Gender Equality And Rape Culture - 1722 Words

Throughout time, issues with equality have denied groups some of the most basic human rights. A common example of this is the right to one’s own body. The statement that people have the rights his/her own body is broad and rightfully so. It encompasses matters ranging clothing they want to wear, who they have sex with, and even what gender they want to be. In the film Difret, the ideas of gender equality, rape culture, and the right to one’s own body are highly prevalent. Addressed through the use of a documentary about marriage by abduction, rape, and a fight to regain freedom twice - once from the captors and then from the legal systems - these ideas present the viewer with one story about Ethiopian culture. There are several prominent†¦show more content†¦Another concern that is prominent in this film is the initial unwillingness to hear what a female has to say about her situation, especially in a court setting. Fighting gender-based obstacles within the justice system was a large part of this film as Meaza worked to free Hirut. She pushed the idea that women have the right to a voice and justice just as much as men do. While Hirut shot a man, the act was self-defense. Before this case, it seems as if no woman had ever been able to convince a judge of that. An article by Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment discusses the importance of being able to defend oneself because often times there is no one else there to help or who will help. The article also mentions a few cases where women tried every possible route to prevent violence, but the majority of the women ended up dead. This is because when put in a situation where there was no other choice except to fight, they wer e not able to. In addition to this, when women are in locations where equality conditions are similar to that of Hirut’s village, they do not fight back for fear that they will be reprimanded rather than their assailant. In this film, Hirut and the other women that worked with her proved that self-defense is an option and everyone should have the right to practice it. This was a great demonstration of how perseverance can pave the way for countless people to come, providing incredible changes to socialShow MoreRelatedGender Equality And Gender Discrimination1429 Words   |  6 PagesGender equality has been actively sought out for, chiefly by women, throughout history with a goal to establish equal rights and opportunities among all genders. While extensive progress has been achieved towards women’s rights throughout the twentieth century, women continue to experience gender discrimination on a daily basis. Even with the Equal Rights Amendment in the Constitution whic h refrains from inequality of rights concerning sex, gender inequality continues to persist Gender discriminationRead MoreSociety s Norms Of Sexual Activity1587 Words   |  7 Pagesdeviate from social norms. Feminist believe that women deserve equality, and therefore stand up for women’s rights. Society’s norms of sexual activity is different from men and women, when men seem sexually active they are praised, but when women seem sexually active they are judged and called â€Å"sluts.† In society, from a very young age people, including women, have been unintentionally teaching their children about double standards in gender, being unintentionally sexist. In Toronto, a police officerRead MoreFemisim, Sexual and Gender Equality1153 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism/Gender and Orientational Equality Even though many say that the idea of allowing same sex would be against Gods will, and that women are also the lesser sex of the two binary genders, as well that it is unnatural for people to be transgender, everyone, regardless of gender (binary or otherwise) and Sexual/Romantic orientations, deserves equal rights in all cases. Because in only seventeen of fifty states, homosexual couples have marriage rights. This leaves thirty-three states with thoseRead MoreEssay on Gender Roles and Their Effect on Women1525 Words   |  7 Pagesyoung age; each gender is given specific social and cultural roles to play out throughout their lives. Little girls are given dolls and kitchen toys, little boys are given dinosaurs and power tool toys, if one was to step out of this specified role, social conflict would ensue. Contrast to popular belief, sex is a biological construct, and gender is a social construct specifying the roles men and women are to follow to be accepted into society as  "normal†. The effects of gender roles have had onRead MoreWomen s Rights On Equal Basis With Men1505 Words   |  7 Pagesremove all the inequities and put women on equal basis with men, we recognize that we can reveal human potential very drastically. This is simply achieved by allowing women the same access and capabilities as men. We are so much closer to achieving equality between men and women than we have ever been before. I believe after the women’s suffrage in the early 1920’s, most women were recognized in politics. Women put themselves in positions of power; they presented themselves with power because beforeRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Gender832 Words   |  4 Pagesand females. These differences are biological and unambiguous. Gender on the other hand, refers to the aspects that influence each sex and make them distinct from a social standpoint, and each of us does gender constantly. The social construction of gender has caused controversy throughout the years, and has ultimately conceived one of the most contended topics in our society of late: feminism. Feminism refers to the belief in equality of the sexes. Recently there has been an influx of feminism inRead MoreFeminism : A Feminist Perspective1321 Words   |  6 Pagesyes to both, then congratulations -- you re a feminist! (Kingston). People who advertise feminism in this manner are exactly how feminists have reached the point they are today. Feminists are demonizing men to sexual predators and using popular culture as ground zero for their activism campaigns, to show females as either a victim or the hero who empowered herself as a woman. These absurd characteristics come to mind when someone speaks of feminism today. When a modern feminist does not adhere toRead MoreFeminism : A Social Movement854 Words   |  4 PagesFeminism is a social movement that seeks out social, economical and political equality among the sexes. Feminism was first presented to society around the end of the 19th century. Since then Feminism has been an extremely important and valued movement. What h as come out of Feminism tends to be positive, it is because of Feminism that women can own their own land, are seen as people and not their husband’s possessions, and women can now vote. The Feminist movement is very prominent in challengingRead MoreWhy We Should Be A Feminist1279 Words   |  6 Pagesthe fight for equal gender rights is a â€Å"thing of the past† (Troy High Feminism Survey); but do these students actually know what feminism is? Feminism is a global movement to empower women of every age, economic standing, sexuality, and culture through gender equality. Often confused with misandry, or the hate of males, feminism simply wants to make both genders equal. Misogyny, or prejudice against females, is the main bane of feminism, a force so deeply embedded in our culture that feminists haveRead MoreAll Men Are Created Equal: Except Women1341 Words   |  6 Pagesforums everywhere. Women are joining this â€Å"third wave† movement to bring an end to t he societal injustices that still plague the gender today (qtd. in Haslanger et al.). Feminism currently represents much more than it did in its infantile stage, having evolved to include relevant issues that affect every woman in today’s subordinating world. Issues such as rape culture, slut shaming, abortion and the wage gap have all been adapted into the feminist agenda with the hope that, as a united force, women

Formal Education And Human Resource Development - 1888 Words

Graduate high school, go to college, get a degree and then go to work as a professional in your field; seems like a plan right? This seems to be the plan for thousands of young men and women every year, but unfortunately nothing is that simple. Formal education is necessary for many different careers today. This education gives graduates a base of knowledge for entry level positions in their career fields. At that point new employees have to figure out how to use the theoretical principles they learned in college in practical applications in their industry. This is not an easy task for many career fields, especially one such as Human Resource Development (HRD). Much of the formal education for HRD is taught in theory; there is no book to†¦show more content†¦In their book Human Resource Development: Theory Practice, David McGuire and Kenneth Jorgensen list 25 different definitions that have been given for the career field by scholars dating back to 1964 (4). Most of these d efinitions equate to the same thing. It is a simple term to define. In a Textbook called Principles of Human Resource Development, Jerry Gilley, Steven Eggland and Ann Gilley define the career field in the simplest of terms. They write, â€Å"human resource development is a dynamic and evolving practice used to enhance organizational effectiveness† (2). This explanation seems generic but they go on to explain that the career field is rapidly changing and evolving, so to better understand the definition we should look at the title itself. Human Resource Development; is only a three word title. We already know what development means, so what is a human resource? Companies have three different types of resources: physical, financial and human. Physical resources refer to things such as buildings and machines. Financial resources refer to the financial assets that the company controls. Human resources simply refer to the humans that work for that company. To overly simplify thing s, HRD personnel help the company develop their human resources so they can be as productive as possible. Just as a mechanic can fine-tune an engine to work at an optimal level of performance, HRD employees can help a company’s human

Psychology the Affects of Violent Video Games Free Essays

Gavin Hoy PY102 Prof. Martin The Affects of Violent Video Games Video games haven’t been around for long, but they are heavily impacting the youth of America. As the years go by, video games become more realistic, and more violent. We will write a custom essay sample on Psychology: the Affects of Violent Video Games or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first video game was bouncing a ball in between two paddles, which hardly seems amusing, couldn’t possibly have a violent effect on a child. Today, games have blood, decapitations, and guns and weapons all that look real and make the child feel like a real police officer, or a real criminal, or whichever character they are in that particular game. Research suggests that violent video games make children more aggressive, and violent in everyday situations. Also, children are likely to use one of their characters in a video game as a role model for them, and try to be like he or she while reenacting what their character does in the game. This article interests me because as a kid, I was allowed any video game I desired, and turns out I am no more aggressive then a bus driver. This paper will present two different articles that say I should be aggressive and try to reenact video games. The first article I read about violent video games was: â€Å"I wish I were a warrior: The role of wishful identification in the effects of violent video games on aggression in adolescent boys† by Brad Bushman. Bushman states that boys, when trying to figure out their own identity, tend to take shape of those identities in their video games (e. g. superhero police officer or a hero of some sort) Bushman also explains that the children with lower education are the ones who will express more aggression and violence in everyday life after playing a violent video game. (Bushman â€Å"I wish.. †). Bushman confirmed his hypothesis: â€Å"violent video games are especially likely to increase aggression when players identify with violent game characters† meaning, if a child plays a violent video game, they are likely to take on the traits of that main character, including the violence. Bushman let 112 boys around 15 years of age play four different types of video games. Violent-realistic, violent fantasy, nonviolent-realistic, and nonviolent fantasy. The boys, after playing one of the games, were then set up with a partner of the same sex and started a â€Å"competitive reaction time task† (Bushman â€Å"I wish†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ), the task was to push a button, when told to do so, as fast as they could, the boy who lost would receive a blast of noise through their headphones. Each boy chose their partners punishment level for not winning the task, they set the level of noise their partner would receive if he lost. Of 25 trials with the reaction time task, 12 boys who played violent video games gave their partner a level 10 noise blast, even though the boys knew a level 10 will damage their hearing, one boy was quoted saying â€Å"I blasted him with Level 10 noise because he deserved it. I know he can get hearing damage, but I don’t care! (Bushman â€Å"I wish†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). So, the boys who played violent video games expressed a great deal more aggression towards their partner in the reaction time task, which confirms Bushman’s hypothesis. Out of the boys who played to nonviolent video games, they did not give their partner a high noise blast, which demonstrates low levels of aggression. I personally did not like this article, the results were hard to interpret and statistics were irrelevant to my purpose for reading the article. I think the article could be a quarter of the size it is and still be effective. The article uses too many abbreviations it expects the reader to 1) understand, and 2) remember once they were told about them. I think the article provided little information where it counted (e. g. statistics that matter, not the decibel level of the noise blasts (irrelevant)). This article should be revised, restructured, and scaled down for future psychology students. How to cite Psychology: the Affects of Violent Video Games, Papers

An Elitest Constitution Essay Example For Students

An Elitest Constitution Essay Did the American Constitution embody the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence? The prima facie answer would be yes. Looking deeper and remembering that during the Age of Empires the world ran on money, force of arms and enlightened self-interest, that the answer is now it depended on who you were. Application of the occasional Machaivellian twist to some of the Founding Fathers decisions will be used to support this view point. The Declaration of Independence said that men were entitled as a Creator given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that as long as a government did not infringe upon these it could have the obedience of the people. The document was influenced by philosophers such as Montesquieu and Thomas Paine notably his Common Sense. The famous phrase life liberty and the pursuit of happiness was inspired by the Second Treaties on Government writen by the English jurist Locke. Although in Lockes version, the last word was one more in keeping with reality than revolutionary rhetoric it was property. In 1787 representatives of the 13 states met in Philadelphia to revise the articles of confederation. These representatives were mostly from towns on or near the coast and also ranked amongst the financially successful of the time. Indeed 40 out of the 55 were owed money by the treasury department. Instead they created a new totally new national government And the democratic society that Americans had fought for on the War of Independence was to shortly become an elitist capitalistic republic. So what was wrong with the Confederation and also the colonial system they had just broken away from ? Madison said, referring to the Confederation, A government which relies on thirteen independent sovereignties for the means of its existence, is a solecism in theory and a mere nullity in practice cited by Mitchell(1975) Under British rule the founding fathers had seen the effects where any one branch of a government managed to wield too much power and wanted they to create a system where such ministerial abuse would be impossible. Contrasting this was how to balance the freedom of the citizen from interference from central government while maintaining a system that protected the rights of minorities from an abuse of majority rule in a republican structure without exposing the government to the dangers of mob rule. The delegates considered that the states of the Confederation were too democratic; in that political experience was open to all. The states body politic saw nothing wrong with interfering with the economy if it benefited the members of said body politic. This complicated trade. The British economist Adam Smith had argued that as wealth increased in scope, government would have to perform still greater services on behalf of the propertied class. From a commercial point of view there was no standardised currency with states issuing their own paper money subject to fluctuating exchange values. The state legislative was run for the benefit of each state first and then other members of the Confederation. Added to this was the militancy of the often heavily indebted agrarian class who had taken to disrupting sales of foreclosed lands, freeing their peers from debtors prison and the occasional food riot. The most famous of these incidents being Shays Rebellion. The delegates at Philadelphia decided to design a new system. According to one Maryland delegate 21 out of 55 initially favoured some form of monarchy but that would never get past popular opinion. The writings of Montesquieu on the separation of powers (that he mistakenly saw in the British government) inspired the Philadelphia convention to adopt a structure where the national executive, legislative and judiciary where totally separate. No one branch of government could act without the co-operation of another. Also the division of power was such that no branch could expand its authority without infringing on that of ano ther branch thus encountering fierce resistance. In Madisons words, cited by Leas(1983) p36, Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. Then within the federal government power was diffused vertically by the people granting certain powers to the state and others on to the national government. National power would be checked by State .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .postImageUrl , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:hover , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:visited , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:active { border:0!important; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 { 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; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:active , .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .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; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563 .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5fed8c4ba2928196558d80d80d0f2563:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Actions bring Consequences Essay

Musical Analysis free essay sample

Throughout time there have been thousands of composers and millions of pieces of music created by these artists. To list all of these great people would probably take a lifetime to do. So with great pains, I have narrowed my list down to Just five; John Phillip Souza, Johann Sebastian Bach, George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Stars and Stripes Forever by J. P. Souza performed by the U. S. Marine band is a arching tune used by high school, college and military bands. The song has heavy percussion beats to help musicians keep In step with the music. The melody Is very strong so that the band can be heard from a distance. The tone and texture of the piece Is very Blvd and demand attention from the audience while being played. Even though this piece Is demanding and exact, I Like that It flows easily and makes me want to follow along with the band. We will write a custom essay sample on Musical Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin is a slow yet quick easy listening blues piece. It has complex syncopated rhythmic movement with very little dead areas.It is minor key driven giving the melody more emphasis. The texture has lots of dynamic highs and lows that keep the listener entertained. I like this piece of music because it is suspenseful, but gives away its own answers. I have listened to this piece many times as well as others of Gershwins. He is truly a remarkable composer. The Double Harpsichord Concerto in C Major by J. S. Bach performed by David Garrett Is a relatively smooth Baroque piece. In this arrangement, one of the ripcords Is replaced by a violin.To me, It Is Like listening to a conversation between good friends. They speak to each other so easily and compliment the other one. The tone between the harpsichord and the violin move like a knife through butter. I really like how mellow the rhythm is. I just want to kick back and close my eyes and let the world float away. Revolution Etude in C Minor by Frederic Chopin is a technical masterpiece of the Romantic Era. Both his melody and harmony in this piece is so elaborate that sometimes it is hard to follow along.The tone to me seems kind of dark or violent. It makes me feel like I am in the middle of a melodrama and this is the music for the moustache twirling bad guy. Even though I find it a pleasant piece, I do not find it calming. I feel rather tense and am anticipating the end of the piece, like the end will never come. Last but certainly not least Is the Marriage of Figaro, Clarinet Concerto Move. 1. By W. A. Mozart. This classical piece Is very lighthearted and bouncy. When listening, I can picture ballerinas all over the stage floating through the air.The harmony and of fact and leaves the listener knowing that the story is done. The violins set an upbeat tone that invites the listener to stay longer. I really am fond of this piece and love that when it is over, I am feeling good and I am ready to hear more. It really was very hard to decide who I would critique. I am extremely fond of all these composers and their music. There were so many that needed a voice, but maybe another time. One great pleasure in my life is that I get to hear them regularly as I work, study or play. Musical Analysis free essay sample It was performed by Alden Advertorial (2009). Chopin was a composer In the Romantic period. This is a sad piano piece. Chopin wrote primarily for the piano. The piece range was almost monotone in nature. The sound was in scale rising and lowering using the same melody throughout the piece. The tones were kept uniform repeating over and over again. I found this piece of music one dimensional. It was dark and depressing in nature. It is not music that I would seek out to relax and enjoy.Piece number two was composed by Johannes Brahms POP. 49 No. 4 Wellsville / Lullaby written In the romantic period. This piece was performed by Ads Slovakia Concertmaster (2007), I found this music comforting an familiar. Concertmaster performed this from the original composition on the violin. I played this music to my children and my grandchildren to relax them and put them to sleep, singing the lyrics, as my mother sang to me. We will write a custom essay sample on Musical Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The melody was arithmetic and soothing to my ears. Johannes Brahms repeated the same tones in the beginning, middle, ending. I was able to discern both the violin and harp in the music, mimicking each other. The lullaby has so many precious memories for me, I cannot help feeling Joy with this music. Moving on to the Classical Period I chose to listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem, conducted by Karl Boom (2007). This piece had much more depth in texture and tonality. Mozart raised and lowered the power of the piece using both instrumental diversity and note volume to emphasize the piece. Listening to this piece brought me memories of going to the cathedral with my Grandmother. The inure mass was sung In Latin, so It was the music that led you to understanding the mass.The beginning of the piece was sad changing the tone to almost a jubilation or celebration of life. I enjoyed this piece immensely. My second classical selection is Ludwig Von Beethovens Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, performed by Ellison Believable (2010). This is a piano piece with complexity in the melody I find myself feeling melancholy. I cannot help but feel that there was deep sorrow In the person who wrote this music. It Is almost that the person was lost amidst his sorrow. The melody repeats Itself but Is different though out the performance. I almost wanted to find this person and hug them to remove such pain from their life. I was strangely mesmerism, unsure whether to enjoy the music or turn away from the pain. From the Baroque Period I selected one of my favorite pieces, Sebastian Bach Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Pop. 67 (2011). There is a complexity in Bachs compositions that I have not heard in the other composure. I felt energize and excited by this rendition. Bach uses Texture, tonality, melody, and complexity In this piece. The range of emotions changes from moment to moment. It Is whimsical at one moment, changing veracity in a moment notice.

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Report PREFACE BUSINESS MODELLING AND VALUATIONSummer Project for Ernst YoungSubmitted byGEETA WADHWANIIB1311340For the award of thePOSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENTBALAJI INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSSRI BALAJI SOCIETY, PUNE`PREFACEThe summer training program is objected to understand the corporate world and its various aspects. The training helps us in gaining practical and managerial knowledge which is very much different from what is given in the books. The internship provides us the insight into the real corporate world which would help us make a presence in this vast professional environment.The masters of business administration course is not limited to managing things but has a wide area of performance and perspective which is applied in today's world of management jobs. The internship program is an extremely essential part of MBA which makes an individual more experienced and practical towards today's organizational undertakings.The project report has been written in an organized manner in the form of a procedure so that one does not feel discomfort in understanding it.Visa requirements for Peruvian citizensSpecial colours need to be provided by the companyDeposit fee should be used to ensure the integrity of the card.A recharging station should be opened on weekends, but the opening hours may be reduced.A process of card recycling may be a new tourism spot to compensate for recycling costs.Transfer train stations should become travel cards recharging stations.A counselor should be considered as a conciliator to avoid conflicts between Chinese manager and employees.Background to the projectBeijing travel card limited company was founded in 2000 and a core competency of the company is to produce and sell travel cards to citizens and tourists. (Beijing Superpass Limited Company, n.d.). Travel card is an uniform card to pay for all kinds of transaction cost, which uses advanced computer network, automatic control, information processing, communication and other technology in an integrated circuit(IC) card, which can...

The Analysis on the Road Pricing in the UK Essay

The Analysis on the Road Pricing in the UK - Essay Example transportation modes interact in our analytical scheme, cite factors that influence our efforts to arrive at a workable solution, and then discuss other alternatives. Walking is the simplest means of personal mobility, and when the purpose of such action is to move from one place to another, it is known by another term: transport. Mobility and transport depends on several factors ranging from the anatomical, like having two legs, to the external, like having a path on which to move or transport one’s body. Mobility and transport have been amongst the important factors that determined human development, and whether we like it or not, these are subject to the economic law of supply and demand. The development of transport supply and demand has given rise to the complex system of transport infrastructures, modes of transportation, and the propensity for personal mobility we enjoy today. We take mobility as part of a natural ability to be where we want to be, and take it against our privilege any obstacle that restricts this freedom in any way. This is why transport has become subject to the laws of supply and demand, for whereas the demand for mobility continues to increase with human development the supply of transport infrastructure that makes it possible is limited. Fig. 1 shows the effects of developments in transportation in increasing the speed of mobility. Economists (Rodrigue et al., 2006) define transport supply as the capacity of transportation infrastructures and modes, generally over a geographically defined transport system and for a specific period of time. Transport demand is the expression of transport needs, regardless of whether those needs are satisfied fully, partially, or not at all. Both are commonly quantified in terms of capacity (infrastructure), frequency (services), and networks, as in the number of passengers, volume (liquids), or mass (freight) that can be (supply) or needed to be (demand) transported per unit of time and

Intro to Visual Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to Visual Arts - Essay Example She is very appealing with her nipples erect and fixated on her chest due to her laying position. She covers her genital area with her left hand just by a glimpse of her fingers. On the right hand, she is holding a cluster of red flowers and one flower fallen on the bed cover. She lies sensually with her legs crossed. A dog is sleeping on the edge of the bed on the covers. At the end of the room are housemaids, one is kneeling down with head inside a suitcase and the other standing beside her. This painting falls in the category of fine arts. The painting has aesthetic qualities; conceptual qualities of viewing art object as being beautiful and having a good taste. Venus has qualities that are capturing and enlightening to the viewer to judge the painter of having a good taste. This quality differentiates it from popular arts. The Venus of Urbino painting portrays private and domestic function of a woman as a sexy goddess who is appealing to her husband. It also portrays the need of a woman to remain seductive and appealing to her husband. (Lazzari, Schlesier 22-25) It is for marital significance for the eyes of the husband only. The painting is intended for personal and private use of the owner. The line element portrayed on the crisis folding of the covers gives textural contrast of the cover. Line element reveals the well-defined body mass and volume of the woman. The floor patterns outline line element as a well coordinated and liberate space to show the harmonization of the room and social class taste of the residing people. Light element is used to demonstrate the illusion that the nude Venus is appearing to closer people than people behind (Lazzari, Schlesier 22-25). The dark wall behind her is able to bring contrast between the woman and the wall clearly to portray her body structure and formation without straining. It also brings emptiness on the dark background. On the window, light element is used to portray the

Environmental Scanning Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Environmental Scanning Assignment - Essay Example Environmental scanning is mainly concerned with the need to find out the effect of competition, change in fashion and preference ,taste ,custom ,religion and the ultimate effect of the dynamic technology ,the government policies ,and the outward corporate social responsibility that has at recent been a major drive and with a perception of giving back to the consumer .The need to do is to outline the possible effect on the organization ,whether the effect is long term or short term depending on the company ‘s objective ,mission and vision and the magnitude of the change. A research study about Apple Inc. as presented in The New York Times indicates business analysis report that shows various business performances. This information is significant to the Apple Inc. in the sense that it offers adequate news on the current market trends on Apple products in comparison to their market competitors. This also acts as a benchmark to the firm to check on their drawbacks and focal points on their products and services in various market platforms. The information in the newspaper assists the firm to understand their position in the global market and areas where they experience a drop in their overall economic rating. The newspaper also highlights on how Apple Inc. has been acquiring other firms and how the organization performs with fresh injections from the acquired firms. There is also information about how the organization performs after acquisition on new firms. A balanced use of financial and strategic controls will help ensure that Apple Computer both benefits from feedback on past performance and communicates the important drivers of future performance. The following criteria provide a set of measures to effectively determine the companys success. Weaknesses that have been associated with Apple products are not many however;

A Research Proposal On Money Laundering Finance Essay

A Research Proposal On Money Laundering Finance Essay The purpose of the study concerned the impact of money laundering and its effects on the local economic and method of laundering technique in Mauritius. Money Laundering is very vast in nature; it consists of various steps, technique and approach of undertaking such unlawful activity. The research analyzes the economic effects of Money laundering in the Mauritian Economic. The research work will attempt to examine the money laundering activities and the usefulness of prevention and detection techniques by local companies. The method that is to be used is mainly studying available research papers so that we get a maximum of information. The purpose of this study is to provide the general public a broad idea on money laundering with some existed solutions. The research will be in the main interest of financial institution, Government and General Public. 2.0 Literature Review 2.1 What is Money Laundering? Money laundering is the process by which money is obtained illegally. Various types of frauds corruption, cooking the books, involve money which has been preceded by several criminal acts. Individual or groups make illegal gains by carrying out these criminal acts and often swindle high amounts. Money laundering makes it possible to legitimate ill-gotten gains through computer crimes, insider trading, and bribery where these produce large amounts of profits. Money laundering takes place within all types of profit-motivated crime, such as embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation, corruption, robbery, distribution of narcotic drugs, and trafficking in human beings (Økokrim, 2008). 2.2 Characteristics of Money Laundering Money Laundering consists of a series of various transactions used to change the source of financial assets so as these assets can be used without compromising the criminals offences. These transactions involve 3 stages (Billy Steel): 2.2.1 Placement The first stage refers to the physical distribution of financial assets. It is the most dangerous one for the perpetuators as the money from illicit activities are introduces into the financial system. Money laundering is a cash intensive business generating huge amount of cash from unlawful activities (for example street drug dealing, where payment are made in cash). The proceeds are then place into financial institutions, in the retail economy or deposits out of the country. The principal aim of the launder is to deliberately remove the cash from the location of acquisition and to convert it into other assets so as to prevent detection from authorities. 2.2.2 Layering Layering involves creating complex layers of financial transaction designed to cover audit tails and provide secrecy. The first attempt is to disguise the origin and ownership of the funds by creating complex layers of transaction. The idea of the transaction is to disassociate the illegal funds to the source of the offence. Layering is the second stage, in which the funds are moved so as to veil or remove any whatsoever link from the crime committed to obtain the money. During the layering process, a number of accounts, financial institutions, companies, funds as well as the use of professionals such as brokers, lawyers and consultants as intermediaries could be involved   as this is where the money will be channelled. Assets that are bought through unlawful funds can be resold locally or abroad and as a result, the assets become more difficult to map out and seize. 2.2.3 Integration The final stage consists of the integration of the money in the legitimate economic and financial institution. Integration is the stage whereby takes place the creation of a legitimate basis for the asset origin. The launder make the money appear legally earned and cleaned. At this stage it is very difficult to distinguish by authorities the difference between legal and illegal wealth. The money is viewed as being legal, and the criminal can use it for any purpose. Illicit money is often removed from its country of origin to be cycled through the international payment system so as to blur any audit trait (Joyce, 2005). There are different ways in which the third stage of money laundering is done. For example, a credit card might be handed out by offshore banks, casino winning can be cashed out, capital gains on option, and stock trading might follow, and real estate sale might lead to profit. The proceeds of criminal acts could be generated from organized crime such as drug trafficking, people smuggling, people trafficking, proceeds from robberies or money acquired by embezzlement, tax evasion, fraud, abuse of company structures, insider trading, or corruption. Popular Methods of the launders at this part of the game is Sending fake import export invoices and overvaluing the price of the goods. Consequently in allows the launders to more the funds from one company or country to another with the invoices serving as source of the capital place with financial companies. A simpler technique is to shift the money (via EFT) to a rightful bank from a bank owned by the launderers, as off the shelf banks are easily purchased in many tax havens. The establishment of unspecified company in countries where the right to concealment is guaranteed. In such case the launderer is in a position to grant loans from banks to undertake certain future legal transaction. In addition launders can claim tax relief on loan repayments and interest on loan so as to increase their profits. Most criminal acts are motivated by profit, argues Financial Intelligence Unit (2008). When substantial profits are generated from crime, perpetrators have to devise a means to control the assets in such a way that they do not attract attention to themselves or the crime committed. Thus, the money laundering process is crucial in order to enjoy the profit without arousing suspicion. 2.3 Problem statement: 2.3.1 Banking Secrecy: A major drawback of money laundering Banking secrecy is a professional obligation, meaning that financial institutions shall not expose a customers financial information and they even have the right to resist any third partys enquiries in order to protect the customers wellbeing. Secrecy laws have served to safeguard persons from financial failure in countries plagued by unsteadiness, fragile currency and run-away inflation rate. Wealthy individuals and political agents are also protected by allowing them to hide their possessions to avoid the risk of persecution (Savona, E.U, 1997). In some countries, for example in Switzerland, the revelation of secret banking information is punishable by law, whether it is intentional or unintentional (Corrado, M.G, 1988). In the world we are presently living, nobody can deny the fact that banking secrecy is the most significant weapon for money launderers. Some countries like Hong Kong, Switzerland, Panama are even known as notorious banking secrecy heavens. These jurisdictions really make the crime of money laundering more severe and out of control. For instance in Hong Kong, a new regulation was introduced in 2000 which requires banks to report suspicious transactions. This resulted in 6,100 suspicious transactions being reported in 2000 and 95% of them were from banks (www.hongkong.org/press/ny-021400.htm, 15th Aug 2001) 2.4 Combating Money Laundering: The Lifting of Banking Secrecy Despite being an important part of individual privacy, banking secrecy has to be lifted in some cases as it is equally important to fight against money laundering in order to guarantee a protected and safe society. The lifting of bank secrecy has already been embodied in the most vital international documents. Each party should authorize the court or other authority to order that financial or business reports should be made accessible or be seized under the 1988 Vienna UN Convention, the 1990 Strasbourg Convention and the 2000 Palermo US Convention specifically. The FATF recommended that financial institutions should concentrate on all unusual or large transactions, which have no evident economic or lawful purpose. Such transactions should be examined, written and be made available to supervisors, auditors and law enforcement agencies. If financial institutions doubt that proceeds come from a criminal activity, they are required to account for their suspicions to the expert authorities without delay (The FATF Recommendations on Money Laundering, 1996 Art 14, 15). These measures are innovative, modern and extremely different from the conventional banking system. In early times, the relationship between financial institutions and customers were founded on trust and confidence: neither the banker asked questions nor the customers made disclosures. The situation has now changed. Along with that, the way of thinking and attitude of bank directors, staff and that of management authorities have changed (Galvao G, 1997). 3.0 Research Methodology 3.1 Aims and Objective of the research The aim of the research is to identify evidence of banking secrecy and their effectiveness in combating money laundering. Cases of money laundering in Mauritius will be studied and analysed. Key principles from the anti-money laundering act and from regulations imposed by bank regulators (e.g. Financial Services Commission and the Bank of Mauritius) will be outlined. The study will then research on the measures taken by banks to fight against potential cases of money laundering in order to guarantee a protected and safe banking service. The lifting of bank secrecy has already been embodied in the most vital international documents. The objectives of this research are to: 3.2 Research Method A survey with a self-administered questionnaire will be the data collection technique used. The questionnaires will be sent to the senior managers, executives and branch managers of the identified banks in Mauritius. Visits to the company/meeting with the relevant person will be carried out where necessary to ensure maximum response and that questionnaire is being filled up by the addressee. Also, secondary data will be taken from company websites, reports and financial statement to supplement research. 3.3 Statistical Analysis of data After the questionnaire, the response will be input as data so as to make use of specific statistical technique. Thus SPSS statistical package will be used to analyze data for the findings of the research. 3.4 Benefits of the Research The research will be beneficial to: Companies Government Future Research Dissertations 3.4.1 Companies Combating money laundering will have a positive impact on companies: Through integrated management of financial crime operational efficiencies will improve The risk of corruption, identity crime and other criminal crimes will reduced considerably Reduced financial risk, reputational risk and legal risk Bad debts and fraud losses due to customer comprehensiveness 3.4.2 Government Money laundering has a negative effect on the economy, such as loss of control on the economical policy, economic distortion and instability. Moreover, government loss revenue as tax collection becomes more complicated and confusing. Therefore, the research will help to reduce these drawbacks. 3.4.3 Further Research Research will assist other researchers to make further research in the topic. Ghantt Chart Task/activity Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Choose topic  ·Ã‚ · Literature search  ·Ã‚ ·  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ · Developing framework  ·  · Design questionnaire  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·  · Survey  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ · Data Input  ·  · Analysis  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·  · Writing up  ·  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ · Submit  · Budget Analysis Expenditures Rs Consultants and contracts 1400 Travel 400 Supplies and materials 400 Communications (Telephone, postage, etc.) 150 Equipment (Purchase) 700 Other (Equipment rental, etc.) 400 Total 3450

Give Vouchers and School Choice a Chance :: Persuasive Argumentative Essay Examples

All We Are Saying is Give Choice a Chance    Critics of school choice programs invoke a two-pronged attack. First, they claim that only the best students with the most motivated parents will take advantage of charter schools and voucher programs-two of the most popular choice vehicles. Presumably, the best students come from families in which parents are involved at home and at school and who provide more support for their child, partnering with the school. Second, critics contend that the flight of the best students leaves behind disproportionately large groups of chronically underperforming, special needs, and problem children who will drag down the rest of the students in the public schools. Teachers will spend inordinate amounts of time on discipline and basics; administrators will be obliged to devote excessive amounts of resources to meet special needs. Critics contend these two effects will doom the traditional public school system to failure. Indirect evidence to the contrary, however, has been uncovered. These data may be preliminary, but they are compelling.    Enrollment data on charter schools in the 1997-98 school year show that the demographic mix of students enrolling in charter schools is remarkably like that of students in the rest of the school system-the flight of the best and brightest or the affluent or nonminorities is not apparent. The striking similarity of these enrollment patterns rebuts arguments that only the privileged will choose the option of charter schools.    Furthermore, over the past 10 years in the Milwaukee school system, which operates the country's longest-running publicly provided school voucher program, the performance of students in the system has increased remarkably. In fact, their increases have outstripped those of students in the rest of the state. There may be disputes about the performance of the students who have used vouchers and left the Milwaukee public school system, but the data show that the students left behind are faring quite well. Competition to keep students (and the concomitant funding) may be providing an incentive for the administrators and teachers in Milwaukee to pick up the pace and improve overall performance.       According to a January 2000 report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nationwide there are minimal differences in the distribution of minorities, the disadvantaged, and disabled students in charter schools and traditional public schools.    Students' eligibility for a free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch program (a measure of economic disadvantage) allows for the comparison of poverty levels between students in charter schools and those in public schools in the states that have charter schools.

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes Essay

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two important philosophers from the seventeenth century. The two were born nearly 50 years apart – Hobbes in 1588 and Locke in 1632 – and yet, they each managed to have a major impact on their time and our own. The philosophical viewpoints of Locke and Hobbes are, in most cases, in strict opposition of each other. There are certain points at which the theories of both men collide; however, their synonymous beliefs are exactly the point at which their theories begin to diverge again. John Locke is considered to be the first of the British Empiricists, who believed that in order to truly gain knowledge of a certain thing, any individual would first have to experience something from which they would gain that knowledge. He is thought to be one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced many other famous philosophers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, as well as the American revolutionaries. The Declaration of Independence clearly shows his influence. Locke attended the Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of British Parliament. He would later attend Christ Church at the University of Oxford. It was here that Locke became heavily interested in the works of Modern philosophers, such as Descartes. Locke and other Empiricists rejected the notion of innate ideas – that is, the belief that human beings are born with ideas that are â€Å"otherworldly,† or known to us before we enter this life. Locke indulged in a theory which he dubbed tabula rasa, or â€Å"blank slate† in Latin. Following this theory, an individual would be born knowing nothing, and would therefore, only learn and gain knowledge by living and experiencing many things in their everyday life. Thomas Hobbes was raised by his uncle, Francis, as were his three siblings. He attended the Westport Church at age four for education, and then moved to the Malmesbury school, and further, onto a private school kept by a man named Rober Latimer, who was a graduate of Oxford University. Hobbes later attended Hertford College, a constituent college of Oxford University. He became fast friends with the son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire, with whom he attended a grand tour in 1610. During the tour, Hobbes and Cavendish were exposed to European scientific and critical methods, which were in contrast to what Hobbes had been taught in his time at Oxford. Although Hobbes was closely linked to figures such as Francis Bacon, he did not become heavily involved in philosophy until after the year 1629. Hobbes lived during a time of great disturbance in Europe. The Thirty Years’ War lasted from 1618 until 1648. During this time, soldiers were rampant throughout villages, and they acted as they pleased –raping women, destroying entire villages and cities, and leaving any living beings who were lucky enough to live without shelter or sustenance. In consequence of the fact that Hobbes bore witness to these types of situations, his outlook on human nature was understandably somber. Locke and Hobbes were able to agree on one point: all men are equal by nature; yet, their reasoning for this statement varies. Like Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. However, in contrast to Hobbes’ theory that men will choose violence over peace, Locke insists that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance. In his publication in 1651, Leviathan, Hobbes proclaimed that while man does voluntarily commit some acts of goodness, man is not, naturally, good. The object of those voluntary acts, he believed, was essentially to do some good to the individual who performed them. Locke’s outlook on human nature was somewhat optimistic. He believed that each individual person has the will and the freedom to think and do as they please, and that people are naturally inclined to live according to reason. Therefore, one can ultimately assume that Locke definitely believed in humans existing in harmony with one another. Locke believes that all men are created equal because they are born into a state of freedom that allows them to be equal; Hobbes believes that all men are equal because they are all equally despicable. Both Hobbes and Locke believed that there was a sort of â€Å"social contract† between individual citizens and the ruling government. This Leviathan, as Hobbes proposed, would define the rights and duties of each party. Hobbes believed that once the contract was instituted, it would be irrevocable. No individual would be able to change their individual rights at a later time, and the government would ultimately have power over them from then on. Locke saw the agreement as less binding. Because he believed that each individual was born with certain natural rights that no other human being could revoke, the contract between the individuals and the state would always be conditional – meaning that individuals retained the option to withdraw their consent and preserve those natural rights whenever they saw fit. I believe that Hobbes and Locke both had ideas that were based on their own experiences in their lifetimes. Being a person that has come after both of them, I have had the chance to read and try to understand both viewpoints, and I can see where their opinions would differ, and speculate as to why. Even today, living conditions in certain areas differ greatly, and can have a dramatic effect on a person’s view of things. It is even quite possible for two neighbors to have opinions differing as greatly as Hobbes’ and Locke’s. Because the majority of Hobbes’ life was spent experiencing pain and anguish inflicted by other humans, he believed other humans to be evil. Locke did not see such wrongdoing in his time; rather, he saw a time of peace and prosperity. Therefore, he would not have assumed that humans were naturally evil beings. I think that we are lucky to have lived after so many great thinkers have. Both Hobbes and Locke proposed viewpoints that we are free to combine and contort, if we so choose, and we already have some of the thinking laid out for us by those men. Humans may or may not be naturally good beings; we probably will not be able to say for sure until we have left this world. However, we may not have had much to ponder if it were not for John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.

The rest of the novel Essays

The rest of the novel Essays The rest of the novel Essay The rest of the novel Essay How are the themes that are introduced in the first five chapters reflected in the rest of the novel? In chapters 1-5, a number of pivotal events occur in Great Expectations that affect the characters and their actions in many different ways. In this part of the novel, Dickens introduces themes that are subsequently carried on throughout the novel. For instance, guilt is reflected continuously. Pip is shown as a guilty character, and battling with his guilty conscience becomes apparent and affects him. Death is also part of all the characters lives. In the opening of the novel we are introduced to some of the main characters, Magwitch and Pip. Pip is also the narrator and he tells us that his parents are dead. Pips immaturity and childhood fears are explored in some detail. In this story there is a definite social class division. The way Pip transforms and becomes a gentleman of a higher social class. Also the way criminals and Pip, as well as other characters are treated unjust and the way they go about getting justice. I will explore these themes in greater detail. The opening chapter in the novel begins with Pip telling us about his dead parents and siblings. on the authority of his tombstone. Dickens does this to give us an idea as to what one of the main themes are in the novel, death. This tells us that death has already become part of Pips life, and that he must already have serious emotional scars caused by death. The theme of death carries on throughout the novel, this is shown in a few different ways. One way death is carried on is the death of Pips sister and parent guardian Mrs Joe. It was the first time that a grave had opened in my road of life, and the gap it made in the smooth ground was wonderful. The figure of my sister sat in her chair by the kitchen fire haunted me night and day When a loved one dies, we would normally grieve for them, not describe the memories of them as haunting, However Mrs Joe was not loving to Pip and they didnt have the regular brother sister bond. The way he described the tragic event as wonderful shows maybe he didnt grieve or miss Mrs Joe. The death of two other main characters in this novel also carries on the theme of death. We know Magwitch led a sinful and corrupt life. He committed crimes and wasnt a pleasant person. However Magwitch dies peacefully and quietly. This suggests he was repented of his sins and forgiven for what he had done. This was because of his apologies to Pip, and remorse for giving up his daughter Estella. However, Miss Havisham died in a violent fire. The way Dickens chose for Miss Havisham to die in a fire gives us the idea that it links to hell and sins. Miss Havisham wasnt a very nice person. She tormented Pip when he went to play at her house, making him feel uncomfortable. She also led Pip and his family to believe she was Pips benefactor. She never said she was but she did know Pip thought she was his benefactor because Pip went to visit her to say thank you and she could have told him the truth, also the way she is cruel to men and teaches Estella to be also suggests she wasnt a nice person and maybe deserved to die this way. This cannot be coincidence. The characters in this novel get what they deserve, and bad things happen to the characters that have not lead a moralistic life. There is a very strong portrayal of the theme death throughout the novel as it shows that death is a punishment not just part of life. From the novel we know that Pip didnt have an easy childhood. He was always living in fear and made fun of. In chapter one we learn that Pip is an orphan. As I never saw my father or my mother For any child never to see their parents must be very distressing. A child needs parents to be loved by throughout their childhood, and to be brought up by. However, Pips parent figure is his sister, Mrs Joe Gargery. His sister frequently uses violence towards pip. Knowing her to have a hard and heavy hand For a childs parent figure to be violent must make the child feel un-loved. He has no one to show affection except Joe, his sisters husband. Joes station and influence were something feebler (if possible) when there was company but he always aided and comforted me when he could. Pip can turn to Joe, but Joe is unable to support Pip as he has no confidence and is not respected by others. The use of the word feebler suggests that Joe is in the same position as Pip or even worse. His immediate family doesnt just torment Pip, the visitors push him aside and are indictive towards him. They are cruel and he is bullied continuously. I was squeezed in at an acute angle on the table cloth, with the Pumblechookian elbow in my eye This gives us an image of Pip sat at the table squeezed on the corner with no room. This shows there was no space for Pip and he was unwanted. Strangers also bully pip. For example on the marches when he is approached by Magwitch and Pip is scared for his life. Keep still you little devil, or ill cut your throat Wherever Pip goes he seems to get bullied in some way. For a child to go through this life must be difficult. Childhood should be a time of enjoyment; instead he is unwanted, has no parents and is bullied. We know that Mrs Joe is Pips guardian, but she isnt a parent figure. She is not someone who Pip can look up to and idolise like many children do. He can turn to Joe, however throughout the novel he is shown more as an equal than a parental figure. I supposed that Joe Gargery and I were both brought up by hand Normally we use the phrase brought up when we say a child has been brought up by their parents, as in being punished and taught life lessons. However we wouldnt normally use the phrase when saying an adult was bringing up another adult. However Dickens does this to show how equal Pip and Joe were. This makes us believe for a moment that Joe and Pip are siblings, because they are treated the same. The duties of a parent include protecting the child, but if Joe is more of an equal he cannot protect Pip from the violence inflicted on him by his sister. This must make Pip feel helpless. In a normal relationship between a child and a parental figure the child would be able to ask for help and feel they were secure in the company of this adult, however Joe is just as scared as Pip is so this must make him feel even worse, because Joes fear of Mrs Joe shows Pip that Mrs Joe is a woman to fear. This is because children see adults as fearless and brave, but Joe is afraid, which highlights how bad Mrs Joe is to live with. The way Pip says him and Joe are both brought up by hand shows Pips innocence and immaturity. If Pip was older and had a proper up bringing he would know what the term to be brought up meant. Instead he says him and Joe are both brought up by hand which shows Pip thinks that the term brought up means to be punished with violence, like he and Joe both are. This simply emphasises the fact that Pip is very young and nai ve, which then makes us sympathise for him because of the torments he has to put up with. Mr and Mrs Joes relationship must have some affect on Pip. As we know it is important for a child to grow up in a loving environment instead both mature figures in the household do not have a proper relationship, Pip and Joe both live in a hostile environment because of Mrs Joe. The way Dickens names Mrs Joe reflects irony. Although the wife of Joe has taken both his names in the traditional patriarchal way (usually suggesting the wife is the husbands property) the Gargery household contrasts the patriarchal tradition. In fact, her husband is treated as a child and Pip and he are the inferior ones within the family. Estella parentage is extremely ironic. She lives in a large house and has a high social status, however her father is an escaped convict, so how can father and daughter belong to different class divisions at opposite ends of the social class spectrum? The way Estella find it easy to conform with the higher social class lifestyle shows how parentage and childhood ultimately affect how the person will behave in adulthood. This idea is exhibited through the way Estella treats males Estella repeatedly warns Pip that she has no heart. These characteristics that Estella holds come from that of her adoptive mother, Miss Havisham, who was jilted at the alter by her fianci , therefore hates all men and is cruel to them. Estella again shows her lack of respect for males when Pip first goes to visit Satis house with Uncle Pumplechook, and Estella is rude to Mr Pumblecook. Oh! she said. Did you wish to see Miss Havisham? If Miss Havisham wish to see me.. Ah! Said the girl; but you see she dont The way Estella is rude to Mr Pumblechook shows that she has no respect for males, even her elders. This tells us that Estella isnt taught common courtesy towards males and Miss Havishams bitterness is subsequently transferred to Estella through setting a bad example, which will affect Estellas live in a negative way.

Reactivity essays

Reactivity essays Reactivity is classified as ready susceptibility to chemical change. Reactivity occurs when a metal acts in response with a substance to produce an outcome. The process of reactivity takes place to enable the atom to form a stable outer energy level. Metal atoms with outer electrons of 2 or 3 are less reactive than metal atoms of 1 outer electron with the same energy level. The reason for this fact is the more outer electrons an atom has, the more protons it contains, thus the atom has a more powerful nuclear attraction. Below is a common order of reactivity of metals: In this series of reactivity the most active metal is potassium (K) and the least active metal is silver (Ag) A displacement reaction is defined as a chemical reaction in which an elementary substance displaces and sets free a constituent element. A more active metal will displace a less active metal from a compound. A displacement reaction happens in the following way: Active Metal + Solution containing metal ions Metal + Solution containing A + B C A C + B Magnesium + Zinc Sulfate Zinc + Magnesium Sulfate A displacement reaction is demonstrated when there is a change in the colour of the solution, a black coating on the metal is evident or crystals assemble on the surface of the metal. Also if there is a pinkish layer on the metal (this only occurs in the case of copper) or if heat is created. ...

Effect of Taxation on the Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Effect of Taxation on the Economy - Essay Example This also leads to a less desirable allocation of the society's resources, thereby bringing about an additional loss in the overall well being. This loss is often referred to as the excess burden of the tax. It is a measure of the inefficiency of the tax, which is to say that it takes more than 1 of private output resource and income to finance 1 of public expenditure. Estimates predict that the taxes would positively use resources only to a certain extent after which these resources will escape into informal sector and diminish tax growth and efficiency. This paper examines the effects of different types of taxes as well as the tax rates on the economic efficiency of the country. It will first give an overview of the types of taxes that are levied and their relevance after which it will compare the tax revenues and the tax rates. It will be followed by a case study to amplify the effects of taxation on the economy. Taxes are direct and indirect in nature of collection. If the taxes are collected directly from the individuals and organisations on whom they are imposed then we refer to them as direct taxes while the taxes that are collected from person other than the one on whom it is imposed it is referred to as indirect tax. Taxes can be divided into two major categories. ... It is often argued that if the present system of levying income tax is replaced with the broad consumption based tax system it would greatly improve the economic efficiency on many accounts. It would eliminate the influence of taxes on the timing of consumption and it may also subject different sources of income to be included in the tax base and similar tax rates which would have otherwise not come under the tax net. A broader tax base would also help in lowering the overall marginal tax rates hence giving a wider choice to the consumer. (James,2006) The lesser the tax system influences the economic choices of the firms and the consumers the more efficient it will be.Income tax by its nature affects two major house hold decisions. Firstly it reduces the price of current leisure in relation to its current consumption. This induces the households to cut back on their consumption and labor supply and increase the leisure. Secondly by taxing the capital income, the income tax brings dow n the price of current consumption in comparison to the future consumption thus discouraging house holds to save more thereby lowering the investment potential of the economy. (Tuomala 1990) On the other hand the consumption based tax influences only the buying decision of the individuals and the returns to the capital income are left untaxed. To make a tax base broader and more neutral it is imperative to lower marginal tax rates. This way the comprehensive tax will improve the economic efficiency to a large extent. Tax Rates v/s Tax Revenues. Higher tax rates levied by the government equally affects all individuals in the society. The

Marketing communication 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing communication 2 - Essay Example The empowerment of the customers with respect to the availability of information was really understandable by the case of the departmental store of a friend of mine that was seriously affected because of the improper marketing communication. The departmental store of the friend was performing well within the periphery of the expectations in the couple of years since inception but soon it started to exhibit poor performance. The sales revenue was severely hit. External experts, those were employed by the store, investigated and observed that the failure of the firm even though it maintained quality goods and services, was primarily because of the lack of the marketing initiatives and rusty performance of the marketing department. The departmental store basically targeted the middle income groups and middle aged families especially those where both of the spouses were working. In order to meet the needs of the working customers, the departmental stores remained open for all round the clock, seven days a week. Also, the store provided facilities like home delivery of the purchased items free of charge at the convenient hours along with online purchasing. The store also aimed to grab the lower income strata of the society as it proposed and implemented various sales promotion methods. The goals and the objectives of the marketing communication plan would essentially be to reinstate the departmental store with its glory and pride in the city of its existence. Also, the marketing communication plan would essentially aim to make target customers aware about the various sales promotional offers and schemes and increase the footfalls and thereby to increase the revenue. The marketing communication plan should be such that it inculcates the various mechanisms of effective marketing communication. The decision to visit the store and purchase from the store should be depicted as that of high involvement as per FCB Grid Model and the schemes and

Healthy Woman Check Ups, Do they make a difference Essay

Healthy Woman Check Ups, Do they make a difference - Essay Example It is important for women to get regular check- ups, because screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests, can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier or more often than other women. Screening and routine care can help women lower their risk of many health conditions including heart diseases. National Women’s Check-up Day which occurs every 14th of May was established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to encourage women to visit health care professionals to receive or schedule check-ups and promote regular check-ups as they are vital to enable the early detection diseases. With today's busy lifestyles, finding time to visit the doctor can often be difficult but it is important not to forget about our health. Regular health check-ups are important for women. Even in the absence of symptoms, many physicians recommend routine, yearly doctor visits and physica ls for females of all ages. A full check-up for women includes a comprehensive work-up for general health, including heart diseases, cholesterol, diabetes, major organ functions, osteoporosis and common cancers like liver and colon cancer. Specifically designed for women, the plan also screens for breast, ovarian and cervical cancers as well as pelvic disorders. Physicians integrate the information you provide from your symptoms, past health problems, physical examination and testing to detect disease or a risk of disease. If you feel well and have a normal exam, it's likely you are healthy. Unfortunately, many conditions can escape detection even with the best medical care. Which exams and screenings you need depends on your age, health and family history, and lifestyle choices such as what you eat, how active you are, and whether you smoke. Breast cancer screening aims to detect the disease early in women and thereby reduce mortality from breast cancer. It may not be cost-effectiv e to screen all women equally often, but rather to allocate resources disproportionately across women at different risks of developing breast cancer. This disease burden can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. Pap smear for cervical cancer, allow the early identification of cancer or pre-cancer before signs are recognizable [PCND, 2008]. Screening for breast and cervical cancer are strongly related with a reduction in cancer mortality [Kerlikowske et al. 1995]. Evidence-Based screening plans and European guidelines recommend a mammography every 2 years for women aged 50-69 and Pap test every 3 years for women aged 25-64 [Perry et al. 2006, ACS, 2011]. Socioeconomic factors were shown to be strongly related to the use of preventive services [Lorant et al. 2002]. Disparities in the utilization of female screening were widely identified. Comparative studies on the use of preventive services in Europe showed inequalities in the participation to screening programs, althou gh the size of the inequality varied among countries [Palencia et al. 2010]. Women with lower health literacy are less likely to carry out routine cancer screening. Ethnic minority, old age and low socioeconomic status are all accompanied by a low chance of undergoing cancer screening procedures [Ackenson, 2007]. In the US characteristics associated with lower rates of Pap test use included low family income and low educational

Ralph and Jack in The Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

Ralph and Jack in The Lord of the Flies Essay Question 1 There are a number of differences and a few similarities between Jack and Ralph. First of all the main similarity is the fact that both boys are roughly the same age. Then furthermore, there is the fact that both pf them are boys. In addition their share the quality of leadership, or in other words both of them have the abilities to be a leader. Then on the other hand there are the numerous differences they in clued; different style of leadership, different believes, maturity, and the symbol that they represent. Jack and Ralph have a very different style of leading. Ralph has a democratic leadership and Jack is more of a dictator figure. Then furthermore, there is the difference of believes, Jack believes that the main objective on the island is to hunt and Ralph believes that it is to be saved. Then there is the maturity, Ralph is more mature that Jack. And the last difference in the symbols that these characters represent, Jack represents the bad side of human nature and Ralph represents the good side or democracy. Question 2 Piggy represents intelligence and thinking. This idea is proven through out the whole book, until his death. Fist of all there is the fact that because of Piggy the boys were able to create the fire. The secondary, idea is the fact that Piggy acts very mature through out the book. He is even more mature than Ralph. Piggy comes up with ideas that not a single other boy had though of. For example there is the fact that Piggy though of the sundial. Furthermore there is the idea that Piggy constantly reminds Ralph of their objective to the island, and which is to be saved.

information methods :: essays research papers fc

Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is Information Literacy? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ability to recognise the need to find, organise, evaluate and use such information for effective decision-making or problem solving. Be aware that some information conveyed to you may be distorted. Be aware that you may require additional information before making a decision. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is Information Technology Literacy? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ability to recognise opportunities for and apply information technology resources to capture and manipulate data, transform data into information and present information. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why do you need Information Literacy? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  to function in society, to understand the language and knowledge structures of particular fields of study, to be able to study in fields of interest, to be able to communicate. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is there a relationship between data, information, and knowledge? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yes. A collection of basic data elements (facts, video, images, sound etc.) are transformed (manipulated) into information. By gathering information we can begin to gain knowledge. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the three information types? (and give an example of each) A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Primary Information – eyewitness account, creative work, discovery Secondary Information – reports on events, history, theologies Tertiary Information – indices, bibliographies, browsers Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the Information Literacy skills identified in the lecture? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Task Definition, Information Seeking Strategies, Location and Access, Use of Information, Synthesis, Evaluation Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the 5 subdisciplines of Semiotics and what are their attributes? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Statistics – patterns, codes, traces, signals Syntactics – structure, data, records, language, logic, software, files Semantics – meaning, denotation, signification, proposition, validty, truth Pragmatics – intent, communication, conversation, negotiation Social – beliefs, expectations, commitments, contracts, law, culture Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are mind maps useful for? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Note taking, organising information in a logical structure, good for exam revision Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is a metaphor? Examples†¦ A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  statements based on some kind of analogy where two things are compared to each other eg desk top metaphor, metaphorically speaking Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the different types of metaphors? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Illustrative, Iconic, Visual, Verbal Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is a clichà ©? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A phrase that conveys some sort of idea or message, a clichà © is, in other words a metaphor characterised by its over use. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The usefulness of information is determined by four main factors. What are these four main factors and exemplify. A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Information Quality – fitness for purpose, author’s credentials, revised edition, intended audience etc. Information Assessibility – consistent, speed, availability, format Information Presentation – writing style, organised logically, main points clearly presented Information Security – Internet fire walls, Business passwords etc Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is Knowledge? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A combination of rules, ideas, instincts and procedures that guide actions and decisions. Q.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the different types of information retrieval outlined in the lecture? A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Text database – a set of documents stored and organised on a computer eg proformas Hypertext documents – interactive links to other parts of the current document eg autotable of contents in word.

The structure of memory Essay -- Technology, Multi-store Model

Introduction Prior research into the structure of memory have suggested that memory is comprised up from three separate stores each performing a specific and relatively inflexible function (in Passer, Smith, Holt, Bremner, Sutherland, & Vliek, 2009). That is the multi-store model, developed by Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968 in Passer et al., 2009) who claim a sensory memory store, short-term memory store (STM) and a long-term memory store (LTM) (in Passer et al., 2009). Although to some, the multi store model provided an adequate explanation of memory processes, it was regarded as being too simplistic since short-term and long- term memories were far more complicated than originally thought (in Craik & Lockhart, 1972). In essence, the multi-store model stresses the importance of rehearsal to long term memory. While rehearsal is crucial as a means of transferring information from the STM to the LTM, this is not necessarily always the case (in Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968 in Passer et al., 2009). To this , sceptics challenged the idea of information being transferred from the STM to the LTM by active rehearsal since subsequent research has indicated that information had the potential to be stored in the LTM without it being actively rehearsed (in Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968). In response to the difficulties and weaknesses presented in the multi-store model, an alternative model attempting to explain memory processes in a more precise manner was developed by Craik & Lockhart (1972 in Craik & Lockhart, 1972). Their theory of levels of processing proposes that different methods of encoding information into the memory will subsequently have an effect on recollection of information (in Craik & Lockhart, 1972). According to the levels of process... ...rformance. For example, Craik & Lockhart (1972) found that individuals who processed information at a semantic level produced better recalls followed by acoustic processing and then visual processing being the least effective in terms of remembering. The results fundamentally imply that engaging in semantic processing tends to yield higher levels of memory performance compared to acoustic and visual processing thus reflecting the findings of Craik & Lockhart’s (1972) and that memory was enhanced more by depth of processing rather than how long information was rehearsed for as previously pointed out by the multi-store model. It also showed a greater amount of recall for deeply processed words than for shallowly processed words. In addition, the study also revealed that the effect appeared to be stronger for the ‘True’ responses that for the ‘False’ responses.

The Golden Lily Chapter 23

IT TOOK SONYA a few days to recover, thus delaying her return to Pennsylvania. When she was ready to go to the airport, I offered to drive her. The rental car had been found, but Dimitri was using it to clean up after the mission. Within twenty-four hours, the Warriors had vacated their compound, which had turned out to be a rental facility generally used for retreats. They'd left almost no trace of their presence behind, but that hadn't stopped the guardians from scouring every inch of the abandoned compound. â€Å"Thanks again,† Sonya told me. â€Å"I know how busy you must be.† â€Å"It's no problem. It's the weekend, and anyway this is what I'm here for – to help you guys.† She laughed softly to herself. Her recovery in the last couple of days had been remarkable, and she now looked as pretty and bright as usual. She wore her auburn hair down today, letting it fall in fiery waves around the delicate lines of her face. â€Å"True, but it seems like you keep having to go above and beyond your job description.† â€Å"I'm just glad you're okay,† I said earnestly. I'd grown close to Sonya and was sad to see her go. â€Å"Back in that arena†¦ well, it was kind of terrifying.† Some of her amusement faded. â€Å"It was. I was out of it most of the time and not really able to process what was going on around me. But I do remember your words. You were pretty amazing, not to mention brave, to face down that crowd and defend me. I know how hard it must have been to be in opposition with your own kind.† â€Å"Those people are not my kind,† I said adamantly. Some part of me wondered exactly who my kind were. â€Å"What's going to happen to your research now?† â€Å"Oh, it'll continue back East. Dimitri will be returning soon too, and there are other researchers who can help us at Court. Having an objective spirit user like Adrian was extremely useful, and we've got plenty of data to keep us busy now, thanks to the blood samples and aura observations. We'll let Adrian continue with his art and get in touch later if we need him again.† I still couldn't shake the guilt over how my refusal to give more blood had indirectly resulted in Sonya's kidnapping. â€Å"Sonya, about my blood – â€Å" â€Å"Don't worry about it,† she interrupted. â€Å"You were right about me being pushy and also that we need to focus on Dimitri first. Besides, we might be making some headway with getting Alchemist help.† â€Å"Really?† Stanton had seemed pretty against it when we spoke. â€Å"They said yes?† â€Å"No, but they said they'd get back to us.† I laughed. â€Å"With them, that's a pretty positive answer.† I fell silent for a moment, wondering if this meant everyone would forget about my blood. Between the Warriors and the potential of Alchemist aid, surely my blood was no longer important. After all, initial study had found nothing special. No one had any reason to worry about my blood anymore. Except, the thing was†¦ I was kind of worried. Because no matter how much I dreaded being experimented on, that nagging question wouldn't leave me alone: Why hadn't the Strigoi been able to drink my blood? Sonya's earlier mention of auras reminded me of another burning question. â€Å"Sonya, what does purple mean in someone's aura? Adrian says he saw it in mine but won't tell me what it is.† â€Å"Typical,† she said with a chuckle. â€Å"Purple†¦ well, let's see. From what I've observed, it's a complex color. It's a spiritual but passionate color, tied to those who love deeply and also seek a higher calling. It's interesting in that it has such depth. White and true gold tend to be the colors associated with higher powers and metaphysics, just as red and orange are linked to love and baser instincts. Purple kind of has the best of all of those. I wish I could explain it more clearly.† â€Å"No, that makes sense,† I said, pulling into the airport's circle driveway. â€Å"Kind of. It doesn't exactly sound like me, though.† â€Å"Well, it's hardly an exact science. And he's right – it's there in you. The thing is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  We'd stopped at the curb, and I saw her studying me carefully. â€Å"I've never noticed it before. I mean, I'm sure it's always been there, but whenever I looked at you, I just saw the yellow of most intellects. Adrian isn't as adept at reading auras as I am, so I'm surprised he noticed what I missed.† She wasn't the only one. Spiritual, passionate†¦ was I really those things? Did Adrian believe I was those things? The thought made me feel warm all over. Elated†¦ and confused. Sonya seemed like she was about to say more on the matter and then changed her mind. She cleared her throat. â€Å"Well, then. Here we are. Thank you again for the ride.† â€Å"No problem,† I said, my mind still swimming with visions of purple. â€Å"Have a safe trip.† She opened the car door and then paused. â€Å"Oh, I have something for you. Clarence asked me to give it to you.† â€Å"Clarence?† Sonya rustled through her purse and found an envelope. â€Å"Here you are. He was pretty adamant you get it – you know how he is when he gets worked up about something.† â€Å"I do. Thanks.† Sonya left with her luggage, and curiosity made me open the envelope before I drove away. Inside was a photograph, showing Clarence and a young guy, close to my age, who looked human. The two of them had their arms around each other and were smiling at the camera. The unknown guy had straight blond hair that just barely brushed his chin and stunning blue eyes that stood out against suntanned features. He was extremely handsome, and although his eyes mirrored his smile, I thought there was a little sadness too. I was so caught up in his good looks that I didn't notice his tattoo right away. It was on his left cheek, an abstract design made of clustered crescents of various sizes and orientations, lying together so that they almost looked like a vine. It was exotic and beautiful; the rich indigo ink a near match for his eyes. Studying the design more closely, I noticed something familiar about its shape and swore I could see a faint glimmer of gold edging the blue lines. I nearly dropped the picture in shock. The crescents had been tattooed over an Alchemist lily. I flipped the picture over. One word was scrawled on it: Marcus. Marcus Finch, whom the Warriors had claimed was an ex-Alchemist. Marcus Finch, whom the Alchemists had claimed didn't exist. The crazy thing was, unless someone locked away like Keith counted, there were no â€Å"ex-Alchemists.† You were in it for life. You couldn't walk away. Yet, that obscured lily spoke for itself. Unless Marcus had had a name change that somehow eluded the Alchemists, Stanton and the others were lying to me about knowing who he was. But why? Had there been some rift? A week ago, I would have said it was impossible that Stanton wouldn't tell me the truth about him, but now, knowing how carefully information was parceled out – or not – I had to wonder. I stared at the picture a few more moments, caught up in those haunting blue eyes. Then, I tucked it away and returned to Amberwood, resolved to keep the photograph a secret. If the Alchemists wanted to deny Marcus Finch's existence to me, I would let them continue until I figured out why. That meant my only lead was Clarence and the absent Warriors. Still, it was a start. Somehow, sometime, I was going to find Marcus Finch and get my answers. I was surprised to see Jill sitting outside our dorm when I walked in. She was in the shade, of course, still able to enjoy the nice weather without the sun's full force. We'd finally moved into a sort of autumn around here, not that eighty was what I usually associated with brisk fall weather. Jill's face was pensive, but she brightened a little when she saw me. â€Å"Hey, Sydney. I was hoping to catch you. Can't find you anymore without your phone.† I made a face. â€Å"Yeah, I need to replace that. It's been a huge pain.† She nodded in commiseration. â€Å"Did you drop Sonya off?† â€Å"She's on her way back to Court and Mikhail – and hopefully a much more peaceful life.† â€Å"That's good,† said Jill. She glanced away and bit her lower lip. I knew her well enough by now to recognize the signs of when she was bracing to tell me something. I also knew better than to push the matter, so I waited patiently. â€Å"I did it,† she said at last. â€Å"I told Micah it's over†¦ really over.† Relief flooded me. One less thing to worry about. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said. â€Å"I know that must have been hard.† She brushed curly hair away from her face as she considered. â€Å"Yes. And no. I like him. And I'd like to keep hanging out with him – as friends – if he wants to. I don't know, though. He took it kind of hard†¦ and our mutual friends? Well†¦ they're not very happy with me right now.† I tried not to groan. Jill had made such headway with her status here, and now it could be shattered. â€Å"But it's for the best. Micah and I live in different worlds, and there'd be no real future with a human anyway. Besides, I've been thinking a lot about love†¦ like, epic love†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked up at me for a moment, her gaze softening. â€Å"And that wasn't what we had. Seems like if I'm with someone, that's what I should feel.† I thought epic love was kind of a stretch for someone her age but didn't say so. â€Å"Are you going to be okay?† She snapped back to reality. â€Å"Yeah, I think so.† A small smile played over her lips. â€Å"And once this has passed, maybe Eddie will want to go out sometime – away from campus, of course. Seeing as we're ‘related.'† Her words were almost a repeat of what I'd heard the other night at Clarence's, and I stared in surprise as realization dawned on me. â€Å"You don't know†¦ I thought you would since Angeline's your roommate†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jill frowned. â€Å"What are you talking about? What don't I know?† Oh God. Why, oh why, did I have to be the one to deliver this news? Why couldn't I be locked away in my room or the library doing something enjoyable, like homework? â€Å"Eddie's, um, asked Angeline out. I don't know when it's going to happen, but he decided to give her a chance.† He hadn't borrowed my car, so presumably there'd been no date yet. Jill looked stricken. â€Å"W-what? Eddie and Angeline? But†¦ he can't stand her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Something changed,† I said lamely. â€Å"I'm not sure what. It's not like, er, epic love, but they've gotten closer these last few weeks. I'm sorry.† Jill seemed more devastated by this than breaking up with Micah. She looked away and blinked back tears. â€Å"It's okay. I mean, I never encouraged him. He probably still thinks I'm dating Micah. Why should he have waited around? He should have someone.† â€Å"Jill – â€Å" â€Å"It's okay. I'll be okay.† She looked so sad and then, amazingly, her face grew even darker. â€Å"Oh, Sydney. You're going to be so mad at me.† I was still thinking of Micah and felt totally confused at the topic change. â€Å"Why?† She reached into her backpack and pulled out a glossy magazine. It was some kind of southern California tourism one, with articles and ads highlighting the area. One of the pages was marked, and I turned to it. It was a full-page advertisement for Lia DiStefano, a collage of pictures of her various designs. And one of the photos was of Jill. It took me a moment to catch it. The picture was a profile shot, with Jill in sunglasses and a fedora – as well as that peacock-colored scarf Lia had given her. Jill's curly hair streamed out behind her, and the angles of her face looked beautiful. If I hadn't known Jill so well, I would never have identified her as this chic model – though it would certainly be obvious that she was a Moroi to anyone who knew what to look for. â€Å"How?† I demanded. â€Å"How did this happen?† Jill took a deep breath, ready to accept her blame. â€Å"When she dropped off the costumes and gave me the scarf, she asked if I'd let her take a picture to see how the colors photographed. She had some of the other accessories in the car, and I put those on too. She wanted to prove to me that with the right coverage, she could hide my identity. But I never thought†¦ I mean, she didn't say she'd use it. God, I feel so stupid.† Maybe not stupid, but certainly naive. I nearly crumpled up the magazine. I was furious at Lia. Part of me wanted to sue for using a picture of a minor without permission, but we had much bigger problems. How wide was this magazine's circulation? If Lia had only put Jill's photo on display in California, maybe no one would recognize her. Still, a Moroi model could raise eyebrows. Who knows what kind of trouble this was going to cause for us now? â€Å"Sydney, I'm sorry,† said Jill. â€Å"What can I do to fix this?† â€Å"Nothing,† I said. â€Å"Except to stay away from Lia.† I felt ill. â€Å"I'll take care of this.† I really didn't know how, though. I could only pray no one noticed the picture. â€Å"I'll do whatever you need if you think of something. I – oh.† Her eyes lifted to something behind me. â€Å"Maybe we should talk later.† I glanced back. Trey was walking toward us. Another problem to deal with. â€Å"Probably a good idea,† I said. Jill's heartache and publicity would have to go on the back burner. She left as Trey came to stand beside me. â€Å"Melbourne,† he said, attempting one of his old smiles. It faltered a little. â€Å"I didn't know you were still around,† I said. â€Å"I thought you'd left with the others.† The Warriors had scattered to the wind. Trey had said before that they traveled for their â€Å"hunts,† and Master Angeletti had also mentioned gathering from various places of the country. Presumably, they had all returned to where they'd come from. I'd thought Trey would simply disappear as well. â€Å"Nope,† he said. â€Å"This is where I go to school, where my dad wants me to stay. Besides, the other Warriors never had a permanent base here in Palm Springs. They'll move on to wherever†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He couldn't finish, so I did. â€Å"Wherever you get a tip-off about monsters you can brutally execute?† â€Å"It wasn't like that,† he said. â€Å"We thought she was one of the Strigoi. We still do.† I scrutinized his face, this guy I'd thought was my friend. I was pretty sure he still was. â€Å"Not you. That's why you threw the fight.† â€Å"I didn't,† he protested. â€Å"You did. I saw you hesitate when you could have taken out Chris. You didn't want to win. You didn't want to kill Sonya because you weren't sure she really was Strigoi.† He didn't deny it. â€Å"I still think they should all be destroyed.† â€Å"So do I.† I reconsidered. â€Å"Well, unless there's a way to save them all, but that's unclear.† Despite how much I'd said while advocating for Sonya, I wasn't quite comfortable letting him on the secrets and experiments. â€Å"If the Warriors travel around, what'll happen the next time they're in this area? Or even ll.A.? Will you join them again? Will you travel to the next hunt?† â€Å"No.† The answer was hard. Blunt, even. Hope surged in me. â€Å"You've decided to split off from them?† The emotions on Trey's face were hard to read, but they didn't look like happy ones. â€Å"No. They decided to cut us off – me and my dad. We've been outcast.† I stared for a few moments, at a loss for words. I didn't like the Warriors or Trey's involvement, but this wasn't quite what I'd been trying to achieve. â€Å"Because of me?† â€Å"No. Yes. I don't know.† He shrugged. â€Å"Indirectly, I guess. They don't blame you personally or even the Alchemists. Hell, they still want to team up with the Alchemists. They figure you just behaved in your typically misguided way. But me? I'm the one who pushed to let you in, who swore everything would be fine. So, they blame me for the lapse of judgment and fallout that came from it. Others are taking the blame too – the council for agreeing, security for not stopping the raid – but that doesn't make me feel better. Dad and I were the only ones exiled.† â€Å"I†¦ I'm sorry. I never thought anything like that would happen.† â€Å"Wasn't your place to,† he said pragmatically, though his tone was still miserable. â€Å"To a certain extent, they're right. I was the one that got you in. It is my fault, and they're punishing my dad for what I did. That's the worst part of all.† Trey was trying to play it cool, but I could see the truth. He'd worked so hard to impress his father and ended up causing the ultimate humiliation. Trey's next words confirmed as much. â€Å"The Warriors have been my dad's whole life. To be kicked out like that†¦ well, he's taking it pretty badly. I have to find a way to get back in – for him. I don't suppose you know where any easy-to-kill Strigoi are, do you?† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Especially since none of them are easy kills.† I hesitated, unsure how to proceed. â€Å"Trey, what's this mean for us? I understand if we can't be friends anymore†¦ seeing as how I, uh, ruined your life's work.† A hint of his old smile returned. â€Å"Nothing's ruined for good. I told you, I'll get back in. And if it's not by killing Strigoi, who knows? Maybe if I learn more about you guys, I can bridge the gap between our groups and get us to all work together. That would score me some points.† â€Å"You're welcome to try,† I said diplomatically. I really didn't think that would happen, and he could tell. â€Å"Well, I'll figure something out then, some big move to get the Warriors' attention and get my dad and me back in with them. I have to.† His face started to fall again, but then there was a brief return of the phantom smile – though it was tinged with sadness. â€Å"You know what else sucks? Now I can't ask Angeline out. Hanging out with you is one thing, but even if I'm an outcast, I can't risk being friendly with Moroi or dhampirs. I especially can't date one. I mean, I'd figured she was one a while ago, but I could have played dumb. That attack in the arena kind of killed any chance of that. The Warriors really don't like them either, you know. Dhampirs or Moroi. They'd love to see them brought down too – they just think it's too hard and less of a priority right now.† Something about those words made me shiver, particularly since I recalled the offhand Warrior comment about eventually taking out Moroi. The Alchemists certainly had no love for dhampirs and Moroi, but that was a far cry from wanting to bring them down. â€Å"I gotta get going.† Trey reached into his pocket and handed over something that I was grateful to see. My phone. â€Å"Figured you were missing this.† â€Å"Yes!† I took it eagerly and turned it on. I hadn't known if I'd get it back and had been on the verge of buying a new one. This one was three months old and practically out-of-date anyway. â€Å"Thanks for saving it. Oh. Wow.† I read the display. â€Å"There are like a million messages from Brayden.† We hadn't spoken since the night of Sonya's disappearance. The mischievous look I liked so well on Trey returned. â€Å"Better get on that then. True love waits for no one.† â€Å"True love, huh?† I shook my head in exasperation. â€Å"So nice to have you back.† That earned me an outright grin. â€Å"See you around.† As soon as I was alone, I texted Brayden: Sorry for the radio silence. Lost my phone for three days. His response was almost immediate: I'm at work, due for a break soon. Come by? I thought about it. Seeing as I had no life-saving tasks right now, this was as good a time as any. I texted back that I'd leave Amberwood right away. Brayden had my favorite latte ready for me when I got to Spencer's. â€Å"Based on when you were leaving, I calculated when I would need to make it in order for it to be hot when you arrived.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said, taking it. I felt a little guilt that I had a greater emotional reaction to seeing the coffee than him. He told the other barista he was going on break and then led me over to a remote table. â€Å"This won't take long,† Brayden said. â€Å"I know you probably have a lot of things to do this weekend.† â€Å"Things are actually starting to lighten up,† I said. He took a deep breath, showing that same resolve and anxiety he'd had when asking me for future dates. â€Å"Sydney,† he said, voice formal, â€Å"I don't think we should see each other anymore.† I stopped mid-sip. â€Å"Wait†¦ what?† â€Å"I know how devastating this probably is for you,† he added. â€Å"And I admit, it's hard for me too. But in light of recent events, it's become clear you just aren't ready for a relationship yet.† â€Å"Recent events?† He nodded solemnly. â€Å"Your family. You've broken off a number of our social engagements to be with them. While that kind of familial devotion is admirable, I just can't be in that kind of volatile relationship.† â€Å"Volatile?† I just kept repeating his key words and finally forced myself to get a grip. â€Å"So†¦ let me get this straight. You're breaking up with me.† He thought about it. â€Å"Yes. Yes, I am.† I waited for some internal reaction. An outpouring of grief. The sense of my heart breaking. Any emotion, really. But mostly, all I felt was kind of a puzzled surprise. â€Å"Huh,† I said. That was apparently enough of a distraught reaction for Brayden. â€Å"Please don't make this harder than it is. I admire you a lot. You're absolutely the smartest girl I've ever met. But I just can't be involved with someone as irresponsible as you.† I stared. â€Å"Irresponsible.† Brayden nodded again. â€Å"Yes.† I'm not sure where it started, somewhere in my stomach or chest, maybe. But all of a sudden, I was consumed by uncontrollable laughter. I couldn't stop. I had to set down my coffee, lest I spill it. Even then, I had to bury my face in my hands to wipe away tears. â€Å"Sydney?† asked Brayden cautiously. â€Å"Is this some kind of hysterical-grief reaction?† It took me almost another minute to calm myself enough to answer him. â€Å"Oh, Brayden. You've made my day. You've given me something I never thought I'd get. Thank you.† I reached for the coffee and stood up. He looked completely lost. â€Å"Um, you're welcome?† I left the coffee shop, still laughing like a fool. For the last month or so, everyone in my life had gone on and on about how responsible I was, how diligent, how exemplary. I'd been called a lot of things. But never, ever, had I been called irresponsible. And I kind of liked it.