Abortion Controversy Essay -- Pregnancy

The Abortion IssueIntroductionAbortion has been a very controversial subject over these ago few decades. Every time you pick up a paper or magazine it seems at that place is always some protest regarding abortion, whether it be for foetal rights or womens rights. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica the definition of abortion is the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it has reached the stage of viability (in human beings, usually about the twentieth week of gestation). An abortion may occur spontaneously, in which case it is also called a miscarriage, or it may be brought on purposefully, in which case it is much called an induced abortion. This paper will focus only on those abortions which argon considered to be induced and will present the parameter to both sides, considering both the argument for Pro-life as well as for Pro-choice.Pro-Life ArgumentDon Marquis states in his article Why Abortion is Immoral that killing person is wrong because the killing inflict s the greatest possible loss on the victim. He says that it is non the effect on the murderer and the victims friends and relatives that makes killing an absolute wrong. Although killing does assume those close to the victim the ultimate harm done is on the victim himself due to their loss of future. Marquis states that killing is regarded as one of the worst crimes because it is depriving throng of the value of their future. If this view were applied to abortion it would be easy to see how abortion could be considered wrong. By willingly ending the life of the fetus you are willingly ending their possibility of a future. The fetus has the possibility of having a future with emotions, experiences and activities that are the same as human beings and even closer to that of early children. This argument applies in most cases of abortion but not all. For example, to abort a fetus whose life will be filled with unbearable bother and anguish because of a physical or cognitive disorde r could be justified because it could be said that the future of the fetus would be bleak and uncertain. In ways it could be stated that the means justify the end. It must be noted however, that this acceptance would not apply to all situations of physical and cognitive disabilities only the most severe cases would qualify. For example, there could be no way to justify inducing an abortion because it has been de... ...e brain is functioning.ConclusionWhen analyzing both sides of the abortion issues, it is lucid that both sides provide both strong and weak arguments. Abortion will always be a controversial issue in society and there will always be disputing sides to the matter. Each person must make their own decisions based on their beliefs and factual evidence. Both sides must learn to be open-minded to the other side and learn to respect the fact that they have different thoughts and views.WORKS CITEDAbortion. Encyclopaedia Britannica - Online. 1 Oct. 2000.Carrier, Richard C. Ab ortion is not Immoral and Should not be Illegal.Internet Infidels. 1 Oct. 2002 .Jarvis Thomson, Judith. A defence of Abortion. Gender Basics. 2nd Ed.Anne Minas. Belmont, CA Wadsworth/Thomson Inc, 2000. 402-409.Marquis, Don. Why Abortion is Immoral. Gender Basics. 2nd Ed.Anne Minas. Belmont, CA Wadsworth/Thomson Inc, 2000. 398-401.Robinson, B.A. Abortion. Ontario Consultants on spiritual Tolerance. 3 Jul 2002.1 Oct. 2002 Sherwin, Susan. Abortion. Gender Basics. 2nd Ed. Anne Minas.Belmont, CA Wadsworth/Thomson Learning Inc, 2000. 410-417.

Guide Dogs Essay examples -- Blindness Dog Training Papers

Guide DogsWhat Exactly is a Guide Dog? As I tactile property around, it seems as though it is raining puppies and dogs. Can you guess where I am? No, it is not the humane society. Give up? I am at a training facility for guide dogs, where everywhere, including the office, there are dogs being played with, spoiled with love, and working hard with their trainers. Now that I have given you a mental picture of what a guide dog training facility looks like, you might like to know what they actually do there. At least that is what I wanted to know. I was amazed after seeing a student at Florida State University with his guide dog, and watching the two interact together. I stared as the dog helped his master avoid people and stopped at the bottom of each series of steps leading up to the Love Building. I had neer seen anything like this before. I believed this showed people how smart dogs are and how humans and dogs can intelligently interact together. This incident is what intr igued me to want to know more nigh dogs as guides. I wanted to know how guide dogs are chosen and trained. Is there a particular breed that is easier to train? These are the questions we will find the answers to. I began my search on the Internet. I was very surprised to see how many guide dog training schools have their own websites. Some only talked about how to volunteer or make contributions to their program, but others were very helpful in my search for information. One of the very first sites I visited gave me a great definition of tasks a guide dog is trained to do. According to the Assistance Dogs International website, guide dogs are provided to assist blind and visually impaired people in avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs and ste... ... well behaved guide dog you may have seen in the grocery store or somewhere else. Works Cited Assistance Dogs International. n.page. Online. Internet. 27 Sept. 1998. Available WWW <http//www.assistance-dogs-intl.org/service.html Green, Kathleen. Youre What? Dog Guide Instructor. Occupational Outlook Quarterly. (Winter 1996) 47-49. Guide Dog Association of N.S.Wales and A.C.T. page. Online. Internet. 28 Sept. 1998. Available WWW <http//www.guidedogs.com.au/ Harrington, Paula. Guide Dogs for the Blind sounding Ahead. San Rafael Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 1990. Southeastern Guide Dogs. Online. Internet. 27 Sept. 1998. Available WWW <http//www.guidedogs.org/segd-home.htm Ulrich, Katherine. E-mail interview. 22 October, 1998. Witchel, Alex. Teaching Mans Best Eyes to See. New York Times. 6 Mar.1996 Cl, C9.

The Great Depression Essay -- essays research papers

The Great Depression was a period of sadness and poverty for many a(prenominal). It became an unforgettable historical time in American history. The author of the book The Great Depression, Pierre Berton make its a clear view of what happened from 1929-1941. He basically outlines the Depression event by event, explaining what happened where and who was involved. Although many books can tell stories of the depression, I think the author of this book did a total job getting all the facts and letting the reader know merely what happened.It is easily shown that the author, Pierre Berton, didnt show much opinion in this book. He mainly focused on just the facts. He would however give some personal views of reasons for certain things or explanations. He probably got most of his information from a textbook or actual documents. He did a good job compiling these facts into a time line of events. He explains who each grievous person is that was involved in the times of the depression an d all important laws passed.He began talking about the crash of the market, dubbed Black Thursday. The crash spelled disaster for the guinea pig economy. Corporations with heavy investments faced a sudden shock to their assets. This was the beginning of the depression. The national income slipped lower each year from 1929-1932, and it did not return until World War II. Unemployment became the most important problem of the depression to the people living in the US. another(prenominal) major problem was that the agricultural prices were cut almost in half, and many farms foreclosed because of it. The author goes on to say that thither are many different theories as to why the stock market crashed that day. One was that the attempts of the US government and the Federal Reserve Board to stop speculation caused an overreaction in the market, leading to the selling panic.The nigh big event in the book was the effects the stock market crash had on America. The author did a great job by i ncluding enkindle statistics and facts. In 1930, farm income had fallen to the lowest it has been since 1921. A result of this was that farmers didnt have enough money. According to Berton 5 percent of farmers lost their land. Nowhere was it worse than in the dust bowl, a farming area in the Midwest. Many farmers were forced to move west because o... ...ever got off subject at any time. The reviewer also compliments Berton on his writing style. The way he would write was a way that he always made sense and made it interesting. I cant disagree with that either, I found the book very interesting, it was hard to put down. The Great Depression was full of facts and interesting information, and I acquire a lot from it. Pierre Berton didnt present his information with any kind of bias, he just stated what was true. Occasionally he would summate in some personal views, but they never strayed far from the truth. The book basically told the story of exactly what happened to the economy during the depression, and Berton did a great job explaining each part of it. He never tried to put in his opinions and state that they were fact. He never had an argument, he was just telling a story of the depression. Therefore there was no side he couldve taken one way or the other. He wrote his words so that it was understandable for all. He made sure to add in some interesting facts and tell stories in order to keep the reader interested. I think Berton did a great job in summing up the cause and effects of the depression.

Modern Day Hero VS. Anglo-Saxon Hero :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Modern Day Hero VS. Anglo-Saxon HeroDuring the Anglo-Saxon period, muckle worshiped Heros. Here are a couple of ways how a modern mean solar day hero can be compared to one in the past.Nolan Ryan will be my choice of a classic modern day hero. One of the firsts of a heros characteristic is that he performs Outstanding Deeds. On pageboy thirty-five in Beowulf Higlacs brave follower tearing out his advance of the monster, his hatred rose higher but his power has gone. So to me that could be called an outstanding deed. right away Nolan Ryan is non a War hero but a baseball player. He was forty-five at the time and he had thrown 5,511 strikeouts, witch is a al-Quran that will not be broken anytime soon. Another way to be called a hero is to give great speeches. On page 31 of Beowulf herald Hrothagi............. Beowulf is very good at this but on the other hand Nolan Ryan is a very humble man. So he neer really gave speeches. The ternary characteristic of a hero is to boast abo ut his feats. Beowulf does a good job of boasting in this next line in Beowulf on page 31, And I am stronger than anyone in the world. To me that is a very big boast on Beowulfs part. Now for Nolan Ryan he is a very modest man and never had any reason to boast about anything, his numbers did the talking for him. Now the last of the of characteristics that is that he descended from Royalty. Now on page 31 in Beowulf, Higlac is my cousin-german and my King. Now on the other hand Nolan Ryans position in baseball had nothing to do with his family. He was noting more than a country boy from Alvin, Texas.Now all of those were characteristic of an Anglo-Saxon hero that are very different from those of a modern day hero. The first of them is if the Public eye likes the hero to be humble and have good sportsmanship. Nolan Ryan never went around taunting his opponents or talking about how good he is. But on the other hand Beowulf talked very highly of himself. I dont think the public would ha ve liked that very much about him. Another characteristic of a modern day hero is his appearance. Nolan was a good-looking guy. He did wrangler jeans ads. He also did TV commercials for Advil.

Role of the New Zealand Reserve Bank :: essays papers

Role of the new-made Zealand Reserve BankThe Reserve Bank of newborn Zealands Role and Polices. The 1980s saw some major changes for New Zealand, but none as significant as the deregulation of the financial institutions and scotch policy undertaken by the Labour government. The trigger for these changes occurred in 1984 whilst the country was still under the National party control. The economy was in a bad way, with lump high, foreign debt through the roof, and the subsequent lack of equity left in the country. The National, ruled under Robert Muldoon, called a snap election, which lead to the Labour party taking control of the country. The new Prime Minister, David Lange, immediately froze the foreign exchange market due to the major flow of currency out of the country, caused by speculation of the New Zealand dollar being devalued. Five later the exchange was reopened with the New Zealand dollar being devalued by 20 cents. This first major reform conducted by the newly ele cted government was to be just one of many carried out during the deregulation of the next eight months. By March 1985 a quash of reforms had been passed by government to help save the economy and bring it in line with other modern economies and financial systems throughout the world. These reforms included the removal of amour rate controls, removal of the limit on evoke paid to savings accounts (previously 3%), removal of the 30-day rule (a rule for trading banks, halting them from paying interest on money deposited for less than 30 days), removal of the special position given to a number of dealers on the short term money market, removal of the limitations placed interest rates and maturity for off shore borrowings, reduction in boarder controls, and the floating of the New Zealand dollar on the exchange market. by chance the most important changes made, however, were the reforms of the Reserve Banks monetary policies (Spencer, 1990)(Spencer & Carey, 1988)(Peare, 1999). In 1986 the reforms, by the Labour party, of the New Zealand banking system began with expansion of the financial system to incorporate new home(prenominal) and foreign banks, with no limits placed of the number of new banks allowed. As well as leading to a more competitive banking system, it also lead to an adjoin in the powers of supervision allocated to the Reserve

Role of the New Zealand Reserve Bank :: essays papers

Role of the New Zealand Reserve BankThe Reserve Bank of New Zealands Role and Polices. The 1980s saw many major changes for New Zealand, but none as significant as the deregulation of the financial institutions and economic policy undertaken by the Labour government. The trigger for these changes occurred in 1984 whilst the country was still under the National party control. The economic system was in a bad way, with inflation high, foreign debt through the roof, and the subsequent lack of barelyice left in the country. The National, ruled under Robert Muldoon, called a snap election, which lead to the Labour party taking control of the country. The untested Prime Minister, David Lange, immediately froze the foreign re-sentencing market due to the major flow of currency out of the country, caused by speculation of the New Zealand dollar being devalued. Five later the exchange was reopened with the New Zealand dollar being devalued by 20 cents. This first major reform condu cted by the newly elected government was to be just one of many carried out during the deregulation of the next eight months. By March 1985 a number of reforms had been passed by government to help save the economy and bring it in line with other modern economies and financial systems throughout the world. These reforms included the remotion of evoke rate controls, removal of the limit on interest paid to savings accounts (previously 3%), removal of the 30-day rule (a rule for trading banks, halting them from paying interest on money deposited for less than 30 days), removal of the special position given to a number of dealers on the short term money market, removal of the limitations placed interest rates and maturity for remove shore borrowings, reduction in boarder controls, and the floating of the New Zealand dollar on the exchange market. Perhaps the most important changes made, however, were the reforms of the Reserve Banks monetary policies (Spencer, 1990)(Spencer & Carey, 1988)(Peare, 1999). In 1986 the reforms, by the Labour party, of the New Zealand banking system began with expansion of the financial system to incorporate new domestic and foreign banks, with no limits placed of the number of new banks allowed. As well as leading to a more competitive banking system, it also lead to an increase in the powers of supervision allocated to the Reserve

African American Literature Essay

Throughout this semester in African American Literature we have read and analyzed many different literary works from The Norton Anthology of African American Literature by Henry Louis Gates Jr. We have discussed several of them in class either as a whole or in groups. I thoroughly enjoyed gaining useful knowledge about my own culture and heritage. This course also furthered my knowledge of the African American Experience. A few literary works stood out to me in particular Ive Been to The Mountaintop by Martin Luther King Jr. , What to a slave is the Fourth of July by Frederick Douglass and Long Black meter by Richard Wright.These powerful works of literature authentically allowed me to hypothetically put myself in their shoes. Some of the imagery portrayed in the text really effected me and made me reevaluate myself as an African American male. The impact that these powerful men and women had in their time period still affects us in present time. Ive been to the Mountaintop delive red by the late, great, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 3,1968 was sensation of the most powerful speeches of his life. During this sermon Dr. King spoke of some of his encounters with racist white people.One of his encounters was a brutal stabbing incident in virgin York City. Dr. King was in critical condition for four days if I had sneezed I would have died. (King 115) Even though he was treated horribly he knew that one-day things 1 2 would move better. Martin Luther King jr. used a certain(p) form of Vernacular called call and response/ call and recall engaging his audience and evoking a deeper response. He also made a few scriptural references during the speech.Martin Luther King Jr. compares himself to a present day Moses stating Hes allowed me to go up to the mountainand Ive seen the Promised Land, I may not get there with you, but, I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land (King 116). Kings speech really portrays the power of No n violent Direct Action. Frederick Douglass also played a big role this semester. The speech that intrigued me the most was What to a Slave is the Fourth of July. This speech is one of Douglass most controversial speeches. It allowed me to visualize the pain that they endured to help instill equality in America. One excerpt that moved me states This Forth of July is yours, not mine.You may rejoice, I must mourn. (Doug468) this meant that Frederick Douglass did not count himself apart of American traditions if he is not being treated like an American. The speech impacted me personally because it made me care for the value of freedom more than before. Thousands of men and women died in hopes of making a change. Their efforts were not in vein, and me, an African American male have to hold myself to a higher standard because living in a white America I am already at a disadvantage.Long Black telephone call by Richard Wright played a major role in my understanding of African American L iterature because with its unique portrayal of inequality amongst 2 3 races. Richard Wright had a unique writing style that blended realism and naturalism in his stories. There dialogue alone brings the story to life. The battle that Silas is facing is not an easy one. He is constantly being provoked by the white man directly and indirectly until he can no longer constrict it and retaliates.In closing, Ive Been to the Mountaintop, What to the Slave is Forth of July, and Long Black Song are all powerful literary works that helped me progress tremendously in my understanding of African American Literature. the main thing I got from each of these works was that you can not take anything for granted. Nothing in life is fair, so if you want to change something you have to take it upon yourself to initiate it. As an African American student attending an Historical Black College University I must be a leader in everything that I do. 3 4 Works Cited Gates Jr, Henry Louis. Folktales. The N orton Anthology of African American Literature. 2nd edition. Eds. Nellie McKay and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. New York Norton, 2004. P. 110-116, 468 Print.

American Immigration Essay

Immigration in the United States has been a major contri yetion to population growth and cultural change throughout much of the nations history. Throughout the years 1880 through 1925 the United States witnessed a rise in immigration. Many of these foreigners came to America in hopes of striking it rich, get away from monarchies, and just simply be free as America was known for (Doc A). In the early 1880s, immigration was gladly welcomed, but as time progressed, government motto it as a growing problem.The many aspects of immigration caused controversy in economic benefits, tasks for the non-immigrants, settlement patterns, crime, and even right to vote behavior. copulation has passed laws that have to do with immigrants especially in the 19th century such as the Chinese Exclusion acquit in 1882, and the Immigration Act of 1903 all to insure specific laws and boundaries to be set on immigrants. The life of immigrants has been drastically changed throughout the years of 1880-192 5 through American suspicion of European communism, and the immigrant foe to Americanization.Much of the controversy that was brought up during this time period was based on the fact that immigrants were coming over and taking over many jobs of the non-immigrants. Many Americans saw it unfair that the immigrants were gaining the wages that the Americans thought they deserved. They didnt find it fair that the immigrants just marched into America and demanded job opportunities, but that was what America was known for.Many groups of people were against the job openings for immigrants especially the National Peoples Party (Document C), who spoke out against the unfair laws, and demanded an end to any form of emigration. There were also many other groups of people that opposed the way the immigrants decided to live their lives, because most of the workers would just go over to the United States take jobs, earn money, and then return to their give birth place (Doc. B).These people also feared they would lose their jobs to these new immigrants that business would hire for cheaper pay. As a way to place boundaries and limit the amount of immigrants pouring in, Congress passed laws to insure specific laws to be set on solely immigrants. Laws such as Exclusion Act in 1882, the Gentlemens Agreement, and the Immigration Act of 1924 were instituted in order to control the composition of the U. S. population and effectively control immigration from European and Asian decent.

Science fair project: sun light vs artificial sun light

Sun unused vs articical illumination One of the main benefits of factitious feeble is that you can control how many hours of aerial per day your countersinks receive. This way, those living in northern or southern latitudes can provide their plants with light for buzz offth and development even when the sun sets early, in nerve tricking the plants into believing that it is summertime and that they should continue to grow rather than become dormant or, in the case of annuals, die. In addition, your plants will receive constant direct light for as long as you leave the lights turned on.Read more http//www. ehow. om/about_6720270_sunlight- celluloid-light-plant- growth. htmlixzz2isDOMJQa Incandescent Light Although affordable, candent lights provide little of the blue-spectrum light essential to plant growth. They argon less(prenominal) efficient than other artificial lights as they produce less illumination while utilizing more energy. To draw the some benefit from an incande scent light, you would have to place it close to your plants, and because incandescent lights produce more heat than other types of bulbs, this would likely result in burning your plants.Incandescent bulbs as well have actually short lives. High- Intensity Discharge Light High-intensity discharge lights produce far more illumination while using much less electricity than incandescent bulbs. In addition, while they produce a considerable amount of heat, you can hang them twice as far away from your plants as you would an incandescent bulb, so burning of the plants is less likely. High-pressure sodium lamps emit much red-spectrum light and little in the blue spectrum, making them ideal for greenhouse flowers to supplement graphic sunlight and encourage blooming.Metal halide bulbs emit more blue-spectrum light, making them perfect or indoor growing operations for plants that will not flower, such as nonfunctional plants and herbs. HPS bulbs last 12 times longer than incandescent b ulbs, and MH bulbs can last five times as long. Fluorescent Light Fluorescent lights produce less luminosity than high-intensity discharge lights, though far more than do incandescent bulbs. Fluorescents also produce very little heat and can hang very close to your plants.Bulbs rated in the higher Kelvin temperature range (5,000 to 6,500) emit more blue-spectrum light and those in the lower range (2,700 to 3,000) emit more red-spectrum light, although both also provide ull-spectrum light in lower intensities. Compact fluorescent lights will last five times as long as incandescent bulbs, and the tasteful T-5 full-spectrum fluorescents will last 10 times as long. Read more. nttp//www . enow. com/aoou growth. htmlixzz2isEHgmnp In general, sunlight is collapse for plant growth as it is raging and contains the full spectrum of electromagnetic radiation required for optimal plant growth.Artificial light, if it is an ordinary room light, will only support low-light tolerant plants. Most artificial light sources (fluorescent and incandescent) do not provide the full isible light spectrum that is required by plants for optimal growth, this results in plants that are tall and spindly (etiolated) and sometimes discolored. However, there are special lights with a spectrum that is tailored for growing plants. They have to be on for longer hours than sunlight, but as long as a plant is acquiring enough light-energy to manufacture its food, it will grow well.It doesnt matter whether that light is coming from the sun or from grow lights. The downside to extended exposure to light is the plants metabolic functions break down twice as hard for the same amount of output. Recent studies have also highlighted ome of the negative aspects of extended photosynthetic periods (extended light reactive period and trim dark reaction period). There are times when artificial light has an advantage. Hydroponic gardening with artificial light impinge ons it possible to grow plants in p unic climates that are lacking in sunshine think of the long night periods of areas of the northern hemisphere.In some places in Canada forage for animals is produced indoors during the winter months in artificial conditions. Supplemental lighting is used in horticulture to produce plants in flower outside of their normal flowering period. For instance Christmas cactus, poinsettias, tulips, narcissus, chrysanthemums, etc. Many houseplants grow better under artificial lamps, not because of the lights, but because it keeps them away from drafty windowsills Plants will grow better under sunlight artificial light lacks the complete spectrum of light provided by the sun.But a photon is a photon and light is light wnetner It comes Trom tne sun or a Tlasnllgnt vastly more energy comes Trom tne sun than from any artificial light. But the light from the sun is different from a street lamp another way most artificial light doesnt emit as much energy in the red and blue region of the light spectrum as sunlight does. In other words, different ratios of reds, yellows and blues all combine together to make up white sunlight.Researchers can successfully grow plants using only artificial light in growth chambers. But sunlight is best for most plants. Its generally more intense than artificial light, and its pretty equally distributed among the different wavelengths that earthly plants have evolved to like best. And theres another difference between lamps even grow lamps and sunlight. Grow lamps need energy to light up. Sunlight is unlimited and free. http//earthsky. org/human-world/artificial-light-plant-growth

Oedipus Reader’s Log

World Literature subscriber Response Log Oedipus Rex SectionLine(s) QuestionsReaders interpretation Prologue1-1501. Describe the dramatic purpose of the Prologue. The prologue sets the atmosphere of Oedipus Rex, and gets the reader interested. 82. How does Oedipus characterize himself in line 8? He sees himself as celebrated to all men. 25-303. Describe the conditions in Thebes as depicted by the Priest in lines 25-30. There is disease infecting the fruit and cattle of their land, and women in labor be losing their children. 40-464. How do the suppliants slew Oedipus in lines 31-34, 40, and 46? They are thankful of him because he set freed them from the tribute they were paying 5. What is a Sphinx? What is the answer to the riddle, What has one voice and four feet, two feet and three feet? Who answers the riddle? A winged monster of Thebes, having a womans head and a lions body. Man as an infant, he crawls on all fours as an adult, he walks on two legs and in old age, he uses a walking stick. Oedipus answers the riddle. 41-42536. What request does the Priest make of Oedipus in lines 41-42 and 53? They beg Oedipus for help, to help their state. So now, you surmount of men, raise up our state. 60-617. Define dramatic irony. Then, explain its function in lines 60-61. Irony that is understood by the audience/readers but non by the characters in the story. The audience would have already known Oedipus fate when hearing those lines, while the priest/Oedipus had no idea of what really happened. 95-1078. Review lines 95-107 once more. What does Apollo say must(prenominal) be done to rid Thebes of its pollution? Lord Phoebus clearly orders us to drive away the polluting stain this land has harboured they have to find who killed Laius. 114-1231259.What were the circumstances touch Laiuss death (refer to lines 114-123)? Furthermore, what motive does Oedipus assign the murderer (lines 124-125)? All of the messengers died that went with Laius except for one man. Oedipus says that the men are robbers. 137-14110. Explain the irony present in Oedipuss resolution (lines 137-141). Oedipus is talking rough what the killer might do while unbeknownst to him hes actually the killer. SectionLine(s) QuestionsReaders Commentary Parados151-21511. Discuss the let stunned reaction to Apollos advice to the city of Thebes (lines 154-157). The chorus is frightened, and is asking what they have to do for Zeus. What obligation will you demand from me, a thing unvalued. 170-18212. Describe the conditions in the city as recounted by the emit (lines 170-182). Everyone is unhappy, and many of the townspeople have died or are dying. First Episode216-46213. Why does Oedipus research the counsel of Teiresias (lines 278-287)? He can see into things like Lord Apollo. 316-344316-34414. What is Teiresias reaction to Oedipuss request (lines 316-344)? He doesnt want to tell Oedipus anything. 353-371353-37115.How does Oedipus view Teiresias? What ironi es experience in their conversation? signify to lines 353-371. Oedipus views Teiresias as a liar, he thinks what hes saying is wrong. Oedipus calls Teiresias blind, and eventually Oedipus will be blind. 385-38916. In lines 385-389, Oedipus begins to harbor a suspicion about Creon. What is this suspicion? Why is this important? He thinks Creon has betrayed him. However, Oedipus is wrong, and wont see the important truth that is in front of him. 390-39817. What superior feature does Oedipus claim over Teiresias in lines 390-398? Oedipus claims he has wit, while Teiresias only has the birds. 413-42518. In lines 413-425, Teiresias reveals the truth to Oedipus about his lineage. What does Teiresias predict will be Oedipuss fate? Refer to lines 417-423 452-460. Teiresias says that Oedipus will go blind, and that his cries will not be heard. Also, he says he will be poor. First Stasimon 463-51219. Discuss the Chorus view of Teiresiass accusations against Oedipus. Refer to lines 483- 495 504-511. They cannot confirm or deny them, the chorus is very confused. SectionLine(s) QuestionsReaders CommentarySecond Episode513-86220. How does Creon defend himself against Oedipuss accusation of conspiracy (lines 583-604)? Creon says hes much happier not being king and that when youre king you have to live in fear. 639-69721. What does Jocasta do in lines 639-697? Jocasta learns of what Oedipus wants to do to Creon and she stops him. 707-72222. How does Jocasta assure Oedipus that is not guilty of the kings death, lines 707-722? She tells him what the gods said. That it would be Laius son who killed him and that Laius sent his son away. 726-74523.Why is Oedipus disturbed and frightened by Jocastas comments in lines 726-745? He realizes that he is the individual who murdered Laius, meaning he is Laius son, and has an incest relationship with his wife/mother. 758-76424. Return to lines 758-764. What happened to the one witness to the kings death? The witness begged to b e sent attain to where the animals graze. 774-775779-79325. Whom does Oedipus believe are his true parents, lines 774-775? Why does he visit the Delphic Circle? What is he told? Refer to lines 779-793. He thinks Polybus of Corinth is his father.Oedipus goes to Delphic Circle to seek answers about his parents hes told that his fate was to defile his mothers bed. 813-82226. Describe what Oedipus fears most in lines 813-822. He says he wont be welcomed by anyone. 842-85827. How does Jocasta reassure Oedipus in lines 842-858? She says that Laius was killed by a group of men, and that her son died long ago so the sayings could not be true. 858-86028. What request does Oedipus make in lines 858-860? He requests to see the peasant/witness. SectionLine(s) QuestionsReaders CommentarySecond Stasimon863-91029. What wish does the Chorus express in the first stanza, lines 863-872? They pray that fate calm finds me worthy. 897-910What concern does the Chorus express in the fourth stanza, lines 897-910? They worry that the prophecies will fail to be fulfilled. Third Episode911-108530. Whom is Jocasta praying to in lines 911-923? She is praying to Apollo. 924-96331. What news is delivered to Oedipus in lines 924-963? What is his reaction to the couriers news? (964-972)? What is Jocastas reaction (977-983)? The messenger tells them Oedipus father has died. Jocasta says not to worship Apollo because he was wrong about the prophecies. Jocasta says that she already foretold of this. 1008-104632. What superfluous information does the Messenger provide, lines 1008-1046? The messenger tells him that Polybus is not his real father, and that Oedipus was found with his ankles tied together. 1056-1075 1076-107933. Why does Jocasta ask Oedipus to refrain from seeking out the Herdsman then leave, lines 1056-1075? How does Oedipus view Jocastas erratic behavior?Refer to lines 1076-1079. Jocasta knows that Oedipus is her son, and she doesnt want him to find out. Oedipus makes h is own decision, making Jocasta vow to never speak again. Oedipus thinks Jocasta is ashamed of him. 34. Discuss the irony surrounding the Messengers arrival immediately after Jocastas prayer. Is he truly delivering fair news? The messenger is not truly delivering good news its actually news that will hurt both Jocasta and Oedipus. Also, the irony is she her prayer is immediately answered by the messengers arrival. Third Stasimon1086-110935. Whom does the Chorus identify as parents to Oedipus? Refer to lines 1098-1101. The chorus identifies immortal gods as Oedipus parents. Fourth Episode1110-118536. Whom was the Herdsman employed with? Why is he reluctant to answer questions from Oedipus, lines 1117-1181? The herdsman was employed with Laius. Hes doesnt want to answer because he knows he and Oedipus will suffer. SectionLine(s) QuestionsReaders Commentary Fourth Stasimon1186-122237. What superior general comment does the Chorus offer based on Oedipuss plight?Refer to lines 118 6-1196. They say that no mortal man is ever blessed. They grace Oedipus. 1214-121538. What horrific fact concerning Oedipuss marriage to Jocasta does the Chorus identify in lines 1214 and 1215? It says that Oedipus and Jocasta are in fact mother and son. Exodos1223 to the end39. What news does the second Messenger announce in lines 1235-1279? They say that Jocasta killed herself. 1290-129140. Discuss the symbolism of Oedipuss self-blinding. What does Oedipus intend to do, lines 1290-1291? What prompts these actions? Oedipus has put a curse on himself, he wishes to be banished to sat he doesnt bare the curse on to the house. 1329-133141. In the next section of the Exodos, Oedipus joins the Chorus in lamenting his fate. Whom does Oedipus blame in lines 1329-1331? He blames Apollo. 1369-138542. What reasons does Oedipus provide for his self-blinding in lines 1369-1385? He couldnt bear to see his father and mother in Hades, or look at his children. 1436-146743. What requests does Oedipus make of Creon? Refer to lines 1436-1467. He wants Creon to cast him out where no other person will see him. 1489-150244. Describe the vision Oedipus has for his daughters future in lines 1489-1502. Oedipus thinks his children will be unmarried, and barren for the rest of their lives. 1524-153045. What moral lesson does the Chorus derive from Oedipuss life? Refer to lines 1524-1530. We cannot call a mortal being happy before hes passed beyond life free from pain. You cant call a person happy until theyve died. *Adapted from The Classical Origins of Western Culture Study Guide, Copyright 1986 by Brooklyn College, The City University of hot York All rights reserved. Published 1986.

Paul Poiret Biography

Name Paul Poiret pic Born April 20, 1879 April 30, 1944 Biography Born in capital of France to a wealthy family an attended a Catholic lycee. After school he started an apprenticeship with an umbrella maker, which did not suit him. In 1896, as a teenager, he began working for Jacques Doucet, a prominent Parisian couturier of the time. In four years Poiret worked up the ranks to become head of the adapting department for Jacques Doucet. Poiret designed for some(prenominal) actresses of the time, while working on the play LAiglon, he snuck into a dress rehearsal and his harsh critique of the sets and costumes got him fired from the movie.But, that did not stop actresses from requesting his designs. Joined the tin of Worth in 1901 as an assistant designer, there he deigned clothes in a stark contrast to the opulent garments from Worth his were more for the ordinary woman. While he felt himself that his fel get-go designers looked down on him for his more simplistic designs, t hey were commercially very successful. While at the bear of Worth, Poiret designed his basic Asian-inspired piece, which was a simple Chinese-style cloak called Confucius.It offended a Russian princess, who though it was too simple, and not grand enough for any remains but peasants to wear. After opening his House of expressive style the mandarin-robe-style cloaks were best sellers. In 1903 he opened his own couture house, in 1909 he relocated to a very large and spectacular location with a parterre garden. In the October 1908 publication of Les Robes de Paul Poiret, it featured Poirets designs using the pochoir method of printing, giving the images brilliantly saturated areas of color. Poiret worked with artist Paul Iribe to achieve this.Who juxtaposed Poirets graphically striking clothes to stylishly arranged backgrounds. With this they helped fuse fashion and art even further. Also, in 1908 Poiret introduced his lean, high-waisted silhouette. Featuring narrow lines, high waists, covered arms, and low decolletes, making the hourglass silhouette passe. Poirets designs removed the corset, which interfered with his narrow lines, and with that many other designers followed and corsets started to become a thing of the past. The Poiret Rose became a trademark for the designer by and by a hree-dimensional silk chiffon rose was sewn to the empire bodice of Josephine, one of the 1907 dresses that was featured in Les Robes de Paul Poiret. While producing his second album of designs, Les Choses de Paul Poiret (1911), Poiret asked artist Georges Lapape for inspiration for a new look. But Mme. Lepape was the one who inspired one of his most iconic designs, the jupe-culotte, with her sketch. In April of 1911 Poiret opened Martine, named after one of his daughters, which was a school where creativity could show and not be stifled by discipline or only being taught one way. Also, in the same year, 1911, the house of Poiret introduced their first fragrance, Ros ine, named after other daughter. Poiret was involved in every aspect of the production of the fragrance. He expanded the fragrance to include soaps and lotions, which was then replicated by other designers. Poiret was a military tailor throughout the war and had to relaunch his business in 1919 after the war was over. But by 1929 the House was doing poorly and he sold his business, it is due to this that he lost the rights to his name. Poiret passed away on April 28th 1944 from Parkinsons disease. Signature looks pic pic pic Significance Paul Poiret was incredibly significant because he pushed the boundaries on what was then considered fashion. He changed the shape of the femal body with his daring silhouettes. Poiret revolutionized the way fashion photography was done and essentially created editorials. Poiret also is a great example of a spirit of the times with his lavish life-style and designs he very much captured the spirit of the 1910s and 20s.Poiret was influenced by ma ny other cultures and would often bring it in to his designs, especially Asian and Persian. The piano ballooning legs, turbans, and tunic effect become Poiret signature looks. Poiret is regarded by many as the first genius of fashion he himself proclaims that he is the King of make in his autobiography of the same name. He is also the first designer to have come out with a beauty line, which has since set the standard for fashion houses. Signature Looks Today pic pic Works Cited Caroline Milbank, A-Z Fashion, Berg Fashion Library, Berg Publishers, online, 10/21/12.Images Cited Online Image, Timeless Fashion and Art, 2007, 10/21/12 Online Image, cheerfulness Sentinel Fashion and Style, December 15th, 2011. Online Image, FIDM Museum Blog, FIDM, August 19, 2009 Online Image, Zappos. com, Zappos, 10/21/12 Online Image, Styleite. com, Styleite Paris Couture Week, July 6th, 2011 Poirets jupe-culotte and tunic, 1913. Poirets fragrance, featuring trademark rose. Asian influenced de signs, 1913. Modern couture take on Asian-influence fashion. Baggy trouser pants similar to Poirets jupe-culotte.

Discussion Question on country competitiveness

Country competitiveness Is determined by a multitude of movers that measures and compares the military capability of countries In providing firms with an environment that sustains the domestic and International competitiveness of those firms (Sheehan & Lou Chi. 5, p. 130). How a countries excel In bringing firms to contri moreovere to the country competitiveness is the result of many factor that are evaluated yearly by the Forum in order to rank almost every country. The report is called Global Competitiveness Index, although it gloweringers over 500 pages the contented is laid out in an orderly fashion and easy to follow.Lets have a look at how these factors/ determinants influence over FAD strategy. Country-Level, Industry-Level, Firm-Level, Individual-Level Factor-driven economies (Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic environment, wellness and primary education) The level of competitiveness contributing to the country success can be well due to Its Institutional compet itiveness the competitive advantages that firms create In result of their operation wealth a specific circle of institutions is the driving capability to succeed in a socioeconomic context.Foreign firms will likely redact more where they know there is a good management of legal, lattice and economic institutions to protect their rights and property. Mature infrastructures facilitate connectivity, thus lessening the distance mingled with territories. Strong network infrastructures interconnected with national market encourage economic development. Transport, communication and telecommunication infrastructure system is what allow entrepreneurs to do their business, quick bombard of information increases global economic productivity by allowing businesses to interact and make decisions.Macroeconomic factor alone, even though stable does not Increase the countrys competitiveness but a macroeconomic disorder can actively affect the thrift. Workers need to be able to rely on good heal th services to fend off unnecessary absenteeism. Good health has proven to enable workers to better function. Also, workers who are educated increase their efficiencies at work but are limited to more manual jobs than one where a more elaborate process is involved.Thus, a lack of basic education can also limit the growth off firms capacity to develop. (Sheehan & Lou, up. 139) Mentioned that countries cannot be competitive on every level. Some of the week area can be mitigated through trade agreement. Paraguay is a cognise to experience frequent power shortages at peek hour. That may cause a MEN to choose to locate in another country if their productions fill usage of electricity.Efficiency-driven economies (Higher education and training, Goods market efficiency, Labor market efficiency, Financial market development, Technological readiness, Market size) Well-educated and continuous training is fundamental to firm who privation attractive for a firm that evolves in the market tec hnology and is invariably on a learning path to react and adapt to the fast chiliad IT progresses. To be better positioned in the racket, government with a well balanced set of market rules that does not restrict business productivity, but instead encourages unusual MEN to locate in the country.Per instance, restringing rules and heavy administrative paperwork causes delay that can result in missing out opportunities. In finance, there are always uncertainties, but putting all these factors together can provide a fair level of competitiveness. Not mentioned here though is the impediment of the financial economy when dealing with tax rate, interest rate, deficit and public debt in general also depend on how government manages its public accounts. An example would be a decrease in the FAD inflow in the U.S last year compared to the previous ones. Many factors that caused this decreased percentage of foreign investment are explained by Jackson,J. K. (2013) in a report prepared for c ommittee member of Congress. Innovation-driven (Business sophistication, Innovation) In order to succeed in that factor, support from private and public sector is essential. For example, course of instruction subvention in R& D is often what create a breakthrough in many sectors. Developing countries dont often have the knowledge and the throng like scientist to run that program.

Political Science and Federal Bureaucracy Essay

Develop a precise outline of your second main point. (For assistance with your writing skills, check out the Ashford Writing Center at https//awc.ashford.edu/essay-dev-essay-structure.html)1. Federal Policiesa. Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes adept advantage and one disadvantage to a national policy that must be implemented by one potency of the federal bureaucracy. whizz advantage of a policy that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy is the actual federal experts in the bureaucracy. The people set up the policy hold up much more about the issues than the president and this creates bureaucracy power. One disadvantage is that at any quantify the president can rearrange the organization chart of the bureaucracy.b. Provide a topic sentence that recommends one option to maintain the advantage and one to improve the disadvantage. One option to maintain the advantage is to hang in the detail of the policy inside the bureaucracy. The less the president knows about the issue, the more the bureaucracy has control of the issue. One way to improve the disadvantage is implement order. The reorganization should be authorized through congress.2. Scholarly assist (For assistance with your research see the Tutorials provided by Ashford Universitys Library at http//library.ashford.edu/tutorials.aspx, the APA Style Aid at https//www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/apa/, and for Annotated Bibliographies at https//awc.ashford.edu/tocw-sample-annotated-bibliography.html for additional help) a. Provide two credible sources in APA format to bread and butter your main points.OCONNELL, A. J. (2014). BUREAUCRACY AT THE BOUNDARY. University Of Pennsylvania Law Review, 162(4), 841-927Scholz, J. T., Twombly, J., & Headrick, B. (1991). Street-Level Political Controls Over Federal Bureaucracy. The American Political Science Review,(3). 829b. Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points. Both articles provide a capacious amount of detailed learning on what the president can and cannot control in the bureaucracy. Also it provides information on their limitations as well as to why they generate polices.c. Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability. Both sources hurl been reviewed for bias, validity and reliability. The source were found on Ashfords peer scholarly reviewed sources in the library which makes them credible.

Cultural Diversity and Its Effect on Mnc’s Essay

These days heathenish diversity melts a significant role in a gild. The criteria discriminating these groups include race, geographic undercoat, civilization, gender, age, in operation(p) or educational background, physical and cognitive competence, language, lifestyles, beliefs, cultural background, economic category, occupancy with the organization and sexual preference. As a MNC works in a spherical market it must be ready to key out all possible changes in the international environment and it has to be able to communicate and suit the identity element of the company to them. For example in India womens will not work for night so they accommodate to manage date for their convenience. The company cant offer quality products or services to the clients if it doesnt understand and take in account the impact that the tillage has in all the processes. Workers usually locoweed that their behavior hasnt got any influence on the final product or service, only if to be effec tive, every part must befool a discipline vision of the company and a clear mission on it. The social, political and enterprise structure depends on everyone in the company, so the internal compass and the human resources, one of the around important atomic number 18as of a company, must be developed with the rest of the company to achieve their goals. The misunderstanding and ignoring of different cultures, language and historical background lead to disasters in the field of desktop up multinational business. To avoid this, a general knowledge of another nations culture and history is essential. So general cultural knowledge, if duplicated with prejudice and prejudgment, is an obstacle to effective global solicitude. 2.1 talk and language barriersOne main challenge under culture is language barriers. Communication is necessary for management. soon enough communication relies upon a common language, a condition that does not exist in many global business situations and t hat is when the problems start. The almost pronounced sign of the language barrier at work can be found in the relationship between a multinational p arnt company and its network of global subsidiaries. Several factors contribute to the difficulty of achieving and sustaining effective communications and a productive, collaborative relationship. Even if an employee is relatively fitting in the language of the other party, loss of rhetorical skills is al rooms present as the use of humor, symbolism, sensitivity, negotiation, impression and motivation requires a very high level of fluency. 2.2 Attitudes towards Appointments and DeadlinesIn America, Americans were give strict obedience to judgment of conviction commitments and it was a basic principle of professionalism and polite behavior. Because everything tends to be strictly scheduled, postponements in one appointment or deadline can have a serious ripple effect on a coworker or customers other work commitments. But for example The more flexible and open-ended approach to time of Indian and Sri Lankan businesses culture can create tensions and adverse impressions on American counterparts 3. MNC Workforce Diversity multinational Companies (MNC) had to face a number of new challenges in their daily business over the past couple of years. Globalization changed various things for global players. In general MNC structure shows a focus on their main resources and departments like finance, technology, marketing, sales and production, because they want to have a large number of customers and to earn profit. A enormous challenge MNC have to manage is their workforce diversity. The milestone research by Hofstede with 116,000 recruits of IBM, a giant MNC in 50 countries and 3 regions recognized four cultural values in the workplace Individualism-collectivism, Power difference, doubtfulness avoidance and masculinity-femininity. For example the United States was the greatest and Guatemala was lowest in individualism. Malaysia was the highest and Austria was the lowest in the power surmount values. Greece was the highest and Singapore was the lowest in the uncertainty avoidance values. Japan was the highest and Sweden was the lowest in the masculinity values. on that point have been significant amount of intercultural and cross-cultural studies with these cultural values, and some studies demonstrated the relationship between communication styles with some of these values. Because of this diversity one of the key success factors of MNC is the recruitment and selection of human resources who offer semiprecious uniqueness. These individuals are forming the values and beliefs of a business. There are two key challenges within global HRM specifically building global corporate cultures and developing global leaders that have to be mastered in order to manage diversity and be successful in the global business surroundings.Managing diversity in MNC during HRMTo manage workforce diversity in MNC its a challenge for the human resource management to set up a global corporate culture. To recognize with the corporate culture of the company is the most significant thing for the workforce. That is why building a global corporate culture is one of the most important challenges for Multinational Companies. Employee behavior is possibly the most critical challenge that multinational organizations have to deal with. In Multinational Companies there is a huge potential of conflicts, because of its diverse personalities. As a end of this anxieties will arise among employees. Individuals try to ad quick-witted their behaviors to fit the demands of a particular environment. In order to adapt to the environment, individuals sacrifice their individualities to fit in with their new cooperatives. Individuals become incorporated into the culture of an organization when they are successfully understood into the workplace. Successful cultural adaptation reduces members anxiety, role conflict, and intentions to leave. Additionally, successful adaptation increases organizational obligation, moving in satisfaction, confidence, and job familiarity as well as successful acculturation and establishment of relationship. 4. Challenges of Working across Culture4.1StereotypingThey are usually misrepresentations and inaccuracies fixed in false guesses and faulty analysis. Usually this valuation is contriven in a electronegative perspective. The challenges to organizations are to acknowledge differences in positive terms. Power struggles and can be the result of stereotyping in organizations. For example, placing women, who stereotypically have had lower stead than men in society in senior management positions create status incongruence in the minds of many of the people. This can line complexities in the leader/subordinate relationship and can root power differences in a business. This is done in such a way that affiliates of minority groups may find it hard to use influence over decision processes in the organization. 4.2 EthnocentrismEthnocentrism results when managers identify the differences in cultures but have a longing to think that their culture and their way of doing things is the right way, their way of doing things is the only way and the best way. Any difference from their culture or from their way of doing things is seen as distortion or as a mistake or as Wrong way. Most people have the propensity to pursue ethnocentrism. Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Germans, French, Scandinavians, and Russians are more prone to ethnocentrism than other cultures when compared to other Asians, Latin Americans, British, Australians, Africans and Indians. 4.3Informal IntegrationInformal groups play a significant role in any business. They influence both the success of the business and the passage success of individuals. Total quality plans depend heavily on employee contribution and informal networks can greatly impact this process. Informal groups are influen ced by factors such as common language, perceived social similarity, and ethnocentrism. These incarnate networks are critical for communication in organizations. It has been found that race has a major effect on collective networking. This is not astonishing as you would expect people to have a preference for interaction with members of ones own culture group, especially in an informal context. 4.4 parochial AttitudeParochial attitude refers to a persons incapability to see cultural diversity. This is exactly the reverse of ethnocentrism. Managers who are sent overseas frequently meet people who are also dressed in suits and chatter their language this prompts them to disregard all other cultural differences and make them feel that all others are middling like us. In todays business globe, most people are apt to dress similarly in suits or other formulas and talk in English, but this does not depict that all people have the same culture but people often only see the surface and think that the other person shares the same cultural values. Managers from US/UK often tend to screening a strong parochial attitude mainly because the people with whom they relate on regular basis can speak English and are dressed similarly in suits or western dresses.

Forward the Foundation Chapter 15

Part IIIDors VenabiliVENABILI, DORS-The life of Hari Seldon is wholesome encrusted with leg discontinue and uncertainty, so that little wish remains of ever obtaining a biography that can be thoroughly concomitantual. possibly the most puzzling aspect of his life deals with his consort, Dors Venabili. There is no information whatever concerning Dors Venabili, except for her affinity on the world of Cinna, prior to her arrival at Streeling University to become a member of the history faculty. curtly later onwards that, she met Seldon and remained his consort for twenty-eight years. If anything, her life is more interlarded with legend than Seldons is. There ar instead fabulous tales of her strength and speed and she was widely spoken of, or perhaps whispered of, as The Tiger Woman. quiesce more puzzling than her coming, however, is her button, for after a certain time, we hear of her no more and there is no indication as to what happened.Her role as a historian is eviden ced by her works on- cyclopedia Galactica1Wanda was almost eight years old now, sacking by Galactic Standard condemnation -as either genius did. She was quite the little lady-grave in manner, with straight light-br make hair. Her eyes were blue but were darkening and she might well end with the brown eyes of her father.She sat there, lost in thought. Sixty.That was the number that preoccupied her. Grandfather was going to hit a birthday and it was going to be his sixtieth-and sixty was a big number. It bothered her because yesterday she had had a bad dream ab come forth it.She went in search of her mother. She would guard to ask.Her mother was not badly to find. She was dialogueing to Grandfather- nigh the birthday surely. Wanda hesitated. It wouldnt be nice to ask in front of Grandfather.Her mother had no stir whatever sensing Wandas consternation. She express, One minute, Hari, and lets arrest whats bothering Wanda. What is it, erotic love?Wanda pulled at her hand. no( prenominal) here, Mother. Private.Manella sullen to Hari Seldon. See how untimely it starts? Private lives. Private problems. Of course, Wanda, shall we go to your room?Yes, Mother. Wanda was pullly assuage.Hand in hand, they went and then her mother say, straightaway what is the problem, Wanda?Its Grandfather, Mother.Grandfather I cant imagine him doing anything to bother you.Well, he is. Wandas eyes filled with sudden tears. Is he going to die?Your grandfather? What put that into your head, Wanda?Hes going to be sixty. Thats so old.No, it isnt. Its not young, but its not old, either. pile live to be eighty, ninety, even a hundred-and your grandfather is fortified and healthy. Hell live a long time. be you sure? She was sniffing.Manella grasped her daughter by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. We must all die someday, Wanda. Ive explained that to you forrader. Just the same, we dont irritate almost it gutter the someday is much closer. She wiped Wandas eyes gently. Grandfather is going to stay alive till youre all grown up and pass water babies of your own. Youll see. in a flash come back with me. I necessity you to talk to Grandfather.Wanda sniffed again.Seldon looked at the little girl with a sympathetic expression on her return and said, What is it, Wanda? Why are you unhappy?Wanda shook her head.Seldon turned his gaze to the girls mother. Well, what is it, Manella?Manella shook her head. Shell stomach to guarantee you herself.Seldon sat down and tapped his lap. Come, Wanda. accommodate a seat and tell me your troubles.She obeyed and wriggled a bit, then said, Im scared.Seldon put his arm around her. Nothing to be scared of in your old grandfather.Manella made a buttock. Wrong word.Seldon looked up at her. Grandfather?No. Old.That seemed to break the dike. Wanda burst into tears. Youre old, Grandfather.I suppose so. Im sixty. He bent his cause down to Wandas and whispered, I dont wish well it, either, Wanda. Thats why Im glad youre moreover seven going on eight.Your hair is unclouded, Grandpa.It wasnt always. It just turned white recently.White hair inculpates youre going to die, Grandpa.Seldon looked shocked. He said to Manella, What is all this?I dont endure, Hari. Its her own idea.I had a bad dream, said Wanda.Seldon decipherable his throat. We all have bad dreams now and then, Wanda. Its good we do. destructive dreams clear rid of bad thoughts and then were better off.It was about you dying, Grandfather.I know. I know. Dreams can be about dying, but that doesnt make them important. Look at me. Dont you see how alive I am-and cheerful-and laughing? Do I look as though Im dying? Tell me.N-no.There you are, then. Now you go out and play and for get hold all about this. Im just having a birthday and everyone will have a good time. Go ahead, dear.Wanda left in reasonable cheer, but Seldon motioned to Manella to stay.2Seldon said, Wherever do you consider Wanda got such a notion?Come now, Hari. She had a Salvanian gecko that died, remember? One of her friends had a father who died in an accident and she sees deaths on holovision all the time. It is impossible for any child to be so cling toed as not to be aware of death. Actually I wouldnt indispensableness her to be so protected. Death is an ingrained part of life she must learn that.I dont mean death in general, Manella. I mean my death in particular. What has put that into her head?Manella hesitated. She was very fond, indeed, of Hari Seldon. She thought, Who would not be, so how can I tell apart this? just how could she not say this? So she said, Hari, you yourself put it into her head.I?Of course, youve been speaking for months of turning sixty and kick loudly of growing old. The only reason muckle are setting up this party is to cabinet you.Its no fun turning sixty, said Seldon indignantly. Wait Wait Youll find out.I will-if Im lucky. Some people dont make it to sixty. Just the same, if turning sixty and creation old are all you talk about, you end up frightening an impressionable little girl.Seldon sighed and looked troubled. Im sorry, but its hard. Look at my hands. Theyre getting spotted and in short theyll be gnarled. I can do hardly anything in the way of Twisting any longer. A child could probably force me to my knees.In what way does that make you different from other sixty-year-olds? At least your brain is working as well as ever. How often have you said that thats all that counts?I know. But I miss my body.Manella said with just a touch of malice, Especially when Dors doesnt seem to get any older.Seldon said uneasily, Well yes, I suppose- He looked away, clearly unwilling to talk about the matter.Manella looked at her father-in-law gravely. The trouble was, he knew nothing about children-or about people generally. It was hard to work out that he had spend ten years as First Minister under the old Emperor and yet end up knowing as little about people as he did.Of course, he was unaccompanied wrapped up in this psychohistory of his, that dealt with quadrillions of people, which ultimately meant dealing with no people at all-as individuals. And how could he know about children when he had had no contact with any child except Raych, who had entered his life as a twelve-year-old? Now he had Wanda, who was-and would probably remain to him-an utter mystery.Manella thought all this lovingly. She had the incredible desire to protect Hari Seldon from a world he did not reckon. It was the only point at which she and her mother-in-law, Dors Venabili, met and coalesced-this desire to protect Hari Seldon.Manella had save Seldons life ten years before. Dors, in her strange way, had considered this an invasion of her prerogative and had never quite forgiven Manella.Seldon, in his turn, had then saved Manellas life. She closed her eyes briefly and the whole scene returned to her, almost as though it were happening to her right now.3It was a workweek after the assassination of Cleon-and a horrible week it had been. every of Trantor was in chaos.Hari Seldon still kept his office as First Minister, but it was clear he had no power. He called in Manella Dubanqua.I want to thank you for saving Raychs life and my own. I havent had a regain to do so yet. Then with a sigh, I have scarcely had a adventure to do anything this past week.Manella asked, What happened to the mad gardener?Exe have it awayed At once No trial I tried to save him by pointing out that he was insane. But there was no question about it. If he had through anything else, committed any other crime, his madness would have been recognized and he would have been spared. Committed-locked up and treated-but spared, nonetheless. But to kill the Emperor- Seldon shook his head sadly.Manella said, Whats going to happen now, First Minister?Ill tell you what I think. The Entun Dynasty is finished. Cleons son will not succeed. I dont think he wants to. He fears assassination in his turn and I dont blame him one bit. It would be much better for him to retire to one of the family estates on some Outer World and live a quiet life. Because he is a member of the knightly House, he will untie** allowed to do this. You and I may be less fortunate.Manella frowned. In what way, sir?Seldon cleared his throat. It is possible to argue that because you killed Gleb Andorin, he dropped his blaster, which became available to Mandell Gruber, who used it to kill Cleon. Therefore you bear a strong share of the responsibility of the crime and it may even be said that it was all prearranged.But thats ridiculous. I am a member of the security creation, fulfilling my duties-doing what I was ordered to do.Seldon smiled sadly. Youre arguing rationally and rationality is not going to be in fashion for a while. Whats going to happen now, in the absence of a legitimate successor to the regal throne, is that we are bound to have a array government.(In later years, when Manella came to un derstand the workings of psychohistory, she wondered if Seldon had used the technique to work out what was going to happen, for the military rule certainly came to pass. At the time, however, he made no mention of his fledgling theory.)If we do have a military government, he went on, then it will be necessary for them to establish a firm rule at once, compact any undertakes of disaffection, act vigorously and cruelly, even in defiance of rationality and judge. If they accuse you, Miss Dubanqua, of being part of a plot to kill the Emperor, you will be slaughtered, not as an act of justice but as a way of cowing the people of Trantor.For that matter, they might say that I was part of the plot, too. afterward all, I went out to greet the new gardeners when it was not my place to do so. Had I not done so, there would have been no attempt to kill me, you would not have struck back, and the Emperor would have lived. Do you see how it all fits?I cant recall they will do this.Perhaps t hey wont. Ill make them an fissure that, just perhaps, they may not wish to refuse.What would that be?I will offer to resign as First Minister. They dont want me, they wont have me. But the fact is that I do have supporters at the Imperial Court and, even more important, people in the Outer Worlds who find me acceptable. That means that if the members of the Imperial make force me out, then even if they dont execute me, they will have some trouble. If, on the other hand, I resign, stating that I believe the military government is what Trantor and the Empire needs, then I actually help them, you see? He mused a little and said, Besides, there is the little matter of psychohistory.(That was the first time Manella had ever comprehend the word.)Whats that?Something Im working on. Cleon believed in its powers very strongly-more strongly than I did at the time-and theres a considerable feeling in the court that psychohistory is, or might be, a powerful tool that could be made to work o n the side of the government-whatever the government might be.Nor does it matter if they know nothing about the details of the science. Id rather they didnt. neediness of knowledge can increase what we might call the superstitious aspect of the situation. In which case, they will let me continue working on my research as a private citizen. At least, I hope so. And that brings me to you.What about me?Im going to ask as part of the deal that you be allowed to resign from** the security establishment and that no action be taken against you for** the events in connection with the assassination. I ought to be able toBut youre talking about ending my career.Your career is, in any case, over. Even if the Imperial Guard doesnt up an order of execution against you, can you imagine that you will Be allowed to continue working as a security officer?But what do I do? How do I make a living?Ill take care of that, Miss Dubanqua. In all likelihood, Ill go back to Streeling University, with a larg e grant for my psychohistorical research, Im sure that I can find a place for you.Manella, round-eyed, said, Why should you-Seldon said, I cant believe youre asking. You saved Raychs life and own. Is it conceivable that I dont owe you anything?And it was as he said. Seldon resigned gracefully from the post he had held for ten years. He was given a fulsome letter of appreciation for his services by the just-formed military government, a junta led by certain members of the Imperial Guard and the armed forces. He returned to Streeling University and Manella Dubanqua, relieved of her own post as security officer, went with Seldon and his family.4Raych came in, blowing on his hands. Im all for deliberate variety in the weather. You dont want things under a dome to always be the same. Today though, they made it just a little too cold and worked up a wind, besides. I think its about time mortal complained to weather control.I dont know that its weather controls fault, said Seldon. Its get ting harder to control things in general.I know. Deterioration. Raych brushed his thick black mustache with the back of his hand. He did that often, as though he had never quite managed to get over the few months during which he had been mustacheless in Wye. He had also put on a little weight around the middle and, overall, had come to seem very comfortable and middleclass. Even his pigeon-pea plant accent had faded somewhat.He took off his light coverall and said, And hows the old birthday boy?Resenting it. Wait, wait, my son. One of these days, youll be celebrating your fortieth birthday. Well see how funny youll think that is.Not as funny as sixty.Stop joking, said Manella, who had been chafing Raychs hands, trying to warm them.Seldon spread his own hands. Were doing the wrong thing, Raych. Your wife is of the opinion that all this talk about my turning sixty has sent little Wanda into a decline over the possibility of my dying.Really? said Raych. That accounts for it, then. I stopped in to see her and she told me at once, before I even had a chance to say a word, that she had had a bad dream. Was it about your dying?Apparently, said Seldon.Well, shell get over that. No way of stopping bad dreams.Im not dismissing it that easily, said Manella. Shes brooding over it and thats not healthy. Im going to get to the bottom of this.As you say, Manella, said Raych agreeably. Youre my dear wife and whatever you say-about Wanda-goes. And he brushed his mustache again.His dear wife It hadnt been so unprovoked to make her his dear wife. Raych remembered his mothers attitude toward the possibility. Talk about nightmares. It was he who had the diurnal nightmares in which he had to face down the furious Dors Venabili once more.5Raychs first clear memory, after emerging from his desperance-induced ordeal, was that of being shaved.He felt the vibrorazor moving along his cheek and he said weakly, Dont cut anywhere near my upper lip, barber. I want my mustache back.The ba rber, who had already received his instructions from Seldon held up a mirror to reassure him.Dors Venabili, who was sitting at his bedside, said, Let him work, Raych. Dont excite yourself.Raychs eyes turned toward her momentarily and he was quiet. When the barber left, Dors said, How do you feel, Raych?Rotten, he muttered. Im so depressed, I cant stand it.Thats the lingering effect of the desperance youve been dose with. The effects will wash out.I cant believe it. How long has it been?never mind. It will take time. You were manage full of it.He looked around restlessly. Has Manella been to see me?That woman? (Raych was getting used to hearing Dors speak of Manella with those words and in that tone of voice.) No. Youre not fit for visitors yet.Interpreting the look on Raychs face, Dors quickly added, Im an excommunication because Im your mother, Raych. Why would you want that woman to see you, anyway? Youre in no condition to be seen.All the more reason to see her, muttered Raych . I want her to see me at my worst. He then turned to one side dispiritedly. I want to sleep.Dors Venabili shook her head. Later that day she said to Seldon I dont know what were going to do about Raych. Hari. Hes quite unreasonable.Seldon said, Hes not well, Dors. Give the young man a chance.He keeps muttering about that woman. Whatever her gain is.Manella Dubanqua. Its not a hard name to remember.I think he wants to set up housekeeping with her. Live with her. Marry her.Seldon shrugged. Raych is thirty-old enough to make up his own mind.As his parents, we have something to say-surely.Hari sighed. And Im sure youve said it, Dors. And once youve said it, Im sure hell do as he wishes.Is that your final word? Do you intend to do nothing while he makes plans to marry a woman like that?What do you expect me to do, Dors? Manella saved Raychs life. Do you expect him to forget that? She saved mine, too, for that matter.That seemed to food Dorss anger. She said, And you also saved her. Th e score is even.I didnt just now-Of course you did. The military rascals who now run the Empire would have slaughtered her if you didnt step in and sell them your resignation and your support in order to save her.Though I may have evened the score, which I dont think I have, Raych has not. And, Dors dear, I would be very careful when it came to utilise unfortunate terms to describe our government. These times are not going to be as easy as the times when Cleon ruled and there will always be informers to repeat what they hear you say.Never mind that. I dont like that woman. I presume that, at least, is permissible.Permissible, certainly, but of no use.Hari looked down at the floor, deep in thought. Dorss usually unfathomable black eyes were positively flashing in anger. Hari looked up.What Id like to know, Dors, is why? Why do you dislike Manella so? She saved our lives. If it had not been for her quick action, both Raych and I would be dead.Dors snapped back, Yes, Hari. I know tha t better than anyone. And if she had not been there, I would not have been able to do a thing to prevent your murder. I suppose you think I should be grateful. But every time I look at that woman, I am reminded of my failure. I know these feelings are not truly rational-and that is something I cant explain. So do not ask me to like her, Hari. I cannot.But the coterminous day even Dors had to back down when the doctor said, Your son wishes to see a woman named Manella.Hes in no condition to see visitors, snapped Dors.On the contrary. He is. Hes doing quite well. Besides, he insists and is doing so most strenuously. I dont know that wed be wise to refuse him.So they brought in Manella and Raych greeted her effusively and with the first faint sign of happiness since he had arrived at the hospital.He made an unmistakable small gesture of dismissal at Dors. Lips tightened, she left.And the day came when Raych said, Shell have me, Mom.Dors said, Do you expect me to be surprised, you fool ish man? Of course shell have you. Youre her only chance, now that shes been disgraced, ousted from the security establishmentRaych said, Mom, if youre trying to lose me, this is exactly the way of doing it. Dont say things like that.Im only thinking of your welfare.Ill think of my own good, thank you. Im no ones ticket to respectability-if youll stop to think of it. Im not exactly handsome. Im short. Dad isnt First Minister anymore and I talk solid lower-class. Whats there for her to be proud of in me? She can do a lot better, but she wants me. And let me tell you, I want her.But you know what she is.Of course I know what she is. Shes a woman who loves me. Shes the woman I love. Thats what she is.And before you fell in love with her, what was she? You know some of what she had to do while undercover in Wye you were one of her assignments. How many others were there? Are you able to live with her past? With what she did in the name of duty? Now you can afford to be idealistic. But s omeday you will have your first quarrel with her-or your siemens or your nineteenth-and youll break down and say, You-**Raych shouted angrily, Dont say that When we entreat, Ill call her unreasonable, irrational, nagging, whining, inconsiderate-a million adjectives that will fit the situation. And shell have words for me. But theyll all be sensible words that can be withdrawn when the fight is over.You think so-but just wait till it happens.Raych had turned white. He said, Mother, youve been with Father now for almost twenty years. Father is a hard man to disagree with, but there have been times when you devil have argued. Ive heard you. In all those twenty years, has he ever called you by any name that would in any way compromise your role as human being? For that matter, have I done so? Can you conceive of me doing so now-no matter how angry I get?Dors struggled. Her face did not show emotion in quite the same way that Raychs did or Seldons would, but it was clear that she was momentarily incapable of speech.In fact, said Raych, pushing his advantage (and feeling horrible at doing so) the fact of the matter is that you are jealous because Manella saved Dads life. You dont want anyone to do that but you. Well, you had no chance to do so. Would you prefer it if Manella had not shot Andorin-if Dad had died? And me, too?Dors said in a choked voice, He insisted on going out to meet the gardeners alone. He would not allow me to come.But that wasnt Manellas fault.Is that why you want to marry her? Gratitude?No. Love.And so it was, but Manella said to Raych after the ceremony, Your mother may have tended to(p) the wedding because you insisted, Raych, but she looked like one of those thunderclouds they sometimes send sailing under the dome.Raych laughed. She doesnt have the face to be a thundercloud. Youre just imagining it.Not at all. How will we ever get her to give us a chance?Well just be patient. Shell get over it.But Dors Venabili didnt.Two years after the wedding, Wanda was born. Dorss attitude toward the child was all Raych and Manella could have wanted, but Wandas mother remained that woman to Raychs mother.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, Elena woke to attend Damon gone, his blanket folded neatly at the foot of her bed. Meredith was dressing for a morning workout, sleepy-eyed and silent, and she only nodded as Elena passed her Elena had learned long ago that Meredith was use little for conversation before shed had her first cup of c take awayee.Bonnie, who didnt birth enlighten until that afternoon, was only a lump under her covers.Surely Meredith would have tell something if she had noniced Damon on the floor, Elena vox populi as she dropped in at the cafeteria to grab a muffin before class. Maybe Damon hadnt stayed. Elena bit her lip, persuasion well-nigh that, kicking little stones on her way to class. She had thought he would stay, that he would want to approximate and keep her safe.Was it right that she liked that and that she felt more than a twinge of hurt at the appraisal that he had left?She didnt want Damon to be in love with her, did she?Wasnt part of the reason she put her romance with Stefan on hold so that she and Damon could get each different(a) out of their systems? ButI am a lousy person, she realized.Musing on her cause lousiness took Elena al the way into her History of the due south class, w present she was doodling sadly in her nonebook when Professor Campbel James came in. Clearing his throat loudly, he walked to the front of the class, and Elena reluctantly pul ed her attention away from her own problems to pay attention to him.James looked different. Unsure of himself, Elena realized. His look didnt count quite as bright as usual, and he appeared to be somehow smal er.Theres been another disappearance, he said quietly.An anxious babble rose up from the rest of the class, and he held up his hand. The victim this conviction and I think we can say at this point that were talking about victims, not students simply passing campus is, unfortunately, a student in this class. Courtney Brooks is missing she was last seen walking back to her d orm from a party last night. Scanning the class, Elena tried to remember who Courtney Brooks was. A tal , quiet girl with caramel-colored pig, she thought, and descry the girls empty seat.James raised his hand again to quel the rising clamor of frightened and excited voices. Because of this, he said slowly, I think that today we must postpone continuing our discussion of the colonial limit so that I can tel you a little bit about the history of Dalcrest Col ege. He looked slightly at the confused faces of the class. This is not, you see, the first time unusual things have happened on this campus. Elena frowned and, looking at her classmates, saw her confusion mirrored on their faces.Dalcrest, as many of you doubtlessly k direct, was founded in 1889 by Simon Dalcrest with the aim of educating the wealthy sons of the postwar Southern aristocracy. He said that he wanted Dalcrest to be considered the Harvard of the South and that he and his family would be at the forefront of intel ectualism and academia in the soon-to-begin new century. This much is frequently featured in the falseicial campus histories.Its less Wellknown that Simons fancys were dashed in 1895 when his wild twenty-year-old son, Wil iam Dalcrest, was found dead with three others in the tunnels underneath the school. It was what appeared to be a suicide pact.Certain materials and symbols found in the tunnels with the bodies suggested some ties to black magic. Two years later Simons wife, Julia Dalcrest, was stern y murdered in what is now the administration building the mystery surrounding her death was never solved. Elena glanced nigh at her classmates. Had they known about this? The col ege brochures mentioned when the school was founded and by who, but nothing about suicides and murders. Tunnels underneath the school?Julia Dalcrest is one of at least three distinct ghosts who are rumored to haunt the campus. The other ghosts are those of a seventeen-year-old girl who drowned, again unde r dusky circumstances, when visiting for a weekend trip the light fantastic toe in 1929. She is said to wander wailing through the hal s of McClel an House, leaving drip personal identification numberg pools of water pot her. The third is a twenty-one-year-old boy who vanished in 1953 and whose body was found three years later in the library basement. His ghost has reportedly been seen coming in and out of offices in the library, running and looking back in terror, as if he is being pursued.There are also rumors of several other mysterious occurrences a student in 1963 disappeared for four days and reappeared, saying he had been kidnapped by elves. A flighty giggle ran through the class, and James waved a reproving finger at his audience. He seemed to be perking up, goon back to his usual self under the influence of the classs attention.The point is, he said, that Dalcrest is an unusual place. Beyond elves and ghosts, on that point has been a p permithora of documented unusua l occurrences, and rumors and legends of far more spring up around campus both year.Mysterious deaths. Secret societies. Tales of monsters. He paused dramatical y and looked around at them. I beg you, do not become part of the legend. Be smart, be safe, and stick in concert. Class dismissed.The students glanced at one another uneasily, galvanise by this abrupt dismissal with stil more than half an hour left in the class. Regardless, they started to gather their possessions together and trickle out of the room in twos and threes.Elena grabbed her bag and hurried to the front of the room.Professor, she said. James.Ah, Elena, James said. I hope you were paying attention today. It is important that you young girls be on your guard. The young men, too, real y. Whatever affects this campus does not seem to discriminate. Up close, he looked pale and worried, older than he had at the beginning of the semester.I was genuinely interested in what you said about the history of Dalcrest, Elen a said. But you didnt talk about whats happening now. What do you think is going on here? Professor Campbel s face creased into even grimmer lines, and his bright eyes gazed past her. Well, my dear, he said, its hard to say. Yes, very hard. He licked his lips nervously. Ive spent a lot of time at this school, you know, years and years. Theres not a lot I wouldnt believe at this point. But I full dont know, he said softly, as if he was talking to himself.There was something else I wanted to postulate you, Elena said, and he looked at her attentively. I went to see the picture you told me about. The one of you and my parents when you were students here. You were al wearing the same pin in the picture. It was blue and in the shape of a V. She was close enough to James that she felt his self-coloured body jolt with surprise. His face lost its grim thoughtfulness and went blank. Oh, yes? he said. I cant imagine what it was, Im afraid. probably something Elizabeth made. She was of all time very creative. Now, my dear, I real y must run. He slipped past Elena and made his escape, move out of the classroom despite a few other students trying to stop him with questions.Elena watched him go, feeling her own eyebrows going up in surprise. James knew more than he was saying, that was for sure. If he wouldnt tel her and she wasnt giving up on him just yet shed attend out somewhere else. Those pins were significant, his reaction proved that.What kind of mystery could be tied to a pin? Had James said something about secret societies?After my parents died, Samantha told Meredith, I went to wear with my aunt. She came from a hunter family, too, but she didnt know anything about it. She didnt seem to want to know. I kept on doing martial arts and everything I could learn by myself, but I didnt have anyone to train me. Meredith shone her flannel mullein into the dark bushes over by the music building and waved the beam around. Nothing to see except plants.You did a skil lful job teaching yourself, she told Samantha. Youre smart and strong and careful. You just need to keep trusting your instincts. It had been Samanthas composition to patrol the campus together after sundown, to check out the places where the missing girl, Courtney, had been spotted last night, to see if they could find anything.Meredith had felt powerful at the beginning of the evening, poised to fight, with her sister hunter beside her.But now, even though it was interesting to patrol with Samantha, to see the hunter life through her eyes, it was starting to feel like they were just wandering around at random.The police found her sweater somewhere over here, Samantha said. We should look around for clues.Okay. Meredith restrained herself from saying that the police had already been through here with dogs, looking for clues themselves, and there was a good chance they had found anything there was to find. She scanned the flashlight over the grass and path. Maybe wed be better off doing this during the day, when we can see better.I guess youre right, Samantha said, flicking her own flashlight on and off. Its good that were out here at night, though, dont you think? If were patrol ing, we can protect people. Keep things from getting out of control. We walked Bonnie menage last night and kept her safe. Meredith felt a flicker of anxiety. What if they hadnt come along? Could Bonnie have been the one who disappeared, instead of Courtney?Samantha looked at Meredith, a little smile curling up the corners of her mouth. Its our destiny, right? What we were natural for.Meredith grinned back at her, forgetting her momentary anxiety. She loved Samanthas enthusiasm for the hunt, her constant striving to get better, to fight the darkness. Our destiny, she agreed. score across the quad, someone screamed.Snapping into action without even thinking about it, Meredith began running. Samantha was a few steps prat her, already struggling to keep up. She needs to work on her s peed, cool y commented the part of Meredith that was always taking notes.The scream, shril and frightened, came again, a bit to the left. Meredith changed direction and sped toward it.Where? She was close now, but she couldnt see anything. She scanned her flashlight over the ground, searching.There. On the ground nearby, two dark figures lay, one pinning the other to the ground.Everyone froze for a moment, and then Meredith was racing toward them, cheering Stop it Get off Get off and a second later, the figure that had been pinning the other down was up and running into the darkness.Black hoodie, black jeans, the note taker said calmly.Cant tell if its a guy rope or a girl.The person whod been pinned was a girl, and she flinched and screamed as Meredith ran past her, but Meredith couldnt stop. Samantha was behind her so she could religious service the girl. Meredith had to catch the fleeing figure.Her long strides ate up the ground, but she wasnt fast enough.Even though she was goi ng as fast as she could, the person in black was faster. There was a glimpse of paleness as the person looked back at her and then melted into the darkness. Meredith ran on, searching, but there was nothing to be found. final examination y, she halted. Panting, trying to catch her breath, she swept the beam of the flashlight over the ground, looking for some clue. She couldnt believe she had failed, that she had let the attacker get away.Nothing. No trace. They had gotten so close, and stil , al she knew was that the person who attacked this girl owned black vesture and was an insanely fast runner. Meredith swore and kicked at the ground, then pul ed herself back together.Approximating calmness, she headed back toward the victim. While Meredith was chasing the attacker, Samantha had helped the girl to her feet, and now the girl was huddled close to Samanthas side, wiping her eyes with a tissue.Shaking her head at Meredith, Samantha said, She didnt see anything. She thinks it was a man, but she didnt see his face.Meredith clenched her fists. Dammit. I didnt see anything either. He was so fast Her voice trailed off as a thought struck her.What is it? Samantha asked.Nothing, Meredith said. He got away. In her mind, she replayed that momentary glimpse of pale hair she had seen as the attacker looked back at her. That shade of pale she had seen it somewhere very recently.She remembered Zander, his face morose toward Bonnies. His white-blond hair was that same unusual shade. It wasnt enough to go on, not enough to tel anyone.A momentary scene of a color didnt mean anything.Meredith pushed the thought away, but, as she gazed off into the darkness again, she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold.

A Chip off The Old Block-Bluster Essay

Background to the problemMr Something runs a small art called A Chip off The Old Block-Bluster. Mr Something is the makes of Blockbusters son. He has only left him a little consequence of inheritance and wanted him to produce a origin that was just as good as his. He currently has a shop in slough High Street. He only gets a a few(prenominal) customers a day. He keeps track of peoples record manual(a)ly and would like to use his stimulates m matchlessy to set up an electronic system that only requires a few manual entries.The Current SystemMr Something currently uses plug-ins to manage his business. He has 2 types of control boards. 1 card is his business card to hand out to people to extract where his shop is, his name, telephone, his email and his fax. The other type of card is a customer card. The customer card has the shop logo on it and the customers name on it. It is a card make out of card and is laminated to protect it from damage. If the customer does not have a ca rd, he issues one to them for a price of 20p if they wish to rent videodisks again. He collects their name, address, DOB and home number. The card give the sack have info printed on it with a permanent ink. It shows when the DVD must be returned by. The ink can be erased using a special spray and a cloth.This is costly and takes some time. It can sometimes irritate the customer depenitentiaryding on how long it takes. He creates the card by designing it on Microsoft publisher and printing it off using a dot matrix printer and laminates it. He to a fault keeps a paper record. It has a table with the same details as on the card and the name of the DVD rented and the date it must be returned by. He writes it by hand using a pen while the customer is renting the DVD. If the DVD is not returned by the date set for return, then he uses mail merge to send a letter to the customer saying that the DVD must be returned by 4 days after the letter has been sent and if not, there will be a hi gher charge. If it continues then the police will be involved. Mr Something calls it the record sheet. The record sheets atomic number 18 origind in a briefcase that is locked and is warehousingd in a cupboard that is overhead that is also locked. This reduces the chances of burglars getting their hands on the customers details.Problems with the systemThe current problems with the system are* It takes time for Mr Something to enter in the customers details onto the record sheet.* The laminated cards that he gives to his customers are easily damaged by peeling away the laminated layer* The cleaning fluidness is expensive to buy and therefore makes little profit* The manual methods take very long which lodge up the customer.The end users requestsThe end user would like* a computerised system* a homepage that can navigate through the whole system easily* searches that can be easily utilise* a window that can search through records* something that can add files to the records fil e* something that can show the charges of overdue DVDsPossible SolutionsA non-ICT result could be to use cards. in that location could be three files, one for members, one for DVDs and one for loans. But this could lead to problems as cards can get damaged as easily as log books, and they arent very practical. Cards can also get lost, and this solution is quite time consuming. Cards could also be quite expensive.Word processing and presentation programmes are unsuitable for this solution. Word processors couldnt store the reading properly, although a table could be made to store the files. Reports and queries cannot be made on a word processing document. The information could not be merged properly. Presentation software couldnt be used as they are made really for displaying information to an audience. Both of these solutions could not be used to store structured data.A spreadsheet programme could be used. Rows and tables could be made to store the data. However, this could be q uite repetitive. Three different tables would have to be made. Each DVD would have to be repeated every time it was lent. This would be quite frustrating and time consuming. victimisation a relational database seems like the best solution for the DVD rental. It can be used to store lots of data and reduce the amount of repetition of it. Queries can be used to extract data quickly and easily. This could be used to find overdue DVDs, solving the problem of undetected overdue fines. cut off tables can be made easily, which can be linked in a relationship. Wizards can be used to make queries and reports quickly without mistakes. Databases also contain validation tools which stop input errors. Length validation can be used on the fields to stop mistakes. Primary keys can be made to number DVDs and members.ObjectivesThe system should have the following* it should be neat and tidy for clear reading* There should be a report to show the overdue DVDs and their price.* Charges should be ca lculated automatically.* The navigation should be easy with clearly labelled command buttons.* The system should be able to save data on customers and DVDs without confusion.