Monday, December 30, 2019

roman slavery - 2257 Words

Roman slavery Slavery was an important part of the ancient world, and it was an integral piece of Roman daily life and the economy. Though slavery was practiced all over the Mediterranean, and was abundant in the east, its impact in other places was not felt nearly as much as it was in Rome and her Empire. As the Romans consolidated their position on the Italian peninsula and began the systematic conquest of the Mediterranean region, millions of slaves were incorporated into Rome and the Italian countryside. When the Romans were farmers and shepherds, slaves were used for farm work. Citizens were often away at war and slaves were necessary to keep the farms going. So the use of slaves gradually increased,†¦show more content†¦Slaves of unusual value (especially those of remarkable beauty) were sometimes offered at private sales by owners to probable buyers. The dealer s trade was considered disreputable, but it was very profitable. The vilest dealers sold female slaves for immoral purposes. The price of slaves varied greatly. Captives sold on a battlefield did not cost much because generals were eager for quick sales and on the trip back to Rome, dealers were sure of heavy losses from disease, fatigue and especially suicide. Some slaves fetched huge prices, however, handsome, educated boys and beautiful, accomplished girls may have cost thousands of dollars. Often slaves were matched in size and colouring. Public slaves were owned by the State; private slaves by individuals. Public slaves cared for public buildings, served magistrates and priests, were used by quastors (financial officials) and aediles, acted as night firemen and lictors (attendants on an official), jailers, and executioners. were not as likely to be sold, were not worked as hard, and were not subject to the whims of an individual master. Private slaves were either employed in the personal service of their masters (in which case they were called familia urbana, the city household) or kept for profit (hired out or employed in their master s business affairs). Of the slaves kept for profit the oldest and most important class was that of the farm hands (familia rustica). It was considered more honourable for aShow MoreRelatedRoman Slavery1148 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery is an institution of the common law of peoples by which a person is put into the ownership of somebody else, contrary to the natural order. Slavery was commonly practiced throughout all ancient history, but no other people in history owned so many slaves and depended on them so much as the Romans. Slavery was accepted as a part of life in ancient Rome by the slaves themselves and by the society. However, slavery was both beneficial and disastrous to ancient Rome. In RomanRead MoreSlavery in Roman Republic2798 Words   |  12 PagesDuring the Roman Republic, Ancient Rome was at its very beginnings and a civilization was just being created. Like any other civilization there were different levels of status between classes and several positions of power in which people could obtain. Subsequently, just as there were people of power and wealth, there were also people of little to no power and poverty. The Ancient Romans utilized the institution of slavery to help promote their civilization and became a major factor in the economyRead MoreThe Role of Slavery in Roman Comedy1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of Slavery in Roman Comedy The theater of the Roman Empire was very similar to that of the Greek theater. Masks were worn by the actors to amplify their voices and to allow some actors to play two different roles, and women were not allowed to have roles in the theater. Roman playwrights such as Plautus and Terence borrowed comedic stories from the Greek theater, â€Å"Romanizing† them in the process. For instance, Terence wrote a play called Heauton Timorumenos or The Self-Tormentor. ARead MoreComparison of Roman and American slavery760 Words   |  3 PagesComparison of Roman and Western Slavery Slavery is one of the most common entities between the Roman s society and the Western society in the late 1800 s. Both civilizations have many differences and similarities between their views on slavery, treatments of the slaves, and economics of slavery. Such similarities include the imprisonment of slaves, the cruel treatments towards slaves, and the legal status of slaves as their owner s property. However, despite the many differences, slavery between polarRead MoreRoman Slavery And The Works Of Plautus1440 Words   |  6 PagesRoman Slavery as Seen in the Works of Plautus Slavery was extremely common in ancient Rome. In fact, 25% of the population was thought to be slaves. Prominent men in society could host up to five hundred slaves. Emperors would have almost twenty thousand slaves at their court. People could become slaves in many ways. The most common way to become a slave was through piracy. But a huge number of slaves became slaves as war captives as well. Other ways to become a slave were by being born into slaveryRead MoreThe Roles Of Ancient Roman Slavery In Ancient Rome886 Words   |  4 PagesAncient Roman slaves did numerous amount of jobs and helped Rome become prosperous. Slavery in Rome had benefited the Republic in various ways. Slaves increased the economy, fed the entire republic through agriculture, and they also upheld important roles and was the glue that held Ancient Rome together. Slaves played a huge roll in Ancient Rome and was the reason for the great economy and without the slaves Rome would not have been as powerful as it was. An estimate of the slave population inRead MoreIs The Film Pompeii An Accurate Representation Of Slavery During The Ancient Roman Era?1505 Words   |  7 Pagesaccurate representation of slavery in the Ancient Roman era? The movie Pompeii produced in 2014, by Paul W.S Anderson, explores the idea of social hierarchy and the class distinctions along with giving a portrayal of the role of slaves within the Roman Empire. While the film does not go in depth on the many different forms of slavery, it does provide minor examples on certain slaves work, and the way they are treated. Slavery played an integral role in the Ancient Roman society, and without it,Read MoreSlavery in Ancient Roman Society1301 Words   |  5 Pagespeople now think of slavery, they think of the United States because that memory is relatively new and culturally relevant to Americans. However, slavery existed in many other cultures and times across the world. Understanding the nature of slavery is integral to an understanding of Western Civilization in general. Ancient Rome practiced slavery throughout much of the Empire, and especially under Emperor Augustus. It is likely that slavery was just as important for making the Roman Empir e strong, wealthyRead MoreComparison Of Greek And Roman Slavery1683 Words   |  7 Pages Comparable to some degree with the struggle of the early civilizations (i.e. Greek and Roman slavery) to break out their condition of being slaves, the classic animated movie A Bug s Life depicted in a similar way, but in different causes to bring the system down. In the mentioned movie, various societal form and structures of interest are exposed in this paper. The Capitalist Pyramid Strikes Again The government structure of the Ant Island is certainly a monarchy, where the Queen inherits theRead MoreSlavery During The Roman Empire And The New Testament2120 Words   |  9 PagesProfessor McFarland New Testament 9 November 2016 Slavery in the Roman Empire and the New Testament Slavery, a word described as the state of one bound in servitude as the property of a household. This description, along with sadness and disbelief gets brought into peoples’ minds as the chilling sensation of the explanations begins to be sought out. The New Testament brings us many different views on how we percept our personal beliefs upon Slavery, and different problems arising as aspects on this

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Effectiveness Of Cbt Versus Ipt During The Treatment...

The Effectiveness of CBT versus IPT in the Treatment of Severe Depression Globally, major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the top five public health concerns today (Cuijpers et al., 2011; Jakobsen, Hansen, Simonsen, Gluud, 2011; Hees, Rotter, Ellermann, Evers, 2013). Moreover, almost 20% of patients with depression engage in self-harming behaviors, including suicidal attempts (Gamble et al., 2013; Jakobsen et al., 2011). Not only is the prevalence of depression alarming, but costly to the health care system (Cuijpers et al., 2011; Cuijpers et al., 2014; Hees et al., 2013; Jakobsen et al., 2011). The use of antidepressants is the standard for initial treatment, but may be limiting in preventing relapse (Cuijpers et al., 2014; Jakobsen et al., 2011). Therefore, the inclusion of non-pharmacological interventions may be necessary to improve treatment outcomes (Cuijpers et al., 2011; Dekker et al., 2013; Jakobsen et al., 2011). Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive behavi or therapy (CBT) are the two primary psychotherapeutic interventions recommended in the treatment of depression. In this paper, I will discuss the difference between CBT and IPT, compare the effectiveness between both therapies, explore their efficacy as an adjunct treatment with antidepressant medications, and summarize the treatment guidelines for depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Interpersonal Psychotherapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is defined as short-term structuredShow MoreRelatedDifferent Treatments Of Depression / Anxiety And Their Effectiveness1622 Words   |  7 PagesDifferent Treatments of Depression/Anxiety and their Effectiveness For years, the ideal treatment of depression/anxiety has been pretty much up in the air with literature that shows mixed results for responses to various treatments. Pharmacotherapy or treatment via medicine, and psychotherapy treatment via talk therapy are the two types paths for those with a diagnosis of depression/anxiety that will be considered. Depression is a disorder that globally effects more than 350 million people todayRead MoreThe Integration of Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy2247 Words   |  9 PagesInterpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a short-term psychotherapy that was developed by Myrna Weissman and Gerald Klerman in the 1980’s. It focuses on the interpersonal relationships in the client’s life, instead of on past or biological causes. The therapy is kept fairly structured by the clinician’s use of a manual and aims to help the client recover from their current episode of depression. Interpersonal Psychotherapy ha s been used in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in research studies

Friday, December 13, 2019

Coyote Blue Chapter 30~31 Free Essays

string(97) " feet and lumbered across the hill, watching the Indian chick hand the rug-rat to a blond chick\." CHAPTER 30 Like Flies They heard the bikers before they saw them: raucous laughter and Lynyrd Skynyrd from a boom box. They followed the road around a long, gradual curve that descended into a valley, stepping carefully to avoid the deep puddles. The trees were thinning out now and Sam could make out the light of a huge bonfire below them in the valley, and figures moving around the fire, a lot of them. We will write a custom essay sample on Coyote Blue Chapter 30~31 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Someone fired a pistol into the air and the report echoed around the valley. â€Å"Do they have sentries or something?† Sam whispered to Calliope. â€Å"I don’t remember. I was pretty drunk when I was here before.† â€Å"Well, we can’t just walk in.† â€Å"This way,† Coyote said, pointing to a path that led away from the road. They followed the trickster up the path, through thick undergrowth, and up onto a ridge that looked down on the clearing. From the top of the ridge they could see the entire camp. The fire was burning in the center of the camp with perhaps a hundred bikers and women gathered around it, drinking and dancing. The bikes were parked by the road leading in. There was a stand of tents and smaller campfires on the opposite side of the camp, with two pickup trucks parked nearby. Lynyrd Skynyrd sang â€Å"Gimme Back My Bullets.† â€Å"I don’t see Grubb,† Calliope said. â€Å"Or the woman,† Coyote said. â€Å"Wait,† Calliope said. â€Å"Listen.† Amid the din of rock and roll, laughter, shouts, screams, and gunfire, they heard the sound of a baby crying. â€Å"It’s coming from the tents,† Coyote said. â€Å"Follow me.† Coyote led them further down the ridge until they were about fifty yards from the tents and could see four women sitting around a campfire drinking and talking. One of them was holding Grubb. â€Å"There he is,† Calliope said. She started down the ridge and Sam caught her arm. â€Å"If you go down there that woman will call for Lonnie and the others.† â€Å"What can I do? We have to get him.† â€Å"Take off your clothes,† Coyote said. Sam sneered at the trickster, â€Å"I don’t think so.† â€Å"Here, take this,† Coyote said, handing something to Sam. Sam couldn’t make out what it was in the dark, but it felt warm and soft. He recoiled and dropped it. â€Å"Ouch,† Coyote said, his voice soft now, feminine. â€Å"Is that any way to treat a lady?† Sam looked, moved closer to the trickster, and saw that he was no longer a he. Still in his black buckskins, he had changed into a woman. â€Å"I don’t believe it,† Sam said. â€Å"You’re lovely,† Calliope said. â€Å"Thanks,† Coyote said. â€Å"Give me your clothes. These don’t fit me now.† He started undressing. In the dim moonlight that filtered through the trees, Sam watched the women undress. Calliope was right, the trickster was gorgeous, a perfect female mirror of the male Coyote, an Indian goddess. Sam felt a little sick at the thought and looked away. Coyote said, â€Å"I’ll go down and get the child. Be ready to run. And pick that up, I’ll need it.† He pointed to the ground where Sam had dropped his penis. Sam picked up the member in two fingers and held it out as if it would bite him. â€Å"I’m not comfortable with this.† â€Å"I’ll hold it,† Calliope said, now dressed in the black buckskins. â€Å"No you won’t!† Sam said. â€Å"Well.† She cocked a hip and waited for him to make a decision. Sam put the penis in his jacket pocket. â€Å"I’m not comfortable with this, I want you to know.† â€Å"Men are such babies,† Coyote said. He hugged Calliope, girl to girl, and made his way down the hill. Sam watched the trickster move away from them toward the fire. Unable to look away, he became nervous with his own thoughts. Calliope patted his shoulder. â€Å"It’s okay,† she said. â€Å"In my jeans he really does have a great ass.† -=*=- Tinker lay in the bed of the pickup sulking, listening to the nearby women going on about how badly they were treated by their men and how cute the baby was. The little bastard had been crying for an hour. What the fuck had Lonnie been thinking, bringing a crumb-snatcher to a rally? From time to time Tinker sat up and looked over the edge of the pickup to pick out which of the women he would fantasize about getting a blow job from. Fat chance, stuck here in the truck. Fucking Bonner and his military discipline. â€Å"This is a business trip,† Bonner had said. â€Å"A business trip we wouldn’t be taking if Tinker would have taken care of business. So Tink, you guard the truck. No partying.† What was the point rallying with your bros if you couldn’t get fucked up and start a few fights? Fuck this action. At least it had stopped raining. Tinker peeked over the edge of the truck to see a new chick coming up to the fire. What a piece she was! Right out of Penthouse or something. She looked Indian, long blue-black hair. What a fucking body. He watched her fawn over the baby and touch Cheryl’s face. Lonnie had fucked her up, bad. Tink wondered what it was like to hit a chick. He was getting hard thinking about it. The Indian chick was holding the baby now, walking around the fire rocking it. She walked behind one of the tents, then ducked down. Tinker saw her shoot out the other side in a crouch, headed up the hill with the baby. Two people were coming down to meet her. â€Å"Hey, bitch!† Cheryl yelled. The other women were on their feet, yelling – going after the Indian chick. Tinker jumped out of the truck and started to circle around and up the hill to head off the Indian chick. As he ran he drew his Magnum from his shoulder holster. He slipped, fell to one knee, and drew down on the Indian chick. No, fuck it. If he hit the rug-rat Bonner would have his ass. He climbed to his feet and lumbered across the hill, watching the Indian chick hand the rug-rat to a blond chick. You read "Coyote Blue Chapter 30~31" in category "Essay examples" They were on the path at the top of the ridge. Gotcha! He’d take the lower path and be waiting for them. They had to come out at the road. As Tinker made his way up the dark path he heard scooters firing up below him. Good. Bonner would get there and he would already have it handled. He’d be out of the doghouse. He reached the spot where the two paths intersected and stopped. He could hear them coming up the path, the baby still crying. He leveled his Magnum down the path and waited. If the dude showed first he’d waste him without a word. He saw a shadow, then a foot. Tinker cocked the Magnum, put the sight where the chest would appear. A rush went through him, waiting, waiting. Now! A vise clamped down over the gun and he felt it wrenched out of his hand, taking skin with it. Another clamp locked down on his neck and he looked up into the eyes of his deepest fear. He felt his face come down on something hard and the bones of his nose crush. His head was wrenched back and slammed down again, then it went dark. -=*=- â€Å"Shade!† Coyote said. Minty Fresh threw Tinker’s unconscious body aside and looked up at the Indian woman. â€Å"Who are you?† Sam said, â€Å"M.F., what are you doing here?† â€Å"The name is Minty Fresh.† He held Tinker’s Magnum out to Sam, then let it drop. â€Å"I’m learning how to sneak up on people.† He saw the baby and smiled. â€Å"You got him.† â€Å"It was a fine trick,† Coyote said. â€Å"Who are you?† Minty insisted. â€Å"It’s your old buddy Coyote.† Coyote cupped his breasts. Minty stepped back from the woman to get a better look. â€Å"Something’s different, right? Haircut?† â€Å"We have to go,† Calliope said. â€Å"To where?† Minty said. Calliope looked at Sam, panicked, confused. Sam had no answer. Coyote said, â€Å"Montana. The Crow res. Come with us, shade. It’ll be fun.† Minty turned to the roar of bikes behind him. â€Å"They’re coming up the road,† he said. â€Å"I’ll block them as long as I can with the limo.† They made their way down the path to where the Z was parked. The limo was parked in front. â€Å"I’ll drive,† Sam instructed. â€Å"Cal, you and Grubb in the back.† They got in the car as lights from the Harleys broke through the woods. Minty got in the limo, started it, and pulled it forward to make way for the Z. Sam pulled the Z into the road, careful not to spin the wheels in the mud. You guys okay?† he said to Calliope, who had curled herself around Grubb. â€Å"Go,† she said. The bikers broke into view, Lonnie Ray in front. Minty hit the brights on the limo, hoping to blind them. He checked the mirror to see the Z pulling away, then started to back the limo up, careful to keep it in the middle of the road to block the bikes. As Lonnie approached the limo he drew a pistol from his jacket and leveled it at Minty through the windshield. Minty ducked and hit the gas. The limo revved and stopped, the back wheels of the heavy car buried in the mud. Lonnie jumped off his bike onto the hood of the limo and braced himself on the roof as he aimed and fired at the Z. At the sound of the shot Minty looked up to see the barrel of Lonnie’s pistol pointing at him through the windshield. The other bikers, unable to get past, moved up around the limo. â€Å"You’re finished, spook,† Lonnie hissed. He cocked the pistol. â€Å"Move the car out of the road.† â€Å"I don’t think so,† Minty said. Lonnie jumped off the hood of the Lincoln and stuck the pistol through the window into Minty’s temple. â€Å"I said move it.† â€Å"You move it,† Minty said. He pushed the limo door open, knocking Lonnie to the ground. Two bikers yanked him from the car and rode him to the ground. Minty felt a boot in his kidney, then a fist in the stomach, then the blows fell on him like rain. He heard Calliope’s Z downshifting in the distance and smiled. -=*=- Sam pulled the Z back onto the pavement and floored it. â€Å"Everyone okay?† Grubb was still crying. Sam shouted, â€Å"Calliope, are you okay?† Coyote turned in the passenger seat and reached back. â€Å"She’s hit. There’s blood.† â€Å"Oh fuck, is she-â€Å" â€Å"She’s dead, Sam,† Coyote said. Part 4 Home Coyote Hears His Heart It is an old story, from the time of the animal people. Coyote was in his canoe, and had paddled all day and all night, only to find that he didn’t know where he wanted to go. He sat in his canoe, drifting for a while, thinking that something was wrong. He wanted to do something, but he didn’t know what it was, so he made some mountains and gave them names. But that didn’t make him happy. He tried to think, but he wasn’t very good at it, and he kept hearing a thumping noise that bothered him. â€Å"Where should I go? What should I do? How can I think with all this noise?† Coyote was becoming sad because he could not think, so he called out to the Old Mother, who was the Earth. â€Å"Old Mother,† he said. â€Å"Can you stop this thumping noise so I can figure out where I am supposed to be?† Old Mother heard Coyote and laughed at him. â€Å"Silly Coyote,† she said. â€Å"That thumping noise is the sound of your own heart beating. Listen to it. It is the sound of the drums. When you hear your heart you must think of the drums – the sound of home.† â€Å"I knew that,† Coyote said. CHAPTER 31 There Are No Orphans Among the Crow It was five hours from Sturgis to Crow Agency, and Coyote, back in his black buckskins, drove the whole way. Sam sat in the passenger seat, dazed, staring but seeing nothing, holding Grubb, rocking the baby in a rhythm to a pulsing emptiness in his chest and trying not to look at Calliope’s lifeless body in the back. Mercifully, there was no thinking or remembering – his mind had shut down to protect him. Coyote was quiet. As they drove through town an old warning sounded deep in Sam’s mind and he mumbled, â€Å"I shouldn’t be here. I’m in trouble.† â€Å"You have to go home,† Coyote said. â€Å"Okay,† Sam said. He thought he should protest but he couldn’t think clearly enough to remember why. â€Å"When we get there, no tricks, okay? Act human for a while, please.† â€Å"For a while,† Coyote said. A mile out of town Coyote pulled the Z into the muddy driveway of the Hunts Alone house. â€Å"Stay here,† Coyote said. He got out of the car and went up the cement steps to the door. Sam looked around, seeing the house like a memory. It hadn’t changed much. The house had been painted and peeled a couple of times and there were two horses, a paint and a buckskin, in the back field. An old Airstream trailer was parked by the sweat lodge and there were a couple more abandoned cars rusting in the side lot. It all felt wrong, to have run so long to end up back where he had started – the danger that he had run from was still here, and now, with Calliope dead, he felt even weaker than the fifteen-year-old who had left so many years ago. As frightening as it had been to leave, it had been a beginning, full of hope and possibility. This felt like the end. Coyote knocked on the door and waited. A Crow woman in jeans and a sweatshirt, about thirty, answered. She was holding a baby. â€Å"Yes?† Coyote said, â€Å"I’ve brought your cousin home. We need help.† â€Å"Come in,† she said. Coyote went into the house and came back to the car a few minutes later. He opened the door, startling Sam. â€Å"Let’s go inside,† Coyote said. â€Å"I told the woman inside what happened.† He helped Sam out of the car and pointed him to the door where the woman waited. Sam walked stiffly up the steps and past the woman into the house. He stood in the center of the living room, rocking Grubb. Coyote came in the door behind him. â€Å"Can I bring her in?† he asked the woman. The woman looked horrified at the thought of a dead body in the house. Sam turned suddenly. â€Å"No, not in the house. No.† Coyote waited. The woman looked uncomfortable. â€Å"You could put her in the trailer out back.† Coyote went back out. The woman came to Sam and pulled the blanket away from Grubb’s face. â€Å"Has he eaten?† â€Å"I?CI don’t know. Not for a while.† â€Å"He needs a change. C’mon, give.† She put her own baby on the couch and coaxed Grubb out of Sam’s arms. She spread the blanket on the coffee table and laid Grubb down on his back. â€Å"I’ve heard about you,† she said. â€Å"I’m Cindy. Festus is my husband.† Sam didn’t answer. She took Grubb’s dirty diaper off him and set it aside. â€Å"He’s at work now, with his dad. They have their own shop in Hardin. Harry works with them too.† â€Å"Grandma?† Sam said. She looked up and shook her head. â€Å"Years ago, before I met Festus.† She brightened, trying to change the subject and the mood. â€Å"We have three other kids. Two other boys and a girl. They’re in school – the little one in Head Start.† Sam stared over her head at the elkhorn hat rack hung with baseball caps, an old Stetson, and a ceremonial headdress. An obsidian-point buffalo lance hung beside it, next to an old Winchester and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar. â€Å"He’s a strong baby,† Cindy said, grabbing Grubb’s fidgeting fists. Sam looked back at her. â€Å"Pokey?† He looked down and away, a wave of grief washing over him. He walked to the kitchen doorway and stared at the ceiling, the first tears stinging as they welled up. â€Å"Pokey’s okay,† Cindy said. â€Å"He went into the clinic last week. He almost – He was real sick. They wanted to move him to the hospital in Billings but Harlan wouldn’t let them.† Cindy finished diapering Grubb and propped him up on the couch next to her own baby. â€Å"I’ll fix him a bottle.† She walked past Sam into the kitchen. He turned away from her as she went by. â€Å"Do you want some food? Coffee?† Sam turned to her. â€Å"She never hurt anybody. She just wanted her baby back.† He covered his face. Cindy moved to him and put her arms around him. Coyote came in the front door. â€Å"Sam, we have to go.† Sam took Cindy by the shoulders and gently pushed her away, then turned and looked at Grubb, who was dozing on the couch. â€Å"He’ll be okay,† Cindy said. â€Å"I’ll watch him.† Sam didn’t move. â€Å"Sam,† Coyote said, â€Å"let’s go see Pokey.† -=*=- Heading back through Crow Agency to the clinic, Sam noticed the new, modern tribal building and the new stadium behind it. Wiley’s Food and Gas was still across the highway, just as it had been before. Kids were still hanging around outside the burger stand. Two old men shared a bottle outside the tobacco store. A mother led a pack of kids out of the general store, each carrying a bag of groceries. â€Å"I shouldn’t be here,† Sam said. Coyote ignored him and kept driving. The clinic was housed in an old two-story house at the far end of town. A line of people – mostly women and kids – waited outside. Coyote pulled into the muddy parking lot next to a rusted-out Buick. They crawled out of the car and walked up to the door. Some of the kids whispered and giggled, pointing at Coyote. An old man who was wheeling an oxygen cylinder behind him said, â€Å"Crow Fair ain’t ’til next summer, boy. Why you dressed for a powwow?† â€Å"Be cool,† Sam said to Coyote. â€Å"Don’t scare him.† Coyote shrugged and followed Sam into the waiting room, a ten-by-ten parlor with a checked linoleum floor and mint-green walls hung with racks of pamphlets. Twenty people sat in folding chairs along the walls, reading old copies of People or just staring at their shoes. Sam approached a window where a Crow woman was absorbed in scribbling on index cards, intent on not looking at those who waited. â€Å"Excuse me,† Sam said. The woman didn’t look up. â€Å"Fill this out.† She handed a form and a stick pen over the counter. â€Å"When you hand it in – with the pen – I’ll give you a number.† â€Å"I’m not here for treatment,† Sam said, and the woman looked up for the first time. â€Å"I’m here to see Pokey Medicine Wing.† The woman seemed annoyed. â€Å"Just a minute.† She got up and walked through the door into the back. In a moment a door into the waiting room opened and everyone looked up. A young, white doctor poked his head out, spotted Sam and Coyote, and signaled for them to come in. Everyone in the waiting room looked back down. Inside the door the doctor looked them up and down, Sam in his dirty windbreaker and slacks, Coyote in his buckskins. â€Å"Are you family?† â€Å"He’s my clan uncle,† Sam said. The doctor nodded to Coyote. â€Å"And you?† â€Å"Just a friend,† Sam said. â€Å"You’ll have to wait outside,† the doctor said. Sam looked at Coyote. â€Å"Keep it under control, okay?† â€Å"I said I would.† The trickster went back into the waiting room. â€Å"He should be in a real hospital,† the doctor said. â€Å"He was technically dead, twice. We brought him back with the defibrillator. He’s stable now, but we don’t have the staff here to watch him. He should be in an ICU.† Sam hadn’t heard a word of it. â€Å"Can I see him?† â€Å"Follow me.† The doctor turned and led Sam down a narrow hallway and up a flight of steps. â€Å"He was severely dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia. I think he’d been drinking even before he went on the fast. It leached all the fluids out of his body. His liver is shot and his heart sustained some damage.† The doctor stopped and opened a door. â€Å"Just a few minutes. He’s very weak.† The doctor went in with Sam. Pokey was lying in a hospital bed, tubes and wires connecting him to bottles and machines. His skin was a brown-gray color. â€Å"Mr. Medicine Wing,† the doctor said softly, â€Å"someone is here to see you.† Pokey’s eyes opened slowly. â€Å"Hey, Samson,† he said. He smiled and Sam noticed that he still hadn’t gotten false teeth. â€Å"Hey, Pokey,† Sam said. â€Å"You got bigger.† â€Å"Yeah,† Sam said. Seeing Pokey was breaking through his fog, and he was starting to hurt again. â€Å"You look like shit,† Pokey said. â€Å"So do you.† â€Å"Must run in the family.† Pokey grinned. â€Å"You got a smoke?† Sam shook his head. â€Å"I don’t think that would be a good idea. I hear you’re still drinking.† â€Å"Yeah. I went to some meetings. They said I needed to get a higher power if I wanted to quit. I told them that a higher power was why I was drinking in the first place.† â€Å"He’s outside now. Waiting.† Pokey nodded and closed his eyes. â€Å"I had a couple of visions about you meeting up with him. All those years he’s quiet, then I get a bunch of visions. I thought you was dead until I had the first one.† â€Å"I couldn’t come home. I shouldn’t have†¦.† Pokey dismissed the thought with a weak wave of his hand. â€Å"You had to go. Enos would’ve killed you. He checked on us for years, lookin’ in our mailbox for letters, watching the house. He drove himself plumb crazy. He give up on you when Grandma died and you didn’t come home.† Sam had listened to the last part of the speech sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to Pokey. His knees had given out at the news that Enos was alive. He stared at the door. â€Å"I don’t feel anything,† he said. â€Å"You okay?† Pokey said, trying to grab his nephew’s arm. â€Å"There’s nothing. I’m not even afraid.† â€Å"What’s wrong?† Sam looked over his shoulder at Pokey. â€Å"I thought I killed him.† â€Å"You busted him up real good. Broke both his legs and an arm sliding down the face of the dam. Tub a lard didn’t even have the manners to drown.† â€Å"I been running for nothing. I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I should of never give you that Coyote medicine,† Pokey said. His breath was starting to come in rasping gasps. â€Å"I thought if I got rid of it I wouldn’t be crazy no more.† â€Å"It’s okay.† Sam patted Pokey’s arm. â€Å"I don’t think you had a choice.† Pokey continued to breathe heavily. â€Å"I saw a shadow that said you were going where there was death. I didn’t know where to find you. I told Old Man Coyote. He said he knew.† Pokey gripped Sam’s arm. â€Å"He said he knew, Samson. You got to get away from him.† â€Å"Calm down, Pokey.† Sam stood and put his hands on Pokey’s shoulder. â€Å"It’s okay, Pokey. It wasn’t my death. Do you want the doctor?† Pokey shook his head. His breathing started to calm. Sam took a pitcher of water from the bedside table and poured some into a paper cup. He held it while Pokey drank, then helped the old man lie back. â€Å"Whose death?† Pokey asked. Sam put the cup down. â€Å"A girl.† He looked away. â€Å"You loved her?† Sam nodded, still looking away. â€Å"She had a baby. Cindy’s watching him.† â€Å"When did it happen?† â€Å"This morning.† â€Å"Was Old Man Coyote with you when it happened?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Ask him to bring her back. He owes you that.† â€Å"She’s dead, Pokey. She’s gone.† â€Å"I been dead twice in the last two days. I ain’t gone.† â€Å"She was shot, Pokey. A bullet went through her spine.† â€Å"Samson, look at me.† Pokey pulled himself up on the bed so he could look Sam in the eye. â€Å"He owes you. There’s a story that Old Man Coyote invented death so there wouldn’t be too many people. There’s another story that his wife was killed and he went into the Underworld to get her. There was a shade there that let her go as long as Coyote promised not to look at her until he got back to the world, but he looked, so now no one can come back.† â€Å"Pokey, I can’t do this right now. I can’t listen to this.† â€Å"He stole your life, Samson.† Sam shook his head violently. â€Å"This just happened to me. I didn’t make any of it happen.† â€Å"Then make it happen now!† Pokey shouted. Sam stopped. â€Å"In the buffalo days they said that a warrior who had counted coup and had an arrow bundle could move in and out of the Underworld. He could hide there from his enemies. Go, Samson. Old Man Coyote can help you find your girl.† â€Å"She’s dead, Pokey. The Underworld is just old superstition.† â€Å"Mumbo jumbo?† Pokey said. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Crazy talk?† â€Å"That’s right.† â€Å"Voodoo?† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"Like Coyote medicine?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Well?† Sam didn’t answer. He was gritting his teeth, glaring at his uncle. Pokey smiled. â€Å"You still hate it when I talk about the old ways. Try it, Samson. What do you have to lose?† â€Å"Nothing,† Sam said. â€Å"There’s nothing at all.† The doctor opened the door and said, â€Å"That’s enough. He needs to rest.† â€Å"Fuck off, paleface,† Pokey said. Sam said, â€Å"Just one more minute, please.† â€Å"One minute,† the doctor said, holding up his finger as he backed out of the room. Sam looked at Pokey. â€Å"‘Fuck off, paleface’?† He laughed. It felt good. â€Å"Be nice, Squats Behind the Bush. I’m sick.† Sam felt something moving through him as he grinned at Pokey – something warm, like hope. â€Å"Now, quick, before you die again, you old fuck. Where do I get an arrow bundle?† -=*=- Sam came striding out of the clinic and grabbed Coyote by the arm, pulling him away from a group of kids he was lying to. What had been a paralyzing grief had changed to purpose. Sam felt incredibly alive. â€Å"Let’s go. Give me the keys.† â€Å"What’s going on?† Coyote said. â€Å"Why the hurry? Did the old man die?† Sam climbed into the Z and fired it up. â€Å"I’ve got to get to a phone, and I’ve got to get some clothes.† â€Å"What happened in there?† â€Å"You knew she was going to be killed, didn’t you?† â€Å"I knew someone would.† â€Å"Pokey says that you can go in and out of the land of the dead?† â€Å"I can? Oh, the Underworld! Yeah, I can. I don’t like to, though.† â€Å"We’re going.† â€Å"It’s depressing. You won’t like it.† â€Å"Pokey thinks you can bring Calliope back.† â€Å"I tried that once; it didn’t work. It’s not up to me.† â€Å"Then we’re going to talk to whoever it’s up to.† â€Å"Aren’t you afraid?† â€Å"I’m a little past that.† â€Å"Why do you need clothes?† â€Å"We’re going to Billings first, to get something.† â€Å"It’s depressing. You won’t like it. There’s a big cliff in Billings that was a buffalo jump, but our people never drove the herds over it. The buffalo used to go up to the edge and say, ‘Oh, no, it’s Billings, then they’d just jump over out of depression. Nope, you don’t want to go to Billings.† Sam pulled into the Hunts Alone driveway, shut off the car, and turned to Coyote. â€Å"What’s in the Underworld? What are you so afraid of?† How to cite Coyote Blue Chapter 30~31, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Thomson Airways External Analysis

Question: Discuss about the Thomson Airways for External Analysis? Answer: External Environment Analysis Introduction The role of strategy is supreme while running any business. The strategy decides the structure and process of a business and sometimes the structure and process of the trade also picks the strategy of the trade. The present report studies the external environment affecting the Thomson Airways. It may be noted that Thomson Airways is one of the top companies in the aviation sector in UK(Lundgren, 2015). This company was used for the previous version of the assignment, and the present assignment is continued with the same company. This report critically analysis whether current strategy of the company is still relevant with the changes in the aviation industry. PESTEL Analysis Political There is no significant change in the political environment. The political environment is as stable as it was last year(BusinesWeek, 2015). Economical The world economy has witnessed a decline in past few months(Ahenkora Peasah, 2011). With the collapse of the China share market and a constant deterioration in the value of the currency of Australia and several Asian countries the purchasing power of these customers has reduced. Which may not a good thing for the aviation industry as such? However, the good news is that the price of petroleum products including the aviation fuel has declined significantly in the past few months. This reduction in the petroleum price will help the airline to reduce its operating cost. The operating cost as a percentage of sales revenue was 101% (313/310) for the year ended 2014 and was 97% (892/918) for the year ended 2013. Thus, the economic conditions are favoring the airline as it will be able to reduce its operating cost. Social There has been no significant change in the social condition of UK. However with the increased terrorist activities in the world and increased threats, airlines have to take special care of the security services while check in and while boarding the passengers. This will cause company to spend more in technological sector and administrative services in form of recruiting more security personnel. This also increases the risk to the company as if there is any default in the securities measures; it will send a wrong impression in the eyes of customers. This year may provide more sales lead to the airline industry due to Olympic 2016(PWC, 2015). Thus, each and every airline will focus on getting more sales from the flights to Brazil Olympics. Besides that the image of Thomson Airways is of an airways company which provides high-class services. The emergence of infectious disease such as Jika virus may have a negative impact on the sales of airlines companies. Thus companies needs to include this factor while amending its strategy for attracting more sales. Technological The aviation technology has remained same for past few decades and company is not expected to incur cost on this front. However there are modern aircrafts which are more fuel efficient and thus can reduce the operating cost for the airline(Guardian, 2016). Purchasing new aircraft will require additional funds and this is possible if the company is able to get debt from financial institutions or go for a public subscription. With the development of Internet and advent of smartphones there is huge scope for the company to sell the tickets through online channels and attract the customers. Now a days most of the customers purchase the tickets online, and it is necessary to focus on the online market(Saunders, et al., 2012). Even in online market people prefer purchasing the tickets through the mobile app. Hence, if the company can sell more and more tickets with the online platforms such as websites, iOS apps, Android apps than it will be beneficial for the company. Environmental The industry position in respect of environment is unchanged(WAW, 2014). The future trend may be using the bio fuel but in recent few years it may not be possible to replace the traditional aviation fuel with the bio fuel. However now days the sustainability and the environment safeguard practices of a company are important and are given high value by various stakeholders. Legal The tax rates may keep on increasing in coming years and this may create problems for the company(BATA, 2015). However, the plus point of the company is that during past two years company suffered losses and it was able to carry forward these losses to next accounting years. PORTERs Five Forces Buyer Power The buyers are looking for the airline which provides bests services for lower price. Thus, there is a sort of price war among the companies. However some of the companies can charge a premium price for business class seats(Ferrell Hartline, 2010). The position of Thomson Airways is strong in the aviation sector at UK and it is the third largest service provider. However, the customer expectations are even increasing in each industry and also in airline industry. Now customer needs more safety feature in air travel. However this field is still ignored by some of airlines(CAA, 2016). Thomson can make this a unique selling point and the management can work in this direction. Threats of Mobility It is easy for the new companies to provide a cheaper priced tickets to capture market share(Bigler Williams, 2013). Now a days there companies are providing cheap tickets for the tickets which are booked well in advance. Threats of Substitutes Thomson Airways is an established company and it is providing services at competitive prices. If Thomson Airways can continue this trend than it will be able to retain its market share and may attract more customers. Industrial Rivalry There is high competition in this aviation sector and the same trend is expected to continue in the coming future also. Thomson Airways need to take initiative to retain its market position(Parker, 2013). As the price of the air tickets is reducing, companies need to go for cost reduction and cost management. Supplier Power As the Thomson Airways is in service industry the dependability of the supplies is relatively on the lower side. Besides that investment in the technology has reduced the bargaining power of the suppliers. Strategic position and Value proposition Thomson is positioning itself as a company which takes care of customers. A value proposition originates how a company satisfies the customer desires(Cravens, et al., 2009). Thomson Airways is looking for both economy class and business class passengers. The management took care of customer requirement of easy of booking the tickets and launched its online platform and smartphone apps. Relevance of current strategy SAFE Tool Suitability The current strategy of the company focuses on the technological innovations and system development which results in a better user experience for the customers(K., 2016). The app developed by the company is working well as it provides a comfort to the customers to book the tickets and check other relevant information from their smartphone itself. It appears that the company is moving in right direction. The more company invests in the technology, more it will help the customers and it will increase the goodwill of the company. Company has a number of brands and thus a good mobile app may help the customers choose the most suitable product and this may result in increased revenue for the company. The present strategy is definitely in line with the opportunities available to the company as more passenger may available due to various events in the year 2016 such as Olympics. The focus on the technological innovations such as customer friendly websites and smart phone does not require a massive cash outflow. The requirement of low cash outflow to enhance customer experience, supports the poor financial condition of the company. Acceptability The new strategy of the company is to maintain its sustainable position in the market with the help of new services such as holiday planning. This strategy is very much relevant to the current market position. This strategy also meets the expectation of the stakeholders. The business of the company showed a downward trend in past few years. Hence the stakeholders expects that the company is back on track as soon as possible. This strategy is poised to bring the company back on track without making huge investments in assets and technological innovations. The risk associated with the present strategy is moderate as company is not going to lose much on its investment if the present strategy fails. The return expected by adapting this strategy is much more as compared to the investment ought to be made to implement this strategy. Feasibility This strategy is very much feasible due to requirement of relatively low investments. It may be noted that the fuel cost has declined worldwide and this has helped the aviation sector as input cost has declined. Thus the company can save good chunk of money due to low price of aviation cost. This money can be used to invest in the technological innovations such as development of mobile friendly websites and smart phone apps. Balanced Score Card Strategy Example Key Performance Indicator Financial Perspective Net Profit Margin The profit margin of the company has shown a declining trend. This is an indication of the present position of the company. However company has good relationship with banks and there is no shortage of funds at any time. Customer Perspective Passengers Billed The passengers billed has shown a declining trend. Internal Perspective Assets Strength Company has invested in technology and the number of customers which are booking the air tickets from mobile app is on the rise. Future Perspective Use of technology Company has developed user friendly websites and smart phone apps. Company is putting heavy reliance on technology. TUI website is one of the top websites in relation to the aviation sector. Thomson Airways focuses on the customer preferences and this is the main strategy of the company(Bryman Bell, 2015). The company is focusing the expanding its business through the demand of existing customers. Conclusion The upcoming few years will be of great importance for the aviation sector. While the reduced cost of the aviation fuel can be seen as boon to the aviation sector it is up to the government whether it passes on this benefit to the companies or increases the tax on the fuel cost. Another important strategy is to provide an excellent user experience to the customers. Thomson Airways is doing this on both fronts, i.e. flying services and ground services. To improve the user experiences of customers, company has developed online platforms and apps for the booking of the tickets and providing various other services. The company should look for new ways of cost reduction(Neuman, 2011). This can be done by purchasing modern aircrafts which are more fuel efficient and reducing the administration costs. However, management should ensure that the cost reduction does not affect its brand value. Thus, the strategy of the company appears to be good on paper but whether it actually works in real business situations, will be witnessed in upcoming years. The company should constantly monitor where the solutions provided by its online platform and makes necessary changes to it. Besides that company strategy appears to be alright. Hence it is recommended that the company should continue with the current policy. References Ahenkora, K. Peasah, O., 2011. Crafting Strategy That Measures Up. International Journal of Business and Management , 6(19), pp. 278-284. BATA, 2015. UK tax on flying cost passengers over 3.1 billion last year. [Online] Available at: https://www.bata.uk.com/01/uk-tax-on-flying-cost-passengers-over-3-1-billion-last-year/ [Accessed 18 Feb 2016]. Bigler, W. Williams, F., 2013. WORLD-CLASS STRATEGY EXECUTION THROUGH ON THE JOB LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. 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Management Strategies for Global Businesses. Global Business Strategy, pp. 21-40. Lundgren, K., 2015. Thomson Airways Mulls Hawaii, Perth Routes as 787 Extends Reach. [Online] Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-06-21/thomson-airways-mulls-hawaii-perth-routes-as-787-extends-reach [Accessed 21 Feb 2016]. Neuman, W., 2011. Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches. London: Pearson. Parker, A., 2013. Airlines pledge to carry on flying Dreamliner jets. [Online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ca89aebe-ec90-11e2-8096-00144feabdc0.html#axzz41THEINRM [Accessed 22nd Feb 2016]. PWC, 2015. 2015 Aviation Trends. [Online] Available at: https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/perspectives/2015-aviation-trends [Accessed 18 Feb 2016]. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. Thornhill, A., 2012. Research Methods for Business Students. 6th ed. UK: Prentice Hall. WAW, 2014. Performance Management Strategy, Design and Implementation. [Online] Available at: https://www.worldatwork.org/adimLink?id=35181 [Accessed 18 Feb 2016].