The merger report between XM Canada and SERIUS Canada Essay

The merger report between XM Canada and SERIUS Canada - Essay Example The availed report is supposed to be taken on April 11, 2011, where the launch and implementation of proposal is supposed to be done and just on time. Some of the prevailing articulation that were on the top of the agenda for any company to acquire merger rights were the issue of management team makeup, consolidation of marketing strategies, integration of operations and information and the activities articulation Financial aspects. Previously, Federal communications commission approved Digital Audio Radio service to use a certain radio satellite broadcast rights, which oversees American mobile Radio XM Radio paying $ 93 million for its license and CD radio that currently known as SERIUS Satellite Radio paying $ 89 million for its license. However, both two broadcasting company has intense competition working based on subscription models to woe their customers. Many consumers have been signed up on the daily basis for as little as US $ 12.95 with an aim of making their consumers enjo y quality and affordable digital music, news, sports, talk and more. According to the availed report and plan tabled before Redmond indicates that the two companies’ offers subsidized radio upgrades that make purchasing decision easier on the prevailing consumers. Some of the technology that the two companies tried to outdo each other is by availing a project that was overseen manufactures installing satellite radio equipment in every car and then provided free service for the new car owner for a period of one full year. Going by the business analysis and statistics, the business models based on the free installation norms did not work well for these two companies since the aspect of free services usually leads to high and expensive price maintenance. When maintenance price is high, a farm usually suffers a loss (Kaser and Brooks 24-27). However, the introduction of programming skills has triggered the aspect of growth in both companies leading to streamlined operations and r efining products offerings, one of the positive articulations that lead business into a positive note. Managers within any prevailing business need to employ platforms that initiate marketing strategies, which triggers efficiencies norm. All this can be achieved through the introduction of new marketing and programming model as administered within the case of XM and SIRIUS media houses. Through new strategic model, both media houses have been well received after providing an additional merger platform resulting to $4 a month. Based on the discussion availed by the two companies involving XM Canada and SIRIUS Canada Inc, the report indicates that the two companies agreed to a merger perception probably on 24th, November the year 2010 that a total of 22.7 percent shares will be for Canadian Sattelite Radio Holdings Inc., 37.1 percent shares for SIRIUS XM, 15 percent for CBC, 15 percent for Slaight Communications and 10.2 percent for other investors. This decision was based on manageme nt team and its perception, operations and information systems availed, marketing strategies and financial articulation. For the purpose of joint within these, two companies, works based on team management that underpins the aspects of management structures initiated. There is a critical rivalry perception here in that it has been so difficult for the two companies to decide who should be picked up and be included within the executive but this was done through the use of integration model. In this process the two companies appointed Michael Washinushi, who was the chief financial

Electrical Engineering Essay Example for Free

Electrical Engineering Essay 1. Introduction Engineers have the potential of developing technology that will be used by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. Since so many people are using this technology, it has to be safe and it has to benefit one population without making another suffer. As the engineers design new technology, they are the ones that have an ethical responsibility to ensure that it will not endanger lives or cause any suffering. The purpose of the essay is to explore the specific issues that face electrical engineers. The primary focus in this essay will be addressing the question: how can an issue be an ethical concern if it does not directly endanger human life or society? This is particularly important as in contrast to other branches of engineering, the moral issues surrounding electrical engineering do not usually affect a consumer’s health or lead to injury or death. A civil engineering dilemma could involve a building collapsing or roads falling apart leading to direct death or injury, such as the LAmbiance Plaza Collapse1 in Connecticut, or the Sampoong Department Store Collapse2 in Seoul. However, as discussed in Fleddermann (2000)3, the problems faced by electrical engineers are no less important, and that the engineers in this discipline should be aware of the particular ethical dilemmas of this field. The field of electrical engineering covers a wide range of technology from power generation and transmission lines to integrated circuits used in computers. This essay will outline, using real-life examples, three major concerns in electrical engineering and explain how they impact the world on an international scale. The current solutions to the ethical dilemmas will be evaluated using ethical analysis, and alternative solutions will be provided. The following scenarios are an excellent illustration of the ethical issues that electrical engineers have to face and opens up a unique discussion about their responsibilities in both a national and international setting. Issue 1 Quality of product vs. commercial success Electrical engineers are involved in the manufacturing of everyday household appliances. The circuitry that is designed is used in products that are sold by the manufacturer. Manufacturers can prioritise the commercial success of their product over the actual quality. This can result in a conflict of interest between manufacturer and engineer since the manufacturer can be  financially motivated, whereas an engineer is supposed to hold paramount the welfare of public in their professional duties (engineering code of ethics)5. An example of this is the manufacturing of the Intel microprocessor in 19944. The microprocessor had a flaw in it that meant that a regularly used operation by users would give the incorrect results. The engineers knew of this problem, and rectified it for future version. Despite this, Intel continued selling the product. This error was found by users, and Intel decided it would only replace microprocessor with a good one to people who could demonstrate that they needed it. Should Intel have provided a replacement regardless? Since Intel was aware of the problem, was it unethical to withhold this information from the users? If this information had been given, and warnings had been included, does this solve the ethical problems for the company? According to Intel, since the error was so minor it would not affect the majority of users. However the few people would have ‘suffered’ from this flaw could have been rectified if Intel had offered to replace their microprocessor for free. This is what Intel did do and so according to utilitarianism principles their response was ethically sound. However, what was immoral was the fact that they did not bring up this issue themselves, and that they continued manufacturing and selling the product without warnings. They did not respect the dignity of their consumers enough to let them be informed consumers. By applying Kantian ethics, one can determine that Intel did not respect the dignity of their customers, and was merely using them as a means to an end. This was to maximise their profit margin by exhausting their faulty stock. There are a number of alternative solutions that Intel could have taken. Intel could have continued selling their product with a warning label so that further customers would be aware of flaw. A better solution would have been if Intel discontinued making this microprocessor and told their customers of the flaw straight away, whilst also offering a replacement chip. Issue 2 experimental nature of electrical. The technology used by engineers to design equipment is complex, and outside the understanding of a majority of general consumers. In addition to this, the lasting effect of some of these technologies is unknown. Since electrical technology is designed on such a small scale, there can be  unknown effects due to our limited understanding of quantum physics. This raises an interesting issue that has sparked debate. Can we use technology that we dont fully understand, but use on a daily basis? Is it safe to use this technology considering that there may be a potential risk that we have yet to comprehend? The nature of electrical engineering can be somewhat experimental. Transmission lines are used every day to transfer energy into our homes. There are inconclusive theories6 that suggests that these transmission lines which emit low-frequency electromagnetic radiation can be harmful to the general population. This ranges from causing headaches and muscles fatigue to an increased risk of cancer6. Is an engineer obliged to consider these potential risks in their design, even if there is little proof or knowledge into the lasting effects? Currently transmission lines are designed so that they are around 5-10 metres off the ground, this is both for efficiency as well as to remove them from the reach of the general public, avoiding electrocution. However, not many transmission lines have shielding to reduce or eliminate the effects of electromagnetic fields, as there is no quantitative evidence to suggest that shielding is necessary. If the observational theories were proven to be true, however unlikely, that would mean that the general public have been placed in a position of possible harm. In the unlikely case this was true, does the small probability of this being true outweigh the seriousness of the potential harm (cancer). An engineer should be morally responsible at all times, and so an engineer should employ some sort of safety measure. Even if there is only a tiny potential for transmission lines to have lasting negative effects, there should be methods used to combat this threat. This is applying contractualism principles. If engineers themselves believed that they could be exposed to these harmful effects, and knew that they could do something about it, they would integrate some shielding into their transmission line design. Issue 3 sustainability and power generation, impact of cheap labour Power generation and sustainability is a key concern for all people in the world. Electrical engineers are a vital part of this global machine concerned with sustainability. Engineers primarily concern themselves with providing the most efficient means of power generation and distribution, but this can cause negative effects on the global community. Can a balance be achieved? Is it possible for an electrical engineer to be  morally responsible at all time? Our current primary energy source is dependent on a limited resource, coal and fossil fuels7. The utilisation of these materials results in emissions and waste that are harmful to the environment. Since an electrical engineer is only concerned with the production of energy and not of its disposal is this even an issue they should concern themselves with? Its not just up to one person to be ethically responsible. An engineer is only a small part of a network of morally autonomous agents. An engineer can apply virtue ethics or kantian ethics, and create awareness of environmental issues. An engineer should have a virtuous nature and consider all areas of society that they can impact. If an engineer applies Kantianism, their actions would involve trying to tell their managers that they are using the Earth’s limited resources as a means to an end, and the environment gets negatively affected by this. If an engineer raises concern about environmental issues, then they are ethically sound. Even if the situation does not change due to the opinions of higher up people, the engineer has done all that they can be expected to. Cheap Labour: An example of our global effect is found in a youtube video8 where cheap child labour is used to break down parts in a circuit board for further use. The toxic fumes emitted from deconstructing the components are extremely hazardous and can cause lasting health consequences. Companies source labour to developing countries because it is an extremely economical alternative. This is primarily due to developing nations not having as stringent workplace health and safety requirements, and also being able to obtain workers who would work for a much lower wage. Essentially this action will achieve the same outcome, for a lesser cost. These companies clearly priorities profit margins over social wellbeing. Is this an electrical engineers concern? An electrical engineer is part of the company that makes the decision to employ cheap labour, and so they can be in a position to influence this decision. A number of options are available. Employ 1st world employees to perform the same job locally This will mean that there is a higher cost for the company. However, this will take away work from third work countries. Cheap labour will no longer  be exploited, but the people of the country will no longer have employment, which could have serious roll-over effects on the society and economy. A better solution would be: Employ 3rd world employees, and provide better wages and working conditions. The major benefit of this is that a company can still provide work for the global community, while improving the working conditions and economies of the developing nations, rather than exploiting them. The downside is extra cost put into educating employees and providing good equipment to apply process. Both scenarios involve extra money input from companies, resulting in loss of profits, but this is weighed against the safety of the people contracted to the company. Value of human life is held paramount here which satisfies engineering code of ethics. References 1. http://www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/168/LAmbiance-Plazza.aspx 2. http://www.hazardcards.com/card.php?id=8 3. http://www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele400/f12/cases.pdf 4. B. Crothers, â€Å"Pentium woes continue,† Infoworld, vol. 16, no. 48, pp. a. 1–18, Nov. 18, 1994. 5. http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au//sites/default/files/shado/About%20Us/Overview/Governance/CodeOfEthics2000.pdf 6. http://www.mcw.edu/radiationoncology/ourdepartment/radiationbiology/Power-Lines-and-Cancer-FAQs.htm#1 7. http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch2/impact.html 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeDw6yHQVbI

Art Movements Essay examples -- Artistics Artists History Art Essays

Cubism was one of the strongest art movements in the 20th century that gave birth to many other movements such as futurism and suprematism. The Forefathers of this revolutionary way of painting were Pablo Picasso and George Braque. Although it may have seemed to be abstract and geometrical to an untrained eye, cubist art do depict real objects. The shapes are flattened onto canvas so that different sides of each shape can be shown simultaneously from many angles. This new style gave a 3 dimensional look on the canvas. The cubist movement gave rise to an extraordinary reassessment of the interaction between form and space changing the course of western art forever. The groundbreaking Demoiselles d’Avignon was controversial not only for the way the women looked but also for the positions of the women. Although Picasso did not emphasize on detail, he â€Å"saw that the rational, often geometric breakdown if the human head and body employed by so many African artists could provide him with the starting point for his own re-appraisal of his subjects†(Cubism 53). â€Å"The naked women become inextricably bound up in a flux of shapes or planes which tip backwards and forwards from the two-dimensional surface to produce much the same sensation as an elaborate sculpture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Cubism 54). Futurism was an art movement, which was influenced by cubist art. Cubism showed no motion it was futurism that was fascinated with machinery, transport and communications. In paintings and sculpture,... Art Movements Essay examples -- Artistics Artists History Art Essays Cubism was one of the strongest art movements in the 20th century that gave birth to many other movements such as futurism and suprematism. The Forefathers of this revolutionary way of painting were Pablo Picasso and George Braque. Although it may have seemed to be abstract and geometrical to an untrained eye, cubist art do depict real objects. The shapes are flattened onto canvas so that different sides of each shape can be shown simultaneously from many angles. This new style gave a 3 dimensional look on the canvas. The cubist movement gave rise to an extraordinary reassessment of the interaction between form and space changing the course of western art forever. The groundbreaking Demoiselles d’Avignon was controversial not only for the way the women looked but also for the positions of the women. Although Picasso did not emphasize on detail, he â€Å"saw that the rational, often geometric breakdown if the human head and body employed by so many African artists could provide him with the starting point for his own re-appraisal of his subjects†(Cubism 53). â€Å"The naked women become inextricably bound up in a flux of shapes or planes which tip backwards and forwards from the two-dimensional surface to produce much the same sensation as an elaborate sculpture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Cubism 54). Futurism was an art movement, which was influenced by cubist art. Cubism showed no motion it was futurism that was fascinated with machinery, transport and communications. In paintings and sculpture,...

Dean Larges

I interviewed one of my former student's who was considered to be a bully when he was in my classes as a student in 7th and 8th grade. The young man's name is Dean Larges. When Dean was in my physical education classroom I had to constantly stay on him about his behavior towards other students. He would not only verbally abuse students but on occasion would get into physical altercations with some of his classmates. Recently Dean has come back to the area as a parole officer. I asked him if he was willing to be interviewed about his past behaviors during middle school. We sat down on a few occasions and talked about his past behaviors and actions. I also talked to him about the decision to work in the courts and schools with our troubled youth. The first thing we discussed during the interview was the environment in which he grew up. Dean was raised in a normal middle class family. When he was in the 6th grade, which is the year before he attended the middle school that I work in, his parents divorced. He grew up with a brother who was four years older than him. Dean admittedly said that when his parents divorced, it was a changing point in his behavior. In his memory up to that point he did not consider himself to be a bully. He remembers being very happy while his parents were still married. He felt a lot of anger over the divorce and did not talk to either of his parents about it. He felt that the rules were different from house to house which confused him at a young age concerning rules. He feels now that his bullying increased as a way to â€Å"fill the void of not having both of his parents around†. He said during middle school most of the attention that he received from the bullying was positive from his peers. Looking back he realized that he deemed the laughing from his peers to be positive but more than likely they were just trying to appease him so he wouldn't bully them. He was fairly large for his age which made it more difficult for students to stand up to his bullying. By nature Dean was and still is very outgoing. This combined with his aggressive behavior and the anger he felt at this time was not a good combination. He had always been involved in sports and was aggressive but up until this point not overly aggressive with his classmates. He had a real problem not seeing his dad on a daily basis. He feels that he started to take this anger out on his classmates and at times his teammates in the various sports that he was playing. Many of his coaches especially in football encouraged or rewarded the aggressive behavior so in his mind they were condoning it. He felt that this was one of the reasons the behavior started to increase, as he was being rewarded for it. When he got to middle school he had more freedom and more time to act out. When Dean first came to middle school he was not in my physical education class but he was in the gym and the locker room during an hour where I also taught a class. I had to deal with him multiple times either for being too aggressive or for verbally abusing students. He was always very apologetic after the fact but continued with his behavior. He was suspended from school once or twice due to bullying/fighting in other classes during his 6th grade year. His 7th grade year he was in my class and after the start of the year his behavior was better, at least in my class. He seemed to have more issues in classrooms with female teachers. We talked about this and he said that his mom's rules were not very strict compared to his dad's so this was probably the reason for his lack of respect for female teachers. He claims that as he moved into high school his bullying behavior slowed and eventually stopped as he started to see that his parents' divorce was actually a good thing for them. Both of his parents seemed to be happier now that they were divorced. Dean felt part of it was also just growing up and seeing the effects that his bullying behaviors had on his fellow students. During our interview we discussed if his mother or father were verbally or physically aggressive or abusive. Dean said that both of his parents were very loving and not abusive at all. I do not feel that any genetic factors played much if any of a role in Dean being a bully. Dean and his older brother also had a good relationship. They played sports together and were fairly close even with the four year age difference. Dean felt that another factor at this age was that he started seeing less of his brother. His brother started driving and was playing different sports so he was not around as much as he had been. There were many sources that influenced the changes and or lack of changes in Dean's behavior. As I discussed earlier his parents' divorce had a big influence. Another factor that had influence was the changing of schools from elementary to middle school and the extra freedom that came with that. In talking to Dean he said that a big factor in changing his behavior were a few male teachers and coaches. One in particular made a strong impact on helping to stop his bullying. He said that his junior varsity football coach played a big role in teaching him how to act properly and held him to a higher standard of behavior. This particular coach was also his U.S. History teacher so he spent quite a bit of time around him. This teacher/coach helped him to understand why treating people, including classmates and teammates with respect is an important life skill. The last topic we discussed was how we can get through to young people so that we can stop the bullying. In Dean's opinion and I agree, we need to continue as adults to take the time to get to know students and understand their individual situations. Once you have a better understanding of what's happening in their lives you can figure out a better way to stop the bullying. His past behavior and the belief that he could help troubled youth turn their lives around was the main reason that he chose the career that he did.

Tell Tale Heart Study Packet

â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† by Edgar Allan Poe Activity Packet [pic] [pic] Name ____________________________________________ L. A. Period ________ Your score ___________out of 30 points possible ( Covers plot elements, comprehension, figurative language, mood, character traits, , and setting ) Pre-Reading Guide for â€Å"Tell-Tale Heart† Name _________________________________________ Period ___________ (5 pts. ) Describe five things that you usually find in a scary/horror story: 1. ______________________________________________________________ 2. ______________________________________________________________ . _______________________________________________________________ 4. _______________________________________________________________ 5. ________________________________________________________________ Read the following statements. If you agree with them, put a check in the YOU column. Then, AFTER we read the story, go back and put a check in the AUTHOR column if you feel the author agrees with that statement. YOUAUTHORSTATEMENT ____________1. People who are insane know that they are insane. ____________2. Sane people sometimes imagine that they hear things. ___________3. If you commit a crime, the worst punishment is the guilt afterward. ____________4. Often it’s the small annoying things about people that can be the most irritating and infuriating. ____________5. All people are basically afraid of the same things. ____________6. When you’ve done something wrong, wondering if you’ll be caught can cause great stress and anxiety. â€Å"Tell-Tale Heart†comprehension QuestionsName__________________ (20 pts. ) After reading â€Å"Tell-Tale Heart† by Poe, answer the following questions using short answers.They do not need to be complete sentences, but answer each part of the question thoroughly. 1. Who is telling this story (narrating)? Is it first, second, or third person? 2. What is your first impression of the n arrator? What does he try convincing the reader of? 3. How does the narrator feel about the old man in general? What, then, specifically, is it about the old man that troubles/bothers the narrator? Why? How often does the narrator mention this â€Å"thing† in the story? 4. What does the narrator tell us he does every night? Why? 5. How does the narrator feel immediately after he commits the murder?Do his feelings change? If so, how and why? â€Å"Tell-Tale Heart† Comprehension Questions continued†¦Name__________________ 6. What sound drives the narrator to confess to the crime? What do you think causes his paranoia? 7. Give two direct and specific examples from the story that the author uses to create an atmosphere of horror or suspense. These are sentences that set or enhance the MOOD of the story. Give the page number. 8. Give one example where the author uses punctuation or repeated words or phrases in a sentence to show the mood of horror or suspense. . Find o ne example of each of the following: a. Alliteration – Pg. ___ ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ b. Simile – Pg. ________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 10. c. Personification – Pg. _________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

Free Essays on Symbolism

A symbol is when an object is used to represent something abstract. In stories, symbolism plays a large role in expressing the author’s true meaning and emotions. It is a tool that enables the writer to give a completely different meaning to the story they are writing. The author Franz Kafka uses a fair amount of symbolism in his writing in order to help him in the telling of the story and to make the reader think. This is evident in his writing’s of â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and â€Å"A Country Doctor†. In â€Å"The Metamorphosis† Kafka is attempting to express the fact that some people waste their lives and in a way live their lives as a bug would. Gregor Samsa (the main character) is an extremely hard working man who hates his job yet he never misses a day. His job consists of him traveling around and selling cloth, his life is extremely inconsistent and lonely like a bug. This is evident when Gregor says, â€Å"†¦the trouble of constant traveling, of worrying about train connections, the bed and irregular meals, casual acquaintances that are always new and never become intimate friends. The devil take it all!† (Kafka 581) The six legs that he has may be a symbol of all the traveling and moving around that he has to do. The family along with Gregor has the same routine day in and day out, which shows that they aren’t really living their lives to the full extent in which they should. This is why Kafka turns him into a bug in the beginning of the story. Gr egor’s family depends solely on him because his father has lost his memory, his mother has asthma, and his sister is too young to work. His family doesn’t seem to appreciate what Gregor does for them this becomes obvious when the clerk chief comes to the house to see why Gregor isn’t working. When the clerk chief gets Gregor to open his bedroom door the family is in shock to see that nothing is wrong with Gregor and he is simply late for work. This shock represents his fami... Free Essays on Symbolism Free Essays on Symbolism A symbol is when an object is used to represent something abstract. In stories, symbolism plays a large role in expressing the author’s true meaning and emotions. It is a tool that enables the writer to give a completely different meaning to the story they are writing. The author Franz Kafka uses a fair amount of symbolism in his writing in order to help him in the telling of the story and to make the reader think. This is evident in his writing’s of â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and â€Å"A Country Doctor†. In â€Å"The Metamorphosis† Kafka is attempting to express the fact that some people waste their lives and in a way live their lives as a bug would. Gregor Samsa (the main character) is an extremely hard working man who hates his job yet he never misses a day. His job consists of him traveling around and selling cloth, his life is extremely inconsistent and lonely like a bug. This is evident when Gregor says, â€Å"†¦the trouble of constant traveling, of worrying about train connections, the bed and irregular meals, casual acquaintances that are always new and never become intimate friends. The devil take it all!† (Kafka 581) The six legs that he has may be a symbol of all the traveling and moving around that he has to do. The family along with Gregor has the same routine day in and day out, which shows that they aren’t really living their lives to the full extent in which they should. This is why Kafka turns him into a bug in the beginning of the story. Gr egor’s family depends solely on him because his father has lost his memory, his mother has asthma, and his sister is too young to work. His family doesn’t seem to appreciate what Gregor does for them this becomes obvious when the clerk chief comes to the house to see why Gregor isn’t working. When the clerk chief gets Gregor to open his bedroom door the family is in shock to see that nothing is wrong with Gregor and he is simply late for work. This shock represents his fami... Free Essays on Symbolism Symbolism in the Word of God While the cross, water, bread, and wine are symbols at the center of the Christian faith and practice, they are not the only symbols mentioned in the Bible. The Word of God is loaded with symbolism; in fact, many of the events of the Old Testament often foreshadow events which occur in the New Testament. For example, the sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament points to the sacrificial death of Christ (see Passover). Jesus even used symbolic language in talking about Himself and His relationship to persons. He referred to himself as the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, and the Door. When Christ sets up His millennial kingdom here on earth (Revelation 20:4-9), He will replace the symbolic precursors of the Old Covenant: the bronze laver, the table of shewbread, and the golden lampstand, for He is the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Jesus is the Living Water, the Bread of Life, and the Light of the World; He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. We no longer have to sacrifice lambs and rams to atone for our sins, for Christ became our Passover Lamb. It is by His flesh (the veil of the temple) that we are able to enter into the Holy of Holies and commune with our High Priest - Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:20-21). Hallelujah! Jesus also used symbolism when He spoke in parables. A parable is a brief tale illustrating a moral principle. His 39 recorded parables (stories) connected with the real world of agriculture (sowing, harvesting, growing), the food industry (baking, fishing), real estate (land purchasing, home ownership), and retailing (the sale of pearls). His images and language helped bring His message alive to the common people. It showed clearly that God takes an interest in the workplace and desires people to serve Him in the secular arena. The advantage of stories like these is that they impress the listener with a viv...

Spatial Interaction in Supply and Demand

Spatial Interaction in Supply and Demand Spatial interaction is the flow of products, people, services, or information among places, in response to localized supply and demand. It is a transportation supply and demand relationship that is often expressed over a geographical space. Spatial interactions usually include a variety of movements such as travel, migration, transmission of information, journeys to work or shopping, retailing activities, or freight distribution. Edward Ullman, perhaps the leading transportation geographer of the twentieth century, more formally addressed interaction as complementarity (a deficit of a good or product in one place and a ​surplus in another), transferability (possibility of transport of the good or product at a cost that the market will bear), and lack of intervening opportunities (where a similar good or product that is not available at a closer distance). Complementarity The first factor necessary for interaction to take place is complementarity. In order for the trade to take place, there has to be a surplus of the desired product in one area and a shortage of demand for that same product in another area. The greater the distance, between trip origin and trip destination, the less likelihood of a trip occurring and the lower the frequency of trips. An example of complementarity would be that you live in San Francisco, California and want to go to Disneyland for a vacation, which is located in Anaheim near Los Angeles, California. In this example, the product is Disneyland, a destination theme park, where San Francisco has two regional theme parks, but no destination theme park. Transferability The second factor necessary for interaction to take place is transferability. In some cases, it is simply not feasible to transport certain goods (or people) a great distance because the transportation costs are too high in comparison to the price of the product. In all other cases where the transportation costs are not out of line with price, we say that the product is transferable or that transferability exists. Using our Disneyland trip example, we need to know how many people are going, and the amount of time we have to do the trip (both travel time and time at the destination). If only one person is traveling to Disneyland and they need to travel in the same day, then flying may be the most realistic option of transferability at approximately $250 round-trip; however, it is the most expensive option on a per person basis. If a small number of people are traveling, and three days are available for the trip (two days for travel and one day at the park), then driving down in a personal car, a rental car or taking the train may be a realistic option. A car rental would be approximately $100 for a three-day rental (with for to six people in the car) not including fuel, or approximately $120 round-trip per person taking the train (i.e., either Amtraks Coast Starlight or the San Joaquin routes). If one is traveling with a large group of people (assuming 50 people or so), then it may make sense to charter a bus, which would cost approximately $2,500 or about $50 per person. As one can see, transferability can be accomplished by one of several different modes of transportation depending on the number of people, distance, the average cost to transport each person, and the time available for travel. Lack of Intervening Opportunities The third factor necessary for interaction to take place in the absence or lack of intervening opportunities. There may be a situation where complementarity exists between an area with a high demand for a product and several areas with a supply of that same product in excess of local demand. In this particular case, the first area would be unlikely to trade with all three suppliers, but would instead trade with the supplier that was closest or least costly. In our example of the trip to Disneyland, Is there any other destination theme park identical to Disneyland, providing an intervening opportunity between San Francisco and Los Angeles? The obvious answer would be no. However, if the question was, Is there any other regional theme park between San Francisco and Los Angeles that could be a potential intervening opportunity, then the answer would be yes, since Great America (Santa Clara, California), Magic Mountain (Santa Clarita, California), and Knotts Berry Farm (Buena Park, California) are all regional theme parks located between San Francisco and Anaheim. As you can see from this example, there are numerous factors that could affect complementarity, transferability, and lack of intervening opportunities. There are many other examples of these concepts in our daily lives, when it comes to planning your next vacation, watching the freight trains roll through your town or neighborhood, seeing the trucks on the highway, or when you ship a package overseas.

Know Your Regional Vocabulary

Know Your Regional Vocabulary Know Your Regional Vocabulary Know Your Regional Vocabulary By Mark Nichol One of the delightful facts about American English is that even though the rich regional variety of pronunciation and vocabulary ever diminishes, we’re still a long way from universal treatment of the language, and that’s an important detail for writers to observe. Take soda, for example. I mean pop. I mean coke. Each of these three terms for carbonated beverages is prevalent in various parts of the United States, and the respective regional dominations aren’t likely to go flat soon. According to a Web site that invites visitors to engage in an ongoing electronic survey of word usage, coke is it in the South, in much of Arizona and isolated other parts of the Southwest, and, curiously, in pockets of south and central Indiana. (The dominance of coke in the South may have something to do with the fact that Coca-Cola is based in Atlanta.) Pop, however, is the dominant variant in terms of geographical coverage, popping up throughout the northern states outside New England and rarely elsewhere. Soda, by contrast, which accounts for a slim majority by population, is the term of choice in the Northeast, in and around Miami and St. Louis, in eastern Michigan, and in much of Northern California and Arizona. (This Northern Californian concurs, though I call carbonated beverages â€Å"soft drinks.† But I don’t drink them, so what do I know?) Other, relatively rare synonyms are tonic in the Boston area and dope in some parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. (The latter term perhaps derives from the fact that originally, Coca-Cola contained cocaine hence the brand name.) The dominant vocabulary in selected other nations includes â€Å"soft drink† for Australia and New Zealand (no, I’m not from Down Under), mineral in Ireland, and pop in Canada. What does what you call a carbonated beverage have to do with writing? Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, it behooves you to adhere to the local dialect, including vocabulary, when you’re engaging with regional culture. That’s easy for many authors, who write about their own neck of the woods and are intimately familiar with the local word-hoard. But if you’re going to virtually venture afar in your writing, make sure your characters don’t stand out as strangers by the way they talk unless, of course, that’s the point: A great strategy for showing, not telling, in a fish-out-of-water tale is to introduce the character by having them, for example, ask for a tonic when they sit down at a diner in the rural South. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph Examples50 Types of Propaganda45 Idioms About the Number One

Tesco International Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Tesco International Business Strategy - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  the company operates in thirteen countries, however its main operations are located in the UK, where there are large format of hypermarkets. Being the leader in retail business is not a simple task, because the company should always think over improvement of its strategy over such strong rivals as Sainsbury PLC, the UK chain of  supermarkets, Asda Stores Ltd, a British-based supermarket  chain which  retails  food, clothing and  financial services and the chain of supermarkets Morrisons’.This paper outlines that  Tesco has a  vast structure for corporate governance, which complies with the UK corporate governance code. The effective board is considered the basis for good governance in any corporation. In Tesco, there are four committees that assist the work for  the board of directors and provide them with the support that is directed towards Tesco’s stakeholders. The sub-committees are chaired by the CEO  with the main target to monitor each aspect of  the business and arrange discussions of issues with the executives. The corporate governance section of Tesco’s annual report and financial statements contains a brief outline of the planning and control structure used across the company. It has a five year rolling plan with the categories of planned revenue and capital expenditure. Such data is used for forming the basis for the creation of similar plans for each of the separate group businesses.

Family Medical Leave Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Family Medical Leave Act - Essay Example It is important to notice that any federal employee or officer, who has been covered under subchapter V of chapter 63 under title 5, would not be eligible for this leave. Moreover if the employee has been working at such a worksite where the total number of employees is less than 50 then also that employee would not be eligible for family and medical leave. There are certain conditions due to which any eligible employees would be entitled to leave. An eligible employee would be entitled to leave in case of birth of son or daughter or in case of taking care of the same. If spouse, parent, son or daughter of an employee is having serious health condition then the employee would be entitled to leave in order to take care of them. If the employee himself/herself is seriously ill and as a result he/she could not perform properly then also he/she would be entitled to such leave. One of the main purposes of FMLA is to create the balance between the need of the families and demand of the workplace. Other important purposes include promoting economic stability and security of families, promoting the importance of family integrity which is a national interest. One of the most important purposes of FMLA is to entitle employees for taking reasonable leave so that they can care their son or daughter, spouse or parent who are having serious health condition. Employees would be entitled to this leave for their own health condition also (United States Department of Labor, n.d.). In case of FMLA employers do not need to pay wages during the leave periods. Total duration of this leave could be at the most 12 weeks. Sometimes health insurance premiums of workers’ are paid by the employers. As per FMLA these employers must continue to pay these premiums for their workers during the leave

International Political Economy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Political Economy - Assignment Example The labor product in this case was alien from the producers themselves (Mandel and Marx 69-72). The introduction of capitalist system opened trade to global world with the employment of huge masses of people to work in industries. However capitalist still remains exploitation of the workers by the ruling class the wealth produced by the workers is of benefit to the ruling class. Working in industries has exposed workers to poor working conditions. With the increase in market competition the workers who are viewed as commodities are turned to work under strict rules. This has had an adverse effect to human beings who in turn are subjected to harmful chemicals in the industries, which may lead to contraction of diseases (Scott 71-75). It is impossible to prevent some circumstances in capitalist. The overgrowing use of machines enhances high productivity of goods which creates employment opportunities for workers to work in those industries. It will however be difficult to avoid the use of child labor to work within these industries. Huge gap of social inequalities has also continued to widen further. The exploitation of the workers has constantly resulted into wars and crises which has been difficult to prevent (Scott 81-82). The division between the owners of production and the workers meant there is likelihood of war eruption which in this case is inevitable as a result, impairing the development of a capitalist economy. With huge concentration on capital whereby small retail units had to pave way for the enlargement of wide markets agriculturalists had to suffer. It should however be noted that this system of capitalist makes it very difficult to control the economic crises. Transition to communism is related with the struggle of class. Whether it is a violent or peaceful transition, it cannot be achieved through reforms that are isolated.

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Resource Management are the following: Compensation, hiring, management performance, development of the organization, overall wellness, and benefits; motivation of people, good communication, good administration, and training (Heathfield â€Å"date unknown†). Overhauling Mattel was not an easy task for Eckert, but it was a fruitful endeavor for Mattel’s CEO. Question 1: Identify the key elements of Mattel`s HRM Strategy. Critically evaluate the HRM strategy in relation to relevant theories and models and the current external environment. What potential issues does the company face in balancing the organizational HRM strategy with divisional personalization of it (as discussed on page 9of the case study) The key elements of Mattel’s HRM strategy are workforce development, and the standardizing people development1. Workforce development could mean a lot of things, for there seem to be no single meaning to describe the term. However, workforce development has become a term to illustrate any one of a comparatively broad range of national and international strategies and programs associated with learning for work (Jacobs & Hawley â€Å"date unknown†). Many scholars in this particular field use the term national workforce development to mean the articulation between the private-sector and government programs (McLean 2003). According to Jacob and Hawley (date unknown) â€Å"Emergence of Workforce Development: Definition, Conceptual Boundaries, and Implications† there are five reasons for the coming out of this particular phenomenon in the field of industry. To be precise, these are globalization, technology, new economy, political change, and demographic shifts. These five factors are all connected to each other and have become a great challenge especially for adults (Jacobs & Hawley â€Å"date unknown†). Globalization opened the door for the free flow of market among nations.

How does adult educational programming support Jesuit values today Essay

How does adult educational programming support Jesuit values today - Essay Example Jesuit core values consist of promotion of academic excellence, whole person education and promotion of open-minded arts. Jesuit tradition emphasizes on the pursuit of academic excellence. It promotes the love for learning among individual community members. Jesuit education emphasizes on whole person education, which is based on the tenet that the core feature of Jesuit education is to help in the development of all the God-given talents in people. Jesuits believe that people’s potential can be harnessed through offering education and learning opportunities to them. Through the implementation of adult education programming, Jesuit achieves its objective of imparting knowledge to every member of the society, which improves their intellectual capacity. Through the program, adults can easily read their bible and make informed decisions because they are enlightened. The program can significantly promote the love for education among adult members of the society, which is a core ingredient of the Jesuit education and tradition. As such, the implementation of adult educational programming is likely to promote the fundamental values of Jesuit tradition such as fostering academic excellence and education of whole

Health Care Industry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Health Care Industry - Coursework Example This has led to a reputation that is based on the specific types of health care plans and the options available to assist with those who are in need of health care (Humana, 2011). Humana began in the 1960s by providing assistance to those who were living in nursing homes. The beginning in 1961 included two owners, Wendell Cherry and David Jones, deciding to build a nursing home to assist those in need of extra care. Within seven years, the nursing homes had grown to over 40 facilities available for seniors in need of various levels of assistance. By the late 1960s, the need for nursing homes changed, specifically because of the introduction to Medicare and the extra assistance from hospitals. By the 1970s, the focus was to provide extra assistance for living as well as to provide needed resources for those who were in hospitals. This expanded with the acquisition of America Medicorp that was based on adding special care. It wasn’t until 1984 that health plans and insurance wer e offered to assist a diverse population of individuals. By the 1990s, the company was known for its strong reputation among doctors and patients, as well as the several packages available for diverse needs in health care (Humana, 2011). Today, there are several products and services offered by Humana. The strongest plan is the Medicare option, which began in the 1970s following the ventures in nursing homes. The main health insurance follows this, known as Humana One. This particular brand is known for offering several comprehensive plans for individuals, families, businesses and those who have special needs. This is also divided into alternatives for dental and vision as well as for life and supplemental insurance. Human also offers home delivery for assistance, known as Right Source RX. This is combined with the Humana Pharmacy Solutions, which incorporates the best clinically proven medicines that patients need at all levels. There are also special programs for veterans and mili tary officials, specifically which provides different types of pharmaceuticals and assistance in insurance (Humana, 2011). The growth of Humana in the health care industry has also led to branches in the business for various ventures. A Humana Foundation has been established, specifically which is based on providing health solutions for those that are in need of assistance. The focus is to offer education, training and assistance to build healthy communities. This is a part of the social responsibility that Humana has introduced to various communities. Within this are healthy concepts that are applied, such as the B-Cycle, a community initiative to get more individuals biking to work for better health in the environment and of the individual. This is followed by the Humana Games for Health, used as a way to increase activity in communities while building responses among those that are interested in health. These specific concepts are currently used as the main components of services that Humana is using to give back to the community for building and sustaining health (Humana, 2011). The background of Humana is compliant with the current trends that are associated with the industry sector. Today has several areas that are beginning to grow and offer more to those in health care. New and emerging technologies are providing more health options to individuals in need of assistance. Higher amounts of quality and payment reforms are also being noted. Currently, consumers

How does adult educational programming support Jesuit values today Essay

How does adult educational programming support Jesuit values today - Essay Example Jesuit core values consist of promotion of academic excellence, whole person education and promotion of open-minded arts. Jesuit tradition emphasizes on the pursuit of academic excellence. It promotes the love for learning among individual community members. Jesuit education emphasizes on whole person education, which is based on the tenet that the core feature of Jesuit education is to help in the development of all the God-given talents in people. Jesuits believe that people’s potential can be harnessed through offering education and learning opportunities to them. Through the implementation of adult education programming, Jesuit achieves its objective of imparting knowledge to every member of the society, which improves their intellectual capacity. Through the program, adults can easily read their bible and make informed decisions because they are enlightened. The program can significantly promote the love for education among adult members of the society, which is a core ingredient of the Jesuit education and tradition. As such, the implementation of adult educational programming is likely to promote the fundamental values of Jesuit tradition such as fostering academic excellence and education of whole

A newspaper invites young people to write articles about television Coursework

A newspaper invites young people to write articles about television programmes they either loathe or love. Write the piece you would send to the newspaper - Coursework Example You can tell which series it is from the opening sequence. Actually I can tell what series it is from the extent of Chandler’s physical decline. He starts out quite fit and degenerates into an increasingly zombified, staring-eyed mess. Apparently he had to fight some addiction demons in real life. My theory is that working with this bunch gradually eroded his sanity. I only watch Friends because it provides the ideal opportunity for venting all my pent-up frustrations about life. For me this programme has all the charms of an emotional punchbag. I look at the smug, silly faces and enjoy an imaginary workout in the boxing ring with each one in turn. Except Chandler. Something worries me about Chandler. It is a fact that every viewer on the planet, unfortunately, has a soft spot for one of the six characters. It’s a kind of post-modern Rorschach test. The one you identify with reveals your true nature. I never did see the attraction of Friends, and even now, almost a decade after the last series gasped its way onto our screens, I don’t get it. I mean look at the stereotypical gender roles. The girls are all mad: Rachel is sex-mad, Monica is neurotic and has issues with food, issues with hygiene, issues with men, and a seriously weird relationship with her brother. And Phoebe. Well, Phoebe is the poster girl for cloud-cuckoo land. â€Å"Smelly cat, smelly cat†¦You smell like something dead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What was that all about? I hope the producers are insured against all the law suits that are bound to follow from children thinking that this is acceptable behaviour in an adult human being. And the boys are not much better. Would you go out with any of them? The show has a formula that is repeated ad nauseam until finally the characters just show up on the set and the dialogue writes itself. In fact it is so predictable that a ten year old could write it and nobody would be any the wiser. Joey and Chandler have little boy-games in their flat, while Rachel

The 2008 Presidency Essay Example for Free

The 2008 Presidency Essay The race to the White House has long been underway. Both Republican and Democrat parties are in the process of selecting their respective nominees for the presidency. Currently, John McCain is recognized as the Republican nominee while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are the primary contenders for the Democrat nomination. A review of their stand on pertinent issues, as well as their personal and political background is as follows: John McCain John McCain is presently senator of the state of Arizona. Before he entered politics, he was an officer in the U. S. Navy for 22 years (America. gov). He served in Vietnam and was the recipient of not a few honors for his exemplary performance of duty. McCain ran for Republican nomination in the last elections but lost the battle to George Bush. The emphasis of McCain is in homeland security and the threats of terrorism. His view is that strengthening the military and continuing the role of the U. S. troops in Iraq will guarantee a safer America (Washingtonpost. com). Incidentally, his son is also in active duty in that country. Once elected, he will call for modernization in the military and the use of national missile defense systems. High technology weaponry will enable the U. S. to prevent and counteract the anticipated attacks from non-democratic states. He also sees the need for the adequately training the Iraqi military forces to raise their capacity to perform their responsibilities without the assistance of U. S. troops. If America would withdraw its troops this early, this would result in widespread civil unrest. Further, the U. S. should also force Iraq’s neighbors, Syria and Iran, to halt their support to al-Qaida in order to isolate Iraq and effectively contain terrorism in that country (Washingtonpost. om). McCain will support efforts towards establishing democratic states not only in the Middle East but also in Sub-Saharan Africa. Regarding immigrants, McCain is pushing for stricter immigration laws. He views illegal immigrants as a threat to national security. The U. S. should secure the U. S. -Mexico border which is perceived as the major route of illegal immigrants. He initiated legislation efforts in setting up an immigrant status verification system and for employers to hire persons who are legal immigrants (America. ov). McCain also sees it the responsibility of immigrants to master U. S. English, acquire knowledge on U. S. history, constitution and government in order to effectively integrate themselves in society. McCain is also supportive of reducing the taxes of the working class by as much as $2,700. 00 annually and to also offer tax credits to families who could not afford health insurance as well as allow individuals to keep their insurance regardless if they move to another state or seek another job (America. gov). Taxes should also be maximized by evaluating all government programs and removing those that are not effective. With regards to education, he thinks that through encouraging competition, public schools will be motivated to provide their students top-performing teachers whose abilities would translate in higher performance of their students (America. gov). For this to work, teachers should be given proper incentives based on the output of their students. Finally, John McCain is an advocate of free trade and supports the continuing role of the U.  S. in the North American Free Trade Association and other trade relations that are already in place and in expanding these relations to include other developing countries (Washingtonpost. com). In responding to the unemployment brought about by the relocation of the operations of U. S. companies to the third world, providing further education and training would give the laid-off workers the opportunity to hold jobs related to trade (America. gov). Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton is the current senator from New York. She served as first lady to her husband Bill Clinton, who was a former governor of Arkansas and a two-term president beginning in 1993 (America. gov). She is also an attorney, an alumna of Yale Law School and a writer of many books. She is an advocate of many issues such as tax-cuts for the middle class, a universal health insurance program, reform of immigration laws and the safeguarding of our foodstuffs from the threats of bioterrorism (America. gov). When elected, Clinton would call for the withdrawal of U. S. roops in Iraq believing that a globally coordinated effort towards diplomacy, as opposed to force, will work best in establishing democracy in that country (Washingtonpost. com). This is underscored when she stated that she favors creating alliances to counteract threats than moving alone and using military might. She proposes limiting the access of nuclear facilities to uranium to eliminate the possibility of their use for terrorist activities. In the same manner, global alliances are the best way to deal with issues related to the environment, poverty and disease and the U.  S. should work to provide the necessary leadership (Washingtonpost. com). With regards to trade, Clinton calls for an evaluation of the effects that major trade agreements such as the NAFTA have caused to the workers in America. She does not propose revocation of these agreements but rather to reform them so that the rights and welfare of American workers are taken into consideration (America. gov). She will move to further enhance the capacity of the Trade Adjustment Assistance in helping the workers who lost their jobs because of the relocation of their companies (America. ov). She also recognized the lack of competent teachers in public schools, high drop out rates of high school ethnic minorities and that many Americans can not afford university education. As such, she would institute tax credits for those enrolled in university and to generate scholarship programs. To help reduce the current health problem, she will focus on promoting health information and in directing the health services sector to further develop preventive measures against diseases (America. gov). Barack Obama Barack Obama entered politics in 2004 as Illinois senator after working in the state senate for eight years (America. gov). He has traveled a lot and held a career as an organizer and civil rights lawyer in Chicago, having graduated from Harvard Law School. He is also active in the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, partly responsible for the welfare of American soldiers from overseas. Obama has long criticized the occupation of U. S. troops in Iraq and like Clinton, would see that the Defense Department will begin the withdrawal of American troops in the Middle-Eastern country (Washingtonpost. om). He attributes the incapacity of the Iraqi government to dependence on U. S. initiatives so that withdrawal of troops would compel them to fulfill their leadership responsibilities. U. S. support should be in the form of humanitarian assistance and in involving Iraq’s neighbors in the over-all effort to promote peace and stability in that country (America. gov). He is in favor of expanding the current number of the army and marines towards better protecting the U. S. rom nuclear attacks which is the most serious threat to national security at the moment (America. gov). Therefore, he will initiate a world-wide endeavor to regulate the use of nuclear resources and weaponry and ensure that these are not availed of by terrorist organizations and rouge states. Obama has so far taken the most liberal position in terms of international relations as he stated that the U. S. should be open to establish communication with as many countries as possible regardless of their style of government (America. ov). He emphasized the responsibility of the U. S. in alleviating poverty world-wide through the efforts of well-trained civilian aid groups and the military (American. gov). He will also focus on developing relations with Asian states, especially China, to challenge them to adhere to international policies. In the field of education, he will also work towards employing more teachers and for education system to increase knowledge levels in the areas of mathematics and science (America. gov). He proposes tax credits to university students, additional funding for education programs including skills training for employment and giving scholarships to students committed to building careers in teaching (Washingtonpost. com). Further, Obama would also like to see tax cuts for the working class and in removing the income taxes of those with the lowest income (American. gov). He would also institute a health insurance for children, for employers to shoulder a portion of their workers’ expenses for health insurance and for health care providers to be transparent regarding their expenditures. Finally, Obama is also interested in and has taken steps towards the enactment of a law permitting the American public to access information regarding how revenue is allocated. He would also institute a system of validating immigrant status prior to employment and that illegal immigrants with no criminal records in the U. S. should be fined if they wish to stay in the country (America. gov). He is against the involvement of the U. S. in trade organizations because of human rights, environment and worker related issues. The Republican and Democrat Position The main differences between Republican and Democrat candidates are in their political and economic paradigms – free trade as against a little government regulation of the economy, diplomacy and global coalitions versus military aggression, funding high tech military and defense system or funding healthcare and education. The Republican John McCain’s stand on issues is largely derived from his background in the military and with continuing the policies of the current administration of a fellow Republican. A major theme in his platform is with regards to national security, threats from rogue states and the prominent role of the military. He is also an advocate of Bush’s foreign policy of free trade. Democrats Clinton and Obama are in favor of diplomacy and the formation of global coalitions instead of primarily using military force in addressing national security and other global issues. They believe in global nuclear weapons regulation but not in enhancing U. S. weapons and military capacity. They call for the evaluation of U. S. involvement in free trade organizations and they also propose a review of U. S. foreign trade policies in order to pursue the protection of workers’ jobs in the U. S. They also seek to provide more funding for health care and education.

Leadership Theories Relevant In Contemporary Organisations Management Essay

Leadership Theories Relevant In Contemporary Organisations Management Essay Introduction Leadership theories talk about different methods or ways that a leader follows to complete a given task with a group of people (followers or subordinates). These theories also talk about leaders behavior, character, knowledge, and the environment the team is working in. as it is the leaders task to complete the given work in given time and environment. Different theories talk about different leadership styles or methods a leader can choose to follow to complete the given task. Leadership theories relevant in contemporary organisations: Leaders play a vital role in determining the organizations effectiveness. Effective leaders are critical to the effectiveness of the contemporary organizations. Whether leadership can be taught, or even how effective it might are the question to answer (Collinson and Keith in year 2005). Leadership is not just a single man process, but it is a shared process (Hunt and Murrel 1997, 2004), leaders can become followers and followers can become leaders depending on the process, situation and the task. In simple terms, leadership is a process in which an individual or a group influences others to accomplish a specific task providing the necessary directions to the organization to become more effective. With growing technology and globalization, organizations are competing with each other like never before. As a result, how well and organization can use its resources plays a very important role. Some also argue that the effects of a leader on an organization are less when comparing with po litical, economical and environmental forces (Lieberson and OConnor, 1972; Pfeffer, 1977), natural disaster in Japan recently is a perfect example of this. Situational Leadership Theory The situational leadership theory which is first introduced as life cycle theory was developed b Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard says, the effective leadership varies not only with the person or group but many other factors influencing the organization like environment, politics, economics, etc, which can affect the workflow of the organization. So, the most successful leaders are those who can adapt their leadership styles according to the situation and to the maturity of the individual or group they are attempting to lead or influence. Maturity can be seen as 1. The ability or capacity to set high but achievable goals. 2. Responsibility and commitment to complete the task. 3.Relevant education and experience with respect to task. There are two fundamental concepts in Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership theory. Leadership styles. Individuals or groups maturity level. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational_leadership_theory) Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership theory talks about four different leadership styles and four different maturity levels of the individual or group. How different leadership styles can help different maturity levels is what the theory is about. M1/S1: If the individual or group is not matured enough, leader should constantly tell them and direct them towards the goal. M2/S2: If the maturity level is medium and skills are limited, leader should coach them and direct them towards the goal, not constantly. M3/S3: If the maturity level is medium and the skill level is high, leader should participate with the group or individual and support them to achieve the goal. M4/S4: If the individual or the group is highly matured, leader involves him/her self in the process to check the development or the progress of the task. (http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_44.htm). Some of the factors that will affect the leaders decisions are: Capacity and the influence of the leader. Capacity and motivation of the subordinates or followers. Relation between leader and team. How serious is the situation or amount of the pressure on the leader and the team. What are the resources available for the leader and the team? As a leader plays a major in any organisation, it is important to have necessary information and knowledge about the planning and should have a clear vision. So, he or she can help the team or subordinates to have clear vision and together they can archive the common goal. There are many strategies a leader can approach (like task oriented or people oriented etc). However the approach can change according to the situation. In many areas situation plays major role, so understanding the situation and supporting the team will help the leader and the team to reach the desired goal. Leaders should mainly know about: Subordinates or followers motivation and capacity to work in various situations. Do all the subordinates know or understand what they should do ( action plan or vision )? How the work is organised. Understanding between team members (it plays a major role in completing task). What are the resources that are available? Information about external groups that a leader can coordinate and take support form in unpredictable situations. Herseys and Blanchards Situational Leadership Theory illustrates the development of the team in four stages. The four stages are: Forming: Forming a team. It is important for the leader to select a team with a group with enough information and knowledge which helps leader forming plans and take actions to complete the tasks. Storming: leader should have a clear vision of what he or she is doing and should have a clear plan how to do it. Leader when has a clear vision he or she can help the team to form a clear vision which helps the team to reach their goal. Clarity is very important for the leader and the followers. Norming: Understanding between the team members or followers is very important for the team leader, as it plays very important role for the leaders life. If the team members have a good understanding it is easy for the leader to complete the task with less trouble in unwanted situations. Performing: Leader with all the information and knowledge about the task and all the resources that organization has, to complete the task. Making a perfect business plan is just beginning but performing according to the plan is tough and not easy. With proper motivation and leaders charm it is possible to complete the task. (http://www.businessballs.com/slanalysis.htm) (http://www.ehow.com/situational-leadership/) (http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_44.htm) Disadvantages/Limitations of the Situational Leadership Theory This model was unable to differentiate between management style and leadership style. What leadership is all about, is it making decisions or motivating and inspiring and helping followers / subordinates? Concentrates a lot on what leader does for him/her self and for the team and for the organization. (http://www.12manage.com/methods_blanchard_situational_leadership.html)

The Shrews Illusion :: essays research papers

The Shrew’s Illusion HORTENSIO: Now go thy ways, thou hast tam’d a curst shrow. LUCENTIO: ‘Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam’d so.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Indeed, Hortentio’s assurance in the taming of the â€Å"curst shrow† Katerina seems a wonder to all the audience in the final scene of â€Å"The Taming of the Shrew.† After hurling furniture, pitching fits and assaulting her sister, Katerina delivers a speech that lauds obedience and censures rough behavior. Allegedly, this speech demonstrates Katerina’s obedience to her husband, Petruchio, who has forced her to realize the error of her former behavior. Genuine submission, however, is an unlikely disposition for Katerina to adopt. A complete reformation becomes more improbable after an examination of the scenes surrounding her â€Å"taming.† Several of these episodes attest to excellence of her acting ability. This evidence suggests her ability to impersonate the character of a tamed shrew. Her dialogue during these moments of obedience seems to mirror the language Petruchio uses earlier to tame her, suggesting that Katerina emp loys Petruchio’s own dissembling devices against him. Even the nuances of her language, filled with double meanings, belie her supposed transformation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Katerina first reveals her aptitude for deception as she and Petruchio head toward Padua for her sister’s wedding. When her husband falsely labels the daylight as the â€Å"bright and goodly shining† of the moon, she immediately protests (4.5.2). However, the moment Petruchio threatens her journey home, she begins to act. In order that she fulfill her desire to return home, she pleads that they continue and vows that â€Å"be it moon, or sun, or what you please; / And if you please it be a rush-candle, / Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me† (4.5.13-15). In saying this, Katerina promises to â€Å"vow,† or claim to believe, the truth of anything Petruchio alleges. However, she never promises to actually believe him. Instead, she agrees to act according to his game, a game that he himself qualifies. When contented by Katerina’s yielding, Petruchio declares â€Å"thus the bowl shall run,† invoking the image of a ball in the game of bowling (4.5.24). This image parallels to the game he stages in which Katerina is played toward at target of a woman tamed. However, she does not submit blindly to his intentions; she plays toward achieving her own goal of returning home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Continuing to prove her aptitude for dissembling, Katerina plays along with Petruchio’s labeling of Vincentio as a maid in the following scene.

Knowledge Questions for Unit Hsc Essay

As a candidate, make sure you describe and explain your actions. | | | | | | | |Knowledge Questions for Unit HSC 44 | | | | | | | |5 | | | |Who draws up the Code of Practice for Social Care? | | |The General Social Care Council. | | | | | | | |6e | | | |Outline features of systems used in Lincolnshire in respect of confidential reporting of issues of concern. | | | |The council has its own policy which helps to inform on bad practice, difficulties between staff members and complaints ect. This is| | | |the ‘whistle blowing’ policy and it was designed in order to protect those wishing to make a complaint and to avoid such things as | | | |victimization. Although anonymous, complaints are still dealt with the same seriousness as named complaints although it is preferred| | | |that applicants with complaints should not be anonymous. | | | | | | | | | | |7 | | | |When the Children’s act 2004 was published it contained some major changes for the way in which services were to be delivered. Take | | | |one and explain in your own words the advantages this brings for the wellbeing of children and their families. | | | |The Childrens Act 2004 brought about many changes and most significant was the Every Child Matters campaign that runs along side the| | | |2004 act. For the Act itself the main change that helps in the work that I do is the implementation of the CAF. This works in line | | | |with the need for inter-agency working. I think this is one on the most crucial changes of the Act, and as the Victoria Climbie | | | |inquiry showed many agencies were involved with the case and through lack of communication, information sharing and joint working | | | |Victoria Climbie died at the hands of her aunt. One of the many advantages is local authorities drive for inter-agency working. | | |Through this many agencies are trying to change their way of working and with the help of the CAF more agencies are invited to the | | | |first meeting when a child has been shown to have additional needs. On the whole the process is proving to be more focussed on the | | | |child and family and this reduces any stigma for the families as in the past most cases where always referred to social workers. | | |Families and children are now seen more often and social workers can now focus on the more complex and child protection cases. | | | |Through inter-agency wo rking families and children are given the help that meets their needs and reduces the need for long term | | | |involvement. | | | | | | | | | | |8a | | | |Outline the features of the Dfes initiative â€Å"Building a Culture of Participation† | | | |This initiative is led by the government in their commitment to allow children to have a say in how policies affect them and to | | | |contribute to how a service is delivered. By listening to children and young people it ensures that policies and services are | | | |designed around their needs. This leads to better outcomes for children, young people and families. It also allows for policies to | | | |be effectively evaluated and evolve as necessary. | | | | | | | | | | | |9a | | | |Outline the Common Assessment Framework. Explain why this Government initiative has been introduced and its purpose. | | | |The CAF was implemented in 2006 in order to have a universal assessment form that could be used by all agencies and professionals. | | | |This was in line with some of Lord Laming’s recommendations after the Victoria Climbie enquiry. As a universal document it reduces | | | |the need for repetitive assessments and focuses more on the child and family and multi agency working. The CAF process can start at | | | |any time once it has been identified that a child has an additional need. Once agreed all information is shared between the agencies| | | |involved again reducing the chance of a child ‘falling through the system’. As the CAF is aimed at early intervention some one such | | | |as a school teacher can be the lead professional allowing more serious cases to be dealt with by social workers. As children can | | | |often have what was once deemed as minor issues and not warrant the classification as a child in need, through the CAF they are | | | |classed as having additional needs which allows professionals to work with the child and family. Once a child that has been | | | |highlighted as a CAF they can move in and out of the system as identified issues arise. | | | | | | | | | | |9bc | | | |Summarise the targets of the combined health and education initiative â€Å"Healthy schools†. | | | |The national healthy schools programme promotes a whole school approach to health. The programme is a joint initiative between the | | | |department of health and the department for children, schools and families. It aims to deliver benefits for children on improvement | | | |in health, raise pupil achievement, more social inclusion and a closer working between health promotion providers and education | | | |establishments. | | | |The public health white paper choosing health (2004) set a challenging target for 75% of schools to achieve healthy school status by| | | |2009 and for all schools to work towards this target. Through a planned curriculum schools can promote learning and healthy | | | |lifestyle choices. The four core themes within the programme are: | | | |Healthy eating | | | |Physical activity | | | |PSHE | | | |Emotional health and well-being. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |12 | | | |How does the Joint Annual Review shape the way in which Children’s Services are delivered locally. You may wish to discuss | | | |Lincolnshire’s last JAR and comment on how the recent Service restructuring has been a result of this. | | | |The Children’s Act requires joint area reviews to be conducted in each children’s services authority area. The multi-disciplinary | | | |team of inspectors review all services provided to children and young people aged 0 – 19. There are around 42 key judgements which | | | |relate directly to the five outcomes highlighted in the every child matters framework. Through the Lincolnshire JAR report published| | | |in March 2007 it was proved that there was a need for better facilities for all children aged 0 – 19. There are now plans to develop| | | |a further 23 children’s centres by 2008. Through this service restructuring the aim is to shift the balance of services from | | | |interventionist to a preventative approach. The strengthening families will work with partner agencies to deliver the five outcomes | | | |for the every child matters. This is where children’s services as a targeted service interface as part of a universal service. | | | | | | | | | | |16e | | | |Identify the risks to effective working caused by stresses on the work force and recommend what action can be taken. | | | |When work becomes too stressful for an individual it can cause a knock on effect throughout the staff team and the cases in which | | | |the individual is working on. The individual can start to have more days off sick which could cause other staff members to add to | | | |their workload in taking on those individuals cases. Stress can also cause the individual to lose direction and focus in the cases | | | |they work on and this can result in a reduced quality of service for those particular families. | | | |Stress in the work place can be identified early and then reduced by regular supervision. Supervision gives the individual a chance | | | |to discuss their cases and anything that might be causing them to feel stressed. Supervisors are then able to help supervisee’s in | | | |managing there stress before it gets to the point where it affects all that they do. Staff meetings are another opportunity to get | | | |together on a regular basis with other team members as it’s a chance for everyone to discuss their working role as well as any | | | |difficult cases they may have. This gives a chance for positive reinforcement by the manager on the work that is being done and also| | | |a chance to ‘brainstorm’ ideas that might help with the work. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |17 | | | |Explain in a short paragraph how the Social Model of disability affects children and their families which you work. | | |The social model of disability says that people are disabled not by their impairment, but by society that does not take account of | | | |their needs and prevents them from having full access to society due to physical, communication and social barriers. A large | | | |majority of the families that I work with fall into the category of being disabled by society. Those families that are most | | | |disadvantaged are those living in poverty. Families face multiple stresses which can affect a child’s needs. If a parent struggles | | | |to provide an adequate environment for a child this will impact on the child’s developments and the parent’s capacity to care for | | | |the child. | | |CHILD A | | | |CHILD B | | | | | | | |No dependence on social security benefits | | | |Household receives multiple enefits | | | | | | | |Two parent family | | | |Single adult household | | | | | | | |Three or fewer children | | | |Four or more children | | | | | | | |White | | | |Mixed ethnic origin | | | | | | | |Owner occupied home | | | |Council or privately rented home | | | | | | | |More room than people | | | |One or more persons per room | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |18a/b | | | |See 8a above. | | | | | | | |18d | | | |Using Lincolnshire County Councils Competency framework, explain how you would assist a member of your team to develop skills in | | | |risk management with regards to child protection. You need to be specific to an individual competency. | | |Using competency number 8 –Analysis and Judgement. I would be able to assist the member of staff in the above question. As part | | | |of the competency it requires the individual to look closely at the work they do and how it could be improved. Part of this is | | | |through having a broad range of information about an issue. In this particular instance it would be child protection. This could be | | | |done in-house through regular supervision. This can be through asking the individual to research up to date information and then | | | |having a question answer session on the information they have found. This shows that the indivual has done what is requested and | | | |demonstrates that they have an understanding of the subject that they would then be able to take into their work practice. Another | | | |useful development skill would be to assign the individual to a child protection case that was held by a social worker. The indivual| | | |would gain insight into the process of how child protection is identified and then managed. This hands on approach would give valued| | | |knowledge and development without risk to the family involved. | | | |Finally a child protection training course would be beneficial to the individual to again further develop there knowledge of the | | | |subject. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |19 | | | |What impact does placement disruption potentially have on the wellbeing of Children In Public Care. You should relate your answer | | | |the recent Government paper ‘Care Matters’ | | | |Most children who end up in care experience multiple moves. It is standard that three or more moves constitutes as placement | | | |stability. Child development theories say that repeated movements jeopardize the opportunity for children to develop secure | | | |attachments with carers and trusting relationships with adults. Children with behaviour problems, prior instability and the age of | | | |the child at placement have all been found to be important factors in placement instability. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |24 | | | |List 3 types of evidence that would be valid in court. Explain your rational behind each one. | | | |1) Video Evidence- For children 14years and under. Also for children classed as a vulnerable witness. Video evidence reduces the | | | |need for a child to be in court and to be face to face with the perpetrator. | | | |2) Court reports – These are factual based evidence which follow a mandatory guideline for completing. | | | |3) Records – Records are an essential source of evidence for investigations and inquiry’s, and may also be used in court | | | |proceedings. Therefore it is essential that any records on a child are clear and accurate and ensure that there is a documented | | | |account of an agency’s or professional’s involvement with a child and/or a family. | | | | | | | | | | |25 | | | |Provide three examples of recording information that might be deemed discriminatory and explain why, in at least one of these | | | |examples, the discrimination might pass without comment. | | |1) The child is ‘missing’ from the record – This doesn’t mean that the child hasn’t been mentioned at all, but that their wishes and| | | |feelings, their views and understanding of their situation, are not recorded. The absence of a child from the record suggests to the| | | |reader that no work has been done with the child, or that the child has not been involved in any work. | | | |2) Facts and opinions are not differentiated – Failing to differentiate between fact and opinions can result in the significance of | | | |some information being overlooked, or opinions becoming accepted as facts and which could influence the management of the case. If | | | |opinions and judgements are not substantiated in the record it can be difficult to explain how these were made to family members who| | | |access the records especially if the case holder who wrote them is no longer working within the agency. | | | |3) The record is not written for sharing. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |This account must (except in the case of responses to questions) be authenticated by at least one of the following | |Work products seen | | |List | | |Witnessed by— |Name |Sign |Expert | |Include on witness list | | |Y/N | |I confirm the authenticity of the |Signature of Candidate | |work above |DATE 31. 03. 08 | |I confirm the judgements claimed |Signature of Assessor |TICK IF OBSERVED | |above |DATE | | ———————– EV 5

Healthy Eating Habits Essay

Eating healthy is said to be the key to a healthy quality life. Our physical fitness and overall health is highly dependent on what we eat. Hence it is very essential to adopt healthy eating habits. It improves your physical and psychological health as well as increases your energy level. Healthy eating habits help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, certain types of cancer and many other health problems. Healthy eating offers stronger bones and muscles. It also helps you look and feel better and energized. Quality food consumption becomes especially important in the present world of high stress and pollution.Making a healthy diet is an essential aspect of modern self health care.Anybody who seriously tried living healthier through a better diet, proper physical activity, adequate rest will overall have better health and a sense of well being, better sleep, improved physical endurance and strength, sharper mental abilities and lower sleep require ments. Healthy eating habits are essential to create a solid foundation for good health. This can be done by avoiding or minimizing excess sugar and processed foods. All these foods are often very high in calories and harmful artificial substances, low in nutrients and high in simple sugars. Consumption of such foods has been linked with a variety of diseases including obesity, diabetes, malnutrition and cancer. What we should emphasize on is actually to ensure a balanced and adequate nutritional intake. It is important to do your best at getting the right quantities of all essential-for-health nutrients, and minimize the risks of getting too much or too little of any. The more natural and less processed the food, the better its health promoting value. Some nutrient loss always occurs during food processing. Such foods are rich in a variety of high quality nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, fats, carbohydrates, proteins and others.Besides that, we should eat only when hungry and do not overeat regardless of food. This habit helps create a balance in the body that leads to a healthier state of being by letting the body naturally regulate its needs.Do not wait too long unless fasting or cleansing is desired. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage and practice healthy eating habits. This should be done since we are little to make it easier since children are like white sheets and it is the parents’ responsibility to colour them. Our  diet should be healthy and balanced. It should consist of adequate amounts of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fibers. We should include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as dairy products in our daily diet. Generally, it should be low in fats and rich in proteins and carbohydrates. Last of all, always remember, no food is good or bad. It’s up to us how to balance the variety of foods. Adopt healthy eating habits for good health and physical fitness, leading to a cheerful, healthy life. That way, we can enjoy life to the fullest without any health tribulations.

Black House Chapter Three

3 OUT TYLER'S WINDOW we go, away from Libertyville, flying southwest on a diagonal, not lingering now but really flapping those old wings, flying with a purpose. We're headed toward the heliograph flash of early-morning sun on the Father of Waters, also toward the world's largest six-pack. Between it and County Road Oo (we can call it Nail-house Row if we want; we're practically honorary citizens of French Landing now) is a radio tower, the warning beacon on top now invisible in the bright sunshine of this newborn July day. We smell grass and trees and warming earth, and as we draw closer to the tower, we also smell the yeasty, fecund aroma of beer. Next to the radio tower, in the industrial park on the east side of Peninsula Drive, is a little cinder-block building with a parking lot just big enough for half a dozen cars and the Coulee patrol van, an aging Ford Econoline painted candy-apple pink. As the day winds down and afternoon wears into evening, the cylindrical shadows of the six-pack will fall first over the sign on the balding lawn facing the drive, then the building, then the parking lot. KDCU-AM, this sign reads, YOUR TALK VOICE IN COULEE COUNTRY. Spray-painted across it, in a pink that almost matches the patrol van, is a fervent declaration: TROY LUVS MARYANN! YES! Later on, Howie Soule, the U-Crew engineer, will clean this off (probably during the Rush Limbaugh show, which is satellite fed and totally automated), but for now it stays, telling us all we need to know about small-town luv in middle America. Looks like we found something nice after all. Coming out of the station's side door as we arrive is a slender man dressed in pleated khaki Dockers, a tieless white shirt of Egyptian cotton buttoned all the way to the neck, and maroon braces (they are as slim as he is, those braces, and far too cool to be called suspenders; suspenders are vulgar things worn by such creatures as Chipper Maxton and Sonny Heartfield, down at the funeral home). This silver-haired fellow is also wearing a very sharp straw fedora, antique but beautifully kept. The maroon hatband matches his braces. Aviator-style sunglasses cover his eyes. He takes a position on the grass to the left of the door, beneath a battered speaker that is amping KDCU's current broadcast: the local news. This will be followed by the Chicago farm report, which gives him ten minutes before he has to settle in behind the mike again. We watch in growing puzzlement as he produces a pack of American Spirit cigarettes from his shirt pocket and fires one up with a gold lighter. Surely this elegant fellow in the braces, Dockers, and Bass Weejuns cannot be George Rathbun. In our minds we have already built up a picture of George, and it is one of a fellow very different from this. In our mind's eye we see a guy with a huge belly hanging over the white belt of his checked pants (all those ballpark bratwursts), a brick-red complexion (all those ballpark beers, not to mention all that bellowing at the dastardly umps), and a squat, broad neck (perfect for housing those asbestos vocal cords). The George Rathbun of our imagination and all of Coulee Country's, it almost goes without saying is a pop-eyed, broad-assed, wild-haired, leather-lunged, Rolaids-popping, Chevy-driving, Republican-voting heart attack waiting to happen, a churning urn of sports trivia, mad enthusiasms, crazy prejudices, and high cholesterol. This fellow is not that fellow. This fellow moves like a dancer. This fellow is iced tea on a hot day, cool as the king of spades. But say, that's the joke of it, isn't it? Uh-huh. The joke of the fat dee-jay with the skinny voice, only turned inside out. In a very real sense, George Rathbun does not exist at all. He is a hobby in action, a fiction in the flesh, and only one of the slim man's multiple personalities. The people at KDCU know his real name and think they're in on the joke (the punch line of course being George's trademark line, the even-a-blind-man thing), but they don't know the half of it. Nor is this a metaphorical statement. They know exactly one-third of it, because the man in the Dockers and the straw fedora is actually four people. In any case, George Rathbun has been the saving of KDCU, the last surviving AM station in a predatory FM market. For five mornings a week, week in and week out, he has been a drive-time bonanza. The U-Crew (as they call themselves) love him just about to death. Above him, the loudspeaker cackles on: † still no leads, according to Chief Dale Gilbertson, who has called Herald reporter Wendell Green ? ®an out-of-town fearmonger who is more interested in selling papers than in how we do things in French Landing.' â€Å"Meanwhile, in Arden, a house fire has taken the lives of an elderly farmer and his wife. Horst P. Lepplemier and his wife, Gertrude, both eighty-two . . .† â€Å"Horst P. Lepplemier,† says the slim man, drawing on his cigarette with what appears to be great enjoyment. â€Å"Try saying that one ten times fast, you moke.† Behind him and to his right, the door opens again, and although the smoker is still standing directly beneath the speaker, he hears the door perfectly well. The eyes behind the aviator shades have been dead his whole life, but his hearing is exquisite. The newcomer is pasty-faced and comes blinking into the morning sun like a baby mole that has just been turned out of its burrow by the blade of a passing plow. His head has been shaved except for the Mo-hawk strip up the center of his skull and the pigtail that starts just above the nape of his neck and hangs to his shoulder blades. The Mohawk has been dyed bright red; the ‘tail is electric blue. Dangling from one ear-lobe is a lightning-bolt earring that looks suspiciously like the Nazi S.S. insignia. He is wearing a torn black T-shirt with a logo that reads SNIVELLING SHITS '97: THE WE GET HARD FOR JESUS TOUR. In one hand this colorful fellow has a CD jewel box. â€Å"Hello, Morris,† says the slim man in the fedora, still without turning. Morris pulls in a little gasp, and in his surprise looks like the nice Jewish boy that he actually is. Morris Rosen is the U-Crew's summer intern from the Oshkosh branch of UW. â€Å"Man, I love that unpaid grunt labor!† station manager Tom Wiggins has been heard to say, usually while rubbing his hands together fiendishly. Never has a checkbook been guarded so righteously as the Wigger guards the KDCU check-book. He is like Smaug the Dragon reclining on his heaps of gold (not? that there are heaps of anything in the ‘DCU accounts; it bears repeating to say that, as an AM talker, the station is lucky just to be alive). Morris's look of surprise it might be fair to call it uneasy surprise dissolves into a smile. â€Å"Wow, Mr. Leyden! Good grab! What a pair of ears!† Then he frowns. Even if Mr. Leyden who's standing directly beneath the outside honker, can't forget that heard someone come out, how in God's name did he know which someone it was? â€Å"How'd you know it was me?† he asks. â€Å"Only two people around here smell like marijuana in the morning,† Henry Leyden says. â€Å"One of them follows his morning smoke with Scope; the other that's you, Morris just lets her rip.† â€Å"Wow,† Morris says respectfully. â€Å"That is totally bitchrod.† â€Å"I am totally bitchrod,† Henry agrees. He speaks softly and thoughtfully. â€Å"It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. In regard to your morning rendezvous with the undeniably tasty Thai stick, may I offer an Appalachian aphorism?† â€Å"Go, dude.† This is Morris's first real discussion with Henry Leyden, who is every bit the head Morris has been told to expect. Every bit and more. It is no longer so hard to believe that he could have another identity . . . a secret identity, like Bruce Wayne. But still . . . this is just so pimp. â€Å"What we do in our childhood forms as a habit,† Henry says in the same soft, totally un?CGeorge Rathbun voice. â€Å"That is my advice to you, Morris.† â€Å"Yeah, totally,† Morris says. He has no clue what Mr. Leyden is talking about. But he slowly, shyly, extends the CD jewel box in his hand. For a moment, when Henry makes no move to take it, Morris feels crushed, all at once seven years old again and trying to wow his always-too-busy father with a picture he has spent all afternoon drawing in his room. Then he thinks, He's blind, dickweed. He may be able to smell pot on your breath and he may have ears like a bat, but how's he supposed to know you're holding out a fucking CD? Hesitantly, a bit frightened by his own temerity, Morris takes Henry's wrist. He feels the man start a little, but then Leyden allows his hand to be guided to the slender box. â€Å"Ah, a CD,† Henry says. â€Å"And what is it, pray tell?† â€Å"You gotta play the seventh track tonight on your show,† Morris says. â€Å"Please.† For the first time, Henry looks alarmed. He takes a drag on his cigarette, then drops it (without even looking of course, ha ha) into the sand-filled plastic bucket by the door. â€Å"What show could you possibly mean?† he asks. Instead of answering directly, Morris makes a rapid little smacking noise with his lips, the sound of a small but voracious carnivore eating something tasty. And, to make things worse, he follows it with the Wisconsin Rat's trademark line, as well known to the folks in Morris's age group as George Rathbun's hoarse â€Å"Even a blind man† cry is known to their elders: â€Å"Chew it up, eat it up, wash it down, it aaallll comes out the same place!† He doesn't do it very well, but there's no question who he's doing: the one and only Wisconsin Rat, whose evening drive-time program on KWLA-FM is famous in Coulee Country (except the word we probably want is â€Å"infamous†). KWLA is the tiny college FM station in La Riviere, hardly more than a smudge on the wallpaper of Wisconsin radio, but the Rat's audience is huge. And if anyone found out that the comfortable Brew Crew?Crooting, Republican-voting, AM-broadcasting George Rathbun was also the Rat who had once narrated a gleeful on-air evacuation of his bowels onto a Backstreet Boys CD there could be trouble. Quite serious, possibly, resounding well beyond the tight-knit little radio community. â€Å"What in God's name would ever make you think that I'm the Wisconsin Rat, Morris?† Henry asks. â€Å"I barely know who you're talking about. Who put such a weird idea in your head?† â€Å"An informed source,† Morris says craftily. He won't give Howie Soule up, not even if they pull out his fingernails with red-hot tongs. Besides, Howie only found out by accident: went into the station crapper one day after Henry left and discovered that Henry's wallet had fallen out of his back pocket while he was sitting on the throne. You'd have thought a fellow whose other senses were so obviously tightwired would have sensed the absence, but probably Henry's mind had been on other things he was obviously a heavy dude who undoubtedly spent his days getting through some heavy thoughts. In any case, there was a KWLA I.D. card in Henry's wallet (which Howie had thumbed through â€Å"in the spirit of friendly curiosity,† as he put it), and on the line marked NAME, someone had stamped a little inkpad drawing of a rat. Case closed, game over, zip up your fly. â€Å"I have never in my life so much as stepped through the door of KWLA,† Henry says, and this is the absolute truth. He makes the Wisconsin Rat tapes (among others) in his studio at home, then sends them in to the station from the downtown Mail Boxes Etc., where he rents under the name of Joe Strummer. The card with the rat stamped on it was more in the nature of an invitation from the KWLA staff than anything else, one he's never taken up . . . but he kept the card. â€Å"Have you become anyone else's informed source, Morris?† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Have you told anyone that you think I'm the Wisconsin Rat?† â€Å"No! Course not!† Which, as we all know, is what people always say. Luckily for Henry, in this case it happens to be true. So far, at least, but the day is still young. â€Å"And you won't, will you? Because rumors have a way of taking root. Just like certain bad habits.† Henry mimes puffing, pulling in smoke. â€Å"I know how to keep my mouth shut,† Morris declares, with perhaps misplaced pride. â€Å"I hope so. Because if you bruited this about, I'd have to kill you.† Bruited, Morris thinks. Oh man, this guy is complete. â€Å"Kill me, yeah,† Morris says, laughing. â€Å"And eat you,† Henry says. He is not laughing; not even smiling. â€Å"Yeah, right.† Morris laughs again, but this time the laugh sounds strangely forced to his own ears. â€Å"Like you're Hannibal Lecture.† â€Å"No, like I'm the Fisherman,† Henry says. He slowly turns his aviator sunglasses toward Morris. The sun reflects off them, for a moment turning them into rufous eyes of fire. Morris takes a step back without even realizing that he has done so. â€Å"Albert Fish liked to start with the ass, did you know that?† â€Å"N â€Å" â€Å"Yes indeed. He claimed that a good piece of young ass was as sweet as a veal cutlet. His exact words. Written in a letter to the mother of one of his victims.† â€Å"Far out,† Morris says. His voice sounds faint to his own ears, the voice of a plump little pig denying entrance to the big bad wolf. â€Å"But I'm not exactly, like, worried that you're the Fisherman.† â€Å"No? Why not?† â€Å"Man, you're blind, for one thing!† Henry says nothing, only stares at the now vastly uneasy Morris with his fiery glass eyes. And Morris thinks: But is he blind? He gets around pretty good for a blind guy . . . and the way he tabbed me as soon as I came out here, how weird was that? â€Å"I'll keep quiet,† he says. â€Å"Honest to God.† â€Å"That's all I want,† Henry says mildly. â€Å"Now that we've got that straight, what exactly have you brought me?† He holds up the CD but not as if he's looking at it, Morris observes with vast relief. â€Å"It's, um, this Racine group. Dirtysperm? And they've got this cover of ? ®Where Did Our Love Go'? The old Supremes thing? Only they do it at like a hundred and fifty beats a minute? It's fuckin' hilarious. I mean, it destroys the whole pop thing, man, blitzes it!† â€Å"Dirtysperm,† Henry says. â€Å"Didn't they used to be Jane Wyatt's Clit?† Morris looks at Henry with awe that could easily become love. â€Å"Dirtysperm's lead guitarist, like, formed JWC, man. Then him and the bass guy had this political falling-out, something about Dean Kissinger and Henry Acheson, and Ucky Ducky he's the guitarist went off to form Dirtysperm.† † ? ®Where Did Our Love Go'?† Henry muses, then hands the CD back. And, as if he sees the way Morris's face falls: â€Å"I can't be seen with something like that use your head. Stick it in my locker.† Morris's gloom disappears and he breaks into a sunny smile. â€Å"Yeah, okay! You got it, Mr. Leyden!† â€Å"And don't let anyone see you doing it. Especially not Howie Soule. Howie's a bit of a snoop. You'd do well not to emulate him.† â€Å"No way, baby!† Still smiling, delighted at how all this has gone, Morris reaches for the door handle. â€Å"And Morris?† â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Since you know my secret, perhaps you'd better call me Henry.† â€Å"Henry! Yeah!† Is this the best morning of the summer for Morris Rosen? You better believe it. â€Å"And something else.† â€Å"Yeah? Henry?† Morris dares imagine a day when they will progress to Hank and Morrie. â€Å"Keep your mouth shut about the Rat.† â€Å"I already told you â€Å" â€Å"Yes, and I believe you. But temptation comes creeping, Morris; temptation comes creeping like a thief in the night, or like a killer in search of prey. If you give in to temptation, I'll know. I'll smell it on your skin like bad cologne. Do you believe me?† â€Å"Uh . . . yeah.† And he does. Later, when he has time to kick back and reflect, Morris will think what a ridiculous idea that is, but yes, at the time, he believes it. Believes him. It's like being hypnotized. â€Å"Very good. Now off you go. I want Ace Hardware, Zaglat Chevy, and Mr. Tastee Ribs all cued up for the first seg.† â€Å"Gotcha.† â€Å"Also, last night's game â€Å" â€Å"Wickman striking out the side in the eighth? That was pimp. Totally, like, un-Brewers.† â€Å"No, I think we want the Mark Loretta home run in the fifth. Loretta doesn't hit many, and the fans like him. I can't think why. Even a blind man can see he has no range, especially from deep in the hole. Go on, son. Put the CD in my locker, and if I see the Rat, I'll give it to him. I'm sure he'll give it a spin.† â€Å"The track â€Å" â€Å"Seven, seven, rhymes with heaven. I won't forget and neither will he. Go on, now.† Morris gives him a final grateful look and goes back inside. Henry Leyden, alias George Rathbun, alias the Wisconsin Rat, also alias Henry Shake (we'll get to that one, but not now; the hour draweth late), lights another cigarette and drags deep. He won't have time to finish it; the farm report is already in full flight (hog bellies up, wheat futures down, and the corn as high as an elephant's eye), but he needs a couple of drags just now to steady himself. A long, long day stretches out ahead of him, ending with the Strawberry Fest Hop at Maxton Elder Care, that house of antiquarian horrors. God save him from the clutches of William â€Å"Chipper† Maxton, he has often thought. Given a choice between ending his days at MEC and burning his face off with a blowtorch, he would reach for the blowtorch every time. Later, if he's not totally exhausted, perhaps his friend from up the road will come over and they can begin the long-promised reading of Bleak House. That would be a trea t. How long, he wonders, can Morris Rosen hold on to his momentous secret? Well, Henry supposes he will find that out. He likes the Rat too much to give him up unless he absolutely has to; that much is an undeniable fact. â€Å"Dean Kissinger,† he murmurs. â€Å"Henry Acheson. Ucky Ducky. God save us.† He takes another drag on his cigarette, then drops it into the bucket of sand. It is time to go back inside, time to replay last night's Mark Loretta home run, time to start taking more calls from the Coulee Country's dedicated sports fans. And time for us to be off. Seven o'clock has rung from the Lutheran church steeple. In French Landing, things are getting into high gear. No one lies abed long in this part of the world, and we must speed along to the end of our tour. Things are going to start happening soon, and they may happen fast. Still, we have done well, and we have only one more stop to make before arriving at our final destination. We rise on the warm summer updrafts and hover for a moment by the KDCU tower (we are close enough to hear the tik-tik-tik of the beacon and the low, rather sinister hum of electricity), looking north and taking our bearings. Eight miles upriver is the town of Great Bluff, named for the limestone outcropping that rises there. The outcropping is reputed to be haunted, because in 1888 a chief of the Fox Indian tribe (Far Eyes was his name) assembled all his warriors, shamans, squaws, and children and told them to leap to their deaths, thereby escaping some hideous fate he had glimpsed in his dreams. Far Eyes's followers, like Jim Jones's, did as they were bidden. We won't go that far upriver, however; we have enough ghosts to deal with right here in French Landing. Let us instead fly over Nailhouse Row once more (the Harleys are gone; Beezer St. Pierre has led the Thunder Five off to their day's work at the brewery), over Queen Street and Maxton Elder Care (Burny's down there, still looking out his window ugh), to Bluff Street. This is almost the countryside again. Even now, in the twenty-first century, the towns in Coulee Country give up quickly to the woods and the fields. Herman Street is a left turn from Bluff Street, in an area that is not quite town and not quite city. Here, in a sturdy brick house sitting at the end of a half-mile meadow as yet undiscovered by the developers (even here there are a few developers, unknowing agents of slippage), lives Dale Gilbertson with his wife, Sarah, and his six-year-old son, David. We can't stay long, but let us at least drift in through the kitchen window for a moment. It's open, after all, and there is room for us to perch right here on the counter, between the Silex and the toaster. Sitting at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper and shoveling Special K into his mouth without tasting it (he has forgotten both the sugar and the sliced banana in his distress at seeing yet another Wendell Green byline on the front page of the Herald), is Chief Gilbertson himself. This morning he is without doubt the unhappiest man in French Landing. We will meet his only competition for that booby prize soon, but for the moment, let us stick with Dale. The Fisherman, he thinks mournfully, his reflections on this subject very similar to those of Bobby Dulac and Tom Lund. Why didn't you name him something a little more turn-of-the-century, you troublesome scribbling fuck? Something a little bit local? Dahmerboy, maybe, that'd be good. Ah, but Dale knows why. The similarities between Albert Fish, who did his work in New York, and their boy here in French Landing are just too good too tasty to be ignored. Fish strangled his victims, as both Amy St. Pierre and Johnny Irkenham were apparently strangled; Fish dined on his victims, as both the girl and the boy were apparently dined upon; both Fish and the current fellow showed an especial liking for the . . . well, for the posterior regions of the anatomy. Dale looks at his cereal, then drops his spoon into the mush and pushes the bowl away with the side of his hand. And the letters. Can't forget the letters. Dale glances down at his briefcase, crouched at the side of his chair like a faithful dog. The file is in there, and it draws him like a rotted, achy tooth draws the tongue. Maybe he can keep his hands off it, at least while he's here at home, where he plays toss with his son and makes love to his wife, but keeping his mind off it . . . that's a whole ‘nother thing, as they also say in these parts. Albert Fish wrote a long and horribly explicit letter to the mother of Grace Budd, the victim who finally earned the old cannibal a trip to the electric chair. (â€Å"What a thrill electrocution will be!† Fish reputedly told his jailers. â€Å"The only one I haven't tried!†) The current doer has written similar letters, one addressed to Helen Irkenham, the other to Amy's father, the awful (but genuinely grief-stricken, in Dale's estimation) Armand â€Å"Beezer† St. Pierre. It would be good if Dale could believe these letters were written by some troublemaker not otherwise connected to the murders, but both contain information that has been withheld from the press, information that presumably only the killer could know. Dale at last gives in to temptation (how well Henry Leyden would understand) and hauls up his briefcase. He opens it and puts a thick file where his cereal bowl lately rested. He returns the briefcase to its place by his chair, then opens the file (it is marked ST. PIERRE/IRKENHAM rather than FISHERMAN). He leafs past heartbreaking school photos of two smiling, gap-toothed children, past state medical examiner reports too horrible to read and crime-scene photos too horrible to look at (ah, but he must look at them, again and again he must look at them the blood-slicked chains, the flies, the open eyes). There are also various transcripts, the longest being the interview with Spencer Hovdahl, who found the Irkenham boy and who was, very briefly, considered a suspect. Next come Xerox copies of three letters. One had been sent to George and Helen Irkenham (addressed to Helen alone, if it made any difference). One went to Armand â€Å"Beezer† St. Pierre (addressed just that way, too, nickname and all). The third had been sent to the mother of Grace Budd, of New York City, following the murder of her daughter in the late spring of 1928. Dale lays the three of them out, side by side. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her. So Fish had written to Mrs. Budd. Amy sat in my lap and hugged me. I made up my mind to eat her. So had Beezer St. Pierre's correspondent written, and was it any wonder the man had threatened to burn the French Landing police station to the ground? Dale doesn't like the son of a bitch, but has to admit he might feel the same way in Beezer's shoes. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them. Fish, to Mrs. Budd. I went around back of the hen-house and stripped all my cloes off. New if I did not I would get his blood on them. Anonymous, to Helen Irkenham. And here was a question: How could a mother receive a letter like that and retain her sanity? Was that possible? Dale thought not. Helen answered questions coherently, had even offered him tea the last time he was out there, but she had a glassy, poleaxed look in her eye that suggested she was running entirely on instruments. Three letters, two new, one almost seventy-five years old. And yet all three are so similar. The St. Pierre letter and the Irkenham letter had been hand-printed by someone who was left-handed, according to the state experts. The paper was plain white Hammermill mimeo, available in every Office Depot and Staples in America. The pen used had probably been a Bic now, there was a lead. Fish to Mrs. Budd, back in '28: I did not fuck her tho I could of had I wished. She died a virgin. Anonymous to Beezer St. Pierre: I did NOT fuck her tho I could of had I wished. She died a VIRGIN. Anonymous to Helen Irkenham: This may comfort you I did NOT fuck him tho I could of had I wished. He died a VIRGIN. Dale's out of his depth here and knows it, but he hopes he isn't a complete fool. This doer, although he did not sign his letters with the old cannibal's name, clearly wanted the connection to be made. He had done everything but leave a few dead trout at the dumping sites. Sighing bitterly, Dale puts the letters back into the file, the file back into the briefcase. â€Å"Dale? Honey?† Sarah's sleepy voice, from the head of the stairs. Dale gives the guilty jump of a man who has almost been caught doing something nasty and latches his briefcase. â€Å"I'm in the kitchen,† he calls back. No need to worry about waking Davey; he sleeps like the dead until at least seven-thirty every morning. â€Å"Going in late?† â€Å"Uh-huh.† He often goes in late, then makes up for it by working until seven or eight or even nine in the evening. Wendell Green hasn't made a big deal of that . . . at least not so far, but give him time. Talk about your cannibals! â€Å"Give the flowers a drink before you go, would you? It's been so dry.† â€Å"You bet.† Watering Sarah's flowers is a chore Dale likes. He gets some of his best thinking done with the garden hose in his hand. A pause from upstairs . . . but he hasn't heard her slippers shuffling back toward the bedroom. He waits. And at last: â€Å"You okay, hon?† â€Å"Fine,† he calls back, pumping what he hopes will be the right degree of heartiness into his voice. â€Å"Because you were still tossing around when I dropped off.† â€Å"No, I'm fine.† â€Å"Do you know what Davey asked me last night while I was washing his hair?† Dale rolls his eyes. He hates these long-distance conversations. Sarah seems to love them. He gets up and pours himself another cup of coffee. â€Å"No, what?† â€Å"He asked, ? ®Is Daddy going to lose his job?' â€Å" † Dale pauses with the cup halfway to his lips. â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"I said no. Of course.† â€Å"Then you said the right thing.† He waits, but there is no more. Having injected him with one more dram of poisonous worry David's fragile psyche, as well as what a certain party might do to the boy, should David be so unlucky as to run afoul of him Sarah shuffles back to their room and, presumably, to the shower beyond. Dale goes back to the table, sips his coffee, then puts his hand to his forehead and closes his eyes. In this moment we can see precisely how frightened and miserable he is. Dale is just forty-two and a man of abstemious habits, but in the cruel morning light coming through the window by which we entered, he looks, for the moment, anyway, a sickly sixty. He is concerned about his job, knows that if the fellow who killed Amy and Johnny keeps it up, he will almost certainly be turned out of office the following year. He is also concerned about Davey . . . although Davey isn't his chief concern, for, like Fred Marshall, he cannot actually conceive that the Fisherman could take his and Sarah's own child. No, it is the other children of French Landing he is more worried about, possibly the children of Centralia and Arden as well. His worst fear is that he is simply not good enough to catch the son of a bitch. That he will kill a third, a fourth, perhaps an eleventh and twelfth. God knows he has requested help. And gotten it . . . sort of. There are two State Police detectives assigned to the case, and the FBI guy from Madison keeps checking in (on an informal basis, though; the FBI is not officially part of the investigation). Even his outside help has a surreal quality for Dale, one that has been partially caused by an odd coincidence of their names. The FBI guy is Agent John P. Redding. The state detectives are Perry Brown and Jeffrey Black. So he has Brown, Black, and Redding on his team. The Color Posse, Sarah calls them. All three making it clear that they are strictly working support, at least for the time being. Making it clear that Dale Gilbertson is the man standing on ground zero. Christ, but I wish Jack would sign on to help me with this, Dale thinks. I'd deputize him in a second, just like in one of those corny old Western movies. Yes indeed. In a second. When Jack had first come to French Landing, almost four years ago, Dale hadn't known what to make of the man his officers immediately dubbed Hollywood. By the time the two of them had nailed Thornberg Kinderling yes, inoffensive little Thornberg Kinderling, hard to believe but absolutely true he knew exactly what to make of him. The guy was the finest natural detective Dale had ever met in his life. The only natural detective, that's what you mean. Yes, all right. The only one. And although they had shared the collar (at the L.A. newcomer's absolute insistence), it had been Jack's detective work that had turned the trick. He was almost like one of those story-book detectives . . . Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, one of those. Except that Jack didn't exactly deduct, nor did he go around tapping his temple and talking about his â€Å"little gray cells.† He . . . â€Å"He listens,† Dale mutters, and gets up. He heads for the back door, then returns for his briefcase. He'll put it in the back seat of his cruiser before he waters the flower beds. He doesn't want those awful pictures in his house any longer than strictly necessary. He listens. Like the way he'd listened to Janna Massengale, the bartender at the Taproom. Dale had had no idea why Jack was spending so much time with the little chippy; it had even crossed his mind that Mr. Los Angeles Linen Slacks was trying to hustle her into bed so he could go back home and tell all his friends on Rodeo Drive that he'd gotten himself a little piece of the cheese up there in Wisconsin, where the air was rare and the legs were long and strong. But that hadn't been it at all. He had been listening, and finally she had told him what he needed to hear. Yeah, shurr, people get funny ticks when they're drinking, Janna had said. There's this one guy who starts doing this after a couple of belts. She had pinched her nostrils together with the tips of her fingers . . . only with her hand turned around so the palm pointed out. Jack, still smiling easily, still sipping a club soda: Always with the palm out? Like this? And mimicked the gesture. Janna, smiling, half in love: That's it, doll you're a quick study. Jack: Sometimes, I guess. What's this fella's name, darlin'? Janna: Kinderling. Thornberg Kinderling. She giggled. Only, after a drink or two once he's started up with that pinchy thing he wants everyone to call him Thorny. Jack, still with his own smile: And does he drink Bombay gin, darlin'? One ice cube, little trace of bitters? Janna's smile starting to fade, now looking at him as if he might be some kind of wizard: How'd you know that? But how he knew it didn't matter, because that was really the whole package, done up in a neat bow. Case closed, game over, zip up your fly. Eventually, Jack had flown back to Los Angeles with Thornberg Kinderling in custody Thornberg Kinderling, just an inoffensive, bespectacled farm-insurance salesman from Centralia, wouldn't say boo to a goose, wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful, wouldn't dare ask your mamma for a drink of water on a hot day, but he had killed two prostitutes in the City of Angels. No strangulation for Thorny; he had done his work with a Buck knife, which Dale himself had eventually traced to Lapham Sporting Goods, the nasty little trading post a door down from the Sand Bar, Centralia's grungiest drinking establishment. By then DNA testing had nailed Kinderling's ass to the barn door, but Jack had been glad to have the provenance of the murder weapon anyway. He had called Dale personally to thank him, and Dale, who'd never been west of Denver in his life, had been almost absurdly touched by the courtesy. Jack had said several times during the course of the investigation that you could never have enough evidence when the doer was a genuine bad guy, and Thorny Kinderling had turned out to be about as bad as you could want. He'd gone the insanity route, of course, and Dale who had privately hoped he might be called upon to testify was delighted when the jury rejected the plea and sentenced him to consecutive life terms. And what made all that happen? What had been the first cause? Why, a man listening. That was all. Listening to a lady bartender who was used to having her breasts stared at while her words most commonly went in one ear of the man doing the staring and out the other. And who had Hollywood Jack listened to before he had listened to Janna Massengale? Some Sunset Strip hooker, it seemed . . . or more likely a whole bunch of them. (What would you call that, anyway? Dale wonders absently as he goes out to the garage to get his trusty hose. A shimmy of streetwalkers? A strut of hookers?) None of them could have picked Thornberg Kinderling out of a lineup, because the Thornberg who visited L.A. surely hadn't looked much like the Thornberg who traveled around to the farm-supply companies in the Coulee and over in Minnesota. L.A. Thorny had worn a wig, contacts instead of specs, and a little false mustache. â€Å"The most brilliant thing was the skin darkener,† Jack had said. â€Å"Just a little, just enough to make him look like a native.† â€Å"Dramatics all four years at French Landing High School,† Dale had replied grimly. â€Å"I looked it up. The little bastard played Don Juan his junior year, do you believe it?† A lot of sly little changes (too many for a jury to swallow an insanity plea, it seemed), but Thorny had forgotten that one revelatory little signature, that trick of pinching his nostrils together with the palm of his hand turned outward. Some prostitute had remembered it, though, and when she mentioned it only in passing, Dale has no doubt, just as Janna Massengale did Jack heard it. Because he listened. Called to thank me for tracing the knife, and again to tell me how the jury came back, Dale thinks, but that second time he wanted something, too. And I knew what it was. Even before he opened his mouth I knew. Because, while he is no genius detective like his friend from the Golden State, Dale had not missed the younger man's unexpected, immediate response to the landscape of western Wisconsin. Jack had fallen in love with the Coulee Country, and Dale would have wagered a good sum that it had been love at first look. It had been impossible to mistake the expression on his face as they drove from French Landing to Cen-tralia, from Centralia to Arden, from Arden to Miller: wonder, pleasure, almost a kind of rapture. To Dale, Jack had looked like a man who has come to a place he has never been before only to discover he is back home. â€Å"Man, I can't get over this,† he'd said once to Dale. The two of them had been riding in Dale's old Caprice cruiser, the one that just wouldn't stay aligned (and sometimes the horn stuck, which could be embarrassing). â€Å"Do you realize how lucky you are to live here, Dale? It must be one of the most beautiful places in the world.† Dale, who had lived in the Coulee his entire life, had not disagreed. Toward the end of their final conversation concerning Thornberg Kinderling, Jack had reminded Dale of how he'd once asked (not quite kidding, not quite serious, either) for Dale to let him know if a nice little place ever came on the market in Dale's part of the world, something out of town. And Dale had known at once from Jack's tone the almost anxious drop in his voice that the kidding was over. â€Å"So you owe me,† Dale murmurs, shouldering the hose. â€Å"You owe me, you bastard.† Of course he has asked Jack to lend an unofficial hand with the Fisherman investigation, but Jack has refused . . . almost with a kind of fear. I'm retired, he'd said brusquely. If you don't know what that word means, Dale, we can look it up in the dictionary together. But it's ridiculous, isn't it? Of course it is. How can a man not yet thirty-five be retired? Especially one who is so infernally good at the job? â€Å"You owe me, baby,† he says again, now walking along the side of the house toward the bib faucet. The sky above is cloudless; the well-watered lawn is green; there is nary a sign of slippage, not out here on Herman Street. Yet perhaps there is, and perhaps we feel it. A kind of discordant hum, like the sound of all those lethal volts coursing through the steel struts of the KDCU tower. But we have stayed here too long. We must take wing again and proceed to our final destination of this early morning. We don't know everything yet, but we know three important things: first, that French Landing is a town in terrible distress; second, that a few people ( Judy Marshall, for one; Charles Burnside, for another) understand on some deep level that the town's ills go far beyond the depredations of a single sick pedophile-murderer; third, that we have met no one capable of consciously recognizing the force the slippage that has now come to bear on this quiet town hard by Tom and Huck's river. Each person we've met is, in his own way, as blind as Henry Leyden. This is as true of the folks we haven't so far encountered Beezer St. Pierre, Wendell Green, the Color Posse as it is of those we have. Our hearts groan for a hero. And while we may not find one (this is the twenty-first century, after all, the days not of d'Artagnan and Jack Aubrey but of George W. Bush and Dirtysperm), we can perhaps find a man who was a hero once upon a time. Let us therefore search out an old friend, one we last glimpsed a thousand and more miles east of here, on the shore of the steady Atlantic. Years have passed and they have in some ways lessened the boy who was; he has forgotten much and has spent a good part of his adult life maintaining that state of amnesia. But he is French Landing's only hope, so let us take wing and fly almost due east, back over the woods and fields and gentle hills. Mostly, we see miles of unbroken farmland: regimental cornfields, luxuriant hay fields, fat yellow swaths of alfalfa. Dusty, narrow drives lead to white farmhouses and their arrays of tall barns, granaries, cylindrical cement-block silos, and long metal equipment sheds. Men in denim jackets are moving along the well-worn paths between the houses and the barns. We can already smell the sunlight. Its odor, richly compacted of butter, yeast, earth, growth, and decay, will intensify as the sun ascends and the light grows stronger. Below us, Highway 93 intersects Highway 35 at the center of tiny Centralia. The empty parking lot behind the Sand Bar awaits the noisy arrival of the Thunder Five, who customarily spend their Saturday afternoons, evenings, and nights in the enjoyment of the Sand Bar's pool tables, hamburgers, and pitchers of that ambrosia to the creation of which they have devoted their eccentric lives, Kingsland Brewing Company's finest product and a beer that can hold up its creamy head among anything made in a specialty microbrewery or a Belgian monastery, Kingsland Ale. If Beezer St. Pierre, Mouse, and company say it is the greatest beer in the world, why should we doubt them? Not only do they know much more about beer than we do, they called upon every bit of the knowledge, skill, expertise, and seat-of-the-pants inspiration at their disposal to make Kingsland Ale a benchmark of the brewer's art. In fact, they moved to French Landing because the brewery, which they had selected after careful del iberation, was willing to work with them. To invoke Kingsland Ale is to wish for a good-sized mouthful of the stuff, but we put temptation behind us; 7:30 A.M. is far too early for drinking anything but fruit juice, coffee, and milk (except for the likes of Wanda Kinderling, and Wanda thinks of beer, even Kingsland Ale, as a dietary supplement to Aristocrat vodka); and we are in search of our old friend and the closest we can come to a hero, whom we last saw as a boy on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. We are not about to waste time; we are on the move, right here and now. The miles fly past beneath us, and along Highway 93 the fields narrow as the hills rise up on both sides. For all our haste, we must take this in, we must see where we are.