Developing A Vision, Mission And Values Essay - 1322 Words

â€Å"Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it† said Buddha. Defining one’s values, visions and mission statement for themselves is exactly what Buddha stated â€Å"your purpose in life†. Without developing a mission, vision and values to assist in developing a strategy, an individual cannot identify, distinguish or explain themselves to others. The importance of developing a vision, mission and values is to help one become the most successful they can be along with being a productive leader. Values- Values; values are beliefs that are important and guide your life. During the ages 11 to 12 years of age my values just began to be shaped. I lived in a rural small town full of farmland known as Union Bridge, Maryland and attended Northwest Middle School. People of Union Bridge are farmers, mechanics or small business owners. But my personal home life could be understood as unlikely or unique. Before even entering the world, my mother was addicted to drugs and my father was incarcerated, but as time went on and I grew older, things became worse. My mother died at the age of twenty-nine because drugs grabbed ahold of her and she could not let go, leaving me to be fought over in the court system by both sets of grandparents until I was eleven years old, where I finally resided with my maternal grandparents. My home life during this time influenced me to be shaped by artists like Eminem and Bruno Mars because the message behind their topShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of A Vision Miss ion And Vision Statement1036 Words   |  5 Pagesserve a great purpose with developing/crafting vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies. The direction of organizations are very important on developing a desirable environment. In developing organizations, it often times requires quality details on creating a format feasible to the organizational needs. The qualities of a vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies must align with concepts of the organizational desire. In developing a mission and vision statement, they become paramountRead MoreMission And Vision Statement Of A Company s Mission1520 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Mission and vision statements are essential to the development and accomplishments of an organization. They help align goals, dreams, expectations, and strategic planning to further the organizations success. Mission and vision statements are necessary to excite employees, customers, and shareholders. Strong mission and vision statements should reflect the true meaning of an organization and should be relatable to employees, customers, and shareholders. Properly developedRead MoreMission Statement : Developing A Vision And Mission942 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussion came up on mission statements. This particular company, as well as others I have consulted, lacked a mission and vision statement. They are both successful organizations, however, there was lacking the critical element of what we do and why we do it for their employees, and more importantly, for their customers. An important theme connects the visions statement (the leader’s strategic plan for the organization) coupled and certainly interdependent is the mission statement (what we doRead MoreStrategic Management Process At Gamble And Thompson1065 Words   |  5 Pagesorganization is an ongoing, continuous process consisting of five integrated stages. †¢ Developing a strategic vision and mission statement, and determining your core values. Vision and mission statements outline the organizations long range direction, describes what the organization does, and defines the values that guide the vision and mission. 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Mission, Vision, Values and Goals Course Number: MGT599 Trident University Dr. Nanette Scarpellini Metz April 22, 2013 Abstract Kraft Foods Group, Inc. has a mission and vision statement that accurately reflects the strategic business plan and encompasses their brand. These statements have been effectively written to be mutually supporting and provide the roadmap for continued success. Based upon Kraft’s mission and vision statement, the company has developedRead MoreThe Difference Of Quality Strategic Planning1246 Words   |  5 Pagesmore dynamic system in a different approach. That different approach of developing a quality strategic plan helps a new approach in finding a quality format with a steady foundation. The new developments help increase the multi dimensional approach and system that offer a more detailed format to assist with its new formula. The traditional strategic plan presented a basic understanding of following a system, instead of developing a system that concentrated more on people, process and a different cultureRead MoreVision Reflective Essay : Vision853 Words   |  4 Page sVision Reflective Essay Vision Statements define the school s purpose according to the shared values. Values are guiding beliefs about how to get things objectives accomplished. The vision statement gives direction about how the faculty members are expected to behave and inspires them to give their best. Developing strong vision and mission statements can help stakeholders in your school reach a common understanding. A vision is your school s ultimate goal. A state where you hope to see it inRead MoreMission Statement, Goals, And Performance Management Essay776 Words   |  4 PagesMission, Goals, and Performance Management The mission statement, goals, and performance management are all components of strategic planning. Strategic planning is an organizational effort to identify priorities, establish where an organization is going and determine how it will know when it gets there (Balanced Scorecard Institute, n.d.). Performance management ties the organizational mission statement, vision, goals, and strategies into measurable individual and team goals that align with theRead MoreStrategy Formulation and Strategic Planning1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mission, Vision and Values of a company play a Fundamental role in Strategy Formulation and Strategic planning. We will discuss throughout this assignment, how developing effective mission, vision and values can help shape, develop and guide a firms Strategic choices. They reflect the firms fundamental core ideology. At the most basic level a mission statement can describe the firms overall purpose for being. It provides an inside to the present busines s scope and purpose of the firm that is

Film Analysis Essay Structure Features

Film Analysis Essay Structure Features Furthermore, the director did a superior job in making the adventure in the movie. The work of the operator has to be in a position to separate from the job of the director. It's very entertaining to see a film and to discuss that, so even such a task can become an outstanding experience. Appropriate application of the elements of an excellent movie review will cause success. First of all, you've got to see the movie. Anyway, it's important to compare with previous movies either by the exact same cast of the manufacturing crew. The movie become popular across the planet and earned a huge profit too. Among all types of assignments, analyzing a movie is among the most interesting. It's quite simple to find out the way to compose a crucial analysis of a film as you do not need to rely on your imagination of events to write. A movie review needs to be enhanced with the statements expressing a personal comprehension of a writer together with include author's points concerning the standard of the movie, professionalism of specialists, who were working on the introduction of a movie in addition to evaluation of the chief problems discussed in the movie. Dwell upon the significance of the film for the educational procedure and how useful it might be to your studies. For instance, you could possibly be assigned to analyze a particular character or the plot itself, the technical characteristics or merely to compose a review. The film, Jaws, uses an assortment of different photographic methods. Spielberg really knows the way to use different camera angles to his benefit. In the end, however, analysis of film isn't too different. Therefore, it's crucial that you understand how to compose a vital analysis of a film. As you analyze the movie, you begin to watch it more attentively. A film exists out of thousands of shots, which is the reason why it's so much more difficult to read. The Key to Successful Film Analysis Essay Structure Your paper should have a thesis (an idea you mean to prove or demonstrate), and each paragraph needs to have a topic sentence. In order to produce your essay as strong and clear as possible, you might want to compose an extremely excellent thesis statement. Based on the aim of your essay, you might follow unique approaches to writing it. For example, if you're writing an analytical essay about science, you might make an extremely straightforward and clear linear argument in the shape of a single sentence. As a consequence of which you'll have the ability to understand every minute thing about the movie analysis essay writing. You will have to establish the sort of essay you're going to be writing and which of the aforementioned analytical elements you will include. Even though the assignment sounds easier than other forms of essay writing, it's slightly more complex. If all the above steps don't assist you, or an instance isn't sufficient that you compose the film analysis essay yourself, you always have the option to ask the homework helper or academic writing agency for more guidance and assistance. There are lots of ways of writing a movie analysis, which serve various purposes. In all cases that you're supplied a film analysis assignment, it's always highly recommended that you begin by watching the full piece. Conversely, a weak thesis statement can weaken your general analysis because it is going to make it seem as if you cannot clearly articulate your argument. Depending on the facts you have obtained from the aforementioned steps, you are now able to draft a breakdown of how to present them in writing to create an essential analysis of a film. Film Analysis Essay Structure: the Ultimate Convenience! It's also advisable to provide the name of the specific actor (s) in the film your analysis is going to be based on. You must be very attentive to every detail of the film even the ones which seem to don't have any meaning whatsoever. In the event the film is based on a book, attempt to analyze it as well. Cutting film is actually very much an issue of feeling and rhythm, and a cut that's off rhythm will be disturbing and you'll feel it. The Film Analysis Essay Structure Game To mention a few, you ought to be acquainted with the shooting background, the script, the cast selection procedure, the production stages and so a lot more details which take time and effort to investigate and analyze. The second one is going to help to see the important detail for analysis. All things considered, while it isn't critical to discuss specific production techniques as such, it can help give you an advantage in demonstrating you know the intricacies of the text. You need to get familiar with the primary elements of cinematic structure and receive a better knowledge of the movie market. Another aspect learnt from the module is that morality is more than the standard means of life and it will surely be change. Therefore, if you feel as though you won't be in a position to deal with your assignment by yourself, just let us understand what you should do and we'll manage it whenever possible. Just like any other assignment, ensure you understand your professor's expectations. Write about subjective camera work in the event the analysis is dealing with a portion of the movie shot from the perspective of one of the characters. Essays could possibly be lightly modified for readability or to defend the anonymity of contributors, but we don't edit essay examples ahead of publication. You are more inclined to receive a better essay when you register and directly request an example essay. Fantastic essays problematize that which we think we know and provide an alternate explanation in its place. Although it's a renowned movie, many have not seen it, yet Do the perfect Thing essays are often assigned. Morality of any society is probably going to be developed in line with the religion or absence of it. Women are confronted with challenges when they're championing for social shift. To fully grasp how women are portrayed as activists, it is essential to have knowledge on the plot of the film. Women in the film are unwavering and prepared to provide their precious aid in a dire circumstance.

Analyse The Effect Of Employee Motivation On Employee Performances

Question: Discuss about the Analyse The Effect Of Employee Motivation On Employee Performances. Answer: Introduction Employees of every business organization are essential and precious for the business organization. The employees form the main resource of the company and ensure the success of the business organization. It is important that the employees are trained and motivated enough, in order to ensure that they are able to deliver the best services and ensure the fulfilment of the organizational goals. This research proposal highlights the effects of employee motivation on the performance of the employees of any business organization. The employee motivation should be imparted in form various financial benefits or incentives. Moreover, motivation could be given in form of rewards and recognition among the employees. It is essential that the needs of the employees are understood and the training needs of the employees are fulfilled, in order to ensure successful employee motivation and employee retention. Research problem The main issues that are faced in any business organization are in the increase in the employee turnover rate. The research problem focuses on the increase in the rate of employee turnover in the business organizations, with special reference to the retail industry. The retail industry is one of the most important sectors of employment. However, of recent, the overall rate of employee turnover has been increasing, thus resulting in loss of productive employees. Moreover, the lack of motivation of the employees, in the business organization results in the deflection of the employees from the work they are assigned. One of the major factors that results in the deterioration of the organizational quality and business has been highlighted as the lack of motivation among the employees. Hence, this study has been taken up in order to understand the effects of employee motivation on employee performances. The lack of effective motivation results in the increase of the employee turnover rate , thus resulting in the loss of the business organization. The lack of employee motivation will result in degradation of the organizational performances. Research Aim The aim of the research is to highlight and analyse the effect of employee motivation on employee performances. Research Objectives To highlight the factors that affects the employee performance To analyse the importance of employee motivation To highlight and analyse the impact of employee motivation on employee performances To recommend changes to ensure employee motivation and enhance employee performances Research Questions What are the factors that affect the employee performances? What are the importance of employee motivation? What is the effect of employee motivation on employee performances? What could be recommended to ensure employee motivation and enhance employee performances? Research Significance The research is significant, pertaining to the recent employment issue that the retail sector has been facing. The lack of effective motivation among the employees results in the increase in the turnover rate in the retail industry. Thus, undertaking this research will ensure that the various causes of employee turnover could be identified and eliminated to ensure employee motivation and employee satisfaction. Literature review The current literature review highlights the previous work that has been taken up by various researchers on the effects of employee motivation on employee performances, for any business organization, with focus on the retail industries. The literature review focuses on the various HRM policies that need to be changed in order to achieve employee motivation. Concept of employee motivation Employee motivation has a significant role to play in the lives of employees. The employee motivation is defined as the level of energy as well as the commitment that the employees of an organization bring to their lives and the work they do. The concept of motivation is important for the employees (Devito et al. 2016). Motivation imparted to the employees could be in various forms. This includes giving incentives as a form of motivation, along with rewards and recognition given as a part of employee motivation. The Maslows theory of motivation could also be used to identify the various needs of the employees, along with ensuring that those needs are met successfully (Gopal and Chowdhury 2014). The Maslows theory identifies 5 stages of motivation, that needs to be fulfilled, to ensure diligence in work, in the organization. Each of the motivations have to be fulfilled, to ensure that the employees could be retained. Employee motivation is essential and has to be ensured. Identificati on of the training needs among the employees is to be identified as well, such that they are made competent to fulfil the organizational goals. Hence, the HRM policies need to be restructured, in order to ensure the achievement of employee motivation, thus employee retention. Concept of employee performances Employee performances include the performance that is given by the employees in order to ensure the successful fulfilment of the organizational goals. The employee performances have a key role to play in determining the success of the business organization (Dobre 2013). The dependency of the business organization on the performances of the employees is high, and thus the employee performance has a key role to play in ensuring success of the business organization. The performances of the employees are measured by the organizational success and results that are displayed by the employees. Thus, the commitment and the diligence with which the organizational goals are fulfilled successfully, highlights the success of the performances of the employees. Employee performance is largely dependent on employee motivation. Thus, it is important that employees are motivated, in order to achieve high performances among the employees. Relation between the employee performances and motivation The employee performances have a significant relation with that of employee motivation. The more the effectiveness of the employee motivation, the better will be the performances of the employees. The leaders of the business organization have to be efficient enough to motivate the employees successfully, such that the employees are motivated effectively (Lazaroiu 2015). The employee motivation has a significant role to play in employee satisfaction as well as employee retention. If the employees are satisfied with the motivation that is imparted to them, they will ensure successful fulfilment of the organizational goals. This intrinsic relation ensures that with effective employee motivation, employee performances are also enhanced. Research design and methodology The research methodology is important for the successful completion of the research. The methodology has to be selected in such a way that it is appropriate with that of the research topic. The research design, the research approach, the research philosophy has to be selected in such a way, and that the research could be carried out successfully (Mackey and Gass 2015). The descriptive design, the positivism philosophy and the deductive research approach has been selected for the successful conduction of the research. The researcher will take up explanatory research. Quantitative approach will be used to collect primary information from 100 employees of various organizations of the retail industry. Data collection method For the successful completion of the research, both primary and secondary data will be collected. The primary data will be collected by conduction of survey with 100 employees of various organizations. Their views regarding the employee motivation and employee performances will be captured with the collection of the primary data (Mackey and Gass 2015). The secondary data will be collected from the various books and peer reviewed journals on the relevant topic. Secondary data is also collected from the annual reports of the chosen business organizations, operating in the retail sector. The use of survey is best suited in this research. This is because, the employees of the retail sector could be surveyed and their opinions regarding importance of employee motivation and employee performances could be captured. The opinions of the employees are essential to be captured, in order to ensure decrease in the employee turnover rate. Sampling methods There are two types of sampling methods that are usually used in researches. These include probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling. The researcher will use probability-sampling method to address the research questions and collect primary data. Thus, unbiased sampling technique will be used to collect primary data. Accessibility issues While conducting the research work, the researcher might face various accessibility issues. Convincing the employee to participate in the survey is a major issue. Moreover, the researcher needs to take adequate consent from the participants, such that the survey is carried out ethically (Mackey and Gass 2015). Another accessibility issue is that the participants might not compete the survey diligently enough to ensure that the correct views regarding the effects of employee motivation on employee performances. Ethical consideration The researcher needs to abide by the ethical considerations, in order to ensure the successful completion of the research. The confidentiality of the participants will be ensured, along with ensuring that the survey will be used for the academic and research purposes only. Moreover, the researcher needs to ensure that no personal questions are asked to the participants. The privacy of the participants is to be respected and ensured (Mackey and Gass 2015). The research needs to adhere to the Data Protection Act 1998, while the participants are surveyed. Research limitations The research has certain limitations. The lack of sufficient time and sufficient money are the major limitations for the researcher. Moreover, the lack of accessibility of the various research materials is also a major constraint faced by the researcher (Mackey and Gass 2015). The research had to be conducted within a limited amount of fund. Another limitation includes the conduction of the survey with 100 employees, as the employees of the business organizations, might not be available to participate in the survey. Though 100 questionnaires have been send out, yet it is expected that most of the respondents will fail to complete the survey successfully, which will reflect the actual opinion of the employees. In order to overcome this research limitation, the consent forms have to be filled in by the participants, and assured that no breach of privacy will take place. Anticipated findings The researcher anticipates the findings that will be found out while the research is completed. The employee motivation is likely to have a strong impact on the performance of the employees. Hence, the researcher might highlight the importance of employee motivation and ensure that the leaders of the business organization impart motivation in the employees, for better performances. The effectiveness of the employee performances is evaluated by the motivation that is imparted on the employees. Time Table: (Gantt chart) Task and Time Week 1 Week 2 and 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 and 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Introduction and Search for Secondary Data Literature Review Research Methodology Design of Data Collection and Methods Data Collection Data Analysis and Presentation Conclusion and Recommendations Proof- Reading Sending First Draft to Supervisor Printing, Binding and Submission References Devito, L., Brown, A., Bannister, B., Cianci, M. and Mujtaba, B., 2016. Employee Motivation based on the Hierarchy of Needs, Expectancy and the Two-Factor Theories Applied with Higher Education Employees.International Journal of Advances in Management, Economics and Entrepreneurship,3(1), p.20. Dobre, O.I., 2013. Employee motivation and organizational performance.Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research,5(1), pp.53-60. Gopal, R. and Chowdhury, R.G., 2014. Leadership styles and employee motivation: An empirical investigation in a leading oil company in India.International journal of research in business management,2(5), pp.1-10. Lazaroiu, G., 2015. Employee Motivation and Job Performance.Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations,14, p.97. Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015.Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge.

Online vs Face-to-Face Learning free essay sample

It makes education accessible to everyone. Another great advantage is that almost any type of course can be found online, from general education to university degrees. While some people think that in online classes students will have difficulties to interact with teachers, the reality is that many online courses offer great access to faculty. Shy students will find easier to ask questions and to participate on the course discussions. On the other hand, the main disadvantaged of online courses is the lack of supervision. Students need to be self-disciplined and motivated, not being the best option for those learners with difficulties assuming responsibilities. It is important to highlight that students with poor Internet skills will find difficult to do well with online courses. Another disadvantaged is the limited face-to-face interaction. Many students can found online learning too impersonal. In conclusion, it is true that online learning can be suitable for a wide range of people, but it is not suitable for everyone. We will write a custom essay sample on Online vs Face-to-Face Learning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Before enrolling in online courses, it is better to check if your personal skills suits with this type of learning.

10 Facts on Real Estate Finance for a Research Project

10 Facts on Real Estate Finance for a Research Project Like with most industries were business operations are carried out solely for the reason of making a profit, the real estate industry relies heavily on finance to keep its wheels spinning. Therefore, it should come as no surprise if one is asked to conduct research projects consisting of financing in real estate. Finance in real estate affects both sides of the demand-supply chain as real estate owners require funding to build accommodating structures, while home owners or rent seekers require funds to buy or rent the homes they plan to reside in. Therefore, to simplify the task of understanding real estate and the role finance plays in it, this article will be providing some important facts covering today’s subject matter which will aid anyone looking for statistics to back up his or her research project. This article will be the first in a three-part series providing materials on creating a research report  and the follow-up articles will consist of topics which you can choose from as well as a sample essay on how to write extensively on real estate finance. So in that vein, here are the 10 facts promised at the beginning of the series: In the United States, the market crash which occurred in the 1980’s led to the consolidation of lending institutions and this weeded out unstable financial institutions. By 2009, the number of savings and loan banks in the US was reduced from 4,022 by 1990 to 1,158 in 2009 while commercial banks reduced from 15,000 to 6,379 in the same time period. A large number of these financial institutions were put under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve Bank. Although savings and loan banks as well as commercial banks form the larger part of financial institutions that back the real estate sector, credit unions have also played a part in financing residential project in the real estate sector. Statistics show that the 7,244 credit unions in the US currently control $285billion as well as $121billion in loans to its members and the chunk of these loans goes into the real estate sector. The lucrative nature of the real estate sector has also attracted interest from other financing verticals such as the Life and Health Insurance niche. Statistics provided by The Insurance Information Institute show that companies in the life and health insurance niche invest approximately 9.85% to 10.87% of their total asset in residential loans. As of 2008, the amount put to this percentage was $327.4billion in real estate loans and this number spans across both residential and commercial properties in the US. In 2006, substantial losses in the loan and savings industry led to the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act which ensured that all financial institutions- loans, savings, and commercial banks- operated through a mutual Deposit Insurance Fund in other to sanitise the loan and insurance industry. This in turn led to the restructuring of the residential loan market for both mortgage lenders and borrowers. The Safe Mortgaging Licensing Act was created in 2008 to provide regulations for mortgage lending originators (MLO) before a company can function as a mortgage provider for families, households and individuals. To ensure that MLOs function between legal frameworks, they are required to register with the Department of Real Estate (DRE) before going into operation. A maximum penalty of $10,000 can be levied on MLOs that refuse filing with the DRE as required by the act. The real estate market is affected by fluctuations in the economy and appreciations and deflations occur when a boom or recession happens. Statistics show that commercial properties in the United States fell between 40 to 50% between 2006 and 2010 due to the recession that occurred between these periods. While for residential properties, their market value depreciated between 20 to 50% in the same timeframe. The real estate market experienced its largest peak period in the 90’s due to a strong economy and the availability of mortgage and loan rates/plans that were favourable to potential buyers. Statistics showed that the real estate industry experienced a 30-40% growth between the year1990 and 1998. This was due to 100% financing plans and the hunger to make quick profits by flipping real estate ownership. The 2007 economic recession led to the largest real estate meltdown recorded in US history. This led to the largest number of foreclosures in the United States within a one-year period. Statistics showed that in 2009, the situation had deteriorated to a level where there were more foreclosures than marriages recorded for the first time in the US history. The fall of the real estate sector was attributed to poor financial planning from the 90’s boom as well as the economic recession experienced in that timeframe. Statistics from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) showed the aftermath of the economic recession on loans and financial institutions in a public report at the end of 2010. The bleak numbers were that the number of non-performing commercial loans continued to increase for the next 16 consecutive quarters. Also, 775 banks which made up 10% of the total number of banks in the US were listed as problematic depository institutions due to loan defaults primarily from the commercial and residential real estate industry. The state of Utah records the lowest number of homeless people due to the policies set in place by its government. The policy includes affordable housing loans as well as the giving out of free homes to homeless residents since 2005. Statistics in 2014, show that Utah had reduced its homeless population by approximately 74% when compared to its 2005 numbers. Here, we come to the end of the 10 important facts on real estate and finance which you should consider as important facts and statistics which to use in buttressing the arguments or questions raised in your project. This is intended to simplify your research project and the preceding articles in the series will provide more information on how to go about writing a research project guaranteed to get you the top marks you deserve. So we endeavor you stay tuned to our next pieces 20 topics and 1 sample essay on real estate finance as well as the research project guide on the subject. References: Department of Real Estate (2013). Real Estate Finance. dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/refbook/ref12.pdf Babalola, O. (2002). An appraisal of the Impact of Primary Mortgage Institutions in Housing Procurement in Nigeria. Journal of the Nigeria Institution of Quantity Surveyors vol, 13-16. Federal Mortgage. (2003). Mortgage News: A Quarterly in-house Journal of the Federal Mortgage Finance Ltd; vol 1 no. 4. William, B. (2013). Real Estate Finance and Investments, Thirteenth Edition. gbv.de/dms/zbw/516413465.pdf Steve, B. (2008). The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties. http://cdn2.media.zp-cdn.com/21275/Steve_Berges_-_Complete_Guide_to_Real_Estate_Finance_for_Investment_Properties-52a7ef.pdf The EPA Journal. (2005). The Anatomy of a Real Estate Development. https://clu-in.org/conf/tio/refinancebasics_050906/prez/FinanceBasics050106bw.pdf Retipster.com. (2011). 35 Real Estate Facts. http://retipster.com/35-real-estate-facts/

Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary for ESL

Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary for ESL The Information Technology Field is large and accounts for a lot of jobs. If English isnt your native language, it can be difficult to know what vocabulary you need to use for work or talking about the industry. You can find the right words in the Occupational Handbook provided by the United States Department of Labor, but looking through all of them can be overwhelming. To make things easier, here is a list of some of the most important English vocabulary items for the information technology field, selected from the Occupational Handbook. This list is by no means complete. However, it provides a good starting point to further explore the vocabulary youll use in the industry. Each word includes its ​part of speech. There are a number of suggestions at the end of the list to help you build on and further improve your vocabulary. Top Information Technology Vocabulary Ability - (noun)Accounting - (noun)Addition - (noun)Adequate - (adjective)Administrator - (noun)Advance - (noun / verb)Analysis - (noun)Analysts - (noun)Analyze - (verb)Annual - (adjective)Application - (noun)Architect - (noun)Area - (noun)Arise - (verb)Associate - (noun / verb)Background - (noun)Business - (noun)Carpal - (adjective)Carrier - (noun)Certification - (noun)Chapter - (noun)Chief - (noun)Code - (noun / verb)Common - (adjective)Communicate - (verb)Communication - (noun)Competitive - (adjective)Computer - (noun)Computing - (noun)Concentrate - (noun / verb)Considerable - (adjective)Consultant - (noun)Consulting - (noun)Coordinate - (verb)Create - (verb)Customer - (noun)Cyber - (adjective)Data - (noun)Database - (noun)Deal - (noun / verb)Decline - (verb)Demand - (noun / verb)Design - (noun)Designer - (noun)Detailed - (adjective)Determine - (verb)Developer - (noun)Development - (noun)Discussion - (noun)Effectively - (adverb)Efficiency - (noun)Electronic - (adjective)Employ - ( verb) Engineering - (noun)Engineer - (noun)Enterprise - (noun)Environment - (noun)Equipment - (noun)Expertise - (noun)Eyestrain - (noun)Finance - (noun)Financial - (adjective)Firm - (noun)Force - (noun / verb)Function - (noun)Goal - (noun)Graduate - (noun / verb)Hardware - (noun)Implementation - (noun)Install - (verb)Institution - (noun)Instruction - (noun)Insurance - (noun)Integrate - (verb)Intranet - (noun)Introductory - (noun)Involved - (adjective)Keyboard - (noun)Knowledge - (noun)Laboratory - (noun)Language - (noun)Latest - (superlative adjective)Lead - (noun / verb)Leadership - (noun)Level - (noun)Location - (noun)Lowest - (superlative adjective)Maintain - (verb)Maintenance - (noun)Marketing - (noun)Mathematics - (noun)Matrix - (noun)Median - (noun)Mobile - (adjective)Monitor - (noun / verb)Nature - (noun)Network - (noun)Networking - (noun)Officer - (noun)Office - (noun)Offshore - (adjective)Order - (noun / verb)Organization - (noun)Outsourcing - (noun)Oversee - (verb)Pdf - (noun)Per form - (verb) Performance - (noun)Period - (noun)Plan - (noun / verb)Prevailing - (adjective)Problem - (noun)Process - (noun / verb)Product - (noun)Program - (noun / verb)Programmer - (noun)Project - (noun)Projections - (noun)Promoted - (adjective)Prospect - (noun)Provide - (verb)Publishing - (noun)Rapid - (adjective)Reduce - (verb)Relevant - (adjective)Remote - (adjective)Replace - (verb)Research - (noun / verb)Resource - (noun)Respond - (verb)Rounded - (adjective)Sales - (noun)Science - (noun)Scientific - (adjective)Scientist - (noun)Section - (noun)Security - (noun)Service - (noun)Simultaneously - (adverb)Site - (noun)Software - (noun)Sophisticated - (adjective)Specialist - (noun)Specialized - (adjective)Specific - (adjective)Spend - (verb)Staff - (noun)Statistic - (noun)Substantial - (adjective)Sufficient - (adjective)Support - (noun / verb)Syndrome - (noun)System - (noun)Task - (noun)Technical - (adjective)Technician - (noun)Technological - (adjective)Technology - (noun)Telecommunications - ( noun) Title - (noun)Tool - (noun)Training - (noun)Transfer - (noun / verb)Uncommon - (adjective)Understanding - (noun)User - (noun)Variety - (noun)Vendor - (noun)Web - (noun)Webmaster - (noun)Wireless - (adjective)Worker - (noun)Workplace - (noun) Improving Your Vocabulary Tips Review each word in the list. Do you know its meaning? If not, look it up in the dictionary.Use each word in a sentence. Using a new word both when speaking and writing will help you remember it.Use the words to describe your job, or working in the information technology profession in general. How specific can you be? Which words do you need beyond this list? Make sure to keep track.Learn synonyms and antonyms by using an online thesaurus  to further extend your vocabulary.Use a visual dictionary. It  will help you learn the names of specific equipment used in the industry.Listen to co-workers and note how they use these words. Ask co-workers about new words when youre not sure.Ask co-workers questions about how new words are used at work.Search online for information about information technology. Listen to podcasts on the subject, read a blog about agriculture. Keep informed in English and your knowledge of related vocabulary will grow quickly.

Social And Economic Imbalance In The Todays Society Essay

Social And Economic Imbalance In The Todays Society - Essay Example This kind of economic contrast is seen in the two essays, Working at Wendy’s and Dumpster diving, the writers of both the essays are in different sorts of economic conditions and had to do socially unappreciated jobs in order to deal with their own circumstances and conditions and doing these jobs they had to came to know about the social discrimination in different styles which are still existent in the today’s settings. Joey Franklin the writer of Working at Wendy’s believes in the power of positive thinking and appreciates the struggles of people who were his co-workers at Wendy’s which is considered to be a low profile job but in his essay J. Franklin describes many people with whom he worked and elaborates that all of these people had all kinds of reasons to work there; to stay out of jail, to support their families financially and to pay bills. Working at Wendy’s was something that Franklin had sworn never to do the with the birth of his first child and his wife still studying, the financial conditions became tight and he had to find some night job and in this way, he could spend time with his son in the daytime. In this time of high competition when to get any job one has to beat thousands of other applicants and then gets the job but it was not the case at Wendy’s; there Franklin got the job by only answering two questions i.e. â€Å"What hours you want to work?† and â€Å"When you want to start?† and later he learned that even working in this place was not easy.  ... â€Å"What hours you want to work?† and â€Å"When you want to start?† and later he learned that even working in this place was not easy. He found himself incompetent in a job where he didn’t think he would be incompetent and he realized it when he was standing in the line of sandwiches and a high school dropout yells at him, â€Å"Come on Joe! Get it right!† When he told about this job to his father, he did not approve such a low profile job for his son who was two semesters away from graduating and everyone he knew felt sorry for him that he had to work at such a place and that is how he always had to face the social disparity just because of the type of job he was doing. He did not like the work himself but he was satisfied that his family loved him and all his hard work was paid off. Later he said, â€Å"I learned that what is most important to me is not how the world views me, but how my family views me†¦ and the reality is each of us will make the greatest mark between the four walls of our home.† (Lorimer) Lars Eighner the writer of Dumpster Diving called himself a scavenger rather than someone who picks up anything which could be used from the dumps. As Eighner’s savings started running out he had to suffice on his intermittent income to pay his rents and depend on dumpsters his necessities like food, toilet paper, medicine and other things which found and were usable in any way for him or his dog Lizbeth. In these conditions of financial breakdown he learnt many things like which things could still be used when those were thrown away in the dump and how the discarded food could be safe to consume. He uses lofty vocabulary in his essay to gain credibility for the processes he used to refine the food he collected from the dumps like he says,

Defining concept of design thinking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Defining concept of design thinking - Assignment Example 1). It permits people who are not trained as designers as well to utilise creative tools in order to cope with the fast range of growing challenges. Design thinking is basically a human process, which taps into people’s skills, but it is normally ignored by more traditional problem-solving method (Hunter 2015, p. 1). Design thinking depends on people’s ability to be intuitive, identify patterns, develop ideas, which are meaningful and functional, and communicate well through methods past symbols and words. No one wants to run a company of intuition, feelings and inspiration, but an over-dependence on the analytical and rational can be just as dangerous (Polsani 2010, p. 1). This is where design thinking comes in – to offer an integrated third way (Hunter 2015, p. 1). Keeping in line with that, this paper will complete a thoroughly researched essay that defines the concept of design thinking. It will explain how each and every example is linked in some way and als o discuss examples of design thinking in a real business world. Today’s organisations go through multifaceted problems and issues, which are basically part of more and more complex business models. Constant expansions of worldwide transactions, supported through partnerships, which can span huegeecosystems, create both unique challenges and unique opportunities for businesses and organisations (Polsani 2010, p. 1). The process of design thinking is best considered as a system of overlapping spaces instead of a chain of orderly steps. There are three key spaces to bear in kind including ideation, inspiration and implementation (Hunter 2015, p. 1). Inspiration is the opportunity or problem, which motivates people to look for answers or solutions. Ideation, on the other hand, refers to the process of collecting, developing and analysing ideas. And, finally, implementation is the route that leads from the

Aging and the Elderly Essay Example for Free

Aging and the Elderly Essay Aging is the length of time during which a being or thing has existed length of life (Webster dictionary). Growing old and becoming an elderly person can be challenging but, yet it can be very rewarding, it can bring a lot of good and bad. Aging has its rewards, but it presents the challenges of all stages of life. Growing old consist of gradual, ongoing changes in the body, changes such as shrinking in height in which the elderly tends to get shorter as he or she age. Elderly people tends to have less appetite which causes them to lose weight, and a decline in strength and vitality, which can sometimes make them feels very weak at times and needs either a cane or a walker or even someone to help assist them in walking. The life expectancy in the United States is going up which means people are living longer than before due to better medications that are out there which have raised the living standards. The life expectancy in the United States in the 1900’s for women would be to live only forty eight years, and for a male the life expectancy in the United States would be to live only forty- six years, as study shows that women in the U.S lives longer than men. Now females can be expected to live eighty years plus and men can be expected to live to be seventy-five years old. Greater material wealth and advances in medicine have raised living standards so that people benefit from better housing and nutrition. Medical advances have almost eliminated infectious diseases such as smallpox, measles, and diphtheria which had killed many infants and children many years ago. (John Macionis, 2009). As life becomes longer, the oldest segment of the United States population, people over the age of eighty-five years of age is increasing rapidly and is forty times greater than in nineteen hundreds. As the average age of the population rises and the share over age sixty-five climbs ever higher, culture patterns are more likely to change, age segregation will decline as the elderly population increases, the younger population, will see more of the older population where the younger population usually are, such as malls, sporting events, and etc. Elders in the United States are men and women of all races, classes, and ethnic backgrounds. There are two types of elderly, the younger elderly, which are between the ages of sixty-five and seventy-five and lives independently with good health and financial security whom are likely to live in a house with each other as couples, then, there are the older elderly whom are past the age of seventy-five, most likely to live with a family member (usually a daughter), have health problems and financial insecurity being divorce or a widow. As someone ages there are a lot of biological and psychological changes that happens in their life, such things as Gray hair, wrinkles, and etc. The ability to learn new materials and think quickly declines. Although, aging is more visible internal, there are a lot more of internal effects of aging as well, which are more critical. As we all age, it is important for us to know the normal course of aging. What happens to us as we age? As we age, health problems start to rise at about or over the age of seventy-five, women typically lives longer than men, they tend to suffer more from chronic disabilities like arthritis. The brain As a person age and becomes an elderly, their brain undergoes different structural changes, the brain regions shrinks and becomes filled with fluid, aging impairs the ability of the brain to encode new memories and facts, while processing speed and reflexes decline. The aging of the brain can cause neurological diseases like Parkinson, Lou Gehrig’s disease and Alzheimer. Age-related changes occur in two regions of the brain. The first region is the frontal lobe, which is the area of the brain behind the forehead and the eyes. It is felt that certain memory process supported by this region degenerate with age. The other region affected by age is a C-shaped area deep inside the brain, which is known as the hippocampus, there is where there, is a dramatic deterioration of explicit memory capacities supported by this region as we get older. Intergumentary system The skin develops wrinkles and dark spots, skin becomes very easy to tear, and saggy because of the ability of the skin to produce oil, the skin becomes very dry and lusterless. The aging process affects groups of cells within hair follicle. Hair becomes thinner, hair color changes from its normal color to gray then eventually to white as cells quit functioning. Aging affects the bone strength to decline, friction between joints increases which causes pain while they move. There becomes a loss of density and strength due to porous. There is a depletion of minerals like calcium and phosphorus which makes the bones weak and fragile easily to have bone fracture which can cause an elderly person to be wheelchair or bedbound for life. Eyes, Ears (senses) Our vision changes as we age, objects appear blurred or unable to be seen. The combined alterations of the cornea, iris, lens and ciliary bodies can account for most of the age-related changes in our visual perception. The pupils become less responsive and more sensitive to glare. The iris gets stiffened, cataracts and glaucoma becomes common, we don’t see as well as we use to. The lens thickens and takes o a yellowish hue, which reduces the ability to discriminate colors in the green-blue-violet range. Most elderly people then need glasses or even a magnifying glass in order to be able to see, especially when reading. Hearing is loss because the eardrum thickens, ear cells can be damage, and in that case a hearing aid is needed in order for the elderly person to hear. Cardiovascular system What happens to the heart as we age? There is a decline in the cardiac capacity. The cardiac stroke volume rate goes down, oxygen consumption declines. Heart muscles relaxes less between beats (becomes stiffer), heart may not pump blood as efficiently, walls may thickens, and becomes less elastic, reflex that maintain blood pressure upon standing up may becomes slower. Types of heart diseases that are more common in the elderly are heart failure, isolated systolic hypertension, aortic stenosis, sick sinus syndrome, atrial fibrillation and even stroke. Digestive system The digestive system start weaken gradually, the elderly sometimes have trouble digesting foods, their diet becomes different with age, much fiber is then needed in their diet. The digestive system looses efficiency, teeth lost, and oral diseases increases with age. Esophagus wears down with time, making swallowing difficult, sphincter muscles in the stomach weakens. Digestive muscles lose some of its flexibility with age and cause an elderly unable to swallow. Reproductive system and Urinary system The reproductive system, hormones levels changes in elderly people. The change in the reproductive system changes the effect of the urinary system functions. In the urinary system, the kidneys gets smaller with age, blood flow is reduced, sensation of needed to urinate is often delayed in some people, in other elderly people they can become very unable to hold urine and have to go to the bathroom often. As we age, some of us go through social isolation, meaning that we do not have any kind of contact with anyone, whether it is by not going out or not wanting anyone to visit. Social isolation brings depression in the elderly which is why many elderly are taking antidepressants to lift up their moods along with other medicine. Sometimes the cause of social isolation can be because of the death of their significant other, lost of income due to retiring, not getting enough money which can be the reason why the elderly people are in poverty. Elderly women especially tends to hide poverty and keep it to themselves, they do not want anyone to know because of their personal pride, they want to remain independent, not having to depend on family members for survival needs. Care giving A caregiver gives care to anyone that is unable to care for themselves. When an elderly becomes unable to care for his or herself, family members have to figure out how they are going to be able to care for him or her. Usually the daughter of the elderly person takes care of them; if not then it would probably the daughter in law. There are several aspects that are involved in taking care of the elderly. Most caregivers spend more than twenty hours per week providing care, if the elderly person that needs care is a total need, then care giving can be a twenty four hours seven days a week job, Which can be a burden on the caregiver. The caregiver provides care such as bathing, shaving, running errands such as dropping off, and picking up medication, preparing nourishing meals, doing the laundry, shopping for groceries, and etc. Many caregivers experiences mental and physical fatigue, emotional distress, and guilt over not being able to do more. The caregiver being so stressed out can sometimes abuse the elderly if the work is found to be too difficult, which can go unreported at times. Now there are many state charitable institutions where you can place the elderly such as nursing homes, adult day cares, assisted livings, hospice which depends on whether or not the elderly is terminally ill, and etc. Many people fear of placing their love one in nursing homes because, they fear the abuse that goes on in there, so therefore they can either pay a private sitter to care for their love one or they would have to give up their jobs to care for them. Lastly, death is the final stage in the life of an elderly; usually death can be from being very ill, or very old. When death occurs, family members grieve at the same time they feel a sense of relieve from having to take care of that person and having to give up their social life in order to care for that individual. My experiences: In working on, my research paper, I have learned a lot about the elderly. Something’s I may have already know because I am a certified nursing assistant, I have been working as a nursing assistant for ten years now. As a certified nursing assistant my job is to provide personal care such as bathing, shaving, shampooing hair, assisting with medicine, and running errands. Being a certified nursing assistant is a very challenging job but, it is a very rewarding job, it makes me feel good to see that I am able to make a difference in someone else’s life, and to be able to help someone. I enjoy what I do although, it is a stressful job, but just putting myself in their shoes makes me feel that it is a job worth doing. Some of the elderly people can be sweet and lovable, some can be a bit mean, and their attitudes sometimes have to do with their illness. To me I think even though it is not easy to be an elderly, having to deal with so much such as health issues, ageism, poverty, depending on other people to care for you, It is a blessing to live to be old, knowing that you have seen perhaps your third generation. References Articlebase.com (2011, Elderly care) Dictionary.com, (Aging). Retrieved August 16, 2011. http://www.everydayhealth.com http://www.righthealth.com Macionis, J.(2009)

Characters Most Responsible for Juliets Death in Shakespeares Romeo and Juleit :: Free Romeo and Juliet Essays

In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Juliet fakes her own death. Some responsibility for this goes to a number of characters in the play, with some characters being more influential and others playing small parts in the matter. Three stand out as contributors to her decision: Tybalt, Capulet, and Nurse. Tybalt did not take a direct role in Juliet’s ‘death’, but he set the course for incidents that lead to it. As a Capulet, he had long participated in the feud between his family and the Montagues. The day after he spotted Romeo at a party hosted by his family, he went out looking for him – and a fight. He accidentally murdered Mercutio, Romeo later killed him in revenge. Juliet, rather than being upset by Tybalt’s death, sobbed for Romeo, who was banished for the murder. The misunderstandings regarding Juliet’s grief led to a marriage she felt she could only escape by faking her own death. While Tybalt was not immediately involved in Juliet’s ‘death’, he played such a major role in starting the events that would ultimately lead to it that he must be deemed partly responsible. Capulet was far more direct a part of Juliet’s death than Tybalt was. Also a Capulet, he had fought with the Montagues on numerous occasions. He did not force Romeo to leave his party, but whether he was prepared to be friendly with the Montagues was another matter. Juliet believed that her father would never approve of her marriage to Rome, so she kept it a secret. As a result of being unaware that his daughter had already married, Capulet arranged Juliet’s marriage to Paris, Capulet assumed that she was crying in grief over Tybalt and would be heartened by getting married. When Juliet insisted she didn’t wish to marry Paris, he would hear none of it. He thought her ungrateful and disobedient, and he refused to change his plans. Juliet could see no way out except to fake her own death. Had Capulet been more understanding and flexible, Juliet’s fake death – and, later, her real one – could have been avoided. Nurse was a fickle character, her changeability was significant in partly causing Juliet’s pseudo death. Juliet confided in Nurse when she met Romeo. Nurse not only encouraged the marriage, but went as far as arranging it. However, when Capulet made plans for Juliet to marry Paris, Nurse told Juliet that Paris was better for her.

Narrative on `The Dream of the Rood`

As the first known â€Å"dream poem† in English literature, â€Å"The Dream of the Rood† has stood as one of the most celebrated and profound works in verse around the world. Along with a penetrating, mystical vision of Christian spirituality and illuminating Biblical allusion, the poem offers a diverse and inspired form and diction to match its powerful theme and images. â€Å"The Dream of the Rood is best understood as an imaginative re-enactment of a private penitential experience[†¦] This critically acclaimed, dramatic Old English poem is the first dream-vision in English, and its most enduring features are a startling use of language, powerful prosopopoeia, and striking imagery.† (Butcher) Along with religious imagery which overtly signals the spiritual and penitential themes of the poem, â€Å"The Dream of the rood† extends truly original diction and meter to propel its impact. The basic â€Å"story† of the poem may have been drawn from earlier sources, poems which utilized the same theme: â€Å"an older poem describing the crucifixion of Jesus which may possibly have been written by Caedmon or one of his school, and which Cynewulf took up and worked at in his own fashion, adding to it where and how he pleased, and changing its mode of presentation — making it, for instance into a dream, and adding the personification of the Tree. (Brooke 438) Using the theme of   Christ’s crucifixion allowed the poet to soar into inventiuve language and word-choice, to establish poetry which addressed the spiritual and religious impulses of the Anglo Saxon world: â€Å"More explicitly in what is perhaps the most famous of the Anglo-Saxon Christian poems, The Dream of the Rood, the poet represents the Crucifixion as a physically active and heroic act.† (Crafton 214) This basic story is both straightforward and mystical: â€Å"the speaker tells of his swefna cyst, best of dreams, in which he sees the cross of the crucifixion, alter nately bejeweled and bloody, in the sky. The cross then speaks, giving its own first person account of the Passion of Christ, and encouraging the dreamer to spread the message of the cross to his contemporaries.† (Dockray-Miller)  Ã‚   In order to capture the luminous and exalted feeling of inspiration and religious intoxication which permeate the poem, the poet engaged in the use of language which is both striking and deeply connotative. In generating the â€Å"narrative† of the poem, the poet resorted to the use of gender-charged or gender-specific language, to â€Å"personify† and attribute qualitites to  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the elements of the poem which would enable its message to emerge powerfully.†Particularly concerned with how language could be used to signal a status of power, the poet of â€Å"The Dream of the Rood† used masculine- and feminine-coded language to signal a change in the status of power-figures.†Ã‚   (Hawkins) Evidence of controlled and inspired diction is obvious from the poem’s opening lines: â€Å"the poet announces he will recount the â€Å"swefna cyst,† or ’best of dreams,’ the first-time reader thinks nothing of the phrase except that it signifies excellence in dreaming, perhaps; however, on second and third passes through the poem, the reader becomes aware that this diction deserves close scrutiny[†¦] the poet is establishing that both his narrator’s dream and the tree in that dream are the â€Å"best†; that is to say, they are ultimate truth.†Ã‚   (Butcher). Likewise, the tree, described first in the poem’s fourth line as â€Å"â€Å"syllicre tr?eow’, an absolute use of the comparative â€Å"syllicre,† meaning â€Å"a tree more marvelous [than any other tree].† Syllic is a variation of the adjective seldlic, from which our seldom comes. Thus, â€Å"syllicre tr?eow† can also be translated â€Å"rarest tree.† Immediately, the poet has established the exceptional nature of his subject.† (Butcher). Works Cited Brooke, Stopford A. The History of Early English Literature: Being the History of English Poetry from Its Beginnings to the Accession of King Aelfred. New York: Macmillan, 1892. Crafton, John Michael. â€Å"11 Epic and Heroic Poetry.† A Companion to Old and Middle English Literature. Ed. Laura Cooner Lambdin and Robert Thomas Lambdin. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. 210-229. Dockray-Miller, Mary. â€Å"The Feminized Cross of ‘The Dream of the Rood.'.† Philological Quarterly 76.1 (1997): 1+. Hawkins, Emma B. â€Å"Gender, Language and Power in â€Å"The Dream of the Rood†.† Women and Language 18.2 (1995): 33+. Butcher, Carmen Acevedo. The Dream of the Rood and Its Unique, Penitential Language 1+ www.carmenbutcher.com 2-5-07.            

Hospital Budget

Patton-Fuller Community Hospital Budget Over the years financial management has been a concept that is flourishing in the world of health care. â€Å"Until the 1960s, financial management in all industries was generally viewed as descriptive in nature, with its primary role being to secure the financing needed to meet a business’s operating objectives† (Gapenski, 2008, pg. 26). However, today, financial management holds a more significant role in the management of businesses overall. Now, the primary role of financial management is to plan for, acquire, and utilize funds (capital) to maximize the efficiency and value of the enterprise† (Gapenski, 2008, pg. 26). Similar too many happenings in health care, the specific goals of a business’s management financially is highly dependent on the nature of each particular business. Overall, financial management is a practice that will provide the theories, tools, and concepts needed in order for a company to make be tter decisions.The Patton-Fuller Community Hospital is one of these companies that take advantage of the financial management practices in order to make better decisions. Recently, a 2010 budget was developed using the 2009 projections, assumptions, and figures. The purpose of this paper is to analyze that budget and discuss which financial management practices will be most effective for this organization as well as which practices will be the least effective.The 2010 budget developed for the Patton-Fuller Community hospital projects that there will be a slight increase in total revenue, total expenses, and net income that will allow the organization to continue to make its turnaround in the following year. There are several financial management practices that will be helpful for the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. The first financial management practice that will be effective for this hospital is evaluating and planning. This involves evaluating current operations of the organiza tion and evaluating their financial effectiveness in order to plan for the future.This can be anything from the organizations requirements in areas of managing cash to budgeting and reporting financial results. Continuing to produce projected budgets and assumptions for following years will ensure that Patton-Fuller Community Hospital is evaluating their financial situation often, and producing and expectant budgets for analyses. These projections will also allow them to plan for future increases or decreases in areas such as patient volume, utilities, supplies, salaries or ash on hand, so they do not come as a surprise. Giving the hospital an opportunity to plan for future events and accommodate for situations and operations that are either working for or against them, will help to keep the hospital from experiencing unexpected negative effects. The next financial management practice that will be most effective is long-term investment decisions. These decisions will focus on acquir ing new facilities and equipment, as well as the implementation of new strategic plans in the future of this organization.As far as equipment is concerned, the new budget specifies that new high-cost equipment has been installed within the last year. Air conditioning, telephone systems, all patient beds, and headwalls were replaced in 2009. It also states that depreciation rose sharply, however it is going to remain the same in 2010. Knowing that these improvements will not cost this organization money this year will allow them to plan ahead for capital investments, and possible expansion of the facility that will bring in more money for following years.Financial decision practices are going to be effective as well. â€Å"All organizations must raise funds to support operations. Such decisions involve the choice between internal and external funds, the use of debt versus equity capital, and the use of long-term versus short-term debt† (Gapenski, 2008, pg. 27). Applying this p ractice to the Patton-Fuller organization will help them to decide if the number of fundraisers needs to be increased, or whether more short-term or long-term investments will prove to be more useful.Despite only a slight increase in revenue, the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital must still support facility upgrades as well as maintenance and costly health information technology. The income that investments provide is typically viewed as an extra source of funding that this organization cannot go without. This type of practice will also be useful for the marketing department who projected in the 2010 budget that donations will be increased by 15%, which will also add to the hospitals expenditures in a capital budget.A financial management practice that may prove less effective for this hospital is contract management. â€Å"In today’s healthcare environment, health services organizations must negotiate, sign, and monitor contracts with managed care organizations and third-par ty payers† (Gapenski, 2008, pg. 28). The complexities that come with third-party repayment means that a large amount of time and resources are being spent on burdensome accounts, bills, and collection processes, instead of focusing on activities that will bring revenue into the company. Historically, the practice of finance had been driven by the Medicare program, which demanded that providers (primarily hospitals) churn out a multitude of reports both to comply with regulations and to maximize Medicare revenues† (Health Care Finance, 2012, para. 6). In order for a company to be financially functional, they must support cost containment efforts as well as be able to lead their company into the future, not just record what is happening and may be in the past. Spending less time negotiating with third-party payers will open up more time and resources that can be focused on increasing hospital revenue.When an organization is in a time of high profitability and is experienci ng an abundance of financial resources, the function of financial management tends to decline in importance. In an effort to control this decline, â€Å"Providers have been redesigning their finance functions to recognize the changes that have been occurring in the health services industry† (Health Care Finance, 2012, para. 9). That way they do not experience a time of fall because of their disregarding of these practice. Recently, a 2010 budget was developed using the 2009 projections, assumptions, and figures for the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital.The purpose of this paper was to analyze that budget and discuss which financial management practices were most effective for this organization as well as which practices were the least effective. Having strong financial management practices is vital to any organization as well as the economic well-being of the health care industry as a whole. ? References Gapenski, L. (2008). Understanding Healthcare Financial Management (5th e d. ). Chicago, IL: Bookcomp. Health Care Finance. (2012). Hospitals move to cash investments. Retrieved from http://www. healthcarefinancenews. com/news/hospitals-move-cash-investments-short-term-pressures-mount

Cellular Transport essays

Cellular Transport essays The transport of materials through cellular membranes is a crucial function for the survival of cells. There are three different methods of transport through which materials can pass through cellular membranes: active transport, passive transport, and facilitated or carrier mediated transport. In our lab experiment, we studied the active transport of the amino acid leucine into the bacterium Escherichia coli and the passive transport of water molecules into onion cells. In the first experiment, we attempt to substantiate the hypothesis that active transport of leucine in E-coli would only occur when cells are supplied with glucose since glucose enable the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP supply the energy needed for active transport. Leucine is a radioactive aminoacid. Radioactive materials have been able to make biochemical assays less complex and improve the ability for biological researches to follow biochemical reactions in cells. One of the most important uses of radioisotopes is the ability for these isotopes to act as radioactive tracers. These tracers function as a tool for the study of metabolic and transport processes. The presence of a radioisotope does not change the chemical properties of a molecule. Since, they are able to emit detected particles, radioactive molecules can be traced in cells and cellular extracts. All radioactive isotopes have three properties: (1) they generally emit alpha or beta particles o r gamma rays or combination. (2) Half-lives (which are the time it takes for half of the radioactive material to decay) are used to measure the rate of radioactive decay. (3) The radioactive decay energy which measures the kinetic energy with which the particles are emitted (Bilington 7). In the lab, the radioactive tracer molecule, C14, was used in order to follow the path of the amino acid, leucine, in Escherichia coli ( a bacterium). This experiment In the passive transpo...

How to Conjugate the Verb Dare in Italian

How to Conjugate the Verb Dare in Italian The word dare† in Italian has the following meanings in English: to hand over, to pay, to entrust, to charge, to give up, and to let have. Considerations When Using the Verb Dare It’s an irregular first-conjugation verb, so it doesn’t follow the typical -are verb ending pattern.It can be both a transitive an intransitive verb the former taking a direct object and the latter not taking a direct object when conjugated with â€Å"avere.†The infinito is â€Å"dare.†The participio passato is â€Å"dato.†The gerund form is â€Å"dando.†The past gerund form is â€Å"avendo dato.† INDICATIVO/INDICATIVE Il presente io do, d noi diamo tu dai voi date lui, lei, Lei d essi, Loro danno Ad esempio: Ti do il mio numero di telefono, va bene? - I’ll give you my phone number, okay? Il passato prossimo io ho dato noi abbiamo dato tu hai dato voi avete dato lui, lei, Lei, ha dato essi, Loro hanno dato Ad esempio: Le ho dato un bicchiere di vino rosso. - I gave her a glass of red wine.Vi ho dato la mia fiducia! - I gave you my trust!/I trusted you! L’imperfetto io davo noi davamo tu davi voi davate lui, lei, Lei dava essi, Loro davano Ad esempio: Ogni mese mi dava cinquecento euro. - Each month, he gave me 500 euros.La mamma mi dava sempre un piccolo compito da fare. - My mom used to entrust me with a little task. Il trapassato prossimo io avevo dato noi avevamo dato tu avevi dato voi avevate dato lui, lei, Lei aveva dato essi, Loro avevano dato Ad esempio: Le avevo dato la camera migliore dell’hotel, ma si à ¨ comunque lamentata. - I had given her the best room in the hotel, but she still complained. Il passato remoto io diedi/detti noi demmo tu desti voi deste lui, lei, Lei diede/dette essi, Loro diedero/dettero Ad esempio: Mi diedero il mio primo premio vent’anni fa! - They gave me my first award twenty years ago. Il trapassato remoto io ebbi dato noi avemmo dato tu avesti dato voi aveste dato lui, lei, Lei ebbe dato essi, Loro ebbero dato TIP: This tense is rarely used, so don’t worry too much about mastering it. You’ll find it in very sophisticated writing. Il futuro semplice io dar noi daremo tu darai voi darete lui, lei, Lei dar essi, Loro daranno Ad esempio: Quando ci vediamo, ti darà ² una bella notizia! - When we see each other, I’m going to give you good news!Non credo che i proprietari daranno le redini dell’azienda ai figli. - I don’t think the proprietor will hand over the reins of the company to their sons. Il futuro anteriore io avr dato noi avremo dato tu avrai dato voi avrete dato lui, lei, Lei avr dato essi, Loro avranno dato Ad esempio: Le avranno dato una mano. - They must have given her a hand. CONGIUNTIVO/SUBJUNCTIVE Il presente che io dia che noi diamo che tu dia che voi diate che lui, lei, Lei dia che essi, Loro diano Ad esempio: Non voglio che il mio capo mi dia la promozione, voglio rinunciare! - I don’t want my boss to give me the promotion, I want to quit! Il passato io abbia dato noi abbiamo dato tu abbia dato voi abbiate dato lui, lei, egli abbia dato essi, Loro abbiano dato Ad esempio: Oh, penso che ti abbia gi dato le informazioni per il corso di Italiano. - Oh, I thought he had already given you the information about the Italian class. L’imperfetto io dessi noi dessimo tu dessi voi deste lui, lei, egli desse essi, Loro dessero Ad esempio: Non desiderava che gli dessi soldi, ma so che ha bisogno dell’aiuto. - He didn’t want me to give him money, but I know he needs the help. Il trapassato prossimo io avessi dato noi avessimo dato tu avessi dato voi aveste dato lui, lei, Lei avesse dato essi, Loro avessero dato Ad esempio: Se mi avesse dato un giorno in pià ¹, avrei finito i compiti! - If he had given me one more day, I would have finished the homework. CONDIZIONALE/CONDITIONAL In the condizionale/conditional: Il presente io darei noi daremmo tu daresti voi dareste lui, lei, Lei darebbe essi, Loro darebbero Ad esempio: Ti darei questa bottiglia d’acqua, ma anche io ho sete. - I would give you this bottle of water, but I’m thirsty, too.Vi daremmo pià ¹ soldi se foste pià ¹ coscienziosi! - We would give you more money if you were more diligent! Il passato io avrei dato noi avremmo dato tu avresti dato voi avreste dato lui, lei, egli avrebbe dato essi, Loro avrebbero dato Ad esempio: Ti avrei dato pià ¹ tempo da passare insieme, ma ero molto impegnato in quel periodo. - I would have given you more time to spend together, but I was really busy during that time.

Research, Evidence and Nursing Practice Assignment

Research, Evidence and Nursing Practice - Assignment Example Conditions used to make comparisons included untapped, therapeutic taping protocol and neutral taping protocol. (3) Authors utilized within-subjects study design, which entailed subjecting 18 participants to the three conditions at random coupled with assessing pain and observed disability. (4) Research’s scope encompassed assessing the extent of pain in each case and disability whereby the latter comprised of hindrance to the necessary knee mobility. Knee’s mobility tests used were walking speed, stepping ability, rising time and go tests. (5) Research’s content avails adequate information helpful in managing Maude’s predicament, which in this case entails reducing pain. Therefore, therapeutic taping will be of great help to her not only through reducing pain but also in preventing knee’s swelling. (6) Limitations in this study embrace â€Å"carryover effects†, use of small cohort and inadequate interval period between the tests. (7) The stu dy concluded therapeutic taping was inexpensive strategy compared to numerous approaches used in managing of knee OA. Justification (8) The study offers adequate information regarding managing of knee pain and disability (Hinman, Bennell, Crossley & McConnell, 2003). ... es its remedies with other approaches used in treating and managing knee OA whereby the researchers conclude both Therapeutic knee tape and neutral tape are cheaper. The other reason considered in selecting this article was its inexpensive remedy strategy aimed at reducing pain, whereby the people irrespective of their status can adequately afford. Therefore, its contribution in the medical field will encompass equipping medical personnel with adequate knowledge concerning varied and cheaper ways, which they will advise their patients to embrace. This is especially in managing Knee OA among the victims whereby with necessary training ailing people can adequately execute therapeutic taping in their homes. This will reduce high chances of disability commonly associated with Knee OA especially among the old people who in most cases tend to prefer sedentary life like in Maude’s case. Therefore, practitioners after advocating therapeutic taping to the people with Knee OA will compe l them to be active through their relatives, hence reduce numerous chances of disability observed among people taking medicinal approaches. This is an essential intervention, which practitioners can combine with medicinal approaches in reducing pain experienced by Maude. In addition, despite the authors in this article citing certain limitations that may hinder effective testing under each condition, its analysis is meticulous. This is evident in the already analyzed tests and clear presentation of statistical data in form of tables and graphs bearing evidences of diverse remedies’ outcomes under study. (1) Roddy, E., Zhang, W. & Doharty, M. (2005). Aerobic walking or strengthening exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee? A systematic Review. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 64. 544- 548.

Science versus Pseudo- science Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Science versus Pseudo- science - Coursework Example Secondly, there are different astrological traditions in different countries. Finally, it may be useful only to create a horoscope. Karl Popper would suggest that astrology will not be able to pass the test of critical rationalism as many of its fundamental principles may be easily proven wrong. In other words, its main postulates can not be found objectively true. Thomas Kuhn would argue that there has been no paradigm shift in astrology for a considerable period of its existence. This suggests that it hardly develops as a science and, therefore, can not be recognized as one. In addition to that, Imre Lakatos would also note that astrology should be classified as a pseudoscience as it makes novel predictions with regard to unknown phenomena, but fails to prove it with fact. As a result, any theory that is being advocated by it can not be verified by the evidence and is easily

Corparate finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Corparate finance - Essay Example One of the most significant challenges that most SMEs have faced regardless of their country of origin is the problem of access to financing for their operations as well as for their growth and development. Studies reveal that most SMES are characterized by very tight budgets and liquidity constraints and are therefore constantly in search of new sources of financing (Jiang, Li & Lin, 2014). According to Abereijo and Fayomi (2005), the generation of entrepreneurial ideas is not normally a difficult challenge for most people, however, the generation or availability of funds to translate the idea into a running business is another. A lot of ideas have that were considered excellent and innovative have been known to die simply due to the fact that the entrepreneurs who came up with them lacked funds to translate them to businesses and also due to the fact that financial institutions could not agree to invest in them. It is therefore important to note that finance from whichever source, is critical for the growth and development of SMEs and in order to maximize the profits realized from the business. Given the nature of SMEs as shown above, there is therefore critical need for the financing of their activities mostly from external sources of finance (Briozzo, 2012). It has been suggested that on a general scope, SMEs normally have four main financing requirements: these are the initial investments on infrastructure, the operational costs which are sometimes required in lump sum amount, growth and expansion, and finally, unexpected opportunities that arise during the course of operations requiring a quick access to finances. It is however noted that despite the glaring need for finances, most SMEs often choose to use internal sources of finances for example from the entrepreneurs own funds or from the cash flows from operations instead of choosing external sources of finance. This choice is normally determined by the relative

Semantic Derogation of Woman

Semantic Derogation of Woman The Semantic Derogation of Woman In the reading of Muriel Schulz The Semantic Derogation of Woman, the author talks about words in which describe woman in a slang or profound way. The author says this is because men fear womans attitudes and this is the only way they can let it out. Schulzs talks about how words over time which were nice and gentlemanly like or had a good meaning have become rude and slanderous towards woman. I hope by the end of this paper you will better understand what Schulzs point of view was trying to make clear. The main issue the author points out is how the language we use today will carry through to new generations. She says it throughout the paper that men of degenerated all of these words in some way or form to insult woman. For example she says Shakespeare degenerated the word lewd to mean prostitute(Schulz, 45). No matter how small or discrete we are about using slang words sooner or later a new generation will start to use it and unless a generation decides to stop using a part of language it will continue to pass on. Men throughout history have designed the language throughout the generations and have always made unequals. For example, â€Å"all men are created equal† this statement coming from our founding fathers. Two things are wrong with that sentence: founding fathers, not founding mothers, and all men are created equal not all humans are created equal. Though it is true men have wrote the language and laws we currently and had previously used, the future looks brighter and brighter for woman as they infiltrate the government. Not only this, but woman are a huge part of how we are raised. They are not only teaching us in the classroom, but at home too. This I believe disproves the author who states men help women stay out of the office. There is no way woman would be in office if it wasnt for men standing up for woman and voting for them too. This is where I believe Schulz lacks evidence for her case. The next part of the article Schulz talks about is the slander used to describe old or overweight woman. She talks about how men have made words like â€Å"cow† and â€Å"warhorse† to describe these women(Schulz, 43). I believe half of this is true. Ive never heard an old or overweight woman called a warhorse(Schulz, 44). A warhorse or steed usually refers to a young, fast, athletic person. However, she does list other terms that I would have fully agreed upon like â€Å"hag†. Older ladies still today are called old hags and still today its an insult(Schulz, 43). People who are overweight these days are stilled called cows, and old people are called old hags, these are both insults. Once again she lacks evidence and makes a mistake saying that if you called a man a granny he would take it as an insult. If I were called a granny I would just look at the person funny and say do I look like a girl to you. The next issue Schulz talks about is how words like â€Å"tramp† and â€Å"mistress† have degenerated over time to become words that describe woman if they have sex too much or cheat on their man(Schulz, 46). She makes a good point in that things woman do which help pleasure men are made to look degrading, and are looked down upon. Such acts for example are stripping and prostitution. I would have to agree with the author full heartily on this issue. Even though men love skimpy little outfits on girls, I cant help and look back on how hypocritical we are on those girls. Some of these girls are well sophisticated young ladies just trying to make a buck, so they can get through college and become a helpful person to society. A good example would be Lady Gaga who is now a well known pop singer in the country. Even though her parents were well off and could pay for her college, she decided to strip to pay for her college and make herself an independent woman. The final thing the author brings up is why men fear to be inferior with women. She says men just cant stand it that girls are biologically stronger than men during the early stages of life because girls hit puberty faster. Girls also have a longer lifespan and are less likely to get diseases. For this men must say hostile things to woman to make themselves feel superior and make woman feel worthless. The author here is trying to finish off the reader here with a last onslaught against men, but she makes some mistakes. Yes, boys do feel a little weaker when girls start to grow taller than the, so they do say mean things to make themselves feel superior. However, when men in their early twenties are taller than these girls a why do they insult these girls now. Its certainly not because their worried these girls are going to outlast them in life, its because guys think its cool to show off in front of their friends, and see how bad they can insult a girl. I just feel the author really never covers this age group throughout the article. To conclude I think this paper was very well written overall. This feminist really has a passion for what shes talking about and really shows it throughout the paper. However, I do feel that she did lack evidence sometimes during the paper, and this can leave holes in her story. I hope I have helped you understand what Schulzs feminist point of view was trying to make clear. Works Cited King, James. http://thejamkingshow.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/snap-lady-gaga-use-to-be-a-striper/. 7 April 2009. warhorse. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 15 Dec. 2009. .

The Conflict Media vs. Internet Essay -- Web Cyberspace News Essays

The Conflict Media vs. Internet Throughout our lives we learn new things and acquire new information. Many sources can give us these things to continue on with our lives. Almost all of us either wake up with the radio, listens while driving to wherever we are going, or even at work during our day. Wherever we are or wherever we are going this is a source of information. Another yet stronger more persuasive possession would be from the media. What they tell us and show us impacts our actions and what we think about. From weather to spot stories we usually believe what they are telling us as the viewer. If the weather person says it will rain the next day we will dress accordingly. Everything we are usually told or shown we take into consideration for our daily customs. All affect us one way or another in the long run. In a close yet difficult relationship between the online word and the off line world or cyber space and real time these two places can conflict as well and combine to form our society. Each one influen cing us equally. The media can influence us in both aspects. Through the television news where Internet issues are discussed and argued and also on the web where each and almost every major station has a web site. This aspect you can read it yourself with little outside influence and come up with your own conclusions. Every person on an evening news show has a personal opinion, they only reveal it when you least expect it. This rarely happens, because they are reading what the writers and reporters have written off of a TelePrompTer and adding some of their own opinion as they are talking. Most of the time we have to believe what they are saying, because they are the ones that research the topics and stories that... ...rmation in the online communities, because I would be able to have my own opinion about the particular topic I am reading about. No person on television would be able to tell me one way or another about what I should think or side myself to. I am my own person and have my own thoughts and feelings and all people should be the same way in where they can think for themselves and be their own person. A final thought, each of these two venues presented a good argument on which was better and the advantages and disadvantages towards both, yet one might always be better in one persons eyes and the other might be better in the person next to them. This gives each person a particular individuality and distinguishes them from the rest of the world. Works Cited Rory J. O'Connor. "Africa: The Unwired Continent." Richard Holeton. Singapore: McGraw Hill, 1998. 270-274.

Case: Problem in Pay System

MGT 302 Case: problems in pay system Xiamiao Zhu 1. Are the CCUA department’s current pay practices concerning data processor IIs and computer analyst Is externally equitable? Explain your answer. Pay practice in CCUA: * Data processor II position: * $11. 00—$12. 70 per hour. * $24,960 per year based on their 40-hour workweek. * Health and life issuance is provided by the company at a cost of $950 per year per employee. * Computer analyst I position: * Salary range $25,500—$32,500. * The average salary paid to the eight incumbents is $31,500. Health and life issuance is provided by the company at a cost of $950 per year per employee. Survey data: | CCUA| Average salary| Mfg/ Consumer| Mfg/ Industrial | Banking | Other Financial service| DP services| Wholesale distribution| Junior analyst and programmer| 31,500| 35,156| 33,750| 40,714| 35,000| 32,143| 37,500| 32,875| Data processor| 24,960| 27,500| 26,000| 29,000| 28,000| 26,500| 26,000| 27,000| * Data processor I I position closely matches the survey’s Data processor. Computer analyst position is most comparable with survey’s junior analyst and programmer. * Both DP II’s and CA I’s at CCUA are underpaid compare to the market. * Both DP II’s and CA I’s at CCUA have $950 health and life insurance. 2. What specific action, if any, do you recommend be taken now? Be specific and justify your recommendations as fully as possible. * Conduct a wage survey: Who is the relevant labor market? What is the competition paying? What sources for market data? What benchmark jobs should be included?Get the survey done in the rural southwest area more in the locality where department is situated so that data is more comparable and find the other benefits of the survey companies. * Choose a pay policy and develop a pay structure: decrease the number of the employee and pay the higher salary. Or hire employee buy using less recruitment cost and training cost. Hire and pa y employee following the policy and the structure. 3. What specific strategy do you recommend for the future so that these types of problems can be anticipated and avoided. Exit interviews: understand the reason for not stay in the company and find the solution to avoid it. * Better scanning of local and regional external pay referents, do let employee think you are paying much less than others. * Better two-way communication with employee. Do the employee satisfaction survey once a year before somebody is trying to quit. * Provide no monetary benefits * Provide larger budget for job categories 4. What additional information in this situation would have enable you to improve the quality of your recommendations? Improve the exit interview and focus on the questions like: * What is your primary reason for leaving? * Did anything trigger your decision to leave? * What was most satisfying about your job? * What was least satisfying about your job? * What would you change about your job? * Find some information about pay equity information: http://www. hrsdc. gc. ca/eng/labour/equality/pay_equity/about/guide. shtml * Conduct the web search O*NET to find if there is any help. 5. Occupations:| Wage & employment trend:| Computer systems analysts:| Median wages (2011) $37. 7 hourly, $78,770 annual Employment (2010) 544,000 employees Projected growth (2010-2020) Faster than average (20% to 28%) Projected job openings (2010-2020) 222,500 Top industries (2010) Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (33% employed in this sector)Finance and Insurance (14%)| Computer programmer:| Median wages (2011) $34. 92 hourly, $72,630 annual Employment (2010) 363,000 employees Projected growth (2010-2020) Average (10% to 19%) Projected job openings (2010-2020) 128,000 Top industries (2010) Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesInformation| Computer and information system manager:| Median wages (2011) $56. 4 hourly, $118,010 annual Employment (2010) 308,000 employees Projected growth (2010-2020) Average (10% to 19%) Projected job openings (2010-2020) 102,800 Top industries (2010) Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesFinance and Insurance| Operations research analysts:| Median wages (2011) $34. 59 hourly, $71,950 annual Employment (2010) 65,000 employees Projected growth (2010-2020) Average (10% to 19%) Projected job openings (2010-2020) 30,000 Top industries (2010) Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (23% employed in this sector)Finance and Insurance (22%)Government (17%)|

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10

I Don't Know How This Works After some more lifting in the basement, I put on my trash bag and run my ten miles. Afterward, I shower, spray some of my father's cologne, and walk into the mist – just like Mom taught me to do back in high school. I roll on some underarm deodorant and then don my new khakis and my Hank Baskett jersey. When I ask my mother how I look, she says, â€Å"Very handsome. So handsome. But do you really think you should wear your Eagles jersey to a dinner party? You can wear one of the Gap shirts I bought you, or you can borrow one of your father's polo shirts.† â€Å"It's okay,† I say, and smile confidently. â€Å"Dr. Patel said wearing this shirt was a good idea.† â€Å"Did he?† my mom says with a laugh, and then she removes an arrangement of flowers and a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Give these to Veronica and tell her I said thanks. Ronnie's been a good friend to you.† And then Mom looks like she is going to cry again. I kiss her goodbye, and with my hands full of flowers and wine, I walk down the street and across Knight's Park to Ronnie's house. Ronnie answers the door wearing a shirt and tie, which makes me feel like Dr. Patel was wrong after all and I am underdressed. But Ronnie looks at my new jersey, checks the name on the back – probably to make sure I am not wearing an outdated Freddie Mitchell jersey – and says, â€Å"Hank Baskett is the man! Where did you get that jersey this early in the season? It's great!† which makes me feel so much better. We follow the meaty aroma through their swanky living room and their swanky dining room to the kitchen, where Veronica is feeding Emily, whom I am surprised to see looking much older than a newborn baby. â€Å"Hank Baskett's in the house,† Ronnie says. â€Å"Who?† Veronica answers, but she smiles when she sees the flowers and the wine. â€Å"Pour moi?† She stares at my puffy cheek for a second, but doesn't mention it, which I appreciate. I hand her what my mother has sent, and Veronica kisses me on my un-puffy cheek. â€Å"Welcome home, Pat,† she says, which surprises me because she sounds sincere. â€Å"I hope you don't mind, but I've invited someone else to dinner,† Veronica adds. She winks at me and then lifts the lid off the single pot on the stove, releasing a warm tomato and basil aroma. â€Å"Who?† I ask. â€Å"You'll see,† she says without looking up from stirring her sauce. Before I can say more, Ronnie is lifting Emily from her high chair, saying, â€Å"Meet Uncle Pat,† which sounds strange until I realize he is talking about me. â€Å"Say hello to Uncle Pat, Emily.† She waves her little hand at me, and then I have Emily in my arms. Her dark eyes examine my face, and she smiles as though she approves. â€Å"Pap,† she says, pointing at my nose. â€Å"See how smart my girl is, Uncle Pat,† Ronnie says, petting the silky black hair on Emily's head. â€Å"She already knows your name.† Emily smells like the mashed carrots that coat her cheeks until Ronnie wipes them clean with a wet napkin. I have to admit that Emily is a cute kid, and I instantly understand why Ronnie has written me so many letters about his daughter – why he loves her so much. I start to think about having children with Nikki someday and I become so happy that I give little Emily a kiss on the forehead, as if she were Nikki's baby and I was her father. And then I kiss Emily's forehead again and again, until she giggles. â€Å"Beer?† Ronnie says. â€Å"I'm not really supposed to drink, because I'm on medications and – â€Å" â€Å"Beer,† Ronnie says, and then we are drinking beers on his deck as Emily sits in her father's lap and sucks on a bottle filled with watered-down apple juice. â€Å"It's good to have a beer with you,† Ronnie says, just before clinking his Yuengling Lager bottle against mine. â€Å"Who's coming over for dinner?† â€Å"Veronica's sister, Tiffany.† â€Å"Tiffany and Tommy?† I say, remembering Tiffany's husband from Ronnie and Veronica's wedding. â€Å"Just Tiffany.† â€Å"Where's Tommy?† Ronnie takes a long swig of his beer, looks up at the setting sun, and says, â€Å"Tommy died some time ago.† â€Å"What?† I say, because I hadn't heard. â€Å"God, I'm sorry to hear that.† â€Å"Just make sure you don't bring up Tommy tonight, okay?† â€Å"Sure,† I say, and then drink a few large gulps of my beer. â€Å"So how did he die?† â€Å"How did who die?† says a woman's voice. â€Å"Hi, Tiffany,† Ronnie says, and suddenly she is standing with us on the porch. Tiffany's wearing a black evening dress, heels, and a diamond necklace, and her makeup and hair look too perfect to me – as if she is trying too hard to look attractive, like old ladies sometimes do. â€Å"You remember Pat, right?† I stand, and as we shake hands, the way Tiffany looks into my eyes makes me feel really funny. We move back into the house, and after some small talk, Tiffany and I are left alone on opposite ends of the living-room couch as Veronica finishes cooking the meal and Ronnie puts Emily to bed. â€Å"You look very pretty tonight,† I say when the silence grows awkward. Before apart time began, I never ever complimented Nikki on her looks, and I think this really hurt her self-esteem. I figure I can now practice complimenting women on their looks so it will come naturally to me when Nikki returns, although Tiffany really does look pretty, even if she is trying too hard with the makeup. She is a few years older than me, but has a fit body and long, silky black hair. â€Å"What happened to your cheek?† Tiffany asks without looking at me. â€Å"Weight-lifting accident.† She just stares at her hands, which are folded in her lap. Her nails have been recently painted a blood red. â€Å"So where are you working now?† I say, thinking this is a safe question. Her nose crinkles, as if I had farted. â€Å"I got fired from my job a few months ago.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Does it really matter?† she says, then stands and walks into the kitchen. I down the remainder of my second beer and wait for Ronnie to come back. Dinner is elegant, with candles going and fancy plates and special silverware, but awkward, as Tiffany and I are completely silent while Veronica and Ronnie talk about us as if we aren't there. â€Å"Pat is a big history buff. He knows everything about every single U.S. president. Go ahead. Ask him anything,† Ronnie says. When Tiffany fails to look up from her food, Veronica says, â€Å"My sister is a modern dancer and has a recital in two months. You should see her dance, Pat. So beautiful. My God, I wish I could dance like my sister. If she allows us this year, we're all going to her recital, and you should definitely come with us.† I nod carefully when Tiffany looks up for my response, thinking I'll go just so I can practice being kind. Also, Nikki would probably want to go to a dance recital, and I want to do the things Nikki likes from now on. â€Å"Pat and I are going to work out together,† Ronnie says. â€Å"Look how fit my buddy is. He puts me to shame. I need to get in that basement with you, Pat.† â€Å"Tiffany loves the shore, don't you, Tiff? The four of us should take Emily to the beach one weekend in September after the crowds have left. We could have a picnic. Do you like picnics, Pat? Tiffany loves picnics. Don't you, Tiff?† Ronnie and Veronica trade facts about their guests for almost fifteen minutes straight, and then finally there's a lull, so I ask if any of them knows anything about the Vet being imploded, and to my surprise Ronnie and Veronica both confirm that it was demolished years ago, just like my father said, which worries me tremendously because I have no memory of this or the years that have supposedly transpired since. I think about asking how long ago Emily was born, because I remember getting a letter and picture from Ronnie soon after her birth, but I get scared and do not ask. â€Å"I hate football,† Tiffany offers. â€Å"More than anything in the world.† And then we all eat without saying anything for a while. The three courses Ronnie had promised turn out to be beer, lasagna garnished with baked asparagus, and key lime pie. All three are great, and I tell Veronica as much – practicing again for when Nikki comes back – to which Veronica replies, â€Å"Did you think my food would be bad?† I know she means it as a joke, but Nikki would have used the question to prove just how witchy Veronica can be. I think about how if Nikki were here, after we went home, we'd stay up talking in bed like we used to when we were both a little drunk – and sitting now at Ronnie's dinner table, the thought makes me feel sad and happy at the same time. When we finish our pie, Tiffany stands and says, â€Å"I'm tired.† â€Å"But we've hardly finished eating,† Veronica says, â€Å"and we have Trivial Pursuit to – â€Å" â€Å"I said I'm tired.† There is a silence. â€Å"Well,† Tiffany finally says, â€Å"are you going to walk me home or what?† It takes me a second to realize that Tiffany is talking to me, but I quickly say, â€Å"Sure.† Since I am practicing being kind now, what else could I have said – right? It is a warm night, but not too sticky. Tiffany and I walk a block before I ask where she lives. â€Å"With my parents, okay?† she says without looking at me. â€Å"Oh.† I realize we are only about four blocks from Mr. and Mrs. Webster's house. â€Å"You live with your parents too, right?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"So no big whoop.† It is dark, and I guess it's about 9:30 p.m. With her arms crossing her chest, Tiffany walks pretty quickly in her clicky heels, and soon we are standing in front of her parents' house. When she turns to face me, I think she is simply going to say good night, but she says, â€Å"Look, I haven't dated since college, so I don't know how this works.† â€Å"How what works?† â€Å"I've seen the way you've been looking at me. Don't bullshit me, Pat. I live in the addition around back, which is completely separate from the house, so there's no chance of my parents walking in on us. I hate the fact that you wore a football jersey to dinner, but you can fuck me as long as we turn the lights out first. Okay?† I'm too shocked to speak, and for a long time we just stand there. â€Å"Or not,† Tiffany adds just before she starts crying. I'm so confused that I'm speaking and thinking and worrying all at the same time, not really knowing what to do or say. â€Å"Look, I enjoyed spending time with you, and I think you're really pretty, but I'm married,† I say, and lift up my wedding ring as proof. â€Å"So am I,† she says, and holds up the diamond on her left hand. I remember what Ronnie told me about her husband having passed away, which makes her a widow and not married, but I do not say anything about that, because I am practicing being kind instead of right, which I learned in therapy and Nikki will like. It makes me really sad to see that Tiffany is still wearing her wedding ring. And then suddenly Tiffany is hugging me so that her face is between my pecs, and she's crying her makeup onto my new Hank Baskett jersey. I don't like to be touched by anyone except Nikki, and I really do not want Tiffany to get makeup on the jersey my brother was nice enough to give me – a jersey with real stitchedon letters and numbers – but I surprise myself by hugging Tiffany back. I rest my chin on top of her shiny black hair, scent her perfume, and suddenly I am crying too, which scares me a lot. Our bodies shudder together, and we are all waterworks. We cry together for at least ten minutes, and then she lets go and runs around to the back of her parents' house. When I arrive home, my father is watching television. The Eagles are playing the Jets in a preseason game I did not know was on. He does not even look at me, probably because I am such a lousy Eagles fan now. My mother tells me that Ronnie called, saying it's important and I should call him back immediately. â€Å"What happened? What's on your jersey? Is that makeup?† my mother asks, and when I do not answer, she says, â€Å"You better call Ronnie back.† But I only lie down in my bed and stare at the ceiling of my bedroom until the sun comes up.