Suddenly Teens Pregnancy Is Cool - 3668 Words

When Jamie Lynn Spears, the 16-year-old sister of Britney, announced that she was pregnant last month in OK!, the magazine sold a record two million copies and had to run a second printing of the issue to keep up with demand. How could a wealthy preteen idol with her own hit Nickelodeon show, and the good sister to her chaotic older kin, be just several months away from adolescent, out-of-wedlock motherhood? I didnt believe it because Jamie Lynns always been so conscientious. Shes never late for her curfew, lamented mother Lynne Spears. She got over the shock in a week, and then Jamie Lynn, ever conscientious, notified the press that she would be having, keeping and raising the baby with her mama in Louisiana. Im just trying to do†¦show more content†¦Its part of a larger revisioning of motherhood: queer mothers, old mothers, young mothers. That wasnt possible 20 years ago. Suffice to say, the rising American teen birth rate in 2006 is something of an eye-opener. Between 1991 and 2005, the United States saw a 34 per cent decrease in the birth rate among those aged 15 to 19. But in 2006, that relatively steady decline was reversed. Suddenly, among 15- to 17-year-olds, the rate was up three per cent to 22 babies per 1,000 females, and 18- and 19-year-olds jumped four per cent to 73 births for every 1,000. That took us by surprise, admits Stephanie J. Ventura, head of the reproductive statistics branch at NCHS. And the rise was spread over almost every ethnic group except for Asians; births among black, native, Hispanic and white teenagers rose. While no specific data was collected on the income of teen mothers, Albert says that with three in 10 girls getting pregnant by age 20, you realize this is not [just] poor folk. The problem is spread wide. In England and Wales, the birth rate per 1,000 females under age 20 rose to 45.5 in 2006 compared to 44.8 the year before. Not a huge leap, but its already one of the highest rates in the developed world. The United Nations last comprehensive tally of G8 countries, from 2004, showed the U.K. has the third-highest teen birth rate, with 26.8 births per 1,000, slightly lower than Russia (28.2) and well above Japan (5.6), France (7.8),Show MoreRelatedTeen Pregnancy1732 Words   |  7 PagesSuddenly teen pregnancy IS cool? 1. Teen pregnancy is up partly because there is less of a stigma associated with teen pregnancy since there is more of a cultural permission to be a younger mother. The rise is also partly due to the portrayal of celebrity teens such as Jamie Lynn Spears in the media and other cultural shifts, giving teens the idea that having a baby is the new handbag. 2. The reason the authors use allusion in the first paragraph is to show the readers that teen pregnancyRead MoreEssay on Analysis of Article on Teen Pregnancy1691 Words   |  7 PagesSuddenly teen pregnancy IS cool? 1. Teen pregnancy is up partly because there is less of a stigma associated with teen pregnancy since there is more of a cultural permission to be a younger mother. The rise is also partly due to the portrayal of celebrity teens such as Jamie Lynn Spears in the media and other cultural shifts, giving teens the idea that having a baby is the new handbag. 2. The reason the authors use allusion in the first paragraph is to show the readers that teen pregnancyRead MoreModern Teenage Issues: Sex, Drugs and Alcohol Essay984 Words   |  4 Pagesthe party came to an end, people left me and the guy had decided to crash there. That night we ended up having sex, we use a condom but the condom broke. A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant at 16, the guy ran out and wasnt there for the pregnancy nor the birth of his son.† This story is one of the millions of stories that teenagers are able to share with their friends at the lunch table every year. Although not every story may be as extreme, the partying that teenagers are involved in isRead More Views on Teens Pregnancies Through the Years Essay844 Words   |  4 PagesThe Views on Teens Pregnancies Through the Years There are many different attributes to teenage pregnancy. The majority of teenagers do not realize the consequences of their actions. Taking that into consideration the influences of the teens are highly important during the pre teen stage all the way to adult hood. During the time of this impressionable stage many of the teens are having sex not because of love, but because it is a trend. The media is glamorizing teen pregnancy and leading to a culturalRead MoreSex Education : The Role Of Humor, Social Justice, By Nancy Goldman1540 Words   |  7 Pageslive politically. Americans are becoming more aware of teen pregnancy because in certain states they are allowed to learn about some specific topics only. However, some states try to avoid teaching sex ed. John Oliver talks about a few different aspects of sex and how the American sex system is broken because the lack of education about sexual intercourse. He talks about how the students can’t get a proper education which lead s to pregnancy, but he is trying to find other ways to fully educate kidsRead More Teaching Morality More Important than Sex Education in Public Schools2259 Words   |  10 Pagesfact is, contraception is societys attempt at a quick fix for a problem that runs far deeper than the issue of teen sex.   In the debate over the best safe sex, educators and parents must consider not only the health issues, but must also reevaluate the morality of the nations young people. Leafing through Planned Parenthoods literature on abortion, contraception, and teen sex, it becomes obvious that Planned Parenthood promotes contraception education, and opposes abstinence education:  Read MoreAdolescent Years1927 Words   |  8 Pagesdepending on the type of culture in which it occurs. Adolescence is somewhere between childhood and adulthood. It is filled with constant change, uncertainty, but it can be wonderful and full of expectation. Everything a child learned to believe is suddenly challenged. One day you are a cute child that everybody seemed to adore, and the next day your skin and body are changing. While the physical changes of puberty are an important indicator of adolescent development, many other kinds of changes alsoRead MoreMr. Right?1574 Words   |  7 PagesWas I too young to feel this way? I was a freshman in high school when we first met. Well when we actually started talking to each other. I had seen him a couple of times at a local club we all used to hang out at when they had teen night. We thought we were so cool getting to go in that place. They would serve non-alcoholic beverages in these martini cups. Everyone would be walking around holding these glasses like they were really drinking mixed drinks or something. It was kind of neat thoughRead MoreEssay about Divorce and the Decline of Morality1820 Words   |  8 Pageshigher than that of previous decades. There are so many issues today that contribute to divorce than had existed in the past. Take teen pregnancy, for instance. It is alarming that so many of our children are having children themselves. They feel they must get married at fifteen and sixteen because it is whats right for the baby. Needless to say, most teen marriages under these circumstances usually end in divorce. What kind of life is this for a child? What kind of values will they learnRead MoreDescribe How Both the Police and the Courts Decide Matters Relating to the Granting of Bail Since the Bail Act 19766016 Words   |  25 Pagescomfortable * Why is it called menu why cant it be called womenu huh I hate men -_- * If I had  £1 for every time someone called me beautiful, id have  £2, thanks mum and James Blunt * You offer someone a sincere compliment on their mustache and suddenly shes not your friend any more * My girl caught me blowing my dick with the hair dryer, and asked what I was doing? Apparently ‘heating your dinner’ wasn’t a good answer * #imagine Harry shaking your parents hand and telling them he’ll look

Bp Ethical Culture to the Gulf Coast Free Essays

Question 1) Introduction BP is one of world’s largest energy company, they must have enough capital, technical and experience a responsibility to keep theirrefinery safe and run smooth in their working area. But some problem appeared from BP inside to cause this crude oil spill disaster. Save cost for to overlooked safe for the system;Assigned Transocean to drill oil; and continue to drill oil when technician looked out rig’s blowout preventer was leaking are main reason in this disaster. We will write a custom essay sample on Bp Ethical Culture to the Gulf Coast or any similar topic only for you Order Now Everyone totally not accept this overlooked in one history and technical energy company. Save Cost Nowadays save cost from an existing business is logic and comment. We understand and accept save cost to keep competition in the market but first concern is keep high quality production after save cost. If not it will cause many problems from this action. This is a simple logic for business beginner. So lots of people don’t know why a huge and history company forgot this main point. Oil drilling is one of dangerous and careful job in this world. Each step must need circumspect and 100% safe before action. So risk management most important for that, but BP cut corners like to save money. For example, no remote control to urgent shut-off switch install on the rig. This one is last insurance for the protection but they can miss it for save cost. Also, on simple procedures, they cut out some step and quality test for the pipe. Each industrialist must understand final quality check is one of main step in the production. This step if missed may cause the company loss a large amount and product confidence. Especially, public confidence is important for each product or service. They need spend too much capital and time to build up. Unfortunately, BP looks like forget this main point. They miss some step and quality test intentionally. The test is for the pipe mainly to detect the gas in the well. I know these actions can save some cost for their production. But they are loss a huge amount and crude oil, confident of public and 11 technical staff. Contractor investigation Based on there is no risk management and they contracting out oil drill to Transocean. In records that almost four incidents were owned by Transocean almost three years. They can make an investigation before contract if they have risk management. No Risk sense One technical staff whois worked on Deepwater Horizon oil rig and points out BP negligence. He report to BP that the rig’s blowout preventer leaked before explosion but BP still no action for stop production. BP’s management are not only no risk management for save cost, and then they only knowledge how to earn more money to negligence safety. Conclusion BP is a history and largest energy in the world. Money may cover their ethical knowledge. They destroyed a one heaven location for travel, fishing industry in Gulf Coast, tourism, 11 staff’s life, their thousands of gallons crude oil and main point is lost reputation and trust from public. Question 2) Introduction Lots of victims are in this unfortunate accident, environment of Gulf coast, tourism, fishing industry, 11 technical staff etc. But not included BP in this case. They are murderer totally in this oil spill disaster based on their company failed in the management of potential risk. Refer to question 1,their management should be stop production before explosion when their staff appear the rig’s blowout preventer leaked. If they can stop the production immediately, history should be no this disaster and BP continue to work smooth in the market. Management of potential risk is important for them, but they completely to ignore it. In this case, one of true victim is their staffs who are killed by this explosion. Before employ this job, all staff must understood how dangerous for their job. They put down their worry and accept this dangerous job ecause they believe a largest company had a completely system to protect their life and promise their parent safety back home every day. They are happy to get a stable meaningful job and they are working in one largest company. Also, lots of human can enjoy energy for their live, useful plastic accessories because they painstaking to delve crude oil. However their largest company betrays their truth and got their life base on oversight. Unfortunately, eleven employees can’t back home on time because they killed by this disaster. Conclusion Gulf Coast oil spill disaster no more excuse to shirk responsibility from BP. If they can increase safety sense and risk management, they no need to pay 80% penalty money for Gulf Coast restoration. Based on save cost and earn more profit to miss safety and quality control system is impolitic absolutely. Finally, senators introduce legislation to dedicate at least 80% of BP penalty money for Gulf Coast restoration on 21 July 2011. (Source by http://landrieu. senate. gov/mediacenter/pressreleases/07-21-2011-1. cfm) Question 3) Introduction BP is one of world’s large energy companies even the disaster happened. A company can ups and downs over hundred years, it must go through lots of incident. Mr. William D’Arcy (a British Petroleum and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company founder) used over six years of drilling in Middle East with his experts and scientists against his finances and patience were coming down. Finally, they had approached around 1200 feet when the source of oil shot out. Go through a few years to drill oil with painful, dissatisfy and nearly give up, a BP was born against these unfavorable factors. Mr. D’Arcy became rich because his company opened a trade on the stock market and their first location to set up a refinery is in Iran. Everything look like smooth going, however BP was go bankrupt nearly on 1914. In 1914, they loss a heating and kerosene lamp markets base on their oil came from Persian was a strong smell. And Automobile was not a primary market product. However, the company had a lot of stock in oil. But the market demand can’t fulfill. Since the first crisis passed, they met a second crisis during a coup in Libya and led by Muammar al-Gaddafi. He nationalized BP’s share of oil operation in Libya. And this action to make other oil rich countries in Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Iran etc.. tonationalize. They made BP drop down from 140 million to 500,000 barrels in oil production in Middle East between 1975 and 1983. Above two crisis are very seriously, they cause BP’s lost a huge amount in their business, capital and source. But they can’t compare the explosion in Gulf Coast region on April 2010. This unfortunate event is not only loss money, capital, source and technical staff. Their reputation destroyed in a short period. The whole process is like a nightmare for their public relation. Because rebuild a over hundred years history company is very difficult and need a long time and no any mistake appear again during this period. I understand their public relation is professional and technical. They must still hard to rebuild their reputation. But some idea suggests them to do in the future. 1) Fully support victim in fishing industry Before the explosion, one of main business in Gulf Coast is fishing industry. However, their marine products already got crude oil pollution. BP had a big representation to help all fishermen rebuild fishing industry and subsidies their cost of living. 2) Invite senators, experts, scientist to visit their refinery and Gulf Coast Base on their oversight to cause explosion and oil spill. They must always invite some good reputation experts, scientist, senators and media to visit their other refinery. Media can make more people understand BP how to drill the crude oil and each step is careful to handle and guarantee to public the disaster never happen again. Experts and scientist for double insurance to their machines and procedures is regular and correct. About some senators visit Gulf Coast, they must cause public to follow with interest. And they can show to public BP how to help Gulf Coast restoration. Like President Obama visited Gulf Coast after the disaster happened forth month. (Information source by http://obamafoodorama. blogspot. com/2010/08/as-gulf-coast-visit-ends-obamas-enjoy. html) They can help to Gulf Coast better to rebuild the tourism. 3) Solve Environment Effect After explosion rocked the rig and made them fire and sank. Thousands of gallons of crude oil were spilling to into the sea. The environment around Gulf of Mexico becomes environmental catastrophe. The spilled oil must make the sea on the sea. It hurts lots of marine life and fish. According patch up this disaster, BP and US government use lots of different method to control and clean up the spilled oil. However, they also used chemistry materials to control them. Some expert points out thatthetechnical limitationsand historical experienceshow that theclean-upworkmay not be abletorestoretheoriginal environmentofthe Gulf of Mexico, butthiseventisto provideatesting groundfor exploringthefutureof oilpurificationmethod. Information source by http://www. futenworld. com/_d270860491. htm) Base on no one want to meet again offshore oil disaster, their risks associated with offshore drilling activities must handle better than before. They must set a rule and guideline to each class of management how to handle if meets the rig in something wrong. And monthly report to local government to report each step is follow the guideline and 100% safe for oil drilling. How to cite Bp Ethical Culture to the Gulf Coast, Papers

Brain cancer1 Essay Example For Students

Brain cancer1 Essay Every hour one American is killed by skin cancer and every thirty seconds one American gets skin cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease that alters the DNA of a skin cell and causes it to reproduce at a rapid pace. This overproduction of cells can be harmful and in many cases deadly. Out of these cancers the most common is Basal cell carcinoma. Many steps have been made in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma, some have been very successful and some not. The cells that have the altered DNA are called malignant or cancerous cells. These cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. The skins main job is to protect the body from infections and to insulate the body to keep it at the proper temperature. The first layer of skin is called the epidermis. This is the layer that is closest to the surface of the skin. There are three types of cells in this layer. The first is the squamace. The squamace cells are flat and scaly and are located closest to the surface of the skin. Second are the basal cells and finally are the melanocytes, which give the skin its color. The second layer of skin is the dermis, which is much thicker than the epidermis. This layer contains sweat glands, nerves and blood vessels. The dermis also contains follicles, which are tiny pockets from which the hair grows. The most common malignant cells are the basal cells. Cancer in the basal cell is called nonmelanoma cancer. This means that the cancer did not start in the melanocytes located in the epidermis. Basal Cell Carcinoma is caused by overexposure to the sun. The sun gives off ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to the human body. Basal cell carcinoma will affect body parts such as the eyes, ears and nose. If it is detected before it gets deep into the skin there will most likely be no problem treating the cancer. A problem will occur if it isnt detected quickly enough and it has progressed into the deep portions of the tissue. If Basal cell carcinoma is left untreated it can be very hard to treat and may even cause death. The common methods of treatment involve the use of Mohs micrographic surgery, radiation therapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, and simple excision. Each of these methods is useful in specific clinical situations. Depending on the case, these methods have cure rates ranging from 85% to 95%. Mohs micrographic surgery, a newer surgical technique, has the highest cure rate for surgical treatment of both primary and recurrent tumors. This method uses microscopic control to determine the extent of tumor invasion. Although Mohs micrographic surgery method is complicated and requires special training, it has the highest cure rate of all surgical treatments because the tumor is microscopically outlined until it is completely removed. While other treatment methods for recurrent basal cell carcinoma have failure rates of about 50%, cure rates have been reported at 96% when treated by Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is also indicated for tumors with poorly defined clinical borders, tumors with diameters larger than two cm, tumors with histopathologic features showing morpheaform or sclerotic patterns, and tumors arising in regions where maximum preservation of uninvolved tissue is desirable, such as eyelid, nose and finger. Next there is a treatment involving simple excision with frozen or permanent sectioning for margin evaluation. This traditional surgical treatment usually relies on surgical margins ranging from three to ten millimeters, depending on the diameter of the tumor. Tumor recurrence is not uncommon because only a small fraction of the total tumor margin is examined pathologically. .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .postImageUrl , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:hover , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:visited , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:active { border:0!important; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:active , .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895 .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1b1fe8793d231618836a8630ff90e895:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Feudalism Essay Recurrence rate for primary tumors greater than 1.5 cm in diameter is at least twelve percent within five years. If the primary tumor measures larger than three cm, the five year recurrence rate is 23.1%. Primary tumors of the ears, eyes, scalp, and nose have recurrence rates ranging from 12.9% to 25%. Third there is electrodesiccation and curettage. This method is the most widely employed method for removing primary basal cell carcinomas. Although it is a quick method for destroying tumor, adequacy of treatment cannot be assessed immediately since the surgeon

The heat energy produced by propanol Essay Example

The heat energy produced by propanol Paper The energy released by a fuel depends on two things. Firstly the number of bonds to be broken and made and secondly the type of bonds involved. Therefore from the preliminary work I can see that propanol has similar type bonds to ethanol, but it has more of them. This means that proponal will use more energy to break the bonds and; therefore more energy will be released to make more new bonds. Also, the greater the surface area and the greater the force of attraction between the molecules, will make it harder to vaporise. Therefore more energy will be released. Fair Test I would like to gain the most reliable results possible using the equipment and conditions provided; therefore I will have to consider certain factors, which if I do not control, may enforce my results to become less reliable. I will, * Keep a constant water temperature at the beginning. * Keep the distance of the copper can away from the flame at 5cm. * Have a constant water mass. * Keep the temperature from which the experiment is terminated fairly constant. * Stir the water with the thermometer before each temperature reading, which will distribute the heat evenly. Results Fuel Mass of Fuel Used Average Ethanol Analysis I will use the averages for ethanol and propanol to work out the total energy transfer and then I will use this to find the mass of fuel burnt per mole. The workings below show what I found out and what this suggests. Ethanol Q = M x C x t The letter Q is the energy in joules and what I want to find out, M is the volume of water in the copper can, C is the specific heat capacity of water and At is the rise in temperature during the experiment. All of these were kept the same throughout the experiment; therefore, M = 100cm3 C = 4. 2 t = 200C This gives the equation,Heat produced. We will write a custom essay sample on The heat energy produced by propanol specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The heat energy produced by propanol specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The heat energy produced by propanol specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The mass of ethanol burnt is 1. 4g and the relative molecular mass is 46, which I have already worked out previously. In order to work out the number of moles in 8400KJ I will use the equation, Number of Moles = mass/Relative Molar Mass If I put these numbers into the equation to give, Moles of ethanol burnt = 1. 4g/46 = 0. 03 moles. I will then use this to calculate the energy in one mole, 8400/0. 03 = 280000J = -280KJ Propanol I will use the same equation using the same numbers as before as they were kept the same in this experiment as well. This should give,Heat ProducedThe mass of propanol burnt is 1g and the relative molecular mass of propanol is 60, which I again worked out beforehand in my plan. I will use the equation, Number of Moles = mass/Relative Molar Mass I will put the numbers in the equation appropriately to give, Moles of propanol burnt The above figure can be used to work out the energy in one mole0KJ I did not use 0. 4 for the propanol average, because it does not follow the general trend; therefore it is anomalous. If I had included this result it may have affected my results slightly. The results that I obtained clearly show that the propanol did have the greatest energy loss; therefore my prediction was correct and theoretically my preliminary work was very successful in helping me gain the correct prediction. This is shown whereby for ethanol the energy give out per mole is -280KJ, whereas propanol gives out a slightly bigger -420KJ. From this experiment I have learnt that if there are too many carbon atoms present in a fuel then the energy given out as heat through combustion is increased, whereas if there are too few carbon atoms then the energy given out as heat from combustion decreases. If I compare my results with my preliminary work there is an immense difference in figures, whereby for ethanol the energy produced from one mole using the scientific figures is -1031KJ, whereas my results show that there is -420KJ of energy released. Also the scientific results for propanol are -2076, whereas my results show that for proponal -420KJ of energy was released. This significant difference was probably due to the extreme mass of heat loss during the experiment from the copper can, the spirit burner and the water; therefore less heat was transferred to energy. Also average bond energies shown in the data book were taken at 250C, whereas I took my results at a temperature of 200C, which means that a higher temperature the molecules would have had more energy as the bigger the temperature the faster the reaction; therefore more energy would have been transferred as heat after the breaking and making of the bonds. Evaluation I think that my experiment was fairly successful considering the limited equipment and conditions, as I managed to gain a set of fairly reliable results in order to draw a firm conclusion. There was only one anomalous result, which happened when testing the propanol whereby there was a result of 0. 4; therefore I did not include this in my average taking. This could have occurred for a number of reasons these are, The amount of water put into the can may not have been measured completely accurately because of the way the level of the water is seen in the measuring cylinder.   There may have not been a totally consistent height above the spirit burner. The spirit burner was not covered up during experiment; therefore the fuel could have evaporated. The length of the wick varied.   Heat could have escaped out of the sides of the spirit burner during combustion.   The copper can meant that it absorbed and transferred heat well but it lost heat to the air as well. These reasons could have had an slight effect on my results overall, whereby it will have made my results lower than the theretical results, as shown in my analysis. If I were to do this experiment again I would, Weigh the water in the copper can using burette instead of a measuring cylinder. Measure the distance between the can and the sprit burner between each fuel burnt.   Cut the wick to the same length after each fuel is burnt.   Insulate the copper can at the sides. User a Bomb Calorimeter so that draughts can be prevented and so that there is restrictions to the heat lost. The diagram below shows what the bond calorimeter would look like and how it would be set up. I think that despite the problems that occurred I still managed to gain a fairly reliable set of results in order to imply whether the energy loss for ethanol or propanol was bigger. If I were to experiment further I could experiment with a much wider range of fuels to see whether their energy loss is bigger then propanol. Also I could investigate other factors that affect the energy loss from combustion, such as, the length of the wick, the heat source and the heat capacity. In doing this I can broaden my understanding in this section of chemistry. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section.

Free Essays on A Brief History on Comics

Comics: In the Beginning The modern comic, as we know it, began in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World on February 17,1895. The comic, drawn by Richard F. Outcault, was based on the life of Mickey Dugan, an Irish immigrant child in the city. Although the strip had no name, people have dubbed it the "Yellow Kid" because the nightshirt worn by Mickey Dugan was the projection for an experiment in yellow ink by the newspaper. Eventually the comic came to be known as "Hogan's Alley." Soon comics were recognized for the selling potential and were published in newspapers all over the world. After the success of the World, a competitor, William Randolph Herst of the New York Journal, hired Outcault to draw Hogan's Alley for Hearst's Journal. The World continued publication of the strip using a new artist, and both papers were featuring the "Yellow kid." This led to people referring to the two papers as the yellow papers. And as the battle between the press lords became more intense, peop! le began calling it yellow journalism which now has come to mean overly sensational journalism. Although Outcault won the battle over the rights of "Yellow kid," the mass marketing began. The cartoon was everywhere. Products were being produced, even cigars, bearing the "yellow kid." Soon the comic revolution began, and strips were published all over. Of these comics, "Katzenjammer Kids" drawn by Rudolph Dirks in 1897, was one of the most popular and first to regularly use voice balloons for dialogue. Outcault also continued drawing, and began a strip called "Buster Brown" which was to be a tie between the comic strip and the comic book. The mass marketing continued, and "Buster Brown" had his own line of shoes (McHam). Until 1907, comic strips ran only on Sundays. In 1907, the first daily strip appeared. "Mutt and Jeff" by Bud Fisher, began being published daily in the San Franciso Chronicle. Following that was "Bringing up Father," in 1912, and soon many other... Free Essays on A Brief History on Comics Free Essays on A Brief History on Comics Comics: In the Beginning The modern comic, as we know it, began in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World on February 17,1895. The comic, drawn by Richard F. Outcault, was based on the life of Mickey Dugan, an Irish immigrant child in the city. Although the strip had no name, people have dubbed it the "Yellow Kid" because the nightshirt worn by Mickey Dugan was the projection for an experiment in yellow ink by the newspaper. Eventually the comic came to be known as "Hogan's Alley." Soon comics were recognized for the selling potential and were published in newspapers all over the world. After the success of the World, a competitor, William Randolph Herst of the New York Journal, hired Outcault to draw Hogan's Alley for Hearst's Journal. The World continued publication of the strip using a new artist, and both papers were featuring the "Yellow kid." This led to people referring to the two papers as the yellow papers. And as the battle between the press lords became more intense, peop! le began calling it yellow journalism which now has come to mean overly sensational journalism. Although Outcault won the battle over the rights of "Yellow kid," the mass marketing began. The cartoon was everywhere. Products were being produced, even cigars, bearing the "yellow kid." Soon the comic revolution began, and strips were published all over. Of these comics, "Katzenjammer Kids" drawn by Rudolph Dirks in 1897, was one of the most popular and first to regularly use voice balloons for dialogue. Outcault also continued drawing, and began a strip called "Buster Brown" which was to be a tie between the comic strip and the comic book. The mass marketing continued, and "Buster Brown" had his own line of shoes (McHam). Until 1907, comic strips ran only on Sundays. In 1907, the first daily strip appeared. "Mutt and Jeff" by Bud Fisher, began being published daily in the San Franciso Chronicle. Following that was "Bringing up Father," in 1912, and soon many other...

Chemistry Review of pOH Calculations

Chemistry Review of pOH Calculations Sometimes you are asked to calculate pOH rather than pH. Heres a review of the pOH definition and an example calculation. Acids, Bases, pH and pOH There are several ways to define acids and bases, but pH and pOH refer to hydrogen ion concentration and hydroxide ion concentration, respectively. The p in pH and pOH stands for negative logarithm of and is used to make it easier to work with extremely large or small values.  pH and pOH are only meaningful when applied to aqueous (water-based) solutions. When water dissociates it yields a hydrogen ion and a hydroxide. H2O ⇆ H OH- When calculating pOH, remember that [] refers to molarity, M. Kw [H][OH-] 1x10-14 at 25 °Cfor pure water [H] [OH-] 1x10-7Acidic Solution: [H] 1x10-7Basic Solution: [H] 1x10-7 How to Find pOH Using Calculations There are a few different formulas you can use to calculate pOH, the hydroxide ion concentration, or the pH (if you know pOH): pOH -log10[OH-][OH-] 10-pOHpOH pH 14 for any aqueous solution pOH Example Problems Find the [OH-] given the pH or pOH. You are given that the pH 4.5. pOH pH 14pOH 4.5 14pOH 14 - 4.5pOH 9.5 [OH-] 10-pOH[OH-] 10-9.5[OH-] 3.2 x 10-10 M Find the hydroxide ion concentration of a solution with a pOH of 5.90. pOH -log[OH-]5.90 -log[OH-]Because youre working with log, you can rewrite the equation to solve for the hydroxide ion concentration: [OH-] 10-5.90To solve this, use a scientific calculator and enter 5.90 and use the /- button to make it negative and then press the 10x key. On some calculators, you can simply take the inverse log of -5.90. [OH-] 1.25 x 10-6 M Find the pOH of a chemical solution if the hydroxide ion concentration is 4.22 x 10-5 M. pOH -log[OH-]pOH -log[4.22 x 10-5] To find this on a scientific calculator, enter 4.22 x 5 (make it negative using the /- key), press the 10x key, and press equal to get the number in scientific notation. Now press log. Remember your answer is the negative value (-) of this number.pOH - (-4.37)pOH 4.37 Understand Why pH + pOH = 14 Water, whether its on its own or part of an aqueous solution, undergoes self-ionization which can be represented by the equation: 2 H2O ⇆ H3O OH- Equilibrium forms between the unionized water and the hydronium (H3O) and hydroxide (OH-) ions. The expression for the equilibrium constant Kw is: Kw [H3O][OH-] Strictly speaking, this relationship is only valid for aqueous solutions at 25 °C because that is when the value of Kw is 1 x 10-14. If you take the log of both side of the equation: log  (1 x 10-14)  Ã‚  log  [H3O]  Ã‚  log  [OH-] (Remember, when numbers are multiplied, their logs are added.) log  (1 x 10-14)  Ã‚  -  14-  14  Ã‚  log[H3O]  Ã‚  log  [OH-] Multiplying both sides of the equation by -1: 14  Ã‚  -  log  [H3O]  -  log  [OH-] pH is defined as  -  log  [H3O] and pOH is defined as -log  [OH-], so the relation becomes: 14 pH - (-pOH)14 pH pOH

Design pattern Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Design pattern - Assignment Example These receiver commands are string in nature. In this algorithm, all the commands that will be visible to the user are subclasses to the moveable command abstract class. The three objects which are moveable which include the rook, bishop and the knight are able to be moved to and from the different positions on the board. The codes for each segment of the class are given in the chart above. This design pattern models a one to many dependency between the objects in the algorithm. This design pattern is creational in nature and connects the state of an observed object the subject with many observing objects and the observers. The square view model is related to the composite class in the algorithm which in turn is related to the color background and the square state of game. The square view model object is able to position the board which is ten passed to the composite class which sets the required state of the square. The color background class sets the background color of the object and finally the square state model of the class is changed as set by the user. The main use for this approach in programming is to ensure that we maintain consistency across the states that appear to be redundant in the code and also optimize the changes so that the consistency necessary is maintained. In this approach to in pattern design, the consistency is maintained using three main var iants: The square view model object acts as the publishing notification which then subscribes to both the color background and the composite objects which then push the notification to the subscribing notification for updating. If we take into consideration a user interface toolkit that is capable of supporting multiple number of applications and controls, the game view object sets up a game on the user interface which then clears the board to create a new game. The new game has two main components sub objects which include the controllers for the object and the

The Role of the Leader in Evaluating Data to Improve Quality and Assignment

The Role of the Leader in Evaluating Data to Improve Quality and Safety Paper - Assignment Example Despite the increased attention within the healthcare industry to facilitate reimbursement to the best available intentions for managing patient falls, the rates continue to escalate, which puts the patients and their caregivers at risk. The facts as depicted in the core of this study indicate the alarming rates, which falls and other critical developments in the care facilities continue to influence the role of the nursing leaders. The facts as presented remain undeniably high compared to the rates of the manageable cases within this case as the report indicates. The telemetry unit in this case is observing an increasing rate of falls of patients. For instance, compared to the average age, which is at 72.4 years, this rate of falls is quite difficult to note the cause. Secondly, the majority of the cases of the patient falls as depicted in the case apply to the patients with diuretics. The patients depict aspects of confusion and disorientation, constituting 12% of the patients with such secondary diagnostics. This establishment is vital to the establishment of workable plan. Additionally, it is also observable that most of the cases of the patient falls occur during the early morning hours. The patient reports indicate that a significant majority of the patients experiencing falls occurs from 3:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Moreover, it is also notable that the minimum number of patient falls occurs in the afternoon hours. These observations indicate the need to evaluate the causative factors contributing to this trend in within the unit. From observing the developments in the fall rates, it is also notable that the average falls is on the rise for each of the days within the hours described. The nurses that recall the incidents when the patient fell indicate that the patient fall rates increase with increase in age. This observation means that the plan to address the cases of patient falls need to consider the vulnerability and co-morbidities

Patriotic reverence for the history Essay Example for Free

Patriotic reverence for the history Essay Patriotic reverence for the history of a nation often does more to impede than toencourage progress History always brings with itself lots of experience. People always learn from their past. Butis relying on the history nation the right path to progress? Does our past always teach us theright lessons? What we do today will be past someday. Does that mean we will always end updoing right if we follow our history. The answer is no. Showing high patriotic reverencecannot always be the right path for a nation’s progress. Relying on history for our current needs would be nothing more than intuition. The situationwe have at our hands can be very different from that experienced in the past. The demandthen becomes to handle it with new ways and techniques. For example maintaining peace inthe world today is the most important factor for any country’s progress. If we look at history,nations earlier had a tendency to acquire and conquer as much as they can. The Germans inthe World War II killed millions of people in their neighboring countries in thirst of more andmore power. The world has witnessed many wars that have hampered progress. Thus theneed of the hour for all nations is to sit down and talk. Nations now need to have a friendlyattitude towards each other for maintaining progress. Nations have signed peace treaties,which includes the nuclear proliferation treaties. The nations have now started thinking of progress on a global prospective. The economic progress of a nation particularly developing countries has also been verydifferent from the past. The trends and graphs are very different from that in the past. Thecorporate world has been developing and expanding exponentially. The economic market isnow governed by new rules with no excerpts from the past. So, the demand of the hour cannot be met by completely relying on the past. But just learningfrom our experiences. If we refer to our past, we need to draw proper analogies between thetwo time variant situations. But this can be a very difficult task as the scenario and theessence of things for todays world are completely different.

My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Graduate College Admissions Essays

My Philosophy of Teaching    As an undergraduate, I was a teaching assistant for several psychology courses, including introductory psychology, behavioral statistics and research methods. My first teaching experience was as a Teaching Assistant for statistics; I now believe that this is where my individual teaching philosophy began taking shape.    As a teaching assistant for behavioral statistics, I was exposed to the student's outlook on the material, in which a lack of enthusiasm for statistics was undoubtedly portrayed. The message was clear: seemingly uninteresting and inapplicable material equals uninterested students. The students that I assisted did not believe that this material would clearly impact their lives; they did not see a meaning or purpose in comprehending or learning the material aside from dutifully collecting a grade at the end of the semester.    Even as an undergraduate student, I was saddened by the lack of enthusiasm by other students for learning a topic that I felt could benefit everyone. Since that time, I have slowly develop...

Business Unit 3 Constraints of Marketing

Constraints of marketing Legal aspects There are four legal aspects that can limit and constrain your marketing, these are the sales of goods act 1979, and this law means that all products must be ‘as described’ of ‘a reasonable quality’ and be suitable for everyday purpose and also any specific purpose agreed. E. g. a waterproof coat must be waterproof. Another legal aspect is the trade descriptions act this means that a product cannot be sold by misleading the buyer, in the way the product was made, what it is made of or where and when it was made.E. g. You cannot say something is handmade if it is not, and a hair dryer made for drying hair, must actually dry hair. The consumer credit act 2002 protects consumer’s rights when they buy goods on credit. Traders who offer credit must have an OFT (Office of Fair Trading) licence, this deals with the method of calculating APR (Annual Percentage Rate) the form and content of the agreement, and lenders guid elines. When lending money, businesses much have interest rates clearly stated and cannot change them after you have signed up.The Data Protection Act means that any information stored by marketers must only be used for the purpose stated when collected, it must be accurate and up to date, not kept longer than the period of time stated, and obtained fairly and lawfully. It must be kept up to date as if someone passes away you should not call asking for them. Also your information is protected from unauthorised use, and cannot be passed on to other companies without your permission. The information stored is available for your inspection and correction upon your request.Voluntary codes A voluntary constraint is when a company voluntary says they will never do something or they will always do something. This could include signing a code of practice stating certain behaviours ethically, even though it cannot be legally enforced. The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) overlook advert isements in the UK and have been controlling non-broadcast ads for nearly 50 years. They say adverts must be decent, legal, honest, and truthful. The ads online are also subject to these rules.Most companies sign up to the ASA and then on follow their rules, if the rules are broken they are not breaking the law but the ASA will publicise this and show everyone what has happened and what they have done. 2397 ads were changed or withdrawn in 2009 by the ASA. E. g. The advert, for the Ford Ka's ‘Evil twin' featured a pigeon-bashing four wheeler that brought the wrath of animal rights activists across the country, meaning the advert never even made it to air in the UK. Pressure groups and consumerismPressure groups are groups of people who share the same interests in a business or product; these groups can persuade or force businesses to make changes to their products or services. E. g. cancer research focus on the particular smoking issue and attempt to reduce smoking. And Friend s of the Earth are a multiple cause group who seek to influence the decisions made concerning the environment. Greenpeace seek to promote environmental issues to its members and supporters. Marketing must include promotion to get people intrested. Consumerism is ‘a social movement seeking to augment the rights of buyers in relation to sellers’

How Religion Affects Society Essay

More generally, social scientists are discovering the continuing power of religion to protect the family from the forces that would tear it down. 13 Professor Bergin’s summary was echoed two years later by nationally syndicated columnist William Raspberry: â€Å"Almost every commentator on the current scene bemoans the increase of violence, lowered ethical standards and loss of civility that mark American society. Is the decline of religious influence part of what is happening to us? Is it not Just possible that anti-religious bias masquerading as religious neutrality is costing more than we have been willing to acknowledge? † 14 Other reviewsl 5 also list the positive effects of religious belief and practice in reducing uch problems as suicide, substance abuse, divorce, and marital dissatisfaction. Such evidence indicates clearly that religious practice contributes significantly to the quality of American life. Given this evidence, Congress should: Begin a new national debate to help renew the role of religion in American life; Ask the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review the evidence on the beneficial effects of religious practice in the relevant social science literature and report its findings to a national commission formed to promote the consideration of religious Fund federal experiments with school choice that ractice among U. S. citizens; include religiously affiliated schools; Pass a sense-of-the-congress resolution that data on religious practice are useful for policymakers and researchers as part of the public policy debate; and Mandate a census question on religious practice. It religious practice in America. The President should: Appoint Judges who are more sensitive to the role of religion in public life, with the Senate ensuring that such is the case by ascertaining the stand of Judges on matters of religion and its relationship to the Constitution; Direct the Bureau of he Census to record levels of religious practice in the census for the year 2000 (time is running out for preparation of the census questionnaire); and Issue a directive to all federal agencies making clear that cooperation between government entities and the social, medical, and educational services of faith-based organizations does not violate separation of church and state. The U. S. Supreme Court should: Review the decisions in which it has changed the laws of the land by changing commonly held beliefs regarding the Constitution and religion and send to Congress hose that should have been the object of legislative action rather than Judicial reinterpretation. America’s religious leaders should: Be much more assertive in emphasizing the contribution of religion to the health of the nation and in resisting efforts to minimize religion in public discourse; Make clear to their congregations that they are contributing not only to their own welfare, but also to the well-being of the nation by their regular attendance at religious worship; Take special care of the religious formation of children, especially during the transition period from childhood to adolescence, when they are ost likely to lose their religious faith; Recognize that the church in the inner city, especially the black church, has a vital role to play in helping its people escape from the degrading culture of inner-city poverty;

Reality Shows

Reality Shows Reality shows, why do we like them so much? I started thinking about this question, and then I though about how many I actually had watched. Reality shows has become a big trend in our society today. People can become famous for almost anything, and a lot of people seem to think that being in a reality show is the biggest thing that can happen in life.I think all of us have though about being famous at some point in our life. How nice it would feel to be that athlete, singer or actor that everyone knows. Maybe you always dreamed about becoming a model, a writer or why not just get married to a rich famous man or woman. I don't see this as something wrong, I think that everyone, at some point, wishes for that feeling of being someone important and well known. An easy way of having 15 minutes of fame today is to be in a reality show.English: This is a production sound mixer Lance Lu...Today you can probably turn on the TV at any time of day and be able to see a reality show. The marke t has exploded, and they are almost taking over TV.We might think that reality television are a new phenomenon, but the truth is that the first reality show debuted in 1973, and it was called An American Family. On Thursday, January 11, 1973, the first broadcast of An American Family changed television history forever. The Loud family were from Santa Barbara, California and consisted of Mother Pat, Father Bill, and their five children Lance, Kevin, Grant, Delilah and Michele.It was a fascinating documentary series. The members of the Loud family opened up their home and lives for seven months to producer Craig Gilbert, who shot 300 hours of footage. Only 12 hours...

Average National SAT Scores for 2013

Average National SAT Scores for 2013 More than a million high school students registered for the SAT for 2013. If youd like to know how your cohorts did, here are some results from the national SAT scores for 2013. Overall SAT Scores for 2013 These are the mean, or average, scores of all students who took the SAT from the fall of 2012 through June 2013, by section (they are identical to the the scores from the year before):   Here are the mean scores for all testers by section: Overall: 1498Critical Reading: 496Mathematics: 514Writing: 488 (subscores: multiple-choice: 48.1 / essay: 7.3) SAT Scores by Gender Here are the years scores separated by gender: Critical Reading:Males: 499Females: 494 Mathematics:Males: 531Females: 499 Writing:Males: 482Females: 493 SAT Scores by Reported Annual Income The results indicate consistently that students from wealthier families score higher on the SAT than kids from families with lower incomes. This doesnt mean that higher incomes produce smarter kids. Parents with more wealth might be more willing to purchase SAT prep  or retakes of the test. Here are the results: $0 - $20,000: 1326$20,000 - $40,000: 1402$40,000 - $60,000: 1461$60,000 - $80,000: 1497$80,000 - $100,000: 1535$100,000 - $120,000: 1569$120,000 - $140,000: 1581$140,000 - $160,000: 1604$160,000 - $200,000: 1625$200,000 and more: 1714 SAT Scores by Ethnicity There is no causal relationship between ethnicity and scores, but there are different results based on ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native: 1427Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander: 1645Black or African-American: 1278Mexican or Mexican-American: 1355Puerto Rican: 1354Other Hispanic, Latino, or Latin-American: 1354White: 1576Other: 1501No response: 1409 To spot trends, you may compare all the above data to the 2012 SAT results.   Other SAT Score Categories There are other categories of mean SAT scores, including the  average SAT scores for students entering the  top public schools  and the  scores for the top private schools.   2013 SAT Scores Summary These statistics represent the mean, but not the individual. Having nothing in common with the groups scoring the highest on the SAT doesnt mean that you cant secure a top-notch score. If you havent taken the SAT or are planning to retake it, there are  free SAT practice quizzes  and free SAT apps  you can use to help prepare yourself. Another authority suggests these additional ways of getting ready: Know the test structure.Write practice essays.Ensure that you have a calculator and spare batteries.Know when to guess on a question and when to skip it entirely.Get a good nights sleep.

Growth And Development Of Entrepreneural Ventures Essay

Growth And Development Of Entrepreneural Ventures - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that every business is expected to have certain codes of ethics, which define the kind of interactions that its staff is to have in the course of its business practices. The business that has certain codes of ethics often perform outstandingly in their functions, they products high-quality goods and most preferred by clients. In showing a preference for the products and services made by these businesses. Customers understand that they follow the laid down procedures and standard in executing their functions. Adherence to codes of ethics makes business organizations carry out proper social responsibility programs through which they communicate and show their commitment to the welfare of its workers, other stakeholders, and the outside community. Most businesses that do not have codes of ethics often find themselves in various breaches of the law, forcing them to engage in various lawsuits. Creditors sometimes sue the business for failing to abide by the terms and conditions of sale agreements; additionally, workers sometimes have various issues concerning contractual agreements and remuneration. Ethical issues have special legal provisions to ensure that business organizations that do not live by the law are punishable according to the laid down legal structures. Google Inc., is a multinational American corporation that specializes in offering internet-related products and services. These products include search engines, cloud computing services, online advertisements and various types of software. Most of the products that the company specializes in originated from AdWords. Since the company was incorporated, it has enjoyed consistent growth, managing to become one of the greatest companies in the world that offers internet and related services. The persistent growth has seen the company manage to establish a chain of products and services to take advantage of the ever-increasing internet needs by people worldwide, wh ich are now turning to the internet as the sources of economic livelihood.

Individual Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Individual Report - Essay Example The use of various techniques like the video marketing, and other digital media will help be very beneficial for the company and will also have a direct impact on the profitability of the company. The advent of the internet and new technologies has led to a number of improvements and changes in terms of the marketing techniques used within the company. Napster is an excellent example of the new technologies and the wide range of positive impact that the new techniques have brought to the world. Technology has allowed companies like Napster to build and develop systems where fans can share their favourite music with ease to others. After having understood and researched in detail the marketing mix and risk strategies of Napster, this paper aims at discussing the characteristics of Digital Marketing and how they apply to Napster. The paper will deal with each of the characteristics and will be followed by recommendations for each of the characteristics. There have been innumerable revolutions and changes that have occurred over the years and these have been immense in the marketing field. Chaffey has set down a few characteristics of digital marketing which he explains are essential aspects of the business and impact the businesses to a great extent (Chaffey, Ellis-Chadwick, Johnston, & Mayer, 2006). The following sections will define, discuss and demonstrate these characteristics and will link how they impact Napster and aspects that the company can do to improve their overall profitability. The first characteristic that is essential to be considered by all businesses in the current times is the need to â€Å"bring back the love† in the marketing. One of the major aspects that need to be considered by the new age digital marketing efforts is the need to not only focus on the customers based on the demographics and basic customer

Concept of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Research Paper

Concept of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - Research Paper Example Safeguarding relates to a range of activities that aim at upholding every adult’s fundamental right that amounts to be safe and at the same time respecting individual’s rights regarding the making of choices. Safeguarding involves empowerment, justice as well as protection. All persons within a society need to play a significant responsibility in relation to the role of vulnerable adults safeguarding. In a broader sense, safeguarding stems specialist services to everybody else within the society. Professionals, volunteers as well as the general public need to ensure they partake in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Effective safeguarding relates to four primary activities. The first safeguarding aspect refers to prevention and awareness raising. The action aims to improve everyone’s general wellbeing thereby encouraging communities to support one another in acting as in a manner where they look for one another. The action also aims at ensuring the public and all professionals, as well as volunteers, possess adequate information regarding actions they may take where they think that an individual is being abused or harmed. The second aspect refers to an inclusion that focuses on activities directly designed to make sure that providers of safety services within the community, as well as other services, remain alert. The operation also ensures the inclusion of vulnerable adults from the communities, professionals as well as volunteers (Kingsley, J, 2009, pg. 411). The activity also encourages the identification and support of individuals who are vulnerable to poor life for one reason or another through circumstances and outcomes of different servic es. The third activity refers to the personalized management of both risks and benefits.

Managing Change In Difficult Times Management Essay

Managing Change In Difficult Times Management Essay There is need for the Management of blue Marina to embrace change which will be offered in form of restructuring, outsourcing, culture change programmes, business process reengineering, the implementation of enterprise system ,development of competences and capabilities, new business models and introduction of new product and services. Blue Marina is a restaurant that specialises in the preparation, service and sale of choice menu to the general public, such as main courses, pastries and desserts. It is a Family owned business of Italian origin, and prides itself in its choice of clientele over the past years. It boasts of staff strength of about 40 people, of which 50% is on a permanent contract while the rest is shared within the part-time and relief workers. However, there has been a major concern for the Management of Blue Marina as the staff turnaround time has been on the high side which in turn affects both efficiency and service delivery to customers as they have to wait for longer period of time before being served. At present Blue Marina restaurant has recorded losses for the first time on its balance sheet and this has called for need for change within the establishment if it still want to remain in the food business. Managing change is perhaps difficult and risky why should this be so? One reason is the absence of a universal change theory, which requires an understanding of organisation, strategy and change. Before attempting to change something there must be an understanding of what needs to be changed as change in this context could mean the alteration of organisational components such as the strategy, goals, structure, processes, system, technology, and people to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the organization. WHY CHANGE: It is very important to understand the range of approaches to change management that exist. One approach to understanding change management is the identification of major schools of thought. Burnes (2004a:262) highlights three schools of thought upon which he believes change management is based: the individual perspective school the group dynamics school, and the open system school. While Paton and McCalman (2000 :2) regard management and change as synonymous Hamlin (2001: 44) offers a typical overview of the mainstream theoretical perspective to understanding change management within an organisation CAUSES AND CONTEXTS OF CHANGE Triggers, drivers and tracers of change: Drifferent authors offer different degrees of sophistication in their specification of triggers and drivers. De Caluwe and Vermaak (2003:80) eloquently defined a trigger as the emotional characteristics that contribute to the emergence of a change idea. Tichy(1983:147) regarded large scale strategic change as being triggered by a large -scale uncertainty in the form of either a threat or an opportunity. More recently Patton and McCalman (2003:23) identified potential triggers that include: government legislation, advances in process or product technology, changing consumer requirements, expectation or taste, and competitor or supply chain activities. Drukker (1994) suggests that organisation should frequently challenge every product, every service, every policy, every distribution channel, with the question if we were not in it already, would we be going into it now? Before an effective change can take place within the Blue marina restaurant, there is need to understand the past, present and future of Blue marina restaurant in general. As in the case of Blue Marina the under mentioned reasons have necessitated the need for change. These reasons are as stated below: High turnaround time Long delay in preparation and service of food to customers Decrease in sales figure Low profits margin Low patronage External competitors Need for expansion ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE MODEL FOR BLUE MARINA RESTAURANT A model is a representation to show the construction or appearance of or explain something: Phil Kelly (2009:146-147).This enables an organisation to identify targets for change, diagnose problems, while it outlines the necessary action for change enabling it to create a road map and implementation strategy. Many models helps us to understand how organisations operate, what to change and how to effectively carry out the change. Change Models: an abstract representation of describing the content or process of changes. Mckinsey 7-S model; this is a model that looks into organisational analysis and dynamics including components: such as strategy, structure, systems, style, staff, shared value and skill. Nadler and Tushman congruence model: they both viewed an organisation as asset of internal, transformational, components that must be congruent with each other and the organisation strategy and environment Burke-Litwin model: a causal model that both looks into transformational and transactional organizational variables represented in an open system. Though all these models have their inherent strengths and weakness, but Nadler and Tushman model have been able to recognize the fact that organizations are influenced by its environment of which their models were divided into input, process and output. Nadler and Tushman(1989) argued that there is need for transformational process components to be congruent or fit with each other, which may either have its advantages and disadvantages. Their model suggests there is no one best way to organize change. Which is why it is been recommended for the Blue Marina Restaurant change Managers. BARRIER TO SUCCESSFUL CHANGE It is important for people managing change in Blue Marina restaurant to be aware of the nature of the resistance they may encounter from other managers as well as other workers. These difficulties must be addressed before unfreezing can take place. Fransella,(1975:135)argued that we may like change and regard it as essential feature of living ;it does not mean that we always welcome it. Similarly, Paton and McCalman (2000:47) have identified why organisations individuals and groups fear change which include the resulting organisational redesign, new technological challenges and challenges to old ideas. Lines (2004 :198) concludes that resistance towards change encompasses behaviours that are acted out by change recipients in order to slow down or terminate an intended organisational change. Dawson (2003:19) on his part identifies the following examples of organisational factors from which resistance can result: Substantive change in job Reduction in economic security or job placement. Psychological threat Disruption of social arrangements and lowering of status There is no concrete explanation of resistance to change that currently exists ,it is also unlikely that a single universal explanation of resistance to change will ever be sufficient. IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGING CHANGE. Turning around Blue Marina Restaurant requires that the change Managers build a change team, develop detailed communication plans and understand how to manage the change transition. There is need to mobilise every staff of the restaurant to have a positive vision towards the proposed changed plan. However, there is need also to gain support from members of staff and as a consequence I would recommend an involvement strategy which involves attention to many areas just as Kotter and others (2007).had thought the following were proposed : Establish a sense of urgency Create a guiding coalition Develop a vision and strategy Communicate this with others Empower action Generate shot term win Consolidate gain Going further on how to manage and implement change in Blue Marina Restaurant, in the 1940s and 1950s, Kurt Lewin concluded that to be successful, the change process needs to follow a three step procedure namely : Unfreezing Moving Refreezing His theories were later expanded by Schein who described the three stages as : Unfreezing- creating motivation and readiness to change by demonstrating a need and vision for change in a manner that would not result in the blame being associated with the managers who had let the organization deteriorate. Changing- organizational members identify with a new model or way of doing things Refreezing- refreezing must occur at the individual level with employees accepting new behaviors and also at interpersonal and interdepartmental levels ensuring new behavious fit well with the rest of the organization. These three stages are highly recommended to the Change Managers of Blue Marina restaurant. Managers wanting to introduce change would understand and recognize that change occurs slowly and moves through a series of stages. For instance, one needs to recognize the need for change. Next step is to determine where Blue marina restaurant stands as it relates to the problem, where it plans and wants to be, and how it plans to get there. Bullock and batten after reviewing over 30 models of planned change ,came to the conclusion that change activities could be grouped into four phases namely: Exploration phase: recognizing the need for change, deciding on the type of changes and commit resources to planning the changes, sourcing for a consultant who assists with planning, implementation and defines everyones role as it affects Blue marina restaurant. Planning Phase: This is a phase where understanding Blue marinas restaurant problems set in. It involves gathering of information and useful data in order to diagnose the problem and proffering solution to them while seeking approvals from the necessary quarters. Action phase: implementation and arrangements of the changes to manage the change process and getting necessary feedbacks in other to make the needed adjustment. Integration Phase: consolidating and stabilizing the changes to become part of the new Blue marina restaurant organization in general PREPARING FOR CHANGE Phase 1 The first phase is targeted at being ready. There is need to answer the following question: how much of change management do we need for this project? The first phase is to provide the situation awareness which very critical for effective change management in the restaurant . Outputs of Phase 1: Change characteristics profile Organizational attributes profile Change management strategy Change management team structure Sponsor assessment, structure and roles ( i ) MANAGING CHANGE Phase 2 The second phase is based on plans that are imbibed into the project activities what people generally think of when they talk about change management. Based on research, carried out there are five main plans that should be considered to help Blue Marina Management move through the change Model. Outputs of Phase 2: Communication plan Sponsor roadmap Training plan Coaching plan Resistance management plan (ii) REINFORCING CHANGE Phase 3 Equally critical but most often overlooked is the third phase of where project teams create plans to make sure that the change plan is sustained. At this point , project teams leader create and develop measures to ensure the change has taken place and to also actually confirm if employees are doing their jobs the new way and to celebrate success. Outputs of Phase 3: Reinforcement mechanisms Compliance audit reports Corrective action plans Individual and group recognition approaches Success celebrations After action review (iii) CONCLUSION Finally, to make any change click, it should be part of Blue Marina restaurant. Corporate plans often determine what is done, so there is need for the proposed vision to show in day-to-day work. Continuous efforts should be imbibed to ensure that the change is seen and noticed in every areas of the organization. This will give the change a strong place in the organizations culture. It is also important that Blue Marina leaders continue to support the change. This will include staff and new change leaders who will be brought in. If the support of these people is lost, one could just end up where one started from. The following action plan should be put in place: Communicate effectively on the progress at every chance one gets. Tell a succes stories about the change process while repeating other stories one hears. Including the change ideas cum values when inducting and employing new staff Publicly recognise key members of your original change coalition and make sure the rest of the staff new and old remember their contributions. Create plans to replace key leaders of change as they move on. This will help ensure that their legacy is not lost or forgotten. If you need help on enabling positive change to create the performance breakthroughs you need the honest answer which is that you manage it pretty much the same way you will manage anything else of a turbulent situation or chaotic nature, that is, you dont really manage it, you grapple with it.

Time Management Action Plan Essay -- essays research papers

For me it seems like there is too many tasks to complete and seldom enough time. Effective and efficient time management is something that I have room for improvement on and have great use of. I started by taking a time management survey. #1 Accept Problem My results from this diagnostic survey on time management assured me that my time management skills are low. The survey revealed that I am on the bottom of the scale of time management. There were two sections of the survey. One section measured your time management skills in an office setting and the other section measured your time management skill in your personal life. By having two sections you can compare your time management skills for the two different settings. The total score measures your overall time management skills and it also puts the score in a category. My scores of 27 points for personal life and 31 points for office settings combines to a 58 point total score. My combined score falls in to the lowest category that suggests that training is necessary and will considerably enhance my effectiveness. The first step of solving a problem is identifying it. After taking this survey I have proof that my time management skills are low. Time management has been a long time problem for me. I have always found excuses for not doing things on time or running late. My main excuse is being involved in so many things as a college student. All of this is true, but it shouldn’t be an excuse. I currently work as a lifeguard between classes, tutor nights and weekends, work at a bar weekends, I hold a vice president position in American Marketing Association, I am a member of Society for Human Resource Management, team captain for Cleveland State’s division I swim team, and I am co-president for Student Athletic Advisory Board. Good time management is needed for all these extras. If I could improve my time management skills I think I would get better in most things that I do. I would be able to enhance my grades in school and be better in the workforce. I would be more relaxed and have a feel of control. #2, Goals and Priorities The first step in effectively managing time is to develop a statement of long-range goals. This statement of goals will allow you to set short range goals and to prioritize specific activities according to how much they contribute to your goals. Setting these long-range goals ma... ...t already have the software required or a hand held organizer. For me I am using this as a last step also as a goal. When I reach this point I will allow my self to buy a hand held computer. This would be my reward for reaching this far. This step should take 1-3 weeks. Implementing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have many times tried to improve my time management. Every semester I start with a calendar, but about half way through I usually do not use it anymore. This semester I decided that I needed to use it all the time and I am still using it. I think that if I had used this action plan the first time I wanted to start using a calendar I would have been successful at first. Now when I will start using this action plan I am sure that I will keep using my calendar and also be able to live a less stressful life. It will stop me from my last minute studying for tests and forgetting about meetings. I will be able to live a well-balanced, goal-oriented life without unnecessary stress.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References: Poser, B. (2003) Time Management for Students http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/tmonline/time.htm Whetten, D., Cameron, K. (2002) Developing Management Skills

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 25

â€Å"Oh, I just want to take a little peek,† Bonnie moaned, looking at the forbidden sketchbook, the one in which Lady Ulma had drawn their high couture outfits for the first party, the one that would be held tonight. Beside it, just within reach, were some sample squares from bolts of fabric in shimmering satin, rippling silk, transparent muslin, and soft, rich velvet. â€Å"You'll get to try it on for the last fitting in an hour – this time with your eyes open!† Elena laughed. â€Å"But we can't forget that tonight isn't playtime. We'll have to dance some dances, of course – â€Å" â€Å"Of course!† Bonnie repeated ecstatically. â€Å"But our purpose there is to find the key. The first half of the double fox key. I just wish there was a star ball that showed the inside of tonight's house.† â€Å"Well, we all know pretty much about it; we can talk about it and try to imagine it,† Meredith said. Elena, who had been fiddling with the star ball from the other house, now put the slightly cloudy orb down and said, â€Å"All right. Let's brainstorm.† â€Å"May I storm, too?† a low, modulated voice asked from the doorway. The girls all turned, rising at the same time to greet a smiling Lady Ulma. Before taking a chair, she gave Elena a particularly heartfelt hug and kiss on the cheek and Elena couldn't help herself from comparing the woman as they had seen her at Dr. Meggar's to the elegant lady she was now. Then, she had been hardly more than skin over bones, with the eyes of a timid wild creature under great strain, wearing a common housecoat, with men's bedroom slippers. Now, she reminded Elena of a Roman matron, with her face tranquil and beginning to fill out under a crown of glossy dark braids held back by jeweled combs. Her body was filling out, too, especially her belly, although she retained her natural grace as she took a seat on a velvet couch. She was wearing a saffron-colored gown of raw silk, with an underskirt of fringed and shimmering apricot. â€Å"We're so excited about the fitting tonight,† Elena said, with a nod toward the sketchbook. â€Å"I am as excited as a child, myself,† Lady Ulma admitted. â€Å"I only wish I could do for you a tenth of what you have done for me.† â€Å"You have already,† Elena said. â€Å"And if we can find the fox keys – it will only be because you helped us so much. And that – I can't tell you how much that means to me,† she finished almost in a whisper. â€Å"But you never thought I could help you when you defied the law for a ravaged slave. You simply wanted to save me – and you have suffered much for it,† Ulma responded quietly. Elena shifted uncomfortably. The cut running down her face had left only a thin white scar along the cheekbone. Once – when she had first returned to Earth from the afterlife – she would have been able to wave the scar away with a simple wash of Power. But now, although she could channel her Power through her body, and use it to enhance her senses, she couldn't make it obey her will in any other way. And once, she thought, imagining the Elena who had stood in Robert E. Lee High School's parking lot and drooled over a Porsche, she would have considered the marring of her face the greatest calamity of her life. But with all the accolades she had received, with Damon calling it her â€Å"white wound of honor,† and her certainty that it would mean as little to Stefan as a scar on his cheekbone would mean to her, she had found she just couldn't take it very seriously. I am not the same person I once was, she thought. And I'm glad. â€Å"Never mind,† she said, ignoring the pain down her leg that still throbbed at times. â€Å"Let's talk about the Silver Nightingale and her gala.† â€Å"Right,† Meredith said. â€Å"What do we know about her? How did the clue go again, Elena?† â€Å"Misao said, ‘If I said that one of the halves was inside the silver nightingale's instrument, would that even give you an idea?' – or something like that,† Elena repeated obediently. They all knew the words by heart but it was part of the ritual, every time they discussed it. â€Å"And the ‘Silver Nightingale' is the nickname for Lady Fazina Darley and everyone in the Dark Dimension knows it!† cried Bonnie, clapping her small hands in sheer delight. â€Å"Indeed, that has long been her sobriquet, given to her when she first came here and began to sing and play on her harps strung with silver,† Lady Ulma put in gravely. â€Å"And harp strings need to be tuned, and they're tuned with keys,† Bonnie continued excitedly. â€Å"Yes.† Meredith, in contrast, spoke slowly and thoughtfully. â€Å"But it's not a harp-tuning key we're looking for. They look like this.† She put down on a table beside her an object made of smooth pale maple that looked like a very short T or, if held on its side, like a gracefully waving tree with one short horizontal branch. â€Å"I got that from one of the minstrels Damon hired.† Bonnie eyed the tuning key loftily. â€Å"It might be a harp-tuning key we're looking for,† she insisted. â€Å"It might be used for both things, somehow.† â€Å"I don't see how,† Meredith said doggedly. â€Å"Unless somehow they change shape when the two halves come together.† â€Å"Oh, my, yes,† Lady Ulma said, as if Meredith had just made an obvious proposition. â€Å"If they are magical halves of a single key they will almost certainly change when the two halves come together.† â€Å"You see?† Bonnie said. â€Å"But if they can be any sort of shape, then how the hell will we even know when we've found them?† Elena asked impatiently. All she cared about was finding what it took to save Stefan. Lady Ulma fell silent, and Elena felt badly. She hated to use harsh language or even appear distressed in front of the woman who had lived a life of such subjection and horror since her early teens. Elena wanted Lady Ulma to feel safe, to be happy. â€Å"Anyway,† she said quickly, â€Å"we know one thing. It's in the Silver Nightingale's instrument. So whatever is inside Lady Fazina's harp, that has to be it.† â€Å"Oh, but – † Lady Ulma began, and then she stopped herself almost before the words were out. â€Å"What is it?† Elena asked gently. â€Å"Oh, nothing at all,† Lady Ulma said hastily. â€Å"I mean, would you like to see your dresses now? This last fitting is really just to make sure every stitch is perfect.† â€Å"Oh, we'd love to!† Bonnie cried, at the same time making a dive for the sketchbook, while Meredith rung a bell pull that brought a servant hurrying in and hurrying away again to the sewing room. â€Å"I only wish Master Damon and Lord Sage had agreed to let me create something for them to wear,† Lady Ulma said mournfully to Elena. â€Å"Oh, Sage is not going. And I'm sure Damon wouldn't have minded – as long as you designed him a black leather jacket, a black shirt, black jeans, and black boots all exactly like the ones he wears every day. He'd have been happy to wear it then.† Lady Ulma laughed. â€Å"I see. Well, there will be enough fantastical styles worn tonight that he may change his mind for the future. Now let's draw the curtains on the windows all around. This gala is to be indoors, with gaslight only, so colors will show true.† â€Å"I wondered why it said ‘indoors' on the invitations,† Bonnie said. â€Å"I thought maybe it was because of rain.† â€Å"It's because of the sun,† Lady Ulma said soberly. â€Å"That hateful crimson light, changing every blue to purple, every yellow to brown. You see, no one would wear aqua or green to an outdoor soiree – no, not even you, with that strawberry hair that cries out for it.† â€Å"I get it. I can see how having that sun hanging there every day would really get you down after a while.† â€Å"I wonder if you can,† murmured Lady Ulma, and then she added hastily, â€Å"While we wait shall I show you what I have created for your tall friend who doubts me?† â€Å"Oh, please, yes!† Bonnie held out the sketchbook. Lady Ulma thumbed through it until she came to a page that seemed to please her. She took up pens and coloring pencils like a child eager to play with beloved toys again. â€Å"Here it is,† she said, using the colored pencils to add a line here and a curve there, but holding the book so that the three girls could see the design. â€Å"Oh, my God!† cried Bonnie in genuine astonishment, and even Elena felt her eyes widening. The girl in the sketch was definitely Meredith, with her hair half up and half down, but wearing a dress – such a dress! Black as ebony, strapless, it clung to the long slim figure perfectly sketched in the picture, emphasizing the curves, enhancing them on top by what Elena learned was called a â€Å"sweetheart† neckline: one that made Meredith's front look like a Valentine's Day heart. It kept close to the body all the way to the knees where it suddenly flared out again, dramatically wide. â€Å"A ‘mermaid' dress,† Lady Ulma explained, satisfied with her sketch at last. â€Å"And here it is,† she added as several sewing women entered, reverently holding the miraculous gown between them. Now the girls could see that the material was of plush black velvet dotted with tiny rectangular metallic golden flecks. It looked like midnight back home, Elena thought, with a thousand falling stars in the sky. â€Å"And with it, you will wear these very large black onyx and gold earrings, these black onyx and gold combs to hold your hair up, and some lovely matching bracelets and rings Lucen has made just for this outfit,† Lady Ulma continued. Elena realized that sometime in the last minutes Lucen must have entered the room. She smiled at him, and then her eyes dropped to the three-tiered tray he held. On the top tray, against an ivory background, were two black onyx and diamond bracelets, as well as a ring with a diamond in it that almost made her swoon. Meredith was looking around the room as if she had stumbled into a private discussion and didn't know how to get out. Then she looked from the dress to the jewels to Lady Ulma again. Meredith was not one to lose her composure easily. But after a moment she simply went to Lady Ulma and hugged her fiercely, then went to Lucen and very gently put her hand on his forearm. It was clear that she couldn't speak. Bonnie was studying the sketch with the eyes of a connoisseur now. â€Å"Those matching bracelets were made just for this dress, weren't they?† she said with a conspiratorial air. To Elena's surprise Lady Ulma seemed uncomfortable. Then she spoke slowly. â€Å"The truth is†¦well, that Miss Meredith is†¦a slave. All slaves are required to wear some sort of symbolic bracelets when they travel outside their households.† She turned her eyes down to the polished wooden floorboards. Her cheeks were flushed. â€Å"Lady Ulma – oh, please, you can't think it matters to us?† Lady Ulma's eyes flashed as she looked up. â€Å"Not matter?† â€Å"Well,† Elena said hautily, â€Å"it doesn't really matter†¦er, yet, because there's nothing to do about it, not now.† Of course, the servants weren't in on the secrets of the Damon-Elena-Meredith-Bonnie relationship. Even Lady Ulma didn't see why Damon didn't free the three girls just in case â€Å"something should happen, may the Celestial Guardians forbid it.† But the girls had formed a solid phalanx against it; it would be like jinxing their whole enterprise. â€Å"Well, anyway,† Bonnie was blathering, â€Å"I think the bracelets are beautiful. I mean she could hardly find anything more perfect for the dress, could she?† – striking at the professional sensibilities of the designer. Lucen smiled modestly and Lady Ulma gave him a loving glance. Meredith's face was still glowing. â€Å"Lady Ulma, I don't know how to thank you. I will wear this gown – and for tonight I will be someone I have never been before. Of course, you've drawn my hair up, or partly up. I don't usually wear it that way,† Meredith finished weakly. â€Å"You will tonight – up and high over that lovely wide brow of yours. This dress is to show off the charming curves of your bare shoulders and arms. It's a crime to cover them, day or night. And the hairstyle is to lay bare your exotic face instead of hiding it!† Lady Ulma said firmly. Good, Elena thought. They've gotten her off the subject of symbolic slavery. â€Å"You'll wear a touch of makeup as well – pale gold on your lids, and kohl to enhance and lengthen your lashes. A touch of golden lipstick, but no rouge; I don't believe in that for young girls. Your olive skin will complete the picture of a sultry maiden perfectly.† Meredith looked helplessly at Elena. â€Å"I don't usually wear makeup either,† she said, but they both knew that she was beaten. Lady Ulma's vision would come to life. â€Å"Don't call it a mermaid dress; she'll be a siren,† Bonnie said enthusiastically. â€Å"But we'd better put a spell on it to keep all the vampire sailors away.† To Elena's surprise, Lady Ulma nodded solemnly. â€Å"My seamstress friend has sent a priestess today to bless all the garments and to keep you from being victimized by vampires, of course. If that meets with your approval?† She looked at Elena, who nodded. â€Å"As long as they don't keep Damon out of the way,† she added jokingly, and felt time freeze as Meredith and Bonnie immediately turned their eyes on her, hoping to catch something in Elena's expression that would give her away. But Elena kept her expression neutral, as Lady Ulma continued, â€Å"Naturally, the restrictions would not apply to your – to Master Damon.† â€Å"Naturally,† Elena said soberly. â€Å"And now for the smallest beauty to go to the gala,† Lady Ulma was saying to Bonnie, who bit her lip, blushing. â€Å"I have something very special for you. I don't know how long I've been yearning to work with this material. I've trudged by it in a shop window year after year, just aching to buy it and create with it. You see?† And the next set of sewing women came forward, holding a smaller, lighter frock between them, while Lady Ulma held up a sketch. Elena was already staring in amazement. The material was glorious – incredible – but especially clever was how it had been put together. The fabric was vivid peacock green-blue, with the most amazing hand stitching to represent a pattern of peacock eyes flaring up from the waist. Bonnie's brown eyes had widened again. â€Å"This is for me?† she breathed, almost afraid to touch the material. â€Å"Yes, and we're going to slick that hair of yours back until you look as sophisticated as your friend. Go ahead and try it on. I think you'll like the way this dress has come out.† Lucen had retired and Meredith was already being carefully encased in the mermaid dress. Bonnie happily began to strip. Lady Ulma turned out to have been right. Bonnie loved the way she looked that evening. Right now she was being given the finishing touches, such as a delicate spray of citrus and rosewater; a fragrance made just for her. She stood before a giant silvered-glass mirror, just minutes before they were due to start off for the gala given by Fazina, the Silver Nightingale herself. Bonnie turned a little, looking at the strapless, full-skirted dress in awe. Its bodice was made – or seemed to be made – entirely of the eyes of peacock feathers, arranged in a spray that was gathered together at her waist, showing off how tiny it was. There was another spray of larger feathers that pointed downward from the waist, front and back. The back actually had a small train of peacock feathers against emerald silk. In front, below the larger, downward pointing spray, a design worked in silver and gold, of stylized undulating plumes, all upside down, made its way to the bottom of the gown, which was edged with thin gold brocade. As if this were not enough, Lady Ulma had had a fan made with real peacock eyes set in an emerald jade handle, with a tassel of softly clinking jade, citrine, and emerald charms at the bottom. Around Bonnie's throat was a matching necklace of jade, inlaid with emerald, sapphire, and lapis lazuli. And around each of her wrists were several emerald jade bracelets that clicked together whenever she moved, the symbol of her slavery. But Bonnie's eyes could hardly linger on them, and she couldn't summon up a proper hatred of the bracelets. She was thinking of how a special hairdresser had come to â€Å"slick back† Bonnie's strawberry-colored curls until, darkened into true red, they were plastered flat against her skull and held in place with jade and emerald clips. Her heart-shaped face had never looked so mature, so sophisticated. To emerald eyelids and kohl-darkened eyes, Lady Ulma had added a vivid red lipstick and had for once broken her rule and cleverly, wielding the brush herself, had added touches here and there of blusher so that Bonnie's translucent skin looked as if she were constantly coloring at some compliment. Delicately carved jade earrings with golden bells inside completed the ensemble, and Bonnie felt as if she were some Princess of the Ancient Orient. â€Å"It's really some kind of miracle. Usually, I look like a pixie trying to dress up as a cheerleader or a flower girl,† she confided, kissing Lady Ulma again and again, delighted to find that the lipstick stayed on her lips instead of transferring to her benefactress's cheeks. â€Å"But tonight I look like a young woman.† She would have kept on babbling, helpless to stop herself even though Lady Ulma already was trying to discreetly dab tears away from her eyes, except that at that moment Elena came in and she gasped. Elena's dress had already been finished by the afternoon and so all Bonnie had seen of it was the sketch. But somehow that had failed to convey just what this dress would do for Elena. Bonnie had secretly wondered if Lady Ulma were leaving too much to Elena's own natural beauty, and was hoping that Elena would be as excited about her own dress as everyone seemed to be about Bonnie's and Meredith's. Now Bonnie understood. â€Å"It is a called a goddess dress,† Lady Ulma explained to the stunned silence in the room, as Elena walked in, and Bonnie dizzily thought that if goddesses had ever lived up on Mount Olympus, they would certainly have wanted to dress this way. The trick of the dress lay in its very simplicity. It was made of milk-white silk, with a delicately pleated waist (Lady Ulma called the irregular tight pleating â€Å"ruching†) which held two simple bodice panels that formed a V-neckline, showing off Elena's peach-blossom skin between them and behind them. These panels in turn were held at the shoulders by two carved clasps – gold inlaid with mother-of-pearl and diamonds. From the waist, the skirt fell straight in graceful, silken folds all the way to Elena's delicate sandals – again designed in gold, mother-of-pearl and diamonds. In the back, the two panels that clasped at the shoulder became straps and crossed over to once again meet at the pleated waist. Such a simple dress, but so magnificent on the right girl. At Elena's throat, an exquisitely designed golden and mother-of-pearl necklace in the stylized shape of a butterfly was inset with so many diamonds that it seemed to blaze with multicolored fire each time she moved and they caught the light. She wore this over the lapis and diamond pendant Stefan had given her, since she had flatly refused to take the pendant off. It didn't matter. The butterfly covered the pendant completely. On each wrist Elena wore a wide bracelet of gold and mother-of-pearl inset with diamonds, creations that they had found in the secret jewel room, obviously made to go with the necklace. And that was all. Elena's hair had been brushed and brushed and brushed until it formed a silky golden tumble of waves that hung below her shoulders in back, and she was wearing a touch of rose-colored lipstick. But her face, with its thick black eyelashes and lighter arched brows – and just now its look of excitement that parted her rose-colored lips and brought brilliant color to her cheeks – had been left entirely alone. Earrings that were just cascades of diamonds peeped through her gold tresses. She's going to drive them crazy tonight, Bonnie thought, eyeing the daring dress with envy, but not with jealousy, instead rather reveling in the thought of the sensation Elena would make. She's wearing the simplest gown of any of us, but she still completely puts Meredith and me in the shade. Yet Bonnie had never seen Meredith look better – or more exotic. She'd also never known what a stunning figure Meredith had, despite her friend's wide assortment of designer clothes. Meredith shrugged when Bonnie told her this. She had a fan, too, black lacquer, that folded. Now she opened it and folded it shut again, tapping her chin thoughtfully. â€Å"We're in the hands of a genius,† she said simply. â€Å"But we can't forget what we're really here for.†