Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Describe the employment of women in Britain in 1914 at the outbreak of war

As war broke out in 1914 around 1/3 of ladies were in some sort of paid work. Most of this was local assistance or secretarial work and a great many people acknowledged, there was a bad situation for ladies in difficult work e. g. dock-working, mining or street - burrowing. A lady's job was particularly as the homemaker. They were viewed as the more fragile sex and the sex that had less rights than men. Better than average ladies were relied upon to remain at home and back the offspring of the family. They needed to comply with their spouses. England's recreation class was kept in comfort by a multitude of local workers. An enormous landowner with a spouse, two kids and a 62-lives house n the West End required an indoor staff of 36. A portion of the workers went with the family to its different homes †the nation house, the coastline estate, the ‘shooting box' in Scotland †every one of which additionally had its own different staff, containing numerous ladies. The working day could be a tiresome 17 hours in length. The most significant female worker of the family was the servant, known by the title of ‘Mrs', she instructed a detachment of female domestics like woman's house keeper, housemaids, kitchen servants and the scullion who washed the dishes. High society ladies were not expected to work. They in this way were associated with good cause work and deliberate work additionally they were intensely engaged with the suffragettes. Many average workers ladies worked the entire day at employments in their own homes, anyway some common laborers ladies worked in production lines, to enhance the men's salary, which regularly wasn't sufficient. Workrooms were frequently packed, messy, poorly lit, not well ventilated and deficiently warmed. The hours reasonable under the Factory Acts in 1901 were long. Ladies and young ladies more than 14 years could be utilized 12 hours per day and on Saturday 8 hours. Furthermore, in specific ventures, and dressmaking was one, an extra 2 hours could be worked by ladies on 30 evenings in any a year. At the flare-up of war ladies earned around 65 percent of the male pay. The work of little task young ladies, typically just 14 years old was normal. Their work was extremely fluctuated †getting things done, coordinating materials, and taking out bundles, cleaning the workrooms, and regularly likewise helping in crafted by the house. To be going around doing ‘odd occupations' for the representatives of a bustling workshop was difficult work and tiring. It was not astounding that the young ladies in those workshops regularly looked tired and exaggerated; yet there were a lot of young ladies to have their spot, so they would not yield. Numerous others were utilized to chip away at the outside of coal mineshafts or on fish docks at hard, tiring, physical work. A misogynist standpoint upon ladies in the work environment worked all through this period. It brought about aptitude definitions and pay differentials. Ladies' work was generally viewed as untalented, where as a man doing likewise occupation would be viewed as gifted. For instance welding was seen as a talented activity when men did it however when ladies became welders during the First World War it was viewed as incompetent, with ladies being paid a large portion of the male rate. Working class ladies endeavored to get into callings as specialists, legal counselors, bookkeepers and brokers yet discovered it amazingly troublesome. The assessment of men was that they were not clever enough and excessively frail genuinely hence incapable to adapt to the work. They found business simpler to discover as educators, as this was managing youngsters and they had the option to discover work in the cubicle ventures as representatives, telephonists and secretaries. Anyway female representatives would procure short of what 33% of the male pay, and a female typist would acquire i1 seven days contrasted with i3 seven days earned by a man. Ladies from the upper and white collar classes came to have more open doors in the late nineteenth century. This was especially so in training. Advanced education was available to ladies, in spite of the fact that they were confined in taking degrees in either Oxford or Cambridge. Most ladies needed such chances. Ladies fundamentally moved into the low-aptitude, low-pay ‘sweat shop' part as they were denied access to the new advances. Female assembly line laborers were commonly more regrettable rewarded than men in pay, preparing and openings, and the worker's guilds essentially male associations co-worked with the administration or the meaning of aptitudes, which influenced pay, were constrained by men and supported them; talented ladies were ineffectively perceived. Ladies were likewise paid piece rates and discovered their compensation brought down on the off chance that they earned excessively. One production line examiner commented that ‘What would one be able to do when a young lady is procuring as much as 15 shillings per week however bring down the piece rate? ‘ In a review not long before the war the social pundit and reformer, S. Rowntree, had contended that i1 seven days was vital so as to live above neediness yet barely any ladies got this sum. In J. M Barrie's satire What Ever Woman Knows (1908), John Shand, the railwayman turned MP, owes his prosperity as a debater to his better half Maggie, who has changed his exhausting talks when she composed them up. Ladies had accomplished some level of conjugal fairness and been given some instructive open doors by 1914. They had likewise started to make a few advances into customary male occupations and they had concentrated political activity on winning the vote.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Johnny Tremain :: essays research papers

Envision being back in the state of Massachusetts before the Revolutionary war. As you walk down the roads of Boston, you meet a youngster named Johnny Tremain. Subsequent to tuning in to his story, you think about the various ways you could depict him. You could portray him by his looks, by his character, and by the abilities he depicts. His character is intriguing to the point that it's difficult to portray his gifted abilities, his perplexing character, and his venerated physical highlights. As you recall the story of his hardships and destiny, you realize that Johnny Tremain will stand in your brain until the end of time. Remaining solitary on the wharf close to his glorious house, you see a flimsy, light haired, light complected youngster. There are numerous ways you can portray the way Johnny Tremain looks. You can judge by the way he stands, so pleased, that he is around 15 years of age. You can see that he's solid but on the other hand he's startled. As you move your eyes towards what's behind him you notice that his hand is injured and was likely singed. Your eyes meet his and they're a penetrating blue. You are so struck by his looks you can hardly wait to go converse with him and get some answers concerning his character characteristics. Johnny Tremain's character was very interesting, and it was generally charming to find out about how he transformed from a bossy, anxious kid, into a mindful, persistent honorable man. Despite the fact that he was a gifted specialist, he was glad, and brimming with self-importance. Be that as it may, after his horrible catastrophe, his inconsiderate character passed on in the birth and demise room, also, Johnny was renewed as a progressively patient and caring individual. He despite everything won't take feel sorry for from anybody, yet within he is most likely shouting out for help. In spite of the fact that he has nobody to talk to, he has unique abilities that help prop him up solid. Before Johnny consumed his hand dealing with a sugar bowl, he was a gifted silversmith. Envision consuming your privilege hand and losing a considerable lot of your gifts, for example, composing or utilizing a hatchet. In the wake of rehearsing, he horrendously figured out how to utilize his left hand to utilize a hatchet. He additionally figured out how to clearly compose, yet it used to be better before his mishap. Presently Johnny constantly works for a paper called the Boston Observer. He consistently rides his pony, Goblin, and dependably conveys the papers. Conveying notes for the British officials demonstrated to be a beneficial piece of his everyday practice. As the day closes, you have delighted in investing energy with Johnny.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Common App 2017-18 How to Write a Great College Application Essay

Common App 2017-18 How to Write a Great College Application Essay After a year of stability, the Common Application essay prompts have changed again â€" I think for the better â€" based on surveys of 5000 teachers, students, counselors and colleges. This year brings some wording changes and a brand new prompt â€" and an old, previously discarded question that has been brought back to life. Significantly, the now “old” Common App prompts have not changed a lot â€" which makes sense since 90% of survey respondents reported that the prompts already worked well. Ideally, the new ones will work even better. Let’s take a look at the 2017-18 Common App prompts: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  This prompt has not changed, and I think that’s a good thing. Many college applicants have some aspect of their lives that’s meaningful and important enough to share with the admissions committee. This question provides a welcome opportunity to do so. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?  â€œObstacles we encounter” and “a challenge, setback or failure” replaced the previous “failures” and “failure.”Ah, this prompt is so much less confronting, and so much more welcoming, to students who do not consider that they have “failed” but certainly have faced challenges in their lives. Not everyone is too evolved to see failure as an opportunity. And why require a failure to give students the opportunity to write about lessons learned? I like this change. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?“Questioned” was added to “challenged”; “prompted you to act” was replaced with “your thinking”: and “Would you make the same decision again?” was replaced by “What was the outcome?”I like this change because, while few youngsters have gone against the grain in a meaningful way, many of them have had thoughts that go against a belief or idea. The new prompt does not require students to have taken huge risks or to be activists. It just requires them to have opinions. Furthermore, they do not have to answer a yes or no question about whether they would take the same action in the future. Why require students to fortune tell like that? Instead, they can talk about what happened and naturally examine their role in that outcome. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.  This was a completely new prompt two years ago, and it provides an exciting opportunity for students to display their intellectual prowess or emotional intelligence. No changes for next year! Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization, that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. This is a fairly old prompt with a fresh take. Interestingly, I predicted that it would be deleted or changed significantly last time I wrote about the Common App prompts, as I saw the danger of clichéd answers talking about Bar Mitzvahs and Eagle Scout projects.Here’s what changed: The words “formal or informal” were deleted, and the word “realization” was added. Even more significantly, instead of asking about something that “marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family,” the prompt now asks for students to delve into their own growth and understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world.Both changes reveal admissions committees’ clear preference for introspection and self-understanding. I’ve been saying for years that the committees want to see self-awareness and a focus on personal growth, and this preference could not be clearer than from the changes in this essay question. Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  This brand new prompt is another opportunity for applicants to explain how their brains work, what makes them tick, and how they explore their intellectual interests. I believe it’s a way for the admissions committee to discover how engaged a student would be in both intellectual and extra-curricular pursuits. It will be a great option for any students with passion and curiosity! Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.  While there was a “topic of your choice” essay question in the past, it did not suggest submitting an essay the student has already written! This choice fascinates and scares me. With the emphasis in all the other questions on sharing so personally, why open things up to essays on Huckleberry Finn? Why give this easy out to students who can just slap an essay into the box that they wrote for an English class? I bet this question in its current form won’t last long.Also interestingly, when the “topic of your choice” question was eliminated, there was very little complaint. But after a couple of years, people want it back. We’ll see what the feedback is in the future. It doesn’t really seem necessary, as the instructions to the Common App encourage students to use the prompts to write about anything they want:“What do y ou want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response.” As Scott Anderson, Senior Director for Access and Education at The Common Application, points out in The Common App Essay Prompts Are Changing. Here’s Why It Doesn’t Matter, there’s really only one question in the Common App Essay: “Write an essay on a topic of your choice.” The Common App Essay has provided you direction, and your job is to take it and create your story. If your child is applying to college and wants support on writing a great response to the Common Application Essay questions, contact The Essay Expert. Remember, approximately 26% of all college applicants hire an admissions consultant, and your child is in the same pool as they are. You might also enjoy some of my other articles about college essays and admissions.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

memory loss informative - 789 Words

Informative Speech Com-150.04 (rough outline #2) I. Introduction: A. Attention Getter- Your memory is a monster; you forget- it doesn’t. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory but it has you! (John Irving) B. Purpose – After hearing my speech the audience will be able to define and explain memory loss or dementia in adults. Why? : This is important because we all have a memory that could be affected by memory loss. C. Preview (PowerPoint) 1. What is memory loss or dementia? 2. Types? 3. Causes? 4. Disorders? 5. Treatments? II. Discussion: A. What is memory loss†¦show more content†¦Memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with their daily life. Accounts for 50 to 80% of dementia cases. 3. Amnesia- deflicit in memory caused by brain damage, disease or psychological trauma. 4. Brain Injury- severe hit to the head from a fall or automobile accident for example, it can gradually improve over time. 5. Dementia-progressive loss of memory and other aspects of thinking that are severe enough to interfere with the ability to function in daily activities. Characterized by progressive loss of brain cells and other irregularities of the brain. 6. Hyperthymestic Syndrome- condition in which an individual posses a superior autobiographical memory. Meaning he or she can recall the vast majority of personal experiences and events in his or her life. 7. Huntington’s disease-a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life. 8. Parkington’s disease- a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your movement. Most well- known sign of Parkington’s disease the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. 9. Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome- due to brain damage caused by a lack of vitamin B1. Lack of B1 is common in people with alcoholism. Common person’s whose bodies don’t absorb food properly such as sometimes occurs after obesityShow MoreRelatedTraumatic Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injury1278 Words   |  6 Pagesexperience having blurred vision tired eyes, and fatigue. Even stressors prior to having an injury can contribute to the result of post injury. A person will experience a change in their sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with their memory, concentration, attention, or thinking when they have Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic Brain Injuries can conclude to changes to individuals’ behavioral, social, and emotional status. Diagnosis In Traumatic Brain Injury, there are levels of damageRead MoreThe Effects Of Sleep Loss And Short Term Recognition Memory847 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Allen. J, Elkin and D.J. Murray prove in â€Å"The Effects of Sleep Loss and Short-term Recognition Memory† that sleep deprived individuals become less aware or conscious of the material presented to them. This evaluation will show that though the author makes some good use of statistical findings, he doesn t cover all aspects in this article. Summary Allen. J, Elkin and D.J. Murray systematically lists the studies and opinions of others who agree with them and does not discuss opposingRead MoreEffects Of Episodic Memory768 Words   |  4 PagesEpisodic memory has been found to be consistently impaired in AD, thus may be a reliable measure to distinguish between dementia and healthy ageing (Salmon Bondi 2010). The RAVLT requires patients to learn a wordlist which is then recalled immediately, recalled after a delay, and lastly, a recognition test (Està ©vez-Gonzà ¡lez et al. 2003). Although limited recall is observed in both dementia patients and healthy adults, healthy adults demonstrate significantly improved performance in the recognitionRead MoreWhy Is insomnia on the Rise? Essay1056 Words   |  5 Pagescould be a cause or result of insomnia making the impact worse. A personal issue experienced by insomnia is that the patient’s memory becomes weaker [7].This will result in more mistakes being made resulting in p ossible job loss and further negative consequences. Another reason why sleep in a very important factor of ones life is that; as well as having a deteriorating memory, ones concentration is also lost which results in further impacts on ones lifestyle. A health related issue is that a patientRead More Chemistry by Graham Swift, Snowdrops by Leslie Norris, and finally1404 Words   |  6 PagesHe uses the boat to symbolise the bond, and when the boat sinks, the bond is broken. We see things as the boy saw it, recall the boy’s thoughts and emotions of how he felt towards his mother’s lover Ralph. ‘Snowdrops’ is from another boy’s memory, where it outlines two different worlds, the adult world, and the child world. The boy is excited by the thought of seeing snowdrops that his teacher Miss Webster was taking them to see. He is excited of seeing the flowers as he believes theyRead MoreThe Reason I Chose Alzheimer s Disease1617 Words   |  7 Pagesfrustrated, weepy and/or angry. She has severe anxiety when she is around a lot of people and becomes scared and usually insists on going home. Communication is becoming more and more difficult for her because she cannot recall words and her short-term memory is failing fast. She can no longer prepare meals or cook, she cannot read or write and she struggles with the physical limitations of aging, including diabetes, glaucoma, extremely poor eyesight, bad knees, walking, etc. She has â€Å"odd† habits nowRead MoreThe Theory Of Language Acquisition Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesregular forms and relies on pattern-associating memory for the irregular forms (Pinker 123). Therefore, when people use an irregular form, they must have previously heard that form or a similar form and have retrieved it from their memory. When they use a regular form, they don’t need to access memory at all. Experiments reveal that when people use irregular verb-forms, they â€Å"block† the innate rule-making part of language and instead rely on their memory of similar words to form the proper past-tenseRead MoreEvaluate Two Models or Theories of One Cognitive Process with Reference to Research Studies.1237 Words   |  5 Pagescognitive process of Memory are the Multi Store Memory Model and the Reconstructive Memory theory. I will be discussing the strengths and limitations of the model and the theory as well as including a few research studies to support my argument. The Multi Store Memory Model (MSMM) was founded by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) and was one of the first models on the structure of memory. It shows that something you remember begins as environmental stimuli and is then passed on as sensory memory. If the personRead MoreTypes of Dementia1550 Words   |  7 PagesDEMENTIA’S Dementia is a vague term used to describe a person that has loss of memory and change in behavior and activities. It goes beyond the forgetfulness and absent minded. It is commonly used In reference to the elderly, when cognitive abilities start to slip from one’s own control. Dementia cannot be diagnosed due to memory loss alone. It must be accompanied by two or more interruptions of brain function. Individuals who suffer from a disease that causes dementia undergo a number of changesRead MoreGenetics, Brain Structure and Behavior1552 Words   |  7 Pagesaround them. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that progressively damages and destroys brain cells. The deposits that are considered responsible for the brain damages are called plaques, and tangles. The plagues that cause the brain damage cause loss of connections in synaptic behavior. This causes the individual with the disorder to not process information normally, and can cause irritability, aggressiveness, and mood swings due to frustration (Bremer, Ross, Shaw, Towery, 2012). One of the causes

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Tobacco Use Is The Leading Cause Of Preventable Disease,

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. According to the 2014 Surgeon General’s Report, cigarette smoking and secondhand smoking exposure contribute to more than 480,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. Smoking use is associated with different types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and reproductive disorders. Moreover, cigarette smoking can cause inflammation and impair the immune system (United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), 2017). Smoking during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, certain congenital†¦show more content†¦Approximately one-third of individuals who have ever attempted smoking become daily smokers.8 Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition and the majority of users make multiple attempts at quitting before achieving successful smoking cessation.3 In 2011, 7 in 10 (68.9%) adult smokers wanted to stop smoking and 4 in 10 (42.7%) made a quit attempt during the past year.10 An estimated 6.2 percent of current adult smokers had recently quit, 48.3 percent had been advised by a health care professional to quit smoking, and 31.7 percent had used medications and/or counseling when they made their quit attempt.19 Those who attempt to quit without pharmacologic aid have a high relapse rate which can be as high as 95% within a year from the attempt.8 Early withdrawal symptoms, past experiences with nicotine, confidence in the ability to quit smoking, severity of tobacco dependence, educational status, andShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Smoking Bans on Victims of Exposure to Second Hand Smoke800 Words   |  4 Pagesconsider themselves non-smokers, especially young children and pregnant w omen. SHS is estimated to contribute to heart attacks in nonsmokers and causes nearly 53,800 deaths in the United States alone on an annual basis.1 According to the United States Surgeon General’s report from 2010, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in this country, causing approximately 443,000 adult deaths from smoking-related illnesses each year.2 Additionally, smoking has been estimatedRead MoreThe Public Health Crisis in America1062 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States has reached a critical point that demands action. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases and diabetes are the leading causes of disability and premature death in America. While chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also preventable. Three health-damaging behaviors at the center of the issue are tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. Public health campaigns aimed at these behaviorsRead MoreOral Health Promotion For Health1508 Words   |  7 Pagesfocusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year (Beall, 2011, p.15). The baseline is 10.5 percent of adults have received information from the dentist or dental hygienist focusing on reducing tobacco use or on smoking cessation in the past year, 2011–12 (age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population) with a target of 13.2 percent (Beall, 2011, p.15) Tobacco use can lead to a wide array of diseases that are not isolated to only the lungs. Tobacco use can lead to cancersRead MoreCigarettes Should be Illegal Essay812 Words   |  4 Pagescurrently the leading cause of death in our country, due to its harmful and addicting contents, such as nicotine and tobacco. Although millions die from it each year, smoking is the single most preventable cause of death as well. Without smoking, a tremendous amount of money and lives will be saved. I think that our c ountry should ban smoking and the production of cigarettes in order to maintain a healthier nation, help save the environment, and prevent the almost 1000 deaths that they cause in firesRead MoreNot All Companies Are Viewed as Equal605 Words   |  3 Pagesis a vast difference between the cigarette commercials of the 1980s and the anti-tobacco Truth ads of today. We were sold a lie, and now many have paid the price with their health and their life. Should it be the responsibility of the tobacco industry to care for these people who have life threating illnesses caused by their products? Should they also handle the burial of the individuals who die as a result of tobacco usage? In this industry, someone has to look out of the consumers that are not lookingRead MoreWhat Is A Community Strategic Plan1307 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Promotion and Disease Prevention July 30, 2017 West Coast University In the community assessment of San Fernando valley part, A, it was mentioned that there are many chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes and obesity that are caused by poor health management, high cost of healthcare and inadequate knowledge of the disease. One factor that could cause these chronic diseases is the Tobacco usage among adults. According to Centers for Diseases Control and PreventionRead MoreIntroduction. Tobacco Use Throughout The United States1254 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction Tobacco use throughout the United States has become an epidemic, not only among adults, but among adolescents as well. People do not realize the effects of tobacco or the consequence of using tobacco among the youth and adolescents. What are the leading factors of adolescents using tobacco? Do peers and parents have an influence on tobacco use among adolescents? Throughout this paper I will discuss the effects of tobacco use, the statistics of tobacco use among adolescents, and otherRead MoreSmoking and the Effects on the Heart Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesSurgeon General has called it the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States. Smoking is among the top preventable risk factors of heart disease amongst many other health problems. Coronary heart disease and strokes are the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by smoking. They rank as the first and third leading causes of death in the United States. More than 61 million Americans suffer fro m some form of cardiovascular disease. Smoking increases your risk forRead MoreThe Effects Of Tobacco Smoking On The Australian Community753 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In Australia, tobacco smoking is one of the main leading causes of death and disability.1 Smoking is also one of the single major preventable conditions and is the main causes of disease burden in comparison to other major risk factors.1,2 Use of tobacco voluntarily or involuntary (passive smoking) has been associated with various chronic, life threatening and debilitating conditions such as heart disease, reduced lung function, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.1-3Read MoreThe Dangers Of Tobacco And Smoking1584 Words   |  7 Pagesupsides to smoking are never discussed. Tobacco and smoking were not always used how they are today. Back around 600 to 900 A.D. many cultures grew tobacco and Native Americans would smoke and use it within religious ceremonies and for medical uses (History of Tobacco). Toward the middle of the 1800’s American’s started to smoke tobacco occasionally either from a pipe or a cigarette; not like people smoke today was very occasional stated in the History of Tobacco. The first main stream production of

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Treaty of Paris Free Essays

Treaty of Paris Signed by the United States and Spain, December 10, 1898The United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain, in the name of her august son Don Alfonso XIII, desiring to end the state of war now existing between the two countries, have for that purpose appointed as plenipotentiaries: The President of the United States, William R. Day, Cushman K. Davis, William P. We will write a custom essay sample on The Treaty of Paris or any similar topic only for you Order Now Frye, George Gray, and Whitelaw Reid, citizens of the United States; And Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain, Don Eugenio Montero Rios, president of the senate, Don Buenaventura de Abarzuza, senator of the Kingdom and ex-minister of the Crown; Don Jose de Garnica, deputy of the Cortes and associate justice of the supreme court; Don Wenceslao Ramirez de Villa-Urrutia, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at Brussels, and Don Rafael Cerero, general of division; Who, having assembled in Paris, and having exchanged their full powers, which were found to be in due and proper form, have, after discussion of the matters before them, agreed up on the following articles: Article I. Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba. And as the island is, upon its evacuation by Spain, to be occupied by the United States, the United States will, so long as such occupation shall last, assume and discharge the obligations that may under international law result from the fact of its occupation, for the protection of life and property. Article II. Spain cedes to the United States the island of Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and the island of Guam in the Marianas or Ladrones. Article III. Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line: A line running from west to east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45†²]) north latitude, thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45†²) north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35†²) east of Greenwich, thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred nd nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35†²) east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40†²) north, thence along the parallel of latitude of seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40†²) north to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning. The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. Article IV. The United States will, for the term of ten years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, admit Spanish ships and merchandise to the ports of the Philippine Islands on the same terms as ships and merchandise of the United States. Article VThe United States will, upon the signature of the present treaty, send back to Spain, at its own cost, the Spanish soldiers taken as prisoners of war on the capture of Manila by the American forces. The arms of the soldiers in question shall be restored to them. Spain will, upon the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, proceed to evacuate the Philippines, as well as the island of Guam, on terms similar to those agreed upon by the Commissioners appointed to arrange for the evacuation of Porto Rico and other islands in the West Indies, under the Protocol of August 12, 1898, which is to continue in force till its provisions are completely executed. The time within which the evacuation of the Philippine Islands and Guam shall be completed shall be fixed by the two Governments. Stands of colors, uncaptured war vessels, small arms, guns of all calibres, with their carriages and accessories, powder, ammunition, livestock, and materials and supplies of all kinds, belonging to the land and naval forces of Spain in the Philippines and Guam, remain the property of Spain. Pieces of heavy ordnance, exclusive of field artillery, in the fortifications and coast defences, shall remain in their emplacements for the term of six months, to be reckoned from the exchange of ratifications of the treaty; and the United States may, in the meantime, purchase such material from Spain, if a satisfactory agreement between the two Governments on the subject shall be reached. Article VISpain will, upon the signature of the present treaty, release all prisoners of war, and all persons detained or imprisoned for political offences, in connection with the insurrections in Cuba and the Philippines and the war with the United States. Reciprocally, the United States will release all persons made prisoners of war by the American forces, and will undertake to obtain the release of all Spanish prisoners in the hands of the insurgents in Cuba and the Philippines. The Government of the United States will at its own cost return to Spain and the Government of Spain will at its own cost return to the United States, Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, according to the situation of their respective homes, prisoners released or caused to be released by them, respectively, under this article. Article VII. The United States and Spain mutually relinquish all claims for indemnity, national and individual, of every kind, of either Government, or of its citizens or subjects, against the other Government, that may have arisen since the beginning of the late insurrection in Cuba and prior to the exchange of ratifications of the present treaty, including all claims for indemnity for the cost of the war. The United States will adjudicate and settle the claims of its citizens against Spain relinquished in this article. Article VIII. In conformity with the provisions of Articles I, II, and III of this treaty, Spain relinquishes in Cuba, and cedes in Porto Rico and other islands in the West Indies, in the island of Guam, and in the Philippine Archipelago, all the buildings, wharves, barracks, forts, structures, public highways and other immovable property which, in conformity with law, belong to the public domain, and as such belong to the Crown of Spain. And it is hereby declared that the relinquishment or cession, as the case may be, to which the preceding paragraph refers, can not in any respect impair the property or rights which by law belong to the peaceful possession of property of all kinds, of provinces, municipalities, public or private establishments, ecclesiastical or civic bodies, or any other associations having legal capacity to acquire and possess property in the aforesaid territories renounced or ceded, or of private individuals, of whatsoever nationality such individuals may be. The aforesaid relinquishment or cession, as the case may be, includes all documents exclusively referring to the sovereignty relinquished or ceded that may exist in the archives of the Peninsula. Where any document in such archives only in part relates to said sovereignty, a copy of such part will be furnished whenever it shall be requested. Like rules shall be reciprocally observed in favor of Spain in respect of documents in the archives of the islands above referred to. In the aforesaid relinquishment or cession, as the case may be, are also included such rights as the Crown of Spain and its authorities possess in respect of the official archives and records, executive as well as judicial, in the islands above referred to, which relate to said islands or the rights and property of their inhabitants. Such archives and records shall be carefully preserved, and private persons shall without distinction have the right to require, in accordance with law, authenticated copies of the contracts, wills and other instruments forming part of notorial protocols or files, or which may be contained in the executive or judicial archives, be the latter in Spain or in the islands aforesaid. Article IX. Spanish subjects, natives of the Peninsula, residing in the territory over which Spain by the present treaty relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty, may remain in such territory or may remove therefrom, retaining in either event all their rights of property, including the right to sell or dispose of such property or of its proceeds; and they shall also have the right to carry on their industry, commerce and professions, being subject in respect thereof to such laws as are applicable to other foreigners. In case they remain in the territory they may preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain by making, before a court of record, within a year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, a declaration of their decision to preserve such allegiance; in default of which declaration they shall be held to have renounced it and to have adopted the nationality of the territory in which they may reside. The civil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the United States shall be determined by the Congress. Article X. The inhabitants of the territories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be secured in the free exercise of their religion. Article XI. The Spaniards residing in the territories over which Spain by this treaty cedes or relinquishes her sovereignty shall be subject in matters civil as well as criminal to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country wherein they reside, pursuant to the ordinary laws governing the same; and they shall have the right to appear before such courts, and to ursue the same course as citizens of the country to which the courts belong. Article XII. Judicial proceedings pending at the time of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty in the territories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be determined according to the following rules: 1. Judgments r endered either in civil suits between private individuals, or in criminal matters, before the date mentioned, and with respect to which there is no recourse or right of review under the Spanish law, shall be deemed to be final, and shall be executed in due form by competent authority in the territory within which such judgments should be carried out. 2. Civil suits between private individuals which may on the date mentioned be undetermined shall be prosecuted to judgment before the court in which they may then be pending or in the court that may be substituted therefor. 3. Criminal actions pending on the date mentioned before the Supreme Court of Spain against citizens of the territory which by this treaty ceases to be Spanish shall continue under its jurisdiction until final judgment; but, such judgment having been rendered, the execution thereof shall be committed to the competent authority of the place in which the case arose. Article XIII. The rights of property secured by copyrights and patents acquired by Spaniards in the Island of Cuba and in Porto Rico, the Philippines and other ceded territories, at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, shall continue to be respected. Spanish scientific, literary and artistic works, not subversive of public order in the territories in question, shall continue to be admitted free of duty into such territories, for the period of ten years, to be reckoned from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty. Article XIV. Spain will have the power to establish consular officers in the ports and places of the territories, the sovereignty over which has been either relinquished or ceded by the present treaty. Article XV. The Government of each country will, for the term of ten years, accord to the merchant vessels of the other country the same treatment in respect of all port charges, including entrance and clearance dues, light dues, and tonnage duties, as it accords to its own merchant vessels, not engaged in the coastwise trade. Article XVI. It is understood that any obligations assumed in this treaty by the United States with respect to Cuba are limited to the time of its occupancy thereof; but it will upon termination of such occupancy, advise any Government established in the island to assume the same obligations. Article XVII. The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington within six months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible. In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty and have hereunto affixed our seals. Done in duplicate at Paris, the tenth day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight. [Seal] William R. Day[Seal] Cushman K. Davis[Seal] William P. Frye[Seal] Geo. Gray[Seal] Whitelaw Reid[Seal] Eugenio Montero Rios[Seal] B. de Abarzuza[Seal] J. de Garnica[Seal] W. R. de Villa Urrutia[Seal] Rafael CereroDocument courtesy of The Avalon Project Source: A Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain, U. S. Congress, 55th Cong. , 3d sess. , Senate Doc. No. 62, Part 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899), 5-11. | Source: â€Å"Firstworldwar. com. † First World War. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 22 Jan. 2013. http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/amex/1900/filmmore/reference/primary/treatyofparis. html How to cite The Treaty of Paris, Papers

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Importance of Business Communication in Work Place

Question: Discuss about theImportance of Business Communication in Work Place. Answer: Business communication is the way to sharing the information regarding business between people of the organization. It is important to have effective communication skill in the business because it makes easy to understand the message. Effective communication in business contributes the sustainable success of its commercial. Communication skill must in the business and it can be various forms such as writing skill, listening skill, verbal skill, team work skill, interpersonal skill, and presentation skill, selling skill and networking skill. To make effective communication in workplace, there are various ways like communication via training, open meeting, one on one, presentations and use of visual source (Spaho, 2011). Communication in workplace is very important because it allows organization to be more productive towards performing the task. Employees of the organization can enhance their productivity and morale if they are able to communicate with up and down management. The importance of communication in workplace consider as a wind which is necessary for life same with organization. Without effective communication, organization would be failed to reflect its progress and for potential growth. It is the source which helps to manager to perform their duties and responsibilities with enthusiasm. Effective communication in workplace can be the successful building block. Importance of communication can be summarized in various ways. It enhances the productivity of the work place and focuses on the motivation through clarifying about the task. It is considered as a source of knowledge and information which facilitates to the employee for the process of decision making. Communication has the ability to transform the attitude of an individual. Organizations newspaper, magazines meetings can change the attitude of employee towards performing the task and way of view regarding company. To being social communication plays a crucial role. It not only control the behavior of an individual in business but also able to assess in entire control process. Business has some policies and structures which is necessary to follow for running the business efficiently. Communication facilitates employee to communicate in case of any conflicts and misunderstanding. Importance of communication in workplace is very important because it does not only put efforts for potential growth of company but also focuses on the development of employee by providing proper understanding. Communication skill can reduce the possible harm within the organization and enhances the skill of team work. Team work brings closer team member and make task with full of fun and interesting. During working on a team it is important to make assure that communication should be done between members of team. To remove the obstacles and conflicts from the organization, manager of the organization must analyze the barriers of the communication and find solution to remove it as soon as possible. It is the primary responsibility of manager. It is not possible to have perfect communication every time but problems can be managed hastily. Every person should have known about the involvement in the task. Importance of communication comes in scenario when people of office not only share the goals of the company but also share the clear understanding about the task. Workplace communication can make the employee satisfied. It has been analyzed that group communication conducts to an improvement of performance. Workplace communication has positive effect on absenteeism also. Employee of the company feels secure if they get true information from their superiors. It has been examined that company with having an efficient communication keep the ability to retain the employee. Open communication in the workplace can reduce the possible conflicts. Conflicts and misunderstanding in the organization can be easily resolved by mutual discussion and this attitude leads the organization to the path of growth. Effective communication can be the biggest issue of failure or success of the organization. Every organization has vision, mission and goals. Clear communication brings the clarity about the performing task and being clear about the task enhance the productivity of the employee because employee gets know that what he need to done and what expectations a re required to accomplish the task. They will be able to give their best towards performing the task. Open communication can form the health relationship between employees and employer. It force to employee for being loyal to the organization. It makes the health and positive environment at workplace and promotes the good working relationship within the organization (Husain, 2013). Due to miscommunication, organization could have to face circumstances of conflicts and crisis which may organization to unnecessary late deliver project. Proper utilization of resources could not be done with improper communication and overall performance gets influenced. Thus, effective communications is must to proper use of resources and enhance the productivity of them. There are so many barriers which may affect the communication of organization. It can be environmental barrier and personal barriers. Environmental barriers are miscommunication, lack of time, inadequate attention, managerial philosophy and poor relationship. These all may influence the working environment of the company. Personal barriers can be lack of empathy, insensitivity and over emotional. It is important for the business to remove barriers as soon as possible and provide better solution so that working environment cannot get impacted due to these barriers (Lunenburg, 2010). There are so many steps and resolution available which will be helpful to overcome these barriers. Environmental barriers can be reduced if attentive attitude is being accepted by receiver and sender. Through reducing links such as hierarchical system can be the source of overcome on environmental barrier. Personal barriers can be reduced by understanding the beliefs and values of others (Adu-Oppong Agyin -Birikorang, 2014). Communication effectiveness can be improved if administrator of the company focuses on clarification before communicating. It is necessary to focus on purpose of communication. Communication should be precise. To serve the specific goal and information, the tone of administrator should be well mannered. While communicating, administrator needs to be mind full not only important messages but also for the minor content. The responsibility of administrator does not end till providing the information it is need to take follow up their communication with employees. Their actions need to be matched with communication so that clear understanding can be appeared by actions as well. While it is difficult to maintain and establish the high level of communication in workplace but with the help of principles of communication, environment can be changed. Senders responsibility is not enough for proper communication, receivers responsibilities in the term of effective communication are keeping you rself as the others point of view , go easy on criticism and do not argue. When administrator is unable to make the environment positive it creates the negative environment which reduce the productivity of the workplace (Lunenburg, 2010). It has been concluded that communication skills can change the business environment and increase the productivity of the work place. It has been explained that effective communication can be able to generate the clear understanding among employees. Concise communication reduces the possibilities of conflicts and with the help of mutual discussion issues and conflicts can be resolved. Communication keeps importance in the workplace because every administrative activity involves direct or indirect communication. Effective communication skills have the capability to improve the ability of administrator for becoming leader. It is important for the administrator to create the environment where in plans, issues, views, ideas and conflicts are discussed and managed in an efficient and perfection manner. Various barriers regarding communication have been discussed. Resolutions for overcoming barriers also have been elaborated. In the end it has been observed that the importance of communicat ion is very high in the business because directly or indirectly it makes clear understanding towards performing task. References Adu-Oppong, A. A. Agyin-Birikorang, E. (2014).communication in the workplace: guidelines for improving effectiveness. G.J.C.M.P.,Vol.3 (5):208-213 ISSN: 2319 7285. Husain, Z. (2013). Effective communication brings successful organizational change. The Business Management Review, Vol.3 Number-2, January 2013. Lunenburg, F. C. (2010). Communication: The Process, Barriers, and Improving Effectiveness. Schooling Volume 1, No. 1. Spaho, K. (2011). Organizational communication as an important factor of company success: case study of bosnia and Herzegovina. Business Intelligence Journal - July, 2011 Vol.4 No.2.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Homelessness and Domestic Violence free essay sample

Domestic violence is greatly on the rise and is one of the leading causes of homelessness among women in today’s society. A poor economic background, combined with unsafe shelters, lack of help from communities and long waiting lists to get into temporary housing, all leaves a victim of domestic violence much more vulnerable to homelessness. A woman with no education is more likely to become dependent on her partner; creating an unequal power relationship. The victim may feel she has no voice because she is not bringing money into the house and if she does decide to leave there is nowhere to go because of her lack of resources. Poverty limits a woman’s choices and it makes it harder to escape a violent relationship. Finding a minimum wage job at Wal-Mart or JCPenny would be her only option for employment, and that job would never allow her to make enough money to support herself and her children. We will write a custom essay sample on Homelessness and Domestic Violence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She becomes easily trapped in her frightening existence and is forced to stay with her abuser because of lack of money. She has no control and when she does try to exert some independence the violence escalates and she is forced to back down. When a victim of abuse finally does run, life on the streets and in shelters may increase her vulnerability to new abusive relationships. Most shelters require a person to enter early in the evening and stay all night until the morning. A woman could find herself surrounded by unscrupulous people because shelters are full of alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals. A victim of domestic violence can become easy prey to predators; that use shelters as hunting grounds for the weak and unprotected. Most workers in the shelters are not trained to deal with violence; and if she is in current danger some shelters may not even take her in; believing her abuser could stalk her and come to the shelter and create problems for others; making her a victim all over again. When children are involved, this makes it particularly hard for a woman to leave. No mother wants to leave her children unprotected; with no roof over their head and no warm bed to sleep in at night. Standing in line every night outside a shelter; just waiting for a bed, is too awful to contemplate. If the victim’s children are pre- teen males, they would not even be allowed to come into the shelter with her. Her young son would be forced to sleep on the streets because the men’s shelter won’t take him in; therefore the mother and her children would most likely end up literally sleeping outside or in a vehicle. This is the very thing her abuser will hold over her head; if she leaves she will be out on the streets unprotected and helpless, with nowhere to go and no one to help her. Homeless shelters need to have programs that provide education and resources to help victims get back on their feet; maybe hiring domestic violence experts; who can provide supportive services for women plagued by abuse and poverty. Even if victims of abuse are provided with housing, they are unlikely to stay away from the abuser and remain off the streets, unless they have access to continued treatment and services. In addition to housing, there should be more programs that offer services such as physical health care, education and employment opportunities, peer support, and daily living and money management skills training. These services would be crucial to abuse victims, giving them the confidence they need, and to prevent homelessness in the future. Experiencing the loss of a home as well as the trauma of a violent relationship; compounded further by uncertainty; waiting for the possibility of housing, all weigh heavily on a victim if they choose to leave an abuser. Counseling is very important if the victim ever wants to begin a life again. A person can never truly heal when their life is all about survival; meeting basic life needs like food, shelter and finding a safe place for her children to sleep. Getting help form a mental health provider may take second place in her mind; therefore a homeless shelter should automatically provide these health services. Living a successful life should not be out of anyone’s reach, especially if communities started more programs to help victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence, when perpetrated by someone that the victim loved and relied upon at one time, is the worst kind of abuse to suffer. Too often the only choice a victim may have is homelessness, and no mother should have to choose between being beaten and being able to feed and provide shelter for her children. The only way to prevent homelessness among domestic violence victims is through education; helping victims get out of poverty and being more self-sufficient; having quality community outreach programs that teach life skills. Homelessness is a very undesirable condition, both for the people it affects and for society in general. The many negative effects of homelessness increase the longer a person continues living on the streets, including more health problems from living in filthy shelters or in ars and other places not meant for habitation. Only when public funders stop being reluctant to invest in homelessness prevention strategies, will the weak members of our society have a real chance at living a productive life. It is the duty of everyone in communities to help those less fortunate than themselves, especially if those individuals are victims of the crime of domestic violence. When all members of a society are healthy, happy and productive, only then will homelessness be greatl y reduced.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Everyday Use By Alice Walker Essays - Everyday Use, Quilting, Quilt

Everyday Use By Alice Walker Essays - Everyday Use, Quilting, Quilt Everyday Use By Alice Walker Through contrasting family members and views in Everyday Use, Alice Walker illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to the traditions of our own people and culture. Using careful descriptions and attitudes, Walker demonstrates which factors contribute to the values of ones heritage and culture; she illustrates that these are represented not by the possession of objects or mere appearances, but by ones lifestyle and attitude. In Everyday Use Walker personifies the different sides of culture and heritage in the characters of Dee and the mother (the narrator). Dee can be seen to represent a materialistic, complex, and modern way of life where culture and heritage are to be valued only for their trendy-ness and aesthetic appeal. Mother on the other hand, represents a simple content way of life where culture and heritage are valued for both its usefulness as well as its personal significance. The story clearly endorses Mamas simple, unsophisticated view of heritage, and shows disdain for Dees materialistic connection to her heritage. This is demonstrated from the outset of the short story, we learn very quickly that the mother (narrator) has inherited many customs and traditions from her ancestors. She describes herself as a large big-boned woman with rough man-working hands (485). She also describes here various abilities including, I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a manI can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing. I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog. One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledgehammer and had the meat hung up to chill by nightfall. (485) While these feats are not extraordinary, Walker exemplifies what Mother has learned from her ancestors, and that being resilient and tough is a part of her heritage. Mother is very proud of her abilities and accomplishments. Mrs. Johnson, the mother, describes Dee as light skinned with nice hair and a full figure (486). She recounts Dees childhood and her appreciation of nice things. She was not the least upset when the family home burned to the ground while she was just a girl, Why dont you do a dance around the ashes? Id wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much. (486) Dees character in the story is a direct relation to any number of people in society that do not know or are confused about their heritage. She is struggling to create an identity for herself, and is confused as to what it encompasses. She grasps at African tradition and culture, yet fails to acknowledge her own African American culture. This happened all over America, particularly in the North, in the 1960s, following the civil rights movement. Dee is misconstruing her heritage as material goods, as opposed to her ancestors habits and way of life. This may be due in part to her leaving her hometown and becoming an educated, sophisticated young woman. Dees direct heritage is that of African Americans. When Dee informs her mother and Maggie she has changed her name she states, I couldnt stand it anymore, being named after the people that oppress me. (488) Dees mother is quick to point out that Dee is in fact named after her aunt, who was named after her grandmother. While Dee may not be an African name it is based on ancestors, tradition, and the heritage of the Johnson family. Dee discards this name in favor of an African name, Wangero, that, although is African, is not directly related to her heritage. It has not been passed down through generations, nor does it symbolize anything directly related to her family. The contradiction of culture and heritage becomes more evident as the quilts are introduced into the story. While the Johnsons sit down to lunch, Dee begins to admire the butter churn and the dasher. Although she has a brief recollection of Uncle Buddy whittling the churn, she is much more interested in the churn top as a centerpiece for her alcove table. Following lunch Dee re-discovers the quilts. The quilts were composed of an eclectic array of material including,

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and Essay

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and strategy, and comment on their substance. You should also reflect - Essay Example The paper also seeks to reflect on how power is exercised in organisations in relation to moral values. The paper begins by explaining the concept of culture in view of the arguments raised by Stiglitz. The paper will also critically analyse how motivation of the people as well as the strategy implemented have a bearing in the way financial institutions are operating during the contemporary period in USA in particular. Culture is the most basic cause of a person’s wants and behaviours. â€Å"This is commonly referred to as a set of basic values, perceptions, wants behaviours learned by a member of society from the family and other important institutions,† (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). For instance, the following values are given priority in the United States of America: achievement and success, activity and involvement, efficiency and practicality, progress, material comfort, individualism, freedom as well as humanitarianism. The success or failure of a given organisation can be attributed to this concept of culture. However, Stiglitz argues that individualism and market fundamentalism have eroded the sense of community and have led to exploitation of the ordinary people. ... In actual fact, the approach taken by the banks is that which advocates the survival of the fittest. Whilst the free market concept posits to the effect that the market forces should shape the standards expectations especially of financial institutions, it can be argued that the conditions set are favourable to the business organisations which leaves the ordinary people exposed to manipulation by these big businesses. The aspect of materialism has increased dramatically in the operations of financial institutions and this has posed a serious challenge to the ordinary people who end being victims especially during turbulent periods that can be attributed to the strategies implemented by the financial institutions. Whereas marketers in the other industries worry about the impact of culture on their strategies, financial institutions in USA are primarily concerned with entrenching the aspect of individualism in their operations (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). Stiglitz argues that rugged ind ividualism combined with a high degree of materialism has led to loss of trust among the members of the society and different financial institutions. The aspect of culture and moral values can also be attributed to the concept of ethics. Business ethics loosely refers to values, principles and standards that operate within a particular organisation which attempts to make a distinction between something that is morally good from bad (Rossouw, 2004). The concept of business ethics therefore derives from the value system that is used by a particular organisation to shape its operations. To reinforce this assertion, DesJardins (2006, p. 5) describes values as the â€Å"essential and enduring tenets†

Monday, February 3, 2020

Corporate governance and social responsibility investment Essay

Corporate governance and social responsibility investment - Essay Example It is conceivably foreseeable that crises lead to calls for improved regulation of business actors, such as the debate over the world economic predicament. Nevertheless, such methodical crises are unusual. On the other hand, company failure following a wrongdoing is a more frequent occurrence. For illustration, Maxwell and BCCI in the UK, WorldCom and Enron in the United States and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank of Germany are examples of corporations that have collapsed as a result of wrongdoing. Such corporate scandals have resulted in the establishment and improvement of company governance codes, which are put in place to monitor corporate conduct generally, and act of corporate directors in specificity (London stock exchange, 2012). The codes are either wholly voluntary such as the financial reporting council of 2008 in the United Kingdom, or a mixture of legal and voluntary elements like the 2008 German code. As thus, they may be taken as apparatus of flexible law or a mixture of soft and inflexible law. Within the code elements, individual rules might be flexible or rigid. Advocates of flexible law of explanation assert that it has fundamental flexibility, which is not present in rigid laws and the aspiration to conform to societal norms yields indisputable observance. Flexible laws are the rules of conduct that have no lawful obligatory force, which may have practical upshots. Though corporations and their directors may opt to conform or not match flexible law, a generally held supposition is that actions are more likely to be consistent with codified regulation and declarations of best practice. Since flexible law is not lawfully obligatory, its execution has to solely rest on the goodwill of those agreeing to and affected by it. Apparently, where such goodwill is not present, flexible law may result in flexible observance. Where benevolence and the aspiration to conform subsist, conformance may not be the most practicable alternative for corporations and their directors. They may set out that the doctrine supporting a specific regulation on bets practice will be best served by non-conforming. In addition, they might be safeguarded from conforming for reasons beyond their control (The European voice of directors, 2012; Australian council of super investors, 2010). The use of prudence to establish conformance or non-conformance may be helpful to both regulators and the regulatees. Comply or explain may assume several forms. Compliance means severe observance to every detail of the rule or to the primary rule, or both. Germany advocates the formation of an audit committee to act as the oversight of the entire audit process in a large company. Non conformance is commonly warranted by the resort to firm-or industry level specifics, or against the judgment of definite code terms. The flexibility of the laws, that is, â€Å"explain† might lead to corporate scandal and eventual collapse. For illustration, the yearly report by th e Hypoereinsbank (Germany) vindicated its non-conformance (explain) with the certain rules necessitating that directors’ and officers’ responsibility insurance has a deductible with the plain statement: â€Å"responsible act is an understood obligations of the members, no deductible is needed for that. In the same

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Vertigo, 1958 | Film Analysis

Vertigo, 1958 | Film Analysis Vertigo is a 1958 suspense thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by Alec Coppel and Samuel Taylor and based upon the 1954 novel Dentre Les Morts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Starring James Stewart, Kim Novak and co-starring Barbara Bel Geddes. James Stewart plays the part of detective John Ferguson or Scottie as he is known throughout the film, who develops a fear of heights, acrophobia, after he watches a policeman fall to his death during a police chase over the San Francisco rooftops. Following the incident, Scottie retires from the police force, but old friend Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) hires him as a private detective to follow his wife, Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) as she has been behaving strangely. Elster believes that she is possessed by the ghost of a dead relative, Carlotta Valdez. It is not long before Scottie starts to find himself becoming obsessed with the beautiful but troubled Madeleine and falls in love with her. As the introductions roll onto the screen, we are confronted by a close up of a black and white womans face, first her lips, her nose, her eyes, then onto one eye, where we can see a tear Her gaze only briefly meets ours, when we first see her eyes, but then they are skirting from left to right. The music gets more intense and the scene turns red, as the eye we are focused on widens in what we can only assume as shock or horror. We then see coloured patterns, starting first in the pupil, then swirling round on the black screen, gradually becoming larger and enveloping the screen and the audience. This setting of emotion and involvement of the audience in what is to be classed as misà ©-en-scene; the creation of emotion through visuals and audio. Fig. 9 Introductory scenes The opening scene underpins the whole of Scotties acrophobia, and as an audience, we also get to experience what it is hes feeling. The music is tense, we can see the skyline, we see them jumping from roof to roof, then we see Scottie slip, hes clinging on to the gutter by his fingertips to stop himself from plunging to a certain death. The other policeman turns to help him, asks him for his hand, but he falls from the roof, to the ground hundreds of feet below. The distance and acrophobia is highlighted by the view on the ground below panning in and out toward us. People who suffer with vertigo feel as if they or their surroundings are moving. These false sensations are often accompanied by a feeling of spinning (Smith et al, 2000: 603). It has also to be noted that psychologists believe there is tension from the feeling of vertigo, whereby there is a desire to fall yet there is a dread of falling. The audience is made to feel the fear and terror that Scottie is experiencing, the fe eling that death is so close, could be so easy. To survive he has to desperately cling to the gutter, his arms and body stretched to their capacity, his mind full of terror, whereas to die, he only has to let go. Within this scene, the audience is given minimal information. We see three men in sequence climb over the top rung of a ladder, the second being a policeman, so we assume the first is a suspect? Thirdly, there is Scottie, but he is in plain clothes, so he could be anybody, but he must be connected to the policeman as he is pursuing him. This is shown as three close up shots, then we have panned out to reveal all three men running across the roof. In turn, they jump to another roof. This is when we see Scottie slip. This can be related to Freuds theory of the Id, Ego and Superego. The Id is the first man; he wants his urges satisfied regardless of society, his focus solely on his pleasure, relative to criminality. The second man, being the policeman, can be shown as the Supe rego, with strict and rigid morals, relatable to the father. It is also in this scene that we can take into account the Oedipus Complex, the son, Scottie, is responsible for the fathers, the policemans, death as he tries to save him from falling, whilst the Id has got free into the darkness. Scottie is left hanging from the gutter; we never see how it is he escapes this situation, leaving him metaphorically stuck there for the remainder of the film. Wood also mentions this theory in his book when he revisits Hitchcocks films. Fig. 10 Hanging and falling Another thing to take into account here is Freuds relation between events and birth trauma and the separation between mother and child. Although he said that a child couldnt recall these memories, they were still instilled within our subconscious. So the idea of falling is, in a way, a re-enactment of birth trauma and separation. This was thought to be at the forefront of anxiety. In the next scene, we are placed within Midges apartment. It is constructed on separate shots between Scottie and Midge and the male/female space in which they inhabit throughout the conversation. They are defined by definite objects, such as Scotties cane and the bra that Midge is sketching. Scottie is re-affirming that he will be free of the corset that is binding him tomorrow, taking back him masculinity and power within the situation. It is only at three points throughout the scene that Midge and Scottie are shown together. Firstly, when Scottie approaches Midge to talk about the bra she is drawing-she speaks of it in a very matter of fact way, telling Scottie that he is a big boy and knows of such things. Next, Scottie talks of curing his acrophobia a small step at a time, he stands on a stool, Midge takes over the situation by bringing him a set of steps to climb, which she encourages him to do so. He sees out of the window between the buildings, like the scene he saw when hang ing from the gutter at the start of the film, but we are still held in reality by the flowers on the windowsill, but his vertigo grips him again. Even the security of Midges home is not enough, that becomes the vision and the drop becomes real. Next, we see Scottie clutched to Midges breast, whilst she holds him and soothes oh Johnny, Johnny. The common theme throughout is the presentation of Midge as the mother figure. In the scenes where they are shown together depict the mother/child relationship that they have. This is a reason why Scottie wouldnt be attracted to her like he is to Madeleine. She is too independent, whereas Madeleine is helpless and mysterious as we find out as the film continues. Fig. 11 Motherly love It is this scene that particularly also states Scotties condition as feminine. When he approaches Midge to ask her what the bra on a wire frame is, she relates the design is based on that on a bridge, the latest in revolutionary uplift made by an aircraft engineer. Not only is the relation of a bridge, which is a high place with regard to Scotties acrophobia, linked with the femininity of a womans undergarment, but the design of it has also been constructed by a man, thus saying that femininity is exactly that. Scottie cannot fulfil his role in society as a police man because of the fear, like Jefferies couldnt in Rear Window because of his injuries. Next we are presented with the exterior of Gavin Elsters office, then straight to Scottie and Elster having a conversation inside. Elster is asking Scottie to follow his wife for him. Around the office, there are mentions of ships, suggesting escape, and also references of the old San Francisco, relating to the power and freedom you gained then, as a man, again, this is mentioned later on whilst Scottie and Midge are talking to Pop Leibel in his bookstore. This relates to the conversation they are having about Elster wife, she is the object in the conversation between the two men, an intensifier of the taboo desire that we often see within films; one woman and two men who both lust after her. The position of power is also shifting between Scottie and Elster. When we first enter the room, Elster is sitting behind his desk, whilst Scottie is wandering around the office, looking at things, he then gets up and explains what he wants Scottie to do, taking power by positioning himself high er than him. Fig. 12 Stances of power Next the viewer is positioned inside the restaurant and is introduced to Madeleine with Scottie. The camera pans across the restaurant and comes to rest upon Madeleines back, her bare shoulders showing. She is shown as an object of desire; a close-up allows us to see her features as a still portrait, like that of the painting of Carlotta Valdez as she gracefully glides through the restaurant in a dream like manner. From this instance she is a mysterious object of desire that we must know more about. She has no idea that our gaze is upon her, she is helpless to it; we are an accomplice to Scottie, if not already him, and what it is in turn we are going to discover about Madelines secret life. When Scottie follows Madeleine in his car, it is downhill, to an alleyway. He follows her inside, through the back door in which she enters, where she is buying flowers. We are seeing from Scotties point of view. When he spies in through a crack in the door, this is how we see her also. When she turns, we see her reflection on the mirrored door that Scottie gazing through the door, completely unbeknown to her. She is surrounded by flowers, bathed in a soft light, enhancing her subtle beauty and femininity accompanied by a haunting music. Is she somehow a mirrored image of Scottie/the viewer? Koftman (1985 cited in Modelski 1989) stated that mens fascination with [the] eternal feminine is nothing but fascination with their own double, and the feeling of uncanniness, Unheimlichkeit, that men experience is the same as what one feels in the face of any double, and ghost, in the face of the abrupt reappearance of what one thought had been overcome or lost forever. This links back to Freud s castration complex. The view of the camera is very much from Scotties point of view, subjective, only further reiterating the point that the feminine is seen as lacking and the masculine is to look. Fig. 13 The perfect and unobtainable Within this scene, another thing to note is the recurrent theme of the oil painting, with the surround of flowers, but also the mirror, not only relating to the Koftman quote above, but also briefly I would like to touch upon John Berger. Within his essays, Ways of Seeing, he talks of the relevance of mirrors, that they reflect the judgemental gaze of others, as well as her own. They are also a symbol of vanity. If a woman is seen surveying herself in the mirror, it is for the benefit of the male, showing her subservience and willingness to become pleasing to the eye, but also her vanity. This in turn can is relatable to Freuds theory of the Electra Complex and Penis Envy. Her affections are transferred from her father to other men to give her what she ultimately wants, due to her lack of a penis, which is a child. This is turn leads onto a point made by Jacques Lacan, whereby he states that the mirror stage of a childs development is crucial so it can place itself within the world and relate to others. Much like Freud stated within the Oedipus and Castration complex, whereby the son relates to his father, wanting to be like him and grow into a man so he can have a woman of his own, like his father has his mother. The screen within the cinema frames its actors much like the mirror frames the self. As Mulvey states; It is the birth of the long love affair/despair between image and self-image which has found such intensity of expression in film and such joyous recognition in the cinema audience. (Mulvey, 2009: 18) When Madeleine falls into San Francisco bay, Scottie rescues her and takes her back to his house, undresses her and puts her to bed. Once again, he is the hero and she is the helpless woman who, without Scottie, would be dead. His obsession is becoming more and more with her. Whilst in his apartment, her near first concern is of the pins from her hair and her handbag, so she can find a mirror and put her hair up, making herself presentable for Scottie. The relation of power is also clear in this scene; Madeleine is sitting on the floor, whilst Scottie takes the higher position of the sofa arm to question her, to watch her. She is the object of desire; of his desire, as well as the male viewers object of desire. From here we can see the relation to any stereotypical fairytale; the hero rescues the helpless princess from the evil man/woman, although there is more to fairytale, for the use of this essay, I am outlining it in this very simplified manner. Take, for example, Cinderella, she is a servant to her stepmother and step sisters, but she goes to the ball, meets the prince, who does everything in his power to find his princess and rescue her. Freud also made this point, highlighting the lengths a man will go to, to rescue the woman they love, even if, as Freud (1910 cited in Perron 2005) stated, another man can claim right of possession, Madeleine being Elsters wife. This in turn, can be linked closely with the Oedipus complex. Freud (1910 cited in Berman 1997) also stated A man rescuing a woman from water in a dream means that he makes her his own mother. In the bell tower scene where Scottie is chasing Madeleine, it is where his masculinity is compromised once more because of his acrophobia. He should have taken his role as a man and stopped her from falling, he should have rescued her, but he failed and she fell to his death. Elster had hired Scottie to follow his wife, but once again, he failed at his job, like he did as a policeman. Scottie is plagued by nightmares of the tragic event. He is falling, like Madeleine, haunted by Carlotta Valdez, colours flash red, signifying not only Scotties vertigo but also his fantasies. Fig. 14 Re-occurring fall When Scottie is back in San Francisco, every woman he sees bears a resemblance to Madeleine. Women on the street, in restaurantsHe seems like a broken man, not the strong counterpart that the audience want to relate to. He follows a woman, Judy, to her apartment and asks her out to dinner. Slowly, we can see Scottie becoming more and more obsessed with Judy, asserting his masculinity by offering to take care of her, but her flowers, clothes. Judy is becoming an ideal passive counterpart to Scotties active sadistic voyeurism. She knows her part is to perform, and only by playing it through and then replaying it can she keep Scotties erotic interest (Mulvey, 2009: 25). We, as an audience, have already made the discovery that Judy really is Madeleine, that she played a part for Elster. It is an uncomfortable discovery as Scottie doesnt know. We almost feel as though we are cheating him, hes falling into a trap and we cant warn him. We are only watchers to the scenes playing out before us, regardless of us; things will still happen and go forth. The essential fact is to get real suspense you must let the audience have information (Hitchcock cited in Bays, 2004). Scottie is trying his hardest to change Judy to Madeleine, and she is letting him. The roles of passive female and the active male are mirrored in the re-enactment of a scene that happened between Scottie and Madeleine. She is a visually objectified other, confirmed by her dress, make up and style. Also, this, again, can be linked back to the Oedipus/Castration complex, when the sole object of the boys desire was his mother. In his eyes, she was the perfect woman and satisfied all his needs. It is only when Scottie is happy that Judy looks enough like Madeleine that he begins to become sexually attracted and interested in her. He has successfully turned her into a fetish; he has eliminated the threat of castration. The tower in which Madeleine and Judy both fell off are very symbolically phallic, re-asserting the masculinity of the situation. The film makes the audience confront their own lives and past.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Carlos Fuentes’ Smile

Carlos Fuentes’ smile On top of El Angel, on top of the Monumento a la Revolucion, on top of the Catedral, Carlos Fuentes was always on top. When he was young, he was afraid of height; even in June 1959, at  the  time of  the Cuban  revolution, in the same plane as General Cardenas, he asked: â€Å"Do you think it is going to fall? † We are already flying high. Since he was child, he was destined to be on top. He had just published Where the Air Is Clear, which caused uproar in Mexico City.Back then, all the writers wrote sad stories. The sad Revolution with its useless massacre, the sad province in which the guava paste was cooked slowly in a perol, as Agustin Yanez wrote; the sad leader's shadow and of all who had made the Revolution and now, in a luxurious office, they ignored the slow but steady push of their tummy. At this point, Fuentes made burst, he changed our small world as the Paricutin would have made and he reminded us that we had guts. He always ha s it.With an ambitious, audacious, agile, and elegant step, he was on the stage in one jump. He always was in a hurry, he always plucked up courage. The word â€Å"always† seems  to  do pretty well  to Fuentes and so we can tell to Silvia and Cecilia, in order and with a loud and strong voice, that Fuentes will always live wherever his books are, he will be always with us and that that aren’t words of encouragement, they are a reality. I see him in the distance, standing; I see him here, beside me, he smiled.His smile was the smile of his father, don Rafael Fuentes, that following the publication  of Where the Air Is Clear he said: â€Å"Now I’m the father of Carlos Fuentes†. All surrender by the raindrops of Jalapa, that city where the grass grows up among the rocks; Fuentes was from Veracruz from head to toe, from Veracruz with its table-glass full of cafe con leche from the Cafe de la Parroquia that the waiters filled and refilled at the sound of the spoon, ding, ding, ding, like in a Cri-Cri’s song1, as if  we  were  all  child without the Original sin.Fuentes was kind of like that, he had an inner child  that was like  the apple of  his eyes, his eyes shone, within his eyes there was his vigor, his excitement, his desire of embrace everything, his love for Mexico. His eyes cast sparks because Fuentes was a seducer, but as Angeles Mastretta said, â€Å"a trustful seducer†. 1 Mexican composer and performer of children's songs, best known under the name of  Cri-Cri: El Grillito Cantor.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Frostbite Chapter 7

Seven I ANGRILY PUSHED THROUGH THE double doors that led into the Moroi dorm. Snow swirled in behind me, and a few people lingering on the main floor glanced up upon my entrance. Not surprisingly, several of them did double takes. Swallowing, I forced myself not to react. It would be okay. No need to freak out. Novices got injured all the time. It was actually rarer not to get injured. Admittedly, this was a more noticeable injury than most, but I could live with it until it healed, right? And it wasn't like anyone would know how I'd received it. â€Å"Hey Rose, is it true your own mother punched you?† I froze. I'd know that taunting soprano voice anywhere. Turning slowly, I looked into the deep blue eyes of Mia Rinaldi. Curly blond hair framed a face that might have been cute if not for the malicious smirk on it. A year younger than us, Mia'd taken on Lissa (and me by default) in a war to see who could tear apart the other's life most quicklya war, I should add, that she started. It had involved her stealing Lissa's ex-boyfrienddespite the fact Lissa had decided in the end she didn't want himand the spreading of all sorts of rumors. Admittedly, Mia's hatred hadn't been entirely unjustified. Lissa's older brother, Andrewho had been killed in the same car accident that technically â€Å"killed† mehad used Mia pretty badly when she was a freshman. If she weren't such a bitch now, I would have felt sorry for her. It had been wrong of him, and while I could understand her anger, I don't know that it was fair of her to take that out on Lissa in the way she did. Lissa and I had technically won the war in the end, but Mia had inexplicably bounced back. She didn't run with the same elite that she once had, but she had rebuilt a small contingent of friends. Malicious or not, strong leaders always attract followers. I'd found that about 90 percent of the time, the most effective response was to ignore her. But we had just crossed over to the other 10 percent, because it's impossible to ignore someone announcing to the world that your mother just punched youeven if it was true. I stopped walking and turned around. Mia stood near a vending machine, knowing she'd drawn me out. I didn't bother asking how she'd found out about my mother giving me the black eye. Things rarely stayed secret around here. When she caught full sight of my face, her eyes widened in unabashed delight. â€Å"Wow. Talk about a face only a mother could love.† Ha. Cute. From anyone else, I would have applauded the joke. â€Å"Well, you're the expert on face injury,† I said. â€Å"How's your nose?† Mia's icy smile twitched a little, but she didn't back down. I'd broken her nose about a month agoat a school dance of all placesand while the nose had since healed, it now sat just the tiniest bit askew. Plastic surgery could probably fix it up, but from my understanding of her family's finances, that wasn't possible just now. â€Å"It's better,† she replied primly. â€Å"Fortunately, it was only broken by a psychopathic whore and not anyone actually related to me.† I gave her my best psychopathic smile. â€Å"Too bad. Family members hit you by accident. Psychopathic whores tend to come back for more.† Threatening physical violence against her was usually a pretty sound tactic, but we had too many people around right now for that to be a legitimate concern for her. And Mia knew it. Not that I was above attacking someone in this kind of settinghell, I'd done it lots of timesbut I was trying to work on my impulse control lately. â€Å"Doesn't look like much of an accident to me,† she said. â€Å"Don't you guys have rules about face punches? I mean, that looks really far out of bounds.† I opened my mouth to tell her off, but nothing came out. She had a point. My injury was far out of bounds; in that sort of combat, you aren't supposed to hit above the neck. This was way above that forbidden line. Mia saw my hesitation, and it was like Christmas morning had come a week early for her. Until that moment, I don't think there'd ever been a time in our antagonistic relationship in which she'd rendered me speechless. â€Å"Ladies,† came a stern, female voice. The Moroi attending the front desk leaned over it and fixed us with a sharp look. â€Å"This is a lobby, not a lounge. Either go upstairs or go outside.† For a moment, breaking Mia's nose again sounded like the best idea in the worldto hell with detention or suspension. After a deep breath, I decided retreat was my most dignified action now. I stalked off toward the stairs leading up to the girls' dorm. Over my shoulder, I heard Mia call, â€Å"Don't worry, Rose. It'll go away. Besides, it's not your face guys are interested in.† Thirty seconds later, I beat on Lissa's door so hard, it was a wonder my fist didn't go through the wood. She opened it slowly and peered around. â€Å"Is it just you out here? I thought there was an army at theoh my God.† Her eyebrows shot up when she noticed the left side of my face. â€Å"What happened?† â€Å"You haven't heard already? You're probably the only one in the school who hasn't,† I grumbled. â€Å"Just let me in.† Sprawling on her bed, I told her about the day's events. She was properly appalled. â€Å"I heard you'd been hurt, but I figured it was one of your normal things,† she said. I stared up at the spackled ceiling, feeling miserable. â€Å"The worst part is, Mia was right. It wasn't an accident.† â€Å"What, you're saying your mom did it on purpose?† When I didn't answer, Lissa's voice turned incredulous. â€Å"Come on, she wouldn't do that. No way.† â€Å"Why? Because she's perfect Janine Hathaway, master of controlling her temper? The thing is, she's also perfect Janine Hathaway, master of fighting and controlling her actions. One way or another, she slipped up.† â€Å"Yeah, well,† said Lissa, â€Å"I think her stumbling and missing her punch is more likely than her doing it on purpose. She'd have to really lose her temper.† â€Å"Well, she was talking to me. That's enough to make anyone lose their temper. And I accused her of sleeping with my dad because he was the soundest evolutionary choice.† â€Å"Rose,† groaned Lissa. â€Å"You kind of left out that part in your recap. Why'd you say that to her?† â€Å"Because it's probably true.† â€Å"But you had to know it'd upset her. Why do you keep provoking her? Why can't you just make peace with her?† I sat upright. â€Å"Make peace with her? She gave me a black eye. Probably on purpose! How do I make peace with someone like that?† Lissa just shook her head and walked over to the mirror to check her makeup. The feelings coming through our bond were ones of frustration and exasperation. Lingering in the back was a bit of anticipation, too. I had the patience to examine her carefully, now that I'd finished my venting. She had on a silky lavender shirt and a knee-length black skirt. Her long hair had the kind of smooth perfection only achieved by spending an hour of your life on it with a hair dryer and flat iron. â€Å"You look nice. What's up?† Her feelings shifted slightly, her irritation with me dimming a little. â€Å"I'm meeting Christian soon.† For a few minutes there, it had felt like the old days with Lissa and me. Just us, hanging out and talking. Her mention of Christian, as well as the realization that she'd have to leave me soon for him, stirred up dark feelings in my chest†¦feelings I had to reluctantly admit were jealousy. Naturally, I didn't let on to that. â€Å"Wow. What'd he do to deserve that? Rescue orphans from a burning building? If so, you might want to make sure he didn't set the building on fire in the first place.† Christian's element was fire. It was fitting since it was the most destructive one. Laughing, she turned from the mirror and noticed me gently touching my swollen face with my fingers. Her smile turned kind. â€Å"It doesn't look that bad.† â€Å"Whatever. I can tell when you're lying, you know. And Dr. Olendzki says it'll be even worse tomorrow.† I lay back down on the bed. â€Å"There probably isn't enough concealer in the world to cover this, is there? Tasha and I'll have to invest in some Phantom of the Opera-style masks.† She sighed and sat on the bed near me. â€Å"Too bad I can't just heal it.† I smiled. â€Å"That would be nice.† The compulsion and charisma brought on by spirit were great, but really, healing was her coolest ability. The range of things she could achieve was staggering. Lissa was also thinking about what spirit could do. â€Å"I wish there were some other way to control the spirit †¦ in a way that still let me use the magic†¦.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. I understood her burning desire to do great things and help people. It radiated off of her. Hell, I would also have liked to have this eye cleared up in an instant rather than days. â€Å"I wish there were too.† She sighed again. â€Å"And there's more to me than just wishing I could heal and do other stuff with spirit. I also, well, just miss the magic. It's still there; it's just blocked off by the pills. It's burning inside of me. It wants me, and I want it. But there's a wall between us. You just can't imagine it.† â€Å"I can, actually.† It was true. Along with having a general sense for her feelings, I could sometimes also â€Å"slip into her.† It was hard to explain and ever harder to endure. When that happened, I could literally see through her eyes and feel what she experienced. During those times, I was her. Many times, I'd been in her head while she longed for the magic, and I'd felt the burning need she spoke of. She often woke up at night, yearning for the power she could no longer reach. â€Å"Oh yeah,† she said ruefully. â€Å"I forget about that sometimes.† A sense of bitterness filled her. It wasn't directed at me so much as it was the no-win nature of her situation. Anger sparked inside of her. She didn't like feeling helpless any more than I did. The anger and frustration intensified into something darker and uglier, something I didn't like. â€Å"Hey,† I said, touching her arm. â€Å"You okay?† She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. â€Å"I just hate it.† The intensity of her feelings reminded me of our conversation, the one we'd had just before I went to the Badica house. â€Å"You still feel like the pills might be weakening?† â€Å"I don't know. A little.† â€Å"Is it getting worse?† She shook her head. â€Å"No. I still can't use the magic. I feel closer to it†¦ but it's still blocked off.† â€Å"But you still†¦ your moods †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yeah †¦ they're acting up. But don't worry,† she said, seeing my face. â€Å"I'm not seeing things or trying to hurt myself.† â€Å"Good.† I was glad to hear it but still worried. Even if she still couldn't touch the magic, I didn't like the idea of her mental state slipping again. Desperately, I hoped the situation would just stabilize on its own. â€Å"I'm here,† I told her softly, holding her gaze. â€Å"If anything happens that's weird†¦you tell me, okay?† Like that, the dark feelings disappeared within her. As they did, I felt a weird ripple in the bond. I can't explain what it was, but I shuddered from the force. Lissa didn't notice. Her mood perked up again, and she smiled at me. â€Å"Thanks,† she said. â€Å"I will.† I smiled, happy to see her back to normal. We lapsed into silence, and for the briefest of moments, I wanted to pour my heart out to her. I'd had so much on my mind lately: my mother, Dimitri, and the Badica house. I'd been keeping those feelings locked up, and they were tearing me apart. Now, feeling so comfortable with Lissa for the first time in a long time, I finally felt that I could let her into my feelings for a change. Before I could open my mouth, I felt her thoughts suddenly shift. They became eager and nervous. She had something she wanted to tell me, something she'd been thinking about intently. So much for pouring my heart out. If she wanted to talk, I wouldn't burden her with my problems, so I pushed them aside and waited for her to speak. â€Å"I found something in my research with Ms. Carmack. Something strange†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh?† I asked, instantly curious. Moroi usually developed their specialized element during adolescence. After that, they were put into magic classes specific to that element. But as the only spirit user on record at the moment, Lissa didn't really have a class she could join. Most people believed she just hadn't specialized, but she and Ms. Carmackthe magic teacher at St. Vladimir'shad been meeting independently to learn what they could about spirit. They researched both current and old records, checking for clues that might lead to other spirit users, now that they knew some of the telltale signs: an inability to specialize, mental instability, etc. â€Å"I didn't find any confirmed spirit users, but I did find†¦reports of, um, unexplained phenomena.† I blinked in surprise. â€Å"What kind of stuff?† I asked, pondering what would count as â€Å"unexplained phenomena† for vampires. When she and I had lived with humans, we would have been considered unexplained phenomena. â€Å"They're scattered reports†¦but, like, I read this one about a guy who could make others see things that weren't there. He could get them to believe they were seeing monsters or other people or whatever.† â€Å"That could be compulsion.† â€Å"Really powerful compulsion. I couldn't do that, and I'm strongeror used to bein it than anyone we know. And that power comes from using spirit†¦.† â€Å"So,† I finished, â€Å"you think this illusion guy must have been a spirit user too.† She nodded. â€Å"Why not contact him and find out?† â€Å"Because there's no information listed! It's secret. And there are others just as strange. Like someone who could physically drain others. People standing nearby would get weak and lose all their strength. They'd pass out. And there was someone else who could stop things in midair when they were thrown at him.† Excitement lit up her features. â€Å"He could have been an air user,† I pointed out. â€Å"Maybe,† she said. I could feel the curiosity and excitement swirling through her. She desperately wanted to believe there were others out there like her. I smiled. â€Å"Who knew? Moroi have Roswell- and Area 51-type stuff. It's a wonder I'm not being studied somewhere to see if they can figure out the bond.† Lissa's speculative mood turned teasing. â€Å"I wish I could see into your mind sometimes. I'd like to know how you feel about Mason.† â€Å"He's my friend,† I said stoutly, surprised at the abrupt change in subject. â€Å"That's it.† She tsked. â€Å"You used to flirtand do other stuffwith any guy you could get your hands on.† â€Å"Hey!† I said, offended. â€Å"I wasn't that bad.† â€Å"Okay†¦maybe not. But you don't seem interested in guys anymore.† I was interested in guyswell, one guy. â€Å"Mason's really nice,† she continued. â€Å"And crazy about you.† â€Å"He is,† I agreed. I thought about Mason, about that brief moment when I'd thought he was sexy outside Stan's class. Plus, Mason was really funny, and we got along beautifully. He wasn't a bad prospect as far as boyfriends went. â€Å"You guys are a lot alike. You're both doing things you shouldn't.† I laughed. That was also true. I recalled Mason's eagerness to take on every Strigoi in the world. I might not be ready for thatdespite my outburst in the carbut I shared some of his recklessness. It might be time to give him a shot, I thought. Bantering with him was fun, and it had been a long time since I'd kissed anyone. Dimitri made my heart ache †¦ but, well, it wasn't like anything else was going on there. Lissa watched me appraisingly, like she knew what I was thinkingwell, aside from the Dimitri stuff. â€Å"I heard Meredith say you were an idiot for not going out with him. She said it's because you think you're too good for him.† â€Å"What! That's not true.† â€Å"Hey, I didn't say it. Anyway, she said she's thinking of going after him.† â€Å"Mason and Meredith?† I scoffed. â€Å"That's a disaster in the making. They have nothing in common.† It was petty, but I'd gotten used to Mason always doting on me. Suddenly, the thought of someone else getting him irked me. â€Å"You're possessive,† Lissa said, again guessing my thoughts. No wonder she got so annoyed at me reading her mind. â€Å"Only a little.† She laughed. â€Å"Rose, even if it's not Mason, you really should start dating again. There are lots of guys who would kill to go out with youguys who are actually nice.† I hadn't always made the best choices when it came to men. Once again, the urge to spill all my worries to her seized me. I'd been hesitant to tell her about Dimitri for so long, even though the secret burned inside of me. Sitting with her here reminded me that she was my best friend. I could tell her anything, and she wouldn't judge me. But, just like earlier, I lost the chance to tell her what was on my mind. She glanced over at her alarm clock and suddenly sprang up from the bed. â€Å"I'm late! I've got to meet Christian!† Joy filled her, underscored with a bit of nervous anticipation. Love. What could you do? I swallowed back the jealousy that started to raise its ugly head. Once again, Christian had taken her away from me. I wasn't going to be able to unburden myself tonight. Lissa and I left the dorm, and she practically sprinted away, promising we'd talk tomorrow. I wandered back to my own dorm. When I got to my room, I passed by my mirror and groaned when I saw my face. Dark purple surrounded my eye. In talking to Lissa, I'd almost forgotten about the whole incident with my mother. Stopping to get a closer look, I stared at my face. Maybe it was egotistical, but I knew I looked good. I wore a C-cup and had a body much coveted in a school where most of the girls were supermodel slim. And as I'd noted earlier, my face was pretty too. On a typical day, I was a nine around hereten on a very good one. But today? Yeah. I was practically in negative numbers. I was going to look fabulous for the ski trip. â€Å"My mom beat me up,† I informed my reflection. It looked back sympathetically. With a sigh, I decided I might as well get ready for bed. There was nothing else I wanted to do tonight, and maybe extra sleep would speed the healing. I went down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my hair. When I got back to my room, I slipped on my favorite pajamas, and the feel of soft flannel cheered me up a little. I was packing my backpack for the next day when a burst of emotion abruptly shot through my bond with Lissa. It caught me unaware and gave me no chance to fight it. It was like being knocked over by a hurricane-force wind, and suddenly, I was no longer looking at my backpack. I was â€Å"inside† Lissa, experiencing her world firsthand. And that's when things got awkward. Because Lissa was with Christian. And things were getting †¦ hot.