The Host Chapter 8: Loved

You're afraid to fly?† The Seeker's voice was full of disbelief edging toward mockery. â€Å"You've traveled through deep space eight times and you're afraid to take a shuttle to Tucson, Arizona?† â€Å"First of all, I'm not afraid. Second, when I traveled through deep space I wasn't exactly aware of where I was, what with being stored in a hibernation chamber. And third, this host gets motion sickness on shuttles.† The Seeker rolled her eyes in disgust. â€Å"So take medication! What would you have done if Healer Fords hadn't relocated to Saint Mary's? Would you be driving to Chicago?† â€Å"No. But since the option of driving is now reasonable, I will take it. It will be nice to see a bit more of this world. The desert can be stunning -â€Å" â€Å"The desert is dead boring.† â€Å"-and I'm not in any hurry. I have many things to think through, and I will appreciate some time alone.† I looked pointedly at her as I emphasized the last word. â€Å"I don't understand the point of visiting your old Healer anyway. There are many competent Healers here.† â€Å"I'm comfortable with Healer Fords. He has experience with this, and I don't trust that I have all the information I need.† I gave her another significant look. â€Å"You don't have time to not hurry, Wanderer. I recognize the signs.† â€Å"Forgive me if I don't consider your information impartial. I know enough of human behavior to recognize the signs of manipulation.† She glowered at me. I was packing my rental car with the few things I planned to take with me. I had enough clothes to go a week between washing, and the basic hygiene necessities. Though I wasn't bringing much, I was leaving even less behind. I'd accumulated very little in the way of personal belongings. After all these months in my small apartment, the walls were still bare, the shelves empty. Perhaps I'd never meant to settle here. The Seeker was planted on the sidewalk next to my open trunk, assailing me with snide questions and comments whenever I was in hearing distance. At least I was secure in the belief that she was far too impatient to follow me on the road. She would take a shuttle to Tucson, just as she was hoping to shame me into doing. It was a huge relief. I imagined her joining me every time I stopped to eat, hovering outside gas station bathrooms, her inexhaustible inquisitions waiting for me whenever my vehicle paused at a light. I shuddered at the thought. If a new body meant freeing myself of the Seeker†¦ well, that was quite an inducement. I had another choice, too. I could abandon this entire world as a failure and move on to a tenth planet. I could work to forget this whole experience. Earth could be just a short blip in my otherwise spotless record. But where would I go? A planet I'd already experienced? The Singing World had been one of my favorites, but to give up sight for blindness? The Planet of the Flowers was lovely†¦ Yet chlorophyll-based life-forms had so little range of emotion. It would feel unbearably slow after the tempo of this human place. A new planet? There was a recent acquisition-here on Earth, they were calling the new hosts Dolphins for lack of a better comparison, though they resembled dragonflies more than marine mammals. A highly developed species, and certainly mobile, but after my long stay with the See Weeds, the thought of another water planet was repugnant to me. No, there was still so much to this planet that I hadn't experienced. Nowhere else in the known universe called to me as strongly as this shady little green yard on this quiet street. Or held the lure of the empty desert sky, which I'd seen only in Melanie's memories. Melanie did not share her opinion on my options. She had been very quiet since my decision to find Fords Deep Waters, my first Healer. I wasn't sure what the detachment meant. Was she trying to seem less dangerous, less of a burden? Was she preparing herself for the invasion of the Seeker? For death? Or was she preparing to fight me? To try to take over? Whatever her plan, she kept herself distant. She was just a faint, watchful presence in the back of my head. I made my last trip inside, searching for anything forgotten. The apartment looked empty. There were only the basic furnishings that had been left by the last tenant. The same plates were still in the cupboards, the pillows on the bed, the lamps on the tables; if I didn't come back, there would be little for the next tenant to clear out. The phone rang as I was stepping out the door, and I turned back to get it, but I was too late. I'd already set the message system to answer on the first ring. I knew what the caller would hear: my vague explanation that I would be out the rest of the semester, and that my classes would be canceled until a replacement could be found. No reason given. I looked at the clock on top of the television. It was barely past eight in the morning. I was sure it must be Curt on the phone, having just received the only slightly more detailed e-mail I'd sent him late last night. I felt guilty about not finishing out my commitment to him, almost like I was already skipping. Perhaps this step, this quitting, was the prelude to my next decision, my greater shame. The thought was uncomfortable. It made me unwilling to listen to whatever the message said, though I wasn't in any real hurry to leave. I looked around the empty apartment one more time. There was no sense of leaving anything behind me, no fondness for these rooms. I had the strange feeling that this world-not just Melanie, but the entire orb of the planet-did not want me, no matter how much I wanted it. I just couldn't seem to get my roots in. I smiled wryly at the thought of roots. This feeling was just superstitious nonsense. I'd never had a host that was capable of superstition. It was an interesting sensation. Like knowing you were being watched without being able to find the watcher. It raised goose bumps on the nape of my neck. I shut the door firmly behind me but did not touch the obsolete locks. No one would disturb this place until I returned or it was given to someone new. Without looking at the Seeker, I climbed into the car. I hadn't done much driving, and neither had Melanie, so this made me a bit nervous. But I was sure I would get used to it soon enough. â€Å"I'll be waiting for you in Tucson,† the Seeker said, leaning in the open passenger-side window as I started the engine. â€Å"I have no doubt of that,† I muttered. I found the controls on the door panel. Trying to hide a smile, I hit the button to raise the glass and watched her jump back. â€Å"Maybe†¦,† she said, raising her voice to almost a shout so that I could hear her over the engine noise and through the closed window, â€Å"maybe I'll try it your way. Maybe I'll see you on the road.† She smiled and shrugged. She was just saying it to upset me. I tried not to let her see that she had. I focused my eyes on the road ahead and pulled carefully away from the curb. It was easy enough to find the freeway and then follow the signs out of San Diego. Soon there were no signs to follow, no wrong turns to take. In eight hours I would be in Tucson. It wasn't long enough. Perhaps I would stay a night in some small town along the way. If I could be sure that the Seeker would be ahead, waiting impatiently, rather than following behind, a stop would be a nice delay. I found myself looking in the rearview mirror often, searching for a sign of pursuit. I was driving slower than anyone else, unwilling to reach my destination, and the other cars passed me without pause. There were no faces I recognized as they moved ahead. I shouldn't have let the Seeker's taunt bother me; she clearly didn't have the temperament to go anywhere slowly. Still†¦ I continued to watch for her. I'd been west to the ocean, north and south up and down the pretty California coastline, but I'd never been east for any distance at all. Civilization fell behind me quickly, and I was soon surrounded by the blank hills and rocks that were the precursors to the empty desert wastelands. It was very relaxing to be away from civilization, and this bothered me. I should not have found the loneliness so welcoming. Souls were sociable. We lived and worked and grew together in harmony. We were all the same: peaceful, friendly, honest. Why should I feel better away from my kind? Was it Melanie who made me this way? I searched for her but found her remote, dreaming in the back of my head. This was the best it had been since she'd started talking again. The miles passed quickly. The dark, rough rocks and the dusty plains covered in scrub flew by with monotonous uniformity. I realized I was driving faster than I'd meant to. There wasn't anything to keep my mind occupied here, so I found it hard to linger. Absently, I wondered why the desert was so much more colorful in Melanie's memories, so much more compelling. I let my mind coast with hers, trying to see what it was that was special about this vacant place. But she wasn't seeing the sparse, dead land surrounding us. She was dreaming of another desert, canyoned and red, a magical place. She didn't try to keep me out. In fact, she seemed almost unaware of my presence. I questioned again what her detachment meant. I sensed no thought of attack. It felt more like a preparation for the end. She was living in a happier place in her memory, as if she were saying goodbye. It was a place she had never allowed me to see before. There was a cabin, an ingenious dwelling tucked into a nook in the red sandstone, perilously close to the flash flood line. An unlikely place, far from any trail or path, built in what seemed a senseless location. A rough place, without any of the conveniences of modern technology. She remembered laughing at the sink one had to pump to pull water up from the ground. â€Å"It beats pipes,† Jared says, the crease between his eyes deepening as his brows pull together. He seems worried by my laugh. Is he afraid I don't like it? â€Å"Nothing to trace, no evidence that we're here.† â€Å"I love it,† I say quickly. â€Å"It's like an old movie. It's perfect.† The smile that never truly leaves his face-he smiles even in his sleep-grows wide. â€Å"They don't tell you the worst parts in the movies. C'mon, I'll show you where the latrine is.† I hear Jamie's laughter echo through the narrow canyon as he runs ahead of us. His black hair bounces with his body. He bounces all the time now, this thin boy with the sun-darkened skin. I hadn't realized how much weight those narrow shoulders were carrying. With Jared, he is positively buoyant. The anxious expression has faded, replaced by grins. We are both more resilient than I gave us credit for. â€Å"Who built this place?† â€Å"My father and older brothers. I helped, or rather hindered, a little. My dad loved to get away from everything. And he didn't care much about convention. He never bothered to find out who the land actually belonged to or file permits or any of that pesky stuff.† Jared laughs, throwing his head back. The sun dances off the blond bits in his hair. â€Å"Officially, this place doesn't exist. Convenient, isn't it?† Without seeming to think about it, he reaches out and takes my hand. My skin burns where it meets his. It feels better than good, but it sets off a strange aching in my chest. He is forever touching me this way, always seeming to need to reassure himself that I am here. Does he realize what it does to me, the simple pressure of his warm palm next to mine? Does his pulse jump in his veins, too? Or is he just happy to not be alone anymore? He swings our arms as we walk beneath a little stand of cottonwood trees, their green so vivid against the red that it plays tricks on my eyes, confusing my focus. He is happy here, happier than in other places. I feel happy, too. The feeling is still unfamiliar. He hasn't kissed me since that first night, when I screamed, finding the scar on his neck. Does he not want to kiss me again? Should I kiss him? What if he doesn't like that? He looks down at me and smiles, the lines around his eyes crinkling into little webs. I wonder if he is as handsome as I think he is, or if it's just that he's the only person left in the whole world besides Jamie and me. No, I don't think that's it. He really is beautiful. â€Å"What are you thinking, Mel?† he asks. â€Å"You seem to be concentrating on something very important.† He laughs. I shrug, and my stomach flutters. â€Å"It's beautiful here.† He looks around us. â€Å"Yes. But then, isn't home always beautiful?† â€Å"Home.† I repeat the word quietly. â€Å"Home.† â€Å"Your home, too, if you want it.† â€Å"I want it.† It seems like every mile I've walked in the past three years has been toward this place. I never want to leave, though I know we'll have to. Food doesn't grow on trees. Not in the desert, at least. He squeezes my hand, and my heart punches against my ribs. It's just like pain, this pleasure. There was a blurring sensation as Melanie skipped ahead, her thoughts dancing through the hot day until hours after the sun had fallen behind the red canyon walls. I went along, almost hypnotized by the endless road stretching ahead of me, the skeletal bushes flying by with mind-numbing sameness. I peek into the one narrow little bedroom. The full-size mattress is only inches away from the rough stone walls on either side. It gives me a deep, rich sense of joy to see Jamie asleep on a real bed, his head on a soft pillow. His lanky arms and legs sprawl out, leaving little room for me where I am meant to sleep. He is so much bigger in reality than the way I see him in my head. Almost ten-soon he won't be a child at all. Except that he will always be a child to me. Jamie breathes evenly, sleeping sound. There is no fear in his dream, for this moment at least. I shut the door quietly and go back to the small couch where Jared waits. â€Å"Thank you,† I whisper, though I know shouting the words wouldn't wake Jamie now. â€Å"I feel bad. This couch is much too short for you. Maybe you should take the bed with Jamie.† Jared chuckles. â€Å"Mel, you're only a few inches shorter than I am. Sleep comfortably, for once. Next time I'm out, I'll steal myself a cot or something.† I don't like this, for lots of reasons. Will he be leaving soon? Will he take us with him when he goes? Does he see this room assignment as a permanent thing? He drops his arm around my shoulders and tucks me against his side. I scoot closer, though the heat of touching him has my heart aching again. â€Å"Why the frown?† he asks. â€Å"When will you†¦ when will we have to leave again?† He shrugs. â€Å"We scavenged enough on our way up that we're set for a few months. I can do a few short raids if you want to stay in one place for a while. I'm sure you're tired of running.† â€Å"Yes, I am,† I agree. I take a deep breath to make me brave. â€Å"But if you go, I go.† He hugs me tighter. â€Å"I'll admit, I prefer it that way. The thought of being separated from you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He laughs quietly. â€Å"Does it sound crazy to say that I'd rather die? Too melodramatic?† â€Å"No, I know what you mean.† He must feel the same way I do. Would he say these things if he thought of me as just another human, and not as a woman? I realize that this is the first time we've ever been really alone since the night we met-the first time there's been a door to close between a sleeping Jamie and the two of us. So many nights we've stayed awake, talking in whispers, telling all of our stories, the happy stories and the horror stories, always with Jamie's head cradled on my lap. It makes my breath come faster, that simple closed door. â€Å"I don't think you need to find a cot, not yet.† I feel his eyes on me, questioning, but I can't meet them. I'm embarrassed now, too late. The words are out. â€Å"We'll stay here until the food is gone, don't worry. I've slept on worse things than this couch.† â€Å"That's not what I mean,† I say, still looking down. â€Å"You get the bed, Mel. I'm not budging on that.† â€Å"That's not what I mean, either.† It's barely a whisper. â€Å"I meant the couch is plenty big for Jamie. He won't outgrow it for a long time. I could share the bed with†¦ you.† There is a pause. I want to look up, to read the expression on his face, but I'm too mortified. What if he is disgusted? How will I stand it? Will he make me go away? His warm, callused fingers tug my chin up. My heart throbs when our eyes meet. â€Å"Mel, I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His face, for once, has no smile. I try to look away, but he holds my chin so that my gaze can't escape his. Does he not feel the fire between his body and mine? Is that all me? How can it all be me? It feels like a flat sun trapped between us-pressed like a flower between the pages of a thick book, burning the paper. Does it feel like something else to him? Something bad? After a moment, his head turns; he's the one looking away now, still keeping his grip on my chin. His voice is quiet. â€Å"You don't owe me that, Melanie. You don't owe me anything at all.† It's hard for me to swallow. â€Å"I'm not saying†¦ I didn't mean that I felt obligated. And†¦ you shouldn't, either. Forget I said anything.† â€Å"Not likely, Mel.† He sighs, and I want to disappear. Give up-lose my mind to the invaders if that's what it takes to erase this huge blunder. Trade the future to blot out the last two minutes of the past. Anything. Jared takes a deep breath. He squints at the floor, his eyes and jaw tight. â€Å"Mel, it doesn't have to be like that. Just because we're together, just because we're the last man and woman on Earth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He struggles for words, something I don't think I've ever seen him do before. â€Å"That doesn't mean you have to do anything you don't want to. I'm not the kind of man who would expect†¦ You don't have to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looks so upset, still frowning away, that I find myself speaking, though I know it's a mistake before I start. â€Å"That's not what I mean,† I mutter. â€Å"Have to' is not what I'm talking about, and I don't think you're that kind of man.' No. Of course not. It's just that -â€Å" Just that I love him. I grit my teeth together before I can humiliate myself more. I should bite my tongue off right now before it ruins anything else. â€Å"Just that†¦?† he asks. I try to shake my head, but he's still holding my chin tight between his fingers. â€Å"Mel?† I yank free and shake my head fiercely. He leans closer to me, and his face is different suddenly. There's a new conflict I don't recognize in his expression, and even though I don't understand it completely, it erases the feeling of rejection that's making my eyes sting. â€Å"Will you talk to me? Please?† he murmurs. I can feel his breath on my cheek, and it's a few seconds before I can think at all. His eyes make me forget that I am mortified, that I wanted to never speak again. â€Å"If I got to pick anyone, anyone at all, to be stranded on a deserted planet with, it would be you,† I whisper. The sun between us burns hotter. â€Å"I always want to be with you. And not just†¦ not just to talk to. When you touch me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I dare to let my fingers brush lightly along the warm skin of his arm, and it feels like the flames are flowing from their tips now. His arm tightens around me. Does he feel the fire? â€Å"I don't want you to stop.† I want to be more exact, but I can't find the words. That's fine. It's bad enough having admitted this much. â€Å"If you don't feel the same way, I understand. Maybe it isn't the same for you. That's okay.† Lies. â€Å"Oh, Mel,† he sighs in my ear, and pulls my face around to meet his. More flames in his lips, fiercer than the others, blistering. I don't know what I'm doing, but it doesn't seem to matter. His hands are in my hair, and my heart is about to combust. I can't breathe. I don't want to breathe. But his lips move to my ear, and he holds my face when I try to find them again. â€Å"It was a miracle-more than a miracle-when I found you, Melanie. Right now, if I was given the choice between having the world back and having you, I wouldn't be able to give you up. Not to save five billion lives.† â€Å"That's wrong.† â€Å"Very wrong but very true.† â€Å"Jared,† I breathe. I try to reach for his lips again. He pulls away, looking like he has something to say. What more can there be? â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But?† How can there be a but? What could possibly follow all this fire that starts with a but? â€Å"But you're seventeen, Melanie. And I'm twenty-six.† â€Å"What's that got to do with anything?† He doesn't answer. His hands stroke my arms slowly, painting them with fire. â€Å"You've got to be kidding me.† I lean back to search his face. â€Å"You're going to worry about conventions when we're past the end of the world?† He swallows loudly before he speaks. â€Å"Most conventions exist for a reason, Mel. I would feel like a bad person, like I was taking advantage. You're very young.† â€Å"No one's young anymore. Anyone who's survived this long is ancient.† There's a smile pulling up one corner of his mouth. â€Å"Maybe you're right. But this isn't something we need to rush.† â€Å"What is there to wait for?† I demand. He hesitates for a long moment, thinking. â€Å"Well, for one thing, there are some†¦ practical matters to consider.† I wonder if he is just searching for a distraction, trying to stall. That's what it feels like. I raise one eyebrow. I can't believe the turn this conversation has taken. If he really does want me, this is senseless. â€Å"See,† he explains, hesitating. Under the deep golden tan of his skin, it looks like he might be blushing. â€Å"When I was stocking this place, I wasn't much planning for†¦ guests. What I mean is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The rest comes out in a rush. â€Å"Birth control was pretty much the last thing on my mind.† I feel my forehead crease. â€Å"Oh.† The smile is gone from his face, and for one short second there is a flash of anger I've never seen there before. It makes him look dangerous in a way I hadn't imagined he could. â€Å"This isn't the kind of world I'd want to bring a child into.† The words sink in, and I cringe at the thought of a tiny, innocent baby opening his eyes to this place. It's bad enough to watch Jamie's eyes, to know what this life will bring him, even in the best possible circumstances. Jared is suddenly Jared again. The skin around his eyes crinkles. â€Å"Besides, we've got plenty of time to†¦ think about this.† Stalling again, I suspect. â€Å"Do you realize how very, very little time we've been together so far? It's been just four weeks since we found each other.† This floors me. â€Å"That can't be.† â€Å"Twenty-nine days. I'm counting.† I think back. It's not possible that it has been only twenty-nine days since Jared changed our lives. It seems like Jamie and I have been with Jared every bit as long as we were alone. Two or three years, maybe. â€Å"We've got time,† Jared says again. An abrupt panic, like a warning premonition, makes it impossible for me to speak for a long moment. He watches the change on my face with worried eyes. â€Å"You don't know that.† The despair that softened when he found me strikes like the lash of a whip. â€Å"You can't know how much time we'll have. You don't know if we should be counting in months or days or hours.† He laughs a warm laugh, touching his lips to the tense place where my eyebrows pull together. â€Å"Don't worry, Mel. Miracles don't work that way. I'll never lose you. I'll never let you get away from me.† She brought me back to the present-to the thin ribbon of the highway winding through the Arizona wasteland, baking under the fierce noon sun-without my choosing to return. I stared at the empty place ahead and felt the empty place inside. Her thought sighed faintly in my head: You never know how much time you'll have. The tears I was crying belonged to both of us.

Social environment of business

Business Power James Buchanan Duke was born on December 23rd 1856 In North Carolina. HIS father was the owner of a small factory which produced a brand of chewing tobacco named Pro Bono Public. As he became older It was time for him to take over his father's business, however the number of competition was too high. Taking a major risk, he committed his company to a then-novel product- the cigarette. Unfortunately, back in those days, cigarettes were used by people from the lower class, and they were looked down upon. In spite of this, in 1881 Duke brought 10 Russian migrant cigarette rollers to his North Carolina factory and made about 2,000 per day. Since there was no demand at first, Duke decided to use a famous actress to advertise his cigarettes on a full page newspaper ad. By that time, James Bonsais had invented a machine capable of rolling 200 cigarettes per minute, which failed. Duke saw the opportunity and signed an agreement to operate the machine. The costs of production per thousand was down to $30 from $. 80. Duke moved to New York and had the Idea to hire people to visit tobacco shops ND demand his new machine-rolled Cameo and Cross Cut brands. At one time, he even put glamour photos of semi-nude American actresses on cigarette packs in China. In fact, his cigarettes became a big hit with Chinese men due to this. After carefully observing Rockefeller conquest of the oil industry he saw that his methods could be applied to the tobacco industry. 3 In 1884, he built a holding company called the American Tobacco trust.Bye he had built the trust into a monopoly that controlled 98 percent of the domestic cigarette market and sold 2. Billion cigarettes. His method was to sell his cigarettes at full retail price to dealers which were spied on occasionally by detectives to make sure they were not selling competitors brands. Duke's method shows how much the power of commerce can Influence society. Although cigarettes are poisonous for society's health, he managed to make this product acceptable in people's eyes.There have been many studies done which proved that the use of advertisement is a very powerful tool to use with society, especially with the youth. One of the study was conducted by researchers from Dartmouth Medical School where they followed more than 5,000 Vermont and New Hampshire students ages 10 to 16 from 12 to 26 months. They found that those with higher exposure to movie alcohol use at the initial assessment were more likely to have started drinking at time of follow-up. They also found depictions of alcohol use in 92% of 601 contemporary movies, including in 52% of G-rated films. According to the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown university, alcohol impasses spend nearly $2 billion every year on advertising In the united States. Between 2001 and 2007, there were more than 2 million television ads and 20,000 magazine ads for alcoholic products. 51 believe that this Is a big problem In today's societ y. People are being brainwashed by what they see on television, the Internet shown too much on media which makes it â€Å"okay† for teenagers to use them. Unfortunately, managers need to run their company and would do anything in the hope of becoming successful.

Organized Sport Essay

It is obvious that the American society is obsessed with sports. All one needs to do to see this obsession is turn on the television and watch one of the dozens of twenty -four hour sports stations and commercials dedicated to sports. Still not convinced, then hop into your car and take a drive across any suburban American town and look at the parks and playing fields. They are full of adult and children athletes playing for leisure and competition. We, as adults, have made athletics into a billion dollar industry as spectators and participants. Our need for sports fuels our pride and self worth as Americans. However, organized youth sports in the U. S. are still a relatively new phenomenon. Prior to 1954, most organized sports in this country took place through social agencies such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, etc. (Seefelt & Ewing, 1997). Since this time, the benefits provided by these activities have developed into private youth sports organizations primarily run by volunteering adults. Does our obsession have a purpose? Do organized sports play a positive role in the lives of our children? At first thought, any red blooded American would say absolutely. But can we explain why and in what way organized sports benefit our children? Parents and coaches have alluded to the idea that sports are great for kids for decades, but when this comment is made it seems to be accepted without any question. In the following text we will discuss specific benefits from participation in organized sports including the physical, psychological, and academic impact of sport on children. We will also look at the research to see the concrete proof that organized sports play a vital role in the development of the youth of this country. Physical The most alarming issue facing the health of our country and specifically our children is the epidemic of childhood obesity. The infrastructure of our nation’s health care system will be tested as we see the first wave of obese children reach adulthood and deal with the related health issues. The scary facts are that the lifestyle and diet we promote is trickling down to the children of this country. Health issues that are linked to adult obesity are now becoming more and more common in children and teens. For example, type II diabetes was once considered adult on-set diabetes, but today the cases of children with type II diabetes is raising at an alarming rate. The estimated yearly cost of obesity in this country is estimated at around 61 billion dollars. With these issues facing the children of this country we need a cure right? Well a portion of that cure is located in organized sports. The solution is simple to stopping the trend of childhood obesity; eat less and be more active. Today children in this country are far less active than prior generations. Through childhood activity, we are not only saving our children from a life of obesity as adults but we are also potentially saving this country billions of dollars in missed days of work, dollars spent on health care, and rising disability rates. (Healthierchildren. org). In 1997, the CDC stated within its â€Å"Guidelines for Schools and Communities for Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity† that youth sports can promote positive behavior that can last a lifetime (Seefelt & Ewing, 1997). Much debate has been discussed in the general public about the frequency and duration it takes for a child athlete to receive benefits from physical activity. Boys and girls who participate in just two 50 minute training sessions per week improved their aerobic capacity by 15% in just six months (Eppright, Sanfacon, Beck & Bradley, 1996). How young is too young for involvement in organized sports? Children under the age of 5 are more than likely to receive from organized sports the simplest of benefits. For example, children at this age seem to enjoy the advancement in motor skills and interaction and not the competitive aspect of the activity (Eppright, Sanfacon, Beck & Bradley, 1996). A study in Singapore showed that even preschoolers could benefit from involvement in organized sports. This study showed that preschoolers who participated in organized sports where stronger physically, socially, and emotionally developed than peers who were not evolved in organized sports at the preschool level (Nonis, 2004). As with adults over training is a serious issue. A 1980 study detailed the risks of over training with child athletes. There is points in training were growth actually may be retarded (McKeag, 1980). This extreme should not scare parents from allowing there children to participate in a appropriate level of physical activity. Academics We live in a competitive world and as a culture it is our duty to prepare children for the competition. The benefits of organized sports reach farther than the playing fields and hardwood floors of our schools. Organized sport has the potential to also help our children in the realm of academia. Sports help us to prepare for a life filled with stiff competition. Organized athletics teach children to respect authority and to develop time management skills outside the classroom; to be able to balance the responsibilities of being a student and an athlete. The typical stereo-type of the â€Å"dumb athlete† couldn’t be any farther from the actual truth. Current research actually points to a relationship between organized athletics and higher academics. The lessons learned outside the classroom transfer directly into relationships with teachers and peers in an educational environment. The research points to a direct correlation between organized sports and higher development rates in academics. Athletics teach our children to master skills and to focus on the development of virtue over the outcome (Durrant, 2007)). This is a concept that parents and coaches since the dawn of sports have stressed. Organized sports teach life lessons of discipline, hard work, dedication, and how to push through adversity. But the stereotype of the â€Å"dumb jock† has also haunted organized sport as well. The truth is that students who participate in extra curricular activities including organized sports tend to be more academically equipped (Fredricks & Eccles, 2006). It must be noted that students who participate in multiple extracurricular activities including those outside of organized sport seem to benefit the most academically. Psychological The average person knows that there is a positive feeling of self that comes from physical activity and exercise. From a physiological stand point we could say that this is caused by the body producing natural endorphins that just make us feel good for a short period of time following exercise. But the truth is through organized sport we build a sense of self worth, and accomplishment not present in exercise and physical activity alone. These positive feelings we feel following participation in organized sport are the direct result of putting hard work in and seeing the outcome for the whole group not just the individual. The truth is that sports give children an opportunity to develop self concept and how to express themselves within a group. It seems that this is a natural need that even children who do not participate in organized sports have. For example, children in early elementary school are seen looking for situations to act out their competitive nature; competition becomes an independent social motive. Organized sports give these children an outlet for this natural behavior (Eppright, Sanfacon, Beck & Bradely, 1996) As health professionals, it is our job to promote behavior that will increase quality of life and educate Americans on the risk taken in certain behaviors, yet in this country today our children are living lives of risk. Our children are putting themselves at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, adult obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc. Extracurricular activities including organized sports have a direct impact on decreasing risky behavior by children. This can mainly be explained due to the type of peers a child associates with on a regular basis. If a child participates in extracurricular activities his or her choice of friends is likely to be from the pool of children that participate in the given extracurricular activity. Peers who are involved in extracurricular activities tend to be more academically conscience and less likely to live lifestyles promoting risky behavior (Fredricks & Eccles, 2006). If a child is surrounding them selves with responsible peers risky behavior is likely being decreased. In American society today it seems antisocial behavior is accepted, we claim that it’s just a phase or that it’s alright to just be who we are. While both of these may be true, a healthy person is a pro-social person who can function in main stream society. So what role can organized sport play in creating positive pro-social behaviors in children? Children who have been involved in organized sport tend to be more pro-social than their counterparts who have not been exposed to organized sport at an early age. Sports have been used with some success with improving adults and children with antisocial issues, but no clear evidence has shown sports as an effective treatment for antisocial behavior issues (Duncan, 2004). Organized sports may not have a place in treatment of children with antisocial issues but it is clear that children who have been exposed to sports at an early age are less likely to have antisocial disorders. Organized sports participation has been proven to lower scores in the areas of externalizing problems, social problems, aggression problems, and delinquency problems(Donaldson & Ronan, 2006). The number one psychological issue in the life of a child or young adult is the idea of self worth or self concept. The easiest way to define self concept is how do I feel about myself? What kind of self worth do I have? Various researchers have pointed to self concept as the variable with the most potential to reflect the most positive psychological gains (Sonstroem & Morgan, 1988). Researchers have found a positive relationship between organized or formal sports and a positive concept of self (Donaldson & Ronan, 2006). The strength of self concept is built through the knowledge that I, as a person on my own, can finish what I start. I, as a person, can put my mind to a given task and perform that task with the skill I have learned through hard work. And most of all, I can contribute to the group giving us overall success. The large focus of research in the health and sport community has focused on the benefits of organized sport, but can children receive the same social benefits from relatively unorganized sports activities? The answer to this question seems to be that children do not benefit from the same life skills that come from organized sports. Organized sports do create an environment where we learn to exist within the team concept. The world of organized sport appeals to young people who are drawn to the team concept and have a positive view of authority and the group concept. However, the earlier children are involved in organized athletics the more likely they are to be attracted to these sports as a adolescent (Donaldson & Ronon, 2007). Many have witnessed the out of control parent at a little league game or a child who participates in too many activities and gives up a sport at a later age. These are examples of the negative impact of youth sports. The negative impact of youth sports is a real and valid concern. The psychological benefits of youth sports are just as great for the child who grows up to have nothing to do with competitive athletics (McKeag, 1980). Conclusion The proof is in the research, organized sports provide positive benefits. Physically, children who participate in organized sport are less likely to develop asthma and diabetes as adults. Academically, children who participate in organized sports are more likely to excel in the classroom. Socially, children who participate in organized sport are less likely to suffer from depression and less likely to participate in antisocial high risk behavior. With all the positives involved, why do we see so many states and individual school districts cutting funds and opportunities for children to participate in organized childhood sports? It is vital that we fight to not only keep childhood sports a priority in our primary schools but also expand those programs. As parents we must take it on ourselves to give our children every chance to benefit from organized youth sports, even if it means taking time out of our own busy schedules to volunteer. As Americans we cannot afford to see a day when organized sports are limited to only those families who can afford to pay for their children to participate in them. In order for organized sport to become a priority in this country, we as health professionals must educate the public on the positives and how they translate to the long term financial and social benefits for our country. Works Cited Donaldson, S. , & Ronan,K. (2006 Summer). The Effecs of Sports Participation on Young Adolescents’ Emotional Well-being. Adolescence, 41(162), 369-389. Duncan, S. , Duncan, T. , Strycker, L. , & Chaumeton, N. (March 3, 2002). Relations Beween Youth Antisocial and Prosocial Activites, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25 (5) 425-438. Durant, S. (2007 Summer). Raising Successful and Emotionally Healthy Children in a Competitive World. Independent School, 66(4), 116-116. Eppright, T. , Sanfacon, J. , Beck, N. , & Bradley, J. (December 23, 1996). Sports Psychiatry in Childhood and Adolescence: An Overview, Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 28(2), 71-86. McKeag, D. (1980). Sports and the Young Athlete: A Family Practice Perspective, Sports and the Young Athlete, 3-16. Nonis, K. (November 2005). Kindergarten Teachers’ View About the Importance of Preschoolers’ Partcipation in Sports in Singapore. Early Child Development and Care, 175(7-8), 719-742. Seefeldt, V. , & Ewing, M. , (September 1997). Youth Sports in America, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Research Digest, 2(11), 2-14.

Compare and Contrast the drive participatory styles of management, Essay

Compare and Contrast the drive participatory styles of management, describe which one would you use and why - Essay Example Such an approach encourages the employees to improve their productivity and performance because when they do their job well, they are rewarded. In such a participatory management style, employees can see the way their contributions add value to the organization. Yet another style of participatory management is the shared decision-making management style in which employees complete surveys, take part in focus groups, brainstorming sessions, and achieve specific tasks in self-monitored groups. A common feature of all the different styles of participatory management is that they consist of a type of share decision-making (McQuerrey). I would use the recognition management style of participatory management. I prefer this style of management because this provides the employees with incentives to improve their productivity and efficiency at the workplace. Sometimes, it is in the best interest of the management to control the level of transparency in the workplace. Too much transparency becomes the cause of undue conflicts and misunderstandings. I believe that a manager should be in charge and control the discipline and work, and reward the ones that deserve according to his/her judgment and criteria. Such a positive attitude fosters trust between the manager and the employees (Raeside

The role of the banks in terms of decreasing unemployment, maintaining Essay

The role of the banks in terms of decreasing unemployment, maintaining price stability and facilitating economic growth - Essay Example Capitalism tends towards the idea that organizations are in good luck when they make significant profits but its tough luck when they make significant losses, getting neither sympathy nor envy. However, the economy today is not a pure free market but, rather, it is a mixed economy, in which the markets are regulated by a government instituted framework. In addition, the government also carries out various functions, instead of leaving the private sector to make decisions (Mitchell, 2014: p61). The banking sector is a prime example because of their importance to the economy, including management of loan and savings facilities. The banking crisis of 2007 initially led to a rush by UK citizens to withdraw their money all at once, meaning that banks would have failed since they would have been unable to pay, portending potentially incalculable damage to the UK economy. It was, therefore, the responsibility of government agencies to stabilize the system by supervising banking activities and propping up banks that threatened to destabilize the system through bailouts (Cordella & Levy-Yeyati, 2013: p34). In essence, it is the people owed money by the banks that the government is bailing out. In addition, some of the biggest investment banks in the world are institutions that are so critical to the market and job creation that they have gradually come under the control of the government. This explains the bailout of AIG by the US government with a $100 billion loan that ensured American businesses would not collapse if they suffered losses, hurting national employment levels. Takeover of big mortgage guarantors in the UK, such as Bradford and Bingley, was also necessary because, in spite of its private shareholding, it was a de facto agency of the government and, in effect, the public (Cordella & Levy-Yeyati, 2013: p35). Failing to nationalize the company would have

Management Info Systems Project wk6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Management Info Systems Project wk6 - Essay Example The practice of e-commerce increases with increasing demand of goods in the online platforms, necessitating the integration of the supply chain management a process that poses challenges in the contemporary business world. Geunes researches on the application of supply chain and e-commerce in an organization. The book provides answers to the research questions in the project because it expounds on the benefits of integrating e-commerce and supply chain management as well as the paybacks that result from its integration. Navid’s article covers the roles of e-commerce in the supply chain management as a means of minimizing cost. The article presents details about the e-commerce process and research literature as well as a description of the requirements and necessities in the contemporary competitive world. It will be useful in understanding the relevance of e-commerce in supply chain management. Rekha explores further the impacts of e-commerce on supply chain management. He has highlighted and provided insightful thoughts that will greatly assist in the final project. Therefore, journal article will help in the achievement of objectives in the project as it reveals the major impact of e-commerce on supply

Film Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Film - Term Paper Example Review of Chungking Express by Wong Kar-wai in 1994 Chungking Express was a film that was produced in 1994 by Wong Kar-wai. It was made in Hong Kong and this was during the period when they were handing over to China. The movie has so many thing going on because there were political matters along the way and again it was during a time when the citizens were starting to embrace freedom in the sense of a change in lifestyle and the economy. Chungking Express sough to express what Hong Kong was going through in a manner that was relating to them. As a result, this period also brought about the global spread of modern commercial culture to East Asia. This definitely had its advantages and disadvantages because with lifestyle changes, traditional values were abandoned and the people started to adopt new moral and modern values. According to the movie, the story revolves among two police officers; Takeshi Kaneshiro and Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia who have been abandoned and left lonely where t hey try to acquire individuals that they fall for. Kaneshiro is described as lonely because his girlfriend abandoned him and he still cannot believe that it happened and she left forever. Lin is related to drugs and the life she was living was not worthwhile as she sought to escape the country because she was in a deal that went sour. At this instance is when Kaneshiro meets Lin and tries to get to her. Another scene would be the one where the officer meets Faye Wong who falls for a police officer, who had broken up with his girlfriend, a flight attendant. During that time, the cop was very lonely and he was portrayed as a n individual who had already lost touch of his life. Faye becomes the person that cares for him as she sneaks into his house and the result is that she hopes that what she was doing for him would change his mind and focus on her. With no reason what Faye did with her heart did not deem successful and as a result she ditched that thought of getting to the cop. With regard to the movie, there is also a rise in the number of entertainment joints. Apparently, the people of Hong Kong were portrayed as people who love karaoke’s and music and this trend was apparently increasing thus the traditional thought of such traits was starting to disappear as the people were starting to adapt to a new culture and lifestyle. For example, Faye met with the cop when they were in the bar. Traditional culture was not based on love in that manner. A man would not meet their potential girlfriend or wife in entertainment places, but the movie sought to eliminate that gap and allow for love to be felt in a variety of places and that if why the characters were set to meet in a bar. With regard to sexual relationships, it can be concluded that Faye had an intention to have a sexual relationship with the cop. According to traditional values, traits such as pre-marital sex and one-night stand were not acceptable in the culture and the only way that one could indu lge in sexual relationships was when they got married. In addition to that, the movie portrays aspects such as loyalty when the officer is abandoned by his girlfriend but he still thinks about her and feels for her. The Personals by Chen Kuo-fu The Personals was a movie directed by Chen Kuo-fu. It is based on an opthamologist by the name of Du Jiazhen (Rene Liu) who goes ahead to critically search for a

Health care questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health care questions - Essay Example rch has got its own due place within the midst of things and it would only be natural to decipher the true meaning of public health systems if proper measures are undertaken to take care of the patients under consideration. These patients should be given the room to have a better treatment regime in place so that their health could be insured and the measures that go in the wake of finding out such nuances are also given the much needed boost that is required within such discussions. The research regimes will aim to further find out how the development of future public health systems would mean success for just about everyone who is related with the public health quarters in one way or the other. In essence, research will find out the different developmental measures, means and pathways through which success can be envisioned and new opportunities to further expedite the process of giving better return on the public health systems for the sake of the common man are determined and thu s provided. As known to the public health systems that are prevalent in the time and age of today, the most important factors in the delivery of the same include the leadership quarters and the management ranks of the public health systems. What this implicates is the fact that a leader who has his say within the provision of public health in a proper way goes to show that the public health systems are built upon in a very serious way, and that there would be success for the people who matter the most – the stakeholders who are the patients themselves. Apart from leadership, there is a dire need to comprehend that managing the related activities of public health are also very significant. This is because the successful development and management of public health systems and activities would pave the way for the eventual linkage that is established amongst the different stakeholders and not just between the patients and the public health domains. There is a good amount of

Constitution cafe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Constitution cafe - Essay Example The discussions are based on Thomas Jefferson, a radical who held the belief that there was the need to keep on revising the Constitution. As outlined in the book, periodic amendment of the Constitution can be regarded as essential since it keeps the constitution in line with the changing times. Phillips contends that the Constitution has become an immutable as well as a sacred text, which needs some shaking up or some review (Phillips 1–336). In the book, Phillips argues that respect of the United States’ Constitution forms a key phenomenon of modern political life in America. According to Phillips, the Constitution is the basis upon which the rights of the U.S. citizens can be understood. Across the political spectrum, it has become the last argument of politicians and the secular scripture has it as the moral gravity. The book explains the desire of the third American president, Thomas Jefferson, that Americans should rewrite the Constitution after every twenty years in order to enable them to meet their needs. The radical ideas of Jefferson are put to the test by Phillips, who asks Americans to create a new Constitution that will serve their needs (Phillips 1–336). Throughout the book, the main idea that Phillips strives to pass focuses on how the American public could rewrite the United States’ Constitution. The book involves a series of discussions, which engage various groups coming together and focussing on various Articles and Amendments. For example, there are teenagers who talk about the amendment of age at which people should vote, and lawyers discussing the patent clause. Each of the groups involved comes up with new Articles, which have the aim of redressing problems of the existent Constitution. The author also discusses the historical interludes regarding the conflicts among the Founding Fathers; this highlights the compromises as well as difficulties that were needed in 1783 (Phillips 1–336). In the book, Phillips portrays

Anti-venom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Anti-venom - Essay Example Snake venom consists of more than 50 enzymes and peptides with digestive and neurotoxic properties. Therefore, the toxicity of venom is dependent on the type of snake and amount of venom injected. For this reason, an antivenom will be prescribed to an individual depending on the nature of snakebite and amount of venom injected in a person. According to PBS (2013), anti-venom is produced by injecting a small amount of venom in an animal such as horse, sheep, rabbit, or goat. These animals are immune to venom, therefore, will produce specialized antibodies to counteract the effects of poisonous proteins in venom. When scientists collect these specialized antibodies from the animals, they help in the development of anti-venoms. Thus, anti-venoms act by fighting the venomous proteins in venom, using the antibodies, which is their main ingredient. The anti-venom also prevents the venom from circulating to different parts of the body and through the bloodstream. This way, the anti-venom neutralizes the activity of venoms and prevents any further health complications or death of the affected

Principles for Implementing Duty of Care in Health Essay Example for Free

Principles for Implementing Duty of Care in Health Essay In my work I have a duty of care to the young people I work with. This means their health, safety, wellbeing and emotional development is my responsibility. For me to do this I follow company policies and procedures and when needed seek advice from the appropriate people. Ac3. Explain where to get additional support and advice about conflicts and dilemmas. While at work for any support I need I firstly will talk to the other member of staff I am on shift with. After that I may call a senior in the office or the out of hour’s duty manager. If problems are still not solved then for the safety of the young person I may need to call the police depending on the situation. 054.3 Ac1. Describe how to respond to complaints. If a yp wants to make a complaint about anything my first action would be to try and resolve the issue myself. After that it may need to go higher up to a senior or my manager, failing that I would assist the yp to fill in a complaint form and then hand it to the manager who would then take the appropriate action from thee. Ac2. Explain the main points of agreed procedures for handling complaints. †¢ Minor/informal complaints such as a yp complaining about the dà ©cor in their bedroom may be dealt with by staff verbally but it still must be recorded on a complaint form and handed to the operations manager. A record will be made in the complaints log. The complaint will be dealt with in 14 days and a written response will be given to the complainant regarding the outcome. †¢ Serious complaints must be written down within two working days and be fully responded to in writing. The complaint must be handed to the operations manager who then should notify the managing director of keys using a complaint referral form. All serious complaints must be resolved within 35 days. †¢ All serious/written complaints must be recorded briefly on a complaints form and in the central complaints file. They will be counted and audited on a monthly basis. The full investigation details will be filed in an individual investigation file. †¢ The operations manager must ensure all serious complaints are entered onto the weekly complaints report by the nominated office. †¢ Any complaint received externally must be logged in the homes central record and copies of any correspondence must also be held in the home. †¢ Copies of any correspondence and the fully completed appendix one must be sent to the complaints administrator at Rawtenstalll office who will ensure the checklist id fully completed.

CVS stops selling tobacco products Essay Example for Free

CVS stops selling tobacco products Essay Reason, declared Kant, is the source and ultimate basis for morality. Morality wholly rests in pure, innate reason and not in intuition, conscience, law, or utility. The standard of morality, therefore, is inherent in the human mind; it is definable only in terms of the mind; and it is derived from one’s innerself by direct perception (Cavico Mujtaba, 2013). According to Kant, in order to be moral, one has to be rational. â€Å"The right use of reason is directed to moral ends† (Cavico Mujtaba, 2009). A person has to think rationally, he or she does not have think only about self-interest. As a result of that, there is no place for such thing as Ethical Egoism. People should be treated with dignity and respect. Kant presumes that human beings are rational and can utilize reason (Cavico Mujtaba, 2009). Kant called the supreme ethical principles the Categorical Imperative. This principle is necessary element of human reason and foundation upon which rest all moral judgments (Cavico Mujtaba, 2013). Kant’s method has three parts of testing, which are used for identification whether or not an action is moral. No matter in what kind of situation a person can be, a rational individual performs an action because he or she has a moral obligation and duty. Application of Kantian Ethical Analysis The categorical Imperative is not a principle of action itself; instead, it ethically lays down the form a moral maxim must take. Thus, said Kant, reason indicates that a moral action must have a certain form. The ethics â€Å"test† is a formal test (Cavico Mujtaba, 2013). Literally, a person has to indicate whether his/her actions would be successful or would be considered as a self-destruction. In this case, the test will determine that situation with the company such CVS will be most likely successful. One of the main reasons that the company is doing this, is to show the public and competitors that it really cares about the health and well-being of its customers and the nation. By taking out all tobacco products from all CVS stores in the United States, the administration of the company who have main input in the way how the firm works, would really benefit. In general public might be surprised that CVS are going to aim on peoples health. In this kind of situation many th ings will change and increase in the business, things as trust and confidence would be maintained. So, action passes the  first test. The second test states that every person should be treated with dignity, respect and as a valuable and worthwhile entity (Cavico Mujtaba, 2009).This test involves by itself shareholders, employee, employer, consumers, and society as well. In this case some people have different point of view, some of them firmly believe that they have the right to buy any products they like or to do whatever they chose to do. There is an argument, which explains that it might be unethical for the company like CVS to make people uncomfortable for purchasing tobacco products. CVS does not show any respect for smokers. They feel themselves not welcomed. According to Kantian theory CVS should need to make sure that their clients feel comfortable and welcome in the drugstores, no matter what kind of products are sold. CVS has to analyze and think about customers themselves, not only about profits, even though that basically, the idea of having business is for income purpose. To conform with the Kantian views, the company like CVS which is one of the largest drugstore chains in the United States, should pay more attention for its prosperity, rather than a little aspect of the firm to have some profits. Kant assumes that people cannot take advantage of another person. Additionally, it also explains that people cannot act and do anything without full comprehension and permission of the person. An individual needs someones logical, intellectual, complete agreement for this to happen. In this situation, people can think differently. Some of them can support CVS for the idea of removing tobacco products from pharmacy place, because it is ethical and some of them firmly argue with this statement. Even though that the people deeply understand that the products they were purchasing have the risks for their health and very harmful for their organisms. According to this information, the second test will definitely fail. The third test is the agent-receiver test which asks whether a rational person would accept the action or rule regardless of whether he or she was the agent or the receiver of the action (Cavico Mujtaba, 2009). So, the main cost of this change would be a major loss in income. But people can lose their jobs, the managers and executives will feel decrease in salaries. Many employees may be in danger of losing a job. Moreover, the prices of shares of stocks will decrease, then shareholders  could be in danger of losing earnings. These are all the possible ways of banning all packs of cigarettes from CVS stores. Nevertheless, analytics of the company predicts that the benefits that CVS would get of trust and confidence would be worth the danger of losing profit. By stop selling tobacco products and removing all sweets from the drugstores as well, the firm would have to reassess how and in what kind of ways it can have its income. It will be very difficult to survive for the company, especially in the beginning of this change. It has a worse outcome than just minor loss in sales. The company would have a very negative effect from this and many people would not have a benefit as well. In this case, customers and employees would lose. Because of CVS stops selling cigarettes, as we mentioned above, many people will lose their potential jobs, therefore , the third test certainly will not pass. Only if the company will help their employees by giving them recommendation letters and providing with rà ©sumà ©/interview training, the third test might be considered as passed. But as long as, the action of CVS is going to be presented in October of this year. We still do not know whether they will help their employer or not. So, at this moment of time, this action is considered as not passed. Moral Conclusion Pursuant to Kantian Ethical Model An action is morally right if it has a certain form, and morally wrong if it does not have that form. The Form, the Categorical Imperative, is the first, supreme, fundamental principle in ethics. It is the form a moral action must have; it provides the ultimate standard by which one test can test action, rules, beliefs, and standards to determine if they are moral (Cavico Mujtaba, 2013). Based on Kant’s ethics, the action of CVS pharmacy about removing tobacco products from the stores can be considered moral, only if it passes the Categorical Imperative tests. Some type of questions must be considered such as, is this action only benefiting the company or others as well? How would CVS feel if others performed this action? If the firm rationalized its actions, they would be moral. First of all, if everyone takes the same action that took CVS, the world will become healthy. We will not see any more death as a result of tobacco products. CVS has always functioned very well with good ratings in customers service and with high earnings. Even with a ban of tobacco in October, the company is still  one of the leading pharmacies in the country. Nevertheless, this new plan may not make everyone in society happy. Some people, most likely smokers think that this ban is unfair and unethical, but managers and executives thought that it was the right step for the healthy future and for the business. As a result of this decision, the company will gain trust from its consumers, which will result in a more successful firm. In other words, smokers will not be treated equally with other people with respect and dignity, therefore the second test will fail. Overall, if CVS will take care of people who probably will lose their jobs, the third test can be considered as passed. Despite the problems with Kantian ethics, Kant’s very important accomplishment was to underscore, and to appreciate, people as free, rational, moral beings, with individuals rights and self-imp osed duties to respect others (Cavico Mujtaba, 2013). In conclusion, CVS’s incredible decision involves long term perspective and sacrifices. The administration of the company has a solid strategy of how to operate the company and all of the stores. With a great plan on operations, they are able to have a successful business. As long as, it is such a large company, these changes will be beneficial, even with some people against the stores, unless there is another major change to products in the near future.

Objectives And The Functional Requirements Of Cladding System Construction Essay

Objectives And The Functional Requirements Of Cladding System Construction Essay There are some elementary objectives of the cladding system. These objectives are the reasons for the invention and adoption of cladding system due to our increasing construction technology and demands of clients. There are many types of clients, some are emphasize more on aesthetic value, some are emphasize more on functional value, some are emphasize on time of erection and even some are emphasize on construction cost. So, the primary objectives of cladding system can be concluded as below: Supply of enclosure to the structure with the function of essential protection against the natural elements such as wind, rain, storm and etc. Invention and adoption of dry construction method which is more advanced such as off-site prefabrication, off-site manufacturing and etc. Minimize the additional dead load onto the frame. Improve the aesthetic value of the structure or the architectural concept. Control internal environment. Thus, in order to accomplish these elementary objectives of cladding system, the cladding system must perform these functional requirements: Strength and Stability It should have sufficient strength to support its own weight between the points of support or fixings to the structure. It must provide adequate stability against lateral wind pressure. It is essential to allow the differential movement in material expansion and contraction between the cladding system, the structural frame and the adjacent building elements. Exclusion of Wind and Rain Generally, the method is to construct solid cladding systems with an outer leaf as a rain screen and inner leaf of light weight block for insulation. In order to accommodate movement and resist weather deterioration, the material that used to seal joints and claddings must be resilient enough. Durability and Freedom of Maintenance The frequency and extent of work necessary to maintain minimum functional requirements acceptable appearance must be minimized to save cost. There are some problems and requirements of maintenance of several types of material. These are some examples. For masonry, a little maintenance is needed only. Glass requires frequent cleaning and renewal of seal. Besides that, sheet materials such as bronze, aluminium and stainless steel will be oxidized easily and faded faster as compare to masonry and glass. Control of Internal Temperatures As we know, the solar is gained through glass panel. Thus, we must control the proportion of glazed to solid areas. Besides that, thermal control can also be achieved by some methods. For example, deep recessed window used in conjunction with external vertical fins and used of non-transparent external louvres. By the way, used of special solar control glass is encouraged also. Thermal Properties Additional insulation need to be provided by lining of the cladding materials. It must achieve the U-values that laid down in the building regulations It must avoid the problems that would arise from cold bridging and from surface and interstitial condensation. The problem of air leakage should be minimized. Environmental and Sustainability Issues It is defined as how much the cladding system can contribute to the overall energy efficiency of the building. Environmental friendliness of cladding materials also plays a very important role in these issues. Fire Requirements Due to the proximity of other buildings and the use class of the building, fire resistance may be required. In order to restrict the fire from spread over the internal and external surfaces and within voids, the lining material that used for insulation is made up of non-combustible materials. Sound Insulation The resilient pad is used to prevent sound originating within the structure to be transferred vertically through the cladding members. Airborne sound originating from external source can be prevented by utilizing double glazing panel to window area. Aesthetic Issues The context within which the building is situated will determine the level of aesthetic of that building. Necessary to satisfy the aesthetic aspiration of the clients. General Function of the Building There are some functions of building that need to be stated and established such as day lighting and natural ventilation requirements, degree of privacy required, exploitation of pleasant views or exclusion of undesirable views and etc. A CLIENT REQUIRES A ROAD THAT REQUIRES LITTLE MAINTENANCE WITH REASONABLE NON-SKID PROPERTIES. WITH THE AID OF DIAGRAMME, SUGGEST A TYPE OF ROAD AND THE CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROPOSED ROAD. The road that I will proposed which meets the demand of client is rigid pavement. Rigid pavement is made up of concrete road slab. These are some functions of pavement. Pavement provides a flat surface that makes the journey comfort. Pavement helps to transfer and distribute the transportation load onto the ground evenly. Besides that, pavement protects ground surface against weather effects such rain and wind. These are the characteristics of rigid pavement. Characteristics Rigid pavement Subsidence damage Considerable with expansion joints Initial cost High and require low skill labour Maintenance Low Appearance Glare from sun Non skid properties Reasonable Resistance to wear Good if the quality of concrete is controlled Ease of reinstatement Costly, difficult, require curing time Weakness The requirement of relatively frequently spaced temperature expansion and contraction joints, which also provides a less comfortable surface for riding. Construction Methodology The construction methodology of rigid pavement can be classified into several procedures which are placement, screeding, consolidation, finishing, curing and joints. Placement Truck or truck attachment is used to place the precast concrete directly to the desired position. Otherwise, placement machine is used for more accurate and even placement. Once the precast concrete has been unloaded from the truck, it tends to become less homogenous. Figure 1 Figure 2 Screeding During this process, the excess part of the roughly placed precast concrete is cut off to the desired elevation of slab. Generally, this is done by dragging a straightedge across the slab at the required elevation. Consolidation In this process, the freshly placed precast concrete is making to form a more uniform and compact mass. This can be done by eliminating unwanted air voids and causing it to move around potential obstruction such as reinforcement bar. Generally, consolidation is done by using vibrators which are formed by long and slender vibration rods. Vibrators can be drive by rotating an eccentric weight which causes the whole vibrator to move back and forth. Vibrators are used to excite particles within precast concrete mass. This will cause the particles attach each other closer and better flow around obstructions. Proper consolidation is very important to the performance of rigid pavement. It must possess adequate vibrations to enhance the durability. Too much or too little vibration will lower the performance of rigid pavement. Vibrator static head also influences the efficiency. Figure 3 Finishing In this process, the task is to create the final surface finish and texture of fresh precast concrete. In general, finishing can be categorized into 2 types which are floating and texturing. In floating, a flat surface is run across the precast concrete in number of times and may involve many different tools. This process is used to remove high spots, low spots and imperfections, embed larger aggregate particles beneath the surface and to prepare the surface of mortar for texturing with compaction. After floating, fresh precast concrete is quite smooth. A rough pattern is usually formed by dragging a broom, rough-textured item, or tinted instrument across the surface to enhance the non-skip property of rigid pavement. In general, texturing can be divided into 2 types which are Microtexture and Macrotexture. Microtexture is more common than Macrotexture. Microtexture is accomplished by dragging a section of burlap or artificial turf behind the paver. Curing The task of this process refers to the maintenance of adequate moisture and temperature within a precast concrete mass as it sets and hardens in order to develop the desired properties of strength, durability and density. Curing can be done by 2 different methods which are water curing and sealed curing. Water curing is method that prevents moisture loss and supply additional water to precast concrete surface. This method is labour intensive and generally not practices in rigid pavement anymore. Sealed method is method that prevents moisture loss but do not supply any additional water. This can be done by putting a waterproof covering over a slab such as plastic or using a liquid membrane-forming chemical compound. Figure 4 (Finishing) Figure 5 (Curing) Joints There are many types of joints used in rigid pavement. The basics of transverse contraction joint construction should include joint location, saw cutting timing, saw cutting depth and joint sealing. Joint locations are necessary to indicate on the construction plans and should be planned in advance. The timing of contraction joint sawing is determined by 2 main factors which are shrinkage cracking and precast concrete support strength and joint raveling. In the aspect of saw cutting depth, transverse contraction joints are usually cut to a depth of 1/4 to 1/3 of the total slab depth in order to make sure cracking only occurs at the joints. After the previous procedure has been done, it requires to be sealed to reduce the water and incompressible material entry. Figure 6 (Joint Layout) Figure 7 (Shrinkage Crack) Figure 8 (Sawcut Depth) DESCRIBE THE PERFORMANCE AND SPECIFY THE MATERIAL THAT CAN BE USED TO FILL THE VOID OF DISUSED STRUCTURES, EG: CULVERTS, REDUNDANT SEWERS, CELLARS AND BASEMENTS AND ALSO FOR SOIL STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION, EG: BRIDGE ABUTMENTS, TUNNEL STABILIZATION AND EMBANKMENTS. In our construction technology, there are many materials that can be used and performed very well in construction process such as concrete, plastic, stone, ceramic and timber. All of these materials possess advantages and disadvantages. In this question, the material that will be chosen is aerated concrete. There are a lot of reasons why I choose this material, aerated concrete. Aerated concrete is a highly workable and low density material which incorporating entrained air up to 50 percents. In general, it has the characteristics of self-levelling, self-compacting and may be pumped. Besides that, the risk of plastic shrinkage or settlement cracking of aerated concrete is significantly lower as compared to normal concrete. This foamed concrete is ideal for filling up the redundant or unnecessary voids such as disused fuel tanks, sewer systems, pipelines and culverts. Other than that, aerated concrete also has a good thermal insulation property. The aerated concrete can be fully utilized in several applications such as: Unwanted voids Pipelines Service ducts and shafts Bridge arches or subways Disused structures Culverts Redundant sewers Cellars and basements Higher structural stabilization Bridge abutments Tunnel stabilization enbankments Insulating fill Low density insulating sub-screed Insulating fill to house over-sites By the way, there are several highlighted final concrete performances of aerated concrete that can said to be the advantages of this kind of concrete. Aerated concrete contains high entrained air content. With this property, the aerated concrete is able to resist the damage that formed from freeze and thaw. Besides that, entrained air can acts as a good thermal and acoustic insulator. The aerated concrete has good cohesion ability. It can form a stable foam structure that reduces settlement and reduces bleeding and segregation. Other than that, aerated concrete possess controlled density and strength. For example, low strength of concrete enables the removal for subsequent access to services and maintenance. The range of densities and strengths available depends on the types of foamed concrete. Structure that formed by aerated concrete is very stable. It can generally be surfaced after 24 hours. Besides that, other materials can be combined together and included in the mix. Combination of different materials depends on the applications and requirements. There are some combinations such as polypropylene fiber, fibersteel, quarry fines, vermiculite, flyash and volcanic ash. Autoclaved aerated concrete is one common type of aerated concrete. It is a material like wood but without the disadvantages of combustibility, decay and termite damage. The initial cost of autoclaved aerated concrete is very high but it can be compensated by lower cost of labour, finish, maintenance, and energy. In terms of manufacturing issue, construction issue and etc, it is a good ecological choice. The autoclaved aerated concrete is very versatile because the mixture proportions can be modify to setup different insulation values and compressive strength. Due to the reason of autoclaved aerated concrete is light in weight and workable, thus it can reduce the construction time, waste and energy by faste r speed of construction. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITES INVOLVED IN EXTERNAL WORKS AT THE START OF THE CONTRACT. In general, external works is defined as the construction works that done externally from the main building. The external works can be divided into several main parts which are drainage requirements, temporary constructions, public utilities, special industries services, minor external buildings, security and lighting. In construction industry, most of the activities are spanned within the entire project period but some of the external works are involved at the start of the contract. These external works are drainage main runs, access arrangement, storage facilities, car parks, hard areas for plants and machineries for construction of foundation and service mains to building entry. Firstly, drainage will be explained in detail. Drainage can be divided into 2 main types which are surface drainage and sub-surface drainage. Surface drainage is defined as the removal and disposal of water from the surface of a pavement. Sub-surface drainage is the type of drainage that uses the underground pipes and other fittings to direct the flow of water from where it is not wanted to some other places. Sub-surface drainage might include land drainage. Land drainage can be defined as removing and disposing of surplus groundwater gardens, fields and other plots of open land. Surface drainage system often refers as channels that direct the surface water to a drainage outlet. These channels are made up of stone or precast concrete. This system usually discharges all the relatively clean water into a local watercourse such as ditch, stream or river. This system can reduce the demand on the effluent treatment plant. The relatively clean water usually consists of water from the roof and the paving. The channels are slope down towards the public footpath and highway. After that, the water will be directed into gullies or linear drain which will flow to the storm water sewers later. In surface drainage system, the gully and access point is function to collect and discharge the collected water into local watercourse. Generally, there are three types of gully and access point used to perform this function. They are individual trapped gully, continuous grating over precast channels and combined kerb and drainage system. In the aspect of individual trapped gully, there are many types of gully that have been used. P-trap and hopper is commonly used with rainwater pick-ups rather than use in large areas drainage of paving. Yard gully also know as a bottle gully, compact gully or an universal gully. Other than that, road gully is much larger than P-trap and yard gully but they work in the same way. The specifications of road gully are it has a fixed 150mm diameter outlet but come in a variety of diameters and depths. For example, road gully the used within the carriage ways is commonly used to drain an area less than 250m2. In the aspect of continuous grating over precast channels, it can be various sizes, from 50mm deep units for roof drainage to 250mm deep for motorway drains. These channels can made up of various materials such as polymer concrete, wet-press concrete, HDPE and stainless steel. In a specific application, the type of channels used will depends on the end use of the drain. There are two main types which are built-in fall units and regular depth units. Built-in fall units are channels that maintain a fixed depth along their whole length and compulsory laid to a fall. It is suitable to use in large drainage for flat areas such as car parks, freight yards, airports and etc. The regular depth units are suitable to use in short length drainage which has a natural gradient. Lastly, the combined kerb and drainage system have 2 main functions. It can acts as road isolator. Besides that, it is also a discharge point of collected surface water. Generally, sub-surface drainage system deals with foul water such as kitchen waste, toilet or soil and vent pipes, bath or shower or bidet and any industrial process. Besides that, this system can deals with both foul water and surface water such as rain water pick-ups, yard or road gullies and linear drains. Sub-surface drainage system consists of underground pipe line, manhole or inspection chamber and culvert. In underground pipe line, various materials can be used to make pipes such as vitrified clay, uPVC, concrete, ductile and cast iron (CI), glassfibre reinforced plastics (GRP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), pitch fibre and asbestos. In general, there are 3 main types of pipes which are socketed clayware, plain-end clay and plastic 100/150mm. There are 2 main types of jointing of pipes. Plain ended pipes are a type of pipes that have identical ends. They can be joined by means of a coupling. Other than that, socketed pipes have identifiable male and female ends. The method of laid must be in the way of female end pointing upstream. Next, access chambers are commonly not more than 600mm deep which provides an easy access for cursory inspection and access of maintenance equipments. Inspection chamber possess the same function as the access chamber but inspection chamber is larger than access chamber with a minimum 450mm diameter. Besides that, inspection chamber tend to have more branches or spurs feeding into them. Normally, the inspection chamber can be up to 1000mm deep. Manhole is the largest chamber that provides the same function. Manhole can be any depth with the minimum internal dimension of 600x900mm. There are two main types of manhole which are brick manhole and precast concrete manhole. After that, culvert can be defined as a structure which provides a waterway or other opening under a road. In general, the type of pipe culvert chosen should be class Z spun reinforced concrete with spun concrete collars or spigot and socket type. At the start of the contract, there are some external works that need to be done in order to proceed to start the construction works. The external works that need to be done 1st is to prepare and provide hard access to all parts of the site, hard storage for materials, site facilities and car parks. Generally, in order to reduce the cost of temporary road and access, the contractor will lay the base course of the future permanent road as the temporary road and access. There is a way to keep the site temporary road dry for the convenience of construction works which is laying the drainage system as soon as possible. Public utilities services are very important to a building. Thus, all the public utilities need to be planned carefully before any major structures are built. Any constructions of service mains and ducts should be constructed concurrently with the foundation construction works in order to make the entire construction works faster and avoid any inconveniences.

Americas Great Depression :: American America History

America's Great Depression The Great Depression is probably one of the most misunderstood events in American history. It is routinely cited, as proof that unregulated capitalism is not the best in the world, and that only a massive welfare state, huge amounts of economic regulation, and other Interventions can save capitalism from itself. Among the many myths surrounding the Great Depression are that Herbert Hoover was a laissez faire president and that FDR brought us out of the depression. What caused the Great Depression? To get a handle on that, it's necessary to look at previous depressions and compare. The Great Depression was by no means the first depression this country ever had, but it was clearly the worst. What made it different than the rest? At the time of the Great Depression, government intervention in the economy was higher than it had ever been and a special government agency had been set up specifically to prevent depressions and their associated problems, such as bank panics. This agency was the Federal Reserve Board and it was to have been the loaner of last resorts for banks in order to prevent collapses as had happened during earlier depressions. But as America sees, there is good reason to believe that the Federal actions explain many of the problems that lead up to the stock market crash and the subsequent depression. Although there are many macroeconomics schools of thought, this paper will be concentrating on two initially, Keynesian economics and Austrian School economics. Keynesian economics got its start during the Great Depression with the publication in 1936 of The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, by John Maynard Keynes. Austrian School economics began much Earlier, most notably with the publication in 1871 of Carl Menger's Principles of Economics. While the Austrian theory has Never been mainstream (economist Paul Krugman refers to it as the economic equivalent of the phlogiston theory), its adherents are some of the harshest critics of Ke ynesian interventions. The greater of the two economic systems used has got to be Keynesian. The exact cause of business cycles is one of the biggest problems in economics. There are several explanations. The current Keynesian models rely on what is referred to as "sticky wages" (or "sticky prices") to explain why the cycles occurs. Under these models, wages or prices fail to reach their market clearing level. The Austrian School explanation is that all business cycles are due to government intervention in the economy.

Educational Philosophy :: Education Careers Teaching Essays

Educational Philosophy Ever since I was little and starting my education I have wanted to become a teacher. It is a lifelong goal of mine and I hope someday I can fulfill this goal. This past summer my dream of becoming a teacher was further strengthened. I had the opportunity to coach a peewee football team and this decision turned out to be very instrumental to me as a person. I realized many things about myself and I realized where I wanted to go in life. I found out that I loved to teacher kids things I love as a person. I truly found out that I wanted to make kids my life and more specifically I wanted to become a Physical Education and Health teacher. It was just as Sputnik turned America’s light bulb on, that this summer turned my light bulb on. Throughout my education I have learned a variety of techniques and ideas that have been effective and not so effective in my own education. I have found that the teachers who sit behind the desk bore you till no end are not as effective as those teachers who have a hands on, enthusiastic learning environment. Thus, this brings me to my philosophy of education. First, I believe as a teacher you should be a true enthusiast. I know from past experiences if a teacher brings enthusiasm to their work it will enhance their classroom and also the ability of their students to learn. As this type of teacher I want to display a positive and enthusiastic attitude that hopefully will diffuse through my students like a wildfire. A positive attitude will get positive results and that will translate into enthusiasm for both the students and the teacher. Though I will act in a professional manner, I want to become as one with the students. I want my enthusiasm to enable the students to experience the best environment for learning and experimenting with the curriculum. I also want to display a progressivist attitude in my classroom. I believe that hands on learning is the most effective way of teaching a student new, unfamiliar subject matter. Being in a Physical Education environment, I believe this will be the most effective philosophy in my classroom.

The Impact of My Favorite Form of Media in Mass Communication Essay

Mass Communication has an immense impact on many individuals in the world from the television, music to books and the radio and many more media outlets. There are affirmative and adverse impacts that we all receive from the media. As for myself there is many constructive forms of media I indulge in. My most preferred form of media overall is the Food Network's American reality TV show series called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I always had an adoration and aspiration for art and I consider food to be art. This television series has a huge effect on my daily life in a progressive, yet constructive way. I tend to watch it almost every day or whenever I miss it I just record it. It conglomerates my love of sustenance and travel at the same time. There are many mass communication theories conveyed up through the media world, but I sense a few do relate to my chosen form of media. There are three certain mass communication theories that contribute to my impact on this form of media: Spiral of Silence Theory, Agenda Setting Theory and the Hypodermic Needle Theory. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives persuades me to cook and appreciate cooking and food. Being married, I believe it’s an abundant deal for the wife to cook and cook well for the family. There are times when I do not feel like cooking or really feel driven at times. Especially when I'm tired or occupied with school work or up keeping the home. This television series I instantaneously got addicted to the first time I viewed it. I adore the diverse ways the chefs come up with these astonishing meals, with simple yet engaging techniques. The customers get interviewed for their intake of the diner’s food and gives more insight on the food, which gives me the viewer an idea ... ... integrated theory of public opinion. Unpublished dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 8. Freeland, Amber . "An Overview of Agenda Setting Theory in Mass Communications." Academia.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. 9. Griffin, Dana . "What is the Magic Bullet Theory of Mass Media?." Small Business. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. . 10. "Hypodermic Needle Theorem." University of Twentie. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. . 11. "Agenda Setting Theory." University of Twente. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .

Leadership qualities of Odysseus throughout the book Essay

Throughout the Odyssey, the lead character, Odysseus, is presented as the ideal Greek leader. He demonstrates this through the treatment of his men and how he deals with problems that are presented to him. Because the Odyssey was first a spoken myth, it took on the shape of the society in which it was told. Including that society’s moral and ethical values, as well as its desires in the traits of a leader. A leader must first be defined, then set apart from other potential leaders, then the leader must be tested through his actions, only then can a definite leader be defined. First, one must define the ideal Greek leader. An ideal Greek leader commands the respect of those being led, but also gives respect. He must be intelligent and cunning, and able to think logically with the intentions of keeping the well being of those under him. Reverence to the gods is mandatory, as they are viewed as the supreme leaders. An ideal leader must have an ability to lead a military victoriously, but also know when military action is not necessary. There are many other traits that the ideal Greek leader must possess, but none are as important as those that have been listed. Another way of proving Odysseus as the ideal leader is by contrasting him with other leaders. Two other characters in the book that could be considered character foils are Antinoos and Alkinoos, two very different leaders. Alkinoos, King of the Phaeacians, is presented as leader who is open to outsiders, another trait that is revered in ancient Greek culture. When he provides the hospitality to Odysseus, he shows his welcoming manner by not only allowing Odysseus to stay as his guest, but also taking him back to Ithaca. â€Å"When you came here to my strong home, Odysseus, under my tall roof, headwinds were left behind you. Clear sailing shall you have now, homeward now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (XIII, 4-7) Alkinoos can be considered a foil that shows  what Homer viewed as a good leader. Antinoos, on the other hand, was almost the opposite. The suitor spent his time unsuccessfully enticing Penelope, one of many things that Homer could have considered to be a bad trait, especially when possess ed by a leader, which is something that Antinoos could be considered in his relationship with the other suitors. He was also the suitor who came up with the scheme to kill Telemachus. Furthermore, Antinoos being the first to die when Odysseus returns, could be presented as Homer’s punishment of the iniquitous suitor of the hero’s wife. These two characters can be considered the two extremes in Homer’s view of a leader. Odysseus’s actions throughout the book demonstrate the traits that make him a good leader. Through his decisions in these specific events, he proves that he is a good, but not perfect, leader. First, his decision to send men to scout out Kirke’s house was one of pleasure, not conquest. Odysseus did not need to send his men probing the unfamiliar island, but still felt it necessary. This decision is one that had to be made, but given past experiences, the reader would expect Odysseus to choose otherwise, especially when his men felt hesitant. â€Å"They were all silent, but their hearts contracted, remembering Antiphates the Laistrygon and that prodigious cannibal, the Kyklopes†¦ But seeing our time for action lost in weeping, I mustered those Akhaians under arms, counting them off in two platoons, myself and my godlike Eurylokhos commanding.† (X, 217-224) It wasn’t until after the first party fell prey to Kirke’s elixir that Odysseus shows his true leadership. With the aid of the gods, he is able to free his men from living as swine. Although he stays long after he has freed his men, nearly a year, he felt the obligation towards his men by undoing Kirke’s acts and freed them from her hold. Another instance when Odysseus demonstrates his leadership ability is when he is faced with the escape from Polyphemus’s cave. His quick thinking and strategic approach gave him victory over the giant, two traits Homer emphasizes in Odysseus. Odysseus is able to lead his men to blind the Kyklops, but shows how no mortal man can be perfect, no matter how heroic, by shouting back at Polyphemus and telling him who had truly blinded him. Finally, Odysseus’s similarity to some of the known leaders of ancient Greece  can be used to express how Odysseus was presented as the ideal Greek leader. The first of whom being the democratic leader of Athens, Pericles, and second being Alexander the Great. Pericles was much like Odysseus in a sense of his ability to manipulate and influence those under him, a necessary skill in any democratic society. He was able to influence the other elected officials into believing what he wanted, and stemmed his success from that ability. Although not an especially admirable trait, the ability to influence men into what is needed to be done in the eyes of the leader is most certainly necessary, especially when it involves military authority. Alexander the Great’s decisiveness is paralleled only by Odysseus, which is another trait that all strong leaders must possess. Another element to a leader that is often present is that of arrogance, as Alexander the Great believed himself to be half immortal, and held himself in comparison with Hercules. Alexander was even known to sleep with copies of Homer’s books under his pillow, and drew heavy influence from Homer’s characters, including Odysseus. Odysseus is considered to be one of the greatest mythological heroic leaders. Not only is he presented as the model for the ideal Greek leader, but has influenced many other leaders throughout history, including Alexander the Great. Odysseus was a model for ancient Greek leaders, and still influences our views of leadership today, although we may not even notice it.