Coyote Blue Chapter 18~19

CHAPTER 18 Shadowphobia Saturday morning Josh Spagnola was sleeping in and dreaming of putting shampoo into bunnies' eyes when the Harley-Davidson crashed through his front door carrying a 270-pound, pissed-off, speed-crazed biker named Tinker. With the crash and thunder of the bike in his living room, Spagnola sat up in his nest of satin sheets thinking earthquake, listening for the sounds of his burglar alarms, which did not come. Spagnola's house was wired six ways to stop an elegant picklock or spry cutpurse from entering by stealth, sneak, or cat's-paw; he had, in fact, protected himself against someone exactly like himself. That anyone would break in on a battering ram of Milwaukee iron, in broad daylight, had never occurred to him. Tinker, on the other hand, took the words breaking and entering quite literally, and found entering a rather empty experience without substantial breaking. He carried on his belt a policeman's riot baton, a blackjack, two hunting knives, and a set of brass knuckles. In a rare moment of sanity he had left his guns at home. His lawyer had advised against guns while on probation. Tinker had received an early-morning call from Lonnie Ray, one of his brothers in the Guild. â€Å"You want him dead?† Tinker had asked Lonnie. â€Å"No, just fuck him up. And don't wear your colors. I don't want any connection to me.† â€Å"Is he big?† Tinker had a deep-seated fear of someday meeting someone as large and violent as himself. â€Å"I don't know. Just wait until I call. You'll see the black Mercedes.† â€Å"You got it, bro,† Tinker said, and hung up. Tinker tried to wait for Lonnie's call, but he'd been up all night cooking up a batch of methedrine in the Guild's lab, and had lost his patience after sampling the product in order to take the edge off the case of beer he'd drunk. At daybreak his bloodlust got the better of him and he left. In the bedroom, hearing a Harley do burnouts on his Berber carpet, Spagnola finally realized that something was seriously wrong. He leapt from bed and began searching through a trail of clothes he had left last night on the way to bed with the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday masseuse from the Cliffs. He remembered kicking his gun belt away from the bedroom door when he sent her home at midnight and scrambled to the door. He was bending to unholster the gun when Tinker kicked the door open, catching Spagnola square in the forehead, knocking him cold. Tinker looked down at the naked, unconscious little man and let out a sigh. The absence of terror was wildly unsatisfying for him. As a gesture of brotherhood to Lonnie he pulled the baton from his belt and with two vicious blows broke both of Spagnola's legs, then he sulked out of the bedroom, mounted his bike, and rode to the Guild's clubhouse to watch Saturday-morning cartoons. -=*=- Sam awoke to Yiffer yelling, â€Å"Get down! Don't let them see you!† Sam looked around the room. Calliope and Grubb were gone. He got up and reached for his watch on the dresser while shouts and whispers continued from the living room. Six in the morning. It must have gone on all night: the shouting, the pounding, the babies crying. He was lucky to have slept at all. He dressed and walked into the living room. â€Å"Get down,† Yiffer said. â€Å"Don't let them see you.† Sam dropped to a crouch in the doorway. Nina and Calliope were huddled under the front windows holding the babies. Yiffer was crouched by the door that led to the balcony. He rose up to peek out the window, then instantly dropped to cover. â€Å"What is it?† Sam said. â€Å"Is someone shooting?† Nina said, â€Å"No, it's the garage sale people. Stay down.† â€Å"Good morning,† Calliope said. â€Å"Did you sleep well?† â€Å"Fine. Who are the garage sale people?† â€Å"They're fucking predators,† Yiffer said. â€Å"They keep circling like sharks. Look.† Yiffer gestured to the window. Sam duck-walked to the window and peeked over the edge. Dodge Darts and Ford Escorts were cruising slowly by, stopping in front of the house, then moving slowly on. Nina said, â€Å"Yiffer put the ad in the paper for our yard sale with the wrong date. They're all looking for us.† â€Å"Five of them have been to the door already,† Yiffer said. â€Å"Whatever you do, don't answer it. They'll tear us apart.† â€Å"Probably ten of them went to Lonnie's door and left when he didn't answer,† Calliope said. â€Å"What happened with Lonnie?† Sam said. Yiffer rose up and peeked out the window. â€Å"Christ! There's a whole van full of them outside.† He dropped to a sitting position, his back to the door. To Sam he said, â€Å"Lonnie didn't answer when I went down there last night. As soon as he heard me come back upstairs he got on his bike and left.† Nina said, â€Å"How long are they going to circle? I have to go to work today.† â€Å"They're never going to leave,† Yiffer wailed hopelessly. â€Å"They're going to just wait and pick us off one by one. We're doomed. We're doomed.† Nina slapped Yiffer across the face. â€Å"Get a grip.† Sam could think of only one thing, the cigarettes on the seat of his car. He had gone sixteen hours without a smoke and was feeling as if he would snap like Yiffer in a few minutes if he didn't get some nicotine into his system. â€Å"I'm going out there,† he said. He felt like John Wayne – before the lung cancer. â€Å"No, dude. Don't do it,† Yiffer pleaded. â€Å"I'm going.† Sam stood up and Yiffer covered his head as if expecting an explosion. Sam picked up Grubb's plastic donut on wheels. â€Å"Can I borrow this?† â€Å"Sure,† Calliope said. â€Å"Are you coming back?† Sam paused for a minute, then smiled and took her hand. â€Å"Definitely,† he said. â€Å"I just need to take a shower and handle a few things. I'll call you, okay?† Calliope nodded. â€Å"You'll never see him alive again,† Yiffer whined. Nina looked up apologetically. â€Å"He had a lot to drink last night. I'm sorry if our fighting disturbed you.† â€Å"No problem,† Sam said. â€Å"Nice meeting you both.† He turned and walked through the kitchen and out the door. As he went down the steps, the van that Yiffer had spotted screeched to a halt in front of the duplex and a dozen gray-haired ladies piled out and rushed him. They met at the bottom of the steps. â€Å"Where's the sale?† one said. â€Å"This is the right address. We checked it twice.† â€Å"Where's the bargains? The ad said bargains.† Sam held the plastic donut up before them. â€Å"This is it, ladies. I'm sorry, but everything was gone but this when I got here. We were all too late. The quick and the dead, you know.† A collective moan came from the mob, then one shouted, â€Å"I'll give you ten bucks for it!† â€Å"Twelve!† another shouted. â€Å"Twelve fifty.† Sam gestured for them to be quiet. â€Å"No, I need this,† he said solemnly. He hugged the donut to his chest. Their purpose gone, they milled around for a moment, then gradually wandered back to the van. Sam stood for a moment watching them. The other garage sale people who had been circling the block saw them leaving, and Sam could almost feel the disappointment settling into their collective consciousness as they broke pattern and drove off. â€Å"Great night,† Coyote said. Sam's nerves had been so worn from the night and morning that he didn't even jump at the voice by his ear. He looked over his shoulder to see Coyote in his black buckskins and a huge, white ten-gallon cowboy hat. â€Å"Nice hat,† Sam said. â€Å"I'm in disguise.† â€Å"Swell,† Sam said. â€Å"I can't get rid of you, can I?† â€Å"Can you wipe off your shadow?† â€Å"That's what I thought,†. Sam said. â€Å"Let's go.† -=*=- The shogun of the Big Sky Samurai Golf Course and Hot Springs was worried. His name was Kiro Yashamoto. He was driving his wife and two children in a rented Jeep station wagon up a winding mountain road to look at an ancient Indian medicine wheel. The day before, Kiro had purchased two thousand acres of land (with hot springs and trout stream) near Livingston, Montana, for roughly the price he would have paid for a studio apartment in Tokyo. The deal did not worry him; after the golf course and health club were built he would recoup his investment in a year from the droves of Japanese tourists who would come there. His children worried him. During this trip Kiro's son, Tommy, who was fourteen, and his daughter, Michiko, who was twelve, had both decided that they wanted to attend American universities and live in the United States. Tommy wanted to run General Motors and Michiko wanted to be a patent attorney. As he drove, Kiro listened to his children discussing their plans in English; they paused only when Kiro pointed out some natural wonder, at which time they would dutifully acknowledge the interruption before returning to their conversation. It had been the same at the Custer Battlefield, the Grand Canyon, and even Disneyland, where the children marveled at the machinations of commerce and missed those of magic. My children are monsters, Kiro thought. And I am responsible. Perhaps if I had read them the haikus of Basho when they were little instead of that American manifesto of high-pressure sales, Green Eggs and Ham†¦ Kiro steered the jeep around a long gradual curve that rounded the peak of the mountain and the medicine wheel came into view: huge stones formed spokes almost two hundred feet long. In the center of the wheel a tattered figure lay prostrate in the dirt. â€Å"Look, father,† Michiko said. â€Å"They have hired an Indian to take tickets and he has fallen asleep on the job.† Kiro got out of the Jeep and walked cautiously toward the center of the wheel. He'd learned a lesson in caution when Tommy had nearly been trampled in Yellowstone National Park while trying to videotape a herd of buffalo. Tommy and Michiko ran to their father's side while Mrs. Yashamoto stayed in the car and checked off the medicine wheel on the itinerary and maps. Tommy panned the camcorder as he walked. â€Å"It's just rocks, Father.† â€Å"So is the Zen garden at Kyoto just rocks.† â€Å"But you could make a wheel of rocks at your golf course and people wouldn't have to drive up here to see them. You could hire a Japanese to take tickets so you wouldn't lose revenue.† They reached the Indian and Tommy put the camcorder on the macro setting for a close-up. â€Å"Look, he has fallen asleep with his face on the ground.† Kiro bent and felt the Indian's neck for a pulse. â€Å"Michiko, bring water from the Jeep. Tommy, put down that camera and help me turn this man over. He is sick.† They turned the Indian over and cradled his head on Kiro's rolled-up jacket. He found a beaded wallet in the Indian's overalls and handed it to Tommy. â€Å"Look for medical information.† Michiko returned with a bottle of Evian water and handed it to her father. â€Å"Mother says that we should leave him here and go get help. She is worried about a lawsuit for improper care.† Kiro waved his daughter away and held the water to the Indian's lips. â€Å"This man will not live if we leave him now.† Tommy pulled a square of paper from the beaded wallet. He unfolded it and his face lit up. â€Å"Father, this Indian has a personal letter from Lee Iacocca, the president of Chrysler.† â€Å"Tommy, please look for medical information.† â€Å"His name is Pokey Medicine Wing. Listen: ‘Dear Mr. Medicine Wing: ‘Thank you for your recent suggestion for the naming of our new line of light trucks. It is true that we have had great success with our Dakota line of trucks, as well as the Cherokee, Comanche, and Apache lines of our Jeep/Eagle division, but after investigation by our marketing department we have found that the word Crow has a negative connotation with the car-buying public. We also found that the word Absarokee was too difficult to pronounce and Children of the Large-Beaked Bird was too long and somewhat inappropriate for the name of a truck. ‘In answer to your question, we are not aware of any royalties paid to the Navaho tribe by the Mazda Corporation for the use of their name, and we do not pay royalties to the Comanche, Cherokee, or Apache tribes, as these words are registered trademarks of the Jeep Corporation. ‘While your proposed boycott of Chrysler products by the Crow tribe and other Native Americans saddens us deeply, research has determined that they do not represent a large enough demographic to affect our profits. ‘Please accept the enclosed blanket in thanks for bringing this matter to our attention. ‘Sincerely, Lee Iacocca ‘CEO, Chrysler Corporation. â€Å" Kiro said, â€Å"Tommy, put down the letter and help me sit him up so he can drink.† Tommy said, â€Å"If he knows Lee Iacocca he will be good to have as a contact, Father.† â€Å"Not if he dies.† â€Å"Oh, right.† Tommy dropped to his knees and helped Kiro lift Pokey to a sitting position. Kiro held the bottle to Pokey's lips and the old man's eyes opened as he drank. After a few swallows he pushed the bottle away and looked up at Tommy. â€Å"I burned the blanket,† he said. â€Å"Smallpox.† Then he passed out. CHAPTER 19 Five Faces of Coyote Blue Ever since the morning Adeline Eats had found the frost-covered liar in the grass behind Wiley's Food and Gas there had been a screech owl sitting atop the power pole in front of her house, sitting there like feathered trouble. In addition, Black Cloud Follows had blown a water pump, all of her kids were coming down with the flu, her husband, Milo, had gone off to a peyote ceremony, and she was trying desperately to stay out of Hell. It was unfair, she thought, that her new faith was being tested before the paint was even dry. She wanted the owl to go away and take her bad luck with it. But to a good Christian, an owl was just an owl. Only a traditional Crow believed in the bad luck of owls. A good Christian would just go out there and shoo that old owl away. Of course, it wouldn't bother a good Christian. Adeline had come to Christianity the same way she had come to sex and smoking: through peer pressure. Thinking about her six kids and her smoker's hack, she wondered if perhaps peer pressure didn't always lead to the best habits. Her sisters had all converted and they had referred to her as the heathen of the family until she caved in and accepted Christ. Now, only three weeks after being washed in the blood of the Lamb, she was already backsliding like a dog surprised down a skunk hole. The owl. Adeline looked out the front window to check on the owl; he was still there. Had he winked at her? She had pinned up her hair and was wearing sunglasses and a pair of Milo's overalls, hoping the owl wouldn't recognize her until she figured out what to do. She was tempted to pray to Jesus to make the owl go away, but if she did that, she would be admitting that she believed in the old ways and she'd go to Hell. There was no Hell in the old ways. Then again, she could load up Milo's shotgun, walk out in the yard, and turn that old owl into pink mist. She couldn't see herself doing that either – no telling what kind of trouble that would unleash. And she couldn't wait for Milo and ask him for help: not after weeks of working on him to leave the Native American church and trade in his peyote buttons for wafers and wine. She ducked away from the window. One of the kids coughed in the other room. Eventually she was going to have to take them down to the clinic for treatment. But she was afraid to pass by the owl. According to the priest, God knew everything. The sunglasses and hairdo wouldn't fool God. God knew she was afraid, so He knew she still had faith in the old ways, so she was going to Hell as sure as if she'd been out all morning worshiping golden calves and graven images. â€Å"I got bad medicine from being Crow,† she thought. â€Å"And I'm going to Hell for being Christian. I should have let that old liar Pokey freeze to death.† She slapped herself on the forehead. â€Å"Damn! Another Hell thought.† -=*=- A nun with an Uzi popped up on the parapet of Notre Dame like a ninja penguin. Coyote shot from the hip, winging her before she could fire. She tumbled over the side, bounced off a gargoyle, and splattered on the sidewalk below. A synthesized Gregorian chant began to play as her spirit rose to heaven, a steel ruler in hand. Coyote strafed a stained-glass window and took out a bazooka-wielding bishop for two thousand penance points. Sam walked into the bedroom, hair wet, a towel wrapped around his hips. â€Å"Nice shot,† Sam said. Coyote glanced up from the video game. â€Å"The red ones have killed me three times.† â€Å"Those are cardinals. You have to hit them twice to kill them. Wait until you get to the Vatican level. The pope has guilt-beam vision.† Before Coyote could look back to the screen the cathedral doors flew open and St. Patrick fired a wiggling salvo of heat-seeking vipers. â€Å"Hit your smart bomb,† Sam said. Coyote fumbled with the control, but was too late. A snake latched onto his leg and exploded. The screen flashed GAME OVER, and a synthesized voice instructed Coyote to â€Å"go to confession.† Coyote dropped the control onto the bed with a sigh. Sam said, â€Å"You did good. Gunning for Nuns is a hard game for beginners.† â€Å"I should have brought some cheating medicine. My cheating medicine never fails.† â€Å"This isn't like the hand game. This is a game of skill.† â€Å"Who needs skill when you can have luck?† Sam shook his head and turned to go back to the bathroom. During the night something inside him had changed. Each time he thought things had reached a plateau of weirdness, something even weirder had happened. The result, he realized, was that he was now accepting anything that happened, no matter how weird, without resistance. Chaos was the new order in his life. The phone rang and Sam, hoping it was Calliope, grabbed the receiver off the vanity. â€Å"Samuel Hunter,† he said. â€Å"You low-life, scum-sucking shithead!† â€Å"Good morning to you too, Josh.† â€Å"You win, dickhead. There'll be a meeting of the co-op association tonight. They'll vote you back in. You can keep your apartment, but I want your guarantee that this is over.† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"I hope you know I've lost all respect for you as a professional, Sam. The doctor says I'm going to walk with a limp for the rest of my life.† â€Å"There was a crooked man who had a crooked-â€Å" â€Å"You broke my legs! My house is destroyed.† Sam peeked into the bedroom where Coyote was attacking the Sistine Chapel with a helicopter gunship. â€Å"Josh, I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm glad you came to your senses.† â€Å"Fuck you. I'm using up years of collected dirt to get your apartment back.† â€Å"Townhouse,† Sam corrected. â€Å"Not apartment.† â€Å"Don't fuck with me, Sam. I'm in a cast up to my nipples and a sadistic nurse has been force-feeding me green Jell-O for an hour. Just tell me it's over.† â€Å"It's over,† Sam said. The phone clicked. Sam walked back into the bedroom. â€Å"What did you do to Spagnola?† Coyote was rolling on the bed in exaggerated body English to tilt the gunship. â€Å"These birds are eating my tail rotor. I can't control it.† â€Å"Uh-oh, St. Francis released the doves of death. You're dead meat.† Sam took a cigarette from the pack on the dresser and offered one to Coyote. â€Å"What did you do to Spagnola?† â€Å"You said you wanted your old life back.† â€Å"So you broke Spagnola's legs?† â€Å"It was a trick.† â€Å"You can't just go around breaking people's legs like some Mafioso fairy godmother.† The gunship spun out of control and crashed on the mezzanine. Coyote threw the joystick at the screen and turned to Sam. â€Å"How can I win if you keep talking to me? You whine like an old woman. I got you your house back!† â€Å"I wouldn't have lost it if you had left me alone. Be logical.† â€Å"What gods do you know that are logical? Name two.† â€Å"Never mind,† Sam said. He went to the closet and pulled his clothing out for the day. Coyote said, â€Å"Do you have a light?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No? After I stole fire from the sun and gave it to your people?† â€Å"Why, Coyote? Why did you do that?† Sam turned to point out the lighter on the dresser, but the trickster was gone. -=*=- Calliope's upbringing in the Eastern religions, with their emphasis on living in the now – of acting, not thinking – had left her totally unprepared to do battle with the future. She'd tried to ignore it, even after Grubb was born, but it had become more and more difficult to function on karmic autopilot. Now, Sam had entered her life and she felt like she had something to lose. The future had a name. She wondered what she had done to manifest the curse of a nice guy. â€Å"It feels wonderful, but I want more,† Calliope said. â€Å"I don't get it,† Nina said. They were cleaning up the kitchen. Grubb was scooting around on the linoleum at their feet, tasting the baseboards, a table leg, a slow-moving bug. â€Å"I've always felt separate from men, even during sex. It's like there's this part of me that watches them and I'm not really involved. But it wasn't that way with Sam. It was like we were really together, no barriers. I wasn't watching him, I was with him. When we were finished I lay there watching the pulse on his neck, and it was like we had gone to some other world together. I wanted more.† â€Å"So you're saying you're a hosebeast.† â€Å"Not like that. It was just that I want to feel that way all the time. I want my whole life to feel – complete.† â€Å"I'm sorry, Calliope, I don't get it. I'm happy if Yiffer doesn't pass out before we finish.† â€Å"I guess it's not a sexual thing. It's a spiritual thing. Like there's a part of life that I can touch but I can't live in.† â€Å"Maybe we just need to find a house where your ex doesn't live downstairs.† â€Å"That was pretty awful. I couldn't believe Sam didn't just leave.† Nina threw a dish towel at Calliope and missed. â€Å"You had a little good luck for a change, accept it. Not every guy has to be a creep like Lonnie.† â€Å"I'm a little afraid to leave Grubb with him when I go to work today.† â€Å"Lonnie won't hurt Grubb. He was just pissed that you were with someone else. Men are like that. Even when they don't want you, they don't want anyone else to have you.† â€Å"Nina, do you think there's something wrong with me?† â€Å"No, you're just not very good at worrying. You'll get the hang of it.† -=*=- â€Å"I've got to get back to the house,† Lonnie said to Cheryl, who was pouring peroxide on his damaged chest. She wiped away the foam with a tissue, then poked the wound with a broken black fingernail. â€Å"Ouch! What are you doing, bitch?† Cheryl got up from the bed and pulled on a pair of leather pants. Lonnie could see her hipbones and shoulder blades pushing against her pale skin as if they would poke through any second. â€Å"You're always thinking of her. Never me. What the hell is wrong with me?† She turned to face him and he stared at her breasts lying like flaps against her ribs. She pulled back her lips in a snarl and Lonnie knew his face had betrayed him. â€Å"Fucking asshole,† she said, pulling on a black Harley-Davidson T-shirt. â€Å"It's not her, it's the kid. He's my kid. I have to watch him when she goes to work.† â€Å"Bullshit. Then why won't you fuck me?† She tossed her head and her long black hair fell into her face like seaweed on the drowned. Because you look like you just escaped from fucking Auschwitz, Lonnie thought. He'd been with Cheryl for three months and had never seen her eat. As far as he could figure she lived on speed, come, and Pepsi. He said, â€Å"I worry about the kid.† â€Å"Then get custody. I can take care of him. I'd make a good mother.† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"You don't think so? You think that vegetarian bitch is a better mother than me?† â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You start treating me right or I'm gone.† Cheryl took a purse from the floor and began digging in it. â€Å"Where the fuck is my stash?† She threw the purse aside and stormed out of the room. Lonnie followed her, carrying the denim vest sporting the Guild's colors. â€Å"I've got to go,† he said. Cheryl was dumping a bindle of white powder into a can of Pepsi. â€Å"Bring back some crank,† she said. As Lonnie walked out she added, â€Å"Tink called while you were sleeping. He said to tell you he took care of things.† Outside Lonnie fired up his Harley and pulled out into the street. Tinker's news should have cheered him up, but it didn't. He felt empty, like he needed to get fucked up. He always felt that way lately. At one time being a brother in the Guild, being accepted for who he was, had been enough. Having all the women and drugs and money and power he needed had been enough. But since Grubb was born he felt like he was supposed to be doing something, and he didn't know what it was. Maybe the bitch is right, he thought. As long as the kid tied him to Calliope he was going to feel shitty. It was time to feel good again. -=*=- Frank Cochran, the cofounder of Motion Marine, Inc., had spent most of the morning in his office milling over the bane of his existence: the human factor. Frank loved organization, routine, and predictability. He liked his life to be linear, moving forward from event to event without the nasty backtracking caused by surprises. The human factor was his name for the variable of unpredictability that was added to the equation of life by human beings. Today, the human factor was represented by his partner, Jim Cable, who was in the hospital after being attacked by an Indian. Frank's thinking went thus: If Jim dies there'll be insurance hassles, legal battles with the family, and someone will have to comfort Jim's mistress. But if Jim lives – maybe Jim's mistress should be comforted anyway†¦. His train of thought was broken by the buzz of the intercom on his desk. â€Å"Mr. Cochran,† his secretary said, â€Å"there's a man from NARC here to see you.† â€Å"I don't have any appointments until after lunch, do I?† The office door burst open and Cochran looked up to see an Indian in black buckskins striding toward him. His secretary was shouting protests from her desk. Cochran spoke into the intercom, â€Å"Stella, do I have an appointment with this man?† â€Å"Native American Reform Coalition,† Coyote said. â€Å"I understand that some insurance agent is taking credit for what happened to your partner.† Cochran had a very bad feeling about this. â€Å"Look, I don't know who you are, but I don't like surprises.† â€Å"Then this is going to be a very bad day for you.† Coyote slammed the door behind him. â€Å"A very bad day.† The trickster extended his right hand. â€Å"Nice to meet you.† Cochran watched in horror as the Indian's hand began to sprout fur and claws.

Is Management an Art or Science? Essay

Management is a set of activities (including planning and decision making, organizing, leading, and controlling) directed at an organization’s resources (human, financial, physical, and information) with the aim of achieving organizational goals in an efficient and effective manner. A manager is someone whose primary responsibility is to carry out the management process within an organization. The effective practice of management requires a synthesis of science and art; that is, a blend of rational objectivity and intuitive insight. Good management is a mixture of art and science. Managing is working with and through other people to accomplish the objectives of both the organizations and its members. Management is both art and science. It is the art of making people more effective than they would have been without you. The science is in how you do that. There are four basic pillars, plan, organize, direct, and monitor. Most managers attain their skills and positions through a combination of education and experience. Management is science but whenever and wherever one is dealing with human beings one can not expect same behavior, reaction or same outcome in a given situation, therefore the science of management is to be applied and utilized in most artful manner to achieve best results. It can be said with fair amount of certainty that a good manager is the one, who is also a good public relation man and does apply the science of management in a fashion whereby giving human factor prime importance. It is proven that a manager’s job is naturally multifarious, a reasonable question relates to whether management is a science or an art. In fact, effective management is a blend of both science and art. And successful executives recognize the importance of combining both the science and the art of management as they practice their craft. Many management problems and issues can be approached in ways that are rational, logical, objective, and systematic. Managers can gather data, facts, and objective information. They can use quantitative models and decision-making techniques to arrive at correct decisions. And they need to take such a scientific approach to solving problems whenever possible,  especially when they are dealing with relative routine and straightforward issues. Technical and diagnostic skills are especially important when practicing the science of management. All said and done still science of management is not the kind of science where you mix two parts of Hydrogen and one part Oxygen and you get water, but it is the kind of science where you adapt and adjust management techniques according to circumstances and different scenarios. Even though managers may try to be scientific as much as possible, they must often make decisions and solve problems on the basis of intuition, experience, instinct, personal insights and on compassionate grounds. Relying heavily on conceptual and interpersonal skills for example, a manager may have to decide between multiple courses of action that look equally attractive. Solving unusual and non-routine problems almost certainly requires an element of intuition, emotions and personal insight. Although science of management provides valuable information on how to manage human resources effectively to get optimal results but still it is not possible to, or can be counter productive, if the management techniques are applied without giving due consideration to different situations and varied human behaviors. In short a successful manger is the one who uses science of management in an artful manner and get best possible results.

Cbt And Narrative Therapy For My Client s Post Traumatic...

Introduction Throughout the semester, we analyzed two very different treatment modalities of therapeutic interventions. These methods were Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy. The framework and strategy behind each of these concepts could benefit a particular client depending on diagnosis and various other factors. Moreover, in some instances, a combination of both therapeutic interventions may be most constructive. In this paper, I will introduce my client and provide details of his life history in order to explore his clinical diagnoses and examine how his presenting issues are affecting his day to day functioning. I will evaluate CBT and narrative therapy models to determine what approach would be most productive to use in therapeutic sessions with this client. I will explore what researchers have discovered about CBT and narrative therapy in regards to the efficiency of treatment for my client’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis. I will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of both therapies and choose the therapeutic approach that is substantiated by research for the best possible outcome for my client. Upon completion of this evaluation, I will examine my own cultural power and privilege relative to this individual and reflect on my professional strengths and limitations in using the selected therapeutic framework. Client and Problem Description My client is fifteen year old. He is a Hispanic male. He has been involved with theShow MoreRelatedBefivfbowbofboip11296 Words   |  6 Pages 1) Identify what additional information you would need to begin treatment with this client? One of the most important aspects of counseling is to learn how your client copes with their struggles. I found that this was not covered in the â€Å"Karen† intake. If I were to go back and complete an assessment with her, I would most definitely cover this topic in further detail, specifically with her traumatic event with her own personal experience with her car accident as well as losing her fatherRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )2731 Words   |  11 Pagesnot understand the effects of war and mental illness nor how to treat it. In this paper, I will discuss the history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), explain the diagnostic description, and describe etiology and treatment for PTSD. History of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and War Although not recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms of this disorder have been noted throughout the centuries. Not only has it been known by several names, but has also repeatedly been misunderstoodRead MoreCognitive Behavioural Therapy for Ptsd9239 Words   |  37 PagesBehavioural and related Therapies for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Abstract In this paper the therapies related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be studied in order to determine the applicability thereof for the treatment (and prevention) of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD will be summarised as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders edition 4 with revisions (DSM-IV-TR). The therapy models, their theory andRead MoreOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 PagesCOGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR OCD This page intentionally left blank COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR OCD DAVID A. CLARK THE GUILFORD PRESS New York London  © 2004 The Guilford Press A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc. 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012 www.guilford.com All rights reserved Paperback edition 2007 Except as noted, no part of this book may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical

Major Depressive Disorder And Its Variants - 1615 Words

Major Depressive Disorder and its variants Introduction The nervous system can be considered one of the most complex organ systems in the human body which is accountable for managing numerous functions that entail the overall well-being of the body. It consists of the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System of which participate in voluntary and involuntary controlled functions. Detrimental effects can occur if there are issues that interfere with normal functioning of this system that can lead to one of many mental and physiological illnesses. Notably, Depression is one of the most common mental ailments that occur in about 6% of adults in America (Mental Health America). It can be characterized when one displays a lack of†¦show more content†¦The list of depression sub-types can continue but the aforementioned categories are ones that are diagnosed from most to least frequently among cases. Causes There are several factors that may contribute to depression and depending on the individual can be rooted from a single or multiple reasons. If one has a family history of the illness it increases the likelihood to develop it along with environmental influences that also aid in its progress (CITE-2). Also biological issues such as neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain can contribute to depression, for example at the pre and post-synapse of a neuronal cell (CITE-2). A pattern of pessimistic thoughts and low self-esteem can proliferate the illness, as a study conducted exhibited that affected individuals did not improve perceptions of their depression even after a neurotransmitter imbalance explanation (CITE-4). Gender also plays a role as depression and its symptoms have been observed in women more than in men particularly beginning from adolescence until their mid-fifties (CITE 5). It can also occur in conjunction with other illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease (CITE-2). Lastly the mental disorder can also be triggered by tough life events endured by an individual for instance passing of a loved one, relationship or financial hardships can contributeShow MoreRelatedThe Cultural Aspects Of Bipolar Disorder1586 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Bipolar disorder like most mental disorders does not discriminate by culture. This research papers primary goal is educate on the cultural difference or similarities in how bipolar disorder manifests itself. The secondary goal of this paper is to establish a generalized understanding of bipolar disorder as to supplement the primary goal. This will all be done in a systematic manner to ensure that every major topic is examined to the full extent and all the topics of interests are coveredRead MoreDifferent Depressive Disorders1397 Words   |  6 Pages DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS Introduction: Major depressive disorder is characterized by a myriad of symptoms that interferes with a persons daily activities including ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is a debilitating disease and prevents a person from being functional socially and professionally. Major depressive disorder is known to have significant potential morbidity and mortality, and contributes to suicide, incidences and adverse outcomesRead MoreDepression Essay732 Words   |  3 Pagesonset of neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimers and Parkinson’s disease) including several neuropsychiatric disorders like depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Further, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ÃŽ ², IL-6, TNF-ÃŽ ±, IFN-ï  § are found to be associated with depression. A number of studies have investigated variants of genes that control the circadian system for their association with mood disorder and circadian related polymorphism in depressive disorders. The genetics factors are alsoRead MoreThe Cultural Factors Of Depression1429 Words   |  6 Pagesculture and depression in order to effectively assessing and treating this disorder in all populations. In recent years, It has been established knowledge that, aside from biological and biographical factors, socio-cultural patterns have a major impact in prevalence and phenomenology of depressive disorders.This paper mainly discusses the role of cultural factors that are particularly relevant in the depressive disorders. 1.introduction Recent reviews of the depression literature have demonstratedRead MoreIntegrating Neurobiology And Psychology For New Treatment Targets1553 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology for New Treatment Targets: Schizophrenia, Bipolar, and Depressive Disorders Integration of disciplines is essential for developing new approaches to treat mental health disorders. Identifying key players in the underlying pathology of schizophrenia, bipolar, and depressive disorders will prove new targets for treatments. In the past, glial cells have been overlooked in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar, and depressive disorders. Now, with new technology, the class of neuroglia, called astrocytesRead MoreThe Etiology, Prevalence Rates, And Symptoms Of Major Depressive Disorder1633 Words   |  7 Pagesand symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder. In addition, I will explore Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for treating MDD. By examining the findings of CBT and MBCT studies for treating MDD, I can be more knowledgeable and better prepared for treating clients with MDD in the future. Thus far I have learned that the causes of depression have not been specifically pinpointed, however, it is said that depression has genetic and environmental variants. MDD can occurRead More Genetic Identification of Major Psychiatric Disorders Essay2536 Words   |  11 PagesMost major psychiatric disorder diagnoses are defined as descriptive syndromes on the basis of expert consensus. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are the standard diagnostic tools used by psychiatrists and clinicians world-wide. Unfortunately, these manuals are classified by clinical agreement and encounter revision every few years. Perpetual revision and increased medicalization of mental disorders also createsRead More Bulimia and Depression Essay2364 Words   |  10 PagesBulimia and Depression The prevalence of eating disorders among American women has increased dramatically in the past decade. In turn, the psychological community has expanded its scope of research and study by focusing more attention on eating disorders and concentrating on other extended issues related to eating disorders. The desire to distinguish and understand a possible relationship between bulimia nervosa and depression has become a major focus within the field. The purpose of this paperRead MoreBipolar Disorder And Its Effects1660 Words   |  7 Pagesthink of bipolar disorder, they may imagine a person who first is happy, jolly, and friendly. Then, the next moment that person is an angry, bitter, and irritated. According to many research studies, bipolar is much more than what people think. In this paper, I will elaborate on what bipolar disorder is, the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the causes and risks, populations who are mostly affected and treatments to stabilize it. Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder. It appears as aRead MoreChronic Traumatic Ptsd ( Cte )1522 Words   |  7 Pagesdisease so elusive is its difficulty to be detected until postmortem autopsies are conducted 6. As a consequence, several professional athletes experiencing head injuries were unaware of the fatal consequences of participating in sports involving major blows to the head like boxing, hockey, and second most notoriously, American football 3,6. In fact, clinicians have noted a positive correlation between time spent playing football and pathological CTE in the postmortem analysis of brain tissue in

Management and Organizational Culture in Samsung - 1548 Words

Course: NZDB 530 Organisation and Management Trimester 2 2010 Assessment 2: Essay on Organizational Culture SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Submitted by: Chung Daewan(Steve) ID# 20904451 Submitted on: 5th July 2010 Submitted to: Jene Parilla TABLE OF CONTENTS â…  . Essay on Organizational Culture †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..................................................3 â… ¡. Metaphor†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......................................................................................6 â… ¢. Appendices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....................................................................................7 â… £. References..................................................................................................9 1. Essay on organizational culture Introduction: Every organization existing†¦show more content†¦Another thing that SAMSUNG has to understand the variety of cultures is their aim of the sustainability (see appendix F). Its sustainability well represents that SAMSUNG is one of the company that really consider the other cultures, societies, people and customs and so on. Conclusion: In my conclusion, I would like to emphasize that SAMSUNG has a quite distinctive way to carry on its business. From the part of visible aspects, it has a different way to build up its image by emphasizing the blue color, while other competitors such as SONY and APPLE focus on the shape of logos to do the same thing. From another aspect of organizational culture, the invisible aspects, we can find its effort to be adjusting well to a society where the organization affects. It tries to contribute its profit to the society by offering an educational service, a welfare service and even some public performances and so on. Although, it has been obviou s that such a large co-operation company like SAMSUNG has a responsibility to contribute its profit to make the society better, SAMSUNG`s profit contribution policy is very well-organized so, it can be a very own aspect that SAMSUNG has. Lastly, its managerial structure has an incredibly unique way to communicate to each other and get a new idea from people. It has a very strict hierarchical structure that is carried out by people in the organization all the time, butShow MoreRelatedManagement and Organizational Culture in Samsung1541 Words   |  7 PagesCourse: NZDB 530 Organisation and Management Trimester 2 2010 Assessment 2: Essay on Organizational Culture SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Submitted by: Chung Daewan(Steve) ID# 20904451 Submitted on: 5th July 2010 Submitted to: Jene Parilla TABLE OF CONTENTS â…  . Essay on Organizational Culture †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..................................................3 â… ¡. Metaphor†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......................................................................................6 â… ¢. Appendices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...................Read MoreUsing An Mp3 Recorder, The Interview Process1081 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship between organizational culture and leadership decision. But in case of telecom industry it is quite a new approach. The overall purpose of the research is to measure their relationship and investigate their impact on each other. Various methodology and approaches have been used to achieve the basic objective of the study. Analyzing the entire research, firstly we have developed the primary outcomes and conducted further analysis linking it with the context of Samsung, UK. AccomplishmentRead MoreManagerial Economics And Management Decisions By C. M. Birch1702 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction According to Managerial Economics and Management Decisions by C. M. Birch, Managerial Economics deals with understanding both internal and external factors within Micro- and Macro-economics. A company must be aware of not only their own sustainable capabilities, but also perform environmental scans to detect competitors and economic conditions. In the case of Samsung, many of these global factors played a substantial role in deciding the survivability rate of the company from succeedingRead MoreEssay on Samsung Group in South Korea Develops Businesses525 Words   |  3 PagesSamsung Group is an international corporation company from South Korean. It develops variable business areas such as food processing, electronics, textiles, securities insurance and retails. Especially, electronics like mobiles, laptops, televisions and semiconductors become the main source of their income in the global market. In 2010, Samsung Electronics becomes the largest information and technology organiza tion in the world. Samsung is very focused on how increasingly build up the organizationalRead MoreOrganizational Change : Organization Change1447 Words   |  6 Pagesstructural changes, market challenges, and culture shock. When an organization s development through different life cycles, just like people have to through the successful development of the life cycle. It is to important factor to including factors that are linked to external environmental changes and will improve the internal environment, managerial effectiveness.‘The most common known targets of organizational change include vision, strategy, culture, structure, system, production technology,Read MoreThe Model Of Nokia And Samsung1406 Words   |  6 PagesDiagnosing the change: The diagnostic model, I am going to use for analyzing the companies, Nokia and Samsung would be Burke-Litwin model. I choose this model because it allows people to analyze the impact made by the external and internal factors on the changes made by the organization. It also allows people to assess the different organizational and environmental dimensions which can be modified so that the organizations are successful. The Burke-Litwin model consists of different factors whichRead MoreOrganizational Performance And The Perfect Leadership Style Within The Organization1663 Words   |  7 PagesTransformational The motive and culture of the organization sets the stage for the perfect leadership style within the organization. Besides, a combination of different leadership style is practiced within one organization in order to fulfill the requirements of different departments. 3.1.3 Organizational Performance Organizational Performance refers to the performance of the organization in terms of the set goals and objectives. Among different aspects of organization, organizational performance is the crucialRead MoreOrganizational Change : An Organization1310 Words   |  6 Pagesstructural changes, market challenges, and culture shock. When an organization s development through different life cycles, just like people have to through the successful development of the life cycle. It is to important factor to including factors that are linked to external environmental changes and will improve the internal environment, managerial effectiveness.‘The most common known targets of organizational change include vision, strategy, culture, structure, system, production technology,Read MoreOrganizational Structure of Samsung Electronics1234 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizational Structure and Design Prepared By: Anuj Arora – 12FN019 Himika Chaudhary Nitin Mudgal Prateek Kumar – 12DM101 Sachin Gupta – 12FN107 Index 1.1 Introduction Samsung India Electronics Ltd is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation headquartered in Seoul, Korea. The company was incorporated in the year 1995. The company is having their head office at Delhi and branch office at 16 locations all over the India. Their manufacturing facilities are located at Noida in UttarRead MoreWada1669 Words   |  7 PagesDiagnosing the Change Managing Organizational Change Emiliano Delucia Keller Graduate School of Management DIAGNOSTIC MODELS One of the main purposes of diagnostic models is to find a way to identify external and internal factors that can affect the working conditions of an organization. Many diagnostic models have been developed along the years to ensure these factors are well identified and the organizations can function properly following a certain model. The diagnostic model

Mcdonalds India free essay sample

McDonald’s in India, Critical Thinking Analysis Do you think McDonald’s has done well in addressing the key macro- environmental factors in India, and why? I will start off by saying; Yes, I think McDonald’s did really well in addressing the key macro-environmental factors in India. To give some more debt to this answer, I found it convenient to use the PESTEL analysis as a tool to identify the key macro-environmental factors that were relevant for McDonalds when they entered India, and then shortly comment on each of them what McDonalds did that was so good. Political/Legal Until the early 1990s, India’s political parties were critical of foreign companies operating in India. After that the market opened more up, but still the political climate seems to be in some ways critical of foreign MNC’s. To deal with these problems McDonald’s choose to partner up with local companies and to create joint-ventures. Their local business partners knew which steps that needed to be taken to create political goodwill and how make the introduction of McDonalds go as smoothly as possible. When McDonald’s entered India, it was crucial for them to be aware of the local culture, and to not appear as bold Americans. India was known for their sensitivity to cultural imperialism, and they feared that the western culture would come in and dominate the traditional Indian values, traditions and so on. McDonald’s was careful and they listened closely to the local demands and did their best to adjust to the target market’s needs. I am aware that this is closely tied to the socio-economic factor, but eventually this also has a huge affect on the political environment. McDonald’s seems to have succeeded in with the way they monitored the market and the way they customized their concept to fit the Indian market. If you compare the little resistance that McDonald’s seems to face from the government, to India’s ranking on the Ease of Doing Business-index, it looks like McDonald’s did good in issuing these issues. Economic Since India started the liberalization of their economy in 1990s, the economy has gone one way, and that is up. The GDP has been steadily increasing, and is by mange experts regarded as one of the most promising future economies. The trend in India is that the economic growth mainly is situated to the largest cities, and there has been a large growth in what is described as the upper class. It is also important to look at the fact that the middle class is constantly growing, and that more and more Indians gets a higher income. McDonald’s did a really smart thing when they waited a couple of years before they went in to India, because when they came in, the market was really growing. The fact that the middle class is constantly growing is of high importance to McDonald’s, since this is the group that makes up for the majority of the sales. So when more and more people are able to afford McDonald’s, the market will grow and the sales will go up. Even if the economy of the middle glass is getting better, a lot of people still perceives McDonald’s as expensive. To deal with that fact, McDonald’s has cut the prices of many of their items, and by that appeal to an even broader market. It is still a bit early to say if McDonald’s has succeeded with this strategy, but sales are going up. Socio-cultural Personally, I feel that in this case, this is the most important of the key macro- environmental factors. As mentioned above, there has been a lot of fear in India that the western companies will come to India with their western culture and dominate the existing culture. In the urban areas, where McDonalds decided to go into first, a large part of the population is exposed to western culture through the media and also the internet. Therefore they accept western values and culture more than they do in other parts of India. It was therefore a vice decision to enter these markets first. What McDonald’s has done so well in India is that they have focused a lot on adapting to the customs, culture, religions and traditions that exists in India, and instead of just implanting their â€Å"own† western culture. They have spent time and money on identifying the needs of the Indian customers, and they have adjusted their menus, their restaurants and the way they deliver the food to the needs of the customers. They have shown cultural sensitivity in a great way, and this has hopefully made more people welcoming towards western companies, food and culture, and with that pave the way for further expansion for McDonald’s in India. Technological One of McDonald’s most critical strategies was how to set up a well-established supply chain in India. They had to improve the standards of storage, distribution and transport. Since the infrastructure for storage and transportation is pretty poor in India, McDonalds decided to open their outlets only within 500-km radius of their main distribution centers. To deal with the transportation problems they decided to help a local company(Radhakrishna Foodland), and together they developed software to keep track on supplies and a trucking fleet that helped them secure good quality of the food and also to keep the transportations costs low. Due to macro environmental factors such as high import duties and foreign exchange fluctuations, McDonalds decided to source its raw materials from the local suppliers.. To deal with the fact that the quality of the agricultural products was low in the start of the 1990’s, McDonalds started working together with local Indian companies 6 years before they entered, and they also transferred their state-of-the-art food processing technology to India, and with these steps McDonalds managed to develop the quality they demand for their products. This meticulous planning of the supply chain system has been a key success factor for McDonalds in India. It has led to minimized costs, optimized quality control and high customer satisfaction. The improved transportation and food processing technology has also increased the agricultural productivity in India, which has led to goodwill from the government. Environmental When McDonalds entered India they were aware of the fact that there in India is a vocal group of environmental and animal activist that oppose to the entry of fast-food chains. To counter with these negative campaigns, McDonalds decided to institute a fund that supports green movements in Delhi. They give financial contributions to different environmental campaigns, they sponsor community-related activities and they try to promote environmental consciousness. With these steps, McDonalds has managed to deal with some of the problems that could have aroused, and instead they have used this to create a stronger brand name and also generated more official support for their expansion strategies and the way they do their business.

Pyramids Of Egypt Essays - Ancient Egyptian Architecture

Pyramids Of Egypt In my report, I will discuss how the pyramids were built, what purpose they served, the three pyramids at Giza, some messages found on the stones that were used to build pyramids, and what a mastabas is. Pyramids are tombs built for Egypt's pharaohs. Pyramids are large structures with four sides that are the shape of a triangle, that meet at the top to form a point. The ancient Egyptians used the pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and temples for their gods. The pyramids have one or two little temples attached to them, which holds their relatives and servants. A few pyramids still stand today, and are great attractions for tourists. The pyramids were built by taking blocks of granite to the workshop, measuring the blocks down to size, shaping the blocks, and placing the blocks into the body of the pyramid. The core of the structure is now completed. Then, you place the limestone blocks on the top of the structure (they started putting the blocks on top and then worked their way down). They left two empty rooms to place the pharaoh and his belongings in. They sealed the pyramids so well, it took four hundred years for two robbers to figure out how to get in. The pyramids were built by free citizens, drafted for public work, not by slaves of any sort. The pyramids were built by four thousand expert stone sculptors all year round. An extra work group of about ninety-five thousand men worked on the pyramids during the four month period of the inundation (the time of enforced idleness for farmers, since the field were covered with the Nile water flood ). The pyramids were built between the year 1600 B.C. and the year 2700. Many scholars believe that the reason why the pyramids were built in a triangular form is because it has a religious meaning to the Egyptians. The slanting side might have reminded the Egyptians of the slanting rays of the sun, that the pharaoh's soul could climb to the sky and join the gods. In the pyramids they buried the pharaoh's body. There was a chamber for the body. There was also a chamber for treasures of gold and other priceless items for the pharaoh's afterlife. Sometimes a boat is placed inside so the pharaoh would have a way to transport himself into his afterlife. In Pharaoh Cheopses pyramid, therewas his mummy, caskets full of jewels, furniture inlaid with ivory and gold, silver and alabaster bowls and vessels, chests filled with clothing and precious ornaments, and jars filled full of food and wine. You must think that the pyramids must have been large to hold all of that, and as a matter of fact the base of the pyramid covers enough area to hold ten football fields. The three pyramids at Giza stand on the west bank of the Nile River,outside of Cairo. They are the largest and best preserved pyramids. The largest of the three was for Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). The next to largest was for Pharaoh Khafre. The smallest (yet not small at all) was for Pharaoh Menkaure. The first known pharaoh to have a pyramid was Pharaoh Zoser,in the year 2650 B.C. Imhotep built it for him. If you ever see something that looks like a pyramid, except it's smaller than one, and has a flat top, don't mistake it for a pyramid, it's a mastabas. In the mastabas the king's relatives and servants are buried. Some blocks had marks on them to show where they belonged. Others had messages like " this side up ", " vigorous gang", or even " how drunk the king is ". In conclusion, the pyramids were built by free, drafted, citizens. Pyramids were used to bury the pharaohs. The messages on the stones were decoded. The three pyramids at the Giza were the largest, and a mastabas is not a pyramid.