Age at immigration and second language proficiency among foreign

Age at immigration and second language proficiency among foreign Introduction An experiment is carried out to determine the viability of age as an influential factor in second language learning. The experiment also aims to understand the aptitude of the English language among foreign-born adults in the United States. The author uses data collected from the U.S census bureau to assert his argument that age is indeed a potent entity that predisposes the acquisition of English as a second language.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Age at immigration and second language proficiency among foreign-born adults by Gillian Stevens specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the author attributes the level of proficiency in the second language to social and demographic factors such as exposure, education and the duration of residence in the United States. In using historical census data, the author is able to access a wide range of research material and supportive information to reinforce his hypothesis. Census data is acquired through the archives and the author has no personal contact with his subjects. Subjects A sample population of foreign-born Chinese, Spanish and French native speakers with a minimum of ten years residency in the United States was selected (Gillian 555). Their ability to speak English was the dependant variable in the experiment and this ability was grade in three categories of ‘Good†, â€Å"Poor† and â€Å"Fair† (Gillian 555- 578). Details of Experiment method and procedure The information pertaining to the research was obtained from data collected during the 1991 national census conducted in the United States (Gillian 555). Three census questions on language attributes were used to effectively allocate the grades to each of the responses given during the census. The streaming questions were, â€Å"Which was your former country of residence? Is it your birth country?†, â€Å"At what age did you immigrate to Ame rica?-how old are you now?† and â€Å"what is your primary or first language (L1)?† (Gillian 559). These streaming questions allowed the author to identify native speakers of any non English language even though they were reported to use English as the only spoken language during the census. The author points out that, other researchers have had great difficulty when attempting to classify non-native English language speakers in census or survey data due to that fact that researchers assume that all immigrants born in selected countries learned a particular majority-based language in childhood (Gillian 561). The author used regression models which reconcile assumptions of linearity and parametric curve appropriation even though the initial step up was measured as trivial (Gillian 561-562). The author took precaution to exclude immigrants who speak only English due to the possibility that they might be fluent in English (Gillian 560). The degree in which the analysis sam ple was abridged increased with the age of the immigrants to determine the impact of residency on the proficiency and application of the English language (Gillian 564). The author proceeded to search for discontinuities in the deterioration of English proficiency on the age at immigration with the variable ranging from the ages of 15 to25 years (Gillian 566).Advertising Looking for report on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Summary of findings The author conclusively deduced that immigrants who speak English only and their fellow citizens who speak both English and a minority language have an average age at immigration and also have a comparable educational background (Gillian 568). The exclusion of immigrants who spoke only English during the time of the census therefore helped accentuate the findings that identified age to be inversely proportional to the proficiency in English among adult immigrants (G illian 568). The analysis sample population used was therefore in actual fact truncated with the dependent variable being their proficiency in English. In addition, the predetermined 10-year range engulfing the probable age of immigration for approximately all of the respondents effectively therein marginalized the occurrence of divergence to the overall curve (Gillian 572). Additionally, the author’s analytical scope is founded on the implicit assumptions that the dependent variable is deliberated at the hiatus point which is primarily predisposed to age and the assumption that second-language learning is more or less likely to be complete within 10 years depending on the exposure and academic achievements (Gillian 573). These assumptions are unequivocal due to the fact that these actualities are not outweighed by the statistically dependent discontinuities accounted for in the regression English proficiency on age of immigrants (Gillian 573). Furthermore the author revealed that Immigrants with a non-English first language are more prone to using English as the primary language as they continue to take residence in the United States. The duration of residence is apparently positively correlated with age amongst mature immigrants (Gillian 574). The author revealed that the discontinuities in the deterioration of English proficiency on the age at immigration were of considerable importance on a statistical scale. The effects were substantially significant although the small increments to the amount of explained variance were considered to be inconsistent (Gillian 575-576). The author’s findings provided support for the overall relationship between migration and English proficiency as positively correlated, and his approach attributes a high percentage of the association to the linear relationship and consequently there is a limit to the amount of additional discrepancy that can be elucidated by discontinuities (Gillian 578).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Age at immigration and second language proficiency among foreign-born adults by Gillian Stevens specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gillian, Stevens. â€Å"Age at immigration and second language proficiency among foreign-born adults.† Language in Society Journal, No. 28 (1999): pp 555-578. Print.

Any vs. Either

Any vs. Either Any vs. Either Any vs. Either By Maeve Maddox I just did a double-take when reading an article about creating passport photos using Photoshop Elements and another application. Heres what threw me: If you have any of these two applications, then you can follow this simple do-it-yourself project any of these two applications Horrors! In speaking of two applications, the word either is called for: If you have either of these two applications. If, however, one is talking about three or more applications, one may say: If you have any of the photo editing applications available these days, you can. NOTE: either = one or the other; from OE hwaether, each of two any = one indifferently out of more than two The negative of either is neither. Here are some quotations from the press: the poor and the unwanted, with people very much like my mother.My mother needed neither my pity nor my shame. Just my compassion and respect. (www.nytimes.com) on trade and immigration - is taking root within his adopted party, and those uneasy with grievance politics are either giving in or giving up the fight. (www.nytimes.com) Hearty and nutritious, but still buttery and rich, these unfussy pancakes come together quickly and without any special equipment. (www.nytimes.com) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous75 Synonyms for â€Å"Hard†

Explaining the reasons for income inequality in the US Research Paper

Explaining the reasons for income inequality in the US - Research Paper Example The causes of the increasing levels of income gaps and inequalities in the United States of America, which is one of the largest and most developed nations in the world has been a topic which is subject to a number of extensive researches, political interests and media attentions because this aspect involves how the income of the nation is divided among the people of the country and thus, is a primary factor involved in the development of economic consistency and stability of a country. Therefore, the topic of identifying and analyzing the main reasons which are driving the exponential growth of the inequalities in the financial and economic positions of the rich and the poor classes of the society has become an interesting area of study and research. This research is aimed at identifying and analyzing the primary and secondary reasons that have caused the high level of income inequalities in the United States of America. For this purpose, the macro economic backgrounds of the company as well as the different sources of income among the rich and the poor classes of the American society are studied in depth. Additionally, the main drivers of the income inequalities in the society and economy of the United States are identified so as to understand how these income gaps can be reduced in the future by the government of the United States of America and the various other governing authorities and institutions functioning in the country. Thus, the main research question formulated for the study is given as follows As per the work of Galbraith and Hale (2008), income inequality refers to the degree to which income within a population is distributed in a disproportionate and uneven manner. Income inequality can also be described as the gap between the income of the rich and the poor classes of people within a society or a nation (Galbraith and Hale, 2008, p.344). Duncan and Murnane

Doing gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Doing gender - Essay Example We understand in this it is not so much an achievement. Also gender can be achieved only till the very early years after which it becomes static and unchangeable. The second term ‘constructed’ is perhaps of most importance to both anthropologists and social scientists who constantly lay bare the various apparatus working within a societal unit, be it a family, a state or a community which defines behaviour codes pertinent to a certain gender and anomalous to another. In this paper we shall take up the character of Monica Geller from the sitcom that gave television a trailblazer Friends and see how gender is constructed everyday through actions, through pre-conceived notions and through popular belief. The T.V show Friends had been on air from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. During the course of which we saw the development and bonding of six friends Chandler Bing, Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Monica Geller, Ross Geller and Joey Tribbiani. For a better understanding of the issue we shall deal in it becomes imperative to discuss in a nutshell the kind of relationship that the six friends share. Monica Geller and Ross Geller are siblings, Monica being the younger, Rachel is her high school friend who was dated by many guys unlike her. Ross too had a crush on Rachel in those days. Ross and Chandler are friends from college. Chandler who lives across the hall from Monica shares his apartment with an aspiring television actor Joey Tribbiani. Phoebe we learn later had been Monica’s roommate who had moved out but remained friends. From the very first episode Monica appears to be unlike her delicate form. Her personality exudes an aura of extreme strength. Her nature is extremely over powering and she’s used to getting her way in everything. She seems to be weather-beaten in that she knows the world more than her friend Rachel Green who in the pilot episode comes out as someone to whom the only way of not depending on the parents was by get ting married. This very idea accorded to Rachel is also gender specific. Even though we laugh at the momentary humour, it is in fact a gender construction that pretty women(or for that matter women in general) can spend their lives without having to earn their bread by depending on the patriarchy which primarily constitutes of the father and later the husband. That Rachel had been moulded into such an idea is also a form of interpellation by the society. That she finds nothing wrong with it her acceptance of her gender role as daughter and wife (in both cases dependant) is her way of accepting a concept of gender which is simply constructed. In contrast Monica who is said to be bossy and competitive is portrayed as a type which in the later seasons would verge on tomboyishness and trace back its roots to her obesity in her school years and the second-shot treatment she always received from her parents who would be too busy doting on their first born Ross. This preference of the male child over the female child is the most obvious kind of gender differentiation. But that Monica decides to fight back instead of accepting her place as the ‘second’

Building energy management system (bems) Essay Example for Free

Building energy management system (bems) Essay Procurement Category: Energy What’s Wrong with Traditional Energy Management? Start Realizing Untapped Savings Opportunities and Tame Volatile Energy Costs Traditional Energy Management Approaches are Falling Short— How to Fix the Problem Energy utility costs—primarily natural gas and electricity—account for one to two percent of sales for the average business, and can be as much as four to five percent of cost of goods sold for manufacturers. With energy prices turning volatile, corporate management teams are exposed to the risk of unanticipated movements in energy costs. They are feeling relatively helpless because of the perceived inability to proactively manage regulated energy costs. At the same time, firms are publicly committing to sustainability goals and are now wondering how they will achieve them. Although many firms have implemented short-term measures to address energy costs and sustainability commitments, these efforts are falling short. Our benchmark data and research indicates that for most firms, 50 percent of their initial energy savings disappear within the first six to 12 months due to a lack of continuous monitoring, analysis and corrective action. However, significant opportunity to deliver value remains. Analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy indicates firms that embrace continuous monitoring and active energy management practices can achieve 15 to 40 percent energy savings. Conduct an energy audit: To establish an energy consumption baseline—a basic requirement for successful energy cost optimization— firms deploy monitoring devices to measure energy usage from the facility level down to the machine level. Implement audit recommendations: After assessing energy consumption levels and trends down to the machine level, managers can implement process changes to optimize energy consumption. Actions may range from policy formulation (shutting down computers at night, turning off idle equipment, etc.) to automation (automatically turning off lights) to equipment optimization (changing set-points on heavy machinery and equipment). Invest in high-efficiency equipment: With a full view of the energy consumption and equipment efficiency profile of the enterprise, firms can strategically invest in high-efficiency equipment. These capital upgrades can lower energy consumption and may also qualify for rebates and incentives that can significantly enhance potential return on investment (ROI). Figure 1: This paper looks at why traditional approaches are failing, and outlines an active energy management approach that changes the game and generates sustainable energy cost reductions. Typical Monitoring Savings Typical energy management strategies—and why they fail to deliver sustainable value. For example, when firms conduct energy audits, employees and equipment operators are aware that their energy usage is being monitored and they make changes to reduce consumption, such as turning off idle equipment. But when monitors are removed, initial savings peak and then slowly erode as employee behavior returns to normal. Similarly, when firms implement process changes, substantial initial savings accrue. However, when the monitors come off, gains decline as equipment schedules change. Operators go back to the old way of doing things and set-points revert to old levels. In addition, without detailed machine-level consumption data as a baseline (as opposed to a point-in-time snapshot), analysts are unable to come up with truly optimal process improvements because the data is not granular enough. Finally, with capital equipment upgrades, savings targets are seldom realized due to unrealistic operating assumptions used to build ROI cases and most firms’ lack of market intelligence about the complex array of incentives and rebates. 50% Savings A review of more than 100 companies and their practices reveal that most firms take three common actions to address the energy management challenge: Although these traditional energy management techniques can yield quick-hit results, there is a common pitfall: when the meters come off, it is back to business as usual and the savings disappear. â€Å"50 percent of initial energy savings disappear within the first six to 12 months due to a lack of continuous monitoring, analysis and corrective action† Months from start 2 A four-step Active Energy Management approach Recognizing where most initiatives fall short, an integrated, four-part Active Energy Management strategy can stop the bleeding and address traditional energy management shortcomings: There are several keys to making energy savings persistent. First, take monitoring and measurement from a one-time analysis to an ongoing, active competency. Leading firms use 247 advanced metering and monitoring technology with skilled analysts to proactively monitor energy consumption data and patterns. Continuous monitoring helps mitigate the savings leakage described earlier. Active monitoring allows managers to see—in near realtime—if employee behavior is beginning to change or old habits are starting to return, and identify the root causes when actual energy consumption differs from projections. In addition to preventing savings leakage, active monitoring helps identify new, incremental energy savings opportunities, ra ising the cumulative savings realized. Copyright  © 2014 Accenture All rights reserved. Go deeper: Use machine-level consumption data to drive sustainable process optimization. With a detailed understanding of energy consumption down to the individual equipment level, managers can implement detailed process optimization programs, such as changing set-points for heavy machinery. For example, an air compressor energy consumption study (see figure 2) revealed an opportunity to adjust the operating mode from continuous to throttled, resulting in 7 percent energy savings verified by ongoing measurement. In another example, adjusting improper temperature set-points in a chiller plant based on thorough analysis of usage data resulted in 30 percent energy savings. With the right intelligence and detailed monitoring, energy analysts can assess performance and immediately stop energy savings leakage. Analysts also can spot potential maintenance issues and proactively investigate when machinelevel performance deviates from expectations. Figure 2: 250 Baseline Model Target Model Baseline Data Actual Data 200 Air Compressor (kw) Get persistent: Apply â€Å"Active Energy Management† and take monitoring from a onetime activity to an active, ongoing analytical competency. 150 100 50 0 0 20 40 60 80 Air Demand (SCFM) based on Actual Production 100 3 Leverage insight: Use energy demand insight to enhance capital investment decisions and capture incentives and rebates to drive higher ROI. A comprehensive understanding of the consumption profile of the existing asset base enables much better capital investment decisions. Armed with detailed data and realistic energy consumption estimates, managers can rationally weigh the benefits of energy-efficient new equipment versus their purchase costs and other related expenses (decommissioning and disposal cost, production downtime, etc.). Beyond energy data, deep market intelligence of credits, incentives, and local, state and federal rebates can dramatically alter the ROI pr ofile of new capital investments. The opportunities are substantial: In 2011 alone, governments, nongovernmental organizations and utilities distributed more than $6.8 billion in cash payments to promote energy efficiency initiatives. Tackle the supply side: Extend Active Energy Management to integrated energy supply and demand management to drive the next level of savings. As this paper describes, current energy management practices are not delivering on their promises. The short-term benefits of energy audits and near-term recommendations quickly fade without continuous monitoring. On the other hand, Active Energy Management, which includes continuous monitoring and analysis, prevents the traditional savings leakage seen in most energy management programs. It also provides the data and insight that analysts and managers need to identify new savings opportunities and drive continuous improvement and cumulative energy savings benefits. With an established platform of ongoing measurement and management, firms can take energy savings to the next level. Detailed understanding of historical and planned consumption allows for acceleration of supply side strategies. For example, in deregulated markets, the accuracy with which a firm can predict its energy usage determines its ability to secure favorable energy rates by minimizing bandwidth charges. Energy consumers can also capture other savings through techniques like load shifting (shifting usage into lower-rate time periods) and peak shaving. Finally, in regulated markets, contrary to popular belief, firms can optimize their energy expenditures by taking advantage of the various rate structures available to purchasers and being aware of which available rates may be applicable to them. Conclusion Energy and utilities represent a significant and highly volatile area of expenditure for most businesses. However, traditional energy management approaches frequently fail to deliver sustainable results. Many managers consider high energy spend as an area that cannot be addressed due to market regulations and commodity volatility. However, with continuous monitoring and Active Energy Management programs, leading firms can obtain substantial energy cost savings through better energy demand management, sustain those savings through ongoing monitoring and optimize energy purchases with deep market intelligence.

General Electrics Quality Gamble Essay -- GCSE Business Six Sigma Cou

General Electric's Quality Gamble The Implementation of Six Sigma General Electric (GE) is among the most profitable companies and, according to Fortune magazine, the most admired. It stock is the most highly valued in the world. Some critics would argue, if it's not broke, why fix it? Jack Welch, CEO of GE, believes in the "infinite capacity to improve everything." Why does a company that has experienced so much success recently invests over a billion dollars in a quality initiative? Increased competition has GE adopting the attitude that businesses that stand still become obsolete as businesses that continue to grow pass them by. Also by implementing Six Sigma, GE is preparing itself for future profitability opportunities. Finally, research indicated a need for improvement in the way GE does business. GE had been straining for years to increase operating margin and six sigma is a way to do that. What is Six Sigma? Six sigma, the mother of all quality efforts, can mean different things to different organizations. The Six Sigma Academy defines it as tactics and tools to improve profitability through focusing on improving the sigma capability of an organization's processes. GE defines six sigma as first as a management philosophy; a never ending to competitive leadership by satisfying customer requirements profitability. Second they define it as a measurement system; a measure of a processes inherent ability to meet customer requirements. In general six sigma is a statistical non-financial performance measurement at which you should design, operate, and control every process in your company in such a way that none of yield more than 3.4 defects per million units of output. Six Sigma is a tool that measures in a clear, accurate, mathematical terms how good or bad their quality levels are, how much they can improve, and what progress they are making along the journey. On a global perspective, companies that have not begun their quality journey are around one or two sigma. The worldwide average is around three sigma. The majority of the companies utilizing six sigma in India are at a low two sigma. An average domestic company is at three sigma, while a good company is at three and a half. Today GE is around three and a half with goals of reaching six sigma by the year 2000. Companies operating at three to four sigma lo... ...reduced cycle times, increased productivity, improved capacity and output, decreased work-in-progress, and improved process flow. Companies operating at 3 to 4 sigma generally loses up to 10-15% of their total revenue due to defects, on the contrast a company that operates at 6 sigma generally loses less than 10%. Six Sigma stars Motorola has reported savings of $2 billion over 10 years of implementation while GE shaved off 750 million of cost in 1998. In 1999, GE has projected a 1.5 billion in savings due to Six Sigma, and if they reach their goal of six sigma in the year 2000 they will add between 8 to 12 added to the bottom line. In conclusion, GE has decided to ride Six Sigma into the next century. The year 2000 is the deadline for reaching Six Sigma, which is also around the time its CEO Jack Welch plans to retire. If GE's quality gamble pays off, Jack Welch will go out a winner, leaving behind his most admired company on top. Reference "The Enigma of Six Sigma." (1999, May). Business Today. Online Romeo, Mary. Six Sigma Quality. GE Capital FMP Conference, Stamford, 1999. Curran, John. "GE CAPITAL: JACK WELCH'S SECRET WEAPON." Fortune July 1999.

Multi Agency and Intergrated Working

Multi-agency working and integrated working are extremely important as it benefits the child, their family and the practitioners in a huge way. Definitions of these ways of working are below. Multi-agency Working – This is where practitioners from different services and professions come together to provide integrated support for children and families with additional needs. Integrated Working – this is where different services, agencies, professional and practitioners work together to put the child at the centre to help improve their lives and met their needs and offer effective care for the child. Integrated working and multi-agency working delivers better outcomes for the children and families as there is a broad range of knowledge, skills and professions all trying to do their best for the child. More ideas and opinions and record sharing will allow us to achieve the best possible outcomes for the child. To make sure the outcomes for the child are to be positive we must make sure that all parties understand what information can be shared and about the importance of confidentiality. External agencies There are many external agencies that we may meet that are brought in to support a child and their family. Some may work in their own setting and some are integrated into children centre and schools. Below is a list of some of these agencies and a brief description of their roles. Speech and Language Therapists – are employed by the local primary care trust and support individual children and their families. A referral can be made by a gp/health visitor and an awareness raised by a setting. They will work closely with the family and the setting. Educational psychologists – are employed by the local authority and will give support to children with specific learning or psychological needs. They require a referral from the setting. Physiotherapist – are employed by the local primary care trust and will support children with a specific physical need. A referral is required either from a health professional or a setting. Play specialist – May work with social services supporting children in difficult a family situation or can support children in a hospital setting. Behavioural support service – are part of the local authority and works in partnership with schools to help promote positive behaviour. They work within a framework of inclusion and also provide effective support to pupil, parents and schools where behaviour is a concern and may effect the child’s achievement. Social workers – employed by social services and may also be attached to a children’s centre, they will support children and their families to help family issues involving health need, poverty, bereavement etc. and also help to improve their housing. Common barriers to multi-agency working and integrated working There are many common barriers to multi-agency working and integrated working, these barriers will affect the outcome to the child. Some of the common barriers are explained below. Professional status and professional pride – this is where people who are highly trained/qualified, find it hard to cope with being managed/lead by a person with different/lower qualifications. Different professional priorities – all professionals deal with risks, situations and priorities in different ways and orders they may not agree with others. Language and terminology – all professionals use words, phrases and abbreviations that relate to their area of expertise and other professionals who work in different areas/specialities will not understand these. Poor communication skills – information may not be shared by all, poor methods of communication and people not receiving information/communication is a big issue. For example if information is shared by email and two workers don’t have email they will not receive the information. It is important to remove these barriers from the start before they become an issue and affect the outcome. The key to this is to put in place a lead professional. This person would co-ordinate communication, they will act as the point of contact for the child and family. The lead professional will need to set rules and discuss things such as people preferred method of communication as we are not all the same and the lead professional must make sure they use each persons preferred method. The lead professional must also ensure that all people have a copy of the rules and ensure that if any jargon/terminology is used it is first explained to the group, all these things will help prevent barriers and ensure a good outcome for the child and their family. Referrals between agencies Within the setting it may become necessary to refer a child to another professional for additional support, for example if it has been noticed that a child of 3 is having issues which speech that he cannot say many words and the ones that are said are not clear, then the child would benefit from support from speech and language therapist then a referral is needed the setting would follow the steps below to make the referral.First of speak with the parent/carer/child about the issue and gain consent to make the referral.Next you would need to identify the service/agency who you want to refer to.Then you would need to contact the agency and discuss the situation before making the referral. We do this to make sure the agency can offer the most suitable service/support that is needed.Next follow the agency’s referral procedure completing all necessary paperwork and return by referral deadline if required. Always keep a copy of the referral.Follow up the referral and find out the d ecision. Common Assessment FrameworkIn the Children Act 2004 and Every Child Matters it is outlined that the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a way ensuring early intervention for a child before they reach a crisis point. CAF is a shared assessment and planning framework in all areas of England and Northern Ireland to be used by all practitioners working in children’s services. The main aim of CAF is to make sure that a child’s additional need is identified early and to ensure that agencies work together to meet the additional needs of the child. The CAF consist of four main partsA pre-assessment checklist to help decide who would benefit from a common assessment.A process to enable practitioners in the children and young people’s workforce to undertake a common assessment and then act on the result.A standard form to record the assessment.A delivery plan and review form. The assessment covers three domains: development of the child or young person; parents and carers; and family and environment.The CAF can be used on children from 0 to 19 years and also 19 to 24 years where necessary, and any professional, parent or even child can request that a CAF is undertaken. As with a normal referral you need consent to do a CAF either from the parent, carer or the child. There are four main stages in completing a common assessment  Identifying needs early.Assessing those needs.Delivering integrated services.Reviewing progress I have completed a mock CAF form (enclosed) to show how the form is to be completed.

Deception Point Page 6

As the PaveHawk settled onto the runway beside the President's plane, Rachel now understood the references to Air Force One being the commander-in-chief's â€Å"portable home court advantage.† The machine was an intimidating sight. When the President flew to other countries to meet heads of state, he often requested – for security purposes – that the meeting take place on the runway aboard his jet. Although some of the motives were security, certainly another incentive was to gain a negotiating edge through raw intimidation. A visit to Air Force One was far more intimidating than any trip to the White House. The six-foot-high letters along the fuselage trumpeted â€Å"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.† A female English cabinet member had once accused President Nixon of â€Å"waving his manhood in her face† when he asked her to join him aboard Air Force One. Later the crew jokingly nicknamed the plane â€Å"Big Dick.† â€Å"Ms. Sexton?† A blazer-clad Secret Serviceman materialized outside the chopper and opened the door for her. â€Å"The President is waiting for you.† Rachel got out of the chopper and gazed up the steep gangway at the bulging hull. Into the flying phallus. She had once heard the flying â€Å"Oval Office† had over four thousand square feet of interior floor space, including four separate private sleeping quarters, berths for a twenty-six-member flight crew, and two galleys capable of providing food for fifty people. Climbing the stairway, Rachel felt the Secret Serviceman on her heels, urging her upward. High above, the cabin door stood open like a tiny puncture wound on the side of a gargantuan silver whale. She moved toward the darkened entryway and felt her confidence starting to ebb. Easy, Rachel. It's just a plane. On the landing, the Secret Serviceman politely took her arm and guided her into a surprisingly narrow corridor. They turned right, walked a short distance, and emerged into a luxurious and spacious cabin. Rachel immediately recognized it from photographs. â€Å"Wait here,† the serviceman said, and he disappeared. Rachel stood alone in Air Force One's famous wood-paneled fore cabin. This was the room used for meetings, entertaining dignitaries, and, apparently, for scaring the hell out of first-time passengers. The room spanned the entire width of the plane, as did its thick tan carpeting. The furnishings were impeccable – cordovan leather armchairs around a bird's-eye maple meeting table, burnished brass floor lamps beside a continental sofa, and hand-etched crystal glassware on a mahogany wet bar. Supposedly, Boeing designers had carefully laid out this fore cabin to provide passengers with â€Å"a sense of order mixed with tranquility.† Tranquility, however, was the last thing Rachel Sexton was feeling at the moment. The only thing she could think of was the number of world leaders who had sat in this very room and made decisions that shaped the world. Everything about this room said power, from the faint aroma of fine pipe tobacco to the ubiquitous presidential seal. The eagle clasping the arrows and olive branches was embroidered on throw pillows, carved into the ice bucket, and even printed on the cork coasters on the bar. Rachel picked up a coaster and examined it. â€Å"Stealing souvenirs already?† a deep voice asked behind her. Startled, Rachel wheeled, dropping the coaster on the floor. She knelt awkwardly to retrieve it. As she grasped the coaster, she turned to see the President of the United States gazing down at her with an amused grin. â€Å"I'm not royalty, Ms. Sexton. There's really no need to kneel.† 7 Senator Sedgewick Sexton savored the privacy of his Lincoln stretch limousine as it snaked through Washington's morning traffic toward his office. Across from him, Gabrielle Ashe, his twenty-four-year-old personal assistant, read him his daily schedule. Sexton was barely listening. I love Washington, he thought, admiring the assistant's perfect shape beneath her cashmere sweater. Power is the greatest aphrodisiac of all†¦ and it brings women like this to D.C. in droves. Gabrielle was a New York Ivy Leaguer with dreams of being a senator herself one day. She'll make it too, Sexton thought. She was incredible-looking and sharp as a whip. Above all, she understood the rules of the game. Gabrielle Ashe was black, but her tawny coloring was more of a deep cinnamon or mahogany, the kind of comfortable in-between that Sexton knew bleeding heart â€Å"whites† could endorse without feeling like they were giving away the farm. Sexton described Gabrielle to his cronies as Halle Berry's looks with Hillary Clinton's brains and ambition, although sometimes he thought even that was an understatement. Gabrielle had been a tremendous asset to his campaign since he'd promoted her to his personal campaign assistant three months ago. And to top it all off, she was working for free. Her compensation for a sixteen-hour workday was learning the ropes in the trenches with a seasoned politician. Of course, Sexton gloated, I've persuaded her to do a bit more than just work. After promoting Gabrielle, Sexton had invited her to a late night â€Å"orientation session† in his private office. As expected, his young assistant arrived starstruck and eager to please. With a slow-moving patience mastered over decades, Sexton worked his magic†¦ building up Gabrielle's trust, carefully stripping away her inhibitions, exhibiting tantalizing control, and finally seducing her right there in his office. Sexton had little doubt the encounter had been one of the most sexually gratifying experiences of the young woman's life, and yet, in the light of the day, Gabrielle clearly regretted the indiscretion. Embarrassed, she offered to resign. Sexton refused. Gabrielle stayed on, but she made her intentions very clear. The relationship had been strictly business ever since. Gabrielle's pouty lips were still moving. â€Å"†¦ don't want you to be lackadaisical going into this CNN debate this afternoon. We still don't know who the White House is sending as opposition. You'll want to peruse these notes I typed.† She handed him a folder. Sexton took the folder, savoring the scent of her perfume mixed with the plush leather seats. â€Å"You aren't listening,† she said. â€Å"Certainly am.† He grinned. â€Å"Forget about this CNN debate. Worst case scenario, the White House snubs me by sending some low-level campaign intern. Best case scenario, they send a bigwig, and I eat him for lunch.† Gabrielle frowned. â€Å"Fine. I've included a list of the most probable hostile topics in your notes.† â€Å"The usual suspects no doubt.† â€Å"With one new entry. I think you might face some hostile backlash from the gay community for your comments last night on Larry King.† Sexton shrugged, barely listening. â€Å"Right. The same-sex marriage thing.† Gabrielle gave him a disapproving look. â€Å"You did come out against it pretty strongly.† Same-sex marriages, Sexton thought in disgust. If it were up to me, the faggots wouldn't even have the right to vote. â€Å"Okay, I'll turn it down a notch.† â€Å"Good. You've been pushing the envelope a bit on some of these hot topics lately. Don't get cocky. The public can turn in an instant. You're gaining now, and you have momentum. Just ride it out. There's no need to hit the ball out of the park today. Just keep it in play.† â€Å"Any news from the White House?† Gabrielle looked pleasantly baffled. â€Å"Continued silence. It's official; your opponent has become the ‘Invisible Man.'† Sexton could barely believe his good fortune lately. For months, the President had been working hard on the campaign trail. Then suddenly, a week ago, he had locked himself in the Oval Office, and nobody had seen or heard from him since. It was as if the President simply could not face Sexton's groundswell of voter support.

tickle essays

tickle essays The survey was designed to provide an overview of the sectors training needs in the area of Information and Communication Technology, while recognizing that staff in particular roles would have different and perhaps more specialised training demands in this area. Such a detailed training analysis would allow College Staff Development Officers an overview of the training necessary and would allow the two Scottish JISC RSCs, in co-operation with SDAS (the Staff Development Advisory Service), to plan training courses in the short to medium term which would meet the needs of FE staff. It was carried out primarily during the week 25th-29th of June 2001, though the completion time was extended at the request of some of the Colleges and the final date for returns was 31st August. It was designed to be completed entirely online and to take no more than ten The survey, which can be found on the web at rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/tna/, had a common format but was designed to sample responses among four distinct staff groupings who were each offered a variant of the standard questionnaire: Technical Networking Personnel The survey was designed to capture a range of yes/no and multiple choice responses,as well as free text observations. All free text answers used in the report are presented unedited, exactly as written. The final return of 13.4% of the target population (based on staffing return data, FTE headcount 1998-9 supplied by SFEFC), while low, does represent a significant proportion of the staff in the sector and will give accurate pointers to the training requirements of Colleges, and of the specific cohorts of staff analysed. However, to some degree the sample will inevitably be self-selecting, reflecting those staff in the Colleges who have access to, skills in and familiarity with online ...

How to Write a Good Marketing Essay

How to Write a Good Marketing Essay How to Write a Good Marketing Essay The Purpose of Marketing Essays Marketing essays can help put a good marketing strategy in place by conveying information about competitive market advantages and financial profits. Marketing essays express thoughts and ideas and persuade people in understanding opinions and viewpoints relating to marketing strategy initiatives. Tips for Writing a Good Marketing Essay Begin with deciding on a relevant topic and thesis. This includes conducting relevant research about the marketing aspects that pertain to your chosen subject. Three important aspects of marketing are: image, the competition, and customer service. It is important to focus on these three marketing aspects when writing a marketing essay. In addition, the following tips will help you with your essay: The Topic – Choose a topic based on a logical framework within your field, such as those researched by past marketing experts like Philip Kotler and Michael Porter. The Framework – The framework of your marketing essay should have a theoretical approach such as with those by marketing experts. It is important to study other companies and products to understand market positioning, using reliable research sources, for a relevant essay. Reliable research sources include those from publications and universities such as JSTOR, EBSCOhost, Harvard, or Cambridge. Next, construct an outline of your essay to use as a blueprint for writing the essay. The Introduction and Thesis Your introduction should outline your main idea and should contain your thesis statement. Here is where you build your argument and a case for your thesis. The Body – This is where your argument is outlined and reasoned. It is a good idea to use previous case study information to help the reader understand your topic, as it pertains to marketing. Approach your argument logically, step-by-step so that the paper flows. Expand on details and use examples. Be sure to use your researched information to set up a good case for your thesis, so that the reader can easily understand your purpose. The body of the essay will also contain your research findings, conclusion, recommendations, and author opinions. These aspects of the essay should wrap up and tie in all of the research, information and viewpoints to answer marketing research questions and expand on whether further research is needed. Editing and Revision – This step is essential to the flow and cohesiveness of your marketing essay, and includes revision. Revision includes ensuring that all relevant information is included in the essay, such as a marketing issue or ideas. Editing entails ensuring the document is free from grammatical, spelling, and language use errors. Writing a marketing essay is not an easy task, but following these tips can certainly help you complete the task and deliver a well-researched, well-written, and informative essay. At you will get professional Marketing essay help from academic experts.

Perpetuation of adolescence in the workplace Essay

Perpetuation of adolescence in the workplace - Essay Example In Nine to Five, the female protagonists certainly cause trouble and disrupt the office, but in a positive way, a way that is driven by a legitimate sense of injustice, and which ends up creating positive results in the office (Resnick and Higgins). There is little resemblance to the aimless, unproductive antics of the overgrown adolescent boys who comprise the rest of our examples. Even in the comparatively staid Dilbert, the random workplace shenanigans fall mostly to Dilbert and Wally, while Tina acts out of a sense of ambition and legitimate grievance. Of course, given Dilbert creator Scott Adams’ ideas about gender, he’s the last place we should look for nonstereotypical gender roles (Adams). This strict gendering is part of a cultural narrative, seen (among other places) on most sitcoms of the past 20 years, wherein men are immature wastrels with crude habits, and women are unfunny, joyless buzzkills. It is worth noting that the second-wave feminist hijinks of Nin e to Five were thirty years ago, and have not been significantly repeated. In this narrative, men must be the pranksters, and women the stern, disapproving â€Å"straight men,† like Margaret Dumont in all the Marx Brothers movies. This gendering arises partly from the cultural perception of â€Å"Peter Pan Syndrome,† so named in the 1983 book of the same name (Kiley). It describes men (and only men) who refuse to â€Å"grow up† and accept what are generally seen as adult roles and responsibilities. The role of women in their lives is to become â€Å"Wendies,† temporary surrogate mothers who enable this lifestyle. As a concept, it’s an old one; the Romans called Bacchus, eternally young god of wine and madness, the puer aeturnus, or â€Å"eternal boy.† (Kiley) Of course, all of this cultural context is really just â€Å"boys will be boys† in greater detail. There are cultural currents and narratives into which the office-adolescent con cept fits, but is that all there is to it? What if the puer aeturnus narrative is just a cover for something deeper? A closer look at some of the preeminent examples of the trope provide some interesting insights, suggesting that the gendering of the trope in narrative is just a cultural gloss on a deeper problem. Given its prevalence, an exhaustive review of examples of this narrative trope would be impossible, but it is worth examining a few in detail. The popular British sitcom The Office opens with a perfect example, as the character of Gareth is outraged to discover that his stapler, about which he is neurotically possessive, has been neatly encased in jelly. This is part of a campaign of similar pranksterism being conducted against him by Tim, the closest thing the show has to a direct protagonist. Other examples include gluing his phone headset down, sending him a series of romantic emails under the guise of an imaginary woman, and locking him in an office. Tim’s behav ior is presented partly as a semi-admirable effort to puncture Gareth’s self-important pretentions, but largely as an outlet for a directionless energy that his job does not channel into anything useful (BBC). The characters in Joshua Ferris’s Then We Came To The End face a similar problem; a job-related ennui that expresses itself in the most non-job-related activities possible. â€Å"Our boredom was ongoing, a collective boredom, and it would never