Operation Management--Ikea - 1925 Words

IKEA History and Company Information IKEA retailing with its Sweedish roots, is based on a franchise system. Inter Ikea system BV is located in Delft, the Netherland being the owner and franchiser of the concept IKEA. (www.ikea.com) The company aims to sell furnitures for 10 to 30 percent less then other stores ( source - stevension ). Every Ikea employee still follows the vision quotes of Ingvar Kampard to create a better everyday life for many people. During 2010 global sales as reported were 23.1 billion. It took long time and careful planning for Ikea to offer sophisticated products to customers at reasonable price. According to slack operation (2010) management deal how company manage its operation production and sales being two†¦show more content†¦Because of the attractive floor layout, large space and systematic furniture display customers spend more time in IKEA stores and those time is being added value by their purchase and make those a quality time. After entering any IKEA store customers feel like entering their house and the layout showcased in the store creates an imaginative intention designing idea with in the customers. Like all other organizations porter 1980 four v s - volume, variety, variation in demand and visibility affects the organisation operation lies behind the operation strategies of it. The Volume Dimension The volume of the Ikea company is an important factors that measures its performance. They products furniture in high volume on the fiscal year 2009. Ikea hard about 123,000 employees and its total revenue amounted to about 22,713 million pound. In August 2009 the firm operated 301 stores in different countries. The above data reveals the dimension of the company in terms of size and manufacturing.The furniture is produced in a very big volume and sold in the warehouse. The company has economies of scale due to reasonable price of theShow MoreRelatedOperation Management on Ikea1851 Words   |  8 Pagesobjective of writing this report is to identity and analyzes operation system applied in IKEA, the well-known low cost yet high quality home of furnishing. Function, process and strategy of IKEA operation system will be accessed to identity the core competency that lead to the successfulness of IKEA in the world. Besides, other purpose in complete this report is to analyze the strengt h and weakness of operation system in IKEA. Operation management is procedure where processes of production or deliver goodsRead MoreOperation Management Ikea6167 Words   |  25 Pagesfollowing assignment is based on operations managements within IKAE. The aim of this unit is to analyse the operations functions within the organisation by understanding strategic operations management, the operations process and planning and control. â€Å"Operations management is an area of business that is concerned with the production of goods and services, and involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient and effective. It is also the management of resources, the distributionRead MoreIKEA operations management4810 Words   |  20 PagesOperations Management Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues - IKEA case ï ¿ ½ TABLE OF CONTENTS 2Executive Summary ï ¿ ½ 2Introduction ï ¿ ½ 2Company profile and Situational Analysis ï ¿ ½ 3Growth and profitability ï ¿ ½ 5Culture ï ¿ ½ 5Goals ï ¿ ½ 5Competitors ï ¿ ½ 5SWOT analysis ï ¿ ½ 6PESTLE Analysis ï ¿ ½ 6Political Analysis ï ¿ ½ 6Economic Analysis ï ¿ ½ 6Technology Analysis ï ¿ ½ 7Sociological Analysis ï ¿ ½ 7Legal Analysis ï ¿ ½ 7Environmental Analysis ï ¿ ½ 7Input-Transformation-Output ï ¿ ½ 8Corporate Objectives ï ¿ ½ 9Quality ï ¿ ½ 10SpeedRead MoreIkea Operations Management2832 Words   |  12 PagesOperations Management:IKEA IKEA’s BUSINESS IDEA (www.ikea.com): â€Å"We shall offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. Introduction At the outset, it may be useful to characterise IKEA in terms of the characteristics of demand (also known as the four Vs, see Slack et al. p 20). First, IKEA is clearly a high volume operation – as indeed most international retailers are – which lendsRead MoreOperation Management of Ikea2136 Words   |  9 Pageschain approaches, the firm will increase the benefits of supply chain network. In this report we have focused on supply chain inventory management and technology selection practices and how it is beneficial for the firm. In the firm operations are linked with different strategies. For example the change in supply chain has an effect on inventory management as well as technology selections. At the end we have given some recommendations and conclusion for increasing its efficiency by supply chainRead MoreIkea Operations Management3070 Words   |  13 Pageshttp://fp05-527.web.dircon.net/ikea_company_profile.html Profile: ikea IKEA is the world’s most successful mass-market retailer, selling Scandinavian-style home furnishings and other house goods in 230 stores in 33 countries and hosting 410 million shoppers per year. An acronym for founder Ingvar Kamprad and his boyhood home of Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd, IKEA began operating in Sweden in 1943 and continues its original ethos based upon cost obsession fused with design culture. No design, no matterRead MoreHow Does Ikea Approach Operations Management?6114 Words   |  25 PagesThe main purpose of this paper is to focus on the how IKEA Company approached its operation management. Particularly, it covers the following: how the company establish and manage customer requirements, secondly how does these customers requirements used for the company’s product and services, then, third covers the operational systems and processes it used in its operation, fourth consists of capacity planning, process layout, and product services/scheduling, inventory a nd projects were managedRead MoreOperations Managment14673 Words   |  59 PagesKey operations questions Chapter 1 Operations management âž ¤ What is operations management? âž ¤ Why is operations management important in all types of organization? âž ¤ What is the input–transformation– output process? âž ¤ What is the process hierarchy? âž ¤ How do operations processes have different characteristics? âž ¤ What are the activities of operations management? Chapter 2 Operations performance âž ¤ Why is operations performance important in any organization? âž ¤ How does the operations function incorporateRead MoreThe Operation Strategies And Cost Leadership1399 Words   |  6 PagesSummary This business report discusses and explores the operation strategies and cost leadership of both IKEA and Fruity fro-yo and how it relates to business operations. The success of the business will also be assessed through the identified operations strategies that each of the businesses applies into their operations. This results in increased operations efficiency, which is discussed within this business report. Strategic role of management - Cost leadership Cost leadership: Cost leadershipRead MoreIkea s Market Tool For The Retail Giant Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: IKEA is a multinational group of companies, specialized in designs and sells home furniture (ready to assemble). They also sell accessories, bathroom kitchen items and lately they have offered food market in their retail stores around the world. It was founded by Ingvar Kamprad who born in southern Sweden in 1926 and who was listed as one of the world s richest people in 2013. The company is known by its modern (simplicity) design, cost control, operation details and continues product

The Psychological Effects Of Of Abortion - 858 Words

Subsequently religion plays an even bigger role in the psychological effects attributed of abortion. This is said because if a woman is a member a strong religious group with equally strong views opposing abortion she may begin to feel as though she has to end the abortion due to feelings of shame and guilt associated with the abortion or because she doesn’t want to bring shame upon her family. These two very strong feelings may only intensify once having an abortion ,but it’s necessary to note that before the actual abortion she was experience a collection of feelings all stemming from of her religion. Many different religions view the act of abortion differently like for instance, elective abortion are justified by Catholics for health reasons, whether the mother’s or the child’s, a condition that requires a physician’s evaluation (Marvà ¡n). Whereas in a cases of spontaneous abortion their beliefs are against abortion due to the religious tex t that they follow. Furthermore The hierarchy of the Catholic Church, basing itself on the defense of the sanctity and dignity of human life from the moment of conception, prohibits abortion in any instance, even in cases of rape or when the life of a pregnant woman is at risk.†( Marvà ¡n). These facts juts make it ever harder for the woman depending on her religion to feel supported behind her decision. The point of all of this is to spotlight that the abortion is acting as the secondary cause of psychological effects and theShow MoreRelatedThe Psychological Effects Of Abortion On Mental Health1524 Words   |  7 PagesVarious studies have been conducted to show the psychological effects following an abortion. According to the results some women experience depression and anxiety. These psychological effects reflect on several factors. Abortion may relieve stress by ending an unwanted pregnancy, but the event itself may simultaneously be experienced as a stressor caus ing anxiety grief, guilt, despair and anger. These factors could lead to depression, as feelings of powerless, anger and self-condemnation are emotionsRead MoreThe Psychological Effects of Abortions amongst Teens500 Words   |  2 Pages The Psychological Effects of Abortions amongst Teens An Introduction of Abortion Are you familiar with the name Dr. Karen Ashford, probably not? She is a factious character that would have been if she was allowed to be born. She was never given a chance at life because she was aborted at only 16 weeks in uteri. She was forced to be aborted by her would be grandmother of her 13 year old mother. The young mother was not given an opportunity to voice her opinion about the outcomeRead More Psychological and Physical Side Effects of Abortion Essay869 Words   |  4 Pages Abortion was created to aid in certain situations in which a woman could not or did not want to give birth to a child and to care for the child. Abortion is a method in which the baby still in the mother’s womb or the living embryo/fetus is killed. Abortions will be performed for many reasons if it is an unwanted pregnancy for social and/or financial reasons or if there are medical circumstances with the child and/or the mother. A woman may be unable to carry the child or there may be congenitalRead MoreGianna Jessen is a Survivor of Abortion1299 Words   |  5 PagesGianna Jessen who is now thirty-six, survived an abortion. At seventeen years old, her mother attempted to abort her using the saline procedure. Eventually, Gianna forced a birth after being in the solution for eighteen hours. She was put up for adoption after she was born and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at an early age due to the saline burning. Around the world, abortion takes place on the daily basis and the government considers this form of murder legal. This brutal act of legal murderRead MoreThe Effects Of Illegal Termination Of Pregnancies On The Quality Of Life Among Female1114 Words   |  5 PagesPROJECT ON THE EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCIES TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FEMALE MINORS 14-19 YEARS IN OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS - STATE. BY EDWINA UCHECHI IHIM-OKWANDU APPLICATION NUMBER:17616 TEXILA AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR DEGREE IN SCIENCE OF NURSING. APRIL,2016. ABSTRACT Illegal abortion is a general problem in the Society. It is frequently followed by Physical, Social and psychological complicationsRead MoreThe Effects of Abortion That You Dont Know About Essay1110 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Abortion That You Dont Know About Many women that choose to have an abortion do not realize that it is a dangerous surgery with serious side effects. These side effects are both physical and psychological. Having an abortion is unnatural and interrupts this function of the human body. â€Å"The women’s body naturally resists the abortion, causing physical and emotional problems† (â€Å"Who does Abortion Affect?†). Almost all of theRead MoreAbortion Is The Termination Of A Pregnancy After, Accompanied1435 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion is the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. People have used the negative psychological effects of abortion as a basis to either promote or discourage abortion; making it one of the most highly debated topics for years. Many studies argue that abortion can lead to serious mental illness as people have disclosed effects ranging from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anx iety, substance abuse, sexualRead MoreEssay about Abortion Is Murder1200 Words   |  5 Pages Since 1973, when it became legalized, abortion has been of the most controversial ethical issues in America. In the court case of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that women have the right to privacy which includes the right to having an abortion. This ruling has caused many controversies and millions of people throughout America protest against abortion every year. Abortion is an operation of other intervention to end a pregnancy by removing an embryo or fetus from the wombRead MoreAbortion And Racism : An Advocate For Men And Women Seeking Post Abortion Healing1336 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Abortion and racism are evil twins, born of the same lie. Where racism now hides its face in public, abortion is accomplishing goals of which racism only once dreamed. Together abortionists are destroying humanity at large†- Alveda King. In short, abortions are destroying the lives of Canadians one abortion at a time. An abortion leaves the mother in a vulnerable state, even more so when the mother is a teenager. Abortions negatively affect a teenage girl psychologically, physically and sociallyRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion1228 Words   |  5 Pagesmillion end up in abortion† (Hern). Because of the numerous traumatic psychological, physical, and overall irresponsible behavior or actions constantly encouraged due to abortion, it should be banned, and forever illegal. Killing one’s own fetus has been linked to psychological distress which has been channeled into many different cases of substance abuse. â€Å"Induced abortion has been linked to increased rates of substance abuse, especially among young woman† (â€Å"Psychological Health Effects†). Not only are

The Byzantine Empire and Greco-Roman Culture Free Essays

The Byzantine Empire has a very strong connection to Greek culture. In 1453 A. D. We will write a custom essay sample on The Byzantine Empire and Greco-Roman Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now the Byzantine Empire was very important in not just only the world, but also in terms of economic, political and militaristic strength. The Byzantine Empire was a significant part of the Roman Empire and historical research has helped unravel the strong relationship between the Byzantine Empire, Greek Heritage and culture. In addition to what I listed above, the Byzantine Empire was important because it maintained the given knowledge from the Greeks and the Romans The strengths of the Byzantine Empire are the preservation of Roman- Greek culture and cultural diffusion. When the Roman Empire collapsed in 476, the Byzantine Empire survived. As a result of this collapse, the empire served to preserve the majority of the Greek and Roman achievements for Western Europe. In the aspect of cultural diffusion, the Byzantine Empire not only helped to preserve Roman, Greek culture and Christianity but it also spread these ideas to other parts of the world. Another big impact of the Byzantine Empire are the achievements of architecture and art. The greatest example of this is the Church of Hagia Sophia. The purpose of this monument was to symbolize the unknown of Christian religion. A weakness of the Byzantine Empire is that the position of the church was detrimental to the Orthodox Church. It had no influence on the people, it did not have any control over a prosecuted ruler, it was not a substantial leader in education, and it lacked the power of growth. As a contribution of Islam to the Byzantine Empire, the Islam’s occupied the reconquered Byzantine territories and then proceeded to claim Jerusalem as a religious site for Muslims. They also took in the Persian Empire and went westward to North Africa. How to cite The Byzantine Empire and Greco-Roman Culture, Essay examples

Finance for Behavioural and Asymmetric Composition-myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theFinance for Behavioural and Asymmetric Composition. Answer: Evaluating the occurrence of short run IPO under-pricing in Australia and US by contrasting the results with empirical study conducted on Hong Kong: The theories comprising of behavioural and asymmetric composition can be identified, as the measure fulfilling the viability of IPO under-pricing in US and Australian market. Moreover, the asymmetric theory indicates that information distribution is not adequately conducted among investors and companies, as it allows the investor to gain abnormal gains. Moreover, the behavioural theory indicates the willingness of the investor to investment in a stock during their IPOs. Hence, the combination of both asymmetric and behavioural theory directly supports that presence of IPO under-pricing, as it allows the investor to generate high rate of return from investment. The investors with the right information forces the price of IPO down to maximise the returns that is generated from investment. Hence, it could be understood that both asymmetric and behavioural theory supports the presence of under-pricing of IPO shares in US and Australian stock market. The empirical research mainly focuses on determining the overall under-pricing of initial public offerings which is been conducted in Hong Kong stock market. The research paper uses the overall duration of 10 years to identify the implications and impact of under-pricing on initial public offerings, while detecting its presence in the Hong Kong stock market. Identifying the presence of under-pricing measure used in Hong Kong stock market could relevantly help in understanding its presence in Australian and US stock market (Chong, Yuan and Yan 2010). The research estimates the average IPOs and pricing level in Hong Kong stock market to detect presence of under-pricing in the stock market. In this context, Boulton, Smart and Zutter (2017) stated that with the under-pricing of IPOs the underwriter is able to attract more investors during the IPO initiation and effectively free float shares of the organisation. From the early valuation of the research it could be identified that 16.6% of the 92 IPOs were on an average underpriced, directly indicate its presence in the Hong Kong stock market. Moreover, Beck (2017) stated that the IPO under-pricing is a relatively high in developing countries in comparison to developed countries, as investors are keen on increasing the profits from the initial public offering. The researcher also evaluated the short run abnormal returns that are generated from the IPO under-pricing in Hong Kong stock market. This would eventually help in satisfying the statement regarding the presence of under-pricing of IPOs. The researcher collectively uses dependent variables such as the closing price of IPOs first day trading, which is used in understanding the difference between the initial price and the closing price of a particular stock (Chong, Yuan and Yan 2010). Second dependent is also used in the research, which comprises of data from first 7 trading days and firs t 15 trading days for detecting the overall presence of under-pricing in IPOs. The explanatory variables are also used in the research for identifying the impact of under-pricing in determining the overall share price of IPOs. With the use of geometric mean the overall returns and annual growth of a particular stock can be identified, which might allow investors to increase the level of returns from investment. The researcher has a relatively used regression analysis to identify the significance of the values derived from the calculation. The researcher also evaluates that the Four Big Firms conducts the IPO valuation and selling in the stock market. The calculations mainly state that IPO selling conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG is much accurate on Hong Kong, as compared to the evaluations conducted by Ernst Young and Deloitte Touche (Chong, Yuan and Yan 2010). The empirical research also indicated that there is a presence of under-pricing of IPL during the initial stage, where low price shares are provided to investors to complete the share selli ng process. The low cost shares provided to investors relatively allows the company to sell of their issues for generating the required level of capital (Francis 2017). From the overall evaluation, it could be identified that IPO under-pricing level in Hong Kong stock market is at the levels of 16.8%, which has a relatively small magnitude of an uprising in comparison to other countries (Chong, Yuan and Yan 2010). Moreover, the shares related to A-Category are less impacted with the under-pricing process, while the B-Category stock is highly impacted by the under-pricing process. Therefore, from the evaluation of the empirical research it could be understood that developed countries have less impact of under-pricing during initial public offerings as compared to developing countries. However, the presence of enterprising for short duration is the relatively present in the Hong Kong stock market as evaluated from the empirical research. Hence, from the valuation of Hong Kong stock market it could be identified that both US and Australian stock market conduct IPO under-pricing for short duration. Consequently, the occurrence of short-run IP on the pricing in the Australian market would eventually hamper the company's ability to raise the level of capital to support its operational plans. This under-pricing is essential for both the investors and companies to benefit from the initial investment conducted during the IPO session (Morricone et al. 2017). The research directly shows that in case of developed countries, the under-pricing impact is less, while developing countries have high impact of short run under-pricing in its stock market, which benefits the initial investors and allow them to generate higher returns from investment. Reference and Bibliography: Beck, J., 2017. Determinants of IPO Underpricing: Tech vs Non-Tech Industries.Major Themes in Economics,19(1), pp.39-55. Boulton, T.J., Smart, S.B. and Zutter, C.J., 2017. Conservatism and international IPO underpricing.Journal of International Business Studies,48(6), pp.763-785. Chong, T.T.L., Yuan, S. and Yan, I.K.M., 2010. An examination of the underpricing of H-share IPOs in Hong Kong.Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies,13(04), pp.559-582. Francis, B., 2017.The Information Environment of the Firm and IPO Underpricing(Doctoral dissertation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Kotlar, J., Signori, A., De Massis, A. and Vismara, S., 2017. Financial wealth, socioemotional wealth and IPO underpricing in family firms: A two-stage gamble model.Academy of Management Journal, pp.amj-2016. Morricone, S., Munari, F., Oriani, R. and De Rassenfosse, G., 2017. Commercialization Strategy and IPO Underpricing.Research Policy,46(6), pp.1133-1141.

Run Keeper Essay Example

Run Keeper Essay I feel like Jason Jacobs portrayed many of the characteristics of an Entrepreneur, but there were 5 in particular that he really possessed. Perseverance and determination I felt were the strongest characteristics that he showed. The reason I say that is because after he quit his Job and pursued is desire, he was faced with many doubters of his idea. Even with the negative reactions from individuals, Jacobs pushed and never gave up on making his dream come true. The second highest characteristic he portrayed was energy. He had lots of energy in the sense that he as the only full-time devotee in creating this product. This did not stop him, and his energy inspired the other workers to make this happen as fast as possible. With the energy amongst the workers they produced this app and got it out on the market very quickly. The third characteristic Jacobs really showed was commitment. With 100% commitment in his product, he ran 26. 2 miles in an phone costume, in the Boston Marathon. Running 26. 2 miles is tough enough, but running that far in an phone costume shows people that Jacobs was committed enough to his product. We will write a custom essay sample on Run Keeper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Run Keeper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Run Keeper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer People saw this and even put him on the front page of the New York Times. The fourth characteristic that was strong within Jacobs was creativity. I say this because not only did he create an app, he also incorporated Twitter and Backbone to attract potential customers to his product. The fifth important characteristic that Jacobs abided by was flexibility. The reason I say this is because he named his company Pitilessnesss. I feel like this is flexibility because he is not Just narrowing his single product Just to running, he is allowing himself to be able to create future products in the fitness world like cycling, swimming, and skiing. ) Adding value to the customers life is one f keys to having a successful product. I do feel like Jacobs product does add value to customers because he created a reliable unique product that can help you fully benefit from the running experience. The ideal candidates are all the people that enjoy running and want to experience their exercise to full potential, regardless if they are a serious runner or Just the casual runner. 3) I do feel like there is a threat to Jacobs product, unless he has some type of patent against potential imitators. If he does not have intellectual property, then he will be faced with my imitators. With imitators also comes the threat of a product that might be slightly better, and possibly lower cost than Runner. 4) The features of Runner are very impressive, but I feel like there could be some improvements or added features. One feature that could be added is the paps ability to intertwine their technology with the weather that the runner is running in. This ability could make the current features more accurate, like calories burned. An example of this is, a person running a route in Beaumont during the summer will burn many more calories than if the runner were to run the same route in the middle of winter. I feel like this could be a simple effective improvement that Runner could include. Application Questions: 1) Three things that I am passionate about include: sports, finance, and building passionate about have endless possibilities of business ideas such as new training tools for sports, new ways of making existing players more successful and lengthening their careers. My last thing, building connections with people, can create a life of success in itself. With a wide connection of people in life can help any business or product idea become more successful with knowing the right people. Life is all about who you know, and the more people you know, the better off your business life can be. 2) No, I do not think that Jacobs will obtain his dream of obtaining a billion-dollar company in the app world. I do think that his idea of diversifying his ideas in all kinds of fitness will make him more successful and more profitable in the future. I also believe that his desire to become a billion-dollar business will go a long way. If he really wants to obtain his dream then I am sure he has the potential to create some type of business that will be that successful.

federalist 51 essays

federalist 51 essays James Madison wrote a series of articles to persuade the people to ratify the new constitution. In Federalist 10 ad 51, he explained the government would be powerful, but the people still have their liberties. In Federalist 10, he wrote about a republic, the Republic States. The people would vote for representatives that would refine popular opinion. But why have the representatives, it is because that would be too many people and too little time to debate. If all if the people debate over what should be done in the government, nothing would be done. When the public elect their representatives, they would elect people that would represent their idea. Then the representative would represent the over all interest, therefore refining the public opinion. When the people give their liberties to the government, the government depends on the people, for votes and revenue. In order to prevent the peoples liberties be taken way, federalism is form. Madison wrote the legislatures to be split in two, and give each administer each a department. That way, each mans ambition will counter others ambition. No major faction will be made. The legislatures are dependent to the people. Each of th e representatives has a different tenure, in the House of Representatives, two years, in the Senate, six years. The representatives have to represent their people, or they would be replaced when election comes. Even though the people do not have direct control of the government, the people control the representatives in the government. The people render them all subservient to the public good. Even if the legislatures get out of line, the President still has the absolute negative to veto them. But if the Congress gets a two-third vote, they can override the presidents decision. The government has so many checks and balances and auxiliary precautions, it is hard to change th...

Business IT case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business IT - Case Study Example To successfully deliver their assigned task, UTS Student Services are expected to possess certain qualities and knowledge, together of which shall be classified as the requirements for them. First, there are supposed to have full knowledge of the functionality and operational processes that guides the use of search engines and search engine editing. By this, the service should have both the software and hardware necessary to turn an existing search account into an effective one that would reach peaks for any search entries that are made (Guo and Sanchez, 2005). What is more, it is required of the service to undertake a cleanup service that involves identifying all data and information about students that may not be considered wholesome and presentable and polishing these up or possibly replacing them with more suiting and presentation information that borders on the academic and career prospects of students. On the part of students, there are a number of requirements that they are al so expected to meet. First and foremost, students are expected to have basic understanding of the functionality of the system that is being proposed. By understanding the functionality of the system, students will be in a better position to respond to system managers in a manner that will make the work of the system managers even more effective and efficient. For instance students will be required to avoid posting images and data that are not considered to be presentable. Stakeholders as used in this report refers to all people who have a role to play in the successful planning, implementation, usage and monitoring of the system (Locker, 2000). By this, three major lines of stakeholders will be identified with a brief description of the role that each is expected to play. The first stakeholder is the university authority who is expected to be the initial financiers of the project. The university

Week 3 Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Week 3 Journal - Essay Example All these are issues that people battle with, but may not necessarily have the answers for at the end of the day.It is true that the current declining state of America’s cultural, economic, and even social setting may be attributed to the education system in place. A lot of emphasis is placed on getting top scores in education institutions, forgetting that self-education may be the best way a person can benefit their lives, in the long run. This emphasis forces students to resort to different tactics to be at the top of their class. As far as being the biggest scam in America is concerned, college institutions are making a killing at their students’ expense (NIA 1). Loans are taken up by students with the aim of acquiring an education, only to pay that back after being employed. Problems arise when there is little to show for this education in a declining job market. NIA’s aim was to show that individuals can do without college education, claiming that self-education can create the necessary skills needed to succeed, an assumption countless individuals may concur

Negotiation skill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Negotiation skill - Essay Example In the case 9 ‘Sick Leave,’ one finds a significant scope for the skill of negotiation and the dispute arising from the case illustrates how important the skill of negotiation is in the complex ways of human life in the modern world. In the presented case, there arise two pertinent questions which need to be addressed in dealing with the demands of the situation created. First of all, it is important to know what Kelly and the other ALTs do when they were denied of a sick leave as the contract agreement guarantees just on the question of cultural difference. Similarly, it is also imperative to recognize why the conflict arose in the case presented and how it could have been prevented without occurring. In this paper, the two central questions that arise out of the crisis in the case presented are dealt with and it is also vital to comprehend the value of negotiation skill which alone can deal with such important questions. Negotiation skill, as we have mentioned, is of central value in the lives of human beings and it is illustrated by the first question to be dealt with. Therefore, the skill of negotiation can be established as the central element in dealing with the first question and it is evident that only a path of negotiation will be the desirable choice the people in conflict make. Thus, the most agreeable solution to the problem that Kelly and the other ALTs confront is to opt for a negotiation with their superior Mr. Higashi. Negotiation helps these people exactly come to an agreement with the demands of the situation and conflicting issues of the disputes. As the culture from place to place differs, those elements need to be referred to in arriving at an ultimate conclusion to the conflict in question. Therefore, the foremost fact that these ALTs recognise is that culture and diversity in culture has central value in the process of negotiation. One prominent factor in the conflicts across bo arders is, as

Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI): Symptoms and Causes

Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI): Symptoms and Causes Reproductive tract infections (RTI) are recognized as a public health problem and ranking second after maternal morbidity and mortality as the cause of loss of healthy life among women of reproductive age in developing countries (Jindal et al, 2009.). Infections of the reproductive tract causes serious health problem worldwide, with an impact on individual women and men, their families and communities (Adler et al., 1998). Are RTI infections which affect the reproductive tract, part of the reproductive system. For females, the reproductive tract infections may be much higher in the reproductive tract (fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus) and lower reproductive tract (vagina, cervix and vulva). The global burden of reproductive tract infections (RTI) is a huge and a serious public health problem, especially in developing countries, where ITR are endemic . They can have serious consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, abortion, cervical cancer, menstrual disorders, pregnancy loss, babies with low birth weight and increased risk of HIV transmission. The presence of the ITR (especially ulcer causing sexually transmitted infections) can promote the acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (Rabiu et al., 2010). Reproductive tract infections include endogenous infections, iatrogenic infections and sexually transmittedinfections (STDs) (Muula et al., 2006) . Reproductive tract infections (RTI) refers to three different types of infections affecting the reproductive tract : 1. Endogenous infections are probably the most common RTI worldwide. They result from an overgrowth of organisms normally present in the vagina. Endogenous infections include candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis. These infections can be easily treated and cured . 2. Iatrogenic infections occur when the cause of infection (bacteria or other microorganism) is introduced into the reproductive tract via a medical procedure, such as menstrual regulation, abortion, insertion of an IUD or during childbirth. This can happen if the surgical instruments used during the procedure has not been properly sterilized, or an infection, which was already present in the lower reproductive tract is pushed through the cervix into the upper reproductive tract . 3. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites microorganisms that are transmitted through sexual activity with an infected partner. About 30 different sexually transmitted infections have been identified, some of which are easily treatable, many of which are not. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is perhaps the most serious sexually transmitted infection, since it eventually leads to death. STDs affect men and women, and can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. (Germain et al. 1992). Female RTI usually originate in the lower genital tract, such as vaginitis or cervicitis and can produce symptoms such as : abnormal vaginal discharge , genital pain itching burning feeling with urination abdominal pain irregular mensural cycle blood stained discharge However, a high prevalence of asymptomatic disease occurs, which is a barrier to effective control (Elias et al., 1993). Such as: Infertility Fibroid Polyps Prolaps Uterus / Vaginal Endomitrosis Even when symptoms occur, their presence may overlap with and be misdiagnosed as a normal physiological change and normal physiological discharge can be diagnosed as RTI. (Trollope Kumar, 1999). The presence of ulcers, especially RTI causing STI may increase the acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (Fleming et al. 1999). Infertility is a health problem in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where 20-30 % of couples are unable to conceive (Sciarrha, 1994). Most health advocates consider infertility as the most important reproductive health and social issues confronting the Nigerian women and gynecologists often report that infertility is 60 % 70 % of your queries at higher education institutions (Okonofua et al, 1997.). In Nigeria, most cases of infertility RTI following (Snow et al. 1997) Ectopic pregnancy is a large percentage of acute gynecological emergencies in Nigeria and is a major cause of maternal mortality [ 11-13 ]. A study in Lagos, Nigeria found previous STI and pelvic inflammatory disease as the main risk factors for ectopic pregnancy (Anorlu et al., 2005) Cervical cancer is usually the result of a sexually transmitted infection, and human papilloma virus is the causative agent. It is the most common malignancy of the reproductive system and a leading cause of death from cancer in Nigerian women (Thomas, 2000). In contrast to most other types of cancer, it is common below the age of 50, and is therefore a leading cause of premature death (Dey et al. 1996). Sites of Reproductive Tract Infections : Reproductive tract infections can affect the outer genitals and reproductive organs. Infections in the area of the vulva, vagina, cervix or are referred to as the lower reproductive tract infections. Infections in the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are considered upper reproductive tract infections. (Bulut et al. 1995) Minor infections of the reproductive tract : . Vaginitis : RTI affecting the external genital area and lower reproductive tract in women is often referred to as vulvo vaginitis, vaginitis or simply indicating that the vulva and / or vagina become inflamed and sometimes itchy or painful. Vaginitis is most commonly caused by endogenous infections such as candida (thrush, yeast) or bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted infections despite certain as trichomoniasis, can also commonly cause these symptoms and signs. Pelvic infections can have consequences far more dangerous than the initial vaginitis, such as ectopic pregnancy or infertility. (Bulut et al. 1995) 2. Infection of the cervix Infection of the cervix can be caused by a variety of pathogens, particularly sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and Human Papillomavirus transmitted. Infections of the cervix are considered more serious than vaginitis because more commonly result in infection of the upper reproductive tract, with its serious consequences. Unfortunately, they are also more difficult to detect and are often asymptomatic. (Bulut et al. 1995) Upper Reproductive Tract Infections : The migration of infection in the upper reproductive tract, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and tends to be more severe than infections of the lower reproductive tract. Infections of the upper reproductive tract are often a direct complication of infections, especially sexually transmitted lower reproductive tract. (Bulut et al. 1995) Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), for example, is one of the most serious problems of gonorrhea or chlamydia. This can result in chronic abdominal pain, ectopic pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, infertility and as a result of scarring of the fallopian tubes . Ectopic pregnancy, which can cause death, is a particularly serious complication, since it requires emergency interventions that are not available in many resource-poor settings. Iatrogenic infections -. Caused by the introduction of bacteria in normally sterile environment of the womb through a medical procedure such as insertion of an IUD can also result in serious, and reproductive tract infections, occasionally life -threatening upper (Bulut et al .., 1995) ADHD in Classroom Strategies: Literature Review ADHD in Classroom Strategies: Literature Review To what extent can teachers make provisions for pupils with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity‑Disorder) in the mainstream classroom? CONTENTS (JUMP TO) Section 1: Referenced Extracts Section 2a Part One: Analysis and Critical Evaluation of the Issue Section 2b Part Two: Examination of the Practical Implications for Primary School Teachers Section 3: Copies of Extracts Section 4: Bibliography Sources and Further Reading Section 1: Referenced Extracts (1) Quarmby, K. (Tuesday 6 December, 2004) Rebels without a Cause: Children with Behaviour Problem are Increasingly Diagnosed with ADHD, in, Education Guardian, pp.1-3 (2) The Disorder named AD/HD: What we know (2004) National Resource Centre for AD/HD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity‑Disorder (CHADD; http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/what/WWK1.pdf , p.2 (3) Rafolovich, A. (2005), Exploring Clinician Uncertainty in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity-Disorder, in, Journal of Sociology of Health and Illness, Volume 27, Number 3 London: Blackwell, pp.306‑310 (4) Northen, S. (Friday 26 November, 2004), Feed your Head, in, The Times Educational Supplement, p.3 (5) Spencer, T. et al (1995), A Double-Blind Cross‑Over Comparison of Methylphenidate and Placebo in Adults with Childhood Onset Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity-Disorder, in, Archives of General Psychiatry, Volume 52, pp.434-443 (6) Education Guardian Opinion (Tuesday 10 October, 2006), p.4 (7) Handy, C. and Aitken, R. (1986) Understanding Schools as Organisations London: Penguin, p.13 (8) Chowdhury, U. (2004) Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome: a Handbook for Parents and Professionals London and New York: Jessica Kingsley, p.115 (9) Raphael Reed, L. (1995) Reconceptualisng Equal Opportunities, in, Griffiths, M. and Troyna, B. (Eds.), Antiracism, Culture and Social Justice in Education Stoke‑on‑Trent: Trentham, p.88 (10) Guiding Principles for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention‑Deficit Hyperactivity‑Disorder (2006), Presented by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA); http://www.add.org/pdf/GuidingPrinciples021206Rev[1].pdf , p.2 (11) Jones, A. (August 2004) Clinical Psychology Publishes Critique of ADHD Diagnosis and Use of Medication on Children, in, Psychminded Website; http://www.psychminded.co.uk/news/news2004/august2004/Clinicalpsycholgy (12) Swanson, J.M. and Castellanos, F.X. (2002) Biological Bases of ADHD – Neuroanatomy, Genetics and Pathophysiology, in, Jensen, P.D. and Cooper, J.R. (Eds.), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: State of the Science Kingston: New Jersey, pp.71-72 (13) ADHD: Strategies for Primary School Teachers; http://premium.netdoktor.com/uk/adhd/living/school/article.jsp?articleIdent=uk.adhd.living.school.uk_adhd_xmlarticle_004691 (14) ADHD in the Classroom – What Helps; http://www.adhd.com/educators/educator_communication_difficulties.jsp (15) Selikowitz, M. (2004) ADHD: the Facts Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.154 (16) Stein, D.B. (1999) Ritalin is not the Answer: a Drug-Free, Practical Programme for Children Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD New York: Jossey Bass Wiley, Preface Section 2a Part One: Analysis and Critical Evaluation of the Issue The issue of ADHD is one of the most pressing contemporary concerns within the broader educational sphere of making adequate provisions for children with learning difficulties. With the help of scientists and the media, ADHD has been transformed from a relatively unknown illness of the brain to a well known national problem for thousands of schoolchildren. The increase in awareness has been accompanied by a steep rise in the number of children being diagnosed with the disease. â€Å"The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimates that as many as 500000 children in the UK may have ADHD and, of these, as many as 100000 may be seriously affected.†(1) Unbelievably, this figure amounts to approximately one in twenty of all British schoolchildren. With figures constantly on the rise and awareness increasing in tandem, it is clear that ADHD is, at the beginning of the twenty first century, a highly important concern for any mainstream primary school teacher. In comparison to other behavioural problems experienced by young people, the illness is relatively new (at least in terms of its recognition from psychiatrists and general practitioners) and, as such, often causes confusion and misunderstanding when the issue is raised in the classroom. Tourette’s syndrome, for example, has a ten year advantage over ADHD in terms of public awareness and forthright medical opinion. Moreover, the illness is also notoriously difficult to accurately quantify with rather ambiguous symptoms like ‘inattentiveness’ and ‘a lack of concentration’ used as precursors to a diagnosis of attention‑deficit hyperactivity‑disorder. ADHD is consequently considered to be a highly controversial illness that has the medical community split over whether it is a disability in the traditional sense or whether it is a neurological malfunctioning on the part of the child or individual in question. This is not an easy problem to so lve not least because of the scarcity of medical facts. Indeed, the medical facts that are known are somewhat ambiguous and rely heavily on subjectivity rather than objectivity, which would bequeath an improved perspective for scientists and teachers alike. It has, however, been concluded that the illness begins no later than the age of seven and patients who are first diagnosed as ADHD sufferers in adulthood must have displayed the core symptoms from the age of seven to receive treatment for attention‑deficit hyperactivity‑disorder this places the issue directly within the realm of the primary (as opposed to the secondary) school teacher as the first tell-tale signs must be evident before the age of seven (year three). It is therefore prudent to detail these core symptoms of the disease so that the primary school teacher may be in a position to offer better advice to parents and doctors as to the condition to one of their pupils. For this, analysis must turn towards the USA, which is the leading country in terms of diagnosing, treating and including children with the illness in national classrooms. Thus, according to the American National Resource Centre for AD/HD, symptoms can be split into two separate categories (2). The first category comes under the heading of ‘inattention’. The chief features of this are: Making careless mistakes in homework, in class and in other related activities. Failing to pay close attention. Difficulty maintaining attention during work or play. Appearing as if not listening when clearly being spoken to. Failing to follow simple instructions in class. Have difficulties with organisation. Avoiding work with a sustained amount of mental excursion, such as homework or tests. Loses things. Easily distracted. Forgetful in daily activities. The second category used for ascertaining the most visible symptoms of ADHD comes under the heading of ‘hyperactivity-impulsive behaviour’. The core features of this particular behavioural manifestation are: Constant ‘fidgeting’ in class with hands or feet. ‘Squirming’ in chairs. Running or climbing at inappropriate times. Has difficulty remaining seated. Difficulties in maintaining silence during quiet play times. Failing to wait for turn in class. Interrupting teachers and fellow pupils at inappropriate times. Act as if they are on a ‘motor’. It is immediately evident from just a brief overview of the symptoms that ADHD is open to a wide variety of claims of inaccuracy with regards to diagnosis as well as excessive interference on the part of parents, teachers and the state, which has made the cause of children with learning difficulties a chief domestic policy since the end of the twentieth century. Sceptics naturally point to the many years before ADHD became a well known disorder (during the 1980s’) as evidence that the illness has been blown out of proportion (help groups, on the other hand, say this is merely evidence of the way in which the illness has been avoided by education professionals for so long.) Furthermore, according to an empirical study compiled by Adam Rafolovich (3), even doctors retain strong reservations about diagnosing a child with ADHD on the grounds of the fertile ground for misconception that exists with concerns to the symptoms highlighted above. For instance, there can be little doubt that there is a very fine line between defining a child as ‘clinically inattentive’ and simply viewing that same child as lazy and disinterested in the subject matter at hand. Likewise, the same problem persists with any variety of the core symptoms of ADHD, which are often too close to everyday behavioural disorders that should be expected in children as young as seven or eight. Once again, it is not difficult to understand the sceptic’s point of view, especially when considering that the modern variation of schooling is a lot more pupil friendly than was the case forty or fifty years ago. Psychiatric experts and doctors are likewise divided over the best means of treatment available to children who have been satisfactorily diagnosed with ADHD. In the 1990’s, medication was seen as by far the most viable route to inclusion in the classroom with the ‘wonder drugs’ Ritalin and Concerta witnessing an explosion in sales at this time. Prescriptions for these two drugs have leapt from 6000 in 1994 to around 345000 by 2003. This marked increase is testimony to the way in which ADHD has become a serious problem for all mainstream teachers, particularly those who work in primary schools. In addition, there have been grave concerns voiced by doctors, parents and teachers regarding the moral aspect of prescribing a child as young as five or six a powerful, sophisticated neurological drug that alters the way the brain perceives key data. Young people’s brains do not fully develop until well into adolescence and often beyond; thus, the risks in having chi ldren become dependent on medication at such a young age should be obvious to all concerned. Moreover, as Stephanie Northen (4) points out, the fact that ADHD is seen as a biochemical imbalance in the brain requiring a pharmaceutical treatment while, at the same time, dyslexia is seen as a solely educational problem that has no connection with the brain, severely tests the rationale behind the way that the illness is currently being classified and treated. In many cases the difference between the two is only the opinion of a teacher, doctor or mental health observer. On the whole, however, medication has proved to be a success in young children with ADHD at least in terms of lessening the tendency for public outbursts and school time tantrums. Research conducted by the MTA Co‑Operative Group at the end of the twentieth century discovered that approximately 70 to 80% of school children with ADHD reacted positively to psycho stimulant medications. Significant academic improvement has likewise been noted with an increase in attentiveness in the classroom, compliance on group related tasks and a greater accuracy evident in homework, coupled with a decrease in activity levels, impulsivity, negative social behaviours in groups and verbal hostility (5). The implications of medication and the effects that this can have on a child who displays the key symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity will be discussed in greater detail in Part Two of the discussion, but, at this point, the important point to note is the relatively high level o f success of prescription drugs in the effort to minimise the negative The other major option with regards to effective treatment is the option of psychotherapy involving a mental health expert and groups of child sufferers of ADHD. Utilising a form of cognitive behaviour therapy, qualified experts are able – over time – to challenge the way in which children react to certain environments and situations – those situations that had previously led to evidence of what are considered to be the core symptoms. ADHD ‘coaches’ also help the child to prioritise, organise and develop interactive skills that will lessen the chances of that child experiencing a sense of social exclusion. There are also a number of problems with this kind of therapy not least the obstacle concerning the considerable costs incurred via employing a mental health professional in the current NHS climate. Theory and practice therefore still stand some way apart when it comes to the ideal means of treating children with ADHD faced with the reality of NHS staff shortages and a scarcity of private sector mental health experts who concentrate solely on children with learning difficulties. There is also the significant problem of stigmatisation when a child is diagnosed and then treated for ADHD or, indeed, any other mental health problem. To understand the severity of the issue, one need only look at the way that the adult labour force in the UK discriminates against employees who have a mental health issue in order to understand the way in which playgrounds can become a source of intensive bullying, especially below the age of eight according to the Guardian Education Opinion in October 2006 (6). When one considers the fact that schools are, according to Charles Handy and Robert Aitken (7), not at all dissimilar to adult commercial organisations, it becomes even more clear that bullying and peer pressure are significant issues when it comes to schooling children with learning difficulties and behavioural problems, which ADHD obviously entails. As Uttom Chowdhury declares, the more a child stands out as different from his or her classmates â€Å"because of associated behaviours such as impulsivity, poor handwriting and academic difficulties† (8) the greater the likelihood of bullying and social exclusion. Primary school teachers would have a pivotal role to play in the cessation of bullying on the grounds of a mental illness, in addition to maintaining an effective social balance within the classroom. Furthermore, a pupil who suffers from ADHD is bound to display signs of low self esteem, regardless of bullying in the playground or peer pressure within the classroom. Low self esteem combined with the unpredictable side effects of the medication as well as mitigating factors that may be occurring at home, means that the task of a mainstream primary school teacher is made all the more time consuming. It can be seen that attention‑deficit hyperactivity‑disorder is not only a highly topical issue that is bound to increase in significance in the coming decades, but that it is also a highly problematic area of debate for public education and child welfare due to the ambiguity that resides at the heart of the diagnosis of the condition. While there are a number of tell‑tale signs that a child may be suffering from ADHD there are also any number of alternative reasons as to why a student appears to be veering away from the carefully constructed consensus of a primary school classroom. Ultimately, some children would just prefer not to be in school at all. With this in mind, it is prudent to turn attention towards the implications for teachers who wish to advance the governmental policy of social inclusion in the classroom by understanding how ADHD can be married with an award for Quality Teacher Status. Section 2b Part Two: Examination of the Practical Implications for Primary School Teachers Section 3.2.4 of the Standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status declares that teacher should, â€Å"identify and support more able pupils, those who are working below age-related expectations, those who are failing to achieve their potential in learning, and those who experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.† Clearly, therefore, with regards to pupils with ADHD, the most pressing concern for primary school teachers is the need to maintain a healthy social balance within the classroom without ostracising the child with the learning difficulty. Inclusiveness must consequently be the teacher’s main priority if they are to fulfil the most basic precept of the QTS. â€Å"All children need someone to mediate their learning, but sometimes this feels especially true for children with special educational needs.† (9) This is a tried and tested educational tightrope that cannot be replicated in a college classroom, in an academic book or in an education‑specific journal. Rather, this challenge can only be met through experience. This is, of course, not to state that there are not certain features and attributes that the teacher can learn so as to be in a more advantageous position to deal with potential sufferers of ADHD. The most obvious place to begin would be the acquisition of help from a more experienced teacher – one who hopefully has coped with the demands of teaching children with learning difficulties beforehand, even if the difficulty in question is not ADHD. This would equip the recently qualified primary school teacher with the ability to deal more efficiently with children in the classroom who have already been diagnosed with the illness as well as those pupils that have yet to be diagnosed but who are nonetheless showing a variety of signs of ADHD. This is an important point because, according to the ‘guiding principles for the diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity‑disorder’, ADHD should be â€Å"suspected but never presumed.† (10) Section 2.4.1 of the Standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status states that: â€Å"they [the qualified teacher] understand how pupils’ learning can be affected by their physical, intellectual, linguistic, social, cultural and emotional development.† With regards to pupils with ADHD, this would involve the ability to liaise with the child’s parents. This has two obvious benefits. The first is to better understand the child’s home life, which experts agree is a vital factor in the formation of the disease, especially if said home life is noticeably chaotic, abusive or violent. â€Å"More regard should be given to a child’s social circumstances, experience and history in understanding their behaviour.†(11) Secondly, research has indicated that there are certain generic attributes of ADHD that run through families, which makes the issue of maintaining an effective, coherent working dialogue with the parents of ADHD sufferers all the more imperative (12). Although the illness is inherently complex, involving a cross‑over of many genes, there is a strong likelihood that one of the parents will also show signs of ADHD, making empathy with the child easier in the process. The Standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status also require the primary school teacher to be able to effectively plan lessons for all pupils in the class. Moreover, as of January 2002, a revised SEN code of practice dictated that â€Å"all teachers are SEN teachers.†(13) Clearly, children with learning difficulties pose unique problems for the planning of lessons, none more so than those pupils with ADHD, which is an inherently disruptive and anti‑social illness. Communication between the teacher and the student (not to mention communication between the student and his classmates) is therefore a major problem. Fortunately, there are a number of study aids that are available for teachers to consult. For instance, the official ADHD website in the US offers invaluable advice on how best to manage children with the illness in a classroom setting (14). The following constitutes a small extract of what the organisation considers to be useful information for educators . It should be interpreted as an Individual Education Plan (IEP): Refrain from ‘popping’ a question which requires a speedy answer. Give the student extra time to answer questions. For example, use up time by writing on the blackboard. Speak slowly and provide information in small units. This is especially helpful in the classroom. Reinforce verbal instructions and lessons with written materials, or by writing on the blackboard. Work closely with the student to determine and accommodate his or her individual needs. There are likewise a number of books that have been published in recent years that are a source of encouragement for primary school teachers. Mark Selikowitz, for example, gives advice on the structural planning of the classroom for students with ADHD: â€Å"the child with ADHD should be seated at the front of the class near to the teacher’s desk. The old idea of putting the ‘naughty’ child at the back of the class†¦is totally inappropriate if the child has ADHD.† (15) Teachers must also be constantly aware of the dangers inherent in educating children who are prescribed powerful doses of medicine. In his critique of the culture of prescription drugs prevalent in the USA and the UK, David Stein warns of the side‑effects of Ritalin, which include insomnia, tearfulness, rebound irritability, personality change, nervousness, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia. (16) Finally, in accordance with Section 3.3.1.4, tutoring a child with ADHD allows the qualified teacher to test their ability to effectively manage instances of bullying and harassment. Where a child with ADHD is concerned, bullying is especially relevant due to the potentially volatile outbursts of the child in question as well as taking into account the reaction of those classmates who do not understand ADHD. As is the case when constructing an IEP, the primary school teacher must be able to use common sense in order to properly tailor classroom and playground management for the specific needs of the child in question. No two ADHD sufferers are likely to display the same characteristics of the disease. Section 3: Copies of Extracts (1) (4) Rebels without a cause Children with behaviour problems are increasingly diagnosed with ADHD. But their parents often struggle to get them the education they need. By Katharine Quarmby Tuesday December 6, 2005 The Guardian James Steele, aged 10, from Bermondsey, south London, has seven doses of Ritalin a day to control his behaviour. On one of his first days at Southwark Park primary school, he stripped off naked and was chased round the school by two teachers. His mother, Julie Clapp, had to give up work to cope with him. Its been a nightmare, she says. He would crawl over desks, start climbing on equipment in the classroom, says Angie Sharma, acting headteacher. Then at one point he opened the window and stood on the ledge. The whole school was in a panic. We seriously thought we might have to exclude James. It was extremely difficult for the teacher to teach to the national curriculum when James was running out of class, refusing to co-operate. Before he joined the school, he had already been kicked out of nursery. The school begged Southwark council for help and, at the age of seven, James was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and given a statement of special educational need. A team of experts assessed James, including the schools special educational needs co-ordinator, an

Food Sanitation Essay -- Health, Food Production

Nevertheless, regardless of the training cooks receive in school or on the job, and in spite of the efforts of supervisors and managers to ensure safe food production in their kitchens, one frequently can find improper handling of food in commercial kitchens. (0) Nevertheless, regardless of the training cooks receive in school or on the job, and in spite of the efforts of supervisors and managers to ensure safe food production in their kitchens, one frequently can find improper handling of food in commercial kitchens. (0) Using the steel wool is a calculated risk, but the cooks faced an unpleasant choice: use steel wool and risk leaving steel residue or be written up for being too slow to prepare the food. (0) Using the steel wool is a calculated risk, but the cooks faced an unpleasant choice: use steel wool and risk leaving steel residue or be written up for being too slow to prepare the food. (0) On the one hand, the executive and sous chefs would be so fussy about hygiene rules that they'd fine a worker one dollar for coming to work unshaved, but then they would leave someone else the responsibility of cleaning up after they prepared a new plate for tasting or a special plate for an important guest. (0) I have no reason to believe that the practices I observed at this Florida hotel are in any way better or worse than practices common throughout the industry - except where management takes a strong hand in insisting on care and cleanliness in food handling. (0) On the one hand, the executive and sous chefs would be so fussy about hygiene rules that they'd fine a worker one dollar for coming to work unshaved, but then they would leave someone else the responsibility of cleaning up after they prepared a new plate for t... ...howed a 30-minute video that presented so much information so quickly that I felt no one could absorb it. (0) Also frustrating was the daily search for spray bottles, bleach to put in them, hand soap, paper towels, and properly sized latex disposable gloves. (0) Those hidden cutting boards were never brought to the washing room for daily thorough cleaning and sanitizing. (0) The executive chef was not a native English speaker, although his conversational English was good. (0) The saucier revealed his secret to me when I was faced with cleaning a tilt kettle after poaching 600 eggs. (0) No follow-up effort was made in the ensuing months to reinforce the lessons of the video. (0) I asked him how I could clean the dried, baked egg on the side of the kettle, and he replied, "Here, use this." Steel wool is efficient and effective for cleaning. (0) Food Sanitation Essay -- Health, Food Production Nevertheless, regardless of the training cooks receive in school or on the job, and in spite of the efforts of supervisors and managers to ensure safe food production in their kitchens, one frequently can find improper handling of food in commercial kitchens. (0) Nevertheless, regardless of the training cooks receive in school or on the job, and in spite of the efforts of supervisors and managers to ensure safe food production in their kitchens, one frequently can find improper handling of food in commercial kitchens. (0) Using the steel wool is a calculated risk, but the cooks faced an unpleasant choice: use steel wool and risk leaving steel residue or be written up for being too slow to prepare the food. (0) Using the steel wool is a calculated risk, but the cooks faced an unpleasant choice: use steel wool and risk leaving steel residue or be written up for being too slow to prepare the food. (0) On the one hand, the executive and sous chefs would be so fussy about hygiene rules that they'd fine a worker one dollar for coming to work unshaved, but then they would leave someone else the responsibility of cleaning up after they prepared a new plate for tasting or a special plate for an important guest. (0) I have no reason to believe that the practices I observed at this Florida hotel are in any way better or worse than practices common throughout the industry - except where management takes a strong hand in insisting on care and cleanliness in food handling. (0) On the one hand, the executive and sous chefs would be so fussy about hygiene rules that they'd fine a worker one dollar for coming to work unshaved, but then they would leave someone else the responsibility of cleaning up after they prepared a new plate for t... ...howed a 30-minute video that presented so much information so quickly that I felt no one could absorb it. (0) Also frustrating was the daily search for spray bottles, bleach to put in them, hand soap, paper towels, and properly sized latex disposable gloves. (0) Those hidden cutting boards were never brought to the washing room for daily thorough cleaning and sanitizing. (0) The executive chef was not a native English speaker, although his conversational English was good. (0) The saucier revealed his secret to me when I was faced with cleaning a tilt kettle after poaching 600 eggs. (0) No follow-up effort was made in the ensuing months to reinforce the lessons of the video. (0) I asked him how I could clean the dried, baked egg on the side of the kettle, and he replied, "Here, use this." Steel wool is efficient and effective for cleaning. (0)

Alcohol Abstinence Essay

Ever known someone that was a victim of an alcohol related death or had their lives ruined because of it? Well I have. More than 100,000 US deaths are caused by excessive alcohol drinking each year. Alcohol is a huge fetter to people and I believe that everyone should be abstinent from it. Alcohol is harmful to the body, teens abuse it and drink underage, and it has harmful effects on children. Every year, more money is spent promoting alcohol than any other product. Perhaps through its elaborate and creative marketing, the most basic, yet important fact about alcohol is often overlooked: It is a drug. One concept that many people find difficult to accept is that alcoholism and alcohol problems are a disease. Research has shown that alcohol interacts with the bodys systems in predictable ways to lead to physiological addiction. Alcohol significantly impairs judgment and coordination, it can increase the chance of aggressive acts, it can do permanent damage to vital organs, and it can cause cancer, gastrointestinal irritations such as nausea, diarrhea, and ulcers, malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunctions, high blood pressure, lowered resistance to disease, and others. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people today. Underage drinking costs the United States more than 58 billion dollars a year. Thats enough to buy every public school student a state of the art computer. Concerning the past 30 days, 50% of high school seniors reported drinking, with 32% report being drunk at least once. About 30% of failures in school are caused by alcohol and 2-3% of teens die from it. Despite the tireless efforts of thousands of advocates, impaired drivers continue to kill someone every 30 minutes, nearly 50 people a day, and almost 18,000 citizens a year. Lots of people think the only people affected by alcohol are adults and teens but children can also be affected by it. More than 18% of American children experience alcohol abuse by a parent or other adult in their lives. Parents can influence the use of alcohol as well. Almost 65% of youth surveyed said that they got the alcohol they drink from family. Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy can also affect children. These infants may suffer from mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities. In  addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics. Since alcohol is something that would be extremely hard to ban and probably wouldnt work if tried, people need to refrain from poisoning themselves with it and become abstinent. Alcohol forces people to do irrational things and endanger peoples lives. People need to be abstinent from alcohol so this world can become a better and safer place for the generations to come. Bibliography â€Å"Alcohol.† GDCADA- Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol on Drug Abuse. 6 Mar. 2006. 14 Feb. 2009 . â€Å"Alcohol and Drugs.† Alcohol and Drug Information. SAMHSA. 14 Feb. 2009 .

Free Essays on Marines

civilians are "slow" and "messy" Marines are "fast" and "ready" civilians are "me" Marines are "us" who is stranger? me or us? this is the summer before the Marines and I am sitting in my green chair I can smell the Lake; marsh gras rotting and hear the clanking of sailboat masts. pushups and screaming will come later, now I can only see my dogs, basking in summer sun I go to school with people who do not understand why I have chosen the Marines. these are not things I can explain. these are feelings, the guts of my brain, and i cannot scoop them out and hand them around so that friends will understand me. I lead a divided life. I go to functions with Marines who cannot concieve of the place that I come from, or why I want to be one of them.... Free Essays on Marines Free Essays on Marines civilians are "slow" and "messy" Marines are "fast" and "ready" civilians are "me" Marines are "us" who is stranger? me or us? this is the summer before the Marines and I am sitting in my green chair I can smell the Lake; marsh gras rotting and hear the clanking of sailboat masts. pushups and screaming will come later, now I can only see my dogs, basking in summer sun I go to school with people who do not understand why I have chosen the Marines. these are not things I can explain. these are feelings, the guts of my brain, and i cannot scoop them out and hand them around so that friends will understand me. I lead a divided life. I go to functions with Marines who cannot concieve of the place that I come from, or why I want to be one of them....

American Expansion essays

American Expansion essays American expansion to the Pacific was introduced to the people of the country by several different means. The reasons for expansion did not exclude Politics, economy, nor society. Primarily the contributions that that the rise of expansion can be attributed to include Manifest Destiny, land hunger, suspicion of British intentions as well as trade opportunities. Each was valuable, some more than others, to impel the wheels of expansionism to begin. The most important contributor to American expansion is Manifest Destiny. This term, developed by an American journalist basically state that America had a divine ( god-given) right to extend its power and civilization across the width of the North American continent. Perhaps it was the scattered missionaries in the Northwest, along with the introduction of Manifest Destiny made the idea of traveling thousands of miles, was, in fact worthwhile. Manifest Destiny was so important of an issue that the election and campaign of 1844. The Democrats were swayed by the idea and part of their campaign was that they should uplift their ennobling democratic institutions over the expanse of North America. The idea of God giving the population the right to expand their society could be accepted by God-fearing Christians, of which, most of the population was. They all could understand the idea of Manifest Destiny because it dealt with God, not property, wealth or social standing. It was an is sue that could allow people of all backgrounds to prosper. Land hunger was the second most important contributor to expansion. The land out in this wide open, western unknown was free! People wanted land because at this time land equaled wealth, and people who were not wealthy, could not buy land. This first come, first serve style allowed the people who were hungry for land to obtain it, even if they did not have the means by which to buy any land back east. This way they could even make a profi...

University Land Deal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

University Land Deal - Essay Example His sources of power are the fact that he is aware of $16 million dorm that the extended university had earlier negotiated, and it was not better than what they wanted to sell off. He was also aware that there were few local properties that could serve as a comparison. Father Farrell also knew that the long university was in need of expansion of residential areas and their place was a convenient one. Father Farrell’s BATNA was the $18.3million which he had negotiated earlier with a commercial developer. Father’s RP is $17.8 million since it was the last price he had on his alternatives as more beginning on discussed with the board members. Her interest was to get the three dorms since her university needed expansion area for residential. Her source of power was the fact that St. James School was providing the best place for residential, and she was sure about it. Her BATNA would be $16 million she had experience with another

Essey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Essey - Essay Example One hypothetical experiment making waves on the Internet is the idea of taking brain samples from living individuals. Some individuals, including myself, believe it is not a good thing. Brain sampling is an experiment wherein scientists get a piece of an individual’s brain. Indeed, the procedure has helped in certain scientific discoveries and is common practice the medical world. In the early 1900s, researchers got brain samples of Chamorros who died of an unknown neurodegenerative disease and discovered that an environmental toxin was in the contaminated water throughout North America and the world. (Quick, S. and Fauber, J.) Most pathology studies on multiple sclerosis depends human brain tissue of dead individuals. (Adams, C.W.) It is noticeable that the subjects involved in the procedures above-mentioned were all deceased. What is disturbing in the hypothetical experiment is the fact that the subject is still alive. This has been a controversial issue in the field of medicine and science. There are people in society who do not look favorably on using living individuals as subjects in experiments even if the process would help in advancing scientific studies. This is reminiscent of the experiments done during the Second World War. (Farmer, A., n.d.) The World Medical Association came up with the Declaration of Helsinki to safeguard against human experimentation because there was no accepted code of conduct to guide these kinds of studies. (Shamoo, A. & Irving, D., 1993) I believe that brain sampling using a living person is unethical. I recognize that trials should be done on humans because only then can scientists know if their discoveries would have the same effect and benefit on people as on animals. Some people believe there are justified reasons in using humans for research. (Human) On the other hand, I am of the mind that technology has advanced enough that scientists may be able to find

Government grants for alternative energy research Proposal - 1

Government grants for alternative energy - Research Proposal Example Because of this, it is important for the United States to find alternative means of energy that are sustainable, and that create less dependence on foreign oil and other fossil fuels. President Obama has instituted a variety of measures that will cut down on the carbon emissions that influence climate change (Obama, 2010). Many people suggest that without an alternative method of fuel, the nation as we know it will change. Al Gore has presented information about how global warming is influencing the world as it is known today, and suggests that something must be done in order to slow the process down. Shown in these descriptions are the facts that there are many issues that must be addressed when looking at the world and how it currently uses fuel. If sustainable energies can be discovered and used, the world would be able to sustain itself better in the long run. Specific Claim Alternative fuels can promote a healthier environment and can create a more sustainable world. With the he lp of government grants to sponsor climate research, many more researchers can have the opportunity to identify those fuels that could help the environment. The discovery of these grants will be an opportunity to understand who is eligible to help in this endeavor and the amount of money that is being presented. Justification of The Claim Since President Obama took office, sustainable fuels have been a concern.

Working Construction Essay Example for Free

Working Construction Essay Introduction The issue of discrimination by class, race and gender in the society is the subject of hot debates our days. Though most people consider themselves as very tolerant persons, the fast show women and dark-colored people are still discriminated in society. Two books are under analysis in this essay: â€Å"Dream from my father† by Barack Obama and â€Å"Well Call You If We Need You: Experiences of Women Working Construction† by Susan Eisenberg. Both this books are autobiographical, written on the base of author’s personal experience. The events on both books go back to the time of twenty-thirty years ago. Both of them allow understanding the real situation with the race, class and gender discrimination in the USA in the end of the twenty century. The common ideas in the books of Obama and Eisenberg The first chapter of Obama’s book describes the very beginning of his career in Chicago. In 1985 Barack Obama arrived to Chicago to work as a community organizer. The history of this city in the second part of the twenty century led to the corruption of the government, the stratification of the society and the high level of unemployment among the lowest-income colored population. After the â€Å"white flight† in 1960th (when the whites left areas where non-Whites are settling, mostly for suburbs) poor districts were left to their own resources. Industry changed and there were not work for low-level workers. City government did not try to change the situation; anyway, poor blacks did not want to get help from Whites. â€Å"†¦the last thing we need is to join up with a bunch of white money and Catholic churches and Jewish organizers to solve our problems â€Å"(Obama, 89) In thus way Chicago was polarized and there was not way to solve the problem. Whites didn’t try to help the poorest part of the population, and Black didn’t want to get help, but their life was awful and having no prospects. However, at the beginning of Obama’s work in Chicago Harold Washington, the first African American, was the mayor of Chicago that time and his administration really tried to reduce the unemployment of the ethnic blacks. Obama started his work like every enthusiastic young manager in the Altgeld, one of the poorest districts of Chicago not far away from city dump, but soon he understood; to help these people he had to learn them. A lot of money from city budget (Obama tells about $500,000) was granted for the employment program in such districts, but money went away and programs did not work. However soon young Barack succeed in some of his objectives, for example he took part in the opening of new MET (Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training) station. Most analytics think that this period of Obama’s career was unsuccessful. However it is obvious that Obama have got a great experience. During his first period in Chicago Obama understood that he could not press to the politic machine from the outside. Thus, when he returned, he began his path to the â€Å"sanctum sanctorum†. He tried to meet important and influential people and to work with them. The upper stage of his career is the position of the President of the United States, so the experience of that man is very useful to learn for those who want to know more about the real situation of the American society. For those who consider the book of Obama insufficient or isn’t interested in the problems of African Americans the book of Susan Eisenberg can be interesting. The author describes her career as the electrical apprenticeship. That year President Jimmy Carter started new program of the inclusion of women in apprenticeship programs to increase the percent of working women. Many of young women at the beginning of their careers were excited with this new perspective and started to work. However the reality happened to be severe and merciless. Eisenberg used not her only experience, but the memories of thirty women approximately of the same age, who believed in the historical transformation of the society and pioneered as carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, painters. They hoped under Carter’s program they will obtain challenging job, the support of the trade union, the respect in society and the better attitude. In reality the gender barrier was still tough and no changes were seen. Eisenberg Reminds when she arrived as the electrical apprenticeship to work in some building, the guard didn’t let her in. He decided she was a terrorist. Though is has happened thirty years ago, the chance to meet terrorists seemed more probable to this guard than a chance to meet female electrical apprenticeship. Conclusion The authors of two books under analysis are different people – by gender, by race, by the development of their carrier. However the one common feature is in this two books: both authors describe how they faced the discrimination and in what way they struggled with it. References Obama, Barack. â€Å"Dreams from my father† New York: Random House (January 9, 2007); eBook; ISBN 0-3073-9412-3 Eisenberg, Susan. â€Å"Well Call You If We Need You: Experiences of Women Working Construction† Cornell University Press 1999. ISBN-13: 9780801486050

High-tech Snooping Threatens Our Privacy :: Free Argumentative Essays

High-tech Snooping Threatens Our Privacy The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution states: The right of the people to be secure in their person's houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. The Fourth Amendment values privacy in the home and protects people's privacy from unlawful search and invasion. This topic interests me because I am concerned about the recent use of thermal imaging and the ways it could be used to invade the average citizen's privacy. Thermal imaging devices allows police to view heat as a visible light image. When police use this technique as a means of gathering evidence before a warrant is obtained, it can be said to violate our guaranteed Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution. In the recent Supreme Court case, Kyllo v. United Sates, "the Supreme Court held that police use of a thermal imaging device to scan a suspect's residence violated his right under the Fourth Amendment. The decision had reversed a federal appeals court ruling finding the scan lawful" (Is warrantless?). In the case cited, police suspected Kyllo was growing marijuana in his home. They used a thermal imaging device from across the street to scan Kyllo's home to see if the level of heat escaping from it was consistent with high-intensity lights used to grow marijuana indoors. The result of the scan showed that portions of Kyllo's home were relatively hot compared to the rest of his home. Using the result of the scan, as well as other information, police obtained a warrant to search Kyllo's home, and found a marijuana-growing operation in their search. When the trial court refused to suppress the evidence, Kyllo appealed to the federal court and challenged the legality of the search, saying a search warrant should have been obtained prior to using the thermal imaging device. Law-enforcement officials argued that a warrant was not required before a using technological surveillance device that merely records information about a home that is exposed to public view. The federal appeals court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding that Kyllo had no subjective expectation of privacy because he did not try to conceal the heat escaping from his home. Even if he had, the appeals court said, there was no objectively reasonable expectation of privacy because the thermal imager did not expose any intimate details of Kyllo's life, only vague hot spots on his home's exterior.

Compare the way Andrew Marvell and William King present relationships :: English Literature

Compare the way Andrew Marvell and William King present relationships between men and women in To His Coy Mistress and The Beggar Women. If we look at the 2 poems we can see some quite significant similarities between them about the relationships between men and women. We see in both poems the desire for sex from the two men, but both attempt to acquire it through different methods due to the difference in class between the women. First we must look at the difference in forms of the two poems. To His Coy Mistress is a dramatic monologue and so we can therefore see the narrator's attitude towards the lady he is trying to seduce. The Beggar Women is a ballad (so it is telling a story) this means that you can find a moral to the story; however, you are unable to see the attitude of the 'gentlemen' towards the women as easily. I both poems we see that neither of the men have much respect for the women. In The Beggar Women we see that the 'gentlemen' views the women very low which is perhaps given the historical context of the poem. In the poem he refers to her as "game", comparing her to the animals he was hunting, almost saying that she isn't considered important enough to be human. It then says, "her cheeks were fresh, and linen clean" which may suggest that the situation is not what it seems. In To His Coy Mistress we also see the narrator has little respect for the lady; however in this poem it seems quite unnecessary because she is a respectable lady. He mocks her for being a virgin - her "quaint honour" but in those times being virginal was the only way for a women to maintain a good reputation. In The Beggar Women the initial rhyming scheme is "rhyming couplets". The pattern deteriorates as the beggar woman begins to take control over the situation without the man realising. In To His Coy Mistress, if we look at the rhythm of the first 4 lines, it is in iambic quatrametre. This is a very powerful rhythm and may reflect just how hard the narrator is trying to seduce the women. In both poems there is also the obvious similarity of the men's one desire of sex and nothing else and how much they will do to achieve this. To His Coy Mistress shows the narrator taking a kind and adoring approach to getting the lady into bed with him in the first part of the poem (up to line 20). In this part he uses time as a positive

The Return: Midnight Chapter 3

Damon leaped. Somewhere in the middle of the leap Elena felt herself left to the whims of gravity. She tried to curl into a bal to take the impact on one buttock. What happened was strange – almost miraculous. She came down, right side up, on the opposite side of the couch from the plate of steak tartar. The plate did a little leap of its own, three or four inches, perhaps, and then settled back where it had been. Elena was also lucky enough to get a perfect view of the end of the heroic rescue – which involved Damon diving for the floor and grabbing the bottle of precious Black Magic wine just before it hit the ground and smashed. He might not have the kind of lightning-fast reflexes he had when he was a vampire, but he was stil far, far faster than an ordinary human. Leap holding girl, drop girl onto something soft, turn leap into dive, and at last instant grab bottle, just before it would hit. Amazing. But there was another way that Damon wasn't like a vampire anymore – he wasn't invincible to fal ing onto hard surfaces. Elena only realized this when she heard him gasp, trying to breathe and not being able to. She scrambled wildly in her mind for al the accidents she could remember with jocks, and – yes, recal ed one when Matt had had the wind completely knocked out of him. The coach had seized him by the col ar and thumped him on the back. Elena ran to Damon and grabbed him under the arms, rol ing him onto his back. She put al her strength into hauling him into a sitting position. Then she made a club of her hands. Pretending she was Meredith, who had been on the basebal team at Robert E. Lee High and had a .225 ERA, she swung as hard as she could at Damon, slamming her fists into his back. And it worked! Suddenly Damon was wheezing, and then breathing again. A born straightener of ties, Elena knelt and tried to rearrange his clothes. As soon as he could breathe properly, his limbs stopped being pliant under her fingers. He gently curled her hands into each other. Elena wondered if possibly they'd gone so far beyond words that they would never find them again. How had it al happened? Damon had picked her up perhaps because her leg was burned, or perhaps because he had decided Mrs. Flowers was the one with the star bal . She herself had said, â€Å"Damon, what are you doing?†Perfectly straightforward. And then halfway through the sentence she had heard for herself the â€Å"darling†and – but who would ever believe her? – it hadn't been connected with anything they had been doing earlier at al . It had been an accident, a slip of the tongue. But she'd said it in front of Bonnie, the one person most likely to take it seriously and personal y. And then Bonnie had been gone before she could even explain. Darling! When they had just started fighting again. It real y was a joke. Because he had been serious about just taking the star bal . She had seen it in his eyes. To cal Damon â€Å"darling†seriously, you would have to be – have to be†¦hopelessly†¦helplessly†¦desperately in†¦ Oh, God†¦ Tears began to run down Elena's cheeks. But these were tears of revelation. Elena knew she wasn't in her best form today. No real sleep for going on three days – too many conflicting emotions – too much genuine terror right now. Stil, she was terrified to find that something fundamental had changed inside her. It wasn't anything she had asked for. Al she had asked was that the two brothers stop feuding. And she had been born to love Stefan; she knew that! Once, he'd been wil ing to marry her. Wel , since then she'd been a vampire, a spirit, and a new incarnation dropped from the sky, and she could hope that one day he would be wil ing to marry the new Elena, too. But the new Elena was bewildered, what with her strange new blood that to vampires was like rocket fuel compared to the gasoline most girls carried about in their veins. With her Wings Powers, such as Wings of Redemption, most of which she didn't understand and none of which she could control. Although lately she had seen the beginning of a stance, and she knew it was for Wings of Destruction. That, she thought grimly, might be quite useful someday. Of course a number of them had already been helpful to Damon, who was no longer simply an al y, but an enemy-al y again. Who wanted to steal something that her whole town needed. Elena hadn't asked to fal in love with Damon – but, oh God, what if she already had? What if she couldn't make the feelings stop? What could she do? Silently, she sat crying, knowing that she could never say any of these things to Damon. He had a gift of farseeing and a level head in times of emotion, but not, as she knew al too wel , about this particular issue. If she told him what was in her heart, before she knew it, he would kidnap her. He would believe she had forgotten Stefan for good, as she had forgotten him briefly tonight. â€Å"Stefan,†she whispered. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She could never let Stefan know about it either – and Stefan was her heart. â€Å"We've got to get rid of Shinichi and Misao fast,†Matt was saying moodily. â€Å"I mean, I real y need to get into condition soon or Kent State's gonna send me back stamped ‘Reject.'†He and Meredith were sitting in Mrs. Flowers's warm kitchen nibbling on gingersnap cookies and watching her as she diligently worked at making beef carpaccio – the second of the two raw beef recipes in the antique cookbook she owned. â€Å"Stefan's doing so wel that in a couple of days we could even be tossing around the old pigskin,†he added, sarcasm edging his voice, â€Å"if everybody in town would just stop being crazy possessed. Oh, yeah, and if the cops would stop coming after me for assaulting Caroline.† At the mention of Stefan's name, Mrs. Flowers peeked into a cauldron that had been bubbling away on the stove for so long, and was now emitting such a fearsome odor that Matt didn't know who to pity more: the guy getting the huge pile of raw meat or the one who'd soon be trying to choke down whatever was in that cooking pot. â€Å"So – assuming you're alive – you're going to be glad to leave Fel ‘s Church when the time comes?†Meredith asked him quietly. Matt felt as if she had just slapped him. â€Å"You're joking, right?†he said, petting Saber with one tanned, bare foot. The huge beast was making a sort of growly purring sound. â€Å"I mean, before that, it's going to be great to throw a couple of passes to Stefan again – he's the best tight end I've ever seen – â€Å" â€Å"Or ever wil see,†Meredith reminded him. â€Å"I don't think many vampires go in for footbal , Matt, so don't even think of suggesting that he and Elena fol ow you to Kent State. Besides, I'l be right beside you, trying to get them to come to Harvard with me. And worse, we're both checkmated by Bonnie, because that junior col ege – whatever – is much closer to Fel ‘s Church and al the things around here they love.† â€Å"Al the things around here Elena loves,†Matt couldn't help correcting. â€Å"Al Stefan wants is to be with Elena.† â€Å"Now, now,†Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"Let's just take things as they come, shal we, my dears? Ma ma says that we need to keep up our strength. She sounds worried to me – you know, she can't foresee everything that happens.† Matt nodded, but he had to swal ow hard before saying to Meredith, â€Å"So, you're eager to be off for the Ivied Wal s, I'm sure?† â€Å"If it wasn't Harvard – if I could just put it off for a year and keep my scholarship†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Meredith's voice trailed off, but the yearning in it was unmistakable. Mrs. Flowers patted Meredith's shoulder, and then said, â€Å"I wonder about dear Stefan and Elena. After al , with everyone thinking that she's dead, Elena can't live here and be seen.† â€Å"I think they've given up on the idea of going somewhere far, far away,†Matt said. â€Å"I'l bet that now they think of themselves as Fel ‘s Church's guardians. They'l get by somehow. Elena can shave her head.†Matt was trying for a light tone, but the words sank like lead bal oons as they left his mouth. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers was talking about college,†Meredith said in a tone just as heavy. â€Å"Are they going to be super-heroes at night and just veg out the rest of the time? If they want to go somewhere even next year, they need to be thinking about it now.† â€Å"Oh†¦wel , I guess there's Dalcrest.† â€Å"Where?† â€Å"You know, that little campus in Dyer. It's smal but the footbal team there is real y – wel , I guess Stefan wouldn't care how good they are. But it's only half an hour away.† â€Å"Oh, that place. Wel , the sports may be fantastic but it's sure not an Ivy, much less Harvard.†Meredith – unsentimental, enigmatic Meredith – sounded as if she had a stuffed-up nose. â€Å"Yeah,†Matt said – and just for a second took Meredith's slim, cold hand and squeezed it. He was even more surprised when she linked her chil ed fingers up with his, holding his hand. â€Å"Ma ma says whatever is fated to happen wil happen soon,†Mrs. Flowers said serenely. â€Å"The main thing, as I see it, is to save the dear, dear old town. As wel as the people.† â€Å"Of course it is,†Matt said. â€Å"We're going to do our best. Thank God we have somebody in town who understands Japanese demons.† â€Å"Orime Saitou,†Mrs. Flowers said with a little smile. â€Å"Bless her for her amulets.† â€Å"Yeah, both of them,†Matt said, thinking of the grandmother and mother who shared the name. â€Å"I think we're going to need a lot of those amulets they make,†he added grimly. Mrs. Flowers opened her mouth, but Meredith spoke, stil focused on thoughts of her own. â€Å"You know, Stefan and Elena may not have given up on their far, far away thing after al ,†she said sadly. â€Å"And since at this point none of us may even live to make it to our own col eges†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She shrugged. Matt was stil squeezing her hand when Bonnie dashed in the front door, keening. She tried to speed through the foyer toward the stairs, avoiding the kitchen, but Matt released Meredith and they both dashed up to block her. Instantly, everyone was in combat mode. Meredith grasped Bonnie's arm tightly. Mrs. Flowers came into the foyer, wiping her hands on a dish towel. â€Å"Bonnie, what happened? Is it Shinichi and Misao? Are we being attacked?†Meredith asked quietly but with the intensity to cut through hysteria. Something shot like a bolt of ice through Matt's body. No one real y knew where Shinichi and Misao were right now. Perhaps in the thicket that was al that was left of the Old Woods – perhaps right here at the boardinghouse. â€Å"Elena!†he shouted. â€Å"Oh, God, she and Damon are both out there! Are they hurt? Did Shinichi get them?† Bonnie shut her eyes and shook her head. â€Å"Bonnie, stay with me. Stay calm. Is it Shinichi? Is it the police?†Meredith asked. And to Matt: â€Å"You'd better check through the curtains there.†But Bonnie was stil shaking her head. Matt saw no police lights through the curtains. Nor did he see any sign of Shinichi and Misao attacking. â€Å"If we're not being attacked,†Matt could hear Meredith saying to Bonnie, â€Å"then what is happening?† Maddeningly, Bonnie just shook her head. Matt and Meredith looked at each other over Bonnie's strawberry curls. â€Å"The star bal ,†Meredith said softly, just as Matt growled, â€Å"That bastard.† â€Å"Elena won't tel him anything but the story,†Meredith said. And Matt nodded, trying to keep from his mind a picture of Damon casual y waving and Elena convulsing in agony. â€Å"Maybe it's the possessed kids – the ones who walk around hurting themselves or acting insane,†Meredith said, with a side glance at Bonnie, and squeezing Matt's hand very hard. Matt was bewildered and fumbled the cue. He said, â€Å"If that S.O.B. is trying to get the star bal , Bonnie wouldn't have run away. She's bravest when she's scared. And unless he's kil ed Elena she shouldn't be like this – â€Å" Which left Meredith the grim job of saying, â€Å"Talk to us, Bonnie,†in her most comforting big-sister voice. â€Å"Something must have happened to get you in this state. Just breathe slowly and tel me what you saw.† And then, in a torrent, words began to spil from Bonnie's lips. â€Å"She – she was cal ing him darling,†Bonnie said, gripping Meredith's other hand with both of hers. â€Å"And there was blood smeared al around on her neck. And – oh, I dropped it! The bottle of Black Magic!† â€Å"Oh, wel ,†Mrs. Flowers said gently. â€Å"No use crying over spil ed wine. We'l just have to – â€Å" â€Å"No, you don't understand,†Bonnie gasped. â€Å"I heard them talking as I came up – I had to go slow because it's so hard not to trip. They were talking about the star bal ! At first I thought they were arguing, but – she had her arms around Damon's neck. And al that stuff about him not being a vampire anymore? She had blood al over her throat and he had it on his mouth! As soon as I got there he picked her up and threw her so I couldn't see but he wasn't fast enough. She must have given the star bal to him! And she still was calling him ‘darling'!† Matt's eyes met Meredith's and they both flushed and looked away quickly. If Damon was a vampire again – if he had somehow gotten the star bal from its hiding place – and if Elena had been â€Å"taking food†to him just to give him blood†¦ Meredith was stil looking for a way out. â€Å"Bonnie – aren't you making too much of this? Anyway, what happened to Mrs. Flowers's tray of food?† â€Å"It was – al over the place. They'd just tossed it away! But he was was holding her with one hand under her knees and one under her neck, and her head was way back so that her hair was fal ing al over his shoulder!† There was a silence as everyone tried to imagine various positions that might correspond to Bonnie's last words. â€Å"You mean he was holding her up to steady her?†Meredith asked, her voice suddenly almost a whisper. Matt caught her meaning. Stefan was probably asleep upstairs, and Meredith wanted to keep it that way. â€Å"No! They – they were looking at each other,†Bonnie cried. â€Å"Looking. Into each other's eyes.† Mrs. Flowers spoke mildly. â€Å"But dear Bonnie – maybe Elena fel down and Damon had to just scoop her up.† Now Bonnie was speaking remorselessly and fluently. â€Å"Only if that's what's just happened to al those women on the covers of those romance books – what-d'you-cal -'ems?† â€Å"Bodice-rippers?†Meredith suggested unhappily when no one else spoke. â€Å"That's right! Bodice-rippers. That's how he was holding her! I mean, we al knew that something was going on with the two of them in the Dark Dimension, but I thought al that would stop when we found Stefan. But it hasn't!† Matt felt sick in the pit of his stomach. â€Å"You mean right now Elena and Damon are in there†¦kissing and stuff?† â€Å"I don't know what I mean!†Bonnie exclaimed. â€Å"They were talking about the star ball! He was holding her like a bride! And she wasn't fighting it!† With a chil of horror, Matt could see trouble, and he could see that Meredith could see it too. Even worse, they were looking in two different directions. Matt was looking upstairs, at the staircase, where Stefan had just appeared. Meredith was looking at the kitchen door, one glance at which showed Matt that Damon was entering the foyer. What was Damon doing in the kitchen? Matt wondered. We were there until a minute ago. And he was, what, eavesdropping from the den side? Matt gave the situation his best shot, anyway. â€Å"Stefan!†he said in a hearty voice that made him wince inwardly. â€Å"You ready for a little athlete's-blood nightcap?† A tiny part of Matt's mind thought: But just look at him. Only three days out of prison and he already looks like himself again. Three nights ago he was a skeleton. Today he just looks – thin. He's even handsome enough to make the girls al go crazy over him again. Stefan smiled faintly at him, leaning on the banister. In his pale face, his eyes were remarkably alive, a vibrant green that made them actual y shine like jewels. He didn't look upset, and that made Matt's heart twist for him. How could they tel him? â€Å"Elena is hurt,†Stefan said, and suddenly there was a pause – an utter silence – as every person froze in place. â€Å"But Damon couldn't help her, so he brought her to Mrs. Flowers.† â€Å"True,†Damon said coldly from behind Matt. â€Å"I couldn't help her. If I were stil a vampire†¦but I'm not. Elena has burns, mainly. Al I could think of was an ice pack or some kind of poultice. Sorry to disprove al your clever theories.† â€Å"Oh my heavens!†cried Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"You mean dear Elena's waiting right now in the kitchen for a poultice?†She hurried out of the foyer toward the kitchen. Stefan was stil coming down the stairs, cal ing, â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, she scalded her arm and leg – she says because Damon didn't recognize her in the dark and jostled her. And that he thought it was an intruder in his room, and nicked her throat with a knife. The rest of us wil be in the parlor if you need help.† Bonnie cried, â€Å"Stefan, maybe she's innocent – but he isn't! Even according to you, he burned her – that's torture – and he put a knife to her throat! Maybe he threatened her to make her tel us what we wanted to hear. Maybe she's stil a hostage right now and we don't know it!† Stefan flushed. â€Å"It's so hard to explain,†he said very softly. â€Å"And I keep trying to tune it out. But so far – some of my Powers have been growing†¦faster than my ability to control them. Most of the time I'm asleep, so it doesn't matter. I was asleep until a few minutes ago. But I woke up and Elena was tel ing Damon that Mrs. Flowers doesn't have the star bal . She was upset, and injured – and I could feel where she'd been injured. And then suddenly I heard you, Bonnie. You're a very strong telepath. Then I heard the rest of you talking about Elena†¦.† Oh my God. How insane, Matt was thinking. His mouth was babbling some â€Å"Sure, sure, our mistake†gibberish, and his feet fol owed Meredith's to the parlor as if they were attached to her Italian sandals. But the blood on Damon's mouth†¦ There had to be some mundane reason for the blood, too. Stefan had said that Damon had nicked Elena with a knife. As to how the blood got smeared around; wel , that actual y didn't sound like vampirism to Matt. He'd been a donor for Stefan at least a dozen times in the last days and the process was always very neat. It was strange, too, he thought, that it had never occurred to any of them that, even from the top of the house, Stefan might be able to hear their thoughts directly. Could he always do that? Matt thought, wondering at the same time whether Stefan was doing it right now. â€Å"I try not to listen to thoughts, unless I'm invited or I have a good reason,†Stefan said. â€Å"But when anybody mentions Elena, especial y if they sound upset – that I can't help. It's like when you're in a noisy place and you can barely hear, but when somebody says your name you hear it instantly.† â€Å"It's cal ed the Cocktail Party Phenomenon,†Meredith said. Her voice was quiet and remorseful as she was trying to calm the mortified Bonnie. Matt felt another tug at his heart. â€Å"Wel , you can cal it whatever you want,†he said, â€Å"but what it means is that you can listen in on our minds any time you like.† â€Å"Not any time,†Stefan said, wincing. â€Å"When I was drinking animal blood I wasn't strong enough unless I real y worked at it. By the way, it may please my friends to know that I'm going back to hunting animals by tomorrow or the next day, depending on what Mrs. Flowers says,†he added with a significant glance around the room. His eyes lingered on Damon, who was lounging against the wal by the window, looking disheveled and very, very dangerous. â€Å"But that doesn't mean I'l forget who saved my life when I was dying. For that I honor and thank them – and, wel , we'l have a party sometime.†He blinked hard and turned away. The two girls melted at once – even Meredith sniffled. Damon heaved an exaggerated sigh. â€Å"Animal blood? Oh, bril iant. Make yourself as weak as you can, little brother, even with three or four wil ing donors around you. Then, when it comes to the final showdown with Shinichi and Misao, you'l be about as effective as a piece of damp tissue paper.† Bonnie started. â€Å"Is there going to be a showdown†¦soon?† â€Å"As soon as Shinichi and Misao can manage it,†Stefan said quietly. â€Å"I think they'd rather not give me time to get wel . The whole town is supposed to go up in fire and ashes, you know. But I can't keep asking you and Meredith and Matt – and Elena – to donate blood. You've already kept me alive the last few days, and I don't know how to repay you for it.† â€Å"Repay us by getting as strong as you can,†Meredith said in her quiet, level voice. â€Å"But, Stefan, can I ask a few questions?† â€Å"Of course,†Stefan said, standing by a chair. He didn't sit himself until Meredith, with Bonnie almost in her lap, had sunk down on the love seat. Then he said, â€Å"Fire.†