Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Racism in America (the zeitgeist) around year 1890-1920 based on the Essay

Racism in America (the zeitgeist) around year 1890-1920 based on the book Give Me Liberty, by Foner (chapter 17, 18, and 19 only) - Essay Example Black and white people resided nearby on lands as well as agricultural estates and physical segregation developed contact involving neighbors sporadic. On the other hand, liberated color citizens, situated mainly in northern and southern municipalities as well as metropolis, suffered isolation in different sorts. When the High Court made judgment in Dread Scott versus Strafford (1858) that Black Americans weren’t American people, whites from the north isolated black people from civic transport seats as well as banned their entrance, except for employees, from nearly all lodges with food outlets. When permitted into lecture hall as well as theaters, black people sat in separate parts; they as well attended isolated schools. Nearly all churches, as well, got segregated (Washington 4). Rebuilding subsequent to the civil fighting caused severe problems to white primacy and isolation, particularly within the Southern part where the majority Black Americans continued to reside. The slavery abolition during 1866 after which approval of the 14th modification (1869) followed which extended nationality as well as same law protection to Black Americans moreover within decades just following the Civil fighting isolation reduced. However the chances of black people using together public transportation as well as shared housing with white people grew in the time subsequent to 1866. Black people received right to use public vehicles as well as railway transport on the basis of integration. Definitely, numerous transport corporations preferred integration since they didn’t desire a danger losing business with blacks Black American gained entrance to unified public accommodation. Enactment through Parliament of public Privileges Act (1876), which banned racial favoritism within public housing, offers proof concerning sustained existence of racism as well as the call for

Monday, October 28, 2019

Effects of Culture Shock on Communication

Effects of Culture Shock on Communication Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Summary and critical evaluation Theoretical models of culture shock and adaptation in international students in higher education An Integrated Process Model of Stereotype Threat Effects on Performance Scientific Model of Culture Shock and Intercultural Communication References Introduction For the purpose of the study, three peer-reviewed editorials have been considered from applicable scholastic journals written in the precedent five years. The content summarizes the each of the articles along with the critical impending based on the past experiences and educational training. Summary and critical evaluation Theoretical models of culture shock and adaptation in international students in higher education The editorials indicate the solitary disputes linked among conditional disgrace and the reserves desirable for performance for various diverse chores. If physiological pressure does not lessen operational remembrance instantly, at that time the augmented worry to individuals performance, or repressing unenthusiastic sensations. The predicament envisaged by individuals who are in a social context dishonored is principally insidious for the reason that it is probable to be envisaged by lots of others at some point too (Zhou, Jindal-Snape, Topping, Todman, 2008). A learner at diverse universities discovers the culture dissimilar from their personal, and should struggle with novel communal and manners, in addition to tackling with the troubles of alteration is widespread to learners. This is confused adequate if the learner is conscious of the distinctions sound in proceed, but smooth additional hard to those who are uninformed and presumes that the innovative culture functions as their domicile nation. The combined consequence of such unusual situations on enlightening explorers is normally expressed as ‘civilization shock’. There are further than a million learners and researchers learning in establishments of superior tutoring overseas (Amodio, Kubota, Harmon-Jones and Devine, 2006). The superiority of the, social learning and emotional skills of this collection is the majority significant, at any rate in encouraging international inter-enlightening thoughtful. There are lots of journalism has been anxious with learners’ adjustment dilemmas. Scholar so visitors are the best-investigated cluster of traverse-culture. Diverse studies have discovered communal and alliance arrangements, family members, communal expertise and cluster awareness’s. This piece of writing assesses the development of theories. The edition of learners in senior education is a distribution of the ‘civilization shock’ carried out by an extensive choice of civilizing explorer. Premature forms of ‘civilization shock’ were founded on medical viewpoints and paid attention on psychological wellbeing, including both pre-organizing issues and consequence of resettlement. The later forms were founded on broader enlightening, communal, and emotional theories which observed the explorer as an energetic mediator regardless of sufferer of pathology. Essential variables and interactive developments within ‘civilization learning’ social classification ‘and ‘anxiety and coping’’ features were distinguished from countless research studies. These dealt with the conducts and cognitive (facets of adjustment). They proposed a supplementary multifaceted but additional fit and influential sculpt, and propose d diverse accomplishment that was distributable on a large extent. Intercessions grown via this model were seen as being valuable. This editorial has employed the culture synergy representation to focus on the adjustment of global learners in higher schooling. Our focal point is on the equivalent/disparity of enlightening anticipations has the advantage of escorting not merely to the research impending, but in addition to insinuations for the pre- and post-egress preparation of both teachers and students that may guide to more adaptations by each. The many variables distinguished and propose conduits for assisting numerous students and their educators to recover the excellence of their general outcome. It chases the establishment-wise strategies for sustaining consciousness-raising, and showing diverse learners and their educators ought to be totally, effortlessly accessible and really employed. These concern the identical for all foundation cultures and each and every host custom. The study has focused particularly at Chinese scholars going to the UK. It appears probable that the practices of learners from diverse cultures with diverse destinations could vary. On the other hand, there is a little testimony (e.g. Redmond and Bunyi 1993) that Asian students breaking in the UK and USA face utmost divergences in cultural beliefs. For this grounds they might outline a constructive ‘intense case’ for explore diverse principles concerning scholar sojourners in common (Applehans and Luecken, 2006). An Integrated Process Model of Stereotype Threat Effects on Performance The majority of Research demonstrates that unenthusiastic typecasts can hurt the performance of human beings. A whole perceptive of the key procedures these typecast hazard which causes on performance is still missing (Schmader, Johns Forbes, 2008). The writers learn typecast risk in the circumstance of research on, self regulation, pressure, watchfulness and operational remembrance extend a development model of the way unenthusiastic stereotypes damage performance on cognitive and societal missions that necessitate managed dispensation, in addition to sensor motor missions that necessitate involuntary indulgence. The writers dispute that stereotype risk dislocates performance by means of 3 dissimilar, conversely interconnected, devices: (a) A physiological strain response that unswervingly harms pre-frontal indulgence, (b) An inclination to aggressively observe performance, and (c) Attempts to hold down unenthusiastic contemplations in the revamp of self instruction. These instruments approach mutually to put away decision-making sources desirable to carry out fine on diverse chores. The vigorous scrutinizing equipment interrupts arrangement on sensor-motor chores. The 21st century conveys with it rising assortment in, disciplines and association making it essential to appreciate how the salience of standing influences accomplishment. They have configured a mold of stereotype risk that comprises cognitive, emotional, physiological procedures to illume ultimo concluded by these diverse conduits. As portrayed, this form has the potential to clarify a diversity of experiences varying from minorities and females who have executed not as much in convinced educational grounds. Inter-cultural interfaces are over and over again qualified as scratchy. Even though someone can be acquainted with how the procedures summarized in the form on the other hand it is largely for those who contend with unenthusiastic stereotypes regarding their force. Scientific Model of Culture Shock and Intercultural Communication The motive of this piece of writing has been to discharge the kind of we view as a relatively functional suggestion for indulgent characteristics of relocation of scholars to overseas nations and disclose its technical consequences there are additional extensively recognized theories in this editorial we have disputed in advancing psychology. We know, this is actually probable (Abe, Talbot Geelhoed, 1998). Culture distress is a well-designed conception, however it is not impressive you ‘get over’ by your possess employments. It is a comprehensible procedure, reassuring with their technical information. In the increasing era of Intercultural Communication, academics must comprehend the significance of genetics in the manner sojourners contradict with inhabitants and the way they respond to latest surroundings (Ambady and Gray, 2002). Or else, the entire obedience may turn out to be an additional unempirical development that will take scholars remote from the accuracy. To keep away from this, we have to endorse a debate amid intercultural announcement and discipline. The editorial inspects the ‘civilization shock’ form by the way of systematic theories of behaviour. It will dispute that at the same time as culture shock is construct on equally civilizing determinist in addition to civilizing relativist support, it is principally empirically accurate. Conversely, it needs to be delivered reassuring Culture shock is in addition established to be in conformity with technical performance research. My individual understanding discovers that English verbal communication is one of the principal barricades for global learners in Australia. The speech barriers debarred Asian scholars from communicating with professors and other scholars. It is not easy for worldwide students in Australia building verbal presentations, captivating tests, articulating themselves in English. References Abe, J., D.M. Talbot, and R.J. Geelhoed. (1998). Effects of a peer program on international student adjustment. Journal of College Student Development 39: 539–47.  www.researchgate.net/publication//3deec528ba8c1ab3a1.pdf Ambady N, Gray HM. (2002). On being sad and mistaken: Mood effects on the accuracy of thin-slice judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ;83:947–961. [PubMed: 12374446] Amodio DM, Kubota JT, Harmon-Jones E, Devine PG. (2006). Alternative mechanisms for regulating racial responses according to internal vs. external cues. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience;1:26–36. Applehans BM Luecken LJ. (2006). Attentional processes, anxiety, and the regulation of cortisol reactivity. Anxiety, Stress Coping: An International Journal ;19:81–92. Schmader, T., Johns, M., Forbes, C. (2008). An integrated process model of stereotype threat effects on performance. Psychological review, 115(2), 336.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2570773pdf=render Zhou, Y., Jindal-Snape, D., Topping, K., Todman, J. (2008). Theoretical models of culture shock and adaptation in international students in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 33(1), 63-75  http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03075070701794833

Friday, October 25, 2019

Geothermal Energy: The Alternative of the Future Essay -- Economy Tech

Geothermal Energy: The Alternative of the Future When the energy crisis hit Americans in the 1970's, people were scrambling to find ways to conserve energy. The crisis brought to attention the very real shortage of fossil fuels. Gas and oil prices skyrocketed, and Americans looked for ways to save energy. They started producing smaller cars, driving less, and turning down their thermostats. Also, they started to examine alternate energy sources, such as solar, geothermal, and biomass. For a while, Americans were making a conscious effort to cut back on the use of fossil fuels. However, when gas and oil prices started to go back down in the early eighties, many of the conservation ideas were forgotten. In the minds of most Americans, the energy crisis had been solved because they could now afford to use fossil fuels again. Looking into the next century, we can see energy shortage problems starting to resurface. The possibility of another energy crisis is very real; however, this one will be different. It will not be a matter of fossil fuels being too expensive, it will be a matter of fossil fuels no longer being a resource. Our gas-powered cars, factories, and heating systems are using fossil fuels much faster than the dinosaurs are turning to coal. The way things are going now, we won't make it through the next century before running out of our fossil fuels. The problems with fossil fuels go beyond their rapid depletion. The pollution from burning fossil fuels is really taking a toll on the environmentand the atmosphere. Factories in the United States spend millions of dollars on filtration systems to try and cut down on the amount of harmful emissions, yet the environment just isn't getting better. Converting fossil f... ...[WWW]. Available: http://eren.doe.gov/geothermal/gep.htm. Geothermal energy will fill energy gap. (1998, October 6). First Search. Online. Fast DOC Geothermal Energy Technical Site. (1998, November 12). [WWW]. Available: http://geothermal.id.doe.gov/goethermal/faq/q01.html Geothermal heat increases our energy supply. (1998, October 27). [WWW]. Available: http://www.crest.org/renewables/geothermal/grc/supply.html Geothermal technologies. (1998, October 13). US Department of Energy, 1-6. Available: http://www.eren.doe.gov/geothermal/history.html Graham-Rowe, Duncan. (1998, October 6). Resources: Energy: Deep down at the earth's core. Academic Universe. Online. Mclarty, L., & Reed, M.J., (November 15 1998). The U.S. geothermal industry: Three decades of growth. [WWW]. Available: http://geothermal.id.doe.gov/geothermal/articles/mclarty/index.html

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Psychology Coursework Essay

We have studied various aspects of organization, its structure, strategy, effectiveness, changes and other aspects. Study of organizations by psychologists has attained much importance in recent times. The broad study includes perception, attitudes, motivation, and interpersonal relationships among members. Every organization is a group of members working towards a common goal. Every organisation has a structure and purpose. It may be a social, political, or a commercial organisation or one for any other purpose. Psychologists ‘research in this field assumes much importance so that suggestions can be ade and implemented for obtaining the optimum results . Several theories are proposed with regard to organizations. M L Blum states that group theory views that associations and human affiliations are primary work motivators in a group. He states that the degree of cooperation in a primary group is critical for its success. So we find that all the members’ contribution go to achieve the goal. So it is essential that each member is properly motivated. Regarding the question put forth about the factors inhibiting or supporting performance,  It can be said that a person could have achieved one part of his target but might have not achieved in another of the same task. The major reason for achieving could be motivation. Among the various factors which go to contribute to achievement , motivation has the great role. The very formation of a group brings in motivation in its members. Clifford T Morgan puts in that motivations are inferences from behaviour. We can never observe motivation but can infer their existence. Motivation ,according to him is a powerful tool for explaining behaviour. Incentive motivation like wages, bonus play a major role in the group work. A member has to be motivated according to his needs. It makes common sense to say that When a person’s needs are taken care of, his performance would increase. Various studies have shown that a person may have upto thirty seven needs. Anyway they can be classified into biological and socio psychological needs. The first one is about his body’s necessities like food, nutrition, rest and so on. The next one is about security, freedom, care, recognition, approval , self respect and so on. It can be safely deducted that any achievement or non achievement can be attributed to the above causes. As an Industrial psychologist, his role would be to ensure that all or atleast most of the motivations are taken care of. This would bring in the best results. Having studied the lesson , we have gained in depth knowledge about the various dimensions about groups. The author goes in detail about the need for changes in groups that is, introduction of new ideas or behaviour due to current technological; changes, global competition and so on. It is suggested in many experiments that resistance would occur for adopting any changes. This can be measured by survey feed backs. The most mportant factor making implementation difficult would be insecure feeling among members particularly if the group is one of working group. It may be a fear of losing jobs or fear of inability to cope with the new methods of work. Let us now take the example of failure to perceive benefits stated in the Lesson. as a reason for resistance for changes. This failure is due to lack of information about the changes. The member is unaware of the reasons or the mode of changes. So communication is essential from the highest level to the lowest level and vice versa. The changes proposed have to be iscussed and analysed with all the members . Their views heard and clarified and convinced. . This gives them the feeling of importance. This again goes on to motivate the member. David G Myers emphasizes the need for group discussions where ideas are pooled and discussed jointly. Just hearing to a person’s arguments is of no use. Active participation brings in better attitude change than merely listening passively. Again ,this may bring in more resistance arguments but a thorough debate with proper information will ultimately result in the members understanding the benefits of the change and being convinced . The industrial psychologist has to see that the members are given assurance of their benefits and all apprehensions removed. Let us now imagine what a person would talk to the CEO if just a few minutes are at his disposal. An Assistant Regional Sales Manager would probably assure the CEO on the lines that his department would welcome changes . He would be keen on impressing the CEO in the short time. He would even go to suggest ignoring resistance and going ahead with changes. He would not miss to suggest a salary hike to all along with changes , which would be beneficial to the organization.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Philosophy of Health Education

The world that we know today has come a long way since the 1900’s. If we think about the number of philosophers and psychologists that have made discoveries and hypothesis about the things around them in connection with their ideals, principals and values, we can all clearly explain that the world is ever changing as a result of holistic approaches and expression of intelligence. With this being said, it is with certainty that I believe in the idealism philosophy. Life is about knowledge. Life encompasses internal meaning and spiritual reality. Humans exhibit this knowledge through internal thoughts of the world around them. All humans are born with an inner-good. The inner good can take something so ordinary and boring and turn it into spectacular ideals. In life, it is important to hold values, education, spirituality and creativity in the highest regard. The most valuable of these characteristics is that of education and spirituality. Holding these two characteristics of utmost importance can enable in human being to think outside the box of life itself and make all things possible. With education, one can learn and collectively approach life with understanding and competence. With spirituality, one can connect themselves with something with bigger meaning and create values. I believe that seeing everything in this world as something more than what it is in plain sight creates an attitude and understanding that is so powerful and meaningful that nothing can stop you. I believe that knowledge is the most powerful weapon in the world. Holding this near and dear to my heart I believe that anything is possible and there is nothing or no one that can stop you from learning and believing. The purpose of life is to gain knowledge and turn that knowledge into something extraordinary. It is about letting our minds take control and create something new. Life is meant to be about discovery and meaningful experiences especially with the people around us. In relation to my personal philosophy of life, health is very similar. Dictionary. com defines health as, â€Å"the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: good health; poor health†. In my own words and thoughts, I think a large portion of health encompasses a certain emphasis on the mind and well being as a result of good mental health. This is all made possible though health education. However, health education does have to include all dimensions of wellness; emotional, occupational, physical, spiritual, intellectual and social. With this knowledge of health and utilizing all six dimensions of wellness each individual can successfully place their self on the wellness continuum. The wellness continuum is very simple. When you have signs or symptoms of bad health, you are placed on the side of bad health with a treatment plan. However, if you are aware of your health, continue your education on your health and look forward to growth, you are placed on the good health side. It all begins with health education; a learning opportunity to see the dangers one can face that can negatively affect their health and the positive choices one can make that can prolong their life expectancy. The purpose of health is self promotion, well-being. Health is a life of knowledge, spiritual and social connections intertwined with well being that creates a long, prosperous journey. Health education in my own words is the knowledge about personal well-being, physically, mentally and socially that encompasses a number of philosophies to truly exhibit understanding. The predominate health education philosophies are behavior change, cognitive-based, decision-making, freeing and functioning and social change. All five of these philosophies should closely be tied into health education. Wikipedia defines health education as â€Å"the profession of educating people about health. [1] Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health. 2] It can be defined as the principle by which individuals and groups of people learn to behave in a manner conducive to the promotion, maintenance, or restoration of health†. Being an idealist, with an emphasis on knowledge and the mind, I think health education is of major importance. Giving people the knowledge about good health, best practices and an understanding of why it is so important to take care of ourselves is of significant importance. With this knowledge of health education, people are able to ration ally think about the choices they make that can affect their health, good or bad. The benefits of health education are endless. People living longer, healthier, happier lives are just one of many benefits of health education. In my mind, especially as an idealist, there are no limitations to health education. Our minds are endless when it comes to creativity and with that being said; there is nothing that cannot be solved using a little creativity and healthy thinking power. However, this is only possible when we carry out all aspects of health education, from understanding and teaching the back lying hilosophies, to the predominate health education philosophies and the dimensions of wellness and everything they encompass can this take place. When society meets the ongoing goals and objectives facing health issues now and creates new goals and objectives, we know that we are achieving positive health education. Health education is ever changing and new health issues are always arising; it is overcoming these issues and setting out a template to take on the next is sues that keep our society moving in the right direction towards positive health. The purpose of health education is to promote positive life experiences, touching all dimensions of wellness. Health education creates healthy people who in return create healthy communities that stand together and fight for healthier lifestyles. A person is well educated if health education when they can describe what health is by notion of philosophies and all aspects of life that health effects. This person can also describe current health issues and can create a solution to help fix the heath issues. References Cohen, LeoNora M. 1999). Section III- Philosophical Perspectives in Education. OSU- School of Education, Section II.Retrieved from http://oregonstate. edu/instruct/ed416/ PP2. html Six Dimensions of Wellness Model (2011). National Wellness Institute.Retrieved from http://www. nationalwellness. org/index. php? id_tier=2&id_c=25 Works Cited Health Education. (2011). WikipediaRetrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org /wiki/Health_education Health. (2011). Dictionary. com. Retr ieved from http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/health

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

buy custom Brand Architecture essay

buy custom Brand Architecture essay Conclusion: The brand architecture research is based on the need to have global uniformity on the brand made. Though these brands may have different pricing due to economics of the given countries, there is a reason to fit in the international market. This therefore ensures that the brand which has reached the international level has been well established in the market and therefore becomes an international brand. To ensure the reputation of the brand internationally, the marketing of the brand has to meet the need in the society that use the brand and convince them on the importance of the need to use it. Quality, if the product becomes a major challenge when the brand has to have an international recognition. As a major objective to reach the international market the local and global coverage of the product sold has to be attained in all aspects of marketing (Petromilli et al, 2002). Right brand architecture is therefore very necessary to alleviate the profitability of the company and lower its costs in marketing investment. As asserted by (Rajagopal and Sanche, 2004, p. 235) that the conventional strategies of brand architecture have been developed to reference to equity charter, leverages and brand profitability. The international market has the need to have different brands to cater for the different tastes as preferred by different consumers those who are interested in the brand (Scavarda et al, 2010). Generally, different beverage industries manage the global mrketing of their brands due to the reason that; within different geographical locations the users of the brand have different tastes and thus they maximize on the taste and preferences of the different brands for different consumers. Also, to ensure proper brand improvement on the global market the way of naming the brands and the labeling should be set to fit the environment and the likes of the users of the brand. Problems may arise related to the international sales of the brand if a company decides to partner with another company. This sometimes may lead to fight between partners. If one partner becomes untrustworthy and may decide to sell a different product with the same brand name and this in turn may tarnish the company reputation (Pierce Moukanas, 2002). If in any case the there is partnership collision on business one partner may decide to deceive the quality of the product and thus making it a global issue to undo the damage. Brand marketing becomes very crucial at this level if the partners cannot withstand the competition and this can lead to the company terminating that project. On the other hand, when the architecture of the brand hits the international market its for the companys merit. This ensures profit maximization in the long run and the business is stabilized (Kirby Kent, 2010). Company Brand Architecture as strategy Many companies have used the brand architecture to ensure international market coverage. Companies like Coca cola have usedd this strategy and it has really worked. In most cases, the consumers rely on the popularity of the product hence corporate brand is carried among other brands that the company is promoting. Therefore, its important for companies to use this strategy when planning to go global and maximize on the profits. Brand partnership can be very important when it comes the selling of the product in different sections of the international market (Chailan, 2009). This helps in reaching the interior markets thus ensuring higher sales and profit maximization. Summing it up, the effectiveness of brand architecture in the international market greatly depends on the quality of brands and not on quantity. Reducing the number of brands will help to augment the quality of the said product. Adaptation of beverage industries in different geographical locations is therefore necessary with due consideration to the fact the each geographical location have varied tastes as well as in demand products. This simply means that different strategies and recommendation must be in accordance to the applicability of brand architecture and partnership in international marketing. The concept of brand architecture seeks to create the best view of the companys brands from the perspective of the marketplace(Osleer, R., 2003, p. 438). Brand architecture is therefore the core pillar of marketing hence proper monitoring of the events involved in the brand architecture must be given preference with appropriate strategic plans. Buy custom Brand Architecture essay

Monday, October 21, 2019

Four Star Motorsports-Pricing Essays

Four Star Motorsports-Pricing Essays Four Star Motorsports-Pricing Paper Four Star Motorsports-Pricing Paper Deliverable 3- Four Star Motorsports Course: 07360, Pricing Strategy - Student: Jing Wang, Yu-Wen Chu * Using regression, estimate the demand curves for each type of tire in each type of demand season (low, medium, high). I recommend that you use Excel to do the regressions. (Note: demand for the two sizes of tire are independent from one another). Yokohama Winter Rally Tire Demand Curve | WR 26 155/65R13| WR 26 185/65R14| Normal Demand| Q=106. 4-0. 544P| Q=104. 8-0. 448P| High Demand| Q=86. 28571-0. 33143P| Q=94. 714-0. 3314P| Low Demand| Q=155. 2-0. 704P| Q=132. 8-0. 704*P| * What is the optimal â€Å"one-price† policy for Sprongl’s rally tires if he sticks with his â€Å"base prices† for the entire year? (Assume his goal is to have no residual inventory and to maximize total revenue). Tire Type| WR 26155/65R13| WR 26185/65R14| Inventory| 280| 265| | | | Price| $150. 82| 159. 8190703| | | | Period 1| 49. 02| 20. 29| Period 2| 24. 35| 33. 20| Period 3| 36. 30| 4 1. 61| Period 4| 24. 35| 33. 20| Period 5| 36. 30| 41. 61| Period 6| 24. 35| 33. 20| Period 7| 36. 30| 41. 61| Period 8| 49. 2| 20. 29| | | | Demand| $280. 00| 265. 00| | | | | | | Revenue| $42,229. 98| $42,352. 05| * If Sprongl elects to use â€Å"dynamic pricing† by changing prices for each tire in each season, what are the optimal prices if his estimated demand curves are estimated correctly? (Note: there is no global optimum solution for this in Solver but several â€Å"local optima† that are similar. I recommend that you calculate the optimum pricing for each tire separately, and then sum the total revenue from each). * What are the pros and cons of fixed and dynamic pricing in this situation? Explain your reasoning. Fixed pricing: Pros: 1. Fixed pricing establishes optimal â€Å"one-price† policy for Sprongl’s two different rally tires. There will be neither haggling nor competition from other period’s price. 2. There will be no arbitrage so that Four Star Sports can easily predict and monitor the inventory. Cons: Resulting either in money left on the table or lost sales Dynamic Pricing: Pros: http://news. wustl. edu/news/Pages/4382. aspx http://smallbusiness. chron. com/dynamic-pricing-strategy-5117. html http://faculty. insead. du/popescu/ioana/Papers/PopescuWu. pdf meiss. com/download/RM-Maglaras-Meissner. pdf 1. Dynamic pricing strategy enables Four Star Motorsports maximize the profit margin and maximize the revenue from *** to *** Cons: 2. The dynamic pricing needs comprehensive data and testing to work well, in this case, we only had very limited data to find our dynamic pricing strategy, which might not reflect the true demand curve. 3. It al so requires advances in point-of-sale technology and widespread adoption of electronic labels for inventory management. : This may increase the cost dramatically. Considering Four Star Sports is a family business, and their revenue may not be high enough to support this expense on new technology. 4. Customers might feel unfair that the same products are charged at different prices. 5. The dynamic pricing may lead to arbitrage, customers with high price elasticity may shift to the low price period to purchase the rally tires; On the other hand some smart people may purchase more than they need during the low price period then to sell at high price period. These will change the demand curve and the competition environment dramatically and influence the inventory management. 6. Dynamic pricing strategy suits frequent purchased consumer goods market better, because the customers’ purchase decisions are heavily influenced by the past observed price. In this case, customer may not purchase rally tires very often, thus the history price has less influence on their decision making.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

6 Steps for Self-Discipline When You Study

6 Steps for Self-Discipline When You Study Have you ever heard the quote, Self-discipline is the difference between choosing what you want now and choosing what you want most? Its a quote that tons of people in the business world follow religiously in order to get exactly what they most desire from their companies. Its a theory that many people use to get themselves out of bed to get to the gym before going to work. Its a mantra that athletes use to do that last set of squats, even though their legs are burning and they want nothing more than to quit. But its message of endurance and self-denial is perfect for those students looking to gain an edge on their competition by acing the ACT in order to get into the college or university of their dreams or those students who simply want to score their highest on their midterm or final exams.   Why Self-Discipline Is Important According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of self-discipline is the  correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement. This definition implies that certain regulation or stopping of ourselves from certain behaviors is important if we are going to improve in some way. If we are relating this to studying, it means that we need to stop doing certain things or start doing certain things while studying in order to get the positive results we crave. Regulating ourselves in this way is incredibly important because it can build self-esteem. When we achieve the goals we set for ourselves, we get a boost of confidence which can improve many aspects of our lives. How to Have Self-Discipline When You Study Step 1: Remove Temptations Self-discipline is the easiest when things that distract you from your studies are out of sight, out of earshot, and out the window, if necessary. If you find yourself tempted by external distractions like your cell phone, then by all means, turn the thing completely off. Nothing is going to happen in the 45 minutes that you are going to sit down to study (more on that in a minute) that cannot wait until you have a scheduled break. Also, take the time to remove the clutter from your study area if clutter makes you crazy. Unpaid bills, notes to yourself of things you need to accomplish, letters or even pictures can pull your focus off your studies and into places it does not belong when you are trying to learn how to write a stellar essay for the Enhanced ACT test. Step 2: Eat Brain Food Before You Begin Studies have shown that when we are  exercising willpower (another word for self-discipline), our  mental energy tanks slowly get  emptied. Forcing ourselves to give up what we want in the now for what we want later physically zaps our reserves of glucose, which is the brains favorite fuel. This is why  when we are sitting diligently ignoring our cell phones and pushing back our need  to check Instagram, we are more likely to head to the pantry for a chocolate chip cookie than we would be if we were not practicing self-discipline at all. So, before we ever sit down to study, we need to be sure to indulge in some brain foods like scrambled eggs, a little bit of dark chocolate, maybe even a jolt of caffeine to make sure that our glucose is steady enough to NOT drive us away from the learning were trying to do. Step 3: Do Away With Perfect Timing There is never a perfect time to begin studying for your test. The more time you give yourself the better off you will be, but if you sit around and wait for the  perfect  moment to start studying, you will be waiting for the rest of your  life. There will  always  be something more important than reviewing the SAT Mathematics test questions. Your friends will beg you to go out to the movies to see the final showing of the seasons top film. Your family members will need to be driven on errands or your parents will need you to finish cleaning your room. If you wait until everything is just right- when everything else is accomplished and you feel  great  - you will never find the time to study. Step 4: Ask Yourself If I Had to, Could I? Imagine that you are sitting at your desk. Behind you is an intruder with a weapon pointed at your head. If the only thing between life and saying goodbye to the world as you know it was studying for the next several hours (with scheduled breaks), could you do it? Of course, you could!  Nothing in the world would mean more than your life at that moment. So, if you could do it then- drop everything and give studying everything you have in you- then you can do it in the safety of your own bedroom or library when the stakes arent quite that high. Its all about mental strength. Give yourself a pep-talk. Tell yourself, I have to do this. Everything depends on it. Sometimes, imagining a real life-death scenario works when youre staring at 37 pages of differential equations. Step 4: Give Yourself a Break And by giving yourself a break, we definitely dont mean abandoning all self-discipline and settling down in front of the TV. Schedule mini-breaks into your study session strategically. Set a watch or timer (not the phone - thats turned off) for 45 minutes. Then, force yourself to study for those 45 minutes, making sure that nothing interferes with your work. Then, at 45 minutes, take a scheduled 5- to 7-minute break. Use the bathroom, stretch your legs, grab some brain food, reorganize, and get back at it when the break is over. Step 5: Give Yourself Rewards Sometimes the answer to being self-disciplined lies in the quality of the reward you give yourself for exercising willpower. For many people, the practice of self-discipline is a reward in and of itself. For others, especially those who are just trying to learn to have some willpower when studying, you will need something a little more tangible. So, set up a reward system. Set your timer. Practice studying for that final  for 20 minutes with no interruptions. If youve made it that far, then give yourself a point. Then, after a short break, do it again. If you make it another 20 minutes, give yourself another point. Once youve accumulated three points- you have managed to study for a full hour without surrendering to distractions- you get your reward. Perhaps its a Starbucks latte, one episode of Seinfeld, or even just the luxury of getting onto social media for a few minutes. Make the reward worth it and withhold the reward until youve met your goal! Step 6: Start Small Self-discipline is not a natural thing. Sure. Some people are more self-disciplined than others. They have the rare ability to say no to themselves when they want to say yes. What you need to remember, however, is that self-discipline is a learned skill. Just like the ability to make a perfect free-throw with a high percentage of accuracy  only comes after hours and hours on the court, self-discipline comes from the repeated exercise of willpower. Dr. Anders Ericsson, a Florida State University psychologist says that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something, but â€Å"You don’t get benefits from mechanical repetition, but by adjusting your execution over and over to get closer to your goal. You have to tweak the system by pushing,† he adds, â€Å"allowing for more errors at first as you increase your limits.† So, if you truly want to become an expert at having self-discipline while studying, you not only have to practice the skill, you have to start small, especially if you repeatedly give in to what you want now instead of waiting for what you want most. Start by forcing yourself to study (I have to style) for just 10 straight minutes with 5-minute breaks in between. Then, once that becomes relatively easy, shoot for fifteen minutes. Keep increasing the time you manage self-discipline until you are able to focus for the full 45 minutes. Then, reward yourself with something and get back at it.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Hantavirus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hantavirus - Essay Example The N protein that introduces the virus into the cytoplasm of the healthy human cell (Mir, 2010). The N protein of the virus associates itself with the L protein of the human host and produce â€Å"capped primers† or nucleocapsids, which can initiate transcription of the viral mRNAs upon invasion of the healthy human cell. Meanwhile, the glycoproteins G1 and G2 are transported to the Golgi bodies from the ER. Once the nucleocapsids interact with the glycoproteins, hantavirions are formed and are released out of the cell through exocytosis (â€Å"Virology,† CDC, 2011). Once the virions are out of the plasma membrane, the symptoms of HFRS or HPS begin showing. The replication of the hantavirus occurs in the macrophages and vascular endothelial cells of the human lungs and kidneys (Muranyi et al., 2005). However, symptoms do not show until the replication process of a particular number of virions are finished and until these virions are released out of the plasma membrane to infect other cells. The endothelial cells of the lungs and kidneys are the main target cells of the virus. The endothelial cells are responsible for various physiologic functions of the body such as the regulation of edema, vascular repair and gas exchange (Mackow & Gavrilovskaya, 2009). Therefore, it simply follows that someone who is infected with hantavirus will have problems with these physiologic functions. The young man in the case study exhibited shortness of breath and labored and rapid breathing because the hantavirus has already invaded the endothelial cells of his lungs, which are responsible for gas exchange. Thus, the physiological ability of his lungs to handle gas exchange is impaired. According to Mir (2010), the hantavirus also infects mature and immature dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are actually responsible for capturing antigens and inducing a primary immune response among T lymphocytes (Wieder, 2003). However, the hantavirus uses

What are the main features of British conservatism Essay - 2

What are the main features of British conservatism - Essay Example In chorus, the ideology of a well- established central governing authority that was proposed by early traditional conservatives became an important aspect of the liberal mind. Secondly, there exists an internal heterogeneity in the political philosophy of conservatism that entails a number of aspects but is summarized under one feature that is the stabilization and justification of strong social structures. Those that bear the ideology of conservatism are the social groups and classes that concentrate on preserving the customary social order or its establishment. There are two philosophical formations in the structure of conservatism. One focuses on the opposing political trends and forces while the other focuses on preservation of the social structure in its original form. In this situation conservatism is a political philosophy that justifies the present order and appeal to the lost (Clarke, 1996:18). Various directions of conservatism share common features. For instance, the existence of well- established social structures and institutions, recognition of global morals and religious beliefs, belief in the natural equality of men, the flawed human nature and the limited capabilities of the human mind. Many individuals consider British conservatism as a British national characteristic that is likened to everything English. Conservatism is characterized by the highest expression and perfection and it is basically a conventional political ideology in Britain. The English parliament is known to have come up with a number of political definitions such as the popular difference between right and left (Clarke, 1996:78). British conservatism understands that human nature is imperfect for political institutions and is implemented in the following important approaches. Firstly, the mentality of conservatism is the same as that of traditionalism. Secondly, preference of incremental is radical changes.

Friday, October 18, 2019

International Advertising WPP's Digital Push Essay

International Advertising WPP's Digital Push - Essay Example In order to ensure sustenance in today's globalized scenario, the advertising industries need to redesign, reframe and refurbish their approach to the overall concept of advertising. The competition in the contemporary advertising industry is not so much about scoring over one's rivals, but more about assuring a timely transition from traditional business models to E-business models. 1. Survival in the Contemporary Advertising Scenario is a Fast-paced and Perpetual Process: The traditional advertising business was more of a predictable and a relatively lethargic system that resorted to and adapted to change at a slow pace. However, the contemporary advertising industry being dependent on internet and information technology is a perpetually evolving and a continually altering business. The advertising professionals ought to be always on their toes to benefit from and incorporate the upcoming opportunities unleashed by technological changes. 2. 2. Resistance to Change is Death: Considering the ongoing shift towards online approaches, the advertising professionals need to embrace digital technology as not one another option, but the ultimate way the businesses will conduct themselves. This calls for a marked shift in the mindset and individual perceptions. With a bulk of revenues coming from Web marketing, resistance to change means a sure death. 3. Don't Expect Well Defined and Clear Cut Adversaries and Friends: The digitalized advertising industry of today is not a battle ground, but a global market that requires an amorphous approach that can make way for a simultaneous collaboration and competition between the key players, based on the identification of opportunities and ensuing challenges (Steel 2009). 4. Do not Expect Ignorant Customers: The contemporary advertising industry will have to grapple with the customers who are well informed and cognizant of their requirements. The customers today are immaculately choosy about the advertising solutions that can serve their needs. 5. Synergy is the Name of the Game: Big advertising companies should visualize themselves as a fluid talent pool that can exploit the abilities and resources scattered across the organizations to assemble compatible and seamless virtual teams (Koncept Analytics 2007). 6. Do Not Worry About who Gets the Credit: A digitalized advertising industry is an amorphous and faceless business in which individual organizations and personalities are always less important then the challenges being faced and the ensuing solutions. An unrestrained quest for recognition may make the system rigid and unresponsive. 7. Never Get Satisfied: In a market defined by change and innovation, satisfaction and complacence means deterioration, at least in a relative sense. Always keep an eye on the emerging changes, and in fact visualize and expect the things to change. 8. Vision is a Must: A thorough vision of the nature of things to come and panache for imagination and

Character analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Character analysis - Essay Example Despite the apparent similarities, these characters exhibit differences in expressing their loneliness: Laura resorted to collecting glass figurines, termed by her mother as glass menagerie; while Tom frequents the movie every night to get out of the apartment and avoid having to converse with his mother. As noted, Tom and Laura, both being victims of a life without their father seemed to be living a lonely and recluse life. Since their father allegedly left them a long time ago, both children must have to contend with living with their mother who could have been devastated when their father left them. The result was the feeling of being trapped in their lives where Tom had to resort to being the breadwinner for the family and supporting both his mother and his sister. The feeling of wanting to escape from the challenges and difficulties of life led to both characters finding ways to relieve their miseries and venge on other outlets such as watching movies night after night (for Tom) and collecting glass figurines (for Laura). The movies seemed the perfect outlet for Tom to venture into lives of actors and actresses who get to portray different roles and go to different places – a life he apparently longs for; but could not achieve. On the other hand, Laura’s form of escape was different from Tom since she had been afflicted with a disability when she was young and could not move freely without a brace. This situation is also perceived as a form of being trapped in the situation she currently is and the only way to get her mind off from this misery was through collecting glass figurines: fagile, beautiful, transparent, and as she described the unicorn, she averred that â€Å"hold him over the light. He loves the light! You see how the light shines through him?† (Willams 779). Her collections seem to mirror her traits: fragile, beautiful, but cold and detached. As emphasized, Laura is â€Å"so shy that she finds ordinary human relationships almost unbearable, she is totally unequipped for the romantic role in which her mother has cast her. She takes refuge among her glass figurines, the â€Å"glass menagerie† that is the symbol of her fragility and her retreat from reality† (The Glass Menagerie par. 3). Another point of similarity is their deceptiveness to their mother. Laura was thought to still be enrolled in a business school by her mother; only to be found out that she has dropped out of school, Her inability to explain the fact that she could not continue pursuing the program that her mother advised her to take, led to the deception. When discovered, it was already about six months that she had been trying to go out every day supposedly to attend her classes; but instead, she allegedly stayed in the park or engaged in other activities. Tom, on the other hand, was likewise confronted by her mother, who also believed that he was likewise deceiving her. His excuse for going out every night was to go to the movies. Her mother could not comprehend how he could do that time and again without fail and took him considerable lengths of time. These moves and behavior exhibited their inability to confront their mother and tell her the truth about their own feelings and what their hopes, dreams, and plans in life are. Both characters have inner secrets which they could not reveal to their

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Agency theory linked to management accounting Essay

Agency theory linked to management accounting - Essay Example The behavioural premise of the innovative financial-economic theory is based contradict to the thoughts of trustiness, faithfulness, loyalty, stewardship, and care for others that motivate the conventional principal-agent association. The conventional conception of agency is established on ethical measures. But the theory in the conventional sense is not possible as human beings are rational maximizers. Duska (1992) elucidates as: "To do something for another in a system geared to maximize self-interest is foolish. Such an answer, though, points out an inconsistency at the heart of the system, for a system that has rules requiring agents to look out for others while encouraging individuals to look out only for themselves, destroys the practice of looking out for others"Another point of view is that as individual rewards are openly connected to individual venture efficiency than collective rewards managers prefer individual motivation allocation (Hayes, 1976).Agency theory accepts tha t employees and employers have diverse ends, behave in a self-interested way, and are eager to presume altering points of risk. In this paper, a review of how incentive remuneration plans can help create a commonality of interest between the two groups is examined.The agency theory presumes that the agent and the principal are self-interested and try to make the most of their gains in their relationship. A simple instance is the case of a store manager who acts as an agent of the owner. The store manager desires for as much rewards for his work as possible that too for as little work as feasible. But at the same time the store owner would look for the manager to work the maximum for a very little pay as possible. This premise drops the themes of honesty and commitment from the agency association as their inappropriateness with the basic theory of balanced maximization. According to DeGeorge (1992) "The job of agency theory is to help devise techniques for describing the conflict inh erent in the principal-agent relationship and controlling the situations so that the agent, acting out of self-interest, does as little harm as possible to the principal's interest". In reality management accounting study has an extended past of researching how incentives sway behaviour (Luft & Shields 2003; Bonner & Sprinkle 2002; and Young & Lewis 1995). Organisations have from a very long time made use of incentives as a means for adjusting the involvements of managers and of employees with the interests of the firm and its shareholders. For instance, in the 1980s, CEO Roger Smith brought in operation dependent pay to the line workers at GM. Thus when GM was doing well, the workers also was doing well (Business Week, 1900). One primary anxiety for managers who want to stimulate their workers is how to allocate financial motivators among team members(Ramaswami & Singh, 2003). Particularly, managers have to settle on, amid other things, (1) How much contingent dependent remuneration should be (2) How financial inducements should be allotted among the workers. The sharing of performance payoffs is mainly motivating and brings forth much academic dispute about suitable allotment rules (Meindl, 1989). Incentive Plans Performance plans extend the managers' verdict sphere by rewarding them on the attainment of some accounting-based events over a period running from three to six years instead of current annual performance (Kumar and Sopariwala, 1992; Enis, 1993). Actually plans based on performance are of two types: performance unit plan or performance share plan. Healy & Wahlen (1999) stated that market anticipations, management reward and rigid interference were the principal components attractive earnings management. Fields et al (2001, p. 260) states that "when managers exercise their discretion over the accounting numbers with or without restrictions". In reality managers or agents are motivated to maximise the firm's value

Gluten free diet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gluten free diet - Essay Example The gluten containing substances should be known for sure because common food items that we consume in our everyday life which include pizza, pasta, sauces, cakes, cookies, soups and candies might also contain gluten. Certain sauces as well as wafers and chips are also known to contain gluten. Hence it is essential that before these items are consumed it should be checked if they are gluten free or not. This care should also be taken in the case of certain medications because vitamin supplements and medicines are also known to contain this substance gluten. To assist people in finding the appropriate food items for themselves the American Dietetic Association provided the names of items which were free from gluten. These include rice, potatoes, corn and nuts. It is also known that fruits and green vegetables are free from gluten. To further assist in this process the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) in the United States was created in the year 2006. This ac t required the food processing companies to clearly mention the name of allergens on the bottles so that the consumer might be sure about the presence of gluten. The disease states in which a strict gluten free diet is recommended are known as celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. It is also known that for children who suffer from autism it is helpful to recommend a gluten free diet for them. Celiac disease results due to the disturbances that occur in the intestine when gluten comes in contact with the lining. It leads to the initiation of an inflammatory process which damages the lining of the intestine and hence results in poor absorption form the small intestine. The patient complains of symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract which include pain in the abdomen, vomiting, constipation and weight loss. In long standing cases the patient develops anemia which results due to the deficiency of anemia. Dermatitis herpetiformis are skin lesions that occur with or

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Agency theory linked to management accounting Essay

Agency theory linked to management accounting - Essay Example The behavioural premise of the innovative financial-economic theory is based contradict to the thoughts of trustiness, faithfulness, loyalty, stewardship, and care for others that motivate the conventional principal-agent association. The conventional conception of agency is established on ethical measures. But the theory in the conventional sense is not possible as human beings are rational maximizers. Duska (1992) elucidates as: "To do something for another in a system geared to maximize self-interest is foolish. Such an answer, though, points out an inconsistency at the heart of the system, for a system that has rules requiring agents to look out for others while encouraging individuals to look out only for themselves, destroys the practice of looking out for others"Another point of view is that as individual rewards are openly connected to individual venture efficiency than collective rewards managers prefer individual motivation allocation (Hayes, 1976).Agency theory accepts tha t employees and employers have diverse ends, behave in a self-interested way, and are eager to presume altering points of risk. In this paper, a review of how incentive remuneration plans can help create a commonality of interest between the two groups is examined.The agency theory presumes that the agent and the principal are self-interested and try to make the most of their gains in their relationship. A simple instance is the case of a store manager who acts as an agent of the owner. The store manager desires for as much rewards for his work as possible that too for as little work as feasible. But at the same time the store owner would look for the manager to work the maximum for a very little pay as possible. This premise drops the themes of honesty and commitment from the agency association as their inappropriateness with the basic theory of balanced maximization. According to DeGeorge (1992) "The job of agency theory is to help devise techniques for describing the conflict inh erent in the principal-agent relationship and controlling the situations so that the agent, acting out of self-interest, does as little harm as possible to the principal's interest". In reality management accounting study has an extended past of researching how incentives sway behaviour (Luft & Shields 2003; Bonner & Sprinkle 2002; and Young & Lewis 1995). Organisations have from a very long time made use of incentives as a means for adjusting the involvements of managers and of employees with the interests of the firm and its shareholders. For instance, in the 1980s, CEO Roger Smith brought in operation dependent pay to the line workers at GM. Thus when GM was doing well, the workers also was doing well (Business Week, 1900). One primary anxiety for managers who want to stimulate their workers is how to allocate financial motivators among team members(Ramaswami & Singh, 2003). Particularly, managers have to settle on, amid other things, (1) How much contingent dependent remuneration should be (2) How financial inducements should be allotted among the workers. The sharing of performance payoffs is mainly motivating and brings forth much academic dispute about suitable allotment rules (Meindl, 1989). Incentive Plans Performance plans extend the managers' verdict sphere by rewarding them on the attainment of some accounting-based events over a period running from three to six years instead of current annual performance (Kumar and Sopariwala, 1992; Enis, 1993). Actually plans based on performance are of two types: performance unit plan or performance share plan. Healy & Wahlen (1999) stated that market anticipations, management reward and rigid interference were the principal components attractive earnings management. Fields et al (2001, p. 260) states that "when managers exercise their discretion over the accounting numbers with or without restrictions". In reality managers or agents are motivated to maximise the firm's value

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Networking and operating systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Networking and operating systems - Essay Example The users can interact with the operating systems by use of graphical user interface (GUI) or typing commands. There are three major operating systems, including Mac OS X, windows and Linux. Various companies are multitasking on i-OS4 instead of Blackberry devices. The i-OS4 ranks as the last mobile OS in supporting multitasking. The reason why the multitasking in Android is at last is because the designers entirely wanted to avoid it. The traditional multitasking cannot suit in Google phones and Androids because the limited resources and complexity. Complexity arises due to a simple UI and smaller visual space on mobile devices. There is no simple way of indicating to the user the running of the multiple applications. The device cannot also control or quit multiple applications (Raggo & Hosmer 2012, p. 97). Users often expect easy, simple and idiot-proof mobile devices. The second reason is inadequate resources. The phone uses memory and CPU to run everything, and in turn uses the battery power. Many of the apps, therefore, are not written or need to use all memory bytes or need of hitting the network in order to accomplish their tasks. Saving state is the most common Android’s form of multitasking. The OS of an Android provides a major support in the operating system in enabling the application developers to write the current condition of their applications and reload back when their app is restarted. The OS keeps the application in memory enhancing the switch back to fast. Running in the background is the less ordinary form of multitasking, particularly on the apps the want to continue in downloading twitter messages, playing music or performing other activities. Android supports all the types of apps where it allows them to register and run various services (Raggo & Hosmer 2012, p. 109). The entire background runs as a service thread,

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Declaration of Independence and David Simon Essay Example for Free

The Declaration of Independence and David Simon Essay In this essay, I will explain what â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† says about the people’s right to happiness and compare it to David Simon’s essay There Are Now Two Americas. My County is a Horror Show and what he believes about Americans enjoying the same rights. David Simon believed that happiness involves money, land and opportunity. Lastly I will give my opinion on what I believe the right to pursue happiness involves and means. According to the first draft of The Declaration of Independence, people’s rights were being ignored by the King. Thomas Jefferson once said â€Å"mankind is more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed† (Jefferson,1), this is telling us that the people are allowing the corrupt government to take over their life and put them through suffering that they do not deserve or want. â€Å"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed† (Jefferson, 1), this one ruler mentality also known as absolute monarchy lets the ruler have full control of everything and has no limits on his wishes or power. This type of government allowed the one ruler or king to take away people’s right to be heard, seen and ultimately their happiness. One would think that because they live in the United started of America everybody gets treated equally, but in reality, they are wrong. In David Simon’s essay There Are Now Two Americas. My County is a Horror Show, Simon expresses his view on how Americans are not enjoying the same rights as others and how rich people have taken over the government. Simon also says â€Å"You witnessed it again with the healthcare debacle in terms of the $450m that was heaved into congress† (Simon, 3). He believed that rich people bought the government with their money so they could make more money and be richer. The lower class was always fighting to get basic need services such as healthcare and education. Most were at risk of becoming drug addicts and/or homeless. Many immigrants or citizen just wanted to live the American dream, which is considered the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social  mobility that one will achieve through hard work. David Simon believed that money, land or to have opportunity to live a happy life is not based on money. Simon considers that with a minimum wage salary, a small home and a fair government you will be able to pursue and eventually acquired complete or full happiness. He says that the government has only helped the working class by raising wages and going into war so they can win more land and build more factories. In his essay, Simon says â€Å"It took a working class that had no discretionary income at the beginning of the century, which was working on subsistence wages. It turned it into a consumer class† (Simon, 2). The government has converted our people into working animals that only care about making or earning more money to waste it on unnecessary stuff they like but do not need. The engine that drove them to this gullible mentality was the ability to make money and realizing that they are able to afford everything they want and desire even when this desires are not needed. Having a fair society is being able to have moral choices without jeopardizing happiness. â€Å"Are we all in this together or are we all not?† (Simon, 5), David Simon is asking that as Americans we have to work together as a team to ensure everyone has their basic rights and happiness. He believed that capitalism is a good way of making money but it does not solve moral problems. â€Å"The other thing that was there in 1932, that isn’t there now is that some element of the popular will could be expressed through the electoral process in my country† (Simon, 5), he goes to say this because in 1932 the government bought the elections and the people of America were not able to choose their government. I believe that the right to pursuit happiness involves you speaking up when you feel your unalienable rights are being violated. The key word is pursuit, we all have the right to go after the things we want and what we think will make us happy; but happiness is not guarantee, is just the ability to look for it. Furthermore, happiness is not an entitlement either. We all have the right to take action for our own happiness as long as one’s rights are not being infringed. Unalienable rights are given to all human beings by their creator. It is the government’s responsibility to protect them without violating them. Finally, live life in a manner that you believe will lead you to happiness.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Esthers Liberation in Sylvia Plaths Bell Jar :: Plath Bell Jar Essays

Esther's Liberation in The Bell Jar      Ã‚   On the surface The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a loosely based autobiographical account of a young woman's search for identity that is eventually found through mental breakdown. Because Esther Greenwood's aspirations are smothered by traditional female roles, she must find herself through purging her mind of these restraints.    Upon closer inspection, Esther plight is representative of her contemporaries and even of many women today who "over and over...(have) heard in voices of tradition and of Freudian sophistication that they could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity" (Friedan, 461). It is with this notion that Esther and others like her wrestled with: "if a woman had a problem in the 1950's and 1960's she knew that something must be wrong with her marriage, or with herself" (464). This was coined the "housewife's syndrome" by a Cleveland doctor who first noticed this trend among young housewives. But for those like Esther- young, single, and educated- the problem is that society does not readily give them any more career options other than wife/mother or secretary. Because of this, the Women's Liberation movement begins, but only after Esther and her peers become Liberated Women.    The road to liberation is bumpy and sparked with electroshock treatments for Esther and others like her. Therapy is prevalent, whether it is weekly trips to a psychologist or lengthy stays in a mental institution. The end result of the treatment for many is a feeling of independence. As one woman states,    "It helped me develop a sense of self-worth and come to the understanding that I wasn't a bad person or worthless. My experience in therapy helped me have a better image of myself and I even started to look better and dress in a more attractive way. In short, I had more confidence in myself" (Susan, 489).    For Esther, leaving therapy is like being born again (199). She is now truly a free woman, after all.    Before Esther is liberated, however, she denounces her oppressors, Buddy Willard and her mother. Both are representatives of the male controlled society: Mrs. Greenwood of stifling women's aspirations and keeping women in their traditional roles, and Buddy of sexual purity.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Open Source vs Traditional Development Essays -- Essays Papers

Open Source vs Traditional Development In the world of technology today there is room for everyone at every level of expertise. From our identified Gurus, to the just bought their first computer newbie. Home computers are sometimes almost to easy to use. The old saying "just enough rope to hang yourself" comes to mind. Settings that modify the very way the system looks, and runs can be changed with the simple click of the mouse. This power, which has been given to every level of user, is not from training, but from improvements and advancements in the system, and application software on the computer. This software is in a constant state of development, improving on current features and adding new ones. Out of this regular and consistent update in technology have grown many theories and Ideas on how software should be developed and controlled. From corporate America, to college campuses everyone has an idea from one extreme to the other. On one side the belief all software should be free and open to all, and the other protecting software secrets like a rabid guard dog. Of course, both sides believe the other is a fanatic with a complete lack of sense. The real dividing line is not actually the control and distribution of the software itself, but the blueprint or source code that creates it. That source code is the human readable text that defines what the software does, and looks like. From that a compiler converts it to a form used by the computer know as machine code. In this compiled format it appears to be complete garbage to the average person, even to most people considered to be computer professionals or gurus. Most software--at least on the traditional side--is distributed in its compiled form. The original intent of compiling was not to protect the source code, but this has been one benefit to the software developers. Since a computer can not read the source code, a program is complied to allow it to run on similar type of hardware without the requirement of special software to interpret it into machine code. The traditional and most common form of source code control today uses copyrights and the judicial system to protect it. Companies like Microsoft vigilantly protect their vital copyrighted assets by utilizing the court systems any time it feels a threat from an outside source. An alternate form of source code co... ...continue to embrace the OSS movement it will in itself create an industry with more competition, a higher level of standards, and more consumer choice. Closed software has proven to close the market and allow it to be controlled by a single monopoly. The monopolistic technology environment of today has created bloated applications and a complete void of choice for consumers. Bibliography: Stallman, Richard (1998), Linux and the GNU Project. In Free Software Foundation: [On-Line]. Avaialble: http://www.fsf.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html Cooper, Charles (Friday, November 5, 1999), Microsoft judged a monopoly. In ZDNET: [On-Line]. Avaialble: http://macweek.zdnet.com/1999/10/31/monopoly.html Open Resources (1999-06-17), Apache. In Open Resources/The Free Source: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.openresources.com/documents/halloween-1/node10.html OSI –Open Source Intiative- (2000), Introduction to Open Source. In opensource.org: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.opensource.org/intro.html Steven, Eric (08/24/2000), Cathedral and the Bazaar/Section 1. In Cathedral and the Bazaar: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/ Open Source vs Traditional Development Essays -- Essays Papers Open Source vs Traditional Development In the world of technology today there is room for everyone at every level of expertise. From our identified Gurus, to the just bought their first computer newbie. Home computers are sometimes almost to easy to use. The old saying "just enough rope to hang yourself" comes to mind. Settings that modify the very way the system looks, and runs can be changed with the simple click of the mouse. This power, which has been given to every level of user, is not from training, but from improvements and advancements in the system, and application software on the computer. This software is in a constant state of development, improving on current features and adding new ones. Out of this regular and consistent update in technology have grown many theories and Ideas on how software should be developed and controlled. From corporate America, to college campuses everyone has an idea from one extreme to the other. On one side the belief all software should be free and open to all, and the other protecting software secrets like a rabid guard dog. Of course, both sides believe the other is a fanatic with a complete lack of sense. The real dividing line is not actually the control and distribution of the software itself, but the blueprint or source code that creates it. That source code is the human readable text that defines what the software does, and looks like. From that a compiler converts it to a form used by the computer know as machine code. In this compiled format it appears to be complete garbage to the average person, even to most people considered to be computer professionals or gurus. Most software--at least on the traditional side--is distributed in its compiled form. The original intent of compiling was not to protect the source code, but this has been one benefit to the software developers. Since a computer can not read the source code, a program is complied to allow it to run on similar type of hardware without the requirement of special software to interpret it into machine code. The traditional and most common form of source code control today uses copyrights and the judicial system to protect it. Companies like Microsoft vigilantly protect their vital copyrighted assets by utilizing the court systems any time it feels a threat from an outside source. An alternate form of source code co... ...continue to embrace the OSS movement it will in itself create an industry with more competition, a higher level of standards, and more consumer choice. Closed software has proven to close the market and allow it to be controlled by a single monopoly. The monopolistic technology environment of today has created bloated applications and a complete void of choice for consumers. Bibliography: Stallman, Richard (1998), Linux and the GNU Project. In Free Software Foundation: [On-Line]. Avaialble: http://www.fsf.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html Cooper, Charles (Friday, November 5, 1999), Microsoft judged a monopoly. In ZDNET: [On-Line]. Avaialble: http://macweek.zdnet.com/1999/10/31/monopoly.html Open Resources (1999-06-17), Apache. In Open Resources/The Free Source: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.openresources.com/documents/halloween-1/node10.html OSI –Open Source Intiative- (2000), Introduction to Open Source. In opensource.org: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.opensource.org/intro.html Steven, Eric (08/24/2000), Cathedral and the Bazaar/Section 1. In Cathedral and the Bazaar: [On-Line]. Available: http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/

Friday, October 11, 2019

Jose Rizal, our national hero Essay

  Jose Rizal, our national hero was one of the Filipinos who asked for reformsduring the Spanish era. This was one of his best contributions in building our nation. These reforms will grant the ultimate dream of the reformists; assimilation. Filipinoswill be given the rights that they deserve. Rizal choose to seek for reforms than tostart a revolution because he knew that Philippines was not yet ready to stand onits own (during his time). Rizal used his liberal ideas in asking for reforms 5. Although Rizal hadrevolutionary ideas, he was not for armed revolution per se. He was more for thegradual and peaceful one. One that is catalyzed by the education of the Filipinopeople. He reasoned out that when subject people are educated, intelligent, and havebecome aware of their human rights, they would have self-determination and they would strive to be free from their mother country. When this revolution happens,drastic changes will occur in the political, economical, social, religious, andintelligence sphere of a society paving the way for its independence someday. Rizal reasoned out that when subject people are educated, intelligent, andhave become aware of their human rights, they would have self-determination andthey would strive to be free from their mother country. When this revolutionhappens, drastic changes will occur in the political, economical, social, religious,and intelligence sphere of a society paving the way for its independence someday.Even though Rizal did not actually support the revolution, we can say that healso contributed in this revolution. His works and writings were the corner stone of the revolution and he was indeed an inspiration for the Katipuneros during thosetimes. Rizal’s life was devoted to his country (Philippines). MIDTERM 1.Rizal shows his concern for a world community. This new order consists of nations which reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women . the nations would establish conditions of justice, social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom . the people would practice tolerance , live together in peace and maintain good relations among themselves 2. 3 â€Å"To the Filipino Youth† does carry a very strong one; strong enough to persuade those who are to be persuaded-the Filipino youth themselves. As one of those individuals, I could really feel the nationalistic spirit within me glow brighter the moment I finished reading the poem. It was like telling me that I am one of the existing hopes of our dear country and that through my abilities, expertise and knowledge of things, I am capable of protecting its freedom against oppressive forces that may come through. Furthermore, it was like telling me that together with my fellow youths, I am responsible for preserving the Philippines as a nation not for the foreigners but for me and the rest of the Filipinos. Finally yet most importantly, as to the sincerity of the poem, I can really consider â€Å"To the Filipino Youth† as indeed a work from the heart-no pretense, no plasticity and no sort of hidden motives. I can tell it so based on what I felt when I was reading the poem and the emotions that were expressed on each of the poem’s line. The fact that it came out during the Spanish era was also another thing that made me think that way. SEMIFINALS 1. If you don’t have a good EDUCATION system,   your MOTHERLAND is lacking in luster. the KEY is that RIZAL isn’t praising the Filipino education system †¦ he’s describing an ideal system and IS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SUGGEST that it’s the one he came out of. 2. The first step carrying out his education philosophy is depends on mother. Rizal appealed to all mothers to do their best in educating their children. Love for honor, sincere and firm character, clear mind , clean conduct, noble action, love for one’s fellowmen, respect for God. The country should not expect honor and prosperity so long as the education of the child is defective.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

History Of The Spanish Inquisition Of The 15th Century Essay

The Spanish Inquisition is usually synonymous with persecution, brutality and tyranny; and it is thought to be the forerunner of the covert regulatory bodies of contemporary autocracies. Yet how accurate is this picture of an establishment set up in the late 15th century to route out deviation and agnosticism in that land? This report aims to place the Spanish Inquisition in its correct historical context. BACKGROUND The conception of inquisitions to eliminate religious heretics was not new when, in 1478, Pope Sixtus IV sanctioned the formation of Spanish Inquisition. The monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, decided to establish a body (which began its work in 1480) chiefly to deal with the issue of the huge numbers of converted Jews (Conversos) who were alleged of continuing to carry out tenants of the Jewish religion after apparent conversion to Catholicism. Following the formal expulsion of all non-converted Jews from Spain in 1492, the problem of the Conversos increased. The roots of the Spanish Inquisition can therefore be traced quite clearly back to anti-Semitism. In 1518, the Inquisition became a permanently unified body under one head, the Inquisitor-General . Tomas de Torquemada was appointed by the Monarchs as Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition. The Catholic Church, under the rule of the pope in Rome was a powerful force in Europe during the Middle ages. The decrees of the church provided the basis of law and order. Christians who disagreed with catholic principles were regarded as heretics, and heresy was considered an crime against the church and the state. The â€Å"inquiries† into a person’s faith to determine whether or not one was a heretic, was branded as the inquisition, with the inquisitors being priests or bishops who subjected a suspect to long grilling followed by terrible tortures. Death by fire was often the punishment of those who did not repent. The heretic’s property was then claimed by the church. Between 1478 and 1502, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon took three complementary decisions. They persuaded the pope to create the Inquisition; they expelled the Jews; and they forced the Muslims of the kingdom of Castile to convert to Catholicism. All these measures were designed to achieve the same end: the establishment of a united faith. The Christian, Muslims and Jewish communities existed tolerantly throughout the first centuries of Muslim domination and continued to do so in the Christian Spain of the 12th and 13th century. Tolerance presupposed an absence of discrimination against minorities and respect for the point of view of others. This tolerance was nowhere to be found in the Iberia of the 8th century to the 15th. Spanish archdeacon named Ferran Martinez was busy delivering a sequence of sermons in the diocese of Seville. It was his remarkable eloquence rather than the novelty of his subject which attracted an audience: for he spoke only on a single theme, one that in every age has provided an easy stalking horse for demagogues religious and civil- the iniquities of the Jews. Their veins had venom that poisoned whatever contribution they made. The Jews, he argued, had been guilty, as a body, of the greatest crime in history. They adhered to a faith that had been rejected in no uncertain manner by the Deity. Their ceremonies were outmoded and impious, rendered those who performed them capable of the most heinous misdoings and doomed them to eternal punishment in the hereafter . ORIGIN AND AIMS Jews weren’t newcomers in Spain. They had been settled there since the 1st century. Documentary and archaeological evidence demonstrates their numbers at the beginning of the fourth century, long before the coming of the Arabs or the Visigoths. The latter had persecuted them, but under the moors they had flourished as nowhere else in Europe. They were an important and influential minority. Every Spanish city had its prosperous juderia, or Jewish quarter, comprised of craftsmen and weavers, goldsmiths and carpenters . The Jews had been expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I En masse. His example had been followed in France sixteen later, by Philip the Fair. The Spanish Jews considered themselves secure from anything of the sort. The activities of Martinez disturbed them but didn’t alarm them. Month after month passed without any untoward occurrence. They fell into the error of imagining that nothing would happen. It came as a shock to them when at the close of 1390, just before Christmastide, Martinez succeeded in having some synagogues in the diocese partially destroyed and closed down, on the plea that they had been built without authorization. The community, alarmed, applied for protection to the council of regency then governing Castile in the name of the young king Henry III, which ordered steps to be taken for the protection of the petitioners. Martinez was defiant, however, and his sermons were as violent as ever. On Wednesday, March 15th, 1391 his harangue was particularly effective, and his audience was roused to a high pitch of frenzy. On its way from the church, a turbulent crowd, thirsting with zeal and greed, surged towards the Jewish quarter, which seemed to be in imminent danger of sack. The civil authorities were at last awakened to the necessity of stern measures. Seizing two of the most turbulent members of the mob, they had them flogged, turned them into martyrs overnight. After some further disturbances, order was outwardly restored: but the spirit of unrest still simmered and Martinez continued his unbridled invective from the pulpit. These seemingly unimportant disorders are to be traced some of the greatest tragedies in history – the darkest page in the dark record of the Jewish people, one of the saddest episodes in the history of human thought, and the ultimate decline of sprain from the high status to which her achievements and her genius entitled her – everything, in a word, which is associated with the term, â€Å"the Spanish Inquisition†. On June 6th, a storm broke out. An infuriated mob rushed upon the juderia of Seville and put it to sack. An orgy of carnage raged the city. The dead were numbered by the hundreds, if not by the thousand. Every ruffian in the city flaunted the finery sacked from Jewish houses, or boasted the ravishing of a Jewish maiden . Through some curious psychology of mass psychology, the infection spread from one city to the other, and throughout Spain onslaughts on the Jews became the order of the day. The fury raged that summer and autumn, and at several places the entire Jewish community was exterminated. At Cordova, the ancient Jewish quarter, where Moses Maimonides had first seen the light, was reduced to ashes. Toledo was witness to a similar horrifying carnage. 70 other towns in Castile were doomed to similar incidents of terror. In Aragon, in spite of measures put into force by the authorities to suppress the mayhem, the case was commonly adhered. In Valencia, within a few days, not a single professing Jew was left alive in the entire kingdom. In Barcelona, despite a half hearted protection given by the civic authorities, the whole community was wiped out. From Catalonia, the disorders spread to the Balearic Islands, where a massacre took place on August 2nd at Palma. Outbreaks were prevented only in the kingdom of Granada thanks to the efforts of the crown, in Portugal. Elsewhere in the peninsula, hardly a single community escaped. The total no of victims was estimated as many as 50,000 . The Inquisition did not begin in Spain, but did gather notoriety there. Shortly after commencement, the Spanish Inquisition was accused of numerous abuses. Accusations of heresy ran rampant, and innocent, faithful people were unjustly punished by public trials and condemnation. This usually took the form of strangulation or burning at the stake. The Inquisition, although vastly changed and more humane, remained a strong force in Spain until the early 19th century . By about 1750 the Inquisition had lost its power. It had been created to eradicate all traces of Semitism in Spain. The Jews had long been expelled and two and a half centuries of persecution had eventually eliminated the Judaisers. Yet the statues of blood purity still did not disappear; in fact, in the course of the eighteenth century, they tended to multiply. They no longer constituted a serious obstacle to a career in the Church, the official administration, or civic society. By the end of the eighteenth century, essentially the Inquisition was operating as a political policing force devoted to opposing the introduction of revolutionary and liberal ideas. By this time, it seemed to have softened its attitude. It no longer published edicts of faith encouraging the faithful spontaneously to denounce their neighbors and their relatives. Nor did it any longer torture its prisoners. CONCLUSION The Spanish Inquisition was one of the most powerful organizations used to eradicate heresy and safeguard the unanimity of Christendom. Begun in 1478, by 1512 the Inquisition was under review for a wide range of issues – from corruption, patronage and bribery. The Spanish Inquisition, first established under Queen Isabella was finally suppressed 356 years later under Queen Isabella II, leaving its mark in the annals of Western civilization. The onset of the Enlightenment slowed down the Inquisition. It, however, wasn’t until the Spanish invasion of Napoleon that the Inquisition finally came to an end in 1810, being completely abolished in 1836. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed because of the Inquisition. Numerous more were subjected to torture and others had their possessions confiscated. John Paul II’s teachings are an ever present reminder of how to learn from history: â€Å" †¦we must take account of the complexity of the relationship between the subject who interprets and the object from the past which is interpreted†¦. Events or words of the past are, above all, â€Å"past. † As such they are not completely reducible to the framework of the present, but possess an objective density and complexity that prevent them from being ordered in a solely functional way for present interests. It is necessary, therefore, to approach them by means of an historical-critical investigation that aims at using all of the information available, with a view to a reconstruction of the environment, of the ways of thinking, of the conditions and the living dynamic in which those events and those words are placed, in order, in such a way, to ascertain the contents and the challenges that – precisely in their diversity – they propose to our present time . On 12 January 2000, to mark the Catholic Church’s Jubilee, Pope John Paul II issued a document entitled Memory and Reconciliation in which he asked for forgiveness for the errors of the Church over its 2,000 year history. ? BIBLIOGRAPHY Kamen, Henry. The Spanish Inquisition: An Historical Revision. London, 1997. John Paul II, Memory and Reconciliation, 2000. Finkelstein, Louis. 1970. The Jews: their history. New York: Schocken Books. Kohen, Elizabeth, & Elias, Marie Louise. 2004. Spain. New York: Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish. Lea, Henry Charles. A History of the Inquisition of Spain. 4 vols. New York, 1906–1908. Lemieux, Simon. â€Å"The Spanish Inquisition. † History Review 7. 44 (2002): 44-49

The Blue Sword CHAPTER TEN

Harry had trouble falling asleep that night; she listened to the gentle sound the water made walking down the three stone steps, and often she stretched out her hand to touch the hilt of the blue sword that lay beside her, carefully laid upon a small carpet of blue and green and gold that she had found in a corner of a hall on her way back to her mosaic palace after the feast. She had appropriated it, rolled it up, tucked it under her arm, and glared at the woman of the household who was conducting her. The woman dropped her eyes, but did not seem unduly disturbed. Who would grudge a damalur-sol a little rug? Harimad-sol thought airily. But each time she touched the blue sword it was as if a shock ran through her, and she listened to the quiet night, hearing the echoes of sounds that had rung themselves to silence hundreds of years ago. Her restlessness made Narknon grumble at her, although the cat did not offer to leave the bed and sleep elsewhere. At last Harry tucked her hands firmly beneath her chin and fell asleep, and in her sleep she saw Aerin-sol again, and Aerin smiled at her. â€Å"Gonturan will do well for you, I think, child, as she did well for me. You can feel it in the way she hangs in your hand, can you not?† Harry, in her dream, nodded. â€Å"Gonturan is far older than I am, you know; she was given me with the weight of her own years and legend already upon her. I never knew all she might lead her bearer into – and as it was, I learned more than enough. â€Å"Gonturan has her own sense of honor, child. But she is not human, and you must not trust her as human; remember it. She is a true friend, but a friend with thoughts of her own, and the thoughts of others are dangerous.† Aerin paused, and the dream began to fade; her face was pale, and half imagined, like a cloud on a summer's dawn, with her hair the sunrise. â€Å"What luck I had, may it go with you.† Harry woke up, and found the sword gleaming blue in a light that seemed to come from the blue mosaic walls, from the blue stone in the hilt, even from the silver water of the stream. Several days passed, while some of the Riders went forth on errands; but the newest Rider did not. She spent long hours in the mosaic palace, staring at the air, which hung, or so it seemed to her, like tapestry around her; and in that tapestry was woven all of history – her own, her Homeland's, as well as Damar's. Sometimes she saw a little bright shimmer like someone tossing back a fire-red mane of hair; and sometimes she saw the glint of a blue jewel – but that was no doubt only some chance reflection from the glossy walls around her. But most of all, she slept. Mathin had been right about the sorgunal. For several days she was content to sleep, and waken to do nothing in particular, and sleep again. Narknon enjoyed it as much as she did. â€Å"I'm sure Mathin did not put any of that stuff in the porridge,† Harry said to the cat; â€Å"there's no excuse for you.† On the fourth morning Mathin came to her, and found her pacing from fountain to fountain and from wall to wall. â€Å"This is not a cage to enclose you, Hari,† he said. She turned, startled, for she had been deep in her thoughts and had not heard his approach. She smiled. â€Å"I have not felt caged. I have †¦ slept a great deal, as you warned me. It is only today I have begun to †¦ think again.† Mathin smiled in return. â€Å"Is it so ill, this thinking?† â€Å"Why am I a Rider?† she replied. â€Å"There is no reason for Corlath to make an Outlander girl, even the laprun minta, a Rider. Riders are his best. Why?† Mathin's smile twisted. â€Å"I told you, long ago – long ago, more than a week since. It is a good thing for us to have a damalur-sol. It is a good thing for us to have something to look to, for hope. Perhaps you do yourself too little honor.† Harry snorted. â€Å"Has a laprun ever been made a Rider before?† Mathin took a long time to answer. â€Å"No. You are the first to bear that burden.† â€Å"And an Outlander at that.† â€Å"You Outlanders are human, for all of that – as the Northerners are not. It is not impossible that some Outlander might have †¦ a Gift, kelar, like ours, as you do – for you do. There is something in you we recognize, and we know it is there, for Lady Aerin has chosen you herself. Corlath makes you a Rider to †¦ to take advantage of whatever it is you carry in your Outlander blood that has made you Damarian, even against your will.† Harry slowly shook her head. â€Å"Not against my will. At least not any more. But I do not understand.† â€Å"No; nor do I. Nor even does Corlath. He – † Mathin stopped. Harry looked sharply at him. â€Å"Corlath what?† The faint smile drifted across Mathin's face again. â€Å"Corlath did not steal you of his own free will. His kelar demanded it.† Harry grinned. â€Å"Yes; I had guessed, and once he told me – something of the sort. I saw dismay on his face often enough, those early days.† Mathin's face was expressionless when she raised her eyes again to his. â€Å"You have not seen dismay there for a long day since.† â€Å"No,† she agreed, and her eyes went involuntarily to the mosaic walls around her. Mathin said, â€Å"You are a token, a charm, to us, Daughter of the Riders and Rider and Damalur-sol.† â€Å"A mascot, you mean,† Harry said, but without bitterness; and still she looked at the mosaic walls. She asked timidly, not certain of her own motives, â€Å"Does Corlath have no family? I see here, in the castle, the people of the household, and the – us – Riders, but no one else. Is it only that they are cloistered – or that I am?† Mathin shook his head. â€Å"You see all there is to see. In Aerin's day the king's family filled this place; some had to live in the City, or chose to, for privacy. But kings in the latter days †¦ Corlath's father married late, and Corlath is his queen's only surviving child, for she was a frail lady. Corlath himself has not married.† Mathin smiled bleakly. â€Å"Kings should marry young and get heirs early, that their people may have one thing less to worry about. There has been no one in generations whose kelar is as strong as Corlath's; it is why the scattered folk along our borders and in the secret hearts of our Hills, who have acknowledged no Damarian king for many years, rally now to Corlath. Even where he does not go himself his messengers are alight with it.† After Mathin left her, Harry thought of taking another nap, but decided against it. Instead she rode out on Sungold, Narknon deigning to accompany them. She found at the back of the stone castle and beyond the stone stables a practice ground, stepped into the sides of the Hill, for those wishing to practice horsemanship and war. It was deserted, as though the menace of the Northerners was too near to permit of practice. But she jogged slowly around the empty field, Sungold stepping up or down as they came to each edge, and decided to practice anyway: she who was laprun victor, who had never held a sword till a few weeks ago, who was suddenly a Rider: she felt, a little wildly, that she needed all the practice she could get. She was wearing Gonturan, a little self-consciously, but she had felt somehow that it would be impolite to leave her behind. She unsheathed her and wondered if the ancient sword had ever been used to hack at straw figures and charge at dangling wooden tiles. She galloped Tsornin over poles laid on the ground, piles of stone and wooden logs, and up and down turfed banks, and over ditches. She felt a little silly; but Tsornin made it plain that he enjoyed it all, whatever it was and however humble, and Gonturan always struck true. Harry took Tsornin back to his stable and put him away with her own hands, studiously ignoring the brown-clad groom who hovered near her. Hers was the first human face she had seen since she rode out. The stables were on the same scale as the castle: large and grand, the loose-boxes the size of small fields. There were over a hundred stalls – Harry lost count when she tried to multiply them out in her head – in the barn Sungold was quartered in, and two other barns as big stood on either side of it. Sungold's stable was nearly full; sleek curious noses were thrust out at them as they left and returned. Harry saw no other men or women of the horse; they must reappear at some point, she thought, to tend the horses. Unless Hill horses can be trained to take care of themselves – it wouldn't surprise me. The silence was uncanny. Tsornin's hoofs had echoed around the practice field; and when she thanked the brown woman and said no, she needed nothing, her voice sounded strange in her ears. Over the next few days she rode out again and again, and spent some hours slaying straw men with the Dragon-Killer's sword, and then some hours riding out from the stone ring of the castle, and into the stone City, down the smooth roads. She saw mostly women and young children, but even of them there were rarely more than a few. The women watched her timidly, and smiled eagerly if she smiled at them first; and the children wanted to pet Sungold, which he was good enough to permit, and Narknon, who usually eluded them; and sometimes they brought her flowers. But the City was as empty as the castle was; there were people, but far fewer than its walls might hold. Some of this, she knew, was because the army was massing elsewhere – on the laprun fields, before the City; messengers came and went swiftly, and the gathering of forces hung heavily in the air. But most of it was because, as the king's family had dwindled, so had the king's people; there were few Damarians left. She thought again of the mounting strangenesses of her recent life; and she wished, if she was to be given to Damar, as apparently she was, that she would be given no more long pauses of inaction in which to brood about it all. One of the young women who had assisted her at her bath brought her food, in the blue front room with the fountain, or outside in the sunshine where the other fountain played; and she managed to convince her and the other women sent to wait upon her that, at least as long as there were no more banquets requiring special preparations, she might bathe herself. For three more days she slept and watched the shimmering of the air and rode Tsornin and played with Narknon. There was a friendship between the horse and the hunting-cat now, and they would chase one another around the obstacles of the practice field, Narknon's tail lashing and Sungold with his ears back in mock fury. Once the big cat had hidden behind one of the grassy banks, where Harry and Sungold could not see her; and as they rode by she leaped out at them, sailing clean over Sungold and Harry on his back. Harry ducked and Sungold swerved; and Narknon circled and came back to them with her ears back and her whiskers trembli ng in what was obviously a cat laugh. And Harry polished Gonturan and tried not to brood, and looked often at the small white scar in the palm of her hand. But with all her inevitable musings she found that a certain peace had come to her and made its way into her heart. It was not like anything she had known before, and it was only on that third day that she found a name for it: fate. Yet she wished that the business of war were not so all-consuming, that she might have someone to talk to. On the fourth day when the woman came with her afternoon meal, Corlath came with her; and evidently he was expected, although not by Harry, for there were two goblets and two plates on the tray, and far more food than she could eat alone. She was sitting on the flagstones beside the fountain in the sunshine, watching the prisms that the falling drops threw into the air; and Narknon was washing Harry's face with her razored tongue, and Harry was trying not to mind. She was trying not to mind with such concentration that she did not realize till she looked up, still dazzled by tiny intricate colors, that he was there; and she remained sitting, blinking up at him, as the woman set down her tray and retired. â€Å"May I eat with you?† he said, and Harry thought that he seemed ill at ease. â€Å"Of course,† she said. â€Å"I would – er – be honored.† She pushed Narknon's head away and started to scramble to her feet, but Corlath dropped silently down beside her, so she settled back again, grateful that her bones decided not to creak. He gave her a plate and took his own; and then sat staring into the fountain much as she had done, and she wondered, watching him, if he felt any of the queer peacefulness that crept into her with the same looking; and if he would call it by the name she had discovered. â€Å"Eight days,† she said, and his eyes drew back from the water spray and met hers. â€Å"Eight days,† she repeated. â€Å"You said less than a fortnight.† â€Å"Yes,† he replied. â€Å"We are counting the hours now.† He made a swift sweeping motion with his right hand, and Harry said suddenly: â€Å"Show me your hand.† Corlath looked puzzled for a moment, but then he held his right hand out, palm up. There was one short straight pale mark across it, obviously new; and many small white scars; she didn't have to count them to know there would be eighteen of them, the still-fresh – and longest – cut a nineteenth. She studied the hand a moment, cupping it in her own, not thinking that she was poring over a king's hand; then she looked at her own right palm. One tiny straight line looked back at her. He closed his hand and rested it on his knee. â€Å"They don't fade,† Harry said. â€Å"The old ones don't disappear.† â€Å"No,† said Corlath. â€Å"It is the yellow salve, before we make the cut; it is made of an herb called korim – forever.† She studied her own palm again for a moment. The scar cut through the lines a fortune-teller would call her life line and her heart line; and she wondered what Damarian fortune-tellers might see in her hand. She looked up at Corlath, who absently put a piece of bread in his mouth and began to chew; he was staring into the fountain again. He swallowed and said: â€Å"There is a story of one of my grandfather's Riders: the Northern border was restless then – but only restless, and this man had gone North to see what he might learn. But they caught him, and recognized him as from Damar; but he knew they would find him a little before they did, and he slashed his hand that they might not find the mark and hold him for ransom – or torture; for the Northerners, if they wish, can torture with a fine prying magic that no mind can resist.† Harry thought: If the Northerners know about the Riders' mark, they must be a bit slow not to wonder about a spy caught with a cut-up hand. Corlath continued after a moment: â€Å"He had traveled dressed as a merchant, so when he knew they would find him he freed his horse and sent it home, and took off his boots, and began to climb the near-perpendicular face of one of the Hills that is the boundary between our land and theirs. When they found him he was half mad with sunstroke and his hands and feet were as tattered as autumn leaves. They decided they had not caught a prize at all, and after they had beaten him a bit, they let him go. He finished climbing the mountain with his hands and feet, because he remembered that much of what he was doing; and just over the summit, just inside the border of Damar, his horse was waiting for him, and she took him home. He recovered from the sunstroke, but he never held a sword again.† Harry swallowed a lump of bread that didn't want to go down, and there was silence for a bit. â€Å"What happened to the mare?† she said at last. â€Å"Your Tsornin's dam is a daughter of his mare's line,† Corlath said, but it was as if he were tracing some thought of his own. â€Å"The mare lived till she was almost thirty, and dropped a foal every year till the last. Many of our best riding-horses are descended from her.† Corlath looked at her, coming back from wherever he had been. â€Å"That mare's line is called Nalan – faithful. You can see it in Tsornin's pedigree.† Harry asked lightly: â€Å"And is there a name for the line of the kings of Damar?† Corlath said, â€Å"My father's name, and his father's, and mine, is Gulkonoth: stone.† Harry looked at his right hand resting quietly on his knee. He paused and added as if inconsequentially, â€Å"There are other names for the king. One of them is Tudorsond. Scarred hand.† â€Å"Does the korim scar the foreheads of the household, and the faces of the hunt and the horse as well?† And Corlath said, â€Å"Yes.† There was a silence again, and Harry wondered how many other questions she might be able to gain answers for. She said, â€Å"Once in the mountains before the trials, Mathin said to me that he could teach me three ways of starting a fire, but that you knew a fourth. He would not tell me what the fourth was.† Corlath laughed. â€Å"I will show you one day, if you wish. Not today. Today it would give you a headache.† Harry shook her head angrily, her feeling of contentment gone. â€Å"I am tired of having things only half explained. Either I am damalur-sol, when it is convenient, or I am to be quiet and sit in a corner and behave till it is time to bring me out and show me to the troops again. Did you choose Mathin to teach me because he is close-mouthed?† Corlath looked a little abashed, and Harry guiltily remembered how much Mathin had told her, although – she defended herself – it was not enough. Never enough. But she could not help remembering his answer when she had asked him why he had been chosen for her training. â€Å"I chose Mathin because I thought he would teach you best; there are none better than he, and he is patient and tireless.† And kind, thought Harry, but she would not interrupt when she might learn something. â€Å"We of the Hills – I suppose we are all, as you say, close-mouthed; but do you think you have learned so little of us?† And Corlath looked at her – wistfully. â€Å"No,† she said, ashamed of herself. There was a pause, and she said, â€Å"Could you perhaps, please, tell me why Mathin would not tell me any of the legends about the Lady Aerin? They are a part of your lives that all of you share – and it is her sword you have given me – and the legends, why, there are a few sung even at the spring Fairs in the west, where Outlanders can hear them.† Corlath tapped his fingers, one-two-three, one-two-three, on the brim of the fountain. â€Å"Aerin is a part of your destiny, Harimad-sol. It is considered unlucky to †¦ meddle with destiny. Mathin would feel that he was doing you a disservice, speaking much of Aerin to you, and I – I find, now, that I feel the same.† Tap-tap-tap. â€Å"If you had grown up †¦ here, you would have heard them. But you did not. And if you had, perhaps you would not now be what you are. â€Å"I am sorry.† He turned and looked at her. â€Å"If – after we have met the Northerners, and the gods have decided between us, if you and I are left alive, I will tell you all the stories I know of Aerin Dragon-Killer.† He tried to smile. â€Å"I even can sing a few.† â€Å"Thank you.† Corlath's smile became more successful. â€Å"There are a very great many of them – you may not wish to hear them all.† â€Å"I do wish to hear them all,† said Harry firmly. Corlath took his hand away from the stone brim and began to shred a chunk of bread into fragments on his plate. â€Å"As for the first question,† he said, â€Å"watch.† He blinked a few times, closed his eyes, and a shudder ran through him; then he opened his eyes again and gave a hot yellow glare to the little heap of bread crumbs, which burst into flame, crackled wildly for a few minutes, and subsided into black ash. â€Å"Oh,† said Harry. Corlath looked up; his eyes were brown. They stared at one another. Harry found herself saying hastily, in a voice that was a little too high-pitched, â€Å"What is this place – here – ?† and she jerked her eyes away, and waved to the mosaic walls. â€Å"I have seen nothing else like it anywhere in the City.† Corlath shook his head. â€Å"Nor will you.† He got slowly to his feet, and looked around, and cupped his scarred hand under the fountain, and drank from it. â€Å"My father built it for my mother just after he married her. She was fond of the color blue – and I think he wanted to tell her that he did not mind that she would never carry the Blue Sword, the greatest treasure of his family, the woman's sword.† He looked down at her inscrutably, but his eyes did not focus on her. Then he turned and left her, going through the door into the castle. Two days later the army rode away from the City. Corlath and his Riders rode together down the highway from the castle to the gates of the City, with men and women of the household and the hunt and horse, and pack horses behind them; and the people of the City lined the streets and silently watched them go, although many raised their hands to their foreheads and flicked the fingers as they rode by. Harry had not seen so many before; some were refugees from northern Damarian villages, and farmers from the green lands before the Bledfi Gap. And they rode down to the plain where the army Harry had not seen, for she had not left the City since she rode into it, lay before them; and behind her she heard a sound no Damarian had heard in generations: the City's stone gates closing, heavily, mournfully. Tsornin was restless. Now, with the ranks upon ranks of the Hill army drawn up upon it, the plain looked like some other place than the plain where Harry and Tsornin had fought with blunt staves and sword points. Tsornin was too well bred to do more than fidget slightly in place; but his shoulder, when she ran her hand down it, was warmer than the morning air deserved. The muscles under the golden skin were hard; she felt that if she rapped her knuckles against his shoulder ridge it would ring like iron. She stood, a little awkwardly, in the group of Riders, only a little way into the plain from the end of the City highway. They were on a little rise of land, so they looked out and down over the rest of the company, and Harry felt unnecessarily conspicuous. â€Å"Why couldn't you be liver chestnut or something?† she whispered to Tsornin, who bowed his golden head. A new helm fitted closely down over her bound-up hair, and there were new boots on her legs, with tops that rolled up and lashed into place for battle; and she felt Gonturan hanging expectantly at her knee. Ten days were not enough to accustom herself to being a Rider, however hard she had driven herself and Tsornin round the lonely practice fields with their stiff wooden silhouettes of enemy swordsmen; and while the Riders themselves – particularly one or two: Mathin, and the merry (for a Rider) young Innath – closed ranks around her and accepted her as one of them, she could not believe that they did not themselves wonder, a little, about her presence among them. Sungold blew impatiently and began to dig a hole with one front foot. She booted his elbow with her toe and he stopped, but after a moment he lowered his head and blew again, harder, and she could feel him shifting his weight, considering if she might let him dig just a small hole. She looked around: the other horses were showing signs of stress as well. Mathin stood next to her; Windrider, although rock still, unlike the younger Tsornin, wore a dark sheen of sweat down her flank. Corlath's Fireheart was standing on his hind legs again; the king could bring him down as he chose, but Harry rather thought the horse was expressing the mood of both of them. Narknon, so far as Harry could see, was the only one of their company who remained undisturbed. She sat in front of Sungold, just beyond the reach of pawing forefeet, and washed her chest and combed her whiskers. They marched west. They crossed the low but steep ridge of mountains between the City and the desert plain that stretched far away, up to the back door of the Outlander Residency in Istan. They retraced Harry and Mathin's route, going in single endless file through the narrow paths; and they came to the desert edge at the end of the second day. Beyond the ridge they turned north. All the spies – those still living, for the North had caught a few – that Corlath had sent out in the last several years had come back in the last few months, in a rush, all with the same word: the waiting was over, the Northerners were moving. The last man of them had returned not six days before; it had taken him so long because they knew about him, and he had dodged and fled and scrambled to get away from their creeping tracking magic. His tale was that their army was only days behind him, and that it was many thousands strong. He had delayed and delayed to take a fairer tally of the total; and yet, he said, even as the army marched south, hundreds and more hundreds appeared as if out of the air to march with it. Out of the air, Harry thought, and wondered if the phrase was more than just a manner of speaking. She had been included in the council of Riders that heard the man's tale; and the candlelight seemed to cast more shadows when he was through. Yet there was no thing to be done; the army that would stand for Damar was already gathered; the plans to face the Northerners were already laid. Of the Northerners' dread captain no spy was sure; no Damarian dared get that close, for the uncanny way he was said to smell foreign blood. There were hundreds of mounted men and women now following Corlath's word; and as they rode with the eastern Hills at their right hand, they looked a great many. A few hundreds more would join as the southern army made its way to the wide plain before the Gap. But that was all. Innath, riding at her elbow, said conversationally, â€Å"Less than half of the Northern army will be mounted; and not many of them will be riding horses; and very few of their horses will match the poorest of ours. One can double our tally at least, just for our horses; for they are Damarians and will fight for Damar as fiercely as we human beings, for all that we are the only ones who talk about it.† â€Å"Yes,† said Harry, her voice only a little muffled. Noontimes they stopped briefly, loosening girths to let the horses breathe, and eating bread and dry meat and water. At night they camped behind ridges of shale and scrub, and lit fires enough to boil the terrible dry meat to a slightly more edible consistency, and rolled up in their blankets to sleep where they sat. A few of the hunting-cats and a dozen dogs were with them; but they could not spare the time at present to use them. Narknon continued at Harry's heels and, as she had done once before, began hunting on her own, and brought back some of her grisly victories to lay at Harry's pillow. As the days passed and Mathin's stew pot became generally known as the only one reliably containing fresh meat, it grew very popular. The nights were clear and quiet, and the weather-casters among them promised no sudden windstorms; the edges of the Damarian Hills were known for their unpredictable weather, where mountain storms bottled up by the steep slopes might suddenly find their way to the flatter lands where they could rage and riot as they chose. Corlath was not trying to strike at once for the center of the northern mountains and the Bledfi Gap. After the Hill army crossed the narrow range behind which the City lay, they worked their way around the curve of the mountains, trotting through the sandy sour grass and broken rock at their feet. At first this made them ride almost due north, then in an increasing arc to the west; and the sun moved across the sky before them. Often in the mornings when the mist was still lying around them, trailing from the mountains' shoulders into their camp, a little group of riders, or even a solitary figure on horseback, would loom up at them from nowhere; but Corlath always seemed to be expecting them, and they always knew what to say to the guards that they might pass; and in this way the army a little swelled its ranks. Occasionally Harry heard a woman's voice among the strangers, and this made her glad; and often she'd rub a finger over the blue gem in the hilt of Gonturan and think of the sword no man could carry. Mathin said to her once: â€Å"We did not think to see so many women – few have fought with us within any man's memory, although in Aerin's day it was different. But I think many fathers are letting their daughters join us who had not thought to till they heard of Harimad-sol, and that Gonturan went to war again.† Many of these women she met; particularly after Mathin had spoken to her, for then she began to feel a little uneasily responsible for them. Senay she saw several times – and saw too that she was wearing a sewn-together sash as if she were proud of it. Harimad-sol asked the names of the women when she had a chance, and they answered gravely; and they often gave her the back-of-hand-to-forehead gesture of respect, and none ever asked her her name, even when she was not carrying Gonturan and ought to look – she thought – like any other disheveled soldier. Most of those who came thus late to join Corlath's army did not carry a sword, and wore no sash; these were men and women who had spent their lives in their own villages, on their own farms and in their own shops, and had never attended laprun trials, nor felt the lack that they had not. One evening they rode into a hollow where nearly a hundred strangers, all mounted, and with several pack horses and hunting-beasts besides, waited for them; and Corlath rode forward with a great hearty cry of welcome, a sound nearer happiness than any Harry had heard from him since they began their march north. A rider at the head of the group rode to meet him, and they seized each other by the shoulders while their horses bumped uneasily together and rolled their eyes at each other. A third man then detached himself from the new group and joined Corlath and his friend. â€Å"Murfoth and his son, Terim,† said Mathin in Harry's ear. â€Å"Murfoth was one of the old king's friends, though he's not much more than ten years older than our king. He might have been a Rider, had he wished, but he chose instead to stay at home and look after his lands; and a good job he's made of it too. Some of our best horses now come from him, and grain to feed many more.† â€Å"We Riders,† said Innath from her other side, â€Å"as you may have noticed, tend to be fourth sons or otherwise penniless – or incurable wanderers like Mathin here – but Murfoth now, when he comes to ride with his king, can bring eighty men with him.† Innath's voice, for all its careless pride, sounded almost wistful. Harry found herself remembering her father's words to her – it seemed decades ago: â€Å"You haven't a penny, you know.† Terim was Harry's age, and when he and his father came to sit at the king's fireside he came to her and sank down beside her, folding up his long legs as all the Hillmen did. She looked at Terim and he looked at her; his look was eager and a little, to her embarrassment, reverent. â€Å"I was First at my laprun trials three years ago,† he said; â€Å"but when I took my turn against Corlath my sash was on the ground before I had a good grip on my sword.† He thumped the hilt of his sword, which jangled as it bit into the ground. â€Å"My father gave me Teksun here anyway, he said no one ever got a grip on a sword against Corlath. You did, though.† His eyes shone in the firelight. Harry ran a meditative finger over the careful seam in her sash, which she had put in under Mathin's promised tutelage. â€Å"I didn't know it was he – I never thought. And he allowed me to cross swords with him; and when I realized how much of it was allowing, I got †¦ mad.† She paused. â€Å"I was surprised too.† She frowned, remembering the awful headache she'd had for most of that day, and then the more awful sick lurch that seemed to start behind her eyes, where the headache was, and quiver all the way through her body, when she saw the face behind the scarf she had just removed. No one had called her baga for the cut at the corner of Corlath's mouth, though. She met the boy's eyes somewhat ruefully and said, â€Å"It wasn't as pleasant an experience as you might think.† Terim gave a little snort of laughter and said, â€Å"Yes, I believe you,† and Harry looked across to where Corlath sat with Terim's father and found him watching her. She wondered if he had heard what she had just said.