Women And Women s Rights - 1176 Words

Inequality It’s incredible how every country in this world has different customs and beliefs towards gender roles. In the United States, women began to fight for their freedom through the Women’s Right Movement in the 19th century. Through many obstacles and suffering, they accomplished voting rights, equal pay, reproductive rights, the right to run for political office, and much more. Sadly, not everyone believes that women should have equal rights as men. In the rural areas of India, due to the massive amount of population, poverty is extremely high which is affecting many people negatively, especially the women and young girls. The community is expressing Anti-female biased by committing violent acts against the women, giving then†¦show more content†¦I am amazed at the fact that even though it is a tradition in India for women to serve men, a couple shown in the documentary work together and equally, which challenges society norms. Normally, it is difficult for village Indian woman to talk about sexual subjects due to the culture norms, such as, not being able to leave the house and covering their full body because they believe it is sacred, however, this have and will change. Gender inequality is expressed in India where women and girls do not have equal access to information and resources as men do. Throughout the documentary, I observed a great amount of inequality and discrimination based on gender and gender roles. Indian women and young girls are sadly mistreated, and neglected. For instance, young girls are forced to do manual labor as their bones are still forming, which is one of the causes of why Indian females have more fractures and severe back pain then males. Another reason why Indian women are abused is due to the massive amount of population causing criminal acts towards them to avoid human reproduction. Traditions and social norms remain extremely powerful in India, due to male dominance which empowers all. My perspective, based on this film would be conflict theory, which is a macro analytical view, as it looks at society as a competition for limited resources. One example shown in the video was when village women were not able to speak to male

The Declaration Of Independence, By Martin Luther King,...

Since the beginning of our country, the United States of America has always recognized the equality of man, and as stated in the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these, are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† Deplorable, though, is the fact that people of color have systematically had their liberty violated unceasingly throughout our history. Fifty-two years ago, in his famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, â€Å"We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.† Uttered decades ago, these words should have no pertinence in today’s society; yet they still ring loud and reveal the same plight that people of color share today. The real argument, though, is that under the constitution, police have no legal right to rob people of color, or any people for that matter, of their civil liberties; however, people of color are continually targeted, and are treated with such an abysmal impertinence that it sh ould no longer go unnoticed. Although laws that protect citizens from police misconduct are often neglected, there is certainly a plethora of them. The first of many, color of law, actually refers to a law meant to protect the authority and the power of law enforcement officers and applicable in criminal cases. However, officers often overstep the boundaries of this law. TheShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr1194 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Simmons 1 Gabrielle Simmons Mrs. Fitzgerald Social Studies 8A 4/27/10 Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well known and an inspiring man to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King s views and believes helped African Americans through the 50 s and 60 s to the rights and liberties that was their right. King faced many obstacles on his journey, things like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles,Read MoreRhetorical Analysis of the I Have a Dream Speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.1219 Words   |  5 Pagesechoed throughout Washington D.C. August 28, 1963 as Martin Luther King Jr. paved the path to freedom for those suffering from racial segregation. It was the day of the March on Washington, which promoted Civil Rights and economic equality for African Americans. In order to share his feelings and dreams with the rest of the nation, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his speech encouraging all to overcome racial segregation. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech was very eff ective due to theRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence, By Thomas Jefferson, And Martin Luther King Jr.1138 Words   |  5 Pagesfree. The â€Å"Declaration of Independence,† written by Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech both address the problem of not being free. Even though Thomas and Luther were alive 150 years apart and had very different lives, they both faced the same issue of human equality that drove them to write some of the most influential works in American history. Although they bear some superficial similarities, the difference between the Declaration of Independence and â€Å"I HaveRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Martin Luther King Jr. Essay1334 Words   |  6 Pages2 What is our role as a citizen? The Declaration of Independence explains a citizen’s role as, â€Å"Individual rights refer to the liberties of each individual to pursue life and goals without interference from other individuals or the government.† But what happens when the rights given to us are not protected as stated in the Declaration of Independence? The result is dissatisfaction in our communities which leads to people taking a stand. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham jail talks aboutRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1601 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. gave a speech titled â€Å"I Have a Dream† on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. In this speech, Dr. King is trying to persuade all races specifically Blacks and Whites to take action in order to gain freedom and harmony in the community. He tries to do this by using different techniques to appeal to his audience. It is shown that he uses pathos or emotional appeal throughout his speech. Also there are clear signs of logical appeal which is called logos. InRead MoreLincoln And Abraham Lincolns I Have A Dream Speech956 Words   |  4 Pages Once, a man named Martin Luther King Jr. asserted, â€Å"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.† Martin Luther King Jr. was an astute abolitionist who performed a vital speech called I Have a Dream. There is another well-known speech just like this one by Abraham Lincoln called The Gettysburg Address. After attentively analyzing, comparing, and contrasting these two fundamental speeches in history, the readers have developed a question:Read MoreThe Creed of the United States Essay1768 Words   |  8 Pagesdemocracy. The American creed represents our need for independence and equality of life. The American creed which appears in the Declaration of Independence written by our great leaders has been a statement that we have seen reinforced over history by our most influential leaders. Some of these statements are the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.â€⠄¢s I have a dream speech. The Declaration of Independence is considered to be the founding document of theRead MoreAmerica: Racist Tyrant Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica the Racist Tyrant In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson shows the King of Great Britain acting as a tyrant to the colonies, and Jefferson declared America to be free from Britain. In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. writes to a clergyman logically analyzing criticisms while communicating to the public his arguments. In the Original of Civil Society, Jean-Jacques Rousseau concludes that the social contract benefits those who are not strong toRead MoreGandhi s Effect On The World1174 Words   |  5 PagesGandhi’s Salt march which had the Indian independence. Gandhi played a major role in the development of nonviolence and peace activities. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the pre-eminent political and spiritual bellwether of India and the Indian independence movement. He had many adherents, and edified many how to protest placidly, instead of utilizing violence and war. Gandhi is a role model for many people today and is one of the most famous of all nonviol ent activists. Gandhi made an immenselyRead MoreRichard Wright s Letter From A Birmingham Jail1120 Words   |  5 Pagesideas and opinions makes it hard to reach independence and freedom because a negative mindset is preventing the transformation. Throughout history and into today, the largest injustice in our society deals with racial prejudice, and the fear of emerging cultures often leads to superiority with the majority of the population and inferiority with the minority. Throughout reading Native Son by Richard Wright, â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther King Jr., â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity† by John

Mother courage Essay Example For Students

Mother courage Essay In 1939, on the eve of the Nazi Holocaust, the great German playwright Bertolt Brecht wrote Mother Courage and Her Children. For the setting of his play, he chose the Thirty Years War, the senseless 17th century European conflict that pitted Protestants against Catholics and laid waste to whole lands and peoples. Spanning the years 1618-1648, it was the most destructive war in European history until modern times. It was a war which seemingly no one wanted but which no one could stop once it had gained its brutal momentum. The play came too late to be of consequence in World War Two, but it has played to great effect on the world stage ever since, becoming Brechts most popular work after The Threepenny Opera. Mother Courage herself has become a theatre archetype of the indomitable, irrepressible human spirit. For all its epic scoperolling through Sweden, Poland, Saxony, Bavaria and Alsacethe play is an intensely personal journey. It centers on a woman, Mother Courage, who owns a rolling canteen wagon and who follows the war selling victuals and sundries to its troops. She is an earthy peasant, a hearty cynic who profits from slaughter, and who actually fears that peace may break out. Mother Courage knows no loyalty but to her business and to her family whom she tries to protect from the ravages of the carnage. Eventually, the war exacts its pound of flesh, its payment for her long feeding upon it. One by one, all her children become fodder for the ravenous maw of the conflict, victims of the very virtues which she has instilled in them for survival. This is a deeply human play. Mother Courage embodies the best, and worst, of all of us in similar circumstances. With a single mindedness that produces real heroism, she negotiates the wake of the war. Ruthless, fiercely selfish, clever and conniving in defense of her small moveable turf, she is completely understandable. In her bawdy humor, tenderness and rue, she is utterly human and sympathetic. In the end, like in any tragedy, it is her great will and indomitable spirit which is both her ruin and her triumph. Bibliography:

Installing a Power Supply Back Up System

Introduction There have been power interruptions during the test time for switches leading to considerable loss in terms of time and resources. For example, during the two times power was interrupted the switches, which were currently undergoing tests, were discarded.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Installing a Power Supply Back Up System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It translated to loss on the timing side as now my contract has lost two days, and I have to strategize on how to recover the two days in order to complete my assignment on time (Lannon 57). I propose that the company considers having a power generator that will automatically run when power is interrupted, and automatically shuts down when power is back. Types of power supply There are various types of power supply systems, but decidedly few can be considered for these tests. There is a power supply such as batteries and fuel cells but these cannot be considered due to their strengths. For example, they are used to operate televisions and to start car engines (Basso 87). Electrical energy power transformation systems are other types of power supply, but they cannot be used as backup for these tests because, they convert available power. Generators are power supply devices that use fuel to produce energy, and they can be considered for these tests. This is because, once power in interrupted, an automated generator can take charge producing power hence achieving the goal of having un-interrupted experiments. The last power supply system is the solar power systems. These are devices used to tap energy from the sun hence producing power that can be used to run equipment in industries and domestic households. However, solar power may not be considered for this set up due to its disadvantages.Advertising Looking for proposal on engineering? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, since its power come from the sun there are chances of failure in cases where it happens to be raining for long. If power is interrupted when there is inadequate solar power stored, chances of holding the tests at a stall are high. Strength of power supply required Since power needed should be able to substitute the interrupted power from the mains, a strong power supply is required. This is because, power required to run the oven and freezers for long should be available and if a power supply cannot produce that equivalent of power the tests will be invalid. Therefore, the power supply to be installed should be able to produce at least 30KvA. This is a generator that can supply both the testing equipment and other energy requirements in the company in case power is interrupted. The generator to be considered for this company should be installed with sensors to detect the instance power goes off in order to switch on the generator, hence eliminating the power Gap. It must also be designed in a way such that power overloading will be avoided; hence it should be able to go off when power resumes. Power supplies required One power generator can produce enough power to operate both the freezer and the oven. This can be achieved by installing a strong generator that can generate 30KvA. This power is able to produce enough power for running both equipment and other electric appliances in the company (Lannon 97). This is because installing two generators to serve individual equipment may be expensive for the organization.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Installing a Power Supply Back Up System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, it is advisable that the management consider installing one large power supply that will provide enough energy for all appliances in the company. It is expensive to employ a full time technician since the generator will be automated. There is no need to have a technician since the generator will sense power interruptions and automatically start and automatically shut down when power resumes. Leasing or buying the power supply There is a need to weigh out options between leasing and purchasing power supply for the organization. In fact, purchasing the power supply is expensive since power interruptions are not common in the organization. Purchasing a generator will come along with other expenses such as the maintenance and installation expenses (Basso 77). Leasing is more viable option because the power back up is vital during the short period of testing switches. Leasing power supply is cheap since the organization is not in charge of the maintenance expenses. Installation costs will be remarkably little because the organization may set up a temporary structure for the machine since it is required for a short time. Cost of purchasing versus cost of leasing The cost of purchasing a new power generator and installation amoun ts to about $2500 which is extremely expensive considering that it is required for a short time. The cost of leasing a power generator with the same specifications for eight weeks will be $450. Conclusion The organization should consider installing a power supply back up system in order to avoid further loss in term of time and resources.Advertising Looking for proposal on engineering? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The manager should consider leasing a power generator that has the capacity to run both the freezer and the oven. This will help in saving cost of installing two generators to serve the oven and freezer individually. Works Cited Basso, Christophe P. Switch-Mode Power Supplies Spice Simulations and Practical Designs. London: McGraw-Hill Prof Med/Tech. 2008. Print Lannon, John M. Technical Communication, 11 ed. London: Longman, 2008. Print This proposal on Installing a Power Supply Back Up System was written and submitted by user Chase Robbins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Many Uses of Swipe

The Many Uses of Swipe The Many Uses of â€Å"Swipe† The Many Uses of â€Å"Swipe† By Maeve Maddox Ben writes: I have noticed the changing in usage of words. When I was growing up â€Å"to swipe a card† (credit cards were not around then) meant to steal it and now you see the term â€Å"swipe the customers card.† No one’s quite sure where this word swipe originated. It’s kin to sweep and swoop. All three words suggest a wide sweeping motion. They can be used as nouns or as verbs. A batter takes a swipe at the ball. (noun) A waiter swipes a table with a towel. (verb) A hawk swoops down on a chicken. (verb) Macduff, learning of the murder of his family, cries: All? What, All my pretty Chickens, and their Damme, At one fell swoope?† (noun) A housewife sweeps the steps. (verb) An opera diva sweeps onto the stage in a long gown. (verb) A card player makes a clean sweep of all the stakes. (noun) The compound noun sweepstakes, meaning â€Å"prize won in a race or contest† entered the language in 1773. An earlier form of the word, swepestake existed in Middle English with the meaning â€Å"one who sweeps or wins all the stakes in a game.† King Henry VII of England had a ship with that name. The verb sideswipe, â€Å"to strike with a glancing blow,† dates from 1917. Its most common use is in speaking of vehicles: His mother was sideswiped by a driver in a green pickup truck. Swipe with the meaning of â€Å"to steal† is a latecomer, dating from 1889. This meaning is said to have originated as theatrical slang used of actors stealing jokes or stage routines from one another. Like Ben, I would have thought, growing up, that â€Å"to swipe a card† meant to steal it. That sense of swipe is still current. Swipe meaning â€Å"to run a credit card† came into use in the 1990s. In practice there’s probably not much chance of confusing the two meanings because context will make the difference clear: I swiped my credit card. The clerk swiped my credit card. Somebody swiped my credit card. Another popular use of swipe in the expression â€Å"to take a swipe at† with the meaning â€Å"to criticize† or â€Å"to make a verbal attack on† or even, perhaps, as in the Google quotation below, â€Å"to threaten†: Lindsey Graham Takes Another Swipe At Glenn Beck Google Takes Another Swipe at Newspapers And Magazines With Fast Flip The Vampire Diaries takes a swipe at Stephenie Meyers Twilight The New Yorker takes a swipe at  everyone Clearly swipe is a word we like to use in a variety of contexts. My only suggestion is that I’d avoid using swipe as a synonym for â€Å"to steal† in a serious context. It’s acceptable enough when used in a non-larcenous context among friends: Who swiped the last donut? He was drinking, so I swiped his car keys. Used of real crimes of theft, it becomes a euphemism to soften a vicious act. For example, this headline about the two juveniles who stole weapons from a gun cabinet and went on to murder five people and wound ten others: School shooters swiped guns from unlocked rack and these: Criminals swipe cables to cash in on soaring value of scrap metal the victim left his building, which is near 75th Street, the night before only to return at 10 am to discover his vintage basketball cards, valued at $2,000, had been swiped. I see no reason to avoid the stronger and more precise word steal in such contexts. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a Sentence"Have" vs "Having" in Certain Expressions50 Synonyms for "Song"

Measuring Macroeconomic Concepts

Measuring Macroeconomic Concepts Inflation rate can be defined as the percentage rate at which prices of goods and services change over a period of time (Sheffrin 7). As a matter of fact, it can also be referred to as the rate at which the purchasing power of individuals’ changes as time goes by. In this case, inflation rates can be used to calculate interest rates and any expected increase in wages (Inflation rate 11). Inflation rate is measured by looking at the current average price level and the price level that had been witnessed a year ago.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Macroeconomic Concepts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The USA inflation rate has been changing as time goes by in 2010. It should be known that the government calculates its inflation rate to one decimal place. As a matter of fact, it has been ranging from 2.63% to 1.05% (Forecast 8). In December 2010, the inflation rate stood at 1.2%. This rate is expected to stabilize in January 2011 at 1.3% (Inflation rate 17). The country is in a stable period of prices because this inflation rate is manageable and good for the economy. This will keep prices within the reach of various consumers. Unemployment rate can be defined as the percentage of a country’s labor force that doesn’t have jobs but they are looking for jobs and at the same time willing to work (Ruhm 14). The unemployment rate can be arrived at by dividing the number of unemployed persons with the country’s total labor force (Ashley 9). In this case, the labor force is the total number of employed persons and the total number of unemployed persons in a given economy. The USA unemployment rate has been changing as time goes by. This is more so after the global financial crisis. As a matter of fact, the country’s unemployment rate was last recorded at 9.80% in November 2010 (Forecast 17). The country’s inflation rate has been manageable all along a nd it has never reached such highs. Such an unemployment rate was last witnessed in 1982 at 10.80%. This unemployment rate will not cause deflation. This is because deflation only occurs when the average inflation rate falls below 0%. As much as the economy is still recovering, this will not cause a reduction in the supply of money to warrant deflation. A labor market can also be termed as an informal market (Blades 13). In this market, workers compete for various jobs in the economy. On the other hand, employers also compete for existing workers. The current labor market structure is characterized by a lot of labor supply with less demand. Companies are still picking up after the global financial crisis and they don’t have enough capacity to employ people. This labor market structure will not lead to cost push inflation because the cost of doing business in the country has not increased to push up various manufacturing costs (Economy watch 9). In the mean time, this structur e will have a little impact on deflation as time goes by. This is because the market is still readjusting for sustainability.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Growth rate can be defined as the year on year change that a given country will experience as far as its economic performance is concerned. As a matter of fact, it is an increase that a given variable will gain as time goes by (Trading economics 13). GDP is the amount of goods and services that a given country can produce at a given period of time. GDP is calculated by looking at the market value of the country’s goods and services (Wieseman 9). The USA GDP is estimated to have expanded by 2.60% in the third quarter of 2010 (Trading economics 16). As a matter of fact, the country has a market oriented economy. In this case, individuals and private companies are free to make their own decisions. There ar e good future predictions because the GDP growth rate is expected to increase as time goes by. In December 2010, GDP was $14, 834 while it is estimated to reach 14,952 in January 2011 (Trading economics 18). Income distribution can be described as the approach that is used to distribute a nation’s total economy among its citizens (Sudhir 15). Income distribution has mostly been represented or defined by the Lorenz curve. The distribution of income has mostly been unequal for a long period of time. In this case, it is argued that those in the top two quintiles earn more than 60% of the population combined together (Trading economics 13). It should be known that most of the country’s income rests in the hands of the middle class. Ashley, Richard. Fact sheet on the impact of unemployment. 2007. Springer: Heidelberg. Blades, Derek. Understanding National Accounts. 2006. London: Guardian. Economy watch. Cost push inflation. 2011. Web. Forecast. U.S. Inflation Rate Forecast . 2011. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Macroeconomic Concepts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Inflation rate. Current Inflation. 2011. Web. Ruhm, Christopher. Are Recessions Good for Your Health. 2000. New York: Routledge. Sheffrin, Steven. Economics: Principles in action. 2003. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River. Sudhir, Anand. Inequality and Poverty in Malaysia. 1983. New York: Oxford University Press. Trading economics. United States GDP Growth rate. 2011. Web. Wieseman, Ted. United States review and preview. 2011. Web.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of one or two particular Essay

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of one or two particular research methods (e.g. ethnography narrative enquiry surveys q - Essay Example Social science survey research is significant as it seeks to measure previous and current behavior, as well as future behavior (Marelli, 2004). As can be seen from political survey polls, these polls evaluate public opinion likely determining how people would vote in upcoming elections. The surveys also in public health would assess health behavior including eating trends, exercise trends, smoking behavior, wearing of seatbelts, frequency of routine exams, and other related relevant health behavior (Marelli, 2004). These studies seek predictions and trends in human behavior and how such behavior can be changed. In effect, individuals without health insurance can be surveyed using questions on how willing they are to pay health insurance. The surveys can also be applied in determining if individuals would buy more fresh vegetables if these were cheaper (Hatch, 2009). Survey subjects likely covered for survey research include those who can be accurately evaluated through subject respon se (Hoppe, 1998). Physical measures can sometimes be accurately assessed if the subjects have standard resources. In other words, height, weight, blood sugar, nutrition, and blood pressure can easily be measured where the subjects apply standard measures. Medication use can also be evaluated based on an individual’s prescription information. Clinical results, however, are sometimes not being measured during the survey research especially as they need health care professionals to carry out the process (Mathiyazhagan and Nandan, 2010). Health care application would fit well for surveys since the responses can be taken from the subjects, insurance records, or the written records. Disease incidence and prevalence are often more complicated to measure as they call for accurate means of diagnosing (Hatch, 2009). Mental health diseases are considered exempted because they are often diagnosed using survey scored within or outside the mental health system. Validity The validity of sur vey research is evaluated by measures similar to clinical research studies (Hatch, 2009). The covered population must still be specifically defined and a sample population extracted. The most relevant source of bias in survey research is on sampling. As soon as the target population is established, random or representative samples have to be chosen and those chosen must then be asked to participate in the study (Glasow, 2005). For some populations, the samples are easy to define and extract. Samples in clinical settings can be randomly chosen from the medical records. Inclusion and exclusion criteria, including condition, age, gender, treatment can then be compiled before the sampling process is initiated (Hatch, 2009). Patients with existing relations with the researcher would likely entertain calls or invitations to participate. The larger population however would be more difficult to locate and include in the sample population. Granting that the target is a population of adults i n a city in the eastern coast of the United States, the first task would be to identify all the adults in the area. The sources would also have to be laid out. Telephone listings are considered one of the sources of names, however not all adults have listed numbers, and others use cell phones, and the rest, do not even have phones (Hatch, 2009). In some instances, other

Boomtown Girl Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Boomtown Girl - Assignment Example She was also the youngest in the class. Her viewpoint was often unwavering and even though she tended to have a negative view of things, the narrator describes it as a self-defensive mechanism. When they were away from each other, Ma Li and the narrator exchanged letters, as this is how they kept in touch. The narrator pays close attention to Ma Li and appears to have a special interest in her. While working with a jewelry factory in Shenzhen, she registered a positive trend; her salary grew by over 100 %, she entered a serious relationship and her character grew more apprehensive and bold. She is seen standing up to her boss and eventually quitting the job to become an English teacher at the nursery school level. As the plot unfolds, the narrator goes to visit Ma Li at Shenzhen where they bonded for a while. The narrator is seemingly impressed by the progress Ma Li was making especially the fact that ‘she was doing well’ in the narrator’s closing remarks. As the plot unfolds, her character transforms and she becomes more confident. The narrator notes that much of her shyness had faded away as is evident in the way she stands against her boss after breaking curfew for which she was not apologetic at all. Likewise, she was becoming more responsible. She helped her family make ends meet especially by designating a portion of her salary towards paying school fees for one of her siblings. As the narrator writes, the newfound sense of responsibility, as evidenced from her growing obligation towards family, had given Ma Li a novel air of maturity. She was becoming more mature as she entered into a relationship with her boyfriend Gao Ming and started living together. She also felt responsible for her fellow workers and she often spent time with them when they felt lonely. During her college years, the narrator notes that Ma Li was not entirely social with other students (Hessler 3). She often secluded herself and had

Conflicts Are Important Worksheet Essay Example for Free

Conflicts Are Important Worksheet Essay In this assignment, you must write 300 to 450 words on conflict and conflict management. Record your answers in this worksheet. Part 1: The Five Conflict Types Describe each of the five conflict types using paragraph form. 1. Pseudo conflicts: Pseudo conflicts are imaginary conflicts that are a result of faulty assumptions and false dilemmas (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). Many times pseudo conflicts involve two parties with the same views on a subject arguing because they misunderstand or misperceive what the other person is trying to say. 2. Fact conflicts: Fact conflicts arise when two parties disagree about information that can be easily verified or the way it is verified (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). 3. Ego conflicts: Ego conflicts usually center on status or power and occur when one party feels as though their opinion or way of doing things is far superior than anyone else (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). 4. Value conflicts: Value conflicts usually occur in personal relationships, and arise when someone challenges another’s personal beliefs in which they hold near and dear (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). These conflicts can be very intense and long lasting. 5. Need conflicts: Need conflicts arise when the needs of one individual are put before the needs of another or when the needs of each individual are not specifically stated and understood by both parties (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). Part 2: The Five Conflict Management Styles Describe each of the five conflict management styles and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each. Use paragraph form. 1. Avoiders: Avoiders steer clear of conflict and simply avoid the issues because they view it as trivial, unimportant, or have no chance of winning the argument. Strengths of avoiding style is to prevent an immediate conflict and weakness is that the conflict will fester longer and remains superficial (Thomas Kilmann, 2014). 2. Accommodators: Accommodators believe conflict is destructive and allow others to determine the outcome (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). The strength of using this style is when the issue is not as important to you as it is to the other party and the weakness is you can begin to feel taken advantage of (Thomas Kilmann, 2014). 3. Forcers: Forcers believe winning is everything and employ persuasion with emotional appeals (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). This style is best used when your core values need to be defended and weakness is you receive less input and ideas from others (Thomas Kilmann, 2014). 4. Compromisers: Compromisers believe that those involved in the conflict must be ready to give in a little to reach a solution (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). This style is best used to achieve temporary settlements to complex issues and weakness is no one really gets what they originally wanted (Thomas Kilmann, 2014). 5. Collaborators: Collaborators believe with hard work, both parties can and will get their needs met (Cheesebro, OConner, Rios, 2010). This style is best used to integrate both sets of concerns and weakness is can take longer to resolve the problem (Thomas Kilmann, 2014). Part 3: Collaborative Communication List two methods of collaborative communication and describe how using them can help you avoid conflicts. Two methods of collaborative communication are social media/software and boards. Social software such as blogs, instant messaging and social networks like Facebook and Twitter, are a great way to allow large groups to receive the same message when they are in many different places (Greene, Crystal, 2014). The use of chalkboards have been replaced by digital or electronic whiteboards and have been used for decades as way to visually demonstrate and communicate ideas that lead to brainstorming and other group collaborations. References Cheesebro, T., OConner, L., Rios, F. (2010). Chapter 7: Conflict Resolution. In Communicating in the Workplace. Pearson Education. Greene, Crystal. (2014). Collaborative Communication Tools. Retrieved from eHOW.com: http://www.ehow.com/list_6828701_collaborative-communication-tools.html Thomas, K., Kilmann, R. (2014). Five Conflict Management Styles. Retrieved from http://www.ntc.edu/studentlifeblog/wp-content/uploads/Handout-Conflict-Management-Styles.pdf

micheal Jackson :: essays research papers

The Bio History of Michael Joseph Jackson began when he was born on the 29th of August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the 7th of nine children. (brothers: Sigmund "Jackie", Toriano "Tito", Jermaine, Marlon, Steven "Randy", and sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya Jackson Michael began his musical career at the age of 5 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 who formed in 1964. In these early years the Jackson 5, Jackie, Jermaine,Tito,Marlon and lead singer Michael played local clubs and bars in Gary Indiana and moving further afield as there talents grew and they could compete in bigger competitions. From these early days Michael would be at the same clubs as big talented stars of there days, such as Jackie Wilson and would be learning from them even back then. In 1968 the Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers discovered the Jackson five and from there they got an audition for Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Jackson 5 signed for Motown and moved to California. Their first 4 singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" all made US No1 hits. The Jackson 5 recorded 14 albums and Michael recorded 4 solo albums with Motown. The Jackson 5 stayed with Motown until 1976, wanting more artistic freedom they felt they had to move on and signed up with Epic. The group name Jackson 5 had to be changed as it was owned by Motown, so they reverted to The Jacksons as they had be known in the early days. Brother Jermaine married Berry Gordy's daughter and stayed with Motown. Youngest brother Randy joined in his place. The Jacksons had a number of hit recordsand in total made 6 albums between the years of 1976 and 1984. In 1977 Michael made his first film debut when he starred in the musical 'The Wiz' playing Scarecrow with Diana Ross in the lead role of Dorothy. It was at this time Michael met Quincy Jones who was doing the score for the film. Michael teamed up with Quincey Jones as his producer for his first solo album with Epic Records. The album titled "Off The Wall" was a big success around the world and the first ever album to release a record breaking 4 No1 singles in the US. In 1982 Michael Jackson released the world's largest selling album of all time, 'Thriller'. This album produced 7 hit singles, breaking yet again more records, and went on to sell over 50 million copies worldwide.

Communication and Ethical Issues Summary Essay

The first example of the SWAT Team raiding a suspected meth house showed no ethics at all. The officers probably assumed no one was home since they pulled over their suspect away from his home, When they see a man coming down the stairs they should have noticed a golf club un his hand not a gun. The use of their power in this case was not justified even if he resisted non of the officers would have been hurt by the helmet and body armor they wear. Their use of power was unjustified (Balko, 2013). The second example where a homeless man is carrying a knife and would not drop it was shot. It was legal for him to have and carry the knife and if a bystander has to ask a police officer why he shot him tells me that he was not doing anything threatening with the knife. He was shot because he did not drop it. This is the shortcomings of the officer culture of leadership in his department because the officer was cleared of any wrong doing. His use of power was unjustified (Balko, 2013). The third example is where the police raid a recording studio thinking there are a large quantity of drugs located there. They only find personal consumption quantity and they try to decide what equipment in the recording studio they will take on asset forfeiture grounds. The police conversations were recorded because the equipment was left on when they raided the home. This is clearly an ethical problem within their agency with the leadership and the culture they have developed. Their use of power was unjustified (Balko, 2013). When you see your own leadership in your own agency does things that are not quite by the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), it can give you the understanding that if you copy what they do or their wrong you would be justified. The author of this paper watched a correctional sergeant spray a can of pepper spray into a cell just to mess with the inmate that was inside, no other reason. An investigation  was held and the sergeant was given a verbal reprimand. The officers who worked directly for this sergeant also felt that if they broke the SOP, this sergeant would have their back and help in justifying their actions like not pulling inmates out of their cells for showers during their shower time, purposely dropping their food trays on the floor or spitting in their food. This action happens and in the report that is turned in it gets justified by that sergeant signing off on the action. Reference Balko, R. (2013, September 10). Radley Balko on the 3 Worst Cases of Police Abuse in 2011 [Video file]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix Media Library website: https://portal.phoenix.edu/medialibrary/videodetails.05V110608001512139.html

Cupid Metaphors Essay

In Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, metaphors concerning the moon, flowers, and Cupid are prevalent and have a significant impact on the play. The play focuses on a romantic situation between four Athenians: Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius. As the story unravels, many comparisons are made to enhance the language and the messages that the characters try to convey. The moon is personified as a chaste woman who can be both gentle and fiery. Flowers are used as romantic symbols with the power to influence love. Cupid is personified as an armed child who strikes people’s hearts even if that love was not meant to be. Various events in the play are compared to the moon, which is constantly being personified as a woman. In the beginning of the play, Hippolyta and Theseus are discussing how they are to get married in four days. Theseus complains about how slowly the moon wanes. He compares the moon to a stepmother and a widow who keeps her stepson waiting for his inheritance because it takes so long for her to die (1:1, 1-6). Theseus is saying that the days are passing by too slowly and he wants to get married already. As the play progresses, Theseus tells Hermia that her life will consist solely of â€Å"chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon† (1:1, 73). Once again, the moon is personified as a cold and barren woman. Theseus warns Hermia that if she chooses not to comply with her father’s wishes, she will stay a virgin priestess forever, living her entire life without a husband or children, just like the moon. The moon is compared to things much more destructive and emotional later on in the play. Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of fairies, have been in a disagreement for a long period of time. Their constant fighting has affected nature adversely, causing spring, summer, fertile autumn, and angry winter to change places. Titania vividly describes their arguments as having caused the moon, the â€Å"governess of floods,† to be pale in anger, filling the air with rheumatic diseases (2:1, 103-104). The moon is personified as a female ruler who controls the tides of the ocean. It is also given the human emotion of anger when it turns pale. When Bottom and Titania are together, Bottom speaks about crying for mustardseeds being eaten by oxen. Titania states â€Å"the moon methinks looks with a watery eye; and when she weeps, weeps every little flower, lamenting some enforcà ¨d chastity† (3:1, 193-195). Titania says that the moon is â€Å"misty-eyed, and when she weeps, so does every little flower in grief for violated chastity.† The moon is again personified as a woman and she is crying because the mustardseeds have been wronged. When it is time for Bottom to sleep, Titania orders her fairies â€Å"to fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes† (3:1, 168). The first metaphor â€Å"to fan the moonbeams† is comparing moonlight to a solid substance that can be fanned away. The second metaphor is the sleeping eyes of Bottom. Bottom’s eyes are not literally sleeping. It is Bottom who is doing the sleeping, not his eyes. Flowers are associated with love and emotions throughout the play. Theseus attempts to convince Hermia to marry Demetrius so that she would not have to spend the rest of her life living as a virgin priestess of the moon goddess. He tells her that it is better to live a life with love in it even if it is not the love she originally desired rather than to live without love at all. Theseus says â€Å"thrice-blessà ¨d they that master so their blood to undergo such maiden pilgrimage; but earthlier happy is the rose distilled than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness† (1:1, 74-78). He compares women who are chaste to unplucked roses who wither up and die. Married women are compared to roses that have been plucked and made into a sweet perfume (1:1, 76-78). Oberon desires an Indian prince that was given to Titania by the prince’s mother. In order to obtain the Indian prince, Oberon plans to make Titania fall in love with a beast by spreading the juice of a flower on her eyelids while she is sleeping. He tells the story of how this special flower came into existence. Cupid took aim at a beautiful young virgin queen, but his fiery arrow was put out by the watery, virginal moonbeams and struck a little western flower. The flower which used to be white as milk, turned purple from being wounded by the arrow of love (2:1, 155-168). The flower is personified and given the ability to be afflicted with love in this play. When Titania wakes, she is compelled to fall madly in love with Bottom, clumsy and grotesque with an ass’ head. When he goes to sleep, Titania tells Bottom to stay with her, saying â€Å"I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee, and they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, and sing while thou on pressà ¨d flowers dost sleep† (3:1, 150-153). The flowers are compared to soothing objects that can calm people and bring sleep. Seeing Titania and Bottom together, Oberon cannot believe how someone as beautiful as Titania can dote on Bottom, whose looks are repulsive. Before she fell asleep, Titania wove a wreath of fresh, fragrant flowers for Bottom and placed it on his hairy forehead. Oberon cannot stand to see such beautiful flowers rest on Bottom’s hairy temples. Oberon states that the flowers on Bottom’s head had â€Å"tears that did their own disgrace bewail† (4:1, 54-55). He says that the drops of dew that lay in the center of the flowers made the flowers look like they were crying in shame to be decorating the head of an ugly jackass. The flowers are personified as people who can cry and feel degradation. In love with Hermia, Demetrius pushes Helena away. Helena, heartbroken, complains about love and Cupid. She says â€Å"and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste† (1:2, 235-236). In modern times, we say â€Å"love is blind,† however, in this case cupid is blind. Helena personifies love as a child who does not have any judgment. Cupid is so often misled in making a choice because of his rash judgment. When telling the story of the flower, Oberon says â€Å"Young Cupid’s fiery shaft quenched in the chaste beams of the watery moon† (2:1, 161-162). The â€Å"fiery shaft† is a metaphor used for Cupid’s arrow which can cause fiery passionate love. Fixing the love damage that Puck created, Oberon spreads the love juice on Demetrius’ eyes while he is sleeping. While doing so, Oberon says â€Å"Flower of this purple dye, hit with Cupid’s archery, sink in apple of his eye† (3:2, 102-104). The first metaphor â€Å"flower of this purple dye, hit with Cupid’s archery† is comparing the purple flower to Cupid’s bow. By saying this, Oberon is saying that the flower can â€Å"hit† the same way a bow of Cupid can. The second metaphor of this line is â€Å"sink in apple of his eye.† The metaphor is referring to the â€Å"apple† of Demetrius’ eyes, comparing it to his passions and desires. Love is much talked about throughout the play. Hermia’s father is full of anger and he does not support Lysander and Hermia’s relationship. Lysander tells Hermia that â€Å"the course of true love never did run smooth† (1:1, 134). Lysander is saying that love is hard and it can feel like a long and rough road for two lovers. In Lysander and Hermia’s grief and despair, Lysander makes a speech about the transience of love. Love is â€Å"swift as a shadow, short as any dream, brief as the lightning in the collied night† (1:1, 144-145). Lysander compares the briefness of love to the quickness of a shadow, a dream, and a lightning. He means that with love comes many difficulties, such as pressure from parents, sickness, or death. Lysander goes on to say â€Å"The jaws of darkness do devour it up; so quick bright things come to confusion† (1:1, 148-149). He compares his love with Hermia to something bright but fades away quickly because of the confusion brought to it by time and nature. When asked to give up her child to Oberon, Titania refuses, telling him that this Indian prince was given to her by his mother, a female worshipper. She says â€Å"when we have laughed to see the sails conceive and grow big-bellied with the wanton wind† (2:1, 128-129). Titania is saying that when the sails filled up with wind, they looked like they had big, pregnant bellies. She is comparing the sails of ships to big, pregnant bellies of women. Due to Oberon’s unspecific details on whose eyes Puck was suppose to spread the love juice on, causes Lysander to fall in love with Helena. When Hermia questions Lysander, he treats her cruelly saying â€Å"Get you gone, you dwarf, you minimus of hindering knotgrass made, you bead, you acorn† (3:2, 328-330). Lysander is insulting Hermia, calling her a dwarf, a tiny little weed, scrap, and an acorn. In this metaphor, he compares Hermia to a tiny, unwanted plant, useless scrap, and an acorn. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is encased with many metaphors pertaining to the moon, flowers, and Cupid of the play. As the reader follows the Athenian lovers and the fairies on their journeys, various messages are conveyed through symbols and metaphors. The language and messages evokes vivid images in the reader’s head. The moon is compared to a woman who is capable of controlling time, controlling the seas, crying, and being fruitless. Flowers are symbols of romance, raw human emotions, and fairy magic. The flowers can metaphorically make people feel compelled to fall in love and are also capable of crying and feeling shame in this play. Cupid is portrayed as a controller of love. Just like love, Cupid is a young boy who is irrational. He is a child with a blindfold and wings, ready to take aim randomly, causing people to be afflicted with love. The moon, flowers, and Cupid are the main themes of metaphors presented in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

Biography of Mary Parker Follett, Management Theorist

Biography of Mary Parker Follett, Management Theorist Mary Parker Follett (September 3, 1868–December 18, 1933) was an American social theorist known for introducing ideas about human psychology and human relations into industrial management. Her articles and essays had a profound influence on the field of organizational behavior. Modern management theory owes much to her original ideas. Fast Facts: Mary Parker Follett Known For: Follett was a management theorist who incorporated ideas from psychology and human relations into her theories.Born: September 3, 1868 in Quincy, MassachusettsParents: Charles and Elizabeth FollettDied: December 18, 1933 in Boston, MassachusettsEducation: University of Cambridge, Radcliffe CollegePublished Works: The Speaker of the House of Representatives (1896), The New State (1918), Creative Experience (1924), Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett (1942) Early Life Mary Parker Follett was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on September 3, 1868. She studied at the Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, where she credited one of her teachers with inspiring many of her later ideas. In 1894, she used her inheritance to study at the Society for Collegiate Instruction of Women, sponsored by Harvard, and later completed a year of study at Newnham College in  Cambridge, England, in 1890. She studied on and off at Radcliffe College as well, starting in the early 1890s. In 1898, Follett graduated summa cum laude from Radcliffe. Her research at Radcliffe was published in 1896 and again in 1909 as The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Career Follett began working in Roxbury as a voluntary social worker in 1900 at the Roxbury Neighborhood House of Boston. Here, she helped organize recreation, education, and social activities for poor families and for working boys and girls. In 1908, Follett became chair of the Womens Municipal League Committee on Extended Use of School Buildings, part of a movement to open schools after hours so that the community could use the buildings for activities. In 1911, she and others opened the East Boston High School Social Center. She also helped found other social centers in Boston. In 1917, Follett took on the vice presidency of the National Community Center Association, and in 1918 she published her book on community, democracy, and government, The New State. Follett published another book, Creative Experience, in 1924, with more of her ideas about the creative interactions that take place between people in group processes. She credited her work in the settlement house movement with many of her insights. She shared a home in Boston for 30 years with Isobel L. Briggs.  In 1926, after Briggs death, Follett moved to England to live and work and to study at Oxford. In 1928, Follett consulted with the League of Nations and with the International Labor Organization in Geneva. She lived in London for a time with Dame Katharine Furse of the Red Cross. In her later years, Follett became a popular writer and lecturer in the business world. She was a lecturer at the London School of Economics in 1933, and she also provided personal advice to President Theodore Roosevelt on organizational management. Management Theories Follett advocated for a human relations emphasis equal to a mechanical or operational emphasis in management. Her work contrasted with the scientific management of Frederick W. Taylor and promoted by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, which stressed time and motion studies. These approaches did not account for human psychology and the ways in which work demands might be in conflict with personal needs; rather, they treated human activities as machine processes that could be optimized to produce better results. Unlike her contemporaries, Follett stressed the importance of the personal interactions between management and workers. She looked at management and leadership holistically, presaging modern systems approaches; she identified a leader as someone who sees the whole rather than the particular. Follett was one of the first (and for a long time, one of the few) to integrate the idea of organizational conflict into management theory, and is sometimes referred to as the mother of conflict resolution. Follett believed that conflict, rather than presenting a need to compromise, could actually be an opportunity for people to develop innovative solutions that they would not have been able to devise on their own. In this way, she promoted the idea of reciprocity within organizational structures. In a 1924 essay, Power, Follett coined the terms power-over and power-with to differentiate coercive power from participative decision-making, showing how power-with can be greater than power-over. Do we not see now, she observed, that while there are many ways of gaining an external, an arbitrary power- through brute strength, through manipulation, through diplomacy- genuine power is always that which inheres in the situation? Death Mary Parker Follett died in 1933 during a visit to Boston. She was honored widely for her work with the Boston School Centers, including her promotion of after-hours programming for the community. Legacy After Folletts death, her papers and speeches from 1942 were compiled and published in Dynamic Administration, and in 1995 Pauline Graham edited a compilation of her writings in Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management. The New State was printed in a new edition in 1998 with helpful additional material. In 1934, Follett was honored by Radcliffe as one of the colleges most distinguished graduates. Her work was mostly forgotten in America, and is still largely neglected in studies of the evolution of management theory, despite the accolades of more recent thinkers like management consultant Peter Drucker, who has called Follett the prophet of management and his guru. Folletts ideas also had a strong influence on psychologists such as Kurt Lewin, who studied group dynamics, and Abraham Maslow, who studied human needs and health. Sources Follett, Mary Parker, et al.  The Essential Mary Parker Follett. Franà §ois Hà ©on, Inc., 2014.Follett, Mary Parker, and Pauline Graham.  Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management; a Celebration of Writings from the 1920s. Beard Books, 2003.Follett, Mary Parker., et al.  Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett. Taylor Francis Books Ltd., 2003.Tonn, Joan C.  Mary P. Follett: Creating Democracy, Transforming Management. Yale University Press, 2003.

10 Questions to Ask For-Profit Online Colleges

10 Questions to Ask For-Profit Online Colleges Not all for-profit colleges are scams. In fact, some offer students flexibility and a career-oriented learning style that can be difficult to find elsewhere. On the other hand, some online for-profit programs rake in big money while leaving students with lots of debt and few job prospects. If you’re considering enrolling in a for-profit online college, hold off on signing that first tuition check until you get answers to these ten questions: 1. What is the colleges accreditation status? You’ll want to make sure that your school’s accreditation is recognized by the United States Department of Education. The most transferable form of accreditation comes from the six nationally-recognized regional accrediting bodies. 2. Is the school now (or has it ever been) on one of the federal financial watch lists? The federal government recently released a list of colleges that are being monitored due to concerning financial behavior. Although the list isn’t comprehensive, you’ll want to make sure your college isn’t on it. 3. What is the colleges graduation rate? Find out what percent of students who start the program end up graduating. If this number is particularly low, it’s a good indicator that the school may not be providing a quality experience or enough student support. 4. How many students who graduate from the program are able to find a career in their field? The federal government is starting to crack down on for-profit programs that charge a lot for tuition and leave students in the dark when it comes to career prospects. Make sure your investment is worthwhile - you’ll want to know that a reasonable percentage of graduates in your program are able to find employment. 5. How long does it actually take most students to graduate from this program? It’s likely that the average is longer than 4 years. But, if students are taking 6-8 years to earn an undergraduate degree, that might be a sign to look elsewhere. 6. How much student debt does the average student in this program take on? Tuition prices may be posted. But, how much debt are students actually accruing? When you factor in student fees, additional coursework, textbooks, and graduation charges, expenses start to add up. You don’t want to graduate with a photography degree and $100,000 of student debt. Make sure that your debt won’t be too challenging to manage with your expected income. 7. What kind of access to career development does the school offer? Traditional schools tend to offer job fairs, employer meet-and-greets, resume reviews, and other career development options. Does your for-profit program provide any services to help put your degree to use? 8. What other schools or parent companies is this for-profit program connected with? Some for-profit schools are part of larger conglomerate of schools. Sometimes, when a for-profit program fails, it takes new life with a new name. Do a bit of research into your college’s history and make sure they’ve been thriving for a while. 9. What are the advantages of choosing this school over a non-profit alternative? Some for-profit schools offer legitimate advantages. They may be able to let you focus on your career rather than saddle you with too many general ed requirements. Or, they may be able to help you finish a degree in less time and with less expense. However, this isn’t always the case. Find out by comparing your for-profit options with similar non-profit and public colleges. 10. How does this school track their statistics? Don’t just ask the above questions to a telephone recruiter and call it a day. Learn where and how they are collecting this information. Then, double-check the numbers with outside sources. Don’t rely on any school to give you the full picture without your own research to back it up. Jamie Littlefield is a writer and instructional designer. She can be reached on Twitter or through her educational coaching website: jamielittlefield.com.

Critically discuss the reasons why organisations outsource IT Essay

Critically discuss the reasons why organisations outsource IT - Essay Example This is followed by a critical analysis of the main issues that organizations need to address when managing relationships with their IT outsourcing partners. Organizations base their IT outsourcing decisions on a number of factors; however, the most common reason for outsourcing IT functions to a professional IT vendor is that it enables organizations to focus on their core area of expertise. Heikkila and Cordon (2002) have identified this and other reasons behind organizations’ decision to outsource IT. For instance, outsourcing the IT function frees up the limited capital of small and medium-sized organizations to invest in core competence areas. Firms that do not have skilled IT professionals can benefit from the expertise offered by outsourcing service providers. Despite rigorous analysis of all these factors and effective decision making by the organization, the outcome of the outsourcing arrangement depends largely on how the decision is implemented. Therefore, it is important that the implications of each step in the implementation process are identified and contingencies are provided for in advance to realize the intended benefits of IT outsourcing. Organizations may also be motivated to outsource their IT function because of the value it may add to the performance of some of their core functions. Such organizations may have a critical value for IT but may not possess the skills and resources to extract that kind of value from their IT assets. Davis and Golicic (2010) explain how information systems play a crucial role in the supply chain relationship of some organizations. By making information about market needs and stock levels to partners throughout the supply chain, information systems enable organizations to manage their distribution and transport systems more efficiently. Demand levels can be met more accurately and develop a market orientation. Sundaram, Schwarz and Jones (2007) discuss the motivation underlying organizations’ decision to

Employment laws for business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employment laws for business - Case Study Example 2. In this situation Alvin does not have a strong claim for age discrimination. The police department prefers to utilize younger officers. This is for the safety of other officers as well as the safety of the general public. Moreover, the department does not require Alvin to retire. However, many employees choose to retire at the age of 50 this is no where stated as a requirement. Although Alvin's job description has changed he was given a suitable replacement. In addition Alvin was not asked to take a pay cut or work other hours. Although Alvin may not be satisfied with this new position it is in the best interest for society. 3. Carter does not have a claim for age discrimination based upon the facts given. The company needed to lay off employees due to economic downfalls. Layoffs during poor economic times are often an option utilized by employers. Unfortunately there is nothing the company can do in regard to the economic situation. Carter will be eligible for unemployment as the company has not debated this claim. Moreover, Alvin has only been with the company two years.

The differences between reading content area material and literature Essay

The differences between reading content area material and literature - Essay Example The reading of the content areas is mainly divided into three parts. The students draw upon a prior experience or knowledge about the text, during reading they identify with the text and after reading they make interpretations. The strategies of the teacher depend on the activities of the students. (Literacy matters, n.d.). The appropriate strategies of the teachers are as follows: The content materials have a different structure than the other varieties of texts. If the preview of the structure is provided to the students beforehand with headings and sub-headings, pictures and captions then it will benefit the students to understand the nature of the text beforehand. A teacher can discuss these features before beginning starting the lesson. Before starting a new lesson, it will be beneficial for the students if the teachers give an idea of the concepts present in the lesson. The teachers should enquire the students about their knowledge of the subject, which will help in the flow of teaching. Various techniques like the Concept mapping can be used to know the prior knowledge of the students about the subject. The content readings have a high level of vocabulary, which has to be made familiar to the students. The meaning of the new words should be clearly explained to the students. (Abromitis, 28th July, 2009). Reading literature is of great importance because it is through reading of literature that the student learns to view the thoughts and actions of the character compassionately. It develops a sense of emotion in the minds of the reader. Therefore, reading of literature is of utmost importance. The appropriate strategies of teaching literature are as follows: The teachers may teach the whole literature through creating mini lessons about the text. It will be easier for the students to relate to the bigger picture and form a generalized idea about the text. This strategy is helpful for both the

Assess the social implications of business ethics Essay Example for Free

Assess the social implications of business ethics Essay Environment- the environment can affect the human activity. So for example; global warming which is the warming of the planet’s surface that is caused by carbon dioxide. In order to run a business efficiently they would need to make sure that their customers are aware of all the environmentally friendly activities that they do and that they are not harming the environment in anyway as some customers do take keeping environment healthy seriously. Sainsbury’s is really cautious about caring about the environmental and being eco-friendly and making sure that they are not causing any damage to the areas around them. They take the climate change seriously. They are concerned about the impact that they have on the environment. Their aim is to reduce the carbon footprint, reduce packaging and reducing waste. Sainsbury’s are concerned about the impact that they have on the environment, also with the career bags they give they make sure that they only take out the amount of bags that they need so that the bags are wasted. They want to make sure that they are making a continuous improvement with the environment so that it is not harming anyone. Sainsbury’s do not want to harm the industrial areas in anyway, and that is why wherever they are located is always safe where it would not cause any damage to the people or the planet. They want the climate to be good and they know what ways it could affect it and what they need to do in order to prevent causing damage and staying away from trouble. In order to improve this Sainsbury’s can make sure that anything that they do does not affect the environment and maybe before making any major changes they take advices from their local areas in what they think and how and what could be done to improve it. They could also charge for the bags so that the customers do not start asking for more bags then they already need. Sainsbury’s could also keep publishing information on environmental performance so everyone realises how important it is to look after the environment. Trading fairly- these are the rules the businesses need to follow which include; the business needs to run in an open manner, competition can only happen in between companies that belong to equal parties and making sure their customers are satisfied and are feeling secured with the business’s products and the quality of the products. All usinesses need to make sure that they are honest to their customers and are describing their products as it is to their customers so that they do not get angry by getting the wrong information. Sainsbury’s use many products that are organic and make many fair-trade products such as; fresh fruits. They need to make sure all their products are traded fairly and are pay ing their suppliers and employees fairly and make sure they are now paying them below the national minimum wage. They cannot cheat on their employee by providing them with the wrong information about the product or charge their customers extra for the product. All businesses need to follow all the rules and regulations in order to run ethically. Legal and regulatory compliance- all businesses must follow all the laws and regulations that have been set because if they do not agree to following the rules they would not be running the business ethically. Every organisation must be truthful to their customers and provide them with the correct information about the product and also not overcharge them for any of their goods and services. Sainsbury’s need to make sure that they are following the legislations and regulations so that they are not doing that is against the law. They want their business to be running with health and safety so that no one is harmed by it. They try recruiting staff as possible so that they are not the cause of unemployment, they plan their business properly so that they do not have to face any trouble in the long term and they have been doing that quite well as this is the reason why they are running successfully, they care about the environment and do not want to cause pollution that is why they produce sustainable products. They treat their workers right and follow the rules of not making them work more than they are supposed to, take disadvantage of them, they keep record of all workers and makes sure it’s available for authorities. They make sure they are treating their customers with respect and are not letting them down in any way. Bribery- this is when a business uses money to sort out the behaviour of the receiver. Sainsbury’s have always stuck to the laws so they haven’t really been through bribery or in other words ‘corruption. They are always assuring of their plans that they make. They would not do anything that would be illegal. They would not take any actions that would later on make a negative impact on the industry although they could bribe the local government by giving them extra money so that they government would let them do things that they wouldn’t let other businesses do. In order to improve their performance Sainsbury’s could measure their l evel of corruption and identify their weaknesses. This would help them to improve ways to meet the standards of their customers and all the other people who are a part of their business and figure out how to improve and resolve any other problems that could occur in the future. Animal testing- this is used to figure out whether a product is safe and effective. The production of goods can lead to ethical issues, which Sainsbury’s are against. Almost all businesses test their products on animals before selling it in the market. However Sainsbury’s do not approve of this as they believe that animals should be treated fairly and with respect so they are constantly working to raise welfare standards. From giving pigs happier lives through improved farming methods, to ensure that their own-label cosmetics meet the Humane Cosmetics Standard and increasing their range of freedom food products, which meet strict RSPCA guidelines. They offer wide ranges of higher welfare foods and cosmetics at any UK retailer but all Sainsbury’s products are free from animal testing.

Affirmative Action Essay -- essays research papers

Pros on Affirmative Action Affirmative action refers to a variety of programs and policies that are race, gender, national origin, and ethnicity conscious. Such programs are targeting women and minorities that had suffered discrimination in the past. History tells us that women and minorities suffered severe discriminations until the middle of 20th century. Women and minorities were treated as inferiors and subordinate status. According to Gilroy, "women were not allowed to enter entire areas of employment such as mining, fire fighting, law, and medicine." They were not even allowed to vote until the early 1920s. The racial segregation in one form or another forced American Indians, African Americans and Latinos into low-wage, dead-end jobs. No one can deny this historical truth, not even opponents of affirmative action reluctantly admit this (Gilroy 79). Critics of affirmative action have argued that because of affirmative action, white males are discriminated against as a group. They call this a "reverse discrimination." This argument sounds somewhat believable but it is simply wrong if we look at the facts. Women and minorities today are still significantly underrated in spite of the enforcement of affirmative action programs. 'According to a 1995 government report, white males hold 95 percent of senior management positions although they make up only 29 percent of the workforce. White males are still, by a great margin, over represented in most high st...

How Indian Cinema Evolved over the Years Essay

A hundred years ago on this date, India’s first film Raja Harishchandra was released. Over the past hundred years, our cinema and its facets have evolved and how!! The hero From mooch to macho From a bulky mustached Raj Kapoor in the 40s to a six-pack flaunting, butt-baring John Abraham now, the Bollywood hero has had quite a makeover. The 50s was the era of method-acting with the likes of Dilip Kumar, while in the 60s, Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand epitomised romance on screen. After Khanna’s guru kurtas and fluffy hairtop, Amitabh Bachchan brought the angry young man into the picture in the 70s and 80s with Zanjeer, Deewar and Agneepath, also bringing to the fore, bell bottoms and side burns. The 90s was the time of the lover boys Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan dancing in exotic foreign locales. Now, the Bollywood hero is not restricted by genre or style and fits into every mould. He is a looker, chocolatey, experimental and total paisa vasool, read Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan. The heroine From feeble to fabulous In the early decades, the heroine in Indian cinema had only one objective in life, that of being a sati-savitri, who never looked beyond her family and husband. The kitchen was her cocoon, and she epitomised all things good. Through the 1940s, 50s and 60s, heroines such as Mala Sinha, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nanda and Asha Parekh ruled these roles. It was only in the 80s and 90s that she evolved as a strong character (Rekha in Khoon Bhari Mang, 1988), (Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini, 1993). While in the early 2000s, she was still the demure girl, she managed to live her life on her terms like Rani Mukerji in Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna. And the heroine today is the sexy, uber cool woman who cares for little more than her own life. Way to go girl! The villain From scary to suave From the usual lot of wicked village zamindars, smugglers, murderers, rapists, dacoits and terrorists, the larger-than-life Bollywood villains have become rare in new age cinema. Thus the traditional villain, Loin, Shakal, Mogambo, Dr Dang and Badman, has died a natural death. The wigged, cigar-smoking avatars played by the likes of Pran, Prem Chopra, Amrish Puri, have made way for smart and sometimes more-adorable-than-the-hero kind of villains. Exhibit A- Saif Ali Khan (Omkara) and Shah Rukh Khan (Don). No lines are drawn now and black characters have became grey with lead actors playing antagonists in films, almost replacing the dedicated villains. This marked the end of ever reverberating iconic one liners like â€Å"Kitne aadmi the?† and â€Å"Saara sheher mujhe Loin ke naam se jaanta hain.† The maa Rona-dhona to supercool From the God fearing and homely mum to a party freak, mothers in Bollywood have come a long way since 1930s. While Nargis in Mother India (1957) played a mother who went through hardships and struggled to bring up her offsprings, Nirupa Roy in the 70s became synonymous with white saris and a melancholic look. Then came Reema Lagoo, with her bindi and sindoor, an ideal middle class Indian mother in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), who tried to be a friend to her son. But now, mothers are the uber cool women who are ready to accept even same-sex couples, case in point, Kirron Kher in Dostana (2008). And now there are mom who drink and dance at weddings, ala Dolly Walia in Vicky Donor (2012). The item girl Taboo to must-haves The dancing girl evolved from the Cabaret seductress, the free-spirited banjaran, the sensuous courtesan to dancing temptresses in half-saris. In the 40s and 50s, Cuckoo Moray, hotted up the screen with her innocent charm. The 50s saw Vyjayanthimala woo the audience in songs such as Chad Gayo Papi Bichua in Madhumati (1958) in ghagra cholis, and junk silver jewellery. Helen ruled the 60s and 70s, emerging in a bold avatar with dramatic ensembles. The 80s saw the trend of heroines appear in item numbers with Zeenat Aman in Qurbani (1980). Madhuri Dixit’s Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai became the ultimate tease in the 90s. The item girls of 2000s are sexy, not afraid to show skin and love to play hard to get, be it Malaika Arora Khan in a mid-riff baring choli dancing atop a train or Katrina in Sheila Ki Jawani. The comedian Funny face to frontman The comedian in the 40s, was the fat man with funny facial expressions, whose mere presence made audiences laugh. In the 1950s, the lean Johnny Walker broke that trend and managed to win hearts with his slapstick humour. Kishore Kumar, essentially a singer, redefined comedy by using his songs like Meri Pyari Bindu (Padosan 1968) as elements of fun in films. But it was Mehmood, with his fringed hair and impeccable dialogue delivery who became the king of comedy in the 1970s. The next big thing in comedy was Johnny Lever, who left audiences in splits with his body language and dialogues in films like Raja Hindustani (1996) and Dulhe Raja (1998). Now, it’s the heroes — Akshay Kumar (Hera Pheri), Ajay Devgn (Golmaal) who are doubling as comedians. The friend Sidekick to the right-hand man The side kick or hero’s best friend, every Bollywood film has had one. The role could be that of a fun buddy who provides comic relief to the film or that one jigari dost who stays with the hero through thick and thin (in other words, fights for the hero and often dies in the end). From the days of Mukri and Mehmood, who played the hero’s good friend in the 1950s and 60s to the current time where actors like Arshad Warsi and Sharman Joshi play as powerful characters as the hero himself, this portrayal has had a sea change. Mehmood in Humjoli (1970), for instance, played a sidekick who brought the house down with his antics, but Arshad Warsi in the Munnabhai series (2003/06) played the ideal Robin to Sanjay Dutt’s Batman, and got some of the best lines in the films. The romance Touch-me-not to pre-marital sex Romance in Bollywood turned from bold to coy and back to racy and bold. The silent film, ‘A Throw of Dice’ (1929) saw actor Seeta Devi kiss actor Charu Roy. Post-independence, in the 1940s, romance became conservative. The Cinematograph Act in 1952, called kissing on screen indecent and romance became associated with clasping hand and staring into each other’s eyes. Kissing was shown with two flowers coming together or honey bees sucking nectar from flowers. 1970s was Raj Kapoor’s era that brought a passion back to romance with movies such as Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). It was the 90s that romance took a pure and sweet form the two blockbuster hits Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994) Dilwale Duhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). Now, in the 2000s, pre-marital sex shown in films like Salaam Namaste (2005) and Rockstar (2011), is considered cool. The music Melodies to racy tracks The 1930 and 40s, were defined by nasal renditions by the likes of KL Saigal (Jab Dil Hi Tooth Gaya, Shahjahan, 1946) and Noorjehan. The 50s were all about soul-soothing melodies. Songs like it Pyaar Huya Ekraar Huya (Shree 420 1952) or Jaane Woh Kaise Log The (Pyaasa 1957) became epics. However, it was R D Burman, who single-handedly changed the course of Bollywood film music, and introduced westernised tunes in songs in the 60s. While 70s remained the decade of a mix of soft and fast numbers, the 80s turned Bollywood music on its head, as Bappi Lahiri brought in disco music. Disco Dancer (1982) marked the beginning of a range of high-on-noise, low-on-lyrics songs. The 1990s churned out several hugely forgettable numbers, except for musical hits like 1942 a Love Story (1994), Saajan (1991). The 2000s have been the decade of experimenting – thus Sonu Nigam and Yo Yo Honey Singh both find place in the same film. The dialogues Melodrama to quirky Power-packed dialogues get the maximum seetis from the audience, and why not. A film is often remembered for its iconic dialogues. Kaun kambakth bardasht karne ke liye peeta hai, from Devdas that’s a favourite even with the ‘daarubaaz’ of today. However, dialogues like Kitne aadmi the, and â€Å"Kuttey main tera khoon pi jaunga† from Sholay, â€Å"Pushpa, I hate tears† from Amar Prem and â€Å"Mere paas maa hai† from Deewar; have gone on to become epic. In the 1990s, heroes impressed their lady love with dialogues. Thus came, â€Å"I love you Kkk†¦ Kiran† (Darr), â€Å"Bade bade shehron mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain.† (DDLJ 1995). In 2000, quirky dialogues such as, Main apni favourite hoon (Jab We Met), Picture Abhi Baki Hai Dost (Om Shanti Om) are the big hits among film buffs.

Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 30-31

Chapter 30 October 19, 1864 I'm out of danger, but I don't feel safe. I wonder if I'll ever feel safe again, or will I forever long for a desire that I'll never fulfill? Will I get used to the ache? Twenty, two hundred, two thousand years from now, will I even remember these weeks? And will I remember Callie and her red hair, her laugh? I will. I have to. Callie has saved me and given me another chance at life. In a way, it's like she was the daylight that followed the darkness Katherine had cast upon my existence. Katherine turned me into a monster, but Callie has changed me back into the Stefan Salvatore I'm proud to be. I wish her love. I want nothing but the best for her. I want for her to live in the light and find a man–a human–who will appreciate and adore her, who will take her away from Gallagher's house forever to a quiet home on a lake, where she can teach her children to skip stones. I woke in the middle of the night to what I thought were hailstones bouncing against the windowpane. Despite Lexis rules, I peeked through a tiny slit in the curtains and squinted into the darkness. The trees were bare, their branches like ghostly limbs stretching toward the sky. Though it was a moonless night, I could see a raccoon scamper through the yard. And then, a figure standing timidly behind one of the columns on the portico. Callie. I hastily pulled on a shirt and slipped down the stairs, taking care to not make any noise. The last thing I wanted was for Buxton or Lexi to know that a human had followed me home. The door shut with a thud behind me, and I saw Callie jump. â€Å"Im here,† I whispered, feeling thrilled, confused, and excited, all at once. â€Å"Hi,† she said shyly. â€Å"Are you going somewhere?† I asked, nodding at her bag. â€Å"I hope so.† She clasped my hands with her own. â€Å"Stefan, I dont care what you are. Ive never cared. And I want to be with you.† She looked into my eyes. â€Å"I I love you.† I gazed at the ground, a lump in my throat. Back when I was a human, I thought Id loved Katherine until I saw her, chained up, muzzled, and foaming at the mouth. Id felt nothing but disgust at that vision. And yet Callie had seen me unconscious, bleeding from vervain, staked by captors, and pummeling my brother in the ring, and she still loved me. How was that possible? â€Å"You dont have to respond,† Callie rushed on. â€Å"I just had to tell you. And Im leaving no matter what. I cant stay here with Father, not after everything thats happened. Im getting on the train, and you can come with me. But you dont have to. But I want you to,† she babbled. â€Å"Callie!† I interrupted, placing a finger to her lips. Her eyes widened, shifting between fear and hope. â€Å"I would go with you anywhere,† I said. â€Å"I love you, too, and I will for the rest of my life.† â€Å"You mean your un-life,† she said, her eyes dancing. â€Å"How did you know where I lived?† I asked, suddenly shy. Callie blushed. â€Å"I followed you home once. When you ran away after the first vampire fight. I wanted to know everything about you.† â€Å"Well, now you do.† Unable to restrain myself, I pulled her into my arms and lowered my lips to hers, no longer afraid to hear the blood coursing in her veins or to hear her heart beat faster in anticipation. She tightened her grip around me, and our lips touched. I hungrily kissed her, feeling the softness of her lips against mine. My fangs didnt grow, my desire was all for her, in her human form, as she was. She was soft and warm and tasted like tangerines. In those moments, I imagined our future. Wed take the train as far away from New Orleans as possible, maybe to California, or perhaps even sail to Europe. Wed nest in a little cottage and keep livestock for me to feed from, and Callie and I would live out our days together, away from the prying eyes of society. A nagging thought tugged at the corner of my mind: Would I turn her? I hated the thought of doing it, of sinking my teeth into her white neck, of making her live a life in which she craved blood and feared the daylight, but I also couldnt bear the thought of seeing her grow old and die in front of me. I shook my head, trying to release those thoughts. I could deal with them later. We both could. â€Å"Stefan,† Callie murmured, but then the murmur turned into a gasp, and she slipped out of my clutches and onto the ground. A butchers knife stuck into her back, blood pooling out of it. â€Å"Callie!† I cried, sinking to my knees. â€Å"Callie!† Frantic, I tore a vein in my wrist, trying to feed Callie my blood to heal her. But before I could press my arm to her gasping mouth, an unseen hand yanked me up by the shirt collar. A low, familiar chuckle cut through the night air. â€Å"Not so fast, brother.† Chapter 31 I whirled around, my hand ready to strike, my fangs bared. Before I could move, Damon grabbed my shoulders and flung me across the street. My body hit the road, hard, my arm snapping at an unnatural angle. I scrambled to my feet. Callie was lying in the grass, her red hair fanning over her shoulder, a pool of blood darkening around her. She let out a quiet moan, and I knew she must be in agony. I started to race back to her, pumping my blood to my open wound so she could feed easily. But Damon intercepted me, lowering his shoulder into my chest and knocking me backward. I scrambled to my feet. â€Å"This stops now!† I yelled, ready to pounce. I flew toward him, ready to rip him apart, to give him what hed wanted for so long. â€Å"Does it stop now? Before dinner?† Damon asked, a slow smile forming on his face. I watched in horror as Damon knelt down, bared his teeth, and sunk them into Callies neck, drinking long and hard. I tried to push him away, but he was far too strong. How many people had he fed from since our escape? I kept tugging, trying to free Callie, but Damon stayed in the same position as if he were a marble sculpture. â€Å"Help! Lexi!† I roared, as Damon sent me flying backward with a swift jab of his elbow. I hit the grass with a thud. Damon kept drinking. I realized with horror that Callies moaning had stopped. So had the steady, thrumming sound of blood Id gotten so used to hearing in Callies presence. I fell to my knees. Damon turned toward me, his face smeared with blood. Callies blood. I blanched at the sight. Damon chuckled. â€Å"You were right, brother. Killingiswhat vampires do. Thanks for the lesson.† â€Å"Ill kill you,† I said, rushing toward him once more. I knocked him to the ground, but Damon took advantage of my injured arm and flipped me over, pinning me to the ground next to Callie. Damon shook his head. â€Å"I dont think I will die tonight, thank you. Youre done being the one to make the life-and-death decisions,† he hissed. He stood up, as if he were going to walk away. I crawled over to Callie. Her eyes were wide open and glassy, her face pale. Her chest was still rising and falling, but barely. Please live, I thought, gazing into her unblinking eyes in a desperate attempt to compel her. I saw her eyelids flutter. Could it be possible that it was working? I want you to live. I want to love you while you're alive, I thought, squeezing blood from my wounds into her open mouth. Then, as drops fell on her face, I felt an agonizing pain in my abdomen. I sprawled on the grass as Damon kicked me over and over and over in the stomach, a demonic look in his eye. Summoning all my strength, I scuttled on the dew-damp earth away from Damon. â€Å"Help me,† I called again toward the house. â€Å"Help me!† Damon mocked in a sing-song voice. â€Å"Not quite the big man, anymore, are we, little brother? What happened to taking over the world? Got too busy having tea parties with your little friends and falling in love with humans?† He shook his head in disgust. Something inside me snapped. Somehow, I pushed myself to my feet and raced toward Damon, fangs bared. I pushed him to the ground, my fangs carving a long, jagged cut along his jugular vein. He fell to the ground, blood draining from his neck, his eyes closing. For a moment, he looked like my brother again. No bloodshot eyes, no voice laced with hatred. Just the broad shoulders and dark hair that always symbolized Damon. And yet he wasnt Damon anymore. He was a monster on a spree of destruction, stopping at nothing to make his threat of making my life miserable come true. I surveyed the ground around us, finally glimpsing a small tree limb, a few feet away, fallen after a storm. I crawled over to the branch and raised it high above his chest. â€Å"Go to hell,† I whispered, fervently meaning each word. But as the words left my mouth, Damon lunged up from the ground, his eyes red and his fangs bared. â€Å"Thats no way to talk to family.† He scoffed, throwing me to the ground. â€Å"And thats no way to hold a stake.† He raised the branch high over my chest, a gleam in his eye. â€Å"Heres the death you didnt let me have. Slow, and painful, and Im going to enjoy every second of it,† Damon said, cackling as he brought the stake down with all his might against my chest. And then everything went black.