars help people save a tremendous amount of money and help the environment, the pros of owning an electric car will outweigh all of the cons.

Sustainable Transportation Policy In Malaysia

Sustainable Transportation Policy In Malaysia Climate Change, or Global Warming, is one of the most serious environmental threats of the 21st century. According to NST article on Top 10 list Global Warming Cause, Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation responsible for about 33% of emissions. With the population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and consumer goods means that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and manufacturing. The problems of greenhouse gas emissions and urban air quality are focusing attention on sustainable transport. There are many definitions on sustainable transportation. A sustainable transport system as defined by The Centre for Sustainable Transportation (Gilbert and Tanguay, 2000) is as follows: Allows the basic access and development needs of individuals, companies and societies to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem, health, and promotes equity within and between successive generations. Is affordable, operates fairly and efficiently, offers choice of transport mode, and supports a competitive economy, as well as balanced regional development. Limits emissions and waste within the planets ability to absorb them, uses renewable resources at or below their rates of generation, and uses non-renewable resources at or below the rates of development of renewable substitutes while minimizing the impact on the use of land and the generation of noise. How can transportation become more sustainable? According to The Center for Sustainable Transportation it is defined as: With respect to society, transportation systems should: Meet basic human needs for health, comfort, and convenience in ways that do not stress the social fabric. Allow and support development at a human scale, and provide for a reasonable choice of transport modes, types of housing and community, and living styles. Produce no more noise than is acceptable by communities. Be safe for people and their property. With respect to the economy, transportation systems should: Provide cost-effective service and capacity. Be financially affordable in each generation. Support vibrant, sustainable economic activity. With respect to the environment, transportation systems should: Make use of land in a way that has little or no impact on the integrity of ecosystems. Use sparingly energy sources that are essentially not renewable or inexhaustible. Use other resources that are renewable or inexhaustible, achieved in part through the reuse of items and the recycling of materials used in vehicles and infrastructure. Produce no more emissions and waste than can be accommodated by the planets restorative ability. According to the Center for Sustainable Transportaion also, there are several barriers to the attainment of sustainable transportation. Four of the most important are these: More than for most other areas of human endeavour, decision-making about transportation by governments, corporations, and individuals has become locked into modes that reinforce the present unsustainable arrangements and trends. There is a mindset that achieving sustainable transportation is too costly, difficult, and will threaten our quality of life and lifestyle. Combustion of low-cost oil provides more than 99 per cent of the energy for motorized transportation and creates many of the environmental problems that result from transportation. Harnessing renewable alternatives will be a major challenge. Mechanisms for identifying improvements in sustainable transportation, and disseminating resulting success stories, and beneficial trends are inadequate. The effort towards achieving sustainable transport includes technological improvements of cars and lorries, fuels and infrastructure. However, using vehicles more efficiently (higher load factor for lorries, and fewer single occupancy private vehicles) would be a good start towards a smarter use of transport. Walking and cycling are the greenest and most sustainable forms of transport. However, public transport is a key option but it is not receiving the priority which it should be. Transport becomes sustainable only when it does not harm the environment or uses fuel from renewable sources such as wind and solar. In terms of human mobility, this means more use of public transport (including integrated mobility services), and non-motorised modes of transport like walking and cycling. For movement of goods, rail freight is more fuel efficient than trucking. The public transportation system in Klang Valley includes busses, commuter Light Rail Transit (LRT), monorail, buses and taxis. Public transport passengers are just as inconsiderate as the drivers. Lining up is a practically unknown phenomenon is frustrating and time consuming 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW Whenever a car is started, sitting idle or driving it is producing emissions that are filling our atmosphere. These emissions include nitrogen gas (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, together called NOx). Bryant et al. 2008. Carbon dioxide represents about 80 percent of the manmade greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. 15% of the manmade carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earths atmosphere comes from cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, and ships. The remaining 85% of atmospheric CO2 comes from industry, buildings and agriculture. Current trends show atmospheric CO2 concentration would double by the end of the century (Jan Fuglestvedt 2008) Figure 1: Projected concentration levels assuming continuing business as usual behaviour (Source:University of Maryland) According ESMAP, Traffic congestion can affect human health due to pollution with high levels of particulates, hydrocarbons, lead and NOx. there are three principal sources of particulate air pollution: vehicle exhaust, re-suspended road dust, and solid fuels, The Federal Highway Administration has documented the levels of these emissions and how much of each compound is produced by cars (see Figure 2). Air Pollutant Proportion from On road Motor Vehicles Note Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) 34% precursor to groundà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ level ozone (smog), which damages the respiratory system and injures plants Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 34% precursor to groundà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ level ozone (smog), which damages the respiratory system and injures plants Carbon Monoxide (CO) 51% contributes to smog production; poisonous in high concentrations Particulate Matter (PM10) 10% does not include dust from paved and unpaved roads, which are the major source of particulate matter pollution (50% of the total) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 33% thought to be primary contributor to global warming Figure 2: Transportation Air Quality: Selected Facts and Figures 2002. Sterba 2009 According to study on Hybrid Cars (Michael et. al 2010), their higher price turns consumers away and makes the vehicles a less attractive economic investment. Energy efficient processing techniques need to be developed before the advanced materials in hybrids can help add to their clean image. Widespread change to advanced hybrid technologies is not a feasible option in the near future because of both cost and the limited amount of hybrids on the road today. Overall, hybrid technology has a lot of potential in the distant future, but as for right now they are not a significant improvement over todays internal combustion engine. To deal with the severe traffic problems in Malaysia especially in Klang Valley the transportation planners will have to look to solutions such as using public transport and introducing more environmental friendly vehicles. In the 10TH Malaysia Plan, a sum of RM2.8 billion is allocated for improving urban public transportation was chosen as one of six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), which are priority areas under the Government Transformation Programme. During the 10MP period, connectivity across different modes of public transport will be improved through the establishment of multi-modal transfer hubs for services within cities, from suburban areas into cities and for intercity travel. The Strategic Plan is a document which determines the direction of future transportation system in Malaysia. According to The strategic Plan of The Ministry of Transport (2008 2015), development of transport infrastructure a seamless, integrated, sustainable and competitive to meet the aspirations countries is emphasised. One of the plan objective is to ensure that environmental not contaminated by the land transport, air and maritime. TERAS 2 The strategy highlighted is to optimize new technologies in transport by promoting the use of environmentally friendly vehicles and providing seamless transportation system by improving the park n ride facilities at all stations of urban transport to meet the objective to strengthen and provide world-class integrated transport infrastructure. Park and Ride (PR) system are known as incentive parking system. This facilities system consists of car parks with connections to public transport. The user will use public transportation to travel into city and leave their personnel vehicles in a car park. PR system are generally located in suburbs of metropolitan areas or on the outer edges of large cities. Many countries had using this system such as United Kingdom, United State, Japan and Singapore. Park and Ride was first initiated in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1960s and 1970s that enjoy most success in cities historic in nature and quite small capacity of controlling that balance to their inhibiting urban structure. In a range of settings across the UK, however, some of which very different in size and nature to the earlier host centres, Park and Ride has subsequently emerged as a major component of local transport policies. In Malaysia, the government starts using Park and Ride system such as Kuala Lumpur, around Klang Val ley and Putrajaya According to CASE STUDY ON AWARENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PARK AND RIDE AT PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA the awareness level for both Putrajaya citizens and visitors is not high enough to reach the target of the Park and Ride system. This is because, about only half of the people is using the system while the rest refuse to use the system and do not know to us the system. The understanding about the system need to be well explicate to the both Putrajaya citizens and also the visitors. Therefore, the user of Park and Ride may increase and many traffic problems could reduce. Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) provide an illustration of how criteria and targets can be linked to significant environmental and health quality objectives. These targets are long-term specific intermediate targets and milestones should be set to focus action. The quantitative target levels below are not prescriptive and could be adapted according to national, regional or local circumstances. What is essential for the EST approach, is that target levels are set to achieve environmental and health quality objectives. CO2 Climate change is prevented by reducing carbon dioxide emissions so that atmospheric concentrations of CO2are stabilised at or below their 1990 levels. Accordingly, total emissions of CO2 from transport should not exceed 20% to 50% of such emissions in 1990 depending on specific national conditions. NOx Damage from ambient NO2and ozone levels and nitrogen deposition is greatly reduced by meeting WHO Air Quality Guidelines for human health and eco-toxicity. This implies that total emissions of NOxfrom transport should not exceed 10% of such emissions in 1990. VOCs Damage from carcinogenic VOCs and ozone is greatly reduced by meeting WHO Air Quality Guidelines for human health and ecosystem protection. Total emissions of transport-related VOCs should not exceed 10% of such emissions in 1990 (less for extremely toxic VOCs).2 Particulates Harmful ambient air levels are avoided by reducing emissions of fine particulates (especially those less than 10 microns in diameter). Depending on local and regional conditions, this may entail a reduction of 55% to 99% of fine particulate (PM10) emissions from transport, compared with 1990 levels. Landuse/Landtake Land use and infrastructure for the movement, maintenance, and storage of transport vehicles is developed in such a way that local and regional objectives for air, water, eco-system and biodiversity protection are met. Compared to 1990 levels, this will likely entail the restoration and expansion of green spaces in built-up areas. Noise Noise from transport no longer results in outdoor noise levels that present a health concern or serious nuisance. Depending on local and regional conditions, this may entail a reduction of transport noise to no more than a maximum of 55 dB(A) during the day and 45 dB(A) at night and outdoors. Minister of Transport Malaysia in his speech mention that The transport sector has now entered the new era of a more challenging and requires a high commitment from all sides. It is now requires a mode of transport and more integrated services and quality system. In addition environmental aspects should also be given emphasis in the planning of all projects for the Ministry of ensure sustainable development. (Message from DATUK ONG TEE KEAT, Minister of Transport Malaysia) 3.0 METHODOLOGY This is Life Cycle Analysis academic writing which needs a lot of journals and article readings, internet surfing and knowledge. Some articles were from Ministry of Transport, 10th Malaysia Plan and Malaysian Strategic Planning to ensure that suggestion proposed relevant to the direction of Malaysia development (Dasar Pembangunan Negara). However, more detailed studies should be done to get ideas that can contribute to achieving the goals. 4.0 DISCUSSION What are the holistic approach toward sustainable transportation policy in Malaysia? Several strategies can be developed such as: 1. Develop of national transportation strategy Transportation networks are an important piece of the communications infrastructure of a country. We are completely dependent on our transportation networks to move goods and people throughout the country. A national transportation strategy such as highlighted in The Strategic Plan would help Malaysia create a sustainable transportation policy. More strategies must emphasis on green technology. 2. Enhance national public transportation strategy In order to reduce the number of private cars on the road, the government must plan their short term and long term strategies for public transportation. People must be encouraged to choose public transport for the movement of goods and people. Long term strategies need to plan on how people can move around in the future by using public transport as a priority and reach the destination faster, convenient and comfortable. The Malaysian government has stated a goal to have 40% of the population using public transportation in the future. Unfortunately, at a meantime we have limited choices for safe, convenient, reliable public transportation. For example, we have a very limited train to travel from North to South. Road accidents which involved express bus are often happen in the country. Thus, task force group which include expertise from relevant field must be formed. This group will come out with the national public transportation strategies and also to advice the stakeholders on how to achieve the mission 3. National public transportation department Public transportation should not be run as a profitable business. It must be look as a choice of transportation that people can choose. Minimum fare should be charge to the people. More subsidies must be given to this department. People will surely use public transport if it is convenient and comfortable with the low fare. It is time for the government to upgrade the public transportation to the first class facilities by locating more money in this department.Research and development unit must also form in this department. This unit will always do research on new technologies to upgrade the transportation systems or transport which environmental friendly like was done in Seoul as an earth friendly transportation city. 4. Expanded national railway network Railway technology is still the most efficient way to move goods and people. Successful rail networks in Europe, Japan, India, China, Taiwan, and soon in Argentina, show us that the movement of passengers by rail is faster, easier, and better than car or air travel. Thanks to the English Channel Tunnel and the Eurostar High Speed Train, London and Paris are now two hours apart by train. Trains move more people, avoid congestion on the roads, use less energy, and are far more appealing than planes or cars. A nation like Malaysia should have a reliable railway transportation network for freight as well as a fast passenger railway network connecting all major cities. High Speed rail connections between Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring capital cities must be explored. Thus, the full double-tracking and electrification of all rail lines within Malaysia is necessary. In addition, triple tracking and the construction of additional rail lines should be considered. 5. Regional/local public transportation authority As we can see in the urban area, there is a more than one public transportation company. for example in Klang valley, Rapid KL and XXX are the famous bus companies. It is suppose to be only one authority which responsible for the planning, regulation and oversight of public transportation. This local authority has the duty to control the bus systems so that it operates under an effective an efficient system. This would eliminate unnecessary and wasteful competition and encourage stability and reliability in public transportation. 6. Additional, secure funding for regional/local public transportation Public transportation service is important infrastructure. It should not be operated like a business. There should be no reason why a bus company should even try to operate a sustainable business. All world-class public transportation services do not make money. They in fact lose money, and their additional costs are borne by a combination of government funds, bonds, and additional investments. The best way to build stable, reliable public transportation infrastructure is to fund it properly and fund it early on. This means capital investment and regular operations subsidies are necessary. No world class transportation agency should even be attempting to recover 50% o more of their revenues from fares paid by passengers. Instead, they should be receiving money from public and private investment. Currently the state government of Terengganu is planning the introduction of Rapid Terengganu, a state-level bus service. While any bus service improvements are good news, this news is even better because it shows that the state government is committed to improving public transportation through government regulated service. One small point, however. The name Rapid is overused, and perhaps should be limited to big cities only. A state-level service should have an appropriate name that reflects the service being offered, not a marketing tool. I personally like Bas Negeri Terengganu and I think the acronym Bantu (for Bas Negeri Terengganu) would be a very appropriate as the word bantu reflects the concepts of helping and supporting each other. 7. Expanded KTM Komuter Service We have to realise that KTM Komuter has the lowest costs and greatest potential for expansion among all modes of transportation. An expanded KTM Komuter service (that means, higher frequencies, longer trains, faster trains, and more lines) would encourage people to use rapid transit. It simply costs too much to build enough LRT lines to make a difference in the transportation infrastructure in the Klang Valley. KTM Komuter expansion plans include new networks in the north and south, extensions from Sentul to Batu Caves, Rasa to Tanjung Malim, and Seremban to Senawang. A plan is underway to rebuild more than a dozen damaged electric-multiple unit (EMU) trains, which would allow higher frequency and more reliable service. The government must commit to a real expansion of KTM Komuter service, meaning more lines, enough trains for five minute frequencies, and reliable service. 8. More urban mass-transit lines LRT and mass transit should be built in urban areas, rather than suburban or rural areas. The cost of construction is increasing daily, and this is why the government should be committing to build lines in urban areas, not suburban or rural areas. There is no reason, for example, to build an LRT from Kuala Lumpur to Klang, when Kuala Lumpur itself still needs at least four more LRT lines (in addition to the new Kota Damansara-Cheras line). Urban areas need mass transit. Urban areas have vast numbers of people and they have the population density to make mass-transit cost effective. Suburban areas do not need mass transit such as LRT lines. They really need enhanced, frequent and reliable bus service to move the vast numbers of people spread out over a wider area. The planned Kota Damansara-Cheras LRT line will travel through Kuala Lumpur. The Sentul-Batu Caves extension will change transportation in the northern areas of Kuala Lumpur. However, additional lines are needed in Kuala Lumpur to create the core of a mass-transit network. The government should be building in urban areas, not the suburban areas. Extensions are for the future. The core of the mass-transit network needs to be built now. 9. Promoting Park and Ride The government should enforce the user of Park and Ridein urban area. But before that the quality of service of Park and Ride system need to be improved where more frequent service of the buses to fetch the people from one point to another. Besides improve the service, other strategies to increase the number of bus user is provide enough information to the customer. Kiosk and information centre is suitable to notify the information about Park and Ride system to the people. Marketing and promotion such as image advertising, new resident promotion and fare incentives may also affect the number of bus user. Malaysians seem to have an obsession with LRT and a misunderstanding of traffic congestion. We also think that traffic problems can be solved with massive projects rather than simple solutions. I wont bore you with the details of why. LRT is a mass-transit, and it is costly. As stated before, there is no possible way to build all of the LRT lines that are needed to create quick, reliable, convenient public transportation. This means that other rapid transit alternatives must be explored. Alternative forms of rapid transit include rapid trams, and bus rapid transit. Even simple things like traffic signal priority, bus lanes, and traffic monitoring cameras will make a huge difference. Sadly, the majority of people in Malaysia still cling to the belief that traffic lights, reduced number of lanes, and roundabouts contribute to traffic congestion. The truth is that traffic congestion is caused by having too many cars on the road at the same time. Fewer cars equal lower congestion. There is hope that the arrival of local public transportation authorities will make a big difference, expanding and enhancing public transportation. Radical ideas need to be implemented to reduce the number of cars on the road. Bus lanes are only a start but they are easy to implement. Bus Rapid Transit would be the next step. A reliable Bus Rapid Transit service running along major roads like Jalan Puchong, Jalan Klang Lama, the Federal Highway, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Kepong, and others, would also help. The government must announce a plan to invest in tram lines, not just additional LRT lines. 10. Reduction in petrol subsidy and incentives to encourage the use of public transportation Petrol subsidies may make the lives of some people easier, but economics say that anytime you fix the price of an item below its natural price, demand will increase and this will ultimately result in shortages of the product. We have seen this happen in Malaysia with cooking oil, sugar, and diesel fuel. Petrol and wheat may be the next items facing shortages. The price of petrol in Malaysia is low (compared to world markets). Malaysians are driving more and demanding more petrol. The supply is less and less reliable. Any imbalance is paid through taxes and government funds. Other countries such as Indonesia (2005) and Myanmar (2007) have seen huge increases in the price of fuel after the government could no longer afford the subsidies. One way to reduce the demand for petrol is to reduce the subsidy (thereby raising the price at the pumps) and directing that money into enhanced public transport service. The government needs to accept that this decision, though unpopular at first, will be in the best interests of the people. To make their point clear, the government should reduce the petrol subsidy by an amount of RM0.08 per litre, which would lead to an increased pump price of RM2.00 per litre. An 8 sen increase in the price of petrol (after the election, of course) would be much easier to accept than a 60 sen hike in 2 to 3 years time. The government should allocate the funds saved towards improving and enhancing public transportation. There are many simple things that the government can do to enhance public transportation across the country, and these can be implemented quickly. An expanded Touch N Go service, subsidies for bus operations, tax incentives on the purchase of monthly transit passes, and investment in funding of public transport authorities would make a huge difference for Malaysia. Summary The proposals here are relatively uninteresting and less glamorous than new LRT lines or monorails in every city that asks for one. The fact is that public transportation can be interesting and glamorous and inspiring. However, before that can all happen, there must be changes in the attitude of the government and the people. It is good to think that improved public transportation is part of the solution to traffic congestion in Malaysia. However, many people do not speak out and demand better public transportation, and do not actually intend to use the improved public transportation. They are missing the point. We can only have inspiring, glamorous, interesting and effective public transportation if there are changes at the government level. Once the government makes the necessary changes, creates a national public transportation strategy and a National Public Transportation Department, then we will finally be on track to a great future. a regular user of public transport, is deeply concerned that government plans to encourage the use of public transport will ultimately fail because of poor planning and lack of support from the public. 5.0 CONCLUSION Ensuring progress towards sustainable development suppose to be a priority of the Malaysian government. Transport is a particularly challenging sector. It is indispensable to modern life, but has many adverse effects on health and environment. Most transport trends are unsustainable. More effort must be put on to develop public transport because study found that using public transport can minimize the environmental pollution and impact of health to human. Although there is a lot of bad news the good news is its not too late! We can implement solutions, but we need to act fast and we need our government to take the lead.

The brain :: essays research papers

Occipital, Frontal, and Temporal Lobes The occipital lobes are the center of our visual perception system. They are not particularly vulnerable to injury because of their location at the back of the brain, although any significant trauma to the brain could produce subtle changes to our visual-perceptual system, such as visual field defects and scotomas. The Peristriate region of the occipital lobe is involved in visuospatial processing, discrimination of movement and color discrimination (Westmoreland et al., 1994). Damage to one side of the occipital lobe causes homonomous loss of vision with exactly the same "field cut" in both eyes. Disorders of the occipital lobe can cause visual hallucinations and illusions. Visual hallucinations (visual images with no external stimuli) can be caused by lesions to the occipital region or temporal lobe seizures. Visual illusions (distorted perceptions) can take the form of objects appearing larger or smaller than they actually are, objects lacking color or objects having abn ormal coloring. Lesions in the parietal-temporal-occipital association area can cause word blindness with writing impairments (alexia and agraphia) (Kandel, Schwartz & Jessell, 1991). Frontal Lobe The Frontal Lobe is responsible for cognition and memory. The prefrontal area gives one the ability to concentrate, judgment and inhibition as well as personality and emotional traits. The premotor area is responsible for storage of voluntary activities and motor patterns. The motor area provides voluntary motor activity. Language is a motor speech. Temporal Lobe Location of the temporal lobe is near the temples just above the ear canal. Functions of the temporal lobe are to: Control hearing; from birth a baby can hear completely. The temporal lobe in the brain is fully developed before the baby is born. Language use; talking is very closely linked to hearing, and since people can hear they react by using language as means of communication. Emotions, especially fear plays a part in this role. Some complex aspects of vision, including the ability to see patterns such as faces. When the temporal lobe is damaged it causes:  · Deficits or limitations in understanding and comprehending spoken words  · May cause a lack of fear if the emotional responses are no longer working (a person seeing a snake may not be afraid because they don’t understand what the object even is)

Fiber Optics :: essays research papers

Fiber Optics Assignment Many modern medical materials and equipment work on a principle which is beyond the capacity of human transducers. Comment and discuss the working principles of an endoscope, uteroscope or a rectoscope showing the illuminating path, the image path, transmission path and the liquid transfer or operating instrument ducts, showing the position of suitable valves. This will therefore explain how light travels through an optical fibre and show how such fibres are used in medicinal equipment either to transmit light or to bring back images from within a patient. Contents Fibre Optics Fibre-Optic Bundles Coherent and Incoherent Bundles   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Transimission efficiency and resolution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Types of Fibres: Single mode or Multimode ?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fibre Properties Fibre-Optic Endoscopy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Fibre-Optic Endoscope   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some Applications for Fibre-Optic Endoscopy References Fibre Optics A relatively new technology with vast potential importance, fibre optics, is the channelled transmission of light through hair-thin glass fibres. The clear advantages of fibre optics are too often obscured by concerns that may have been valid during the pioneering days of fibre, but that have since been answered by technical advances. Fibre is fragile An optical fibre has greater tensile strength than copper or steel fibres of the same diameter. It is flexible, bends easily, and resists most corrosive elements that attack copper cable. Optical cables can withstand pulling forces of more than 150 pounds. Fibre is hard to work with This myth derives from the early days of fibre optic connectors. Early connectors where difficult to apply; they came with many small parts that could tax even the nimble fingered. They needed epoxy, curing, cleaving and polishing. On top of that, the technologies of epoxy, curing, cleaving and polishing were still evolving. Today, connectors have fewer parts, the procedures for termination are well understood, and the craftsperson is aided by polishing machines and curing ovens to make the job faster and easier. Even better, epoxyless connectors eliminate the need for the messy and time- consuming application of epoxy. Polishing is an increasingly simple, straightforward process. Pre-terminated cable assemblies also speed installation and reduce a once (but no longer) labour-intensive process. Fibre Optic Bundles If light enters the end of a solid glass rod so that the light transmitted into the rod strikes the side of the rod at an angle O, exceeding the critical angle, then total internal reflection occurs. The light continues to be internally reflected back and forth in its passage along the rod, and it emerges from the other end with very little loss of intensity. This is the principle in fibre optics of which long glass fibres of very small cross-sectional area transmit light from end to end, even when bent, without much loss of light through their side walls.

Beethoven 9th Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven, great music composer, born in December 17, 1770 in Bonn Germany, and died in March 26, 1827 in Vienna. He was interested in music at a very young age. He grew up in a family where his father was a musician but he had drinking problem, and his mother was gentle loving care person. Beethoven claimed his mother as his best friend. When Beethoven took interest in music, his father taught him music day and night and how to play an instrument. He gave his first concert when he was 6 years old. Without a doubt, the child was gifted and his father Johann envisioned creating a new Mozart, a child prodigy. The musical and teaching talents of Johann were limited therefore, he hired teachers and musicians; composition by renowned musician such as Gottlob Neefe.In 1782, before the age of 12, Beethoven published his first work, 9 Variations in C Minor for piano on a march by Earnst Christoph Dressler. The following year, in 1783, Neefe wrote in the Magazine of Music, about hi s student. â€Å"If he continues like this, he will be, without a doubt, the new Mozart.† His mom passed away on July 17th 1787 only five year after this. Beethoven felt that he was responsible of his two brothers because of irresponsible drunk father.He started earning money by playing instrument in orchestra and giving music lessons. In 1792, Beethoven start working under Austrian wonderful composer Joseph Hyden in Vienna. By the 1800’s his compositions established him Mozart successor. He had an amazing currier as composer and pianist. He composed, he wrote music for himself. Sadly, when he started to lose his hearing his musical style changed but still he created some of his amazing masterpieces. From 1802 to 1814 he composed some masterpieces like Appassionata Sonata, and his only opera Fidelio.In 1815 when his brother died he had to adopt his brother’s son and dealing with all the legal matters affected his work to slow down tremendously. His nephew wasnâ €™t talented in music like himself as he hoped for. Unfortunately, by 1819 he was completely deaf but his composing was not at all. He composed quite of few symphonies including his 9th symphony after losing his hearing. The only difference was he start to compose for others.Beethoven’s 9th symphony 4th movement is very important because it is the longest (over 1 hour), and the largest (by instrumentation) symphony ever written at its time, and still today one of the longest ever. It took  Beethoven to complete six years to finish the symphony and it was finished in 1824. It is famously known as â€Å"Ode to Joy†. It premiered on Friday, May 7, in the Karntnerthortheater in Vienna. Another important fact about Symphony No 9th and 4th movement is Beethoven was the first composer to include the human voice at the same level as the instruments.Beethoven had long been completely deaf when he composed it, but still conducted the premiere performance back then. When th e piece ended, Beethoven, being deaf, was still conducting, the soprano soloist turned him around to accept his applause. Beethoven's â€Å"Ode to Joy† was adopted as the European National Anthem in 1972. It’s text written by An Die Freude.Instrumentation for the symphony was the largest of back then. The performing forces required and how they are used Beethoven’s 9th symphony 4th movement has the largest forces by instrumentation at its time and still to this day it is the longest symphony.Orchestra had these forces: Woodwinds are; Piccolo (fourth movement only), 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in A, B-flat and C, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon (fourth movement only). Brass: 2 Horns (1 and 2) in D and B-flat, 2 Horns (3 and 4) in B-flat (bass), B-flat and E-flat, 2 Trumpets in D and B-flat, 3 Trombones (alto, tenor, and bass; fourth movements only).Percussion: Timpani, Bass drum (fourth movement only), Triangle (fourth movement only), Cymbals (fourth movement only). Voices ( fourth movement only); Soprano solo, Alto solo, Tenor solo, Baritone solo, SATB Choir (Tenor briefly divides). Strings; Violins I, II, Violas, Cellos, Double basses.Beethoven’s original idea was to make 9th symphony instrumental but his desire to put human voice into the symphony did not come until the fourth movement. As to the finale he had sketched an instrumental fourth Movement that he decided to gratify his lifelong desire to set Schiller's Ode to Joy to music. Beethoven selected only certain verses from Schiller's Ode, and even altered the order of these, thus affirming his right to exercise his own judgment and single out only that which suited his. It had no less than three different choral groups combine into one fiercely profound powerhouse of sound.There was a conflict about the form of Beethoven’s final movement on 9th symphony. He found it difficult to suddenly introduce a chorus of voices after a long instrumental symphony; it was simply out of place.Briefly, the movement begins with an outraged, confused, flurry of sound; then a restatement of the prior three movements, each interrupted and rejected by instrumental recitative. If we go little bit more in detail; in the beginning flurry of instruments (dissonant too) than the cellos and basses play dramatic recitative. It follows themes from the three prior movements’ plays but quickly basses and cellos interrupts. Now, new theme begins but hesitant.Again, minor protest from the bases and cellos. Other instruments join in, which lead to a triumphant statement of the theme in D Major. Beethoven replays the opening of the finale. This time, though, the human voice replaces the cello and basses. The human voice is solo baritone voice. Then exquisite choral-orchestral exposition on Schiller’s Ode to Joy engages in four stanzas. Then Turkish March takes the lead like hero marching to victory. This march then leads to a long orchestral interlude, then to a fugue o n two themes. This leads to a an overpowering full orchestral-choral development.A display of the male and female choruses is sung in an almost meditative, prayer-like way, starting from Seid umschlungen Millionen!, or Be embraced, all ye Millions! As for the ending, I think David Wright puts it the right way; ponders the mystery and beauty of divine grace. Then everybody goes all-out to the joyous and thrilling close.†

Blood Promise Chapter Nine

â€Å"I thought you were a dream,† I said. They all remained standing, the dhampirs fanning out around the Moroi in a sort of protective formation. Abe's was the strange face I'd seen while I'd been going in and out of consciousness after the fight by the barn. He was older than me, close to Olena's age. He had black hair and a goatee, and about as tan a complexion as Moroi ever had. If you've ever seen tan or dark-skinned people who are sick and grow pale, it's a lot like that. There was some pigment in his skin, but it was underscored by an intense pallor. Most astonishing of all was his clothing. He wore a long dark coat that screamed money, paired with a cashmere crimson scarf. Below it, I could see a bit of gold, a chain to match the gold hoop earring he wore in one of his ears. My initial impression of that flamboyance would have been pirate or pimp. A moment later, I changed my mind. Something about him said he was the kind of guy who broke kneecaps to get his way. â€Å"Dream, eh? That,† the Moroi said, with the very slightest hint of a smile, â€Å"is not something I hear very often. Well, no.† He reconsidered. â€Å"I do occasionally show up in people's nightmares.† He was neither American nor Russian; I couldn't identify the accent. Was he trying to impress me or intimidate me with his big, bad reputation? Sydney hadn't been afraid of him, exactly, but she'd certainly possessed a healthy amount of wariness. â€Å"Well, I assume you already know who I am,† I said. â€Å"So, the question now is, what are you doing here?† â€Å"No,† he said, the smile turning harder. â€Å"The question is, what are you doing here?† I gestured back to the house, trying to play it cool. â€Å"I'm going to a funeral.† â€Å"That's not why you came to Russia.† â€Å"I came to Russia to tell the Belikovs that Dimitri was dead, seeing as no one else bothered to.† That was turning into a handy explanation for me being here, but as Abe studied me, a chill ran down my spine, kind of like when Yeva looked at me. Like that crazy old woman, he didn't believe me, and again I felt the dangerous edge to his otherwise jovial personality. Abe shook his head, and now the smile was gone altogether. â€Å"That's not the reason either. Don't lie to me, little girl.† I felt my hackles going up. â€Å"And don't interrogate me, old man. Not unless you're ready to tell me why you and your sidekicks risked driving that road to pick up Sydney and me.† Abe's dhampirs stiffened at the words old man, but to my surprise, he actually smiled again-though the smile didn't reach his eyes. â€Å"Maybe I was just helping out.† â€Å"Not from what I hear. You're the one who had the Alchemists send Sydney with me here.† â€Å"Oh?† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Did she tell you that? Mmm†¦ that was bad behavior on her part. Her superiors aren't going to like that. Not at all.† Oh, damn. I'd spoken without thinking. I didn't want Sydney to get in trouble. If Abe really was some kind of Moroi Godfather type-what had she called him? Zmey? The snake?-I didn't doubt he could talk to other Alchemists to make her life even more miserable. â€Å"I forced it out of her,† I lied. â€Å"I†¦ I threatened her on the train. It wasn't hard. She's already scared to death of me.† â€Å"I don't doubt she is. They're all scared of us, bound by centuries of tradition and hiding behind their crosses to protect them-despite the gifts they get from their tattoos. In a lot of ways, they get the same traits as you dhampirs-just no reproductive issues.† He gazed up at the stars as he spoke, like some sort of philosopher musing on the mysteries of the universe. Somehow, that made me angrier. He was treating this like a joke, when clearly he had some agenda regarding me. I didn't like being part of anyone's plans-particularly when I didn't know what those plans were. â€Å"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure we could talk about the Alchemists and how you control them all night,† I snapped. â€Å"But I still want to know what you want with me.† â€Å"Nothing,† he said simply. â€Å"Nothing? You've gone to a lot of trouble to set me up with Sydney and follow me here for nothing.† He looked back down from the sky, and there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. â€Å"You're of no interest to me. I have my own business to run. I come on behalf of others who are interested in you.† I stiffened, and at last, true fear ran through me. Shit. There was a manhunt out for me. But who? Lissa? Adrian? Tatiana? Again, that last one made me nervous. The others would seek me out because they cared. But Tatiana†¦ Tatiana feared I'd run off with Adrian. Once more I thought that if she wanted me found, it might be because she wanted to ensure I didn't come back. Abe struck me as the kind of person who could make people disappear. â€Å"And what do the others want? Do they want me home?† I asked, trying to appear unafraid. â€Å"Did you think you could just come here and drag me back to the U.S.?† That secretive smile of Abe's returned. â€Å"Do you think I could just drag you back?† â€Å"Well,† I scoffed, again without thinking, â€Å"you couldn't. Your guys here could. Well, maybe. I might be able to take them.† Abe laughed out loud for the first time, a rich, deep sound filled with sincere amusement. â€Å"You live up to your brash reputation. Delightful.† Great. Abe probably had a whole file on me somewhere. He probably knew what I liked for breakfast. â€Å"I'll make a trade with you. Tell me why you're here, and I'll tell you why I'm here.† â€Å"I already told you.† In a flash, the laughter was gone. He took a step closer to where I sat, and I saw his guardians tense. â€Å"And I told you not to lie to me. You've got a reason for being here. I need to know what it is.† â€Å"Rose? Can you come in here?† Back toward the Belikov house, Viktoria's clear voice rang out in the night. Glancing behind me, I saw her standing in the doorway. Suddenly, I wanted to get away from Abe. There was something lethal underneath that gaudy, jovial facade, and I didn't want to spend another minute with him. Leaping up, I began backing toward the house, half-expecting his guardians to come kidnap me, despite his words. The two guys stayed where they were, but their eyes watched me carefully. Abe's quirky smile returned to his face. â€Å"Sorry I can't stay and chat,† I said. â€Å"That's all right,† he said grandly. â€Å"We'll find time later.† â€Å"Not likely,† I said. He laughed, and I hastily followed Viktoria into the house, not feeling safe until I shut the door. â€Å"I do not like that guy.† â€Å"Abe?† she asked. â€Å"I thought he was your friend.† â€Å"Hardly. He's some kind of mobster, right?† â€Å"I suppose,† she said, like it was no big deal. â€Å"But he's the reason you're here.† â€Å"Yeah, I know about him coming to get us.† Viktoria shook her head. â€Å"No, I mean here. I guess while you were in the car, you kept saying, ? ®Belikov, Belikov.' Abe figured you knew us. That's why he took you to our house.† That was startling. I'd been dreaming of Dimitri, so of course I would have said his last name. But I'd had no idea that was how I'd ended up here. I'd figured it was because Olena had medical training. Then Viktoria added the most astonishing thing of all. â€Å"When he realized we didn't know you, he was going to take you somewhere else-but grandmother said we had to keep you. I guess she'd had some dream that you'd come to us.† â€Å"What?† Crazy, creepy Yeva who hated me? â€Å"Yeva dreamed about me?† Viktoria nodded. â€Å"It's this gift she has. Are you sure you don't know Abe? He's too big-time to be here without a reason.† Olena hurried over to us before I could respond. She caught hold of my arm. â€Å"We've been looking for you. What took so long?† This question was directed to Viktoria. â€Å"Abe was-â€Å" Olena shook her head. â€Å"Never mind. Come on. Everyone's waiting.† â€Å"For what?† I asked, letting her drag me through the house to the backyard. â€Å"I was supposed to tell you,† explained Viktoria, scurrying along. â€Å"This is the part where everyone sits and remembers Dimitri by telling stories.† â€Å"Nobody's seen him in so long; we don't know what's happened to him recently,† said Olena. â€Å"We need you to tell us.† I flinched. Me? I balked at that, particularly when we emerged outside and I saw all those faces around the campfire. I didn't know any of them. How could I talk about Dimitri? How could I reveal what was closest to my heart? Everyone seemed to blur together, and I thought I might faint. For the moment, none of them noticed me. Karolina was speaking, her baby in her arms. Every so often she'd pause, and the others would laugh. Viktoria sat down on a blanket-covered spot on the ground and pulled me down beside her. Sydney joined us a little while later. â€Å"What's she saying?† I whispered. Viktoria listened to her sister for a few moments and then leaned closer to me. â€Å"She's talking about when Dimitri was very young, how he used to always beg her and her friends to let him play with them. He was about six and they were eight and didn't want him around.† Viktoria paused again to take in the next part of the story. â€Å"Finally, Karolina told him he could if he agreed to be married off to their dolls. So Karolina and her friends dressed him and the dolls up over and over and kept having weddings. Dimitri was married at least ten times.† I couldn't help but laugh as I tried to picture tough, sexy Dimitri letting his big sister dress him up. He probably would have treated his wedding ceremony with a doll as seriously and stoically as he did his guardian duties. Other people spoke, and I tried to keep up with the translations. All the stories were about Dimitri's kindness and strength of character. Even when not out battling the undead, Dimitri had always been there to help those who needed it. Almost everyone could recall sometime that Dimitri had stepped up to help others, going out of his way to do what was right, even in situations that could put him at risk. That was no surprise to me. Dimitri always did the right thing. And it was that attitude that had made me love him so much. I had a similar nature. I too rushed in when others needed me, sometimes when I shouldn't have. Others called me crazy for it, but Dimitri had understood. He'd always understood me, and part of what we'd worked on was how to temper that impulsive need to run into danger with reason and calculation. I had a feeling no one else in this world would ever understand me like he did. I didn't notice how strongly the tears were running down my cheeks until I saw everyone looking at me. At first, I thought they considered me crazy for crying, but then I realized someone had asked me a question. â€Å"They want you to talk about Dimitri's last days,† Viktoria said. â€Å"Tell us something. What he did. What he was like.† I used my sleeve to clean my face and looked away, focusing on the bonfire. I'd spoken in front of others before without hesitation, but this was different. â€Å"I†¦ I can't,† I told Viktoria, my voice strained and soft. â€Å"I can't talk about him.† She squeezed my hand. â€Å"Please. They need to hear about him. They need to know. Just tell us anything. What was he like?† â€Å"He†¦ he was your brother. You know.† â€Å"Yes,† she said gently. â€Å"But we want to know what you think he was like.† My eyes were still on the fire, watching the way the flames danced and shifted from orange to blue. â€Å"He†¦ he was the best man I've ever met.† I stopped to gather myself, and Viktoria used the opportunity to translate my words into Russian. â€Å"And he was one of the best guardians. I mean, he was young compared to a lot of them, but everyone knew who he was. They all knew his reputation, and lots of people relied on him for advice. They called him a god. And whenever there was a fight†¦ or danger†¦ he was always the first one to put himself out there. He never flinched. And a couple months ago, when our school was attacked†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I choked up here a bit. The Belikovs had said they knew of the attack-that everyone knew about it-and from the faces here, it was true. I didn't need to elaborate on that night, on the horrors I'd seen. â€Å"That night,† I continued, â€Å"Dimitri rushed out to face the Strigoi. He and I were together when we realized they were attacking. I wanted to stay and help him, but he wouldn't let me. He just told me to go, to run off and alert others. And he stayed behind-not knowing how many Strigoi he'd have to take on while I went for help. I still don't know how many he fought-but there were a bunch. And he took them all down alone.† I dared to look up at the faces around me. Everyone was so quiet and still that I wondered if they were breathing. â€Å"It was so hard,† I told them. Without realizing it, my voice had dropped to a whisper. I had to repeat myself more loudly. â€Å"It was so hard. I didn't want to leave him, but I knew I had to. He taught me so much, but one of the biggest things was that we have to protect others. It was my duty to warn everyone else, even though I just wanted to stay with him. The whole time, my heart kept saying, ? ®Turn around, turn around. Go to him!' But I knew what I had to do and I also knew part of him was trying to keep me safe. And if the roles had been reversed†¦ well, I would have made him run too.† I sighed, surprised I'd revealed so much of my heart. I switched back to business. â€Å"Even when the other guardians joined him, Dimitri never backed down. He took down more Strigoi than almost anyone.† Christian and I had actually killed the most. â€Å"He†¦ he was amazing.† I told them the rest of the story that I'd told the Belikovs. Only I actually forced a little detail this time, telling them vividly just how brave and fierce he had been. The words hurt me as I spoke, and yet†¦ it was almost a relief to get them out. I'd kept the memories of that night too close to me. But eventually, I had to tell them about the cave. And that†¦ that was the worst. â€Å"We'd trapped the escaping Strigoi in a cave. It had two entrances, and we came at them from both sides. Some of our people got trapped, though, and there were more Strigoi than we'd expected. We lost people†¦ but we would have lost a lot more if Dimitri hadn't been there. He wouldn't leave until everyone was out. He didn't care about the risk to himself. He only knew he had to save others†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I'd seen it in his eyes, that determination. Our plan had finally been to retreat as soon as we were all out, but I'd had the feeling he would have stayed and killed every Strigoi he could find. But he'd followed orders too, finally beginning his retreat when the others were safe. And in those last moments, just before the Strigoi had bitten him, Dimitri had met my eyes with a look so full of love that it was like that whole cave filled with light. His expression had said what we'd talked about earlier: We can be together, Rose. Soon. We're almost there. And nothing will ever keep us apart again†¦ I didn't mention that part, though. When I finished the rest of the tale, the faces of those gathered were grim but filled with awe and respect. Near the back of the crowd, I noticed Abe and his guardians listening as well. His expression was unreadable. Hard, but not angry or scary. Small cups began circulating through the group, and someone handed me one. A dhampir I didn't know, one of the few men present, stood up and raised his cup in the air. He spoke loudly and reverently, and I heard Dimitri's name mentioned several times. When he finished, he drank from the cup. Everyone else did too, so I followed suit. And nearly choked to death. It was like fire in liquid form. It took every ounce of strength I had to swallow it and not spray it on those around me. â€Å"Wh†¦ what is this?† I asked, coughing. Viktoria grinned. â€Å"Vodka.† I peered at the glass. â€Å"No, it isn't. I've had vodka before.† â€Å"Not Russian vodka.† Apparently not. I forced the rest of the cup down out of respect to Dimitri, even though I had a feeling that if he were here, he'd be shaking his head at me. I thought I was done being in the spotlight after my story, but apparently not. Everyone kept asking me questions. They wanted to know more about Dimitri, more about what his life had been like recently. They also wanted to know about me and Dimitri as a couple. They all seemed to have figured out that Dimitri and I had been in love-and they were okay with it. I was asked about how we'd met, how long we'd been together†¦ And the whole time, people kept refilling my cup. Determined not to look like an idiot again, I kept drinking until I could finally take the vodka down without coughing or spitting. The more I drank, the louder and more animated my stories became. My limbs started to tingle, and part of me knew this was all probably a bad idea. Okay, all of me knew it. Finally, people began to clear out. I had no idea what time it was, but I think it was the middle of the night. Maybe later. I stood as well, finding it much harder to do than I'd expected. The world wobbled, and my stomach wasn't very happy with me. Someone caught a hold of my arm and steadied me. â€Å"Easy,† said Sydney. â€Å"Don't push it.† Slowly, carefully, she led me toward the house. â€Å"God,† I moaned. â€Å"Do they use that stuff as rocket fuel?† â€Å"No one made you keep drinking it.† â€Å"Hey, don't get preachy. Besides, I had to be polite.† â€Å"Sure,† she said. We made it inside and then had the impossible task of getting up the stairs to the room Olena had given me. Each step was agony. â€Å"They all knew about me and Dimitri,† I said, wondering if I'd be saying any of this sober. â€Å"But I never told them we were together.† â€Å"You didn't have to. It's written all over your face.† â€Å"They acted like I was his widow or something.† â€Å"You might as well be.† We reached my room, and she helped me sit down on the bed. â€Å"Not a lot of people get married around here. If you're with someone long enough, they figure it's almost the same.† I sighed and stared off without any particular focus. â€Å"I miss him so much.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"Will it ever get better?† The question seemed to catch her by surprise. â€Å"I†¦ I don't know.† â€Å"Have you ever been in love?† She shook her head. â€Å"No.† I wasn't sure if that made her lucky or not. I wasn't sure if all the bright days I'd had with Dimitri were worth the hurt I felt now. A moment later, I knew the truth. â€Å"Of course they were.† â€Å"Huh?† asked Sydney. I realized I'd spoken my thoughts out loud. â€Å"Nothing. Just talking to myself. I should get some sleep.† â€Å"Do you need anything else? Are you going to be sick?† I assessed my queasy stomach. â€Å"No, but thanks.† â€Å"Okay.† And in her typically brusque way, she left, turning off the lights and shutting the door. I would have thought I'd pass out right away. Honestly, I wanted to. My heart had been opened up to too much of Dimitri tonight, and I wanted that pain to go away. I wanted blackness and oblivion. Instead, maybe because I was a glutton for punishment, my heart decided to finish the job and rip itself completely open. I went to visit Lissa.