Reflections on Slavery Individuals Born Into and Gew Up...

This essay will summarize and reflect upon 5 individuals who were born into, and grew up in the United States of America under slavery. Lucinda Davis, Charity Anderson, Walter Calloway, Fountain Hughes and Richard Toley each have a compelling story to tell about the time when black Americans were not looked at as citizens and were not free to make decisions that were afforded to white Americans. Although their stories are brief and do not reflect all of the daily hardships that were faced by slaves during that time in our Nation’s history, they are, nonetheless, powerful in their message. Fearing above all else a beating that would result from a perceived act of disrespect, the fact that each of these individuals survived is an example†¦show more content†¦Mr. Calloway, similar to Charity Anderson, indicates a real respect for his master in that he was treated fairly, fed well and allowed to pray back in the bushes even though the work was hard and punishment was n ot uncommon. It seems to be a running theme that most of these narratives signify a mutual respect for their owners for not being worse than they could have been to the slaves. (Rawick) This sentiment is eluded by Richard Toler when he talks of not ever being mistreated by his master and even going so far as to tell his overseers that, â€Å" if they whipped him, he’d kill ‘em.† (Rawick) This was apparently not the norm for the rest of the slaves on this farm near Lynchburg, Virginia. Mr. Toler talks a great deal about other slaves being beaten and brutally tortured and abused. According to Mr. Toler, the slave owners did try to take care of their slaves by giving medicine and feeding them well as to protect their property. It was more of a financial investment than an act of kindness however and he talks of never having any good times until he was a freed slave. Lastly we hear from Fountain Hughes; a slave in Charlottesville, Virginia who claims to be the grandson of the slave gardener of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Hughes was born into slavery with his brother and mother. He worked on a farm and had not home; he talks of sleeping on a wooded pallet on worse, a dirt

Feasibility Study On Using Ress Based Electrical Energy Essay

3. Feasibility Study 3.1 Solar Feasibility RESs based electrical energy is essentially compelled by geographic variables and utility components. India is one of the best beneficiaries of sunlight-based energy because of its ideal area in the sun-powered belt (40 °S to 40 °N). Accessibility of consistent solar radiation forecasting is crucial to the fulfillment of solar PV installations in distinctive geographical locations of the nation (Ramachandra et al., 2011). The Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) is beneficial for flat type solar collector while for sun creditors, which might be concentrating in nature Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) data forecasting is needed. Indian Meteorological Section is the foremost government corporation in subjects regarding meteorology in the country. MNRE has taken several initiatives to install numerous major projects in order to develop a Solar Atlas, which is capable of valuing or quantifying solar radiation as well as other weather parameters. In Phase I, C-WET, s ituated in Chennai, established a system of 51 monitoring stations crosswise over India in the end of Oct-2011, each comprising of two towers of 1.5m and 6m. The 1.5m tower houses worked as Pyranometer and Pyrheliometer. While the 6m towers deal with precipitation, temperature variation, atmospheric pressure, moistness/ humidity, and wind speed surveying instruments. The maximum number of towers comprising of surveying instruments are situated in- Rajasthan, i.e. 12 towersShow MoreRelatedA Framework for Diagnosing Competitive Superiority14131 Words   |  57 Pagesalternatively adopts a competitor-centered perspective. To overcome possible myopia, the evidence of advantage should illuminate the sources of advantage as well as the manifestations of superior customer value and cost superiority, and should be based on a balance of customer and competitor perspectives. HE notion that superior performance requires a business to gain and hold an advantage over comf)etitors is central to contemporary strategic thinking. Businesses seeking advantage are exhorted

Competitive Strategy of Alibaba & Dominos Pizza-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Competitive Strategy of Alibaba and Dominos Pizza. Answer: Introduction Competitive strategy consists of plans and strategies to gain competitive edge in the market. The present report provides brief description of Alibaba and Dominos Pizza. It also includes the theory of business model innovation of both the companies and how they have used it to create a distinct image in the industry. Company 1: Alibaba Alibaba Company was a B2B enterprise in its initial years but they increased their portfolio to make sure that they grow at a rapid pace in the market. Chinese market has been experiencing a gradual shift in the technology and expectations of the consumers. Alibaba adopted innovation, organisational flexibility, information system and replanning process for continuous development (Business Model Alibaba, 2014). Alibaba has been selected for the analysis because it is the largest retailer in the world. They have been able to capture 80% of the market in China. The company has been benefitted from their cost leadership strategy which has been excellent. They have been proactive in their approach due to their replanning process. Alibaba has been able to generate profits even at lower profit margins due to their effective cost leadership strategy. Their business model is based on continuous development which allows them to make changes in their processes and strategies as per the business environment. They have been using Revenue model innovation theories in the organisation (Gnzel and Holm, 2013). It provides a direction to the organisation because the revenue framework takes into account the target audience, pricing strategy, marketing, value chain and growth. They have developed a well structure revenue business model which helps them to accomplish the main objectives of the firm. They have been changing their plans and approaches to allow innovation and development. They have ensured that they provide re-configuration in their products, services and value mix. They use advertisement, promotions, commission, transaction and revenue subscription model (Matzler, Bailom and Kohler, 2013). They have been able to strive in the e-commerce industry. Apart from this, they have competitive advantage in the industry due to their proactive approach and first mover advantage. The Revenue model innovation of Alibaba focuses on sharing revenues. It makes it easy for people to connect and sell their products through its platform. Furthermore, they have ensured that they take into consideration the competitive environment in the market. Their flexible business model has been beneficial for them because they can make changes before other companies. This has allowed them to create products and services as per the demands of the consumers. They also allow their customers to give their feedback about the products and services (Business Model Alibaba, 2014). Even though the competitive rivalry has been strong in China but the business model of Alibaba has allowed them to create a large customer base. They have been able to outperform in the industry as compared to other rivals. The main components which have helped them to become a leading online store are competitive prices, high information density, reliability, latest technology and customised services (Casadesus Masanell and Zhu, 2013). They have been able to expand their business to any different countries and their revenue model has given them advantage in the region. Company 2: Dominos Pizza Dominos Pizza is restaurant chain which has more than 13,000 outlets in different countries. They have used brand recognition and innovations to gain strategic competitive advantage in the industry. They have ensured that they provide high quality products and adapt to the needs and preferences of the consumers (Dominos Competitive Strategy, 2013). Dominos Pizza have been using enterprise business model which has been beneficial for them. They have more than 10,000 outlets and franchises which covers 70 countries. Dominos Pizza has been selected for the analysis because they have become a market leader. Their business model of franchises and low cost infrastructure has made it more successful as compared to other competitors (Matzler, Bailom and Kohler, 2013). Dominos has used differentiating targeting strategy to take advantage of the opportunities in the market. They have variety of products in their portfolio and they have established the brand with the help of competitive pricing strategy. Furthermore, they have been able to change the value chain after the adoption of enterprise business model (Casadesus Masanell and Zhu, 2013). It has allowed them to improve the efficiency and quality of the products. They have also ensured that their business possesses deeper knowledge about their customers. It helps the business model of the company to evolve. But it requires positive organisaitonal culture which has been provided by the management. Their production, distribution, management, offerings and sales have improved. Their networks have helped them to expand their reach which has increased their customer base (Gnzel and Holm, 2013). Dominos have used a business model typology to make changes in their existing strategies and plans. It can be used for reconfiguration and business innovation. It includes assessing the current business model, planning implementation and monitoring of new business model. Their supply chain has also been vertically integrated which has enabled them to reduce the cost and manage their resources (Dominos Competitive Strategy, 2013). Along with this, the new business model has significantly improved their distribution system and value delivery process. Their turnaround time has also reduced which has helped them to increase the satisfaction level of the consumers. Their awareness and innovated strategies have been beneficial for them. Other competitors such as Papa Jones, Pizza Hut, Greco, etc have found it difficult to match up with the services and quality provided by the Dominos. Their model is difficult to replicate for the new companies and the competitors in the market (Casadesus Masanell and Zhu, 2013). Dominos has made sure that they continue to grow and adapt to the changing busine ss environment. Conclusion It can be concluded from the above that both Alibaba and Dominos have been performing well in terms of competition and profitability. They have focused on innovation and continuous development. Alibaba has been following Revenue model innovation theory in the business. On the other hand, Dominos has been using enterprise business model to take first mover advantage in the industry. References Business Model Alibaba. 2014. [Online]. Available through: https://groupithq.blogspot.in/2014/10/business-model-of-alibaba.html [Accessed on 15th August 2017] Casadesus Masanell, R. and Zhu, F., 2013. Business model innovation and competitive imitation: The case of sponsor based business models. Strategic management journal, 34(4), pp.464-482. Dominos Competitive Strategy. 2013. [Online]. Available through: https://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2013/10/15/technology-not-pizza-helps-dominos-crush-competitors-and-grow-faster-than-mcdonalds-overseas/#53efdeecfdcf [Accessed on 15th August 2017] Gnzel, F. and Holm, A.B., 2013. One size does not fit allunderstanding the front-end and back-end of business model innovation. International Journal of Innovation Management, 17(01), p.1340002. Matzler, K., Bailom, F., Friedrich von den Eichen, S. and Kohler, T., 2013. Business model innovation: coffee triumphs for Nespresso. Journal of Business Strategy, 34(2), pp.30-37.

The American electoral process is a complicated pr Essay Example For Students

The American electoral process is a complicated pr Essay ocess by means of which the electorate chooses those men and women who will represent their interests on the local, state and national levels. Of course, this is an oversimplification of the electoral process, which is influenced by a number of different factors having little to do with the voice of the people. Among those influences are the reaction of the mass media to any particular issue or candidate, the ability of that candidate to articulate his or her message in a con-vincing manner, the relative abilities of those public relations and other professionals employed to create a politicians public image or persona (and to generate media interest in the candidate), and the various organised interest groups that use a combination of money and the voting tendencies of their members to shape the outcome of both the electoral process itself and the subsequent actions of elected officials. Though each of these external influences have a significant impact upon both the electoral and l egislative processes, this paper will focus on Political Action Committees, the contemporary name given to those groups characterised as organised interests.This paper will examine the very crucial role of PACs in the American political system which Hedrick Smith has examined in depth in his book The Power Game. This paper will also look in some depth at the history of the Political Action Committee (PAC), the nature of its membership and role in the electoral and legisla-tive processes, the type of actions that PACs are in-volved in, the effects of PACs, and the return on PAC investment to the interest groups they encompass. It is the thesis of this paper that the influence of the contemporary PAC is enormous, and that an analysis of the financial contributions made in recent years by PACs to specific candidates and elected Senators and Congressman will, when compared to the voting patterns of those officials, demonstrate the inherent power of the PAC in shaping national political policy. We will write a custom essay on The American electoral process is a complicated pr specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now History of the Political Action CommitteeThe American penchant for joining groups was ob-served long ago by the French chronicler Alexis de Toqueville, who wrote in 1825 that Americans of all ages, conditions, and minds, daily acquire a taste for association and grow accustomed to the use of it. By 1988, 70.5 percent of the American population belonged to at least one organisation; among the most popular organisations supported by American citizens are church-affiliated groups, sports groups, labour unions, professional or academic societies, fraternal groups, social service or charitable societies, school frater-nities and sororities, and political clubs.Not all of these groups, of course, seek to influence congres-sional policy making, but each group and every individ-ual has a right to do so. The First Amendment protects the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and throughout American his-tory groups speaking on behalf of the different subset s of the people have swayed public policies and poli-tics. Such groups included the Abolitionists of the 19th century, the Anti-Saloon League in its crusade for Prohibition, the antiwar and environmental movements of the 1960s and 1970s, and the balanced budget, equal rights and nuclear freeze movements of the 1980s. A free society actively nurtures such groups and regards them as le-gitimate efforts on the part of the public to influence the political agenda. Until recent years, national policy making was dominated by a few well-organised, well-financed groups: labour, business, and medical interests. The current era, however, has seen a virtual explosion of more narrowly based groups that focus their energies, and their funds, on single interests, such as gun control and abortion. While these and other interest groups have influ-enced congressional decisions literally since the be-ginning of the countrys history, lobbying methods have become increasingly more sophisticated, varied , polished and subtle. Significantly, the move from limited to big government has tended to reinforce the mutual dependence of legislators and lobbyists; PACs turn to Congress as a focal point for being heard and establishing a policy position, while Congressmen and Senators rely upon these groups to provide valuable constituency, technical and political information, to give re-election support, and to assist strategically in passing or blocking legislation addressing areas of

Haratio Algar essays

Haratio Algar essays Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s America was overwhelmed with the idea of expanding its boundaries west of the Mississippi River. Stories of the lone pioneers who traveled west without a penny to their name and were able to achieve wealth through hard work and perseverance spread far and wide. Authors such as Horatio Alger only further supported this belief by writing books that told tales of such success. Many believe that this fascination translated into the fear over the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society. In the mid 1800s America seemed to spread its boundaries from the Mississippi to the Pacific overnight. This expansion created an abundance of land, which was mainly acquired by large railroad companies. Trying to turn excess lands into quick profits by selling it these companies used the few stories of successful pioneers in the west as a basis of creating a stir in the east by blanketing cities with leaflets that promised health, good fortune and Gods bounty in the areas that they owned. This created the American folk figure that we now know as the lone pioneer. The lone pioneer was a man who came from meager beginnings, and after establishing himself in the west, found an abundance of success and wealth. Such rags to riches stories gave hope to people in the east who were struggling to create a good life for themselves and their families by working in the rising American industrial economy. The growth of industry created uncertainty in the minds of many Americans. They we re uneasy about the transfer from the agrarian society to an industrial one because the agrarian way of life had worked for them and many generations of Americans that had preceded them. The emotion that many Americans felt at the time was only further supported by the literature of the time. Writers such as Horatio Alger captured the essence, emotion, soul and especially the spirit ...

How to Write an Essay on Application of Teaching Standards

How to Write an Essay on Application of Teaching Standards Essay about Application of Teaching Standards How to start How to write the introduction How to compose body paragraphs How to finish the essay: Conclusion writing Essay revision Outline sample A reflective essay about application of teaching standards (Sample) Writing an essay about the application of teaching standards is certainly purposeful. The number one aim of such an essay is that it calls the readers’ attention for a closer look at the serious issue of the application of teaching standards which is a topic that is open to various opinions and stands. An essay on this theme scrutinizes the applicability of the very standards and questions their suitability for the current advancements and circumstances. It could also be considered as an attempt to question their effectiveness. How to start First of all, you should think about the meaning of teaching standards and look for some authentic definitions that could make you understand what such standards could be. After you have taken notes of certain teaching standards, try to look at them with a critical eye so that you detect if any of them does not seem to be that effective. Think about a possible structure on which your essay will be based; for instance, compare and contrast, argumentative, or explanatory scheme. How to write the introduction A general introduction about the application of teaching standards could start with the general theme of school and teaching. Proceed progressively while you narrow down your focus until you reach the crux of the matter which is the application of teaching standards in this case. You could define the key term briefly in the same part, as lay readers could enquire about its meaning. The last element of the introduction consists of the thesis statement where you clearly state the essential features that your essay paragraphs are going to revolve around. How to compose body paragraphs A topic sentence is necessary for the opening of the paragraphs that will explain your main points. It is important to make sure that the body elements reflect the same scheme announced in the thesis statement, otherwise you would fall in incongruity. Consistency of thoughts should be carefully maintained when you go around illustrating and linking information. Thus, abrupt change of ideas is not something you might want to consider doing. Unless you are emphasizing one particular message by means of highlighting, you are not going to benefit from the repeated ideas; then, try to avoid redundancy and needless repetitions. While you are tackling your personal reflection on the application of teaching standards, it is advisable that you stick to your own point of view, which is either for or against the application of such standards, otherwise you would distract the reader. Hook your readers through the incorporation of appeals that could make them embrace your opinion and adhere to it. How to finish the essay: Conclusion writing Have a second look at the content of your body paragraphs so that you are fully aware of what you have included in your essay. Briefly summarize the principle arguments in a way that does not seem too much explanatory. Link the very summary of your personal behavior and experience, as you show how the application of those teaching standards have proven to be successful or ineffective according to your own educational experience. Essay revision It is recommended that you read each and every word when you revise your essay. Remove the unnecessary lines that make no sense or that could only complicate the picture. One important step is to look for the most repeated terms and replace them with suitable synonyms. The second look at your cohesive devices is a plus point. Outline sample I. Introduction General introduction: school and teaching Thesis statement: three main arguments II. Body Paragraph 1: benefits of the application of teaching standards Paragraph 2: disadvantages of the application of teaching standards Paragraph 3: suggested solutions to optimize teaching standards. III. Conclusion Brief summary of the three body arguments. Call to action through the proposition of fresh solutions to improve teaching standards and learning. A reflective essay about application of teaching standards (Sample) Almost in every country all over the globe, there some teaching standards followed in the academic field. In fact, such standards could vary depending on many factors, mainly cultural ones. But, the concept is the same; it is the idea of respecting certain teaching norms and applying them by hook or by crook to reach a the desired learning goal. In this essay, you could find a reflective account of the benefits of teaching standards, their disadvantages, and suggestions on how to optimize them. From a positive angle, one could attest that the application of teaching standards is beneficial in a variety of ways. Indeed, beginner teachers seem to always resort to them on the account that they offer an accessible database-like wealth of tips, methods, and techniques that just need to be followed. Apart from that, teaching standards are destined to the production of particular learning effects. Thus, teaching standards are not disconnected from learning standards, eventually. Through the application of teaching standards, a teacher rests assured that their students are being taught conformably with their grade level so that they become able to make it when it comes to standardized assessments. However varied teaching standards are, they have many aspects in common. Their shared attributes manifest themselves in terms of content, structure, design, and learning purpose. What makes them effective enough is that they draw on the categorization by subject areas. It is almost the case in all schools to find subjects like Maths, English Language, History, etc. The positive aspects of teaching standards could not succeed in concealing their disadvantageous aspects that never cease to erode the authenticity of learning. Such standard teaching norms may not be as effective as they are thought to be. I am a firm believer that a course design should be flexible enough to comprise the various needs of diverse learners. To apply teaching standards that stretch the students’ abilities and push them to work harder may turn out to be counter-productive, especially in the case of low-functioning students who have learning disabilities and disorders. As a matter of fact, the pursuit of excellence is not available to all types of students, if teachers stick solely to the application of teaching standards. Information processing does not go at the same pace for all students. I remember when I was at school, the teacher used to ask us â€Å"is everything clear?†, not all the students said â€Å"yes†. Though not all, some of those silent students have not grasped the essence of the ideas explained, and for some reason hesitated to say that they did not understand. Those little details make it necessary to stop by, forget about teaching standards, and look at the learning needs, in particular. Teaching standards should be reconsidered. Many of them have been in use for ages. Some of the teaching standards are transferred from one generation to another and from one school to another in an arbitrary manner, just as heritage is transferred. Yet, the modern developments, mainly at the technological scale have brought innovative and creative approaches to learning. It is for this reason that teaching standards have to be refined according to the actual circumstances. Some would argue that the programming language has to be learned as a second language just like a natural language is learned. This idea triggers the flame of change towards more innovative and fine-tuned perspective towards the application of teaching standards. They could be developed through a recategorization of subject areas to keep the balance between what is theoretical and what is applied. Educational consistency and equity should be taken into consideration as well to improve those standards. To put it in a nutshell, the application of teaching standards remains an inevitable operation that schools and colleges rely on. A scrutinizing eye could not overlook the advantages and disadvantages of such measures. Yet, one could continue to propose practical solutions for the improvement of teaching standards in one way or another.

Individual Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual Project - Research Paper Example In fact, it is among the six sponsors at Partner level in sponsoring the FIFA World Cup. This level is the highest sponsorship level at the FIFA World Cup and comes with the highest cost among all sponsors. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Coca-Cola enjoyed association with FIFA and exclusive marketing assets as a marketing strategy. Therefore, a crucial consideration would be the significance that this marketing strategy has on the company. The proposed research question is: â€Å"How did the marketing of Coca-Cola at the 2010 FIFA World Cup affect its performance?† To answer this question, datasets on the company’s performance indicator would be retrieved. In this paper, cash flow was used as the performance indicator. Dataset on cash flows for Coca-Cola Company was retrieved from the quarterly financial reports of the company as posted on its website and reported by the media. To further objectively answer the research question, it would be helpful to compare the cash flows posted by Coca-Cola to the costs it incurred in its marketing during the period under focus. These datasets on cash flows and marketing expenditure for Coca-Cola are publicly available. From Bloomberg, Stanford reports that together with the other five partners, Coca-Cola raised between $24 million and $44 million. This is an immense expenditure for the six companies, including Coca-Cola. From the dataset on the quarterly financial postings of Coca-Cola, the cash flows before the 2010 FIFA World Cup were $1.3 billion and $4.3 billion in the first and second quarters respectively; the sales volume during the tournament were $7.2 billion in the third quarter; and the sales after the FIFA World Cup was $9.5 billion in the fourth quarter (Coca-Cola). This indicates a tremendous increase in sales during the tournament and subsequent periods. Consistent results were posted on Bloomberg. From this online dataset,

Business and its Impact on Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business and its Impact on Society - Essay Example They are there to deliver the news to the general public. To keep the world connected; to keep the public updated and to communicate exactly what the public wants to hear, is what their function is all about. A few years back, it might not have been an industry but today it’s a business for many. Countless mediums of news media are now in action. Today, the news media has various mediums including the internet, broadcasting and the printed version. Just like in any other industry, there are different players in this field as well, fighting for the market share just like and willing to play dirty if they have to. But this industry has more at stake than in any other because it has a direct affect on the mentality and morale of the user. The players of this market now are even willing to go to an extent of being categorized as unprincipled due to their practices. Media is a very delicate medium of communication with the public. Whatever that is shown or communicated on the news media, becomes the public’s point of view. It can affect the thinking process and the perception of the community; leading them to prosperity or disaster, depending upon the way media portrays the happenings. This profession is something pious. It used to mean something to those who worked for it. They had strong and unwavering values on which they never compromised. But the development of it as a business industry has blown the whole sanctity of the profession. People have turned this profession into money machine, disregarding what affect it might have on public. The role of the participants in this industry is very vital. All the participants work together to put up the skeleton of the job. The public is the most vital participant because the news is about them and for them as well. Then, there are people who are working round the clock to get the news delivered on time and finally, there are those who in reality deliver the news to the public. Today’s era is ahead of the previous one; now people can even give their feedback. Public literally dictates the news media; if the public demands to remain in touch with all the bitter realties of their society, then the media would automatically present them with harsh truth. On the other hand, if the society wants to remain in their bubble of optimism, then their whole media would be in line with the cherry news. Management and journalists have always had a point of conflict on two main things. The first one being what sells the most. Secondly, how much of it is being backed up by the titans of the markets and society. The management looks for the benefits of the organization as a whole. They consider themselves as the profit making organizations, where as journalists believe that they are working for a better cause than just simple money. On this point, the management is even ready to mutilate the story as per required for the situation and the demands of the time. They can elaborate or hide the fac ts that can lead to severe consequences for some, out of plain need for finances for their organization. The management also looks forward to please the mighty in the society, be it the political gurus or business tycoons; they want to keep them in their good books for future needs. This might make them alter the truth, but the journalists want to provide the public with truth, without any sugar coating. In the 21st century, public controls the media. The public now, is highly aware. They want to hear the truth without any layers of sweetness over it.

Gregor Mendel Biography Essay Example for Free

Gregor Mendel Biography Essay His first conclusion was his Law of Segregation, which said that dominant and recessive traits are passed down randomly from parents to offspring. He also provided and alternate way of heredity through his Law of Independent Assortment, which established the idea that traits were passed down independently from traits from parent to offspring. Although his work was overlooked for some period of time, his work later became appreciated by biologists and botanists who were also doing work on heredity. Mendel’s work became the basis and formed the foundation of genetics, in the study of heredity. Although all his work was done through experimentation with pea plants, his laws can be applied on all living organisms that exist today. With his work, people have been able to create anything as crops resistant to harsh weathers reducing the risk of famine, and been able to modify certain traits not just in agricultural life to our benefit. In medicine, doctors have been able to practice preventative medicine now that they know that certain people are at risk for certain diseases. There’s a lot more things, just think how much Mendel’s help at understanding heredity has benefited the human race. Gregor Mendel was born Johann Mendel on July 22, 1822, to Anton and Rosine Mendel, on his family’s farm in Austria. He was given the name Gregor later on in life when he joined the St. Thomas Monastery in Brno. Once his brilliance was noticed by his local school teacher, he was sent to a secondary school in Troppau to continue his education. The Mendels were somewhat poor, but they were able to find enough money for his tuition. It was a hard strain on the family, and also a hard experience for the young Gregor Mendel who suffered of depression, but that didn’t keep his from excelling in his studies, and he graduated in 1840 with honors. He wanted to continue his education, and so he enrolled at the Philosophy Institute of Olomouc. After two years, he was recommended by one of his teachers to go to the St. Thomas Monastery, where he was seen to be of worth to become a monk by the head of the monastery. Here was where he adopted the name of Gregor, to follow tradition. Even after joining the monastery at the age of 21, Gregor further pursued his education and went to the University of Vienna to continue his studies in science, at the monastery’s expense. Here he studied physics and mathematics under Christian Doppler, the same man that the Doppler effect wave frequency was named after. After finishing his studies in 1853 he came back to the monastery, and began teaching secondary school for about a decade, which is where he began most of his experiment which he is best known for. Mendel did not begin his work on heredity using pea plants, but rather with mice. It was on mice on who he began his first experiments, due to his interest in the inheritance of the color of mice coats. He kept doing so until the head of the monastery, Abbot Nap, suggested that looking at mice mate wasn’t the best task for a religious Catholic monk, and so he switched to plants. Mendel chose to use pea plants for his experiment because offspring could be quickly produced, and so he didn’t have to wait too long for them to grow. He cross fertilized pea plants that had opposite characteristics, such as tall with short, smooth to wrinkled, and those containing green seeds with those containing yellow seeds. It is here where he reached to his two most famous conclusions: The Law of Segregation, and the Law of Independent Assortment. Even though Mendel himself believed that this only applied to certain species and certain traits, it became the theory that this applies to all existing organisms. When he was older Mendel became having problems with his eye sight, which kept him away from continuing his experiments. He died on January 6, 1884 at the age of 62. His funeral was well attended, but his work still remained very unknown. He too did not seem to promote much of his work, but not until about a decades later this his work become appreciated and his studies began to be called Mendel’s Laws. It is these laws that are the foundational principles in biology today.

Loyal Disobedience - A Social Tract of Euripides in Medea and Helen Ess

Loyal Disobedience-A Social Tract of Euripides      Ã‚  Ã‚   In ancient Greece the females were considered to be conniving and deceiving whisperers, and men almost never trusted their wives.   The ideal woman was an obedient and placating wife.   They believed that the female should be strong but still yield to the power of the male in charge, whether it was older brother, father, or husband.   Euripides often used females in uncommon ways; he did not simply show them as complacent animals.   Women in Euripides' plays were used for social commentary.   They were not just simple characters; they could be both agathos and kakos.   The females in the works of Euripides were extremely strong and devious and they were loyal but at the same time hypocritical.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ancient Greco society contained a vast amount of gods, demigods, and other godlike beings.   Even though it was widely known what females should be like, the gods themselves did not emulate this.   Hera was not obedient to Zeus.   There are other contradictory goddesses: the goddess of Peace, and the goddess of War.   In the time of Euripides there was a double standard.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In both Medea and Helen, the title characters are disobedient females.   They do not listen to the males around them.   In ancient Greece it was not acceptable for a female tolive by herself.   They believed that females should be the servant, or the subjugated property of a male.   Females relied on men for their protection but in return they gave their loyalty.   What might have been seen as obedience, most likely was loyalty.   Men might have thought they had an obedient wife but this was not the case.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Menelaos is shipwrecked in Egypt after a long and arduous j... ...allowed to break their physical bonds, i.e. kill the children.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To Euripides, women were in no way obedient.   He believed that women were loyal to those who provide for them, but if you cut the provisions you will lose their loyalties.   In both Helen and Medea the title character is a strong and independent woman.   They are loyal to their husbands, but just so long as their husband reciprocates the loyalty.   They were loyal but disobedient.   If the connection is broken, they will not listen.   A man might think he has an obedient wife, but it is most likely loyalty. Works Cited Ancient Greek Women in Athens. 20 January 2002.    Marschke, J. The Roles of Women in Greek Tragedies. 20 January 2002.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Baz Luhrman’s modern interpretation of the Shakespeare play Essay

This essay is based on Baz Luhrman’s modern interpretation of the Shakespeare play; Romeo + Juliet. It will be focusing on the opening scene, and Prologue. I will be analysing how Baz Lurhman portrays the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. I will also be discussing how the presentation of The Prologue helps the audience to understand the play. The film begins with a blank TV screen. The TV screen could represent the modern interpretation to the play. The screen the becomes occupied by a news-reader, who begins reciting the sonnet. The idea of the sonnet being read off the news, emphasises the how important the situation is. Once the news-reader has completed the sonnet, the TV ‘transports’ you to the scene of the play; Verona. The establishing shot becomes apparent; a Montague building separated form a Capulet building, only by the statue of Christ. This emphasises the theme of religion, and the line in the sonnet: â€Å"Both alike in dignity† This is because each building belittles the rest of Verona, as well as the other. The camera then speeds up and shows a sequence of fast shots. This is known as ‘mise en scene’. This represents a degree of chaos, and highlights the conflict between the two families. The Prologue is then recited again, this time, by the Friar. As he reads, the words are reinforced by bold, white text, on a black background. The contrasting colours could be highlighting the two families’ differences. The use of colour; in this case black and white, are most likely an deliberate choice, as black and white are both immediate opposites, therefore helping the audience differentiate between text and background. This allows the audience to correlate the friar’s voice with the text, despite the short amount of time in which the text is shown. After the Friar has completed The Prologue, the camera focuses on a family tree, of each family; in turn. Almost as soon as it has shown the family trees, the shot becomes engulfed in flames. The flames could convey a message of hatred, rage and anger between the two families. From the flames, a newspaper heading appears, whilst the flames fade. The heading suggests re-occurring violence between both the Montagues and the Capulets, and could also show that the feud is still as strong as ever. We can then learn that the strongest of the families quarrel lies between the youth of each house. This becomes apparent when the camera focuses on a number of magazines, with the younger generation of each house on the cover. Baz Lurhman also incorporates the use of magazines, as opposed to tabloids, when referring to the youth, as younger people are usually more associated with magazines. In the next shot, the parents of each house are pictured, accompanied by the actor’s name and character. In turn, the same happens for every character. This is important, as it allows the audience to differentiate between the members of each family, and who the main roles are. The types of shots depicted are very solemn, except for a character named ‘Paris’. He is shown in a happy scene; as he is not involved in the feud, whilst every other character is affected, in some way, by the civil conflict. The Prologue concludes with a montage of shots, featured earlier in The Prologue, aswell as a repertoire of emotion-provoking shots, from later in the film. As the closing sequence is shown, shots of fireworks are merged in, to again, establish the theme of chaos. Finally, the title appears, and The Prologue finishes. The final aspect of Baz Luhrman’s interpretation, is the Music. Without this particular piece (Carmena Burana), The Prologue would not provoke as many emotions within the audience. This is because; as the tempo, and volume rises beyond forte, Baz secrenises the action scenes to run along side this. He also utilises the piano-pianissimo parts of the piece to again, establish the sonnet. All together, the music adds the element of drama, and strong emotions to the opening scene.

Life Resource Center Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Essay

The Life Resource Center (LRC) is a valuable free tool available to University of Phoenix students. Taking some time to explore this website to discover some of the many topics, resources, and tools available is a great way to find information to enhance health and wellness. Log on to the student website. Click on the Programs tab at the top of the page, and then click on Life Resource Center under Services. Explore the resources available on the site and use them to answer the following questions. 1. What are the three ways that students may receive counseling services through the LRC? The three way students may receive are in person, over the phone or online. 2. What heading are the Health Tools and Health Challenges found under? The Health Tools and Health Challenges is found under the Thriving heading. 3. Where is the Assess Your Health tool located? The Assess Your Health tool is located in Health Tools under the Thriving heading. 4. What are the five categories on the Live Healthy Page? The five categories on the live healthy page are How Healthy Are You, Lifestyle Change, Physical Fitness, Prevention and Screening, Tips for Healthy Living. 5. Where are resources and articles about good nutrition found on the LRC? The resources and articles about good nutrition can be found under Healthy Eating under the thriving heading. 6. What are three of the health topics that can be found on the LRC? Three

buy custom Happiness essay

buy custom Happiness essay Happiness may be defined as something a person reaches after following a planned path. It can be a way of reaching something that we lack or a sign that one has what he wants. For example, a plant is believed to be happy if it looks healthy. If farmers see their toil to be fruitful, they feel cheerful. Therefore, the term happiness is energetic and motivated since people aspire to achieve it. Mentioning the word happiness makes one happy. Repetition of the word makes one even happier. Happiness can make one stop at some point. For example, I need a house in order to be happy. It suggests comfort or joy, and can be either an end or a beginning of a story. According to John Stuart Mill, happiness explains what people desire. This means that human beings desire something that gives them happiness. Statements regarding happiness can be either false or true. For example, some researchers assert that feminism brings unhappiness to women by increasing their aspirations, or through challenging their gender roles. Other people will argue that feminist brings happiness. Others believe that feminist brings neither happiness nor unhappiness, hence indifference. Happiness can be found when something is being missed simply because unhappiness occurs because of lack of something, which can be gained when sought for. The term happiness is closely associated with ethics because of its emotional value. Some people go to an extent of describing good life as happy life. A virtuous person also appears to be a happy person. Therefore, happiness measures the goodness of something. In order to appreciate happiness, people require the understanding of the te rms intimacy. The State of Happiness Happiness can only be secured if it is within our control. People should not hope for happiness when it is beyond their reach. Eventually, this leads to disappointments. Happiness of a wise person rests upon being virtuous and wise. Happiness can be found in fortunes such as attention, discipline, and education. However, this does not mean that unfortunate people lack happiness. Rather it means that a happy person thinks of himself/herself as virtuous and wise despite being fortunate. Unhappiness means suffering ones fate, while being happy means determining ones fate. It is not an obligation to be unhappy. People should avoid romance out of unbearable experiences. Unhappiness does not simply mean a feeling that one needs to overcome. It can, as well, offer lessons that promises of happiness are not always met because there are certain limits. One may be shielded from crisis by happiness, but at times, it may fail. Whenever a crisis arises, one wonders the right way to follow. This g ives possibilities and happiness can be used to shield an individual from recognizing these possibilities. Ethics can also be a crisis and one may want to change his/her lifestyle even though it means being unethical, or leading to unhappiness. Noteworthy is that something can be good for one person, but bad for another. Involving possibilities would mean going backwards or returning to the past mistakes. There can be a possibility of being unhappy, and this possibility means grasping joy, as well as terror. Happiness does not last. This means that a person cannot be happy throughout all the life. Times change and people find themselves in grievous situations. Shared impressions can lead to happiness. For example, people can burst into laughter after remembering an event. Happiness should be sought for when there is a lack of it since it is a necessity. Moments of bliss make people happy. Being misfortunate does not always mean that a person does not act. Frustrations ae always there no matter how hard people work towards happiness. Therefore, people ought to know what they can achieve and what they cannot. This way, they will be able to have achievable expectations, hence, no frustrations that lead to unhappiness. In the chapter Feminist killjoys, we learn of what can be found behind the happy image of an American housewife. Several researches have been conducted to show whether housewives are happier than working wives. Results indicate that traditional housewives appeared happier than the modern wives who got jobs. Aiming at being feminist gives women unhappy desires. Therefore, a relation exists between unhappiness and feminism. To explain such misfortune, some authors use the the housewifes consciousnesses. Happiness is achieved through orientation. One will want to achieve that which leads to good life. Therefore the state of happiness is closely related to education since it offers orientation. A child is shaped by what happens to it. A person gets educated with the hope of leading a lucky life in the future. Virtues also lead to happiness, and, therefore, cultivating virtues makes one happy. In this book, a character named Sophy gets educated on how to become a good wife. A woman must b e pleasing, respectful and loving. Women must always maintain bliss in their homes. A woman believes that virtues lead to happiness. She believes that a bad woman is a disgrace, unhappy, poor, and one who neglects things. She must behave that way because her parents expect that from her. Her happiness is achieved through making her parents happy. Sophy is this kind of a woman, but we fail to understand whether she is happy personally, or she just makes other people feel joyful. Happiness should follow natural paths. Felicity also should not be used to make relations secure because this makes happiness an instrument. It should be the aspiring force that shapes the world. Educating women on how to be happy serves as happiness scripts that give instructions. Happiness can keep an individual out of trouble. Desires and imaginations can make one dolorous. Imagination makes a woman think much and provides her with several questions in her mind, which remain unanswered. Feminists lack a sense of humor because they fear contr adicting themselves of annoying others. People should acquire total bliss when they laugh at the right time. Feminists, on the other hand, force themselves to laugh simply because it is their duty to make others happy, and not to be gloomy (Gilbert, 2006). Some people believe that feminists are not genuinely happy, and that they try to show felicity because they envy other women. Unhappiness can make one realize the cause for this state by evaluating the events leading to it. Conditional happiness exists whereby a person should be happy because someone else is lucky. Such happiness does not bring satisfaction in terms of happiness. A person ought to be happy naturally and this state does not have to be conditioned. To leave happiness behind means stopping being sympathetic. Sadness arises when a person realizes that gender can lead to loss of possibility and such loss does not make things possible. One can also inherit unhappiness like in the case of Clarissa who inherits infelicity from Mrs. Dalloway. Many women spend their lives as housewives, yet they have talents, which could be used elsewhere. This does not lead to happiness at all since they end up not achieving happiness that could have come otherwise in a natural way due to exercising their talents. Therefore, behind a happy face of a housewife lays sadness. Some people will go to an extent of wanting to understand the attributes of happiness. Pecola is staring at the mirror for long hours sso that she can discover her ugliness that makes people dislike her. This is because both students and her fellow students do not like her. She believes that beautiful eyes would make people admire her. She wishes she had blue eyes. Consciousness of something makes one live in a different world. For example, if a feminist realizes that she leads a different life from that of non-feminists, she is likely to have burdensome feelings. She may even change her attitude towards feminism because she will realize that she is forces to behave in a certain way simply to make others happy. In the story To room nineteen, a story of two people is told. These two people fall in love and they get married after waiting for so long. Their friends got married when they were young and they lived in regrets for wasted opportunities. The couples happiness is increased when their friends compliment them by saying that they suit each other. The two of them have well-payed jobs and they are comfortable about it. The wife remains happy even after she quits job after giving birth. The two build a house, which makes them very pleased. It is a proud couple that makes fun of themselves. The husband is available all the time, at night and du ring the day. This couple avoided falling into the same pit that their friends had fallen. They feared that their marriage would collapse as many marriages did. Susan promises her heart that she will go back to employment so that she will be independent once again. One time Mathew, the husband, came home late. He confessed that he was at a party and that he slept with another girl. Susan felt betrayed, but she forgave him. The infidelity came after ten years of marriage. The couple experienced periods of unhappiness. Sometimes their children would suffer from measles, which would disturb Susan. After their recovery, Susan realized that she had been lonely for a long time; that she lacked freedom while staying with her husband. It was at this time that she became friends with Mrs. Parker, a widow who worked hard to earn a living. After making friends with her, Susan became independent once again. She felt happy that she was now free from imprisonment. She could now do whatever she wished to do. She could also visit whomever she wanted (Cutler, 1998). Conclusion In conclusion, happiness comes from within an individual. The term happiness itself makes one happy. Repetition of the word makes one even happier. People always want to achieve something so that they become joyful. However, happiness does not last forever. It comes and goes, just like life. For instance, in the case of Susan and Mathew, the couple used to be happy for over ten years, but later on problems started arising in their marriage. Moments of unhappiness can be used to teach one a lesson. For example, one can realize what he did, or what he did not do for the misfortune to happen to him. To explain true happiness, we went through the story of a housewife who was a feminist. We learn that feminism does not bring felicity, but rather there is something hidden behind the face of a happy housewife. These wives are taught how to be happy, and they feel happy when someone else becomes joyful. This is referred to as conditional happiness. However, the state of true happiness should come naturally. People should not be happy simply because the society expects them to be fortunate. Noteworthy, what makes one person happy does not necessarily benefit another person in the same way. At the same time, a persons happiness can mean another persons disappointment. For example, a thief can be happy after stealing something. The person, whose property has been taken, is left unhappy. Buy custom Happiness essay

Consumer Ethics -- Considerations in a Global Market

Consumer Ethics Considerations in a Global Market Many people around the world work to consider consumer ethics and  make ethical consumer choices in their everyday lives. They do this in response to the troubling conditions that plague global supply chains and the human-made climate crisis. Approaching these issues from a sociological standpoint, we can see that our consumer choices matter because they have sweeping economic, social, environmental, and political implications that reach far beyond the context of our everyday lives. In this sense, what we choose to consume matters very much, and it is possible to be a conscientious, ethical consumer. However, is it necessarily this simple? When we broaden the critical lens through which we examine consumption, we see a more complicated picture. In this view, global capitalism and consumerism have created crises of ethics that make it very difficult to frame any form of consumption as ethical. Key Takeaways: Ethical Consumerism What we buy is often related to our cultural and educational capital, and consumption patterns can reinforce existing social hierarchies.One perspective suggests that consumerism may be at odds with ethical behavior, as consumerism seems to bring about a self-centered mentality.Although the choices we make as consumers do matter, a better strategy may be to strive for ethical citizenship rather than merely ethical consumption. Consumption and the Politics of Class At the center of this problem is that consumption is tangled up in the politics of class in some troubling ways. In his study of consumer culture in France, Pierre Bourdieu found that consumer habits tend to reflect the amount of cultural and educational capital one has and also the economic class position of one’s family. This would be a neutral outcome if the resulting consumer practices were not slotted into a hierarchy of tastes, with wealthy, formally educated people at the top, and the poor and not formally educated at the bottom. However, Bourdieu’s findings suggest that consumer habits both reflect and reproduce the class-based system of inequality that courses through industrial and post-industrial societies. As an example of how consumerism is tied to social class, think about the impression you might form of a person who frequents the opera, has a membership to an art museum, and enjoys collecting wine.  You probably imagined that this person is relatively wealthy and well-educated, even though these things weren’t explicitly stated. Another French sociologist, Jean Baudrillard, argued in For a Critique of the Political Economy of the Sign, that consumer goods have a â€Å"sign value† because they exist within the system of all goods. Within this system of goods/signs, the symbolic value of each good is determined primarily by how it is viewed in relation to others. So, cheap and knock-off goods exist in relation to mainstream and luxury goods, and business attire exists in relation to casual clothing and urban wear, for example. A hierarchy of goods, defined by quality, design, aesthetics, availability, and even ethics, begets a hierarchy of consumers. Those who can afford the goods at the top of the status pyramid are viewed in higher standing than their peers of lower economic classes and marginalized cultural backgrounds. You might be thinking, â€Å"So what? People buy what they can afford, and some people can afford more expensive things. What’s the big deal?† From a sociological standpoint, the big deal is the collection  of assumptions we make about people based on what they consume. Consider, for instance, how two hypothetical people might be perceived differently as they move through the world. A man in his sixties with clean cut hair, wearing a smart sport coat, pressed slacks and collared shirt, and a pair of shiny mahogany colored loafers drives a Mercedes sedan, frequents upscale bistros, and shops at fine stores like Neiman Marcus and Brooks Brothers. Those he encounters on a daily basis are likely to assume him smart, distinguished, accomplished, cultured, well-educated, and moneyed. He is likely to be treated with dignity and respect, unless he does something egregious to warrant otherwise. By contrast, a 17 year-old boy, wearing disheveled thrift store attire, drives his used truck to fast food restaurants and convenience stores, and shops at discount outlets and cheap  chain stores. It is likely that those he encounters will assume him to be poor and undereducated. He may experience disrespect and disregard on a daily basis, despite how he behaves toward others. Ethical Consumerism and Cultural Capital In a system of consumer signs, those who make the ethical choice to purchase fair trade, organic, locally grown, sweat-free, and sustainable goods are also often seen as morally superior to those who don’t know, or don’t care,  to make these kinds of purchases. In the landscape of consumer goods, being an ethical consumer awards one with heightened cultural capital and a higher social status in relation to other consumers. For example, buying a hybrid vehicle signals to others that one is concerned about environmental issues, and neighbors passing by the car in the driveway might even view the car’s owner more positively. However, someone who can’t afford to replace their 20-year-old car may care about the environment just as much, but they would be unable to demonstrate this through their patterns of consumption. A sociologist would then ask, if ethical consumption reproduces problematic hierarchies of class, race, and culture, then, how ethical is it? The Problem of Ethics in a Consumer Society Beyond the hierarchy of goods and people fostered by  consumerist culture, is it even possible to be an ethical consumer? According to Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, a society of consumers thrives on and fuels rampant individualism and self-interest above all else. He argues that this stems from operating within a consumerist context in which we are obligated to consume to be the best, most desired and valued versions of ourselves. With time, this self-centered standpoint infuses all of our social relationships. In a society of consumers we are prone to be callous, selfish, and devoid of empathy and concern for others, and for the common good. Our lack of interest in the welfare of others is furthered by the waning of strong community ties in favor of fleeting, weak ties experienced only with others who share our consumer habits, like those we see at the cafà ©, the farmers market, or at a music festival. Rather than investing in communities and those within them, whether geographically rooted or otherwise, we instead operate as swarms, moving from one trend or event to the next. From a sociological standpoint, this signals a crisis of morals and ethics, because if we are not part of communities with others, we are unlikely to experience moral  solidarity with others around the shared values, beliefs, and practices that allow for cooperation and social stability. The research of Bourdieu, and the theoretical observations of Baudrillard and Bauman, raise the alarm in response to the idea that consumption can be ethical. While the choices we make as consumers do matter, practicing a truly ethical life requires going beyond just making different consumption patterns. For example, making ethical choices involves investing in strong community ties, working to be an ally to others in our community, and thinking critically and often beyond self-interest. It is difficult to do these things when navigating the world from the standpoint of a consumer. Rather, social, economic, and environmental justice follow from ethical  citizenship.

The Role of Social Media in Business Research Paper

The Role of Social Media in Business - Research Paper Example In addition, the social media technology is the most excellent tool for the companies to promote their business, for example if a company is selling services, products or publishing ads, then social media is the most excellent method to make their website gainful in a minimum amount of time (Deepika, 2010). This paper will discuss some of the important aspects of social media and their influence on the current business industry. This paper will also outline some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the social media. The role of social media in business At the present, social media is playing a significant role in business sector. In the past it was frequently used for carrying out non-business activities. For instance, people used it to connect with their friends as well as for searching and making new friends. However, now it has become a basic need for most of the businesses since business people are making use of social media particularly Twitter and Facebook for performing market research, marketing their products and services and for supporting clients. To serve this purpose, a large number of social media related websites are available. All of them offer specific advantages and users need to follow their rules. In this regard, the graph given below demonstrates the rapid expansion for the job requirements in "social media". Additionally, this expansion rate has reached up to 1,750 percent. However, the basic cause of this expansion is very simple, since all the corporations require people skilled in creating Social Media API, particularly experts in building Twitter applications and Facebook tools (QualityPoint Technologies, 2011) and (Deepika, 2010). Figure 1Social Media Growth, Image Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fe-rfgnWWa2OTc_AFkmdp5s3rKPdXf9cg7g_TWO2tHK906b4d7wrFDKl573pR3mBqaab05juRScSj0iyrPmjuUygDq7yl5sqosejRCXtXKVmH6pte0SDZMes5Wmc9HpNl3wYTGXfUTN4/s1600/jobgraph.png Additionally, the social networking websites (such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace and Facebook) present choices for companies to build and maintain their business prof iles and pages, through which they can promote their services and products. In addition, with the modern applications that enumerate likes and dislikes of users, Facebook now allows its users to join â€Å"groups† that facilitate companies in marketing their products or services. Thus, it has become a blessing for the businesses that these social networking websites have offered. Moreover, the latest movement of users, for instance joining business groups or adding support to business ads, will be listed on the users’ profile however it is acknowledged as â€Å"newsfeed†. As well, this newsfeed presents recent news regarding the tasks performed by the users on their home page (Cortez, 2011). Furthermore, for the majority of businesses this social networking based system (or more simply e-collaboration) has turned into a base of electronic marketing. In this scenario, Facebook facilitates business managers to interact with the masses what they are going to do, wh at proceedings are happening, what attainments or recognitions have been established by other businesses. In addition, articles published in recent newspapers and other media related to business industry are copied and pasted onto the corporate profile or added to their position. For instance,

Nurse Residency Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nurse Residency Program - Essay Example Beginning March 2000, both the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) as well as American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) tied up and have worked to enlarge strategies which can address the nursing shortage, enhance the expertise among nursing workforce, reduce practice errors, and also to minimize the burnout brought about by stress beneath prepared professional nurses. Moreover, a small body of research confronts issue about the training for clinical practice and the job satisfaction of the new nurses. Until today new nurse graduates have expressed the difficulty adjusting to the roles demonstrated when in the acute care setting. The UHC and AACN in joint venture with Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education with an impartial panel were able to developed accreditation standards intended for nurse residency programs and this move have been commented by the public (University HealthSystem Consortium, 2007). In 2002, a study conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, found that health care employers recognize newly licensed RNs as not fully prepared to execute common tasks in a fundamental practice setting. Employers view new RNs as more than ever deficient in recognizing abnormal physical as well as diagnostic findings, supervising care provided by others, responding to emergencies, and in psychomotor skills. The UHC and AACN are in the opinion that it is extremely challenging for nursing schools to prepare new graduates to effort in the field of acute care hospital environment since there is high level of patient acuity. UHC conducted a study (2000) to discover what additional assistance was being offered to fresh graduate nurses employed in UHC hospitals.Similarly, about eighty-five percent (85%) of the respondents noted that they had an extended program in order to prepare new graduates to become skillful practitioners; but, the survey revealed that there was no u niformity programs offered. The previously mentioned programs varied in length, curriculum, and content, particularly the clinical content that ranged from 20% to 100%. Also, same study reiterated that more training and support is required for new nurses in order improve reduce turnover, job satisfaction, and enhance skills very significant to patient safety. The shortage of experienced nurses simply suggests that recent graduates are becoming gradually more critical to providing sufficient staffing and emphasizes the need for a standardized curriculum.Through a mutual interest in creating a substantially different program and a desire to share experiences and collaborate between systems, a common definition emerged. A NRP was defined as a joint partnership between academia and practice that is a learner-focused, postgraduate experience designed to support the development of competency in nursing practice. The role of the academic partner is to aid in the development of the theoreti cal framework and conduct the research-based program evaluation,

Stingray's camuoflage, sting, and its adaptations to be more Research Paper

Stingray's camuoflage, sting, and its adaptations to be more successful in hunting - Research Paper Example Adaptation can either be physiological or structural. Structural adaptation entails the development of the structural traits due to the evolution by natural selection and mutation. On the other hand, physiological adaptation entails the development of the physiological traits on evolution of the structural traits. Physiological adaptation refers to adjustment of the living matter to the conditions in the surrounding environment and to the other living things during the lifetime of an organism. It describes the systematic response of an organism to specific external stimulus to maintain homeostasis and entails the biological change in an organism towards response on conditional changes. Physiological adaptation improves the ability by an organism to cope with the changing environment, and it entails hibernation, migration or emission of smell among others (Chisholm, Whittington & Fischer, 2004). Stingrays refer to flat marine fish mostly in warm water. Stingray is a group of fish related to the shark family. They are cartilaginous fishes classified in the subclass elasmobranchii and order mliobatiformes. They consist of eight families; deep water stingray (plesiobatidae), six gill stingray (hexatrygonidae), round rays (urotrygonidae), stingarees (urolophidae), butterfly rays (gymnuridae), whiptail stingrays (dasyatidae), eagle rays (myliobatidae), and river stingrays (potamotrygonidae) (Diaz & James, 2008). Stingrays live in both marine and freshwater habitats. Stingray has stinger at the tail end, which pierces the prey before escape. The stinger is razor-sharp, serrated, attached and barbed to the tail. The stingray can whip the stinger extremely quickly when attacking the prey (Dulci, Jardas & Onofri, 2003). The thin tail is agile and extremely flexible. The sting size is dependent on the species of the Stingray. Stingray is carnivorous in

Planimetric Maps Essay Example for Free

Planimetric Maps Essay A planimetric map presents only the horizontal positions for the features represented. It is distinguished from a topographic map by the omission of relief, normally represented by contour lines. Sometimes, it is called a line map. Topographic Map. A topographic map portrays terrain features in a measurable way, as well as the horizontal positions of the features represented. The vertical positions, or relief, are normally represented by contour lines on military topographic maps. On maps showing relief, the elevations and contours are measured from a specific vertical datum plane, usually mean sea level. Photomap. A photomap is a reproduction of an aerial photograph upon which grid lines, marginal data, place names, route numbers, important elevations, boundaries, and approximate scale and direction have been added. Joint Operations Graphics. Joint operations graphics are based on the format of standard 1:250,000 medium-scale military topographic maps, but they contain additional information needed in joint air-ground operations. Along the north and east edges of the graphic, detail is extended beyond the standard map sheet to provide overlap with adjacent sheets. These maps are produced both in ground and air formats. Each version is identified in the lower margin as either joint operations graphic (air) or joint operations graphic (ground). The topographic information is identical on both, but the ground version shows elevations and contour in meters and the air version shows them in feet. Layer (elevation) tinting and relief shading are added as an aid to interpolating relief. Both versions emphasize airlanding facilities (shown in purple), but the air version has additional symbols to identify aids and obstructions to air navigation. Photomosaic. A photomosaic is an assembly of aerial photographs that is commonly called a mosaic in topographic usage. Mosaics are useful when time does not permit the compilation of a more accurate map. The accuracy of a mosaic depends on the method employed in its preparation and may vary from simply a good pictorial effect of the ground to that of a planimetric map. Terrain Model. A terrain model is a scale model of the terrain showing features, and in large-scale models showing industrial and cultural shapes. It provides a means for visualizing the terrain for planning or indoctrination purposes and for briefing on assault landings. Military City Map. A military city map is a topographic map (usually at 1:12,550 scale, sometimes up to 1:5,000), showing the details of a city. It delineates streets and shows street names, important buildings, and other elements of the urban landscape important to navigation and military operations in urban terrain. The scale of a military city map depends on the importance and size of the city, density of detail, and available intelligence information. Special Maps. Special maps are for special purposes such as trafficability, communications, and assault maps. They are usually in the form of an overprint in the scales smaller than 1:100,000 but larger than 1:1,000,000. A special purpose map is one that has been designed or modified to give information not covered on a standard map. The wide range of subjects that could be covered under the heading of special purpose maps prohibits, within the scope of this manual, more than a brief mention of a few important ones. Some of the subjects covered are: * Terrain features. * Drainage characteristics. * Vegetation. * Climate. * Coasts and landing beaches. * Roads and bridges. * Railroads. * Airfields. * Urban areas. * Electric power. * Fuels. * Surface water resources. * Ground water resources. * Natural construction materials. * Cross-country movements. * Suitability for airfield construction. * Airborne operations. If military maps are not available, use substitute maps. The substitute maps can range from foreign military or commercial maps to field sketches. The NGA can provide black and white reproductions of many foreign maps and can produce its own maps based upon intelligence. Foreign Maps. Foreign maps have been compiled by nations other than our own. When they must be used, the marginal information and grids are changed to conform to our standards, if time permits. The scales may differ from our maps, but they do express the ratio of map distance to ground distance and can be used in the same way. The legend must be used since the map symbols almost always differ from ours. Because the accuracy of foreign maps varies considerably, they are usually evaluated in regard to established accuracy standards before they are issued to our troops. Atlases. Atlases are collections of maps of regions, countries, continents, or the world. Such maps are accurate only to a degree and can be used for general information only. Geographic Maps. Geographic maps provide an overall idea of the mapped area in relation to climate, population, relief, vegetation, and hydrography. They also show the general location of major urban areas. Tourist Road Maps. Tourist road maps are maps of a region in which the main means of transportation and areas of interest are shown. Some of these maps show secondary networks of roads, historic sites, museums, and beaches in detail. They may contain road and time distance between points. The scale should be carefully considered when using these maps. City/Utility Maps. City/utility maps are maps of urban areas showing streets, water ducts, electricity and telephone lines, and sewers. Field Sketches. Field sketches are preliminary drawings of an area or piece of terrain. Aerial Photographs. Aerial photographs can be used as map supplements or substitutes to help you analyze the terrain, plan your route, or guide your movement.

July 31, 1976 Colorado :: essays research papers

On July 31, 1976, a violent rainstorm hit the area where the Big Thompson Canyon is located. According to reports the rainfall was falling at an alarming rate of 2† per hour which caused the Big Thompson river to rise and return to its primordial state. This all began when winds from the east pushed very humid air up the mountains. The unstable air continued rising as its water vapor condensed. The winds were less than 20 mph above 10,000 feet that was too weak to move the storm away. Humid high-altitude air combining with weak winds meant the storm pulled into little dry air to weaken the rainfall. Hardly any of the rain soaked into the steep-sided canyon. The river quickly went over its banks, filled with debris that acted like battering rams against downstream buildings and cars. The water then backed up in the canyon’s narrow mouth, in floods, water often backs up as debris piles against bridges. The Floodwater sped up as it squeezed through narrow places was freed when the dam that was formed by debris burst loose. Due to these events, occurring in such a short time the U.S. Army came to rescue 850 people off the tops of homes, canyon walls, and rocks. The flood destroyed 556 homes and 52 businesses. The total damage was $35.5 million to the area; it cost $1 million dollars to remove 320, 450 tons of debris. The storm and flood caused the Big Thompson River to change course in thirty places. The flood killed 144 people and it took the authorities working until mid-September to identify all the bodies. The town felt that most of the deaths occurred due to the lack of a timely warning. To prevent this from happening again they installed a reverse 911 emergency system.

Iron Crowned Chapter 2

I retreated to my bedroom as soon as etiquette allowed, collapsing onto the bed the moment I entered. Dorian had followed me in, and I tossed an arm over my eyes, groaning. â€Å"Do you think that display helped win us over with Ranelle or scared her off?† I felt Dorian sit on the bed beside me. â€Å"Hard to say. At the very least, I don't think it'll turn her king against us. We're too terrifying and unstable.† I smiled and uncovered my face, looking into those green and gold eyes. â€Å"If only that reputation would spread to everyone else. I heard a rumor the Honeysuckle Land might join with Katrice. Honestly, how anyone could call their kingdom that and keep a straight face is beyond me.† Dorian leaned over me, lightly brushing hair from my face and trailing his fingers along my cheekbone. â€Å"It's quite lovely, actually. Almost tropical. I mean, it's no barren wasteland of a desert kingdom, but it's not half bad.† I was so used to his jibes about my kingdom that there was almost something comforting about them. His fingers ran down to my neck and were soon replaced by his lips. â€Å"Honestly, I'm not worried about this Honeysuckle place. It's other potential allies worrying me. Hey, stop.† His lips had moved down to my collarbone, and his hand was starting to lift my shirt. I wriggled away. â€Å"I don't have time.† He lifted his head, arching an eyebrow in surprise. â€Å"You have some place to be?† â€Å"Yeah, actually.† I sighed. â€Å"I have a job back in Tucson. Besides, I'm filthy.† Dorian was undeterred and returned to trying to get my shirt off. â€Å"I'll help bathe you.† I swatted his hand away but then pulled him over so that I could put my arms around him and hold him against me. I knew he wanted more than cuddling, but I didn't have the energy. Considering his fastidious nature, I was surprised he consented to resting his head on my chest, seeing as how dirty and ragged the shirt was. â€Å"No offense, but I'll take human showers any day over some servant lugging water up to a tub.† â€Å"You can't leave without talking to Ranelle,† he pointed out. â€Å"And you can't see her like this.† I grimaced and ran my hand over his brilliant hair. â€Å"Damn it.† He was right. I was still bad at this queen thing, but I knew enough about gentry customs to know that if I really did want the Linden King's help, I would need to look and sound good. So much to do. Never enough time. All so wearying. Dorian lifted his head and looked back down at me. â€Å"Was it bad?† He was referring to last night's battle. â€Å"It's always bad. I'm still not okay with people fighting and dying for me. Especially over one insult.† The living suffered from this war too. I often had refugees coming to me for food and shelter. â€Å"Their kingdom's at stake,† he said. â€Å"Their homes. And that was more than an insult. Letting it pass would make the Thorn Land look weak – like prey. It would make you open to invasion, which is the same as surrendering to Katrice. Your people don't want that. They have to fight.† â€Å"But why do yours fight?† Dorian looked at me like that was a crazy question. â€Å"Because I tell them to.† I left the conversation at that and called for a servant to fill the bathtub in the chamber adjacent to my bedroom. It was a tedious task I hated making them do, though Dorian would no doubt argue it was their duty to. The magic I'd inherited from my tyrant father gave me control over storm elements, so I could have summoned water straight to the tub, rather than making my servants haul it up one bucket at a time. The Thorn Land was so dry, however, that pulling that much water magically would both dry out the castle's air even more and possibly kill surrounding vegetation. The servants had their own entrance to the bath chamber, and as soon as we heard them hauling and pouring water, Dorian grinned and pulled me back to the bed. â€Å"See?† he said. â€Å"Now we have time.† I stopped protesting. And as our clothes came off and I felt the heat of his lips, I had to admit to myself that I wasn't averse to sex, not really. This war really did put our lives constantly at risk, and he had worried about me. Having me here, merging physically, seemed to reassure him that I truly was all right. And I took comfort in it too, being with this man I'd fallen in love with against all reason. I'd once feared and hated the gentry – and it had taken me a long time to trust Dorian. Sex was surprisingly tame for us this time. Usually, we found ourselves caught up in bad, kinky sex, sex that was a game of power and control I both loved and felt dirty about. Now, I sat on top of him, wrapping my legs around his hips as I drew him inside me. A sigh of bliss escaped his lips, his eyes closing as I began to slowly move my body and ride him. A moment later, his eyes opened and held mine with an expression of such affection and lust that a chill ran through me. It always amazed me that he found me so desirable. I'd seen his past lovers – sexy, voluptuous women with curves and cleavage reminiscent of classic Hollywood starlets. My body's build was lean and athletic from all the activity I did, my breasts pretty nicely shaped – though hardly porn star quality. Yet, since we'd officially become a couple these last few months, he had never looked at another woman. It was me he watched, his gaze hungry even at the most unromantic times. I increased my pace, tilting forward and rocking us so that more of my body rubbed against his, bringing me closer to orgasm. I came shortly thereafter, my lips parting without a sound as a sweet ecstasy wracked my body, and every nerve in my skin seemed to ignite. I leaned forward, kissing him, letting his tongue explore my mouth as his fingers stroked my nipples. The door to the bath chamber suddenly opened, and I jerked my head up as a servant peered in. â€Å"Your Majesty? The bath is ready.† Her words were bland, and she disappeared as quickly as she'd come. My being naked on top of Dorian hadn't seemed like any big deal to her – and probably, it wasn't. The gentry had much looser sexual mores than humans, public displays being very common. It probably would have been weirder for her if she hadn't found her monarchs immediately going at it upon my return. This sexual ease wasn't something I'd picked up, and Dorian knew it. â€Å"No, no,† he said, feeling me slow down in my shock. The hands cupping my breasts moved down to my hips. â€Å"Let's finish this.† Dragging my eyes from the door, I turned my attention back to him and found my arousal returning. He rolled me over, not holding anything back now that I'd come. He pushed his body into mine, thrusting as hard and fast as he could. Moments later, his body shuddered, his fingers digging in where he gripped my arms. I loved watching it happen, loved watching this smug, confident king lose his control between my thighs. When he finished, I gave him another long, lingering kiss and then slid over to lie beside him. He exhaled in contentment, regarding me again with that mix of hunger and love. He wouldn't say it, but I knew he always secretly hoped that somehow, some way, our lovemaking would result in me getting pregnant. I had explained to him a hundred times how birth control pills worked, but the gentry had difficulty with conception, making them obsessed with having children. Dorian claimed he wanted a child just for the sake of having one with me, but the prophecy about my firstborn son conquering humanity had always been alluring. Obviously, I wasn't in favor of that idea – hence my emphasis on contraceptives. Dorian had ostensibly let go of that dream for my sake, but there were days I suspected he wouldn't mind fathering such a conqueror. As it was, our alliance already made us dangerous. He loved me, I was certain, but he also craved power. Our united kingdoms put us in a good position to conquer others, if we chose. It was difficult leaving him, but there was too much to be done. I retreated to the bath, washing both sex and battle off of me. Life and death. The tub was only big enough for one, but Dorian seemed perfectly happy watching me and lounging in the afterglow. He was less excited about my wardrobe choice. As queen, I had a closet filled with elaborate dresses, dresses he loved seeing me in. As a human shaman, I'd also made sure it was stocked with human clothes. He looked at my jeans and tank top with dismay. â€Å"Ranelle would be more impressed with a dress,† he said. â€Å"Especially one that showed your lovely cleavage.† I rolled my eyes. We were back in my bedroom, and I was loading myself up with weapons: charmed jewelry and an iron athame, along with a satchel containing a gun, a wand, and a silver athame. â€Å"You'd be more impressed with that. And anyway, it'd be a waste now.† â€Å"Not true.† He got up from the bed, still naked, and gently pushed me against the wall, cautious of the athame's sharp blade. â€Å"I'm ready again.† I could see that he was, and honestly, I probably could have gone back to bed too. Whether that was from lust or a reluctance to fulfill my impending tasks, it was hard to say. â€Å"Later,† I told him, brushing a kiss against his lips. He regarded me suspiciously. â€Å"Later means a lot of things with you. An hour. A day.† I smiled and kissed him again. â€Å"Not more than a day.† I reconsidered. â€Å"Maybe two.† I laughed at the face this earned me. â€Å"I'll see what I can do. Now get some clothes on before the women around here are driven into a frenzy.† He gave me a mournful look. â€Å"I'm afraid that'll happen with or without clothes, my dear.† When we finally managed to part, I headed off toward Ranelle's room, my post-sex good humor fading. A little air magic left me with only semi-wet hair by the time I reached her. Once admitted, I found her writing a letter at her room's desk. Seeing me, she leapt up and curtsied. â€Å"Your Majesty.† I motioned her down and took a nearby chair. â€Å"No need. I just wanted to have a quick chat before I returned to the human world.† Her face twitched a little at this, but ambassador training quickly moved her past how strange she probably found that. The ease with which I jumped worlds wasn't normal for gentry. â€Å"I'm sorry for the grisly display this morning. And that I haven't been around much during your visit.† â€Å"You're at war, Your Majesty. These things happen. Besides, King Dorian has been quite hospitable in your absence.† I hid a smile. Ranelle was hardly in a frenzy, but it was clear Dorian had charmed her, as he did so many women. â€Å"I'm glad. Were you writing your king?† She nodded. â€Å"I wanted to send him my report right away, although I'll be leaving later today.† Magic filled the Otherworld and the gentry, and there were those among them with the power to expedite messages. A magical e-mail, of sorts. It allowed gossip to spread fast and meant her letter would get back to her homeland before she did. I eyed it on the desk. â€Å"What will you tell him?† She hesitated. â€Å"May I be blunt, Your Majesty?† â€Å"Of course,† I said, smiling. â€Å"I'm human. Er, half human.† â€Å"I empathize with you. I understand your grievance and know King Damos will too.† She was carefully skirting the explicit details of Leith raping me. â€Å"But tragic as your situation is †¦ well, it is your situation. I don't believe it's one we should risk the lives of our people for – begging your pardon, Your Majesty.† Delivering bad news obviously made her uneasy. My father, honorifically referred to as Storm King, had been known for his power and cruelty. I wasn't as ruthless, but I'd had my share of frightening shows of power as well. â€Å"No offense taken,† I assured her. â€Å"But †¦ if I may also be blunt, your king is in a precarious situation. He's growing old. His power will eventually fade. Your kingdom will be open for others to move in on.† Ranelle went perfectly still. The lands of the Otherworld bound themselves to those with enough power to claim them. â€Å"Are you threatening us, Your Majesty?† she asked quietly. â€Å"No. I have no interest in another kingdom – especially one so far away.† Distance was relative in the Otherworld, but the Linden Land did take a bit longer to get to compared to some of the kingdoms nearer to me, like the Rowan Land and Dorian's Oak Land. â€Å"Perhaps not,† she said uncertainly. â€Å"But it's no secret King Dorian has wanted to expand his territory. That's why he took you as a consort, right?† Now I stiffened. â€Å"No. That's not it at all. Neither of us have interest in your land. But your neighbors – or people within the land itself – probably do. From what I've heard, Damos would like his daughter to inherit.† Ranelle nodded slowly. Inheritance was by power here, not by blood – but most monarchs still longed for family succession, if they were lucky enough to have children at all. I gave Ranelle a knowing smile. â€Å"Her control of the land depends on her own power, of course. But if Damos helped us now, we could certainly help later against any †¦ usurpers hoping to claim the Linden Land.† Assassination, outright war. The methods were less important than my meaning. Ranelle stayed silent, no doubt turning this over in her mind. Was a promise like that worth committing their armies to? Unclear. But it was certainly worth bringing to her king. â€Å"And,† I added casually, shifting us from that dangerous topic, â€Å"I'd be happy to negotiate very favorable trade agreements with your king.† By which I meant my staff would negotiate it. I hated economics and the politics of trade. But, my kingdom had literally and figuratively become a hot commodity. My shaping it in Arizona's image had created harsh conditions – but also brought along tons of copper deposits. Copper was the chief metal in a world that couldn't work with iron. Ranelle nodded again. â€Å"I understand. I'll bring this to his attention.† â€Å"Good.† I rose from my chair. â€Å"I'm sorry I have to go now, but definitely let anyone here know if you need anything else. And send my greetings to Damos.† Ranelle told me she would, and I left her, feeling rather pleased with myself. I disliked these sort of diplomatic talks almost as much as economic ones, mostly because I didn't think I was very adept. But that one had gone well, and even if the Linden Land didn't join us, I felt certain Dorian had been right: they wouldn't fight against us either. I was walking toward the castle's exit, intending to go to the nearest gate back to the human world, when I passed a certain hallway. I hesitated, staring down it as I waged a mental war. Then, grimacing, I altered my destination and turned the corner. The room I sought was easy to find because two guards stood outside of it. Both were Dorian's soldiers, chosen because if anyone was going to father the heir to Storm King's legacy, they wanted it to be their own lord. And everyone knew I was the mother he wanted, not the room's occupant. One of the guards knocked and then opened the door slightly. â€Å"The queen is here.† I didn't need permission to enter any room in my own castle but still waited for a response. â€Å"Come in.† I entered and found Jasmine sitting cross-legged on her bed, attempting some kind of embroidery. Seeing me, she irritably tossed it aside. â€Å"This is the stupidest thing ever. I wish the shining ones had more fun things to do. I wish I could go horseback riding.† That last part was spoken with a knowing tone, and I ignored it. Jasmine was under house arrest, and I wasn't about to allow an activity that might let her slip her guards. I picked up the green velvet she'd been working on and studied her stitches. â€Å"Goldfish?† I asked. â€Å"Daffodils!† she exclaimed. I hastily set it down. Really, considering the loose iron chains she wore on her wrists to stunt magic use, it was impressive that she could sew at all. â€Å"I'm going back to Tucson,† I said. â€Å"I wanted to check on you.† She shrugged. â€Å"I'm fine.† Despite her young age, Jasmine had wanted – and still did want, I suspected – to be the mother of Storm King's heir. The prophecy hadn't been specific. It simply said his daughter's first son would be the conqueror. That made it a race between the two of us – except I wasn't playing. Her forced stay here ensured she wasn't either. She'd hated me for this initially but had grown more civil after the war started. She considered Leith's actions an insult to our family. It was bizarre logic, but seeing as it had stopped her temper tantrums, I welcomed it. â€Å"Do you †¦ need anything?† I asked. A stupid question to ask someone who wanted freedom. She pointed to the iPod lying beside her. â€Å"It needs charging again.† It always needed charging. Normal battery life aside, the Otherworld interfered with electronics. â€Å"Books or magazines or something. I'd kill for a TV.† I smiled. That one was out of my reach. â€Å"Sometimes I would too when I'm here.† â€Å"How'd it go with that Linden lady? Is she going to help us beat up Katrice?† Jasmine's moping face suddenly turned fierce. She had powers similar to mine, and while not as strong, they could still cause a lot of damage. If I'd let her loose, Jasmine would probably march right over to the Rowan Land and try to bring the castle down. â€Å"I don't know. I'm not getting my hopes up.† Jasmine's gray eyes turned calculating, making her seem wiser than her fifteen years should be capable of. â€Å"As long as you and Dorian stay together, you're the badasses around here – especially you.† Surprisingly, there was no sneer as she said this. â€Å"But you've gotta make sure Maiwenn doesn't join Katrice. You know she's thinking about it.† Yes, despite her often pouty and childish attitude, Jasmine was smart. â€Å"You're right,† I said. â€Å"But thinking and doing are two different things. You said it yourself: Dorian and I are badasses. I don't think she's going to want to mess with us.† There was something comfortable about being able to have a discussion with someone not using the gentry's formal language construction. â€Å"Probably not. But she's scared to death you're going to have our father's heir.† Jasmine eyed me carefully. â€Å"You haven't changed your mind, have you? You and Dorian certainly do it enough.† â€Å"That's none of your business,† I said, wondering if that servant had already talked about what she'd seen in bed. â€Å"Tell that to Dorian. He brags about it all the time.† I groaned, knowing it was true. â€Å"Well, regardless, I'm not having kids anytime soon.† â€Å"You should,† Jasmine said. â€Å"Or let me. Katrice would totally back off.† â€Å"And then Maiwenn really would come after us.† Maiwenn ruled the Willow Land and was very much against Storm King's prophecy coming true. She also had a few other reasons for not liking my alliance with Dorian – or rather, her associates did. â€Å"Yeah,† said Jasmine. â€Å"But you could still kick her ass.† I rose and scooped up the iPod, putting it in my satchel. â€Å"Let's stick to one ass-kicking at a time.† An awkward silence fell. How odd that we'd just had a civil conversation. I'd grown up an only child, sometimes wishing I had a sister. The one I'd ended up with was hardly what I'd expected, but maybe I should be grateful for even this. â€Å"Well,† I said at last. â€Å"I'll see you soon.† She nodded and picked up the velvet, scowling at it as though it had given her personal offense. I was almost at the door when she suddenly said, â€Å"Eugenie?† I glanced back. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Will you bring me some Twinkies?† I smiled. â€Å"Sure.† She didn't look up from her embroidery, but I was almost certain she smiled too.