Effectiveness of Fall Prevention International Levels Essay

Effectiveness of Fall Prevention International Levels - Essay Example In a year between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people fall in the United States and have to access healthcare and social services through putting a strain on the effective use of resources for research and development in healthcare (Ganz, A., Huang C., Saliba D. et al., 2013). Financing a high number of such falls puts a strain on the health and social services in any country keeping in mind that these costs can be avoided by running effective fall prevention programs. Another social costs as a result of falling that could be alleviated by effective fall prevention are reducing the fear of falling, admittance to nursing facility, or reduced social and physical activity. These factors have health and social costs and effective fall prevention allows for the social planners and managers to have other services available for the people and improving healthcare that could be used up in provision of healthcare facilities and spaces for treating fall patients. The other benefit of effective fall prevention is the achievement of better standards of living by the community members and patients in healthcare facilities (Registered Nurses of Ontario, 2011). Effective fall prevention measures allows for reduced sicknesses from falls, reallocation of funds to other areas including education, better nutrition, housing, investment, among other areas from funds that could have facilitated access to treatments for injuries resulting from falls. The main challenge facing the achievement of effective prevention at the international level is the need for an interdisciplinary approach for care delivery for fall prevention. Fall prevention requires the concerted efforts of all individuals involved in care delivery for a patient. Different multiple disciplines and teams have to come together to provide effective fall prevention since one clinician no matter the extent of his/her talent cannot

God and Morality Essay Example for Free

God and Morality Essay The question is this – Is it possible to be of good moral character while not believing in God? Looking at the definition of morality as defined in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy the term morality can be used descriptively or actively. A] to refer to some code of conduct put forward by a society or some other group such as religious. Or put forward by a society and is acceptable to an individual for his or her own behavior. B] to refer to a code of conduct that, given specific conditions would be put forward by all rational persons. Morality appears to be separate from religion and although not spoken of or referred to as such there are different groups of moral persons, not all are viewed as good or just. Some examples may include Christian morality, Nazi morality, Greek morality etc. At times etiquette is included as part of morality. Hobbs expresses a standard view when he talks about manners. â€Å"By manners I mean not here decency of behavior, as how one man should salute another, or how a man should wash his mouth or pick his teeth before company and such other parts of small morals, but those qualities of mankind that concern their living together in peace and unity. † (Hobbs, 2010). The laws and our legal system is distinguished by a moral system that includes having written laws or rules, penalties and officials to make the laws and enforce God and Morality pg. 3 the laws and then penalize. Laws are often evaluated on moral grounds. Moral critisism is often used to support a change in a current law or to design a new law. Religion differs from morality or having a moral system. Religious morality is based on stories or events that are past. These stories and events are used to justify the behavior that religion prohibits or requires. At times morality is regarded as the code of conduct that is put forward by religion. Morality is thought by many to need some religious explanation or justification. However, just as with law some practices and precepts are critical on moral grounds. Morals provide us with a guide for conduct, where as religion is always more than that. The definition and description of morality tells us that morality is a belief system that follows the rule of â€Å"goodness†. It is similar to a â€Å"blanket† over society and is separate from religion. Even in these times morality is always in question. In an article written by a Baltimore Sun journalist titled â€Å"The Morality Brigade. † The writer expresses his opinion onto his readers stating that â€Å"We’re still legislating and regulating private morality, while at the same time ignoring the much larger crisis of public morality in America. † (Reich, R. 2013) He continues on to back up his accusations. He writes that legislatures in North Dakota passed a bill banning abortions after 6 weeks. (At which time a heart beat is detectable) as well as approved a fall referendum that could ban all abortions by defining human life beginning at the time of conception. He continues on that these same legislatures God and Morality pg. 4 â€Å"worry about fetuses but they show little concern for what happens to children after they are born. They and other conservatives have been cutting funding for child nutrition, health care for infants and their mothers, and schools. † (Reich, R. 2013). This is just an example of American Morality. So it seems that at this point I have defined what morality is and how it can be applied. I have also touched on Religion and Morality being a very separate entity. Now I will discuss God and Morals. It is very possible for a person to not believe in God and posses high moral standards. Understanding that the person being moral is not due to their belief in God, it is independent of that. Having a belief in God is dogmatic to say the least. There is no rational way to say that God exists. To believe in God one must bypass reason and embrace faith. This is ok if believing in God gives a person comfort and security, although if we tie God to morality it may become problematic. Something as important and influential as morality should not be based on a dogma. If there is no proof that God exists beyond a shadow of a doubt than why do people still believe? Indoctrinate plays more of a role than rational and clear thinking. Religious indoctrination caters to our psychological insecurities and needs, not to reason. Think of some things that we know do not exist. An example would be the tooth fairy or maybe unicorns. We are proud to be skeptical and disapproving, however religion tells us when it comes to believing in God, faith is a virtue. God and Morality pg. 5. Morality is an autonomous human virtue that is independent of God. Otherwise, it would not be possible that atheists behave with impeccable moral standards and so many God believers do not have any morals. Let it also be noted that the great moral traditions of the world do not bring God into morality. Two of the most recognized and adored moral traditions in the east, Confucianism and Buddhism do not believe in God. The roots of morality in the west are in the idea of ancient Greeks, especially Plato and Aristotle who based their morality on reason alone, not on any dogma. It appears that religions who originate in the Middle East have a pronounced inclination to base morality on God. These same religions are also the most violent ones in history, killing many in the name of God. There is no evidence that theists are more moral than monotheists. Physiological studies have failed to find a significant correlation between the frequency of religious worship and moral conduct. An example is that convicted criminals are much more likely to be theists than not. With this being said it is a clear assumption that good people do good because they want to do good. It is not because they personally benefit from the good they do or because they are being forced. Fundamentalists perceive that the universal moral standards are required for the proper function of a society. Philosophers as diverse as Plato, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, George Edward Moore, and John Rawls have demonstrated to us that it is possible to have universal morality without having a belief in God. God and Morality pg. 6 As is stated by Paul Kurtz â€Å"One needs no theological grounds to justify these elementary principles. They are rooted in Human experience. † (Kurtz, P.1996) Now we will discuss that morality and God are linked and that religious beliefs are linked to the morality of each and every person who chooses to live their life in a moral way. If God does not exist, says Dostoyevsky’s Ivan Karamazov, â€Å"everything is permitted,† which means that we as humans can make choices whether they are good or bad, hurtful or nice. The direction in which society is going in suggests that people have lost their â€Å"way†. Too many bad things happen due to human badness. God is no longer allowed in public places, schools, government agencies, etc. This argument suggests that because God has slowly disappeared from our day to day lives society is going downhill at a very fast pace. Does this mean that God is linked to morals in our modern society? Fundamentalists claim that all ill’s in today’s society such as aids and out of wed lock pregnancy are a direct result of a breakdown in morality and this breakdown is due to a decline in the belief in God. The view that God created the moral law is often called the â€Å"Divine Command Theory of Ethics† According to this view is that what makes an action right is that God wills it to be done. All standards that we live by have consequences if not followed or adhered to. There is the fear of punishment. If we speed in our car we are given a ticket. If we God and Morality pg. 7 Sin our souls will spend eternity in hell. Heaven and Hell are often construed as the carrot and the stick that God dangles in front of to make us tow the line, to keep on the straight and narrow. Heaven is the reward and hell is the punishment. Would society be able to function correctly and morally if these rewards and punishments were not in plain view? We have lawmakers and peacekeepers all over the world to help make and enforce the laws so that people know there are consequences. Morals are no different. They help define a person’s goodness and worthiness of the ultimate reward, eternity in heaven. Moral standards without moral sanctions just simply do not mean much. Any person who thinks that it is sufficient to have relative standards that are based upon what groups or individuals feel is right or just cannot see a connection between God and morality. Moral principles such as don’t steal, don’t murder etc.must be objective and practiced by all putting aside any personal conflicts. When people accept moral principles without having a reason to they do not hold these principles as closely as someone who believes in God simply because there are no carrot or stick to hold them in place where they need to be, rather a personal belief or a mandated belief by societal rules in what is right or wrong If we recognize that God does exist than we recognize that God created the world and mankind in his own likeness. For this argument it makes sense to say that God controls the world which justifies ethical obligations. To deny God’s existence we God and Morality pg. 8 Are ethically obligated to what exactly? We typically learn morality from our parents and from those we love, we are conditioned to follow a morally righteous path in life, however to have such a standard of moral obligation can only be granted by God, binding every person and demanding such impeccable respect. By letting God into our lives we are accepting good instead of evil, we are consummating the fact that we are moral and ethical. By allowing God’s teachings and praise into our lives we are promised a more enriching morally accepted life. My view prior to doing any research was that Yes! You can lead a moral life without having a belief in God. I was raised Catholic, I even went to Catholic school, however, I have questioned my own religion over the years and now I have turned my back on it. I do bring my children to church which allows them to draw their own conclusions about God. I want them to have that choice in life and of course I would never condemn them for believing in God. It is just my personal choice. I live in the Bible belt and I always get asked the question, â€Å"where do you go to church? † I typically tell them that I do not go to church, which is similar to having the plague. It is not that I am not a good person. I feel that I am. Any morals and values that I have my parents have instilled in me. I also believe that the â€Å"rules† or commandments of God are simply a guide established at the time the bible was written to keep society in line. I absolutely agree with the fact of you do not have to believe in God to be moral. I make choices everyday and my choices are based on God and Morality pg. 9the things that I believe to be the best choice for the people I love, people I do not know and myself. I have never had any problems reaching out to help another person whether I knew them or not. I also feel that I go above and beyond at times helping others when I need to. Living a good moral life is a choice and I do it for no other reason than to be there for someone else. I do not do it for glory or self righteousness, or because someone is looking, I do it because for me it is all about treating others the way I wish to be treated. God and Morality pg. 10 References Baumin, S. (2008) Antitheism and Morality. Philosophical Forum retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://dx. doi. org/10. 111/j. 1467-9191. 2007. 00282. x Frame and Poythress. A debate between John Frame and Paul Kurtz. Do we Need God to be Moral? retrieved March 25,, 2013 from http:// poythress. org/do-we-need-god-to-be-moral/ Gert, Bernard. (2012) The Definition of Morality. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edward N. Zalto (ed. ), retrieved March 27, 2013 from http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/fall2012/entries/morality-definition. Merrill, K. R. (2012) Spectres of False Divinity:Hume’s Moral Atheism. Retrieved March 25, 2013 from http://search. proquest. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/docview/1288432167. accountid=32521 Reich, R. B. (2013)The Morality Brigade retrieved March 27,2013 from http://baltimoresun. com/opinion/bal-the-morality-brigade-20130326,0,146487 God and Morality pg. 11 Schick, T. Jr. (1995)Morality Requires God†¦. or Does it? Retrieved March 25, 2013 from http://www. secular. humanism. org/index. php? section=librarypage=schick_17_3.

Wide Sargasso Sea and The Color Purple Essay examples -- essays resear

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Problems, along with misery, become apart of life whether you’re willing to accept it or not. For those who have accepted such troubles, have also learned to cope with it one way or another. Antoinette’s character in â€Å"Wide Sargasso Sea† and Celie’s character in â€Å"The Color Purple† have both experienced problems with depression, loneliness, violence, inferiority, racism, and self-identity. It is important for such characters as Antoinette and Celie to express their emotions and have a method of working out there issues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the novel â€Å"Wide Sargasso Sea† by Jean Rhys, the character Antoinette is left mainly to her own free will as a child with no friends and relied on herself to find out that there is a world that can be both peaceful and horrifying. In the first part of the novel, we witness Antoinette’s childhood memories. She remembers the racial tensions and disapproval of white Jamaican women because they were not like â€Å"real white people†, wearing French Caribbean fashions. The white people also feared revenge of the ex- black slaves who follow Antoinette and called her â€Å"white cockroach†. Accepted by neither white nor black society, Antoinette feels great shame and left out. Having witnessed her home burnt down by the ex-slaves, the death of her brother Pierre, and her mother falling ill and mad, Antoinette had to go through it alone and begins to talk to herself for comfort. Being rejected by her mother and every...

Crimes Against Children

Crimes Against Children Child abuse has been a major social concern only since the 1950s but adults have victimized children throughout history. Children are the most vulnerable of all groups which is why child abuse victims are of great concern to society. There are different forms of crimes against children, child abuse, physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Child abuse is the neglect of or violence against children. From 1998 to 2000, 367,000 children were harmed by their parents.Physical abuse includes intentionally beating, biting, burning, strangling, hitting, kicking or shaking a child. In the 1060s the term â€Å"battered child syndrome† was coined. This is a condition where a child suffers serious physical injury usually inflicted by their parents or caregiver. Sexual abuse of children is particularly offensive and is the least commonly reported form of family violence. Unfortunately child sex abusers are family members and friends or neighbors of the victim. In many cases the child has a trusting relationship with the abuser.Emotional abuse is more subtle and involves power or control to harm the victim’s sense of self. Tactics such as verbal threats, social isolation, intimidation, exploitation, terrorizing a child or exposing him to family violence all serve to diminish a child’s self-worth and can cause impaired psychological growth. Child neglect is the chronic and repetitive failure to provide children with food, clothing, shelter, medical care or protection from harm. It constitutes the largest category of child abuse offenders.Fifty-two percent of all child abuse cases in the Unites States involve neglect. Parental alcoholism, drug problems and other inadequate social and family functions are among the factors affecting the child’s response to victimization. More needs to be learned about the long term consequences of childhood victimization. This article discusses what is known from past studies and also present finding of more recent research. Child maltreatment has physical, psychological, cognitive and behavioral consequences.These include minor injuries to brain damage and even death, low self- esteem, depression, substance abuse and suicide attempt. Cognitive effects include attention problems, learning disorders and poor school performance. Behavior issues range from poor peer relations to physical aggression to violent behavior. Males and females react differently to abuse. Males tend to externalize their feeling and are more likely to develop conduct disorders, while females tend to internalize their feelings leading to depressive disorders.Practices of the community and the justice and social services systems may have long-term effects. Children who are members of racial or ethnic minorities often meet with discrimination. Researches have suggested that victimized children are more likely to develop behavior problems in adolescence and may be labeled juvenile offender s. Abused and neglected children score lower on IQ tests and usually fail to complete school which leads to menial and unskilled jobs. Interpersonal relationships are also affected by child maltreatment.Frequent divorce and separation are more common in abused and neglected people. Childhood abuse also increases the risk of being arrested for violent crime. The psychological and emotional fallout for abused children include suicide attempts, antisocial personality disorder and alcohol abuse or dependency. Abused and neglected children may exhibit aggressiveness and behavior problems in childhood, delinquency in adolescence and antisocial and criminal behavior in adulthood.These children, as adults, may be more prone to become abusive themselves. Recent research indicates that child neglect especially at an early age causes substantial problems. Some forms of early neglect lead to â€Å"severe, chronic and irreversible damage†. There are many mechanisms by which abuse and negl ect affect a child but finding a single mechanism that explains all cases of abuse and neglect is highly unlikely. Both the textbook and the journal article agree that childhood abuse causes substantial problems later in life.

Chicboy Marketing Plan Essay

Chic-Boyâ„ ¢ is a new trademark and business model of Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corporation, the company behind the successful Pier One Bar and Grill restaurant chain in the Philippines. It is a quick-service restaurant that is a â€Å"cut above† fast food, with a cult-like following. Our concept focuses on quality, variety and service. Chic-boy’s pride is its Cebu Lechon Manok and Cebu Lechon Liempo marinated and stuffed with her band spices and charcoal broiled to juicy and tasty perfection. * Objectives The main objective of Chic-Boy is to provide people/ their customers with great foods at affordable prices, provide convenience by allowing family reunions and get together. And last but not the least, one of their objectives is to expand the business by providing and allowing franchise. * THE FRANCHISOR-FRANCHISEE RELATIONSHIP Franchisor shall provide Franchisee with specifications for brands and types of any equipment, fixtures and furniture required for the Franchised Facility, The Franchisor will provide supplies such as products, equipment and materials previously designed and provided by the Franchisor to be used in the Franchised Facilities and â€Å"services† that includes, but is not limited to, consistent innovation and renovation of products and processes, in-store audit checks related to the consistent practices of hygiene, safety, and proper implementation of pre-defined pharmacy practices and methods, also training and assistance program will be given. * Responsibilities of the Franchisee The responsibility of the franchisee will focus on the continuing services and royalty fees, accounting and records, standards of quality and performance. * PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The company offers a wide variety of meals such as Chiquito Meals, Chibog-Busog Meals, Cebu Lechon, Magandand Umaga Meals, Sphagetamis, Japanese, Appetizers, Merienda, Desserts, Soup, Sizzling Specials and etc. Most meals are served with house soup and unlimited rice, they also offer bottomless iced tea. They also give customers fried garlic for free. * MANAGEMENT , STAFFING, STRATEGIC PARTNERS, ANG PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT * Management Team The owner is considered as the General Manager of one store. In every store the highest position that is handling the daily production is their respective Supervisors. . * Staffing The newly franchised Chic-Boy outlet will be hiring 11 staffs consisting of the cooks, crews, cashiers and security guard. * Strategic Partner and Professional Support As for strategic partner, the company will be provided with general contractors will be responsible for the store equipments, maintenance and physical attributes and design of the store, and as for professional support, an accountant to head the accounting and financial side of the company. * Gantt Chart As for the schedule of activities of the company, Chic-Boy will have a one year preparation before it will formally open. The given month will be from September 2012- September 2013. * OPERATIONS * Hours and Days of Operation The proposed Chic-Boy outlet will be operating for seven (7) times a week, sixteen (16) hours a day. The store hours will be from 7:00 am up to 10:00 pm * Layout and Facilities The store will be at least 200sqm. It will have a second floor to accommodate the number of customers. The chairs and tables will be arranged as to allow the customers to still walk in between the them even if ther are a lot of customers. * Licensing, Permitting & Other Regulatory Issues Getting the required business license and permits for Chic-Boy is a necessary step to ensure that the business is abiding the bylaws. It needs some kind of business license or permit to run the business legally. Chic-boy will get first clearance and permit before heading to the Securities and Exchange in Commission. * Operating Procedures The procedure will be a simple process starting from the entrance of the customer followed by the purchasing of the food, consumptions of the ordered item and then leaving of the customer once done and satisfied. Then as a new customer arrives, the process starts again. * Inventory Management The products of Chic-Boy will be ordered from the commissary in a daily need basis. It will be stored in the kitchen chillers to preserve good quality and freshness and to satisfy customers’ standards. * MARKETING * Target Location The franchise will be located at Dr. C. A. Aguila St. inside Mendiola, Manila. Its approximate square footage is 200 sqm. , it is a well traversed path leading jeepney’s and vehicles coming from recto heading to Pandacan, Sta. Ana, Makati and Pasay, vice versa. It is also surrounded by at least six (6) schools. * Marketing Targets The target market of Chic-boy will be students, employees and famiies. There are no age limit as to who are their target market, as long as they can still eat the meals offered by the establishment. * Distribution Since the entity proposed is not in the manufacturing industry, the distribution described in the plan will be the location where the outlet will be put up thus serving the customers within the vicinity. * Competitive Environment and Positioning The primary competitors of the Chic-Boy will be the fast food chains such as Jollibee, McDonald’s and KFC that are within the same vicinity of the proposed franchise. The other food plaes are considered as secondary competitors because since both offer food, the service and type of food served is different. * Marketing Tactics and Support The marketing tactics and support that Chic-Boy are already offering are simple flyer giving and posting of tarpaulins and posters. And the Chic-Boy radio they have in their own stores and outlets. * CAPITAL PLAN * Sources of Funds The P 6,069,000 total investment will be funded by the 5 investors with the distribution as follows: P 3,069,000 for the managing director and P 750,000 for the remaining 4 investors. * Use of Funds The total investment of P 6,069,000 will be used in the payment of rent for the land/property, Working Capital, Furniture, Fixtures, Equipments, Construction and Renovation. A fund shall be allotted for the payment of rent, because the property is leased; for the furniture, fixture and equipments, this includes the aircon units, signage, tables & chairs, grillers, range hood, freezers & chillers, plates, utensils kitchen and restaurant supplies; another allocation for the construction & renovation which includes civil works, plumbing, electrical, lighting, mechanical, exhaust and fresh air; and last but not the least, funds to be used as commissary deposit, franchise fee and working capital.

7 Resume Mistakes Almost Every New Grad Makes

7 Resume Mistakes Almost Every New Grad Makes You’re fresh out of college and want the world to know just how much potential you have. Creating a resume is step 1 as you begin to put yourself out there to let the world know what you can offer. Without much of a job history, this one document has to tell your story–it’s a small document but it’s all companies have to gain a first impression. The resume writing and career coaching team at ResumeSpice has put together a list of 7 of the most common resume mistakes new grads make–and what you can do to avoid them.They submit the same resume for each job.We know that job searching can be cumbersome, but trust us, it’s worth the extra time to customize your resume for each job. When a recruiter scans your resume, they’re trying to assess whether you’re a fit for the role–in the shortest time possible. If you don’t tie your skills to the specific job for which you’re applying, they’re going to pass you over.Review each job description carefully before you apply. Take note of any skills and keywords that seem to stick out or anything with which you have direct experience, and write bullet points that directly speak to those qualifications.Their resumes have typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors.Although this doesn’t only apply to new graduates, most new grads don’t realize just how sensitive hiring managers can be to seemingly innocent resume mistakes. These types of errors can make you appear careless or lazy. Sure, recruiters and hiring managers can overlook an extra space or even a missing punctuation, but there’s a limit to how much they can forgive. Remember, their credibility is hinging on the candidates they submit for consideration, so they’re selective about who they recommend. Ask a friend or trusted colleague to proof your resume. And we always advise reading your resume aloud–sometimes errors are easier to hear than they are to s ee.They have overly stylized or formatted resumes.Sometimes new grads will attempt to distract from their lack of experience by installing some formatting pizzazz. While we understand the logic, an overly-stylized resume can be difficult to follow. Recruiters need to be able to locate information quickly. If they have to decode information, they’re going to skip it entirely. We always advise to keep your format simple and easy to read. White space is your friend.They include an objective.There’s no real upside to including an objective, but there are plenty of potential downsides. An objective typically focuses on your goals and what you want out of a position. But employers want to know what you can do for them. Additionally, your resume might get tossed if your objective doesn’t align exactly with what the position calls for.Just nix this section from your resume altogether, as it usually does more harm than good. To paraphrase JFK: when it comes to resumes, i t’s not about what the employer can do for you, it’s about what you can do for them.They don’t use all their college work experience.Whether you collected internships, worked your way through college, or volunteered in the ombudsman’s office, almost any college activity can be utilized on your resume. You’re likely applying for entry-level positions.  Hiring managers understand that most new grads are not going to bring extensive full-time work experience to the table. Use the experience you have and try as best you can to translate what you’ve been doing into what you want to do.If you’re going for an entry-level accounting role, you can position your experience at a retail store by highlighting that you were accountable for processing payments, ensuring payments and cash on hand matched total sales for the day, and  depositing payments into the company’s bank account.Don’t leave something off your resume because yo u think it doesn’t apply to what you’re trying to do. Even if you can’t relate your experience to the role to which you’re applying, for new grads, almost any experience will be looked at favorably.They don’t include a cover letter with their resume.We know that cover letters aren’t always required with a resume, but we recommend that recent graduates submit one whenever possible. It can sometimes be tricky to write an attention-grabbing cover letter, but remember to always focus on the employer’s needs and specifically address how you’d be a great fit for the role. You can always hire a professional cover letter writer to help.They leave off their most important information.We chalk it up to nerves and being so focused on getting all your career information on the page that you forget about including information about how an interested recruiter or hiring manager can contact you.   That’s right–believe it or no t, many candidates (not just new grads) forget to include their contact info. Always include the following at the top of your resume: name, city, state, zip, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile link.Writing a great resume can seem daunting when you haven’t done it before, but follow the above tips and you’ll be ahead of most entry-level candidates. We welcome you to visit ResumeSpice for more help.Savannah Ober is a resume writer and career consultant at ResumeSpice. In addition to being a resume expert, Savannah is also an experienced corporate communications professional, working with one of the world’s largest global companies. Savannah has written recruiting advertisements for trade publications, created marketing collateral, written press releases and blogs, and developed social media content. Savannah holds a BA in English, creative writing.

Free Essays on Letter from Birmingham Jail

â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† Written documents reflect what has happened. Actions that may have happened in history, give historical documents a reason to be. Although actions may not have occurred to cause documents to be written, they may have been just to prevent them from happening. Throughout American history, it is clear that many individuals have fought for justice in a society that has often denied it. We know this information from documents written by these individuals expressing their feelings on a certain subject. On the subject of human rights, the very popular Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose main philosophy on civil disobedience revolved around nonviolence, wrote a â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail† to eight clergymen informing them of the situation in Birmingham, Alabama, in April of 1963. In this letter King discusses how a law can be appear just, and when applied be unjust. Sometimes things are not always as they appear, just or unjust, moral or immoral. King knew he was living in the era of human rights and human freedom. The main obstacle was state power was being used against its own people. The solution was to undo or change the unjust laws through peaceful protests. Because civil disobedience includes the violation laws, it is difficult to conclude whether an act is one of civil disobedience, or lawbreaking. During times of social strife- when a society is divided in opinion- there exists much controversy over whether or not certain acts of protest are qualified as civil disobedience. Within their definitions, the differences between civil disobedience and lawbreaking are clear. However, it is difficult to decipher whether a certain act is one of civil disobedience or lawbreaking, especially during a time when a society is divided and its differing opinions are non-negotiable. A key concept King used to describe this is a â€Å"law is unjust on its face and unjust in its application.† ... Free Essays on Letter from Birmingham Jail Free Essays on Letter from Birmingham Jail â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† Written documents reflect what has happened. Actions that may have happened in history, give historical documents a reason to be. Although actions may not have occurred to cause documents to be written, they may have been just to prevent them from happening. Throughout American history, it is clear that many individuals have fought for justice in a society that has often denied it. We know this information from documents written by these individuals expressing their feelings on a certain subject. On the subject of human rights, the very popular Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose main philosophy on civil disobedience revolved around nonviolence, wrote a â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail† to eight clergymen informing them of the situation in Birmingham, Alabama, in April of 1963. In this letter King discusses how a law can be appear just, and when applied be unjust. Sometimes things are not always as they appear, just or unjust, moral or immoral. King knew he was living in the era of human rights and human freedom. The main obstacle was state power was being used against its own people. The solution was to undo or change the unjust laws through peaceful protests. Because civil disobedience includes the violation laws, it is difficult to conclude whether an act is one of civil disobedience, or lawbreaking. During times of social strife- when a society is divided in opinion- there exists much controversy over whether or not certain acts of protest are qualified as civil disobedience. Within their definitions, the differences between civil disobedience and lawbreaking are clear. However, it is difficult to decipher whether a certain act is one of civil disobedience or lawbreaking, especially during a time when a society is divided and its differing opinions are non-negotiable. A key concept King used to describe this is a â€Å"law is unjust on its face and unjust in its application.† ... Free Essays on Letter From Birmingham Jail â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† Written documents reflect what has happened. Actions that may have happened in history, give historical documents a reason to be. Although actions may not have occurred to cause documents to be written, they may have been just to prevent them from happening. Throughout American history, it is clear that many individuals have fought for justice in a society that has often denied it. We know this information from documents written by these individuals expressing their feelings on a certain subject. On the subject of human rights, the very popular Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose main philosophy on civil disobedience revolved around nonviolence, wrote a â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail† to eight clergymen informing them of the situation in Birmingham, Alabama, in April of 1963. In this letter King discusses how a law can be appear just, and when applied be unjust. Sometimes things are not always as they appear, just or unjust, moral or immoral. King knew he was living in the era of human rights and human freedom. The main obstacle was state power was being used against its own people. The solution was to undo or change the unjust laws through peaceful protests. Because civil disobedience includes the violation laws, it is difficult to conclude whether an act is one of civil disobedience, or lawbreaking. During times of social strife- when a society is divided in opinion- there exists much controversy over whether or not certain acts of protest are qualified as civil disobedience. Within their definitions, the differences between civil disobedience and lawbreaking are clear. However, it is difficult to decipher whether a certain act is one of civil disobedience or lawbreaking, especially during a time when a society is divided and its differing opinions are non-negotiable. A key concept King used to describe this is a â€Å"law is unjust on its face and unjust in its application.† ...

How to Write a Research Paper on Global Warming

How to Write a Research Paper on Global Warming Research Paper on Global Warming How to start a research paper on global warming Tips on how to start Example of an outline Example of a thesis Example of a global warming research paper introduction How to write body paragraphs for a research paper on global warming Tips on body writing Example of the 1st body paragraph Example of the 2nd body paragraph Example of the 3rd body paragraph How to finish a research paper on global warming Tips on conclusion writing Example of a conclusion Tips on research paper revision How to start a research paper on global warming Starting a research paper on global warming is not an easy task. It involves gathering specific scientific data over a long period of time in order to have the necessary facts for proving the impacts and effects of climate change. Global warming is not observable in only short amounts of time. This is why making a research paper on global warming involves the gathering of evidences from history and past events that were involved in the general climate of an environment. Tips on how to start Gather scientific evidences of global warming by sifting through environmental research done in the past. Look for facts pointing to the statement that you want to present. Make sure that you have a focus on a study so that you will be precise and concise on your point. Create an outline so you will be able to follow a structure for your research paper. Use online and offline sources as global warming statistics are available upon only the existing records. Example of an outline In creating an outline, you need to prepare concise and simple information. It should be flexible enough to accommodate your points of comparison and research facts. The structure of your outline should be solid enough to emphasize your statement and give the reader the proper material for gaining a comprehension of your chosen topic. INTRODUCTION/THESIS STATEMENT I. FIRST MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT a. EXAMPLE OR INTERESTING FACT ABOUT FIRST MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT b. SUPPORTING RESEARCH II. SECOND MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT a. EXAMPLE OR INTERESTING FACT ABOUT SECOND MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT b. SUPPORTING RESEARCH III. THIRD MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT a. EXAMPLE OR INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THIRD MAIN TOPIC/STATEMENT b. SUPPORTING RESEARCH A good example of how an outline can be organized is this one. I. Throughout our past, evidences of global warming due to human activity have slowly emerged and now, it is a crisis that is openly known to the public but ways of battling it successfully are yet to emerge. 1. The natural greenhouse effect of the planet has a natural rhythm and balance, however, human activity has caused subtle to major effects towards our atmosphere 2. There are changes in weather patterns causing different types of weather anomalies (e.g. wild hurricanes, long droughts). 3. The trend of global temperatures increasing. II. The reasons that are fast-tracking the impacts and effects of global warming are related to the growth of the human population and the increased need for: 1. Fossil fuels for energy 2. Land for shelters, cities, and other forms of settlements. 3. Manufactured and processed foods III. The consequences of our environment-destructive human activities have caused global warming to be felt throughout the world. 1. Sea levels are rising globally, putting major coastal human settlements to great risks. 2. The ice is melting in the Arctic regions of the world due to the warming of the entire globe (a) Concerns of flooding in human populated areas (b) Decreased land to settle on 3. Crops are being affected also by global warming (a) there is less land present to be farmed on 4. Flatlands are drying up 5. Unnatural weather anomalies are destroying crops. IV. There are methods in which people can choose to help to slow down climate change. 1. Find alternative forms and sources of energy 2. Conserve the use of fossil fuels and create renewable sources of electricity 3. Utilize recyclable products 4. Planting of trees and plants to help restore the status of atmosphere Example of a thesis The thesis statement of the paper is like a concise and simple form of presenting your main idea. The introduction gives the reader a general idea of what they are going to read in the paper. As such, it goes at the beginning of your paper; below is a possible example: Global warming is an issue that is currently faced by the entire planet, and humanity needs to consciously tackle it in order to save the species and the planet from destruction. This thesis statement properly delivers a pair of ideas that will be the focus of the research. The first statement implies location, while the second implies an act or a methodology to how you are going to work in your research. Example of a global warming research paper introduction With your thesis statement, you can now provide general knowledge and description of the facts that you will be presenting. The introduction should radiate a welcoming vibe to it in order to attract the reader’s attention. Here is an example: Global warming is an issue that is currently faced by the entire planet, and humanity needs to consciously tackle it in order to save the species and the planet from destruction. Global warming, which is also called the greenhouse effect, is a subject that has acquired much attention among media and government institutions in the recent years. However, many among the population are not aware of climate changes as an impactful event among our modern times. Global warming has impacted many livelihoods of people living in different areas and its effects are accelerating due to human activities that contribute to global climate change. The growth of the population have its demands and increased use of fossil fuels means of manufacturing and processing. All of these are factors in increased emissions into the atmosphere which in turn increases global warming. It is advisable to wait until you have finished the body of your essay before finalizing your introduction or thesis statement. How to write body paragraphs for a research paper on global warming Writing body paragraphs of your research paper should involve arduous research and gathering of data. After all, global warming is a topic that is greatly understood through science and its hard earned facts and statistics. Gathering info should involve the use of local material and internet resources. It is good when writing a research paper to widen the scope of your study in order to provide the reader a comprehensive presentation of your data. Widening your perspective helps the reader understand your main thesis but try not to lose track of the focus of your research paper. Tips on body writing First, decide what kind of information you absolutely want to include in your essay. These topics are the main pillars of your essay. For each of these main pillars you need supporting research and evidence to hold them up; so for each topic you need to have at least one source that backs your assertions. The contents of the body should be supported the conclusion. Do not forget to make your composition logically organized. Make use of credible research resources and choose relevant facts. Example of the 1st body paragraph The reasons that are fast-tracking the impacts and effects of global warming are related to the growth of the human population and the increased need for resources and modes of production that are harmful to the atmosphere and the general environment. Human beings harness fossil fuels for energy which greatly increases the amount of carbon emissions that cause the greenhouse effect. The utilization Land for shelters, cities, and other forms of settlements decreases the land that is supposed to harbor plants and trees that are supposed to balance the state of the air and thus promoting the balance within the atmosphere. Modern manufacturing methods and the demand for processed foods also increase the rate of global warming due to the un-environment friendly modes of its mass production. Example of the 2nd body paragraph The consequences of our environment-destructive human activities have caused global warming to be felt throughout the world. Sea levels are rising globally, putting major coastal human settlements to great risks. The ice is melting in the Arctic regions of the world due to the warming of the entire globe which makes way for concerns of flooding in human populated areas, decreased land to settle on and food supplies through crops are being affected also by global-warming. There is less land present to be farmed on due to the fact that flatlands are drying up and unnatural weather anomalies are destroying crops like the tropical storms that rage on the South-eastern parts of Asia such as the Philippines and Indonesia. Example of the 3rd body paragraph However, all hope is not lost. There are methods in which people can choose to help to slow down climate change. The human population can find alternative forms and sources of energy. They can limit conserve and limit the use of fossil fuels and create renewable sources of electricity. The general population can be taught to utilize recyclable products. Planting of trees and plants also help restore the status of atmosphere and the overall well being of the planet. How to finish a research paper on global warming The conclusion should act along the line of summing up everything you have already told your readers. Its a good idea to touch base briefly on all of your main pillars once more before you finish; this is the place to do that. You can also include a message or an inspiration to the reader and a recommendation for what to do with the research. Remember that all the sample that are here in this article are only examples and convey a basic structure or a plain base for your global warming research paper. Tips on conclusion writing Briefly restate the main points that you have touched in your paper. Make sure that your conclusion is in line with your thesis statement. Use the facts and data that you have to conclude something which will be meaningful to the reader. Connect the components of your research and provide the knowledge to why it is relevant. Don’t forget to provide a recommendation or a practical idea that will help your reader not only gain but also digest the message or findings of your global warming research paper. Example of a conclusion The impacts and effects of climate changes have altered many lives and continue to degrade the status of the planet; many lives have been lost and there is a risk to all existing life in the present. It also has a large negative impact on the economy. However, all hope is not lost. There are methods in which people can choose to help to slow down climate change. The human population can find alternative forms and sources of energy. They can limit conserve and limit the use of fossil fuels and create renewable sources of electricity. The general population can be taught to utilize recyclable products. Planting of trees and plants also help restore the status of atmosphere and the overall well-being of the planet. Tips on research paper revision Follow what the teacher wants, you only need to please their perspective. Simultaneously, include in your paper what you truly want to express through the research material you have acquired. You have to integrate the research paper with the format that your instructor is asking for. Always follow the recommendations of your teacher as they are knowledgeable about how to improve your writing.

Deutsche Bank is a global universal bank. What are the advantages and Essay

Deutsche Bank is a global universal bank. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a global universal bank and what are som - Essay Example The Deutsche bank holds a record for being the only bank that has strived to achieve omnipresence. Evidently, universal banks exhibit multiple benefits to the clients, but a closer analysis reveals that they have certain disadvantages. This paper will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of universal banks. Moreover, the paper will analyse the issues that arise when handling tasks in the compliance department. Advantages of Universal Banks Universal banks offer their clients a diverse range of services to different clients having the opportunity to receive personalized services that conform to their banking needs. Usually individuals, groups, organizations, states and multi-national organizations exhibit varying financial needs. The fact that universal banks have the capacity to offer tailor-made services, they surpass other banks by offering each client service that conforms to personal financial needs. This is the reason why universal banks offer a high level of convenience t o the clients (Heller, Meaney & Murphy 2001, p. 78). They serve as a single-stop banks where one can access all the required financial needs. Evidently, such convenience receives emphasis from the presence of most universal banks in different regions, affording the clients an increased banking flexibility even beyond the borders. Recent research reveals that universal banks serve as critical contributors to the economy. This is because they have the capacity to support a diverse range of investments in different parts of the globe. Universal banks exert their effect on the entire economic system, altering the economic trends by providing financial breakthroughtwo different types of clients. Universal banks serve private household clients, offering arrange of appealing service packages appropriate for them (Palepu2007, p. 87). Moreover, universal banks offer a range of services to institutional clients empowering them to receive the required the financial boost to achieve their goals . This factor has served as a reliable solution to the financial problems of many institutions as they can form investment partnerships with universal banks. These services are offered at a relatively lowered funding cost compared to other banks. Evidently, universal banks register a low level of profiling costs, placing them in a better position to offer services at the lower funding cost compared to other banks. Moreover, these banks exhibit a lower funding cost themselves, explaining further why they favour all types of clients. Universal banks have served to increase the willingness of credit borrowers, a factor that has contributed to the rising returns for clients who wish to save. This has been especially advantageous to governments that exhibit financial needs that require borrowing. Moreover, this proves to be highly beneficial to other clients, and contributes to a surging growth. This has given rise to an evident rise instability of the economies by causing as the spread of innovations in different regions in the globe (PadoanBrenton & Boyd 2003, p. 34). Disadvantages Although universal banks exhibit all these benefits, they face a surging pressure to satisfy all the clients in different regions.These banks face the compulsion of maintaining a high quality of their services (Lambert&Ioma2005, p.98). They have to ensure that they are responsive; clear in communication, prompt, and a high level of integrity in offering

Analyze the development of global careers and the role of Essay

Analyze the development of global careers and the role of International assignments - Essay Example The constituents of global careers are both intrinsically and extrinsically established on the basis of both the individualistic and the organizational perspectives. Career paths are determined by informal norms and well aided developments that create and illustrate a positive link between the traditional factors and the career capital formations of the individuals in an international organization. Arthur et al, (1995) explains that developing leaders whose key objective is to develop better managerial capabilities including being able to efficiently run global organization is a fundamental factor determining the human resource priority in major organizations. Arguably, Black et al, (1991) explore the critical challenges that international face in the process of executing their obligations. Further submissions by Bonache et al, (2001) indicate that managing global talents provide consistence and support an in-depth understands of the external businesses. The organizational integral p art involves global management approach which is evidently based on increased cost management. Ideally, the issues that involve substantial risks, career developments and applicable cultural variations have influenced business trends in the last decades. For better business growth strategies, geographic operations are thought to be consistent with the traditional and modern global career paths. Global career programs are vital and ultimately necessary for organizational advancements, and at various levels, their role is valid and ultimately necessary for employees who are in need of better training. 1.1 Literature Review 1.1.1 Overview Despite the various problems faced by organizations, there is an important belief in gained experience including the need to explore and manage global competition. In this case, a high level competence is ideal and a fundamental necessity. The scope of this literature is determined by exploring the levels of training, selection, preparation as well as adjustment and performance composition, (Black, 1991). With respect to the global career development, the organizational dynamics involve generating sustainable roles, as well as ensuring that adequate career choices are factored for the international assignments. Firstly, the research component should involve a research experimentation process justified by developing the assignment specification, (Bonache et al, 2001). Although organizations provide ideal funding for their skill development initiatives, developing better career objectives would also involve global career progression policies. Both Evans et al, (2002) and Hall, (2002) outlines several developmental goals aiding global competence including their specific impact on an insightful developments. The mainstream consideration for the HR managers is validly explained by the international assignment position, including highly divisive goal ranking experience. However, the link between career experience and career progressio n is complexly enhanced by a growing individual variation, and hence this also creates a

Marketing Strategy of Aer Lingus Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Marketing Strategy of Aer Lingus - Assignment Example Currently, Irish government holds 25.1% of shareholding in Aer Lingus. The airline company operates as ‘value carrier’ while it has signed number of agreements air line companies of other countries such as Aer Arann, Air Bus etc in order to manage its low cost services. Primary market for Aer Lingus includes Republic of Ireland, continental Europe, UK and USA. In the year 2012, the Irish airline company has carried more than 9.6 million passengers across the boundaries. In the year ended 31 December 2012, the company has reported annual revenue of more than â‚ ¬1,350 million with operating profit hovering over â‚ ¬65 million. The company has established its base airport in Belfast City and shown the interest to expand its destination routes by 2 times in next couple of years (Competition Commission, 2013). The Irish airline carrier has established its base in Belfast City along destination points include Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow airports of UK ( Competition Commission, 2013). Great Britain-Ireland destination root contributes 30% to 33% of the top line growth and 45% of total passengers for Air Lingus. Until 2001, Aer Lingus operated as full service carrier but after 9/11 world trade centre terrorism the company has transformed itself as low-cost carrier. Since 2009, the company has completely changed its positioning statement has become ‘value carrier’ by serving centrally located airports in order to decrease its travel path and save the fuel cost in order to deliver service to customers at competitive price. The company has also entered in partnership with existing low-cost airlines in order to deliver low cost services to customers...Conjoint impact of reduction of disposable income of consumers and entry of resource rich international airlines have pushed Aer Lingus to reposition as value carrier. Hence it can be said that, although the problem for Aer Lingus is strategic in nature but the brand can reposi tion itself with the help of integrated marketing communication strategy. However, let’s try to understand changing macro environmental challenges for Aer Lingus in terms of PESTLE Analysis. VCCP Blue (2008) has pointed out that Aer Lingus spends only â‚ ¬2 million for implementing its IMC plan which is way below than the industry average of advertising to sales ratio (A/S ratio). Hence it is recommended for the company to increase its advertising position in order to use all channels of communication in effective manner. On the basis of PESTLE analysis, it can be said that the company needs to promote its green initiatives such decreasing the carbon emission in short haul travel, creating greenery in African nations etc in the form of press release. They need to use the print media advertisement in order to release key benefits that can be achieved through merger & acquisition in order to create positive word of mouth regarding the event among customers. Such kind of indirect lobbying also help Aer Lingus in legal proceedings.

Foreign policy of Colombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Foreign policy of Colombia - Essay Example The economic and political dynamics being experienced in the 21st century have necessitated the need for countries to formulate effective foreign policies defining their relations with their international partners. The liberalization of world market has created the need for countries to form trading blocks in order to safeguard their economic interests. The collapse of the Soviet Union created new political alignments, as different countries attempt to assert their influence in the world. Formulation of foreign policy in such a dynamic world subjects many countries in pragmatic and ideological dilemma, making the process quite challenging. Colombia is not an exception and this paper examines the foreign policy of the Latin American country from 1989 to the present. The first part examines the historical foundation of Colombian foreign policy during the cold war, focusing on its main principles. The second part focuses on Colombian relations with regional and international partners an d finally the changes of country’s foreign policies since 1990. The foreign policy of Colombia has historically been inclined to western and anti communist ideologies during and after the cold war. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union developed immense global influence that spread across all continents including Latin America. This resulted to polarization of global ideologies, between communism and capitalism. The foreign policies of all countries in the world were divided between the two super powers, the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. The United States emerged the more dominant power after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Colombian foreign policy was strategically aligned to it.... After the collapse of the Soviet Union, United States emerged as the sole global superpower. Therefore, inclining the foreign policy of Colombia towards the superpower became the most pragmatic approach of ensuring security of its economic and political interests. Since 1989, Columbian dependence on the United States military support and funding has increased considerably (Randall, 141). The economic and security threat posed by persistent internal insurgency in Colombia since 1940s and the effects of illegal drug trafficking in the region played a critical role in orienting the country’s foreign policy towards United States (Randall, 142). Therefore, the high dependence of the country on United States and the desire to uphold the international law has compelled Colombian foreign policy to embrace a multilateral approach to balance its relations with the US and global and regional organizations. United States and the neighboring Latin American countries have historically playe d a critical role in the Colombian politics, security and economy. According to Randall, United States is the largest foreign market for Colombian products. In 2007, Randall (142) noted that Colombia exported goods worth over$9.4 billion to United States and imported merchandize worth over $8.5 billion from the US. The neighboring countries, especially Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico are significant Colombian trading partners. In 2007, the total volume of trade between Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil was valued at $4.1 billion, $3.3 billion and $2.5 billion respectively (Randall, 142). In addition, Germany is an important Colombian economic partner with total trade between the two states valued at $1.5 billion in 2007(142). Therefore, economic factors play a crucial role in defining

The causes and effects of Global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The causes and effects of Global warming - Essay Example Statistics indicate that in the last 100 years, the temperatures have risen by approximately 0.8 o C and it is projected that this will continue to worsen as it is expected that the rise could reach 1.7o C in the next few years if stern measures are not taken to avert this catastrophe (Christian 28). Global warming mainly results from over concentration of carbon dioxide (co2) and other harmful gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, in the atmosphere (Michaels 40). This is due to the fact that these gases have the capability to trap heat from the sun and storing it to the extent that temperatures in the surroundings remain extraordinarily higher than normal. In order to understand this, one may use the example of a car, which, when left outside, allows sun rays to penetrate through the windows thereby raising the temperatures inside, which cannot go down unless the windows or the doors are opened in order to allow cool fresh air to circulate. Human beings are the ones to blame for this catastrophe as they have continued to conduct activities, which are major sources of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. These are for example air pollution through gaseous emissions from industries and heavy machinery such as motor vehicles which utilize fossil fuels. The world’s car population has continued to explode and though this may be perceived as a positive trend in economics as it is good for business, it is a major threat to the environment especially due to the fact that most of these vehicles use petrol and diesel as fuel. Statistics indicate that the number of cars worldwide exceeded the 1 billion mark as at the year 2010 and it is estimated that this number will significantly increase to 2.5 billion by the year 2050 (Michaels 66). From these statistics, the US is ranked as the leading country, with approximately 240 million cars followed by China, which has approximately 78 million cars. It is not a wonder then to have reports indicate that the tr ansport sector contributes approximately 25% of greenhouse gas emissions (Christian 52). This may also explain why reports indicate that the US is the leading country with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. China and the US are two major economic houses, which have the capability and economic muscle to develop and influence the world to utilize better technologies that are friendlier to the environment. For example, they can lead the way in convincing their citizens to utilize bicycles or electric vehicles as a common mode of transportation especially due to the high income per capita. However, this may not be helpful if strong policies are not put in place to effect the change, which may include creating favoring infrastructure, roads, for cyclers, so a to avoid cases of obstruction and preventable accidents. This may serve as an example and a reference point especially for the developing countries, which are projected to have a significant increase of motor vehicles on their road s, which is believed to be by approximately 300% by 2050 (Christian 63). Deforestation is also a major contributing factor to the availability of high levels of carbon dioxide

Foreign policy of Colombia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Foreign policy of Colombia - Essay Example The economic and political dynamics being experienced in the 21st century have necessitated the need for countries to formulate effective foreign policies defining their relations with their international partners. The liberalization of world market has created the need for countries to form trading blocks in order to safeguard their economic interests. The collapse of the Soviet Union created new political alignments, as different countries attempt to assert their influence in the world. Formulation of foreign policy in such a dynamic world subjects many countries in pragmatic and ideological dilemma, making the process quite challenging. Colombia is not an exception and this paper examines the foreign policy of the Latin American country from 1989 to the present. The first part examines the historical foundation of Colombian foreign policy during the cold war, focusing on its main principles. The second part focuses on Colombian relations with regional and international partners an d finally the changes of country’s foreign policies since 1990. The foreign policy of Colombia has historically been inclined to western and anti communist ideologies during and after the cold war. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union developed immense global influence that spread across all continents including Latin America. This resulted to polarization of global ideologies, between communism and capitalism. The foreign policies of all countries in the world were divided between the two super powers, the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. The United States emerged the more dominant power after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Colombian foreign policy was strategically aligned to it.... After the collapse of the Soviet Union, United States emerged as the sole global superpower. Therefore, inclining the foreign policy of Colombia towards the superpower became the most pragmatic approach of ensuring security of its economic and political interests. Since 1989, Columbian dependence on the United States military support and funding has increased considerably (Randall, 141). The economic and security threat posed by persistent internal insurgency in Colombia since 1940s and the effects of illegal drug trafficking in the region played a critical role in orienting the country’s foreign policy towards United States (Randall, 142). Therefore, the high dependence of the country on United States and the desire to uphold the international law has compelled Colombian foreign policy to embrace a multilateral approach to balance its relations with the US and global and regional organizations. United States and the neighboring Latin American countries have historically playe d a critical role in the Colombian politics, security and economy. According to Randall, United States is the largest foreign market for Colombian products. In 2007, Randall (142) noted that Colombia exported goods worth over$9.4 billion to United States and imported merchandize worth over $8.5 billion from the US. The neighboring countries, especially Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico are significant Colombian trading partners. In 2007, the total volume of trade between Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil was valued at $4.1 billion, $3.3 billion and $2.5 billion respectively (Randall, 142). In addition, Germany is an important Colombian economic partner with total trade between the two states valued at $1.5 billion in 2007(142). Therefore, economic factors play a crucial role in defining

Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Operation Management - Essay Example The utilization of capacity management ideology in running a restaurant enables managers to make accurate decisions regarding staffing and procedures to enhance profit gaining and improve the guest experience in the restaurant or hotel. The paper aims to espouse on the overall concept of operation management and describes the operational management activities utilized to realize success, in terms of capacity management in hospitality in this particular hotel. The paper extensively tackles the general aspect of the operation management in conjunction with the tactics and application requirements needed in the establishment of an affiliation on the grounds of adept hospitality and capacity management. Operation Management Operation Management is a tremendously important facet in the business world today (Greasley 2008). All organizations in the world, regardless of their types produce an assortment of products and services. All corporations depend on operation management, as it is an i mportant asset in improving the efficacy of the affiliation and delivery of quality customer service. An influential business skill determines business changes like in customer preferences, internet technology-based supply networks and details of work. In order for all the other branches of a company to work hand in hand, operation managers should unite and toil together. A more accurate definition of operation management perhaps is that, it is part of businesses and companies, which deals with organizing and controlling the company’s assets to guarantee victorious delivery of the products and services. ... In this case study, we look into the strategies and tactics used to manage capacity in a hospitality operation of Hotel du Vin Birmingham UK. The main purpose of operations management is to alter the inputs of a corporation into the services or products that are saleable. Inputs are such things as employees or workforce of the company, the amenities and practices, including the information, technology and materials. At a manufacturing plant, the conversion process is the process of physically converting unprocessed materials into ready to use merchandise, for instance, changing skin and rubber into sneakers, or plastic into toys. With airlines, the procedure is utterly different. It is, in this case, the successful relocation of people from a certain position to another. At a hotel, it is the housekeeping and offering of specialized service in rooms, with new linen, excellent cuisine and the output is happy customers who then pay up (Bettley, Mayle and Tantoush 2005). At a hospital, the efforts and outputs are also different. The input could be doctors getting organized, medical attention, and offering of drugs to convert the patients into strong individuals. Hotels select a dissimilar approach in their pursuit for affluence. They use a control tool known as, yield management (Karlsson 2008). Organizations majorly employ this technique to effectively exploit the utilization of the accessible capacity and seek monetary affluence. Yield management is not a new conception. Other corporations like airlines employed this notion before its implementation by hotels (Wild 2002). Most hotels carry out different forms of yield management, for instance, they could

Social Media and Its Impact on Our Privacy Today Essay Example for Free

Social Media and Its Impact on Our Privacy Today Essay According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Privacy is the quality or state of being apart from company or observation. Ever since the creation of Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media Outlets privacy has been non-existent. One can be astonished that the definition of privacy still exists since the introduction and existence of Social Media. Social Media erased the concept of privacy in our day to day lives. Imagine the convenience of friends, family and your Facebook or Twitter family knowing everything about your day, mood and whereabouts; in this day and age the world also knows what you’re eating, when and where. How did this happen Facebook started off as a connection platform for college students. To share updates, experiences and an advanced friend database based on education. Shortly after it became open to everyone and instead of being a place to stay connected it became a virtual diary of one’s day, vacation and life. It wasn’t enough that Facebook statuses were general. The world was now introduced to Twitter with a play by play updates on one’s daily life. According to character Father Brendan Flynn: â€Å"Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost, you are not alone. †(Doubt). When everyone is able to follow your posts and location on Facebook you’re not lost, on the contrary you are found. When everyone is able to read you’re constantly updated tweets you are not lost. With Social Media uncovering our personal lives to the world we are not lost we are however alone. Since Social Media makes it easy to â€Å"share† our experiences ironically we become alone as there is no need for physical interaction with friends and family. So what do we do? How do we overcome Social Media and retain our privacy again when Facebook and Twitter have been such an integral part of our lives with advertising, personal updates and virtual sharing? According to Audrey Siegel, media agency Target Cast President â€Å"You don’t have any control, quite honestly†. Social Media is here to stay with its’ good and bad, however it is up to us to control and regain our privacy.

Advantages Of Standard Costing Accounting Essay

Advantages Of Standard Costing Accounting Essay Despite the advantages just noted for some applications of standard costing, there are substantially more situations where it is not a viable costing system. Here are some problem areas: Cost-plus contracts. If you have a contract with a customer under which the customer pays you for your costs incurred, plus a profit (known as a cost-plus contract), then you must use actual costs, as per the terms of the contract. Standard costing is not allowed. Drives inappropriate activities. A number of the variances reported under a standard costing system will drive management to take incorrect actions to create favorable variances. For example, they may buy raw materials in larger quantities in order to improve the purchase price variance, even though this increases the investment in inventory. Similarly, management may schedule longer production runs in order to improve the labor efficiency variance, even though it is better to produce in smaller quantities and accept less labor efficiency in exchange. Fast-paced environment. A standard costing system assumes that costs do not change much in the near term, so that you can rely on standards for a number of months or even a year, before updating the costs. However, in an environment where product lives are short or continuous improvement is driving down costs, a standard cost may become out-of-date within a month or two. Slow feedback. A complex system of variance calculations are an integral part of a standard costing system, which the accounting staff completes at the end of each reporting period. If the production department is focused on immediate feedback of problems for instant correction, the reporting of these variances is much too late to be useful. Unit-level information. The variance calculations that typically accompany a standard costing report are accumulated in aggregate for a companys entire production department, and so are unable to provide information about discrepancies at a lower level, such as the individual work cell, batch, or unit. The foregoing list shows that there are a multitude of situations occur where standard costing is not useful, and may even result in incorrect management actions. Nonetheless, as long as you are aware of these issues, it is usually possible to profitably adapt standard costing into some aspects of a companys operations. Advantages of Standard Costing Though most companies do not use standard costing in its original application of calculating the cost of ending inventory, it is still useful for a number of other applications. In most cases, users are probably not even aware that they are using standard costing, only that they are using an guesstimate of actual costs. Here are some potential uses: Inventory costing. It is extremely easy to print a report showing the period-end inventory balances (if you are using a  perpetual inventory  system), multiply it by the standard cost of each item, and instantly generate an culmination inventory valuation. The result does not exactly match the actual cost of inventory, but it is close. However, it may be necessary to update standard costs frequently, if actual costs are continually changing. It is easiest to update costs for the highest-dollar mechanisms of inventory on a frequent basis, and leave lower-value items for intermittent cost reviews. Overhead application. If it takes too long to aggregate actual costs into cost pools for allocation to inventory, then you may use a standard overhead application rate instead, and adjust this rate every few months to keep it close to actual costs. production costs at different volume levels, since this may call for the use of longer production runs that are less expensive. Budgeting. A budget is always composed of standard costs, since it would be impossible to include in it the exact actual cost of an item on the day the budget is finalized. Also, since a key application of the budget is to compare it to actual results in subsequent periods, the standards used within it continue to appear in financial reports through the budget period. Price formulation. If a company deals with custom products, then it uses standard costs to compile the projected cost of a customers requirements, after which it adds on a margin. This may be quite a complex system, where the sales department uses a database of component costs that change depending upon the unit quantity that the customer wants to order. This system may also account for changes in the companys Nearly all companies have budgets and many use standard cost calculations to derive product prices, so it is apparent that standard costing will find some uses for the foreseeable future. In particular, standard costing provides a benchmark against which management can compare actual performance. Following through all the arithmetics of variances I have pin pointed reasons for the Material Price Variance, Material Usage Variance, Labour Efficiency Variance, and Labour Rate Variance. Material Price Variance occurs a failure to purchase the standard quality, thereby resulting in a difference price paid. This will lead into bad purchasing, in which is very discomforting the companys interest such as a rush purchase for an uneconomical markets, and also pushes a purchase of a substitute material on account of non-availability of the material specified by the company. This all are related to the interdependence at variances when it ensues an event has a favorable impact on one variance but an adverse impact on another variance. For example, the purchase of inferior quality materials may account for a favorable price variance but it may also have a negative impact on the material usage labor efficiency variance due to the quality causing an increase in usage. The adverse may also be affected by inflation and general increase in the market price. In such circumstances the selling price should be altered to refract the current market. Material Usage Variances may be affected by a whole lot of reasons such as carelessness in the use of material also affect the reason of material usage in resulting excessive consumption. Which brings us to the use of defective or sub-standard material that will cause spoilage to the material. Other reasons such as a change in t plant and machinery who also results to excessive consumption of material. The adverse on the variances is due to excess issues. Managers should check the stock are securely locked away that only the standard quantity is issued each day. And its not just that, There are a few more such as : Faulty workmanship Faulty material processing Pilferage of materials Use of material mixture, rather than standard mixture Labour Efficiency Variance is affected because of the actual hours used is greater than the standard hours, and it adverse is due to the use of an inappropriate standard that should be changed. Alternatively, there may have been idletime, ten working time should be synchronized. Bridget, C. (2012).  Standard Costing.  Available: http://www.accountingtools.com/standard-costing. Last accessed 28th Oct 2012.

Racism In Huck Finn Essay -- essays research papers fc

Racism in Huck Finn Ever since it was written, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn has been a novel that many people have found disturbing. Although some argue that the novel is extremely racist, careful reading will prove just the opposite. In recent years especially, there has been an increasing debate over what some will call the racist ideas in the novel. In some cases the novel has even been banned by public school systems and censored by public libraries. The basis for the debate is how Jim, a black slave and one of the main characters, is depicted. However, if one was to look at the underlying themes in the novel, they would realize that it is not racist and could even be considered an anti - slavery novel. The most popular problem people have with this book is the use of the word â€Å"nigger†. It must be remebered that during this time period it was not considered much of an insullt. You can also notice in the book it was not meant offensively by Huck, or taken offensively by Jim. This is what Stephan Shepard had to say about the banning of the book and the use of the word â€Å"nigger†: In addition to removing Mark Twain's novel from the required reading list, the district decided to use a censored version of the novel on its optional list. Admittedly, the censorship is minor the infamous "n-word" is deleted throughout the novel - however, it is not only a dishonest alteration of Twain's craft, it is also an unfair attempt to enforce the tastes of a few upon all students in the district. (Shepard 1) Also a column in The New York Times pointed out, "Huckleberry Finn is in constant trouble with teachers, librarians and parents because of its iterations of â€Å"nigger†, a word that has a preemptive force today that it did not have in Huck Finn's Mississippi Valley of the 1840s" (Ritter 2). Another aspect of the novel that some consider racist is the description of Jim. The first time the reader meets Jim, a very negative description is given. It is said that Jim is illiterate, childlike, not very bright and extremely superstitious. However, it is important not to lose sight of who is giving this description. Although Huck is not exactly a racist ... ... Twain meant no disrespect to black people in his novel Huckleberry Finn. It can even be said that this book was anti - slavery and did more disrespect to whites than blacks. Works Cited Allen, Micheal. Classic Literary Criticisms. New York: Oxford University Press. 1981 Baldanza, Frank. Mark Twain. New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1961. Conn, Peter. Literature in America. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Fishkin, Shelley F., Was Huck Black? (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), p.3. Marx, Leo, "Huck at 100," The Nation, Aug. 31, 1985. Nichols, Timothy. Classic Criticism. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1976 Ritter, Frank. â€Å"Polically Correct†. Op - ed page, Tennessean Times. September 18th 1996. Shepherd, Stephen (Oak Leaf Staff Writer) â€Å"Was Mark Twain Racist?†. New York: Oxford university Press. 1983 Smiley, Jane, "Say It Ain't So, Huck," Harper's, January 1996. Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Norton Anthology of American Literature_. 2 vols. Ed. Nina Baym, et al. 4th. ed. New York: Norton, 1994. 29-214. Wallace John H, The Case Against Huck Finn

I’M a Unique Individual

Ronald Mouton Dr. Steven Dolgin ENG 101-111326 28 January 2013 â€Å"I’m a unique individual† I believe I’m unique because I was a Marine and Marines make up . 06% of the population in the United States of America. Being in the Marines changed me and the way I think, I went from undisciplined to disciplined, cowardly to courageous. I learned how to lead people, train people, and inspired people. I know what it’s like to go to war, and to not have a break from work for 8 months straight.I know what it’s like to work 16-20 hour days in 110 degrees in the summer and 0 degrees days in the winter. I’ve had 2,000 pounds of vehicle armor (belly pan) fall on my finger and didn’t break one. The time I spent in Afghanistan was an experience that is hard to explain. It was good, bad, fun, miserable, thrilling, and boring. Life in Afghanistan was work every day of the week, long hours with no incentives to work hard, but you worked hard anyways.Th e only time we didn’t work hard was when the sand storms hit because you could not see an arms length in front of you. It’s impossible to breath in the storm. The sand is everywhere and gets all over you. The weather depending on the time of year could be hot as hell or cold as a Michigan winter day. I grew up in an environment that was bad, but not as bad as it could have been. My father was abusive and a drunk and still is a drunk. I saw in him everything I never wanted to be and I set out to do that by finishing school and joining the military.I wanted the intangibles the Marines offered me and they gave to me, but it was not easy and it’s not for the weak willed. I fought through the despair that happens in boot camp. I never quit even after I broke my thumb on the first day of the tree day crucible event which I had to complete in order to become a Marine. I see myself as a warrior I have the training of a warrior but I dislike confrontation and shy away fr om it. I’ll do what I have to do in order defuse the situation, if my words don’t work my fist will.I also see myself as an intellectual. I enjoy using my mind to solve problems. I believe common sense is the most important intangible you can have; I’ve met book smart people that couldn’t think critically or independently. I do believe you can be unique and have many standard traits, for instance like you are born in standardized hospitals, you go to standardized schools, eat standardized food, and watch standardized TV. Even with all the standardized things around us today, we can still take our individual experiences and become unique.

Vampire Academy Chapter 4

FOUR WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ENTIRE commons' attention this time, thank God, but a few passing people had stopped to stare. â€Å"What the hell do you think you're doing?† asked Doll Girl, blue eyes wide and sparkling with fury. Up close now, I was able to get a better look at her. She had the same slim build as most Moroi but not the usual height, which was partly what made her look so young. The tiny purple dress she wore was gorgeous – reminding me that I was indeed dressed in thrift-shop wear – but closer inspection led me to think it was a designer knockoff. I crossed my arms across my chest. â€Å"Are you lost, little girl? The elementary school's over on west campus.† A pink flush spread over her cheeks. â€Å"Don't you ever touch me again. You screw with me, and I'll screw you right back.† Oh man, what an opening that was. Only a head shake from Lissa stopped me from unleashing any number of hilarious comebacks. Instead, I opted for simple brute force, so to speak. â€Å"And if you mess with either of us again, I'll break you in half. If you don't believe me, go ask Dawn Yarrow about what I did to her arm in ninth grade. You were probably at nap time when it happened.† The incident with Dawn hadn't been one of my finer moments. I honestly hadn't expected to break any bones when I shoved her into a tree. Still, the incident had given me a dangerous reputation, in addition to my smartass one. The story had gained legendary status, and I liked to imagine that it was still being told around campfires late at night. Judging from the look on this girl's face, it was. One of the patrolling staff members strolled by right then, casting suspicious eyes at our little meeting. Doll Girl backed off, taking Aaron's arm. â€Å"Come on,† she said. â€Å"Hey, Aaron,† I said cheerfully, remembering he was there. â€Å"Nice to see you again.† He gave me a quick nod and an uneasy smile, just as the girl dragged him off. Same old Aaron. He might be nice and cute, but aggressive he was not. I turned to Lissa. â€Å"You okay?† She nodded. â€Å"Any idea who I just threatened to beat up?† â€Å"Not a clue.† I started to lead her toward the lunch line, but she shook her head at me. â€Å"Gotta go see the feeders.† A funny feeling settled over me. I'd gotten so used to being her primary blood source that the thought of returning to the Moroi's normal routine seemed strange. In fact, it almost bothered me. It shouldn't have. Daily feedings were part of a Moroi's life, something I hadn't been able to offer her while living on our own. It had been an inconvenient situation, one that left me weak on feeding days and her weak on the days in between. I should have been happy she would get some normality. I forced a smile. â€Å"Sure.† We walked into the feeding room, which sat adjacent to the cafeteria. It was set up with small cubicles, dividing the room's space in an effort to offer privacy. A dark-haired Moroi woman greeted us at the entrance and glanced down at her clipboard, flipping through the pages. Finding what she needed, she made a few notes and then gestured for Lissa to follow. Me she gave a puzzled look, but she didn't stop me from entering. She led us to one of the cubicles where a plump, middle-aged woman sat leafing through a magazine. She looked up at our approach and smiled. In her eyes, I could see the dreamy, glazed-over look most feeders had. She'd probably neared her quota for the day, judging from how high she appeared to be. Recognizing Lissa, her smile grew. â€Å"Welcome back, Princess.† The greeter left us, and Lissa sat down in the chair beside the woman. I sensed a feeling of discomfort in her, a little different from my own. This was weird for her too; it had been a long time. The feeder, however, had no such reservations. An eager look crossed her face – the look of a junkie about to get her next fix. Disgust poured into me. It was an old instinct, one that had been drilled in over the years. Feeders were essential to Moroi life. They were humans who willingly volunteered to be a regular blood source, humans from the fringes of society who gave their lives over to the secret world of the Moroi. They were well cared for and given all the comforts they could need. But at the heart of it, they were drug users, addicts to Moroi saliva and the rush it offered with each bite. The Moroi – and guardians – looked down on this dependency, even though the Moroi couldn't have survived otherwise unless they took victims by force. Hypocrisy at its finest. The feeder tilted her head, giving Lissa full access to her neck. Her skin there was marked with scars from years of daily bites. The infrequent feedings Lissa and I had done had kept my neck clear; my bite marks never lasted more than a day or so. Lissa leaned forward, fangs biting into the feeder's yielding flesh. The woman closed her eyes, making a soft sound of pleasure. I swallowed, watching Lissa drink. I couldn't see any blood, but I could imagine it. A surge of emotion grew in my chest: longing. Jealousy. I averted my eyes, staring at the floor. Mentally, I scolded myself. What's wrong with you? Why should you miss it? You only did it once every day. You aren't addicted, not like this. And you don't want to be. But I couldn't help myself, couldn't help the way I felt as I recalled the bliss and rush of a vampire's bite. Lissa finished and we returned to the commons, moving toward the lunch line. It was short, since we only had fifteen minutes left, and I strolled up and began to load my plate with french fries and some rounded, bite-size objects that looked vaguely like chicken nuggets. Lissa only grabbed a yogurt. Moroi needed food, as dhampirs and humans did, but rarely had an appetite after drinking blood. â€Å"So how'd classes go?† I asked. She shrugged. Her face was bright with color and life now. â€Å"Okay. Lots of stares. A lot of stares. Lots of questions about where we were. Whispering.† â€Å"Same here,† I said. The attendant checked us out, and we walked toward the tables. I gave Lissa a sidelong glance. â€Å"You okay with that? They aren't bothering you, are they?† â€Å"No – it's fine.† The emotions coming through the bond contradicted her words. Knowing I could feel that, she tried to change the subject by handing me her class schedule. I looked it over. 1st Period Russian 2 2nd Period American Colonial Literature 3rd Period Basics of Elemental Control 4th Period Ancient Poetry -Lunch – 5th Period Animal Behavior and Physiology 6th Period Advanced Calculus 7th Period Moroi Culture 4 8th Period Slavic Art â€Å"Nerd,† I said. â€Å"If you were in Stupid Math like me, we'd have the same afternoon schedule.† I stopped walking. â€Å"Why are you in elemental basics? That's a sophomore class.† She eyed me. â€Å"Because seniors take specialized classes.† We fell silent at that. All Moroi wielded elemental magic. It was one of the things that differentiated living vampires from Strigoi, the dead vampires. Moroi viewed magic as a gift. It was part of their souls and connected them to the world. A long time ago, they had used their magic openly – averting natural disasters and helping with things like food and water production. They didn't need to do that as much anymore, but the magic was still in their blood. It burned in them and made them want to reach out to the earth and wield their power. Academies like this existed to help Moroi control the magic and learn how to do increasingly complex things with it. Students also had to learn the rules that surrounded magic, rules that had been in place for centuries and were strictly enforced. All Moroi had a small ability in each element. When they got to be around our age, students â€Å"specialized† when one element grew stronger than the others: earth, water, fire, or air. Not specializing was like not going through puberty. And Lissa? ­well, Lissa hadn't specialized yet. â€Å"Is Ms. Carmack still teaching that? What she'd say?† â€Å"She says she's not worried. She thinks it'll come.† â€Å"Did you – did you tell her about – â€Å" Lissa shook her head. â€Å"No. Of course not.† We let the subject drop. It was one we thought about a lot but rarely spoke of. We started moving again, scanning the tables as we decided where to sit. A few pairs of eyes looked up at us with blatant curiosity. â€Å"Lissa!† came a nearby voice. Glancing over, we saw Natalie waving at us. Lissa and I exchanged looks. Natalie was sort of Lissa's cousin in the way Victor was sort of her uncle, but we'd never hung out with her all that much. Lissa shrugged and headed in that direction. â€Å"Why not?† I followed reluctantly. Natalie was nice but also one of the most uninteresting people I knew. Most royals at the school enjoyed a kind of celebrity status, but Natalie had never fit in with that crowd. She was too plain, too uninterested in the politics of the Academy, and too clueless to really navigate them anyway. Natalie's friends eyed us with a quiet curiosity, but she didn't hold back. She threw her arms around us. Like Lissa, she had jade-green eyes, but her hair was jet black, like Victor's had been before his disease grayed it. â€Å"You're back! I knew you would be! Everyone said you were gone forever, but I never believed that. I knew you couldn't stay away. Why'd you go? There are so many stories about why you left!† Lissa and I exchanged glances as Natalie prattled on. â€Å"Camille said one of you got pregnant and went off to have an abortion, but I knew that couldn't be true. Someone else said you went off to hang out with Rose's mom, but I figured Ms. Kirova and Daddy wouldn't have been so upset if you'd turned up there. Did you know we might get to be roommates? I was talking to? ­Ã¢â‚¬  On and on she chatted, flashing her fangs as she spoke. I smiled politely, letting Lissa deal with the onslaught until Natalie asked a dangerous question. â€Å"What'd you do for blood, Lissa?† The table regarded us questioningly. Lissa froze, but I immediately jumped in, the lie coming effortlessly to my lips. â€Å"Oh, it's easy. There are a lot of humans who want to do it.† â€Å"Really?† asked one of Natalie's friends, wide-eyed. â€Å"Yup. You find ? ®em at parties and stuff. They're all looking for a fix from something, and they don't really get that a vampire's doing it: most are already so wasted they don't remember anyway.† My already vague details dried up, so I simply shrugged in as cool and confident a way as I could manage. It wasn't like any of them knew any better. â€Å"Like I said, it's easy. Almost easier than with our own feeders.† Natalie accepted this and than launched into some other topic. Lissa shot me a grateful look. Ignoring the conversation again, I took in the old faces, trying to figure out who was hanging out with whom and how power had shifted within the school. Mason, sitting with a group of novices, caught my eye, and I smiled. Near him, a group of Moroi royals sat, laughing over something. Aaron and the blond girl sat there too. â€Å"Hey, Natalie,† I said, turning around and cutting her off. She didn't seem to notice or mind. â€Å"Who's Aaron's new girlfriend?† â€Å"Huh? Oh. Mia Rinaldi.† Seeing my blank look, she asked, â€Å"Don't you remember her?† â€Å"Should I? Was she here when we left?† â€Å"She's always been here,† said Natalie. â€Å"She's only a year younger than us.† I shot a questioning look at Lissa, who only shrugged. â€Å"Why is she so pissed off at us?† I asked. â€Å"Neither of us know her.† â€Å"I don't know,† answered Natalie. â€Å"Maybe she's jealous about Aaron. She wasn't much of anybody when you guys left. She got really popular really fast. She isn't royal or anything, but once she started dating Aaron, she – â€Å" â€Å"Okay, thanks,† I interrupted. â€Å"It doesn't really – â€Å" My eyes lifted up from Natalie's face to Jesse Zeklos's, just as he passed by our table. Ah, Jesse. I'd forgotten about him. I liked flirting with Mason and some of the other novices, but Jesse was in an entirely different category. You flirted with the other guys simply for the sake of flirting. You flirted with Jesse in the hopes of getting semi-naked with him. He was a royal Moroi, and he was so hot, he should have worn a warning: flammable sign. He met my eyes and grinned. â€Å"Hey Rose, welcome back. You still breaking hearts?† â€Å"Are you volunteering?† His grin widened. â€Å"Let's hang out sometime and find out. If you ever get parole.† He kept walking, and I watched him admiringly. Natalie and her friends stared at me in awe. I might not be a god in the Dimitri sense, but with this group, Lissa and I were gods – or at least former gods – of another nature. â€Å"Oh my gawd,† exclaimed one girl. I didn't remember her name. â€Å"That was Jesse.† â€Å"Yes,† I said, smiling. â€Å"It certainly was.† â€Å"I wish I looked like you,† she added with a sigh. Their eyes fell on me. Technically, I was half-Moroi, but my looks were human. I'd blended in well with humans during our time away, so much so that I'd barely thought about my appearance at all. Here, among the slim and small-chested Moroi girls, certain features – meaning my larger breasts and more defined hips – stood out. I knew I was pretty, but to Moroi boys, my body was more than just pretty: it was sexy in a risqu? ¦ way. Dhampirs were an exotic conquest, a novelty all Moroi guys wanted to â€Å"try.† It was ironic that dhampirs had such an allure here, because slender Moroi girls looked very much like the super-skinny runway models so popular in the human world. Most humans could never reach that â€Å"ideal† skinniness, just as Moroi girls could never look like me. Everyone wanted what she couldn't have. Lissa and I got to sit together in our shared afternoon classes but didn't do much talking. The stares she'd mentioned certainly did follow us, but I found that the more I talked to people, the more they warmed up. Slowly, gradually, they seemed to remember who we were, and the novelty – though not the intrigue – of our crazy stunt wore off. Or maybe I should say, they remembered who I was. Because I was the only one talking. Lissa stared straight ahead, listening but neither acknowledging nor participating in my attempts at conversation. I could feel anxiety and sadness pouring out of her. â€Å"All right,† I told her when classes finally ended. We stood outside the school, and I was fully aware that in doing so, I was already breaking the terms of my agreement with Kirova. â€Å"We're not staying here,† I told her, looking around the campus uneasily. â€Å"I'm going to find a way to get us out.† â€Å"You think we could really do it a second time?† Lissa asked quietly. â€Å"Absolutely.† I spoke with certainty, again relieved she couldn't read my feelings. Escaping the first time had been tricky enough. Doing it again would be a real bitch, not that I couldn't still find a way. â€Å"You really would, wouldn't you?† She smiled, more to herself than to me, like she'd thought of something funny. â€Å"Of course you would. It's just, well? ­Ã¢â‚¬  She sighed. â€Å"I don't know if we should go. Maybe – maybe we should stay.† I blinked in astonishment. â€Å"What?† Not one of my more eloquent answers, but the best I could manage. I'd never expected this from her. â€Å"I saw you, Rose. I saw you talking to the other novices during class, talking about practice. You miss that.† â€Å"It's not worth it,† I argued. â€Å"Not if? ­not if you? ­Ã¢â‚¬  I couldn't finish, but she was right. She'd read me. I had missed the other novices. Even some of the Moroi. But there was more to it than just that. The weight of my inexperience, how much I'd fallen behind, had been growing all day. â€Å"It might be better,† she countered. â€Å"I haven't had as many? ­you know, things happening in a while. I haven't felt like anyone was following or watching us.† I didn't say anything to that. Before we'd left the Academy, she'd always felt like someone was following her, like she was being hunted. I'd never seen evidence to support that, but I had once heard one of our teachers go on and on about the same sort of thing. Ms. Karp. She'd been a pretty Moroi, with deep auburn air and high cheekbones. And I was pretty sure she'd been crazy. â€Å"You never know who's watching,† she used to say, walking briskly around the classroom as she shut all the blinds. â€Å"Or who's following you. Best to be safe. Best to always be safe.† We'd snickered amongst ourselves because that's what students do around eccentric and paranoid teachers. The thought of Lissa acting like her bothered me. â€Å"What's wrong?† Lissa asked, noticing that I was lost in thought. â€Å"Huh? Nothing. Just thinking.† I sighed, trying to balance my own wants with what was best for her. â€Å"Liss, we can stay, I guess? ­but there are a few conditions.† This made her laugh. â€Å"A Rose ultimatum, huh?† â€Å"I'm serious.† Words I didn't say very much. â€Å"I want you to stay away from the royals. Not like Natalie or anything but you know, the others. The power players. Camille. Carly. That group.† Her amusement turned to astonishment. â€Å"Are you serious?† â€Å"Sure. You never liked them anyway.† â€Å"You did.† â€Å"No. Not really. I liked what they could offer. All the parties and stuff.† â€Å"And you can go without that now?† She looked skeptical. â€Å"Sure. We did in Portland.† â€Å"Yeah, but that was different.† Her eyes stared off, not really focused on any one thing. â€Å"Here? ­here I've got to be a part of that. I can't avoid it.† â€Å"The hell you do. Natalie stays out of that stuff.† â€Å"Natalie isn't going to inherit her family's title,† she retorted. â€Å"I've already got it. I've got to be involved, start making connections. Andre – â€Å" â€Å"Liss,† I groaned. â€Å"You aren't Andre.† I couldn't believe she was still comparing herself to her brother. â€Å"He was always involved in all that stuff.† â€Å"Yeah, well,† I snapped back, â€Å"he's dead now.† Her face hardened. â€Å"You know, sometimes you aren't very nice.† â€Å"You don't keep me around to be nice. You want nice, there are a dozen sheep in there who would rip each other's throats to get in good with the Dragomir princess. You keep me around to tell you the truth, and here it is: Andre's dead. You're the heir now, and you're going to deal with it however you can. But for now, that means staying away from the other royals. We'll just lie low. Coast through the middle. Get involved in that stuff again, Liss, and you'll drive yourself? ­Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Crazy?† she supplied when I didn't finish. Now I looked away. â€Å"I didn't mean? ­Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's okay.† she said, after a moment. She sighed and touched my arm. â€Å"Fine. We'll stay and we'll keep out of all that stuff. We'll ? ®coast through the middle' like you want. Hang out with Natalie, I guess.† To be perfectly honest, I didn't want any of that. I wanted to go to all the royal parties and wild drunken festivities like we'd done before. We'd kept out of that life for years until Lissa's parents and brother died. Andre should have been the one to inherit her family's title, and he'd certainly acted like it. Handsome and outgoing, he'd charmed everyone he knew and had been a leader in all the royal cliques and clubs that existed on campus. After his death, Lissa had felt it was her family duty to take his place. I'd gotten to join that world with her. It was easy for me, because I didn't really have to deal with the politics of it. I was a pretty dhampir, one who didn't mind getting into trouble and pulling crazy stunts. I became a novelty; they liked having me around for the fun of it. Lissa had to deal with other matters. The Dragomirs were one of the twelve ruling families. She'd have a very powerful place in Moroi society, and the other young royals wanted to get in good with her. Fake friends tried to schmooze her and get her to team up against other people. The royals could bribe and backstab in the same breath – and that was just with each other. To dhampirs and non-royals, they were completely unpredictable. That cruel culture had eventually taken its toll on Lissa. She had an open, kind nature, one that I loved, and I hated to see her upset and stressed by royal games. She'd grown fragile since the accident, and all the parties in the world weren't worth seeing her hurt. â€Å"All right then,† I said finally. â€Å"We'll see how this goes. If anything goes wrong – anything at all – we leave. No arguments.† She nodded. â€Å"Rose?† We both looked up at Dimitri's looming form. I hoped he hadn't heard the part about us leaving. â€Å"You're late for practice,† he said evenly. Seeing Lissa, he gave a polite nod. â€Å"Princess.† As he and I walked away, I worried about Lissa and wondered if staying here was the right thing to do. I felt nothing alarming through the bond, but her emotions spiked all over the place. Confusion. Nostalgia. Fear. Anticipation. Strong and powerful, they flooded into me. I felt the pull just before it happened. It was exactly like what had happened on the plane: her emotions grew so strong that they â€Å"sucked† me into her head before I could stop them. I could now see and feel what she did. She walked slowly around the commons, toward the small Russian Orthodox chapel that served most of the school's religious needs. Lissa had always attended mass regularly. Not me. I had a standing arrangement with God: I'd agree to believe in him – barely – so long as he let me sleep in on Sundays. But as she went inside, I could feel that she wasn't there to pray. She had another purpose, one I didn't know about. Glancing around, she verified that neither the priest nor any worshippers were close by. The place was empty. Slipping through a doorway in the back of the chapel, she climbed a narrow set of creaky stairs up into the attic. Here it was dark and dusty. The only light came through a large stained-glass window that fractured the faint glow of sunrise into tiny, multicolored gems across the floor. I hadn't known until that moment that this room was a regular retreat for Lissa. But now I could feel it, feel her memories of how she used to escape here to be alone and to think. The anxiety in her ebbed away ever so slightly as she took in the familiar surroundings. She climbed up into the window seat and leaned her head back against its side, momentarily entranced by the silence and the light. Moroi could stand some sunlight, unlike the Strigoi, but they had to limit their exposure. Sitting here, she could almost pretend she was in the sun, protected by the glass's dilution of the rays. Breathe, just breathe, she told herself. It'll be okay. Rose will take care of everything. She believed that passionately, like always, and relaxed further. Then a low voice spoke from the darkness. â€Å"You can have the Academy but not the window seat.† She sprang up, heart pounding. I shared her anxiety, and my own pulse quickened. â€Å"Who's there?† A moment later, a shape rose from behind a stack of crates, just outside her field of vision. The figure stepped forward, and in the poor lighting, familiar features materialized. Messy black hair. Pale blue eyes. A perpetually sardonic smirk. Christian Ozera. â€Å"Don't worry,† he said. â€Å"I won't bite. Well, at least not in the way you're afraid of.† He chuckled at his own joke. She didn't find it funny. She had completely forgotten about Christian. So had I. No matter what happened in our world, a few basic truths about vampires remained the same. Moroi were alive; Strigoi were undead. Moroi were mortal; Strigoi were immortal. Moroi were born; Strigoi were made. And there were two ways to make a Strigoi. Strigoi could forcibly turn humans, dhampirs, or Moroi with a single bite. Moroi tempted by the promise of immortality could become Strigoi by choice if they purposely killed another person while feeding. Doing that was considered dark and twisted, the greatest of all sins, both against the Moroi way of life and nature itself. Moroi who chose this dark path lost their ability to connect with elemental magic and other powers of the world. That was why they could no longer go into the sun. This is what had happened to Christian's parents. They were Strigoi.