Case Analysis: Staffing Wal-Mart Stores Essay

Wal-Mart has been ranked in the Fortune’s list of the top 100 companies to work for in the United States (Mark, 2003). Wal-Mart had increased their workforce from 1996 to 2001 by almost 50 percent, of which the percentage of women decreased from 67 percent to 64 percent during this time. Wal- Mart had used a hierarchical human resources (HR) structure that consisted of several levels of management, divisions, and regions. â€Å"In 2001, management employees earned about $50,000 on average while hourly employees earned $18,000† (Mark, 2003). Wal-Mart’s â€Å"Division One† had over 2,600 stores which were organized in five or six divisions, with five or six regions within their given area, and 80 to 85 stores within each region (Mark, 2003). Policies were set on a computer-based information system that employees could access at any time, along with watching videos on the company’s history, and reading the associate handbook. Promotions were given based on performance evaluations and requirements. Certain allegations were made that Wal-Mart was more male oriented in higher-level positions, and overall hiring more men than women. Wal-Mart created a goal to make the percentage of women employees 50 percent of the workforce. A problem exists in that Wal-Mart has fought off any organizing attempts of unions by their employees, which limits employees’ influence on policies and company process’s. This problem filters down to the hiring and promotional process that occurs within the company. As stated in the case study, â€Å"†¦from date of hire until first being promoted to an assistant manager was 4.38 years for women and 2.86 years for men. For store managers, the times were 10.12 years and 8.64 years respectively† (Mark, 2003). From the numbers, men were promoted faster than women, but Wal-Mart states that promotions were given based on performance evaluations. Furthermore, it was stated store managers filled positions with lateral moves and waiving minimum requirements as a way of bypassing the process (Mark, 2003). Wal-Mart published documents to reflect how committed they are to fair practices. On the flip side, the public can now scrutinize Wal-Mart by using their public reports against them. A public article stated, â€Å"women associates had stated that Wal-Mart supervisors told them that men were paid more because they had families† (Mark, 2003). Included in the same article was a Wal-Mart official that admitted to writing that customers should feel as if they can trust Wal-Mart employees â€Å"with their wife and their wallet† (Mark, 2003). Additional information would have to be offered pertaining to the required practices and process’s Wal-Mart has in place for the hiring of employees and promoting employees from within the company. Does Wal-Mart have a policy where an entry-level employee can be hired, and managers and supervisors are promoted from within the company? Surveys and reports taken from current employees for their thoughts on the numbers of men to women in various positions will help with determining where and how severe the problem is. Why is Wal-Mart continuously voted one of the best company’s to work for if there was a serious problem internally? Possible solutions to the problem can range from having more People Division (HR) employees to oversee a smaller number of stores, to filtering public reports that may potentially create a negative perception of the company. Implementing more People Division employees within each region will allow more attention to be given for each store. Wal-Mart looks to move towards making their employment equity record balanced. This is apparent when taking into consideration the numerous letters to managers to push for making the numbers of men to women more equal. Wal-Mart can filter applications submitted and have them separated and reviewed on an as needed basis on what gender is needed more at a specific store. Rank the applications per region based on specific qualifications and gender. Then rank the region and the stores within this region on which store needs more women or men employees. For promoting employees, a minimum requirements list should be associated with each job position. A series of events should happen for each promotion beginning with the supervising manager and ending with the People Division Executive Vice President. Possible candidates are nominated and then screened by higher-level management along with those that apply. Only employees that meet all the requirements should be considered. Regional management will have the biggest influence on the hiring or promotion of an employee since they are ultimately responsible for that region. To be equal to all candidates applying for a given promotion, a test or jeopardy style game should be played and the winner is given first chance to take job. The test and game questions will pertain to company policies, job duties, and associate handbook information. Another solution would be for the employees to form a union. This would give the employees some power to fight for their working rights. Unionizing the employees would give them some power to make sure all employees were treated fairly within their workplace. Adding more people to the People Division will increase employee expenses for the company. Also, the addition of more People Division employees will create more training to be done and could take People Division employees away from their daily responsibilities. On the other hand, the addition of more People Division employees could help with balancing out a gender issue and hiring more of one gender than the other. More People Division employee’s means that you can have more HR employees present at more stores at one time. This will help with moving towards employment equity faster and mitigating any problems quicker. This may be the best solution for Wal-Mart and maintaining their reputation for being one the best companies to work for. As for the filtering of applications, having minimum requirements set for each job, and regional management having a large influence on the decision for who gets promoted, this would all cause more attention for them. Filtering applications may already be done, but this can lead to being accused of discrimination. Wal-Mart stating that they â€Å"urge† their supervisors to correct any inequalities in the store that pertain to gender is already a basis for being accused of gender discrimination. A store has fewer women than men and the store hires women to balance it out. The men are being discriminated now. An employee of a specific gender is promoted to balance out the men to women ratio amongst regional and store managers. That is still discrimination towards the opposing gender. It would be a lose-lose situation for Wal-Mart. Holding a test and a jeopardy style game could be a viable screening act to allow the most knowledgeable, company savvy person to be first in line for the promotion. The questions will pertain to specific company policies, job duties and responsibilities, and associate handbook. The negative part of this would be creating a competitive environment that can distract employees from their job. Also, time would have to be taken to allow for the taking of the test and the playing of the game, and the possibility of several promotions at the same time would pose a problem. The formation of a union for the Wal-Mart employees would have great benefits for them, but possible negative aspects at the workplace. Being unionized means that the employees would make less money due to union dues, but could have better benefits and more job security. Wal-Mart holds the power by keeping unions out and keeping the power to make decisions without possible employee strikes. Hiring or implementing more People Division employees would play as the best solution for the problem. Increasing the amount of â€Å"eyes† the People Division have in the stores will help with the hiring and promoting of employees to be done quicker. Having more People Division employees means more time at stores and with employees educating them on issues at the workplace, company culture, and the process’s that the company has in place. Rather than regional and area managers visiting every few weeks, there would be a People Division employee visiting a few times a week. The new People Division employees could put more policies in place due to the familiarity of the stores. These policies will be enforced more having the HR employee present more often. This could also alleviate the perception of customers and employees that think men are promoted more based on their gender. Specific requirements are present with each job position and the best candidate for that position would get it. Performance evaluations can help validate a manager’s decision on which he/she nominates to be promoted. A man or woman who are both in the running for the same position, and they both meet the requirements and have similar performance evaluation reports, the person that has been with the company the longest will then be chosen. The article mainly pertains to the employment equity goal within Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart’s constant push against the employees unionizing has allowed them to expand, become the low price leader, and keep company costs low. References Mark, K. (2003). Staffing Wal-Mart Stores, INC. (A) [case study]. Ivey Management Services. Mark, K. (2003). Staffing Wal-Mart Stores, INC. (B) [case study]. Ivey Management Services.

Australia

Ukraine-Russia conflict effect on global commodity prices. There are Domestic Economic Risks, Business Investment- Transition from large drop- off of committed investment. Exports- Project delays, delayed production ramp-up Labor Demand- Weaker labor market conditions from declining resources investment.Housing- Growth will be weaker if dwelling investment does not recover strongly as forecast. Australia has an abundant and diverse range of energy resources. It has very large coal resources that underpin exports and low-cost domestic electricity production, ore than one third of the world's known uranium resources, and substantial conventional gas and coal seam gas resources. These can support Australia's domestic needs and exports for many years to come.Identified resources of crude oil, condensate and liquefied petroleum gas are more limited and Australia is increasingly reliant on imports for transport fuels. The expected advances in technology by 2030 will allow them to make a gr owing contribution to Australia's future energy supply. By this time Australia's energy consumption pattern is expected to change significantly. While fossil fuels (coal, oil and increasingly gas) will intention to dominate the energy mix, renewable energy sources, notably wind, are expected to become increasingly more significant.Korea is Australia's fourth-largest trading partner, and Australia is Koreans seventh largest trading-partner, with trade volumes of approximately $30 billion in 2013, so it's not surprising that both countries are trying to conclude a Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FAT). Given the fact that the energy and resources sector accounts for nearly half of that, it will be particularly important for industry participants to understand the main opportunities that will arise once the FAT is finalized. Lion of iron ore and concentrates, $1. Billion of crude petroleum and $700 million of liquefied natural gas. Koreans largest export to Australia was refined p etroleum, coming in at approximately $3 billion. Official estimates are that Australia provides approximately 75% of Koreans iron ore and around 40% of its coal. According to the Australian Government, the FAT could increase trade between the two countries by 23% by 2030, with 17% attributable to an increase in the trade of energy and resources products. This FAT will improve Australia-Korea economic ties and will protect Post-crisis environment.

Debut Speech Essay

During my 18 years, I’ve learned how important family is. Your family will always be there for you no matter what. My family supports me in everything I do. All their time and money cannot express how much they love me because love is more than any of that. Love between families is a special bond of time, laughs, smiles and memories. Love is something that family doesn’t have to say to each other because we already know and I am blessed to have a family that loves me in every way possible. As for friends, I’ve learned something important about friends. You will meet many people throughout your days and for a moment in time you will be that person’s friend or more. Friends are the ones that stay by your sides during the bad and will never intentionally stab you in the back. To all my friends here tonight, thank you for everything; I hope we’ll continue our friendship for many more years to come. Ahead is a new journey, not only for me but for all of us. And what I have to say to that, â€Å"Challenge accepted. I can only imagine the way my parents are going to feel watching me grow up more and more and having to let go little by little each day but even then my imagination cannot comparable to the feelings they feel. Even then, I willingly accept this new chapter of my life which I wouldn’t have been able to reach without every single one of you. No matter how small to how big of an impact you’ve had in my life, I thank you all equall y. So now I will end my speech with a thank you. Thank you for joining me in celebrating my 18th birthday. Thank you Mc Three McQueens for taking those beautiful pictures for this debut especially to kuya Michael and Kuya Chieboy. Thank you Kuya Elvin Sagun and Kuya Jervyn for coming over countless times to help with all the planning. Thank you cousins and Leo for helping me. Thank you kuya Frederic Rodriguez for making my dream dress. To my friends, classmates titas, ninongs and ninangs for sharing this special day that I will cherish forever. And a special thank you to my Mama and Papa for making this all possible. I love all of you very much!

Information and Systems Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Information and Systems Security - Essay Example But with this ease of information access comes the issue of security. With the increase of information flow, there has been an increase in the number of attacks on information by hackers. Attacks such as Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, Spoofs, Sniffing, etc. have increased with the increase in the availability of hacking tools which are free of cost. Valuable information is lost in the process. For example, if a customer buys a product of a particular organization through their web-site and a hacker presents himself as the organization and receives the money from the customer, valuable information such as the ID of the customer, his credit card numbers, his passwords are all stolen by the hacker. Therefore such information has to be transferred securely over the Internet. Encryption is the most common way of securing valuable information while transmitting over the Internet (Rahman, 2003). Networks are secured in a different manner. They are secured using tools called "Firewalls". W henever transactions or information between a customer and an organization are being carried out, a particular pattern is followed. Firewalls recognize and allow only these transactions or processes to be carried out and block out all the unrecognized patterns. By implementing Firewalls, most of the attacks from the hackers can be kept out. Securing a network just does not happen. There are many issues to be considered when making policies for network security. The three main issues back in the earlier days were Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. Due to the advances in the technologies, these issues have been mostly resolved. But in the present day Networks, other issues have appeared. These issues will eventually result in the breaching of confidentiality, integrity and availability thereby defeating the cause of coming up with Network Security policies. Security Factors Confidentiality: Confidentiality is ensuring that sensitive information does not fall into the hands of those who are not authorized to have it (Dhillon, 2001). Confidentiality is also known as secrecy or privacy. Integrity: Integrity means that the information is protected against unauthorized changes that are not detectable to authorized users (Kinkus, nd). Authenticity: Authentication means that the parties involved in communication first prove their identity before communication can begin (Tipton & Krause, 2007). Threats Risk to Data Data is the most crucial asset of a company. Remote Data Backups Inc, a leader in data security mentions the following possible reasons for threats to data (RemoteDataBackups.com, 2007): Hard Drive Failures: Hard drives are mechanical magnetic storage devices that are extremely susceptible to failure. Head crashes, circuit board shorts, electrostatic shocks, power surges, etc. can all lead to immediate crash of the hard drives. Viruses: Dangerous viruses can easily wipe out tones of data in matter of seconds. They are designed to affect nearly all parts of an IT system such as Operating Systems, Applications, Networks and Databases. System Changes: Making any inadvertent changes to an IT system may render the system useless. Power Failure: Power surges, sags and failures can damage hard drives

Market research proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market - Research Proposal Example It has been two years since the company decided to include C&C on the Irish and London Stock Exchange. The initial public offering in May 2004 became an enormous success as numerous investors have been eyeing the company for years. This event has caused significant changes to the company's manufacturing and marketing departments. In addition to that, this public openness of the company to different investors has become the object of a great deal of criticisms when it comes to the company's privacy and the health and safety effects. Logically, beverage industry is one of the riskiest industries when it comes to the health and safety of employees (Paterson, 2001). Fortunately, the company has protected its employees and avoided the risks the different operations in beverage industry entail. Yet, the public stock offering was perceived by some analysts as catalysts in the different risks of the company. Also, the stock offering of the company in the international market has changed the market's perception of C&C from a private company to a mass-oriented enterprise. Hence, this research aims to investigate and analyse the changes the company underwent after its initial public offering. ... Other sources will include interviews and random surveys to the Irish market. This is essential in order to identify the public's perception of the company and what has to be changed to leverage the company's assets (Taylor, 2000). Basically, the population to be investigated comprises of the present market of Bulmers and Magners. This population will include both patronisers and nonpatronisers of Bulmers and Magners. They will be picked randomly and materials will be gathered through normative methods such as surveys and questionnaires. The materials gathered will be investigated, categorised and tabulated in order to be evaluated. The researcher will use statistical and nonstatistical methods to strategically interpret the materials gathered into stable conclusions. Thus, these statistical and nonstatistical methods to be used by the researcher, together with sufficient evidences, will represent the qualitative and quantitative interpretations. Basically, the major conclusions will comprise of the qualitative research. Yet, it has to be supported by quantitative results to further support the findings (Lowry, 1999). Moreover, there is an abundance of literature which may greatly help in evaluating the materials. The aim of this study is to expand that issue by collating and reviewing useful and related literatures. Determining the current position of Bulmers and Magners in Irish and international markets is helpful in drawing an overall picture of the situation, enabling the researcher to provide recommendations on how the current practices in the company can be improved to closely align the market positions of the two C&C brands. Although the research will

The Environment and the Hospitality Industry Essay

The Environment and the Hospitality Industry - Essay Example In the current global economic crisis, there are however various issues which are threats and which have threatened the hospitality industry. These issues mostly impact on the profitability of the industry and its related businesses. This paper shall consider environmental issues, including global warming and pollution – issues which are impacting on the hospitality industry. It shall also present a critique of appropriate literature which relates to this issue. This paper is being carried out in order to establish a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, as well as the pertinent issues which relate to its application. There are various issues which are impacting on the hospitality industry. One such issue relates to the environment and the call for sustainable development and environmentally viable hospitality design. Going green is one of the clamors in the current hospitality industry, and such clamor has become more than an isolated demand, it has now become part of the mainstream demand (Wang and Wang, 2009, p. 53). Environmentalists are pressuring the hospitality industry to implement more sustainable and environmentally friendly processes in their business processes. In a report by hotelier Hasek (2007), he mentions about 10 issues which the hospitality industry is currently faced with in relation to the environment. One issue is based on the fact that it is difficult to avoid rising energy costs with such costs increasing to a significant degree each year. Another issue pointed out by Hasek (2007) is the need to design and build new hotels which meet environmental standards. This would aga in cost the industry a significant amount of money. Still another environmental issue threatening the hospitality industry is global warming itself. Some of the effects of global warming include extreme weather conditions – drought and floods – and other weather disturbances.

Organic production and sustainable agribusiness Term Paper

Organic production and sustainable agribusiness - Term Paper Example This was an important step towards achieving long-run sustainability in the industry. The development can be studied in the context of various economies of the world. For example, the agricultural and food sector of Europe has always been known for its quality and strong foundation. This industry in the continent functions according to the regulations of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which is implemented in all the countries of the European Union. Following this common model, the member nations have been able to promote agricultural growth in their own respective economies which has been able to satisfy the food demand of the European citizens and also generate some surplus produce for exporting to the foreign economies. Europe has set a very high standard of agricultural production based on the framework of the CAP. The importance of regulations and standardizations related to any industry is sometimes undermined thinking that they usually produce a hindrance to the growth of the industry. However, this notion is not always correct. It is an accepted fact that Europe’s CAP has been successful in harnessing the true potential of the food and agricultural sector of the continent. Europe is already reforming its CAP and plans to incorporate the amended version from 2013 onwards in the Europe 2020 Strategy. The new CAP will focus on building a self-sufficient agricultural sector which ensures food security, uses natural resources in a more sustainable method way and specially concentrates on the progress of the rural sector. Therefore, the reformed CAP will contribute significantly towards the overall Europe 2020 Strategy which would aim at the sustainable and inclusive development of the entire European Union. One of the major instruments of the CAP is its â€Å"policy on the information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products. The reform process of the CAP would involve a fundamental review of this policy. (European Commission 2 011) During the course of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association’s (IFAMA) 20th Forum, Professor Ray Goldberg predicted that the sector issuing standards and certification for the food and agricultural sector would emerge as the most dynamic sector during the next decade. Governments of various countries and many of the food companies concentrate on building their internal capacities and ensuring that they conform to the regulations in the sector. Alternatively, retailers in this sector are more focused on obtaining standard compliance through certification. In January 2011, global food prices were reported at their highest level since 1990. This produced a variety of effects in the different economies of the world – decreasing food supplies, high inflation and an overall adverse impact on economic growth and development in most countries. These effects were magnified in food deficit countries which had low per capital income. In such a situatio n, the formulation of adequate property rights and obligations for the organic food and agricultural sector assumes a huge importance. For this the concerned policy makers need to understand the futures market in agriculture, the formation of prices in this sector and the price movements. Experts are also considering the fact whether the industry requires increased rules and regulations for achieving sustainability. (IFAMA 2011) Greening Economy and the Organic Food and Agricultural Sector

Critique a Research Article Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critique a Article - Research Paper Example However, recent studies presented that almost 50%-72% of genetic elements are responsible for repeated co-occurrences of such disorders to the same patient or to the particular family tree. Thus, the research problem that has been addressed in this article is whether (cross)–assortative mating or (cross)–parent of origin effects of ASD and ADHD in parents have any relationship with the co-occurrence of either ASD or ASD with ADHD among their children. Initially, the article was aimed at discovering whether ASD and ADHD share similar structural and functional brain abnormalities which would also prove the co-occurrences of such disorders among parents and children belonging to one family tree. In order to obtain this particular aim, the authors used a series of literature studies an interview process. Subsequently, the obtained conclusion stated that the two disorders share insignificantly similar structural bases and functional brain abnormalities (Steijn, Richards, Oer lemans, Ruiter, Aken, Franke, Buitelaar & Rommelse, 2012). Evaluation of the Research Methods Used Does the author provide a literature review? One of the main reasons or motivations to use literature review in a research process is the intention to verify or justify the concerned issue with reference to prior studies and already evaluated and rationalized outcomes (Cronin, Ryan & Coughlan, 2008). However, the aim of the article was to identify and comprehend a new dimension of the concerned research phenomenon, i.e. the possibilities and the probable causes of co-occurrences of ASD and ASD with ADHD among parents and children in the same family tree. Hence, a greater emphasis is provided towards primary sources through interview rather than on literature reviews in this article. Nevertheless, the authors make use of the secondary research in the introductory part to signify the literature gap and the scope of the research. Is the Research Current and Relevant to Today Existing Heal th Issues? A large number of treatments are undertaken currently with children suffering from autism. Recent studies have depicted that almost 1 out of every 88 children is diagnosed with an ASD, among which boys have been examined as 5 times more vulnerable to girls. However, scientists have been unable to provide any valid explanation for the increase in the diagnosis (Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 2012). Moreover, it is also identified that symptoms of ADHD also create significant problems for more than half of all the children with autism or ASD syndrome. Unfortunately, both the disorders, ASD and ADHD are under recognized and under treated by doctors in majority of medical cases. Hence, there is a greater demand and need for researching on such crucial topic in order to gain significant insights about these disorders (Autism Speaks Inc, 2011). Thus, it can be stated that research on such critical topic in the current context is worth to be undertaken for ensuring enhanced public h ealth. Describe the research type utilized? – Experimental, non-experimental, quasi experimental, etc. The authors have applied experimental research type for conducting the research study in order to establish the assumed cause and effect relationship between the

1 page synopsis that you think embodies the notion of skepticism Essay

1 page synopsis that you think embodies the notion of skepticism - Essay Example He believes that huge advancements made in scientific research would enable us to meet the aliens on equal footing. The author actually means that as history of civilization has shown, development of society vis-Ã  -vis education, science and technology and democratic pattern of society has made us more tolerant and inclusive society that thrives on understanding and mutual respect. So the more advanced aliens would also behave in similar way and would prefer to understand and corroborate rather than destroy us. It is for this reason that he is skeptic of Stephen Hawking’s prophecy that aliens would be like nomads who would be colonizing planets when they reach there. The article is interesting because it discusses aliens’ invasion or their encounter with us in future. He has doubts about Stephen Hawking’s belief about the nature of encounter with aliens because of his idea that advancements have made us more civilized! Indeed, it has resulted in development but today, we have more wars and acts of violence which have become lethal due to technology. So aliens could be violent species and we should be prepared for that. (words:

Developing ethnicity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Developing ethnicity - Assignment Example Ethnicity is an important mean through which people can identify themselves. For example, it is easy for a Chinese citizen to identify another one even in countries other than China. The appearance, language, behavior, culture etc can help a person in identifying another one. â€Å"No two individuals are alike†. Same way no two ethnic groups are alike. All the ethnic groups have their own peculiarities and characteristics which segregate them from other ethnic communities. Ethnic identity can be changed even from the early childhood. Changes in ethnic identity can take place through life experiences and social interactions. Knowledge of other cultures and traits can influence a person a lot. The attitude towards other cultures is important in shaping the personality of a person. Adamant in attitudes and beliefs, would never a help a person to accept the goods from other ethnic communities. Autocratic attitudes or dictatorship is not a good character for shaping one’s personality. We must seek lessons from every experience we face in our life During my early childhood, I lived in China and was in constant touch with the Chinese community. As everybody knows, China is a country which is ruled by a socialist regime which allows only restricted freedom for religious activities. I belong to the Buddhist community and my parents were keen in brought me up by teaching me the lessons of Buddhist’s doctrines. Our religion says that â€Å"Desire is the cause of mystery† and my parents were keen in teaching this great principle to us. My father was a liberal person and he kept an open mind towards all the goods from other ethnic groups. He has kept a positive attitude towards other languages and often used some words from English language at my home. Thus I have developed a strong curiosity even from my early childhood to learn English. During my childhood I got the opportunity to play with an American boy who was staying near to my home

The secret sharer Essay Example for Free

The secret sharer Essay The secret sharer by Joseph Conrad, is a tale of two strangers who meet in unusual circumstances. Legatt who was the first mate of the Sephora, escapes his ship where he was held captive after murdering a member of his crew. He swims to another ship and admits the whole truth to the captain. Both the captain and Legatt have bad relationships with their crew and they empathise with each other. Legatt is to be kept secret from the crew. His secrets are that he has murdered and is hiding to escape punishment and death. The captains secrets are that his men, the ship and the responsibility of his first command daunt him. The two of them share these secrets with each other and an intense relationship is built between them. Thus giving the title The secret sharer.. The captain and Legatt share physical similarities, they are the same size. My sleeping suit was just right for his size (pg6-7) And they share a very close resemblance of each other; this is reflected in the description of Legatt by the captain. The shadowy, dark head, like mine (pg 7) Legatt and the captain share very similar backgrounds, which draw a closeness and bond between these two men. They both attended the same sea school. Youre a Conway boy? (pg 7) And there was only a two-year difference in age. . but being a couple of years older (pg 7) Throughout the story you can feel the connection Legatt and the captain share by both feeling complete strangers on board the ships. I knew very little of my officers! (pg 2) The complete lack of knowledge and bond is felt here between the captain and his crew. In the beginning of the story, the captain is very uneasy when he is thrown into the position of captain, of a ship traveling a long and arduous journey. The captain begins to feel insecure about running his ship and questions his ability to lead his ship. During one of the first nights on board the ship, the captain demonstrates his thoughts of insecurity and self-consciousness, when he does something that a captain would not normally do: he plans to take part in a night watch. I felt painfully that I a stranger- was doing something unusual when I directed him to let all hands turn in without getting an anchor watch. (pg 4) The captain is so self- conscious and insecure about his actions that he reacts almost painfully to the crews judgement of his orders. The captain states that he perceives himself to be a stranger amongst the others. Among his insecurities, the captain also sees himself as a stranger to himself and not fit to run his own ship. But what I felt most was my being a stranger to the ship: and if all the truth must be told, I was some what of a stranger to myself. The captain feels isolated and completely in the dark where his crew and ship are concerned, he is a complete stranger to them. . ship of which, I knew nothing, manned by men of whom I knew very little more. (pg 4) Legatt and the captain are both aware of feeling strangers aboard the ship, this draws a bond between them and closeness and understanding of each other builds their relationship. My second mate. But I dont know much more of the fellow than you do(pg 12) I was almost as much of a stranger on board as himself (pg 12)

The Bob Knowlton Case Study Essay Example for Free

The Bob Knowlton Case Study Essay Summary Bob Knowlton is the head of the Photon Lab when a new member, Simon Fester, was introduced to his lab. He begins to feel inferior to his new member and feels that he cannot voice his concerns to his superior, Dr. Jerold. After a period of events and insecurities, he finds a better position with more salary and takes the job immediately. Dr, Jerrold and Fester were shocked by Knowlton’s decision. The lab took a large hit as Fester went on to work on another project as planned. No one knew that Knowlton wanted to leave as he did so very suddenly citing fictional personal problems. Analyze the roles of those involved The main characters in the Bob Knowlton case were: Bob Knowlton the team leader of Photon Lab collaborative team leader hard working man confidence easily wavered by insecurities does not voice out problems Dr. Jerrold the supervisor of Bob Knowlton and his team has very high expectations of those working under her not observant no instinctual perception Simon Fester a new comer to the company and Photon Lab confident aggressive competitive opportunist highly intelligent non paticipative Discuss the reasons as to why what happened happened. The bringing in the newcomer: Bob Knowlton was threatened by the newcomer that was not properly introduced to him Fester just showed up without warning and began looking into things Dr. Jerold did not introduce Fester did not even for mention or hint at Knowlton for possibly having someone new join his team Simon Fester lacked tact and the human touch was too confident and arrogant to accept the way people do things and embrace it The communication breakdown: Bob Knowlton did not voice his queries or insecurities simply assumed that Fester was there to replace him did not consider speaking to his supervisor regarding his problem and started looking for another job instead Dr. Jerold did not indicate that Festers place in Knowltons team was temporary did not give earlier warning regarding Festers transfer to another project did not make any intentions of caring for Knowltons well being Simon Fester too much of an opportunist to work in a team with others did not heed the advice of whom was rightfully his team leader remained individualistic and closed off to the team until he left to work for another project Consider the personalities involved, especially those of Knowlton and Fester, and the organizational characteristics. Bob Knowlton was more of an introvert. He did not share his feelings,opinions and conflicts with his team mates, Fester or Jerold. He lacked also lacked of strong of communication skills. He did not know how to voice his concerns to Jerold or properly inform an guide Fester on his responsibilities in the team, which lead to Fester doing his own thing most of the time, without consulting with others. Simon Fester on the other hand was someone very self involved and confident. He had no qualms speaking openly of his ideas and what he wanted to do. Fester was also aggressive in his approach. He did not care for group work and was more individualistic, even to the point of making others feel inferior. Organizational characteristic: Work Group Knowlton had regular morning meetings with his members as a way to keep up to date of what was going on in the project, and discuss problems faced. However, Fester took over some of these meetings plastering himself as the team leader, and spear heading discussions, undermining Knowltons authority and the intelligence of the team at many an occasion. Open System Jerrold and Knowlton shared a mostly open relationship, Knowlton even mentioned that he enjoyed Jerold coming over to talk to him at the end of  the day. However, Knowlton did not share his problems with his superior when he had the chance of voicing them; mainly when he felt threatened by Fester’s place in the team. Imagine yourself in the position of Dr. Jerrold at the end of the case, reflecting back over the events. Is there anything you could have done, on the basis of what you knew or could have known at the time, that would have led to a more favorable outcome? State your reasoning. Dr.Jerrold could have utilized a better interpersonal communication skill. Had she made clear that she was going to hire Simon Fester and taken into consideration Bob Knowltons personality, explaining her intentions to train him to lead another project, things might have worked out very differently. Knowlton could have been less insecure regarding his position and would probably been more willing to overlook Festers lone ranger tendencies. Had Dr. Jerrold utilized interpersonal communication with Simon Fester as well, ensuring that Fester should try to work under the conditions laid out by his team leader, Fester might have better understood where he stood within the team and made more of an effort to be a team player as intelligent or talented as he may be. Dr. Jerrold could have also been more involved with the meetings, and taken an initiative to ensure that all employees were happy and satisfied.

Anti-cataract Activity of Abies Pindrow Luffa Cylindrica

Anti-cataract Activity of Abies Pindrow Luffa Cylindrica â€Å"Evaluation of in-vitro anti-cataract activity of Abies pindrow Luffa cylindrica†: A Comparative study Suchita Dubey, Sudipta Saha, Shubhini A Saraf* Abstract- Context- Cataract is the opacification of lenses resulting in blurring of vision.Oxidative stress is the major cause of many diseases including cataract. Objective- The study was designed to evaluate and compare the in-vitro anti-cataract activity of aqueous extracts of Abiespindrowleaves (APE) and Luffacylindrica fruits (LCE) against hydrogen peroxide induced cataractogenesis, using isolated goat lenses. Materials and Methods-Standardized extracts of APE and LCE were compared for their anti-cataract activity against marketed eye drops. Hydrogen peroxide (0.05M) was used to induce cataract in goat eye lenses. Photographic evaluation confirmed the clarity of lenses incubated in APE and LCE respectively. Result-.MeanGSH Value in normal lenses was found to be 2.9765 ±0.17 µg/mg of fresh weight of the lens.In the presence of APE and LCE respectively, a significant restoration of the levels of GSH as compared to the toxic control was observed. An increase in MDA level was found in the control opposed to the normal lenses (1.57 ±0.04ÃŽ ¼mol/g of fresh weight of lens; P Discussion -SOD, GSH, TPC and copper-induced lipoprotein diene formation was found to increase, whereas MDA levels significantly decreased, as the concentration of APE and LCE increased. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that monotherapy of APE and LCE respectively, has the potential to prevent cataract because of the strong antioxidant potential of each. Keywords- Antioxidant, Cataract, Hydrogen Peroxide, Abies pindrow, Luffa cylindrica Introduction- Oxidative stress has been the major cause of many diseases including cataract. The free radicals that are produced as the result of daily stress borne by the human body are scavenged by a range of antioxidant enzymes and small molecule antioxidants. Cataract is the opacification of lenses resulting in the blurring of vision. Since ancient times, India’s conventional medicinal knowledge has been extraordinarily useful in treating rarest of the rare diseases. The term cataract describes lenticular opacities that may be congenital or acquired. Systemic diseases (such as galactosemia, diabetes mellitus, Wilson disease atopic dermatitis), drugs (especially corticosteroids), radiation, trauma, and many intraocular disorders are associated with cataract. Traditional medicines have proved to be effective to an extent in curing cataract. Plants such as Embellica Officinalis (Amla) and those which are rich in gallic acid, digallic acid, ellagic acid, and tannins respectively serve as g ood anticataract options.[1] The development of the disease depends on many factors.The lens Na+- K+-ATPase activity plays an important role in maintaining lens transparency, and its impairment causes accumulation of Na+ and loss of K+ with hydration and swelling of the lens fibres leading to cataractogenesis[2] . In conjunction, aldose reductase is a lens enzyme probably involved in the development of cataract [3]. It acts on the sugars like glucose, galactose, and xylose and converts them into their respective alcohols. These alcohols, also known as polyols: accumulate within the lens thereby producing osmotic effects. Since polyols are not capable of either diffusing out easily nor are metabolizes rapidly, they may cause hyper tonicity responsible for the formation of cataract [4]. Oxidative mechanism plays an important role in biological phenomena including cataract formation. The formation of superoxide radicals in the aqueous humor and in lens and its derivatization to other potent oxidants may be responsible for initiating various toxic biochemical reactions leading to the formation of cataract. Catlin is the marketed drug with considerable anticataract activity hence was taken as standard and various parameters measured, including total proteins and malondialdehyde (MDA) in vitro on goat lenses. Materials and Methods- Plants- Standardized extracts of â€Å"Abies pindrow leaf† and â€Å"Luffa cylindrica fruit† were obtained from Navchetna Kendra, New Delhi (A registered manufacturer, exporter and supplier of herbal products in India) along with the certificate of analysis of both the extracts confirming that extract complies with all the morphological specification of colour, odour, taste along with LOD, Ash value and microbial load (Total Plate Count, yeast and mould and E.coli). Drug- Catlin eye drop available in the market were purchased from medical store in Lucknow, UP. Eye Balls-Goat eye balls were used in the present study. They were obtained from the slaughterhouse and immediately transferred to laboratory at 0-4 degree Celsius in physiological salt solution containing 1% solution of antibiotic to prevent microbial contamination. Preparation of Lens Culture- The lenses were removed by extracapsular extraction and incubated in artificial aqueous humor (NaCl 140 mM, KCl 5 mM, MgCl2 2 mM, NaHCO3 0.5 mM, NaH (PO4)2 0.5 mM, CaCl2 0.4 mM) at room temperature and pH 7.8 for 72 h. Penicillin 32 mg% and streptomycin 250 mg% were added to the culture media to prevent bacterial contamination [6]. H2O2 (0.05M) was used to induce cataract. Preparation of Lens Homogenate-After incubation, lenses were homogenized in 10 volumes of 0.1M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The homogenate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 1 hour and the supernatant was used for estimation of biochemical parameters. Drug Concentration and Groups- The standard drug Catlin was taken in the concentration of 1% v/v and the Goat’s eye lenses were incubated with Abies pindrow extract (APE) (5mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 15mg/ml 20mg/ml) andLuffa cylindrica extract (LCE) (5mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 15mg/ml, 20mg/ml, 25mg/ml 30mg/ml) concentrations as mono therapy. A total of 65 lenses were divided into 13 groups of n=5. Group 1- PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + lens Group 2- PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + H2O2(0.05 M) 0.5ml+ lens Group 3- PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + Catlin (KI-3.3%, NaCl-0.83%, CaCl2-1%w/v) 1ml Group 4- PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + APE (5%) Group 5-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + APE (10%) Group 6-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + APE (15%) Group 7-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + APE (20%) Group 8-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (5%) Group 9-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (10%) Group 10-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (15%) Group 11-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (20%) Group 12-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (25%) Group 13-PSS + Ab 250 mg (1%) + LCE (30%) Homogenate preparation- After incubation, lenses were homogenized in 10 volumes of 0.1M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The homogenate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 1 hour and the supernatant was used for estimation of biochemical parameters. Biochemical estimation- SOD and GSH levels were measured using Ellman’s method[6]. Protein estimation was done by Lowry’s method [7]. The degree of oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the MDA levels by using TCA-TBA-HCl reagent. [8] (Table-2,3). The mean GSH Value in normal lenses was found to be 2.9765 ±0.17  µg/mg of fresh weight of the lens (Fig-5) . A significant decrease was observed in presence of in GSH value in presence of hydrogen peroxide in control. In the presence of APE and LCE, there was a significant restoration of the levels of GSH as compared to the toxic control. A significant increase in MDA level was found in the control opposed to the normal lenses (1.57 ±0.04ÃŽ ¼mol/g of fresh weight of lens; P APE and LCE significantly protected the test group lenses from lipid peroxidation; Hydrogen peroxide treated lenses showed significantly low concentrations of proteins (total and water soluble proteins) in the lens homogenate (P SOD levels as compared to the toxic control were found to be significantly more in normal lens group (1.76 ±0.10unit/mg of protein) which was far less than that of the toxic group (0.23 ±0.01unit/mg of protein). APE and LCE were found to increase the level of SOD in presence of hydrogen peroxide as well (Fig-4). Result- Photographic evaluation confirmed the clearance of vision when the lenses were incubated in APE and LCE (Figure 6). Photographic Evaluation: Scale of opacity- Absence of opacitySlightly opaquePresence of diffuse opacityPresence of extensive thick opacityResults of biochemical parameters are reported as Mean ±SD. (Table-2,3). Comparisons were made on the basis of one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test was performed between test samples and data was considered to be statistically significant when p Discussion-Cataract is mostly brought about by age. It is common to older people. Inflammatory reactions to the lens material may develop as a result of the exposure of intact lens cortex by rupture of the lens capsule. In cataractogenesis, the parameters commonly considered are malondialdehyde (MDA) and proteins (total proteins and water soluble proteins). Oxidative stress is the main marker of cataract and is responsible for its pathogenesis.The study demonstrated that AP and LC are effective against H2O2 induced cataractogenesis in goat eye lens, used as in-vitro model. Significant prevention of cataract was observed during the study. SOD, GSH, TPC and copper induced lipoprotein diene formation was found to increase proportionally with the concentration whereas MDA levels significantly decreased as the concentration increased and reached its saturation level at the concentration 20% and 30% respectively for AP and LC (Table 2, 3). The photographic evaluation based on the opacity scale (Table-1) showed that highest concentrations of both the plants i.e. AP (20%) LC (30%) maintained the vision for 39.5 42 hours respectively. It was also observed that the lens incubated in Hydrogen peroxide swelled imbibed more solution which can be a possible outcome of inflammation while the lenses incubated in plant groups were less swollen which further potentiates the anti-inflammatory activities of both the plants. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that monotherapy of AP and LC had potential to prevent cataract due to their strong antioxidant potential. However, AP in lower concentration was more effective in treating cataract than LC according to results of the photographic evaluation. There is no literature available for anticataract activity of AP and LC. This is the first study which reports that the monotherapy of both the plants can afford significant prevention of cataract. Further studies can be performed with different routes and doses to evaluate the anti-cataract effect of these two drugs as future scope of the work. Conclusion- The herbal extract of both the plants were found to significantly reduce the free radical generation in isolated goat lenses. The extracts can be further developed into a polyherbal formulation or characterisation and isolation of phenolics in the extract can prove to be a good herbal remedy for treatment and prevention of cataract because of potent antioxidant action of plant. Acknowledgement- Suchita Dubey is thankful to University Grant Commission for providing research grant during M.Pharm Project. References- Gupta SK, Kalaiselvan V, Srivastava S, Agrawal SS, Saxena R (2010): Evaluation of anticataract potential of Triphala in selenite-induced cataract: In vitro and in vivo studies. J Ayurveda Integr Med 1: 6 Unakar NJ, Tsui JY. (1983) Inhibition of galactose induced alteration in ocular lens with sorbinil. Exp Eye Res 36: 685-694. Guzmà ¡n à , Guerrero O R (2005) â€Å"Inhibition of aldose reductase by herbs extracts and natural substances and their role in prevention of cataracts† Rev cubana plant med 10 :3-4 Kinoshita JH, Merola LU, Dikmak E. (1962) The accumulation of dulcitol and water in rabbit lens incubated with galactose. Biochem BiophysActa; 62:176-178. Harding JJ, Rixon KC. Carbamylation of lens proteins: (1980) A possible factor in cataractogenesis in some tropical countries. Exp eye res; 31:567-571. Ellman GL. (1959) Tissue sulfhydryl groups. Arch Biochem Biophys. 82: 70-77. Lowry OH., Rosenberg NJ., Farr AL., Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biochem. 193: 65. Bar-Or D., Rael LT., Lau EP., Rao NK., Thomas GW.,Winkler JV., Yukl RL., Kingston RG. and Curtis CG. (2001) An analog of the human albumin N-terminus (Asp-Ala-His-Lys) prevents formation of copper-induced reactive oxygen species. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 284 , 856-862

My Philosophy of Education :: Philosophy of Teaching Educational Learning Essay

My Philosophy of Education Education today is very different than that of twenty years ago. I think that today’s educators have more interest in test scores and the outcome of standardized testing, than the level of content that a child is learning and the successfulness of the teaching and learning process. I want to meet both of the aspects. I want my students to have high test scores and do well for our school, yet at the same time have fun learning. I want to make a child excited about learning and thrilled about coming to school to learn. I think that even children with learning disabilities should feel overjoyed about being in school, as opposed to dreading it every day. Seeing a child learn lights up my life. I like to see a child pick up a book to read instead of pick a remote control to a video game. I strive to make a difference in children’s lives. My ideal classroom would be that of a first grade level. Therefore it would have to have learning assistants such as letter pronunciation flash cards and numbers from one to at least 30. I would have the children’s desks all facing forward, towards the chalkboard, but in a â€Å"U† shape instead of columns. I think that this would help me to be able to keep my eyes on all students and I would be able to maintain eye contact with the students. This would also help me to know when a child is struggling with something. There would be bulletin boards on either side of the chalkboard that would contain important material such as a calendar, numbers, classroom and school-wide rules, among other things. The back of the classroom would also have bulletin boards. These would contain the children’s projects. I think that it’s important to display the students’ projects so as to praise them for their work and to show how they have improved over the y ear. I believe that I will have a non-authoritarian classroom, but it will have order. At the beginning of the year I will ask the students to tell me what they think the classroom rules should be and I will compromise with them.

Styles of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge versus The Tell Tale Heart :: essays research papers

The authors, Ambrose Bierce of 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' and Edger Allan Poe of 'The Tell Tale Heart' have unique styles to pull the reader into the story. Both authors use unreliable narrator and imagery to allow the reader to picture and follow the narrator's way of thinking. In the Tell Tale Heart, the man is very repetitious and his psychotic behavior is what intrigues the overall dark madness of The Tell Tale Heart. In Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Bierce uses illusions to allow the reader to follow wherever his ideas lead which also intrigues the overall dark madness effect. After the old man is dead and under the floorboards the police arrive, and the narrator remains calm and his "manor had convinced them.?Villains!" "Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! -- tear up the planks! -- Here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous heart!" The narrator of "The Tell Tale Heart" shows that he is unreliable. Concluding the questioning by the police, the narrator had a sudden fear and assumed that the policemen have heard the old man?s heart beat. Not only the narrator could hear the old man?s heart beating, but it is assumed (from the audience perspective) that the police could hear the narrator?s heart beating. The narrator listening to the old man?s heart beat is a replacement of his own consciousness that brought out the guiltiness for murdering the old man. In the last three paragraphs of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge told by a third person point of view, Farquhar is being hanged by the rope, and when the rope is undone, Farquhar escapes and sees the light of the river. The light in this particular story represents a warm bright light from heaven. On other hand on the complete opposite side, in The Tell Tale Heart the light (lantern) signifies fear of the eye. However the narrator reveals that Farquhar?s escape is a hallucination that lasts only from moment the rope breaks his neck at the end of the fall. In the Tell Tale Heart, Poe uses many figures of speech such as Anaphora at the beginning of a clause throughout the whole entire story as the narrator becomes calm and mad about the crime the narrator committed. A couple examples are: ?I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth.

inaugural address Essay -- essays research papers

On Thursday January 20th 2005, President Bush delivered his second inaugural address after being sworn in for his second term. In his address Bush promised to keep his word and fulfill his duty as president of the United States. These duties have not been upheld according to the numerous protestors who showed up at his Inauguration. In his Inaugural Address Bush discussed many things.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The inaugural address was a speech which would reassure the American people that President Bush will lead us to victory. In the Address Bush promises to fulfill the oath that he has sworn. He said â€Å" The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands The best hope for peace in our is the expansion of freedom in all the world† (www.cnn.com). This meant that in order to maintain peace and freedom we must help the countries who suffer in dictatorship and terrorism. Peace and freedom are America’s vital interests. Every person in this world is said to have equal rights. â€Å" No one deserves to be a slave† said Bush (www.cnn.com). The address says that the United States policy is to support the growth of democratic movements. Bush also said that he will tighten security. The government is working to improve security tactics and make sure its is strong and effective. Bush will make clear to other nations the choice between oppression and freedom. He said that the people do not and will not be â€Å"bullied†. He wants them to stand fo...

The Important of Saving Money

Nowadays, money is important to us in our life. Without money, many thing will not success and we will get many problem and tough in our life. Every people think that money is important for them, all of us work hard to hope can get more and more money. The money is wont enough in our daily life. We should save the money that we have but not use all of it. If we have sick, we should need money to but medicine or see doctor. If we do not have money, we will can't get a treatment and we will get die or else.In this essay, this essay will discuss about the important of saving money. First and foremost, saving money can help us to get money when we need money urgently. For example, when our family need money to have some medical treatment, we can take out our money to help them for their medical treatment. So, we do not need to borrow money from anywhere from people, we can use the money that we save to solve the problem. In addition, we should save money for our future. When we need to m arry, we should need a lot money.If we do not have money, no girl will like to marry us. So, we should need to save money. After we marry, we will need to buy car and house. If we have save money, we would have money to buy it. So, we will not be troublesome when we need to buy. After we marry, we would have our children. We will need many money for our children. We need money for the milk, fees and many more. When they go study, we will need to pay for their fees, tuition and their books. So, saving money is important for our future. Furthermore, we save money can use to go for travel.After we had hardworking earn money and busy for the life everyday, we should have to relax ourselves such as travel. If we have save money every month, we will have money to go travel. We can bring our family to go for travel and make the relationship to be closer. So, we can know more about our family and can live happily. We can relax ourselves after our hard work. So, if we save money, we can go t ravel and relax ourselves. There is another benefit of saving money. Besides, saving money can let us do not use our parents' money.We are adult already, So, we must save money and do not take money from parents anymore. Although we are studying now, we can try not to take money from them. Not only like that, we can save some money as we can to buy some present for our parents when their birthday. They will feel very happy if they get present from us. So, saving money can help us to let them happy. In conclusion, saving money bring many benefit to us. So, we should save money to let us have moeny to use when we need. If everybody know to save money, then we can decrease the beggar too.

Night World : Soulmate Chapter 9

You'll change your mind,† Thierry said. An instant later everything was chaos. Thierry had one hand in her hair, twisting her head to the side, exposing her neck. His other arm was keeping both her arms trapped against her body. Hannah was twisting, struggling-and it wasn't doing any good. He was unbelievably strong. She felt the warmth of breath on her neck . .. and then the sharpness of teeth. â€Å"Don't fight.† Thierry's muffled voice came to her. â€Å"You'll only make it hurt worse.† Hannah fought. And it did hurt. The pain of having blood drawn out against her will was like nothing she'd ever felt. It was as if her soul was being pulled out of her body, a pain that radiated down her neck and through her left shoulder and arm. It turned her vision gray and made her feel lightheaded. â€Å"I-hate-you,† she got out. She tried to reach for him with her mind, to see if she could hurt him that way . . . but it was like running up against an obsidian wall. She could feel nothing of Thierry in the contact, just smooth black hardness. Forget about that, the cool wind voice said. And don't faint; you've got to stay conscious. Think about your room. You need wood; you need a weapon. Where†¦ The desk. Even as she thought it, Thierry's grip on her was shifting. He was forcing her to turn so she faced away from him, still holding her in an iron grip with one arm. She had no idea what he was doing with the other arm until he spoke again. â€Å"I have to give you back something for what I took.† And then the other arm was in front of Hannah, wrist pressing to her mouth. She still didn't really understand-she was dazed with pain and loss of blood-until she felt warm liquid trickling into her mouth and tasted a strange exotic taste. Oh, God-no. It's his blood. You're drinking vampire blood. She tried not to swallow, but the liquid kept flowing in, choking her. It didn't taste at all like blood. It was rich and wild and burned slightly-and she could almost feel it changing her. You've got to stop this, the cool wind voice told her. New. With a violent wrench that almost dislocated her shoulder, Hannah got one arm free. Then she started to fight hard, not because she wanted to get away, but because she wanted to keep Thierry occupied in holding her. While they were struggling, she surreptitiously reached out with her free hand. I can't feel it. She threw her body back and forth, trying to get Thierry to move closer to the desk. Just a little farther†¦ there. There! Her fingers were on her desk. She stomped on Thierry's foot to keep him distracted. She heard a snarl of pain and Thierry shook her, but her fingers kept groping across the desk until they found something smooth and long, with a pointed graphite end. A pencil. Hannah curled her fingers, gathering the pencil into her fist. She was gasping with effort, which meant more of the strange blood was flowing into her mouth. Now think. Visualize his hand. Picture the pencil going right in, all the way through. And now strike. Hannah brought the pencil up with all her strength, driving it into the back of Thierry's hand. She heard a yelp of pain and outrage-and at the same instant she felt a stab of pain herself. She'd driven the pencil all the way through his hand and jabbed her own cheek. She didn't spend time worrying about it. The iron grip on her had loosened. She slammed a foot into Thierry's shin and spun away as he jerked back. The desk! You need another weapon! Even as the voice was telling her, Hannah was teaching for her desk, gathering a random handful of pens and pencils. Thank God for her habit of losing pencils, which was the reason she had to keep so many. As soon as she had them, she twisted to dart across the room, getting her back to a wall. She faced Thierry, panting. â€Å"This next one goes right into your heart,† she told him, pulling one pencil out of the handful and holding it in her fist. Her voice was soft and ragged, but absolutely deadly in its conviction. â€Å"You hurt me!† Thierry had pulled the pencil out and was staring at the wound. His face was contorted, his eyes blazing with animal pain and fury. He looked like a stranger. â€Å"Right,† Hannah said, panting. â€Å"And if you come close to me again, I'll kill you. That's a promise. Now get the hell out of my house and out of my life!† Thierry stared back and forth from her to his hand. Then he snarled-really snarled, his upper lip lifting, his teeth bared. Hannah had never seen a human face look so bestial. â€Å"You'll be sorry,† he said, like a child in a temper tantrum. â€Å"And if you tell anybody about this, I'll kill them. I will. It's Night World law.† Then he did the fade-out thing. Hannah blinked and he wasn't there. He must have backed up down the hall, but she didn't hear a door open or close. It was several minutes before she could loosen her grip on her pencil or step away from the wall. When she could, it was to stumble toward the phone. She pressed the speed dial for Chess's number. Busy. Hannah dropped the phone. She was swaying on her feet, feeling sick and giddy, but she headed for the dining room. There, keeping one of the windows shut, was a wooden dowel, the remnant of some long-past safety craze of her mother's. Hannah broke it over her knee and carried one splinter-ended piece with her to the garage. The dusty old Ford was parked there, the one her father had driven before he died. Hannah found the keys and started for Chess's house. She could think of only one thing: she didn't want to be alone. Gray spots danced in front of her eyes as she drove. She kept imagining things rushing at her from the prairie. Stay awake. Just stay awake, she told herself, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. There! There's the house up ahead. You can see the light. All you have to do is get there. She stepped on the accelerator. And then everything went gray. Thierry looked around the resort lobby, then glanced at his watch. He'd been doing that every five minutes for about the last twelve hours, and his nerves were starting to fray. He didn't like leaving Hannah alone. Of course, the ring would protect her when she was away from the house, and the amulet he'd buried in her backyard would protect the house itself. It was a strong amulet, made for him by Grandma Harman, the oldest and most powerful witch in the world, the Crone of the Inner Circle. It set wards around the house, so that no Night Person could enter without a direct invitation from somebody who lived inside. He still didn't like leaving Hannah alone. Only a little while longer, he told himself. It had ‘taken him most of last night and all of today to call in enough of his own people to set up a plan for watching over Hannah. She'd told him to go away, and he had. Her word was law to him. But that didn't mean he couldn't have her guarded. She need never realize that there were Night People around her, watching and waiting in the shadows-and ready to fight to the death if any danger appeared. Lupe had been right. He couldn't deal with this alone. And now he was going to have to rely on other people to keep Hannah safe. Thierry looked at his watch again. It was nine o'clock at night, and he was almost tempted to give up on Circe. But only a witch of her power could set up the kind of heavy-duty wards that would protect Hannah wherever she went in Amador County. He kept waiting. As he did, he stared at a gun rack on the wall and tried to keep his brain turned off. It didn't work. Ever since he'd awoken Hannah from her hypnotic trance, he'd been trying very hard not to think about the old days. But now, he found himself being irresistibly drawn back-not only thinking about them, but reliving them. Traveling back in his mind to the stupid young man he had been†¦. He hadn't been the first vampire. He didn't have that distinction. He had only been the second. He'd grown up in the tribe of Maya and Hellewise. The Maya and Hellewise, the twin daughters of Hecate Witch Queen. The Maya and Hellewise who would go down as the two greatest figures in Night World history; Hellewise Hearth-Woman as the ancestress of the Harman family, the most famous of the living witches, and Maya as the ancestress of both the lamia and the made vampires. But of course he knew nothing about that at the time. All he knew was that they were both pretty girls. Beautiful. Hellewise had long yellow hair and deep brown eyes. Maya had long black hair and eyes that glittered in different colors like the changing lights in a glacier. He liked both sisters very much. Maybe that was his downfall. He'd been a very ordinary fellow, with a good throwing arm, a delicate touch in carving ivory, and a vague longing to see the world. He'd taken it for granted that his tribe was special, that they could influence the weather and summon animals from the forest. They were the witch people, they'd been granted special powers, and that was all. It wasn't anything to worry about. And, like everyone else, he knew that Maya was doing experiments in the forest, using her powers to try and become immortal. But that didn't worry him particularly either†¦. I was very young and very, very stupid, Thierry thought. That had been the real downfall of the tribe. Maya's desire to become immortal. Because she'd been willing to pay any price for it, even to the point of becoming a monster and leaving a curse on all her descendants. Maybe if Thierry and the other witch people had realized that, they could have stopped her before it happened. Because Maya had finally found the right spell to achieve immortality. The problem was that to do it, she had to steal the babies of the tribe. All four of them. She took them out to the forest, did the spell, and drank their blood. Thierry and the rest of the tribe found the four little bled-out bodies later. Hellewise had cried all night. Thierry, who couldn't understand how the pretty girl he liked could have done something so awful, cried, too. Maya herself had disappeared completely. But a few nights later she came to Thierry. He was keeping watch outside the cave when she appeared silently beside him. She had changed. She wasn't the pretty girl he knew anymore. She was stunningly, dazzlingly beautiful. But she was different. She moved with the grace of a nighttime predator, and her eyes reflected the firelight. She was very pale, but that only made her more lovely. Her mouth, which had always been soft and inviting, seemed red as blood. And when she smiled at him, he saw her long pointed teeth. â€Å"Hello, Theory,† she said-that was his name back then. â€Å"I want to make you immortal.† Thierry was scared out of his mind. He had no idea what she'd become-some weird creature with unnatural teeth. But he knew he had no desire at all to be like her. â€Å"I really think it's unfair, the way you go back and forth between me and Hellewise,† she said casually, sitting down on the bare earth. â€Å"So I've decided to resolve the question. You're going to be mine, now and forever.† She reached out and took his hand. Her fingers were very slender and very cold-and unbelievably strong. Thierry couldn't pull away. He stared at his hand with his mouth open like the idiot he was. This was the time he should have started yelling, thrashing, doing anything to attract attention and get away. But Maya seemed to hold him with her eyes like a snake holding a bird. She was unnatural and evil†¦ but she was so beautiful. It was the first and the last time that Thierry would be fascinated by the beauty of pure evil-but it was enough. He was doomed from that moment. He'd doomed himself. An instant of hesitation. He would pay for it for unimaginable years in the future. â€Å"It's not so bad,† Maya was saying, still fixing him with her terrible and lovely eyes. â€Å"There are a few things I had to figure out-a few things I didn't expect. I thought drinking the blood of the babies would be the end of it, but no.† Thierry felt sick. â€Å"I've got these teeth for a reason, apparently. It seems I have to drink the blood of a mortal creature every day, or I die. It's inconvenient, but I can live with it.† Thierry whispered something beginning with, â€Å"Oh, Hecate, Dark Mother-â€Å" â€Å"Now, stop that!† Maya made a sharp gesture. â€Å"No praying, please, and especially not to that old harridan. I'm not a witch anymore. I'm something completely new-I suppose I should think of a name for myself. Night-hunter†¦ blood-drinker †¦ I don't know, the possibilities are endless. I'm going to start a new race, Theorn. We'll be better than the witches, stronger, faster-and we'll live forever. We'll never die, so we'll rule everyone. And you're going to be my first convert.† â€Å"No,† Thierry said. He still thought he had a choice. â€Å"Yes. I'm going to have a baby-not with you, I'm afraid; I don't think you'll be able to-and the baby will have my blood. And I'm going to give my blood to other people the way I'll give it to you now. Someday there won't be anyone in the world who won't have my blood. It's a nice thought, isn't it?† She rested her chin on a fist and her eyes glittered. â€Å"Hellewise will stop you,† Thierry said flatly. â€Å"My sister? No, I don't think so. Especially not since I'll have you to help me. She likes you, you know. It will be hard for her to kill somebody she likes so much.† â€Å"She won't have to. I'll kill you,† Thierry snarled. Maya laughed out loud. â€Å"You? You? Don't you know yourself yet? You're not a killer-you don't have the guts for it. That will change, of course, after I give you my blood. But you won't want to kill me then. You'll join me-and be happy. You'll see.† She dusted off her hands as if a difficult negotiation had been accomplished and terms had been reached. â€Å"Now. Let's do it.† He was strong. He had that good throwing arm-he was dead accurate with a spear or a killing stick. But she was so much stronger that she could handle him like a baby. The first thing she did was clamp a hand across his mouth-because by this time it had occurred even to stupid Thierry that he was in very bad trouble, and that he needed help. There was no sound of a struggle as she dragged him off into the bushes. â€Å"I'm afraid this is going to hurt,† she said. She was lying on top of him, her eyes glittering into his. She was excited. â€Å"At least, all the animals I've caught seem to have found it very unpleasant. But it's for your own good.† Then she ripped his throat out. That was what it felt like. And that was when he realized what those long canine teeth were for. Like any lynx or cave lion or wolf, she needed teeth to tear. Through the black waves of shock and pain, he heard her drinking. It lasted a long time. But finally, mercifully, he realized that he was dying. He took comfort in the thought that the horror would soon be over. He couldn't have been more wrong. The horror was just beginning. When Maya lifted her head, her mouth was scarlet with his blood. Dripping. She wasn't beautiful any longer, she was simply fiendish. â€Å"Now,† she said. â€Å"I'm going to give you something that will make it all better.† She pulled back and placed a fire-hardened splinter of wood at her own throat. She smiled at him. Maya had always been physically brave. And then, with a gesture almost of ecstasy, she plunged the splinter in, sending blood spurting and spilling. Then she fell on top of him again. He didn't mean to swallow the blood that filled his mouth. But everything was so gray and unreal-and he still had enough survival reflex left to not want to drown in it. The warm, strange-tasting liquid went down his throat. It burned like fermented-berry wine. After she made him drink, he realized to his relief that he was still dying. He didn't know that he wasn't going to stay dead. He felt her carrying him farther into the forest-he was completely limp now and didn't put up any resistance-and then everything went black. When he woke up, he'd been buried. He clawed himself up out of the shallow grave and found himself looking into the astonished face of his brother Conlan. The tribe had buried him in the traditional way-in the soft dirt at the back of the cave. In the minute before his brother could yell in surprise, Thierry was at his throat. It was animal instinct. A thirst inside of him like nothing he had ever known. A pain that was like being underwater-being strangled-gasping for air. It made him desperate, made him insane. He didn't think at all. He simply tried, mindlessly, to tear at his brother's throat. What stopped him was someone calling his name. Calling it over and over, in great pain. When he looked around, he saw Hellewise, her brown eyes huge and spilling with tears, her mouth trembling. The expression on her face would haunt him forever. He ran out of the cave and kept running. Behind him, just faintly, he could hear Hellewise's voice, â€Å"Theorn, I'll stop her. I swear to you, I'll stop her.† He realized later that it was all Hellewise could offer him. She knew that his curse was permanent. What he was now, he would be forever. There wasn't a name for it then, but he was the first made vampire. Maya, who would have a son just as she promised, was the first of the lamia, the family vampires who could grow up and have children. And her son, Red Fern, would be the ancestor of the Redfern family, the most powerful lamia family in the Night World. Thierry didn't know any of that as he ran. He only knew he had to get away from people, or he would hurt them. Maya caught up with him while he was frantically trying to quench his thirst by drinking from a stream. â€Å"You're going to make yourself sick,† she said, inspecting him critically. â€Å"You can't drink that. It's blood you need.† Thierry jumped up, shaking with fury and hatred and weakness all mixed together. â€Å"What about yours?† he snarled. Maya laughed. â€Å"How sweet. But it won't do. You need the blood of living creatures.† She wasn't at all afraid of him, and he remembered how strong she had been. He was no match for her. He turned and began to stumble off. Maya called after him, â€Å"You can't do it, you know. You can't get away from me. I've chosen you, Theorn. You're mine, now and forever. And in the end you'll realize that and join me.† Thierry kept going. He could hear her laughing as he went. He lived on the steppes for several weeks, wandering across the high windswept grasslands. He was more an animal than anything resembling a person. The thirst inside him made him desperate-until he stumbled over a rabbit. The next instant he found that he was holding it, biting into its throat. His teeth were like Maya's now-long, sensitive, and perfect for tearing or puncturing. And she was right, only the blood of a living creature could help the burning, suffocating feeling inside him. He didn't catch food very often. Every time he drank it reminded him of what he was. He was starving when he finally came to the Three Rivers. He didn't see the little girl out picking spring greens until he was on top of her. He burst out of a pile of brush, panting with thirst like a wounded deer-and there she was, looking up at him. And then everything went dark for a while. When he came to himself, he stopped drinking. He needed the food, he would die in terrible agony without it-but he dropped the girl and ran. Hana's people found him a little while later. And they did exactly what he'd expected any tribe to do-they saw that he was an abomination and brandished spears at him. He expected them to kill him at any minute. He didn't realize yet-and neither did they-that a creature like him took some killing. And then he saw Hana.

Didion “In Bed” Thoughtful Analysis

Her ethos is her personal experience with the subject as demonstrated in the first paragraph: â€Å"Almost every day of every month, between these attacks, I feel the sudden irrational irritation and the flush of blood into the cerebral arteries which tell me that migraine is on its way, and I take certain drugs to avert its arrival. † She uses exact medical terms such as â€Å"Methodologies,† â€Å"lysergic acid,† and â€Å"synthesized L SD-25† to demonstrate her knowledge and research on the subject. 3. ) Make observations about the remarkable language use in the first paragraph.Here are a few to get you started, but add a few of your own: â€Å"unconscious with pain,† â€Å"shameful secret,† â€Å"chemical inferiority. † What does each of these phrases do for the passage? Doing is showing what the majority of people think of migraines by using these words. Most people don't understand that it is more than a headache, but people thin k those who suffer from migraines are weak and that it's something they do to themselves due to â€Å"bad attitudes, unpleasant tempers, [and] wrongdoing. † Doing sort of mocks the general preconceived attitude towards her affliction. . ) What is the intended effect of the parallel structure at the end of the second paragraph? What type of appeal is this? Be specific. Doing utilizes the parallel Truckee to provide specific examples of her struggles with migraines. Doing uses logic to contradicts her statement the when she said â€Å"nothing wrong with me at all: I simply had migraine headaches, and migraine headaches were, as everyone who did not have them knew, imaginary' and then uses the parallel structure to show that migraines are an issue. 5. ) What is the purpose of including Jefferson and Grant?What about the lengthy paragraph on medical treatments? Jefferson and Grant weren't weak people who were likely to complain about a â€Å"headache. It's not just a disease th at affects weak personality types, so the two men lend credibility to the issue of migraine. The paragraph on medical treatments demonstrates her knowledge of the issue. The medical paragraph lends credibility to Doing, but it also shows that there is no easy cure for migraine; one of the drugs is even a derivative LSI showing that it's a pretty intense treatment. . ) Comment on the importance of the phrase â€Å"ambiguous blessing. † The blessing is arguable because in the midst of a migraine, the individual suffering the attack would rather die than eave to suffer, but after the attack is over they're glad they survived. 7. ) Find a logic fallacy in the first full paragraph on the back (HINT: Doing herself is not culpable Of the offense). What is it, and how does it strengthen her argument? The doctor makes an assumption about her condition based on her appearance, specifically her messy hair.He assumes she must be a compulsive housekeeper because her hair is messy and that all patients with her condition have a specific personality, and he tries to find a way to file her within that personality type. 8. Throughout the essay, why does she refer to it as â€Å"migraine† and not â€Å"migraines'? Doing is trying to express the seriousness of migraines by stating it by its medical term, much like we call cancer cancer and diabetes diabetes. 9. ) What do you think is the purpose of the final paragraph?Its purpose is to show that she's found a silver lining in the pain of a migraine. The migraine is brought on by the small stresses of her everyday life, and every anxiety she has is magnified by the migraine before the pain, but then the pain comes and she has to focus all of her energy on that singular pain. When the pain passes, all of her problems are no longer real problems. The migraine is now a kind of therapy. It brings her life into perspective and while it's violent in its execution, its still a form of meditation. 0. ) How does she create empathy in the essay? Dingo's personal experiences bring out the pathos in the passage. Her suffering and struggles are empathic by the reader because Doing is so descriptive of her own experiences with migraines; she makes the reader feel and understand what she is feeling during a migraine. 11. Using Doing to justify your response, explain why a balance of pathos, ethos, and logos creates the most effective arguments.

Mobile Phones Should Be Banned While Driving Essay

The risk of getting into a car accident while talking on a mobile phone while driving is growing as the number of mobile phone subscribers increases. Engaging in a phone conversation on a mobile phone while driving distracts the brain and delays reaction times which are more likely to cause drivers to swerve between lanes, slow down and miss important signs. Mobile phones should be banned while driving because they are risky. An Australian study conducted in 2005, estimated that the risk of a collision when using a mobile phone was four times higher than the risk when a mobile phone was not being used. 456 drivers who owned phones, were involved in crashes. By collecting these drivers’ mobile phone records, scientists determined those who made telephone calls just before the time of the crash. Case crossover analysis of mobile phone habits enabled the scientists to calculate the increase in risk. Even hands-free devices were not that safer. An earlier study in 2003, integrated data from questionnaires, mobile phone companies and crash records kept by the police. It found that the overall relative risk (RR) of having an accident for mobile phone users when compared to non-mobile phone users averaged 1.38 across all groups. The RR was then adjusted for kilometers driven per year and other crash exposures. When this was done RR was 1.11 for men and 1.21 for women. The study also revealed that increased mobile phone use correlated with an increase in RR. However, there are some objections to the call for the ban of mobile phone use while driving. According to the Associated Press, CTIA – The Wireless Association, a mobile phone trade group in America, objected to a complete ban. Its vice-president, John Walls, is reported as saying, â€Å" we think that you can sensibly and safely use a mobile phone to make a brief call.† Although there are objections, there is sufficient evidence to prove that using a mobile phone while driving is risky. Using a mobile phone while driving, taxes the cognitive skills of the brain at the expense of driving. The vast majority of drivers have no idea that using the mobile phone while driving is risky. >argumentative essay<

Essay on The Problem Of Hiv / Aids -- Immune system, HIV, AIDS, Vaccine

Although HIV is no longer the death sentence it was back in the 80’s, it remains a thorn even in our modern societies. For instance, HIV treatment is exponentially expensive, and can only be afforded by people residing in developed countries. In fact most third world nations, are still in the 80’s as far as HIV treatment technology is concerned. In 2011 alone over two and half million people died of AIDS, with the continent of Africa topping the list (Gallo 267). With prices, for HIV medication up the roof and the virus becoming more resistant to medications there is nothing such as a happy ending for 50 million people world wide still leaving with the disease (Gallo 267). The clock is ticking not just for the forty million, but also, for the sci... ... middle of paper ... ...n the end only Kaprowsky knows . To even consider those who we trust with our life may have invented the worst disease that has cause over 26 million fatalies so far is unimaginable(Gallo 266). Hoopers theory is not neccesarily a smoking gun but it does raise questions on the credibility of doctors. Hoopers intentions in writing his book the river wasn’t to point a finger but to raise awareness of how often medical errors occur with the minority being used as the guinea pigs; Nevertheless, for magic and all the millions of people living with AIDS the fight continues, a fight to decrease aids fatalities and find a cure, in this fight only one person has been cured so far, the famous berlin patient but as for the other forty million there is reason to hope,that in this developing technology that one day AIDS will be a dark history, surely nothing lasts forever.

Are juvenile transfer laws effective and does it deter recidivism Research Paper

Are juvenile transfer laws effective and does it deter recidivism - Research Paper Example Recently many of the states have established many laws to that expands the scope and purview of the transfer laws under which the juvenile offenders may be directly prosecuted within the realms of an adult court. It was during the 1980s that many legal reforms were framed to bring in stringent measures as regards juvenile crime. One such reform of great significance was the amendment of transfer laws that led to an increase in their jurisdiction (Griffin, 2003). These changes allowed the inclusion of more offense types, and resulted in an increase in the number of young offenders becoming eligible for transfer from juvenile courts to the adult courts. These amendments elevated the total number of offenses that were regarded as being transfer-eligible offenses, lowered the necessary minimum age limit for allowing transfer eligibility, broadened discretionary powers of the prosecution, while decreasing the discretionary powers of the judiciary in taking decision related to transfer cas es (Fagan and Zimring, 2000). A look at the amendments made in the state transfer laws show us that, in 1979 14 US States had transfer laws that allowed certain juvenile criminals to be prosecuted like adult criminals. However by 1995, we find there were 21 States with transfer laws in place, and in 2003, the number rose even further, where 31 States had transfer laws (Steiner and Hemmens, 2003). Furthermore the minimum age for end of juvenile court jurisdiction in 13 states were decreased to 15-16 years (Snyder and Sickmund, 2006, 64-70). In the face of these amendments, the number of juvenile offenders tried in adult criminal courts and later imprisoned in adult prison... The paper tells that evidences from the study of the general deterrent effects of juvenile transfer laws are rather inconclusive and one cannot arrive to any derivations from these studies. The majority of the studies however tend to show that there is very little, or almost zero general deterrent effect, as regards deterring recidivism in the context of juvenile crimes, which are serious in nature. More research work is necessary for exploring the actual deterrent effects of transfer laws, under the appropriate conditions, on the juvenile offenders. On examining the issue of specific deterrence effects of transfers laws, it was found that were primarily six major published studies. These six studies suggested that juvenile offenders tried under adult criminal court laws tend to exhibit increased rates of recidivism after completing their prison term, than the young offenders tried under the juvenile laws. The scholars however do not clarify whether the transfer laws influence recidi vism for property related crimes (non-violent types) and drug offenses. The six large-scale studies conducted on particular deterrent effects used large size of sample population (ranging from 494 to 5,476), varying research methodologies, examined various recidivism measures, and covered five States (Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Florida) each exhibiting varying sets of transfer laws (prosecutorial, automatic, or judicial types).

Project Exponential Decay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Exponential Decay - Assignment Example Many researchers have fronted the idea that radioactive decay occurs in an exponential manner. According to the quantum theory, the half life of an element remains predictable. Yet, it is impossible to predict the exact moment an isolated nucleus of an atom will disintegrate in radioactive decay (Brady, 2009). It is against this knowledge that this research results were based. Mathematically, the results obtained from throwing a six-sided dice have been shown to follow an exponential pattern/ distribution. The experiments discussed were designed to display the relevance of throwing a dice to that of radioactive decay. In the first experiment, ten six-sided dice were thrown and the numbers that appeared each time recorded. The procedure was repeated each time removing a dice that had six after throwing. This was continued until all the dice had been emptied. The experiment was repeated using a limitless Excel number generator and finally with a 10-sided dice. As expected, the first experiment showed a gradually decreasing trend, synonymous with exponential decay. At time t=0 the total number of dice was 10. This corresponded to the number of un-decayed nuclei as explained by Murray and Hart (Murray, Arthur & Hart, 2012). Subsequent results were recorded as follows: t=1; 7 dice left, t = 2; 4 dice left, t=3; 4 dice left, t=4; 3 dice left, t=5; 1 dice left, and t=6; 0 dice left. These results are better displayed in the graph below. The second experiment involved 10 trials. At the time point t=0 there were 20 dice. Subsequent trials indicated the number of dice remaining per time as indicated in the graph. Apparently, there was a constant display after the eighth trial. These results are displayed in the graph below. The third experiment was based on 398 dice to begin with, representing an equal number of un-decayed nuclei. This was marked as the

You Live, You May or Not Learn Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

You Live, You May or Not Learn - Research Paper Example In doing so, Austen emphasizes that people depend on social conventions to make it through life; revealing that neither youth nor old age makes for a wise person. Although human nature may tend towards making mistakes, Austen suggests that it is not how old you are that makes for folly, it is whether you think you are always right. Anne Elliot and Fredrick Wentworth make mistakes and learn from them and Sir Walter Elliot and his daughter Elizabeth Elliot say and do foolish things all the time and never learning anything. Introduction There are two types of individuals in this world, male or female. The first category says, ‘Whatever I say is correct.’ The other category says, ‘Whatever correct is there in the world, belongs to me.’ The differentiation apparently looks so simple, but in reality it is profound. The former categories of individuals are egoistic. The latter are willing to learn from own experience and from the experiences of others. Sir Walter E lliot and his daughter Elizabeth Elliot belong to the first category and Anne Elliot and Fredrick Wentworth belong to the latter category. What is theory alter all? It is other man’s experience. A man of experience may not have academic degrees to boast of. He studies in the college of self-education, where his mind is his principal; his initiative, the professors; his hard work, the tutors. Such individuals have a measured approach to different situations in life. In â€Å"Persuasion† Jane Austen deals with complex class and gender relations related to the nineteenth century English middle-class society. An author, howsoever intelligently one may try, will not be able to sweep under the carpet one’s own life-experiences while penning the characters in the literary works. Jane Austen is no exception to this rule. As her career progresses (per se, she also attains maturity in her thinking with the advancing age) I am able to see a romantic shift in the feminist a nd individualistic ideology and she begins to show varying cognitive qualities in her heroines and other characters. She depends on her experience to portray her character’s and her heroines bring alive the prevailing aspects of feminism of the 19th century England. Actions are based upon emotions and the genesis of emotion is in the experiences gained in real life situations. One discovers one’s happiness and pursuit of goals by instinct and through the play of emotions. This perspective of life may be easy for the women of the 21st century. But Jane Austen’s heroines belong to the 19th century male-dominated society, wherein women have little or no voice to feel free, think free and to act free. To understand the correct meaning of ‘You Live, You May or Not Learn,’ it is necessary to study the outline of the plot created by Jane Austen in â€Å"Persuasion.† The implied meaning of persuasion is applying pressure to convince about something t o someone. Here is the head of the family Sir Walter Elliot, who is not willing to listen to anyone on any issue and takes decisions that affect his three daughters according to his whims and fancies. Lady Elliot has died fourteen years ago, leaving behind the asset of three daughters. Elizabeth and Anne are single, but the younger one is married to a wealthy individual. Sir Walter’s lavish lifestyles, and living beyond the means to maintain the level of prestige, which he thinks he commands in the society, brings the family to a sad pass. When he is asked to prune his budget by a well-wisher of the family, Lady Russell, Sir Walters resents her counsel. According to him, he lives the ideal standard of life, befitting the essential dignity of the family, but the reality