The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Seven

And that, Jack decided, was his cue to leave as well. Not that he had any great love for the duke. Indeed, he'd had quite enough of his marvelous lordliness for one day and was perfectly happy to see his back as he left the room. But the thought of remaining here with the dowager†¦ Even Miss Eversleigh's delightful company was not enough of a temptation to endure more of that. â€Å"I believe I shall retire as well,† he announced. â€Å"Wyndham did not retire,† the dowager said peevishly. â€Å"He went out.† â€Å"Then I shall retire,† Jack said. He smiled blandly. â€Å"End of sentence.† â€Å"It's barely dark,† the dowager pointed out. â€Å"I'm tired.† It was true. He was. â€Å"My John used to stay up until the wee hours,† she said softly. Jack sighed. He did not want to feel sorry for this woman. She was hard, ruthless, and thoroughly unlikable. But she had, apparently, loved her son. His father. And she'd lost him. A mother shouldn't outlive her children. He knew this as well as he knew how to breathe. It was unnatural. And so instead of pointing out that her John had most likely never been kidnapped, strangled, blackmailed, and stripped of his (albeit paltry) livelihood, all in one day, he walked forward and set her ring – the very one he had all but snatched from her finger – on the table next to her. His own was in his pocket. He was not quite prepared to share its existence with her. â€Å"Your ring, madam,† he said. She nodded, then took it into her hands. â€Å"What is the D for?† he asked. His whole life, he'd wondered. He might as well gain something from this debacle. â€Å"Debenham. My birth surname.† Ah. It made sense. She'd have given her own heirlooms to her favorite son. â€Å"My father was the Duke of Runthorpe.† â€Å"I am not surprised,† he murmured. She could decide for herself if that was a compliment. He bowed. â€Å"Good evening, your grace.† The dowager's mouth tightened with disappointment. But she seemed to recognize that if there had been a battle that day, she was the only one who had emerged victorious, and she was surprisingly gracious as she said, â€Å"I shall have supper sent up.† Jack nodded and murmured his thanks, then turned to exit. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh will show you to your room.† At that Jack snapped to attention, and when he looked Miss Eversleigh's way, he saw that she had, too. He had been expecting a footman. Possibly the butler. This was a delightful surprise. â€Å"Is that a problem, Miss Eversleigh?† the dowager asked. Her voice sounded sly, a little bit taunting. â€Å"Of course not,† Miss Eversleigh replied. Her eyes were clouded but not entirely unreadable. She was surprised. He could see it by the way her lashes seemed to reach a little higher toward her brows. She was not used to being ordered to tend to anyone except the dowager. Her employer, he decided, did not like to share her. And as his eyes fell again to her lips, he decided that he was in complete accord. If she were his, if he had any right to her†¦he would not wish to share her, either. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to touch her, just a soft brush of hand against skin, so fleeting that it could only be deemed accidental. But more than any of that, he wanted use of her name. Grace. He liked it. He found it soothing. â€Å"See to his comfort, Miss Eversleigh.† Jack turned to the dowager with widening eyes. She sat like a statue, her hands folded primly in her lap, but the corners of her mouth were tilted ever so slightly up, and her eyes looked cunning and amused. She was giving Grace to him. As clear as day, she was telling him to make use of her companion, if that was his desire. Good Lord. What sort of family had he fallen into? â€Å"As you wish, ma'am,† Miss Eversleigh replied, and in that moment Jack felt soiled, almost dirty, because he was quite certain she had no idea that her employer was attempting to whore her off on him. It was the most appalling sort of bribe. Stay the night, and you can have the girl. It sickened him. Doubly so, because he wanted the girl. He just didn't want her given to him. â€Å"It is most kind of you, Miss Eversleigh,† he said, feeling as if he had to be extra polite to make up for the dowager. They reached the door, and then, before he forgot, he turned back. He and the duke had spoken only tersely on their outing, but on one matter they had been in accord. â€Å"Oh, by the by, should anyone ask, I am a friend of Wyndham's. From years gone by.† â€Å"From university?† Miss Eversleigh suggested. Jack fought back a grim chuckle. â€Å"No. I did not attend.† â€Å"You did not attend!† the dowager gasped. â€Å"I was led to believe you'd had a gentleman's education.† â€Å"By whom?† Jack inquired, ever so politely. She sputtered at that for a moment, and then finally she scowled and said, â€Å"It is in your speech.† â€Å"Felled by my accent.† He looked at Miss Eversleigh and shrugged. â€Å"Pommy R's and proper H's. What's a man to do?† But the dowager was not prepared to let the subject drop. â€Å"You are educated, are you not?† It was tempting to claim he'd been schooled with the local lads, if only to witness her reaction. But he owed his aunt and uncle better than that, and so he turned to the dowager and said, â€Å"Portora Royal, followed by two months at Trinity College – Dublin, that is, not Cambridge – and then six years serving in His Majesty's army and protecting you from invasion.† He cocked his head to the side. â€Å"I'll take those thanks now, if you will.† The dowager's lips parted with outrage. â€Å"No?† He lifted his brows. â€Å"Funny how no one seems to care that they still speak English and curtsy to good King George.† â€Å"I do,† Miss Eversleigh said. And when he looked at her, she blinked and added, â€Å"Er, thank you.† â€Å"You're welcome,† he said, and it occurred to him that this was the first time he'd had cause to say it. Sadly, the dowager was not unique in her sense of entitlement. Soldiers were occasionally feted, and it was true that the uniforms were quite effective when attracting the ladies, but no one ever thought to say thank you. Not to him, and especially not to the men who'd suffered permanent injury or disfigurement. â€Å"Tell everyone we shared fencing lessons,† Jack said to Miss Eversleigh, ignoring the dowager as best he could. â€Å"It's as good a ruse as any. Wyndham says he's passable with a sword?† â€Å"I do not know,† she said. Of course she wouldn't. But no matter. If Wyndham had said he was passable, then he was almost certainly a master. They would be well-matched if ever they had to offer proof of their lie. Fencing had been his best subject in school. It was probably the only reason they had kept him to age eighteen. â€Å"Shall we?† he murmured, tilting his head toward the door. â€Å"The blue silk bedroom,† the dowager called out sourly. â€Å"She does not like to be left out of a conversation, does she?† Jack murmured, so that only Miss Eversleigh could hear. He'd known she could not answer, not with her employer so close, but he saw her eyes dart away, as if trying to hide her amusement. â€Å"You may retire for the night as well, Miss Eversleigh,† the dowager directed. Grace turned in surprise. â€Å"You don't wish for me to attend to you? It's early yet.† â€Å"Nancy can do it,† she replied with a pinch of her lips. â€Å"She's an acceptable hand with buttons, and what's more, she doesn't say a word. I find that to be an exceptionally good trait in a servant.† As Grace held her tongue more often than not, she decided to take that as a compliment, rather than the rear-door insult it was meant to be. â€Å"Of course, ma'am,† she said, bobbing a demure curtsy. â€Å"I shall see you in the morning, then, with your chocolate and the newspaper.† Mr. Audley was already at the door and was holding out his hand to motion for her to precede him, so she walked out into the hall. She had no idea what the dowager was up to, giving her the rest of the evening off, but she was not going to argue further. â€Å"Nancy is her maid,† she explained to Mr. Audley once he reached her side. â€Å"I'd guessed.† â€Å"It's most odd.† She shook her head. â€Å"She – â€Å" Mr. Audley waited rather patiently for her to finish her sentence, but Grace decided the better of it. She had been going to say that the dowager hated Nancy. In fact, the dowager complained most bitterly and at painful length each time she had a day out and Nancy served as a substitute. â€Å"You were saying, Miss Eversleigh?† he murmured. She almost told him. It was strange, because she barely knew him, and furthermore, he could not possibly be interested in the trivialities of the Belgrave household. Even if he did become the duke – and the thought of it still made her somewhat sick to her stomach – well, it wasn't as if Thomas could have identified any of the housemaids. And if asked which ones his grandmother disliked, he'd surely have said, All of them. Which, Grace thought with a wry smile, was probably true. â€Å"You're smiling, Miss Eversleigh,† Mr. Audley remarked, looking very much as if he were the one with a secret. â€Å"Do tell why.† â€Å"Oh, it's nothing,† she said. â€Å"Certainly nothing that would be of interest to you.† She motioned toward the staircase at the rear of the hall. â€Å"Here, the bedchambers are this way.† â€Å"You were smiling,† he said again, falling in step beside her. For some reason that made her smile anew. â€Å"I did not say that I wasn't.† â€Å"A lady who doesn't dissemble,† he said approvingly. â€Å"I find myself liking you more with every passing minute.† Grace pursed her lips, eyeing him over her shoulder. â€Å"That does not indicate a very high opinion of women.† â€Å"My apologies. I should have said a person who does not dissemble.† He flashed her a smile that shook her to her toes. â€Å"I would never claim that men and women are interchangeable, and thank heavens for that, but in matters of truthiness, neither sex earns high marks.† She looked at him in surprise. â€Å"I don't think truthiness is a word. In fact, I'm quite certain it is not.† â€Å"No?† His eyes darted to the side. Just for a second – not even a second, but it was long enough for her to wonder if she'd embarrassed him. Which couldn't be possible. He was so amazingly glib and comfortable in his own skin. One did not need more than a day's acquaintance to realize that. And indeed, his smile grew jaunty and lopsided, and his eyes positively twinkled as he said, â€Å"Well, it should be.† â€Å"Do you often make up words?† He shrugged modestly. â€Å"I try to restrain myself.† She looked at him with considerable disbelief. â€Å"I do,† he protested. He clasped one hand over his heart, as if wounded, but his eyes were laughing. â€Å"Why is it no one ever believes me when I tell them I am a moral and upstanding gentleman, on this earth with the every intention of following every rule.† â€Å"Perhaps it is because most people make your acquaintance when you order them out of a carriage with a gun?† â€Å"True,† he acknowledged. â€Å"It does color the relationship, doesn't it?† She looked at him, at the humor lurking in his emerald eyes, and she felt her lips tickle. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to laugh the way she'd laughed when her parents were alive, when she'd had the freedom to seek out life's absurdities and the time to make merry over them. It almost felt as if something were waking up within her. It felt lovely. It felt good. She wanted to thank him, but she'd sound the veriest fool. And so she did the next best thing. She apologized. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said, pausing at the base of the stairs. That seemed to surprise him. â€Å"You're sorry?† â€Å"I am. For†¦today.† â€Å"For kidnapping me.† He sounded amused, vaguely so. Perhaps even condescending. â€Å"I didn't mean to,† she protested. â€Å"You were in the carriage,† he pointed out. â€Å"I do believe that any court of law would brand you an accomplice.† Oh, that was more than she could take. â€Å"This would, I assume, be the same court of law that sent you to the gallows earlier that same morning for pointing a loaded gun at a duchess.† â€Å"Tsk tsk. I told you it wasn't a hanging offense.† â€Å"No?† she murmured, echoing his earlier tone precisely. â€Å"It ought to be.† â€Å"Oh, you think?† â€Å"If truthiness gets to be a word, then accosting a duchess with a gun ought to be enough to get one hanged.† â€Å"You're quick,† he said admiringly. â€Å"Thank you,† she said, then admitted, â€Å"I'm out of practice.† â€Å"Yes.† He glanced down the hall toward the drawing room, where the dowager was presumably still enthroned upon her sofa. â€Å"She does keep you rather silent, doesn't she?† â€Å"Loquaciousness is not considered becoming in a servant.† â€Å"Is that how you see yourself?† His eyes met hers, searching her so deeply she almost stepped away. â€Å"A servant?† And then she did step away. Because whatever it was he was going to find in her, she wasn't so sure she wanted to see it. â€Å"We should not loiter,† she said, motioning for him to follow her up the stairs. â€Å"The blue silk bedroom is lovely. Very comfortable, and with excellent morning light. The artwork in particular is superb. I think you will like it.† She was babbling, but he was kind enough not to remark upon it, instead saying, â€Å"I'm sure it will be an improvement over my current lodgings.† She glanced over at him with surprise. â€Å"Oh. I had assumed – † She broke off, too embarrassed to remark that she'd thought him a homeless nomad. â€Å"A life of posting inns and grassy fields,† he said with an affected sigh. â€Å"Such is the fate of a highwayman.† â€Å"Do you enjoy it?† She surprised herself, both by asking it and also by how very curious she was in the answer. He grinned. â€Å"Robbing coaches?† She nodded. â€Å"It depends on who is in the coach,† he said softly. â€Å"I very much enjoyed not robbing you.† â€Å"Not robbing me?† She turned then, and the ice, which had been cracked, was officially broken. â€Å"I didn't take a thing, did I?† he returned, all innocence. â€Å"You stole a kiss.† â€Å"That,† he said, leaning forward with great cheek, â€Å"was freely given.† â€Å"Mr. Audley†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I do wish you'd call me Jack,† he sighed. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she said again. â€Å"I did not – † She looked quickly about, then lowered her voice to an urgent whisper. â€Å"I did not†¦ do†¦what you said I did.† He smiled lazily. â€Å"When did ‘kiss' become such a dangerous word?† She clamped her lips together because truly there was no way she would gain the upper hand in this conversation. â€Å"Very well,† he said. â€Å"I shan't torment you.† It would have been a kind and generous statement if he hadn't followed it with: â€Å"Today.† But even then, she smiled. It was difficult not to, in his presence. They were in the upper hall now, and Grace turned toward the family apartments where he would be staying. They moved along in silence, giving her ample time to consider the gentleman beside her. She did not care what he'd said about not completing university. He was extremely intelligent, unique vocabulary notwithstanding. And there was no arguing against his charm. There was no reason he should not be gainfully employed. She could not ask him why he was robbing coaches, however. It was far too forward on so short an acquaintance. It was ironic, that. Who would have thought she'd be worried about manners and propriety with a thief? â€Å"This way,† she said, motioning for him to follow her to the left. â€Å"Who sleeps down there?† Mr. Audley asked, peering in the opposite direction. â€Å"His grace.† â€Å"Ah,† he said darkly. â€Å"His grace.† â€Å"He is a good man,† Grace said, feeling she must speak up for him. If Thomas had not behaved as he ought, it was certainly understandable. From the day of his birth, he'd been raised to be the Duke of Wyndham. And now, with the flimsiest of fate twists, he'd been informed that he might be nothing more than plain Mr. Cavendish. If Mr. Audley had had a rough day, well then, surely Thomas's was worse. â€Å"You admire the duke,† Mr. Audley stated. Grace couldn't quite tell if this was a question; she didn't think so. But either way, his tone was dry, as if he thought she was somewhat naive for doing so. â€Å"He is a good man,† she repeated firmly. â€Å"You will agree with me, once you further your acquaintance.† Mr. Audley let out an amused little puff of breath. â€Å"You sound like a servant now, starched and prim and properly loyal.† She scowled at him, but he clearly did not care, because he was already grinning and saying, â€Å"Are you going to defend the dowager next? I should like to hear you do it, because I'm most curious as to how, exactly, one would attempt such a feat.† Grace could not imagine that he might actually expect her to reply. She turned, though, so he could not see her smile. â€Å"I could not manage it myself,† he continued, â€Å"and I'm told I have a most silver tongue.† He leaned forward, as if imparting a grave secret. â€Å"It's the Irish in me.† â€Å"You're a Cavendish,† she pointed out. â€Å"Only half.† And then he added, â€Å"Thank God.† â€Å"They're not so bad.† He let out a chuckle. â€Å"They're not so bad? That's your rousing defense?† And then heaven help her, she could not think of a single good thing to say except, â€Å"The dowager would give her life for the family.† â€Å"Pity she has not done so already.† Grace shot him a startled look. â€Å"You sound just like the duke.† â€Å"Yes, I'd noticed they had a warm and loving relationship.† â€Å"Here we are,† Grace said, pushing open the door to his chamber. She stepped back then. It could not be proper for her to accompany him into his room. Five years she'd been at Belgrave, and she'd never once stepped foot inside Thomas's chambers. She might not have much in this world, but she had her self-respect, and her reputation, and she planned to keep a firm hold on both. Mr. Audley peeked in. â€Å"How very blue,† he remarked. She could not help but smile. â€Å"And silken.† â€Å"Indeed.† He stepped inside. â€Å"You're not going to join me?† â€Å"Oh, no.† â€Å"Didn't think you would. Pity. I'm going to have to loll about all on my own, rolling in all this silken blue splendor.† â€Å"The dowager was right,† Grace said with a shake of her head. â€Å"You're never serious.† â€Å"Not true. I'm quite frequently serious. It's up to you to figure out when.† He shrugged as he wandered over to the writing desk, his fingers trailing idly along the blotter until they slid off the edge and back to his side. â€Å"I find it convenient to keep people guessing.† Grace said nothing, just watched him inspect his room. She ought to go. She rather thought she wanted to go, actually; all day she'd been longing to crawl into bed and go to sleep. But she stayed. Just watching him, trying to imagine what it was like to see all of this for the first time. She had entered Belgrave Castle as a servant. He was quite possibly its master. It had to be strange. It had to be overwhelming. She didn't have the heart to tell him that this wasn't the fanciest or most ostentatious guest bedchamber. Not even close. â€Å"Excellent art,† he commented, tilting his head as he regarded a painting on the wall. She nodded, her lips parting, then closing again. â€Å"You were about to tell me it's a Rembrandt.† Her lips parted again, but this time in surprise. He hadn't even been looking at her. â€Å"Yes,† she admitted. â€Å"And this?† he asked, turning his attention to the one underneath. â€Å"Caravaggio?† She blinked. â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"I do,† he said, in a tone that was somehow both impressed and grim. â€Å"It's a Caravaggio.† â€Å"You are a connoisseur?† she asked, and she noticed that her toes had somehow crossed the threshold of the room. Her heels were still safe and proper, resting on the corridor floor, but her toes†¦ They itched in her slippers. They longed for adventure. She longed for adventure. Mr. Audley moved to another painting – the east wall was full of them – and murmured, â€Å"I would not say that I am a connoisseur, but yes, I do like art. It's easy to read.† â€Å"To read?† Grace stepped forward. What an odd statement. He nodded. â€Å"Yes. Look here.† He pointed to a woman in what looked like a post-Renaissance work. She was seated upon a lavish chair, cushioned in dark velvet, edged with thick, twisting gold. Perhaps a throne? â€Å"Look at the way the eyes look down,† he said. â€Å"She is watching this other woman. But she is not looking at her face. She's jealous.† â€Å"No, she's not.† Grace moved to his side. â€Å"She's angry.† â€Å"Yes, of course. But she's angry because she's jealous.† â€Å"Of her?† Grace responded, pointing to the â€Å"other† woman in the corner. Her hair was the color of wheat, and she was clad in a filmy Grecian robe. It ought to have been scandalous; one of her breasts seemed poised to pop out at any moment. â€Å"I don't think so. Look at her.† She motioned to the first woman, the one on the throne. â€Å"She has everything.† â€Å"Everything material, yes. But this woman† – he motioned to the one in the Grecian robe – â€Å"has her husband.† â€Å"How can you even know she is married?† Grace squinted and leaned in, inspecting her fingers for a ring, but the brushwork was not fine enough to make out such a small detail. â€Å"Of course she is married. Look at her expression.† â€Å"I see nothing to indicate wifeliness.† He lifted a brow. â€Å"Wifeliness?† â€Å"I'm quite certain it's a word. More so than truthiness, in any case.† She frowned. â€Å"And if she is married, then where is the husband?† â€Å"Right there,† he said, touching the intricate gilt frame, just beyond the woman in the Grecian robe. â€Å"How can you possibly know that? It's beyond the edge of the canvas.† â€Å"You need only to look at her face. Her eyes. She is gazing at the man who loves her.† Grace found that intriguing. â€Å"Not at the man she loves?† â€Å"I can't tell,† he said, his head tilting slightly. They stood in silence for a moment, then he said, â€Å"There is an entire novel in this painting. One need only take the time to read it.† He was right, Grace realized, and it was unsettling, because he wasn't supposed to be so perceptive. Not him. Not the glib, jaunty highwayman who couldn't be bothered to find a proper profession. â€Å"You're in my room,† he said. She stepped back. Abruptly. â€Å"Steady now.† His arm shot out and his hand found her elbow. She couldn't scold him, not really, because she would have fallen. â€Å"Thank you,† she said softly. He didn't let go. She'd regained her balance. She was standing straight. But he didn't let go. And she did not pull away.

Blythebourne School Essay

Blythebourne School is a public school in Brooklyn, New York, that defies national averages for inner city schools and appeals to parents and students alike. The school is unique in its make-up, in terms of socio-economic factors and racial factors. The school is made up of a largely Asian and Pacific Islander community with more than 75 percent of students identifying with that racial classification. Another 10 percent each are Hispanic or Caucasian. There is less than 1 percent of the schools population that identifies itself as African-American. In addition, almost 90 percent of the children who attend the school receive free or reduced lunches, an indication that they are living at or near the poverty line. Further complicating things for the teachers and staff of Blythebourne is that more than 40 percent of their students have difficulty with the English language, indicating that many are not native English speakers. This school also has less than 3 percent of its population in individualized education plans, the programs formerly known as special education, to assist people with learning difficulties or special needs, including speech or hearing difficulties, etc. Testimonials about the school from students and teachers alike praise the school as a wonderful place to be with teachers that care. In addition, teachers at the school are more well-educated that their compatriots across the state. At the average New York school, 20 percent of the teachers hold only a bachelor’s degree. At Blythebourne, only 13 percent hold just a bachelor’s degree; 87 percent have a master’s degree. Most of the children at Blythebourne are of Chinese descent, first-generation immigrants, who speak English as a second language and yet they routinely meet and exceed state averages in test results. The school has become a charter school emphasizing programs for â€Å"Everyday Math† to make students more able to use math in practical terms. The school embraces the multi-cultural heritage and promotes it with typical grade school activities combined with Chinese language and history. As part of federal funding requirements through the No Child Left Behind Law, every public school has its yearly progress toward state-wide goals measured. The state sets a required percentage of students in all major groups and in all sub-groups that must exceed the base requirements of state achievement tests. If a school meets those requirements in all its groups combined, it is said to be making adequate yearly progress. School report cards indicate show whether the school is making their AYP (adequate yearly progress) in each of its sub-groups as well. In the case of Blythebourne, the sub-groups are based on gender, race, and socio-edonomic status. According to the school’s web page, Blythebourne is making AYP in all its sub-groups, an impressive task since most schools are not able to keep consistent results across the curriculum. The amazing thing about the Blythebourne School is that the results are averaging higher than statewide results even with children who may not have spoken a word of English before beginning school. Three-quarters of these same kids, by the time they reach third grade, are exceeding standards for English proficiency. Statewide, only 67 percent of third graders can exceed the standards. Equally impressive is that through all three grades tested, 95 percent of the students at Blythebourne school exceed the standards for math proficiency. That math proficiency is universal across the sub-groups and consistent, with almost no statistical difference between the three grades. In the spring of 2007, fourth grade students at the Blythebourne school were not as proficient as the class the previous year had been and fell short of the statewide standards, but only by a few percentage points. Perhaps of note is that the test results in English Language Arts fell dramatically in all three grade levels from 2006 to 2007. Proficiency fell from 90 percent to 76 percent in the third grade; 75 to 64 percent in fourth grade and 78 to 63 percent in the fifth grade. Statewide in fourth and fifth grade, proficiency was 68 percent. The reasons for the dramatic drop in results is unclear, but should be further explored. Parents who are contemplating enrolling their children in P. S. 105, otherwise known as Blythebourne, might want to further investigate these anomalies. According to other statistics, the other thing that may concern parents is the potential for overcrowding at the school. Current class loads indicate an average of 15 students per teacher, but because this is a public school and subject to whims of the school board and the ever-fluctuating population. However, there are equally valid reasons to seek out a school like Blythebourne. For example, the school has adapted to the cultural heritage of the majority of its students into its curriculum, allowing Chinese students to learn their new language without abandoning the heritage. Observers also say the school and its teachers work hard to actively involve students in the learning process, letting them actually observe ice melting as a way to understand â€Å"Cold† and often sacrificing administrative space to give as much room as possible to their students. The district has crushed more than 1,600 students into a building that was stressed with 1,200. Additional public schools have been opened nearby, but the constant immigration into the area leads the school to enroll students year-round. Another note in favor of the Blythebourne school is that students there actually attend school. As any teacher can attest, students can’t learn if they aren’t there. With a 95 percent attendance rate, students and parents in the Blythebourne school obviously make education enough of a priority that they get to class. By getting their children to school on a regular basis, parents with the school’s service area are showing their commitment to education. If that commitment follows through in terms of parental involvement in the school and follow through in their child’s education, then schools around the country would do well to learn from the Blythebourne example. Numerous schools cite lack of parental involvement and attendance issues as among the biggest problems they face. Based on the ranking system provided at one website, Blythebourne is in the top 20 percent of schools in New York. In that ranking, where 1 is the lowest and 100 is the best, Blythebourne ranked 81. For a public school with almost half of its students made up of recent immigrants, the ranking is phenomenal and any parent should be happy to have their child attend P. S. 105, Blythebourne School.

Multi-Paradigm Programming Languages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Multi-Paradigm Programming Languages - Essay Example Each programming paradigm allows certain techniques and functions and forbids certain others. One example of this is that functional programming does not allow the use of side-effects and structured programming has forbidden the use of go to statement. Due to these feature programmers who are versed in one programming paradigm find it difficult to work in another. However for programmers working on that particular paradigm, the ban on certain techniques makes it easy to understand the flow of the program and its implications. The most common types of programming paradigms are the following – Imperative Functional Logic Constraint based Object oriented Aspect Oriented However real world problems cannot be solved in one programming paradigm alone; they require a combination of different paradigms. This is where multi paradigm programming languages come into the picture. Multi paradigm languages combine the concepts and features of various programming paradigms and help the user to solve various problems which are difficult to solve by following one paradigm alone. A programmer working in multi paradigm languages can freely mix the structures of different paradigms and can work in various styles which are disallowed in single paradigm languages. The purpose of the design of a multi-paradigm language is to allow programmers to use the best tools that are suitable for a particular job .An example of a multi-paradigm language is Oz which has been designed over a period of 10 years in order to combine seven different programming paradigms seamlessly and harmoniously with each other (Books). Examples of other multi-paradigm languages are as follows – Two Paradigm languages – Lab View , ALF, Lava , Metaobject Three Paradigm languages - SISAL , F# , E, PHP Four Paradigm languages – Java , Python , Ruby , C++ , Leda Five-Paradigm languages – C# , Visual Badic.net , Falcon , Ada Seven – paradigm languages – Oz Nine-paradigm languages – LispWorks These languages have been most useful for design of heterogeneous systems which are large and complex. One example of such complex system is a stock market exchange or a telecommunication network which requires a large amount of work. Although the work can also be completed by single paradigm languages but it requires a huge amount of effort and thousand of lines of coding which are difficult to maintain in the long run. Combining paradigms offers various important benefits such as a language which combines OOP and Functional programming not only reduces the problem domain and implementation gap but also brings with it mathematical rigor and robustness which is associated with functional programming (Hofstedt). This robustness is essential for concurrent programs. The applications which are developed these days are rarely homogenous like the ones which were present earlier. Internet applications which are developed today combine different languages such as JavaScript, flash, Html and are heterogeneous in nature. These applications not only involve different languages but also the use of different paradigms - SQL is implementing the relational model and OOPS dominates the middle and UI tiers. The emergence of face book

Dimming the sun is not alarmist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dimming the sun is not alarmist - Essay Example The decline in the solar energy produces catastrophic affects like decrease in the evaporation that affect the formation of clouds and effecting the rain cycles of a region. However, in this research, I will discuss although the affects of the phenomenon named as the â€Å"global dimming† are catastrophic but the phenomenon is helping in maintaining the global temperatures of the world. Like the increase in the global warming verses increases in the global dimming. Scientific Data and Reasons The documentary regarding the global dimming seems to be not such that alarming as the effects of the global dimming are not as disastrous as other phenomenon like the global warming. The cause that made the issue of global dimming is the diffusion of the carbon, sulphur and nitrogenous particles to the region of lower concentration that is environment from the region of higher concentration, like the chemical and other factories, vehicles, and power generation systems. The aerosol partic les are much lighter in weight and remain suspended in the air. These aerosol particles block the solar radiation by acting as mirrors, reflecting the solar radiation back to the outer space. ... The particles in combination with the water particles act as a mirrors, reflecting the solar radiations back to the space (Ackerman et al., 1993). Before the discovery of the global dimming phenomenon, global warming was the major issue that impacted the average temperature of the world. An increase of about 0.6 to 0.8 degrees on the Celsius scale was recorded during the past decade. However, global dimming attracted many scientists all over the world. If the actions are taken to minimize the global dimming, then the amount of solar radiation received by the sun increases and thus the green house effect increases due to the increase in the atmospheric carbon-dioxide. That consequently increases the temperature of the world to a remarkable level. Scientific Data Collection and Reduction in Solar radiations Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA) is the most reliable sources, which is maintained by the World Radiation Data Center (Gilgen et al., 1998) that can be utilized to observe the r adiation level all over the world. According to the observations by the GEBA, the regions with more industrial zones and more number of vehicles and with excessive population are the major contributors in increasing the global dimming as well as global warming as compared to the low populated countries. According to the observations, an average decline of about 4% in the solar radiations is noted in the past three decades to 1990s all around the world. However, after 1990s a major reduction in the solar radiations is noted industrial revolution, increase in the need for power and increase in the number of vehicles all around the world (Liepert 2002). There is more reduction in the solar

---------Organism evolve in the Paleozoic era Research Paper

---------Organism evolve in the Paleozoic era - Research Paper Example With the end of Paleozoic era came about the mass extinction of marine species, The Permian/Triassic extinction (Paleozoic era paleobiology). One of the organisms that evolved in Paleozoic era and managed to survive the vast and diverse geological and geographical changes spanning more than 300 years is Spider. Their global presence even today cannot be denied. In the current paper is discussed the unique characteristics of this organism that contributed to its evolutionary success and present a brief description of its journey over the years. Spiders belong to the order Araneae. They are among the most abundant species superseded only by the class Insecta, and comprises of approximately 42000 existing species belonging to 109 families (Platnick). The oldest fossils of true spiders have been reported to be from the carboniferous era (312 million years old), but their evolution can be traced to the Devonian. They are in fact among the first organisms to have inhabited land (Penney & Selden, 8). The unique morphological and behavioral characteristics of spiders continue to amaze researchers and are responsible for the survival and almost ubiquitous presence of spiders. Some of these characteristics are: Silk is the biggest tool and weapon of spider. It is used for shelter, movement, communication, and dispersal of spiderlings. Web making spiders are capable of staying motionless and concealed for long span of time and are mobilized by such stimulus as prey, mate or predator. Further they have adaptations such as median tarsal claws to enable them to walk on silk (Herberstein & Wignall, 8). During movement it leaves a dragline silk formed by the anterior spinnerets which acts as a safety line of communication for mate. Depending on the environment they inhabit, they have developed organs for locomotion such as claw tufts for land and hydrophobic exoskeletons for water. The sense

Financial Applications for Excel Spreadsheet Essay

Financial Applications for Excel Spreadsheet - Essay Example The system would require a master spreadsheet that is linked to all the individual Excel timesheets for all the staff. The first spreadsheet to be created would be the one for inputting the staff member’s punch in and punch out times. Each staff would have their own timesheet under their name. It would probably consist of a bi-weekly or weekly calendar, depending on the payroll, with each day dated and a row of cells to input times in and out, for lunch and then total. There are formulas within that will calculate the decimal time from the standard time being inputted to allow it to transfer easily into the payroll program. There would also be columns for any sick, vacation or personal time used. The staff person, ideally, would sit down at their computer and before doing anything else open up the spreadsheet input the date and then time, either manually or with the shortcut keys. Then when they go to lunch sign out and in and when they leave for the day, sign out. The total for the day will appear at the end and the total for the week at the bottom, including any personal time taken in the o ther columns. Each staff person would have their own spreadsheet to fill out and they would all be located on the same network drive. The master spreadsheet would have the employee’s names in one column and then the totals for the week, or whatever pay period payroll would use, in the subsequent columns all on one spreadsheet. The totals on this sheet would be laid out the in the same order as on the timesheets to make linking the cells easier. To link you would have the master sheet open and then an individual’s timesheet. In the master sheet you would type an = sign into the cell you want to link and then switch to the timesheet, select the cell to link to there and hit enter. You will return to the master sheet and there is now a direct link to that cell on the master sheet. You can link the other cells merely by copying that master cell and

The Current State of the Post-Recession Global Economy Research Paper

The Current State of the Post-Recession Global Economy - Research Paper Example Additionally, there is always a shift in supply and demand. The needs of nations and individual differ making it complex to preserve the steadiness of the economy. An ideal situation can never exist in the world economy making recession inevitable. Consequently, the recession that took place in 2008 was expected. Recession has significantly influenced the global economy as apparent in trade, unemployment and relationship amid countries. The current state of the global economy after recession According to Foroohar & Schneiderman (2010), recession refers to a situation when the economy has experienced inflation for quite a long period. Recession affected most nations in the Western hemisphere in 2008. Before the recession began, Japan and the US were controlling most part of the global economy. Consequently, countries in the West were experiencing a boom in the property market. The rates of unemployment were at the lowest level for a long period, and banks were charging lower interest rates for loans. The decrease in lending rates contributed to the increase in investments. However, the gains came to a halt after the recession in 2009. Presently, the United States and Japan have limited control on the activities taking place in the global market. The two countries no longer influence trade directly because they are facing competition from China. The influence they had has shifted to countries like China, Brazil and South Korea. However, the US is still the global economic powerhouse. According to Avantika (2011), countries like India and Brazil are beginning to exert their influence on trade globally. As a result, growth is on the decline in Japan and America. This is making investors shift their plans by investing in developing economies. It is clear that Malaysia and Singapore are formulating innovations to counter the dynamics of trade. Concurrently, the US in coming up with policies to correct the decline of their economies. Consequently, the recent president ial debate in America focused on measures for reviving the global economy. According to Avantika (2011), there is stagnation in the growth of the economy of China at 7 per cent. This is a decline from the double-digit growth realized in the same time last year. This is an indication that the global economy is unpredictable. Schaeffer (2009) adds that uncertainties in the global economy have made nations readjust their plans. For instance, South Korea is deploying their resources towards energy production to avert the energy crisis. This is because most of the economic activities in the global economy are dependent on fossil fuels. Developing economies in Asia are opting to trade with African countries. This is affects global trade by reducing the demand of commodities from developed economies. Indeed, African nations have increased their demand for products from the markets in Asia. Besides, China is encouraging domestic consumption to reduce their dependency on exports. Moreover, C hina has reformed their pension scheme to cater for the needs of the middle-class citizen who constitute the majority in the populace. According to Neumark & Troske (2012), it is necessary to review trade policies for economies of Asian countries. New policies will bring changes in the healthcare and the education sector in developing eco

Refer to assignment criteria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Refer to assignment criteria - Essay Example The paper says that the person sharing the shelter may sometimes pay the mortgage instalments or bear the expenses for the extended portion of the home. Sometimes the person may bear the household expenditure in lieu of the shared shelter on some understanding. Over a period of time, it is creating problems over the ownership of the house when the sharer dies or leaves the shared home for another place (Sharing Homes, The problem). The discussion paper sources these problems to the ambiguity of the current law guiding these shared homes. The present law is not very clear on payments made by the sharer on behalf of the owner. For instance, mortgage payments made by the sharer are enough for staking a claim on the home. But, sometimes, the sharer regularly pays the household bills enabling the owner to pay the mortgage instalments. Sometimes, the sharer may look after the household work like As per the law detailed in the discussion paper, a person who is not a legal owner but sharing the shelter in a home can claim an interest on it only when there is an equity arising by proprietary estoppel, when a resulting or constructive trust has arisen in his / her favour or when the sharer becomes a beneficiary under an express declaration of trust. In any of these circumstances, the sharer has to prove his / her right with sufficient proof. Because of these limited options available to the sharer, the law is termed as complex, arbitrary and uncertain in application. It is also ill suited to determining the proprietary rights of the home sharers. The discussion paper is of the opinion that the rules of implied trusts and proprietary estoppel are not as clear as they should be (Sharing Homes, Part I, introduction). An express trust arises when a person expressly declares that he or she holds property on trust for another or transfers property to another expressly subject to a trust. A

Can 'local food' ever really be local Why is it significant that Literature review

Can 'local food' ever really be local Why is it significant that 'local' is actually local - Literature review Example The question for this literature review is to define whether local food is actually local and if it is, to define the significance as to the difference between local foods and other types. Agro-Food Geography Alternative food networks have become important in recent years because consumers want to make sure they are getting the best quality of food they can get. Many supermarkets have turned to irradiated foods to preserve their shelf life. Unfortunately, no one really knows whether this food is creating health problems or not. Because of the emphasis on health, some people have worried about whether their produce should be irradiated and whether it is healthy. Instead, they have turned to organic produce. Although buying organic is sometimes more expensive, it does give the public a feeling that they are getting high quality food that is not riddled with harmful pesticides. In the rural areas of Europe, the idea of foods that are aesthetically pleasing to eat and that taste good hav e become a great concern (Sage, 2001). The concept of "social embeddedness" is important to this discussion because it is what connects consumers to the society that they are connecting to. The society understands that they can be sustainable by purchasing local food and by involving themselves in growing their won food. To begin to understand the growing alternative food market, it is important to examine how food and nature come together. Winter (2005) suggests that in rural parts of the country, there are many ways to use alternative food. Many opportunities exist for food to be brought in from rural areas to the supermarkets so that consumers have more opportunity to purchase good food. Watts, Ilbery and Maye (2005) suggest that local markets are important because farmers need to have a better share of the market. Local markets are very important to the economy because when people use these markets they are able to have better food it would seem. However, how do we know that bet ter food is more nutritional and better tasting than other foods? This research will attempt to explore this issue and understand why people are so involved with local food products. Consumer Demand for Local Food In the last several years, the emphasis around the world has been on health. Most people have returned to a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and eating healthier. Many believe that going to markets that provide local food is better than going to supermarkets because they can find organic foods. Usually organic food means that it is free of harmful pesticides and has a more flavourful taste than food from a regular supermarket. Adams and Salois (2010) state that the movement towards locally grown food has become a sort of movement as people began to change their perception of the different types of food they could consume. The organic and local markets began as an alternative to other types of food and it has grown into a demand for local food. Much of this is becau se people have changed their perceptions of what this type of food meant. The idea that this has become a movement is supported by the fact that there have been a series of books about how to use local food and why it should be bought. In fact, this has become such a movement that the word "locavore" has been coined to mean people who prefers local foods (it has even become a part of the New Oxford English Dictionary) (Adams and Salois 2010). Community supported gardens and

Employee benefits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employee benefits - Essay Example (EMPLOYEES BENEFIT/EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (ERISA). The flexible benefit programs reduce the taxable income of an employee, as health insurance premiums are deducted from the paycheck before calculations of taxes. This gives the employee the benefit of a higher income for spending, and reduces the burden of the employer in making provisions for a higher income for spending. (FLEXIBLE BENEFITS. OVERVIEW). The key factors affecting the choice of benefits from an employee’s perspective are the choice that is offered in benefits, and the possibility of exchanging one benefit for another. From the employers’ point of view, the choice of benefits enables goodwill and motivation in an employee, and reduction in total employee benefit costs. The key role that communications plays in increasing the perceived value of benefits is that emphasis of the benefits accruing to the employee provides a feeling of caring among the employees, and this acts as a motivating factor that works both in terms of retention as well as productivity. (Glasscock, S. & Gram, K. 1999. WORKPLACE RECOGNITION). Gender is one characteristic that distinguishes special groups, and women form the special group in this category. Minority groups make up the second category of special groups, and may be distinguished, by several factors, which include color, caste, creed and ethnicity. (Griffith, W.R. and Hom, W.P. 2001. RETAINING VALUED EMPLOYEES). The key factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing a compensation strategy for special groups is that they not be discriminated against on the basis of their grouping, and that they be treated as individual employees with no emphasis on their gender, color, caste, creed, and ethnicity. (Griffith, W.R. and Hom, W.P. 2001. RETAINING VALUED EMPLOYEES). The executive pays have always been on

Control For Induction Motors Essay Example for Free

Control For Induction Motors Essay Project paln Soft starter and soft stopping for speed control for induction motors Introduction The project is entirely on the design and development of a soft starter converter that will satisfy and implement the soft starting and soft stopping for speed control of an induction motor. Soft starters also called solid state starter are used for gentle starting and stopping of induction motors. Pumps, centrifuges, compressors, escalators, belt conveyors, mills, fans, stone crusher and saws are typical applications. If a motor is not adequately protected the sudden change in rotation torque and speed, which occurs on starting and stopping will jolt the equipment linked to it. Over the long term this can lead to increase in mechanical wear of gearboxes, clutches, transmission and conveyor systems. Abrupt starting and stopping can also damage goods being handled by the mechanical equipment. For instance, the filling and distribution of glass bottles and containers loaded on to a conveyor holds a potential for a minor disaster. One sudden jerk during starting and stopping will surely cause the entire process line to engage in a mass of broken glasses and dripping liquids or sticky product. With pumps soft starters eliminate pressure shocks in pipes and valves when the pipe pump starts or stops. This poses a particular safety hazard when the transfer of volatile and/or inflammable liquid is involved. Background Information Soft starter controllers provide the soft starting and stopping of induction motors with no beyond high maximum currents, motor heating or mechanical shocks. However this is more vital for most of large machines because there is entirely reduced starting torque and reduced impacts on mechanical parts, however this result in an increase in the equipment lifespan. Also the soft starting and soft stopping result in mass energy saving the power supply since the starting currents and voltages are low, meaning the amount of power dissipated at the start is less as compared to a normal start without a soft start. An induction motor soft starting and soft stopping inverter is a vital aspect which serves as a premier protection to the machine itself and the entire production line. The outmost need for soft starting and soft stopping is to prescribe the inrush currents that an induction motor absorb when being started from rest. This needs attention because it eventually causes the line voltages to decline, which is nevertheless a danger to such loads sensitive to low voltages. These inrush cerrents and high starting voltages are major cause to mechanical stress; when large currents enters the motor windings a larger magnetic field is being produced which can cause some parts to attract and repel Objectives The main project aim is to design and develop a soft starter converter that implements the soft starting and soft stopping of an induction motor. Specifically, the project will focus on the following objectives 1. To design and develop the hardware components of the project that features the soft starting and soft stopping of an induction motor. 2. To design and develop the software hardware that could be integrated to the hardware 3. To demonstrate the converter responses to starting and stopping operations of an induction motor. Methodology Justification soft starter controllers ensure the soft starting and stopping of induction motors without excessive peak currents, motor heating or mechanical shocks.This has a particular importance in large machines due to the power consumption in the megawatt range. The energy adsorbed by the motor winding and the shock torque have both and important impact in the mechanical parts and consequently, influences the equipment lifetime. they allow the reduction of cable section and the energy peak power from the electricity supplier. An induction motor soft starting and soft stopping inverter is a vital aspect which serves as a premier protection to the motor lifespan and http://www.ctiautomation.net/Control-Techniques-Soft-Starters.htm https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:srtLMpIZcMoJ:www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg%3FIdcService%3DGET_FILE%26dID%3D428122+soft+starter/stopping+induction+motorhl=engl=mypid=blsrcid=ADGEEShf7UdxSK-mMBvBj-zftdxPnL24HsZr2T32U2sCIlpx8wZ1tKtG_L3r51v4roi7xe-vF81v_Qmww-XYxvRGlNfR5yzJBmrupuoU0b35MJVZOBjH1byAnHUh2i8OyPBR8r9Cd-bJsig=AHIEtbS1MVgMGWzC7MHbsX548ilI1M0rEQ

Google Brand Strategy Essay Example for Free

Google Brand Strategy Essay This paper will give you an inside look as to how Google Inc. has evolved into a multi-billion dollar empire since it was first developed in 1996 by two Stanford University graduates working out of a garage. The paper will also compare Google to its strongest competitors in the search engine, web advertising and mobile phone industries. The paper will also reveal what the key elements to success are in those industries. The paper will also detail the resources and key competencies that Google has to make them the leading internet search engine with over 60 percent of market shares. The paper will also discuss the business model and strategies used by Google to help them become one of the fastest growing companies in history. The paper will also touch briefly on some of the threats and weaknesses they face in the marketplace. The paper will also include a recommendation to Google’s top management to help them sustain its competitive edge and financial success in the industry. Background History and Company Growth In 1996, Stanford students Larry Page and Sergey Brin teamed up to develop a new search engine they named BackRub. They chose this name because of the engines ability to rate websites in relevancy based on metatags and keywords. Backrub was quickly gaining popularity and in 1998 Yahoo’s cofounder, David Filo talked Brin and Page into leaving school to put their focus making Backrub a major part of Yahoo. Backrub was later named Google, which was taken from the word googol. Googol is mathematical term for a number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros. The founder of Sun Microsystems was the first person to invest in Google with $100,000 in August of 1998 which raised $1 million by the end of September. Google was named â€Å"Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines for 1998† by PC Magazine and was recorded successes at record pace. Google saw potential for profits in other segments of the market and made innovative ideas to gain market share. In 2000, their innovations included wireless search technologies, search capabilities in ten languages, and Google Toolbar browser. Google expanded its product line again in 2004 with the launch of Google News, Google Product search, Google Scholar and Google Local. Google’s index of web pages also grew to more than 8 billion and increased its country domain to more than 15. Google then entered the mobile phone market in 2004 when they created a feature allowing users to text a search request and Google would provide results to the search. Google Earth was created in 2005, which was later enhanced in 2010 when it included an Earth View mode allowing users to view 3D images of various locations at ground level. Between 2005 and 2010, Google also added Book Search, Music Search and Video Search. Google created features for its website to include Gmail software, web-based calendar, web-based documents, spreadsheet applications and language translations to accommodate 51 languages. Discuss competition in the search industry. Which of the five competitive forces seems strongest? Weakest? What is your assessment of overall industry attractiveness? Google has been able to sustain its competitive advantage because of the strong relationships they have built with Internet users, advertisers and websites. In 2010, Google was the most visited website with more than 147 million internet users visiting their site on a monthly basis to search for information. Google’s management believes its strongest rivals are Microsoft and Yahoo, although market share rankings from June 2006, June 2009 and May 2010 showed Google has more than twice their competitors combined. Yahoo was first founded in 1994 and in 2010 held the top third position for most visited search engine site. Almost any information available on the web can be viewed through Yahoo’s portal. Yahoo has many of the same features as Google such as, personal calendar, email, news, weather, television listing and online photo albums. Yahoo has also partnered with mobile phones allows users to search from their mobile devices just as Google has done and the searches performed through Yahoo accounted for 35 percent of the market in 2010. Yahoo’s many features and services have generated revenues from many sources. Yahoo’s relationship with Google goes back to 2000 and has at times been cooperative and other times adversarial. In fact, Yahoo was one of Google’s first customers, but in 2002 they parted ways when Yahoo purchased other companies to develop search engines and since then they have been considered rival companies. Another of Google’s top competitors is Microsoft whose revenues in 2009 were approximately $58.4 billion, with $14.6 billion net income. They were able to make these impressive profits through sales of computer software, consulting services, video games hardware and online services. Microsoft’s computer software Windows 7 and Microsoft office raked in half the company’s revenues in 2009 and most of its operating profits. Their online sales of $3.1 billion showed a loss of $2.3 billion during 2009. The online services generated income came from banner ads on the company’s MSN web site and other affiliated sites, as well as search-based ads displayed with Bing results. Microsoft entered the search engine industry during 2004 in an effort to compete with Google. This happened because Microsoft noticed job postings for Google were nearly identical to Microsoft specifications. Microsoft believed Google was attempting to design software applications that compared to Microsoft office such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Google is well aware of the competitive pressures created by its rival and they fully understand what it takes to hold the competitive edge. They created a strategy that would allow themselves to hold their own against its rivals. In their mind, if the competition could do it, so could they. Competition stems from all sorts of directions for Google. They must compete against their rivals like Yahoo and Microsoft in the search engine industry, new entrants to this industry, the product innovations of their rivals, as well as the bargaining powers their rivals may have that they do not. One of the biggest forces of competition is website traffic. If Google can get more internet users to visit their site over MSN or Yahoo, they will have more bargaining power with advertising sales. Google must also obtain qualified employees with the capabilities to compete with the new and innovative products that Microsoft continues to create. Because the search engine sites are so alike, this causes the rivalry between competitors to increase because the products are less differentiated. What are the key factors that define success in the industry? What are the key competencies, and resources of successful search engine companies? Success in the search industry can be defined by looking at several different factors. One of the most obvious signs of success is revenue growth. Googles revenues from its websites have grown from $792,063 in 2003 to $15,722,486 in 2009 as stated on its 10-k reports. Revenues from licensing have grown from $45,271 in 2003 to $761,759 in 2009. However the value of their stock reached the high point in 2008 at just over $700 per share and has dropped to below $300 in 2008, gained a little in 2009 and dropped again in 2010 to around $450. Some analysts believe Google’s recent decline in revenue and earnings stemmed from their decisions to increase stock prices in order to achieve revenue and growth earnings that pushed the boundaries of their corporate philosophy of making money without doing evil. In order to be successful, Google must continue to develop innovative products at features to better meet the needs of its customers. They need to offer these products at lower prices than their competitors as well. Have Google’s business model and strategy proven to be successful? Should investors be impressed with the company’s financial performance? How does the company’s financial performance compare to that of Microsoft and Yahoo? Google’s innovative products and business acquisitions have all played a part into their strategy directed at increasing the company’s market share in internet advertising. The addition of these products has increased traffic to Google’s website, and therefore, has given them more opportunities to advertise to Internet users. The strategy to dominate the internet advertising market was designed to be worldwide. China was a market that they were particularly interested in taking over since they have more than 300 million users. Unfortunately for Google, China was not as interested in this and they were faced with challenges from their local search provider, Baidu and the Chinese government. As of 2009, only 31 percent of China’s internet users searched using Google and 64 percent used Baidu. Googles business strategy included creating new products and features for the mobile phone industry. In 2010, 234 million people owned mobile phones, with 30 percent having internet access from their devices. Google first introduced its Android operating system in 2008 free of charge to any phone manufacturer marketing mobile phones with internet capability. The applications included the operating system had Wi-Fi capability, email, web-based calendar, Google Earth maps, and GPS. T-Mobile was the first to use Googles Android operating system with the launch of G1 in September 2008. The G1 had many of the same features as Apples iPhone, but much less expensive. The Android operating system was extremely successful with its market share, increasing from zero in 2008 to 13 percent in May of 2010. Another area of Googles business strategy focused on computer software programs used by businesses. Senior management believed the programs would move from local hard drives to the Internet. These is referred to as cloud computing. The market was believed to grow to as much as $95 million by 2013. The move would offer many benefits to corporate users such as lower software acquisition costs, lower computer support costs, and easier collaboration amongst employees in different locations. Google first launched its beta version of free word processing and spreadsheet in 2006 and later relaunched in 2008 to compete with Microsofts Office products. In 2008, Google launched its Chrome Browser and Chrome operating system, specifically to accommodate cloud commuting applications. The Chrome browser was created with a multiprocessor design that allowed users to operate spreadsheets, word processing, video editing and other applications simultaneously. Each tab opened a new window so if one crashed the other applications running would not be affected. Also in 2009, Google made agreements with Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo to start production of netbooks that used Chrome OS and Chrome browser to access cloud-based Google apps software. Googles business strategy also included expanding into the television market. In 2010, Google teamed up with Intel, Sony, Logitech, Best Buy, DISH Network, and Adobe to develop Google TV. Google TV was built on the Android platform, running the Chrome browser to search live networks and cable programming that streamed videos from providers such as Netflix, Amazon on demand videos, and YouTube. Google TV users would be able to use their televisions to browse the web and run cloud based applications. Googles business strategy also focused on the addition of targeted advertising placed alongside search results on its website. Google Adwords increased annual revenues from $220,000 in 1999 to more than $86 million in 2001. These ads were prices using an auction system, where uses bid on keywords that described their product or service. What are the company’s key resources and competitive capabilities? What competitive liabilities and resource weaknesses does it have? What opportunities exist? What threats to its continued success are present? In order for Google to have continued success in the search engine industry, they need to have resources and capabilities to create competitive advantage over its rivals. Many of theses resources needed for success are intangibles. They included human assets and intellectual capital. This means having employees with experience, education, creativity and innovation to develop new products and features to compete with its rivals. Another important resource is their company image. Googles 10 principles of Corporate philosophy includes You can make money without doing evil. Their image is different from many other businesses. Google believes in conducting business in unconventional ways. They believe their work should be challenging, but fun. The company puts emphasis on team achievement and individual accomplishments that contribute to the companys overall success. They work in a place where there is great communication and camaraderie in order to have the tools necessary to produced Google users with the information they are seeking. Google also believes being great will not make them successful. They must anticipate the future needs of its user and develop innovate product and services in order to be successful in the search engine industry. Building relationships or alliances with suppliers is another key component of success. These relationships can help to reduce costs and enhance product quality and performance. A perfect example of this relationship is Google offering its Android operating free of charge to mobile phone providers or its collaboration with Sony, Logitech, Best Buy and DISH network to develop Google TV. Some of the tangible resources needed for success include financial assets, technological assets and organizational resources. Google must have cash and marketable securities in order to finance new products and investments as well as pay dividends to its stock holders. Some technological assets are its copyrights and production technology. Production technology refers to the processes used to develop new products to compete with its competitors. Organizational resources included the companys workstations and servers used in developing these products. Some of the threats that Google faces in the industry include new entrants in the market and product innovations from its competitors. Overall, Google has done a relatively good job in competing with the development of competitors products. They created the Android operating system in order to enter the mobile phone industry and they are developing new applications for cloud commuting to compete with Microsoft office software. They need not worry too much about the entrance of new businesses as they have developed a brand and corporate image that has already earned loyalty from many consumers. What recommendations would you make to Google’s top management team to sustain its competitive advantage in the search industry? How should it best capitalize on its strategic initiatives in mobile phones, cloud computing, emerging markets, and other venues? Because Googles rivals are competing with relatively the same products, I would suggest to Goggles top management to focus in conducting business in an ethical manner that conforms with the business philosophy. They have received much criticism recently because of their impressive revenues growth during the recession. They need to focus on building their brand image that consumers are appealed by. I would also suggest finding ways to offer products and services at a lower price to its consumers in order to dominate the market. With products being so comparable and easily substituted they need to compete on price. It would be in Googles best interest to focus on the markets in the United States and Canada , rather than in China. China does not want them competing there and they are spending too much time and money trying to get in when there is plenty of opportunity here. The only thing they are gaining from this is bad publicity. It would be in the best interest of the company to put much of their focus on the thing they do best and that is the search engine. Google should stay with the industries they have performed well in, such as search engine and mobile phones. Their biggest competitor, Microsoft, is the leader in innovative products and they will most likely be more successful than Google in the cloud commuting market because businesses are familiar with their products and have already created a following where Google has not. They should focus on the areas they do well in and leave the other markets to competitors. Management needs to add features to make their current products more appealing to consumer rather than looking for new markets to enter. References Thompson, A., Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., Strickland III, A. J. (2012). Crafting and executing strategy. (18 Edition ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Thompson, A. A., Peteraf, M. A., Gamble, J. E., Strickland, A. J. (2012). Cases m for crafting and executing strategy. (19 ed., Vol. 1). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Benefits of Tourism in Singapore

Benefits of Tourism in Singapore 1.0Â  Introduction 1.1Definition of Tourism industry Tourism refers to the movement of people from different social and cultural background travelling out of their usual environment staying in a different place for business, personal, or professional reasons. These people are commonly referred to as tourist. Their actions in the country they visit affects the local economic market as they carry out their activities, as most of which may require them to spend money thus increasing the expenditure in the local markets which in turns boosts the GDP of the respective country (Media.unwto.org, 2014b). Therefore the tourism industry is formed to cater to the needs and demands of locals and tourists in terms of products and services and is defined as such in this report. 1.2 What does the tourism industry mean to Singapore? As Singapore lacks natural resources, the tourism industry serves as an integral factor that acts as a crucial pillar for the economy of Singapore. It contributes an estimated 4% to the gross domestic product of Singapore and also provides jobs to about 160,000 people. The tourism industry serves to reaffirm Singapore’s position as a global cosmopolitan city that is dynamic, able to cater to the locals’ and tourists’ demands for leisure, entertainment, giving consumers enhanced quality and diversity in terms of leisure creating a wider range of options creating a vibrant living environment that Singaporeans can proudly call home (Stb.gov.sg, 2014). 2.0Â  Economic Impact Analysis Four types of Economic Impacts that Tourism have on the economy 1-Direct contributions Tourism’s direct contributions are results of revenue earned from tourists’ expenditure by businesses like hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, transportation services, cultural / sports and recreational services. 2-Indirect contributions Some of the indirect contributions derive from investment spending from the businesses of the travel and tourism, Government expenditure in the form of investment to improve or enhance the industries. 3-Induced contributions The direct and indirect employees involved in this sector then in turn contributes to the consumption by spending their wages on food and beverages, recreational activities, clothes, housing and household goods. 4-Total contributions Therefore the total contributions from the direct, indirect and induced contributions will in turn affect the GDP and the employment rate as they affect various factors of the GDP equation which also affects the production rate thus increasing the GDP and employment rate in a situation when there is an increase in revenue and demand from tourist and with certis paribus assumed. 2.1 Contributions to Singapore’s GDP The latest press release by UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, shows that expenditure receipts international visitors spent on food and beverages, services, entertainment, accommodations and much more totaled up to an estimated SGD$ 1,455 billion during 2013. And that the growth rate of receipts experienced a 5% increase from 1035 million during 2012 to 1087 million during 2013(Media.unwto.org, 2014a). According to an economic report by Singapore’s Travel and Tourism Economic Impact report 2014, in 2013 travel and tourism’s direct contribution to Singapore’s GDP was SGD$ 19.1 billion (5.3% of total GDP) Singapore’s GDP. Its GDP contributions in 2014 is expected to experience a 5.8% increase, and also to experience a 3.4% increase per annum, as of 2014-2024, to SGDS$ 28.3 billion as of totaling a 5.3% of the total GDP in 2024 (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2014). The abovementioned news and report serves as macroeconomic examples that shows how tourism is able to increase consumption of goods through expenditure internationally and in a country. It also shows that tourism’s contributions to a nation’s GDP shows positive signs of growth thereby explaining why Singapore’s government is showing increased interest in the economic impacts that tourism presents on national and local levels. 2.2 Supports Job and Induces Investments The tourism industry serves to support employment indirectly by providing 295,620 job positions which makes up 8.7% of the total employment in Singapore. Currently, there is a SGD$ 16.2 billion worth of investment in the tourism industry which contributes to 19.7% of total investment which also expects to experience a 5.5% increase this 2014 (Singapore Business Review, 2014b). Therefore if the tourism industry booms and experiences an increase in demand for goods and services, relevant services and manufacturing companies that indirectly contributes to the tourism industry may experience shortage of manpower as a result also creating increased job opportunities for the people in Singapore. Purchases from suppliers may also experience an increase as more products are needed to cater to the demands of the people. Also due to increased numbers and demands from tourists, the government of Singapore would therefore have increased reasons to further invest in the travel and tourism industry which will eventually contribute to the GDP equation. 2.3 Increase in Tax revenues The Singapore government imposes a ‘sin’ tax on alcohol and tobacco goods on all business. These taxes are paid by firms when importing such goods. Tourists that consume such products while in Singapore increases the demand for such goods which makes businesses increase their imports to meet the demand, allowing the government to collect more ‘sin’ taxes increasing tax revenues of the government. Given the recent news of a 25% increase in liquor taxes, the potential revenue that can be earned when tourist or locals consume such products provides substantial reasons for the Singapore government to be interested in investing in tourism sectors in an attempt to attract more tourists, increasing the demand and consumption for liquor to generate more tax revenues (Straitstimes.com, 2014d). 2.4 Attractions and events Major events like the Singapore F1 Grand Prix serves to turbo charge economies by attracting tourists from all over the world to Singapore. A 12.6% increase in advance bookings of flights show how such events contribute directly to the tourism industry, not to mention the increase consumption of other services and products like restaurants, hotel accommodations and other necessities (AsiaOne, 2014). Tourist attractions like gardens by the bay, marine life park, river safari and national art gallery also serve to provide a wider range of activities for tourists to engage in thus increasing the population of tourists affecting the demand of goods and services and further generating revenues for local businesses(Singapore Business Review, 2014a). Coupled with the Casinos in Marina Bay Sands and resort world makes Singapore attractive to tourists. 3.0 Demand Analysis 3.1 Changi Airport plans for Terminal 4 Changi Airport is planning to build a fourth terminal that costs $985 million that is expected to be completed in 2017. The new terminal is expected to allow Changi Airport to cater to 16 million travelers annually (Straitstimes.com, 2014a). A new multi-story car park will also allow it to provide about 1500 parking lots. Coupled with the fact that Changi airport won Skytrax’s title for being the best airport, the planned terminal 4 would be able to increase the overall service quality making it a preferred airport resulting in increased demand as preferences is one of the main factors that result in a change of demand (Straitstimes.com, 2014b). The increased population of tourists also causes the demand for goods and services to experience an increase as it corresponds to the population factor regarding change in demand. 3.2 Gastronomic Tourism Gastronomic tourism is an emerging type of tourism that is being developed and packaged into a new tourism trend. This is due to the fact that 1/3 of a tourists’ expenditure is spent on food and beverages which is a necessity. Gastronomic tourists make experiential trips to countries to visit producers of food, food fairs and gastronomic festivals some of which may even try to learn how to cook the local dishes (World Tourism Organisation 2014, 2014). When Singapore organizes food fairs or events like the Food Hotel Asia 2014 and Wine Spirits Asia at Singapore Expo which ended on 11th April 2014, the demand of such gastronomic tourists to travel to Singapore would experience a significant increase. The events was host to a record of 64,826 international trade attendees from more than a hundred countries and regions which was also a 5.8% increase from 2012 (Foodnhotelasia.com, 2014). Thus showing how events like these are able to affect the numbers and type of tourists increasing the demand of goods and services. 3.3 Medical Tourism Latest reports from RNCOS, predicts Singapore’s medical tourism to experience a compound annual growth of 30% within the forecasted period of 2013 to 2017. Singapore is emerging to become a leader in the medical tourism market as it prides itself on its highly skilled healthcare professionals and world class medical infrastructure. The expected growth of medical tourism is also attributed to the fact that Singapore has state of art medical facilities and costs that are affordable in relation to quality(Digitaljournal.com, 2014). Being a preferred location for medical procedures increases the numbers of such tourists. Singapore is increasingly able to attract growing numbers of patients from lesser developed countries like Mongolia and Cambodia along with the current majority of medical tourists from developed or developing countries like Indonesia and Malaysia and the occasional patients from China and India (Mfa.gov.sg, 2014). Patients of such medical tourism also serves to i ncrease the consumption of other services and goods as depending on the respective medical procedures, their stay may take days, weeks or even months. 4.0 Environmental Analysis 4.1 Safety and security Singapore recently ranked 2nd out of 99 in a law study. It also ranks top ten in terms of its civil justice systems (WJP Rule of Law Index, 2014). The republic has praised by the World Justice Project for having low crime rates, political violence and high confidence in its law enforcers. This gives tourists a sense of safety and security when they are in Singapore which will further increase the popularity and preference of Singapore as a tourist location giving rise in the numbers of tourist who will contribute to increase consumption of goods and services in the country. 4.2 Clean and Green City Singapore is globally renowned to be a clean and green metropolitan city that is known to be of low pollution levels. Also attractions like Gardens by the Bay strives to attract more people to choose Singapore as a tourist location by attempting to create a city surrounded by gardens capturing the essence of a tropical garden city Singapore in an attempts to attract and increase the numbers of eco-tourists(Gardens by the Bay, 2014). 5.0 Conclusion The positive contributions and economic impacts of tourism supports and maintain many jobs and is also expected to create more jobs and further contribute to the country’s GDP in future, therefore Singapore’s government should implement policies and take a more proactive approach to boost the tourism industry. Actions should be taken to spruce up bridges like the Cavanagh Bridge which is part of Singapore River’s historical structures (Zaccheus, 2014). They should also continue their efforts to organize events like the F1 Grand Prix, constantly improving the facilities of the Changi airport while making plans to capture and become a first class cruise tourism market by ensuring swift completion of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre as that market is expected to see a growth of up to 3.8 million passenger by the year 2020 (Kaur, 2014). Lastly further efforts and investments to improve medical facilities in Health City Novena should also be taken in order to attract more medical tourists and also benefit the locals (Straitstimes.com, 2014c). Once these recommendations are implemented, Singapore should be able to attract more tourist and experience the positive economic impacts that the tourism industry can offer.

Othello: Is its Enduring Universality Explainable Essay example -- Oth

Othello: Is its Enduring Universality Explainable?  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The Shakespearean drama Othello is recognized by literary critics, with few exceptions, as having a universal appeal. What are the reasons for this universality?    The universality of the play perhaps depends on the universal appeal of its main characters, for example Iago the antagonist. In the essay â€Å"Wit and Witchcraft: an Approach to Othello† Robert B. Heilman explains the universality of the antagonist:    As the spiritual have-not, Iago is universal, that is, many things at once, and of many times at once. He is our contemporary, and the special instances of his temper and style – as distinct from the Iagoism to which all men are liable – will be clear to whoever is alert to Shakespeare’s abundant formulations. Seen in limited and stereotyped form, he is the villain of all melodrama. He is Elizabethan – as Envy or Machiavel. And to go further back still, we see in how many parts of Dante’s Inferno he might appear. He could be placed among the angry and violent. But his truer place is down among those who act in fraud and malice – the lowest category of sinner who on earth had least of spiritual substance and relied most on wit. (342)    To the modern audience the play’s biggest shortcoming may be the inability of the audience to relate to the protagonist. In the volume Shakespeare and Tragedy John Bayley explains why the modern audience has difficulty identifying with the protagonist in this play:    Othello’s need to kill Cassio and Desdemona belongs only to him; not only because we know it to be deluded, but because the nature and extent of the delusion is such that we cannot imagine ourselves becoming involved in it. We cannot ju... ... Heilman, Robert B. â€Å"The Role We Give Shakespeare.† Essays on Shakespeare. Ed. Gerald Chapman. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.    -- -- --.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Wit and Witchcraft: an Approach to Othello.† Shakespeare: Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Leonard F. Dean. Rev. Ed. Rpt. from The Sewanee Review, LXIV, 1 (Winter 1956), 1-4, 8-10; and Arizona Quarterly (Spring 1956), pp.5-16.       Levin, Harry. General Introduction. The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.   

Biological Differences that Exist Between Individuals in a Population E

Biological Differences that Exist Between Individuals in a Population Physical anthropologists view humans as biological organisms. Coupled with genetics and biochemistry, scientists can form a more complete picture of human anatomy, both past and present. Physical anthropology looks at human variation and evolution. Variation looks at the biological differences that exist between individuals within a population and at individuals between populations (e.g., body shape, size, and physiological responses). These differences in human biology are measured using a technique called anthropometry 1. In order to explain this diversity, physical anthropologists look to environmental conditions (including culture) and genetics. Taking these factors into account, the anthropologist attempts to formulate an evolutionary explanation for the differences. Human evolution looks at the bodily changes that have occurred over the years leading up to modern day Homo sapiens. In order to determine the changes that have taken place in human anatomy we rely on paleoanthropology, the study of human fossil remains, and primatology, and the study of other primates 1. Paleoanthropology helps us determine who our ancestors were, and when, how and why they evolved. Primatology allows us to see the similarities and differences between other primates and ourselves and allows us to trace these evolutionary relationships. For example, such a study has determined that humans share approximately 98.6% of their DNA (their genetic code) with gorillas, 98.8% with chimpanzees and 97.6% with orangutans 2. Approaching human variation from the perspective of the anthropologist leaves a vast field of study before the world of medicine. One of the most fascinating examples of human variation is the found in albinism. The word "albinism" refers to a group of genetically inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment in the eyes, skin, and hair (or in some cases in the eyes alone). They have inherited from their parents an altered copy of genes that does not work correctly. The altered gene does not allow the body to make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. Approximately one in 17,000 people have one of the types of albinism. About 18,000 people in the United States are affected 3. Albinism affects people from all races. The parents of most children wit... ...ion, Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, Valle D (eds), McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 4353-4392 4. Haefemeyer, JW and Knuth JL. Albinism. Journal of Opthalmic Nursing and Technology. 10:55-62. 5. Witkop, CJ Jr, Quevedo WC Jr, Fitzpatrick TB, and King RA: Albinism, in Scriver CR, Begudet AL, Sly WS and Valla D: The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease, ed 6. New York, McGraw Hill, 1989, p 2905-2947. 6. Lewis, Ricki (1994) Human Genetics Concepts and Applications. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. 7. O'Donnell, F.E., Green, W.R., McKusick, V.A., Forsius, H. and Eriksson, A.W.: Forsius-Eriksson syndrome: its relation to the Nettleship-Falls X-linked ocular albinism. Clin. Genet. l7: 403-408, l980. 8. Renee Skelton. Charles Darwin : Evolution by Natural Selection. New York: Barrons, 1987. 9. Angela, Piero and Alberto Angela. (1989) The Extraordinary Story of Human Origins. Buffalo: Prometheus Books. 10. Leakey, L.S.B. and Vanne Morris Goodall. (1969) Unveiling Man's Origins: Ten Decades of Thought about Human Evolution. Cambridge: Schenkman Publishing. 11. Relethford, John. (1990) The Human Species - An Introduction to Biological Anthropology. California: Mayfield Publishing.

The Morality of Atheism Essay -- essays research papers

That there is a difference between religion and morality is uncontroversial. How can atheism be interpreted as a moral alternative? Although religion and morality reflect different values, they are deeply tangled for most individuals. In many cases, a person’s moral principles are grounded in religious commitments. In other cases, people find the source of morality outside of religion, such as the inherent value of all human beings. My central claim is that atheism rather than a theologically based value system offers the moral high ground. Theism is defined as the belief in a God or Gods. The term theism is sometimes used to designate the belief in a particular kind of god the personal God of monotheism but, theism signifies the belief in any god or number of Gods. The prefix a means without, so the term, a-theism literally means without theism, or without belief in a God or Gods. Atheism, therefore, is the absence of theistic belief. One who does not believe in the existence of a God or supernatural being is properly designated as an atheist. Atheism is sometimes defined as the belief that there is no God of any kind, or the claim that a God cannot exist. While these are categories of atheism, they do not exhaust the meaning of atheism, and they are somewhat misleading with respect to the basic nature of atheism. Atheism, in its basic form, is not a belief it is the absence of belief. An atheist is not primarily a person who believes that a god does not exist; rather, he does not believe in the existence of a God. What propels people toward atheism is above all a sense of revulsion against the excesses and failures of organized religion. Atheism is ultimately a worldview of fear a fear, often merited, of what might happen if religious maniacs were to take over the world. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. (Psalms 14.1) This passage captures the essence of how the average religious person views atheism. Atheism is probably the least popular and least understood philosophical position in America today. It is often approached with fear and mistrust, as if one were about to investigate a doctrine that advocates a ... ...imply because it is right, and not because of some ulterior motive. There is no need to create fictions for the purpose of moral motivation and to do what is right because one wants to avoid punishment, whether the punishment take the form of incarceration or eternal damnation. The right thing is for honorable people to act for the sake of a reward, whether that reward is worldly or otherworldly. Moreover, a God who will forgive any and all sins does more to promote wrong acts than any secular philosophy. Atheists can avoid these pitfalls since they typically embrace the principle that virtue is its own reward. However, religion can and does play a meaningful role in many lives. A great number of individuals lead a morally good life precisely because of their religious commitments. A deeply ingrained personal faith can provide one with the strength to face hardship and overcome adversity. Hope thrives for those who believe an in an omniscient and all-powerful God, but God and religion are form a necessity to act righteously. Believers and nonbelievers need to work together to live up to the highest moral standards for society to survive as a whole. The Morality of Atheism Essay -- essays research papers That there is a difference between religion and morality is uncontroversial. How can atheism be interpreted as a moral alternative? Although religion and morality reflect different values, they are deeply tangled for most individuals. In many cases, a person’s moral principles are grounded in religious commitments. In other cases, people find the source of morality outside of religion, such as the inherent value of all human beings. My central claim is that atheism rather than a theologically based value system offers the moral high ground. Theism is defined as the belief in a God or Gods. The term theism is sometimes used to designate the belief in a particular kind of god the personal God of monotheism but, theism signifies the belief in any god or number of Gods. The prefix a means without, so the term, a-theism literally means without theism, or without belief in a God or Gods. Atheism, therefore, is the absence of theistic belief. One who does not believe in the existence of a God or supernatural being is properly designated as an atheist. Atheism is sometimes defined as the belief that there is no God of any kind, or the claim that a God cannot exist. While these are categories of atheism, they do not exhaust the meaning of atheism, and they are somewhat misleading with respect to the basic nature of atheism. Atheism, in its basic form, is not a belief it is the absence of belief. An atheist is not primarily a person who believes that a god does not exist; rather, he does not believe in the existence of a God. What propels people toward atheism is above all a sense of revulsion against the excesses and failures of organized religion. Atheism is ultimately a worldview of fear a fear, often merited, of what might happen if religious maniacs were to take over the world. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good. (Psalms 14.1) This passage captures the essence of how the average religious person views atheism. Atheism is probably the least popular and least understood philosophical position in America today. It is often approached with fear and mistrust, as if one were about to investigate a doctrine that advocates a ... ...imply because it is right, and not because of some ulterior motive. There is no need to create fictions for the purpose of moral motivation and to do what is right because one wants to avoid punishment, whether the punishment take the form of incarceration or eternal damnation. The right thing is for honorable people to act for the sake of a reward, whether that reward is worldly or otherworldly. Moreover, a God who will forgive any and all sins does more to promote wrong acts than any secular philosophy. Atheists can avoid these pitfalls since they typically embrace the principle that virtue is its own reward. However, religion can and does play a meaningful role in many lives. A great number of individuals lead a morally good life precisely because of their religious commitments. A deeply ingrained personal faith can provide one with the strength to face hardship and overcome adversity. Hope thrives for those who believe an in an omniscient and all-powerful God, but God and religion are form a necessity to act righteously. Believers and nonbelievers need to work together to live up to the highest moral standards for society to survive as a whole.