Modern Culture And Technology Paper Essay - 1791 Words

Modern Culture and Technology Paper Cell phones are an addiction, especially when one needs to constantly upgrade to the newest cell every year despite how much it costs, it is just like drugs. The first high (cell purchase) might be either free or low cost and the cell phone comes with so many apps but once hooked with that kind of technology the price for the latest cell phones keep going up, along with what comes on the cell phone itself. And not only that, but people are so into their cells that they seem to forget etiquette for those around them and common sense when it comes to driving or walking with cell in hand. For all of the many features, apps, and assistance cell phones provide, it is still up people to wield them with proper cell phone etiquette. Despite their ubiquity and integration into our daily lives, there are still many of us who display poor cell phone etiquette in daily interactions and situations. Willnger, J. (2011, August 26). Unbreakable Rules of Cell Ph one Etiquette. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://www.etiquetteoutreach.com/blog_new-york-etiquette-guide/bid/72619/Unbreakable-Rules-of-Cell-Phone-Etiquette So is cell phone usage beneficial or a hindrance to our culture? It would be both depending how one would use it. In today s culture, it seems that everyone has a cell phone and are constantly on them, regardless if the call is important or not. If that is not all, there are numerous apps, games, music, movies, ebooks,Show MoreRelatedChildren and Technology: Growing Up in the Modern World Can Have Negative Effects on Children1011 Words   |  5 PagesChildren growing up in the modern world of today would rather stay inside and play on the internet, watch television, or play video games than go outside and play. Serious repetitive strain injuries suffered after spending hours glued to game consoles is up 60% since 2002 (Par. 5 Clarke). Technology and modern society have created lifestyle changes that are detrimental to t he well being of children. First, this paper will discuss the effects of technology and modern society on the physical and mentalRead MoreImpact Of Ancient China898 Words   |  4 Pages History ISU: Ancient China Ancient China brought forth a myriad of advancements and contributions to society, the impact of which can still be felt to this day. The inventions of paper and gunpowder, two widely used pieces of ancient technology, have been adapted in the modern day to better suit the needs of the contemporary man. On top of this, the aptly named Great Wall of China has helped to advance the fields of architecture and engineering, while also providing for China’sRead MoreDiy Culture From A Youtube Video Blog1688 Words   |  7 Pagesin this paper is â€Å"DIY culture† from a YouTube video blog (vlog) project done in RTA 102 Creative Processes. The vlog series is created from the perspective of a middle-aged father, Henry, working as a volunteer for an environmental organization called Evergreen. The main focus of the vlog series is DIY gardening tutorials at home while raising awareness of environmental issues. This paper will be exploring DIY culture from a techno-determinist per spective. D.I.Y.C.A.T Do-It-Yourself Culture After TechnologyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s We Didn t Start The Fire 1378 Words   |  6 PagesBaker Mrs. Conn Honors English II 24 November 2015 Shakespeare’s thoughts on Modern Culture To aide in this paper, I have chosen the song â€Å"We didn’t start the Fire,† by Billy Joel to help provide modern events that William Shakespeare’s works can relate to. Shakespeare’s plethora of works provide information about his thoughts on society during his life. Many events and topics that are seen in modern culture are relatable to events that occurred during Shakespeare’s life, such as governmentRead MoreAncient Chinese Contributions1144 Words   |  5 PagesContributions Kenneth Smith Professor Maxine Brown HUM 111-World Cultures I November 29, 2012 The Ancient Chinese culture has contributed in many ways to the way of life today as we know it. Upon completion of this paper, I will have identified eight to ten useful inventions or contributions that are used in the world today. Some of these inventions include the compass, gunpowder, row planting, deep drilling, and toilet paper and so on. Within those eight to ten inventions, I will choose fourRead MoreAshford His 103 (World Civilizations I) Entire New Course Essay1446 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding Hammurabi’s Code of Laws. Hammurabis Code of Laws is often described as an important new technology of rule because it established clear expectations of rights, obligations, and possible penalties for all Mesopotamians, thereby making delegation of ruling power easier while also providing people with the stability of knowing what was expected of them. The codes also give modern-day people a clear picture of Mesopotamian values as well as their social and gender differen ces. BasedRead More Visual Media, Allegorical Consciousness, and Postmodern Culture1642 Words   |  7 PagesVisual Media, Allegorical Consciousness, and Postmodern Culture I think many of us would agree that we are living in an era of transition: generally, from one phase of modernity to another; more specifically, it is harder to say. Lets ask ourselves for a moment how this sense of change might guide the rhetorical study of visual media. Of the many possible answers to this question, there are two I want to put on the table. The first consideration is that the study of visual media is likelyRead MoreTechnology Essay1161 Words   |  5 PagesIn todays world, technology is constantly changing from a new paperclip to an improvement in hospital machinery. Technology lets people improve the way they live so that they can preserve their own personal energy and focus on the really important factors in life. Some people focus their energy on making new innovations to improve transportation and the health of people that may save lives and some people focus on making new designs of packaging CDS. Technology is significant in everyones lifeRead MoreHow To Encourage People To Use Technology 793 Words   |  3 PagesHow To Encourage People To Use Technology  The evolution of modern technology has certainly changed the way we live. Indeed, modern technology has evolved enormously and rapidly in recent years and has brought with it changes in our life of beneficial changes, and other harmful. What are the advantages of modern technology? (Legris, P., Ingham, J., Collerette, 2003) How is it harmful to humans? The evolution of technology has been beneficial to humans for several reasons. First, it facilitatesRead MoreEssay about Technology and Literacy1668 Words   |  7 PagesTechnology and Literacy According to Eric Havelock, â€Å"Greek literacy changed not only the means of communication, but also the shape of the Greek consciousness. The Greek story is self-contained, yet the crisis in the communication which it describes as taking place in antiquity acquires a larger dimension when measured against what appears to be a similar crisis in modernity† (17). In developing his conviction, Havelock focuses on the works of Homer and Hesiod: As written,

Evolution Of The Baseball Bat - 1525 Words

The evolution of the baseball bat dates back to when baseball was a growing sport. The first wood bats cannot be compared with today’s wood bats, and the BESR bats of the past cannot be compared with the modern BBCOR bats. The first wood baseball bats were considered sticks because they did not have a lot of pop, which is how hard the ball bounces off of the bat. As the wood bat progressed, the ball began to fly farther and travel faster. This change in wood baseball bats can be related to the change in metal bats. When metal bats were first introduced, they were considered inferior to wood bats until the new and improved BESR bats were introduced. These bats had more pop than ever before, and were considered dangerous. Because of this danger, the BBCOR bats had to be introduced in 2011. Because of the major advances in technology, bat manufacturers are able to tune the bats to the BBCOR certifiable level. The introduction of BBCOR bats into college and high school baseball ha s moved the game in a positive direction by making baseball more realistic, creating a safer game, and making it easier to project a player’s future. First of all, baseball bats come in many different shapes and sizes for all levels of play. The youth baseball bats have a different level of pop than the adult version of the baseball bats. For instance, the youth baseball bats have a pop level of 1.15, and the adult versions of the bats have a pop level of .50. When a ball hits the barrel of any bat, â€Å"itShow MoreRelatedBaseball : The Origin Of Baseball Essay1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Origin Of Baseball With upwards of ten million people participating in the sport of baseball in the United States alone, it is apparent that baseball is one of the world’s most popular sports. Throughout the years, the sport of baseball has evolved from a humble game played on empty sandlots to â€Å"America’s national pastime.† The game has come a long way, but how did this game come to be? Everything has its humble beginnings, and baseball is no different. Games that resemble baseball have been aroundRead MoreLouisville Slugger875 Words   |  4 PagesLouisville Slugger baseball bat began over 120 years ago in the talented hands of 17-year-old John A. â€Å"Bud† Hillerich. Bud, whose father owned a woodworking shop, left work one afternoon to watch Louisville’s major league team, the Louisville Eclipse, and his favorite player, Pete Browning. During the game, Browning, who was struggling through a long hitting slump, broke his bat. Following the game, Bud met Browning and invited him to his father’s shop to make him a new bat. With Browning’s assistanceRead MoreThe Game Of Baseball, That Most Americans Seem To Love,1408 Words   |  6 PagesThe game of baseball, that most Americans seem to love, officially started on September 23, 1845 by the New York Knickerbockers. Before that time, there were some games that resembled it and that used the same concept that baseball does, such as cricket. Through the 271 years, there are some similarities in the game from then to now, however, the differences greatly outweigh the similarities. The 19th century was a different time for baseball. The equipment was home-made and did not have any regulationsRead MoreBaseball Has No Game Clock Essay1207 Words   |  5 PagesThe batting team attempts to score runs by hitting a ball that is thrown by the pitcher with a bat swung by the batter, then running counter-clockwise around a series of four bases: first, second, third, and home plate. A run is scored when a player advances around the bases and returns to home plate. Players on the batting team take turns hitting against the pitcher of the fielding team, which tries to prevent runs by getting hitters out in any of several ways. A player on the batting team who reachesRead MoreBaseball in the Dominican Republic Essay649 Words   |  3 PagesBaseball in the Dominican Republic Baseball was first brought over to the Dominican Republic in the 1870s, when thousands of Cubans came fleeing to the island nation in refuge from the Ten Years War. Along with baseball, Cubans also brought with sugar producing expertise that had made them the largest sugar producer in the Caribbean. Sugar immediately became the Dominican Republics key money-making export, but baseball took a little longer to come around. At the turn of the century, manyRead MoreHistory And Evolution Of Softball935 Words   |  4 PagesSoftball History and Evolution of Softball (â€Å"History of Softball,† 2009.). The game of softball was first birthed through a playful indoor baseball game after a Harvard-Yale football game. It was played with a boxing glove for a ball and a broom handle for a bat. George Hancock, one of the alumni who gathered to hear the football game score wrote down the rules for â€Å"softball† and came up with a new ball and a rubber-tipped bat, and painted lines on the floor of the Boat Club where the first informalRead MoreThe Issue, Racism And Segregation847 Words   |  4 Pagesthe game of baseball, Jackie Robinson overcame impossible odds and sparked the evolution of the union of races in sports, altering Black American History in the way that assisted the integration of blacks nationwide. Robinson began to play professional baseball ensuing his departure from the United States Army. At the time baseball was separated between Major League Baseball that we know today, and then there was the Negro League. The Kansas City Monarchs was where Robinson’s Pro baseball days beganRead MoreThe Evolution Of Baseball Technology2329 Words   |  10 PagesThe Evolution of Baseball Technology: 1884-Present From the United States to Japan, every athlete who has ever played the game of baseball has used the basic â€Å"tools of the trade†: a baseball, a bat, a glove, protective equipment, and a uniform. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Sammy Sosa have made a living out of using these tools to play baseball, but there are also a great number of people who play baseball as a source of enjoyment. The crack of the bat connecting with a fastball, the slapRead MoreThe Evolution of Baseball Technology: 1884-Present2676 Words   |  11 PagesThe Evolution of Baseball Technology: 1884-Present I. Introduction From the United States to Japan, every athlete who has ever played the game of baseball has used the basic â€Å"tools of the trade†: a baseball, a bat, a glove, protective equipment, and a uniform. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Sammy Sosa have made a living out of using these tools to play baseball, but there are also a great number of people who play baseball as a source of enjoyment. The crack of the bat connecting with a fastballRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1080 Words   |  5 Pagesthe late 1850s, ball and bat games started to become broadly recognized as the sport of baseball. Baseball was starting to become an establishment at U.S. universities. In 1859, the first intercollegiate baseball game occurred between Williams College and Amherst College. The reputation of college baseball increased from this point, and by 1870, collegiate baseball teams were playing intense and extensive schedules. In 1879, the first official intercollegiate baseball league was formed. This is

Balance of Values and Academic Freedom of Inquiry Essay Example For Students

Balance of Values and Academic Freedom of Inquiry Essay Dear Mr. R. Kirby Godsey, In the process of life we face many challenges and many crossroads. We have many choices and many decisions to make. In making these decisions we must keep in mind the moral values our parents have taught us since we were born. Those Christian values should guide our lives and the choices we make. These same values should also guide at school as well. In our pursuit of knowledge, we should keep these values in mind. In our never-ending road of learning, we are granted with many academic freedoms. We have the freedom to question and try to learn new ideas. We also have the freedom to disagree with the material presented to us. We can disagree and voice our opinions, but in an orderly fashion. In exercising those freedoms, we should do so with maturity and responsibility. As students, we are responsible for learning all the content of any course we study. We are free to take exception to the views or information presented to us, and we are free to reserve judgment about matters of opinions. Sometimes, in our quest for knowledge, there becomes a conflict between our beliefs we are accustomed to and the material presented to us. When there is a difference, we should not ignore the idea or block it out. We should feel free to learn and question new ideas. Just because we learn something doesnt mean we have to accept it. We should leave ourselves open to new ideas. When we do this we become very well rounded individuals. An example of this is the issue involving the debate between evolution and creationism. As Christians, we naturally believe in creationism, but we shouldnt stop learning about evolution because we dont believe in it. This makes us very close minded. We shouldnt stop learning about a subject just because we dont believe in it. One of our freedoms is the academic freedom of inquiry. This means we have freedom to question. We have the freedom to learn. We can still search for more answers, and we can learn different theories and still keep our beliefs. The trick in doing this is to balance all of this. We must be able to keep our beliefs and new ideas presented separated. We must be able to draw a line between what you learn and what you believe. In doing this we become open minded individuals. I believe if we can balance our values and our academic freedom of inquiry we have reached a whole new level of learning. Not many people can do this. It is hard to want to learn material presented to us that you dont particularly care for or believe in. When we learn to do this we are open to a whole new world of possibilities. I feel I have learned how to keep my morals and beliefs, while continuing my search for new ideas and information. I feel I have learned to balance these. I have found the line between the two , and I know when too far is too far. Since Mercer is a place where I can feel free to open myself to new doors and express my beliefs, I feel I would blend into the Mercer environment very well. I am open to new ideas and want to learn. I want to get the best education I can get and Mercer is the place where I can get it. I am willing to learn as much as I can, whether it is spiritually, academically, or intellectually. Sincerely, XXXXXXXXX cc Category: English .

Sack Sentence Test Sample free essay sample

The Sacks sentence completion test is a semi-structured test consisting of 60 incomplete phrases/sentences. The test typically provides respondents with the beginnings of sentences, referred to as stems; and respondents then complete the sentences in ways that are meaningful to them. III BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS Charmaine answered the test nicely and with confident. Though I observed that she was a little shy because I was looking at her work every time. She was a little uncomfortable because of her look. IV RELEVANT HISTORY/PERSONAL BACKGROUND Family History Charmaine, the 3rd youngest daughter of Yolanda Manliclic and Pedro Reyes. She has a big family with 7 siblings and her family is a happy family. Despite of any problems that they are having in their everyday lives, they can still not forgot to pray and thanks God for all of it. Though, they are not that rich and they can’t get anything that they want, this family is industrious that they have a dignity in their selves and courage to help other people when they need them even in a simple help. We will write a custom essay sample on Sack Sentence Test Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Her Father is a farmer and her Mother is only at home taking care of them. Her father is such a industrious person because he gives all that he can give to her family to be happy and he always finds a way to make find a good job in any way he can. Charmaine has a sister and she is currently working as a sales lady in a mall near to their place. V Medical History Charmaine had normal prenatal. She is a normal person without a hard disease. She doesn’t have any serious illness feelings in her body since she was child except when she had chicken fox and she got to be on the hospital because she cannot take the irritableness that she feels in her body. All in all after that, she never get in to hospitals. Prior Educational History Shiela finished high school at Putlod National High School Jaen Nueva Ecija. She has not repeated or skipped any grades. VI IMPRESSIONS Charmaine was a good examiner. I never saw her felt uncomfortable in her look while she was answering the questions. She was comfortable in any ways she can. Though at times, she felt conscious about how she will answer the other questions there because she thought that I will read them after. She was laughing every time she answer the questions and she seemed so enjoy. VII CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Charmaine has a low confidence when it comes to the guilt and fears that she was feeling every day. I can say that she can still do more and gain more and more if she only put her confidence more on track. She has a lot of dreams in her life that she wants to achieve but she can’t find a way to reach them. I recommend Charmaine to gain more confidence and show other people that she can do better that she thought she can’t. She was a little disturbed when it comes to her working Father and she feel so sad to see her Father work so hard just for them. I know she wanted to help her family in any way she can. I hope one day, or soon she can find a good job to help her Family.

Macbeth and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay Essay Example

Macbeth and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay Essay Macbeth by Shakespeare and Lord of the Fliess by William Golding have much to state about man’s iniquitous nature. Both of these plants contain scenes in which chief characters die ; their deceases come about because of their iniquitous nature or the iniquitous nature of others around them. Man’s iniquitous nature is revealed through the ideas and actions of the characters of these plants. The writers show through their plants their belief that if everybody revealed their true natures. the universe would rupture itself apart. In both plants. immorality is revealed by the revealing actions of the characters. In Lord of the Flies. the boys’ society starts to fall apart as Jack becomes less and less civilised and the other male childs bit by bit follow his illustration. Merely Simon is the genuinely guiltless one ; even Ralph and Piggy expose their evil nature when they help the other male childs kill Simon. Besides the slayings of Simon and Piggy. immorality is besides demonstrated through the scenes when the hog is killed. Piggy’s spectacless are stolen. and the conch shell is smashed. In Macbeth. man’s iniquitous nature is seen rather early in the narrative when Lady Macbeth urges her hubby to kill the male monarch after he is told a prognostication that he will go male monarch. Though Macbeth is loath at foremost. so horrified at the slaying he has committed. his pride and greed get the better of him. He starts killing more people. including adult females and kids. and even efforts t o kill his good friend Banquo. Though Macbeth started out good. his evil nature conquered in the terminal. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Though they both demonstrate man’s iniquitous nature. the books end in really different ways. In Macbeth. Macbeth dies by the manus of his enemy. and his married woman dies by her ain manus. In Lord of the Flies. the male childs are rescued merely as Ralph is about to be killed. However. in both books the wickedness job is neer controlled. Shakespeare neer suggests in his work that Malcolm will go corrupt or that person else will prehend the throne. However. it is in the nature of adult male to be corrupt. and finally something like Macbeth’s trespass of the throne would go on once more. On the other manus. Golding lays heavy accent on the suggestion that all work forces are iniquitous. non merely male childs marooned on an island. He shows this by adding the naval officer and his ship into the narrative. The Bible has much to state about man’s iniquitous nature. In Romans 3:23. it states: â€Å"For all have sinned and fall short of the glorification of God. † Luke 18:13 says this: â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢God. have mercy on me. a evildoer. † Everybody has a iniquitous nature ; our Black Marias are corrupted and full of greed. Macbeth and Lord of the Flies show how improbably far off our wickednesss can take us from God’s love and grace. As the Luke transition proves. nevertheless. God will ever hold clemency on us. no affair how far we have strayed from him. Macbeth. unluckily. neer changed- he stayed wicked until the terminal. On the other manus. Ralph and the other boys most likely did alter their evil ways when they went back to civilisation. If we neer return to God and garbage to hold anything to make with him. like Macbeth. he will hold no pick but to penalize us. However. if we turn from our iniquitous ways like Ralph. God will welcome us back with unfa stened weaponries. Both Macbeth and Lord of the Flies speak volumes about the job of man’s iniquitous nature. Though they seem like guiltless narratives at first. the reader bit by bit realizes that the writers are. in fact. talking about the full human population. Both writers are doing a individual point: All worlds have a iniquitous nature. and if it were given free rein. world would destruct itself.

Individual Assignment The Introduction To Hospitality Tourism Essay Essays

Individual Assignment The Introduction To Hospitality Tourism Essay Essays Individual Assignment The Introduction To Hospitality Tourism Essay Paper Individual Assignment The Introduction To Hospitality Tourism Essay Paper the usage of computing machines in travel bureaus and sophisticated databases for selling intents are now ordinary. Increase in competition within the industry will coerce organisations to utilize new engineering to the full. New developments in transit make extended usage of new engineering, for illustration the Channel Tunnel, the progresss in aircraft design and opening up new long-hall finishs. Then more develop coach is ace VIP coach. This is dwelling of all the service to the riders. So the riders can bask the traveling period. Furthermore, another factor is, the engineering develops until the riders or the clients can acquire the information of the travel and touristry industry in cyberspace. The peculiar bureau will update all the information in web so the clients can look into easy all the information about their circuit and can easy reach to the peculiar bureau. This makes the bureau celebrated among the people because all over the universe can entree their information and can see to the peculiar bureau. At the same clip besides help the clients to acquire all their information in item and faster excessively. Cultural and environmental factors besides affect the travel and touristry industry. In the 1980s saw the outgrowth in Britain of a greater environmental consciousness and a society that was get downing to take its wellness and fittingness earnestly. These factors are likely to stay of import influences on travel and touristry developments in the hereafter with alleged green issues high on the docket. The political facet besides affects this industry. The security concerns over travel have had a serious impact on the travel and touristry industry. Which are taking to increased concern failures in certain state of affairs if the authorities neer invent in this industry. The authorities must provides all the services to assist the industry such as prepare a good route for travel and railroad paths for the tracks travel so the travel and touristry industry can easy can safely go. Then the pick of finish besides affects this industry. Most of the client likes to go for a celebrated and gratifying topographic point. So they must convey out the travel and touristry to a celebrated popular topographic point, which got a high demand among the people. Then choose of topographic point should be harmonizing to the age group. If want to transport on a travel and touristry, must be a topographic point where got a tonss of merriment and amusement but if want to transport on for veterans agencies topographic point should be suited for them. So they can bask the travel with fullest and the affect besides will be the positive type. Other than age group class at that place got other group class besides, such as leisure clients, concern clients, independent travellers, bundle tourists. So the travel and touristry must be transporting on harmonizing to deferent types clients. Besides that, the regulation and ordinance besides will impact the travel and touristry industry. The travel that s traveling to transport should be following the all the regulations and ordinances that the authorities stated and the peculiar topographic point stated. So it will neer impact the clients of them. For illustration, if the touristry topographic point stated that can non convey camera or picture indoors means they should state earlier to their client so they may follow the regulations and will non impact the bureau besides. If non the bureau may impact because did non follow the regulations and ordinance. While the clients besides wont regard to the bureau. At the terminal the clients wo nt back up for the peculiar industry. The travel and touristry that traveling to transport on besides should be suited for the season. Because the clients are ever like to go to different finish in a different season. So should transport on the right travel and touristry event at the correct season. If non it will impact alt the industry. The client may non will back up the bureau because they are non giving what they want and they wo nt fulfill with them at all. At last the nutrient and drink besides will impact the industry, even is non a large issue and of import in a travel and touristry industry. The nutrients that they provide to the clients should be good nutrients which is non expired or spoiled. If non the client may acquire choler with their service and will acquire letdown with their service. So if a travel and touristry industry wants to be success agencies, they should see all the component of the travel and touristry. And must fix earlier for everything with full of good service for their client s satisfact ion. Decision hypertext transfer protocol: //t3.gstatic.com/images? q=tbn: ANd9GcSbpXEn1MNc3WlR1eNL_Y7lEYmix5zdVH5pPapH0B3n3gHJT1lhAs the decision, we have learnt about the significance of cordial reception and the phases of cordial reception industry development from traditional to advanced phase and learnt that cordial reception direction means how to provide for people in a friendly and cheerful mode to enable the guest appreciate in services. Besides that, we have learnt about the significance and the importance of housekeeping Department in hotel, motel, guest how we have learn about the interdepartmental co-operations among assorted sections of the hotel and the importance of hotel industry in our society. Furthermore, we besides learnt the significance and types of non-commercial cordial reception direction and the type of organisation that is available. Last we have learnt and understood the significance of the layout in cordial reception industry and the necessary and of import factors to see when program to set up this industry. A A Bibliography Website reference Anon. , 2011. Hospitality industry Profs from the American. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //lists.nextmark.com/market ; jsessionid=BB3F819354646B9A37718ECCB0E2526C? page=order/online/datacard A ; id=260943 gt ; [ Accessed on 25 February 2011 ] Fareeha. , nd. Disadvantage of hotel industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; .http: //www.maybenow.com/disadvantage-of-hotel-industry-q23973921 gt ; [ Accessed on 17 February 2011 ] Johnston, A. , 2010. Definition of cordial reception industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //ezinemark.com/a/definition-of-hospitality-industry/ # ixzz1H2u8jXGa gt ; [ Accessed on 13 March 2011 ] Anon. , nd. The travel and touristry industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/TravelAndTourism/ALevel/ASGCETravelAndTourism/Samples/Sampleunit/ASTTDoubleEdexcelUnit1.pdf gt ; [ Accessed on 15 March 2011 Shlotta. , 2009. Factors impacting travel and touristry industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.antiessays.com/free-essays/39975. hypertext markup language gt ; [ Accessed on 25 February 2011 ]

Does the Color of a House Effect the Inside Temperature Research Paper

Does the Color of a House Effect the Inside Temperature - Research Paper Example Repainting is very clear when you explore the properties of color and light and how it transfers heat into the inside of the house. When you understand these ideas, it seems clear that the color of your house can affect the temperature inside. In some ways, it is incorrect to say that color may affect the inside temperature of a home. Through a strict definition, color is just one way to determine how much energy will be received by a surface compared to another surface. The light from the sun must first pass through the filter of our environment before striking a surface. This surface absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others, which represent color bands to the human eye. These rejected wavelengths become reflected light and our perceived color of an object (Morton, 2006). As a result, color is the aftereffect of light instead of the cause of it. However, color is the way that we make sense of the world around us (Bear, 2006), so it is natural for us to define properties of absorbed light waves in terms of color. â€Å"The most technically accurate definition of color is: ‘Colour is the visual effect that is caused by the spectral composition of the light emitted, transmitted, or reflected by objects’â⠂¬  (Morton, 2006). Accepting the idea that color is the best way for us to predict the light waves that will be reflected off of a surface helps us to predict how much energy that surface will absorb. No matter what color something is, all objects absorb and give off energy based on the level of light it can absorb. According to Konopacki and Akbari of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (2001), the amount of energy absorbed or reflected by an object will depend on the darkness of the object and the material it’s made out of. Darker colors are dark because they absorb most of the energy or light that hits them, reflecting less light.

To what extent were ancient historians concerned to achieve a high Essay

To what extent were ancient historians concerned to achieve a high standard of objectivity in the production of their narratives - Essay Example Many a scholar has commented that even if objectivity is achieved by a historian, such objectivity always remains confined within the narration of the facts that are presented sequentially. According to (RÃ ¼sen, 2), the best definition of history must include the sense and meaning within the expression of time in the past, present and future. The connectivity of these aspects of time utilizes the main mental form of presentation that narration offers. Narration gives past, present and future some meaning to human life by relating experience to expectation. It is therefore correct to state narratives as the form in which history is stored in human minds and assists them to orientate themselves in temporal change. Objectivity in historical narratives has been analyzed to act as a yardstick of validity, integrity and truth in narratives. The main purpose of narrative objectivity can be said to be the linking impact of historical occurrences and the cumulative complement that each part of history gives to the other. In ancient historical narratives, there was lack of linkage of historical ideas from different writers and time. Objectivity was lacking due to the fact that there was no platform to refer one’s work from pre-existing similar ideas. Many inconsistencies were identified in ancient narratives when comparisons of such uniformed texts were done. Later, ancient historical narratives adopted the truth claim of connecting history to valid explanations of events. The validity of the majority of ancient texts is highly questionable, partly due to the fact that the literacy levels were limited. Majority of ancient historical texts were primary sources since the authors were the first to generate and write on the topics. Modern historical narration has however adopted a more literature perspective in offering validity to events and occurrences. Almost every topic in history has been explored and the relevant information backed up in form of databases.

Advertisers Do Have a Responsibility to Society Essay

Advertisers Do Have a Responsibility to Society - Essay Example Different people today have varying perceptions about advertising in society. However, advertising cannot be considered good or evil. Advertising is like a tool or an instrument; therefore, its users might use it well or badly. Depending on how it is used, advertising might have both negative and positive effects on society. For this reason, therefore, advertisers do have a role in society. Advertising leads to different health conditions in society when the advertisers of junk food develop advertisements that are full of misinterpretation, mixed messages, and which hold important facts from the audience. For example, junk food advertising involves the promotion of literacy, health and fitness, and education (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, n.d). Because of this, advertisers and other communication professionals have the responsibility of upholding ethics in advertising, which in this case includes dissemination of clear and honest information in advertising (Institute for Advertising Ethics, 2011). According to Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, a large percentage of students are exposed to advertising of food, which has minimal nutritional value, and are high in fats and sugar (n.d). As such, advertising of food products should encourage healthy eating, including the consumption of fruits and vegetables (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). Every year, the rate of obesity among children and youth keeps increasing, and today, one-third of children and youth are obese, or at risk of obesity (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, n.d). Therefore, advertising should be free of any deception (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). Advertising is harmful to society when it contributes to the decline in morality. For example, the exposure of children to advertising encourages materialistic values in children (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, n.d). Because of this, advertisers should demonstrate special responsibility w hen advertising to children, bearing in mind that children have limited capability of evaluating the credibility of information, and might not be capable of discerning the persuasive nature of advertising (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). According to Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, advertising promotes the sexualization of childhood through the highly sexualized messages in the media ads (n.d). Therefore, advertisers should not include obscene messages and content in advertisements, which are inappropriate for children audience (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). According to The Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth, alcohol marketing encourages underage drinking (n.d). As such, advertisers should advertise to children, only products that are appropriate for them (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). Advertising promotes the stereotyping, when it places women at a disadvantage, in relation to the male gender. For example, alcohol adve rtisements portray women as sex objects and as a pretty package to see and not respect (Downing, McQuai, Schlesinger, and Wartella 2009). As such, advertisers should avoid any form of stereotyping and prejudice of any particular groups, but present them in a positive manner (The Children's Advertising Review Unit, 2009). According to the Media Education Foundation (2008), advertising emphasizes beauty and sexiness for women, at the expense of other important values and principles. Therefore, advertisers should encourage the development of positive personal qualities, characters, and values, and serve an educational role to the audience.

Leadership in Tata Group

Leadership in Tata Group Introduction: Leadership is integrated part of our life. According to corporate chief and former US presidential candidate Ross Perot, the principles of leadership are timeless because, in a rapidly changing world, human nature remains a constant. We all experience leadership in our life from early childhood in our families, through friendships, social, recreational and sports activities, school and higher education, to politics and government, and, of course, in our work, we all recognize leadership in other people and often in ourselves. In government, global corporations and small businesses alike, the leadership role is becoming more demanding, more open to scrutiny and more difficult [Roger Gill]. The development of leadership theory also parallels the development of organizational theory. The bureaucratic form of organization is characterized by laissez-faire leadership whereby so-called leaders tend to avoid taking a stand, ignore problems, not follow up, and refrain from intervening or transactional leadership, in which leaders practise management by exception, focusing only on deviations from what is required, and contingent reward, rewarding people (either materially or psychologically) for achieving what is required. The emergence of the post-bureaucratic form of organization in the late nineteenth century reflects the development of the concept of transformational leadership. Theory Approaches to Leadership: Number of Leadership theories and approaches has been evolved on the basis of Style, Trait, Behavioural, Transformational, Situational and Charisma. Many researchers made efforts linking some of the theories across these leadership approaches. But each model has its own pros, cons, assumptions and limitations. Latest researches are conducted on Situational Transformational leadership styles. Leadership gurus presented new models as variations to the already existing models. Max Weber, MacGregor, Bernard Bass, Warren Bennis Nanus are few important researchers in the area of transformational leadership. Understanding the difference between transactional and transformational leadership is vital in getting the whole concept of transformational leadership theory. In general, a relationship between two people is based on the level of exchange they have. Exchange need not be money or material; it can be anything. The more exchange they have the more stronger the relation. Managers expects more productivity from employee in order to give good rewards. In this way, if something is done to anyone based on the return then that relation is called as Transactional type. In business, leaders announces rewards in turn to the productivity. These relations are all about requirements, conditions and rewards. In life, at one point of time, things happen without expectation from other side. Say, moms dedicated service to her kid. Mom doesnt expect anything from the child and the service she provides in raising the child is  unconditional, dedicated, committed. Mom plays a major role in shaping up the kids future life. This type of relation is called as Transformational. Leaders do exist in this world with these behaviours. Transformational Leaders wo rk toward a common goal with followers; put followers in front and develop them; take followers to next level; inspire followers to transcend their own self-interests in achieving superior results. Leadership Approach in TATA Group: TATA Group founded in 1868, is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in the Mumbai, India. The Group has 500,000 employees spread over six continents (more than 80 countries). TATA Group current market capitalization is worth $80bn and is the largest private corporate group in India. TATA Group is biggest employer in UK, employing more than 50,000 people. TATA Group has interests in communications, IT, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. Its chairman, Ratan Tata is one of Indias and the worlds most influential person right now. The Tata Group is known for its good business ethics and corporate governance. TATA Groups leadership development programme aims at grooming the managers of today into the leaders of tomorrow. The leadership development programme conceived by JRD Tata, the late chairman of TATA group in 1950s. The idea behind the leadership programme known as Tata Administrative Services (TAS) was to select and groom young managers, provide them opportunity for professional growth, and make them leaders of tomorrow. This is TATAs in-house programme and has goal is to provide training to high performers, act as a cradle of change and develop the leadership qualities. Most of the TATA Group companies are traditionally led by these groomed leaders. The Group leadership style has been quite consistent from its existence since 1868. The Group has incorporated some more leadership changes which are essential in current century to drive towards more competitive. In terms of leadership style, TATA Group has adopted a team-led culture. With Ratan as a leader, the management style of the entire TATA Group has changed; trust became a huge facet and theme of the group. Ratan Tata has put a complete organisational restructuring when he took over by taking a more matrix-style approach building teams. These changes would have obviously transformed a lot in the business, senior managers would have had to be on their toes and flexibility and adaptability became essential qualities to have. The leadership changed from a centralised, command centre to a much more distributed form with employees and all managers enjoying greater responsibility and knowledge about the Group, which would have in turn; motivated them to work harder and as a group. From distinctive leadership models available such as the McGregor Theory X and Y; where a theory X manager believes workers dislike work, are not creative and avoid all responsibility while a theory Y manager believes that workers get as much enjoyment from work as they can derive with leisure, accept responsibility and are creative; it can be seen from this, that Ratan wanted all his managers to be modelled as closely to Theory Y and he himself could be called a Theory Y manager. He encouraged managers to be innovative and share all their ideas, consulting actively with them and giving them more responsibility and importantly encouraged team-working. Five Factor Model (Big Five): Emotional Stability: Ratan Tata has very low anxiety within him and has great sense of security with his future leadership. Extraversion: Even being a bachelor Ratan Tata is very sociable. He has produced very positive affect on future leadership of TATA Group. Openness: He believes in originality and versatility. By making  £1200/- car he has shown his great interest with and innovation seeking personality. Agreeableness: Within his management team Ratan Tata is well trusted and very friendly. Conscientiousness: He is very dutifulness. He spent most of his life working for TATA Group without any self-interest. He is very well organised as well. Style (Behaviour) Theory in TATA Group: As per style theory, there are three types of leadership models are evident in leadership. These are as follows. Autocratic Democratic Laissez-faire Ratan Tata is a leader who engages more democratic style of leadership approach. However at previous occasion has used other two kind of style as well. He is more democratic because he always encourages his group leadership to be creating good communication and participation. Future leadership are well informed about future strategy and they are very well engaged in decision making process. Most of the group long-term and short-term strategies are formulated by the lower rank of the leadership. They are treated as stake holders. Until now TATA Group has got leadership within them. Ratan Tata has occasionally shown some form of autocratic style of leadership. Sometimes when needed especially when quick and informed decisions have to be taken, but he is never too commanding in his nature, being a man of few words and being more of a man of action, this is evident from the manner he aggressively pushes for bold international deals, such as during the global acquisitions of business powe rhouses such as Corus, Jaguar and Land Rover, and Tetley Tea. One of his senior leadership team member, Muthuraman( Executive Director) refers him Ratan was the chief architect of the Corus deal. I was worried about the magnitude and the amount of money. But he instilled confidence. In daily routine matters and in developing the leadership, Ratan Tata also uses facets of the Laissez-Faire model such as the delegation of important duties and decision-making, he also does not in any way interfere with any managers functioning, he might make a broad strategic assessment but he does not interfere in operational issues and details, this shows that he has complete trust and faith in his managers and believes in their ability, this quote from Gopalakrishnan, an executive director of the company, shows how much value Ratan Tata places on his trust, this can be highly motivating for managers and workers alike, I remember what Ratan told us at a meeting. He said that he will continue to trust all his managers, but once they lose that trust, he will go after them. I think that is a very fair deal. Max Webers Leadership Model in TATA Group: Looking at Max Webers Transactional and Transformational Leadership models, where a leader is classed in three forms which are Bureaucratic, Charismatic and Traditional, where a bureaucratic leader is one who is always bound by the set rule and does not want to go beyond them; a Traditional leader is one who does and follows everything from a long past or history and always loyally obeys these traditions; a Charismatic leader is one who uses his own laurels or abilities to inspire and is one who can be described as radically opposed to administrative rules and legal principles. From these models, Ratan Tata falls into the Charismatic form because he is one who leads by example, coming up with highly innovative ideas such as  £1200 (Rs. One Lakh) car the Nano, budget hotels or low-end watches, he brought radical change to the Tata Group as a whole, changing it from its Traditional mindset to new more flexible and adaptive cultural mindset. Bennis Nanus Transformational Leadership Model in TATA Group: We can see from Bennis and Nanuss Transformational Leadership model that the transformational leaders groom their followers into self-empowered leaders and their main focus is to articulate vision and values clearly so the newly self-empowered leaders know where to go. Their traits include logical thinking, persistence, empowerment and self-control. Benniss and Nanus has evolved the model which emphasis on the four Is of Transformational leadership, which are Idealised Influence (being a role model) Inspirational Motivation (creating a team spirit, motivating and provide a challenge) Intellectual Stimulation (innovation and creativity) Individual Consideration (mentoring and providing support for followers) Ratan Tata, Chairman of the TATA Group has been proved a true transformational leader. We can see all Is built-in in Ratan Tata. He is the leader with great vision hence he knows right approach to groom future leadership. He has implemented the team spirit in whole group at every level. He empowers all his managers and executives and has complete faith in them, he is extremely innovative and is credited for much of the Groups new products, he places a great deal of importance to his RD department and he definitely cares deeply about the welfare of all his employees and managers. During the Mumbais terrorist attack in Taj Hotel, he took front line in leading at the time of crises. In his vision statement he articulated One hundred years from now, I expect TATA Group to be much bigger, of course, than it is now. More importantly, I hope the Group comes to be regarded as being the best in India. Best in the Manner in which we operate, best in the products we deliver and best in our valu e system and ethics. Having said that, I hope that a hundred years from now we will spread our wings far beyond India, that we become a global group, operating in many countries, as Indian business conglomerate that is at home in the world, carrying the same set of trust as we do today. As a leader of a global business group, Ratan Tata knows the fierce competition experienced by his business empire. He makes all effort to make his business competitive at global level. Through transformational leadership process TATA Group has made their processes and technology up to date. Once Ratan Tata said to his managers in his vision speech A company or business which remains static is a business that will die; a company that constantly changes and accepts that there are better ways to do things than the way they are done today, is a company that will survive in the global market that we face. From this statement we can infer that he knows the importance of developing a good leadership within group to take TATA Group to new heights. Ratan Tata involves strategy in leadership. He is a deep thinker and a brilliant strategist as is described by one of his Executive Directors, Alan Rosling, He is a deep thinker and extremely strategic. He is always 2-3 steps ahead. Ratan Tata is a man of strong integrity, ethics and valued principles. He cultivated the same across the TATA Group companies. One of his companies CEO said Tata has shown that there is no other way he will do business other than do it ethically. He believes in strong value based leadership approach in doing business. Ratan Tata has led the TATA Group to transforming from local business group to become a global leader. Conclusions: Ratan Tata of the Tata Group is a more kind of transformational leader. He made Tata Group as global brand. He has provided inspiration to leaders within his own company. In Tata Group leaders are engaged in decision making at every level. Ratan Tata has successfully lead and motivated its CEO/MD of the group companies to be ambitious. He has always adopted a ethical approach in group business. Appendix: Reference List Roger Gill, Theory and Practice of Leadership, Sage Publication, 2006 http://leadershipchamps.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/transactional-leadership-vs-transformational-leadership/ John P. Kotter, A Force For Change: How Leadership Differs From Management (New York: The Free Press, 1990). OTool, James.  Leadership from A to Z: A Guide for the Appropriately Ambitious, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.   Visionary Leadership: Creating a Compelling Sense of Direction for Your Organization (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series): Burt Nanus Tata Steel Group Annual Reports (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10) Sometimes referred to as the chairmens chairman, JRD adopted a management by consensus style: When a number of persons are involved I am definitely a consensus man, he once said, adding: but that does not mean that I do not disagree or that I do not express my views. Basically it is a question of having to deal with individual men heading different enterprises. You have to adapt yourself to their ways and deal accordingly and draw out the best in each man. If I have any merit it is getting on with individuals according to their ways and characteristics. In fifty years I have dealt with a hundred top directors and I have got on with all of them. At times it involves suppressing yourself. It is painful but necessary. To be a leader you have got to lead human beings with affection. Be that as it may, Tata spotted talent easily. And once he was confident that a manager would perform, he gave him (alas, no women) a long rope. If they wanted to be on their own, like Sumant Moolgaokar, he left them to it. If they occasionally wanted a shoulder to cry on, like Darbari Seth, JRD was there.

Attending a Lecture on Brown vs. Board of Education by Julian Bond :: Lectures Julian Bond Race Segregation

Broken Promise of Brown I attended a lecture entitled the Broken Promise of Brown which was given by Julian Bond. This took place at Smith Memorial Hall on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. As I entered the building and made my way to the main entrance of the auditorium, I noticed that this CAS/MillerComm lecture was more formal than the usual CAS/MillerComm lectures. CAS/MillerComm was the sponsor of this event and also sponsors an entire lecture series free to the public. As I entered the auditorium there were a cameraman and interviewer asking people as they walked in what they knew about the Brown vs. Board decision. Or at least that was one of the questions I overheard as I snuck past them in to the auditorium. As I walked down the aisle I wanted to try to get good a seat near the front. I made it all the way to the fourth row and asked some old white ladies if the seat on the end was taken. It was, but the fourth seat from the aisle was not. So I squeezed past them and sat down. At this time I opened my notebook and began taking notes on some of my observations. As I looked around, I noticed that most of the people at this particular lecture were black or white. And it seemed that there was a good mix of older students, middle aged people and older folks, all seemingly either black or white. Most of the older folks sat in the front, probably for sight reasons, and most of the older students sat in the back, probably just to attend the lecture and leave. As I was sitting waiting for the lecture to begin I looked at some of those around me. I sat on the left side of the auditorium in the fourth row, fourth seat. To my immediate right were two white old ladies and one white old man. To my left were an open seat and then sat three black men clad in black suits, most likely in their later twenties. In front of me, were three black women in what appeared to be their thirties, how accurate my gauge of age is I am not too sure, and also a younger black man.

People’s Republic of China Essay

Different countries have different societal structures, cultural norms and ways of forming relationships. China has strong traditions and moral values, borne out of a long history. Food In China, food is an important part of life. The official Language of China is Mandarin. In the Chinese culture there are a vast of Morals and Values that range from humility to respect and are very important in the Chinese culture. There are two main religions in the Chinese culture. Taoism, also known as Daoism, is based on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, which was written  in China in the 6th century BC. The emphasis is on finding spiritual harmony within the individual. Buddhism is the dominant religion in China. This began in India 2, 500 years ago and follows the teachings of the Buddha, â€Å"The Enlightened One. † In China, Mahayana Buddhism is particularly common. In this form of Buddhism the path to liberation involves religious ritual, meditation and devotion. The social structure of China is a hierarchical and formal social structure. For example, in the family, children are expected to respect their elders with the eldest  family member commanding the greatest respect In the Chinese culture family is defined as mother, father and children. When the female child marries she then is a member of her husband’s family and is no longer considered as a member of her family that she was born into. Therefore the family then consists of Mother, father, son and daughter n laws and children. The oldest male in the family has he most status. This person is considered to be the oldest and the wisest therefore has the most status. In the Chinese culture success is determined by purpose. The definition of purpose is the  reason for which something exists. Meaning, â€Å"Why are we here? † In the Chinese culture they strongly believe in a creator. The creator defines there purpose for them. Amy stated that â€Å"Every moment of every day, I live my life according to what I believe†. Every decision is based on a set of values that guides her in determining the direction she is to go. When asked if she considered her parent to be successful. Her response was yes. She feels as though her parent’s success is measured by what their purpose was. Her mother purpose was to be a house wife and  take care of the home and her father’s purpose was to work and to provide for the family. Education in the Chinese culture is very important. It starts when the child is very young and in the home. In China, parents are the first educators of their children. Therefore, family education is the most basic and important education model of their culture. Given the importance of family education, parents put more and more effort in educating their children and helping them grow as persons. Amy stated that her parent always demanded that she get good grades in school. She had to attend extra classes to help her achiever higher grades and she was continuously involved in numerous activities ranging from art, dance or musical classes. She stated that she didn’t have much of a say in choosing her classes or clubs that she was a member of. Her parents made all of these decisions for her. Chinese parents tend to care so much about their children’s studies that they don’t ask them to help in any other daily tasks. The primary requirement for children is to study hard, do well in exams and graduate from reputable universities so that they could have careers. The reason for this on one hand is children’s own good, as in a populated and highly competitive society like the Chinese, good academic scores can probably guarantee a bright future; on the other hand, it is a traditional value orientation that parents will be respected if their children have great achievements in society. Therefore, Chinese parents are willing to self-sacrifice and give up their own time, hobbies and interests in order to provide better conditions for their children. In the Chinese culture breakfat is the most important meal. Most Chinese persons start  there day out woth a bowl of Congee, which is like a watery rice that can be seasoned just to give it more flavor, it can be sweet or salty or even spicy and, sometimes, with vegetables, meat or mushrooms if the person chooses. Another typical food that the Chinese people eat for breakfast is Crullers, they call them also the â€Å"deep-fried-devils† and they are basically twisted strips of dough that been deeply fried in oil, they are very popular in the street stands. The Crullers always are eaten with congee. In China, food is an important part of life. Sharing a meal is the common way to socialize in the same way that We may go to a bar or pub for a drink. In the Chinese culture they have a strong ‘waste not, want not’ . This means they can make a meal out of just about any combination with rice or noodles. In the Chinese culture ricer and noodles are like bread to our culture. It’s a common part of every meal. I asked Amy if racism existed in China and she told me no. I asked her ‘what do you think of black people’ or ‘what do you think of Japanese people’, and the answers that she gave me were very racist responses. In my opinion her responses showed me that racism against black people may be the strongest form of racism in China. I asked her how would her family react if she had of married a black man. She stated that she would probably get disowned. She said this is because most black people are known to have very little status or money unless they are basketball players or entertainers. Now the racism against Japanese People in China is just as bad. Some children in China are taught hate songs against Japanese people in elementary school – and history books in China that deal with Japan focus almost exclusively on the terrible things  Japan did around World War II, ignoring much of Japan’s recent history. This project opened my eyes to the differences among cultures. I didn’t truly understand why some of my coworkers that were Chinese acted the way that they did. For example; Amy would never give a direct answer especially of the answer was no. This was because in her culture it was not a common thing to say no, and when one did say no it meant that the relationship was now ended. She would always say, I’m not sure or maybe. This then protected her from having to end out working relationship. She also was not very affectionate. In her  culture displays of affection were seen as disrespectful. I can remember a time when we had got some great news within out department and she was sitting next to me. I immediately reached out and hugged her because she was the main person that worked on the project with me. I felt a little weird after the embrace because I felt as though I violated her space. But after doing this research on her culture I now understand why. I started out in this class not understanding what I would truly learn from this. But after the assignment I have learned how to effectively communicate with coworkers of the Chinese culture.

A Brief History of Japan essays

A Brief History of Japan essays From Feudalism to Military dominance to Constitutional Democracy, Japans history is an insightful roadmap of how she developed into the Japanese modern state that is apparent today. Examining Japans past experiences as a nation, five of the most crucial events of history are the Tokugawa Shogunate of 1603, the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japanese defeat in WWII, and MacArthurs drafting of the new Japanese Constitution in 1946. These could be argued to be the major turning points in Japans history, completely altering the countrys values, attitudes, and orientation. The first turning point for Japan is seen in the Tokugawa Shogunate Period. I see it as the calm before the storm. It was a period of time of relative peace and stability, characterized by its strong centralized rule. This was a feudalistic era living in an isolated world. The Tokugawa Ieyasu establishes 14 generations of Tokugawa Shoguns. One of the largest landmark a lterations is found in the moving of the capital to Edo, otherwise known as Tokyo. This period is not as popular as the other listed turning points, but it too is very important because it illustrates Japans paradigm of society and what it took to shift it from its imbedded ways. It was the starting point of Japans road to modernism. The Meiji Restoration of 1898 is a huge turning point for Japan. It was Japans birth into a modern state." The US first made its presence with Perrys introduction leading to the forced treaty of trade. In addition to the end of Japans 200 years of isolation, the population growth and the mismanagement of public finance created a disordered economy, weakening legitimacy of the people. Because of the Shoguns luxurious lifestyles, the deficit rose thus causing inflation. This lead to the attempted rectification through heavy taxation, but it in...

Bicycle Theif essays

Bicycle Theif essays Another fine example of neorealism is The Bicycle Thief (1948), written by Cesare Zavattini and directed by Vittorio De Sica. The narrative of this film unfolds in post-W.W.II times. The film is a portrait of the post-war Italian disadvantaged class (the majority) in their search for self-respect. It is a time of struggle for the Italian people, amplified by a shortage of employment and lack of social services. In the first scenes of the film, these conditions are evident as Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorami) meets his spouse Maria (Lianalla Carell) on his way back home. We see the men arguing at the employment office as the women argue about the shortage of water. Although the directors pessimism drives the plot, it is ultimately the clash with human optimism which gives this film affective power. Antonios new job can bring his family new hopes and happiness, which are drastically destroyed when his bicycle is stolen. The banal circumstances are brought to life when it is realized that a modest bicycle is such an important element in determining the future survival of the Ricci family. Human optimism is there, beginning with Antonios excitement when he gets his bike from the pawn shop, and the next morning when the family joyfully interacts before setting out for work. These scenes contain the promises that a modest job can bring and the dignity and pride of being able to once more function within Italian society. The embodiment of this self-respect is shown when Antonio and his son Bruno (Enzo Staicca) both smile at Maria as they leave home. Self-respect and all the related values such as pride, dignity, modesty and honor are very important in Italian society. Witness Bruno, whom at a young age, works full time at a gas station. Brunos contributions to the Ricci family make him a man and strip him of his innocence. Being able to work is a ...

Critically evaluate the rules that apply to misrepresentation and Essay

Critically evaluate the rules that apply to misrepresentation and non-disclosure in insurance contracts - Essay Example Incorrect, incomplete or incorrect answers during application or material fact non-disclosure may go up to the contract’s roots and jeopardize its continued existence. The association between the insured and the insurer is regarded as one where mutual responsibilities of good faith and trust are overriding. During application time, indispensable facts are customarily recognized by the applicant but may be challenging to the insurer to make certain. The insurer is thus, vulnerable and needs the material facts so as to establish whether to issue a policy or not, what particular omissions it may need, and the amount of premium to charge. In fact, there are two diverse duties on the applicant at the time of the application. Normally, a broker or an agent interviews an applicant to complete the process of application. Based on the nature, as well as, type of the insurance coverage wanted, the application will have numerous questions concerning the background, health, business activities and various other aspects of the applicant. The application will characteristically have a declaration that is executed by the applicant and that the answers availed are complete, full, and true. Consequently, there are two isolated essential issues2. The first issue is that of any misrepresentation of answers by the applicant in the questions on the application. The second issue is that of non-disclosure of any facts by the applicant that are within his or her knowledge, and which are essential to the insurance. In the event that an insurer takes a stand that a policy is void because of non-disclosure or misrepresentation, it is not required of the insurer to determine the insured’s motives. The motives of the insured are irrelevant provided the misrepresentation are of a fact identified by the insured that could be viewed by a rational insurer as substantial to the risk. Typically,

Safety and security of public transit Research Paper

Safety and security of public transit - Research Paper Example Access to jobs, healthcare, and other services hinges upon access to reliable, affordable, and efficient public transit for masses. The increased use of public transit in both developed and developing countries show that people clearly value public transit. The availability of public transport is quite important for people with limited incomes. Public transit has its own importance. It can strengthens the economy, creates jobs, reduces traffic congestion, travel times and air pollution in case of rapid transit and save energy and oil consumption, if public investments are increased in this area. Today, transit system development is being used as a tool to encourage business growth, reduce sprawl, create a sense of community, rejuvenate obsolete towns and declining cities, and also enlargetax revenues for the authorities. Scale of the issue: Safety and security must have equal consideration along with economic and environmental aspect no matter what transport mode is being used. An ac cident caused by a bit of negligence reduces confidence in the safety of transport system. Accidents can lead to injuries and deaths and so does massive environmental changes takes place due to it. Significant commercial and financial consequences are likely to happen. Matters are often brought before courts and a criminal prosecution takes place which not only ruins one’s career but their life’s as well. Worldwide there are estimated to be approximately one million road accident casualties each year and around 10 million people are injured, many with long term disabilities (World Health Report 1999). Accidents are usually a combination of unrelated events and in many modes human element is the significant in this casual chain. People rarely make mistakes intentionally but these unintended mistakes and blunders lead to huge consequences for which someone has to pay the price of it. Most important transport problems take place when transport systems for any reasons is n ot ablesatisfy the requirements of mobility and such problems usually takes place in urban areas where there is large density. Productivity of any nation today is largely dependent on the efficiency of its transport system. This is because today transit system is required to move labor, consumers and goods from multiple sources to multiple destinations. In most parts of the world especially in developing countries public transit systems are either over or under used (Mitechelle, Daniel, 2005). During peak hours public transit system has to cope with the large amount of potential passenger while this creates a discomfort among the passengers due to the large crowd. Transport services are unable to cover their operating costs at times due to low fare rates this makes them financially unstable and infeasible. Every public transit systems cannot generate sufficient income to cover its operating costs although numerous efforts have been done to cover the operating costs like cross-financ ing and provision of subsidies from the government. Some public transportation is quite expensive e.g.taxis, airports supershuttles and these are used for limited purposes. People prefer to use bus or rail as the transit system. One factor thatinfluences the degree to which the public will use mass transit is reliability. Reliability is associated with labor relations. Strike on

Course Paper Assignment. You are required to write a 5-7 page paper on Term

Course Assignment. You are required to write a 5-7 page on a concept investigating the social effects of aviation an - Term Paper Example In fact, global tonne-kilometers (total weight of freight carried multiplied by the distance flown) increased by a factor of 23 as against the global domestic gross domestic product, which increase by a factor of 3.8 (Whitelegg, 2000). It is also forecast with unconstrained growth in the aviation industry, that air travel will double between 2000 and 2020 and triple in 2030 (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Postnote, 2003). Concurrently, there has been increase threat especially from the world of terrorist on the aviation industry. This threat has led to the implementation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger screening to ensure that certain items and persons prohibited from flying do not board commercial airliners (Elias, 2011). This spectacular growth in the aviation industry is associated with some social effects which have either beneficial or adverse effects in the society. This growth in the aviation industry is mainly concentrated in cert ain societies in the world, for instance, North America, Europe, some parts of Asia and South America (Zinnov LLC, 2007) thereby suggesting a cultural influence on the growth of the aviation industry. This article seeks to answer some questions associated with the growth of the aviation over the decades. ... Discussion Social Effects of Air Travel Indeed, air travel has impacted socially on humanity, changing not only the human relationship but also human culture. Like the interstate highways that reduce continents to global cities, air travel has likewise shrunk the world to a global city. For instance, with the advent of air travel, the connectedness between people increases considerably. Air travel makes it possible for people to connect easily with far away family members and friends. The business arena was also affected positively as business partners across continents can meet face-to-face to carry out business deals within days. Related to this connectedness between people is the improvement in communication. By the late 1930s, the airlines carried mail from coast to coast thereby improving the speed of communication and the connectedness between friends, family members and business partners (Hudson, 1972). Indeed, with the advent of the air travel, people became global citizens a nd can enjoy the excitements and cultures of societies other than theirs. Indeed, people can travel to far away resort centers for holidays. Air travel led to the growth of the tourist industry. Also affected is entertainment industry and arts. The enthrallment and allurement of air travel has been reflected in the literature. Many pilots have written about their careers. For instance, War World 1 hero, Eddie Rickenbacker wrote about their exploit during the World War 1 (Rickenbacker, 2001). Many children books feature famous military pilots as well as civilian pilots, and later astronauts. Related to literature are arts dealing with aviation. For instance, the Renaissance humanist, Leonardo da Vinci illustrated his notebooks with sketches of

Chemistry Energy Levels Essay Example for Free

Chemistry Energy Levels Essay The energy of the subshell increases as follows:4slt;4plt;4dlt;4f * â€Å"4s† has the greatest probability of being close to the nucleus * Subshells are limited to # of electrons they can hold ( 2 electrons per orbital) s=21s orbital d=105d orbital p=63p orbitals f=147f orbitals Assessment * How many p subshells are in the 4th energy level (n=4)? 34px 4py 4pz * What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the 4p subshell? each p subshell can hold 2 electrons and therefore there are 3p orbitals with 2 electrons * What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the 4th energy 322n2=2(4)2 =2(16) =32 Creating Energy Level Diagrams * Used to show the relative energies of electrons in various orbitals under normal conditions * Each orbital is indicated by a separate circle/square * All orbitals of a given subshell have the same energy. Ie. The 3p orbitals in the 3p sublevels have the same energy * The spacing between successive subshells decreases as the number of subshells increases overlapping of shells having different values of n. Assessment 1. How many d orbitals exist? 5 2. How many electrons can exist in the 3d orbitals? 10-2 in each of the 5d orbitals 3. How many electrons can exist in the n=2 level? 8-remember 2n2=2(2)2=8 4. How many electrons can one 4f orbital hold? 14-2 in each of the 7f orbitals 5. Which has a higher energy a px, py, or pz orbital? They all have the same energy. 6. Which electron can be found furthest from the nucleus:2s or 3s? 3s electrons 7. Which electrons can be found furthest from the nucleus:2s or 2p. 2p is further. Fig. 3. 19 Arrow Orbital Notation Aka Orbital Diagrams * Use circles or squares for the orbitals and arrows for the electrons * RULES: * The Aufbau Principal- electrons will occupy lowest available energy level * Pauli Exclusion Principal- no two electrons have the same quantum numbers * Hund’s Rule – electrons remain unpaired for as long as possible. Ex: One electrons goes in each Px, Py, Pz, before they start to pair up Fig 3. 21 Electron Configuration Provides the same information as an energy level diagram but in a more concise format. * Li: 1s2 2s1 C:1s2 2s2 2p2 * Ne: 1s2 2s2 2p? Use the following concept map to help to determine the filling order of the orbitals: * The similarity among elements within groups and the structure of the periodic table can be explained by electron configuration * Li: 1s2 2s1 * Na: 1s2 2s2 2p? 3s1 Short Hand Notation -Use symbol of noble gas with the same core electron configuration: Ex. Na [1s2 2s2 2p? ]3s1 Or [Ne] 3s1 Some unexpected Electron Configuration * Example: Cru and Cu Expected Actual Cr: [Ar] 4s2 3d? [Ar] 4s1 3d? Cu: [Ar] 4s2 3d? [Ar] 4s1 3d10 In each case, an electron is borrowed from the 4s subshell and placed in the 3d subshell. * Cr-3d subshell becomes half-filled * Cu-3d subshell becomes full * Half-filled and fully filled subshells tend to be more stable * Other expectations: Ag: [Kr] 4s2 3d10 Au: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 Explaining Ion Charges * Remember s electrons are lost before d electrons when dealing with transition metals. Ex1. Zn Zn: [Ar] 4s2 3d10 Zn2+: [Ar] 3d10 (4s electrons are lost so that the 3d orbital remains full) Ex2. Pb Pb: [Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p2 Pb2+: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6p2 (The 6s electrons are lost) Pb4+: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 (The 6p electrons are lost as well as the 6s electrons) Quantum Numbers * Electron waves (orbitals) can be characterized by a set quantum numbers, n, l, ml, ms Principle quantum number (n): * Identifies the energy of an electron in an orbital * All orbitals that have the same value of n are said to be in the same shell * Range from n=1 to n=infinity * Determines the size of the electron wave how far the wave extends from the nucleus * As n increases the energies of the orbitals also increase Secondary quantum number (l): Divides the shells into smaller groups called subshells * n determines the values of l * for any given n, l may range from l=0 to l=n-1 * identifies the shape of the orbital Value of l| 0| 1| 2| 3| Letter designation| s(shape)| p(principle)| d(diffuse)| f(fundamental)| Magnetic quantum number (ml): * splits the subshells into individual orbits * identifies the orientation of the orbital * for any given value of l, ml has a value ranging from +l to –l * e. g. If l=0, ml=0; for l=1, ml=+1, 0, -1 which correspond to the x, y and z orientations of the p orbitals.

Lord Of The Flies Development :: essays research papers

How Do the Main Characters in Lord of the Flies Develop in the First Six Chapters? In Lord of the Flies, William Golding experiments with what could happen to a group of young of boys left in new surroundings with no adults present. The main characters of this novel are quickly established and are the oldest or tallest of the boys. All the characters change and develop enormously over the period of time when they have to adjust to living on the island.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reader is introduced to Ralph first, as the ‘boy with fair hair’. Ralph enjoys standing on his head and shows how impulsive he is when he dives straight into the water. This suggests that he has little common sense and so may be irresponsible. He also appears to be a daydreamer and is convinced that his father will rescue him so does not face the reality of what has actually happened. ‘how does he know were here?’†¦because, thought Ralph because because.’ Ralphs’ father being in the navy could mean that Ralph has had a privileged upbringing which might be why he feels superior to Piggy and doesn’t think much of him. This is shown when Ralph orders Piggy to ‘get my clothes’, and when he broke his promise by telling the boys his nickname was Piggy. Ralph had possession of the conch, used it to bring the boys together and had a good physique (tall, blonde, ‘built like a boxer’), so he easily earned the respect of the boys and was immediately accepted. ‘There was a stillness about Ralph that marked him out†¦his size and attractive appearance, most obscurely the conch’ The first thing Ralph says as leader is ‘I can’t decide what to do straight of†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. He does not display authority or apply a task to anyone, so the boys have to find their own things to do, so he does not seem to have the qualities to make a good leader. However, the fact that his main priority is to get rescued and build shelters to survive, and that he tries to keep the island civilised shows that his ‘common sense’ is developing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Similar to most other boys, Ralph enjoyed the absence of adults on the island and the island itself. Everyone wanted to have fun, but Ralph also wanted to be rescued so understood the importance of the fire. By the third chapter Ralph feels depressed because he cannot convince the boys of the necessity of the shelters.

Night World : Huntress Chapter 14

Did you have trouble getting away?† Hugh said It was the next morning, a very different sort of day from yesterday. The sky was overcast and the air was heavy. Everyone Jez had passed at the Concord BART station looked a little depressed. â€Å"Eh, a little,† she said, and sat down by Hugh on the platform. They were at the far end of the station, beyond the covered area with benches, beside a little concrete security house. It was a safe and private meeting place since the station was almost deserted after the morning commute. â€Å"They chained up my bike with this huge chain. Claire drove me to school-she's been watching me like a werewolf guarding dinner. And Aunt Nan called the office to make sure I didn't cut† Hugh shifted in concern. There was a tiny breath of warm wind, and it stirred his fair hair. â€Å"So what did you do?† Jez grinned. â€Å"I cut.† She shrugged and added, â€Å"I got a guy from my auto shop class to drive me here. It wasn't hard.† He smiled at her sadly, his gray eyes distant. â€Å"But they're going to find out. Jez, I'm really sorry for completely messing up your life.† She shrugged again. â€Å"Yeah, but if I don't do it, everybody's life is going to be even more completely messed up. Every human's.† â€Å"I know.† He shivered slightly. Then he drew up his legs, clasping his arms around them. He looked at her with his chin on his knees. â€Å"So what did you find out?† â€Å"That the girl Morgead thought was the Wild Power isn't.† He looks so cute that way, Jez thought helplessly. So-compact. Morgead would never sit like that. Hugh winced. â€Å"Great. You're sure?† â€Å"Yeah. It was a little kid, eight years old, and she was something special-but not that. She was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jez tried to think of a way to describe it. Hugh watched her with eyes that were clear and fathomless, sad and wry and gentle all at once. And suddenly Jez got it. She gasped. â€Å"Goddess-I know! She was like you. That kid was an Old Soul.† Hugh's eyebrows went up. â€Å"You think?† â€Å"I'm sure of it. She had that same way of looking at you as if she's seen all of history and she knows that you're just a little part. That†¦ trig picture' look. As if she were beyond stupid human things.† â€Å"But not a Wild Power,† Hugh said softly. He looked half discouraged and half relieved. â€Å"So then the Morgead connection is useless.† â€Å"Actually, no. Because he's got evidence for the Wild Power on videotape.† Jez explained about the movie and the fire and the blue flash. â€Å"So somebody around that kid is probably it. I know that area and so does Morgead. We may be able to find out who.† Hugh chewed his lip. Then he looked directly at her. â€Å"It sounds dangerous. Just how is Morgead taking tins-you coming back and all?† Jez stared out across the BART tracks. They looked like regular train tracks, except for the big one labeled danger electric third rah.. There was a sound like faraway thunder, and then a train came whizzing up like a sleek futuristic white dragon. It stopped and a few people got on and off in the distance. She waited until it left again to answer. â€Å"He†¦ wasn't very happy at first. But then he kind of got used to it. I don't think he's going to make any trouble-unless he finds out, you know.† She wasn't sure what else to say. She didn't want to talk to Hugh about Morgead-and she certainly didn't want to explain what had happened. Especially not when she was so confused about it all herself. â€Å"You still think he'd hate you if he found out you were half human?† Hugh's voice was quiet. Jez laughed shortly. â€Å"Believe it. He would.† There was a silence, while Hugh looked at her. Suddenly Jez found her mind posing an odd question. If it were Hugh or Morgead, which would she take? Of course, it was a completely ridiculous question. She couldn't have either of them. Hugh was an Old Soul, and beyond her reach. Not to mention that he only thought of her as a friend. And Morgead might be her soulmate, but he would murder her if he ever discovered the truth. But still, if she did have a choice†¦ Hugh or Morgead? A day ago she'd have said Hugh without question. How strange that now it came up the other way. Because, impossible as it was, deadly as she knew it to be, it was Morgead she was in love with. And she had only just understood that this moment. What a pity that there was no hope in the world for them. Jez found herself giving another short laugh- and then she realized that Hugh was still looking at her. She could feel color rise to her cheeks. â€Å"You were miles away again.† Tm just foggy. Not enough sleep, I guess.† Plus all that fun yesterday. She was still sore from the stick fight and the fall with Iona. But that wasn't Hugh's problem. She took a breath, groping for another subject. â€Å"You know, there was something I wanted to ask you. Morgead said the Council had dug up another prophecy-about where each of the Wild Powers is from. Have you heard it?† When he shook his head, she quoted: â€Å"One from the land of kings long forgotten; One from the hearth which still holds the spark; One from the Day World where two eyes are watching; One from the twilight to be one with the dark.† â€Å"Interesting.† Hugh's gray eyes had lit up. † ‘One from the hearth'†¦ that's got to be the Harman witches. Their last name was originally ‘Hearth-Woman.' â€Å" â€Å"Yeah. But the line about the one from the Day World-that one's a human, right?† â€Å"It sounds like it.† â€Å"That's what Morgead thought-that's why he thought the little girl might be a Wild Power even though she was human. But what I can't figure out is what it means by ‘where two eyes are watching.'† â€Å"Mmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hugh gazed into the distance, as if he liked the challenge. â€Å"The only thing I can think of that combines the idea of ‘Day* and ‘eyes' is a poem. It goes something like ‘The Night has a thousand eyes, and the Day only one.' The one eye being the sun, you know, and the thousand eyes the stars at night.† â€Å"Hmpf. What about the moon?† Hugh grinned. ‘I don't know. Maybe the author wasn't good at astronomy.† â€Å"Well-that doesn't help much. I thought it might be a clue. But the truth is that we don't even know if it's the human Wild Power we're after.† Hugh put his chin on his knees again. â€Å"True. But I'll let Circle Daybreak know about that prophecy. It might help eventually.† He was silent a moment, then added, â€Å"You know, they dug up something interesting, too. Apparently the Hopi Tribe predicted the end of the world pretty accurately.† â€Å"The Hopi?† â€Å"I should say, the ends of the worlds. They knew that it had happened before their time, and that it would happen again. Their legend says that the first world was destroyed by fire. The second world was destroyed by ice. The third world ended in water- a universal flood. And the fourth world-well, that's ours. It's supposed to end in blood and darkness- and end soon.† Jez murmured, â€Å"The first world-?† â€Å"Don't remember your Night World history?† He tched at her, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. â€Å"The first civilization was the shapeshifters'. Back when humans were scared to go out of their caves, the shapeshifters ruled and the humans thought of them as gods. Animal spirits, totems. It was Shapeshifter World. That lasted for about ten thousand years, until a bunch of volcanoes suddenly became active-â€Å" â€Å"Fire.† â€Å"Yeah. The weather changed, people migrated, and the shapeshifters lost control. After that it was really Witch World. The witches did better than everybody else for ten thousand years, but then there was an Ice Age-â€Å" â€Å"And the Night Wars,† Jez said, remembering. â€Å"When the vampires fought the witches.† â€Å"Right. And after all that, the vampires were in control; it was Vampire World. Which lasted about another ten thousand years, until the flood. And after the flood, human civilization really started. It was Human World, and it has been for a long time. The Night People have just been hanging on around the edges, hiding. But. . .† He paused and straightened. â€Å"That started about eight thousand B.C.† â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"Yeah. The millennium marks the end of our ten thousand years.† He gave his gentle, half-mocking smile. â€Å"We humans are about to lose our lease. Something's going to happen to bring blood and darkness and then there'll be a whole new world.† â€Å"Only if we don't stop it,† Jez said. â€Å"And we will- because we have to.† Hugh's smiled changed, softening. â€Å"I think we're lucky to have people like you trying.† Then he lost the smile completely. He looked uncertain. â€Å"Jez- you know, Old Souls aren't really beyond ‘stupid human things.' We're as human as anybody. And we †¦ I mean, and I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jez's heart was beating uncomfortably fast. The way he was looking at her-she'd never seen Hugh look like that at anything or anyone. Another rumble in the distance, and then a train came rushing in. Hugh blinked, glanced up at the digital clock display above the platform, then checked his watch. He cursed. Tm supposed to be somewhere. I'm late.† Jez's heart gave a strange thump. But not of disappointment. Weirdly, it was more like relief. â€Å"Me, too,† she said. â€Å"I'm supposed to meet Morgead before everybody else gets out of school. I ought to take the next train to San Francisco.† He still hesitated. â€Å"Jez-â€Å" â€Å"Go on,† she said, standing up. â€Å"Ill call you if I turn up anything. Wish me luck.† â€Å"Be careful,† he said instead, and then he was hurrying away. Jez watched him go. She couldn't help wondering what he had been about to say. Then she turned to walk back to the central part of the station. She was partway around the concrete guardhouse when she heard a noise on the other side. A stealthy, sneaking noise. Not the kind a security guard would make. Jez didn't hesitate. Smoothly, completely soundless herself, she changed course, turning back and going around the structure the other way to get behind the sneaker. The instant she had a clear view of the intruder's back, she jumped. She landed on top of her quarry, with a control hold on the person's wrist. But she already knew that this wasn't going to be a fight to the death. â€Å"Jez-ow-it's me!† Claire spluttered. â€Å"I know it's you, Claire.† â€Å"Let go of my arm!† â€Å"I don't think so, Claire. You having an interesting morning? Hear any good jokes?† â€Å"Jez!† Claire struggled, hurting herself, then got mad and hurt herself more trying to hit Jez. Jez allowed her to sit up, still keeping hold of her. Claire's face was flushed and wrathful, her dark hair sticking in strands to her cheeks. Her eyes were shooting sparks. â€Å"Okay, so I'm sorry for eavesdropping. I followed you when Greg Ludlum drove you here. I wanted to know what you were doing. I didn't know that you were completely freaking insane!† â€Å"Well, it's too bad you didn't figure it out earlier. Because unfortunately I have to kill you now to keep you from talking.† Claire's eyes widened and she choked. Jez suddenly realized that underneath all the sparks and the yelling her cousin was terrified. She let go of Claire's arm and Claire slumped away from her, rubbing it. â€Å"You-you are insane, aren't you?† Claire looked at her sideways, through clinging strands of hair. â€Å"I mean, all that stuff about the world ending-it's some kind of bizarre game you're playing with your weird friends, isn't it? Some kind of Dungeons and Dragons stuff†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What do you think, Claire?† Jez stood up and offered Claire a hand, worried that someone might notice them. She kept that hand on Claire as she herded Claire back behind the guard house. The truth was that this situation wasn't funny. Claire really was in trouble-because Jez was in trouble. Her entire cover was blown. Everything she'd worked for in the past year-Claire could destroy it all. Claire knew way too much, and Claire hated her enough to use it. â€Å"I think †¦ I don't know what to think.† Claire swallowed. â€Å"Who was that guy?† â€Å"One of my weird friends. Right?† â€Å"He didn't seem so weird. When he said things- I don't know. They sounded†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Claire's voice trailed off. Finally it came back, almost inaudibly. â€Å"Real.† â€Å"Great.† I am going to have to kill her. What else can I do? â€Å"It's not a game, is it?† Claire said, looking at her. All the anger was gone from the dark eyes now. They were simply bewildered and frightened. Then Claire shook her head. â€Å"But, I mean, it's impossible. Vampires and shapeshifters and witches-it's all just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off again. Jez was simply looking at her, with eyes that might be less silvery than a year ago, but that she knew were still pretty strange. And after a few moments Claire's gaze lost its focus and her whole body seemed to fall in on itself, as if it had lost something vital. Innocence maybe, Jez thought grimly. â€Å"Oh, God, it is true,† Claire whispered. ‘I mean, it's really true. That's why you're gone all the time, isn't it? You're off-doing something.† Jez said, â€Å"Yeah.† Claire sagged against the guardhouse. â€Å"Oh, God. I †¦ God. I feel so strange. It's like-nothing is what I thought.† Yeah, I know the feeling, Jez thought. When the whole world turns around and you have to adjust in two seconds flat. It happened to me, too, a year ago. But none of that was going to help Claire. All she could say was â€Å"I'm sorry.† Claire didn't seem to hear her. She was speaking in a voice that was just a breath. â€Å"That's why†¦ that's why all that weird stuff with your father. Nobody knowing anything about his family and all. I knew from the beginning that there was something about you; I just couldn't tell what it was.† Oh, great, Jez thought. Here it comes. She tried to keep her face impassive as Claire faced her squarely, raising her eyes with a look somewhere between wonder and dread. â€Å"That guy-he said you were only half human. Which means you're half†¦ something else?† â€Å"I'm half human and half vampire,† Jez said quietly. The interesting thing was that it was so easy to get out. She'd only ever spoken the words aloud to one person before: Hugh. Now she looked to see if Claire would actually faint or just fall down. Claire did neither. She just shut her eyes. â€Å"You know the really insane thing? I believe that.† She opened her eyes again. â€Å"But-I didn't know you could be. Half and half.† â€Å"Neither did anybody else, till I was born. I'm the only one.† Jez examined her cousin, realized that she really wasn't going to faint. When she spoke again, her voice came out more challenging than she meant it to. â€Å"So now that you know, Claire, what are you going to do about it?† â€Å"What do you mean, what am I going to do?† Claire glanced around, then her voice dropped as her eyes glinted with interest. â€Å"Look-do you, like, have to drink blood and everything?† â€Å"Not anymore,† Jez said shortly. What was this? Who would have thought that studious, straitlaced Claire would have such an interest in vampires? â€Å"But you mean you used to?† â€Å"Before I came to live with you guys. I thought I was a full vampire then. But I found out that I could live without it, as long as I didn't use my powers.† â€Å"You've got powers? Really? What kind?† â€Å"No kind. Look, enough with the questions. I told you, I'm not a vampire anymore.† â€Å"And you're not evil.† Claire said it flatly. Jez looked at her, startled. â€Å"What makes you say that?† â€Å"I heard what you were talking about, saving the world and all. I didn't understand it, but it sounded like you were on the right side. And-† Claire hesitated, then shrugged. â€Å"And I know you, okay? I mean, you're arrogant and stubborn and you never explain anything, but you're not evil. You just aren't-inside. I can tell.† Jez laughed. A real laugh. She couldn't help it. Of all people, Claire. She'd misjudged this girl who was her own age but had nothing else in common with her. Her cousin had unexpected depths. â€Å"Well, thanks,† she said. â€Å"I try not to be too evil- these days.† Then she sobered. â€Å"Look, Claire, if you really think that, and if you really believe that the stuff you heard was true-â€Å" â€Å"About the end of the world? I don't believe it. I mean, I heard it, and I believe you believe it-and when I first heard it I kind of believed it, but-â€Å" â€Å"Just-skip the rest and plain believe it, Claire. It happens to be the truth. And I'm trying to do something about it.† â€Å"Something about a Wild Power, right?† Claire wasn't sagging anymore. She looked almost excited. â€Å"But what's a-â€Å" â€Å"You don't need to know. The point is that if you want to, you can help me.† â€Å"I can? Really?† â€Å"You can help me by going back to school and forgetting that this ever happened. You can help me by keeping my secret and not ever saying a word about this to anybody. And, incidentally, you'll be keeping your family safe at the same time.† Claire looked away, worked her jaw. â€Å"This stuff you're doing is pretty dangerous.† It wasn't a question. â€Å"Very dangerous.† Jez stepped back. â€Å"And I'm late for it right now. So do we have a deal? Will you help me or not? Can I trust you?† â€Å"Or otherwise you're gonna kill me, right?† Claire looked at her sarcastically. Jez rolled her eyes. â€Å"Don't tempt me. Seriously, are you going to help?† â€Å"No.† Jez froze, looking down at the shorter girl. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Jez-don't get mad, but I don't think I can. Not that way.† Claire was looking back up steadily, her small face serious and surprisingly determined. ‘I mean how can I possibly just walk away, after hearing all that? If everything you said is true, how can I forget?† â€Å"You can because you have to. We all do what we have to do.† Jez looked around the station. Another train should be coming any minute. She simply didn't have time to spend convincing a human to stay out of business that would kill her. To properly explain it to Claire would take days. All she could do was ask for something she never would have imagined Claire could give her. â€Å"Claire†¦ there's no way I can convince you or make you do what I want. But I'm asking you-† She let out her breath and went on: â€Å"I'm asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to walk away and at least try to forget this. And to believe that I'm trying the best I can to do the right thing.† Claire kept looking at her steadily for a moment. Then, all at once, the dark eyes filled. They turned away, and Claire's throat moved once as she swallowed. Then, slowly, she nodded. â€Å"Okay,† she whispered. â€Å"I mean-it's okay for now. I mean, I guess I can talk to you later about it.† Jez let out her breath. â€Å"That's right.† Claire stood there for another second, then straightened her shoulders and turned away. But just as suddenly she turned back, looking tense and almost explosive. â€Å"There's something I have to say to you.† Jez glanced down the tracks. No train. â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"It's-it's†¦ that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I bugged you and tried to get Mom mad at you and everything. I was just-I was jealous because they let you get away with anything, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She shook her head fiercely and then went on, shrugging grimly as if she hated to admit it. â€Å"And, yeah, because you're so gorgeous and confident and everything. It made me feel bad and I wanted to hurt you. So. Anyway. There. I'm sorry.† She started to walk away, wobbling a little. â€Å"Claire.† Claire paused, then turned around. Jez spoke a little hesitantly around the obstruction in her throat. â€Å"It's okay. And thank you.† â€Å"Yeah.† Claire grinned and gave a little shrug. â€Å"See ya later.† She turned around and started walking again. See ya, Jez thought. She felt suddenly tired and strangely emotional. There was too much inside hen sadness and relief and worry and a new feeling for Claire. She crossed her arms and looked around the station, trying to relax, taking deep, even breaths. And saw two werewolves coming straight for Claire.