Benefits of Attending Churches for International Students

Advantages of Attending Churches for International Students Official outline This proposition is planned for raising the consciousness of universal understudies about the advantages of going to churches.Advertising We will compose a custom proposition test on Benefits of Attending Churches for International Students explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This proposition incorporates a few components: the structure of handouts and pamphlets about the houses of worship in California; dispersion of these flyers; assessment of students’ encounters and mentality toward chapels. The proposed program can help students who battle with culture stun and distance from others. Individuals, who will be engaged with this task, ought to have capabilities in a few zones, for example, the board, structure, and social examination. The financial plan of this undertaking will be $ 2000. There are a few significant results: capacity of worldwide understudies to adjust to an alternate domain; their protection from culture stun; the expanded attention to instructors and social specialists about the issues that universal understudies need to battle with. This task can be bolstered by different open associations, however the most significant job can be played by California Association of Student Councils. This office can bolster an extraordinary number of global understudies. These are the fundamental viewpoints that ought not be disregarded. Presentation This proposition is planned for expanding student’s mindfulness about the advantages of joining nearby holy places that are situated in California. Specifically, it is important to structure and convey handouts that contain the accompanying data: names and addresses of neighborhood holy places; when one can go to these holy places; the advantages of joining such association. This activity has a few reasons. To start with, it ought to be noticed that universal understudies face such an issue as culture stun. This issue can be ascribed to different factors, for exa mple, absence of information about culture, language obstructions, or failure to see one’s family members (Arthur 26; Burnapp 43).Advertising Looking for proposition on religion philosophy? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, these students build up close contacts just with individuals who share their language or culture. Thus, following quite a long while of study they know next to no about the host nation, and they can't incorporate themselves in the network. One can say that this difficult will turn out to be considerably increasingly significant later on in light of the fact that the quantity of universal understudies will just build (International Student Trends unpaged). Thusly, by joining nearby places of worship, these individuals can build up their open abilities and study different parts of outside culture (Montgomery 100). This methodology has as of now profited students from different nations. It will be simpler for them to incorporate themselves into the general public. The accompanying area will incorporate the depiction of the venture, its budgetary prerequisites, and timetables. In general, the fruitful usage of this activity can decidedly influence the lives of numerous global understudies whose encounters can be debilitated by culture stun and distance. Depiction of the task The criticalness of the proposition Overall, this undertaking can influence an incredible number of partners. One should consider that in 2011 there were 96,535 universal understudies in California (International Student Trends unpaged). Also, this number is probably going to increment later on. One can say that the achievement of this task can emphatically influence scholarly execution of understudies (Andrade and Evans 50). At last, these individuals can in the end become familiar with the nation in which they live. These are the fundamental issues that ought to be thought of. This activity can be bolstered by California Association of Student Councils.Advertising We will compose a custom proposition test on Benefits of Attending Churches for International Students explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The principle steps This venture will comprise of a few phases. From the outset, it is important to structure a handout which contains pertinent data about neighborhood temples. It is imperative to concentrate on those houses of worship situated in the most crowded regions of California. As it were, universal understudies ought to have the option to discover these associations at the earliest opportunity. Besides, these handouts ought to unmistakably clarify the advantages of joining holy places. These are the primary prerequisites that ought to be met during the phase of plan. Aside from that, it is important to convey pamphlets and leaflets in those regions in which there are numerous colleges and schools that global understudies can join in. This methodol ogy can essentially streamline crafted by volunteers who ought to be associated with this task. This is one of the issues ought to be thought of. At last, it is essential to lead a subsequent assessment of those universal understudies who decided to go along with one of nearby temples. This appraisal ought to be identified with the accompanying angles: the prosperity of understudies; their view of remote culture and nation; their disposition toward the congregation. Besides, throughout the meeting, one ought to likewise discover what number of understudies chose to go to holy places and how much time they spend there. This evaluation is significant for deciding if this activity is powerful. These are the primary components of this proposition. Overall, this proposition can be of incredible use to numerous individuals, particularly those ones who help global understudies adjust to another social and etymological condition. These individuals won't be estranged from nearby network, and this is the principle result of this proposal.Advertising Searching for proposition on religion religious philosophy? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More This is one of the fundamental viewpoints that be distinguished. In addition, this task can be finished by individuals who have ability in different territories. One can say that this task can have noteworthy ramifications for some instructive associations in California. Capability and experience As an individual, who studies financial aspects, I am ready to deal with the usage of this technique, particularly its expenses. Besides, I can facilitate the endeavors of others, who will be associated with this undertaking. For this situation, one can talk about volunteers who will plan and appropriate the pamphlets to understudies. I have just taken a shot at different gathering assignments, and I needed to go about as the group chief. Aside from that, I know numerous worldwide understudies, and I know about their encounters. Also, I comprehend what sort of challenges these individuals face, particularly when they need to leave in various condition. However, one needs to concede that this activity can be effectively actualized given that I am helped by individuals, who have aptitudes in territories that are not identified with financial aspects. Much consideration ought to be paid to such fields as structure and brain research. The main gathering of outside experts will be occupied with the structure of the leaflet about nearby temples. Besides, this undertaking ought to include people, who are talented in social exploration since they have to review those global understudies who chose to go to the temples. These are the primary necessities that ought not be ignored. Timetable The undertakings recognized in this proposition can be effectively executed throughout four months. Specifically, one can single out the accompanying stages: Approximately thirty days will be expected to plan and distribute the pamphlets and handouts. Now, it will be fundamental to draw in the consideration of universal understudies and clarify why nearby holy places can be of incredible use t o them. This is the reason one ought to invest an adequate measure of energy in this task. Besides, it is important to go through in any event two days on the appropriation of these materials to understudies. The principle undertaking of volunteers is to clarify what sort of data will be introduced in pamphlets and handouts. At long last, it is imperative to make reference to the subsequent overview which is planned for deciding if any individuals, who got the pamphlet, chose to go along with one of nearby places of worship. This assignment ought to be done after the appropriation of the brochures.This appraisal can show whether the participation of neighborhood houses of worship can change the mentality of universal understudies. This is the reason this progression ought not be disregarded. Spending Overall, this activity ought to be seen as a pilot venture. It is important to appropriate around 100 handouts and pamphlets. Every leaflet will cost roughly $ 10. Thusly, the all out e xpense of distributing these materials will be $ 1000. Moreover, it is important to spend costs on the extra meeting of universal understudies. This task will require extra $ 2000. In this way, this financial plan ought to be at any rate $ 3000. This proposition can be supported by California Association of Student Councils. Along these lines, this open association can essentially help numerous students going to neighborhood schools and colleges. End The undertakings indentified in this paper are planned for expanding the consciousness of universal understudies about houses of worship in California. By joining these associations, these individuals can conquer culture stun, create informative abilities, and set up contacts with the agents of different societies. Generally, this task can carry enhancements into the encounters of worldwide understudies who are regularly separated from others. They will have the option to conquer both social and phonetic boundaries that keep them from i ncorporating into the general public. By supporting this proposition, California Association of Student Councils cam help an extraordinary number of remote students. P

Internal Revenue Service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Inner Revenue Service - Essay Example Extraordinary guidelines apply for brokers in protections who are in the matter of purchasing and selling protections for their own record charge (Internal Revenue Service, n.d. b). As per the Internal Revenue Service (n.d. b), to be occupied with business as a broker in protections, the entirety of the accompanying conditions must be met: The goal of benefitting from day by day showcase developments in the costs of protections and not from profits, intrigue, or capital appreciation. The movement must be significant, and Coherence and normality of exchanging movement. Besides, as indicated by the Internal Revenue Service (n.d. b), the accompanying realities and conditions ought to be considered in deciding whether the action is a protections exchanging business. Common holding periods for protections purchased and sold. The recurrence and dollar measure of exchanges during the year. The degree to which the action adds to the age of pay for an occupation, and The measure of time committed to the movement. Further, a citizen might be a dealer in certain protections and hold different protections for speculation. The extraordinary standards for brokers don't have any significant bearing to the protections held for speculation. A broker must keep itemized records to recognize the protections held for speculation from the protections in the exchanging industry. The protections held for venture must be recognized as such in the broker's records on the day the individual gets them (Internal Revenue Service, n.d. b). Both the impediments on capital misfortunes and the wash deal rules keep on applying. Nonetheless, in the event that the imprint to-advertise political decision was opportune made, at that point the increases and misfortunes from deals of protections are treated as normal additions and misfortunes. Further, neither the restrictions on capital misfortunes nor the wash deal rules apply to merchants utilizing the imprint to-showcase technique for bookkeeping (Internal Revenue Servi ce, n.d. b).

Genre Kryptonite Boy Heroes

Genre Kryptonite Boy Heroes This is a guest post from Sharanya. Sharanya is an elementary school teacher in Washington, DC. When she’s not running around after children like a madwoman, she likes to sit and inhale books and coffee. She’s had a life-long love affair with middle-grade and YA lit, and hopes to write her own novel(s) in those genres some day. Follow her on Twitter @srsharms. ____________________ If it weren’t for fictional boys, my life as a teacher would be so much harder than it already is. The cheeky ones, the quiet ones, the cocky ones, the angry ones, the hearty ones, the supercilious ones â€" they’re all welcome on my bookshelf. I love mothering them. I love turning on my sharp Teacher Voice to tell them in no uncertain terms that the plan they’re thinking of is unequivocally ridiculous. They never listen, of course, but I happen to be very used to that. But more importantly, I love what they tell me: Be patient with us. Don’t give up on us. Take us seriously. These boys remind me that if we want to live in a world where people are treated with dignity no matter what they look like, sound like, or want in life, it starts with kids just like them. Boys who realize they have to step up and do something about the world they live in. It started with my best friend. She gave me a book called The Book of Three, and that’s how I met Taran. Taran was thirteen, Taran was an Assistant Pig Keeper, and Taran was a world-class idiot. A lovable idiot, but still. It amazed me that Gwydion was ever able to keep him close in order to protect him because frankly Taran needed a swift kick in the butt and an exhausting round with the Cauldron Born to knock all of the sense into his head. Because he didn’t get why he couldn’t just run around in the woods tumbling head first into as many fights as possible since that’s how the cool kids are supposed to do it (you see what I mean about the idiocy). But then, something happened. He started getting older. And I don’t just mean in a he-got-taller-and-his-voice-probably-got-way-less-squeaky way. In the second book, he was sacrificing his chance for recognition in order to get a job done. In the third, he was trying to figure out how to talk to girls (bless him). In the fourth and fifth, he took some time to finally figure out who he was, and began to lead others with his new found confidence. And the coolest part of all? I got to be there for every step of the process. The eye-rolling, laugh-out-loud, gasping, cheering, tear-jerking process. And then I started to find others like him. I could wax poetic about how Harry Potter changed my life, but I won’t. And I say this not because I want to dismiss Harry (AS IF I EVER COULD), but because many, many other, frighteningly brilliant people have written scores of essays on things like the significance of Harry lifting his right pinky on page 463 of the fifth book already. (No, I don’t think that actually happened). So, you know. Sure, I could tell you that Harry is probably the most influential Boy Hero not only of my life but of this entire millennia thus far, but I think you know that already. And if you didn’t, please crawl out from the rock you’re under ASAP. It’s really nice and sunny up here. After Harry came Percy Jackson, who came into my life at exactly the right moment. Since Riordan taught middle and high school English for about many years, it should come as no surprise to anyone that he is extremely fluent in Boy-speak. Still, his ability to capture the essence of twelve-year-olds, in all of their awkward, sarcastic, hilarious glory, and distill it into one book is freaking magical. Because that’s what Percy wasawkward, angry, and hilarious. He won me over not just with his wit and humor but also with his incredible sense of loyalty, his powerful leadership skills, and his friendships. And it was around this time that I realizedI have a Definite Type. Types like Bartimaeus and Nathaniel from The Bartimaeus Trilogy (brooding, angry, full of acerbic wit and sarcasmyep, I sooooo have a Type).   And types like Alex from The Unwanteds (a recent read about kids who go to a school that’s basically Hogwarts School for the Arts), who turns from being shy and scared to being creative but insecure to being unbelievably awesomewhile still dealing with being shy and creative and insecure. And definitely types like Artemis Fowl, the ultimate anti-heroalso known as the 12-year-old boy who turned being spoilt and bratty into a life-altering sciencebefore realizing what he actually wanted was to save the world. In the end, these characters, these brave, bratty, brilliant kids, capture one simple idea perfectly: there is possibly nothing in the world more magical than watching a boy slowly but surely learn how to actually grow up. ____________________ Follow us on Twitter for more bookish goodness!

Gaius Octavius The Savior of Shakespeares Julius Caesar

A savior as defined by Merriam-Webster is, â€Å"one that saves from danger or destruction.† This term describes Gaius Octavius in more than one way or instance; Octavius helps to rid Rome of the evil conspirators, and Octavius is the emperor who rebuilds Rome. Readers and viewers of Shakespeares play don’t get a clear and drawn out view of Octavius as he doesn’t appear for much of the play. A reason isn’t given in the play, but history reveals that he is off traveling the world. Octavius takes advantage of the fact that he is Caesar’s named heir when the time to seize power comes. Gaius Octavius , one of Caesar’s family members, was somewhat of a rambunctious youngster; however, he asserted himself with self-confidence both in Rome and on the battlefield against the conspirators. Octavius gives readers an example of his need to be in charge when he says, â€Å"Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left (V.i.16-20).† He says this to Marc Antony after Antony tells him to stay to the left of the battlefield. He says this in manner that the reader would see as pure defiance to Antony’s power. It could also be taken as Octavius showing a rivalry against Antony that would escalate and appear later when the rebuilding of Rome is about to take place. As a member of Caesar’s family, it is clear where Octavius’s confidence arises. His confidence is apparent throughout his rule of the Roman Empire through his military actions and his social reforms. He becomes especially hungry for

The Golden Age of Islam - 2183 Words

The golden age of Islamic (and/or Muslim) art lasted from 750 to the 16th century, when ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and woodwork flourished. Lustrous glazing was an Islamic contribution to ceramics. Islamic luster-painted ceramics were imitated by Italian potters during the Renaissance. Manuscript illumination developed into an important and greatly respected art, and portrait miniature painting flourished in Persia. Calligraphy, an essential aspect of written Arabic, developed in manuscripts and architectural decoration. This paper will examine the Islamic literature, music and philosophers. The most well known work of fiction from the Islamic world was The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian†¦show more content†¦Theologus Autodidactus, written by the Arabian polymath Ibn al-Nafis (1213–1288), is an early example of proto-science fiction. It deals with various science fiction elements such as spontaneous generation, futurology, and the end of the world and doomsday. Rather than giving supernatural or mythological explanations for these events, Ibn al-Nafis attempted to explain these plot elements using the scientific knowledge of biology, astronomy, cosmology and geology known in his time. His main purpose behind this science fiction work was to explain Islamic religious teachings in terms of science and philosophy through the use of fiction. A Latin translation of Ibn Tufails work, Philosophus Autodidactus, first appeared in 1671, prepared by Edward Pococke the Younger, followed by an English translation by Simon Ockley in 1708, as well as German and Dutch translations. These translations later inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe, regarded as the first novel in English (James Thurber, pg.64). Philosophus Autodidactus also inspired Robert Boyle to write his own philosophical novel set on an island, The Aspiring Naturalist (James Thurber, pg.64). The story also anticipated Rousseaus Emile: or, On Education in some ways, and is also similar to Mowglis story in Rudyard Kiplings The Jungle Book as well as Tarzans story, in that a baby is abandoned but taken care of and fed by a mother wolf. Dante Alighieris Divine Comedy,Show MoreRelatedGolden Age of Islam Outline1579 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Islam- Assignment #4 1. Outline the main achievements of the Islamic world in the following fields: I. Philosophy A. The Islamic world was most responsible for the preservation and spreading of philosophical achievements of ancient civilizations 1. Key ancient Greek philosophical words were translated into Arabic and stored in a â€Å"house of wisdom in Baghdad† 2. Through the Spanish Muslim philosopher, Ibn Rushd, many of these works eventually became known in EuropeRead MoreGolden Age Essay820 Words   |  4 Pageshave experienced a Golden Age when great advances were made in variety of different fields. A golden age is a period of time during which there a very high level of achievement is reached in particular field of activity, especially in art or literature. The most flourishing period for a nation or region. Two different cultures that experienced a Golden Age are the Greeks and Islam. With the Golden Age of the Athens and the Golden Age of Islam, the achievement of these two Golden Age still continue toRead MoreHow to Revive the Golden Era of Islam991 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: I’m going to describe the briefly introduction of the golden era of islam.The golden era of Islam starts in the mid of 8th century by the ascension of the Abbasid caliphate. He claimed to belong to the same tribe oh prophet Muhammad (SAW) that’s why he followed Quran and suuah, during this period the Arab world became a center of science, philosophy, medicine and education. Is it possible to revive the golden era of Islam? As a Muslim we should believe that we can do this. But problemRead MoreThe Battle Of Mu By Gabriel 152969 Words   |  4 PagesMuhammad to win sends a strong message to the other tribes that Muhammad’s insurgency was unstoppable, which was exactly what Muhammad needed (Gabriel 180). During Muhammad’s life the state and religion were one. This would have been during the first Golden Age. Since Muhammad was the Apostle of God, his government was a one man affair, which had no specialized bureaus, officials, or other trappings of large governments (Hitti 78). Muhammad’s insightful sense of politics, his negotiating skills, and hisRead MoreThe Intellectual Rise of Islam959 Words   |  4 PagesIntellectual Rise of Islam The Islamic Golden age provided the Abbasid Caliphate with an immense amount of political power and influence. The empire controlled lands from West Africa to parts of current day Iran and the new capital, Baghdad, quickly developed to into a large and advanced city . With control over previous Greek, Egyptian, and Persian lands, the locality of the empire set base for the academic, philosophical and medicinal advancement that define the Islamic Golden Age. Several schoolsRead MoreThroughout civilization, religions have come a long way in impacting modern society and600 Words   |  3 Pages Throughout civilization, religions have come a long way in impacting modern society and civilization. One of the major Abrahamic religions, Islam, has made many advances and has contributed a variety of concepts, ideas and inventions to western civilization. Most of these contributions have gone unnoticed throughout the years, and have been credited by various people, when in reality Muslim scho lars have formulated these concepts. Although some may believe that these contributions are irrelevantRead MoreIa Research Paper. Did The Siege Of Baghdad By The Mongols1284 Words   |  6 PagesIA Research Paper Did the siege of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 A.D. cause the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate, causing the decline of Islam s Golden Age? Identification and evaluation of the sources: The Abbasid Caliphate founded by the Abbasid Dynasty in 758 was a major mainstream Islamic Empire, stretching from Central Asia to Africa and Spain, Europe. The Mongol Khanate of Chenghis Khan from Mongolia and rapidly growing from China Sea to Central Asia. these two most paramount kingdoms ofRead MoreThe Islamic Religion Of The Arabian Desert1505 Words   |  7 Pages Michael Pudlin Professor Ermus November 18th, 2014 Allah says in the Qur an not to despise one another. So the criterion in Islam is not color or social status. It s who is most righteous. If I go to a mosque - and I m a basketball player with money and prestige - if I go to a mosque and see an imam, I feel inferior. He s better than me. It s about knowledge.(Hakeem Olajuwon) The Islamic religion may also be defined as your average day rollercoaster; You have yourRead MoreThe Religions Of The Middle East934 Words   |  4 Pagespopular religion in the world, which was founded shortly after the death of Christ; finally, there is Islam, the second most popular religion in the world, founded by the prophet Muhammed in the 7th century ACE. Islam has over one billion followers of the Islamic faith. Although it is one of the most popular religions in the world, many people do not know much about what Muslims, followers of Islam, believe in. Due to the rising publicity of militant terrorist groups in the Middle East, IslamophobiaRead M oreThe Rise And Further Development Of Islam741 Words   |  3 PagesWith the rise and further development of Islam, the Middle East emerged as a key world region. The religion not only dominated the Middle East but was also spread to the West, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa as it gained followers and influence. Why was the spread of Islam so quick, extensive, and influential? What was it about Islam that appealed to so many individuals and converted such a large geographical part of the world? This can further explained by the process of globalization and

International Human Resources Free Essays

string(56) " impacts the bottom line \(Storey Sisson, 1993\)\." It is the biggest challenge of companies today to maintain and attract best employees thus the realization in holding trainings and conferences for top executives to level officers is exceedingly in demand. Initiating strategies and solutions regarding employee retention and human resource management keep on going to minimize costs and money. There are many promising solutions in going through a lot of obstacles in human resource recruitment. We will write a custom essay sample on International Human Resources or any similar topic only for you Order Now We may start on some questions that would spark a new beginning: are the employees are given the chance to speak? Are new ideas accepted? Are benefits really beneficial to employees? Does the employees’ opinion count? Are works valued, evaluated and rewarded on their performance? This are simple questions that has an impact to the existing problems in many companies, regardless of size, incorporating other issues like repatriation, better opportunities, poor treatment, differences in culture and disagreement on the direction of the company, lack of recognition, indefinite growth prospects and poor relationship among co-workers. Keeping people and maintaining them for a longer period of time is the most difficult and challenging tasks for all human resources managers nowadays, hopefully, we will answer possible keys and solutions to these burning questions throughout the discussion. Why are people leaving from one company to another? A wide variety of reasons why are people leaving their jobs to find new companies includes: expectations were not satisfactorily fulfilled, unsuitable for the role, do not fit with the company’s culture, insufficient opportunities for growth and development, inadequate acknowledgment and admiration, problems with a manager or supervisor, not satisfied with the compensation, stress, lack of work and life balance, and lack of confidence in the company and leadership (Meyers). According to Susan Heathfield (Heathfield, 2007), most employees are leaving their work for reasons of searching new opportunities with other companies. Three top reasons were identified by Heathfield: fifty three percent of employees look for better rewards and benefits, thirty five percent were discontented with prospects of career growth and development, and thirty two percent were ready for a new experience and new environment. The motivating factors that can enhance the continuous stay of employees were examined by Bob Losyk on his article, here are the different factors that he stated: dignity and respect, involvement and participation, pay above the industry average, showcase superior workers, and by showing support to employees (Losyk). Giving dignity and respect is one of the most important key elements in satisfying the employees, harsh words, shouting, insults, and abuse of power will only result to demoralization, low morale, increase possibilities of absenteeism, and in turn resignation. Losyk added that employers should be treated with high respect, worth and goodness, let them relax, be independent and empowered. Do not crash on people who make mistakes instead make it more constructive and let them learn from it. Involvement and participation is also a significant factor in dealing with employees’ motivation to stay in the company, by listening to their suggestions, aspirations, and ideas can make them more involved and active much as with belongingness and partnership. Paying above the industry average will surely and literally compensate the best employee thus giving and making more money for you. Great employees should be compensated for what they gave back to the company and it should not be as simple as paying back but to reward and constantly recognize their efforts. For sure, companies who have the best employees will have more satisfied clients because of the excellent services they receive and in return a greater chance of repeat business will likely to come. Another tip from Losyk is to highlight and draw attention to outstanding employees by giving awards, certificates, extra remuneration, dinners as well as posting their photos on bulletin boards or company newsletters. To share and show support, to listen and know their personal and family problems can be a key factor for lasting relationship with employees. It will create a positive and motivating atmosphere resulting to a more productive and high-quality employees (Losyk). Human Resource Retaining Strategies: The Training Delivery / Communication Options The training delivery to be used is participative which simulates real scenarios (Schein, 1987). This will be a workshop type of training. Experiential learning should be employed in the training components of the human resources planning program aimed at maintaining work effectiveness, retaining employees and create organizational success where employee development is critical. The communication option to be used in the delivery of training should be simple yet effective. This type of training program will fit the workforce of the Belfarm Hotel to refine their training skills. Also, this training program will provide comprehensive information and techniques to develop critical competencies. Training activities will focus on the design and approach to facilitate effective delivery of functions and responsibilities. The training materials to be used should assist trainers in enhancing their training presentations with materials that are professionally designed and written. Group facilitation skills of the trainers should be maximized to effect intervention strategies needed to maintain effective group relationships and direct groups towards productive goals. Aside from the evaluation of the Human Resources Directors from available data and observations, a Training Needs Assessment and Evaluation conducted prior to the actual training proper help trainers understand and use selected needs assessment and evaluation tools as part of the design and delivery of training. Human Resource Issues and Challenges to Consider – Including Suggested Solutions The challenge to have a trained and skilled workforce is the ultimate competitive advantage for any organization (Cowling Mailer, 1998). The rapidly expanding base of new information and technologies affects every one of us, from factory floor to business office. No matter how capable or successful an organization is, if staff training and continuing education is overlooked, there will be problems in the organization. The challenge is to get the best value for the training dollars spent by choosing training that suits the needs of the company and least impacts the bottom line (Storey Sisson, 1993). You read "International Human Resources" in category "Papers" In order to meet the challenge, comprehensive approach to employee development can be adopted. Set goals and reach them, identifying the needs, developing the right intervention, and delivering a practical, results-oriented solution. Interactive training is designed for the adult learner, requiring involvement in the learning process. Handle specialized workplace challenges with customized group training. Handle challenges specific to the organization. A good approach is to maximize training dollars spent by tailoring content to the organization’s explicit situation to produce the results needed. The NLC should source top-notch trainers who can combine their experiences with the latest in learning techniques for interactive sessions that emphasize skill development and application (RBA Training, 2006). Workforce Retention and Motivation Motivating an employee to do his or her best for the company and making him to stay long with the organization is one of the major concerns of HR. A group who specialize in management of labor in IT organization has observed that the average stay of most IT professionals in a company is less than three years. It has been observed also that companies, who are on a constant search and use of new technologies, send their employees to seminars and trainings to acquire new knowledge and exposing their people in a challenging environment are better ways to retain people than giving of higher salaries. Although, some HR managers believe that salary and career satisfaction are the key to retention, money is a prime motivator only for ‘starters’. Those who have gone to three or more jobs know the importance of being in a position highly valued by the company (Gupta 2006). We will focus on different ideas, tips and strategies that can help companies cope up with the up-and-coming problem in the human resources industry. As much as we know that many current employees are getting out of their jobs voluntarily not because that they were fired by their superiors but because they want to meet their expectations and good opportunities with other companies locally or overseas. Despite the fact that the most mentioned reason for leaving is financial, other important aspect is a factor that motivates them to gave up their jobs to look for other jobs elsewhere (IOMA, 2005). According to Paul J. Sarvadi (Sarvadi, 2005), the reality behind why employees gave up their jobs lies not only to monetary issues but goes deeper into the human consciousness that their actions and characters concerning work will be appreciated and makes them feel secured and successful. He suggested that sound retention strategies should be focused to four key elements – performance, communication, loyalty and competitive advantage. Let us start on the first key element which is performance, most companies undergo evaluations and performance metrics that will likely sum up their overall accomplishment either annually, quarterly or monthly. It is important that it must not rely solely on quantitative evaluation or assessment but most of all the qualitative measurement should also be considered. The intense craving for an attention to speak their opinions and make it a part of the company’s objectives is a very significant factor that is fulfilling to human beings, when they felt that their actions, talents and capabilities are brought into play that makes a difference to the company or organization, a sense of belonging and the feeling of they are at home is beginning to develop. The subconscious of human beings is attached to the emotions that they feel that’s why they are happy when they are in the process of achieving a goal and making valuable contributions (Sarvadi, 2005). He added that communication process with employees is an essential part of developing a relationship with them. Not just a simple communication that involves deadlines, submissions and technical aspects but they must use a two-way transmission of ideas and opinions. It is better to hold regular meetings to properly channel all comments and suggestions, give feedbacks and share what the company has been going through the years, and listen to what they aspire and suggestions. Surveys are good indicators of assessing the performance of the company though not dependable, it can contribute insights from the employees on what is giving them motivation and morale. On the other hand, loyalty is a great tool in winning employee retention strategy, it is measured in terms of how committed and loyal the employee is, it is not an imposed requirement but an earned reaction to the trust, respect and commitment shown to the individuals in a company (Sarvadi, 2005). The success of an employee – growth and development, and their contributions to the company’s wellness is an essential part of commitment and loyalty and both should work together. The last element of Sarvadi’s strategy is competitive advantage, people in the workplace is expecting excitement, new adventures, and competitions. Winning and losing are the key words for competitive advantage, employees wanted to know unique competitive products in the marketplace and they wanted to be part of these exciting race. Everyone wants to be a champion, it is healthy to inform your employees about the competitive advantage of your company so as to keep them motivated to join the winning team. To attract and retain top performers, employers should focus on recognizing and rewarding employees frequently and taking them for granted is not an answer to a successful relationship, and most importantly, know what the enemy does according to Cheryl Cran, a human resources consultant, an art of war, a strategy to win the best performers, know and discover what the enemy offer and ensure that you can target and extend beyond the limits of the expectations of the employees (Cran). To save expenses from the personnel turnover and increase output and productivity as well, another top retention tips to retain key personnel are the following (Mason): 1. Deal fairly with employees like you deal with your most valuable clients. 2. Let your employees adore and care for your company. 3. Powerful retention strategies turn into powerful recruiting advantages. 4. Preservation and maintenance is much more successful when you put the right person into the right job. 5. Monetary reason is important but it is not the sole basis of people who stay with an organization. 6. Creation of committees for the employees can help expand retention strategies as well as developing an effective strategy. 7. Leadership must extremely devote in retention. 8. Different forms of expressing recognition and appreciation is a strong and powerful retention strategy. 9. Always keep in mind that the â€Å"Fun Factor† is very significant to many employees. 10. Be familiar with the drifts and developments in benefit packages. Give the best to tender the ones your employees want (Mason). In addition to the strategies above, in Ghana a capacity project has been carried out to health sectors that could also be beneficial to other employees. Five key stakeholders were interviewed for this topic. Other keys are additional duty hours allowance, car and housing loans, post graduate training opportunities, relaxed criteria for promotion, and flexible contracts, public-private partnership. To understand the strategies, the table below indicates the key retention strategies: Table 1. Key retention strategies (Perry, 2006) Incentive type Brief description Financial Incentive Initiate added duty allowance particularly for doctors (Perry, 2006). Non financial incentive Proposal for a car and housing loan under negotiation for professionals who are assigned in the rural community. Perry, 2006). Career advancement opportunities Initiate and suggest schemes for more prospects for two year post graduate training program (Perry, 2006). Rest and recreation eligibility criteria for advancement (Perry, 2006). Creative contracting arrangements Give way to pharmacists in the public sector to perform duties for the private sector (Perry, 20 06). Attracting the Best Talent In a business with cut-throat competition, urgently looking for the same kind or professionals is a normal activity of HR managers. In their search for the right people, they try their best to convince IT professionals to work with the company. In such a competitive market, IT organizations are trying to find ways how to attract the cream of the crop. Best talent means people who possess both the technical and managerial skills. They have the complete knowledge of the business, have the ability to think of new ideas, can communicate effectively, have the mind for analytical and logical thinking; possess leadership ability, team players, creative and innovative. People like them are rare commodities and being able to bring them in the organization is a key HR challenge (Gupta 2006). Compensation and Reward Law of supply and demand also applies to the hiring of best talents. Thus attractive compensation package is very significant in luring those great minds. This results into management doing away with the usual eight hours per day work schedule as basis for compensation. Salaries and incentives are now given commensurate to the applicants’ knowledge and performance. Employers also give emphasis on profit sharing or performing employees can opt for company shares of stocks. This encourages bright and talented people to stay long with the organization. Skills, competencies and commitment are now preferred over loyalty, hard work and length of service. Although, salary is not the number one motivator in the industry today, HR is also faced with the challenge of devising optimized compensation package to attract best people into the organization. Integrating HR strategy with Business Strategy HR direction should be in conformity with the business direction. HR plans are just a part of the overall business strategy with the purpose of attaining the business objectives. Everyone should row in a single direction. Other departments depend on HR in recruitment, retention, motivation and rewarding of valuable personnel. HR is also tasked to manage change, anticipate future personnel requirements, organizational effectiveness, team building and employees’ training and development. (Gupta 2006). ‘Encouraging quality and customer focus’ should be a concern of all employees in all departments. It is HR’s duty to orient people on this topic and emphasize its importance in the overall business operation. A culture of superior quality should be encouraged. With globalization and technological change running at an incredible speed, companies with inferior quality products cannot cope up with the competition. Building friendly relationship with the customer is also important to insure repeat orders and continuous purchases (Gupta 2006). Upgrading of Skills through Re-training In a highly competitive hotel business environment brought about by the fast-paced, unpredictable technological advancement and increased emphasis on quality of services, software businesses are compelled to look for adaptable and competent personnel in the case of Belfarm Hotel. Software professionals are sent to various venues to attend seminars and trainings to upgrade their skills so they can perform all the functions that are assigned to them by the organization. Highly skilled software professionals are a bit discouraged if they feel that they are being left behind. Once they have gained a new knowledge and have disseminated it to their subordinates, they start to look for yet other new things. That’s what motivates them. And it is another challenge for HR personnel to keep those bright people highly motivated (Gupta 2006). Experts interpret such trends as a significant new problem for businesses which the hotel industry has never experienced. This is the serious lack of workers who possess the skills required by the economy. With longer life expectancy, reduced birthrate and the aging workers now coming to the age of mandatory retirement, the age profile of workers is dramatically changing (hrsolutionstoday 2006). Figure 1 : Re-Training Diagram These changing workforce demographics have serious implications in HR’s quest to attract the best talent. Because of the lack of qualified IT professionals, HR must once again repackage the compensation and reward being offered to make it more attractive. They should strive hard for the retention and motivation of the existing workforce because piracy of talented personnel among IT organization is on the rise. It is suggested that retention of older employees is one way to counter the problem on changing workforce demographics. That suggestion is often overlooked. For more than 20 years, it has been the practice of the corporate world to retire aging employees. To ease out retirees, programs such as retiree medical coverage, early retirement programs and other plans are being designed. They also make way for the entry of younger workers who will receive salary for ‘starters’, thus are less expensive (Gallo 2006). While those who stay in the company for long have higher salaries and benefits than younger workers, the prospect of losing those aging but reliable people can entail more cost to a company than continue paying their salaries and benefits. And they are not really willing and ready to leave their job they have loved for several years. They want to work more and extend their stay in the company for another several years. Some still need the financial reward and the health benefits that employment can give (Gallo 2006). Watson Wyatt’s Strategic Reward Survey said that there are top five items which are important to older workers and they are: benefits, compensation, independence, security and skill development. This prospect of extending the services of older workers is still under study. There are however at least five strategies which can be viable to make retiring employees stay in the company longer thus cushioning the impact of lack of workers problem. Viable options can be phasing retirement, modifying retirement plans, modifying compensation plans, customizing benefits and redesigning the job (Gallo 2006). Technology and globalization drive organizations to be more flexible. A contract relationship is not inexpensive, but it’s more flexible. The use of contingent workforce affords companies to be more competitive. Randy Floyd, program manager of the Office of Contingent Workforce Management said, â€Å"Those that push for the use of contingent workforce may see greater benefits (Contingent Workforce Strategies 2005)†. The use of contingent workforce has positive implication in the technology industry. HR can opt for this kind of workforce while trying their best to look for the best and the brightest. They can adjust their budget as this labor force is less expensive than those people who are directly hired by the company. It is very clear that outsourcing is a success. However, companies are beginning to realize the costs and inherent risks that go with it. Generally speaking, â€Å"Outsourcing is a very complex process which the benefits that are expected seldom materialize†. There are tradeoffs that go with outsourcing such as cost reduction against growth, quickness against quality, and maintaining company’s culture of working together against knowledge and innovation (Singhatiya 2005). In an article published in the Northeast Human Resources Association paper, Michael Andrew, Principal, Strategic Impact Learning, said that â€Å"It is high time to elevate HR’s role to that of a Chief Development Officer who is bent on increasing the capabilities which are vital to the attainment of company’s goals and objectives. For HR to become a business partner to the executive team, it should speak about the language of business rather than the language of HR. There is a clear call for HR professionals to redefine themselves as business partners by being business person first and HR professional second† (Andrew 2006). Increasing demand for immigrant workforce and opportunities abroad: The increasing demand of hiring cross-cultural workforce is a global necessity to respond the needs internationally. But because of the terms and conditions in hiring immigrants, it is very difficult to establish a worthy and constant employee for a particular business due to numerous alternative employment with other companies. To better understand the recruitment, hiring and retaining the best employees especially the immigrants and ethnic workers, it is important that we should consider the culture, traditions, and beliefs, know the different ethnic lifestyles and values, appreciate the impact that the immigrant workforce is influencing the management, and study the fabrications on recruitment of diverse ethnic groups. In addition to Losyk’s article, he stressed that it is significant that companies must understand the needs and desires most Hispanic and Asian workers want from a workplace, discover how to give comment to immigrant employees, determine the critical factors needed to train Asian, Hispanic and other cross-cultural groups, and create management techniques that can work and understand the involvement and recognition with the ethnic groups (Losyk). Further problems encountered by other employers is when their employees who are assigned to work overseas over a period of time will transfer to another companies in a few months to seek greener pastures. These are real and actual happenings in most development organizations when workers or volunteers enter into a contract to gain experience overseas and marked it as a stepping stone to find great opportunities abroad. How can companies and organizations struggle to this concurrent problem? Is this just a cycle to be left out and find new workers to continue the job? Are there any other holistic means that we can manage to surpass this continuing global recruitment problem? Conclusion: The best and the brightest in a company as well as entry level employees should be carefully kept, managed and trained. The ultimate strategy that should be considered for employees is to consider the needs, wants, and personal aspirations like career development, recognition and reward and the objectives they want for the organizations. Rewards should be helpful to them like educational opportunities, car and housing incentives, health plan for the employee and their family and good bonuses. Emergency funds if necessary when problems like illness arise in one of the members of the family, and more vacation and/or sick leaves are also a rewarding remuneration to employees. Managers and supervisors who are good listeners to their employees are good signs of good relationship, it is like a father/mother – daughter/son relationship that is always there to listen, understand, and suggest what is best and what is worst, even the most personal things of the employee should also be taken in consideration. Manager’s role is a crucial aspect of retaining best employees because they will serve as a mentor that will guide the employees towards a positive direction. Availability, fair treatment, flexibility and open communication during tough times is a positive message and strong response to employees who are in dire need to seek help, as a result, a healthy environment and workplace is being developed and cultivated. After all, empowerment, sustainability, goal-oriented and development are the most important key words for the success of organizations and individuals. How to cite International Human Resources, Papers

Top 10 Tips to Infuse Your Essays with Creative Writing

Can you believe that university and college aren’t filled with only boring analytical writing? It’s true! Creative writing is an important part of the writing you do while pursuing your secondary education. Sure, you will have essays to write, and when writing an essay, you are required to provide arguments that are backed up by facts. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t also write a creative essay. Confused yet? No need to be! Creativity can be worked into many different types of essays. You just have to know how to do it deftly, so that your instructor will be completely captivated by what you wrote (or simply use this link and turn to our writers. Forget about sleepless nights with our help). Why? At the end of the day, you want your instructor to be wowed by your well-supported arguments and incredibly entertained. You can do both! You will learn how here, but first, here are the different types of creative writing essays you can write. Types of creative essays Where analysis ends, creativity begins! You can include creative expression in any essay or paper you write, but there are some essays that are designed specifically to allow you to be creative. You can choose a topic that will set your imagination free. Here are a few types of creative essays you can embrace: Narrative Essay: The narrative essay much like novel writing. This essay type can be used to discuss either real or imaginary events. The key in this type of essay is that you have to show, not tell. In order to accomplish this, your essay will need a plot, many descriptive details, and well-written prose. Admission Essay: The admission essay is becoming increasingly popular. When it is well-written, it allows you stand out among thousands of students who are vying for admission to a certain program. The admission essay is a way for you to talk about yourself and why you would make a great addition to a program. Essentially, you are advertisingyourself to show that you are the best choice. Personal Essay: The personal essayis similar to the admission essay, but less aggressive. This form of essay is used to talk about yourself and your personal experiences, trying to persuade the reader that a particular event or aspect of your personal life is significant in some way. Consider this form of creative writing essay a self-portrait that you paint with words.Purdue provides a great description and example of the personal essay. Descriptive Essay: You can choose any topic you wish for the descriptive essay. The key is that the topic is of interest to or affects the reader. Once you choose your topic, you must describe it throughout your essay, stating why it is important to you. Lyric Essay: This is very much like the descriptive essay, except that it makes greater use of imagery and description. Americanism Essay: The Americanism essay is popular with scholarship committees. This is the â€Å"why I am proud to be an American† essay. Reflection Essay: The reflection essay offers you a way to provide feedback on an event or other topic with which you are not happy, or that bothers you in some way. Victor Valley College and the University of Vermont offer some great advice on writing creative essays. Now that you have a good feel for the various types of creative essays, let’s take a look at some techniques that will help you write creatively.

Idea of Critical Thinking

Idea of Critical Thinking The world is paining through a troublesome era. While a few are stubbornly fighting against the nearly intangible enemy that is terrorism, others are suffering. The question is whom should we trust, and who is doing the right thing? What about George W. Bush and his greedy friends? To be well-informed and capable of holding our own opinion in the middle of all this mischief comes down to one essential quality: critical thinking.Sometimes, we receive faulty or biased information. Thus, there needs to be a filter in our thinking that stops this bad information from affecting our judgment towards a manipulated opinion. To me, that filter is the essence of critical thinking. With the help of the knowledge and understanding of fallacies, someone is well-armed to overcome prejudice, illogic deductions and biased information. Critical thinking is to seek all the viewpoints of a given problem before coming to a conclusion.English: There are no symbols that represent skept...It is to require the original sources before assuming the truth of a statement or fact. Also, it consists of separating our immediate feelings from our thinking, in a way that will keep our reasoning to pure logic. Take for example the news media. In TV shows like 'Cops' and most crime news coverage, it has been proven that Africans Americans are seen as outlaws far more often than any other ethnicity. From seeing a majority of criminals being African American on television, people with weak critical thinking may falsely deduct that all of them are evil. The reasoning goes as follows: criminals are evil and most African Americans are criminals, so most African Americans are evil. A person with stronger critical thinking will be able to see the big picture, thus being conscious that not all criminals are Africans Americans and not all African Americans are criminals.In another perspective, creative thinking is an essential quality for good argumentation. It defines whether a statement is logical or i llogical. Sometimes, people tend to use easy arguments, which are nearly impossible to respond to, but that are not funded and illogical. Someone armed with a good sense of critical thinking will be able to use those statements as an asset. Take the example of the exploitation of the poor due to world trade. Someone with weak critical thinking may say: corporations exploit the poor countries and world trade is ruled by corporations, so world trade exploits the poor countries. An opponent with strong critical thinking may simply break the first premise by saying that some corporations exploit the poor countries while others are very human and offer great opportunities to workers from all over the world. Making a deduction from this would mean that world trade offers great opportunities, but once again this is an incomplete fallacy, since some corporations do exploit the poor countries.Finally, I think that being a critical thinker has a sense of self-discipline. People who think in a critical way seek the truth and expect more from themselves, so in my opinion they are the ones who tend to reach higher. Choosing the easy way just because it has no immediate consequences shows no critical thinking at all. On the other hand, to challenge ourselves constantly and be true to our goals is the best way to become a critical thinker. Critical thinking is more than knowing about fallacies; it's a philosophy and an attitude.

Definition and Examples of Doublets in English

Definition and Examples of Doublets in English In English grammar and morphology, doublets are two distinct words derived from the same source but by different routes of transmission, such as poison and potion (both from the Latin potio, a drink). Also known as  lexical doublets and  etymological twins.  When the two words are used together in a phrase  they are called  coupled synonyms or  binomial expressions. Three words of this kind are called triplets: e.g., place, plaza, and piazza (all from the Latin platea, a broad street). Examples and Observations English has many doublets from Latin sources. Usually, the earlier word came from Norman French and the later one came from central French . . . or directly from Latin. Occasionally we have three words, or a triplet, from the same source, as in cattle (from Norman French), chattel (from central French), and capital, all derived from the Latin capitalis, meaning of the head. Another example is hostel (from Old French), hospital (from Latin), and hotel (from modern French), all derived from the Latin hospitale.  Ã‚   (Katherine Barber, Six Words You Never Knew Had Something to Do With Pigs. Penguin, 2007)It is no coincidence that the basic meaning of adamant was diamond. The word diamond is a doublet of adamant, the two words having come ultimately from the same Greek source, adamantos.The present-day adjective, meaning unyielding, inflexible, usually in the phrase to be adamant, is first recorded in the 1930s. It was apparently an extended use of such earlier phrases as an adamant h eart (1677), meaning a heart of stone and adamant walls (1878) stone walls.  (Sol Steinmetz, Semantic Antics. Random House, 2008) Cadet, Caddie, Cad In Medieval Gascon French, a capdet was a little chief, little head, from the Late Latin capitellus, a diminutive form of Latin caput head. The term was originally applied specifically to a younger son of a nobleman, serving as a military officer at the French court, . . .. The term passed into Standard French in this Gascon sense, but later was generalized to mean younger (son, brother).In the 17th century, French cadet passed into English, which reworked the French meanings and, in the process, created the doublet form caddie. During the 17th and 18th centuries cadet was used to mean junior military officer, while caddie meant military trainee. The 18th century also saw the creation of the abbreviated form cad, which seems to have had a variety of senses, all of them suggesting assistant status: assistant to a coach-driver, wagoners helper, bricklayers mate, and the like.(L. G. Heller et al., The Private Lives of English Words. Taylor, 1984) Differences in Meaning and Form Doublets vary in closeness of meaning as well as form: guarantee/warranty are fairly close in form and have almost the same meaning; abbreviate/abridge are distant in form but close in meaning (though they serve distinct ends); costume/custom are fairly close in form but distant in meaning, but both relate to human activities; ditto/dictum share only di and t and a common reference to language; entire/integer are so far apart that their shared origin is of antiquarian interest only. (Tom McArthur, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press, 1992) Doublets in Legal Language [David] Mellinkoff (1963: 121-2) indicates that many . . . legal terms appear in companythey are routinely used in sequences of two or three (doublets are also known as binomial expressions and binomials). . . . Everyday words can be transformed into legal formulae in this way. Melinkoff also points out that many doublets and triplets combine words of Old English/Germanic (OE), Latin and Norman French origins. Examples of doublets of sound mind (OE) and memory (L)give (OE) devise (F) and bequeath (OE)will (OE) and testament (F/L)goods (OE) and chattles (F)final (F) and conclusive (L)fit (OE) and proper (F)new (OE) and novel (F)save (F) and except (L)peace (F) and quiet (L)These expressions are mostly centuries old, and some date from a time when it was advisable to use words of various origins either to increase intelligibility for people from different language backgrounds, or more probably it was intended to encompass previous legal usage or legal documents from both early English and Norman French.  (John Gibbon, Forensic Linguistics: An Introduction to Language in the Justice System. Blackwell, 2003)The non-exhaustive lists below present a selection of doublets and triplets still commonly found in legal documents:Doublets:aid and abet, all and sundry, attached and annexed, ask and to answer, deem and consider, each and all, fit and proper, have and hold, legal and valid, true and correct, totally null a nd void, peace and quiet, son and heir, terms and conditions, last will and testamentTriplets:cancel, annul, and set aside / ordered, adjudged, and decreed / signed, sealed, and delivered(Mia Ingels,  Legal English Communication Skills. Acco, 2006) Morphological Doublets [M]orphological doublets (rival forms) . . . are pairs of synonymous complex words which share the same base but involve distinct formatives, e.g. two different affixes (cf., for instance, the existence of attested doublets in -ness and -ity: prescriptiveness/prescriptivity, etc.). One may predict that this sort of formal fluctuation is not likely to persist for a long time; usually, one of the rival forms eventually takes over and becomes established (thus strengthening the derivational pattern it represents) while the other variant sinks into oblivion (or they acquire specialized meanings, as in historic / historical, economic / economical). (Bogdan Szymanek, The Latest Trends in English Word-Formation. Handbook of Word-Formation, ed. by Pavol Ã…  tekauer and Rochelle Lieber. Springer, 2005) Pronunciation: DUB-lit EtymologyFrom Latin duplus, two-fold

To what extent does Twitter's mission statement reflect its usage Literature review

To what extent does Twitter's mission statement reflect its usage - Literature review Example The organisation claims it to be ‘the fastest, simplest way to stay close to everything you care’ (Twitter, 2012). Twitter is based upon the four fundamentals, namely, Microblogging, Social Networking, Social Media and Computer-Mediated Communication. In recent times, the importance of social networking and media has been noticed largely among the youth generation. Not only have the young people, but also companies in modern days, use social networks to transfer information among the people who are by large the users of these social media. The organisations have been using a tool named microblogging which can be stated as the process of posting smaller digital contents such as, pictures, short videos, links and other media contents in the internet. Although, there are many social networking sites, Facebook has been another social media which have recently gained huge popularity, in comparison to Twitter. The difference between Twitter and Facebook is the class of users, i.e. while Twitter is generally used by most of the celebrities and dignitaries; Facebook is used by all the classes of the society. Micro-blogging According to Java & et. al. (n.d.), Twitter is currently the most accepted microblogging stage which enables users to update their current statuses through short message services (SMSs), digital photos or short videos. In other words, an online community is formed by inviting friends and colleagues who share information of their recent happenings through short texts or audio-visual clips. Furthermore, it can be stated that microblogging in recent times has become an extremely famous media for both personal and professional recreation. Friends use it to keep in touch, professionals use it to co-ordinate business meetings and share important resources; similarly, celebrities and political dignitaries use it for gaining publicity by posting comments regarding their tour schedules, concert presences and film releases (Java & et. al., n.d.). According to a publication of the 17th European Conference on Information Systems (2009), it has been observed that the term microblogging has developed additional terms such as microsharing and activity streaming which are being used commonly by recent users. It has also been noted that Twitter is being used at a higher degree for micro-blogging in comparison to other accessible social networking sites; although, many people have complained about its reliability and functionality (17th European Conference on Information Systems, 2009). As stated by Ehrlich & Shami (2010), posts or ‘tweets’ can be viewed by anyone who is following the person or even attempts to view the public profiles. Furthermore, the authors state that the concept of ‘following’ is very different from ‘friending’ as in social networks consent from both the parties are required to share and view other people’s information. Whereas in the case of Twitter, consent is not necessary and a person can automatically follow other person according to their likes and tastes. Thus, it can be stated that the popularity of Twitter has grown rapidly due to its unique qualities (Ehrlich & Shami, 2010). In this respect, Ebner & Schiefner (2008) observed that the success of microblogging or ‘weblogs’, shortly called as blogs are due to the three factors;

Modern Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Modern Management - Research Paper Example Application of these factors in career includes reviewing when product sales are dropping and trying to determine the cause for it. This could include creating market research studies to find commonalities in product sentiment from customers or conducting auditing of multiple business divisions to find out whether failures are human-related or process-related. After identifying the cause, planning can determine potential solutions for improving motivation in workers or changing systems to be more adaptable to customer needs for better product outputs. Resistance to change is one challenge expected in both of these factors. Fairholm (2009) identifies that people are resistant to change if they do not feel loyalty or trust the manager. Scanning the organizational environment for failures would raise suspicions in employees and depending on their attitudes and values, they will resist providing information about new operational planning as it relates to their job roles. The human resource perspective will be required to prevent change, since it focuses on relationship development, improving loyalty and motivation, and responds to the emotional and values-based needs of employees. Planning should be linked with employee empathy more than scientific

The different sources of cultural bias

The different sources of cultural bias Sources of Cultural Biases can be interpreting through different frameworks which meaning is attributed. Sue and Sue (1990) attributed class, culture bound values; differences in verbal, emotional, and behavioral expressiveness, differences in causes and effect orientation, and differences in patterns of communication. The discrepancy in attributional systems that are culturally different clients and counselors bring to their interactions may present a barrier. The interactions may fail because of underlying mechanisms of culturally mediated attributional differences. The relationship between subjective culture (Triandis, (1972) and attributional processes are illuminated by theoretical and empirical work conducted by social psychologists as well as important insights from the field of linguistics. The occurrence, form and meaning of a particular behavior in a particular situation may differ from culture to culture because of differences in norms, values, role perceptions, expectatio ns, and historical experience. Individuals from different cultural traditions bring to cross-cultural interactions different implicit, as well as explicit, frameworks for interpreting these experiences (Albert, 1983). These differences in interpretation may lead culturally different people to view the same situation or behavior very differently. There is a great range of within-group variation in the attribution and cause and meaning, between-group variation may account for failed interactions because of differential attributions likely to occur (Salzman, 1990). The silence of an individual from one culture may be interpreted by a culturally different as indifferent or hostility when it was intended as respectful noninterference. The behavioral consequences of this discrepancy could interfere with the development of mutually respectful, cooperative, professional and personal relationships. Attributions are inferences about the causes of behavior. Heider (1958) indicated that humans are constantly engaged in the process of making inferences about behavior that is observed. Even though the behavior in any interactions that are or not performed can be important, it is the interpretations that are given to these behaviors that are critical (Albert Triandis, 1979). A compliment can be interpreted as a way to manipulate, help can be seen as demeaning and a gift as a bribe. These interpretations have predictable behavioral consequences and may serve to define the interaction. Discrepant attributions have been found to result in misunderstandings, low personal attraction, rejection and even conflict (Albert, Trianis, 1979; Salzman, 1990). It is thought that such discrepancies are more likely to occur in cross-cultural interactions because of differences in norms, roles, values and expectation that each culture has developed in adapting to life geographically, economically and historical circumstances. Heider (1958) saw all people behaving as naÃÆ'Â ¯ve scientists, constantly engaged in making inferences about events and observed behaviors by attributing causes and motives. Casual attributions, then answer the why questions about behaviors. They serve as mediators between all stimuli encountered in the world and responses made to these stimuli. Humans do not respond directly to events around us, we respond to the meanings or interpretations given to these events (Albert and Triandis, 1979). Pedersen (1987) noted that one source of bias is the implicit assumption that normal means the same to people of different social, economic, political and cultural backgrounds. Instead he argued that what is considered normal will change according to the situation, the cultural background being judged and the time during which a behavior is being displayed or observed Pedersen (1987), p. 16). He pointed out the dangers of diagnostic errors when using definitions of normality generated from the perspective of one culture with people of different cultures. Rogers objected to therapists making diagnosis of clients on their own evaluations (Rogers, 1951). He believed however that the individual client should be the only one who should make specific evaluations and set goals. Rogers (1980) advocated the location of power in the person not in the expert. Rogers espoused the view that only the individual embedded in a particular social, cultural and historical context could define normal be havior for him or herself. Pedersen (1987) asserted that many counselors neglect the development of the family, organizations and society in favor of emphasis on the welfare of the individual. According to Pedersen, counselors are encouraged to focus on changes in the individual client, sometimes blaming the group demands for the client adjustment problems and disregarding the effects of individual change on the groups to which the client belongs. Traditional counseling approaches according to Pedersen (1987) have all too often neglected other academic disciplines that speak to problems and issues of humanity such as sociology, anthropology, theology and medicine. Counselors tend to view their clients problem from a very limited perspective; however their problems are not confined to the disciplines of psychology and counseling. Pedersen (1989) believed that it is important for counselors to go outside the boundaries of their specialized knowledge and interest, to examine the issue or problem from the clients cultural perspective. According to Pedersen (1989) many counselors downplay the role of family and peers in providing support to a troubled individual and instead emphasize their professional services. He argued that counselors should attempt to incorporate the client natural support system into a treatment plan, which in some cultures is more acceptable than disclosing intimate information to the counselor, who is likely to be a stranger. Pedersen (1987) argued that too often counselors assume that their role is to change the individual to fit the system and too often fail to question whether the system should be changed to fit the individual. Counseling and therapy has a history of protecting the status quo against change, at least as perceived by minority cultures, through what has become to be called scientific racism (D.W. Sue Sue 2003). Counseling psychology has been slow to respond to evidence of cultural bias. Sampson (1993) suggests that psychology and counseling have at best accommodated add on eclectic strategies in response to culturally different movements and special interest groups without fundamentally transforming conventional frameworks of understanding. Wren (1962) first introduced the concept of cultural encapsulation. The perspective assumes five basic identifying features. First, reality is defined according to one set of cultural assumptions. Second, people become insensitive to cultural variations among individuals and assume their own view is the right one. Third, assumptions are not dependent upon reasonable proof or rational consistency but are believed true, regardless of evidence to the contrary. Fourth, solutions are sought in technique oriented strategies or quick and simple remedies. Fifth every one is judged from the viewpoint of ones self-reference criteria without regard for the other persons separate cultural context. There is evidence that the profession of counseling is even more encapsulated now than it was then when Wren wrote his original article (Albee, 1994; Wren, 1995). Counselors bias coming from two sources, such as their own cultural backgrounds and their professional training were highlighted in studies their actions toward groups other than whites. In a study examining this particular source of bias, the degree of cultural stereotyping among practicing counselors was explored using structured interviews (Bloombaum, Yamamoto, James, 1968). The results indicated that counselors attitudes toward Mexican Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans and Jews reflected the similar degree of cultural stereotyping usually found in the general population. Counselors must recognize racism, prejudice and discrimination, and accept them as real to better understand the living reality of clients who without the benefit of choice find themselves members of minority groups on the basis of differences from the dominant culture in our society, (Glauser, 1999). Each individual counselor must identify and accept his/her personal capacity to help or hinder clients whose life experiences, beliefs and physical makeup and or culture are different from their own. A counselor who is aware of his/her own limitations, when working with members of minority groups will conform to ethical guidelines and assure that their clinical efforts have the potential to help rather than do harm. Research has shown that prejudicial responses, in the form of stereotype activation, can persist long after an individual makes a conscious break with habitual prejudice thinking (Devine, 1989). Individuals in low prejudice tend to carefully scrutinize messages from minority groups to guard against unfair reactions. The care they take may interfere with the communication process in interaction with minority group and hinder full engagement by a counselor in the therapeutic setting (Petty, Fleming and White, 1999). The following examples indicate the types of cultural issues and their effects on the counseling situation. In the cultural value system of the Chinese American passivity rather than assertiveness is revered, quiescence rather than verbal articulation is a sign of wisdom and self-effacement rather than confrontation is a model of refinement(Ching and Prosen, 1980). Since humility and modesty is so valued it is difficult for counselors to draw out responses from a Chinese American in a group setting. The reticence which reinforces silence and withdrawal as appropriate ways of dealing with conflict may be interpreted as resistance by the uneducated counselor. Democratic counselors may also be uneasy with the role of the all knowing father that the Chinese respect bestows upon them (Ching and Prosen, 1980). African Americans place great value on family, especially their children, who are seen as a gift from God and on social relationships with a great emphasis on community and their pla ce in it. In this context social conflict resolution becomes important, so that peace and equilibrium may be restored to the community while personal conduct becomes secondary. (McFadden and Gbekobov, 1984). In his discussion of counseling the Northern Natives of Canada, Darou (1987) notes that counseling is seen as cultural racism when it does not fit native values. These values are cooperation, concreteness, lack of interference, respect for elders, and the tendency to organize by space rather than time and dealing with the land as animate not an inanimate object. Bernard and Flores-Ortiz (1982) point out that Latin cultures view the family as primary support for its members. Any suggestions that the family is not fulfilling that obligation can bring shame, added stress and an increased reluctance to seek professional services. Involving family members in treatment will most likely ensure successful counseling outcomes with Latinos. In examining the aspect of grief, the way the client reacts to it should be noted and respected this helps them to normalize their experience. The counselor should not try and fix the persons pain, but be as present as possible and pay attention to what the person is telling you in the moment. Give clients the permission to talk; they may have a need to tell their story over and over, as a part of the healing process. The counselor should give the client room to express their feelings and not censor them. It is okay to ask culturally different clients how grief and loss are addressed in their culture. As counselors we must be aware of our own feelings about grief and loss from personal experiences. Self-awareness helps avoid expecting clients to act like we would in a similar situation. Alcohol and other drug treatment programs continually report relatively low success rates among African-American participants. There is a need to consider treatment approaches that are more culturally competent. Counselors must view the identity and the development of culturally diverse people in terms of multiple interactive factors rather than strictly cultural framework (Romero, 1985). A pluralistic counselor considers all facets of the clients personal history, family history, and social and cultural orientation (Arcinega and Newlou, 1981).

Coyote Blue Chapter 30~31

CHAPTER 30 Like Flies They heard the bikers before they saw them: raucous laughter and Lynyrd Skynyrd from a boom box. They followed the road around a long, gradual curve that descended into a valley, stepping carefully to avoid the deep puddles. The trees were thinning out now and Sam could make out the light of a huge bonfire below them in the valley, and figures moving around the fire, a lot of them. Someone fired a pistol into the air and the report echoed around the valley. â€Å"Do they have sentries or something?† Sam whispered to Calliope. â€Å"I don't remember. I was pretty drunk when I was here before.† â€Å"Well, we can't just walk in.† â€Å"This way,† Coyote said, pointing to a path that led away from the road. They followed the trickster up the path, through thick undergrowth, and up onto a ridge that looked down on the clearing. From the top of the ridge they could see the entire camp. The fire was burning in the center of the camp with perhaps a hundred bikers and women gathered around it, drinking and dancing. The bikes were parked by the road leading in. There was a stand of tents and smaller campfires on the opposite side of the camp, with two pickup trucks parked nearby. Lynyrd Skynyrd sang â€Å"Gimme Back My Bullets.† â€Å"I don't see Grubb,† Calliope said. â€Å"Or the woman,† Coyote said. â€Å"Wait,† Calliope said. â€Å"Listen.† Amid the din of rock and roll, laughter, shouts, screams, and gunfire, they heard the sound of a baby crying. â€Å"It's coming from the tents,† Coyote said. â€Å"Follow me.† Coyote led them further down the ridge until they were about fifty yards from the tents and could see four women sitting around a campfire drinking and talking. One of them was holding Grubb. â€Å"There he is,† Calliope said. She started down the ridge and Sam caught her arm. â€Å"If you go down there that woman will call for Lonnie and the others.† â€Å"What can I do? We have to get him.† â€Å"Take off your clothes,† Coyote said. Sam sneered at the trickster, â€Å"I don't think so.† â€Å"Here, take this,† Coyote said, handing something to Sam. Sam couldn't make out what it was in the dark, but it felt warm and soft. He recoiled and dropped it. â€Å"Ouch,† Coyote said, his voice soft now, feminine. â€Å"Is that any way to treat a lady?† Sam looked, moved closer to the trickster, and saw that he was no longer a he. Still in his black buckskins, he had changed into a woman. â€Å"I don't believe it,† Sam said. â€Å"You're lovely,† Calliope said. â€Å"Thanks,† Coyote said. â€Å"Give me your clothes. These don't fit me now.† He started undressing. In the dim moonlight that filtered through the trees, Sam watched the women undress. Calliope was right, the trickster was gorgeous, a perfect female mirror of the male Coyote, an Indian goddess. Sam felt a little sick at the thought and looked away. Coyote said, â€Å"I'll go down and get the child. Be ready to run. And pick that up, I'll need it.† He pointed to the ground where Sam had dropped his penis. Sam picked up the member in two fingers and held it out as if it would bite him. â€Å"I'm not comfortable with this.† â€Å"I'll hold it,† Calliope said, now dressed in the black buckskins. â€Å"No you won't!† Sam said. â€Å"Well.† She cocked a hip and waited for him to make a decision. Sam put the penis in his jacket pocket. â€Å"I'm not comfortable with this, I want you to know.† â€Å"Men are such babies,† Coyote said. He hugged Calliope, girl to girl, and made his way down the hill. Sam watched the trickster move away from them toward the fire. Unable to look away, he became nervous with his own thoughts. Calliope patted his shoulder. â€Å"It's okay,† she said. â€Å"In my jeans he really does have a great ass.† -=*=- Tinker lay in the bed of the pickup sulking, listening to the nearby women going on about how badly they were treated by their men and how cute the baby was. The little bastard had been crying for an hour. What the fuck had Lonnie been thinking, bringing a crumb-snatcher to a rally? From time to time Tinker sat up and looked over the edge of the pickup to pick out which of the women he would fantasize about getting a blow job from. Fat chance, stuck here in the truck. Fucking Bonner and his military discipline. â€Å"This is a business trip,† Bonner had said. â€Å"A business trip we wouldn't be taking if Tinker would have taken care of business. So Tink, you guard the truck. No partying.† What was the point rallying with your bros if you couldn't get fucked up and start a few fights? Fuck this action. At least it had stopped raining. Tinker peeked over the edge of the truck to see a new chick coming up to the fire. What a piece she was! Right out of Penthouse or something. She looked Indian, long blue-black hair. What a fucking body. He watched her fawn over the baby and touch Cheryl's face. Lonnie had fucked her up, bad. Tink wondered what it was like to hit a chick. He was getting hard thinking about it. The Indian chick was holding the baby now, walking around the fire rocking it. She walked behind one of the tents, then ducked down. Tinker saw her shoot out the other side in a crouch, headed up the hill with the baby. Two people were coming down to meet her. â€Å"Hey, bitch!† Cheryl yelled. The other women were on their feet, yelling – going after the Indian chick. Tinker jumped out of the truck and started to circle around and up the hill to head off the Indian chick. As he ran he drew his Magnum from his shoulder holster. He slipped, fell to one knee, and drew down on the Indian chick. No, fuck it. If he hit the rug-rat Bonner would have his ass. He climbed to his feet and lumbered across the hill, watching the Indian chick hand the rug-rat to a blond chick. They were on the path at the top of the ridge. Gotcha! He'd take the lower path and be waiting for them. They had to come out at the road. As Tinker made his way up the dark path he heard scooters firing up below him. Good. Bonner would get there and he would already have it handled. He'd be out of the doghouse. He reached the spot where the two paths intersected and stopped. He could hear them coming up the path, the baby still crying. He leveled his Magnum down the path and waited. If the dude showed first he'd waste him without a word. He saw a shadow, then a foot. Tinker cocked the Magnum, put the sight where the chest would appear. A rush went through him, waiting, waiting. Now! A vise clamped down over the gun and he felt it wrenched out of his hand, taking skin with it. Another clamp locked down on his neck and he looked up into the eyes of his deepest fear. He felt his face come down on something hard and the bones of his nose crush. His head was wrenched back and slammed down again, then it went dark. -=*=- â€Å"Shade!† Coyote said. Minty Fresh threw Tinker's unconscious body aside and looked up at the Indian woman. â€Å"Who are you?† Sam said, â€Å"M.F., what are you doing here?† â€Å"The name is Minty Fresh.† He held Tinker's Magnum out to Sam, then let it drop. â€Å"I'm learning how to sneak up on people.† He saw the baby and smiled. â€Å"You got him.† â€Å"It was a fine trick,† Coyote said. â€Å"Who are you?† Minty insisted. â€Å"It's your old buddy Coyote.† Coyote cupped his breasts. Minty stepped back from the woman to get a better look. â€Å"Something's different, right? Haircut?† â€Å"We have to go,† Calliope said. â€Å"To where?† Minty said. Calliope looked at Sam, panicked, confused. Sam had no answer. Coyote said, â€Å"Montana. The Crow res. Come with us, shade. It'll be fun.† Minty turned to the roar of bikes behind him. â€Å"They're coming up the road,† he said. â€Å"I'll block them as long as I can with the limo.† They made their way down the path to where the Z was parked. The limo was parked in front. â€Å"I'll drive,† Sam instructed. â€Å"Cal, you and Grubb in the back.† They got in the car as lights from the Harleys broke through the woods. Minty got in the limo, started it, and pulled it forward to make way for the Z. Sam pulled the Z into the road, careful not to spin the wheels in the mud. You guys okay?† he said to Calliope, who had curled herself around Grubb. â€Å"Go,† she said. The bikers broke into view, Lonnie Ray in front. Minty hit the brights on the limo, hoping to blind them. He checked the mirror to see the Z pulling away, then started to back the limo up, careful to keep it in the middle of the road to block the bikes. As Lonnie approached the limo he drew a pistol from his jacket and leveled it at Minty through the windshield. Minty ducked and hit the gas. The limo revved and stopped, the back wheels of the heavy car buried in the mud. Lonnie jumped off his bike onto the hood of the limo and braced himself on the roof as he aimed and fired at the Z. At the sound of the shot Minty looked up to see the barrel of Lonnie's pistol pointing at him through the windshield. The other bikers, unable to get past, moved up around the limo. â€Å"You're finished, spook,† Lonnie hissed. He cocked the pistol. â€Å"Move the car out of the road.† â€Å"I don't think so,† Minty said. Lonnie jumped off the hood of the Lincoln and stuck the pistol through the window into Minty's temple. â€Å"I said move it.† â€Å"You move it,† Minty said. He pushed the limo door open, knocking Lonnie to the ground. Two bikers yanked him from the car and rode him to the ground. Minty felt a boot in his kidney, then a fist in the stomach, then the blows fell on him like rain. He heard Calliope's Z downshifting in the distance and smiled. -=*=- Sam pulled the Z back onto the pavement and floored it. â€Å"Everyone okay?† Grubb was still crying. Sam shouted, â€Å"Calliope, are you okay?† Coyote turned in the passenger seat and reached back. â€Å"She's hit. There's blood.† â€Å"Oh fuck, is she-â€Å" â€Å"She's dead, Sam,† Coyote said. Part 4 Home Coyote Hears His Heart It is an old story, from the time of the animal people. Coyote was in his canoe, and had paddled all day and all night, only to find that he didn't know where he wanted to go. He sat in his canoe, drifting for a while, thinking that something was wrong. He wanted to do something, but he didn't know what it was, so he made some mountains and gave them names. But that didn't make him happy. He tried to think, but he wasn't very good at it, and he kept hearing a thumping noise that bothered him. â€Å"Where should I go? What should I do? How can I think with all this noise?† Coyote was becoming sad because he could not think, so he called out to the Old Mother, who was the Earth. â€Å"Old Mother,† he said. â€Å"Can you stop this thumping noise so I can figure out where I am supposed to be?† Old Mother heard Coyote and laughed at him. â€Å"Silly Coyote,† she said. â€Å"That thumping noise is the sound of your own heart beating. Listen to it. It is the sound of the drums. When you hear your heart you must think of the drums – the sound of home.† â€Å"I knew that,† Coyote said. CHAPTER 31 There Are No Orphans Among the Crow It was five hours from Sturgis to Crow Agency, and Coyote, back in his black buckskins, drove the whole way. Sam sat in the passenger seat, dazed, staring but seeing nothing, holding Grubb, rocking the baby in a rhythm to a pulsing emptiness in his chest and trying not to look at Calliope's lifeless body in the back. Mercifully, there was no thinking or remembering – his mind had shut down to protect him. Coyote was quiet. As they drove through town an old warning sounded deep in Sam's mind and he mumbled, â€Å"I shouldn't be here. I'm in trouble.† â€Å"You have to go home,† Coyote said. â€Å"Okay,† Sam said. He thought he should protest but he couldn't think clearly enough to remember why. â€Å"When we get there, no tricks, okay? Act human for a while, please.† â€Å"For a while,† Coyote said. A mile out of town Coyote pulled the Z into the muddy driveway of the Hunts Alone house. â€Å"Stay here,† Coyote said. He got out of the car and went up the cement steps to the door. Sam looked around, seeing the house like a memory. It hadn't changed much. The house had been painted and peeled a couple of times and there were two horses, a paint and a buckskin, in the back field. An old Airstream trailer was parked by the sweat lodge and there were a couple more abandoned cars rusting in the side lot. It all felt wrong, to have run so long to end up back where he had started – the danger that he had run from was still here, and now, with Calliope dead, he felt even weaker than the fifteen-year-old who had left so many years ago. As frightening as it had been to leave, it had been a beginning, full of hope and possibility. This felt like the end. Coyote knocked on the door and waited. A Crow woman in jeans and a sweatshirt, about thirty, answered. She was holding a baby. â€Å"Yes?† Coyote said, â€Å"I've brought your cousin home. We need help.† â€Å"Come in,† she said. Coyote went into the house and came back to the car a few minutes later. He opened the door, startling Sam. â€Å"Let's go inside,† Coyote said. â€Å"I told the woman inside what happened.† He helped Sam out of the car and pointed him to the door where the woman waited. Sam walked stiffly up the steps and past the woman into the house. He stood in the center of the living room, rocking Grubb. Coyote came in the door behind him. â€Å"Can I bring her in?† he asked the woman. The woman looked horrified at the thought of a dead body in the house. Sam turned suddenly. â€Å"No, not in the house. No.† Coyote waited. The woman looked uncomfortable. â€Å"You could put her in the trailer out back.† Coyote went back out. The woman came to Sam and pulled the blanket away from Grubb's face. â€Å"Has he eaten?† â€Å"I?CI don't know. Not for a while.† â€Å"He needs a change. C'mon, give.† She put her own baby on the couch and coaxed Grubb out of Sam's arms. She spread the blanket on the coffee table and laid Grubb down on his back. â€Å"I've heard about you,† she said. â€Å"I'm Cindy. Festus is my husband.† Sam didn't answer. She took Grubb's dirty diaper off him and set it aside. â€Å"He's at work now, with his dad. They have their own shop in Hardin. Harry works with them too.† â€Å"Grandma?† Sam said. She looked up and shook her head. â€Å"Years ago, before I met Festus.† She brightened, trying to change the subject and the mood. â€Å"We have three other kids. Two other boys and a girl. They're in school – the little one in Head Start.† Sam stared over her head at the elkhorn hat rack hung with baseball caps, an old Stetson, and a ceremonial headdress. An obsidian-point buffalo lance hung beside it, next to an old Winchester and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar. â€Å"He's a strong baby,† Cindy said, grabbing Grubb's fidgeting fists. Sam looked back at her. â€Å"Pokey?† He looked down and away, a wave of grief washing over him. He walked to the kitchen doorway and stared at the ceiling, the first tears stinging as they welled up. â€Å"Pokey's okay,† Cindy said. â€Å"He went into the clinic last week. He almost – He was real sick. They wanted to move him to the hospital in Billings but Harlan wouldn't let them.† Cindy finished diapering Grubb and propped him up on the couch next to her own baby. â€Å"I'll fix him a bottle.† She walked past Sam into the kitchen. He turned away from her as she went by. â€Å"Do you want some food? Coffee?† Sam turned to her. â€Å"She never hurt anybody. She just wanted her baby back.† He covered his face. Cindy moved to him and put her arms around him. Coyote came in the front door. â€Å"Sam, we have to go.† Sam took Cindy by the shoulders and gently pushed her away, then turned and looked at Grubb, who was dozing on the couch. â€Å"He'll be okay,† Cindy said. â€Å"I'll watch him.† Sam didn't move. â€Å"Sam,† Coyote said, â€Å"let's go see Pokey.† -=*=- Heading back through Crow Agency to the clinic, Sam noticed the new, modern tribal building and the new stadium behind it. Wiley's Food and Gas was still across the highway, just as it had been before. Kids were still hanging around outside the burger stand. Two old men shared a bottle outside the tobacco store. A mother led a pack of kids out of the general store, each carrying a bag of groceries. â€Å"I shouldn't be here,† Sam said. Coyote ignored him and kept driving. The clinic was housed in an old two-story house at the far end of town. A line of people – mostly women and kids – waited outside. Coyote pulled into the muddy parking lot next to a rusted-out Buick. They crawled out of the car and walked up to the door. Some of the kids whispered and giggled, pointing at Coyote. An old man who was wheeling an oxygen cylinder behind him said, â€Å"Crow Fair ain't 'til next summer, boy. Why you dressed for a powwow?† â€Å"Be cool,† Sam said to Coyote. â€Å"Don't scare him.† Coyote shrugged and followed Sam into the waiting room, a ten-by-ten parlor with a checked linoleum floor and mint-green walls hung with racks of pamphlets. Twenty people sat in folding chairs along the walls, reading old copies of People or just staring at their shoes. Sam approached a window where a Crow woman was absorbed in scribbling on index cards, intent on not looking at those who waited. â€Å"Excuse me,† Sam said. The woman didn't look up. â€Å"Fill this out.† She handed a form and a stick pen over the counter. â€Å"When you hand it in – with the pen – I'll give you a number.† â€Å"I'm not here for treatment,† Sam said, and the woman looked up for the first time. â€Å"I'm here to see Pokey Medicine Wing.† The woman seemed annoyed. â€Å"Just a minute.† She got up and walked through the door into the back. In a moment a door into the waiting room opened and everyone looked up. A young, white doctor poked his head out, spotted Sam and Coyote, and signaled for them to come in. Everyone in the waiting room looked back down. Inside the door the doctor looked them up and down, Sam in his dirty windbreaker and slacks, Coyote in his buckskins. â€Å"Are you family?† â€Å"He's my clan uncle,† Sam said. The doctor nodded to Coyote. â€Å"And you?† â€Å"Just a friend,† Sam said. â€Å"You'll have to wait outside,† the doctor said. Sam looked at Coyote. â€Å"Keep it under control, okay?† â€Å"I said I would.† The trickster went back into the waiting room. â€Å"He should be in a real hospital,† the doctor said. â€Å"He was technically dead, twice. We brought him back with the defibrillator. He's stable now, but we don't have the staff here to watch him. He should be in an ICU.† Sam hadn't heard a word of it. â€Å"Can I see him?† â€Å"Follow me.† The doctor turned and led Sam down a narrow hallway and up a flight of steps. â€Å"He was severely dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia. I think he'd been drinking even before he went on the fast. It leached all the fluids out of his body. His liver is shot and his heart sustained some damage.† The doctor stopped and opened a door. â€Å"Just a few minutes. He's very weak.† The doctor went in with Sam. Pokey was lying in a hospital bed, tubes and wires connecting him to bottles and machines. His skin was a brown-gray color. â€Å"Mr. Medicine Wing,† the doctor said softly, â€Å"someone is here to see you.† Pokey's eyes opened slowly. â€Å"Hey, Samson,† he said. He smiled and Sam noticed that he still hadn't gotten false teeth. â€Å"Hey, Pokey,† Sam said. â€Å"You got bigger.† â€Å"Yeah,† Sam said. Seeing Pokey was breaking through his fog, and he was starting to hurt again. â€Å"You look like shit,† Pokey said. â€Å"So do you.† â€Å"Must run in the family.† Pokey grinned. â€Å"You got a smoke?† Sam shook his head. â€Å"I don't think that would be a good idea. I hear you're still drinking.† â€Å"Yeah. I went to some meetings. They said I needed to get a higher power if I wanted to quit. I told them that a higher power was why I was drinking in the first place.† â€Å"He's outside now. Waiting.† Pokey nodded and closed his eyes. â€Å"I had a couple of visions about you meeting up with him. All those years he's quiet, then I get a bunch of visions. I thought you was dead until I had the first one.† â€Å"I couldn't come home. I shouldn't have†¦.† Pokey dismissed the thought with a weak wave of his hand. â€Å"You had to go. Enos would've killed you. He checked on us for years, lookin' in our mailbox for letters, watching the house. He drove himself plumb crazy. He give up on you when Grandma died and you didn't come home.† Sam had listened to the last part of the speech sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to Pokey. His knees had given out at the news that Enos was alive. He stared at the door. â€Å"I don't feel anything,† he said. â€Å"You okay?† Pokey said, trying to grab his nephew's arm. â€Å"There's nothing. I'm not even afraid.† â€Å"What's wrong?† Sam looked over his shoulder at Pokey. â€Å"I thought I killed him.† â€Å"You busted him up real good. Broke both his legs and an arm sliding down the face of the dam. Tub a lard didn't even have the manners to drown.† â€Å"I been running for nothing. I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I should of never give you that Coyote medicine,† Pokey said. His breath was starting to come in rasping gasps. â€Å"I thought if I got rid of it I wouldn't be crazy no more.† â€Å"It's okay.† Sam patted Pokey's arm. â€Å"I don't think you had a choice.† Pokey continued to breathe heavily. â€Å"I saw a shadow that said you were going where there was death. I didn't know where to find you. I told Old Man Coyote. He said he knew.† Pokey gripped Sam's arm. â€Å"He said he knew, Samson. You got to get away from him.† â€Å"Calm down, Pokey.† Sam stood and put his hands on Pokey's shoulder. â€Å"It's okay, Pokey. It wasn't my death. Do you want the doctor?† Pokey shook his head. His breathing started to calm. Sam took a pitcher of water from the bedside table and poured some into a paper cup. He held it while Pokey drank, then helped the old man lie back. â€Å"Whose death?† Pokey asked. Sam put the cup down. â€Å"A girl.† He looked away. â€Å"You loved her?† Sam nodded, still looking away. â€Å"She had a baby. Cindy's watching him.† â€Å"When did it happen?† â€Å"This morning.† â€Å"Was Old Man Coyote with you when it happened?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Ask him to bring her back. He owes you that.† â€Å"She's dead, Pokey. She's gone.† â€Å"I been dead twice in the last two days. I ain't gone.† â€Å"She was shot, Pokey. A bullet went through her spine.† â€Å"Samson, look at me.† Pokey pulled himself up on the bed so he could look Sam in the eye. â€Å"He owes you. There's a story that Old Man Coyote invented death so there wouldn't be too many people. There's another story that his wife was killed and he went into the Underworld to get her. There was a shade there that let her go as long as Coyote promised not to look at her until he got back to the world, but he looked, so now no one can come back.† â€Å"Pokey, I can't do this right now. I can't listen to this.† â€Å"He stole your life, Samson.† Sam shook his head violently. â€Å"This just happened to me. I didn't make any of it happen.† â€Å"Then make it happen now!† Pokey shouted. Sam stopped. â€Å"In the buffalo days they said that a warrior who had counted coup and had an arrow bundle could move in and out of the Underworld. He could hide there from his enemies. Go, Samson. Old Man Coyote can help you find your girl.† â€Å"She's dead, Pokey. The Underworld is just old superstition.† â€Å"Mumbo jumbo?† Pokey said. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Crazy talk?† â€Å"That's right.† â€Å"Voodoo?† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"Like Coyote medicine?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Well?† Sam didn't answer. He was gritting his teeth, glaring at his uncle. Pokey smiled. â€Å"You still hate it when I talk about the old ways. Try it, Samson. What do you have to lose?† â€Å"Nothing,† Sam said. â€Å"There's nothing at all.† The doctor opened the door and said, â€Å"That's enough. He needs to rest.† â€Å"Fuck off, paleface,† Pokey said. Sam said, â€Å"Just one more minute, please.† â€Å"One minute,† the doctor said, holding up his finger as he backed out of the room. Sam looked at Pokey. â€Å"‘Fuck off, paleface'?† He laughed. It felt good. â€Å"Be nice, Squats Behind the Bush. I'm sick.† Sam felt something moving through him as he grinned at Pokey – something warm, like hope. â€Å"Now, quick, before you die again, you old fuck. Where do I get an arrow bundle?† -=*=- Sam came striding out of the clinic and grabbed Coyote by the arm, pulling him away from a group of kids he was lying to. What had been a paralyzing grief had changed to purpose. Sam felt incredibly alive. â€Å"Let's go. Give me the keys.† â€Å"What's going on?† Coyote said. â€Å"Why the hurry? Did the old man die?† Sam climbed into the Z and fired it up. â€Å"I've got to get to a phone, and I've got to get some clothes.† â€Å"What happened in there?† â€Å"You knew she was going to be killed, didn't you?† â€Å"I knew someone would.† â€Å"Pokey says that you can go in and out of the land of the dead?† â€Å"I can? Oh, the Underworld! Yeah, I can. I don't like to, though.† â€Å"We're going.† â€Å"It's depressing. You won't like it.† â€Å"Pokey thinks you can bring Calliope back.† â€Å"I tried that once; it didn't work. It's not up to me.† â€Å"Then we're going to talk to whoever it's up to.† â€Å"Aren't you afraid?† â€Å"I'm a little past that.† â€Å"Why do you need clothes?† â€Å"We're going to Billings first, to get something.† â€Å"It's depressing. You won't like it. There's a big cliff in Billings that was a buffalo jump, but our people never drove the herds over it. The buffalo used to go up to the edge and say, ‘Oh, no, it's Billings, then they'd just jump over out of depression. Nope, you don't want to go to Billings.† Sam pulled into the Hunts Alone driveway, shut off the car, and turned to Coyote. â€Å"What's in the Underworld? What are you so afraid of?†