Sunday, August 23, 2020

Joy Luck Club Essays (584 words) - Chinatown, San Francisco

Bliss Luck Club Bliss Luck Club Last Essay: #4 Literary Analysis by Dustin Adams The Joy Luck Club is a portrayal of the diligent pressures and ground-breaking bonds among mother and little girl in a Chinese American culture and is composed by Amy Tan. The book shows the hardships both the mother and little girls experience so as to please the other. Additionally, it shows the difficulties the girls face when experiencing childhood in two societies. This book uncovers that more often than not moms truly know best. All through the entirety of the Jing-Mei Woo stories, June needs to review the entirety of the recollections of what her mom had advised her. She recollects how her mom left her children during the war. June's mom felt that since she had flopped as a mother to her first infants she had bombed as an individual. At the point when she made June take piano exercises June imagined that she was attempting to make her become a kid wonder like Waverly, however her mom did this since she realized it would profit June for an amazing remainder. As a result of the demise of her mom, June had to replace her mom in something other than filling her place at the Maj Jong table. The mother little girl convention was broken in light of the fact that the lost infants were found after the demise of their mom. June's outing to China can be viewed as the culmination of her mother's guarantee to return, respecting her sisters by endeavoring to move what she had retained from her mom and her convention. ?What's more, I think, My mom is correct. I am turning out to be Chinese?(Tan 306). This is the thing that June thinks as she crosses into China. Like the Taoist Yin/Yang image, June and her mom have gotten two of something very similar. The main distinction being their contemplations, June with American, her mom with Chinese. This has kept the mother-girl custom alive however has likewise debilitated it. This happens frequently, however there is continually something that sticks and is passed down from age to age. Heredity is the transmission starting with one age then onto the next of variables that decide the characteristics of posterity. Albeit fruitful rearing of plants and creatures was polished by people some time before present day developments were set up, there is no proof that these early individuals comprehended the idea of genetic components or how they are transmitted through proliferation. The narrative of June and A mei is a prime case of heredity. Albeit numerous young ladies' most exceedingly terrible feelings of trepidation would turn out like their mom, it can't, from various perspectives, be made a difference. June felt somewhat reluctant in turning out to be increasingly similar to her mom in any case, it, in the expressions of June's mom A mei, Cannot be helped (Tan 306). June's aversion can be found in a statement alluding to her moms explanation of certain heredity: And when she said this, I saw myself changing like a werewolf, a freak tag of DNA unexpectedly activated, repplicating itself into a disorder, a bunch of obvious Chinese practices, those things my mom did to humiliate me..... (Tan 307). Regardless of whether these qualities were showed because of long lasting introduction to her mom, or they were just hereditary, codes of DNA by which June's life and habbits would be resolved, a certain something, for this situation, is for sure: girls and moms ar e indistinguishable. It very well may be seen in regular day to day existence, and Amy Tan wonderfully depicts and displays this reality in her portrayl of the accounts including June and her mom. Book reference none Exploratory writing

Friday, August 21, 2020

Aylmers Sin and Guilt Essay -- Character Analysis, Georginas Birthmar

The transgression that Aylmer appears all through the story is comparable to Georgina’s skin coloration, which drastically and out of nowhere seizes his character. Aylmer gets vain in the methods of his activities and contemplations, not thinking about that he himself has an issue yet that his wife’s blemish is the issue. By Aylmer’s unethical and fanatical want for flawlessness, he took Georgina’s freedom and self-assurance away, which reveales his wrongdoings. In the first place, before the marriage, Aylmer had not been irritated by the skin coloration on Georgiana’s cheek. James Quinn and Ross Baldessarini note that â€Å"[s]oon in the wake of wedding, be that as it may, Aylmer found that he can consider little else however the birth-mark,† and that it upset him and detracted from her actual magnificence. In connection, it is inferred that this exclusion in Aylmer â€Å"seems to propose that bits of knowledge into human conduct are probab ly going to be abstract, defective, unsatisfying† (Quinn and Baldessarini). Accordingly, Aylmer’s sin is introduced through a fantasy where he is leading a medical procedure on Georgina to consummate her excellence. Aylmer’s thought of having an ideal spouse â€Å"is described by Hawthorne as a characteristic of ‘original sin’† (Quinn and Baldessarini) or even that mankind’s race is brought into the world with defect. This is expressed by Hawthorne as â€Å"the deadly defect of humankind, which Nature, fit as a fiddle or another, stamps indelibly on the entirety of her creation . . . to infer that they are transitory and finite† (120). Most extensive is with the goal of Aylmer’s dream, plainly â€Å"suggests the exceptional, savage and strikingly sexual response the skin coloration summons in Aylmer† (Quinn and Baldessarini). Alymer is so enveloped with his own reality that he overlooks reality, for he â€Å"senses that escape from the human condition is hubr... ...n Aylmer’s fixation of expelling her skin coloration, so she urges him to do what is required with the goal that their lives won’t be destroyed by this pigmentation of hers, as to have it evacuated, regardless of whether it is to end her life. Through the activities of Aylmer’s fixation, insatiability, blame, sin, his narrow mindedness to defect and his capacity to not aside from himself for what his identity is, he should thusly, harvest what he planted. Giving Georgiana the toxic substance to drink, looking as the imprint blurred away; Aylmer feels he had effectively freed himself from the blemish that upset him in this way, unconscious the skin pigmentation was really the way to Georgiana’s heart and her life. As the toxic substance grabbed hold of her life she said to Aylmer â€Å"do not atone that with so high and unadulterated an inclination, you have dismissed the best the earth could offer† (Fetterly 172) and afterward she kicked the bucket, disregarding Aylmer and void.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

A Plan for Creating an Innovative Culture Coursework - 2750 Words

A Plan for Creating an Innovative Culture in Support of Evidence-based Project Implementation (Coursework Sample) Content: A Plan for Creating an Innovative Culture in Support of Evidence-based Project ImplementationNameInstitutionTable of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u  HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064076" Abstract  PAGEREF _Toc406064076 \h 3 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064077" Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc406064077 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064078" Description of the Scholarly Project and Planned Intervention  PAGEREF _Toc406064078 \h 7 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064079" Planned Implementation  PAGEREF _Toc406064079 \h 9 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064080" Identification  PAGEREF _Toc406064080 \h 9 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064081" Collaborative Approach  PAGEREF _Toc406064081 \h 9 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064082" Taking Action  PAGEREF _Toc406064082 \h 9 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064083" Organizational Structure Analysis of the Existing Leadership and Innovative Cultures  PAGEREF _Toc406064083 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064084" Theoretical Framework (Health Beha vior Change)  PAGEREF _Toc406064084 \h 10 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064085" Needed Change, Towards the Development and Implementation of Mobile Application  PAGEREF _Toc406064085 \h 11 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064086" Barriers towards the Development and Use of Mobile Application  PAGEREF _Toc406064086 \h 12 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064087" Predicted Successes towards the Development and Use of Mobile Application  PAGEREF _Toc406064087 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064088" Plans for Organizational Climate Change  PAGEREF _Toc406064088 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064089" Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc406064089 \h 14 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc406064090" References  PAGEREF _Toc406064090 \h 15AbstractWith the advancement in the technological innovations in the modern world, people continue to benefit in the way their quality of life is transforming in positive ways. Technology has facilitated convenience and effectiveness in communication. As technology continuou s to advance various sectors in the society, the medical field is increasingly reaping the many benefits the innovations are imparting in improving health care provision especially among the patients suffering from chronic illnesses (Lindsey et al., 2013). Researchers have identified that a majority of patients with chronic conditions face an increasing immense risks of their health deteriorating, owing to their non-adherence to proper treatment processes (Tatara et al., 2013). There is substantial medical evidence proving that non-adherence to treatment exposes Hispanic women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to serious medical complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. Lack of insufficient knowledge about the disease and its medication is another contributory factor to the deterioration of health conditions among Hispanic women with T2DM. Low health literacy among patients with T2DM is associated with high chances of developing ret inopathy and less chances of controlling glycemic (West, 2012). Research have identified that majority of female Hispanic patients rely on their family and friends for their health information something which could lead to misinformation or confusion. This is in addition to their language barrier and unfavorable cultural beliefs that prevent many female patients from adhering to their treatment processes. In such a situation, there is need to adopt a method that would increase treatment adherence among Hispanic women with T2DM in Los Angeles. The use of mobile phone application has been identified as one of the most promising approach that could help in the situation. Different studies have found out that the method is effective owing to its ability to remind patients about their medications, besides encouraging wellness and self-care behaviors in addition to encouraging compliance with prescriptions (Thomas Wing, 2013). The use of mobile app is necessary for providing essential in formation vital for preventing the worsening of the health condition. A Plan for Creating an Innovative Culture in Support of Evidence-based Project ImplementationIntroductionFor a patient with chronic illness to be safe, it is advisable to adhere to the treatment process in order to safeguard the quality of life. Medical researches have shown that non-adherence T2DM patients increase their chances of developing other complicated conditions such as retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiovascular diseases that could worsen their conditions to the level of causing death (Nundy, Dick Peek, 2014). However, various mobile web app can be used by Hispanic women with T2DM to increase their level of adherence to medication. Such mobile-based applications are used to provide various self- care management tips that encourage the patients to adhere to medical prescription and other necessary therapies that could help in the control of body weight, blood sugar, and blood pre ssure, which are some of the major contributory factors to T2DM (Quinn et al., 2011). Studies have indicated that non-adherence among the Hispanic women with T2DM is considerably high as compared to their male counterparts (Quinn et al., 2011). This is attributable to various reasons such as their lower socio-economic status where the costs of medication are high in the country, preventing many from accessing such treatment processes such as insulin therapy and maintaining constant visitation to medical facilities. Miscommunication is another major factor limiting the adherence of Hispanic women with T2DM to treatment processes. Their language barrier contribute to their lack of understanding various medication information leading to the misunderstanding of doctors instructions and poor decision making in adherence to treatment processes, especially in insulin therapy (Pyatak, Florindez, Weigensberg, 2013). Majority of Hispanic women have low health literacy due to their inability to read and understand medical information such as treatment instructions. This is associated with lesser chances of controlling glycemic and higher chances of developing retinopathy among T2DM patients. Low health literacy is exhibited among Hispanic women with T2DM through their over reliance on family and friends for such information. This could be dangerous as it is associated with misinformation and confusion that could result to poor decision-making pertaining to treatment adherence. Non-adherence is also promulgated by cultural beliefs among the Hispanic that diabetes reflects Gods punishment and that adherence to medication may not be successful in treating the condition. The use of mobile phone web application is considered a viable approach through which to increase the level of adherence to medical treatment processes among Hispanic women with T2DM. Nundy, Dick Peek (2014) confirms that the use of the technological innovation has the ability to increase medication adhere nce among TSDM patients by about 10%, improving the overall medical outcome. Studies have proven that the deterioration in health conditions among T2DM patients is greatly influenced by poor adherence to medical treatment processes and is associated with various health risks. Lack of health information about diabetes among Hispanic women with T2DM has emerged as a major factor that worsens their condition. Majority of them are not familiar with the basic skills of self-care management, leading to the deterioration of their health conditions (West, 2012). Lack of a cheaper mechanism to access doctors advice or keeping in touch with medical practitioners, further contribute to their exposure to increased risks associated with the disease. Mobile phone application offers a convenient platform where Hispanic women with T2DM can access important health information about their condition, besides giving them the opportunity to interact with doctors more often, to help contain their worseni ng condition (West, 2012). The technology also works to alert patients to communicate to them about what they are supposed to do at any time in relation to adhering to their treatment process. Hollern, (2012) asserts that mobile applications enable Hispanic women with T2DM to be encouraged to adhere to their monitoring routines by boosting self-monitoring efforts with applications such as alerts and reminders in addition to having considerable contact with health care team. The use of a mobile app such as CareSmart is necessary to increase adherence among Hispanic women with T2DM to comply with various treatment requirements that are necessary to improve the quality of their lives by protecting their health condition from deteriorating.Description of the Scholarly Project and Planned InterventionThere is a wide adoption of smartphone among the U.S population, with a variety of smartphones such as iPhone and Blackberry among others, being common among the consumers. The ability of sm artphones to support various functions has enabled the gadget to be adopted as an important tool in improving the adherence and behavior of patents towards meeting their treatment requirements. Access to substantial medical information specific for a particular patient is believed to have a positive influence towards the improvement of general health of the patient (Mira et al., 2014). By embracing the use of mobile phone in the medical field, communication and patient-doctor co-ordination would be enhanced within and outside the health care facility. Such a technological innovation is necessary for helping Hispanic women with T2DM to improve their adherence to treatment processes. Mobile web applications provides access to relevant information direct from the health care provider or facilitating access to suitable health information available on the internet, which...

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Why Are Flamingos the Color Pink

Flamingos are pink or orange or white depending on what they eat. Flamingos eat algae and crustaceans that contain pigments called carotenoids. For the most part, these pigments are found in the brine shrimp and blue-green algae that the birds eat. Enzymes in the liver break down the carotenoids into the pink and orange pigment molecules that are absorbed by fats deposited in the feathers, bill, and legs of the flamingos. Flamingos that eat mostly algae are more deeply colored than birds that eat the small animals that feed off of algae. So, you typically find deeply-colored pink and orange flamingos in the Caribbean, yet pale pink flamingos in drier habitats, like Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Captive flamingos are fed a special diet that includes prawns (a pigmented crustacean) or additives such as beta-carotene or canthaxanthin; otherwise, they would be white or pale pink. Young flamingos have gray plumage that changes color according to their diet. People eat foods containing carotenoids, too. The molecules act as antioxidants and are used to produce vitamin A. Examples of carotenoids humans eat include beta-carotene in carrots and lycopene in watermelon, but most people do not eat enough of these compounds to affect their skin color. People who take canthaxanthin pills for sunless tanning (artificial tans) experience skin color change. Unfortunately for them, the color is more of a bizarre orange than the natural tan from melanin! Source Hill, G. E.; Montgomerie, R.; Inouye, C. Y.; Dale, J. (June 1994). Influence of Dietary Carotenoids on Plasma and Plumage Colour in the House Finch: Intra- and Intersexual Variation. Functional Ecology. British Ecological Society. 8 (3): 343–350. doi:10.2307/2389827

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Waste in Macbeth Essay - 981 Words

Waste in Macbeth Throughout the play Macbeth, characters change and so do their relationships with other characters. Life is taken for granted, and tossed away as if it’s merely an old toy. Honour and potential of great men tarnished due to their greed and power hunger. The plot develops the idea that A.C Bradley proposes: The central feeling of a tragedy is one of waste. Macbeth is portrayed as a tragic hero, someone who has it all at first but decides to give it all up. Throughout the story the waste of potential, the waste of life and finally the waste of innocence are just some of the types of wastes that can be found, but they are enough to prove the theory. According to critic A.C. Bradley, the central feeling of a tragedy is†¦show more content†¦His potential is no more at that point as he has ruined any chance. â€Å"Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep† (Macbeth, Act III, scene ii) shows that Macbeth’s potential has gone from something great to having to be in fear all the time. But it is not only his potential that is lost, but Banquo’s as well when he takes his life. In this play one of the main purposes of Banquos character is to act as a contrast to the character of Macbeth. Banquo is brave and noble - characteristics that Macbeth arguably doesnt. The most evident type of waste in the play is the waste of life. Life is so carelessly thrown away by Macbeth and shows that it has no meaning to him and he takes it at disposal. â€Å"The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees, Is left this vault to brag of.† (Macbeth, Act II, scene iii) is a quote that symbolizes life has no real meaning and can therefore be carelessly wasted. His humanness gets lost because of his power hunger and it’s because of the waste of life throughout the play, that the play becomes one of tragedy and an overall feeling of waste. The following quote, â€Å"I will not yield To kiss the ground before young Malcolms feet,† (Macbet h, Act V, scene viii) shows that he is even willing to waste his own life because of his legacy and prideShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1023 Words   |  5 PagesTragedy of Macbeth. The Tragedy of Macbeth was a turn from glory to tragedy. A story of a true tragic hero. Macbeth is a brave soldier in a war for Scotland. A tale of a great soilder that was highly praise in his kingdom turn to a tragic murderous sinful king. Macbeth kill his friends and his king to take the throne and power to fulfill a witches prophet .The focus of Macbeth’s tragic story is self ambition,his unrelentless guilt, greediness , and poor judgement. All serve a purpose to macbeth destructionRead MoreThe Presence of Ambition within MacBeth by William Shakespeare1085 Words   |  5 Pageswithin MacBeth by William Shakespeare Ambition is a quality within every human, however it sometimes drives people to partake in totally unnatural actions. As illustrated in William Shakespeares Macbeth, some forms of ambition can push people into becoming a person very sinister and evil. The ambition which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth encounter within Shakespeares play not only drives them to become ruthless killers, but is the cause of the two characters meeting their demise. Macbeth andRead MoreLady Macbeth Feminism Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagesclassic, 1606 play, Macbeth, as did director Sam Mendes in one of the iconic James Bond films, 2012, Skyfall. Through classic pieces of literature and modern day film, women are forced to compete in a never-ending game; to compete against being depicted as emotionally unstable and as disposable objects of pleasure. Through classic pieces of literature, women are continuously represented as emotionally unstable and insecure. Throughout most of literary history, Lady Macbeth – the scheming spouseRead MoreSleep in Macbeth789 Words   |  4 PagesSleep became a very important symbol in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Macbeth†. A major theme of the play was guilt and how it ate away at the life and personality of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, tearing them away from who they used to be. The nightmare that their lives turned into was a reflection on their lack of sleep and inability to escape from the evils they committed. Right after Macbeth murders Duncan, he says â€Å"Now o er the one half-world / Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse / The curtainRead MoreMacbeth Ambitions967 Words   |  4 Pagesdo not even believe that Macbeth really had any ambition of his own. I do not think his ambition was not Macbeth’s greatest weakness but more is gullibility and being able to be swayed into the directions of others. In the story of Macbeth of Macbeths miss fortune is caused by first the prophecy of the witches and secondly of the discouragement of his wife constantly degrading him causing him to prove his self willing and able. Also with the swaying of others making Macbeth feel he needed these promotionsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth s Fate823 Words   |  4 PagesNiraj Pant 18 April 2015 Period 3 Tumbarello Macbeth’s Fate Was Macbeth’s fate chained to the prophecy that is destiny or did he have free will? Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare utilizes the battle between free will and destiny to make the reader question what the cause of Macbeth’s triumphs and ultimate demise was. Fate may come about in life, but it is ultimately up to a person’s own free will to make their own decisions. Macbeth’s fate in the play is determined by his own free willRead MoreSummary Of Internal Suspense In The Tragedy Of Macbeth883 Words   |  4 PagesMany of the notable events that occurred in The Tragedy of Macbeth were solely based off of the mental aspect of situations- numerous characters experience internal conflicts, which indeed drives them to insanity. For instance, these interior events can hold the feeling of suspense, through providing tension and anticipation in the character’s thoughts in the rising action of the play; Lady Macbeth’s suspense begins as she influences Macbeth to kill for her own benefit. Events can also portray theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth Essay Since the beginning of time people looked up to the stars asking Gods their fate. Fate is a belief, that there is a set path for an event that is both unavoidable and inevitable, that there is a fixed natural order to the cosmos. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, viewers can observe fate or (prophecy) playing a major role. William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and died May 1616, during his life Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, and 157 sonnets, Shakespeare is also knownRead MoreEssay on The Witches Play the Greatest Part in Macbeth’s Downfall 1099 Words   |  5 PagesThe witches are the first characters we see in the play in Act one Scene one- A prologue of evil. They plan to meet Macbeth when the fighting has finished. â€Å"When the hurly Burley’s done† From the very beginning of the play the witches are planning to give Macbeth the news of his future and so lead to his downfall. They speak to each other about their next action, to meet with Macbeth. The setting in which Shakespeare first presents the witches is On the Moor with thunder and lightening in the backgroundRead MoreHamlet and Macbeth by William Shakespeare810 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet, Macbeth, and Richard III. The length of each play can alter the feeling of being apart of the play for the reader. By far Hamlet has the greatest length of the three, followed by Richard III and then by Macbeth. Despite all three plays being enjoyable to read, the mere length difference of Hamlet or Macbeth or Richard III makes for a more enjoyable and relatable read. Hamlet as a whole is easier to relate to because we get to know and follow Hamlet much longer than Macbeth or Richard

Macroeconomic Indicators on Stock Market â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What Is The Impact Of Macroeconomic Factors On The Stock Market? Answer: Introducation For investors entering the stock market, assessing the financial statements of companies is not enough. There are several other macroeconomic factors that also influence the prices of stocks. These factors affect the stock market mainly via different channels and hitting on the supply and demand chains. Some of these factors include inflation, GDP growth rate, demographic changes or also monetary policies of the central bank of countries. Just like all other goods and services the theory of demand and supply also applies for stock markets. As we know, according to the theory of demand, , a fall in demand of a particular good shall decrease its price whereas an increase in demand shall increase it price (Lipsey et al., 2011). Similarly, when the supply of a good increase, its price falls whereas, a decrease in supply would increase its price. In the stock market, the same law applies. When demand for stocks increase, its price increases and vice versa whereas when supply of stocks fall its price increases and vice versa. As we see below, in the first diagram we see the shift in demand cause, which raises/lowers the price level of stocks. In the second diagram, shifts in the supply curve result in rise or fall in price. Thus in reality when a company lands up with low earnings the demand for their stock may go down which changes the equilibrium between buyers and sellers. This causes the future buyers to demand for a discount in stock price and hence, many sellers are motivated to accommodate. As more sellers exceed the number of buyers, price falls. The factors which affect the equilibrium of demand and supply are many among different macroeconomic factors. We shall discuss further about each of such factors. Demographic trends or transition also turn out to be a factor which can have major impact on stock markets. In the 21st century, one of the major demographic phenomenons is population aging. This aging of the population is occurring as due to high life expectancy and low fertility rates, the proportion of the population aged 65 and above is continuously increasing. The major proportion of the working age population which is moving towards retirement constituted of the percentage investing the most on stock markets. As these persons retire, the overall demand for stocks will fall and cause changes in the equilibrium. The consequences of demographic transition is still under research and studied by several analysts and economists. Many researchers also reported that population aging will not have significant effects on the financial markets (Bakshi et al., 2000). Gross domestic product which is the total amount of final goods and services produced in an economy may also affect the stock market, but its effects are still debatable among economists. GDP or GDP growth rate is also a measure of a countrys economic performance (Samuelson et al, 2000). Theoretically it is expected that a country which is healthy and growing, hence, with higher GDP is expected to cause higher demands in the stock market and also higher supplies, and with better stock market returns. At such situations when the country is growing companies or businesses also enjoy higher earnings and profits which attract more investors. On the other hand, lower GDP values may also have a negative impact on the stock market considering the aggregate demand of the economy falls. This theory is based on the fact that GDP is the aggregate of consumption, investments, government consumption and net exports. Thus any acceleration in these factors shall also have a positive impact on corpo rate sales. Higher earnings of corporate will lead to a higher earnings per share (EPS) which will translate into higher market returns (Levine et al, 2000). Though theory says this, reality is seen to be different in the short run at least. For instance if we consider the 2008 Financial crisis, we saw the stock market returns fell by 40 to 60% but that was not translated into a fall in GDP by 50%. But the theory is more justified in the longer run, where we see that many companies like United States have seen a rising trend in the stock market returns since 50 years or so which was because the country also saw higher levels of GDP and rising economic growth over the same period. The relationship between growth rates and stock markets are still found to ambiguous and still researched upon. Inflation is another factor which also has its effects on stock markets. It is the rate at which prices of goods and services rise over a period. Hence, higher rates of inflation are linked with higher costs of producing goods and services and in such a situation the company faces a cost constraint where it has to produce less and also lay off workers. At these situations, investors also perceive companies to hold back on spending which gives a negative outlook to investors and also the demand for the stocks fall. Thus, with higher costs there is also a fall in revenue, resulting inflation to have adverse effects on the stock market. When the economy faces the threat of an escalating inflation, the central bank of the country tries to control it through interest rates. It raises interest rates and expects investors to allocate their cash in fixed income instruments and hence, driving away excess liquidity from the system. Less liquidity in the system implies less speculative demand for goods and services which shall slow down the rise in prices. The rise in interest rates shall attract investors because of higher risk free return which is bearish for the stock market, as it reduces demand and hence reduces stock prices. It also happens that when higher inflation is expected, the uncertainty tends to increase the risk premium leading to higher expected returns from the stock markets (Feldstein, 2000). The opposite of inflation is deflation when prices fall. It may be thought that deflation may not be a problem for stock markets, but what happens is the opposite. Deflation acts as an indicator representing a weak economy and hence, drives away investors from investing in stocks. It implies companies earning smaller amount of profits, leading them t shrink as it lays off workers, reduces employee wages, cut on production costs or may even close production facilities. The prices of equity fall as people sell off investments which do not offer good returns anymore. As we saw above, in times of high inflation or deflation, the central bank steps forward and use various monetary or fiscal instruments to siphon off liquidity from the system. At these situations the central bank opts for various monetary and fiscal policies which may be expansionary or contractionary in nature. Expansionary policies of the central bank are when it injects money into the system whereas the opposite holds for contractionary policy. Fiscal expansionary policy leads to expansion of aggregate demand and consumer spending as with higher government expenditures and with tax cuts the liquidity in the system is increased (Mankiw, 2015). This increased aggregate demand shall increase consumption and investment which is translated as higher earnings for companies leading to higher EPS and thus, greater demand in the stock market (Duffy et al, 2013). On the other hand, expansionary monetary policy occurs when financial conditions are improved instead of demand. As we mentioned before, just like when central bank increases interest rates which leads to a fall in demand in the stock market, a decrease in interest rates pumps up profits as demand increases and leads to rise in prices. This happens in case of expansionary monetary policy, which improves the balance sheet of companies. Thus we saw, how via different channels of macroeconomic factors, hits the supply and demand of stock markets which brings changes in the equilibrium in the market and what follows is a fall or rise in price. A new investor in the market should investigate the current situation of the economy as well as expectations of changes in several macroeconomic factors which shall indirectly affect stock markets. References Duffy, D, Filis, G Chatziantoniou, I. (2013). Stock market response to monetary and fiscal policy shocks, JEL Bakshi, G Chen, Z. (2000). Baby boom, Population aging and capital markets. The journal of business. Feldstein, M. (2000). Inflation and the stock market, https://www.nber.org/chapters/c11335.pdf [Accessed 12th May 2017] Levine, R Zervos, S. (2000). Stock markets, banks and economic growth. The American economic review. Samuelson, P. Nordhaus, W. (2010). Economics. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Mankiw, G. (2015). Macroeconomics. New York: Worth publishers Lipsey, R. Chrystal, A. (2011). Economics. New Delhi : Oxford

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

One nation under law

Cherokee Indian case revealed the weaknesses of the American Supreme Court as the provisions were not in line with the American constitution. In 1832, the US Supreme Court exercised it powers in enforcing rights of the Native Americans against the state.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on One nation under law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Supreme Court had ruled before that it lacked the mandate in ruling over the Indian nation. Initially, the court rejected claims that the native tribes had self-governance and considered independent. It was a struggle of legal and political status of the native tribes in America. The weaknesses of the American court system became realized when it rejected the Cherokee claims that they were independent just like other sovereign federal states around. The Supreme Court rejected this claim in the first case and latter developed a different theory in the second case ( The Supreme Court, n. d). The Supreme Court did not speak and stand for the national values and the inspirations of the people as spelt by the constitution. It worked in favor of one side hence showed the weakness it has. John marshal avoided the same case earlier in his career when he gave his opinion on the relationship between the United States and Indian nations. According to him, the federal states in America inherited the rights from its colonial master who was Britain and became independent with those rights. He believed that US should give same rights to the Indian nations with exclusion of the European political powers. He argued his case that the Indian nations should have all other rights but not to posses land and have political dominion over their laws. John marshal avoided the case by acknowledging exercising conquest, which may lead to dominion of political power. However, his take was that the case should not be for the state but in the federal government. The court ruled in favor of Cherokee that it was a community on its own and could govern itself without involving Georgia.Advertising Looking for critical writing on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It gave Cherokee autonomy of governing itself as an independent community to implement its governance structure. The doctrine of the court was that only the state has the mandate of reviewing land issues related to Indian nation unlike in the case of Georgia. The weakness in the court system realized during this period was when Georgia refused to enforce and comply with the court as it had independent with powers. The relocation of the Cherokees was absolute misuse of powers and court had jurisdiction. Different states exercise their powers and have the guaranteed independence that gives them freedom to do all they can within their mandate. The courts ruling giving sovereignty to a tribal group of indigenous community with in a state is a weakness of the state. The constitution guarantees rights to individuals and they are limited to certain degree. Many states as well as individuals like to exercise power on their own capacity but it has to have its limitations in line with the constitution. America is one nation under law hence the subdivision divides the country which might not be important at long run. As the supreme gave sovereignty to the Indian nation and gave the state the powers to negotiate on the Indian lands, it was trying to protect the interest of a small group at the expense of the federal state, as Georgia had to comply and wait for the new governor to effect the court decisions. Reference The Supreme Court. (n. d). One Nation under Law. Retrieved from: https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/about/pop_transcript1.html This critical writing on One nation under law was written and submitted by user Spencer L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Corporate Governance Assignment Essays

Corporate Governance Assignment Essays Corporate Governance Assignment Essay Corporate Governance Assignment Essay The company host an annual general meeting to which all stakeholders are given due notice Of. Also, in accordance with the banks by-laws, three directors retire from the board annually and may offer themselves for re- election at the banks annual general meeting. The company also issues an annual report and quarterly financial statements to stakeholders and the general public. Pursuant to the mandate to ensure that the interests of the various stakeholders are considered the board of directors meets, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis while the Executive Sub-committee of the Board, comprising seven Board members, meets monthly for the remaining months. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 3. 4. Responsibility 3: To ensure compliance with the law The board of directors of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is committed to proper standards of corporate governance and maintaining these standards at the highest level. Continuous monitoring of the banks systems and procedures is done to ensure that standards are in keeping with the best practice as determined by the principles of corporate governance. The bank is also guided by the Recommendations for a Code of Corporate Governance issued by the Guyana Securities Council, and Supervision Guideline No. 8 on Corporate Governance issued by the Bank of Guyana under the authority of the Financial Institutions Act 1995. In addition the Bank is compliant with Supervision Guideline 10 on the public Disclosure of Information. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 3. 5. Responsibility 4: To review and guide corporate strategy As stated in the banks Annual report of 2014 Of critical importance to the board of directors is the responsibility to approve and view the banks strategic plan and within this context, to approve annual budgets, including capital expenditure. The board retains the responsibility for reviewing and approving credit applications above a specified limit. In keeping with the expectation of the board of directors the performance of each Management Officer is also assessed against all key performance areas which among other things may include financial targets. The performance of all management officers is reviewed by the Board of Directors on an annual basis. Additionally, taking into account the increasing need for risk assessment, the board of directors has established a risk management committee, known as the other risks committee. 3. 6. Responsibility 5: To select, compensate, and monitor key executives As stated in the annual report of 2014, the managing director and management team are appointed by the board of directors. Each management officer has a written mandate and is required to execute the stated functions as outlined therein. The managing directors responsibilities and authorities are documented and approved by the board of directors. 3. 7. Responsibility 6: To monitor governance practices Monitoring of governance practice involves continuous review of the internal structure of the company, monitoring and disclosure of corporate governance practices on a regular basis, self-assessment by boards oftener performance as well as performance reviews of individual board members and the CEO/ Chairman. COED 2004) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, the board of directors approves the organizational structure for the Bank which ensures a reporting structure with prudent and effective controls. The board of director s comprises nine directors including one executive director. Of the eight non-executive directors, five are independent. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited adheres to the recommendations of the Supervision Guideline No. 8 on Corporate Governance issued by the Bank of Guyana under the authority of the Financial Institutions Act 1995 regarding its board structure. The board is comprised of an executive director and a majority of independent directors. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) Further, as suggested in the COED principles of Corporate Governance 2004, with single tier board systems, the objectivity of the board and its independence from management may be strengthened by the separation of the role of chief executive and chairman, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited chairman is a non-executive director. The managing director of Bank (Guyana) Limited is the only executive director on the board. Additionally, in the annual report of the bank a statement of the banks corporate governance practice is made public. 3. 8. Responsibility 7: To ensure integrity of accounting and financial systems Several committees have been set up by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited to ensure integrity of accounting and financial systems. These committees are: 3. 8. 1. The audit committee The audit committee of the board meets at least quarterly to review the ann.s system of internal control, financial reporting process, audit and examination process, and compliance with Statutory and regulatory laws. When necessary, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the independence, competence and qualifications of the External Auditors. 3. 8. 2. The compensation committee The compensation, which meets at minimum once per year, is responsible for formalizing the banks remuneration policy for staff. 38. 3. The other risks The other risks committee, which meets quarterly, is responsible for reviewing policies and procedures and ensuring that the Bank is not exposed o unnecessary risks with respect to its operations. 3. 9. Responsibility 8: Corporate Social Responsibility Every board has a duty to formulate the companys strategy, recognizing the risks involved, and part of that process involves determining how the company will behave, in other words, establishing how social responsibility will be exercised throughout the organization. (Trickier 2012, p. 235) At Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited the need to be a good corporate citizen and perform its corporate social responsibility is understood and mirrored in the companys vision which establishes the bank wishes to set a standard of excellence for social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility activities of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited are conducted under its power to make a difference program. The Power to Make a Difference programmer aims to enhance the quality of life of disadvantaged persons; support healthcare programmed and disability awareness initiatives; provide opportunities for young people to realize their truest potential through sport, education and the arts; build community spirit and, in essence, help to correct some of society ills. (Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited 2014) 4. Recommendations It was found that Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited in its governance aims to be a good corporate citizen by complying with rules and regulation stipulated at a national level and also meeting international standards of corporate governance. However, there are areas that could stand improvement and as such the following recommendations are made: 1 ) The chairman of the board of directors should be an independent non-executive director.

Saturday, February 29, 2020

An In Depth Interview Psychology Essay

An In Depth Interview Psychology Essay What is research. When asked, most people would answer questionnaires or surveys. These kinds of research people more familiar with are quantitative research. However, in this article, the main focus is on qualitative research, which is widely used in academic and professional areas (Holliday, 2002). So, what is quantitative research? Mason (2002:1) believes that: â€Å"Through qualitative research we can explore a wide array of dimensions of the social world, including the texture and weave of everyday life, the understanding, experiences and imagining of our research participants, the ways that social processes, institutions, discourses or relationship work, and the significance of the meaning that they generate.† Therefore, from this perspective, it could be derived that for qualitative research, pure statistic and numerical data are not sufficient. It needs more description evidence to discover the subjective qualities that govern human behaviours (Holliday, 2002). The so called ‘thick description’, which could be collected through interview, observation or other methods, is the basis for qualitative researchers to understand and explore the social world(Draper, 2004). Due to the complexity of modern society, there are many problems emerged when conducting qualitative researches, for instance, the ethical dilemmas. In order to get a more critical view of qualitative research, the distinction between qualitative research and quantitative research will be highlighted first. Then two typical qualitative research methods, in-depth interview and participate observation, will be critically examined. Followed by that, three examples will be used to further illustrate the challenges of qualitative research. In the end, a conclusion regarding the merits and demerits of qualitative research will be drawn. Two paradigms Primarily, the philosophical basis for qualitative research and quantitative research are different. Both Holliday (2002) and Dra per (2004) state that quantitative research believes that by using right quantitative measurements people could reveal objective facts, while qualitative research rooted in interpretive tradition, which focus on exploring the underlying meanings of social phenomena. As a result, qualitative and quantitative research differ in their analytical process, research design, methods of collecting data and the approach to analyse and interpret data(Draper, 2004). Rather than by using a deductive process, qualitative research prefers inductive procedure (Gephart, 2004). Therefore, qualitative research provides extra opportunities for researchers to discover insight views and get new understandings of social phenomena (Willig, 2008). Also, Gephart (2004) states that the ‘thick description’ provided by qualitative research enriches the basis for understanding the social world. However, qualitative research also has its own limitations. As Willig (2008) points out that qualitative research do not ensure certainty, the objectivity of researcher is not realistic and the results are not predictive, since qualitative studies always carry out with small sample size but in depth. Moreover, similar qualitative studies due to the different use of methods are impossible to compare or integrate (Willig, 2008). As a consequence, Draper (2004) suggests, although qualitative and quantitative researches are different from their ontological foundation, they could complement each other. In addition, recent studies (Bryman, 2006; Kinn and Curzio, 2005; Sherman and Strang, 2004) show that there is a growth trend of combining these two methods together, in spite of the continuation of debate about integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. After examining the merits and demerits of qualitative research, it is the time to discuss the two dominant methods used in qualitative research, in-depth interview and participant observation.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

How Greenwash commercials influence buying behaviour in luxury car Dissertation

How Greenwash commercials influence buying behaviour in luxury car market - Dissertation Example According to the research findings the impact of Greenwash commercials on buying behaviour seeks to understand the consumers’ psychological orientation towards purchase of products and how marketing strategies or advertisements can adapt to the same. Amongst the Response Hierarchy Models, Persuasive Hierarchy Model suggests that consumers are influenced by advertising and use the commercials to learn about different brands and reach their preferences based on the information they gain from these. Here cognition is the precondition for making any buying decision. This model is applicable in high involvement purchase condition where the product or the purchase is crucial to the consumer. Such advertisement begins with awareness which leads to interest of the buyer and then results in action of purchase. These are highly true for consumers of cars. In Low involvement cases, the consumer prefer convenience goods, i.e.take the buying decisions based upon cost, etc. Here purchases a re rapid and preferences towards brands are formed after trials. Integrated Models therefore suggest that buying decisions depend on situations and advertising works accordingly. The FCG grid formed by the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding can appropriately depict this with four different buying situations incorporating consumer motivation. For instance, in high involvement case, consumers’ motive will lead him to buy items like luxury watches when the idea is to transform their lifestyle or when the â€Å"feel good† factor is important to them. ... umers are influenced by advertising and use the commercials to learn about different brands and reach their preferences based on the information they gain from these (Belch and Belch, 2003, p. 208). Here cognition is the precondition for making any buying decision. This model is applicable in high involvement purchase condition where the product or the purchase is crucial to the consumer. Such advertisement begins with awareness which leads to interest of the buyer and then results in action of purchase. These are highly true for consumers of cars. In Low involvement cases, the consumer prefer convenience goods, i.e.take the buying decisions based upon cost, etc. Here purchases are rapid and preferences towards brands are formed after trials. Integrated Models therefore suggest that buying decisions depend on situations and advertising works accordingly. The FCG grid (Appendix B: Integrated Model – FCG grid) formed by the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding can appropri ately depict this with four different buying situations incorporating consumer motivation. For instance, in high involvement case, consumers’ motive will lead him to buy items like luxury watches when the idea is to transform their lifestyle or when the â€Å"feel good† factor is important to them. Again when product choice is based on information about the product, consumers will tend to choose automotives and appliances. In Low involvement case, they would go for package goods (cost effectiveness), while their choice is led by information. Under low involvement they would settle for variety goods in order to meet the â€Å"feel good† factor (Sorce&Dewitz, 2007, pp. 4-5). This dissertation focuses on a High Involvement case (a case of buying luxury brands of cars). For these goods there always

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation Essay - 4

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation - Essay Example Through this, organizations aim to acquire and create potentially useful knowledge that can be used to achieve maximum effective usage to influence the organizational performance positively. What has been learned is then embedded into the organization’s fabric through organizational learning that is complementary to knowledge management (Easterby et al, 1999). A company like China Telecom happens to be the largest fixed-line service provider in China. It is also the third largest mobile telecommunication provider in the country. The company offers an attractive full range of integrated information, application services, and internet connection. It has over 200,000 staff members with branches in other regions of the Americas, Hong Kong, Europe and Macao. In order to stay competitive, the company accelerates creation of new products through optimal use of its worker base in a unified innovation process. To facilitate collaboration among employees, customers, and partners the company developed innovation platforms with Web portal interfaces. The portal in turn accepts ideas and innovative experiences from the enlarged community. The company’s marketing team analyzes new acquired information that is gathered from the consumers’ Web 2.0 entries and uses the information to introduce and launch new products and services with the kn owledge that subscriber demand exists. The company embraces an open dialog with its customers, employees and partners through social tools that involve them in internal and external processes. By using social networking tools like social media tools, a culture of information sharing is encouraged within an organization. They provide a gateway for the exchange of current and relevant information across organizational silos and geographies. To drive a social change in the work force it is essential for organizations to build trust and encourage social interactions. Social networking tools also empower employees and

Thursday, January 23, 2020

In Favor of Gay Marriage Essay -- Homosexual Gay Lesbian Same Sex Ethi

In the twentieth century, America has undergone vast changes in family styles. Because of the increase in many gays and lesbians speaking out, we see a new emphasis on the word family. "Many gays and lesbians have decided to come out of the closet shaking up an issue that has made a ruckus between Americans" (Carey 2). We find that the Defense of Marriage Act states that marriage should be between one man and one woman for federal purposes; but is this fair? The United States was founded on the belief of equality, loyalty, and justice for all. The phrase for all means for everyone; not everyone besides gays and lesbians. One issue that has struck Americans is that gays and lesbians want to adopt children and start a family. If gays and lesbians could marry they wouldn't have to go through all kinds of trouble to adopt kids. Whether the child is from a previous heterosexual marriage gone bad, artificial insemination, an agreement between a gay and lesbian, or co- parent adoption, gays and lesbians will continue to fight for their rights and find ways to create a fa...

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Night World : Witchlight Chapter 5

Everything hung in the balance, and for a moment Keller thought that they had won. Diana's face looked different, older and more clearly defined. For all her flower-petal prettiness, she had a strong little chin. But she didn't say anything, and her eyes were still hazy. â€Å"Toby,† Grandma Harman said abruptly. â€Å"Put in the video.† Her apprentice went to the VCR. Keller stared at the tape in his hand, her heart picking up speed. A video. Could that be what she thought it was? â€Å"What you're about to see is-well, let's just say it's very secret,† Grandma Harman said to Iliana as the apprentice fiddled with the controls. â€Å"So secret that there's only one tape of it, and that stays locked up in Circle Daybreak headquarters at all times. I'm the only person I trust to carry it around. All right, Toby, play it.† Iliana looked at the TV apprehensively. â€Å"What is it?† The old woman smiled at her. â€Å"Something the enemy would really like to see. It's a record of the other Wild Powers-in action.† The first scene on the tape was live news coverage of a fire. A little girl was trapped in a second-story apartment, and the flames were getting closer and closer. Suddenly, the tape went into slow motion, and a blue flash lit the screen. When the flash died away, the fire was out. â€Å"The blue fire,† Grandma Harman said. â€Å"The first Wild Power we found did that, smothered those ordinary flames with a single thought. That's just one example of what it can do.† The next scene was of a dark-haired young man. This one was obviously deliberately filmed; the boy was looking directly into the camera. He took a knife from his belt and very coolly made a cut on his left wrist. Blood welled up in the wound and dripped to the ground. â€Å"The second Wild Power,† Grandma Harman said. â€Å"A vampire prince.† The boy turned and held out the arm that was bleeding. The camera focused on a large boulder about thirty feet away. And then the tape went into slow motion again, and Keller could actually see the blue fire shoot out from his hand. It started as a burst, but what followed was a steady stream. It was so bright that the camera couldn't deal with it; it bleached out the rest of the picture. But when it hit the rock, there was no doubt about what happened. The two-ton boulder exploded into gravel. When the dust settled, there was only a charred crater in the ground. The dark-haired boy looked back at the camera, then shrugged and targeted another boulder. He wasn't even sweating. Keller's breath came out involuntarily. Her heart was pounding, and she knew her eyes were glittering. She saw Galen glance sideways at her but ignored him. Power like that, she thought. I never really imagined it. If I had that power, the things I could do with it†¦ Before she could help herself, she had turned to him. â€Å"Don't you see? That's what you'll bring to our side if you choose to fight with us. That's what's going to give us a chance against them. You have to do it, don't you understand?† It was the wrong thing to say. Diana's reaction to the video had been completely different from Keller's own. She was staring at the TV as if she were watching open-heart surgery. Unsuccessful open-heart surgery. I don't – I can't do anything like that!† â€Å"Diana-â€Å" â€Å"And I don't want to! No. Look.† A veil seemed to have dropped down behind Diana's beautiful eyes. She was facing Keller, but Keller wondered if she actually saw anything. She spoke rapidly, almost frantically. â€Å"You said you had to talk to me, so I listened. I even watched your-your special effects stuff.† She waved a hand at the screen where the boy was blowing up more boulders. â€Å"But now it's over, and I'm going home. This is all-I don't know. It's all too weird for me! I'm telling you, I can't do that kind of thing. You're looking at the wrong person.† â€Å"We looked at all your cousins first,† Grandma Harman said. â€Å"Thea and Blaise. Gillian, who was a lost witch like yourself. Even poor Sylvia, who was seduced over to the enemy side. But it was none of them. Then we found you.† She leaned forward, trying to hold Diana with her eyes. â€Å"You have to accept it, child. It's a great responsibility and a great burden, but no one else can do it for you. Come and take your place with us.† Iliana wasn't listening. It was as simple as that. Keller could almost see the words bouncing off her. And her eyes†¦ Not a veil, Keller thought. A wall had dropped down. It had slammed into place, and Diana was hiding behind it. â€Å"If I don't get home soon, my mother's going to go crazy. I just ran out for a few minutes to get some gold stretchy ribbon-you know, the kind that has like a rubber band inside? It seems like I'm always looking for that. We have some from last year, but it's already tied, and it won't fit on the presents I'm doing.† Keller stared at her, then cast a glance heavenward. She could see the others staring, too. Winnie's mouth was hanging open. Nissa's eyebrows were in her hair. Galen looked dismayed. Grandma Harman said, â€Å"If you won't accept your responsibilities as a Wild Power, will you at least do your duty as the Witch Child? The winter solstice is next Saturday. On that night, there's going to be a meeting of the shapeshifters and the witches. If we can show them a promise ceremony between you and the son of the First House of the shapeshifters, the shapeshifters will join us.† Keller half expected Iliana to explode. And in the deepest recesses of her own heart, she wouldn't really have blamed her. She could understand Iliana losing it and saying, What do you think you're doing, waltzing in and trying to hitch me up to some guy I've never met? Asking me to fight is one thing but ordering me to marry-giving me away like some object-that's another. But Iliana didn't say anything like that. She said, â€Å"And I've still got so many presents to wrap, and I'm not anywhere near done shopping. Plus, this week at school is going to be completely crazy. And Saturday, that's the night Jaime and Brett Ashton-Hughes are having their birthday party. I can't miss that.† Keller lost it. â€Å"What is wrong with you? Are you deaf or just stupid?† Iliana talked right over her. â€Å"They're twins, you know. And I think Brett kind of likes me. Their family is really rich, and they live in this big house, and they only invite a few people to their parties. All the girls have crushes on him. Brett, I mean.† â€Å"No,† Keller answered her own question. â€Å"You're just the most selfish, spoiled little brat I've ever met!† â€Å"Keller,† Nissa said quietly. â€Å"It's no good. The harder you push her, the more she goes into denial.† Keller let out her breath. She knew that it was true, but she had never been more frustrated in her life. Grandma Harman's face suddenly looked very old and very tired. â€Å"Child, we can't force you to do anything. But you have to realize that we're not the only ones who want you. The other side knows about you, too. They won't give up, and they will use force.† â€Å"And they've got a lot of force.† Keller turned to the old woman. â€Å"I need to tell you about that. I didn't want to say it on the phone, but they already tried to get Iliana once today. We had to fight them at the mall.† She took a deep breath. â€Å"And they had a dragon.† Grandma Harman's head jerked up. Those steely lavender-gray eyes fixed on Keller. â€Å"Tell me.† Keller told everything. As she did, Grandma Harman's face seemed to get older and older, sinking into haggard lines of worry and sadness. But all she said at the end was, â€Å"I see. Well have to try to find out how they got him, and what exactly his powers are. I don't think there's anybody alive today who's an expert on-those creatures.† â€Å"They called him Azhdeha.† â€Å"Hmm-sounds Persian.† â€Å"It is,† Galen said. ‘It's one of the old names for the constellation Draco. It means ‘man-eating serpent'† Keller looked at him in surprise. He had been sitting quietly all this time, listening without interrupting. Now he was leaning forward, his gold-green eyes intense. â€Å"The shapeshifters have some old scrolls about dragons. I think you should ask for them. They might give some idea about what powers they have and how to fight them. I saw the scrolls once, but I didn't really study them; I don't think anybody has.† He'd seen the ancient scrolls? Then he was a shapeshifter, after all. But why hadn't she been able to sense an animal form for him? â€Å"Galen-† Keller began, but Grandma Harman was speaking. ‘It's a good idea. When I get them, I'll send copies to you and Keller. He's one of your people, after all, and you may be able to help figure out how to fight him.† Keller wanted to say indignantly that he wasn't any connection to her, but of course it wasn't true. The dragons had ruled the shapeshifters, once. Their blood still ran in the First House, the Drache family that ruled the shapeshifters today. Whatever that monster was, he was one of her people. â€Å"So it's decided. Keller, you and your team will take Iliana home. I'll go back to Circle Daybreak and try to find out more about dragons. Unless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked at Iliana. â€Å"Unless this discussion has changed your mind.† Iliana, unbelievably, was still prattling, having a conversation about presents with nobody in particular. It was clear that her mind hadn't changed. What wasn't clear to Keller was whether she had a mind. But Keller had other things to worry about. Tm sorry-but you're not serious, are you? About taking her home?† â€Å"Perfectly serious,*' Grandma Harman said. â€Å"But we can't† â€Å"We can, and we have to. You three girls will be her bodyguards-and her friends. I'm hoping that you can persuade her to accept her responsibility by Saturday night at midnight, when the shapeshifters and the witches convene. But if not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Grandma Harman bowed her head slightly, leaning on her cane. She was looking at Iliana. â€Å"If not,† she said in a barely audible voice, â€Å"you'll just have to protect her for as long as you can.† Keller was choking. 1 don't see how we can protect her at all. With all respect, ma'am, it's an insane idea. They have to know where her house is by now. Even if we stick beside her twenty-four hours a day-and I don't see how we can even do that, with her family around-â€Å" The white head came up, and there was even a faint curve to the old woman's lips. ‘Illtake care of that. Ill have a talk with her mother-young Anna, Elspeth's granddaughter.Ill introduce myself and explain that her daughter's long-lost cousins' have come to visit for Christmas.† And undoubtedly do something witchy to Anna's mind, Keller thought Yeah, after that they'd be accepted, although none of them looked a bit like Iliana's cousins. â€Å"And then I will put up wards around that house.† There was a flash like silver lightning in Grandma Harman's eyes as she said it â€Å"Wards that will hold against anything from the outside. As long as nobody inside disturbs them, you'll be safe.† She cocked an eyebrow at Keller. â€Å"Satisfied?† â€Å"I'm sorry-no. It's still too dangerous.† â€Å"Then what would you suggest we do?† â€Å"Kidnap her,† Keller said instantly. She could hear Iliana stop babbling in the background; she wasn't gaining any Brownie points there. She bulldozed on grimly. â€Å"Look, I'm just a grunt; I obey orders. But I think that she's too important for us to just let her run around loose where they might get hold of her. I think we should take her to a Circle Daybreak enclave like the ones where the other Wild Powers are. Where we can protect her from the enemy.† Grandma Harman looked her in the eye. â€Å"If we do that,† she said mildly, â€Å"then we are the enemy.† There was a pause. Keller said, â€Å"With all respect, ma'am-â€Å" â€Å"I don't want your respect. I want your obedience. The leaders of Circle Daybreak made a firm decision when this whole thing started. If we can't convince a Wild Power by reasoning, we will not resort to force. So your orders are to take your team and stay with this child and protect her as long as you can.† â€Å"Excuse me.† It was Galen. The others had been sitting and watching silently. Nissa and Winnie were too smart to get involved in an exchange like this, but Keller could see that they were both unhappy. â€Å"What is it?† Grandma Harman asked. â€Å"If you don't mind, I'd like to go with them. I could be another ‘cousin.' It would make four of us to watch over her-better odds.† Keller thought she might have an apoplexy. She was so mad, she couldn't even get words out While she was choking uselessly, Galen was going on. His face still looked pale and strained, like a young soldier coming back from battle, but his dark gold hair was shining, and his eyes were steady. His whole attitude was one of earnest pleading. Tm not a fighter, but maybe I can learn. After all, that's what we're asking Iliana to do, isn't it? Can we ask anything of her that we're not ready to do ourselves?† Grandma Harman, who had been frowning, now looked him up and down appraisingly. â€Å"You have a fine young mind,† she said. â€Å"Like your father's. He and your mother were both strong warriors, as well.† Galen's eyes darkened. ‘Td hoped I wouldn't have to be one. But it looks like we can't always choose.† Keller didn't know what they were talking about or why the Crone of all the Witches knew the parents of this guy she'd met in a mall. But she'd finally gotten the obstruction out of her throat. â€Å"No way!† she said explosively. She was on her feet now, too, black hair flying as she looked from Grandma Harman to Galen. â€Å"I mean it. There is no way I am taking this boy back with us. And you may be the leader of the witches, ma'am, but, no offense intended, I don't think you have the authority to make me. I'd have to hear it from the leaders of Circle Daybreak themselves, from Thierry Descouedres or Lady Hannah. Or from the First House of the shapeshifters.† Grandma Harman gave an odd snort. Keller ignored it. ‘It's not just that he's not a fighter. He's not involved in this. He doesn't have any part in it.† Grandma Harman looked at Galen, not entirely approvingly. â€Å"It seems you've been keeping secrets. Are you going to tell her, or shall I?† â€Å"I-† Galen turned from her to Keller. â€Å"Listen. I'm sorry-I should have mentioned it before.† His eyes were embarrassed and apologetic. ‘It just-there just didn't seem to be a right time.† He winced. â€Å"I wasn't in that mall today accidentally. I came by to look for Iliana. I wanted to see her, maybe get to know her a little.† Keller stared at him, not breathing. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He winced again. â€Å"I'm Galen Drache†¦ of the First House of the shapeshifters,† Keller blinked while the room revolved briefly. I should have known. I should have realized. That's why he seemed like a shapeshifter, but I couldn't get any animal sense from him. Children of the First House weren't born connected to any particular animal. They had power over all animals, and they were allowed to choose when they became adults which one they would shift into. It also explained how he'd known which pressure points to use to get her off the dragon. And his telepathy-children of the First House could connect to any animal mind. When the room settled back into place, Keller realized that she was still standing there, and Galen was still looking at her. His eyes were almost beseeching. ‘I should have explained,† he said. â€Å"Well, of course, it was your choice,† Keller said stiffly. There was an unusual amount of blood in her cheeks; she could feel it burning. She went on, â€Å"And, naturally, I'm sorry if anything I've said has given offense.† â€Å"Keller, please don't be formal.† â€Å"Let's see, I haven't greeted you properly, or given you my obedience.† Keller took his hand, which was well made, long-fingered, and cold. She brought it to her forehead. â€Å"Welcome, Drache, son of the First House of the shapeshifters. I'm yours to command, naturally.† There was a silence. Keller dropped Galen's hand. Galen looked miserable. â€Å"You're really mad now, aren't you?† he observed. â€Å"1 wish you every happiness with your new bride,† Keller said through her teeth. She couldn't figure out exactly why she was so mad. Sure, she'd been made a fool of, and now she was going to have to take responsibility for an untrained boy who couldn't even shapeshift into a mouse. But it was more than that. He's going to marry that whiny little flower in the corner, a voice in Keller's head whispered. He has to marry her, or at least go through a promise ceremony that's just as binding as marriage. If he doesn't, the shapeshifters will never join with the witches. They've said so, and they'll never back down. And if they don't join with the witches . .. everything you've ever worked for is finished. And your job is to persuade the flower to do her duty, the voice continued brightly. That means you've got to convince her to marry him. Instead of eating her. Keller's temper flared. I don't want to eat her, she snapped back at the voice. And I don't care who this idiot marries. It's none of my business. She realized that the room was still silent, and everyone was watching Iliana and Galen. Iliana had stopped prattling. She was looking at Galen with huge violet eyes. He was looking back, strained and serious. Then he turned to Keller again. â€Å"I'd still like to help, if you'll let me come.† â€Å"I told you, I'm yours to command,† Keller said shortly. â€Å"It's your decision. I'd like to mention that it just makes things a little harder on my team. Now we're going to have to look out for you as well as her. Because, you see, you're not expendable after all.† â€Å"I don't want you to look out for me,† he said soberly. â€Å"I'm not important.† Keller wanted to say, Don't be an idiot. No you, no promise ceremony, no treaty. It's as simple as that. We've got to protect you. But she'd already said more than enough. Toby was retrieving the tape from the VCR. Grandma Harman was making getting-ready-to-rise motions with her cane. â€Å"I think we've stayed here long enough,† she said to Keller. Keller nodded stiffly. â€Å"Would you like to come in the limo? Or would you rather follow us to her house?† Grandma Harman opened her mouth to answer, but she never got the chance. Keller's ears caught the sound of movement outside just before the living room window shattered.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Internet Is A Mixed Weapon Essay - 1838 Words

Samar Fahmy Professor Bader English 80 28 October 2015 The Internet is a Mixed Weapon The Internet is negatively affecting our society thinks and lives. The social media can be taken in various ways. Many individuals trust that the Internet harms the society. The social media are changing the way people communicate and the way they are perceived, negatively. Undoubtedly, others trust that the media invigorate one’s idea process. It makes people consider what is really happening today and to realize what will happen in the future. The Internet is not only one thing, it’s a collection of things-of numerous communication networks. For the past 10 years, the people have been trained to use different media. However, the internet is becoming the umbrella. According to Steven Johnson, an author of nine books, largely on the intersection of science, technology, and personal experience, in his article â€Å"the Internet† â€Å"the online word offered resources that help sustain more complex programming in other media, but because the process of acclimating to the new reality off work communications has had a salutary effect on our minds. [†¦] [I]t is one thing to adapt to lifestyles to include time for sitting around watching a movie image on the screen; it’s quite another to learn a whole new language of communication and a small orange off software tools along with it (27).What he meant byShow MoreRelatedThe Twitter Hypocrisy Of Kenneth Roth845 Words   |  4 Pageswhich are preferred t o be hidden. In the article, â€Å"The Twitter hypocrisy of Kenneth Roth: using ‘human rights’ as a weapon against Israel,† Kenneth Roth, who is the executive director of Human Rights Watch, tweets that Israel allegedly has committed many war crimes in the war between Israel and Hamas, but what he fails to mention is that the soldiers of Hamas place their terrorist weapons in populated civilian areas intentionally, and they have more than ample warning from the Israeli forces before aRead MoreBrutality of Bioterrorism and Biowarfare Essays1623 Words   |  7 Pagesstreets. Over the night, a government-run biological experiment dealing with germ weapons had been released, infecting, destroying, and causing panic across the globe. As a single, globalized society, we need to heighten our security against biological weapons and biological terror to prevent the endangerment of mankind. It would be most beneficial to our species if we did not try to use or experiment with biological weapons, seeing as they are engineered specifically to create social, economic, governmentalRead MoreImpact Of Technology In Law Enforcement1494 Words   |  6 Pagessubjects have stolen a police cruiser or been able to retrieve a weapon from a police cruiser. They have upgraded the security in most police cruisers by adding a switch or a special way to put the police cruiser in gear that only the officers should know about, so when someone tries to drive off they will be confused about why the vehicle won’t go in gear and that will stop a lot of trouble from happing. Now with the safety of having weapons in the cruiser they have added more secure gun locks and specialRead MoreISIS Case Study1508 Words   |  7 PagesThe main concern in Europe (and indeed the USA) would be ISIS’ ability to mount a chemical weapon attack on their soils. Such an attack, whilst perhaps not a mass-casualty scenario, would rock the receiving country to its very core and promote ISIS to the forefront of CBRN terrorism. The ensuing panic would have a destabilising effect on the target population, and would cause economic turmoil if it targeted a central business district. Whilst this would certainly not be easy, with such a wealth ofRead MoreHispanic Gangs: Not Just a California Problem Anymore1475 Words   |  6 Pagesa jersey having the number â€Å"67† on it does not signify a particular gang, 6 and 7 can be added together to become 13, thereby denoting an affiliation with Los Sureà ±os. Baggy and loose fitting clothing is also a good way for gang members to hide weapons and drugs. Any gang evolves out of the need, or rather the perceived need, for protection against another group usually from another gang or the government. They can also form from a need to assert power. This notion is no different among HispanicRead MoreA Look Into The Culture Of Yemen1329 Words   |  6 Pageshas declined in the recent year due to the ongoing civil war (Bayoumy, 2016). In 2012, 13.9 million people had cellular phones for communicating and in 2009, there was only 2.3 million people labeled as internet users (â€Å"Yemen communications 2016, CIA world Factbook,† 1995). Having the internet is a luxury and not a priority of Yemen. Overall, the urban areas, infrastructure and lines of communication are underdeveloped and very poor (Advameg, n.d.). Military conflict within or affecting a countryRead MoreBritish American Influence on Australia1015 Words   |  5 PagesHowever many Australian acts, such as Men at Work and INXS, were also enjoying local and international success. American films were dominant at the Australian box office. The 1980s became the era of the big-budget action film. The Terminator ,Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Ghostbusters, E.T., the Empire Strikes Back were all successful examples from the 80’s. American soap operas like Dallas and Dynasty were popular in Australia in the 1980s. Sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Family Ties rated highly, alongRead MoreWorld War I ( 1914-1918 ) Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages(1701-1713), Seven Years War (1756-1763), The American Revolutionary War; fought between Britain and its colonies in which England was aided by the Spanish and the French, the Dutch-Portuguese War (1580s - 1650s), which some historians say it was mixed with the Eighty Years War between Spain and the Dutch republic, and afterwards the Thirty Years War. All these conflicts had a snowball effect and they kept building up until a major World War broke out. The Great war or the First World War beganRead MoreFalse Truths, Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness1538 Words   |  7 Pagesand propaganda, like 1984, play a significance in our democratic society along with the functioning of our government along with the government itself. To begin with, when one sees the news, especially about politics, it is usually carried with mixed feelings. In our media, politics shown can be reflected off of biased information. It is exaggerated to the extent where it becomes ambiguous from a truth or lie. Recent news about trials and light sentences for specific crimes involving a certainRead MoreEssay on Video Games and Violence1481 Words   |  6 Pagespatterns of violence across media, there are also distinct differences (Weber) There were a few weakness I seen in the research study like they forget about another mess media that just as if not more popular than video games and television the internet. Internet is very important especially today society. Another weakness is that they didn’t explain more about the distinct differences between the television and video games. I couldn’t really find any differences between the two mass media. The researchers