Seeking Treatment In Houston Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Seeking Treatment In Houston - Essay Example The center is ranked number 1 in cancer care by the U.S. News and World report. The center is also the best ranked in the number of grants and research, having invested more than $647 million in 2002 (M.D. Anderson 1). The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center receives as many inbound patients as outbound patients in its cancer center. An independent body dealing with international patients traveling to the M.D. Anderson is necessary to deal with the issue arising from medical tourism. The hospital needs to set up a center that welcomes international patients, while offering consultancy services from skilled personnel not directly related to the center so as to not compromise advice given to patients. The center should also have interpreters and people whose main duty is to find accommodation and to explain the different types of services that can be offered. Challenges of Medical Tourism One of the main challenges of medical tourism is language barriers. According to Hodges, Turner and Kimbal l (256) most of the patients who seek medical tourism in the United States come from less developed countries that do not use English as the main language. This causes problems in interaction between the patients and medical practitioners. According to a study reported from the Center for Studying Health System Change in 2010, almost 50% of American Doctors stated that language differences can be the reason for hampering high quality care (Reschovsky and Boukus 2). Without dealing with these problem, doctors may be unable to correctly identify the problem hence introduce an inappropriate cancer treatment method. Patient may also be unable to choose between the various treatments available as they do not fully understand the advice given by healthcare practitioners. International patients may also be faced with lack of full disclosure about all the possible treatment techniques from the doctors (Stolley and Watson 46). This may not be due to malice but due to lack of understanding of the patient capabilities or want. Doctors may also decide to choose a particular course of treatment for the patient without consulting the patient fully. Patients, especially those from poor countries, may lack enough knowledge about treatment techniques available thus following the advice they received from doctors in their home countries without fully appreciating the advanced systems of M.D Anderson Cancer Center. Another problem patients from abroad face is difficulty in managing resources especially finances (Stolley and Watson 126). Due to the time taken by cancer treatment courses, patients have to live temporarily in the United States. This means they have to find housing, food, utilities and other needs in a country that is foreign to them. Patients also have to contend with medical bills that range from treatment courses to medicine during this time. While the patient may have saved some money for the treatment, it is usually very likely that they undermine other expense s involved in living in a foreign country. A suitable solution for this problem has to be availed so as to ensure that the patient is able to smoothly maneuver during the cancer treatment period. With help in the management of finances, patients may drop

Summer Intern Report. Nizing Electronic Company Essay

Summer Intern Report. Nizing Electronic Company - Essay Example Each of the showrooms runs under a manager or assistant manager. Usually, there are two employees in the showroom working under the manager. During peak business hours, there are up to five people in sales. The usual working hours of the employees are 8 hours and the employees enjoy one day off. The company hires employees throughout the year, and unskilled, fresh-graduates too get a job here. However, employees except the management staff get unsatisfied with the salary and they often leave the work in one or two years. Admittedly the company does not have an admirable hiring and training program. The company does not monitor people for good personal traits and skills while selecting, nor does it offer a good training and orientation program. The one who is absorbed is on full-fledged duty from the day-first and training often takes place while on duty. Another way of making the employees aware about the company policies is the infrequent CSR classes that often turn ineffective. The company has its advertisement in all media raging from television, major newspapers, and all important magazines. The advertisement is handled by an advertising agency. In addition, the company offers special discounts on festive seasons. Another feature is the free service guarantee the company gives on all purchases of electronic and computer appliances. As the company has its most of the clientele in urban areas, it does not cause a heavy burden on the company coffers. The company has its specific pricing strategy that takes into consideration its local competitors and global retailers such as Amazon. As it aims at urban young clientele that looks for quality, the company does not price its products too low. Its products are comparatively high-priced, but the company makes sure that quality of the products and the services provided is of excellent standard. Though there is rising threat from global competitors like Amazon, the company manages to make an annual growth of 8%. Pa rt –II A look into the company performance proves that there are three things that are in need of improvement taking the future of Nizing Electronic Company into consideration. They are; i) employee hiring, training, remuneration and retention ii) use of technology for sales and services, including a website iii) use of electronic tools to observe consumer trends The first and foremost issue associated with the company is its high employee turnover. The reasons behind this increasing turnover are poor hiring practices, poor training facilities, and poor remuneration. Presently, the company hires almost everyone who applies without a monitoring of personal traits, willingness to work and readiness to abide by the company rules. So, the company witnesses considerable amount of employee turnover. By improving its hiring process, that can be done by engaging a professional recruitment agency, the company can ensure that only the ones who possess specific skills and motivation are entering the jobs. The second thing the company has to take care of is its training policies. As is seen, the company gives very few CSR classes, which miserably fail to keep the employees motivated though they help in keeping the employees informed of the company policies. So, it is necessary for the company to adopt a new training strategy and motivating policy. The third thing is remuneration. Undoubtedly, ‘poor salary results in poor employee retention, and thus, in more recruiting expenses and training

Googles Innovation and Organisation Structure

Googles Innovation and Organisation Structure Google Inc. is an American public corporation, earning revenue from advertising related to its Internet search, e-mail, online mapping, office productivity, social networking, and video sharing services as well as selling advertising-free versions of the same technologies. It was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Bring while they were students at Stanford University. A series of new product developments, acquisitions, and partnerships has always sustained the continual growth of Google. Positive employee relations, environmentalism, philanthropy have been important traits during the growth of Google. It has been identified multiple times as Fortune Magazine’s No1 Best Place to Work, and as the most powerful brand in the world Google’s utility and ease of use have made it one of the world’s best known brands almost entirely through word of mouth from satisfied users. As a business, Google generates revenue by providing advertisers with the opportunity to deliver measurable, cost-effective online advertising that is relevant to the information displayed on any given page. This makes the advertising useful to you as well as to the advertiser placing it.The Google headquarters, the googolplex is located in Mountain View, California(2009 -03-31), the company has 20,164 full-time employees as of March 31, 2009. Products Of Google: Google is mainly known by their search engine. Apart from this Google provides a huge suit of internet related products like Google earth, Google mail, Google news, Google phone, Google calendar Google groups, Google translate, Google images, Google books and other internet related services. Organizational structure and Organizational culture: Specific chronicles are the unfolding convergence of thinking and practice behind knowledge management, organizational learning and complexity theory. Of particular interest are the roles that knowledge management and complexity theory play in this impending consilience of ideas in any organization. One way knowledge management is processing itself of its overly technology-centric reputation in favor of promoting the role it can play in furthering organizational learning. On the other hand, a confident solution in search of unorthodox problems is evolving by complexity theory which has discovered its own true place in the world, an explanation for the means by which living systems engage in adaptive learning and the seminal source of social cognition in living systems. (Mark W. McElroy, 2000) . Goggles remarkable progress shows its organizational behavior. First Google has created a strategic Vision. Creating and expanding knowledge is the key word for Googles success and they believe fundamentally improving the knowledge and share with others, it shows their knowledge management skill. Google is one of the very few companies shows that how technology can be blended with the organizational culture. Organizations are structured depending on their objectives and their culture. Organization is structured as different departments with employees for different functions and responsibilities. Google is keeping minimum hierarchy and redefines management with small teams, innovation and decentralization. Products are developing by small teams and each team is seeking the next break through. Organizational studies and management is dealt with organizational culture which includes attitudes, beliefs and values, experiences of an organization. It has been defined as â€Å"the specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization and that control the way they interact with each other and with stakeholders outside the organization. (Charles W. L. Hill, and Gareth R. Jones, 2001). Google is the organization which is not serious about anything but search. Generating the idea that work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun. To that end, Googles culture is unlike any in corporate world, and its not because of the whimsical lava lamps and large rubber balls, or the fact that one of the chefs used to cook for the Grateful Dead but in simple way Google puts users first when it comes to online services and employees first when it comes to daily life in its offices(Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google). Google is very innovative in its products and services providing to its customers as well as to employees. Google realizes that their employees have diverse needs and that diversity requires flexibility and individual directed support. so they given priority to offer customizable program that can be tailored to the specific needs of each individual. Innovation Innovation can be defined as a breakthrough approach or idea that can be completely new or an enhancement to something that already exists; it is a refreshing perspective that will challenge many who just cannot see beyond what their own experience is telling them to think or do. Google keeps innovation as its priority. Google understand that everyone is searching for something different because of the diversity in culture, traditions and standards. So understanding the needs of 597 million customers Google is delivering the best possible products. The company’s VP for search, Marissa Mayer, reported that Google had launched 33 different search innovations in 67 days. Google has been known as No 1 in the world on its innovation in search technology. But Google didnt make any money until they started auctioning in advertisements which is appearing alongside of the search results. Now 99% of the company revenue is generating through the web-ads which made the capital now tops $ 100 million. In order to make the employees empowering on new areas of their choice Google is giving 20 % of the employees time unleashes enormous intellectual power to solve the existing problems through innovative solutions. All products released after 2005 and the 50% of the Go ogles products are produced at this 20% independent project time. Products like Google mail, googlecalendar, google calendarà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc all are the output of the employees creativity. Developed countries have the location based services like GPS system to locate a place or a building. But in developing countries doesnt have even a documented map to create a GPS system. Here Google India comes with a new innovative form map maker platform .It is developed like a wiki like architecture to leverage the knowledge of the local citizens to create a entire digital road map of their respective countries. The system is like a clean sheet map of a city is loaded on the web, and wiki-like architecture will allow each citizen to draw their streets and roads including the curves on the streets with land marks and the specific changes will be governed by an expertise teams based on their expertise and contribution on specific local areas of the city. City like Islamabad is a very good example of community built digital map with details of street names and addresses in around 90 days. The main advantage of wiki map is always it is current. All this kind of innovations are becaus e Google is based on certain values and principles which is committed to the society or to the world. And recent innovation of Google is the Operating system. Google chrome Operating System is light weight and open source OS which will initially operates in note books but eventually will work on PC . And this open source operating system will be available in markets by the 2nd half of 2010.The main features of Google Chrome is speed, simplicity and security. This Operating system is designed as a fast and lightweight and will start and get into the web in few seconds. The main advantage of Google chrome Operating system is user doesnt have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. â€Å"Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post-web operating system, designed from the ground up, and reconceived for a web world,† Mr. Enderle told the BBC. Advantages Of Google Chrome Operating System: Google Chrome OS is a web based application form. It provides quick access to applications and will repair itself. It will run on any just PC no hard drive. It will design documents. Another innovation of Google is Google phone which is not yet released on the market. Google is planning to release in the beginning of next year. The phone is called Nexus One based on open software platform called Android. It allows the users to use it as an easy programming interface with other cell phone features. The software is developing by Google and the hardware is by htc Inc.The new Google phone will be having a touch screen and Google has been tempted to do this because of the shift of internet usage to mobile phones. So for the developer it is easier to customize phone applications that can access cell phones hardware functions. Bibliography : http://www.newnatureofinnovation.org/google_india.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8139711.stm http://www.think-differently.org/2007/08/google-on-innovation.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142119/Google_Microsoft_s_war_of_innovation_changing_face_of_search http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jul/08/google-chrome-operating-system http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703757404574592530591075444.html References: Mark W. McElroy, Integrating complexity theory, knowledge management and organizational learning journal on knowledge management (2000) pp 195-203 Charles W. L. Hill, and Gareth R. Jones, (2001)Strategic Management.Houghton Mifflin, pp 123-127 http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html http://www.ovum.com/news/euronews.asp?id=8313 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8139711.stm http://a2zindianews.com/2009/11/20/function-and-advantages-of-google-chrome-google-chrome-launched-in-india-about-google-chrome/

Masculinity in Oliver Stones Nixon :: Film Movie American History President Essays

Masculinity in Oliver Stone's Nixon I. Introduction When President Nixon was leaving the White House, Henry Kissinger comforted him by saying, "History will treat you kindly," to which Nixon replied, "That depends on who writes the history" (Hamburg xiv). [1] Watching Oliver Stone’s Nixon (1995) and the director’s earlier film JFK (1991), it is difficult to have kind thoughts about Richard Nixon. Stone’s investment in the figure of the president manifests itself in two ways: first, in the director’s fixation on Nixon as a symbol of the corrupt political landscape after President John Kennedy’s assassination, and, second, his fixation on Nixon as a symbol of a failed patriarch or an ineffective father figure who led the country into further turmoil. Stone has argued that he hoped to elicit sympathy for Nixon, but I will show that the director’s emphasis on Nixon as an epic tragedy, especially in conjunction with the Beast thesis, does not allow for sympathy or understanding of the man or his politics. [2] My analysis primarily focuses on Stone’s film Nixon, but it is noteworthy to mention JFK, since both films were embroiled in heated debates regarding historical authenticity and artistic license. In JFK, Stone pieces together several conspiracy theories as to who was responsible for President Kennedy’s assassination from â€Å"real† primary texts, news footage, ear and eye witnesses, and the Zapruder film, among others. In Nixon, Stone uses similar techniques to posit equally troubling theses: the first that Nixon, while Vice President, was involved in a plot to assassinate Fidel Castro, and, second, that Nixon was directly or inadvertently responsible for the deaths of John and Robert Kennedy. Stone elects to create scenes and embellish information but defends his mixing of fact and speculation: â€Å"Of course, there’s license and speculation, but they are based on reasonable assumptions which we’ve discussed with highly reliable techn ical advisers who lived through the history we’re recounting in the film† (Monsel 206). [3] Regardless of historical inaccuracies, it is valuable to analyze how Stone constructs Nixon’s personae, as well as the epic thesis of the â€Å"Beast† in American politics, because, through both, Stone deconstructs the American ideology of the ideal man, as well as the â€Å"American dream† of success. II. American Capitalist Ideology and Marketing of Nixon and JFK. [4] The marketable nature of Stone’s controversy is elaborated in the ideologies he chooses to emphasize and the â€Å"whitewashing† of particular historical facts that are shown in Nixon.

Jonathans Swifts’ Gulliver’s Travels Essay

In Joanthans Swifts’ Gulliver’s Travels Part IV he uses a certain character to be his perfect example for what the human race should be. With this character he then will compare to the lowest of all beings to illustrate all the faults of man. These characters in his story are called the Houyhnhnms, which have a uniquely similar pronunciation to the word humans, and the Yahoos, who are the evil beasts of this particular island that Gulliver has washed up upon. Throughout the story as Gulliver describes the people of his home to the Houyhnhnms the reader begins to see how Swift shines a light on all the faults that humans have; compared to a divine, simple and perfect creature as the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver tries to distinct himself from the Yahoos of this land, who he absolutely abhors, by explaining his people’s ways and showing they have the ability to reason, unlike the Yahoos. The reader easily begins to see what Swift is trying to accomplish with his writings. He lets the reader make their own assumptions of the human race, but makes the assumption very clear. Within the story Gulliver describes how â€Å"his eyes had been opened and enlarged his understanding, which he began to view the actions and passions of man in a very different light†(puchner291). Gulliver begins to see that the thick skin, extra hair and long nails are merely the only thing separating himself from the Yahoos. This eye opening is exactly what Swift wants his readers to experience and see that there are so many despicable faults and useless ways of life in their society. The slow dissembling of the faults within man and questioning of the ways of mankind are in complete alignment with the ideas and ways of the Enlightenment, which was in short, to question everything. As Gulliver’s stay on the island continues, this questioning and examination of every aspect of his former life continues as well. The Houyhnhnms, or voices of reason, go on to question the laws of Gulliver’s land. One Houyhnhnms states how he cannot even contemplate how â€Å"the law which was intended for every man’s preservation should be any man’s ruin† (puchner285). Swift takes a deep stab at the governments’ ways of workings at the time and simply shows how it is anything but just and does not make any sense. Swift also makes a remarkable point in the direction of women’s rights, and uses common since to show how the treatment of women of the time was entirely reckless. The voice of a Houyhnhnms explains how it would be â€Å"monstrous in them to give the females a different kind of education from the males† (puchner298). The Houyhnhnms says how this way holds no logic, because it would leave one half of their people only useful for the bringing of children into the world and leave them good for nothing else (puchner298). Swift does not stop there and states how irresponsible it would be to not only leave this group inadequate but to then trust the care and upbringing of their children with these completely incompetent creatures. His reason here is very sound and unmistakable; how can you expect a society to flourish if the raising of man is done by the lowest creature of their society. Gulliver tries to prove to be different form the Yahoos by the fact that he can reason. The Houyhnhnms can see straight through this and one states that â€Å"when a creature pretending to reason could be capable of such enormities, he dreaded lest the corruption of that faculty might be worse than brutality itself† (puchner285). Through the Houyhnhnms response Swift dives into the depths of what humankind is capable of. He tackles how we may have the power of reason but have abused it to the full extent and instead of like the Yahoos caused destruction outwards on the world we have brought corruption into the inner beings of our society. Swift’s writings in Gulliver’s Travels question the entire makings of humankind and even the inability of people to dare to question. The Houyhnhnms are Swifts example of how humans should be but even the Houyhnhnms in their perfectness have a fault. They have no ability to question any facts or speak of â€Å"the thing which is not†. In Swift’s story, Gulliver recants how he remembers how hard it was for him to get his master to comprehend the meaning of the word opinion, or how any fact could be brought to question because â€Å"reason taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do either† (puchner297). Swift wants the reader to understand that you must not be afraid to put your thoughts and what you have been taught all of your life into question, to not fear the unknown. The Houyhnhnms refuse to believe that there are nations outside of their own island, similar to the way people refuse to think that there are opinions and answers other than their own that could be right. Swift uses his story Gulliver’s Travels to ignite the idea that the world as you know may not be the best of what it could be, just as the way stories have been used to teach children lessons at a young age. In Voltaire’s story Candide, his main character Candide is taken on a journey where he is determined to find his true love Cunegonde, which he is separated form in the beginning of the story. Through his journey Voltaire has Candide also in constant search for any man that is happier than he. In the story Candide has a friend named Pangloss who is a philosopher. In the beginning of this tale Pangloss states that â€Å"there cannot possibly be an effect without a cause† and that â€Å"things cannot be otherwise than they are, for since everything is made to serve an end, everything necessarily serves the best end† (puchner356). Voltaire takes these quotes throughout the story and commits Candide to question it at every chance, but is blinded by pure devotion to what his friend Pangloss has said and continues to push on. Voltaire uses the comparison of two opposites just as Jonathan Swift did in Gulliver Travel’s IV. Voltaire uses the land Eldorado in Candid e to compare to Westphalia. Eldorado is the example of the perfect world while Westphalia is full of everything that is wrong with the world in Voltaire’s opinion. In this sacred Eldorado Candide and Cacambo witnesses how the people have no desire or wants for the jewels that line their streets. He states that â€Å"the children of this land must be well trained, since they are taught contempt for gold and jewels† (puchner381). During their dinner with their host at the hotel Candide tries to use the gold for payment but in this perfect Eldorado people are courteous and hotels are made and paid for by the state and they do not need any money. Later Candide begins to ask about religion and finds that this land has the perfect religion where they do not have monks that dictate what they do and punish them if they do not practice their religion as they say they should (putchner383). Instead Voltaire describes a religion where people are all of the same mind and can freely practice their religion (puc hner282). Once Candide meets the king he finds that this perfect land has no parliament for there was no need and no prisons but they had a gallery full of places to study sciences with mathematical and physical instruments to help further knowledge (putchner383). Here you can see how Voltaire is creating a world that has no prejudices and is surrounded by the overall bettering and good of the people. Although Candide and Cacambo have found the perfect world they still are not satisfied. This is a major flaw in man, to continue to want even after they have everything they need. In response to this, Candide and Cacambo leave and take all the riches they need that they assume will bring them happiness but instead are presented with tragedy after tragedy that brings them right back to where they began. Candide then by losing everything somehow is reunited with all his friends and they make it to a tiny farm to live where Pangloss continues to question. He finds a philosopher that he wants to discuss the â€Å"effects and causes, the best of possible worlds, the origin of evil, the nature of the soul, and pre-established harmony† (putchner412) all of which are prime examples of some of the main parts that have been in question during the Enlightenment; but instead Pangloss has the door slammed in his face; similar to the way man refuses to discuss these very same aspect. Pangloss still does not stop asking questions and making philosophical assumptions even to the very end of the story and after all the terrible things that had happened to him. Candide then runs into a Turk that states that most of the time the people who get involved in others business, perish terribly (putchner413). The Turk then continues to tell Candide that he and his family cultivate their 20 acres â€Å"and the work keeps [them] from three great evils, boredom, vice, and poverty† (putchner413). Candide takes the Turks words very seriously and soon sets out his life to imitate the Turks and sets up a garden to cultivate. After meeting all the people throughout his journey he finds this man to be the only person happier than him and he had found a way to make life bearable; so Candide commits to doing the same. Voltaire has much to say through his character Pangloss and Martin, about men who choose to live their lives working. Pangloss states that â€Å"man was not born to take his ease† and Martin comments that â€Å"working without speculation is the only way of rendering life bearable.† Candide finally has everything that he wanted all on their farm but sees that what he wanted and thought is not anymore what he wants or thinks. Cunegonde has lost all her beauty and he does not love her anymore and Pangloss’s theory does not hold a light in Candid’s’ mind anymore. He decides to change his life and stop wanting more and make a life that is focused on one goal; to cultivate his garden and not worry about the trifles amongst the world. He then sees clearly that he makes his own happiness and others do not. The garden will keep him away from the evils in which he has met all his life. He will not have to want for food and beg, and he will only have enough for what he needs and not what he wants and this will keep his mind busy and away from boredom. Pope’s writings differ greatly from Swift’s or Voltaire’s. In Pope’s Essay on Man, he uses poetry to illustrate his philosophical points. The start of his essay states â€Å" what can we reason but from what we know†(putchner345). Pope gains the reader’s attention by simply saying that he is just going to examine Man. This alone is what the Enlightenment was about, to take into account all that you thought you knew and then ask yourself, is this really what I know. Pope goes to ask the question, are we the only system or universe? He says to just â€Å"observe how system into system runs†(putchner345). How can we be the only world is the question he wishes to ignite in us; if we just look at our world we can clearly see that we are too a system within a system and perhaps we have a purpose within this very sphere. He continues to ask question among question to further state, why are we the way we are? And are we the highest being above all on earth and if so, should we be in this place? We can see where he asks â€Å"if God has placed him wrong† and should we have the power over the world that we do (putchner345). If God has placed us in this high position then shouldn’t we be perfe ct, but he describes free will by saying that â€Å"man’s as perfect as he ought† and that we are as good as we let ourselves be (putchner346). The Essay on Man discusses fate and why we do not know our own fate or more then the very page that we are on in life. If â€Å"had he thy reason, would he skip and play† (putchner346) and continue to live our lives if we knew how it would all end. He gives the answer that hope of the unknown is what keeps man going. He examines the Indian people, a prime example of living in the unknown; for they had no sciences to let them see the planets and the universe but still remained to have God in their culture. He said they have a â€Å"humbler heaven† before the Europeans came to conquer their land and torment them for their gold (putchner347). Pope describes to the reader that pride is our error and we blame God for everything when we are not happy. Our pride gives us the right to think that earth is for our own use. He explains â€Å"why has not man a microscopic eye†, his response is simple â€Å"that man is not a fly† (putchner347). Pope wants the reader to see that God has made us the way we are and we are not meant to see that far; that we are meant to inspect the earth not to understand the heavens. He ends his essay by saying that â€Å"all partial evil [is] universal good† and that â€Å"whatever is, is right† (putchner351). This very statement was examined greatly by Voltaire’s work Candide and has been examined by many philosophers and thinkers even to this very present day. The Rape of the Lock is another story written by Pope in which he also uses poetry to reach the reader but in my case went over my head. He illustrates a beautiful story of a girl named Belinda that his great at playing cards and wins the heart of every man and Sylph she comes across. The Sylphs follow Belinda throughout her entire day and Pope begins to show how man has no control over anything that happens; whether that may be the folding of her sleeves or the safety of Belinda. Pope may be continuing his theory that man has his own fate but that he cannot know it and certain Powers that are out of our understand control our day to day life. That this is the way things are and it is in our best ability to be happy with the life we are given. Even the fair Belinda blessed with all the beauty in the world is not spared by fates hand. The loss of her strand of hair in the end may resemble the loss of virtue and her pride for even the perfect can be brought down. Works Cited Puchner, Martin, Suzanne Akbari, Wiebke Denecke, Vinay Dharwadke, and Barbara Fuchs. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. D. New York, London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 269-413. Print.

How to Become an Engineer

How to become an Engineer? Engineers use their imagination and analytical skills to invent, design, and build things that matter. They are team players with independent minds who turn ideas into reality. Many become licensed professional engineers (P. E. s) in order to better protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. By dreaming up creative and practical solutions, engineers are changing the world all the time. Engineering has been called the â€Å"invisible† or â€Å"stealth† profession.Everything around us and that we use every day has been engineered in some way, yet we may not see the engineers behind the scenes or know much about engineering. Engineering is not part of our grade school education. Many engineers whose work affects the public become licensed. The engineering field is as varied as engineers themselves. Engineers can design and build superstructures or delicate medical instruments. Engineers are exploring for energy and for new worlds in s pace. They are designing the environmental controls for an art museum or directing global sales of today’s hottest cars and computers.Who knows where the next great challenges will be? I know what your thinking how do you become an engineer or that this is interesting and you would like to apply. Here’s how u become an engineer: First and Foremost, you want to do decide if you have what it takes to be an engineer. To become a professional engineer, you must have a college degree in engineering. Most university programs are selective and quite competitive. Earning good grades in high school is imperative, as is getting a high SAT or ACT score. Second, you must contemplate what type of engineering interests you.While most programs tend to focus on general core classes the first and second year of enrollment, many require students to enroll in a specific program regardless. Seats in each program are generally limited. If you maintain a high GPA, you can usually transfer f rom one program to another within the engineering department if necessary. It is still important to put some thought into what type of engineering interests you before entering your program. Third, look for and apply to schools with strong engineering programs in the area(s) that interest you.Fourth step is to get good grades in all of your classes once you are enrolled in a program. The first and second years are usually the hardest. Many students are required to take an above-average number of credit hours, and classes are tough. Outside employment is generally discouraged. Focus on your studies as much as possible. Your hard work will be rewarded in the future. The fifth step is to obtain a co-op. Co-ops are usually offered the third, fourth and fifth years of engineering programs. Most co-ops are paid, some are not.They are usually very competitive, which is why receiving high grades in your course work is important. This is the best way to obtain valid, related work experience before entering the job market and it can lead to employment upon graduation. The sixth step is to seek the assistance of your school's Career Development Center as you near the completion of your program. Someone there can usually help you with your resume, direct you to co-ops and internships and eventually help you apply for jobs in the engineering industry once you are qualified.The seventh and final step is to join a professional engineering society or association that caters to your specific interest. Professional organizations offer many networking opportunities that are ideal for those looking for employment as well as further professional development. Choosing the right career can mean the difference between being satisfied and being disappointed with my life. Many factors can influence the career that I may have for the rest of my life.A decision that I am going to make at the young age of nineteen will have a major impact on the next ten years of my life. In order to make the best decision possible for my future I must follow these steps inserted above. Now, all of this may sound hard and boring but if you interested like I am you would do whatever it takes to reach your goal in life. Engineers are one of the highest paid jobs and also the most complex. If you want to become an engineer follow these steps and you will be on your way to the best engineer possible

Norse Mythology essays

Norse Mythology essays The Vikings were a violent race of people who terrorized civil Europe for over 3oo years. They had very colorful and imaginative array of gods and myths that explain things from the Northern Lights to every day occurrences. Odin was the god of the Sky. He lived in Asgard, the home of the gods. Upon his shoulders, two ravens were perched at all times. Their names were memory and thought and their purpose was to postpone the final day of destruction that was eminent to come. There were several other important gods: Balder, Thor, Freyr, Heimdall, Tyr, and Njord. Balder was Odins son. His mother was Frigga. He was destine to die young. Eventually, he was killed by Loki, a friend of Odin. Thor, the God of Thunder, was the strongest of the Aesir, the gods. He made thunder using his massive hammer called Mjolnir. Freyr cared for the fruits of the earth and was also the goddess of the Aurora. She was also thought of as the goddess of the sun. Heimdall guarded Bifrost, the rainbow that connected Asgard to the earth realm, or Midgard. Tyr was the god of the sky and of war. Njord was the god of the winds and the father of Freyr. In the beginning of time, there was just one great big empty space. Ymir was the first of many giants. He roamed through the emptiness. He was also the grandfather of Odin. Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, killed Ymir and made the ocean from his blood and sweat, the mountains from his bones and teeth, the sky from his skull supported on the backs of four dwarves, and the clouds from his brain. After they created earth, they formed man and women from Ymirs left armpit. A massive ash tree supported the universe and connected to all the planets. A serpent and its children unceasingly gnawed at its roots. One day in the future, the tree of life will fall and be reborn and a god more powerful than Odin shall rise to power. ...

Old Girls Twitter Essays

Old Girls Twitter Essays Old Girls Twitter Paper Old Girls Twitter Paper To Tweet, or Not to Tweet My sixty-two year old father asked me about â€Å"tweeting† several weeks ago. Naturally, I thought to myself, what the hell is my father doing asking me about twitter, he doesn’t even own a computer. I assumed that he had seen a newspaper article about it or heard it on the news. I stood correct. Twitter has become new media phenomenon and let’s be honest- who doesn’t have a Twitter account these days? In defense of Twitter by Caroline McCarthy and Do I Really Have To Join Twitter? By Farhad Manjoo were two articles that struck me as captivating. Personally, I’ve never found twitter all that appealing, and yet I still have an account. However, I am happy to report I’ve only â€Å"tweeted† twice in the past year. As soon as I created my account, I immediately regretted it. I wasn’t too fond of the idea that people were going to be â€Å"following† my tweets and they would be updated with unnecessary complaints or food choices of the day. Farhad Manjoo seems to share similar thoughts on the subject. Commited Twitterers argue that the 140-character-or-less tweet represents the next great mode of human communication†¦Wait a minute-you want me to keep a perpetual log of my boring life for all of the world to see? † I agree. Twitter allows complete strangers to stalk your ideas and involve themselves in learing about your personal life. Creepy? Just a little. Manjoo argues whether or not there is a point to Twitter, needless to say, not one valid point was made. Manjoo’s article made a second compelling point. It is an alien form of communication. Micro-blogging mixes up features of e-mail, IM, blogs, and social networks to create something not just novel but also confusing, an doing it well takes some time and patience. † I’ve seen my friends on their Twitter accounts, and they will sit in front of their computer for ten minutes or so, just to write a three sentence statement about their life, trying to make themselves sound a lot more intriguing to their â€Å"followers†. In their defense, I can recognize why they wouldn’t want to sound tedious or dull, but there are certainly better things they could be doing with that ten minutes of their time. When I read over the article In Defense of Twitter I couldn’t help but laugh because although my mind generally doesn’t accept the idea of Twitter, everything in the article seemed to make valid points, while they may seem contradictive to the previous article. â€Å"The beauty of Twitter is that, unlike a full-out blog, there’s no obligation to be philosophical, thought-provoking or grammatically sound. Because it doesn’t require that kind of extra effort, it’s great for people like me who want to jump on the social-media bandwagon but don’t have the time to set up something elaborate on WordPress. I can understand this to an extent. Some people enjoy blogging in general, and since there are â€Å"apps† for Twitter, you can do it straight from your phone. For people who lead a chaotic, busy schedule filled with kids, jobs and extracurricular activities, I can see why Twitter would be an escape or even fun for that matter. McCarthy do es argue however, that people reveal sensitive information that doesn’t need to be broadcasted to the whole social networking system. Childrens’ names and exact locations for example, should not be included in the 140 character long tweet. I totally agree with her points, in my opinion personal information and personal emotions for that matter should be kept outside of the blogging world. A couple months ago, I accidentally, (I guess it was more of me being nosey than being accidental) stumbled upon a Twitter page that wasn’t private, and I didn’t happen to like the user of the page all that much for personal matters. Within two minutes of reading this nine-teen year old girls Twitter, I found out that she smoked marijuana around her seven month old baby, she needed a babysitter to go to a party that night, and she had a six pack of Twisted Tea in her trunk. I’ve never actually met this girl, unfortunately I just know of her from mutual friends. Good first impression? I don’t think so. People also forget the fact that many employers are involved in social networking sites. If you’re going to be putting inappropriate tweets, you might want to think about adjusting the privacy settings- just a thought. Facebook, MySpace, Live Journal, Skype, AIM, and Twitter included are not for everyone. â€Å"I’m of the opinion that no piece of social-media software is for everyone, and Twitter is no exception. I have friends who are so frustrated by Twitter’s lack of functionality and frequent site outrages that they’ve given up on it altogether. † Certain people aren’t comfortable with sharing there thoughts with their close friends, let alone the whole realm of Twitter. I suppose it all depends on the individual, but let’s be honest; no one needs to know that your new conditioner smells like apples. All in all, I think twitter is pointless. However, I understand why people enjoy the concept. I think an unbelievable, unnecessary portion of society is wasting their time with pointless social blogging, but who am I to say it’s right or wrong. I enjoyed the two articles’ distinction, and reading other peoples opinions and reasoning’s is a good way to acquire a better understanding as to why society is so obsessed with the idea of micro-blogging. There’s tweeting now, what will come next?

Answers for ESL Learners

Answers for ESL Learners What are Adjectives? Adjectives are words that describe objects, people and places. She has a fast car. - Fast  describes the car.Susan is very intelligent.- Intelligent  describes Susan.Thats a beautiful mountain. - Beautiful describes mountain. In other words, adjectives describe characteristics of different things.   There are nine types of adjectives which are explained below. Each type of adjective includes a link to further details of the particular grammar usage. Descriptive Adjectives Descriptive adjectives are the most common type of adjective and are used to describe a certain quality such as large, small, expensive, cheap, etc. of the object. When using more than one descriptive adjective, it is important to make sure that they are placed in the correct  adjective order. Jennifer has a difficult job.That sad boy needs some ice cream.Susan purchased an expensive car. Proper Adjectives Proper adjectives are derived from  proper nouns  and must always be capitalized. Proper adjectives are often used to show the origin of something. Proper adjectives are also often the name of a language or a people.   French tires are excellent.Italian food is the best!Jack prefers Canadian maple syrup. Quantitative Adjectives Quantitative adjectives show us how many of something is available. In other words, numbers are quantitative adjectives. However, there are other quantitative adjectives such as  several, many, a lot of  which are also known as  quantifiers. There are two birds in that tree.She has many friends in Los Angeles.I count sixteen mistakes on your homework. Interrogative Adjectives Interrogative adjectives are used to ask questions. Interrogative adjectives include which and what. Common phrases using interrogative adjectives include:  Which type / kind of and what type / kind of plus a noun.   Which kind of car do you drive?What time should I come?What type of ice cream do you like? Possessive Adjectives Possessive adjectives  are similar to subject and object pronouns, but they indicate possession.  Possessive adjectives include my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.   My house is on the corner.I invited their friends to dinner.Her dog is very friendly. Possessive Nouns Possessive nouns act like possessive adjectives but are formed by using a noun.  Possessive nouns are created by adding an apostrophe to a noun to indicate possession such as the  cars color, or the  friends vacations. Toms best friend is Peter.The books cover is misleading.The houses garden is beautiful. Predicate Adjectives Predicate adjectives are placed at the end of a sentence or clause to describe the noun at the beginning of a sentence. Predicate adjectives are often used with the verb to be. His job is stressful.The vacation was enjoyable.It probably isnt very easy. Articles Definite and indefinite articles  can be thought of as a type of adjective because they describe the noun as one of many or a specific instance of a particular object.  Ã‚  A  and  an  are indefinite articles,  the  is the definite article. Tom would like an apple.She wrote the book thats on the table.I ordered a glass of beer. Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative pronouns  show which objects (noun or noun phrase) is meant. Demonstrative pronouns include  this, that, these  and  those.  This  and  that  are singular demonstrative adjectives, while these and those are plural. Demonstrative pronouns are also known as  determiners. I would like that sandwich for lunch.Andrew brought these books for everyone to read.Those trees are beautiful! Adjectives Quiz Find the adjective and  identify its form. Choose from: descriptive adjectiveproper adjectivequantitative adjectiveinterrogative adjectivepossessive adjectivepossessive nounpredicate adjectivedemonstrative pronoun I gave the ball to her cousin.Education is important.They have a beautiful daughter.Which kind of car did you decide to buy yesterday?Those cars belong to Peter.She has a lot of friends in China.Chicago is amazing!Jennifer proposed an elegant solution to the problem.What kind of grades did you get?Helens house is located in Georgia.  Italian food is the best!Holidays can be boring at times.  Alex has three books.Its a hot day.Our friend didnt answer the question. Answers: her - possessive adjectiveimportant - pronominal adjectivebeautiful - descriptive adjectivewhich kind of - interrogative adjectivethose - demonstrative pronouna lot of - quantitative adjectiveamazing - pronominal adjectiveelegant - descriptive adjectivewhat kind of - interrogative adjectiveHelens - possessive nounItalian - proper adjectiveboring - pronominal adjectivethree - quantitative adjectivehot - descriptive adjectiveour - possessive adjective

Social Desirability Bias Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Social Desirability Bias - Essay Example Biasness is one sided in general and lacks neutral view point. Bias may be present in many forms. It is often treated as the synonyms to bigotry or prejudice (Kothari, 2007, p. 131). Social desirability bias Social desirability bias can be defined as the propensity of the respondents to answer to questions in such a fashion that is likely to be viewed as favourable by others. The respondent may exhibit Social desirability bias by over emphasizing on the good behaviour or under emphasizing on the bad behaviour. Therefore SDR poses a serious problem while conducting research work. Some of the research topics in which SDR is a real concern are personality, sexual behaviour, personal income, religion, drug use, self with, patriotism, and charity. People usually differ in the propensity in indulge in a socially desirable responding happens to be a real course of concern for the researcher. It literally makes it impossible for the researcher to distinguish between people responding in a mo re truthful of factual manner as compared to those deforming the answers (Bhattacharya, 2009, p. 201). Impact of bias on research Research or survey is by far the most useful and widely used way to study the behaviour of donors when it comes to charitable giving. However, the quality of the data is much known. It is believed that the donors are quite notorious when it comes to less accurate reporting of funds. Some may argue that it may happen due to the poor memory of the respondents. However, experts believe that it very well could be a deliberate effort made by the respondents to pump up the giving to appear a bit more generous than actual. Therefore it is not a surprise to the researchers to find out evidences of vast amount of discrepancies in charity giving studies during the similar time span. Examples of such discrepancies could be: total value of charitable giving not matching the level of income. Add to this the charity giving trends have also believed to be contradictory with one another. In the context of charitable giving the people usually want to sound a bit more socially orientated and altruistic than the actual. While responding to the questions of specific domain respondents bias the responses leading to social desirability. In case of charity it could be done to enhance the social image or to avoid any kind of embarrassment. Therefore if appropriate actions are not taken SDB is likely to contaminate the findings and affect decision making. After reviewing previous SDB researches, experts have found out two important loop holes. SDB is quite faintly conceptualized. In order to counter this issue some SD scales had been developed. However, without clear accord, it is difficult for researchers to select suitable social desirability scales. Many researchers have also indicated that the respondents misreporting are mainly coupled with differences in personality. The desire of the respondent to over report regarding charitable donations could be d ifferent from the other different socially desirable behaviours like recycling or voting (Goswami, 2010, p. 225). Some Measures to Reduce SDB SBBM SBBM has been found to be quite effective in minimizing the social desirability bias. In case of this method the interviewer reads out the questions from a questionnaire and respondents answer through a secret voting procedure using ballot box or slips. SBBM is a portable lightweight wooden box. It has a slot similar to the ballot box. The ballot slips are strips of papers with cross reference with the questionnaire. The interviewer reads the questions one at a time and the respondents put a circle in the voting slip. At the completion of the

Eu law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Eu law - Essay Example The case commenced in the Politierechter (Magistrate Dealing with Commercial Offences). The action was brought by the officier Van Justitie (Public Prosecutor). The defendant was the company KOLPINGHUIS NIJMEGEN BV (its legal representative). This case was referred to the European Court of Justice by the ARRONDISSE-MENTSRECHTBANK (DISTRICT COURT), ARNHEM, Netherlands. The above judicial authority of Netherlands brought this case in the European Court of Justice in accordance with the article 177 of the EEC Treaty asking for a preliminary ruling (in order for this ruling to be used in the criminal proceeding pending before the specific national court regarding the case under examination). The national court (the District Court of Netherlands) brought this case before the ECJ based on the existence of the Council Directive 80/77/EEC of 15 July 1980 ‘on the approximation of the Laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters’ and particularly to the provision included in this Directive that ‘the member states are to take the measures necessary to ensure that only waters extracted from the ground of a member state and recognized by the responsible authority of that member state as natural mineral waters satisfying the provisions of the particular Directive’ (par. 3 of the case). In the particular case the following parties intervened in order to submit their observations: The Netherlands Government (which is the state directly related with the case under examination), The Italian Government, the United Kingdom and the Commission of The European Communities. The reference to the appearance and the intervention of these parties is made in the section of case which refers to the distribution of the costs related with the case brought before the ECJ. In accordance with the ECJ the Directive 80/777 could not have been enforced against the

Tuesdays with Morrie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tuesdays with Morrie - Essay Example Therefore, Morrie’s point is that once one learns and accepts that death is a reality that is going to happen at some point in life, one learns to live life fully enjoying every moment as it comes without any regrets (Albom, 2005). Throughout the chapter on death, Morrie makes frequent reference to this quote emphasizing the importance for all humanity to accept death, and the subsequent benefits generated from such acceptance for the remainder of one’s life. Morrie emphasize acceptance of death and learning to live with this reality so that Mitch can understand how Morrie is able to value the smaller, more genuine aspects of life bearing in mind that death was approaching. Although Morrie made this statement when he was terminally ill, this it can be generalized to the lives of every human being since death is a reality that is bound to occur to everyone who is still alive. Therefore, healthy individuals can enjoy a life full of happiness and contentment when they live each day as if it were the last. This approach to life will result in a state where each life experience is embraced memorably, passionately and powerfully. People will be able to experience living as a gift to be seized and taken advantage of fully. Morrie points out that â€Å"everybody knows they are going to die," he said again, "but nobody believes it† (Pg 91 M) and that most people are busy doing their activities but they are actually â€Å"half asleep† (Pg 43 M). These statements relate to being prepared for death as it illustrates people’s attitude towards death. There are people who live like robots without having a personal goal in life while taking everything that life has to offer for granted. This can also be said of people who are used to routine and habitual way of life by doing the same things daily to the extent that it has becomes a tradition to them. For such people, accepting the limited nature of life will go a long way in making them enjoy life by

Current Trends in Chemotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumor Essay

Current Trends in Chemotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumor - Essay Example Due to this, medical professionals have designed alternative chemotherapy treatments that seek to address the side effects generated by the standard chemotherapy and improve the overall health of the pediatric patients. However, the effectiveness of the new trends such as metronomic therapy, circumventing the blood-brain barrier, and application of Bevacizumab monotherapy, raises interesting questions such as whether they can effectively handle the challenge of eliminating malignancies without posing greater threats to pediatric patients. Additionally, since the new methods are under experimental trials, their future is dependent on their efficacy, which has not yet been established. Cancer is one of the biggest challenges facing health care on a global basis. The impact of controlling the disease has affected the world economy. The American Cancer Society report that the annual costs of cancer in 2009 were estimated to be over $216.6 billion where $86.6 billion was spent on direct medical costs whereas $130 billion was spent on indirect mortality. The American Cancer Society indicates that over 1,600 people die each day due to cancer complications. Brain tumor is the second most common cancer and the most frequent solid tumor in childhood, which account for 4.3 cases per 100,000 in the US (Gottardo & Gajjar, 2008). This paper will conduct an in-depth analysis of cancer in pediatric patients, giving special focus to brain tumors and the emerging chemotherapy treatment trends being administered to fight cancer in pediatric patients. According to Cabrera and Schub (2014), the most common brain neoplasms in children, and medulloblastoma, which account for 20-30% of all brain tumors in pediatric population. Although childhood cancer is relatively uncommon, the disease is still a persistent issue among the cancer patients it affects. Childhood Cancer states that Cancer is the second leading

Analysis of RadioShack Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of RadioShack - Essay Example The company is suffering from net cash outflow instead of net cash inflow and this threatens to deplete its cash and cash equivalent reserve. This means that the company may be bankrupt in the near future and creditors are likely to lose their stake in the company. The company is also not doing well in its profitability because this source of cash inflow could offset the deficit in cash and cash equivalents that the company suffers (Carrasco 1). Possible stiff competition and poor operational management could be the reasons the organization is not doing well. While a large percentage of the organization’s stores are based in the United States, these stores have not been profitable to generate sufficient cash and facilitate growth. Competition could have also constrained demand, leading to high levels of inventory, and reduced profitability. Assuming the role of competition in the organization’s performance, poor operational strategies that have failed to minimize cost would be another reason for the current condition. The inefficient growth strategy is another reason for the condition because while the company is realizing challenges in its United States’ market while other markets remain promising, it has failed to shift its focus to the other regions (Carrasco 1). The economic approach to â€Å"profit maximization and marginalism† are the central principles to the problem that the company faces (Nicholson and Snyder 374). Under the profit maximization principle and within the scope of a competitive market, the company should operate at a level where the difference from its marginal costs to its marginal revenue approaches zero from the positive side (Mankiw 283, 284). This could inform production level and reduce or mitigate the realized negative cash flow, and develop creditors’ confidence and finance management’s efficiency.  Ã‚  

Critical Appraisal of Business Planning Process Essay - 2

Critical Appraisal of Business Planning Process - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that external market conditions change rapidly in certain industries, thus driving a need for innovation in order to compete with other businesses operating in the same market environment. Products and services both from an entrepreneurial business and the competitive environment have a specific life cycle by which it generates profitability and consumer adoption patterns. A product or service will move from growth to maturity, a period where sales decline and thus new product development becomes a critical internal activity of the organization. This is why generating new ideas becomes a paramount objective in the planning process, usually requiring the input of executive leadership and managers to determine how best to introduce a new product whilst still recognizing costs. In generating new product ideas, the business leaders must determine whether compromises will be made, opportunity costs or trade-offs, in order to launch a new product o r service on the market. â€Å"Will conventional wisdom be defied, an understanding that teams, plans and reflects on learning lead to reduced cost, risk and speed to market†?. Recognising the financial impact of new product development and market launch urgency must be considered when generating new ideas. Innovations, however, are critical to maintaining a stable market position.Strategy formulation determines the objectives necessary to achieve a long-term market position. The strategy defines sustainability over the long-run or whether growth is an expectation related to revenue-building. An entrepreneurial dimension of strategy is persisting to find a better fit in the competitive market or developing a vision by which the organization founds its values and organizational structure against. Developing a long-term orientation is necessary for business planning as it determines the strategic direction the business intends to pursue and thus resources are allocated toward m eeting this purpose.

Analysis of RadioShack Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of RadioShack - Essay Example The company is suffering from net cash outflow instead of net cash inflow and this threatens to deplete its cash and cash equivalent reserve. This means that the company may be bankrupt in the near future and creditors are likely to lose their stake in the company. The company is also not doing well in its profitability because this source of cash inflow could offset the deficit in cash and cash equivalents that the company suffers (Carrasco 1). Possible stiff competition and poor operational management could be the reasons the organization is not doing well. While a large percentage of the organization’s stores are based in the United States, these stores have not been profitable to generate sufficient cash and facilitate growth. Competition could have also constrained demand, leading to high levels of inventory, and reduced profitability. Assuming the role of competition in the organization’s performance, poor operational strategies that have failed to minimize cost would be another reason for the current condition. The inefficient growth strategy is another reason for the condition because while the company is realizing challenges in its United States’ market while other markets remain promising, it has failed to shift its focus to the other regions (Carrasco 1). The economic approach to â€Å"profit maximization and marginalism† are the central principles to the problem that the company faces (Nicholson and Snyder 374). Under the profit maximization principle and within the scope of a competitive market, the company should operate at a level where the difference from its marginal costs to its marginal revenue approaches zero from the positive side (Mankiw 283, 284). This could inform production level and reduce or mitigate the realized negative cash flow, and develop creditors’ confidence and finance management’s efficiency.  Ã‚  

Women’s rights in America in the 1920s Essay Example for Free

Women’s rights in America in the 1920s Essay Throughout the ages women have been stricken with often male-made oppression in many forms on the long, difficult road to their eventual initiation into equal rights. Some aspects of women’s rights today were obtained by questionable means in the past. One such act of liberation by questionable means was the introduction of a class of women in the 1920s known as flappers. These flappers were the beginning of a new wave of sexually and intellectually liberated women. Women of this age wore short skirts and revealing clothing in addition to cutting their hair into bobs and smoking and drinking publicly. These women were also outspoken in many areas, including matters of art, society, and politics. (â€Å"The changing values of a new generation†) Many argued that these women were the source of much moral corruption and social confusion during the age. A large number of people believed that flappers were rowdy, trouble-making, time-wasting, destructive women and that their damaged morals were in need of correcting. In the eyes of many critics, flappers were a prime example of the growing immorality, irresponsibility, inconsideration, impatience, stupidity and selfish personal absorption of today’s female youth. Still others felt that the flappers were simply lazy and their lifestyles were not only evil and blasphemous but also unhealthy for the soul, body, and mind. Secretary of Labor, James Davis said in September of 1922, that the flappers lifestyle revolved mainly around sex and substance abuse. It was argued that the heightened displays of sexual freedom of these flappers promoted lower social morals, larger rates of promiscuity and greater irresponsibility in many young women. Many people saw flappers as being unintelligent, self absorbed, and were only concerned with their own personal gain, without taking others into consideration. They were often viewed as shameful recluses, and troublemakers. Those who felt that flappers were immoral and corrupt argued that they were bad influences on the younger, more impressionable girls and that they gave their community a bad image. It was said to be inappropriate for any woman to show a substantial about of flesh  at any given time, especially in public, therefor, the flappers were seen in an even more negative light due to the fact that their dresses only required 3 yards of fabric instead of the traditional 6. Many said that flappers were inconsiderate of others with their rambunctious behavior and provocative appearances. Their public drinking and smoking was seen by many as vulgar and unladylike. Flappers were also said to be impatient and unintelligent in areas such as schooling, work and typical domestic o bligations. Despite many negative arguments against flappers there were also those who supported them and argued for them, including, of course, the flappers themselves. Flappers and their supporters looked at their actions as a means of promoting their sexual and intellectual liberation from the former, male-based structure of society. These supporters of such female liberation believed that flappers had earned the right to their free and passionate lifestyles and that they should be respected just as much as the men of the community. Such flapper collaborators felt that they were self-sufficient and reliant as well as intelligent and feminine. Flappers often wore makeup with their short hair and flowingly skimpy clothing. They kept themselves slim and fit and exercised often. These women spent a great deal of money to uphold their flapper fashion and image. They felt that they were independent as well as responsible in their free-spirited fight for equality and freewill. They argued that they were not immoral in their lifestyle and that their behavior was in fact far from destructive but, instead, was helping to work towards creating social equality. (â€Å"The New feminism of the 1920s†) Flappers were not in fact only concerned with standing out and being noticed. They were not simply fashion and image-driven, selfish women, but were strong, self-willed, independent young feminist citizens who were fighting passionately for their right to stable equality amidst a prominently male-driven world. These women pushed aggressively for their social, professional, and sexual freedom which they felt were hard-earned and well overdue. Many flappers wished to pursue positions in careers which would otherwise be deemed unacceptable for the average women of the time. They hoped that by breaking away from social normalitys that they could eventually obtain equality in all important aspects of life while hopefully  also allowing them entry into many professional fields which would normally be unaccessible to women. It is beyond confrontation that many of the questions of the flapper age were presented with a certain amount of dubiety by many brave independent women seeking fairness and equality. These women took their lives and futures into their own hands and with all the courage and determination they could muster they threw their hopes and expectations for equality upon the world. The flappers were passionate, lively young women with aspirations of possessing the same basic human rights that were possessed by the men of the age. Though their aggressively displayed fashion and ideas came as quite a shock to most people at first, after the differences became more accepted by the general public objections were able to be put aside, to make way for some real changes. Despite the many controversies surrounding the flappers and their ideals the fact remains that due to their existence and involvement in history a great deal of significance changes were brought about whether for the good or bad that of today’s society which have greatly expanded upon women’s rights and equality.

Analysis Of Nosotros Los Pobres Film Studies Essay

Analysis Of Nosotros Los Pobres Film Studies Essay In the 1948 film Nosotros Los Pobres the representation of maternal and paternal figures confirm Octavio Paz theories of the Mexican identity crisis as well as ascribe to the stereotypes described by Monsivà ¡is. Octavio Paz states the Mexican race is subject to gsuspicion, dissimulation, irony, the courtesy that shuts us away from the stranger, all the psychic oscillations with which, in eluding a strange glace, we elude ourselvesh. To Paz the Mexican race is an oppressed one, a servant race hiding behind masks and smiles. The Mexican is of the subservient worker mentality, he/she always thinks of being brought down by external forces. These forces are not external gthey are impalpable and invincible because they are not outside us but within ush. For Paz the totality of the Mexican existence is that gonly when they are alone, during the great moments of life do they dare to show themselves as they really areh. To both Paz and Monsivà ¡is the Mexican (male) is a person of many con tradictions a person who is sensitive, angry, arrogant, wise, ignorant, dedicated, womanizing, distant, and emotional. The Mexican holds all of these things in himself at once and in extreme moments bursts out. Monsivà ¡is makes the connection between the poor and the need for drama or melodrama; gthe audience could forget its own economic woes with the discovery that so many shared its own misfortuneh. For the Mexican female and male, the world and life makes the most sense when they are suffering. There is probably no better representation of this suffering, the trials of life, the melodrama, the extreme emotional contradictions of the Mexican than in Nosotros Los Pobres. By isolating the paternal figure to the character Pepe, we can examine how he is a textbook representation of the contradictory Mexican male in an identity crisis. Pedro Infante as Pepe comes to be the archetypical Mexican male. Monsivais describes this male as alternatively and simultaneously brave, generous, cruel, rakish, romantic, obscene, able to make the greatest sacrifice, family-oriented and a friend until death. Pepe as a father is a both times generous and cruel, this is evident throughout the film in various scenes with his daughter. Pepes dedicated paternalism comes out any time he has to console his daughter and reassure her that he will never replace her mother. His sweetness comes out in the scene in which he apologetically croons his daughter with a birthday song. His crooning for his daughter just comes after one of his cruelest moments in the film in which he slaps his daughter in response to her accusing him of killing her mother. In slapping his daughter Pepe lit erallizes Paz quote, his daughter becomes the person who suffers this action is passive, inert, and open, in contrast to the active, aggressive and closed person who inflicts it. Pepe is of course arrogant, prideful and closed, all because he wants to spare his daughter of the shame of knowing who her real mother is, by slapping his daughter Pepe all at once trying to protect is daughter and suffers from a moment of emotional outburst where he in Paz terms becomes the chingà ³n. To say whether Pepe is a chingà ³n is a paper topic in and of itself, for now his moments of being a chingà ³n can be considered as part of himself, part of the bigger whole that is the Mexican identity, just one more part of the contradictory Mexican. Pepes chingà ³n comes out in one other scene, the scene in which his sister reveals herself as the girls mother (to the audience) and begs for Pepes forgiveness. As presented his sister doesnt seem to deserve the hatred and unforgiving emotional torment th at Pepe heaps on her. It is as if his own pride, arrogance, and all-around Mexican identity keeps him from forgiving his sister. Pepes unforgiving of his sister can be chalked up to serving the melodrama of the film. The Mexican romantic in Pepe comes out in any scene Pedro Infante shares the screen with the many women who adore him. Pedro Infantes natural talent of singing comes into play as well. The whistling scene between him and his sweet innocent pure love interest Celia Pepe at his most romantic. Pepe reveals himself to be a man of honor and dedication when resists the advances of La Que Se Levanta Tarde, sometimes Pepes verbal sparring borders on cruel. The scene in which La Que Se Levanta Tarde forces Pepes face into her bosom through comic action is of course played for laughs. The last facet and stereotype of the Mexican male is that of machismo. Pepe displays this machismo in the films later half which shows Pepe in prison and literally fighting for his life. Pepe violently beats the criminal responsible for the crime Pepe was accused of. Although this resolution is simplistic, it nonetheless serves the purpose of the melodrama, Pepe proves his innocence by beating the crap out of the other guy. By showing all these facets of the Mexican identity and male, Pepe fits the stereotypes suggested by Paz and Monsivà ¡. Pepe through all his contradictions and variety as a man, he comes to represent the whole of the Mexican identity crisis. The female that comes to represent maternity and the female stereotypes is the character of Celia. Celia is all at once pure, sweet, vulnerable and mistreated. To Paz, Celia comes to present the chingada, female, who is pure passivity, defenseless against the exterior world. Celias passivity comes out in a small scale in two scenes. The scene in which her father forbids her from seeing Pepe or being courted by Pepe, her response is of course emotional openness which makes her vulnerable and ineffective against her father who holds power over her. The other scene in which Celia is passive and open is the scene in which she confront Pepe for the truth. Again, Pepe shows his emotional contradictions in this scene, as Celia through her love and openness is simply trying to get Pepe to tell the truth of Chanchitas mother Pepe in turn treats Celia cruelty. She is vulnerable and once again Pepe is a chingà ³n, prefers to be in solitude rather than be open and vulnerable to Celia, and Celia is the one suffer from it, she even throughly expresses her love and care for Pepe, who in turn in only unreceptive not because he is because he is trying to save Celia as well. Through his emotional cruelty Pepe is saving Celia from being with him, sparing her of being with the complex man who would rather be anyone but himself. Both Pepe and Celia come to represent a sketched portrait of a people: generous, prejudiced, and more emotional than rational; pious and fanatic; an enemy of bigotry and more liberal than it seemed; inhibited by Lord and Master. The people of Nosotros Los Pobres, whose nicknames define their personality traits, are people of a community suffering from the Mexican identities, all these facets at one. It comes as now surprise why Nosotros Los Pobres is considered on the best Mexican films of all time. It is a representation of universal truths specific to the Mexican and one of the finest examples of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.

Free My Antonia Essays: An Analysis :: My Antonia Essays

My Antonia I think that My Antonia, written in 1918, is one of Cather's finest works. Critic H. L. Mencken thought it to be the most accomplished, and shortly after it was published in 1919 he wrote, "Her style has lost self-consciousness; her feeling for form has become instinctive. And she has got such a grip upon her materials...I know of no novel that makes the remote folk of the Western praries more real...and I know of none that makes them seem better worth knowing." One of the high points in the story is the tragic case of Mr. Shimerda's death. In this character Cather shows an almost obsessive longing of hers for the past. A cultered man, Antonia's father cannot handle the hardships he encounters in Nebraska, and longs for his life back in Bohemia. He clings to his Old World wardrobe and foods..."a knitted grey vest, and, instead of a collar, a silk scarf of a dark bronze-green, carefully crossed and held together by a red coral pin." Homesick for his native land Mr. Shimerda shoots himself. Some critics find Cather's recurring preoccupation with the past destructive, T. K. Whipple said that there was an element of passion in the theme. "To have cared intensely about anything, is not to have lived in vain." I think that the theme of the immigrants longing for the past was very fitting. Many of the settlers of the mid-west praries were immigrants, and most did desperately try to cling to their past while building a new life in the melting pot of America. The hardships of the immigrants were not uncommon. Many were forced to go into town to become a "hired girl" as Antonia did before she returned to the farm labor that she enjoyed, where she discovered city life in the dance clubs. My favorite part about reading My Antonia is the beautiful descriptions of the land and other small details. In this story Jim Burden is not only a narrator for Cather, but for the land. Throughout the story his descriptions bring an eloquent style to her writing and capture the reader into the story. "Everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, there was nothing but rough, shaggy red grass, most as tall as I." In a phrase that is now on Cather's tombstone, he comes to accept the power of the land over him, saying, "That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.

Offshore Banking Essay -- foreign bank, financial secrecy

Offshore banking is the action of having a bank account outside of the country of residence. Since its start, offshore banking has become a considerably lucrative business. Many of those who take part in offshore banking are looking for a secure location to place their income or seize the opportunity of having lower taxes. However, there are those who misuse the privilege of a foreign bank and use the business ventures for illegal actions rather than the original purpose of the dealings. Offshore banks seem to have an impartial acceptance of quite a few clients within the bank that create a lower standard of ethics in contrast to the ethics meant to be held—this includes those of a political position. Furthermore, this has the potential to be detrimental to the economy. Individuals that have offshore accounts control accounts through a credit card that has a unique and individual number and secret code. These would often be referred to as â€Å"identifier codes† called IBNs (International Bank Account Number)—where the account holder is identified by a sequence of characters—rather than the traditional system of recording names, as defined by National Westminster Bank. An IBN is not to be confused with an account number (though it not uncommon for an account number to be included) as it often varies between countries. Often times, a report must be filed for the purpose of obtaining this information. This system helps all of these banks provide financial secrecy which is that only you and your banker would legally be allowed to know the financial activity within your account. The financial secrecy, completely different from financial privacy, includes many regulations to maintain this asset of secrecy. For example, many banks would n... ....). Democracy Now!. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/15/offshore_banking_and_tax_havens_have Offshore banking. (2014, November 2). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_banking Purpari, M. (n.d.). How Far Offshore is Offshore Banking?. Suite101.com. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from https://suite101.com/a/how-far-offshore-is-offshore-banking-a344923 Ritchie, J. (n.d.). Connect With Us. MintLife Blog. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from https://www.mint.com/blog/trends/offshore-banking/ Warren, Z. (2013, September 23). U.S. government cracking down on offshore bank accounts through FATCA. U.S. government cracking down on offshore bank accounts through FATCA. Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://www.insidecounsel.com/2013/09/23/us-government-cracking-down-on-offshore-bank-accou

Zoe’s Tale PART II Chapter Eighteen

The conversation Hickory was having with Dad about the Conclave and the Colonial Union was really interesting, right up until the point where Hickory said it and Dickory were planning to kill my parents. Then, well. I sort of lost it. To be fair, it had been a really long day. I had said good night to Enzo, dragged my butt home, and could barely think straight enough to hide the stone knife in my dresser and fend off Babar's lick attack on my face before I collapsed onto my cot and passed out without even bothering to get all the way undressed. At some point after I lay down, Jane came home from the medical bay, kissed me on the forehead and slipped off my boots, but I barely remember that other than murmuring something to her about how happy I was she was better. At least, that's what I was saying inside my head; I don't know if my mouth formed the actual words. I think it did. I was very tired at the time. Not too much after that, though, Dad came in and gently nudged me awake. â€Å"Come on, hon,† he said. â€Å"I need you to do something for me.† â€Å"I'll do it in the morning,† I mumbled. â€Å"I swear.† â€Å"No, sweetheart,† he said. â€Å"I need you to do it now.† The tone of his voice, gentle but insistent, told me he really did need me to get up. I did, but with enough grumbling to maintain my honor. We went to the living room of our bungalow; Dad steered me to the couch, which I sat on and tried to maintain a semiconscious state that would allow me to go back to sleep when we were done with whatever it was we were doing. Dad sat down at his desk; Mom stood next to him. I smiled sleepily at her but she seemed not to notice. Between me and my parents were Hickory and Dickory. Dad spoke to Hickory. â€Å"Can you two lie?† he asked it. â€Å"We have not yet lied to you,† Hickory said. Which even in my sleepy state I recognized as not being an actual answer to the question that was asked. Dad and Hickory bantered back and forth a little about what being able to lie brings to a conversation (in my opinion, mostly the ability to not have to argue about stupid things it's just better to lie about, but no one asked me), and then Dad asked me to tell Hickory and Dickory to answer all his questions without any lies or evasions. This finally woke me all the way up. â€Å"Why?† I asked. â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"Please do it,† Dad said. â€Å"All right,† I said, and then turned to Hickory. â€Å"Hickory, please answer my dad without lying to him or evading his questions. All right?† â€Å"As you wish, Zoe,† Hickory said. â€Å"Dickory too,† I said. â€Å"We will both answer truthfully,† Hickory said. â€Å"Thank you,† Dad said, and then turned back to me. â€Å"You can go back to bed now, sweetie.† This annoyed me. I was a human being, not a truth serum. â€Å"I want to know what's going on,† I said. â€Å"It's not something you need to worry about,† Dad said. â€Å"You order me to have these two tell you the truth, and you want me to believe it's not something I need to worry about?† I asked. The sleep toxins were taking their time leaving my system, because even as I was saying this I realized it came out showing a little more attitude to my parents than was entirely warranted at the moment. As if to confirm this, Jane straightened herself up a bit. â€Å"Zoe,† she said. I recalibrated. â€Å"Besides, if I leave there's no guarantee they won't lie to you,† I said, trying to sound a bit more reasonable. â€Å"They're emotionally equipped to lie to you, because they don't care about disappointing you. But they don't want to disappoint me.† I didn't know if this was actually true or not. But I was guessing it was. Dad turned to Hickory. â€Å"Is this true?† â€Å"We would lie to you if we felt it was necessary,† Hickory said. â€Å"We would not lie to Zoe.† There was a really interesting question here of whether Hickory was saying this because it was actually true, or whether it was saying it in order to back me up on what I said, and if the latter, what the actual truth value of the statement was. If I were more awake, I think I would have thought about it more at the time. But as it was, I just nodded and said, â€Å"There you go,† to my dad. â€Å"Breathe a word of this to anyone and you're spending the next year in the horse stall,† Dad said. â€Å"My lips are sealed,† I said, and almost made a lip-locking motion, but thought better of it at the last second. And a good thing, too, because suddenly Jane came up and loomed over me, bearing her I am as serious as death expression. â€Å"No,† she said. â€Å"I need you to understand that what you're hearing here you absolutely cannot share with anyone else. Not Gretchen. Not any of your other friends. Not anyone. It's not a game and it's not a fun secret. This is dead serious business, Zoe. If you're not ready to accept that, you need to leave this room right now. I'll take my chances with Hickory and Dickory lying to us, but not you. So do you understand that when we tell you not to share this with anyone, that you cannot share it with anyone else? Yes or no.† Several thoughts entered my mind at that moment. The first is that it was times like this when I had the smallest inkling of how terrifying Jane must have been as a soldier. She was the best mom a girl could ever have, make no mistake about it, but when she got like this, she was as hard and cold and direct as any person could be. She was, to use a word, intimidating. And this was just with words. I tried to imagine her stalking across a battlefield with the same expression on her face she had now, and standard-issue Defense Forces rifle. I think I actually felt at least three of my internal organs contract at the thought. The second is I wondered what she would think of my ability to keep a secret if she had known what I had just done with my evening. The third was maybe she did, and that was what this was about. I felt several other of my internal organs contract at that thought. Jane was still looking at me, cold like stone, waiting for my answer. â€Å"Yes,† I said. â€Å"I understand, Jane. Not a word.† â€Å"Thank you, Zoe,† Jane said. Then she bent down and kissed the top of my head. Just like that, she was my mom again. Which in its way made her even more terrifying, if you ask me. That settled, Dad started asking Hickory about the Conclave and what it and Dickory knew about that group. Since we had made the jump to Roanoke, we had been waiting for the Conclave to find us, and when they found us, to destroy us, like they had destroyed the Whaid colony in the video the Colonial Union had given us. Dad wanted to know if what Hickory knew about the Conclave was different than what we knew. Hickory said yes, basically. They knew quite a bit about the Conclave, based on the Obin government's own files on them – and that their own files, contrary to what we had been told by the Colonial Union, showed that when it came to colonies, the Conclave much preferred to evacuate the colonies they confronted, rather than destroying them. Dad asked Hickory why, if they had different information, they had not shared it earlier. Hickory said because they had been ordered not to by their government; neither Hickory nor Dickory would have lied about having the information if Dad had asked them, but he had never asked them about it before. I think this struck Dad as a bit weaselly on the part of Hickory and Dickory, but he let it go. Dad asked Hickory if it'd seen the video the Colonial Union had given us, of the Conclave destroying the Whaid colony. Hickory said that it and Dickory had their own version. Dad asked if their version was different; Hickory said it was – it was longer and showed General Gau, who had ordered the destruction of the Whaid colony, trying to convince the Whaidi colony leader to let the Conclave evacuate the colonists, only to have the Whaid refuse to leave before the destruction of their colony. Hickory said that other times, on other colony worlds, colonists did ask to be evacuated, and the Conclave carried them off the planet, and sent them back to their homeworlds or allowed them to join the Conclave as citizens. Jane asked for numbers. Hickory said they knew of seventeen colony removals by the Conclave. Ten of those had the Conclave returning colonists to their former homes. Four of those had the colonists joining the Conclave. Only three involved the destruction of the colonies, after the colonists refused to move. The Conclave was dead serious about not allowing anyone else to start new colonies, but – unlike what we were told by the Colonial Union – didn't insist on killing everyone on those new colonies to make the point. This was fascinating stuff – and disturbing. Because if what Hickory was saying was true – and it was, because Hickory would not lie to me, or to my parents against my will – then it meant that either the Colonial Union had been wildly wrong about the Conclave, and its leader General Gau, or that the CU had lied to us when it told us what would happen if the Conclave found us. The first of these was certainly possible, I suppose; the Colonial Union was in a state of active hostility with almost every other alien race that we knew about, which I would guess would make intelligence gathering harder than it might be if we had more friends. But it was really more likely that the second of these was the truth: Our government lied to us. But if the Colonial Union lied to us, why did it do it? What did it get from lying to us, punting us to who knows where in the universe, and making us live in fear of being discovered – and putting all of us in danger? What was our own government up to? And what would the Conclave really do to us if it found us? This was such an interesting thing to think about that I almost missed the part where Hickory explained the reason why it and Dickory actually had detailed files about the Conclave's other colony removals: in order to convince Mom and Dad, should the Conclave come knocking, to surrender our colony rather than to let it be destroyed. And why would they want to convince Mom and Dad of this? â€Å"Because of Zoe?† Dad asked Hickory. â€Å"Yes,† Hickory said. â€Å"Wow,† I said. This was news. â€Å"Quiet, sweetheart,† Dad said, and then gave his attention back to Hickory. â€Å"What would happen if Jane and I chose not to surrender the colony?† he asked. â€Å"We would prefer not to say,† Hickory said. â€Å"Don't evade,† Dad said. â€Å"Answer the question.† I caught Hickory giving me a quick look before it answered. â€Å"We would kill you and Lieutenant Sagan,† Hickory said. â€Å"You and any other colony leader who would authorize the destruction of the colony.† Dad said something to this and Hickory said something back, but I missed most of it because my brain was trying to process what I had just heard, and it was absolutely and completely utterly failing. I knew I was important to the Obin. I had always known it abstractly, and then Hickory and Dickory had pounded the point into me months ago, when they had attacked me and showed me what it felt to be hunted, and showed me why I had to learn to defend myself. But in no formulation of my importance was even the conception that I was so important to the Obin that if it came to it, they would kill my parents to save me. I didn't even know how to think about something like that. Didn't know how to feel about it. The idea kept trying to hook into my brain, and it just wasn't working. It was like having an out of body experience. I floated up over the conversation, and listened to Jane interject herself into the discussion, asking Hickory if even after admitting this as their plan, if it and Dickory would still kill her and John. Kill my mom and dad. â€Å"If you choose to surrender the colony, yes,† Hickory said. I actually felt a snap as I reeled myself back into my head, and I'm happy to say that I quite suddenly knew exactly how to feel about all of this: absolutely enraged. â€Å"Don't you dare,† I said, and I flung out the words. â€Å"Under no circumstances will you do that.† I was surprised to find myself standing when I said it; I didn't remember getting up. I was shaking so hard with anger I wasn't sure how I was still standing. Hickory and Dickory both flinched at my anger, and trembled. â€Å"This one thing we must refuse you,† Hickory said. â€Å"You are too important. To us. To all Obin.† To all Obin. If I could have spat, I would. Here it was again. All of my life, bounded by the Obin. Bounded not in who I was, but what I was. By what I meant to them. There was nothing about my own life that mattered in this, except what entertainment I could give them as billions of Obin played the records of my life like it was a funny show. If any other girl had been Charles Boutin's daughter, they would have happily watched her life instead. If any other girl's adopted parents had gotten in the way of the Obin's plan for her, they would have slaughtered them, too. Who I was meant nothing. The only thing that mattered was that I just happened to have been one man's daughter. A man who the Obin had thought could give them something. A man whose daughter's life they had bargained with to get that thing. A man who ended up dying because of the work he'd done for them. And now they wanted more sacrifices. So I let Hickory and Dickory know how I felt. â€Å"I've already lost one parent because of the Obin,† I said, and loaded everything I could into that last word. All my anger and disgust and horror and rage, at the idea they should so casually decide to take from me two people who had only ever shown me love and affection and honor, and flick them aside like they were nothing more than an inconvenience. I hated Hickory and Dickory that minute. Hated them in that way that comes only when someone you love takes that love and betrays it, completely and totally. Hated them because they would betray me because they believe they loved me. I hated them. â€Å"Everybody calm down,† John said. â€Å"No one is killing anyone. All right? This is a nonissue. Zoe, Hickory and Dickory aren't going to kill us because we're not going to let the colony be destroyed. Simple as that. And there is no way I would let anything happen to you, Zoe. Hickory and Dickory and I all agree that you are too important for that.† I opened my mouth to say something to that and just started sobbing instead. I felt like I'd gone numb from the legs; suddenly Jane was there, holding me and leading me back to the couch. I sobbed on her like I did so many years ago outside that toy store, trying to sort out everything I was thinking. I heard Dad make Hickory and Dickory swear to protect me, always, under all circumstances. They swore. I felt like I didn't want their help or protection ever again. I knew it would pass. Even now I knew it was because of the moment that I felt this way. It didn't change the fact that I still felt it. I was going to have to live with it from now on. Dad talked with Hickory more about the Conclave and asked to see the Obin's files on the other colony removals. Hickory said they would need to go to the information center to do it. Even though it was now so late it was almost morning, Dad wanted to do it right then. He gave me a kiss and headed out the door with the Obin; Jane held back a second. â€Å"Are you going to be okay?† she asked me. â€Å"I'm having a really intense day, Mom,† I said. â€Å"I think I want it to be over.† â€Å"I'm sorry you had to hear what Hickory said,† Jane said. â€Å"I don't think there would have been any good way to handle it.† I sniffled out a small grin. â€Å"You seem to have taken it well,† I said. â€Å"If someone was telling me they had plans to kill me, I don't think I would have taken it anywhere as calmly.† â€Å"Let's just say I wasn't entirely surprised to hear Hickory say that,† Jane said. I looked up at her, surprised. â€Å"You're a treaty condition, remember,† she said. â€Å"And you are the Obin's main experience of what it's like to live.† â€Å"They all live,† I said. â€Å"No,† Jane said. â€Å"They exist. Even with their consciousness implants they hardly know what to do with themselves, Zoe. It's all too new to them. Their race has no experience with it. They don't just watch you because you entertain them. They watch you because you're teaching them how to be. You're teaching them how to live.† â€Å"I've never thought about it that way,† I said. â€Å"I know you haven't,† Jane said. â€Å"You don't have to. Living comes naturally to you. More naturally than to some of the rest of us.† â€Å"It's been a year since any of them have seen me,† I said. â€Å"Any of them but Hickory and Dickory. If I've been teaching them how to live, I wonder what they've been doing for the last year.† â€Å"They've been missing you,† Mom said, and kissed the top of my head again. â€Å"And now you know why they'll do anything to have you back. And to keep you safe.† I didn't have a good answer to that. Mom gave me one last quick hug and headed to the door to join Dad and the Obin. â€Å"I don't know how long this is going to take us,† she said. â€Å"Try going to bed again.† â€Å"I'm too worked up to get back to sleep,† I said. â€Å"If you get some sleep you'll probably be less worked up when you wake up,† Jane said. â€Å"Trust me, Mom,† I said. â€Å"It's going to take something pretty big to get me over being worked up about all of this.†