Plato and Aristotle on Just Claims to Rule free essay sample

A conversation on the contrast among Platos and Aristotles philosophical perspectives on goodness. This paper talks about the various philosophical perspectives on Aristotle and Plato on the excellencies of constrained equity, of equity, and of honest standard. Recorded legend reports that Socrates showed reasoning and truth to Plato, and Plato encouraged Aristotle what he had realized. Every age respected and reexamined the ideas of the age that went before them, and each created in various ways. Regarding the matter of what might later be known as the implicit agreement, their disparities were especially articulated. Platos perfect work of art The Republic, cases to interpret (and one expect to develop) the lessons of Socrates on the matter of the perfect city, and its conclusions will be on the other hand alluded to in this as those of Plato and those of his lord Socrates. In his work, The Politics of Aristotle, their philosophical relative returns with an unmistakably progressively widely appealing and practical kind of optimism. We will compose a custom article test on Plato and Aristotle on Just Claims to Rule or on the other hand any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page There are numerous standards which these rationalists hold in like manner, and numerous thoughts (even those that would be dubious today) that they concur upon. Notwithstanding, there are regularly huge contrasts between the convictions of Aristotle and those of his instructors.

Legal Homework 3 B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legitimate Homework 3 B - Essay Example Thirdly, Judy’s segregation, the section and unannounced exit of the therapist are away from of inability to put Judy and her family at the core of care; fourthly, the specialist and the medical attendant have disregarded the standard of correspondence and co-ordinated care in the treatment of the patient, in any case the difference in watchman could have been progressively consistent to maintain a strategic distance from self destruction endeavors. 2. Was the medical attendant careless for opening the washroom entryway and permitting Judy to shower without anyone else? The attendant was careless for opening the restroom and permitting the patient to shower without anyone else, in light of the fact that actually it was unimaginable for her to complete any significant preparing because of her psychological issue. In addition, she had spent numerous days without scrubbing down. 3. Was it underneath the standard of care the attendant to leave the restroom entryway opened when the therapist came to see Judy? Leaving the washroom entryway opened was all together, since the patient’s developments would be observed by the therapist. Furthermore, if regardless the nurse’s assistance was earnestly required, the individual would have gotten to the room more effectively than when it was bolted. 4. Is there a more noteworthy obligation to this patient from a moral viewpoint? Why or why not? Judy is experiencing automatic mental treatment favored under the conventions of police power and state’s parens patriae, anyway this condition doesn't strip her of patient rights and moral treatment. Paradoxically, ordered treatment normally conjures moral strains for therapists and their associates that need a fragile exercise in careful control. While, Judy’s individual flexibilities ought to be limited by goodness of her psychological wellness, there should be a more noteworthy obligation to her by considering rules that commit the clinicians to tr eat her with more regard and nobility (McSherry, McSherry, and Watson, 2012). While discouragement of self destruction in Judy’s case requires a stricter domain, she merits a closer, more amiable condition since self destruction cases don't simply occur out of blues; there are up and coming signs like planning of ropes as saw for this situation. In recognizing the gravity of preventing Judy the opportunity from claiming patients, she ought to be conceded: a legal audit of her circumstance, a lawful direction, and a superior, less prohibitive alternative than hospitalization. Besides, more noteworthy obligation of care necessitates that the crisis medicinal services office to team up additional with Judy’s chiefs in investigating suitable treatment alternatives to reestablish her wellbeing, since it is just moral if the social insurance staff progress in the direction of her prosperity as opposed to limiting her in a segregated room, which just serves to exasperate her condition. 5. What moral standards must be viewed as when thinking about such a patient? a) The fundamental moral rule that ought to be considered for this situation is treatment through educated assent. Attributable to Judy’s emotional well-being condition, her family through a real substitute leader maintain all authority to be outfitted with adjusted proficient data in regards to Judy’s wellbeing condition and suitable treatment alternatives so as to show up at fitting choices without undue impact. b). Besides there ought to be an inviting, proficient separation and regard among Judy and her clinicians that makes a more secure and progressively unsurprising condition for her recuperation. This would make room

Maladaptive Behaviors in Panic Disorder

Maladaptive Behaviors in Panic Disorder Panic Disorder Symptoms Print Common Maladaptive Behaviors Related to Panic Disorder By Sheryl Ankrom linkedin Sheryl Ankrom is a clinical professional counselor and nationally certified clinical mental health counselor specializing in anxiety disorders. Learn about our editorial policy Sheryl Ankrom Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 21, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 30, 2019 Volanthevist / Getty Images More in Panic Disorder Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Coping Related Conditions If you experience frequent  panic (anxiety) attacks  and have been diagnosed with  panic disorder  or another anxiety disorder, you may have inadvertently developed maladaptive, or poor, patterns of behavior to cope with your situation. Understanding Maladaptive Behaviors Maladaptive behaviors inhibit your ability to adjust healthily to particular situations. In essence, they prevent you from adapting or coping well with the demands and stresses of life. Often used to reduce anxiety, maladaptive behaviors result in dysfunctional and non-productive outcomesâ€"in other words, they are more harmful than helpful. Maladaptive behaviors are classified here as dysfunctional because they tend to provide only short-term relief from anxietyâ€"they dont help you cope with your anxiety in the long run. These behaviors are non-productive because they do nothing to alleviate the root of your problem and may, in fact, serve as reinforcers of the underlying problem. How the Symptoms of Panic Attacks Can Be Managed Maladaptive Behaviors Associated With Panic Disorder Some common maladaptive behaviors that are related to panic disorder include: Avoidance For many people, the symptoms of panic disorder  often trigger an array of avoidant behaviors. This can result in agoraphobia, a common complication that occurs in 25 percent to 50 percent of people with panic disorder. Agoraphobia can take a little time to develop, or it can come on rather quickly. Some sufferers believe their agoraphobic symptoms began after their first panic attack. Once agoraphobia takes root, avoidance behaviors often multiply quickly. Substance Misuse People with anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia, sometimes use alcohol or other substances as a means of coping with fear and anxiety. Studies show that people with anxiety disorders are more likely to have an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder than those without an anxiety disorder.  Abusing alcohol or other drugs to control stress and anxiety is classified as a maladaptive behavior because it provides only temporary relief from anxiety and actually may create more long-term problems. Substance abuse does not fix the underlying problem and long-term alcohol or drug use or misuse can lead to tolerance, dependence, and for some, addiction. The Dangers of Using Alcohol and Drugs to Relieve Anxiety Withdrawing Many challenges in life require ongoing actionâ€"both behaviorally and mentally. Sometimes we struggle and succeed. Sometimes we struggle and fail. When the latter occurs, we can try again, or we can withdraw from the conflict with a resigned acceptance of our situation.   When it comes to panic disorder or other anxiety disorders, withdrawing is incompatible with recovery. It is a maladaptive behavior because it means we submit to the illness and become unable to meet the demands of life. In essence, withdrawing in this sense is like giving up. Converting Anxiety to Anger Its normal for people who have panic disorder, agoraphobia, or another anxiety disorder to experience frustration because of their condition. Sometimes this frustration can develop into angerâ€"anger toward yourself, anger at your situation, or anger toward others. This type of anger is rooted in anxiety. Anger is a powerful feeling that is a normal part of the human experience. Everyone has felt angry at one time or another, and anger itself is not a bad thing. But if you express your anger in unhealthy ways, it can become a problem. Plus, anger can intensify your anxiety and worsen your panic symptoms. The good news is that  anger management programs can help you find more adaptive ways to deal with anxiety. Dealing With Anger in a Healthy Way Is Crucial A Word From  Verywell For many people, the recovery process from anxiety disorders is slow and filled with setbacks. Recovery is accomplished with diligence and a strong resolve to not accept the control that panic attacks and other anxiety-related symptoms have over our lives.

Research Paper on Britain in the Global Economy

Research Paper on Britain in the Global Economy Introduction The success of a given economy in international trade greatly depends on the status of its currency as well as the decisions or rather policies that are put into place as far this issue is concerned. The United Kingdom is one of the countries or rather economies that has been said to be successive in international market, despite of the recent economic crisis that has been experienced worldwide in general and specifically, in America and Europe. The success of UK in the global economy is evident from the gradual increase of the number of exporters in the country. It is a fact that, due to the recent economic crisis, the sterling pound as been significantly affected. To be more precise, the sterling pound has been weakened considerably during this crisis. From the economic point of view, a weak currency can be an opportunity for an economy to penetrate into the global economy, (Ellen, Hermerijck Knapen, 2009). However, it can also be a great challenge of venturing into the global mar ket. Thus, the success or failure of an economy experiencing a weakening currency in benefiting from the global economy, depends on the decisions that strategic decisions that are made. In most cases, these decisions are concerned with opportunity cost to allocation of resource, the impact of the policies that are enacted by the government through its agencies and business environment on the long term planning of organizations as far as economic issues are concerned. The main objective of this report is to examine the reasons why Britain has always been successful in the global market despite the weakening sterling pound and the threats that might be associated with this issue. This will be analyzed as under the following sub-headings, (Connolly, 2010). Reasons why exporters in Britain are increasing with weakening of the sterling Studies indicate that, the number of exporters are increasing despite the fact the sterling pound is becoming weaker given the recent global economic crisis. Various economists and business scholars have come up with various explanations of this trend. Unquestionably, Britain is one the few countries which has benefited from its former colonies as far as trade is concerned. Indeed, the aftermath of the Second World War was the close relationship of Britain and these colonies. To date, these colonies are the leading consumers of the products of Britain, (Charlton Stiglitz, 2005). Besides, these former colonies act as the source of the major raw materials that are used in production of goods. In fact, this is one of the reasons why several multinational corporations are based in several parts of the world, more especially in the developing countries. Consequently, there is a wide market for Britain’s exports, significantly contributing to the ever increasing number of exporters from this country, despite of the prevailing difficult financial challenges all over the world. Moreover, Britain has a comparative advantage in the manufacturing industry as well as service industry. After the end of colonization objectives of Britain more especially beginning from the end of the Second World War, Britain shifted from agricultural production to manufacturing and service production industries. This was enhanced by the fact that, the country was already developed technologically during this period as compared to other countries in the world. Since then, the two industries has been evolving and becoming the major contributors to the GDP of Britain, (Pugel, 2007). Therefore, due to this kind specialization, Britain has come has a comparative advantage in the global economy in this two sectors as compared to the other their competitors. The comparative advantage can be determined or rather measured in various ways. One of these ways is the determination of the opportunity cost of production of manufactured goods in Britain in comparison to other countries more especially those that are still developing. Studies have shown that, the opportunity cost of manufacturing products in other countries is higher in comparison to the opportunity cost of manufacturing the same products in Britain. In this case, productivity of manufacturing and service industries has been growing at a higher rate as compared to other parts of the world, (Connolly, 2010). Based on the comparative advantage argument, it is clear that exporters in Britain will continue to increase, no matter how the sterling pound is performing in the global market. Why the Sterling Pound has been weakened It is not only in Britain that performance in the global economy has declined, but also in most parts of the world more especially, in European economies and America. The main reason of this decline is attributed to the recent economic crisis. Due to this crisis, Britain’s exports have reduced considerably since 2008. This has led a reduction of capital flows that is being witnessed, (Chang, 2008). Consequently, the value of the sterling pound has been decreasing gradually in the international market. The weakening of the sterling pound can be seen to be both an advantage and a disadvantage as far as the British exports are concerned. It is an advantage because, exports from the country becomes more attractive in terms of price which contribute to an increase of the exports. This is based on the assumption from the economics point of view that, the lower the price the higher the demand. Resource allocation decisions based on opportunity cost Resource allocation is very critical for the survival of an economy in the global market. Allocations of resources depend on the state and the size of the economy. Notably, Britain is a small open economy country as compared to the leading economies in the global market. Therefore, the function of exchange rate in Britain is twofold: allocation of resources between the overseas sector and the domestic sector; and it acts as the chief diffusion mechanism between domestic and global inflation. The profitability of Britain’s exports depends greatly on the exchange rate as it is said to be the relative price, (Saleh, 2010). Consequently, from the economics point of view, it can be argued that Britain will be more competitive in the global market when there is lower exchange rate. Thus, ceteris paribus, more resources will be allocated to the trade sector. This explains the reasons why the Governor asserted that, the weakening of the Sterling Pound since the beginning of the recent ly experienced economic crisis is an opportunity for Britain to rebalance its allocation process so as to promote long-term health of the economy of the country, (E Y, 2011). Arguably, Britain is one of the countries in the world that has invested a lot in foreign countries. This is usually undertaken through multinational corporations. Therefore, in order to survive in the global economy with a weakening Sterling Pound, more resources have been allocated to the overseas sector as compared to the domestic sector. According to a survey that was carried out 2010 of firms which exported their products, about forty percent indicated that they will attempt to increase their exports if the sterling pound remained at the same status or fell further, (Pugel, 2007). Thus, even though the performance of the sterling pound is not doing well internationally, the profits that are gained from overseas investments plays a significant role in balancing the local prices. For instance, most multinational corporations from Britain are found in the developing countries. During the economic crisis more resources were allocated to these corporations. The proceeds gained from these investments will have a higher value that they could have been if investment would have been made locally. Moreover, by allocating more resources to overseas investment, the locals will be motivated to invest internationally which bring a significant impact on Britain’s exports, (Chang, 2008). Thus, the opportunity cost of investing locally with the weakening of the Sterling Pound is less as compared to that of investing overseas. Hence, the decision to allocate more resources to overseas investment as played a considerable role for the survival of the country in the global market or rather economy, as compared to the other countries whose currencies are weakening. As mentioned previously, Britain has a comparative advantage in the production of manufactured goods as well as in the service industry. Based on this argument, the opportunity cost of investing in the two industries is higher as compared to investing in other sectors. Thus, it could be more beneficial or rather profitable to allocate more resources to the two sectors in comparison to the other sectors. This is one of the many reasons why more attention is given to the two sectors than any other sectors within the economy of this country, (Saleh, 2010). Government policies Undeniably, trade is very valuable to Britain as well as other to other countries. As a matter of fact, the government significantly determines the economic status in any country through the policies that it puts in place. It is also important to note that government policies change from time to time depending on the course that its economy is undertaking as well as the status of the global economy. As mentioned above, Britain is a small open economy which can be greatly affected by the global economy, (E Y, 2011). Therefore, various government policies have been introduced in order to support the survival of the country in the global market. These policies fall into various categories; as outlined below. Export and Import policies Britain government has tried considerably to promote its exports. This has been done through putting in place economic policies that that favor an increase of the exports. For instance, the government has implemented a reduction of tariffs on exports policy. This was aimed at encouraging the exporters to produce more goods for the international market. Moreover, to some degree it leads to a reduction of production costs for the exporters. This in turn reduces the prices of these products, thus increasing their demand as compared to the same goods from other countries, (E Y, 2011). It is also true from an economic point of view that, when the currency of a given country becomes weak, its exports become relatives cheaper in the international market arena. Precisely, it will cost the foreigners less if they consume goods from such country due to the fact that, they need less of their local currency to buy the foreign currency, in this case the sterling pound. On the same note, although Britain is an open economy, the government has also tried its best to regulate the amount of imported products. The major objective of this policy is to reduce the amount of sterling pounds that are being exchanged for foreign currencies. Precisely, this is aimed at preserving the sterling pound. A good, example of import restriction policy is the implementation of import quotas, (Saleh, 2010). This is the restriction of the quantity of a given product that is imported into a given country from foreign countries. These quotas are usually implemented on goods that are considered to be less important in the local economy, more especially those with substitutions. Through import restrictions, the government promotes or rather raises the consumption of given products which are produced locally. Through these policies, the government has been able to control the outflow of local currencies. Arguably, both the import and export policies influence the balance of payment as well as balance of trade of a country. Through, these policies, Britain has had a relatively stable balance of payment as well as balance of trade, despite the fact that, its sterling pound has been considerably weakened, (E Y, 2011). Thus, the country has been able to maintain its competitiveness in the weak global economy. Manufacturing industry policies Manufacturing is one of the leading industry foreigner earners for Britain. This industry comprises the manufacturing of motors, mobile phones as well as other electronics. In order to enhance the competitiveness of Britain manufactured goods in the international market, more especially during this sterling pound weakening period, the government has come up with policies that will enable the local industries to produce better and quality goods for the global economy. Availability of advanced technology in the country also contributes to production of quality and quantity export products, (Belli, 2007). For example, in order not to compromise on the quality of Britain’s exported products, the government has reduced prices on crucial raw materials in order to discourage manufacturers for going after cheaper raw materials which might compromise the quality of the goods that they produce. Additionally, tariffs on imported raw materials used in the manufacturing industry have been reduced for a certain percentage. Through, these policies, Britain’s products have a competitive advantage in global market as compared to other countries. Monetary and fiscal policies As a matter of fact, Britain is one of the many countries in the globe that practice flexible exchange regime. As such, this means that the value of the sterling pound generally depends on the forces of demand and supply. However, in order to counter the impacts of the weakening sterling pound as a result of the global economic crisis, the government has changed some of its policies that will influence the cash inflows and outflows. It is assumed that when the interest rates increases in a country, foreign cash inflows will increase in the country in question and in this particular case, in Britain, (Lieberman Hall, 2008). This will be an advantage to Britain because it when earn more foreign exchange as well as its currency will become stronger. However, in this case, the government has implemented some monetary and fiscal policies that will regulate an increase in the interest or rather to reduce fluctuations of interest rates. Based on the fact that almost all of the potential in vestors have been affected by the global economic crisis, it will be very difficult for cash inflows to increase due to an increase in the interest rates in Britain, (Saleh, 2010). This is one of the reasons why the government decided to implement monetary policies to monitor or rather to regulate the rise of interest rate. The regulation of interest rates also impacts the export industry, in the sense that, local producers will not increase prices of their products at international market basically because the cost of production is relatively lower as compared to other parts of the world. A good example a monetary policy that was implemented in the recent past is an historic tax-cut to as low as 1.0% during the physical year 2009-2010 by the Bank of England, which controls the banking and financial institutions in Britain. The bank was also expected to bump more money into the economy by more printings, by the end of 2009. According to the Golden Rule and the Sustainable Investment Rule, the UK government should only borrow from the central bank for investment purposes and also to maintain the national debt below 40% of the GDP. However, the Sustainable Investment Rule that was not adhered when public debt rose to more than the set limit by the end of 2010. This can be explained by the fact that the economic crisis needed application of Keynesian stimulus to reverse the situation. Business environment in the global economy Generally, business environment has a remarkable impact on the performance of any economy. With globalization, many business environments have become more challenging for most countries, including Britain. For instance, globalization is one of the reasons for the increase of competition in the global market. This is mainly because almost all the countries have opened their economies; thus, participating in the global market, (Chang, 2008). Additionally, advancement of technology in various countries more especially the developed countries has further complicated operations in international market. Therefore, unlike before, it has become more challenging for countries to prosper economically by depending on international trade. It also means that, both the quality and quantity of goods that are supplied in the global market has to change to conform to certain standards in order for a country to remain competitive. Impact of government and business environment on long-term planning of organizations For organizations to survive in the or rather remain competitive in the market, planning is mandatory rather than an option. Various factors are taken into consideration during the long-term planning process. The two major factors are government policies and business environment. Organizations have to factor in government policies during the planning process. For example, there are some policies that have been set by the government in Britain to ensure that there is efficiency in the service and manufacturing industries, (Chang, 2008). These policies are aimed at regulating these industries so as to ensure that exported products are capable of positioning the country at a competitive level in the global economy. On the other hand, for the organizations to be successive, they will also need to scrutinize the impacts of the business environment as far as their profitability is concerned. There are some set standards and procedures that are supposed to be followed in the global market, (Ellen, Hermerijck Knapen, 2009). Therefore, organizations have to undertake wide research on what is required by the government based on its policies as well as the survival tactics in the dynamic business environment; during their long-term planning. Threats of Britain in the global economy As mentioned early, Britain mainly depends on the manufacturing and service industries in the international market arena. Notably, both industries are based on the better technological advancements that have been made in Britain. However, through extensive research, other counties have made big steps as far as advancement of technology is concerned. Therefore, Britain is experiencing high competition in the manufacturing as well as service industries, (Joshi, 2005.). Thus, the comparative advantages that the country was experiencing are now gradually declining, based on the fact that manufacturing of certain products are as cheaper as they are in Britain. With situation has been worsened by the impacts of globalization in the world market. Conclusion It is evident that exchange rates are significant determinants of the performance of an economy in the global market. Thus, the government has to take the initiative of ensuring that the exchange rates are favorable for the economy to remain competitive in the global market. From this analysis, it has been observed that, the number of exporters in Britain is always increasing and that, Britain remains fairly competitive in the global market despite of the weakening sterling pound. This has been attributed to the various government policies as well as the comparative advantage that Britain enjoys in the manufacturing as well as the service production industries. This explains why it is important for organization in Britain to take into consideration government policies as well as business environment situations in their long-term planning. Bibliography Belli, P. 2007. â€Å"The Comparative Advantage of Government: A Review, Policy Research† Working Paper 1834, World Bank, Washington DC Chang, H. 2008. Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism, Bloomsbury Press. Ellen, Hermerijck, A, Knapen, B. 2009. Aftershocks: Economic Crisis and Institutional Choice.Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press Connolly, J. 2010. â€Å"Economic Review: Will the Sterling Boost Ever Arrive?†Second Quarter 2010,Deloitte E Y. 2011, The Outlook for UK exports: ITEM Club Special Report.ITEM Lieberman, M Hall, R., 2008, Macroeconomics: principles and applications. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western. Charlton, A. Stiglitz, J. E. 2005. Fair Trade For All: How Trade Can Promote Development. Oxford University Press Joshi, R. M, 2005. International Marketing, Oxford University Press, New Delhi and New York Pugel, T. A. 2007. International Economics, 13th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin Saleh, N. 2010. An Anatomy of the Financial Crisis 2007-2010: Blowing Tumbleweed. London: Anthem Press

The Invention and Development of the Wheel

The oldest wheel found in archeological excavations was discovered in what was Mesopotamia and is believed to be over 5,500 years old. It was not used for transportation, though, but rather as a potters wheel. The combination of the wheel and axle made possible early forms of transportation, which became more sophisticated over time with the development of other technologies. Key Takeaways: The Wheel †¢ The earliest wheels were used as potters wheels. They were invented in Mesopotamia about 5,500 years ago.†¢ The wheelbarrow—a simple cart with a single wheel—was invented by the ancient Greeks.†¢ Though wheels are mainly used for transportation, they are also used to navigate, spin thread, and generate wind and hydroelectric power. When Was the Wheel Invented? Though often thought of as one of the earliest inventions, the wheel actually arrived after the invention of agriculture, boats, woven cloth, and pottery. It was invented sometime around 3,500 B.C. During the transition between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, the very earliest wheels were made of wood, with a hole in the core for the axle. The wheel is unique because, unlike other early human inventions such as the pitchfork—which was inspired by forked sticks—it is not based on anything in nature. The Inventor of the Wheel The wheel is not like the telephone or the lightbulb, a breakthrough invention that can be credited to a single (or even several) inventors. There is archaeological evidence of wheels dating back to at least 5,500 years ago, but no one knows exactly who invented them. Wheeled vehicles appeared later in various areas across the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The invention of the wheelbarrow—a one-wheeled cart used to transport goods and raw materials—is usually credited to the ancient Greeks. However, earlier evidence of wheeled carts has been found in Europe and China. Wheel and Axle The Bronocice pot is the earliest depiction of a wheel and axle.   Silar/Wiki Commons The wheel alone, without any further innovation, would not have done much for mankind. Rather, it was the combination of the wheel and axle that made early forms of transportation possible, including carts and chariots. The Bronocice pot, a piece of pottery discovered in Poland and dating to at least 3370 B.C., is believed to feature the earliest depiction of a wheeled vehicle. The evidence suggests that small wagons or carts, likely drawn by cattle, were in use in Central Europe by this time in human history. The first carts featured wheels and axles that turned together. Wooden pegs were used to fix the sledge so that when it rested on the rollers it did not move. The axle turned in between the pegs, allowing the axle and wheels to create all the movement. Later, the pegs were replaced with holes carved into the cart frame, and the axle was placed through the holes. This made it necessary for the larger wheels and thinner axle to be separate pieces. The wheels were attached to both sides of the axle. Finally, the fixed axle was invented, wherein the axle did not turn but was solidly connected to the cart frame. The wheels were fitted onto the axle in a way that allowed them to freely rotate. Fixed axles made for stable carts that could turn corners better. By this time the wheel can be considered a complete invention. Following the invention of the wheel, the Sumerians invented the sledge, a device consisting of a flat base mounted on a pair of runners with curved ends. The sledge was useful for transporting cargo over smooth terrain; however, the Sumerians quickly realized that the device would be more efficient once it was mounted on rollers. Modern Uses of the Wheel VISUAL ART PHOTOGRAPHY/Getty Images While the basic function of the wheel is unchanged, modern wheels are much different from the simple wooden wheels of the past. Innovations in materials science have made possible all kinds of tires for bicycles, cars, motorcycles, and trucks—including tires designed for rough terrain, ice, and snow. While primarily used for transportation, the wheel also has other applications. Watermills, for example, use water wheels—large structures with a series of blades along the rim—to generate hydropower. In the past, watermills powered textile mills, sawmills, and gristmills. Today, similar structures called turbines are used to generate wind and hydroelectric power. The spinning wheel is another example of how the wheel can be used. This device, invented in India over 2,500 years ago, was used to spin thread from natural fibers such as cotton, flax, and wool. The spinning wheel was eventually replaced by the spinning jenny and the spinning frame, more sophisticated devices that also incorporate wheels. The gyroscope is a navigational instrument that consists of a spinning wheel and a pair of gimbals. Modern versions of this tool are used in compasses and accelerometers.

Economics and Higher Grades Free Essays

Should I study more in math? T-Chart Cost Benefit Less time for things I like to do. | Higher grades. | Less time for family and friends. We will write a custom essay sample on Economics and Higher Grades or any similar topic only for you Order Now | Increased scores in finals. | Less time to earn money. | Graduate high school and more opportunities. | 1 Explain how the concepts of scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost relate to your dilemma. For scarcity it would be that instead of me doing other things of my liking I would study, resulting in higher grades. Opportunity cost would be for example working which comes with making money and letting that go but then in the long run being able to graduate high school and have more opportunities. 2. What are the possible short-term costs and benefits? What are the possible long-term costs and benefits? Explain your answers and make sure all are listed in your chart. The short term costs would be to give up things I like in return for higher grades. Also giving up some time with friends family would be shown in my final scores as it gives more time for studying. Also not working or making an income would take up less time and would make me be able to concentrate full time on my studies. 3. Which column has more responses? Which column has more powerful responses? Explain which points are most important to you and why. I believe the more powerful response come from the benefit as they are what I want the most and don’t really compare to the other short term effects. For example I would rather want to graduate and whatnot than to have money right now as I know it will help me in the future. 4. Based on the chart and your reflection of the above questions, what will be your final choice? Was this process helpful to you in reaching a decision? Write a brief paragraph with at least three details to persuade your instructor that this is the best decision. I would take more time to study as it pays off in the long run and would obviously be more beneficial to me than not doing it. It will also as you can see in the chart make me be able to excel more in the area’s in math I am having trouble with. I will be able to not have any trouble in passing exams, and I will be acquiring more knowledge on the subject for the future. Giving up work will also put a negative impact in short term for my wallet but it will give more time for me to acquire other knowledge on the subject. How to cite Economics and Higher Grades, Essay examples

Leadership Competencies Hospitality and Tourism MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Leadership Competencies : Hospitality and Tourism. Answer: Introduction Hospitality management is considered to be the overall study of managing restaurants, hotels and other similar organizations in the hospitality sector. Crown Perth Hotel is considered to be a flourishing business in Burswood, Western Australia that has more than two million customers countrywide who are loyal to the company products and services. It is vital to review the advancement of Crown Perth Hotel whose main business zone is Western Australia, particularly in a situation of a quickly changing framework like companies merging and starting other branches in the globe (Aragon Martin, Torre, 2015). For one to conduct research to the firm to expand demands, then the firm must deem accessing its effectiveness in present growth direction and that of the future. They have to carry out a market analysis, situate themselves, and realize how aggressive they are in the market both internationally and locally. Because of this aspect, the firm administration should set its new objectives as it develops and set new operation and strategic aim so as to maintain itself in the most vibrant situation. The firm has distinctive services and products in Western Australia but will face rivalry in the overseas market because other diverse firms are providing the similar goods (Boella, Goss, 2013). Based on this, the business has to construct a detailed market analysis so as to meet the preference and demands of clients in the targeted market and also to race with other rivals at international aspect. This particular report will entail Crown Perth Hotel as the hospitality facility and critically analyzing its systems, subsystem, a process of key subsystems, business blueprints, and management of quality productions using present-day business data. Crown Perth Hotel is a casino and a resort that is located in Burswood, Western Australia. Crown Perth Hotel has won diverse tourism and travel awards that include the Best Hotel for Business Travel and Australasia Leading Casino Resort awards (Buhalis, Crotts, 2013). The hospitality facility has diverse hotels that range from simple hotels to big hotels in the city of Perth and other towns in the Western Australia. Crown Perth Hotel has been producing high-quality services and products that attract more customers in the world. In has increased its hospitality operations because of the low cost of food and other services that are basically affordable to each person. The firm also has clean rooms for accommodations that have enabled the company to continue in its overall production over the long period of time. From the hospitality facilitys lowly start-up, the company is now concentrating on the aspect of separating in the Hotel business with a mark of quality and excellence. It has been a successful hospitality facility, and it is currently one of the largest Hotel businesses in Perth and Western Australia. With premium restaurants that deliver world class dining experience and casual eateries providing a more relaxed vibe, Crown Perth Hospitality Facility is considered to be home to some of the best restaurant in Perth and Western Australia. It anticipates being the biggest groups of hotels in the world over the coming years (Chang, Gong, Shum, 2011). The firm is also anticipating to start other hospitality facilities in Asia and European nations over the next few years. In addition, the hospitality facility is also on the verge of initiating additional of its hospitality operations in Africa and the USA. The process of the key subsystems in Crown Perth Hotel In Crown Perth Hotel, its systems consist of inputs, transformation, and the outputs. Systems also encompass diverse people, processes rules and other components that basically creates a hierarchy for communications and structure. The products, services and bottom line outcomes that were generated within the company form a clear reflection of the operational setup of the firm organization system. Crown Perth Hotel purchases its inputs from the farmers and other industries that provide fresh raw materials (Davidson, McPhail, Barry, 2011). Raw materials such as food will be procured from the farmers then transported to the hotel so as to transform them into finished products and services for the customers. The firm ensures that the produced products or services are of high quality so as to enhance the overall company growth and maintain its entire customers because basically, better food often attracts both new and existing customers. Diverse raw materials will be taken to the company for transformation into finished goods so as to ensure that there are enough ready products for the customers (Harrington, Ottenbacher, 2011). The products and services are aimed at marketing and enhancing the products and services into the market because of its distinctiveness that makes it set to face diverse competitors. Initiating a new service or product encompasses coming together and creating visibility and makes people talked about it worldwide. The transformation process also assists in creating a momentum for completing and marketing the products and services because the entire process often takes a massive volume of process to get into the market. The inputs have to be taken to the industry as they will be transformed into outputs which are a huge momentum that boosts the business. In the industry, the end products from the process of transformation will be sold to the customers as food and other products needed by the clients (Line, Runyan, 2012). This aspect forms a great significance to the company because they often procure raw materials direct from the farmers and other industries at slightly lower prices and transform them into finished goods that will be sold to the customers as output thus making profits and enhances its continuous existence in the entire business operations. Blueprinting is considered to be a technique that is often utilized for services innovations. Service blueprints are pictures or maps that precisely show how a service process is built up. Physical evidence is all the activities that are carried out by units or individuals in the company who do not necessarily contact workers (Mok, Sparks, Kadampully, 2013). In Crown Perth Hotel the hospitality facility provides several services so as to pamper guests during their stays such as self-service laundry rooms, an express bar where diverse guests and visitors can enjoy the beverages such as cocktails, light meals, and beers. There is also Great rooms where the guests can enjoy the free Express start breakfast with grab and go option if they are in a hurry, vending machines if the visitors or guests wants to purchase some soft drinks, snacks or tickets for themselves. Diverse guests arrive at the Crown Perth Hotel then grab self-service trolley from the lobby and then perform the check in process immediately after they checked in (Pizam, 2012). They go to their respective rooms and have slept with the company high-quality beddings after they freshen up their selves with a great power shower that are fixed inside the bathroom. Onstage or face to face interactions between the employees and the customers From the employee action side, before the guests arrive they have to provide and ensure that the scent of hotel and rooms, music, and self-service trolley have been set up as the brand standard. When the guests are checking in, the front desk staff should assure that they greet the visitors with friendly and good manner. Flowcharting is a method for presenting the sequence and nature of the diverse steps included in distributing diverse services to the clients, provide an effective way to comprehend the totality of the clients service understanding. From the above flowchart, the customers follow the directions to the restaurant as detailed on the hospitality facility website or as was mentioned in the confirmation letter (Tsang, Hsu, 2012). On arrival, the customers will be able to see the contemporary signage of the hotel, lobby with a modern open plan that often found when an individual go Crown Perth Hotel because everything has been set up as a brand standard. The customers will check in or enter the reception unit with their baggage for checking in. Clients are met and cordially received by the front area team as this aspect is another key point for communication. In Crown Perth Hotel, the company offers fast, friendly and efficient services. After checking in, the clients will have a great night sleep to their high-quality beddings to unpack and freshen up with three function message shower head (Testa, Sipe, 2012). The clients may stay connected with their families and friends with complimentary in room networks. In Crown Perth Hotel, departure is the final critical point of contact for the clients will approach the front office desk and requests to be checked out. If everything is in order, the guest will conclude the payment either by cash or credit card. When the payment process is complete, Crown Perth Hotel bid farewell to the visitor. Crown Perth Hotel has been tirelessly working on quality production because most of the customers often require quality goods and services. The company often ensures that it employ qualified personnel who will utilize their skills and knowledge and assist in the production of quality and delicious meals (Crick, Spencer, 2011). The business is enjoying other diverse privileges in the sector of tourism. With a good trading atmosphere as illustrated in the environmental and situational analysis, the firm is willing to increase its business to abroad to other states in Europe and Asia in the next five years. Consequently, the firm has to rely on best promotion strategies so as to enter the new marketplace and ensure that the production of high-quality goods and services are sustained. Basing on this particular analysis, I recommend that the company increase their services productions and manage its quality because most of the customers all over the world require better food and services. The company staff should also ensure that the visitors are warmly welcomed so as to continue visiting the hospitality facility. Bibliography Aragon-Correa, J. A., Martin-Tapia, I., de la Torre-Ruiz, J. 2015. Sustainability issues and hospitality and tourism firms strategies: Analytical review and future directions.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,27(3), 498-522. Boella, M., Goss-Turner, S. 2013.Human resource management in the hospitality industry: A guide to best practice. Routledge. Buhalis, D., Crotts, J. 2013.Global alliances in tourism and hospitality management. Chang, S., Gong, Y., Shum, C. 2011. Promoting innovation in hospitality companies through human resource management practices.International Journal of Hospitality Management,30(4), 812-818. CG Davidson, M., McPhail, R., Barry, S. 2011. Hospitality HRM: past, present and the future.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,23(4), 498-516. Harrington, R., C. Ottenbacher, M. 2011. Strategic management: An analysis of its representation and focus in recent hospitality research.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,23(4), 439-462. Line, N. D., Runyan, R. C. 2012. Hospitality marketing research: Recent trends and future directions.International Journal of Hospitality Management,31(2), 477-488. Mok, C., Sparks, B., Kadampully, J. 2013.Service quality management in hospitality, tourism, and leisure. Routledge. Pizam, A. (Ed.). 2012.International Encyclopedia of Hospitality Management 2nd Edition. Crick, A., Spencer, A. 2011. Hospitality quality: new directions and new challenges.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,23(4), 463-478. Testa, M. R., Sipe, L. 2012. Service-leadership competencies for hospitality and tourism management.International journal of hospitality management,31(3), 648-658. Tsang, N. K., Hsu, C. H. 2011. Thirty years of research on tourism and hospitality management in China: A review and analysis of journal publications.International Journal of Hospitality Management,30(4), 886-896.

Corporate Board of Directors

Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers

Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers Introduction Global warming is one of the most important issues affecting the world today. Most of the worlds climatologists agree that the planet is warming and will continue to do so as more greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) declares that while global warming has been happening naturally for centuries, most of the global warming experienced since the 1950s can be attributed to the greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by human activities (Webb, Whetton, Barlow, 2008). Over the last three decades, scientists, policy makers, and governments have acknowledged that this phenomenon has many adverse effects on the Earth. These effects include a rise in sea levels, heat waves, flooding, droughts, proliferation of diseases, and the destruction of biodiver sity. Global warming has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector since plants are affected by environmental conditions. One of the plants that have been significantly affected by this phenomenon is wine grapes, which are the raw material for wine production. Researchers reveal that grapes are some of the most climate sensitive fruits in the agricultural industry (Smart, 2006). Wine makers have come to the realization that they must acknowledge the impacts that climate change has on their industry and proceed to react appropriately to these changes. This paper will consider the ways in which the wine industry can adjust to the global warming phenomenon and continue producing high quality wines for the market. The paper will also discuss ways in which wine makers can reduce their own contributions to global warming. Wine Grapes and the Climate All agricultural products thrive under certain ideal climatic conditions that might be unique to the particular product. Jones (201 2) reiterates that climate is a pervasive factor in the success of all agricultural systems and it influences aspects such as the suitability of certain crops to certain regions (p.284). Wine grapes are unique from most agricultural products in that they require very precise climate conditions to produce optimally.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To begin with, vineyards are able to thrive in very limited geographical regions with most vineyards being found within the narrow latitude range of 300 to 500 on both sides of the equator. Outside of this range, vineyards do not flourish and it is uneconomical to engage in commercial cultivation of wine grapes. In addition to this, vineyards are susceptible to weather changes. Unlike many plants, which are equipped to adapt to a wide range of weather conditions, grapes have a low threshold for extreme weather. Extremes su ch as frost, freeze, or heat wave have a negative impact on the plants. Smart (2006) explains that the wine sector will be affected by changing weather conditions more than other crops since there is only a small average temperature difference between the present day wine regions making even slight shifts in global temperatures important for the sector. The weather changes caused by global warming therefore have an impact on the life cycle of grape development. Possible Issues Arising due to Global Warming Wine makers face a number of issues because of global warming. The number of wine varieties available today is significantly reduced because of global warming. The varieties of grapes used for winemaking influence the quality and taste of wine produced. Various wine makers therefore specialize in certain varieties to produce high quality wine. Changes in average temperatures will restrict the varieties of grapes that can be produced in vineyards in specific geographical regions. S pecifically, global warming may lead to the destruction of certain premium wines found in specific geographical locations. Lasink (2004) notes that there are concerns that it the global temperatures continue to rise, the wine industry will be adversely affected. Wine makers will be forced to plant grape varieties that can withstand the higher temperatures or otherwise move their vineyards to higher latitudes where the temperatures are cooler. The various flavours of wine are formed within the final weeks before the grapes are harvested. In these crucial weeks, the flavouring compounds in the grapes emerge and the sugars develop fully.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Global Warming on Wine Makers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lasink (2004) reveals that this process is highly weather-dependent; if the weather is too hot, the wine will not be well flavoured and if the weather is not hot enough, the grape w ill not ripen completely. As global warming occurs, the ideal weather conditions for ripening will not be present. This will result in reduced production as most grapes will not ripen sufficiently. Many wine makers specialize in certain brand of wines, which have a unique taste that is recognizable to the consumers. The close relationship between quality wine production and climate is based on the concept of terroir. Webb et al. (2008) explain that the concept of terroir involves matching premium winegrape varieties to particular combinations of climate, landscape, and soils to produce unique wines of particular styles. The terroirs will be affected if there is a change in the local climate of a particular wine growing region. Subsequently, this alteration in terroirs will affect the grape quality. The climatic changes are likely to change the vegetative cycle of the grapevine. This could affect the organoleptic properties of grapes leading to the production of wines with new tastes (Sampedro Sanchez, 2010). Such a phenomenon would have a negative impact on vintage wines that have a distinctive taste. Studies indicate that traditional wine producing areas such as Bordeaus in France and Tuscany in Italy will experience sharp declines in grape production in thirty years due to global warming (Goldenberg, 2013). Wine makers highlight that grape varieties such as gewurztraminer, noir, and pinot prefer cool temperatures while blanc, merlot, sauvignon and chardonnay flourish in intermediate to warm temperatures (Lasink, 2004). A few varieties including cabernet, zinfandel and sauvignon like hot temperatures. For each grape variety, the climatic conditions have to be within a narrow range in order for superb crops to be harvested. The rising temperatures are already making it hard for some wine regions to produce their vintage wines using the traditional grapes. There is an intrinsic link between wine quality and the specific climatic conditions of a geographical re gion (Webb, et al., 2008). While defining wine quality is an inherently subjective concept, it can be quantified using vintage ratings used by renowned global wine publications such as Sothebys or regional vicultural organization quality scales (Holland Barry, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The wines that score highly on this quality scales are generally associated with low frost damage in mild winters, early budburst, and development during warm springs. Results from a contemporary Australian study on the impact of projected climate changes on different wine growing regions and varieties indicated that in most regions, wine grapes are grown at either optimum or above optimum temperatures (Webb et al., 2008). Global warming will therefore have a negative impact on wine grape quality on these regions as it will make the regions too warm for the production of high-quality wines of any type. Climate change may favour the production of low quality wine varieties. Temperature rises caused by global warming may encourage the production of high quality grapes that have a relatively high sugar levels. Lower temperatures during the ripening stage may encourage relatively high acid level grapes, which are or a lower quality. Wine makers will not obtain the premium price for thes e wines since the highest quality wines are produced from grapes that have an ideal balance between sugar levels and acid levels (Holland Barry, 2010). There will be a decline in the industry as some wine makers will move out of wine production due to reduced profits. Global warming might lead to the destruction of some of the distinctive wine styles attributed to some specific geographical regions in the world. These specific characteristics of wines are a factor of the season duration experienced by the wine grapes. Global warming will compress the duration between budburst and harvesting therefore leading to earlier harvest days. A long study on phenology in the France region of Bordeaux found that the harvest in 1997 was 13 days earlier than in 1952 (Holland Barry, 2010). This phenomenon was attributed to the warming trends experienced in the region over the previous 5 decades. As this warming trend continues, it can be expected that ripening will occur under increasingly warm er conditions. This will lead to a distortion in the specific characteristics of wines produced in some regions, which are well known for their distinctive wine styles. There is a possibility that global warming will lead to the destruction of certain varieties of wine grapes. As has been noted, different varieties of grapes thrive best under certain weather conditions. In most cases, warmer temperatures are ideal for winegrape cultivation. Lasink (2004) explains that at the present, some wine makers are experiencing great harvests and outstanding wine qualities. This phenomenon is attributed to the rising temperatures, which increase the quality of premium wines. However, while warm weather has led to the increase in production for some wine grapes, it might have an adverse effect on other varieties. Galbreath (2011) warns that if temperatures increase beyond a certain threshold level, some entire vintages will be wiped out. Global warming will result in the scarcity of water in so me areas. As a result of the warming of the climate system there have been increases in the frequency of warm spells, heavy rainfall, and heat waves in many regions on the planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the average rainfall levels will decrease in the coming years and there will be a rise in the number of droughts in some geographical locations (Sampedro Sanchez, 2010). As it currently stands, the wine industry relies on vast quantities of water to operate. Grapes require a large amount of water and Colman and Paster (2007) document that these plants can consume between 1.2 and 2.5 megalitres per hectare. For this large water demand to be met, the local aquifers should have substantial amounts of water in their reserve. Alternatively, there should be adequate rainfall in the area. As global warming becomes for severe over the years, it is possible that some wine growing regions will experience prolonged drought. This will lead to a scarcity of water leading to poor yields. Wine production in Australia is currently being affected by the extreme climate conditions caused by global warming. Galbreath (2011) reveals that most of the premium wines in Australia have been sourced from northern European grape varieties such as Shiraz, Blanc, and Chardonnay. These grape varieties are intolerant to prolonged dry spells. They have therefore been deleteriously impacted on by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and prolonged droughts in many grape-growing regions in the country attributed to global warming. Wine grape vines are prone to the negative effects of global warming since these plants are perennial. As perennial plants with a productive life of more than 50 years, they will be exposed to the climate changes that occur during their lifespan. Most varieties of grape vines will be unable to cope with the significant climate variations that occur to them (Jones, 2012). Wine makers will therefore suffer since the y will have to make adjustments that might involve getting rid of entire vineyards before the capital investments made on the plants has been recovered. The chemical fertilizers used in vineyards are a main contributor to climate change. Currently, grapes require significant amounts of agrichemicals (between 50 and 100kg per ton) (Colman Paster, 2007). This agrichemical usage can be expected to increase as global warming, which is accompanied by the increase in pest and diseases, continues to occur. With the increase in global temperatures, vineyards will suffer from more pest and disease attacks. Global warming will increase the quantity of chemicals needed to prevent diseases and pests from overwhelming the vineyards. The overuse of agrichemicals will lead to greater environmental degradation. Pesticides and other chemical fertilizers will contaminate the subterranean waters leading to further greater pollution. Possible Responses and Recommendations Energy uses Traditionally, th e greenhouse gas emissions from the production and distribution of wine have occurred with little restrictions. However, the global warming phenomenon has forced wine makers to consider their carbon footprints. Research shows that grapes yield a relatively low output of greenhouse gases per hectare compared to many other crops (Colman Paster, 2007). While the wine industry has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other crops, there are still ways through which the carbon emissions can be lowered. Wineries can reduce their GHG emissions by shifting to renewable energy sources. Energy consumption currently contributes 60-75% of the overall GHG emissions in wineries (Galbreath, 2011). Most wine makers use fossil fuel based energy sources to power their operations. Fossil fuels are the greatest contributors to the global warming problem facing the world. Any reduction in fossil fuel usage will have a positive impact on the climatic conditions. Galbreath (2011) suggests that wi neries should use alternative energy supplies such as solar, geothermal, and wind to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Transportation makes the greatest contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the wine supply chain. Colman and Paster (2007) illustrate that the transportation impact begins with the delivery of agrichemicals, barrels, and bottles. However, this impact is highest during the transportation of the finished wine product to the consumers. The mode of transportation used determines the level of GHG emissions produced by a unit of wine. Container shipping is the most efficient since it has an emission factor of 13.17 grams of CO2 per ton of cargo per km transported. On the other hand, air cargo produces 570 grams of CO2 per ton of cargo per km, which means it has an emission factor of over 43 times that of container shipping. Utilizing a mode of transportation that has a low emission factor is therefore key to reducing the greenhouse emiss ions caused by wine transportation. Winemakers should therefore refrain from using air cargo, even though this transportation mode is able to deliver the product to any destination within a matter of hours. The carbon emission level is also impacted by whether the wine is bottled at the source or near the consumer. Colman and Paster (2007) reveal that the climate impact of transporting the bottles to the customer from the source is higher than if the wineries ship in bulk and bottle the wine closer to the consumer. If this technique is implemented, the quantity of non-product being moved from source to destination will be significantly reduced. This will effectively reduce the emissions caused by transportation by between 33 and 50%. Vine Selection Some of the effects of climate change cannot be avoided and wine makers will have to adapt themselves to the new climatic conditions. Wine makers can engage in variety substitution as an adaptation strategy for the climate change being ex perienced. The shift based on viticulture suitability will ensure that the wine makers are able to preserve their current infrastructure and continue making wine in the current locations even as the climate changes. This method is viable in cooler climates where the current grape varieties used for wine production can be substituted with varieties that do well in warmer temperatures. If this is done, Webb et al. (2006) predict that a positive impact from global warming could be realized for some wine-grape varieties. Some wine makers in countries such as Australia and Italy have started planting new varieties to accommodate the changing weather conditions. In Australia, wine makers areas experiencing higher temperatures have started planting heat resistant varieties such as the Spanish Tempranillo, which is suited to hot climates (Galbreath, 2011). Vineyards Location Wine makers can avoid the adverse effects of global warming by shifting production to regions with the suitable weath er conditions. In Spain, some of the major wine companies have already started to prepare for the effects of global warming on their current vineyards by purchasing land at elevated and cooler regions so that they can shift production in the future (Holland Barry, 2010). While such a solution might work for a few wine makers, it is unfeasible for most players in the industry. The capital requirements of such a response make it inappropriate for most vineyard owners. It will therefore be necessary to include responses that mitigate global changes or ensure that the wine grapes are able to withstand the climatic changes being experienced. Water Uses Controlling water usage in vineyards will have an impact on the GHG emissions of the wine industry. Efficient water usage will reduce the carbon emissions by wine makers since as it currently stands, a significant amount of energy is used for pumping water to the crops in most vineyards which do not rely on natural rainfall for their wate r. A number of innovative techniques have been used to try minimizing the water usage of vineyards. Many wine grape producers have employed irrigation methods that minimize water loss (Galbreath, 2011). By using methods such as drip irrigation, vineyards have ensured that the available water is used in the optimal way. In addition to this, some vineyards have built shades to shield the plants from intense heat. This method reduces water usage by limiting transpiration levels. Another adaptation technique will be shifting to grape varieties that do not require high volumes of water. As the effects of global warming become more prevalent, it will be desirable to use grape varieties that can survive with limited water supplies. Varieties such as Aglianico and Fiano, which thrive in warmer climates such as those, found in northern Africa and southern Italy could be used as substitutes when cooler regions begin to warm (Whetton Webb, 2007). This approach will ensure that the vineyards a re able to survive with limited water supplies. Organic growing practices Organic viticulture can be used to reduce the carbon emissions of vineyards. One implementation of organic agriculture in wine grape production is biodynamic viticulture, which involves maintaining a small number of different animals on the property to provide natural fertilizers and turn the soil (Colman Paster, 2007). This natural method ensures that the vineyard is free from pests without using chemicals. When organic viticulture is implemented, fertilizer used in the vineyard is drastically reduced. The pollution and GHG emissions associated with agrichemical use are dramatically reduced when organic farming is practiced. Conclusion There is a general acceptance that global warming is happening and it is having some impacts all over the world. This paper set out to address the impacts of global warming on the wine industry and highlight how wine makers can react to this phenomenon in order to continue pro ducing high quality wines. The paper began by noting that wine grapes are prone to the effects of global warming since they are some of the most climate sensitive fruits. It then proceeded to discuss the various problems that wine makers will face because of global warming. The paper noted that climate change will reduce the optimum harvest window for high quality wines, shift the suitable locations for some varieties of wine grapes, and impose greater challenges in managing water resources. Global warming will also lead to the destruction of some wine grape varieties and this will be detrimental to the wine industry. While climate change mitigation strategies are preferable, adaptive actions may be necessary where the climate changes have already begun to affect wine production. The paper has declared that wine makers will have to be prepared for all potential impacts of global warming to the industry. Some of the ways in which they can respond to climate change is by shifting to g eographical locations that have conducive weather for grape production, using wine grape varieties that are suited for the new climatic conditions, and looking for more efficient ways to utilize the available water resources. If the responses articulated in this paper are followed by the wine industry, wine makers will be able to continue producing consistently high quality wines into the future and reduce the rate of climate change by reducing the carbon emissions by the industry. References Colman, T., Paster, P. (2007). Red, White, and Green: The Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Global Wine Trade. Journal of Wine Research, 20 (1), 15–26. Galbreath, J. (2011). To What Extent is Business Responding to Climate Change? Evidence from a Global Wine Producer. J Bus Ethics, 104 (1), 421–432. Goldenberg, S. (2013). Climate change will threaten wine production, study shows. Web. Holland, T., Barry, S. (2010). Climate Change and the Wine Industry: Current Research The mes and New Directions. Journal of Wine Research, 21 (2), 125–136. Jones, G. (2012). Impact of climate change on wine production: a global overview and regional assessment in the Douro Valley of Portugal. Int. J. Global Warming, 4(3), 383-406. Lasink, D. (2004). Grape Expectations. Weatherwise, 57(5), 22-27. Sampedro, E., Sanchez, M. (2010). The Environment as a Critical Success Factor in the Wine Industry: Implications for Management Control Systems. Journal of Wine Research, 21(2), 179-195. Smart, R. (2006). Global warming: the biggest challenge to face the Australian wine sector. Australian New Zealand Wine Industry Journal, 21(4), 14-15. Webb, L.B., Whetton, P.H., Barlow, W.R. (2008) Modelling the relationship between climate, winegrape price and winegrape quality in Australia, Climate Research, 36(1), 89–98. Whetton, P. Webb, L. (2007). Future Climate Change Impacts on Australian Viticulture. Web.

International Business in the Emerging Markets Essay

International Business in the Emerging Markets - Essay Example The magnitude of this flow of capital is momentous, and although there are well-defined reasons for this trend it has caught many by surprise.† The increase in FDI investment has mostly been in East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, regions of Europe, and Central Asia. This means Africa and other parts of the world did not receive much in terms of FDI. The effect this has on the poorer nation is that it keeps their currency low and the amount of available jobs are low as well as the economy being flat. The effect on the countries that receive investments are a higher foreign exchange reserve, more jobs, and a higher GDP. (2) China’s energy policy and its impact on developing countries in Africa and Asia. China is now the greatest energy consuming country in the world, surpassing the US based on the IEA (International Energy Agency) findings. Although Chinese officials dispute that the country is responsible for 2.25 billion tons of energy consumption , the country did admit to stockpiling oil when there is a lull in purchasing. China is also the leading gas emitter so it makes sense that China would be the largest consumer of energy. Also China spends the most amount of money on green technology. China has such a desire to dominate the oil market that is has gone against sanctions in order to invest in Iran. This means that not only are the Chinese going against what the world is trying to accomplish but also are strengthening the Iranian mindset of misinformation. Due to the fact that Chinese officials focus on controlling demand of gas by emphasizing price impacts the developing countries like Africa and Asia because the prices in these two countries are much higher than what would be in China. Why? Well first of all purchasing from Iran would lower prices but also being a major buyer in the market can allow for more pressure on the market. In Africa there is little pressure on the market for energy and Asia outside of China's consumption has a much lower energy demand. By cornering the market with the U.S, China is essentially decreasing the likelihood that Asia and Africa will ever be able to afford the energy costs. Even if these countries can afford it, are the citizens willing to pay for this consistently, or will they tire of high energy prices? The effect on Africa and some parts of Asia will be a lack of the supply of energy and therefore power outages, inability to drive cars, and issues of this nature. As a NY Times article states: â€Å"Power blackouts — â€Å"load shedding,† in utility jargon — are hardly novel in sub-Saharan Africa, where many electricity grids remain chewing-gum-and-baling-wire affairs. Even so, this year is different. Perhaps 25 of the 44 sub-Saharan nations face crippling electricity shortages, a power crisis that some experts call unprecedented. The causes are manifold: strong economic growth in some places, economic collapse in others, war, poor pl anning, population booms, high oil prices and drought have combined to leave both industry and residents short of power when many need it most.† These outages can be crippling for small businesses such as farms, and production companies. Factories would have to build another day and the company loses because they are unable to meet their obligations. (3) The drivers of globalization amid the current financial crisis. Before we can talk about globalization we must

Development of Points Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Development of Points - Essay Example Based on the above description, the paper intends to discuss the educational setting of a school as well as the role of Principal in maintaining the effectiveness of the school. Moreover, the discussion will be focused on comprehending the critical perspectives and links with leadership of the educational setting based on an understanding of the role played by teachers, other staff members along with the involvement of parents as well as the community. Situational Analysis of Education Setting- Development of Points The considered situation in educational setting of a school can be described based on the critical issues that have been illuminated. The issue stated in educational setting illustrates that with the inadequacy of Principal, who is the official head of a school, effective functioning of a school has been hampered as the activities performed by the Principal have let down the work process of school. This has resulted in creating enormous effects on maintaining different ac tivities performed by teachers, staffs as well as other non-teaching staffs in school premises. The Principal was appointed in the school for maintaining the quality functions in the school premises. However, after a certain point of time, the activities performed by the Principal became a bane for the entire administration as it disappointed all the teachers, students, parents and other staffs simultaneously (New England Complex Systems Institute, 2013). The effects entailed significant malfunctioning of the curriculum in school. In this context, it can be stated that the staff members, teachers and students demanded for changing the Principal in order to maintain the proper functioning of activities of schools along with... From the above observations, it can be comprehended that education is very much important in the modern day context. The system of education comprises classroom, layout of the school as well as various curriculum organised by the administration of the school. It can also be stated that leadership in education plays a significant role in maintaining the effective functioning of schools along with providing quality education to students. The leadership qualities in educational sector are utilised in order to attract talented teachers and make formulation of programs in education. This report makes a conclusion that through the assessment of an educational setting it has been recognised that the Principal plays a crucial role in directing the activities of the school in the right path. However, certain misdemeanour of the Principal can hamper the entire collaborative activates of the school. Therefore, such critical scenarios need to be tactfully addressed by the new Principal through the incorporation of collaboration, cooperation and teamwork amid every member in the school authority. The Principal needs to take the responsibility of the activities performed in school and provide quality education to students through effective teaching and learning process. Moreover, with authentic education it is possible to develop the system of education along with maintaining innovative teaching dimensions helping in sustaining in the environment. Effective participation and collaboration from every member would enhance the morale of the staffs as well as students and wo uld help in building greater cooperation for maintaining sustainable development of the school.

Business Applications Of Information Systems Information Technology Essay

Business Applications Of Information Systems Information Technology Essay Introduction Information System handles the flow and maintenance of information that supports a business or some other operation. Information is derived from meaningful interpretation of data. Data consists of the raw facts representing events occurring in the environment. An Information System can be defined technically as a set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. Using information systems effectively requires an understanding of the organization, management, and information technology shaping the systems. All information systems can be described as organizational and management solutions to challenges posed by the environment. An understanding of the effective and responsible use and management of information systems and technologies is important for managers, business professionals, and other knowledge workers in todays internetworked enterprises. Information systems play a vital role in the e-business and e-commerce operations, enterprise collaboration and management, and strategic success of businesses that must operate in an internetworked global environment. Thus, the field of information systems has become a major functional area of business administration. Business Applications of Information Systems Information systems perform three vital roles in business firms. Business applications of IS support an organizations business processes and operations, business decision-making, and strategic competitive advantage. Major application categories of information systems include operations support systems, such as transaction processing systems, process control systems, and enterprise collaboration systems, and management support systems, such as management information systems, decision support systems, and executive information systems. Other major categories are expert systems, knowledge management systems, strategic information systems, and functional business systems. However, in the real world most application categories are combined into cross-functional information systems that provide information and support for decision-making and also perform operational information processing activities. An information system (IS) can be any organized combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks, and data resources that collect, transforms, and disseminate information in an organization. Information Technologies:Business professionals rely on many types of information systems that use a variety of information technologies. For example: Types of IS- Manual (paper-and-pencil) information systems- Informal (word-of-mouth) information systems- Formal (written procedures) information systems- Computer-based information systems Computer-based information systems (IS) use hardware, software, the Internet, and other telecommunications networks, computer-based data resource management techniques, and other forms of information technologies (IT) to transform data resources into a variety of information products for consumers and business professionals. The role of Information System in an Organisation Information systems perform three vital roles in any type of organization. That is, they support an organizations: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Business processes and operations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Decision making by employees and managers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Strategies for competitive advantage Analysing Royal Caribbean International We can learn a lot about the challenges of revitalizing and redirecting information technology in a company from the Real World Case of Royal Caribbean International. Take a few minutes to read it, and we will discuss it (See Royal Caribbean International: Renewing and Realigning IT with Business in Section IX). The Major Roles of IS: Examples [Figure 1.9] Three major roles of the business applications of information systems include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Support Business Processes involves dealing with information systems that support the business processes and operations in a business. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Support Decision Making help decision makers to make better decisions and attempt to gain a competitive advantage. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Support Competitive Advantage help decision makers to gain a strategic advantage over competitors requires innovative use of information technology. Information System Implementation New information technologies offer scholarly publishers an historic opportunity to increase speed and efficiency of production, add convenience for contributors, and enhance value for readers. The implementation of these systems, however, involves substantial risk. Information technology (IT) projects can and often do fall short of their objectives for a variety of reasons, including cost overruns, resistance from staff or external users, and failure of the technology to perform as expected Elements of complete IS implementation 1 . Development of computer applications for business transactions, such as production, marketing, selling, etc. 2 . Development of management information systems for effective business control 3 . Planned introduction and use of computers and telecommunications 4. Creation of an overall systems and standards architecture for technology, applications and data 5. Development of information systems for business planning 6. Improved productivity in information systems and computing 7. Development of appropriate staff resources 8. Development of internal support systems (payroll, personnel, pensions, etc.) Information System Implementation Success Implementing systems such as the electronic medical record and computerized physician order entry is a complex and difficult organizational undertaking. These implementations require political mobilization of the medical and nursing staffs, reengineering of clinical processes, significant capital commitments, management of large-scale projects and major changes to the IT infrastructure. The magnitude of this undertaking leads to a high failure rate, which some estimate to be as high as 50 percent. Still, some organizations have succeeded thanks to a combination of clear goals, partnership and implementation skills: Strong organizational vision and strategy. Successful organizations have developed a vision of patient care and a strategy to achieve that vision that is compelling, clear and understood by the members of the organization. This vision describes the critical need for excellence in care delivery and points to clinical systems as essential, strategic contributions to the vision. Most information systems initiatives do not require the bedrock of a compelling organizational vision, but clinical information system implementations do. These systems require the commitment and efforts of virtually all staff. They require deep change in operational and clinical processes. And, they require that other investment opportunities be put off, often for several years. For information system implementations of this significance to succeed, the organization must understand why it is doing so and believe that success is essential. Talented and committed leadership. Systems implementation and the related changes in the organization must be guided by senior leadership. This leadership must come from the board and all senior members of the administrative and medical staffs. These leaders must have the ability to inspire and mobilize others to get things done. They must actively engage in changing the organization, and once committed, they must have the strength to thoughtfully stay the course. These leaders must ask hard questions about the systems and their implementation. And they must be pragmaticsuperb practitioners of the art of the possible. A partnership between the clinical, administrative and information technology staffs. Across the strata of the organization, many effective, multidisciplinary teams will be needed. These teams will design information systems, develop new ways to do the work, revise policies and procedures, craft implementation steps, develop training materials and create approaches to resolving inevitable problems. Team members must view their efforts as a partnership. They must illustrate the attributes of high performance teams: skilled, honest, dedicated, willing to compromise and focused on the overall goal. Excellent implementation skills. The implementation of complex information systems requires deep skill. These skills need to occur in two critical areas: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Project management is needed to define, manage and monitor the large number of tasks, staff and resources that are being brought to the implementation. Good project management requires clear definitions of scope, well-reasoned delineation of tasks, astute assignment of accountability for task performance, flexibility in addressing problems and necessary changes in direction, and the ability to identify and resolve problems. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Support is the set of activities that causes an application to stick, that is, to become an integral part of the fabric of practice. Support includes training, responsive enhancements, ongoing communication, discussion of status and problems, and crafting the evolution of clinical policies and procedures. Good to excellent IT. No information system is perfect, and users will find limitations in any clinical information system. Nonetheless, the applications need to be good enough to support the work that needs to be done. These systems must be able to handle critical changes in functionality that are required to address desired workflow and reporting needs. These systems should improve the work lives of providers rather than hinder them. Types of implementation plans Three general tactical implementation plans: The process of putting the new information system online and retiring the old system is known as system changeover. There are four changeover methods which are: > Direct cutover: The direct cutover approach causes the changeover from the old system to the new system to occur immediately when the new system becomes operational. It is the least expensive but involves more risks than other changeover methods. Advantage As we know health centre does not have enough funds for implementing the new system so it would be easier to implement direct cutover method in the health centre. Disadvantage This method of system changeover involves more risks of total system failure and it is preferred for commercial software packages. So if there is a system failure in health centre then it will be difficult to store information of child who visits health centre. And if there is no proper storage then there will be incorrect reports and monitoring of childs health will not be properly done. > Parallel operation: The parallel operation changeover method requires that both the old and the new information systems operate fully for a specified period. Data is input to both systems and output generated by the new system is compared with the equivalent output from the old system. When users, management, and IT group are satisfied that the new system operates correctly then the old system is terminated. It is the most costly changeover method and involves lower risks. Advantage The advantage of parallel system is lower risk of system failure so all the tasks can be done properly at health centre. If the new system does not work properly, the health centre can use the old manual system as a backup until appropriate changes are made. Disadvantage As we know parallel system is the most costly changeover method as both old and new systems operate fully for specified period and we also know that the budget of health centre is also low so it will be difficult for health centre to follow this changeover process. > Pilot operation: The pilot changeover method involves implementing the complete new system at a selected location of a company. Direct cutover method and operating both systems for only the pilot site. The group that uses the new system first is called the pilot site. By restricting the implementation to a pilot site reduces the risk of system failure as compared with is less expensive than a parallel system. Advantages Pilot operation is combination of both direct cutover and parallel operation, which restricts the implementation to a pilot site and reduces risk of system failure as compared with a direct cutover method. Operating system only at pilot site is less expensive than parallel operation for entire health centre and all health centers. If we use parallel approach to complete the implementation then the changeover period can be much shorter if system proves successful at the pilot site so a lot of time will be consumed at health centre in implementing the new system. Disadvantage This method is also costly as compared to the direct cutover. > Phased operation: The phased operation changeover method involves implementing the new system in stages, or modules. We can implement each subsystem by using any of the other three changeover methods. In this approach risk of errors or failures is limited to the implemented module only as well as it is less expensive than the full parallel operation. For implementing child health information system we can use above methods but there are some advantages as well disadvantages of using these systems, which are explained below: Advantages As we know in this method we have to implement the new system in stages, or modules, which is less prone to risk of system failure or errors at health centers, as failure is limited to the implemented module only. It is also less expensive than parallel system because we have to work only with one part of system at a time. Disadvantage As the system, which we are implementing, involves various phased operation like treatment, measuring weight, registration, vaccination etc so it can cost more than the pilot approach. Recommendation As we can determine from above information that pilot approach is the best approach where we can see the combination of less risks as well as less implementation cost because. There are many health centers so we can implement the new system only at any one of the health centers to check whether it is working appropriately or not. And this method is also cheaper than all other metho

The Way of Jesus Christ Essay -- Religion, Messianic Jewish Faith, Chr

The German scholar and theologian JÃ ¼rgen Moltmann wrote a powerful work called The Way of Jesus Christ. In his book, Moltmann, blends Judaism and Christianity together to form what is called messianic Jewish faith. Messianic Judaism is a religious movement that adds to Evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual. He connects the Old Testament with the New Testament and believes there must be a connection between the messianic and the Christian perspective of Christology. Moltmann's statement in chapter one supports his idea that there are historical presuppositions that we must understand from the Old Testament before we can understand New Testament Christology. Moltmann states, " there is no such thing as Christology without presuppositions; and its historical presupposition is the messianic promise of the Old Testament, and the Jewish hope which is found on the Hebrew Bible". He believes that to have an understanding of Jesus we must have a historical understanding of the Old Testament promises and the historic Israel together. He furthered states that we must look at the name Christ as an adjective or descriptive word and not as a noun. He does as a way to translate Christ back into its proper term "Messiah" (1). Even the term "Christian" in Moltmann's understanding of Christology lacks the proper terminology to make it significant in meaning. He states, "Christian means, being human in the messianic sense. The name of Christian is not a detonation of a party. It is a promise. It is what is messianic" (1). However, as good as this might sound Moltmann's perspective "amalgamates liberation and feminist theologies with that of the Roman Catholic Eastern orthodox thought into his mess... ...views of Christology by stating if you reject any of the three dimensions, the results will be fatal (150). When you consider Moltmann's understanding of his three-dimensional Christ, he has a valid argument for Christology. Moltmann's conclusions of God's humanity and divinity have valid arguments and biblical support. One would have a hard time disagreeing with Moltmann's three dimensions of the person of Jesus Christ. However, you cannot overlook mainstream traditionalism in our society and say that if you deny one or the other there is a fatal theological flaw. Our society is evidence to the fact that most Christians perceive Christ only in his divine state or, as Moltmann would say, as a theological person of Christ. Even in this state of being, Christ is still the Savior who reaches to the sick, the brother of the poor, and the comrade of the people.

The Return: Nightfall Chapter 10

Elena was serenely happy. Now it was her turn. Stefan used a sharp wooden letter opener from his desk to cut himself. Elena always hated to see him do this, use the most efficient implement that would penetrate vampire skin; so she shut her eyes tightly and only looked again when red blood was trickling from a little cut on his neck. â€Å"You don't need to take a lot – and you shouldn't,† Stefan whispered, and she knew he was saying these things while hecould say them. â€Å"I'm not holding you too hard or hurting you?† He was always so worried. This time,she kissedhim . And she could see how strange he thought it was, that he wanted kisses more than he wanted her to take his blood. Laughing, Elena pushed him flat and hovered over him and went for the general area of the wound again, knowing that he thought she was going to tease him. But instead she fastened herself on the wound like a limpet and sucked hard,hard , until she had made him sayplease with his mind. But she wasn't satisfied until she made him sayplease out loud as well. In the car, in the dimness, Matt and Meredith thought of the idea at the same time. She was faster, but they spoke almost together. â€Å"I'm an idiot! Matt, where's the seatback release?† â€Å"Bonnie, you have to unfold her seat backward! There's a little handle, you should be able to reach it and pull up!† Bonnie's voice was hitching now, hiccupping. â€Å"My arms – they're sort of poking into – my arms – â€Å" â€Å"Bonnie,† Meredith said thickly. â€Å"I know you can do it. Matt – is the handle right – under – the front seat or – â€Å" â€Å"Yes. At the edge. One – no, two o'clock.† Matt didn't have breath for more. Once he had grabbed the tree, he found that if he loosened pressure for an instant, it pushed harder on his neck. There's no choice, he thought. He took as much of a deep breath as he could, pushed back on the branch, hearing a cry from Meredith, andtwisted , feeling jagged splinters like thin wooden knives tear his throat and ear and scalp. Now he was free of the pressure on the back of his neck, although he was appalled by how much more tree there was in the car than the last time he had seen it. His lap was filled with branches; evergreen needles were thickly piled everywhere. No wonder Meredith was so mad, he thought dizzily, turning toward her. She was almost buried in branches, one hand wrestling with something at her throat, but she saw him. â€Å"Matt†¦get†¦your own seat! Quick! Bonnie, Iknow you can.† Matt dug and tore into the branches, then groped for the handle that would collapse the backrest of his seat. The handle wouldn't move. Thin, tough tendrils were wrapped around it, springy and hard to break. He twisted and snapped them savagely. His seatback dropped away. He ducked under the huge arm-branch – if it still deserved the name, since the car was full of similar huge branches now. Then, just as he reached to help Meredith, her seat abruptly folded back, too. She fell with it, away from the evergreen, gasping for air. For an instant she just lay still. Then she finished scrambling into the backseat proper, dragging a needle-shrouded figure with her. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse and her speech was still slow. â€Å"Matt. Bless you†¦for having†¦this jigsaw puzzle†¦of a car.† She kicked the front seat back into position, and Matt did likewise. â€Å"Bonnie,† Matt said numbly. Bonnie didn't move. Many tiny branches were still entwining her, caught in the fabric of her shirt, wound into her hair. Meredith and Matt both started pulling. Where the branches let go, they left welts or tiny puncture wounds. â€Å"It's almost as if they were trying to grow into her,† Matt said, as a long, thin branch pulled away, leaving bloody pinpricks behind. â€Å"Bonnie?† Meredith said. She was the one disentangling the twigs from Bonnie's hair. â€Å"Bonnie? Come on, up. Look at me.† The shaking began again in Bonnie's body, but she let Meredith turn her face up. â€Å"I didn't think I could do it.† â€Å"You saved my life.† â€Å"I was so scared†¦.† Bonnie went on crying quietly against Meredith's shoulder. Matt looked at Meredith just as the map light flickered and went out. The last thing he saw was her dark eyes, which held an expression that made him suddenly feel even sicker to his stomach. He looked out the three windows he could now see from the backseat. It should have been hard to see anything at all. But what he was looking for was pressed right up against the glass. Needles. Branches. Solid against every inch of the windows. Nevertheless, he and Meredith, without needing to say anything, each reached for a backseat door handle. The doors clicked, opened a fraction of an inch; then they slammed back hard with a very definitivewham . Meredith and Matt looked at each other. Meredith looked down again and began to pluck more twigs off Bonnie. â€Å"Does that hurt?† â€Å"No. A little†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You're shaking.† â€Å"It's cold.† It was cold now. Outside the car, rather than through the once-open window that was now completely plugged with evergreen, Matt could hear the wind. It whistled, as if through many branches. There was also the sound of wood creaking, startlingly loud and ridiculously high above. It sounded like a storm. â€Å"What thehell was it, anyway?† he exploded, kicking the front seat viciously. â€Å"The thing I swerved for on the road?† Meredith's dark head lifted slowly. â€Å"I don't know; I was about to roll up the window. I only got a glimpse.† â€Å"It just appeared right in the middle of the road.† â€Å"A wolf?† â€Å"It wasn't there and then itwas there.† â€Å"Wolves aren't that color. It was red,† Bonnie said flatly, lifting her head from Meredith's shoulder. â€Å"Red?† Meredith shook her head. â€Å"It was much too big to be a fox.† â€Å"Itwas red, I think,† Matt said. â€Å"Wolves aren't red†¦what about werewolves? Does Tyler Smallwood have any relatives with red hair?† â€Å"It wasn't a wolf,† Bonnie said. â€Å"It was†¦backward.† â€Å"Backward?† â€Å"Its head was on the wrong side. Or maybe it had heads on both ends.† â€Å"Bonnie, you arereally scaring me,† Meredith said. Matt wouldn't say it, but she was really scaring him, too. Because his glimpse of the animal had seemed to show him the same kind of deformed shape that Bonnie was describing. â€Å"Maybe we just saw it at a weird angle,† he said, while Meredith said, â€Å"It may just have been some animal scared out by – â€Å" â€Å"By what?† Meredith looked up at the top of the car. Matt followed her gaze. Very slowly, and with a groan of metal, the roof dented. And again. As if something very heavy was leaning on it. Matt cursed himself. â€Å"While I was in the front seat, why didn't I just floor it – ?† He stared hungrily through branches, trying to make out the accelerator, the ignition. â€Å"Are the keys still there?† â€Å"Matt, we ended up half in a ditch. And besides, if it would have done any good, I'd have told you to floor it.† â€Å"That branch would've taken your head off!† â€Å"Yes,† Meredith said simply. â€Å"It would havekilled you!† â€Å"If it would have gotten you two out, I'd have suggested it. But you were trapped looking sideways; I couldsee straight ahead. They were already here; the trees. In every direction.† â€Å"That†¦isn't†¦possible!† Matt pounded the seat in front of him to emphasize each word. â€Å"Isthis possible?† The roof creaked again. â€Å"Both of you – stop fighting!† Bonnie said, and her voice broke on a sob. There was an explosion like a gunshot and the car sank suddenly back and left. Bonnie started. â€Å"What was that?† Silence. â€Å"†¦a tire blowing,† Matt said at last. He didn't trust his own voice. He looked at Meredith. So did Bonnie. â€Å"Meredith – the branches are filling up the front seat. I can hardly see the moonlight. It's getting dark.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"What are we going todo ?† Matt could see the tremendous tension and frustration in Meredith's face, as if everything she said should come out through gritted teeth. But Meredith's voice was quiet. â€Å"I don't know.† With Stefan still shuddering, Elena curled herself like a cat over the bed. She smiled at him, a smile drugged with pleasure and love. He thought of grasping her by the arms, pulling her down, and starting all over again. That was how insane she'd made him. Because he knew – all too well, from experience – the danger they were flirting with. Much more of this and Elena would be the first spirit-vampire, as she'd been the first vampire-spirit he'd known. But look at her! He slipped out from beneath her as he sometimes did and just gazed, feeling his heart pound just at the sight of her. Her hair, true gold, fell like silk down to the bed and pooled there. Her body, in the light of the one small lamp in the room, seemed to be outlined in gold. She truly seemed to float and move and sleep in a golden haze. It was terrifying. For a vampire, it was as if he'd brought a living sun into his bed. He found himself suppressing a yawn. She did that to him, too, like an unwitting Delilah taking Samson's strength away. Hyper-charged as he might be by her blood, he was also delightfully sleepy. He would spend a warm night in – or below – her arms. In Matt's car it only got darker as the trees continued to cut out the moonlight. For a while they tried yelling for help. That did no good, and besides, as Meredith pointed out, they needed to conserve the oxygen in the car. So they sat still again. Finally, Meredith reached into her jeans pocket and produced a set of keys with a tiny keychain flashlight. Its light was blue. She pressed it and they all leaned forward. Such a tiny thing to mean so much, Matt thought. There was pressure against the front seats now. â€Å"Bonnie?† Meredith said. â€Å"No one will hear us out here yelling. If anyone could hear us, they would have heard the tire and thought it was a gunshot.† Bonnie shook her head as if she didn't want to listen. She was still picking pine needles out of her skin. She's right. We're miles away from anybody, Matt thought. â€Å"There is something very bad here,† Bonnie said. She said it quietly, but as if every word was being forced out one by one, like pebbles thrown into a pond. Matt suddenly felt grayer. â€Å"How†¦bad?† â€Å"It's so bad that it's†¦I'venever felt anything like this before. Not when Elena got killed, not from Klaus, not fromanything . I'venever feltanything as bad as this. It'sso bad, and it's sostrong . I didn't think anything could be so strong. It'spushing on me, and I'mafraid – â€Å" Meredith cut her off. â€Å"Bonnie, I know we can both only think of one way out of this – â€Å" â€Å"There'sno way out of this!† † – I know you're afraid – â€Å" â€Å"Who is there to call? I could do it†¦if there were someone to call. I can stare at your little flashlight and try to pretend it's a flame and do it – â€Å" â€Å"Trancing?† Matt looked at Meredith sharply. â€Å"She's not supposed to do that anymore.† â€Å"Klaus is dead.† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"There's nobody to hear me!† Bonnie shrieked and then she broke down into huge sobs at last. â€Å"Elena and Stefan are too far away, and they're probably asleep by now! And there isn't anyone else!† The three of them were being pushed together now, as branches pressed the seats back onto them. Matt and Meredith were close enough to look at each other right over Bonnie's head. â€Å"Uh,† Matt said, startled. â€Å"Um†¦are we sure?† â€Å"No,† Meredith said. She sounded both grim and hopeful. â€Å"Remember this morning? We are not at all sure. In factI'm sure he's still around somewhere.† Now Matt felt sick, and Meredith and Bonnie looked ill in the already strange-looking blue light. â€Å"And – right before this happened, we were talking about how a lot of stuff – â€Å" † – basically everything that happened to change Elena – â€Å" † – was all his fault.† â€Å"In the woods.† â€Å"With an open window.† Bonnie sobbed on. Matt and Meredith, however, had made a silent agreement by eye contact. Meredith said, very gently, â€Å"Bonnie, what you said you would do; well, you're going to have to do it. Try to get through to Stefan, or waken Elena or – or apologize to†¦Damon. Probably the last, I'm afraid. But he's never seemed to want us all dead, and he must know that it won't help him with Elena if he kills her friends.† Matt grunted, skeptical. â€Å"He may not want us all dead, but he may wait until some of us are dead to save the others. I've never trus – â€Å" â€Å"You've never wished him any harm,† Meredith overrode him in a louder voice. Matt blinked at her and then shut up. He felt like an idiot. â€Å"So, here, the flashlight's on,† Meredith said, and even in this crisis, her voice was steady, rhythmic, hypnotic. The pathetic little light was so precious, too. It was all they had to keep the darkness from becoming absolute. But when the darkness became absolute, Matt thought, it would be because all light, all air, everything from the outside had been shut out, pushed out of the way by the pressure of the trees. And by then the pressure would have broken their skeletons. â€Å"Bonnie?† Meredith's voice was the voice of every big sister who ever had come to her younger sibling's rescue. That gentle. That controlled. â€Å"Can you try to pretend it's a candle flame†¦a candle flame†¦a candle flame†¦and then try to trance?† â€Å"I'm in trance already.† Bonnie's voice was somehow distant – far away and almost echoing. â€Å"Then ask for help,† Meredith said softly. Bonnie was whispering, over and over, clearly oblivious to the world around her: â€Å"Please, come help us. Damon, if you can hear me, please accept our apologies and come. You gave us a terrible scare, and I'm sure we deserved it, but please, please help. It hurts, Damon. It hurts so bad I could scream. But instead I'm putting all that energy into Calling you. Please, please, please help†¦Ã¢â‚¬  For five, ten, fifteen minutes she kept it up, as the branches grew, enclosing them with their sweet, resinous scent. She kept it up far longer than Matt had ever thought she could endure. Then the light went out. After that there was no sound but the whisper of the pines. You had to admire the technique. Damon was once again lounging in midair, even higher this time than when he'd entered Caroline's third-story window. He still had no idea of the names of trees, but that didn't stop him. This branch was like having a box seat over the drama unfolding below. He was starting to get a little bored, since nothing new was happening on the ground. He'd abandoned Damaris earlier this evening whenshe had gotten boring, talking about marriage and other subjects he wished to avoid. Like her current husband. Bo-ring. He'd left without really checking to see if she'd become a vampire – he tended to think so, and wouldn't that be a surprise when hubby got home? His lips trembled on the edge of a smile. Below him, the play had almost reached its climax. And you really had to admire the technique. Pack hunting. He had no idea what sort of nasty little creatures were manipulating the trees, but like wolves or lionesses, they seemed to have gotten it down to an art. Working together to capture prey that was too quick and too heavily armored for one of them alone to manage. In this case, a car. The fine art of cooperation. Pity vampires were so solitary, he thought. If we could cooperate, we'd own the world. He blinked sleepily and then flashed a dazzling smile at nothing at all. Of course, if we could do that – say, take a city and divvy up the inhabitants – we'd finish it off by divvying up one another. Tooth and nail and Power would be wielded like the blade of a sword, until there was nothing left but shreds of quivering flesh and gutters running with blood. Nice imagery, though, he thought, and let his eyelids droop to appreciate it. Artistic. Blood in scarlet pools, magically still liquid enough to run down white marble steps of – oh, say, the Kallimarmaron in Athens. An entire city gone quiet, purged of noisy, chaotic, hypocritical humans, with only their necessary bits left behind: a few arteries to pump the sweet red stuff out in quantity. The vampire version of the land of milk and honey. He opened his eyes again in annoyance. Now things were getting loud down there. Humans yelling. Why? What was the point? The rabbit always squeals in the jaws of the fox, but when has another rabbit ever rushed up to save it? There, a new proverb,and proof that humans are as stupid as rabbits, he thought, but his mood was ruined. His mind slid away from the fact, but it wasn't just the noise below that was disturbing him. Milk and honey, that had been†¦a mistake. Thinking about that had been a blunder. Elena's skin had been like milk that night a week ago, warm-white, not cool, even in the moonlight. Her bright hair in shadow had been like spilled honey. Elena wouldn't be happy to see the results of this night's pack hunting. She would cry tears like crystal dewdrops, and they would smell like salt. Suddenly Damon stiffened. He sent one stealthy query of Power around him, a circle of radar. But nothing bounced back, except the mindless trees at his feet. Whatever was orchestrating this, it was invisible. Right, then. Let's trythis , he thought: Concentrating on all the blood he'd drunk in the last few days, he blasted out a wash of pure Power, like Vesuvius erupting with a deadly pyroclastic explosion. It encircled him completely in every direction, a fifty-mile-per-hour bubble of Power like superheated gas. Because it was back. Unbelievably, the parasite was trying to do it again, to get into his mind. It had to be. Lulling him, he supposed, rubbing the back of his neck with absentminded fury, while its packmates finished off their prey in the car. Whispering things into his mind to keep him still, taking his own dark thoughts and echoing them back a shade or two darker, in a cycle that might have ended in him flying off to kill and kill again for the pure black velvet enjoyment of it. Now Damon's mind was cold and dark with fury. He stood, stretching his aching arms and shoulders, and then searched carefully, not with a simple radar ring, but with a blast of Power behind each stab, probing with his mind to find the parasite. It had to be out there; the trees were still going about their business. But he could find nothing, even though he'd used the fastest and most efficient method of scanning he knew: a thousand random stabs per second in a Drunkard's Walk search pattern. He should have found a dead body immediately. Instead he'd foundnothing . That made him even angrier than before, but there was a tinge of excitement to his fury. He'd wanted a fight; a chance to kill where the killing would be meaningful. And now here was an opponent who met all the qualifications – and Damon couldn't kill it because he couldn't find it. He sent a message, lambent with ferocity, in all directions. I have already warned you once. Now ICHALLENGEyou. Show yourself – OR ELSE STAY AWAY FROM ME! He gathered Power, gathered it, gathered it again, thinking of all the different mortals who had contributed it. He held it, nurturing it, crafting it for its purpose, and raising its strength with all that his mind knew of fighting and of the skill and expertise of war. He held the Power until it felt as if he were holding a nuclear bomb in his arms. And then he let it go all at once, an explosion speeding in the opposite direction, away from him, nearing the speed of light. Now, surely, he would feel the death throes of something enormously powerful and cunning – something that had managed to survive his previous strafings designed only for eldritch creatures. Damon expanded his senses to their widest reach, waiting to hear or feel something shattering, combusting – something falling blind, with its own blood tumbling nearby, from a branch, from the air, fromsomewhere . Fromsomewhere a creature should have plummeted to the ground or raked at it with huge dinosaur-like claws – a creature half-paralyzed and completely doomed, cooked from the inside out. But although he could feel the wind rising to a howl and huge black clouds pooling above him in response to his own mood, he still could sense no dark creature close enough to have entered his thoughts. How strong was this thing? Where was it coming from? Just for a moment, a thought flashed through his mind. A circle. A circle with a dot at its center. And the circle was the blast he'd shot away in all directions, and the dot was the only place his blast didn't reach. Inside him alre – Snap! Suddenly his thoughts went blank. And then he began, sluggishly, slightly bewildered, to try to put the fractured pieces together. He had been thinking about the blast of Power he'd sent out, yes? And how he'd expected to feel something fall and die. Hell, he couldn't even sense any ordinary animals bigger than a fox in the woods. Although his sweep of Power had been carefully made to affect only creatures of his kind of darkness, the ordinary animals had been so spooked that they'd gone running wildly from the area. He peered down. Hm. Except the trees around the car; and they weren't after him. Besides, whatever they were, they were only the pawns of an invisible killer. Not really sentient – not within the boundaries he had crafted so carefully. Could he have been wrong? Half his fury had been for himself, for being so careless, so well-fed and confident that he'd let down his guard. Well-fed†¦hey, maybe I'm drunk, he thought, and flashed the smile again at nothing, without even thinking about it. Drunk and paranoid and edgy. Pissed and pissed off. Damon relaxed against the tree. The wind was screaming now, swirling and freezing, the sky full of roiling black clouds that cut out any light from the moon or stars. Just his kind of weather. He was still edgy, but he couldn't find any reason to be. The only disturbance in the aura of the woods was the tiny crying of a mind inside the car, like a trapped bird with only one note. That would be the little one, the redheaded witch with the delicate neck. The one who'd been whining about life changing too much. Damon gave a little more of his weight to the tree. He'd followed the car with his mind out of absent interest. It wasn't his fault that he'd caught them talking about him, but it did degrade their chances of rescue a bit. He blinked slowly. Odd that they'd had an accident trying not to run over a creature in approximately the same area he'd almost crashed the Ferrari trying to run one over. Pity he hadn't had a glimpse of their creature, but the trees were too thick. The redheaded bird was crying again. Well, do you want a changenow or don't you, little witch? Make up your mind. You have to ask nicely. And then, of course,I have to decide what kind of change you get.