U.S Postal Service As a Monopoly Essay Example For Students

U.S Postal Service As a Monopoly Essay In the United States economy most markets can be classified into fourdifferent markets structures. But, each and every market in the United Statesis completely unique from the others. Generally the best type of marketstructure for the general public is per-fect competition because it creates thelowest possible price for the public. There are some exceptions were perfectcompetition isnt the best choice for the public on account of various reasons. The United States Postal Service is one of them and since the Postal Service isa monopoly, it is its own market. This paper will discuss the budget dilemmasthat the postal service has faced for the past twenty years and if it is in thebest interest of the economy for the United States Postal Service to continue asa monopoly. The first time there was talk of privatizing the Postal Service wasin1979 when the Postal Service was losing vast amounts of money in the long run. We will write a custom essay on U.S Postal Service As a Monopoly specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now But since the Postal Service is a necessity for America, the government had tosubsidize the service in order for it to continue in operation. In 1979 theUnited States Postal Service had a cash flow of $22.5 Billion and wasadditionally receiving $176 million from investing(#1, Intro). Even with thisadded revenue the Postal Service was still greatly under funded on its own (#1,Intro). During this time it was discussed to privatize the postal service andintroduce competition because of the extreme losses that the service wasexperiencing. A positive argument for privatizing the Postal Service was withnumerous competitors in the market there would be more efficiency and the publicwould receive lower prices. But this would also increase the usage of resources,for example airplanes and cars. One of the problems the Post Office had was itsreceipts from consumer purchases that were submitted the next day after thetransaction (#1, i). If the receipts were submitted earlier the postal servicewo uld receive more money because they could invest that money sooner (#1, i). Another way the Postal Service could increased profits was by competitivelyselecting banks that would give them higher interest rates and such (#1, ii). Probably the most relevant and final way to improve the budget of the PostalService is to improve the bookkeeping poli-cies and banking techniques (#1, ii). Not only did the Post Service propose to increase profits but they alsoproposed to cut costs in a number of ways. There were three methods that wereproposed in 1946 for the protection of salaries that no longer exists (#2,Intro). These have to do with the rural mail carriers. Under this antiquatedmethod of delivering mail the Postal Service was los-ing money to any mail thatwent to rural areas (#2, i) There are 48,000 mail carriers that deliver mailto millions of families that are considered to be living in rural settings; thiscosts the postal Service 858 million dollars a year (#2, i). This is a fairlyeasy problem to fix considering how much money is being lost. It was proposedthat money loss could be significantly cut down if the Postal Service correctedthe following problems. The rural mail carriers were assigned a certain amountof time to deliver to a specific rural area, this method was out of date andbecause of this the carriers have free time for which they got paid for (#2, i i). The next problem was that other mail routes based pay on how many miles theroute covered, so the carriers were getting paid by the mile (#2, iii). Withthis problem fixed the Postal Service could saved 26.8 million a year (#2, iii). .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .postImageUrl , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:hover , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:visited , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:active { border:0!important; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:active , .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0 .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub5d1bab83affc8e092074715f5cba0b0:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Confederate States Of America EssayThere was also an hourly rate that was in effect which indirectly promotedinefficient service (#2, iii). A stop to this could have saved the PostalService $255,000 a year (#2, iii). From the num-bers mentioned above, it can beseen why the United States Postal Service was losing so much money. These problems did indeed eventually did get solved over the pastfifteen years and now the Postal Service is making record breaking profits. Nowin the first quarter of the fiscal year 1996 the Postal Service already has anet income of $1.2 billion (#3, 1). Now not only is the Postal Service justbreaking even, but they are also making a profit. On top of that, the 1.2billion dollar figure is 115 billion dollars better then the quarterly forecastpredicted (#3,1). It is incredible that they are not only making a reasonableprofit but it is increasing over the years.The Postal Service is also nowreducing debts.An example of this is when the Postal Service redeemed a 1.5billion dollar loan two years in advance which will save them 22 million dollarsof interest in the next two years (#3,1). The Postal Service isnt stopping with the revenue that it is receivingnow. The Postal Service is planning to increase its international revenues of$1.2 billion by twice the amount in the next five years and ten-fold by the year2005 (#5, 1). The Postal Service is continually working to streamline theiroperations for the future that they are now run-ning. The Postal Service iscontinualy looking to cut back on borrowing money. All of the recent financialborrowing has been through the Federal Financing Bank, but the Postal Servicenow is looking into outside sources, such as bonds in the public markets (#5, 2). Business are starting to get jealous of the Postal Service because ofthe great prof-its it is experiencing. The Postal Service is now making a majorimpact on the United States Economy (#6, 1). Business are pointing out that in1995 the Postal Service had records of $1.8 billion in net income and a 1.7billion dollar debt reduction (#6, 1). The $54 billion revenue that the PostalService is bringing in would put them in 12th place on the Fortune 500 list and33rd on the Fortune Global 500, with the worlds largest corpora-tions (#6,1). Arecent study showed that domestic direct mail sales were at $333 billion in theyear 1994 (#6,1). This figure is expected to reach over $500 billion by theyear 2000 (#6,1)It can be seen throughout this paper how the United States PostalService in-creased profits and does not have to borrow as much money as before. It seems that the Postal Service is doing just fine while it is a monopoly. Butthere are still two arguments for and against the Postal Service continuing toremain a monopoly. On one side compe-tition is thought to make industries inthe market more efficient and practice more innova-tive (#4, 1). But on theother hand the competition is also thought to lead to a wide-spread creamskimming, with the postal service left only the high-cost, unprofitable mar-kets(#4, 1). So who is to know which market would be better for the American econ-omy as far as the Postal Service goes. But it is speculated if the UnitedStates Postal Service does keep increasing its profits over the years, maybe itwill be privatized. Bibliography1) United States. General Accounting Office, Changes in the U.S. PostalServices cash management practices could increase income and reduce cost:report / by the U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington: General AccountingOffice,,19792) United States. General Accounting Office, Changes needed in the UnitedStates Postal Services rural carrier pay systems: report / by the U.S. GeneralAccount-ing Office, Washington: General Accounting Office, 19783) http://www.usps.gov/news/press/96/96002new.htm4) http://nutcweb.tpc.nwu.edu/research/abstracts/i.2.html5) http://www.usps.gov/news/press/95/95090new.htm6) http://www.usps.gov/news/press/95/95095new.htmCategory: History

20 Topics for an Anxiety Disorder Case Study

20 Topics for an Anxiety Disorder Case Study When a student has to write an anxiety disorder case study, he or she should not only find a proper case but also be aware of the topic and everything that concerns the matter. That’s why such academic assignment is quite difficult and challenging. 20 Topics for You to Choose A student has to choose a good topic and base it on some concrete case study. For example, one can write about post-traumatic stress disorder in general and then proceed to a particular case study. Here are 20 sample topics for a case study research. Many People Suffer from Insomnia. Do All of Them Have Anxiety Disorder or Do Sleeping Problems Signify Something Else? How not Acquire Anxiety Disorders When You Are a Lonely Woman about 35? When Is It Time to Worry: How to Recognize First Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adults? Can Hormonal Imbalance and Bad Immune System Cause an Anxiety Disorder Case? Treating an Anxiety Disorder Case: What to Do if the Dream Doesn’t Come True Can Physical Exercising Help a Person Get Rid of Anxiety Disorders? What Mobile Apps Can Help to Treat Anxiety Disorders? Medicines with Natural Ingredients vs. Drugs with Artificial Components: What Remedy to Choose to Treat Anxiety Disorders Pros and Cons of Group Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorder Cases Do Animals Suffer Anxiety Disorders and Do They Become Dangerous because of That? Advantages and Disadvantages of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorder Cases The Role of Social Media in Anxiety Disorder Progress (cyberbullying, false friends, â€Å"a gallery play†, fake relationships and love affairs, etc.) Five Major Reasons for Anxiety Disorders in Children: Family Problems, Inability of Self-Realization,   Drug Dependence, Stress, and Genetics Can a Person Suffer from Anxiety Disorders and Be Successful? Treating an Anxiety Disorder Case: Is It Possible to â€Å"Kill† Genetics and Give Birth to a Healthy Child? How to Manage Anxiety Disorders If You Live in the Third-World Country? What Are the Reasons for Social Anxiety Disorder and How Can People Fulfill Themselves when Having It? Why Do People with High IQ Often Suffer from Anxiety Disorders? Do Elite Athletes Risk Getting Anxiety Disorders after Their Failure or Retire? Pros and Cons of Practicing Mindfulness by Patients with Anxiety Disorders General investigation on the topic allows getting information about the issue, and concrete case study lets a person check the theory based on some examples. Mind to use appropriate facts to support each of these topics. The Sample: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Case Study Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs when people overcome some situation that had caused both mental and physical injury. Almost seventy percent of adults have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder in some way in the United States of America. That’s approximately 224 million people. Women are more likely to develop this particular disorder. The reason for PTSD can be different. Some people get into an automobile crash, a number of individuals survive after assaults committed by animals and people, some persons are injured at war and during military service, and some people overcome natural disasters. These reasons are considered to be serious ones. There are other events which can lead to PTSD. For example, a person can go for a walk and get scared by the sudden appearance of the barking dog. The dog cannot even touch a person but the person will be afraid of other dogs. Why? When a human being sees something unexpected one can either become paralyzed or think of possible outcomes of the situation. In the first case, shock awakes nightmares and recalls to negative information about dog’s bites which a person has heard of or seen somewhere. Due to that, this person may get PTSD that will follow his or her till the last breath. The object of the study is a man over 40 who used to be a military man. He became a disabled veteran and had to come back home. In addition to his traumas and after-war rehabilitation, he realized that he had acquired post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s a common problem of people who have been engaged in the military service. Military men follow certain rules and get commands. They are sure that their partner will protect his back and vice versa. Everybody trusts everyone there because that’s how they live and serve. When such people come back home, they realize that they cannot trust anybody. By the way, they have to deal with other serious problems. They don’t feel safe anywhere. Consequently, they try to isolate and avoid places inhabited by a great number of people. The vet (the object of the research) turned to have such problems as well. He had to rent a house in the wood far away from the town. He owned a 20-acre farm with lots of birds and geese which were his private guards. He didn’t trust anyone, including his own family. He woke up at night, took a rifle and went around his house to check if everything was alright. His family and friends thought that he would get over that. They couldn’t understand him and that was the main problem. He had only one friend who also was a disabled vet and who did really understand his state of mind. Soon, he started suffering from headaches, insomnia, muscle stiffness, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. His after-war life became his daily burden. In addition, he had a two-year-old son and a wife. He felt desperate because he didn’t know how to protect them. That’s why he decided to visit his physician. After some medical tests, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He took some medicines (Clonazepam, Cogentin, Florinal, Levothyroxine, Haldol, and Chlorpromazine) to cope with headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and muscle spasms. He had also to visit his psychiatrist and communicate with other disabled veterans who had already treated or at least delayed the symptoms of PTSD. Such rehabilitation and course of medical treatment helped him to sleep better and feel less worried. He also managed to give up taking the drugs but it had not changed his attitude towards people (he still doesn’t trust them). References: PTSD United. PTSD Statistics. ptsdunited.org/ptsd-statistics-2/ FQ Facts. Case Study 2. fqfacts.com/case-studies/case-studies-anxiety-disorders/ A. Bystritsky(2013). Current Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3628173/ MAYO CLINIC. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967 MAYO CLINIC. Post-traumatic stress: How can you help your loved one? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/expert-answers/post-traumatic-stress/faq-20057756 National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

Theories and methods of employee motivation Essay

Theories and methods of employee motivation - Essay Example Therefore, from the preceded discussion, it is clear that success of a company partly falls on the ability of the manager to employ appropriate employee motivation strategies. There are various motivational methods available around the globe all depended on several factors such as culture, company structure, and intended goal of motivation. The first method applicable, in this case, is empowerment. It involves the technique of granting the employees more responsibility and a chance to be consulted in the decision-making process. Furthermore, involving the employees in decision making enables them to create goals and objectives which will make them feel accountable to achieve as they were part of the creation. Such sense of responsibility improves the productivity of individuals as they intend to prove their suggestions are doable. The method can be related to the control theory of employee motivation (Fernandez and Pitts 2011). Involving employees in decision-making gives them a sense of control over what is happening in the company. It is an effective method considering the company is embracing technology in various departments. The implementation of this technique is through the use of questionnaires, suggestion letters and holding branch meetings regarding the issue. The intended changes should be openly told to the people for them to have a good basis to offer viable suggestions and opinions. Such a step is cheap as the expense incurred would involve the creation of the questionnaires, and minor expenses f holding the meetings. The success of such an initiative can be evaluated through analysis of productivity and employee attitude towards the changes taking place in the company. Furthermore, such an initiative would be beneficial in reducing the supervision cost required as most of the employee would feel obligated to the suggestions and thus work towards achieving the set goals. The method can be implemented immediately considering

Risk in the Theme Park Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Risk in the Theme Park Industry - Essay Example According to Lukas, accidents and deaths are the most closely monitored risk despite the statistical fact that economic concerns and poor weather affect business more frequently. (2005) However, when accidents or deaths do occur, there are several direct consequences. First, the park is often closed during the process of an investigation. In addition to the lost ticket sales during that timeframe, the public perception of danger is increased. "The mere perception of an unsafe ride can affect park attendance, while accidents and deaths can result in park closure and decline in ticket sales." (Lukas, 2005) Statistically, the risk is minimal. In 2003, there were only 78 ride-related injuries which resulted in an overnight hospital stay. (Banay, 2005) Nevertheless, the costs are high when accidents do occur. Insurance underwriters are very concerned with safety, and the cost of insurance is dictated by safety records. While patrons of amusement parks are seeking danger and thrills, park management must balance these desires with the risk of increasing insurance rates. Still, the cost of bad publicity is the highest cost resulting from this statistically insignificant risk to the industry. Terrorism, despite occurring far less frequently than accidents, is considered to be a greater risk to the industry. While the publicity surrounding accidents generally affects one park, or perhaps one family of parks, the effect of terrorist activity is industry-wide. "After an incident of civil unrest, natural disaster, or terrorism, there is an immediate 30% downward spike in the perception of safety at such public locations." (Banay, 2005) She reports that the resultant decline in theme park attendance continues as much as three years after a major terrorist episode. According to sources cited by Debora Vrana in her article for the LA Times, visits to theme parks worldwide were down by 1.5% in 2003. (2004) This decline was attributed to terrorism in addition to poor weather and a poor economy. Under current terrorism threat conditions, the cost to the industry is potentially high, and the US government currently classifies the risk of another strike as moderate to high. Unfortun ately, due to the large crowds that gather at these establishments, they are considered to be a potential target. The specific consequence of that risk appears to be a long-standing decline in park attendance stemming from a decrease in the public perception of safety.A panel of industry insiders gathered in 2002 to discuss the impact of 9/11 on theme park attendance and revenues. Of note, their conclusions did not identify terrorism as the greatest risk. Rather, they concluded, "at this point, it is the soft economy that is really putting a crimp on vacation plans." (Levine, 2002) Like other businesses within the travel and tourism industry, theme parks rely on patrons to spend their discretionary income. When the economy is poor, fewer people are spending, and those who are spending frequently spend less. "Road blocks in the form of war in Iraq, SARS, a stagnant economy, and currency rates have impacted the amusement industry." (Banay, 2005) Currency rates are known to affect the rates of international travel, and those parks which attract an international audience are subject to those effects as well. The risk comes in

Human character Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human character - Essay Example Others are Confidence, empathy, persistence, compassion, generosity and tolerance. I apply these in my day-to-day life to become a better student. For example, I am ambitious as I have a desire to excel in my academics, I am courageous as I am not afraid to take on new challenges. I am also, tolerant as I persevere until I achieve my targets, I am compassionate to others in the community, and I am also committed to accomplishing my goals. A vice is an immoral behavior and unlike virtues, vices destroy one’s character. Examples of vices include pride that makes one think he or she is better than others. Also, anger which makes one to act irrationally and jealousy which makes one to resent others because they possess something that you do not have. These traits render one self-destructive and make it very difficult for one to maintain close relationships with others. However, since we all possess both virtues and vices, it is important to practice self-love as one cannot

Analysis of Spring In War Time by Edith Nesbit :: essays research papers

Spring In War-Time by Edith Nesbit is a very moving poem. It describes nature in such a beautiful way, and then goes on to say how, to her, it is not beautiful anymore. She writes about her loss by saying things such as Where last year we used to go Where we shall not go again. Nesbit explains how she and her partner used to do lovely things together like go on walks in the woods and enjoy the nature. Her partner sadly died in the war, and since then, she can not appreciate nature's beauty anymore. Life seems to have stopped for her but in reality, life goes on. Just like last year's violets, too, But they have no scent this year. She is a casualty of the war, not physically, but mentally. She is wounded emotionally by the loss of her loved one. This poem is set out like a nursery rhyme, its message is simple. The message reads that, in her eyes, war has ruined everything that used to be beautiful. War is unnatural and cruel, completely the opposite of nature. Spring In War-Time reflects on the memories she had with her partner. It shows how they can never do things which they used to because war has taken him away, tearing them apart forever. It's obvious it is going to take Nesbit a long time to let it go, if not never. All on the verses have four stresses per line, with a rhythm and a rhyme, except for the last verse. Presently red roses blown Will make all the garden gay? Not yet have the daisies grown On your clay. This last verse just stops. Without warning, it just finishes and you are left thinking, "Oh..." It is short and it leaves the poem sounding slightly un-finished, like Nesbit?s life with her partner. It stops suddenly like his death, his death was sudden. This last verse tells us that he has only recently died in the war and been buried, becoming part of nature, not just an observer of it. Nesbit has all her memories of him to hold onto mentally, but physically all she has is his gravestone and maybe a few photos.

Finding my father

My clothes felt like a cold, damp extension of my body, as I lay panting on the floor. Blood, water, sweat, I wasn't sure what it was. At this moment, I was just glad to be alive. As I attempted to pick myself up off the rough asphalt, I felt a warm liquid well up in the depths of my throat, as I retched onto the ground. Oddly, this wasn't how I normally felt at 11am on a Thursday morning. My name is Alex Watson. Alex was after my father, a man who I heard a great deal about, but never met. My mother was only a college girl when she met my father. He was dead before I was born. When I asked my mother about it, she got angry, or said she was tired, anything to avoid my questions. In the end, I just had to get on with my life. I moved to New York, into an apartment block which encapsulated the bleak misery of city life. You eventually learn to block out the sirens, gunshots and screaming. About a year ago, I got an urge to discover who my father was, beyond the facade of distorted facts my mother decided to disclose to me. For some reason, I needed to know. I needed to know the truth, and seeing as nobody was going to tell me, I decided to look for myself. The task turned out to be the proverbial needle in the haystack. The problem with my father was, he liked to keep a low profile. So much so that, until I was sixteen, I had no idea what he did for a living. Anything I did find out about him was on a need to know basis. Discovering my father wasn't going to be as easy as I first imagined. Home was not exactly an awe-inspiring. My roommates where cockroaches, and a stray cat who I had named Takeshi. These more than minor inconveniences allowed me some pleasures, such drowning my sorrows in â€Å"The Manhattan†, a bar so close to my apartment that I could wander out if it drunk and fall into my bed†¦or at least the floor. This was my escape, my salvation from the nine to five drudgery of my life. I was never good at working in boxes. I worked as a retail technician for a major electrical appliance company. I answered phone calls from people whose children had put jam sandwiches in their VCR's, or people phoning me asking why the cup holder on their new computer was broken. I was supposed to respond to them in a cheerful, knowledgeable manner, but most of the time I had to concentrate on not screaming and slamming the phone down. However, their phone calls did break the monotony of staring at a prefabricated cardboard wall, rules and codes of conduct staring at me in the face. I felt trapped. I felt like I needed to escape, a release from my life. It's probably normal to, at some point or other, question your existence on this planet. Why are you here? What's so special about you? In my case, I took a long hard look at myself, and found nothing. Nada. Jack shit. I could find no real reason for me to be on this earth. And to be completely honest, this didn't surprise me. I had always been decidedly average. My only sense of purpose was finding the truth about my father, but to do that I needed money, and to get money I needed to work. Unfortunately, as I've already stated, my job was like a nine to five lecture on the art of watching paint dry. What I needed was a miracle. What I got was a blessing in disguise. â€Å"Sir, you can't stay here, it's public endangerment!†. I can't say I ever heard these words, my drunken demeanour, as well the cacophony of the halted cars horns, prevented them from reaching my ears as I wandered down the middle of a road. I tripped over my own feet, and landed back first. â€Å"Back owf!† I warned, â€Å"I'm armsed!†. I swung my whiskey bottle wildly, until it flung off and hit the floor. â€Å"Crap† I murmured before passing out. Two hours later, conscious and sober, when I was informed of the events, I can't say I was surprised. My excuse? I was bored. However, when I told this to the police, they were less than impressed. I was expecting them to throw me into one of their first class, luxurious cells for the night, and maybe, if I'm luck, beaten to a pulp for saying I supported the wrong football team. But if I've learnt anything, it's that life's a bitch, and you never get what you want. Simply a clip round one ear and a â€Å"Don't do that again!† in the other. Jesus, my mother gave me better telling off than that when I was seven! Slightly disheartened at the state of the judicial and law enforcement services, I made my way towards the door, and the unbearable natural light of the afternoon. As I did this, I glanced over at the desk. She was there. The woman who arrested me last night, when I decided to take a walk on the wrong side of the road†¦figuratively and literally. Suddenly, I felt something I hadn't expected. I felt a twinge of guilt. It was a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time, not since before I started destroying my mind with drink. I felt guilty for what I had done, I felt like I needed to apologise. I crept over to the desk, unsure of what to say, but sure of what to do. â€Å"Excuse me miss. Er†¦I just..er†¦wanted to say that†¦er†¦I'm sorry about last night.† Normally I'm a little more articulate than that, but the effects of last night's binge hadn't quite worn off. â€Å"That's ok.† She said, as her face broke into a smile. It was at this point I noticed something that had escaped me last night, (possibly because my eyesight was in a less than perfect state). This woman, smiling at me from behind the desk, was beautiful, not in a catwalk super model kind-of-way, which had never appealed to me, but in a regular, every day kind of way. Her smile was kind and gentle, and her deep brown eyes sparkled in the hazy mid-day sun. She was stunning in a subtle way. I was falling for her, and I could feel it. Her smile broke as she spoke again, â€Å"Normally, I get a nasty sneer off people, and that's off the nice ones. But I could tell you were different, even when I first saw you.† Her face broke into a smile again, and I just hoped I wasn't staring at her. â€Å"I don't know†¦I just knew you where different.† I returned the smile, the first real smile I had had in months. â€Å"Thank you. Hopefully, I'll see you around.† She smiled at me, â€Å"Hopefully not under the same circumstances, but we can live in hopes otherwise.† As I walked out of the door, the painful brightness of the midday sun couldn't dampen my mood. I was no closer to finding my father, but maybe a step closer to finding myself.