Monday, December 30, 2019

The Death Penalty Is Not Justice - 1509 Words

â€Å"To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice.† -Desmond Tutu The death penalty is a legal punishment practiced worldwide, which includes execution being the punishment, mandated to someone convicted of a crime. The death penalty has existed since 1700 B.C. when the Code of Hammurabi was a legal document in ancient Babylonia. Ever since the Code of Hammurabi many countries have adopted this punishment including the United States. When European settlers came to America, Americans obtained the death penalty. During the establishment of the Constitution, framers continued the custom which led to the eighth amendment. â€Å"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury†¦; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb†¦ nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Constitution 1). It is often argued that the death penalty should be continued because of the esta blishment of the eighth amendment. However, the eighth amendment contradicts with the basic human right or â€Å"right to life†. The Universal Declaration of Human rights states in Article 3 â€Å"Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.† (United Nations 1). Also, in Article 5 it states â€Å"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.† (United Nations 1). Therefore, the deathShow MoreRelatedThe Justice of the Death Penalty Essay655 Words   |  3 PagesThe Justice of the Death Penalty Whenever the word death penalty comes up, extremists from both sides start yelling out their arguments. One side says deterrence, the other side says theres a potential of executing an innocent man; one says justice, retribution, and punishment; the other side says execution is murder. Personally I think it is time for Americans to take a stand use the justice system as it was intended, for the punishment of criminals. A big point of argument for the peopleRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is An Act Of Justice1217 Words   |  5 PagesSince the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the death penalty in 1976, there have been 1,434 executions in the United States (Death Penalty Information Center). Today, a debate quickly erupts when discussing the death penalty as a form of punishment in America’s Criminal Justice system. Some perceive the Death Penalty as an act of justice, while others believe it is unconstitutional. There are currently 31 death penalty states and 19 non-death penalty states in the U.S. Although opponents view thisRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Not The Satisfaction Of Justice1532 Words   |  7 PagesJavier Arocha March 31, 2017 The Death Penalty in America â€Å"The proper end of human punishment is, not the satisfaction of justice, but the prevention of crimes. - William Paley The Death penalty is a very delicate topic. People can t just scream their believes to prove their point. Today, the United States of America is in the minority of countries that still use the Death Penalty as a punishment for certain crimes. Even though the controversy over the Death Penalty is overlooked most of the timeRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Not Guaranteed That Justice Will Be Served871 Words   |  4 PagesBy reinstating the death penalty, it is not guaranteed that justice will be served. Family and friends of victims of serious crimes are left longing for closure for the actions inflicted and often seek retribution (SOURCE). By allowing the death penalty, the victim’s family and friends are offered closure by the means of taking the assailants life. Commonly known as an â€Å"eye for an eye,† this form of punishment is classified as retributive justice as it requires the assailant to give up his or herRead MoreThe Death Penalty On The Criminal Justice Syst em1491 Words   |  6 PagesWhat place does the death penalty have in the criminal justice system? Should it be used to deter other criminals, should it be used to punish those who commit crimes, or does it have any place at all? In understanding the issue of the death penalty from a moral perspective, it is important to look back at philosophers of the past to better understand the ethical ramifications of the concept of capital punishment. We will be examining two notable philosophers—Aristotle and Immanuel Kant. ThroughRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is It Really Justice For All?994 Words   |  4 PagesDeath Penalty, is it really justice for all? Should an insane man remain untreated to avoid the death penalty? Such is the case of Russell Weston who in 1998 killed two police officers in the U.S. Capital. He told government psychiatrists he drove across country to prevent the spread of disease, killing two of the carriers. His lawyers state that they know he will get the deat h penalty, so he remains untreated, insane, and isolated to avoid conviction of the death penalty (Caplan). Is this justiceRead MoreThe Death Penalty And The Justice System Of America2224 Words   |  9 PagesThe death penalty has been in the justice system of America tracing all the way back to the days of its founding fathers. Though it is a highly controversial legal and moral matter, it still stands today as the most ultimate punishment in the United States. Many countries have been or are currently abolishing their death penalty under the notion that it is unjust and morally wrong. The United States, on the other hand, has 38 out of its 50 states with laws that state the death penalty as its ultimateRead MoreThe Death Penalty And The Criminal Justice System1475 Words   |  6 PagesThe death penalty has been used as a form of punishments in the United States since the American colonies in the 1600’s (Del Carmen, 2015). The country has divided opinions about the proper procedures used by the criminal justice system to convict a person to live or death. The death penalty has created a public policy issue that has produced wide scholarly research, public debate and legal attention. The reality is that the majority on Americans support the death penalty. Only a small proportionRead MoreThe Death Penalty : A Terrible Scar On American Justice1534 Words   |  7 PagesMarshall, the head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice during the Civil Rights Era, once said, â€Å" The death penalty, I think, is a terrible scar on American justice, especially the concept of equal justice under law, but also of due process. And it goes state by state, and it s different in different states.† Burke Marshall’s thoughts were, and still are completely correct. The death penalty is more controversial now than ever before, because society has changed. TheRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is The United States Justice System1542 Wor ds   |  7 PagesThere are many injustices that plague the United States Justice System. The death penalty is a prime example of this. A major problem associated with the death penalty is the unavoidable fact that potentially innocent people are being executed. Researchers estimate that over 340 executed inmates, could have been exonerated; which means that over 340 people were wrongfully killed! With the arrival of DNA testing in the mid 80’s, by 1992, 17 death row inmates in the US where acquitted and released

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and...

The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health Most people do not think about their health or issues revolving around their health until they are actually ill or people think that their health is only affected by biological factors. However, our health should be a focus in our lives because our daily life has an affect on our health. Illness does not only have biological causes but is also influenced by social factors such as the socially imposed roles of gender and socioeconomic differences. Before the affect of gender on health can be discussed, the difference between gender and sex must first defined. Sex refers to actual physiological and hormonal differences between men and women; gender refers to the differences†¦show more content†¦Women have significantly higher rates than men of psychological distress and depression. (Weiss and Lonnquist 98) The effect of this this increased distress may lead to depressed immune function which could factor into the higher morbidity of women. (Rieker and Bird 104) The pressure t hat most men feel to be the primary providers of their homes can have an adverse affect upon their health. When confronted with illness, men will underestimate the severity of their illness and avoid seeking health care so that they would not be removed from the work force and be put in a position not to be able to provide for their families. Overall, men use fewer health care services and do not document their symptoms as well as women. This puts men at a disadvantage when they do seek health care treatment. Socioeconomic differences also affect health. Those of higher socioeconomic status are often healthier than their low socioeconomic status counterparts and on average have a higher life expectancy by about seven years. (Weiss and Lonnquist 42) This is due to differences in exposure to health risks and stress. Those of lower socioeconomic status suffer from higher exposure to health risks as compared to the general population. Poor housing and overcrowding can increase stress le vels can therebyShow MoreRelatedInternational Classification Of Functioning, Disability And Health1285 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, also know more commonly as ICF was originally proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for trial purposes in 1980 and was known as the International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH) (reference). The ICIDH aimed to provide a cohesive and consistent language tool for the classification of the consequences of disease and the implications for the individuals involved (reference). HoweverRead MoreSignificance of Psychosocial Competence in Youth1468 Words   |  6 PagesSignificance of Psychosocial Competence in Youth Executive Summary Stress is one of the top ten health concerns in adolescence and is getting worse. Adolescents experience many changes in their daily lives, however are not sufficiently equipped with skills to help them deal with the increased demands and stress they experience (World Health Organization, 1997). Psychosocial competence in youth was researched in order to better understand their abilities to make the best choice as related to mentalRead MoreKatriel Pacheco. Ms. Tomlinson. English One. 8 March 2017.1748 Words   |  7 Pagespassed through the brain triggering a seizure. The seizure, in turn, would alter the brain’s chemistry,† (Marcovitz 24). This shows how strong the desire for the LGBTQ people to fit the â€Å"norm† is. The LGBTQ community is put in a hostile environment everyday. Society has gradually learned to accept these people but prejudice and discrimination remain against them. LGBTQ people undergo harrasement, assault and abuse almost daily and this ca n cause serious medical conditions and can present fear regardingRead MoreDiscrimination Against African American Race1133 Words   |  5 Pages Discrimination against the African American Race Brian Barracks Social Psychology Dr. G. Austin Abstract Discrimination against African-Americans has been going on for many decades. Many African-Americans are still suffering from the effects of this. Many people who discriminate do not bother to analyze the damage that this is causing. Many African-Americans are suffering from stress problems, mental health issue, and some suffer from chronic stress. This issue has escalated for manyRead MoreOrgan Donation : Organ Organs1054 Words   |  5 Pagesan organ donor after they die. The second source of organ donation comes from a living person. Living people can donate their organs to family members, close friends, or strangers. There are many non-profit organizations that promote organ donation to strangers, whom are in critical health situations and need an organ transplant in order to survive. The problem is that there is a shortage of available organs. The organ donation process presents ethical dilemmas that will be discussed in this essayRead MoreViolence Is The Unspoken Disease O f The World1335 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Christopher Mikton, the World Health Organization, is a leader in the study of violence in the world (Mikton, 45). WHO states that, an estimated 1.4 million deaths occur every year due to this â€Å"disease† (WHO). In Marilyn Manson’s â€Å"Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?† Manson elaborately explains how violence has consistently been the social normality (Manson). Mankind has become so desensitized to violence that it is used as a scape goat for everyday problems. Humans are unknowingly self-harmingRead MorePositive Psychology Influencing: The onset of a Positive Lifestyle and Positive Health982 Words   |  4 PagesPositive Psychology Influencing The Onset of a Positive Lifestyle and Positive Health There have been numerous studies in the realm of Positive Psychology and the effects it can influence in other sectors of a person’s overall wellbeing, especially in terms of attaining a positive mindset and treatment of negative general disorders, the short term benefits of a positive psychological outlook and the long term health and lifestyle benefits that are produced from it. In a 2006 journal article, ParkRead MoreSocial Determinants of Health Essay1139 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the dictionary, the word health is â€Å"the state of being free from illness.† At a first glance, this defination seems to be very direct and simple, however the meaning of the word ‘health’ nowadays is much more complex. The above definition pretty much sums up our view of health in the first half of the 20th century. But over the past few decades, the definititon and concept of health has evolved to encompass more elements than just the physical well-being of a person. This is partlyRead MoreSocial Media and Mental Health998 Words   |  4 Pagesstudy, led by social psychiatrist Ethan Cross of the University of Michigan, found that using Facebook may even make us miserable. On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection, says Kross. But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result - it undermines it. The negative impacts of social media In 2012, Anxiety UK conducted a survey on social media use and its effects on emotionsRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesis increasing very rapidly, and new innovations are coming along each and everyday. Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. There is no denying that the impact of technology in the world today is huge, now technology has made it to the palm of our hands with the iPhone and continuing to expand. My generation has grown up on technology so I can’t imagine how my life would be with out it, older people may say it has ruined the lives of youth

Friday, December 13, 2019

Blood Promise Chapter Eighteen Free Essays

Unsurprisingly, I woke up with a headache. For a few addled seconds, I had no idea what had happened or where I was. As drowsiness wore off, the events on the street came slamming back to me. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Promise Chapter Eighteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now I sat upright, all of my defenses kicking into action, despite the slight wooziness in my head. Time to figure out where I was now. I sat up on an enormous bed in a darkened room. No-not just a room. More like a suite or a studio. I’d thought the hotel in Saint Petersburg was opulent, but this blew it away. The half of the studio I sat in contained the bed and usual bedroom accessories: a dresser, nightstands, etc. The other half looked like a living room area, with a couch and a television. Shelves were built into the walls, all of them filled with books. Off to my right was a short hall with a door at the end. Probably a bathroom. On my other side was a large picture window, tinted, as Moroi windows often were. This one had more tint than any I’d ever seen. It was almost solid black, nearly impossible to see through. Only the fact that I could differentiate the sky from the horizon-after a fair amount of squinting-let me know it was daytime out there. I slid off the bed, my senses on high alert as I tried to assess my danger. My stomach felt fine; there were no Strigoi in the area. That didn’t necessarily rule out some other person, however. I couldn’t take anything for granted-doing so was what had gotten me in trouble on the street. There was no time to ponder that, though. Not quite yet. If I did, my resolve here was going to falter. Sliding off the bed, I reached into my coat pocket for the stake. Gone, of course. I saw nothing else nearby that would pass as a weapon, meaning I’d have to rely on my own body to do my fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a light switch on the wall. I flipped it on and froze, waiting to see what-or who-the overhead lights would unveil. Nothing unusual. No one else. Immediately, I did the first obvious thing and checked the door. It was locked, as I’d expected, and the only way of opening it was a numeric keypad. Plus, it was heavy and made of what looked like steel. It reminded me of a fire door. There was no getting past it, so I turned back around to continue my exploration. It was actually kind of ironic. A lot of my classes had gone over detailed ways of checking out a place. I’d always hated those; I’d wanted to learn about fighting. Now it appeared those lessons that had seemed useless at the time had real purpose. The light had brought the suite’s objects into sharper relief. The bed was covered in an ivory satin duvet, filled to maximum fluffiness with down. Creeping over to the living room, I saw that the TV was nice-really nice. Large-screen plasma. It looked brand-new. The couches were nice too, covered in matte green leather. It was an unusual color choice for leather, but it worked. All of the furniture in the place-tables, desk, dresser was made of a smooth, polished black wood. In a corner of the living room, I saw a small refrigerator. Kneeling down, I opened it up to find bottled water and juice, assorted fruits, and bags of perfectly cut cheeses. On top of the refrigerator was more snack-type food: nuts, crackers, and some type of glazed pastry. My stomach growled at the sight of it, but no way was I going to eat anything in this place. The bathroom was done in the same style as the rest of the studio. The shower and large Jacuzzi tub were made of black polished marble, and little soaps and shampoos lined the counter. A larger mirror hung over the sink, except†¦ it wasn’t actually hanging. It was embedded so tightly into the wall that there was absolutely no way it could be removed. The material was strange too. It looked more like reflective metal than glass. At first I thought that was strange, until I raced back out to the main room and looked around. There was absolutely nothing here that could be turned into a weapon. The TV was too big to move or break, short of cracking the screen, which looked like it was made of some high-tech plastic. There was no glass in any of the tables. The shelves were embedded. The bottles in the refrigerator were all plastic. And the window†¦ I ran over to it, feeling along its edges. Like the mirror, it was fitted perfectly into the wall. There were no panes. It was one smooth piece. Squinting again, I finally got a detailed view of my outer surroundings and saw†¦ nothing. The land appeared to be rolling plains, with only a few scattered trees. It reminded me of the wilderness I’d traveled while going to Baia. I was no longer in Novosibirsk, apparently. And peering down, I saw that I was fairly high up. Fourth floor, maybe. Whatever it was, it was too high to jump without breaking a limb. Still, I had to take some sort of action. I couldn’t just sit here. I picked up the desk’s chair and slammed it into the window-and achieved little effect on either the chair or the glass. â€Å"Jesus Christ,† I muttered. I tried three more times and still had no luck. It was like they were both made of steel. Maybe the glass was some kind of bulletproof industrial strength stuff. And the chair†¦ well, hell if I knew. It was all one piece of wood and showed no signs of splintering, even after what I’d just put it through. But since I’d spent my whole life doing things that weren’t that reasonable, I kept trying to break the glass. I was on my fifth try when my stomach warned me of a Strigoi’s approach. Spinning around, I kept a hold of the chair and charged the door. It opened, and I slammed into the intruder, with the chair’s legs pointing out. It was Dimitri. Those same conflicted feelings I’d felt on the street returned to me, love mingled with terror. This time, I pushed through the love, not flinching in my attack. Not that it did much good. Hitting him was like hitting the window. He shoved me back, and I staggered, still holding onto the chair. I kept my balance and charged once more. This time, when we collided, he grabbed a hold of the chair and ripped it from my hands. He then tossed it into the wall, like it weighed nothing. Without that meager weapon, it was back to relying on my own body’s strength. I’d been doing it for the last couple of weeks with our Strigoi questioning; this should have been the same. Of course, I’d had four other people then as backup. And none of those Strigoi had been Dimitri. Even as a dhampir, he’d been hard to beat. Now he was just as skilled-only faster and stronger. He also knew all my moves, seeing as he’d taught them to me. It was almost impossible to surprise him. But just like with the window, I couldn’t stay inactive. I was trapped in a room-the fact that it was a big, luxurious room didn’t matter-with a Strigoi. A Strigoi. That’s what I had to keep telling myself. There was a Strigoi in here. Not Dimitri. Everything I’d told Denis and the others applied here. Be smart. Be vigilant. Defend yourself. â€Å"Rose,† he said, deflecting one of my kicks effortlessly. â€Å"You’re wasting time. Stop.† Oh, that voice. Dimitri’s voice. The voice I heard when I fell asleep at night, the voice that had once told me he loved me†¦ No! It’s not him. Dimitri is gone. This is a monster. Desperately, I tried to think of how I could win here. I even thought of the ghosts I’d summoned on the road. Mark had said I could do that in moments of wild emotion and that they’d fight for me. This was as wild as emotion could get, yet I couldn’t seem to call them. I honestly had no clue how I’d done it before, and all the wishing in the world couldn’t make it happen now. Damn. What good were terrifying powers if I couldn’t use them to my advantage? Instead, I pulled the DVD player off its shelf, cords ripping from the wall. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but I was desperate now. I heard a strange, primal battle scream, and some distant part of me realized I was making it. Again, I ran at Dimitri, swinging the DVD player as hard as I could. It probably would have hurt a little-if it had hit him. It didn’t. He intercepted it again, taking it from me, and throwing it down. It smashed to pieces on the floor. In the same motion, he grabbed a hold of my arms to stop me from hitting or reaching for something else. His grip was hard, like it could break my bones, but I kept struggling. He tried reason again. â€Å"I’m not going to hurt you. Roza, please stop.† Roza. The old nickname. The name he’d first called me when we’d fallen prey to Victor’s lust charm, both of us wrapped naked in each other’s arms †¦ This isn’t the Dimitri you knew. My hands were incapacitated, so I struck out with my legs and feet as best I could. It didn’t do much. Without full use of the rest of my body for balance, I had no force to throw into my kicks. For his part, he looked more annoyed than truly concerned or angry. With a loud sigh, he grabbed me by the shoulders and flipped me around, pressing me against the wall and immobilizing me with the full force of his body. I struggled a little but was as pinned as the Strigoi had been when the others and I had gone hunting. The universe had a sick sense of humor. â€Å"Stop fighting me.† His breath was warm against my neck, his body right up against mine. I knew his mouth was only a couple inches away. â€Å"I’m not going to hurt you.† I gave another fruitless shove. My breath was coming in ragged gasps, and my head injury throbbed. â€Å"You’ll have to understand if I have a hard time believing that.† â€Å"If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. Now, if you’re going to keep fighting, I’ll have to tie you up. If you stop, I’ll let you stay unrestrained.† â€Å"Aren’t you afraid I’ll escape?† â€Å"No.† His voice was perfectly calm, and chills ran down my spine. â€Å"I am not.† We stood like that for almost a minute, deadlocked. My mind raced. It was true that he probably would have killed me already if that were his intent, yet that gave me no reason to believe I was even remotely safe. Nonetheless, we were at a draw in this fight. Okay, draw wasn’t entirely accurate. I was at a draw. He was toying with me. My head was throbbing where his blow had landed, and this pointless fighting would only take a further toll. I had to regain my strength in order to find a way to escape-if I lived that long. I also needed to stop thinking about how close our bodies were. After our months of being so careful not to touch, this much contact was heady. I relaxed in his hold. â€Å"Okay.† He hesitated before letting me go, probably wondering if he could trust me. The whole moment reminded me of when we’d been together in the little cabin on the periphery of the Academy’s grounds. I’d been raging and upset, brimming with spirit’s darkness. Dimitri had held me down then, too, and talked me out of that horrible state. We had kissed, then his hands had lifted my shirt, and-no, no. Not here. I couldn’t think about that here. Dimitri finally eased up, releasing me from the wall. I turned around, and all my instincts wanted to lash out and attack him again. Sternly, I reminded myself to bide my time so that I could gain more strength and information. Even though he’d let me go, he hadn’t moved away. We were only a foot apart. Against my better judgment, I found myself taking him in again, like I had on the street. How could he be the same and yet so different? I tried my best not to focus on the similarities-his hair, the difference in our heights, the shape of his face. Instead, I concentrated on the Strigoi features, the red in his eyes and pallor of his skin. I was so fixated on my task that it took me a moment to realize he wasn’t saying anything either. He was studying me intently, like his eyes could look right through me. I shivered. It almost-almost!-seemed as though I captivated him the same way he captivated me. That was impossible, though. Strigoi didn’t possess those kinds of emotions, and besides, the thought of him still having any affection for me was probably just wishful thinking on my part. His face had always been hard to read, and now it was overlaid with a mask of cunning and coldness that made it truly impossible to know what was on his mind. â€Å"Why did you come here?† he asked at last. â€Å"Because you hit me on the head and dragged me here.† If I was going to die, I was going to go in true Rose style. The old Dimitri would have cracked a smile or given an exasperated sigh. This one remained impassive. â€Å"That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Why are you here?† His voice was low and dangerous. I’d thought Abe was scary, but there was no competition at all. Even Zmey would have backed off. â€Å"In Siberia? I came to find you.† â€Å"I came here to get away from you.† I was so shocked that I said something utterly ridiculous. â€Å"Why? Because I might kill you?† The look he gave me showed that he thought that was indeed a ridiculous thing to say. â€Å"No. So we wouldn’t be in this situation. Now we are, and the choice is inevitable.† I wasn’t entirely sure what this situation was. â€Å"Well, you can let me go if you want to avoid it.† He stepped away and walked toward the living room without looking back at me. I was tempted to try to do a sneak attack on him, but something told me I’d probably only make it about four feet before getting backhanded. He sat down in one of the luxurious leather armchairs, folding his six-foot-seven frame up as gracefully as he’d always done. God, why did he have to be so contradictory? He had the old Dimitri’s habits mixed with those of a monster. I stayed where I was, huddled against the wall. â€Å"Not possible anymore. Not after seeing you now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Again, he studied me. It felt strange. Part of me responded with excitement to the intensity of his gaze, loving the way he surveyed my body from head to toe. The other part of me felt dirty, like slime or muck was oozing over my skin as he studied me. â€Å"You’re still as beautiful as I remember, Roza. Not that I should have expected anything different.† I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d never really had a conversation with a Strigoi, short of trading a few insults and threats in the midst of a fight. The nearest I’d come was when I’d been held captive by Isaiah. I actually had been tied up then, and most of the talking had been about him killing me. This†¦ well, it wasn’t like that, but it was still definitely creepy. I crossed my arms over my chest and backed up against the wall. It was the closest I could come to some semblance of a defense. He tilted his head, watching me carefully. A shadow fell across his face in such a way that it made the red in his eyes hard to see. Instead, they looked dark. Just like they used to, endless and wonderful, filled with love and bravery†¦ â€Å"You can sit down,† he said. â€Å"I’m fine over here.† â€Å"Is there anything else you want?† â€Å"For you to let me go?† For a moment, I thought I saw a bit of that old wryness in his face, the kind he’d get when I made jokes. Studying him, I decided I’d imagined it. â€Å"No, Roza. I meant, do you need anything here? Different food? Books? Entertainment?† I stared incredulously. â€Å"You make it sound like some sort of luxury hotel!† â€Å"It is, to a certain extent. I can speak to Galina, and she’ll get you anything you wish.† â€Å"Galina?† Dimitri’s lips turned up in a smile. Well, kind of. I think his thoughts were fond, but the smile conveyed none of that. It was chilling, dark, and full of secrets. Only my refusal to show weakness before him stopped me from cringing. â€Å"Galina is my old instructor, back from when I was in school.† â€Å"She’s Strigoi?† â€Å"Yes. She was awakened several years ago, in a fight in Prague. She’s relatively young for a Strigoi, but she’s risen in power. All of this is hers.† Dimitri gestured around us. â€Å"And you live with her?† I asked, curious in spite of myself. I wondered exactly what kind of relationship they had, and to my surprise, I felt†¦ jealous. Not that I had reason to. He was a Strigoi, beyond me now. And it wouldn’t be the first time a teacher and student had gotten together†¦ â€Å"I work for her. She was another reason I returned here when I was awakened. I knew she was Strigoi, and I wanted her guidance.† â€Å"And you wanted to get away from me. That was the other reason, right?† His only answer was a nod of his head. No elaboration. â€Å"Where are we? We’re far from Novosibirsk, right?† â€Å"Yes. Galina’s estate is outside the city.† â€Å"How far?† That smile twisted a little. â€Å"I know what you’re doing, and I’m not going to give you that sort of information.† â€Å"Then what are you doing?† I demanded, all of my pent-up fear bursting out as anger. â€Å"Why are you holding me here? Kill me or let me go. And if you’re going to just lock me up and torture me with mind games or whatever, then I really would rather you kill me.† â€Å"Brave words.† He stood up and began pacing once more. â€Å"I almost believe you.† â€Å"They’re true,† I replied defiantly. â€Å"I came here to kill you. And if I can’t do that, then I’d rather die.† â€Å"You failed, you know. On the street.† â€Å"Yeah. I kind of figured that out when I woke up here.† Dimitri made an abrupt turn and was suddenly standing in front of me, moving with that lightning-fast Strigoi speed. My Strigoi-nausea had never gone away, but the more time I spent with him, the more it faded to a low-level sort of background noise that I could more or less ignore. â€Å"I’m a little disappointed. You’re so good, Rose. So very, very good. You and your friends going around and taking down Strigoi caused quite a stir, you know. Some Strigoi were even afraid.† â€Å"But not you?† â€Å"When I heard it was you†¦ hmm.† He turned thoughtful, eyes narrowing. â€Å"No. I was curious. Wary. If anyone could have killed me, it would have been you. But like I said, you hesitated. It was your ultimate test of my lessons, and you failed.† I kept my face blank. Inside, I was still beating myself up over that moment of weakness on the street. â€Å"I won’t hesitate next time.† â€Å"There won’t be a next time. And anyway, as disappointed as I am in you, I’m still glad to be alive, of course.† â€Å"You aren’t alive,† I said through gritted teeth. God, he was so, so close to me again. Even with the changes to his face, the lean and muscled body was the same. â€Å"You’re dead. Unnatural. You told me a long time ago you’d rather die than be like this. That’s why I’m going to kill you.† â€Å"You’re only saying that because you don’t know any better. I didn’t either back then.† â€Å"Look, I meant what I said. I’m not playing your game. If I can’t get out of here, then just kill me, okay?† Without warning, he reached out and ran his fingers along the side of my face. I gasped. His hand was ice cold, but the way he touched me†¦ again, it was the same. Exactly the same as I remembered. How was this possible? So similar†¦ yet so different. All of a sudden, another of his lessons came to mind, about how Strigoi could seem so, so like those you’d once known. It was why it was so easy to hesitate. â€Å"Killing you†¦ well, it’s not that simple,† he said. His voice dropped to a low whisper again, like a snake slithering against my skin. â€Å"There’s a third option. I could awaken you.† I froze and stopped breathing altogether. â€Å"No.† It was the only thing I could say. My brain couldn’t come up with anything more complex, nothing witty or clever. His words were too terrifying to even begin to ponder. â€Å"No.† â€Å"You don’t know what it’s like. It’s†¦ amazing. Transcendent. All your senses are alive; the world is more alive-â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but you’re dead.† â€Å"Am I?† He caught hold of my hand and placed it over his chest. In it, I could feel a steady beating. My eyes widened. â€Å"My heart beats. I’m breathing.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tried desperately to think of everything I’d ever been taught about Strigoi. â€Å"It’s not really being alive. It’s†¦ it’s dark magic reanimating you. It’s an illusion of life.† â€Å"It’s better than life.† Both of his hands moved up and cupped my face. His heartbeat might have been steady, but mine was racing. â€Å"It’s like being a god, Rose. Strength. Speed. Able to perceive the world in ways you could never imagine. And†¦ immortality. We could be together forever.† Once, that was all I’d ever wanted. And deep inside of me, some part still wished for that, wished desperately to be with him for all time. Yet†¦ it wouldn’t be the way I wanted it. It wouldn’t be like it used to be. This would be something different. Something wrong. I swallowed. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could barely hear my own voice, barely even form the words with him touching me like that. His fingertips were so light and gentle. â€Å"We can’t be.† â€Å"We could.† One of his fingers trailed down the side of my chin and came to rest on the artery in my neck. â€Å"I could do it quickly. There’d be no pain. It’d be done before you even knew it.† He was probably right. If you were forced to become Strigoi, you had the blood drained from you. Then a Strigoi would usually cut himself and bring that blood to your lips. Somehow, I imagined I’d pass out before I was even half-drained. Together forever. The world blurred a little. I don’t know if it was because of my head trauma or the terror coursing through my body. I had envisioned a hundred scenarios when I set out after Dimitri. Becoming a Strigoi hadn’t been one of them. Death-his or mine-had been the only thought consuming me, which had been stupid on my part. My sluggish thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened. Dimitri turned, shoving me away hard so that he stood protectively in front of me. Two people entered, shutting the door before I could even consider running for it. One of the newcomers was a Strigoi, a guy. The other was a human woman carrying a tray, her head bowed down. I recognized the Strigoi immediately. It was hard not to; his face haunted my dreams. Blond hair, about the length of Dimitri’s, hung over the side of a face that looked like he’d been in his early twenties when he turned. He had apparently seen Lissa and me when we were younger, but I had only seen him twice before. Once had been when I fought him on the Academy’s grounds. The other time was when I’d encountered him in the cave that other Strigoi were using as a hangout. He was the one who had bitten and turned Dimitri. The guy barely spared me a glance and instead turned the full force of his anger on Dimitri. â€Å"What the hell is going on?† I had no trouble understanding him. He was American. â€Å"You’re keeping some pet up here?† â€Å"It’s none of your concern, Nathan.† Dimitri’s voice was ice. Earlier, I’d thought he conveyed no emotion in his words. Now I realized it was just more difficult to detect. There was a clear challenge in his voice now, a warning for this other guy to back off. â€Å"Galina gave me permission.† Nathan’s eyes drifted from Dimitri to me. His anger turned to shock. â€Å"Her?† Dimitri shifted slightly, putting himself directly in front of me now. Some rebellious part wanted to snap that I didn’t need a Strigoi’s protection, except†¦ well, I kind of did. â€Å"She was at the school in Montana†¦ We fought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His lips curled back, showing his fangs. â€Å"I would have tasted her blood if that fire-using Moroi brat hadn’t been around.† â€Å"This doesn’t have anything to do with you,† replied Dimitri. Nathan’s red eyes were wide and eager. â€Å"Are you kidding? She can lead us to the Dragomir girl! If we finish that line off, our names will be legendary. How long are you going to keep her?† â€Å"Get out,† growled Dimitri. â€Å"That’s not a request.† Nathan pointed at me. â€Å"She’s valuable. If you’re going to keep her around as some blood whore plaything, at least share. Then, we’ll get the information and finish her.† Dimitri took a step forward. â€Å"Get out of here. If you lay a hand on her, I will destroy you. I will rip your head off with my bare hands and watch it burn in the sun.† Nathan’s fury grew. â€Å"Galina won’t allow you to play house with this girl. Even you don’t have that much favor.† â€Å"Don’t make me tell you to leave again. I’m not in a patient mood today.† Nathan said nothing, and the two Strigoi stood there in a staring match. I knew Strigoi strength and power were partially related to age. Nathan had obviously been turned first. I didn’t know by how much, but watching them, I got the feeling that Dimitri might be stronger or that it was at least a very, very even match. I could have sworn I saw a glimpse of fear in Nathan’s red eyes, but he turned away before I could get a good look. â€Å"This isn’t over,† he snapped, moving toward the door. â€Å"I’m talking to Galina.† He left, and for a moment, nobody moved or spoke. Then Dimitri looked at the human woman and said something in Russian. She’d been standing there, frozen. Leaning over, she carefully placed her tray on the coffee table by the couch. She lifted a silver lid up, revealing a plate of pepperoni pizza loaded with cheese. Under any other circumstances, someone bringing me pizza in a Strigoi home would have been ludicrous and funny. Now, in the wake of Dimitri’s threat to turn me Strigoi and Nathan’s desire to use me to get to Lissa, nothing was funny. Even Rose Hathaway had limits when it came to making jokes. Next to the pizza was a huge brownie, thick with frosting. Food I loved, as Dimitri well knew. â€Å"Lunch,† he said. â€Å"Not poisoned.† Everything on the tray looked amazing, but I shook my head. â€Å"I’m not going to eat.† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Do you want something else?† â€Å"I don’t want anything else because I’m not going to eat anything at all. If you aren’t going to kill me, then I’ll do it myself.† It was occurring to me that the suite’s lack of weapons was probably for my own protection as much as theirs. â€Å"By starving to death?† There was dark amusement in his eyes. â€Å"I’ll awaken you long before then.† â€Å"Why aren’t you just doing it now?† â€Å"Because I’d rather wait for you to be willing.† Man, he really did sound like Abe, except that breaking one’s kneecaps seemed kind of soft-core in comparison. â€Å"You’re going to be waiting a long time,† I said. Dimitri laughed out loud then. His laughter had been rare as a dhampir, and hearing it had always thrilled me. Now it no longer had that rich warmth that had wrapped all around me. It was cold and menacing. â€Å"We’ll see.† And before I could form a reply, he moved in front of me again. His hand snaked behind my neck, shoving me against him, and he tilted my face up, pressing his lips against mine. They were as cold as the rest of his skin†¦ and yet there was something warm in there, too. Some voice in me screamed that this was sick and horrible†¦ but at the same time, I lost track of the world around me as we kissed and could almost pretend we were back together in the cabin. He pulled away as quickly as he’d moved in, leaving me gasping and wide-eyed. Casually, like nothing had happened, he gestured to the woman. â€Å"This is Inna.† She looked up at the sound of her name, and I saw she was no older than me. â€Å"She works for Galina too and will check in on you. If you need anything, let her know. She doesn’t speak much English, but she’ll figure it out.† He said something else to her, and she meekly followed him to the door. â€Å"Where are you going?† I asked. â€Å"I have things to do. Besides, you need time to think.† â€Å"There’s nothing to think about.† I forced as much defiance into my words as I could. It must not have sounded very fierce, though, because all my speech earned me was one mocking smile before he left with Inna, leaving me alone in my luxurious prison. How to cite Blood Promise Chapter Eighteen, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Strategy and Information Systems Company Disk4U

Question: Discuss about the Strategy and Information Systems for Company Disk4U. Answer: Analysis on Business Process Management As mentioned in the case study, the Company Disk4U intends to market through both physical as well as online channels and the management wants to augment the operations of the corporation through advancement of technology. In addition to this, the management of the Sungate Foods can adopt advanced technology aligned with budget to develop the overall facility (Ward and Peppard 2016). The analysis of the financial as well as business reports of the corporation Sungate Foods as well as Disk4U can help the management of the organization to detect the challenges faced by the organization. Business Process Management (BPM) The business process management (BPM) can be considered for the ERP applications where the business process management software can resolve different inherent challenges by transforming different static and at the same time user-driven ERP applications into diverse powerful solutions (Scheer 2012). This business process management have the capacity to automate virtually any kind of process of the business. The business processes for the corporations Disk4U and the Sungate Foods can incorporate credit control procedures, provisions of different key performance indicators, monitoring and reporting on different levels of stock, financial reports, supplier quotation requests and sales reports. Therefore, the management of the corporation Disk4U can consider revamping or else tuning the entire business process before the process of implementation of the ERP functioning in order to prevent contamination of the overall system of the ERP with poor processes as well as data. Again, the manage ment of the company can also consider revisiting the system in a bid to streamline as well as optimizing most of the operations (Pearlson et al. 2016). The processes can also be transferred and can fundamentally build the enterprise resource planning (ERP). Thus, the implementation of the BPM can improve the corporate performance by concentrating on optimization, design, modelling, execution and monitoring (Pearlson et al. 2016). Flexible Network Design This process of flexible network design can therefore assimilate different processes for data structures, algorithms, complexity, mobile computing, networks, optimization as well as scheduling (Ward and Peppard 2016). In addition to this, the BPM and the flexible network design, the management of the two organizations can also consider the implementation of the API (Application Programming Interface) Integration. Module or API Integration The incorporation of API Integration refers to the allowance as well as processes to provide programs admittance to attach and to correspond with other program (Sousa and Oz 2014). The implementation of the software-to-software interface can permit the separate parties to communicate with one another without any prior user knowledge or else intervention (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 2016). For instance, the online channels of operation can utilize the API Integration to permit the process of entering the information regarding the credit card and thereafter use the API to transfer information to a different remote application for the purpose of verification of provided information. Installation Type Business Process Management provides with similar set of terms used for viewing at the relations between software as well as given applications. One of the types includes Business Process Management Suite (Rainer et al. 2013). This particular software suite enables by business organization for implementation for rendering management solutions in the most appropriate way. Intelligent BPM is other type describing in the next generation of suites. This involves intelligent features like adaptive analytics, social collaboration as well as mobility and cloud deployment at the same time. IBPMS means an Intelligent Business Process Management Suite for viewing at the features for future analysis purpose. Support Support process design help in providing support for primary activities used by resources as well as infrastructure in desired form. There is key differentiator undertaking into primary as well as support process for generating direct value to customers in case of primary process (Pearlson, Saunders and Galletta 2016). One of the examples of support process involves information technology management as well as human resource management and management of infrastructure. These support process involves life cycle of resources in association with functional areas. Support Process involves in cross-functional boundaries for future analysis purpose. It is in process with managerial ability as well as directing value to customer in supporting organization ability for delivering products and services (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 2016). Training The management of both Disk4U and Sungate Foods can consider adoption of new technology for improvement and training sessions of the overall operations. In addition to the process of implementation of the BPM, the management might possibly consider the institution of the flexible network design (Ward and Peppard 2016). The network design can relate Algorithms and Complexity, Combinatorial Optimization, Distributed Computing and Algorithmic Game Theory. This can help in providing a chance for sharing the information as well as collaboration, identification of different problems and at the same time areas for future collaboration. Previous Experience with Vendor Business Process Management has previous experience with vendors for viewing at the performance information at the monitoring phase. It requires continuous improvement for tracking individual process in customer state for future analysis purpose. Vendor Section should effectively design with great efficient for attaining productivity as far as possible. This is one of the disciplinary actions in comparison with technological tools (Galliers and Leidner 2014). It is a software tool used for purchasing or installing for fixing the business issue. This plays significant role in business process management process It act as a difference between workflow as well as BPM software in automating work with continuous process improvement in an effective way. Financial Stability Business Process Management takes into consideration activities for management approach in aligning with aspects of organizational wants and needs of clients. It is one of the holistic management approach for promoting business effectiveness as well as efficiency for striving for innovation, integration with technology as well as flexibility (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 2016). Business Process Management attempts in improving process on continuous basis. It describes on process optimization process in the most appropriate way. It enables organization for focusing majorly on traditional as well as hierarchical management approach. Reference List Baskerville, R.L. and Wood-Harper, A.T., 2016. A critical perspective on action research as a method for information systems research. InEnacting Research Methods in Information Systems: Volume 2(pp. 169-190). Springer International Publishing. Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and strategies in managing information systems. Routledge. Pearlson, K.E., Saunders, C.S. and Galletta, D.F., 2016. Managing and Using Information Systems, Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley Sons. Pearlson, K.E., Saunders, C.S. and Galletta, D.F., 2016.Managing and Using Information Systems, Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley Sons. Rainer, R.K., Cegielski, C.G., Splettstoesser-Hogeterp, I. and Sanchez-Rodriguez, C., 2013. Introduction to information systems: Supporting and transforming business. John Wiley Sons. Scheer, A.W., 2012.Architecture of integrated information systems: foundations of enterprise modelling. Springer Science Business Media. Sousa, K.J. and Oz, E., 2014.Management information systems. Nelson Education. Ward, J. and Peppard, J., 2016. The Strategic Management of Information Systems: Building a Digital Strategy. John Wiley Sons.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Questions and Answers on International Capital Budgeting Essay Example

Questions and Answers on International Capital Budgeting Paper 1. Why should the required rate of return for a capital budgeting problem be project specific? Doesn’t the firm just have to satisfy an overall cost-of-capital requirement? Answer: The required rate of return for a capital budgeting problem is project specific because the firm is viewed as a portfolio of projects owned by the shareholders. It is the shareholder’s perspective that matters, and it is their opportunity cost that gives the required rate of return for a project. The question that the managers should ask is the following: If the shareholders were to receive the cash flows from the project directly, what risk would they associate with the cash flows? Notice that this immediately suggests that the required rate of return should be project specific and that it should reflect the market risk that continues to be present when an investor holds a large, well-diversified portfolio. We will write a custom essay sample on Questions and Answers on International Capital Budgeting specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Questions and Answers on International Capital Budgeting specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Questions and Answers on International Capital Budgeting specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 2. What is the conceptual foundation of the flow-to-equity approach to capital budgeting? Answer: In the flow-to-equity approach to capital budgeting, the after-tax cash flows that are available to be paid to equity holders are discounted at the levered equity required rate of return. Hence, the interest costs of debt are subtracted from the earnings of the firm in considering the amount of tax the firm will owe, and the interest payments that the firm must make are taken out of the residual free cash flow. The discount rate for these levered equity flows therefore must reflect the fact that equity is a residual claimant on the cash flows of the firm. 3. What is the weighted average cost of capital? Answer: The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) approach to capital budgeting involves forecasting the all-equity free cash flows of the firm and then finding the value of the levered firm by discounting the all-equity free cash flows at an appropriate WACC. It is a one-step procedure for finding the value of the operating assets plus the value of the interest tax shields. The weighted average cost of capital is the weighted sum of the after-tax required rate of return on the firm’s debt and the required rate of return on the firm’s levered equity. The weight for the after-tax rate of return on the firm’s debt is the ratio of the market value of the debt to the market value of total assets. The weight for the rate of return on the firm’s levered equity is the ratio of the market value of the equity to the market value of total assets. Once the total value of the firm is found, the market value of equity is found by subtracting the market value of the d ebt from the value of the levered firm. 4. Should a firm ever accept a project that has a negative NPV when discounted at the weighted average cost of capital? Answer: One reason we like the adjusted net present value approach to valuation is that it specifies all of the possible sources of value for a project. The WACC approach works well for projects that will support a certain percentage of leverage and that have no other associated features, such as interest subsidies or growth options that might add value to the project. If the only cash flows from the project are the ones that are being discounted and there are no other sources of value, other than the interest tax shields that are included in the WACC analysis, then the WACC approach finds the market value of the levered project. If this is negative, the project should be rejected. 5. Can you do capital budgeting for a foreign project using a domestic currency discount rate? Explain your answer. Answer: The answer to the question is yes; you certainly can do capital budgeting for a foreign project using a domestic currency discount rate. You just have to be careful to match the cash flows with the discount rate. One fundamental principle of capital budgeting is that the discount rate should reflect the currency of denomination of the expected cash flows that are being discounted. If a foreign project is providing expected future foreign currency cash flows, these can be discounted to the present using a foreign currency discount rate that reflects the riskiness of the project. The domestic currency present value of this foreign currency present value can then be determined by converting from the present value of foreign currency into the present value of domestic currency using the spot exchange rate. Alternatively, one can generate expected future domestic currency cash flows in future years by converting expected future foreign currency cash flows into expected future dome stic currency cash flows using expected future spot exchange rates. These expected future domestic currency cash flows should then be discounted to the present using an appropriate domestic currency discount rate. 6. Why might it be important to use period-specific discount rates when doing capital budgeting? Answer: We know that risk free spot interest rates are the appropriate discount rates for cash flows from risk free pure discount bonds. If the term structure of spot interest rates is not flat, that is, if it is upward sloping or downward sloping, using the same discount factor for all the cash flows of a risky project will not be correct. If the term structure is upward sloping, and you use the single long-term rate as the base for your risk adjusted discount rate, you will needlessly penalize the earlier cash flows from the project because short-term spot interest rates are lower than long-term spot interest rates. Conversely, if the term structure is downward sloping, and you use the single long-term rate as the base for your risk adjusted discount rate, you will be incorrectly enhancing the value of the earlier cash flows from the project because the short-term interest rates that should be used to discount near-term cash flows are higher than the long-term rates that should be used to discount longer-term cash flows. 7. Why is it necessary to consider forecasts of real currency appreciation and depreciation when doing an international capital budgeting analysis? Answer: The most important reason to consider forecasts of real currency appreciation or depreciation is that it is likely that a change in the real exchange rate will affect the cash flows of the project. Remember that a real depreciation of the domestic currency makes domestic exporters more profitable and domestic importers less profitable. Also, real appreciations typically reverse themselves somewhat slowly, so that knowledge of the current situation is necessary to know whether the future expected changes in the real exchange rate are going to enhance or detract from the cash flows of the project. Finally, if forecasts of nominal exchange rates are being made with uncovered interest rate parity, these will be somewhat different than forecasts based on relative purchasing power parity. If the market thinks that there will be a real appreciation or depreciation in the future, forecasts of nominal exchange rates based on relative purchasing power parity will not be correct. 8. What is the rate of return on invested capital? How is it calculated? Answer: The rate of return on invested capital is the free cash flow of the firm divided by the firm’s total assets. If the firm is earning its weighted average cost of capital, the rate of return on invested capital should equal its WACC. If we think of an investment that the firm is making, the rate of return on capital expenditure is the incremental free cash flow divided by the CAPX. Here again, it is important for the firm to do investments in which the rate of return on invested capital equals or exceeded the WACC – otherwise the firm is destroying value. 9. If you borrow a foreign currency, what interest deduction would you receive on your taxes? Answer: When you borrow in a foreign currency, you get an interest deduction for the domestic currency value of the foreign interest that you pay. 10. If you borrow a foreign currency, are there any capital gains taxes to worry about? Answer: If you borrow in a foreign currency, there are capital gains taxes to worry about. If the domestic currency has appreciated relative to the foreign currency between when the initial borrowing took place and when the principal is being repaid, it takes less of the domestic currency to repay the foreign currency principal than the amount of domestic currency that you had access to when you borrowed. Thus, you are repaying less than you borrowed and that capital gain is income to you and is taxed by the fiscal authorities. Conversely, if the domestic currency has depreciated relative to the foreign currency between when the initial borrowing took place and when the principal is being repaid, it takes more of the domestic currency to repay the foreign currency principal than the amount of domestic currency that you had access to when you borrowed. Thus, you are repaying more than you borrowed and that capital loss is deductible for tax purposes. 11. Why might a manager accept a high-variance, low-value project instead of a low-variance, high-value project? Answer: Shareholders only gain in good states of the world, and if the variance of the firm is higher, they gain more in those good states. Holders of debt get paid their full amount in good states of the world, and they get the value of the firm in the bad states of the world. By accepting a high variance project, managers may be able to shift some value from bondholders to shareholders. In such a situation the manager is said to have engaged in asset substitution. 12. Why would a manager not accept a positive net present value project? Answer: The value of the project accrues to the firm as a whole. Thus, if the firm has risky debt in its capital structure, some of the value of the project will accrue to the bondholders, and the remainder will accrue to the equity holders. The increase in the value of equity may be less than the equity holders must contribute to finance the investment in the project. Hence, a manager acting in the interests of the shareholders would forego such a project. This situation is referred to as an underinvestment problem.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Service Sequence Essays

Service Sequence Essays Service Sequence Essay Service Sequence Essay Hospitality Training Consultant in a Fine Dining Restaurant Learning Objectives On the completion of this chapter, you will have a good understanding of the following: 0 The sequence of dining room table service from welcoming to bidding guest goodbye 0 The bussing service Introduction the objective of food service procedure is to meet the needs of the guests and to ensure that their dining experience are both pleasurable and memorable. Food service procedures vary Whether an establishment offers different style of service, modern or its own service is of little importance; what matters is that the venue is consistent in the services it offers. Redder of Service Los a sequential checklist of services from the arrival to the departure of the guest. It will differ in detail depending on the style of the establishment and the services it offers. Checklist of Service OH written checklist of service ensures the consistency of the services offered and acts as a guideline to part time and new waiting staff. Delivering Excellence Service in the Restaurant Front of House Perfect service is showcasing attention to detail. Greeting Welcoming Guest 0 Ensure that the restaurant is ready for service. 0 Welcome guest to the outlet. 0 Ask guest preference (smoking or non-smoking) Acknowledge new guests as soon as they arrive. 0 Walk towards guest, smile and make eye contact 0 Approach the guest with appropriate welcome e. G Good Morning! If they wish to eat, ask whether they have a reservation. Check the reservation. If no table has been booked, check that one is available. 0 Guide guest to table preference. Greeting Welcoming the guest 0 When checking the reservation, note that the hosts name usually table have been reserved in the hosts name. It is important to establish who the host is. 0 Be open, friendly and respectful Good morning/afternoon/evening madam/sir, welcome to Locale! May I suggest a table for you? (Guests are led to their table) This way, please (If the guest has reservation) We have prepared a pleasant table for you Mr. / . This way please MS. Seating Guest Assist in seating Guests: Ladies first starting with the oldest and continue working clockwise. Men second starting with the oldest man and continue working clockwise Host last if known. Escort the guests to their appropriate table Pull out the chair and assist Guest to sit by pushing the chair closer to the table. Encourage them to sit. Continue personalized conversation with your Guests. Will this table be all right for you madam / Draping Napkin in Guests Lap 0 Pick up the napkin with your right hand from the guests right. 0 Unfold the napkin from its fold into a triangle Using both hands fold the napkin halfway and place from your Guests left side reaching across your Guest with your right arm.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Noble Energy, Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Noble Energy, Inc - Research Paper Example Global oil and gas industry includes global presence of extraction, refining, exploration, marketing and transporting the oil and gas products. The largest volume manufactured and distributed products of the industry are gasoline and fuel oil. Petroleum is also used as the raw material for several chemical products, such as solvents, pesticides, plastics, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. The global oil and gas exploration and production industry is divided into three major parts, such as downstream, midstream and upstream. Midstream operations are generally considered under the downstream category. Description of the Industry Oil and gas energy sources are very much important for several industries. Oil and gas energy resources are considered as the large global energy resources. Middle East is the largest consumer of oil and gas energy resources across the globe. This global region consumes almost 53% of total energy sources. On the other hand, Asia and Europe ranks last in ter4ms o f consumption of oil and gas energy resources. The consumption rate of oil and gas energy of Middle East is higher comparing to other global regions due to several reasons. First of all, the leading number of oil reservoirs is located in the Middle East countries. These countries can consume the oil and gas products in low price range comparing to other global countries. In addition to this, Middle East oil and gas extraction organizations act as cartel regarding pricing and distributing the crude oil to the global market. Strong oil process control is the major reason behind the economic growth of several Middle East countries. Central and South America consumes 44%, North America consumes 40%, Africa consumes 41%, and Europe and Asia consumes 32% of total extracted and produced oil. The world consumes approximately 30 billion barrels on yearly basis (Li 22). The economically developed nations are the largest consumers of oil. In the year 2007, The United State consumed 25% of tota l produced oil which is impressive oil consumption figure. Recent financial crisis and global economic recession affected the global economic environment. People are trying to reduce the consumption level of expensive products due to their low disposable income and limited purchasing power. Especially, the people of middle class income level are trying to find substitute energy resources of oil and gas due to hike in oil and gas price (Shelley 27). Apart from economic issues, the global oil and gas exploration and production industry is suffering from several global political issues. Several under developed and developing countries have to pay high petroleum tax to the oil and gas producing countries in order to improve the crude oil. High tension and critical political conflicts between several countries are affecting the growth of this global oil and gas exploration and production industry. In addition to these, several countries have developed strict regulations regarding the ext raction of oil and gas. Extraction of oil and gas from oil mine requires the uses of several deadly chemicals. It can affect the global ecological balance. Looking into this issue, the government of several countries developed strict rules and regulations regarding the extraction of oil. It is expected that the number of total oil reservoirs and mines

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Research paper about an artist and one of his artwork - 1

About an artist and one of his artwork - Research Paper Example This is what David Hockney faced in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where he came from (The Telegraph). He was a young gay guy with fantasies and longings that did not fit with where he was (Dorment). Being gay was not the only trait that made him different. He was also a conscientious objector (The Telegraph). Of course he was also an artist, and it was said that he broke all the rules (Dorment). The early days of his career in art were situated in an interesting time, historically. His art was part of the exhibition that ushered in British Pop Art (The Telegraph). In 1963, he visited New York and connected with Andy Warhol (The Telegraph). He visited Los Angeles, fell in love with it, and he became intrigued with swimming pools and the relaxed Southern California culture (Walker Art Gallery). He painted a series of pool theme pictures, including â€Å"Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool† in 1966 (Liverpool National Museums). In a review of an exhibition of this and Hockney’s other Los Angeles works from this period, it is stated that Hockney’s arrival in Los Angeles was like an airplane taking off, the way his career so quickly gathered force and lifted off to become one of the great artistic careers of the 20th century (Dorment). The Hippie movement was happening at the time. The structure of the family, gender roles, sexual expression, standards of privacy and openness were all subjects of experimentation. David was young enough to be influenced by the waves of social change but old enough to be a little more mature than some. The painting perfectly affirmed what he loved and aspects of life he wanted to hold up for the pleasure of others (Dorment). However, he expressed himself honestly while maintaining respect and decorum. One of the main techniques he used to do this was leaving a border or frame of unpainted canvas around the painting. Hockney wanted to emphasise the process of picture-making and the artifice

Monday, November 18, 2019

Article Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 16

Review - Article Example For instance, a drug called D-KLAKLAK-2, is known for destroying cancer cells. But it is also effective against Gram-negative a bacterium that fights against anti-biotic. Now scientists have devised a way to fuse this drug with naturally occurring toxins called AMPs. These are like the chemical weapons which bacteria themselves have developed overtime. So here comes the art of war; this AMP is combined with D-KLAKLAK and given to the patient. Now bacteria gets ‘confused’ and can’t predict or see a pattern in the drug that is in the body to kill it. It delivers a knockout punch and dies. In my view this is a brilliant scheme. It is wonderful to know that such innovation is possible in medicine. From research, it is proven that bacteria, over time, can develop highly immune system that can resist a drug that it is fighting. The more drug a patient takes, the more resistive bacteria becomes. To resolve this issue, scientists have developed a method to kill the bacteria by ‘distracting’ it. The drug is combined with naturally occurring toxins so the bacteria unable to ‘read’ the moves of the drug and gets effectively knocked out. In my opinion such innovative methods are must in any field. It is very common to observe that when a patient goes to a doctor and complains about some bacterial infection, usually the bacteria gets stronger, as if it has a mind of its own and practices fighting the drug, and gets stronger in the process. One thing that crossed my mind while reading the article was its effectiveness in proven tests and experiments. How successful has it been on humans/animals so far? This is the question I would like to be answered. The article doesn’t mention anything on this issue. Having said that, I still think that this method is very innovative, it seems theoretically sound. If there is a survey in which civilian opinion is required regarding approval or disapproval of this drug, I

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Fat Girl, Andre Dubus

The Fat Girl, Andre Dubus To accept the others, first we have to accept ourselves and accept who we are The Fat Girl is a short story about a girl that tries to fit in todays standards and satisfies her parents as well. The author , Andre Dubus , shows how trying to fit in the society standards , individuals have the pressure of conforming to a superficial image. This idea is developed through the early years of Louise , her weight change and new life , and back to the old habit. First of all, Andre Dubus, takes us into the life of a young girl whose mother is convincing her that she will become fat and how hard is to make friends. We can see this after the mom tell her daughter , You must start watching what you eat, her mother would say. I can see you have my metabolism. As the mother doesnt want that, she puts Louise onto a strict diet. In order not to displease her mother, but still satisfy her hunger, Louise started eating food when no one was watching. While her mother was strict and caring, on the other side her father was loving and misguided. Louise didnt have a lot of friends. Her two childhood friends, Joan and Marjorie were both thin but they felt as a social outcast in other ways. Louise only feels comfortable in the presence of others who were also insecure and unhappy. Ironically Louise intentionally chooses friends who are not heavy because she worries about the way others will see her. I was always thinking about what people saw when they loo ked at me and didnt want them to see two fat girls. It appears that Louise finds her weight issues to be bigger than her friends insecurities. She chooses to exclude those who are heavy from her life while welcoming those with different negative issues. In addition to her self-image issues, Louise also doubts her ability to find happiness in an intimate relationship. Her mother put in her head some negative perceptions such as In five years youll be in high school and if youre fat the boys wont like you; they wont ask you out . This quote shows the overall feeling of the people who dont meet todays standards. Louise continues down this negative road when she decides to go to an all-girl college so she can avoid rejection from guys. Up until this point her only contact with a boy was at a picnic with a drunken kiss . Once in college , Louise shows us how changing and losing weight makes a lot of difference in someones life. Louise continues her self-loathing into college where the only close friend she makes is this thin girl with emotional issues. In the story we can see a strong friendship between the two girls, which leads to the important point where Louise decides to go on a diet, and it is only because her best friend Carrie convinces her that she needs to become thin so that some boy will love her as Carrie does. Carrie pleads, I want you to be loved the way I love you. Louise, if I help you, really help you, will you go on a diet?. Although Carrie is trying to help her best friend, she is actually reinforcing Louises views of her own body. She starts losing fat and her mother starts threating her differently. She finds her way more beautiful and starts buying all kinds of stuff .As Louise progresses with her new diet, she becomes more and more irritable and unhappy with life. In all her l ife she had never been afflicted by ill temper and she looked upon it now as a demon which, along with hunger, was taking possession over her soul .With this quote the author wants to show us that Louise is being pressed into losing weight for strictly superficial reasons, and so she can get accepted into society and fit todays standards. This can be further seen when Louise feels shame and embarrassment when she goes to Carries house for thanksgiving, all because she is aware Carries parents know she is dieting. Louise is uncomfortable and feels excluded in partaking of the many dishes the other thin people can comfortably enjoy. In the end , we cant forget our old habits and sometimes we should accept who we are and stay the way we are. After college, the new thin Louise meets a young lawyer named Richard, who finds her attractive and has no knowledge of her life before. Louise is sure he would never have looked at her if she had still been heavy. They get married and Louise becomes a housewife. While Louise struggles to keep herself thin, her husband can eat anything he wants and still remain fit. She makes him all kind of Italian food that she is unable to consume. It is ironic that she marries a person who has the metabolism of a pencil sharpener when Louise must watch every calorie she eats. The next five years shows a Louise who is thin with new friends, a loving husband, and an active lifestyle, which is by most accounts a perfect life. In her fifth year of marriage, Louise becomes pregnant and her eating begin to become uncontrollable. The new changes in her body frighten her as Louise remarks that sh e is starting to gain weight but she told herself it was only the baby, and would leave with its birth. But at other times she knew quite clearly that she was losing her discipline she had fought so hard to gain during her last year with Carrie. A baby is born, but Louise has now returned to her bad habits and though she cares for her child, she continues to alienate her husband. They fight at nearly every dinner over her appetite and weight gain . Andre Dubus finishes his story with a surprised Louise enjoying a candy bar and shocked to discover her husband Richard is still there. In conclusion, The short story The Fat Girl by Andre Dubus shows many of the negative aspects associated with eating disorders, fat people, and the way society addresses them. Todays standards are too high and people who dont fit in them are getting rejected and they feel sad about their body. Sometime they try changing , but sometimes is better to be who you are and accept yourself.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Considering Dysarthria: A Speech Disorder On the Margins :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Considering Dysarthria: A Speech Disorder 'On the Margins' The goal of this paper is to portray dysarthria, a language impairment, as a disorder that is "on the margins" of the category of speech disorders. The argumentation will be that since dysarthria shares common underlying neurological causes with motor diseases rather than with other language impairments, it is set apart from other language impairments and evidence for the overlap of the motor modality with the language modality. Language is arguably one if not the most complex functions produced by the human brain, and one that is all but transparent as to the underlying neurological structures and processes in that so much is going on at the same time that it is hard to tell what is what. What we do know is that there are different areas of representation for different aspects of language. An area in the left hemisphere above the perisylvian fissure in the frontal lobe anterior to the motor cortex roughly controls production and fluency of speech; another area, in the temporal lobe of the same hemisphere roughly controls comprehension and word retrieval. Other regions next to and between these areas carry related functions, and lesioning to them results in variations of the symptoms caused by lesioning one of the central regions described above(1).. These areas are known to us as the "language areas." However, they can be completely intact in a person that is suffering from severe language impairment. Are there other "language areas" then? Strictly speaking, no, loosely speaking, yes. Language is more than a mental function where structures are established, words are retrieved and sound associations are made. The final execution of language is purely a question of complex motor control. Disruption of this complex interaction of motor signals towards the formation of speech is known as dysarthria (2). It is sometimes confused with impairment resulting from injury to the "language areas" (1), illustrating the point that the process of producing language is multi-layered, and that it is often hard to tell what is what. The symptoms of dysarthria may be slurred speech, nasality of sound, or quiet and slow speech (3).. These different impairments reflect the sub-sections in the 'motor symphony' that produces speech: The lips, tongue, teeth and jaw shape specific sounds; the soft palate channels air into either the nasal or oral cavity, producing different sound qualities; the larynx (voice box) makes the air vibrate through the vocal folds to create voice; and finally, the respiratory system powers this process (3).