Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Oz as Utopia - 1356 Words
Taylor Wilton Dr. Ethna Lay The Wonderful Worlds of Utopia Americans crave Oz because of it s utopian vision. On the surface, Oz appears to be a perfect utopia to Dorothy. When she first arrives, Oz is bright, colorful and full of magic and wonder while her home in Kansas is dull, lifeless and devoid of hope. In Kansas, it s as if the citizens are stuck with no real plans or goals for the future. In Oz, traveling down the elaborate, intertwined yellow brick road offers Dorothy a great chance for adventure and hope and magic. This also goes for Elphaba from the Broadway show, Wicked. Bot of their desire is to go home. The end of the yellow brick road and the Wizard offers a chance for both of their prayers to be answered.â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Cashdan claims that The Wizard of Oz tends to focus on shortcomings in the self as opposed excesses (218). The themes in each fairy tale focus on different subjects. For instance, the theme in Snow White is vanity, and how looks won t get you anywhere. In other traditional fairy tales like Cind erella, they teach that intelligence, hard work and courage count for little unless one has acquaintances in high places (Cashdan, 9). The Wizard of Oz focuses on more inner conflicts than other stories such as Snow White and Cinderella. The story is about Dorothy s journey to make herself a happier person and find a happier life. Helping her companions fulfil their destinies helps her fulfil her own (218). Cashdan also explains how intelligence can outweigh physical attributes. This is comforting for both children and adults alike because, overall, no one wants to be juded on outer appearance, even if they are indeed good-looking. Intelligence is more important in the long run. In Wicked, Glinda is obsessed with her prettiness and seems to outweigh Elphaba s popularity, but Elphaba is the one who triumphs in the end when the teacher gives her special privelages with a wand because she realizes how smart and gifted she is, disregarding her looks completely. Also, in The Wizard of O z, Scarecrow symbolizes how uncomfortable it is to feel unintelligent. He knows his lot in life will be vastly improved if he can make sense of the world. AndShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book Emerald City Essay1669 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"yellow brickâ⬠is ââ¬Å"roadâ⬠and there can never be a book that has a ââ¬Å"City of Emeraldsâ⬠because we would all think it was a reference to L. Frank Baumââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Emerald City.â⬠This pseudo-magical city, and its represenà ¬tation in any given version of The Wizard of Oz, provides a very specific insight into the cultural views of the time period it was created during and the people who formed that specific creative vision. For Baum, the Emerald City was a representation of how little we can trust the government inRead MoreWizard of Oz Political Allegory1305 Words à |à 6 Pages repeated Dorothy. A young girl trying to go back home to Kansas after a cyclone lands her and her dog, Toto, in the Land of Oz. There Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the TinMan, and the Cowardly Lion who are all in need of something that is considered important to them; a brain, a heart, and courage. Along the way, they have to travel to Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz, directed by the Good Witch of the North, especially for Dorothy to get back home. However, Dorothy and the gang run into problemsRead MoreGender Inequality : The People With Two Chocolates2371 Words à |à 10 Pagesmade in entirely different contexts can still have relevant issues to our society today. Context: The Stepford Wives, Frank Oz, 2004 science fiction film comedy adaption from 1975 horror film. â⬠¢ Comedy - encourages the fact that gender equality has come far in 30 years since the original 1975 film; however, it does not dismiss the fact that the issue still exists â⬠¢ Frank Oz has taken this social issue and adapted the setting to make it more modern. â⬠¢ Intended for adults, particularly married couplesRead MoreEssay on Classicism Versus Romanticism in Tom Stoppards Arcadia2221 Words à |à 9 PagesTom Stoppard is one of the finest playwrights of the modern age. Some of his well-known plays are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thingand many more.The finest of all his plays is Arcadia.The literary meaning of the term ââ¬Å"Arcadiaâ⬠inspired Tom Stoppard to write his play Arcadia. It was titled ââ¬Å"Et in Arcadia egoâ⬠. ââ¬Å"Arcadiaâ⬠actually means a vision of pastoralism and harmony within nature. The Greek province ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Tim O Brien s Going After The 1804 Words à |à 8 Pagesfighting a war in Vietnam, along with knowledge that Vietnam was once a colony of France, juxtaposes Paris with the term ââ¬Ëparts unknownââ¬â¢, as Paris can be seen similarly to the soldiers fighting the war as the Emer ald City is seen in any of the books in the Oz series. The other chapter that takes place on the battlefield in a permanent reality is chapter 46, the last chapter of the novel. One noticeable comparison between this chapter and the first chapter is that they both share the same name: ââ¬ËGoing AfterRead MoreEssay about How To NOT Get Fucked In7432 Words à |à 30 PagesGet Fucked By Shared Addresses And Mixers === How Not To Get Fucked By Your Bitcoin Mixer === How Not To Get Fucked By The Vendor === How Not To Get Fucked By Bad Packaging === How Not To Get Fucked By Bad Shipping === How Not To Get Fucked By The 13 Oz Rule === Where To Buy, Where Not To Buy === Key Critical URLs You Need To Know === Bonus: How To *Completely* Destroy Hard Drive Data === Bonus: How Not To Get Fucked By Forgetting To Disable Javascript In The Default Tor Browser Configuration === Bonus:Read MoreCoercion by Douglas Rushkoff7762 Words à |à 32 Pagesattack our sensory stimulus to make us less rational in our buying spree. One way these grand and spectacle buildings coerce is that they make us weak and, thus, give us a reason to give up and submit. Frank Baum, the author The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, believed that the retail environment could help us realize our deepest desires and wishes. Glass was a major improvement in marketing of the early 1900s. It not only made a showy display stand, but it signaled that the merchant could refuse to sellRead MoreUnethical Behaviour12228 Words à |à 49 Pagesprocess: Integrating theory and practice. Academy of Management Review, 13(3), 471-482. Conger, J. A., Kanungo, R. N. (1998). Charismatic leadership in organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Conners, R., Smith, T., Hickman, C. (1994). The Oz principle: Getting results through individual and organizational accountability. Paramus, NJ: Prentice-Hall . Coutu, D. L. (2004). Putting leaders on the couch: A conversation with Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries. Harvard Business Review, 82(1), 64-71. Cruver
Monday, December 23, 2019
Marketing Mix Of An Annual Business - 1896 Words
Essentially, a business plan is a map of a business, showing where it currently stands, where it is hoped it will arrive in the future, and the particular goals envisioned for it to accomplish throughout its growth (RGS Business Department, 2015, p. 6). Fundamentally, the plan adds direction, justification and motive to the business. It assists in identifying the businessââ¬â¢ strengths and weaknesses, helps to ensure clarity and focus of future objectives, and forces the business owner to justify his/her actions ( Peterson, Jaret and Schenk, 2015). The purpose of this report is to discuss the marketing mix of an upcoming tuition business. 1.1 Business Name: The chosen business name is: Next Step- Inspired Tuition Intended to represent the idea of a transition or progression of sorts, ââ¬ËNext Stepââ¬â¢ is included as the focal point of the businessââ¬â¢ identity. The name itself is unique, simplistic and memorable, utilised to capture the idea that the business in question is future driven with the objective of helping students take their education figuratively and literally, to the ââ¬Ënextââ¬â¢ level. The inclusion of ââ¬ËTuitionââ¬â¢ after the main brand name (Next Step) is used as a simple summary of the businessââ¬â¢s main purpose, with the word ââ¬ËInspired,ââ¬â¢ subtly incorporated as an indicator of the businessââ¬â¢ almost impulsive quality and creativity-as the words definition implies. 1.2 Mission Statement Next Step seeks to actively assist school-aged children throughout their academic andShow MoreRelatedBasic Aspect of International Marketing1574 Words à |à 7 PagesBasic aspects of International Marketing There are three basic aspects of International marketing are as follows:- * The new product development process * Demand management * Sales marketing process (1) The new product development process can be defined as follows:-à This process characterizes itself as integration between Marketing, Ramp;D/Engineering and Manufacturing. Besides, several operating levels are active within the new product development process.à The steps shownRead MoreEnvironmental Factors and Marketing1323 Words à |à 6 PagesEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Will a successful marketing plan in one country work in another country? This is unlikely to occur due to many different cultural, political, economic, technological, and competitive environments. Marketing mixes require adjustments to meet local conditions and companies that understand these environmental factors can create advantages when positioning their products or services. Wal-Mart is a global organization and uses market research to understandRead MoreEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Essay1251 Words à |à 6 PagesEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Will a successful marketing plan in one country work in another country? This is unlikely to occur due to many different cultural, political, economic, technological, and competitive environments. Marketing mixes require adjustments to meet local conditions and companies that understand these environmental factors can create advantages when positioning their products or services. Wal-Mart is a global organization and uses market research to understandRead MorePepsi Elements Of Marketing Strategy814 Words à |à 4 PagesPepsi Elements of Marketing Introduction PepsiCo is the second largest nationwide food and beverage industry in the world. This company has twenty-two brand names that collectively bring in billions of annual funding from the retails. Their main focus is to produce pleasingly food and beverage within the company that are valued to household names throughout the world. The marketing strategy and mix both are connected to target marketing, focusing on the company needs and wants in a large group settingRead MoreMarketing Plan827 Words à |à 4 Pagesï » ¿Marketing Business Environment Marketing Planning: An Overview of Marketing 6 main questions to ask in order to create your marketing plan: 1. Where are we now? (Business Mission, Marketing audit, SWOT analysis) 2. How did we get here? (Business Mission, Marketing audit, SWOT analysis) 3. Where are we heading? (Marketing audit, SWOT Analysis) 4. Where would we like to be? (Marketing objectives) 5. How do we get there? (Core Strategy, Marketing mix decisions, Organization, ImplementationRead MoreFeasibility Of Financial, Distribution, And Marketing Partnerships For The Company Within The Chosen Country797 Words à |à 4 Pages3. Ascertain the possibility and feasibility of financial, distribution, and marketing partnerships for the company within the chosen country. Fill in a) Market structure and analysis (e.g., channels- direct or indirect) Direct exporting allows the U.S. producer to deal directly with the foreign buyer. Pier 1 Imports will sell products directly to the end-user and take all responsibility for all operations within the firm in Italy. The company will use sales representatives from Italy, alongRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Marketing Audit1229 Words à |à 5 Pages1.1 Marketing Audit Marketing audit can be defined as a study, inspection, review and/or evaluation of marketing activities of any company. Basically, it estimates the marketing environment of the company, aims, strategies, and policies of the company. After evaluation of marketing plans and strategies, it has to identify the mistakes, weaknesses, insufficiencies, complications and other issues to be encountered in firmââ¬â¢s marketing purposes. The final outcome of the marketing audit recommends measuresRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Lululemon1219 Words à |à 5 Pages A well-planned marketing strategy specifically identifies the objective of the product, its customer, competitor targets, and how to make the product stand out (Winer Dhar, 2011). Lululemonââ¬â¢s marketing objective is and has always been to design, distribute, and sell clothing that is inspired by living a healthy life. The company strives to have a unique business culture that develops products that deliver both quality and an overall transformative experience. There annual earnings report statesRead MoreMarketing Mix Paper1670 Words à |à 7 PagesMarketing decisions generally fall into four categories; product, price, place and promotion. These categories together, are known as the marketing mix, or the 4 P s of marketing. Subject to the internal and external constraints of the marketing society, the marketing mix gives marketing managers controllable parameters to make decisions that are centered on customers in the target market. The ultimate goal of the marketing mix is to create value and generate a positive response for any organzitionRead MoreNike Markeing1333 Words à |à 6 PagesNationals Programme: Business Management Module 1: Marketing Assignment [pic] Date for Submission: 15th September 2010 To achieve a pass in this unit the learner must: LO1: Investigate the concept and process of marketing LO2: Explore the concepts of segmentation, targeting and positioning LO3: Identify and analyse the individual elements of the extended marketing mix LO4: Apply the extended marketing mix to different marketing segments and contexts
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Chapter 8 Flight of the Fat Lady Free Essays
string(50) " had appeared on the battered old bulletin board\." In no time at all, Defense Against the Dark Arts had become most peopleââ¬â¢s favorite class. Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin. ââ¬Å"Look at the state of his robes,â⬠Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. We will write a custom essay sample on Chapter 8 Flight of the Fat Lady or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"He dresses like our old house elf.â⬠But no one else cared that Professor Lupinââ¬â¢s robes were patched and frayed. His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first. After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed: in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had gotten lost. From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy. water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds. Harry only wished he was as happy with some of his other classes. Worst of all was Potions. Snape was in a particularly vindictive mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snapeââ¬â¢s shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmotherââ¬â¢s clothes, had traveled through the school like wildfire. Snape didnââ¬â¢t seem to find it funny. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupinââ¬â¢s name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever. Harry was also growing to dread the hours he spent in Professor Trelawneyââ¬â¢s stifling tower room, deciphering lopsided shapes and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawneyââ¬â¢s enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at him. He couldnââ¬â¢t like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by many of the class. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawneyââ¬â¢s tower room at lunch times, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didnââ¬â¢t. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he were on his deathbed. Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence. ââ¬Å"Why would anyone bother looking after them?â⬠said Ron, after yet another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the flobberwormsââ¬â¢ throats. At the start of October, however, Harry had something else to occupy him, something so enjoyable it more than made up for his unsatisfactory classes. The Quidditch season was approaching, and O1iver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season. There were seven people on a Quidditch team: three Chasers, whose job it was to score goals by putting the Quaffle (a red, soccer-sized ball) through one of the fifty-foot-high hoops at each end of the field; two Beaters, who were equipped with heavy bats to repel the Bludgers (two heavy black balls that zoomed around trying to attack the players); a Keeper, who defended the goal posts, and the Seeker, who had the hardest job of all, that of catching the Golden Snitch, a tiny, winged, walnut-sized ball, whose capture ended the game and earned the Seekerââ¬â¢s team an extra one hundred and fifty points. Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly locker rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch field. ââ¬Å"This is our last chance ââ¬â my last chance ââ¬â to win the Quidditch Cup,â⬠he told them, striding up and down in front of them. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be leaving at the end of this year. Iââ¬â¢ll never get another shot at it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Gryffindor hasnââ¬â¢t won for seven years now. Okay, so weââ¬â¢ve had the worst luck in the world ââ¬â injuries ââ¬â then the tournament getting called off last year.â⬠Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. ââ¬Å"But we also know weââ¬â¢ve got the best ââ¬â ruddy ââ¬â team ââ¬â in ââ¬â the ââ¬â school,â⬠he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got three superb Chasers.â⬠Wood pointed at Alicia Spinner, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got two unbeatable Beaters.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stop it, Oliver, youââ¬â¢re embarrassing us,â⬠said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush. ââ¬Å"And weââ¬â¢ve got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!â⬠Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. ââ¬Å"And me,â⬠he added as an afterthought. ââ¬Å"We think youââ¬â¢re very good too, Oliver,â⬠said George. ââ¬Å"Spanking good Keeper,â⬠said Fred. ââ¬Å"The point is,â⬠Wood went on, resuming his pacing, ââ¬Å"the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, Iââ¬â¢ve thought the thing was in the bag. But we havenââ¬â¢t got it, and this yearââ¬â¢s the last chance weââ¬â¢ll get to finally see our name on the thingâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic. ââ¬Å"Oliver, this yearââ¬â¢s our year,â⬠said Fred. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll do it, Oliver!â⬠said Angelina. ââ¬Å"Definitely,â⬠said Harry. Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish Harryââ¬â¢s wonderful vision of finally winning the huge, silver Quidditch Cup. Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s happened?â⬠, he asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts for Astronomy. ââ¬Å"First Hogsmeade weekend,â⬠said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. You read "Chapter 8 Flight of the Fat Lady" in category "Essay examples" ââ¬Å"End of October. Halloween.â⬠ââ¬Å"Excellent,â⬠said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. ââ¬Å"I need to visit Zonkoââ¬â¢s. Iââ¬â¢m nearly out of Stink Pellets.â⬠Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away. Hermione seemed to read his mind. ââ¬Å"Harry, Iââ¬â¢m sure youââ¬â¢ll be able to go next time,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re bound to catch Black soon. Heââ¬â¢s been sighted once already.â⬠ââ¬Å"Blackââ¬â¢s not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Ron!â⬠said Hermione. ââ¬Å"Harryââ¬â¢s supposed to stay in school ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"He canââ¬â¢t be the only third year left behind,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yeah, I think I will,â⬠said Harry, making up his mind. Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth. ââ¬Å"Does he have to eat that in front of us?â⬠said Ron, scowling. ââ¬Å"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?â⬠said Hermione. Crookshanks; slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron. ââ¬Å"Just keep him over there, thatââ¬â¢s all,â⬠said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got Scabbers asleep in my bag.â⬠Harry yawned. He really wanted to go to bed, but he still had his own star chart to complete. He pulled his bag toward him, took out parchment, ink, and quill, and started work. ââ¬Å"You can copy mine, if you like,â⬠said Ron, labeling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart toward Harry. Hermione, who disapproved of copying, pursed her lips but didnââ¬â¢t say anything. Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounced. ââ¬Å"OY!â⬠Ron roared, seizing his bag as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it and began tearing ferociously. ââ¬Å"GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!â⬠Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing. ââ¬Å"Ron, donââ¬â¢t hurt him!â⬠squealed Hermione; the whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top ââ¬â ââ¬Å"CATCH THAT CAT!â⬠Ron yelled as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table, and chased after the terrified Scabbers. George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs, and started making furious swipes beneath it with his front paw. Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail. ââ¬Å"Look at him!â⬠he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!â⬠ââ¬Å"Crookshanks doesnââ¬â¢t understand itââ¬â¢s wrong!â⬠said Hermione, her voice shaking. ââ¬Å"All cats chase rats, Ron!â⬠ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s something funny about that animal!â⬠said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. ââ¬Å"It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, what rubbish,â⬠said Hermione impatiently. ââ¬Å"Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else dââ¬â¢you think ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"That catââ¬â¢s got it in for Scabbers!â⬠said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle. ââ¬Å"And Scabbers was here first, and heââ¬â¢s ill!â⬠Ron marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boysââ¬â¢ dormitories. * ****** Ron was still in a bad mood with Hermione next day. He barely talked to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry, and Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod. ââ¬Å"Howââ¬â¢s Scabbers?â⬠Hermione asked timidly as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the shining beans into a wooden pail. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking,â⬠said Ron angrily, missing the pail and scattering beans over the greenhouse floor. ââ¬Å"Careful, Weasley, careful!â⬠cried Professor Sprout as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes. They had Transfiguration next. Harry, who had resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether he could go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joined the line outside the class trying to decide how he was going to argue his case. He was distracted, however, by a disturbance at the front of the line. Lavender Brown seemed to be crying. Parvati had her arm around her and was explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the matter, Lavender?â⬠said Hermione anxiously as she, Harry, and Ron went to join the group. ââ¬Å"She got a letter from home this morning,â⬠Parvati whispered. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s her rabbit, Binky. Heââ¬â¢s been killed by a fox.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠said Hermione, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, Lavender.â⬠ââ¬Å"I should have known!â⬠said Lavender tragically. ââ¬Å"You know what day it is?â⬠ââ¬Å"Er ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"The sixteenth of October! ââ¬ËThat thing youââ¬â¢re dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!ââ¬â¢ Remember? She was right, she was right!â⬠The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook his head seriously. Hermione hesitated; then she said, ââ¬Å"You ââ¬â you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, not necessarily by a fox,â⬠said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, ââ¬Å"but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasnââ¬â¢t I?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠said Hermione. She paused again. Then ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Was Binky an old rabbit?â⬠ââ¬Å"N ââ¬â no!â⬠sobbed Lavender. ââ¬Å"H ââ¬â he was only a baby!â⬠Parvati tightened her arm around Lavenderââ¬â¢s shoulders. ââ¬Å"But then, why would you dread him dying?â⬠said Hermione. Parvati glared at her. ââ¬Å"Well, look at it logically,â⬠said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. ââ¬Å"I mean, Binky didnââ¬â¢t even die today, did he? Lavender just got the news today ââ¬ââ⬠Lavender wailed loudly. ââ¬Å"?C and she canââ¬â¢t have been dreading it, because itââ¬â¢s come as a real shock ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t mind Hermione, Lavender,â⬠said Ron loudly, ââ¬Å"she doesnââ¬â¢t think other peopleââ¬â¢s pets matter very much.â⬠Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door at that moment, which was perhaps lucky; Hermione and Ron were looking daggers at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves on either side of Harry and didnââ¬â¢t talk to each other for the whole class. Harry still hadnââ¬â¢t decided what he was going to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end of the lesson, but it was she who brought up the subject of Hogsmeade first. ââ¬Å"One moment, please!â⬠she called as the class made to leave. ââ¬Å"As youââ¬â¢re all in my House, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so donââ¬â¢t forget!â⬠Neville put up his hand. ââ¬Å"Please, Professor, I ââ¬â I think Iââ¬â¢ve lost ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom,â⬠said Professor McGonagall. ââ¬Å"She seemed to think it was safer. Well, thatââ¬â¢s all, you may leave.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ask her now,â⬠Ron hissed at Harry. ââ¬Å"Oh. but ââ¬ââ⬠Hermione began. ââ¬Å"Go for it, Harry,â⬠said Ron stubbornly. Harry waited for the rest of the class to disappear, then headed nervously for Professor McGonagallââ¬â¢s desk. ââ¬Å"Yes, Potter?â⬠Harry took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"Professor, my aunt and uncle ââ¬â er ââ¬â forgot to sign my form,â⬠he said. Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him but didnââ¬â¢t say anything. ââ¬Å"So ââ¬â er ââ¬â dââ¬â¢you think it would be all right mean, will It be okay if I ââ¬â if I go to Hogsmeade?â⬠Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers on her desk. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m afraid not, Potter,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. Thatââ¬â¢s the rule.â⬠ââ¬Å"But ââ¬â Professor, my aunt and uncle ââ¬â you know, theyââ¬â¢re Muggles, they donââ¬â¢t really understand about ââ¬â about Hogwarts forms and stuff,â⬠Harry said, while Ron egged him on with vigorous nods. ââ¬Å"If you said I could go ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"But I donââ¬â¢t say so,â⬠said Professor McGonagall, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer. ââ¬Å"The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission.â⬠She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity? ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, Potter, but thatââ¬â¢s my final word. You had better hurry, or youââ¬â¢ll be late for your next lesson.â⬠****** There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione; Hermione assumed an ââ¬Ëall-for-the-bestââ¬â¢ expression that made Ron even angrier, and Harry had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do first, once they got into Hogsmeade. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s always the feast,â⬠said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry up. ââ¬Å"You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠said Harry gloomily, ââ¬Å"great.â⬠The Halloween feast was always good, but it would taste a lot better if he was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else. Nothing anyone said made him feel any better about being left behind. Dean Thomas, who was good with a quill, had offered to forge Uncle Vernonââ¬â¢s signature on the form, but as Harry had already told Professor McGonagall he hadnââ¬â¢t had it signed, that was no good. Ron halfheartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them. Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort. ââ¬Å"They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, Harry, itââ¬â¢s not all itââ¬â¢s cracked up to be,â⬠he said seriously. ââ¬Å"All right, the sweetshopââ¬â¢s rather good, and Zonkoââ¬â¢s Joke Shopââ¬â¢s frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shackââ¬â¢s always worth a visit, but really, Harry, apart from that, youââ¬â¢re not missing anything.â⬠****** On Halloween morning, Harry awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast, feeling thoroughly depressed, though doing his best to act normally. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,â⬠said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for him. ââ¬Å"Yeah, loads,â⬠said Ron. He and Hermione had finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harryââ¬â¢s difficulties. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t worry about me,â⬠said Harry, in what he hoped was at, offhand voice, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll see you at the feast. Have a good time.â⬠He accompanied them to the entrance hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldnââ¬â¢t be going. ââ¬Å"Staying here, Potter?â⬠shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. ââ¬Å"Scared of passing the Dementors?â⬠Harry ignored him and made his solitary way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower. ââ¬Å"Password?â⬠said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a doze. ââ¬Å"Fortuna Major,â⬠said Harry listlessly. The portrait swung open and he climbed through the hole into the common room. It was full of chattering first-and second-years, and a few older students, who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off. ââ¬Å"Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!â⬠It was Colin Creevey, a second year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him. ââ¬Å"Arenââ¬â¢t you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey ââ¬ââ⬠Colin looked eagerly around at his friends ââ¬â ââ¬Å"you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!â⬠ââ¬Å"Er ââ¬â no, thanks, Colin,â⬠said Harry, who wasnââ¬â¢t in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on his forehead. ââ¬Å"I ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢ve got to go to the library, got to get some work done.â⬠After that, he had no choice but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait hole again. ââ¬Å"What was the point of waking me up?â⬠the Fat Lady called grumpily after him as he walked away. Harry wandered dispiritedly toward the library, but halfway there he changed his mind; he didnââ¬â¢t feel like working. He turned around and came face-to-face with Filch, who had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors. ââ¬Å"What are you doing?â⬠Filch snarled suspiciously. ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠said Harry truthfully. ââ¬Å"Nothing!â⬠spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. ââ¬Å"A likely story! Sneaking around on your own ââ¬â why arenââ¬â¢t you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?â⬠Harry shrugged. ââ¬Å"Well, get back to your common room where you belong!â⬠snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until Harry had passed out of sight. But Harry didnââ¬â¢t go back to the common room; he climbed a staircase, thinking vaguely of visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig, and was walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said, ââ¬Å"Harry?â⬠Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door. ââ¬Å"What are you doing?â⬠said Lupin, though in a very different voice from Filch. ââ¬Å"Where are Ron and Hermione?â⬠ââ¬Å"Hogsmeade,â⬠said Harry, in a would-be casual voice. ââ¬Å"Ah,â⬠said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you come in? Iââ¬â¢ve just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson.â⬠ââ¬Å"A what?â⬠said Harry. He followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers. ââ¬Å"Water demon,â⬠said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. ââ¬Å"We shouldnââ¬â¢t have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle.â⬠The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner. ââ¬Å"Cup of tea?â⬠Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. ââ¬Å"I was just thinking of making one.â⬠ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠said Harry awkwardly. Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout. ââ¬Å"Sit down,â⬠said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve only got teabags, Iââ¬â¢m afraid ââ¬â but I daresay youââ¬â¢ve had enough of tea leaves?â⬠Harry looked at him. Lupinââ¬â¢s eyes were twinkling. ââ¬Å"How did you know about that?â⬠Harry asked. ââ¬Å"Professor McGonagall told me,â⬠said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re not worried, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Harry. He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog heââ¬â¢d seen in Magnolia Crescent but decided not to. He didnââ¬â¢t want Lupin to think he was a coward, especially since Lupin already seemed to think he couldnââ¬â¢t cope with a Boggart. Something of Harryââ¬â¢s thoughts seemed to have shown on his face, because Lupin said, ââ¬Å"Anything worrying you, Harry?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠Harry lied. He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠he said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupinââ¬â¢s desk. ââ¬Å"You know that day we fought the Boggart?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠said Lupin slowly. ââ¬Å"Why didnââ¬â¢t you let me fight it?â⬠said Harry abruptly. Lupin raised his eyebrows. ââ¬Å"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry,â⬠he said, sounding surprised. Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that heââ¬â¢d done any such thing, was taken aback. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠he said again. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠said Lupin, frowning slightly, ââ¬Å"I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.â⬠Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer heââ¬â¢d expected, but Lupin had said Voldemortââ¬â¢s name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore. ââ¬Å"Clearly, I was wrong,â⬠said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. ââ¬Å"But I didnââ¬â¢t think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic.â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t think of Voldemort,â⬠said Harry honestly. ââ¬Å"I ââ¬â I remembered those Dementors.â⬠ââ¬Å"I see,â⬠said Lupin thoughtfully. ââ¬Å"Well, wellâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢m impressed.â⬠He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harryââ¬â¢s face. ââ¬Å"That suggests that what you fear most of all is ââ¬â fear. Very wise, Harry.â⬠Harry didnââ¬â¢t know what to say to that, so he drank some more tea. ââ¬Å"So youââ¬â¢ve been thinking that I didnââ¬â¢t believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?â⬠said Lupin shrewdly. ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦yeah,â⬠said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot happier. ââ¬Å"Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors ââ¬âââ¬Å" He was interrupted by a knock on the door. ââ¬Å"Come in,â⬠called Lupin. The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing. ââ¬Å"Ah, Severus,â⬠said Lupin, smiling. ââ¬Å"Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?â⬠Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin. ââ¬Å"I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,â⬠said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at the tank. ââ¬Å"Fascinating,â⬠said Snape, without looking at it. ââ¬Å"You should drink that directly, Lupin.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, Yes, I will,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"I made an entire cauldronful,â⬠Snape continued. ââ¬Å"If you need more.â⬠ââ¬Å"I should probably have some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not at all,â⬠said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didnââ¬â¢t like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful. Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled. ââ¬Å"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex.â⬠He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. ââ¬Å"Pity sugar makes it useless,â⬠he added, taking a sip and shuddering. ââ¬Å"Why ââ¬â?â⬠Harry began. Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been feeling a bit off-color,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there arenââ¬â¢t many wizards who are up to making it.â⬠Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a crazy urge to knock the goblet out of his hands. ââ¬Å"Professor Snapeââ¬â¢s very interested in the Dark Arts,â⬠he blurted out. ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion. ââ¬Å"Some people reckon ââ¬ââ⬠Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on, ââ¬Å"some people reckon heââ¬â¢d do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.â⬠Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face. ââ¬Å"Disgusting,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Well, Harry, Iââ¬â¢d better get back to work. See you at the feast later.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠said Harry, putting down his empty teacup. The empty goblet was still smoking. ******** ââ¬Å"There you go,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"We got as much as we could carry.â⬠A shower of brilliantly colored sweets fell into Harryââ¬â¢s lap. It was dusk, and Ron and Hermione had just turned up in the common room, pink-faced from the cold wind and looking as though theyââ¬â¢d had the time of their lives. ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠said Harry, picking up a packet of tiny black Pepper Imps. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?â⬠By the sound of it ââ¬â everywhere. Dervish and Banges, the wizarding equipment shop, Zonkoââ¬â¢s Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming mugs of hot butterbeer, and many places besides. ââ¬Å"The post office, Harry! About two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all color-coded depending on how fast you want your letter to get there!â⬠ââ¬Å"Honeydukes has got a new kind of fudge; they were giving out free samples, thereââ¬â¢s a bit, look ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We think we saw an ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Wish we could have brought you some butterbeer, really warms you up ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"What did you do?â⬠said Hermione, looking anxious. ââ¬Å"Did you get any work done?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came inâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He told them all about the goblet. Ronââ¬â¢s mouth fell open. ââ¬Å"Lupin drank it?â⬠he gasped. ââ¬Å"Is he mad?â⬠Hermione checked her watch. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢d better go down, you know, the feastââ¬â¢ll be starting in five minutes They hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd, still discussing Snape. ââ¬Å"But if he ââ¬â you know ââ¬ââ⬠Hermione dropped her voice, glancing nervously around, ââ¬Å"if he was trying to ââ¬â to poison Lupin ââ¬â he wouldnââ¬â¢t have done it in front of Harry.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, maybe,â⬠said Harry as they reached the entrance hall and crossed into the Great Hall. It had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats, and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant watersnakes. The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of everything. Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked cheerful and as well as he ever did; he was talking animatedly to tiny little Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining it, or were Snapeââ¬â¢s eyes flickering toward Lupin more often than was natural? The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a reenactment of his own botched beheading. It had been such a pleasant evening that Harryââ¬â¢s good mood couldnââ¬â¢t even be spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left the hall, ââ¬Å"The Dementors send their love, Potter!â⬠Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students. ââ¬Å"Why isnââ¬â¢t anyone going in?â⬠said Ron curiously. Harry peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed. ââ¬Å"Let me through, please,â⬠came Percyââ¬â¢s voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the holdup here? You canââ¬â¢t all have forgotten the password ââ¬â excuse me, Iââ¬â¢m Head Boy ââ¬âââ¬Å" And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, ââ¬Å"Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.â⬠Peopleââ¬â¢s heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s going on?â⬠said Ginny, who had just arrived. A moment later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping toward the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was. ââ¬Å"Oh, my ââ¬ââ⬠Hermione grabbed Harryââ¬â¢s arm. The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely. Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. ââ¬Å"We need to find her,â⬠said Dumbledore. ââ¬Å"Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll be lucky!â⬠said a cackling voice. It was Peeves the Poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry. ââ¬Å"What do you mean, Peeves?â⬠said Dumbledore calmly, and Peevesââ¬â¢s grin faded a little. He didnââ¬â¢t dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. ââ¬Å"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesnââ¬â¢t want to be seen. Sheââ¬â¢s a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful,â⬠he said happily. ââ¬Å"Poor thing.â⬠he added unconvincingly. ââ¬Å"Did she say who did it?â⬠said Dumbledore quietly. ââ¬Å"Oh yes, Professorhead,â⬠said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. ââ¬Å"He got very angry when she wouldnââ¬â¢t let him in, you see.â⬠Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. ââ¬Å"Nasty temper heââ¬â¢s got, that Sirius Black.â⬠How to cite Chapter 8 Flight of the Fat Lady, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
Fraud, Abuse, and Waste in the U.S. Healthcare System free essay sample
It is estimated that the United States spends between 15 and 25 billion dollars annually because of fraud, waste, and abuse (fwa). This paper will examine the types of fwa, the involvement of the federal government in prevention, the roles of healthcare organizations and employees, and the protection for whistle-blowers and consequences for those involved in fwa. FWA (fraud, abuse, and waste) can be described as the intentional deception to get an unauthorized or unwarranted benefit. A pharmacist that charges both the patient and the insurance company for a prescription is classified as fraud. A physician that prescribes unneeded tests for a patient to generate additional revenue is an example of waste. A pharmacist the receives a ââ¬Å"brand necessaryâ⬠prescription and enters the brand in the computer, charges the insurance company for the brand, but gives the patient a cheaper generic is an example of abuse. Many deceptive actions classify into more than one of these categories and for this reason they have been merged into one category as fraud, waste, and abuse by the government. We will write a custom essay sample on Fraud, Abuse, and Waste in the U.S. Healthcare System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In recent years the government has allocated more federal funds to combat the increase in fwa. Federal and state laws have been enacted to block the proliferation of abuse and increase the penalties associated with such violations. The government has also increased the number of audits performed on providers and as well as the number of auditors in has to perform these checks. The government has also increased the number of regulators and government personnel that oversee these activities that have larger percentages of fwa. Funding has also been provided for anti-fraud programs to educate all levels of the general population. CMS, which is the government agency that oversees Medicare, published a 70 page document on fwa requirements and recommendations in 2006. In 2009 Medicare formed the Healthcare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) which is a special active taskforce that focuses on fraud in Medicare programs. Collectively the Federal and State authorities that enforce fwa include the Office of the Inspector General of US Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Justice, CMS, and the Statesââ¬â¢ attorney general. Combined, these government agencies work together to reduced fwa in the US healthcare system. Examining what these government agencies look for with be discussed next. False claims are the largest of all government healthcare fraud. These could be claims submitted for patients that were never seen, claims submitted for procedures never performed, or claims submitted for procedures that were not necessary. The intent to defraud the government is not necessary if the actions are the results of reckless disregard of gross negligence. Even if intensions are good, the US government will prosecute false claims that are submitted. Prescriptions that have been forged, altered, or purchased also fall under the category of fwa. Practices such as ââ¬Å"shortingâ⬠or partially filling prescriptions but charging the full price with no arrangement for delivery of the remainder of the prescription as another example of fwa. Double billing both the patient and the insurance company for prescriptions is another example. Improperly keeping an overpayment from a government or private payer also classifies as fwa. Now that there have been many examples cited, a clear definition of fwa exists, and the government agencies that oversee fwa have been reviewed, we will examine prosecutions and protections. Heavy fines, exclusions from participation, and criminal prosecution can be the consequences for those who violate the laws surrounding fwa for healthcare. Over 1500 entities were excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs last year because of their involvement with fwa. The government has also instituted to protect those who report fwa from repercussions from other institutions or individuals. The False Claims Act protects company whistleblowers by protecting their current job, forbidding the alleged company from acts of demotion, suspension, or harassment to the employee. Potential remedies against retaliation include job reinstatement with double back pay and other special damages. Law suits called ââ¬Å"Qui tamâ⬠where a company employee or private citizen sues the company on behalf of the Federal Government for fwa violations. The employee of private citizen may be rewarded with as much at 30 percent of the amount discovered to be owed to the government based on the circumstances of the case. Several states have their own false claims acts. The deficit reduction act encourages states to create their own act by giving the states a larger share of recoveries from Medicaid providers. Federal kickback laws have been enacted to discourage and penalize those that knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit, or receive any profit from the referral of patients or prescriptions covered by healthcare programs. Violations are subject to imprisonment, high fines, exclusions from government benefits, costly civil penalties, and possible prosecution under state laws. Letââ¬â¢s look at a final piece of discouraging fwa with the education and awareness of those that work in the medical fields. Companies have proactively established positions, departments, and company wide education to reduce the amount of fwa in their company because the penalties for violations are so high. In other words, it is cheaper for them to change the culture of there company and create awareness, than to face the consequences, legal fees, and fines associated with violation. Companies have developed ââ¬Å"codes of ethicsâ⬠to give their employees the tools to determine right from wrong. Programs explain the duties of an employee and the consequences for non-compliance. The programs even include volunteers, board members and directors, as well as all the providersââ¬â¢ regular employees. Many organizations have created a compliance officer, or depending on the size of the company, and entire compliance department. The compliance officer enforces the code of ethics, reports compliance incidents to agencies, develops compliance training, develops and maintains a compliance reporting system, follows up on all internal reports of fraud and abuse, performs internal operational audits, and performs billing audits. Many companies have seen a dramatic decrease in fwa since implementing a compliance strategy inside their organization, which pays for its existence by decreasing legal fees, fines, and penalties the company would have otherwise incurred. A balancing act must constantly be maintained between the administrative cost associated with the prosecution and oversight of fwa and amount fwa that exists. After all spending 30 billion dollars to control and eliminate fwa when there is only 15-25 billion to be saved just does not make sense. Some people will always be dishonest, but making it harder and the penalties greater, may decrease the frequency of fwa in the healthcare industry.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Name Essays (1636 words) - Economy Of China, China, Economy
Name Instructor Course Date Insurance in China The international business that a company is doing can get some consequences that end up having some strong effects of the firm's success (Yu, et al). Choosing a bad country reduces the opportunities and increases the risks for a high financial loss and this can lead to loss of control on the foreign market. When conducting international business it is important to consider the cultural difference and other aspects that affect the business before entering the market. The differences can include language, political states, religion, culture and the demand types. It is easier for a company to enter the new market if the company can create partnerships in the new country just like the partnership in this case between liberty mutual in the United States and the spring airlines in China. Through doing this several obstacles are reduced and entry can be more successful (Yu, et al). Everywhere you look nowadays the booming story is that China has emerged as the world' second largest economy. The economy of China has emerged as the second largest having an economic growth of 10% in the last 30 years (Yu, et al). These numbers makes several countries salivate to tap into the economy of the growing market of China. Unlike any other place in the market, the business culture of Chinese is unlike any other country in the world and the foreign countries need to understand the practical challenges they have to face in order to succeed in this country.in this essay I will discuss the five biggest practical challenges for the foreign small and medium size medium enterprises in the China market and how to address this challenges. For almost a decade of assisting the foreign companies more so the small and the medium sized enterprises. Liberty mutual in the United States has come to understand the major problems that exist for these kind of companies when operating a nd growing their businesses. Red tape There are administrative and bureaucratic tasks in the west that have been simplified in the west that are still time consuming in China. The processes like the opening of a bank account, gaining the approval of a product and registration of a company can drug for even several months. China still lacks a strong rule of law and also has an inconsistent application of regulations, this means that the processes such as opening of a bank account and registering of a company are not designed for the convenience of a new company. The opening of bank account is an important process in China because it also plays an important role in the distribution of the insurance products and there are changes in the last couple of years represent some major threats and also major opportunities to the foreign insurers. The too many requirements needed in the entry level at the Chinese market also is a challenge. It is a regulatory requirement for any foreign insurer to be present in China for at lea st two years before they apply for the business license. No life insurer can also generate revenue before they are given the business license (Yu, et al). In the west several processes are handled electronically and in china, these processes needs reams of paperwork that needs to be filled and stamped by hand. The time that is required in completing these process is a bit lengthy. There are foreign companies that hire 1-2 full time staff in China with the hope that those hired will lead the sales and marketing efforts only to find out later that the employees spend more time in administrative tasks completion (Yu, et al). For a company to be successful in china, the company needs a full time administrative team in place that is responsible for handling the paperwork of the company. This kind of support will free up time for the sales team to focus on promoting the products of the company. This will be easy as they will not have to spend time getting approvals from the offices that are spread all over town. For success here the company should also find ways of reducing the current level of assets that are required
Monday, November 25, 2019
People Watching essays
People Watching essays Living in a small town limits the number of places people can gather. Driving down the road towards my destination proved to me the lack of variation my town has. While surrounding cities are known for their downtown areas, I live in a city that is made up almost completely of gas stations and strip malls. I was very anxious to get out of my town and into a new atmosphere. As I sit on a bench in downtown Royal Oak I am prepared to see people from all spectrums of life going about their business. It is noon and the park is full of parents with kids, and a few elderly ladies walking around while entertaining themselves with small talk. I walk over to the swings and watch a dad pushing two twin boys who look to be having the time of their life. I can hear the yelps of the boys as Dad pushes them higher and higher. The father, who looks to be in some sort of executive business, has no problem getting his suit dirty to make his kids smile. Soon, a woman in what looks to be her mid thirties joins the group on the swing. She helps the man push the other boy, but after five minutes the boys hug and kiss the man and walk away with the woman. As they walk past my bench I am clued in on what has just happened. Dont worry youll see him next weekend. Dont you want to have fun with Mommy? the woman explains to the tearful boys. Hearing the conversation makes me realize the problems that the young boys are dealing with, and how for the 10 minutes I watched, they were having the best time with their dad. At 12:45, as a force of habit I get in my car and drive to a nearby store. I get out of the car, and notice the difference in Royal Oak and my hometown; I look at my watch and realize it is 12:47; the car trip seemed a waste of time, as I easily could have walked from the park to my second destination. It seems my years of driving from place to place in my town, has rubbed off on me in that it i...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Business Cycles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Business Cycles - Essay Example Most observers find that the length of a business cycle from peak to peak, or from bottom to bottom vary, so that cycles are not systematic in their regularity. In fact, economic history shows that no two cycles are alike. Some economists dispute the existence of real "cycles" and use the term "fluctuations" instead. Others see enough similarities between shifts in economy and claim that studying business cycles in detail is a powerful tool which can serve us to determine the current state of the economy. The key question concerning business cycles is whether or not similar mechanisms that generate recessions and booms in capitalist economies exist. Periods of stagnation are a great burden for society. Being painful for large majorities of workers who lose their jobs, they produce pressure on policy makers to try to smooth out the oscillations. A very important goal of Western civilization since the Great Depression has been to limit the dips. However, government intervention in the economy can be a risky business. For example, some of Herbert Hoover's reforms (including tax increases) are widely believed to have deepened the depression. Managing economic policy in order to reduce the negative side effects of business cycle bottoms is not an easy job in a society with a complex economy, even when the theory of Keynes is applied. According to some nineteenth-century advocates of communism, this is an insurmountable difficulty. For instance, Karl Marx claimed that the business cycle crises of the capitalistic economy were inevitable results of its operations. From this point of view, all that governments can do is to delay the inevitable economic crises and to hope that they will not appear during their stay in power. Even then, crisis could emerge in a different form, for example as severe, unexpected inflation or an increasing government deficit. Worse, by delaying a crisis, western governments are seen as making it more painful for their successors and more dramatic for the whole society. In addition to the wide-spread left-wing criticism, Neoclassical economists question the ability of Keynesian policies to manage an economy. Challenging the Phillips Curve Nobel Laureates such as Milton Friedman and Edmund Phelps argue that inflationary expectations negate the Phillips Curve in the long run. Their theory was supported by the stagflation of the 70's. Friedman claimed that all the Fed can do is to avoid large mistakes. He believes that the rapid contracting of the money supply in the face of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was such a big mistake. It turned what would have been a recession into a great depression (Rothbard, 1975). That is why, good forecasts of the cyclical movements of the economy and especially of the turning points of a business cycle are critical to improve policy decisions. The means of monetary and fiscal policy can also help to smooth the cycle out. The Austrian School of economics does not accept the suggestion that business cycles are inherent features of an unregulated economy and seeks for their origins in governmental intervention in the money supply. Austrian School economists underline the role of interest rates as the price of investment capital, which stays in the base
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Change Management Framework in Healthcare Research Paper
Change Management Framework in Healthcare - Research Paper Example The health care managers and professionals obligations and duties is to maintain and acquire the expertise skills needed for them to undertake their managerial and professional tasks. Changes are always around us, and the opportune moment of making the changes participating fully is the way to support. There are various ways to make the transformational changes in the managements of the hospitals and the changes results to the benefits of the healthcare environment. Managing changes is more of handling the complexities involved in the success of that process. It is the planning, evaluating, and operations implementations, the strategies and tactics and making sure the changes taken are more relevant and worthwhile. Change management is a dynamic, complex and a challenging process; it is always a combination of the efforts of the oriented people and the technological solutions as well (Davies, Finlay and Bullman, 2000). To make the changes is a demanding and fatiguing process that involves cooperation of the people at stake. In order to bring in a change or adapt to another situation will require the manager to challenge the standards and the precedents a well as requiring perseverance against some of the norms and habits of the established behaviors. To bring about change requires the manager to have a time commitment. He or she must understand some of the values that matters and his focus to the values that need to change instead of new ones. The manager can check on what is suitable in the healthcare management how it will affect the patients, staff, employees and the society in general. The healthcare manger on evaluating the necessary changes that will be suitable in the health care organization is changing the lives and the environment of the institutions and making it better. Being clear to what is necessarily important and developing proactive actions and responses accordingly is what makes the success of the institution. The key strategies in the
Monday, November 18, 2019
Madonna Granduca Painting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Madonna Granduca Painting - Essay Example The essay "Madonna Granduca Painting" focuses on the painting of Madonna Granduca. It is painted with oil on wood and is the size of 84 x 55. The painting shows Madonna holding a baby in her arms. The background is black with the main focus on the baby, with Madonna as the secondary figure of the portrait. The hands of Madonna are holding the baby, with one arm under the baby and one on the stomach, with the presentation of the child on the side. This position is what provides the main focus to the child. The pose that Madonna has is facing the canvas and is in the middle of the portrait. Her head is slightly tilted to the side, which also points toward the child as the main figure. Her eyes in this particular portrait are closed and pointing downward, specifically to show a presentation of care for the child. The hand of the child is on the heart of Madonna, which shows the relationship between the two. The pose that is in this painting is able to show the sacredness of the child as well as the motherly figure that is a part of Madonna. The colors that are used with this painting also help with the association of the child as the main figure. The background being black helps to present the portrayal of the child. The contrast with the child is from the cream and peach texture and color that stands out as the brighter part of the picture. The Madonna is wearing a green robe and red dress, both which fade into the bottom part of the picture. The texture that is used with the colors is richer.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
The Importance Of Water Recycling Environmental Sciences Essay
The Importance Of Water Recycling Environmental Sciences Essay The aim is to review the importance of water recycling and the unending effects of hard water all round us. Objective is to achieve a clear understanding of the present and future benefits of water recycling and why it is still practised today. A number of up-to-date water recycling tehnologies are studied to an extent. The perpetual need for the various solutions in softening hard water is looked into retrospectively carefully highlighting typical problems likely to occur. Water is a common substance that is essential to all forms of life. A massive 75 percent of planet earth is covered in water and is mostly found in oceans and large water bodies. Of this total volume of water, 97 percent is saltwater and 3 percent is freshwater. 69 percent of this freshwater is glacial and 31 percent is groundwater. For billions of years, earth has been reusing water over and over again in a natural process called the hydrologic cycle (BENEFITS OF RECYCLING., 2010). This cycle is the path water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again. 1.1 Water Recycling Water recycling is a natural process which relies on technology to speed up such projects. It is sometimes described as unplanned and planned (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). By unplanned, this means for example, when cities draw their water supplies from rivers that receive waste water upstream from these cities. Water from these rivers has been reused, treated and piped into the water supply a number of times before the last downstream use withdraws the water (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). However, that of planned water recycling projects is developed with the aim of reusing a recycled water supply. Recycled water is waste water that has been treated and processed for useful nonpotable purposes such as agricultural, landscape, public parks, and golf course irrigation (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). Other nonpotable applications include cooling water for power plants and oil refineries, industrial process water for facilities such as paper mills and carpet dyers, toilet flushing, dust control, construction activities, concrete mixing, and artificial lakes (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). In an industrial facility, water is recycled and reused onsite used in cooling processes for example (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). Although most water recycling projects have been developed to meet the demands of nonpotable water, a number of them use recycled water indirectly for potable purposes (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). These projects include recharging ground water aquifers and augmenting surface water reservoirs with recycled water (OASIS DESIGN., 2009). Recycled water can be spread or even injected into ground water aquifers to augment ground water supplies, and to prevent salt water intrusion in coastal areas. Environmentally, water recycling provides tremendous benefits. Water recycling can help us find ways to reduce the diversion of water from sensitive ecosystems by providing a supplementary source of water. The lack of sufficient water flow, as a result of diversion for agricultural, urban, and industrial purposes, can cause impairment of water quality and ecosystem health for plants, wildlife, and fish which depend on adequate water flow to their habitat for sustenance and reproduction ( OASIS DESIGN., 2009). For streams that have been dried from water diversion, recycled water may be used to build these habitats (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). Water flow can be augmented with recycled water to develop and sustain the aquatic and wildlife habitats (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). 1.2 GreyWater Greywater is water that has been used domestically (from baths, showers, clothes washers, and wash-hand basins) except for water from toilets (GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS., 2010). Greywater takes up 50 80% of household wastewater (OASIS DESIGN., 2009). Wastewater produced by toilets is called black water (OASIS DESIGN., 2009). However wastewater from kitchen sinks and dish-washers is also considered to be black water as well due to the presence of organic contents (OASIS DESIGN., 2009). The clearest purpose of recycling domestic grey water is that it replaces potable water use (OASIS DESIGN., 2009). 2 BUILD-UP OF TOXIC ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM RECYCLING In water treatment, a wide range of chemicals are added in excess due to poor operation or accidents (GRAY N. F., 2005). However, most of these chemicals are discharged with the finished water product due to the nature of the processes themselves. These include iron, aluminium, and organic compounds used as coagulates, such as polycrylamide (GRAY N. F., 2005). These chemicals result in odour and discolouration in the water as well as poor taste. Furthermore, the new Drinking Water Directive sets limit values for all these compounds. Chemicals such as chlorine and fluorine are added intentionally to protect the public from pathogens and teeth decay respectively (GRAY N. F., 2005). 3 THE NEGATIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF DRINKING SEWAGE WATER The increasing concern of the public is reflected by a large rise in the sales of bottled water and home treatment systems (GRAY N.F., 2008). The view of reusing sewage water for the purpose of drinking water ignorantly puts people off now and again. However, the knowledge of water recycling plays a big role here so educating the consumer about water quality and the regulatory functions of water undertakers is mandatory (GRAY N.F., 2008). All water is reused and with the system of treatment in place, sewage water can be drinkable. The use of chlorine in water treatment is a major source of complaint with consumers (GRAY N.F., 2008). The prevailing reasons for boiling water, buying bottled water or the use of home treatment systems are over an improvement in taste and health concerns. There is a strong belief that bottled water is safer and purer to drink which unfortunately is not always true. The media also plays a role in the influence of attitudes towards water and the assessment risk (GRAY N.F., 2008). 4 REGULATIONS In protecting public health, conditions and regulations have been made to allow for the safe use of reclaimed water. Reclaimed water often provides a vital water supply and fertilizer source (METCALF EDDY., 2003). For most developing countries, the greatest concern with the use of wastewater for irrigation is that untreated or treated wastewater can possess quite a number of intestinal nematodes (e.g., Ascaris and Trichuris species and hookworms) and bacterial pathogens which are often difficult to control (METCALF EDDY., 2003). The health of the general public consuming farm produce that have been contaminated by the wastewater infected by these viral and bacterial agents can deteriorate over time. The world health organisation suggest that irrigation of farm produce prone to be eaten uncooked, sports fields, and public parks should be irrigated with wastewater dealt with stabilization ponds (METCALF EDDY., 2003). From country to country, regulations in reusing water and wastewat er vary. In England and Wales, Drinking Water Inspectorate control the standard of drinking water provided (GRAY N. F., 2005). However, the quality of the water is the privatised water companies responsibility (GRAY N. F., 2005).These responsibilities are regulated by the Office of Water Services and it also controls the price of water before hitting the market. The Environment Agency for England and Wales is responsible for controlling water pollution, regulating waste and manage integrated pollution control (IPC) licensing (GRAY N. F., 2005). It also has the duty to issue licenses for water control functions, promote the conservation and enhancements of freshwater to promote the recreational use of freshwater, to improve and develop fisheries and regulate them, to issue flood warnings and the provision of defences to reduce the risk of sea and river flooding, the issuing of land drainage consents and many other tasks (GRAY N. F., 2005). The Agency points out water protection zones , protects groundwater and sets the objectives for water quality (GRAY N. F., 2005). 5 PRECAUTIONS Dont store grey water Grey water should be used within 24 hours before the build up of bacteria develops. After this period, it is on its way to becoming septic, that is, black water (LETS GO GREEN., 2009). Avoid contamination and contact Identify grey water plumbing by labelling it. The use of gloves is vital when in contact with grey water filters or anything that has come in contact with it (LETS GO GREEN., 2009). Use only grey water that is fairly clean to start with. If otherwise, it should be diverted to a sewer or septic system (LETS GO GREEN., 2009). Microorganisms on consumable goods Untreated grey water possesses some microorganisms which affect lawns, or fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw (e.g., strawberries, lettuce, carrots) to an extent (LETS GO GREEN., 2009). Contamination of surface water Grey water should be disposed of properly either underground or in a mulch (a mulch is a covering made up of rotten vegetable matter which prevents evaporation and soil erosion). The addition of grey water to an already soaked soil should be avoided (LETS GO GREEN., 2009). 6 DESALINATION Desalination involves removing dissolved minerals from aquatic bodies to create drinking water (CITY OF RYDE, 2009). 15-50% of water is recovered with the other portion being brine (CITY OF RYDE, 2009). A few technologies have been produced for the execution of this process, including the best known and common membrane process is the reverse osmosis (CITY OF RYDE, 2009). http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/98-9/offshore/ro.gif Figure 2: Diagram showing osmotic and reverse osmotic flow (Source: Courtesy of FWPBDP., 2010) Countries which do not have the advantage of continual fresh water supplies, competition for fresh water continually soars (TENE A. 2010). Israel is regarded pioneer in the area of desalination (TENE A. 2010). Following the water crisis in Israel, the state of water economy improved to an extent that even during harsh drought years, the water economy will continue to flourish since the water in the sea would not be running out anytime soon (TENE A. 2010). This sea water is pumped to as much volume is required and the final desalinated water is supplied as necessary. Another type of separation technique is the evaporation process (PEREIRA H.C. 1973). Developing economies such as California have warm climates of high evaporation rates (PEREIRA H.C. 1973). Its primary water resource is the sea where the evaporation process is practised. It is an effective alternative to water recycling in water poor regions (PEREIRA H.C. 1973). 7 FUTURE OF WATER RECYCLING Recycling is generally vital to our planets future. The rate at which the earths highly valued resources are been consumed is taking a rapid turn and many of these resources are not renewable (U.S. EPA., 2009). Recycling as a process takes considerably less energy to reuse an existing product than to source and make one from scratch (U.S. EPA., 2009). Water recycling has certainly established beyond doubt to be effective and resourceful in developing a new and reliable water supply. Nonpotable reuse is a widely accepted practise that will continue to expand (YOSHIKAWA N., 2006). Advances in wastewater treatment technology and health studies of indirect potable reuse will become common soon (YOSHIKAWA N., 2006). As water and environmental needs becomes urgent, water recycling would play a greater role in our long-term water supply (U.S. EPA., 2009). 8 WATER RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY The type of wastewater is essential for determining the kind of treatment plant and technologies to employ. Wastewater primarily arises from water usage by residential, commercial and industrial institutions including groundwater, surface water and storm water as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3: Sources of Wastewater (Source: Courtesy of ESCWA., 2003). Typical examples of water recycling systems in the domestic or industrial field are flotation and sedimentation, of which both are relevant to the chemical industry. 8.1 Flotation Flotation is a unit process used to remove solid or liquid from any form of liquid by releasing fine gas, usually air bubbles into it (ESCWA., 2003). The gas bubbles would stick to the liquid or would get trapped in the particle structure of the suspended solids, raising the floaty force of the particle and gas bubbles put together (ESCWA., 2003). Particles having a higher density than the liquid would be able rise. Flotation is used to remove suspended matter and to concentrate biological sludge in wastewater treatment (ESCWA., 2003). Flotation has an advantage over the sedimentation process in that; very minute and light particles are easily removed in a quicker time frame (ESCWA., 2003). Table 1: Data of Flotation Methods Process Brief Descriptions Dissolved Air Flotation Wastewater is subjected to the pressure of several atmospheres while air is introduced into it. The pressure then returns to atmospheric level, allowing the air to be released as small bubbles after a short time. These bubbles which stick to the suspended matter where it is removed by a skimming device. Air Flotation By the application of a revolving impellers or through diffusers, gas is passed into the liquid directly at atmospheric pressure Vacuum Flotation Wastewater is saturated with air. With the application of a partial vacuum, the dissolved air results in escaping as minute bubbles where they form a scam blanket. This blanket is removed by a skimming device. Source: Courtesy of ESCWA., 2003. Figure 4: A typical Flotation unit (ESCWA., 2003). 8.2 Sedimentation Sedimentation is a widely used unit operation in water and wastewater treatment (ESCWA., 2003). It involves the gravitational settling of suspended solids in a mixture usually water (ESCWA., 2003). These suspended solids are removed from suspensions by allowing it gravitate to the floor of a tank to form a sludge under near still conditions (ESCWA., 2003). This tank is referred to as a clarifier (ESCWA., 2003). It comprises of three main designs. They are; Horizontal flow clarifiers They can either be rectangular, square or circular in shape. The flow in rectangular clarifiers is rectilinear and parallel to the long axis of the basin. Furthermore, the water flows radially from the centre towards the outer edges in circular clarifiers. The clarifiers are usually made up of steel or reinforced concrete (ESCWA., 2003). Solid contact clarifiers They get solids into contact with a suspended layer of sludge near the bottom that acts as a blanket. The solids put in cumulate and remain trapped within the sludge blanket. As the solids remain below, the liquid is able to rise upwards (ESCWA., 2003). Inclined surface basins The flow here is laminar and there is little or no wind effect. Inclined trays are used to divide the depth into shallower sections, reducing the settling times in the process (ESCWA., 2003). Figure 5: Parts of a circular clarifier (Source: Courtesy of ESCWA., 2003). 9 HARD WATER Hard water is simply referred to as water that contains more minerals than ordinary water (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Water that is said to be hard possesses minerals made up of calcium and magnesium compounds (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). This water usually comes from aquifers and other underground sources that collect dissolved minerals from rocks (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Minerals of these sought reduces the ability of soap to lather and the ease of rinsing anything being washed made difficult. On the other hand, soft water is treated water that contains only sodium ion (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Figure 6: Diagram showing hard and soft water processes (Source: Courtesy of LENNTECH., 2009). 9.1 PROBLEMS WITH HARD WATER Every cleaning task from laundering and dish washing to bathing and personal care is made unreasonably difficult taking up time and energy. The quantity of hardness minerals in water would determine the soap and detergent level required for cleaning. Additional detergent would have to be added to achieve the desired goal. Dishes and glasses washed using hard water may not be totally clean possessing certain spots when dry. The same goes with clothes which may feel harsh and scratchy when worn. Furthermore, skin was led with hard water may leave the skin feeling itchy and dry certainly not a remedy for skins with conditions such as eczema (HEIDEKAMP A. J., 2005). A number of detergents have ingredients that would mix with hard water minerals leaving a white deposit on clothing, making it look faded and worn out. Heated hard water affects water-using appliances (HEIDEKAMP A. J., 2005). It forms a scale of calcium and magnesium minerals which contributes to the inefficient and costly of these appliances (HEIDEKAMP A. J., 2005). Pipes become clogged with scale that impedes water flow and would in no time require pipe replacement. When hard water is heated, calcium ions react with bicarbonate ions to form an insoluble compound called calcium carbonate which is responsible for the scaling in pipes (HEIDEKAMP A. J., 2005). This is depicted in the equation below; 9.2 SOFTEN WATER TECHNIQUES 9.2.1 Lime-Soda Ash Technique It is the most common water softening method which involves the addition of slaked lime to hard water in water plants (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Lime and soda ash are used because they are readily accessible and cost effective for softening water (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Non-carbonate hardness is in turn reduced by the addition of soda ash to form insoluble precipitate which is also removed by filtration. Slaked lime is used to remove calcium bicarbonate from water (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). In this method, the slaked lime ions react with the calcium bicarbonate to form a slightly soluble calcium carbonate. This precipitate is usually removed by allowing it settle and then filtering (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). Additional lime is used in removing magnesium (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). This treatment becomes more costly as the hardness level has to be reduced to less than 5 grains. The use of the lime-soda ash treatment in homes was farfetched because of the equipment siz e and high cost involved in running one and even owning one (FREE DRINKING WATER., 2009). 9.2.2 Ion Exchange Columns Technique Ions could either be positively or negatively charged. A positive charge ion is called a cation while a negatively charged ion is an anion. The minerals, calcium and magnesium, that result in hardness are positively charged cations (NORDEN R. L., 2010). An ion exchange water softener has three main parts; A resin tank containing small beads of synthetic resin, A brine tank, The control valve (NORDEN R. L., 2010). When using ion exchange equipment, calcium and magnesium are exchanged for sodium from the brine tank (NORDEN R. L., 2010). As water passes through the resin tank, the sodium ions are exchanged with calcium and magnesium ions (NORDEN R. L., 2010). This is because the calcium and magnesium ions have a higher positive charge than the sodium ions. As the calcium and magnesium attach themselves to the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. After the sodium in the resin, medium is exhausted, the medium can be regenerated by the sodium from the brine tank (NORDEN R. L., 2010). People with health problems such as heart or circulation problems, or are on low sodium diets may need to avoid using the ion exchange because of the high sodium content (NORDEN R. L., 2010). It is not even recommended for watering lawns or plants due to the sodium content present. However, potassium can be used in replacing sodium but it costs more. It is highly recommended that only hot water in a h ome be softened because the hot water line and heater benefits and the rate of soap consumptions are reduced (NORDEN R. L., 2010). Another importance in using the ion exchange equipment is that, it removes traces of iron as well to an extent because it is a positively charged ion (NORDEN R. L., 2010). 9.2.3 Chemical Conditioners/Suppressants Technique Chemical conditioning involves the addition of polyphosphates (SOUTHERN WATER., 2005). This reduces the availability of calcium in the formation of deposits. This would result in the water behaving as though softening although this would be false regarding the removal of calcium. A measure of this supposed softening is that such water would need less soap or detergent to lather. The polyphosphates can easily be set up by installing a relatively cheap dispenser in the pipework that could easily treat all the water going into the property (SOUTHERN WATER., 2005). When exhausted in the dispenser, the polyphosphates usually in solid glass-like balls are added at any appropriate time frame (SOUTHERN WATER., 2005). Alternatively, using polyphosphates helps to reduce traces of lead from any lead pipework but this should not be a guaranteed reason for using this technique (SOUTHERN WATER., 2005). HARD WATER CONTAINING CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM ENTERING SOFTNER SOFTEN WATER CONTAINING SODIUM CONCLUSION Water is reusable. A high percentage of our water is recycled and the same water has been around for a long time. In this effect, water technologies have been cleverly developed in keeping this natural tradition alive. Hard water is water that contains calcium and magnesium ions, and can be reversed by softening it thereby leaving it usable in homes and industries. It has a costly effect on most equipment in our homes and a health risk in humans. In softening hard water, the rate at which all these negative effects take its course would be minimised.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Little Yellow Dog, Long Goodby :: essays research papers
Comparative Essay: The Little Yellow Dog & The Long Goodbye a Every human being must have a set of moral codes. These morals are usually set out by the people and environments that one finds themselves surrounded by. Easy Rawlins, the main protagonist in The Little Yellow Dog by Walter Mosely, is exposed to crime at an early age, and is surrounded by it for most of his life. On the other hand, Philip Marlowe, the main protagonist in The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, grows up in a peaceful and pleasant environment. His first experiences with crime occur when he becomes a private investigator. As adults, both of these men find themselves involved in criminal activity. In their attempts to seek the true justice that they deserve, they are forced to defy the law. In doing so, they experience many physical challenges, including gang beatings and police intimidation. They also experience numerous mental challenges, including lying to the police, deceiving their own families, and the ability to cope with all the chaos that is surrounding them. In addition to being challenged physically and mentally, they are also socially challenged: Marlowe and Rawlins both feel that they are looked down upon due to their occupations. By the end of their journeys, both characters feel that defying the law can be the only way of achieving true justice. à à à à à Marlowe and Rawlins both experience immense physical challenges. At one point in The Little Yellow Dog, Rawlins finds himself mixed up in a murder case. The police suspect Easy to be withholding information simply because he is black. He is escorted through the basement of the Hollywood Police Station, where it is described as ââ¬Å"thirty or so men living in cages underground. Like livestock waiting for some further shame to be laid on them. Like sharecroppers or slaves living in shanty shacks on the edge of a plantation.â⬠(Mosely 148). Rawlins is appalled by the brutality that surrounds him. ââ¬Å"Terrible isnââ¬â¢t it, Mr. Rawlinsâ⬠(Mosely 152) the captain asks Easy, ââ¬Å"yes it isâ⬠(Mosely 152) he replies, for he knows the entire reason for him to be escorted through is ââ¬Å"a setupâ⬠(Mosely 154). It is obvious to Easy that the police are attempting to exploit the jail. Rawlins again endures physical punishment when he is clubb ed on the head by a group of gangsters. ââ¬Å"And then a heavy weight came down on the back of my head.
Monday, November 11, 2019
A Study on the Students Parking Facilities at UITM Shah Alam
TITLE : A STUDY ON THE STUDENTS PARKING FACILITIES PROVIDED BY UITM SHAH ALAM Problem Statement Recently UiTM has provided parking spaces for students at certain lots such as at the marching field (padang kawad), parking zone in front of the Faculty of Engineering and Mawar lot area. Yet, the students donââ¬â¢t make full use of the parking instead, they park at the restricted area such staff parking, visitor, faculty area which makes the situation crowded. Research Objectives 1. To identify the preferences of the students park at the restricted area. 2. To explore whether the parking provided by UiTM is insufficient. . To explain the attitudes and behaviours of the students that park at the restricted area. Research Questions 1. What makes them prefer to park at the restricted area? 2. Does UiTM provides sufficient and convenient parking area at every faculty? 3. Why the students still disobey the rules even though they knew they are restricted or had been summoned? Scope of the s tudies This will be the students who have their own transportation in UiTM Shah Alam. We prefer to use students from Faculty of Communication and Media studies since they have the limited space parking area in a result making the situation crowded. This will be an advantage for us to understand easier why the issue is happening. Plus, the students here are much open minded and out-spoken whenever we talk to them. Methodology 1. Location of the study. The location weââ¬â¢re studying is in UiTM, Shah Alam. Weââ¬â¢ll be specifically more to Faculty of Comm and Media studies because the spaces are limited and small for parking areas. Itââ¬â¢s a perfect area to study on. 2. Population and Sampling Procedures The population will be among the UiTM Shah Alam students while the samplings will be the Comm and Media studies students. Compared to other students, Mass Comm students are much more responsive. We will give to twenty respondents of MassComm student to get the result. 3. Data Collective Method After we got the result, we will collect them and use SPSS system to make our research more convenient and systematic. We will do in percentage to get better findings. Questionnaire Part A ( Respondent Profile) 1. Gender :MaleFemale 2. Race : MalayBumiputra 3. Religion : IslamBuddhaHinduChristianOthers ________________ 4. Sequence : MC221MC222MC223 MC224MC225MC226 MC227MC226 5. Semester :123 4 5 Part B (preferences of the studentsââ¬â¢ park at the restricted area) 6. Do you think that parking space are enough for students? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 7. As a student, do you agree to park at Padang Kawad and wait for the bus to go the class? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 8. Do you agree that UiTM should provide more space near to the faculty? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Part C (parking provided by UiTM is insufficient) Reference : 1 ââ¬â poor2 ââ¬â fair3 ââ¬â good 4 ââ¬â very good5 ââ¬â excellent |9. How do you think of the parking that provided by UiTM? |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 | |10. How convenient the parking facilities at UiTM? |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 | |11. How they manage location of the parking area? |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 | Part D (The attitudes and behaviours of the students) 12. The reason of most of Mass Comm students to park near Faculty is because it is easy to them to go to class. Do you agree? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 13. Do you agree that most of the Mass Comm students disobey rules made by UiTM that are restricted to park at the staff parking lots? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 14. Do you agree that students who gets summon from UiTM will change their attitudes? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Saturday, November 9, 2019
My Journey to Writing
My Journey to Writing Free Online Research Papers At one point in my career as a student writing had actually been a pleasure for me. I had written a love poem as extra credit in the tenth grade. That may have been the only time I had actually enjoyed writing. Although writing would usually follow a reading assignment, I would much rather read a paper than write one. Eventually the process of writing would be embedded into my memory and I would learn the steps to writing a good piece of literature. This was the period in which Iââ¬â¢d actually enjoyed writing. On my journey to college I would soon realize the importance of reading and writing and producing a good paper. While I was in the tenth grade my English teacher was preparing us for the writing portion of what is called the Georgia High School Graduation Test. This was a test issued in the eleventh grade and was required in order to graduate from high school. During this time period I did more writing than in all of my high school years combined. Before then, I have to admit, I despised writing. It was hard for me, but I have to say that my English teacher had prepared us well for that very important writing test that we had to take the very next year. Every day in class was dedicated to the writing process as well as extensive writing. But even with all of the help given to me and all of the necessary tools surrounding me, I still wasnââ¬â¢t comfortable with my journalism. I would constantly beat myself up about what to write and how to write it, and even get stuck on beginning the actual paper. The one piece of work that I had produced, and enjoyed, was a poem Iââ¬â¢d written about my ââ¬Å"puppy loveâ⬠. It was an extra credit assignment that I wrote at the very last minute and it turned out great, considering the fact that I detested poetry just as much as I did writing. Itââ¬â¢s funny though how work turns out when completed under pressure. After that on particular piece of literature, my perspective of writing changed a good deal. Writing that poem had encouraged me to want to write more. I had even begun to read different books and stories more frequently. Now Iââ¬â¢m in college, and just as soon as I was getting used to the whole idea of writing I got discouraged all over again! Your typical one page, five paragraph essay is no longer required. As if one page wasnââ¬â¢t enough, now my instructor is looking for 3-5 page essays and narratives. I canââ¬â¢t help but wonder how this will work out for me! Not only do I need to figure out what it is that I am going to write about, but now I have to figure out how Iââ¬â¢m going to make it five pages. I still have a better attitude about writing, which Iââ¬â¢m sure will get me through my new English course. I feel that once I become a better writer I will improve in other subjects as well. In addition, become a better writer could also mean person. After my thoughts changed about both reading and writing, they had become more important to me. Every day I have to deal with some form of writing and/or reading that would potentially influence me. I want to be able to understand writing more than what I do now. If I could express myself better on paper, I could then possibly get a better understanding of what others are trying to express in their work. I donââ¬â¢t write, or read, as often as I should and because of that I write ââ¬Å"Dâ⬠papers. Now that I actually have to start back writing like Iââ¬â¢d written in the tenth grade, I have more motivation. Those extensive writing sessions had proven to work me for back then. Now Iââ¬â¢m more than sure that once I get started on this path to a new form of writing, my ââ¬Å"Dâ⬠papers will start to look more like ââ¬Å"Aâ⬠papers. After all, that is my ultimate goal! There once was a time when I thought the world was coming to an end when my teacher would place a writing assignment in front of me. After being showed that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to writing, that all you have to do is ââ¬Ëwriteââ¬â¢, Iââ¬â¢ve found a new respect for the subject. In the process, I even grew to want to learn how to become better at it for many reasons. That includes the obvious reason, getting an A in the course. Though I still have a few issues with beginning, and ending, a paper, I no longer get disheartened when asked to complete one of my instructorââ¬â¢s famous writing assignments. Research Papers on My Journey to WritingMind TravelStandardized TestingHip-Hop is ArtHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyLifes What IfsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Project Managment Office SystemResearch Process Part OneAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia
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