What Principles And Values Do You Approach Assessment Essay

Assessment philosophy From what principles and values do you approach assessment? Assessment is an essential part of both teaching and learning. It provides educators with an understanding of student learning and development, to determine whether or not learning outcomes and educational goals are successfully being met. Educators must therefore take an active role in making decisions about the purpose of assessment and the content to be assessed to ensure â€Å"assessment is ‘built-in’ to the curriculum and the classroom experience, and not something that is just ‘bolted-on’ at the end of a learning episode† (Readman Allen, 2013, p. XVIII). If they are to gain a clear understanding of where students are in terms of their learning, what levels they are expected to be at, and which methods of teaching and learning provide the best means of achieving maximum student performance (Department of Education and Training, ACT, 2011). This equips educators with the required knowledge and skills to effectively plan and alter instructional practices and tasks to accommodate the individual learning needs and abilities of all students to successfully improve educational outcomes (Popham, 2009; Darling-Hammond, Rustique-Forrester Pecheone, 2005). Moreover, it assists educators in developing a healthy attitude towards assessment, thereby enhancing their assessment literacy â€Å"to fulfil their role as advocates for learning† (Popham, 2009 as cited in Readman Allen, 2013, p. 12). Not only doesShow MoreRelatedAssessment Of The Kindergarten Classroom : An Empirical Study Of Teachers Assessment Approaches1593 Words   |  7 Pages Assessment in the Kindergarten Classroom For many years, educators have been challenged in their efforts to assess kindergarten children using a variety of strategies. 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Mary the mother of Jesus and the Catholic Church tradition Free Essays

Mary otherwise called ‘The Blessed Virgin Mary’ or ‘The Virgin Mary’ or ‘Blessed Virgin’; terms commonly used within the Roman Catholic Church to describe Mary the mother of Jesus whose teaching and beliefs form the basis of Christianity. The Catholic Church holds the position held by Mary in high regard and this has occasioned many teachings as well as doctrines on this subject. (Newsweek, 6)   During the Second Vatican Council in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church on November 21 1964, Mary was also given other titles of Mediatrix, Adjutrix and Advocate (http://www. We will write a custom essay sample on Mary the mother of Jesus and the Catholic Church tradition or any similar topic only for you Order Now whidbey.net/~dcloud/fbns/marycoredeemer.htm) The term Virgin Mary is not used virtually as a belief in her virginity but as a sign of a role of life continuity for the Catholic Church and for the Christians’ life. In Catholicism Mary is viewed as alive, and living in heaven where she is able to hear prayers offered by human beings on earth then intercedes on their behalf to Jesus her son. (Newsweek, 6)   Mary as opposed to Eve (the first woman) is considered as absolutely obedient; in fact she was called the Second Eve by St. Irenaeus; this was because it was through Mary that the first damage was undone, the damage that had been caused by Eve eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, where human beings were condemned by God to a life of sin. In 431AD, Mary was given the title ‘Theotokos’ a Greek name that translates as the â€Å"God- bearer† or ‘Divine Mother of God’. This description is purported to be supported by the Holy Scriptures in Luke 1:43 when Elizabeth saluted Mary thus â€Å"But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?† (Luke 1:43) Officially in the Roman Catholicism there are 4 dogmas or beliefs about Blessed Virgin Mary. They include – Mother of God (Theotokos ) – Perpetual virginity – Immaculate conception – Assumption in to heaven i) Mother of God (Theotokos) In Mariology or the Christian theology concerned with Mary the mother of Jesus, this is the main and principle dogma. The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus declared it in 431AD. It is also considered to be the oldest of all the dogmas. The dogma in Mariology is very important especially in the Theology of Christ because as it is argued, if Mary was not the mother of God then it did not hold true that Jesus was God. As pointed before, this dogma was based on book of Luke 1:43 through Elizabeth’s salutation. Mary as the mother of God is regularly addressed as Theotokos in most Hymns in Catholicism and other Eastern Orthodox churches. One of the common hymns that is used in most services is Axion Estin which means ‘It is truly meet’. Other hymns in this regard include the famous Hail Mary, Beneath thy Compassion among others. (Newsweek, 7) The Immaculate Conception In this Catholic Dogma Mary is considered as a very unique person among the humanity. She was unique because she was born without sin and was free from the original sin. It was also held that she was sinless in her entire life. This dogma was promulgated by Pope Pius 1X on 8th December 1854. According to the Catholic Church teachings Mary was granted grace since conception yet she needed a savior through Jesus Christ. Also by way of God, the Catholic Church teachings hold that she shared in the gifts of the crucifixion of Jesus. Scriptural support for this is to be found in Luke 1:28 which is used to support the immaculate conception of Mary. Other scriptures in support of the immaculate conception is the instance in the scripture when she was greeted by Angel Gabriel as â€Å"full of grace† or â€Å"highly favored† Also according to this dogma, Mary was highly regarded as being the ‘Ark of the Covenant in the New Testament’ and just like Moses who used â€Å"incorruptible† wood for the tablets, it was seen befitting for her to be made â€Å"immaculate† and â€Å"incorruptible† as well. The Dogma of Immaculate Conception was significantly given more prominence from the vision of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1858. A 14-year-old girl by the name Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes made claims to the effect that a beautiful lady had made an appearance to her; the beautiful lady’s name as she put it, was â€Å"The Immaculate Conception†, the Catholic faithful believed this was indeed the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Newsweek, 8) To show how solemn the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is in the Roman Catholic Church, there is a Holy Day of Obligation in 1st of January every year for this purpose and it is almost celebrated as a holy day in some countries. (Newsweek, 8) Mary is usually highly considered in Catholicism unlike the rest of the humanity, she is considered to be free of the original sin. The Catholics argue that Jesus could not have been born in a vessel that was sinful. Thus to be able to carry Jesus in her womb she had to be free of the original sin. (Newsweek, 8)   The perpetual virginity In this dogma, the Roman Catholic Church further affirms Mary’s â€Å"real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man†. (Catechism of the catholic church 499) what this meant was that Mary remained a virgin in her entire life and Jesus was her only biological son who was not only miraculously conceived, but born as well. http://www.cin.org/v2church.html: It is further believed that in fact, Christ’s birth sanctified Mary’s virginity. Scriptural support for this belief is stated thus â€Å"The LORD said to me, â€Å"This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it.† (Ezekiel 44:2) this, according to this dogma there was no form of sexual intercourse between Mary and Joseph which would have â€Å"defiled† her. The Catholics therefore hold that Mary remained pure and undefiled in her entire life. (Newsweek, 6) Some important statements to support this belief would include the Lateran Synod of 649, where in the teachings of Thomas Aquinas ‘Summa Theologiae III.28.2’, Mary is said to have given birth miraculously without pain, without opening her womb and without injuring or rupturing the hymen. http://www.cin.org/v2church.html The Assumption of Mary This dogma is the last among the four and is the most recent having been dogmatically defined as infallible on 1 November 1950 by Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution. The Theology of the Roman Catholic Church holds that The Blessed Virgin Mary â€Å"having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory† (Pope Pius XII, 1950). What this meant is that Mary unlike other humanity was taken to heaven, united body and soul, thus she never died the natural death experienced by all living beings. The Roman Catholics celebrate the accession to heaven of Mary in the feast day as The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In John 14:3 Jesus in his Last Supper said thus † And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.† Mary is assumed to be the person to fulfill this promise. This is the scripture that is used to support the assumption of Mary into heaven. REFERENCES Catechism of the catholic church 499 Pope Pius XII: â€Å"Munificentissimus Deus – Defining the Dogma of the Assumption†, par.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   44. Vatican, November 1, 1950 John 14:3, Ezekiel 44:2, Luke 1:28, Luke 1:43. Scriptures lifted from NIV Bible Newsweek cover story, 1997-AUG-25.†The meaning of Mary: A struggle over her role grows within the church,† â€Å"Rome says Mary is Co-redeemer, mediator, advocate,† Way of Life, at http://www.cin.org/v2church.html: Vatican II, â€Å"Lumen Gentium: Dogmatic Constitution of the Church,† Chapter 8, â€Å"The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of god in the mystery of Christ and the Church,† III, 62. See How to cite Mary the mother of Jesus and the Catholic Church tradition, Essay examples

Risk Management And The Safety Case Regime â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Risk Management And The Safety Case Regime? Answer: Introducation Risk management is the process of identification, acceptance, analysis and mitigation of the various kinds of uncertainties which is related with the decision making processes. An entity has to get exposed to various kinds of financial risks when he makes an investment. The quantum and the type of risk are associated with the type of instrument involved in the process. In order to control and minimize suck risks, the investors and the mangers practices risk management (Hopkins 2013). It is vital to give importance to risk management when making any kind of investments because there might be sudden financial turmoil in any economy. The organizations and the companies must also understand the various risks that might arise and they must readily accept them. The internal auditors, external auditors, board of directors and the management authority of the company plays various roles in managing the risk. There are various ways of managing risks such as sharing the risks with others, using derivatives and hedges, buying insurance and trying to avoid risky situations (Hayes 2014). Safety case regime There are certain facilities which are associated in handling the large quantities of dangerous goods and which have the risk for creating major incidents, the consequences of those accidents may lead to death, damage of property or injury. Such a facility in the generation of those incidents referred to as MHF. Only some rare accidents which may lead to such catastrophic situations and it gets very less attention in comparison with the operational issues. The aim of MHF is almost similar to the onshore and offshore facilities that exist in Europe and the offshore gas and oil operation of Australia. Safety case regime is an important regulatory initiative which aims to address these issues. The safety case issue must also try to lower OHS issues which lay higher frequency and lower consequence. The regulations of MHF facilities are related with the handling, storage and processing of those materials which are hazardous for the individuals. The mechanism of safety case is implemented and prepared by the different facility managers and it helps them in outlining various means for proper and safe operation of different kinds of facilities. The process which is associated with the development of safety case will help in the improvement of the operation facilities and it also ensures various measures which are associated with hazardous activities during the development and initialization of the safety case which is regarded as a continuous process of improvement (Arifin 2014). Key risk management features of the safety case regime in reducing the risk of major accidents There are .many important features which are very crucial and important for the success of safety case regime. They are discussed below: Safety case regime helps in the analysis and understanding of the various facilities such as the dangerous and hazardous goods which are held at the facility , the materials of Schedule 9 and various other activities which are performed using these materials involving the environment or the community as a whole. There are various types of hazardous activities which are associated with these facilities and the consequences and likelihood of these facilities are very similar to each other. Safety Case also involves the basis for the proper and safe operation of these varied facilities. It also includes different aspects of the Safety Management System which are used to support and control the measures associated with them. Safety management also helps in the designing and construction of the varied facilities which are used for any engineering control measures for any major incidents or hazardous activities (Lindoe and Engen 2013). Safety Case also helps in the process by which the hea lth and the safety personals or the third parties are involved or are very often consulted for the preparation of the safety case. The processes used in the safety case will be used in the analysis and review of any safety case which was previously used. Moreover, the various processes in which the assessments and procedures of the safety case are described and maintained in accordance with the facility operation and design. It also includes the technique or manner in varied aspects of safety case will be designed and integrated for managing the risks and the hazardous activities (Broadribb 2015). The CSB has set certain key features which are vital for the prevention of some of the major accidents. The duty holders safety responsibility involves a written case for the safety The organization is responsible for the protection and safety of various hazardous facilities. The main responsibility lies in the duty holder who are the regulator of the company, the various reasons for selecting one's potential control over another, the different techniques and methodologies which are used to assess the risk. It is the duty and responsibility of the duty holder to make arrangements for the written case involving safety. These case must identify the risks and the hazards and it must also describe how these risk can be minimized to ALARP. The safety case report also tries to visualize that the duty holder has made there arrangements properly and if they are implemented they will be able to reach those compliance with the other legal objectives (Sabel, Herrigel and Kristensen 2014). Moreover, it is also vital that the safety case must serve as an evergreen document which will help to highlight the improvements in the reduction of hazardous activities. In the onshore operational case, it is the responsibility of the duty holder to check the safety report for starting any new construction projects. These will be in improving the technical knowledge and new facts about the safety management system. The duty holders must also update and revise the safety report to provide a proper guideline in times of major accidents. The regulator must also accept the report of the so that he can start the operation process or continue the same process. However, it must be noted that mere acceptance of the safety report by the regulator does not help in the installation or license. It is the responsibility of the duty holder to ensure that installation process must be carried out in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down by the management. Continuous Risk Reduction associated with ALARP The principle of ALARP help the regulator in the foundation to accept or deny the safety report. It is the duty of the regulator to check whether the ALARP has been successfully achieved with the help of the authority or not. ALARP also helps in the reduction of risk to keep it updated with the latest technology. It is also important for the regulator to accept the application of good practices and this will help in the demonstration of ALARP (Chappel 2016). Adaptability and Improvement Safety case regulatory regime helps the regulator in the improvement of various facilities and thus it will also help in ensuring the risks which are associated with the reduction of ALARP. It will also help to focus the various activities which are based on varied regulatory requirements. The regulator must also have the ability in helping the facilities in going beyond the standards and thus it will help in achieving the ALARP without any particular rules and regulations (Sujan et al 2016). The processes which are associated with the regulation of safety will be the same for certain decades. There are also certain problems which are closely associated in maintaining the aging and the safety equipments and this helps to know whether the safety cases are operating properly or not. HSE has made different kinds of efforts to make improvement in its area of operation (Silye and Authority 2014). Active Participation of the workforce. CSB has identified that the representatives and the workers plays a vital role in the prevention of various kinds of accidents. The API and the USW also works together for the implementation of a joint program that will help in the analysis of different kinds of investigation and this also helps in addressing the safety indicators. The employers must also consult with the employees for the safety and security of their health. Moreover, USB is a also a constant battle for the workers to voice their opinion in the management and safety programmes. The regulations also helps the employers for establishing the safety committee (Bennear 2015). Regulatory assessment, Intervention and Verification Safety case reports must help in the prevention and utilization of different kinds audits and preventive inspections for the intervention of risk associated activities. Greater emphasis must also be laid upon the assessment of various kinds of safer designs. Moreover, the intervention of the regulator must also ensure that the facility and the various kind of operation which are held consistent with the various kinds of information. The regulator also has the power to accept the accept reject the safety case authority. The regulator can also suggest more additional methods for the reduction of various kinds of risks. The various kinds of inspections and audits also helps in mitigating the challenges of the industry (Aven and Reniers 2013). Application of Safety Regime preventing the Piper Alpha Oil Gas Platform Explosion in 1988 The number of deaths which occurred from the Piper Alpha Disaster was a great issue in the petroleum industry. This incident also reported the vulnerable condition of the offshore personals in the installations. The Australian operators undertook a varied range of safety and emergency responses after consulting the government. The Australian offshore safety regulation of the petroleum industry are in collaboration with the states, territories and the commonwealth countries. These organizations have developed certain specific standards which are also accepted by the other international committees. The PSL Act wants the operators to carry out their operation in a workmanlike and proper manner (Okoh and Haugen 2014). Lord Cullen has set out certain recommendations on the industry and it has also mentioned certain guidelines and standards in accordance with the process of setting the goals. These guidelines are designed in such away so that it can help in providing guidance on the procedure and measures which are considered suitable in controlling these risks (Walker, Waterfield and Thompson 2014). The approach of goal setting in the safety legislation process varies from the perspective style and also helps in the fixed list of various things which are necessary to meet the statutory requirements. The UK government has tried to bring certain improvements after the Piper Alpha case. It has tried to bring improvements in the safety culture and hardware of these industry. The launching of the step change in the safety process which was designed in such way so as to bring further improvements and change in the Piper Alpha process which will improve the workforce pattern and help[ in the improvement p rocess (ShallCross 2013). The safety case regime also led to the installation of a safety case which had to be submitted to the health and safety executives (HSE). It requires that the regulator or the duty holder must have a definite mobile installation process of operating in the UK waters and they must submit it to HSE. The industry must also properly communicate with its work force. They must also try to replace the stand by vessels and try to bring further improvements. After the incident of Piper Alpha, the joint projects of the industries were itemized and it provided a more realistic assessment (Paterson 2016). There were certain assessments which were carried out as a result of the contamination process and this has helped in the generation of frequencies based on the research of a wide data set. Moreover the HSE also set out certain plans for the various kinds of requirements and this were done in accordance with the downward mode which resulted in the loss of contamination by the process of risk ma nagement. Certain experimental research work were also carried in collaboration with the major projects of the industry (Swuste et al 2017). Reference List Arifin, K., Mustaffa, F., Zakaria, S.Z.S., Razman, M.R., Aiyub, K. and Jaafar, M.H., 2014. Implementation of the fire safety programme: A case study on the oil and gas industry in Terengganu.Journal of Food, Agriculture Environment,12(2), pp.861-866. Aven, T. and Reniers, G., 2013. How to define and interpret a probability in a risk and safety setting.Safety science,51(1), pp.223-231. Bennear, L.S., 2015. Offshore oil and gas drilling: a review of regulatory regimes in the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway.Review of Environmental Economics and Policy,9(1), pp.2-22. Broadribb, M.P., 2015. What have we really learned? Twenty five years after Piper Alpha.Process Safety Progress,34(1), pp.16-23. Chappell, N., 2016. Doing Community Safety by Locality Working: Regime Theory and Micro-Climates of Crime and Disorder Co-Governance. Hayes, J., 2014. A new policy direction in Australian offshore safety regulation.Risk Governance of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations, p.188. Hopkins, A., 2013. The Cost-Benefit Hurdle for Safety Case Regulation.US Chemical Safety Board. Lindoe, P.H. and Engen, O.A., 2013. Offshore safety regimesa contested terrain.The Regulation of Continental Shelf Development. Rethinking International Standards, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden, Boston, pp.195-212. Okoh, P. and Haugen, S., 2014. The implication of maintenance in major accident causation.Loss Prevention Bulletin, (236). Paterson, J., 2016. Health, Safety and Environmental Regulation on theUnited Kingdom Continental Shelf in the Aftermathof the Macondo Disaster.LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources,4(2), p.7. Sabel, C., Herrigel, G. and Kristensen, P.H., 2014. Regulation under Uncertainty: The Co-evolution of Industry and Regulation in the Norwegian Offshore Gas and Oil Industry. Shallcross, D.C., 2013. Using concept maps to assess learning of safety case studiesThe Piper Alpha disaster.Education for Chemical Engineers,8(1), pp.e1-e11. Silye, J. and Authority, H.A.E., 2014. EU Initiatives Following Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Amending The Nuclear Safety Directive and Establishing the EU Liability Regime.Nuclear law iN Progress Derecho Nuclear eN evoluciN, p.267. Sujan, M.A., Habli, I., Kelly, T.P., Pozzi, S. and Johnson, C.W., 2016. Should healthcare providers do safety cases? Lessons from a cross-industry review of safety case practices.Safety science,84, pp.181-189. Swuste, P., Groeneweg, J., Van Gulijk, C., Zwaard, W. and Lemkowitz, S., 2017. Safety management systems from Three Mile Island to Piper Alpha, a review in English and Dutch literature for the period 1979 to 1988.Safety Science. Walker, G.H., Waterfield, S. and Thompson, P., 2014. All at sea: An ergonomic analysis of oil production platform control rooms.International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics,44(5), pp.723-731.

Othello - Analysis Of Iago Essays (548 words) - Othello, Iago

Othello - Analysis of Iago Shakespeare's Iago is one of Shakespeare's most complex villains. At first glance Iago's character seems to be pure evil. However, such a villain would distract from the impact of the play and would be trite. Shakespeare to add depth to his villain makes him amoral, as opposed to the typical immoral villain. Iago's entire scheme begins when the "ignorant, ill-suited" Cassio is given the position he desired. Iago is consumed with envy and plots to steal the position he feels he most justly deserves. Iago deceives, steals, and kills to gain that position. However, it is not that Iago pushes aside his conscience to commit these acts, but that he lacks a conscience to begin with. Iago's amorality can be seen throughout the play and is demonstrated by his actions. For someone to constantly lie and deceive one's wife and friends, one must be extremely evil or, in the case of Iago, amoral. In every scene in which Iago speaks one can point out his deceptive manner. Iago tricks Othello into beleiving that his own wife is having an affair, without any concrete proof. Othello is so caught up in Iago's lies that he refuses to believe Desdemona when she denies the whole thing. Much credit must be given to Iago's diabolical prowess which enables him to bend and twist the supple minds of his friends and spouse. In today's society Iago would be called a psychopath without a conscience not the devil incarnate. Iago also manages to steal from his own friend without the slightest feeling of guilt. He embezzles the money that Roderigo gives him to win over Desdemona. When Roderigo discovers that Iago has been hoarding his money he screams at Iago and threatens him. However, when Iago tells him some fanciful plot in order to capture Desdemona's heart Roderigo forgets Iago's theft and agrees to kill Cassio. Iago's keen intellect is what intrigues the reader most. His ability to say the right things at the right time is what makes him such a successful villain. However, someone with a conscience would never be able to keep up such a ploy and deceive everyone around him. This is why it is necessary to say that Iago is amoral, because if you don't his character becomes fictional and hard to believe. At the climactic ending of the play, Iago's plot is given away to Othello by his own wife, Emilia. Iago sees his wife as an obstacle and a nuisance so he kills her. He kills her not as much out of anger but for pragmatic reasons. Emilia is a stumbling block in front of his path. She serves no purpose to him anymore and she can now only hurt his chances of keeping the position he has been given by Othello. Iago's merciless taking of Emilia's and Roderigo's lives is another proof of his amorality. If one looks in modern day cinema, one will see the trite villain, evil to the core. Shakespeare took his villains to a higher level. He did not make them transparent like the villains of modern cinema. He gave his villains depth and spirit. Iago is a perfect example of "Shakespeare's villain." His amorality and cynicism give, what would be a very dull character, life.

Strategy Air France

Strategy Air France External environment and industry environment Air France and KLM before their merger were two company players whose corporate identity and culture were strong. This gave them an edge in comparison with the other airlines. In addition, their merger enhanced their industry image, attracting more clients because of the initial successful services offered by individual firms. In addition, rivalry is very low in the airline industry.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Strategy: Air France-KLM specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because of the tight entry requirements postulated in the statute. Bargaining by customers is very low. The people who use these airlines are people of a high status (Wnittington 2001). This uniqueness decreases firm rivalry. With competitors like Star airline being successful after their merger, it was clear that cooperating firms could have the muscle to compete in this industry. However, increase of fuel costs is a huge external problem as it is eating on the revenue generated. Critical success factors Transparency Management decisions and policies are industry driven. The management always deliberates on the market issues before coming up with a decision. Reliability The decisions made by the airline are client driving. The public trust the airline to provide quality customer service while it is in the course of business. Rational The rationality of decisions is based on the application of cost/benefit analysis. Policy makers weigh a designated decision on costs and benefits before their adoption. When the costs outweigh benefits, the decision is abandoned. Accountability and good ethical behavior The airline stands by the decision made and takes responsibility to that effect. The responsibility in this line entails the ability to own, report and explain happenings upon occurrence.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we ca n help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Company analysis Air France-KLM came into existence after the merger of air France and KLM Royal Dutch airlines in September 2003. Increase in competition of Europe airlines and the harsh financial position of the KLM airline led to this merger. The merger led to the dilution of government stake; this ultimately led to transfer of the airline to a public-owned from a state-owned company. The autonomy has solely avoided the government intrusion in daily operations of the airline. The company has a well-designed decision mechanism that addresses day-to-day running operations. Air France-KLM consolidated their revenue through the merger. The company is able to optimize on management as it has a large network. Due to the acquired position of dominance in the industry and bargaining power during the merger, the purchase of new airlines is imminent. The Company also has a variety of services. Passenger, freight and m aintenance services are the three major areas of service. This has enhanced customer satisfaction and fostered confidence (Hough 2006). Air France- KLM has huge operating revenue that is attributable to this wide range of products. SWOT analysis Strengths The transfer of ownership from a state- to a public-owned airline has improved the firms operations and effectiveness Huge consolidated operation revenue is one of the strengths of this airline. This has helped the firm cover its expenses with ease. The diversification of its services gives the airline a competitive advantage over the other airlines. The services provided by Air France-KLM are, passenger, freight and maintenance services. Weaknesses Different cultures are a corporate weakness of this merger. This has led to inconsistency in the decision making process. The firm’s autonomy discourages state intervention in terms of funding to cover its operation costs that may be acute i.e. the ever-rising fuel costs Oppo rtunities With the opening up of the world market and increase of tourism, the firm has an opportunity to grow its revenue base. Threats Rising operation costs. The acute prices of oil drives firms cost high, this decrease the airline profits in the end. The increased airline mergers in the European zone have hiked competition in both the European and global markets. List of References Hough, J. R. 2006, ‘Business segment performance redux: a multilevel approach’, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 45-61. Wnittington, R. 2001, What is strategy and does it matter? 2nd edn, Cengage Learning, London

Thomas Edison Saw the Value of Renewable Energy

Thomas Edison Saw the Value of Renewable Energy American inventor Thomas Edison often gets a bad rap from environmentalists. After all, he invented those incandescent light bulbs we are all so busy replacing with more efficient models.  He developed many industrial chemicals in conditions that would alarm modern environmental cleanup crews. And of course, he is known best for inventing or improving  a whole slew of power-thirsty electric machines and appliances- from the phonograph to the motion picture camera. Edison merged his own company to create General Electric, one of the worlds largest corporation. By the end of his life, Edison had been awarded more than 1,300 individual patents. Almost single-handedly, it seems, Edisons work at the end of the 19th century made modern civilization dependent on electricity- and the natural resources required to generate it. Edison Experimented With Renewable Energy More than a tireless promoter of electricity, Thomas Edison was also a pioneer in renewable energy and green technology. He experimented with home-based wind turbines to generate electricity that could replenish batteries to provide homeowners with an independent source of power, and he teamed up with his friend Henry Ford to develop an electric car that would run on rechargeable batteries. He saw electric cars as a cleaner alternative for moving people in smoke-filled cities. Most of all, Edison’s keen mind and insatiable curiosity kept him thinking and experimenting throughout his long life- and renewable energy was one of his favorite topics. He had a deep respect for nature and loathed damage made to it. He was a renown vegetarian, extending his non-violence values to animals.   Edison Favored Renewable Energy Over Fossil Fuels Thomas Edison knew that fossil fuels such as oil and coal were not ideal power sources. He was very aware of the air pollution problems fossil fuels created, and he recognized that those resources were not infinite, shortages would become a problem in the future. He saw the virtually untapped potential of renewable energy sources- such as wind power and solar power- that could be harnessed and put to work for the benefit of mankind. In 1931, the same year he died, Edison confided his concerns to  his friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, who by then were retirement neighbors in Florida: We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using natures inexhaustible sources of energy - sun, wind,  and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.† Edited by Frederic Beaudry

How the Nuclear Power Impact our Life Research Paper

How the Nuclear Power Impact our Life - Research Paper Example Nuclear power deals with nearly four waste matter streams which might cause in deterioration of atmospheric conditions. These include: (a) Creation of nuclear fuel at the atomic reactor which also brings Plutonium waste into account. It also involves the most harmful elements and isotopes plus more than 100 perilous radio-nuclides and carcinogens e.g. Cesium-137, Iodine-131, and Strontium-90 which are exactly the same poisons present in the fallout associated with nuclear weaponry (Sovacool, 2011). (b) Production associated with tailings from uranium mines as well as generators (c) Discharge of small amounts of radioactive isotopes throughout the nuclear operations (d) Discharge of large quantities of harmful radioactive materials (in the event of mishaps) Effects of Nuclear Power Accidents Three Mile Island On March 28, 1979, the discussion regarding the safety and security of nuclear power turned from assumption to truth. A sad accident took place at the nuclear power plant of the Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. The Unit-2 of the plant discharged almost 50% the plant’s radioactive contaminants. Although the disaster finished without a major discharge of harmful radioactive contaminants, however, the widespread release of nuclear toxins created a widespread fear in general public, therefore, a large amount of people evacuated from the surroundings of Pennsylvania. The evacuating area was extended on 30th March and almost 140,000 people left the area of 20 kilometer radius within few days (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/history.html). The disaster set new horizons in the field of nuclear power and highlighted that a regulated disaster management system regarding the nuclear power accidents is essential. Consequently, new strategies were formulated to deal with nuclear power which include human training, minimizing the human error at nuclear plants, application of latest technology, and techniques to control and plan the emergency conditions (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/history.html) Chernobyl Disaster In 1986, the disaster took place at the atomic reactor Chernobyl in the Ukraine is still considered as the world’s worst accident in terms of a nuclear plant accident and the aftermaths of this incident are still persisting although a lot have been controlled or minimized. Almost 06% of active radioactive contents of the nuclear plant were discharged into the atmosphere. The mishap forced the evacuation of local population. Almost 0.3 million people evacuated from Kiev and highlighted a harmonious territory to civilization for an indefinite timeframe (Sovacool, 2008). These radioactive contents also included Iodine and Cesium which have a great correlation to human health.

Project management week 10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Project management week 10 - Essay Example Terry should have better prepared the presentation by critically considering his audience. In event that he lacked the technical engineering knowledge on engineering, he should have enlisted help in preparing a highly professional presentation appropriate for his target audience. Terry should have also introduced the main points in the presentation within the first few slides to avoid confusion and questions before the end of the presentation. Gallo acknowledges the role of intelligent responses during a presentation (Gallo, 2009). Terry should have taken a different approach in navigating the audience’s questions. While having answers is essential, a professionally request to get back to the audience following a consultation is acceptable in events where the answer is not readily available (Brusino, 2008). Therefore, Terry should have replaced his anger with professional rationalism. Following Terry’s departure from the room, the team manager should have performed immediate damage control. He should acknowledge Terry’s behaviour and apologise to the audience. The anger should take over the presentation if conversant with the information. However, rescheduling the presentation for a later date is a rational approach. In performing the presentation, I would have focused on a few things to convince the engineering audience. The presentation would be audience centred. The content would reflect technical engineering details rather than business details as it targeted the engineering group. Moreover, the questions would be responded to rationally without any bouts of

Philosophy-Metaphysics Essay Example for Free

Philosophy-Metaphysics Essay â€Å"The PNC: A property cannot both belong and not belong to a subject at the same time and in the same respect. The PNC is the most certain principle, i. e. :1) It is not possible to be wrong about it. 2) If you know anything, you know it (all statements of knowledge imply it). †(Chance, 2005) The Principle of Non-Contradiction is both a law of thought and a law of being. Aristotle propagated this principle first. Since then, voluminous literature is written on this principle, many arguments have been put forth elaborating it. It is believed that this principle is the basis, foundation of all demonstrative sciences. Intuitive understanding is the gateway to knowing PNC. In character, it is un-hypothetical. Its indemonstrability needs to be understood in the proper perspective. The PNC protects the unity of the thought process. The content of one’s thought is its non-contradictory nature. That is to say, the content of one’s thought is the non-contradictory nature of being. To deny it is not to say reality itself is contradictory by nature. Here, the fact to be noted is that insufficient education and understanding on the part of the person who denies the principle. But there are many, who deny; foremost among them are para-logicians. Their mental block seems to be their problem, i. e. how we present what we present before them. How the reality is framed for tendering the version to them. The principle could be both true and false. As per Quantum Mechanics, when we can’t make out the proper option between the two, the principle needs to be deemed as meaningless and void. Many situations can be quoted in support of drawing such a conclusion. Aristotle has the answer for this sort of criticism. Those who deny the principle merely assume that they deny; the very denial contains in fact, their acceptance of the principle. Their question whether the PNC is true or false has the answer –they assume that it is either true or false. Ipso, facto, they speak in is affirmation. But there are instances where the PNC contradicts physics. Relativism as a theory must be false, if the PNC is true. If A believes that the sun is shining, and B believes that the sun is not shining, one of them obviously must be false. Every argument has a counter argument; every example can be challenged by yet another contradictory-example. The attitude of most of the people is, ‘Whatever I say is correct. None is willing to accept that ‘whatever correct is there in the world, belongs to me. ’ It is the acknowledged principle with the rationalists and scientists that nothing could be accepted as true without evidence. But then there is an authentic counter-question for this as well. How one can know that the method employed for knowing or accepting the evidence is true? This is an important observation, which is difficult to refute. The truth of the PNC can be soundly argued on the basis of what Aristotle has propounded about it. But this is true of mind-level issues and examples. If one of the ‘arguing’ individuals has transcended the mind-barrier, his uttering will be on the basis of his realization, and that can never be explained through words, sentences and explanations. Such ‘issues’ form part of the experience-domain of an individual. Even Aristotle has to stop here, with his files related to PNC. To take something for granted as truth, the essential tools one uses are, Reason and Logic. These tools will break and are powerless at the end of the mind barrier. They will never be able to break the barrier.

Integrity in The Crucible :: Essay on The Crucible

?What is left when honor is lost?? Publilius Syrus' quote, though dating from 100 B.C., still seems pertinent to our era (Quotations). Many people still feel that once integrity is lost they are nothing and many are willing to stand up to keep their integrity. Without integrity, we are nothing. During the time that Arthur Miller wrote his most famous play, The Crucible, innocent men and women are accused of having Communist leanings. Their whole lives are ruined in a short amount of time because they refuse to compromise themselves by selling out their friends. Miller tries to make a statement about these unfair trials by comparing them to the Salem witch-hunts and trials of 1692. The main protagonist of his play is a man named John Proctor who is accused of witchcraft but stands up to maintain his name and his honor, even though he is hanged for it. During the H.U.A.C. trials some took stands for their beliefs with the knowledge of possibly being shunned by society. Knowing this, in stead of taking the cowards' way and giving the names of their friends, they refuse to tell the committee anything in the same way that John Proctor stands up against a court that is ruining the lives of innocent people. In The Crucible, a few of the townspeople speak out against the injustice of the magistrates. These include John Proctor, Giles Corey, his wife Martha, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Proctor, and even Reverend John Hale. Proctor refuses to give up his integrity and sign his name to a false confession. He thought it was enough admitting to a lie, but he can not bear to sign a confession when others had died for refusing to give the courts what they want. "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name!" exclaims Proctor (886). Giles Corey is being pressed to death for not giving the court the name of an innocent person. Even to the end he refuses to give in. "Great stones they lay upon his chest until he plead aye or nay. They say he give them but two words. `More weight,' he says. And died," expl ains Elizabeth (883).

Six Dimensions of Health Worksheet

For each of the following six dimensions of health, list at least one characteristic, activity, belief, or attitude that reflects that dimension in your life. Provide a brief explanation with each example. Refer to Ch. 1 in the text for explanations of these dimensions. Physical health: As of right now eating healthy is part of my physical health. Since I am currently over eight months pregnant I am focusing on eating healthy and once the baby is born I will focus on exercise to better my physical health. Social health: Being open and honest with my family and friends is a way I work with my social health. This is a healthy way to keep and form relationships with them and new people I come into contact with. Intellectual health: During my scheduled class time I have made for myself I am working my brain to use my intellectual health. I sometimes have to critically think and dig deep into my thoughts to bring out information to help educate others as they do the same for me. Environmental health: Living in the state of New York recycling is the law so by doing so I am keeping my environmental health stable as well as helping the Earth to stay healthy. Emotional health: Sometimes my pregnancy hormones try to get the best of me, so I must learn to stay calm and convey them in a more appropriate way. Talking about things is a way to get things off my chest and relieve stress in a healthy way. Spiritual health: Being true to what I believe is a way I stay spiritually healthy. It allows me to stay at peace with myself throughout the day. Part 2 In approximately 125 to 200 words, describe health and wellness in your own words using the ideas and concepts for each of the six dimensions of health. Being healthy and having overall wellness is more than just a physical aspect in our lives as human beings. In order to have health and wellness is a combination of the six dimensions of health: physical, social, intellectual, environmental, emotional, and spiritual. Keeping these aspects healthy and equal can sometimes be a challenge. To me wellness is being able to keep all of these dimensions at a healthy level. They are all linked in some way. Each of us may link them differently, but to achieve good overall wellness we have to work at each dimension. Physical health is more than just eating right and exercising, but is making good choices for our body. Social health is more than just dealing with the way we communicate with others but how we deal with certain social situations. Intellectual is more than just how we think but how we act upon our thoughts. Environmental does not just affect what we do to the environment but how we can better it using our intellectual and social health. Our emotional and spiritual health affects more than just ourselves, but others also and we must work towards all of these to attain health and wellness.

How to Become an Effective Manager Essay

There is a lot of hard work and skills that need to be developed to become a real manager. Managers have several skills and talents they learn as they advance in the workplace, not all of them will develop the very simple and basic ability to be an effective manager. They have to do a lot more than just manage finances and give projects. A manager has to teach people and show them in a way to allow them to be the best they can be, so later on they too can advance up through the company on their own qualities. So 1st thing to becoming an effective manager, you have to improve your own leadership abilities and actions that are needed to be a great business leader. I think one of the most essential things that anyone must do is lead by example. We do this as parents, and we are taught to do it as older siblings for our younger brothers and sisters. Too many managers often live by â€Å"do as I say, but not as I do,† as a substitute of setting an example for their employees. If a manager wants hard work, and teamwork from the employees in their company, I think that they themself must first show that they can also work hard, that they are trust worthy, and that they are just as much a team player as their employees. You have to listen to the people you work with. A lot of times employees have great suggestions that get overlooked. Always communicate with them, and make sure they know they can come to you that you have an open door policy. Effective managers will always give credit to an employee who does it. Showing appreciation not only will show them they are needed and appreciated, but also build their confidence and make them always want to do better. Whether it showing them publicly or with a small bonus. When people are appreciated, it will always motivate them to want to perform better. Trusting your employees and giving them responsibility. If you don’t ever allow them to spread their wings and learn new things, where is the growth opportunity for those individuals? Delegating should be done so everyone gets an opportunity to show their potential. Everyone wants to move up, and not be stuck as an entry level employee forever. Trust in them, and give them an opportunity. Everyone has different strengths and weakness that can be used for different jobs. One might type better; one might speak a different language. This is where successful delegation will used to assign the right employee with the right task. Real leaders will show power and self-confidence. And if you are able to display these qualities to your employees again it’s about leading by example. It will in turn inspire confidence in them as well. You have to have a real vision of what your goals and intentions are, and a definite plan as to how you will achieve those goals. Put everything into writing, and go over it with all of your employees during meetings, or one on ones so they are aware of them. Talk to them about what they think, they might have concerns that need to be addressed.

The Benefits of Learning Latin

The Benefits of Learning Latin Erras, mi Lucili, si existimas nostri saeculi esse vitium luxuriam et neglegentiam boni moris et alia, quae obiecit suis quisque temporibus; hominum sunt ista, non temporum. Nulla aetas vacavit a culpa. Seneca Epistulae Morales XCVII You probably wouldnt be reading this Ancient/Classical History feature if you thought classical culture should be confined to museums and dusty tomes. But taking the next step, reading the classics in the original, demands commitment and can take years. Latin Grammar is the Best Grounding for Education Unlike their parents, your school-aged children have time to devote to acquiring a skill that will last them a lifetime. But why should they learn Latin? Dorothy Sayers says it best: I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains of learning almost any other subject by at least 50 percent. From the National Review. Latin Helps With English Grammar While neither the language nor grammar of English derives from Latin, many of our grammatical rules do. For instance, since you CANT have a dangling preposition in Latin, certain purists consider it bad form in English. Latin Makes You More Careful in English In Latin, you have more to worry about than whether a plural pronoun refers to a singular noun (as in the politically correct - grammatically incorrect: each student has their own workbook). In Latin, there are 7 cases with which not only pronouns  but adjectives - not to mention verbs -   must agree. Learning such rules makes the student careful in English. But more important is the fact that traditional study of Latin starts out with a grammatical framework... As American students begin Latin, they become acquainted with the Latin grammar system, which they can indirectly transfer to their work in English. What it gives them is a standardized set of terms in which to describe words in relations to other words in sentences, and it is this grammatical awareness which makes their English writing good.William Harris Latin Helps You Maximize SAT scores This sells Latin programs. Through Latin, test takers can guess at the meanings of new words because they already know the roots and prefixes. But its not just enhanced vocabulary. Math scores also increase. Latin Increases Accuracy This may be due to the increased accuracy Professor Emeritus William Harris notes:​ From another point of view, the study of Latin does foster precision in the use of words. Since one reads Latin closely and carefully, often word by word, this focuses the students mind on individual words and their usage. It has been noticed that people who have studied Latin in school usually write quite good English prose. There may be a certain amount of stylistic imitation involved, but more important is the habit of reading closely and following important texts with accuracy.

A Facebook Ads Strategy That Will Skyrocket Conversions With Amanda Bond

A Facebook Ads Strategy That Will Skyrocket Conversions With Amanda Bond As marketers, you’ve probably been told that you have to pay to play. But how do you make the most out of what you put in? People buy from people who they know, like, and trust. Today, we’re talking to Amanda Bond, owner of Ad Strategist. She tells us how to get more results from our Facebook ads, how much to spend on ads, and how to scale the use of ads. She shares her â€Å"secret sauce† comprised of a 3-step formula that goes from engagement to purchases. Some of the highlights of the show include: Stop guessing, get results with Facebook ads; manage ads to get a better ROI As Facebook ads gain popularity and attract more advertisers, cost for them will only continue to rise; stay ahead of growth curve and remain competitive The Strategy System: Put people through a customer journey Connect, Commit, and Close Connect: Amplify content, put the brand out there, and engage your audience; review Facebook Page Insights to identify how your organic content performs Commit: For lead generation, Ad Strategist only targets warm custom audiences; a custom audience is one that has previously interacted with your brands Close: When you set up your Facebook ad, it is the first thing you do; patch up holes of close/sales retargeting ads for them to convert to purchase decisions Take 3 main objections submitted to customer service and turn them into Facebooks ads to overcome those objections and increase sales conversion rate Make sure you can sell an offer before spending lots of money on Facebook ads Continue to fill pipeline with new members and scale sustainably by figuring out what information an audience needs to know to make a future purchase decision Targeting broad audiences can be just as cost-effective; power of Facebook ad tools and optimization If brand new to Facebook ads, don’t start Facebook advertising before you understand your earnings per lead Links: Ad Strategist Facebook Page Insights Write and send a review to receive a care package If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Amanda Bond: I really encourage people who want to jump in or want to get better results, to really understand what’s going on with Facebook ads in general so they can stay ahead of that growth curve. The thing that we do differently when it comes to that lead generation is, we’re only targeting our warm custom audiences. Really, when it comes to scaling, first you need to make sure you understand the customer journey that you’re trying to get people to go through, then start with lookalike audiences.

The Philosophy of Interpersonal Relations Essay

The Philosophy of Interpersonal Relations - Essay Example It would also comprise of the enormous tasks which are being handled through these resources, which I believe are these employees themselves. I opine that management is all about doing things right and that too in a quantifiable manner. It would not happen overnight, and thus I shall find ways and means to get the tasks reach the finished stage with acumen and intellect, shown by the employees themselves. The management part derives its basis from a number of factors, most significant of which remain the controlling, organizing and leading tenets. The management domains depend a great deal on how leaders are able to re-collect themselves after they had had a difficult time coping up with the employees which have not produced results. What this means is the fact that management comes of age and tells the employees what exactly is required of them, and how they shall go about delivering results with a sense of purpose and hard work on their part. Hence an understanding of the managemen t premise is all the more significant in the time and age of today because employees are giving in their best and producing results that are based on the long term, and finding solutions which bring value towards the business realms. It is always a wise proposition to make sure that business entity remains supreme so that success is managed easily by the employers and the employees in the long term scheme of things. It would settle quite a few scores as far as management’s competition levels are concerned. My philosophy of interpersonal relations are such that these depend a great deal on how the human resources management and the top management in combination with one another depict the aspect of bringing in a change which is for the betterment of the organizational environment in the long range scheme of things. Interpersonal relations always come to the fore whenever a prospective employee wishes to join an organization. He would like to know what kind of environment exist s within the organization’s realms and what the organization is doing to make sure that the employees remain cordial and jovial in each other’s company. This is important because interpersonal relations always seem to bring a positive or a negative connotation for the sake of the organization in the long range scheme of things, and is the marked difference between how prospective employees would like to come to terms with such companies in the future. It also speaks highly of the business entities which are renowned for their working conditions and the ones that are not so famous for having the best possible relations amongst its employees (Hayes, 2002). The need is to have the best possible interpersonal relations within an organization’s realms so that people become attracted in joining it within the future. The interpersonal relations are always deemed as significant for any business enterprise because it sets the basis for organizational growth and harmony a cross the ranks. It makes things easier within an organization because the employers know that their employees would not start fighting with each other, instead they will remain calm and contented with what they have and how they will achieve success for not only their own selves but also for the end goals and objectives that the organization has set for its own self. This is a very quintessential aspect because it is being spoken about more and more in this day and age.

Parable of the Talents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Parable of the Talents - Essay Example 25. so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' 26. But his master answered him: You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed 27. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. 28. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.' 29. For to everyone who has it will be given and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' " A similar parable, called "The Parable of the Minas" or "The Parable of the Pounds" is found in the Gospel of Luke (19:12-27). 12. He said therefore: "A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. 13. Calling ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said to them: 'Trade with these till I come.' 14. But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying: ' We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15. When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. 16. The first came before him, saying: 'Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' 17. And he said to him: 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful over very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' 18. And the second came, saying: 'Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' 19. And he said to him: 'And you are to be over five cities.' 20. Then another came, saying: 'Lord,... Similarities and differences. There are examples of similarities, which are inevitable because of the common subject of the parables, these include, for example, such words as servants, say (said to him), came, man, money. But there are constructions which are too complex to repeat accidentally: from him and give it to him who has the ten, to everyone who has it will be given but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This raises the problem of relations between the two sources. Before turning our attention to this example, it is important to recall that there exists the Synoptic Problem, which is connected with the literary relationships between and among the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). Numerous hypotheses try to explain similarities and differences, which occur in the Gospels; some scientists explore the idea of the so-called Q-source (a lost source on Jesus' teachings). It can be reconstructed from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, which are based on two earlier sources: the gospel of Mark and Q. Stated differently, Q is by definition the material that Luke and Matthew have in common but is not dependent on Mark. In our case, when only t

Operation managment (Exercises) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Operation managment (Exercises) - Essay Example Both the -charts and R-charts are used to determine whether the output of the process fall within a certain range. These measures may focus specific features such as the net weight of the product. Alternatively they may also analyze the process as a whole such as the average output (Heizer and Render). However, what these two charts often do not measure is the defect rate. For this reason, p-charts and c-charts are present to do such analysis. The difference between the two is that the former can be used to describe the proportion of the population which is defective (Reid and Sanders). On the other hand, c-charts are used to analyze the raw quantity of defects which occur. In the case presented, only the number of defects is readily available for analysis. It is therefore necessary to use c-charts in analyzing data. There can be two approaches to analyzing the said data. To view the process as a whole, the total daily defect count can be computed. Using the daily defect count, the mean may be obtained. Subsequently, the upper and lower control limits for the c-chart may be constructed and analyzed. Tables 1 and 2 present the daily defect data for the standard material and the super plastic material. These two control charts reveal some interesting features of the two processes. The process for manufacturing the standard material shows a stable operation. ... Knowing these quantities, the control charts shown in Figure 1 and 2 may be constructed. Figure 1. Control Chart for the Defects in the Standard Material Figure 2. Control Chart for the Defects in the New Material These two control charts reveal some interesting features of the two processes. The process for manufacturing the standard material shows a stable operation. The points in the control chart are centered on the mean value and fluctuate above and below the central tendency. Also, no spikes can be seen in the chart. It can therefore be said that the original process is in control. The second chart shows a trend quite similar to the original process. As with the first chart, there are no spikes above or below the control limits. Also, the data fluctuates as with any normal process. However, it should be noted that near the start of the production process, the points are generally below the control limit. As each successive day in the production process passes, the total number of defects appears to be increasing. In fact, at the second half of the data, the points tend to be above the mean. The control chart in Figure 2 therefore reveals a drift towards the upper control limit. While this process is currently in control, it may eventually shift above the upper control limit. It therefore warrants further investigation (Heizer and Render). To isolate the nature of the defect, it becomes helpful to analyze each type of defect. That is, a control chart may be constructed for each particular type. The said defect counts are shown in Tables 3 and 4. Table 3. Individual Defect Count for the Standard Material Standard Uneven Crack Scratch Bubbles Thickness Week

Evaluating a Health Promotion Website: Smoking Cessation

Evaluating a Health Promotion Website: Smoking Cessation Introduction: For the purpose of this assignment and based on the webquest, I have chosen Essay 2, evaluating a health promotion website. The current health promotion topic I have selected is smoking cessation. The National Health Service (NHS) has set up a â€Å"Go Smokefree† Services and a NHS smoking helpline plus a website offering free advice on stopping smoking and details of your local NHS Stop Smoking Services (NICE 2006). The rationale for this choice is that having completed a placement on a respiratory ward caring for patients with many smoking related diseases, it is important for me as an adult branch nurse to discuss health promotion issues, and to be up to date with current information in order to help educate people and allow them to make informed choices regarding their health, especially the health benefits of stopping smoking. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008) states that it is important for nurses to ensure that any advice or information given to patients is evidence based. Smoking is a long established health hazard and it is the largest avoidable cause of premature deaths in the UK (DOH 2007). It affects almost all branches of nursing because of the wide range of diseases and conditions which it causes. All types of health problems are linked to breathing in second hand smoke, so smokers risk the health of others as well as their own. Almost everyone knows that smoking is bad for their health but despite graphic images of blackened lungs and cancerous growths in doctors waiting rooms and on cigarette packets people start smoking or continue to smoke. In order to evaluate the information from my chosen website I will be using a framework (Kapoun 1998). The reason for using this framework is because his approach supports the assignment guidelines, which include; an overview of the website; the author’s credibility; content accuracy; content objectivity or bias; and the currency of the content. Accuracy: Having decided on the subject, smoking cessation I searched the World Wide Web, using the Google search engine using the criteria. I typed in current health promotions smoking, UK search only. This displayed 240,000 results, the number one return was www.nhs.uk/smokefree and I decided to use this one. The page is produced by the NHS and has no individual author. The website contains facilities for e-mail should you encounter any difficulties with using the website, and a direct contact telephone number for help and advice. The purpose of the document and the reason for its production (Kapoun 1998) is to provide information on the benefits of stopping smoking; it achieves this by offering advice online, and a facility to download inspirational DVDs and stop smoking guides. The website is aimed at providing information for all age groups and sections of the smoking population, with information and support networks available in many languages and formats including Braille. The website a lso provides many facilities for health care professionals to order various support materials like leaflets. In distinguishing between the author and the webmaster (Kapoun 1998) the author of the site who produces the content of the web page is the NHS, but the site webmaster who maintains the website is not shown as a separate body. The NHS as the major health care provider in the UK is more than qualified to write this document (Kapoun 1998) as they have access to all departments of health information and resources, plus government statistics and strategies. Authority: As discussed in the previous subheading the website publisher is not shown separately from the webmaster, but the copyright is held by the Department of Health (DOH 2007) for which no address is shown. The URL address is www.smokefree.nhs.uk and the domain is www.nhs.uk which clearly shows the document is published in the United Kingdom. The publisher does not list any qualifications but the pre-eminence of the NHS would lend authority to the document. Objectivity: The website does achieve its goals (Kapoun 1998). It achieves its objectives by making available information on the benefits of stopping smoking, the health risks and financial costs of continuing to smoke. For example the online calculator shows that the cost of smoking 40 cigarettes per day is  £300 per month, or  £37,000 over the next twenty years. The information is very detailed and explained in ordinary non-medical terms, making it easily readable for the average person. The website was obviously non-commercial, there was no external advertising, and the motives of the website were very clearly aimed only at dissuading people from starting to smoking and persuading them to stop. I feel that the NHS website was an excellent source of information; it had links to the national statistics website and links to the DOH website which clearly stated that it was a department of the government with ministerial responsibility, which clearly adds to its authority (Kapoun 1998). It had content for the layman seeking assistance to stop smoking, through to professionals, planning local and regional smoking cessation initiatives. In my opinion this website gave an objective point of view, because it presented the facts, the options, costs, the health risks and benefits without being judgemental, or biased against the smoking minority. By comparison, the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) website presented its information in a more opinionated manner, the website had the feel of a crusade about it, rather than persuasion and offering information and support, it seemed to portray smokers as victims of the tobacco industry incapable of free choice. The website gives information on stopping smoking, and the benefits and aids to quitting, but the website feels like an anti-tobacco company campaign rather than a website promoting the benefits of stopping smoking. The website did not seem objective, as it presented its information and statistics in a more judgemental and bi ased manner. The contents of this website whilst containing information on ceasing smoking and the benefits of ceasing smoking appeared mainly political with a motive of banning the sale of tobacco. I feel that this website had a totally negative approach to dissuading smokers, and more of a dictatorial outlook. In further comparison the Nicorette.co.uk appeared factual in as much as it offered similar statistics as the NHS website but in a much simpler format. The information was easy to read, but it was aimed only at the general smoking public. Although it gives you the possible health benefits, and the costs of smoking which are in agreement with the NHS website, it is clearly a commercial website, promoting its own nicotine replacement therapies, although they do state on all their web pages, that stopping smoking â€Å"does require willpower†, which would infer that the products advertised are only an aid and not a cure. Unlike (ASH) the content of the website does not c riticise smokers or the tobacco companies, however as a commercial entity, it would not be in their commercial interest if tobacco was banned which may show an unspoken bias in favour of tobacco. Currency: The website appears to be up to date as it was set up at the start of the NHS â€Å"smokefree† campaign in 2007, although no specific update information available. All of the links were working and appeared to be updated regularly, as there was information on all current campaigns for February 2009 (Kapoun 1998). A current campaign dated 2nd February 2009 is designed to make the consequences of smoking during pregnancy more personal by explaining how smoking deprives the baby of oxygen and causes the babies heart to beat faster (DOH 2008). Coverage: The website appears to be almost completely self contained with very few external links (Kapoun 1998). The whole document appears to be very well balanced with images, videos text and graphics. For example, several television celebrities after being given advice and support from local NHS stop smoking advisers have recorded video diaries of their personal experiences of stopping smoking, which are available to view online, or you can also order a DVD free of charge. There is no special software requirements needed to view the information on the website, no browser recommendations are given, nor are there any fees payable to use the website, plus all downloads and promotional material is free (Kapoun 1998). There are accessibility options of large text for people who are visually impaired. The information on the website is mainly in the public domain, meaning there is no copyright, and no citations are shown. Conclusion: First impressions of the website were very positive and this carried on through as I read the material and followed the links. The website is well presented and all the links worked, the website was easy to use, interesting and catchy. There is a wealth of information on the effects of smoking, social effects (stains your teeth and clothes smell), the effects on other peoples health (second hand smoke), the financial costs (to the smoker) and not least the huge negative effects on the smoker’s health. The website equally promoted the enormous benefits to be gained by stopping smoking, even after many years of smoking. All information downloads, and promotional material is free. There are telephones lines for help and advice; addresses for regional centres were also available. I thought the website would be of great assistance to many people who genuinely wanted to quit smoking, the support and advice offered was very comprehensive, and also had facilities for health care profe ssionals, service providers and employers on how to refer smokers to NHS services, support smokers in stopping, and plan the delivery of smoking cessation services (NICE 2008). The website policy and privacy guidelines were difficult to find via the page links, but they could be found easily by using the search facility, if you could find the correct keywords. In my opinion the information was accurate, reliable, and the source, Department of Health (DOH), which is a Government Ministry, is trustworthy. On writing this assignment I have improved my knowledge and understanding regarding website evaluation. As a student nurse, and to offer evidence based health promotional information to patients, I realise how important it is to research the information, making sure it is current, checking how often it is updated, how reliable the information is, does it come from a credible source, can the reader trust the information (Kapoun 1998). I will take with me into future practice the knowledge that, before I provide any information to patients, it has been critically evaluated, in order for them to make informed choices regarding their health care. Reference List. ASH (2007) Essential information on stopping Smoking. [Online]. Available at http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_116.pdf [Accessed on 11th March 2009]. Department of Health (DOH) (2007) [online]. Available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Tobacco/index.htm [Accessed on 28th February 2009]. Department of Health (DOH) (2008) [Online]. Available at http://smokefree.nhs.uk/smoking-and-pregnancy/ [Accessed on 28th February 2009]. Kapoun, J. (1998) Teaching Undergraduates WEB Evaluation. College and Research Libraries News. July/August 1998. p 522-523. Nice (2006) Brief Interventions and Referral for Smoking Cessation in Primary Care and other Settings. [Online]. Available at http://www.gpiag.org/news/smokingcessation/nice_smoking_interventions_quick_reference.pdf [Accessed on 28th February 2009]. Nice (2008) Smoking Cessation Services. [Online]. Available at http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/PH10 [Accessed on 28th February 2009]. Nicorette (2009). Stop Smoking Now. [Online]. Available at www.nicorette.co.uk [Accessed on 10 March 2009]. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) The Code. London: NMC. The National Health Service (NHS) (2007) â€Å"Go Smokefree†. [Online]. Available at www.smokefree.nhs.uk [Accessed on 27th February 2009].

The Importance Of The Human Genome Project Essay -- Science Genetics B

The Importance Of The Human Genome Project This is the outstanding achievement not only of our lifetime, but of human history. I say this, because the Human Genome Project has the potential to impact the life of every person on this planet. It is a giant resource that will change mankind, much like the printing press did. The famous words of Dr. James Watson resonated as a victory bell, signaling the successful completion of what many deemed the boldest undertaking in the history of biology: The Human Genome Project (2003). On the fiftieth anniversary of the day that forever changed science the day Watson and his colleague Francis Crick unraveled the secret of life, the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid the world was presented with another shocking discovery: the complete sequence of the human genome. Almost immediately, uproar swept throughout the science community and the world-at-large, as many believed that the solution to our problems had finally arrived the true secret of life the panacea that would dissipate the ominous clouds of disease and suffering. Yet, as often happens when a promising new idea is presented on tenuous grounds, the revelers had only heard a fraction of the entire story; their grand hopes were born primarily of imagination. But when all the celebratory confetti had cleared, there stood defiantly amidst all the hoopla voices of reason. Molecular anthropologist Jonathan Marks voice was one of these. In an excerpt from his literary work What It Means to be 98% Chimpanzee: Apes, People, and Their Genes, Marks undermines the importance of the Human Genome Project and our genes, advocating instead a more rational and moderate view of them. By exposing three of the Project s flaws, he hopes to convince... ...ealize that our genes are but one aspect of our history, that there are many other histories that are even more important it is a delusion to think that genomics in isolation will ever tell us what it means to be human (2001, paragraph 11). Indeed, everything is not solely in our genes. Works Cited Beckwith, J. (2002). Geneticists in society, society in genetics. In J. Alper (Ed.), The double-edged helix (pp. 39-57). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Lewontin, R.C. (1991). Causes and their effects. Biology as ideology: the doctrine of DNA (pp. 41-57). New York: HarperPerennial. Marks, J. (2002). The meaning of human variation. What it means to be 98% chimpanzee: apes, people, and their genes (pp. 88-95). Berkeley: University of California Press. Paabo, S. (2001). The human genome and our view of ourselves. Science Magazine 291, 1219-1220.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Five

Lovely house,† Jack said, as he was led – hands still bound – through the grand entrance of Belgrave. He turned to the old lady. â€Å"Did you decorate? It has that woman's touch.† Miss Eversleigh was trailing behind, but he could hear her choke back a bubble of laughter. â€Å"Oh, let it out, Miss Eversleigh,† he called over his shoulder. â€Å"Much better for your constitution.† â€Å"This way,† the dowager ordered, motioning for him to follow her down the hall. â€Å"Should I obey, Miss Eversleigh?† She did not reply, smart girl that she was. But he was far too furious for circumspect sympathy, so he took his insolence one step further. â€Å"Yoo-hoo! Miss Eversleigh! Did you hear me?† â€Å"Of course she heard you,† the dowager snapped angrily. Jack paused, cocking his head as he regarded the dowager. â€Å"I thought you were overjoyed to make my acquaintance.† â€Å"I am,† she bit off. â€Å"Hmmm.† He turned to Miss Eversleigh, who had caught up to them during the exchange. â€Å"I don't think she sounds overjoyed, Miss Eversleigh. Do you?† Miss Eversleigh's eyes darted from him to her employer and back before she said, â€Å"The dowager duchess is most eager to accept you into her family.† â€Å"Well said, Miss Eversleigh,† he applauded. â€Å"Insightful and yet circumspect.† He turned back to the dowager. â€Å"I hope you pay her well.† Two red spots appeared on the dowager's cheeks, in such stark relief to the white of her skin that he would have sworn she'd used rouge if he hadn't seen the angry marks appear with his own eyes. â€Å"You are dismissed,† she ordered, not even looking at Miss Eversleigh. â€Å"I am?† he feigned. â€Å"Lovely.† He held out his bound wrists. â€Å"Would you mind?† â€Å"Not you, her.† His grandmother's jaw clenched. â€Å"As you well know.† But Jack was not in the mood to be accommodating, and in that moment he did not even care to maintain his usual jocular facade. And so he looked her in the eye, his green meeting her icy, icy blue, and as he spoke, he felt a shiver of deja vu. It was almost as if he were back on the Continent, back in battle, his shoulders straight and his eyes narrowed as he faced down the enemy. â€Å"She stays.† They froze, all three of them, and Jack's eyes did not waver from the dowager's as he continued. â€Å"You brought her into this. She will remain through to the end.† He half expected Miss Eversleigh to protest. Hell, any sane person would have run as far as possible from the upcoming confrontation. But she stood utterly still, her arms stick-straight at her sides, her only movement her throat as she swallowed. â€Å"If you want me,† he said quietly, â€Å"you will take her as well.† The dowager sucked a long, angry breath through her nose and jerked her head to the side. â€Å"Grace,† she barked, â€Å"the crimson drawing room. Now.† Her name was Grace. He turned and looked at her. Her skin was pale and her eyes were wide and assessing. Grace. He liked it. It fit her. â€Å"Don't you want to know my name?† he called out to the dowager, who was already stalking down the hall. She stopped and turned, as he knew she would. â€Å"It's John,† he announced, enjoying the way the blood drained from her face. â€Å"Jack to friends† – he looked at Grace with heavy-lidded seduction in his eyes – â€Å"and friends.† He could have sworn he felt her shiver, which delighted him. â€Å"Are we?† he murmured. Her lips parted a full second before she managed to make a sound. â€Å"Are we what?† â€Å"Friends, of course.† â€Å"I – I – â€Å" â€Å"Will you leave my companion alone!† the dowager barked. He sighed and shook his head toward Miss Eversleigh. â€Å"She's so domineering, don't you think?† Miss Eversleigh blushed. Truly, it was the prettiest pink he'd ever seen. â€Å"Pity about these bindings,† he continued. â€Å"We do seem to be caught in a romantic moment, your employer's acidic presence aside, and it would be far easier to drop one exquisite kiss on the back of your hand were I able to lift it with one of mine.† This time he was certain she shivered. â€Å"Or your mouth,† he whispered. â€Å"I might kiss your mouth.† There was a lovely silence, broken rather rudely by: â€Å"What the devil?† Miss Eversleigh jumped back a foot or three, and Jack turned to see an extremely angry man striding his way. â€Å"Is this man bothering you, Grace?† he demanded. She shook her head quickly. â€Å"No, no, he's not. But – â€Å" The newcomer turned to Jack with furious blue eyes. Furious blue eyes that rather closely resembled those of the dowager, save for the bags and wrinkles. â€Å"Who are you?† â€Å"Who are you?† Jack countered, instantly disliking him. â€Å"I am Wyndham,† he shot back. â€Å"And you are in my home.† Jack blinked. A cousin. His new family was growing more charming by the second. â€Å"Ah. Well, in that case, I am Jack Audley. Formerly of His Majesty's esteemed army, more recently of the dusty road.† â€Å"Who are these Audleys?† the dowager demanded, crossing back over. â€Å"You are no Audley. It is there in your face. In your nose and chin and in every bloody feature save your eyes, which are quite the wrong color.† â€Å"The wrong color?† Jack responded, acting hurt. â€Å"Really?† He turned to Miss Eversleigh. â€Å"I was always told the ladies like green eyes. Was I misinformed?† â€Å"You are a Cavendish!† the dowager roared. â€Å"You are a Cavendish, and I demand to know why I was not informed of your existence.† â€Å"What the devil is going on?† Wyndham demanded. Jack thought it wasn't his duty to answer, so he happily kept quiet. â€Å"Grace?† Wyndham asked, turning to Miss Eversleigh. Jack watched the exchange with interest. They were friends, but were they friendly? He could not be sure. Miss Eversleigh swallowed with noticeable discomfort. â€Å"Your grace,† she said, â€Å"perhaps a word in private?† â€Å"And spoil it for the rest of us?† Jack chimed in, because after what he'd been subjected to, he didn't much feel that anyone deserved a moment of privacy. And then, to achieve maximum irritation, he added, â€Å"After all I've been through†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He is your cousin,† the dowager announced sharply. â€Å"He is the highwayman,† Miss Eversleigh said. â€Å"Not,† Jack added, turning to display his bound hands, â€Å"here of my own volition, I assure you.† â€Å"Your grandmother thought she recognized him last night,† Miss Eversleigh told the duke. â€Å"I knew I recognized him,† the dowager snapped. Jack resisted the urge to duck as she flicked her hand at him. â€Å"Just look at him.† Jack turned to the duke. â€Å"I was wearing a mask.† Because really, he shouldn't have to take the blame for this. He smiled cheerfully, watching the duke with interest as he brought his hand to his forehead and pressed his temples with enough force to crush his skull. And then, just like that, his hand fell away and he yelled, â€Å"Cecil!† Jack was about to make a quip about another lost cousin, but at that moment a footman – presumably named Cecil – came skidding down the hall. â€Å"The portrait,† Wyndham bit off. â€Å"Of my uncle.† â€Å"The one we just brought up to – â€Å" â€Å"Yes. In the drawing room. Now! â€Å" Even Jack's eyes widened at the furious energy in his voice. And then – it was like acid in his belly – he saw Miss Eversleigh lay a hand on the duke's arm. â€Å"Thomas,† she said softly, surprising him with her use of his given name, â€Å"please allow me to explain.† â€Å"Did you know about this?† Wyndham demanded. â€Å"Yes, but – â€Å" â€Å"Last night,† he said icily. â€Å"Did you know last night?† Last night? â€Å"I did, but Thomas – â€Å" What happened last night? â€Å"Enough,† he spat. â€Å"Into the drawing room. All of you.† Jack followed the duke, and then, once the door was shut behind them, held up his hands. â€Å"D'you think you might†¦?† he asked. Rather conversationally, if he did say so himself. â€Å"For the love of Christ,† Wyndham muttered. He grabbed something from a writing table near the wall and then returned. With one angry swipe, he cut through the bindings with a gold letter opener. Jack looked down to make sure he wasn't bleeding. â€Å"Well done,† he murmured. Not even a scratch. â€Å"Thomas,† Miss Eversleigh was saying, â€Å"I really think you ought to let me speak with you for a moment before – â€Å" â€Å"Before what?† Wyndham snapped, turning on her with what Jack deemed rather unbecoming fury. â€Å"Before I am informed of another long-lost cousin whose head may or may not be wanted by the Crown?† â€Å"Not by the Crown, I think,† Jack said mildly. He had his reputation to think of, after all. â€Å"But surely a few magistrates. And a vicar or two.† He turned to the dowager. â€Å"Highway robbery is not generally considered the most secure of all possible occupations.† His levity was appreciated by no one, not even poor Miss Eversleigh, who had managed to incur the fury of both Wyndhams. Rather undeservedly, too, in his opinion. He hated bullies. â€Å"Thomas,† Miss Eversleigh implored, her tone once again causing Jack to wonder just what, precisely, existed between those two. â€Å"Your grace,† she corrected, with a nervous glance over at the dowager, â€Å"there is something you need to know.† â€Å"Indeed,† Wyndham bit off. â€Å"The identities of my true friends and confidantes, for one thing.† Miss Eversleigh flinched as if struck, and at that moment Jack decided that he'd had quite enough. â€Å"I suggest,† he said, his voice light but steady, â€Å"that you speak to Miss Eversleigh with greater respect.† The duke turned to him, his eyes as stunned as the silence that descended over the room. â€Å"I beg your pardon.† Jack hated him in that moment, every prideful little aristocratic speck of him. â€Å"Not used to being spoken to like a man, are we?† he taunted. The air went electric, and Jack knew he probably should have foreseen what would come next, but the duke's face had positively twisted into fury, and Jack somehow could not seem to move as Wyndham launched himself forward, his hands wrapping themselves around his throat as the both of them went crashing down to the carpet. Cursing himself for a fool, Jack tried to get traction as the duke's fist slammed into his jaw. Pure animalistic survival set in, and he tensed his belly into a hard knot. With one lightning-quick movement he threw his torso forward, using his head as a weapon. There was a satisfying crack as he struck Wyndham's jaw, and Jack took advantage of his stunned state to roll them over and reverse their positions. â€Å"Don't†¦you†¦. ever strike me again,† Jack growled. He'd fought in gutters, on battlefields, for his country and for his life, and he'd never had patience for men who threw the first punch. He took an elbow in the belly and was about to return the favor with a knee to the groin when Miss Eversleigh leapt into the fray, wedging herself between the two men with nary a thought to propriety or her own safety. â€Å"Stop it! Both of you!† Jack managed to nudge Wyndham's upper arm just in time to stop his fist from reaching her cheek. It would have been an accident, of course, but then he'd have had to kill him, and that would have been a hanging offense. â€Å"You should be ashamed of yourself,† Miss Eversleigh scolded, looking straight at the duke. He merely raised a brow and said, â€Å"You might want to remove yourself from my, er†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked down at his midsection, upon which she was now seated. â€Å"Oh!† She jumped up, and Jack would have defended her honor except that he had to admit he'd have said the same thing were he seated under her. Not to mention that she was still holding his arm. â€Å"Tend to my wounds?† he asked, making his eyes big and green and brimming with the world's most effective expression of seduction. Which was, of course, I need you. I need you and if you would only care for me I will forswear all other women and melt at your feet and quite possibly become filthy rich and if you'd like even royal all in one dreamy swoop. It never failed. Except, apparently, now. â€Å"You have no wounds,† she snapped, thrusting him away. She looked over at Wyndham, who had risen to his feet beside her. â€Å"And neither do you.† Jack was about to make a comment about the milk of human kindness, but just then the dowager stepped forward and smacked her grandson – that would be the grandson of whose lineage they were quite certain – in the shoulder. â€Å"Apologize at once!† she snapped. â€Å"He is a guest in our house.† A guest. Jack was touched. â€Å"My house,† the duke snapped back. Jack watched the old lady with interest. She wouldn't take well to that. â€Å"He is your first cousin,† she said tightly. â€Å"One would think, given the lack of close relations in our family, that you would be eager to welcome him into the fold.† Oh, right. The duke was just brimming with joy. â€Å"Would someone,† Wyndham bit off, â€Å"do me the service of explaining just how this man has come to be in my drawing room?† Jack waited for someone to offer an explanation, and then, when none was forthcoming, offered his own version. â€Å"She kidnapped me,† he said with shrug, motioning toward the dowager. Wyndham turned slowly to his grandmother. â€Å"You kidnapped him,† he said, his voice flat and strangely devoid of disbelief. â€Å"Indeed,† she replied, her chin butting up in the air. â€Å"And I would do it again.† â€Å"It's true,† Miss Eversleigh said. And then she delighted him by turning in his direction and saying, â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"Accepted, of course,† Jack said graciously. The duke, however, was not amused. To the extent that poor Miss Eversleigh felt the need to defend her actions with, â€Å"She kidnapped him!† Wyndham ignored her. Jack was really starting to dislike him. â€Å"And forced me to take part,† Miss Eversleigh muttered. She, on the other hand, was quickly becoming one of his favorite people. â€Å"I recognized him last night,† the dowager announced. Wyndham looked at her disbelievingly. â€Å"In the dark?† â€Å"Under his mask,† she answered with pride. â€Å"He is the very image of his father. His voice, his laugh, every bit of it.† Jack hadn't thought this a particularly convincing argument himself, so he was curious to see how the duke responded. â€Å"Grandmother,† he said, with what Jack had to allow was remarkable patience, â€Å"I understand that you still mourn your son – â€Å" â€Å"Your uncle,† she cut in. â€Å"My uncle.† He cleared his throat. â€Å"But it has been thirty years since his death.† â€Å"Twenty-nine,† she corrected sharply. â€Å"It has been a long time,† Wyndham said. â€Å"Memories fade.† â€Å"Not mine,† she replied haughtily, â€Å"and certainly not the ones I have of John. Your father I have been more than pleased to forget entirely – â€Å" â€Å"In that we are agreed,† Wyndham interrupted, leaving Jack to wonder at that story. And then, looking as if he very much still wished to strangle someone (Jack would have put his money on the dowager, since he'd already had the pleasure), Wyndham turned and bellowed, â€Å"Cecil!† â€Å"Your grace!† came a voice from the hall. Jack watched as two footmen struggled to bring a massive painting around the corner and into the room. â€Å"Set it down anywhere,† the duke ordered. With a bit of grunting and one precarious moment during which it seemed the painting would topple what was, to Jack's eye, an extremely expensive Chinese vase, the footmen managed to find a clear spot and set the painting down on the floor, leaning it gently against the wall. Jack stepped forward. They all stepped forward. And Miss Eversleigh was the first to say it. â€Å"Oh my God.† It was him. Of course it wasn't him, because it was John Cavendish, who had perished nearly three decades earlier, but by God, it looked exactly like the man standing next to her. Grace's eyes grew so wide they hurt, and she looked back and forth and back and forth and – â€Å"I see no one is disagreeing with me now,† the dowager said smugly. Thomas turned to Mr. Audley as if he'd seen a ghost. â€Å"Who are you?† he whispered. But even Mr. Audley was without words. He was just staring at the portrait, staring and staring and staring, his face white, his lips parted, his entire body slack. Grace held her breath. Eventually he'd find his voice, and when he did, surely he'd tell them all what he'd told her the night before. My name isn't Cavendish. But it once was. â€Å"My name,† Mr. Audley stammered, â€Å"my given name†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, swallowed convulsively, and his voice shook as he said, â€Å"My full name is John Rollo Cavendish-Audley.† â€Å"Who were your parents?† Thomas whispered. Mr. Audley – Mr. Cavendish-Audley – didn't answer. â€Å"Who was your father?† Thomas's voice was louder this time, more insistent. â€Å"Who the bloody hell do you think he was?† Mr. Audley snapped. Grace's heart pounded. She looked at Thomas. He was pale and his hands were shaking, and she felt like such a traitor. She could have told him. She could have warned him. She had been a coward. â€Å"Your parents,† Thomas said, his voice low. â€Å"Were they married?† â€Å"What is your implication?† Mr. Audley demanded, and for a moment Grace feared that they would come to blows again. Mr. Audley brought to mind a caged beast, poked and prodded until he could stand it no more. â€Å"Please,† she pleaded, jumping between them yet again. â€Å"He doesn't know,† she said. Mr. Audley couldn't know what it meant if he was indeed legitimate. But Thomas did, and he'd gone so still that Grace thought he might shatter. She looked at him, and at his grandmother. â€Å"Someone needs to explain to Mr. Audley – â€Å" â€Å"Cavendish,† the dowager snapped. â€Å"Mr. Cavendish-Audley,† Grace said quickly, because she did not know how to style him without offending someone in the room. â€Å"Someone needs to tell him that†¦that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked to the others for help, for guidance, for something, because surely this was not her duty. She was the only one of them there not of Cavendish blood. Why did she have to make all of the explanations? She looked at Mr. Audley, trying not to see the portrait in his face, and said, â€Å"Your father – the man in the painting, that is – assuming he is your father – he was his grace's father's†¦ elder brother.† No one said anything. Grace cleared her throat. â€Å"So, if†¦if your parents were indeed lawfully married – â€Å" â€Å"They were,† Mr. Audley all but snapped. â€Å"Yes, of course. I mean, not of course, but – â€Å" â€Å"What she means,† Thomas cut in sharply, â€Å"is that if you are indeed the legitimate offspring of John Cavendish, then you are the Duke of Wyndham.† And there it was. The truth. Or if not the truth, then the possibility of the truth, and no one, not even the dowager, knew what to say. The two men – the two dukes, Grace thought with a hysterical bubble of laughter – simply stared at each other, taking each other's measure, and then finally Mr. Audley's hand seemed to reach out. It shook, quivered like the dowager's when she was attempting to find purchase, and then finally, when it settled on the back of a chair, his fingers grasped tightly. With legs that were clearly unsteady, Mr. Audley sat down. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"No.† â€Å"You will remain here,† the dowager directed, â€Å"until this matter can be settled to my satisfaction.† â€Å"No,† Mr. Audley said with considerably more conviction. â€Å"I will not.† â€Å"Oh, yes, you will,† she responded. â€Å"If you do not, I will turn you in to the authorities as the thief you are.† â€Å"You wouldn't do that,† Grace blurted out. She turned to Mr. Audley. â€Å"She would never do that. Not if she believes that you are her grandson.† â€Å"Shut up!† the dowager growled. â€Å"I don't know what you think you are doing, Miss Eversleigh, but you are not family, and you have no place in this room.† Mr. Audley stood. His bearing was sharp, and proud, and for the first time Grace saw within him the military man he'd said he once was. When he spoke, his words were measured and clipped, completely unlike the lazy drawl she had come to expect from him. â€Å"Do not speak to her in that manner ever again.† Something inside of her melted. Thomas had defended her against his grandmother before; indeed, he'd long been her champion. But not like this. He valued her friendship, she knew that he did. But this†¦this was different. She didn't hear the words. She felt them. And as she watched Mr. Audley's face, her eyes slid to his mouth. It came back to her†¦the touch of his lips, his kiss, his breath, and the bittersweet shock when he was through, because she hadn't wanted it†¦and then she hadn't wanted it to end. There was perfect silence, stillness even, save for the widening of the dowager's eyes. And then, just when Grace realized that her hands had begun to tremble, the dowager bit off, â€Å"I am your grandmother.† â€Å"That,† Mr. Audley replied, â€Å"remains to be determined.† Grace's lips parted with surprise, because no one could doubt his parentage, not with the proof propped up against the drawing room wall. â€Å"What?† Thomas burst out. â€Å"Are you now trying to tell me that you don't think you are the son of John Cavendish?† Mr. Audley shrugged, and in an instant the steely determination in his eyes was gone. He was a highwayman rogue again, devil-may-care and completely without responsibility. â€Å"Frankly,† he said, â€Å"I'm not so certain I wish to gain entry into this charming little club of yours.† â€Å"You don't have a choice,† the dowager said. â€Å"So loving,† Mr. Audley said with sigh. â€Å"So thoughtful. Truly, a grandmother for the ages.† Grace clamped a hand over her mouth, but her choked laughter came through nonetheless. It was so inappropriate†¦in so many ways†¦but it was impossible to keep it in. The dowager's face had gone purple, her lips pinched until the lines of anger drew up to her nose. Not even Thomas had ever provoked such a reaction, and heaven knew, he had tried. She looked over at him. Of everyone in the room, surely he was the one with the most at stake. He looked exhausted. And bewildered. And furious, and amazingly, about to laugh. â€Å"Your grace,† she said hesitantly. She didn't know what she wanted to say to him. There probably wasn't anything to say, but the silence was just awful. He ignored her, but she knew he'd heard, because his body stiffened even more, then shuddered when he let out a breath. And then the dowager – oh why would she never learn to leave well enough alone? – bit off his name as if she were summoning a dog. â€Å"Shut up,† he snapped back. Grace wanted to reach out to him. Thomas was her friend, but he was – and he always had been – so far above her. And now she was standing here, hating herself because she could not stop thinking about the other man in the room, the one who might very well steal Thomas's very identity. And so she did nothing. And hated herself even more for it. â€Å"You should remain,† Thomas said to Mr. Audley. â€Å"We will need – â€Å" Grace held her breath as Thomas cleared his throat. â€Å"We will need to get this sorted out.† They all waited for Mr. Audley's response. He seemed to be assessing Thomas, taking his measure. Grace prayed he would realize just how difficult it must have been for Thomas to speak to him with such civility. Surely he would respond in kind. She wanted him so badly to be a good person. He'd kissed her. He'd defended her. Was it too much to hope that he was, underneath it all, a white knight?