Introduction to Christology

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Theo 530: Systematic Theology II Lesson 1 Dr. Daniel R Mitchell, Professor Introduction to Christology Contemporary Issues in Christological Method Overview Christ and History The Search Christology from Above vs. from Below The Person or Work of Christ, Which is Prior? Christ and Myth I. Introduction to this Study A. Relation to other Theological Study 1 Theology Proper (above) 2 Man and Sin (below) Three Issues Addressed Here 1 Faith and History/Reason 2 Ontology vs. Function 3 Myth and the Nature of the Biblical Witness II. Search for the Historical Jesus Key Players: Strauss, Renan, Harnack Harnack’s Presuppositions NT and Superstitious Culture Ancient Miracle Claims are Commonplace Anti-supernaturalism Miracle Claims are Rooted in Ignorance Harnack and the Essential Message of Jesus The Kingdom of God and its Coming God the Father and the infinite value of the human soul The higher Righteousness and the Commandment of Love III. Critique of the Classic Liberal Position A. Schweitzer, Search of the Historical Jesus Jesus in the NT is thoroughly Eschatological. It is Presumptuous for Moderns to try to Reinvent Him. Jesus was â€Å"wrong,† but his essential message is not lost on the NT reader. Kahler 1 Distinguished Historie and Geschichte 2 Contrasted â€Å"Jesus† of Historie and the â€Å"Christ† of Geschichte. IV. Above or Below? 1 Kahler’s Distinction led to the question: Which is prior—Historie or Geschichte? 2 The Neo-Orthodox Theologians such as Barth, Bultmann, and Brunner begin with the Kerygma—from Above (the NT w itness). 3 Kasemann (â€Å"New Search†) and Pannenberg begin with Historie (probable facts)—from Below. 4 Erickson wants to use both in dynamic tension. 1 Following Augustine he begins with faith (from above) 2 He proceeds â€Å"from below† to test the reliability of his faith-given â€Å"hypothesis. V. The Person vs. the Work of Christ The NT seems to Link these 1. (e. g. Messianic Mission and Divine Sonship) Classic Theology Separated them and Stressed Ontology (the Person) Reformers (Luther/Calvin) followed Classic theology, but emphasized the Soteriological significance (Work) of Christ. Modern Theology Continued and Exaggerated this Distinction and Emphasis. Schleiermacher— â€Å"feelings† Bultmann/Tillich—â€Å"existential† question VI. Pros and Cons of the Two Approaches Christology from Above Strength—Emphasizes â€Å"Who† Christ is in evaluating the significance of His Work. Weakness—Tends to become bogged down in philosophical questions, which have no relevance to practical life. Christology from Below Strength—Relevance to Life Weakness—Driven by â€Å"felt needs† and Risks blindness to Issues of Importance that are only secured â€Å"from above. † VII. Christ and the Incarnation Myth Bultmann and â€Å"demythologization. † Builds on the philosophy of Idealism Links Christianity and World Religions Erickson’s Responses The Incarnation is a Mystery The Doctrine is Rooted in Jesus’ own Claims of Himself. The NT teaching is entirely unique to the World’s Religions.

Lean System Essay

Lean is a philosophy of manufacturing that emphasizes the minimization of the amount of all resources (including time) used in operations of the company. Operations processes are considered to be Lean when they are very efficient and have few wasted resources. The elimination of WASTE is actually the defining principle of Lean. By eliminating waste of all sorts in the system, the lean approach lowers labour, materials, and energy costs of production. Lean also emphasizes building exactly the products customers want, exactly when they need them. When lean capabilities are introduced in a firm, it can produce smaller quantities, and it can change outputs more quickly in response to changes in customer demand. The primary objectives of Lean systems are to: 1. Produce only the products that customers want. 2. Produce products only as quickly as customers want them. 3. Produce products with perfect quality. 4. Produce in the minimum possible lead-times. 5. Produce products with features that customers want, and no others. 6. Produce with no waste of labour, materials or equipment. 7. Produce with methods that reinforce the occupational development of works. Eliminate Waste Waste is anything that does not add value from the customer point of view. Storage, inspection, delay, waiting in queues, and defective products do not add value and are 100% waste. Seven Wastes: Overproduction, Queues, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Over-processing and Defective products. Other resources such as energy, water, and air are often wasted. Efficient, sustainable production minimizes inputs, reduces waste. Traditional â€Å"housekeeping† has been expanded to the 7 Ss. Sort – when in doubt, throw it out. Simplify– methods analysis tools. Shine/sweep – clean daily. Standardize – remove variations from processes. Sustain – review work and recognize progress. Safety – build in good practices. Support/maintenance – reduce variability and unplanned downtime. There are four building blocks that contribute to the building of a lean system. When these elements are focused in the areas of cost, quality and  delivery, this forms the basis for a lean production system. They are: 1. Product design 2. Process design 3. Personnel/organizational elements 4. Manufacturing planning and control Product design : Each process is crucial and contributes to an effective lean system. Product design consists of standard parts (workers have fewer parts to deal with), modular design (an extension of standard parts, they are separate parts clustered together and treated as one unit), highly capable production systems with quality built in ( JIT requires highly capable production systems), and concurrent engineering (keeping engineering practices shouldn’t change to avoid disruptions).The fact that customers have unique needs makes it necessary for the producer in the manufacturing sector or the service sector to create products and services that contributes uniquely to the final customer’s requirements. All design activities have performance objectives that are important to all designs. These objectives are: A design should be of high quality; it should be produced quickly, on a dependent basis, flexibility and at a low cost. The three broad design categories, 1) the feasibility of the design, 2) the acceptability of the design, and 3) the vulnerability of each design option. Concurrent engineering-describes the process of collective product design by all affected functions in the organisation. Quality function deployment – is a planning tool used to fulfil customer expectations through a disciplined approach to product design engineering and production. Process Design: consists of small lot sizes (optimal one unit), setup time reductions, and manufacturing cells (specialized and efficient production centres, quality improvement, production flexibility, a balanced system (distributing workload evenly among the workstations), little inventory storage, and fail safe methods (incorporate ways to reduce or eliminate the potential for errors during the process). Lean systems have an extremely effective production method. Schedules must be communicated inside and outside the organization and Better sched uling improves performance and also Increases flexibility. Personnel/organizational: elements includes workers  as assets ( A JIT philosophy), Cross-trained workers (perform several parts of the process and operate several machines), cost accounting, and leadership/project management( a two-way communication process between managers and workers). Manufacturing planning and control: The last building block is manufacturing planning and control. It includes level loading,(achieving stable, level daily mix schedules) pull systems (work moves on in response to demand from the next stage in the process), visual systems (A kanban card used as authorization to move or work on parts), limited work-in-process, close vendor relationships, reduced transaction processing(logistical, balancing, quality, or change transactions), preventive maintenance and housekeeping(keeping the workplace clean and free of unneeded material. Improve employee communication. Identifying problems and driving out waste reduces costs and variability and improves throughput. Lean systems require managers to reduce variability caused by both internal and external factors. By pulling material in small lots, inventory cushions are removed; exposing problems and emphasizing continual improvement. Example Lean operations began as lean manufacturing which was developed by the automobile manufacturer, Toyota. Toyota was sensitive to waste and inefficiency issues. The goal was to eliminate all waste from the process. Waste was identified by them as anything that interfered with the process or simply did not add value. Companies began adopting the lean approach and to do so realized that they had to do major changes in their organization and with their culture in the organization. Lean methods have demand-based operations, flexible operations with rapid changeover capability, effective worker behaviors, and continuous improvement efforts. JIT system stands for a Just-In-Time system. It represents the philosophy that includes every aspect of the process from the design to after the sale. JIT is a highly coordinated processing system in which goods move through the system, and services are performed just as they are needed. First, management should decide if JIT is a compatible method for the company. JIT is best used with companies that have repetitive operations and a stable demand. The first step is planning the conversion to JIT. Managers need to  be involved in the process and understand the commitment needed. The next step is to begin working only with suppliers who support the JIT system. The biggest obstacles faced are management, worker or supplier disapproval, and also changing the culture of the company. Inventory is at the minimum level necessary to keep operations running. JIT Inventory Tactics: Use a pull system to move inventory; Reduce lot sizes; Develop just-in-time delivery systems with suppliers; Deliver directly to point of use; Perform to schedule; Reduce setup time; Use group technology. Different from JIT in that it is externally focused on the customer: Starts with understanding what the customer wants: Optimize the entire process from the customer’s perspective. The main benefits of lean operations systems are: 1. Reduced cost through reduced inventory levels 2. Higher quality 3. Reduced lead time 4. Increased productivity 5. Reduced amounts of waste Inventories should never be used as the solution to fix machine malfunctions. One method that JIT systems uses to minimize inventory is to have suppliers deliver goods directly to the production floor. Overall, carrying low inventories offers many benefits such as less carrying cost, less space needed, and less rework to complete in case of a product recall. Lean systems can also be referred to as â€Å"just-in-time† (JIT) systems. The object of a lean system is to create a system that is demand driven, and provides supply based on demand at any given point. Lean systems tend to concentrate on waste reduction and have continuous improvement.

Testing on Animals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Testing on Animals - Essay Example The pure research has only the elements of genetics, behavioral and developmental biology. On the other hand, applied research majorly involves biomedical and drug testing (Conn et al, 2008). Over the years, the non-human animals of different species have been used by researchers in laboratories to establish the root causes of various human health complications and diseases. The testing has also been instrumental in scientific education, especially when illustrating some biological processes such as respiration. As more and new human diseases continue to emerge, pharmaceutical firms have continued to manufacture new drugs that are appropriate for the treatment of such diseases. The new drugs, therefore, must pass a test before they are declared safe for human health; the animal testing. Animal testing, therefore, has been very helpful in determining the effectiveness and safety of any medicine that is intended for treating of human diseases. Some large research institutes and pharmaceutical firms purposefully breed the non-human animals for the sake of the animal testing whiles others prefer capturing the animals from the wild. The commonly used animals during testing in clude rats, mice, rabbit, fish, monkeys, cats, dogs and birds. Animal testing has, for many years, led to the discovery of many medical treatment of various diseases; both in human and in other animals. Those who are for the testing say that animal testing is such a big remedy for health complications, and thus, should not face many stringent laws from the government. However, there are those who are against the popular animal testing. These oppose claim that the animals, though living in the wild, have rights too. These two categories of advocators have put the scientific world on a heated debate that does not seem to come to an end soon. In the 20th Century, the science of animal testing led to the many amazing discovery of medical treatments and advances that aided the treatment

Southern Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Southern Society - Essay Example It was the most important cash crop; it generated the highest income out of the trade. For instance, its value was  £766,000 while that of indigo was  £113,0002. The use of tobacco as one of the trade items in the Colonial Era was also as a result of the provision of cheap labor by the slaves. However, the volatility of its prices influenced planters into diversifying their slave plantations. Rice plantations were established in 1700s with the goal of making profits3. Its growth was also facilitated by good soils and climatic conditions. The commodity value of rice was approximately  £312,000. The fertile soils, good climate, as well as the availability of cheap labor from the slaves, enhanced the introduction of the large-scale production of cotton in 1800s in Southern Colonies. The production of cotton was aimed at making a profit and not for personal use. Sugarcane is also one of the trade items of the Colonial Era in the Southern society that was introduced in 1800s. Large scale production of sugarcane in plantations was also as a result of good soil, good climatic conditions, and provision of cheap labor by the slaves. The planters grew sugar as a cash crop to generate profit. Indigo was also one of the trade items that were best suited to the South. Indigo plantations were introduced in 1700s with the aim of making a

Zero Tolerance Policy in the K-12 United States Education System Research Paper

Zero Tolerance Policy in the K-12 United States Education System - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that the Gun Free Schools Act (GFSA) enacted in 1994, inter alia, empowers the educational institutions â€Å"to expel from school for a period of not less than one year a student who is determined to have brought a weapon to a school†.   In view of the changing environment in the social spectrum and the unprecedented technological developments not even predicted by sociologist and futurist, Alvin Toffler in his Future Shock, it is attempted to seek an answer to the question: Is there is a need to revisit such provisions of this act and the other related acts such as Goals 2000: Educate America Act on account of the inhibiting factors and ominous consequences to the students and their families involved in enforcement of these laws in relation to zero tolerance policy.   At the instance of Pennsylvania Parent Teachers Association (PTA), a proposal in relation to zero tolerance policy is being submitted to the Senator Arlen Specter .   We expect that his compassion for the students makes him as an advocate in addressing the needs of students.   His clout as a senior Senator with wide experience and respectability would be helpful in carrying out the necessary amendments to the act(s). This paper has been prepared after careful study and analysis of the various alternatives, factors involved and the existing policy environment with the recommendations in this respect.

Drinking Water and Sanitation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Drinking Water and Sanitation - Research Paper Example The lack of safe drinking water has led to a number of diseases and deaths, especially among infants. A number of goals have been set over the years with various ten year milestones. These milestones have been beset with various challenges. However, there has been some amount of success. Various strategies including the promotion of breast-feeding to reduce mortality in infants have been used as a means of dealing with the effects of the problem. Introduction Drinking water and sanitation are two important factors in the lives of human beings. Water is required not only to drink but also for personal hygiene, the preparation of meals and to ensure that our surroundings are clean. Some people do not have access to piped water and therefore depend on other sources such as rivers and streams. This water is not treated and in a number of cases is exposed to various factors in the environment. Among these factors are the way we carry out various activities including disposal of industrial and household wastes. In addition to that, there is the problem of inadequate and improper sanitary conveniences which also have implications for the supply of safe water. Over the years a number of goals have been set. However, they have not been fully realized due to various challenges that affect these efforts. Previous Goals and Achievements The period 1981 – 1990 was designated as ‘The International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade’ by the United Nations (Cairncross 1992). During that period the aim was to increase the supply of water and hygienic toilets so that more people especially the poor could have access to these necessities (Cairncross 1992). A number of organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank were involved in this effort. Since then the drive for the improvement in the quality of life has continued as some of the targets were not achieved. In fact, Cairncross (1992) points out that a lot more needs to be done in order to facilitate efforts to make safe water and proper sanitation available to all people. Risk of Inadequate Drinking Water and Sanitation The problems that arise from inadequate drinking water and poor sanitation are far greater than the problems of war, terrorist attack and weapons of mass destruction but they receive less attention (Bartram et al, p. 810). The lack of proper sanitation and waste disposal facilities can lead to waterborne diseases including malaria, schistosomiasis and legionellosis (WHO). This is a serious problem as it results in the death of approximately 3900 children everyday and therefore threatens the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs) (Bartram et al 2005). The developing countries are more at risk as microbial organisms which cause diseases are normally found in drinking water in these areas (Ashbolt 2004). The situation is worst in places like Africa and Asia where a substantial portion of their people live in condit ions of extreme poverty. Sequelae and mortality are the result as the body becomes less capable of providing immunity against diseases that are endemic (Pond 2005). Diseases associated with the intestines are generally more severe because of the high levels of mal-nutrition as well as the non-existence of strategies in these countries to deal with these types of problems. The traditional methods of filtration and chlorination continue to be used. However, these are not 100% effective as there are some chlorine resistant pathogens (Ashbolt 2004). The Millennium Development Goals According to Bartram et al (2005) 40% of the world population does not have access to a pit latrine and almost 20% do not have access to

Strategic and competitive positioning of Lenovo Essay

Strategic and competitive positioning of Lenovo - Essay Example In relation to the study the company which has been selected is Lenovo group, a multinational IT firm with headquarters in Beijing, China and North Carolina, United States. Lenovo was established in 1984 as Legend and later renamed as Lenovo. The company is into developing, designing, manufacturing as well as selling personal computers, smartphones, tablet computers, servers, workstations, electronic devices, smart televisions, and management software. The company is known for its volume sales. Laptops and notebooks are Lenovo’s top selling products. Recent innovations in Lenovo’s ultrabooks and laptops have transformed the company into a major successful brand in the IT industry. The IT and computer industry is extremely competitive with few big players dominating the market. However, many new local brands are being launched serving niche customers and reducing overall market share for these bigger players. Three major companies, Lenovo, HP, and Dell dominate this comp uter market. While Lenovo leads the Chinese market, HP and Dell have captured major market share across other parts of the globe. Lenovo has been trying to develop its strategic positioning through innovation and differentiation. In 2003, Lenovo launched an application technology, enhancing overall positioning. Apart from that, through constant innovation, Lenovo computer has been able to maintain a leadership position in China for past eight years.

Describe how lesson pacing may vary based on specific student Essay

Describe how lesson pacing may vary based on specific student characteristics and complexity of the content - Essay Example There has to be a change in the pace of delivering lectures from the teachers. Otherwise, the lesson will become monotonous. The students will be uninterested in learning the lesson. The teacher may change the pace and impart various activities to rouse interest in the minds of the students. The teacher may induct certain activities or take small tests. This breaks the monotonous cycle of the lesson and imparts something new. A teacher may use interesting references from other books to make the lessons more interesting. Pacing of the lessons is an important criterion for the students to learn. It has been observed that the students learn more if the pace of the delivery of lessons is fast. This means that the students are supplied with more materials to learn. The â€Å"Academic learning time† for students is a small percentage of the total available time. The learning time for the students is only about 17% of the total available time. Therefore, to impart maximum amount of knowledge it is essential for the teachers to follow a brisk pace in teaching the students. It has been observed that the students learn more with brisk pace. However, the efficiency of pacing depends upon the teachers imparting knowledge to the students. The effective teachers tend to cover more in a short period. The less effective teachers are left to cover most of the curriculum in the later part of the course and cannot provide the students with enough time to practice. This makes the students less efficient in the lessons, which makes an important effect on their progress. (Time management, n.d. pp. 4-7; Teaching tip 18, n.d.: Pacing, n.d.) Again, it has to be kept in mind that students may not be open to take the knowledge imparted to them in the short time frame. Therefore, though the teachers may look to finish the lesson in a short period but it may not be useful for the students at all. Therefore, pacing has to develop by

Clothing Design And Manufacture Work Placement Report Essay

Clothing Design And Manufacture Work Placement Report - Essay Example Harvey Nichols has stores in London,Edinburg City Centre, Birmingham and Dublin.   Additional stores are located in Saudi, Arabia, Hong Kong, Dubai and Istanbul.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harvey Nichols began in 1813, as a small linen shop on the corner of Knightsbridge,with a single owner, Benjamin Harvey.   Soon after, Colonel Nichols joined, with hism exquisite imports of oriental rugs and silks.   The organization was purchased by the Burton Group in the 1980s and later, by the Dickson Group.   It returned to private ownership in 2003, by Hong Kong businessman Dr. Dickson Poon.   By the end of the fiscal year, in March 2007, â€Å"sales totaled 166.7 million pounds†(Business Week). The flagship store in London offers a restaurant, bar, wine shop and food market.  The organization opened its first stand-alone restaurant in 1996, in Oxo Tower.   In 1999, it opened Prism, in the financial district of London.   Future locations of stores include Bristol, J akarta and Indonesia.   Harvey Nichols has won numerous advertising awards, with its unique approach and style.   Opportunities for employment range from chef to fashion buyer.   The possibilities within the organization are limitless.   The Harvey Nichols web site includes many of the current product offerings, as well as a portal for journalists to obtain the most current information regarding new product release and current events.   It is estimated that â€Å"7,873 visit harveynichols.com daily†(statbrain.com).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Chinese Culture Essay Example for Free

Chinese Culture Essay Chinese Culture changed during the Qin Dynasty. There was an increase in trade, agriculture, and military protection. The central government now had direct control of the population, allowing the ability to have a much bigger workforce. Many projects such as the Great Wall of China were done because of this. The Qin Dynasty had several reforms in China’s society; such as money, advanced writing system, and the weights and measurements became the same units. Book burning and burying of scholars occurred due to the desire to purge all traces of the old dynasties. The Qin’s military was revolutionary due to the fact of more developed weaponry, transportation, and military tactics. All this was done even though China’s government was strict and bureaucratic. Future Chinese regimes were influenced because of this Dynasty. Qin Shihuang was the emperor that was buried in the tomb. He was the first emperor of China. After 200 years of war between 6 states, he unified China. His rule only lasted for 15 years, but left a lasting impact on the country’s history. A few of Qin’s remnants were the legalist principles, a Chinese philosophy that followed hard discipline agreeing to the rule of law. This belief helped Qin to rule the masses in a more centered power order and show a very influential way to rule, but this did now allow for disagreement to occur. Qin introduced a uniform written language which helped the government to communicate and carry out policies. Scholars could share information to a bigger population which helped lead to the transfer of culture. Having one language helped the later dynasties to communicate with the nomads and pass along information on how to compromise or fight with them. The invention of constructing roads allowed better connection between major cities and provinces. The dynasty standardized the length of axles in carts so they could all ride on new roads. The construction of the Great Wall of China made a mark in history for the country’s boundaries, causing a greater unity. The nomadic tribes in the north were not able to attack because of the Great Wall protecting its Country. They dynasty standardizes all weights and measures, leading to a more effortless exchange of goods, and developing a taxation system. The Chinese money is also made equal all over, allowing even more efficiency of exchange in goods. Qin Shihuang had a lasting impact in the power of leadership in China. After his death in 206 BCE, his son, and later his grandson, took power but bother were short lived. The Qin Dynasty ended in 206 BCE. After his death, the same states that were in war before he became the emperor, began to fight again and many leaders sprang up over China until the Han Dynasty. Even though this happened, the lasting effects of practices that were put in place in the Qin Dynasty, lasted throughout the centuries. Qin’s power came from his top-down rule, and people conformed to his rule because of his powerful personality. They followed him because he showed them a vast difference in comparison to their small kingdoms, giving a way to a beginning of a future nation-state. The fact that China is names after Qin just goes to show how big of an influence he really was. For more than 2 thousand years Taoism has been the religious tradition that has influenced the people of East Asia. The work, Tao means the â€Å"path† or â€Å"way†, but with numerous subtle differences in folk religion and Chinese philosophy. There are three Jewels of Tao that are underlined: compassion, moderation, and humility. Taoism teaches mostly on nature, the relationship between humanity and the cosmos. The reason for all of Taoist’s rules and practices is to have Harmony with the Universe. Another thing that is popular in Taoism is godly fear for ancestor spirits and immortals. There is folk religion Taoism, and then there is organized Taoism, the difference is their rituals. Chinese alchemy, astrology, cuisine, Zen Buddhism, many Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, and feng shun, and many style of qigong have been weaved with Taoism throughout history. Another philosophy developed in China is Confucianism. It came from the teachings of Confucius; Master Kong, 551-478 B.C. It is a complex system of moral, political, philosophical, social, and part religious thought that influences the culture and history of East Asia. Some East Asian countries consider it to be a state religion because of the adopted philosophies of Confucius. China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam all are influenced by Confucianism as well as Singapore. The very first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang was the patron. Not long after he became emperor, he ordered to have his mausoleum be built. It was ordered to be build at the foot of Li Mountain in Xian. Part of his grave goods was the Terra Cotta warriors. It is believed that it took 700,00 men and 40 years to build the mausoleum. Qin wanted not only to be the greatest king alive, but in his death and for eternity. This is why he would not allow a chance for there to be a rebellion between the 6 states that were in war with each other. The terra cotta army was built there to suppress them, and execute his dream of everlasting. This is why he built the army in his tomb.

House prices in uk

House prices in uk Introduction According to a new study from Halifax one of the largest mortgage lenders. House prices in UK have beaten inflation over the past 50 years. It says that have risen 273% between 1959 and 2009 an average of 2.7% annually. But if measured by current prices, its uneven. The fastest growth was from 1999 to 2009 by 5% and in previous decade i.e. from 1989 and 1999, price fall by 24%. The rising price was on these years i.e. 1971-73, 1977-80, 1985-89 and the highest price was in 1998 and 2007. The study also noted that coincided with a very strong increase in owner occupation of homes. In 1961, only 43% of households owned the homes in which they lived by 2008 that had risen to 68%. The strongest rise in owner occupation rates occurred in the 1980s. The proportion that is privately rented also fell sharply over the past 50 years from 33% in 1961 to 14% in 2008. www.ft.com cited on 21/02/10. Demand And Supply Of Housing The comparison of prices in local and regional housing markets is an example of microeconomics. Lets see the interaction between buyer and seller with prices being offered and agreed before a final transaction is made. The transaction for house in UK depends upon a) The price that the seller is willing to agree for their property with prospective buyer. b) The actual price that the buyer is willing and able to pay. Buyers place offers for a property that the seller can either accept or reject. A Sellers Market When there is demand in a market for housing and short of good quality property i.e. means the supply is scarce. A Buyers Market When demand for good quality and bad quality property is weak than there should some offer or can negotiate the price than its published price. When the demand for houses in a particular area increases (perhaps because of an inflow of population into the area, or a rise in incomes following a fall in unemployment), there is upward pressure on market prices. Often the supply of available housing in the market is relatively inelastic. This is because there are time lags between a change in price and an increase in the supply of new properties becoming available, or other homeowners deciding to put their properties onto the market. When demand shifts outwards and supply is inelastic the result is a large rise in market price and a relatively small expansion of the quantity of houses traded. As supply becomes more elastic over time, assuming the conditions of demand remain unchanged, we expect to see downward pressure on prices and a further increase in the equilibrium quantity of houses bought and sold. Factors affecting housing price 1. Growth of real incomes Privately owned housing is a normal good for most people. As standard of living rise, the demand for house expands. 2. Consumer confidence Consumer has a vital role in the housing sector. When the economy is sustaining growth and rising property than its but natural that the number of house buyers and shifts the balance of power in the market. 3. Jobs The other factor is job. if it involves making a long-term commitment through a mortgage lender, changes in unemployment. If theres unemployment and average incomes are likely to be lower than confidence among buyers would affect. 4. Housing taxes and subsidies. Government policies, taxes and subsidies also affect the housing prices. Demand factors affecting house price FUTURE EXPECTATIONS 1. 2012 London Olympics May Help UK Economy Britains recovery can be done because of the infrastructure projects for 2012 London Olympics. Total spending is estimated for 2012  £9.3 (US$13.8) billion. There will be two major beneficiaries of the 2012 games: Londons crumbling mass transport system; East London, where the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Village and other major facilities will be located. To accommodate the number of people in a city, the improvement is going on for transport of London upgrading to the London over ground. The Olympic delivery authority has given  £3.1bn for the construction of the Olympic park. The budget for this is  £1 billion for the Olympic village, and  £400 million for the media centre. This will benefit to the housing sector in UK. The more people going to accommodate in this country the space to live .That would benefit the housing sector of UK. http://www.financemarkets.co.uk/ cited on 15/02/10 2. UK Mortgage Supply Crash A loan to finance the purchase of real estates, usually with specified payment and interest rates. The borrower (mortgagor) gives the lender (mortgagee) a lien on the property as collateral for the loan. www.investorwords.com The data collected by British Bankers of Association is that the no of mortgages approved for purchase of house was 17,773 against 64,014 in July, 2007 a fall of 72%. The mortgage market clearly remains as extreme preventive measures are taken due to the collapse of Britains mortgage banks. The supply has fallen so the average value of loan offered for house purchases which peaked at  £159,600 in June 2007, and now averages at just  £116,700. Home owners imagining that equity of 25% despite the fall in house prices to date may in fact on attempting to remortgage find that remortgage purposes and hence not offered any loan at favorable interest rates. The interest rate cut from 5% straight to 2% in 2 months and  £600billion bank bailout package. The net effect to this area was total amount of mortgage loans were outstanding the amount was  £35billion, against to a stable market. And in 2009 the house price rose by 2.9% says government. But the data of nationwide and Halifax says that UK house price rose by 6%nearly. The fastest growth was in 2009 went up by 4.9%. http://www.independent.co.uk/ cited on 16/02/10 Repossessions Extreme Government Pressure In an attempt to limit the number of repossessions during 2009, the government is putting extreme pressure on the mortgage banks to ensure repossessions are a last resort. Up until September 2008 this amounted mostly to hot air from the politicians, however after having taken major stakes in most of Britains biggest banks there are strong signs that the banks are starting to comply with their new majority shareholders wishes (the government), that look set to increasingly introduce initiatives to reduce the number of repossessions. The most recent action on this front was by RBS which stated that it would give a 6 month reprieve to its mortgage customers that are in arrears before initiating court repossession orders. Whilst the measures will undoubtedly mean that less homes will now be repossessed than would have otherwise been the case, however it does act as a two edged sword in that whilst supply of repossessed homes onto the market will be less, at the same time the mortgage banks are being forced to carry loss making loans that prove costly to administer and without bringing in much needed revenue i.e. tieing up resources that could have gone to more profitable mortgage customers. The Governments initiatives to reduce repossessions will have no discernable impact on the housing market price trends either positive or negative due to the points about tieing up capital in loss making costly to administer loan accounts. The number of homes expected to be repossessed during 2008 is now revised lower to 55,000 with the expectations of 65,000 homes for 2009 in advance of further government interventions in the housing market to prevent repossessions on an larger scale. The government is engaged on a programme of forcing down mortgage interest rates by a series of deep unprecedented cuts in UK interest rates towards the target of 1% , and possibly even lower to make up the shortfall in the lack of responsiveness by mortgage lenders in cutting their rates, who at the same time have tightened lending criteria due to the increased risk of defaults. The mortgage interest rates have fallen significantly from the credit crisis extremes and are heading to below 4% which implies a strong pointer for support for house prices as the cost of servicing mortgages falls and therefore should support a recovery in housing prices. However the housing market has always been that of being driven by sentiment, in that it is the trend in house prices that is most significant and NOT the cost of servicing the mortgages, it is this which pushed house prices to above X7 earnings, where people were prepared to take on large mortgages at high interest rates for the prime reason that house price gains in the order of 15% per annum or more were far above that of the mortgage interest payments of typically 6%. However now that the housing bubble has burst has resulted in the trend and sentiment reversing as house prices have already fallen by nearly 20%, which equates to a loss of  £40,000 on an average  £200,000 house that is now worth  £160,000, which averages to a fall in value of  £2500 per month. Against which a typical mortgage of say  £160k on a  £200k property at 6% would result in monthly interest charge of  £800 per month. Now with mortgage rates having typically fallen to 4% which is resulting in an reduced interest payment of  £533 per month or a significant fall of  £277 per month that many commentators are taking as a cue for imminent price stability. Unfortunately the  £277 saving is just above 10% of the amount that home owners are typically losing in value per month! Therefore the interest rate cuts are having little if no effect on the housing market, I first warned of this likely outcome back in February 2008 that interest rate cuts will not stop hous e prices from falling. This therefore implies that low interest rates are not an important factor at this point in determining house price trend during 2009, as housing market sentiment is decidedly bearish and will take time to first stabilise and then start to recover. UK Economic Recession Unemployment UK unemployment has probably already risen above 2 million by the time Decembers data is released in March, with the original UK unemployment forecast for a rise to 2.6 million by April 2010 now destined to be breached as the UK economy targets a severe recession on par with that of the early 1980s rather than the more milder one of the 1990s. Increasing expectations are that the UK economy will contract by 3% GDP during 2009 which implies that the UK is heading for an unemployment rate that could pass above 3,000,000 by early 2010. Therefore this confirms that the UK housing market is at least 15 months away from a period of stabilising in nominal terms i.e. where house prices stop falling. The actual trigger for a resumption of the housing bull market would be a sustained period of falling unemployment with the trigger level of 2,000,000 expected to act as a strong marker for year on year housing market recovery as occurred following the last housing bear market. This suggests that the housing market may not embark on an sustainable up trend for as longs as another 4 years and thus points to a period of house price stagnation that will following the current crash in UK house prices. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk Credit Crunch a credit crunch is a period in the economy, distinct from a recession or depression, but potentially heralding one or the other. Credit crunch including mortgage loans, personal loans, car finance, credit cards and other type o f lending become much harder to obtain in a credit crunch. Credit crunch has completely changed the face of the global economy with hundreds of business. From banks and capital markets at given interest rates. The reduced availability of credit can result from many factors, including an increased perception of risk on the part of lenders, ann imposition of credit controls, or a sharp restriction of the money supply. www.teachmefinance.com A sudden reduction in the availability of loans and other types of credit Eg: Lehman brothers. Supply Factor Affecting House Price Immigration There had been a large influx of over 800,000 migrants from the Accession states who contributed towards the buy to let market bubble Strong UK Economy The UK economy at the centre of the worlds credit bubble continued to outperform mainland Europe, which looked on with envy from the less flexible and more regulated European countries of France and Germany, though as we find out during 2009, not participating in the credit boom did not help them as many of the European banks become belatedly suckered into buying U.S. subprime mortgage backed toxic securitized debt as one the last to fling themselves onto the debt derivatives pyramid.

A Comparison of Corrupt Kings in Shakespeares Henry IV and Richard II

A successful monarchy relies upon a stable leader who is concerned with the satisfaction of those he rules over. Henry Bolingbroke the IV in Shakespeare's Henry the IV Part I follows a trend set by his predecessor in Richard II of self-indulgence and neglect of his kingdom. These leaders worry about the possibility of losing their kingdom or their soldiers to other nobles who were also concerned more with obtaining a higher position rather than governing. The king must also be wary of his own life, something that was once revered and guarded closely by other nobles. Wars once fought for gaining or protecting land are overshadowed by personal battles fighting for the position of king. Henry proved himself a powerful and fearless leader when he forcefully overthrew King Richard despite the divine rights bestowed upon him. While this was disruptive to the country, it appeared that this new leader would be successful because of confidence and military strength. However, shortly after he obtained his position, Henry became aware of the forces pulling the king away from his duties. He fails to either ignore or eliminate these distractions and becomes absorbed in them instead; "It seems then that the tidings of this broil/Brake off our business." (Henry, I, i, 47-48). Unfortunately, the king is not the only one neglecting the country. Most of the nobles realize their potential for additional power after the throne has been usurped. This disease, known as neglect, spreads through the ruling class unnoticed by the inflicted. John of Gaunt is one of the few nobles to see what the English peasants have seen; "That England that was wont to conquer others / Hath made a shamef ul conquest of itself." (Richard, II, i, 69-70). John of Gaunt sc... ...bination which proved to be impossible. Works Cited and Consulted Barber, C.L. "Rule and Misrule in Henry IV." William Shakespeare: Histories and Poems. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 143-167. Bloom, Harold. Richard II, Part One: Bloom's Notes. New York: Chelsea House, 1996. Cruttwell,Patrick. Hernry IV. Shakespeare For Students, Vol. II. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1999. Kantor, Andrea. Henry IV, Part One. London: Baron's Education Series, Inc, 1984. Princiss, G.M. Richard II Criticism. Shakespeare For Students, Vol.II. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1999. Shakespeare, William. Richard II The Norton Shakespeare. Ed Stephen Greenblatt, et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. Shakespeare, William. Henry IV. In The Norten Anthology of English Literature. Eds. M.H. Abrams et all. 5th Ed. New York: Norton, 1987.

up yours :: essays research papers

Kristine Bartasavich My first day of Childbirth Education class was January 17th. The teacher first started out the class with any questions we had. Question such as if there is any other calcium supplements you could take instead of drinking milk like viactive. She also asked how we were feeling at that point in our pregnancy. A lot of people had the same feeling; they were scared about the labor. After we all talked she should us a video of women giving birth. During the video we saw woman who had their waters broken by a tool that looked like a crochet nettle. Another had an internal monitor were a wire was put onto the babies head to keep a better track of the heart rate. As we watch the teacher passed around the things that were being used in the video.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During my second day of class we learn breathing techniques and the option of anesthesia. We first learn the deep breathing technique that would relaxes us during our contractions. The deep breathing is breathing in through your nose and letting it out slowly through your mouth. When contractions begin and end we are supposed to take a deep cleansing breath witch is like deep breathing but breathing out normally at the end. We also learned high chest breathing where you take a cleaning breath if you have time inhale, then exhale as you say â€Å"Hout†. Are partners also learned how to help relax us by talking to each other and eye contact or by a massage. If the breathing dose not help and are at lest 6cm dilated then you can get Anesthesia witch is inserted into the back with a large nettle. A tube is taped to your back and anesthesia is injected into it through out your labor to num the lower half of you.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For our third class we learned about cesarean birth. This only takes place if the mother or baby are going to be harmed and could die. An incision is made through the wall of the abdomen and the uterus.

“I’m a fool” by Sherwood Anderson Essay

Everyone has morals. The usual ones are: Don’t lie, cheat, or steal. The swipe in â€Å"I’m a fool† by Sherwood Anderson does not seem to possess these morals throughout the story, although he does seem to feel remorseful at the end of the story. He lies, cheats, and steals, though not in a way most consider normal. In â€Å"I’m a fool† the swipe lies. He lies about who he is, where he is from, and what he does. He tells Miss Elinor Woodbury, Mr. Wilbur Wessen, and Miss Lucy Wessen that he was â€Å"Walter Mathers for Marietta, Ohio,† and that his â€Å"father owned the horse About Ben Ahem,† and that his father â€Å"had let him out to this Bob French for racing purposes, because our family was proud and had never gone into racing that way, in our own way, I mean, and Miss Lucy Wessen’s eyes were shining.† He then went on to tell her about his â€Å"place† down in Marietta, and â€Å"about the big stables and the grand big house,† He had on the hill above the Ohio River. He justifies this by saying that he knew enough not to brag and to make it seem like they were pulling it out of him instead of him telling them. He cheats by using his lie that he is Walter Mathers, son of the owner of About Ben Ahem. He tells them that About Ben Ahem â€Å"would lose the first heat by pacing like a lame cow and then he would come back and skin ’em alive after that,† like he had seen it happen before. The swipe backs this up by having Mr. Wilbur Wessen place thirty dollars of his (the swipe’s) money on About Ben Ahem for the best odds that he could get after the first heat. The swipe is a thief because he stills another mans identity. â€Å"There ain’t any Walter Mathers, like I said to her and them, and there hasn’t ever been one, but if there was, I bet I’d go down to Marietta, Ohio, and shoot him tomorrow.† This constitutes a murderous attitude just to cover for himself. At the end of the story the swipe doesn’t tell Miss Lucy, Mr. Wilbur, or Miss Woodbury that he isn’t who he says he is, he doesn’t come clean with how he knew About Ben Ahem would win, or where he is from, even after Miss Lucy says that she would write to him because â€Å"She whispered and said it was like she and I could get out of the boat and walk on water.† So even though the  swipe is remorseful at the end of the story and says â€Å"I’ll quit working an be a bum and give him my job. I don’t care nothing for working, and earning money, and saving it for no such fool as myself,† he is still a liar, a cheat, and a thief.

Overseas Chinese and Moon Shadow Essay

Immigrants’ lives become very difficult when they move to a new country. They are often discriminated against due to their race and/ or nationality. This problem occurs many times throughout Dragonwings, a book by Laurence Yep. In his book, the Chinese characters who immigrate to America face many challenges in their new lives. They are thought of as inferior, have to endure many hardships, and become lonely due to the fact that they must leave the majority of their families in China. In this book, the immigrants face multiple difficulties and challenges in the new world they know as the Land of the Golden Mountain. One challenge that the immigrants face in this story is that they are thought of as inferior by Americans, or â€Å"demons† as they have begun to refer to them. Demons are not accepting of differences; therefore the Chinese are looked down upon, and don’t get equal rights and privileges. For example, Moon Shadow’s grandmother tells him that his father traveled to America to work as a laundryman before he was born. She tells Moon Shadow that gold, in the Land of the Golden Mountain, is everywhere and men can scoop it up by the bucket-full. When he asks why his father does not get enough gold to return home, his grandmother replies, â€Å"Demons roam the mountain up and down and they beat up any of our men who try to get the gold† (6). She mentions that they are allowed to take only a small pinch of it, and only if they do all of the hard, grueling labor that they are told to do. This quote proves that Chinese (Tang) people are belittled. They are forced to work like slaves. Good-paying jobs are very difficult for them to find. They must also be careful when choosing them. Moon Shadow states, â€Å"There was plenty of money to be made among the demons, but it was also dangerous† (1). This states that though there are many job opportunities in America, the lives of Chinese people are sometimes put at risk. This would almost certainly not have been the case if an American were to have the same job. This demonstrates the prejudice which exists against Tang men. The book also mentions that Americans often assume Chinese people are greedy, that they are after Americans’ money. This fact is proven when Windrider stops to help a man, Mr. Alger, fix his car. After he mends the automobile, Mr. Alger automatically pulls money out of his pocket to tip him. Windrider says modestly, â€Å"‘ No tip, just happy to look at horseless'†(57). Mr. Alger assumes that Windrider only stops to help because he wants money. Moon Shadow goes on to say that â€Å"the demon stopped and studied Father as you might look at a dog that had suddenly said he was going to the opera† (57). This demonstrates Moon Shadows knowledge that white people think Chinese cannot possibly get high-paying jobs due to their lack of skills or importance. These immigrants have to bear much racism and scrutiny–and the insecurity that goes with it–in their new homeland. Immigrants also have to face and live in many harsh, new conditions. For example, they have to put up with stereotypes and stories about them. This is proven when Moon Shadow is traveling by ship to America to meet his father for the very first time. Moon Shadow is told a story â€Å"about how the [Tang men] had slept upside-down on top of their heads with knives between their teeth, and so on† (11). This shows that the white people are very cruel to the Chinese, even if the story stretches the truth. To make up a story of this violent nature means that it is not far beyond them to do it. Americans also force the Chinese immigrants to live with the constant threat of violence. On one occasion, they go out with the intention of hurting the Chinese, simply for the pleasure of it. Black Dog, a relative of Moon Shadow, states, â€Å"‘The demons are all getting drunk and getting ready for beating up Tang men. The word is to stay inside'† (29). This further shows that the Chinese must face violence, a new element, in their everyday lives. Last, they must endure harsh conditions when arriving in America for the first time, going through immigration. This is a very long, torturous process. Moon Shadow explains, â€Å"The demons kept us locked inside a long, two-story warehouse for a week before it was our turn to be questioned† (11). This illustrates the fact that life is hardly bearable for them in the Land of the Golden Mountain. Things are very difficult, especially because of the way they are treated. The last and one of the most unbearable elements of all for immigrants is loneliness. Families are separated. Moon Shadow’s father leaves his wife, mother, and unborn son in China when he goes to live in America. He leaves with the expectation that he will be able to see his family in approximately five years, as most can. Moon Shadow notes, however, â€Å"though there were longer separations, as with Mother and Father† (3). This proves that families can be forced to endure long periods of time without seeing each other. As one might imagine, they become very lonely. Also, they often miss the appearance of the elaborate architecture and color used on buildings in China. San Francisco looks very drab to them in comparison. Moon Shadow thinks, â€Å"Walking up the street, I nearly lost heart. To me, the wooden houses seemed like shells of wood which terrible monsters had spun about themselves† (18). Since he is not used to the box like American homes, they seem quite foreign and even intimidating to him. He misses the familiarity of his home. Moon Shadow also shows signs of loneliness when he says, † I did not go to school during the daytime like demon children because the demons would not allow me to go to any of their schools just a few blocks away† (50). He does not have any Chinese friends to play with, and he does no get much contact with white children. It is plain to see that Moon Shadow and his relatives face much loneliness in their everyday lives in America. The characters in this book have very difficult lives in their new â€Å"home,† America. They are burdened with many challenges and hardships. Because of this, their lives in America cannot be carefree and happy. Instead they are filled with sorrow, pain, and scrutiny. They must endure the racism and cruel stereotypes that are targeted at them by Americans. They must work extra hard to find and keep good jobs. It becomes evident that their lives so far away from home are barely endurable.

Organisations culture Essay

1.Executive summary In this paper I look at how organisations develop ‘culture’ and how this culture can be created, manipulated and changed my management. I also look at what other factors can change and affect a companies’ culture. The paper will take the following format. A definition of culture and the problems associated with its definition. I then look at how organisationl culture develops, with an explanation of the levels of cultural analysis, a look at the various different types of culture, and the role of the leader/manager in creating the organisations culture. How culture can be changed and the skills and actions needed by management to successfully implement a cultural change. I then finish with a conclusion. 2.Defining organisational culture What is organisational culture? This it has been found, is not an easy question to answer. The concept of culture has its roots in anthropology, the study of human affairs. In this context, culture has been used to designate two different things. A tribe or a social group is studied as a ‘culture’ that produces and may have cultural artefacts. The second use of the term refers to aspects within a given culture, such as customs, rituals, knowledge and so on. (Sackman, S, 1991). In the context of organisational culture it is largely the second approach that is studied. Although people may not be aware consciously of culture, it still has a persuasive influence over their behaviour and actions. (Mullins, L, 2002). This statement explains that although we may not have the knowledge that we belong to a certain cultural group it will still have an impact on our behaviour and in an organisational sense, our working lives. The culture concept began to affect organisational thinking in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Although is it evident in ideas from a number of earlier writers, for example Bernard (1938) and Jacques (1952). If we look at a number of different of organisations it is clear to see that ‘things are done differently’. This idea applies to all organisations, even in similar companies that are operating in the same industry. Tesco provides  much the same service as Sainsburys, but on close inspection we would be able to see the differences in which the two companies operate. It is more difficult however to describe how things are ‘done differently’, or why the company ‘feels’ different. A major problem with the concept of culture is the degree to which individuals, organisations or entire communities display characteristics which are consistent within it. (Martin, J, 2001). Do all British people display characteristics that are consistent with British culture? It is clear that although there are many similarities in the behaviour of people within a defined culture, that individual differences provide some variety. The same must also be assumed in the context of organisational culture. Another problem with finding a definition for organisational culture is the sheer number of definitions that already exist. Kroeber and Kluckhorn list more than 250 definitions of culture, that include components such as ideas, concepts, ideologies values, attitudes, goals, norms, learned behaviours, symbols, rites, rituals, customs, myths, habits or artefacts such as tools and other material representations. (Sackman, S, 1991). This inevitably leads to confusion amongst researchers as to a universal definition of organisational culture. The term ‘the way we do things around here’ (Deal and Kennedy, 1988) is often accepted as an operational definition of organisational culture. However this offers little in terms of the content of culture. Kilman et al. (1985) suggests ‘culture is the reflects the ideologies, shared philosophies, values beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, expectations, and norms of an organisation’ 3.Levels of culture Now we have looked at a definition of organisational culture we should look deeper into what develops and makes up an organisations culture. According to Schein (1985), organisational culture is made up of three levels. Visible organisational structures and processes (Hard to decipher) Strategies, goals, philosophies (Espoused justification) Unconscious, taken for granted beliefs, habits of perception, thought thought and feeling (Ultimate source of values and action) The Levels of Organizational Culture, Schein, E (1985) Artefacts These form the surface level of culture. They include all the things that a person sees, hears and has contact with. In an organisation it would be the architecture of the environment such as the management hierarchy, its technology, its creations and products and its style in terms of manners of address both up and down the hierarchy, dress codes and formal procedures. Schein identifies the most important point of this level being that artefacts are easy to identify but hard to decipher. Two organisations may well have the same system in operation but they can mean different things in terms of the culture of the organisation. Schein puts his point into an example by saying both the Egyptians and Mayas built large pyramids, but they were tombs in one culture and temples in the other. This point is contradicted by Gagliardi (1990) who says ‘ones own response to physical artefacts such as buildings and other office layouts can lead to the identification of major images and root metaphors that reflect the deepest levels of culture’. This is supported by my own experience. I have worked in a supermarket, an  organisation with a tall management hierarchy. Many of the artefacts of the organisation gave the impression of a very formal culture. A strict uniformed dress code was in place, with management wearing different colours from subordinates, and formal forms of address being used. The company was also largely bureaucratic with countless forms to be filled out a large numbers of standard procedures in place. One person however may look at a very informal organisation and class it as inefficient and unproductive, while another may class it as innovative and free from unnecessary bureaucracy, this depends on the individuals previous preconceptions about the artefacts that are present. Values Values are usually one persons beliefs about a given situation. If a manager believes that at a certain time of the year his/her company should run at a lower capacity due to demand etc. This is attributed to his personal values. Only once these values are acted on, successfully implemented and accepted by the organisation do they become transformed into underlying assumptions. From a marketing perspective, some of these values may remain conscious and may be explicitly stated in a company’s mission statement as the â€Å"dominant values of the organisation† (Deal and Kennedy, 1982). Only values that are concrete that can be physically and socially validated, they are confirmed by the group’s experiences, go through his transformation process. Underlying assumptions If a solution to a problem works frequently then it is often accepted as a rule for solving the given problem. The power of culture comes forth because these assumptions are shared within the group and are therefore mutually reinforced. These assumptions can often cause problems when someone new, with a different set of underlying assumptions from a previous culture, joins the organisation. As humans we like stability. Any decision which challenges or questions an underlying assumption, such as changing a costing method, or a method of production, will likely lead to anxiety and defensiveness within the organisation. A skill required by managers wishing to change aspects of an organisations culture is to recognise this connection, to get to the deeper levels of culture, and to deal with the anxiety that results when these assumptions are changed. The three stages are linked constantly together. ‘Basic assumptions are treated as the essence- what culture really is; and values and behaviours are treated as observed manifestations of the culture essence.’ (Mullins, 2002). We are able to see now how culture is developed in term of ‘values’ being acted upon and accepted by the organisation, these values being transformed into ‘underlying assumptions’ and the artefacts of the organisation being formed by the interpretation of these underlying assumptions. 4.Types of organisational culture Handy (1993) identifies four types of organisational culture. Power culture Power cultures revolve around a focal person or small group, this person or group has absolute power throughout the entire organisation. It is often found in small entrepreneurial companies, and relies largely on trust and communication. It is normally non-bureaucratic with few formal procedures. The success of the organisation depends largely on the skill of the focal person or group. Role culture Role cultures are often largely bureaucratic, it is often described as a small number of senior managers resting on the strong pillars of the various functions of the organisation. Each person has a specified role within a function of the organisation which in turn has a specified role within  organisation as a whole. These roles are expected to be adhered to and it is rare for an individual or function to deviate into different areas of the business. Predictability and stability are two main themes within this type of culture. This type of culture often develops in large companies with large numbers of staff and a tall management hierarchy. Companies with this type of culture tend to have steady objectives and operate in largely predictive markets. Again this relates back my own experience as this type of culture is largely prevalent in supermarket chains. Task culture Task cultures recognise the objectives and goals of the organisation as being paramount. Handy describes this as a ‘net’ or ‘matrix’ culture. Power is often shared by a team of experts who are highly manoeuvrable to suit the needs of the organisation. It largely found in team or project based organisations such as consultancy firms or engineers. Person Culture Person cultures are largely individual orientated. Any structure is solely suited to aid the individuals within the organisation. There is no specific power structure with individuals having complete power over their own operations. Examples of this would be barristers chambers, architects, business consultants, individuals that have come together to share resources such as office space and admin support. Some people are more suited to different types of cultures than others. Where one person will be happy working in an organisation with a task culture, he/she may feel constricted and undervalued in a role culture environment. Another person may be the opposite and may feel secure within a largely role orientated company. An important skill for managers is being able firstly to identify the type of culture his/her organisation is operating in and then to hire the correct people for that culture, this helps in reducing any anxiety caused by  changes to underlying assumptions previously discussed. There are many other models of the types of organisational culture available to the researcher. Writings by Deal and Kennedy on the generic cultures, Ouchi’s type Z companies, and several more. The focus of this paper however is on the development and change of culture and this will be explored in the following sections. 5. Factors affecting the development of culture The role of the founder ‘Organisations do not form accidentally or spontaneously. They are â€Å"created† because one or more individuals perceive that the coordinated and concerted action of a number of people can accomplish something that an individual cannot’ (Frost,p et al. 1991) At the beginning of an organisations life the founder often has complete control over the organisation. He/she will make most of not all of the important decisions over all areas of the organisations operations. ‘Because they had the original idea, founders will typically have their own notion, based on their own cultural history and personality of how to get the idea fulfilled. (Schein, 1985). Since the founder started the group it is natural to assume that he/she also impose their thoughts, values and assumptions on the group. As new members enter the group the founders assumption will be changed and modified to suit the new organisation, but will always have the biggest impact on what becomes the organisational culture. This has large implications for the future of the organisation. If the company was founded by an informal, easy going type of person then this is the type of organisational culture that is likely to develop. Similarly if the organisation is founded by a formal, autocratic person, the company will likely develop this kind of organisational culture. This will continue to form the organisations culture and have a large influence on the actions of the company even if new leaders are brought in to the organisation. The assumptions of the founder will already be deep routed and form the basis of  the culture. Size Size affects an organisation because of the formality that is often required in larger companies. A large company with many levels of management and a large number of functions or even businesses cannot realistically operate on an informal level. This has implications for the culture of the organisation. Technology If the company uses highly technological systems and procedures in its operations ie pharmaceuticals, the cultural emphasis will be on the technical skills of its employees. A company in the service sector may have a cultural slant towards customer service. Goals and objectives What the organisation wants to achieve will also affect culture. An organisation that wishes to become a market leader may inherit cultural values that reflect that attitude, i.e. company image focused, or have a heavy marketing orientation. Environment There are many environmental factors that can affect an organisations culture, stakeholders, competitors, government etc. etc. How a company chooses to interact with each of these environmental forces will determine how the organisations culture develops. People The preferred style of work amongst both senior management and employees has a large effect on the organisations culture. If senior management attempt to implement a culture that is unacceptable to employees a reaction will  follow, industrial action, low motivation, poor productivity etc. Likewise if employees attempt to force management into following their own culture then a negative reaction will also result. i.e. relocation or the replacement of workers. (Section taken from Martin, J, Organizational Behaviour, 2001) Senior management need to realise the factors that affect an organisations culture and attempt to you analyse the likely impact major business decisions may have. Failure to do may have negative consequences for the culture and hence the success of the company. 6.Cultural change, the role of management â€Å"There is some considerable debate as to whether changing something as deep-seated as corporate culture is possible’ Writers with this view usually focus on the deeper levels of culture, the underlying assumptions. Turner (1986) supports this view by suggesting that it would not be possible to manipulate it accurately because it becomes such an integral part of the organisations fabric. Because these are taken for granted assumptions about organisational life, members cannot envision any other way of operating. Those advocating corporate culture usually focus on the surface elements of culture, the artefacts. These are more easily changed than the deeper routed assumptions. Some writers have argued that unless the deeper assumptions are changed that the company will revert back to old ways of operating. Despite these arguments there is wide consensus that cultural change should only be attempted as a last resort and after other avenues have been sought. (Cummings, Worley, 1993) A primary task of management is to control the activity of employees to best serve defined organizational interests. They can achieve this control using formalized rules (bureaucratic mechanisms), economic rewards and sanctions or values and norms about how the work is to be done (â€Å"clan† or cultural  mechanisms) (Wilkins and Ouchi, 1983; cited by Sinclair, A, 1993). This statement reflects the common view that organisational culture needs to be aligned with organisational strategy if the company is to be successful. Many companies have now realised the importance of developing strategies harmonious with the organisations culture. Sometimes however culture needs to be changed, if circumstances require an organisation to follow a particular strategic route or a significant change affects the organisation i.e. market forces, government action, rapid growth etc. then the culture will have to be adjusted to suit the strategy and external environment. Managers require many skills in order to successfully change an organisations culture. It is a lengthy process that is full of danger. Staff need to be reassured and convinced that the new culture will work, otherwise defence mechanisms and the problems discussed earlier may begin show. The following guidelines to changing culture have been cited in (Cummings, T, Worley, C, Organization development and change, 1993) 1.Clear strategic vision- the firm needs to have a clear view of its operational strategy if culture is to be changed. Managers need to know where the company is now and where it is planning on going. 2.Top-management commitment- cultural change must be managed from the top of the organisation. Senior managers need to be committed to the new culture. They must have the staying to see the changes through. 3.Symbolic leadership- executives must communicate the new culture through their own actions. Their behaviour needs to symbolise the behaviours and actions that are being sought in the entire organisation. In an example given in the text, the CEO of Dana Corporation Rene McPherson threw the companies multi-volume policy manuals into a waste paper basket during a meeting and replaced them with a one page set of principles. 4.Supporting organisational change- the culture change must also be supported by changes in the organisational structure and operations, ‘the artefacts’ as have already been discussed. They can get people aware of the behaviours required in the new culture for the organisation to be successful. 5.Selection and socialization of newcomers and termination of deviants. One of the most important methods in changing an organisations culture is hiring the right people. This is particularly prominent in management positions where the manager has influence over the behaviour of subordinates. 6.Ethical and legal sensibility- sometimes when culture change happens some employees feel they are being hard done by, maybe due to a change in roles, due a promise made during the transition that has been fulfilled. This may lead to legal battles and or resignations from the company. These steps demonstrate some of the ways that managers can influence and successfully change an organisations culture. There is of course no universal solution to changing or influencing culture, all companies are different and individual approaches are more than likely necessary for cultural change to be successful. An example of cultural change is given in (Martin, J, Organizational Behaviour, 2001). In this case study of a motor car dealership in the UK, the newly appointed managing director wanted to change the company culture. The existing culture was largely autocratic with instructions coming down the hierarchy and staff carrying out these instructions. She wanted to change the culture so that the company has a more had team based approach with decision making at team level and initiative being used at all levels of the organisation. To do this she had to use drastic tactics such as showing staff a video of disappointed customers and even accepting a loss in revenue while the changes were being made. Along with this approach she introduced many changed such as more staff training, revision of pay schemes, continuous improvement groups, multi-functional teams etc. After three years the culture change was deemed complete and she could turn her hand to the future of the company. This case study highlights the often drastic measures and level of commitment that is required by managers to introduce a culture change to an organisation. 7.Conclusion It is relatively clear that organisational culture exists and that it plays a huge part in an organisations actions and the behaviour of its employees. Very few writers now argue with this point. I have discussed how culture develops in an organisation and the different levels and types of culture that emerge. Referring back to the second part of the original question, we have seen how managers can influence and attempt to change an organisations culture and the various problems that are encountered in this process. Although there are debates as to whether an organisations culture can or cannot be changed it would seem that there is a mid-point between the two arguments. There are examples of successful culture changes and I have given one in the text. It is clear that if properly organised and implemented a cultural change can be achieved. However we cannot assume that the culture has been changed all together. If the underlying assumptions are as strong as Schein and other writers claim then these will always affect the company culture in some shape or form. If the new culture is not carefully controlled could reappear. To conclude I would say, although cultural can be changed to suit the environment and organisational strategy, that managers should be cautious take into account the underlying principles that govern the organisational culture. 8.References Martin, J, (2001), Organizational Behaviour, 2nd edn, Thomson Learning Mullins, L, (2002), Management and Organisational Behaviour, 2nd edn, Financial Times, Prentice Hall Schein, E, (1992), Organizational Culture and Leadership, 2nd edn, Jossey-Bass Inc. Cummings, T and Worley, C, (1993), Organization Development and Change, 5th edn , West Publishing Company Sackman, S, (1991), Cultural knowledge in Organizations Exploring the Collective Mind, Sage Publications Frost, P et al. (1991), Reframing Organizational Culture, Sage Publications Sinclair, A, (1993), Approaches to organisational culture and ethics, Journal of Business Ethics, Dordrecht: Jan 1993. Vol. 12, Iss. 1; pg. 63, 11 pgs Wilson, A (2001), Understanding organisational culture and the implications for corporatemarketing, European Journal of Marketing, Bradford, Vol. 35, Iss. 3/4; pg. 353

Compare and Contrast Readings Essay

You have suffered before as I have suffered, maybe not exactly as me, but you have experienced a type of suffering. Mary Rowlandson shows us what suffering is in her book called â€Å" A Narrative of the Captivity,† by creating a character who loses her six year old child due to an attack in her town Lancaster and constantly being moved. Another author, Olaudah Equiano, writes a story about another type of suffering in his book â€Å" The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,† by telling readers about him being kidnapped directly from his home and being brought into slavery. By reading these excerpts readers can see different types of suffering and how the characters handle them. â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano† articulates suffering better because there are events that most people would know about and tells how people around him are dealing with the changes. Equiano’s narrative takes place in the 1800s, when slavery started to become popular. He talks of his self becoming a slave when he was just a kid. After, serving as a slave for different people in Africa, being detached from his family, and getting shipped off to stay a slave but in a fortune country, he did not become belligerent. â€Å"I did not know what this could mean, and indeed I thought these people were full of nothing but magical arts,† (Equiano 59). Equiano thinking the men that are about to enslave him are full of magic proves how young he is, too young to be a slave. A child being a slave for the rest of his or her life is a horrific way to spend one’s childhood. He has suffered all of his life, beginning with the day he was taken away from his home but after all this he did not seek revenge, he became an author. Rowlandson’s narrative speaks on the American Indians being removed from their native land by English people. When a reader starts reading the excerpt, one might think it is only about a woman losing her children but  once you look at the details you will see how the events she describes relate to the event of Americans kicking American Indians off their land. â€Å"The occasion (as I thought) of their moving at this time, was, the English army, it being near and following them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Rowlandson 39). The reason why readers did not know of the event from the start of the story is because the main character did not know why either. The quote gives us confirmation that the moving to different places is because of the â€Å"English army,† Americans, taking over their property . Both of these authors did a great job at helping readers view different types of suffering and how people handled it. Mary Rowlandson, the main character handles the suffering of losing her children and her home by staying connected with God, as I would. Olaudah Equiano, the main character of â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,† suffers by getting stolen from his home and brought into slavery. By looking at how Equiano deals with being a slave, it is like he just accepts what is happening and does not try to change it. Although Olaudah Equiano does not do much to change his life as a slave, he does a better job at explaining his sufferings to a point where people can relate or know a little background of the event.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 16 PARIS

AT THAT MOMENT, MY HEAD BROKE THE SURFACE. How disorienting. I'd been sure I was sinking. The current wouldn't let up. It was slamming me against more rocks; they beat against the center of my back sharply, rhythmically, pushing the water from my lungs. It gushed out in amazing volume, absolute torrents pouring from my mouth and nose. The salt burned and my lungs burned and my throat was too full of water to catch a breath and the rocks were hurting my back. Somehow I stayed in one place, though the waves still heaved around me. I couldn't see anything but water everywhere, reaching for my face. â€Å"Breathe!† a voice, wild with anxiety, ordered, and I felt a cruel stab of pain wher I recognized the voicebecause it wasn't Edward's. I could not obey. The waterfall pouring from my mouth didn't stop long enough for me to catch a breath. The black, icy water filled my chest, burning. The rock smacked into my back again, right between my shoulder blades, and another volley of water choked its way out of my lungs. â€Å"Breathe, Bella! C'mon!† Jacob begged. Black spots bloomed across my vision, getting wider and wider, blocking out the light. The rock struck me again. The rock wasn't cold like the water; it was hot on my skin. I realized it was Jacob's hand, trying to beat the water from my lungs. The iron bar that had dragged me from the sea was also warm My head whirled, the black spots covered everything Was I dying again, then? I didn't like itthis wasn't as good as the last time. It was only dark now, nothing worth looking at here. The sound of the crashing waves faded into the black and became a quiet, even whoosh that sounded like it was coming from the inside of my ears â€Å"Bella?† Jacob asked, his voice still tense, but not as wild as before. â€Å"Bells, honey, can you hear me?† The contents of my head swished and rolled sickeningly, like they'd joined the rough water â€Å"How long has she been unconscious?† someone else asked. The voice that was not Jacob's shocked me, jarred me into a more focused awareness. I realized that I was still. There was no tug of the current on methe heaving was inside my head. The surface under me was flat and motionless. It felt grainy against my bare arms. â€Å"I don't know,† Jacob reported, still frantic. His voice was very close. Handsso warm they had to be hisbrushed wet hair from my cheeks. â€Å"A few minutes? It didn't take long to tow her to the beach.† The quiet whooshing inside my ears was not the wavesit was the air moving in and out of my lungs again. Each breath burnedthe passageways were as raw as if I'd scrubbed them out with steel wool. But I was breathing. And I was freezing. A thousand sharp, icy beads were striking my face and arms, making the cold worse. â€Å"She's breathing. She'll come around. We should get her out of the cold, though. I don't like the color she's turning† I recognized Sam's voice this time. â€Å"You think it's okay to move her?† â€Å"She didn't hurt her back or anything when she fell?† â€Å"I don't know.† They hesitated. I tried to open my eyes. It took me a minute, but then I could see the dark, purple clouds, flinging the freezing rain down at me. â€Å"Jake?† I croaked. Jacob's face blocked out the sky. â€Å"Oh!† he gasped, relief washing over his features. His eyes were wet from the rain. â€Å"Oh, Bella! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Do you hurt anywhere?† â€Å"J-Just m-my throat,† I stuttered, my lips quivering from the cold. â€Å"Let's get you out of here, then,† Jacob said. He slid his arms under me and lifted me without effortlike picking up an empty box. His chest was bare and warm; he hunched his shoulders to keep the rain off of me. My head lolled over his arm. I stared vacantly back toward the furious water, beating the sand behindhim. â€Å"You got her?† I heard Sam ask. â€Å"Yeah, I'll take it from here. Get back to the hospital. I'll join you later. Thanks, Sam.† My head was still rolling. None of his words sunk in at first. Sam didn't answer. There was no sound, and I wondered if he were already gone. The water licked and writhed up the sand after us as Jacob carried me away, like it was angry that I'd escaped. As I stared wearily, a spark of color caught my unfocused eyesa small flash of fire was dancing on the black water, far out in the bay. The image made no sense, and I wondered how conscious I really was. My head swirled with the memory of the black, churning waterof being so lost that I couldn't find up or down. So lost but somehow Jacob â€Å"How did you find me?† I rasped. â€Å"I was searching for you,† he told me. He was half-jogging through the rain, up the beach toward the road. â€Å"I followed the tire tracks to your truck, and then I heard you scream† He shuddered. â€Å"Why would you jump, Bella? Didn't you notice that it's turning into a hurricane out here? Couldn't you have waited for me?† Anger filled his tone as the relief faded. â€Å"Sorry,† I muttered. â€Å"It was stupid.† â€Å"Yeah, it was really stupid,† he agreed, drops of rain shaking free of his hair as he nodded. â€Å"Look, do you mind saving the stupid stuff for when I'm around? I won't be able to concentrate if I think you're jumping off cliffs behind my back.† â€Å"Sure,† I agreed. â€Å"No problem.† I sounded like a chain-smoker. I tried to clear my throatand then winced; the throat-clearing felt like stabbing a knife down there. â€Å"What happened today? Did you find her?† It was my turn to shudder, though I wasn't so cold here, right next to his ridiculous body heat. Jacob shook his head. He was still more running than walking as he headed up the road to his house. â€Å"No. She took off into the waterthe bloodsuckers have the advantage there. That's why I raced homeI was afraid she was going to double back swimming. You spend so much time on the beach† He trailed off, a catch in his throat. â€Å"Sam came back with you is everyone else home, too?† I hoped they weren't still out searching for her. â€Å"Yeah. Sort of.† I tried to read his expression, squinting into the hammering rain. His eyes were tight with worry or pain. The words that hadn't made sense before suddenly did. â€Å"You said hospital. Before, to Sam. Is someone hurt? Did she fight you?† My voice jumped up an octave, sounding strange with the hoarseness. â€Å"No, no. When we got back, Em was waiting with the news. It's Harry Clearwater. Harry had a heart attack this morning.† â€Å"Harry?† I shook my head, trying to absorb what he was staying. â€Å"Oh, no! Does Charlie know?† â€Å"Yeah. He's over there, too, with my dad.† â€Å"Is Harry going to be okay?† Jacob's eyes tightened again. â€Å"It doesn't look so great right now.† Abruptly, I felt really sick with guiltfelt truly horrible about the brainless cliff dive. Nobody needed to be worrying about me right now. What a stupid time to be reckless. â€Å"What can I do?† I asked. At that moment the rain stopped. I hadn't realized we were already back to Jacob's house until he walked through the door. The storm pounded against the roof. â€Å"You can stay here,† Jacob said as he dumped me on the short couch. â€Å"I mean itright here I'll get you some dry clothes.† I let my eyes adjust to the dark room while Jacob banged around in his bedroom. The cramped front room seemed so empty without Billy, almost desolate. It was strangely ominousprobably just because I knew where he was. Jacob was back in seconds. He threw a pile of gray cotton at me. â€Å"These will be huge on you, but it's the best I've got. I'll, er, step outside so you can change.† â€Å"Don't go anywhere. I'm too tired to move yet. Just stay with me.† Jacob sat on the floor next to me, his back against the couch. I wondered when he'd slept last. He looked as exhausted as I felt. He leaned his head on the cushion next to mine and yawned. â€Å"Guess I could rest for a minute† His eyes closed. I let mine slide shut, too. Poor Harry. Poor Sue. I knew Charlie was going to be beside himself. Harry was one of his best friends. Despite Jake's negative take on things, I hoped fervently that Harry would pull through. For Charlie's sake. For Sue's and Leah's and Seth's Billy's sofa was right next to the radiator, and I was warm now, despite my soaked clothes. My lungs ached in a way that pushed me toward unconsciousness rather than keeping me awake. I wondered vaguely if it was wrong to sleep or was I getting drowning mixed up with concussions ? Jacob began softly snoring, and the sound of it soothed like a lullaby. I fell asleep quickly. For the first time in a very long time, my dream was just a normal dream. Just a blurred wandering through old memoriesblinding bright visions of the Phoenix sun, my mother's face, a ramshackle tree house, a faded quilt, a wall of mirrors, a flame on the black water I forgot each of them as soon as the picture changed. The last picture was the only one that stuck in my head. It was meaninglessjust a set on a stage. A balcony at night, a painted moon hanging in the sky. I watched the girl in her nightdress lean on the railing and talk to herself. Meaningless but when I slowly struggled back to consciousness, Juliet was on my mind. Jacob was still asleep; he'd slumped down to the floor and his breathing was deep and even. The house was darker now than before, it was black outside the window. I was stiff, but warm and almost dry. The inside of my throat burned with every breath I took. I was going to have to get upat least to get a drink. But my body just wanted tc he here limp, to never move again. Instead of moving, I thought about Juliet some more. I wondered what she would have done if Romeo had left her, not because he was banished, but because he lost interests What if Rosalind had given him the time of day, and he'd changed his mind? What if, instead of marrying Juliet, he'd just disappeared? I thought I knew how Juliet would feel. She wouldn't go back to her old life, not really. She wouldn't ever have moved on, I was sure of that. Even if she'd lived until she was old and gray, every time she closed her eyes, it would have been Romeo's face she saw behind her lids. She would have accepted that, eventually. I wondered if she would have married Paris in the end, just to please her parents, to keep the peace. No, probably not, I decided. But then, the story didn't say much about Paris. He was just a stick figurea placeholder, a threat, a deadline to force her hand. What if there were more to Paris? What if Paris had been Juliet's friend? Her very best friend? What if he was the only one she could confide in about the whole devastating thing with Romeo? The one person who really understood her and made her feel halfway human again? What if he was patient and kind? What if he took care of her? What if Juliet knew she couldn't survive without him? What if he really loved her, and wanted her to be happy? And what if she loved Paris? Not like Romeo. Nothing like that, of course. But enough that she wanted him to be happy, too? Jacob's slow, deep breathing was the only sound in the roomlike a lullaby hummed to a child, like the whisper of a rocking chair, like the ticking of an old clock when you had nowhere you needed to goIt was the sound of comfort. If Romeo was really gone, never coming back, would it have mattered whether or not Juliet had taken Paris up on his offer? Maybe she should have tried to settle into the leftover scraps of life that were left behind. Maybe that would have been as close to happiness as she could get. I sighed, and then groaned when the sigh scraped my throat. I was reading too much into the story. Romeo wouldn't change his mind. That's why people still remembered his name, always twined with hers: Romeo and Juliet. That's why it was a good story. â€Å"Juliet gets dumped and ends up with Paris† would have never been a hit. I closed my eyes and drifted again, letting my mind wander away from the stupid play I didn't want to think about anymore. I thought about reality insteadabout jumping off the cliff and what a brainless mistake that had been. And not just the cliff, but the motorcycles and the whole irresponsible Evel Knievel bit. What if something bad happened to me? What would that do to Charlie? Harry's heart attack had pushed everything suddenly into perspective for me. Perspective that I didn't want to see, becauseif I admitted to the truth of itit would mean that I would have to change my ways. Could I live like that? Maybe. It wouldn't be easy; in fact, it would be downright miserable to give up my hallucinations and try to be a grown-up. But maybe I should do it. And maybe I could. If I had Jacob. I couldn't make that decision right now. It hurt too much. I'd think about something else. Images from my ill-considered afternoon stunt rolled through my head while I tried to come up with something pleasant to think about the feel of the air as I fell, the blackness of the water, the thrashing of the current Edward's face I lingered there for a long time. Jacob's warm hands, trying to beat life back into me the stinging rain flung down by the purple clouds the strange fire on the waves There was something familiar about that flash of color on top of the water. Of course it couldn't really be fire My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car squelching through the mud on the road outside. I heard it stop in front of the house, and doors started opening and closing. I thought about sitting up, and then decided against that idea. Billy's voice was easily identifiable, but he kept it uncharacteristically low, so that it was only a gravelly grumble. The door opened, and the light flicked on. I blinked, momentarily blind. Jake startled awake, gasping and jumping to his feet. â€Å"Sorry,† Billy grunted. â€Å"Did we wake you?† My eyes slowly focused on his face, and then, as I could read his expression, they filled with tears. â€Å"Oh, no, Billy!† I moaned. He nodded slowly, his expression hard with grief. Jake hurried to his father and took one of his hands. The pain made his face suddenly childlikeit looked odd on top of the man's body. Sam was right behind Billy, pushing his chair through the door. His normal composure was absent from his agonized face. â€Å"I'm so sorry,† I whispered. Billy nodded. â€Å"It's gonna be hard all around.† â€Å"Where's Charlie?† â€Å"Your dad is still at the hospital with Sue. There are a lot of arrangements to be made.† I swallowed hard. â€Å"I'd better get back there,† Sam mumbled, and he ducked hastily out the door. Billy pulled his hand away from Jacob, and then he rolled himself through the kitchen toward his room. Jake stared after him for a minute, then came to sit on the floor beside me again. He put his face in his hands. I rubbed his shoulder, wishing I could think of anything to say. After a long moment, Jacob caught my hand and held it to his face. â€Å"How are you feeling? Are you okay? I probably should have taken you to a doctor or something.† He sighed. â€Å"Don't worry about me,† I croaked. He twisted his head to look at me. His eyes were rimmed in red. â€Å"You don't look so good.† â€Å"I don't feel so good, either, I guess.† â€Å"I'll go get your truck and then take you homeyou probably ought to be there when Charlie gets back.† â€Å"Right.† I lay listlessly on the sofa while I waited for him. Billy was silent in the other room. I felt like a peeping torn, peering through the cracks at a private sorrow that wasn't mine. It didn't take Jake long. The roar of my truck's engine broke the silence before I expected it. He helped me up from the couch without speaking, keeping his arm around my shoulder when the cold air outside made me shiver. He took the driver's seat without asking, and then pulled me next to his side to keep his arm tight around me. I leaned my head against his chest. â€Å"How will you get home?† I asked. â€Å"I'm not going home. We still haven't caught the bloodsucker, remember?† My next shudder had nothing to do with cold. It was a quiet ride after that. The cold air had woken me up. My mind was alert, and it was working very hard and very fast. What if? What was the right thing to do? I couldn't imagine my life without Jacob nowI cringed away from the idea of even trying to imagine that. Somehow, he'd become essential to my survival. But to leave things the way they were was that cruel, as Mike had accused? I remembered wishing that Jacob were my brother. I realized now that all I really wanted was a claim on him. It didn't feel brotherly when he held me like this. It just felt nicewarm and comforting and familiar. Safe. Jacob was a safe harbor. I could stake a claim. I had that much within my power. I'd have to tell him everything, I knew that. It was the only way to be fair. I'd have to explain it right, so that he'd know I wasn't settling, that he was much too good for me. He already knew I was broken, that part wouldn't surprise him, but he'd need to know the extent of it. I'd even have to admit that I was crazyexplain about the voices I heard. He'd need to know everything before he made a decision. But, even as I recognized that necessity, I knew he would take me in spite of it all. He wouldn't even pause to think it through. I would have to commit to thiscommit as much of me as there was left, every one of the broken pieces. It was the only way to be fair to him. Would I? Could I? Would it be so wrong to try to make Jacob happy? Even if the love I felt for him was no more than a weak echo of what I was capable of, even if my heart was far away, wandering and grieving after my fickle Romeo, would it be so very wrong? Jacob stopped the truck in front of my dark house, cutting the engine so it was suddenly silent. Like so many other times, he seemed to be in tune with my thoughts now. He threw his other arm around me, crushing me against his cheat, binding me to him. Again, this felt nice. Almost like being a whole person again. I thought he would be thinking of Harry, but then he spoke, and his tone was apologetic. â€Å"Sorry. I know you don't feel exactly the way I do, Bella. I swear I don't mind. I'm just so glad you're okay that I could singand that's something no one wants to hear.† He laughed his throaty laugh in my ear. My breathing kicked up a notch, sanding the walls of my throat. Wouldn't Edward, indifferent as he might be, want me to be as happy as possible under the circumstances? Wouldn't enough friendly emotion linger for him to want that much for me? I thought he would. He wouldn't begrudge me this: giving just a small bit of love he didn't want to my friend Jacob. After all, it wasn't the same love at all. Jake pressed his warm cheek against the top of my hair. If I turned my face to the sideif I pressed my lips against his bare shoulder†¦ I knew without any doubt what would follow. It would be very easy. There would be no need for explanations tonight. But could I do it? Could I betray my absent heart to save my pathetic life? Butterflies assaulted my stomach as I thought of turning my head. And then, as clearly as if I were in immediate danger, Edward's velvet voice whispered in my ear. â€Å"Be happy,† he told me. I froze. Jacob felt me stiffen and released me automatically, reaching for the door. Wait, I wanted to say. Just a minute. But I was still locked in place, listening to the echo of Edward's voice in my head. Storm-cooled air blew through the cab of the truck. â€Å"OH!† The breath whooshed out of Jacob like someone had punched him in the gut. â€Å"Holy crap!† He slammed the door and twisted the keys in the ignition at the same moment. His hands were shaking so hard I didn't know how he managed it. â€Å"What's wrong?† He revved the engine too fast; it sputtered and faltered. â€Å"Vampire,† he spit out. The blood rushed from my head and left me dizzy. â€Å"How do you know?† â€Å"Because I can smell it. Dammit!† Jacob's eyes were wild, raking the dark street. He barely seemed aware of the tremors that were rolling through his body. â€Å"Phase or get her out of here?† he hissed at himself. He looked down at me for a split second, taking in my horror-struck eyes and white face, and then he was scanning the street again. â€Å"Right. Get you out.† The engine caught with a roar. The tires squealed as he spun the truck around, turning toward our only escape. The headlights washed across the pavement, lit the front line of the black forest, and finally glinted off a car parked across the street from my house. â€Å"Stop!† I gasped. It was a black cara car I knew. I might be the furthest thing from an autophile, but I could tell you everything about that particular car. It was a Mercedes S55 AMG. I knew the horsepower and the color of the interior. I knew the feel of the powerful engine purring through the frame. I knew the rich smell of the leather seats and the way the extra-dark tint made noon look like dusk through those windows. It was Carlisle's car. â€Å"Stop!† I cried again, louder this time, because Jacob was gunning the truck down the street. â€Å"What?!† â€Å"It's not Victoria. Stop, stop! I want to go back.† He stomped on the brake so hard I had to catch myself against the dashboard. â€Å"What?† he asked again, aghast. He stared at me with horror in his eyes. â€Å"It's Carlisle's car! It's the Cullens. I know it.† He watched dawn break across my face, and a violent tremor rocked his frame. â€Å"Hey, calm down, Jake. It's okay. No danger, see? Relax.† â€Å"Yeah, calm,† he panted, putting his head down and closing his eyes. While he concentrated on not exploding into a wolf, I stared out the back window at the black car. It was just Carlisle, I told myself. Don't expect anything more. Maybe Esme Stop right there, I told myself. Just Carlisle. That was plenty. More than I'd ever hoped to have again. â€Å"There's a vampire in your house,† Jacob hissed. â€Å"And you want to go back?† I glanced at him, ripping my unwilling eyes off the Mercedesterrified that it would disappear the second I looked away. â€Å"Of course,† I said, my voice blank with surprise at his question. Of course I wanted to go back. Jacob's face hardened while I stared at him, congealing into the bitter mask that I'd thought was gone for good. Just before he had the mask in place, I caught the spasm of betrayal that flashed in his eyes. His hands were still shaking. He looked ten years older than me. He took a deep breath. â€Å"You're sure it's not a trick?† he asked in a slow, heavy voice. â€Å"It's not a trick. It's Carlisle. Take me back!† A shudder rippled through his wide shoulders, but his eyes were flat and emotionless. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Jake, it's okay† â€Å"No. Take yourself back, Bella.† His voice was a slapI flinched as the sound of it struck me. His jaw clenched and unclenched. â€Å"Look, Bella,† he said in the same hard voice. â€Å"I can't go back. Treaty or no treaty, that's my enemy in there.† â€Å"It's not like that† â€Å"I have to tell Sam right away. This changes things. We can't be caught on their territory.† â€Å"Jake, it's not a war!† He didn't listen. He put the truck in neutral and jumped out the door, leaving it running. â€Å"Bye, Bella,† he called back over his shoulder. â€Å"I really hope you don't die.† He sprinted into the darkness, shaking so hard that his shape seemed blurred; he disappeared before I could open my mouth to call him back. Remorse pinned me against the seat for one long second. What had I just done to Jacob'? But remorse couldn't hold me very long. I slid across the seat and put the truck back in drive. My hands were shaking almost as hard as Jake's had been, and this took a minute of concentration. Then I carefully turned the truck around and drove it back to my house. It was very dark when I turned off the headlights. Charlie had left in such a hurry that he'd forgotten to leave the porch lamp on. I felt a pang of doubt, staring at the house, deep in shadow. What if it was a trick? I looked back at the black car, almost invisible in the night. No. I knew that car. Still, my hands were shaking even worse than before as I reached for the key above the door. When I grabbed the doorknob to unlock it, it twisted easily under my hand. I let the door fall open. The hallway was black. I wanted to call out a greeting, but my throat was too dry. I couldn't quite seem to catch my breath. I took a step inside and fumbled for the light switch. It was so blacklike the black water Where was that switch? Just like the black water, with the orange flame flickering impossibly on top of it. Flame that couldn't be a fire, but what then ? My fingers traced the wall, still searching, still shaking Suddenly, something Jacob had told me this afternoon echoed in my head, finally sinking in She took off into the water, he'd said. The bloodsuckers have the advantage there. That's why I raced home I was afraid she was going to double back swimming. My hand froze in its searching, my whole body froze into place, as I realized why I recognized the strange orange color on the water. Victoria's hair, blowing wild in the wind, the color of fire She'd been right there. Right there in the harbor with me and Jacob. If Sam hadn't been there, if it had been just the two of us ? I couldn't breathe or move. The light flicked on, though my frozen hand had still not found the switch. I blinked into the sudden light, and saw that someone was there, waiting for me.