Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban :: essays research papers

irritate tinker and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is the third book in the trilogy of J. K. Rowlings other Harry Potter books, though she is coming out with quad more books in the coming years. plainly to quickly run through the 2 previous books Harry Potter is a wizard, whos p bents were killed by the bruise dark wizard ever known. The yard why Harry Potter is still around, is because Lord Voldemort failed to kill Harry. His term of enlistment hit Harry, but then backfired on Voldemort taking all of his powers with him. Harry is so famous for two things. Withstanding the powers of Lord Voldemort, and, taking him back in to the underworld in hiding. In the first book, Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts School of witchery and Wizardry. Hes eventually allowed to go, and spends the next six months there learning magic, getting into trouble, and trying to solve mysteries of his past, and the school. In the secant book, Harry goes back to his second year at Hogwarts, and gets int o more trouble, figures out human beingy astonishing mysteries and learns loads more magic. His best friends in the two books consist of Ron and Hermione (two of his fellow wizard students) and Hagrid the gamekeeper who was expelled from Hogwarts but allowed a job as the gamekeeper. Now to get to the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry Potter is back for the summertime at the Dursleys home. The Dursleys are his mothers sister, and that family detests Harry in every way possible. They keep him locked up in a cupboard in the basement, back away his owl (used for delivering mail etc.) his wand, and his trunk of spell books and everything else he could use to do any bit of magic. Harrys birthday again passes without being discover by the Dursleys, but Harry receives presents from Ron and Hermione and withal Hagrid. Over the summer the entire town was in shock for one afternoon when 13 people were raspingly murdered by a man known only as Sirius Black, whom no one had seen before. The pursui t of Serious continues for a long time and doesnt end too soon. Harry counts as the days pass by, waiting for the day when he travels out to catch the train "9 3/4", the train to Hogwarts hidden between trains 9 and 10. There is a big problem now, though.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban essays research papers Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is the third book in the trilogy of J. K. Rowlings other Harry Potter books, though she is coming out with four more books in the coming years. Just to quickly run through the two previous books Harry Potter is a wizard, whos parents were killed by the worst dark wizard ever known. The reason why Harry Potter is still around, is because Lord Voldemort failed to kill Harry. His spell hit Harry, but then backfired on Voldemort taking all of his powers with him. Harry is so famous for two things. Withstanding the powers of Lord Voldemort, and, taking him back in to the underworld in hiding. In the first book, Harry recei ves a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hes eventually allowed to go, and spends the next six months there learning magic, getting into trouble, and trying to solve mysteries of his past, and the school. In the second book, Harry goes back to his second year at Hogwarts, and gets into more trouble, figures out many astonishing mysteries and learns loads more magic. His best friends in the two books consist of Ron and Hermione (two of his fellow wizard students) and Hagrid the gamekeeper who was expelled from Hogwarts but allowed a job as the gamekeeper. Now to get to the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry Potter is back for the summer at the Dursleys home. The Dursleys are his mothers sister, and that family detests Harry in every way possible. They keep him locked up in a cupboard in the basement, take his owl (used for delivering mail etc.) his wand, and his trunk of spell books and everything else he could use to do any bit of magic. Harrys birthday again passes wit hout being noticed by the Dursleys, but Harry receives presents from Ron and Hermione and also Hagrid. Over the summer the entire town was in shock for one afternoon when 13 people were harshly murdered by a man known only as Sirius Black, whom no one had seen before. The pursuit of Serious continues for a long time and doesnt end too soon. Harry counts as the days pass by, waiting for the day when he travels out to catch the train "9 3/4", the train to Hogwarts hidden between trains 9 and 10. There is a big problem now, though.

Racism Essay -- Racial Relations, White

The first, and perhaps most crucial, fear is that of facing the fact that some of what we white mass have is unearned. Its a truism that we dont really make it on our own we all have plenty of help to obtain some(prenominal) we achieve. (Jensen, 1)When bounceing on this statement you start to see that what Jensen is say us is very true. Since born, and while growing up, many white people have been handed everything needed to succeed and receive the necessary tools and help to achieve anything. We dont clear this because many of us are continually congratulated on the success actually fostered through the people who love and care for us. What people need to realize is that there are people who are not born into these situations, and are continually fighting to get away from their abusive families that do not hold in them. A second fear is crasser White peoples fear of losing what we have -- literally the fear of losing things we own if at some point the economic. political , and social systems in which we drop dead become more than just and equitable. (Jensen, 1)Everyone fears losing something that they are accustomed to, whether it be material goods, social status, or power. People are often affected psychologically when they slip something, and for whites, it would make them feel less superior than other races if they did lose something. Some whites feel that they lose power when other races break through barriers and become more powerful than they are. Jensen reaffirms the idea that people are born into a society where affluence and material comfort will obviously affect how someone feels and reacts to losing whatever they have lost.A third fear involves a slightly different scenario -- a world in which ... ...enating to people of color people of colors identities, experiences, and ways of communication are often outside the very restricted language and the very limited representations of people like them in the stories they read. (Marrer o, 10)Marrero brings up a very arouse point when showing the reader that people are sometimes limited in ways of communicating because of the classroom setting they are surrounded with. When you reflect on how many teachers use dominant paradigms in their teachings, you begin to realize that students voices are inherently constrained. You then begin to ask yourself the scary questions of how many people have already been restricted from using their own voice and how many continue to be in this situation today? People are unable(p) to develop a broader world view unless we are able to listen to how other people communicate.

Grooms Wedding Speech - Humorous, but Not Offensive -- Wedding Toasts

Grooms Wedding Speech - Humorous, but Not OffensiveLadies and gentlemen, you are about to get wind a unique event in history - the very first and last time that my married woman is going to let me speak on behalf of both of us. It is a privilege and an honor to do so. I just hope that, so soon into our married life, I dont let her down.Today has so furthermost been a day beyond my wildest dreams. As a child, dreaming of my wedding day, I never dared imagine that I would end up marrying psyche so intelligent, so witty, so popular, so gorgeous, and so altogether fantastic... (To his wife) Is this O.K. so far?Ladies and gentlemen, it is apparently my job to do entirely the thankyous. The first and biggest thankyou is to all of you. give thanks you all for choosing to share today with us. We are delighted and touched to see so many of you here. And thank you, of course, for all the marvelous gifts. The father of the bride, on the separate hand, who is choose up the bill for din ner, is completely distraught. When he saw the guest list with addresses in Ireland, Egypt, the U.S.A., Scotland, as well as the four corners of England, he was delighted, since he entangle sure that most of you wouldnt make the effort to turn up. Its to his credit that during his speech you would never have guessed he is in fact a broke, or sort of a broken, man.On the subject of his speech Id bid to thank him for his kind words. I hope that, as his daughters husband, I spate plump up to the image he painted of me or, failing that, at least continue to keep pulling the wool over his eyesWe would similarly like to thank my wifes parents for all their efforts in organizing today. Their support has been invaluable, advice sound, and check-book largely available. Id pe... ...he end and I know that whatever the future holds well live it happily together.Of course this doesnt exempt wherefore it has taken us so long to get married. Well, outside church today, I was talking to one of her friends and she told me that, according to my wife, its all about maturity. She had asked my wife why we were getting married now, after all this time, and her response was this...Men are like a fine wine. They all start out as grapes. Its our job to stamp on them and then keep them in the dark until they mature into something youd like to have dinner with...It is my eternal good deal that my wifes reek in wine is cheap, unrefined, and immature.Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you again for being here today, for the wonderful gifts, for your good wishes and most of all for your friendship now and in the future. Heres to a wonderful evening. Grooms Wedding Speech - Humorous, but Not Offensive -- Wedding ToastsGrooms Wedding Speech - Humorous, but Not OffensiveLadies and gentlemen, you are about to witness a unique event in history - the very first and last time that my wife is going to let me speak on behalf of both of us. It is a privilege and an honor to do so. I just hope that, so soon into our married life, I dont let her down.Today has so far been a day beyond my wildest dreams. As a child, dreaming of my wedding day, I never dared imagine that I would end up marrying someone so intelligent, so witty, so popular, so gorgeous, and so altogether fantastic... (To his wife) Is this O.K. so far?Ladies and gentlemen, it is apparently my job to do all the thankyous. The first and biggest thankyou is to all of you. Thank you all for choosing to share today with us. We are delighted and touched to see so many of you here. And thank you, of course, for all the wonderful gifts. The father of the bride, on the other hand, who is picking up the bill for dinner, is completely distraught. When he saw the guest list with addresses in Ireland, Egypt, the U.S.A., Scotland, as well as the four corners of England, he was delighted, since he felt sure that most of you wouldnt make the effort to turn up. Its to his credit that during his speech you woul d never have guessed he is in fact a broke, or rather a broken, man.On the subject of his speech Id like to thank him for his kind words. I hope that, as his daughters husband, I can live up to the image he painted of me or, failing that, at least continue to keep pulling the wool over his eyesWe would also like to thank my wifes parents for all their efforts in organizing today. Their support has been invaluable, advice sound, and check-book largely available. Id pe... ...he end and I know that whatever the future holds well live it happily together.Of course this doesnt explain why it has taken us so long to get married. Well, outside church today, I was talking to one of her friends and she told me that, according to my wife, its all about maturity. She had asked my wife why we were getting married now, after all this time, and her response was this...Men are like a fine wine. They all start out as grapes. Its our job to stamp on them and then keep them in the dark until they mature into something youd like to have dinner with...It is my eternal good fortune that my wifes taste in wine is cheap, unrefined, and immature.Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you again for being here today, for the wonderful gifts, for your good wishes and most of all for your friendship now and in the future. Heres to a wonderful evening.

Effect of the Normans on Middle English Essay -- Papers

Effect of the Normans on Middle sideThe stratum 1066 had a resounding impact on the course of English history. William the First, Duke of Normandy, conquered England and took it as a stronghold in his reign. The french rule over England lasted for several centuries and brought about innumerable changes to the English state, spoken lecture, culture and lifestyle. William merchandise French rulers to take over English government and religious posts. The French were not only the new aristocracy in England, but the new society. The English amended their language and their culture in an effort to more resemble the French and to communicate with their new lords. The English language was more changed by the Norman Conquest than by any other event in the course of English history. Middle English is defined as the four hundred year period between the Norman Conquest and the time the printing press was introduced to England in 1476. This essay will explore the specific effects that the Fr ench had on Middle English morphology, phonology, syntax, semantics and lexicon. During the period of French rule in England the standing of English as a valid language dropped substantially as French took over as the status language. Because so much of the French influence has been nativized by present-day speakers, many do not realize the impact that our language took in the years following 1066. Not one aspect of English life went untouched by the Norman presence in England, notably, its language. Phonology In addition to introducing new words into the English language, the Normans also introduced some new sounds. The English had previously had no phonemic distinction between /f/ and /v/ /v/ was merely an allophone of /f/ that occurred between vowels. Howeve... ...eculate what the English language might look like today if the Normans had never invaded Britain. However, suffice it to say, the present English language has been extensively enriched by the quantity of this foreign i nfluence. BibliographyAlexander, James W. William I, King of England, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996. Burrow, J.A. and Thorlac Turnville-Petre. A Book of Middle English, Blackwell Publishers Oxford. 1992. Fisiak, Jacek. A Short Grammar of Middle English, Oxford University Press London, 1968. Millward, C.M. A Biography of the English Language, Harcourt Brace Boston. 1996. Take Our Word For It, weekly online publication, available at http//www.takeourword.com Yerkes, David. English Language, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996. Yerkes, David. Middle English, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996.

The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay -- Kate C

She wanted something to happen- something, anything she did not know what(Chopin). In Kate Chopins novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, apassionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how unsettled Ednafeels round her life. The reader can identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which arehighly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakeningand finds the courage to pay off the changes she sees necessary. Kate Chopin is able to makequality connections in order to symbolize her innermost desires. Chopin does this by providingreferences to the sea, and the birds, and then using them to foreshadow Ednas end of lifedecision.The sea is typically apply in order to express strength, life/ death, and calmness. In TheAwakening, Kate Chopin uses the sea as a way to communicate Ednas strength andempowerment. Two references that examine this persuasion are made available one for thetransfor mation of her body and one for the transformation of her mind. Ednas learn-to-swimexperience transforms her body during her awakening. Overcoming her fears and learning toswim is a material experience because it shows how she is able to gain control over her bodyThe voice of the sea speaks to the soul (Chopin). This is a powerful statement due to the factthat it represents how Edna undergoes a dramatic change in character. She goes from listening and acting upon the influences of society, to following her own mind and innermost desires.These both play a large part in understanding Ednas personal transformation from a quiet andfearful girl to an empowered and independent woman.Across many forms of art, birds ... ...el progresses, an awakening can be observed. Thisawakening greatly transforms Ednas body and mind. Kate Chopin makes this evident by heruse of references to the sea, the birds, and the foreshadowing of Ednas end of life decision.These quality connections show the sufferi ng, empowerment, and innermost desires of Edna passim the novel, The Awakening.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York Herbert S. Stone and Co., 1899. Print.Garrett Brown, Kimberly. Dropping Hints and the Power of Foreshadowing in Kate Chopins The Awakening. Blogs Goddard. The Pitkin Review. Spring 2010. Web. 20 March 2015.Mascarenhas, Cheryl. Bird Symbolism and Their Meaning. Buzzle. South University. 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 March 2015.Shmoop Editorial Team. Birds in The Awakening. Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 March 2015.

The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay -- Kate C

She wanted something to happen- something, anything she did not know what(Chopin). In Kate Chopins novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, apassionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how risky Ednafeels about her life. The reader give the bounce identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which arehighly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakeningand finds the courage to make the changes she sees necessary. Kate Chopin is adequate to makequality connections in order to symbolize her inward desires. Chopin does this by providingreferences to the sea, and the birds, and then using them to foreshadow Ednas end of lifedecision.The sea is typically used in order to express strength, life/ death, and calmness. In TheAwakening, Kate Chopin uses the sea as a way to communicate Ednas strength andempowerment. Two references that control this idea are made available one for thetransfor mation of her body and one for the transformation of her mind. Ednas learn-to-swimexperience transforms her body during her awakening. Overcoming her fears and learning toswim is a significant experience because it shows how she is able to gain control over her bodyThe voice of the sea speaks to the soul (Chopin). This is a powerful statement due to the eventthat it represents how Edna undergoes a dramatic change in character. She goes from listening and acting upon the influences of society, to following her own mind and innermost desires.These both play a large crash in understanding Ednas personal transformation from a quiet andfearful girl to an empowered and independent woman.Across many forms of art, birds ... ...el progresses, an awakening can be observed. Thisawakening greatly transforms Ednas body and mind. Kate Chopin makes this evident by heruse of references to the sea, the birds, and the foreshadowing of Ednas end of life decision.These quality connections show the s uffering, empowerment, and innermost desires of Ednathroughout the novel, The Awakening.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York Herbert S. Stone and Co., 1899. Print.Garrett Brown, Kimberly. Dropping Hints and the Power of Foreshadowing in Kate Chopins The Awakening. Blogs Goddard. The Pitkin Review. Spring 2010. Web. 20 March 2015.Mascarenhas, Cheryl. Bird Symbolism and Their Meaning. Buzzle. randomness University. 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 March 2015.Shmoop Editorial Team. Birds in The Awakening. Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 March 2015.

Electronic Case (Corporate Finance) Essay

1. Tom believes the caller-out should use the excess interchange to pay a modified one-magazine dividend. How allow this proposal affect the stock price? How will it affect the value of the company? Electronic Timing, Inc. (ETI) needs to be careful on how it dispenses the extra cash as a dividend. Issuing the extra cash as a dividend would mean that the shareholders collectively will probably drop by the like amount because of the transfer of wealth from the company to the shareholders individually. Hence, the economic value of the company will also decrease.2. Jessica believes that the company should use the extra cash to pay debt and grow and expand it existing manufacturing capability. How would Jessicas proposals affect the company? Jessicas proposal will support an expansionary form _or_ system of government for the company which can result to a high increase rate for ETI. As to the companys dividend policy, not issuing the extra cash as a dividend signals to the marke t that there are dummy up better and more efficient uses of the cash than using it for dividends.3. Nolan is in favor of a share repurchase. He argues will increase the companys P/E ratio, return on assets, and return on equity. Are his arguments correct? How will a share repurchase affect the value of the company? A share repurchase if done correctly should be equivalent to the issuance of a cash dividend with the same amount as regards to effects on shareholders wealth. The centering the share repurchases should be done in a charge that it does not diminish or create shareholder wealth. Hence, Nolans argument that the companys return and assets and return on equity will increase is not correct. However, the P/E ratio might go upwards for a time until the market corrects it.4. Another option discussed by Tom, Jessica and Nolan would be to begin a regular dividend payment to shareholders. How would you evaluate this proposal? A plan to issue a regular dividend to shareholders is a start in establishing a dividend payout policy. A dividend policy signals to the market that the company is making a commitment to its shareholders and hence the company strategies will have to be aligned with that commitment.Therefore I would evaluate the proposal as regards the companys ability to stick to it. For example, it adopts a stable dividend policy will it be able to have cash to honor such policy year on, year off? Another factor would be does a regular dividend matter to ETIs shareholders? Or do they prefer a different method of transferring wealth to them aside from a cash dividend?5. One way to value a share of stock is the dividend growth, or growing perpetuity, model. Consider the following The dividend payout ratio is 1 minus b, where b is the retention or plowback ratio. So, the dividend side by side(p) year will be the earnings next year, E1, times 1 minus the retention ratio. The most commonly used equation to calculate the sustainable growth rate is the retu rn on equity times the retention ratio. Substituting these relationships into the dividend growth model, we get the following equation to calculate the price of a share of stock today What are the implications of this result in terms of whether the company should pay a dividend or upgrade and expand its manufacturing capability?Explain. The substituted dividend growth model is Dt=Dt-1(1+rb). This equation implies that the future dividends of the company are directly related to the amount of earnings it retains and the rate of return if makes from its investments. However, in order to attain the companys targeted rate of return it also needs to retain more of its earnings in the company for upgrading or expanding its manufacturing plant rather than using it for cash dividends.In the expansionary phase, the company has to make trade offs lower dividends for higher growth.6. Does the question of whether the company should pay a dividend depend on whether the company is organized as a corporation or an LLC? No, an LLC can distribute earnings to its owners however that distribution is not called a dividend, but rather distribution of cash or property to the partners. It is still a dividend in a different name.

Constructive Discharge Memo

Memorandum ToMike Bigg, CEO FromHR Manager get a line10/14/2012 ReEEO CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE CLAIM Constructive Discharge Constructive discharge occurs when an employee is forced to deliver beca usage the operative conditions have fix unbearable. According to Blacks Law Dictionary a constructive discharge is a termination of employment brought about by making the employees working conditions so intolerable that the employee beliefs compelled to leave. These conditions would include harassment or difference or receiving a negative change in working conditions or his pay for reasons that are non work related.A litmus test for this is to determine what a reasonable somebody would do in this scenario. If a reasonable person would have resigned ascribable to the unbearable conditions, and if the employer had actual knowledge of the intolerable actions or conditions and could have remedied them but did not, then the employee would be considered constructively discharged. In a cas e where an employee feels the employer do the chore so unbearable that he brush asidenot remain there, a wrongful termination suit can be filed.In legal terms, being compelled to quit is leg totallyy resembling to being un joinly discharged. In the case we are facing now, the complainant feels that our schedule change would not allow him to continue his employment with us out-of-pocket to the fact the rotating schedule would force him to occasionally work on his religious holy day. In our situation, this law could have some merit if it can be proven that we changed the schedule in an attempt to target all(prenominal) specific individuals. In that case, we could be deemed at fault.However, due to company growth, the work schedule was circumscribed to reflect a sweet production regardment. Since the changes were due directly to the need to change the built-in production schedule and not aimed specifically at a single employee, this situation should not apply. Title heptad of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an act that was passed by congress to take over citizens protection against discrimination by employers based on race, religion, color, sex and discipline origin.In Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the law stipulates that it shall be an unlawful formula for an employer to discharge any employee, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of his employment because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This is the primary federal law that prohibits discrimination in the workplace. In basic terms, this act prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.Age discrimination and disability discrimination are not included in this act and are now covered by subsequent laws enacted by congress. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 rel ates directly to our case as the employee in question has charged that we violated his rights under(a) this act based on religion discrimination. His consider that we are making him work on his religious holy day brings Title VII into focus and it needs to be reviewed to see if his claim can be substantiated.Upon review of the entire operation and in light of the growth the company is experiencing, it does not appear that we have violated his civil rights as claimed under this act. With all personnel being affected by the schedule change and each employee treated equally in the scheduling, it would not seem likely that maven individual has been singled out for his religious beliefs. Recommendation In reviewing the facts surrounding this case, it is apparent that we are not culpable of the charges levied against us and I suggest that we proceed away and litigate this case.Since the decision was made to change gaffes due to company growth and the need for a revised production sc hedule, I do not feel that we handled the situation incorrectly and recommend that we continue on the same course. Making strategic operational decisions and mitigating supply chain process risks is an important part of the argumentation model. Our decision was based solely on the need of the business to remain competitive in the marketplace, and not focused on changing our schedule to chock up the religious freedoms any single employee.The only schedule that remained unchanged was for the office employees. Since the employee in question was not an office employee, and as we did not have any openings in that area, a move to the office would not be prudent or equitable for any other employees. Finally, at no point beforehand the employee contacted the EEOC were we made aware of his religious beliefs and needs. Because of that lack of knowledge, we could not have made any accommodations for this employee to assist with his situation. We should feel comfortable informing the EEOC th at we are not guilty of the charges that were alleged.Legal Support The most defining legal support that is available is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 itself. In Title VII of this Act, clear guidelines are given as to what protection employees are given against unlawful employment practices. In SEC. 2000e-2 of Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, it indicate that it shall be illegal for an employer todiscriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex or national origin.This employee has alleged that he was forced to follow the new policy on shift work that he was discriminated against as he would now be required to work on his religious holy day. Courts stipulate that a reasonable person test should be utilized to help determine this. By using the reasonable person test would a reasonable person quit due to conditions that were intolerable at the workplace I would suggest that would not occur. Many peoples religious holy days were affected by the new schedule as the schedule demanded a rotating four day on, four day off schedule.While it may be inconvenient to some, it would not necessarily require an individual to resign his position. This employee at no time informed the employer of any conflicts based on his religion prior to his resignation. There could even be the opening move of utilizing vacation or personal days when the religious holy days fell on specific work required days. In Lawson V. Washington, 2001, a secern trooper cadet resigned after realizing he would have to salute the flag and swear an oath to the state both of which are against his religion. He felt he would be terminated if he failed to comply with the academys manual.At no point did anyone in command at the academy indicate that he would be terminated, although they also never indicated they would make any accommodations for him in regards to this come out of the closet. In this case, Lawson was able to make a prima facie case on 2 of 3 points. He was able to prove his religion was legitimate and the demands were based on that religion. Secondly, he did inform his employer of his religious beliefs and the onus was then on the employer to make reasonable accommodations for him. He could not prove the third point where the academy would have terminated his employment if he did not comply.In our case, the employee never made it known that his religion would not allow him to work on specific days. Because the condition was not known, accommodations would have never been made available to him. This point alone eliminates our responsibilities in this case. In oppose Employment Opportunity Commission, Plaintiff-appellant, v. University of Chicago Hospitals, Defendant-appellee, (2001) a case where an employee believed she was targeted specifically for her religious beliefs, eventually resigned due to the pressure and hostile environment she felt at work.Her employer made specific comments to her regarding her recruiting persons for employment from her church. The employer even told her superior to fire her if she did not end the practice of recruiting from her church. The EEOC was able to prove constructive discharge, where the employee felt as she must quit to avoid being fired. However, the courts stipulate it must be proven that the constructive discharge was motivated by discriminatory intent. Basically, it must be proved that not only was she forced out, but the reason behind the action was religious discrimination.The courts disagreed with this point and believed that the hospitals actions were not motivated by religious discrimination. The kindred of this case to ours is significant. While the complainant may believe he was forced to quit due to our perceived infringement of his religious beliefs, there was no forethought in regards to forcing any employee to leave because of their religious beliefs. In addit ion, since the employee never made it known his need for special accommodations, we would never have been able to foresee this issue with him.Steps for the future We can take a number of steps to strengthen our defenses against violations of Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the future. A primary outline is to do an internal review of all company policies and procedures to see if any potential risks can be identified (Jenkins, 2004). If they are, steps can be interpreted to decrease the potential for exposure to lawsuits by eliminating practices that are deemed wrong. Another tactic is to implement a formal complaint system and encourage employees to make use of it.These systems could help us reveal and rectify any problems, real or perceived, before they lead to lawsuits. Training all members of the management team in all aspects of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an imperative step in a proactive stance against potential wrongdoing. Developing diversity co mmittees could help the entire organization gain a better grounds of the needs of employees. Effective communication is the final step to help avoid issues in the future and is equal to successful and happy employees.Open communication from employee to employer cannot be stressed enough. If we listen to our employees and treat them all fairly, avoiding harassment and discrimination charges in the future will be a great deal easier and possibly eliminated at all. A regular review by the Human Resources department will be necessary to insure continued compliance with appropriate policies and procedures that will keep us from committing violations of Title VII.Annual harassment and discrimination retraining for all personnel will help everyone gain a better understanding on what is and is not acceptable and problems may be avoided. Finally, regular communication with the EEOC can help by answering any questions we might have regarding the fair and equal treatment of all employees. B lacks Law Dictionary (N. D. ). Retrieved from http//thelawdictionary. org/search/? cx=partner-pub-4620319056007131%3A7293005414&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=discharge&x=0&y=0 Constructive Discharge (N.D. ), Retrieved from http//jobsearch. about. com/od/jobloss/g/constructivedischarge. htm EEOC V. University of Chicago Hospitals 276 F. 3d 326 Lawson v. State of Washington, 319 F. 3d 498 Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit 2003 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, SEC. 2000e-2. Section 703 Jenkins, Lin (2004), Avoiding backup VII violations employment policies and procedures. Retreived from http//goarticles. com/article/Avoiding-Title-VII-Violations-Employment-Policies-and-Procedures/2759944/

If I Can Change the World

If I could change the world, money, the axis of evil, will not be the center of everything. It will just be a part of life, not the criterion of human beingss success in life. People will stop killing to each one other for money people will stop defrauding others of their money. If I could change the world, money will stop its reign as king over mans soul. In Saudi Arabia, Wo workforce, dressed in black from head to toe with only their eyes sticking out, were moving about busily.If I could change the world, women will be given the same rights as men. Why do these men think that they are the gods of this land? Women in other countries have proved that they could emulate men dont these women have the same potential? If I could change the world, these women will definitely be free to show off all their talents for this countrys own benefit. To Israel, please, I replied, remembering the suicide attacks Ive heard of so many times.We were greeted by a gunshot which miraculously passed t hrough us but hit a man puke us who immediately fell to the ground, which was already wet with fresh blood. If I could change the world, there will be no wars. Look at that man over there, I said, pointing to someone who was frantically safekeeping the dying man who was shot upon our arrival. He can tell you about the helpless feeling of holding a dying friend in his arms, feeling the life flowing out and not being able to do anything about it.What will go to that dying mans family? If he is the breadwinner of the family, how will the rest of his family survive? If he is the only son of an old mother, how many sleepless nights will the mother spend tears for her lost son? If I could change the world, nations will learn to forgive and forget each others mistakes. Nations will learn to respect each others religion, culture and perspectives. leading of nations will not hunt for reasons to harm and to attack, but will search for ways to help and to cooperate for a better world

Poverty in America: A Global Epidemic

A Global Epidemic Ben Sims Sociology 445 Contemporary Social Problems Professor Shannon Sellers August 2, 2014 Of all the social problems that pull by within America today, poverty Is undoubtedly the closely prevalent . The stigma of poverty Is no longer solely the plight of third world countries, simply sooner an epidemic that has vigorously manifested itself in the united States at an alarming rate. Yes, in America, the country teeming with an abundance of natural resources and the patents to the most pioneering technological advances f modern time, Indisputably faces an unprecedented burden of poverty.It is estimated that more than 46 million Americans live in poverty in the US (Tighten 157). American families atomic number 18 increasingly conclusion themselves struggling to make ends meet, and with the continuing rate of unemployment and the rapid increases to the cost of living more and more families are left to choose between the very base necessities of life such as foo d, hold dear and healthcare. Poverty has to a fault had a profound impact on education and crime, predominantly in inner-city communities where the wealth diversity is most apparent.With all the carnage caused by poverty being distinctly obvious In America why Is nothing being done close to It? Does anyone care? Sadly, the most egregious aspect of the epidemic of poverty in America is that it doesnt have to exist at all. The US ultimately has the resources and means to fade poverty altogether, if only it was placed as a high enough priority. To truly comprehend the profound impact that poverty has had on America, there must first be an go steadying of what poverty essentially means and how It was caused.Webster dictionary describes poverty as the state of one who lacks a usual 1 rancid Dictionary). The textbook however, offers a more in-depth perspective on the term stating that poverty is a standard of living below the minimum needed for the maintenance of equal to(predic ate) diet, health and shelter (Tighten 181). This definition implies that the poverty doorway is based on those who can make the minimum amount of money required to confirm a decent level of life and those who cannot. Although these particular descriptions of poverty are not necessarily wrong, they are also not entirely accurate.When most people commemorate of poverty the assumption may be that the core percentage of those actually living in poverty are the homeless or unemployed, except carnal knowledge to popular belief most of the people living in poverty actually trifle. They are classified as the working poor. According to US count data over 2. 6 million full-time workers lived below the poverty line in 2010 (Tighten 161). How is this possible? First and foremost, the federal minimum wage necessity in the United States is $7. 25. So for an employee who works 40 hours a week their total calendar monthly salary would be $1 , 165. 0 before taxes. instantly lets analyze h ow much it would cost for an average American earning a minimum wage salary to pay for the 3 most Asia necessities in life food, shelter and health care. The average percentage that Americans pay in housing costs is approximately 28 to 35 percent of their take home pay (Curmudgeon, 2010). 28 percent of $1,160. 00 is $324. 80. According too 2010 survey conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Americans spend roughly $1 51. 00 a week on food, equaling a whopping $604. 00 a month (Mended, 2012).If we add the average monthly cost of healthcare under Beams Affordable Care spell, which is $328. 00 (Persuade, 2014), the total monthly expenses for Just the rudimentary necessities alone is a staggering $1 ,256. 0. The basic necessities alone total more than the average worker, earning minimum wage, in America makes in a month and that fancy still doesnt account for utility bills, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses. Not to mention the addition of a spouse or children. It is important to understand that poverty is a very complex social dilemma, with a variety of unfounded stereotypes that persist about its causes.One of the most common misconceptions about poverty is that the poor inherently cause their own poverty, alluding to the poor having a lack of drive and ambition necessary to change heir pecuniary status. This perception is often referred to as the person-blame approach . This means that social problems such as poverty are the result of the pathologies of individuals (Tighten 163). Although this notion is credible, in this particular instance, it is slightly off kilter callable to that fact that even though 2. Million people go to work and log over 40 hours a week they still wont surpass the threshold of even half of the nations median salary. And therein lies the problem. The issue is not whether members of society are willing to work, because not only are a majority f the poor willing and able to work hard, they do so when given the opp ortunity. The real root of the problem is the minimum wage fatality in the US and the lack of access to adequate education and training necessary to acquire better-paying Jobs.The system-blame approach is more fitting in this instance because there is no deficit of people willing to work but rather a shortage in the amount that is being paid out for said work. There is also no shortage in people willing to procure and utilize the sufficient training and education needed to attain better employment but underprivileged. Although the government has in fact tried to implement computer programs to solve the problem of poverty in America, many of these programs contained crucial flaws and in many cases made the quandary worse. Welfare is the most notable of these programs.Welfare was established to assist underprivileged families and individuals get out of poverty (Tighten 165), but have ultimately led to a upset rate of dependency. Instead of assisting families welfare had essentiall y enabled them in many ways, with a vast majority of recipients not feeling the need to work. Provisions thin the program even made it easier to stay on welfare than to seek employment and encouraged unmarried woman to have children. Thus, the enactment of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. This bill was established to reduce the number of families and individuals dependent on government assistance.These institutional changes helped to reduce welfare dependency by mandating that recipients actively seek work while receiving government assistance, increasing the level of accountability for those in need of financial aid. The government also developed several other programs in an drift to curve poverty such as the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANK) which provides financial assistance to low-income families but also requires them to work at to the lowest degree 20 hours a week to receive benefits (Saddler, 2012).Addition services such as Medicaid, Food Stamps and WICK were all established to essentially assist low-income families achieve financial stability while progressively becoming independent of all government aid. Although these programs and institutional amendments have been extremely valuable in assisting the poor and underprivileged maintain a motherable level of life, unfortunately they havent been enough to end or even cut the poverty level in Alfa.These programs have ultimately helped sustain the global threshold of poverty in many ways by serving to only assist low-income families get through financial difficulties instead of constituent them get out. The only way for members of the underprivileged society to rise above poverty is to provide the means to earn more than the nations median income. This goes back to the need for programs that assist individuals in acquiring the knowledge and training necessary to acquire higher paying Jobs and also for the government to raise the minimum wage requirement.Perhaps the most compelling e xplanation for the persistence of poverty is the remarry of private profit. The basic principle of capitalism is who gets what is determined solely by private profit rather than collective need (Tighten 173). By private corporations emphasizing the theory of maximizing profits they ultimately end up endorsing poverty. This is done by companies paying their workers the minimum amount possible including benefits and pocketing the wealth that was created by laborers and distributing it among the owners instead of the working class.Primacy of profit also endorses poverty by employing a bevy of uneducated and desperate laborers who are eager to work for low wages. Many of these laborers are illegal immigrants and dont view having benefits as a necessity. This in turn makes it extremely profitable for owners of businesses and large corporations to engross these workers because of the amount of money that they will be able to save while still being able to employ laborers full time.Pover ty is supported and maintained through my belief that the US government has made attempts to curve the impact of poverty, I believe that the United States has the power to end poverty all together. This can be accomplished by making poverty a top priority. The United States spends roughly 712. Billion dollars of our nations defense each year (Tighten 177). A percentage of that figure can be deducted and contributed to combat poverty without Jeopardizing our nations defense at all.This extra money could be used to provide adequate schooling and fund programs that hike up academic advancement in inner-city communities. Those funds could also be used to provide training seminars for individuals with limited education who seek higher paying Jobs and worry to be more competitive candidates in todays Job market. Most importantly however, those funds could be used to raise the federal minimum wage requirement to a level that allows ore people to earn above or at least earn wages comparab le to the nations median salary.

How is Gatsby introduced by Fitzgerald? Essay

Jay Gatsby is presented by Fitzgerald first in Chapter One during a fleeting encounter between the teller (Nick Carraway) and Gatsby. Whilst Nick is resting in his garden after a fatiguing evening with Tom and Daisy Buchanan, fifty feet away a figure had emerged from the shadow and this is later revealed to be Jay Gatsbys very first presence in the novel.Although he does not live with any dialogue with any other characters and nor has he interacted with any other characters at this point, the reader can gain some insight into what his personality may entail. For instance, the fact that he emerged from the shadow may allude to the possibility that he may feature had a dark history and that there is something enigmatic about him.It is not a clandestine that Jay Gatsby lives a life of luxury as he possesses more than forty acres of lawn and garden and his home is initially referred to as Gatsbys mansion, implying that it is of a more than generous size. Furthermore, he holds a poli tical party once a week at his home and invites everyone- including Nick. This gives us a further insight into what Jay Gatsby is like. The fact that he holds a party once a week could be due to him wanting to handle his social status amongst his peers at a high level whilst it also acts as a unalterable reminder of his power and raises the question of whether he enjoys people being reminded of his power or whether he feels the need to remind himself.Moreover, in preparation for his parties, he has been know to waste five crates of oranges and lemons during the weekend and every Monday they leave through his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves. This is representative of the over-indulgence of the rich at the m and the fact that the wastage is taken out through the back door resembles the era of prohibition in the 1920s whereby many things were done in secret.This could show how Gatsby is attempting to keep his faade of being The Great Gatsby by get winding to negate any ba d qualities he may possess or any immoral actions that he may commit. In addition to this, during the party, a tray of cocktails floated around and this reveals to the reader that Gatsby was evidently breaking the law by serving alcohol at his party in 1922 prohibition America.Also indicating that he has a very high level of influence to be able to hold a party with such alarge number of guests and not one of them doubts his motives for serving alcohol which could be a ploy to attract more people to his parties. Likewise, the guests that attend his parties argon half-size more than carbon copies of each other, where many woman appear to be wearing yellow dresses.This is symbolic of their attempt to be something that they are not and try to fit in and conform to societys need to be in the elite or rather, living the American Dream. When the reader finally meets Jay Gatsby, they are already under the influence of many rumours regarding Gatsby that many minor characters mentioned, su ch as the fact that he is a nephew of cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm or that he killed a man. However, when we meet him through the eyes of Nick Carraway, he gives him a rare smile with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may seeded player across four or five times in life.This almost makes the reader forget about everything that Fitzgerald had informed us of because it appears as if we have just met the real Gatsby. From this we can infer that he is a person who has gone through a lot but is at least trustworthy and despite what he may have done, he is still The Great Gatsby. From my point of view, it seems that F. Scott Fitzgerald had spent the most part of the beginning of the novel building up an image of Gatsby that was someone who inherited their wealth, had possibly killed someone and was ambiguous.But I recollect that this was so that the reader could be shown how the other characters in the novel viewed Gatsby in the lead giving him a chance, and when we finally meet him, we are able to get to know him and slowly build up our own image that I believe will completely contradict the beliefs that the other people in the novel share of Jay Gatsby and by doing this we are able to view the many perspectives that people have of him, allowing us to create a better informed judgment on the controversial character.

History Essay

Essay Question Underlying causes of 1905 innovation in Russia were not political. whatever else the renewalaries wanted it was not to overthrow the Tsar. How far do you agree with this claim? I agree that the underlying causes of the 1905 revolution were not only political on that point were also economic, social and military factors that lead to this revolution. Firstly the social causes of this change surfacet. Even though in 1861 the Emancipation of the Serfs had occurred by the early 20th century naught actually had changed for the lower folk of Russia society.They were not called Serfs anymore and no longer were a part of a feudal system however the still undergo a low standard of living, had to work long hard hours in menial jobs and pitiful harvests and famine havocked their lives. The massive gap between the rich and the poor continued to widen as the Tsar and the royal family lived in extravagant luxury and the peasants that made up 85 percent of the people were le ft to hunger and fend for themselves. Another social factor than increased the peasants growing discontent with their ruler was the process of urbanization that led to overcrowding in the cities and horrible living conditions. general all these factors and more led to the popular belief among the Russian peasantry that change was needed, that change didnt need to be the removal of the Tsar. In fact they were content to work with him to achieve more equality and better living and working conditions for themselves. Next there were the economic causes of this revolution. In the 1900s the world was struck by a recession, Russia in particular was heavily affected. They were so affected because Russia relies so much on its exports especially of grain for its revenue and strength of its economy.So when the worldwide determine of grain dropped during the recession mass unemployment results due to the fact that 85% of Russia populations are farmers that grow grain and other foodstuffs. Mo reover due the recession the value of the Russia notes (the ruble) drops and therefore Russia exports of grain drops due to farmers not wanting to sell their grain due to an unstable market price. Widespread poverty among the masses grows leading to even more discontent and want for change. This leads on to my next point.The military cause of the revolution is simple and that is the Russo-Japan War. Tsar Nicholas II fearing the growing discontent among the people. So he comes up with an idea of a distraction to make the peasants forget about the horrible situation they are facing. At first his plan works considerably and the people forget about their troubles and support the war effort. That is until Russia starts losing. This idea needs to be put into context as Russia is the largest country in the world and should plain steamroll a tiny insignificant country like Japan.Defeats on land and at sea shocked the Russian public and if that wasnt openhanded enough the war instead of making people forget about their struggles with poverty and starvation causes shortages of fuel and food, high prices and unemployment. As Russia suffered conquer after defeat they were agonistic to sign a treaty with Japan and became the laughing stock of European powers such as Germany and Great Britain. This shocking defeat also forced the Russia people to consider how incompetent the Tsar and his ruling party were.That they cant even defeat a tiny island nation like Japan. just there were also political causes to the 1905 revolution such as the harsh Tsarist regime and the three of import groups of opposition to the Tsar reign. The Tsar had already shown himself to be weak and indecisive through his actions again the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese war form 1900-1904. He had also made his views clear on the idea of a democratic/constitutional government calling them senseless dreams and basically ignoring the pleas of his people for basic reform.The Social Revolutionaries tr ied to create a peasant revolution based around socialism and were a real party for the youth but failed epically. The liberals appealed to the Tsar in a reforming manner but as I previously stated the Tsar refused to back down and give up any of his powers. However political causes amounted a minor role in the 1905 revolution as the other above factors were more important. Overall the underlying causes of the 1905 were not really political and while there was some political influence to the revolution. at that place were social factors such as urbanization and poor living standards.Furthermore economic factors such as poverty and unemployment ultimately led to dissatisfaction with the ruling class and change was required by the peasants. What the revolutionaries wanted was basic freedom e. g. freedom to form political parties, basic rights as human beings and fundament government reforms. Their main aim was for the people to have an interactive government system that sought the be st for Russia. While it was true the peasantry of Russia was tired of autocratic rule they didnt really want to overthrow the Tsar. All they really desired were some basic reforms to improve their lives.

John T Gatto: Against School: Agree or Disagree?

Against School is an argumentative essay that tells about how the public education musical arrangement incapacitates the children of today. It was written by John Taylor Gatto. In this reading, Gatto claims that the public education system causes children to become bored with themselves, to conform to the way of the school and its teachers, and it causes them to lack the ability to deal with issues that go on in the real world, outside of school. Gattos score for this is that it is partially the teachers fault. The students become bored because the teacher is actually bored with teaching the subject.Students would be adamant to get if they were given and education and not a breeding. They indispensableness to be encouraged to have the qualities to succeed in life instead of sitting in a prison style confinement, forced to learn material that society deemed appropriate. Summing up his essay, Gatto states that he commits that the students should be able to manage themselves. Afte r reading Gattos argument, my only reaction was to agree with him. I believe that the public education system only influences us to conform to society and the government. Were only taught what they want us to be taught. To me, students need more than that.They need the skills to not only succeed but to survive and to keep on succeeding throughout life. The material needs to be taught and explained how retaining the knowledge will second them in the future. If we dont know how it will benefit us in some way then its almost meaningful. Theres no reason to remember it. In conclusion, I agree with Gattos argument because I think it is something most students can relate to. Weve all had a boring teacher, teaching a boring class, that we thought meant absolutely nothing to us. But if were forced to take the class, then there must be some reason for it.

Nature vs. Nurture in Language Development

What is terminology? address is a tool we stupefy been using to generalize and develop our thinking. We have been Learning ab issue the thinking of others by reading Expressing our own thinking by writing Exchanging ideas with others by speaking and listening Thought and lecture can contribute to clear, effective thinking and communication. Language is a system of symbols for thinking and communicating. At 5 years of age gracious is expect to have Articulated speech, Vocabulary of more than 6000 words and Observe grammar rules.An Average speaker is expected to have 150 words per minute, 20,000 and 40,000 alternatives and error rates below 0. 1%. There argon two theories concerning genius or Rationalism in Language and these are the Nativism and Child Talk model of Chapman et al. (1992). In the minor talk theory the childs needs leave behind enable him to formulate speech base on his past fingers. Nature or rationalist theory is ground on the following national by prom inent great deal in gay history 1. PLATO knowledge and understanding * innate * biologic * genetically * common genius . Rene Descartes (1596 1650) Ideas existed in spite of appearance gracious creations prior to deliver. * God * index of the environment and the legal opinion to influence and initiate behavior * reflex action (unintended behaviors) 3. Kant (1724-1804) A priori knowledge as illustrated below. 4. CHOMSKY The Nativist survey Human beings are innate(p) with an innate aptitude for language. Universal Grammar * An innate property of the human hear * Growth of language is analogous to the development of a bodily organ * Abstract that it could not be learned at allPrinciples of UG 1. Language is innate 2. Our brains contain a dedicated special-purpose education device that has evolved for language alone. * domain specificity, autonomy or modularity Nurture states that knowledge originates in the environment and comes in through the sensations. This theory is called Empiricism defines as the importance of stunning experience as the basis of all knowledge. Empiricism is other cognise as the doctrine that says sense experience is the only source of knowledge, a belief that experience alone is the source of all knowledge.Empiricism is essentially a theory of knowledge which asserts that all knowledge is derived from sense experience. It rejects the notion that the mind is furnished with a range of concepts or ideas prior to experience. Three principal British philosophers who are associated with empiricism are toilet Locke (1632-1704), George Berkeley (1685-1753), and David Hume (1711-76). in philosophy, a doctrine that affirms that all knowledge is found on experience, and denies the possibility of spontaneous ideas or a priori thought. Empiricism (greek from empirical, latin experientia the experience) is generally regarded as being at the heart of the modern scientific method, that our theories should be based on our observations of the world rather than on intuition or faith that is, empirical re look and a posteriori inductive reasoning rather than rigorously deductive logic. Other basis of empiricism are 1. ARISTOTLE * Truth and knowledge to be found international of ourselves by using our senses. 2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 1778) * Emile the hero learns about life through his experiences in life 3.John Dewey (1859 1952) * Structured experience matters and disciplinary modes of inquiry could allow the development of the mind. 4. Edward Thorndike (1874 1949) STIMULUS RESPONSE * people learned through a trial-and-error approach * mental connections are formed through positive responses to particular stimuli * learning was based on an association between sense impressions and an impulse to action * structure the environment to ensure certain stimuli that would produce learning 5. Psychologist B. F. mule driver (behaviorism or associationism) 3 needs for language formation * time * opportunity * c alculation power Skinner further explains that learning is the production of desired behaviors without any influence of mental summonses. Programmed learning is positive reinforcement for correct responses Let us now bridge the gap between nature and nurture. Learning is a developmental cognitive process, human create/construct knowledge. There are trey theories involved in this process constructivism, progressivism and language acquisition theory.We will discuss first constructivism , the following diagrams will show us. plat 1 Psychologist Jean Piaget proposed two kind of interaction * Simple interactions putting unneurotic * Emergentism adding more to what was put together The first lash shows simple interaction while the second box shows emergentism. Diagram 2 shows us how the brain is constructed with interaction to the environment. Diagram 2 Vygotsky (1896 1934) states that all learning occurs in a cultural context and involves social interactions.The zone of proximal dev elopment (ZPD)learn subjects best just beyond their range of existing experience with assist from the teacher or another peer to bridge the remoteness from what they know or can do item-by-itemly and what they can know or do with assistance (Schunk, 1996) scaffolding that help students learn in systematic ways. This is illustrated further illustrated in diagram 3. To Piaget in that location are three element involved in interaction the structured environment, the senses and the brain. Vygotsky added one more element nother human being that makes now the elements of interaction four namely structured environment, the senses, another human being and the brain. Diagram 3 Second theory in bridging the gap is Progressivism which emphases on both experience and thinking or reflection as a basis for learning explore, discover, construct, and create. Emergentist (Tomasello & Call, 1997) said that there is something innate in the human brain that makes language possible, something that w e do with a large and multifactorial brain that evolved to serve the many complex goals of human society and culture.A new machine built out of old parts, reconstructed from those parts by every human child. ( contrast to domain specificity ). Diagram 4 will show us people cannot create something from nothing. People can create but from something already there. The picture on the left is the nurtured slope while the picture on the right is the natural face. Diagram 4 LAD THEORY ( Language accomplishment Device ) Chomsky regards linguistics as a subfield of psychology, more especially the cognitive psychology.The Language encyclopedism Device Chomsky argues that language is so complex that it is almost incredible that it can be acquired by a child in so short a time. He further says that a child is born with some innate mental capacity which helps the child to process all the language which he hears. This is called the quotLanguage Acquisition Devicequot (LAD). Chomsky and his fo llowers claim that language is governed by rules, and is not a haphazard thing, as Skinner and his followers would claim. We must remember that when Chomsky talks about rules, he means the unconscious rules in a childs mind.A child constructs his own mental grammar which is a part of his cognitive framework. These rules enable him to produce grammatical sentences in his own language. Chomsky does not mean that child can describe these rules explicitly. For instance, a four or basketball team year old child can produce a sentence like, I have taken meal, he can do that because he has a mental grammar which enables him to form correct present gross(a) structures and also to use such structures in the right or appropriate situation. Language learning insert Mental grammar Is an (own rules) Innate ability LADGrammatical Output sentencesChomsky suggests that the learner of any language has an inbuilt learning capacity for language that enables each learner to construct a kind of pers onal theory or chasten of rules about the language based on very limited exposure to language. John Watson / Behaviorism A branch of psychology that bases its observations and conclusions on definable and measurable behavior and on experimental methods, rather than on concept of quotmind. Behaviorism is a psychological theory first put forth by John Watson (1925), and then expounded upon by BF Skinner.Attempting to answer the question of human behavior, proponents of this theory essentially hold that all human behavior is learned from ones surrounding context and environment. Diagram 5 shows the imitation process * Children start out as clean slates and language learning is process of getting linguistic habits printed on these slates * Language Acquisition is a process of experience * Language is a conditioned behavior the stimulus response process * Stimulus Response, Feedback Reinforcement Diagram 5SUMMARY Rationalism ( Bloomfield & Noam Chomsky ) states the nativist or innate ness where children must be born with an innate capacity for language development. Children are born with an innate propensity for language acquisition, and that this ability makes the task of learning a first language easier than it would otherwise be. The human brain is ready by nature for language in the sense when children are exposed to speech, certain general principles for discovering or structuring language automatically begin to operate.Constructivism ( Jean Piaget ) proponent of cognitive theory which introduced that language Acquisition must be viewed within the context of a childs intellectual development. Linguistic structures will emerge only if there is an already established cognitive foundation. The earliest period of language learning (up to 18 months), relating to the development of what Piaget called sensory motor intelligence, in which children construct a mental picture of a world of objects that have independent existence.During the later part of this period , children develop a sense of object permanence and will begin to search for the objects that they have seen hidden. This is further emphasized by Vygotsky in his socio-cultural approach to knowledge. Another theory by C. A. Ferguson (1977) known as the Input Theory claiming that parents do not talk to their children in the same way as they talk to other adults and seem to be capable of adapting their language to give the child maximum opportunity to interact and learn. REFERENCESPinel, JJ (2011) Biopsychology Eighth Edition, Allyn& Bacon. Nature versus nurture Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nature_versus_nurturePowell, K. (n. d. ). Nature vs Nurture How heredity and environment puzzle out who we are. Retrieved from http//genealogy. about. com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/nature_nurture. htmPowell, K. (). Nature vs Nurture how heredity and environment shape who we are. Retrieved from http//genealogy. about. com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/natur e_nurture_2. htm

Analysis and Critique of Research – Based Literature

I. Summary of Hofstedes Model of cross-cultural Management Early management gurus used to presume that their ideas on management apply to e realbody all everywhere the world. Their notions were challenged when the Japanese became a world economic superpower, along with the significant rise of dragons and tigers economies.The notion that management principles atomic number 18 not universally applicable across all cultural boundaries soon emerged and began to develop itself through with(predicate) discordant cross-cultural studies, such as Lane and Beamishs (1990) study on western companies that reinforced joint-ventures with people from other nations, with forth considering the differences in their management burnishs and thought that it would be sufficient in dealing with international competition problems.Also read thisCritique of Stuff Is Not SalvationOne study that stood out from the others came from Geert Hofstede (1980a), who defined culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from otherthe interactive aggregate of common characteristics that influences a human groups response to its environment. Richards (2001) mentioned that Hofstedes study was focused on the differences in mental programming among groups of people in different nations, through their collective preferences on certain states of affairs over others.His study was conducted through a questionnaire survey on IBMs employees in fifty nations and his analysis was based on comparative data from that survey. Hofstedes confirmable study would thusly strengthen the belief that western, particularly American, management practices could not directly be utilize on management from different cultures, which atomic number 18 based on different values. Geert Hofstede set four levels of favorable attachments through which culture displays itself symbols heroes rituals and values.Among said levels, values play the biggest part in explaini ng cultural differences. Hofstede further identified five primary value dimensions from which a pecking order can be established for each indicate country. These dimensions are 1. Individualism versus Collectivism The way in which people live together and the relationship that exists amidst the individual and the collectivity. 2. Large versus Small Power Distance The expiration to which a society accepts or rejects inequalities in such areas as prestige, wealth and power, or hierarchy versus equality.3. Strong versus Weak Uncertainty Avoidance The extent to which culture cope with uncertainty or unstructured situations, and encourage risk-taking, through technology, law and religion (risk scheme versus risk comfort). 4. Masculinity versus Femininity Attitudes to quality of life, achievement, assertiveness and competition (task versus relationship). 5. Long-term Orientation (Confucian work Dynamism) honor persistence (perseverance) having a sense of shame rather than guilt searc h for virtue, rather than truth semipermanent approach to life and ordering relations by status and observation of it.Hofstede then placed countries at bottom the above dimensions and found that a culture in one country makes people from that country to more than ilkly behave in a certain way than other. This investigate was found to be very enlightening (Richards, 2001, p. 172), especially in paving the way to look deeper into the differences in cultural values and norms. In his 2002 counter-argument made toward McSweeneys critique, Hofstede (2002, p. 1355) even claimed that his pioneering look for had resulted in a paradigm-shift in the field of cross-cultural studies. later on on in 1987, he developed what he called as theory T (Richards, 2001, p. 178), which core arguments are 1. The world is unequal and everyone has his/her place within the order. 2. Each of the children has his/her birthright place and has to work on his/her duties accordingly, still can improve his/her position through studying with a expert teacher, working with a good patron, and/or marrying a good partner. 3. Wisdom is grounded on tradition.That is why human beings do not like wobble and will avoid it if he/she can. Trying to find the ideal model for these cultural differences, Hofstede then developed his theory T to a more complex model he called theory T +, which added on to theory T the component of change and the ability within a particular culture to modernize and synergize with other cultures through life experience commitment to change capacity to lead to change and peoples learning capacities (Richards, 2001, pp. 6-17).II. Analysis and Critique The prescribed readings that followed after Richards (2001) overview of cultural differences, cultural dimensions and syndromes, through previous pedantics works (Hofstede, Trompenaars and others) and his own teachings on cultural understanding, essentially went back and forth on research credibility issues, including validity in the methodologies that these academics utilized in their research (i. e. Hofstedes critique on Trompenaars research methodologies and its subsequent rebuttal from Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars in readings 2 and 3 of the reading list, followed by more critique from Hofstede on Trompenaars work in reading 4, and still followed by Brendan McSweeney critique on Hofstedes own methodology and the quality of his evidence in reading 5, which sparked other(prenominal) refutation from Hofstede in reading 6, and still another counter-rebuttal from Sweeney in reading 7).To this source, all the above debate was focused on several key issues 1. every(prenominal) theoretical claims have to be based on analysis grounded on empirical research. 2. Selection of methodology made on an academics research could determine the credibility of his/her research and subsequent academic analysis. 3. Research design, along with type of data and instruments to gather said data are exceptionally al l-important(a) in the formation of a researchers analysis. . The type of analysis used on a researchers database would determine the scope of academic claim he/she could create and how valid those claims would be. This writers own doubt on Hofstedes research is mainly based on whether his archetype of 117,000 respondents who participated in his questionnaire survey are homogenous, thus representative enough to the world population that was supposed to be the target population of his research on (world) culture.Unlike McSweeney in reading 5, however, this writer would give Hofstede the advance of the doubt on his choice of questionnaire content, which must have played a significant part in determining whether cultural differences could be correctly reflected through the selection of question items. Simply put, should the writer be in Hofstedes shoes and possess sufficient resources within his grasp, he would probably undertake another survey-based research on a much narrower or ti ghter cultural sub-concept or characteristic, which makes up a big concept of culture.

Enforcing Racial Discrimination Essay

The series of ikongraphs entered by the Farm Security Administration of the Office of warfare Information photographers were taken amid 1937 and 1943, presumably during the years the unit was in operation. These photographers were tasked to document various manifestations of exchange and continuity in the prevalent American life, and this resulted in a vivid line of battle of images that particularly focussed on the practice of racial segregation.Curiously, while the photographers were not officially acknowledged to have been directed to document special scenes, the prints produced exhibited a skew toward characteristics that indicate racial discrimination and segregation (LOC 2004). Among the thirty-one photos included in the series, all depict signs situated in a number of locations such as bus and see stations, restaurants, cafes, bars, movie theaters, stores, and billiard halls.These signs also collectively show the use of words such as gloomy and white, which cl earlie st validate the existence of segregation between Caucasian Americans and individuals of ethnic origins such as blacks and Indians. True to the era during which they were photographed, the environment and people incidentally present in each picture out in authentic manners of architecture and fashion. II. racial Segregation in America The issue on race and discrimination in America can be famously traced centuries back, with the history of Africans being brought into the democracy as slaves.Though this deplorable condition had been corrected by the gains of the Civil War, thus granting freedom to blacks. However, the accompaniment of the Great falling off in the 1920s brought back situations identical to those experienced by African-Americans previously, as the orbit was beset by the chaos produced by the lack of jobs and sources of income. In 1932, most blacks found themselves without work, and there was increase pressure from whites to have blacks fired from any job that they believed should be assigned to unemployed whites.Numerous forms of racial violence again ensued, particularly in the in the south, during the 1930s (LOC 2002). The legal foundation of racial segregation was the Jim crowing laws, which were imposed in the 1860s mainly in railroad cars, and continued to be enforced throughout the decades until the sixties (McElrath 2008). The effects of segregation on typical American life and partnership were apparently prodigious passable to create scenes extraordinary enough to tell their own stories through photographs, which were precisely what the Farm Security collection achieved. III.Beyond the Signs Marking the Lines of Race The objective of the Farm Security photographs had been to depict regular American life, thus far it is clear how the typicality of the images at the time does not lend itself in the same nature today. There is a point of discussion in the deliberate move to show not just groups of whites and ethnic people, scarce ly the centering on the signs that limit freedom, that erase the function of choice. The study of signs, known as semiology, provides the connection between the audience, interpreter, and the sign itself (Littlejohn 2008).The photos, with their studied involvement of the actual sign, venue, and individuals, already form the three-part process the blacks are the audience and the photographer is the interpreter, within the space covered by the sign. This shows how the photographers aimed to convey a reality, a system that used semiotics as a way to impose discrimination. This they had done with not just a bit of familiarity on their end, quite like the way Coles (1997) appropriated documentary work with the linking of lives with the subject.The same logic is utilized by Gripsrud (in Gillespie and Toynbee 2006), when he classified a photographers work as indexicalthe identifying of a specific aspect of a subjectand therefore lends to much subjectivity. IV. Showing Signs of Racial Con flict to an Audience era the audience of the signs were the blacksand whites, depending on the sign and situationthe photos audience are people who would benefit from knowledge of a different period, as was the arguable objective of the Farm Security photographers in documenting change and continuity in American life.Mainly, the photos were for research and evaluation, whether or not the audience would fall upon them appalling or give them their approval. It may be possible that some of those who comprise the audience are people who have lived through the same era, making them mere confirmations of what they already know but the more relevant audience would be the uninformed, who would find new insight into American society and its management of racial issues in the late 1930s and early 40s. V. Appropriation of Technique and Style in Communicating RacismThe black-and-white photography is already significant on its own, referring to the subjects as well seeing words on the signs c aptured in the photographs deals a double nurseblack, or colored, and white signs in black-and-white photos. The photographers simply captured the signs as they were, specially for those in venues without people milling around, but there were also photos that provided degrees of humanity and emotion. One of the most striking is a photo of a bar showing whites having beer, a sign on the wall above them that says positively no beer sold to Indians.Though Indians are known for their penchant for alcohol, it is disturbing one clear sign can show how this ethnic group is singled out and discriminated againstan error of generalization. The white people in the photo appear serious and quite professional, which indicates how the sign should not be misconstrued as a joke. Other photos in the collection, though showing signs and places rather than people as subjects, reveal the increasing culture of urbanizationshown by the railroads, buses, and stores where the signs are found.Urbanization, being common ground for both blacks and whites, necessitates signs these indicate white control over society and economy, and the intent to keep colored people away from this power.Works CitedPrimary Source Library of Congress. Photographs of Signs Enforcing Racial Discrimination Documentation by Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photographers. Prints & Photographs Reading Room. April 30, 2004. Secondary Sources Coles, Robert. The custom Fact and Fiction.Doing Documentary Work. New York Oxford University Press, 1997. Gripsrud, Jostein. Semiotics signs, codes and cultures. In Gillespie, Marie and Jason Toynbee. Analysing Media Texts. Berkshire Open University Press, 2006. Library of Congress. Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945 Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s. 2002. McElrath, Jessica. Creation of Jim Crow South Segregation in the South. About. com. 2008.

Storm Born Chapter Eighteen

It was same(p) deja vu. Two fights, two filthy prohibiteds, and two mornings afterwards choke off in my own bed. Talk ab extinct tedious.Only this time, I wasnt al unrivaled in bed. I knew Kiyo was with me blush before I opened my eyes. I recognized his smell, the way his arms wrapped or so me. They held me with delicacy now, non with the fierceness that usually seized him.You dont quit, I murmured, blinking the sleep out of my eyes. Even wounded, youre tranquilize furnishing to get me back in bed.Ive already got you present. He lay on his boldness, his eyes perfect(a) into mine. Smiling, he ran a hand ein truthplace my hair, smoothing it back. I was so worried about you.I cuddle against him, slowly dredging up memories from last night. I was worried about you in wish well manner. What happened? wherefore wouldnt you swap back?I did leveltually.Well, that was obvious. I waited expectantly, needing to a greater extent.Being a kitsune isnt and about the novelty of t urning into a fox. Its more than that. Its likeI also can turn into I dont eff a fox god. No. Thats not right. I dont know how to describe it.A superfox?His soft laughter vibrated against my fore liberty chit, and he kissed the fur there. Thats not sort of right either. The foxes of the Otherworld atomic number 18 like the progenitors of mortal foxes in this world. Theyre stronger, more powerful, wilder. I can switch over into one and only(a) of those, dumb to do soI almost have to give up my humanity. Theyre too animal, tooI dont know, primordial. When Im a normal red fox, Im sleek over pretty much the same as I am now un little Ive been in that form for a really long time. Then the human patch starts to go. But for your superfox, Im already done for(p) in one transformation. I can hang on to that a few human instincts like that I had to fight that thing and that I had to protect you.I took all this in, frowning. But that doesnt explain why you didnt change back.It t akes time to go in and out of that form. The change is more than physical. I have to give up my human personality to go in, my fox nature to come out. Both are hard. Thats why it took me awhile to even help in the first place. I had to make a quick call, even though it left you undef finish. I thought Id do more damage in the former(a) form.Yeah, you did do a pretty wakeless job. But you sure frighten me there. I bestial silent, recalling those terrible moments of uncertainty while I bled all over myself. When did you finally change back?not long after you passed out, I think of.That would explain why Im still alive.He nodded. You lost a skunk of job. You needed ten stitches.I blinked. Did you take me to a doctor?He grinned. You promise I did.It took me a moment to catch on. I pulled back the covers and lifted the thot against of one of my racier and seldom accustomd nightgowns howd I get dressed in that anyway? and saw black stitches standing out starkly against my sk in, off to the side of my stomach.You did this? I exclaimed. You stitched me up? Without a doctor?I am a doctor. I do this all the time.Yeahto cats and dogs. Not to people.Its precisely the same. Were animals too.I eyed the stitches uneasily. The skin most them was red. Was e realthing sanitized?He made a disparaging sound in his throat. Of course it was. The standards are the same. Come on, stop worrying. It was either that or allow you bleed to death in the car. I had a kit in the back and used it.Howd you have enough light out there?The overhead lamp still worked.I couldnt believe hed stitched me up in a smashed car with a vets kit. Improvi sit downion at its best. Did the car actually start?Sort ofI got us back to the freeway before it died. I found your cell phone and called Tim.Poor Tim. When I first told him I was a shaman, I think he thought it was as fake as his own Indian charade. contain hes not actually Indian? Ive been trying forever to figure out what tribe hes f rom.Hes from the tribe of Tim Warkoski. Its ridiculous, but The air in the room rippled, pressure building. I had to blink a few times to see to it the shimmering around us wasnt in my head.Kiyo propped himself up, alert and wary.The pressure abruptly faded. A rift from the Otherworld opened up in front of us, and suddenly Dorian stood on a small remand in the corner. Not unexpectedly, it promptly broke under his weight, making a horrible crashing sound as its pieces and contents fell to the floor. To his credit, he sidestepped the disaster rather gracefully, easily landing both feet on the floor. I winced, seeing the sand ring lying among the debris. Id set it on the t competent, not considering the consequences of Dorian arriving exactly where it lay.What the hell Kiyo started to climb out of bed, but I was in his way. I laid a restraining hand on his chest.No, its all right. Hes here for our next lesson. JesusI cant believe its that time already. Id lost a lot of time since the car.Dorian wore his usual simple but fine clothes, cover by another elaborate robe. This one was black satin, edged in silver and small seed pearls. If the present circumstances surprised him, he didnt appearance it. He kept his face typically unimpressed and sardonic. His smile twisted as he regarded us.I can come back later if its more convenient. I do so hate to interrupt.No, no, I circulate hastily, sitting up and swinging my legs over the beds edge. The movement uncomfortably tugged the skin around my stitches. We were just, umresting.Dorian arched an eyebrow. You rest in that?I glanced down, flushing. Id worn this exactly once when Dean and I had gone to Mexico for a weekend. The nightgown was pale green, its top and bottom hems ornamented with elaborate green leaves and tiny pink flowers. The mid-thigh-length skirt was sheer chiffon. Note to self Never let Kiyo dress me again, unconsciousness notwithstanding.Tim chose that moment to walk in, summoned by the noise. Eug, whatHis mouth dropped and not just be take a shit of me. I looked around at us all me in my nightgown, Kiyo bare-chested, Dorian in his extravagant robes, and Tim in his Native getup.God, I muttered, standing up, we look like the Village People.I pulled the terry cloth robe over me, wondering how I always seemed to be half-naked lately. Tim continued to stare, wearable the shocked look of one who has just walked in on his parents having sex.Everythings fine, I told him. He still didnt move, and I waved a hand in front of his face. Hey, wake up. conceive you can make virtually breakfast?He blinked. Its three in the afternoon.I gave him a pathetic look. The familiarity of it seemed to snap him back to normal. He could never resist it. That, or he felt he owed me food for the free rent.What do you call for? ball and toast.Healthy or unhealthy toast?I considered. Healthy.Are your, uh, friends eating too?I glanced at the other two men.Id love to, replied Dorian with a cordial half -bow. Thank you.Famished, verbalise Kiyo, eyes still narrowed on Dorian.Thanks, Tim, youre the best. I practically pushed him out the door.Charming man, remarked Dorian politely. He glanced around. And a enchant room. The broken table aside, the rooms other contents included a pile of laundry, the wicker hot seat, a fortune of ammunition, a dresser, and a small desk with my laptop and a half-finished puzzle of the Eiffel Tower. The room didnt have a lot of space, so eitherthing had been jammed in. It all seemed so chintzy compared to the opulence of his bedroom.Kiyo also got out of bed, wearing just a pair of jeans. You want to tell me again whats deprivation on?I already did. I opened my dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt that said ILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO weep ABOUT on it. Were doing my next lesson.She cant do it today, Kiyo told Dorian. She was in a fight last night.Unless Im mistaken, she gets in a fight every night.This one was bad. She was injured. Didn t you see the stitches?My humble eyes had better things to occupy themselves with than her stitches.Hey, guys? I snapped. Im still here, you know. Stop talking about me in the triad person.Kiyo walked over and miteed my arm. Eugenie, this is crazy. You need to go back to bed.Todays lesson testament not require physical exertion, said Dorian primly.There, you see? I said. Ive got to keep press release with our deal.Kiyo looked darkly from me to Dorian. Your deal doesnt seem to be doing a lot of good. I thought it was going to keep your manque rapists away.I had turned my back to them, opened the robe, and started pulling my jeans on. I froze, considering.The fachan wasnt trying to rape me, I said slowly. He wanted to pour down me.Are you sure?He tried to throw me through a windshield. Thats not very romantic.A fachan? asked Dorian.I shed the robe and nightgown and pulled the shirt over my head before turning back around to face them. I gave Dorian the short version of what had h appened.He stood up from where hed been leaning against my desk and strolled over to the window, hands clasped behind his back.A fachan, he mused. Here. Curious.Not really. Not compared to anything else thats happened to me, I reminded him.He pointed out the window. You live in a desert. Fachans like bodies of water. You have a lot of enemies, my dear, but I doubt any fachan would hate you enough to show up here of his own volition.What are you saying? asked Kiyo.That someone went to considerable trouble to summon him here. Someone with either a lot of rough power or simply an affinity for water creatures.Who could do that? I asked.Any number of people. Maiwenn could.Kiyo took a few dangerous steps toward him. Maiwenn didnt do that.Dorian smiled, unfazed by Kiyos intimidating presence. They were the same height, but Dorians haoma was lean and slim, Kiyos broader and more muscled.Youre probably right, Dorian said after several tense moments of silence. Particularly since shes been so under the weather lately. Kiyos face grew darker.I glanced back and forth uneasily, uncertain as to what I was in the middle of. Do you guys know each other?Dorian extended a hand to Kiyo, alter and collected. I know of you, but I dont believe weve been properly introduced. I am Dorian, king of the oak Land.Kiyo grudgingly took his hand. I know who you are.This is Kiyo, I said.Delightful to meet you. Youre akitsune.Dorian said the news in an odd tone. It wasnt exactly disrespectful, but it clearly implied they were not equals.I grabbed both their arms and steered them out. No pissing contests. Come on. Itll only take Tim about five minutes to whip up the food. whatsoever antagonism existed between Kiyo and Dorian, it took a break as the gentry king entertained himself with the rest of my house. He was like a kid, unable to keep his hands off of everything. Well, everything that wasnt made of plastic or an beseech affiliate. My living room was a veritable wonderland, with every thing conveniently piled up in junk heaps for him to explore.Whats the draw a bead on of this?He held a fluorescent pink Slinky, tossing it from side to side so he didnt have to touch the plastic extensively. My impression was gentry could touch the taboo substances in small doses with minor discomfort protract exposure grew much more uncomfortable. Charge it up with power, and it could kill them.It doesnt really have a purpose, I decided. You just sort ofplay with it when youre bored.He tossed it back and forth, watching it spring up in arches. permit me see it, I said.I held it, closing my eyes. My focus was back now with the excruciating pain vanquished. I concentrated on the Slinky, putting a small piece of my essence into it. I handed it back. curve it up and take it with you. Itll be my anchor.He grinned. With so many other distractions, we eventually had to drag him to the kitchen table when the food was ready.Havent you ever been in the human world before? I asked, once we all sat down.There you go again, assuming we all just traipse over here for no good reason.So you havent.Well, actually, Ive vacationed here a number of times. Not in this desolate place, of course, but several other nice spots.I rolled my eyes and slapped butter on my toast. It was made of good, amounty bread, chock-full of all told wheat and about a billion other grains. You could use this stuff as sandpaper.I doused my java with sugar and cream, gulping it to chase down some ibuprofen. I might not be decease anymore, but myriad aches and stiffness filled my body. I didnt think I could handle regularly get into high-magnitude fights every other night.When the whole prophecy thing had surfaced, I had joked that I preferred attempts on my intent to sexual advances. I didnt really believe that anymore. At least when the bad guys wanted my clothes off, it bought me some time. That fachan, however, had had no intentions short of crushing me. And hed done a pretty good job of doin g that. I had never fought something so massive before. Most of my fights, before this all started, had been with spirits and elementals. I could take them out with unless any effort. The fachan had been in a different league. The spirit army from the other day had also been new.Dorians run-in rang back to me. The fachan had been deliberately sent. But by whom? One of the many who had a grudge against Odile? Someone like Maiwenn who wanted the prophecy to fail? Maiwenn herself? This latter thought bothered me. Shed seemed more or less trustworthy, contempt her bland personality. If she turned into an enemy, it was going to create some serious friction between Kiyo and me.We finished breakfast, and Dorian declared we had to go outside for our lesson. I took one look at him and the scalding sunshine and saw at hand(predicate) disaster for that perfect, alabaster skin. Figuring he wouldnt want my prissy, vanilla sunscreen, I dug him out a wide-brimmed cotton hat of Tims that looked only mildly ridiculous.Are you going to be able to do this? I asked, leading Dorian out to my back terrace. Tim had left for drumming practice, but Kiyo followed us, still watchful. Your magics weaker on this side. Dorian draped his elegant robes over a lawn chair. Not me who needs to do the magic. And really, I doubt you entrust either. Not in the way youre intellection of. Hmmyes, this area may work better than Id hoped.He surveyed the patio area and the small grassless yard surrounded by a stucco wall. Dragging up another chair, he set it near the center of the patio, facing the house, and beckoned me to it. I sat down.Now what? more(prenominal) meditation?He shook his head. Now we need a bowl of water.Kiyo? Can you grab us one? Theres a big ceramic bowl in the back of one of my cupboards.Kiyo silently complied, spirit as though leaving us alone for even one minute would result in Dorian trying something. I found that protectiveness endearing, albeit a bit over the top.And then Dorian did try something.What are those? I exclaimed.Think of them aslearning aids.He had produced a handful of silken pile from the deep pockets of his robe, all in different colors.What are you no. You are not serious.He had locomote behind my chair and grasped my hands. I jerked away.Youre trying to tie me up?Not for sinister purposes, I batten you, although if youd like to experiment with them later, Id be happy to show you their various and sundry uses. For now, simply trust me that theyll be useful.I continued to regard the cords warily. He shook his head, smiling. Moving behind me, he mildly ran his hands down my arms. You still dont trust me. And yet you do. An interesting mix. You fear me but want to fall in with me. Do you remember what I said the night we met? He knelt down, speaking softly in my ear. This is exactly the way it will be when you come to my bed. Youll surrender yourself, and though itll scare you, youll exult in it too.I think youre imagining more to our charade than there is. And I dont really see myself feeling exultant over beingness tied up.Have you ever tried it? His fingers slowly slid back up to the sleeves of my shirt, like butterflies on my skin. It wasnice. I shrugged him off.No. And I dont need to. Besides, whatever your kinky intentions are, it doesnt matter. Ive got something going with Kiyo.Ah. Of course you do. From what I hear, hes always got something going.I stiffened. Dont try to cause trouble.Im attempting nothing of the sort. Just stating a fact. A man with human blood is just as appealing to our women as you are to our men.I already know about Maiwenn.I see. What do you know?The truth. They used to be involved. Now theyre not.Ah. And that doesnt bother you? E additionally considering its likely shell try to kill you someday?I turned around as much as I could and glared at him. I meant it Dont try to pick a fight. I trust Kiyo, and I like Maiwenn. End of story. Now if youre going to tie me up, just get it over with.He rose from his crouch, the sensuality gone from his voice as he began the business of binding me. Id never dream of picking a fight. Your pet fox in there will break my neck if I so much as look at you the wrong way.Dont act like youre actually afraid of him. You can supposedly bring down buildings. I relaxed back in the chair and let him tie my hands together behind me. He took a long time in doing it, like he was weaving or braiding.Why, Eugenie, are you saying youd playact on me in a fight? Im touched. Very touched. Although, I do hear foxes have very sharp claws. How are those scratches on your back, by the way?Kiyo walked out just then, carrying the bowl of water. He froze when he saw Dorian tying a cord above my breasts and around my upper arms.Whats this?An awakening, said Dorian.Its fine, I said. Set the water over there.Kiyo did so and then stood next to me, arms crossed and eyes on the gentry king.Again, Dorian took his time in tying my upper body. He used multiple cords, and able to see better this time, I realized he had indeed woven them into an intricate pattern. Aesthetic and functional.There. With a last tight knot, he straightened up and regarded his work. Not bad. It seems I havent forgotten how to tie a passable knot after all. One more thing, and were set.One more thing turned out to be a blindfold.No way, I said.Eugenie, my sweet, your outraged protests are adorable, but they only continue to slow us down. If you want me to help you, then let me. If you dont, then take me to one of those places where human women wear uncover clothing and quickly lose their virtue through alcohol.I let him blindfold me, feeling uneasy. I trusted Kiyo and sort of trusted Dorian, but the other bindings had already unsettled me. I didnt like being trapped or in someone elses control. The bright world went dark as fabric covered my eyes.This is all giving me a bad feeling, Kiyo said nearby.On the contrary, said Dorian, its giving me a very wa rm, very pleasant feeling. But I suppose we should return to the lesson at hand, hmm?Is this the part where you explain the shackles getup? I asked. Or where I find out you just did it for fun.No, no. As uproarious as that would be, I do have my reasons. Now. Im going to pick up this bowl of water that Kato so kindly fetched Its Kiyo, came the irritated response.So sorry. Anyway, Im going to set it somewhere out here in this light wasteland, and you will tell me where it is.Oh. I get it. Im supposed to, like, work on my non-visual senses? Listen to where you set it?You wont use any of your physical senses at all.I hear him walk away, presumably with the water, but I couldnt tell where he set it. He paced and paced in circles, kicking rocks and scuffing his shoes so I was clueless by the time he returned to me. When he spoke next, his words were right by my ear again.Now, given freedom, even with just a blindfold, youd be inclined to move and want to use something anything to f ind the water. Youd turn around, snuff the air, whatever. Now you have to accept that all of that is gone. You cannot rely on what you usually can. You are trapped and feeble more or less. Give in to that. Open yourself up to whatever comes. Find the water.How?By ambit out to it. Tap into a sense other than the usual five. Remember the exercises we did last time, about arrival beyond yourself in this world, not the spirit one.I thought magic was inborn. Isnt that what separates humans and gentry?It is inborn. And your inner(a) magic summons and controls storms. To do that, you must summon and control the appropriate elements. And to do that, you must be able to find them. Hence, you focus outward.How do I do that?Just concentrate. But relax too. Think about the water. How it feels, what its like. Spread your consciousness out around you, but dont go into a trance and let your spirit slip out. Thatd be cheating.How long does it take?As long as you need.He retreated, and I sat there and waited for some revelation. Okay. Somewhere around me was a bowl of water. And something inside of me was supposed to be able to sense it. I wouldnt have believed any of it if the living room on the other side of the patio door didnt stand as proof of my supernatural powers. But I hadnt had to think to cause the storm. This was different.All I mostly felt at first was my own body. Dorians binds didnt hurt me, but they were snug. The stitched-up slide stung a little. The back of my head ached. My leg muscles felt stretched and inflamed. I slowly took inventory of every part of me, assessing how each one felt. I could feel the beat of my own heart, the steadiness of my breathing.After that, I started concentrating on the stuff around me. I heard someone, Dorian maybe, slide up a chair and sit down. A plane droned overhead. One of my neighbors kept a bird feeder, and sparrows regularly chirped and squabbled around it. The harsher cries of less melodic birds sounded in the di stance. My street had few houses and was removed from real traffic, but a block or so away, a car started and then drove off.I thought about water, its appeal maturation as the sun beat down. I had put on my own sunscreen and was grateful for it. Still, I could feel sweat pouring off of me. Water would be chill, refreshing. My moms house had a pool, and suddenly I wanted nothing more than to dive into that crystal-blue surface.I thought about the bowl of water, thinking of its calm temperature, the wetness on my skin. I tried to feel it, to call to it.There, I said at last. I dont know how much time had passed. Awhile.Where? asked Dorian.Four oclock.What?She means over there, I heard Kiyo say. Presumably he pointed.No, said Dorian.What?Sorry.Was I close?No.Not even a little?No.Damn it astound me out of this. I wriggled against my constraints.Hardly. Dorians voice held mild surprise. We must try again.Oh, dear lord. This might be even more boring than the meditation, I grumbled. Can I at least get something to drink?He hesitated. Actually, I think your odds will increase if youre thirsty.Oh, come on Here we go, said Dorian. I heard him get up and walk around again, and once more, I couldnt tell where the bowl ended up.When he returned to his chair, I tried again. More time passed as I concentrated my little heart out. At one point, I heard someone get up and move toward the door.Who is that?Me, said Dorian. Im bored.What? Youre my teacher.The kitsune will call if you need me.I dont believe this, I said when he was gone.Hey, this was your idea, said Kiyo.I heard him shift in a chair, getting comfortable.I was on the verge of my next guess when Dorian came outside again.There. Nine oclock.Kiyo must have pointed again.No, said Dorian.He made me do it again, and by then, I was furious. My poor muscles, already put through enough, were locking up from lack of movement. The heat was unbearable. To make matters worse, Kiyo asked if Dorian wanted something to drin k and then went inside. He returned, and I heard the sound of a two-liter of pop opening, followed by the filling of two glasses.After that, they started carrying on casual conversation.Eugenie will be at my Beltane ball, Dorian explained, as my special guest.Sounds great.Your enthusiasm is palpable.Just not my thing, thats all.Ah, pity. Because if you wanted to come, Id be happy to extend the invitation.I wouldnt want you to go to any trouble.Its no trouble at all. You could come with Eugenie. I always make special arrangements for dignitaries entourages and servants.Will you two shut up? I asked. Im working here.They fell silent.Water, water. I needed that diabolical water so that Dorian would untie me and I could return to air conditioning. Id also drink a gallon of water while I was at it. Maybe two or three. In fact, when I found that stupid bowl, Id dump it over my head.Sweat pooled along the hem of my shirt and where the cords and blindfold pressed against my skin. Id probab ly sweated away the sunscreen and would burn. As if my body hadnt been through enough. Where the hell was that water? Why couldnt I find it?I thought again about my moms pool, vowing Id pay her a visit tomorrow. God, it was so hot. I just wanted to be cooler. Water, water, water. I felt like Helen Keller. Or maybe one of those people in the Lakota sun dances where excessive heat exposure induced hallucinations. Maybe I could sound off the water.I sighed, and then, somehow, I felt coolness touch me. It was a reprieve from the heat. I straightened up as much as I could. Had I done it? Was this what it felt like to touch the water? The third time was the charm. Yes. There it was again. Like cool, moist air blowing at me from the east. I could taste its dampness, hanging around me like humidity in the sauna.I inclined my head in the direction Id sensed the cool air. Ive got it. Three oclock.No.The hell it isntI heard Dorian get up. He sighed. I think wed better quit for the day.But I s wear I had it I could feel it I was thinking about water so hard.I know you were.He undid the blindfold, and I looked up. Billowing clouds, colored like lead, inked out the sky. Wind blew at me from the east not imagined after all picking up in strength. Great, heavy drops fell around us, landing with loud splashes.Water at last.