Moodle as a communication tool in CULC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Moodle as a communication tool in CULC - Essay Example Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment or simply Moodle is an Open Source platform for e-learning. It is sometimes referred to as course management system or learning management system (LMS) which provides the basis for communication and learning tools which is created for the sole purpose of facilitating e-learning (Moodle, 2006). Given the popularity of Moodle, CULC also implemented the system across its campuses for the ease of students. Although many advantages are there of Moodle, it has been subjected to criticism as a communication tool in CULC. Critical Evaluation Moodle is an open source system which subjects it to many criticisms of being of this system. Open source systems as suggested by Petrus and Sanky (2007) are risky to implement because the modules used for such systems are not proven. It is also argued that open source software is costly to administer as it depends on continuous changing resources and evolving patches and upgrades. Such is the case wit h Moodle. Problems occur with Moodle during too much customization which makes it unable to be integrated with student information and administrations system, used as an administration model to support many departments and campuses at once, sophisticated capabilities for assessing and grading assignments and quizzes, and a complete proper software with navigating and learning materials (Cole and Foster, 2007). Moodle, on the surface, looks like an excellent learning system for CULC. Teachers and students can communicate with each other through this system. In addition, homework, assignments and quizzes can be set and completed online. The implementation of Moodle as a communication tool at CULC remains a critical issue. Any community needs followers without which it would be useless. Likewise, if no students contribute their knowledge to the discussions, the communication module of Moodle is useless. This is exactly the case in CULC. Students are not motivated to use Moodle as a com munication tool because of which forums and discussions are closed for communication by default which is a technological error in Moodle. The feature of ‘quiz module’ is sometimes used to set assignments or homework which is distracting for students. An instructor sometimes sets quizzes, announces deadlines or assignments through this module which is failure of Moodle as a communication tool (Cole and Foster, 2007). Technical issues such as the quiz can be submitted for automatic marking as many times as possible even after the limits imposed by the instructor remains problem for the Moodle operators as it is still to be tested for adequacy (Cole and Foster, 2007). The features of forums and group discussions are not so important features of the Moodle on which much emphasis has been given by the creators of it as instructors already have the email lists for the students which allows them to communicate through the email (Petrus and Sanky, 2007). In addition to this, Pe trus and Sanky (2007) also argue that resources, tutorials and documentation are not stored on the CULC Moodle which would not be so if placed on the campus websites. The major criticism that CULC Moodle has received is the underdeveloped Moodle websites and lack of time for improving the websites to provide the students with a more customized and fully functional website. Furthermore, many students are not fully adept to use the Moodle interface and prefer face-to-face communication as means of learning. Although many instructors are focusing on educating the students on the usage of Moodle, it will still take time for students to become completely adaptive to the e-learning environment (Moodle, 2006; Petrus and Sanky, 2007). So, Moodle although conceptually is a great idea to be used as a communication tool, there is still room for much improvement in terms of interfacial and technical issues as well as the way the students and

Technology and Bullying Essay Example for Free

Technology and Bullying Essay I don’t know much about the topic I chose and I have never personally experienced bullying or cyber bullying myself. I have, however, seen on the news and read about cyber bullying and the growing trend it is becoming. I remember a very specific case that happened two years ago at Rutgers University where a closeted-gay college student’s roommate secretly videotaped him performing sexual acts. The roommate then released the video on the Internet and the gay college student committed suicide two days later. The case had just finished last month and the defendant was found guilty of a hate crime and sentenced to 30 days in jail. This definitely caught my interest toward cyber bullying and I started to take notice that it is happening frequently across the nation. I also know that currently forty-nine states have an anti-bullying law in effect. Part II – What I Want to Find Out From the research, I want to find out how technology is contributing to cyber bullying, or bullying. * How frequently do students bully other students? * When and where did the first cases of cyber bullying take place? * Is it just in the United States that cyber bullying exists? * Can bullying be prevented, and if so, how? Part III – The Search The word â€Å"bullying† is defined as using strength or influence to intimidate someone, forcing them to do what one wants. It is also used as a theme in many children and adolescent books such as Oliver Twist and The Chocolate War. Bullying has been around for as long as anyone can remember, possibly since the age of humanity began. However, only recently has bullying caught the attention of the public and scientific community. Dan Olweus, a Norwegian researcher, emerged with the first scientific studies on bullying in the 1970s. Bullying is now acknowledged throughout the world as an issue among children and youth, and research on the topic is increasing (Hymel, and Swearer). There is still scientific dispute as to the nature of bullying and why it begins. There are a multitude of reasons why someone feels the need or want to bully another person. Nevertheless, most researchers believe the aggression starts with wanting to cause deliberate harm to the victim, having the bullying occur repeatedly, and the difference of power between the bully and the victim (Olweus 422). One of the reasons may be because the person behind the bullying feels a â€Å"sense of power† when they harass someone. They like to become dominant in this situation and if the victim does become submissive, the bully feels as if they’ve fulfilled their goal and may repeat this process for a long time. Another reason may be that the bully wishes to befriend and feel close with the victim; to have a sense of belonging. As Dagmar Strohmeier states in her article Bullying and its Underlying Mechanisms, â€Å"If this wish for affiliation is a motive for bullying, the victim pl ays an important role in establishing and maintaining group coherence. If the harassment of the victim leads to a closer bond within the bullying group, the perpetrator reaches his goal and the negative behavior is reinforced.† As long as the victim is still submissive, the bully will constantly harass them until the bully is content (Strohmeier). When thinking of bullying, usually people think of a sort of physical interaction – the big kid picking a fight with a smaller kid. However, there are cases where numbers come into play; groups of students will pick on one individual. This is not uncommon and in fact, happens as often as one-on-one bullying (Hymel, and Swearer). There are, essentially, two types of bullying: physical and mental. Physical bullying is direct contact between the aggressor and the victim, and includes punching, kicking, pushing, or any physical contact with the bully and victim. The bully will not stop the violence until his or her victim is unable to retaliate back. Physical bullying is also not limited to school, and can occur at home, the office, or anywhere the bully chooses. Mental bullying may seem less harsh than physical bullying and may not physically damage the victim, but it can emotionally. Mental, or verbal, bullying involves name calling, making fun of a person’s appearance, a nd making offensive remarks to the victim. Making verbal threats of violence is also verbal bullying. There is also indirect bullying where the person will spread rumors and stories about someone else although it may not be true. This type of bullying accounts for 18.5% of bullying. Social alienation is another where the bully will intentionally exclude another from a group. But the type of bullying that is gaining ground is cyber bullying (Time for Tolerance). Cyber bullying is when a child or teen is being harassed, threatened, or embarrassed by usually another teen, and the bully is using the Internet, cell phones, or any other technologies. It includes sending threats or cruel messages to a person’s email account and cell phone. Cyber bullies also spread rumors online or through texts, and post unkind messages on web sites or social networking sites. Pretending to be another person using someone else’s account or making a fake account and sending harmful messages is another form of cyber bullying. Boys are more prone to take part in tradition bullying, physical bullying, whereas girls are more likely to cyber bully. (Bullying Statistics). Most cyber bullies and their victims are teens, and there are numerous cases where the victim being cyber bullied will harm themselves, and even commit suicide. Cyber bullying â€Å"has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyber stalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyber stalking is NEVER called cyber bullying† (â€Å"Stop Cyberbullying†). In 2007, a mother created a fake account and posed as a boy to befriend a former friend of her daughter. The mother then began posting insults and creating posts about the daughter’s former friend which were hurtful and untrue. The teen, who was battling depression, soon committed suicide. It is hard to believe a parent or adult will do that to a child but there have been several cases where a parent will actually be the person cyber bully. Majority of the reason why a parent will cyber bully anoth er teen is because they believe they are protecting their children, but are, instead, harming another (â€Å"Stop Cyberbullying†). There are various reasons as to why teens feel the need to cyber bully someone. Sometimes the cyber bully is motivated by resentment or jealousy, and sometimes they do it for entertainment. Another reason may be because they are bored and have nothing to occupy themselves with. Some may do it unintentionally, and others do it for torment and to get a reaction from the victim. Although traditional bullying still occurs more than cyber bullying, the amount of cyber bullying happening in today’s world is consistently growing because of all the technologies being available. This means that cyber bullying happens worldwide and cyber bullies are sometimes strangers from halfway around the globe. (Patchin). Despite the seriousness and harmful effects of cyber bullying, it is common among teens and youth. According to a study done by the i-SAFE foundation in 2003, more than one in three teens have received and experienced cyber threats, and over 23 percent of teens are repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet. Cyber threats are when teens post messages about harming themselves or another person and are sometimes followed by actual acts of violence. There have also been reports that cyber bullies will make FaceBook pages or web pages dedicated to insulting and bashing their victim, and 75 percent of teens have visited these sites. According to a UCLA study on cyber bullying, one in five teens report having been cyber bullied by someone they know or a complete stranger, and the study also found that 85 percent of teens that were bullied online are still bullied at school. Still, only 1 in 10 teens who have been cyber bullied tell a parent or adult and only 1 in 5 cyber bullying incidents are reported to law enforcement (Cyber Bully Alert). Currently, forty nine states have passed anti-bullying laws, and a number of state legislatures are proposing laws to require schools to have anti-bullying policies and programs. If someone is charged and convicted of bullying someone, they are charged with a misdemeanor and possibly serve time in jail. Cyber bullying is against the law but most of the laws in many states are not enforced because cyber bullying usually takes place outside of school. Still, that hasn’t stopped lawmakers from trying to enact and stiffen cyber bullying laws. At least five states want to add penalties to cyber bullying, and in 2009 North Carolina passed a law that criminalizes cyber bullying, making it a misdemeanor for youth under 18. Senator Jeffrey Klein of New York is one of the law makers that want to make sure cyber bullying can be punishable by law. Klein stated that â€Å"When I was growing up, you had a tangible bully and a fight after school. Now you have hordes of bullies who are terrorizing over the Internet or other forms of social media.† Under his proposed law, anyone that uses technologies to harass or stalk someone could be convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and face prison time. Some, however, oppose these laws believing that it limits freedom of speech (Alcindor). Although it may seem unlikely for anyone to not support anti-bullying laws, there are a few groups that are no in favor with the law at all. A group called Focus on the Family, a global Christian ministry, believes that these anti-bullying laws cross â€Å"the line in a lot of ways beyond bullying into indoctrination, just promoting homosexuality and transgenderism† (Hall). Focus on the Family has been a supporter anti-anti-bullying laws because they believe that these laws are a reason to teach children about gay marriage and not about bullying. Most of the groups that oppose anti-bullying laws are religious groups, and most agree with Focus on the Family. There have been a few states that have passed or tried to pass anti-bullying laws that protect bullies who use their religion as to why they bully others. This caused outrage among the public and most of these supposed anti-bullying laws have since been voted out or the specific clause has been removed (Hall). There are several ways to prevent bullying, or cyber bullying, from happening. First is beginning an educational campaign with children and teens, and informing others what exactly is cyber bullying and the steps to prevent it from happening to them. Teaching youth how not to unintentionally become part of cyber bullying will help slow down cyber bullies. Children need to be taught that being silent while another is being hurt is not alright, and if they stand up with the victims, cyber bullies can be stopped. Another way is keep personal information private. Children and teens should not share passwords with friends or strangers to keep themselves safe. Sharing this personal information can give cyber bullies the opportunity to hack into personal emails and social sites, and post damaging things online. And once things are posted on the Internet, it may be impossible to delete it permanently. Adolescents should also know that if they are targeted by a cyber bully to not respond and instead block the cyber bully and inform a parent or adult that can help them. Checking to see who they are sending messages and emails to is another way of preventing cyber bullying. Making sure that they are sending it to the right person and place will help stop cyber bullies from receiving private messages. Also, teens should know that it is not alright to forward and send other people’s emails and personal information without their permission. Teenagers also should not send emails or post messages online if they are angry. If they do, they may provoke the cyber bully and turn into a cyber bully themselves (â€Å"Stop Cyberbullying†). Part IV – What I Learned Through this research, I learned that cyber bullying is persistently becoming more known, and although traditional bullying still happens, cyber bullying is growing. Because of all the new technology becoming available to people of all ages, especially adolescent teens, it is easier for someone to become a cyber bully victim. Cyber bullying is also common in the lives of teens today, and happens worldwide. There are several effective ways to prevent cyber bullying and states in the United States are recognizing that bullying is a serious matter. Although bullying and cyber bullying cannot be stopped in a day, it is possible to stop bullies from hurting another person. Works Cited Alcindor, Yamiche. States look to enact cyberbully law. USA TODAY. Gannett Co. Inc., 19 Mar 2012. Web. 9 Jun 2012. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-18/state-cyberbullying-laws/53626736/1 Cormier, Robert. The Chocolate War. New York: Dell Publishing, 1974. Print. Cyber Bully Data, Statistics, and Facts. Cyber Bully Alert. Vanden Corporation, 23 May 2012. Web. 7 Jun 2012. http://www.cyberbullyalert.com/blog/2012/05/cyber-bully-data-statistics-and-facts/ Cyber Bully Statistics. Bullying Statistics. Bullying Statistics, 2009. Web. 7 Jun 2012.

William Shakespeares Henry IV Essay -- Shakespeare Henry IV 4 Essays

William Shakespeare's Henry IV In Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 2, the brilliant playwright introduces us to several complex and intricate themes, clever language, and a fascinating cast of multifaceted characters, including the thief Jack Falstaff, who may be as wise as his belly is big, and the young Prince Hal, who conceals his shrewd mind and physical prowess beneath a soiled reputation for â€Å"unthrifty† behavior. Perhaps the most dynamic character of the play is Hotspur, or Henry Percy, the idealistic rebel warrior, and Hal’s rival for power, glory, and the throne. Although the public perceives him to be just an intense, hotheaded he-man, Hotspur actually has many different dimensions to his personality. Hotspur shows, particularly in his interactions with his wife, Lady Percy, that his attitude toward the roles of masculinity and femininity differ from the public’s expectations of him, and his expression of certain feminine characteristics proves that he is not solely the manl y-man warrior he is thought to be. The first impressions of Hotspur in the play support his macho reputation well. King Henry himself speaks favorably of Percy, calling him â€Å"the theme of honor’s tongue† (I.i.81) and in comparing Hotspur with the King’s own son Hal he expresses his wish that â€Å"some night-tripping fairy had exchang’d / In cradle-clothes our children where they lay / And call’d mine Percy, his Plantagenet!† (I.i.86). We learn that Hotspur is valiant, and skillful in war: he has recently captured several important hostages. He is also full of pride, and is not afraid to stand up to the King in requesting the freedom of his brother-in-law, Mortimer. Conversely, we also see that Hotspur is apt to fall prey to his i... ...nvied by many, and as Lady Percy says in this play’s sequel, Henry IV Part 2, after his death, â€Å"He was indeed the glass / Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves† (Part 2, I.iii.21-22). However, it is clear now that Hotspur is not exactly the ultimate 15th century manly-man: he is prone to â€Å"woman’s moods† such as irrational and hurried thoughts, he engages in hissy fits, and his relationship with his wife is one of balanced teasing and tenderness rather than superficiality and traditional male/female inequality. Albeit being a talented soldier and a challenging opponent, Hotspur is capable of exposing his feminine qualities in situations such as those with his wife. Hotspur is one of the most complex characters in this play, and the fact that he can balance his masculine image with typically feminine traits proves that he truly is the most dynamic character. William Shakespeare's Henry IV Essay -- Shakespeare Henry IV 4 Essays William Shakespeare's Henry IV In Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 2, the brilliant playwright introduces us to several complex and intricate themes, clever language, and a fascinating cast of multifaceted characters, including the thief Jack Falstaff, who may be as wise as his belly is big, and the young Prince Hal, who conceals his shrewd mind and physical prowess beneath a soiled reputation for â€Å"unthrifty† behavior. Perhaps the most dynamic character of the play is Hotspur, or Henry Percy, the idealistic rebel warrior, and Hal’s rival for power, glory, and the throne. Although the public perceives him to be just an intense, hotheaded he-man, Hotspur actually has many different dimensions to his personality. Hotspur shows, particularly in his interactions with his wife, Lady Percy, that his attitude toward the roles of masculinity and femininity differ from the public’s expectations of him, and his expression of certain feminine characteristics proves that he is not solely the manl y-man warrior he is thought to be. The first impressions of Hotspur in the play support his macho reputation well. King Henry himself speaks favorably of Percy, calling him â€Å"the theme of honor’s tongue† (I.i.81) and in comparing Hotspur with the King’s own son Hal he expresses his wish that â€Å"some night-tripping fairy had exchang’d / In cradle-clothes our children where they lay / And call’d mine Percy, his Plantagenet!† (I.i.86). We learn that Hotspur is valiant, and skillful in war: he has recently captured several important hostages. He is also full of pride, and is not afraid to stand up to the King in requesting the freedom of his brother-in-law, Mortimer. Conversely, we also see that Hotspur is apt to fall prey to his i... ...nvied by many, and as Lady Percy says in this play’s sequel, Henry IV Part 2, after his death, â€Å"He was indeed the glass / Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves† (Part 2, I.iii.21-22). However, it is clear now that Hotspur is not exactly the ultimate 15th century manly-man: he is prone to â€Å"woman’s moods† such as irrational and hurried thoughts, he engages in hissy fits, and his relationship with his wife is one of balanced teasing and tenderness rather than superficiality and traditional male/female inequality. Albeit being a talented soldier and a challenging opponent, Hotspur is capable of exposing his feminine qualities in situations such as those with his wife. Hotspur is one of the most complex characters in this play, and the fact that he can balance his masculine image with typically feminine traits proves that he truly is the most dynamic character.

Nen perfoming loan in banks

Banks exist to provide financial Intermediation services while at the same time endeavor to maximize profit & share holders value. Availing credit to borrowers is one means by which banks maximize their profit. Loans are the dominant asset & represent 50-75 percent of total amount of most banks, generate the largest share of operating Income & represent the banks greater risk exposure (Mac Donald & Koch, 2006). Managing loan in a proper way is not only has a positive effect on the banks performance but on borrowers firms and the country as a whole.Failure to manage moans, which make up the largest share of banks assets, would likely lead to the episode of high level of NP. According to MIFF (MIFF, 2009), a non performing loan is any loan which interest and principal payments are more than 90 days over due ; or more than 90 days worth of interest has been refinanced. Under the Ethiopians banking business directives (N.B., 2008), non performing loans are defined as â€Å"Loans and Adv ances whose credit quality has deteriorated such that full collection of principal and/or interest in accordance with the contractual repayment of term loans or advances in question†.Theoretically, there are so many reasons why loans fail to perform. Some of this includes, depressed economic conditions, high real Interest rate, Inflation, lenient terms of credit, high credit growth & risk appetite and poor credit monitoring are among the others. Forestall (2002) categorize non performing loans to bank specific and macro economic conditions. Accordingly, this study is focused on assessing factors that contributed for nonperforming loans of Awash International Bank mainly targeting on bank specific determinants of non performing loans. 1. 2 Statement of the problemAn efficient and well functioning of financial sector is essential for the development of any economy. Loan qualities are one of the indicators of financial sectors soundness. A sound financial system among other thing s requires maintenance of low non performing loans. In Ethiopians context. The banks In the country are required to maintain ratio of their non performing loans below five percent (N.B., 2008). The data obtained from the 2011/12 & 2012/13 annual progress report of BIB shows that the ratio of non performing loan of the bank was below the threshold for both years.Despite the fact, the non performing loan of the bank was Increased from Birr 98 million in 201 1/12 to Birr 1 77 million in 2012/13, showing an increments of Birr 108. 9 million (104%). Similarly, the bank's non performing loan ratio was increased from 1. 9% to 2. 8% during the same period. Even, this ratio was above ten percent in some branches of BIB. This fact raises the issue of what causes this non performing loan Increment. Accordingly, two research questions were drawn to investigate this Issue. What does the tends of loans and NP looks like in BIB? Defaulted? What are the main causes for these defaulted loans? 3 Obje ctives of the Study The general objective of the study is to review the non performing loan of BIB and to identify its causes. Side by side, the study was assessed the following issues. Reviewed Loans & NP trends of BIB? 0 Indemnify which loan category, loan purpose & economic sectors more defaulted. Searched the main causes of NP in BIB in general & identify those branches that were highly contributed for this NP. Assessed the credit assessment & follow up practice of other commercial banks. 0 Recommended some remedial actions to be taken to reduce these non performing loans. 1. 4. MethodologyResearch Design: A sample survey was carried out to seek the characteristics of defaulted loan files and to identify likely causes for their loan default. Survey Population: 25- Branches were recorded NP as of June 30, 2013, comprising about 74 defaulted loan files. Sampling Design: Using random sampling method, seventeen branches and 43 defaulted loan files were taken for this study purpose. Table 1. 1: NP Recorded Branches Profile Branches Total NP recorded branches Sampled NP Branches % GE Responded branches Total NP files Sampled NP files % city 119 829 31 21 68 outlying 148 578 432251 Total 25 176017744358Data Sources: To achieve the stated objective, both primary and secondary data were utilized. The primary data was collected by interviewing Selected Alba's Credit Directorate staffs, Compliance & Risk Management Department staffs that are on supervisory position. Questionnaires were also distributed to selected branches incurred loan default. Secondary data was utilized from various documents of BIB, mainly from Annual progress report of BIB, credit policies & procedures of the bank, NP action plan report and other related documents.Various published and unpublished literatures were also utilized from different sources grading the subject. Data Analysis & Presentation: After collection, the data was organized, analyzed & interpreted using both quantitative & quali tative descriptive analysis methods mainly tables, percentages, charts & etc. 1. 5 Scope & Limitations of the study Scope of the study The study was reviewed factors that contributed for non performing loan of BIB and it was focus on bank specific determinants of non performing loan.The spectrum of the study, therefore, includes: Examinations of loans & NP of BIB by loan category & individual economic sectors. – An in depth analysis of the loan file characteristics of the defaulted rowers with special reference to their likely causes for their loan default. – An in depth analysis Credit analysis & follow up practice of BIB with special reference to identification of their limitations that contributed for the banks non performing loans. – Suggestions of relevant non performing loan reduction strategies based on The respondents were busy and usually uncooperative.Particularly, some branch managers were unwilling to fill the questionnaire by themselves and order ot her officers to fill the questionnaire. As a result, the researcher had called phone many times to branches before getting a fulfilled questionnaire. In addition it was difficult to obtain some of the required data's from credit directorates since some of the data's were not compiled properly and regularly. Similarly, it was difficult to get the defaulted borrowers' to conduct interview with them to know their likely causes of loan default.Accordingly, the researcher was forced to see the likely causes of their loan default from the analysis of their loan files and interview conducted with staff members. Despite this limitation, the result of the research provided a meaningful basis for filling the gap and made recommendations that can be used by the management to improve performance of loan portfolio in BIB. 2. Literature Review 2. 1 Theoretical Review of Non- Performing Loans Loans and advances are the most profitable of all the assets of a bank. These assets constitute the primar y source of income by banks.As a business institution, a bank aims at making a huge profit. Since loans and advances are more profitable than any other assets, it is willing to lend as much of its funds as possible. But banks have to be careful about the safety of such advances. In the words of Dry. Leaf, the banker â€Å"has to tamper liberty with caution. If he is too liberal, he may easily impair his profits by bad debts, and if he is too timed, he may fail to obtain an adequate return on the funds which are confided to him for use. It is by his capacity in lending that a bank manager is Judged. A bank needs to be careful in giving loans as there is a greater risk which follows it in a situation where the loan defaults. Loan loss or defaulted loans puts a bank in a difficult situation especially when they are in greatest amount. Banks gives loans with uncertainty whether they are returned or not though they may hold some security. In assessing any proposal for n advance or a loa n, the banker has to satisfy himself/herself regarding the period for which the advance is required and the prospects of its repayment at the end of the period.He/she should not be carried away by the soundness of the security offered to him/her or the rate of interest. Profitability should be given only a sound consideration. He/she should also satisfy himself [herself about the purpose for which the advance is required. He/she is expected to discriminate against and discourage speculative advances. As a matter of fact most bank failures may be traced to faulty policies in respect of loans and advances. From the point of safety and liquidity, loan and advances are poor assets. The risk mostly ensues when loans become non- performing.Allocating loans has always been one of the central pillars of the banking business. Traditionally this marked the start of a long term relationship with the client, which would continue at least until the maturity of the loan. With the growth of deposi ts, banks are supposed to increase the lending. However, when Non-performing Loans (Naps) are high, the willingness to expand loan reduces. This relationship will be distorted under high NP condition. In any lending recess, there is inherent risk of loans being defaulted which leads to the concept of non- performing loans.The concept of non-performing loans has been defined in performing loans are defined as defaulted loans which banks are unable to profit from. They are loans which cannot be recovered within stipulated time that is governed by the laws of a country. The criterion for identifying non performing loans also varies in Africa. Some countries use quantitative criteria to distinguish between â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad† loans (e. G. , number of days of overdue schedule payments), while others rely on qualitative arms (such as the availability of information about the client's financial status, and perspectives about future payments).However, the Basel II Commi ssion emphasizes the need to evolve toward a standardized and internal rating-based approach. Accordingly, the Basel committee puts non performing loans as loans left unpaid for a period of 90 days. Under the Ethiopians banking business directive, non-performing loans are defined as â€Å"loans or advances whose credit quality has deteriorated such that full collection of principal and/or interest in accordance with the contractual payment terms of the loan or advances in question† It further provides that: . moans or advances with pre established repayment programs are nonperforming when principal and/ or interest is due and uncollected for 90 (ninety) consecutive days or more beyond the scheduled payment date or maturity. In addition to the above mentioned category of non- performing loans, the following are also considered as non- performing.Overdrafts and loans or advances that do not have re-established repayment program shall be non-performing when: – The debt re mains outstanding for 90 (ninety) consecutive days or more beyond the scheduled payment date or maturity; – The debt exceeds the borrower's approved limit for 90 (ninety) consecutive days or more; – Interest is due and uncollected for 90 (ninety) consecutive days and more; or – For the overdrafts, (I) the account has been inactive for 90 (ninety) consecutive days or deposits are insufficient to cover the interest capitalized during 90 (ninety) consecutive days or (it) the account fails to show the following debit balance at least once over 360 days preceding the date of loan review: 1 . 20% of approved limit or less 2. 5 % or less This is in accordance with the Basel rules. If a loan is past due 90 consecutive days, it will be regarded as non- performing.The criteria used in Ethiopians banking business to identify non- performing loan is a quantitative criteria based on the number of days passed from loan being due. 2. 2 Classification of Loans & Advances The Na tional bank of Ethiopia supervision of banking directives classifies loans and advances as follows. Pass loan: loans and advances in this category are fully protected by the current financial and paying capacity of borrower and are not subject to criticism. In general loans and advances, which are fully secured both as to ironical & interest by cash or cash substitutes are classified under this category regardless of past due status or other adverse credit factor. Special Mention: Any loan or advance past due 30 days or more, but less than 90 days is classified under this category.Substandard: Non performing loans or advances past due 90 days or more but less than 180 days is classified under this category. Doubtful: Non classified as doubtful. Loss: Non performing loans or advances past due 360 is classified as loss. As per the directive the provision for impairment losses is determined as follows Loan Category Pass loan Mention Extent of provision required 1% of outstanding loan b alances Special 3% of outstanding loan balances Substandard 20% of the net loan balance Doubtful balance Loss Non-performing Loans 65% of the net loan 100% of net loan balance 2. 3 Causes of Default culture is not a new dimension in the arena of investment. Rather in the present economic structure, it is an established culture.The redundancy of unusual happening becomes so frequent that it seems people prefer to be declared as defaulters. Basically, the non- performing loans are a result of the compromise of the objectivity of credit appraisal and assessment. The problem is aggravated by the weakness in the accounting, disclosure and grant of additional loans. In the assessment of the status of current loans, the borrower's credit worthiness and the market value of collateral are not taken into account thereby rendering it difficult to spot bad loans. The causes for loan default vary in different countries. It extends from borrower's specific act to banks weak regulatory mechanism i n advancing loans and monitoring procedures.Generally, in developing and underdeveloped countries, the reasons for default have a multi dimensional aspect. Various researchers have concluded various reasons for loan default. A. Reduced Attention to Borrowers Few of the loan defaults that make trouble for banks can be blamed on reduced attention to borrowers. Borrowers give better attention to the loans that they borrowed when they have the perception that better attention is given to them. Lending officers of institutions should try to keep up with their loans, visiting the borrower's premises at least once a year or up to a half a dozen times a year on larger loans. Banks rarely lose money solely because the initial decision to lend was wrong.Even where there are greater risks that the banks recognize, they only cause a loss after giving a warning sign. More banks lose money because they do not monitor their borrower's property, and fail to recognize warning signs early enough. Whe n banks fail to give due attention to the borrowers and what they are doing with the money, then they will fail to see the risk of loss. The objective of supervising a loan is to verify, first, whether the basis on which the lending decision was taken continues to hold good. And second whether the loan funds are being properly utilized for the purpose they were granted. . Macroeconomic Instability Macroeconomic stability and banking soundness are inexorably linked.Both economic theory and empirical evidence strongly indicate that instability in the macro economy is associated with instability in banking and financial markets and instability in these sectors is associated with instability in the macro economy. Most problems of poor loan quality faced by banks were compounded by macroeconomic rate also makes loan appraisal more difficult for the bank, because the viability of potential borrowers depends upon unpredictable development in the overall rate of inflation, its individual co mponents, exchange rates and interest rates. Moreover, asset prices are also likely to be highly volatile under such conditions. Hence, the future real value of loan security is also very uncertain.Banks do poorly both when product and asset price inflation accelerate unexpectedly and when inflation decelerates unexpectedly, unemployment increases, and/or aggregate output and income decline unexpectedly. Unexpected accelerations in inflation adversely affect banks that, on average, lend longer term at fixed-rates than they borrow because nominal interest rates will rise more than expected. This will increase their cost of deposits more than their revenues from loans. Decelerations in inflation and, in particular, bursting of asset prices harm banks because the value of their asset collateral is likely to decline below the value of the associated loans and fuel defaults and losses.Indeed, probably the greatest threat to banking stability in almost all countries is increasing asset pr ice. C. Unsound Assessment Mechanism and Weak Risk Consciousness Risk, and the ways, in which it can be identified, quantified and minimized, is key concerns for a banks management and its auditors when they are engendering the need to provide for bad and doubtful loans. No loan is entirely without risk. Every loan, no matter how well it is secured, and no matter who is the borrower, has the potential to generate loss for the lender. It is the degree of risk to which a loan is susceptible and the probability of loss that vary; these should normally be reflected in the interest margin and other terms set at the inception of the loan.A bank, in considering whether to lend or not, takes into account the quality of a borrower which is reflected in, inter alai, its past and projected profit reference, the strength of its balance sheet (for example, capital and liquidity) the nature of and market for its product, economic and political conditions in the country in which it is based, the q uality and stability of its management and its general reputation and standing. It is important for the bank to know the purpose of the loan, to assess its validity and to determine how the funds required for the payment of interest and the repayment of capital will be regenerated. D. Lack of Strict Admittance policies and no active exit Under the influence of idea of pursuing market share excessively, banks do not establish detailed and strict market admittance policies, which undermine the first risk to prevent gate and weaken the orientation effect of admittance policies to market.During pre-loan investigation, some relationship managers put little emphasis on authenticity and integrally review on related materials. They haven't clarified the true intended usage of the loan (especially when extending short-termed credit) and the review is too optimistic, which does not analyze the potential influence of changes in related factors. There is also no deep review on the market, no en ough understanding on enterprises' operation management situation, no horrors risk revaluation; inaccurate assessment, the risk of loans is not fully covered and the risk on group customers and affiliated enterprises are not identified effectively. The factors above damage the loans at the early stage. 2. Debt Recovery Processes interest comprises a banks principal source of revenue, and therefore, of profit. Accordingly, from a banks perspective it is essential that its borrowers keep their contractual commitments and repay interest and capital as scheduled. Defaults are inevitable, but when they occur a bank should take appropriate remedial action, or ailing that, recover the outstanding interest and capital promptly. Ethiopians Banks adopt different ways of recovering non- performing loans. These methods are one or the combination of the following: Settlement – This engages both the lender and the borrower in negotiation to settle through collection of cash.Reschedule/Rene wal – this method is used whenever a bank believes that the Naps can be regulated in favorable terms and conditions through negotiation (term loans) and renewals (overdrafts). This is not without limitation. National Bank Directive No. SUB/43/2008 states a bank shall not reschedule restructure or negotiate worth or medium term loan to a borrower for more than three periods. Before rescheduling, restructuring or renegotiating a short or a medium term loan, a bank shall collect in cash full amount of interest thereof and the following principal amounts: a. A minimum of 25% of outstanding principal balance in case of rescheduling, restructuring or renegotiating for the second time.

Job Characteristic Model Technical Coordinator Apple’s Research and Development Essay

Job Characteristic Model: Technical Coordinator Apple’s Research and Development Introduction Skill Variety                   The position of a technical coordinator at the Apple’s Research and development is increasingly demanding. As a requirement, my stay entails me to develop skills and talents, which responds to a high coordination strategy that responds to the elementary needs and routine. As a result, my skills variety impacted on the on the activities of establishing, guiding, encouraging, engaging and tackling critical research and administrative responsibilities. Task Identity                   Significantly, my roles influence other workers positively, in that my intervention encourages workers to be involved rapidly in the project rather than concentrate on an individual unit. For that reason, it is possible to complete the whole piece of work from the beginning to the end. It is possible to respond to these requirements since the team examines needs of the customer before commencing on a given activity. Task Significance:                   Given the operative nature of the job, it is possible to respond to requirements of the department since the team is involved psychologically at the process. Mentally, the team is made to understand the significance of each stage of the activity. To achieve that, the overall mission of the organization is broken down to ensure that the team gets first-hand needs of the organization, before commencing on the job. Autonomy:                   The characteristic enables employees to pursue milestone in a free but objected zone. Programmers, designers, researchers, and marketers are empowered by autonomous decision to independently choose what is to be performed. Hence, my role is to steer independent operation. I am, therefore, obliged to decide on how to time the performance. Feedback   Ã‚                  The characteristic enables me to determine the feedback mechanism that allows my team to have more information about the effectiveness of their performance. My role is to engage units in communication, using the organization ERP system.                   To enhance my motivation potential, I will be required to communicate with different team players on the way forward when it comes to making critical decisions. I will motivate and influence team players by requesting job progress daily. This way, I will show them I am part of the team References Juricek, J. (2014). Agile Project Management Principles. Lecture Notes on Software Engineering, 172-175. Source document

Mobile Phones essays

Mobile Phones essays Mobile Phones Progress or Pollutant? The Mobile Phone. Look at a mobile, there probably is one quite close to you right now, so just sit and look at it. Admire its straightforward design, and with that, think what you can do with it. By just pressing the correct arrangement of numbers on this device you can talk to anybody, anywhere as long as you have credit. These days, mobile phones provide an astonishing range of functions, and new ones are being added at a gradual pace. Depending on the model, you can: Keep track of appointments and set reminders Use the built-in calculator for simple math Get information (news, entertainment, stock quotes) from the Internet Integrate other devices such as PDAs, MP3 players and GPS receivers And of course the one and only txt messages Mobile Phones to me are The best thing since sliced bread. The Growth of communications especially the use of mobile phones since the 1980s has revolutionized global business life. The USA is the country with the most mobile phone users with 24 million 134 thousand 421 people and that, ladies and gentlemen was a survey done in 1998. People can communicate better than before with the aid of Mobiles and as I believe Esat are benefiting from it so it looks like an all round good thing. I dont see that mobiles used normally pose a health problem, but some people are using them for 20 30 minutes or more at a time, ant there is vast scientific evidence that there is a hazard to health from that kind of use take Veronica Guieran for example, after her murder the doctors did a post mortem on her and found that her brain had turned grey on one side of her head from overuse of the Mobile phone sh ...

Women in novels essays

Women in novels essays Jane Austen wrote the novel Sense and Sensibility in the 19th century whereas The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was written by Muriel Spark in the 20th century. The fact that these novels were written at different times means that the societies that they portray are different from each other in varying degrees depending on what aspect is taken into account. In both novels the main characters are women. In Sense and Sensibility the most important women are two sisters called Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. In The prime of Miss Jean Brodie Jean Brodie is the only main female character. The two novels involve different contexts; therefore, they are quite different from each other not only from the content point of view but also from the style of writing used by the authors. In this essay I will analyse the differences and similarities of the women in these two novels. In addition to this I will examine gender roles, the one of women in particular. The relationships between the two sexes are i mportant in both novels; therefore it is worth looking at that too. First of all I am going to write about The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. This novel is shorter than Sense and Sensibility, but it contains valuable information all the same. The style used to write this novel by Muriel Spark is very interesting; this is because the structure of the novel is segmented in different time spans. In other words the narration jumps from one year to another. Therefore, the novel is set in different years before and after the Second World War. It narrates about a primary school teacher who is going through the prime of her life and the effects of her ideas on some students she teaches, especially the Brodie set which is a group of girls who are Jean Brodies favourites. They are Sandy Stranger, Monica Douglas, Rose Stanley, Jenny Gray and Mary Macgregor. The striking featur...

What You Need to Know About Gables

What You Need to Know About Gables A gable is the triangular wall formed by a sloping roof. The roof is not the gable - the wall is the gable down to the roof line, but you generally need a gable roof to have a gable. Its common to name the triangular area made from a gambrel roof a gable, as well. Some definitions even include the end edges of the roof as part of the gable. When discussing gables with your architect or contractor, dont be shy about asking what their definition is. For example, some people call the gable wall as the wall on the gable side right down to the foundation. Others rightly call the gable wall as that part of the siding between the slopes of the roof. In general, the distinguishing feature of the gable is its triangular shape. Origins of the Word Gable Pronouned GAY-bull, the word gable may be derived from the Greek word kephalÄ“ meaning head. Gabel, the German word for a tined fork, seems to be a closer and more recent match to todays definition. One can imagine the impromptu construction projects at the German dining table using utensils to create primitive hut types of buildings - balancing forks, intertwined tines, into tent-like constructions. More Definitions of Gable the triangular portion of a wall defined by the sloping edges of the roof and a horizontal line between the eave line. Can also be a gabled dormer. - John Milnes Baker, AIA 1. The vertical triangular portion of the end of a building having a double-sloping roof, from the level of the cornice or eaves to the ridge of the roof. 2. A similar end when not triangular in shape, as of a gambrel roof or the like. - Dictionary of Architecture and Construction Types of Gables A building with a gable roof may be front-gabled, side-gabled, or cross-gabled. Like the illustration shown here, cross-gabled buildings have gables both on the front and on the side, created by a valley roof. Porches and dormers may be gabled. Gable dormers are actually specialized windows - or windows in gables. A pediment is a specific type of classical gable, less functionally dependent on the roof and more structurally useful atop a series of columns or as decoration above a door or window. Gables can extend above the roof line in fanciful designs or, more often, in parapets. The corbiestep is a parapet that can exaggerate the gable. Photos of gables show the varieties that can be found around the world. Different architectural styles, sizes, and decoration make this primitive architectural element come to life throughout the ages. The side gable is typical of Cape Cod style homes, and the front gable is common in many bungalows. Front and side gables are generally part of the Minimal Traditional style post-Depression homes from the mid-20th century. Katrina Cottages and the Katrina Kernel Cottage II are traditionally front-gabled. High-pitched gables are characteristic of Tudor style homes. Look for architectural details that often define a house style. The 1668 Turner-Ingersoll mansion in Salem, Massachusetts may be the most famous gabled house of all - the setting of Nathaniel Hawthornes 1851 novel The House of the Seven Gables. The Most Famous Gabled House Has Character How often have we driven by a house with two large front gables and felt that the eyes of the home, with raised brows, were inspecting our every move? The American author Nathaniel Hawthorne created such a character in his 19th century novel The House of the Seven Gables. The aspect of the venerable mansion has always affected me like a human countenance, says the books narrator in Chapter 1.  Like a human face? The deep projection of the second story gave the house such a meditative look, that you could not pass it without the idea that it had secrets to keep, and an eventful history to moralize upon. - Chapter 1 Hawthornes book makes us pause at these questions: What gives character to a home - and what architectural details make your home a character? It could be the gables. The house gables in Hawthornes 1851 book seem to interact with the other characters: But, as the sunlight left the peaks of the Seven Gables, so did the excitement fade out of Cliffords eyes. - Chapter 10 There was a vertical sundial on the front gable; and as the carpenter passed beneath it, he looked up and noted the hour. - Chapter 13 Nathaniel Hawthorne skillfully describes the gabled house as a living, breathing entity. The house, with all its gables, not only has character but also is a character in the novel. It breathes and is warmed by its burning (fireplace) heart: The house itself shivered, from every attic of its seven gables down to the great kitchen fireplace, which served all the better as an emblem of the mansions heart, because, though built for warmth, it was now so comfortless and empty. - Chapter 15 The human qualities of Hawthornes house create a haunting image. The gabled dwelling becomes the haunted house of New England storytelling. Can a house style or architectural detail get a reputation - like a person can get a reputation from behaviors? The American author Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests that it can. Nathaniel Hawthornes inspiration for the setting of his famous 1851 novel seems to be his cousins house in Salem, Massachusetts. What we know as The House of the Seven Gables was originally built in 1668 by a sea captain named John Turner. Sources American House Styles: A Concise Guide by John Milnes Baker, AIA, Norton, 1994, p. 173Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, Cyril M. Harris, ed., McGraw-Hill, 1975, p. 223

Managing Airline Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing Airline Operations - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  the two companies, easy jet company, and the Singapore airlines are both operating on competitive priorities to enable them fit efficiently in the market. The EasyJet Company has focused on low cost air flights. In fact, they were regarded as the cheapest European airline. The low cost priority has enabled them to compete favorably against giant players in the same field.   Also in their competitive priorities, the company has chosen to use identifiable marketing and operational techniques. Such techniques include the use of one type of aircrafts, rapid turnaround time, no in flight meals, and provision of cost conscious customer care services.  This paper outlines that  Singapore airlines as well are utilizing competitive priorities to operate well in the market. Some of the competitive priorities of this company include being positioned as premium carrier that has engaged in high quality services as well as high level of innovation in their service delivery charter.   The company is thus emphasizing on profitability rather than its size. In order to achieve these competitive strategies, the company has embarked on a number of internal organizational practices which enables it stay on top in the market competition and fight for the lion share of the market segment.  Some of the organizational strategies include continuous development of people and maintaining a consistent service design.

Team working Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Team working - Essay Example The significance of team work may be explained using the following photograph. The photograph also explains the how efficient service user delivery works, and why it is essential in the success of an organization. Picture illustrating the significance of teamwork (http://www.mkhalid.com/category/project-management-team-work/) The above photographs shows men repairing a broken railway line in a team. I have chosen the picture because the broken railway line connects two geographical regions just like consumers and organizations are connected by services and products. The three men on the right side come from the rightward geographic region while those on the left also reside in the region where they are working. I believe that the two groups represent nurses and patients in the real world. The railway line that connects the two regions is similar to services and communication that takes place between nurses and patients (Naumann, & Ehrhart, 2011). The picture, therefore, indicates tha t teams should compose of workers from different levels such as nurses and doctors, and because of efficient user service delivery, they should also include consumers (Parker, 2010). This is because consumers are the ultimate users of goods, and they determine the success of the activities in an organization (Hiebart, & Clart, 2011). This means that user involvement should begin at the lowest level of a firm in order for it to achieve its objective. The photograph above indicates that teamwork should take place with an objective of increasing efficiency. The men from the right and left in the above picture have come together to repair the broken railway line. This means that the participants of the project would not be together were it not for the purpose of repairing the transport network. The objective of teamwork should also be positive and beneficial to a large number of users (Belbin, 2010). In the photograph above, the aim of the team is to enhance transport of people and reso urces between the two geographic regions. One region in the picture practices agriculture while the other does not, and this means that the railways line helps to deliver food products in the non-agricultural region. I suppose that teamwork in nursing should aim at providing consumers with critical health services that cannot be found anywhere else in the market. Members of teams cooperate and develop efficient techniques of delivering their services (Jasper, 2011). The repairing the railway indicates that service user involvement should have an aim for it to succeed. The lack of efficient communication in a team may lead to conflicts among group members. This indicates that there is need for effective communication skills among team members to avoid distortion of messages. However, in the case of the occurrence of conflicts among members of a group, the team leader should be responsible for ensuring that the misunderstanding ends. A team leader who possesses problem solving skills resolves the conflicts using his skills. This saves time that would be wasted by members on the problem, and it ensures that the team works towards achieving its goals. In the photograph above, there seems to be no team leader, and the members are standing because there is a conflict. The team should have employed a leader who would

Our modern German state Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8750 words

Our modern German state - Dissertation Example The Nazis were aware of the tremendous power that could be wielded with a single image or a particular article. For them, art was just another tool by which they could communicate their agenda and win popular acceptance of their ideas. It was through the subtle inclusion of basic concepts regarding the vileness of the Jewish race and the superiority of the Aryan and German in art and media that the German populace was brought around to Hitler’s way of reasoning. Hitler controlled all aspects of the art world, determining what was printed in the newspapers, discussed on the radio, written about in books, painted, sculpted and constructed. Music and theater were not immune and the Bauhaus School was almost immediately disbanded as a possible threat to the Party. Sculptures in the Greek style were the preferred art form because of the way in which the stone could represent absolute perfection as a frozen moment in time. It was through the film The Eternal Jew that Hitler prepared the public for his extermination campaign against the Jews. However, like his architectural plans for building a cultural mecca at Linz, many of Hitler’s ideas proved to be too large to be realized and projects such as the redesign of Berlin never saw their completion. For the Reich, this implied the elimination of memories of defeat, social turmoil and class confrontation. For the US, paintings served as a powerful link between Germany's present and a retrievable past, while simultaneously facilitating a departure from Germany's cultural isolation and provincialism. The visual arts played a political role in the construction of a new German national heritage, a sanitized and acceptable meta-narrative of the German past.

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Project Management - Essay Example Measurement and accountability; check if the task has been a winner and if it has maintained all through. This is done by holding meetings and interviewing the leaders of their respective projects (Ganon, 2004). With the scope first, identify the project schedule and time management in which the project manager should come up with a realistic plan and its efficient management and define the time frame for completion of the project. Secondly, a real project is identified within the specified budget. Thirdly, procurement should be in place. Fourthly, consider the project quality. Fifthly, the project team should be looked at ensuring the project has the right skills, at the right place and the right duration to ensure there is the smoothness in the whole project time. Sixthly, ensure there is proper and prompt communication among the project players. Finally, identify the uncertainties. What are the possible causes of risks in that project, what is their possibility of occurrence and their severity, and what measures can we take to mitigate them ( Patel, 2008). Gantt charts and Critical paths help apparently spot where resources need to be anticipated and apportion them. The Gantt helps to ensure the project is within the budget constraint, a thing Mrs. Penny never took into consideration making the project to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. They also assist the team players to be on the same page as there is a visual framework of the work to be done. Chances of confusion and misunderstanding are minimized as all the stakeholders hold the same data. The Gantt chart also helps in undertaking the task relationship among the project team. The table helps in identifying how various works are interrelated towards achieving the objective of the project. If Penny Black could have plotted the activities of the different functions carried

Currency Depreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Currency Depreciation - Essay Example Dollar would be worth less relative to other world currencies. Thus, demand for U.S. goods in the international market would increase, and demand for foreign goods in the U.S. would decrease. Thereby, benefiting the balance of payments and improving the U.S. trade imbalance. In wake of losing comparative advantage with the U.S. in terms of exchange rate, other countries can protect their local firms through protectionist policies, higher tariffs, and duties etc. This would make U.S. goods expensive for foreign consumers and equate the depreciating dollar advantage of the U.S. Furthermore, the U.S. economy can benefit a lot if depreciation in dollar helps to increase exports and decrease imports. An increase in exports could stimulate demands and push firms to hire more people. This would be a good sign for the U.S. economy which is facing an unemployment rate of around 10%. Furthermore, the U.S. companies would get more revenue from selling abroad, and thus, would be obliged to pay more taxes to the government. However, a depreciated dollar can have negative consequences both for itself and the world. Oil is traded in U.S. Dollars on the international market, and oil and dollar share an indirect relationship. That is; a rise in dollar value decreases the price of oil, whereas a fall in the U.S. Dollar increases the price of oil.

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Project Management - Essay Example Measurement and accountability; check if the task has been a winner and if it has maintained all through. This is done by holding meetings and interviewing the leaders of their respective projects (Ganon, 2004). With the scope first, identify the project schedule and time management in which the project manager should come up with a realistic plan and its efficient management and define the time frame for completion of the project. Secondly, a real project is identified within the specified budget. Thirdly, procurement should be in place. Fourthly, consider the project quality. Fifthly, the project team should be looked at ensuring the project has the right skills, at the right place and the right duration to ensure there is the smoothness in the whole project time. Sixthly, ensure there is proper and prompt communication among the project players. Finally, identify the uncertainties. What are the possible causes of risks in that project, what is their possibility of occurrence and their severity, and what measures can we take to mitigate them ( Patel, 2008). Gantt charts and Critical paths help apparently spot where resources need to be anticipated and apportion them. The Gantt helps to ensure the project is within the budget constraint, a thing Mrs. Penny never took into consideration making the project to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. They also assist the team players to be on the same page as there is a visual framework of the work to be done. Chances of confusion and misunderstanding are minimized as all the stakeholders hold the same data. The Gantt chart also helps in undertaking the task relationship among the project team. The table helps in identifying how various works are interrelated towards achieving the objective of the project. If Penny Black could have plotted the activities of the different functions carried

Analyzing an Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analyzing an Argument - Essay Example Kowinski’s main argument is that leaving your children at the mall is not all that bad. It does provide a type of structure that in its own way replaces life at home and is needed by teenagers. In fact many teens prefer the mall over their own home life. It is a common denominator for the majority of teenagers all over the country (Kowinski, pg). Despite this preference the mall does provide many experiences that are important in a teenager’s life. The article does not insist that Kowinski’s opinion is the be all and end all on the situation. He calmly states examples and explanations for teenager’s behavior. He presents many perspectives on the topic of teenagers and malls and ultimately lets the reader make their own decision. It is interesting to note that despite the fact most teenagers like to hang out at the mall, malls were not originally designed for this purpose. A study was done by the International Council of shopping centers that stated even though teenagers act out in malls, they ultimately do not act out as badly as students who don’t frequent malls (Kowinski, pg). There are consequences to behavior at the mall as there is a level of supervision in the form of management and security. Ultimately malls want teenagers because they learn to value what shopping centers want, consumers. People who find value in owning the coolest and newest gadgets or styles. Malls are training teenagers to be sho ppers. This lesson on consumption can be considered as both positive and negative. Kowinski refers to a psychologist, Dr. David Elkand, a writer, Karen Lansky, CBS report, and Laurence Steinberg of the University of California at Irving on their opinions of teenagers growing up in malls. These sources may not be leaders in the field of sociology or consumer studies but they have a good deal of knowledge on the subject and raise some interesting points. Karen Lansky agrees that malls do substitute and provide some

The Philosophy on the Legalization of Drugs Essay Example for Free

The Philosophy on the Legalization of Drugs Essay There are many controversial topics being debated about in the United States. One topic most often debated about is the legalization of drugs. Of course people have their own beliefs and opinions on the subject, but are the arguments discussed about actually valid? Is there enough evidence supporting the premises they claim? These are questions we should ask when observing the arguments people are presenting to defend their beliefs. I believe that drugs should not be legalized for several reasons, but as stated above, different people have different opinions. One of the arguments presented from the people who believe that drugs should be legalized is that the government should not interfere with people’s activities as long as it is not affecting other people’s rights. They state exactly, â€Å"As far as morality is concerned, the decision to use or not use drugs is a personal one that does not directly impinge upon the rights of others, and the government should never forbid activities that do not impinge upon the rights of others. I believe that there are many things wrong with this argument, but the main problem here is that there is no evidence to support the premise, therefore I see it as a false premise. I don’t understand how they can say that drugs doesn’t impinge upon the rights of others when there are drug related crimes happening every day. When people are high on drugs, their minds are altered. Many times while under the influence of an illegal substance, people will commit crimes and put other people’s life in danger. This obviously affects the rights of others because people should not have to be put into danger because of other people’s â€Å"activities†. The legalization of drugs would make it more easily accessible, which in the end would result in more crimes and more people getting hurt. Another argument presented is that everything is dangerous. They state â€Å"Driving on the freeways in L. A. is very dangerous and leads to a good many deaths and injuries; thus, it creates suffering in loved ones, and society as a whole is often called upon to pay for the medical expenses of those injured in accidents. The point is this: if youre going to forbid drugs for the above reason, then you ought to forbid anything which is in the least bit dangerous. † This argument is questionable. Yes, it is true that everything is dangerous, but that is not the part of the argument that is under question. What it is that’s under question in this argument is what they’re saying about forbidding anything that’s dangerous if they’re going to forbid drugs that are dangerous. It is true that everything is dangerous, but drugs are not only dangerous, but they are mind altering. If you go about your day and face dangers, being under the influence of drugs makes your dangers so much higher, because you are not in a stable state of mind. So with this argument we must question the dangers of normal activities versus mind altering activities. The legalization of drugs will definitely result in more danger, and make regular activities dangerous. For example driving, it is illegal for people to drive under the influence, but if people are going to be high all the time, they will most likely not hesitate getting into a car to get to where they need. As they stated, driving is a dangerous activity. The point here is, driving under the influence is an even more dangerous activity. Drugs are not necessities, but in current times, driving is a necessity. We should continue to try and keep people safe by prohibiting the unnecessary dangers.

Innovations in Technology for Hospitals

Innovations in Technology for Hospitals Public service Innovations through ICT  Ã¢â‚¬Å"eHospital-Dompe† Project â€Å"mChanneling† – a story of transformation of a government hospital in Sri Lanka. Abstract: District Hospital – Dompe is in Gampaha District, having the bed strength of 102 beds under Ministry of Health- Western Province. It’s †eHospital-Dompe† project is the most successful electronic transformation of a government hospital in Sri Lanka. The â€Å"eHospital Dompe† project was aimed making a District Hospital in Sri Lanka more efficient through adaptation of ICT solutions and appropriate change management. â€Å"mChanneling† solution is the first ever automated appointment system in a government hospital in Sri Lanka it is a service provided FREE OF CHARGE to deliver more patient friendly service. A unique public private sector partnership of Ministry of Health, all categories of hospital health staff, ICTA, Well wishers from the community, software hardware providers, presidential secretariat mobile partner were among the cornerstones of the success of this project. Keywords: eHospital-Dompe, Government Hospital, ICT, Change Management, mChanneling Introduction: This project was conceived in 2010. At that time the District Hospital, Dompe was an ordinary government hospital. The hospital was disorganized, overcrowded and there were unnecessary delays that compromised total patient care. The author, the hospital administration, and the hospital staff wanted to change the situation and make the hospital more efficient. Under the guidance of Regional Director of Health Services-Gampaha and Acting Director of the Hospital, the author, with the help of all categories of hospital staff launched a programme to provide efficient health care. The programme included attitude changing, improving moral, building up of team spirit and obtaining optimal use of the abilities of the staff. In addition re-arrangement of the hospital setting, provision of specific accesses to each service points especially emergency access and improving the quality of care provided, were also included into the programme. A new patient Registration Desk, Queue Management Centre, and a Reception Desk were established and 5s concepts were introduced. In addition, an uninterrupted power supply solution was installed with the assistance of donors in the community. Objectives: Rearrangement of the hospital setting to provide a hassle-free service Provision of efficient health care service Uplifting of quality of care provided into international standards The ultimate goal is to have a â€Å" Happy Content Patient â€Å" The ICT Solution – Background: We believed that an information technology solution would help make the hospital more efficient and approached the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) for support. The ICTA’s â€Å"eSociety† initiative supported us with a grant of Rs.4,150,000.00 for wired networking, computer hardware, and software. This was facilitated by Director, re-engineering government programme, Head of eSociety initiative and Project Manager for eHealth of ICTA. We visited Base Hospital-Karawanella where an ICT system was already in place. This enabled us to get an idea of the software that was available. We found that the software had to be customized to make it suitable for our hospital. After extensive discussions Lunar Technologies, Kalutara, under the direct guidance of the author and his team, developed a new system [Hospital Health Information Management System (HHIMS) Version 1.2]. This system has undergone several revisions since then. It is now available as free and open source software that could be downloaded, installed, and used by anyone. This was facilitated by the ICTA. To deploy the software solution, we networked all the Units of the Hospital, and bought an in-house server [Processor – Quad core E5530 Xeon 2.4 Ghz]. All the networking was wired and was done by Sri Lanka Telecom Services. All the service points/units were provided with a computer [A total of 41 computers: 31 were desktops (processor – Dual core) and 10 were laptops (processor i3)]. Sri Lanka Telecom Services was also the hardware provider. The system was inaugurated on 27 December 2011 under the patronage of Secretary, Ministry of Health (Western Province) and Regional Director of Health Services-Gampaha. The Process: In this project, all the units of the hospital are networked (wired) with an in-house server. All the service points/units are provided with computers linked each other. When a patient comes to the OPD, he will be registered in our system (once in life time) provided with a system generated Patient Identification Number a Patient specific Bar-Code. With this Bar-Coded Patient’s Health Card, the patient is then sent to Electronic Queue Management Centre. There, he will be given the today’s token to assign the correct place in the queue correct doctor’s chamber. Then he will be sent to doctor for consultation. All the doctors are provided with laptops bar-code scanners. When the doctor swipes the patient’s card with the barcode scanner, the doctor can get the patient’s demographic data, past medical surgical history, allergic history etc. within seconds. After the examination, the doctor enters the prescription/ procedure/lab test to the system accordingly. The patient is then sent to the relevant unit to get the ordered treatment done. When the patient goes to the dispensary, the pharmacist there can get patient’s prescription by swiping Bar-Coded Patient’s Health Card. The Laboratory, dressing room, injection room, E.T.U, Medical clinics Dental clinic are also connected to the system. All the daily reports (OPD register, Drugs dispensed, Drug Stock Balance) are generated by the system. When the patent is admitted to hospital, his medical records are updated with the relevant details at the discharge a system generated diagnosis card is issued. Three (03) backups are generated by the system automatically per day data encryption, predefined user access levels, individual usernames /passwords ensure data security. An additional feature of the system is immediate notification of notifiable diseases via email. Stand alone clinics in the hospital, such as the Medical Clinic, Family Medical Clinic, and the Screening Clinic for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are also linked to the system. The DMO’s office is also linked to the system and as a result, he can monitor the hospital from his room. Advantages: The system has been in operation for approximately 2  ½ years at the time of writing this paper. The system holds data of well over 50,000 patients. The OPD has become methodical, efficient and trouble free after the implementation of the IT solution. Two minor staff officers who manually did daily registrations have been re assigned for other tasks now, saving manpower. The OPD staff is benefited from the electronic queue management system and system generated daily reports. They enjoy their work in a paperless environment. There is no more manual searching of previous prescriptions as there are no chits books. The patients are easily managed now as they have faith in the system. The doctors have benefited by getting accurate, comprehensive past histories with medication, investigations and demographic data. They get to know about the availability of drugs immediately. They can plan the patient’s management and easily retrieve lab reports .With all those information doctors can make a more accurate diagnosis. At the same time they are directed for rational use of drugs, especially antibiotics. Doctors can also make sure that the ordered procedure was performed correctly at the relevant unit. The doctors can have a look at statistics for their personal interest (e.g. the number of patients treated by him/her). The nurses in each unit have benefited by their tasks being made easy as they get clear orders from doctors in advance of the patients’ arrival, which helps them to get ready for the treatment. In addition, they get system generated daily summaries. The pharmacists /dispensers are able to get legible prescriptions with automatic calculation of the number of tablets, making their duty easier. In addition, automatic stock balancing has reduced their workload made the dispensary process methodical accurate. The Medical Laboratory Technicians receives properly labeled samples. The administrator is also benefited as he/she can monitor the whole process sitting in his/her room. Obtaining statistical data is made easy by the system and it helps to utilize manpower optimally. Remote monitoring, easy statistical works, optimal resource utilization made health administrators duty easy. But, the main advantage is for the patients. With the help of the system they get better care. They will be able to have a personal medical record into international standards able to get treated in a short period of time in patient friendly environment. â€Å"mChanneling†- a FREE appointment system : mChanneling solution is the first ever automated appointment system in a government hospital in Sri Lanka it is a service provided FREE OF CHARGE. It is a joint effort of Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Health(Western Province),ICTA, Regional Director of Health Services(Gampaha) District Hospital-Dompe. The free health system in Sri Lanka is obviously providing a service with quality to the nation. Though the quality of care is high, the efficiency of service is questionable at the O.P.D level. To overcome that delay seen in the O.P.D at D.H Dompe, an IT solution had been implemented 02  ½ years back functioning well by the moment. When the traditional paper based O.P.D is functioning, a patient’s overall average waiting time at the O.P.D is 01 hour 41 minutes. With the implementation of the IT solution the average waiting time has been reduced to 55 minutes. But with the busy life style even that time period seemed to be longer our attempt was to decrease the waiting time up to 30 minutes. To reach our goal, we planned an automated appointment system called â€Å"mChanneling† for the O.P.D of District Hospital-Dompe. As it is a timely need of entire Sri Lankan health sector, the design was made to be more simplified usable in any hospital in Sri Lanka. The solution can be functioned with only one computer with a internet access at any hospital the hospital need not to be a eHospital(computerized hospital) also. The mchanneling platform is a web-based one the administrative powers are with hospital authorities. The number of appointments to be issued each day is decided by the hospital itself uploaded. The hosting organization (Mobitel) is then open it to the general public by an IVR (interactive voice response).The hosting is FREE of charge the channeling is also FREE. The patient has to bear the call charge only there are no hidden charges. The assigned mchanneling HOT LINE Number is 0711-370370 . When a patient calls to the hotline, it is connected with Mobitel’s server redirected with a predefined voice IVR. It provides appointments only from District Hospital-Dompe Base Hospital-Dambadeniya by the moment. The patient can select the preferred language should go on as directed by the voice IVR. The automated IVR will ask for the date for the appointment the patient has to select time of the appointment. Each appointment contains 15 minutes any caller can obtain only 02 appointments per day by one phone number. The patients are facilitated to obtain an appointment within next 07 days. At the end of voice IVR, the patient has to confirm the selected appointment/appointments. Then the patient will receive a system generated confirmation SMS with details of appointment a reservation ID. The patient is asked to come to the hospital with the details of the obtained appointment- the SMS or the phone number from w hich the appointment is obtained or the Reservation ID . The reception desk staff of the hospital is facilitated with an access to mChanneling web interface able to track the reserved appointments online real time. The patients with appointments are provided with a PRIORITY CARD at the reception desk sent to the doctor assigned for mChanneling, according to the appointment time. The doctor is doing the consultation ordering the medicines as usual (At D.H Dompe it is done through the already implemented IT solution). Then the patient is sent to the special mChanneling counter at the dispensary for a priority service his priority card is collected. Advantages: The main advantage of mChanneling is to the general public as this solution enlighten the free health system in Sri Lanka by making it more patient friendly. The patients will experience an efficient service with minimal time spent at the Hospital. The Electronic Health Records Computerized Hospital Health Information Management System will be adding strength to the patients’ overall experience. The hospital staff will also benefitted by getting to know about the patients who supposed to visit the hospital, beforehand. The administrators will be able to allocate resources manpower accordingly. In addition, the health staff can experience the online web applications its usability it will lead to a carrier improvement of the staff making a more competent health worker. Challenges: There are two main challenges in the Sri Lankan health sector that prevents embracing of IT. First is the complexity of the health sector and the other is poor knowledge and attitudes towards IT. We launched several programmes to overcome the later problem. Several lectures, workshops, competitions (e.g. Best Worker Competition), 5S programmes, productivity programmes (Institutional/Home/Green Productivity) and Out Bound Training(O.B.T) were arranged for all health staff with the view to changing their attitudes. All of our staff has been given basic computer training under the guidance and direct involvement of the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa. Head of the Department, guided the programme. Then we selected 60 staff members who were directly involved with the system and provided them with software training. A selected small group was trained on basics of hardware as well. They were refreshed and guided regularly by the author. Small user group d iscussions were conducted to understand and improve the usability.The community was convinced by posters, banners public addressing system of the hospital. The patients got used to the new system rapidly. They were intelligent enough to understand the value of this project and it made our task easier. The Acceptance: Under the ethical clearance of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya with the approval of Education , Training Research Unit of Ministry of Health, a cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to access the Customer satisfaction on using Information Technology in treating patients at Out Patient Department. 384 patients were interviewed. Median age of the study group was 42 years (Inter-quartile range: 33 to 52) and 297 (77%) were females. Among them, 334 (87%) had never used computers, 230 (60%) were not employed and 358 (93%) had more than one visit to the hospital. Three hundred eighty (99%) were highly impressed on using a personal health identification card and 336 (87%) believed their personal data is secured. Majority were â€Å"highly impressed† for using Information Technology on obtaining appointment at registration counter (n=381, 99%), during doctor consultation (n=374, 97%) and on obtaining drugs at pharmacy (n=375, 98%). Three hundred and fifty (91.1%) believed overall time spent at hospital has reduced as a result of less waiting time at registration counter (n=369, 96%), doctor channeling (n=367, 95%) and pharmacy (n=346, 90%) and all felt the quality of care has improved after introducing Information Technology. All patients recommended extending the present syst em to other clinics and wards. The way forward .. The system has been in successful operation for 2  ½ years by now. We always try to improve the software and its usability to improve the quality of health care provided by our hospital. Improving the patient’s health card with the Health Identification Number (HIN) proposed by the Ministry of Health is one of our priority expectations. We are working hard to ensure a more patient friendly service with use of Information Technology . Infrastructure development within our hospital is also necessary for the sustainability of the project. The electronic Bed Head Ticket and inter connectivity with other hospitals are needed to have an effective electronic transformation and these are within our reach. Conclusion: With the experience gathered through the â€Å"eHospital-Dompe† project, we can conclude that appropriate use of ICT can definitely contribute to improvement in the quality of care provided in the Sri Lankan healthcare sector. Electronic Resources: 1. eHospital- Dompe Project in YouTube. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YqujXDfHHQ 2.Hospital Health Information Management System (HHIMS) Can be downloaded from git://gitrepo.icta.lk/hhims/hhims.git By: Dr. K.B Sampath Kulathilaka (M.B.B.S(Sri Lanka), Cet. In Health Programme Management( Uni. Of Colombo) Medical Officer In-charge of â€Å" eHospital-Dompe â€Å" Project â€Å"mChanneling† District Hospital – Dompe 0777-577927 / 0718-672770 Email ; [emailprotected]

The Truth About The Big Two He Essay -- essays research papers

While reading Ernest Hemingway's short story 'Big Two Hearted River,'; one might think that it is just about a man named Nick Adams returning to Seney, to go camping and fishing. It may not be clear to some readers why the town of Seney is burned down or why Hemingway talks about each of Nick's action in great amount of detail. While first reading the story one might not notice that Hemingway has many symbolic parts, so that he can get the true meaning of the story across to the reader. The story is truly about Nick Adams wanting to get on with his life enjoying to its fullest and putting all of the awful events that have happened to him in the past. When Nick arrives at the town of Seney, he sees that the town is completely burned to the ground. When Nick was on the bridge he looked down at the water and saw trout in the water going against the current. Nick realized that the trout were changing their positions only to steady themselves once again: Nick looked down into the clear, brown water, colored from the pebbly bottom, and watched the trout keeping themselves steady in the current with wavering fins. As he watched them they changed their positions by quick angles, only to hold steady in the fast water again (472). Hemingway is trying to show that the trout are better then Nick, since they are not bothered by emotions or their surroundings. Nick is, he is bothered by the war, which created internal emotions that he is trying to resolve. Hemingway used the trout in t...

Nursing Knowledge

What makes Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) a great source of knowledge for nursing references? It produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies. The column by JBI will cover a broad range of topics and will appear periodically in AJN. With reference to its official website, http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au, The Joanna Briggs Collaboration is a coordinated effort by a group of self-governing collaborative centres, coordinated through the leadership of The Joanna Briggs Institute. The legitimate operations of The Joanna Briggs Collaboration include the promotion of evidence-based health care; education and training; conducting of systematic reviews; the development of Best Practice Information Sheets; the implementation of evidence-based practice; and the conduct of evaluation cycles and primary research arising out of systematic reviews. Various collaborating centre have teamed up to produce excellent and up to date sources that are relatively relevant in medical field. A good source of research should be current, concise, and give factual evidences. The website also contains electronic copies of all JBI collaboration publications that includes such as; Best Practice Information Sheets, systematic reviews, evaluation cycle reports and practice manuals. What’s most important about this research source is that the evidence library offers a variety of reports such as product and technical reports, executive summaries, review protocols, and a Cochrane library. For further research, it offers various database such as a systematic review database and database of abstract reviews of effects. Overall, this research source will definitely help someone to find pertinent facts and information on medical field. Sigma Theta Tau International As a knowledge and leadership organization, the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International responds to health and nursing profession trends and issues that are germane to its mission.( http://www.nursingsociety.org/resources/main.html) The site is a good start point for research, here you will find; ØÂ   Resources and Position Papers – Position statements and resource papers about trends and key issues that are developed by the society. ØÂ   Global Alliances – affiliations alliances of society with other eminent international organizations for stronger organization. ØÂ   Various Organizational Affiliates ØÂ   National Quality Measures Clearinghouse – NQMC, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), it is a public storehouse for evidence-based quality measures and measure sets. The site offers more than a research source; it also acts a focal point for nursing communities where they can exchange information on various aspects of nursing. There is also a special link for student nurse resources and society resources. As they value their members they offer mentoring programs to enhance the leadership and potential skills of nurses. Its commitment does not only rely to library resources and research but also dedicated to its society, community and fellow members. They also have a foundation that serves the culmination of overall purpose of the organization. Certain communities are established to promote well being and participation in socio civic cultural activities of nurses. In general, this site offers a great mixture of facts, information, and interaction made by nurses to its fellow nurses. A well informative site that serves as a ground for various nurses all through out; thus, with the organization mission and vision that will has a parallel principle which will serve as continuous commitment to the society. References: http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au http://www.nursingsociety.org/resources/main.html

The Return: Midnight Chapter 21

Someone was still knocking on Stefan's door. â€Å"It's a woodpecker,†Elena said when she could speak. â€Å"They knock, don't they?† â€Å"On doors inside houses?†Stefan said dazedly. â€Å"Ignore it and it wil go away.† A moment later the knocking resumed. Elena moaned, â€Å"I don't believe this.† Stefan whispered, â€Å"Do you want me to bring you its head? Unattached from its neck, I mean?† Elena considered. As the knocking continued, she was getting more worried and less confused. â€Å"Better see if it is a bird, I guess,†she said. Stefan rol ed away from her, somehow got on his jeans, and went reeling to the door. In spite of herself, Elena pitied whoever was on the other side. The knocking started again. Stefan reached the door and nearly wrenched it off its hinges. â€Å"What the – â€Å"He stopped, suddenly moderating his voice. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers?† â€Å"Yes,†Mrs. Flowers said, deliberately not seeing Elena, who was wearing a sheet and directly in her line of vision. â€Å"It's poor dear Meredith,†Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"She's in such a state, and she says she has to see you now, Stefan.† Elena's mind switched tracks as suddenly and smoothly as a train. Meredith? In a state? Demanding to see Stefan, even if, as Elena was sure she must have, Mrs. Flowers had delicately indicated just how†¦busy Stefan was at the moment? Her mind was Stillsolidly linked with Stefan's. He said, â€Å"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers. I'l be down in just a moment.† Elena, who was slipping into her clothes as fast as she could, while crouching on the far side of the bed, added a telepathic suggestion. â€Å"Maybe you could make her a nice cup of tea – I mean, a cup of tea,†Stefan added. â€Å"Yes, dear, what a good idea,†Mrs. Flowers said gently. â€Å"And if you should see Elena, perhaps you could say that dear Meredith is asking for her, too?† â€Å"We wil ,†Stefan said automatical y. Then he turned around and hastily shut the door. Elena gave him time to put his shirt and shoes on, and then they both hurried down to the kitchen, where Meredith was not having a nice cup of tea, but pacing around like a caged leopard. Stefan began, â€Å"What's – â€Å" â€Å"I'l tel you what's wrong, Stefan Salvatore! No – you tel me! You were in my mind before, so you must know. You must have been able to see – to tel – about me.† Elena was Stillmindlocked with Stefan. She felt his dismay. â€Å"To tel what about you?†he asked gently, pul ing out a chair at the kitchen table so Meredith could sit. The very simple act of sitting down, of pausing to respond to civility, seemed to calm Meredith slightly. But StillElena could feel her fear and pain like the taste of a steel sword on her tongue. Meredith accepted a hug and became a little calmer yet. A little more herself and less like a caged animal. But the struggle was so visceral and so clear within her that Elena couldn't bear to leave her, even when Mrs. Flowers deposited four mugs of tea around the table and took another chair Stefan offered. Then Stefan sat down. He knew Elena would stand or sit or share a chair with Meredith, but whatever it was, she would be the one to decide. Mrs. Flowers was gently stirring honey into her mug of tea and then passing the honey along to Stefan who gave it to Elena who put just the little bit that Meredith liked into Meredith's mug and stirred it gently, too. The ordinary, civilized sounds of two spoons quietly clinking seemed to relax Meredith Stillfurther. She took the mug Elena gave her and sipped, then drank thirstily. Elena could feel Stefan's mental sigh of relief as Meredith floated down another few levels. He politely sipped his own tea, which was hot but not burning hot and made from natural y sweet berries and herbs. â€Å"It's good,†Meredith said. She was almost a human now. â€Å"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers.† Elena felt lighter. She relaxed enough to pul over her own cup of tea and squeeze lots of honey in and stir it and take a gulp. Good! Calming down tea! That's chamomile and cucumber, Stefan told her. â€Å"Chamomile and cucumber,†Elena said, nodding wisely, â€Å"for calming down.†And then she blushed, for Mrs. Flowers's bright smile had knowledge in it. Elena hastily drank more tea and watched Meredith have more tea and everything began to feel almost al right. Meredith was completely Meredith now, not some fierce animal. Elena squeezed her friend's hand tightly. There was just one problem. Humans were less frightening than beasts but they could cry. Now Meredith, who never wept, was shaking and tears were dripping into the tea. â€Å"You know what morcillo is, right?†she asked Elena at last. Elena nodded hesitantly. â€Å"We had it sometimes in stew at your house?†she said. â€Å"And for tapas?†Elena had grown up with the blood sausage as a meal or a snack at her friend's house, and she was used to the bite-sized pieces as a delicious food only Mrs. Sulez made. Elena felt Stefan's heart sinking. She looked back and forth from him to Meredith. â€Å"It turns out my mother didn't always make it,†Meredith said, looking at Stefan now. â€Å"And my parents had a very good reason for changing my birthday.† â€Å"Just tel it al ,†Stefan suggested softly. And then Elena felt something she hadn't before. A surge, like a wave – a long gentle swell that spoke right into the center of Meredith's brain. It said: Just tell it and be calm. No anger. No fear. But it wasn't telepathy. Meredith felt the thought in her blood and bones, but didn't hear it with her ears. It was Influence. Before Elena could brain her beloved Stefan with her mug for using Influence on one of her friends, Stefan said, just to her, Meredith's hurting, feeling scared and angry. She has reason to, but she needs peace. I probably won't be able to hold her anyway, but I'll try. Meredith wiped her eyes. â€Å"It turns out that nothing was like what I thought happened – that night when I was three.†She described what her parents had told her, about everything that Klaus had done. Tel ing the story, even quietly, was undoing al the calming influences that had helped Meredith maintain herself. She was beginning to shake again. Before Elena could grab her, she was up and striding around the room. â€Å"He laughed and said that I'd need blood every week – animal blood – or I'd die. I didn't need much. Just a tablespoon or two. And my poor mother didn't want to lose another child. She did what he told her to. But what happens if I have more blood, Stefan? What happens if I drink yours?† Stefan was thinking, desperately trying to see if in al his years of experience he'd come across anything like this. Meanwhile he answered the easy part. â€Å"If you drank enough of my blood you'd become a vampire. But so would anyone. With you – Well, it might take less. So don't let any vampire trick you into blood exchange. Once might be enough.† â€Å"So I'm not a vampire? Now? Not any kind? Are there different kinds?† Stefan answered seriously. â€Å"I've never heard of ‘different kinds'of vampires in my life, except for Old Ones. I can tel you that you don't have a vampire's aura. What about your teeth? Can you make your canines sharp? Usual y it's best to test over human flesh. Not your own.† Elena promptly stuck out her arm, wrist vein-side up. Meredith, eyes closed in concentration, made a great effort, which Elena felt through Stefan. Then Meredith opened her eyes, mouth also open for a dental inspection. Elena stared at her canines. They looked a little bit sharp, but so did anybody's, didn't they? Careful y Elena reached a fingertip in. She touched one of Meredith's canines. Tiny pinch. Startled, Elena pul ed back. She stared at her finger where a very smal drop of blood was well ing up. Everyone watched it, mesmerized. Then Elena's mouth said without pausing to consult her brain, â€Å"You have kitten teeth.† The next moment Meredith had brushed Elena aside and was pacing wildly al around the kitchen. â€Å"I won't be one! I won't be! I'm a hunter-slayer, not a vampire! I'l kill myself if I'm a vampire!†She was deadly serious. Elena felt Stefan feeling it, the quick thrust of the stave between her ribs and into the heart. She would go on the Internet to find the right area. Ironwood and white ash piercing her heart, Stilling it forever†¦sealing off the evil that was Meredith Sulez. Be calm! Be calm! Stefan's Influence flooded into her. Meredith was not calm. â€Å"But before that I have to kil my brother.†She flung down a photograph on Mrs. Flowers's kitchen table. â€Å"It turns out that Klaus or someone has been sending these since Cristian was four – on my real birthday. For years! And in every picture you could see his vampire teeth. Not ‘kitten teeth.'And then they stopped coming when I was about ten. But they had shown him growing up! With pointed teeth! And last year this one came.† Elena leaped for the photo, but it was closer to Stefan and he was faster. He stared in astonishment. â€Å"Growing up?†he said. She could feel how shaken he was – and how envious. No one had given him that option. Elena looked at the pacing Meredith and around at Stefan. â€Å"But it's impossible, isn't it?†she said. â€Å"I thought that if you were bitten, that was it, right? You never got any older – or bigger.† â€Å"That's what I thought too. But Klaus was an Old One and who knows what they can do?†Stefan answered. Damon will be furious when he finds out, Elena told Stefan privately, reaching for the picture even though she'd already seen it through Stefan's eyes. Damon was very bitter about Stefan's height advantage – about anyone's height advantage. Elena brought the picture to Mrs. Flowers and looked at it with her. It showed an extremely handsome boy, with hair that was just Meredith's dark color. He looked like Meredith in his facial structure and olive skin. He was wearing a motorcycle jacket and gloves, but no helmet, and he was laughing merrily with a ful set of very white teeth. You could easily see that the canines were long and pointed. Elena looked back and forth from Meredith to the picture. The only difference she could see was that this boy's eyes seemed lighter. Everything else screamed â€Å"twins.† â€Å"First I kil him,†Meredith repeated tiredly. â€Å"Then I kil myself.†She stumbled back to the table and sat, almost knocking over her chair. Elena hovered near her, snatching two mugs from the table, to prevent Meredith's clumsy arm from sweeping them to the floor. Meredith†¦clumsy! Elena had never seen Meredith ungraceful or clumsy before. It was frightening. Was it somehow due to being – at least partly – a vampire? The kitten teeth? Elena turned apprehensive eyes on Stefan, felt Stefan's own bewilderment. Then both of them, without consultation, turned to look at Mrs. Flowers. She gave them an apologetic little-old-lady smile. â€Å"Gotta kil †¦find him, kil him†¦first,†Meredith was whispering as her dark head lowered to the table, to the pil ow of her arms. â€Å"Find him†¦where? Grandpa†¦where? Cristian†¦my brother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena listened silently until there was only soft breathing to be heard. â€Å"You drugged her?†she whispered to Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"It was what Ma ma thought best. She's a strong, healthy girl. It won't harm her to sleep from now through the night. Because I'm sorry to tel you, but we have another problem right now.† Elena glanced at Stefan, saw fear dawning on his face, and demanded, â€Å"What?†Absolutely nothing was coming through their link. He'd shut it down. Elena turned to Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I'm very worried about dear Matt.† â€Å"Matt,†agreed Stefan, looking around the table as if to show that Matt wasn't there. He was trying to protect Elena from the chil s racing through him. At first Elena wasn't alarmed. â€Å"I know where he might be,†she said brightly. She was remembering stories that Matt had told of being in Fel ‘s Church while she and the others had been in the Dark Dimension. â€Å"Dr. Alpert's place. Or out with her, making the rounds of home visits.† Mrs. Flowers shook her head, her expression bleak. â€Å"I'm afraid not, Elena dear. Sophia – Dr. Alpert – cal ed me and told me she was taking Matt's mother, your own family, and several other people with her and escaping Fel ‘s Church entirely. And I don't blame her a bit – but Matt wasn't one of those going. She said he meant to stay and fight. That was around twelve thirty.† Elena's eyes automatical y went to the kitchen clock. Horror shot through her, flipping her stomach and reverberating out to her fingertips. The clock said 4:35 – 4:35 P.M.! But that had to be wrong. She and Stefan had only joined minds a few minutes ago. Meredith's rage hadn't lasted that long. This was impossible! â€Å"That clock – it's not right!†She appealed to Mrs. Flowers, but heard at the same time Stefan's telepathic voice, It's the mind-blending. I didn't want to rush. But I was lost in it too – it's not your fault, Elena! â€Å"It is my fault,†Elena snapped back aloud. â€Å"I never meant to forget about my friends for the entire afternoon! And Matt – Matt would never scare us by keeping us waiting for his cal ! I should have cal ed him! I shouldn't have been – â€Å"She looked at Stefan with unhappy eyes. The only thing burning inside her right now was the shame of failing Matt. â€Å"I did cal his mobile number,†Mrs. Flowers said very gently. â€Å"Ma ma advised me to do so, al the way back at half past twelve. But he didn't answer. I've cal ed every hour since. Ma ma won't say more than that it's time we looked into things directly.† Elena ran to Mrs. Flowers and wept on the soft cambric lacework at the old woman's neck. â€Å"You did our job for us,†she said. â€Å"Thank you. But now we have to go and find him.† She whirled on Stefan. â€Å"Can you put Meredith in the first-floor bedroom? Just take off her shoes and put her on top of the covers. Mrs. Flowers, if you're going to be alone here, we'l leave Saber and Talon to take care of you. Then we'l keep in touch by mobile. And we'l search every house in Fel ‘s Church – but I guess we should go to the thicket first†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Wait, Elena my dear.†Mrs. Flowers had her eyes shut. Elena waited, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other. Stefan was just returning from putting Meredith in the front room. Suddenly, Mrs. Flowers smiled, eyes Stillshut. â€Å"Ma ma says she wil do her utmost for you two, since you are so devoted to your friend. She says that Matt is not anywhere in Fel ‘s Church. And she says, take the dog, Saber. The falcon wil watch over Meredith while we are away.†Mrs. Flowers's eyes opened. â€Å"Although we might plaster her window and door with Post-it Notes,†she said, â€Å"just to make sure.† â€Å"No,†Elena said flatly. â€Å"I'm sorry, but I won't leave Meredith and you on your own with only a bird for protection. We'l take you both with us, covered in amulets if you like, and then we can take both animals, too. Back in the Dark Dimension, they worked together when Bloddeuwedd was trying to kil us.† â€Å"Al right,†Stefan said at once, knowing Elena well enough to realize that a half-hour-long argument could ensue and Elena would never be moved an inch from her position. Mrs. Flowers must have known it too, for she rose, also immediately, and went to get ready. Stefan carried Meredith out to her car. Elena gave a tiny whistle for Saber, who was instantly underfoot, seeming bigger than ever, and she raced him up the stairs to Matt's room. It was disappointingly clean – but Elena fished a pair of briefs from between bed and wal . She gave these to Saber to delight in, but found she couldn't stand Still. Final y, she ran up to Stefan's room, snatched her diary from under the mattress, and began scribbling. Dear Diary, I don't know what to do. Matt has disappeared. Damon has taken Bonnie to the Dark Dimension – but is he taking care of her? There's no way to know. We don't have any way to open a Gate ourselves and go after them. I'm afraid Stefan will kill Damon, and if something – anything – has happened to Bonnie, I'll want to kill him too. Oh, God, what a mess! And Meredith†¦of all people, Meredith turns out to have more secrets than all of us combined. All Stefan and I can do is hold each other and pray. We've been fighting Shinichi so long! I feel as if the end is coming soon†¦and I'm afraid. â€Å"Elena!†Stefan's shout came from below. â€Å"We're al ready!† Elena quickly stuffed the diary back under the mattress. She found Saber waiting on the stairs, and fol owed him down, running. Mrs. Flowers had two overcoats covered in amulets. Outside, a long whistle from Stefan was met by an answering keeeeeeee from above and Elena saw a smal dark body circling against the white-streaked August sky. â€Å"She understands,†Stefan said briefly, and took the driver's seat of the car. Elena got into the backseat behind him, and Mrs. Flowers into the front passenger seat. Since Stefan had buckled up Meredith into the middle of the backseat, this left Saber a window to put his panting head through. â€Å"Now,†Stefan said, over the purring of the engine, â€Å"where are we going, exactly?†