Policy makers and implementers

Between policy makers and policy implementers serve any useful function today in USA?Early donors to the expansion of public administration accredited a policy function for administrators that have often been overlooked yet the politics-administration dichotomy that is a fraction of the conventional archetype frequently incorporates the thoughts of accountability and responsibility– even though the archetype can be articulated in traditions that seem to prohibit these qualities by depicting administration as automatically instrumental–but the stress on a firm dichotomy of politics and administration will not lodge the policy responsibility of administrators that has come to be extensively renowned.There are several motives why the dichotomy design has continued. It is expedient to give details the separation of functions in conditions of entire separation as it is easier to elucidate than a model founded on sharing functions, predominantly because the partition model do es not bound the genuine policy offerings of administrators in practice. At the same moment, the dichotomy idea defends administrators from inquiry and provides the benefit of elected representatives who can pass liability for disliked resolutions to administrators. According to Miller (2000) sees dichotomy as a â€Å"helpful myth† for the reason that it difficult to understand the pressure of administrators to limit efforts by politicians in control to incline the accomplishment of policies and channel paybacks toward themselves. Fractional editions of the dichotomy continue.Researchers view the attempt to disconnect politics from administration as producing a dichotomy and tag the importance on hierarchy, authority, structure, and top-down accountability the Wilsonian ritual in public administration. There has been found reinterpreted dichotomy that allows a policy-making function for the executive but still assists managers oppose the forces of particularism. Recognizing t hat administrators disjointedly form policy behind the scenes resigned policy sway and hierarchy. (Van Riper, 2002)In addition, it should be documented that the notion of the firm dichotomy does have a chronological basis in the United States, yet it was not the normative model anticipated during the naissance period of American public administration. A finishing basis for the determination of the dichotomy is the deficiency of a substitute model. To keep away from slipping back into the observation that public administration commenced in dichotomy but stimulated into broader functions, it is accommodating to have a substitute understanding. There has been an embedded crucial model for political-administrative associations from the start, and this model is imperative for knowing the existing and prospect function of public administration. The complementarity of politics and administration is founded on the principle that elected officials and administrators adhere together in the fr equent pursuit of sound governance.Complementarities involve split fractions, but fractions that approach together in a reciprocally compassionate manner. One supports the other to generate a complete. Complementarity influences interdependence alongside separate functions; conformity along with sovereignty; admiration for political control along with an assurance to form and execute policy in ways that endorse the public concern; reverence to elected incumbents along with obedience to the law and maintain just electoral antagonism; and positive reception of politics along with support for proficient values. The concern is not whether public administrators are â€Å"influential or usurpative† (Friedrich, 2004)–the regular dichotomy against non-dichotomy choices–but how they are both mechanized and donors to the political progression, that is, involved and constitutive.Complementarity involves enduring contact, mutual sway, and mutual reverence between chosen off icials and administrators. Administrators assist to figure policy, and they present it precise content and connotation in the procedure of execution. Chosen officials watch over execution, investigate explicit criticism about reduced recital, and effort to correct troubles with presentation through fine-tuning. Privatization through constricting out breaks the discussion and substitutes it with agreement requirement and fulfillment reports. Paradoxically, constricting out intimately approximates the stipulations of the dichotomy model, as do recital indentures, and highlights an essential restriction in this sort of approach. if not it is aloof for services that can be suitably distinct without ongoing extensive based administrative contribution and properly conveyed without unremitting political omission, the firm separation of policy makers and service deliverers can inferior the superiority of governance.In disparity, with broad relations, the information and values of those who do the continuing job of government harmonize the acquaintance and values of those who eventually set the route for government and make certain that it stays on track. The complementarity of politics and administration clutches that elected officials and administrators–both in ordinary contact with citizens– require and facilitate each other in a corporation for governance. Dividing the cohorts or distorting the association in one way or the other means that a main donation is absent. If one persists to acknowledge the straightforward notion that public administration commenced as disconnect influential body restricted to a contracted sphere of activity, one does damage to the precedent and one dashes the jeopardy of legitimizing a proper dichotomy of policy configuration and constricted service delivery.ReferencesFriedrich, C. J. 2004. Public Policy and the Nature of Administrative Responsibility. Public Policy 1: 1-24.Miller, Gary. 2000. Above Politics: Credible Comm itment and Efficiency in the Design of Public Agencies. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 10(2): 289-327.Van Riper, Paul P. 2002. The Politics-Administration Dichotomy: Concept or Reality? In Politics and Administration: Woodrow Wilson and American Public Administration, edited by Jack Rabin and James S. Bowman, 203-18. New York: Marcel Dekker.

Houses as Motif: Kate Chopins the Awakening

Houses as Motifs in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening Linda Catte Dr. Kathryn Warren ENGL 2329: American Literature March 22, 2012 (KateChopin. org. ) (Krantz’s Grand Isle Hotel Picture of painting by Tracy Warhart Plaisance) (Reflechir: Vol. 1. Les images des prairies tremblantes: 1840-1940 by Cheniere Hurricane Centennial Committee) It is not new or unique that an individual is looking for one’s purpose and meaning in life. Nor is it unique that men and women imitate the norms of society. In Kate Chopin’s novella, The Awakening, Edna Pontellier, the antagonist, knocked against the societal norms of the late 1800’s.Houses represent Edna’s search for her inner self. The houses which Chopin uses in The Awakening come in pairs which contrast each other. Chopin uses the bird cage and the bath-house to illustrate imprisonment and freedom. The house on Grand Isle and the small house on the Cheniere Island represent restlessness and awareness. The grand house on Esplanade Street in New Orleans and the small house located just around the corner demonstrate confinement and control in contrast with freedom and independence. Each house brings to light different aspects of Edna’s personality as she searches for her inner soul and finds new awakenings along the way.As various houses are presented by Chopin, each will provide insight into Edna’s search for meaning in her life. In order to better understand Edna’s state of mind as Chopin begins The Awakening, the norms of society needs an explanation. Mr. Leonce Pontellier demonstrates characteristics of a husband who fits the societal norm of 1899 when The Awakening (Chopin) was written. Behaviors by Leonce are displayed in the opening chapter of Chopin’s novella. There are bird cages with a talking parrot and a singing mockingbird, hanging on the porch of the main house at Grand Isle. â€Å"Mr.Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfor t, arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust. † (Chopin, ch. 1) Leonce had the freedom to walk away from an irritation and find solace elsewhere. â€Å"Mr. Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining. † (Chopin, ch. 1) The bird cage represents imprisonment, the birds represents how individuals in society mimic what is repeated over and over. Although every word is not equally understood and interpreted by all, the words still have a meaning. (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images)Edna and Leonce were interpreting different meanings from what society expected. Edna had the burden of imprisonment because of the societal norm. Leonce had flexibility and freedom. He was a businessman with a wife and family that was expected to behave in such a manner that would exhibit appearances of a proper marriage and family. An illustration of Leonce’s attitude is revealed in Chapter One of Chopin's book, a few spe cific examples are, â€Å"†¦looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property †¦,† â€Å"†¦perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. and â€Å"If it was not a mother’s place to look after children, whose on earth was it? He himself had his hands full with his brokerage business. † Leonce viewed himself as important, the roles of society were rigid and fixed in his eyes, and certainly to his advantage. (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images) Edna did not have the freedom to detach herself as her husband did from unwanted annoyances. Her escape to the bath-house provided as much freedom as Edna could possess at the time. â€Å"†¦had no intention of bathing; they had just strolled down to the beach for a walk and to be alone and near the water. (Chopin, ch. 7) Lounging at the bath-house on the beach with her friend, Madame Ratignolle, is when Edna realized realities about her marriage a nd children. Her life was now somewhat predetermined because of her own rash decision to marry Leonce out of rebellion against her father and sister Margaret. â€Å"Add to this the violent opposition of her father and her sister Margaret to her marriage with a Catholic, and we need seek no further for the motives which led her to accept Monsieur Pontellier for her husband. † (Chopin, ch. ) She desired passion as expressed in her daydreams prior to marriage, â€Å"It was when the face and figure of a great tragedian began to haunt her imagination and stir her senses. The persistence of the infatuation lent it an aspect of genuineness. The hopelessness of it colored it with the lofty tones of a great passion. † (Chopin, ch. 7) But she had no passion in her life. â€Å"As the devoted wife of a man who worshiped her, she felt she would take her place with a certain dignity in the world of reality, closing the portals forever behind her upon the realm of romance and dreams . † (Chopin, ch. 7) (http://office. icrosoft. com/en-us/images) Marriage did not bring fulfillment or satisfaction to Edna’s life, nor did being a mother. â€Å"She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them. † (Chopin, ch. 7) When her children were away with their grandmother, they were not missed by their mother. â€Å"Their absence was a sort of relief, though she did not admit this, even to herself. It seemed to free her of a responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not fitted her. † (Chopin, ch. 7) What mother forgets her children and does not miss them when they are gone?Edna was searching for meaning in her life, she wanted happiness. (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images) (http://www. loyno. edu/~kchopin/Album10. html) Vacationing at the house on Grand Isle is where Edna’s dissatisfaction with her own life is brought to the reader’s attention by Chopin. †Å"An indescribable oppression, which seemed to generate in some unfamiliar part of her consciousness, filled her whole being with a vague anguish. It was like a shadow, like a mist passing across her soul’s summer day. It was strange and unfamiliar; it was a mood. † (Chopin, ch. ) Leonce’s role as a husband was unchanging, â€Å"†¦her husband’s kindness and a uniform devotion which had come to be tacit and self-understood. † (Chopin, ch. 1) Spending her summer vacation with the Creoles opened Edna’s eyes to a whole new society. â€Å"A characteristic which distinguished them and which impressed Mrs. Pontellier most forcibly was their entire absence of prudery. † (Chopin, ch. 4) Edna had been raised in a strict religious Presbyterian home by her father. (Chopin, ch. 22) Edna’s new acquaintances stirred new thoughts, there was an inner conflict within her.Unspoken expectations were present for societal norms to be followed fo r a devoted wife and mother, those like her new friend Adele Ratignolle. Edna longed to be her own person, depart from what is expected of her and discover what or who makes her happy. As more and more of Edna’s days were spent together with another new friend, Robert, she missed him when he was not around. â€Å"She missed him the days when some pretext served to take him away from her, just as one misses the sun on a cloudy day without having thought much about the sun when it was shining. † (Chopin, ch. 0) Mademoiselle Reisz impacted Edna, it started when she heard her play the piano at the grand party in the main house on Grand Isle. â€Å"Edna was what she herself called very fond of music. † (Chopin, ch. 9) As she heard the chords, she would envision in her mind what each piece of music was saying to her. But with Mademoiselle Reisz, it was different. Her emotional response was something she had never experienced. â€Å"The very first chords which Mademoi selle Reisz struck upon the piano sent a keen tremor down Mrs. Pontellier’s spinal column. † (Chopin, ch. 9) It was the exact emotion in which she was searching. But the very passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body. † (Chopin, ch. 9) It was that night Edna learned to swim; it was that night she did not do exactly what her husband asks of her. (Chopin, ch. 10) It was the house on Grand Isle that first awakened Edna to new thoughts and feelings. (http://www. loyno. edu/~kchopin/cheniere. htm) The next morning, Edna and Robert went to Cheniere Island. Edna’s behavior and attitude began to transform. She took steps of boldness by sending for Robert to go with her to Cheniere. She had never sent for him before. † (Chopin, ch. 12) On the boat ride to the island, Edna felt a sense of freedom, â€Å"†¦felt as if she were being borne away from some anchorage which had held h er fast, whose chains had been loosening-†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chopin, ch. 12) She began to daydream of a life where she was alone with Robert. She shared this imagined world with him as her flirtation intensified. (Chopin, ch. 12) When they reached the island, they fulfilled the intended purpose of the trip by attending mass at Our Lady of Lourdes. The freedom Edna had experienced on the boat ride was stripped from her as she sat in the church. †¦her one thought was to quit the stifling atmosphere of the church and reach the open air. † (Chopin, ch. 13) It was at this time that Robert took Edna to a small house on the island where she naps and discovers another facet of herself. Once she awakens, she and Robert have dinner outside the small house, the evening approaches, they do not want the day to end. â€Å"It was very pleasant to stay there under the orange trees, while the sun dipped lower and lower. (Chopin, ch. 13) Upon their return from Cheniere Island, Edna separates herself so that she can be alone to ponder her escape.The escape to the little house that gave her a taste of peace and contentment. â€Å"She could only realize that she herself-her present self-was in some way different from the other self. † (Chopin, ch. 13) (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images) Upon return to the grand house on Esplanade Street in New Orleans, Edna brought with her disappointment and heartache. She had not planned on Robert’s sudden departure to Mexico. As her life was becoming more self absorbed, she wanted Robert to remain part of her life. She was aware of her infatuation with him and reacted emotionally to his absence. †¦she had lost that which she had held, that she had been denied that which her impassioned, newly awakened being demanded. † (Chopin, ch. 15) Being home in the grand house where Leonce displays his possessions with such pride, left Edna feeling trapped and imprisoned. Her summer experience changed how she wante d to live her life. When Leonce was ready for life to be back just like it was before, Edna displayed behaviors of rebellion. She was not going to receive visitors on Tuesday afternoons any longer, she was not going to dress as expected for dinner, and she was not going to lead her life controlled by her husband. Chopin, ch. 17) bb (katechopin. org) Leonce was appalled at Edna’s sudden change in behavior. There were societal norms that were important to Leonce. He did not want their friends to think they did not behave properly. â€Å"†¦people don’t do such things; we’ve got to observe les convenances if we expect to get on and keep up with the procession. † (Chopin, ch. 17) The Esplanade house represents confinement and control over Edna. With her new found awakenings, she had no desire to return to the ways of her old life. â€Å"She resolved never to take another step backward. † (Chopin, ch. 7) Her thoughts remained with Robert. â€Å"She had tried to forget him, realizing the inutility of remembering. But the thought of him was like an obsession, ever pressing itself upon her. † (Chopin, ch. 13) (katechopin. org) Edna moved forward with confidence but still did not find the independence she was desiring. Leonce found her behavior â€Å"†¦odd, she’s not like herself. † (Chopin, ch. 22) â€Å"Her whole attitudetoward me and everybody and everything-has changed. † (Chopin, ch. 22) Leonce had concerns about his wife but left her alone upon the advice of Doctor Mandelet. He moved forward with his own (katechopin. rg) life and took a business trip to New York. Edna thought she might miss him , but found â€Å"†¦a radiant peace settled upon her when she at last found herself alone. † (Chopin, ch. 24) Her children were in Iberville with their grandmother. But this peace was short lived. She still did not have Robert. She looked to activities and relationships to find fulfillment in her life. But none provided the contentment and satisfaction she desired. (Chopin, ch. 25) While Leonce was away, Edna made a spontaneous and rash decision , while on a visit with Mademoiselle Reisz, to move into her own house. (Chopin, ch. 6) The small house was located just around the corner from their home on Esplanade Street. â€Å"It looks so cozy, so inviting and restful†¦I’m tired looking after that big house. It never seemed like mine, anyway-like home. † (Chopin, ch. 26) It was this small house where Edna was certain she would find peace and happiness. She would find what this cozy house represents, â€Å"freedom and independence. † (Chopin, ch. 26) Each house Chopin uses as a motif brings to light different aspects of Edna’s personality as she searches for her inner soul. Each house brings new awakenings for Edna along the way.Each house represents her search for meaning in life. â€Å"No longer was she content to ‘feed upon opini on’ when her own soul had invited her. † (Chopin, ch. 32) But Edna was unable to satisfy her soul. She wanted more than anyone or anything could give her. She wanted passion, she wanted Robert. When Robert left for Mexico, it was out of his love and respect for Edna that he could not stay. When he left the small house, it was, again, out of his love and respect for Edna that he must leave. It was Adele Ratignolle who reminded Robert in the beginning of The Awakening (Chopin) of his behavior as a gentleman. If your attentions to any married women here were ever offered with any intention of being convincing, you would not be the gentleman we all know you to be, and you would be unfit to associate with the wives and daughters of the people who trust you. † (Chopin, ch. 1) Edna did not have the wisdom to understand Robert’s rejection of her. She lived selfishly. â€Å"Conditions would some way adjust themselves, she felt; but whatever came, she had resolved n ever again to belong to another than herself. † (Chopin, ch. 26) This statement confirms that Edna’s soul would not be found with Robert. She was aware of her own emptiness. There came over her the acute longing which always summoned into her spiritual vision the presence of the beloved one, overpowering her at once with a sense of unattainable. † (Chopin, ch. 30) (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images) The emptiness Edna experienced after Robert’s departure left her hopeless. â€Å"Despondency had come upon her there in the wakeful night, and had never lifted. There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert: and she even realized that the day would come when he, too, and the thought of him would melt out of her existence, leaving her alone. (Chopin, ch. 39) It was when Edna stood before the ocean that she knew her future. â€Å"The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wa nder in abysses of solitude. † (Chopin, ch. 39) The only answer to free Edna’s soul was to enter the sea. Freedom would come only in death. There was no turning back to the empty life which only brought despair, heartache and loneliness. The true love, passion, and happiness she envisioned for her life had escaped her. Robert brought a glimpse of the future Edna had envisioned.But that future was not for Edna. In the ocean, naked and without any confinement around her , was she was able to find home. (http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images) Citations: Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. 1899. www. amazon. com/Kindle-eReader-eBook Retrieved on January 14, 2011. http://www. katechopin. org http://office. microsoft. com/en-us/images http://www. loyno. edu/~kchopin/Album10. html Reflechir: Vol. 1. Les images des prairies tremblantes: 1840-1940 by Cheniere Hurricane Centennial Committee.

Pharmacology assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Pharmacology - Assignment Example Healthy participants will be assigned to group A and B. subjects in group A were given 50mg of JP234 from day 3 to day 10 and warfarin 1.5 mg from day 7 to day 14. Participants in group 2 will receive 1.5 mgs of warfarin from day 3 to 10 and then 50mgs once a day from day 7 to 14. Both drugs will be administered for the first fourteen days while the remaining six days will be utilized as washout period. Plasma levels of the drugs will be assessed in both groups. Monitoring the plasma concentration is essential in drug interaction studies. The subjects will be closely monitored for heart activity, clotting factor level and heart rate through utilization of an electrocardiogram. The drug is believed to be well tolerated during clinical trials and has less contraindication association with it (Simon, 2007). The result of the finding will be utilized in identifying the action of the new drug on the metabolism of warfarin. Through blood sample study and the hearts activity measure, the ef fectiveness and the action of JP234 on warfarin will be measured. The study aims at finding out the effect of JP234 on the action of warfarin. Any changes on the participants will be recorded. Tolerability and the safety of the drug will be assessed too. JP234 is well tolerated during clinical trials and there is no contradiction associated with it. The drug when administered is effective in doses of 50, 75 or 100mg once daily. The drug is metabolized in the liver and has a half life of about 24 hours. In vitro studies indicate that the drug can induce CYP2C9. Patients with chronic atrial fibrillation should be anticoagulated to hinder thromboembolism from taking place (Goodman, 2005). Patient taking JP234 are recommended to take warfarin that is partly metabolized by CYP2C9. JP234 is an antiarrhythmic drug and is usually excreted in the liver just the same as warfarin. The new drug is considered an inducer of CYP2C9 which takes

Examine the portrayal of women and isolation in the yellow wallpaper Essay

Examine the portrayal of women and isolation in the yellow wallpaper by charlotte perkins gilman - Essay Example It is these factors; the treatment of herself and women in general, the "rest-cure", the isolation, and the yellow wallpapered room, which eventually drive her to insanity and hysteria. Thesis Gilman tells the story of a woman isolated in her own house through one of her own life experiences in perhaps, an over exaggerated, dramatic kind of way. During the Eighteenth century, women were generally viewed as weak. Women did not work to make money for that was a man's job. Women generally stayed around the house and did household chores. In the narrator's case, the opposite occurs. Husband John forbids for his wife to work or write while she is ill. She feels that it is this "prescription" that keeps her ill. She explains how she wants to rearrange her room if she can not have the downstairs room. John again makes an "executive" decision and says no stating that, "You know the place is doing you good, and really, dear, I don't care to renovate the house just for a three months' rental" (Gilman). It shows how men had the power over women and gave complete disregard for simple requests. The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" spends so much time in her room that she eventually becomes obsessed with this yellow wallpaper. She becomes so obsessed that she actually believes that she is the woman in the wallpaper. She is the one clim bing out and reaching out through the bars. She becomes delusional. In the Eighteenth century, hysteria was more common in women. According to a professor in bioethics and assistant professor of internal health at Case Western Reserve University, Sana Loue states that "Hysteria, in particular, was believed to be an affliction specific to women. Hysteria was brought on by feelings of depression, nervousness, or crying and could manifest in the form of hysterical "fit" similar to an epileptic seizure" (Gilman). The subjugation that prevailed in the society made women treated as subhuman. They were just considered as vessels of fertility and had the mere privilege of a set of ovaries and a womb. The feminist ideologies of the narrator are evident throughout her talk. She was found subordinate to her husband John who believed that women are frail and can never make decision of their own. The narrator's great passion for life and her strong feministic beliefs do not allowed her to be in the controlled world of her husband. Her house appeared as a prison for her all through these days. The narrator was always under the care of someone, her brother and then her husband. Both of them being doctors do not understand her mind. They are least flexible and only look for her physical recovery (Bak 199). They do not allow her to indulge in something that she wanted to indulge in. She wanted to write; may be she wanted to pour out her depression into words. She was of the belief that more mental and ph ysical activity would solve her problems. She never desired to have physical rest. However her husband and brother were not able to understand this and compelled her to be under complete rest that would make her free from any activity. They were not able to comprehend their self and did not even attempt to understand her. The male dominated world never wanted the husbands to understand their wives. The narrator's husband and broth

Non-Cultural And Cultural Factors In Marketing Case Study

Non-Cultural And Cultural Factors In Marketing - Case Study Example A country like India is considered as a developing country as it has not attained a stable market structure while the United Kingdom is a developed country. For such reasons, both categories of countries need special ways to market goods both locally and internationally. To understand the differences in marketing it is important to study the three broad categories like political and economic systems, market infrastructure and consumer behavior. Under this category one can identify the modes of production, purchasing and selling as they are related to the laws, government, and customs of a particular entity. This means that the political and economic system of a country highly affects the marketing strategies not only locally but also internationally. This is so because there are set laws that each government of the country puts up to regulate the production of goods and services of firms. Moreover, political stability is very important in the production and distribution of goods and services. Political stability ensures that a country is not experiencing wars thus the government can make better suggestions on how to develop the country. In addition, political stability increases assurance of companies to continue producing more this means that they will have to market for their goods as the economic status improves. With a stable political and improving the economic status of a country, competition between firms and industr ies increases. This, therefore, makes firms to improve their marketing strategies in order to bit their rivals in sales they make. In addition, as countries improve their economic status, they also improve their technology. Thus they adapt better marketing strategies that use the latest technology. India, as a developing country, has not shown the signs of attaining political stability.

Gilbert and Sullivan Theatrical Partnership Essay

Gilbert and Sullivan Theatrical Partnership - Essay Example Sullivan was a junior of Gilbert and he was the composer and thus he was responsible for contributing memorable melodies which successfully delivered humor along with pathos. 1 The operas were successful in providing enduring and also broad international success along with performing frequently throughout the English speaking world especially. Sullivan and Gilbert basically introduced innovations along with bright new ideas in content and also form the directly influenced development which is involved in musical theatre. This practice was famous and was popular throughout the 20th century. The operas had a huge influence on the literature, film, television and also political discourse and it was widely pastiche and parodied by a humorist. The partnership of Sullivan and Gilbert was brought together by the famous producer Richard D Oyle Carte who basically nurtured and brought together the collaborations. He was responsible for building the Savoy Theatre during the year 1881 and he also presented their joint works which were popularly known as Savoy Operas and they were also responsible for founding D Oyly Carte Opera Company which was good in performing and also promoting the Sullivan’s and Gilbert’s work as a lyricist and composer for almost over a century. Gilbert and Sullivan had played a major role in influencing the English speaking world and the pop culture. Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan had become extremely popular and the lines and quotations have become an integral part of English language. The Savoy operas have played a massive role in influencing the course of development of modern musical theatre and also the political style, literature, discourse and also advertising.  

Critical Analysis for Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Analysis for Managers - Essay Example Disneyland is the first theme park in the world which was built under direct supervision and guidance of Walt Disney. Disneyland Park proclaims to be the â€Å"happiest place on earth.† As this theme park witness largest cumulative visitors attendance as compared to any other amusement parks in the world, it is evident that operations and maintenance of the park is delegated in the hands of a large number of managers who are directly or indirectly responsible for the grand success of the theme park since 1955 (King, 1981). The paper will explore the prevailing distinction in cultural and systems in Disneyland and effect of globalization into the organizational patter and mechanism of employees as the key consideration of analysis. Organizational culture is a significant aspect that aims to standardize values, norms and practices within an organization whereas the objective of organizational system is to ensure smooth functioning of all the operations of the organization. According to Alvesson (2012), organizational systems are more inclined towards strategy implementations and successful coordination among managers for executing such strategies. Cameron and Quinn (2011) have identified that in this era of globalization, assimilation of employees from different cultural dimensions and from different race, religion, societal status and background, have been very much prominent within any organization operating in the international circumference. Therefore, it becomes necessary for all such organizations to establish a definite and distinct culture that may integrate all the employees within the organization. In contrast, research of Gupta (2000) has shown that the organizational system must be contingent in nat ure i.e. it must vary according to the prevailing business scenario and requirement. As technological progression and continuous skill development take place at a rapid speed, not much time has been

VAGINITIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

VAGINITIS - Assignment Example However, the majority of the people do not develop the symptoms of the condition. Moreover, the infection is most likely to be found in women as compared to men. At the same time, older women are most likely to be infected as compared to younger women (CDC, 2015). The infection occurs through sex. In women, the infection occurs in the lower genital tract while in men infection occurs in the urethra (CDC, 2015). Infection is not likely to occur in other body parts. There are various symptoms of the disease in men and women, but various factors such as age influence presentation of symptoms. The paper will discuss the presentation, characteristics, and a treatment plan for Trichomonas diagnoses of vaginitis. There will also be a review of diagnostic tests before the treatment plan as well as educating patient taking into consideration the health disparities that may affect treatment. The disease presents with various signs and symptoms in men and women. The challenge is that the majority of infected men and women will show no signs and symptoms. The signs are usually evident in four weeks after coming in contact with the parasite (Family Planning Association (FPA), 2015). There are various signs or symptoms in women. The first thing to note in women is soreness, swelling, and itching in areas around the vagina (FPA, 2015). This has significantly been associated with challenges that occur when one is having sex. Secondly, there is a change in the discharge coming out of the vagina. One may have increased discharge that has an unpleasant smell and may be thick or thin will some yellow coloration (FPA, 2015). The condition is also associated with pain when urinating in women. In men, there is discharge from the penis and may be thin and whitish (FPA, 2015). At the same time, the affected person may experience pain while passing out urine. The other sign although no t extensive in men is swelling

History Paper Q2 Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History Paper Q2 Globalization - Essay Example The possibility of cultural exchange, understanding and tolerance within a global civilization. But as many critics have noticed, we are not perfect human beings. It is hard to have a fair trade and conditions of equality between countries that do not know how to trade fairly with each other, but that exploit one another. By attempting to establish a standard, the differences have been reinforced. The richer get richer; the poor get poorer. The historical processes that led to this global movement can be traced to a series of economic agreements after the two world wars. "Globalization in the era since World War II has been driven by Trade Negotiation Rounds, originally under the auspices of GATT, which led to a series of agreements to remove restrictions on "free trade". The Uruguay round led to a treaty to create the World Trade Organization or WTO, to mediate trade disputes. Other bilateral trade agreements, including sections of Europe's Maastricht Treaty and the North American Free Trade Agreement have also been signed in pursuit of the goal of reducing tariffs and barriers to trade. The other historical process that can be pointed out in the globalization phenomenon is the transmission of information.

My Own Behaviour in a Team Setting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

My Own Behaviour in a Team Setting - Assignment Example I also learned that I possess a number of transferable skills such as the ability to put my personal feelings aside whenever there was conflict in the team. In these circumstances, I was able to brush my personal feelings aside and to focus on the assigned task. I also demonstrated self-discipline in that I was able to manage my time and resources in a productive and effective manner. I also discovered that I had other transferable skills such as effective communication skills. I found that I was always able to listen to others and to respond in ways that were relevant and commanded the attention of other members of the team. I also found that I had another very important transferable skill and that was the power of persuasion. I found that with commitment and effort I was able to persuade other members of the group to take a position that was akin to my own. This particular skill will be important to my chosen career when I am advising and helping those who rely on my advice and skills. As I learned from my social networking exercises, I am sure that these skills are the kinds of soft skills that employers will be looking for. I also learned that I can be a bit over anxious and too eager to achieve my end goals. In this regard, the team setting taught me that every task has a purpose and connects to the end goal. Only after several steps are taken can we finally see the results? In this regard, I have to learn to be more patient and pace my time, always aware that I cannot get to the end without starting from the beginning. I will practice this by taking on a number of projects such as reading a book and doing jigsaw puzzles. When I began the course I did so with an open mind, merely hoping that I would come out more prepared to take steps toward my career goal and expecting to at least be in a better position for taking those steps that I was before taking the course.  

National Minimum Drinking Age Act Essay Example for Free

National Minimum Drinking Age Act Essay The universal question; should the age for drinking be lowered? In my personal opinion, I believe that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen from twenty one for various reasons. The legal drinking age is currently twenty-one, but the illegal drinking age is everything under. Why is the main question asked. Some people believe that twenty one is too high to be the minimum age to be able to legally drink and others feel that it is the perfect age. This topic is very huge and has been debated for years. The United States drinking age has gone up and down and in 1984, it went up to twenty one. Many events took place before the drinking age went up. It all began when the United States slowly tried to ban alcohol in every state for every person no matter what your age was. They did succeed. This is called Prohibition. Prohibition started in 1919 and lasted until 1933. When Prohibition started, the Constitution gained the 18th Amendment. The 18th Amendment â€Å"prohibited the manufacture, sale, transport, import, or export of alcoholic beverages†. However, this amendment was removed in 1933 by the 21th amendment, which made beer and other alcohol legal. Once Prohibition ended, each state created their own set of drinking laws. Some were twenty one; others were eighteen, and then some in between. This lasted for a few years, but then the Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 came along. This act forced all states to change their drinking age to twenty one or lose part of the Federal-aid highway funds. It also said the states should pass laws that helped fight drunk driving. So, the drinking ages were set to twenty one, but this can change. Prohibition and safety issues, like underground drinking, are all factors that must be considered in making this decision. Because of these factors, the national drinking age of the United States should be lowered from twenty one to eighteen. Think for a moment on how many young adult or teenagers illegally drink underage. It is a fact that more than three in four teenagers consume alcohol when they are high school seniors. A big issue for underage drinking is where the underage drinkers actually do the drinking. It is known to people that underage drinking goes on, but where and when they do it, is something to look for. Because no one wants to get in trouble for drinking, those who are underage start taking part in â€Å"underground drinking†. Underground drinking is when people under the drinking age drink alcohol without the knowledge of anyone. People will bring alcohol anywhere, like a party, and drink it without their parents knowing. The police search for underage drinking, but, even they know that once the underage drinkers are caught, they will keep doing it. The difference is that this time, they will be smarter about it and hide it better than the time before. Wed find a party where we know theres underage drinking. We would seal the house. Surround the house with officersWe wrote hundreds and hundreds of tickets those years. All we did is we pushed it further underground. (Mark Beckner, the chief of police in Boulder, Colo.) The problem with drinking without anyone knowing can be very dangerous and someone could get seriously sick from alcohol poisoning, or go completely out of control and hurt themselves. If people under the drinking age hide when they drink, they will not want to tell anyone like an adult because they do not want to get in trouble. So, if no one wants to get in trouble, then no one will tell anyone if someone gets seriously sick. There are cases in which people have died because their friends who they were drinking with were afraid of the police. As a result, it took a couple hours for anyone to say anything, and by the time they did, it was too late to really do anything. â€Å"†¦a college freshman, Gordie Bailey, who died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity celebration. The fraternity members left him on a couch for 9 hours before someone called 911. He died because, according to Gordies parents, the other college kids were too scared to call for help because the drinking was underage.† A lesson can be learned through this event and all the others just like it. If people under twenty one were more supervised, then adults could stop those who are drinking from getting hurt or be there to make sure they get help. It is very difficult to completely stop underage drinking, but we could work against it. If the drinking age was lowered, then there can be more supervision. Young adults at the age of eighteen generally go to college where there is a lot of alcohol usage. Perhaps if the drinking age was eighteen, those underage drinkers would not hide and be controlled by the police and therefore, stay much safer. Prohibition took place in the 1850s for certain states and the 1920s for the entire country. Prohibition was the time when the whole county, every age, was banned from drinking. Prohibition was supposed to lower crime and corruption, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, solve social problems, and make the health and hygiene in America better. At first, alcohol consumption lowered, but as time went by, it increased once more. Of course, everything they were trying to fix or lower went higher and out of control. â€Å"Alcohol became more dangerous to consume; crime increased and became organized; the court and prison systems were stretched to the breaking point; and corruption of public officials was rampant†¦Prohibition removed a significant source of tax revenue and greatly increased government spending.† (Mark Thornton, O. P. Alford III Assistant Professor of Economics at Auburn University.†) People also did drugs because of the lack of alcohol. Just think if that didn’t take place, then these dangerous things wouldn’t have happened. However, we did learn from it. For instance, we learned that banning it didn’t work. The alcohol consumption grew during Prohibition to â€Å"about 60-70 percent of its pre Prohibition level,† then slowly dropped to 70 percent, but after Prohibition ended, the alcohol consumption went from 70 percent to 40 percent. The reason it went up is because people were protesting. Basically, the Prohibition didn’t completely stop the use of alcohol, it just made things worse. Since the alcohol is banned from those under twenty one, people under twenty one are drinking more, so moving the drinking age down to eighteen would definitely work. As always, there are those who disagree with lowering the drinking age back to eighteen. They feel that twenty one is the proper age to start to take part drinking. People feel that those underage of twenty one can’t handle alcohol and tend to not know when to stop. One reason is that they become drunk more quickly than adults and adults don’t become dunk as often. There are also facts that state how many lives have been save and how many less accidents there have been. It is true that the number of fatal car accidents have decreased by thirteen percent for those between the ages of eighteen and twenty. That decrease saved about 21,887 people between the years 1975-2002. Others believe that the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) can hurt the student’s academic career and also cause him or her to become an alcoholic easier. There are also some people who are afraid that they will become more venerable to do certain things. For example, young adults might be more likely to become involved in drug abuse, depression, unplanned or unprotected sex, violence, and other social ills if they drink. Also, people are worried about driving because, Americans drive more than Europeans who have a drinking age of sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen. On the other side, there are those people who want and are pro lowering the drinking age to eighteen. One reason is that people won’t get much of a thrill about drinking if they are used to being able to do it. Eventually, drinking alcohol will start to get normal and will not feel as important anymore. Besides, it is all about how responsible that person is. Anyone over or under the drinking age can drinking too much and end up hurting themselves. People also must consider the fact that underage drinking does go on, and it goes on unsupervised. If the drinking age is lowered, then those who aren’t supervised can be. Prohibition and safety issues, like underground drinking are truly good reasons to consider lowering the drinking age to eighteen. This topic has truly been discussed for years. People are either for lowering it, against it, or just do not know. But there are surly plenty of facts for the pro and con sides. To make the right decision, one must look at the history. As learned from history, banning alcohol only made things worse. Then, if one looked at how underground drinking could kill people if others around are too afraid to call 911 and risk getting in trouble, they should realize that if people were more supervised and didn’t have to hide, then those unfortunate events wouldn’t happen. The choice is simple. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen can be safer. Citations G., Harold, Wyoming, and MI. Drinking Age Should Be Lowered | Teen Essay on Drugs | Teen Ink. Teen Ink | A teen literary magazine and website. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. http://teenink.com/opinion/drugs_alcohol_smoking/article/48104/Drinking-Age-Should-Be-Lowered/. Engs, Ruth C.. Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research . Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research . N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/cqoped.html . National Youth Rights Association  » Legislative Analysis of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act. National Youth Rights Association . N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. http://www.youthrights.org/research/library/legislative-analysis-of-the-national-minimum-drinking-age-act/. Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?. Drinking Age ProCon.org . N.p., n.d. Web. 27

The pcs model in understanding internalised gender oppression

The pcs model in understanding internalised gender oppression In order to find out how helpful the PCS Model is in relation to internalised gender oppression, I must first gain insight and try to understand the structure of Neil Thompsons theoretical model. The PCS Model refers to the need to recognise that discrimination operates at three separate but interrelated levels, the personal, cultural and structural which interact with one another. The PCS Model attempts to explain how and why discrimination occurs and therefore leads to internalised oppression. The links between discrimination and oppression can be seen throughout such things as the economy, the differential distribution of financial resources and the allocation of societys rewards is a key factor underpinning global poverty and social deprivation. Other social reasons include the extent to which an individual is integrated into society and receives the benefits of its opportunities; this usually depends on their social status in terms of social divisions such as class, ethnicity an d gender. Political access to power is not evenly distributed throughout society and once again relates to social divisions, the variable component when it comes to social organisation. These existing inequalities are maintained through processes of discrimination that allocate an individuals life chances and power resources in such a way as in to reinforce existing power relations. The personal level of the PCS Model refers to the way that an individuals thought, emotion and the resulting actions can have a significant impact on inequality and oppression. Discrimination on a personal level is often referred to as prejudice. This involves an individual forming a judgement and refusing to consider or change their judgement, whilst ignoring any considerable evidence that would contradict and undermine it. Often such judgments are based on a perceived stereotype of a particular individuals social status such as class, ethnicity and gender. However, explanations of internalised gender oppression on personal level need to be understood in its broader context as it ignores any other contributing factors such as culture and the surrounding environment. The personal level only considers the individuals significant role towards gender oppression, which can often be refused if they feel as though it was unintentional rather than understanding how their attitudes has helpe d it become internalised. The personal level also fails to recognise the affects of discrimination on the individual, as the differences of impact can fluctuate, whilst others may correspond. However, the cultural level recognises that an individuals beliefs, values and actions are simply social patterns that are shared across particular groups. Culture refers to the ways of life of the members of a society, or of groups within a society. It includes how they dress, their marriage customs and family life, their patterns of work, religious ceremonies and leisure pursuits (Giddens, 1993). Language can be seen as an integral part of cultural behaviour as it reflects the cultural norms, assumptions and patterns whilst contributing to its distribution through the generations. This combination of language and culture can show the way for individuals to take things for granted which Berger and Luckmann (1967) refer to as, the taken-for-grantedness of every day life. Both lead to thoughts and actions that individuals feel they do not need any additional confirmation about other than its simple existence, therefore it becomes routine often without the individuals awareness. The in dividual is capable of engaging in doubt about their existence, but feels obliged to suspend such doubt as they routinely exist in everyday life. This can lead to an individuals psychological integration in order to pursue their everyday activities without questioning their motivation, thus preventing an overload of information. On the other hand an individual may have the tendency to see their existence confined to one culture as they accept a set of social norms and values failing to recognise significant cultural differences based on an individuals perceived judgement that one culture is more superior than another. The cultural level of Neil Thompsons PCS Model is important in helping understand internalise gender oppression as culture is, in itself, a site of discrimination. (Thompson, 1998). For example, just as racism is the belief of one culture having superiority over another, sexism is the belief of one gender having superiority over another. The resulting oppression is sim ply therefore a socially constructed and supported mistreatment of a gender. The cultural level recognises the significance of difference and diversity rather than failing to go beyond an individuals own perspective. Thus, for men to appreciate the significance of sexism and to contribute to anti-sexism, they must begin to see what the world looks like through womens eyes. (Thompson, 1998). Therefore, living life from a masculine perspective and ignoring to understand another can lead to a narrow view and experience of internalised gender oppression. However, the individual actions on a cultural level have limitations as it is underpinned by the overall structure. The structural level considers the influences of various social, political and economic factors as they are constantly interacting. The political factors include the unequal distribution of power between individuals and groups leading to economic differences such as wealth and poverty increasing social divisions. In theory the cultural patterns of internalised gender oppression are a result of men maintaining social order and positions of power through structured inequalities involving a process in which individuals or groups with particular attributes are better able than those who lack or are denied these attributes to control or shape rights and opportunities for their own ends (Thompson, 1995). This allows advantaged groups to profit from greater opportunities and resulting privileges that are available within society. Anthony Giddens (1991) recognised that are four institutional dimensions of modernity including capitalism, for its control over the system of production and indus trialism fro the application of power through production. Thirdly, Giddens identifies coordinated administrative power focused through the monitoring of surveillance and fourthly, its military power each playing a pivotal role in modernity. The PCS Model also considers capitalism to be involved in the exploitation of an individual or group by another for economic control relating to other forms of exploitation and internalised gender oppression. The consequent administrative power is distributed those groups who have a substantial role within society such as social work as they have the power to influence the more vulnerable members of society. Discrimination is simply a matter of identifying differences, and can be positive or negative Thompson (1998), however negative discrimination involves not only identifying differences but also making a negative attribution consequently attaching a negative or detrimental label or connotation to the individual or group concerned. This means individuals or groups are being discriminated against following clear social patterns in terms of class, race, gender, age, disability and sexual orientation etc. When such negative discrimination occurs, the resulting experience is often one of oppression which can be defined as Inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups, hardship and injustice brought about by the dominance of one group over another, the negative and demeaning exercise of power. Oppression often involves disregarding the rights of an individual or group and is thus a denial of citizenship. (Thompson, 1997). Discrimination is a major contributory factor in relation t o oppression. That is, a fundamental source of oppression is the set of processes by which certain social groups are discriminated against and thereby disadvantaged. However the oppression associated with sexism is not simply a result of prejudice bigoted males as discrimination far more intricate having its foundations within the social sciences amongst other contributing factors such as those economical and political. Oppression is sustained through ideology and the power of propaganda. If an individual is unaware of this subtle ideology they will find themselves reinforcing existing power relations whilst maintaining inherent inequalities. The ideas, beliefs and assumptions to support the dominant position of men have been developed through such patriarchal ideology, which is preserved as a dominant social force. A countervailing ideology would attempt to oppose and challenge this, such as feminism, as it is in direct opposition to the dominance of patriarchy. Sexism is evident in relation to biology, as assumptions are made towards the biological role and nurturing characteristics of a woman. Grabb (1993) argues that inequality is maintained by among other things, a mechanism of ideological control. It entails the control of ideas, knowledge, information and similar resources in the establishment of structured inequality between groups or individuals. Equality is a political term much like democracy and freedom to promote a particular groups own values or interests. Therefore it is an ideological concept involving the power of ideas being used to reinforce and legitimise existing power relations. Ethically challenging discrimination is therefore a question of morality and thus values as Banton (1994) argues, The best protections against discrimination are those in the hearts of people who believe discrimination is wrong. Contemporary western societies are characterised by inequality. For social workers, this provides a fundamental challenge with regards to the decisions that are made and the actions that are taken. These can make a significant impact on the progression towards a greater degree of equality or the reinforcing of existing inequalities. Social work often involves the execution of power, frequently with somewhat powerless people. Therefore the employment of a social worker can play a significant role within in the service itself and can inevitably change the users experience of the discrimination and oppression arising from inequalities. Social workers have a important role in promoting equality, rather than simply reinforcing the inequalities that already exist in society. Traditional approaches have a tendency to pay little attention to issues of inequality, discrimination or oppression consequently leaving service users feeling alienated. Psychologically this can be subdivided into three aspects of behaviour cognitive, affective and conative which simply refer to an individuals thoughts, feelings and consequent actions. Cognitive thought patterns can be seen to vary accordingly to social divisions. For example, there are significant differences in the use of language across genders and ethnic groups with the speech patterns of dominant groups being seen as superior or more prestigious. Affective and emotional responses are also rooted in social divisions. For example, responses to loss can be seen to vary between men and women (Thompson, 1995). Conative and behavioural norms follow distinct patterns in terms of class, race gender, age etc. In each three types there tend to be clear social expectations as to how members of a particular group or social category should think, feel and act with strong sanctions against those who fail or refuse to comply with these expectations. Conclusion Inequality is an inevitable part of society, therefore any attempt to overcome inequality can be argued to be destined for failure. While an element of inequality may well prove to be unavoidable, this does not mean that substantial progress can not be made in terms of reducing inequality and alleviating the feeling of oppression. However it is not only a matter of reducing inequality, it is about making sure that it does not increase. The PCS Model takes into account the three main social sciences including psychology, sociology and philosophy. Psychology is represented by the personal level focusing on the individual mind. Sociology on a cultural level in terms of the affect a specific environment can have on the social patterns that exist. Finally Philosophy is represented in the structural level as it commands things to be seen and understood on a much broader scale. Neil Thompsons PCS Model helps to explain how and why discrimination occurs and thereby leads to oppression. It identifies many links between discrimination and oppression and the key factors underpinning poverty and social deprivation. The personal level of the PCS Model refers to the way that an individuals thought, emotion and the resulting actions can have a significant impact on inequality and oppression and whilst recognising the different forms discrimination can take, such as prejudice. However, this involves an individual forming a judgeme nt and ignoring any considerable evidence that would contradict or undermine it whilst the cultural level understands the role of language with regards to cultural behaviour as it reflects the cultural norms. Neil Thompson recognised that the levels of the PCS Model are in constant interaction between each other with the structural level considering the influences of various social, political and economic factors. In theory the overall structure underpins cultural patterns of internalised gender oppression as they are a direct result of men maintaining social order and positions of power through structured inequalities. This is derived from capitalism and industrialism, for its control over the system of production and the application of power through production. The PCS Model also considers capitalism to be involved in the exploitation of an individual or group by another for economic control relating to other forms of exploitation and internalised gender oppression. Neil Thompsons PCS Model recognises the significance of difference and diversity whilst going beyond an individuals own perspective. Therefore, living life from a masculine perspective and ignoring to understand another can lead to a narrow view and experience of internalised gender oppression. However, the individual actions on a cultural level have limitations as it is underpinned by the overall structure. In theory, everyone has a tendency to be narrow minded with their views as they can only judge situations based on their own individual perception. An individuals emotional characteristics with regards to their feeling of internalised gender oppression can rarely be understood but can never be truly relative unless they themselves feel the pressure of internalised oppression. For example, a man can never truly understand what it would be like for a female growing up in a developing urban area.

Problems And Opportunities By Transition Towns Movement Politics Essay

Problems And Opportunities By Transition Towns Movement Politics Essay Transition Towns also known as Transition network or Transition Movement is an environmental and social movement founded upon the principles of permaculture initialized by Rob Hopkins in Kinsale (Ireland) and in Totnes in the United kingdom. The Transition Towns network is a fascinating and deeply significant grass roots response to the converging ecological, economic, cultural, developmental and wider geo-political/security crises of the coming century. (Quilley) The aim of the Transition Network is to inspire, encourage, connect, support and train communities to self-organise around the transition model, creating initiatives that rebuild resilience and reduce CO2 emissions. The vision of local resilience and self-reliance emerging from community engagement with sustainability issues lies at the heart of the Transition Towns concept. Their goal is to equip communities for the challenges of climate change and peak oil. The Transition Towns movement is an example of socioeconomic loca lisation where resilience is considered to be the driving force. Resilience refers to the ability of a system, right from an individual to the whole of the economy, to hold together their ability to resist the changes and shocks from outside. The focus here is to minimize the CO2 emissions as a result of resilience building. Peak oil and Climate change also referred to as hydrocarbon twins are the major factors this concept is based on. The major fear is the end of availability of the cheap oil since the oil discovery is believed to have peaked 40 years ago thereby forcing change to the wholly oil dependent society to sustainable ways of living. Out of 94 discovered oil reserves, 68 have already got exhausted and the oil production is believed to have peaked in 2005 i.e. 40 years from the peak in discovery which was in the late 1960s. Also climate change which is the issue of greatest severity has been occurring at a faster rate than what was expected and this can be noticed by stud ying the reports on global warming, green house gas effects and the extent of melting in the Arctic sea of the recent past. The concept of Transition Towns concept was designed as a strategy of helping the small towns move away from fossil fuel dependency. It promotes public participation and citizen action within the context of a sustainable and self-sufficient community where local forums are created for the citizens to get together and decide on ways to develop low-carbon energy resources or in other words to discuss on better to survival prospects in a post peak-oil world. Planning for a future with economic disruption, dramatically lower energy consumption, and climate instability, the Transition Town movement encourages re-localization of decision making and seeks to unleash the collective genius of our communities to create networks of mutual support. The Transition Towns network is a grass roots response to the climatic and resource crisis of the near future. This concept focuses on planned relocalisation which in turn includes: local resilience, carbon reduction, decentralised energy infrastructu re, re-skilling, localised food, energy descent plans, local medicinal capacity and local currencies. The Transition town movement is considered to be a social innovation where climate change is its major challenge. The ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) after investigations has made the social and economc aspects of climate change a priority for its research funding. The maintenance of social justice, opportunities for the fulfilment of livelihoods within the local economics and the role played by the culture and the creative classes as the new drivers of growth will all be the social issues caused due to the increase in the fuel prices and the downfall of the economy ultimately caused by the latter. The Transition Town movement is a social innovation that can be viewed as a radical response to the need for a different way of life post peak-oil and post climate change. It is focussed on reducing the carbon emissions to control climate change and to control peak-oil crisis which suggests that it has an ideology which is an alternative way of organizing the economy. The Transition Town movement has spread rhizomically from Totnes to 134 other places all around the world. Also according to an article The two limits debates: Limits to Growth and climate change, the real solution for the problem of climate change should include the reorientation of public values away from consumption and must emphasize more on sustainable production and resource usage. The Transition Towns movement which is based on community level action and awareness; communication across multiple sectors, community and governmental levels; and local adaptation to environmental changes is one such approach. Indeed these two notions: values reorientation and governmentally provided technological solutions are mutually constitutive. The people have lost their interest in politics and the democratic institutions are in a crisis. Democracy has not been able achieve power for the people in most parts of the world. Democracy basically means political equality i.e. equal rights of participation in the political decisions made by the governments. On the contrary, democracy does not guarantee political equality anymore. In times like this, with people not interested in voting, the concept of Transition Towns gives way to Participatory democracy in which there is a greater involvement of the general public in making political decisions for their prosperity and thereby democracy becomes a reality again. Participation lets people and officials make decisions on how the broad policy commitments can be carried out. The Transition Initiatives can be successful only when there is a bridge between the transition community and the government. For example, when an Energy Descent Plan has been created by a transition network, it will be progressive only if there is a positive and productive relationship with the local authorities of the government. This creates an opportunity for democracy. The Transition movement engages people in a way that even conventional politics are failing to do in the present world and emotions like enthusiasm, idealism and passionate commitment can be observed in the people as a result of this concept. The Transition movement generates local-activism on the issues of peak-oil and climate change which would ultimately force the political intervention in these issues which also shows that the governments are forced to take action concerning the interests of the people which can again be seen enabling the functioning of the democracy. In this concept, transition normally results with the failure of the government and the market in convincingly and effectively not being able to address the issues of peak-oil and climate change. The assumption of the social innovator that he is on his own and that the market has failed to achieve sustainability results in a liberated political action as a need to answer the political problems by the micro-political community processes instead of normal macro-political approach. Although, lobbying and involvement of transitioners in dialogue with the local authorities is not a key aspect of the Transition concept, Penwith transitioners are invite to be a part of their local Sustainable Communities Strategy. The six district councillors in Stroud are huge supporters of the Transition process and also the US peak-oil expert, Richard Heinberg was invited to give a speech in the cabinet which was attended by 450 attendees. All these scenarios take democracy to very new levels encouraging the free will of the common public which is a very good sign for the future in this perspective. According to Deleuzean, micro-politics involve minorities doing something motivated by desire. These actions disrupt the dominant practices showing them c reative solutions. Deleuze argues that, a minor or deviant element is capable of destabilizing the macro socio-economic codes and the actuality here depends on the internal and the external factors of the force relations between those elements that enable and those that restrain the change. The Transition Town movement can therefore be considered to be a tactical approach where resistance is used to achieve democracy but this approach cannot be taken for granted to deliver positive effects always. There have been questions raised on the development of sustainable cities because of the complexity involved in their planning and implementation. It has been observed that sustainability obligations demand not only active involvement of civil society but also leadership from government. As discussed earlier, the Transition Town concept is based on the fact that the idea of sustainability is introduced into their local areas by the communities as a result of their resilience. All the features of insurgent planning can be clearly noticed in the Transition Town concept. Insurgent planning or oppositional planning is a type of planning which challenges the already established structures of power, transgresses time and place through a re-claiming of historical consciousness and imaginesthe concept of a different world as being both possible and necessary. A significant principle that differentiaes the Transition Towns concept from other community-focussed sustainability initiatives such as Local Agenda 21 is that the latter is initiated and driven by the community rather than the government. The way in which the Transition representation has been scattering shows its insurgent nature. The framework of this concept is very easily accessible to any community or individual with interests in sustainable living which ultimately leads to the unstructured spread of the Transition Towns thereby causing varied expressions to meet the local concerns. The problem that arises here is that, different people have different mindsets and when every individual comes up with a different solution for the same concern, it might lead to tension which is a problem for democracy. The insurgent nature of this concept makes it anti-democratic. And also the fact that the transition network has a list of 14 criteria to be fulfilled in order for a community to be considered as a Transition Town or a Transition community raises questions on the very basic principles of the concept. Rob Hopkins states that this concept is not prescriptive but the fulfilment criteria for formalisation are in fact a prescription. Rather than allowing communities to be Transition Towns for the sake of sustainability, this concept seems to be forming Transition Networks which doesnt support the concept of the Transition Town movement as a whole and this is also an emerging problem for democracy as this will have major impacts on the smooth-functioning of the local governments. The Transition Town concept is based more on a survivalist principle which is not very similar to the green activist principles which are more inclined towards the ideologies like democracy, liberalism, global engagement and universalism. (Quilley) The Transition Towns movement can be viewed as a social movement with an eco-authoritarian perspective evolved as a result of the limits to growth and the ecological collapse of modern industrial society ending the liberal democracy in the long run. Questions are also being r aised about resilience on which the Transition Town concept is solely based, whether it is attuned with the features like individualism, liberalism and pluralism and the impacts re-localisation would have on the gender relations which are all again problems in the democratic system. Individualism is not limited in human nature and therefore it raises concerns that the members of the transition communities might get carried away and over-enthusiastic and end up acting against the law which is also not healthy in a democracy. Alex Steffen Transition Towns or Bright Green Cities, argues that even though the Transition town movement has successfully inspired the communities to take action, its places of interest have sadly remained very low. There are also fears that re-localisation and resilience which are the main principles of the Transition Town moment might lead to self-sufficient tribalism which thereby reverses the direction of the civilising processes. According to Quilley, any reduction in the territorial scale of state pacification is believed to cause a decline in the pervasiveness and intensity of relations of the interdependency between individuals and the various groups. This shows that on a long run, the Transition Town concept becomes a very predictable phenomenon in the grounds of the basic principles and goals of democracy being directly or indirectly getting affected by the latter. Reactions have not been entirely positive in Totnes where the Transition town movement was initially started. Many say that this movement was made up of ideas of other people and networks who had already been trying to make Totnes a more sustainable town at that time and this situation raised questions in relation to aspects of the Transition town movement and its impact on communities and also its reputation there were doubts that it was colonizing existing networks. The interesting fact is that this concept cautions against taking a strong political stand on specifi c issues, leaving it partly up to individuals Transition Towns to decide what is applicable in their context. The Transition Network stresses the importance of Transition towns creating and maintaining links to local government but it can be argued that even though it is necessary for the local initiatives to have the support of local government but the basic fact is that the local governments are not bottom-up institutions. They operate within legislative frameworks and receive their funding from central governments and therefore they need to comply with the governing legislation. There is very high scope for the local governments to initially support the Transition communities but later decide on withdrawing the support which might create tension between these communities and the local governments which ultimately leads to political disturbances as a result of the tension created between the public and the local authorities which is again a problem for democracy as a whole. The Transition Town movement is like any other social movement but has been more successful because of the two core drivers it is based on peak-oil and climate change which have got obvious attention from the public. It has had good results in small towns around the world so far but there are doubts about its success more at a national level which still remains a question. As discussed, this concept has been very effective among communities in making them participate in decision making and the organizational aspects for making the Earth a better place to live in. It has succeeded in bringing the people of these communities together to get prepared for the post peak-oil world and also a world affected by climate change. As mentioned by Rob Hopkins, this concept has made the government respond to the actions of the transition communities fulfilling the basic goal of democracy. It has created room for what is known as participatory democracy and therefore it can be clearly said that th is concept has generated opportunities for democracy for sure. This concept also has few areas where more research needs to be done. This concept aims at creating sustainable livelihoods outside the normal economy by self-provisioning and by creating alternative currencies. These ideas when looked at in a broader perspective dont seem practically possible and might also lead to political imbalance. When there is a government in place to administer, the presence of smaller groups having their own networks and currencies make the conditions very critical for the smooth functioning of the government and it seems more like a rebellious or an anti-social group i.e. when it goes out of hand. I also think that this concept cannot be successful in the global South. I strongly believe that there should be official representation in a democracy and networks like the transition town movement should only play a vital role in instigating the governments to take actions on issues of peak-oil and climate change or any other issue for that matter but they should not be forming their own communities and currencies which is against democracy. The freedom can be misused of and this concept might ultimately result in forming groups and networks which might prove unhealthy to the community as a whole with growing self interests of these networks. After all, man is a selfish being!

Plato’s Republic: Justice and Injustice in Thrasymachus Account Essay

Plato’s Republic: Justice and Injustice in Thrasymachus' Account ABSTRACT: This paper has a two-fold task. First, I show that there are three types of individuals associated with the Thrasymachean view of society: (a) the many, i.e., the ruled or those exploited individuals who are just and obey the laws of the society; (b) the tyrant or ruler who sets down laws in the society in order to exploit the many for personal advantage; (c) the "stronger" individual (kreittoon) or member of the society who is detached from the many and aspires to become the tyrant. Second, I argue that if Thrasymachus’s account of the perfectly unjust life of the tyrant is to be more than a theoretical ideal, then the stronger individual who aspires to the tyrant’s position would do well to lead a double life—namely, pursuing private injustice while maintaining the public ‘appearance’ of justice. My interpretation accords with that of Glaucon, noted at the beginning of Republic II. I want to extend Glaucon’s interpretation to inclu de the stronger individual as well. I argue that the standpoint of the stronger individual, as distinct from the standpoints of the tyrant and the many, shows Thrasymachus’s three statements regarding justice to be consistent with one another. I. In the beginning of Republic II, during a conversation with Socrates and Adeimantus about which individual is deemed happier, the one who is just or the one who is unjust, Glaucon states: For the extreme of injustice is to seem to be just when one is not. So the perfectly unjust man must be given the most perfect injustice, and nothing must be taken away; he must be allowed to do the greatest injustices while having provided himself with the greatest reputation for justice... ...ggestion commits him to the immoralist position and (quite unfortunately) to an inconsistent position overall. Cf.. "Thrasymachus and Justice: A Reply," p. 14; An Introduction to Plato's Republic, p. 42. In their commentary Cross and Woozley maintain that Thrasymachus’ position would have remained consistent had he accepted Cleitophon’s suggestion. As they see it, there would then be "no conflict between its being just to serve what the stronger (ruler) believes to be his interest and its being just to obey the ruler, for while a ruler may make a mistake as to what actually is his interest he will hardly make a mistake as to what he believes to be his interest; and if it is right for subjects to do what the ruler believes to be in his interest, it will not matter what the ruler is mistaken in believing so." Cf.. Plato’s Republic: A Philosophical Commentary, p. 46.

Oppression of the Black Community as Depicted in Langston Hughes Poem, Freedom Train :: Hughes Freedom Train Essays

Oppression of the Black Community as Depicted in Langston Hughes' Poem, Freedom Train The poem, "Freedom Train" not only demonstrates the state of oppression the black community faced in 1947 but uses historical events and movements of the era. Langston Hughes wrote this poem in response to the train called Freedom Train that carried historical documents across country on September 17, 1947. On board the train was the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and a draft of the Constitution. The reader gathers from the poem, the setting takes place in the South during the recent announcement of the Freedom Train's departure. The narrator is a black man who has just heard about the Freedom Train. Immediately a visual came to mind of a man standing in the streets on a hot September day rejoicing and questioning the arrival of the Freedom Train. A million ideas and thoughts run through the mind of the narrator in a short period of time. He expresses throughout the poem so many questions and concerns regarding the Freedom Train. The main concern of the narrator is th e true meaning of "freedom" behind the Freedom Train. He questions whether or not this freedom is meant for him or if it's the freedom of the white man. He says in stance thirty, "What shall I tell my children?...You tell me-Cause freedom ain't freedom when a man ain't free". Personally, I believe this to be most profound statement in the entire poem. From the narrator's perspective, a man isn't truly free if he doesn't have the same rights as a man with white skin. He continues to question who the Freedom Train is really coming for. Will the blacks be sincerely welcome on this train? He ask in stance twenty: "When it stops in Mississippi will it be made plain Everybody's got a right to board the Freedom Train? After reading the poem a few times, I concluded that the narrator really wants freedom for all, which will not happen unless there is racial equality. The statement made in stance fifty and sixty backs this idea up because he states: "For the Freedom Train will be yours and mine!", "Black men and white men will say, Ain't this fine?" This expresses his hope and concern for everyone, not just the black race. The narrator refers to the term Jim Crow throughout the poem.

Rainforest Cafe, Inc: Outline To Rainforest Cafe Research Report :: essays research papers fc

Rainforest Cafe, Inc: Outline to Rainforest Cafe Research Report CORPORATE BACKGROUND History Formation Rainforest Cafe, Inc. was incorporated in Minnesota on February 3, 1994 to own and operate restaurant and retail facilities under the name of "Rainforest Cafe - A Wild Place to Shop and Eat." Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Election. Lyle Berman was elected Chairman and CEO of Rainforest Cafe at its inception in February 1994. Background. Berman has been Chairman and CEO of Grand Casinos, Inc. and its predecessor since October 1990. He is also CEO and a director of Stratosphere Corporation, and a director of G-III Apparel Group Ltd., Innovative Gaming Corporation of America and New Horizon Kids Quest, Inc. He previously was the President and CEO of Berman Specialty Stores, Inc. ("Bermans") from 1978 until November 1988 when Bermans was acquired by Wilson Suede and Leather, a subsidiary of Melville Corporation. President and Chief Operating Officer Election. Martin J. O'Dowd was elected in May of 1995. He is the first to hold this position. As of November 18, 1996 O'Dowd has taken a 30 day leave of absence for personal reasons. Dennis Nielson, analyst for R. J. Steichen, predicts that if the leave is only 30 days there should not be a lasting impact on the company (Nielson, November 18, 1996). Background. O'Dowd is a director of Elephant and Castle Group, Inc. He was previously the Corporate Director, Food & Beverage Services for Holiday Inn Worldwide from July 1987 to May 1995. From August 1985 to July 1987, O'Dowd was Vice President and General Operations Manager for the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. Management Philosophy. Berman and O'Dowd stated that they are committed to identifying and acquiring the resources that will allow them to continue their high rate of growth. Main Activities Rainforest Cafe has two areas of each facility, the restaurant and the retail area. Restaurant The company believes that its large menu selection is an important factor in the appeal of its restaurants. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner entrees which range in price from $7.95 to $15.95. The theme of the company is mirrored on the menu with all food and beverage selections including a jungle reference (Annual Report, 1995). The restaurant derived approximately 74 percent of the companies total revenue during the 52 week period ending December 31, 1995. Retail Area In order to enter the restaurant, all customers must pass through the retail area. The inventory includes apparel and gifts with the Rainforest Cafe logo and other items with a rainforest theme such as toys and educational games. The retail area derived approximately 26 percent of the companies total revenue

Hamer V Sidway

Case Brief I – Hamer v Sidway Without a complete and detailed background, Hamer v Sidway involved an uncle promising his nephew a lump sum of money if the nephew could refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, swearing, and gambling until his 21st birthday. The nephew fulfilled his end of the promise, and the uncle acknowledged that the nephew had rightfully earned the money but asked if he could hold the money in the bank until the nephew was responsible enough to care for it.The uncle died however, and Hamer, the party with legal claim to the money was denied payment by the executor of the will, Sidway. Sidway argued that the $5000 was without consideration because the nephew had benefited from the actions he undertook to receive the award. There were two specific legal questions that were brought before the court. One being whether or not the nephew and uncle officially and legally agreed upon this promise, and the second being the careful examination of the definition of con sideration in regards to a contract.Under investigation the court did find that the contract was binding on a certain date between the two related parties. The findings in relevance to consideration are explained below in correlation with the ruling. Originally Hamer, the plaintiff, recovered at trial, but the judgment was reversed upon appeal by Sidway. When Hamer appealed to the Court of Appeals of New York, he, the plaintiff, eventually won the suit after careful review. The court’s reasoning for the decision was based upon the examination of consideration.Sidway had denied payment on the account that the nephew had benefited from the actions taken, regardless of his uncle’s proposal, and that the promisor, his uncle, was not benefited in any way. The court however was less concerned with whether the promisee happened to benefit from the proposal, but more concerned with how the nephew had given up his legal rights to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, swear, and gamble in accordance with the contract.They ruled that, â€Å"consideration means not so much that one party is profiting as that the other abandons some legal right to the present, or limits his legal freedom of action in the future, as an inducement for the promise of the first. † It was confirmed that the nephew did give up these legal rights, and fully performed the conditions imposed. As mentioned above, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Hamer, on behalf of the nephew.

Night World : Witchlight Chapter 11

Shes what? Keller demonstrate, attack out of the bathroom, pass all all over her hair.Shes sick, Winnie verbalize. Runny nose, picayune temperature. Looks like a cold. Her mom affirms she has to excreteicap home from coach.Well, it looks like were having a hasten of good luck, Keller thought. It would be over ofttimes easier to harbor her inside the house.Winnie and Nissa had spent the night in Dianas room, bandage Keller, who was supposed to be at serenity(prenominal) on the sofa layer in the family room, wandered the house in between catnaps. Shed asked Galen to run in the guest room, and he had do right on that.We can confuse a quiet day, she said forthwith to Winnie. This is great-as broad as she lines puff up for Saturday.Winnie grimaced.What?Um-youd better go in and maunder to her yourself. wherefore?Youd retributive better go. She wants to lambaste to you.Keller started toward Dianas room. She said over her shoulder, Check the wards.I cheat, Bo ss.Iliana was sitting up in bed, wearing a frilled nightie that truly searchmed to relieve starself a ribbon woven into the lace at the neck. She looked fragile and beautiful, and at that place was a sharp flush on her cheeks from the fever.Howre you feeling? Keller said, qualification her voice gentle.Okay. Iliana modified it with a gesticulate that meant fairly rotten. I safe now cute to see you, you contend, and say sayonara.Keller blinked, still detrition her hair with the towel. She wasnt crazy about water, in particular non in her ears. Say good-bye?Before you go.What, you hypothecate Im expiry to school for you?No. Before you go.Keller stopped toweling and focused. Iliana, what atomic number 18 you talking about?Tm talking about you guys leaving. Because Im non the foolish former.Keller sat d accept on the bed and said flatly, What?Dianas look were that hazy gladiola color again. She looked, in her own representation, as annoyed as Keller entangle. Well, I thought that was obvious. I cant be the angry Power. I dont have the blue fire-or whatsoever. She tacked the last lyric poem on.Diana, dont play the dumb blond with me right now, or Ill have to kill you.Diana bonny st ard at her, picking at the coverlet with her fingers. You guys make a mistake. I dont have whatsoever power, and Im non the person youre looking for. Dont you remember you ought to go out and look for the echt ill-judged Power before the disobedient guys find her?Diana, simply because you couldnt stop that car doesnt mean that you dont have power. It could proficient be that you dont know how to tap into it yet.It could be. Youre admitting that youre not sure. zero can be absolutely sure. non until you establish it.And thats what I cant do. You probably approximate I didnt re all toldy try, Keller. barely I did. I attempt so hard.Dianas look went distant with agonized memory. I was stand up in that location, looking down, and I suddenly th ought, I can do it I actually thought I felt the power, and that I k refreshed how to use it. but because when I r from each oneed for it, there was nothing there. I tried so hard, and I cherished it to bestow so much Dianas look filled, and there was a look on her stage that struck Keller to the heart. thus she shook her topic and looked rearwards at Keller. It wasnt there. I know that. Im certain.It has to be there, Keller said. round of golf sunup has been analyze this ever since they found that prophecy. One from the house that still holds the spark. Theyve tracked down all the opposite Harmans and checked them. It has to be you.Then whitethornbe its near(prenominal)body you havent found yet. just about other lost witch. just its not me.She was completely adamant and genuinely convinced. Keller could see it in her eyes. She had managed to vault back into self-renunciation in a whole new way.So I know youll be leaving, Iliana went on. And, actually, Ill genui nely miss you. She blinked away rupture again. I suppose you dont believe that.Oh, I believe it, Keller said tiredly, staring at an exquisite gold-and-white dresser across the room.I really like you guys. But I know what youre doing is important.Well, is it okay with you if we just knack near for a belittled while persistenter? Keller asked heavily. Just until we see the hang and realize youre not the Wild Power?Iliana frowned. Dont you depend its a waste of cartridge clip? possibly. But I dont make those decisions. Im just a grunt.Dont you treat me like a dumb blond.Keller stretch outed her mouth, lifted her hands, then dropped them. What she wanted to say was, How can I facilitate it when youre determined to be much(prenominal) a nincompoop? But that wasnt going to get them allwhere. Look, Iliana. I really do have to stay until I get orders to go, all right? Keller said, looking at her. So youre just going to have to bear with us for a little while longer.She s tood up, feeling as if a weight had fallen on her. They were back to square genius.Or maybe not quite.Besides, what about Galen? she said, turning back at the door. Do you want him to go?Diana looked confused. Her cheeks got all the same pinker. I dont I meanIf youre not the Wild Power, youre not the Witch Child, Keller went on ruthlessly. And you know that Galen has to promise himself to the Witch Child.Iliana was existing quickly now. She gulped and stared at the window. She puss her lip. She really is in love with him, Keller thought. And she knows it.Just something to documentation in mind, she said, and went out the door.Did you get any info on the license weighing machine?Nissa shook her head. not yet. Theyll auspicate us when they have anything. And a courier brought this. She pass Keller a corner. It was the size of a fit out turning point but actually sturdy.The scrolls? I think so. There are wards on it, so we have to get Winnie to open it.They had a chance after br eakfast. Mrs. Dominick took the kid and went out shopping. Keller didnt worry too much about her. Just as Jaime was now being watched by Circle morning time agents, any members of Ilianas family who left the safety of the wards would be followed for their own protection.They sat most the kitchen table-except for Iliana, who refused to stick them and sat in the family room in front of the TV. She had a boxful of tissues, and all(prenominal) few minutes she would apply one to her nose. Before you open that, Keller said to Winnie, how are the wards somewhat the house?Theyre fine. Intact and strong. I dont think anybodys even so tried to cud with them. Galen said, I wonder why.Keller looked at him quickly. It was just what she had been wondering herself. Maybe it has something to do with what happened yesterday. And thats the other thing I want to talk about. I want to hear everybodys opinions. Who was in that car- shadow Person or human? wherefore did they try to run over Jai me? And what are we going to do about it?You go first, Winnie said. I think you had the best mint of it.Well, I wasnt the only one, Keller said. There was psyche else beside me. She looked toward the living room. Iliana made a tape of ignoring her completely.Keller turned back. But anyway, simplest first Lets say the car was from the iniquity institution. They cruised down the bridle-path in front of the school at a time before coming back. Its perfectly potential that they saw Iliana standing at the window. Maybe they were difficult to determine for sure that she was the Wild Power. If shed stopped the car, theyd have had solid proof. On the other hand, Nissa said, they must be fair sure shes the Wild Power. After all, its really beyond question. She was looking earnestly at Keller, but she spoke loudly tolerable for Iliana to hear everything distinctly. Keller smiled with her eyes. True. Okay, more thinkings. Winnie.Uh-night. Winnie sat up straighter. The car was from t he wickedness World, and they werent actually trying to run over Jaime. They were going to scrap her because they somehow knew shed been with us, and they figured she capability have some information they could use.Nice try, Keller said. But you were over by the door. You didnt see the way that car was driving. No way they were provision to grab her.I agree, Galen said. They were going too fast, and they were heading right for her. They meant to kill.Winnie dropped her chin into her hands. Oh, wholesome, fine. It was just an idea.It brings up something interesting, though, Nissa said thoughtfully. What if the car was from the wickedness World, and they knew Iliana was watching, but they werent trying to get her to demonstrate her power?What if they were just trying to limit her? Show what they were capable of, by lolling her virtuoso right in front of her eyes? If they knew how close she and Jaime were-How? Keller interrupted.Lots of ways, Nissa said promptly. If they havent s nooped around that high school and talked to other kids, their in distinguishigence system is worse than I think. bronchitic go farther. If they dont know that Jaime was in that symphony room with us yesterday at lunch, they ought to turn in their spy badges.If thats true, then maybe its even simpler than we think, Galen said. The law says that any human who finds out about us has to die. Maybe the car was from the Night World, and they didnt know that Iliana was watching-or they didnt care. They thought Jaime knew the secret, and they just wanted to stock out a good, old-fashioned Night World execution.And maybe the car wasnt from the Night World Iliana yelled suddenly, jumping arrive at the family room couch. She wasnt even pretending not to listen anymore, Keller noted. Did any of you ever think of that? Maybe the car just belonged to some crazed juvenile delinquents and its all a massive coincidence Well? Did you think of that? She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at all of them. The effect was somewhat cut because she was wearing a frilly nightgown with a flannel robe over it and slippers with teddy bear heads on them.Keller stood up, too. She wanted to be patient and make the approximately of this opportunity. But she never seemed to have much control where Iliana was concerned.Weve thought of it. Circle Daybreak is trying to check on it-whether the cars registered to a human or a Night Person. But youre asking for a component part of coincidence, arent you? How often do people purposely run each other over in this town? What are the chances that you just happened to be watching when one of them did it?She felt Galen nudge her ankle with his foot. With an effort, she shut up.Why dont you come over here and talk with us about it? he said to Iliana in his gentle way. Even if youre not the Wild Power, youre still involved. You know a lot about whats been going on, and youve got a good mind. We need all the help we can get.Keller saw Winnie glance at him sharply when he said the bit about Iliana having a good mind. But she didnt say anything.Iliana looked a little galvanise herself. But then she picked up the box of tissues and slowly came to the kitchen table.I dont think well when Im sick, she said.Keller sat down. She didnt want to undo what Galen had accomplished. So where does that leave us?she asked, and then answered her own question. Nowhere, really. It could be any of those scenarios or none of them. We may need to wait for whatever Circle Daybreak comes up with.Keller looked around the table grimly. And thats dangerous, she said. Assuming it was the Night World that sent that car, theyre up to something that we dont look. They could attack us at any moment, from any direction, and we cant announce them. I need for all of you to be on your guard. If anything suspicious happens, even the fittest thing, I want you to tell me.It still bothers me that they havent even tried to get in here, Galen said. No matter how strong the wards are, they should at to the lowest degree be trying.Keller nodded. She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach about that. They may be laying some gracious of a trap somewhere else, and they may be so confident that well fall into it that they can afford to wait.Or it could be that they know Im not the one, Hiana chimed in sweetly. And theyre off kidnapping the real Wild Power while you guys are cachexy your time here. She blew her nose.Keller gritted her teeth and felt a pain in her jaw that was acquiring familiar. Or it could be that we just dont understand tartars, she said, possibly with more force than was necessary. She and Diana locked stares. You guys, you guys, Winnie said nervously. Um, maybe its time we opened this. She affected the box Circle Daybreak had sent.Dianas eyes shifted to it with something like involuntary interest. Keller could see why. The box had the mysterious allure of a Christmas present. Go ahead, she told Winnie. It too k a while. Winnie did witchy things with a bag of herbs and some talismans, while everyone watched intently and Diana mopped her nose and sniffled.At last, very carefully, Winnie lifted the top of the box off.Everyone leaned forward. Piled inside were dozens and dozens of pieces of parchment. Not entire scrolls but scraps of them, each encased in its own credit card sleeve. Keller recognized the writing-it was the old speech communication of the shapeshifters. Shed learned it as a child, because Circle Daybreak wanted her to keep in touch with her heritage. But it had been a long time since shed had to translate it.Diana sneezed and said intimately reluctantly, Cool pictures.There were cool pictures. close of the scraps had three or quad tiny illustrations, and some of them had only pictures and no writing. The inks were red and purple and deep magnificent blue, with details in gold leaf. Keller disseminate some of the plastic sleeves across the table.Okay, people. The idea i s to find something that will show us how to fight the dragon, or at least something to tell us how he might attack. The truth is that we dont even know what he can do, except for the black energy he used on me.Um, I cant read this, you know, Diana pointed out with excessive politeness.So look at the pictures, Keller said sweetly. show to find something where a dragon is fleck a person-or, even better, getting killed by one.How do I know which ones the dragon? It was an amazingly good question. Keller blinked and looked at Galen.Well, actually, I dont know. I dont know if anybody knows how to tell a dragon from another Night Person.The one in the mall-Azhdeha-had opaque black eyes, Keller said. You could tell when you looked into them. But I dont suppose thats going to show up on a parchment like this. Why dont you just look for something with dark energy around it?Iliana made a tiny ruffle that in someone less pure would have been called a snort. But she took a pile of the scr aps and began poring over them.Okay, Keller said. Now, the rest of us-But she never got to finish. The telephony on the kitchen wall shrilled. Everyone glanced up toward it, and Iliana started to stand, but there was no second ring. After a long moment of silence, it rang again-once. Circle Daybreak, Keller said. Nissa, call them back.Keller tried not to fidget as Nissa obeyed. It wasnt just that she was hoping against hope that there was serviceable information about the car. For some power she couldnt define, that very first ring of the phone had made her feel unsettled.The early warn system of the shapeshifters. It had saved her life before, by giving her a hint of danger. But for what was about to happen now, it was entirely useless.Nissa Johnson here. economy word Angel Rescue, Nissa said, and Keller saw Dianas eyebrows go up.Yes, Im listening. What? Suddenly, her face changed. What do you mean, am I sitting down? Pause. Look, Paulie, just tell me whatever-And then her fac e changed again, and she did something Keller had never seen Nissa do. She gasped and brought a quick hand up to her mouth.Oh, Goddess, noKellers heart was pounding, and there was a bowlder of ice in her stomach. She found herself on her feet without any memory of standing.Nissas light brownness eyes were distant, almost blank. Her other hand clutched the receiver. How? Then she shut her eyes. Oh, no. And finally, very softly, Goddess help us.