Becoming a Master Manager - 1427 Words

Becoming a Master Manager Styles of Leadership in the Competing Values Framework In order to be able to solve problems appropriately within a company, a manager has to be able to inspire others to work hard to accomplish important tasks. This process is called Leadership. To be successful in this area, the manager has to find a balance between task and relationship orientation. According to Kenneth Blanchard: â€Å"The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority†. Even though this sounds simple and understandable, it is quite complicated to act in an appropriate way in different situation. To be able to implement the appropriate behaviour, different styles have to be considered. This will be done in the following paragraphs.†¦show more content†¦Compared to the innovator, this type of manager has more grip on planning and organizing. This means, that whenever there is a conflict, he is able to sit together and discuss the conflict. He is open for new ideas, to implement changes that will ensure proper communication flows. What he does have to change, is his productivity insight. This type of manager tends to procrastinate and focus too much on motivation and inspiration. He has to become a skilled, serious and result focused manager. If he changes his attitude towards this direction, the communication flow in his department will improve significantly. Control Communication problems within a company can be very disturbing especially for the controlling department. In the controlling department a coordinator manage projects, designing work, managing across functions etc. in order to maintain these points they have to be able to monitor in a proper way. If there is a communication problem between the management department and the employees it means that the managers receive incorrect- or incomplete information. This can result in lower quality and inefficiency working methods. This can also de-stimulate the employees to communicate with the managers referring to improving points or new ideas. In order to improve this, managers should show more interest in employees’ suggestions, improve the ease to communicate to theShow MoreRelatedBecoming a Master Manager1421 Words   |  6 PagesBecoming a Master Manager Styles of Leadership in the Competing Values Framework In order to be able to solve problems appropriately within a company, a manager has to be able to inspire others to work hard to accomplish important tasks. This process is called Leadership. To be successful in this area, the manager has to find a balance between task and relationship orientation. According to Kenneth Blanchard: â€Å"The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority†. Even though this soundsRead MoreOrganizational Goals Of A Manager1622 Words   |  7 Pagesconsist of a front line supervisor, store manager, or team leader, but regardless of their role and whether they are top, middle, or first line managers, they all have four essential concepts they must learn to master in order to be successful. â€Å"Managers are individuals in an organization who direct and oversee the activities of other people in the organization so organizational goals can be accomplished† (Robbins, DeCenzo, Coulter, 2015). In order for a manager to be able to do their job effectivelyRead MoreEffective Leadership For A Positive Change Agent956 Words   |  4 PagesThis can be observed through the review of workplace changes at Wet n Wild Sydney in relation to Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s paper ‘Leadership for change: Enduring skills for change masters’ (Kanter, 2005). The skills of a positive change agent are described in detail by Kanter and are vital to becoming a positive change master. There are three phases of change projects according to Kanter. The first phase, generating ideas, involves skills such as sensing needs and opportunities for change and usingRead MoreOrganizational Leadership, Managing People And Strategic Planning1060 Words   |  5 Pagespeople and strategic planning. (study.com) As well as it looks better for applying to jobs to have a bachelor’s degree. Most people will continue their education by earning a master in Business Administration. It is a respected advanced degree and it shows how committed someone is to leading in that field. Obtaining a master will usually take an extra year or two. For students getting a degree in business administration must take their common core classes of course like all majors. The business coreRead MoreThe Importance Of Soft And Soft Skills Essay1207 Words   |  5 Pagesjob.â₠¬  He also emphasized the importance of soft skills today as they will help employees to get the jobs they want, as well as to keep them. In other words, everyone should master soft skills in order to advance in future careers. This paper discusses the importance of soft skills in the accounting profession, and how to master these skills to be successful in maintaining as well as advancing in a future career as a leader. What are soft skills? According to Davidson (2016), soft skills are personalRead MoreStarbucks : A Coffee Shop For Their Frappuccino1649 Words   |  7 Pageswho work at Starbucks are members of their own subculture. A subculture is a group within society that shares the same values and interests. The people who work at Starbucks are made up by baristas, the entry level employee, shift supervisors, and managers. This team of employees’ works together closely to provide customers with the best experience and produce possible. Through working so intimately with one’s coworkers creates the aspects of a subculture. Without them Starbucks as a company and perRead MoreCareer Development And Planning Serves Five Essential Purpose1331 Words   |  6 PagesAfter discussing future’s plan with Amanda, she discussed her future plans of becoming Human Resources Director in ten years. Career development and planning serves five essential purpose: encourage, develop new skill s, alleviate plateauing, satisfy employment, and increase employment. My ultimate goal when developing a model a career planning for Amanda, I would want to use the Waterloo University Model. I would want to model each essential factors of the key points stages. These stages includeRead MoreThe Principles Of The Competing Values Framework1457 Words   |  6 PagesThe purpose of the Competing Values Framework is to facilitate the process of managers gaining a better understanding of the various managerial roles and how they can be applied more effectively in an environment of competing tensions. Each role is distinct and seemingly contradictory, but must be intertwined in order for a manager to achieve optimal efficiency; ultimately becoming a master manager. Master managers are expected to â€Å"possess the ability to play multiple, even competing roles in a highlyRead MorePersonal Statement : Senior Emigration From My Native Iran At The Age Of 171456 Words   |  6 Pagessuppl ied rises as the market price rises, and falls as the price would inevitably fall, in relation to the Law of Demand, where the quantity of a good demanded falls as the price rises, and vice versa. That being said, my job as a global supply chain manager is to maintain this precarious relationship, knowing when and how to control the market economy to effectively dictate certain beneficial outcomes that produce the highest margin of profitability. Corporations control the means of production, meaningRead MoreMasters in Nursing With a Bias in Leadership and Administration655 Words   |  3 Pageswell equipped to handle the challenging roles of executive leadership in a health care setting. This text addresses the various benefits a hospital would derive from having a nurse leader complete a Masters in Nursing with a bias in leadership/administration. Discussion In basic terms, a Masters in Nursing with a bias in leadership/administration equips nurse leaders with the necessary skills as well as knowledge required to handle challenging and demanding leadership roles in a health care setting

Test Anxiety An Age Old Remedy - 1273 Words

People from all walks of life experience the same type of thoughts, emotions, and feelings. People share many forms of disorders and syndromes, whether they be informally diagnosed or considered an age-old remedy. With that, one syndrome that is commonly shared through many people—many young college students in particular—is test anxiety. The syndrome is fairly self-explanatory, but the standard definition, at least according to Psychology Today, says: test anxiety is a psychological condition in which people experience extreme distress and anxiety in testing situations. The formality of certain institutions that require an evaluation of its participants can lead to great distress and at times despair, which is essentially test anxiety—and†¦show more content†¦For the instances of young college students, however, Dudley Barlow argues in his article Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students,â⠂¬  that the formality of today’s educational institutions and structure of its system is the primary reason for what causes test anxiety. There becomes too much of a burden on the student to do not only well, Barlow, but for the student to perform at his or her best capabilities especially in stressful circumstances. According to Barlow, this does not resemble anything of true education. Regardless of Barlow’s analysis of contemporary education, he makes a valid point about the infrastructure of schools and colleges doing more harm than good when trying to record its students’ academic capacity, for the importance placed on the results of these tests and records can become overwhelming and can lead to levels of stress and anxiety that are deemed astronomical. This is how, like in Barlow’s title piece exclaims, [we] are creating a generation of stressed students. No form of anxiety is a fun encounter, and despite there being varies instances of how one copes with test

Business Ethics Interpretation and Implementation

Question: Discuss about the Business Ethics Interpretation and Implementation. Answer: Introduction The topic of ethical and morality is one of the most important basics for creating a transparent business structure. In addition to several strategies, managers depend on an ethical code of conduct to increase long term sustainability of a company. The project emphasizes on a certain problem and attends to mitigate effects of the issues with the use of Nash`s 12 twelve question framework. Discussion Among several other problems the issue of data privacy is highly considered by the managers of a firm. In order to survive in the highly competitive market employees tend to value money over morality. According to Kouchaki, Feldman Gino (2015), a leak of crucial information not only leads to complex situations but also greatly harms successfulness of firms. Managers tend to question the workforce regarding several topics along with analyzing reasons for an immoral occurrence. Furthermore, a question of authority delegation, position sustainability and understanding of worker loyalty largely helps towards ethical decision making. A leak of data from the company leads to lowering of motives and also belief in the company. In addition to misusing of information, there also arises a case of grapevine and inefficient business planning which ultimately act as a direct threat to a firm (Shaw, 2016). Supervisors often seek expert help in developing a strong-hold ethical law along with questioning the symbolic potential of its practice. Conclusion Analyzing the project it can be inferred that there business organizations are confronted with several ethical dilemmas. In the world of completion, managers try to actively participate and maintain a code of morality using impacting frameworks to lead their firm towards success. References Kouchaki, M., Feldman, Y., Gino, F. (2015, May). Expressive Effects of Ethical Codes: An Experimental Survey of US Employees' Interpretation, Understanding and Implementation of Institutional Ethical Policies. InInequality, Trust and Ethics Conference: London. Shaw, W. (2016).Business ethics: A textbook with cases. Nelson Education.

Is sugar causing the obesity epidemic free essay sample

In the United States, increasing use of sugar in foods has led to an increase in obesity levels. Many manufactured foods have sugars that have been added. These include jams, jellies, yogurt, peanut butter, soups, candy, bars, soft drinks and many other snacks. The National Health and Nutrition examination survey indicated that the United States population has decreased its intake of fat but increased its intake of sugary and energy giving foods, while the incidence of obesity has increased (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2006).The implication here is that there is a greater likelihood of developing obesity with the consumption of sugar than with the consumption of fat. The sugar, when consumed by humans is stored as glycogen. When this glycogen becomes excessive it is converted into fats which when in excess results in the high-fat deposits common in obesity. Artificial sweeteners have various advantages over sugar and these make them the preferred choice for individuals who want to avoid the health risks of natural sugar. We will write a custom essay sample on Is sugar causing the obesity epidemic? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To begin with, sugar substitutes do not have the problem of lactic acid production, consequently, tooth decay is not a health hazard associated with sweeteners. The sweeteners do not undergo the fermentation process like natural sugars. The difficulty of regulating blood glucose levels is easier to manage using artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners allow the individual with diabetes to enjoy a great variety of foods while maintaining close control of their sugar intake. Further, some of the artificial sweeteners even though they have a small number of energy calories, are slowly metabolized. There has been the debate on the value of extrinsic sugar to the health of an individual. Extrinsic sugar enhances the taste of food but as it does so it also increases the number of calories resulting in negative effects on the health of an individual. The nutritional advice by the United Nations following a report compiled by two of its agencies (Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, and World Health Organization (WHO) ) is that free sugars should account for only as much as 10% of the total intake in a diet that is considered too healthy.This is because of the high-profit margin realized with the use of artificial sweeteners as they are more cost-effective than both corn syrup and sugar. The sweeteners, however, should be used by consumers with great caution to ensure that the sweeteners do not end up becoming more of a health hazard than a means of achieving good health.

Reno V. Koray free essay sample

Analyzes the 1995 ruling on whether a man ordered to stay at treatment center should be given credit for time served. This paper will analyze Reno v. Koray. The paper will give an overview of the facts and the legal disputes which the District Court sought to resolve and explain why the Court of Appeals reversed the lower court. This paper will then summarize the three opinions of the case. Finally, the paper will take a stand on the case and use convincing arguments and an analysis of constitutional issues to support its position. Zeno Koray was arrested for money laundering, a violation of federal law, in 1991. He was tried in Maryland, where he pled guilty to the charge in front of a U. S. District judge. A federal magistrate then ordered Koray to be released on bail pursuant to the Bail Reform Act of 1984, whereafter he was confined to a treatment center. We will write a custom essay sample on Reno V. Koray or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page  The issue which the District Court had to decide was whether Korays stay at the center could..

Free Essays on Paul Anti Judaism

Ruether vs. Gager: Romans 11:26 â€Å"Jesus, yes; but Paul never†. It is very clear that this statement sums up some individual’s viewpoint of the Apostle known as Paul. Everyone has their own interpretation and everyone has formed their own opinion. It is ironic that the most famous character in the New Testament outside of Jesus gets misunderstood more than anyone other person of his time. If its any consolation, Jesus also got misunderstood, this puts Jesus and Paul in a league of their own. Possibly, people just didn’t want to hear what he said so they form negative connotations against him so they are exempt from his teachings. There are a number of different scenarios you can create to figure out the enigma that is Paul the Apostle. I will concentrate on one simple verse in the Bible. The verse is Romans 11:26. â€Å"And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: â€Å"The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob† (Rom. 11:26) The first section of Romans 11:26 has been interpreted and dissected from many people. It seems to have many meanings in the form that Paul wrote it. Two particular people have written literary works about Paul and in both this verse is mentioned. Both authors have different interpretations of the verse and see Paul in a different light because of it. I will start with Rosemary Ruether who believes that Paul is Anti-Jewish. In her commentary about Paul, she clearly states that Judaism is the opposite of Faith in Christ. If you are a Jew, you are not a Christian and if a Christian, not a Jew. She makes the argument that there is nothing special about Jewish people, for Jewish and Gentile are both sinners and have fallen short of the Glory. In regards to Romans 11:26, Ruether believes in the salvation of the Jews, but she believes it is at an appointed time. If you look a verse before, Paul mentions the Jewish people as living with a mystery. He mentions a... Free Essays on Paul Anti Judaism Free Essays on Paul Anti Judaism Ruether vs. Gager: Romans 11:26 â€Å"Jesus, yes; but Paul never†. It is very clear that this statement sums up some individual’s viewpoint of the Apostle known as Paul. Everyone has their own interpretation and everyone has formed their own opinion. It is ironic that the most famous character in the New Testament outside of Jesus gets misunderstood more than anyone other person of his time. If its any consolation, Jesus also got misunderstood, this puts Jesus and Paul in a league of their own. Possibly, people just didn’t want to hear what he said so they form negative connotations against him so they are exempt from his teachings. There are a number of different scenarios you can create to figure out the enigma that is Paul the Apostle. I will concentrate on one simple verse in the Bible. The verse is Romans 11:26. â€Å"And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: â€Å"The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob† (Rom. 11:26) The first section of Romans 11:26 has been interpreted and dissected from many people. It seems to have many meanings in the form that Paul wrote it. Two particular people have written literary works about Paul and in both this verse is mentioned. Both authors have different interpretations of the verse and see Paul in a different light because of it. I will start with Rosemary Ruether who believes that Paul is Anti-Jewish. In her commentary about Paul, she clearly states that Judaism is the opposite of Faith in Christ. If you are a Jew, you are not a Christian and if a Christian, not a Jew. She makes the argument that there is nothing special about Jewish people, for Jewish and Gentile are both sinners and have fallen short of the Glory. In regards to Romans 11:26, Ruether believes in the salvation of the Jews, but she believes it is at an appointed time. If you look a verse before, Paul mentions the Jewish people as living with a mystery. He mentions a...

Foundation - DBQ 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Foundation - DBQ 1 - Assignment Example Therefore, a strong foundation entails the development of a framework that provides for the development of school counselling programs. This will ensure that counselling professionals do not address issues when they arise, but develop strategies that ensure issues do not occur. In addition, the prior development of the foundation ensures that the school counselling program is comprehensively integrated into the schools mission (Young and Kaffenberger 20). The integration of the program will ensure that each student in the school is included in the program, irrespective of whether the student indicates problems that require counselling or those that do not. Establishing a foundation before counselors can delve into the counselling curricula facilitates the identification of the key components of a developmental school counselling program (Young and Kaffenberger 6). Furthermore, critical factors such as the skills, attitudes and knowledge that students should acquire as a result of the schools’ counselling program are identified before the counselors can begin their work. Therefore, the development of this foundation ensures that the schools counselling strategy is comprehensively designed and delivered systematically for each and every student in the school. Evidently, the foundation of the schools counselling program can be described as program standards that facilitate consistency in the creation, design and implementation of these programs in schools. Young, Anita and Carol Kaffenberger. Making DATA work: A process for conducting action research. Journal of School Counselling 11 (2013): 1-31. Web. 12 September 2014.

Criminal Justice and Policing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminal Justice and Policing - Essay Example you are a police officer from another state) or the police department’s off-duty powers of arrest policy, you may be permitted by law to conduct an arrest or not. As an officer of the law you will be obligated to follow the due process of the law. However before you make the actions specified above, you will need to first talk to your friend, telling him your concern and finding out whether he was privy to the cocaine snorting by his other friends. You should make it clear to him the consequences of cocaine possession and use with regards to the law. In reality, though, you will probably find cause to disassociate him from culpability. The issue raised here is a moral problem because it involves a difference of belief. Coleman (2004) says that the issue of police accepting small gifts has long been a source of contention the fear being that it could influence an officer’s judgment while dispensing his/her duties. The moral question here is whether gratuities affect an officer’s decision making or not. There is no policy or law that governs this issue and professional discretion has been used to determine which gifts an officer could accept and which ones he/she should not accept. It is this professional discretion that Kania (2004) refers to as a slippery slope. Kania (2004) further states that though the fruit basket for your family, Christmas card, and $30 gift certificate could be innocent with no expectations attached to them nevertheless they would increase bias to the officer. The rationale behind my action here would be that any officer who receives a gift would be inclined to spend more time on the merchant’s premises thereby providing the merchant a few extra minutes of private security. This would cause an imbalance in provision of services to the community which does not appeal to the professionalism required from a police officer. Moreover, in a perfect world, which is what we are striving for, there would

International finanicial manager (slp 5 bus) Essay

International finanicial manager (slp 5 bus) - Essay Example transnational corporation acquire, organize and manage those assets is of critical importance, not only to the success of those corporations, but also to the development and industrial restructuring of nation states. The task of international financial manager is to make the best possible tactical decision that the market has to offer on liabilities, within the strategic funding constraints set by currency denomination, maturity, and capital structure Almost every firm, government agency, and other type of organizations have one or more financial managers. Financial managers oversee the preparation of financial reports, direct investment activities, and implement cash management strategies. Managers also develop strategies and implement the long-term goals of their organization. The role of the financial manager, particularly in business, is changing in response to technological advances that have significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to produce financial reports. Financial managers now perform more data analysis and use it to offer senior managers ideas on how to maximize profits. They often work on teams, acting as business advisors to top management. Financial managers need to keep abreast of the latest computer technology to increase the efficiency of their firm’s financial operations. Controllers direct the preparation of financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of future earnings or expenses. Controllers also are in charge of preparing special reports required by regulatory authorities. Often, controllers oversee the accounting, audit, and budget departments. Treasurers and finance officers direct the organization’s budgets to meet its financial goals. They oversee the investment of funds, manage associated risks, supervise cash management activities, execute capital-raising strategies to support a firm’s expansion, and deal with mergers and acquisitions. Cash managers monitor and control the flow of

Drug And Alcohol Impact On Child Development

Drug And Alcohol Impact On Child Development The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse seriously effects child development. The negative effects of substance abuse begin during the pregnancy and continue through childhood. Groundbreaking research on this subject was published in the Hidden Harm Report. Estimates show that in the United Kingdom today there are almost 1.3 million children living with an alcoholic parent. That is one is every eleven children. Furthermore up to 350,000 children in the United Kingdom have at least one parent who suffers from a serious drug addiction. Many of these children are hiding their problems, living in fear and without support. The dangers of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure are widely publicised due to the particularly damaging effects that heavy drinking and substance abuse can cause to a childs cognitive development. When a woman becomes pregnant, it is very important for her to lead a healthy life. It is essential for her own health and the health of her unborn baby that she eats plenty of nourishing food, gets plenty of rest, and exercises regularly. It is vitally important that she avoids anything that might harm her or her baby. Therefore, it is especially important to give up alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. For a pregnant woman, drug abuse is dangerous in two ways. Firstly, drugs may harm her own health and interfere with her ability to support the pregnancy. Secondly, some drugs can directly impair prenatal development. Drugs can cause an increased chance of early delivery or miscarriage, sudden bleeding and the inability to recognise or cope with normal changes throughout the pregnancy. When the baby is born withdrawal symptoms may result in a longer hospital stay and the involvement of social services. Drugs can affect babies in many ways. The most common are; low birth weight and slower growth and development. However, the affects of drugs on the baby during the pregnancy can also cause heart problems and defects of the face and body. Another fact to consider is that; when a pregnant woman drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol can cause serious problems for an unborn baby that can affect their entire life. The baby can be born with foetal alcohol syndrome which can cause it to be underweight, grow slower and have birth defects. The baby may have a smaller brain and suffer with a lower I.Q. Alcohol can also be passed along to a baby through breast milk. A study published in the March 2004 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research explained how light to moderate drinking during pregnancy may interfere with learning and memory during adolescence. Assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburghs School of Medicine, Jennifer Willford explains that; We have known for a long time that drinking heavily during pregnancy could lead to major impairments in growth, behaviour, and cognitive function in children. This paper clearly shows that even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can have a significant impact on child development. The damaging effects of tobacco on an unborn child cannot be underestimated. Smoking during pregnancy causes the risk of miscarriage or premature labour to dramatically increase. The primary danger is delayed foetal growth. Nicotine depresses the appetite at a time when a woman should be gaining weight. Smoking reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen. Therefore the foetus is deprived of sufficient nourishment and oxygen. As a result the baby may not grow as fast or as much as it should. The NHS acknowledges the risks of smoking to the unborn baby and has recently set up the NHS Pregnancy and Smoking Helpline. It offers advice on how to quit and a free DVD to highlight the damaging effects. On average, babies born to women who smoked during pregnancy are significantly smaller than those born to women who did not smoke. Low birth weight is one of the main effects of smoking when pregnant. This can cause increased chance of infant illness, disability and stillbirth. Smoking in pregnancy also greatly increases the risk of cot death in babies. Statistics from the award winning Baby Centre Newsletter suggested that; This risk is four times higher if you smoke between 1 and 9 cigarettes a day during pregnancy, rising to eight times higher if you smoke 20 cigarettes or more daily. Therefore it is clear that it is especially important for a pregnant woman to give up alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Using alcohol and other drugs carry major risks. Alcohol and drugs impair your judgement, making you more likely to hurt yourself or others. Familial alcoholism can affect all areas of a childs life, from school life through to behavioural problems and compulsive disorders. Some children go through life without support because they may not experience obvious forms of abuse. However, they do suffer from neglect or a chronic lack of the little things, which are so crucial to the wellbeing of us all. This is a result of their parents drinking and the effects it has on their state of mind and body. From moment you take your first sip, alcohol starts affecting your body and mind. After one or two drinks you may start feeling more sociable and outgoing. In contrast by drinking too much basic human functions, such as walking and talking become much harder. Effects can also include behaving out of character and saying things you do not mean. This uncertainty will frighten and unsettle the ch ildren of parents who suffer from alcohol misuse. Children will fear the way their parents speak and act when they have been drinking or using drugs. With little control over what they say parents may verbalize things which they normally would not. This can be hurtful and cruel to children or even embarrassing when outside of the home environment. The uncertainty can cause upset in the young persons life, which can affect their schooling. Children can be distracted from their lessons as they think of what might be happening or waiting for them at home. At home many of these children are left to care for themselves while others are forced to look after their parents and siblings. Consequently, it may become the childs role and responsibility to look after the family, cook dinner and get their younger brothers or sisters ready for school. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs conducted a survey which discovered that many of these children out of shame or fear, or simply because they are too young, rarely speak out about their experiences and can become isolated and excluded. Dr Laurence Gruer, chairman of the ACMD Prevention Working Group, said: From birth onwards their parents drug problems can endanger their health in many ways and cause a great deal of emotional and psychological damage that often goes unnoticed. Today in Scotland there is a range of government drug strategies and initiatives for helping these vulnerable children. Parents with serious drug and alcohol problems should not be frightened away by these services. They should feel that they can come forward and get help without encountering more trouble. The aim of many services is to keep children with their parents wherever it is safe to do so by combining treatment for the parents and support for the child. The risk of harm to children can be reduced by effective treatment and support for the addicted parents. Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said the Government had already invested  £1.2 billion to tackle the drug culture and would be spending  £1.5 billion by 2006. Ainsworth said; We agree it is essential for adult drug services, childrens services, indeed all local providers to approach the problem holistically. Only by reducing their numbers can we reduce the amount of children that have to suffer the consequences of growing up in an environment wrecked by drugs. Parental drug and alcohol misuse has been identified as a serious problem in the United Kingdom. The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse on a childs life in immeasurable. Therefore, it is the governments responsibility to reduce the negative impact on the childs life and offer as much support as possible. In addition users often experience trouble with the law, poor performance at work or school and relationship troubles. As a result, many children are exposed to rage, violence and abuse on a daily basis. This becomes part of the unpredictable and inconsistent environment in which they live. Police statists show that between 60% and 80% of all violent crime is alcohol related. Interestingly, a recent survey conducted by Alcohol Concern and Police Review showed that 70% of police officers viewed alcohol as causing them greater problems than drug misuse. Research which supports this view reveals that, domestic violence is six times more common when parents suffer from alcoholism. As a result, children of drug and alcohol users often express feelings of hurt, rejection, shame and anger. More worryingly they are forced to live with the anxiety that these feelings create, often without any support. Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive of social care charity Turning Point, said: Its time that we started listening to the silent survivors of drug misuse. We cannot afford to continue to ignore the 350,000 children in the UK who are harmed by their parents drug problems. In violent situations such as these the child often feels a sense of guilt. They may see themselves as the main cause of their parents drink or drug abuse. The child may feel constantly anxious about the situation at home. They often fear the parent will become sick or injured or that the substance abuse will cause an increased level of fights and violence between the parents. Embarrassment is often another common feeling of children living with parents who suffer from alcohol or drug misuse. Parents may give the message that there is a terrible secret at home. The child may feel ashamed by their parents and the lifestyle they live. If the parents experience trouble with the law for the ways in which they fund their habit the child may feel lonely. This is due to the childs inability to have close relationships. As a result of the child being disappointed by the parent they are often unable to trust others. The ashamed child does not invite friends home and is afraid to ask anyone fo r help. The alcoholic parent will change suddenly from being affectionate to angry, regardless of the childs behaviour. A daily routine, which is very important for a child, does not exist because bedtimes and mealtimes are constantly changing. This creates uncertainty in the childs life and can be the cause of misbehaviour as the child acts out for attention. Alcohol and drugs also have specific health risks: they can damage major organs, increase your risk of cancers, and even cause death. This is a constant worry for children as they fear for the welfare of their parents. This can cause children to suffer from Psychologist John Bowlby Theory of Attachment. Bowlby believed that the earliest bonds formed by children with their parents have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life. One of the characteristics of The Theory of Attachment is Separation Distress. This is when a child is separated from the caregiver and becomes upset and distressed. They fear for the security and safety of their parents when they are not around to provide care. In addition children can suffer from Avoidant Attachment. This is when children will avoid going home or seeing their parents. These children will show no preference between a caregiver and a complete stranger. Research shows that this attachment style might be a result of abusive or neglectful parents. The effects of parental drug and alcohol misuse can seriously affect a childs life. The impact of living in such an environment lasts right through childhood and affects all areas of their life. Whilst harm from parental substance use is not inevitable, the number of children living with substance misusing parents has increased in recent years. The only way to decrease the figure is to lower the number of people abusing drugs and alcohol in society. The widespread pattern of binge drinking and recreational drug use exposes children to sub-optimal care and substance-using role models. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics in later life. Therefore, the effects of parental drug and alcohol misuse last throughout the childs life and into adulthood. Preventative efforts have been introduced to discourage children from following in the same footsteps as their parents. Education is provided at school, for all children and adolescents, on the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol. Children should be given direct access to support services so that they are not facing the problems of a chaotic and unstable home alone. The education of those who work with children is also vital. Teachers and other service providers should be trained to spot signs of children living with alcohol or drug addicted parents. This would allow extra support to be provided in the education of the child and their emotional wellbeing. Due to impairment caused by being intoxicated, alcohol and drug abuse frequently lead to child neglect and an increase in Domestic violence. Witnessing domestic violence in the home, as well as living in the chaos and instability caused by intoxication, is emotional abuse to a child. Frequently domestic violence will make the child fear that the situation could escalate into physical violence against them. Many physically abusive parents insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline or ways to make childr en learn to behave. However, there is a big difference between giving an unruly child a tap on the wrist and twisting the childs arm until it breaks. Physical abuse can include striking, burning, shaking or pushing a child. Another form of child abuse which involves babies is known as shaken baby syndrome. This is when a parent shakes a baby roughly to make the baby stop crying, causing brain damage or in extreme cases even death. Warning signs for teacher can be unexplained bruises or cuts. Other signs can be more subtle such as fearful and shy child who does not want to go home. If people outside of the home environment fail to spot and report these signs, many children go through life dealing with these problems alone. However, it is important for people from outside agencies to realise that not every child who lives with a drug or alcohol dependent parent will suffer physical or emotional abuse. In many cases the impact will be constant lack of the little things, which are so cr ucial to the wellbeing of us all. The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse seriously effects child development. The negative effects of substance abuse begin during the pregnancy and continue through childhood. The impact of living in an environment with drug or alcohol dependant parents can impact a childs life from birth straight through to adulthood. Groundbreaking research on this subject has been published in many reports. The most recent has been the Hidden Harm Report. Estimates show that in the United Kingdom today there are almost 1.3 million children living with an alcoholic parent. That is one is every eleven children. Furthermore the report shows that up to 350,000 children in the United Kingdom have at least one parent who suffers from a serious drug addiction. Many of these children are hiding their problems, living in fear and without support. This shows that parental drugs and alcohol misuse is a serious problem in the United Kingdom. Parental drug and alcohol misuse impacts on a childs growth, education, health and development.

Bloodless Revolution

â€Å"THE BLOODLESS REVOLUTION†. Talking about the first coverage, Economic Crisis’ causes and results are one of the main root cause of ‘Martial Law’ back then. Economy of many developing countries, including the Philippines, has reached its instability in its peak. When Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, many have now the courage to protest and do demonstrations against Marcos Regime whether or not in Manila which caused investors to back out since they are afraid of economical instability that had been continuously brought by these protests. Since there is already economic crisis that time, many are fired from their jobs thus, leaving the country to widespread unemployment and these unemployed Filipinos joined the rallies and marches leading to more popular grievances and discontent. Human rights violation were rampant and landlordism and poverty grew. Due to his criticisms not only in the country but from other nations as well, Marcos declared ‘Snap Elections’ with Cory Aquino as his main rival. He won evetually because of massive fraudility. This has enraged Filipinos with their leader C. Aquino and boycott Marcos’ allies’ companies. This has led to greater protests and marches and apparently, bloodless revolution took place with the help of Jaime Cardinal Sin, Agapito Aquino, Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel Ramos, religious organizations, and most importantly, the Filipino people. Marcos has left the country with his family and went to Hawaii through the help of US Air Force. Cory Aquino has been declared by the mass as the President of the Philippines with her Vice President Laurel and implemented the 1987 Constitution which replaced the merciless ‘Martial Law’ of Marcos People Power Movement refers to the popular uprising that ousted Philippine president Ferdinand E. Marcos in February 1986. Also known as the EDSA Revolution, the uprising was in reaction to the massive fraud and violence unleashed by the government to ensure that Marcos and vicepresidential candidate Arturo Tolentino would win the so-called snap  elections  that Marcos had called earlier that month. The opposition ticket was headed by Corazon Aquino, wife of former Senator Benigno â€Å"Ninoy† Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983 by  elements  of the Philippine  military  as he debarked his plane at the  Manila  International Airport  (since renamed Ninoy Aquino  International  Airport). Many believed that Aquino and her running mate,  Salvador  Laurel, would have won had the  electionsbeen fair and honest. Massive demonstrations were held in front of Malacanang (the  presidential  palace) and two  military  camps located at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The peaceful uprising became a model for other countries wishing to change their government without resort to a  military  coup or a bloody revolution. Having the evaluation, the question that the reporter wanted to ask is that—having now the clearer scenario and better knowledge about the EDSA Revolution I, which is more preferable: DICTATORSHIP or DEMOCRACY? As for my perspective, it would be STILL DEMOCRACY. People will tend to say that dictatorship is better since many Filipinos now are not abiding the law and usage of force in its implementation would be the best solution. But then, I think the main and very problem of out country is the misunderstanding and mis-usage of the word FREEDOM in which DEMOCRACY is quoted with. True Freedom and Democracy would always come with rights and responsibilities as citizens of our country. It is all about change—not for the worse but for the betterment.

Broken Family Essay

Family is the basic unit of society. This is the most essential component of a country. A home is where a family lives. It may be alternated to the word ‘house’ but a house is more appropriately referring to the material structure, whereas ‘home’ refers to the intangible things that bind together the family members. It is the immeasurable love and care that keeps together the mother, father and their children. However, no matter how ideal a family in the terms of their relationship, there are still hardships and misunderstandings that will come along the way. It is just part of any relationship anyway. But, the sad part is when one of the family members gave up and the others have no choice but to accept and let go. Thus, the family starts to be broken. A family can consist of a father, mother, and children. They all live in the same house until they are old enough to leave. Broken Family is a family with children involved where parents are legally or illega lly separated whose parents have decided to go and live their lives separately for several reasons/problems. A broken family is one where the parents (mother and father) of a child or children have split up and no longer share a single family home as a family unit. This is also known as a broken home. Have you ever heard the expression â€Å"A family who’s eats together stays together†? Well, that is true, but and emotionally broken up family means that the family has grown apart, fights all the time, doesn’t get along. It doesn’t just take a toll on the family, it takes a toll on the family members. No one wants a broken home. Even if they say they do. Broken family is a major problem of the society that should be given enough attention. The behaviour of family setup affects the social, economic and political aspects of a country. It should not be taken for granted as if it will fix the problem on its own. Unconditional love and eternal care should be the foundation of every family. It should always be remembered to keep the family away from the thoughts of sepa ration. This study may be student beneficial to the student to balance between their studies and the pain they faced/encounter. This study is significant to the researcher since it is an opportunity to develop skills in conducting research. For the future researcher, this study will serve basis for the conduct of future researcher. Specially, this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. How this situation/problem affects their studies, particularly in academic subjects? 2. What are the possible solutions to overcome this problem? This study was conducted to determine the effects of a broken family to the study of their children. The expected output of the study will be settlement of the effects of a broken family tto the studies of their children. This study takes only 10 students having the same problem/situation and focus onlt on the affects of a broken family to the studies of their children. The study will be conducted at University of Southern Mindanao (USM), North Cotabato from February to June 2013. Society = is the people who live in a country or region, their organizations, and their way of life. Essential = is extremely important or absolutely necessary to a particular subject, situation, or activity. Relationship = between two people or groups is the way in which they feel and behave towards each other.

Free Essays on Boiler Room

In today’s society, there are opportunists that will attempt to take advantage of those in our society. Boiler Room is one such example of these opportunists taking advantage of others in society. Boiler Room is an illustration of our current society, a society in which morality and ethics have taken a back seat to profits, and status. Boiler Room is a story about a college drop out who desperately wants to please his father, a federal judge who is very judgmental with his son. Seth Davis closes a casino he operates in his own house. Thinking he'll please dad, he takes a job in a small brokerage house, where after training, they promise phenomenal pay. The newly hired trainees make calls to lists of prominent to middle class men and apply high-pressure tactics to sell the companies exclusive initial public offerings (IPO’s). Seth becomes one of the firm’s best trainees and is exceptional at sales. Curiosity surrounding the firms dealings leads Seth to discover th at the firm isn’t what it is cracked up to be, and is faced when numerous ethical dilemmas. The movie focuses around the main character, Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi), a intelligent young man who has made thousands of dollars running an underground casino out of his house. One night, two brokers came to his casino and were able to convince him to join their firm JT Marlin. Seth not understanding what goes on behind the scenes of the stock market gladly joins the firm, in the hope of making an easy buck. He quickly rises through the firm and begins to notice practices that he begins to question, and eventually learn the truth behind the firm. The movie illustrates how money drives society, and how money can cause people to show complete disregard for the welfare of others. The underlying theme surrounds Seth Davis, and his maturation, as he comes to realize the wrong in his actions, and tries his hardest to correct his previous injustices. Over the course of the movie, ... Free Essays on Boiler Room Free Essays on Boiler Room In today’s society, there are opportunists that will attempt to take advantage of those in our society. Boiler Room is one such example of these opportunists taking advantage of others in society. Boiler Room is an illustration of our current society, a society in which morality and ethics have taken a back seat to profits, and status. Boiler Room is a story about a college drop out who desperately wants to please his father, a federal judge who is very judgmental with his son. Seth Davis closes a casino he operates in his own house. Thinking he'll please dad, he takes a job in a small brokerage house, where after training, they promise phenomenal pay. The newly hired trainees make calls to lists of prominent to middle class men and apply high-pressure tactics to sell the companies exclusive initial public offerings (IPO’s). Seth becomes one of the firm’s best trainees and is exceptional at sales. Curiosity surrounding the firms dealings leads Seth to discover th at the firm isn’t what it is cracked up to be, and is faced when numerous ethical dilemmas. The movie focuses around the main character, Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi), a intelligent young man who has made thousands of dollars running an underground casino out of his house. One night, two brokers came to his casino and were able to convince him to join their firm JT Marlin. Seth not understanding what goes on behind the scenes of the stock market gladly joins the firm, in the hope of making an easy buck. He quickly rises through the firm and begins to notice practices that he begins to question, and eventually learn the truth behind the firm. The movie illustrates how money drives society, and how money can cause people to show complete disregard for the welfare of others. The underlying theme surrounds Seth Davis, and his maturation, as he comes to realize the wrong in his actions, and tries his hardest to correct his previous injustices. Over the course of the movie, ...

CORREGIDORA essays

CORREGIDORA essays Gayl Jones's Corregidora is not your typical response to a long and rather terrifying history of slavery in the Americas. Instead, it is an attempt to humanize the ugly experiences of older African-American generations. While on the surface, it appears another story focusing on the history of slavery in Americas; it is nonetheless a deeper and more complex analysis of that period in time. Ursa, is the protagonist of the novel, who is burdened by the painful history of her family and believes she is responsible for passing the stories on to the next generation, the way her mother and grandmother did. However since she has not experienced slavery in the way her ancestors did, Ursa relives those experiences through her music. For Ursa, music is her savior. She believes it can help her find the liberation from past that she seeks so ardently. However because of the fact that her ancestors including her mother and grandmother, constantly remind her of their past, Ursa is perpetually haunted by her family history. Music is important to her as she says in the novel, "I am Ursa Corregidora. I have tears for eyes. I was made to touch my past at an early age ... Let no one pollute my music. I will dig out their trumpets. I will pluck out their eyes" (77). Music is her sole means of redemption because in the absence of authentic records, Ursa felt her blues could the pain and suffering of her ancestors to next generations. Corregidora has both real and symbolic value in the book because on the one hand he is the person who destroyed the lives of Gram and Great Gram while on the other, he also symbolizes male legacy of chauvinism and exploitation that threatens the female freedom and existence. In the novel, Ursa is so intricately connected with her family history thatr everything that happens to her is linked with some past ugly experience of her ancestors. For example, when she becomes infertile ...

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Dillard’s mother was fluent in English and taught her children many English phrases. The kids learned about the â€Å"Tamiami Trail† from their mother when they visited Florida. Tampa was on one side of the coast and Miami on the other. The road that connected the two was the one named Tamiami Trail. Her mother told them the struggles people had to through to build the trail. The road took fourteen years to be complete. Dillard’s family was speaking the wrong English. Her father had no problem with her English, but her mom was always correcting her by using the wrong words in a sentence (Dillard 354). Dillard’s mother had many jokes and joked on many occasion, from the supermarket cashier to the surgeon doing her surgery to the couple she did not know. Dillard’s mother was an intelligent woman with much energy. She got bored quickly and did not like focusing on a single thing for a long time. Dillard had two other sisters. The children plus their father were worried when their mother had a difficult time figuring out to do things or why certain things are in existence. It is a story told by White about his childhood experiences at the lake with his father. White then takes his son to the lake again after years. Lake Maine was a family vacation site for White’s family. They always visited the lake on summer holidays (White 1). White took his son for the first time to experience the life at the lakeside. White brings the audience down memory lane and ways he grew up going to the lake often. White reflects on how similar he is to his father. The relationship between him and his son is the same as the one he had with his father at the lake. The whole essay is about that fact. The fact that the lake has not changed a little from the time he was a kid until he had his child. His son reminds him of how he was when he went to the lake with his father. Family values are traditional values: values passed from one generation to

Factors that organisation can utilise to help build brand equity Essay

Factors that organisation can utilise to help build brand equity - Essay Example The clients, through what they speak of the product, ultimately determine the brand equity of a commodity. In this case, the most promising products in meeting the needs of the clients have a strong value for their brand. Through the use of information available at the market and the clients’ perception of the products capacity to meet the needs, an appropriate product is selected. This is greatly influenced by the beliefs and perception of the client towards a commodity in relation to the specific needs that need to be addressed. In the course of improving brand equity of a specific product or institution, the two main factors that are taken into account include brand knowledge and brand awareness. The product should be placed in the client mind to an extent that when s/he is confronted with a problem, the products appears to be the first choice among the products that could address the challenge. Understanding the rivals in a business Understanding the brand equity of compet itors is important in the making of brand equity; this is mainly because the organization will maximize on their weaknesses. Moreover, this will provide sufficient information in preparation of a brand that is unique from the existing ones and thus easily identifiable by the clients. This places the product as well the organization at a competitive edge in the market that is ever competitive, thus enjoying customer loyalty, increased sales and consequently growth. Approaches for ensuring brand equity There are various approaches to ensure brand equity in an organisation within the market in which its supplies products to its customers. Customer-based equity brand approach is one in which an organisations considers various factors to be implemented so as to come up with a brand that is strongly established in the market. Customer-based brand equity model ensures that an organisation can be able to attract its customers by clearly considering their choices as could be determined by th eir preferences. Kevin Keller developed the model and hence it also bears the name Keller’s Brand Equity and it involves four steps of developing a stable and strong brand in the market. The first step of customer-based brand equity implies that a product needs to be logical, and should integrate different aspects of life as well as establishing itself in the market. This happens by creating customer awareness or salience, which aims at ensuring that a brand stands out, and customers recognise it. According to this step, an organisation, which is implementing a branding venture, should focus on being all-inclusive and focusing on its ability to its establishment in the market. This means that for a brand to thrive in a market, it will have to undergo the process of growth to establish itself in the business by involving as many people with their own differences. This means that an

Directional style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Directional style - Essay Example This turned away, for example, neorealism of the 40, where the world was shown as it was, without manipulation. In many films of Alfred Hitchcock we may notice something in common, which makes these movies together, making them look alike, to distinguish from the films of other directors and, thus, allow us to speak about the auteurs style of Hitchcock. Hitchcock Style manifested in the fact that in his motion pictures are often repeated certain plot motifs, method of presentation the audience, the technique of shooting, type of actors and so on. Some films of Hitchcock (especially early ones) are out of the general track - so they can be called unusual, in style, in contrast to the typical, "real" films of Hitchcock. From his first film Hitchcock had already demonstrated the ability to transfer all the details of the plot with the help of purely cinematic techniques. For example, in the film "The Tenant" is a scene in which the hostess points out that her new lodger nervously walks to his room on the second floor and it is suspicious. Hitchcock shoots the landlady, gazing somewhere upstairs. Then he shows us hanging on the ceiling chandelier, swinging from side to side. Then he inserts a frame in which the ceiling is made of glass and through it can be seen the pacing from one side to the tenant. With this ingenious receiving the viewer sees that is a heroine of the

Just say Know! Essay Example for Free

Just say Know! Essay Intelligent consideration of the war on drugs may lead one to believe that it is inexplicable, irrational and unsustainable. It is none of these. It is a rational subterfuge perpetrated for a particular purpose, namely, the profits resulting from the importation and distribution of huge quantities of heroin and cocaine, and those who are behind the war on drugs are the same as those who are responsible for the widespread use of these addictive and life-destroying drugs. Unless they are stopped the war on drugs and all its attendant horrors will continue to ruin America. Just one CIA drug ring, that of Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo based in Guadalajara, Mexico was smuggling four tons A MONTH into the U. S. during the same period! Other operations including Manuel Noriega (Panama), John Hull (Costa Rica), Felix Rodriguez (El Salvador), Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros (Honduras) and elements of the Guatemalan and Honduran military were dealing close to two hundred tons a year or close to 70% of total U. S. consumption at the same time! All of them have been connected to CIA by documentation and testimony which already exists! This coke was smoked, snorted and injected by people of every race and in every state; in the cities and on the farms. — http://www. radio4all. org/crackcia/sjmn. html The CIA smuggling cocaine? U. S. covert action organizations responsible for flooding the U. S. with addictive drugs? Farfetched? Far from it — the evidence is now overwhelming. Put simply, in order to keep making enormous profits, those responsible for the distribution of addictive drugs in the U. S. (and it is not only the CIA) must keep the use of these drugs illegal. Were drug use legalized their profits would disappear overnight. So how to keep drugs illegal? Simply buy up enough legislators to block any steps toward revealing the facts of the matter or toward reversal of the present state of prohibition. The profits of the drug lords, and the corruption of the legislators, makes this possible. So drug use is demonized, those who use drugs are turned into criminals, and to make it appear that the authorities are sincere in their attempts to combat the drug problem hundreds of thousands of drug users are arrested and thrown into jail for up to forty years. Those responsible for this, and for the addiction of millions of Americans and others for the sake of profit, can only be described as evil. Not only are users of the life-destroying drugs heroin and cocaine caught up in this pogrom but also users of non-addictive life-enhancing drugs such as LSD, THC (marijuana), psilocybin (mushrooms) and MDMA (ecstasy). The users of such substances are often some of the kindest and most non-violent people youll ever meet (Ive met plenty of them), but for the sake of perpetuating the profits of the drug lords (both American and foreign) many of them have had their lives ruined and most of the rest live in fear of persecution. Its about time that Americans woke up to the fact that it is the prohibition of drugs which is making possible these profits, is corrupting their government and which is likely (if not corrected) to be the ruin of their country. The information regarding who is profiting from the illegal status of drug usage is available now, and no-one will be able to say, as the good Germans of the Nazi era said, we didnt know. Just say Know! On 1997-05-22 the late Terence McKenna said, on the Art Bell radio talk show, in response to a callers question as to why psychoactive drugs are illegal: Let me say this I mean, Im a bit of a pessimist on this subject. Because I take psychedelics so seriously, I cant imagine them ever being really legal unless theres a total social transformation because my analysis of it is, the reason everybody from a Marxist state to a Christian oligarchy to a high-tech industrial democracy can get together and agree that psychedelics are a terrible terrible thing is because the social effects of psychedelics being taken by large numbers of people is a kind of deconditioning from the cultural myths, whatever they are. Its no knock on any given society, its just that if people start taking psychedelics, they start questioning what theyve been told about reality. And culture is in the business of keeping you inside a set of predetermined answers to those questions. Although McKenna had some interesting to say about drug usage (and called for the legalization of all drugs), here he missed the main point entirely. It is true that psychedelics are de-conditioning agents, and that they lead to questioning of mainstream premises defining reality (and perhaps even contribute to the dreaded questioning of authority — though no drugs are needed for this), but this is not the fundamental reason that the Drug War continues. The fundamental reason is money. As stated above, it is the enormity of the profits from the international illicit drug trade that requires drugs to remain prohibited. Nothing much can be done to end the Drug War until this fact is recognized (recognition will come more quickly to those who read James Mills book, The Underground Empire). To assert, as McKenna did, that prohibition continues because legislators are afraid of youth questioning authority, suggests that the solution is to reassure and re-educate those legislators so that they see the light. Such a re-education is certainly desirable, but it will do very little to bring an end to the Drug War as long as the fundamental economic basis for prohibition is not recognized and acknowledged. In the meantime the insanity continues †¢ The late Peter McWilliams wrote: Prisons are filled to capacity and beyond. In most areas an early-release program has been instituted which, of course, fails to differentiate between prisoners whose crimes had innocent victims [e. g. theft, assault and rape] and prisoners whose crimes did not [e. g. marijuana smokers]. This puts truly dangerous criminals out on the street sooner, giving them extra months, and in some cases years, to rape, rob and plunder. Due to overcrowding caused by the War on Drugs, prisons (not enjoyable places under the best of conditions) have become intolerable. Some of them violate the constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment. With the overcrowding, any hope of rehabilitation, job placement, counseling, therapy, or achieving any other high-minded goals is completely derailed. — Aint Nobodys Business If You Do, p. 242. And the carnage continues †¢ P. B. Floyd: Weighing The Harms In 1980, Californias prisons held 23,511 inmates or 1 in 1006 residents. By 1994, about 125,000 were incarcerated, or 1 in 256. By the year 2000, the California Department of Corrections projects that 1 in 146 people in California will be in prison. Drug offenses were responsible for 25 percent of the US prison population in 1995, up from only 8 percent in 1980. About 220,000 drug prisoners were held in state prisons in 1995, up 1070 percent from 1980. Over 70 percent of the arrests have been for possession of drugs, not sale or manufacture. Over 200,000 prisoners of the Drug War in the State of California alone — victims of a vicious and depraved pogrom occurring right under the noses of the citizens, most of whom are willing to look the other way, like the good Germans of the 1930s. As regards state persecution of minorities there is no difference between sending a person to prison for smoking pot and sending a person to a labor camp for being a member of a group which lights candles in memory of deceased relatives on Friday evenings. In both cases the imprisonment is done by Nazis or those with the mentality of Nazis. And if you think this comparison of drug warriors to Nazis is far-fetched, just take a look at the book mentioned above, R. L. Millers Drug Warriors and Their Prey: From Police Power to Police State. If you read this book you wont be able to say to your children, I didnt know what was happening. Jonathan Blumen: What I Learned From Auschwitz The article by P. B. Floyd discusses the following harms resulting from the war on drugs: o Incarceration Boom and Lives wasted in prison o Addicts cant get effective treatment o Increased AIDS Cases o Civil Liberties Lost o Increased street and organized crime o Waste of billions o Third world dictators supported Yet this War has been going on for twenty years and is still being promoted by the U. S. and other cryptofascist governments despite the massive evidence of its harm. What is really going on that this can happen? †¢ U. S. Prison Population Sets New Record in 1996 [Page removed from Yahoo and also from the Wayback Machine. ] The U. S. prison population increased by about 55,900 inmates last year, reaching a record 1,182,000 at the end of 1996 and posing new problems with overcrowding, the Justice Department reported Sunday. The report attributed the increase in the state prison population over the decade to more black drug offenders and more white violent offenders behind bars. Other factors included a sharp increase in the number of people imprisoned for drug offenses. — Reuters, 1997-06-23 †¢ U. S. Prison Population Slowed in 96 [Page removed by the L. A. Times] Counting both prison and jail inmates, more than 1. 6 million adults were behind bars as of last June 30, an incarceration rate of 615 inmates for every 100,000 U. S. residents. That rate of imprisonment put the nation second only to Russia, which had a rate of 690 inmates per 100,000 residents in 1995, the last available figure. The two countries imprison a far higher proportion of their citizens than any other country in the world. — Los Angeles Times, 1997-06-23 †¢ STATE PRISONS EXPECTED TO GROW 37% BY 2003 Californias already crowded prisons are projected to add 57,733 inmates by 2003, a 37 percent increase, state officials said Wednesday. The Department of Corrections said the states adult prisons now house 155,687 prisoners, compared with 66,965 in 1987. Officials predict that the population will reach 202,855 in 2002 and 213,420 the next year. — Orange County Register, 1997-12-11, page 4.

Womens Misleading Magazines Essay -- Media Self Image Beauty Advertis

Women's Misleading Magazines I was flipping through some channels on the television set one day and came across a woman's talk show, "The View." It caught my attention when one of the hostesses asked the audience of mostly women to raise their hand if they thought they were truly beautiful. Much to my surprise the audience did not respond with very many show of hands. The hostess then introduced a study done by Dove, the makers of the body soap. Dove polled over 6,000 women from all over the country and only two percent of the women polled said they feel beautiful. Women are surrounded by images screaming physical beauty is more important than their talents and accomplishments. Women are deriving their self worth from an ideal of how they think they should look and how they think everyone else wants them to look instead of focusing on their sense of who they are, what they know, and where they are going in life. In "Help or Hindrance?: Women's Magazines Offer Readers Little But Fear, Failure," Mary Kay Bl akely states, "Instead of encouraging women to grow beyond childish myths and adapt to the changes of life, women's magazines have readers running in place, exhausted." She goes on to say, "This is a world we have 'made up' for women, and it is a perilous place to exist." One of the biggest culprits feeding women's insecurities are the popular women's magazine that line the book shelves of grocery stores, gas stations, and waiting rooms. They supply readers and the occasional innocent passerby with unrealistic images of what women should be instead of showing diverse age groups and women with natural beauty. Reading through a couple of magazines, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Shape, I found nothing but hidden agendas and... ...ce in society. And the effects of the ideals behind these magazines are all the more powerful because of their subtlety." Women walk away from these magazines with an empty feeling and feelings of many inadequacies and they really don't know exactly why. The subtle undermining of women's intelligence and cause strips away their sense of worth ever so slowly and leaves them feeling depressed and in search of something that really can't exist together. Growing old while staying young takes many years of complete and internal happiness not many years of collagen injections and the added stress of having to stay unattainably perfect. While some consider these journalists for women's magazines talented writers, I consider them horrendous displays of talent in which they sell out the naturally beautiful women of the world for a quick buck and a popular magazine.

Common core skills Essay

The key areas in current legislation which relate to the safeguarding of children (1.1) .2.Evaluate the effectiveness of a range of activities that can be used to encourage children to protect themselves (1.2) 3.Explain at least 3 different types of transitions that children can experience over the age range birth to 16 years. Analyse the impact of the transition on children at a particular stage of development. (2.1 and 2.2) . Analyse the importance of play in supporting a child’s development.5. For this task you need to identify 3 play activities for children of different ages. We want you to evaluate their effectiveness, identify the materials you need, why you have chosen the materials selected and any health and safety implications. (3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4) 7. Why is it important that you consider the health and safety implications for both the play activity and the materials used? 9.When communicating with children you need to ensure that your communication is suitable for their stage of development. How can you do this? Please give examples in your answer. (4.2) .10.During your training you explored different communication methods. Select some of these methods and evaluate their effectiveness. (4.3) .11.Explain the main functions of a multi agency team. (5.1) .12.What are the benefits of a multi agency team? 13.Why do you, as a nanny, need to be aware of multi agency working and team working? (5.3) .14.As a nanny you may need to be working with a range of other professionals. How would working in this way ensure the needs of the child are met? (5.4) 15.Using the table below analyse which professionals you would need to be involved with and their role.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Fourteen

SUNDAY ROLLED AROUND, and the day started off quietly. We were nearing the point when Veronica might strike again, and my stomach was in knots over what her next step would be . . . and how stuck we were on how to stop her. Then I received help from an unexpected source when my phone rang with an unknown number on the display. Normally, I wouldn't answer something like that, but my life was hardly normal these days. Besides, it was a Los Angeles area code. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Hi! Is this Taylor?† It took me a moment to remember my secret identity. I did not, however, recall giving my actual number to any of the girls we'd warned about Veronica. â€Å"Yes,† I said warily. â€Å"This is Alicia, from Old World Bed-and-Breakfast.† â€Å"Hi,† I said, still puzzled as to why and how she'd be calling me. Her voice was as cheery and bright as when we'd met her. â€Å"I wanted to know if you'd thought any more about getting a room for your anniversary.† â€Å"Oh, well . . . that. We're still deciding. But, uh, probably we're going to go with something closer to the coast. You know, romantic beach walks and all that.† â€Å"I can totally understand,† she said, though she sounded disappointed at the loss of a sale. â€Å"If you change your mind, just let me know. We're running a special this month, so you could get the Bunny Suite at a really good price. I remember you saying it reminded you of your pet rabbit. What was his name?† â€Å"Hopper,† I said flatly. â€Å"Hopper! That's right. Such a sweet name.† â€Å"Yeah, awesome.† I tried to think of a polite way to phrase my next question but simply chose directness. â€Å"Look, Alicia, how did you get this number?† â€Å"Oh, Jet gave it to me.† â€Å"He did?† â€Å"Yup.† She'd apparently gotten over her disappointment and now sounded bright and chirpy again. â€Å"He filled out an info card while you guys were here and put down your number.† I nearly groaned. Typical. â€Å"Good to know,† I said. I wondered how often Adrian gave my number out. â€Å"Thanks for following up.† â€Å"Happy to. Oh!† She giggled. â€Å"I nearly forgot. Your friend is back.† I froze. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Veronica. She checked back in yesterday.† My first reaction was excitement. My second one was panic. â€Å"Did you tell her we were asking about her?† â€Å"Oh, no. I remembered you saying you wanted to surprise her.† I nearly sank in relief. â€Å"Thank you. We, uh, wouldn't to ruin that. We'll have to stop by and visit – but don't tell her.† â€Å"You can count on me!† We disconnected, and I stared at the phone. Veronica was back. Just when we thought we'd lost all leads on her. I immediately called Ms. Terwilliger but was sent to voice mail. I left a message and then followed up with a text, saying I had urgent news. My phone rang again, just as I was about to call Adrian. I almost hoped Alicia had more to tell me, but then I saw that it was Stanton's number. After first taking a deep breath, I tried to answer in as calm a way as possible. â€Å"Miss Sage,† she said. â€Å"I received your message yesterday.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for calling me back.† I'd called her yesterday, just before meeting up with Adrian. Ms. Terwilliger's magical training had taken priority at the time, but I hadn't forgotten my deal with Marcus. â€Å"I have a, um, favor to ask,† I continued. Stanton, who was rarely surprised, was clearly surprised now. â€Å"You're certainly entitled to ask . . . but you're just not usually the type who does.† â€Å"I know, and I feel bad. So, if you have to say no, I understand.† In truth, if she said no, I would have a number of problems on my hands, but it was best not to sound too eager. â€Å"Well, I've been thinking about how I have to spend Christmas here – with the Moroi. And I definitely understand that, ma'am. It's part of the mission, but . . . well, I'd be lying if I said that didn't bother me. So, I was wondering if there's any way at all I'd be allowed to go to one of the big holiday services. It would make me feel . . . oh, I don't know. More connected. Purified, even. I'm just always surrounded by them here, by that taint, you know? I feel like I can't even breathe half the time. That probably sounds ridiculous.† I cut my rambling off. When Marcus had first suggested taking advantage of knowing someone in St. Louis, I'd immediately thought of Ian. Then I realized that wasn't enough. Alchemists on assignment couldn't just ask for casual time off to visit friends. Time off for something more spiritual and group-oriented – say, the Alchemists' annual holiday services – was a different matter. Lots of Alchemists were given clearance to travel and attend those services. They were tied to our faith and group unity. In fact, Ian had even brought it up at the wedding in the hopes of luring me to visit him. Little had he known his trick would pay off. Kind of. â€Å"It doesn't sound that ridiculous,† Stanton said. That was promising, and I tried to unclench my fist and relax. â€Å"I was thinking maybe I could go before we're out for winter break,† I added. â€Å"Jill can stay within the confines of the school, so there shouldn't be too much risk. And Eddie and Angeline are always with her. I could just hop over to St. Louis for a quick weekend trip.† â€Å"St. Louis?† I could almost see her frown through the phone. â€Å"There are services in Phoenix as well. That would be much closer.† â€Å"I know, ma'am. It's just. . . .† I hoped being genuinely nervous would help me sound convincing. â€Å"I, uh, was hoping I could also see Ian again.† â€Å"Ah. I see.† There was a long pause. â€Å"I find that more surprising than you wanting to attend services. From what I saw at the wedding, you didn't seem to be that charmed by Mr. Jansen.† So. I'd been right that Stanton had noticed his crush on me. However, she'd also noticed I didn't return his affection. She was observant, even to little details, which brought Marcus's warnings back to me, about how the Alchemists paid attention to everything we did. I started to understand his fears and why he pulled his recruits out of the Alchemists so quickly Was I already attracting attention? Were all the little things I did – even asking for this – slowly building a case against me? Again, I hoped my anxiety simply made me sound like a flustered, love-struck girl, one Stanton would feel sorry for and shake her head over. St. Louis wasn't that much farther away by plane, and the end result was the same. â€Å"Well, that was business, ma'am. I didn't want to get distracted from our goal.† â€Å"Of course.† Her next pause was only a few seconds long, but it felt like an hour. â€Å"Well, I see no reason why you can't go. You've done an admirable job in your work, and – from a personal point of view – I can understand why you'd want to be with familiar faces again. You've spent more time with the Moroi than many Alchemists ever will in their lives, and you didn't hesitate when that Ivashkov pushed himself onto you at the wedding.† I didn't really hesitate when he pushed himself onto me at the sorority, either. Or did I push myself on him? â€Å"Thank you, ma'am.† She authorized me to go next weekend and said I could use Alchemist funds to book my travel arrangements. When we got off the phone, I contemplated calling Ian but then decided on a more impersonal approach. I jotted out a quick email telling him that I'd be in town and that I hoped we could meet up. After a few moments of thought, I then texted Marcus: Arrangements made. Lunchtime came around, and Eddie texted to ask if I could meet Jill and him in my dorm's cafeteria. I headed downstairs at the appropriate time and found a glum Eddie sitting by himself at a table. I wondered where Angeline was and noted he hadn't mentioned her in his text. Rather than bring that up, I focused on who he had mentioned. â€Å"Where's Jill?† He nodded toward the opposite side of the cafeteria. I followed his gaze and saw Jill standing near a table, laughing and talking. She held a tray and looked as though she'd been stopped on her way back from the food line. Micah and some other guys were at the table, and I was happy to see he did indeed seem comfortable with being her friend again. â€Å"That's nice,† I said, turning back to my own food. â€Å"I'm glad she's getting along with everyone.† Eddie stared at me in amazement. â€Å"Don't you see what's going on?† I'd been about to bite into an apple and stopped. I hated these kinds of loaded questions. They meant I'd missed out on some social subtlety – something that wasn't my strong suit. Glancing back at Jill, I tried to make my best guess. â€Å"Is Micah trying to get back together with her?† â€Å"Of course not,† said Eddie, like I should've known. â€Å"He's going out with Claire Cipriano now.† â€Å"Sorry. I can't keep track of everyone's dating lives. I'll add it to my to-do list after, you know, busting Alchemist conspiracies and finding out whether the Warriors are after Jill.† Eddie's gaze was locked on Jill, and he nodded, making me think he hadn't actually heard a word I'd said. â€Å"Travis and Juan want to ask her out.† â€Å"So? She learned her lesson about human and vampire dating.† I wished I had. â€Å"She'll tell them no.† â€Å"They still shouldn't be bothering her,† he growled. Jill didn't seem to be particularly bothered by their attention. In fact, I liked seeing her bright and smiling for a change. Confidence suited her and emphasized her royal status, and she clearly was enjoying whatever banter was going on. One thing I'd learned in my social education was that flirting wasn't the same thing as going out with someone. My friend Julia was an expert at the difference. If it made Jill happy, I certainly had no problems with it. Honestly, it looked like the person who was most bothered by Jill's suitors was Eddie. He theoretically had the excuse of wanting to protect her, but this seemed pretty personal. I decided to bring him back to his own romantic life, the one he should actually be concerned about. â€Å"Where's Angeline?† Jill began walking toward us. Looking relieved, Eddie turned back to me. â€Å"Well, that's what we wanted to talk to you about.† Whenever anyone wanted to talk to me, it meant something weird was about to happen. Actual emergency issues were never given an introduction. They were just delivered immediately. This premeditated stuff was a wild card. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked once Jill sat down. â€Å"With Angeline?† She exchanged a knowing glance with Eddie. â€Å"We think Angeline's up to something,† she said. A moment later, she clarified, â€Å"Something bad.† Not this again. I turned to Eddie. â€Å"Is she still being distant?† â€Å"Yeah. She had lunch with us yesterday.† He frowned. â€Å"But she was acting weird. She wouldn't explain why she's been so busy.† Jill concurred. â€Å"She actually got really upset the more we kept questioning her. It was strange. I think she's in some kind of trouble.† I leaned back in my chair. â€Å"The kind of trouble Angeline gets into is usually spontaneous and unexpected. You're talking like she's masterminding something in secret. That's not her style. At worst, she's harboring an illicit wardrobe.† Eddie looked like he wanted to smile but couldn't quite manage it. â€Å"True.† Jill apparently wasn't convinced. â€Å"You have to talk to her. Find out what's going on.† â€Å"Can't you talk to her?† I asked, looking between their faces. â€Å"You live with her.† â€Å"We tried,† protested Jill. â€Å"I told you. She just got mad the more we talked.† â€Å"Well, I can understand that,† I snapped. â€Å"Look, I'm sorry something weird is going on with her. And I don't want her in trouble, believe me. But there's only so much hand-holding I can do with her. I fixed her math problem. My job is to make sure she stays in school and doesn't blow your cover. Everything else is extraneous, and I just don't have time for that. And if she wouldn't talk to you, why on earth do you think she'd talk to me?† I'd spoken a bit more harshly than I intended. I really did care about them all. I also didn't want trouble in the group. Nonetheless, it was always a little frustrating when they came to me with dramas like this, as though I were their mother. They were some of the smartest, most competent people I knew. They didn't need me, and Angeline was no criminal genius. Figuring out her motives couldn't be that difficult. Neither one of them had an immediate response for me. â€Å"You just always seem to get through to people,† Jill said at last. â€Å"You're good at communication.† That certainly wasn't a compliment I heard very often. â€Å"I don't do anything special. I'm just persistent. Keep trying, and maybe you'll get through.† Seeing Jill start to protest, I added, â€Å"Please. Don't ask me to do this right now. You both know I've got a lot going on.† I gave each of them a meaningful look. Both knew about Marcus, and Jill also knew about Ms. Terwilliger's sister. After a few moments, that knowledge set in, and they both looked a little embarrassed. Eddie gave Jill a gentle nudge. â€Å"She's right. We should keep working on Angeline ourselves.† â€Å"Okay,† said Jill. My relief was short-lived. â€Å"We'll try a little more. Then, if it still doesn't work, Sydney can step in.† I groaned. When I parted ways from them later, I couldn't help but think again about Marcus's comments in San Bernardino about how Alchemists got caught up in menial tasks. I tried to reassure myself that Jill and Eddie would take care of this on their own, meaning I wouldn't actually have to intervene. Presuming, of course, Angeline really wasn't planning something catastrophic. Unfortunately, those doubts were soon shaken when I got on the shuttle that would take me to main campus. On weekends, there was only one bus that looped between all buildings, and this one had just picked up at the boys' dorm. I found Trey sitting in it, staring out the window with a happy expression. When he saw me, his smile vanished. â€Å"Hey,† I said, taking a seat beside him. He actually looked nervous. â€Å"Off to study?† â€Å"Meeting with Angeline, actually.† There was no escaping her today, but at least if she was working on math, it seemed unlikely she'd be staging a coup or committing arson. His troubled expression concerned me, though. â€Å"She . . . she didn't hit you again?† I didn't see any noticeable marks, but with her, you could never tell. â€Å"Huh? No, no. Not recently.† He hesitated before speaking again. â€Å"Melbourne, how long are you going to need me to do this?† â€Å"I don't know.† Mostly I'd been focusing on getting her through the present, not the future. One thing at a time. â€Å"She'll have her final coming up before break. If she passes, then I guess you're home free. Unless you want to keep up with it after break – I mean, provided she doesn't wear you out.† This startled him a lot more than I would have expected. â€Å"Okay. Good to know.† He looked so forlorn when he left to go to the library that I wondered if those chemistry answers had really been worth it. I liked Trey. I'd never thought inflicting Angeline on him would so radically alter his life. I guessed that was just the kind of effect she had on the world. I watched him walk away for a few more seconds and then turned toward the science building. One of the teachers, Ms. Whittaker, was an amateur botanist who was always happy to supply Ms. Terwilliger with various plants and herbs. She thought Ms. Terwilliger used them for home craft projects, like potpourri and candles, and I frequently had to pick up the latest supplies. When I walked into her classroom today, Ms. Whittaker was grading exams at her desk. â€Å"Hi, Sydney,† she said, barely looking up. â€Å"I set it all over there, on the far counter.† â€Å"Thanks, ma'am.† I walked over and was surprised to practically find a spice cabinet. Ms. Terwilliger had requested all sorts of leaves, stems, and clippings. It was the most I'd ever had to pick up for her. â€Å"She sure had a big order this time,† Ms. Whittaker remarked, as though sensing my thoughts. â€Å"Is she really using garlic in potpourri?† â€Å"Oh, that's for some, um, cooking she's doing. You know, holidays and all.† She nodded and returned to her work. One thing that often helped in Alchemist affairs (and witch ones) was that people rarely expected supernatural reasons for weird behaviors and phenomena. I almost considered visiting Trey and Angeline at the library, just to assess her behavior myself, but decided it'd be better to not get involved. Eddie and Jill would handle it. With nothing else to do, I dared to hope I might actually just be able to stay inside and read today. But, when I returned to my dorm, I was greeted with the astonishing sight of Marcus sitting outside on a bench, playing an acoustic guitar. A group of four girls stood around, listening in awe. I walked up to the circle, my arms crossed over my chest. â€Å"Really?† I asked. Marcus glanced up and shot me a grin. One of the girls actually cooed. â€Å"Hey, Sydney.† Four sets of eyes turned to me, displaying a mix of both disbelief and jealousy. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"You're the last person I expected to see here.† â€Å"I never do what's predictable.† He tossed his hair back and started to put his guitar back in its case. â€Å"Sorry, girls. Sydney and I have to talk.† I got more of those stares, which kind of annoyed me. Was it really that unbelievable that a good-looking guy would want to talk to me? His followers dispersed reluctantly, and Marcus and I strolled around the grounds. â€Å"Aren't you supposed to be in hiding?† I asked. â€Å"Not panhandling with your guitar?† â€Å"I never asked them for money. Besides, I'm incognito today.† He tapped his cheek, and I noticed the tattoo was barely noticeable. â€Å"Are you wearing makeup?† I asked. â€Å"Don't judge,† he said. â€Å"It lets me move around more freely. Sabrina helped color match me.† We came to a halt in a relatively private copse of trees. â€Å"So why are you here? Why didn't you call or text?† â€Å"Because I have a delivery.† He reached into his shirt pocket and handed me a folded piece of paper that looked like it had traveled around the world before reaching me. When I opened it and managed to smooth it out, I saw several painstakingly drawn diagrams. I jerked my gaze back to him. â€Å"Wade's floor plans.† â€Å"As promised.† A little of that self-satisfaction faded, and he actually looked impressed. â€Å"You've really got a way to get to St. Louis?† â€Å"Sanctioned and everything,† I said. â€Å"I mean, aside from the part where I break into their servers. But I've got a few ideas on how to pull that off.† He laughed. â€Å"Of course you do. I won't bother asking. Every girl's got her secrets. Maybe someday you'll share yours.† From the tone of his voice, he might have been talking about non-professional secrets. â€Å"Once this is all over.† â€Å"Is it ever over?† I asked. I meant it as a joke, but it came out sounding a bit more melancholy than I would've liked. He gave me a long, level look. â€Å"No, not really. But getting the tattoo sealed in Mexico is kind of fun. I hope you'll go with us. At the very least, we can take in some beaches and margaritas while undoing insidious magic. Do you own a bikini?† â€Å"No. And I don't drink.† â€Å"Well, maybe one of these days we could go out for coffee. I know you drink that.† â€Å"I'm pretty busy,† I said, thinking of everything weighing on me. â€Å"And you know, I also haven't decided if I'm going to do the first phase of tattoo breaking.† â€Å"You should, Sydney.† He was all business again and tapped my cheek. â€Å"If nothing else, do that. Don't let them have any more control over you than they have to. I know you think we're a little out there, but this is one thing we're absolutely serious about.† â€Å"Hi, Sydney.† I glanced over and saw my friend Julia Cavendish carrying a huge stack of books. A couple seconds later, Marcus looked up at her too. Her eyes went wide, and she stumbled and dropped everything she was carrying. She flushed. â€Å"Oh, God. I'm such an idiot.† I started to help her, but Marcus was by her side in a flash, his movie star grin firmly in place. â€Å"Happens to the best of us. I'm Dave.† â€Å"J-Julia,† she said. In all the time I'd known her, I'd never seen her flustered around a guy. She usually ate them for breakfast. â€Å"There we are.† He handed her the books, all neatly stacked. â€Å"Thank you. Thank you so much. You didn't have to do that. I mean, it was my own fault. I'm not usually that clumsy. And I'm sure you're busy. You must have lots to do. Obviously.† I'd also never heard Julia ramble. Marcus patted her on the back, and I thought she might pass out. â€Å"Always happy to help a beautiful damsel in distress.† He nodded in my direction. â€Å"I've got to go. Sydney, I'll be in touch.† I nodded back. As soon as he walked away, Julia dropped the books again and hurried over to me. â€Å"Sydney, you have to tell me who that is.† â€Å"He already did. Dave.† â€Å"Yes, but who is he?† She gripped my arm and seemed on the verge of shaking answers out of me. â€Å"Just a guy I know.† I thought about it more. â€Å"A friend, I guess.† Her breath caught. â€Å"You guys aren't – I mean – â€Å" â€Å"What? No! Why would you think that?† â€Å"Well, he's gorgeous,† she said, as though that were enough to make us soul mates. â€Å"Don't you want to just rip his clothes off?† â€Å"Whoa, no way.† â€Å"Really?† She scrutinized me, like I might be joking. â€Å"Not even a little?† â€Å"Nope.† She stepped back and started picking up her books. â€Å"Jeez, Syd. I don't know what to think of you sometimes. I mean, I'm glad he's available – he is available, right? – but I'd be all over that if I were you.† Jill's words came back to me, about how he was human and had â€Å"that rebel Alchemist† thing going for him. Maybe I should start considering him or another ex-Alchemist as a romantic option. Having someone who wasn't a forbidden vampire in my life would make things a lot easier. I tried to dredge up the same reaction other girls had around Marcus, but nothing happened. No matter how hard I tried, I just didn't have that same attraction. His hair was too blond, I decided. And his eyes needed a little more green. â€Å"Sorry,† I told Julia. â€Å"Just not feeling it.† â€Å"If you say so. I still think you're crazy. That's the kind of guy you'd follow to hell and back.† All romantic musings disappeared, and I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach as we slowly headed back toward the dorm. Hell was a good analogy for what I would be walking into. â€Å"You actually might be closer to the truth on that than you realize.† She brightened. â€Å"See? I knew you couldn't resist.†