Describing resolution of a recent business conflict Case Study

Describing resolution of a recent business conflict - Case Study Example Each party during the resolution process will defend its interest with respect to the other one. Since there are different styles of behavior which help the management of a certain organization to handle the conflict, it is vital for important to establish the most suitable method depending upon the situation. Among such methods, there are the domination, the compromise, integration, the voidance and suppression (Lee, 2008). Once an information about the conflict emerges within the working environment, the management of the certain organization involves the employees to the collaborative actions in order to solve the problem. Thus, the integration method of handling the conflict is utilizing. Such approach gives every member of the conflict an access to the other person’s perceptions and goals, enabling them to find the appropriate solution. The dominating style, on the contrary, highlights high concern of one’s self interests rather than concern for the other, thus forces behavior to in one’s position. However, such style of handling the conflict is associated with the low levels of effectiveness and appropriateness, maximizing he importance of a certain individual or a group’s needs at the expense of others. Whether the conflict situation occurred, but an issue is trivial and the effect of the solving process outweighs the resolution outcome, the management avoids dealing w ith the conflict situation, using at the same time the avoiding style. In many cases, conflicts between the management and employees end with the coming to the common decision about the problem that occurred. Thus, both parties of the conflict seek for the middle- ground position appropriate for all. In the situation when conflicting parties are mutually exclusive, they are using the compromising style of handling the conflict (The Five Steps to Conflict Resolution, 2014). The recent business conflict

Arabic Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arabic Culture - Essay Example he gender division of roles, responsibilities and resources within the household play an important role in shaping what men and women are able to do beyond the household. Islamic texts and traditions lie at the heart of Arab cultural conventions. Critics have seized upon the way that the exact interpretation of religious doctrines varies from state to state, and stress that it is important to reflect on who is making the rules for gender roles and activities, namely men, and how little real choice women have. The definition of what is a matter of culture and religion, and what is a matter of human rights is contentious. Handrahan, for example, compares the human rights offences which occurred in apartheid South Africa with the treatment of women in Arabian culture and describes the Arabian situation as â€Å"gender apartheid† (Handrahan 9) The absence of equal voting rights for women is quite obviously matter of serious discrimination and it attracts condemnation from critics both inside and outside Arabia. A woman’s identity in Arabian culture and society is constructed, in the very first place, on the basis of men’s superiority. Such discriminated gender growth is justified on both cultural and religious basis. In a rigidly religious society, men’s superiority and women’s dependency on men are ratified by the following verse of the Holy Quran: â€Å"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard† (Quran  4:34). Indeed this verse is one of many from the Holy Quran that the clerics of the society manipulate to enact rules, regulations and laws that slaughter women’s equality to men. Some of these rules and regulations are male guardianships, Namus, Purdah, Dress codes, sexual segregation, etc. One of the common aftermaths

Challenges in Hiring Talent Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Challenges in Hiring Talent - Research Paper Example Prince (25), states that there has been a 10 % decline in the average quality of a worker since 2004. This has prompted companies to redouble efforts aimed at hiring the best candidates for the job at whatever cost. Between 1946 and 1964, America experienced massive economic growth that triggered the emergence of more companies and the increase in profitability of businesses in the country (Yates 47). During this time, a new breed of talented and driven managers, entrepreneurs and personnel also emerged, supported by the emergence of ‘baby boomers’ that propagated economic growth and increase in population. The last decade has seen the retirement of a large percentage of these individuals, and a large vacuum has been left that may not be filled as soon as is expected. Businesses have therefore found it paramount to ‘fish’ for the best and most qualified people by employing whatever means necessary to make them a part of their vision. Apart from a decline in the quality of workers available and the shrinking of the pool from which companies used to draw their workers, there has been a great shift in the type of individuals required in the workplace. Between 1946 and 1964, there was a massive increase in manufacturing, spurred by an increase in demand for industrial products and goods (Gilmore 34). A lot of emphasis was therefore laced on the need for workers who could support the manufacturing process, and this called for individuals who mainly had to follow procedures and carry out instructions as required. Little reasoning and judgment was required in these types of jobs that can also be referred to as transactional or transformational. A change in needs, priorities and focus has left companies with no option but to scout for intelligent and clear-thinking people who can make decisions on their own and come up with solutions to problems without relying on their seniors. These types of workers are also good team players who are capable of working with other employees for the benefit of the company (Noe 76). This can be attributed to the emergence of a new type of jobs that are classified under the tacit category, in which intellectual capability and contribution is preferred over physical labor. Question 2: Incentives (apart from salary) that a Company may use to Encourage a Prospective Employee to Accept a Job Offer With the changes taking place in the workplace, companies appreciate the fact that better or higher remuneration is no longer sufficient when looking to hire employees. Other factors have now been found to play a huge role in the ability of a company to not only hire but also retain the best workers (Hunt 59). These factors include opportunities for growth, good working conditions, good moral and ethical values and an appreciation of current and prospective employees. Employees need to know that they can grow in a company and become better at what they do. Nobody wants to work for 10 years in the sam e position when there are other avenues for growth elsewhere. For instance, I may be paid $100,000 a year to head the sales and marketing department in a company, but I may not be willing to remain in the same position (especially if I deserve to be promoted). If a sales representative rises to be my deputy and I am still holding the same position I have had for the last 10 years then I am not growing on my job. The salary may be attractive but growth is more important. When hiring

Arabic Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arabic Culture - Essay Example he gender division of roles, responsibilities and resources within the household play an important role in shaping what men and women are able to do beyond the household. Islamic texts and traditions lie at the heart of Arab cultural conventions. Critics have seized upon the way that the exact interpretation of religious doctrines varies from state to state, and stress that it is important to reflect on who is making the rules for gender roles and activities, namely men, and how little real choice women have. The definition of what is a matter of culture and religion, and what is a matter of human rights is contentious. Handrahan, for example, compares the human rights offences which occurred in apartheid South Africa with the treatment of women in Arabian culture and describes the Arabian situation as â€Å"gender apartheid† (Handrahan 9) The absence of equal voting rights for women is quite obviously matter of serious discrimination and it attracts condemnation from critics both inside and outside Arabia. A woman’s identity in Arabian culture and society is constructed, in the very first place, on the basis of men’s superiority. Such discriminated gender growth is justified on both cultural and religious basis. In a rigidly religious society, men’s superiority and women’s dependency on men are ratified by the following verse of the Holy Quran: â€Å"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard† (Quran  4:34). Indeed this verse is one of many from the Holy Quran that the clerics of the society manipulate to enact rules, regulations and laws that slaughter women’s equality to men. Some of these rules and regulations are male guardianships, Namus, Purdah, Dress codes, sexual segregation, etc. One of the common aftermaths

Microsoft- tablet PC Essay Example for Free

Microsoft- tablet PC Essay 1)Who should Microsoft have targeted at the launch of the Tablet PC why? Before discussing who Microsoft should have targeted, we have to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the product. The success of any strategy depends on being able leverage the most of the strengths and rely less on the weaknesses. The strengths of Microsoft were its brand, distribution channel, existing enterprise user base and large resources. The risks involved those related to new product development, price and changing user behavior. The exhibit tells us that the large and medium business accounted for the most portable PCs in terms of volume and revenue. Due to the enterprise refresh cycles, a third of the PCs are replaced every year. Now let’s take a look at the options Microsoft had as target initial customers. They could target first time PC buyers, enterprise IT managers, students, early tech adopters or existing Windows customers. Looking at the strengths and weaknesses listed above it is easy to eliminate a few of the choices provided. Microsoft should have targeted the enterprise user base. Enterprise devices are much less sensitive to price as regular customers and have a higher willingness to pay. Thus the high price tag might not have been a difficult barrier if the product delivered value. They demand compatibility with existing enterprise frameworks. Given Microsoft’s dominance in enterprise software, they could easily ensure that the tablet PC has software that was compatible with Microsoft’s existing enterprise software. The iPad was very geared towards the consumer segment. Thus there was a niche in the enterprise tablet space that Microsoft should have exploited. This would have also helped in terms of narrowing down the focus on a few key applications, distributors and use cases. Taking a leaf out of Blackberry’s book they could have made enterprise security as one of their key differentiators especially given the wide adoption of outlook email in the enterprise. 2) What are the pros cons of Microsoft’s strategy vs. Apple’s (Microsoft being dependent on hardware manufacturers to market the Tablet PC, vs. Apple’s control of both the hardware and software?) This is essentially a question on the merits and demerits of a horizontal strategy vs a vertical strategy. The Microsoft strategy is a horizontal strategy. It involves creating a product that can deliver value up and down the value chain by allowing manufacturers innovate above and below it. This strategy can scale quickly and demands fewer resources from an individual firm to create an ecosystem. This also allows for wide range of innovations from a variety of players along the value chain. It is also a case of imperfect competition given that at each level of the value chain different levels of competition exist that promote greater product differentiation on multiple levels. The demerits of this strategy is lack of focus and control. Since the product is extensible and involves many players, there is always a risk of not being able to control what the end product looks like and the features it should prioritize on.The vertical strategy by Apple allows for control on the experience, and look and feel of the product. This enables Apple to focus and do a few things really well and better position the brand. By vertically integrating, Apple is also able to extract multiple premiums at different levels of the value chain. This can lead to higher profit margins. However, the downside of this strategy is that it cannot scale quickly, requires high upfront fixed costs and doesn’t offer the wide breath of product differentiation or features.

Movie Analysis Of The Film Legion

Movie Analysis Of The Film Legion The movie opens with a scene of a vast, barren land with a womans voice on the background solemn and weary. The woman narrates about her memories of her mother constantly reminding her to always have a heart-to-heart talk with God. This was true until that moment they were left by her father (the husband). Instead, she only talks about the Apocalypse, saying that God has become tired of this crazy bullshit. The next scene is in Los Angeles, the 23rd of December 1:02 am. There is darkness filled with chaotic sounds such as sirens, the loud thunder and shattering of glass with a reflection of a bloody moon. Then came Michael, falling from the sky. He went to a dark alley, pulled an ornate knife and started peeling of his coat, revealing his wings (through shadow). He began tearing his wings from his back using the sharp knife. To tend his wounds, Michael went inside a weapon/gun/survival shop (GUN AND SPORT WORLD), killing the person guarding it from the inside. He used a fishing wire to stitch the horrendous holes on his back left by the detachment. He raced along racks and racks of guns, searching for weapons the right ones. Meanwhile, two cops, Burton and Estevez, patrols downtown in their police car (LAPD). Burton blurted how burning the streets would make him happy. A fresh start, thats what this place needs. he said. Estevez was not even finished expressing his thoughts when a loud explosion commenced almost right in front of them. Michael gradually appears from the smoke carrying two huge sports bag. He was confronted by the two cops, ordering him to drop the bags and to position his hands behind his head. Estevez slowly approached him and attempted to cuff his hands but as soon as he was near, Michael was able to grab him to be used as a human shield. Burton, while pointing the gun towards Michael and commanding him to let go of his partner, suddenly had his head shaking like mad. The now possessed Burton reminded and warned Michael that this was not the orders given to him by God and if he continues he will die together with the baby (human races only hope).Michael was able to kill the possessed c op, leaving both cops lifeless. He drove away using the police car. The movie continues with the scene showing what is going to be the main venue of the movies highlights. There is a couple of old silver trailers which looked like has not moved from the ground for a long period of time. Then, there was Jeep Hanson, bolted awake from a bad dream, covered with sweat and breathing deep. He got up from bed, stepped out of one of the trailers, gazed up to the diners roof where a large sign glows PARADISE FALLS GAS N GRUB and contemplated. Then came Charlie, a very pregnant girl who asked Jeep if he is alright and shared that she could not sleep because of the constant kicking of the baby. They had a deep conversation about how he worries about her too much even though the baby is not his. Jeep said that she can laugh like everybody else but he believes that she can be better with him and that they can raise the baby together. Charlie just kissed him on the cheek and left. It is now morning, a regular day for the keepers of the diner. Bob, the owner and Jeeps father, is shown trying to fix the TV while a black named Percy is cooking on the grill. They had a short conversation about their partnership and relationship. While on the other side of the diner, there is a beautiful girl, Audrey, seductively leaning over a jukebox. She is the epitome of rebellion. Watching their daughter move her hips to the beat, Howard and Sandra Anderson were both disgusted. The couple and the daughter had a few exchanges as to why she dressed like that and how she did not fail in answering them back every time. A black Cadillac driven by a black, Kyle, blazed the desert path. He passed a weathered road sign ENTERING PARADISE FALLS, NEXT SERVICES 50 MILES. He grabbed his cell phone only to find out that there is no signal in the area. He then spotted the diner just up the road ahead. He pulled over and got out of the car. Leaning next to the broken phones is Charlie. Kyle grabbed a crumpled hand drawn map and showed it to the very pregnant woman who was then smoking. He let out a statement that smoking is not going to do any good for the baby. Intrigued, Charlie said that she might consider quitting. Kyle asked Charlie if he is anywhere near where he is going by showing the map. Charlie said he is not even close. Jeep saw the two talking and asked if everything is alright. Charlie said that the man is just lost and needs a phone, and that was when they both entered the diner. Bob, upon seeing cigarette sticks held by Charlie, claimed that it is about time for her to quit smoking due to her condition. Charlie replied that he is not in the position to tell her that since he also smokes that heavy. Charlie then gave a pack of cigarettes to Kyle. Kyle is about to ask Bob if he can use his phone when Howard butted in to verify when will their car be fixed. Bob went out of the diner and into the mechanics bay only to find out that Jeep is not doing his job fixing the car, instead, the man is busy cleaning up a small crib for Charlies. Bob became upset and started confronting Jeep about what he is doing with his life, about his obsession towards Charlie and about his future. Bob thinks that it is time for him to leave the place. Jeep said otherwise, saying that he is constantly having dreams about Charlie and about something that he needs to do but having a hard time figuring it out. Bob told him that he had same visions when he was young, which only led him to his mediocre life right now. Bob walks back to the diner. Dark clouds form and line the horizon to the south. Jeep shifts his gaze up to the north highway. Same thing. A storm is coming. Meanwhile, back into the diner, Kyle is again about to address Bob on using the phone when something caught Bobs attention. The TV is on snow-screen. Bob gave it a final wallop and the picture snaps into the STARK GRAPHIC OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCASTING SYSTEM accompanied by its hollow tone which filled the diner. Percys old battery-powered radio did the same thing, hollow tone station after station. Kyles conversation with his son was cut off and dial tone was lost. Audrey speculated that it can be a terrorist attack. Bob calmed everyone down (especially Mrs Anderson) and speculated that this was just a line problem. A beat up Eighties Cutlass Supreme pulled off the highway and stopped abreast the pump station. An old lady stepped out of the car with her metal frame and wheels of a walker. Grandma entered the diner and ordered, commented on how unusual the name Charlie is for a girl. The old woman smiled to the Andersons and said that things will be over soon. Jeep entered the diner and quietly huddled with Bob about the cars condition. He said that he could try to fix the car but it might take time. Bob was upset about the news. Moments later, Charlie handed over the order and started having a conversation with the guest. As what seemed to be a sudden turn of event, Gladys started cursing and exclaiming that all babies should burn including Charlies. Mortified with what she heard, Sandra tried silencing Gladys but she failed, only to be called a cunt who always complain. Shocked and stirred with what Gladys has said to Sandra, Howard stood and tried making Gladys apologize for what she said. Gla dys lunges towards Howard and took a bite out of his neck which made him crumbled to the floor. Percy threw a pan to the old woman which broke her neck. Surprisingly, she is still standing, ready to assault anyone in the diner. She jumped and started walking on the wall and up to the ceiling like a lizard/crab, landed right in front of Bob, who was shooting his shotgun, slapped him, and knocked him unconscious. The shotgun clatters at Jeeps feet. Jeep snatches it and aims at grandma but cannot pull the trigger. He does not have enough courage to do so. Gladys screamed he cannot save HER and rocketed straight at him when suddenly three gunshots came from behind which knocked Gladys dead. It was Kyle with his gun. Percy, Kyle, Sandra and Audrey frantically carry Howard, his neck bandaged, to the Escalade. Kyle drove as fast as he could, hitting the gas hard. Audrey noticed the dark clouds ahead but was not sure what it was. Kyle grips the wheel, picking up speed. Suddenly, hundreds of tiny bugs begin to hit the windshield. They are not clouds, they are flies! The car then entered the swarm. Everyone is screaming. Back to the diner, Jeep is puking into a toilet bowl. Bob is tending his sored cheek. The father and son had a conversation about what happened moments ago. Jeep is hurting inside, telling his father how coward he was not being able to pull the trigger. Bob comforted his son by telling him that it was alright and that not everybody can play hero. They heard the sound of the front door chimes. Kyle, Percy, Sandra and Audrey carry Howard into the diner, all of them gasping for air. They narrated what happened on their way and Percy raced for the back to get his Bible and to start praying. A police cruiser skidded to a wild stop in front of the diner. It was Michael. Charlies face lit up when she saw the police car but froze a few feet from the car when she saw those piercing eyes of Michael. In moments, Bob, Kyle and Jeep formed a protective shield in front of Charlie. Bob raised his shotgun and demanded Michael to show his teeth. Michael let out a dangerous smile and snatched the gun from Bob, telling them that they do not have much time and possessed people like Gladys will arrive in no time. Michael distributed the weapons from the cars trunk and ordered everyone to go back inside the diner and seal the place. Everybody is clueless of what is happening. That night, two headlights appear in the darkness. An ice cream truck rolls slowly toward the diner. The eerie music emanates from the speaker on its roof. A tall figure stepped out of the van. The ice cream man is unnaturally thin. His gaze snaps up to the roof, jaw unhinges, bolts to the diner with startling speed. Michael and the men started firing. Bullets rip into the creatures body, knocking him on his back, arms and legs still twitched. Not long after, numerous headlights appear from the darkness as what seemed to be a parade of commuters. The men let loose with ferocious firepower. Explosions here and there, tires blow out, engines crash; vehicles swerve and collide with one another. Dark shapes bolt from the burning vehicles, scattering and surveying the condition of the area. They converge the diner form all directions, they move so fast it is as if their feet do not touch the ground. The men followed Michaels instructions and cut down everything in sight. Casings drop from their weapons like mad. Bodies burst and crumble to the ground. Suddenly, something got a hold of Howards body. It was torn away from Sandra. Howard screamed for help. Sandra dived for Howards stretched hands. It was a teenager about Audreys age. See what you made me do, mother!? Charlie and Audrey rushed to Sandras side. Howard screamed as his body is torturously stretched. Then, another disfigured man punched through the window, grabbed Charlies hands. Jeep came to rescue and grabbed her free arm just before shes pulled through. Without the help, Howard is ripped from his familys hands and out of the window. The dark figures started to pull back as if they had what they want. Charlie was still struggling from the rip of the creepy man when a sound of metal slashing flesh was heard. It was Michael who managed to disarm the possessed. Jeep and Charlie scooted away from the window as Michael lit up the night with successive firepower. After the incident, Bob demanded some explanation of what was going on. Michael told them that this is extermination; that the weakest willed are the easiest to turn. Those people were possessed by angels. Percy pointed out what he knows is that angels are the good guys, followed by a statement from Bob that he does not even believe in God. Michael said that their beliefs do not matter right now as the only thing that matters is the safety of Charlies baby. This intrigued Charlie, saying that she is just a regular waitress not worthy of any saving. The fallen angel stressed the fact that she bears the child who is the only hope for mankind, the Messiah. Either your child lives or Mankind dies, he said. They guarded from the roof in shifts of two. Percy and Kyle were first. They had a conversation about Percy being in army for two tours and about the gun Kyle used to kill grandma. They were surrounded with coldness. Percy let out a memory when he was a kid, when his father used to remind him to be happy and be satisfied with life until the very last day. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Bob was cooking while Sandra stared blankly at her prescriptions. Bob, noticing how distressed Sandra is, offered a can of beer. Sandra politely accepted it and sipped a little, reminded her of Howard and how he was the beer drinker in the family. Sandra burst to tears. Jeep and Michael had a conversation about everything going on and about Michaels past. Michael narrated that he was once the general of His army and that his love and hope for mankind has not yet lessened. Jeep questioned Michael as to why he continued believing in mankind. He shared that he had witnessed mankind abuse the gift given to them through wars and killings. He also shared how he saw some people not lose hope which Some people, realize that being lost is so close to being found. He said that Jeep is one of those people, that Jeep is one of the reasons he is doing this right now. Michael headed for the roof, left Jeep staring after him, deep in thought. There is a faint glint of sunlight, the 24th of December. Michael is searching the horizon for movement. Sandra awakened, heard the voice of Howard calling her. Sandra rushed to the back door, pushed the tables blocking her way out. Kyle tried to stop Sandra but her determination and longing to see her husband helped her knock the black man, hit his head on the table. Audrey tried to do the same thing but was pushed back. Percy came to get a hold of the hysterical woman who managed to get out and was just a few feet away from the nailed husband. Suddenly, Howards body, covered with boils and pustules, exploded, shooting acidic juice around him. Percy was able to shield Sandra by making an about-face while holding her tightly. They managed to go back inside the diner. He came to a stop and fell, revealing the whole back side of his body, melted by the acid. Percy just died in front of Bob. Bob was so devastated by the death of his friend. Tears fell from his eyes. Meanwhile, a scene showed Sandra being tied by Bob and Michael. In a booth, Audrey watched as her mother is being restrained. She returned her attention to Percys radio, tuning, trying to find something in the static. After a while, she called everyones attention as she finely tuned the radio for the hint of a voice. It was a broadcast about a resistance formed against the possessed people on the outskirts of Las Vegas, also in Red Rock National in the northern Mojave Desert area. Michael countered everyones belief that they can head to Red Rock National for refuge, saying it is too risky to leave. Charlie stood at the sink, filled her lungs with smoke from the cigarette. She caught a look at herself in the mirror, run her hand along the curvature of her belly. Tears welled up in her eyes. Jeep and Charlie had a conversation about her not willing to give birth to the Messiah, about Jeeps unconditional love towards her and how she did not like the entire thing. Jeep left her in hurt and frustration, telling her to let him know if she is done feeling sorry for herself. Audrey and Kyle are bundled on the roof together, keeping watch. Kyle was teaching Audrey on how to hold a gun. Kyle was surprised, it is as if Audrey has been holding one all her life. Audrey stared to the red nothingness surrounding them. Then she shared why their family was on their way to Scottsdale. She told him that her parents believed that a more wholesome place would help her change her ways. The conversation turned into passionate kissing and touching. Then all of a sudden, the diner came back to life. The jukebox started filling the room with music, TV glowed with bright rolling static and the electric fans started spinning. After a moment, headlights appear on the highway. A Family Minivan stopped at the pump. A man jumped out of the car and, seeing that the coast is clear, raced around to the gas pump. Then an army of dark shades swarmed in fast. Kyle and Audrey tried all their might to warn the family about the trap but were too late. The man was bitten; splats of blood filled the vans windows. The mother and son frantically avoided the grips of the creatures. Kyle makes a desperately courageous play. He leaps onto the roofs sloped overhang sliding fast he drops to the ground in front of the diner. Kyle charges the dark mob. Creatures peel away from the woman and boy to confront Kyle head-on. He lets loose with a rain of bullets. He closes in on the family, blasting back the creatures huddled around them. He finds the young boy curled up with his hands protectively covering his face. Kyle swoops down and gathers the boy into his arms. Kyle moves on to the mother. But something odd is happening. Kyles throat is torn out. Kyle drops to his knees. Up on the roof, Audrey watches helplessly as Kyle falls. Out the window they see Audrey drop down from the roof and run towards Kyle. The boy moves toward Audrey, stepping over Kyles body. Audrey backs away. She looks toward the entrance to the diner. Theyre everywhere. Shes trapped. She notices the open door to the Minivan. And so she bolts. Audrey dives into the car as the throng of creatures ra pidly closes in. She hammers the auto door lock. She moves to the center of the car as gruesome faces press against the windows. With stunning calm, Michael marches straight for the pumps. In the minivan, Audrey screams as the windows begin to crack. Michael grabs a gas pump, flips the lever and points it at the minivan. The creatures covering the car turn to look at Michael. And thats when he starts spraying gas at them. Up comes Michaels gun in his other hand and shoots the spray of gas turning it into a spray of fire. The minivan is engulfed in flames. Bursting out of flames, Michael marches confidently into the diner. Jeep slams the door closed just as the wall of fire reaches them. Michaels clothes are a smoky, smouldering mess. Jeep and Bob rush to pat him down. Charlie dashes behind the counter to the sink. She fills up a pitcher of water. The young boy with the lifeless white eyes stands before her wielding an enormous butchers knife. The boy swings the knife at her, slicing open the waitress outfit covering her pregnant belly. Charlie tumbles back to the ground behind the counter. She frantically pushes herself away from the approaching boy. The boy instinctively raises his hands to strike again, but theres no knife. Charlie watches in horror as the boy calmly realizes that his thumbs are missing. Charlie pulls her legs in close then rockets them out at the boys chest. Hes catapulted away from her. Michael leaps over the counter, landing in front of Charlie, guns ready for action. But the boy is gone. Jeep and Bob whip up their guns as Michael throws the wicked creature into the air. Audrey helps Charlie to her feet. She winces. Charlie, drenched in sweat is writhing on the ground with Michael holding down her arms and Audrey kneeling bet ween her legs. Pots of steaming water surround them. Charlies screaming rises up from below. A deep, long, rumbling tone rising up off the plain, as if emanating from the largest horn ever constructed. Michael reacts to the sound. Urgency comes over him. Audrey arrives with more steaming water. Charlie pushes, tears streaming down her face, delirious with pain. Jeep and Bob watch helplessly as the army of creatures has closed within a hundred yards of the diner. Their ranks stretch back seemingly without end into the darkness. Jeep rests a comforting hand on his fathers shoulder. Bob pulls his son close and hugs him with all his might, tears filling his eyes. Audrey places the child in Charlies arms. She stares at the baby, holding it at a distance, unsure of whether to embrace it or be terrified by it. A commitment shes not yet ready to make, even at this late hour. Off Charlies look, we move across the diner where Audrey approaches her mother, kneels down in front of her. Despite how much her mother pisses her off, it breaks her heart to see her in such a demoralized state. Audrey moves to hand over the baby to Charlie. Sandra springs out of the chair an snatches the baby from Audreys arms. Sandra backs away from them, moving toward the front door. Hers is the face of madness. A brilliant spectral light pours into the diner. Sandra is blinded. She raises a hand to block the light. And thats when Michael fires. Sandra staggers back, blood dripping from the hole in her forehead, and the baby goes flying from her hand. Charlie screams and everything suddenly goes very quiet. Jeep dives for the baby, catching the bundle of rags mere inches from the ground. And then he looks up to see the dark silhouette of a man approaching from out of the spectral light a man with wings. Jeeps eyes grow wide as the fierce angel steps into the diner. This is a creature built for war. His body armour making him appears disturbingly insect-like. His wings are not feathery or gentle. Rather they are hard, mechanical, an organic machine. The angels wings retract with clockwork-like precision. Gabriel flies into a wall in an attempt to crush Michael. He fails that but succeeds in leaving a massive dent. Gabriel runs/flies for the opposite wall. This one doesnt hold and the two enemies crash through it into the bathroom. Unbelievably Michael is still holding on. Gabriel is up. He thrusts himself back into the bathroom mirror. It shatters painfully behind Michael. Gabriel rages out of the bathroom and into the diner. Michael continues to ride him like a wild bull. Gabriel slams Michael into a wall once more. Its a brutal struggle. Gabriel spots his mace sticking out of the wall within arms reach. He grabs it, holding it futilely in front of him. Gabriels strength is giving w ay. Michael is winning. Gabriel lets out a tremendous roar and plunges one of the maces long spikes into his own stomach. Michaels eyes go wide with surprise, his grip loosens. Gabriel has run them both through. Gabriel rips the mace from his body and stumbles forward. Blood pours from a huge hole in Michaels chest right through his heart. Gabriel looks down at the hole in his own belly not nearly as bad as Michaels. Michael falls to his knees weakening. Gabriel looms over Michael. Michael looks up at him, blood leaking from his mouth. Gabriel watches as the last of the writing fades from Michaels body when he hears a faint clicking sound from somewhere in the diner. Gabriel moves gracefully through the destroyed diner, toward the source of the clicking. He steps behind the counter and finds Bob lying in a massive pool of blood. It takes the creature a moment to realize that the clicking sound is coming from Bobs lighter. Bob is focusing every last ounce of life in his body to lighting that lighter. Bob looks at Gabriel. And with one last brush of his thumb, Bobs trusty lighter ignites. Gabriels eyes go wide as the tiny flames dance in front of the stoves broken gas line. Gabriel spins and runs like hell as the gas explodes. Jeep tries to hide his pleasure that the tables have turned at least a little. Charlie is about to respond when Audrey leans in from the back seat. Gabriel smashes down on the cruisers roof with massive force. Jeep grabs the gun and fires wildly up at the roof. Gabriel takes a direct hit in the thigh, causing him to slide off the roof and onto the trunk where he grabs a hold of the rear window frame for support. Audrey desperately tries to load a flare while avoiding Gabriels grasp. Jeep cant get off another shot without the risk of hitting Audrey. Gabriel is almost entirely in the car now. Audrey swings the flare gun toward Gabriel, but he knocks her hand aside just as she pulls the trigger and the flare goes off inside the car. Gabriel lunges over the passenger seat, grasping for Charlie, his ferocious hand only inches from her and the baby. Audrey leaps onto Gabriel, pulling him away from Charlie just in time. He flails wildly about but this young girl rides him like one hell of a cowboy. Jeep slams on the breaks, sending Gabriel and Audrey shooting forward through the windshield like bullet. The intertwined bodies of Gabriel and Audrey hit the road with a sickening crunch and roll into a ball of fire. Charlie, the baby bundled in her hands, leads Jeep away from the demolished cruiser. They are only a few steps from the edge of the ridge when Gabriel rockets up in front of them. Jeep pushes her and the baby out of the way just as Gabriel comes down hard in front of them, kicking up a cloud of dust. Gabriels mechanical wings haltingly retract. The crash has done some serious damage. Much of his skin has burned away. Gabriel is about to launch the finishing move when a ray of light blinded him as a creature descended from the heavens. It was Michael. Gabriel, pissed and agitated, launched an all-out attack to Michael with his rotating mace. After all, Michael was the General, countering the attack was a piece of cake. He managed to slice Gabriels stomach, rendering him immobile. Michael said that its enough and God has already seen what he needed. Gabriel took flight, leaving Michael and the newly-formed family behind. Michael took flight not long after, left them a message that the child is now their responsibility and that they would have to teach him all the goodness in the world. The last scene depicts a happy family, with a womans voice on the background just like in the opening, narrating that the birth of HER son marks the start of a new beginning for humanity. ~FIN~ B. CHARACTER ANALYSIS I. ARCHANGEL MICHEAL (Paul Bettany) The commander of The Army of God; defender of faith and of the church. In the movie, he abandoned his seat in heavens (thus a fallen angel) to follow what he believed. He believed that mankind can still change for the better and that people will someday understand one another. God lost his faith in mankind, he did not. Im saying this is extermination. Those things out there are vessels. The Possessed. The weakest willed are the easiest to turn. This, explained in brief by Michael, shows how he is very familiar with the situation on contrary with the other characters. Knowing the situation, he is the only character fully prepared for what is coming. Well thats just fine, Bob, he doesnt believe in you either. This shows how well he knows Him, how he can speak for Him. After all, he is the General of His army and he can easily listen to what Gods heart has to say (though in the movie, they are not allowed to). Listen. I simply dont care what you people believe. And those things outside, they dont care either. They just want the child dead. Now, this first attack was a test of our strength. The next will be a test of our weakness. Now we can sit here and discuss it Or you can try to help me. This shows his sense of urgency and leadership and how ready he is to protect what/who needs to be protected. When God chose your kind as the object of his love. I was the first in all of heaven to bow down before you. This tells us how Michael truly loves humankind and how honoured he was to serve in accordance to Gods will. No, Im following my own orders now. Depicts the rebellious act / change of heart of Michael to protect humanity against the Apocalypse. II. JEEP HANSON (Lucas Black) A selfless man, who is constantly having some nightmares about Charlie. After being left by his mother, Jeep decided to stay with his father in a deserted place. He was, somehow, the driving force of his father (Bob Hanson) to stay strong and sane after all of the wrong decisions he had made in life. He is a perfect example of a hopeful human being. Must know something I dont? Another bad dream..? Youre the only thing I like to worry about. Shows how caring and worried he is towards Charlies condition. I could help you. We could do it together. I want toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This line tells us how willing Jeep is to take responsibility of Charlies even if the child is not his own flesh and blood a statement that points out how selfless Jeep is and how he loves Charlie unconditionally. Look. I know it doesnt make much sense to you. Sometimes it doesnt make much sense to me either. Ive been having these dreams about her. Some of them so badà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I wish Id never have to sleep again. I just feel like its something I got to do. In this line, Jeep expresses his strong belief that he is doing the right thing, and he is doing what needs to be done though he cannot truly explain what that thing is. As uncertain as he is, he insists on doing what he believes and no one can stop him from doing so (even Charlie). III. CHARLIE (Adrianne Palicki) The troubled pregnant woman, who self-pities and blames herself for all the time she has lost for herself. She considers herself capable of nothing and is of no importance. Youre worried about a girl thats eight months pregnant and it isnt your baby. Its enough to give anybody nightmares. This line shows how unappreciative she is towards those people who love and care for her. Why cant she just be thankful? Bob, see where Im at right now? Can my condition really get any worse? One of the lines that show how pretty good Charlie is in putting down herself. She considers her pregnancy as a condition she is neither proud nor happy about. For her, it was all a mistake Wait just a minute. This cant be happening. Im nobody, Im just a waitress. I dont even own a car. The text explains it all. What makes you think I can do that? What makes you think I want to do that? If hes so important, why dont you take him? After the baby was born, she did not care. It was the fruit of her mistakes. It was even hard for her to look at the baby. Well, her view towards life changes at the end of the movie, so pretty much reality has sank in and lived happily with Jeep. C. REFLECTION It is pretty fascinating to think how God has just given up and lost faith to humanity. He, of all the beings, should know that as humans, we are prone to committing the extremes becoming very disobedient or very beneficial to one another. HE has given us free will, and we have used it. I think when you give someone freedom to do whatever he/she wants to do, then you would have to accept his course of action. But then again, religion would counteract this with the concept of grace which we would have to live in His grace. The movie depicted how people turned against one another the weakest willed being possessed, becoming more powerful and less prone to death than the willed ones. So, why did He not do the other way around possessing the willed ones to kill the weakest willed to wipe them all out? Why did He just not nuke all the sinful places and bless the faithful ones? I think God wanted to give us a chance thanks to Michael; the Messiah was introduced to the world unharmed. It took a one hell of a catastrophe and a fallen angel to make people realize what has been in front of us ever since but dont know how to utilize peace. To conclude, man is born naturally good. It is up to him to stay good or defy what has been written. We just have to be

A Very Warm Mountain Essay -- Ursula K. Le Guin A Very Warm Mountain E

A Very Warm Mountain Have you ever thought of something having human like emotions such as trees or animals? In the essay â€Å"A Very Warm Mountain,† Ursula K. Le Guin offers a whole new angle to look at mountains. Through the use of examples and detailed description Le Guin creates a new perspective on mountains giving then human like qualities. The author discusses the reactions that the person had to the eruption. She writes down journal entrees detailing the explosion day to day and uses some of the entrees in the essay. The author uses entrees as throughout the essay in an effort to give a more realistic view. The more real it seems the easier it is to convince you of her train of thought. She thinks that a mountain should be seen as a person with a personality. In giving examples of the how the mountain has characteristics of emotion. The author is trying to win you over by example after example of how the mountain could be looked at as having the qualities giving in the examples. â€Å"She [the volcano] put on hats of cloud and took them off again, and tried a different shape, and sent them all skimming off across the sky†(p.178). It is in this last statement the author puts the mountain in a view of being able to put on cloths. In doing that the mountain could be looked at in some kind of humanistic way. The author’s thesis is the idea that a mountain can be looked at as having emotions and feelings of its surroundings. The author uses many ways of proving this theory. â€Å"She [the volcano] lay and watched her forests being cut and her elk being hunted†¦ it was time to teach the White Man’s Children a lesson†(p.175). In the quote the author makes the volcano look to have some kind of way of dealing with the problem t... ...ted her life and how she did things. Relating the mountain to a human was the most logical way to say it. The author was able to see many ways that the mountain could have be compared to a person. In saying that the mountain really did start reacting to something that might never be explained to us. The only reassurance we get from some expert is to say that it could happen again or never happen again we can not tell, till it is about to happen. The author is able to relax about what happened with the answer she has given to herself and the reader. She is merely trying to help you see that a mountain can be looked at as a person and has characteristics of a person. Works Cited Le Guin, Ursula K. A Very Warm Mountain. In J. Ackerman, (Ed.), A Sense of Place: Physical, Natural, and Cultural Environment (pp.175-180) New York, NY: Forbes Custom Publishing.