Describe and Evaluate Social Explanations of Aggression

Describe and evaluate social explanations of aggression. Aggression can be defined in many different ways. Bandura suggests that it is the intent to cause harm to another human being who is motivated to avoid such treatment. One of the main social psychological explanations of aggression comes from Bandura and Walters in 1963. He suggests that aggression is learned either indirectly; through observational learning and only replicated if vicarious reinforcement occurs, or directly- where aggressive behaviour is directly reinforced.While both are a form of operant conditioning, the direct approach parallels the ideas much closer. Bandura outlined the following three steps in the modelling process of SLT: Observation- by watching the behaviour of role models and then imitating that behaviour, mental representation- the child will only display the learned behaviour as long as the expectation of reward is greater than the expectation of punishment, and production of behaviour- if the chil d is rewarded (maintenance through direct experience) or by building the confidence from expectancies of like likely outcomes of their aggressive behaviour (self-efficacy).In support of this theory, Bandura et al. proved that if children watch someone else behave aggressively towards a Bobo Doll, they were more likely to be aggressive themselves later on, specifically imitating individual actions they had previously seen. When the model was rewarded, the child was more likely to reproduce through vicarious reinforcement compared to those models punished, thus showing that observational learning only results in imitation when it is vicariously reinforced. This study however, does not take into account of the nature vs. urture debate. Although it seems that Bandura's research proves that behaviour is learnt (nurture), it must however be noted that there were many gender differences where the boys produced more physical aggression than girls, which consequently support the argument tha t such behaviour is innate (nature). In addition, research findings are not only culturally bound but may be due to demand characteristics. It was noted by Noble (1975), after the study occurred, that many of the parents told the children what to expect, consequently causing little face validity.Furthermore, although this study tells us that children do acquire aggressive responses as a result of watching others, it does not tell us much about why a child would be motivated to do so in the absence of the model, nor does it include the cognition or biology of these behaviours. This study also holds many ethical issues. It was carried out in the knowledge that children may reproduce the aggressive behaviours they were exposed to and therefore it is difficult to establish the scientific credibility.It is also difficult to further test the social learning theory experimentally due to the concern of needing to protect participants from psychological and psychical harm. Moreover, a weakne ss of the Social Learning Theory is that people are never consistently rewarded for aggression. Often, and if not in most cases they are punished, not rewarded. While media can sometimes portray certain acts as ethically ambiguous, it is rare to find these days aggressive behaviour rewarded in a mainstream way to suggest that the population are learning this behaviour through SLT.Deindividuation, another social psychological theory is defined as the loss of a sense of personal identity that can occur when, for example, in a crows or wearing a mask. It is associated with a reduced sense of personal responsibility and increased anti-social behaviour. The theory relies heavily on two components; anonymity and reduced self-awareness. Anonymity describes the presence of crowds (or groups) leading individual members to feel anonymous and act according to a different set of norms and values which are imposed or encouraged by them (Zimbardo 1969).The alternate explanation for deindividuatio n to cause aggression is reduced self-awareness. Proposed by Prentice-Dunn ; Rogers 1982, they suggest that crowds do not lead necessarily to anonymity or public awareness (while this may contribute) but instead lead to a lack of private awareness, often strengthened by the presence of drugs and alcohol. Normally, people are aware of their personal morals, however within a group it is argued that they may lose sight of such ‘private' principles and instead follow the group.The majority of research evidence in deindividuation comes from the work of Zimbardo. He repeated the Milgram paradigm, where female participant were either wearing a nametag (individuated) or in a hood (deindividuated) and it was found that by wearing a hood, participants were much more likely to give shocks to the learner. Furthermore, Diener et al. observed the behaviour of over 1000 children on Halloween. The children were asked their name, and for those that didn't give it, rates of stealing candy or mo ney when alone rose ramatically. These studies support the idea of anonymity and how they are more likely to carry out antisocial behaviour when they cannot be identified. Cannavale et al. (1970) found that male and female groups responded differently under deinviduated conditions and therefore reflecting gender bias in Zimbardo’s research. This can further be linked to the biological approach as it fails to consider the biology of aggression, such as the hormones.The male sex hormone, testosterone, is thought to influence aggression from young adulthood onwards due to its action on brain areas involved in controlling aggression. This is supported by Dabbs et al. (1987) who measures salivary testosterone in violent and non-violent criminals. They found that those with higher levels of testosterone had a history of violent crime whereas those with the lowest levels had committed only non-violent crime. Dramatic support for the deadly influence of deindividuation comes from a s tudy by anthropologist Robert Watson (1973).He collected data from tribes on the extent to which they killed, tortured or mutilated their victims. He found that societies where warriors changed their appearance (through the use of war paint and tribal costumes etc. ) were more destructive towards their victims compared to those who did not change their appearance. This study not only provides research support for the idea of anonymity, but also gives evidence that this theory takes account of cultural differences.However, most of the research focuses on the relationship between deindividuation and antisocial behaviour. But Spivey and Prentice-Dunn (1990) found that deindividuation could lead to either prosocial or antisocial behaviour depending on the situational factors. When prosocial environmental cues were present (such as a prosical model), deindividuated participants preformed significantly more altruistic acts (giving money) and significantly fewer antisocial acts (giving ele ctric shocks)c compared to a control group.Furthermore, desirable effects of deindividuation can be found on cyberspace. Adolescents reported feeling significantly more comfortable seeiking help with mental health problems under deindividuated circumstances of Internet chat rooms as opposed to individuated circumstances of a personal appointment with a health professional (Francis eta al. 2006). This lends support to the deindividuation theory and displays the positive aspect of deindividuation.

Skiing Essay

A Day On The Slopes It’s not just for the wealthy anymore! Skiing has been getting more popular recently. People have the free time and money to go skiing more than ever. This is a downfall for somebody who has never skied and wants to be a part of the fun. There is a series of simple steps to complete before one can achieve their best at skiing. From proper attire, to the way you carve down the mountain, it boils down to a few critical steps. If these steps are completed there is nothing holding anybody back from being a successful skier.Lets start off with the basics; I always start by packing pajamas so I have a warm base layer. Then a long T-shirt, followed by a warm pair of socks to keep those toes warm. Socks might be the most crucial part since they will be buckled into ski boots the entire day. Next comes a jacket, ski pants, goggles and a preferably a helmet. If it is windy out, or if you are sensitive to cold air then think about wearing a ski mask to keep the facial area warm. This should cover the basic attire for a day on the slopes. Once you have all your gear set, its time to pick a trail.Now, there are four main types of trails; green circle, blue square, black diamond and then double black diamond. The green circle is the easiest trail and is recommended for beginners, but if a skier is feeling confident they should take their skills onto the blue squares on the mountain. These blue square trails will challenge a first time skier and push them to their full potential. There are a few types of specialty trails that beginners might want to watch out for. Trails called â€Å"glades† are narrow paths in the woods.These trails are made for experienced skiers, and this is where you can find some of the best conditions on a mountain. The next kind of trail to watch for is a terrain park. These trails are made famous for their massive ski jumps and handrails for skiers to â€Å"grind† on. For skiers wanting that extra excitement ou t of their trip might want to consider the terrain park. Now that the trail has been chosen, the subsequent step is to get down the mountain. When descending, keep two things in mind at all times, pizza and French fries.One might find this out of context but it has substantial effect on your speed and safety going down the mountain. Pizza refers to the shape that skis make when in the â€Å"slowing down position. † The tips of the skis will configure to make a triangle, a pizza slice like shape. This position is the safest way for a new skier to slow down. French fry denotes when skis are parallel. This style can be used when on a straightaway or when in full control. Be carful when utilizing the â€Å"French fry,† because speed can get the best of a skier in this position.Skiing is a peaceful activity, and when done correctly can be the best time of somebody’s life. One must consider a basic checklist of supplies to bring on a ski trip so they can make the most out of their experience. Knowing the trails is also crucial; nothing is better than being prepared. It takes some time to get passed the French fry and pizza phase of skiing, but beginners will catch on quickly if practiced with discipline. If all of these steps are correctly completed a new skier will be having a very memorable understanding of the ski slopes.

International business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International business - Essay Example Apart from this, on the basis of the analysis, with varied tools, certain recommendations are also provided to the management of the organisation. It is essential in order to enhance the productivity and the prosperity of Scholz & Friends. Moreover, it would also enhance the brand association and distinctiveness among other evident players in the market. Table of Contents 1 Abstract 2 3 Introduction 4 Analysis 5 Overview of Scholz & Friends 5 Analysis of China Market 6 Market Overview 6 Trend Analysis 7 PESTLE Analysis 7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis 10 SWOT Analysis of China Market 12 Recommendation 14 Conclusion 14 References 15 Bibliography 19 Appendices 20 Introduction The rapid pace of globalisation and industrialisation enhanced global affiliation among various intercontinental regions resulting in reduction of trade barriers leading to upgradation of international business. Moreover, globalisation also enhanced the economic growth of the varied developed and developing countries along with improvement in business activities due to free trade opportunities (Wang, n.d.). International business is referred to industrial or mercantile dealings that take place among two or more areas, countries or nations beyond political periphery. International business includes exports and imports activities as numerous products and/or services are transferred from one region to the other. The prime objective of an organisation to undergo global business is to enhance its market share along with its corporate image. The other key aim of international business is to augment organisational productivity and profitability (Wang, n.d.). Subsequently, international business helps an organisation to extend its credibility and identity all over the globe in order to enhance its reputation. Hence, enhancement of international business amplified the need of promotional activities resulting in wider scope for advertising agencies. An advertising agency mainly deals in service industry which attempts to create and to promote inventive ideas and thoughts such as Scholz & Friends. The prime objective of any advertising agency is to encourage and to convince consumers regarding commercial offerings. Advertising agencies like Scholz & Friends also attempts to reassure employees or shareholders about the success of any organisation (Scholz & Friends Group GmbH, 2010). The report mainly focuses on varied features and importance of Scholz & Friends in a brief way. Along with this, it also highlights varied attributes of international business and a detailed analysis of Scholz & Friends is also shown with the help of diverse techniques such as PESTLE analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis and SWOT analysis. In addition, various recommendations are also provided in order to enhance the growth and the development of Scholz & Friends. Analysis Overview of Scholz & Friends Scholz & Friends is one of the reputed advertising agency groups in Europe. It was esta blished in the year 1981 with an alliance of 48 friends. The head office of Scholz & Friends is situated in the region of Berlin of Germany (Scholz & Friends Group GmbH, 2010). The company i.e. Scholz & Friends was originated in Hamburg by Jurgen Scholz and many others so it was named such. It is known as one of the most imaginative agencies of Germany and hence is ranked, number one by trade journal Horizont. Due to high brand image and

Factors that Affect the Quality of Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Dissertation

Factors that Affect the Quality of Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Health Nursing - Dissertation Example This research paper â€Å"Factors that Affect the Quality of Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Health Nursing† acknowledges the significance of developing quality relationship between a mental health patient and nurse so as to realize the desired outcome from the therapeutic relationship. Mental health nurses play a critical role in caring for people with mental illness hence the need for them to establish co-operation with such patients that would yield therapeutic solutions as guided by the nurses’ code of conduct. This nurse-patient relationship is referred to as therapeutic relationship. This study is founded on the importance of ensuring quality therapeutic relationship to achieve the desired outcome. As such, it aims at determining the factors, attributed to a service user, that influence the quality of therapeutic relationship in a mental health setting. This would be accomplished using an electronic search engine, Wiley Online Library, sourcing for articles pu blished between 2007 and 2012 in the UK setting to determine these factors. The findings would be categorised into three themes: service user’s interpersonal aspects, perception and expectations. Despite the limitation to one search engine and the geographical coverage of the candidate studies, the themes articulated in the study point out to the importance of effective communication among mental health nurses and guide on the attributes desired of such nurses. As the quality of therapeutic relationship determines the outcome posted.... ion on the themes 20 3.3 Limitation of the study 21 3.4 Implication and recommendation for future practice 22 References 23 Appendices 28 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction to therapeutic relationship in mental health nursing In the modern society, mental health has had a significant impact on health care provision. The mental disorders could be categorised as depression, psychotic illness and drug dependence (World Health Organisation 2008). It has been noted that mental illness affects the community, workmates, family and the individual as well. According to the World Health Organisation (2003), a third of the years that humans have lived with disabilities would be attributed to mental health disorders. In the UK, the prevalence of mental health nursing stands at one case in six people according to Dooher (2008). These figures indicate the importance associated with mental health in the society. Mental health nurses are charged with caring for people who have mental health ne eds both in the community and hospital setting. At times referred to as psychiatric nursing, mental health nursing is one of the branches in nursing that deals with caring for people who suffer from mental distress. According to Dooher, these nurses â€Å"help patients lead as ‘normal’ a life as possible, striving to enable the optimum potential of those they work with† (2008, p.1). There has been a shift in the mindset of nursing in mental health setting from the psychiatric point of view where the primary function involved executing the orders from the doctor and administering the prescribed treatment to an evidence-based care which is health oriented and practiced in diverse settings. This shift began in 1970 in the UK and 1960 in the US (Baker 2004; Horsfall et al. 2001). Therefore,

Experiement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Experiement - Essay Example When others seemingly terminated the conversation before its natural end, it was very difficult not to admit that I had been conducting an experiment – I was reluctant to allow others to think I had changed my conversational style permanently. It felt quite patronizing, because others seemed to feel as though I felt the need to simplify their sentences so they would understand parts of the conversation. I also felt as though it was unnecessary during some conversations, because the nature of the topic was so simple that paraphrasing would add confusion. I also felt that conversations became quite unnatural and forced on my side, because of the extra thought that was required to add the paraphrasing element into natural speech. Overall, after paraphrasing had become more natural, it was not difficult or particularly traumatizing to use. During the course of a conversation, the other participant would not notice initially, and then begin to act strangely and some even terminated the conversation before it seemed to reach its natural end. However, during shorter conversations, it seemed to comfort some, as though I was highlighting how well I understood them, and perhaps even made it seem as though I was empathizing well. No hostility was shown by others, although there was definitely a feeling of confusion when paraphrasing was used often (particularly during descriptive conversations. Paraphrasing conversations did not have any lasting effects on interpersonal relationships. When paraphrasing was used when talking to people that I do not have a close personal relationship, the previously mentioned empathy seemed to improve these relationships. When paraphrasing those who I talk to regularly, the obvious change in my conversational style may have had a negative effect at the time of the conversation, but once the experiment had stopped it was easy to resume

Art Originality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art Originality - Essay Example I view the program as a catalyst to better myself and to enjoy the boundless regions of art itself. I really find the lessons motivating. Here, we are constantly encouraged to draw anything that we wanted. The course made me relish the freedom of the art world. There are times when we are asked to draw something at home to be presented before the class the next day. I believe that the intention is to gain inspiration and creativity in an ambience beyond the class' art studio atmosphere. There would always be time allotted to talk about recent news and various issues such as the nuclear test in North Korea to Nicole Ritchie's eating disorder. I guess such discussions are substantial in improving our skills because it nurtures self-expression and consciousness. One time we had to bring four pictures which we perceive to be of good art, of bad art, of a beautiful looking person, and of an ugly looking person. I chose Frida Kahlo's works as good art because her works exude a great sense of style in contrast with the bad art of Damien Hirst who is identified with his eccentric exploitation of animals in his works. I also brought the photographs of Nicole Kidman and Michael Jackson and explained that the former is a picture of beauty and the latter is a display of ugliness and distortion caused by excessive plastic surgery. After those discussions we would talk about our own works.

Do gety colleg adequately caters to undergraduates Case Study

Do gety colleg adequately caters to undergraduates - Case Study Example This enabled the interviewee to fix other questions, or call for clarifications to some issues. Students came from different races while their ages were between 18 years to 22 years. Most of the interviewee allowed us to record them, which gave us an added analysis of their opinion via their body language. Where not allowed, we took notes. Data collected from the faculty member showed that in the best of their knowledge the education system in the campus was at its optimum. Several students confirmed this since out of their busy working schedule, they could choose between attending evening, daytime, or weekend classes. However, some subjects have a fixed timetable, which leaves students with flexible schedules out. Extra curriculum activities offered in the school really complement the learning processes, but are inaccessible to working students. Gety College adequately caters for most working undergraduates. However, improvement is needed on professors’ attitude to students, support to students, and on registration

Adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies in the United Kingdom Essay

Adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies in the United Kingdom - Essay Example A huge proportion of the world's energy resources come from natural gases, fossil fuels, and nuclear fuels. These types of energy sources emit harmful chemicals and residues in the atmosphere, on the soil and in various bodies of water, which are harmful to the environment. Recent studies estimate that the demand for energy will increase affectedly within the next few decades. Many scientists around the world agonize over the postulated insufficiency of natural gases which are now considered to be finite and unsustainable. Also, global environmental problems like global warming call for cleaner energy sources in order to preclude degenerative developments in the world's environmental conditions. The running down of United Kingdom’s vast energy resources, along with the forecasted escalation of the world’s energy consumption imperils its energy security. Jamieson 2 Sole reliance on fossil and nuclear fuels void its commitment to reducing energy consumption and cutting ca rbon emissions. The national government now turns to exploiting renewable energy sources that will increase energy supply. The adoption of renewable energy will also help in the decarbonization of the atmosphere using Carbon and Capture Technology. The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Office for Renewable Energy Development exerts effort in order to understand how this transformation can be achieved and to discuss the possible barriers that may debar adoption of renewable energy. How to achieve development of diverse renewable resources The implementation of renewable energy technologies in the United Kingdom can â€Å"meet the target to deliver 15% of the UK’s energy consumption from renewable resources by 2020† (Department of Energy and Climate Change, â€Å"Renewable Energy†). There are eight (8) renewable resources technologies that will be used to generate at least 15% of the total energy consumption in the United Kingdom by 2020. These are the following: (1) Onshore wind; (2) Offshore wind; (3) Marine Energy; (4) Biomass Electricity; (5) Biomass Heat; (6) Air-source and Ground-source heat pumps; (7) Renewable Transport; (8) Solar and Geothermal Technologies. The national government should focus on the following measures in order to achieve these developments: 1. Enabling access to the grid. Deployment of energy generated by renewable energy resources cannot be completed without access to the grid. This can make or break the plan. The government must ensure that grids are supplied on all renewable energy sites in order to ease deployment actions. Jamieson 3 2. Making sure of a sustainable supply of bioenergy. Bioenergy is seen to possibly contribute almost half of the total energy production needed to meet the 15% target. However, matters pertaining to its sustainability may reduce the use of bioenergy. 3. Technological Advancement. A constant upgrade on the technical support is needed to elevate efficiency on the depl oyment of energy throughout the country. While tools and equipment used in some forms of renewable energy technologies are relatively advanced, others are yet struggling with having the comparatively outmoded technology.  

Marketing plan for Speedo in the U.K market Assignment

Marketing plan for Speedo in the U.K market - Assignment Example In relation to the study the company which has been selected is Speedo International Limited (Speedo) as a world’s top selling swimwear brand. The heritage of the brand derives from its leadership in swimming where Olympic Gold Medals has been won by swimmers who wore Speedo swimwear. Speedo is a manufacturer as well as the distributor of swim wear and accessories related to swimwear. The company was founded in Sydney near Bondi Beach in Australia in the year 1928. In today’s date the company is a subsidiary of Pent land Group Plc. The brand is known for its innovation in the past and continues to be innovative. Some of the examples of its innovation are such as; Speedo has introduced the racer back suit, the first non wool suit which allows greater freedom of motion. It was the first innovation made by the brand in 1920s and since then the brand has lived up to the expectation of the people, investors, customers and all other related people. It continued its process of innovation in swimwear. In the year 1950 the brand had introduced its first water short which was made of Nylon, again in 1970s it launched swimwear made of Nylon as well as Elastane. In 1994 the brand manufactured first chlorine resistance fabric followed by fast skin swimsuit in 2000. 2008 marked a new era when Speedo’s new LZR racer Elite which was led by Michael Phelps broke all the records and won eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics. Thus Speedo has been a true innovator and has acquired a real position in the minds of the target customers. The marketing plan conducted on Speedo aims to understand the marketing plan conducted by Speedo for three years in the UK market. The marketing plan would take into consideration factors such as micro and macro environmental factors which would help to know the internal and external driving forces. The SWOT and TOWS matrix would help the company analysis its strength, weakness, opportunities and threat and link each factor wit h one another. Apart from the above factors the marketing plan would take care of the marketing mix based on UK and how to make Speedo the top most company in UK and parts of UK. The marketing strategies which are utilized by the company have also been discussed. Thus the paper holds on to the marketing plan of Speedo in the UK market particularly in two markets, Birmingham and Liverpool. Environmental Appraisal The environment appraisal would take into consideration the micro environment and the macro environment which are necessary for analyzing the environment and accordingly the organization can act to bring in about the changes required for an effective operation. The environmental appraisal is much more effective in case when the organization decides on setting up its business in other countries, when the organization tends to adopt the expansion plan. Speedo is based on USA and is planning to expand in UK, thus the macro environment will be based on UK. Figure 1: Micro and Ma cro Environment (Source: Trehan & Trehan, p.7) Organizational Environment The organizational environment consists of the products and services offered by the organization, finance, marketing, production, the organizational structure, management style and location are the

Addisons Disease - Hypocortisolism Essay Example for Free

Addisons Disease Hypocortisolism Essay Addison’s disease, also known as Hypocortisolism, is a disorder in which your adrenal glands produce too little cortisol and often insufficient levels of aldosterone. (Mayo) Addison’s disease is usually caused by a destruction of the adrenal cortex which produces two important steroid hormones, cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol mobilizes nutrients, modifies bodily responses to inflammation, stimulates the rise in blood sugar levels in the liver, and controls the amount of water in the body. Aldosterone regulates the salt and water levels which affect blood pressure and blood volume. Hpathy) in the United State, 40-60 people out of every 1 million will have Addison’s disease. (WebMD) Some risk factors for Addisons disease include autoimmune diseases such as: Chronic thyroiditis, Dermatis herpetiformis, Graves disease, Hypoparathyroidism, Hypopituitarism, Myasthenia gravis, Pernicious anemia, Testicular dysfunction, Type I diabetes, and Vitiligo. (A. D. A. M. ) The symptoms of Addison ’s disease usually begin gradually. Some characteristics of the disease are chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and unusual weight loss. See more: Homeless satire essay About fifty percent of the time, one will notice nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other more serious symptoms include low blood pressure that falls further when standing, causing dizziness or fainting, and skin changes with areas of hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning, covering exposed and nonexposed parts of the body. (MedicineNet. com) Your doctor may suspect you of having Addisons disease from your medical history and physical examination and if blood tests show high potassium, low sodium, and high levels of certain types of white blood cells. If your doctor does suspect Addisons disease, you will have another blood test to determine your cortisol level. If necessary, X-rays, such as a CT scan or MRI, can also be used to determine damages to the adrenal glands. (WebMD) Since Addisons disease is caused by the lack of cortisol and aldosterone, the treatment is to replace these with similar steroids. Cortisol is usually replaced orally by hydrocortisone or cortisone acetate divided into morning and afternoon doses. Aldosterone is replaced by an aldosterone-like synthetic steroid, fludrocortisone tablets given once daily. Since Addisons disease is a chronic condition, daily replacement of medication can never be stopped. Patients with Addisons disease should also be taught to treat minor illnesses with extra salt, fluids and extra hydrocortisone. This is especially important if fever, vomiting or diarrhea is present. (Margulies) Some complications may occur if you take too little or too much adrenal hormone supplement. (Memorial Healthcare System) These complications include Hypoglycaemia and adrenal crisis. NHS Choices) Some homeopathic remedies proven to work for this disease include Thuja, Natrum muriaticum, Belladonna, Calcarea carbonica, Iodine, and Phosphorus. But the most homeopathic of all of these remedies is Arsenicum. (Hpathy) But the prognosis for patients with Addison’s disease who are appropriately treated with hydrocortisone and aldosterone is excellent. These patients can expect to enjoy a normal lifespan. Without treatment, or with substandard treatment, patients are always at risk of developing Addisonian crisis which can be fatal. You should call your health care provider if: you are unable to keep your medication down due to vomiting, you have stress such as infection, injury, trauma, or dehydration, your weight increases over a short period of time, your ankles begin to swell, or you develop other new symptoms. (A. D. A. M. Inc. ) There are, sad to say, no guidelines for preventing Addisons disease. But if you think you are at risk, you should talk to your doctor before it’s too late. (Baptist Health Systems) Addison’s disease can become serious and life threatening, so you should stay alert of signs and see a physician annually.

Role Of Education In Contemporary Society

Role Of Education In Contemporary Society Discuss functionalist approaches to the role of education in contemporary society This essay will look at functionalism and the approaches held within and use these approaches to explain the affect they have on the role of education in contemporary society. The functionalists approach has been fundamental in helping towards the goal of understanding behaviour and the world we live in. and this methodologies used. This essay will discuss and analyse some key points surrounding these methods and it will highlight the strengths and weaknesses identified in within these methods. The functionalist approach is one of several different perspectives within sociology. Functionalism is a structuralist theory, and sees the individual as less important than the social structures of organizations in society and looks at society as a whole rather than individuals within it. The functionalist approach looks at society as though it was a human body, each part of the body has a function to keep it alive and healthy and each part of society helps to keep society going. (Tony Bilton 2009) Functionalists believe in maintaining consensus, a general agreement between societies as a hole of widely shared values and beliefs. The functionalist approach believes that as individuals we all have a shared responsibility to use the functional prerequisites set out for us such as the NHS, government and Education Services. Education is a term used to describe knowledge and skills acquired both within and outside educational institutions. Education is always changing and research is ongoing, as is research on the provision for achievement for all abilities. The ultimate goal of education is to provide the best possible education. (Tony Bilton 2009) Functionalism is largely derived from sociologists such as Emile Durkheim( 1961)and Talcott Parsons. The Functionalist approach explains that by studying the relationship between education and other social institutions that the educational system does not function alone, it makes a positive contribution to society as a whole. For without society functioning as a whole and without the realization that the individual is part of something much bigger than themselves, social life would be unfeasible, thus making Durkheims Social solidarity a fundamental part of functionalist thinking. (Haralabos 2010 ) ( )Durkheim saw the educational system as a way to be taught societies, norms and values. Durkheim believed that people are placed into education in order to learn life skills which will in turn set the foundations for future employment. This enables people to fulfil roles in society and develop a social conscience, which Durkheim labelled conscience collective and play their part in the division of labour. Durkheim argued that children need to learn to become part of society and education helps with this and it also helps the child to survive in society. Durkheim believed that the education system was better at teaching certain aspects of social rules than that of families or peer groups. He also thought that being taught punishment and self discipline in the educational systems would help the individual see that bad behaviour would not only effect the individual but would also effect society as a whole. It was Durkheims belief that being taught subjects such as History would help children feel an attachment to society and enable them to become more commited to their social groups and this would have a positive effect on the greater good of society. Durkheim viewed the education system as a miniature society and a model of the social system (Haralambos 2010) As effective as Durkheims view of education is there are still some issues surrounding his theories that can be argued like how can the transmission of social solidarity and shared values be correctly measured especially when looking from an interactionist against society as a whole and can one assume that each individual is going to learn the exact same values and social norms when schools teach in different ways and pupils interpretation on things are different. Although Durkheim Although Talcott Parsons(1961)was in agreement with Durkheims view of the education system representing a miniature society argued that the education system acts as stepping stones between the family and society. Parsons states that primary socialization takes place within the confounds of the family and this is where particularistic standards will be placed on the child. However to move on to universalistic standards, the focal socialization is then taken over by the school thus Ensuring children are prepared for their adult roles in society. This ensures the child moves from the ascribed status of the family on to the achieved status and universalistic values of adult society. Parsons believed the basic values of society were taught through the education system and that value consensus was inevitable for society to function resourcefully. Parson argued that each individual regardless of background could significantly achieve in the education system and that equality of opportunity was based on meritocratic principles. Parsons viewed the school as a vital tool in assisting role allocation that each job would be correctly matched to the skills of that child. Davis and Moore (1967) came from a different viewpoint than that of Parsons they agreed on the concept of role allocation but linked it more to the idea of social stratification, they argue that inequality is needed to ensure the most important and influencial roles in society are filled with the most skilful and intellectual members of society. They believe this is done through a filtering process whereby individuals are put into categories and graded on their performance, those that achieve higher qualifications can then get higher positions in society. If individuals were assigned to the wrong roles this would have a negative effect on society and the education system would be seen as failing and this would bring about a degree of inefficiency. that the education system is essential in preparing youngsters for their forthcoming roles in society Parsons believed the basic values of society were taught through the education system and that value consensus was inevitable for society to function resourcefully. Parson argued that each individual regardless of background could significantly achieve in the education system and that equality of opportunity was based on meritocratic principles. Parsons viewed the school as a vital tool in assisting role allocation that each job would be correctly matched to the skills of that child. Davis and Moore (1967) came from a different viewpoint than that of Parsons they agreed on the concept of role allocation but linked it more to the idea of social stratification, they argue that inequality is needed to ensure the most important and influencial roles in society are filled with the most skilful and intellectual members of society. They believe this is done through a filtering process whereby individuals are put into categories and graded on their performance, those that achieve higher qualifications can then get higher positions in society. If individuals were assigned to the wrong roles this would have a negative effect on society and the education system would be seen as failing and this could bring about a degree of inefficiency As effective as Durkheims view of education is there are still some issues surrounding his theories that can be argued like how can the transmission of social solidarity and shared values be correctly measured and can one assume that each individual is going to learn the exact same values and social norms when schools teach in different ways and pupils interpretation on things are different.

The Rejection of Vedic Sacrificial Ritual in Indian Culture :: India Culture Religion Papers

The Rejection of Vedic Sacrificial Ritual in Indian Culture My intention in this piece is to explore the development of the concepts of brahman and atman in ancient Indian culture. I intend to examine the role of the Upanisads in Vedic society and to investigate their abandonment of Vedic sacrificial ritual. I contend that the writers of the Upanisads turned towards a mystical path away from society in order to explore a viable alternate way of living that did not involve sacrificial ritual. Although the only record we have of this shift in thought is a set of philosophical discourses, I suggest that this was not solely an intellectual move. Rather, there were emotional reasons as well as logical reasons that these groups of people moved away from Vedic society in pursuit of brahman. This was a slow process that evolved over many years and although it did not banish sacrifice from Indian culture, it laid the foundation for later non-violent religious movements in India. In attempting to apply Rene Girard and Gil Bailie’s theory o f acknowledgement of the victim to an ancient Indian phenomenon, I intend to show that the Upanisadic rejection of Vedic sacrificial ritual was a significant move away from the sacrificial system upon which humanity relies so heavily. Vedic Sacrifice: Maintenance of the Universe The sacrificial system of ancient India was founded on a worldview that placed humanity in an allegorical relationship with the divine realm. The physical world of humans was seen as a smaller, mirror image of the greater world of the gods. The fundamental role of religion was to assign and perform the appropriate rites to maintain proper order in the universe. The gods required regular offerings and appeasement. Thus, a relationship with the gods required maintenance that was provided by the sacrificial ritual. Fire ceremonies and the ritual giving of offerings to the gods were common practices for the Aryan tribes that invaded the Indian sub-continent in approximately 1500 BCE. [1] Their simpler, private offering ceremonies eventually evolved into the more codified, communal, elaborate sacrificial rituals of classical Vedic culture as this new society began to grow and change. Fire itself was of central importance to this civilization and all of these rituals focused around the offertory fire. It is logical, then, that the Aryans eventually personified the fire itself and deemed it divine.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Essay -- Civil Rights, Segregation, Equal

Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, segregation in the United States was commonly practiced in many of the Southern and Border States. This segregation while supposed to be separate but equal, was hardly that. Blacks in the South were discriminated against repeatedly while laws did nothing to protect their individual rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ridded the nation of this legal segregation and cleared a path towards equality and integration. The passage of this Act, while forever altering the relationship between blacks and whites, remains as one of history’s greatest political battles. Racial unrest by the summer of 1963 was at its height since the Civil War. President Kennedy picked up the situation at the close of the Eisenhower years at a time when tensions were rapidly increasing. By the summer of 1963, however, after a series of violent demonstrations in the South, particularly in Birmingham, Alabama, President Kennedy pushed for a very strong civil rights bill in Congress. The first of its kind since the Civil War, this bill drastically called for the end of all segregation in all public places. In the eyes of the civil rights movement leaders, this bill was long over due. Kennedy’s crusade began slowly to the dismay of many civil rights leaders in February of 1963. He began by sending the United States Congress a â€Å"Special Message on Civil Rights,† stating, Our Constitution is color blind, ...but the practices of the country do not always conform to the principles of the Constitution... Equality before the law has not always meant equal treatment and opportunity. And the harmful, wasteful and wrongful results of racial discrimination and segregation still appear in virtually every aspect of national life, in virtually every part of the nation (Loevy, 5). Kennedy received praise for these strong and moving words yet was criticized for his weak legislative proposals to remedy the situation. By May of 1963, his proposal would change greatly however, after two men, from opposite positions set the civil rights movement into intense motion. Martin Luther King despite advice to do otherwise began massive protests in the street of Birmingham. To combat these protests, Police Commissioner â€Å"Bull† Conner used any means, including dogs, fire hoses, and electric cattle prods on protestors. Making newspapers and televi... ...tates on a social level but politically too. This bill set the precedent for using a cloture to stop a filibuster in the Senate. Similar cloture votes in 1966 and 1968, with bills for equal voting rights and guaranteed equal housing respectively were used to stop Southern filibusters. The Civil Rights Act also proved that mass demonstration and peaceful protesting are heard in Washington D.C. Martin Luther King and the Leadership Conference started with nothing and achieved everything. From the segregated South those who fought for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed the course of American history and ridded the nation of inequality under the law. Works Cited Berman, Daniel M., A Bill Becomes a Law, The Macmillan company, New York: 1966. Levy, Peter B., The Civil RIghts Movement, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1998. Web. 24 June 2015. https://www.questia.com/read/10045885/the-civil-rights-movement Loeby, Robert D.,To End All Segregation, University Press of America, Maryland: 1990. Whalen, Charles and Barbara, The Longest Debate, Seven Locks Press, Washington D.C.:1985. Web. 3 July 2015. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27550291?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Health Care System Essay -- Comparative, Finland, Germany, Tukmenistan

Turkmenistan is located in central Asia As a consequence of the collapse of former Soviet Union Turkmenistan declared its independency in 1991. It occupies an area of 491 200 km2 and has an estimated population of 4 611 700. Turkmenistan has five administrative regions, called velayat. Each velayat is subdivided in number of districts called etrap. In 1997 life expectancy was for male 57.9, and for females 65.3 years.[3,5] 2.2 Finland Finland is located in north-east of the Baltic Sea. It has been independent republic since 1917. It has an area of 338 145 km2 and had 2005 a population of 5 260 000. Finland can be divided in three parts, state, province and municipality. 2005 there were 415 municipalities. The life expectancy for men was in 2005 75.8, and for female 82.7 years.[6] 2.3 Germany The Federal Republic of Germany is located in central Europe and it has an area of approximately 357 000 km2. The Germany, as we know it today, exists since 1990 as the former German Democratic Republic accessed the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists 16 states, each of them have a constitution which is consistent with the principles of national constitution. 2004 Germany had 82 500 000 inhabitants. Life expectancy at birth was in 2003 for male 75.6, and for female 81.6 years.[1] 3 How do the public and the private sectors function to provide health services? 3.1 Turkmenistan The basic organizational structure of health care system follows the standard model set down in soviet times. However, the organization and management of health services in urban area differs from those in rural area. There are two levels in health care, primary and secondary care. Primary care facilities are often very dilapidated; they need investment for e... ...od and new patients keep on coming to them for treatment. This results in my opinion lots of redundant diagnostic interventions, which are made just because the patient wants them to be done, even though there would not be a medical indication. In some cases the line between an inpatient treatment and a â€Å"wellness vacation† is fading away. It is an extremely expensive health care system with the result of the first health insurance company went bankrupt this summer. In the future there are further bankrupts to be expected, if new powerful reforms are not going to be executed or the benefits of this current statutory health insurance are not going to be prioritized. In my opinion the funding of German health care system, in the way it is at the time, will lead to bigger problems as they already have, which implies unnecessary misery for the weakest in their society.

Case Anaylsis -Dr. Pepper Snapple Inc.

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) is an integrated beverage brand owner, manufacturer, and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the U. S. , Canada, and Mexico and the Caribbean. Their headquarters is in Plano, Texas, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. is a leading provider of flavored carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages. They have built their success through strategically acquiring beverage brands and then building them into leaders in their category. Examples of their notable acquisitions included the Duffy-Mott Company (later known as Mott’s), Canada Dry, Sunkist, Crush and Sun Drop.According to the text, through focused strategic development the company has sought to continually establish their firm as a leader in the higher margin segments of the non alcoholic beverage industry. Therefore, the company’s corporate level strategy entails building and enhancing their leading brands, as well as focusing on leading opportunities with high growth an d high margin. In addition, the company wants to increase their presence in high margin channels and packages. Furthermore, the company wants to strengthen their route-to-market through acquisitions and improve their operating efficiency.Throughout, the current economic downfall, DPS has maintained growth because a key element of their corporate level strategy is adding others soda brands, and changing emphasis among the different soda brands. By doing this the company is making the right moves to establish their positions in the industry and achieving an appropriate amount and kind of diversification in the soda industry in order to continually grow. Another aspect of the company's strategy, involves building a uniquely strong and distinctive competencies in their soda brand i. e. he taste and marketing of Dr. Pepper. This is crucial to their success and is used to maintain a competitive edge over their competitors. In order to establish their competitive advantage amongst competit ors the company uses the best-cost provider strategy. Their strategy is trying to give customers the best cost/value combination, by incorporating a key good-or-better product characteristics at a lower cost than competitors. In other words, there are numerous types of sodas on the market; but DPS strives at making their soda distinctive but with an affordable price.The company faces several strategic issues within their industry. Within the industry, factors such as economic stability, consumer tastes and preferences, and commodites prices are issues that DPS are facing. Since carbonated soft drinks are a discretionary item, sales are considerably impacted by weakness in the economy; consequently, economic stability is a huge factor that DPS would have to face. Due to the economic downturn discretionary spending as a percentage of total consumer spending dropped below 16 percent, lower than it had been for over 50 years.As discretionary spending decreased, consumers turned from fla vored soft drinks and colas to less expensive alternatives, including tap water. Not only did the economy influence confidence, the recession significantly increased commodity prices. Specific to the beverage industry, the prices for aluminum, natural gas, resins, corn, pulp and all other commodities increased. These types of commodities are used in the production of beverages, exerting a considerable amount of pressure on industry margins. Moreover the most significant issues that DPS will have to face is the increasing market trend in health and wellness.Consumers are reducing caloric intake and are looking for products richer in vitamins. Therefore the less-healthy sectors of the beverage industry are expected to decline, while demand for healthier alternatives like low or no calorie soft drinks and noncarbonated drinks such as sports drinks, ready-to-drink teas and flavored and regular bottled water are projected to grow. DPS should continue implementing their corporate level st rategy and competing in the industry as a best cost provider in order to maintain market growth.The recession has impacted several companies; but it is important to maintain adequate marketing ploys to appeal to consumers i. e. The Sun Drop Commercial. Regardless, of the recession DPS should focus on delivering a quality product despite the increase in their commodity prices. In addition, their market target shall expand more overseas to reach more consumers. By doing more creative advertising and appealing to consumer; the company shall see more sales growth. Since there is an increase in commodity prices, the company might also consider divesting products that are not doing well.In addition, DPS needs to be more innovative in their research and development for developing a healthy soft drink that consumer will enjoy. Since, the U. S. which is their biggest market section, is going on a â€Å"diet† or in other word becoming more health conscious. DPS might want to jump on th e bandwagon of producing a healthier soda but the company should not try to mimic what other companies are doing. Instead try to invest in the R that is focused healthier trend soda to reach more consumers.

John Stuart Mill’s Viewpoint on Interrogation and Torture Essay

In the world today there have been many controversial topics including topics such as euthanasia, the death penalty and gay marriage. One that has always stood out in particular is the controversy over torture and interrogation techniques for terrorists in US custody . Ethically you can argue for or against these torture and interrogation techniques but what would John Stuart Mill’s viewpoint be on this highly debated topic? Before we go into John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism Ethics it is imperative that we talk about his background and when/where he lived to more accurately describe his mindset. John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher who was born in Pentonville, London, England in 1806 and died in France in 1973. John Stuart Mill was the eldest son of a Scottish philosopher James Mill and had a very rigorous upbringing shielded from peers from his own age studying the ins and outs of philosophy. His father’s goal as a follower of Jeremy Bentham was to create a genius intellect to carry on Utilitarianism after he and Bentham died. The intensive study his father put him through caused severe mental health issues on John Stuart Mill causing him to have a mental breakdown at age 20 which he claimed to be caused by the great physical and mental demands that suppressed any feelings he should have developed in his early childhood. John Stuart Mill as a Utilitarian philosopher, which is a form of teleological (goal based ethics) / consequentialism (moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome), believed that ethical/moral decisions or actions should be made on the basis of the greatest good for the greatest number. That meaning maximizing pleasure, satisfaction and well being while minimizing negative affluences commonly referred to as ultimate importance. Utilitarianism can also be compared with deontological ethics, which do not take in the consequences of the account being a determination. John Stuart Mill’s rule Utilitarianism is much more relative then â€Å"text book† Utilitarianism in which he encouraged people to do acts that are pleasurable to them as long as they do so to the â€Å"higher pleasure†. Although his definition of higher pleasure can be questioned as an absolutist since he is absolute in what he defines as â€Å"higher pleasure.† Now begs the question; what would his opinion be on enhanced interrogation techniques or torture on terrorists in US custody be? After the 9/11 attacks  and the United States war on Iraq in the media non-stop over the last decade we here much of terrorists in US custody in places such as Guantanamo Bay being interrogated and tortured for information. It can be concluded from an Utilitarian standpoint that these individuals are less than one percent of the US & World population and if anything can be done to these individuals to benefit or protect the rest it would be justifiable by any means. Thus, it is obvious that John Stuart Mill would whole-heartedly agree with these actions and more than likely encourage it. I agree with Utilitarianism and John Stuart Mill on the viewpoint of interrogating or torturing actual terrorists to protect United States soil but unfortunately the term â€Å"terrorist† for the United States is loosely defined and anyone disagreeing with United States policies can be defined one way or the other as a terrorist. I disagree with Utilitarianism as a whole because there is an obvious flaw with an individual’s interest vs a greater sum of lesser interests meaning that the legal system would punish behavior that harmed others but that would not punish in a situation where one can personally ga in and no one would be harmed. Also one person could propose something would would maximize self-interest that conflict with means supported by another. Thus, self interest causes them to compromise with another to avoid interference; the means advised may accidently correspond with those by utilitarianism but the fundamental ethical imperative would not be utilitarian. Utilitarianism itself is somewhat a paradox when it comes to actual real life use but sounds wonderful in theory if the world was really black and what / end all be all but of course as we know it is not. John Stuart Mill would of course agree with enhanced interrogation techniques or torture but his utilitarianism justification would never be accepted by the United States masses.

Turtle Creek Casino

Dry. Brown Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel Background Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel is a nonprofit organization that has owned and operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Turtle Creek Casino is located 4 miles east of Traverse City on M-72 in Williamsburg, Michigan and Is open 7 day a week, 24 hours a day. The casino has affiliation with the Grand Traverse Resort and the Leland Sand Casino. The casino provides hospitality and entertainment to its patrons though the gambling establishment.This casino was one of the first casinos owned by a tribe of Indians In the United States. In 2008, the casino built an echo-friendly building that Is 74,000 square feet, which houses 54,000 square foot gaming floor including 1,300 slots, 40 table games, poker room, two gift shops, fitness center, three restaurants, SIX bars, 137 guest rooms Including 10 suites + 2 hospitality parlors (Designation, 2009). The Human Resource Department consist of the personnel director, compe nsation and benefits manager, benefits clerk, employee relations manager, records coordinator, training specialist, and Interviewer.The casino employs over 3000 personnel to run effective and efficiently. Employee Selection Descriptors Equal opportunity employers do not discriminate against individuals because of race jobs to potential employee's base on qualifications and character. OWE Statement The casino is an equal opportunity employer which applies through every aspect of the employment relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, placement, training, compensation, promotion, transfer, termination, and all other matters of employment with the exception of tribal preference. Traverse Band ofOttawa and Chippewa Indians, is committed to achieving full and equal opportunity without discrimination because of race, religion, color, gender, national origin, age, physical or mental ability, or sexual orientation. Qualified American Indians are encouraged to app ly. Affirmative Action Affirmative Action Policy Turtle Creek Casino will take affirmative measures to ensure that persons with disabilities are recruited and employed at all levels of its work force and treated during employment without regard to their disability but, Indian persons are to be given preference in employment.In achieving the specific goals set forth in this plan, Tribal members are given primary preference, and other Indians are given preference over non-landing. Such affirmative efforts shall, without limitation, address all employment practices including: employment, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment, recruitment advertising or posting; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation or benefits; and selection for training programs.Shall send notices of employment openings and solicit the referral of qualified candidates for employment from: organizations which serve the interest of promoting equal employment opportunity for persons wi th disabilities and regional Job banks or Job fairs that are maintained or conducted in order to assist qualified persons with disabilities in obtaining employment.Shall send to each labor union or representative of workers with which it has a collective bargaining agreement a notice of the obligations of the applicant or licensee under the Act and rules of the Commission and a request for referral of qualified candidates for employment who are voluntarily self-identified persons with disabilities; an disabilities. Recruiting Methodology The employee selection process starts with posting all open position in the time card and break room areas for internal employees to view and apply.In addition, tribal members and Indian if experience and train are given the first pick at any open position. If no internal interest is shown then the position is posted on career Job boards and the casinos website. Open Positions They initially post all employment openings for response by qualified in- house employees or, when appropriate, advertise such openings in newspapers of general circulation and other media which reach across-section of the population in the area room which the work force will be drawn.Step one-Each position posted is accompanied Job description, list of qualifications, and an expiration date to apply; tribal date is usually two days prior to all other applicants. Step Two-elf there are no applications. Step Three-After that date, the position is posted on their web site, and external applicants for that specific Job are taken and evaluated. Phone interview are conducted with all external applicant and are per-qualified. Recruiting Process Process for internal recruitment LEVEL ONE – Managers, supervisors, or other key employees.People who have authority to develop or administer policy, long-range plans, or to make discretionary decisions regulating gaming operations; people responsible for major sections within the casino or its property, even if n o gaming is conducted in the area (such as a hotel or restaurant). In addition, some employees of Suppliers will be required to be licensed. LEVEL TWO – Employees who operate or maintain casino games, or who come in contact with gaming money, chips, tokens, credit slips, etc. But who are not supervisors. LEVEL THREE – Employees who work in an area where gaming is inducted, or in areas that directly affect gaming, but do not conduct the games or come in contact with gaming money, chips, tokens, credit slips, etc. (Casino Employees/Occupational Licenses, 2011). Process for external recruitment A person seeking a Tribal gaming employee license shall submit an application to the Tribal Commission on such form and in such manner as the Tribal Commission may require.Such application shall include the following information: (1) The applicant's name, including all other names used current home and work addresses and telephone numbers, social security number, place of birth, da te of earth, citizenship, and driver's license number, as well as the address of his or her personal residences over the past five (5) years. If the applicant has resided at his or her current address for less than two (2) years, his or her previous address. 2) The name, address and telephone number of the gaming facility and of the gaming operator for whom the applicant intends to work and the specific location in which the applicant will be employed. (3) The name and Job description of the applicant's position. (4) The names and addresses of the applicant's living parents, grandparents, spouse, children, brothers, and sisters. 5) A statement as to whether or not the applicant has ever been charged with a crime, and if so, the charge, the name and address of the court involved, the applicant's explanation of the outcome of the case, including the date of final disposition. 6) The names, current addresses and telephone numbers of three references who are not related to the applicant and who were acquainted with the applicant when the applicant was residing at each of the addresses listed in (7) A list of the applicant's previous Jobs over the preceding five years, including the name, address and telephone number of his or her employer, and the position held. 8) The names and addresses and a brief description of all businesses in which the applicant currently holds, or has within the last five years held, an ownership interest. 9) A description of any previous employment relationship with an Indian Tribe, including the employee position held, name of the Tribe involved and name and address of a person who can attest to the accuracy of the information provided. (10) A description of any current or past non- employee business arrangement which the applicant has had with an Indian Tribe, including the name of the Tribe involved and the name and address of a person who an attest to the accuracy of the information provided. (11) A statement as to any gaming business .If so, the applicant shall provide a written statement describing his or her position, the dates during which that position was held, a description of the applicant's ownership interest or Job responsibilities and the name, address and phone number of the business, and a person who can attest to the accuracy of the information provided. (12) A list of all gaming-related licenses the individual has ever applied for, whether or not those licenses were granted and the name and address ND phone number of the regulatory agency involved. 13) A list of all professional or business licenses the applicant has applied for, whether or not those licenses were granted and the name, address and phone number of the regulatory agency involved. (14) A statement of all languages written or spoken. (15) A sworn statement that neither the applicant nor any member of his immediate family has a past or current financial interest, other than a salary interest, in any gaming-related enterprise anywhere. I f the applicant has any immediate family member who has such an interest, that applicant shall fully disclose that family ember's name and the nature of the interest.For the purposes of this subsection, â€Å"family member† shall include a mother, father, husband, wife, sister, brother [natural or adopted], son or daughter [natural or adopted]. (16) Written permission giving the Tribal Commission or its designed the right to investigate the applicant's background, including his criminal record, civil and criminal Judgments and credit history. (17) A complete disclosure of any pending or anticipated civil or criminal action against the applicant, including the name and address of the police department and court involved. 8) A disclosure of any civil or criminal Judgments rendered against the applicant, including the case number, a description of the judgment and the name and address of the court involved. (19) The applicant's fingerprints will be taken by GET Tribal Police, wh o are responsible for conducting this portion of the applicant's criminal history check and forwarding the fingerprint cards to the NIGH for processing through the FBI. (20) Any other information which might bring into question his fitness to serve as a primary management official or key employee off licensed gaming operation. C) Each application shall be accompanied y a sworn statement that the applicant will submit to the Jurisdiction of the Tribe and the Tribal Court. Employment Status Independent Contractors Turtle Creek Casino uses many various forms of subcontract labor, these are laborer that are not actually employees, but supply the casino with product or service to the casino. All landscaping, new construction, and many vendors that are not employees of the casino, but they assist in the operations of the casino.Countryside Construction Company Just completed builds the new casino. Full-time Employee Full-time Employee status at the casino is reserved for executives, manag ement and rear supervisors, and are required to work 40 plus hours.. A work week consists of seven (7) consecutive twenty-four (24)-hour periods, I. E. , one hundred and sixty-eight (168) consecutive hours, designated by the business needs of the respective divisions of the casino. Full time employees are salaried at the casino. A) All executive, administrative, and professional employees of the casino gaming operations are primary management duty and regularly direct the work of two or more employees or have the authority to hire, fire, or promote employees. (c) Administrative employees o office work or non-manual work directly related to management operations. (d) Professional employees do work that requires advanced training. Part time and Seasonal Employee All other employees are consider part time for the first two years of employment, this means that they can work 32 or less hours on a regular bases but not for more than 5 consecutive weeks.Seasonal or temporary employees are used for special events or outdoor concert. Training and Development Training Strategy All employees have monthly online training for current and advancing positions. Once training for advancing positions are completed internal employees can be insider candidate for advance position. Once the two year part time status has been complete internal employees can apply for full time positions. Full time employees are considered to be new employee trainer. Once a new employee is trained the trainer sits down with the area supervisor and discusses the new employee's strength and weaknesses.New Employee Schedule and Training process includes: First week- Report to department complete all required online training to include safety and customer relation training. Second week-Report to department complete specialized training for your position. Third and fourth- Report to department omelet shadow training with fellow employee. Fifth week- Report to department and probation period is over. Deve lopment Strategy employee's strength and weaknesses. The advancing employee then assumes their new training for the advance position.The development of employees ensures employee satisfaction and progression of employee in the casino. Compensation and Benefits Objective Turtle Creek Casino compensation program requires input from the employees; they fellow employee on a by annually. This audit is taken is to consideration and tell the employer what may be lacking or is not need in their compensation packages. Alignment Competitiveness Key position and executive pay is at the higher level, includes yearly increase, health insurance and bonus packages based on company sale in the form of profit sharing.All full time and part time employees are set at the medium rate of pay, health insurance, and also received bonus pay for training new employees. When the full time employees are not training they are paid at a reduced rate because of receiving tips. The lower rate of pay is for season al or temporary employees with no benefits, but tips . To stay competitive the casino does abide by the minimum wage rate even Hough they do not have to abide by labor laws. Tips are dividing up according to groups. Each group has its own collection area the hotel, hospitality, gaming and bar make up these groups.Tips are split according to how much was made in each area. Once a month the tips are distributed to the employees. This ensures the customers of the casino receive great service. Appraisal Purposes Turtle Creek requires performance review to get feedback on how the employee feels about the company as well and how the company views the employee future with the company. â€Å"If it's done right, performance appraisals tell us who's a good candidate for rumination and who's properly placed in their current Job (and who's in over his head†¦ )† (Grove, 2011). Feedback from all parties is required to be successful.Process Turtle Creek Casino require managers and supe rvisor to due appraisal for their employees on a semi- annual bases, this is for all part time and full time employees. As part of the ongoing online training all manger must complete a section on appraisal analysis. The casino finds it important because employee satisfaction reflects highly on the hospitality that they give their customers. They survey the employees at that time and address complaints. If the employee is not happy then they will cross train or relocate the employees to different position at that time.Full time employee that are train new employees are receiving appraisal training after training new employees when reporting status to the supervisors and managers. This keep record and employees updated of the status of the employee. Laws Turtle Creek Casino does not have to abide by federal or state labor laws, because they are covered under the Indian Reorganization Act, 1934. This act made is so the Indian race a sovereignty nation within self and its own governmen t. Tribal law does retentions of their race. Congress has specifically exempted tribes from several familiar employment laws.A tribal law has adopted similar laws against discrimination, harassment and violence to provide a safe work place for their employees. Even though tribal law does not require them to abide by these this act they enforce, VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 affirmative action was designed to counteract the lingering effects of generations of past discrimination. The main criteria for inclusion in affirmative action programs are race, sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, and age (Webster, 2013). Supreme Court has determined that states have no authority to regulate conduct by the tribes unless specifically authorized by Congress.Congress has specifically exempted tribes from several familiar employment laws. Ordinarily, tribal court has primary Jurisdiction over claims arising from commercial transactions with the tribe, including employment. Employees are required to re-sign authorization form to do background check on appraisal dates (Beet, 2004). Even though it is not necessary to have background check completed yearly the casino requires them to make sure that are employees maintain their gambling license and that there are no legal issue, preventive measure. Reference Beet, 2004.

Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty

â€Å"Admit it,† Enzo said, through the PDA. â€Å"You forgot.† â€Å"I did not,† I said, with what I hoped was just the right amount of indignation to suggest that I had not forgotten, which I had. â€Å"I can hear the fake indignation,† he said. â€Å"Rats,† I said. â€Å"You're on to me. Finally.† â€Å"Finally? There's no finally,† Enzo said. â€Å"I've been on to you since I met you.† â€Å"Maybe you have,† I allowed. â€Å"And anyway, that doesn't solve this problem,† Enzo said. â€Å"We're about to sit down for dinner. You're supposed to be here. Not to make you feel guilty or anything.† This was the difference between me and Enzo now and then. There used to be a time when Enzo would have said those words and they would have come out sounding like he was accusing me of something (besides, of course, being late). But right now they were gentle and funny. Yes, he was exasperated, but he was exasperated in a way that suggested I might be able to make it up to him. Which I probably would, if he didn't push it. â€Å"I am in fact wracked with guilt,† I said. â€Å"Good,† Enzo said. â€Å"Because you know we put a whole extra potato in the stew for you.† â€Å"Gracious,† I said. â€Å"A whole potato.† â€Å"And I promised the twins they could throw their carrots at you,† he said, referring to his little sisters. â€Å"Because I know how much you love carrots. Especially when they're kid-hurled.† â€Å"I don't know why anyone would eat them any other way,† I said. â€Å"And after dinner I was going to read you a poem I wrote for you,† Enzo said. I paused. â€Å"Now that's not fair,† I said. â€Å"Injecting something real into our witty banter.† â€Å"Sorry,† Enzo said. â€Å"Did you really?† I asked. â€Å"You haven't written me a poem in ages.† â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"I thought I might get back into practice. I remember you kind of liked it.† â€Å"You jerk,† I said. â€Å"Now I really do feel guilty for forgetting about dinner.† â€Å"Don't feel too guilty,† Enzo said. â€Å"It's not a very good poem. It doesn't even rhyme.† â€Å"Well, that's a relief,† I said. I still felt giddy. It's nice to get poems. â€Å"I'll send it to you,† Enzo said. â€Å"You can read it instead. And then, maybe if you're nice to me, I'll read it to you. Dramatically.† â€Å"What if I'm mean to you?† I asked. â€Å"Then I'll read it melodramatically,† he said. â€Å"I'll wave my arms and everything.† â€Å"You're making a case for me being mean to you,† I said. â€Å"Hey, you're already missing dinner,† Enzo said. â€Å"That's worth an arm wave or two.† â€Å"Jerk,† I said. I could almost hear him smile over the PDA. â€Å"Gotta go,† Enzo said. â€Å"Mom's telling me to set the table.† â€Å"Do you want me to try to make it?† I asked. All of a sudden I really did want to be there. â€Å"I can try.† â€Å"You're going to run across the entire colony in five minutes?† Enzo said. â€Å"I could do it,† I said. â€Å"Maybe Babar could,† Enzo said. â€Å"But he has two legs more than you.† â€Å"Fine,† I said. â€Å"I'll send Babar to have dinner with you.† Enzo laughed. â€Å"Do that,† he said. â€Å"I'll tell you what, Zoe. Walk here at a reasonable pace, and you'll probably make it in time for dessert. Mom made a pie.† â€Å"Yay, pie,† I said. â€Å"What kind?† â€Å"I think it's called ‘Zoe gets whatever kind of pie she gets and likes it' pie,† Enzo said. â€Å"Mmmm,† I said. â€Å"I always like that kind of pie.† â€Å"Well, yeah,† Enzo said. â€Å"It's right there in the title.† â€Å"It's a date,† I said. â€Å"Good,† Enzo said. â€Å"Don't forget. I know that's a problem for you.† â€Å"Jerk,† I said. â€Å"Check your mail queue,† Enzo said. â€Å"There might be a poem there.† â€Å"I'm going to wait for the hand waving,† I said. â€Å"That's probably for the best,† Enzo said. â€Å"It'll be better that way. And now my mom is glaring at me with laser eyeballs. I have to go.† â€Å"Go,† I said. â€Å"See you soon.† â€Å"Okay,† Enzo said. â€Å"Love you.† We had started saying that to each other recently. It seemed to fit. â€Å"Love you too,† I said, and disconnected. â€Å"You two make me want to vomit so hard,† Gretchen said. She'd been hearing my side of the conversation and had been rolling her eyes the whole time. We were sitting in her bedroom. I set down the PDA and whacked her with a pillow. â€Å"You're just jealous Magdy never says that to you.† â€Å"Oh, dear Lord,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Leaving aside the fact that I so do not want to hear that from him, if he ever did try to say that to me, his head would actually explode before the words could even get out of his mouth. Which now that I think about it might be an excellent reason to try to get him to say it.† â€Å"You two are so cute,† I said. â€Å"I can see you two standing at the altar and getting into it right before saying ‘I do.'† â€Å"Zoe, if I ever get anywhere near an altar with Magdy, I authorize you to make a flying tackle and drag me away,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Oh, fine,† I said. â€Å"Now let's never speak of this again,† Gretchen said. â€Å"You're so in denial,† I said. â€Å"At least I'm not the one who forgot her dinner date,† Gretchen said. â€Å"It gets worse,† I said. â€Å"He wrote me poetry. He was going to read it to me.† â€Å"You missed dinner and a show,† Gretchen said. â€Å"You are the worst girlfriend ever.† â€Å"I know,† I said. I reached for my PDA. â€Å"I'll write him an apology note saying that.† â€Å"Make it extra grovelly,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Because that's sexy.† â€Å"That comment explains a lot about you, Gretchen,† I said, and then my PDA took on a life of its own, blasting an alarm sound from its speaker and scrolling an air attack notice on its screen. Over on Gretchen's desk, her PDA made the same alarm sound and scrolled the same message. Every PDA in the colony did the same. In the distance, we heard the sirens, posted near the Mennonite homesteads, alerting them because they didn't use personal technology. For the first time since the defeat of the Conclave fleet, Roanoke was under attack. Missiles were on their way. I rushed to the door of Gretchen's room. â€Å"Where are you going?† she asked. I ignored her and went outside, where people were bursting out of their homes and running for cover, and looked into the sky. â€Å"What are you doing?† Gretchen said, catching up with me. â€Å"We need to get to a shelter.† â€Å"Look,† I said, and pointed. In the distance, a bright needle of light was tracing across the sky, aiming at something we couldn't quite see. Then there was a flash, blinding white. There was a defense satellite above Roanoke; it had fired on and hit one of the missiles coming for us. But others were still on their way. The sharp pop of the missile explosion reached us, with not nearly enough time lag. â€Å"Come on, Zoe,† Gretchen said, and started tugging at me. â€Å"We've got to go.† I stopped looking at the sky and ran with Gretchen to one of the community shelters we had recently excavated and built; it was filling up quickly with colonists. As I ran I saw Hickory and Dickory, who had spotted me; they closed in and took either side of me as we got into the shelter. Even in the panic, people still made room for them. Gretchen, Hickory, Dickory, about four dozen other colonists, and I all hunched down in the shelter, straining to hear what was going on above us through nearly a dozen feet of dirt and concrete. â€Å"What do you think is happ – † someone said and then there was unspeakable wrenching noise, like someone had taken one of the cargo containers that made up the colony wall and peeled it apart, right on top of our eardrums and then I was tumbling to the ground because there was an earthquake and I screamed and bet that everyone else in the shelter did too but I couldn't hear it because then came the single loudest noise I had ever heard, so loud that my brain surrendered and the noise became the absence of noise, and the only way I knew that I, at least, was still screaming was that I could feel my throat getting raw. Either Hickory or Dickory grabbed me and held me steady; I could see Gretchen being held the same way by the other Obin. The lights in the shelter flickered but stayed on. Eventually I stopped screaming and the ground stopped shaking and something similar to my hearing came back to me and I could hear others in the shelter crying and praying and trying to calm children. I looked over at Gretchen, who looked stricken. I disentangled from Dickory (it turned out) and went over to her. â€Å"You okay?† I asked. My voice sounded like it was pushed through cotton from a distance. Gretchen nodded but didn't look at me. It occurred to me it was the first time she'd been in an attack. I looked around. Most of the people in the shelter looked like Gretchen. It was the first time any of these people had been in an attack. Of all these people, I was the one who was the veteran of a hostile attack. I guess that put me in charge. I saw a PDA on the floor; someone had dropped it. I picked it up and activated it and read what was there. Then I stood up and waved my hands back and forth and said â€Å"Excuse me!† until people started looking at me. I think enough people recognized me as the daughter of the colony leaders that they decided I might know something after all. â€Å"The emergency information on the PDA says that the attack seems to be over,† I said when enough people were looking my way. â€Å"But until we get an ‘all clear' signal we need to stay here in the shelter. We need to stay here and stay calm. Is anyone here injured or sick?† â€Å"I can't hear very well,† someone said. â€Å"I don't think any of us can hear well right now,† I said. â€Å"That's why I'm yelling.† It was an attempt at a joke. I don't think people were going for it. â€Å"Are there any injuries here besides hearing loss?† No one said anything or raised their hand. â€Å"Then let's just sit tight here and wait for the ‘all clear.'† I held up the PDA I was using. â€Å"Whose is this?† Someone raised their hand; I asked if I could borrow it. â€Å"Someone took ‘in charge' lessons when I wasn't looking,† Gretchen said when I sat back down next to her. The words were classic Gretchen, but the voice was very, very shaky. â€Å"We were just under attack,† I said. â€Å"If someone doesn't pretend like she knows what she's doing, people are going to start freaking out. That would be bad.† â€Å"Not arguing,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Just impressed.† She pointed to the PDA. â€Å"Can you send any messages? Can we find out what's happening?† â€Å"I don't think so,† I said. â€Å"The emergency system overrides usual messaging, I think.† I signed out the owner on the PDA and signed in under my account. â€Å"See. Enzo said he sent that poem to me but it's not there yet. It's probably queued and will get sent once we have the all clear.† â€Å"So we don't know if everyone else is okay,† Gretchen said. â€Å"I'm sure we'll get an all clear signal soon,† I said. â€Å"You worried about your dad?† â€Å"Yes. Aren't you worried about your parents?† Gretchen asked. â€Å"They were soldiers,† I said. â€Å"They've done this before. I'm worried about them, but I'm betting they're fine. And Jane is the one running the emergency messages. As long as they're updating, she's fine.† The PDA switched over from my mail queue to a scrolling note; we were being given the â€Å"all clear.† â€Å"See,† I said. I had Hickory and Dickory check the entrance of the shelter for any falling debris; it was clear. I signed out from the PDA and gave it back to its owner, and then folks started shuffling out. Gretchen and I were the last to head up. â€Å"Watch your step,† Gretchen said as we came up, and pointed to the ground. Glass was everywhere. I looked around. All the houses and buildings were standing, but almost all the windows were blown out. We'd be picking glass out of everything for days. â€Å"At least it's been nice weather,† I said. No one seemed to hear me. Probably just as well. I said good-bye to Gretchen and headed to my house with Hickory and Dickory. I found more glass in surprising places and Babar cowering in the shower stall. I managed to coax him out and gave him a big hug. He licked my face with increasing franticness. After I petted him and calmed him down, I reached for my PDA to call Mom or Dad, and then realized I had left it over at Gretchen's. I had Hickory and Dickory stay with Babar – he needed their company more than I did at the moment – and walked over to Gretchen's. As I walked to her house, her front door swung open and Gretchen burst through it, saw me and ran to me, her PDA in one hand and mine in the other. â€Å"Zoe,† she said, and then her face tightened up, and whatever she had to say was lost for a minute. â€Å"Oh, no,† I said. â€Å"Gretchen. Gretchen. What is it? Is it your dad? Is your dad okay?† Gretchen shook her head, and looked up at me. â€Å"It's not my dad,† she said. â€Å"My dad is fine. It's not Dad. Zoe, Magdy just called me. He says something hit. Hit Enzo's homestead. He said the house is still there but there's something big in the yard. He thinks it's part of a missile. Says he tried to call Enzo but he's not there. No one's there. No one's answering there. He said they just built a bomb shelter, away from the house. In the yard, Zoe. Magdy says he keeps calling and no one answers. I just called Enzo, too. I don't get anything, Zoe. It doesn't even connect. I keep trying. Oh God, Zoe. Oh God, Zoe. Oh, God.† Enzo Paulo Gugino was born on Zhong Guo, the first child of Bruno and Natalie Gugino. Bruno and Natalie had known each other since they were children and everyone who knew them knew that from the first moment they laid eyes on each other that they would be together for every single moment of their lives. Bruno and Natalie didn't argue with this idea. Bruno and Natalie, as far as anyone ever knew, never argued about anything, and certainly didn't argue with each other. They married young, even for the deeply religious culture they lived in on Zhong Guo, in which people often married early. But no one could imagine the two of them not being together; their parents gave their consent and the two of them were married in one of the best-attended weddings anyone could remember in their hometown of Pomona Falls. Nine months later, almost to the day, there was Enzo. Enzo was sweet from the moment he was born; he was always happy and only occasionally fussy, although (as was frequently explained, much to his later mortification) he had a marked tendency to take off his own diapers and smear the contents of them against the nearest available wall. This caused a real problem one time in a bank. Fortunately he was toilet-trained early. Enzo met his best friend Magdy Metwalli in kindergarten. On the first day of school, a third-grader had tried to pick on Enzo, and pushed him hard down to the ground; Magdy, whom Enzo had never seen before in his life, launched himself at the third-grader and started punching him in the face. Magdy, who at the time was small for his age, did no real damage other than scaring the pee out of the third-grader (literally); it was Enzo who eventually pulled Magdy off the third-grader and calmed him down before they were all sent to the principal's office and then home for the day. Enzo showed a flair for words early and wrote his first story when he was seven, entitled â€Å"The horrible sock that smelled bad and ate Pomona Falls except for my house,† in which a large sock, mutated by its own horrible unwashed smell, started eating its way through the contents of an entire town and was thwarted only when the heroes Enzo and Magdy first punched it into submission and then threw it into a swimming pool filled with laundry soap. The first part of the story (about the origin of the sock) took three sentences; the climactic battle scene took three pages. Rumor is Magdy (the one reading the story, not the one in it) kept asking for more of the fight scene. When Enzo was ten his mother became pregnant for a second time, with twins Maria and Katherina. The pregnancy was difficult, and complicated because Natalie's body had a hard time keeping two babies in it at once; the delivery was a near thing and Natalie came close to bleeding out more than once. It took Natalie more than a year to fully recover, and during that time the ten- and eleven-year-old Enzo helped his father and mother to care for his sisters, learning to change diapers and feed the girls when his mom needed a rest. This was the occasion of the only real fight between Magdy and Enzo: Magdy jokingly called Enzo a sissy for helping his mom, and Enzo smacked him in the mouth. When Enzo was fifteen the Guginos and the Metwallis and two other families they knew entered a group application to be part of the very first colony world made up of citizens of the Colonial Union rather than citizens of Earth. For the next few months every part of Enzo's life, and the life of his family, was opened up to scrutiny, and he bore it with as much grace as anyone who was fifteen and who mostly just wanted to be left alone could have. Every member of every family was required to submit a statement explaining why they wanted to be part of the colony. Bruno Gugino explained how he had been a fan of the American Colonization era, and the early history of the Colonial Union; he wanted to be part of this new chapter of history. Natalie Gugino wrote about wanting to raise her family on a world where everyone was working together. Maria and Katherina drew pictures of them floating in space with smiley moons. Enzo, who loved words more and more, wrote a poem, imagining himself standing on a new world, and titled it â€Å"The Stars My Destination.† He later admitted he'd taken the title from an obscure fantasy adventure book that he'd never read but whose title stayed with him. The poem, meant only for his application, was leaked to the local media and became something of a sensation. It eventually became sort of an official unofficial anthem for the Zhong Guo colonization effort. And after all that, Enzo and his family and co-applicants really couldn't not be chosen to go. When Enzo had just turned sixteen, he met a girl, named Zoe, and for some reason that passes understanding, he fell for her. Zoe was a girl who seemed like she knew what she was doing most of the time and was happy to tell you that this was in fact the case, all the time, but in their private moments, Enzo learned that Zoe was as nervous and uncertain and terrified that she would say or do something stupid to scare away this boy she thought she might love, as he was nervous and uncertain and terrified that he would do something stupid, too. They talked and touched and held and kissed and learned how not to be nervous and uncertain and terrified of each other. They did say and do stupid things, and they did eventually scare each other away, because they didn't know any better. But then they got over it, and when they were together again, that second time, they didn't wonder whether they might love each other. Because they knew they did. And they told each other so. On the day Enzo died he talked to Zoe, joked with her about her missing the dinner she was supposed to have with his family, and promised to send her a poem he had written for her. Then he told her he loved her and heard her tell him she loved him. Then he sent her the poem and sat down with his family to dinner. When the emergency alert came, the Gugino family, father Bruno, mother Natalie, daughters Maria and Katherina, and son Enzo, went together into the attack shelter Bruno and Enzo had made just a week before, and sat together close, holding each other and waiting for the â€Å"all clear.† On the day Enzo died he knew he was loved. He knew he was loved by his mother and father who, like everyone knew, never stopped loving each other until the very moment they died. Their love for each other became their love for him, and for their daughters. He knew he was loved by his sisters, who he cared for when they were small, and when he was small. He knew he was loved by his best friend, who he never stopped getting out of trouble, and who he never stopped getting into trouble with. And he knew he was loved by Zoe – by me – who he called his love and who said the words back to him. Enzo lived a life of love, from the moment he was born until the moment he died. So many people go through life without love. Wanting love. Hoping for love. Hungering for more of it than they have. Missing love when it was gone. Enzo never had to go through that. Would never have to. All he knew all his life was love. I have to think it was enough. It would have to be, now. I spent the day with Gretchen and Magdy and all of Enzo's friends, of whom there were so many, crying and laughing and remembering him, and then at some point I couldn't take any more because everyone had begun to treat me like Enzo's widow and though in a way I felt like I was, I didn't want to have to share that with anyone. It was mine and I wanted to be greedy for it for just a little while. Gretchen saw I had reached some sort of breaking point, and walked me back to her room and told me to get some rest, and that she'd check on me later. Then she gave me a fierce hug, kissed me on the temple and told me she loved me and closed the door behind me. I lay there in Gretchen's bed and tried not to think and did a pretty good job of it until I remembered Enzo's poem, waiting for me in my mail queue. Gretchen had put my PDA on her desk and I walked over, took the PDA and sat back down on the bed, and pulled up my mail queue and saw the mail from Enzo. I reached to press the screen to retrieve it and then called up the directory instead. I found the folder titled â€Å"Enzo Dodgeball† and opened it and started playing the files, watching as Enzo flailed his way around the dodgeball court, taking hits to the face and tumbling to the ground with unbelievable comic timing. I watched until I laughed so hard that I could barely see, and had to put the PDA down for a minute to concentrate on the simple act of breathing in and out. When I had mastered that again, I picked up the PDA, called up the mail queue, and opened the mail from Enzo. Zoe: Here you are. You'll have to imagine the arm waving for now. But the live show is coming! That is, after we have pie. Mmmm†¦pie. BELONG You said I belong to you And I agree But the quality of that belonging Is a question of some importance. I do not belong to you Like a purchase Something ordered and sold And delivered in a box To be put up and shown off To friends and admirers. I would not belong to you that way And I know you would not have me so. I will tell you how I belong to you. I belong to you like a ring on a finger A symbol of something eternal. I belong to you like a heart in a chest Beating in time to another heart. I belong to you like a word on the air Sending love to your ear. I belong to you like a kiss on your lips Put there by me, in the hope of more to come. And most of all I belong to you Because in where I hold my hopes I hold the hope that you belong to me. It is a hope I unfold for you now like a gift. Belong to me like a ring And a heart And a word And a kiss And like a hope held close. I will belong to you like all these things And also something more Something we will discover between us And will belong to us alone. You said I belong to you And I agree. Tell me you belong to me, too. I wait for your word And hope for your kiss. Love you. Enzo. I love you, too, Enzo. I love you. I miss you.