How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Research Paper

How Does the American Public School Philosophy address the concept of Democracy aad the individual - Research Paper Example In this case, before undertaking to explore the role that American schools play in educating children in about democracy, it is crucial to attempt explaining the relationship between the two concepts of education and democracy. Thus, from a contemporary point of view, democracy can be considered to be that which results from and is reflective of modern day societies political and market economy, it personified by activities such as choosing political representatives and an autonomous judicially (Loflin, 2008). In these premises, school provides education to the minority future political figures, the majority to fit into their future role as consumers and producers in the society, and ultimately the decision makers in the society. Hence, such an education, will ideally involve educating them by practical activities so that they can experience democracy in their own personalized setting such as participating in their student centered committees and organizations, in their schools. This paper is an introspection of the role played by public schools in perpetuating the concept of democracy and individual through pedagogy by discussing the rationale; examining the objectives of teaching democracy in schools, the methods and implementation as well as the challenges that are encountered in the endeavor. The culture of democracy should be taught to schoolchildren for a number of reasons; prominent among them is the need to create self-awareness to them, which is instrumental in helping them take responsibility for their lives and the country’s destiny. This is because when children understand democracy, they will appreciate its importance and can easily apply it in their lives as students. This is concerning activities such as voting for prefects and student leaders as well as in simple things like solving a dispute on where to eat lunch among friends or which bus to take home (Rosenthal and Burroughs, 2003.). While these might seem like minor considerations, th ey set ground for bigger issue that the students will have to make in their adult lives, and it helps socialize them into democratically sensitive individuals. Although it is hailed and praised for facilitating legitimate governance, democracy can only be as strong as those who practice it. As a result, in America, students should be taught about democracy in order to ensure they are able to make judgments for themselves on what is democratic and what is not democratic. The process of democracy in America is often fraught with conflict and can often be messy, thus, teaching schoolchildren democracy is crucial since it helps them to appreciate the potential for conflict that result even with democracies, in order to develop democratically acceptable ways of dealing with these conflicts. In addition, youths might mistakenly assume that what happens in congress, and in national politics, is the epitome of democracy due to its lofty position. Nonetheless, the truth is that democracy is frequently abused and overstepped by politicians in their search for political mileage. Therefore, education about democracy provides learners with wisdom enabling them to contemplate the political climate and happenings critically so that they do not get mislead by these populist shenanigans. Electronic and print media has failed miserably in their attempt to convey to

First Day Of School Essay Example for Free

First Day Of School Essay On my first day of school, my Dad came to drop me of. I was really nervous and afraid when I came out of the car and headed for the School gate. In the playground, I saw an abundance of big boys running around; that made me even more apprehensive. When the School bell rang, I quickly into ran to the hall so I wasn’t late on my first day. Mrs McNamara, our head of year was giving all the students a lot of essential information that we needed in the future so as a consequence, it was important that we listened. At lunchtime I became more relaxed and at ease, at the end of the day my dad came to pick me up from school, I had really enjoyed myself and as a result I knew I would have a fantastic time at High school. Try to be yourself don’t copy anyone or anything. Furthermore, to do well in school you have to be bold and respectful, it always helps. LESSONS AND SCHOOL RULES In lessons you have to pay full attention to what the teacher’s saying, it will help you in your work and Home study. You must be fully equipped for the lesson so it is best you pack your bag the night before you have that lesson, you will need: two pens, a ruler, a pencil your exercise book, a rubber, a calculator, and a pencil case. In Trinity your work has to be a certain standard, if your work is below that standard, the teacher will make you do it again. Hence, you need to put effort into it, make sure you have checked it, and do it to your best quality. Trinity High school forbids bullying; any signs of bullying and you will be in a huge amount of trouble, you must always respect one another and the Teachers. Attendance and Punctuality is very important, so you don’t miss any lessons or activities. You must take care of all the equipment that you use and attempt not to damage it. SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS If you behave well and do extremely well in your lessons you get achievements such as: Effort and Excellence certificates, Headmasters award s letters of praise and congratulations, weekly praise from the Headmaster and attendance and punctuality awards. There are so many ranges of achievements, so make sure you work hard, listen to your teachers and be respectful at all times.

Air Compressor Systems Introduction

Air Compressor Systems Introduction Air Compressor System provides high pressure compressed air with subsequent reduction in volume for a range of industrial and domestic applications. They have become imperative equipment in almost every industry. Due to its high efficiency, feasible operational parameters and diverse range of applications, they have gained widespread popularity and no industry is complete without a compact compressor system. The primary objective of this report is to understand the importance of air compressor systems. In addition, the report covers a wide spectrum of compressor applications and processes. The different types of compressors, along with their merits and demerits have been delineated. The important operational parameters have been defined along with their importance in the compression process. Air is free, whereas compressed high pressure air is not. True to the phrase, generating high pressure compressed air is not an economical and energy efficient process. High initial and maintenance costs can increase the overall compressor cost to a great extent. Proper and well maintained compressor systems can reduce energy consumption from 30-50%. Various steps to reduce energy consumption and increase overall efficiency have been detailed in the report. For a practical application of compressor acumen, a case study has been conducted on an ELGI Compressor which is under operation in Arabian Cement Industry. With the data collected from the study, certain operational parameters were calculated and corresponding inferences were drawn. At the end of the study, we are able to conclude the current state of the compressor and detail certain steps to improve efficiency and compressor performance. The future of air compressor systems has been a constant research topic among industrialists. The modern techniques of Heat Recovery Systems in air compressors and use of Variable Speed Drives have been briefly detailed to provide a view into a bright future of air compressor systems. CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Air Compressor Systems In most industrial applications, compressed air is considered as the fourth utility, preceded by the three essential utilities; water, electricity and natural gas. Typically, a simple air compressor is an industrial device that intakes ambient air and increases the pressurewith reduction in volume by doing work on the working fluid, namely air or gas. The primary objective of employing a compressor is to provide high pressure air using least possible power consumption. The compression can occur in any one of the three ways; adiabatic, isothermal or polytropic. For an Adiabatic compression process, there is assumed to be no heat loss or gain from the system. When the temperature of air at inlet equals temperature of compressed air at outlet, the compression process is Isothermal. Normally, a typical compression process involves Polytropic Compression. The pressure, temperature and volume of air it inlet and outlet vary with the respective conditions. The least possible work of compression is achieved in an adiabatic compression process as the net work done by the system is zero. [1] The adiabatic efficiency is the maximum possible compressor efficiency and compressors are designed with compressor efficiencies such that, there is little or no variation among the two. As mentioned earlier, compressed air is considered a utility because of their diverse applications in various industrial and metallurgical operations. The compressed air supply is clean, convenient, safe and flexible for use. Industrial uses can be attributed to when they are in connection with compressed air motors for functioning of pneumatic tools, raw material conveying through ducts, in connection with a reservoir for storage of compressed air for future applications. 1.2 Historical Background The earliest documented use of the compressor dates back to around 4th century B.C. In those times, the compressor was termed as a water organ. The water organ was invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria. The design comprised of a chamber filled with air and water, a water pump, collection of pipes of various dimensions and connecting tubes and valves. The mechanism of operation was relatively simple; by pumping water into the chamber, the air gets compressed. [2] With advancement of time and technology, various improvements and innovations were made to the water organ. In 1808, the Multi Stage Axial Compressor, designed by John Dumball, came into industrial application. However, this design did not achieve wide-spread popularity because the compressor comprised of moving blades without stationary blades to transfer the air flow into the successive compression stage. During the 19th century, the invention of the Roots Blower was a huge step leading to invention of modern air compressor systems. Philander and Francis Roots designed the Roots blower, while devising a suitable replacement for the water wheel at their woolen mill. The roots blower consisted of numerous impeller pairs rotating in opposite directions.[3] Dr. Franze Stolze designed the modern compressor in 1900; which comprised of a multi stage axial flow compressor with a combustion chamber, multi-stage axial turbine along with a regenerator to heat the discharged air utilizing exhaust waste gases. 1.3 Applications of Compressed Air High pressure compressed air is widely used for industrial and domestic applications due to their high efficiency and facile operational nature. The powering of pneumatic equipment is one of the major applications of compressed air. Pneumatic tools are lighter, deliver more power and not prone to overloading, unlike electric motor run equipment. Compressed air driven tools can achieve high overall torque and optimum speed in a short span of time. They are safer as compared to electric driven tools because of no spark conditions and less overheating. [4] Compressed air is also used for raw material transport, combustion processes; such as oxidation, thermodynamic operations; such as refrigeration and cryogenics. Filtration, aeration and dehydration processes are also driven by compressed air. Non-industrial applications of compressed air include transportation, mining and agriculture.[5] 1.4 Components of Air Compressor System Due to the diverse applications of compressed air, air compressor systems merit an intricate and complex design. Air compressor systems consist of a number of sub-systems and components, which include the air compressor, motor and drive unit, control systems, air inlet filters, air dryers, after-coolers and various other retrofitted components. During the operation of an air compressor system, the ambient air is taken into the system by air inlet filters. The motor and gear unit powers the compressor system to increase the pressure of air. The primary function of an integrated control system is to regulate the amount of air intake and air discharge from the system. Treatment equipment, such as an Air Dryer and Air Separator are used to remove contaminants and provide moisture and oil free pressurized air. The Outlet and Distribution systems play the pivotal role of transporting the compressed air to the various required sources. In typical industrial applications, the pressurized air is stored in an Air Reservoir or Storage Tank for future use. The major components of an air compressor are detailed below: Intake Air Filter: Ambient air enters the compressor via inlet air filters. Filtration elements in intake filters facilitate filtration of particulate matter present in air. This allows the entry of clean and dry air into the compressor. Compressor Cooling: A substantial amount of heat is generated during compressor process. As a result, cooling and lubrication of the system is mandatory for reducing wear and damage to the compressor spares; thereby increasing compressor efficiency. Compressors are normally cooled using air, water or oil (lubricant). [6] Inter-Stage Coolers: Inter coolers act as heat exchangers to lower the temperature of air before it enters into successive stages of compression.[7] This reduction of temperature is paramount to reduce the overall compression work and increase compressor efficiency. After-Coolers: After coolers are employed at the end of compression process to lower the discharge temperature of air. During this final stage of operation, as the temperature is lowered, moisture present in air condenses and separated from the discharge air. Air Separators: Separators act as an enhanced after-cooler. Theyare installed either after an inter-cooler or after-cooler to desiccate discharge air. Air-Dryers: Normally, after the compressed air has passed through all the above mentioned equipment, discharge air is passed into the air-dryer before storage in the reservoir. The air that reaches the dryer is saturated. If this saturated air enters the piping, it can lead to corrosion and damage to the transport equipment. The Relative Humidity (moisture content) in atmospheric air is relatively high. When this air is compressed at high pressure, it occupies a small volume and high temperature. At a specific temperature, all the moisture present in air condenses. This temperature is known as Dew Point. This process is cycled in an air-dryer to ensure that moisture-free air reaches the storage area.[8] Pressure Regulators/Flow Controller: PFCs are auxiliary equipmentthat minimizes pressure drops in the system by stabilizing system pressure. Lubrication: Lubrication is a paramount need for effective compressed air operation. A lubricator is employed to lubricate and cool the moving parts and prevent overheating. In some systems, the lubricator is retrofitted with a compressed filter and pressure flow regulator to fashion a system known as Filter Regulator Lubricant (FRL).[10] Air Receivers: The high pressure compressed air from the system is discharged to a storage tank or an air-receiver according to the demand. The capacity and type of air receiver varies depending on the demand of compressed air within the system. For spasmodic demand of compressed air, a large capacity reservoir is employed for a relatively small capacity compressor. Moreover, a receiver functions depending on demand, thereby reducing overwork and load on the compressor. Air Transport and Distribution System: The final stage in a compression process is the proper distribution of compressed air to the demand points. A common distribution system includes piping, valves and hoses. To minimize the pressure drop during distribution, it is imperative that the pipe length is kept minimum and diameter to maximum.

Ethnic Relations Essays -- essays research papers

Final Exam   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The question of race and discrimination has been around a long time, dating back to the slave age. So the fact that it is still an issue today is no surprise at all. In fact, you might be able to say that race and discrimination is still around today but has changed over time. Why is it important to understand the question of race and discrimination? It is important because helps you be a more well-rounded person. I have learned this and have become more aware of this because I am taking this class. I will be examining ten pieces of popular culture and show how it relates to what I have learned in this class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first example I would like to use is the movie â€Å"8 Mile†. The movie is about this white man that lives in a bad neighborhood in Detroit. He has a lot of good rapping skills and he works at a car garage. He knows that the only way he will get out of this bad place is if beats the black rappers and lands a record deal. The movie shows the adversity that he goes through. This movie represents how a white man struggles to get recognize in the rap industry since he is not black and since it is dominant by blacks. I think that this shows the world that it does not matter what skin you have, but the talent you have is more important. I think this ties into class on the issue of how too many times that people get categorized because the color of their skin. This shows the idea of whiteness. Black people have been used the idea of whiteness and have used it on him. Wellman quotes: â€Å"I can relate to people whose backgrounds are similar to mine† (We llman 152). Since he is white, the some black people have judged him first by his skin and looking passed his background. When in reality, he grew up with a rough childhood and the fact that he did have the talent to do what supposedly only black people could. The black people thought that just cause he had white skin that he was not able to produce the same rhythm as them because the white person did not listen to the kind of music they make.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second example I would like to use is swing dancing. I saw a picture on the internet about swing dancing and how it showed white people dancing. Swing dance was formed by the African American people and it became very popular that it became the center of American life but... ...xist with no problem. This relates to the Min’s idea of how Asians want to be like whites and how they don’t want to be like blacks. I find this interesting because in this movie, the black people are trying to be like Asians, where as the Asians are trying to be like white people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The final example I would like to use the James Bond movie â€Å"You only live twice†. The movie is about how Bond gets killed by the Chinese enemy in the beginning of the movie but he really was not dead. So he has a mission to stop the Chinese gang from taking control of the world. This reveals to the world how the Chinese can be dangerous too. I think this relates to the when Min talks about gangs in his book. What I find funny about this situation on gangs is that Asian want to become more like white people yet the gangs would be more a characteristics of the black people. So it is kind of ironic that Asians want to be white yet they are also like black people. I am not sure what exactly you can classify the Asian people as either white or black, but I would like to see that the Asian community be classified as their own group and not have to choose either white or black,

How Serfdom Save the Women’s Movement: A Summary

Flanagan in this article expresses the different roles that women play in this society. This was told in point of view of a woman once and innocent girl of 15 years girl, later grew and got married to realize her predicament which the society dictate her to be. The article speaks of her observations and experiences and talked of a nanny, a nurse, a waitress, a mother, a single mother, a domestic helper, a factory worker, and herself as a working mother. Several characters where in fact introduced and their features are sometimes presented but they all revolved to the theme that women in the society are relegated to a lesser class human being as compared to their male counterpart. The women worked hard but received meager pay and seldom get better positions in a company. The article speaks of wives and mothers who are expected to raise their children, do the household chores, but do not get so much in return. It speaks of the desire of women to have professional works while they perform their roles as loving mother and a good wife. The presence of a nanny in the house provides more freedom for a working mother to have more time for herself and for her outside work for the home. Nanny or domestic helper or workers are most welcome by working mothers this is so because they unburden the mother of the tasks and responsibilities of taking care of the needs of the children. Nanny, or domestic helper, or a nurse in the house, or a secretary in an office is still a form of slavery. It is a serfdom that inspired the women to organize and empower themselves to gain freedom and recognition in this society.

Learn About the Sahara Desert

Learn About the Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert is located in the northern portion of Africa and covers over 3,500,000 square miles (9,000,000 sq km) or roughly 10% of the continent. It is bounded in the east by the Red Sea and it stretches west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, the Sahara Deserts northern boundary is the Mediterranean Sea, while in the south it ends at the Sahel, an area where the desert landscape transforms into a semi-arid tropical savanna. Since the Sahara Desert makes up nearly 10% of the African continent, the Sahara is often cited as the worlds largest desert. This is not entirely true, however, as it is only the worlds largest hot desert. Based on the definition of a desert as an area receiving less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year, the worlds largest desert is actually the continent of Antarctica. Geography of the Sahara Desert Stocktrek Images / Getty Images The Sahara covers parts of several African nations including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia. Most of the Sahara Desert is undeveloped and features a varied topography. Most of its landscape has been shaped over time by wind and includes sand dunes, sand seas called ergs, barren stone plateaus, gravel plains, dry valleys, and salt flats. Around 25% of the desert is sand dunes, some of which reach over 500 ft (152 m) in height. There are also several mountain ranges within the Sahara and many are volcanic. The highest peak found in these mountains is Emi Koussi, a shield volcano that rises to 11,204 ft (3,415 m). It is a part of the Tibesti Range in northern Chad. The lowest point in the Sahara Desert is in Egypts Qattara Depression at -436 ft (-133 m) below sea level. Most of the water found in the Sahara today is in the form of seasonal or intermittent streams. The only permanent river in the desert is the Nile River that flows from Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Other water in the Sahara is found in underground aquifers  and in areas where this water reaches the surface, there are oases and sometimes small towns or settlements like the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt and Ghardaà ¯a in Algeria. Since the amount of water and topography varies based on location, the Sahara Desert is divided into different geographic zones. The center of the desert is considered hyper-arid and has little to no vegetation, while the northern and southern portions have sparse grasslands, desert shrub and sometimes trees in areas with more moisture. Climate of the Sahara Desert Samere Fahim Photography / Getty Images Although hot and extremely dry today, it is believed that the Sahara Desert has undergone various climatic shifts for the last few hundred thousand years. For example, during the last glaciation, it was bigger than it is today because precipitation in the area was low. But from 8000 BCE to 6000 BCE, precipitation in the desert increased because of the development of low pressure over ice sheets to its north. Once these ice sheets melted, however, the low pressure shifted and the northern Sahara dried out but the south continued to receive moisture due to the presence of a monsoon. Around 3400 BCE, the monsoon moved south to where it is today and the desert again dried out to the state it is in today. In addition, the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, ITCZ, in the southern Sahara Desert prevents moisture from reaching the area, while storms north of the desert stop before reaching it as well. As a result, the annual rainfall in the Sahara is below 2.5 cm (25 mm) per year. In addition to being extremely dry, the Sahara is also one of the hottest regions in the world. The average annual temperature for the desert is 86 °F (30 °C) but during the hottest months temperatures can exceed 122 °F (50 °C), with the highest temperature ever recorded at 136 °F (58 °C) in Aziziyah, Libya. Plants and Animals of the Sahara Desert kristianbell / Getty Images Due to the high temperatures and arid conditions of the Sahara Desert, the plant life in the Sahara Desert is sparse and includes only around 500 species. These consist mainly of drought and heat resistant varieties and those adapted to salty conditions (halophytes) where there is sufficient moisture. The harsh conditions found in the Sahara Desert have also played a role in the presence of animal life in the Sahara Desert. In the central and driest part of the desert, there are around 70 different animal species, 20 of which are large mammals like the spotted hyena. Other mammals include the gerbil, sand fox,  and Cape hare. Reptiles like the sand viper and the monitor lizard are present in the Sahara as well. People of the Sahara Desert Zine Elabidine Laghfiri / EyeEm / Getty Images It is believed that people have inhabited the Sahara Desert since 6000 BCE and earlier. Since then, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks,  and Europeans have been among the peoples in the area. Today the Saharas population is around 4 million with the majority of the people living in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. Most of the people living in the Sahara today do not live in cities; instead, they are nomads who move from region to region throughout the desert. Because of this, there are many different nationalities and languages in the region but Arabic is most widely spoken. For those who do live in cities or villages on fertile oases, crops and the mining of minerals like iron ore (in Algeria and Mauritania) and copper (in Mauritania) are important industries that have allowed population centers to grow.

Free Essays on NHS Scholarship Speech

I have been asked to speak with you tonight regarding one of the four main qualities possessed by those associated with the National Honor Society- this characteristic is SCHOLARSHIP. SCHOLARSHIP is defined as a â€Å"commitment to learning.† Scholarship is NOT an inherited quality, but one that is acquired and developed as a result of responsibility, diligence, and dedication. A scholar is willing to spend hours in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultured and educated mind. From the detailed works of Aristotle, to Shakespeare, to Chaucer, Newton, and Darwin, the information and the wisdom available to students today is absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, many tend to overlook the importance of scholarship and its benefits to life Those FEW who demonstrate an acute awareness of the value of education are truly extraordinary. Success is not achieved by CHANCE, but by CHOICE. Despite the fact that formal education may end either in high school, or in college, one’s education and desire to learn should not cease upon the acquisition of a piece of paper, upon the receipt of a diploma. Graduation is not the end of an enlightened era, but rather the beginning of the rest of one’s life. The liberal arts education received from secondary school shall serve as a strong foundation for the various challenges life may present. Education ends only with life; therefore, one must take advantage of time and see each day as a learning experience. THe acquisition of intellect is not a destination, but a journey. Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success, and it can be acquired in only one way- through conscientiousness and effort. The information bestowed upon each scholar is invaluable and a scholar’s ability to recognize its worth is quite rare. Scholarship is worth much more than anything monetary because the power of one’s intellect cannot be spent... Free Essays on NHS Scholarship Speech Free Essays on NHS Scholarship Speech I have been asked to speak with you tonight regarding one of the four main qualities possessed by those associated with the National Honor Society- this characteristic is SCHOLARSHIP. SCHOLARSHIP is defined as a â€Å"commitment to learning.† Scholarship is NOT an inherited quality, but one that is acquired and developed as a result of responsibility, diligence, and dedication. A scholar is willing to spend hours in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultured and educated mind. From the detailed works of Aristotle, to Shakespeare, to Chaucer, Newton, and Darwin, the information and the wisdom available to students today is absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, many tend to overlook the importance of scholarship and its benefits to life Those FEW who demonstrate an acute awareness of the value of education are truly extraordinary. Success is not achieved by CHANCE, but by CHOICE. Despite the fact that formal education may end either in high school, or in college, one’s education and desire to learn should not cease upon the acquisition of a piece of paper, upon the receipt of a diploma. Graduation is not the end of an enlightened era, but rather the beginning of the rest of one’s life. The liberal arts education received from secondary school shall serve as a strong foundation for the various challenges life may present. Education ends only with life; therefore, one must take advantage of time and see each day as a learning experience. THe acquisition of intellect is not a destination, but a journey. Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success, and it can be acquired in only one way- through conscientiousness and effort. The information bestowed upon each scholar is invaluable and a scholar’s ability to recognize its worth is quite rare. Scholarship is worth much more than anything monetary because the power of one’s intellect cannot be spent...

Definition and Examples of Linguistic Prestige

Definition and Examples of Linguistic Prestige In sociolinguistics, linguistic prestige is the degree of esteem and social value attached by members of a speech community to certain languages, dialects, or features of a language variety. Social and linguistic prestige is interrelated, notes Michael Pearce. The language of powerful social groups usually carries linguistic prestige; and social prestige is often granted to speakers of prestige languages and varieties (Routledge Dictionary of English Language Studies, 2007). Linguists draw important distinctions between overt prestige and covert prestige: In the case of overt prestige, the social valuation lies in a unified, widely accepted set of social norms, whereas with covert prestige the positive social significance lies in the local culture of social relations. It is, therefore, possible for a socially stigmatized variant in one setting to have covert prestige in another (Walt Wolfram, Social Varieties of American English, 2004). Examples and Observations: Linguistic prestige is directly associated with power. As [Thomas Paul] Bonfiglio (2002:23) puts it, There is nothing in the particular language itself that determines its worth: it is the connection of the language in question to the phenomena of power that determines the value of that language and that contributes to the standardization process.(Gerard Van Herk, What Is Sociolinguistics? Wiley-Blackwell, 2012) Old English certainly had words for language and female and face, and we could perfectly well have carried on using them [after the Norman invasion], but the much greater prestige of French induced many English-speakers to introduce French words into their speech in the hope of sounding more elegant. This attitude is always with us: French no longer enjoys quite the prestige it once had, but you may perhaps know someone who cannot resist spattering his English speech or writing with such French words and phrases as au contraire, joie de vivre, au naturel, fin de sià ¨cle and derrià ¨re. (R.L. Trask, Language: The Basics, 2nd ed. Routledge, 1999) Prestige in Grammar In grammar, most prestige forms are related to prescriptive norms of standardness or even literary norms. For example, the use of whom in Whom did you see? or the placement of never at the front of the sentence Never have I seen a more gruesome sight might be considered prestige variants in some social contexts. Apart from these somewhat special cases, it is difficult to find clear-cut cases of prestige variants on the grammatical level of language, particularly in the grammar of ordinary informal conversation...For present-day American English, it is clear that the vast majority of socially diagnostic structures exist on the axis of stigmatization rather than the axis of prestige.(Walt Wolfram, Social Varieties of American English. Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-First Century, ed. by Edward Finegan and John R. Rickford. Cambridge University Press, 2004) Overt and Covert Prestige A standard dialect speaker of English who intentionally switches to use of social markers such as aint and he dont is said to seek covert prestige. Such prestige is covert because its elicitation will often not, if successful, be consciously noted.Deliberate (as opposed to instinctive) use of taboo words such as fuck and shit, usage which tends to characterize male more than female speech, may also seek covert prestige, but the strength of these as social markers makes this more difficult to achieve. In a contrasting register, one uses unusually formal non-vernacular forms in vernacular contexts. For example, one will ordinarily say Its me to the question Who is it? asked by a familiar interlocutor, but, when asked the same question by one from whom one seeks prestige, the same speaker may say It is I. Similarly, except after prepositions Americans ordinarily say who in preference to whom: Who did you ask?, not Whom did you ask?  but in some circumstances, the latter may be substituted. Such usage is said to seek overt prestige because the often dubious prestige one gets from such usage is ordinarily consciously noted, hence overt. One may use jargon similarly seeking overt prestige, saying, for example, semantics when nothing more than ordinary meaning is intended.(Grover Hudson, Essential Introductory Linguistics. Blackwell, 2000) Labov on Prestige and Gender [American linguist William Labov developed] three principles regarding the linguistic behavior of men and women: 1. For stable sociolinguistic variants, women show a slower rate of stigmatized variants and a higher rate of prestige variants than men (Labov 2001: 266)2. In linguistic change from above, women adopt prestige forms at a higher rate than men (Labov 2001: 274)3. In linguistic change from below, women use higher frequencies of innovative forms than men do (Labov 2001: 292) Ultimately, Labov formulates the corresponding Gender Paradox: Women conform more closely than men to sociolinguistic norms that are overtly prescribed, but conform less than men when they are not.(Labov 2001: 293) All these principles and the Gender Paradox itself appear to be fairly robust findings with almost universal applicability in contemporary sociolinguistics...[E]very language period and every language community must be investigated independently and in its own right (pace Jardin 2000). The actual concepts and functions of class, gender, networks, and, most importantly, norms, standards, and prestige, differ radically in different communities.(Alexander Bergs, The Uniformitarian Principle and the Risk of Anachronisms in Language and Social History. The Handbook of Historical Sociolinguistics, ed. by Juan M. Hernndez-Campoy and Juan Camilo Conde-Silvestre. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012) Prestige, Status, and Function What do we mean by status and function? The two terms are often confused with one another and also with another term, prestige. Basically, the essential difference between prestige, function, and status is the difference between past, present, and future. The prestige of a language depends on its record, or what people think its record to have been. The function of a language is what people actually do with it. The status of a language depends on what people can do with it, its potential. Status, therefore, is the sum total of what you can do with a languagelegally, culturally, economically, politically and, of course, demographically. This is not necessarily the same as what you do with the language, although the two notions are obviously related, and indeed interdependent. They can also be connected with the prestige of a language. Let us illustrate the differences. Classical Latin has had a lot of prestige but it has few functions. Swahili has a lot of functions, but little presti ge. Irish Gaelic has status, official status, but few exclusive functions.(William F. Mackey, Determining the Status and Function of Languages in Multinational Societies. Status and Function of Languages and Language Varieties, ed. by Ulrich Ammo. Walter de Gruyter, 1989)

Quality Assurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Quality Assurance - Essay Example Quality assurance is a vital aspect in any organisation that needs to offer unparalleled products or services. Quality assurance is the implementation of all systematic activities that are geared towards provision of quality products and services. All organisations that adhere to quality control are in a position to make a positive impact in the provision of products and services.This is an activity that is directed towards fulfilling the needs of the demand for the services and products. Quality control is mostly inclined towards satisfaction of those in need the services and products. In quality control, an organisation’s interests are not paramount. However, the interests of the consumer reign supreme. Quality Concepts An organisation that needs to apply quality control has to go through various procedures to attain the best. It is not an easy task to implement quality assurance and it will take time and other resources including finance and labour. First, the organisation has to carry out a concrete system analysis. Organisations have to come up with a system that will be operational in the organisation in order to meet the requirements. In this initial step, the organisation has to consult with concerned parties to come up with a functional system. This will involve consultation, meeting with other parties consulting research in making a strong system. This will be followed by development of the system to ensure it will function in the organisation. Analysing and developing a system that is not functional in the organisation will be a waste of time and resources. ... As such, there will be limited instances of conflict of interest. Secondly, there has to be procedures that will be followed in implementation of the system. Following procedures will ensure the system will be implemented in a standardised form. Some procedures will be vital and should be done before taking any other step in the system. Thirdly there will be a need for reference materials. The system should be backed up with materials that will be used in future in ensuring the system is followed appropriately. The last part of applying quality assurance is informing the concerned parties of the system in place. Passing information explicitly will be a benefit to the organisation as all the employees or people in the organisation will be prepared to execute the system. This will be followed by instructing the organisation on the possible measures that will be in place when implementing the system. Lastly, there will be a need to train the staff in ensuring the system is fully execute d. Since the workforce is directly involved, they will have to get ample training and preparation for the system that should be put in place. When considering the application of quality assurance in an organisation, there are several parameters that are considered. First, there is constant training of the concerned parties and employees. The employees are directly involved in ensuring quality standards are maintained. Therefore, constant training of the employees will ensure the quality of products or services are kept in high standards. In many instances, organisations that practice employee training are at the helm of making positive accrual in their line of service or products. Secondly, there is need for constant

Why parents should not argue in cheldren's presence Essay

Why parents should not argue in cheldren's presence - Essay Example Young children usually regard their parents as role models and try to imitate all they do and put them into their daily activities. Parents posses this magical ability to forget that their kids are within earshot of what they are saying when arguing. Or they assume their children are too young to understand the context of the argument while ignoring to realize the tone of their conversation is noticeable by even a one year old child. The greatest danger is, kids do as we do and most often not as we say, though we wish the opposite. So, what kind of children are we going to raise when we traditionally argue and fight before them? Most of the time, whatever children learn from their families, sometimes they carry them through their lives. Hence, family unity is a very essential component in a child’s growth and future character (Rimm, 2008). For any child to develop into a morally person, one is expected to have learnt good morals from his or her parents (Oliver, 2011). Children regard their parents as their mentors and try to copy whatever things they see them doing. A tender mind of a child once exposed to the sight of parents quarrelling may start imitating what their parents do to other children. Such children tend to develop quarreling attitudes when confronted with tricky situations and on worst case scenario, involve themselves in fights. According to some research conducted on children who were once exposed to seeing their parent’s quarrelling, the research found out that the most of the children developed quarrelling tendencies later in their lives as men or women (Rimm, 2008). Children exposed to the scene of their parents quarrelling sometime become traumatized psychologically. Possessing tender minds, children are the most affected in case of a quarrel. A child in his or her micro-environment usually believes life is a happy place, and by seeing such a scene, become terrified of life’s outcome (Vissing, 2007). A child also believe d that perfection in his or her micro-world is brought by his or her parents, therefore by seeing them quarreling, deprives the child of his or her happiness. Parent’s who quarrel in front of their children should not do so since their subject their children to psychological torture and deprive them of the happiness children should have at such tender age. Quarrelling before children in some countries is punishable since it deprives children their rights. One of the worst side effects of living in a hostile environment is exposure to stress. Stress should not be really a part in a child’s life. Some of healthy stresses such as the thrill to adventure, challenging school work, or normal changes of life are good. However, the negative stress brought about by living in unhappy household full of conflicts is terrible for a child mental and physical health. Parents should also not argue in front of their children since they might cause emotional instability. Sometimes, chil dren become emotionally disturbed when they see their parents quarrelling and become withdrawn. Children are usually free with their parents and believe their parents are their judges in whatever happens to them, but on seeing they quarrel, send fear into their minds (Rimm, 2008). A child, who was once free with his or her parents before a quarrel, may start withdrawing or keeping to himself or herself after the quarrel since he or she distrusts them. Trust in any family is important for its survival. A child learns to be distrustful after such events since the person he or she used to trust, engages in quarrelling. When children become threatened emotionally, they exhibit increased negativity in life. Some of them develop symptoms of anxiety, depression, hostility,

The Rise of the American Empire Between the End of the Civil War and Essay

The Rise of the American Empire Between the End of the Civil War and The Early 20th Century - Essay Example The first American acquisition is Alaska in 1867 from Russia for close to $7.2 million largely on the initiative of the secretary of state William Seward1. Although his purchase was sufficiently unpopular at the time, the small American population unlimited economic growth limited them to experience economic prosperity with external traders and missionaries. However, with the discovery of gold in Juneau early 1880 brought about economic prospectors.   Gold in 1896 found along the tributary of the Klondike River was also reported resulting into the massive gold rush in 1897-8. The majority of the Gold miners utilized the precious grains of dust are nearly all in Canadas Yukon Territory creating is inaccessible region from the Alaskan coast. The majority of the gold-diggers come from the USA increased their gold returns. During this same period the United States accidentally acquired extensive overseas responsibilities such as leadership roles that transformed their nation into a powerful empire.   The gradual American involvement with the Hawaii that was annexed as a US territory during the 1900s led to a more dramatic increase in the US involvement overseas increasing Spanish America Spanish war of 1986. Some of the territorial acquisition led to emergence of conflicts. Undertaken with extreme reluctance among the American government, is the Spanish atrocities in Cuba increasing Cuba’s independence. The establishment of new territories as well as proficient armed forces of the navy which enabled them to excel in the war.

Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises Essay

Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises - Essay Example Governments have therefore, successfully tackled this problem by issuing out adequate funds for various projects being undertaken within the country. An example of these projects includes promoting the number of those doctoral students pursuing different certificates in different countries (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 2006, p. 101). This encourages the number of students who are graduating from various institutions; therefore, the governments are assured of their investments in a brighter economic future because of the available skills within the country. In addition, the government has also invested heavily in funding for innovative ideas which in-turn lead to proven theories and applications within countries. These ideas are always central towards various fields like technology and also solving major global problems like health issues across the globe (Von Stamm & Trifilova, 2009, p. 125). Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises In their attempts to promote innovation and change, most governments are fostering private sector expansion because of the growing markets complexities. Industrial growth in countries is stirred by the innovations started by private sector industrial developments and this is significant in the expansion of industrial development within countries. Most developed worlds have promoted industrial development by increasing the funds directed towards these sectors to help in strengthening them to effectively contribute in economic development. However, in privatized industries, government takes caution for innovation not to cloud the interest of their consumers and nations y introducing various policies which protect these parties from inefficiencies caused by greedy monopolies that are out to maximize on their profit proceeds (Great Britain. 2011, p. 42). This technique has proved viable in countries like Angola, Rwanda, and Colombia that are still struggling to develop their infrastructure s. Various governments have also promoted innovations in their countries by developing entrepreneurial capability. This has been common amongst developing nations who are desperate in securing their economic growth. Due to international standards, governments are encouraging different forms of innovations and change into their fields like technology, manufacturing amongst other services and production procedures. They have supported strong institutional base departments and programs, which encourages the various productions processes present in industries to emphasize on the need for adoption of innovations within their countries. This has also proved to be effective in the management of change and innovation because of its continuity in adopting and diversifying resources. The government also promotes innovations and change through the various measures they take to enhance global trade. Innovation is a key necessity for many industries wishing to participate in global trade. Theref ore, most

Aircraft Electrical and Mechanical Systems Case Study

Aircraft Electrical and Mechanical Systems - Case Study Example This is why the name static to distinguish it from other concepts such as dynamic and absolute pressure. Atmospheric pressure reduces height and vice versa. The main explanation for this phenomenon is that Air has weight, and it is this weight exerted on a unit area of a surface that is known as pressure. The atmospheric pressure can be defined as the total force or weight by an air column at a point or area. Moving up means the air column is reducing resulting in less weight due to less air. Therefore, the pressure becomes less, which explains why atmospheric pressure reduces with height. Air presses on us more when at sea level that when on a mountaintop. This because at sea level the air pressure is approximately 14.7 lbs. /in2 and this value reduce as one goes up. Pressure varies significantly as one moves from the earth’s surface upwards to the top of the atmosphere. At higher altitudes, there is less air resulting in less weight and consequently less pressure. Therefore, mathematically the density and pressure of air reduce with elevation. Airspeed refers to the speed of an aircraft comparative to the air. Airspeed is measured ordinarily on board an aircraft using an airspeed indicator that is connected to a pitot-static system. The relationship between pressure and airspeed is that the function of calibrated airspeed is part of the compressible impact pressure. It is also important to note that, at sea level pressure, the rate of equivalent airspeed is equal to calibrated airspeed. 1. Description of types of basic pitot/static probes found on most 1st and 2nd generation aircraft 1st and 2nd generation aircrafts relied on non-compensating pitot tubes. These tubes were also associated with errors in static pressure measurements. Modern aerodynamic pitot tubes have an ogival shape (Clancy, 1975, p. 97). The shape is because of the formation of a quadratic polynomial profile.

Video Business Case Report Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Video Business Report - Case Study Example The company should look at improving the liquidity position. It can be done thorough reducing the operating cost. It can improve the valuation of the company by increasing the revenue of the company. acQuire can improve the profitability by reducing the operating cost and overhead. This will improve the production efficient of the company. It can decrease the debt equity ratio by in increasing the profitability. It will increase the cash position ultimately and lead to increase of liquidity position of the firm. The company can increase the current ratio by reducing the operating cost. It will ensure that the production efficiency of the company improves. This will have a direct impact on the profitability also. The board now wants to develop a sustainable strategy so that it can avid the repeat of the global financial crisis in 2008. For this the company should increase the core equity capital and lower its debt ratio. With more debt ratio the company will be in obligation to pay of f their dues else it can go bankrupt. The company tries to lower its prices of the products and reinvest its profits back to the company instead of giving dividends to the shareholders. It will help the company in maintaining liquidity position so that they don’t have to face cash crunch when credit in the market dries up. Introduction acQuire Technology Solutions is an Australian-based company which develops and delivers Geoscientific Information Management System (GIMS) called â€Å"acQuire†. acQuire Technology solutions is facing many issues in its operation. The profitability of the company is decreasing from fiscal year 2012 to 2013. The forecasted profit of the company is also decreasing. The main reason for decrease in profitability is the increase in operating expenses. Hence the company is not being able to maintain its cost down. The current ratio of the company is increasing which shows that the company’s liquidity position is improving. Share price o f the company has decreased from 2012 to 2013. This is because the net profit of the company is decreasing. The share profit of the company is also decreasing. There has been huge decrease in share profit from $ 792,551 to $ 319769. It is also predicted that the share profit of the company is also decreasing. The liquidity position of the firm is improving while the debt ratio of the company is decreasing. The company is using its cash balance to pay off its current liabilities. Foreign exchange gain of the company for the financial year 2013 was $ 26, 151 as compared to $ 93,960 for the financial year 2012. It indicates sufficient drop in profit for the company. Again it has been projected that the company will not earn any foreign exchange gains or losses. Discussion Decision Criteria acQuire Technologies Solution is facing a number of problem. The share of price of the company is decreasing because of loss of profitability. The current asset ratio of the company is increasing fro m 1.12 to 1.26. The company should look at improving the current ratio. Debt ratio of the company has decreased from 1.74 to 1.09. The ideal value of this debt ratio is 0.5. This shows that the company has high debt ratio. The company should look at decreasing the debt ratio. The profitability position of the company is decreasing. The net profit margin of the company has decreased from 11.3 % in FY 2012 to 4.8% in FY 2103. Again it is estimated that the ratio will further decrease by 2.9% in FY

Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises Essay

Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises - Essay Example Governments have therefore, successfully tackled this problem by issuing out adequate funds for various projects being undertaken within the country. An example of these projects includes promoting the number of those doctoral students pursuing different certificates in different countries (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 2006, p. 101). This encourages the number of students who are graduating from various institutions; therefore, the governments are assured of their investments in a brighter economic future because of the available skills within the country. In addition, the government has also invested heavily in funding for innovative ideas which in-turn lead to proven theories and applications within countries. These ideas are always central towards various fields like technology and also solving major global problems like health issues across the globe (Von Stamm & Trifilova, 2009, p. 125). Significance of Innovation and Change in Business Enterprises In their attempts to promote innovation and change, most governments are fostering private sector expansion because of the growing markets complexities. Industrial growth in countries is stirred by the innovations started by private sector industrial developments and this is significant in the expansion of industrial development within countries. Most developed worlds have promoted industrial development by increasing the funds directed towards these sectors to help in strengthening them to effectively contribute in economic development. However, in privatized industries, government takes caution for innovation not to cloud the interest of their consumers and nations y introducing various policies which protect these parties from inefficiencies caused by greedy monopolies that are out to maximize on their profit proceeds (Great Britain. 2011, p. 42). This technique has proved viable in countries like Angola, Rwanda, and Colombia that are still struggling to develop their infrastructure s. Various governments have also promoted innovations in their countries by developing entrepreneurial capability. This has been common amongst developing nations who are desperate in securing their economic growth. Due to international standards, governments are encouraging different forms of innovations and change into their fields like technology, manufacturing amongst other services and production procedures. They have supported strong institutional base departments and programs, which encourages the various productions processes present in industries to emphasize on the need for adoption of innovations within their countries. This has also proved to be effective in the management of change and innovation because of its continuity in adopting and diversifying resources. The government also promotes innovations and change through the various measures they take to enhance global trade. Innovation is a key necessity for many industries wishing to participate in global trade. Theref ore, most

Video Business Case Report Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Video Business Report - Case Study Example The company should look at improving the liquidity position. It can be done thorough reducing the operating cost. It can improve the valuation of the company by increasing the revenue of the company. acQuire can improve the profitability by reducing the operating cost and overhead. This will improve the production efficient of the company. It can decrease the debt equity ratio by in increasing the profitability. It will increase the cash position ultimately and lead to increase of liquidity position of the firm. The company can increase the current ratio by reducing the operating cost. It will ensure that the production efficiency of the company improves. This will have a direct impact on the profitability also. The board now wants to develop a sustainable strategy so that it can avid the repeat of the global financial crisis in 2008. For this the company should increase the core equity capital and lower its debt ratio. With more debt ratio the company will be in obligation to pay of f their dues else it can go bankrupt. The company tries to lower its prices of the products and reinvest its profits back to the company instead of giving dividends to the shareholders. It will help the company in maintaining liquidity position so that they don’t have to face cash crunch when credit in the market dries up. Introduction acQuire Technology Solutions is an Australian-based company which develops and delivers Geoscientific Information Management System (GIMS) called â€Å"acQuire†. acQuire Technology solutions is facing many issues in its operation. The profitability of the company is decreasing from fiscal year 2012 to 2013. The forecasted profit of the company is also decreasing. The main reason for decrease in profitability is the increase in operating expenses. Hence the company is not being able to maintain its cost down. The current ratio of the company is increasing which shows that the company’s liquidity position is improving. Share price o f the company has decreased from 2012 to 2013. This is because the net profit of the company is decreasing. The share profit of the company is also decreasing. There has been huge decrease in share profit from $ 792,551 to $ 319769. It is also predicted that the share profit of the company is also decreasing. The liquidity position of the firm is improving while the debt ratio of the company is decreasing. The company is using its cash balance to pay off its current liabilities. Foreign exchange gain of the company for the financial year 2013 was $ 26, 151 as compared to $ 93,960 for the financial year 2012. It indicates sufficient drop in profit for the company. Again it has been projected that the company will not earn any foreign exchange gains or losses. Discussion Decision Criteria acQuire Technologies Solution is facing a number of problem. The share of price of the company is decreasing because of loss of profitability. The current asset ratio of the company is increasing fro m 1.12 to 1.26. The company should look at improving the current ratio. Debt ratio of the company has decreased from 1.74 to 1.09. The ideal value of this debt ratio is 0.5. This shows that the company has high debt ratio. The company should look at decreasing the debt ratio. The profitability position of the company is decreasing. The net profit margin of the company has decreased from 11.3 % in FY 2012 to 4.8% in FY 2103. Again it is estimated that the ratio will further decrease by 2.9% in FY

Grading System Essay Example for Free

Grading System Essay This system is a complex topic that involves philosophical, pedagogical, and pragmatic issues for all students. We all have our own ideas of how grades should be assigned, and what they should tell us about the students performance. This grading system rests on the assumption that the level of student performance will not vary much from class to class. In this system the instructor usually determines the percentage of students assigned each grade, although it may be determined (or at least influenced) by departmental policy. All information supplied to the National Statistics Office is treated as strictly confidential. This information is used solely in the compilation of statistical reports. No information on individual returns can be given to any external public or private entity. The National Statistics Office (NSO) is the major statistical agency responsible in collecting, compiling, classifying, producing, publishing, and disseminating general-purpose statistics in the Philippines. It coverings of areas from leyte specially tacloban,capoocan , abuyog ,etc. The main objective of this paper is to propose an effective and friendly used grading system in DATAMEX. It shows the final grades of a student and the computation of the grade both midterm and finals. This proposal helps the student to be aware to their grade if he/she is failed or pass the specific subject The National Statistics Office (NSO) was first called the Bureau of the Census and Statistics (BCS) under Commonwealth Act. No. 591 approved on August 19, 1940. The BCS was created to consolidate statistical activities of the government under the executive direction of the President of the Philippines. Transferred to the BCS were the powers, functions and duties of the Statistics Division of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce; Civil Registry Division of the National Library; and Statistics Division of the Bureau of Customs. Also transferred to the BCS were the personnel, equipment, unexpended appropriations, records, documents, supplies and other property upon or prior to the completion of the census taken in accordance with the provision of C. A. 170, the act creating the Commission of Census. On January 1, 1941, the BCS was transferred (under Executive Order No. 392) to the then Department of Trade. Presidential Decree No 418 issued on March 20, 1974 reconstituted the BCS into a new agency known as the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO) under the administrative supervision of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). In 1987, by virtue of Executive Order No. 121 entitled â€Å"Reorganizing and Strengthening the Philippine Statistical System and for Other Purposes†, the NCSO was renamed National Statistics Office (NSO) under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President. Executive Order No. 149 dated December 28, 1993 was issued by the Office of the President entitled â€Å"Streamlining of the Office of the President†. By virtue of this order, the NSO was placed again under the administrative supervision of the NEDA for effective policy and program coordination and integration. Executive Order No. 5, approved on October 23, 1999 is the most recent development. It mandated the â€Å"Strengthening of the National Statistics Office†. The order strengthens NSO through decentralization of statistics generation activities, transformation of Central Office Units into more developmental planning and evaluation units, and increased application of information technology in its operations to efficiently and effectively perform its mandated functions. 1. Is there any significance between the manual grading systems to the computerized grading system? 2. Is Manual grading system gives more accurate, efficiency and easy to use than the computerized grading system? 3. Is manual grading system makes the task easier and less consuming of time than the computerized grading system? Hypotheses 1. The computerized grading system is more significance than the manual as follows: a. No using of paper and pencil. b. Rush hour submission of grades. c. A slow process of retrieving and releasing of records. 2. All the results from the gathered by teacher from the students grades has capable to enter efficiency and has a friendly used. The study limited itself to the workers employed in both unionized and non-unionized establishments employing 20 more workers that operate in the National Statistic Office. The main justification for this choice was to make a comparison of the unionization tendencies of workers coming from two types of economies – one urban and the other rural; one which has a high union density as against another with a relatively low union density; one which is principally an industrial economy and another which is basically agricultural. In this sense, respondents from the Metro Manila stood for those workers coming from the urbanized, industrialized, and highly unionized parts of the Philippines, while Ilocos Sur respondents represented workers coming from the rural, agricultural and low union density regions. It was also a means to explain the non-union phenomenon in light of the socio-cultural differences of the respondents, one set of workers being composed of mixed ethnic groups, and the other predominantly Ilocanos. It was also a means to test whether rural workers, or in the case of this study, Ilocanos, are less interested in unionism and union-joining as they are observed to be thinly unionized. Moreover, the study focused on an examination of the factors influencing the propensity to unionize from the standpoint of the worker (meaning, an individual level analysis) and hence, excluded the study of management preferences or union preferences. One other limitation of the study was its coverage that made it prone to sampling biases. The limitation of the sample to employees working in companies employing 20 or more workers left out workers from smaller companies that are potentially organizable; other cultural groups (Visayans, Muslims, Cordillerans, Bicolanos, etc. were left out in view of the fact that the scope of the study included only rRegion 8; and the focus of the study on the individual level missed some explanations of the determinants of union-joining behavior that might come from other factors, such as those coming from managers and employers with their perceived anti-union ideologies, the apathy of trade unions and labor federations toward organizing the unorganized workers, in addition to some other explanations that may come from other possible sources, like government industrial or labor relations legislation. It focuses on how the proposed system will be able to contribute a lot for the students in terms of showing their grades. And to develop an electronic and advanced system that will allow the students of DATAMEX to show their grades and how computing it.

Analysis Of The Partition Of India

Analysis Of The Partition Of India To understand and answer why the British believed that the partition of India was necessary individuals need to know what influence the British had on India in the period of time the partition of India occurred, what the partition of India is and the impact that the partition of India has had and in return one is able to understand why the British believed that the partition of India was necessary. To gain this knowledge a wide range of resources need to be peruse for instance academic websites and journal articles by respected historians need to be used. Such resources include documents from UCLA that explore the partition of India in terms of the relationship that the two countries shared, The UK department for International Developments Yvan Guicheaua, who explores the processes of violent political mobilisation, which is an overview of contemporary debates and crise findings, Saumitra Jha and Stevens article demonstrates the effects of the ethnic cleansing while exploring reposit ion of populace. Another informative article is Mridu Rai article which explores the effects that the partition of India has had on the people of India and Pakistan, it also shows their perceptions of Pakistan and its founder, Manserghs book explores the Indian army and colonial legacy demonstrates the world wars in which India supported Britain, it shows the effects that it had on the Indians. Finally another useful tool is Hist107 lecture slides which explored British Rule and the partition of India. When reading and understanding these resources and factors involved with the partition individuals are competent to understand why the British believed that the partition of India was necessary. To begin with, it is important to understand the influence that the British had in India before the partition of India. The relationship between the British and India begin on the 31st of December 1600 when a group of merchants integrated themselves into the East India Company and were given supremacy on all dealings with the East Indies. The companys first cargo arrived in India via ships at the port of Surat in 1608.  [1]  In 1615 King James I gained the rights for the British to ascertain a factory at the port of Surat and in turn the British overshadowed the Portuguese and were able to witness a substantial expansion of their trading venture in India.  [2]  The below is a influential quote which demonstrates the influence the relationship that has began forming between the Indians and the British that have started settling onto the Indian continent. In the middle of the seventeenth century, Asia still had a far more important place in the world than Europe. So wrote J. Pirenne in his History of the Universe, published in Paris in 1950. He added, The riches of Asia were incomparably greater than those of the European states. Her industrial techniques showed a subtlety and a tradition that the European handicrafts did not possess. And there was nothing in the more modern methods used by the traders of the Western countries that Asian trade had to envy. In matters of credit, transfer of funds, insurance, and cartels, neither India, Persia, nor China had anything to learn from Europe.  [3]   This quote demonstrates the position which the East India Company brought upon them when they began its trading with Britain in the early 17th century. Manifestly the British had embarked on India in exploration to sell British exports to Continental Europe, but discovered little demand for the produce. Likewise to the Portuguese they discovered numerous Indian made products that they could traffic in Britain at a profit.  [4]  These factors are what established the monopoly that Britain had over India, this manipulation relationship started early on in the formation of British India. Subsequently it is important to understand what the partition of India ensued. The Partition of India was the progression of separating the subcontinents. This process which took place in 1947 allowed India to achieve its independence from the British Raj. The Northern, primarily Muslim unit of India became the country of Pakistan, while the Southern and preponderance Hindu section developed into the Republic of India.  [5]  The partition of India was associated with mass violence and ethnic cleansing where there were over 2 million deaths of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, in attendance were also over 75000 women and children who were raped in addition 12-15 million people where compulsorily relocated between the two countries.  [6]  The partition of India was related to India wanting its independence from Britain; during World War II the British sought India once again to provide essential soldiers and materiel for the war effort. The INC was hostile about sending Indians to bat tle and go down in another British war due to the unfaithfulness following World War I, the INC distinguished no benefit for India in the sacrifice of the war. The Muslim League conversely decided to support Britains call for volunteers during an effort to gain British favour in support of a Muslim realm in post-independence northern India. As independence approached the country commenced to descend towards a sectarian civil war.  [7]   In February of 1947, the British government proclaimed that India would be established independence by June 1948. With the country sliding further into pandemonium, Mountbatten unwillingly settled to the formation of two separate nations and with this moved the independence date up to August 15, 1947.  [8]  By course of the assessment in favour of partition completed, the parties subsequently faced the impractical task of completing a border between the new states.  [9]  Muslims engaged two main districts in the north of the subcontinent on opposite sides of the country which was separated by a majority-Hindu section in between the districts. In addition, all over most of northern India associates of the Muslim and Hindu religions were mixed with the population of people who were of Sikhs, Christians and other marginal faiths.  [10]  In the wealthy and fertile region of the Punjab, the problem was extreme with an equal combination of Hindus and Muslims. Neither side wante d to relinquish this valuable land, nor sectarian hatred ran high. The border was drawn right down the middle of the province, between Lahore and Amritsar.  [11]  On both sides, people scrambled to get onto the right side of the border, or were driven from their homes by their erstwhile neighbours. At least 10 million people fled north or south, depending upon their faith. On August 14, 1947, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was founded. The following day, the Republic of India was established to the south.  [12]   Finally now through understanding what the partition of India was, and why it happened individuals can now understand why the British believed that the partition of India was necessary. Through looking at the evidence presented clearly the reason for why the British believed that the partition of India was necessary was due to India gaining its independence. One of the main thoughts of why the British thought that the partition of India was necessary was because the Muslim people of India wanted their own separate state  [13]  . This factor plays a major role in the reasons behind why the partition of India occurred. Once it is understood the influence that British had on India at the time of the partition, what the partition was and the reactions it had individuals are able to understand why the British believed that the partition of India was a necessary thing to do. Through reading a range of sources from Yvan Guicheaua, Saumitra Jha and Steven, Mridu Rai, Mansergh and using websites such as UCLA history and politics individuals are able to clearly see that even though the partition of India had negative effects such as the mass violence and ethnic cleansing where there were over 2 million deaths of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, in attendance were also over 75000 women and children who were raped in addition 12-15 million people where compulsorily relocated between the two countries  [14]  . The Partition of India was actually something that the Muslim Indians wanted due to wanting their own separate state and the British were trying to assist them when India gained its independence from Brit ish India.

The Outsider Essay -- Character Analysis, Meursault

Albert Camus states that â€Å"In our society any man who doesn’t cry at his mother’s funeral is liable to be condemned to death† (Camus, 18). In the book The Outsider, Meursault defies local convention by not showing the sadness that is expected of him at his mother’s funeral. Ultimately, his life is dependant on this very decision of whether or not to show emotion. In the society that Meursault lives in, one is expected to conform to their standards and social norms. Anyone who deviates from these norms is considered an outcast and destined to die at the hands of society. Meursault was expected to show outwards signs of grief whether it was real or not. Even if the grief is artificial, most people will play to the audience and show signs of grief to minimize the risk of losing their life. Meursault’s was conflicted between following society’s rules and being true to himself. The nurse at his mother's funeral warned him that â€Å"if yougo slowly, you risk getting sun-stroke. But if you go too fast, you perspire and then in the church you catch a chill. She was right. There was no way out† (Camus, 22). The nurse’s admonition is consistent with his internal struggle. To Meursault, walking too fast is similar to conforming to society and walking too slow means following his own path. There is no middle ground to the situation, no happy median and no suitable compromise. Meursault faces the challenge of whether or not to conform on three main levels; physical, emotional and spiritual. He has the constant battle between following his physical self; his id, and doing what is right. Meursault also has to decide whether or not to be true to his emotions and decide if lying during his trial is a suitable course of action. Finally h... ... mother, he does not react in a way most people do. He does not cry but instead accepts what has happened and realizes that he can not change it. He goes back and does physical things he would do on a normal day. When the caretaker offers him coffee, he accepts it, he smokes a cigarette and has sex with a woman he just met. Meursault also does not lie to escape death. He refuses to conform to society and lie. He would rather be seen as an outsider than do something that he does not believe in. Finally, Meursault, will not believe in G-d or Christianity just because it is the only thing to turn to before he is put to death. When Meursault decides not to cry at his mother’s funeral, he accepts himself as an outsider. When he is considered an outsider, it does not matter if he is guilty or innocent; at the end of the day he guilty just for being different.

Essay on the Use of Third Person and Innocence of Language in Ake

Use of Third Person and Innocence of Language in Aké The Nigerian novelist Wole Soyinka's memoir, Aké, is a story told through the eyes of a child. Many incidents and the dialogues within these incidents are written in a tone which is suggestive of the innocence and actions which would only be performed by someone in a child-like state of mind. Soyinka's masterful use of this tone, and the primary use of first person in story telling combine to form a realistic childhood picture. In the third chapter we find young Wole describing a sort of parade which is passing before the walls of his home compound. This point in time seems to be when Wole first discovers the world beyond his front door. This realization can be likened to the destruction of the geocentric theory in which man comes to the realization that he is not the center of the universe. We see this realization in this quote from page 37: "It became clear then that we in the parsonage were living in a separate town by ourselves, and that Aké was the rest of what I could see." Another example of childlike thinking can be found in the description of a tuba. In the parade there is a man walking with a tuba. Wole makes the association of the bell of the tuba and the bell part of a gramophone. Young Wole says, "Tinu and I had long rejected the story that the music which came from the gramophone was made by a special singing dog locked in the machine. We never saw it fed, so it would have long starved to death. I had not yet found the means of opening up the machine, so the mystery remained" (41). Here we find child-like reasoning at its finest. At the end of Wole's story of his exploration of the world outside of his familial com... ...wo places," (187-188) Wole, along with his comrades, expresses this belief in bad magic. Another example of child-like rationality can be seen in the quick belief in a conspiracy theory seen in this line from page 188: "...they had come to 'spoil the ground' for others!" Child-like actions are found in the notions of justice, also found on page 188, when the children become judge, jury, and executioner of their peers with the line "Someone proposed that we search their luggage...and was vociferously cheered." The writing of a memoir through the eyes of a child can produce a highly entertaining work, as proved by Wole Soyinka. Through the use of third person and the masterful use of the innocence and language of childhood, Soyinka has written a memoir that can make us remember what is was like to see the world through the eyes of a child. Essay on the Use of Third Person and Innocence of Language in Ake Use of Third Person and Innocence of Language in Aké The Nigerian novelist Wole Soyinka's memoir, Aké, is a story told through the eyes of a child. Many incidents and the dialogues within these incidents are written in a tone which is suggestive of the innocence and actions which would only be performed by someone in a child-like state of mind. Soyinka's masterful use of this tone, and the primary use of first person in story telling combine to form a realistic childhood picture. In the third chapter we find young Wole describing a sort of parade which is passing before the walls of his home compound. This point in time seems to be when Wole first discovers the world beyond his front door. This realization can be likened to the destruction of the geocentric theory in which man comes to the realization that he is not the center of the universe. We see this realization in this quote from page 37: "It became clear then that we in the parsonage were living in a separate town by ourselves, and that Aké was the rest of what I could see." Another example of childlike thinking can be found in the description of a tuba. In the parade there is a man walking with a tuba. Wole makes the association of the bell of the tuba and the bell part of a gramophone. Young Wole says, "Tinu and I had long rejected the story that the music which came from the gramophone was made by a special singing dog locked in the machine. We never saw it fed, so it would have long starved to death. I had not yet found the means of opening up the machine, so the mystery remained" (41). Here we find child-like reasoning at its finest. At the end of Wole's story of his exploration of the world outside of his familial com... ...wo places," (187-188) Wole, along with his comrades, expresses this belief in bad magic. Another example of child-like rationality can be seen in the quick belief in a conspiracy theory seen in this line from page 188: "...they had come to 'spoil the ground' for others!" Child-like actions are found in the notions of justice, also found on page 188, when the children become judge, jury, and executioner of their peers with the line "Someone proposed that we search their luggage...and was vociferously cheered." The writing of a memoir through the eyes of a child can produce a highly entertaining work, as proved by Wole Soyinka. Through the use of third person and the masterful use of the innocence and language of childhood, Soyinka has written a memoir that can make us remember what is was like to see the world through the eyes of a child.

Criminal Justice System Paper Essay

The criminal justice system has goals that it tries to achieve. The CJS is to respond in the name of society when there is a crime that has been committed. The CJS spans from federal, state, and local governments. Within the system, there are three agencies that work together as a system to implement the criminal justice functions. The agencies are law enforcement, the courts, and the corrections. Each one of these agencies has a criminal justice process that proved the justice to the victims and offenders. When the CJS and the CJP work accordantly it benefits and protects society. The goals of the CJS are deterrence, incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation, and restoration. Deterrence is giving trying to prevent crime with fear. Specific deterrence happens when an offender is arrested and has decided not to commit and other crimes because they understand the consequences of their behavior. General deterrence is taken a person who is caught and displaying to the public in hopes t o scare them into not wanted the same consequences. Incapacitation removing offenders from society in some incarceration. Retribution is when revenge is taken on a perpetrator that must be punished. Rehabilitation is taking a criminal and reforming them. Restoration is making a victim find peace and forgiving the offender. These goals are to help in the ways the CJS do their jobs efficiently. The first component of the CJS is law enforcement that would be the police. The police enforce the laws by serving the public and keeping them safe. Police investigate crimes, apprehend offenders, reduce and prevent crimes, maintain public orders, ensure community safety, respond to emergencies, and protects fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. The courts are the once that conduct fair and impartial trials. They do this by deciding criminal’s eases, ensuring due process, determining guilty or not, upholds the law, requires fairness, and protects rights and freedom to anyone facing process. The last component is the corrections, which carry out the sentencing of the courts. The corrections also provides safe and humane custody and supervision to the offenders, helps protect the community, respects the legal and human rights, rehabilitees, reforms, and reintegrates convicts. The criminal justice process begins with the investigation and arrest of an offender. After all the evidence is collected there is a warrant put out the offender, after being arrested they are taking into booking. The next process is the pre-trail. In the pre-trail four major events happen which  are first appearance, preliminary hearing, information or indictment, and arraignment. They then move to the next step of the trail, which lays everything out examine all the facts and argue the evidence. When the trail ends, the next step is the sentencing of the offender. When being sentence the jury or judge will make the decision of guilty or not guilty. If found guilty the last step in the process corrections if the offender is found to be incarcerated. The rights of the people and the need to control crime of the citizens. There is a constant competition between the rights of and individual and the need to control crime. This is call due process vs. crime control. Due process is the rights of the individual and rights of groups of people. Being read your Miranda rights and being fair in trials without prejudice or biases. Crime control is maintaining the safety of the community. Arresting as many criminals as possible. Getting criminals off the streets with still maintaining the individuals rights The criminal justice system and the criminal justice process all work together to punish offenders, prevent offenders, protect communities, and still ensure all individual rights are protected. Some criminals can be helped and some cannot, these criminals stay incarcerated. They systems may not always work correctly, but they do work and keep criminals out of the streets.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Nine

She was not the reincarnation of Katherine. Driving back to the boarding house in the faint lavender hush before dawn, Stefan thought about that. He'd said as much to her, and it was true, but he was only now realizing how long he'd been working toward that conclusion. He'd been aware of Elena's every breath and move for weeks, and he'd catalogued every difference. Her hair was a shade or two paler than Katherine's, and her eyebrows and lashes were darker. Katherine's had been almost silvery. And she was taller than Katherine by a good handspan. She moved with greater freedom, too; the girls of this age were more comfortable with their bodies. Even her eyes, those eyes that had transfixed him with the shock of recognition that first day, were not really the same. Katherine's eyes had usually been wide with childlike wonder, or else cast down as was proper for a young girl of the late fifteenth century. But Elena's eyes met you straight on, looked at you steadily and without flinching. And sometimes they narrowed with determination or challenge in a way Katherine's never had. In grace and beauty and sheer fascination, they were alike. But where Katherine had been a white kitten, Elena was a snow-white tigress. As he drove past the silhouettes of maple trees, Stefan cringed from the memory that sprang up suddenly. He would not think about that, he would not let himself†¦ but the images were already unreeling before him. It was as if the journal had fallen open and he could do no more than stare helplessly at the page while the story played itself out in his mind. White, Katherine had been wearing white that day. A new white gown of Venetian silk with slashed sleeves to show the fine linen chemise underneath. She had a necklace of gold and pearls about her neck and tiny pearl drop earrings in her ears. She had been so delighted with the new dress her father had commissioned especially for her. She had pirouetted in front of Stefan, lifting the full, floor-length skirt in one small hand to show the yellow brocaded underskirt beneath†¦ â€Å"You see, it is even embroidered with my initials. Papa had that done. Mein lieber Papa †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and she stopped twirling, one hand slowly settling to her side. â€Å"But what is wrong, Stefan? You are not smiling.† He could not even try. The sight of her there, white and gold like some ethereal vision, was a physical pain to him. If he lost her, he did not know how he could live. His fingers closed convulsively around the cool engraved metal. â€Å"Katherine, how can I smile, how can I be happy when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"When?† â€Å"When I see how you look at Damon.† There, it was said. He continued, painfully. â€Å"Before he came home, you and I were together every day. My father and yours were pleased, and spoke of marriage plans. But now the days grow shorter, summer is almost gone-and you spend as much time with Damon as you do with me. The only reason Father allows him to stay here is that you asked it. Butwhy did you ask it, Katherine? I thought you cared for me.† Her blue eyes were dismayed. â€Å"I do care for you, Stefan. Oh, you know I do!† â€Å"Then why intercede for Damon with my father? If not for you, he'd have thrown Damon out into the street†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Which I'm sure would have pleasedyou , little brother.† The voice at the door was smooth and arrogant, but when Stefan turned he saw that Damon's eyes were smoldering. â€Å"Oh, no, that isn't true,† said Katherine. â€Å"Stefan would never wish to see you hurt.† Damon's lip quirked, and he threw Stefan a wry glance as he moved to Katherine's side. â€Å"Perhaps not,† he said to her, his voice softening slightly. â€Å"But my brother is right about one thing at least. The days grow shorter, and soon your father will be leaving Florence. And he will take you with him-unless you have a reason to stay.† Unless you have a husband to stay with . The words were unspoken, but they all heard them. The baron was too fond of his daughter to force her to marry against her will. In the end it would have to be Katherine's decision. Katherine's choice. Now that the subject was broached, Stefan could not keep silent. â€Å"Katherine knows she must leave her father sometime soon-† he began, flaunting his secret knowledge, but his brother interrupted. â€Å"Ah, yes, before the old man grows suspicious,† Damon said casually. â€Å"Even the most doting of fathers must start to wonder when his daughter comes forth only at night.† Anger and hurt swept through Stefan. It was true, then; Damon knew. Katherine had shared her secret with his brother. â€Å"Why did you tell him, Katherine? Why? What can you see in him: a man who cares for nothing but his own pleasure? How can he make you happy when he thinks only of himself?† â€Å"And how can this boy make you happy when he knows nothing of the world?† Damon interposed, his voice razor-sharp with contempt. â€Å"How will he protect you when he has never faced reality? He has spent his life among books and paintings; let him stay there.† Katherine was shaking her head in distress, her jewel-blue eyes misted with tears. â€Å"Neither of you understand,† she said. â€Å"You are thinking that I can marry and settle here like any other lady of Florence. But I cannot be like other ladies. How could I keep a household of servants who will watch my every move? How could I live in one place where the people will see that the years do not touch me? There will never be a normal life for me.† She drew a deep breath and looked at them each in turn. â€Å"Who chooses to be my husband must give up the life of sunlight,† she whispered. â€Å"He must choose to live under the moon and in the hours of darkness.† â€Å"Then you must choose someone who is not afraid of shadows,† Damon said, and Stefan was surprised by the intensity of his voice. He had never heard Damon speak so earnestly or with so little affectation. â€Å"Katherine, look at my brother: will he be able to renounce the sunlight? He is too attached to ordinary things: his friends, his family, his duty to Florence. The darkness would destroy him.† â€Å"Liar!† cried Stefan. He was seething now. â€Å"I am as strong as you are,brother , and I fear nothing in the shadows or the sunlight either. And I love Katherine more than friends or family-† â€Å"-or your duty? Do you love her enough to give that up as well?† â€Å"Yes,† Stefan said defiantly. â€Å"Enough to give up everything.† Damon gave one of his sudden, disturbing smiles. Then he turned back to Katherine. â€Å"It would seem,† he said, â€Å"that the choice is yours alone. You have two suitors for your hand; will you take one of us or neither?† Katherine slowly bowed her golden head. Then she lifted wet blue eyes to both of them. â€Å"Give me until Sunday to think. And in the meantime, do not press me with questions.† Stefan nodded reluctantly. Damon said, â€Å"And on Sunday?† â€Å"Sunday evening at twilight I will make my choice.† Twilight†¦ the violet deep darkness of twilight†¦ The velvet hues faded around Stefan, and he came to himself. It was not dusk, but dawn, that stained the sky around him. Lost in his thoughts, he had driven up to the edge of the woods. To the northwest he could see Wickery Bridge and the graveyard. New memory set his pulse pounding. He had told Damon he was willing to give up everything for Katherine. And that was just what he had done. He had renounced all claim to the sunlight, and had become a creature of darkness for her. A hunter doomed to be forever hunted himself, a thief who had to steal life to fill his own veins. And perhaps a murderer. No, they had said the girl Vickie would not die. But his next victim might. The worst thing about this last attack was that he remembered nothing of it. He remembered the weakness, the overpowering need, and he remembered staggering through the church door, but nothing after. He'd come to his senses outside with Elena's scream echoing in his ears-and he had raced to her without stopping to think about what might have happened. Elena†¦ For a moment he felt a rush of pure joy and awe, forgetting everything else. Elena, warm as sunlight, soft as morning, but with a core of steel that could not be broken. She was like fire burning in ice, like the keen edge of a silver dagger. But did he have the right to love her? His very feeling for her put her in danger. What if the next time the need took him Elena was the nearest living human, the nearest vessel filled with warm, renewing blood? I will die before touching her, he thought, making a vow of it. Before I broach her veins, I will die of thirst. And I swear she will never know ray secret. She will never have to give up the sunlight because of me. Behind him, the sky was lightening. But before he left, he sent out one probing thought, with all the force of his pain behind it, seeking for some other Power that might be near. Searching for some other solution to what had happened in the church. But there was nothing, no hint of an answer. The graveyard mocked him with silence. Elena woke with the sun shining in her window. She felt, at once, as if she'd just recovered from a long bout of the flu, and as if it were Christmas morning. Her thoughts jumbled together as she sat up. Oh. She hurt all over. But she and Stefan-that made everything right. That drunken slob Tyler†¦ But Tyler didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered except that Stefan loved her. She went downstairs in her nightgown, realizing from the light slanting in the windows that she must have slept in very late. Aunt Judith and Margaret were in the living room. â€Å"Good morning, Aunt Judith.† She gave her surprised aunt a long, hard hug. â€Å"And good morning, pumpkin.† She swept Margaret off her feet and waltzed around the room with her. â€Å"And-oh! Good morning, Robert.† A little embarrassed at her exuberance and her state of undress, she put Margaret down and hurried into the kitchen. Aunt Judith came in. Though there were dark circles under her eyes, she was smiling. â€Å"You seem in good spirits this morning.† â€Å"Oh, I am.† Elena gave her another hug, to apologize for the dark circles. â€Å"You know we have to go back to the sheriff's to talk to them about Tyler.† â€Å"Yes.† Elena got juice out of the refrigerator and poured herself a glass. â€Å"But can I go over to Vickie Bennett's house first? I know she must be upset, especially since it sounds like not everybody believes her.† â€Å"Do you believe her, Elena?† â€Å"Yes,† she said slowly, â€Å"I do believe her. And, Aunt Judith,† she added, coming to a decision, â€Å"something happened to me in the church, too. I thought-† â€Å"Elena! Bonnie and Meredith are here to see you.† Robert's voice sounded from the hallway. The mood of confidence was broken. â€Å"Oh†¦ send them in,† Elena called, and took a sip of orange juice. â€Å"I'll tell you about it later,† she promised Aunt Judith, as footsteps approached the kitchen. Bonnie and Meredith stopped in the doorway, standing with unaccustomed formality. Elena herself felt awkward, and waited until her aunt left the room again to speak. Then she cleared her throat, her eyes fixed on a worn tile in the linoleum. She sneaked a quick glance up and saw that both Bonnie and Meredith were staring at that same tile. She burst into laughter, and at the sound they both looked up. â€Å"I'm too happy to even be defensive,† Elena said, holding out her arms to them. â€Å"And I know I ought to be sorry about what I said, and Iam sorry, but I just can't be all pathetic about it. I was terrible and I deserve to be executed, and now can we just pretend it never happened?† â€Å"Youought to be sorry, running off on us like that,† Bonnie scolded as the three of them joined in a tangled embrace. â€Å"And with Tyler Smallwood, of all people,† said Meredith. â€Å"Well, I learned my lesson on that score,† Elena said, and for a moment her mood darkened. Then Bonnie trilled laughter. â€Å"And you scored the big one yourself-Stefan Salvatore! Talk about dramatic entrances. When you came in the door with him, I thought I was hallucinating. How did youdo it?† â€Å"I didn't. He just showed up, like the cavalry in one of those old movies.† â€Å"Defending your honor,† said Bonnie. â€Å"What could be more thrilling?† â€Å"I can think of one or two things,† said Meredith. â€Å"But then, maybe Elena's got those covered, too.† â€Å"I'll tell you all about it,† Elena said, releasing them and stepping back. â€Å"But first will you come over to Vickie's house with me? I want to talk to her.† â€Å"You can talk tous while you're dressing, and while we're walking, and while you're brushing your teeth for that matter,† said Bonnie firmly. â€Å"And if you leave out one tiny detail, you're going to be facing the Spanish Inquisition.† â€Å"You see,† said Meredith archly, â€Å"all Mr. Tanner's work has paid off. Bonnie now knows the Spanish Inquisition is not a rock group.† Elena was laughing with sheer ebullience as they went up the stairs. Mrs. Bennett looked pale and tired, but invited them in. â€Å"Vickie's been resting; the doctor said to keep her in bed,† she explained, with a smile that trembled slightly. Elena, Bonnie, and Meredith crowded into the narrow hallway. Mrs. Bennett tapped lightly at Vickie's door. â€Å"Vickie, sweetheart, some girls from school to see you. Don't keep her long,† she added to Elena, opening the door. â€Å"We won't,† Elena promised. She stepped into a pretty blue-and-white bedroom, the others right behind her. Vickie was lying in bed propped up on pillows, with a powder-blue comforter drawn up to her chin. Her face was paper-white against it, and her heavy-lidded eyes stared straight ahead. â€Å"That's how she looked last night,† Bonnie whispered. Elena moved to the side of the bed. â€Å"Vickie,† she said softly. Vickie went on staring, but Elena thought her breathing changed slightly. â€Å"Vickie, can you hear me? It's Elena Gilbert.† She glanced uncertainly at Bonnie and Meredith. â€Å"Looks like they gave her tranquilizers,† said Meredith. But Mrs. Bennett hadn't said they'd given her any drugs. Frowning, Elena turned back to the unresponsive girl. â€Å"Vickie, it's me, Elena. I just wanted to talk to you about last night. I want you to know that I believe you about what happened.† Elena ignored the sharp glance Meredith gave her and continued. â€Å"And I wanted to ask you-† â€Å"No!† It was a shriek, raw and piercing, torn from Vickie's throat. The body that had been as still as a wax figure exploded into violent action. Vickie's light-brown hair whipped across her cheeks as she tossed her head back and forth and her hands flailed at the empty air. â€Å"No! No!† she screamed. â€Å"Do something!† Bonnie gasped. â€Å"Mrs. Bennett! Mrs. Bennett!† Elena and Meredith were trying to hold Vickie on the bed, and she was fighting them. The shrieking went on and on. Then suddenly Vickie's mother was beside them, helping to hold her, pushing the others away. â€Å"What did you do to her?† she cried. Vickie clutched at her mother, calming down, but then the heavy-lidded eyes glimpsed Elena over Mrs. Bennett's shoulder. â€Å"You're part of it! You're evil!† she screamed hysterically at Elena. â€Å"Keep away from me!† Elena was dumbfounded. â€Å"Vickie! I only came to ask-† â€Å"I think you'd better leave now. Leave us alone,† said Mrs. Bennett, clasping her daughter protectively. â€Å"Can't you see what you're doing to her?† In stunned silence, Elena left the room. Bonnie and Meredith followed. â€Å"It must be drugs,† said Bonnie once they were out of the house. â€Å"She just went completely nonlinear.† â€Å"Did you notice her hands?† Meredith said to Elena. â€Å"When we were trying to restrain her, I got hold of one of her hands. And it was cold as ice.† Elena shook her head in bewilderment. None of it made sense, but she wouldn't let it spoil her day. She wouldn't. Desperately, she searched her mind for something that would offset the experience, that would allow her to hold on to her happiness. â€Å"I know,† she said. â€Å"The boarding house.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I told Stefan to call me today, but why don't we walk over to the boarding house instead? It's not far from here.† â€Å"Only a twenty-minute walk,† said Bonnie. She brightened. â€Å"At least we can finally see that room of his.† â€Å"Actually,† said Elena, â€Å"I was thinking you two could wait downstairs. Well, I'll only get to see him for a few minutes,† she added, defensively, as they looked at her. It was odd, perhaps, but she didn't want to share Stefan with her friends just yet. He was so new to her that he felt almost like a secret. Their knock on the shining oak door was answered by Mrs. Flowers. She was a wrinkled little gnome of a woman with surprisingly bright black eyes. â€Å"You must be Elena,† she said. â€Å"I saw you and Stefan go out last night, and he told me your name when he came back.† â€Å"You saw us?† said Elena, startled. â€Å"I didn't see you.† â€Å"No, no you didn't,† said Mrs. Flowers, and chuckled. â€Å"What a pretty girl you are, my dear,† she added. â€Å"A very pretty girl.† She patted Elena's cheek. â€Å"Uh, thank you,† said Elena uneasily. She didn't like the way those birdlike eyes were fixed on her. She looked past Mrs. Flowers to the stairs. â€Å"Is Stefan home?† â€Å"He must be, unless he's flown off the roof!† said Mrs. Flowers, and chuckled again. Elena laughed politely. â€Å"We'll stay down here with Mrs. Flowers,† said Meredith to Elena, while Bonnie rolled her eyes in martyrdom. Hiding a grin, Elena nodded and mounted the stairs. Such a strange old house, she thought again as she located the second stairway in the bedroom. The voices below were very faint from here, and as she went up the steps they faded entirely. She was wrapped in silence, and as she reached the dimly lit door at the top, she had the feeling she had entered some other world. Her knocking sounded very timid. â€Å"Stefan?† She could hear nothing from inside, but suddenly the door swung open.Everyone must look pale and tired today , thought Elena, and then she was in his arms. Those arms tightened about her convulsively. â€Å"Elena. Oh, Elena†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Then he drew back. It was just the way it had been last night; Elena could feel the chasm opening between them. She saw the cold, correct look gather in his eyes. â€Å"No,† she said, hardly aware that she spoke aloud. â€Å"I won't let you.† And she pulled his mouth down to hers. For a moment there was no response, and then he shuddered, and the kiss became searing. His fingers tangled in her hair, and the universe shrank around Elena. Nothing else existed but Stefan, and the feel of his arms around her, and the fire of his lips on hers. A few minutes or a few centuries later they separated, both shaking. But their gaze remained connected, and Elena saw that Stefan's eyes were too dilated for even this dim light; there was only a thin band of green around the dark pupils. He looked dazed, and his mouth-that mouth!-was swollen. â€Å"I think,† he said, and she could hear the control in his voice, â€Å"that we had better be careful when we do that.† Elena nodded, dazed herself. Not in public, she was thinking. And not when Bonnie and Meredith were waiting downstairs. And not when they were absolutely alone, unless†¦ â€Å"But you can just hold me,† she said. How odd, that after that passion she could feel so safe, so peaceful, in his arms. â€Å"I love you,† she whispered into the rough wool of his sweater. She felt a quiver go through him. â€Å"Elena,† he said again, and it was a sound almost of despair. She raised her head. â€Å"What's wrong with that? What could possibly be wrong with that, Stefan? Don't you love me?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked at her, helplessly-and they heard Mrs. Flowers's voice calling faintly from the bottom of the stairs. â€Å"Boy! Boy! Stefan!† It sounded as if she were pounding on the banister with her shoe. Stefan sighed. â€Å"I'd better go see what she wants.† He slipped away from her, his face unreadable. Left alone, Elena folded her arms across her chest and shivered. It was so cold here. He ought to have a fire, she thought, eyes moving idly around the room to rest finally on the mahogany dresser she'd examined last night. The coffer. She glanced at the closed door. If he came back in and caught her†¦ She really shouldn't-but she was already moving toward the dresser. Think of Bluebeard's wife, she told herself. Curiosity killedher . But her fingers were on the iron lid. Her heart beating rapidly, she eased the lid open. In the dim light, the coffer appeared at first to be empty, and Elena gave a nervous laugh. What had she expected? Love letters from Caroline? A bloody dagger? Then she saw the thin strip of silk, folded over and over on itself neatly in one corner. She drew it out and ran it between her fingers. It was the apricot ribbon she'd lost the second day of school. Oh, Stefan. Tears stung her eyes, and in her chest love welled up helplessly, overflowing. That long ago? You cared about me that long ago? Oh, Stefan, I love you†¦ And it doesn't matter if you can't say it to me, she thought. There was a sound outside the door, and she folded the ribbon quickly and replaced it in the coffer. Then she turned toward the door, blinking tears from her eyes. It doesn't matter if you can't say it right now. I'll say it for both of us. And someday you'll learn.