Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Muslims and Americans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Muslims and Americans - Essay Example That day, however I questioned individuals comprehended what I would do, I was all the while shaking as I was conveying a dark sack and on my chest with a bomb inside. I was attempting to conceal it by folding my arms over my chest. I began to stress. I couldn't help thinking that the police were all the while seeking me. At the point when the air terminal reported my flight, I went to the look into the entryway. From that point onward, I was attempting to get the bomb out of my sack actually rapidly. At that point, the police assaulted me. The police got me before I devastated the air terminal and slaughtered everybody. Sadly, I was attempting to bomb the air terminal to assist Muslim with peopling lastly shut down segregation. I am a psychological militant. Individuals like me were worked to obliterate. The vast majority fear me since I truly look savage. I am savage since everything that is detracted from me will doubtlessly need to confront a severe retribution from me. At the point when somebody takes anything from me, I attempt to remove the thief’s hand promptly with no regret. Additionally, everyone realizes that I detest ladies since I truly don't prefer to take a gander at them. I don't treat ladies a similar way that I treat men since I am superior to every one of them. I have high respect for religion. I don't drink liquor since it sometimes falls short for my sense of taste, and I am more astute than individuals who drink liquor. Likewise, I don't eat pork since I believe that pork is condemned meat. All these composed above would precisely be the means by which Americans would expound on my life today. Yet, truly, I am not a solitary thing referenced previously. I am a youthful Muslim. I don't slaughter individuals, I have close American companions, and have never really harmed anybody. I don't drink liquor or eat pork, and I regard all sort of individuals simply like how I need to be regarded. I have been living in the U.S. for a long time, and I saw that most Americans believe that every Saudi Muslim are psychological militants. This is probably the most moronic thing about Americans.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Honor Code of Self and School free essay sample

My own objectives for arriving at my most extreme pinnacle of scholarly execution do incorporate holding the most noteworthy respect for self, others, morals and respectability during my time in the college and beyond.â I accept that getting quality instruction not just includes extending one’s control and learning significant topic applicable to the individual universes that we understudies will live in later on, yet in addition figuring out how to decently and fairly manage others in a legitimate and moral way.  Looking at teachers as good examples regarding trustworthiness and being consistent with self is a decent spot to start and I have done just that.â This encourages me in my objectives in being straightforward and consistent with myself and doing whatever it takes not to act a specific path essentially to please others.â Only when one is straightforward to oneself and not self-beguiling can an individual genuinely be straightforward with others and maintain a strategic distance from misleading. To repeat more on my meaning of scholarly respectability, I should state that explicitly that my scholastic objectives do include getting myself and finding my actual way for life.â This clearly includes trustworthiness and furthermore the demonstration of encircle myself with others who think and act in comparable manners to either how I as of now do or in the manners I wish to do later on. I need to be fruitful, so I attempt to encircle myself with other people who need or have a similar perfect, yet I don't wish to nor do I encircle myself with individuals who have happened upon their achievement in an untrustworthy way or would be willing to.â â€Å"It is a short advance from untrustworthiness in schools and universities to untruthfulness in business. It is suspicious that understudies who neglect to create propensities for trustworthiness and genuineness while still in a scholarly setting are probably going to do so once they are out in reality. (Hinman, 2004). What the past statement reveals insight upon is the way being exploitative and not demonstrating trustworthiness can affect one’s life.â I can't hope to turn into the individual that I need to be in my future profession on the off chance that I don't learn and rehearse the most ideal methods of behaving now. This incorporates me seeking after my scholarly objectives by demonstrating my actual self and potential to other people, I need to hang out in class as who I am and not only â€Å"go along to get along†.â If I can't help contradicting something or accept that treacheries are going on around me, to the extent bigotry, sexism, or different types of wrong, I have a commitment to manage those things suitably and not disregard them.â (Hinman, 2002) accepts that one of the mainstays of scholastic integrity.â Much of what Hinman expounds on is methods of moving toward understudies and workforce in inventive manners to dodge things, for example, counterfeiting, cheating, and other unscrupulous and troublesome exercises on grounds. He believes that being straightforward with oneself and continually introducing that side to others is important.â I have learned, as expressed before in my scholastic objectives, that I will display after my teachers who do appear to be straightforward and present a steady method of carrying on in a legit manner.â Hinman accepts that educators can likewise help in helping other people to be straightforward with themselves by permitting imagination in the classroom.â I feel that in the event that I can concentrate on my inventive side and not need to continually be careful to give educators what they need to hear is significant. Once more, on the off chance that I don't learn and rehearse these practices now, at that point I hazard bombing classes and flopping in my future.â If I can't defy shameful acts now, I can't expect that I will have the option to stand up to them later on in life.â Similarly, on the off chance that I can't figure out how to actually communicate on just produce work that I accept will get me a passing mark, at that point I am just harming myself for what's to come. I see numerous understudies just doing the absolute minimum to get by to graduate and I accept that this damages them, as they will later on just do what is fundamental for them to get a check and not give more consideration to the significant things in life that they get their degrees in.â I don't need this to transpire, so I simply should be aware of these hurtful impacts now. Different ways that I can evade scholarly untruthfulness is by offering credit to others for their work and not submitting plagiarism.â I have to continually keep a running list of sources of the things that I read and research to have that in the event that I have to utilize cites for future reference.â Cheating is unquestionably not acceptable conduct and avoiding the individuals who locate this worthy is a decent technique. In the event that I discover that a cohort is cheating, at that point I will encourage them to talk with their counselor and similarly on the off chance that somebody is pondering being unscrupulous, however they have not yet completed an untrustworthy act.â I can stay in touch with my guide and different tutors about issues that I am having and keep on searching out other positive good examples, who live a legitimate life.â I can likewise keep a diary which will permit me to stay in contact with my internal identity, in situations where I need to take classes that don't motivate my genuine, imaginative self. In spite of the fact that, I may get exhausted in certain classes, I can't thusly be sluggish and go to cheating to get by.â Simply, I must know about all the traps around me and maintain a strategic distance from them. All things considered, I am a fair individual and am fortunate to have other legit individuals around me.â I see a positive future and won't hazard having all the things that I have worked for discolored on account of scholarly untrustworthiness. Works Cited Lawrence M. Hinman, â€Å"Academic Integrity and the World Wide Web, Computers and Society, Vol. 31, No. 1, March 2002, pp. 33-42 Lawrence M. Hinman, How to Fight College Cheating. Washington Post, September 3, 2004. A19.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Diagnosis of Eating Disorders

Diagnosis of Eating Disorders Eating Disorders Diagnosis Print Diagnosis of Eating Disorders By Susan Cowden, MS facebook linkedin Susan Cowden is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders. Learn about our editorial policy Susan Cowden, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 13, 2019 Zero Creatives / Creative RF / Getty Images More in Eating Disorders Diagnosis Symptoms Treatment Awareness and Prevention Eating disorders can be diagnosed by a number of professionals, including medical physicians or mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, dietitians, or social workers. Sometimes a pediatrician or family practice doctor will diagnose an eating disorder after noticing symptoms within the course of a regular check-up or having questions brought up by the patient or his or her parent. On other occasions, a patient or his or her family will have concerns and schedule an assessment with a mental health professional. Is There a Test for Eating Disorders? While eating disorders are serious illnesses with physical complications, there is no laboratory test to screen for eating disorders. However, there are multiple questionnaires and assessment tools that may be used to assess a persons symptoms. These may include self-report instruments, such as the Eating Disorder Inventory, the SCOFF Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test, or the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). An eating disorder professional will also usually interview the person about his or her experience. Questions will typically include topics such as current eating and exercise habits, how much a person weighs, and whether he or she has recently lost weight, as well as the persons views on weight and body image. A professional may also ask about physical symptoms, such as being cold much of the time or bruising easily. Identifying Eating Disorders It is not uncommon for patients with eating disorders, especially patients with anorexia nervosa, to not believe that they are ill. This is a symptom called anosognosia. So, if you are concerned about a friend or loved one and he or she denies having a problem, it does not necessarily mean there is not a problem. Within the course of a physical examination, a physician may also use a number of diagnostic tools, includingâ€"but not limited toâ€"blood work, a bone density exam, and/or an electrocardiogram (EKG), to assess whether there are any medical complications from the eating disorder. What Criteria Are Used to Diagnose Eating Disorders? Physicians and mental health professionals use diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-V), to diagnose eating disorders. The DSM is a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is currently in its fifth edition. Each diagnostic category in the book has been created based on research and feedback from clinicians. While the best-known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, there are other eating disorders as well. People who are struggling with some of the symptoms of an eating disorder but do not meet full criteria or who are struggling with issues surrounding weight and food to the point that it is an issue in their life may also be diagnosed with other specified or unspecified eating disorder (OSFED or UFED). Criteria for anorexia nervosa include symptoms related to significantly low body weight, a fear of weight gain and body image issues.Criteria for bulimia nervosa include recurrent binge eating and purging behaviors occurring at least twice per week for at least three months, as well as a self-evaluation that is based on weight and/or body shape.Criteria for binge eating disorder include recurrent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food at least once a week for three months. What Happens After an Eating Disorder Diagnosis A treatment team and treatment plan will be formulated based on the needs of the patient. This may include referral to other professionals and/or more in-depth assessment of symptoms. A treatment team may include a therapist, a dietician, a medical physician, and a psychiatrist. Typically, the professional who diagnoses the eating disorder can help refer a person to other eating disorder professionals within the community. A treatment plan may include outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, or residential treatment. Often, treatment includes both the patient and their family. Find Help With the 9 Best Online Therapy Programs Free Online Screening Tool If you are concerned about having an eating disorder, you may also want to take a screening test offered through the National Eating Disorders Association.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Nagging Mother Stereotype - 1795 Words

Seminar Instructor: Maria Laura - Iuliana, II Dana Mihailescu American Studies Department â€Å"Ethno-Racial Identity Configuration in American Literature and Culture. Cross-Cultural Encounters† Seminar The Jewish Nagging Mother Stereotype in Delmore Schwartz` â€Å"America! America!† The Jewish nagging†¦show more content†¦Baumann.† (Schwartz 21) Everything has to be in accordance with her expectations and her beliefs, thus she makes her daughter in law quit her prosperous job because as determined by the Jewish tradition the man is the one supposed to sustain and provide for the family. The problem is that her son is not able to hold any job that would sustain a family. â€Å"She insisted that it must end before the marriage took place, since it was not only intolerable that a wife should make her own living, should go to work each day, but it was wrong that the wife should earn more money than the husband.† (Schwartz 19) Arranged marriages become, as stated above, a way through which she exerts her power onto her children. Even Martha`s marriage is somehow related to her mother`s will as she ends up marring a doctor, a Jewish mother`s dream. â€Å"Mrs. Baumann tirelessly praised her son-in-law, and marveled infinitely at his magnanimity in marrying a girl who was unable to have children. She took especial pride in his being a very good doctor, a fact which impressed the women of her acquaintance because they wished most of all for sons or sons-in-law who were doctors.† (Schwartz 24) â€Å"In its origins, a joke about the Jewish mother boasting about her â€Å"son, the doctor,† drew on the enormous pride of the Old World mother that her Americanized son had achieved the immigrant’s dream of success.† (Antler 3) Thus, having a son or aShow MoreRelatedGirls And Girls By Alice Munro875 Words   |  4 Pagesmessage which is the constant battle of gender stereotypes. The audien ce is reading through the point of view of the main character, which is a girl, and her frustration she feels. Through the young girl’s experience, Alice Munro is able to show the readers the role of stereotypes or expectations that a female has to fulfill. The main character’s mother believes that the girl is best fit in the kitchen aiding her because she is a female. When her mother comes in the barn, she tell her father â€Å"andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film The Butler909 Words   |  4 Pagestime following the life of the main character Cecil Gaines, portrayed by Forest Whitaker. The opening scene shows that Gains grew up on a plantation in Georgia, picking cotton with his mother and father as a family of sharecroppers. The audience watches helplessly as a young Gains witness both the rape of his mother by the owner of the land and the subsequent murder of his father in front of him. The movie skips around, showing that Gains were brought into the house to become a servant to the whiteRead MoreEssay about Conflict of Cultures in the film Bend It Like Beckham1198 Words   |  5 PagesConflict of Cultures in the film Bend It Like Beckham Gurinder Chada creates conflict of cultures in various different ways in the film Bend It Like Beckham. 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She was responsible for burying his afterbirth. In this culture, the one who buries the afterbirth is said to contain the secret of the childs destiny. This becomes a main part of the book, since the father and mother are always trying to get Ultima to tell them the secret. Antonios m om, a catholic, has always dreamt of him becoming a priest. Throughout the book she always considers Catholicism to be the way to knowledge of good and evil. Gabriel, Antonios dadRead MoreEssay on Willy Russells Educating Rita1163 Words   |  5 Pagesdepicted as having made stereotypes of the other: Rita: Can I smoke? Frank: Tobacco? Rita: Yeh. Was that a joke? And: Rita: You wouldnt watch ITV would y? Its all BBC with you, isnt it? Frank: Well I must confess Rita: Its all right, I know. Soon as I walked I here I said to meself, Y can tell hes a Flora man. Frank: A what? Rita: A Flora man. Frank: Flora? Flowers? 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Okonkwo s violences and anger take these stereotypes to a n extreme, damaging his relationships with close relatives. The women’s roles in things fall apart are greatly underestimated due to structured gender roles. Aspects of respect that is deserved and wished isn’t granted, but they would stillRead MoreRear Window Directed By Alfred Hitchcock Essay1575 Words   |  7 PagesGender ideologies are apparent in all areas of life. Whether it be online, in TV shows, movies or in person, this idea of a specific role for each gender is almost inescapable. The stereotypes of both what women and men should aspire to be and follow are ever changing in today’s current society. However, in 1954, gender roles were very specific and it is shown throughout the film, Rear Window directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Through this film, gender ideologies are challenged but ultimately remain unshatteredRead MoreRear Window ( 1954 ) And Stella Dallas1403 Words   |  6 Pageseach female character and the reactions given by both society and their male counterpart within t that role also differs greatly in each film. While in both films women are depicting in the classic caregiving, beauty obsessed, somehow nagging sense as greatly stereotypes within the film world, the status of each woman differs leading to a different cause and effect. The film makers utilize different filming techniques to convey their messages and evoke different reactions and emotions from their audience

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Kibera Slum Free Essays

Kibera Case Study:- [pic] Kibera is a slum divsion in the City of Nairobi, Kenya. It is located 5 kilometres from the city centre. It is the largest slum in Nairobi and the second largest in Africa. We will write a custom essay sample on Kibera Slum or any similar topic only for you Order Now A 2009 population and housing survey reported that Kibera’s population as 170,070. It is hard to acccurately compute the population due to the fact that the slum hasnt been officially reconised by the Kenyan government. Furthermore because it is a slum, residents may not be able to read or write, so filling in censes are a problem. General Facts:- |Population |700-900k | |Distance from Nairobi |7 km | |Physical size (acres) |~630 | |Portion of people earning 15% | |Est. AIDS orphans |50,000 | |Portion of people renting |93% | |Avg. monthly rent |$15USD | |Avg. # rooms per dwelling |1. 11 | |Typical room size |9†² x 9†² | It is a place where the people who live there face innumerable challenges, including the following, to name a few†¦ †¢ Living in one-room houses made of mud, with tin roofs with about 1m? of space per person. †¢ No running water (most water has to be purchased from brokers) †¢ Little to no access to electricity †¢ Widespread unemployment and low wage-earning rates ( $1 a day for the majority) †¢ Rampant disease, from malaria to cholera to HIV †¢ Lack of ownership of their property Improvements:- After a decade or so there has been an increase in efforts to improve conditions. The most notable example is KENSUP, or the Kenya Slum Upgrading Project, which is sponsored by UN-HABITAT. Resulting from a 2000 meeting between President Moi and the UN Human Settlements Programme, KENSUP aims to improve physical structures in Kibera and other slums through a process called â€Å"slum upgrading. † The program calls for the temporary relocation of residents of Kibera to adjacent â€Å"decanting sites,† allowing the construction of permanent dwellings to proceed in the Kiberan villages. Work has commenced in the Soweto East village, and as of September 2009, the first decanting site was under construction. Kibera needs land/tenancy rights, housing, water, electricity, health clinics, education, employment, security plus much more. All these issues are being addressed to a lesser or greater extent by many organizations including the Churches, UN-Habitat, MSF, AMREF etc. Money is finding its way through from many international organizations including Gates Foundation, Bill Clinton Foundation, all the well known charities and of course the churches both in Africa and internationally. How to cite Kibera Slum, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

The Hook First Sentences of Frankenstein free essay sample

Kaylynn Charbonneau First Sentences Exercise Diamonds are a girl’s best friend as they say. When you get engaged, you start out with a beautiful ring that catches everyone’s eye. The same can be said about writing. You want to start out by engaging your reader and getting them excited by beginning with an extravagant statement. Such is true with the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly. You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. This sentence starts the novel with a bang.Between the word choice and the verbiage, it had me immediately want to keep reading and my thoughts were racing trying to guess what the story was about. These few words were the diamond that made me say yes, I have to read this book. From the very first sentence in this book, I was hooked. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hook: First Sentences of Frankenstein or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The word choice in this sentence is superb, the vocabulary transports me to another world that could only exist centuries ago. It made me feel like I am on this journey with him verses the one reading the letter. I wanted to know about his risky endeavors that his family was worried about.Not only that but I wanted to live this journey with him. I wanted to keep reading because he seems relieved to inform his sister that everything is going well and she was wrong. But knowing how books go, Im sure that will change. Imagine a dangerous journey, a mission that your family doesnt want you to go on. One surrounded by bad predictions and an overall sense of doom. Thats all I could picture when I first read the starting sentence. I can just imagine that this book will be full of adventure and possibly misfortune on a journey that the main character will be on.I expect a lot of twists, turns, and obstacles that every good book should have. First sentences are crucial and can be the star of the book if written properly. They can make the book stand out and shine, just like a diamond ring. It can set up the entire book and decide whether or not your audience is going to continue to read your story. Mary Shelly, the author of Frankenstein, defiantly accomplished that by creating a starting sentence that hooks the reader and has them begging for more.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

010 Metaphors and Lessons Professor Ramos Blog

010 Metaphors and Lessons Quick Write Quick Write What should the reader take away after reading your narrative? Metaphors of Life We use metaphors to help people understand what we are trying to say. Instead of explaining that life comes with many surprises and so on, you can use a simple metaphor. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Forrest Gump The metaphor explains how Forrest sees the world. His philosophy of life that he learned from his mom. It’s short and explains a lot. Now you will write some â€Å"I am like† statements and perhaps link them to times, places, or memories in your narrative. Here are some templates to follow that will help you make some of your own. At five years old, I was like a . . . At ten years old, I was like a . . . At work, I am like a . . . At school, I am like a . . . These statements can be used to illustrate scenes and examples, that further explain the points you are making in your narrative. If you want to see some other metaphors, here is a  long list of life metaphors. So What? Making the Point Clear An important aspect of writing is making sure that your point is clear. Even in these narratives where we are exploring ourselves. You want the reader to know the lesson or point you learned from reflecting and writing. Here are some questions to consider when concluding your narrative: What did you learn about literacy? How do you learn? How have others helped you? What should the reader take away after reading this? Why does this matter? The literacy narrative helps us to understand how we learned something. Whether we had a teacher, an instruction video, or from trial and error. Make sure the literacy lesson or point is clear to your reader. We are going to publish this online for the benefit of others. Think about your audience and how you can help them to learn something from your experience. Quick Write What is the point or lesson of your narrative? What should your readers learn or take away from reading your narrative. So what? Why is it important? Why does it matter? Gaming Can Make a Better World Summarize the TED talk in one paragraph.

Friday, March 6, 2020

HANA

HANA The movie â€Å"HANA-BI† or â€Å"Fireworks† tells a story of a retired police officer who has left his work for emotional reasons, due to the accident with his friend. As such, his life has turned into a completely different experience, and he has to adjust to different values and morals.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on â€Å"HANA-BI† a Movie by Takeshi Kitano specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the key scenes in the movie is where Nishi is sitting by the fire with his wife Miyuki. She has leukemia and Nishi is taking care of her. The inevitability of the decease is written on his face in several instances during the movie. The scene where they sit and laugh by the fire is significant for several things. The formal elements of the clip include a married couple spending time together. From a side, it would be impossible to suppose that one has a deadly disease while the other is eternally s addened by the fact that nothing can be done. It seems like a separate moment in time where all the worries are taken away, and only the fire and the company of a close person are being paid attention to (HANA-BI). The thematic elements of the clip are tied into the main theme that even though there are happy moments, they must be mixed with pain and suffering. It is thus representative of life and all the perturbations that make people so vulnerable to the circumstances and conditions of being alive. The scene is thus connected to the whole film, as one story flows into another and the setting is changed completely (Phillips 2007). The continuous nature of life is represented by the situations that Nishi finds himself in, and the course of action he chooses. The scene is filled with feeling because Kitano has had a life full of emotional situations, and has experienced pain first hand. He knows how important it is to value each moment that is given to people, as even those miniscul e pieces in time can be taken away in a blink of an eye (Norden 1994). In a greater historical context, it is possible to recognize the hardships that accompany the battle for happiness and survival. A particular emphasis is made on the struggles of a person who is fighting an illness, their personal lives and those of people around. It is meant to show the pain that relatives and close people go through. Previously, such deadly conditions were even less managed than today, so it is meant to signify the progress that has been made, even though it is not enough to save people’s lives.Advertising Looking for article on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In reality, it is difficult for Nishi to be beside his wife, look at her and realize that some day he will not be able to talk to her or spend time simply sitting by the fire and laughing. This shows a true emotional connection that he has with anoth er person, and this scene is meant to teach others how fragile life is (Belton 1996). The movie is filled with moments that are emotional, sentimental and heartfelt. It has been acclaimed as a work of art because it touches the inner corners of the person’s heart, and makes one wonder about the true values of life. The scene very directly and vividly describes the relationship between two people, and the connection to the outside influences which are rarely anticipated by people and their seeming strength. Belton, John. Movies and Mass Culture. London, UK: Continuum, 1996. Print. HANA-BI. Ex. Prdod. Kitano Takeshi. Chiyoda-ku, Tokya: Nipppon Herald Films. 1997. Film. Norden, Martin. The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1994. Print. Phillips, Alastair. Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts. New York, NY: Taylor Francis, 2007. Print.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Strategic Change Context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Change Context - Essay Example (Grant, 2010) This way, an organisation can constantly monitor and examine the change under implementation. It helps to visualise the change a process rather than a fixed and controllable transition of events. (Grant, 2010) A force-field analysis is a tool that helps in determining, analysing and evaluating the various forces that stand for or against a proposed change. The use of this technique helps in offering alternatives to propel the decisions towards the desired change. (Lynch, 2008) With the knowledge of these forces, an organisation possesses information to amend the identified loopholes in the change process. In addition, all efforts are put in the task of pushing towards the achievement of the intended organisation strategy. (Wickham, 2008) Meg Whitman, as the overseer of the change in the declining organisation was to examine the extent of the change needed in terms of the depth, superficiality and whether the change should be transformational. In the implementation of change, Meg had to find out what was working and what was not. The manager is seen to exercise this element of change by eliminating the resources that tended to bar the interaction of the

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Discussion on Price and Purchase Indexes Dissertation

Discussion on Price and Purchase Indexes - Dissertation Example There is a continuous inflation as years increase from the base of 1999, the strongest inflations being found in petroleum at 44%, vegetables at 25%, housing at 11% and meat products at 10%. Alcohol and tobacco prices have also increased by about 20% since 1999. This shows that prices on necessities such as food and housing have a dramatic increase over previous years. The average increases per year in comparison to 1999 are: There was an increase in vegetable sales in 2001, but as prices skyrocketed by 2002, sales fell away-being the only one to decrease in 2002. There are several inferences that can be made from this statement, the first being that people are not buying vegetables because of the cost, and the second being that since all other purchase categories increased, we can assume that family size also increased-this leaves a hole in healthy eating habits of our residents. Meat purchases increased by 32%, tobacco and petroleum by 60%. Probably the most disturbing inference to be made from this table and one that points to a serious problem for the quality of life in Chignor is that alcohol purchases have increased by 100%. Average purchasing increases show that since 1999, purchases increased dramatically in 2002. If we remove alcohol and tobacco as being unnecessary to a healthy lifestyle, the increase in 2002 is 23.25% compared to 1999, which is far more dramatic than previous years. This shows that meat and petroleum purchases have increased, which leads to the possibility that there are more people in the Chignor area, and raises a consideration that vegetable sales have actually decreased from 2001-2002, very possibly because TECCO employees can simply not afford to buy vegetables. Year Increase % 2000 1.75 2001 9.9 2002 42.08 Income Index Last, we need to examine the incomes of residents. In 2000-2001, there is a 6 percent increase in TECCO employees incomes from 1999, but there was not an increase from 2000 to 2001 (no pay raises). Furthermore,

Monday, January 27, 2020

Impact of ICT on Accounting

Impact of ICT on Accounting Effect  of  ICT in the Accounting Records Keeping and how ICT features in todays organization in Sierra Leone 1.  Introduction Information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity (PCs and Internet) is very widespread in businesses of all sizes in Sierra Leone. As is the case with all technologies, small businesses are slower than large ones to adopt new ICTs. Potential small business benefits and firm and sector-specific strategies drive the adoption and use of ICTs. Furthermore, sectors are increasingly global and dominated by large firms and the structure of their values chains and operations shape opportunities for small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). Principal reasons for non-adoption are lack of applicability and little incentive to change business models when returns are unclear. SMEs also face generic barriers to adoption including trust and transaction security and IPR concerns, and challenges in areas of management skills, technological capabilities, productivity and competitiveness. The issues for governments are to foster appropriate business environments for e-business and ICT uptake (e.g. Sierratel to diffuse broadband, enhance competition), and target programmes to overcome market failures to the extent that they are needed in particular areas (e.g. Skill formation, specialized information). Advancement in technology has affected the way things are done in various domains. Accounting is no exception. The traditional books are being replaced by computers. Accounting staff are required to be computer literate and spend more time in front of a computer screen than writing on papers and in books. Information and communication technology (ICT) and e-business applications provide many benefits across a wide range of intra- and inter-firm business processes and transactions. ICT applications improve information and knowledge management inside the firm and can reduce transaction costs and increase the speed and reliability of transactions for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. In addition, they are effective tools for improving external communications and quality of services for established and new customers. For small firms to adopt e-business and e-commerce strategies and tools, benefits must outweigh investment and maintenance costs. Commercial considerations and potential returns drive adoption. Beyond a certain level of connectivity (PC, Internet access, on-line information or marketing), not all SMEs will necessarily catch up with large firms, simply because e-commerce may not bring large benefits and SMEs will stay with traditional business processes. Other barriers have been seen to be the availability of ICT competencies within the firm, and availability and cost of appropriate interoperable small-firm systems, network infrastructure and Internet-related support services. Lack of reliable trust and redress systems and cross-country legal and regulatory differences also impede cross-border transactions. 2. Why Have So Few SMEs Adopted ICT in Sierra Leone? Given the benefits that ICT can bring to SMEs, SMEs in Sierra Leone have been slow to adopt it. For example, 90 percent of SMEs still use basic communication technology such as fixed phone line and fax, and approximately 10% percent use CRM software. Meanwhile, their counterparts in developed countries are using advanced ITs. One cause of limited adoption is the lack of dynamism between ICT firms and SMEs outside of the ICT sector. ICT firms have not provided goods and services tailored to SMEs in the past because demand from SMEs has been low. However, their demand is low in part because ICT products available in the market are too complex and expensive. The result is a vicious cycle of limited supply and limited demand that ultimately excludes SMEs from the benefits of ICT. Other factors also contribute to the limited supply and demand of ICT for SMEs: Supply Side 1. Poor communications infrastructure results in limited access and higher costs.Sierra Leone have poor communications infrastructure. Outdated equipment and state-owned monopolies often result in expensive charges and limited coverage, especially in rural areas. This discourages SMEs from adopting even the basic ICT of fixed lines or mobile phones. 2. Most advanced ICT products are designed for larger firms and not SMEs.ICT firms used to target large enterprises because they had a larger budget and were willing to pay for more complex ICT services. Their products are often too expensive and too complex for SME users. However, competition in this market is making firms both large and small turn their attention towards the untapped SME market. Rosetta, for example, is pushing to capture SME customers by lowering prices by 50 percent and increasing awareness. Demand Side 1. Limited ICT literacy of SME owners hinders their ability to choose the appropriate technology and understand the concrete benefits it can bring to their business. Many SME owners in Sierra Leone are unfamiliar with operating a computer, are skeptical of the concrete benefits to its core business, and have the stereotype that ICT is only for larger companies. Even if they have the will and financial resources to integrate ICT into their core business, SME owners are often at a loss when needing to choose the most appropriate and cost-efficient product. 2. Limited ICT literacy of employees in SMEs hinders ICT adoption. Even if SME owners have a strategic understanding of why they should adopt ICT, their staff is often untrained. Training costs both time and money resources that SMEs usually lack. 3. Adopting ICT is an adaptive challenge, not a technical challenge. Adopting ICT is a difficult task for companies of all sizes, whether they are in developed or developing countries. In fact, a lot of management literature focuses on the organizational changes that firms must go through in order to effectively adopt ICT because they change the way firms do business. While the changes may be beneficial in the long run, they often hurt one department and strengthen another. For example, Zhang Hongwei, senior consultant with DLong International Strategic Investment, comments that in order to make ERPs cost-saving and efficiency-building features work, managers must be willing to take measures that can be anathema in the state-owned sector, such as selling businesses, laying off workers, and changing longstanding vendor relationships. All of this can be tough to do. Thus, SME owners are often reluctant to bring their firm through a learning curve that may be difficult and costly. 4. Lack of financing options limits SME ability to purchase ICT. Lack of financing and appropriate technology is clearly a major handicap to developing country producers and exporters, and it inhibits developing countries from deriving full benefits from their trade rights. Rubens Ricupero, Secretary General of UNCTAD, 18 February 2002, Geneva SMEs in Sierra Leone usually have limited ability to make larger investments in their firm due to the lack of financing options. Given the financial squeeze, IT budgets are usually small or nonexistent. In addition, adopting ICT is not a one-time cost because there are ongoing costs of maintenance, upgrading, and human capacity building. 3. Why Should SMEs Adopt ICT? SMEs are often the main driver for a countrys economic growth. However, as the number of SMEs increases, competition increases, which then results in a decrease in prices, customer base, or both. This in turn will erode existing profits, creating less incentive for people to start SMEs. This dynamic is captured by balancing feedback loops where the greater the number of SMEs, the greater the competition, resulting in a slower rate of growth for SMEs. To counter the increasing competition, firms can lower prices, increase promotion of their product, improve their product, add new distribution channels, and/or improve their internal processes. The challenge is to counter competition when the firm still has the financial resources to do so. Otherwise, once the pressure of competition sufficiently erodes the SMEs profits, it will no longer have resources to counter the competition and will have to exit the market. Foreign firms in both the import and export markets further add to competi tive pressures, especially if they react faster to improve their product, process, promotion, or distribution channels. This is the problem of the Digital Divide. When firms in developed countries adopt ICT, firms in developing countries like Sierra Leone will lose out on the competition. This in turn can slow the growth rate of SMEs and hurt the economy as a whole. ICT can thus play a very important role because it can help SMEs both create business opportunities and combat pressures from competition. Appropriate ICT can help SMEs cut costs by improving their internal processes, improving their product through faster communication with their customers, and better promoting and distributing their products through online presence. In fact, ICT has the potential to improve the core business of SMEs in every step of the business process. In Sierra Leone where SMEs already have basic ICT, adopting more advanced ICT still brings enormous benefits. Advanced communication technologies such as email can help firms communicate faster and cheaper with both its suppliers and clients. In 2000, an organization that uses paper took on average 7.4 days to move a purchase from request to approval, but if done electronically, only took 1.5 days. Advanced ITs such as ERP software can capture cost savings. Beyond cost savings, SCM software can also help increase productivity, efficiency of inventory controls, and increase sales through closer relationships and faster delivery times 4. Conclusion ICT has been now boon to every modern system to perform all its operations with computer as the middle principle. The application of ICT in Financial management has also accounted a lot more success and efficiency in performing various operations related to different activities to commit a financial transaction. So for as the efficiency and effectiveness of ICT is concerned it has notably produced better throughputs which were acceptable and reliable. The need of the hour is the plan and develops more security measures to ensure authentic and secure client and server communication. Sierra Leone SMEs in addition to dont having required expertise and knowledge and also lack of familiarity with technology is also beginning to use ICT with face fixed costs very high in comparison to their size, while for large businesses, this is not so. These costs include costs such as creation website, using e-commerce and costs associated with projects of electronic auctions, search engines and similar cases. While the costs associated with deploying advanced ICT technologies for industries and big businesses are not very significant. These are issues that a broad group of SMEs doesnt know digital technologies related to their business and their goods and services do not know appropriate for e-commerce (E-Business Policy Group 2002). SMEs often have to accept market conditions and they are not in a situation like the big companies that form the market conditions (this issue is concerned follow and leader companies in the market). Moreover, instability (such as financial insecurity in SMEs) and potential risks in e-commerce, many SMEs may be inclined to risk aversion and the choice of conservative policies and in fact they adopt policy of wait and observed in acceptation of digital technology. For many SMEs, there is considerable uncertainty about the opportunities and benefits of ICT adoption, this opportunities for them is still unproven. This problem causes that they are reluctance to complete the adoption of new business models and technology. 3. Small and medium companies due to limitations such as low investment, lack of laboratories, capacity less for communicating with and external consultants is facing to experiment with more serious problems for testing new procedures of business. Although financial cons traints are the most important limitations but factors such as less time, fewer resources and also imposed to these enterprises. Using modern ICT technology is In fact new ways that SMEs will face a substantial risk. Accordingly, we can say that the use of ICT in enterprises depends on the size of the firm. References [1] Aliyu A.A, Tasmin R.B.Hj (2012), The Impact of ICT on Bank Performance and Customer Service Delivery in Banking Industry, InternationalJournalofLatestTrendsinFinance,Economicsand Science, 2(1): 80-90. [2] Adwin A.M, Opkara A, Mike A.O, Francis A.O (2014), The Impact of ICT in The Strategic Management of Financial Institutions, International Review of Management and Business Research, 3(3):1588-1602 [3] Adesola M.A, Moradeyo O.A, Oyeniyi K.O (2013), Impact of ICT on Nigeria Banks Operations: A Study of United Banks for Africa (UBA) Plc, International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 2(9): 7-12. [5] Ashrafi, Murtuza. M (2008), use of impact of ICT on SMEs in Oman, Electronic Journal Information SystemandEvaluation, 10: 125-138. [6] Gichoya D (2006), Factors Affecting the Successful Implementation of ICT Projectsin Government, Electronic Journal of EGovernment, 3(4): 175-184. [7] Binuyo A.O, Aregbesola R.A (2014), the impact of ICT on Commercial Bank Performance: Evidence from South Africa, Problems andPerespectives in Management, 12(3): 59-68. [8] Curristine T, Lonti Zsuzsanna, Jaumard I (2007), Improving Public Sector Efficiency: Challenges and Opportunities, OECD Journal of Budgeting, 7(1): 1-42. [9] Gadamsetty Sai Arun (2013), understandin financial inclusion in India and role of ICT in ICT, InternationalJournal of InnovativeResearch andDevelopment, 2(12): 198-201.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

All the Wrong Moves Case Essay

What’s the right decision –making process for Nutrorim? I think, it is necessary to change democratic management for authoritative management. Because Mr. Don nobody takes. It is very democratic, loyal to employees, he tries to listen to all and make the right decision. And his employees do not perceive it. You need to change his style of management. The democratic leadership style is a very open and collegial style of running a team. Ideas move freely amongst the group and are discussed openly. Everyone is given a seat at the table, and discussion is relatively free-flowing. Some managers adopt democratic leadership to please their subordinates but fail to follow the technique in its entirety. They might simply take in all the ideas and end up never implementing them. Disadvantages: Employees might take advantage of the situation, The decision making process is very time consuming due to the need for consensus and agreement and this can be risky in the situations when a quick decision needs to be taken. One way, and one way only. That is the nature of the style of the authoritarian leader. Employees must do precisely what they are told to do by the leader, without any questions or creative input. This style of leadership is most often used when a company needs to make a quick decision, or with a large number of workers who are poorly skilled and who need to be controlled. The authoritative style of leadership carries many disadvantages, including a high risk of hostile divisions, lack of motivation and absence of new and diverse ideas in a team. But for Don currently need this style of management. From this it can make a quick decision. Or he can in the process of developing the decision to use the democratic style of management, and in the decision is the authoritarian style.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-One

MIXING WHAT I NEEDED TO was easy. Getting it to where I needed took a couple of days. I first had to pay attention to what kind of shampoo Laurel used in the PE showers. The school provided shampoo and conditioner, of course, but she wouldn't trust her precious hair with anything so commonplace. Once I knew her brand, I hunted it down at a local beauty supply store and emptied its expensive contents down the drain. I filled bottles with my homemade concoction instead. The next step was switching it with Laurel's own bottle. I recruited Kristin for this. Her locker was next to Laurel's in PE, and she was more than willing to help me out. Part of it was that she shared our dislike of Laurel. But also, ever since I'd saved her from the tattoo reaction, Kristin had made it clear that she was indebted to me and had my back in whatever I needed. I didn't like the idea of her owing me, but her assistance did come in handy. She found a moment when Laurel looked away from her unlocked locker and covertly made the switch. We then simply had to wait for the next time Laurel used the shampoo to see the results of my handiwork. Meanwhile, my other lab experiment wasn't receiving quite the reaction I'd expected. Ms. Terwilliger accepted my report but not the amulet. â€Å"I have no use for it,† she remarked, glancing up from the papers I'd handed her. â€Å"Well†¦ I certainly don't either, ma'am.† She set the papers down. â€Å"This is all true? You followed every step precisely? I'd certainly have no way of knowing if you'd, ah, fudged some of the details.† I shook my head. â€Å"Nope. I followed every step.† â€Å"Well, then. It looks like you have yourself a fire-making charm.† â€Å"Ma'am,† I said, by way of protest. She grinned. â€Å"What do the directions say? Throw it and recite the last incantation? Do you know it?† ‘†Into flame, into flame,'† I said promptly. After having typed the spell initially for her notes and then re-creating it, it was hard not to have picked it all up. According to the book – which was an English translation of a Latin text – the language didn't matter so long as the words' meaning was clear. â€Å"Well, there you go. Give it a try one of these days and see what happens. Just don't light any school property on fire. Because that's not safe.† I held up the amulet by the string. â€Å"But this isn't real. This is nonsense. It's a bunch of junk thrown together in a bag.† She shrugged. â€Å"Who are we to question the ancients?† I stared, trying to figure out if she was joking. I'd known she was eccentric from day one, but she'd still always come across as a serious scholar. â€Å"You can't believe that. Magic like this†¦ it's not real.† Without thinking, I added, â€Å"Even if it was, ma'am, it's not for humans to mess around with powers like that.† Ms. Terwilliger was silent for several moments. â€Å"You truly believe that?† I fingered the cross around my neck. â€Å"It's how I was raised.† â€Å"Understood. Well, then, you may do what you like with the amulet. Throw it away, donate it, experiment with it. Regardless, this report's what I need for my book. Thank you for putting in the time – as always, you've done more than was required.† I put the amulet in my purse when I left, not really sure what to do. It was useless†¦ and yet, it had also cost me a lot of time. I was disappointed it wasn't going to have a more meaningful purpose in her research. All that effort gone to waste. The last of my projects showed development the next day, however. In AP Chemistry, Greg Slade and some of his friends scurried into class just as the bell rang. Our teacher gave them a warning look, but they didn't even notice. Slade was preening over his eagle tattoo, baring it for everyone to see. The ink was gleaming silver again. Next to him, one of his friends was also proudly showing off another silver tattoo. It was a pair of stylized crossed daggers, which was only slightly less tacky than the eagle. This was the same friend who had been worrying earlier this week that he wouldn't be able to get a tattoo. Apparently, things had worked out with the supplier. Interesting. Part of holding off on reporting to the Alchemists had been to see if Nevermore would replenish what I'd stolen. â€Å"It's amazing,† Slade's friend said. â€Å"The rush.† â€Å"I know.† Slade gave him a fist bump. â€Å"Just in time for tomorrow.† Trey was watching them, his expression dark. â€Å"What's tomorrow?† I whispered to him. He eyed them contemptuously for a few more moments before turning back to me. â€Å"Do you live under a rock? It's our first home game.† â€Å"Of course,† I said. My high school experience wouldn't be complete without the quintessential football hype. â€Å"A lot of good it'll do me,† he muttered. â€Å"Your bandages are off,† I pointed out. â€Å"Yeah, but Coach is still making me take it easy. Plus, I'm kind of deadweight now.† He nodded toward Slade and his friend. â€Å"How come they don't get in trouble for those? They're not making any effort to hide them. This school has no discipline anymore. We're practically in anarchy.† I smiled. â€Å"Practically.† â€Å"Your brother should be on the team, you know. I've seen him in PE. He could be a star athlete if he bothered trying out for anything.† â€Å"He doesn't like drawing attention to himself,† I explained. â€Å"But he'll probably go watch the game.† â€Å"Are you going to go to the game?† â€Å"Probably not.† Trey arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Hot date?† â€Å"No! But I'm just†¦ well, not into watching sports. And I feel like I should stay with Jill.† â€Å"You won't even go to cheer me on?† â€Å"You don't need my cheers.† Trey gave me a disappointed look as a response. â€Å"Maybe it's just as well,† he said. â€Å"Since you really wouldn't get to see me performing to my full level of awesomeness.† â€Å"That is a shame,† I agreed. â€Å"Oh, stop with the sarcasm already.† He sighed. â€Å"My dad's going to be the most upset. There are family expectations.† Well, that was something I could relate to. â€Å"Is he a football player too?† â€Å"Nah, it's less about football itself than keeping yourself in peak physical shape. Excelling. Ready to be called upon in a moment's notice. Being the best on the team's been a way to keep him proud – until these tattoos started.† â€Å"You're good without any tattoo help. He should still be proud,† I said. â€Å"You don't know my father.† â€Å"No, but I think I know someone just like him.† I smiled. â€Å"You know, maybe I do need to go to a football game after all.† Trey simply smiled back, and class started. The day passed calmly, but Jill ran up to me as soon as I entered the locker room for PE. â€Å"I heard from Lia! She asked if I could come by tonight. She's had regular practices with the other models but thought I could use a special session of my own since I don't have any experience. Of course, the thing is, I†¦ you know, need a ride. Do you think†¦ I mean, could you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Sure,† I said. â€Å"It's what I'm here for.† â€Å"Thank you, Sydney!† She threw her arms around me, much to my astonishment. â€Å"I know you don't have any reason to help me after everything I've done, but – â€Å" â€Å"It's fine, it's fine,† I said, awkwardly patting her on the shoulder. I took a steadying breath. Think of it as Jill hugging me. Not as a vampire hugging me. â€Å"I'm glad to help.† â€Å"Would you two like to be alone?† sneered Laurel, striding in with her entourage. â€Å"I always knew there was something weird about your family.† Jill and I split apart, and she blushed, which only made them laugh more. â€Å"God, I hate them,† she said when they were out of earshot. â€Å"I really want to get them back.† â€Å"Patience,† I murmured. â€Å"They'll get what's coming to them someday.† Eyeing Laurel's locker, I thought that â€Å"someday† might come sooner rather than later. Jill shook her head in amazement. â€Å"I don't know how you can be so forgiving, Sydney. Everything just rolls right off of you.† I smiled, wondering what Jill would think if she knew the truth – that I wasn't quite as â€Å"forgiving† as I appeared. And not just when it came to Laurel. If Jill wanted to think of me that way, so be it. Of course, my facade as a kindly, turn-the-other-cheek person was shattered when Laurel's shriek's filled the locker room at the end of class an hour later. It was almost a repeat of the ice incident. Laurel came tearing out of the shower, wrapped in a towel. She ran to the mirror in horror, holding her hair up to it. â€Å"What's wrong?† asked one of her friends. â€Å"Can't you see it?† cried Laurel. â€Å"There's something wrong†¦ it doesn't feel right. It's oil†¦ or I don't know!† She took out a blow dryer and dried a section while the rest of us watched with interest. After a few minutes, the long strands were dry, but it was hard to tell. It really was like her hair was coated in oil or grease, like she hadn't washed it in weeks. That normally gleaming, bouncy hair now hung in lank, ugly coils. The color was also off a little. The bright, flaming red now had a sickly yellow hue. â€Å"It smells weird too,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Wash it again,† suggested another friend. Laurel did that, but it wasn't going to help. Even when she figured out that her shampoo was causing the problem, the stuff I'd made wasn't going to come out of her hair easily. Water would continue fueling the reaction, and it was going to take many, many scrubbings before she fixed the problem. Jill gave me astonished look. â€Å"Sydney?† she whispered, a million questions in my name. â€Å"Patience,† I assured her. â€Å"This is just the first act.† That evening, I drove Jill down to Lia DiStefano's boutique. Eddie went with us, of course. Lia was only a few years older than me and nearly a foot shorter. Despite her tiny size, there was something big and forceful about her personality as she confronted us. The shop was filled with elegant gowns and dresses, though she herself was dressed ultra-casual, in ripped jeans and an oversized peasant blouse. She flipped on the closed sign on her door and then confronted us with hands on her hips. â€Å"So, Jillian Melrose,† she began. â€Å"We have less than two weeks to turn you into a model.† Her eyes fell on me. â€Å"And you're going to help.† â€Å"Me?† I exclaimed. â€Å"I'm just the ride.† â€Å"Not if you want your sister to shine in my show.† She stared back up at Jill, the difference in their heights almost comical. â€Å"You have to eat, drink, and breathe modeling if you're going to pull this off. And you have to do it all – in these.† With a flourish, Lia grabbed a nearby shoe box and produced a pair of glittery purple shoes with heels that had to be at least five inches high. Jill and I stared. â€Å"Isn't she tall enough already?† I asked at last. Lia snorted and thrust the shoes at Jill. â€Å"These aren't for the show. But once you master these, you'll be ready for anything.† Jill took them gingerly, holding them up to study them. The heels reminded me of the silver stakes Eddie and Rose used to kill Strigoi. If Jill really wanted to be prepared for any situation, she could just keep these around. Self-conscious of our scrutiny, she finally kicked off her brown flats and fastened the many elaborate straps of the purple shoes. Once they were on, she slowly straightened up – and nearly fell over. I hastily jumped to catch her. Lia nodded in approval. â€Å"See? This is what I was talking about. Sisterly teamwork. It's up to you to make sure she doesn't fall and break her neck before my show.† Jill shot me a look of panic that I suspect was reflected on my own face. I started to suggest that Eddie be Jill's spotter, but he had discreetly moved off to the side of the shop to watch and seemed to have escaped Lia's notice. Apparently, his protective services had limits. While Jill simply attempted not to topple over, I helped Lia clear space in the store's center. Lia then spent the next hour or so demonstrating how to properly walk for fashion, with emphasis on posture and stride in order to display clothing to its best effect. Most of those fine details were lost on Jill, though, who struggled to simply walk across the room without falling. Grace and beauty weren't concerns as much as staying upright. Nonetheless, when I glanced over at Eddie, he was watching Jill with a rapt look on his face, as though every step she were taking was pure magic. Catching my eye, he immediately resumed his wary, protective guardian face. I did my best to offer Jill words of encouragement – and yes, stop her from falling and breaking her neck. Halfway through the session, we heard a knock at the glass door. Lia started to scowl and then recognized the face on the other side of the door. She brightened and went to unlock it. â€Å"Mr. Donahue,† she said, letting Lee in. â€Å"Come to see how your starlet's doing?† Lee smiled, his gray eyes instantly seeking out Jill. Jill met his gaze, grinning just as widely. Lee hadn't been around at the last feeding, and although they talked constantly on the phone and IM, I knew she had been pining to see him. A glance at Eddie's face showed me he wasn't nearly as delighted by Lee's presence. â€Å"I already know how she's doing,† said Lee. â€Å"She's perfect.† Lia snorted. â€Å"I wouldn't go that far.† â€Å"Hey,† I said, inspiration striking me. â€Å"Lee, do you want to be in charge of keeping Jill from breaking her neck? I need to run an errand.† Unsurprisingly, Lee was more than willing, and I knew I didn't need to fear for her safety with Eddie on watch. I left them, hurrying two streets over to Nevermore. Ever since I'd heard Slade and his friends confirm the tattooists were in business again, I'd wanted to pay an in-person trip. Not a covert one, though. My stolen goods had already yielded their evidence. Except for the clear liquid, I had identified all the other substances in the vials. All the metallics were exact matches for Alchemist compounds, meaning these people either had an Alchemist connection or were stealing. Either way, my case got stronger and stronger. I just hoped it'd be enough to redeem me and keep Zoe out of here, particularly since the clock was ticking on her arrival. We were almost a week away from when my father had said she'd be replacing me. My plan was to see how willing Nevermore was to give me a tattoo. I wanted to know what warnings (if any) they gave out and how easy it was in the first place. Adrian's conversation hadn't yielded much info, but probably his on-fire-biker-skelet-on-with-a-parrot tattoo request hadn't done much to help his credibility. I was armed with cash today, which I hoped would get me somewhere. As it was, I never needed to flash any. As soon as I walked in, the guy behind the counter – the same one Adrian had spoken to – looked relieved. â€Å"Thank God,† he said. â€Å"Please tell me you have more. These kids are driving me crazy. When we got into this†¦ I had no idea it was gonna get this big. The money's good, but Christ. It's crazy to keep up with.† I kept my confusion off of my face, wondering what in the world he was talking about. He was acting as though I was in on his scheme here, which made no sense. But then his eyes flashed to my cheek, and suddenly, I understood. My lily tattoo. It was uncovered, since school was over. And I knew then, with absolute certainty, that whomever he was working with to get his supplies was also an Alchemist. He'd assumed my tattoo made me an ally. â€Å"I don't have anything with me,† I said. His face fell. â€Å"But the demand – â€Å" â€Å"You lost the other batch,† I said haughtily. â€Å"You let it get stolen right out from underneath you. Do you know how much trouble we go to in order to get that?† â€Å"I already explained that to your friend!† he exclaimed. â€Å"He said he understood. He said he'd taken care of the problem and that we didn't have to worry anymore.† There was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. â€Å"Yeah, well, he doesn't speak for all of us, and we're not sure we want to continue. You were compromised.† â€Å"We're careful,† he argued. â€Å"That theft wasn't our fault! Now, come on. You have to help us. Didn't he tell you? There's a huge demand for tomorrow because those private school kids have a game. If we can deliver, we'll make double the money.† I gave him my best icy smile. â€Å"We'll discuss it among ourselves and get back to you.† With that, I turned around and began to leave. â€Å"Wait,† he called. I spared him a haughty glance. â€Å"Can you make that person stop calling?† â€Å"What person?† I asked, wondering if he meant some persistent Amberwood student. â€Å"The one with the weird voice who keeps asking if any tall, pale people are showing up around here. Ones that look like vampires. I figured it was someone you knew.† Tall, pale people? I didn't like the sound of that but kept my face blank. â€Å"Sorry. Don't know what you're talking about. Must have been a prank.† I left, making a mental note to investigate that further. If someone was inquiring about people who looked like vampires, that was a problem. It wasn't, however, the immediate problem. My mind raced as I processed what else the tattooist had told me. There was an Alchemist supplying Nevermore. In some ways, that shouldn't be a surprise. How else were they going to get ahold of vampire blood and all the metals necessary for their tattoos? And apparently, this rogue Alchemist had â€Å"taken care of the problem† that led to the theft of their supplies. When had my father called saying I was being pulled because of Keith's reports? Right after I'd broken into Nevermore. I knew who the rogue Alchemist was. And I knew that I had been â€Å"the problem.† Keith had taken care of me, making moves to get me out of Palm Springs and bring in someone new and inexperienced who wouldn't interfere with his illicit tattoo operation. It was why he'd wanted Zoe in the first place. I was aghast. I didn't have a great opinion of Keith Darnell, not by any means. But never, never had I thought he'd stoop to this level. He was an immoral person, but he'd still been raised with the same principles I had about humans and vampires. For him to abandon those beliefs and expose innocents to the dire side effects of vampire blood for his own material gain†¦ well, it was more than a betrayal of the Alchemists. It was a betrayal of the whole human race. My hand was on my cell phone, ready to call Stanton. That's all it would take. One call with the kind of news I had, and Alchemists would swoop in on Palm Springs – and on Keith. But what if there was no hard evidence to connect Keith? It was possible another Alchemist might go in and play the same game I had, getting the tattooist to think that they were part of Keith's team. Keith was the one I wanted to bust, however. I wanted to ensure that there was no way he could slip out of this. I made my decision, and rather than the Alchemists, I called Adrian. When I arrived back at Lia's shop, I found the training session winding down. Lia was giving Jill some last-minute instructions while Eddie and Lee lingered nearby. Eddie took one look at my face and instantly knew something was wrong. â€Å"What's the matter?† â€Å"Nothing,† I said blandly. â€Å"Just a problem I'm going to fix soon. Lee, would you mind taking Jill and Eddie back to the school? I have a couple errands I need to run.† Eddie frowned. â€Å"Are you okay? Do you need someone to protect you?† â€Å"I'll have someone.† I reconsidered, seeing as I was about to meet up with Adrian. â€Å"Well, kind of. Anyway, I'm not in trouble. Your job's to keep an eye on Jill, remember? Thanks, Lee,† I added, seeing him nod. A thought suddenly struck me. â€Å"Wait†¦ I thought this was one of the days you had a night class. Are we keeping you†¦ or†¦ well, what days do you have class?† I hadn't thought much about it, only noticing that some days Lee was around and other days he was in Los Angeles. But in looking back, there was no real pattern. I saw realization light Eddie's face as well. â€Å"That's true,† he said, eyeing Lee suspiciously. â€Å"What kind of schedule are you on?† Lee opened his mouth, and I sensed a ready story coming. Then he stopped and cast an anxious look at Jill, who was still talking to Lia. His face fell. â€Å"Please don't tell her,† he whispered. â€Å"Tell her what?† I asked, keeping my voice low as well. â€Å"I'm not in college. I mean – I was. But not this semester. I wanted some time off but†¦ didn't want to disappoint my dad. So, I told him I was just going part-time, which is why I was around more.† â€Å"What do you do in LA during all that time, then?† asked Eddie. That was an excellent question, I realized. â€Å"I still have friends there, and I need to keep my cover.† Lee sighed. â€Å"It's stupid, I know. Please – let me be the one to tell her. I wanted so badly to impress her and to prove myself to her. She's wonderful. She just caught me at a bad time.† Eddie and I exchanged glances. â€Å"I won't tell,† I said. â€Å"But you really should let her know. I mean, I guess there's no harm done†¦ but you shouldn't have that kind of lie between you.† Lee looked miserable. â€Å"I know. Thank you.† When he stepped aside, Eddie shook his head at me. â€Å"I don't like him lying. Not at all.† â€Å"Lee trying to save face is the least weird thing going on here,† I said. I found out then that Jill could walk from one side of the store to the other and back without falling over. It wasn't pretty, but it was a start. She was still a long ways from looking anything like the runway models I saw on TV, but considering she hadn't been able to stand in the shoes at first, I supposed she'd made considerable progress. She started to take off the heels, but Lia stopped her. â€Å"No. I told you. You have to wear these shoes all the time. Practice, practice, practice. Wear them home. Wear them everywhere.† She turned to me. â€Å"And you – â€Å" â€Å"I know. Make sure she doesn't break her neck,† I said. â€Å"She's not going to be able to wear those all the time, though. Our school has a dress code.† â€Å"What if they were in a different color?† asked Lia. â€Å"I don't think it's just the color,† Jill said apologetically. â€Å"I think it's the stiletto part. But I promise to wear them outside of class and practice in our room.† That was good enough for Lia, and after a few more words of advice, she sent us on our way. We promised to practice and come back in two days. I told Jill I'd meet up with her later, but I don't know if she heard. She was so caught up in the idea of Lee driving her home that pretty much everything else went past her. I drove over to Clarence's and was met at the door by Adrian. â€Å"Wow,† I said, impressed at his initiative. â€Å"I didn't expect you to be ready so quickly.† â€Å"I'm not,† he said. â€Å"I need you to see something right now.† I frowned. â€Å"Okay.† Adrian led me deeper into the house, beyond where I normally went, which made me nervous. â€Å"Are you sure this can't wait? This thing we've got to do is kind of urgent†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"So is this. How did Clarence seem the last time you saw him?† â€Å"Weird.† â€Å"But health-wise?† I thought about it. â€Å"Well, I know he's been tired. But usually he seemed okay.† â€Å"Yeah, well, he's not ‘okay' now. It's gone beyond just tired. He's weak, dizzy, and confined to his bed.† We reached a closed wooden door, and Adrian stopped. â€Å"Do you know what caused it?† I asked, alarmed. I'd been worried about the complications of a sick Moroi but hadn't expected to deal with it so soon. â€Å"I have a pretty good idea,† said Adrian, with surprising fierceness. â€Å"Your boy Keith.† â€Å"Stop saying stuff like that. He's not ‘my boy,'† I exclaimed. â€Å"He's ruining my life!† Adrian opened the door, revealing a large, ornate canopied bed. Walking into a Moroi bedroom wasn't something I was comfortable with, but Adrian's commanding look was too powerful. I followed him in and gasped when I saw Clarence lying on the bed. â€Å"Not just yours,† said Adrian, pointing at the old man. Clarence's eyes fluttered at the sound of our voices and then closed again as he shifted into sleep. It wasn't his eyes that held my attention, though. It was the pale, sickly pallor of his skin – that, and the bloody wound on Clarence's neck. It was small, made with just one prick, like it had come from a surgical instrument. Adrian looked at me expectantly. â€Å"Well, Sage? Do you have any idea why Keith would be draining Clarence's blood?† I swallowed, scarcely able to believe what I was seeing. Here was the last piece. I knew that Keith had been supplying the tattooists, and now I knew where Keith was getting his â€Å"supplies.† â€Å"Yes,† I said at last, my voice small. â€Å"I have a very good idea.†

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Virgil and Dante Essay - 1908 Words

Virgil and Dante In the note to Canto V regarding Francesca and Paulo, the Hollanders exclaim that â€Å"Sympathy for the damned, in the Inferno, is nearly always and nearly certainly the sign of a wavering moral disposition† (112). Indeed, many of the touching, emotional, or indignation rousing tales told by the souls in Hell can evoke pity, but in the telling of the tales, it is always possible to derive the reasons for the damned souls’ placement in Hell. However, there is a knee-jerk reaction to separate Virgil and, arguably, some of the other souls in limbo from this group of the damned, though, with careful perusal of the text, the thoughtful reader can discern the machinations behind their damnation. Although the dynamic between†¦show more content†¦Arguably, like the fathers of the Old Testament, he foresaw what would occur though not precisely knowing the saving details. Also, like the Hebrew prophets, his work is filled with an underlying sadness. The Aeneid ends, not with the joy or inevitably glory and majesty that would be Rome, but with the bitter, angry Aeneas plunging his sword into the breast of Turnus, howling for revenge for the dead Pallas. Thus, it is not surprising that Virgil ends up in precisely the same place as the writers of the Old Testament: Limbo. While in the first circle of the damned, a list is given of these souls which include Moses, Noah, Abel, â€Å"the patriarch Abraham† (IV.58), etc. However, â€Å"Out of our midst [Christ] plucked [these shades]† (IV.55) shortly after the poet’s death. These are not the only similarities between Virgil and the old prophets: as many came to reach goodness in and through the Old Testam ent, so did the poet Satius, who appears in Purgatorio reach Christianity only by the help of Virgil. True, there is some awkwardness when Statius confesses this fact to Virgil, but this awkwardness translates also to the rift between the old prophets and the new, as depicted in the Earthly Paradise in Purgatorio: Go read Ezechiel whoShow MoreRelatedPurgatory, By Dante And Virgil1122 Words   |  5 Pagesqualities. That is why Dante have written the world of Purgatory. Purgatory is a place after earth is a transformation process that helps every saved soul to perfect themselves for God. Through this process of transformation in Purgatory, a soul must accept, forgive, and learn from their sin in order to be in Heaven. †¢ 1st Paragraph Dante is truly a great poet. When he describes a place, he goes truly deeply than what’s on the surface. In Purgatory, when Dante and Virgil are walking through theRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Virgil And Dante1036 Words   |  5 PagesRelationships come in many forms with varying troubles and blessings. In the book, The Divine Comedy, two of the main characters, Virgil and Dante, can have a seemingly simple relationship, but when closely examined and reflected on, it is actually quite complex. They venture through the depths of hell, the complications of a long journey, and the perplexing reality of purgatory. Throughout their relationship they are faced with different gains and trials that they react to in various ways. TheirRead MoreThe Role Of Virgil In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy731 Words   |  3 PagesAs Dante is lost and floundering in his beginning moments of the story, a guide named Virgil appears to help.Virgil, a wise older man who’s lived for many years more than Dante, performs a vital function in The Divine Comedy; he leads Dante through hell and purgatory. In Dante Alighieris The Divine Comedy, there are many characters who are important, but Virgil has a key role. He serves as a protector, a knowledgeable guide and a model of human reason and wisdom. Virgil is very protective of DanteRead MoreVirgil Analysis of Dante Inferno Essay example2202 Words   |  9 PagesVirgil Virgil came to be regarded as one of Romes greatest poets. His Aeneid can be considered a national epic of Rome and has been extremely popular from its publication to the present day. Virgil- Beatrice sends Virgil to Earth to retrieve Dante and act as his guide through Hell and Purgatory.   Since the poet Virgil lived before Christianity, he dwells in Limbo (Ante-Inferno) with other righteous non-Christians.   As author, Dante chooses the character Virgil to act as his guide because he admiredRead MoreThe Inferno, By Virgil s Guidance And Support Dante1575 Words   |  7 PagesIn the Inferno, through Virgil’s guidance and support Dante becomes more confident and self-sufficient. Dante developing in this matter in turn changes the dynamic in their relationship from teacher-student to equal companions in Dante’s eyes. How their interactions change shows this evolution. When the two meet, it is obvious Dante is lost and Virgil can see this. Virgil asks But you, why are you turning back to misery?/ Why do you not climb the peak that gives delight,/ origin and causeRead MoreComparing Dante s Inferno And Virgil s The Aeneid1016 Words   |  5 Pagescharacterizations or descriptive imagery, but foremost in their ideas of what the afterlife consisted of. Each each epic hero in the works here have descended in to the depths of hell, with The Inferno depicting Dante’s descent into the depths of hell and with Virgil in Book VI of The Aeneid depicting Aeneas’s decent into hell. It can be argued that although different, the knowledge acquired by each character’s descent was equally important to accomplishing their greater tasks at the ends of their journey. HadRead More Dante’s Inferno - The Evolving Relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide2167 Words   |  9 Pagesbetween Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide       In Dante’s Inferno, the relationship between Dante the Pilgrim and Virgil the Guide is an ever-evolving one. By analyzing the transformation of this relationship as the two sojourn through the circles of hell, one is able to learn more about the mindset of Dante the Poet.   At the outset, Dante is clearly subservient to Virgil, whom he holds in high esteem for his literary genius. However, as the work progresses, Virgil facilitatesRead MoreThe Divine Comedy Illustrates Dante Pilgrim’S Heroic Journey1230 Words   |  5 PagesDivine Comedy illustrates Dante Pilgrim’s heroic journey that is commonly displayed in numerous other epic poems of his time. However, Dante cannot begin his journey through his starting place in Hell, which is where his beloved Virgil comes into the text. 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He makes a God of Beatrice, sees her as the ultimate good towards whichRead MoreInfluence Of The Classical World Upon Dante s The Inferno1320 Words   |  6 PagesThe Influence of the Classical World Upon Dante’s The Inferno Dante Alighieri, an Italian poet and writer of the 13th century, creates a fictional account of his visions of his journey through Hell. His background as a Catholic influences his life and his writings, including The Inferno. He uses the historical and political events of his lifetime to influence his writings as well. Dante is educated and very familiar with the history and literature of the classical world. In The Inferno, he expresses