Nigerian Politics as a Basis of the Case Study on African Politics Research Paper

Nigerian Politics as a Basis of the Case Study on African Politics - Research Paper Example This paper endeavors to help understand the nuances of Nigerian politics. To be able to achieve this it is important to dwell briefly on its colonial days. By 1914 the British had control over almost all of Nigeria except for Kamerun, which went through various sporadic invasions by the Germans and other. Prior to that Nigeria had already established itself as a prime producer of Palm oil and enjoyed elitist status among other countries in the continent having abolished the slave trade much before the rest of Africa. The prominent kingdoms in Nigeria at that time â€Å"were the Northeastern kingdom of Borno, the Hausa city-state/kingdoms of Katsina, Kano, Zaria, and Gobir in northern-central Nigeria, the Yoruba city-states/kingdoms of Ife, Oyo, and Ijebu in southwestern Nigeria, the southern kingdom of Benin, and the Igbo communities of eastern Nigeria.† (iss.co). With the abolition of slave trade they were now able to expand their trade routes and traded all the way across th e Sahara. When Britain took over a Nigerian legislative council was formed with minimum African representation. The Northern and Southern territories were merged into one and native leaders still continued their rule under the supervision of the colonial leaders. This however brought about several ethnic and religious conflicts and finally in order to curb the strife a new constitution under the United Kingdom divided Nigeria into Eastern, Western and Northern regions. This was done mainly to accommodate the powerful ethnic tribes of Igbo in the east; Yoruba in the west and the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups in the north. The rise of independent freedom fighter groups was inevitable and a federal government established in 1954 and Nigeria evolved into a self-governing federation. The political system of Nigeria at that time was that of a Federal government which governed the various autonomous regions. This was until Nigeria attained Independence in 1960. Nigeria Post- Independence Nigeria Post Independence experimented with various political systems in an attempt to maintain political stability while giving freedom for its various and diverse ethnic groups to express and exercise their rights freely. Post Colonial rule there began a struggle for power by the regions which were non-centralized or issued stateless by the British. The centralized regions had established a formal rule and because of the power of indirect rule given by the British to their native leaders, there was no conflict between the ruled and the rulers. The demarcation thus established was based on power, social and economic status. The non-centralized regions however were divided in their various political ideologies and religious and cultural practices. These regions

Inflation & The rise of cost Essay Example for Free

Inflation The rise of cost Essay Inflation can be defined as the rise of cost of goods and services in a country; and therefore the cost of living. Inflation can be measured when the cost of a product/service increases over a period of time and therefore decreases the value of money in an economy. Inflation is bad for the economy because of many reasons. One of the reasons is because inflation can decrease the value of money over time and therefore decrease the purchasing power for common people. Apart from that, it tends to create a lot of uncertainty in the economy for producers and buyers. When there is uncertainty in the economy, this leads to a lower level of investment as people are not confident enough to invest, and as a result this leads to a lower economic growth. Inflation also tends to discourage entrepreneurs to expand their businesses or to start a new business because of the high cost of goods and services. This therefore reduces competitiveness in the market which also affects international trades. When there are fewer businesses expanding or opening up, employment rate reduces which increases the level of unemployment rate. When unemployment rates are high, the crime rates increases as people find ways to survive and this affects the safety of the society. On the other hand, a lot of resources are wasted during inflation. For example, during the inflation period, people tend to save their money and spend less; therefore companies have a lower demand rate and have a high wastage on raw materials that were purchased earlier. High inflation rates also make the economy unsustainable as it’s not strong. Source from the US Inflation Calculator, 2009. The graph above shows the inflation rates from the year 2000-2009 in the US. As shown, there was a 3. 8% inflation rate in the year 2008, and has gone down to 0. 2% in 2009. References: US Inflation Calculator (2009) Retrieved on 28th March 2009. http://www. usinflationcalculator. com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/ Inflation fact sheet (2009) Why is Inflation Bad? Retrieved on 28th March 2009. www. reservebank. co. za/internet/Publication. nsf/LADV/C1E04C14CD41930A42257037003E1C24/$File/Factsheet2. pdf

Literature Comparison: The Great Gatsby and The Motorcycle Diaries

Literature Comparison: The Great Gatsby and The Motorcycle Diaries What it makes us unique, is our way of being; no one is equal to other, all of us are different in every single way, and this is the most important characteristic of the human beings, but sometimes our way of being is not the right one. There exist people that spend their lives thinking in the welfare of the rest but in the other hand there exist people that spend their lives thinking only about themselves. Examples of these two types of people are shown in the books The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The great Gatsby is a book that is developed by the 1920s in the twentieth century and it is set in Long Islands North Shore, the book is narrated by Nick, a man who lived next to a mysterious and rich man called Jay Gatsby, they lived in the west coast of Long Island the less popular one. Jay Gatsby was a young rich man with a turbulent past, he was not have a position in the society that surrounded him and nobody knew how he had obtained his fortune. Some people believed that he had gained his fortune with the illegal sale of alcohol they believed that Gatsby was a bootlegger, Anyway and despite the great parties that he organized for the people of Long Island, he was a lonely man, because he only wanted to revive the past in order to be with the love of his life Daisy, who was also cousin of Nick; nevertheless, Daisy was married with the millionaire Tom Buchanan with who had a three years old daughter, Pam, they lived in the east coast of Long Island the most popular one, they wer e different from Gatsby because they were rich from birth, and they had a place in the society of those years. When Gatsby met Daisy he was a soldier of the militia and he was not rich, when he came back from the military service he discovered that Daisy was married with Tom and he decided to spend his life trying to have money in order to give to daisy what she deserved. When Gatsby was younger he had a mentor Dan Cody who helped him to make his fortune as a result Gatsby became rich but lonely, he lived in a big mansion and he gave parties whit the only reason that he hopped that some day Daisy come to one of his parties, actually one day Gatsby decided to invite to one of his parties to Nick his neighbor, when nick received the invitation he was surprised and he decided to go but he did not know that Gatsby invited him with the only reason that he knew that he was cousin of his love interest; Daisy, in the party Gatsby met Nick and they became friends but this friendship to Gatsb y had a purpose that was to join with Daisy again. Gatsby could achieve his purpose and he could join Daisy through Nick, and they started an affair and Gatsby could have what he wanted that was recover Daisy but when Tom discovered the affair of his wife with Gatsby, he asked them and Daisy recognized the affair but and she escaped with Gatsby in the car but in the road she hit Myrtle, the mistress of his husband, Tom, with the car and she killed her, and Gatsby in certainly way decided to do not tell anyone that Daisy killed Myrtle because he loved her but Daisy finally decided to stay with his husband because she was a woman of society and also she was very interesting in money and stability. Gatsby was not a bad man but he spent his life thinking in how to obtain what he wanted, he also did not think in the daughter of Daisy or what will happen with her if her mother escaped with him, he did not care about her and her husband he only was thinking in that he wanted to be with Dai sy again, in fact, he spent a lot of money in those extravagant parties in which he did not participate he only watched through the windows of the house looking to the people that were in his there with the hope that Daisy arrived to at least one of his outrageous parties, he was thinking all the time in how to obtain what he wanted in order to be happy no matter how. On the other hand the book The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara is a book of notes that Ernesto wrote during his trip with his friend Alberto Granada; Ernesto was a young medical student of medicine tired of school and excited to see the world and Alberto was working in a leprosy hospital in Argentinas Cà ³rdoba Province, and because of this he and his friend decided to do a trek through South America in an old motorcycle called the mighty one (la poderosa). The trip took eight months, the travel started in Cà ³rdoba and they left Argentina to go to Chile, they arrived in this country in Osorno passing through all the country to leave it to go to Perà º they leave this country and then they went to Colombia and finally Venezuela however they could not finish the trip in the motorcycle because they had to leave it in Santiago, Chile because the mighty one did not work any more. This book shows the trip of these two young men by the perspective of Ernesto, he wrote all the adventures and things that they did, and saw during their trek through South America. Guevaras political consciousness began to stir in this trip as he and Alberto moved into the mining country, Chile. They visited Chuquicamata copper mine, the worlds largest open-pit mine and the primary source of Chiles wealth in those years. It was run by U.S. mining monopolies and viewed by many as a symbol of foreign domination, and also to Ernesto was a symbol of human exploitation. During the trip Guevara also could apply his knowledge in medicine because he helped people that needed it for example in Chile he helped an old woman that was dying, he knew that he could not save the life of this woman, but he could stop the pain for a moment. Passages like this, change the mind of Ernesto because during the trip he could see that there existed and exist needed people not only in South America but all over the world. His political and social awakening has very much to do with this face-to-face contact with poverty, exploitation, illness, and suffering, [Internet reference: www.nationalgeographic.com] Guevara was a good man that changes his mind with this trip and after it he decided to star his career as a politician and help people, he decided this because of what the saw during this trip, for them all what they were seeing was in a certain way new because in Argentina they did not see aborigines for example, one thing that capture the attention of Ernesto and Alberto was the situation when they were traveling through Perà º and an Indian with his son who spoke Spanish approached them and asked them all about the land of Perà ³n, for the natives, these two young men came from a wonderful country where people could work and have a good pay for it, a developed country. Ernesto was very impressed by the old Inca civilization, riding trucks with the Natives and animals he felt a fraternity with the native people. Ernesto was a good man always worries for the rest, it is obvious why he was studying medicine, and it was during the trip that he made with his friend Alberto Granadas Jay Gatsby and Ernesto Guevara were two young men very different in what they wanted or their purposes in life, I think that these two men were not bad men specially Ernesto who spent his life in order to defend the rights of people. I believe that there not exist so many people that think like Ernesto but in the other hand there many people that think like the Great Gatsby, because most of people spend their lives thinking in how to obtain what they want, I think this is not bad but there are people that do not think in nothing else that how to get what they want and this people sometimes sin of selfish because they do not care if they make some damage to other people in order to have what they want to be happy. One phrase that represents what Ernesto felt after his trip is one that he wrote in his diary that says: I will be on the side of the people à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I will take to the barricades and the trenches, screaming as one possessed, will stain my weapons with blood, and, mad with rage, will cut the throat of any vanquished foe I encounter,[Guevara, 2004 ] Many historians believe that this trip was the most important thing in the life of Ernesto that changes his mind to after be one of the most famous guerilla leaders in history, but nevertheless he was a person that was care about the rest all the time. On the other hand Jay Gatsby was not a bad person but he was always thinking how to obtain what he wanted that it was be with Daisy, in the sixth chapter of the book Nick narrated: He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: I never loved you. After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken. One of them was that, after she was free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house just as if it were five years agoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Im going to fix everything just the way it was before, he said, nodding determinedly. Shell see.[Fitzgerald 1925:54] He was so stubborn in be with her that he did not realize that he could damage other persons, for example Myrtle; she died because Daisy and Gatsby were running away from Tom, and even Gatsby died because of this. He died because of his obsession with Daisy because of his obsession in getting what he wanted. Gatsby was killed by Myrtles husband because Tom told him that Gatsby hit Myrtle with the car, also in Gatsbys funeral there were only three people; Nick, Gatsbys father and the person that was guiding the funeral although Gatsby always gave partied to everyone none of these people came to his funeral he was alone also when he died. I think that is not bad fight for what you want but sometimes be too obsessive with something is not good because everything can go wrong. Gatsby was so obsessive with Daisy and all what he wanted that he forgot to live a real life and make real friends. As a conclusion it could be say that not all the people think or have the same personality, all of us have different expectations in life, everybody want different things in order to be happy a clear example was shown here with these two characters Jay Gatsby and Ernesto Guevara; the first one thought that what he needed in order to be happy was be with his old love Daisy, Gatsby was doing what most of the people do that is look for his own happiness and the second character; Guevara, believed that what he really want to do in his life was fight for the rights of the people he was looking for the happiness of the rest, this is the biggest difference of these two young men nonetheless it could be said that none of these two was wrong Gatsby wanted what all want to be happy and Guevara was like few people are that is see and be worry about what the rest need or what are the rights of the rest, however both died Gatsby died because of his obsession with Daisy and Guevara died because he was always fighting for the rights of the people who needed, he was so obsessed with this that he nowadays is seen as one of the most iconic characters of the twentieth century, he was one of the most famous guerrilla leaders of history but despite that he died.

Human Cloning Should be Permitted Essay -- Human Cloning Essays

Human Cloning Should be Permitted What would you say if I told you that scientists had just developed a new procedure that could lead not only to the cure for cancer, but would provide an unlimited source of organ donors and could lead to the first effective treatment of nerve damage? Now adding on to this scenario lets say that our government was taking action to ban this new procedure because of a few myths and some loud mouthed conservatives. This scenario is true and is taking place with human cloning at this very moment. If you don't act fast this crowning achievement of medical science could be lost forever. "This procedure will be both a contribution to science and a betterment of the human race." Human cloning will provide unlimited benefits to our species and should be legal. This paper is intended to educate you to the many benefits of human cloning before it is banned due to ignorance. Now before you read any further I would like to ask you to forget any myth, legend or science fiction that you might have heard about cloning. The cloning of humans could be the greatest achievement of medical science, it could lead the way to the solution to some of humanity's greatest problems. Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans die from cancer making it the second most common cause of death in the united states. However, through cloning and other forms of genetic research scientists are all ready learning all kinds of important information about the genetic make up of cancer and before long we may have the cure for cancer. Though the cure for cancer is reason enough not to ban cloning it is by no means the only benefit this new technology could create for the medical field. With human cloning ... ...d benefits come from a field of research and in order for our society to better itself through science we must be open minded to new ideas and procedures and be so quick to ban them before we have the chance to truly let the benefits come forth. Human Cloning is possibly the answer to some of our eras toughest scientific problems and should by no means be stopped before we even learn what it can do. I have already told you many reasons why cloning should be legal and I hope you have gained a better understanding of this remarkable new procedure. The evidence I have presented is certainly more than enough reasons to support human cloning. however, my strongest argument is the look of pain and anguish on the face of parents who have just lost a child. I think that if human cloning can save the life of just one of these children then it is a worthwhile endeavor.

Controlling Organized Crime Paper Essay

Organized crime is a huge problem in the United States among citizens. One organized crime group is the Mafia who has shown its strength of power and manipulation among citizens and businesses. Since the rise of the Mafia other criminal organizations have appeared using the same power to corrupt individuals within a business for the gain of monetary and political strength. This paper will identify the problems presented and the various relationships established by organized crime, a description of the legal limitations associated with combating organized crime including a critique of major federal laws and strategies that support this effort. Finally, a realistic solution will be provided to control organized crime by evaluating the effectiveness of organized crime prosecutions. Individuals living among society have been tormented by organized crime groups that work pipelines for drugs and weapons (â€Å"Unodc†, 2014). Organized crime causes corruption, threats to society, and issues financially to law-abiding citizens (â€Å"Unodc†, 2014). Every crime may not have victims if both parties are willing to cooperate. Every transaction that organized crime groups complete the public loses. This is a problem for tax-payers. Billions of dollars are lost because of organized crime groups and in the end individuals in society has to pay for it. This causes a strain on the economy. With technology developments organized crime groups receive more efficient communication across the world. These groups increased their communication which results in globalization. The various relationships these organized crime groups establish are with businesses, politics, or law enforcement officials. Organized crime groups go after individuals who are vulnerable and in high positions. Organized crime groups will seek out individuals like politicians, bankers, and law enforcement. Organized crime groups have various relationships with many people to help gain resources to receive  more profits and power. The changes with organized crime groups that have occurred over the years required modifications in police tactics. Law enforcement officials have to be more proactive. Proactive policing helps law enforcement officials discover any trends in criminal activity so strategies can be developed to combat criminal activity that occurs. According to Lyman & Potter (2007) organized crime is an organization that is made up of criminals that operate with legitimate businesses and political entities. Organized crime groups can be compared to operating off of a business like supply and demand. Organized crime groups supply people with things that are illegal such as drugs, prostitution, or money that are at high interest rates and the demands for these things are high because they are illegal in the United States. If drugs were not illegal there would not be a need for criminal organizations because anyone would be able to obtain it. Combating organized crime has its limits because the federal government cannot over step their boundary. Depending on the situation and where transactions are taking place the federal government may have to work with other government officials from other countries. Organized crime doesn’t just take place in the United States. This is a global organization that is all over. Federal government agencies such as the CIA try to gather as much information as possible to identify and assess any connections these organized crime groups may have throughout the country (â€Å"U.S. Department Of Justice†, 2008). The government tries to target any organized crime group that is a significant threat to our government and society (â€Å"U.S. Department Of Justice†, 2008). The CIA also has to work with other agencies like the FBI, customs, and others in case they are ever needed. The government has to come up with strategies to disassemble organized crime groups especially the l eadership by using proactive skills (â€Å"U.S. Department Of Justice†, 2008). According to Lyman & Potter (2007) some theories that can help with the understanding of criminal organizations are the Alien Conspiracy theory which blames outside influences and outsiders for the increase of organized crime in society. Second, the Rational Choice theory is when a person weighs the pros and cons of living a certain lifestyle; in addition they also know what the consequences of their actions are as well. Finally, the deterrence theory is one that believes that punishing a criminal can probably prevent him or her from committing the same crime again. Organized crimes are acts  carried out through the abuse of intimidation, commercial structures, media, the use of violence, or the economy. Criminal organizations work to collect money through illegal activities by instilling fear among society and being corrupted. Organized crime can be linked to many geographical locations across the world creating various relationships. Organized criminal organizations usually estab lish relationships with other groups who have common goals. These organizations link up because of the profits they can receive. Organized crime groups will never go away. Many people may think legalizing things like drugs may help solve the issue, but it won’t. If drugs were legalized organized crime groups violence may increase because they are no longer gaining as much profits like before. This may help law enforcement because they can concentrate on other criminal activities but in the end it will not solve anything. A solution to control organized crime is to have government officials began to review and investigate businesses monthly to ensure documents are in order and business is operating legitimately. If for any reason government officials have enough evidence based of investigating and details gathered that a business may be conducting illegal activity a strategy should be in place to conduct an audit to ensure the business is not involved in any illegal activity. United States government agencies should work more closely with foreign countries because organized crime groups are globalized and continue to conduct business all over the world. If government agencies are more proactive with handling organized crime groups then maybe for the future it can reduce the amount of organized crime groups committing illegal activity. Having effective crime policies will help to eliminate the amount of organized crime groups. It may help to reduce the violence associated with organized crime groups and drug trafficking. This can help minimize the grip organized crime has on society. Reference Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. W. (2007). Organized Crime, Fourth Edition (4th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection. UNODC. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.unodc.org/toc/en/crimes/organized-crime.html U.S. Department of Justice. (2008). Retrieved from

Looking for Love in Brideshead Revisited

Looking for Love Throughout the novel Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh, the theme of searching for love becomes clearly apparent through almost all of the characters’ actions. The search for love is of the utmost importance, whether the characters realize it or not. This is particularly the case for Charles, Julia, and Cordelia. As the narrator of the novel, the reader gains the most insight into Charles’ search. He is cautiously optimistic that love will be found, possibly even in his everyday escapades.I went there uncertainly, for it was foreign ground and there was a tiny, priggish, warning voice in my ear which in the tones of Collins told me it was seemly to hold back. But I was in search of love in those days, and I went full of curiosity and the faint, unrecognized apprehension that here, at last, I should find that low door in the wall, which others, I knew had found before me, which opened on an enclosed and enchanted garden, which was somewhere, not over looked by any window, in the heart of that grey city. (p. 26) We first meet Sebastian, whom Charles refers to as, â€Å"the forerunner† for all his future relationships. Later we meet Celia, who is too busy with her friends and promoting Charles’ art to develop a fully formed romantic relationship with him. Finally, we get to know Julia, who has the potential to be a true soul-mate for Charles but the potential goes unfulfilled due to Charles’ agnosticism compared to Julia’s reawakened Catholicism with the advent of her father’s acceptance of the sacraments on his deathbed.Julia’s search for love is first made apparent to the reader when she initially meets Charles at the railway station. â€Å"She had made a preposterous little picture of the kind of man who would do [†¦] and she was in search of him when she met me at the railway station. I was not her man. She told me as much, without a word, when she took the cigarette from my lips † (p. 170-171). This shows that even at a young age Julia was in search of love.Her first experience with love was Rex Mottram, who had the outward style of a potential companion for her, but in the end lacked substance. From Rex she moved on to Charles, who seemed to be the perfect match, but their chemistry and compatibility could not overcome Charles’ lack of faith and Julia’s Catholic fears of sin and punishment. Finally there is Cordelia who has, throughout her life, struggled to conform to either the secular world or the world of religion: â€Å"there are [†¦ people who can't quite fit in either to the world or the monastic rule. I suppose I'm something of the sort myself. † (p. 288). During this struggle she is all the while searching for the love and acceptance of her God. As a young child she was very religious often acting with her own brand of piousness: â€Å"It's a new thing that a priest started last term. You send five bob to some nuns in Africa and they christen a baby and name her after you. I have got six black Cordelias.Isn't that lovely? † (p. 84-85) As an adult Cordelia flirts with entering a convent and eventually ends up serving as a nurse, both vocations that could be seen as serving God. These three are just a small sample of the many characters who contribute to the overarching theme of the search for love in Brideshead Revisited. In the end, the novel leaves the reader enthralled but still wondering when love will triumph and the main characters will find the inner peace they clearly long for.

10 keys to educate your child Essays

10 keys to educate your child Essays 10 keys to educate your child Essay 10 keys to educate your child Essay Education is one of the most difficult tasks we face parents. And although there are no magic formulas, yes there are some key issues that we have to handle with ease. It’s never too early to begin to educate. These are the basic rules to ensure that your child grows up happy. 1. An example is worth a thousand sermons The very young children tend to imitate all our behavior, good and bad. We can take advantage of daily habits like hello, behave at the table, observe the rules conduction- to acquire the right habits and gradually take responsibility. It is no use lecturing always the same story if their parents do what they ask. 2. Communication, dialogue, understanding Words, gestures, looks and expressions we use help us to know ourselves better and express what we feel. Therefore, even during pregnancy, we must talk to the baby. We must always continue communication. Talking a lot, unhurried, tell stories and let him be who we count them. Have you tried to ask a question that starts with â€Å"What do you think about †¦?† So we show that we are interested in your opinion and he will feel loved and heard. 3. Limits and discipline, without threats It must be taught to separate the feelings of the action. The rules must be clear and consistent and accompanied by logical explanations. They have to know what happens if you do not do what we ask. For example, we must make it clear that after playing has to pick up his toys. It is important that the child-and us-also understand that their feelings are not the problem, but the misconduct. And to them we must always set limits, because there are marketable areas and others that are not. If he refuses to go to school, we have to recognize how annoying it is sometimes early and say that we do too. 4. Let him experience even mistake The best way for children to explore the world is allowing them to experience things themselves. And if they are wrong, we have to be there to care for them physically and emotionally, but with limits. The overprotective sometimes protects us parents some fears, but not our son. If every time you fall or a blow, no matter how small is given, we are alarmed to assist him, we will be encouraging to the complaint and the ongoing comfort. We have to let them take risks. 5. Do not compare or disqualify We must eliminate such phrases as â€Å"learn from your brother’, ‘When are you going to be as responsible as your cousin?† Or â€Å"you’re so whiny park like that child.† We should not generalize and dispense with phrases like â€Å"you’re always hitting your sister† or â€Å"You never listen.† Sure it does many things well, but lately is behaving like a true â€Å"junk†. Each child is unique and not all act the same pace and in the same way. Phrases like â€Å"you can swim as good as your brother try. You’ll see† transform their distress into a smile and encourage you to achieve your goals. 6. Sharing our experiences with other parents It can be very useful. So, live a rebellious stage of our son, something very common at certain ages, you can stop being a source of tremendous anxiety and become simply a hard but passing phase. Phrases like â€Å"do not worry, my son was the same’, can help to relativity the â€Å"problems† and therefore get us feel better and act more relaxed. If we are confused, worried or do not know how to act, we can always consult a professional. We have nothing to lose. 7. We must recognize our mistakes We may be wrong and that does not mean we are bad parents. The important thing is to recognize mistakes and use them as a source of learning. A simple phrase like â€Å"sorry honey, reinforces good behavior and helps us feel good. 8. Strengthen the good things It is proven that positive reinforcement gestures of affection, encouragement, rewards are more effective in educating the punishment. So we must always give emotional support and let it be he who, according to his ability, solve the problems. Children are very sensitive and adjectives as â€Å"stupid† or â€Å"bad† cause them great harm and may negatively impact the valuation they have of themselves so. We must be generous with everything that makes them feel valued and loved. If you reward with touching, hugging or words like â€Å"handsome† or â€Å"ready† we are building a good self-esteem. As important as correct their bad behavior is to recognize and reinforce good. 9. Do not pretend to be your friends Although always should foster a climate of closeness and trust, that does not mean we should be best friends. While among children the treatment is as equals, we as parents and educators, we are located on a higher step. From there we offer our care, experience, †¦ but also protect our standards. Search for all their continuing approval can be a double-edged sword,since friendship is also admiration and confidence and will find it very difficult to trust us if we can not impose. A good father is not one who gives up continuously and does not teach. 10. They also have emotions Sometimes we think only we feel upset and that children need to be happy all day. But they also have concerns. His emotional world is equally or more complex than ours, so it should give importance to their emotions and be aware of them. We must help our child to put full name to what you experience and feel.

Intercultural Differences in Work Environment Essay Example

Intercultural Differences in Work Environment Essay Example Intercultural Differences in Work Environment Paper Intercultural Differences in Work Environment Paper If you talk to a man In his own language, that goes to his heart. Nelson Mandela Culture does not only consist of different languages or our background; it is almost everything that defines who we are. Our age, gender, religion, color, ones peers or our personal values. What a lot of people forget, and what Mister Mandela wanted to draw attention to, Is that It is not enough to address only one part of a mans culture to communicate well with him. And where else than the workplace is it more important to communicate with different people who bring deferent cultures with them? Normally, people cannot decide who they work with In our globalizes world where more and more companies are international, and so are their employees Although the competences that different cultures provide a company with are definitely welcome, the awareness of potential for conflict between individual employees Is increasing steadily. Consequently, constructive dealing with different cultural value systems on the Interpersonal level Is a key skill for managers of international corporations and this skill will emerge into a very important goal of personal development. Defining Culture Culture per SE Is the totality of human behavior (Including norms, values and lifestyles) and therefore, influences every area of life (Kafuffle, 2011, p. 163). Its development results through different aspects off human life. It is crucial where we were born or how and In which country we were raised, which friends we had and so on. This results in our culture dictating how we behave In certain situations. It affects three elementary levels which are: communication, thinking patterns and emotions. For example, if we have a very family centric culture and we notice that our counterpart is treating a family member not as well as our culture demands, we may start having negative feelings towards that person which affects our thinking and how we conduct further communication with that person. In a situation in which both communicators have the same cultural background this is not as likely to happen, since the three levels are most certainly much alike. One can say that culture works as a simplification filter of interaction between two individuals with different surrounds. It helps to reduce complex Information that assures a smooth interaction with others. At the same time it has negative side effects. Especially in the workplace environment where communication is usually limited by time and therefore, has to be precise, slight differences In culture can have a great effect. Misinterpretations are only a small part of things that can go wrong. For example, In a team that has to conduct business with a partner; the team might develop a logical 1 OFF plan to arrest an Issue. However, when ten team NAS to negotiate Witt someone tit a different ethnicity, cultural differences might impair the negotiations. To specify the example: It is very common for Middle Eastern entrepreneurs to begin negotiations with long small talk, which is not common in Germany. One might think that the entrepreneur would adjust his behavior to the culture of the addressed communicator, but often times peoples culturally influenced perception leads them to believe that they are doing nothing unusual. Hopeless Cultural Dimensions There are many dimensions where culture can affect individuals, but a lot of them can be summarized in main concepts. One scientific approach is the five cultural dimensions theory by Egger Hefted. Through a large survey in cooperation with the IBM Corp.. With over one-hundred-thousand participants in over seventy countries, Hefted defined five cultural dimensions across a variety of cultures. These dimensions can be used to analyze a particular culture or be used for distinguishing between many (Kafuffle, 2011). Through his research Hefted identified the five main drivers of culture which are: power distance individualism vs.. Collectivism masculinity vs.. Feminism uncertainty avoidance Long- Term vs.. Short- Term orientation Although each of these dimensions has been found or predicted by social science previously; there has never been such a large data collection which could prove these predictions. In this model each country is assigned a score for each dimension and each dimension groups a variety of social phenomena in itself. The grouping of diverse social behaviors of individuals in only five dimensions can be dangerous, but the data has shown that there are such strong correlations in-between the grouped phenomena that it is valid to assort them together to get a better idea of cultures hill neglecting individual persons and their personal habits. Hefted did not put much importance on the behavior of individuals because there are too many interference factors that are unpredictable in statistical analysis (Hefted, 2001). Based on the five cultural dimensions it can be analyzed which culture related problems or difficulties might occur in a workplace environment. In the following the five dimensions will be elaborated on and what problems can occur in regard of the dimension: Power Distance (PDP): The main idea behind the wording power distance is to describe how people deal with inequalities in their captive society or organization. If a country scores very high on the power distance dimension, as for example, Arab countries which have a score of 80 on the index, it means that an individual who is a rather powerless member of an institution will accept certain inequalities in the power distribution around him. On the other hand, if one looks at a country with a relatively low score on the index, such as Germany (35), the employees of a company expect a more consultative approach to decision making by their boss. In cultures with a low score like this, those who have ore power subordinate themselves to this principle because it is rooted in their culture. Power Allocates also means Tanat ten unequal or equal power Illustration Is accepted and expected in the society overall. Considering the dimension power- distance typical problems that can occur are mostly very emotional. Employees coming from one country might feel very uneasy to consult with their superior and would therefore be viewed as a not communicative enough by fellow workers. Individualism vs.. Collectivism: While power distance describes the relationship to authority, the dimension Individualism shows the significance of community and networks in a culture. On the individualism side we find countries like the United States, where being an individualistic person with own ideas, independence and identity are some of the most important values. Individualistic cultures care mostly about their closer family and close friends. Collectivist cultures on the other hand, focus on defining themselves through groups of people. The extended family has the greatest importance in these societies. People find their source of security and identity in large families. A Chinese worker, coming from a collectivist society, may reduce his workforce to not undermine his co- workers and therefore not fulfill the expectations put in him. Masculinity vs.. Femininity: Whereas the other dimensions described by Hefted are used to distinguish between different cultures; the dimension masculinity vs.. Feminism is the only one that shows differences inside a cultural group. It is the only dimension in which men and women gave different answers to questions addressing the same phenomena. On a larger scale feminism vs.. Masculinity describes how different cultures perceive roles of men and women in he society as well as goals individuals have in these societies. In masculine cultures, gender roles are narrowly defined and do not overlap. Men are supposed to show strong personalities, be focused on achievement and success, whereas women are supposed to be more modest, tender, and concerned with quality of life (Hefted, 2001, p. 40). In feminine societies women and men often have equal, overlapping gender roles and are both rather characterized like women in masculine cultures. On an individual level in both cultural poles men and women showed interest in different fields. For example men stated to be interested in high earnings and opportunity for advancement, whereas women showed particular focus on having a good relationship to those in charge and the wi sh to work with cooperative people (Hefted, 2001). A workplace example here might be that a woman, coming from a feminine culture wanting to negotiate business related issues within a very masculine society, would not be accepted by her counterparts. Uncertainty avoidance: This dimension describes how people react in situations they are not familiar with. The main question behind this dimension is whether people tolerate uncertain situations or see them as a threat to their personal security. Weakly pronounced uncertainty avoidance becomes apparent in cultures where people accept new situations and are more tolerant to different sentiments. Whereas strong pronounced uncertainty avoidance is revealed in the need for making detailed plans for the future, a strong wish for security and safety as well as stress and aggressiveness in conflicts. Many countries with high levels of uncertainty avoidance tend to have very strict and formal work related laws which reflect on implicit company guidelines of behavior. People AT Deterrent descent malign Tell very restricted Day tense rules wanly could suppress creative thinking when needed. Long- Term vs.. Short- Term orientation: After conducting further studies especially on the Asian continent Hefted defined his fifth dimension. People in a long-term oriented culture align their actions and goals to achieve the best possible future for themselves. Typical traits of such a culture are self-discipline, thriftiness and respect for others. Short-term oriented societies value traits like freedom, independence and efficiency at work (Kafuffle, 2011). Solving Issues There are many obvious problems that can occur and can be prevented Just by knowing the different dimensions. And this insight is the first step to effective cultural diversity management in a company. If a company has the goal to become more international, it has to conduct trainings for their employees and also for their higher management to be aware of these differences. In order to do so a company usually has to seek out an experienced consultant in this area. The main goal should be to show the employees how to interact with different cultures taking to account hat similarities and distinguishing factors should be focused on and new elements provided by the companys own culture and structure can be integrated (Precept, 2009). Thereby and similar measures intercultural competence can be built into the issued organization. Conclusion Taking everything in consideration there are several benefits in integrating a multicultural staff in a company. Multicultural employees can provide new ways of thinking and general creativity. They also can show how to think more global and conduct business with international partners, which is becoming more important for very organization and has quite a few positive aspects. On the other hand it can be difficult for an inexperienced company to benefit from multicultural employees. First of all the company has to overcome many obstacles. These can reach from interpersonal problems to unwanted behavior by employees with a different culture. To get over these issues the company has to conduct trainings to raise the awareness for intercultural differences of management and staff. One systematic approach could be to explain one scientific approach like Hopeless and show ways of taking his into account in daily business.

Critically Evaluate the Reasons for the Rise in Position of Apple Essay

Critically Evaluate the Reasons for the Rise in Position of Apple Brandin the Best Global Brands in 2011 - Essay Example Though others consider it to be time consuming and sometimes frustrating, strategic planning has been found to lead to quality decision making if applied effectively (Westphal & Frederickson, 2001, p.1113). This essay tries to find the possible determinants of the positional rise to 8th position of the apple brand in the global brands. Moreover, the rise in position has been linked closely to effective strategic planning hence, some of the tools used in strategic planning have been analyzed and justification for the choice of each tool given. Introduction According to Tapinos, Dyson & Meadows (2005, p.370) recently the topic of strategic planning has drawn a lot of discussions focusing on its effective implementation and the possible outcomes. The subject has attracted both empirical and theoretical exploration as entrepreneurs try to seek more information regarding it. Effective planning has been associated to improved performance, successful implementation and good decision making. Organizations are facing difficult times due to new technologies, market and economic changes globalization and deregulation. Consequently, all these activities call for the application of proper business techniques and the adoption of appropriate planning tools. Although some people may argue that strategic planning has its own ineffectiveness, the advantages that come along with it are overwhelming (Falshaw, Glaister & Tatoglu, 2006, p.9). Strategic planning allows an organization to understand itself by analyzing its vision and objectives in detail. If it is appropriately implemented, it will enable an organization to realize its full potential. Some of the tools employed in planning strategically are discussed below. Tools for Strategic Planning The SWOT analysis tool is the most commonly employed tool to help an organization determine its possible position within the industry of its operation. SWOT refers to the analysis of an organization’s strengths, its weaknesses, a vailable opportunities and finally threats that are facing it (Lyles, Baird, Orris & Kuratko, 2000, p.38). First is to determine the internal position of an organization by assessing its strengths and possible weaknesses. Strengths refer to the most effective skills that are employed by an organization in the attainment of its vision. Some of such skills include employees of high expertise and advanced technology. On the other hand weaknesses are those things that hinder a firm from attaining its full potential such as functional areas’ conflicts and production costs which are very high (Meers & Robertson, 2007, p.303). Brews & Purohit (2007, p.68) asserts that having analyzed its internal position, an organization needs to understand its external position by analyzing the available opportunities and its external threats. Opportunities refer to the currently available or possible future circumstances that are likely to provide a favorable environment for the firm’s gro wth. They include conditions such as completion decrease, market population increase and favorable legislation. On the other hand, threats refer to the currently available or future environmental conditions which are likely to provide unfavorable environment for a firm’s growth such as, unfavorable legislation and new product-development by competitors. An effective SWOT analysis provides an organization with a clear picture of its

Research Proposal on Convicted Felons and Time in Prison Paper

Proposal on Convicted Felons and Time in Prison - Research Paper Example Even if a person is accused of felony, he is more likely to find the best legal representative at one of the law firm to clear their name (Saferstein, 2003). Every nation and state has his or her own regulations and laws that govern the felony crime together with their punishment. Generally, the felony crimes are considered serious infractions compared to other crime. Some of the examples of felony crimes include the rape, arson, murder, theft that reaches a given monetary threshold and assault that causes harm to a person (Morgan, M. (2000). Majority of nations and states punish the convicted individuals for lesser crimes such as jail time below one year, community service, and fines. However, for felony criminals, they receive much harsh treatment. It is not strange for a victim convicted for felony to serve long jail terms, large penalty or even both. Additionally, one might be ordered by the court to pay restitution. Restitution is when a person convicted for a given crime is financially compensated. Finally, when the law approves it and the crime is seen to be serious, there is high chance that one receives a death penalty due to co nviction of felony. Depending on the committed felony together with historical factors, a person and his attorney are allowed to reduce the punishment. Specifically, a person is more likely to undergo probation. Probation is the suspended time of jail. Sometime a person can serve a certain jail term before probation, but other times a felony victim can see probation rather than a jail time. Probation does not mean that a person is free (Petherick, Turvey, & Ferguson, 2010). There are conditions that one has to meet like maintaining job and undergoing counseling. Additionally, violating the terms of the probation can lead to severe penalties like imprisonment. For those who are charged with conviction of felony, parole is one the possibilities. Parole is defined as the condition release for

African films Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

African films - Assignment Example The use of silence was a tool that disempowered women in the palace by not allowing them to speak about what was happening to them in their life. If they were forced into a behavior they did not want, they were expected to remain silent about the situation. If they were sick, they bore their pain in silence. The women knew what was going on in the palace, but were not allowed to talk to anyone about what they knew. If the woman was not married, the name of the father of any children was never uttered (Tlatti, 1994). The women were considered household slaves and were not allowed to leave the house, were expected to cook, clean, and perform any other duties, as requested by the family, without saying a word. They talked among themselves, but even that conversation was limited. Each woman had to bare her own burden in silence. The only way this silence could have been used to empower the women is if they would have been able to communicate with the outside world and then the family wou ld have had to pay them to keep quiet about the affairs of the palace. Sexual violence was included in the lives of these women, but none of them were allowed to have a voice in the situation. The women were not allowed to refuse, they could fight back until they were over powered, but the act would still take place if the man wanted it to happen (Tlatti, 1994). None of the other women were allowed to come to the aid of anyone being forced and the harm that was caused was not discussed by the victim. If medical attention was needed, a nurse was summoned. Demanding that a woman have an abortion is just as violent and results in death as other violent acts that can and have been performed on people in society. Making sure the slave/servant women remained in the home at all cost required that all births happened without any medical intervention (Tlatti, 1994). This could also be considered a form

Extra Credit #2 Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Extra Credit #2 - Movie Review Example The Credit Crisis is a short video by Jonathan Jarvis, which illustrates the 2007 international financial crisis. It is very challenging to identify an individual or organization that was not negatively affected by the crisis. Understanding the complex financial systems that resulted in the large scale financial meltdown is very difficult. The movie demystifies the subprime lending, poor relationship among the financial stakeholders, and the Glass-Steagall Act adequately. Knowledge is power, and Wall Street has continuously applied the principle to benefit financially. The CNBC Subprime Mortgage Special - House of Cards illustrates issues that closely resemble the current real estate sector. One of the issues is the profit motive among the real estate players. The financial greed among investors is what led to the financial crisis. Quick Loan Funding provided credit to people who could not afford down payment. Thus the number of borrowers increased, and the company recorded millions in profit. Presently, many financial institutions fund mortgage products by providing cheap credit facilities to the investors. The Credit Crisis illustrates that the financial system is complex and large scale. Very many people do not understand this complex financial system, and thus the financial crisis was experienced. Millions of Americans did not understand the magnitude of the large credit bubble that occurred during the past decade, due to limited financial knowledge. When the bubble burst, negative financial consequences were thus realized. Many people currently do not understand the global financial system because of the complexities involved. Due to the greed of financial institutions, many people still get excessive credit products despite of negative effects shown during the financial crisis. The two films have one major similar feature. They both discuss the negative effects of the global financial crisis. The Credit Crisis explains that the financial

MILITARY TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN WWII AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM Essay

MILITARY TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN WWII AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM - Essay Example There have been several changes in technological, political and socio-economic arena during 19th and 20th centuries. The management strategies of all the governments in different governing bodies also undergone modifications. US military has also undergone significant transformation in these two centuries in general and post World War II period in particular (Flinor Sloan, 2008). The transformation is a continuous process and it will under go more so in future too. Based on the nature of challenges and foreign policies of other nations, US military transformation would develop its style. Earlier, the issue was World War II and several other nations were under colonial control of few nations, hence its strategies were different. However, with reduction in need for world wars and due to concentration on other economic issues, significant transformation occurred in recent years. The major challenge before all nations including US is terrorism. Military forces have to apply different app roach to tackle this deadly menace. At the same time, US military alone can’t tackle this challenge and it requires strong cooperation and coordination from other nations. Hence this necessitated the strong transformation of US military since World War II. The present essay examines the nature of transformation of US military, reasons for its transformation, various components of its transformation and future options. As discussed earlier, with the change in socio-political scenarios in USA and the remaining world, the priorities and objectives of US military witnessed a clear transformation. Hence it can be mentioned that socio-economic structural changes are one of the main reasons for significant transformation in US military since World War II period. The growing extent of global terrorism in the recent years led to change in US military style and structure. Especially after the attack of World Trade Centre in New

International Business Law Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Business Law Policy - Essay Example UCITA would codify the view that traditional software distributions are licenses, not sales. Section 102(43), (44) of the UCITA (1999 Official Text) recognized mass marketed binary software transactions as licenses.2 UCC Article 2 covers only contracts for sale of goods, so computer software is not expressly covered by Article 2. Computer software is different considering that it is so easily copied, thus it needs special protection. It is one of a few commercial enterprises that entirely depend on a single traditional copyrighted work such as a book, musical recording, motion picture, or painting.3 Licensing thus becomes very important. Licensing enables the developer to control software distribution, to price software to reflect its value to the user, and to ensure that users are subject to developer's limitation of liability provisions. However, there is a legislative gap that has forced courts to apply the UCC to license transaction, which it was never meant to address. Hence, th e UCITA. The overlap of terminology between sale and license has caused confusion within the courts and has led to some acceptance of a license as a sale in some jurisdictions. The courts have used several methods to establish that a sale of software is the sale of a good within the meaning of the UCC Article 2. The simplest method of establishing software as a sale is when the parties agree in their briefing that Article 2 applies to the licensing of their software. Court would thus only have to look at the contract to see what rules would apply. For other courts, the analysis is more in-depth. In Architectronics, Inc v. Control Systems, the court applied UCC Article 2 to a software development transaction for a license of the software. The court held that the applicability of Article 2 is not defeated by use of license in lieu of sales if license provides for transfer of some of incidents of goods ownership. In Microsoft Corp. v. DAK Industries, the court looked to the economic realities o f the particular arrangement. Upon this analysis, the court found that DAK had a right to sell the software and thus the arrangement was similar to a purchase of goods thus indicating that it was a sale, not a license to use.4 Question 4. Many of the provisions in the UCITA were first proposed as a modification to Article 2 of the UCC. Why do you think the drafters decided to propose it as a separate and distinct uniform act To be effective, a provision must be approved both by the NCCUSL and the ALI. Since the final draft of Article 2B as proposed was rejected by the American Law Institute or ALI, the required approval of both bodies was thus lacking. As a consequence, the NCCUSL renamed it as the now UCITA.5 PART II Question 1. Is the International Court of Justice the first world court No. The ICJ began work in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice, the first world court.6 Question 2. What are the procedures of the World Court Are they similar to any US court No, the procedure of the World Court

Extra Credit #2 Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Extra Credit #2 - Movie Review Example The Credit Crisis is a short video by Jonathan Jarvis, which illustrates the 2007 international financial crisis. It is very challenging to identify an individual or organization that was not negatively affected by the crisis. Understanding the complex financial systems that resulted in the large scale financial meltdown is very difficult. The movie demystifies the subprime lending, poor relationship among the financial stakeholders, and the Glass-Steagall Act adequately. Knowledge is power, and Wall Street has continuously applied the principle to benefit financially. The CNBC Subprime Mortgage Special - House of Cards illustrates issues that closely resemble the current real estate sector. One of the issues is the profit motive among the real estate players. The financial greed among investors is what led to the financial crisis. Quick Loan Funding provided credit to people who could not afford down payment. Thus the number of borrowers increased, and the company recorded millions in profit. Presently, many financial institutions fund mortgage products by providing cheap credit facilities to the investors. The Credit Crisis illustrates that the financial system is complex and large scale. Very many people do not understand this complex financial system, and thus the financial crisis was experienced. Millions of Americans did not understand the magnitude of the large credit bubble that occurred during the past decade, due to limited financial knowledge. When the bubble burst, negative financial consequences were thus realized. Many people currently do not understand the global financial system because of the complexities involved. Due to the greed of financial institutions, many people still get excessive credit products despite of negative effects shown during the financial crisis. The two films have one major similar feature. They both discuss the negative effects of the global financial crisis. The Credit Crisis explains that the financial

International Business Law Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Business Law Policy - Essay Example UCITA would codify the view that traditional software distributions are licenses, not sales. Section 102(43), (44) of the UCITA (1999 Official Text) recognized mass marketed binary software transactions as licenses.2 UCC Article 2 covers only contracts for sale of goods, so computer software is not expressly covered by Article 2. Computer software is different considering that it is so easily copied, thus it needs special protection. It is one of a few commercial enterprises that entirely depend on a single traditional copyrighted work such as a book, musical recording, motion picture, or painting.3 Licensing thus becomes very important. Licensing enables the developer to control software distribution, to price software to reflect its value to the user, and to ensure that users are subject to developer's limitation of liability provisions. However, there is a legislative gap that has forced courts to apply the UCC to license transaction, which it was never meant to address. Hence, th e UCITA. The overlap of terminology between sale and license has caused confusion within the courts and has led to some acceptance of a license as a sale in some jurisdictions. The courts have used several methods to establish that a sale of software is the sale of a good within the meaning of the UCC Article 2. The simplest method of establishing software as a sale is when the parties agree in their briefing that Article 2 applies to the licensing of their software. Court would thus only have to look at the contract to see what rules would apply. For other courts, the analysis is more in-depth. In Architectronics, Inc v. Control Systems, the court applied UCC Article 2 to a software development transaction for a license of the software. The court held that the applicability of Article 2 is not defeated by use of license in lieu of sales if license provides for transfer of some of incidents of goods ownership. In Microsoft Corp. v. DAK Industries, the court looked to the economic realities o f the particular arrangement. Upon this analysis, the court found that DAK had a right to sell the software and thus the arrangement was similar to a purchase of goods thus indicating that it was a sale, not a license to use.4 Question 4. Many of the provisions in the UCITA were first proposed as a modification to Article 2 of the UCC. Why do you think the drafters decided to propose it as a separate and distinct uniform act To be effective, a provision must be approved both by the NCCUSL and the ALI. Since the final draft of Article 2B as proposed was rejected by the American Law Institute or ALI, the required approval of both bodies was thus lacking. As a consequence, the NCCUSL renamed it as the now UCITA.5 PART II Question 1. Is the International Court of Justice the first world court No. The ICJ began work in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice, the first world court.6 Question 2. What are the procedures of the World Court Are they similar to any US court No, the procedure of the World Court

Pizza hut pan pizza Essay Example for Free

Pizza hut pan pizza Essay Have you ever had a pan pizza from Pizza Hut? I hope that you have. I understand the price can be high, but do not worry about the price I have a recipe for that same amazing pan pizza. It will cost you a fraction of the price and you could even use organic ingredients. The process that I will be going over today is making Pizza Huts number one crust, and the recipe that I am analyzing is the best that I have tasted, so if you want to know how the dough is prepared, the sauce is made, and how to build and cook a pan pizza you are reading the right essay. The ingredients that you will need for the dough, 1 1/3 cups warm water (105 F), 1/4 cup non-fat powdered milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 (1/4 ounce), package dry yeast, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for dough), 9 ounces vegetable oil (3 ounces per pan), and butter-flavored Pam cooking spray. After you get all the ingredients you want to make sure you have all the utensils, large bowl, whisk, and measuring cups. Pizza, â€Å"put yeast, sugar, salt, dry milk in large bowl; add water and stir to mix well. † â€Å"Put bowl and mixture off to the side so that it can rest for two minutes. † (â€Å"Pizza†) at the 2 min timer add oil to dough mixture and stir again. Add the flour and stir until dough forms and flour is absorbed. â€Å"Pull dough out on to a flat surface and mix dough so that the flour covers all of the sticky surface of the dough. † (â€Å"Pizza†). Divide dough in to three balls. Using a rolling pin roll each ball out in to a 9† circle. Place dough in to a warm area and allow to rise for an hour to an hour and a half. Now on from dough to sauce. I prefer this sauce because I love the flavor, but you could use any sauce that you would like. Utensils used will be large mixing bowl, measuring cups (teaspoon), and whisk. Ingredients that you will need for sauce, 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon dry oregano, 1/2 teaspoon margarine, 1/2 teaspoon dry basil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt. Combine sauce ingredients and let sit for one hour. I prefer after mixing put the sauce in the fridge for the hour, mainly because cold sauce tastes better. Now that the dough and sauce is mixed you will need to get cooking pans and topping together. For the pans you will need three 9† cake pans. For instructions on Pizza, â€Å"Put 3 ounces of oil in each of three 9-inch cake pans, making sure it is spread evenly. † Now place the rolled out dough in to the cake pans, spray around the edge with the pan cooking spray. For each 9† pizza, spoon 1/3 cup of sauce on the dough and spread within 1-inch of the edge. Distribute 1 ? ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese (I also use cheddar cheese) the toppings can be of choice. I like to put pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage, but like I said you can use any combination that you like even organic. After you have assembled your pizza, the oven should be preheated to 475 degrees, cook pizza till cheese is bubbly and outer crust is brown. I hope that a made a clear attempt to explain how the dough, sauce, and pizza is made. Even though this recipe is not an exact replica it is the closest recipe that you will find. The best thing about this recipe is the fact that you can make it however you want, add any toppings and use any cheese. I hope that you will use this recipe, and that it excites your taste buds as it did mine. Work Cited Pizza Hut Original Pan Pizza. http://www. food. com/recipe/pizza-hut-original-pan-pizza-91827.

Positive Effects Of Globalization Economics Essay

Positive Effects Of Globalization Economics Essay To date, the concept of globalization still sparks mixed reactions in the public domain. Skeptics of globalization believe that globalization is bad for economies, and that should be controlled. However, others maintain that it is a great thing to have happened to the worlds nations as thus should be seen as a positive move in the right direction. This essay acknowledges that although there are costs associated with globalization, the resultant benefits clearly outweigh the costs to society. Therefore, this paper contends that efforts to increase globalization should be promoted. Globalization, according to Schmidt and Weitzel, results from increased international integration (Schmidt and and Weitzel). According to them, globalization results from a host of factors, amongst them technological advancement, political changes, and choice of economic policies. Technological advancement makes production, communication, and logistics and transport much cheaper and faster than before. Economic policies encouraging liberalization and open economies to FDIs also encourages globalization (Schmidt and and Weitzel). Political changes expose economies that were previously isolated into the international market, promote regional blocs, and support reforms that support the rule of law thus, encouraging investments in infrastructural sector. Globalization brings with it both positive and negative effects. Positive effects of globalization The gains from globalization are as a result of its effect on the flow of ideas, information, technologies, capital, finances, goods, services and people. The gains are normally triggered by cross border integrations resulting from globalization, which have several dimensions-economic, social, cultural and political (Nistor). Thus, in the analysis of the benefits from globalization, there are three channels through which the benefits accrue. The channels include (a) movement of capital; (b) trade in goods and services and (c) financial flows. Besides, there is also a channel through movement of people. Movement of capital Technological advancement and the resultant infrastructural development, globalization has opened up nations to carry out international trade. The net effect of the economic integration and liberalization has enhanced capital flows between different nations. The capital flows across these countries has served the important role of enhancing the capital base. This was very much evident in the 19th and the 20th centuries. With capital flows, it is possible to distribute the total world savings among countries with high investment potential. The ease of capital flows ensures that growth and development of a country is not constrained by its own domestic savings. For instance, most of the East Asian countries are beneficiaries of foreign capital inflow. Capital flow can take either the form of foreign direct investments (FDI) or portfolio investments. For developing countries, they benefit more from the FDIs than from portfolio investments and thus, most of them will place restriction to portfolio investments due to their volatile nature. Capital flows increases the rate of growth of countries beyond their domestic potential, a condition that would not otherwise be achieved, except with globalization. Increased trade in goods and services Globalization opens up economies to international trade in goods and services, which results in the allocation of resources consistent with their respective comparative advantages. Globalization therefore, promotes specialization thus, enhancing the countries productivity. Globalization facilitates the removal of restrictive trade that impedes growth. Technological advancements from globalization allows countries to produce what they are best endowed, in terms of resources, technology and labor. In turn, these countries will benefit from what they cannot produce from elsewhere. Specialization enhances productivity, efficiency and promotes good relations across borders. Financial flows One of the major characteristics of the globalization process is a rapidly growing capital market. The growth in both foreign exchange and capital market facilitates the transfer of resources across countries. The most significant outcome of the growth in the flows of capital and foreign exchange markets is the gross turnover in the foreign exchange markets. According to Frankel, the gross turnover is estimated to be about $ 1.5 trillion worldwide, per day (Frankel). The turnover is in the order of 100 times greater than the volume of goods and services traded. Therefore, currency trade has become an end in itself. However, an expansion of the capital markets and foreign exchange markets is a vital prerequisite for effective capital transfer. Negative effects of globalization Concerning the impacts of globalization, two major concerns arise on the mention of the phenomena (Nistor). This are often described as fears of globalization. The first and major concern of globalization is that it leads to unequal distribution of income and other resources amongst countries. Secondly, is that globalization infringes on the sovereignty. That globalization makes it difficult for countries to follow their domestic policies (Centre for Economic Policy Research). Most of the explanations given for these concerns are genuine while others are farfetched. Iniquitous income distribution This argument is premised on the fact that since globalization places more emphasis on efficiency, the phenomena will in most cases benefit countries that are favorably endowed. Skeptics, though justified to some extent, globalization benefits, as much as they accrue on the most endowed countries as claimed, these countries have had their own fair share of benefits. Developed countries have a head start in terms of technological base, natural as well human resources as compared with the developing nations. The skewed advantage relatively eats away the benefits of developing countries from trade, capital flows, and financial flows as well as specialization benefits. While the benefits from trade benefits all countries, much of the gains accrue to the advanced economies. This is perhaps one of the reasons while provisions for preferential treatment are catered for in todays trade agreements. The loss of state autonomy in pursuit of economic policies is another concern raised in regard to globalization. With the increased degree of economic integration, it is true that one country cannot pursue autonomously, policies which are not in consonance with the general worldwide trends. With globalization, some level of sacrifice with regards to national sovereignty becomes inevitable. Hus, with regard to globalization issues, constraints to pursuing domestic policies should be acknowledged. Further concerns over increased globalization, involve the fear of deteriorating national and international security, cultural erosion, drug trafficking, and other social evils. There is loss of craftsmanship as a result of increased use of technology. Globalization has served to increase dependence of states on other states over essential products that enhancing the economic vulnerability. Conclusion The contributions of globalization to the developments witnessed today cannot be ignored. Globalization has led to increased development of the world economies, diffused technological advancements and improved people lives. Its role, in enhancing production, productivity and efficiency as well lowering production costs of economies is well clear. These developments, besides having greater benefits, they have their own negatives. However, a succinct review of the benefits against the costs, it is without a doubt that globalization has made the world a better place. With the relevant measures being put in place to mitigate the costs arising from globalization, this essay concludes that, although there are costs to Globalization, the benefits clearly outweigh the Costs to Society. Therefore, efforts to increase Globalization should be promoted.

Can Writing Be Fun? Essay -- essays research papers

Writing and school work, to be honest, have always been at the bottom of my list for things that I enjoy doing. I can remember from as early as grade 1 having great difficulty in most areas of school work. I have always had a great anxiety about completing assignments or having to read the required books, I went through all of high school having never read a complete book. It’s not that I think I am stupid but just not interested in these types of activities. I find it hard to keep my attention focused on reading when there are so many great things, or maybe not so great things, out in the world to think about. Now don’t get me wrong, I could read all day long about how to make my car faster or my dirt bike jump higher but writing something uninteresting to me makes it hard to be creative...

media research :: essays research papers

Running Head: Discovering the World of Journals in Media Research Abstract This assignment consists of 4 journals, two of which were scholarly and the rest were trade journals. The objective of this assignment was to familiarize us on how to obtain and record data from different journals. This assignment will teach the class how to be efficient researchers in different media fields. Media Research assignment 3 Running Head: Discovering the World of Journals in Media Research Discovering the World of Journals in Media Research Class Since my related field is television production, I decided to use Broadcasting and Cable as my first scholarly journal. This journal is published by Reed Business Information (formerly Cahners Business Information) and is a leading provider of critical information and marketing solutions to business professionals in targeted industry sectors. Broadcasting and Cable is a great scholarly journal for anyone who works for a cable company on or off the production set of the business. The journal informs readers on the latest technology such as Cameras, tape decks, lighting and televisions. The journal also informs us on current events in the broadcasting industry, for example the journal reviews how many satellite companies made money last year. I chose to summarize an article called â€Å"News Corp.’s Carey moves on.† News Corp.’s Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey resigned because of a deal that went bad with Direct TV. News Corp was trying to make a deal with Direct TV in order to build a worldwide satellite distribution company. If the deal went through for News Corp, it would have made them one of the most powerful entertainment industries in the world. Unfortunately someone else beat Chase Carey to the punch in buying Direct TV. Chase feels handing in his resignation will prevent News Corp from blaming him for the unsuccessful deal. Media Research assignment 4 Running Head: Discovering the World of Journals in Media Research The last scholarly journal I decided to use was Educational Technology. This journal is published by FNO (For Now On) Press, which makes a philosophical commitment to engaged learning, problem-based learning and Information Literacy. I chose this particular journal because my girlfriend is studying to be a teacher and I wanted to learn some statistics about her field. The term Educational Technology refers to science-based knowledge. Its concerned about hardware and software systems that can help students learn in many different ways. Readers of this journal include anyone who interested in teaching children by using mechanical devices such as computers and video recorders rather then by using strictly lecture.

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 33

To her surprise, Elena felt no anger, only a determination to protect Stefan if she could. And then she saw that in the cell she'd assumed was empty, there was a kitsune. The kitsune looked nothing like Shinichi or Misao. He had long, long hair as white as snow – but his face was young. He was wearing all white, too, tunic and breeches out of some flowing, silky material and his tail practically filled the small cell, it was so fluffy. He also had fox ears which twitched this way and that. His eyes were the gold of fireworks. He was gorgeous. The kitsune coughed again. Then he produced – from his long hair, Elena thought, a very, very small and thin-skinned leather bag. Like, Elena thought, the perfect bag for one perfect jewel. Now the kitsune took a pretend bottle of Black Magic (it was heavy and a pretend drink was delicious), and filled the little bag with it. Then he took a pretend syringe (he held it as Dr. Meggar had and tapped it to get the bubbles out) and filled it from the little bag. Finally, he stuck the pretend syringe through his own bars and depressed his thumb, emptying it. â€Å"I can feed you Black Magic wine,† Elena translated. â€Å"With his little pouch I can hold it and fill the syringe. Dr. Meggar could fill the syringe, too. But there's no time, so I'm going to do it.† â€Å"I – † began Stefan. â€Å"You are going to drink as fast as you can.† Elena loved Stefan, wanted to hear his voice, wanted to fill her eyes with him, but there was a life to be saved, and the life was his. She took the little pouch with a bow of thanks to the kitsune and left her cloak on the floor. She was too intent on Stefan to even remember how she was dressed. Her hands wanted to shake but she wouldn't let them. She had three bottles of Black Magic here: her own, in her cloak, Dr. Meggar's, and somewhere, in his cloak, Damon's. So with the delicate efficiency of a machine, she repeated what the kitsune had shown her over and over. Dip, pull up lever, push through bars, squirt. Over and over and over. After about a dozen of these Elena developed a new technique, the catapult. Filling the tiny bag with wine and holding it by the top until Stefan got his mouth positioned, and then, all in one motion, smashing the bag with her palm and squirting a fair amount straight into Stefan's mouth. It got the bars sticky, it got Stefan sticky; it would never have worked if the steel had been razor-sharp for him, but it actually forced a surprising amount down his throat. The other bottle of Black Magic wine she put in the kitsune's cell, which had regular bars. She didn't quite know how to thank him, but when she could spare a second, she turned to him and smiled. He was chugging the Black Magic straight from the bottle, and his face was set in an expression of cool, appreciative pleasure. The end came too quickly. Elena heard Sage's voice booming, â€Å"It is no fair! Elena will not be ready! Elena has not had enough time with him!† Elena didn't need an anvil dropped on her head. She shoved the last bottle of Black Magic wine into the kitsune's cell, she bowed for the last time and gave him back his tiny pouch – but with the canary diamond from her navel in it. It was the largest piece of jewelry she had left and she saw him turn it over precisely in long-nailed fingers and then rise to his feet and make a tiny bow to her. There was a moment for a mutual smile and then Elena was cleaning up Dr. Meggar's bag, and pulling on her red cloak. Then she was turning to Stefan, jelly inside once more, gasping: â€Å"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make it a medical visit.† â€Å"But you saw the chance to save my life and just couldn't pass it up.† Sometimes the brothers were very much alike. â€Å"Stefan, don't! Oh, I love you!† â€Å"Elena.† He kissed her fingers, pressed to the bars. Then, to the guards: â€Å"No, please, please, don't take her away! For pity's sake, give us one more minute! Just one!† But Elena had to let go of his fingers to hold her cloak together. The last she saw of Stefan, he was pounding on the bars with his fists and calling, â€Å"Elena, I love you! Elena!† Then Elena was dragged out of the hallway and a door shut between them. She sagged. Arms went around her, helped her to walk. Elena got angry! If Stefan was being put back in his old lice-ridden cell – as she supposed he was, right about now – he was being made to walk. And these demons did nothing gently, she knew that. He was probably being driven like an animal with sharp instruments of wood. Elena could walk, too. As they reached the front of the Shi no Shi lobby Elena looked around. â€Å"Where's Damon?† â€Å"In the coach,† Sage answered in his gentlest voice. â€Å"He needed some time.† Part of Elena said, â€Å"I'll give him time! Time to scream once before I rip his throat out!† But the rest of her was just sad. â€Å"I didn't get to say anything I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him how sorry Damon is; and how Damon's changed. He didn't even remember that Damon had been there – â€Å" â€Å"He talked to you?† Sage seemed astonished. The two of them, Sage and Elena, walked out of the final marble doors of the building of the Gods of Death. That was the name Elena had chosen for it in her own mind. The carriage was at the curb in front of them, but no one got in. Instead, Sage gently steered Elena a little distance from the others. There he put his large hands on her shoulders and spoke, still in that very soft voice, â€Å"Mon Dieu, my child, but I do not want to say this to you. It is that I must. I fear that even if we get your Stefan out of jail by the day of Lady Bloddeuwedd's party that – that it will be too late. In three days he will already be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Is that your medical opinion?† Elena said sharply, looking up at him. She knew her face was pinched and white and that he pitied her greatly, but what she wanted was an answer. â€Å"I am not a medical man,† he said slowly. â€Å"I am just another vampire.† â€Å"Just another Old One?† Sage's eyebrows went up. â€Å"Now, what gave you that little idea?† â€Å"Nothing. I'm sorry if I'm wrong. But will you please get Dr. Meggar?† Sage looked at her for a long minute more, then departed to get the doctor. Both men came back. Elena was ready for them. â€Å"Dr. Meggar, Sage only saw Stefan at the beginning, before you gave him that injection. It was Sage's opinion that Stefan would be dead in three days. Given the effects of the injection, do you agree?† Dr. Meggar peered at her and she could see the shine of tears in his short-sighted eyes. â€Å"It is – possible – just possible that if he has enough willpower, he could still be alive by then. But most likely†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Would it make any difference to your opinion if I said that he drank maybe a third of a bottle of Black Magic wine tonight?† Both men stared at her. â€Å"Are you saying – â€Å" â€Å"Is this just a plan you have now?† â€Å"Please!† Forgetting about her cape, forgetting everything, Elena grasped Dr. Meggar's hands. â€Å"I found a way to get him to drink about that much. Does it make a difference?† She squeezed the elderly hands until she could feel bone. â€Å"It certainly should.† Dr. Meggar looked bewildered and afraid to hope. â€Å"If you really got that much into his system, he would be almost certain to live until the night of Bloddeuwedd's party. That's what you want, isn't it?† Elena sank back, unable to resist giving his hands a little kiss as she let go. â€Å"And now let's go tell Damon the good news,† she said. In the carriage, Damon was sitting bolt upright, his profile outlined against a blood-red sky. Elena got in and shut the door behind her. With no expression at all, he said, â€Å"Is it over?† â€Å"Over?† Elena wasn't really this dense, but she figured it was important that Damon be clear in his own mind as to what he was asking. â€Å"Is he – dead?† Damon said wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. Elena allowed the silence to go on for a few beats longer. Damon must know Stefan was not likely to actually die in the next half hour. Now that he wasn't getting instant confirmation of this his head snapped up. â€Å"Elena, tell me! What happened?† he demanded, urgency in his voice. â€Å"Is my brother dead?† â€Å"No,† Elena said quietly. â€Å"But he's likely to die in a few days. He was coherent this time, Damon. Why didn't you speak to him?† There was an almost palpable drawing-in on Damon's part. â€Å"What do I have to say to him that matters?† he asked harshly. â€Å"‘Oh, I'm sorry I almost killed you'? ‘Oh, I hope you make it another few days'?† â€Å"Things like that, maybe, if you lose the sarcasm.† â€Å"When I die,† Damon said cuttingly, â€Å"I'm going to be standing on my own two feet and fighting.† Elena slapped him across the mouth. There wasn't room to get much leverage here, but she put as much Power behind the motion as she dared without risking breaking the carriage. Afterward, there was a long silence. Damon was touching his bleeding lip, accelerating the healing, swallowing his own blood. Finally he said, â€Å"It never even occurred to you that you are my slave, did it? That I'm your master?† â€Å"If you're going to retreat into fantasy, that's your affair,† Elena said. â€Å"Myself, I have to deal with the real world. And, by the way, soon after you ran away, Stefan was not only standing but laughing.† â€Å"Elena† – on a quick rising note. â€Å"You found a way to give him blood?† He grasped her arm so hard it hurt. â€Å"Not blood. A little Black Magic. With two of us there, it would have gone twice as fast.† â€Å"There were three of you there.† â€Å"Sage and Dr. Meggar had to distract the guards.† Damon took his hand away. â€Å"I see,† he said, expressionlessly. â€Å"So I failed him yet again.† Elena looked at him with sympathy. â€Å"You're completely inside the stone ball now, aren't you?† â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about.† â€Å"The stone ball you stick anything that might hurt you inside. You even draw yourself inside it, although it must be very cramped in there. Katherine must be in there, I suppose, walled off in her own little chamber.† She remembered the night at the hotel. â€Å"And your mother, of course. I should say, Stefan's mother. She was the mother you knew.† â€Å"Don't†¦my mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Damon couldn't even form a coherent sentence. Elena knew what he wanted. He wanted to be held and soothed and told it was all right – just the two of them, under her cloak with her warm arms holding him. But he wasn't going to get it. This time she was saying no. She had promised Stefan that this was for him, alone. And, she thought, she would keep to the spirit of that promise, if she hadn't kept to the letter, forever. As the week progressed, Elena was able to recover from the pain of seeing Stefan. Although none of them could speak about it except in choked, brief exclamations, they listened when Elena said that there was still a job to be done, and that if they managed to complete it well they would be able to go home soon – while if they did not complete it, Elena didn't care whether she went home or stayed here in the Dark Dimension. Home! It had the sound of a haven, even though Bonnie and Meredith knew firsthand what kind of hell was lurking in Fell's Church for them. But somehow anything would be preferable to this land of bloody light. With hope kindling interest in their surroundings, they were once again able to feel pleasure at the dresses Lady Ulma was having made for them. Designing was the one pursuit that the lady could still enjoy during her official bed rest, and Lady Ulma had been hard at work with her sketchbook. Since Bloddeuwedd's party would be an indoor/outdoor affair, all three dresses had to be carefully designed to be attractive both under candlelight and under the giant red sun's crimson rays. Meredith's gown was deep metallic blue, violet in the sunlight, and it showed an entirely different side of the girl from the siren in the skin-tight mermaid dress who had attended Fazina's gala. It reminded Elena somehow of something an Egyptian princess would wear. Once again, it left Meredith's arms and shoulders bare, but the modest narrow skirt that fell in straight lines to her sandals, and the delicacy of the sapphire beads that adorned the shoulder straps served to give Meredith an unassuming look. That look was emphasized by Meredith's hair, which Lady Ulma dictated be worn down, and her face, which was bare of makeup except kohl around the eyes. At her throat, a necklace made of the very largest oval-cut sapphires formed an elaborate collar. She also had matching blue gems on her wrists and slender fingers. Bonnie's dress was a little clever invention: it was made of a silvery material which took on a pastel tinge of the color of the ambient lighting. Moonlight-colored indoors, it shone a soft shimmering pink, almost exactly the color of Bonnie's strawberry hair, when she was outside. It sported a belt, necklace, bracelets, earrings, and rings all of matching cabochon-cut white opals. Bonnie's curls were to be carefully pinned up and away from her face, in a daringly mussed-up mass, leaving her translucent skin to shine softly rose in the sunlight, and ethereally pale inside. Once again, Elena's dress was the simplest and the most striking. Her gown was scarlet, the same color under blood-red sun or indoor gas lamp. It was rather low cut, giving her creamy skin a chance to shine golden in the sunlight. Clinging close to her figure, it was slashed up one side to give her room to walk or dance. On the afternoon of the party Lady Ulma had Elena's hair carefully brushed into a tangled cloud that shimmered Titian outdoors, golden indoors. Her jewelry ranged from an inset of diamonds at the bottom of the neckline, to diamonds on her fingers, wrists and one upper arm, plus a diamond choker that fit over Stefan's necklace. All these would blaze as red as rubies in the sunlight, but would occasionally glint another startling color, like a burst of mini-fireworks. Onlookers, Lady Ulma promised, would be dazzled. â€Å"But I can't wear these,† Elena had protested to Lady Ulma. â€Å"I might not get to see you again before we get Stefan – and from that moment we're on the run!† â€Å"It's the same for all of us,† Meredith had added quietly, looking at each of the girls in their â€Å"indoor† colors of silvery-blue, scarlet, and opal. â€Å"We're all wearing the most jewelry we've ever worn indoors or out – but you might lose it all!† â€Å"And you might need it all,† Lucen had said quietly. â€Å"All the more reason for you each to have jewelry that you can trade for carriages, safety, food, whatever. It's simply designed, too – you can wrench out a stone and use it as payment, and the jewels are not in an elaborate setting that might not be to some collector's taste.† â€Å"In addition to which, they are all of the highest quality,† Lady Ulma had added. â€Å"They are the most flawless examples of their kind we could get on such short notice.† At that point, all three girls had reached their limit, and rushed the couple – Lady Ulma on her enormous bed, sketchbook always beside her, and Lucen standing nearby – and cried and kissed and generally undid the beautiful jobs that had been done on their faces. â€Å"You're like angels to us, do you know that?† Elena sobbed. â€Å"Just like fairy godparents or angels! I don't know how I can say good-bye!† â€Å"Like angels,† Lady Ulma had said then, wiping a tear from Elena's cheek. Then she grasped Elena, saying â€Å"Look!† and gestured to herself comfortably in bed, with a couple of blooming, dewy-eyed young women ready to attend to her wishes. Lady Ulma had then nodded at the window, out of which a small mill stream could be seen, and some plum trees, with ripe fruit blazing like jewels on the branches, and then with a sweep of her hand indicated the gardens, orchards, fields, and forests on the estate. Then she had taken Elena's hand and smoothed it over her own softly curving abdomen. â€Å"You see?† she had spoken almost in a whisper. â€Å"Do you see all of this – and can you remember how you found me? Which of us is an angel now?† At the words â€Å"how you found me† Elena's hands had flown up to cover her face – as if she'd been unable to bear what memory showed her at that moment. Then she was hugging and kissing Lady Ulma again, and a whole new round of cosmetic-destroying embraces had begun. â€Å"Master Damon was even kind enough to buy Lucen,† Lady Ulma had said, â€Å"and you may not be able to picture it, but† – here she had looked at the quiet, bearded jeweler with eyes full of tears – â€Å"I feel for him as you feel for your Stefan.† And then she had blushed and hidden her face in her hands. â€Å"He's freeing Lucen today,† Elena had said, dropping to her knees to rest her head against Lady Ulma's pillow. â€Å"And giving the estate to you irrevocably. He's had a lawyer – an advocate, you'd say – working on the papers all week with a Guardian. They're done now, and even if that hideous general should come back, he couldn't touch you. You have your home forever.† More crying. More kissing. Sage, who had been innocently walking down the hallway, whistling, after a romp with his dog, Saber, had passed Lady Ulma's room and had been drawn in. â€Å"We'll all miss you, too!† Elena had wept. â€Å"Oh, thank you!† Later that day, Damon had made good on all of Elena's promises, besides giving a large bonus to each member of the staff. The air had been full of metallic confetti, rose petals, music, and cries of farewell as Damon, Elena, Bonnie, and Meredith had been carried to Bloddeuwedd's party – and away forever. â€Å"Come to think of it, why didn't Damon free us?† Bonnie asked Meredith as they rode in litters toward Bloddeuwedd's mansion. â€Å"I can understand that we needed to be slaves to get into this world, but we're in now. Why not make honest girls of us?† â€Å"Bonnie, we're honest girls already,† Meredith reminded her. â€Å"And I think the point is that we were never real slaves at all.† â€Å"Well, I meant: Why doesn't he free us so that everyone knows we're honest girls, Meredith, and you know it.† â€Å"Because you can't free somebody who's free already, that's why.† â€Å"But he could have gone through the ceremony,† Bonnie persisted. â€Å"Or is it really hard to free a slave here?† â€Å"I don't know,† Meredith said, breaking at last under this tireless inquisition. â€Å"But I'll tell you why I think he doesn't do it. I think that it's because this way he's responsible for us. I mean, it's not that slaves can't be punished – we saw that with Elena.† Meredith paused while they both shuddered at the memory. â€Å"But, ultimately, it's the slave owner that can lose their life over it. Remember, they wanted to stake Damon for what Elena did.† â€Å"So he's doing it for us? To protect us?† â€Å"I don't know. I†¦suppose so,† Meredith said slowly. â€Å"Then – I guess we've been wrong about him in the past?† Bonnie generously said â€Å"we've† instead of â€Å"you've.† Meredith had always been the one of Elena's group most resistant to Damon's charm. â€Å"I†¦suppose so,† Meredith said again. â€Å"Although it seems that everyone is forgetting that until recently Damon helped the kitsune twins to put Stefan here! And Stefan definitely hadn't done anything to deserve it.† â€Å"Well, of course that's true,† Bonnie said, sounding relieved not to have been too wrong, and at the same time strangely wistful. â€Å"All Stefan ever wanted from Damon was peace and quiet,† Meredith continued, as if on more steady ground there. â€Å"And Elena,† Bonnie added automatically. â€Å"Yes, yes – and Elena. But all Elena wanted was Stefan! I mean – all Elena wants†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith's voice trailed off. The sentence didn't seem to work properly in the present tense anymore. She tried again. â€Å"All Elena wants now is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie just watched her speechlessly. â€Å"Well, whatever she wants,† Meredith concluded, rather shaken, â€Å"she wants Stefan to be a part of it. And she doesn't want any of us to have to stay here – in this†¦this hellhole.† In another litter just beside them things were very quiet. Bonnie and Meredith were so used by now to traveling in closed litters that they hadn't even realized that another palanquin had drawn abreast of them and that their voices carried clearly in the hot, still afternoon air. In the second litter, Damon and Elena both looked very hard at the silken curtains fluttering open. Now, Elena, with an almost mad air of needing something to do, hurriedly unwound a cord and the curtains dropped into place. It was a mistake. It closed Elena and Damon into a surreal glowing red oblong, in which only the words that they had just heard seemed to have validity. Elena felt her breath coming too quickly. Her aura was slipping. Everything was slipping sideways. They don't believe that I only want to be with Stefan! â€Å"Steady on,† Damon said. â€Å"This is the last night. By tomorrow – â€Å" Elena held up a hand to keep him from saying it. â€Å"By tomorrow we'll have found the key and gotten Stefan and we'll be out of here,† Damon said anyway. Jinx, thought Elena. And sent up a prayer after it. They rode in silence up toward Bloddeuwedd's grand mansion. For a surprisingly long time Elena didn't realize that Damon was trembling. It was a quick, involuntary shaken breath that alerted her. â€Å"Damon! Dear – dear heaven!† Elena was stricken, at a loss, not for words, but for the right words. â€Å"Damon, look at me! Why?† Why? Damon replied in the only voice he could trust not to tremble or crack or break. Because – do you ever think of what's happening to Stefan while you're going to a party wearing splendid clothes, being carried along, to drink the finest wine and to dance – while he – while he – The thought remained unfinished. This is just what I needed right before being seen in public, Elena thought, as they reached the long driveway to Bloddeuwedd's home. She tried to call on all of her resources before the curtains were drawn and they were free to step out at the location of the second half of the key.