Business Plan For A Business - 998 Words

Introduction Prior to initiating a business, it is necessary for the management and the people involved to make sure that a proper business plan is set out in order to understand the needs of the business. In addition to this, it should also be made sure that the market is properly analysed and all the competitors are studied before taking any step related to the new business. Every business has different needs and is initiated in a different scenario. The business plan under evaluation in this paper will be of a sports retailer. All the various aspects of a business related to sports will be evaluated and different elements will be understood in order to learn more. The purpose of evaluating and reviewing a business plan is to make sure that the right information is known before the business is set up and all the pros and cons are understood. Discussion Review of the Plan The business plan presented and prepared is brief and lacks a lot of detailed information. The business activity is described in a paragraph and lacks information about the place where the shop will be opened i.e. if the property is rented or already purchased by the owner. In addition to this, the description of the products is quite brief. The products that will be sold have been mentioned in the plan, but no specific information is given as to with how many products will the business initiate and to what extent does the business plan to increase its products for sale. Although the market size andShow MoreRelatedBusiness Plan For A Business1223 Words   |  5 Pagesyour own business is to prepare a business plan. A business plan is a written document describing your business future. It tells potential investors and customers what your goals are for the company and how you plan to achieve that. You will need to define your business, products and services, operating procedures and the route your company intends to take to achieve the goals that are set forth. This information summarizes the sense of your business in a single document. Business plans are inherentlyRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business1276 Words   |  6 PagesA business plan is sometimes ignored by some people, but I think it is important to develop a good business plan. I think this should be an interesting topic to discuss about. Yesterday, I receive a phone call from a new client asking for help to build a business plan for his new business. My role in this part as a business co nsultant is to not blindly do the work for my client but asking them questions to generate information about his ideas, and level of involvement to better help him build hisRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business840 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Business plans are statement of a business goals, reason they are attainable and plans on meeting it’ (FoxBuisness, 2013). A business plan maps the course and gives a detail plan on how these goals are achievable. It is also important to establish a solid business plan for funding. Some small business use venture capital, bank loans, personal funds, and private investors as sources of funding. The business plan must therefore, sell investors. A well-written convincing business plan can buy investorsRead MoreAn Business Plan For A Business Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pagescelebration. This business sells games and other entertainment products. This business is commercial, but has a social conscience. It wants to sell to service a need, but also hopes to enrich the lives of those it serves as it addresses a need for meaning, not just connection or celebration. This business produces original IP to compete in the entertainment industry. This business will not produce entertainment that is divisive or for purely solitary consumption. This business might start withRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pagesbrand-new business, expand an existing company, or get financing for a business venture, you will need to write a business plan. A business plan not only lends your business a sense of credibility, but also helps you to cover all your bases, increasing your chances of success. Although writing a business plan can be a lengthy, intimidating project, it is not necessarily difficult. Here is an overview of how to write a successful business plan. What to Include in Your Business Plan Your businessRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business1546 Words   |  7 Pagesenterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative or risk†. They are usually characterized as people with greatly valued self-reliance, with high optimism and people who who strive for distinction through excellence. I am interested in starting my own basketball business and becoming an entrepreneur. In order to start a business I need a business plan. From research, I have learned that my business plan needs to have an executive summary, identification of my business, financial recordsRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business1221 Words   |  5 PagesBusiness plans are documents used for planning out specific details about your business. They can range in size from a simple few sentences to more than 100 pages with formal sections, a table of contents and a title page. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, typical business plans average 15 to 20 pages. Comprehensive business plans ha ve three sections business concept, marketplace and financial and these are broken down into seven components that include the overview or summary of the plan, a descriptionRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business2550 Words   |  11 PagesActivities 1. Review current menu in terms of business focus 2. Get staff feedback 3. Get customer feedback 4. Point out restaurant goals and business 5. Write menu redesigning proposal 6. Get restaurant owners approval 7. Initiate stake holder support 8. Get stake holders approval and contribution 9. Redesign new menu 10. Trail with restaurant stake holders 11. Modify the trail menu 12. Mass print the modified RESOURCES 1. Restaurant business plan, current menu, current and historical sales reportRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business1866 Words   |  8 Pages Business Plan Buiness model in theory and practice according to Wikipedia is used for a broad range of informal and forma l descriptions to represent the core aspects of a business, including the purposes of that business, its process, target customers, of ferings, strategies , infrastructure, organizational structures, trading practice, and operational processes and policies . Below, we would look at two kinds of business model (franchise and tradition al business) , their pros and cons, o r theirRead MoreBusiness Plan For A Business2550 Words   |  11 PagesActivities 1. Review current menu in terms of business focus 2. Get staff feedback 3. Get customer feedback 4. Point out restaurant goals and business 5. Write menu redesigning proposal 6. Get restaurant owners approval 7. Initiate stake holder support 8. Get stake holders approval and contribution 9. Redesign new menu 10. Trail with restaurant stake holders 11. Modify the trail menu 12. Mass print the modified RESOURCES 1. Restaurant business plan, current menu, current and historical sales report

Teenagers And Birth Control Without Parental Consent

Teenagers and Birth Control There are many different opinions on whether teenage girls should be allowed to access birth control without parental consent. Each parent has his or her own perspective, and reason behind this issue. Parenting styles help contribute to different opinions on allowing teenage girls to access birth control without parental consent. Some parents of teenage girls believe they shouldn’t be allowed to access birth control without parental consent because it takes the authority away from them, and promotes sexual activity. Teenage girls can access birth control in some clinics without involving their parents, and some parents think this is not the way to go. Many parents of teenage girls believe if you allow teenagers to make this decision without their parents it takes away a part of the parent’s authority, and teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to make a huge decision by themselves. Not to mention, they are still minors, and should require a parental consent. I remember in high an old friend of mine, named Brittney, told me she was thinking about becoming sexually active with her longtime boyfriend. She said she was going to talk to her mom about possibly getting on birth control. Brittney said before she could get the words out of her mouth her mom yelled at her â€Å"you’re not grown†. Later that night, I got a hysterical phone call from Brittney explaining what happened with her mom. She said she felt she was ready for sexual intimacy, and she was going toShow MoreRelated Should Teenage Girls Be Allowed For Access Birth Control Without Parental Consent?920 Words   |  4 Pagesallowed to access birth control without parental consent. Each parent has his or her own perspective, and reason behind this issue. Parenting styles help contribute to differing opinions on allowing teenage girls to access birth control without parental consent. Some parents of teenage girls believe they shouldn’t be allowed to access birth control without parental consent because it takes the authority away from them, and promotes sexual activity. Teenage girls can access birth control in some clinicsRead MorePersuasive Essay On Birth Control1288 Words   |  6 PagesIn the United States, twenty six states allow minors, defined as children twelve and older, to consent to contraceptive services; Michigan allows some minors, such as those who are married or have previously been pregnant, to consent; four states have no standing laws or policy (â€Å"An Overview† 1-2). The contraceptive access also varies across the country. Some states require comprehensive sexual education and for teens to be able to access contraceptives. Some lean more towards abstinence only educationRead MoreUnintended Pregnancy Prevention Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pages Are controversial concerns about the birth control pill really a problem? Allowing teenagers to use the birth control pill has been a controversial subject for parents, teachers, and teenagers for a wide range of reasons. The vast majority of teenage pregnancies, more than four out of five, are unplanned (Unintended Pregnancy Prevention). Whether teenagers believe in common myths that they cant get pregnant the first time having sex or they truly believe nothing like this could ever happenRead MoreBirth Control : Who Controls?1159 Words   |  5 PagesBirth Control: Who Controls? â€Å"Should teenagers be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?† Outline: -Thesis Statement- Teenagers should not be required to have permission from their parents to receive birth control. Religious Beliefs: -Sex before marriage -Encouraging the child to have sex -Against God’s will (IT’S A SIN) Communications with teens/parents -Wanting to know from a parent’s perspective -Asking the teen â€Å"why† -Social problems leading to crisis explosionRead MoreTeenagers Should Have Access to Birth Control Essay979 Words   |  4 Pagesare afraid what she is going to think of you when you answer â€Å"Yes.† to the question. You want to do the right thing and get on birth control to be safe, but you know your mom will say no. Girls in the 21st century should have the right to protect themselves with any sort of birth control they choose without parents’ consent. About 40 percent of sexually active teenagers admit to not using any form of protection (like a condom) during their last session. Behavior like this leads to higher risks ofRead MoreBirth Control: With or Without Parental Control Essay958 Words   |  4 Pageslike abortion, the instant where life begins and the use of contraceptives. This article will focus on not only the issue of using of contraceptives, but specifically the distribution of oral contraceptives (â€Å"the pill†) to teenage girls without their parent’s consent. Nemours, a children’s health organization, created pamphlet for doctors’ offices geared towards parents and teens who have questions about common issues in the realm of sexual health. They define â€Å"the pill† as an oral contraceptiveRead MoreThe Ethical Problems Of The Models Of Autonomy And Discipleship1393 Words   |  6 Pagesseeking out contraception or birth control is taken as an example of a common ethical dilemma. According to Duvall, â€Å"Adolescence is a complicated period of emotional, physical, and psychological maturation (Duvall, 2015). They try to understand themselves while pressured by sex, drugs, peers, and alcohol. Katherine Ryan is a 15 year old from Pennsylvania, who presents to the clinic seeking information about whether she visit a doctor and receive treatment without parental consent. Katherine requests aRead MoreThe Birth Control Of Margaret Sanger Essay951 Words   |  4 Pagesrights which one of the main one was to legalize birth control in America. During the process of fighting Sanger establish the American Birth Control League, now called Planned Parenthood. Sanger fund money to Grisworld the created of the hormonal birth control pill the dream of Sanger. Sanger, â€Å"wanted to have it all, and was birth control as the necessary condition for the resolution of their often conflicting needs.† (Chesler 25). Birth control has always been a colossal issue since it was inventionRead MoreThe Prevention Of Teenage Pregnancy Essay1513 Words   |  7 PagesAn issue that is currently plaguing American teenagers today is the access to different types of contraception. This lack of ac cess can lead to higher rates of teenage pregnancy and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. The sexually active teenagers who have been given better access to contraception are less likely to become pregnant or contract an STD, in comparison to their peers who do not have access. With the prevention of teenage pregnancy, comes the prevention of futureRead MoreShould Tennagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control Without Parent Consent?1727 Words   |  7 PagesShould Teenagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control without the Permission of Parents? KaTrina Bacon English 215 February 2, 2012 Dr.Sharonda Johnson Should Teenagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control without the Permission of Parents? Of all the many controversies that have affected the United States in the past decades, birth control has been one of the more important topics. Some popular birth control methods are the female and male condoms, and the birth control pill. Even though both of

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 1 Free Essays

I wished the guy on top of me would hurry up because I was getting bored. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like he was going to finish anytime soon. Brad or Brian or whatever his name was thrust away, eyes squeezed shut with such concentration that you would have thought having sex was on par with brain surgery or lifting steel beams. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 1 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Brett,† I panted. It was time to pull out the big guns. He opened one eye. â€Å"Bryce.† â€Å"Bryce.† I put on my most passionate, orgasmic face. â€Å"Please†¦please†¦don’t stop.† His other eye opened. Both went wide. A minute later, it was all over. â€Å"Sorry,† he gasped, rolling off me. He looked mortified. â€Å"I don’t know†¦didn’t mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It’s okay, baby.† I felt only a little bad about using the don’t stop trick on him. It didn’t always work, but for some guys, planting that seed completely undid them. â€Å"It was amazing.† And really, that wasn’t entirely a lie. The sex itself had been mediocre, but the rush afterward†¦the feel of his life and his soul pouring into me†¦yeah. That was pretty amazing. It was what a succubus like me literally lived for. He gave me a weary smile. The energy he’d had now flowed in my body. Its loss had exhausted him, burned him out. He’d sleep soon and would probably continue sleeping a great deal over the next few days. His soul had been a good one, and I’d taken a lot of it – as well as his life itself. He’d now live a few years less, thanks to me. I tried not to think about that as I hurriedly put on my clothes. Instead, I focused on how I’d done what I had to do for my own survival. Plus, my infernal masters required me to seduce and corrupt good souls on a regular basis. Bad men might make me feel less guilty, but they didn’t fulfill Hell’s quota. Bryce seemed surprised at my abrupt departure but was too worn out to fight it. I promised to call him – having no intention of doing so – and slipped out of the room as he lapsed into unconsciousness. I’d barely cleared his front door before shape-shifting. I’d come to him as a tall, sable-haired woman but now once again wore my preferred shape, petite with hazel-green eyes and light brown hair that flirted with gold. Like most of my life, my features danced between states, never entirely settling on one. I put Bryce out of my mind, just like I did with most men I slept with, and drove across town to what was rapidly becoming my second home. It was a tan, stucco condo, set into a community of other condos that tried desperately to be as hip as new construction in Seattle could manage. I parked my Passat out front, fished my key out of my purse, and let myself inside. The condo was still and quiet, wrapped in darkness. A nearby clock informed me it was three in the morning. Walking toward the bedroom, I shape-shifted again, swapping my clothes for a red nightgown. I froze in the bedroom’s doorway, surprised to feel my breath catch in my throat. You’d think after all this time, I would have gotten used to him, that he wouldn’t affect me like this. But he did. Every time. Seth lay sprawled on the bed, one arm tossed over his head. His breathing came deep and fitful, and the sheets lay in a tangle around his long, lean body. Moonlight muted out the color of his hair, but in the sun, its light brown would pick up a russet glow. Seeing him, studying him, I felt my heart swell in my chest. I’d never expected to feel this way about anyone again, not after centuries of feeling so†¦empty. Bryce had meant nothing to me, but this man before me meant everything. I slid into bed beside him, and his arms instantly went around me. I think it was instinctual. The connection between us was so deep that even while unconscious, we couldn’t stay away from each other. I pressed my cheek to Seth’s chest, and his skin warmed mine as I fell asleep. The guilt from Bryce faded, and soon, there was only Seth and my love for him. I slipped almost immediately into a dream. Except, well, I wasn’t actually in it, at least not in the active sense. I was watching myself, seeing the events unfold as though at a movie. Only, unlike a movie, I could feel every detail. The sights, the sounds†¦it was almost more vivid than real life. The other Georgina was in a kitchen, one I didn’t recognize. It was bright and modern, far larger than anything I could imagine a non-cook like me needing. My dream-self stood at the sink, arms elbow-deep in sudsy water that smelled like oranges. She was hand-washing dishes, which surprised my real-self – but was doing a shoddy job, which did not surprise me. On the floor, an actual dishwasher lay in pieces, thus explaining the need for manual labor. From another room, the sounds of â€Å"Sweet Home Alabama† carried to my ears. My dream-self hummed along as she washed, and in that surreal, dream sort of way, I could feel her happiness. She was content, filled with a joy so utterly perfect, I could barely comprehend it. Even with Seth, I’d rarely ever felt so happy – and I was pretty damned happy with him. I couldn’t imagine what could make my dream-self feel this way, particularly while doing something as mundane as washing dishes. I woke up. To my surprise, it was full morning, bright and sunny. I’d had no sense of time passing. The dream had seemed to last only a minute, yet the nearby alarm clock claimed six hours had passed. The loss of the happiness my dream-self had experienced made me ache. Weirder than that, I felt†¦not right. It took me a moment to peg the problem: I was drained. The life energy I needed to survive, the energy I’d stolen from Bryce, was almost gone. In fact, I had less now than I’d had before going to bed with him. It made no sense. A burst of life like that should have lasted a couple weeks at least, yet I was nearly as wiped out as he’d been. I wasn’t low enough to start losing my shape-shifting ability, but I’d need a new fix within a couple of days. â€Å"What’s wrong?† Seth’s sleepy voice came from beside me. I rolled over and found him propped on one elbow, watching me with a small, sweet smile. I didn’t want to explain what had happened. Doing so would mean elaborating on what I’d done with Bryce, and while Seth theoretically knew what I did to survive, ignorance really was bliss. â€Å"Nothing,† I lied. I was a good liar. He touched my cheek. â€Å"I missed you last night.† â€Å"No, you didn’t. You were busy with Cady and O’Neill.† His smile turned wry, but even as it did, I could see his eyes start to take on the dreamy, inward look he got when he thought about the characters in his novels. I’d made kings and generals beg for my love in my long life, yet some days, even my charms couldn’t compete with the people who lived in Seth’s head. Fortunately, today wasn’t one of those days, and his attention focused back on me. â€Å"Nah. They don’t look as good in a nightgown. That’s very Anne Sexton, by the way. Like ‘candy store cinnamon hearts.'† Only Seth would use a bipolar poet as a compliment. I glanced down and ran an absentminded hand over the red silk. â€Å"This does look pretty good,† I admitted. â€Å"I might look better in this than I do naked.† He scoffed. â€Å"No, Thetis. You do not.† I smiled, as I always did, when he used the pet name he coined for me. In Greek mythology, Thetis had been Achilles’ mother, a shape-shifting goddess won by a determined mortal. And then, in what was an astonishingly aggressive move for him, Seth flipped me onto my back and began kissing my neck. â€Å"Hey,† I said, putting up a half-hearted struggle. â€Å"We don’t have time for this. I have stuff to do. And I want breakfast.† â€Å"Noted,† he mumbled, moving on to my mouth. I stopped my complaining. Seth was a wonderful kisser. He gave the kind of kisses that melted into your mouth and filled you with sweetness. They were like cotton candy. But there was no real melting to be had, not for us. With a well-practiced sense of timing that you could probably set a watch to, he pulled away from the kiss and sat up, removing his hands as well. Still smiling, he looked down at me and my undignified sprawl. I smiled back, squelching the small pang of regret that always came at these moments of retreat. But that was the way it was with us, and honestly, we had a pretty good system going when one considered all the complications in our relationship. My friend Hugh once had joked that all women steal men’s souls if they’re together long enough. In my case, it didn’t taken years of bickering. A too-long kiss would suffice. Such was the life of a succubus. I didn’t make the rules, and I had no way to stop the involuntary energy theft that came from intimate physical contact. I could, however, control whether that physical contact happened in the first place, and I made sure it didn’t. I ached for Seth, but I wouldn’t steal his life as I had Bryce’s. I sat as well, ready to get up, but Seth must have been feeling bold this morning. He wrapped his arms around my waist and shifted me onto his lap, pressing himself against my back so that his lightly stubbled face buried itself in my neck and hair. I felt his body tremble with the intake of a heavy, deep breath. He exhaled it just as slowly, like he sought control of himself, and then strengthened his grip on me. â€Å"Georgina,† he breathed against my skin. I closed my eyes, and the playfulness was gone. A dark intensity wrapped around us, one that burned with both desire and a fear of what might come. â€Å"Georgina,† he repeated. His voice was low, husky. I felt like melting again. â€Å"Do you know why they say succubi visit men in their sleep?† â€Å"Why?† My own voice was small. â€Å"Because I dream about you every night.† In most circumstances, that would have sounded trite, but from him, it was powerful and hungry. I squeezed my eyes tighter as a swirl of emotions danced within me. I wanted to cry. I wanted to make love to him. I wanted to scream. It was all too much sometimes. Too much emotion. Too much danger. Too much, too much. Opening my eyes, I shifted so that I could see his face. We held each other’s gazes, both of us wanting more and unable to give or take it. Breaking the look first, I slipped regretfully from his embrace. â€Å"Come on. Let’s go eat.† Seth lived in Seattle’s university district – the U-district to locals – and was within easy walking distance to assorted shops and restaurants that lay adjacent to the University of Washington’s campus. We found breakfast at a small caf? ¦, and omelets and conversation soon banished the earlier awkwardness. Afterward, we wandered idly up University Way, holding hands. I had errands to run, and he had writing to do, yet we were reluctant to part. Seth suddenly stopped walking. â€Å"Georgina.† â€Å"Hmm?† His eyebrows rose as he stared off at something across the street. â€Å"John Cusack is standing over there.† I followed his incredulous gaze to where a man very like Mr. Cusack did indeed stand, smoking a cigarette as he leaned against a building. I sighed. â€Å"That’s not John Cusack. That’s Jerome.† â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Yup. I told you he looked like John Cusack.† â€Å"Keyword: looked. That guy doesn’t look like him. That guy is him.† â€Å"Believe me, he’s not.† Seeing Jerome’s impatient expression, I let go of Seth’s hand. â€Å"Be right back.† I crossed the street, and as the distance closed between my boss and me, Jerome’s aura washed over my body. All immortals have a unique signature, and a demon like Jerome had an especially strong one. He felt like waves and waves of roiling heat – like when you open an oven and don’t stand far enough back. â€Å"Make it fast,† I told him. â€Å"You’re ruining my romantic interlude. Like usual.† Jerome dropped the cigarette and put it out with his black Kenneth Cole oxford. He glanced disdainfully around. â€Å"What, here? Come on, Georgie. This isn’t romantic. This place isn’t even a pit stop on the road to romance.† I put an angry hand on one hip. Whenever Jerome interrupted my personal life, it usually heralded a series of mishaps I’d never wanted to be involved in. Something told me this was no exception. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"You.† I blinked. â€Å"What?† â€Å"We’ve got a meeting tonight. An all staff meeting.† â€Å"When you say ‘all staff’, do you mean like all staff?† The last time Seattle’s supervising archdemon had gathered everyone in the area together, it had been to inform us that our local imp wasn’t â€Å"meeting expectations.† Jerome had let us all tell the imp good-bye and then banished the poor guy off to the fiery depths of Hell. It was kind of sad, but then my friend Hugh had replaced him, so I’d gotten over it. I hoped this meeting wouldn’t have a similar purpose. He gave me an annoyed look, one that said I was clearly wasting his time. â€Å"That’s the definition of all staff, isn’t it?† â€Å"When is it?† â€Å"Seven. At Peter and Cody’s. Don’t be late. Your presence is essential.† Shit. I hoped this wasn’t actually my going away party. I’d been on pretty good behavior lately. â€Å"What’s this about?† â€Å"Find out when you get there. Don’t be late,† he repeated. Stepping off the main thoroughfare and into the shadow of a building, the demon vanished. A feeling of dread spread through me. Demons were never to be trusted, particularly when they looked like quirky movie stars and issued enigmatic invitations. â€Å"Everything okay?† Seth asked me when I rejoined him. I considered. â€Å"In as much as it ever is.† He wisely chose not to pursue the subject, and he and I eventually separated to take care of our respective tasks. I was dying to know what this meeting could be about but not nearly as much as I wanted to know what had made me lose my energy overnight. And as I ran my errands – groceries, oil change, Macy’s – I also found the strange, brief dream replaying in my head. How could such a short dream have been so vivid? And why couldn’t I stop thinking about it? The puzzle distracted me so much that seven rolled around without me knowing it. Groaning, I headed off for my friend Peter’s place, speeding the whole way. Great. I was going to be late. Even if this meeting didn’t concern me and my impending unemployment, I might end up getting a taste of Jerome’s wrath after all. About six feet from the apartment door, I felt the hum of immortal signatures. A lot of them. My friends’ auras, familiar and beloved, sang to me instantly. A few others gave me pause as I tried to remember who they belonged to; the greater Puget Sound area had a host of hellish employees that I almost never interacted with. One signature I didn’t recognize at all. And one†¦one seemed almost familiar. I couldn’t quite put my finger on who it belonged to, though. I started to knock, decided an all staff meeting deserved more than jeans and a T-shirt, and shape-shifted my outfit into a brown dress with a low-cut, surplice top. My hair settled into a neat bun. I raised my hand to the door. An annoyed vampire I barely remembered let me in. She inclined her chin to me by way of greeting and then continued her conversation with another vampire I’d only met once. I think they worked out of Tacoma, which as I far as I was concerned might as well be annexed to Hell itself. My friend Hugh, dark-haired with a large frame, paced around while chatting animatedly on his cell phone. Jerome lounged in an armchair with a martini. His little-seen lieutenant demonesses stood in a corner, keeping to themselves as always. Peter and Cody – my good friends and the vampires who lived here – laughed about something in the kitchen with a few other hellish employees I only distantly knew. It could have been an ordinary cocktail party, almost a celebration. I hoped that meant no smiting tonight since that would have really put a damper on the atmosphere. No one had noticed my arrival except for Jerome. â€Å"Ten minutes late,† he growled. â€Å"Hey, it’s a fashionable – â€Å" My words were cut off as a tall, Amazonian blonde nearly barreled into me. â€Å"Oh! You must be Georgina! I’ve been dying to meet you.† I raised my eyes past spandex-clad double-D breasts and up into big blue eyes with impossibly long lashes. A huge set of beauty pageant teeth smiled down at me. My moments of speechlessness were few, but they did happen. This walking Barbie doll was a succubus. A really new one. So shiny and new, in fact, it was a wonder she didn’t squeak. I recognized her age both from her signature and her appearance. No succubus with any sense would have shape-shifted into that. She was trying too hard, haphazardly piling together an assortment of pseudo male-fantasy body parts. It left her with a Frankensteinian creation that was both jaw-dropping and probably anatomically impossible. Unaware of my astonishment and disdain, she took my hand and nearly broke it in a mammoth handshake. â€Å"I can’t wait to work with you,† she continued. â€Å"I am so ready to make men everywhere suffer.† I finally found my voice. â€Å"Who†¦who are you?† â€Å"She’s your new best friend,† a voice nearby said. â€Å"My, my look at you. Tawny’s going to have a tough standard to keep up with.† A man elbowed his way toward us, and whatever curiosity I’d felt in the other succubus’ presence disappeared like ashes in the wind. I forgot she was even there. My stomach twisted into knots as I ID’d the mystery signature. Cold sweat broke out along the back of my neck and seeped into the delicate fabric of the dress. The guy approaching was about as tall as me – which wasn’t tall – and had a dark, olive-toned complexion. There was more pomade on his head than black hair. His suit was nice – definitely not off the rack. A thin-lipped smile spread over his face at my dumbstruck discomfiture. â€Å"Little Letha, all grown up and out to play with the adults, eh?† He spoke low, voice pitched for my ears alone. Now, in the grand scheme of things, immortals like me had little to fear in this world. There were, however, three people I feared immensely. One of them was Lilith the Succubus Queen, a being of such formidable power and beauty that I would have sold my soul – again – for one kiss. Someone else who scared me was a nephilim named Roman. He was Jerome’s half-human son and had good reason to want to hunt me down and destroy me some day. The third person who filled me with fear was this man standing before me. His name was Niphon, and he was an imp, just like my friend Hugh. And, like all imps, Niphon really only had two jobs. One was to run administrative errands for demons. The other, his primary one, was to make contracts with mortals, brokering and buying souls for Hell. And he was the imp who had bought mine. How to cite Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 1, Essay examples

Good bye free essay sample

On June 14, 2008, my sister called me from upstairs in her usual annoyed tone. I slowly trekked up the stairs, wondering what I had done this time to annoy her (was it my pigsty of a room? or did she find out about the headphones I somehow forgot to ask if I could borrow?). None of my ponderings could prepare me for the words she would say. As I stepped into the dim lighted room she said â€Å"she’s dead†, â€Å"who†, I asked, â€Å"Ms. Chin, she died this morning.† At first I laughed â€Å"You’re joking, right† I said, seeing the stern expression on my sister’s face I knew that she was being serious. After, I had had a few minutes to grasp the reality of my first cousin’s death; it felt as though the room became dimmer and suddenly I just collapsed on the floor, bawling. How could my twenty- six year old cousin be dead? She was perfectly healthy; in fact, she spoke to my sister the night before. We will write a custom essay sample on Good bye or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page All that raced through my mind was my cousin, Suzanne, I could only imagine how she must feel, her older sister was the only immediate family that lived in Jamaica, and now she was dead. During, the next few days my house was silent, the only time we spoke was when going over flight arrangements. We were all dealing with our grief in different ways, my sisters with their planning, and me with my solitude. Soon, we were off to Jamaica â€Å"the vacation destination†, but this trip would be anything but a vacation. As soon as we arrived on Jamaican soil, we visited our aunt to give her our condolences, but I, on the other hand wanted to be with my Susan to comfort her. We stayed with my aunt and cousin for a few hours until our jet lag kicked in, and we had to call it a night. The next morning, during breakfast my mother, sisters, brother and I talked about Ms. Chin and the different ways in which we remembered her; whether it was for her scholastic achievements, her entrepreneurship, or her blunt honesty. For those few hours we relished in her memory as a family, laughing and crying together. When night came we all headed to my aunt’s house for â€Å"dead yard† or â€Å"nine night† (which is a kind of wake; where friends, family and community of the deceased come to pay their respects and eat, drink, play music and dominoes). It was my first â€Å"dead yard,† it was like a party; I never thought a wake could be so fun. (That, is when I realized that death doesn’t have to be so frightening, it’s apart of life, no one is promised a long life that is why it is important to do the best with the time we are given. My cousin was a great example of that; she achieved so much in such a short time. ) I didn’t fall asleep until 2 a.m. and it was still going on strong. The next morning, my mother, my siblings and I went home to prepare for the funeral that was only hours away. As we all assembled into the church, I could see the coffin, where my cousin lay lifeless. I began walking towards it, my head high and my back arched, confident that I could make without crying. With each pew my confidence lessened, I was only three pews away when my feet became wobbly and my eyes began to tear, I needed to sit down. From my seat I could see the face of my deceased cousin, and I began bawling. I stayed in that seat throughout the service, just wishing that somehow this was just a dream that I would wake up from, but it was not. After, the burial we all headed back to my aunt’s house for the last â€Å"dead yard†, this time I knew we were officially saying goodbye. I walked outside with Susan to the almond tree; we just stood in that spot under the night sky looking at the long asphalt road which lay ahead. It was time to go, we had said our goodbyes, but none of us were truly ready to move forward, at least not yet. While on the plane, I took one last look at Jamaica and said â€Å"good bye.† In conclusion, my cousins’ death and burial has brought home to me the necessity to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented in life, it has also taught me to understand and appreciate that death is apart of living. Life has no certain expiration date; it is what you make of it that matters.

Rhetorical Strategies of Esther Burr’s Journal free essay sample

She has a very deep respect for her father, so when she gets the chance to travel to â€Å"the spring wood† with him she could not be happier. Her use of language, including; diction and imagery, the manner in which she talks about the knowledge she gained that day, and of course how she looks up to her father reveals just how cherished this outing was for her. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Strategies of Esther Burr’s Journal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Esther’s deeply rooted respect for her father is evident from the very first sentence she wrote, â€Å"I have just come back from a most wonderful ride with my honored father† and continues throughout the passage, she calls him â€Å"a great traveler† and brings him water, intently listens to everything he says. She was particularly excited for the outing because her father was very talkative and taught her a lot, this was special for her because he is â€Å"usually taciturn or preoccupied. † How she talks about her father, the great respect she has for him, reveals alone how important this day was for her.When a person idealizes another so much, time spent with them will always be a great experience, regardless of what they do. Another clue to how significant this experience was for her is Esther diction she uses so many adjectives showcasing how amazing this day was for. Going back to the very first line she refers to her trip as â€Å"a most wonderful ride. † Again she continues this pattern throughout the passage, she talks about how beautiful the nature surrounding her was, â€Å" The forests between our house and the full-banked river were very beautiful.The wild cherry and the dogwood were in full bloom. The squirrels were leaping from tree to tree, and the birds were making a various melody. † She truly appreciated every aspect of her time with her father, the imagery shows that. Esther’s language reflects how important she views the knowledge she gained from the trip. She is very excited to have learn about the habits of a flying spider, that is when she calls her father a â€Å"great traveler†.Esther remembers the biblical references her father made and writes them down â€Å"I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys,† applying the words to the Savior, as though the beauty and the loveliness of the Savior were recalled in the works of creation: and then, from the Gospel of John: â€Å"All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made, that was made. † She ends her journal entry with a remark on her knowledge, â€Å"I came home thinking a great many new thoughts† learning is clearly important to her, it helped to make her day.In the average family today, a little girl on a drive with her dad might be preoccupied with her phone, and thinking â€Å"are we there yet? † but that is not the case with Esther at all, she demonstrates this again and again throughout her texts. She was very dif ferent than the average ten year old today, when she saw her reflection it came to her â€Å"great surprise† that she looked like her mother (not having a mirror at home), that was just the cherry on top, so to speak, of her already wonderful day with her father.

The Best Way to Study for the SAT 4 Ultimate Tips

The Best Way to Study for the SAT 4 Ultimate Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you hope to get an amazing SAT score and improve your chances of getting into the college of your dreams, you'll need to know the best way to study for the SAT.But without a definitive study plan and the tools needed to study effectively, you won't be able to maximize your score, even if you put in tons of prep time. In this article, I'll explain all of your SAT study options to help you figure out which ones are right for you, and also give you essential study tips for your SAT prep. What's the Best Way to Study for the SAT? The truth is, there’s no single best way to study for the SAT. Rather, there are multiple ways you can prep: Self-study Tutors Classes Online programs A combination of these options The option you should choose will depend on your resources and what you need help with the most in your SAT prep. Regardless of what you decide to do, your SAT studying should always involve several strategies that are essential for quality test prep. I’ll explain the various strategies you can use, and then go over how to decide which one is the right one for you. 4Key SAT Study Strategies No matter what SAT score you're shooting for or how you plan to get there, here are the strategies you absolutely must employ to raise your score. #1: Determine Your Target Score Before you begin your SAT studying, you'll need tofigure out what score you’re trying to get on the SAT.Having a target score will motivate you and inform your studying. To findyour target score, look up the 75th percentile SAT scores for the schools you’re planning to apply to. Don’t include your safety schools- instead,only look up the scores for the schools you’re most interested in attending. The easiest way to find SAT score info is to Google â€Å"[School Name] PrepScholar SAT† and look for your school's "Admission Requirements" page in our database. This page will tell you that school's average, 25th percentile, and 75th percentile SAT scores. Here is an example of the our PrepScholar page for the University of Wisconsin: Your target score will be the highest 75th percentile scoreout of all the schools you're applying to (again, excluding safety schools). If you achieve a score equal to or above the 75th percentile score for a given college, you'll give yourself a great chance of getting into that school. For more tips on how to make an SAT goal score chart and find your target score, check out our article on good and bad SAT scores. Goals are good. #2: Figure Out How Long You'll Need to Study You can get a rough idea of how long you’ll need to study for the SAT by calculating the difference between your target score and your current score. Your current score will be the score from your last SAT, or, if you haven’t taken the SAT yet, your score from anofficial SAT practice test. (If you take a practice test, be sure to simulate real testing conditions as closely as possible!) Here’s an estimated breakdown of the point improvements you can expect for various numbers of study hours: 0-30 point improvement: 10 hours 30-70 point improvement: 20 hours 70-130 point improvement: 40 hours 130-200 point improvement: 80 hours 200-330 point improvement: 150 hours+ Once you know how long you'll need to study, you can make a plan that'll let you put in enough study hours and ultimately hit your goal score on test day. For example, if you need to study about 40 hours to reach your goal and you're planning on taking the SAT in five weeks, you'll need to schedule at least eight hours of study time per week. #3: Analyze Your Mistakes and Focus On Your Weaknesses It’s not enough to just put in study time; you need to study effectively. You’ll make the best use of your study time by figuring out why you’re missing questions and by focusing on improving your weaknesses. There are three major areas you might need to improve before you take the SAT: Content The SAT tests you on a number of skills related to reading, writing, and math. By determining the specific question types you’re getting wrong, you can identify the topics you need to study more. For example, maybe you’re struggling with punctuation questions on Writing. Or perhaps you’ve been missing the small number oftrigonometry questions on Math because you never learned SOHCAHTOA. As soon as you know the topics that are most challenging for you, you can use your study time to understand them better and do a ton of related practice questions in order to improve your weaknesses. Time The SAT is a strictly timed test, and even if you’re comfortable with the content, you might struggle finishing each section in time. If you’re somebody who either rushes (you finish a section more than five minutes early and make careless mistakes) or struggles to complete a section within the allotted time, you’ll need to work on your time management. If you're running out of time, pay more attention to the time you spend per question on SAT practice tests.Here's an overview of the estimated time you should spend on each question on different sections of the SAT: SAT Section Total Time # of Questions Time per Question Reading 65 minutes 52 75 seconds Writing and Language 35 minutes 44 48 seconds Math No Calculator 25 minutes 20 75 seconds Math Calculator 55 minutes 38 87 seconds Essay (Optional) 50 minutes 1 50 minutes You might also need to improve your content knowledge or develop better test-taking strategies depending on why you're having trouble finishing in time. Strategy The SAT is known for having questions that can be confusing or misleading. If you struggle with understanding what a question is asking or often fall prey to common SAT tricks, you’ll benefit from improving your knowledge of SAT strategy. For example, if you understand how to do all the math on the Math section but have difficulty interpreting the wording in certain questions, you should spend more time learning how to figure out what the questions are really asking. If you're missing Writing questions because you're not sure how to read the passages, that's another sign you need to change and improve your strategy. More generally, you're having problems with strategy if you can grasp the content being tested but struggle to understand and approach SAT questions. #4: Use Realistic Practice Questions and Tests Undoubtedly, the best questions to use are those that most closely resemble the questions on the SAT. A huge flaw of many SAT prep books is that their practice questions aren’t exactly like those on the test. They’re either too difficult, too simple, or presented in a way that differs from the usual SAT question format. It won't help your SAT score much to focus on questions not like those you’ll encounter on the SAT. Therefore,you should use the eight official practice tests provided by the College Board. Khan Academy, a free website that haspartnered with the College Board, is also a good source of official SAT practice questions. Other options for realistic questions areofficial PSAT practice tests(though these will likely be slightly easier than actual SAT questions). Finally, because ACT Reading and ACT English are now so similar to SAT Reading and SAT Writing, you can use official ACT practice tests to supplement your Reading and Writing practice. How Should You Study for the SAT? 4 Methods Now that you know the strategies you must employ to study for the SAT, I’ll go through the various options for SAT studying to help you determine the best method for you. Method 1: Self-Study It’s possible to reach your target score by studying entirely on your own. Whether you've chosen to study independently or simply don’t have the resources to pursue other options,effective self-studying will require you to be extremely disciplined, organized, and motivated. You should set a definitive study plan and stick to it as closely as possible. Other than real practice tests and SAT prep books,I highly recommend reading our SAT blog to further guide your studying. We've written tons of content and strategy guides for the Reading, Writing, Math, and Essay sections. A major drawback of just relying on real practice questions or Khan Academy to study is that you won’t learn test strategies. These strategies, which are explained in our articles, will simplify the test and can help you improve your score. Method 2: Private Tutor A private tutor might be a good option for you if you’re looking for customized instruction or need more help learning the material that’s tested on the SAT. Also, meeting with a tutor can help you stay on track if you need a little push. Keep in mind that tutors can be expensive and oftenvary greatly in terms of their knowledge and effectiveness. Before hiring a tutor, learn what SAT tutors do and how much they cost. Equip yourself with the knowledge to decide whether you should work with a tutor or on your own. Method 3: In-Person SAT Prep Class In-person prep classes have a set curriculum, and, like tutoring, they’re a good option if you need help sticking to a study plan. A prep class can be a good fit for you if you want to learn test strategies and increase your familiarity with the SAT. The best SAT classes willgive you a solid foundation in SAT material and help you study more effectively on your own.Additionally, if you feel that you learn better in a traditional classroom setting, you might enjoy being able to socially interact with your peers. Prep classes do have some significant drawbacks, though. In my opinion, the biggest drawback of a class is that it's not customized to your individual needs.Classes often have students of varying skill levels, and much of its content might feel like review or, on the contrary, might be too challenging if you've never been exposed to the material before. I've taught a number of SAT prep classes, and, as a teacher, my biggest challenge was always trying to make my classes helpful for each student. In the same class, I had students who had just learned English and students who were excelling in their AP English classes. While students at every level did see improvement in their SAT scores after taking my class, admittedlyit was impossible for me to perfectly address the needs of every student. Depending on the length of the course, you might not have enough time to thoroughly cover all of the material on the SAT. Furthermore, SAT classes can get expensive, with many costing more than $1,000. Method 4: Online SAT Prep Course Online prep courses can be a great option for students who want some structure but also the freedom to work independently.The biggest advantages of a good online prep course are that you’ll get an effective study plan and thorough content instruction. What's more, the course will be customized to your particular skill level. I may be biased, but our PrepScholar program is an exceptional online SAT prep course. Itfocuses on improving your weaknesses, and all practice test questions are written by SAT experts who scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT. Furthermore, as an experienced SAT teacher, I know that PrepScholar teaches effective test strategies that aren’t taught in many other in-person or online prep courses. Like all other options, however, online SAT prep courses do have disadvantages. For one, you need to have self-motivation to push yourself to put in enough study hours. In other words, youwon’t have the encouragement of a teacher or tutor to help you focus and stay on track. Secondly, some students just learn better with an instructor in front of them who can immediately answer their questions and provide them with further explanation. While a quality teacher or tutor can keep you engaged with material you might not find too exciting, an online course can feel a bit distant and boring. CollegeDegrees360/Flickr How to Decide the Best SAT Study Method for You Here are four key questions to ask yourself to help you determine yourbest way to study for the SAT: #1: How Much Money Can You Spend on SAT Prep? Although I think spending money on SAT prep is a worthy investment, some students simply can’t afford a tutor or prep course. If you want to take a prep course but don't have enough money, talk toyour school counselor or look online to see whether there are any free SAT prep courses available in your area. In my own experience,I’ve taught several free SAT classes through organizations that specifically cater to low-income students. #2: How Do You Learn Best? Personally, I’ve always preferred studying independently. In school, I learned better reading alone from a textbook than I did in class listening to my teacher lecture. So ask yourself:which of the SAT study options above will work best for your learning style? Remember that you can combine study options, too. For example, you could primarily self-study and then hire a tutor for a couple of hours to help you understand a concept that's been puzzling you. Or, you could take an in-person prep course to learn test strategies and then take an online course for further content instruction. #3: Will You Be Able to Stick to a Study Plan? Self-studying and online courses work best for the most disciplined and determined students who are able to stay on task without the help of an instructor. However, even if you take a class or hire a tutor, you need to staymotivatedto be able to do the necessary work to reach your goal score. Consider your own study habits, such as how often you tend to procrastinate, and then choose the method that'll best suit your prep needs. #4: How Much Guidance Will You Need? If you're only around 50 points away from your target score, you might be able to reach your goal with a couple of weekends of self-studying or a short in-person prep course. However, if you need to raise your score by a large number of points- say, 300 points or more- and you’re struggling to understand critical SAT concepts, you'd probably benefit from more intensive instruction, such asfrom a tutor, online prep course, or multi-week class. Regardless of how you decide to study, as long asyou improve your weaknesses, analyze your mistakes, and use realistic practice problems, you’ll get your desired results in no time! What's Next? Considering using Khan Academy to help you study? Find out how to get the most out of it in your SAT prep. SAT practice test are an excellent way to prepare for the real SAT. But what about old ones? Learn how to use old practice SATs to study for the current SAT. Ready to self-study for the SAT?Then make sure you're using thebest SAT prep bookscurrently on the market. Don't forget thebest SAT websites, either! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Medical Marijuana and the impact on hiring and drug testing Essay - 1

Medical Marijuana and the impact on hiring and drug testing - Essay Example With increased medical marijuana legalization, questions are propping up as to how this would affect the workplace bearing in mind that most of those who consume it are worker. Most especially, human resource managers are concerned as to how the law would impact on the employment hiring process. The complexity of the matter is increased by the fact that those allowed to use marijuana for medical purposes also have a disability which is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and by the Civil Rights Act. Failing to hire such individuals in such states could be considered as a form of discrimination but employers get reprieve in that the Federal law does not offer protection for such cases. As such the issue is very complex needing careful consideration by employers especially in formulation of their zero-tolerance policies or maintaing a drug-free workplace. This essay will present the views of human resource managers on how medical marijuana impacts on employment hiring p rocess. The two human resource managers whose views will be presented here are Mr. Xi Zhao of Uterpy Music Company and Mr. YiChao Wan of Lucky Garden Chinese Restaurant. Uterpy Music company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts one of the states that legalized medical marijuana in 2012. It is a social media company (Internet industry) and the largest social website for people who love music. It aids musicians with networking; collaborating and also getting noticed (Uterpy.com). Lucky Garden Restaurant in the hospitality industry is located in Melbourne, Florida whose medical marijuana bill became law in June, 2014 after being signed by Governor Rick Scott. The company offers catering services and provides wide array of Chinese dishes. The two human resource managers were interviewed using a questionnaire containing wide range of questions as to how the law impacts on

Hybrid cars effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hybrid cars effect - Essay Example Due to this consistent use of the fuel not only in cars but in factories and other production processes, the overall damaging effect of fuel was gradually increasing. (Calef and Goble) The invention of hybrid cars- cars which can run on two different sources of energy- provided one of the valid alternatives to overcome the issue of environmental damage and thus allow the society to move in a cleaner and healthier environment. The effect of hybrid cars therefore can be enormous on the environment as well as on the fuel efficiency of the cars. This will therefore invariably also allow developing sustainable businesses. It is also important to note that the hybrid cars are based on the complex technology and the overall energy resources required to manufacture such cars are relatively higher as compared to the manufacturing of traditional cars. This causal analysis paper will attempt to discuss the hybrid cars effect and how it may positively or negatively contribute towards the environ ment. Hybrid cars effect Fossil fuel includes the energy sources such as oil, coal as well as natural gas and much of dependence of America is on these traditional sources of fuel. The obvious costs of using this fuel in cars and other uses include the costs such as labor and extraction and other related costs which can be quantified. However, few of the costs are not really quantified and neither is paid by the firms or the consumers. Much of the costs are related with the environmental damage and its resulting impacts on the eco-system of the world, health of the individuals as well as the local environment which can be seriously damaged with the increasing use of the fossil fuel in different technologies such as cars.1 The use of traditional fuel by the regular cars is considered as damaging to the environment and therefore its consistent use can actually create significant costs for the society to clean the environment. (Carlsson and Johansson-Stenman). It has been suggested tha t world can save billions of dollars if it can help reduce the deaths caused due to the pollution. It has been estimated that the air pollution can shorten the life of an individual by approximately 9 months. 2This result therefore suggests that the use of traditional cars can create significant air pollution and resultantly contribute towards the health related problems. Hybrid cars can have relatively different effect on the environment and can actually reduce the damaging impact of the fuel on environment. The use of hybrid cars can also result into better fuel mileage as well as the better utilization of the alternative sources of energy which can be more efficient and effectives. Besides, hybrid cars can also affect the way cars are run because of the better environmental impact of their use. The use of hybrid cars can also result into the reduction in the use of gas during the drive especially for slow drivers. Since hybrid cars use an electric motor to support the traditional fuel supply as an alternative source of energy therefore slow drivers can actually shift to the use of electric motor during the drive and can therefore save significantly in terms of fuel and gasoline. (Demirdoven and Deutch). It is also important to understand the use of hybrid cars also provide an alternative for those consumers who are relatively more concerned about the environment. Increasingly, customers are becoming more and more concerned ab

Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance Research Paper

Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance - Research Paper Example Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance Employee engagement is one of the most important issues in HR. It plays a significant role in enhancing the overall performance of the employee and thus the productivity of the organization. It gives an individual a sense of importance and belongingness to the organization. Any absence of employee engagement could lead to stress on the part of employee. In this paper, we will discuss the importance of employee engagement and its impact on organizational performance as it has become one of the most important concerns for the HR of an organization. When employees are fully engaged and dedicated towards their work and organization, we say that employees are engaged. Employee’s engagement is usually a measurable form of concept, which assesses the positive and negative attachment of employee with job and organization. Engagement is a step forward than simple employee’s motivation and satisfaction as it also specifies the amount of involvement in organization tasks and decision making Schmidt in 1993 described employee engagement as a modernized version of job satisfaction and commitment with work. Various studies found employee engagement as a very important tool that could trigger positive outcomes for an organization.Employee retention is the most important benefit of employee engagement as it significantly reduces the cost of the organization and improves the productivity. ... In turn, it brings good results for organization and enhances the job performance of employees too. For example, such employees tries to give their extra input, spend extra time at work, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and improved services. This concept was initiated during the World War II, when the impact of unity between the army men was assessed. Studies were conducted in the world war to find the importance of motivation and engagement as scores were given to different attributes. In today’s world it has now become a major HR issue as the cost of replacing an old employee is very high (Arndt, 2000, pp. 44–48). According to the study conducted by Society of Human Resource Management, replacing an employee could cost $3500 at least, making it difficult for the organization to hire a new employee. As a result, organizations are trying to pay attention on this important issue so they could enhance organizational performance (Potosky, Bobko, 2004, pp. 1003 –34). Towers Perrin conducted a study in 2007-08 on 90,000 employees working in 18 different countries to gauge the importance of employee engagement. The study found that engaged employee had a 19% probability of increasing the operating income of the company. On the other hand, employee with lowest engagement had a 32% probability of reducing the operating income of the company. Tony Schwartz stated that more than 100 studies have proved strong relationship between employee engagement and organizational performance. Studies also show that out of the total workforce, only 20% of them are fully (Caruth, 2007, pp. 150-167). These studies show the importance of generating employee engagement that could result in

Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication

Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication What is nonverbal communication? Nonverbal Communication is a system of symbolic behaviors that includes all forms of communication except words. It is the nonlinguistic transmission of information through visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic channels where the message isn’t being said. Nonverbal communication is an unconscious language that broadcast our true feelings and intentions. Trust, clarity and rapport can be created when nonverbal signals match up with the words we say if it didn’t generate tension, mistrust and confusion.There are two types of nonverbal communication which are nonverbal messages produced by the body and nonverbal messages produced by the broad setting. Nonverbal communication is used to repeat the verbal message, used to accent a verbal message, regulate interactions and as a substitute for verbal messages such as gestures and facial expressions. Body language is a main feature of nonverbal communication. What is Body Language? Body language plays a big role in intuition as it gives us messages about the other personthat we can interpret at an intuitive level. Body language is the conscious and unconscious actions and postures by which attitudes and feelings are communicated. Body language is a subconscious behavior distinct from sign language which is fully conscious and purposeful act of communication. Body language can reveal much about feelings and meanings to others and how others reveal their feelings towards you. Body language signals happen on both conscious and unconscious level. Body language encompasses how we position our body, facial expressions, movement of eyes, the space between us and people and also body language tend to include the pace, pitch, volume, variation, pauses of our voice. Body language is thought to account for between 50 to 70 percent of all communication. There are two types of body language parts of the body and intent. Body movements include Eye contact, body position, gesture and movement Body movements Body movements emphasize what a person says and deliver information about the emotions and attitudes of the person. There are some hand gestures to say â€Å"ok† â€Å"come here† which are internationally recognized. Facial expressions show the emotions we feel unintentionally which gives strong clue about the true emotional state of a person. Some gestures are used to give back such as nodding heads which will allow the person to adapt to his speech to reflect interest and agreement which will help to develop the conversation. Nonverbal behaviors such as biting nails, scratching heads are psychological needs which are subconscious. These behaviors often accompany feelings of anxiety or hostility. Posture reflects people’s emotions, attitudes and intentions. There are two types of postures open and close postures. In a close position people tend to have arms folded legs crossed where as in an open structure people tend to have arms apart on the arms of a chair which communicates openness or interest to listen, clos posture shows discomfort or disinterest to communicate. Eye contact is important in giving and receiving feedbacks, let a partner know when it is their turn to talk and to communicate something about a relationship between people. Communication may not be smooth if a listener averts eyes too frequently. Personal Space Personal space maintained between two people is different to types of relationship in different cultures. There are four types of relationships. The closest contact is the intimate distance. To hold a conversation personal distance is appropriate where it is easy to see the expression, eye movements and the body language. Mostly hand shaking occurs in a personal distance. Social distance is the distance for impersonal business it is more to a formal relationship where the speech should be loud and use of eye contact is essential to remain the interaction. Finally the public distance is when speakers address groups at public distance. It is necessary to exaggerate on nonverbal communication specially the hand gestures as facial expressions cannot be seen in such a distance. In different relationships the body language used differs as the distance is different from one to another. The nonverbal communication is adjusted to use in different relationship types. Body language as an influencer Opening up the body and taking and filling more space shows the power posture which shows a range of confidence and boosting effects. When in an interview or anywhere else using the power pose gives confidence and shows that you are confident and full of energy. This will influence people more on how they feel about you than what you say. Avoidance of devices used helps to develop moreconfidence. It is better avoiding using devices before a meeting so that it will help to organize and focus thoroughly. Facial expressions also mattes a lot in body language, It is necessary to have proper facial expression. Before a meeting go in front of a mirror and image yourself and reset to suit the emotions of the meeting. A genuine smile will stimulate your own sense of wellbeing which will display you are approachable, corporative and trustworthy> Gesturing when speaking will aid the thoughts and make a good impression. It is more effective and competent when using hand gestures it is another tool to punctuate what we are saying. When the gestures are meaningful and related to what we say it makes the listener to understand and remember. Gesturing helps to make clearer thoughts and speak in tighter sentences with declarative language. Leaning forward, nodding, tilting the head shows that you are engaged and paying attention which will encourage the speaker to continue specking. It is better to keep the hands free when talking to make the speech effective by using hand gestures. It is said that people with their hands held at waist level are more comfortable than hands at chest level Hand shake is the most powerful nonverbal signal. People remember two times more if you shake hand and people react more openly and friendly to people who shake hands. Shuffling of feet, fidgeting and winding of feet around each other shows nervousness and anxiety, when in tension people will stretch and curl feet to relieve tension Body languages of different genders Male and females doesn’t show much of a difference. There are few noticeable differences in female body language which women do consciously and subconsciously and also it says women tend to be more aware of their body language and others body language cues. Men read body language using different areas of their brains Men and women lie differently. Women lie less about themselves and more to protect others feelings or to make others feel better about themselves. Men lie to appear more powerful, interesting, and successful. They lie about themselves eight times more than they lie about others. Men usually point their toes towards the most important person to him in a group. Men take much more space to claim power in a room or assert dominance. How to improve non verbal communication To improve nonverbal communication, should learn to manage stress and pay attention to inconsistencies and show proper gestures to illustrate the message effectively. Should also maintain the proper posture and eye contact to display confidence an interest if not it will be viewed as disinterest or nervousness. In order to communicate effectively it is necessary to be aware of our space as well as others space and also it is equally important to be culturally competent and to know what is accepted in other cultures. References Goman, C. (2014).10 Powerful body language tips.Available: http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/10-Powerful-Body-Language-Tips.aspx. Last accessed 30th May 2014. Female Body Language Science of People. (n.d.). Science of People. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://www.scienceofpeople.com/2013/06/female-body-language/ Edwards, V. (2014, January 30). How to Read A Mans Body Language. The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-van-edwards/how-to-read-a-mans-body-l_b_4674615.html

Dantes Inferno - A Religious and Morally Challenging Experience :: Divine Comedy Inferno Essays

Dante's Inferno - A Religious and Morally Challenging Experience      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dante Alighieri, one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages, was born in Florence, Italy on June 5, 1265.   He was born to a middle-class Florentine family.   At an early age he began to write poetry and became fascinated with lyrics.   During his adolescence, Dante fell inlove with a beautiful girl named Beatrice Portinari.   He saw her only twice but she provided much inspiration for his literary masterpieces. Her death at a young age left him grief-stricken.   His first book, La Vita Nuova, was written about her. Sometime before 1294, Dante married Gemma Donati.   They had four children.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dante was active in the political and military life of Florence. He entered the army as a youth and held several important positions in the Florence government during the 1290's.   During his life, Florence was divided politically between Guelphs and Ghibellines.   The Guelphs supported the church and liked to keep things as they were, unlike the Ghibellines. The Ghibellines were mostly supporters of the German emperor and at the time Dante was born, were relieved of their power. When this change took place, the Guelphs for whom Dante's family was associated took power. Although born into a Guelph family, Dante became more neutral later in life realizing that the church was corrupt, believing it should only be involved in spiritual affairs.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the turn of the century, Dante rose from city councilman to ambassador of Florence.   His career ended in 1301 when the Black Guelph and their French allies seized control of the city.   They took Dante's possessions and sentenced him to be permanently banished from Florence, threatening the death penalty upon him if he returned.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dante spent most of his time in exile writing new pieces of literature.   It is believed that around 1307 he interrupts his unfinished work, Convivio, a reflection of his love poetry philosophy of the Roman tradition, to begin The Comedy (later known as The Divine Comedy).   He writes a book called De Vulgari Eloquentia explaining his idea to combine a number of Italian dialects to create a new national language.   In 1310 he writes De Monarchia presenting Dante's case for a one-ruler world order.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among his works, his reputation rests on his last work, The Divine

Funding in Issaquah School District

The responsibility for managing the finances of Issaquah School District lies with the superintendent and the School Board, although it is regulated by state law and is under instructions from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. There are guidelines for budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, which all district schools must follow. School districts plan and formulate a budget before the start of the school year. The budget is formed in accordance to the stipulations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The finance department handles money related functions like budgeting, accounting, payroll and benefits, purchasing, accounts payable and receivable, inventory control and asset management. The school district also includes several individual businesses like transport business, food service business, and a child care business. All these are operated on the lines of business model, to ensure accountability and proper use of public funds. In July 2004, a Policy Governance system was introduced by the school board, requiring routine reports on the status and developments occurring in every aspect of district operation. The financial monitoring reports are reviewed several times a year, by the school board. The setting of the school budget requires about a year’s time, and its working is always done for the subsequent year. It requires a four-month time for the completing of the preliminary works like receiving directions for budget setting from Superintendent, legislature, and administrators beginning to work on the budget process. Another four-month period is also required for the drafting of the budget and finalizing the budget, respectively. Apart from gifts and grants received, Issaquah gets less in funding. There are three sources of funding for school districts; namely the federal, state and local taxes. Issaquah gets less funding from all three sources, compared to any other districts. The Issaquah school district ranks 272nd in the revenue per pupil, among the districts in the state. It must be noted here that there are only 296 districts in the state in 2006-07. However many people consider Issaquah as a rich district, unaware of the realities and effects of the lesser funding. School funding is an important agenda debated in Washington’s State legislative and budget panning sessions. In 2006-07, Issaquah received only about $395,000 in federal Title I funding which is aimed at remedial reading programs for the disadvantaged students. This should be compared with other King County districts which get even millions in this fund. The fact that a significant population of Issaquah is considerably affluent, is attributed as the cause for the low funding. In the 1970s, when education was equalized, some districts like Everett and Northshore paid higher salaries to their teachers. Today the state pays about $2000 more per year to an Everett teacher, when compared to an Issaquah teacher. In terms of local funding too, Issaquah treads behind several other districts due to gap in levy authority. Issaquah would collect $6. 4 million more each year if it had the levy authority similar to that of Bellevue, or collected $9. 2 million more per year if it had the levy authority of Mercer Island. In Issaquah, the under-funding of special education by the state is estimated to be around $2. 5 million per year, which is adjusted by local levy dollars. As the local levy dollars cannot be used for supporting other classroom programs, all the students are affected. It is estimated that the under-funding of special education by the Washington State is nearly $200 million per year. On September 30, 2004, about twelve school districts joined together and filed a case against the state for failing to provide the necessary funds for the special education programs. The courts have ruled that Washington State is obliged to fully fund the basic and special education in the district schools.

King Williams War in America

King Williams War in America King James II came to the English throne in 1685. He was not only Catholic but also pro-French. Further, he believed in the Divine Right of Kings. Disagreeing with his beliefs and fearing the continuation of his line, leading British nobles called upon his son-in-law William of Orange to take the throne from James II. In November 1688, William led a successful invasion with approximately 14,000 troops. In 1689 he was crowned William III and his wife, who was James II daughter, was crowned Queen Mary. William and Mary ruled from 1688 until 1694. The College of William and Mary was founded in 1693 in honor of their rule. Upon their invasion, King James II escaped to France. This episode in British history is called the Glorious Revolution. King Louis XIV of France, another strong proponent of Absolute Monarchies and the Divine Right of Kings, sided with King James II. When he invaded the Rhenish Palatinate, William III of England joined the League of Augsburg against France. This began the War of the League of Augsburg, also called the Nine Years War and the War of the Grand Alliance. Beginning of King Williams War in America In America, the British and the French were already having issues as frontier settlements fought for territorial claims and trading rights. When news of war reached America, fighting broke out in earnest in 1690. The war was referred to as King Williams War on the North American continent. At the time that the war started, Louis de Buade Count Frontenac was the Governor General of Canada. King Louis XIV ordered Frontenac to take New York in order to have access to the Hudson River. Quebec, the capital of New France, froze over in the winter, and this would allow them to continue to trade throughout the winter months. The Indians joined with the French in their attack. They began to attack New York settlements in 1690, burning down Schenectady, Salmon Falls, and Fort Loyal. New York and the colonies of New England joined together after meeting in New York City in May 1690 to attack the French in return. They attacked in Port Royal, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. The English were stopped in Acadia by the French and their Indian allies. Port Royal was taken in 1690 by Sir William Phips, the commander of the New England fleet. This was the capital of French Acadia and basically surrendered without much of a fight. Nevertheless, the English plundered the town. However, it was retaken by the French in 1691. Even after the war, this event was a factor in the deteriorating frontier relations between the English and the French colonists. Attack on Quebec Phips sailed to Quebec from Boston with around thirty ships. He sent word to Frontenac asking him to surrender the city. Frontenac responded in part: I will answer your general only by the mouths of my cannon, that he may learn that a man like me is not to be summoned after this fashion. With this response, Phips led his fleet in an attempt to take Quebec. His attack was made from land as a thousand men disembarked to set up cannons while Phips had four warships attack Quebec itself. Quebec was well defended both by its military strength and natural advantages. Further, smallpox was rampant, and the fleet ran out of ammunition. In the end, Phips was forced to retreat. Frontenac used this attack to shore up the fortifications around Quebec. After these failed attempts, the war continued for seven more years. However, most of the action seen in America was in the form of border raids and skirmishes. The war ended in 1697 with the Treaty of Ryswick. The effects of this treaty on the colonies was to return things to the status quo before the war. The borders of the territories previously claimed by New France, New England, and New York were to stay as they were before hostilities began. However, confrontations continued to plague the frontier after the war. Open hostilities would begin again in a few years with the beginning of Queen Annes War in 1701. Sources:Francis Parkman, France, and England in North America, Vol. 2: Count Frontenac and New France Under Louis XIV: A Half-Century of Conflict, Montcalm,  and Wolfe (New York, Library of America, 1983), p. 196.Place Royale, https://www.loa.org/books/111-france-and-england-in-north-america-volume-two

Determine what is poverty and whom can we classify as deprived or poor The WritePass Journal

Determine what is poverty and whom can we classify as deprived or poor Introduction Determine what is poverty and whom can we classify as deprived or poor Introduction When discussing about poverty, it is significant to determine what is poverty and whom can we classify as deprived or poor. It is essential to define poverty prior to it is measuring. Poverty refers to circumstances relating a lack of income, also a resultant low level of consumption and wellbeing. When talking about poverty, the criterion against which the income level is judged should be apparent, which is why the   measurements of poverty have had numerous disagreements over the years. There are two common concepts of poverty: an absolute concept of poverty, and a relative concept of poverty. A household would be considered in a absolute poverty if its income is set to a minimum level of expenditure and hence a set level of income, which leads to a minimum level of consumption such as diet, that is satisfactory to sustain wellbeing and restricted housing and clothing. Relative poverty on the other hand   is defined in terms of the standard of living in a specific society, at a specific time. Relative poverty takes into consideration a households income compared to other households in that society. If a household possesses insufficient income to allow it to partake in the habitual actions of its people. (Jean Hindriks, Gareth D. Myles (2006)).Constructing   a poverty line is the first step of measuring poverty. This constructed line separates those living   in poverty from those who are not.   (Jean Hindriks, Gareth D. Myles (2006)). Household surveys of income distribution or consumption that are similar across countries is fundamental for achieving steady measure s of poverty( Having global poverty by Timothy Besley, Robin Burgess). Identifying an indicator for household welfare, is the firs phase of measuring poverty, and this indicator could be based on consumption, income or expenditure (Ravallion, 1996). Household surveys of income distribution or consumption that are similar across countries is fundamental for achieving steady measures of poverty. In spite of this, ever with the most up-to-date   poverty data, constructing a poverty line that can be used for   comparison projects across countries proves to be challenging and problematic (Having global poverty by Timothy Besley, Robin   Burgess). Calculating the expenditure of a minimum average of living, mainly   concentrating on having sufficient food, is the traditional way of   constructing â€Å"precise† poverty line. Since in the poorest countries most of the earnings of the people is used up on food, not having sufficient money is not having enough to eat. But setting poverty line completely based   on food lacks reliability, because even the poorest purchase things other than food and clothing, goods that are   not categorised as necessities. This said the relation between   poverty and starvation still remains strong and this is why   a lot of countries determine  Ã‚   their poverty lines by calculating the expense of getting   a sufficient amount of   food (â€Å"Measuring Poverty† by Angus Deaton, 2003) References Jean Hindrinks, Gareth D. Myles.(2006) â€Å"Intermidiate Public Economics†, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Are Leaders Born or Made Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Are Leaders Born or Made - Essay Example Discussion In recent times there has been debate over whether leaders are born or these skills can be acquired. Social scientist have attempted to identify the traits, behavior, sources of power or aspects of a situation that makes a leader standout and influence followers to accomplish group objectives. Effectiveness of a leader depends a lot on his following i.e. how the followers follow. What is leadership? Humankind has been pondering over this issue for about three thousand years and after over hundred years of academic research we have not yet reached the consensus. Many books have been written over this topic. By the end of 2009 the no of books written on leadership were 53,121. In a short span of time we will literally have more books on this topic than the people to read them. It tells not only the importance, relevance of this topic but also the complexity associated with it. There is no consensus on the definition of leadership as well simply because it is not required. Ho wever there seems to exist four areas of dispute around which theory of leadership revolves namely person, process, positional and result. Personal approach associate leadership with the person this approach is usually derived from autobiographies. Others define it as a process, the process through which information which is contradictory and undigested is made sense of. It is basically the style that leaders adopt. Positional approach is based on authority. It is the ability to exert pressure and get things done. Result approach is based on mobilizing a community or group of people to achieve a purpose. Thus leadership can be defined in various ways. It strengthens our argument about its complexity. 1(Keith Grint, 2010) What leadership is all about? Is it only about influencing others? How can we differentiate leadership from other means of authority such as power, dominance, and authority? Leaders inspire their followers and make them do things which otherwise they would not do be cause followers have trust and faith in their leaders. There are certain myths about leadership which needs clarification. An identification of essential elements and skills provide the basic framework required for success. A simple and unique not basic, explanation of leadership procedure Insight into the rationale of leading. Sound understanding of the organizational context in which one intends to lead Appreciation and ability to grasp opportunities and unique challenges innate in every situation. Clarity and transparency about ones leadership role, what one possesses priori to exercising leadership Savvy and successful leaders build their own agenda based on their skills and capabilities, reflecting self learning and knowledge and a healthy respect for challenges, opportunities and risks. 2(Joan V. Gallos, 2008) Leadership cannot be confined to political or social life only. It is as much needed in our business world as in any other walk of life. It is a widely accepted fact tha t leaders play a pivotal role in organization’s success. It is a critical factor in enabling organizations to adapt to its environment readily, surviving and thriving by successfully implementing organizational strategy. Based on vast research three themes about human behavior have been

Black studies about slavery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Black studies about slavery - Essay Example This paper gives a brief reaction to the video about Frederick Douglass, new things learnt from the video and the times he lived in, critically rating the video as a device for learning about Douglass and his times. Though the video paints a gloomy picture of what transpired from the pre-colonial Africa to the post-colonial Africa concerning slavery and slave trade, it is clear that some heroes such as Frederick Douglass spend a better part of their lifetime and great efforts in refining the American dream. One can deduce from the brief biography of Frederick Douglass that while the slave trade could not be prevented especially due to the large number of nations involved, it was possible to tame slavery more so that which consisted of torture and other inhumane acts. Frederick Douglass came out as a strong social reformer, who championed for the rights of the African Americans, his slavery status notwithstanding. This was especially so because despite being a diplomat, he was also a great orator and writer. This means that one had to be courageous enough to present a tough stance to the authorities and all the parties involves without giving it a second thought, at least according to the video. Perhaps another important point worth noting from the video is that while Frederick Douglass fought slavery through his antislavery writing and through the political front, it became apparent even to the whites that slavery was causing more polarization as opposed to driving the nation towards achieving the American dream. Although the video does not explicitly reveal how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery, it is particularly clear that his strong stance for women’s rights gave him an edge in fighting slavery especially when more people from diverse backgrounds started believing in his ideology. Certainly, the nineteenth century was the most traumatic period for the African Americans especially those that were subjected to hard labour. From the video about

Software and Data Sharing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Software and Data Sharing - Essay Example According to Tan & Payton (Eds), data sharing is different in CHIN models from Mayo clinic because CHIN uses data sharing and health IT innovations to improve partnerships between clinicians, public health leaders, policy makers, and informatics experts. CHIN community partners gain from the shared data such as centralized data warehouse a connected electronic health record. Contrary to this, Mayo clinic shares its data through creating software, tools, and services for large scale health records. The risk of a Community Health Information Network (CHIN) is that membership in it, if not controlled can lead to greater risks associated with the law. The benefits include facilitation of care, lower cost of care, and knowledgeable choice to the patients. The providers on the other hand reduce segregation of rural physicians, mange complete cost of therapy, and develop a competitive market

The Methods of Job Analysis and Job Design in the HR Function Essay Example for Free

The Methods of Job Analysis and Job Design in the HR Function Essay There aren’t many differences in job descriptions for an Employment Assistant example in my text and the Marketing Account Representative position at Alliance Worldwide on Monster.com. The job description for the Employment Assistant position is summarized and straight to the point. Instead of providing the company’s history, the job description actually describes the position. In the Human Resources Management department, the selected individuals must perform professional HR work such as employee recruitment and selection, maintaining files, and other duties. In this position, you must work under general supervision as well. The Marketing Account Representative position is a little different. The description for this position is mostly the history of the company such as willing to hire candidates at an entry-level position and training them into Branch Management. There are different position titles between this entry-level position, and with each promotion, you will be an expert in your previous field and entry-level in another, maintaining a teacher and student mentality. One of the differences is the responsibilities between being in Human Resources Management than a Marketing Representative is that there weren’t any business opportunities available. The job opportunities for Marketing Representatives at Alliance Worldwide are presented immediately upon hiring. Some of the opportunities includes developing entry-level skills and gradually grow to train others. Despite of the different job descriptions of these two positions, each job includes a great deal of education, hard work and training, and the ability to perform.

Biography of the Beatles

Biography of the Beatles Music Analysis: The Beatles Introduction So much has been said and written about the Beatles and their story is so mythic in its sweep that it is difficult to summarize their career without restating clichà ©s that have already been digested by tens of millions of rock fans. To start with the obvious, they were the greatest and most influential act of the rock era, and introduced more innovations into popular music than any other rock band of the 20th century. Moreover, they were among the few artists of any discipline that were simultaneously the best at what they did, and the most popular at what they did. Relentlessly imaginative and experimental, the Beatles grabbed a hold of the international mass consciousness in 1964 and never let go for the next six years, always staying ahead of the pack in terms of creativity, but never losing their ability to communicate their increasingly sophisticated ideas to a mass audience. â€Å"Their supremascy as rock icons remains unchallenged to this day, decades after their breakup in 1970.† (Jansen, Lloyd 2005) Even when couching praise in specific terms, it is hard to convey the scope of the Beatles achievements in a mere paragraph or two. They synthesized all that was good about early rock roll, and changed it into something original and even more exciting. They established the prototype for the self-contained rock group that wrote and performed their own material. As composers, their craft and melodic inventiveness were second to none, and key to the evolution of rock from its blues/RB-based forms into a style that was far more eclectic, but equally visceral. As singers, both John Lennon and Paul McCartney were among the best and most expressive vocalists in rock; the groups harmonies were intricate and exhilarating. â€Å"As performers, they were exciting and photogenic; when they retreated into the studio, they were instrumental in pioneering advanced techniques and multi-layered arrangements.† (Jansen, 2005) They were also the first British rock group to achieve worldwide prominence, launching a British Invasion that made rock truly an international phenomenon. History More than any other top group, the Beatles success was very much a case of the sum being greater than the parts. Their phenomenal cohesion was due in large degree to most of the group having known each other and played together in Liverpool for about five years before they began to have hit records. Guitarist and teenage rebel John Lennon got hooked on rock roll in the mid 1950s, and formed a band, the Quarrymen, at his high school. Around mid-1957, the Quarrymen were joined by another guitarist, Paul McCartney, nearly two years Lennons junior. A bit later they were joined by another guitarist, George Harrison, a friend of McCartneys. â€Å"The Quarrymen would change lineups constantly in the late 50s, eventually reducing to the core trio of guitarists, whod proven themselves to be the best musicians and most personally compatible individuals within the band.† (Turkalo, David M 1990) The Quarrymen changed their name to the Silver Beatles in 1960, quickly dropping the Silver to become just the Beatles. Lennons art college friend Stuart Sutcliffe joined on bass, but finding a permanent drummer was a vexing problem until Pete Best joined in the summer of 1960. He successfully auditioned for the combo just before they left for a several-month stint in Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg was the Beatles baptism by fire. Playing grueling sessions for hours on end in one of the most notorious red-light districts in the world, the group was forced to expand their repertoire, tighten up their chops, and invest their show with enough manic energy to keep the rowdy crowds satisfied. When they returned to Liverpool at the end of 1960, the band was suddenly the most exciting act on the local circuit. They consolidated their following in 1961 with constant gigging in the Merseyside area, most often at the legendary Cavern Club, the incubator of the Merseybeat sound. They also returned for engagements in Hamburg during 1961, although Sutcliffe dropped out of the band that year to concentrate on his art school studies there. McCartney took over on bass, Harrison settled in as lead guitarist, and Lennon had rhythm guitar; everyone sang. In mid-1961, the Beatles made their first recordings in Germany, as a backup group to a British rock guitarist/singer based in Hamburg, Tony Sheridan. The Beatles hadnt fully developed at this point, and these recordings many of which (including a couple of Sheridan-less tracks) were issued only after the bands rise to fame found their talents in a most embryonic state. The Hamburg stint was also notable for gaining the Beatles sophisticated, artistic fans such as Sutcliffes girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr, who influenced all of them (except Best) to restyle their quiffs in the moptops that gave the musicians their most distinctive visual trademark. Near the end of 1961, the Beatles exploding local popularity caught the attention of local record store manager Brian Epstein, who was soon managing the band as well. He used his contacts to swiftly acquire a January 1, 1962, audition at Decca Records that has been heavily bootlegged (some tracks were officially released in 1995). After weeks of deliberation, Decca turned them down, as did several other British labels. Epsteins perseverance was finally rewarded with an audition for producer George Martin at Parlophone, an EMI subsidiary; Martin signed the Beatles in mid-1962. By this time, Epstein was assiduously grooming his charges for national success by influencing them to smarten up their appearance, dispensing with their leather jackets and trousers in favor of tailored suits and ties. One more major change was in the offing before the Beatles made their Parlophone debut. In August 1962, drummer Pete Best was kicked out of the group, a controversial decision that has been the cause of much speculation since. â€Å"There is still no solid consensus as to whether it was because of his solitary, moody nature; the other Beatles jealousy of his popularity with the fans; his musical shortcomings (George Martin had already told Epstein that Best wasnt good enough to drum on recordings); or his refusal to wear his hair in bangs.† (Turkalo, 1990) What seems most likely was that the Beatles simply found his personality incompatible, preferring to enlist Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey), drummer with another popular Merseyside outfit, Rory Storm the Hurricanes. Starr had been in the Beatles for a few weeks when they recorded their first single, Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You, in September 1962. Both sides of the 45 were Lennon-McCartney originals, and the songwriting team would be credited with most of the groups material throughout the Beatles career. The single, a promising but fairly rudimentary effort, hovered around the lower reaches of the British Top 20. The Beatles phenomenon didnt truly kick in until Please Please Me, which topped the British charts in early 1963. This was the prototype British Invasion single: an infectious melody, charging guitars, and positively exuberant harmonies. The same traits were evident on their third 45, From Me to You (a British number one), and their debut LP, Please Please Me. Although it was mostly recorded in a single day, Please Please Me topped the British charts for an astonishing 30 weeks, establishing the group as the most popular rock roll act ever seen in the U.K. What the Beatles had done was to take the best elements of the rock and pop they loved and make them their own. Since the Quarrymen days, they had been steeped in the classic early rock of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and the Everly Brothers; theyd also kept an ear open to the early 60s sounds of Motown, Phil Spector, and the girl groups. What they added was an unmatched songwriting savvy, a brash guitar-oriented attack, wildly enthusiastic vocals, and the embodiment of the youthful flair of their generation, ready to dispense with postwar austerity and claim a culture of their own. They were also unsurpassed in their eclecticism, willing to borrow from blues, popular standards, gospel, folk, or whatever seemed suitable for their musical vision. Producer George Martin was the perfect foil for the group, refining their ideas without tinkering with their cores; during the last half of their career, he was indispensable for his ability to translate their concepts into arrangements that required complex orchestration, innovative applications of recording technology, and an ever-widening array of instruments. Just as crucially, the Beatles were never ones to stand still and milk formulas. All of their subsequent albums and singles would show remarkable artistic progression. Even on their second LP, With the Beatles (1963), it was evident that their talents as composers and instrumentalists were expanding furiously, as they devised ever more inventive melodies and harmonies, and boosted the fullness of their arrangements. She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand established the group not just as a popular music act, but as a phenomenon never before seen in the British entertainment business, as each single sold over a million copies in the U.K. After some celebrated national TV appearances, Beatlemania broke out across the British Isles in late 1963, the group generating screams and hysteria at all of their public appearances, musical or otherwise. Capitol, which had first refusal of the Beatles recordings in the United States, had declined to issue the groups first few singles, which ended up appearing on relatively small American independents. Capitol took up its option on I Want to Hold Your Hand, which stormed to the top of the U.S. charts within weeks of its release on December 26, 1963. The Beatles television appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964 launched Beatlemania (and the entire British Invasion) on an even bigger scale than it had reached in Britain. In the first week of April 1964, the Beatles had the Top Five best-selling singles in the U.S.; they also had the first two slots on the album charts, as well as other entries throughout the Billboard Top 100. No one had ever dominated the market for popular music so heavily; its doubtful that anyone ever will again. The Beatles themselves would continue to reach number one with most of their singles and albums until their 1970 breakup. â€Å"Hard as it may be to believe today, the Beatles were often dismissed by cultural commentators of the time as nothing more than a fad that would vanish within months as the novelty wore off.† (Turkalo, 1990) The group ensured this wouldnt happen by making A Hard Days Night in early 1964, a cinà ©ma và ©rità ©-style motion picture comedy/musical that cemented their image as the Fab Four: happy-go-lucky, individualistic, cheeky, funny lads with nonstop energy. The soundtrack was also a triumph, consisting entirely of Lennon-McCartney tunes, including such standards as the title tune, And I Love Her, If I Fell, Cant Buy Me Love, and Things We Said Today. George Harrisons resonant 12-string electric guitar leads were hugely influential; the movie helped persuade the Byrds, then folk singers, to plunge all-out into rock roll, and the Beatles (along with Bob Dylan) would be hugely influential on the folk-rock explosion of 1965. The Beatles success, too, had begun to open the U.S. market for fellow Brits like the Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Kinks, and inspired young American groups like the Beau Brummels, Lovin Spoonful, and others to mount a challenge of their own with self-penned material that owed a great debt to Lennon-McCartney. Significance Between riotous international tours in 1964 and 1965, the Beatles continued to squeeze out more chart-topping albums and singles. In retrospect, critics have judged Beatles for Sale (late 1964) and Help! (mid-1965) as the bands least impressive efforts. To some degree, thats true. Touring and an insatiable market placed heavy demands upon their songwriting, and some of the originals and covers on these records, while brilliant by many groups standards, were filler in the context of the Beatles best work. But when at the top of their game, the group was continuing to push forward. I Feel Fine had feedback and brilliant guitar leads; Ticket to Ride showed the band beginning to incorporate the ringing, metallic, circular guitar lines that would be appropriated by bands like the Byrds; Help! was their first burst of confessional lyricism; Yesterday employed a string quartet. John Lennon in particular was beginning to exhibit a Dylanesque influence in his songwriting on such folky, downbeat numbers as Im a Loser and Youve Got to Hide Your Love Away. And tracks like I Dont Want to Spoil the Party and Ive Just Seen a Face had a strong country flavor. â€Å"Although the Beatles second film, Help!, was a much sillier and less sophisticated affair than their first feature, it too was a huge commercial success. By this time, though, the Beatles had nothing to prove in commercial terms; the remaining frontiers were artistic challenges that could only be met in the studio.† (Jansen, 2000) They rose to the occasion at the end of 1965 with Rubber Soul, one of the classic folk-rock records. Lyrically, Lennon, McCartney, and even Harrison were evolving beyond boy-girl scenarios into complex, personal feelings. They were also pushing the limits of studio rock by devising new guitar and bass textures, experimenting with distortion and multi-tracking, and using unconventional instruments like the sitar. As much of a progression as Rubber Soul was relative to their previous records, it was but a taster for the boundary-shattering outings of the next few years. The Paperback Writer/Rain single found the group abandoning romantic themes entirely, boosting the bass to previously unknown levels, and fooling around with psychedelic imagery and backwards tapes on the B-side. Drugs were fueling their already fertile imaginations, but they felt creatively hindered by their touring obligations. Revolver, released in the summer of 1966, proved what the group could be capable of when allotted months of time in the studio. Hazy hard guitars and thicker vocal arrangements formed the bed of these increasingly imagistic, ambitious lyrics; the groups eclecticism now encompassed everything from singalong novelties (Yellow Submarine) and string quartet-backed character sketches (Eleanor Rigby) to Indian-influenced swirls of echo and backwards tapes (Tomorrow Never Knows). Some would complain that the Beatles had abandoned the earthy rock of their roots for clever mannerism. But Revolver, like virtually all of the groups singles and albums from She Loves You on, would be a worldwide chart-topper. Influence For the past couple of years, live performance had become a rote exercise for the group, tired of competing with thousands of screaming fans that drowned out most of their voices and instruments. A 1966 summer worldwide tour was particularly grueling: the groups entourage was physically attacked in the Philippines after a perceived snub of the countrys queen, and a casual remark by John Lennon about the Beatles being bigger than Jesus Christ was picked up in the States, resulting in the burning of Beatle records in the Bible belt and demands for a repentant apology. Their final concert of that American tour (in San Francisco on August 29, 1966) would be their last in front of a paying audience, as the group decided to stop playing live in order to concentrate on their studio recordings. This was a radical and unprecedented step in 1966, and the media was rife with speculation that the act was breaking up, especially after all four spent late 1966 engaged in separate personal and artistic pursuits. The appearance of the Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever single in February 1967 squelched these concerns. Frequently cited as the strongest double A-side ever, the Beatles were now pushing forward into unabashedly psychedelic territory in their use of orchestral arrangements and Mellotron, without abandoning their grasp of memorable melody and immediately accessible lyrical messages. Sgt. Pepper, released in June 1967 as the Summer of Love dawned, was the definitive psychedelic soundtrack. Or, at least, so it was perceived at the time: subsequent critics have painted the album as an uneven affair, given a conceptual unity via its brilliant multi-tracked overdubs, singalong melodies, and fairy tale-ish lyrics. Others remain convinced, as millions did at the time, that it represented pops greatest triumph, or indeed an evolution of pop into art with a capital A. â€Å"In addition to mining all manner of roots influences, the musicians were also picking up vibes from Indian music, avant-garde electronics, classical, music hall, and more. When the Beatles premiered their hippie anthem All You Need Is Love as part of a worldwide TV broadcast, they had been truly anointed as spokespersons for their generation , and it seemed they could do no wrong.† (Jansen, 2000) Musically, that would usually continue to be the case, but the groups strength began to unravel at a surprisingly quick pace. In August 1967, Brian Epstein prone to suicidal depression over the past year died of a drug overdose, leaving them without a manager. The group pressed on with their next film project, Magical Mystery Tour, directed by themselves; lacking focus or even basic professionalism, the picture bombed when it was premiered on BBC television in December 1967, giving the media the first real chance theyd ever had to roast the Beatles over a flame. In early 1968, the Beatles decamped to India for a course in transcendental meditation with the Maharishi; this too became something of a media embarrassment, as each of the four would eventually depart the course before its completion. The Beatles did use their unaccustomed peace in India to compose a wealth of new material. Judged solely on musical merit, The White Album, a double LP released in late 1968, was a triumph. While largely abandoning their psychedelic instruments to return to guitar-based rock, they maintained their whimsical eclecticism, proving themselves masters of everything from blues-rock to vaudeville. As individual songwriters, too, it contains some of their finest work (as does the brilliant non-LP single from this era, Hey Jude/Revolution). The problem, at least in terms of the groups long-term health, was that these were very much individual songs, as opposed to collective ones. Lennon and McCartney had long composed most of their tunes separately (you can almost always tell the composer by the lead vocalist). But they had always fed off of each other not only to supply missing bits and pieces that would bring a song to completion, but to provide a competitive edge that would bring out the best in the other. McCartneys romantic melodicism and Lennons more acidic, gritty wit were perfect complements for one another. By the White Album, it was clear that each member was more concerned with his own expression than that of the collective group: a natural impulse, but one that was bound to lead to difficulties. In addition, George Harrison was becoming a more prolific and skilled composer as well, imbuing his own melodies (which were nearly the equal of those of his more celebrated colleagues) with a cosmic lightness. Harrison was beginning to resent his junior status, and the group began to bicker more openly in the studio. Ringo Starr, whose solid drumming and good nature could usually be counted upon (as was evident in his infrequent lead vocals), actually quit for a couple of weeks in the midst of the White Album sessions (though the media was unaware of this at the time). Personal interests were coming into play as well: Lennons devotion to romantic and artistic pursuits with his new girlfriend Yoko Ono was diverting his attentions from the Beatles. Apple Records, started by the group earlier in 1968 as a sort of utopian commercial enterprise, was becoming a financial and organisational nightmare. These werent the ideal conditions under which to record a new album in January 1969, especially when McCartney was pushing the group to return to live performing, although none of the others seemed especially keen on the idea. They did agree to try and record a back-to-basics, live-in-the-studio-type LP, the sessions being filmed for a television special. That plan almost blew up when Harrison, in the midst of tense arguments, left the group for a few days. Although he returned, the idea of playing live concerts was put on the back burner; Harrison enlisted American soul keyboardist Billy Preston as kind of a fifth member on the sessions, both to beef up the arrangements and to alleviate the uncomfortable atmosphere. â€Å"Exacerbating the problem was that the Beatles didnt have a great deal of first-class new songs to work with, although some were excellent. In order to provide a suitable concert-like experience for the film, the group did climb the roof of their Apple headquarters in London to deliver an impromptu performance on January 30, 1969, before the police stopped it; this was their last live concert of any sort.† (Jansen, 2000) Generally dissatisfied with these early-1969 sessions, the album and film at first titled Get Back, and later to emerge as Let It Be remained in the can as the group tried to figure out how the projects should be mixed, packaged, and distributed. A couple of the best tracks, Get Back/Dont Let Me Down, were issued as a single in the spring of 1969. By this time, the Beatles quarrels were intensifying in a dispute over management: McCartney wanted their affairs to be handled by his new father-in-law, Lee Eastman, while the other members of the group favored a tough American businessman, Allen Klein. It was something of a miracle, then, that the final album recorded by the group, Abbey Road, was one of their most unified efforts. It certainly boasted some of their most intricate melodies, harmonies, and instrumental arrangements; it also heralded the arrival of Harrison as a composer of equal talent to Lennon and McCartney, as George wrote the albums two most popular tunes, Something and Here Comes the Sun. The Beatles were still progressing, but it turned out to be the end of the road, as their business disputes continued to magnify. Lennon, who had begun releasing solo singles and performing with friends as the Plastic Ono Band, threatened to resign in late 1969, although he was dissuaded from making a public announcement. Most of the early-1969 tapes remained unreleased, partially because the footage for the planned television broadcast of these sessions was now going to be produced as a documentary movie. The accompanying soundtrack album, Let It Be, was delayed so that its release could coincide with that of the film. Lennon, Harrison, and Allen Klein decided to have celebrated American producer Phil Spector record some additional instrumentation and do some mixing. Thus the confusion that persists among most rock listeners to this day: Let It Be, although the last Beatles album to be released, was not the last one to be recorded. Abbey Road should actually be considered as the Beatles last album; most of the material on Let It Be, including the title track (which would be the last single released while the group was still together), was recorded several months before the Abbey Road sessions began in earnest, and a good 15 months or so before its May 1970 release. By that time, the Beatles were no more. In fact, there had been no recording done by the group as a unit since August 1969, and each member of the band had begun to pursue serious outside professional interests independently via the Plastic Ono Band, Harrisons tour with Delaney Bonnie, Starrs starring role in the Magic Christian film, or McCartneys first solo album. The outside world for the most part remained almost wholly unaware of the seriousness of the groups friction, making it a devastating shock for much of the worlds youth when McCartney announced that he was leaving the Beatles on April 10, 1970. The final blow, apparently, was the conflict between the release dates of Let It Be and McCartneys debut solo album. The rest of the group asked McCartney to delay his release until after Let It Be; McCartney refused, and for good measure, was distressed by Spectors post-production work on Let It Be, particularly the string overdubs on The Long and Winding Road, which became a posthumous Beatles single that spring. Although McCartney received much of the blame for the split, it should be remembered that he had done more than any other member to keep the group going since Epsteins death, and that each of the other Beatles had threatened to leave well before McCartneys departure. With hindsight, the breakup seemed inevitable in view of their serious business disagreements and the growth of their individual interests. As bitter as the initial headlines were to swallow, the feuding would grow much worse over the next few years. At the end of 1970, McCartney sued the rest of the Beatles in order to dissolve their partnership; the battle dragged through the courts for years, scotching any prospects of a group reunion. In any case, each member of the band quickly established viable solo careers. In fact, at the outset it could have been argued that the artistic effects of the split were in some ways beneficial, freeing Lennon and Harrison to make their most uncompromising artistic statements (Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass). Georges individual talents in particular received acclaim that had always eluded him when he was overshadowed by Lennon-McCartney. Paul had a much rougher time with the critics, but continued to issue a stream of hit singles, hitting a commercial and critical jackpot at the end of 1973 with the massively successful Band on the Run. Ringo did not have the songwriting acumen to compete on the same level as the others, yet he too had quite a few big hit singles in the early 70s, often benefiting from the assistance of his former band-mates. Yet within a short time, it became apparent both that the Beatles were not going to settle their differences and reunite, and that their solo work could not compare with what they were capable of creating together. The stereotype has it that the split allowed each of them to indulge in their worst tendencies to their extremes: Lennon in agit-prop, Harrison in holier-than-thou-mysticism, McCartney in cutesy pop, Starr in easy listening rock. Theres a good deal of truth in this, but its also important to bear in mind that what was most missing was a sense of group interaction. The critical party line often champions Lennon as the angry, realist rocker, and McCartney as the melodic balladeer, but this is a fallacy: each of them were capable, in roughly equal measures, of ballsy all-out rock and sweet romanticism. What is not in dispute is that they sparked each other to reach heights that they could not attain on their own. Despite periodic rumours of reunions throughout the 1970s, no group projects came close to materializing. It should be added that the Beatles themselves continued to feud to some degree, and from all evidence werent seriously interested in working together as a unit. Any hopes of a reunion vanished when Lennon was assassinated in New York City in December 1980. The Beatles continued their solo careers throughout the 1980s, but their releases became less frequent, and their commercial success gradually diminished, as listeners without first-hand memories of the combo created their own idols. The popularity of the Beatles-as-unit, however, proved eternal. In part, this is because the groups 1970 split effectively short-circuited the prospects of artistic decline; the body of work that was preserved was uniformly strong. However, its also because, like any great works of art, the Beatles records carried an ageless magnificence that continues to captivate new generations of listeners. So it is that Beatles records continue to be heard on radio in heavy rotation, continue to sell in massive quantities, and continue to be covered and quoted by rock and pop artists through the present day. Legal wrangles at Apple prevented the official issue of previously unreleased Beatle material for over two decades (although much of it was frequently bootlegged). The situation finally changed in the 1990s, after McCartney, Harrison, Starr, and Lennons widow Yoko Ono settled their principal business disagreements. In 1994, this resulted in a double CD of BBC sessions from the early and mid-60s. The following year, a much more ambitious project was undertaken: a multi-part film documentary, broadcast on network television in 1995, and then released (with double the length) for the home video market in 1996, with the active participation of the surviving Beatles. To coincide with the Anthology documentary, three double CDs of previously unreleased/rare material were issued in 1995 and 1996. Additionally, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr (with some assistance from Jeff Lynne) embellished a couple of John Lennon demos from the 1970s with overdubs to create two new tracks (Free as a Bird and Real Love) that were billed as actual Beatles recordings. Whether this constitutes the actual long-awaited reunion is the subject of much debate. Certainly these cuts were hardly classics on par with the music the group made in the 1960s. Some fans, even diehards, were inclined to view the whole Anthology project as a distinctly 1990s marketing exercise that maximized the mileage of whatever could be squeezed from the Beatles vaults. If nothing else, though, the massive commercial success of outtakes that had, after all, been recorded 25 to 30 years ago, spoke volumes about the unabated appeal and fascination the Beatles continue to exert worldwide. Revolution song Analysis Revolution is a song by The Beatles, written primarily by John Lennon and attributed to Lennon-McCartney. â€Å"The song appeared in two distinctly different incarnations, a raucous electric Revolution, and a slowed acoustic Revolution 1. A third connected piece, the heavily experimental Revolution 9, appeared on the same album side (i.e., side 4) as Revolution 1 on The White Album.† (Corliss, 2004) Lennon claimed the song was inspired by the May 1968 uprising in France. Another song called Revolution was released by the London psychedelic group Tomorrow in September 1967, a year before the John Lennon song. Tomorrows lyric Have your own little revolution, NOW! contrasts with Lennons lyric, including the opening lines, You say you want a revolution/ Well, you know/ We all want to change the world. There is a belief that in some studio versions of the song, the pronunciation of evolution early in the song has what sounds like an overdubbed voice distorting evolution into what sounds eerily similar to evil-jew-shin. A common myth is that Lennon wrote the track in disdain of overwhelming money-hungry businessmen. This theme of anti-semitism is not alone in this song, as in Come Together the verse verse can be interpreted as describing a hasidic jew. Revolution 9 is an experimental recording which appeared on the Beatles 1968 self-titled LP release (known as the White Album). The track marked the peak of the bands studio experimentation; the inclusion of such a sound collage or musique concrà ¨te on a pop music release was virtually unprecedented. The recording began as an extended ending to the album version of Revolution, to which were added vocal and music sound clips, tape loops, and sound effects influenced by t