American Psycho vs American So essays

American Psycho versus American So expositions American Psycho versus American culture Executive Mary Harrons American Psycho, depicts a man who shows up socially, monetarily, and socially effective to the outside world. Be that as it may, a similar culture that he endeavors to vanquish appears to lead him to loathsome demonstrations of brutality. The negligible thought of submitting the demonstrations of viciousness shows the defeats of our present society. A portion of these defeats might be loss of regard for other people, and a cash driven mindset. Driven by Greed, Harrons Patrick Bateman is persistently taking a stab at enhancements in his physical appearance, money related/economic wellbeing, and manliness. This persistent requirement for development and want for flawlessness by Patrick reflects our American hard working attitude. American Psychos Patrick delineates how his financial and social height can cover his sequential executioner mindset. In a scene where he talks about film audits with his secretary while holding a nailgun to the rear of her head. She has no clue about the pneumatic nailer and thinks he is an ordinary, normal individual in view of his high economic wellbeing. As he draws ladies back to his extravagant loft, he is utilizing his cash and pleasant things as an apparatus to submit these demonstrations of brutality. This amusing bit of a keeps an eye on attitude identifies with how what Newitz alludes to as financial execution uneasiness could drive somebody to do abnormal things because of a dread of flaw. The enthusiasm of viewing the film of sequential homicides may identify with a madness brought about by our own way of life. Our entrepreneur society, in spite of the fact that prompts some monetarily fruitful individuals, may have profound enthusiastic disadvantages to those that decide to take an interest in its workforce. The book Mythologies of Violence in Postmodern Media, altered by Christopher Sharrett talks about a longing to expend boundlessly that is available in our current financial societys mind. This requirement for things, for example, costly vehicles, and decent houses intelligently lea... <!

Explain what you believe is Orwells opinion of communism. essays

Clarify what you accept is Orwells assessment of socialism. expositions The tale Animal Farm, composed by George Orwell, is a parody of the Russian insurgency and is composed as a tale. Orwell utilizes genuine characters and occasions of the unrest to base the story and its characters on. The epic depicts Orwells assessment of socialism through the moves and occasions that make place on a ranch and their results. He likewise shows how effectively private enterprise can self-destruct. He shows that neither free enterprise nor socialism can ever work for everybody and a few people will consistently endure. Orwell outlines how, since socialism can never work, Stalin came to control. He shows that individuals will consistently be normally ravenous and exploit places of intensity. Animal homestead is composed with images to speak to different gatherings and people who had an influence in the Russian upset. This makes it straightforward for all ages, however is as yet complex enough to keep all ages intrigued. The primary sections of Animal Farm are proposed to show Orwells assessment on private enterprise. It is implied that Manor Farm was once run and the sum total of what animals had been dealt with conventionally by Mr Jones. As of late the ranch has fallen upon harder occasions and a large number of the yields are coming up short. The first to endure the outcomes are the creatures. This is an immediate portrayal of the incredible melancholy of the 1930s. Orwell makes his sentiments on the Czar, spoke to in the book by man, extremely clear through Old Majors discourse; Man is the main animal that expends without creating. He doesn't give milk, he doesn't lay eggs, he is too feeble to even consider pulling the furrow, he can't run quick enough to get bunnies. However he is ruler of the considerable number of creatures. He sets them to work, he offers back to them the absolute minimum that will keep them from starving and the rest he saves for himself. In Animal Farm Jones has taken up v ery substantial drinking and no longer appears to truly think about the homestead. This shows Orwel... <!

The Fantasy Worldbuilding Checklist Bring Your Literary Universe to Life

The Fantasy Worldbuilding Checklist Bring Your Literary Universe to Life Whether youre into the intricately complex high fantasy of The Lord of the Rings or you prefer just a dash of fantasy in your urban story setting, the possibilities and options of creating a stellar story that whisks your readers away to another time, realm, dimension, or universe are, truly, endless.However, there are rules. Meh, nix rules per se, although Im certain there are plenty of dedicated, well-read readers and writers of fantasy who would argue that there are, indeed, ironclad laws that accompany any good fantasy story. There are storytelling and worldbuilding elements your reader will expect, either based on their previous readings of fantasy or simply an unconscious expectation of the basic elements of storytelling, just with a fantasy spin.Here, Ill detail for you some of the top elements to consider when youre building your fantasy worldâ€"or realm, dominion, universe, planet, or ecosphereâ€"to life.DescriptionI know. The dreaded D word most writers fear, simply because it can be downright daunting and tiresome, but arguably the most important part of world-building, and thats why Im starting with it. A lot of writers struggle with description because theres a delicate balance that must be achieved, that perfect midway point between not nearly enough and entirely too much. Though most can agree that the aforementioned Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is a fantasy genre cornerstone, it gets as much flak for its lengthy descriptions as it does recognition for its compelling characters and richness of Middle Earth.Perhaps your reader doesnt need to know the species of the trees that dot your plains, or how sewage systems run in your world. They may not need to know that the enormous tapestry hanging in the great hall of your realm was stitched together by ninety-nine tiny, needle-bearing fairiesâ€"then again, if its important to the storyline and to your main characters journey, maybe they do. Maybe that tapestry is an important key to your hero w inning the day, and the secrets they need are kept by those fairies.If (and only if) its important to the storyline, include detailed description. Photo by Marko Blaževic on UnsplashPaint vivid pictures about the world your hero touches because its a world your reader has never visited before. But dont bog down the story and your readers imagination backpack with items they dont need and will only weigh them down on the climb up the mountainside of your story to the climax. Ever read a book that spends a great deal of time on a certain character, place, or item, and then you never read about it again? That would be considered too much unnecessary detail, and chances are, it confused or maybe even frustrated you. Both thingsâ€"confusion and frustrationâ€"are things you want to avoid making your reader feel at all costs. But if you describe a certain character, place, or item and it reappears to play a pivotal part in your heros journey, well done!CharactersVying for the number-one t he most important component of your story are the characters in it. Whos your hero? From where do they hail? Are they rich or poor? Commoner or noble? Do they have powers and/or magic? If so, how does that affect them? What do they look like and how do they dress?Just as important is the supporting cast. Who are your heros friends? Are they human? What other races of creatures and beings live in this world?Whos the villain? Is it an invading force from another realm? Another dimension? An evil, spiritual force? Dont make your villain just a cliché mustache-twirler. Give your villain some depth. Consider what your villain is fighting for as well, and why. Give them as much agency to do their Big Baddie thing as youre giving your hero to save the kingdom, the world, or even just the day.MagicSpeaking of magic, this is a huge aspect of fantasy. Its what sets fantasyâ€"low, high, urbanâ€"apart from other genres of fiction. Magic is, well, magical, but it comes in many different forms. Elemental magic, black magic, white magic. Consider what this might look like in your world.You should always consider what magic might look like in your world. Photo by Rhii Photography on UnsplashConsider also the rules of this magic. Every type of magic has a cost. Perhaps thats a physical deficit to your hero or a mental one. Perhaps every time they shoot a fireball from their hands, a tiny troll explodes. Balance applies to magic in a big way, and it makes the story more interesting. If your hero can lift waggle their finger and decimate their enemy in ten seconds without breaking a sweat, whats the point of the epic journey?Social statusAll societies have a social structure and class of some sortâ€"unless its total anarchy! Where does your world lie, specifically the one your hero is in? Is it a fair society where the classes are about equal, or is it a kingdom, with nobility and royalty? Consider where your hero would best be placed inside the frame of their journey. Class do es matter here, as it will directly influence your heros resources.LawsConsider the laws that govern your story. Similar to magic having rules and a cost, the world your hero lives in should have both, as well. How is the hero being oppressed in their society, or what outside force is oppressing the society they must save? If the oppression is occurring within the society, what are the laws that are holding the hero down or back? How does it affect everyday life?GeographyWhere does your hero live? Where does the story take place? Whats the climate like there? It could be as small as a palace, or as big as an entire world. However, keep in mind that if the story is set in one kingdom inside a large world, and only that one kingdom, describing the rest of the world doesnt really serve the story if it doesnt influence the heros journey. Remember that metaphor from earlier about not weighing down your readers imagination backpack during their trek up the mountainside of your story? Sure , it might be interesting for the reader to know that theres a land of ice to the north, a desert to the south, and water on both sides, but unless those are places your character will visit as part of their journey, its probably okay not to spend more than a few sentences at most mentioning them.If your character will be visiting specific geography, its okay to explain that geography in detail. Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on UnsplashThe opposite is true, as well. If your character is going to embark on an epic journey across the entire land to accomplish their goal, describe each place in rich detail as long as it keeps the plot moving forward. How does the world youve created differ depending on where you are? Is the whole world hot and sandy, or are there varying climates? Let your reader smell the smells, see the sights, feel the tactile elements.WeaponryWhats an epic fantasy story without some epic battles? Might still be a good story, but it could be a great story if you add s ome of those where they work and where they propel the narrative forward. How are battles fought? With magic, weapons, or both? What do those weapons look like? History is a great way to design your weapons. You can take directly from history, or you can use weapons like swords, maces, clubs, battering rams, to expand upon and tweak until youve created something totally unique.ReligionIt is entirely possible that your hero may live in an atheistic society, but most societies have a higher power they believe in. Is your society monotheistic or polytheistic? What kinds of gods or god does the religion have? Is it more spiritual, or are there rituals that need to be observed? What are church services like?Most importantly, how does or doesnt religion influence your hero? Do they struggle with fighting battles because killing is against their beliefs, or do they revel in it, knowing their god has promised glory of some sort? Maybe your story is about your hero finding their relationship with a god or gods. While you dont need to try to model descriptions of your storys religion on the book of Genesis, its probably a good idea to decide up front how much or how little youd like it to influence your world, and go from there.HistoryHistory influences how a society, kingdom, or world perseveres or fails. History precedes the start of every story unless youre writing about the creation of a certain world. But most fantasy stories take place in lands that have long been established. So what happened before the story opens? This, like every other aspect of world-building, needs to be handled with care and balance. Consider your heros journey, and their ultimate goal (which they may not be aware of at the very start of the story). Consider their starting place. How has or how could history influence this journey? How does it affect other aspects of the story? You should avoid a long, drawn-out history lesson at all costs, but pepper in aspects and nuggets of history where they fit and where theyre appropriate.

Eating Animals By Eric Schlosser Essay - 1697 Words

Today, the food industry has not just altered the American diet, but it has also had a negative effect within the labor sector as well as the animals meant for consumption and the lack of government oversight. Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation, and Jonathan Foer in Eating Animals, illustrate the mistreatment of labor workers as well as the animal abuse that goes unseen within the food industry. Foer gives such examples of employees who work in slaughterhouses giving accounts of what goes on in the kill floors, and stories of employees who have witnessed thousands and thousands of cows going through the slaughter process alive (231). Eating meat does not have to be so inhumane for example, Foer quotes Frank Reese, who does not permit inhumane practices on his ranch that are cruel, and Reese believes that there are other ways of having a sustainable humane animal agriculture instead of the methods of the large corporate meat industry (238). Namit Arora in the article â€Å"On Eating Animals†, as well as Michael Pollan in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, address some of the issues that animals face once they hit the kill floor. The food industry has transformed not only what people eat, but how the government has neglected the issues of the wellbeing of labor workers and the animals that are processed for consumption. Conditions at America’s meatpacking plants have become more dangerous in part due to the federal government lack of enforcing health and safety laws. During theShow MoreRelatedEric Schlossers Fast Food Nation: Fast Foods Impact on Society1592 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Fast food is popular because its convenient, its cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on the menu.† – Eric Schlosser -- Eric Schlossers book Fast Food Nation is not only an expose of the fast food industry but also shows how the fast food industry has shaped and defined society in America and other nations as the fast food culture spreads globally. He connects the social order of society to the kind of food it eats and the way it eats that food, andRead MoreFast Food Nation: The Inconvenient Truth of Fast Food Essay572 Words   |  3 Pages‘Fast Food Nation’ by Eric Schlosser traces the history of fast food industry from old hot dog stands to the billion dollar franchise companies established as America spread its influence of quick, easy and greasy cuisine around the globe. It is a brilliant piece of investigative journalism that looks deep into the industries that have profited from the American agriculture business, while engaging in labor practices that are often shameful. In Fast Food Nation, Schlosser goes beyond the facts thatRead MoreFast Food Nation Research Paper1442 Words   |  6 Pagestheir food is prepared. In the novel, â€Å"Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal†(2002), by Eric Schlosser, he makes compelling points in his position against the fast food industry. In â€Å"Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal† (2002), Eric Schlosser argues that â€Å"†¦ Fast food is solely responsible for every social problem now haunting the United States†(9). Schlosser analyzes this conflict by setting side by side the positive and negative affects and outcomes of the industryRead MoreEric Schlossers Fast Food Nation: Undermining American Values1347 Words   |  6 PagesAndrew F. Smith once said, â€Å"Eating at fast food outlets and other restaurants is simply a manifestation of the commodification of time coupled with the relatively low value many Americans have placed on the food they eat†. 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The manner in which food is produced and consumed has changed more rapidly in the past fifty years than it has in the previous ten thousand years (Pollan and Schlosser, 2008). With this swift transformation, various ethical issues came to the fore. FoodRead MoreObesity and Fast Food Essay887 Words   |  4 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser writes about the fast food industry. Schlosser tells the story of J.R. Simplot, the man behind McDonald’s source for potatoes. He started his own business right out of the eighth grade, after dropping out. He started out small but eventually became one of the riches men in America. He owned then 160 acres of land to start off this business. He sold his potatoes to companies at first all natural. But he soon discovered that if you dry out theRead MoreFast Food Nation: Death in the Fast Food Lane Essay1121 Words   |  5 PagesFast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser, is a stark and unrelenting look into the fast food industry that has ingrained itself in not only American culture, but in many cultures around the world. There is almost no place on earth that the golden arches has not entered. Aside from Antarctica, there is a McDonalds on every continent, and the number of countries that have fast food restaurants i s growing on a daily basis. Schlosser describes in detail what happens behind the scenes, before the hamburgerRead MoreFast Foods And Fast Food1649 Words   |  7 PagesFast food is popular because it s convenient, it s cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on the menu, was said by Eric Schlosser. Several people in America have become dependent on fast foods. How many of the people who eat this food actually know what is really in the food or how it was made? Others don t think about it, because within ordering, three minutes later a customer can pull up to the window, pay, and get food. It is quick and cheap. The United

Flannery O Connor s Life You Save May Be Your Own And...

Flannery O’Connor was a short story author from Savannah, Georgia. She has produced many critically acclaimed pieces and has won several awards for them. Two distinct pieces she wrote are titled The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Good Country People. While both of her stories are unique, the underlying storyboard and character creation process that O’Connor used is the same throughout her stories. Her stories usually involve one or more self-centered woman, a younger person who become the victim of egregious crime, and a conniving male driven by his own motives. Good Country People and The Life You Save May Be Your Own do not stray from this rule. In either story, the narrative is driven around a shocking tragedy that is very unexpected. Even though in the tragedies committed in the book always have a belligerent and a victim, it is not easy to discern who amongst the two are the antagonist and the protagonist. In either of these narratives, the tragedy that occurred within the stories blurs the line between antagonist and protagonist. In Good Country People, the characters that experienced the tragedy can easily fit within either the protagonist or the antagonist box. In the story, the three main characters within the tragic event are a kind old mother, an arrogant disable college grad, and a seemingly simple bible salesman. After O’Connor gives the initial description of the characters, the characteristics that are usually associated with protagonist and antagonist.Show MoreRelatedThe Life You Save May Be Your Own1506 Words   |  7 PagesEvery writer has their own story and because of said story, it has an impact on who they are and how they think. In turn, this leads the writer into unraveling their writing style and, in an artistic way, write out their feelings in the form of a poem or story. We see this in the case of almost every writer, but as of now we re only going to look at Mary Flannery O - Connor. A major theme that reoccu rs in much of Flannery O Connors work is her strong dis- like for the worlds current state, asRead More Inhumanity in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find and Shirley Jacksons The Lottery1133 Words   |  5 Pages In Flannery O’Connor’s, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† and Shirley Jacksons, â€Å"The Lottery,† both short stories deal with man’s inhumanity in different situations, and ending with a similar consequence. Jackson and OConnor both use two characters to depict man having the power to manipulate truth and objection into something people accept. In O’Connor’s’ A Good Man is Hard to Find, the Misfit is a character in need of desired assistance, troubled and confused he wanders savagely murdering strangersRead MoreA Good Man Is Hard And Good Country People By Flannery O Connor Essay2090 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"When you judge others, you do not define them, you define yourself.† This is a common thing that many people do throughout their lifetime. People might judge others to feel secure or to create an identity for themselves. Judging others by their appearance or by the things they own should not be a reason to dislike them. While it may be a common thing to do since we are all humans, it does come with some consequences. In Flannery O Connor s short stories â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† and â€Å"Good Country

The Hunters Moonsong Chapter Twenty Free Essays

This is way worse than the obstacle course, thought Matt. And building a house out of newspaper. And the firewalk. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is definitely the worst pledge event yet. He twisted the toothbrush in his hand to real y get into the little niche running along the bottom of the paneling on the Vitale Society’s pledge room wal s. The toothbrush came out black with ancient dirt and dangling cobwebs, and Matt grimaced in disgust. His back was already sore from hunching over. â€Å"How’s it going, soldier?† Chloe asked, squatting down next to him, a dripping sponge in one hand. â€Å"Honestly, I’m not sure how scrubbing out this room is going to help us develop honor and leadership and al the stuff Ethan keeps talking about,† Matt said. â€Å"I think this might just be a way to save a couple of bucks on a cleaning service.† â€Å"Well, they say cleanliness is next to godliness,† she reminded him. Chloe laughed. He real y liked her laugh. It was sort of bubbly and silvery. Internal y, he gave himself a little eye rol . Bubbly and silvery. She had a nice laugh, was al he meant. They’d been spending a lot of time together since Christopher’s death. Matt had felt like nothing could be as bad as living with al of Christopher’s stuff when Christopher himself was gone, but then Chris’s parents came and packed it up, gently patting Matt on the back as if he deserved some kind of sympathy when they had lost their only son. And with just empty space where Christopher’s things had been, everything was a mil ion times worse. Meredith, Bonnie, and Elena had tried to comfort him. They wanted so badly for him to be okay again that he’d felt guilty he wasn’t, making it harder for him to be around them. Chloe had taken to coming by the room, hanging out with him or getting him to come to the cafeteria or wherever with her, keeping him in touch with the world when he felt like locking himself away. There was something so easy about her. Elena, the only girl he’d ever loved – before now, part of him whispered – was much more work to be around. Inside, he flinched at his own disloyalty to Elena, but it was true. Now he was starting to wake up and take an interest in things again. And he kept noticing with fresh surprise the cute dimple Chloe had in her right cheek, or how shiny her curly dark hair was, or how graceful and pretty her hands were despite the fact that they were often stained with paint. So far, though, they were just friends. Maybe †¦ maybe it was time to change that. Chloe snapped her fingers in front of his face, and Matt realized he had been staring at her. â€Å"You al right, buddy?† she asked, a little frown wrinkling her forehead, and Matt had to restrain himself from kissing her right then. â€Å"Yeah, just spacing out,† he said, feeling a flush creep over his cheeks. He was smiling like a goof, he knew. â€Å"Want to help with these wal s?† â€Å"Sure, why not?† Chloe answered. â€Å"I’l soap down the wal part, and you keep doing whatever you’re doing there with that little toothbrush.† They worked companionably together for a while, Chloe now and then accidental y-on-purpose dripping soapy water onto the top of Matt’s head. As they worked further along the paneling, the niche under the baseboard got deeper, until it was not so much a niche as a gap. Matt slid the toothbrush underneath to scrub – man, but it got grimy down there – and felt something shift. â€Å"There’s something under here,† he told Chloe, pressing his hand flat against the floor and working his fingers into the gap. He slid his hands and the toothbrush around, trying to shimmy whatever was down there toward them, but he couldn’t quite get a grip on it. â€Å"Look,† said Chloe after a moment, â€Å"I think the paneling might slide up here.† She wiggled the section of wood until it gave a raucous screech and she was able to work it up. â€Å"Huh,† she said, puzzled. â€Å"Wow, it’s like a secret compartment. Seems like it hasn’t been opened for a while, though.† Once she managed to ease the paneling up, they could see the space behind it was smal , only a foot or so in height and width and a few inches deep. It was ful of cobwebs. Inside was something rectangular, wrapped in a cloth that had probably once been white but was now gray with dust. â€Å"It’s a book,† Matt said, picking it up. The grime on the outside of the cloth was thick and soft and came away on his hands. Unwrapping it, he found the book inside was clean. â€Å"Wow,† Chloe said softly. It looked old, real y old. The cover was flaking dark leather, and the edges of the pages were rough as if they’d been hand cut instead of by a machine. Tilting the book a little, Matt could see the remains of gilt that must have once been the title, but it was worn away now. Matt opened it to the middle. Inside, it was handwritten, black ink inscribing neat strong strokes. And total y indecipherable. â€Å"I think it’s Latin. Maybe?† said Matt. â€Å"Do you know Latin at al ?† Chloe shook her head. Matt flipped back to the first page, and one word popped out at him. Vitale. â€Å"Maybe it’s a history of the Vitale Society,† Chloe said. â€Å"Or ancient secrets of the founders. Cool! We should give it to Ethan.† â€Å"Yeah, sure,† Matt said, distracted. He turned a few more pages, and the ink changed from black to a dark brown. It looks like dried blood, he thought, and shuddered, then pushed the image away. It was just some kind of old ink, faded brown with time. One word he recognized, written three – no, four – times on the page: Mort. That meant death, didn’t it? Matt traced the word with his finger, frowning. Creepy. â€Å"I’l show it to Ethan,† Chloe said, jumping up and taking the book from him. She crossed the room and interrupted Ethan’s conversation with another girl. From the other side of the room, Matt watched Ethan’s face break into a slow smile as he took the book. After a few minutes, Chloe returned, grinning. â€Å"Ethan was real y excited,† she said. â€Å"He said he’l tel us al about it after he gets someone to translate the book.† Matt nodded. â€Å"That’s terrific,† he said, pushing the last of his unease away. This was Chloe, lively, laughing Chloe, and he would try not to think about death or blood or anything morbid around her. â€Å"Hey,† he said, pushing away the dark thoughts, focusing on the golden highlights in her dark hair. â€Å"Are you going to the party at McAl ister House tonight?† Maybe not pulled back, Elena thought, looking critical y at herself in the mirror. She tugged the barrette out of her hair and let her golden locks tumble, sleek and flat-ironed, down around her shoulders. Much better. She looked good, she noted, running her eyes dispassionately over her reflection. Her strappy short black dress accentuated her rose-petal skin and pale hair, and her dark blue eyes seemed huge. Without Stefan, though, what did it matter how she looked? She watched her own mouth tighten in the mirror as she pushed the thought away. However much she missed the feeling of Stefan’s hand in hers, his lips on hers, however much she wanted to be with him, it was impossible for now. She couldn’t be Katherine. And her pride wouldn’t let her just mope around, either. It’s not forever, she told herself grimly. Bonnie came up and threw her arm around Elena’s shoulders, regarding them both in the mirror. â€Å"We clean up nice, don’t we?† she asked cheerful y. â€Å"Ready to go?† â€Å"You do look amazing,† Elena said, looking at Bonnie with affection. The shorter girl was practical y glowing with excitement – eyes sparkling, smile bright, cheeks flushed, mane of red hair flying out seemingly with a life of its own – and her short blue dress and strappy high-heeled shoes were adorable. Bonnie’s smile got bigger. â€Å"Let’s get going,† Meredith said, al business. She was sleek and practical in jeans and a soft fitted gray shirt that matched her eyes. It was hard to know what Meredith was thinking, but Elena had overheard her murmuring to Alaric on the phone late at night. She figured that Meredith, at heart, might not be into the party either. Outside, people walked quickly in large, silent groups, glancing around nervously as they went. No one lingered, no one was alone. Meredith stopped midstride and stiffened, suddenly aware of a potential threat. Elena fol owed her gaze. She was wrong: one person lingered alone. Damon was sitting on a bench outside their dorm, his face tipped toward the sky as if he was basking in the sun despite the darkness of the evening. â€Å"What do you want, Damon?† Meredith said, warily. Her voice wasn’t actual y rude – they’d gotten past that, working together this summer – but it wasn’t friendly, and Elena could feel her bristling beside her. â€Å"Elena, of course,† Damon said lazily, rising and smoothly taking Elena’s arm. Bonnie looked back and forth between them, puzzled. â€Å"I thought you weren’t going to spend time with either of them for a while,† she said to Elena. Damon spoke quietly into Elena’s ear. â€Å"It’s about the Vitale Society. I’ve got a lead.† Elena hesitated. She hadn’t told her friends about the hints she and Damon had found that the Vitale Society might be more than a myth, or that they might be connected to her parents in some way. There wasn’t real y anything much to go on yet, and she didn’t feel quite ready to talk about the possibility that her parents might have been mixed up in some kind of dark secret or how she felt, seeing the images of them when they were young. Making up her mind, she turned to Meredith and Bonnie. â€Å"I’ve got to go with Damon for a minute. It’s important. I’l explain it to you guys later. See you at the party in a little bit.† Meredith frowned but nodded, and she steered Bonnie toward McAl ister House. As they went, Elena could hear Bonnie saying, â€Å"But wasn’t the whole point†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Keeping his hand tucked firmly under Elena’s arm, Damon led her in the opposite direction. â€Å"Where are we going?† she asked, feeling too aware of the softness of Damon’s skin and the strength of his grip. â€Å"I saw a girl wearing one of those pins from the photo,† Damon answered. â€Å"I fol owed her to the library, but once she got inside, she just disappeared. I looked everywhere for her. Then, an hour later, she came out the library doors again. Remember when I said we needed to look for answers somewhere other than the library?† He smiled. â€Å"I was wrong. There’s something going on in there.† â€Å"Maybe you just didn’t see her?† Elena wondered aloud. â€Å"It’s a big library, she could have been tucked away in a study carrel or something.† â€Å"I would have found her,† Damon said briefly. â€Å"I’m good at finding people.† His teeth shone white for a moment under the streetlights. The problem was that the library was so normal. Once they were inside, Elena looked around at the gray-carpeted floors, the beige chairs, the rows and rows of bookshelves, the buzzing fluorescent lights. It was a place to study. It didn’t look like any secrets were hidden here. â€Å"Upstairs?† she suggested. They took the stairs rather than the elevator and worked their way down from the top floor. Going from floor to floor, they found †¦ nothing. People reading and taking notes. Books, books, and more books. In the basement, there was a room of vending machines and smal tables for study breaks. Nothing unexpected. Elena paused in a hal way of administrative offices near the vending machine. â€Å"We’re not going to find anything,† she told Damon. His face twisted in frustration, and she added, â€Å"I believe you that there’s something going on here, I do, but without any leads, we don’t even know what we’re looking for yet.† The door behind her, marked Research Office, opened, and Matt came out. He looked tired, and Elena felt a quick flash of guilt. After Christopher’s death, she and Meredith and Bonnie had meant to stick close to Matt. But he was always busy with footbal or class and didn’t seem to want them around. She realized with a shock that she hadn’t talked to him in days. â€Å"Oh, hey, Elena,† Matt said, looking startled. â€Å"Are you going to the party tonight?† He greeted Damon with an awkward nod. â€Å"Mutt,† Damon acknowledged, giving a half smile, and Matt rol ed his eyes. As they chatted about the party and classes and Bonnie’s new semiboyfriend, Elena cataloged her impressions of Matt. Tired, yes – his eyes were a little bloodshot, and there was grimness to his lips that hadn’t been there a few weeks ago. But why did he smel so strongly of soap? It wasn’t like he was particularly clean, she thought, inspecting a grubby trail tracing down Matt’s cheek to his neck. It looked like something had been dripped on his head. It was almost like he had been cleaning something. Something real y dirty. Struck by a new thought, she glanced at his chest. Surely he wouldn’t be wearing one of the V pins? As if aware of what she was wondering, Matt pul ed his jacket more tightly around him. â€Å"What were you doing in that office?† she asked him abruptly. â€Å"Uh.† Matt’s face was blank for half a second, and then he glanced up at the door, at the sign saying Research Office. â€Å"Research, of course,† he said. â€Å"I’ve got to go,† he added. â€Å"I’l catch you at the party later, okay, Elena?† He had half turned away, when Elena impulsively put out her hand to catch his arm. â€Å"Where have you been, Matt?† she asked. â€Å"I’ve hardly seen you lately.† Matt grinned, but he didn’t quite meet her eyes. â€Å"Footbal ,† he said. â€Å"Col ege bal ‘s a big deal.† He gently pul ed away from her restraining hand. â€Å"Later, Elena. Damon.† They watched him walk away, and then Damon nodded toward the door Matt had come out of. â€Å"Shal we?† he said. â€Å"Shal we what?† Elena asked, puzzled. â€Å"Oh, like that wasn’t suspicious,† Damon said. He put his hand on the knob, and Elena heard the lock snap as he forced it open. Inside was a very boring room. A desk, a chair, a smal rug on the floor. Maybe a little too boring? â€Å"A research office without books? Or even a computer?† Elena asked. Damon cocked his head to one side, considering, then, with a swift movement, pul ed aside the rug. Below it was the clear outline of a trapdoor. â€Å"Bingo,† Elena breathed. She stepped forward, already bending down to try and pry it open, but Damon pul ed her back. â€Å"Whoever is using this could stil be down there,† he said. â€Å"Matt just left, and I doubt he was alone.† Matt. Whatever was going on, Matt knew about it. â€Å"Maybe I should talk to him,† Elena said. Damon frowned. â€Å"Let’s wait until we know what we’re dealing with,† he said. â€Å"We don’t know what Matt’s involvement is. This could be dangerous for you.† He had taken hold of her arm again and was pul ing her gently, steadily out of the room. â€Å"We’l come back later.† Elena let him lead her away, grappling with what he’d said. Dangerous? she thought. Surely Matt wouldn’t be doing anything that would be a danger to Elena? How to cite The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty, Essay examples

White Noise and Self-Help free essay sample

This essay compares two contemporary novels examining how each of the protagonists deal with personal suffering. This essay compares the two contemporary novels White Noise and Self Help, and examines specifically how each of the protagonists deals with personal suffering. It also compares the male vs female response to pain and how each gender deals with lifes problems. It is part of human nature to use humor as an escape when confronted with tragic situations. Jack Gladney, Don Delillos character in White Noise (1985), is no exception, nor is the quintessential Lorrie Moore character from Self-Help (1985), her collection of short stories. While the deflection of major life issues, however, is common in both works, the authors reflect this tendency of ours in different contexts. Jacks dialogue, for example, throughout White Noise is consistently sarcastic. On the other hand, Moores humor is darker and her characters employ other tactics to shirk the dilemmas they face in life. We will write a custom essay sample on White Noise and Self-Help or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

pros and cons of legloizing dr essays

pros and cons of legloizing dr essays The legalizing of drugs have been an issue in the forefront since the 20s and the 30 with the probation of alcohol. Many have argued weather narcotics should be legalized or not. There are arguments supporting each side. People who are in favor of the legalization of drugs claim that drugs would increase our economy, making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on law enforcement, and legalization of drugs would benefit the federal budget. Those who don not favor the legalization of narcotics claim; drugs would become cheaper and more accessible, drugs would cause a rapid increase of diseases, and drugs contribute to the crime rate. Legalizing drugs would increase our economy's revenue. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with drugs. Marijuana should be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. The same people who make would make drugs would also make pharmaceutics such as aspirin. So the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants. Making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught, another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. In 1996, 10 billion dollars were spent alone just on enforcing drug laws. Drugs accounted for about 40 percent of all felony indictments in the New York City courts in 1998. This figure is quadruple what it was in 1995. Forty percent of the people in federal prison are drug law violators. One can only imagine what this figure would be like today. Too much money is wasted on a cause that seems to be no end to. In 1997,a Republican county executive of Mercer County N.J. estimated that it would cost him as much as 1.7 billion dollars to build the jail space needed to house all the hard-core drug users in Trenton alone. All...

Converting Cubic Feet to Liters

Converting Cubic Feet to Liters This example problem demonstrates how to convert cubic feet to liters. The cubic foot is the U.S.  and imperial unit of volume for a cube that has sides that are 1 foot in length. The liter is an SI or metric unit of volume. It is the volume of a cube that has sides that are 10 centimeters in length. The conversion between the two systems is fairly common, particularly if youre working with liquefied gases. Cubic Feet to Liter Conversion Problem What is this  volume  of  1 cubic foot  in liters? Many conversion factors are difficult to remember. Converting  cubic feet to liters would fall into this category. The unit-canceling method  is helpful in performing this kind of problem because it uses many easily remembered conversions that relate the original units to the final units, as follows: 1 foot 12 inches1 inch 2.54 centimeters1,000 cubic centimeters 1 liter Using these steps, you can express feet to centimeters as: Distance in cm (distance in ft) x (12 in/1 ft) x (2.54 cm/1 in)Distance in cm (distance in ft) x 30.48 cm/ft Convert these distances into volume measurements of cm3 and ft3: Cube volume (linear measurement)3, so:Volume in cm3 [(distance in feet) x 30.48 cm/ft]3Volume in cm3 (volume in ft3) x 28316.85 cm3/ft3 Convert cubic centimeters to liters: Volume in liters (volume in cm3) x (1 L/1,000 cm3)Volume in liters (volume in cm3)/1,000 L/cm3 Insert the cubic volume from the previous step: Volume in liters [(volume in ft3) x 28316.85 cm3/ft3)]/1,000 L/cm3Volume in liters (volume in ft3) x 28.317 L/ft3 Now you have your conversion factor of cubic feet to liters. Insert 1 cubic foot into the volume in ft3 part of the equation: Volume in liters (1 ft3) x 28.317 L/ft3Volume in liters 28.317 L Therefore, one cubic foot is equal to 28.317 liters of volume. Liter to Cubic Feet Example The conversion factor works the other way, too. For example, convert 0.5 liter to cubic feet. Use the conversion factor 1 cubic foot 28.317 liters: Cubic feet (0.5 liter) x (1 cubic foot / 28.317 liters) The liters cancel out on the top and bottom, leaving you with 0.5 / 28.317, and giving an answer of 0.018 cubic feet. Tips for Success The key to working the unit conversion correctly is to make certain the unwanted unit cancels out and leaves the desired unit. Its also worthwhile to keep track of significant digits. Remember there are about 28 liters in a cubic foot. If youre converting from cubic feet to liters, expect to get a larger number than you started with. If youre converting from cubic feet to liters, your final answer will be a smaller number.

Answer History question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Answer History question - Essay Example alled Indian Empire and was under the direct governance of United Kingdom and the princely states were ruled by individual rulers under the direct dictatorship of the British crown. It is from these princely states, the imperial England tried and received greatest support and reliability. But ultimately the consequent and considerable resistance and uprising from the natives compelled British imperialism, a setback. Myriad reasons are responsible for the complete agitation or deviation of the native support from the British rule. A thorough survey of many socio-economic factors will consequently open the avenues of hidden queries. The first great uprising or the first step of the Indians for the nationalistic movement was the ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ in the year of 1857. It was literally the first resistance which British Raj in India received. The Sepoy Mutiny can be considered as â€Å"the last upsurge of Indian Feudalism†. There are various causes which led to the detachment of native Indians from the British persons. The British rulers made many strategical mistakes. To establish a quick and powerful imperial aggression they interfered in many cultural and social domains of the natives, which largely hurt their sentiments and they slowly deviated from their foreign rulers. In fact, a sense of alienation acted as a catalyst for the relentless fights and set backs. The fatal decision and implementation of the â€Å"Doctrine of Lapse† by the British greatly contributed for the uprising of the mutiny of 1857. Though this uprising was crushed by the British but it didn’t stop the native Indians to leave their quest for the independence. The fight for the freedom is a long history and the term ‘Indian Independence Movement’ is a wide- umbrella term that encompasses a huge spectrum. It involves myriad political agitation and organization, philosophies and campaigns, both violent as well as non-violent. But all these efforts found their end into one common aim which

Bibliographical Study of Giovanni Boccaccio Essay

Bibliographical Study of Giovanni Boccaccio - Essay Example Giovanni Boccaccio spent his boyhood in the hills about Settignago in the woods above the Mensola and the valley of the Affrico. There is little information available regarding his early years. According to the writings of Giovanni , he was able to read and write at the age of seven, further with Giovanni di Domenico Mazzuoli da Strada he began the study of grammar. (Hutton, E. 12) After that Giovanni was set to study Mathematics and the more he knew about accounting and bookkeeping, the more he hated it. Still hoping to see the son prosperous in a classical way, Giovanni’s father sent him Naples to become a merchant. Giovanni writes later, that â€Å"If my father had dealt wisely with me I might have been among the great poets.† (Hutton, E. 19) Either this way or the other, Giovanni ended up studying law, which, as it seems, he enjoyed no more then banking. The studying of the law allowed him to establish good contact with students. Humanists Barbato da Sulmona and Gio vanni Barrili, and the theologian Dionigi da San Sepolcro should be emphasized when it comes to speaking about the early influences of Boccaccio. Giovanni managed to put up with his stepmother until the moment, when she gave birth to his stepbrother – Francesco. The reflections of Giovanni back on his childhood seem to be filled with grief and sorrow. (Hutton, E. 15-20). Boccaccio saw Maria d'Acquino, a married woman and natural daughter of King Robert, in 1334 for the first time. The woman was the inspiration of his early works, once coming into his life, she never left him. The golden hair, shining eyes, and the milk-white skin, her love was the greatest prize of his youth. (Hutton, E. 30) Even though the fact that Boccaccio found his inspiration in a woman can hardly be doubted, still there is no documental proof that Maria ever existed and was not a product of wild imagination of one of the greatest writers that had ever existed. The reason why particular consideration sh ould be given to the early years of Boccaccio and his first romantic love is that these events pre-determined his further life. Maria introduced Boccaccio to court and merged him to write. 2. Petrarch: Lifelong Friend and Teacher After being called by father back to Florence in 1341, Boccaccio met his lifelong friend and master Petrarch. Undoubtedly, ever since the moment in 1350, when Boccaccio met Petrarch, he was under his influence. This resulted in a

Coming of Age in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn :: essays research papers

Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn presents the problems of a young girl coming of age, a time when she is faced with new challenges and must overcome obstacles. Throughout the book the protagonist, Francie Nolan discovers herself maturing as she struggles with loneliness, the loss of innocence and a life of poverty in a Brooklyn slum. This theme is evident in (1.) her love for books which she uses as companionship, (2.) her outlook on the world as she matures and finally, (3.) her realization that in order to succeed in life she must obtain an education and work hard to do it. One of the biggest challenges Francie faces while growing up is loneliness. As a young child living in a Brooklyn slum, Francie has no friends her age. The other children either find her too quiet or shun her for being different because of her extensive vocabulary. Betty Smith describes how most of Francie's childhood days are spent: "in the warm summer days the lonesome child sat on her stoop and pretended disdain for the group of children playing on the sidewalk. Francie played with her imaginary companions and made believe they were better than real children. But all the while her heart beat in rhythm to the poignant sadness of the song the children sang while walking around in a ring with hands joined." (106). Francie is lonely, and longs to be included. As Francie matures, she begins to experience a different kind of loneliness. Betty Smith portrays her feelings as she observes her neighborhood: "spring came early that year and the sweet warm nights made her restless. She wal ked up and down the streets and through the park. And wherever she went, she saw a boy and a girl together, walking arm-in-arm, sitting on a park bench with their arms around each other, standing closely and in silence in a vestibule. Everyone in the world but Francie had a sweetheart or a friend she seemed to be the only lonely one in Brooklyn without a friend." (403). Loneliness is a constant challenge for Francie but it is through her loneliness that she finds a new companion in her books. Francie reads as an alternative for her lack of friends and companions. It is through her love of reading that Francie develops her extensive, sophisticated vocabulary. Her books lead her into maturity and help her learn to be independent and overcome her many hardships.

Serandib Bank

CONTENT Page 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1 2. Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2 3. Problem Statement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. .3 4. Alternatives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 5. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 6. Implementations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 9 Introduction This is the fourth assignment which I am forwarding as a case study for module 4 examination of Professional Qualification in Human Resource Management 75th Batch at the Institute of Personal Management Sri Lanka (IPM).The case is about the SerendiB Bank which was playing a successful monopoly game in the Bankers field where only two other local banks were held due to the Government regulations towards the implementation of foreign banks in the country. The SerendiB Bank was leading the country with a staff of 9,800 at the branches operating in each leading town island wide. Very recently; on its 50th anniversary, a new chief executive officer, Mrs. Maya Perera was appointed on her post who was just returned back to the country after serving 20 yea rs at two foreign Banks as a Top Executive.With the arrival of new CEO, many senior executives of the bank were unhappy with her new approach which is emphasized on followings. Cooperate vision and strategies/ businesses objectives for next five years Creating customer friendly process Introduction of latest technology Motivating internal staff through extrinsic motivation Promoting team work and achieving goals through team dynamics. The bank was delighting its success for next two years till the time of arriving two foreign banks and with that, suddenly it faced a narrow drop in all aspects.The bank lost its customers by 50% and the employee turnover was 22%. Finally the bank has close down its 22 branches and divest it two overseas operations. Executive Summary SerendibB Bank was practicing the seniority based promotions, non-financial rewards for individual efforts and also staff enjoyed the traditional banking activities. But, new CEO emphasized the impotency of introduction of latest technology while motivating the staff through extrinsic motivation and promoting team work and achieving goals through team dynamism.Also, CEO wanted to encourage people more towards the monetary rewards and as a result management introduced nearly a dozen of group incentives whilst statutory payments were paid in double over and above the legalized criteria. Although Bank achieved a higher growth rate in financial terms during the first two years tenure of new CEO, many senior executives were extremely unhappy with the CEO’s new approach. With launching of two new foreign banks, many senior staff members left from the SerendibB and joined with this new banks for better prospects and relieve with the newly introduce reward schemes.Within first six months, SerendibB lost over 50% of customer base and also drop in revenue. Further, SerendibB had to close down 22 branches and divested two overseas operations. This case study demonstrates the employee reward systems can h elp organizations to achieve their goals. However, Employers must first identify each objective clearly before developing tangible and intangible reward systems. Important goals such as employee retention and job satisfaction, performance improvement and employee motivation can be achieved by identifying the desired outcome of employee reward programs. . Problem Statement 1. The newly introduced reward management system does not fit to the requirements of the employees in the organization. The effectiveness of reward package is impacted by internal and external factors and it is important for employers to continually monitor, evaluate and adjust their rewards and benefits packages to ensure that they continue to meet employees' needs. Changes in the competitive landscape, in the economy, in employee needs and in demographics can all impact how effectively existing packages meet employee needs.Ongoing assessment of both internal drivers and external environmental impacts can help ens ure that companies' reward packages serve to drive retention in a positive way. But, New CEO of SerendibB Has changed the existing reward management system without doing a proper study. Therefore, change of existing reward management system is not suitable to entire organization and its requirement. 2. The newly introduced Reward Management system does not have the proper balance between the Financial and Non – Financial Rewards, individual and group rewards.Financial rewards and group incentives are one way businesses can show their appreciation to employees for hard work and dedication, but this should be just one piece of the compensation system. Non-financial rewards and individual incentives can carry just as much weight by empowering employees, as well as giving them a sense of accomplishment and of belonging. CEO of this bank always promoted the monetary rewards and the team work concept among staff. Therefore, rewarding system should be balanced among financial and no n-financial rewards as well as the Individual and the group incentives. . The Reward Management System is not consistent and sustainability. Employee reward systems can help employers achieve their organizational goals. However, employers must first identify each objective clearly before developing tangible and intangible reward systems. New CEO had taken a decision to pay in double the EPF,ETF and gratuity over and above the legalized criteria. But he hasn’t checked whether the organization can afford such a huge expensein the future. At the same time legal consultants also advised the top management not to grant excessive financial rewards.Therefore, such a reward managements system doesn’t have a sustainability, consistency and credibility 4. The Reward Management System does not catering the purpose. Employers must offer employee rewards that the company's employees find meaningful. Well-managed employee reward management system have tangible affirmative effects on the employer’s bottom line results such as Attraction, retention, motivation, engagement, return on investment. Throughout the case it doesn’t demonstrate the key values of reward management system.Further, Majority of the staff of the SerendibB bank left and joined with new foreign bank due to frustration. In that case SerendibB was failed to full fill the basic requirement of the reward management system. 5. The Reward Management System does not cater the requirements of the existing staffWithinfirst six months of opening the competitor banks, SerendiB lost over 50% of customer base and had to face huge drop in revenue. Also, many of the senior staff members joined the new foreign banks. By that moment, top management of the SerendibB bank well knew the reason behind.But, nobody take steps to change or enhance the existing rewarding system so that best fit for the existing employees and retain them with the SerendibB bank. Alternatives 1. SerendibBBank should come u p with incentive plans as follows for their employees in order to reward staffs who contribute the most to the profitability goals of the bank. This allows employees to reap the rewards to their business acquisition activities and helps to promote a sense of self-achievement and teamwork. a) Bank need to identify those products and services that it wants to concentrate upon based on product demand, pricing and risk analysis.For example, when a bank decides that too much of its assets are related to the condominium market, a shift toward other income producing real estate is made. Once the current year product and profitability goals are established, the various departments of the bank are informed of the products that the bank is going to pursue. b) It is recommended consult with staff and trade union and gets their ideas of a new incentive system. Also, management can conduct brief survey to get the ideas of staff. Provide clear choices in survey in order to get clear answers.Ask q uestions like â€Å"Would you prefer a cash reward or a personalized plaque for being employee of the month? † Employee surveys should also list a variety of monetary and non-monetary awards and ask employees to list their preferences. c) A bank profitability system takes each product that the bank offers and classifies it according to the responsible department and customer account. The various customer accounts are assigned to specific employee who manage the account and increase the business volume of the bank with the customer. The employees also acquire new customer accounts that generate profit.Therefore, a proper profitability system must be capable of tracking the progress of existing and new customer accounts by employee in order to reward the efforts of the employee through the incentive program of the bank d) Once the various income-producing goals are established for the bank, the acquisition incentive program is communicated to the departments involved. For examp le, if incentive payments are being offered for acquiring new real estate business loans, the program details what the employee needs to do in order to earn an incentive payment.The typical program involves the payment of an upfront fee to the employee of two percent for the original acquisition of new business and a five percent payment after the first year of operation from the ongoing business of the customer. This type of program tends to bring the operation of the bank together e) The continual monitoring of the profit and loss goals of the bank according to customer and assigned employee must be transparent and available to the relevant employee, as well as to the department supervisor. This allows for total follow-up and monetary remuneration.It also shows where adjustments need to be made due to problematic relationships. Furthermore, it provides the historical base for progress and motivation. f) Measure employee satisfaction of new or improved incentive plan by obtaining i deas of employees or implementing a survey and review exit interview information. In addition, analyze turnover rates before and after implementing the employee incentive program to measure the effectiveness of the new or improved rewards system. 2. Monetary incentives encourage employee compliance, rather than encouraging risk-taking, since most monetary rewards consider only employee performance.Employees may be motivated to perform in certain ways to achieve monetary rewards, rather than doing something because it is the right thing to do. This behavior can disrupt or end good working relationships among associates, since they have become competitors rather than co-workers, which ultimately disrupts the overall work environment. Non-monetary incentives have been used to reward employees for their good work by providing opportunities for training, flexible work schedules, improved work environments and sabbaticals.Therefore it is essential to take a good balance between non-moneta ry and monetary incentives as well as the group and individual incentives. Because it results in a more satisfying program to address the diverse interests and needs of employees. 3. With the lost of customer base, SerendibB bank is in a terrible finance situation. Bank is still paying the statutory payments in double to existing employees due to wrong decision taken by its CEO. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately stop such extra payment (EPF,ETF; Gratuity)done by the bank to its employees and on behalf of employees. . SerendibB Bank need effective reward systems in order to attract employees to the bank keep their existing employees and maintain a satisfied workforce. The primary employee reward is usually pay. But, SerendibB has to offer a total reward system that includes good pay and other non-monetary incentives. Designing a total reward system is important task to be done by the bank to overcome the current problem it has faced. Therefore, bank can implement following to attract external people. a) Develop a competitive pay strategy.Benchmark (two foreign banks) the market pay scale for each compensated position in the organization. Once pay scales are determined, Deputy CEO can decide which positions should be paid at, below or above the average pay rate. Critical positions in the organization are often paid at higher rates to keep valuable employees and avoid wasting resources on employee searches. b) Establish work-life rewards. These rewards include paid or unpaid sick time, paid lunch and break times, childcare assistance, variable work schedules and other benefits that don't normally include pay, but are seen as valuable by employees.Organizations that are in a position that precludes paying traditional benefits can sometimes keep employees by offering these types of rewards c) Develop meaningful employee recognition programs. Many employees respond to simple recognition for a job well done. This can be as easy and spontaneous as a simple â⠂¬Å"thank you† or more organized as a monthly or quarterly recognition lunch or dinner. It's important that people who are recognized are truly outstanding workers. Depending on the profitability of the organization employees be recognized with anything from cash to event tickets to a certificate. ) Initiate a career development program. Many employees will stay at organizations that offer fewer benefits if they can see that there is possible job advancement available in the future. Offering management training programs that truly given employee a leg up on future career advancement can be viewed as a valuable reward. This can be a very low-cost reward system that keeps employees for the long-term. It's important to only offer training to employees who truly deserve it. 5. At this crucial time, it is important to retain existing employees.Therefore it is requires to offer them a short tem rewards such as meal allowances, bonuses, transport allowances, health and life insurance , and annual vacation in order to keep employees. Conclusion Most people work mainly or even exclusively for the money they earn. No employee refuses more money, whether it is a one-time reward or a permanent pay increase, but employee rewards need not always be monetary. Raises and bonuses are among the most potent workplace rewards. The importance of rewards in the workplace extends beyond providing increased pay.Therefore, it is important to starta proper reward system in the bank with the aim of getting below results to the SerendibB bank and overcomeexisting problems which bank is experienced now. Staff Retention Staff turnover is expensive. It costs a company from 120 to 200 percent of an employee's annual salary to replace him when he leaves. New hires often require considerable time to reach peak performance. Staffs who feel that the bank recognizes their efforts are less likely to seek jobs elsewhere than those who feel that they are taken for granted. Maintaining MoraleAt this moment staffs of SerendibBsuffer from low morale. This is especially due to unhappy with CEOs new approach towards the reward system. Providing rewards can boost morale and need not be much costly. Enhancing Performance Rewarding employees often improves performance on the job. Nonmonetary rewards often produce surprisingly sustained increases in staff productivity. Raises and bonuses also increase staff productivity. â€Å"Carrot† Versus â€Å"Stick† Motivation Bank staff is consisted with educated employees. Taking a â€Å"stick† approach to bank discipline is often counterproductive in motivating staff.Punishments, in the form of negative public recognition, can quickly disintegrate into a finger-pointing exercise among employees eager to keep the spotlight away from themselves. Therefore, it is very vital to have a effective rewarding system in SerendibB bank to speed up the recruitment process and as well as to retain the existing staff . Implementatio n Implementing an employee reward program is a great way to push workers to excel. Not only does a program generate results for the people who win awards, but it also tends to increase productivity and drive staff to give their most to the SerendibB Bank.Therefore, it is recommended to consider the below given areas when implementing and employee reward program to the SerendibB Bank. Director HR should take an initiative to implement a reward policy for the Bank so that it would be clear to the bank staff. Also, bank need to initiate a grievance handling system, so that staff can come up with any problem they have and look for a solution. If such is available staff might wait and see whether they can have solution before they go for drastic actions such as leaving form the bankCreate two lists of goals, one for the bank and one for the staff. Be clear on what the staff are expected to do within the program and what bank want to achieve by creating it. Increasing customers, improving staff morale or rewarding hard staff are all acceptable goals, as long as bankis clear on them. Decide on the type of prize that will be awarded. Prizes can be symbolic (an actual certificate or medal) or they can be material and focus on money rewards, special items or long-term rewards, such as more time off or a raise. Announce the timing of the reward system.It doesn't really matter bank plan on handing out awards on a monthly or quarterly basis, but it has to plan in advance. Management of SerendibBlet the staff know what to expect and when. Once announce the program, HR department of the bank can do updates throughout the month or quarter to show where the process is going and how everybody involved is doing. Designate a leader to keep track of the system. This could be a manager, a staff who is not participating in the program. Create a schedule or a follow-up system so bank staff can track themselves and make the process easier for the leader..

Essay on Sport Psychology - 1037 Words

Sport Psychology: How it Helps Athletes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In our society today it seems like sports rule the land. Everywhere we look, there is some kind of sporting event going on or being televised. Almost everyone could be considered a fan of at least one sport. Some people follow sports like a religion. With such an increased focus on sports, the athletes performances are put under a microscope. This puts more pressure on athletes to give a winning performance. No longer do athletes play for fun, they play to win. This isnt happening just on the professional level; it is happening on all levels of sport. From little league to backyard football, the goal is to win at all cost. With this increase pressure, athletes are†¦show more content†¦(Miserandino, 1998, p. 287) Athletes can also suffer greatly from anxiety and stress. (Holm, Beckwith, Ehde, Tinius, 1995, p. 463) Any of these conditions can be detrimental to ones competitive ability. Techniques such as mental imagery training and relaxation technique s can be used to attack problems in these areas. (McKenzie, Howe, 1997, p. 196) Marianne Miserandinos research was focused on failure, and why athletes believe that they dont accomplish their goals. She learned that starting at young age, athletes are told that failure comes from their lack of ability. This is called learned helplessness. (Miserandino, 1998, p. 287) In her study she approached this problem by splitting her subject into two groups. One group received feedback about their shooting techniques and were told that lack of effort was the reason for missed shots, not lack of ability. The other group received only feedback on their techniques. After her 4-week study was done, the group that received the positive reinforcement showed more mastery of the skills and greater improvement than their counterparts. (Miserandino, 1998 p. 286) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another study also used basketball free throws as the basis for its study. Craig Wrisberg and Mark Anshel did this study. It looks at the effectiveness of applying cognitive techniques to improve performance of shooting free throws. (Wrisberg, Anshel, 1989, p. 95)Show MoreRelatedSport Psychology : Sports Psychology1599 Words   |  7 PagesSports Psychology Sports psychology is a relatively new topic of research that first started out in 1925 as a preparation tactic for athletes before an important event to increase chances of success (Joyce, 2008). In the world today sports psychology is increasingly being used in sports but also manipulated into research to use in organizational groups. 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