Too Much Pressure

Colleen Went states that cheating has been on the rise due to the fact that many teachers accept it. The teachers knew that these things went on, yet nobody seems to do anything about them. With so many people cheating, teachers have a hard time tracking down who cheated and who didn't. Teachers assign homework every day, and they have over a hundred students. With so much assignments pouring in to be graded, teachers usually have students peer edit the assignment or they Just glance at it.The student could have Just written down something foolish and the teacher wouldn't notice. On account of this, many teachers think cheating is fine. Because many teachers ignore cheating that is occurring right under their noses, so many students get away with It. The lenient consequences that are given to students for cheating, is another factor that is causing an increase in cheating. Penalties for getting caught cheating are mild. If someone was caught cheating, that assignment or test is usual ly confiscated, and you ere given a zero for that assignment.However, your parents were not called, and you were not suspended. Getting a zero on one assignment doesn't hurt that much and the cheater doesn't even learn a lesson. Due to the light consequences, students cheat even more in school. Colleen Went used exposition style of writing. Through exposition, she informs, explains, and clarifies her ideas and thoughts. Exposition goes beyond description to help the reader understand with greater clarity and depth the Ideas and thoughts.

Education †Teacher Essay

The â€Å"education† has been derived from Latin words â€Å"Educare†. â€Å"Educare† means to train, to bring and lead out’, so we can say that education is to bring up, to developing and shaping up the individual talent and his inner potentialities. Definition: Education is a process in which and by which the knowledge, characters and behavior of the human being are shaped and molded. Education is lead to the enlightenment of mankind. According Imam Gzali Imam Ghazali said that education is a process which enables an individual to distinguish between the true and false, the good and bad, the right conduct and the evil doing. Educational policy: Education policy refers to the collection of laws and rules that govern the operation of education systems. Education occurs in many forms for many purposes through many institutions. For example early childhood education, two and four year colleges or universities, graduate and professional education, adult education and job training. Therefore, education policy can directly affect the education people engage in at all ages. Policy 1979 Page 1 National Education Policy 1979 By Roll No. 01,48,12,37,41 National Education Policy, 1979. On 29 March 1972 Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto announced the education policy. As a result all private education institutes were taken into national grip and brought changes in all other aspect of education. July 1977 General Zai-ul-Haq announced that new administration wanted to impose Islamic system. They considered it their aim. They believed that goals could not be achieved unless educational system based on Islamic system. For this purpose General Zia-ul-Haq conducted the conference of teachers, educationalist and of intelligent people. This conference gave recommendation for whole educational system. Muhammad Ali Khan announced this national policy. The main purpose of this policy was to impose education on Islamic system and to impose Urdu language by means of education. Main aim of the National Educational Conference 1979 was: ? Fostering loyalty to Islam. ? Creation of concept of Muslim Ummah. ? Promotion of science and technical education. Recommendation The main recommendation of the education policy of 1979 was following. 1. Elementary Education ? ? ? ? ? In coming five years 13000 schools will have opened Schools will have opened for those girls that were deprived from formal education Enable the students to stand on their courage Residential irony and training centers will have constructed for rural female teacher 5000 masjid will have constructed and books will have provided free of cost 2. Secondary Education ? 2000 new secondary institutes will have opened and converted 1000 middle schools into secondary institutes ? In the curriculum of secondary education new subject will have added ? Scope of secondary education will have intended so that students found take part in productive activities ? Secondary education will have considered from nine class to second year Policy 1979 Page 2 National Education Policy 1979 By Roll No. 01,48,12,37,41 3. Higher Education ? In selected girls colleges of all provinces post graduates classes will have started ? Valuation will have given to teachers of University to extend their education & professional training ? Scholarship will have given to intelligent students and teachers ? In coming five years no other new universities except women universities. New buildings of colleges will have constructed for girls and boys ? Provincial government will responsible to bear all expenses of universities Features: It was said in nation policy 1979 that education is a continuous process. Any educational policy cannot complete without education. Main features of recommendation are given below. 1. Masjid School It was planned in national educational policy that masjid schools masjid will have opened in these schools other subjects will have together alongside primary education. Moreover it was decided to open 5000 masjid school 2. Women Education It was recommended in policy to establish separate women university. Main point was to get attention of women towards education 3. Special Education It is also recommend in policy that central government will have prepared plans for the education of blinds, handicap able. Such person will have prepared to ea rn their livelihood 4. Establishment of private Institution In national policy establishment of private institute were allowed in this way education of inhabitants of country will have increased. Policy 1979 Page 3 National Education Policy 1979 By Roll No. 01,48,12,37,41 5. Mohallah Schools It was recommended to open Mohallah schools for those girls that could not get admissions in formal educational institutes. For this purpose 5000 school were opened 6. Religious Education Arabic will have compulsory up to 8th class. It will have taught as a compulsory subject 7. Village workshop schools It was recommended in policy to open workshops schools for those children who leave study. Main purpose was to enable them to earn their livelihood. 8. Medium of instruction It was planned in policy that all English medium school that get government aids will consider Urdu language as a medium of instruction IMPACT: 1. Clear foundation of education In national educational policy Islamic Ideology of life was considered as base of education 2. University Grants Commission It was decided in policy to give university grant commission to university to save their problems moreover it was said that government would bear expenses of university and these amount were given a grant commission 3. Urdu Language. It also decided in educational policy that all official work will have performed in Urdu language. It was compulsory for English medium schools that get government aids to adopt language selected bay provincial government Policy 1979 Page 4 National Education Policy 1979 By Roll No. 01,48,12,37,41 4. Islamic Madras’s According to the decision of national policy those people were held for public services that have certificate from Islamic Madras’s. in this way benefits of Madras increased and preached Islam 5. Teacher welfare Residential colony was constructed for rural teachers. For getting external & in internal education scholarship was given to teachers Milestones achieved by Education Policy 1979: 1. The medium of instruction was switched over to Urdu in government schools. 2. Private schools were allowed to have English as the medium of instruction. This led to the operation of two different systems of education within the country, one for those who could afford private education, and one for the rest of the nation. This two tier system contributed to a widening socio-economic inequity with the consequent feeling of injustice and resentment. 3. The policy of nationalization was reversed. 4. The private sector was encouraged to open schools. 5. The funding of universities was made through the Federal government. Suggested strategies to achieve goals of Policy: 1. Merging madras and traditional education. 2. Urdu as a medium of education. 3. Effective participation of community in literacy programs. 4. Linked scientific and technical education. 5. Separate instates for male and female. 6. Mosque schools. Implementation: This policy was not implemented properly and failed due to lack of planning and financial resources. Policy 1979.

Ugolino and His Sons

He won the Prix de Rome in 1854 which enabled him to live in Rome (1856 – 1862). During that time he was influenced by the works of Italian sculptors of the Renaissance period such as Michelangelo, Donatello, and Andrea Del Verrocchio. He also started to increase his focus of studies on complex sculptures and bas-reliefs. His passion led him to start carving several pieces on marble before the famous work of art â€Å"Ugolino and His Sons†. Carpeaux was considered as one of the mainstream artists in Eclecticism.This movement wanted to exceed Neoclassicism and Romanticism and also described the ombination, in a single work, of elements from different historical styles. Carpeaux received many honors during his lifetime until two months before he died prematurely of cancer at the age of 48 in Courbevoie in 1875 CE. The sculpture snows (Figure 1 a man sitting on a stone cu tted witn chains in his legs. The man's facial expressions seemed as grief while biting the tip of som e of his fingers. The wrinkles on top of his eyes with his curled toes on each other gave the sense of a clueless situation the man was put in.Surrounding him, there're four ifferent-aged kids; two of them on the left side of their father's position, as they gave the emotion of looking at their father begging. And on the right side, there're the two other kids where the smallest kid fell on the ground looking dead. The sculpture depicts the tale of a traitor who was the Count of Donoratico and was imprisoned by the archbishop Ruggieri degli Ubaldini in the late thirteenth century Oune 1288). The archbishop imprisoned Ugolino with his sons and grandsons in the â€Å"Tower of Hunger†.Also, the archbishop ordered the soldiers to throw the keys of Ugolinds rison in the Arno River so that there's no way for them to be set free. They were sentenced to be left to starve in February 1289. Ugolino had this prophetic dream of the archbishop and his soldiers as the lord and huntsman kil ling the wolf the wolf cubs (Ugolino and his offspring). Ugolino had his heart-broken for hearing his sons sobbing in their sleep asking for bread. He also kept his feelings inside, he had never wept, and he used to watch his kids weeping but him feeling clueless paralyzed- thinking.Yet his offspring dreams couldn't fill their stomach. Ugolinds kids started to ook at him, wondered why he turned out to look like a stone, biting his fingers and curling his toes of one leg on top of the other one. For them, they thought that their father is starving Just like them or maybe more but for Ugolino himself, he was biting his fingers in anguish, weeping inside for not being able to feed his offspring. Therefore, they started to offer their bodies to their father so he can eat and survive.After few days, his offspring started to fall down dead one by another till the last one died on the sixth day. This part is quoted from â€Å"The Divine Comedy, Vol. l: Inferno Canto 33) – Dante Ali ghieri†. It illustrates moments of death of Ugolinds offspring and the mystery behind the possibility of Cannibalism: â€Å"l calmed myself to make them less unhappy. That day we sat in silence, and the next day. O pitiless Earth! You should have swallowed us! The fourth day came, and it was on that day My Gaddo fell prostrate before my feet, Crying: Why dont you help me?

Urban Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Urban Health - Essay Example It is tabulated that about two-thirds of Europeans lives in towns and cities (WHO, 2010, p. 1). It is estimated that, by 2050, 70% of the people will migrate and live in cities. Urban health is known to depend on factors such as governance, characteristics of the population, food security, social and economic developments (Which, 2010, p. 2). This paper deals with TB as an urban health hazard in Newham, London boroughs. We will discuss how determinants of health contribute to TB infection. Moreover, the infection and transmission mechanisms of the diseases will be discussed under various sections of urban life. Finally, strategies and recommendations in control of the disease will be highlighted. According to Centre for Disease Control, TB is an airborne disease that is caused by bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CDC, 2013, p. 2). The disease was declared a global disaster in 1993 with a campaign plan against it being scheduled in 2006 to save about 14 million victims by the year 2015 (WHO. 2011, p. 23).The pathogen specifically attacks the lungs, but other parts such as spine, kidney and brain are attacked. Extra pulmonary TB occurs outside the lungs. On the other hand, pulmonary TB occurs in the lung. However, the two types can co-exist. Improper treatment of the disease is fatal and may lead to death. Its spread through the air makes it transmittable through coughs, sneeze and other respiratory droplets. It is recorded that in every ten case of TB, half the number that is left untreated leads to 50% deaths (WHO, 2011, p. 3). A third of the whole world’s population is assumed to be affected by M. tuberculosis. Approximations of 1% of new infections are known to occur each year (WHO, 2002, p. 4). In 2007, 13.7million cases of active chronic infections were reported globally. However, in 2010, the number reduced to 8.8 million cases with an approximation of about 1.5 million global deaths. Most of the cases

Smoking as a Drug Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Smoking as a Drug - Research Paper Example As such, seeking to shed a further level of emphasis upon these will be the main and focused intent of this brief analysis. Key words: smoking, health risk, death Introduction: Whereas many individuals are of the opinion that smoking is a dangerous process that threatens the overall health and well-being of the individual, the fact of the matter is that the overall scope of danger that smoking represents a much greater issue with regards to the overall addictive nature that it represents. Few people within the world understand the fact that smoking is more addicting than some of the harder street drugs that people have come to be so aware of; inclusive of LSD or even cocaine. Accordingly, as a means of categorizing this danger and promoting a level of understanding with respect to the full range of damaging impact that smoking can have upon the individual, this brief analysis will consider and discuss the litany of negative health impacts that smoking engenders. As such, it is the ho pe of this author that such an analysis will further help to congeal a level of understanding within the reader that smoking is a harmful practice that is not only restricted to impacting the individuals overall chances of lung cancer. Overall Impact: Firstly, it must be understood that smoking accounts for nearly  ½ million deaths each and every year within the United States. This is a figure that is larger than the overall number of people that succumb to HIV/AIDS, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle death, suicide, or murders combined. As such, the overall scope of the damage that smoking can have upon an individual is profound and affects their life in a number of different ways. Most obviously, high rates of lung cancer can almost entirely be attributed to smoking. Current estimates place this number from 80-90% of all lung cancer cases; depending upon what demographic and gender is measured. Regardless of the actual number, the statistics that have been provided show that smoking is invariably attributed to high rates of lung cancer and death. Yet, this statistic oftentimes confuses individuals who assume that lung cancer is the only means through which smoking can adversely impact upon the overall health of an i ndividual. However, smoking also increases the chances of developed coronary heart disease by up to 400%. Moreover, upwards of 94% of all deaths that are the result of chronic obstructive lung disease are normally caused by cancer. Yet, of all of the health impacts that can be felt, it is the health impact of cardiovascular disease that is the most overlooked. Due to the impact that nicotine has as well as the artery hardening properties of prolonged exposure to first or second hand cigarette smoke, the narrowing of blood vessels helps to put smokers at high risk for any type of blockage or obstruction that might appear in their blood. Naturally, this drastically impacts upon the overall risk of death and disease from aneurysm, stroke, and of course heart attacks. As each of these increases with risk as an individual ages, the compound effect of smoking and the risk of these diseases acts as a catalyst for many complex health issues that otherwise might not be evidenced within an in dividual’

Macro12C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Macro12C - Essay Example The unemployment rate reached a minimum of 5.5% from 7.5% at the start of term of President Reagan. The real median income for families increased to nearly $41,000 at the end of term; this was significantly higher than 10 years before and 10 years after President Reagan’s term. Inflation touched a minimum of 2% in 1986 and ended at 5% in 1989 compared to 11% at start of term in 1981. The growth of government spending was 1% during president Reagan’s term compared to 3.5% before him and 4.5% after him. Real income tax revenues increased by 16.3% even after top income tax rate had been reduced from 70% to 50% in 1983 and to 28% in 1986. The nominal federal revenues increased from $517 billion in 1981 to $1.031 trillion in 1989. On the downside, however, Reaganomics was used when US was at peace at the time, yet the national debt increased from 26.3% of GDP in 1981 to 42.3% in 1989. Secondly, the savings rate fell from 8% to 6.5% during president Reagan’s term as a result of his economic policies. Thirdly, the rich got even richer and the poor got even poorer. Reaganomics largely believed that if more wealth was given to the rich, they would re-invest this money, which did not really happen. Given the positive and the negative outcomes of Reaganomics, it can be said that while Reaganomics did work well for the years it was in force, it wasn’t a very sustainable economic policy as it relied mainly on increasing national debt to cover for the economic growth. Q2: Show graphically the effects on macro economy of a sharp rise in OPEC oil prices in a. the short run. b. the long run. How do you account for the differences in your answers to parts a and b? A sharp increase in OPEC oil prices occurs due to a supply shock that is a sudden drop in supply of oil. Below figures show its effects in the short and long-run. Short-run effect of a sharp increase in oil price is illustrated in figure 1 below: Figure 1. Short-run effect of Sharp increase in oil prices In the short-run, the supply shock causes price levels to increase due to inflation caused by high oil prices not only on oil dependant industries but also on transportation of goods and services. This leads to a drop in total output as well as price levels have increased but the wages have not in the short-run – leading to stagflation. Thus, the short-run effect is an increase in price levels and a decrease in total output. Figure 2. Long-run effect of a sharp increase in oil prices Due to increase in inflation in the short-run, unemployment starts to increase. Wages start to decrease. This leads companies to start hiring people. Also, the short-run effects bring about economic policy changes by the governments that are targeted to increase the output and to reduce inflation – which could be an increased government spending and/or decrease in interest rate. As the inflation comes under control, the real wages start to increase. This leads to an increase in demand in the long-run and the net effect is that

Animal testing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animal testing - Research Paper Example The same applies to cosmetics since researchers investigate for the suitability of such products in animals. Animal testing therefore is a vital practice in education, defense and breading researchers with most governments formulating appropriate legislations to guide the use of animals in studies as the discussion below portrays. Government regulation is essential in safeguarding the rights of both the animals and the humans who engage in the practice. Proponents of animals testing argue on the positive attributes of the practice key among which is the fact that animal testing enhances the growth of knowledge thereby bettering such vital sciences as medicine and social arts among many others. â€Å"they feel that the scientific advances that have emerged from animal testing-such as polio vaccine and measles, cancer chemotherapy and open heart surgery- far outweigh any pain, suffering or death the animals may experience† (Hayhurst 72). Opponents of the practice on the other hand argue in favor of the animals. They claim that using animals is both unethical and breaches the rights of the animals. The studies disrupt the natural existence of the animals in their respective habitats. Furthermore, the testing includes inserting harmful substances in the bodies of the animals possibly endangering or killing such animals. Such individuals oppose the practice based on the ethical implications and the rights of the animals. Despite the above arguments, both parties contend that animal testing is important and advantageous in medical practice among others. Toxicology testing is one such important tests conducted on animals. Just as the name suggests, it refers to the testing of the toxic levels in such finished products as pesticides thereby establishing the suitability of such products. The tests investigate for the effectiveness of such pesticides and their effects on other animals including humans. The tests include testing both the

Bank of China Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bank of China - Case Study Example (www.bochk.com)2 The organization recruits talent from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds by hiring new graduates. The bank strives hard to increase the proportion local employees at BOCHK and it is reported that 98.21% of the employees working were local citizens, the trend which is increasing year after year significantly. The organization promotes equal employment opportunity giving importance to health, encouraging the workforce through effective incentives, career development and training, and advocates corporate culture of honesty and integrity, performance, accountability, creativity and harmoniousness. With such good track record of increasing trends in financial reports, BOCHK is leader in the market which is revealed by the banks future strategy for balanced business and regional development strategy through optimizing its business, customer and revenue structures by taking advantage of market adjustments.

Ethics of Dignity and Freedom by Kant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics of Dignity and Freedom by Kant - Essay Example The researcher of this essay states that Kant was the first philosopher who proposed the notion of deontological ethics, which is the study of duty. This essay provides a detailed analysis on the topic of ethics as a branch of philosophy that was presented in Kant's works: The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785), The Critique of Practical Reason (1787). The researcher analyzed the most important Kant’s criticism of previous ethical theories, that is the most obvious in his theory about symbol. Kant’s ethics is remarkable for the new interpretation of the notion of symbol. The connection between Kant’s ethics and his theoretical philosophy, the genesis of his ethical ideas, formation of his thoughts in frames of study about freedom and ethics, dignity study (the central category of his moral philosophy) – these problems are at the centre of his ethical concept, that was analyzed in the essay. There is one more important issue mentioned in the es say from Kant’s philosophy of dignity and freedom – the connection between freedom and morality. The philosopher insists that person exists in two worlds: the one is the world of physical existence and another is the world of spirit. It is also suggested in the study that Kant’s philosophy of history and the idea of progress are closely connected with the ethical theory. In conclusion, the researcher states that it is worth saying that Kant’s activity had a great impact on the development of modern ethical philosophy and philosophy in general.

The AKA language was protected from outside influence Essay Example for Free

The AKA language was protected from outside influence Essay The writer started his article by describing a group of people called Tuvans, who lives in a remote area in the Republic of Tuva, in Russian Federation. The importance of this group came from the fact that they are speaking Tuvan, a language consider by linguists to be among a group of languages that are considered to be on the edge of extinction because of the low numbers of people that speak it. The earth population speak approximately 7000 languages. Tuvan is among the 3500 small languages that are spoken only by 8. 25 million people in the entire world, which is a very low fraction of the seven billion people who inhabit the earth. On the other hand, seventy eight percent of the earth population are speaking only 85 languages, Mandarin, Spanish, and English are among the top spoken languages on the globe. Linguist predicted that in the next century almost half of the spoken languages may vanish, and at this point more than 1000 languages are considered on the extinction. The writer mentioned the reasons that lead to this languages dilemma. He mentioned the effect of the dominant languages, that controls communications and commerce, on the small one that do not have any defense mechanism, like television or currency, to protect its existence. Because of that the people of Tuva must speak Russian or Chinese if they want to stay in contact with the outside world. The writer then mentioned another endangered languages known as AKA, the native language of AKA people in Plaizi a small village in India. The writer describe its people as a very self-dependent people that produce everything they need in their daily life. The AKA language was protected from outside influence because of the location of the village that makes it very difficult for outsiders to reach it. The authors then described two trends in the field of linguistics. The first one is based on the theory of Noam Chomsky who mentioned that all languages came from one single origin which is fixed in the human genes. The second trend is the increase interest in small endangered languages around the world, and how the field linguists are interested in idiosyncrasies that distinguish each language from the others and the cultural effects on it. There are 85 percent of the needs to be documented in order to understand it, and the main reason for this documentation comes from the fact that each language contains unique human experiences that reveals many aspects of life . The writer declared very important point regarding the loss of any language. His main idea was based on the fact that every language contains a valuable information about the culture and the knowledge that accumulated from generation to generation in this culture. The author gave us another example of vanishing languages which is the Cmiique Itiom, a language used by the Seri in Mexico and how their language contains the knowledge that is important for all humans. Cmiique Itiom managed to preserved its original form without any outside interference . The Seri managed to keep their language untouched mainly because their hostility to the outsiders. Even the modern commodities likes cars the Seri managed to bring it to their culture but they used for it a unique names that merged from their own language so they never used there Spanish names. The writer mentioned a way to preserved the vanishing languages which is to: â€Å"†¦ enshrine it in writing and compile a dictionary. †. He gave an examples for linguists that worked in those kind of projects like David Harrison and Greg Anderson who compiled the first Tuvan- English dictionary. Also, Steve and Cathay Marlett who worked to finish Cmiique Itiom dictionary, but the writer mentioned very important point which is stated in page 86 : â€Å"But saving a language is not something linguists can accomplish, because salvation must come from within. †. The salvation must come from the people who are using this language by teaching it to the next generation, and also by using dictionaries and books to preserve it and keeping it active as long there is something to speak about it. Writer Choices The writer starts his article by using a story as a hook for the readers, to grab their attention for the rest of the article, and he kept telling the readers different stories about the people he met during his travel. The writer also used creative language ,like figurative language which includes metaphor in many places in the article, and he also used compare and contrast in many other places . Numbers was used by the writers to support his main idea, he mentioned a specific numbers related to the languages in the first page. Visuals aid had been used by the writer to illustrate the subject of his article in a very professional way, yet it was very simple and effective, we can see that from the beautiful pictures for all the people that he met during his trip. Reflection on the Reading Process I found the article hard to read at the beginning, but after using SQ4R and reading the article in class for many times it became much easier for me to understand, and this make the whole process of reading very interesting. The language used not always clear, with difficult word as shown below: Nomadic: roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without a fixed pattern of movement. Proselytize: to try to persuade people to join a religion, cause, or group. Dwindle: to gradually become smaller. Thatch: to make (a roof) with dried plant material (called thatch). Supplant: to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery. Atelier: a room where an artist works. Propitious: likely to have or produce good results. Reading process included: Skimming and Skamming ,summarize the article and annotate the key points in it, and SQ4R. Reaction Languages is the soul of human civilizations. The connection between the two of them is very similar to the relationship between human soul and body because without the sole the body will surely collapse because humans need their soul to drive the physical body and to keep him from perishing. In contrast, language plays the same role in people collective awareness about their on existence in the society and culture. Language is the invisible glue that hold the culture pieces together, and without this glue everything will collapse. It’s the strong foundation that up hold the society structures and grant it the strength to resist any outside threats. Why the language is so important? Because it’s the memory of the society. This memory is the experiences and knowledge that transferred from generation to generation until it reached this point in time, and no it will very hard to live without our memories. Losing any language would be similar to someone who lost his own memory. The only thing he can do is to embrace a new experiences and knowledge, and to start accumulating new memories about his new life. Unfortunately, it is the same thing for languages, when the people abandon their own language in favor for new ones they will lose their cultural experiences and knowledge. They will eventually lose their own identity that distinguished them from the rest of humans. Finally, losing any language on earth would be a lost for humanity in general because we will lose our diversity that make life on earth interesting . I think life with one color would be very tedious, and for life to be interesting it should contain whole spectrum of color. Spinoff Topics One of the spinoff topics would be a to study the individuals that abandon their own language and how they adopt with their new languages and cultures.

How to Become a Successful Political Leader

How to Become a Successful Political Leader What is the strategy for becoming a successful political leader? Heba Ziad Before becoming a political leader, ask yourself why do you want to be a politician, set your goals and projects, and study the aspects of yours energy to achieve these goals and projects. A politician’s duties outweigh the rights as a citizen, so have your thought about your duties? A politician is responsible for their party, homeland and themself, responsible to raise the level of  their county and to address its issues. Responsible for the selection of parliamentary assemblies and to exercise their natural rights in their way. Political actions are a subject to man to exercise it. So did you study your facilities to ensure your success? It’s not enough for people to consider you a politician, you have to ensure your answer to people that wonder; what concerns you as a politician? What are your hopes? Where are your efforts? Where is your opinion and your voice? Where is your approach to serve your country and your nation? What is your curriculum? If you wish to be a successful politician, there is no success without ambitions. Aspiration not selfishness, to preach for motivation, adopt a vast of hopes and look into the future with determination, confidence and reassurance is not enough to spend your life as a member of a party or a minister, why don’t you become the party leader or the head of the ministry? A successful politician should not be tempted or condoles the situation your country is at, you must have the ambition to work on expanding the fellowship of your country, to increase its resources, upgrade it, and accept the ultimate position between countries in the world. Ambition is the key factor in the life of every successful politician, self ambitious, general ambition for the good of the country, the good of the world and the good of humanity. The life of politics is all about sacrifices, and a successful politician is satisfied with sacrificing everything for the sake of a principle, a party or a home. The life of politics and governance deprive politicians from corporate memberships, free businesses from the fields of the economy, from life comfort, convenience and peace of mind. Deprived of security, tranquility and safety, from taking care of their wife, children and siblings, from practicing their right to take care of their health and temper, from feeding their spirit with streams of science and literature. A successful politician is willing to sacrifies all these luxuries for the sake of their success as a respectable politician. The notion that politics is all about lying, flattery and hypocrisy is a weak sentiment, not one of the characteristics of a successful politician. Politics is frankness and sincerity, and not vice versa. A successful politician is an honest politician who can speak boldly of their opinion even if it cost him carrying the colors of harm, injustice and suffering. Political positivity is successful positivity. A politician by the name â€Å"Nuri Said† says: â€Å"Political negativity is easy, it is in the capacity of every man to practice, however, political positivity is the touchstone of every successful politician† It’s not enough to say no. A successful politician ought to say after what they want. It’s not enough to carry the pick of demolition, they should work on the building and construction, it is not enough to repeal, oppose and criticize, but they should take the initiative to lay the foundations to build something else in exchange. There is no place in the ship of successful policy for what we can call ship mice; if it sinks, they flee. A successful captain is one who is responsible for the ship and delivers it to safety, overcoming what intercepted it from waves, winds and hurricanes. They ensure the safety of the passengers, steers the ship towards safety and does everything they can in order to ensure its path with all their voltage, experience and intelligence. Therefore, if the ship sinks, they are the last one to leave it, and they might drown with it. The sense of responsibility and bearing it is necessary and a great thin in the life of both the ship, and the nations and empires, hence in order to succeed you must learn to carry responsibility. If a politician has espoused a principle, they ought to speak boldly of it,  are  they an oppositionist or a supporter? Which parties do they oppose and which do they support? They should not favor where there is struggle, nor deceive where there is combat, they should not evade or run away, nor bury their head in the sand. Ergo, a successful politician is a brave politician. A politician must read a lot. They should be enlightened in everything in literature, theirtory, philosophy, nature, poetry, the biographies of the great and the theirtory of art and music. Culture is like vitamins for the politician, it is their spine; it is a qualification in their conversations and speeches, and a reference in their researches. An ignorant politician, no matter how smart, brilliant, popular or patriotic they are, are not up to success as long as their sleeve is lacking the main element of success, that is culture. Do you want to be a successful political leader? Here’s what you have to do: Have a positive mindset, and direct yourself to solutions, actions and people; enthusiasm brings success. Embrace change; it is impossible for change not to occur. Followers tend to resist change, a successful leader must embrace change and seize the opportunity offered by it. Courage; â€Å"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions† Douglas MacArthur â€Å"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer† George S. Patton Take risks; the greatest venture is to never take risks. Successful leaders resolve to win or try again. Listening; successful leaders listen and learn. Your potential followers know what they, so just listen to them. Communicate; successful leaders lean towards open communications, they use their minds, say what they feel and speak from the heart. Delegation and empowerment; leaders involve other people with their responsibility. They do not tell people what to do, but set and example for others to follow them. A successful leader encourages other people to develop, challenges them to take over new responsibilities, encourages them to succeed and supports them if they fail. A good leader understands that mistakes are only lessons on the path towards success that is beneficial. Understand others, yourself and your situation. Good leaders understand the importance of an open-loving mind for knowledge; the permanent pursuit of knowledge brings more understanding. Commitment; commitment is the catalyst that makes qualities of a good leadership a reality. To rededicate yourself to commit every day to commit is the foundation of becoming a successful leader. Start small, and then lead a group or a committee. Do everything necessary for the success of ttheir group or committee. Repeat such acts again until they become normal. Respect the attributes of leadership and the influence of those who wish to reach leadership.

Company Analysis Of Tony And Guy Hairdressing Salon

Company Analysis Of Tony And Guy Hairdressing Salon Tony and Guy hairdressing salon is a multinational corporation, which deals with hair care business. The company has not only competent management team but also qualified, dedicated and committed. The company has more than 200,000 employees worldwide. The Dubai branch has two branches with one of them performing poorly due to lack of planning and proper management (http://www.toniandguy.com/). Toney and Guys experienced employees are well trained will always ensure the success of the company. Tony and Guy hair care salons mission statement is to ensure that, the hair care services reach all the people all over the world. It also seeks to ensure its customers and potential customers get high quality services that are reliable, accessible, and universally acceptable. The hairdressing salon business, since its inception, has had the main goal of becoming the leading provider of hairdressing and care services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The salon, as the business is known, has shown without doubt its capability and potential that it can achieve success, if it is provided with the required financial resources. It is one of the leading international hair care companies in the world and it has a commitment and continuous service improvement. It dominates the market because it has the largest market share and customer base in the industry, in all the regions of its operation. The company is driven by the returns it is targeting and this has made it to gain growth and success by providing relevant and reliable hair care services to its esteem customers. In addition, the company offers variety of hair dressing services to its customers depending on their needs (Perry Sherlock, 2008). Though the company has not been performing well, there are recent reports of trivial improvements attributable to improved economic growth, leading to increased customers and subsequently increases in profits. Its services have attracted millions of customers and potential customers, who have ensured a consistent stream of revenues to the firm no matter the numerous challenges it is facing. The firm is targeting everybody in the market irrespective of the age, gender, ethnic group, tribe, religion, or nationality. The hair care firm has established many salons in major and strategic sites in Dubai, where customers can locate with ease and they are accessible to all. The firm advertises its products and services through the TV, radio, beauty magazines and the firms well-established website where people can access it wherever they are. There is stiff competition in the industry because of rapidly changing fashion trends, peoples taste, and preference. The firm is strategizing to ensure it outperforms its competitors and gain a competitive advantage. Its services are of high quality that meets the customers requirements and standards. The firm should improve on the marketing strategy to appeal to many customers to accept the services of the company. An aggressive advertising and promotional campaigning in all media, both locally and internationally should be planned and intensified. This will ensure the firms services are provided and marketed to many people (customers and potential customers). For the firm to expand its operations, it needs one million US dollars ($1000000). The funds will be used for campaigning, opening new salon centers, training employees and purchasing new equipment that will ensure the customers hairstyle is done according to his or her expectations in order for him to get satisfied. This will in the end, ensure that, the firm retains and maintains the customers for a long period. Building trust and loyalty in customers requires total commitment and dedication from the employees and the top management. The success or failure of the firms services will be measured based on the customer increase or decrease in number, profits, and comments from the customers about the firms services and products. If the numbers of customers are increasing, then, the firm is becoming successful and vice versa. The set goals, targets, and objectives of the firm can be used to measure the firms success or failure. The firm should open several branches in strategic locations that the customers can easily locate and serve according to their expectations. The management especially the human resource department should employ permanent employees with the required skills, knowledge, competencies, and experience. The employees should be continuously trained to equip them with new technology and any changes in the industry, which are deemed important (http://www.toniandguy.com/). 2.0 Introduction Tony and Guy is an international hair care business, which was established in London, United Kingdom in 1963 by the two brothers Giuseppe (Guy) and Gaetano Mascolo (Toni). Their two younger brothers Anthony and Bruno later joined the two brothers. The organization has more than 400 salons and it has been able to win many hairdressing awards for many years. For example, in 2006, it won the South West Hairdresser of the Year and it has won the London Hairdresser of the Year (11 times) consecutively. The organization has its own in-salon television station known as Toni and Guy TV and a UK Magazine. In addition, the firm has opened many salons and academies around the world in countries such as Canada, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden, Russia, New Zealand, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Norway, and United States of America. The company manufactures its own hair care products such as styling, hair irons, and shampoo. The companys main aim is to expand its services to all parts of the world by providing quality services. The company has a sister salon group known as Essensuals headed by Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck and Christian Mascolo; both are Tonis children (Perry Sherlock, 2008). The Dubai branch was established in the year 2000, which gave everyone a wakeup call as the new salon, which was the first to be opened in UAE. It was not only the best salon but fair and reliable to all customers depending on their income level and ability to use the services. The color department at Tony and Guy do many color corrections from other salons work that they had not performed as per the customers expectations. After a few years, the performance in one of its salons was negatively affected in that performance targets were not met. The salon had hairdressers who were unqualified because they had not undergone the required stringent London Academy training. With the poor services provided, it has led to poor comments about the services provided about the salon; hence affecting its image and reputation of the firm negatively (Perry Sherlock, 2008). 3.0 Situational analysis Situational analysis is concern about internal and external environment, direct and indirect competitors (local shops with cheap prices), target market, and the positioning the firm would take. 3.1 Target market and positioning of the firm The firm targets the whole United Arab Emirates, and further expansion of its operations to other continents so as to become the market leader. The firm targets all the people irrespective of their age, gender, race, ethnic community, religion, economic status, and place of residence (urban or rural). This target market will ensure that the firm dominates the market before the competitors venture in. By targeting everybody in the market, it will ensure that, no one is discriminated and every one will feel satisfied. This is a positioning strategy that will ensure the firm gains competitive advantage over its competitors. In addition, the firm has set different prices for the product so as to ensure people with different income or economic status are reached. This is a positioning strategy because the firm is meant to serve all the people rather than other salons (competitors) who only target the urban rich people. The firm is therefore, positioning itself by offering high-quality products at affordable prices. The services and products have been made readily available, reliable, and accessible to all at the required quantities (http://www.toniandguy.com/). 3.2 Internal environment Internal environment is about microenvironment; what is happening within the firm and that can be controlled within. It deals with the explanation of SWOT Analysis. SWOT is the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that affect the business operations from within. The firms strengths are: the firm has organized for customer training on how to maintain the different hairstyles after it has been plaited. This is strength because the customers will be taught on how to maintain the hairstyle for long before the next hairstyle hit the market. The salon has its own products sold at cheaper prices than its competitors in the industry do. Those with low income can afford because they are packed in small units that they afford due to their meager earnings. This is strength because no customers are discriminated based on income; hence attracting more customers. The services of the salon are of high quality than the competitors. This has helped the salon to gain the competitive advantage and dominate the market since 2000. The well-trained, competent, and qualified employees have made the salon to retain its customers and increase its profit margins. The courtesy, respect, dignity, and openness with their customers have made most of their friends and workmates to seek the salon services. Customers complaints are taken seriously and corrected or improved where needed, in order to ensure they get satisfied with our services and products at all times. The company values the customers because they determine the success or failure of the company. Though the firm has numerous strengths, there are a few weaknesses needed to be addressed and corrected. The location in which the salon is located is surrounded by a crowded area. The streets leading to the hotel in which the salon is in has many businesses therefore; the potential customers may not recognize it because of the congestion due to its poor location. Some of our customers and potential customers sometimes end up in the hands of our competitors due to our poor location in the street. This has made the saloon lose some customers because of lots of noises, hooting, people shouting and dust which is not health for our customers as they take their way to the location of the salon. The branchs employment criterion where employees are on a contractual basis has affected the firm negatively. Our customers keep on getting new employees and to get used to them will take time; and the moment they get used to one another, the employee quits forcing the employer to get another expert. Customers prefer to be handled by one employee for a long time because he or she will be used to him or her. Most of the customers have shifted to the other branch and to some of our competitors because it has experienced knowledgeable and permanent employees who can be relied upon. Employees on contract have offered poor-quality services to the customers because their aim is to be paid and go (Perry Sherlock, 2008). The high rate of employee turnover is a weakness in the side of the management (human resource department) and therefore, they should focus on employing permanent employees with the relevant skills, competences, and experience. This has affected the firms reputation because once the customers expectations are not met; they will look for same services from the competitors. This is a weakness, and at the same times a threat because the competitors will capitalize from the same weakness. Our major threat is our competitors who have opened many branches in all strategic locations within the city; but the firm has a long-term strategy of expanding its branches to all strategic locations so as to counter the competition. The other threat is from our competitors who have lowered the prices of their products and charges for their services. Some of our customers have decided to change; hence, it is a threat because the company can close down. The salons opportunities are numerous, and the firm has utilized them fully. The firms competitors concentrated the marketing of its services and products in the major urban areas only; but the Tony and Guy salon has expanded its services to the rural growing centers and towns so as to reap from the large readily available market. Our products are of high quality than the competitor; hence, it is an opportunity to maximize returns. 3.3 External environment External environment is also known as macro environment analysis. This entails factors that are beyond companys control. These are political, economical, social cultural, technological, and legal (PESTEL). Political analysis is about government change and political stability of a country. If there is political stability in a country, then business will prospers because there are no interruptions such as wars and conflicts. The government usually introduces new policies and guidelines in the industry, which sometimes affects the business operations negatively. The policies may be costly and time consuming due to the procedures and processes that must be followed during implementation. The government has been supportive and cooperating on various policies; in that, the government authorities and departments in charge of the industry has been engaging all the stakeholder for talks, discussions and consultations in case there are new guidelines and policies to be introduced. Economical factors can be a major challenge to the firm if it is not stable financially, when profits are decreasing, or when it is making losses. Because there is no taxation in Dubai, the banks increase interest rates without consultation because it is vested with power and authority to do so. If the firms returns are unstable, the company may end up making huge losses due to the costs associated. If the labor unions pressurize the companies to increase the employees salaries and other remunerations, the firm may close down if its profitability was not stable. This is because; it is from the profits that the company will increase salaries, repay the loans and to expand its operations (Perry Sherlock, 2008). Social cultural factors concern the change in taste and preferences, fashion, cultural beliefs and norms and likes and dislikes. When new styles and fashion hits the market, the salon has to adjust even if it means incurring more costs. Changes brought about by the fashion and tastes and preferences require further training and expenses for the employees. Some of these changes are inevitable, and the firm must adjust so as to fit into what the customers want in all market segments. With hair styles and its hairdressing products, most people want what is in fashion, and therefore, hairdressers must be updated to know the new hairstyles so that customers may be retained and to attract new ones because of the quality services offered. Different people, races, tribes, gender, and religions value certain hairstyles and products; this therefore, calls for the salon management together with the employees to understand what different customers needs. Technological factors are crucial in hairdressing because technologies keep on changing rapidly. Different hairstyles require different equipment and machines to be used. Technological advancement is costly and the already existing technologies become obsolete. The new hairstyles and fashion requires new machines and equipment to be used so that the customer gets satisfied. Technology also requires employees to be trained on the use of new technologies. Due to the stiff competition and fear of losing customers, the firm has to adjust its budget to purchase new equipment. With the new technologies, the firm is able to provide quality services, and to gain competitive advantage. Customers are sensitive and want to get value from their money by getting services from salons with the modern, advanced technology. Legal factors are important external factors in the business operations. Laws are the guiding principles in any business. Laws must be adhered to, otherwise, the business will be deemed illegal if it fails to comply with them. Implementation of laws is costly and sometimes the government can set stringent rules if it wants to you out of the market. In hairdressing associated with salons, the government can set laws banning the use of certain hairdressing products or certain hairstyles; hence affecting the firms sales and profitability. Some of these laws can make the firm lose its customers and to close down. Some of the laws can deter the firm from expanding to certain regions or from transacting certain business dealings. 3.4 Marketing Strategy Tony and Guy salon is working marketing strategy that would enable the company regains the control of the hair treatments market globally. More so, the company is working towards reviving and rejuvenating operational the Dubai Branch that has not been performing well. The organization has set aside $ 1000000 for the processes in the marketing strategy. The conservative, limited marketing budget will spread among such activities as marketing efforts renting showrooms in high-traffic areas in cities where there will not only be more visibility of the Tony Guy products, but also its professionally trained staff will offer hair treatment services at subsidized rates, and show case the organizations product and services. Apart from the existing outlets, the activities will be conducted in selected well-traveled, popular malls located in high human traffic areas. Although, it will be costly to lease these locations temporarily, as they are charged above the normal rates, part of the high cost of rents will be offset of the sales made during the exercise. The other proceeds will be used to finance more visibility through sponsored marketing events and activities such as road shows and other activities. The marketing strategy is composed of the following activities: Advertisements: there will be Advertisements in country specific and international magazines, journals, newspapers and other publications. Those publications that have wide readerships among women and youth will be give priority since these groups the biggest junk of the target market segments. Since not all the target markets may be reached by advertisements in publications, alternatives means of reaching them will have to be decided. One way will be using large billboards in major roads feeding major world cities. Electronic mediums such Television Commercials, radio and Internet Sponsored events and roads shows will be another marketing strategy to be used. 3.4.1 Mission The major objective of marketing strategies will be to inform the customers and those potentials customer that Tony and Guy products and Salon Services are not only available locally, but also that the company is committed to providing reasonably priced, convenient hair styling and the organization exists to attract and maintain customers. Their services will meet or exceed the expectations of their customers and eventually result in secured and protected future markets. 3.4.2 Marketing Objectives The marketing strategies will increase repeat customers by at least 9% per quarter. Product visibilities and awareness is to be boosted by 14% Non-performing branches such the one in Dubai is to maintain positive, steady growth each month. 3.4.3 Financial Objectives Ultimately, the marketing objectives of the marketing strategy must translate into sales. Upon full implementation of the marketing plan, the following effects are anticipated or targeted sales: 10% increase for products sold per year. Growth of the profit margin by 3% per year. Full recovery of sales and ultimately profitability in the Dubai branches and other branches initially performing poorly throughout the worlds; one year since the inception of marketing programs. 3.5 Target Marketing Target marketing as part of the strategy will enable Tony and Guy; to reach different market segments as demonstrated below: Men: past statistics show that men at least 70%-75% of men use hair make up, thus implying significant clientele potentials. Relevant communicational tactical ads will to reach these groups will be used. Upper-end and lower-end women markets: The biggest proportions (about 90%) of the revenues to the hair industry come from female customers. Women have generally been found to be fond of identifying themselves with classy, expensive, and fashionable products and services. Although they can be discriminated by class and prices, the quality of services and functionality of different brands of Tony and Guy brands will greatly influence this segment of the market. There therefore, great potential market in the women populations. Young Mothers with Children: Young children are an emerging market in the hair treatment industry. A typical family salon has playing facilities for children, where children safely spend their times as they wait for their parents or as they wait to be served in the Hairdressing and treatment. Each of the three groups will be targeted separately. The Tony and Guy outlets and the new-leased promotional centers will prepare its staff to offer quick and convenient services to the male customers. Outlets will close late at night 8 pm in high traffic centers and security services will be acquired from security companies. Throughout the periods, no appointments will be required, and most of the salon services will be on first come first serve basis but quick, convenient, and satisfactory to the customers. As for women, research has shown them to prefer the allure of classy salons, although practically not everyone can afford such luxury. For this reason, Tony and Guy will provide the different hair treatment services but strictly within the normal range prices. Tony and Guy will focuses their marketing strategies on these customers by put emphasis on the classy, ultra hype styling that Tony and Guy will offer at all their outlets all over the world during the promotion period or the time of implementing the marketing strategies. Entertainment will be offered. To reach both the high end and low-end market at the time while appealing wit classy but affordable services and products, Tony and Guy advertisement will be made to appeal to all. The advertisement while communicating the classiness of the services and products will also emphasize of the affordability. Above all, advertisements will demonstrate that making up and treating ones hair with companys products and or services is a necessity, as basic as clothing. It will communicate that it no longer a secondary need but a basic need for every woman. With the latest finding confirming that there is an emerging market in children for the hair industry, Tony and Guy cannot ignore the segment. To win the Children market, Tony and Guy, will focus its marketing strategies towards young mothers visiting the Salons with children by investing in kids toys, playing facilities, and offering hairdressing services friendly to children. In addition, the children will receive special rates that would entice the customers to visit the salons again. The tactical advertisement will be tuned to appeal to this group while reaching other segment with the same message. 3.6 Positioning Tony and Guy Salon marketing strategies will position the organization in the industry strategically to be a one stop-shop convenient and affordable place for services and products. While reaching families a corporate entity, the salons also will appeals to individuals with all the outlets prepared to offer quality services and products at competitive rates even after the promotional periods. Tony and Guy will be offering one-stop services and building it competitive edge by striving to achieve its desired positioning through; The staffs are incentivized to offer quality client services throughout. While Tony and Guy will invest time and money into training the employees, other concerted efforts will be arranged to ensure that clients receive the best possible experience that would make them loyal to the Salons and eventually turn them become long-term clients ultimately leading to improvement of the companys services and products reputations. Through its superior customer service, Tony and Guy will be in a position to effectively and competitively out-perform its competitors both retail and big dealers operating in the industry. Excellent customer services throughout all centers: Tony and Guys competitive edge will be based on superior customer service. The company recognizes that the hair treatment industry has crowded market with challenging situations id differentiating its products and services from those of the competitors. To stand out in the market, Tony and Guy, take advantage of its combined, concerted efforts to sell the hair products while at the same time operating salons. The two activities not only give an opportunity to customers to try the products and services but also enables them experience the quality of services and products the company offers. Tony and Guys have been trained in the London Academy in quality customers services. This will enable the company, throughout its branches spread across the globe, to continuously offer or provide superior customer attention. The staff will be as much as possible be flexible to the needs of the customer. 3.7 Strategy Pyramids To create a change, the old marketing strategies, with rejuvenated efforts, the single most apparent objective is to position Tony and Guy to be a prime one-stop hair-service shop for the family internationally. The pyramids marketing strategy attempts to first furnish all customers in the industry with the available products and services at the Tony and Guy Hairdressing and Salon before developing a firms customer base and eventually working towards improving customer referrals and loyalty. The message that Tony and Guy will be selling will be communicate and recruit the entire family into quick, professional services that come with excellent customer service at affordable rates. Various mediums will be used to communicate the message. During and after the promotions, the messages will continue to be communicated through in-store and storefront displays through all the outlets and partnering retail salons. This will be convenient and cost effective method that will attract potential and existing customers that walk around the or near the outlets and retail centre. This will complement the initially and conventional strategies of using publication and print mediums local and international regular publications newspapers. 4.0 Marketing Mix Tony and Guy marketing mix will carefully perform market research too selectively to influence customer behavior in favor of the services and product of the company. Theoretically, a typical marketing mix model is comprised of the 4Ps of marketing namely: pricing, Place (distribution), Promotion and advertising, and Product. 4.1 Pricing Tony and Guy Salon pricing system will be founded on a competitive pricing model that while making the services and products affordable remains competitive relative to competitors prices. This pricing strategy will be the most fundamental element that needs serious considerations in each market. Although the pricing of services and products by Tony and Guy will be guided by the current levels and those of the competitors, the company will strive to offer optimal prices, affordable and compelling to the customer, yet giving reasonable returns. During the promotions, the prices will be subsidized, but at a minimum, the revenues must offset the promotional expenses. Thereafter the new set of optimal prices will be offered for the products. Each markets retail outlet will be issued with pricing guidelines. Tony and Guy acknowledge the difficulty in standardizing prizes in all the markets considering the variations in income and economic levels. For this reason, each segment of economic separated by national boundaries and currency will have specific pricing model guidelines. Independent salons franchised to offer Tony and Guy products and services will be given discounts to together with customer identification to the loyal ones (Westwood, 2000). 4.2 Price Policy While Tony and Guy Company Salon admit that pricing is the most important element that influences customer or rather buyer behavior and the same determine the profitability of any enterprise, the company intends to develop policies that would assist the managements and retailing outlets in setting optimum pricings that are enticing to customers. These prices will be so strategic that that it will affect the overall performances and the future competitiveness of Tony and Guy. Attracting new clients and keeping the customers, will be the key agenda in the pricing policies to be developed. Because of these affordably but competitive prices, Tony and Guy will use other strategies expand its market. Larger sales volumes will compensate the lower prices. In this case, the best method that the company sees as what will attract customers and keep them. For the prices to be competitive and appealing to customers, the organization devises strategies and conducts feasibility analyses of custome rs experiences at different pricing scenarios. This requires some market research and testing to determine customer behavior at different selected rates. The Tony and Guy Hair products and hair treatment services will use the fixed price in specific regions, with similar market segment description such demographic, cultural, and economic situations. This policy involves determining the price for customers who are willing to purchase the product with the same prices, given the same-shared market conditions and environment. Though it sounds discriminatory in nature, the prices will be fixed in such a way that it will be very easy for the company to administer and in the end be able to maintain a good will within the customers. This strategy will enable the company to use a higher pricing in better economic markets to compensate the minimal rates charged in the markets, whose economic and average income levels are lower. This is one of the strategies often recommended for company multinationals operating in countries having different economic performances (Westwood, 2000). 4.3 Place (Place of Distribution) and Worldwide Marketing (Promotion) Tony and Guy Salon being an international company that deals with hair treatments products and services, has a strategic marketing plan program for its product and services with a world wide scope. Since the birth of the organization in United Kingdom, the company has always catered for the demand of its customers across the globe. Consistent with this global reach, the company has always been aware of its customer around the globe. In line with this element of the marketing mix and consistent to the marketing strategy, the strategy has always been to formulate and invent products exceeds the needs and preferences of the company customer wherever they are in the world. With much investment in research and development of Tony and Guy salon products, the organization has already identified the specific needs required in most parts of the world, including the strict Islamic Middle East (Perry Sherlock, 2008). Following adaptation of its products to meet the specific hair needs of customers in a different part of the globe, To

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World :: essays papers

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World There were quite a few changes made from Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World to turn it into a â€Å"made for TV† movie. The first major change most people noticed was Bernard Marx’s attitude. In the book he was very shy and timid toward the opposite sex, he was also very cynical about their utopian lifestyle. In the movie Bernard was a regular Casanova. He had no shyness towards anyone. A second major deviation the movie made form the book was when Bernard exposed the existing director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, Bernard himself was moved up to this position. In the book the author doesn’t even mention who takes over the position. The biggest change between the two was Lenina, Bernard’s girlfriend becomes pregnant and has the baby. The screenwriters must have made this up because the author doesn’t even mention it. The differences between the book and the movie both helped it and hurt it. Of the many changes made between the book and the movie, most were made to keep the audience interested in the story. Most people who watch TV don’t have a long attention span. Executives at NBC didn’t want to spend millions to produce a movie and then have nobody watch it. The screenwriters had to throw in some clever plot twists to keep people interested. Another reason the movie was different from the book was the material in the book was a little too racy for network TV. Take the ending, for example, nobody wants to see a grown man hang himself. This was a reason the producers had to change some material in the movie. The book and the movie were both very good. The book took time to explain things like setting, people’s emotions, people’s traits, and important background information. There was no time for these explanations the movie. The book, however, had parts in the beginning where some readers could become flustered.

To Censor Science or Not to Censor Science :: Analysis, Donohue

The Censoring of science may seem like it is restricting scientist’s ability to share their knowledge with one another, but censorship is protecting the United States citizens. In the article, â€Å"Censoring Science Won’t Make Us Any Safer† the author Donohue (2011) said, â€Å"Citizens are entitled to know when their milk, their water, their bridges their hospitals lack security precautions† (p. 398). The author believed that United States citizens have a right to know when they are in danger. To refute this argument, would be to say that, if the government does not have some sort of regulation set up to inhibit the sharing of biological secrets, our nations security will still be at risk. Donahue believed that censoring science has put the United States at the same risk as not censoring. Donahue (2011) stated â€Å"the effort to suppress scientific information reflects a dangerously outdated attitude† (p. 396). Donahue supported this claim by explaining several cases in science where sharing information from microbiological studies have helped science move forward. One such study was done by scientists in Australia. The study was finding a disease that would kill rodents. The scientists found a disease similar to smallpox that was called mousepox. With the research that they discovered and published the researchers from St. Louis University found a defense against such a disease. Donahue (2011) declared â€Å"This result would undoubtedly not have been achieved, or at least not as quickly, without the attention drawn by the ASM article† (p. 397). Most scientists want to be able to share their data. Scientists are autonomous by nature. Begelman (1968) refuted an argument made by I. L. Horowitz, who was a scientist that believed that the government was in â€Å"gross violations of the autonomous nature of science† (p.70). Begelman believed conversely, that there is a system of checks and balances in the government regulation system, and that this system is in place to protect citizens. The autonomous nature of science is not being dispelled just because there are a few government regulations on publishing scientific information. National security should always be considered when publishing information that could potentially be used against the United States. Scientists need to be aware of this potential threat and practice self-censorship. In the journal, â€Å"A Tale of Two Studies†, Segelid (2007) said â€Å"We recognize that on occasion an editor may conclude that the potential harm of publication outweighs the potential societal benefits.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-one

Tyrion Are you certain that you must leave us so soon?† the Lord Commander asked him. â€Å"Past certain, Lord Mormont,† Tyrion replied. â€Å"My brother Jaime will be wondering what has become of me. He may decide that you have convinced me to take the black.† â€Å"Would that I could.† Mormont picked up a crab claw and cracked it in his fist. Old as he was, the Lord Commander still had the strength of a bear. â€Å"You're a cunning man, Tyrion. We have need of men of your sort on the Wall.† Tyrion grinned. â€Å"Then I shall scour the Seven Kingdoms for dwarfs and ship them all to you, Lord Mormont.† As they laughed, he sucked the meat from a crab leg and reached for another. The crabs had arrived from Eastwatch only this morning, packed in a barrel of snow, and they were succulent. Ser Alliser Thorne was the only man at table who did not so much as crack a smile. â€Å"Lannister mocks us.† â€Å"Only you, Ser Alliser,† Tyrion said. This time the laughter round the table had a nervous, uncertain quality to it. Thorne's black eyes fixed on Tyrion with loathing. â€Å"You have a bold tongue for someone who is less than half a man. Perhaps you and I should visit the yard together.† â€Å"Why?† asked Tyrion. â€Å"The crabs are here.† The remark brought more guffaws from the others. Ser Alliser stood up, his mouth a tight line. â€Å"Come and make your japes with steel in your hand.† Tyrion looked pointedly at his right hand. â€Å"Why, I have steel in my hand, Ser Alliser, although it appears to be a crab fork. Shall we duel?† He hopped up on his chair and began poking at Thorne's chest with the tiny fork. Roars of laughter filled the tower room. Bits of crab flew from the Lord Commander's mouth as he began to gasp and choke. Even his raven joined in, cawing loudly from above the window. â€Å"Duel! Duel! Duel!† Ser Alliser Thorne walked from the room so stiffly it looked as though he had a dagger up his butt. Mormont was still gasping for breath. Tyrion pounded him on the back. â€Å"To the victor goes the spoils,† he called out. â€Å"I claim Thorne's share of the crabs.† Finally the Lord Commander recovered himself. â€Å"You are a wicked man, to provoke our Ser Alliser so,† he scolded. Tyrion seated himself and took a sip of wine. â€Å"If a man paints a target on his chest, he should expect that sooner or later someone will loose an arrow at him. I have seen dead men with more humor than your Ser Alliser.† â€Å"Not so,† objected the Lord Steward, Bowen Marsh, a man as round and red as a pomegranate. â€Å"You ought to hear the droll names he gives the lads he trains.† Tyrion had heard a few of those droll names. â€Å"I'll wager the lads have a few names for him as well,† he said. â€Å"Chip the ice off your eyes, my good lords. Ser Alliser Thorne should be mucking out your stables, not drilling your young warriors.† â€Å"The Watch has no shortage of stableboys,† Lord Mormont grumbled. â€Å"That seems to be all they send us these days. Stableboys and sneak thieves and rapers. Ser Alliser is an anointed knight, one of the few to take the black since I have been Lord Commander. He fought bravely at King's Landing.† â€Å"On the wrong side,† Ser Jaremy Rykker commented dryly. â€Å"I ought to know, I was there on the battlements beside him. Tywin Lannister gave us a splendid choice. Take the black, or see our heads on spikes before evenfall. No offense intended, Tyrion.† â€Å"None taken, Ser Jaremy. My father is very fond of spiked heads, especially those of people who have annoyed him in some fashion. And a face as noble as yours, well, no doubt he saw you decorating the city wall above the King's Gate. I think you would have looked very striking up there.† â€Å"Thank you,† Ser Jaremy replied with a sardonic smile. Lord Commander Mormont cleared his throat. â€Å"Sometimes I fear Ser Alliser saw you true, Tyrion. You do mock us and our noble purpose here.† Tyrion shrugged. â€Å"We all need to be mocked from time to time, Lord Mormont, lest we start to take ourselves too seriously. More wine, please.† He held out his cup. As Rykker filled it for him, Bowen Marsh said, â€Å"You have a great thirst for a small man.† â€Å"Oh, I think that Lord Tyrion is quite a large man,† Maester Aemon said from the far end of the table. He spoke softly, yet the high officers of the Night's Watch all fell quiet, the better to hear what the ancient had to say. â€Å"I think he is a giant come among us, here at the end of the world.† Tyrion answered gently, â€Å"I've been called many things, my lord, but giant is seldom one of them.† â€Å"Nonetheless,† Maester Aemon said as his clouded, milk-white eyes moved to Tyrion's face, â€Å"I think it is true.† For once, Tyrion Lannister found himself at a loss for words. He could only bow his head politely and say, â€Å"You are too kind, Maester Aemon.† The blind man smiled. He was a tiny thing, wrinkled and hairless, shrunken beneath the weight of a hundred years so his maester's collar with its links of many metals hung loose about his throat. â€Å"I have been called many things, my lord,† he said, â€Å"but kind is seldom one of them.† This time Tyrion himself led the laughter. Much later, when the serious business of eating was done and the others had left, Mormont offered Tyrion a chair beside the fire and a cup of mulled spirits so strong they brought tears to his eyes. â€Å"The kingsroad can be perilous this far north,† the Lord Commander told him as they drank. â€Å"I have Jyck and Morrec,† Tyrion said, â€Å"and Yoren is riding south again.† â€Å"Yoren is only one man. The Watch shall escort you as far as Winterfell,† Mormont announced in a tone that brooked no argument. â€Å"Three men should be sufficient.† â€Å"If you insist, my lord,† Tyrion said. â€Å"You might send young Snow. He would be glad for a chance to see his brothers.† Mormont frowned through his thick grey beard. â€Å"Snow? Oh, the Stark bastard. I think not. The young ones need to forget the lives they left behind them, the brothers and mothers and all that. A visit home would only stir up feelings best left alone. I know these things. My own blood kin . . . my sister Maege rules BearIsland now, since my son's dishonor. I have nieces I have never seen.† He took a swallow. â€Å"Besides, Jon Snow is only a boy. You shall have three strong swords, to keep you safe.† â€Å"I am touched by your concern, Lord Mormont.† The strong drink was making Tyrion light-headed, but not so drunk that he did not realize that the Old Bear wanted something from him. â€Å"I hope I can repay your kindness.† â€Å"You can,† Mormont said bluntly. â€Å"Your sister sits beside the king. Your brother is a great knight, and your father the most powerful lord in the Seven Kingdoms. Speak to them for us. Tell them of our need here. You have seen for yourself, my lord. The Night's Watch is dying. Our strength is less than a thousand now. Six hundred here, two hundred in the ShadowTower, even fewer at Eastwatch, and a scant third of those fighting men. The Wall is a hundred leagues long. Think on that. Should an attack come, I have three men to defend each mile of wall.† â€Å"Three and a third,† Tyrion said with a yawn. Mormont scarcely seemed to hear him. The old man warmed his hands before the fire. â€Å"I sent Benjen Stark to search after Yohn Royce's son, lost on his first ranging. The Royce boy was green as summer grass, yet he insisted on the honor of his own command, saying it was his due as a knight. I did not wish to offend his lord father, so I yielded. I sent him out with two men I deemed as good as any in the Watch. More fool I.† â€Å"Fool,† the raven agreed. Tyrion glanced up. The bird peered down at him with those beady black eyes, ruffling its wings. â€Å"Fool,† it called again. Doubtless old Mormont would take it amiss if he throttled the creature. A pity. The Lord Commander took no notice of the irritating bird. â€Å"Gared was near as old as I am and longer on the Wall,† he went on, â€Å"yet it would seem he forswore himself and fled. I should never have believed it, not of him, but Lord Eddard sent me his head from Winterfell. Of Royce, there is no word. One deserter and two men lost, and now Ben Stark too has gone missing.† He sighed deeply. â€Å"Who am I to send searching after him? In two years I will be seventy. Too old and too weary for the burden I bear, yet if I set it down, who will pick it up? Alliser Thorne? Bowen Marsh? I would have to be as blind as Maester Aemon not to see what they are. The Night's Watch has become an army of sullen boys and tired old men. Apart from the men at my table tonight, I have perhaps twenty who can read, and even fewer who can think, or plan, or lead. Once the Watch spent its summers building, and each Lord Commander raised the Wall higher than he found it. Now it is all we c an do to stay alive.† He was in deadly earnest, Tyrion realized. He felt faintly embarrassed for the old man. Lord Mormont had spent a good part of his life on the Wall, and he needed to believe if those years were to have any meaning. â€Å"I promise, the king will hear of your need,† Tyrion said gravely, â€Å"and I will speak to my father and my brother Jaime as well.† And he would. Tyrion Lannister was as good as his word. He left the rest unsaid; that King Robert would ignore him, Lord Tywin would ask if he had taken leave of his senses, and Jaime would only laugh. â€Å"You are a young man, Tyrion,† Mormont said. â€Å"How many winters have you seen?† He shrugged. â€Å"Eight, nine. I misremember.† â€Å"And all of them short.† â€Å"As you say, my lord.† He had been born in the dead of winter, a terrible cruel one that the maesters said had lasted near three years, but Tyrion's earliest memories were of spring. â€Å"When I was a boy, it was said that a long summer always meant a long winter to come. This summer has lasted nine years, Tyrion, and a tenth will soon be upon us. Think on that.† â€Å"When I was a boy,† Tyrion replied, â€Å"my wet nurse told me that one day, if men were good, the gods would give the world a summer without ending. Perhaps we've been better than we thought, and the Great Summer is finally at hand.† He grinned. The Lord Commander did not seem amused. â€Å"You are not fool enough to believe that, my lord. Already the days grow shorter. There can be no mistake, Aemon has had letters from the Citadel, findings in accord with his own. The end of summer stares us in the face.† Mormont reached out and clutched Tyrion tightly by the hand. â€Å"You must make them understand. I tell you, my lord, the darkness is coming. There are wild things in the woods, direwolves and mammoths and snow bears the size of aurochs, and I have seen darker shapes in my dreams.† â€Å"In your dreams,† Tyrion echoed, thinking how badly he needed another strong drink. Mormont was deaf to the edge in his voice. â€Å"The fisherfolk near Eastwatch have glimpsed white walkers on the shore.† This time Tyrion could not hold his tongue. â€Å"The fisherfolk of Lannisport often glimpse merlings.† â€Å"Denys Mallister writes that the mountain people are moving south, slipping past the ShadowTower in numbers greater than ever before. They are running, my lord . . . but running from what?† Lord Mormont moved to the window and stared out into the night. â€Å"These are old bones, Lannister, but they have never felt a chill like this. Tell the king what I say, I pray you. Winter is coming, and when the Long Night falls, only the Night's Watch will stand between the realm and the darkness that sweeps from the north. The gods help us all if we are not ready.† â€Å"The gods help me if I do not get some sleep tonight. Yoren is determined to ride at first light.† Tyrion got to his feet, sleepy from wine and tired of doom. â€Å"I thank you for all the courtesies you have done me, Lord Mormont.† â€Å"Tell them, Tyrion. Tell them and make them believe. That is all the thanks I need.† He whistled, and his raven flew to him and perched on his shoulder. Mormont smiled and gave the bird some corn from his pocket, and that was how Tyrion left him. It was bitter cold outside. Bundled thickly in his furs, Tyrion Lannister pulled on his gloves and nodded to the poor frozen wretches standing sentry outside the Commander's Keep. He set off across the yard for his own chambers in the King's Tower, walking as briskly as his legs could manage. Patches of snow crunched beneath his feet as his boots broke the night's crust, and his breath steamed before him like a banner. He shoved his hands into his armpits and walked faster, praying that Morrec had remembered to warm his bed with hot bricks from the fire. Behind the King's Tower, the Wall glimmered in the light of the moon, immense and mysterious. Tyrion stopped for a moment to look up at it. His legs ached of cold and haste. Suddenly a strange madness took hold of him, a yearning to look once more off the end of the world. It would be his last chance, he thought; tomorrow he would ride south, and he could not imagine why he would ever want to return to this frozen desolation. The King's Tower was before him, with its promise of warmth and a soft bed, yet Tyrion found himself walking past it, toward the vast pale palisade of the Wall. A wooden stair ascended the south face, anchored on huge rough-hewn beams sunk deep into the ice and frozen in place. Back and forth it switched, clawing its way upward as crooked as a bolt of lightning. The black brothers assured him that it was much stronger than it looked, but Tyrion's legs were cramping too badly for him to even contemplate the ascent. He went instead to the iron cage beside the well, clambered inside, and yanked hard on the bell rope, three quick pulls. He had to wait what seemed an eternity, standing there inside the bars with the Wall to his back. Long enough for Tyrion to begin to wonder why he was doing this. He had just about decided to forget his sudden whim and go to bed when the cage gave a jerk and began to ascend. He moved upward slowly, by fits and starts at first, then more smoothly. The ground fell away beneath him, the cage swung, and Tyrion wrapped his hands around the iron bars. He could feel the cold of the metal even through his gloves. Morrec had a fire burning in his room, he noted with approval, but the Lord Commander's tower was dark. The Old Bear had more sense than he did, it seemed. Then he was above the towers, still inching his way upward. Castle Black lay below him, etched in moonlight. You could see how stark and empty it was from up here; windowless keeps, crumbling walls, courtyards choked with broken stone. Farther off, he could see the lights of Mole's Town, the little village half a league south along the kingsroad, and here and there the bright glitter of moonlight on water where icy streams descended from the mountain heights to cut across the plains. The rest of the world was a bleak emptiness of windswept hills and rocky fields spotted with snow. Finally a thick voice behind him said, â€Å"Seven hells, it's the dwarf,† and the cage jerked to a sudden stop and hung there, swinging slowly back and forth, the ropes creaking. â€Å"Bring him in, damn it.† There was a grunt and a loud groaning of wood as the cage slid sideways and then the Wall was beneath him. Tyrion waited until the swinging had stopped before he pushed open the cage door and hopped down onto the ice. A heavy figure in black was leaning on the winch, while a second held the cage with a gloved hand. Their faces were muffled in woolen scarves so only their eyes showed, and they were plump with layers of wool and leather, black on black. â€Å"And what will you be wanting, this time of night?† the one by the winch asked. â€Å"A last look.† The men exchanged sour glances. â€Å"Look all you want,† the other one said. â€Å"Just have a care you don't fall off, little man. The Old Bear would have our hides.† A small wooden shack stood under the great crane, and Tyrion saw the dull glow of a brazier and felt a brief gust of warmth when the winch men opened the door and went back inside. And then he was alone. It was bitingly cold up here, and the wind pulled at his clothes like an insistent lover. The top of the Wall was wider than the kingsroad often was, so Tyrion had no fear of falling, although the footing was slicker than he would have liked. The brothers spread crushed stone across the walkways, but the weight of countless footsteps would melt the Wall beneath, so the ice would seem to grow around the gravel, swallowing it, until the path was bare again and it was time to crush more stone. Still, it was nothing that Tyrion could not manage. He looked off to the east and west, at the Wall stretching before him, a vast white road with no beginning and no end and a dark abyss on either side. West, he decided, for no special reason, and he began to walk that way, following the pathway nearest the north edge, where the gravel looked freshest. His bare cheeks were ruddy with the cold, and his legs complained more loudly with every step, but Tyrion ignored them. The wind swirled around him, gravel crunched beneath his boots, while ahead the white ribbon followed the lines of the hills, rising higher and higher, until it was lost beyond the western horizon. He passed a massive catapult, as tall as a city wall, its base sunk deep into the Wall. The throwing arm had been taken off for repairs and then forgotten; it lay there like a broken toy, half-embedded in the ice. On the far side of the catapult, a muffled voice called out a challenge. â€Å"Who goes there? Halt!† Tyrion stopped. â€Å"If I halt too long I'll freeze in place, Jon,† he said as a shaggy pale shape slid toward him silently and sniffed at his furs. â€Å"Hello, Ghost.† Jon Snow moved closer. He looked bigger and heavier in his layers of fur and leather, the hood of his cloak pulled down over his face. â€Å"Lannister,† he said, yanking loose the scarf to uncover his mouth. â€Å"This is the last place I would have expected to see you.† He carried a heavy spear tipped in iron, taller than he was, and a sword hung at his side in a leather sheath. Across his chest was a gleaming black warhorn, banded with silver. â€Å"This is the last place I would have expected to be seen,† Tyrion admitted. â€Å"I was captured by a whim. If I touch Ghost, will he chew my hand off?† â€Å"Not with me here,† Jon promised. Tyrion scratched the white wolf behind the ears. The red eyes watched him impassively. The beast came up as high as his chest now. Another year, and Tyrion had the gloomy feeling he'd be looking up at him. â€Å"What are you doing up here tonight?† he asked. â€Å"Besides freezing your manhood off . . . â€Å" â€Å"I have drawn night guard,† Jon said. â€Å"Again. Ser Alliser has kindly arranged for the watch commander to take a special interest in me. He seems to think that if they keep me awake half the night, I'll fall asleep during morning drill. So far I have disappointed him.† Tyrion grinned. â€Å"And has Ghost learned to juggle yet?† â€Å"No,† said Jon, smiling, â€Å"but Grenn held his own against Halder this morning, and Pyp is no longer dropping his sword quite so often as he did.† â€Å"Pyp?† â€Å"Pypar is his real name. The small boy with the large ears. He saw me working with Grenn and asked for help. Thorne had never even shown him the proper way to grip a sword.† He turned to look north. â€Å"I have a mile of Wall to guard. Will you walk with me?† â€Å"If you walk slowly,† Tyrion said. â€Å"The watch commander tells me I must walk, to keep my blood from freezing, but he never said how fast.† They walked, with Ghost pacing along beside Jon like a white shadow. â€Å"I leave on the morrow,† Tyrion said. â€Å"I know.† Jon sounded strangely sad. â€Å"I plan to stop at Winterfell on the way south. If there is any message that you would like me to deliver . . . â€Å" â€Å"Tell Robb that I'm going to command the Night's Watch and keep him safe, so he might as well take up needlework with the girls and have Mikken melt down his sword for horseshoes.† â€Å"Your brother is bigger than me,† Tyrion said with a laugh. â€Å"I decline to deliver any message that might get me killed.† â€Å"Rickon will ask when I'm coming home. Try to explain where I've gone, if you can. Tell him he can have all my things while I'm away, he'll like that.† People seemed to be asking a great deal of him today, Tyrion Lannister thought. â€Å"You could put all this in a letter, you know.† â€Å"Rickon can't read yet. Bran . . . † He stopped suddenly. â€Å"I don't know what message to send to Bran. Help him, Tyrion.† â€Å"What help could I give him? I am no maester, to ease his pain. I have no spells to give him back his legs.† â€Å"You gave me help when I needed it,† Jon Snow said. â€Å"I gave you nothing,† Tyrion said. â€Å"Words.† â€Å"Then give your words to Bran too.† â€Å"You're asking a lame man to teach a cripple how to dance,† Tyrion said. â€Å"However sincere the lesson, the result is likely to be grotesque. Still, I know what it is to love a brother, Lord Snow. I will give Bran whatever small help is in my power.† â€Å"Thank you, my lord of Lannister.† He pulled off his glove and offered his bare hand. â€Å"Friend.† Tyrion found himself oddly touched. â€Å"Most of my kin are bastards,† he said with a wry smile, â€Å"but you're the first I've had to friend.† He pulled a glove off with his teeth and clasped Snow by the hand, flesh against flesh. The boy's grip was firm and strong. When he had donned his glove again, Jon Snow turned abruptly and walked to the low, icy northern parapet. Beyond him the Wall fell away sharply; beyond him there was only the darkness and the wild. Tyrion followed him, and side by side they stood upon the edge of the world. The Night's Watch permitted the forest to come no closer than half a mile of the north face of the Wall. The thickets of ironwood and sentinel and oak that had once grown there had been harvested centuries ago, to create a broad swath of open ground through which no enemy could hope to pass unseen. Tyrion had heard that elsewhere along the Wall, between the three fortresses, the wildwood had come creeping back over the decades, that there were places where grey-green sentinels and pale white weirwoods had taken root in the shadow of the Wall itself, but Castle Black had a prodigious appetite for firewood, and here the forest was still kept at bay by the axes of the black brothers. It was never far, though. From up here Tyrion could see it, the dark trees looming beyond the stretch of open ground, like a second wall built parallel to the first, a wall of night. Few axes had ever swung in that black wood, where even the moonlight could not penetrate the ancient tangle of root and thorn and grasping limb. Out there the trees grew huge, and the rangers said they seemed to brood and knew not men. It was small wonder the Night's Watch named it the haunted forest. As he stood there and looked at all that darkness with no fires burning anywhere, with the wind blowing and the cold like a spear in his guts, Tyrion Lannister felt as though he could almost believe the talk of the Others, the enemy in the night. His jokes of grumkins and snarks no longer seemed quite so droll. â€Å"My uncle is out there,† Jon Snow said softly, leaning on his spear as he stared off into the darkness. â€Å"The first night they sent me up here, I thought, Uncle Benjen will ride back tonight, and I'll see him first and blow the horn. He never came, though. Not that night and not any night.† â€Å"Give him time,† Tyrion said. Far off to the north, a wolf began to howl. Another voice picked up the call, then another. Ghost cocked his head and listened. â€Å"If he doesn't come back,† Jon Snow promised, â€Å"Ghost and I will go find him.† He put his hand on the direwolf's head. â€Å"I believe you,† Tyrion said, but what he thought was, And who will go find you? He shivered.