Writing evaluation essay
Cleopatra Essay Topics
Monday, August 24, 2020
Article Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 30
Article Review - Essay Example The six styles of authority quantitatively affect each climatic viewpoint. Basically, the coercive pioneers will in general interest prompt consistence, legitimate pioneers assembles the laborers towards the companyââ¬â¢s objective, affiliative pioneers makes that amicability and concocts an enthusiastic bond, vote based pioneers thinks of accord through the specialty of cooperation, pacesetting pioneers sets elevated level of execution, while the training chiefs builds up the representative for what's to come. Hence, from the article, the more styles a pioneer actualizes the better the exhibition of an association; driving with in excess of four administration styles have the best business and atmosphere execution. A portion of the six successful initiative styles that ought to be utilized by pioneers at the work environment incorporate; legitimate pioneers who can assemble people towards a dream, coercive pioneers who request prompt consistence, popularity based pioneers who fabricate accord, affiliative pioneers who makes congruity and passionate securities, training pioneers who create individuals for the future just as Pacesetting pioneers who anticipate self-bearing and greatness. The recorded six authority styles are frequently determined by passionate insight abilities, for example, social aptitudes, social mindfulness, self-administration and mindfulness (Goleman, 2). Administrators who neglected to use passionate knowledge enlisted less execution and were once in a while evaluated as extraordinary. Compelling authority and passionate insight are entwined. Pioneers will in general impact the hierarchical condition in different manners. There are six factors that influence the workplace of the association. The variables incorporate; awareness of other's expectations, the degree of gauges, the clearness of the individuals, level of responsibility, inclination of remunerations and its adaptability. For successful
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Synthetic Marijuana: the Legal Way to the Grave
Engineered Narcotics-Georgiaââ¬â¢s Growing Epidemic As if showing our childhood the perils of medications isnââ¬â¢t sufficiently hard, presently we have companyââ¬â¢s fabricating a manufactured type of Marijuana, ordinarily alluded to as ââ¬Å"Spiceâ⬠or ââ¬Å"K-2â⬠. These companyââ¬â¢s focus on our childhood by bundling it brilliant, gleaming parcels and giving ââ¬Å"coolâ⬠names like ââ¬Å"magic monkeyâ⬠or ââ¬Å"purple passionâ⬠. They mark these bundles ââ¬Å"herbal incenseâ⬠and ââ¬Å"not for human consumptionâ⬠trying to shroud its expected utilize and keep away from FDA guidelines, yet for one bundle containing 5 grams it costs on normal $15. 9-$21. 99. Thatââ¬â¢s entirely costly for a ââ¬Å"air freshenerâ⬠. In 2011, 14. 4 percent of 12 graders confessed to trying different things with manufactured maryjane. Simply last March, multi year old respect understudy, and star soccer player from Fayette County, Ga. Pursue Burnett kicked the bucket not long after trying different things with this medication. This had administrators act speedy and establish ââ¬Å"Chases Lawâ⬠, Georgia House Bill 370, which made this medication a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance and a lawful offense to buy, have and appropriate any type of this substance. When this bill was marked by Gov.Nathan Deal, it took around 24 hours for police organizations, mine being one, to direct court orders all over metro Atlanta to get this lethal medication off the racks. Albeit now unlawful, and which is all well and good, there are many retail locations, smoke shops and service stations that despite everything sell the medication all over Georgia and around the Metro Atlanta region. As speedy as officials take it off the racks, itââ¬â¢s being supplanted similarly as quick. Retailers feel itââ¬â¢s an infringement of their social liberties and use pardons like ââ¬Å"we canââ¬â¢t control what clients do with what they buyà ¢â¬ or they tell officials they didnââ¬â¢t realize it was illicit, ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s just incenseâ⬠.If they didnââ¬â¢t realize it was unlawful and didnââ¬â¢t think they were doing anything incorrectly, for what reason do they keep it holed up behind the counter, far out and bolted up? For what reason would they say they are charging such a lot of cash for something that regularly would cost about $2, if truly utilized as a deodorizer? These, just as a lot more inquiries have been raised by Law Enforcement, yet guardians too. As shoppers, the most ideal approach to stop these shops and corner stores from offering this to our childhood is quit purchasing your gas or some other things at these areas. Itââ¬â¢s now and consistently will be about the money.Once they see clients going over the road to get gas, they will get the indication. Another way organizations are being advised is telling them that their permit to operate will be repudiated whenever found selling these and some other illicit substances from their stores. With the new laws established and guardians cooperating with Law Enforcement, we are beginning to get a more tightly hold on this quickly developing scourge that is tormenting are kids. References Whitehouse. gov/ondcp http://georgia. gov/blog/2012-08-20/restricting engineered weed
Saturday, July 25, 2020
See me, feel me, milq me, heal me
See me, feel me, milq me, heal me I have a lot of free time tonight after finishing my 21F.401: German I listening assignments, courtesy of the LLARC. Im still not very good at it; I transcribed one line of dictation as Wen essen Sie? which I think is a grammatically proper question, but not a socially proper one. So, you get two blog entries tonight, one of them all text and one of them all pictures. Smile, you buggers. Pretend its Christmas. Also, remember in the summer when you used to get nice, well-cropped color pictures in immaculately-high resolution? Thats all over now. Theres an official MITblogs digital camera that I was babysitting this summer, but Laura is gonna be taking care of it for a while. Its way too long of a walk across the floor to ask her to borrow it. Pretty much, the majority of what youre going to get is going to be camera-phone pictures. I think itll give my blog a homemade, Blair-Witch-esque feel. If you have a dialup connection and your computer is powered by, like, a hamster with a little wheel or your little brother peddling an exercise bike, please dont read any further. Just enjoy my witty repartee in the September 20 entry. There arent any pictures there, but I promise it will still be real good time. On Saturday, I went to the Taste of Boston. It was kind of not good; the food was mostly catering, not fancy restaurants, and the prices were a little high. Still, this establishment did sell us an excellent slice of chocolate moose cake (homonym for chocolate mousse cake) for a mere two dollars. Really, Im just posting this picture to embarass Mitra. I have no other excuse. Saturday night, Ruth 07 and I went out to dinner at the Porter Exchange in Cambridge with a bunch of 08s. Despite being three T stops away from campus, Porter Square still used to be a pretty popular hangout when it was home to the Annas Taqueria closest to MIT. Now that theres an Annas in the student center, nobody goes there anymore. Anyway, its still a pretty cool placethe mall itself has kind of been taken over by Japanese restaurants and is home to this strange little market, which sells Japanese snack items and sushi-grade seafood, as seen above. We did not eat the octopus tentacle for dinner. Nor did we drinq this Milq. Rather, we waited for reservations at a sushi restaurant for 15 minutes before Gloria talked to some people working at the mall in Mandarin and discovered that the chef was the same as at a cafeteria fifty feet away, which had prices that were about one-third in magnitude. So, we went over there. Sushi makes me throw up in my mouth a little, but luckily theres a full Japanese food court there, so I was able to get a lovely chicken and egg dish, much like the one that inspired the Paul Simon song Mother and Child Reunion. Sunday I dragged Joe 08 over to the List Visual Arts Center (LVAC!) to enter the Student Loan Art Program (SLAP!), which Matt eloquently described in an earlier entry. The key to winning art in this program is to select things that are really creepy that nobody else will want. This extra-creepy print by Nara, Ocean Child, has found a comfortable home in my room. Monday, a most resplendent day, I walked over to the BSO with Mitra and Gabe 08 to pick up our college cards. These puppies are fully subsidized by MIT and let you get into about 20 concerts every year totally free. Unfortunately, they dont go on sale until tomorrow. How disappointing. Then we got lost in the woods, I found a bloody knapsack with some of Gabes teeth in it, and I ran and ran around with my handheld camera and then cried for a while while snot came out of my nose, as seen above. Just playin. The falafel truck at 77 Massachusetts Avenue makes a decent-tasting, unbelievably large sandwich for only $3 and has a buy 7, get 1 free deal where you get this cool card that they stamp. Its a good price for lunch, and you can get a baklava and a diet SODA for a dollar extra. Anyway, Tuesday I was very excited because I had finally earned my free falafel after a month of hard work. I wondered how the truck possibly make money, since falafel is pretty expensive to make, but then I realized that I would probably never patronize this truck if not for the buy 7, get 1 free promotion. Well, Im not Course XIV. Tomorrow I will go back over to get my third card of the year. Wednesday, Burton-Conner had a bake sale to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. I baked this Jewish Apple Cake based on a recipe that my across-the-street neighbor Dot gave me (or as Mitra calls her, my Aunt Dottie). It turned out incredibly well. I may have to try it again sometime. I think Ill cover it with apples foster and homemade whipped cream and serve it in our dorms apple bake competition. Wednesday night I joined the MIT Marching Band. Now, in high school I was kind of an accomplished mellophonist in my school band. However, I never owned my own instrument, and all they had for me to borrow at MIT was this old, disused trumpet with a mouthpiece that cant be removed. So, Ill learn trumpet. Turns out I suck eggs at trumpet. Its the same fingerings, but you get different pitches when you play them. Very confusing! Oh well. We only rehearse once a week (really!) and the first rehearsal was a ton of fun. The director is always very positive. I wanted to practice for the game on Saturday but they didnt give me any music to take home. I really missed playing an instrument. Well see where this leads me. Isnt this an artistic photograph? This is a pecan pie that Ruth baked. It was also excellent. It was also excellent when she helped resolve a budget crisis this evening. The dorm has an IFAF, which is basically a $3000 fund to sponsor different floors in the dorm to hang out together. Can you guess what it stands for? Well, we had originally requested over 150% of the IFAF money, but with a little common sense an a lot of free Bertuccis pizza, we were able to reach a great compromise that worked out spendidly for all parties involved. Except Burton Third, whos paying a lot more for a cabin in Maine than they had originally expected. Sorry, guys. At least you got pizza. Today I fell in love with Pamela Wood and Jean-Francois Hamel. I want to marry both of them. Better yet, I want them to marry each other and become my adoptive aunt and uncle. They are both so amazing. Professor Wood speaks in a whisper, says it matters not non-ironically and yet never sounds pretentious at all. Professor Hamel, speaking in his adorable French lisp, his one gray streak shining against his unkempt brown hair, today asked me as I was watching glassware, Are you enjoying yourself? Are you leaning a lot and at the same time uh, uh, having fun? Sigh And tomorrow youll hear all about the life of a chemical engineer, at the request of an anonymous commenter. Wow, a week in the life.
Friday, May 22, 2020
The Use Of Nanomedicine - 741 Words
The essence of pharmaceutical treatment is for the administered drug to be present at the site of action in a concentration that exceeds the minimum effective concentration. This is not always the case most times because of some unchallengeable properties of the drug. As a matter of fact, there have been several effective therapies made available for many disease conditions that have failed in their effectiveness because of their inability to reach the site of action. The possible reasons for the poor bioavailability of these drugs at the required site of action include; their inability to permeate biological membranes, poor solubility in water as well as the drugs been rapidly broken down through metabolism and cleared from the bodyâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Nanocellulose are an excellent choice material because they are obtained from cellulose which is abundantly available in nature, renewable, biodegradable, with low cost, low density, low ecological toxicity risk, low cytotox icity to a range of animals and human cells and unique mechanical properties. It is an evolving renewable polymeric nanomaterial that holds promise in diverse applications including food and pharmaceuticals. Interest in the production and utilization of nanocellulose have in recent times attracted a lot of attention from both academic and industrial researchers resulting from their mechanical strength, transparency and proven biocompatibility. This attention is mirrored in the flow of publications in scientific literature in recent years. Exceptional discussions on the chemistry, preparation, and the general properties of nanocellulose are obtainable from numerous literatures.The surface chemistry of nanocellulose materials makes them an interesting podium for ready and easy functionalization because they are almost entirely made of hydroxyl groups. This tendency coupled with their biocompatibility is propelling their use within different (bio)materials. Nanocellulose materials are in three categories depending on whether the cellulose is of bacterial origin or derived from theShow MoreRelatedThe Synthesis Of Nannomaterials1734 Words à |à 7 PagesChemical synthesis of nanomaterials for drug delivery most commonly involves the synthesis of nanometal compounds, polymer nanocomposites and quantum dots. The original synthesis techniques for these nanomedicine applications involve toxic reagents and waste products. Green che mistry initiatives are attempting to produce nanometals, composites and quantum dots without the toxicity and waste associated with early methods. Nanometals are an area of high interest in for drug delivery due to their magneticRead MoreEssay on Use of Nanotechnology in Medecine2565 Words à |à 11 Pagesnavigated to his brain to mechanically destroy the clot and save the spy along with his secret information. This idea has evolved from science fiction into what is today the branch of science and technology that is known as Nanomedicine. The potential benefits of Nanomedicine are to possibly develop a cure for cancer, cure diabetes, suppress genetic defects, and even cure mental illness. Nanorobots could be injected into the blood stream where they could wipe out viruses, bacteria, and other harmfulRead MoreNanomedicine: A Tiny World Essay2111 Words à |à 9 PagesNanomedicine: A Tiny World Medical technology is advancing faster today than ever before allowing for easier, faster, simpler and advances in medical devices, procedures and diagnosisââ¬â¢. Medical devices also keep getting smaller; very, very small ââ¬â the size of a nanometre. Nanotechnology is technology that controls matter at a molecular level. Nano means one billionth of a metre which is the range of an atom. (Appendix 1, Figure 1) From its beginning, nanotechnology has been more of a dream thanRead MoreNanotechnology Case Study813 Words à |à 4 PagesBiotechnological solutions to a variety of illnesses, surgical procedures, genetic exploits and a myriad of other things are now in the form of nanotechnology. Big pharmaceutical companies now refer to many of their medications, in fact, as nanomedicines, which alludes to the nanotechnological inputs in pills that improve delivery methods and even deploy nanoparticles for specific purposes on occasion. A new study actually illustrates how attaching RNA nanoparticles that masquerade as antibodiesRead MoreBreast Cancer Treatment And Therapy With Nanomedicine1054 Words à |à 5 PagesBreast cancer treatment and therapy with nanomedicine is a fad nowadays and rightfully so, it is the need of the minute. The incidence rate of breast cancer has witnessed a minimum 10-fold increase in the past few decades. The mortality rate in women is rising and breast cancer is a m ajor contributing factor. Due to several changes in the hormonal, nutritional and environmental factors over the years, there is a shift observed in the rise of breast cancer. At a point, conventional mammography forRead MoreApplication Of Nanotechnology : Diagnosis And Treatment Of Tumors Essay1080 Words à |à 5 Pageshas emerged recently as one of the most propitious fields in cancer treatment [10]. Nanomedicine (the medical application of nanotechnology) has incredible potential for revolutionizing cancer therapeutics and diagnostics by developing ingenious biocompatible nano- composites for drug delivery purposes, which represent the most pertinent application of nanoparticles [6]. Recent years have witnessed unprecedented use of nanocarriers (particularly in the size range from 10 nm to 100 nm) as an emergingRead MoreA Study On The Gecko Adhesive System1909 Words à |à 8 Pagesobjects measured in nanometers. To give a better perspective of size, one nanometer is one-billion th of a meter, or about eighty thousand times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair. A particular application of nano-materials in nature is the use of nano-finger tips which allow geckos to walk on walls. The gecko adhesive system incorporates one million foot hairs or setae in on each finger. One hair or seta contains a thousand of spatula tips which allow the geckos to attach to the wall. SyntheticRead MoreIs Gold Isn t Just For Olympics? Essay1802 Words à |à 8 Pagescancer patients we have still not found a 100% cure to cancer. One such innovation that is providing hope to cancer patients is nanomedicine. Nanomedicine is a non-invasive cancer treatment that kills cancer cells without hurting surrounding healthy tissue and relatively fewer harmful side effects. Nanomedicine is an emerging field and today there are more than 1500 nanomedicine cancer therapies that are registered for clinical trials. While itââ¬â¢s still in early stages of research, gold (Au) nanop articlesRead MoreTargeting Liposomes For Liver Fibrosis1680 Words à |à 7 Pagesdepending on the underlying form of liver disease, before it progresses to liver cancer. Some of these methods include lifestyle changes (maintaining a well-balanced low fat diet, exercising more, abstaining from alcohol consumption and recreation drug use), immediately treating viral infections and taking medications which delay the progression of fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, for more severe cases of liver cirrhosis more radical and profound treatment is necessary. The Need for Alternative TreatmentsRead MoreNanotechnology : Science, Engineering, And Medicine1728 Words à |à 7 Pagestreatment methods. Nanotechnology has the potential to create radically new developments due to its high strength and chemical reactivity properties. Two particular products that have shown to create promising results for cancer prevention are the use of nanoparticles in sunscreen and in medication. Nanotechnology has allowed for the development of therapy reformulations such as nanotech sun protection as well as Abraxane and Doxil, which are essential for healthier cancer treatment. Nanotechnology-based
Friday, May 8, 2020
Analysis Of The Bell Jar By Sylvia Plath - 1385 Words
Altering information and data has been, and will always be practiced by authors for the simple fact that they too, would like to have some sort of control over their what their readers know about them. In ââ¬Å"The Bell Jarâ⬠by Sylvia Plath, the main character, Esther, a girl who is based on Plath herself, finds herself struggling with depression and anxiety and plans to take her own life several times but can never follow through. Plath modified biographical details because she wanted to simplify the material to make it easier to understand, to emphasize any points she wanted to come across to the reader more strongly, and to protect the privacy of not only herself, but other real people whom she might have characterized in the book. Toâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦However, in real life, the true origin of her depression stemmed from the unexpected death of her father when she was eight years old (Wagner 6). This alteration was significant because many readers are not able to relate to the death of a father at a young age and the subsequent depression and sadness that would stem from an experience like that. However, everyone can relate to having moments of sadness and detachment as a result of seeing or hearing of something traumatic that has happened in society. These alterations also allowed Plath to elevate certain messages in the book when necessary. Along with increasing understanding, Plath also altered material to greater emphasize points she was trying to show. In the story, Estherââ¬â¢s initial suicide attempt is when she decides she will cut herself and bleed out, but first gives herself a small cut on the ankle just to see what might happen (Plath 148). The point Plath was trying to emphasize was how Estherââ¬â¢s rationality and judgement was beginning to be affected by her condition. Estherââ¬â¢s mental health had declined to a level where she thought that committing suicide by bleeding herself out was a feasible and intelligent plan. In reality though, Plathââ¬â¢s first suicide attempt was at the age of nineteen when she swallowed a large quantity of sleeping pills (Sylvia). This alteration is important because her changingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Sylvia Plath s The Bell Jar 1573 Words à |à 7 Pages How Sylvia Plath represent madness in the Bell Jar The book shows us a young girl who wants to be totally in charge of her own life where females were expected to be interesting and educated but only marry and be a good wife for ambitious men. She wants to enjoy life and experience every bit of it as she wants it to be. This would never work and in some ways she is born early. She would have been better in the ââ¬Ëwomen s libââ¬â¢ age ready for independence and happy of going places. Always able toRead MoreAnalysis Of Sylvia Plath s The Bell Jar 2248 Words à |à 9 PagesTara Cameron Ms. Frega English 2.1 May 8, 2015 Sylvia Plath and Depression Sylvia Plath was a young and talented writer with the potential to exceed literary expectations. She was able to write a semi-autobiographical book about her struggle with depression and suicide, putting her personal story into the character of Esther Greenwood. The Bell Jar is the story of the hardships of a young woman named Esther who is clinically depressed and who struggles to keep up with the world around her. EstherRead MoreAnalysis Of The Opening Line Of The Bell Jar By Sylvia Plath2088 Words à |à 9 PagesGirl in the Bell Jar It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn t know what I was doing in New York (1; ch. 1), the opening line of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, effectively sets the tone for both the life of Plath and the remainder of the novel. Plath s depression and cynical outlook on life fueled the creation of many of her poems and novels, and particularly The Bell Jar in its autobiographical fictional genre. In this way, Sylvia Plath is able toRead MoreThe Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath1211 Words à |à 5 PagesSylvia Plath Research Paper Title The Bell Jar place[s] [the] turbulent months[of an adolescentââ¬â¢s life] in[to] mature perspective (Hall, 30). In The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath uses parallelism, stream of consciousness, the motif of renewal and rebirth, symbolism of the boundary-driven entrapped mentally ill, and auto-biographical details to epitomize the mental downfall of protagonist, Esther Greenwood. Plath also explores the idea of how grave these timeless and poignant issues can affect a fragileRead MoreRole of Food in Sylvia Plaths The Bell Jar610 Words à |à 3 PagesThe Bell Jar Sylvia Plathââ¬â¢s The Bell Jar is rich with an array of motifs, all which serve to sustain the novelââ¬â¢s primary themes. A motif particularly prevalent within the first half of the novel involves food, specifically Esther Greenwoodââ¬â¢s relationship with food. This peculiar relationship corroborates the bookââ¬â¢s themes of Estherââ¬â¢s continuous rebirthing rituals, and of her extreme dissatisfaction. The interrelation with food functions in two distinct manners: literally and figuratively. ThisRead MoreSymbolism In The Bell Jar1548 Words à |à 7 PagesSylvia Plath uses many literary devices to convey her purpose in The Bell Jar such as symbolism. The Bell Jar itself is used as symbolic representation of the emotional state Esther is in. The glass jar distorts her image of the world as she feels trapped under the glass. It represents mental illness , a confining jar that descends over her mind and doesnââ¬â¢t allow her to live and think freely. Symbols and im ages of life and death pervade The Bell Jar. Esther experiences psychological distress whichRead MoreThe Bell Jar : Literary Analysis2261 Words à |à 10 Pages2014 The Bell Jar: Literary Analysis With Author Biography Sylvia Plath is a renowned poet and author. She fantasied the world with her powerful writings. Beloved to the world, she truly changed women s status. She wrote distinctively from her own life experiences. This is cleared showed in her book, The Bell Jar. This book offers a theme of rebirth and a theme of feminism. The 27th of October in 1932, Sylvia Plath was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father, Otto Plath, was a collegeRead MoreBiography of Sylvia Plath1452 Words à |à 6 PagesCritical Analysis Sylvia Plath, a great American author, focuses mostly on actual experiences. Plathââ¬â¢s poetry displays feelings and emotions. Plath had the ability to transform everyday happenings into poems or diary entries. Plath had a passion for poetry and her work was valued. She was inspired by novelists and her own skills. Her poetry was also very important to readers and critics. Sylvia Plathââ¬â¢s work shows change throughout her lifetime, relates to feelings and emotions, and focuses on dayRead More Weaknesses of Esther and Plath Exposed in Sylvia Plaths The Bell Jar1174 Words à |à 5 PagesWeaknesses of Esther and Plath Exposed in The Bell Jar à à à à The glass of which a bell jar is constructed is thick and suffocating, intending to preserve its ornamental contents but instead traps in it stale air.à The thickness of the bell jar glass prevents the prisoner from clearly seeing through distortion.à Sylvia Plath writes with extreme conviction, as The Bell Jar is essentially her autobiography.à The fitting title symbolizes not only her suffocation and mental illness, but also theRead MoreThe Bell Jar2368 Words à |à 10 PagesResearch Paper: The Bell Jar, By: Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plathââ¬â¢s The Bell Jar is a work of fiction that spans a six month time period in the life of the protagonist and narrator, Esther Greenwood. The novel tells of Estherââ¬â¢s battle against her oppressive surroundings and her ever building madness, this is the central conflict throughout the narrative. After coming home from a month in New York as a guest editor for a magazine, Esther begins to have trouble with everyday activities such as reading,
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
You Suck A Love Story Chapter 7 Free Essays
Chapter Seven The List While Jody showered, Tommy made a list. Feed Laundry New Apartment Toothpaste Sweet Monkey Love Windex Dispose of Vampire Minion ââ¬Å"What do we need an onion for?â⬠Jody asked. She was having a little trouble getting her vision to focus. We will write a custom essay sample on You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 7 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"Minion, minion,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Mint-flavored onion? Why do we need that?â⬠ââ¬Å"A minion! Someone who can move around during the day who can help us out. Like I was for you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, my bitch.â⬠Tommy dropped his list. ââ¬Å"Nuh-uh.â⬠Jody picked it up and walked over to the kitchen counter where the coffee machine stood. ââ¬Å"I would sell my soul for a big cup of joe.â⬠ââ¬Å"I was not your bitch,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Right, right, right. Whatever. So how long do we have to do this list?â⬠ââ¬Å"I checked the almanac. Sunrise is at six fifty-three, so we have about twelve hours. Itââ¬â¢s almost the solstice, so we get a lot of darkness.â⬠ââ¬Å"Solstice? Oh my God, itââ¬â¢s almost Christmas.â⬠ââ¬Å"So?â⬠ââ¬Å"Hello? Shopping?â⬠ââ¬Å"Hello? We have an excuse. Weââ¬â¢re dead.â⬠ââ¬Å"My mother doesnââ¬â¢t know that. I have to find something for her that sheââ¬â¢ll disapprove of. And your family ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Oh my God! Christmas. I was supposed to go home to Indiana for Christmas. We need to redo the list.â⬠ââ¬Å"You do it. Iââ¬â¢m going to dry my hair,â⬠Jody said. The new list read: Christmas Presents Call Home Feed Minion (not our Bitch) Hot Monkey Love Windex Write Literature Dispose of Creepy Old Vampire New Apartment Laundry Toothpaste ââ¬Å"I think you should take monkey love off of the list,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"What if we lose the list and someone finds it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well I think ââ¬Ëdispose of Creepy Old Vampireââ¬â¢ would be a little more embarrassing, donââ¬â¢t you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re right, cut monkey love and change ââ¬Ëvampireââ¬â¢ to ââ¬ËElijah. â⬠Jody tapped the list with a pen. ââ¬Å"And take off Windex and put in ââ¬Ëbuy coffee. ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We canââ¬â¢t drink coffee.â⬠ââ¬Å"We can smell it. Tommy, I desperately need coffee. Itââ¬â¢s like the blood hunger, only, you know, more civilized.â⬠ââ¬Å"Speaking of blood hunger ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yeah, youââ¬â¢d better move that up the list.â⬠ââ¬Å"And add a bottle of whiskey. Youââ¬â¢re going to have to buy it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry, writer boy, but weââ¬â¢re doing this stupid list together.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not old enough to buy liquor.â⬠Jody stepped away from him and shuddered. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s right. Isnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yep,â⬠Tommy said, nodding ââ¬â trying to look wide-eyed and innocent. ââ¬Å"Well, okay then. I should have checked IDs before picking my bitch.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey!â⬠ââ¬Å"Kidding. What are you going to do with a bottle of whiskey anyway?â⬠ââ¬Å"Check something else off the list,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"I have an idea. Get your purse.â⬠ââ¬Å"What did the Animals want, anyway?â⬠ââ¬Å"Twenty grand.â⬠ââ¬Å"I hope you told them to fuck themselves.â⬠ââ¬Å"They did that already.â⬠ââ¬Å"Did they suspect, you know, about what you are now?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not yet. Lash said I looked a little pale. I sent them to the store. If Clint knows, well ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Oh, good move. Maybe we should just take out an ad. ââ¬ËYoung vampire couple seeks angry village people to hunt them down and kill them. ; ââ¬Å"Ha. Village people. Funny. Put self-tanning lotion on the list. I think the pale thing is giving me away.â⬠At seven in the evening, three days before Christmas, Union Square was awash in shoppers. There was a Santaââ¬â¢s Village set up in the raised square, with a line of children and parents that wound five hundred deep through a labyrinth of red velvet cattle gates. Around the square, the street performers, who would normally have knocked off around five, lined the granite steps up to the square. A juggler here, a sleight-of-hand guy there, a half-dozen ââ¬Å"robotsâ⬠ââ¬â people painted silver and gold who would move in machine-jerk rhythm for the drop of a coin or a bill ââ¬â and even a couple of human statues. Jodyââ¬â¢s favorite was a gold guy in a business suit, who stood motionless for hours on end, as if heââ¬â¢d been frozen in midstep on the way to work. There was a small hole in his briefcase into which people stuffed bills and dropped coins after photographing him or trying to make him flinch. ââ¬Å"This guy used to freak me out,â⬠Tommy whispered. ââ¬Å"But now I can see him breathing and the aura thing.â⬠ââ¬Å"I watched him for a whole lunch hour one time and he never moved,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"In the summer, you know he has to be suffering in that painted suit.â⬠Suddenly she shuddered at the thought of Elijah, the old vampire, still encased in bronze back at the loft. Yes, he had killed her, technically, but in a way heââ¬â¢d just opened a door for her, a door that, no matter how bizarre, was immediate, vital, and passionate. And yes, heââ¬â¢d done it for his amusement, heââ¬â¢d said, but also because he was lonely. She wound her arm into Tommyââ¬â¢s and kissed him on the cheek. ââ¬Å"What was that for?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because youââ¬â¢re here,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s first on the list?â⬠ââ¬Å"Christmas presents.â⬠ââ¬Å"Skip down.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sweet monkey love.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, weââ¬â¢ll do it in the Santaââ¬â¢s Workshop window at Macyââ¬â¢s.â⬠ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, not really.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, then we need liquor.â⬠Jody snatched the list out of his hand so quickly that most people wouldnââ¬â¢t have even seen her move. ââ¬Å"You are no longer in charge of the list. Weââ¬â¢re getting me a new leather jacket.â⬠I AM HOMELESS AND SOMEONE SHAVED MY HUGE CAT. William had changed his sign. Chet the huge cat was still wearing Jodyââ¬â¢s sweater. He eyed the two vampires suspiciously as they approached. Tommy held the bottle of Johnny Walker out to William. ââ¬Å"Merry Christmas.â⬠William took the liquor and squirreled it away in his coat. ââ¬Å"Most people just give money,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re cutting out the middleman,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"How are you feeling today?â⬠ââ¬Å"Great, why? Really good, you know, considering that Iââ¬â¢m homeless and you guys shaved my cat.â⬠ââ¬Å"You were pretty hammered last night.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but I feel great today.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s how it used to affect me,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Remember. Kind of energizing.â⬠Jody waved Tommy away. ââ¬Å"You didnââ¬â¢t get light-headed or anything?â⬠Jody asked. ââ¬Å"I was a little hungover when I woke up, but I was fine after a couple of cups of coffee.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fuck!â⬠Jody spat. Then she held her head. ââ¬Å"Calm,â⬠Tommy said, patting her shoulder. ââ¬Å"Dr. Flood will make it all better. Maybe.â⬠Jody growled, just loud enough for Tommy to hear. ââ¬Å"Ya know,â⬠said William, when there was a break in the pedestrian traffic and he didnââ¬â¢t have to concentrate on looking pathetic, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m flush for cash, but since youââ¬â¢re in the Christmas spirit, Iââ¬â¢d still go for a look at Redââ¬â¢s hooters.â⬠ââ¬Å"Bite me, dirtbag,â⬠Jody said as she rolled up on William. ââ¬Å"Honey.â⬠Tommy caught the back of her newly purchased red leather jacket, just in case. Theyââ¬â¢d never know if his idea was going to work if Jody snapped the bumââ¬â¢s neck. ââ¬Å"I will not be sexually harassed by the entree.â⬠ââ¬Å"Something you ate isnââ¬â¢t agreeing with you?â⬠Tommy grinned at her when she looked back at him, but the fire went out of her eyes. ââ¬Å"You can just cross sweet monkey love right off your list,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"Jeez, what a bitch,â⬠said William. ââ¬Å"Her time of the month?â⬠Tommy quickly wrapped his arms around Jody, lifted her off her feet, and carried her a few steps around the corner, even as she squirmed. ââ¬Å"Let me go, Iââ¬â¢m not going to hurt him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good.â⬠ââ¬Å"Much.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s what I thought,â⬠Tommy said, still holding her tight. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you head over to the Walgreens and Iââ¬â¢ll finish up with the huge cat guy?â⬠A family of Christmas shoppers smiled as they passed them, thinking they were young lovers indulging in a public display of affection. The father whispered ââ¬Å"Get a roomâ⬠under his breath to his wife, which a normal person wouldnââ¬â¢t have heard. ââ¬Å"Count your lucky stars, buddy, we almost did it in the Santaââ¬â¢s Workshop window. Hot, sweaty elf sex ââ¬â in front of the kids. The kids would have liked that, huh?â⬠The father hurried his family on down the street. ââ¬Å"Nice,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"Way to stay under the radar.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, you know, I like to stay sharp,â⬠Tommy said. Because he was nineteen and had only started having sex regularly since he met Jody, he still thought he had some sort of secret knowledge that was unavailable to other people. How can they possibly be thinking about anything else? he thought in the private part of his mind. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll bet it smells like peppermint,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Elf sex.â⬠ââ¬Å"Would you please put me down.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, but donââ¬â¢t hurt the huge cat guy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m fine. Iââ¬â¢ll meet you at the drugstore in five minutes. This had better work.â⬠ââ¬Å"Five minutes,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Cinnamon. Maybe it smells like cinnamon.â⬠The pale couple stalked the aisles of the Walgreens, having a great time dismissing the crass accoutrements of bourgeois American life, and generally scoffing at all the conventions of traditional culture. They were elite, after all. Special. Chosen ââ¬â if you will ââ¬â if only by the nature of their heightened sensitivities and superior sensibilities. They both claimed the ability to look past the faà §ade put on by most people, and see the very depths of the human soul. Strange, then, that they didnââ¬â¢t see it coming when the skinny guy in a flannel shirt popped around the corner in front of them. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s ask these guys,â⬠Flannel said. ââ¬Å"They look like heroin addicts.â⬠Jared White Wolf and Abby Normal backpedaled from the eyeliner display where theyââ¬â¢d been looking for something hypoallergenic. Abbyââ¬â¢s eyes had been watering all night, causing her makeup to run and giving her more of a sad-clown-of-life look than she was going for. Jared hid behind Abby, just a little, which was awkward, since he was nearly a foot taller than she. The guy in flannel was joined by a beautiful, pale redhead, carrying an armload of toiletries. What amazing hair, Abby thought, looking at the long red tresses. Iââ¬â¢d give anything for hair like that. ââ¬Å"Tommy, leave these poor people alone,â⬠said the redhead. ââ¬Å"No, wait.â⬠Flannel turned to Abby and smiled. ââ¬Å"Do you guys know where they keep the syringes?â⬠Abby looked at Jared, who looked at the guy in flannel. ââ¬Å"Well, you canââ¬â¢t just buy them,â⬠Jared said. He was fiddling with the leather straps on his bondage pants, looking coy. Abby slapped his hand. ââ¬Å"You need a prescription to buy syringes,â⬠Abby said. ââ¬Å"Do you really think I look like a heroin addict?â⬠Jared threw his bangs out of his face dramatically. His head was shaved except for his bangs, which reached to his chin, specifically so he could throw them out of his face dramatically. ââ¬Å"I was, like, thinking that maybe I should bulk up. You know, eat and stuff, but ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Well, thanks,â⬠said Flannel Shirt. The redhead moved off down the aisle. ââ¬Å"I was going to try some heroin, but if you canââ¬â¢t buy needles, well, there you go. See you guys. Nice shirt, by the way.â⬠Abby looked down at her T-shirt, black, of course, with the image of a poet taken from a nineteenth-century etching. ââ¬Å"Like you even know who it is.â⬠â⬠ââ¬ËShe walks in beauty, like the night, â⬠quoted the flannel-shirt guy. He winked at her, then grinned. ââ¬Å"Byronââ¬â¢s a hero of mine. See ya.â⬠He turned and started to walk away. Abby reached out and snagged his sleeve. ââ¬Å"Hey, there are needle exchange programs all over town. Theyââ¬â¢re listed in the Bay Guardian.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠said flannel. He turned and Abby grabbed him again. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re going to be at the Glas Kat. Thereââ¬â¢s a Goth club tonight. Five-hundred block of Fourth Street. I know a dealer there. You know, for your heroin.â⬠The flannel-shirt guy nodded, and looked at Byronââ¬â¢s picture on her shirt again, then at her face. Fucksocks. Heââ¬â¢s so looking at my streaking eye makeup. ââ¬Å"Thanks, milady,â⬠said Flannel Shirt. And he was gone, off over the dark moors of the tampon aisle. ââ¬Å"What was that about?â⬠whined Jared. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s so, so Happy Days.â⬠Jared White Wolf spent a lot of time watching Nick at Nite when he wasnââ¬â¢t brooding or fussing with his appearance. Abby walked into the flap of Jaredââ¬â¢s black duster and pounded his slight chest with her palms. ââ¬Å"Didnââ¬â¢t you see. Didnââ¬â¢t you see?â⬠ââ¬Å"What, you acting like a complete ho?â⬠ââ¬Å"He had fangs,â⬠Abby said. ââ¬Å"Well, so do I,â⬠Jared said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair of perfect, dentistry-quality vampire fangs. ââ¬Å"Duh, everybody does.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but his grew! I saw them. Letââ¬â¢s go,â⬠Abby said, pulling Jared White Wolf by his great bat-wing lapels. ââ¬Å"I have to change into something hot before we go to the club.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wait, I want to get some Halls. My throat is raw from all the cloves we smoked last night.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hurry.â⬠The buckles of Abbyââ¬â¢s black platform boots jangled as she dragged her friend past the lipsticks and hair products before he could get interested. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠said Jared, ââ¬Å"but if I donââ¬â¢t meet a cute guy tonight, you have to stay up all night and hold me while I cry.â⬠ââ¬Å"You should try black lipstick sometime,â⬠Tommy said to Jody as they approached their building, their arms loaded with packages. He was still thinking about the kids at the drugstore. It was the first time since tenth grade that heââ¬â¢d used his knowledge of Romantic poetry. For a while heââ¬â¢d tried molding himself into the tragic Romantic hero, brooding and staring clench-jawed off into space as he composed dark verse in his head. But it turned out that trying to appear tragic in Incontinence, Indiana, was redundant, and his mother kept shouting at him and making him forget his rhymes. ââ¬Å"Tommy, if you keep grinding your teeth like that, theyââ¬â¢ll wear away and youââ¬â¢ll have to have dentures like Aunt Ester.â⬠Tommy only wished his beard was as heavy as Aunt Esterââ¬â¢s ââ¬â then he could stare out over the moors while he stroked it pensively. ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠Jody said, ââ¬Å"because I need to make it more obvious that Iââ¬â¢m an undead creature that feeds on the blood of the living.â⬠ââ¬Å"You make it sound so sordid.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I meant it in a nice way.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠ââ¬Å"Because itââ¬â¢s not like people wouldnââ¬â¢t understand if they found out we were vampires, because we slipped up and, oh, I donââ¬â¢t know, UNSHEATHED OUR FANGS IN THE FUCKING DRUGSTORE!â⬠Tommy almost dropped his packages. She hadnââ¬â¢t said a word about that all night. Heââ¬â¢d hoped she hadnââ¬â¢t noticed. ââ¬Å"It was an accident.â⬠ââ¬Å"You called that girl ââ¬Ëmilady. ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"She was impressed with my Byron.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, well, your Byron was probably sticking out a little, too, wasnââ¬â¢t he?â⬠ââ¬Å"It wasnââ¬â¢t like that.â⬠ââ¬Å"You drooled.â⬠Jody paused at their security door and dug into her jacket for her key. Tommy stepped around her. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m still new at this. I think Iââ¬â¢m doing pretty well. My ghastly pallor obviously impressed the lady at the needle exchange.â⬠He reached into his bag and fanned out a handful of sterile-wrapped and capped syringes. ââ¬Å"Congratulations, you can now pass as an HIV-positive heroin addict.â⬠ââ¬Å"Trs chic.â⬠He grinned like he imagined a sexy Italian man-whore might. ââ¬Å"Who drools in public,â⬠Jody said. Damn, sheââ¬â¢s immune to my sexy Italian man-whore grin, Tommy thought. He said, ââ¬Å"Be nice, Iââ¬â¢m new. My lips donââ¬â¢t fit together right when my fangs are out.â⬠She turned the key and swung the door open. There, passed out on the landing, was William the huge cat guy and sleeping on his chest, Chet the huge cat. ââ¬Å"I told you it would work,â⬠Tommy said. Jody stepped into the stairwell and closed the door behind her. ââ¬Å"You go first.â⬠Fifteen minutes later, as he placed five syringes full of blood in their refrigerator, Tommy said, ââ¬Å"This vampire thing is going to be great.â⬠Heââ¬â¢d had a moment when heââ¬â¢d bitten William ââ¬â not just getting over the idea of being that close someone who smelled that nasty, but also being close to another man period. But after cleaning Williamââ¬â¢s neck with an alcohol swab theyââ¬â¢d gotten from the drugstore, and consoling himself that most literary vampires seemed sexually ambivalent anyway, the blood hunger pushed him through. He was feeling more relaxed, now that they had the food problem solved ââ¬â for a while, anyway. If his friends didnââ¬â¢t kill them in the next couple of days, he might even enjoy life as a vampire. Then he turned to Jody and frowned. ââ¬Å"But I canââ¬â¢t help but think that it may be wrong, taking advantage of a homeless alcoholic.â⬠ââ¬Å"We could just hunt and kill people,â⬠Jody said cheerfully. She had a little crust of Williamââ¬â¢s blood in the corner of her mouth. Tommy licked his thumb and wiped it away. ââ¬Å"We did give him a nice sweater for his huge shaved cat,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"I loved that sweater,â⬠Jody said. ââ¬Å"And we are giving him a warm landing to sleep on,â⬠she added, diving onto Tommyââ¬â¢s rationalization dog pile. ââ¬Å"And if we only take a little bit each day, heââ¬â¢ll actually feel better. I know I did.â⬠ââ¬Å"And we wonââ¬â¢t become alcoholics ourselves.â⬠ââ¬Å"How are you feeling, by the way?â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Better. Hair of the dog. You?â⬠ââ¬Å"Two-beer buzz, max. Iââ¬â¢ll be fine. You want to try the experiment?â⬠Jody checked her watch. ââ¬Å"No time. Weââ¬â¢ll do it tomorrow night.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right. So, on to the list. Looks like hot monkey love.â⬠ââ¬Å"Tommy, we need to find a daytime person to help us. We have to move out of this place.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been thinking about Alaska.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, good for you, but we still need to find a place to live where the Animals and Inspector Rivera canââ¬â¢t find us.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, Iââ¬â¢m thinking we should move to Alaska. For one thing, in the winter, itââ¬â¢s dark for like twenty hours a day, so weââ¬â¢d have plenty of time. And I read somewhere that Eskimos put their old people out on the ice when they are ready to die. It would be like people were leaving snacks out for us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re kidding.â⬠ââ¬Å"Eskimo Pies?â⬠He grinned. Jody put her hand on her hip and looked at him, her mouth hanging open a little, as if she was waiting for something more. When it didnââ¬â¢t come, she said, ââ¬Å"Okay then, Iââ¬â¢m going to change.â⬠ââ¬Å"Into a wolf?â⬠ââ¬Å"Clothes, cadaver breath.â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t know. I thought maybe youââ¬â¢d learned.â⬠Tommy thought Alaska was a great idea. Just because she was a few years older, she always acted like his ideas were stupid. ââ¬Å"The thing with William worked,â⬠he said defensively as he put away the supplies theyââ¬â¢d bought at the drugstore. ââ¬Å"That was a good idea,â⬠Jody said from inside the closet. Now what? ââ¬Å"Well, Alaska isnââ¬â¢t a bad idea.â⬠ââ¬Å"Tommy, thereââ¬â¢s like nine people in all of Alaska. Weââ¬â¢ll stand out, donââ¬â¢t you think?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, everyone is pale there. They donââ¬â¢t have sun for most of the year.â⬠She came out of the closet wearing her little black cocktail dress and her strappy come-fuck-me pumps. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m ready,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Wow,â⬠Tommy said. Heââ¬â¢d forgotten what they were talking about. ââ¬Å"You think the Ferrari-red lipstick would be too much?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I love the Ferrari-red lipstick on you.â⬠Hot, sweet monkey love, he thought. This was exactly why he loved her. In the midst of all of the pressure, the danger, really ââ¬â she still took time to think of his feelings. She lifted her breasts until they threatened to spill out of the plunging neckline of the dress. ââ¬Å"Too much?â⬠ââ¬Å"Perfect,â⬠Tommy said, walking toward her with his hands out. ââ¬Å"Gimme.â⬠She breezed past him into the bathroom. ââ¬Å"Not for you. I need to get going.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no, no,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"Hot monkey love.â⬠While Tommy watched from the doorway, Jody applied the Ferrari-red lipstick, checked it, then frowned and wiped it off, then grabbed a different tube off the vanity. ââ¬Å"When I get back.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where?â⬠Tommy said. Sexual frustration had reduced him to single syllables. She turned to him with the new coat of maroon lipstick. ââ¬Å"To get your minion.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not like that, youââ¬â¢re not,â⬠Tommy said. ââ¬Å"This is how it works, Tommy. This is how I got you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Nuh-uh, you werenââ¬â¢t wearing that when I met you.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, but the reason you pursued me is because you were interested in me sexually, wasnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, thatââ¬â¢s how it started, but itââ¬â¢s more than that now.â⬠And it was more, but that was no reason to leave him here all aroused and stuff. She walked over to him and put her arms around him. He let his hands slip inside the low back of her dress. His pants were getting tight and he could feel the pressure of his fangs coming out. ââ¬Å"When I get back,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"I promise. Youââ¬â¢re my guy, Tommy. I picked you as my guy, forever. Iââ¬â¢m going to find someone to help us move and do things for us in the daytime.â⬠ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re just going to want to bone you, and when you donââ¬â¢t do them, theyââ¬â¢ll turn on you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not necessarily.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course they will. Look at you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll figure it out, okay. I donââ¬â¢t know how else to go about it.â⬠ââ¬Å"We could put an ad on Craigââ¬â¢s List.â⬠(Craigââ¬â¢s List was a classified Web site that had started in the Bay Area and was now the first place people checked for jobs, apartments, or nearly everything.) ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re not putting an ad on Craigââ¬â¢s List. Look, Tommy, we have more things to do than we have time. You can clean the loft and go get the laundry done and Iââ¬â¢ll get us an onion.â⬠ââ¬Å"Minion,â⬠he corrected. ââ¬Å"Whatever. I love you,â⬠she said. Bitch! He was vanquished. Unfair. ââ¬Å"I love you, too.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll take one of the disposable cell phones you bought. You can call me anytime.â⬠ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re not even activated yet.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, get on that, buddy. The sooner I get out there and find someone, the sooner I can get back here for some hot monkey love.â⬠She has absolutely no sense of ethics, he thought. Sheââ¬â¢s a monster. And yet, there she is, only a few dress straps from being naked. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t step on the huge cat on the way out.â⬠Jody had only been gone twenty minutes before Tommy decided that cleaning and laundry sucked and that he could find a minion as well as she could, even if he didnââ¬â¢t look as hot in a little black dress. He was careful not to wake Chet and William on his way out. How to cite You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 7, Essay examples
Monday, April 27, 2020
Operations Management Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafe
Introduction Operations in Hard Rock Cafà © and Arnold Palmer Hospital are ââ¬Å"the activities performed repetitively to create value in products and services by transforming inputs into outputs.â⬠This paper seeks to compare the operations management practices of Arnold Palmer Hospital and those of Hard Rock Cafà ©.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Management: Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper seeks to carry out an analysis of the two organizations with the main theoretical concepts of operations management. Hard Rock cafà © has an international presence in approximately forty different countries with about a hundred and ten outlets. Operation process In terms of operations management, Arnold Palmer Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in terms of capacity in the United States. The hospital cares for women and children and is equipped wi th about four hundred and thirty beds in two major facilities. The hospital covers about 676 thousand square feet in downtown Orlando, Florida. The hospital has employed over two thousand staff and serves entire central Florida. The hospital offers a wide range of medical services. The hospital has a history of caring for risky pregnancies and maternal intensive care to patients from all parts of the United States. The new facility of Arnold Palmer Hospital is designed with a circular layout. This layout is unique and gives the hospital a maximally efficient layout. The layout provides a patient focused surrounding to offer effective services to patients (Aloysius 2011, p.17). APH is a level one trauma hospital and a regional leader in specialized baby treatment. Being a regional leader, the massive facility accommodates a lot of expectant mothers and consequently, a lot of babies are born in the facility. The hospitalââ¬â¢s intentions are to hire and maintain a dedicated and sin cere staff offering the highest quality care. The staff ensures there is a patient focused flow and function; this is one of the guiding principles (Schilling 2008, p.76). Arnold Palmer Hospital has managed to improve the service levels of its patients. This has been packaged with reduced costs of operations. The hospital has enhanced innovation and has employed the latest technologies in its facilities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arnold Palmer has managed to further reduce the operational costs by redesigning the procedures and by use of technological applications. Among this was the project of building a multiyear project for the new facility which was successfully achieved. This was a development from preceding years when Arnold Palmer used to operate in one facility. The design and construction of the new center have indeed improved the strength of Arnold Palmerâ⠬â¢s supply chain. The hospital has benefited from economies of labor sharing and capital investment; some of the physicians serve in both facilities although more support staff had to be hired. The expansion strategy also turned out to be effective in terms of additional expenses. In addition, Arnold Palmer Hospital initiated a project with the intention of cutting down operational expenses. Arnold Palmer Hospital has also established a plan to advance the efficiency of its support staff; this is aimed at giving patients unique services when they are waiting for services from the doctors. This plan ensures that patients are comfortable and are not suffering from any pain. The hospital has established a file management staff to ensure there is improved management of patientââ¬â¢s information (Schilling 2008,p.188). Comparatively, Hard Rock Cafe provides unparalleled services which are reasonably priced to its clients. Unparalleled services include the delivery of quality service . For instance, the immortal rock and roll music identifies Hard Rock as a unique organization (Martin 1992,p.78). The music is played with an exceptional level of sensibility. Hard Rock Cafà © has a reputation and a history of being successful in the music industry. The notion of an American dinner started in England and has then become a lifestyle (Heizer and Render 2005, p.45). The development strategy for the organization started in 1982 when Hard Rock Cafà © decided to come up with its own outlets internationally. Hard Rock outlets were established in various parts of the United States including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington, Dallas, and in Orlando Florida. In 1988, Hard Rock Cafà © t relocated its headquarters to Orlando, Florida.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Management: Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other outlets were established in France and Germany at Paris and Berlin respectively. The pioneers of the organization ultimately sold its interests in Hard Rock UK to Mecca Leisure. This was later purchased by The Rank Group which continued expanding the organization in the UK. Later, it acquired the American and Canadian branches to strengthen its global presence. Presently, the organization is significantly established with approximately 138 outlets in over 42 nations in the world. Hard Rock Cafà © is currently a well felt global brand and has established its brand in Asia including China and Malaysia in Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur respectively (Hal Corp 2010, p.12). Comparing Operations Management Strategies of the Two Organizations In Arnold Palmer Hospital and at Hard Rock Cafà © end customers are people. The only difference is the nature of services sought from the two organizations. In Arnold Palmer Hospital, people seek to get medical care which is a necessity; at Hard Ro ck Cafà ©, people seek to get hospitality and entertainment services. The hospital fits in a unique group of six hospitals in the US which specialize in children and women. Due to its unique services and specialized treatments, the hospital has earned a reputation of being one of the best among the six. Hard Rock Cafà © benefits from international brand recognition due to its versatile operation management strategy. The company has derived a lot of success due to its reputation for quality ( Barrows and Powers 2008, p.16). Hard Rock Cafà © stands for quality in production and through superior product design. Product design is based on the euphoria that revolutionized the world about thirty years ago. By mentioning Hard Rock, customers able to associate it with Rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ Roll and its fans get extremely excited (Martin 1992, p.3). The organizations headquarter in Orlando employs approximately four hundred employees. More than 3500 meals are served daily; the outletâ⬠â¢s menu is modified occasionally due to changes in market trends and consumerââ¬â¢s preferences. Arnold Palmer Hospital receives patients from all over the fifty states in the US. The hospital has also admitted and cared for international patients from over a hundred countries. Surveys indicate that the hospital has achieved patient satisfaction scores to be ranked among the top 10% of the best hospitals in the US. Ninety-five percent of patients would recommend others to Arnold Palmer Hospital.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the main tasks handled by the hospital is the delivery of babies. Initially, the hospital was constructed with 281 beds and an annual capacity of about six thousand births. The population of the locals was rising steadily and the hospital was serving both local and international patients. In essence, the hospital needed to expand to cater for its developing market. However, the expansion achieved an annual capacity of over ten thousand births. The expansion plan included eleven story building opposite the main facility. Expansion strategy was one of the most successful achievements made by the hospitalsââ¬â¢ operations management. A team was established with a mandate to study all the boundary conditions surrounding the expansion plan. To come up with an implementation plan, various factors were assessed. Some of these factors included the specific forecasts, services to be retained in the original facility and services to be transferred to the new facility. Other importan t factors included staff requirements, machines and equipment requirements, accounts and legal requirements. The budget was estimated at $100 million and the project was to be implemented in stages. Ultimately, the hospital managed to achieve a facility that can handle an annual birth of 13500 babies. The ultimate objective of the hospital is to offer high quality and special services to its patients. The hospital has established an all inclusive and technical way of getting feed back from patients. The patients are given an opportunity to judge the services offered by the company. The most distinguishable feature of the hospital is its ability to satisfy its patients. The hospital values the views of its patients and their families; this information is used to strategize improvement plans. The hospital allows its workers to reward any patient (about $200) who complains about any form of dissatisfaction from the hospitalââ¬â¢s services. The hospital offers high quality and clean food to its patients; other services include good responsiveness and courtesy. Quality Management The quality of services at Arnold Palmer Hospital is the biggest source of pride for the hospital. The management team is also a major contributor to the good reputation of the hospital. The hospital currently faces a high number of patients visiting the hospital. Quality in management could is enhanced by increasing the number of staff per patients requirements (Ajami and Marca 2007,p.2). The hospitalââ¬â¢s staff undergoes periodic training to improve their skills. The hospital is considered one of the best centers for traumatic cases; the hospitalââ¬â¢s staff is trained occasionally to improve its skills in dealing with traumatic cases (Heizer and Render 2005, p.67). The Fish-Bone Diagram The ultimate objective of the hospital is to offer high quality and special services to its patients. The hospital has established an all-inclusive and technical way of getting feed back from p atients. The patients are given an opportunity to judge the services offered by the company. The most distinguishable feature of the hospital is its ability to satisfy its patients. The hospital values the views of its patients and their families; this information is used to strategize improvement plans. The hospital allows its workers to reward any patient (about $200) who complains about any form of dissatisfaction from the hospitalââ¬â¢s services. The hospital offers high quality and clean food to its patients; other services include good responsiveness and courtesy. The hospital has adopted a technique dubbed ââ¬Å"just in time.â⬠Medicines are given at nursesââ¬â¢ quarters using dispensing equipment. This machine monitors the patientââ¬â¢s utilization and after related charge of every patient. Relatively, the staff at Hard Rock is composed of Rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ Roll enthusiasts; it has an exceptional understanding of music. This improves their relationship wit h their clients; the clientele can identify with the companyââ¬â¢s employees. Employees undergo periodic training to enhance their engaging personalities. The organizationââ¬â¢s motto of loving all and serving all ensures all customers are given the necessary courtesy. Hard Rock Cafà © is not an ordinary food joint; it prides itself for specialized services and unique high-quality offerings ( Barrows and Powers 2008,p.6). Operations Strategy Both Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafà © apply logical decision-makingà tools plan for their operations. Both Arnold Palmer Hospital expanded its facility to handle more patients and to cater for the increased demand of its services. The hospital has also bought and installed new automatic equipment in its new facilities. The hospitalââ¬â¢s major assets are its human resource and the hospital equipment. The hospital has an opportunity of lowering the costs of its services by improving the operations strategies. A lot of oper ation strategies have changed since Hard Rock established its operations in UK. The company has applied global expansion strategies to cover more than forty nations. Major employees at Hard Rock Cafe include chefs, hostesses, waitresses and bartenders. The organization is constantly increasing its live music business and is improving its outlets to keep in pace with the dynamic preferences and tastes of customers. Hard Rock earned the title of the best in collecting and showing rock ââ¬â¢nââ¬â¢ roll memorabilia. Hard Rock earned this championship after Eric Clapton hung his guitar on Hard Rockââ¬â¢s wall. The organization has accumulated over a thousand pieces with an estimated market value of 40 million USD. At present, Hard Rock maintains a website on which over 100 thousand hits are recorded every week. As part of its operation strategies, Hard Rock Cafà © operates a weekly television program to update, inform and entertain its fans (Hard Rock 1998,p.1). SWOT Analysis H ard Rock Cafà © Strengths: the organization has a reputation of producing high quality products. Products are prepared in London in a unique, conventional and English style. Weaknesses: the organization sells high priced products that can only be afforded by financially capable individuals. This has reduced the scope of the market for the organizationââ¬â¢s products. Opportunities: the organization produces unique products and offers unique services. The services offered by the organization are not available elsewhere; this is a good opportunity for the company. Threats: negative developments, changes and trends in the music industry may affect the market already dominated by the organization. Arnold Palmer Hospital Strengths: the hospital is widely acknowledged for its high quality medical care. The hospital is well equipped with powerful equipments and talented doctors and support staff. The success of the expansion plan was marked by the eventful completion of the new facilit y; this has strengthened the hospital. Weaknesses: the hospital experiences a high turnover of staff; this affects the provision of medical services. Sometimes, the hospital suffers from inadequate funding; this is worsened by poor economic conditions. Opportunities: the hospitalââ¬â¢s new facility has added more opportunities since the hospital is able to handle more patients. Conducive working environment and availability of committed staff enable the hospital to perform well nationally. Threats: financial challenges threaten operations at Arnold Palmer Hospital. Forecasting at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafà © The contemporary world of business has experienced an advent of Information Technology (IT); this has drastically transformed the global business arena. Both organizations have success accounts attributed to the adoption and implementation of IT technologies. IT technology emphasizes on automation of processes and procedures that were traditionally performed m anually. One of the most outstanding elements that have accelerated to the growth of Arnold Palmer Hospital is its forecasting competence. It is now possible to predict failure or success in operations at the hospital facility. The hospital has employed experts who are responsible for optimizing all procedures in the hospital. The team of experts is responsible for the implementation of forecasting techniques to get rid of drudgery on the hospitalââ¬â¢s floor. The experts assist the hospital staff to utilize IT technologies to optimize their file storage capacities in IT systems. The IT system captures most of the information, stores it and retrieves it for forecasting purposes. The captured information is analyzed using statistical tools and predictions can easily be made about the future or the expectations of the hospital ( Byers 2004, p.13). Comparatively, Hard Rock uses ââ¬ËPoint of Sales Terminalsââ¬â¢ (POS) established at all its outlets. In Hard rock Cafà ©, foreca sting is employed by several means; first, a considerable number of transactions are detected and stored by the POS machines in all the organizationââ¬â¢s outlets. Information detected and stored in POS is assessed to ascertain its application and to project the sales for the upcoming periods. Forecasting is employed in managersââ¬â¢ assessment; this is achieved by studying the amount of sales in outlets under the jurisdiction of the specific managers. The performance of specific managers can be easily detected; top performers are rewarded accordingly. The method is used by the top managers to make informed decisions about the performance of Hard Rock Cafà ©. Operations and Productivity Both organizations exhibit a high degree of performance; this implies their operations have important effects on day to day, short term and long term performance. Arnold Palmer Hospital is operated under one brand and offers its services to women and children. The hospital enjoys economies of scale and scope with improved marketing benefits. The hospital has adopted IT technologies and improved hospital designs (Heizer and Render 2005, p.76). A flow chart of APH process APH can improve its operation process by use of hospital operation software that is able to maintain an effective hospital database. Volume and variety affect the hospital due to occasional occurrences like accidents; the hospital is forced to handle a lot of casualties unexpectedly. However, there are customized services and facilities for handling multiple fatalities. Location strategy Hard Rock cafà © enjoys a good international presence in about forty nations with over a hundred and ten outlets. The company uses inventory management methods to keep a wide and high priced collection of rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ roll memorabilia. Both organizations have benefits of location; they have a customer focused strategy. The hospital is located at Orlando, Florida in a 431 beds capacity in two facilities. The hos pital employs approximately two thousand workers. The hospital is only level one trauma facility in Florida (Barrows and Powers 2008,p.86). Layout strategy Hard Rock Company uses the layout planning methods to create the inside of its outlets. The company emphasizes on the retail outlook of every outlets; this where the company generates most of its income. Hard Rock Company is able to collect data using the POS machines. This data is evaluated using statistical tools to determine how resources should be distributed. The new facility of Arnold Palmer Hospital is designed with a circular layout. This layout is unique and gives the hospital a maximally efficient layout. The layout provides a patient focused surrounding to offer effective services to patients. The traditional layout was highly ineffective; the nurses spent most of their time trekking to the hospital facility. The current design includes a nursing quarters at the middle of a ten bed round pod. All patientsââ¬â¢ rooms are within fourteen feet from the center of the pod. The neonatal rooms have also been redesigned to improve the comfort. The new layout consists of semiprivate rooms which are very quiet. A good layout design is imperative for a successful patientsââ¬â¢ care (Aloysius 2011, p.15). Inventory management Arnold Palmer Hospital inspects its equipment and facilities two times annually. In comparison, Hard Rock Cafà © is able to benefit from quantity discounts when customers purchase goods in bulk. The hospital has adopted a technique dubbed ââ¬Å"just in time.â⬠In the hospital, medicines are given at nursesââ¬â¢ quarters using dispensing equipment. This machine monitors the patientââ¬â¢s utilization and after the related charge of every patient. The drugsââ¬â¢ dispensing equipment is refilled every night depending on the demand and instructions given by doctors (Aloysius 2011,p.188). The Just in Time strategy has also been employed in the section of custom surgical packs. These are sterilized covers, throwaway plastic trays and gauzes; these are specified in every operational procedure. The JIT technique is used to deliver and to pack the packs. This implies that they are packed in converse order. The packs are also huge in size, costly and must be kept sterilized. Decreasing the inventory and handling while keeping them clean from infection is a huge challenge to the hospital. Hard Rock uses inventory management practices in keeping a wide and a costly collection of rock and roll memorabilia (Hard Rock 1998,p.25). Various methods of inventory scheduling and management are applied to establish the best possible amount of food to keep at the stores. By using such techniques, the organization is able to take advantage of quantity discounts and the purchased products shelf lives (Ajami and Marca 2007,p.32). Conclusion After looking at the operations of Hard Rock and Arnold Palmer Hospital, it is evident that the operations management procedures h ave an important effect on every day, temporary and permanent operations and scheduling of both organizations. The managers in charge of operations at both organizations employed logical decision-making tools to choose, the locations of the organizations both qualitatively and quantitatively. Both HRC and APH have a production feature and a service feature in their operations. Both organizations offer specialized services; APH targets women and children, HRC targets rock fanatics. Both are successful organizations with unique offerings; HRC is a global market leader while APH is a regional market leader. I have learned that offering unique products and services distinguishes an organization and contributes to its success. APH receives patients from outside its locality; I would suggest the hospital to consider expanding nationally. References Ajami, R Marca , M 2007, The Global Enterprise: Entrepreneurship and Value Creation, Routledge Press. London, UK. Aloysius, S E 2011, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Commun, Orlando, FL. Barrows, C Powers, T 2008, Introduction to the Hospitality Industry, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ. Byers, J F 2004, Patient Safety: Principles and Practice, Springer Publishing Company, New York. Heizer, J Render, B 2005, Operations management, Pearson/Prentice Hall, New York. Hal. Corp. 2010, Hard Rock: Boss Eband Guitar Play-Along, Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, London, UK. Hard Rock 1997, Hard Rock Cafe: Marketing Research Study, Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management, Brigham. Hard Rock 1998, November 18, Hard Rock Cafe Cranks Up the Volume By Launching Its Music-Oriented Internet Site, . Martin, R 1992, March 16, Hard Rock Hits Planet Hollywood with Copycat Suit, Nationââ¬â¢s Restaurant News, pp. 1-3. Schilling, L 2008, Implementing and Sustaining Improvement in Health Care, Joint Commission Resources, Washington, DC. This essay on Operations Management: Arnold Palmer Hospital and Hard Rock Cafe was written and submitted by user Allison H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
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