Nursing Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing Application - Essay Example Some times I felt the need to assist but I lacked the capacity to do so because I was only a child. However, these occurrences usually strengthened my desire to acquire the capability to assist other people to overcome problems. From that time up to now when I am a grown-up, I still yearn to accomplish my childhood desires of becoming an expert in promoting people’s health and general well-being of children, adults including the healthy, the ailing and the aged. I have the conviction that becoming a nurse will empower me to accomplish my goals. I settled on the decision to apply to Dorothea Hopfer School of nursing came as a result of careful analysis regarding the various institutions that offer the program. I have met with a number of professionals in nursing as well as in other fields who graduated from the institution, and the positions that they hold in the local, as well as international organizations, are admirable. The institution has a good reputation, and local organ izations usually give the first priority to graduates from the institution. I believe that the skills that I need in nursing will be acquired through studying in the institution. I have never felt so right about accomplishing my goals through a particular institution the way I do now. I am ready to sacrifice as much time as the program requires. I have strong leadership and team building skills that enable me to learn quickly through interactions with other students. I actively participate in class and intend to continue with this practice in order to accomplish the best in my nursing studies. I feel privileged to present my application to this reputable institution where I believe my professional goals will be accomplished. I am looking forward to cooperating with the administration as well as my instructors to enhance my performance in studies.

Profit and Loss Essay Example for Free

Profit and Loss Essay Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Two of the most important financial statements for a business are the Profit and Loss Account, and the Balance Sheet. The Profit and Loss Account shows the profit or loss of a business over a given period of time e. g. 3 months, 1 year, etc. In contrast, the Balance Sheet is like a photograph taken at an instant in time giving a picture of what the business owns and what the business owes at that moment in time. As we shall see it will always balance because what the business owns is financed by what the business owes. The Profit and Loss (PL account) Net profit takes account of other sources of income and expenditure that are not involved in normal operations e. g. interest paid on loans and interest received on having a positive balance in a bank account. Turnover is the value of sales made in a trading period. It is some eferred to as sale revenue and is calculated by the average price of items sold x the number sold. Cost of sales calculates the direct costs of manufacturing items, or buying in items to sell them on. Expenses are the overhead costs of running a business. These overheads cant be tied down to particular cost units. For example, it would be very difficult to calculate what fraction of the heating cost of a pen factory can be allocated to just one pen. The Balance Sheet is a statement showing the assets, liabilities and owners capital of a business at a particular Downloaded from The 100 Edition http://www. he100. co. uk moment in time, for example the year end. The Balance Sheet balances because the assets t hat a business possesses at a specific time have been financed either through the provision of capital by the owners or by the creation of external liabilities: Value of assets = Value of Liabilities Value of Owners capital. There are a number of things that we can see from looking at a balance sheet, for example: 1. The Net Assets of the business, i. e. the difference between the value of the assets and the value of the liabilities. A growth in net assets tends to indicate a growing business. 2. How solvent the business is. In other words, does it have enough assets that are short term, and hence easily converted into cash, to pay any pressing short-term liabilities. Case Example: A typical balance sheet will be set out in the following way (note that we use two columns. The first column is for minor calculations, the second column is for grand totals): Balance Sheet of Superior Traders, as at 31st December 2004 Fixed assets consist of those items that are kept within the business to create wealth over a period of time e. . machinery, equipment, vehicles, computers, etc. Current assets are used in the short period to generate income for a business. For example, in a manufacturing company like Kraft, stocks would represent products that have already been made and are waiting to be sold onto retailers. Typically stocks will be sold on credit for periods of one month, two months, or three months. Retailers buying s tocks on credit from Kraft would become Krafts debtors. At the end of the credit period they will pay up in the form of cash, enabling Kraft to buy more raw materials to create further stocks. Creditors due within one year are the sums that a business owes money to in the short period otherwise known as current liabilities. Net current assets is a measure of how solvent or liquid a business is. Many businesses need to have working capital. Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets: Working capital = Current assets Current liabilities Note that the figure for net current assets appear almost in the centre of a balance sheet, and is a figure that many people will look at first to check on the solvency of a business. Total assets current liabilities is a sum that appears in the balance sheet simply doing what the title suggests. Creditors due after more than one year shows the longer term liabilities of the bsiness. Total net assets is calculated by taking away all the liabilities (both current and long term) from all of the assets (both current and long term). Shareholders funds shows the value of the shareholders capital in the business. It will always be the same value as the total net assets and it balances the account. Downloaded from The 100 Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Profit and loss accounts, balance sheets Two of the most important financial statements for a business are the Profit and Loss Account, and the Balance Sheet. The Profit and Loss Account shows the profit or loss of a business over a given period of time e. g. 3 months, 1 year, etc. In contrast, the Balance Sheet is like a photograph taken at an instant in time giving a picture of what the business owns and what the business owes at that moment in time. As we shall see it will always balance because what the business owns is financed by what the business owes. The Profit and Loss (PL account) One of the most important objectives of a business is to make a profit. The PL account shows the extent to which it has been successful in achieving this objective. Companies are expected to keep their PL accounts in certain formats. Typically the PL account will show the revenues received by a business and the costs involved in generating that revenue. In simple terms: Revenues Costs = Profits. A typical PL account will look like the following: Case Study: PL Account for Superior Traders as at 31/12/2004 You can find out the gross profit of a business by deducting cost of sales from turnover: ? 100,000 ? 50,000 = ? 0,000 You can find out the operating profit by deducting the expenses from the gross profit: ? 50,000 ? 30,000 = ? 20,000 You may also come across the term net profit. Operating profit is earned from carrying out a businesses normal operations e. g. producing confectionery, or selling Christmas cards. Net profit takes account of other sources of income and expenditure that are not involved in normal operations e. g. interest paid on loans and interest received on having a positive balance in a bank account. Turnover is the value of sales made in a trading period. It is sometimes referred to as sale revenue and is calculated by the average price of items sold x the number sold. Cost of sales calculates the direct costs of manufacturing items, or buying in items to sell them on. Expenses are the overhead costs of running a business. These overheads cant be tied down to particular cost units. For example, it would be very difficult to calculate what fraction of the heating cost of a pen factory can be allocated to just one pen. The Balance Sheet is a statement showing the assets, liabilities and owners capital of a business at a particular Downloaded from The Times 100 Edition oment in time, for example the year end. The Balance Sheet balances because the assets that a business possesses at a specific time have been financed either through the provision of capital by the owners or by the creation of external liabilities: Value of assets = Value of Liabilities Value of Owners capital. There are a number of things that we can see from looking a t a balance sheet, for example: 1. The Net Assets of the business, i. e. the difference between the value of the assets and the value of the liabilities. A growth in net assets tends to indicate a growing business. Creditors due within one year are the sums that a business owes money to in the short period otherwise known as current liabilities. Net current assets is a measure of how solvent or liquid a business is. Many businesses need to have working capital. Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets: Working capital = Current assets Current liabilities Note that the figure for net current assets appear almost in the centre of a balance sheet, and is a figure that many people will look at first to check on the solvency of a business. Total assets current liabilities is a sum that appears in the balance sheet simply doing what the title suggests. Creditors due after more than one year shows the longer term liabilities of the bsiness. Total net assets is calculated by taking away all the liabilities (both current and long term) from all of the assets (both current and long term). Shareholders funds shows the value of the shareholders capital in the business. It will always be the same value as the total net assets and it balances the account. Downloaded from The Times 100 Edition.

Essay --

In order to understand Bilingual education it must first be defined, as the compilation of multicultural views through which diversity is enriched and bilingualism becomes an ability to communicate with two or more languages with similar degree of proficiency language (Gallo, Pinuelas and Youngs 2008). Other perspectives state that the process of bilingual education is a process which educates students to be effective in a second language while maintaining and nurturing their first (Necochea and Cline 2000). In this process of educating students in a bilingual education many students do not completely acquire both languages. We would also have to consider the meaning of language acquisition, the process where children acquire their first language. Some children may attain one or more first languages depending on their environment children grow up in for example if a child grows up in an environment of only English they will only acquire that language, but a child that is exposed to both Vietnamese and English and are heard equally will acquire both languages. Other considerable research found that â€Å"young children do not learn another language effortlessly† that they do not learn faster with more exposure to the new language, that their oral fluency outstrips their academic competence, and that they require many years of grade level academic ability in the new language†(Berman, 1997.p17). It is important to understand the effectiveness of bilingual education in schools setting to better sever students in acquiring both languages and to smoothly transition to all English instruction. Since the passage of the Bilingual Education Act in 1968, it has been an extremely controversial and continuous topic among educators about the... ...at needed to become fluent in both languages is the six years which can positively affect the children in acquiring both languages. It can also vary on the effectiveness of the bilingual education program that is offered in many schools. In the research there were no significant findings that stated that bilingual education was ineffective, there was more evidence that showed that learning a primary language first and then transitioning to a second language had benefits because it has a positive effect in eventually becoming bilingual. There are still some implications that can be addressed about the effectiveness of bilingual education. Is there evidence that shows that these students have completely acquired both languages? How effective are bilingual programs in having students successfully transition to general English classes in middle school and high school.

Albert Camus The Stranger: Existentialism and Absurdism Essay

Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts. This philosophy is essentially the crux of the novel The Stranger and not only serves as one of the themes but probably the main reason Albert Camus wrote the book altogether. Presented in first person narration through the eyes of Meursault, the indifferent and apathetic main character, the novel serves to evoke the creed of existentialism through the embodiment of the philosophy in a person. Meursault’s speech, thought, and actions are what Camus believed a person who innately possessed the tenets of existentialism would have. Existentialism, what it represents, the results of its embodiment in a person, and the validity of the doctrine altogether are all important aspects explored in The Stranger by A lbert Camus. â€Å"Maman died today or yesterday maybe, I don’t know†. These opening lines of the novel serve not only to introduce the novel but to summarize it as well. Rather than focusing on what is important-his mother’s death-Meursault is focused on when exactly she died; whether it was yesterday or today, since the telegraph only stated the funeral would be tomorrow. Right away, within the very first sentence, the reader is introduced to existentialism incarnate. Meursault exhibits a complete and utter indifference to life manifested by a profound lack of emotion. He doesn’t care when his mother died, in fact the fact that he has to attend the funeral altogether is the most troubling part of this whole ordeal to him. When he finally gets to the funeral, he couldn’t care less about his mother-as he rejects the offer to open the casket-but is utterly consumed by the days heat. Camus does a great job in the first part of the novel of demonstrating to the rea der not only the philosophy of existentialism, but a corporal representation of it as well. This corporal representation of existentialism is what makes The Stranger the unique book it is. As opposed to the multitude of books and manifestos approaching existentialism from an academic perspective, The Stranger approaches the philosophy by detailing a character with the belief innately  in him and showing how someone like this might behave. Neither the external world in which Meursault lives nor the internal world of his thoughts and attitudes possesses any rational order. Meursault has no discernable reason for his actions, such as his decision to marry Marie and his decision to kill the Arab. The book, narrated by Meursault, is basically life detailed superficially by him. He talks about the weather, the food he’s eating, about the things he did that day rather than how he feels or thinks of other people, places and things. This is how a person consumed with existentialism would behave and think-indifferently and apathetically. Meursault passes no judgment on people and is ultimate executed for killing an Arab for no apparent reason. The philosophy or theory of Existentialism is somewhat controversial, but nonetheless in many respects it has some notable and legitimate points. If one were to truly take a look at the universe, it would seem purposeless. And humans do in fact possess the innate desire, or rather compulsion, to explain things and have things figured out-thus explaining their need to associate a purpose with the universe, even when it doesn’t necessarily exist. But what made this theory come about in the 19th century when it could have been realized centuries before? The reason is the tragedy and devastation the world saw at this time-several world wars in specific. If we take a look at the life of Albert Camus himself, it’s hard to deny the fact that there is a connection between the existentialism’s inception and personal tragedy. In 1914, Camus’ Father was drafted into WWI and killed in France. In 1934 he Married Simone Hià ©, but divorced her two years later. In 1939 he volunteered for service in WWII, but was rejected due to illness. In 1940 he wrote an essay on the state of Muslims in Algeria causing him to lose his job and move to Paris. In 1941 he joined the French resistance against the Nazis and became an editor of Combat, an underground newspaper. These, as well as many other incidents and events in Camus’ life influenced him in the sense that they formed in him a bleak, pessimistic view of life. This perspective undoubtedly set the foundation for his adoption of the theory of existentialism. â€Å"If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in  despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.† The point illuminated in this quote by Camus is that although some consider viewing life with despair to be wrong, or sinful, in reality hoping for an after life, â€Å"another life†, or living a life of implacable grandeur is the real sin. Camus held strong to the belief of Absurdism, or the belief that humanity’s effort to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail-thus it is absurd to try to find meaning or to live as though there is a meaning because no such meaning exists. While Absurdism might seem like a synonym for Existentialism, the two are slightly different. Existentialism makes the point that there is no purpose or meaning in the universe. Absurdism goes a step further to say that not only is life purposeless, but any attempt at finding meaning is utterly absurd. Albe rt Camus, being the polarized man that he was, held more firmly to the belief of Absurdism than existentialism. In writing The Stranger, Albert Camus championed the idea of existentialism, a philosophy he truly believed in it. But the philosophy of existentialism is not free of criticism. Herbert Marcuse criticized existentialism, especially in Sartre’s Being and Nothingness, for projecting certain features of living in a modern, oppressive society, such as anxiety and meaninglessness, onto the nature of existence itself: â€Å"In so far as Existentialism is a philosophical doctrine, it remains an idealistic doctrine: it hypothesizes specific historical conditions of human existence into ontological and metaphysical characteristics. Existentialism thus becomes part of the very ideology which it attacks, and its radicalism is illusory† What Marcuse is saying here is that existentialism makes the mistake of thinking that just because human conditions are tragic and seem to lack a purpose, that they in fact do. Whether or not there is purpose to the universe is an ontological and me taphysical subject, not one that can be realized through historical events. Existentialism and its brother philosophy Absurdism are philosophies that emphasize the uniqueness and isolation of the individual in a hostile and indifferent world, and stress the fact the universe has no discernable purpose. This philosophy is essentially the crux of the novel The Stranger  as Meursault, the indifferent and apathetic main character, embodies the tenets of existentialism intrinsically. Existentialism, what it represents, the results of its embodiment in a person, and the validity of the doctrine altogether are all important aspects explored in The Stranger by Albert Camus. Bibliography 1.†Existentialism.† The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 28 Mar. 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/existentialism2.Marcuse, Herbert. â€Å"Sartre’s Existentialism†. Printed in Studies in Critical Philosophy. Translated by Joris De Bres. London: NLB, 1972. p. 1613.Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Middlesex: UK Penguin Classics, 1943. 4.Sartre, Jean P. Existentialism is a Humanism. World Company, 1956. 5.†Albert Camus.† 28 Mar. 2007 . 6.White, Ray. â€Å"The Meaning of Life.† 2004. 29 Mar. 2007 .

Foundation and Empire 12. Captain And Mayor

Captain Han Pritcher was unused to the luxury of his surroundings and by no means impressed. As a general thing, he discouraged self-analysis and all forms of philosophy and metaphysics not directly connected with his work. It helped. His work consisted largely of what the War Department called â€Å"intelligence,† the sophisticates, â€Å"espionage,† and the romanticists, â€Å"spy stuff.† And, unfortunately, despite the frothy shrillness of the televisors, â€Å"intelligence,† â€Å"espionage,† and â€Å"spy stuff† are at best a sordid business of routine betrayal and bad faith. It is excused by society since it is in the â€Å"interest of the State,† but since philosophy seemed always to lead Captain Pritcher to the conclusion that even in that holy interest, society is much more easily soothed than one's own conscience – he discouraged philosophy. And now, in the luxury of the mayor's anteroom, his thoughts turned inward despite himself. Men had been promoted over his head continuously, though of lesser ability – that much was admitted. He had withstood an eternal rain of black marks and official reprimands, and survived it. And stubbornly he had held to his own way in the firm belief that insubordination in that same holy â€Å"interest of the State† would yet be recognized for the service it was. So here he was in the anteroom of the mayor-with five soldiers as a respectful guard, and probably a court-martial awaiting him. The heavy, marble doors rolled apart smoothly, silently, revealing satiny walls, a red plastic carpeting, and two more marble doors, metal-inlaid, within. Two officials in the straight-lined costume of three centuries back, stepped out, and called: â€Å"An audience to Captain Han Pritcher of Information.† They stepped back with a ceremonious bow as the captain started forward. His escort stopped at the outer door, and he entered the inner alone. On the other side of the doors, in a large room strangely simple, behind a large desk strangely angular, sat a small man, almost lost in the immensity, Mayor Indbur – successively the third of that name – was the grandson of the first Indbur, who had been brutal and capable; and who had exhibited the first quality in spectacular fashion by his manner of seizing power, and the latter by the skill with which he put an end to the last farcical remnants of free election and the even greater skill with which he maintained a relatively peaceful rule. Mayor Indbur was also the son of the second Indbur, who was the first Mayor of the Foundation to succeed to his post by right of birth – and who was only half his father, for he was merely brutal. So Mayor Indbur was the third of the name and the second to succeed by right of birth, and he was the least of the three, for he was neither brutal nor capable – but merely an excellent bookkeeper born wrong. Indbur the Third was a peculiar combination of ersatz characteristics to all but himself. To him, a stilted geometric love of arrangement was â€Å"system,† an indefatigable and feverish interest in the pettiest facets of day-to-day bureaucracy was â€Å"industry,† indecision when right was â€Å"caution,† and blind stubbornness when wrong, â€Å"determination.† And withal he wasted no money, killed no man needlessly, and meant extremely well. If Captain Pritcher's gloomy thoughts ran along these lines as he remained respectfully in place before the large desk, the wooden arrangement of his features yielded no insight into the fact. He neither coughed, shifted weight, nor shuffled his feet until the thin face of the mayor lifted slowly as the busy stylus ceased in its task of marginal notations, and a sheet of close-printed paper was lifted from one neat stack and placed upon another neat stack. Mayor Indbur clasped his hands carefully before him, deliberately refraining from disturbing the careful arrangement of desk accessories. He said, in acknowledgment, â€Å"Captain Han Pritcher of Information.† And Captain Pritcher in strict obedience to protocol bent one knee nearly to the ground and bowed his head until he heard the words of release. â€Å"Arise, Captain Pritcher!† The mayor said with an air of warm sympathy, â€Å"You are here, Captain Pritcher, because of certain disciplinary action taken against yourself by your superior officer. The papers concerning such action have come, in the ordinary course of events, to my notice, and since no event in the Foundation is of disinterest to me, I took the trouble to ask for further information on your case. You are not, I hope, surprised.† Captain Pritcher said unemotionally, â€Å"Excellence, no. Your justice is proverbial.† â€Å"Is it? Is it?† His tone was pleased, and the tinted contact lenses he wore caught the light in a manner that imparted a hard, dry gleam to his eyes. Meticulously, he fanned out a series of metal-bound folders before him. The parchment sheets within crackled sharply as he turned them, his long finger following down the line as he spoke. â€Å"I have your record here, captain – complete. You are forty-three and have been an Officer of the Armed Forces for seventeen years. You were born in Loris, of Anacreonian parents, no serious childhood diseases, an attack of myo†¦ well, that's of no importance†¦ education, premilitary, at the Academy of Sciences, major, hyper-engines, academic standing†¦ hm-m-m, very good, you are to be congratulated†¦ entered the Army as Under-Officer on the one hundred second day of the 293rd year of the Foundation Era.† He lifted his eyes momentarily as he shifted the first folder, and opened the second. â€Å"You see,† he said, â€Å"in my administration, nothing is left to chance. Order! System!† He lifted a pink, scented jelly-globule to his lips. It was his one vice, and but dolingly indulged in. Witness the fact that the mayor's desk lacked that almost-inevitable atom flash for the disposal of dead tobacco. For the mayor did not smoke. Nor, as a matter of course, did his visitors. The mayor's voice droned on, methodically, slurringly, mumblingly – now and then interspersed with whispered comments of equally mild and equally ineffectual commendation or reproof. Slowly, he replaced the folders as originally, in a single neat pile. â€Å"Well, captain,† he said, briskly, â€Å"your record is unusual. Your ability is outstanding, it would seem, and your services valuable beyond question. I note that you have been wounded in the line of duty twice, and that you have been awarded the Order of Merit for bravery beyond the call of duty. Those are facts not lightly to be minimized.† Captain Pritcher's expressionless face did not soften. He remained stiffly erect. Protocol required that a subject honored by an audience with the mayor may not sit down – a point perhaps needlessly reinforced by the fact that only one chair existed in the room, the one underneath the mayor. Protocol further required no statements other than those needed to answer a direct question. The mayor's eyes bore down hard upon the soldier and his voice grew pointed and heavy. â€Å"However, you have not been promoted in ten years, and your superiors report, over and over again, of the unbending stubbornness of your character. You are reported to be chronically insubordinate, incapable of maintaining a correct attitude towards superior officers, apparently uninterested in maintaining frictionless relationships with your colleagues, and an incurable troublemaker, besides. How do you explain that, captain?† â€Å"Excellence, I do what seems right to me. My deeds on behalf of the State, and my wounds in that cause bear witness that what seems fight to me is also in the interest of the State.† â€Å"A soldierly statement, captain, but a dangerous doctrine. More of that, later. Specifically, you are charged with refusing an assignment three times in the face of orders signed by my legal delegates. What have you to say to that?† â€Å"Excellence, the assignment lacks significance in a critical time, where matters of first importance are being ignored.† â€Å"Ah, and who tells you these matters you speak of are of the first importance at all, and if they are, who tells you further that they are ignored?† â€Å"Excellence, these things are quite evident to me. My experience and my knowledge of events – the value of neither of which my superiors deny – make it plain.† â€Å"But, my good captain, are you blind that you do not see that by arrogating to yourself the right to determine Intelligence policy, you usurp the duties of your superior?† â€Å"Excellence, my duty is primarily to the State, and not to my superior.† â€Å"Fallacious, for your superior has his superior, and that superior is myself, and I am the State. But come, you shall have no cause to complain of this justice of mine that you say is proverbial. State in your own words the nature of the breach in discipline that has brought all this on.† â€Å"Excellence, my duty is primarily to the State, and not to my living the life of a retired merchant mariner upon the world of Kalgan. My instructions were to direct Foundation activity upon the planet, perfect an organization to act as check upon the warlord of Kalgan, particularly as regards his foreign policy.† â€Å"This is known to me. Continue!† â€Å"Excellence, my reports have continually stressed the strategic positions of Kalgan and the systems it controls. I have reported on the ambition of the warlord, his resources, his determination to extend his domain and his essential friendliness – or, perhaps, neutrality – towards the Foundation.† â€Å"I have read your reports thoroughly. Continue!† â€Å"Excellence, I returned two months ago. At that time, there was no sign of impending war; no sign of anything but an almost superfluity of ability to repel any conceivable attack. One month ago, an unknown soldier of fortune took Kalgan without a fight. The man who was once warlord of Kalgan is apparently no longer alive. Men do not speak of treason – they speak only of the power and genius of this strange condottiere – this Mule.† â€Å"This who?† the mayor leaned forward, and looked offended. â€Å"Excellence, he is known as the Mule. He is spoken of little, in a factual sense, but I have gathered the scraps and fragments of knowledge and winnowed out the most probable of them. He is apparently a man of neither birth nor standing. His father, unknown. His mother, dead in childbirth. His upbringing, that of a vagabond. His education, that of the tramp worlds, and the backwash alleys of space. He has no name other than that of the Mule, a name reportedly applied by himself to himself, and signifying, by popular explanation, his immense physical strength, and stubbornness of purpose.† â€Å"What is his military strength, captain? Never mind his physique.† â€Å"Excellence, men speak of huge fleets, but in this they may be influenced by the strange fall of Kalgan. The territory he controls is not large, though its exact limits are not capable of definite determination. Nevertheless, this man must be investigated.† â€Å"Hm-m-m. So! So!† The mayor fell into a reverie, and slowly with twenty-four strokes of his stylus drew six squares in hexagonal arrangements upon the blank top sheet of a pad, which he tore off, folded neatly in three parts and slipped into the wastepaper slot at his right hand. It slid towards a clean and silent atomic disintegration. â€Å"Now then, tell me, captain, what is the alternative? You have told me what ‘must' be investigated. What have you been ordered to investigate?† â€Å"Excellence, there is a rat hole in space that, it seems, does not pay its taxes.† â€Å"Ah, and is that all? You are not aware, and have not been told that these men who do not pay their taxes, are descendants of the wild Traders of our early days – anarchists, rebels, social maniacs who claim Foundation ancestry and deride Foundation culture. You are not aware, and have not been told, that this rat hole in space, is not one, but many; that these rat holes are in greater number than we know; that these rat holes conspire together, one with the other, and all with the criminal elements that still exist throughout Foundation territory. Even here, captain, even here!† The mayor's momentary fire subsided quickly. â€Å"You are not aware, captain?† â€Å"Excellence, I have been told all this. But as servant of the State, I must serve faithfully – and he serves most faithfully who serves Truth. Whatever the political implications of these dregs of the ancient Traders – the warlords who have inherited the splinters of the old Empire have the power. The Traders have neither arms nor resources. They have not even unity. I am not a tax collector to be sent on a child's errand.† â€Å"Captain Pritcher, you are a soldier, and count guns. It is a failing to be allowed you up to the point where it involves disobedience to myself. Take care. My justice is not simply weakness. Captain, it has already been proven that the generals of the Imperial Age and the warlords of the present age are equally impotent against us. Seldon's science which predicts the course of the Foundation is based, not on individual heroism, as you seem to believe, but on the social and economic trends of history. We have passed successfully through four crises already, have we not?† â€Å"Excellence, we have. Yet Seldon's science is known only to Seldon. We ourselves have but faith. In the first three crises, as I have been carefully taught, the Foundation was led by wise leaders who foresaw the nature of the crises and took the proper precautions. Otherwise – who can say?† â€Å"Yes, captain, but you omit the fourth crisis. Come, captain, we had no leadership worthy of the name then, and we faced the cleverest opponent, the heaviest armor, the strongest force of all. Yet we won by the inevitability of history.† â€Å"Excellence, that is true. But this history you mention became inevitable only after we had fought desperately for over a year. The inevitable victory we won cost us half a thousand ships and half a million men. Excellence, Seldon's plan helps those who help themselves.† Mayor Indbur frowned and grew suddenly tired of his patient exposition. It occurred to him that there was a fallacy in condescension, since it was mistaken for permission to argue eternally; to grow contentious; to wallow in dialectic. He said, stiffly, â€Å"Nevertheless, captain, Seldon guarantees victory over the warlords, and I can not, in these busy times, indulge in a dispersal of effort. These Traders you dismiss are Foundation-derived. A war with them would be a civil war. Seldon's plan makes no guarantee there for us – since they and we are Foundation. So they must be brought to heel. You have your orders.† â€Å"Excellence-â€Å" â€Å"You have been asked no question, captain. You have your orders. You will obey those orders. Further argument of any sort with myself or those representing myself will be considered treason. You are excused.† Captain Han Pritcher knelt once more, then left with slow, backward steps. Mayor Indbur, third of his name, and second mayor of Foundation history to be so by fight of birth, recovered his equilibrium, and lifted another sheet of paper from the neat stack at his left. It was a report on the saving of funds due to the reduction of the quantity of metal-foam edging on the uniforms of the police force. Mayor Indbur crossed out a superfluous comma, corrected a misspelling, made three marginal notations, and placed it upon the neat stack at his fight. He lifted another sheet of paper from the neat stack at his left. Captain Han Pritcher of Information found a Personal Capsule waiting for him when he returned to barracks. It contained orders, terse and redly underlined with a stamped â€Å"URGENT†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ across it, and the whole initialed with a precise, capital â€Å"I†. Captain Han Pritcher was ordered to the â€Å"rebel world called Haven† in the strongest terms. Captain Han Pritcher, alone in his light one-man speedster, set his course quietly and calmly for Kalgan. He slept that night the sleep of a successfully stubborn man.

Cost and Quality Analysis Essays

Cost and Quality Analysis Essays Cost and Quality Analysis Essay Cost and Quality Analysis Essay Cost and Quality Analysis Effectiveness, safety, timeliness, patient-centered, equitable, and efficient are all elements of quality (McGlynn, 2005). The Institute of Medicine noticed that only half the time patients are getting effective care, disparities in direction remain extensive, medications errors are common, and enhancement of quality and efficiency could eliminate greater than 30% of healthcare costs (McClellan, 2013). It is estimated that in 2007 the national cost of healthcare was $2.2 trillion, or $7,500 per United States (US) resident. Health care expenditures explain 16.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and national health spending accounts for approximately 33% for hospitals, 20% for physician services, and 10% for pharmaceuticals. Costs are escalating rapidly in the US than any other country globally (â€Å"Guiding Principles,† 2008). Questions arise as to the relationship between quality and cost. Will increased cost result in superior care, or will superior outcomes assist in th e containment of cost? Indication of the direction of quality and healthcare costs are unpredictable. Studies have shown that the link between the two is small to moderate, irrespective of whether the path is positive or negative (Hussey, Wertheimer, Mehrotra, 2013). Roles The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Their role is to reinforce research intended to develop the quality of healthcare, decrease its cost, improve patient safety, reduce medical errors, an expand access to vital services (â€Å"Related Public/Private,† 2008). The Joint Commission’s role is to constantly advance the safety and quality of care delivered to the public through the establishment of health care accreditation and associated services that back performance improvement in healthcare systems (â€Å"Related  Public/Private,† 2008). Activities AHRQ has many major activities that address quality and cost in healthcare. One activity is the use of risk management theory by nurses. Effective risk management necessitates nurses to identify risks before they happen to the patient. Jointly with a medication database, the medication regimen complexity index tool is used for measuring numerous characteristics of drug regimen complexity to decrease adverse reactions and higher costs, which is yet another activity used by the AHRQ (â€Å"Automated Tool,† 2013). The Joint Commission, on the other hand, has the Core Measure Solution Exchange ®. This is a web-based forum devoted to communicating solutions related to improving core measure performance rates (â€Å"Hospital Resources,† 2013). The National Patient Safety Goals is a sequence of exact activities to stop medication errors , for example miscommunication between healthcare providers, unsafe use of infusion pumps, and medication mistakes (â€Å"Joint Commission, † 2013). Both of these agencies are working together on some topics. The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse endorses extensive access to quality measures by the healthcare community (â€Å"Specifications Manuel,† 2013). It is sponsored by the AHRQ and includes Joint Commission measures. Current and Projected Initiatives AHRQ funded a national attempt to stop central line-associated bloodstream infections in US hospitals by executing a Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (â€Å"Eliminating CLABSI,† 2013). Another initiative that is hallmark is their support of a culture of patient safety and quality enhancements in healthcare organizations in the Nation, entitled, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. They subsidized the progress of patient safety culture assessment tools and sponsored the development of a comparative database on the survey (â€Å"Hospital Survey,† 2013). AHRQ initiated the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. This empowers research on a comprehensive assortment of health policy issues, comprising cost and quality of health services, medical practice models, access to health care programs, and consequences of actions at the national, State, and local levels (â€Å"Healthcare Cost,† 2013).ealthH The Joint Commission’s safety and cost initiatives revolve around quality improvements. They currently have an initiative to describe approaches for attaining improvement in the efficiency of the transitions of patients between healthcare facilities, which include continuance of safe, quality care for patients (â€Å"Hot Topics,† n.d.). They developed a tool, Targeted Solutions Tool (TST)â„ ¢ for Hand-off Communications, which gauges the efficiency of hand-offs in hospitals and between facilities and offers solutions. They also have TSTs for hand hygiene and wrong site surgery. Another initiative is the National Quality Core Measures. They have 14 different actions that have specific core measure sets under them. Some core measures that they are reviewing are perinatal care, venous thromboembolism (VTE), tobacco treatment, immunizations, and stroke (â€Å"Core Measure,† 2013). Another initiative is the Cooperative Accreditation Initiative. This initiative†™s focus is to decrease the cost and repetition of survey and review activity practiced by healthcare organizations (â€Å"Facts About,† 2013). Implications for Nurses Nurses are instrumental to the delivery of high quality and efficient care. Efforts by organizations to maintain labor costs, while maintaining quality standards, have major effects on the nursing staff. A model that depicts this is Transforming Care at the bedside. The goal is to involve front-line staff and hospital leadership to make enhancements in four areas: refining the quality and safety of care; safeguarding a high-quality work environment to entice and retain nurses; cultivating the proficiency of care for patients and families; and improving the efficacy of the entire healthcare team. An advanced degree that describes this is the clinical nurse leader role. It is intended for nurses that want to bring about positive changes, but stay at the bedside. Staffing and organization of hospital nursing influences quality and cost (Needlemen Hassmiller, 2009). What nurses do affects the patient’s quality of care and hospital cost. Nurses provide continuous monitoring and as sessment, provide interventions to decrease or prevent complications and harm, collaborate with other healthcare workers, and provide education. Analysis shows that the biggest cost savings of increased staffing result  from decreased lengths-of-stay (LOS). Reduced stays not only reveal decreased problems that prolong stays, but the aptitude of nurses to perform their work and manage the work of others in a timely and effective way. This demonstrates their capability to affect efficiency as well as quality (Needlemen Hassmiller, 2009). Emergency departments are diligently looking at ways to decrease LOS. The insinuation of the evidenced-based practice (EBP) competency for nurses indicates that nurses are required to research the best resources of evidence; express strong, quantifiable questions; and understand how to assimilate new findings into practice (Wakefield, 2008). An example is the direction that organizations are moving to have work environments and procedures be lean, thus improving quality, process, cost, and production. Nurses will need to use EBP to work more efficiently and be lean. Conclusion Improving the quality of hospital organizations has become an extremely notable public and private business, as clients, accreditors, and private facilities try to set norms and inspire accomplishments. Simultaneously, the management of hospital costs has been in the forefront. Attempts to influence labor costs have key effects on nurses. Many organizations are coming up with strategic ways to improve this quality, while controlling costs. The AHRQ and The Joint Commission have been enormously helpful in assisting hospitals with ways to improve quality by maintaining the basic elements of effectiveness, safety, timeliness, patient-centered, equitable, and efficient nursing care. They reveal opportunities to support our customers, healthcare workers, and healthcare organizations in improving care and thus preventing needless health care costs. References Automated tool to determine medication regimen complexity may help identify patients at high risk of adverse events. (2013). Retrieved, from AHRQ at ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/13sep/0913RA7.html Core measure sets. (2013). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/core_measure_sets.aspx Eliminating CLABSI, a National patient safety imperative: Final report. (2013). Retrieved from  AHRQ at ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/cusp/clabsi-final/index.html Facts about the cooperative accreditation initiative. (2013). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/facts_about_the_cooperative_accreditation_initiative/ Guiding principles for the development of the hospital of the future. (2008). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Hosptal_Future.pdf Healthcare cost and utilization project (HCUP). (2013). Retrieved from AHRQ at ahrq.gov/research/data/hcup/ Hospital resources and tools. (2013). Re trieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/accreditation/hospital_resources_and_tools.aspx Hospital survey on patient safety culture. (2013). Retrieved from AHRQ at ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patientsafetyculture/hospital/ Hot topics in health care: Transitions of care: The need for a more effective approach to continuing patient care. (n.d.). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Hot_Topics_Transitions_of_Care.pdf Hussey, P. S., Wertheimer, S., Mehrotra, A. (2013). The association between health care quality and cost: A systematic review. Annual Internal Medicine, 158(1), 27-34. doi:10.732/0003-4819-158-1-201301010-00006. Joint Commission FAQ page. (2013). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org/about/JointCommissionFaqs.aspx McClellan, M.B. (2013). Improving healthcare quality: The path forward. Retrieved, from brookings.edu/research/testimony/2013/06/26-improving-health-care-quality-mcclellan McGlynn, E. A. (2005). U.S. health care: Facts about cost, access, and quality. Retrieved from Rand Health at rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/corporate_pubs/2005/RAND_CP484.1.pdf Needlemen, J. Hassmiller, S. (2009). The role of nurses in improving hospital quality and efficiency: Real-world results. Retrieved, from Health Affairs at http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/4/w625.full.pdf+html Specifications manual for Joint Commission national quality measures (v20135). (2013). Retrieved, from The Joint Commission at http://manual.jointcommission.org/releases/TJC2013B/IntroductionTJC.html

Shades of Meaning in Names of Colors

Shades of Meaning in Names of Colors Shades of Meaning in Names of Colors Shades of Meaning in Names of Colors By Mark Nichol A recent newspaper article about the world’s ugliest color reminded me that writers of both fiction and nonfiction can be misguided in describing colors. The article referred to a study in which researchers identified the ugliest color: opaque couchà ©. This name (the official designation in the Pantone Matching System, a printing-industry codification of colors) is French for â€Å"nontransparent layer,† a translation just as unhelpful in helping people visualize the color, which has also been- ahem- colorfully described as baby poo green. Now, having read that description, who out there can’t picture opaque couchà ©? When describing colors, it’s best to associate them with known visual stimuli- objects (especially those from the natural world) known to have that color. Artists and fashionistas may know celadon from celery, but a layperson will likely draw a blank when trying to picture a sweater dyed celadon, while easily forming an image of a celery-colored one. Likewise, emerald or mantis will resonate better with readers than a vague term such as chartreuse or teal, or one with a place designation, such as â€Å"Paris green.† Also, reconsider dated references. â€Å"Bottle green† was a useful descriptor in an era when glass containers of a distinctive green hue were ubiquitous, but the term will fall on blind eyes among younger readers. By contrast, â€Å"olive drab† is timeless, because of association with the fruit, though military combat uniforms, which used to be dyed in the color given that designation, are now generally earth toned. Also, consider how evocative a term is. Bright green, harlequin, and neon green are very similar shades, but â€Å"bright green† is lifeless, and harlequin suggests a pattern rather than a hue, but â€Å"neon green† is a vivid descriptor. For a very specific demographic, â€Å"Nickelodeon-slime green† will evoke the color of the ooze known to people who watched game shows on the Nickelodeon cable and satellite network during the 1990s, but it won’t benefit other readers. By all means, be as specific as possible in depicting colors, whether using a fictional character’s (or real-life person’s) choice of a fashion palette to provide insight into his or her personality or to convey an object’s or landscape’s appearance, but choose color descriptors carefully to enhance rather than obscure. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Meaning of "To a T"Top 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)Show, Don't Tell

Dont Have in Chinese Mandarin

Don't Have in Chinese Mandarin æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰ (mà ©i yÇ’u) in Mandarin means  havent, hasnt, doesnt exist, to not have, and to not be. Pronunciation æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰ is pronounced ââ€" ºmà ©i yÇ’u.  Ã¦ ² ¡ is in the 2nd tone, whereas æÅ"‰ is spoken in the 3rd tone. This can also be written as: mei2 you3. Chinese Characters Traditional Form: æ ²â€™Ã¦Å"‰Simplified Form: æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰The first character æ ²â€™ /  Ã¦ ² ¡ (mà ©i) is a negative prefix for verbs. The second character æÅ"‰ (yÇ’u) is the verb for to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be. Put together,  Ã¦ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰ means to not have, to not be, or to not exist. Sentence Examples Audio files are marked with ââ€" º ââ€" ºTÄ  mà ©i yÇ’u shuÃ…  huÇŽng.ä »â€"æ ²â€™Ã¦Å"‰è ª ªÃ¨ ¬Å Ã¤ »â€"æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰è ¯ ´Ã¨ °Å½He didn’t tell a lie. ââ€" ºMà ­ng tiÄ n wÇ’ mà ©i yÇ’u kÃ… ng.明å ¤ ©Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¦ ²â€™Ã¦Å"‰ç © ºÃ¦ËœÅ½Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¦ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰ç © ºI dont have any free time tomorrow. Mà ©i yÇ’u yà ¬yà ¬Ã¦ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰æ„ Ã¤ ¹â€°Its pointless / There is no meaning. WÇ’ gÄ“n tÄ  mà ©i yÇ’u linxà ¬Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¨ ·Å¸Ã¤ »â€"æ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰è â€Ã§ ³ »I have no relation with him.   Zhà ¨ mà ©i yÇ’u yà ²ngè ¿â„¢Ã¦ ² ¡Ã¦Å"‰ç” ¨This is useless/(more literally) This has no use.

History of wool Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History of wool - Essay Example The origin of wool can be traced back in Asia Minor just like the story of human civilization. This happened during the Stone Age period, over 10,000 years ago. Sheep was used by the primitive man who lived on the Mesopotamian plain for shelter, clothing, and food. With time, man learned how to weave and spin, and woolen materials turned to be part of their riches. Romans, Persians, and Greeks distributed sheep over Europe between 3000 and 1000 B.C, which improved the breeds. King Henry VIII, who reigned between 1509 and 1547, seized the flocks of monasteries and gave them out to the court favorites (American Wool 2). The shepherds who were left unemployed were then sent to prison for failing to repay their debts. This was part of the incitement that led them to migrate into America. England through his Kings tried to discourage the wool industry in North America, however, some few sheep that had been smuggled there had multiplied into over 100,000 sheep by 1665. There was even a law passed by Massachusetts that required a young people to spin and weave. The American tradition and folklore grew together with the wool industry. The eldest unmarried daughters in the family were charged with the spinning duties, hence the name ‘spinster. They wound spun yarn on a reel that when a given yardage was arrived at, it made a popping sound. American Wool. "The History of Wool Fact Sheet." Division American Sheep Industry Association Inc. (2013): 1-2. Web. 28 January 2015.

Western And Byzantine Civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Western And Byzantine Civilizations - Essay Example The eastern part of the Roman Empire achieved greatness as the Byzantine civilization, which saw its days of glory during the rule of Justinian and Theodora. Eastern Orthodoxy was the dominant religious belief and a new imperial law was devised, which resulted in a unified imperial Government, unlike the fractured tribes of the Western civilization. The government was also centralized and under the rule of Justinian, art reached new heights since several new buildings and churches were built.  The first document dealing with this period is a piece written by the Christian priest Salvian, which compares the Romans and the Barbarians and finds that the barbarians have superior moral values. This document is titled â€Å"Of God’s Government† and is found in the book titled â€Å"Readings in European History† Vol 1 by James Harvey Robinson, published in 1904. The priest compares Roman customs to those of the barbarians and points out that the barbarians, despite th eir record of cruelty and sin, appear to demonstrate the values of love, kindness, and charity which the Romans ought to have. The Romans, on the contrary, persecute each other and the enormity of their sin is doubled because they are supposed to be civilized individuals. On this basis, the priest concludes that the moral framework of the barbarians may, in fact, be superior to the Romans.  The second document is written by the court historian and biographer Procopius. The article is titled â€Å"The character and innovations of Justinian and Theodora† and appears in the book titled â€Å"The secret history of Procopius† published in 1927 by Crown Publishers. In this article, Procopius presents a critical view of Justinian and Theodora. He points out the differences in the Roman manner of greeting where the dignity of high officials was preserved, while Justinian and Theodora demanded a more slavish form homage.

History of Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

History of Architecture - Essay Example With an effective symmetry, one-half of the structure is an exact replica of the other half. Such a section is essential in determining the strength and he ability to the entire structure sine it influences the amount of weight that an engineer attaches on either side. The Facade of Pallao Chiericati is one of Palladio’s most prominent work. The symmetry among other pertinent aspects of the structure is similar to those in the early Roman society. He uses the similar rectangular shapes of the structures prevalent in the early society but he further seeks to achieve beauty and durability by modifying the structures and the design of the structures, a new feature in the Roman architecture that is symbolic of his era. Columns on the other hand refer to the solid upright structures that support the entire weight of the building. This is one of the most important aspect of a construction and requires effective consideration in order to reconcile with the total weight of the structu re. In designing his columns, Palladio accentuated his designs with acanthus leaf capitals at the top of the beams. The Roman structures had stronger columns, which just as in any other structure supported the structures. However, he added the design as a means of achieving increased aesthetic features of his design, thereby becoming an important distinction of his works and the new era in architecture that he pioneered. Palladio’s works laid more importance on the symmetry and perspective of the structure. He developed stronger and balanced structures and incorporated more of his creativity on the decoration of the structures thereby making them iconic beauties. He borrowed such aspects of the Roman society thereby earning relevance among them but incorporated his own creativity a feature that marked the transition between the two architectural eras. Among the most common features he used in decorating his works included scallop shells, typical motifs in the Greek and Roman arts. They used pediments to decorate doors and windows (Alain, 2009). Additionally, masks that were important motifs in the early society were used on the interior decoration of buildings. The increased decorations added weight to the building thereby demanding stronger columns and beams to support. Palladio achieved this through the accurate consideration of symmetry and perspective of his work thereby constructing stronger bases capable of withstanding the intense pressure resulting from the heavier walls and roofs. The uniqueness of the design arose from the fact that he used simple and common materials but with them developed stronger and more stable structure, which embodied beauty of the existing cultures (Giovanni, 1980).He designed simple structures, which he developed in bricks and covered in stucco. The stucco walls represented the Roman Villa topology. This way, he upheld the Roman culture in the art of villa constructions. Question 2 The construction technology resulted in stronger structures than those built in modern societies using steel. Basilique Saint-Denis in northern Paris, Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in England are some of the early cathedrals whose structures employed the early gothic architecture. Comparing the two to Lincoln Cathedral in England and the Bamberg cathedral

Marx and Weber- rise of capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marx and Weber- rise of capitalism - Essay Example Karl Marx and Max Weber are two eminent sociologists whose theories have been regarded as milestones in the development of two distinct schools of thought in sociology. This paper investigates into the theories presented by these two sociologists on the rise and growth of capitalism in the Western society. The theories presented by both the sociologists are very significant, yet very distinct from each other on several bases. The essay compares the differences in the approaches of Marx and Weber towards the emergence of capitalism and the crucial factors behind its origin and growth. After contrasting both the theories, the essay points out the most preferable theories of the two.Marx’s and Weber’s theories of rise of capitalism gave two distinct directions to the world concerning the emergence and growth of capitalism that dramatically transformed the social and economic aspects of life in the Western world from sixteenth century and onwards. Weber criticized and refus ed the theory of capitalism as proposed by Marx and put forward his study on the egression of capitalism Western society that differs with Marx’s approach on several grounds. Karl Marx was a sociologist who wrote to make people aware of the changes taking place in their social and economic environment due to the growth of capitalistic systemIn his renowned book â€Å"Capital†, he illustrates capitalism as a system of production under which entrepreneur class or few capitalists control the means necessary to bring about production process

Forward Contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Forward Contracts - Essay Example Although these simple arrangements can easily mitigate foreign exchange rate risks, there are several advantages and disadvantages of using them to hedge foreign exchange risks (Feng, 2007). The first advantage of using forward contracts to hedge foreign exchange risks is that future rates can be fixed in advance. This therefore eliminates the downside risk exposure. Secondly, forward contracts are more flexible with respect to the amount of money to be covered. Thirdly, forward contracts are relatively simple and straightforward to both comprehend and organize (Feng, 2007). On the other hand options allow the contracting party to settle forward contracts at an agreed and fixed exchange rate, but at any time between two specific dates. This means that option-date forward exchange contracts can be settled at the agreed rate if currency cash-flows occur between the two set dates (Meera, 2009). Although forward exchange contracts are simple agreements that can mitigate exchange rate risks, they have some shortcomings. In particular, it may be difficult to get a counter party who will agree to fix future exchange rates for the time period as well as the amount in question. Secondly, forward contracts do not provide an opportunity for the parties to benefit from favorable fluctuations in the exchange rates. Thirdly, forward markets only exist for major world trading currencies such as the Dollar, Euro, Pound or Yen, but they do not exist for exotic currencies (Doupnik & Perera, 2007). The main disadvantage with options is that the issuer of the option receives the fees upon the specified date and is obligated to buy the securities at the other party’s option. Additionally, options are subject to basis risks and only provide a partial hedge (Meera,

The analysis of international competitiveness of China's auto Dissertation

The analysis of international competitiveness of China's auto manufacturing industry - Dissertation Example With the boost in expansion of the industry the international auto industry has become a key sector of the economical growth for each and every country in the world. The auto manufacturing industry has shown a great development and registered a growth rate of thirty percent increase in the last few decades in-between 1995-2005. The world’s auto manufacturing industry has produced and accounted for a sixty six billion cars, trucks, vans and buses during 2005. The auto manufacturing industry has been the single vast engine of the economic growth in the world. With the deepening development of the economic globalization the auto manufacturing industry has obtained rapid and robust development in the recent years and has gradually established itself as the pillar of the nation’s economy. The auto manufacturing industry has contributed immensely towards the nation’s economy by means of production and job creation in the economy. As per the reports, a production of the sixty million vehicles paved the way for an employment of about nine million people directly in the production and the manufacturing of the automobile parts. This accounted for over the five percent of the total manufacturing employment worldwide. It was approximated that each direct auto manufacturing job sustained that least five percent of the circuitous jobs in the society resulting in more than a fifty million jobs in the in the auto manufacturing industry. The actual results also meet the approximated figures in terms of the jobs opportunity provided by the auto manufacturing industry globally. In addition the auto manufacturing industry also provided employment opportunities for the in the manufacturing of the related goods and the service industry. The vehicles produced by the auto manufacturer are essential in the functioning of the global economy and to the welfare of the world’s citizen. The global auto manufacturing industry also accounts for the chief innovator. The industry has developed through a constant research and development process of the technology which in turn facilitated for the cost effectiveness in production. This assures that the technological development in the auto manufacturing industry provides the backbone of a strong economy through the cost effective advantage. Studies showed that the greatest auto manufacturing producing countries had invested in lump sum over their technological research and development wing for a smooth operation in the auto manufacturing sector. The entire world accounted for an investment of â‚ ¬84 billion on the research and development wing in the auto manufacturing sector. Auto manufacturing also accounted for a major contributor of revenue in the government sector all around the world making a contribution of more than â‚ ¬400 billion (OICA is the Voice Speaking on Automotive Issues in World Forums, 2007). Growing environmental concerns amongst the consumers and the hike in the fuel pr ices are inspiring the auto manufacturing manufacturer to expand the portfolio of the small cars and this make a shift in the production of the automobiles for the future industry growth. This accounted for one of the competitive advantage of the automobile industry. For competing in the international auto manufacturing industry a nation needs to diversify into a new manufacturing model that will

Forward Contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Forward Contracts - Essay Example Although these simple arrangements can easily mitigate foreign exchange rate risks, there are several advantages and disadvantages of using them to hedge foreign exchange risks (Feng, 2007). The first advantage of using forward contracts to hedge foreign exchange risks is that future rates can be fixed in advance. This therefore eliminates the downside risk exposure. Secondly, forward contracts are more flexible with respect to the amount of money to be covered. Thirdly, forward contracts are relatively simple and straightforward to both comprehend and organize (Feng, 2007). On the other hand options allow the contracting party to settle forward contracts at an agreed and fixed exchange rate, but at any time between two specific dates. This means that option-date forward exchange contracts can be settled at the agreed rate if currency cash-flows occur between the two set dates (Meera, 2009). Although forward exchange contracts are simple agreements that can mitigate exchange rate risks, they have some shortcomings. In particular, it may be difficult to get a counter party who will agree to fix future exchange rates for the time period as well as the amount in question. Secondly, forward contracts do not provide an opportunity for the parties to benefit from favorable fluctuations in the exchange rates. Thirdly, forward markets only exist for major world trading currencies such as the Dollar, Euro, Pound or Yen, but they do not exist for exotic currencies (Doupnik & Perera, 2007). The main disadvantage with options is that the issuer of the option receives the fees upon the specified date and is obligated to buy the securities at the other party’s option. Additionally, options are subject to basis risks and only provide a partial hedge (Meera,

The Dimensions of Interprofessional Practice (Reflective commentary) Essay

The Dimensions of Interprofessional Practice (Reflective commentary) - Essay Example Therefore, we requested the services of her health care service provider so that we could have necessary details. I was assigned with the task of gathering her medical history while Mrs. Weber was being provided with preliminary treatment which included necessary dressing to cover and heal her wound. Considering the history of Mrs. Weber, I called social worker handling Mrs. Weber’s case and also two specialists from falls clinic so that necessary input can be received regarding patient’s current life style, Osteoarthritis problem and fear for walking. For drafting a reflection of this event, Gibbs’ framework for reflection is being used (Oxford Brookes University, 2012). Although there are various methods available for reflective writing but Gibb’s framework provides a highly synchronized and systematic approach to elaborate, discuss and evaluate the event in the light of practical experiences and theoretical approaches. 2. Feelings Being a nurse, it beca me my responsibility to ensure that all the members of this inter-professional team that included a social worker who was Mrs. Weber’s caretaker, two specialists from falls clinic and my attending, remain in complete contact. ... 2010). This idea was a reflection of directives provided by NSF Standards 2001 by DoH. According to these standards, necessary interventions should be introduced to ensure that elderly patients are enabled of living their life in a healthy manner. Furthermore, it was important that impacts of illness and disability must be reduced and all the other barriers to healthy life must be mitigated. According to Mrs. Weber’s caretaker, she didn’t use any external mobilization support. She was taking medication from local community doctor as well as some unregistered homeopathic doctor. This intake of medicine from multiple sources made me suspicious about her medicine intake and her present health condition. 3. Evaluation Careful analysis of patient’s case revealed that Mrs. Weber had a hypotension problem that was accelerated by polypharmacy as she was taking medicines from NHS representatives and a local homeopathic doctor simultaneously (Hovard and Avery, 2004). Exces sive intake of diuretic resulted in high blood pressure leading to repetitive falls (Lewiecki and Watts, 2009). Furthermore, due to these falls, she had developed a fear of mobilization. An interesting input was given by the psychiatrist of falls clinic. According to him, diuretics increase the extent of urination. Since Mrs. Weber finds it difficult to move independently and does not use any sanitary pads, she urinates in her bed or other places resulting in low self-esteem. The social worker responsible for Mrs. Weber’s care added that Mrs. Weber prefers to remain isolated from the family, community and external contact. Due to these multiple factors, Mrs. Weber has become a patient of

Corporate University in China Essay Example for Free

Corporate University in China Essay The concept of corporate university (CU) in China is a recent phenomenon although it existed more than eight decades in the western world. Literature reviews indicate that CU is an independent professional-managed entity proactively providing learning intervention in the workplace. With the ownership of the corporation, CU embedded culture and optimized learning through commitment to strategic intent in order to meet organizational objectives. The concept of â€Å"training† has to be redefined. The major key role of CU is to facilitate both individuals and organization to become â€Å"efficient learner† in order to maintain competitiveness in the ever-changing of business environment. Since the start of economic reform in 1978, the Chinese economy has enjoyed a dramatic growth. In 2002 alone, China attracted over US$52.7 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), surpassing the US. The drastic economic growth and the fundamental structural change in China as a result of government policies, globalization and technological advances will continue to drive the demand for training and competency development. Both local and foreign-invested corporations seek the CU concept as the strategic solution. There are many reasons for corporations establish CU; however, the primary one is to facilitate corporate objectives and support business strategies. Studies on HRM suggest different models vary across different countries. A direct copy from western model might cause ineffective and inefficient. A comprehensive understanding on the CU meaning, how it operates, and its roles are important. In addition, consideration of local elements is necessary in adopting CU in China. Major Chinese characteristics with current corporate situation and issues should be identified. Evidences support that the Chinese contextual variables and their CU motives impact the strategies and development of CU in China. Adapted from Prince Beaver’s conceptual CU Wheel model, a priori China CU framework encompassed the unique characteristics of China is formulated in an attempt to describe the key functions that an â€Å"ideal† type of CU in China should perform. Based on the theoretical assumptions, the four core subsystems include learning and teaching process, networks and partnership, accreditation system, and marketing process constitute the main elements of the CU process. They work collaboratively with the common goal of supporting business goals and strategies. The two cultural elements, â€Å"guanxi† and â€Å"mianzi†, work as catalyst or lubricator to enhance the effectiveness and coordination. The priori CU framework brings new insight to the CU development in China. Research is performed to test the relevance of this framework across the three major forms of ownership. To achieve the research objectives, an exploratory and descriptive approach is used. This study adopts a qualitative case-methodology based on the in-depth interviews, previously collected data through questionnaires and documentary analysis. The three study cases include: 1. Taikang Business University (TBU) a joint-venture enterprise with foreign investment; 2. Motorola University, China (MUC) a wholly foreign-owned multi-national corporation (MNC); 3. X Academy, a state-owned enterprise (SOE) To delimit the study, each case covers background information, its objectives and roles, core portfolio, and the relevance of the priori framework. Challenges and issues of each case organization are addressed as well. A cross-case analysis of the three case organizations is used to identify the similarities and differences. The diffusion of CU practices varies with the investment form and the foreign equity stake. The study provides evident that both the MNC and joint venture case organizations with foreign investment are more mature in their CU process. The integration and coordination of the four core processes that constitute the priori CU framework are strongly evident. A hybrid model of CU practices is adopted with the convergence of practices from the parent country operation and the divergence of practices for the China context. On the other hand, the CU development of the SOE case is less developed. It can be explained that most of SOEs in China lack western management know-how and resources. Some CU sub-processes or practices of the priori CU framework are either missing or too weak in the SOE case. It has been facing problems at the CU evolution. Misconception on training, lack of support from upper management, lack of CU understanding, unable to demonstrate the CU value, ineffective learning process, and the cultural gap are the major issues and challenges for CUs in China. Improvements have to be made before CU can really take off in organizations in China. Recommendations with reference to the priori CU framework are made. Additional comments on CU strategies are given for local enterprises and the foreign-invested organization. It is evident that some CUs such as Motorola University China (MUC) perform a range of strategic functions in China. Among all, it can be summarized into two major categories: developing people and developing business. Although developing people is the most common motive for the CU establishment, the CU strategic orientation towards market-driven and profit-driven is more evident and justifiable to most Chinese enterprises. The CU strategies and practices are highly influenced by the political, economic and cultural characteristics of China. It would be difficult to apply a single CU model to all CU phenomena. Despite the limitation, the priori CU framework can still be used as a tool to describe the current situation in the CU scene in China. It encompasses the unique characteristics of China CU, capable of providing the direction to the CU operations and practices. This research raises a number of issues upon which subsequent research efforts can be expended as follow: 1. Besides the forms of ownership, other company variables such as the industry types, leadership style, corporation sizes, and corporate culture might affect the CU development and practices. Further, the CU strategies and practices are highly influenced by the political, economic and cultural characteristics of China. To what extent these contextual variables influence the CU adoption in China? 2. The major motive for local enterprises to establish CU is to drive corporate-wide initiative, reinforcing and perpetuating behavior towards internationalization. So how do the local corporations, particularly state-owned enterprise, change their traditional view to more global perspective in order to run a successful CU? 3. Different foreign-invested corporations adopt different local strategy. Some focus on globalizing the China operation whilst others prefer to adopt a complete localization approach. Does the local strategy adopted by the foreign-invested corporation affect the CU strategy and development? 4. The dynamic business environment in China creates a constant change phenomenon in corporate strategies. How does CU support the changing corporate strategies and maintain its agility? How does CU demonstrate its value in China? With a large population, fast and rapid growing economy and constant improvement of its people’s living standard, corporations in China enjoy tremendous market potentials. CU definitely has an important role in China. However, a successful CU requires continuously learning and self-reflective. The evolution of CU involves ongoing values, trust, respect, commitment, integrity and enthusiasm. The priori CU framework, to a certain extent, can be used as a tool to explain the current situation in the CU scene in China. With more understanding on the CU practices and development in China, it will benefit both organization decision makers and educational providers to evaluate their responses to what is clearly a growing phenomenon.

The Bogart Essay -- essays research papers

Have you ever wondered how great it would be to inherit a castle in Scotland? What if it was haunted by a sprit called a Boggart? The book I read called The Boggart by Susan Cooper is a story based on something like that happening. The main story takes place in Toronto, Canada. The Volink family inherited a castle in Scotland from Mr. McDevon the mother’s uncle. The two children in the story are Emily and Jessup. Emily is the oldest. She is smart brave and very sensitive towards the Boggart, once she understood him. Jessup is very smart, loves computers, and was a member of a computer gang called the Gang 5. The parents of Emily and Jessup were Robert and Maggie Volink. Robert works in the theater and Maggie owns and runs an antique store. The Volink family were excited and amazed that they inherited a castle. But what the Volink’s did not know was that a spirit called a Boggart lived there. The Boggart is a sprit that is neither good or bad. He mainly plays practical jokes on people. It is like a little child that can be friendly towards mortals. Boggarts cannot be seen or heard.. The Volink family sold the castle right away because it would be to expensive to keep. Emily and Jessup kept two pieces of furniture to bring home. What they didn’t realize was that a Boggart was sleeping in the desk they took home. When the Boggart got up he realized he was no longer home in Scotland in his castle. As the Boggart got comfortable he began his practical jokes in Toronto. He wou...

Academic and Vocational Integration :: Vocational Education Educational Essays

Academic and Vocational Integration The integration of academic and vocational education, mandated through the 1990 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act and supported by the 1994 School-to-Work Opportunities Act, is a concept that has been interpreted and implemented in a variety of ways. As a result, its role in school reform and its effectiveness in modifying curriculum content, teaching practices, and school structure to enhance student preparation for work have become obscured. This Myths and Realities attempts to clarify the importance of academic and vocational integration in relation to emerging pedagogy, teaching and learning practices, and school-to-work efforts. New Pedagogy and Teaching/Learning Theories Overshadow the Value of Integration Current research on teaching and learning supports a constructivist pedagogy, which contends that people construct knowledge through their interpretive interactions with and experiences in their social environments. In constructivism, the focus of teaching is on empowering learners to "construct new knowledge" by providing opportunities for them to test academic theories through real-world applications of knowledge in settings that are socially relevant to their lives. Beane (1998) highlights several factors reflecting support of this pedagogy: 1. Growing support for active learning and knowledge construction in place of rote memorization and the accumulation of knowledge constructed by others. 2. Interest in patterns of brain functioning as related to learning. 3. An emerging awareness that knowledge is socially constructed, influenced by ones prior knowledge and social, cultural, and academic experiences. Student-centered teaching, project-oriented instruction, problem-based learning, and contextual teaching and learning are currently promoted as strategies for implementing constructivism. However, they also reflect the philosophy upon which academic and vocational integration is based: that education must forge connections between knowledge development and its application in the workplace. In its most basic form, curriculum integration involves the infusion of academic content into vocational programs, often referred to as "enhanced academics." The new vocationalism, however, calls for "enhanced relevance," which is achieved when students engage in learning experiences that are situated in real-life contexts and that afford in-depth understanding and the development of higher-order thinking skills (Pisapia and Riggins 1997; Stasz 1997). Urquiola et al. (1997) note that curricular integration reflects the process of contextualization by bringing authentic work elements to abstract academic subjects. It contributes to the development of students critical thinking and collaborative skills as well as those that prepare them for skilled jobs. Learning in context and constructing knowledge through socially based experiences are two teaching/learning concepts that draw upon principles of curriculum integration.

Operational Research Essay

Stock control or Inventory control has been in use for a long time. While small organizations may use manual methods to track their stock, complex global organizations make use of sophisticated systems like ERP’s to handle inventory control. There are various stock control methods in use. The methods used by a business organization depend upon not only the size and complexity but the type of industry it is in. A DIY superstore may use a method like the Order Point where the demand is driven by the customer’s buying patterns with little or no control by the manufacturer. As against this, a stock control method like MRP is used in companies like the Executive Upholstery Company where demand is dependent upon sales forecast and the sales orders. In the following paragraphs the stock control methods used by Executive Upholstery Company and DIY superstore are examined and also compared with each other to provide insights into the two methods discussed. Order Point Method – DIY superstore Supermarkets, warehouses and even some manufacturing companies tend to use Order Timing Decisions or Order Point methods for inventory control where the demand is not certain. The demand pattern in a DIY superstore is seasonal and is dictated by the consumers. The demand is independent of the manufacturing processes and many variations in demand need to be considered while controlling the inventory. Traditionally stock control was done using guess work to identify the stock levels and re order points. Factors like Safety Stock, EOQ, an Lead Times were not considered. Because of the huge numbers of items involved, and also the need to cope up with variable and uncertain demand patterns, manual methods gave way to some techniques like ABC/ VED analysis; Forecast Order Point. In ABC analysis, for instance, the inventory is categorized by the importance of the contribution to the final product cost. Some classification can be the ‘most important’, ‘important’ and ‘less important’. In the Forecast Order Point method of stock control, the future demand is calculated using the historical demand patterns. Time series methods like simple average, weighted average and exponential smoothing methods can also be used to forecast demand more accurately. In the DIY superstore example, the simple average method was used to forecast demand and lead time. Based on the 5 weeks of Master Production schedule, re order point for various items for the week6 were determined. Table 2 below shows the reorder point for the various items based on the 5 weeks of maser Production Schedule. The inherent problem with this technique is that it assumes that the forecast is near accurate and there is safety stock. In a weighted average method of forecasting technique, weighting to the most recent demand is given more and less to the earlier weeks. Techniques like Exponential smoothing are used to forecast the demand more accurately when there are trends in data and data is available for a longer period of time. Considerations like Safety stock and Service Level need to accounted for while using any forecasting technique. MRP in Executive Upholstery Company MRP is used when the demand is more certain and is based on sales forecasts, sales orders. It uses a time phased production schedule dictated by the capacity available. MRP uses, apart from this top level demand, inputs like Bill of Material, Stock on hand, Purchase orders already placed. Bill of materials lists all the parts and components required to make finished products and subassemblies. A structure diagram for BOM can be made using various levels with the finished product being at level 1. Manufacturing organizations do use stock files and work order files. Stock files list current stock of all parts: finished, raw material and sub assemblies. Work order files list replenishment orders which have been already placed. The main consideration of MRP is to produce a set of ‘time phased requirements’ (orders) for each component in the system at specified intervals of time – days or weeks. The first step in MRP is to identify the Gross Requirements for each component or assembly – how many in each time period. The Gross Requirements for each part in the example at table 1 is arrived at by identifying the demand quantity of each of the three types of chairs (Captain, Recliner and Director) from the Master Production Schedule and multiplying this quantity by the quantity in each part in its bill including the parts of sub assemblies and then adding them up all to arrive at the total demand for each part. While calculating the Gross Requirements, the lowest level components are used. Also, the beginning inventory(stock on hand) as well as the purchase orders pending were taken into consideration while calculating the net Requirement for each part. Another concept used in the example in Table1 is the Planned Order Releases which are scheduled orders by taking into consideration lead time, lot sizes. Summary MRP solves more complex issues like which part to order and when for a production process which are not easily amenable in a stock control method like Order Point. Order Point calculations do not take into consideration lot sizes, safety stock, and the more methodical approach of calculating Gross Requirements and net Requirements of each part involved in a finished product.

Pulp Fiction: Shortcomings of a “Neo-Noir” Essay

The remarkable stylistic conventions of classical film noir have made it one of the most memorable and recognizable film genres to this day. Each film noir picture is uniquely told though it use of degrees of darkness, contrasting lighting, rain-covered city streets, isolated protagonist, and devious dames that effortlessly lure men into a cold trap of criminal deeds. Pulp Fiction, a film by Quentin Tarantino, is said to be one of film noir’s strongest roots with its setting of a dark, criminal underworld. While the film does play around the edges of traditional film noir, it cannot be accurately be claimed a â€Å"neo-noir† due to several variances it takes with some of the most fundamental elements of film noir. Many visual and narrative devices have taken a different route in such a manner that one cannot classify it as conventional film noir. One of the most obvious breaks that Pulp Fiction makes from traditional film noir is the film being shot primarily in the day time. When one thinks of film noir, they automatically think darkness because it is always the film’s visual theme. The symbolic use of heavy shadows and key lighting is what makes film noir so great and gives the overall grim mood to the picture. When the murders occur the lighting is very dark, and most of the time, only illuminates the killers face as he is firing the bullets such as in The Killers when the two assassins come and kill the Swede. This style shows how emotionless the murders are as we only focus on their face from the lighting, thus giving the audience a very cold and dark feeling. We never get this feeling or situation in Pulp Fiction as all of the killing is done in the daytime, with the room well lit. There are no murders at night; in fact there are only two night scenes shot in the entire movie. There is not as much emotion or overall visual effect that we usually see with murders in film noir. A similarity we see between classic film noir and Pulp fiction that adds to the visual detail of the film is constant smoking. Almost every character in Pulp Fiction smokes and they do it every chance they get. In classical film noir this smoking added to the effect of the darkness and lighting because the rooms where always filled with smoke which increased the feeling of uncertainty and gloom. In Pulp fiction, it has a greatly diminished symbolic effect because of the shots always being in the daytime. The only scene that compares to classic film noir is the shot of Butch in the taxicab with Esmarelda. This shot is the only one in the entire film that comes closest to a typical noir setting. This scene is shot at night in a cab traveling in the city streets of Los Angles. There is heavy contrast lighting from the streetlights and the camera angle is shot from the third-person facing the two characters in the car. From this view the audience gets a great visual picture of their face s because of the contrast of light that only illuminates both Butch and Esmarelda. Butch asks for a cigarette and Esmarelda gives him one right away, striking the match on the dash as we see in most noir films. Now the setting is dark and the car is filling with smoke, which gives a great setting for Esmarelda to ask, â€Å"what does it feel like to kill a man?† This moment is a perfect resurrection of classical film noir because we see the murderer and a questionable femme fatale having strong interest on what it is like to take a life. As Butch claims that he did not know that he killed the man until she told him, there is a pause, and then he tells her that he does not feel â€Å"a damn thing.† This is the cold moment we see from the noir style but they usually last much longer in traditional film noir. In contrast, the scene in Pulp Fiction ends abruptly as Butch leaves the taxi and goes home to Fabienne, whom he is having an intimate relationship with. The mood of the movie completely changes and all possible questions about Esmarelda being the femme fatale are erased as she is now out of the story. This scene is as close as we get to a typical noir setting with all the elements of darkness, lighting, and smoke combined to create a better feeling of how cold Butch is towards killing another man. A film noir with out a femme fatale is hardly a film noir at all. Often called â€Å"spider woman† they play the most important role in all film noir as they weave a trap to which our male antagonist always falls into creating the plot and crime of the story. â€Å"Independence is her goal but her nature is fundamentally and irredeemably sexual in film noir† (Place 6). In Pulp fiction, the audience is drawn in to believe that Mia is our femme fatale as the first time we are introduced to her all we hear is her seductive voice and then the camera flashes to a shot of just her lips, covered in fresh red lipstick. The next shot we see of her is only her feet as she tells Vincent it is time to go. This is a typical visual style we see in noir as it shows how the man begins to get seduced such as the shot of Phyllis’ legs as she goes down the staircase in Double Indemnity. With the background knowledge of Mia being the millionaires, Marsellus Wallace’s wife, we are led to think that she is a typical femme fatale who wants to escape like Kathie in Out of the Past. As they go out on their date, Vincent and Mia have some of the same back and forth flirtatious dialogue that we see in film noir such as when Mia says, â€Å"That’s when you’ve found somebody really special, when you can just shut the fuck up for a minute, and comfortably share a silence.† They have a good time, win a dance competition, and it seems as if Mia is certainly seductive enough towards Vincent to get him trapped when they get home. It is exactly at this point that the typical principles of film noir begin to fall apart. Vincent takes himself in the bathroom and has a self-debate on whether or not to sleep with the boss’s wife. In traditional film noir, rational is completely taken over by impulse and the male-lead always falls into some kind of trap. In Pulp fiction, Vincent decides that he is just going to say goodbye and rejects the advances of the femme fatale, which is completely out of line if we want to classify this film as noir. Immediately after, Mia overdoses which completely changes the entire mood of the movie. We are no longer thinking about Mia seducing Vincent, it has now turned into a climactic struggle to save Mia’s life. Although Mia has her juicy red lips, smooth voice, and powerful sexuality, her downfall proves that there is no place for a character such as a femme fatale in this movie. â€Å"Her failure as an actress and her later overdose leaves her weak, powerless and deathly pale, a far cry from the sexually potent and glamorous fatales of the classical noir period† (Em L, â€Å"Film in Focus†). A feature in Pulp fiction that related to classic film noir was the use of a non-sequential narrative structure. Although Pulp fiction did not use the exact same structure, the events were seen out of chronological order. The structure typically seen in noir is encompassed by on overall flashback that gives detail and explanation of the downfall of the male protagonist. Stories in film noir typically begin at the end or middle, and the flashback us usually narrated by the protagonist. In these fist-person voice-over narrations we learn how the protagonist got to the situation he is in now. Since the character is relating the story directly to the audience, we are able to create a connection with the character, and understand his disturbed thoughts. Pulp fiction takes a different approach, as there is no specific male protagonist in the film. Instead of one person illustrating events from past to present, we are given multiple characters experiences in various timeframes. The audience is show different points of departure from each character in the story and the story rewinds and we experience the same timeframe but from someone else’s point of view. This continues until we come full circle to the robbery scene, where now, all of the pieces of the puzzle have been put together. â€Å"Director Quentin Tarantino said he was aiming to make a trilogy taking elements of the old crime stories and mixing them together† (Blake, â€Å"Linear Narrative†). â€Å"Part of the trick is to take these movie characters, these genre characters and these genre situations and actually apply them to some of real life’s rules and see how they unravel† (Tarantino). Although this was a great style to put the movie together it is unclear if it could be used to show the downfall of the protagonist. The flashback marks the solidified fate of the noir heroes, showing how he was doomed from the start. If the audience has to relate to many characters rather than just one, the powerful connection we get in film noir is lost. The most noticeable and prominent variation from the framework of film noir in Pulp Fiction is the rejection of pessimism expected from the conclusion of the film. All noir heroes are doomed from the start. Since the flashback structure is completely different than classic film noir we do not see how any of the characters are trapped in a fate they cannot escape. In fact, almost everyone does get a happy ending. Jules decides he is done being a hit man after is â€Å"divine intervention† and says that he is not going to kill a man again but become a sheppard for the lord. Butch is free to go after he comes back for Marsellus who was getting raped by Zed. Vincent does die but with the timeline out of order he is killed in the middle in the movie rather than in the end where he walks out of the restaurant with Jules. Even Ringo and Yolanda have a happy ending as Jules teaches them a lesson and they still get away with lots of money. Noir films are supposed to leave the audience with a dark and cold feeling, which was definitely not the case here. The pessimistic tone we get from the confessional nature of the flashback creates the view of negativity that last the entirety of the film. Film noir may even be called it’s own genre because of its many visual and narrative elements that made it like no other style. It was a â€Å" world of darkness and violence, with a central figure whose motives are usually greed, lust and ambition, whose world is filled with fear (Higham 27). Although Pulp Fiction carries some of these elements it should not be classified as a â€Å"neo noir† as it lacks some of the greatest aspects that made film noir so special. If it is the roots of film noir, it greatly undermines the movement that was like no other ever scene in American cinema. Works Cited Em L. â€Å"Film in Focus: Suburban Noir & Pulp Fiction.† Film Student Central. N.p., 11 Oct. 2009. Web. 20 June 2012. . Higham, Charles, and Joel Greeburg. â€Å"Noir Cinema.† Film Noir Reader. New Jersey: Limelight Editions, 1996. 27. Print. Place, Janey. â€Å"Women in Film Noir.† N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print. Blake, CG. â€Å"Linear vs. Non-linear Narrative.† A New Fiction Writers Forum. N.p., 6 Dec. 2011. Web. 21 June 2012. .