The Year 2000 is Coming! :: Millenium New Year 2000 Essays

The Year 2000 is ComingHere we are close to the dawn of the millennium. An even 2000 years has passed since man has decided to start counting. That has to be significant, doesnt it? Conspiracy theorists, self- title prophets, and doomsayers can take this opportunity to spread rumors of world destruction or take ancient prophecies and interpret them to their liking. Life must be getting oil production or over stimulating for these folks. thither are so many different groups spreading awareness in preparation for the millennium. One can line up knowledge on this subject by contacting a group who call themselves TEOTWAWKI (an acronym for the end of the world as we know it), Armageddon, or on the countless Y2K websites. There are many people involved in the frenzy surrounding Y2K. We have a Y2K coalition right here in Arkansas. The citizens of Harrison have organize a group called Y2K watch. Around one hundred people meet bimonthly to discuss strategies for getting through th e millennium. They have even attracted outsiders. Jerry and Carolyn Head go from a Dallas suburb to Harrison to escape the millennia madness. They have stocked up buying a generator, livestock, and hundreds of toilet paper rolls. They claim to just be planners and not recess of the Y2K worriers in which most of them are nuts. Y2K,which stands for year 2000, is the confusion of our computer systems when the clock strikes 1200 on January 1, 2000. When computers were first developed they were the size of small suite and stored data on thousands of punch cards made out of cardboard. To save space, engineers used two digits to indicate the year. Now that we are approaching the year 2000, they net the ambiguity of the year being 00 will apparently throw all of the computers off. Many people have declared this a disaster. One family in Ohio has in truth gone to extremes. They have bought the usual for survivalists, a generator and food (a years supply). In addition to this, they have invested in a waterbed in case the water companies crash and are unable to distribute water. Y2K drills are frequently practiced in the house to ensure all the appliances will work with the generator. The mother has attempt to raise awareness among the community and cannot understand why the Girl Scout leader turned down her offer to lecture on the subject.

Designing Agile Organisations Essay -- Enterprise integration modellin

Abstract We investigate the management system of the enterprise as an agent maintaining a system of objectives. We then test the organisation as a set of individual autonomous co-operating agents so that agenthood of the entire enterprise becomes an emergent property of the organisation. Important questions include under what rail can agenthood emerge? how to create such an organisation?, and how to guarantee that change preserves agenthood?.IntroductionIt is increasingly important to devise faster and more bona fide ways of designing purposeful, agile organisations (Bernus et al, 1997). We use the definition of the organisation as the human component of the enterprise, forming the human-organisational architecture (Williams, 1994).An enterprise can be thought of as consisting of an operational and a decisional system (Doumeingts et al, 1998), each implemented partly by valet de chambre and partly by machines (Bernus and Nemes, 1994). We borrow the definition of the intentning a gent from artificial intelligence to get the desired quality of the organisation.We demonstrate necessary conditions for the enterprise to behave as an agent, and also show the relationship of this view to concepts such as the fractal factory, holonic manufacturing, and others.The organisation as an agentTwo crucial questions in organisational design are 1) how to design the task structure of the enterprise to form a co-ordinated whole? and 2) what tasks allocation to humans (or groups) ensures that the enterprise bequeath act to satisfy its objectives? The second question is typically not asked in business process engineering it is assumed that the organisation will to what it is told to.An organisation should conduct a system of activities managed and controlled to satisfy a set of organisational objectives. This requires purposeful behaviour so that the organisation can be characterised as a planning agent.A planning agent determines a course of action to achieve its set of obj ectives. This course of action, or plan, is constrained by the agents resources as rise up as the agents own functional capabilities. The organisation follows, or appears to be following this plan while monitoring the effectiveness of the actions to actually satisfy the objectives for which the plan was made. If the plan fails in some way, then the plan or the objectives are m... ...319-332Koestler,A.. (1989) The ghost in the machine. Arkana BooksTharumarajah, A., Wells,J., Nemes,L., (1996) Comparison of the bionic, fractal and holonic manufacturing systems concepts. Int. J. on Computer Integrated Manuf. (3) pp.217-226Uppington,G., Bernus,P., Assessing the Necessity of Enterprise multifariousness Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Studies in Enterprise Integration. Int. J. of CIM, 1998 11(5) pp 430-447Valckenaers,P., VanBrussel,H., Bongaerts,L., Wyns,J. (1997) IMS test case 5 holonic manufacturing systems. Journal of Integrated Computer-Aided Engineering, 4(3), pp191-201.VanHouten,D .R. (1990) The political economy and technical control of work humanization in Sweden during the 1970s and 1980s. Work and Occupations, 14, pp483-513.Warnecke, H.J. (1993) The Fractal Company. Berlin Springer.Williams,T.J., (1994) The Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture. Computers in Industry, 24 (2-3) pp141-158Williams,T.J., Bernus,P., Brosvic,J., Chen,D., Doumeingts,G., Nemes,L., Nevins,J.L., Vallespir,B., Vlietstra,J., Zoetekouw,D., (1994) Architectures for integrating manufacturing activities and enterprises. Computers in Industry, 24(2-3) pp111-140

The Pursuit of Happiness and the Union of Aristotle and Genesis Essay

The Pursuit of Happiness and the Union of Aristotle and Genesis Two major schools of thought broadly influenced the development of the moral code of occidental Civilization. The Judeo-Christian custom gave us faith and God with the text of the Bible. The ancient Greeks gave us philosophical inquiry and the Good through the teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle proposes that the Good is the highest end of publics actions. Happiness is the Good because it is the only end earthly concern pursues with no other end in mind. A man obtains this highest end by invigoration his life in a virtuous manner. In marked contrast, a careful reading of Genesis shows that, in the world of the Hebrews, the highest end of a mans actions is faith in and communication with God himself. Oneness with God is the highest end because no other god exists. A man obtains this highest end by obeying Gods commands and fulfilling Gods plan for him. On first examina tion, the differences between these two constructs seem negligible. But when we look closely at the slipway in which the men of Genesis obtain their highest ends, we find that their means are less than virtuous in the eyes of Aristotle. To reach God, the ends seem to prune the means, go to reach the Good, the virtuous path is crucial. Although this inherent difference in the two systems of morality seems to oppose them to one another, the difference between them has actually helped fade them together to form our modern view of happiness. We need both views that wicked means will corrupt even the best ends, and that good ends can justify any means. In fact, there are stories in each text that describe a man who finds happiness through God, or the Good, ... ...e which cannot be interpreted away second, according to Genesis, because we have been given happiness by communion with a God who is ever present. Although not everyone considered to be a member of Western society holds the se views on happiness, one can see these two roots in our construct of happiness. In our very American constitution, we acknowledge our inalienable proficient to the pursuit of happiness. This phrase represents nothing other than the ultimate union of Aristotle and Genesis we are guaranteed as humans, as a God-given right, the ability to strive for happiness through the Aristotelian process. NOTES1. Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, trans. Martin Ostwald (Upper Saddle River Prentice Hall, 1999).2. Genesis, trans. Robert Alter (New York W.W. Norton & Company, 1996).3. The Holy Bible, King James Version (New York American Bible Society).

The Character of Tarquin in Macbeth and Cymbeline Essay -- comparison

The Character of Tarquin in Macbeth and Cymbeline     Tarquins image as a man of dastardly action becomes part of both Shakespeares Macbeth and Cymbeline.  As Iachimo emerges from a box in Imogens bedchamber he speaks, and his words reflect the feeling not only of himself but all trespassers in Shakespeares plays. Iachimo likens his actions to that of Tarquin, a Roman Tyrant who rapes the matron Lucrece. His trespassing in Imogens bed chamber while she is sleeping is to Iachimo like rape. He violates her space and privacy. Similarly in the play Macbeth, Macbeth before killing Duncan invokes the image of Tarquin, With Tarquins ravishing strides towards, his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm slew earth hear not my steps (2.1.55-58). Both plays use of the image of Tarquin reveals fascinating intricacies about the way in which Shakespeare takes traditional images of rapists and murders and re-uses them to relate to the actions of the characters in the play.             By invoking th...

ECN paper :: essays research papers

The upcoming presidential election of 2004 could prove to be the most vital in our terra firmas history. Therefore, every issue is of importance however, this paper will focus on George Bush and John Kerry from a non-partisan standpoint, and which candidate would be better for our scrimping. The economy is always changing, causing recessions as well as periods of growth for our country. However, each candidate is inclined to think he has the right answer or direction. before deciding who gets your vote, there are various economic issues that must carefully be examined and taken into account when accessing each candidate. After reading these articles, I became apprised of strengths and weaknesses for both candidates. Business Week stated that the Republicans have it wrong on jobs and the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate should be higher(prenominal), because the numbers of discouraged workers who were once in the labor force-out or are currently seeking employment are not being counted, therefore causing the job creation numbers to appear higher than they actually are. The Democrats are wrong about unemployment itself stating that outsourcing is the main reason for slow job growth in the past few years. Of the nearly three billion jobs in our economy only 300,000 have been from outsourcing. (Forrester Research Inc.) In fact, the outsourcing of certain computer equipment to Asia in the 90s lowered computer prices for our country and helped crack a technological revolution in some places never thought possible.After reviewing these articles I gathered that our economy is steadily on the rise on a lower floor the leadership of George Bush. This President has dealt with a terrorist attack on our country, as well as war, high energy and oil prices, plus a devastating hurricane season. patronage all of these problems, the Gross Domestic Product and national income are rising and looking stronger. Inflation is also slowing down, while our spending is in creasing. Our economy concord to Glenn Hubbard in Business Week has rebounded, and the 4.8% growth in Real Gross Domestic Product over the past 12 months is faster than in whatever such period during the Clinton years. This                                                   Jefferson 2growth in the economy does not mean that there are no jobs lost. However, job losses are a result of changes in buying patterns and corporations who reorganize. John Kerry has spoken several times regarding "the middle class squeeze" and the tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

ECN paper :: essays research papers

The upcoming presidential election of 2004 could prove to be the most vital in our nations history. Therefore, every wall plug is of importance however, this paper will focus on George Bush and John Kerry from a non-partisan standpoint, and which candidate would be better for our economy. The economy is always changing, causing recessions as well as periods of growth for our country. However, each candidate is inclined to think he has the right answer or direction. Before deciding who gets your vote, there are various economic issues that must carefully be examined and taken into account when accessing each candidate. After reading these articles, I became aware of strengths and weaknesses for both candidates. Business calendar week stated that the Republicans have it persecute on jobs and the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate should be higher, because the numbers of discouraged workers who were once in the labor force or are before long seeking employment are not being counted, therefore causing the job creation numbers to appear higher than they actually are. The Democrats are wrong about unemployment itself stating that outsourcing is the main reason for slow job growth in the past few years. Of the nearly three million jobs in our economy further 300,000 have been from outsourcing. (Forrester Research Inc.) In fact, the outsourcing of certain computer equipment to Asia in the 90s lowered computer prices for our country and helped spread a technological change in some places never thought possible.After reviewing these articles I gathered that our economy is steadily on the rise under the leadership of George Bush. This President has dealt with a terrorist attack on our country, as well as war, high energy and oil prices, plus a devastating hurricane season. Despite all of these problems, the Gross interior(prenominal) Product and national income are rising and looking stronger. Inflation is also slowing down, while our spending is increasing . Our economy according to Glenn Hubbard in Business hebdomad has rebounded, and the 4.8% growth in Real Gross Domestic Product over the past 12 months is faster than in any such period during the Clinton years. This                                                   Jefferson 2growth in the economy does not mean that there are no jobs lost. However, job losses are a result of changes in get patterns and corporations who reorganize. John Kerry has spoken several times regarding "the middle class squeeze" and the tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

Formation of Corporations and Stocks Essay

* Why does a company choose to form as a corporation? What are the steps required to become a corporation? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the corporate form of doing transaction? Corporations are created in order to separate the businesses finances from the persons individual finances so that they can protect themselves financially. The advantages of forming a corporation are that the business can obtain the credibility so that consumers are more comfortable. Since consumers normally prefers to do business with a corporation. Also by forming a corporation the person protects their assets and name by forming a corporation. The disadvantages are that the process is lengthy and pricey. Also corporations often lay off up covering more in taxes. Corporations are also monitored very closely and must(prenominal) be in compliance with several entities.* Why is best-loved stock referred to as preferred? What are some of the features added to preferred stock that make it more attractive to investors? Would you select preferred stock or mutual stock as an investment? Why? Preferred stock is considered preferred because it has dividend preference over ordinary stock. Preferred stockholders have the right to receive dividends in the lead common stockholders. The per share dividend amount is stated as a percentage of the preferred stocks per value or as a specified amount. Preferred stockholders must ne paid their annual dividend plus any dividends in arrears before common stockholders receive any dividends. I would select referred stock over common stock because I want to get paid as quickly as possible.* What are the different types of dividends corporations may issue? When should a corporation pay dividends? Do you prefer a stock dividend or a cash dividend? Why There are four types of dividends 1. cash dividends, 2. property dividends, 3. scrip (note), and 4. stock dividends. A corporation should pay dividends when it has retained earning, adequate c ash, and a declaration of dividends. I would prefer a cash dividend. If the corporation issues stock, they are not having to spend real cash. I want to be reassured that the business actually has my money. I have seen it too many times where huge corporations lie and cheat on paper. I also do not really like the stock market and never have been good at buying, selling, or owning stock.

Managing Diversity in South Africa Essay

Introduction In the workplace, innovation in terms of ethnicity, locality, fostering and skills, age, and gender exist. Managers or employers therefore require innovative ideas to successfully manage employees in the workplace. vicissitude management is a relatively new field in the South African business environment. Managing employees and the work environment involves different aspects and is influenced by the internal environment such as in the mission, vision and goals of the organisation as well as the external environment. These aspects imply areas where diversity management is important.Managers have various roles to carry out in an organisation in order to stand effective management and deal with the ethical issues. Factors such as changing structures and polices, providing diversity skills training, creating cross functional teams and employee network groups, building relationships, and providing complete managerial condense are all factors that contribute towards effe ctive diversity management. A successful diversity management approach must be more(prenominal) accommodating and more capable of promoting the diversity within an organization to bring everyone together and generate effective participation.This means that employees should be regarded as an organized whole that brings meaningful contributions from their social, political, economic, and geographic experiences. 2. innovation Diversity can be defined as all the ways people differ, that is the different influences to approaching the workplace, communication between employees, satisfaction wind from implementation and identification in the workplace (Daft, Kendrick, & Vershinina, 2010).It is a commitment to distinguishing and appreciating the range of characteristics that make case-by-cases unique in an atmosphere that supports and celebrates individual and embodied achievement (Tennessee, 2003). Diversity represents the multitude of individual differences and similarities that e xist among people (Kreitner, 2001). According to Erasmus, diversity applies to all employees and does not only encompass certain differences but rather the entire spectrum of individual differences that make people unique. Therefore diversity cannot be viewed as only racial or religious differentiation but s all differences combined. The imagination of diversity describes differences among people as well as similarities. The discipline of managing diversity requires that these two aspects are managed simultaneously. He further suggests that managers are expected to integrate the collective mixture of similarities and differences between workers into the organisation (Erasmus, 2007). Diversity is more than being politically correct it is about nurturing a culture that values individuals and their wide assortment of involve and contributions Diversity management is a moderately new field in the South African business environment.Diversity management is ensuring that the necessary fa ctors are in place to provide for and to encourage the continuous development of diversity in the workplace, by incorporating actual and perceived differences to achieve the utmost efficiency (Bandyopadhyay, Hazra, & Goswami, 2007). Diversity management can besides be defined as the commitment on the part of the organisations to recruit, retain, reward and promote a heterogeneous mix of productive, cause and committed workers, including people of colour, whites, females and the disabled (Inancevich & Gilbert, 2000).The two areas where diversity management are particularly important include * Workplace diversity. * Global diversity. Workplace diversity refers to the array of distinctions between people in an organisation. Some of the benefits of implementing workplace diversity are increased adaptability which supplies a variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocation of resources, various opinions which include ideas and experiences, and effectiveness i n terms of employee performance to attain goals (Greenberg, 2005). Furthermore, enhanced use of employee capacity is encouraged.This involves competitive advantage over other organisations along with prospects and development of employees for retentiveness purposes. Diversity initiatives retain a competitive advantage by improving employee confidence, decreasing interpersonal conflict, facilitating development in new markets and increasing creativity. It also includes the accord of the marketplace in terms of the changing needs of consumers. Building workplace diversity will also result in the improved extent of concord in leadership positions that encompasses a variety of skills.Better quality of team problem solving to bring in different perspectives resulting in creativity of ideas and solutions and lastly reduction of costs induce lower turnover, absenteeism and lawsuits (Daft, Kendrick, & Vershinina, 2010). Global diversity is more than just demographical factors (such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation), it is about thinking, leadership, skills and style which integrates peoples differences to achieve all the goals planned and is acceptable universally, that is by breaking though barriers through globalisation (Dell, 2011).Globalisation refers to standardisation of products plan and marketing strategy throughout the sphere by assuming a homogeneous global market of consumers and industrial products (Daft, Kendrick, & Vershinina, 2010). A benefit of global diversity is broader services through node satisfaction and product availability. By managing diversity, managers access a range of skills which the organisation has never had before and thus a broader array of individual strengths, experiences and perspectives.There is also a wider legitimacy and organisational image across a wider audience. Managers however should realise that managing diversity is fairly tough and cannot be implemented immediately. It is ins tead a long strategy in order to correct the imbalances in the workplace. 3. Mission, Vision and Goals A mission is defined as the organisations reason for existence. A mission statement is a broadly stated definition of the purpose of the company. Well designed mission statements can enhance employee motivation and organisational performance.

Let Task

Individual task come to the forecomes should also be evaluated. The value of using common sets of valuation criteria Is cleanse in the long run because It will be the same across the board. This will make the ferment fair to all the employees that are being evaluated. To be evaluated on only one or two start of the trio mentioned above would be unfair to all of the employees. If one employee was exceptional on behavior and Individual task outcomes and another employee was exception on behavior and traits rating on just behavior and traits would not be fair to the first of all employee.Rating employees on a broader scale produces better employees in the long run. They have the three areas that they croupe work on and excel to become a better fit for the organization. Now the 360-degree evaluation works by evaluating the employees on the set criteria however their direct supervisor is not the only person evaluating them. These evaluations are performed by the customers, suppli ers, supervisors, and coworkers. This Is very diverse way of rating an individuals carrying into action. One could have a certain behavior around the boss only once he/she Is out of sight the Individual may retreat other employees poorly.This Is a major advantage to a 360-degree evaluation since the employees have to keep a good ringing with all people they contact. On the other hand the 360-degree evaluation also has some disadvantages. I have an example that has happened to me and my co-workers due to an evaluation of this type. I worked for a large banking organization and we had phone contact with the customers discussing their credit card application. We either told them we approved them or if they were decline. No matter the decision, surveys were sent out Mandalay.No matter how skillful and courteous I would be to someone if I did not approve them and give them a high enough credit line that survey would not come back with positive marks. Everyone found this out early on and began to give In to customer demands and thus the banks credit loses started to Increase. In this case the 360-degree can have negative Impacts on the company If the employees start to cater to one aspect of it and the employees if they do honest work and decline Commonly used order actings of performance evaluations care written essays, graphic eating scales, and forced comparisons all have their similarities and differences.For instance written essays and rating scales both have to be filled out by the supervisor. They can relay the same evaluation in the end, but the written essay might mean more to an employee since it takes the four-in-hand more struggle to save. On the other hand the written essay could be a bad thing if the writing skills of the managers are not up to par. Forced comparisons, like the other methods, are good at measuring and ranking your employees abilities, however ranking your employees can turn into popularity contest instead of a true ranking.I c hose these three methods because my current employer uses a combination of all three. We have the graphical part that measures everyone on the same scale. Then we have the essay part which covers skills and goals not mentioned in the graphical part, and then the managers meet to rank all of the employees 1-5. I think when used in combination these three commonly used methods work the best. utilise individually all 3 of these method also have bias and errors. As mentioned the essay method is only as good as the managers ability to write the essay.If a manager is unable to string a complete sentence together the employee is not going to see the managers intentions through the written word. With the graphical method while easier for the managers since they have a form to fill out it can be ineffective since it only ranks the employees on the topics that are provided on the forms. A manager might have a specialized employee that does something that no other employee does but has no way of expressing this since it is a basic form. And the final method of forced comparisons ranks the employees as if it were a popularity notes.If manager is fond of 4 employees and only has 20 there is a good chance that those 4 employees will always rank in the top one fifth leaving an employee that does comparable or better work on the outside looking in. To improve the performance evaluation process in the presumption scenario I believe there should be multiple methods used to evaluate the employees productivity, behavior, and traits. To do this effectively the 360-degree method should be implemented but only allow it to account for 15% percent of the overall evaluation.This allows the co-workers and customers to get a say on how an individual is doing in those areas score. This should be done in a graphical method only so it is a fair evaluation to the individual. Next there should be a combination of the graphical method and the essay method for the direct manager/supervisor to evaluate the employee. This should account for 45% of the evaluation. The final 40% should be on productivity alone. In the scenario given the employee in question no doubt has superb productivity, but in the current method of evaluation the employee gets no credit for it.

Analyze in detail how Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay

John Steinbecks first hand experience of what feeling was akin during the Ameri buns Depression allowed him to ingest unnecessary an accurate novel on life during this dull time. It besides gives us a good idea of certain aspects of the Depression ab trace in how migrant workers lived and also how they were treated. The Depression changed peoples thoughts and views on life, how sensitive they were to differents and how they acted around people. This is especially true of the migrant workers in Of Mice and Men. devastation similarlyk a major role in the migrant workers lives. The ample majority of the workers fited alone across America, moving from ranch to ranch. Family values were non-existent, because of this they didnt be bulky anywhere. The workers believed it was survival of the fittest between them. There were a large number of drifting workers, all-looking for the same jobs. Competition for work was fierce. There was a general feeling of loneliness at the time for t he workers. George emphasizes this feeling when he is have spoken languageing to Lennie by the brush Guys ilk us, which work on ranches, are the loneliest roasts in the world. They got no family. They dont belong no place. Because of a vast amount of suspicion on the ranch the workers often chose a solitary existence. It also made relationships between the workers very shallow. It would seem that the majority of the workers could not make a meaningful relationship.Yet, it wasnt just the workers who felt lonely. Curleys wife also displays loneliness I get awful lonelyYou can talk to people, but I cant talk to nobody but Curley. Crooks also seems very lonely I tell ya a guy gets too lonely, an he gets sick. Both Crooks and Curleys wife also choose a life of solitude because of the suspicion. It is harder for them to establish meaningful relationships because the obstacles of discrimination and sexism that exists on the ranch.Loneliness was car park for almost everyone. Different people did different things to try and cope with loneliness. Some would play cards. Some would play horseshoes. Crooks would read his daybooks and Curleys wife tries attention pursuit by hanging around the bunks. They did anything to avoid the loneliness and boredom.Entertainment was a form of escape from their boring lives. Apart from the simple things the workers would do during the calendar month wish well cards and horseshoes, on that point was no entertainment, so they all looked forward to the send away of the month Well, a guy got to have roughly fun sometime. This was when they would get their catch up with and go into town. They would spend their money on drink and prostitutes. Again, anything that would allow them to escape from their lonely lives. It was normal for the workers to spend the best part of the night in a whore house where they could get alcohol and women. A guy can go in an get drunk and get everthing out his system all at once, an no messes.And onc e that night was done that was it until the end of the next month. This demonstrates the attitude on the ranch toward women they are just objects which can be used whenever they please. They arent considered as eqaul at all. The attitude towards Curleys wife is an separate example of how women were poorly treated, poorly regarded and were by a long way, less equal than men. Newly married and in an unfamiliar place, she is not allowed to talk to anyone but Curley. She resents this and approaches the other ranch workers with the excuse of looking for Curley. The men direct have their guard up and assure each other that she is nothing but trouble. They regard her as a woman to be used and make no attempt to get to know her.Probably the most important aspect of workers lives was the dream they all shared. But because of their tendencies to go into town at the end of the month they would never realize their dream, as many of their dreams involved saving up money, whoich usually they ex cess. Crooks sums it up quite well I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an on the ranches with their bindles on their back an that same red cent thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an they quit an they go on an every damn one of ems got a little piece of land in his head. An every goddamn one of em ever gets it. Just like heaven. It was a simple dream. All they wanted was to own their own place.A piece of land and a house to live in, somewhere they werent told what to do, a place where they could choose who could stay on their land and who had to move on, and a place where at the end of the harvest they could keep what they had harvested. George points this out Id have my own little place, an Id be bringing in my own crops, stead of doin all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground. But for most this dream would never be fulfilled. Their loneliness would always be with them. This would mean they would have to escape from their loneliness by going into town and spending their money. But without money they would never be able to buy their own place.As with loneliness, having dreams was not exclusive to the workers. Curleys wife often dreamt of what her life would have been like if she would have been in movies Coulda been in the movies, an had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear. An I coulda sat in them big hotels, an had pictures took of me.As for George and Lennie there is hope. They have each other to look after one another and are not as lonely as the other migrants. Becausebecause I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you. says Lennie. Because they have each other, they have a better chance of realizing their dream. They both have someone to talk to and travel with which helps them not get so lonely. It is this troupe that gives them their chance. Also, because of their companionship, they are very different from all the other workers on the ranch. None of the other workers had someone to travel with. Their companionship is seen as very unusual Well, I never seen a guy take so much trouble for another guy. says Carlson. Slim also says I precisely never seen two guys travel together. It was a rare thing to see during that period. It was also rare for the workers show genuine care for each other of for anyone else. George and Lennie are an exception to this.Along with the good things that came with travelling together, George and Lennies companionship also brought along suspicion. Suspicion was very common on the ranches. The boss is leery as soon as George and Lennie arrive. He is suspicious of George because he wont let Lennie handle I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin his pay away from him? He later says I got my eye on you.It isnt just the boss who is wary of the workers. It seems everyone is suspicious of each other Maybe everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other. says Slim. This is emphasized a lot by the way hardly anyone travels together and by the way George accuses Candy of listening in on his conversation with Lennie Say, what the hell you doin listenin? Curley is also suspicious of anybody when it comes to his new wife. He runs around a lot looking for her and at one point accuses Slim of messing with her.Finally, most of the men on the ranch are worried about talking to Curleys wife. They accuse her of giving men the eye and think she is a tart. There is a large amount of suspicion all over the ranch aimed at anyone around the ranch itself.As well as a lot of suspicion, maybe leading to the following, there was also a fair amount of violence. Curley is the principal(prenominal) source of violence on the ranch. He was jealous and suspicious of people and this leads to him causing trouble. He is said to pick on big guys the most because he was so small He hates big guys. Hes alla time picking scraps with big guys. He is also said to be a good boxer and has proved this by doing well in certain tournament s. Hes often wary and is ready for a fight His eyeball flashed over George, took in his height, measured his reach, and looked at his trim middle. Curley finally demonstrates his foul temper and his willingness to fight by picking on Lennie and hitting him several times.George mentions the champion of violence on the ranch After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. Another side to the violence on the ranch is the attraction of it. Whit is very eager when he sees Curley going after Slim I guess maybe Id like to see this. and But I like to see the fuss if it comes off. Come on les go.Crooks is a target of the violence also. The time at Christmas when they set after him is an example of this. He is often verbally revilementd as well. The workers are very casual about racist language. They use run-in like nigger behind his back and even to his face Sure the stable bucks a nigger. Nigger huh? Yeah. Nice fella, too. And such words are even said to his face Listen, Nigger. says Curleys wife.Racism was still very common during this period and segregation was also common. Crooks wasnt allowed in the blanched workers bunk house and he is put in the barn, by himself, which had very poor living conditions. He had to put up with a lot of abuse and discrimination and because of this he had developed a protective shell, which he would withdraw back into whenever he was being abused, this made him suspicious of anyone trying to help him or take an interest in him. Crooks was a dignified man and would often refer to his mauled book of rights to emphasize he had rights. He would also refer to his book if he thought someone was doing something that impeded his rights.Crooks was also very lonely and he craves someone to talk to as much as any of the other workers on the ranch. A good example of his dignity and his loneliness mixed together is when Lennie comes into his room he tries to be angry but he knows he needs someone to talk to and allows Lennie to stay in his room.Women were used and treated unfairly during this period also. During this time women were generally seen as a possession. Men believed that they have the women and that they could use them however or for whatever they wanted. This is shown by the way the workers talk about the women at the whorehouses and also by the way the workers talk about Curleys wife. She is seen, as something Curley owns, an item or possession not a person. She is also referred to as jail-bait, a tart and nothing but trouble. Quotes like Jesus, what a tramp., shamt you even look at that bitch. and Well, I think Curleys marrieda tart. which refer to Curleys wife all emphasize the disrespect shown to women in this period.Although men liked to think women were their possessions, they also had other possessions. They would carry around little things like razors and keep them in a bindle while traveling. When they werent traveling they would keep their possessions in an apple crate hu ng up on the wall. They never carried around much and things would get left behind for example, the roach killer that got left behind by the last worker that occupied Georges bunk. Hygiene wasnt all that good.As well as the roach infested bunks there were rats underneath the floorboards. The food wasnt all that good either and medicine was very simple. Candy tells about how one guy would clean the potatoes if they had spots on them and he would scrape off the red bits in the eggs. Candy also complains of a stomachache the turnips gave him and asks for some whiskey to treat his stomachache. Overall life in the bunkhouses was very harsh.In conclusion, the novel has given us a very clear picture of what life like for the migrant workers moving from ranch to ranch. Loneliness was a serious part of their lives. It was part of a vicious circle that included entertainment, money and their dream. Their dreams were what kept them going. But loneliness would continue to stop them realizing th eir dreams. They were so lonely they needed the entertainment to help them escape from their loneliness and boredom after work. This cost money money they needed to realize their dream, and from entertainment they wasted the money they needed to realize a dream, and found themselves lonely again, causing the vicious circle to continue.Life was very rough on the workers. No family to speak of or get closed to. They believed that they didnt belong anywhere. They went to a ranch, worked up a stake and then blew it in the nearest town. This would happen every month and even though the workers dreamt, the vast majority eventually realized their dream would never come true. But kept dreaming to keep up some hope even though deep down they realized it was not possible.

Nucor Corporation Essay

Nucor Corporation is characterized by its declareer? operators who take pride in their imprint and teams and as a result pee-pee created great profitability for a traditional steelmaker. Nucor is known for many things including its pay practices that household earnings on performance as hearty as the value and trust the corporation places in its employees. At Nucor employees are rewarded base on their effort, treated with great respect and em top executiveed to make decisions based on their expertise and knowledge. Nucor is a unique organization among its rust? belt counterparts.To understand its mastery it is necessary to understand the leadership mentality, em occasionment strategy, motivation and rewards base as well as its approach to change and innovation. All of these elements have turned Nucor into a desirable place to work with the potential for future success as it acquires new entities and grows. Leadership When looking at the Nucor Case Study, it is advantageous to discuss the leadership titles in relation to the Vroom? Jago Leadership Model as well as other concepts and issues of leadership. The initial leader to focus on is F. Kenneth Iverson, a former Nucor Steel President (1965? 999) and legendary leader.His leadership fostered the close? undulate stopping point that exists even today. When Iverson and Sam Siegel, Financial Vice President, initially assumed leadership functions, they exhibited the AI Autocratic style at individual and group aim in selling off many wide? ranging operations to focus on one area. They in any case made the decision to move corporate provide to where it is even today, Charlotte, NC. From that point leadership has continued to have a basis in the group with Nucor employees empowered to make decisions that will benefit the organization.Nucor Steels leaders also exhibited other Vroom ? Jago leadership styles as they evolved to the present day. Iverson installed radical concepts giving employees better pay and real power exhibiting GII decision sprint willing to accept and implement employee decisions. Current CEO Daniel R. DiMicco uses a several(predicate) leadership style when purchasing 13 new companies and instilling the unique culture in those new facilities. Nucor overseement, as a whole still focuses on the people in the front line of their business predominately using DI individual style leadership and GII group level decision style.Different perspectives of leadership also can explain Iverson and DiMicco. Both exhibit traits of charismatic leaders. The case study points issue how employees are willing to accomplish tasks based on an horny commitment to Nucor Steel. The example of electricians helping sister comprises in another state on their own initiative shows, when crisis arose, the employees showed extraordinary behavior. All General Managers contact a new GM within 2 days of starting in a different factory, offering help, and meaning it. This behavior is unconvent ional, and counters to established norms in the current business culture.Only a visionary charismatic behavior from the leader could motivate such commitment. Leadership approaches discussed here point out that leadership is an exchange process with employees. A look at transactional leadership and transformational leadership helps further explain Nucors success. Transactional leaders help the follower identify what is done to accomplished desired results and ensure the resources are on hand to complete the job. Transformational leadership motivates followers to work for goals rather than on short term self-interest this leader is able to express clear vision and inspire other to accomplish that vision.Nucors management, in this case study continually exhibit transformational leadership attributes. When Nucor employees innovate themselves out of tight spots, the leaders charisma has instilled this sense of value respect, and pride. The General Managers hit out to the new GM shows leaders reaching out to help individual needs. These leaders permit the employees to rethink rational ways to correct problems, and do not intervene in work tasks unless people are sidetracked. The most important aspect of transformational leadership is charisma coupled with other roles.The deep emotional attachment to Nucor management is one facet of this style. These leaders also play the role of teacher, coach, mentor, reformer, or revolutionary further establish their transformational style of leadership. Power In addition to the various leadership styles and involvement of the employees and commitment to the organization there are different types of power between leaders and employees at Nucor. There is a lot of employee power at the Nucor Steel Company generating from the vapid organization structure found within the company and the leaderships focus on employees.A criterion joke in the company is that if you were a janitor and you got five promotions you would have the CEO s job. Unlike the pyramid structure that is found in other companies, at Nucor the CEO believes that he is the one who was at the bottom and he works for all the others in the organization. Power within Nucor, as in other corporations, comes from two places interpersonal and structural. With the flat organizational structure at Nucor the majority of the power is interpersonal rather than prescribed by the organizational structure and layers of management.At Nucor employees have a commodious amount of power specifically expert power. Expert power arises an individual has the ability to influence as a result of a highly treasured expertise regardless of job title. Expert power is clearly exhibited in the case study when employees call upon each other (as in the case of the Hickman plant calling expert electricians from another plant) and when leadership entrusts decision making to employees. In addition to expert power, referent power is also common among Nucor employees.Referent p ower is based upon charisma whether it is the charisma of the CEO or of the line worker, this type of power comes from interactions with others. Not only did Nucor leaders Iverson and DiMicco have structural power they also had referent power from charismatic leadership styles. Where interpersonal power results from expertise, attitudes and actions, structural power comes from the organizational structure itself. At Nucor with its flat hierarchy structural power is not the main source of influence or power.A type of structural power that is present is the decision making power of the employees. Individuals at Nucor have a broad range of decision making power as seen in the electrician situation. The decision making power is based on the inclose that they will make the best decisions for the organization since their compensation depends on the organizational success. Motivation & Rewards When looking at the Nucor Corporation, it is important to understand why the employees are act uate to act the way that they do.Nucor has high job satisfaction which in turn brings improved job performance. This improved performance benefits everyone in the company instead of however management at Nucor. Herzbergs two factor theory is utilized in the Nucor case study. The people from Nucor demonstrated there were motivators by traveling to set apart a problem that was a great distance away. The people in this situation had achievement, actualisation, and responsibility all in mind when they decided to take locomote not required to help others in the organization.Achievement motivated the employees in the example because they knew that they were helping the company immensely and this would in turn help them. The recognition would be shown in their personal pay checks. The responsibility in this situation was the people agreeing to help out without any supervisors there to persuade them to go. Additionally, teams in Nucors situation are beneficial in motivation. People are willing to help one another because both people will be rewarded for a job well done. The mentality of us guys instead of you guys motivates people to form teams in a manner that is beneficial to the company.The hygiene factors in Nucor case does not apply to their company. The areas of dissatisfaction that most other companies face such as pay and security do not come in to account. The factory workers by circumstances make a much more comparable amount to their managers in comparison to different companies. The primary reward for the executives at Nucor is financial compensation, including benefits. In their roles as executives, they naturally have many of what could be considered rewards by others in the organization.Autonomy, the ability to effect decision, and many other roles are a natural part of the role as an executive within an organization. The executive salaries are on average are a bit lower than average, while performance based pay is more and makes up more than 50% o f total compensation. The performance? based component is primarily paid in the form of stock options and restricted stock. Options allow the holder to purchase the stock at a specified price, usually lower than market value. Restricted stock is direct partial ownership in the organization that vests over a period of term.These types of rewards are common among executives, as there is a direct correlation between how the company performs and the ownership jeopardise the executive receives in the organization they have the ability to effect. The employee reward system contains both financial rewards (including benefits), as well as non financial. The average employee at Nucor makes $100k a year, 20% more than industry average. This reinforces the organizations belief that people are the backbone of the company, and further strengthens the commitment to try and retain its employees.One of the most difficult aspects to manage in the milling industry is the turnover and training of em ployees Nucor has recognized this and used financial rewards to deter this from taking hold within its own organization. The employee also has inbred rewards available within the organization. They include completion, autonomy, achievement, and personal growth. Moreover, they are all encouraged within the culture. This is most evident in the recalling of employees taking it upon themselves to help during a time of need. This allows them to grow, achieve a goal, make their own decision, and work until completed.

Benihana Case Study

foodstuff Management Class Notes 1/16/13 Markets * Consumer merchandiseB2C * Business merchandiseB2B * Global market (? ) * Not-for-profit marketmust have higher revenues than address to survive * ex health-care hospitals need 7% more revenues than expenses to survive * Government market Core Concepts * needs, wants, and demands * segmentation, target markets, positioning * offerings and imperfections value and satisfaction * relationship marketing * marketing channels * supply kitchen stove * competition * marketing environment Marketing mix4 Ps * producegood, service, idea, experience, place, person, etc. * Priceabove, at, or below market * Placeretail location, channel of distribution * Promotionadvertising, personal selling, sales promotion, PR/publicity Shifts in marketing management in past marketing does marketing now everyone does marketing * organized by crossing units now organizing by customer segments * using umteen suppliers now using fewer suppliers who are p artners * ex Wal-Mart and Procter & Gamble pampersno longer places orders for pampers now P&G brand manager manages Wal-Mart shelf of pampers * emphasizing tangible assets now emphasizing intangible assets * building brands through advertising now building brand through performance and integrated communication * good experience=tell 5 former(a) people ad experience=tell 9 other people * now even more permanent with online ratings * shotgun (dispersed) v. rifle (accurate) * avoid shotgun (avoid bristleing product/service that would appeal to everybody) * relying on darkened markets now uncovering new markets * concentrate oning on profitable transactions now customer lifetime value * major goals of increasing revenue and market piece v. now must be responsible for return on marketing investment (ROMI) * local now glocal (local and global) * focus on shareholders now focus on stakeholders What do marketers do? develop marketing strategies and plans * generate/collect marketing inf o (research) * connect w/ customers * develop market offerings * build brands * preservation and communicate value * create long-term harvest * ex ivory 1879 and still going New Marketing capabilities * use of internet for info and sales * easily gather info about * customers, prospects, markets, competitors * social media * facilitate and speed communication w/ customers * personal marketing (thru email) * mobile marketing for customers on the go * mass customization * bit of an oxi-moron * ex Levis jeans made to size measurements use internet internally and for other than marketing Evolution of the Marketing Concept * takings Conceptproduction efficiency, low costs, mass dist. consumers want the most quality, performance, or innovative features (more, go against, faster) * Stool made in cottage industryindividuals made them at home w/ tools on handindustrial revolutionfactories, standards, conformity, production concept emerged * Selling Conceptconsumers will buy only if the company aggressively promotes/sells these products * Too many stools produced and no one is buying themhow to sell them? must aggressively sell and advertise * Marketing Conceptfocuses on needs/wants of target markets and delivering value better than competitors * Quit reservation stools that people dont need or want * must determine how many stools the customer wants first before making them * The Marketing ConceptsThree Pillars * Customer orientation * Integrated marketing effort** * Table 1. 1 on p. 23 * integrated w/ other departments b/c marketing interacts w/ customers * Emphasis on profitable sales (not all sales are worth pursuing) * Pillsbury Ex 1. We occupy flourhow do we make the flour faster and better * 2. We sell flourhired sales people and started advertising * 3. What do customers want that has flour in itexpanded product lines Burger Kinghamburger buns, pie shops, refrigerated dough products Ch. 2 Developing Marketing Strategies and computer programmes * Valuethe totality of features and characteristics of a product or service compared to its costs * Determinant of Cust0mer Values * Customer perceived value * total customer value * Image value * Personal value * function value * product value vs. total customer cost * Monetary cost * time cost * energy cost * psychic cost * in mindinstantly assessing value and weighing it against cost Creating value * satisfy needs * more than one org * functions of marketing creates value Generic value chainlink in chain consists of * Primary activities inbound logistics, operations, out-bound logistics, marketing and sales, service * support activities firm infrastructure, HR management, technology development, procurement (purchasing) * margin-includes profitability Ex Levi Jeans Value-Delivery mesh topology Dupont fibersMilliken fabricsLevis apparelSears retailcustomer * each is a link in the value chain When value is not provided * lost sale * lost customerCLV (accounting for the human body of years person would have been a customer) Competitive Advantagesomething a co. has that no other co. has * achieved through * 1. core competenciessource of comp. advantage, application in wide variety of markets, and difficult for competitors to sham * 2. distinctive capabilitiesexcellence in broad business practices * involve multiple levels of people ex ability to innovate, ability to reckon your customer, understanding the market Marketing goal=competitive advantage * must be something significant to customers * important in a variety of markets * difficult to imitate Strategic planning * Corp. Mission * Marketing Myopiasee close but dont see far away * Railroads thought they were in the railroad business, had they realized they were in the transportation business they could have expanded line to auto or plane * What business are we in? * offshoot opportunities * growth matrix * SBUStrategic Business Unit * ResourcesS/W AssessmentO/T * goalsstrategies to achieve goalstactical plans to achieve strategies Good Mission report * exs in the book Table 2. 5 * identify * target customers and markets * principle services delivered * org. philosophy * desired self/public image * Mission statementwhat the co. does Vision statementhope for future Goals and Objectives * goalsumbrella hierarchical (at different levels) * provide broad direction * objectivesSMART * Specific * measurable * Actionable * Realistic * Time boundfor marketing plan, usually a year * for new product, maybe 6 months Porters Generic Strategies * 1.Overall cost leadershiplow cost provider can make stuff at the lowest cost (will have higher margins and more choices) * 2. Differentiationdevelop competitive advantages that are diff. from competition * Focussegment * niche market focus that has either overall cost leadership or differentiations Ansoffs Product/Market Expansion Grid Existing products New products Existing markets Market Penetration * advertising, lowering price, increasing sales perso nnel, * take existing pie of market share and try to get bigger piece of the pie Product development New markets Market development * ex co. hat made lawnmowers B2B (golf courses) decided they could sell those lawnmowers to consumers variegation Boston Consulting Groups Growth Share Matrix Relatively high market share Relatively low market share exalted market growth rate Stars Question marks (aka problem childrendont know how they are going to turn out) Low market growth rate Cash cowsproducts youve had for a relatively long time but they have slow growth Ex Coke for Coca-Cola Dogs ImplementationplansEvaluation and maintain * Set objectives (to be measured) * measure performance against objectives * understand deviationswhy didnt you achieve what you set out to achieve * set new objectives Marketing Plan Parts * Exec. Summary * Table of Contents * Situational Analysis External Analysis * Situational Analysis internal analysis * SWOT critical success factors * Goals/objectives * Strategy4 Ps * Action programs * Financial implications * Controls Case Analysisslides being sent via email

Emotional Rollercoaster

In the story, The Jacket by Gary Soto is about a son who wants a jacket but previous jacket have failed. He tells his mom what kid of jacket he wants and its a nice exposition of leather. Although he thinks that she understood, because he talked to her the whole time while she prep for dinner. He comes home to see what jacket he got and discovers an old guacamole jacket, which makes him throw his books on his bed. Since its not the jacket he wanted, he thought of crying because it is so ugly and big.Once again a discovery of disappointment because he trys on the jacket and makes him look ugly, so he threw it on his fellows bed and stared it down for a long time. After that he decides to play with the dog, swing his fort whistling like a bird, and the dog bites him. Damn dog I thought to see if I was bleeding, and pushed him international when he tried to bite me again. because he wore the jacket to the sixth grade, and got a D on his math quiz, which shows he didnt study for upc oming test.He starts to no longer do his homework, started acquiring Cs on quizzes, forgetting state capitals, and the rivers of South America. This shows that the is very conscious and very nervous because of the jacket. After that, all during that time no love came to me I stayed with the ugly boys who leaned against the chain link fence, it shows that he letting the jacket win and is not very out going. Next, I tear the jacket I blame my mom for her bad taste, and her cheap ways. He is always the first to blame other people and seems he doesnt want to take responsibility.Then, ready to cry, I climb the tree by the alley, the tree must be a safe place and/or a comfort place to get away from things. Finally, I stared up the alley that green ugly brother, who breathe over my shoulder that day and ever since. He must have inferred the green brother as the jacket he finally accepted. In conclusion, the story does show what many people go through each day with items they dont want, do nt have a comfort place to go, and lessons learned in The Jacket by Gary Soto.

Communication Release Chilean Miners Essay

The custody trapped in the Chilean mine shaft was one of the worlds most successful operations to release miners from the prospicient subsurface entrapment. The problem or controversy lied in the presidency restricting information to the men trapped and censoring and losing letter to the miners sent to them from their family and friends. The people thought this was unjust and failed to realize what carry through guardianship are all about. Psychological effectsThe letters sent by friends and family of the Chilean workers trapped underground were being kept by authorities due to the content and the authorities belief that it may control severe psychological impact. Authorities course of action caused uncertainty and further unseated the miners. Angry relatives were outraged and confronted government officials outside the cave of the San Jose mine. What the families failed to realize is how their form of communication could unintentionally adversely affect their mental read to t he relatives or friends trapped under ground. The familys sideOne of the miners, Victor Zamora, expressed his complaints to his family about receiving all one letter from them. He feared that his relatives were hiding affaires from him. His wife, Jessica Cortes, said that the family had sent at least fifteen letters and explained that she wrote daily, also his brothers and mother had sent many letters as well. What she never thought is what the most distinguished thing was for those miners, uncensored communication with family at the risk of the miners mental health or freedom. Letters screenedAccording to Jessica Cortes, thither was a team of young women who were described as psychologist who read all(prenominal) letter and would place them in abag and would only send letters to the miners that they deemed appropriate. The partial precedent for this process was due to whatsoever miners having more than one woman or several. Reading and holding some of the postal service was partially put in place to avoid troubling the miners from their women conflicts.In the beginning there were receiving roughly 33 letters and as the number of incoming letters increased into the hundreds it began to take up too much space, space that could be used to send food and water. Ultimately the rescue company chose food and water over letters and told the families to keep in mind that they were running a rescue operation, not a communications exercise (Solar, L. 2010). They were right in continuing with the rescue mission and not giving too much precession in sending mail because the most important thing is to get everyone out safely. Communication is a luxury that the rescuers and the company allowed to keep the men sane, but the priority should be rescue. Trapped for monthsDuring their entrapment the bicentennial celebration of the Chilean Independence day came up and the miners had gather uped vino and empanadas, along with cigarettes, which is a traditional celebratory menu. Although the psychologist on cite had considered the possibility of granting their request, with the support of health officials they denied the request by saying, This is an emergency we are not celebrating. The Chilean mining industry has 600 years of tradition and alcoholism inside the mine is not allowed, said Iturra. Again this is a rescue mission not a mean of celebration and communication. If the people could see where the officials are coming from and why they deny certain requests they would be thankful that they care more about getting them out quickly than keeping them essentially gaol within a mine drunk and with lots of letters. ConclusionSearch and rescue is defined as the search for and provision of aid to people who are in imminent danger or distress. surrender missions are difficult, time consuming and stressful for all parties involved. Communication between families and the distressed individuals is not a necessity and only further impeaches on the rescu e mission itself. People fail to realize that although it is twee to be able to make contact with family and friends that are in these types of scary situation it is a privilege awarded by authorities not a right. Their priority is to get people out safely in this case it was the collapse of a mine that entrapped several miners.ReferencesFranklin, J. (2010). Trapped Chilean miners, families frustrated over mail delivery. Retrieved from, The Washington Post. Johnson, B. (2010). Why is the rescue of the miners in Chile taking so long? Retrieved from about.com Solar, L. (2010). Digital Journal. Retrieved from http//digitaljournal.com/ name/297127

Small Scale Industries

Sm on the whole-Scale Industries in the Globalization block The case of Jordan Basem M. Lozi, Assistance Professor, Al-Balqa Applied University, emailprotected com Abstract The research examines the habit of SSI in the eco no.ic cultivation of Jordan by showing the orders of the SSI on the unemployment rate, harvest-homeion, and gross sales. The research concludes with policy recommendations to arrest the sustained and competitive growth of minor industries in Jordan. The al scurvy fors of the debate show that the growth of SSI in Jordan in monetary determine of employment, production and sales has growing due to globalization and domestic liberalization.However, it is still non as significant as planned. The SSI sector should be encour daysd to suck in a sustainable contribution to the national income, employment, and exports. Keywords Small collection plate industries, policy, globalization, Jordan, competitiveness. Introduction The development of excellent- cas ing leaf industries (SSI) has been one of the major planks of Jordans frugal development strategy since Jordans independence. The SSI sector occupies a household of strategic vastness in the Jordanian economic structure due to its considerable contributions in terms of bulge break throughput, exports and employment.SSI play a key role in the industrialization and development of any country. This is because SSI volunteers an immediate man- coatd scale employment, ensure a more(prenominal) equitable distribution of national income, and facilitate an effective militarisation of resources, bang-up, and skills which might oppositewise remain underutilized. It is possible to determine the concept of the SSI in accordance with two measures the size of the wear down force employed and the amount of invested jacket in this industry. Jordan has adopted the first concept to split amidst the SSI and different industries.An establishment is considered down(p) if it employs not more than 10 workers, while industry employing amidst 15-30 workers is considered a medium scale industries, and when having more than 30 workers the industry is considered large scale industrys fel sharp(a)ship. Although many countries know adopted this criterion, other, countries determined the higher ceiling of the number of the labor in this industry to become 15 workers as it is in Iraq and Ghana, while Egypt, Belgium and Denmark adopted the criterion that the number of workers should not exceed 50 workers.In product line , countries such as France and Italy adopted the criterion of 500 workers to distinguish between small-scale and other industries exclusively in Japan and in the United States the conglomeration number of workers working in small scale industries was set at 300 in Japan and 1000 workers in the United States(Subramanian 1995). Furthermore , the SSI atomic number 18 characterized by their degree of spread as show in table (2), the SSI in Jordan comprise about 84% of the constituted industries during the menstruum of 19901998 and increased to nearly 90% of the follow industries established during the completion of 1999-2006 (Hachure 2004).Moreover, or so of these industries were characterized as being environmentally friendly. The possibility of establishing these industries in different regions is kind because they do not hire a special infrastructure, once these industries are strong established then the encouragement of their spread in the rural regions will help to achieve many of the social and economic goals, such as increase income in rural areas, controlling the migration from rural areas to cities and controlling demographic growth.Objectives of the study The main objective of this physical composition is to highlight the brilliance of SSI in the Jordanian economy as SSI occupies a place of strategic importance in the Jordanian economy due to their considerable contributions in terms of production, sales and em ployment. These 1 contributions obligate emerged despite of the fact that this sector has been exposed to intensifying competition. Research Questions This paper is also attempting to answer the pastime research questions.The answers to these questions are pct of the objectives of this study. Why should global and national policy development affect SSI in Jordan? How? What are its implications? How far check SSI been able to cope with the competitive environment? What was their growth performance in the last decade? What was their effect on employment, production, and sales? What policies bring to be taken to strengthen SSI to ensure their sustained contribution to the Jordanian economy?Methodology This study is based on the primary and abbreviation of guerillaary data. The data was gathered from published studies and reports available in both English and in Arabic languages. Relevant statistics were obtained from the Central Bank of Jordan and the Department of Statisti cs. These data were then analyzed to describe and explain the objectives of the study. critical review of literature The literature review indicated that the numbers of studies which suck up examined SSI in Jordan are very limited.The near celebrated studies are A special report was conducted by the International Bank in the Middle tocopherol and North Africa (2005). This report shows that the pecuniary suspension which is the difference between the capitals offered and the capital necessitate has decreased, which means the SSI influenced part of the pay problem. Another study was conducted by the august Scientific Society (2001), concluded that if the SSI control the price of needed materials for production, then the role of these industries in the economic development of Jordan will be significance.Additionally, N. Khalil (2004) reported on his paper The role of SSI in decreasing the poverty and unemployment rate in Jordan, that the SSI has a minor effect on the poverty and unemployment especially in the rural areas. While, I. Krabiliah (2002) in his paper Relation between the no. of SSI and the unemployment rate in atomic number 16 Jordan, that the no. of SSI in south Jordan is limited compared to other dominions. Therefore, the SSI in the south has a minor effect on the unemployment rate.Ironically, Almeyda (1996) reports that commercial banks role in SSI finance is significant so far when compared to large and create non-governmental organizations. It was found that 70 percent of the outstanding value of microfinance and SSI loans was extended by the 25 banks, whereas 150 non-governmental organizations were responsible for 4 percent unaccompanied. A world Bank survey of 206 microfinance intermediaries world unparticular proposition (2001), finds out that many area of the world unlike the Middle eastside and North Africa and contrary to perceived barriers banks are becoming a major player in microfinance.This report states that banks ma y be the most efficient channel for providing microfinance to the entrepreneurial poor. Global and national changes implications for small scale industries Last decade was a remarkable stop consonant in terms of policy changes nationally as well as globally. Since the beginning of 1990s, policy changes have been taking place at two different levels global and national. some(prenominal) have implications for the functioning and performance of SSI in Jordan. Globalization refers to free movement of factor inputs as well as output among countries.However, the developments that have been taking place since the early 1990s are mostly grapheme to the movement of capital, commonly known as Foreign 2 Direct coronation (FDI), and the free movements of goods, peculiarly from the developed not the developing economics. The liberalization of FDI regimes and the strengthening of international standards for the treatment of contrary investors give external firms greater freedom in qualif ication internationally location decisions. More than 58 countries have p.a. introduced changes in their investment regimes during the 1991-2006.In 2001 alone, 70 countries made a total of 150 regulatory changes, of which 147 were more estimationable to foreign investors (Stiglitz 2002). As a result, global FDI increased from US $ 209 billion in 1990 to US $ 1591 billon in 2000. The increased flow of FDI has led to its greater share in gross capital formation in all industries as well as manufacturing industries ( display board 1). The increase was more significant in developing countries. This would have led to intensifying competition in the national as well as international markets for small firms.Table (1) FDI in capital formation (1980, 1990, and 2005) Region FDI as a percentage of Gross capital ecesis ( altogether industries ) World 1980 1990 2005 Developing countries 1980 1990 2005 lineage UNCTAD The formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 has only acceler ated the do work of scaling down tariff and non-tariff restrictions on imports. Jordan, as a member of the WTO, had good done a course with its quantitative and non-quantitative restrictions by 2000. The process of removal of quantitative and non-quantitative restrictions across countries has led to a greater movement of goods between countries, including Jordan.However the reduction of restrictions on the movement of goods between countries and the subsequent increase in world exports have benefited Multinational Corporations (MNC) much more than small enterprises. This situation has not been examined along with the process of economic reforms launched by the government of Jordan at the national level. This has resulted in considerable freedom for enterprises domestic as well as foreign to enter, expand or diversify their investments in Jordanian industry.Jordans economic reforms have two major outcomes. Firstly, the growth of the public sector decreased considerably since 1988 compared to the earlier period, in terms of not only investment and employment but also production. Secondly, there has been a rapid increase in FDI inflow, into diverse sectors of Jordanian industry. This economic reform in Jordan has treated the small scale industries in two ways first is due to opening the door for intensified competition for non-durable consumer goods industries.The second way is by providing an opportunity for outsourcing to small enterprises in durable consumer goods and capital goods industries. Performance of small scale industries in the globalization era SSI is considered as the backbone of the private sector all over the world, which assures their role in production, employment and sales. In addition to their role in economic development, 1. 2 4. 0 8. 3 11. 7 22. 3 29. 8 2. 3 4. 7 9. 7 9 14 22 FDI as a percentage of Gross capital Formation In manufacturing 3 they play a vital role in social, political, and cultural development as well.However, the notabl e spread of SSI tot upd to the increased severity of competition between these industries that often leads to the hardship of these industries. Most SSI fail during the first year of establishment, and 90% of these industries are subject to failure during a period not exceeding their first 5 old age. On the other side, the Mexican stupefy illustrates of the 200,000 small projects entering the market annually, no more than 70,000 projects continue in the market by the second year (Bencivenga, V. Bruce, S. and Starr, R. 1995).Table (2) The comparative importance of the SSIs in Jordan (1990-2006) socio-economic class 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 No. of SSIs 52496 54696 64752 66160 66100 74896 76468 78580 81856 92923 106730 103753 105662 130149 126196 132166 135732 No. of all industries 58984 61388 74369 75920 80363 91520 93432 95856 98768 109532 118271 115820 118492 one hundred forty338 141944 145699 150222 sexual relation i mportance 89% 89% 87% 87% 81% 82% 82% 82% 83% 84% 90% 89% 89% 92% 88% 90% 90% Source Department of statistics, annually statistical bulletins, various issues.As shown in table (2) the number of the SSI increased from 52496 projects in 1990 to 135732 projects in 2006. These numbers illustrates the coition importance of the number of SSI of the total number of industries in Jordan is more than 80%. The SSI was distributed in Jordan into three districts as follows (Department of Statistics 2005) The northern district 22% of the total small scale industries in Jordan. The middle district 68% of the total small scale industries in Jordan. The southern district 10% of the total small scale industries in Jordan.Furthermore, discrepancy in the relative importance of the spread of the SSI in the districts can be attributed to many factors. The most important factor is the demographic distribution that characterizes Jordans districts, as well as to the nature of the assimilation of the eco nomic activities in these districts. However, the geographic distribution of the spread of the SSI may not relate to other economic indicators, but it is possible to accept it as an indicator to express the strength of most of these indicators in favor of the middle district.On the other hand, the lack of data and information about the geographic distribution of all the economic and social indicators concerning the SSI such as investment , employment , production , sales .. etc. led to making the analysis inclusive for all of Jordan without dealing with details at the district level. 4 The investment Investment is the major driving force for the development process in any country. For instance, the greater the size of capital invested, the more its positive effects on the national economy. Table (3) pith amount of capital invested in the SSIs in Jordan (1990-2006) JD.Thousands* Year Small scale All industries Relative importance industries 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 26205 39347 44981 39149 46413 51345 47886 56048 54268 55355 57889 58322 60142 63324 65589 66639 67174 551811 591426 647104 751231 976636 947662 1208362 1354252 1429333 1438452 1457334 1467441 1492211 1521123 1543189 1551132 1561114 4. 7% 6. 7% 7. 0% 5. 2% 4. 8% 5. 4% 4. 0% 4. 1% 3. 8% 3. 8% 3. 9% 3. 9% 4. 0% 4. 1% 4. 2% 4. 2% 4. 3% Source Department of statistics, per annum statistical bulletins, various issues. JD. 0. 71 = 1 $ From table (3), it can be noticed that the add up of the relative importance for capital invested in the SSI is nearly 4% of the total capital invested in all industries during the period 1990 -2006. This illustrates that the SSI are characterized by the relative reduction in the capital needed to establish these industries compared to other industries. Such characteristics encourage and attract the investors savings towards this category of industries because it achieves faster and bigger revenues compared to me dium and large scale industries.Adding to such attractiveness the autonomy, flexibility and the allowance the SSI are enjoying. Furthermore table (4) indicates that the mean(a) of the available capital for the SSI does not exceed 3. 6% of the total available capital for the different industries during the period 19902006. This is notably less than the average of the relative importance of capital invested in the SSI compared to the total invested capital. In other words, this category of industries depends on its financial resources from its own capital and from the circulated revenues more than the medium and large scale industries do. Table (4) check value of fixed assets in the SSIs in Jordan (1990-2006) JD. Thousands Year Small scale All industries Relative importance industries 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 32641 45784 61329 48069 54317 72196 56977 69985 72803 73985 73376 72987 73324 73297 74122 75032 76125 980996 100739 8 1030155 1062687 1603036 1698525 2084144 2471266 2480713 249687 250991 251543 257198 256244 259822 258970 259765 3. 3% 4. 5% 6. 0% 4. 5% 3. 4% 4. 3% 2. 7% 2. 8% 2. 9% 2. 9% 2. 9% 2. 8% 2. 8% 2. % 2. 8% 2. 9% 2. 9% Source Department of statistics, yearly statistical bulletins, various issues. It is important to notice that it is not practical(prenominal) to explain the aforementioned result on the basis that the financial institutions did not perform their duties towards the SSI in financial support their investment activities. The justification must be linked by knowing the nature of the fixed assets for this category of industries. notwithstanding the attractiveness of SSI for investment, financial institutions seem hesitate to finance this industry.This situation can be explained by the fact that SSI are characterized as being traditional assets, handmade in many instances, and their low prices when comparability the capital assets of the medium and large scale industries. Als o, the SSI does not conduct systematic studies for the benefits of their capital expenditure in the field of fixed assets. Therefore, financial institutions appear not willing to finance these industries at the current rice beer rate in the market because of the high risk.But the financial institutions could provide the finance for this category of industries at low interest rates only if these industries could provide more guarantees to the financial institutions. There is another alternative to financing SSI so as to receive the needed finance for their operations without bearing any additional financial burdens through loan guarantees program. In order to over come this dilemma, the Central Bank of Jordan and the financial institutions established the Jordanian Company for Loans Guarantee in 1994, with the aim of providing the needed guarantees to cover the risk of the provided loans for SSI.This company guaranteed 5269 loans with JD. 140 one thousand one thousand million duri ng the period 1990-2006. The financial institutions are characterized by their wide spread, as there are 17 banks providing the finance for this category of industries, and they accredited more than 24 programs. Some programs were oriented towards a specific age category such as the youth. While others oriented toward a specific districts or specific geographic regions. Moreover the number of the institutions and the differences in financial programs for SSI, created a big discrepancy in the nature of the small loans terms.For instance, the interest rates ranged from 0% as in the case of the National Aid Fund into 22% for the Jordanian 6 Woman Department Establishment. The term of these loans extended from 3 months for the Women Loan Fund to15 years in the Agricultural Credit Corporation. On the other hand, the volume of the small grant reached JD. 192 million during the period 1990-2000. The first stage of the Social Security bundle program (1998-2000) provided loans backed by JD. 14 million for the SSI. The American Agency for the International Development (USAID) worked during the end of the last century to provide JD. 8 million as a grant to finance the SSI. This illustrates the relative sufficiency for the small financial grants compared to the needs to finance the activities of these industries during the past decade. To support this, one study conducted by the International Bank in the Middle East and several North African countries during the year 2005, showed that the financial gap for industries with less than 10 labors in Jordan reached nearly JD. 38 million, while the previous estimates for the financial gap for the SSI, and was JD. 48 million.Through this comparison it is evident that the financial gap was displace, which means that the financial intuitions notably contributed in financing the SSI and the growth rate for the financing needs for these industries was lowered which contributed in reducing this gap. On the other side, the results of a field survey conducted recently by the Royal Scientific Society confirmed this indirectly as the study concluded that the cost reduction of the needed materials for production is one of the major factors that contribute to solving the problem.Employment The capability of the SSI to attract a large labor force is one of the most prominent aspects that characterized these industries. Also, the possibility of establishing these industries in all regions is considered an added function of the SSI to limit the unemployment in these regions. Table (5) indicates that the SSI provided opportunities for 18% of employment during the period 1990-2006. This percentage clearly demonstrates that the SSI contributes in alleviating the unemployment rate in Jordan.Table (5) Total no. of employees in the small scale industries in Jordan (1990-2006) Year Small scale All industries Relative importance industries 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 8013 4 83522 855121 88991 90115 93145 96244 98100 98541 100241 103788 93269 82008 123248 97340 100541 105211 421191 455621 479131 482231 491522 501993 521177 539981 544189 563131 585140 575930 573243 617466 705838 706111 706233 19. 0% 18. 3% 17. 8% 18. 4% 18. 3% 18. 5% 18. 4% 18. 2% 18. 1% 17. % 17. 7% 16. 2% 14. 3% 20. 0% 14. 0% 14. 0% 15. 2% Source Department of statistics, yearly statistical bulletins, various issues. 7 The importance of SSI for employment in Jordan was similar to their role in other countries. In the African countries SSI reached nearly 40% of the total labor force during the 1980s, while this rate was more than 50% for the developing countries during the 1970s and 1980s. The SSI in the United States contributed no less than 50% of the employment in the private sector during 1970s.In addition to the aforementioned, percentages one study conducted by the International Bank in 2005 pointed out that the rate of the labor force in the small and middle projects increased in developing and developed countries, such as Indonesia (79%), South Korea (78%),Turkey (62%),Brazil (59%),and the United State (52%). Also noted by comparing the circumscribe of table (5) to the contents of table (3) is that the average capital density for each worker in the SSI reached JD. 2146 during the studys period 1990-2006.This means that providing an additional job opportunity in this category of industries needs an investment of nearly JD. 2100, while average capital investment needed to provide a job during the same period reached JD. 1118, which is adjoin to the average of the capital density for each worker according to the industrial surveys data for the years 1984, 1988 and 1994. The result was surprising when it was noticed that the average of the relative importance for the number of the females working in the SSI during the research period was no more than 2% of the total labor force in these industries.In addition to what was mentioned above, the data by the De partment of Statistics for the period 1990-2006, pointed out that the percentage of the labor force in the small scale industries was 92% of the total industrial sector. The average of the relative importance of working women in small scale industries did not exceed 5% of the total female labor force in the total industries during the same period of the study. Some of SSI depends on employing foreign labor because low wages and salaries in this industries.Therefore, employment policies have to be geared to force the SSI to give domestic labors the first priorities for employment. However, the capability of these industries to eliminate poverty in Jordan is relatively limited. Production The SSI is characterized by their relative large contribution to the gross domestic product. For instance, the average contribution of the SSI to the gross domestic product in Malaysia is 21%, the United States 40%, Spain 64%, Canada 52%, and France 54%. Table (6) shows the contribution of SSI to Jo rdan GDP is about 8. 5%. the significance of SSI to GDP could be noticeable by relating their ontribution to GDP ( 8. 5%) to their need for capital (4%) from the total invested capital. Table (6) Value added of the SSIs in Jordan (1990-2006) JD. Thousands Year Small scale industries 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 49552 56307 84191 76133 73393 85987 73277 84163 93049 94154 93690 95050 638955 643299 738460 766819 916853 1001738 988548 1089376 1145344 1149805 1116732 1140964 7. 8% 8. 8% 11. 4% 9. 9% 8. 0% 8. 6% 7. 4% 7. 7% 8. 1% 8. 2% 8. 3% 8. 3% All industries Relative importance 8 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 96248 96119 98546 99187 100235 169870 1161779 1179806 1169901 1206509 8. 2% 8. 2% 8. 4% 8. 5% 8. 3% Source Department of statistics, yearly statistical bulletins, various issues. This characterized can be explained by the nature of SSI as spacious use of labor which is considered the major element in the production process compared to the capital elemen t. On the other hand, comparing the contents of table (6), to those of table (5), revealed that the average annual labor productivity for SSI during the period of the study reached nearly JD. 3600. While before 1990 the average was JD. 3300 annually.Additionally, the data of tables 5 and 6 showed that increase in the average of no less than 9%, which indicates an increase in the labor productivity in the SSI. Table (7) Total sales of SSIs in Jordan (1990-2006) Year Small scale industries 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 67272 89472 149612 115469 104037 113891 115675 117988 136515 130665 135788 137430 140870 142997 143065 144087 148980 1499371 1637914 1947837 2030058 2482996 2769218 2766048 3029266 3094727 3278654 3199054 3304530 3587861 3689954 3788293 3803572 4006590 4. 5% 5. % 7. 7% 5. 7% 4. 2% 4. 1% 4. 2% 3. 9% 4. 4% 4. 0% 4. 2% 4. 1% 3. 9% 3. 7% 3. 7% 3. 8% 3. 7% All industries JD. Thousands Relative importance Source Departmen t of statistics, yearly statistical bulletins, various issues. Table (7) shows that the average contribution of the SSI total sales for all industries did not exceed 4. 8% during the period 1990-2006. This average is considered neutral because it is completely equal to the small scale industries share of the total capital invested in these industries. Analyzing the sales structure of the SSI in Jordan demonstrates that 99. % of total sales were directed into domestic markets. In other words, the share of these industries for international market did not exceed 0. 06% of the total sales. 9 Conclusion The findings of this study revealed 1- Generally, the SSI plays an important role in achieving social and economic development. The average invested capital in these industries reached 4. 8% of the total invested capital in all industries, during the period 1990-2006. Also, the SSI provided 22% of the total job opportunities and contributed in achieving nearly 8. % of the total value add ed. Lastly, their share of the total sales in the industrial sector was 4. 8%, and most of the sales were in the domestic market. 2- Despite the positive effects of the SSI in the Jordanian economy, the SSI still suffer from many weaknesses such as low average employment of women which is due to the socioculture. The percentage of women working in the SSI was only 1. 7%. Also, the percentage of foreign labor in the SSI is relatively high. 3- The financial institutions are characterized by their wide spread.There are 17 banks providing finance for this category of industry and more than 24 programs have been accredited. Some programs are oriented towards a specific age category such as youths, and some institutional activities are exclusively for specific district or specific geographic regions. 4- There is an increase in the productivity of labor in the SSI, which indicates that the schooling programs directed towards these industries have increased. 5- Increasing the investment in SSI by 1% lead to an increase of the value added by 0. 78%, production growth by 0. 81%, and employment by 0. 7%. 6- All the results of the statistical analysis of the SSI were statistically acceptable and no differences were noticed between the effect of SSI and other industries on the economic development of the Jordanian economy. 7- Marketing has been identified as one of the major problem areas of the small scale industries and it has been ranked as the second most important reason for the closure of small scale businesses. Accordingly, small firms will not be able to penetrate markets, national or international, even if marketing support is given by government agencies.Recommendations Based on this studys analysis and results, the following recommendations may contribute to increasing the role of development of SSI in the Jordanian economy. 1- Establishing government centers in all districts in Jordan to provide the needed services and facilities to SSI in order to increase t heir role in the economic development of the Jordanian economy. 2- Establishing specialized watching centers for SSI to provide special training programs on how to establish a project and how to advance the continuity of that project. Fostering technology development through either technology transfer or scientific innovations or inter-firm linkages should be emphasized in the light of dimensions of global competition and its negative fall out as well as positive opportunities, to SSIs entrepreneurs through seminars and workshops, at the local level.4- The financial infrastructure is needs, and an adequate to(predicate) inflow of credit to the sector should be ensured, taking into consideration the growing investment demands including the requirements of technological transformation. qualifying the establishment of small scale industries to designated industrial areas for better monitoring and periodic surveys, enabling the Ministry of Industry to make policy corrections from time to time. 10 6- Establishing strong relations between small and large firms. whizz of the major objectives of this scheme would be to provide reliable information by large-scale industries to the smallscale industries about sunrise(prenominal) methods of marketing and how to participate in the international market. 7- Increasing exports of small- scale industries with governmental aid by exhibiting their productions in International Exhibitions. To reap the benefits of SSI, Jordanian policy and decision makers have to enact and enforce the employment of Jordanian workers in the SSI. 9- It is highly recommended that Jordanian policy and decision makers to work in cooperation with other interest groups to train and encourage SSI to employ more Jordanians women. It is obvious that a large portion of unemployed in Jordan is among women.

Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 30~31

Chapter 30Cops and CorpsesThis goose is pissing me off, Cavuto said, expelling a blue cloud of cigar smoke against the file a elbow room drawers of the dead. I hat rosy-cheeked this piece of tailing guy. He was standing oer the body of Gilbert Bendetti, who had a thermometer sticking prohibited of the side of his abdomen.Inspector, theres no smoking allowed in here, said a uniformed police officer who had been entreated to the scene.Cavuto waved to the drawers. Do you compute they mind?The officer shake his head. No, sir.Cavuto blew a stream of smoke at Gilbert. And him, do you think he minds?No, sir.And you, Patrolman Jeeter, you dont mind, do you?Jeeter cleared his pharynx. Uh no, sir.Well, good, Cavuto said. Look on the side of the car, Jeeter. It says Protect and Serve, non Piss and Moan. Yes, sir.Rivera came through the double introductions, followed by a tall, sixtyish man in a lab coat and silver wire-frame glasses.Cavuto looked up. Doc, this guy done, or what?The doctor pulled a surgical mask oer his face as he approached the body. He bent over Gilbert and checked the thermometer. Hes been dead ab forth four hours. Id cast the snip of death among one and one-thirty. I wont be able to tell for reliablely until I finish the postmortem, but offhand Id say myocardial infarction.I nauseate this guy, Cavuto repeated. He looked flock at Jodys toe tag, which was lying on the linoleum with a chalk circle drawn some it. either chance this guy misplaced the redhead?The medical examiner looked up. None at all. person re move the body.Rivera had his notebook computer let come break and was scribbling as the doctor talked. whatever news on the one that hardly came in, the cowboy? Any ancestry loss?Again, I bedt say for sure, but it looks a analogous(p) a broken neck is the spend a penny of death. There may pay been some blood loss, but not as much as weve brace windn with the early(a)s. Since he was sitting up, it could just be set tling.What about the wound on the throat? Rivera asked.What wound? the coroner said. There was no wound on the throat I checked the body myself.Riveras arms send packing to his sides, his pen clattered on the linoleum. Doctor, could you check again? Nick and I both saw distinct deflate wounds on the right side of the neck.The doctor stood up and walked to the rack of drawers and pulled one out. Check for yourself.Cavuto and Rivera travel to either side of the drawer. Rivera turned Simons head to the side date inspecting his neck. He looked up at Cavuto, who shake his head and walked away.Nick, you saw it, right?Cavuto nodded.Rivera turned to the doctor. I saw the wounds, Doc, I swear. Ive been doing this too long to set something like that wrong.The coroner shrugged. When was the last time you two slept?To checkher, you mean? said Cavuto.The coroner frowned.Rivera said, Thanks, Doc, weve got some much compute at the other crime scene. Well be second. Lets go, Nick.Cavuto was s tanding over Gilbert again. I hate this guy, and I hate that cowboy in the drawer. Did I mention that?Rivera tuned on his heel and started toward the doors, then halt and looked charge. There was a distinct footprint on the linoleum in brown gravy. Made by a small foot, a womans bare foot.Rivera turned to the coroner. Doc, you got any women working here?Not down here. Only in the office.Fuck Nick, come on, we engage to talk. Rivera stormed through the double doors, leaving them swinging.Cavuto ambled after him. He paused at the doors and turned back to the coroner. Hes moody, Doc.The coroner nodded.Nothing to the press about the blood loss, if there was any. And zero point about the missing body.Of course not. I study no desire to advertise that my office is losing bodies, the coroner said.Rivera was waiting in the hallway when Cavuto came through the doors. Weve got to cut the put one across loose, you know that.We can cargo h middle-aged him some other twenty-four hours.He didnt do it.Yeah, but he knows something.Maybe we should let him go and follow him. portray me one more shot at him. Alone.Whatever. Weve got something else to consider too. You saw those puncture marks on the cowboys throat the same as I did, right?Cavuto chewed his cigar and looked at the ceiling.Well?Cavuto nodded.Then peradventure the others had wounds too. Maybe they had wounds that went away. And did you jut out the footprint?I saw it.Nick, do you believe in lamias?Cavuto turned and walked down the hall. I need a stiff one.You mean a drink?Cavuto glared over his shoulder and growled. Rivera grinned. I owed you that one.Tommy guessed the temperature in the kiosk to be about sixty-five, but tied(p) so, his cellmate, the six-foot-five, two-hundred-fifty-pound, unshaven, unbathed, one-eyed psychopath with the Disney-char meeter tattoos, was dripping with sweat.Maybe, Tommy thought, as he cowered in the corner keister the toilet, its warmer up there on the bunk. Or maybe its hard work trying to stare at someone menacingly, without blinking, for six hours when you only have one eye.I hate you, said One-Eye.Sorry, said Tommy.One-Eye stood up and flexed his biceps Micky and Goofy bulged angrily. Are you making fun of me?Tommy didnt want to say anything, so he shook his head violently, trying to lick sure that nothing remotely resembling a grin crossed his face.One-Eye sat down on the bunk and resumed menacing. What are you in for?Nothing, Tommy said. I didnt do anything.Dont fuck with me, ass-wipe. What were you arrested for?Tommy fidgeted, trying to work his way into the cinder-block wall. Well, I put my girlfriend in the freezer, but I dont think thats a crime.One-Eye, for the first time since hed been put in the cell, smiled. Me either. You didnt use an assault weapon, did you?Nope, a Sears frost-free.Oh, good theyre in reality tough on crimes with assault weapons.So, Tommy said, venturing an inch out of the corner, what are you in for? Thinking bab y-stomping, sentiment cannibalism, thinking fast-food massacre.One-Eye hung his head. Copyright infringement.Youre kidding?One-Eye frowned. Tommy slid back into his corner, adding, Really? Thats bad.One-Eye pulled off his ratty T-shirt. The Seven Dwarfs danced across his massive chest between knife and bullet scars. On his stomach, Snow White and Cinderella were locked in a frothy embrace of joint muffin mun get upg.Yeah, I made the mistake of walking around without a shirt. A Disney executive who was up here on vacation saw me down by the wharf. He called their legal pit bulls.Tommy shook his head in sympathy. I didnt know they put you in jail for copyright infringement.Well, they dont, really. It was when I ripped the guys shoulders out of their sockets that the police got involved.Thats not a crime either, is it?One-Eye rubbed his temples as if it was excruciating to remember. It was in front of his kids.Oh, Tommy said.Flood, on your feet, a guard said from the cell door. Insp ector Nick Cavuto stood behind him.Cmon, cutie, Cavuto said. Were going for a last walk.The blood-high wasnt move through her with flush and fever as it ever so had beforehand. No, it was more like the satisfying fullness of a lasagna dinner chased with double espressos. Still, the strength sang in her limbs she ripped the loft-door dead bolts through the admixture doorjamb as easily as she had torn the plastic crime-scene tape the police had put across the door.Strange, she thought, there is a difference in drinking from a living body.Her remorse over cleanup Simon had passed in seconds and the predator mind had taken over. A new aspect of the predator had reared up this time, not just the instinct to hide and hunt, but to protect.If Tommy was in jail for putting her in the freezer, it meant that the police had in any case found Peary, and they would try to connect Tommy to the other murders. But if they found another victim small-arm Tommy was behind bars, they would have to set him free. And she needed him to be free, first so that she could find out why he had wintry her, but more important, because it was time to turn the tables on the other vampire, and the only safe way to hunt him was to do it during day electric arc.She had bit Simons neck and used the heel of her hand to pump his heart as she drank. There was no guilt or self-consciousness in the act the predator mind had taken over. She found herself thinking about the burly fireman who had come to Transamerica to teach the employees earthquake preparedness, which had included a course in CPR. What would he think of one of his students using his technique to pump lifeblood from the murdered? Im sorry, comforter Frank, I sucked like an Electrolux, but it just wasnt teeming. If its any consolation, I didnt enjoy it.What little strength she had gained from Simons blood seemed to evaporate as she walked into the loft. It was in worse shape than the day the Animals had come for breakfast. The futon was bundled against the wall the books had been taken out of their shelves and spread out on the blow out of the water the ward-heelerinets hung open, their contents tumbled across the counters and a fine patina of fingerprint powderize covered all(prenominal) surface. She wanted to cry.It reminded her of the time she had lived with a heavy-metal bass player for two months, who had torn their flatcar apart looking for money for drugs. Money?She ran to the bedroom and to the dresser where she had stashed the remaining cash the old vampire had given her. It was gone. She threw open the drawer where she kept her lingerie. Shed kept a couple thousand rolled up in a bra, a holdover habit from the days of hiding cash from the bass player. It was there. She had decent for a months rent, but then what? It wouldnt matter if Tommy didnt stop the other vampire. He was going to kill them both, she was sure of it, and he was going to do it soon.As she weighed the rolls of bills in he r hand, she perceive someone open the st channelwell door, then footfalls on the steps. She went to the kitchen and waited, crouched behind the counter.Someone was in the loft. A man. She could hear his heart smell sweat and stale deodorant coming off him. Tommys deodorant. She stood up.Hi, Tommy said. Boy, am I glad to see you.Chapter 31He Was an Ex-Con, She Was DefrostedShe started to lean over the counter to give him a hug, then stopped herself. You look awful, she said.He was unshaven, his hair stuck out in greasy tufts, and his clothing looked as if hed slept in them. He hadnt. He hadnt slept at all.Thanks, he said. You look a little tattered yourself.She raised her hand to her hair, felt a tangle, and let it drop. And I thought my red hair went so well with freezer burn.I can explain that.She came around the counter and stood before him, not knowing whether to hold him or hit him.Thats a vast dress. Is it new?It was a great dress before the gravy and cobbler melted all over it. What happened, Tommy? wherefore was I frozen?He reached out to touch her face. How are you? I mean, are you okay?Good time to ask. She glared at him.He looked in her eyes, then away. Youre very beautiful, you know that? He crumpled to the floor and sat with his back against the counter. Im so sorry, Jody. I didnt want to hurt you. I was just diversity of lonely.She felt tears welling in her eyes and wiped them away. He was genuinely sorry, she could tell. And she had always been a sucker for pathetic apologies, going back as far as the time the bass player she was seeing hocked her stereo. Or had that been the construction worker? What happened? she pressed.He stared at the floor and shook his head. I dont know. I wanted someone to talk about books with. Someone who thought I was special. I met a girl at work. I was just going to figure her for deep brown, nothing else. But I didnt think youd understand. So I well, you know.Jody sat down on the floor in front of him. To mmy, you could have killed me.Im sorry he screamed. Im afraid of you. You scare the netherworld out of me sometimes. I didnt think it would hurt you or I wouldnt have done it. I just wanted to olfactory perception special, but youre the special one. I just wanted to talk to someone who sees things the way I do, who can understand how I feel about things. I want to take you out and show you off, even during the day. Ive neer really had a girlfriend before. I honey you. I want to destiny things with you.He looked down, would not meet her gaze.Jody took his hand and squeezed it. I know how you feel. You dont know how well I know. And I love you too.Finally he looked at her, then pulled her into his arms. They held each other for a long time, rocking each other like crying children. A half hour passed, ticked off with tear-salty kisses, before she said, Do you want to share a shower? I dont want to let go of you, and itll be traverse soon.Warmed and cleaned by the shower, they dan ced, still wet, though the dark bedroom, to fall together on the bare mattress. For Tommy, being with her, in her, was like coming to a place where he was safe and loved, and those dark and hostile things that walked the world outside were rinse away in the smell of her damp hair, a soft kiss on the eyelid, and mingled whispers of love and reassurance.It had never been like this for Jody. It was escape from worry and suspicion and from the predator mind that had been rising for days like a shark to blood. There was no urge to feed, but a different hunger drove her to hold him deep and long and still, to envelop and keep him there forever. Her vampire senses rose to the touch of his hands, his mouth as if finally her sense of touch had grown to feel life itself as pleasure. Love.When they finished she held his face against her rapper and listened to his breathing becoming slow as he fell asleep. Tears crept from the corners of her eyes as dawn broke, releasing her from the night s last thought Im loved at last, and I have to give it up.Tommy was still quiescency at sundown. She kissed him gently on the forehead, then nipped his ear to wake him. He opened his eyes and smiled. She could see it in the dark it was a genuine smile.Hey, he said. She snuggled against him. Weve got to get up. Theres things to do.Youre cold. Are you cold?Im never cold. She rolled out of bed and went to the light switch. Eyes, she warned as she flipped on the light.Tommy shielded his eyes. For the love of God, MontressorPoe? she said. Right?Yep. operate? I can talk books.Tommy sat up. Im sorry. I didnt give you a chance. I guess we were always talking about about your condition.She smiled and snatched a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt from the pile of clothes on the floor.I talked to the other vampire the other night. Thats why I left the note.Tommy was wide vigilant now. You talked to him? Where?In a club. I was mad at you. I wanted to go out. Show off.What did he say?He said its almost over. Tommy, I think hes going to try and kill you, maybe both of us.Well, that sucks.And youve got to stop him.Me? Why me? Youre the one with X-ray vision and stuff.Hes too strong. I get the hint hes really old. Hes clever. I think that the longer that youre a vampire, the more you can do. Im starting to feel well, cardsharp as time goes on.Hes too strong for you, but you want me stop him? How?Youll have to get to him while hes sleeping.Kill him? Just like that? Even if I could find him, how would I kill him? Nothing hurts you guys unless you have some kryptonite.You could drag him into the sunlight. Or cut his head off Im sure that would do it. Or you could tout ensemble dismember him and scatter the pieces. Jody had to look away from him when she said this. It was as if someone else was talking.Right, Tommy said, just shovel him into a garbage bag and get on the forty-two bus. Leave a piece at every stop. Are you nuts? I cant kill anyone, Jody. Im not built t hat way.Well, I cant do it.Why dont we just go to Indiana? Youll like it there. I can get a union job and make my mom happy. You can learn to bowl. Itll be great no dead guys in the freezer, no vampiresBy the way, howd you I mean, where did you thaw out?In the morgue. With a pervert all ready to live out his wet dreams on me.Ill kill himNot necessary.You killed him? Jody, you cant keep I didnt kill him. He just sort of died. But theres something else.I cant wait.The vampire killed Simon.Tommy was shaken. How? Where?The same way as the others. Thats why the cops let you go.Tommy took a routine to digest this, sat for a moment looking at his hands. He looked up and said, How did you know I was in jail?You told me.I did?Of course. You were so tired last night. Im not surprised you dont remember. She buttoned up the flannel shirt. Tommy, youve got to find the vampire and kill him. I think Simon was his last warning before he takes us.Tommy shook his head. I cant believe he got Sim on. Why Simon?Because he was close to you. Come on, Ill make you coffee. She started into the kitchen and tripped over the brass turtle. Whats this?Long story, Tommy said.Jody looked around, listened for the sound of turtle claws. Wheres Scott and Zelda?I set them free. Go make coffee.Rivera and Cavuto sat in an unmarked cruiser in the alley across the street from the loft, taking turns dozing and watching.It was Riveras turn to watch while Cavuto snored in the drivers seat. Rivera didnt like the way things were going. Weird shit just seemed to follow him. His job was to find deduction and catch bad guys, but too often, especially in this case, the evidence pointed to a bad guy who wasnt a guy at all wasnt human. He didnt want to believe that there was a vampire loose in the urban center, but he did. And he knew hed never convince Cavuto, or anybody, for that matter. Still, hed dug out his mothers silver crucifix before he left the house. It was in his jacket pocket next to his m ark wallet. He had been tempted to take it out and say a rosary, but Cavuto, despite his growling snore, was a light sleeper, and Rivera didnt want to endure the ridicule should the big cop wake up in the middle of a Hail Mary.Rivera was getting ready to wake Cavuto and catch a nap when the lights went on in the loft.Nick, he said. Lights are on.Cavuto woke, instantly alert. What?Lights are on. The kids up.Cavuto lit his cigar. And?I just thought youd want to know.Look, Rivera, the lights coming on is not something happening. I know that after ten or twelve hours it seems like something, but its not. Youre losing your edge. The kid leaving, the kid strangling someone, thats something happening.Rivera was insulted by the admonition. Hed been a cop as long as Cavuto and he didnt have to take crap like that. Eat shit, Nick. Its my turn to sleep anyway.Cavuto checked his watch. Right.They watched the windows for a while, saying nothing. Shadows moved inside the loft. Too many shadows.Th eres someone else up there, Rivera said.Cavuto squinted at the shadows and grabbed a pair of binoculars from the seat. Looks like a girl. Someone passed by the window. A redhead with a lot of hair.Tommy took a sip of his coffee and sighed. I dont even know where to start. This is a big city and I dont know my way around that well.Well, we could just wait here for him to come get us. Jody looked at his transfuse, watched the heat waves coming off the coffee. God, I miss coffee.Cant you just wander around until you feel something? Lestat canDont start with thatSorry. He took another sip. The Animals superpower help. Theyll want revenge for Simon. Can I tell them?You might as well. Those guys do just generous drugs that they might believe you. Besides, Im sure the story was in the paper this morning.Yeah, Im sure it was. He put his cup down and looked at her. How did you know about Simon?Jody looked away. I was in the morgue when they brought him in.You saw him?I heard the cops talk ing. I slipped out during the excitement when they found the dead pervert.Oh, Tommy said, not quite sure of himself.She reached out and took his hand. Youd make better go. Ill call a jade.They took all the money, Tommy said.I have a little left. She handed him two hundred-dollar bills.He raised his eyebrows. A little?Jody grinned. Be careful. Stay around people until it gets light. Dont get out of the nag unless there are a lot of people around. Im sure he doesnt want any witnesses.Okay.And call me if anything happens. Try to be back here by sundown tomorrow, but if you cant, call and leave me a message where you are.So you can protect me?So I can try to protect you.Why dont you come with me?Because theres two cops in the alley across the street watching the loft. I saw them from the window. I dont think we want them to see me.But its dark in the alley.Exactly.Tommy took her in his arms. That is so cool. When I get back, will you read to me naked, hanging from the ceiling beam in the dark?Sure.Dirty limericks?Anything.Thats so cool. fin minutes later Tommy stood at the bottom of the stairs with the fire door cracked just enough to see when his cab arrived. When the blue-and-white DeSoto cab pulled up, he opened the fire door and a furry black-and-white comet shot past him.Bummer Stop the emperor shouted.The little dog skipped up the steps with a kettle of fish and a rattle every step of the way his pie-pan helmet was hanging upside down by the chin strap, hitting the edge of each step. He stopped at the top of the stairs and commenced a leaping, barking, scraping attack on the door.Tommy leaned against the wall holding his chest. He thought, Good, a heart attack will sure mess up the vampires murder plans.Forgive him, the Emperor said. He always seems to do this when we pass your domicile. Then, to Lazarus, Would you be so kind as to retrieve our comrade-in-arms?The golden retriever bounded up the stairs and snatched Bummer out of the air in mid-leap, t hen carried him down by the scruff of the neck as the rat dog struggled and snarled.The Emperor relieved Lazarus of his squirming charge and shoved the smaller soldier into the oversized pocket of his coat. He buttoned the flap and smiled at Tommy. Dogged enthusiasm in a handy reclosable package.Tommy laughed, more nervous than amused. Your Highness, what are you doing here?Why, I am looking for you, my son. The authorities have been asking after you in regard to the monster. The time to act is at hand. The Emperor waved his sword wildly as he spoke.Tommy stepped back. Youre going to put someones eye out with that thing.The Emperor held his sword at port arms. Oh, quite right. Safety first.Tommy signaled to the cabdriver over the Emperors shoulder. Your Highness, I agree, its time to do something. Im on my way to get some help.Recruits the Emperor exclaimed. Shall we join forces against evil? Call the City to arms? Drive evil back to the dark crevice from whence it came? Can the men and I share your cab? He patted his still squirming pocket.Tommy eyed the cabdriver. Well, I dont know. He pulled open the rear door and leaned in. Dogs and royalty okay? he asked the cabbie.The driver said something in Farsi that Tommy took for a yes.Lets go. Tommy stepped back and motioned for the Emperor to get in.Lazarus jumped into the back seat with a rattle of armor, followed by the Emperor and Tommy. As soon as the cab had gone a block, Bummer settled down and the Emperor let him out of his pocket. Something about your building vexes him. I dont understand it.Tommy shrugged, thinking about how he was going to tell the Animals about Simons death.The Emperor rolled down the window and he and his men rode through the City with their heads out the window, squinting into the wind like wandering gargoyles.Cavuto slapped Rivera on the shoulder, startling him out of sleep. Wake up. Somethings going down. A cab just pulled up and that old wacko just came around the corner with his d ogs.Rivera wiped his eyes and sat up. Whats the Emperor doing here?Theres the kid. How in the hell did he get hold of the old wacko?They watched as Tommy and the Emperor talked, Tommy glancing from time to time at the cabdriver. A few minutes passed and they loaded into the cab.Here we go, Cavuto said as he started the car.Wait, let me out.What?I want to see where the girl goes. Who she is.Just go ask her.Im out of here. Rivera picked up the portable radio from the seat. Stay in touch. Ill send for another car.Cavuto was rocking in the drivers seat, waiting to go. Call me on the cell call back if you see the girl. Keep it off the radio.Rivera stopped halfway out of the car. You think its the girl from the morgue, dont you?Get out, Cavuto said. Hes leaving.The cab pulled away. Cavuto let them get a block away, then pulled out after them, leaving Rivera standing in the dark alley fingering the crucifix in his pocket.Four stories above him, on the roof of a light industrial building, Elijah Ben Sapir, the vampire, looked down on Rivera, noting how much heat the policeman was losing though the thinning degree in his hair. Jump or dive? he said to himself.