The Scarlet Letter Dialectical Journal Essay - 1868 Words

Tamara Haddad Wilhite P.5 Scarlet Letter Dialectical Journal â€Å"Like anything that pertains to crime, it seemed never to have a youthful era†¦ a wild rose-bush, in this month of June, with delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in† (Hawthorne 45). Hawthorne describes the door of the jail, as well as the rose bush to the side of it. I feel as if this is supposed to represent what Hester is about the experience: the harsh Puritan judgment, or the old door, along with the acceptance of certain people along her path, as represented by the rose bush. â€Å"An Indian in his native garb was standing there; but the red men were not so infrequent visitors of the English†¦show more content†¦Hester still has good morals, she wants her child to follow the Puritan religion. I imagine that something must have happened to Hester in the past with her father that she does not want her child to have to deal with, or it would be more bothersome for the father of the child to be involved with her child’s life. But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride. The exception indicated the ever relentless vigor with which society frowned upon her sin. (75). I hate the Puritan society. They all know that Hester is awesome with her needle and thread, but for some reason everything is too cursed and evil that Hester even breathes on. They all act like they have never sinned. â€Å"If truth were everywhere to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (80). Hester Prynne is kind of a role model, almost. I admire her ability to admit to sin and be willing to take the consequences. Surely she was not the only one during Puritan times who had an affair, or even sinned. Everyone sins every day, and so technically everyone should have a scarlet letter of some sort. In my opinion, this makes Hester above everyone else. â€Å"†¦like one of those gleams of ghastly fire that darted from Bunyan’s awful doorway in the hillside, and quivered on the pilgrim’s face.† (118). This is used to describe Chillingworth. An evil tone is used here,Show MoreRelatedSummary Of The Scarlet Letter 1941 Words   |  8 Pages2014 The Scarlet Letter Ch. 13 - 24 Dialectical Journals Quotations Response Chapter 13 â€Å"Such helpfulness†¦so much power to do and power to sympathize†¦ [interprets] the scarlet A by its original signification.† (Hawthorne 323) This quote is evidently significant since it shows the fact that as the chapter suggests the general people’s new viewpoint which they are starting to see of Hester; of her diligence which proves to be much more than ‘enough’ to be recognized. Now, the scarlet letter which sheRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter Quotes5507 Words   |  23 PagesScarlett Letter Dialectical Journal â€Å"On one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him. Chapter 1, pg. 46 | -This rose-bush represents Pearl afterwards in Hester’s life. The prison

The Early Years Learning Framework For Australia - 1431 Words

The Early Years Learning framework for Australia Document is important to have in our Schools; as it talks about how Children are confident and involved learners, we need our student’s to be confident and involved in all aspects of learning in the classroom. Having this in place means children get more hands on experience in the classroom and more room for activities, exploring and learning new things and not being afraid to step out of their comfort zone to learn. This means more creativity from students and their individuality to reveal and explore more. Having this in place means that children can connect with nature and the world and be able to communicate and have upright people skills from a young age. The early years learning†¦show more content†¦There are still similarities between the early child hood teaching scene and higher grades, they still need inquiry based learning, scaffolded tasks and they still need to work in groups and learn from peers. The diffe rences are, not as much play based learning, Students do become more independent learners so they do not need as much explicit instructions, or help as they have developed enough to do this on their own. Students will change the way they ‘Show what they know’ with more extended writing and more detailed work. Students are all different in the way that they learn it is important to keep learning accessible to students with a diverse range of needs. It is important to keep open-ended tasks so that there is opportunity for all students from all different entry levels. Having the Early Childhood learning framework in place means that our students can have all this in the classroom and be able to have these learning experiences which I think is extremely important. I am going to discuss and focus on Lee Vygotsky and his theory of Constructivism. One of Lee Vygotsky main theories was in fact constructivism; it is interesting to read about Lee Vygotsky view on constructivism as it is about how people learn and is based on a scientific study. One of the main meanings behind constructivism is â€Å"Constructivism is people who construct their own understanding and

Pre award and Post award Issues in Contract Management & Procurement

Question: Discuss about the Pre-award and Post-award Issues in Contract Management and Procurement. Answer: Introduction The Contract management and the procurement have the best strategy and the practices applied for the monitoring and documenting the performance. The guidelines over the strategies and to the issues majorly cover the long term services on the contract basis. It usually covers all the areas for the delivering the services, managing the relationships, contracting administration services, improvements made in seeking the performances and managing the changes. While the main focus on the guidelines based on the contracts and to the commercial providers is to the follow the major principles based on the guidance which is equally applicable to the arrangements with the in-house providers and to public sectors. Effective procurement is the best way of practicing and becoming an important factor in the Health department. It is the process that mainly ensures both the parties for to fulfil the desires meet to their respective obligations effectively and efficiently. Contract Management and Procurement Contract Management can be defined as the continuous reviews and the management of the contractual terms or the services which is been specified to all the service level agreements which is been secured through the procurement process for ensuring about the outcomes agreed are be delivered by the suppliers and partners. Health contract management and governance have the limited resources and largely ineffective when the issues were unaddressed. Procurement It can be defined as the process of the acquiring the goods and services. It helps in processing the whole cycle of the organisation from identification of the needs from the end process of the services for the end of the useful life of the asset and its disposal. It has the main concerned for securing the goods and services that fulfils the best needs of the users and towards the local community in order to achieve the main object and fulfilling all the priorities (Shaw et al., 2013). Pre-Award Issues Health development and their management staff work according to the given program offices to develop the program offices according to the development of the opportunities. It is the key communication between the applicants and the health security staff during the pre-awarded process. The information is been collected on the basis of submission of the task which is generally been collected regarding to the applications for the prior knowledge to award for the level of efforts etc. Generally, the organisation have the equal ratio of getting the risks and it is basic to prevent from the risks, if it gets fail to identify the risks and to overcome from it, the potential benefits are lost. The procurement has led for identifying and initializing for addressing many issues and being raised in the contract (Petsoulas et al., 2014). Health is taking an initiative for initialising and performing all the essential activities to ensure the superior oversight over the agreements. Issues The various issues were raised due to unclear policies and procedures made when the process was initiated. Difficulty was cause due to the issues and the Procurement delegations regarding to the Contract depending on its nature and value. The main issue was been raised on and mainly affected due to: Governance and accountability for the management of the contract was poor due to Lack of Documentation The arrangements made regarding to the fundamental contract management were not properly established. Mis-management and inefficient monitoring of the contract management plan Guidelines provided regarding the implementation of the contract were not applied properly during the implementation phase Performance was based on the Data centre availability, management of the incidence, accuracy and timely updating the configuration of the management database, accuracy in the billing (Sampson et al., 2012). Root cause of issues The main concept of the contract management and the procurement was been designed on the basis of delivering the various services and the activities. The organisation was involved with the large contracts made between the government and to the private sector that must have the continue process of doing the work well. Because of this organisation is ready and willing to provide the facilities and the services to the government. The possible benefits of the arrangements made are undeniable (Wye et al., 2015). However these services were not presented during the delivery time. Analysis on the Pre-award Issues The arrangements was made at the initial level before implementing the services was not properly initiated due to the lack of the skills which were unable to identify the necessities of the health department for having the proper usability of the computing services. There were less number of specialists and they too failed to identify and to implement the main objectives and the goal with the proper strategies and designed solution. There was no appropriate management for monitoring the contract performance and to cover the entire data centre for operating and monitoring to the sole data centre for ensuring about the disaster recovery and to the services which mainly lack in the essential capacity of the health care department. For this the earlier action was not recognised because of the undedicated management. The specialist was not in the practice when the contract was commenced (Checkland et al., 2013). The guidelines which was specified and mentioned was not followed properly during the delivery time of the services been made because the plan which was designed by the management expertise were unable to access the potential risks and mitigating the effects been made and to identify the potential risks on the basis of the recording and monitoring of the contract to the purchased IT equipments. Performance based on the inadequacy of the contract failed to the delivery of the services and to the periodic performance were mainly have the different aspects of covering the different aspects of the contract. The provision of the database was not appropriate as they were not updating the database and to store the current data into the database was failed due to the configuration was not made on time and it was not accurately accessed by the managers. The analysis was made on the inaccuracy of the billing as it was not made on the time been specified in the contract (Taylor-Phillips et al., 2014). Post-Award Issues Post award is been referred when the awards been received and the research is done on the basis of the issues been raise. It is been raised due to the bad impacts of the poor planning. The contractors ensured that they will assist the best quality of services to the organisation that complies with the terms and conditions but they intently failed to deliver because of lack of management and resources which had a bigger impact on the loss of huge costs and to the organisation budgets. Issues The Services provided by the contractors were inadequate and incapable of addressing the demands of the health care system. Lack of Inter-changeability between the system Contractors was unable to update the description of the solution by 6 months Knowledge Management was not according to the contract terms. Tracking of the assets and management was not properly managed. Analysis on the Post-award issues System design was not dedicated to perform the operations and the ability of the data centre were unable for the best practices between the data centres Development of the Specifications was essential to have the clear specifications so as to overcome from the risks of the contract disputes, cost blow outs and from the poor outcomes (Wye et al., 2015). Due to the poor documentation meant that contractors were unable to determine the extent of the various level of delivering the services regarding to the various executives level of health. Knowledge management is an integral part of the business management, it is essential that a provision is made for the knowledge management within the system; Moreover the system was not having the appropriate provision. It was not been dealt according to the specified terms and conditions during the contract time. Tracking of the organisation asset was not functionalised and even the tracking cost was not appropriate to monitor the contract expenditure on time. The analysis was also made on the tracking cost against the budget because the variations were made continuously to the cost (Gridley et al., 2012). Conclusion The organisation should be aware of the large contracts made between the government and to the private sector that must have the continue process of doing the work well. Government are unable to deliver the skills and capabilities to deliver the services. Because of this organisation is ready and willing to provide the facilities and the services to the government. The possible benefits of the arrangements made are undeniable. Generally they have the equal ratio of getting the risks and it is necessary to prevent from the risks, if it gets fail to identify the risks and to overcome from it, the potential benefits are lost. Health IT branch is managing all the operational activities so as the same things should not appear in the near future. References Checkland, K., Coleman, A., McDermott, I., Segar, J., Miller, R., Petsoulas, C., Wallace, A., Harrison, S. and Peckham, S., 2013. Primary care-led commissioning: applying lessons from the past to the early development of clinical commissioning groups in England.Br J Gen Pract,63(614), pp.e611-e619. Gridley, K., Spiers, G., Aspinal, F., Bernard, S., Atkin, K. and Parker, G., 2012. Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.Journal of health services research policy,17(2), pp.87-93. Petsoulas, C., Allen, P., Checkland, K., Coleman, A., Segar, J., Peckham, S. and Mcdermott, I., 2014. Views of NHS commissioners on commissioning support provision. Evidence from a qualitative study examining the early development of clinical commissioning groups in England.BMJ open,4(10), p.e005970. Petsoulas, C., Allen, P., Checkland, K., Coleman, A., Segar, J., Peckham, S. and Mcdermott, I., 2014. Views of NHS commissioners on commissioning support provision. Evidence from a qualitative study examining the early development of clinical commissioning groups in England.BMJ open,4(10), p.e005970. Sampson, F., O'cathain, A., Strong, M., Pickin, M. and Esmonde, L., 2012. Commissioning processes in primary care trusts: a repeated cross-sectional survey of health care commissioners in England.Journal of Health Services Research Policy,17(1_suppl), pp.31-39. Shaw, S.E., Smith, J.A., Porter, A., Rosen, R. and Mays, N., 2013. The work of commissioning: a multisite case study of healthcare commissioning in England9s NHS.BMJ open,3(9), p.e003341. Smith, J. and Woodin, J., 2011. Purchasing healthcare.Healthcare management,2. Taylor-Phillips, S., Clarke, A., Grove, A., Swan, J., Parsons, H., Gkeredakis, E., Mills, P., Powell, J., Nicolini, D., Roginski, C. and Scarbrough, H., 2014. Coproduction in commissioning decisions: is there an association with decision satisfaction for commissioners working in the NHS? A cross-sectional survey 2010/2011.BMJ open,4(6), p.e004810. Wye, L., Brangan, E., Cameron, A., Gabbay, J., Klein, J.H. and Pope, C., 2015. Knowledge exchange in health-care commissioning: case studies of the use of commercial, not-for-profit and public sector agencies, 201114. Wye, L., Brangan, E., Cameron, A., Gabbay, J., Klein, J.H., Anthwal, R. and Pope, C., 2015. What do external consultants from private and not-for-profit companies offer healthcare commissioners? A qualitative study of knowledge exchange.BMJ open,5(2), p.e006558.

PREFACE In An Extensive Article In The Summer-Autumn 1990 Issue Of Top

PREFACE In an extensive article in the Summer-Autumn 1990 issue of "Top Secret", Prof J. Segal and Dr. L. Segal outline their theory that AIDS is a man-made disease, originating at Pentagon bacteriological warfare labs at Fort Detrick, Maryland. "Top Secret" is the international edition of the German magazine Geheim and is considered by many to be a sister publication to the American Covert Action Information Bulletin (CAIB). In fact, Top Secret carries the Naming Names column, which CAIB is prevented from doing by the American government, and which names CIA agents in different locations in the world. The article, named "AIDS: US-Made Monster" and subtitled "AIDS - its Nature and its Origins," is lengthy, has a lot of professional terminology and is dotted with footnotes. AIDS FACTS "The fatal weakening of the immune system which has given AIDS its name (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome)," write the Segals, "has been traced back to a destruction or a functional failure of the T4- lymphocytes, also called 'helper cells`, which play a regulatory role in the production of antibodies in the immune system." In the course of the illness, the number of functional T4- cells is reduced greatly so that new anti-bodies cannot be produced and the defenceless patient remains exposed to a range of infections that under other circumstances would have been harmless. Most AIDS patients die from opportunistic infections rather than from the AIDS virus itself. The initial infection is characterized by diarrhea, erysipelas and intermittent fever. An apparent recovery follows after 2-3 weeks, and in many cases the patient remains without symptoms and functions normally for years. Occasionally a swelling of the lymph glands, which does not affect the patient's well-being, can be observed. After several years, the pre-AIDS stage, known as ARC (Aids- Related Complex) sets in. This stage includes disorders in the digestive tract, kidneys and lungs. In most cases it develops into ful l-blown AIDS in about a year, at which point opportunistic illnesses occur. Parallel to this syndrome, disorders in various organ systems occur, the most severe in the brain, the symptoms of which range from motoric disorders to severe dementia and death. This set of symptoms, say the Segals, is identical in every detail with the Visna sickness which occurs in sheep, mainly in Iceland. (Visna means tiredness in Icelandic). However, the visna virus is not pathogenic for human beings. The Segals note that despite the fact that AIDS is transmitted only through sexual intercourse, blood transfusions and non- sterile hypodermic needles, the infection has spread dramatically. During the first few years after its discovery, the number of AIDS patients doubled every six months, and is still doubling every 12 months now though numerous measures have been taken against it. Based on these figures, it is estimated that in the US, which had 120,000 cases of AIDS at the end of 1988, 900,000 peopl e will have AIDS or will have died of it by the end of 1991. It is also estimated that the number of people infected is at least ten times the number of those suffering from an acute case of AIDS. That in the year 1995 there will be between 10-14 million cases of AIDS and an additional 100 million people infected, 80 percent of them in the US, while a possible vaccination will not be available before 1995 by the most optimistic estimates. Even when such vaccination becomes available, it will not help those already infected. These and following figures have been reached at by several different mainstream sources, such as the US Surgeon General and the Chief of the medical services of the US Army. "AIDS does not merely bring certain dangers with it; it is clearly a programmed catastrophe for the human race, whose magnitude is comparable only with that of a nuclear war", say the Segals. " They later explain what they mean by "programmed," showing that the virus was produced by humans, namely Dr. Robert Gallo of the Bethesda Cancer Research Center in Maryland. When proceeding to prove their claims, the Segals are careful to note that: "We have given preference to the investigative results of highly renowned laboratories, whose objective contents cannot be doubted. We must emphasize, in this

Wreck, Wreak, and Other [rek] Words

Wreck, Wreak, and Other [rek] Words Wreck, Wreak, and Other [rek] Words Wreck, Wreak, and Other [rek] Words By Maeve Maddox I saw this in an article about caring for a laptop: If you store your laptop in the vehicle for any period of time, keep in mind that the extreme temperature ranges within the vehicle could wreck havoc with your laptop. Its not the first time Ive seen the word wreck substituted for wreak in the expression wreak havoc. Both words have similar origins, but in modern usage they are pronounced differently and have different meanings. wreak [reek] v. to bring about, inflict, as in wreak havoc, wreak vengeance wreck [reck] v. to cause ruin or damage wreck [reck] n. something that has been ruined The Old English verb wrecan meant to drive, drive out, avenge. Old Norse had a similar word. In Anglo-French these words evolved into a noun, wrec meaning goods cast ashore after a shipwreck, flotsam. The word reckless has a different origin. The Old English word reccan (past tense rohte) meant to care, to trouble about, heed. From it came a noun, rece meaning care. A reckless person doesnt care what happens. The word reckon comes from another OE verb spelled reccan (past tense reahte). This one meant to expound, relate. One still talks about reckoning accounts, or, in a metaphorical sense, the Final Reckoning. I reckon is a dialect expression for I guess, I suppose. Then theres reek. reek [reek] n. a bad smell reek [reek] v. to emit a bad smell The Old English word rec meant smoke from burning material. Reek acquired the sense of stench in the 17th century. So, back to the words that inspired this article: the next time you want to wreak havoc, dont wreck your credibility by misspelling or mispronouncing wreak. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Cost-Effective vs. Cost-EfficientConnotations of 35 Words for Funny PeopleHow Long Should a Synopsis Be?

American Pragmatism and Analytic Philosophy

American Pragmatism and Analytic Philosophy Pragmatism and analytic philosophy are considered to be the two famous traditions in American philosophy. Analytic philosophy started its development in the XX century and spread over numerous English-speaking countries in several years. American pragmatism is one of the tendencies, which considerably influenced the rise of analytic philosophy in the whole world. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on American Pragmatism and Analytic Philosophy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More American philosophy attracts the attention of many people and is respected by the other cultures and philosophies. Together, analytic philosophy and pragmatism become one of the most unique American movements, which differ in many ways from European philosophy at one and the same period of time and deserve recognition and respect. Charles Peirce was a father of pragmatism and presented the pragmatic maxim at the end of the 19 century. â€Å"Pragmati sm, especially in the hands of Peirce, has strong affinities with analytic philosophy and thereby prepared the ground for the latter’s favourable reception from the 1930s onwards.† (Glock 2008) It is necessary to admit that pragmatism was also contrasted with analytic philosophy and even connected to continental one. According to Peirce, pragmatism was a movement that rejected all ideas of subjectivism and underlined the importance of real effects and truth. Taking into consideration that analytic philosophy grounds on the ideas that all arguments are crucially important for people, it is quite possible to unite pragmatism and analytic philosophy and prove their power, sense, and uniqueness. The representatives of American analytic philosophy believe that they can achieve the desirable goals and comprehend the essence of this life be means of analysis of language and respect to all natural science. American people are considered to be rather practical; they prefer to u se clear and strong evidences in order to prove their points of view. In such cases, their words will be hardly called in questions, and the vast majority of people will easily accept their ideas. With the help of the ideas taken from natural sciences, their thorough analysis, and concentration of truth, American philosophers can easily present the necessary arguments and amaze the people all over the world. Lots of European philosophers consider pragmatism as the way of how Americans deal with truth, their knowledge, and evidences. They also find out a deep connection between analytic philosophy and pragmatism as they have the same goals, standpoints, and a certain connection to science. Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such intentions to grasp the truth and follow only reliable ways during life raise American philosophy considerably. Nowadays, American philosophy is assoc iated with American pragmatism that may easily criticize all traditional philosophical ideas with the help of scientific and even social developments. Lots of people still believe that â€Å"pragmatism is the only unique contribution American philosophy has made to the tradition known as Western philosophy.† (Hammer 2003) However, it is necessary to admit that without proper contribution of analytic philosophy, pragmatism will hardly achieve the success that American philosophy has nowadays. People need to believe in something, and they need to have certain concepts to rely on. This is why the traditions, offered by the representatives of pragmatism and analytic philosophy such as Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey, significance of arguments, and truth turn out to be rather unique and important for Americans, distinguish American philosophy from the other countries, nations, and their traditions, and make a lot of European philosopher respect the chosen approaches . Reference List Glock, H. J. (2008). What Is Analytic Philosophy? Cambridge University Press. Hammer, M. G. (2003). American Pragmatism: A Religious Genealogy. Oxford University Press US. Outline Introduction Main Body: Pragmatism Analytic Philosophy European Attitude to American Philosophy Conclusion

Human Resource procedures Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource procedures - Assignment Example Responding to this phenomenon, the tutor who is responsible for the Human Resource Management course of Swinburne University has tried to teach students in regard to both the theoretical and practical aspects of HR activities and processes. A series of tasks has been developed within the classroom for helping the students to understand the nature of HR procedures and their contribution in practicing HR activities. The Classroom activities related to the above course are presented below. The literature published in this field has been also employed for explaining the value of HR procedures and the challenges that a person who aims to work in this area is expected to face. Section A - HR procedures used in practicing HR activities HR procedures – overview HR procedures are partially standardized. This means that the forms of HR procedures used worldwide tend to be similar, based on frameworks and principles that have only minor differences. There is no specific definition in reg ard to HR processes. Rather, the role and the characteristics of these processes can be understood by checking their position in the context of HR management. The HR management, as a concept, has a series of functions, which are divided into categories, such as ‘political, environmental, social and so on’ (Mathis and Jackson 2010, p.6). ... Selection process The selection process has a vital role: it aims to identify the level at which a candidate is appropriate for a particular role, i.e. whether the candidate meets the requirements of a position, as these requirements have been already set using the Job Analysis Process (Armstrong 2012). The success of the selection process is depended on the effectiveness of the schemes chosen for developing the above process. Interviews are commonly used as a tool for selecting employees (Armstrong 2012). Interviews have been related to a series of advantages: a) the interviewer has the chance for a face-to-face discussion with the candidate, a condition that it is necessary in order to check the candidate’s perceptions in regard to a series of issues and to understand his readiness to identify solutions for emergent problems, as these problems can be set, as examples, by the interviewer (Armstrong 2012); b) through the interview the interviewer is able to check whether the c andidate would fit in the business environment and in the position to which the interview refers (Armstrong 2012), c) during the interview the candidate has the chance to set questions in regard to the organizational environment and the characteristics/ demands of the particular position (Armstrong 2012). However, the interview has also certain disadvantages, such as the excessive dependency on the interviewer’s skills and the risk of developing false impression for the suitability of a candidate for a specific position (Armstrong 2012). The risks to which interviews are exposed could be minimized by using structured interviews, i.e. ‘interviews based on a defined framework’ (Armstrong 2012, p.230). It should be noted that in each

Breach of Confidentiality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Breach of Confidentiality - Essay Example This means that a physician cannot reveal any information of the patient during the course of treatment unless under the patients approval. The essence of physician’s responsibility is to preserve patients’ confidentiality, and help them to be open and able to give all the information regarding their health status. This is done with the assurance that the physician will safeguard such personal information. The honest revelation by the patient provides for a proper and effective treatment of the condition. There are, however, exemptions, for instance, if a patient may hurt others or himself or herself. A breach of confidentiality refers to the revelation of the patients’ medical information to another person without the patients’ permission by a physician or medical health expert. The revelation can be electronically, through word of mouth, or through writing. Thus, the physician’s responsibility of safeguarding the patients’ medical records sometimes has to relent to the interests of the whole. Â  In Estate of Behringer v Princeton Medical Centre (1990), the late Behringer, working as a surgeon at the medical centre, suffered from AIDS. Behringer received treatment from the same hospital. His chart containing information about his diagnosis was not safeguarded at the nurses’ location on the floor where it was kept. The exposure of the information on his diagnosis revealed his medical condition, making the hospital necessitate his patients to sign a form recognizing the dangers to their health. Eventually, this resulted to the deferral of the doctor’s surgical rights (McHale, 1993). The inability of the hospital to protect his personal medical information led to Behringer’s estate suing the hospital for breach of confidentiality. The breach of confidentiality occurred in the sense that the hospital was supposed to safeguard the chart containing the surgeon’s diagnosis information. However, they instead left the chart

Ethical Theories Essay Example for Free

Ethical Theories Essay A virtue is a trait of a certain person that is valued as being good from a particular point of view and answers the question of what actions are moral and what are not. Also, morality is the basis of being ethically correct and good. There had been several different ethical theories that exist in the society and each having different standards or basis for morality. One of the well known theories in the contemporary time in the field is virtue ethics which is one of the 3 major normative ethics approaches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Virtue ethics originated in the ancient Greek times that takes inspiration from the works of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle while other theories in virtue ethics also incorporate elements from the works of Hume, Plato, Aquinas and as well as Nietzsche. Basically, virtue ethics gives importance on the character of a person.   Thus, it is the character of a person that is the key element and the basis of being good or morally correct rather than laws/rules or even the consequences or outcome brought about by a particular action.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to virtue ethics, we should look at the character of a person rather than his or her duties and actions. It is how one can be better person that is given emphasis rather than the right thing to do. It is easy to live a virtuous life according to Aristotle and that the main reason for those who do so is to be happy. Thus, a virtuous life gives happiness which is the main or ultimate goal of every human being according to virtue ethics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to become a better person, virtue ethics suggest that one must practice virtuous acts on a regular basis. These acts will eventually become habitual and thus, making the habit of doing such acts as a natural day to day activity which in the long run, will make the person a better being. Thus, the ultimate aim of the particular person is to make people happy. Virtue ethics suggests that a person living a virtuous life will eventually do virtuous things not only to be happy but as well as to make people happy which in turn will be their main objective and goal in life of a virtues person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Virtue ethics also assumes that all humans have capacities that are inherited and that, as stated earlier, actions that could improve these capacities are considered as ethical and those that hinder the improvement of these capacities are not, that is, if an action is able to develop the potential of the particular person, it is the morally right thing to do and otherwise, morally wrong. These, inherited potentials, according to ethical theories are wisdom and intelligence and so, in order to live a virtues life, we must be able to develop our wisdom and intelligence. Thus, rather than trying to define goodness or righteousness, improving one’s character is given the importance and is the basis of ethically good actions and is virtue ethics’ central theme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     By giving emphasis on the person’s being rather than actions, virtue ethics aims to achieve something that is genuinely wanted by the person rather than focusing on the incoherent ideas about the after-life which are found to be arguable. It is said that virtue ethics is applicable to all, can easily be understood and fits into both dos and don’ts of philosophies and as well as religion. Therefore, it is like a combination of both religion and philosophy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Every ethical theory suggests standards of morality and according to virtue ethics, right actions are the results of being a moral person. It is by becoming a moral person that we will eventually know what actions are righteous from what are wrong and thus, we flourished as human beings. Virtue ethics also suggests that virtue is an important and admirable human characteristic just as courage and kindness. Virtue ethics also suggests that a good society is a result and accomplishments of virtuous people in that particular community. Thus, it can be said the virtue ethics is far more different than other ethical theories present such as Consequentialism that focuses on the results of a certain actions or Deontology that focuses on certain rules and duties of every individual as set by the society. Consequentialism would ask what actions will bring the most benefit and the least harm to the persons that are involved and will be affected by the action. On the other hand, Deontology will ask what actions are approved by the society and that are accordance to the moral rules or laws as dictated by the society or culture. Still, as mentioned earlier, virtue ethics does not focus on the action itself or on the result of that action or even in the set of rules that are present in the society but rather, on the character of the person involved in making the decision. By evaluating the points of these ethical theories, it can be said that all have their own strength and as well as weak points when it comes to decision making and one cannot be considered as superior to the other. Still, taking either side will also be dependent on the points of view of the person making the decision.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One problem with virtue ethics is that it is mostly not applicable or of little help to persons who are facing dilemma. The same thing also goes for Consequentialism and Deontology.   If for example, you can save a friend by lying to a certain person or group, would lying be the action by a virtuous man or is it considered as a simple lie that a virtuous man should avoid? In this case, it can be said that virtue ethics cannot be applied and does not help the person in making a decision.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another problem faced by virtue ethics is that it cannot justify a certain problem for doing so would require a basis of what is moral. In this case, the decision on which virtues are considered morally correct and which are not are has to be made which is definitely a hard thing to do. Thus justifying certain actions based on what virtues are moral and what are not are still a big question.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the other hand, it can also be said that the one of the distinct strength of virtue ethics is that it gives emphasis on the connection between our characters and our acts. It also views our character as whole and unified rather than treating each as isolated when it comes to making ethical decisions. Thus, a person’s virtue is considered as a totality and not as fragment of different aspects and that one character/trait is not isolated from the other. Thus, virtue ethics looks at the individual, something that most ethical theories fail to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is no absolute theory that exists in which all will agree that it is definitely the right standard of living a virtuous life. Thus, every theory has its own critique and opponents. This is because of the difference in the experiences, knowledge and points of view of every individual, being unique in different ways. Thus, an ultimate theory can never really exist. The actions that must be taken by every individual defends on both his or her experiences and values together with the situation at hand and no theory will be able to solely suggest what ought to be and not be done. Therefore, decision making is not just a matter of theories and principles but of experiences, knowledge of the situation and of the people involved and the complete being of a person making the decision. Reference Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2000). Virtue Ethics. Retrieved April 28, 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/#3

Discipline As Folklore :: essays papers

Discipline As Folklore There is no need to argue whether discipline has a role in society. The types, severity, and appropriateness are debatable, but it surely serves a purpose. This applies on a global scale, with groups such as NATO and the UN, all the way down to individual households. The family unit acts as a training camp for upcoming members of a community by teaching children what is expected of them through example and discipline. Though the methodology varies from household-to-household, culture-to-culture, place-to-place; we all have had to answer to authority at some point or another. The methods and lessons passed from generation to generation are preserved in the retelling of our own experiences to one another. These stories can also serve as a badge of honor; proof that we have survived the storm and are worthy members of society. An inspection of the interview answers reveals variation between the types of punishment that disciplinarians, mostly parents, chose to use. Though not well reflected in the transcript, those who were disciplined harshly, with one exception, express that they afford their parents less propriety and do not see themselves emulating the approach of their elders. [Appendix B] It is interesting to note, however; that the offenses themselves tend to be similar. Five of the eight recorded responses list lying as a punishable offense. Disrespect or getting in taboo situations seems to be a common thread as well. The majority of respondents' share views about the intentions behind their parents' actions, more specifically, they recognize that discipline is a means for parents to "†¦teach me what they considered the right way to act - based on their moral and religious beliefs." [Appendix A: What do you think were the motives behind their actions? #2] While collecting the data, I was surprised to see how eager people were to share such private aspects of their lives. I handed out interview questions to some friends in the library (campfire) who quickly began reminiscing about childhood experiences. The conversation attracted the attention of nearby studiers and passers by who stopped to listen or throw in a personal anecdote or two. I found myself playfully competing with my interviewees over who had the most, the funniest, or the wildest stories. By telling their story, people reveal themselves. Their personality is highlighted by the kind of story they tell and the way they tell it. Explanations for an individual's behavior may become evident in a functionalist sense: 'Why I am the way I am' is explored through an expression of feelings and bottled up emotions through references of the past.

African American vs. Caucasian Americans Essay

Is Racism a Permanent feature of American Society? Derrick Bell argues in this issue that the prospects for achieving racial equality in the United States are â€Å"illusory for Blacks. Bell reminds us despite the fact of the progress of blacks in United States; the legacy of slavery has left a portion of the race â€Å"with life-long poverty and soul devastating despair†. Bell believes that race consciousness is so imbedded in whites that it is virtually impossible to rise above it. He also argues that â€Å"few whites are able to identify with blacks as a group† and tend to view blacks through â€Å"comforting racial stereotypes†. Bell feels strongly that critical and proper examination of the history of black-white relations supports his conclusion that racism is a permanent feature of American Society. Bell makes some good point about racism in the American society today. The fact that the psychical part of racism is gone does not mean that racism as permanently left American Society. The fact that racism still â€Å"exist† is does not reflect on blacks’ success any longer. Majority of whites had a head start because their generation of success goes so many years back, were as for blacks success was not allowed at a point in time. Blacks have come a long ways over the years but there is still racial discrimination that â€Å"affects† the black population. Dinesh D’Souza does not agree with Bell, he believes that racism is not a permanent Strain of fabric in the American Society. D’Souza distinguishes between racial discrimination that is â€Å"irrational, motivated by bigotry† and which is â€Å"rational from the point of view of the discriminator. † D’Souza admits that such discrimination may be harmful to individual blacks but he rejects any casual linkage between the lagging indicators of blacks’ overall progress with racial discrimination. He believes race is a diminishing force within American society, D’Souza argues that factors other than racial discrimination are the sources of lagging process toward the American Dream. D’Souza reasoning for blacks not achieving more in America is because blacks fail to observe and embrace certain cultural norms of the dominant American Society. He implies that those who are successful exhibit cultural values that promote success. He states blacks need to place a much greater emphasis on overcoming cultural barriers rather than continuing to assert that race is being held by a persistent racism that afflicts America. Black’s generation has come a long way in American Society. Racism shouldn’t be the excuse for the failure in African American success when in 1919- current we have African American first. Slavery started around 1808 and ended in 1865 due to Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation. Racism was still in effect because the fact that blacks had rights was new. Still in all there were blacks who succeed shortly after that time. Madame C. J. Walker was the first African American female who was a self-made millionaire. In 1893 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams was the first black to perform open heart surgery. In 1908 Jack Johnson was the First African-American world heavyweight Champion. In 1993 Toni Morrison was the first African-American to win the Nobel Prize for literature. In 2009 Barack Obama was the first black president of the United States, with the support of some whites. Racism still is â€Å"permanent† due to history but it is not an excuse for Blacks not becoming successful. Derrick bell major argument is that blacks are faced at the bottom of the well. Bell exclaims despite undeniable progress for many, no African American is insulated from incidents of racial discrimination. He states because of our color we are threaten through our lives, careers. Dinesh D’Souza states racism undoubtedly exists, but it no longer has the power to thwart blacks or any other group in achieving their economic, political, and social aspirations. The arguments relates to the overall theme because yes, racism still occurs but it should not pun Blacks from achieving their aspiration. Bell major point is as a Black he experiences the racism. Blacks can work in a white community and experience racism because whites fear the superiority of blacks. D’Souza points out in his argument that racism is the least bit worries blacks should have, when there are black on black crime occurring. Racism should not be such an excuse for â€Å"underclass† blacks not achieving their goals. D’Souza points out the facts where African Americans now live in a country where black man, Colin Powell, who three decades ago could not be served in restaurants, is now a Joint chief staff. Also a white man who supported the nomination of Clarence Thomas, a black man married to a white, for the Supreme Court. D’Souza question is if white racism controls the density of blacks today, how one segment of black community has prospered so much over the past generation. Some unsupported claims in bells argument was he says, â€Å"Modern discrimination is, moreover, not practiced indiscriminately. † Bell implies whites idolize black athletes and entertainers but refuse to hire and work with blacks. Bell also states whites who number individuals blacks among their closest friends approve, or do not oppose, practices that bar selling or renting homes or apartments in their neighborhood to blacks they do not know. Then in his argument he also states that most hotels and restaurants, who offer black patrons courteous treatment, uniformly reject black job applicants. Bell defense for this was â€Å"When did you last see black waiter in a really good restaurant†. These are unsupported claims because this may be true but there are no proven facts that racist is the cause of these arguments. In D’Souza arguments there were not any unsupported claims really found. D’Souza stated his arguments and had accurate information to support his defense. D’Souza makes great points and has a lot of validity in his arguments. He states if blacks are going to reform their community, they have a right to expect that they will be treated equally under law. Hypothetically speaking D’Souza implies if blacks were refused hire on every baseball team in America, blacks would suffer most because they would be denied the chance to play professional baseball. Fans would also suffer because the quality of games would diminish. He says â€Å"But what if a few team-say the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers- refused to hire blacks? † African Americans has a group would hardly suffer at all, because they would offer there service to other teams. D’Souza saying the Yankees and the Dodgers would suffer a great deal, because they would be deprived of the chance to hire talented blacks’ players. Eventually the competitive pressure would force those teams to either hire blacks or suffer losses in games and revue. Then he makes another valid point he referenced from Gary Becker pointed out, in free market, selective discrimination imposes the heaviest cost on the discriminator where it should be. Some whites will undoubtedly discriminate against blacks but with deal with them because of the law and taste for profit. *Dinesh D’Souza is an Indian American conservative political commentator, public intellectual and current president of the King’s College in New York City. He graduated from Dartmouth College, where he graduated with a B. A. in English. D’Souza also published a book in 2007 called The Enemy at home: the cultural left and its responsibility for 9/11. In his argument D’Souza used government documents, books, articles and oral very frequently. D’Souza would state his opinion and have facts and documents to support his defense. No, the reading did not significantly add to my knowledge because these are issues that has been discussed for many years. In the article I did learn some new ways of thinking of Racism. This article did broaden my thoughts with the factual evidence the authors used to support their defense. I would recommend this article to be read to those who do not have a clear understanding of the term racism. The subject that was focus on in this case study is racism a permanent feature of American Society? The case study focused on political, social and economic issues. Bell argued blacks will never gain full equality in American and D’Souza argued that blacks have equality and racism is not important issue blacks should be worried about in today society.

Lead and manage people Essay

I used to work at a fine dinning restaurant, the restaurant manager there was very good. He has very strong knowledge about how to manage people. He never being aggressive or uses any inappropriate language. He never asks someone to do the job that he doesn’t know how to do. He shows people how to get the job done efficiently. No matter what kind of issues or problems that staff have, he always is willing to help. He gains respect from people not only about his position but also his knowledge, skill as well as his personality. Also he has a strong knowledge about all the wines and the food that we were serving. He made the perfect matching wine list for the menu that impresses everyone who worked or ate there. People enjoy working with him, as he give his knowledge to everyone, as a model to teach people a better way to do things and improve the way we usually do. His encouragements made our target easier to achieve. We worked like a family, people took care of each others. I used to work at a Thai restaurant, the mission statement was to bring the authentic Thai cuisine to life and let people enjoy. In order to achieve this mission statement, we need to cook as authentic Thai food as possible as well as let the guests to enjoy the cuisine that we bring overseas. I think the statement is effective for the company. Cuisine changes as it moves overseas. People travel overseas and know how the authentic local cuisine is. They cannot find it in Melbourne because cuisine shifts then the flavour changes. Imagine if there is only one restaurant can keep the real authentic taste that would be the selling point. That’s what this business wanted and they succussed. They do actually follow the statement. They hire the chefs from Thai to train and monitor other chefs, follow all the steps to make dishes in Thai way, import all the necessary ingredients only from Thai, keep in touch with the authentic Thai cuisine, and always ask well known Thai chefs to tast e the food. I will discuss this change in both formal and informal communication ways, such as via email, staff notice board, through meeting, and face to face to talk about this change. The email and the notice board are just the tools that I want staff to know there is a change to be happening in 6 weeks. Let them to discuss themselves first, get themselves well prepare for the change, and also to establish some issues to discuss in the incoming meeting, like new color against the religion, discrimination, etc. The meeting process is to formally hand out the change and receive the feedback from staffs. It may require a bit editing or more work on to suit everyone. Last for the individual problem, I will have to discuss the problem in person and try to get a best outcome. I want to delegate the job of making sauce A to Jahn, as he is the new apprentice of the job. As well as sauce A is the dairy big job for this section. In 2 weeks time, Jahn should be able to make the sauce A without any supervision and within a very short period of time. But meanwhile, I need to guide through him all the information that he needs to make sauce A. Demonstration is necessary. When he is making sauce A, I will have to supervisor the whole process, just to make sure he follows correct procedures ensure he is able to make it by himself. Sauce A is a very complex job for anyone, therefore 2 weeks training is required. After 2weeks time, people should be able to make it without supervision. We can delegate the task but not the responsibility, therefore I still need to check the correct seasoning for sauce A from Jahn’s work, also the actual time he spends on making it. If I am not at work, then other chefs will supervisor his work as well, just to make sure he keeps his work consistence. Coaching is more than just pure training and it involves more of personal relationship over time and in many ways it is like mentoring. It makes better environment for the organisation from management to the workers together to build a better workplace in order to achieve a better result. As a chef de cuisine, I would evaluate each individual’s skill and put them in the right place, such as put someone on web design or programming if he/she is good at doing computer. Then consider the current situation to establish a plan for coaching. Well explain to members about the plan, make sure they  understand and make changes for any better leads. I will also demonstrate the task to members. I need to show members that I can complete the task better not just I can’t do it therefore I have to hand out for you guys. When there is a specific skill require for the cut, I will show them how to do it, and I am willing to help to teach them and develop their individual skill level. Teach them what is the best way to do things right here. To help them to multi-tasking from my past experience.I think I will be using ‘democratic’ and ‘Laissez-Faire’ style to coach people, they are more guider and helper kind of coaching style instead of being boss to ask around. As a learner, people is willing to learn from others especially from the one who is easy to talk to, image if your teacher is very grumpy, would you ask him/her any questions? I will ask open questions rather than close questions. It is also a good way to get the feedback from people according to their answers. The recognition and promotion are my motivation at the moment. As I just started a new chef job at a different restaurant, everything starts from fresh, humbly gaining knowledge from co-workers. I need to fit in the new working environment is the priority. Within a month period, the recognition from headchef or other chef is my motivation, learning new knowledge everyday at the same time improve myself. I can see myself is improving a better understanding of the food that I make, developing the better skill that as a chef should have, etc. Those factors create satisfaction for myself in order to achieve better position to the job as well as lead co-workers feel is good to have me on board. According to Herzberg’s motivation-Hygiene theory, they are leading to satisfaction. My motivation has changed over the past few years. When I first came to this country, I just needed a job to feed myself, therefore my motivation at that time was just money, and I didn’t care about t he quality of work environment or the skill that I could improve. Then I moved to another restaurant, also I had a fair amount of money to start with, so at that time a better working environment, better pay, better standard was my motivation. It is more like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, different stage has vary needs, as well as the motivations. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can also explain why younger people have different motivational goals than older people. At different age group,  people are tend to have very needs, those needs result different motivational goals. For example, at age 3 you may do what it takes to satisfy your parents in order to get a lollypop. But you wouldn’t do the same when you are 20. Because the lollypop wouldn’t be your motivational goal at all after you already had hundred of them.Assignment activity 7 Trust-Trust employees, headchef give new staff the opportunity to run the section him/herself. Fully delegate responsibilities to new staff without micromanaging the outcome. They feel being trusted, they will work well in a soften environment. If you always doubt the ability of employee, then they are not happy, how could they work for you. Support- Do not hide the information, give employees the information they need to get the job done. Management should make itself open for the talk regards to the employee manner or dairy issues. As well as welling to help employees to solve the problems that they are facing. Employees feel loved, then they can provide a better outcome to work for you. Facilitation- Provide a happy environment for employees to work with in order to maximize the outcome. No, I don’t think so. One of the previous restaurant that I worked, it doesn’t have a well communication system. When we say communication, it means two ways, the message from the sender to the receiver, then the feedback from the receiver back to the sender. At that place we have staff notice board and staff communication board. But they are only use to post from the top management only. No staff feedback is needed. It doesn’t work as it is only a one way communication tool, it is really hard for management to know if staff understand or award of the new ideas and so on. Within hospitality industry, two ways communication is important, well understand the message and the feedback is essential as they can improve the quality of work or service. Therefore, they should provide the feedback form for staff to fill up, management should really go down and understand what staffs really want. Email out the ideas then get the reply direct from staff may be a good way to start with. The manager at the last place that I used to work, I reckon he uses both paternalistic and democratic management styles. He understands each one of workers within the company and he talks to each one of them like family, therefore everyone calls him ‘brother’. As a ‘brother’, he takes care of each of us and releases the pressure from both workers’ family and work. He listens to people, and talks to people very gently, never use any offensive language. When there are some decisions need to be made, he always listens to all the workers’ need and try to minimize the issues would cause. Those styles were effective for him. He is happy to delegate tasks to colleagues, gaining more power by earning people’s respect. I personal believe he is a good manager as after he took over the place, the revenue was increase and less staff turnover, everyone works together like in a family.

Optioning Your Screenplay to a Producer

Optioning Your Screenplay to a Producer Congratulations! Not only did you finish writing your 120-page cinematic opus, but you have a motion picture producer interested in bringing it to the silver screen. You’re ready to sell. Ready to see your name on the back of a director’s chair. Ready to chow down on craft service while Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams deliver your prose†¦ But wait, not so fast. What’s this agreement the producer’s handed you? An option? He’s not buying it? What does this mean? Well, let’s break it down†¦ What is an option exactly? An option agreement is an industry-standard document that interested producers give writers when they’re not quite ready to buy the script, but don’t want anyone else to buy it either. Maybe they don’t have enough money yet, aren’t sure they can get it made or don’t know what the budget will be (and the budget often determines the writer’s fee). An option simply gives the producer the exclusive right to purchase the material at any time during the term of the agreement. Here’s a sample option for reference:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kpiuHbB6zUJhm1FDUq__4OrB6LeaJ25QnJvF2fM_Vrw/edit?usp=sharing What do I need to have in place before optioning my script? First, make sure the script has been registered with the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office. This is crucial for your protection and necessary for the producer to prove chain of title to the eventual studio or distributor that picks up the film. Information on copyright registration can be found here:  https://www.copyright.gov/registration/performing-arts/index.html. For added protection, you can also register it with the WGA. Lastly, if the story is based on a real-life person, make sure you’ve acquired their life rights. How long should the option term be? Options can last however long you and the producer deem appropriate. Just remember that no one else can buy the script while that producer holds the option, so it may depend on your level of trust or how badly you want to work with him. One or two years is a fairly standard initial term, and it’s not unusual to have a one-year extended term triggered How much money should I ask for? Again, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Options can be as low as one dollar or as high as $10,000. As long as there’s consideration – something of value going from you to the producer and vice versa – the option is valid. The size of the fee will likely be based on the stature of the producer and how big the expected purchase price will be, but for a typical indie, $500 to $1,000 is common for the initial term. You might also negotiate a percentage (say 5-10%) of the expected purchase price. However, remember that the initial option fee is usually applied against the purchase price; so, if the producer pays a $2,000 option fee and the final purchase price is $20,000, he only owes another $18,000 to buy the script outright. What other elements should be part of the option? You certainly want the producer to lay out terms for exercising the option, including the purchase price, your writer’s credit, the notification procedure and exactly what rights he’s acquiring (just the film rights or also sequels, television, and other ancillaries). The compensation details are perhaps the most crucial though and should reference bonuses, backend participation and, if appropriate, fees for sequels, spin-offs and remakes. If the final purchase price can’t be determined yet because the budget is still undecided, ask for a percentage of the budget with a floor (i.e., 2% of the budget with a minimum of $20,000). What are those short-form documents at the end? The short form option and short form assignment are standard addendum to any option. The short form option, which states the deal between the parties in the simplest terms, is recorded with the copyright office

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Useful Tips on Identifying Cause and Effects Each type of essay requires a particular writing style. It means that students can implement various types of writing when it comes to academic assignments. From compare and contrast papers to cause and effect essays – you need to have a clear understanding of how to write those papers whether you are a college student or professional essay writer. Cause and effect essays are among the most complicated ones when it comes to selecting a proper writing style. A few students and writers actually understand the structure of the paper. The assignment is often poorly understood. This is why we decided to put an ease on your writing process and deliver some helpful tips out of the box. What is the cause and effect essay? The first thing we need to do is to define the term itself. It will make it easier to understand the paper as well as the way it should look like. The paper is about different things that take place in our daily lives and their outcomes. The things are the cause while the outcomes appear to be effects. The main mission is to highlight the skills to provide a strong connection between things and their outcomes. Students are supposed to stress logical links and evidence to those connections. To make the things clearer, the cause explains why the event takes place. For example, the water boils at 100 degrees. The temperature is the cause while the boiling water is the event. Everything looks pretty simple, doesn’t it? The main problem all students face is to identify the effect and the cause. Once you clearly see the difference, the writing process is no longer a challenge. The high temperature is the cause resulting in the boiling water. It explains why the event takes place and under what conditions. No other factors will result in the same event. You may discuss possibilities but eventually prove the cause with the one and only statement that is true. A cause and effect essay may look similar too argumentative paper. The idea is to provide evidence to prove the statement. Make sure you provide enough evidence to establish a strong argumentation of the cause. Having doubts at some point of writing is natural. Never hesitate to ask yourself questions: Why does it happen? What will happen if? It will let you explain the event and the effect. What structure should a cause and effect essay have? The writing process should start with a clear outline and proper structure. Both features are the core points of the paper. They will define the general success of the assignment. You should choose a structure according to the subject. It may consist of each separate factor that results in the event. Or you can discuss them in general dividing into steps and stages. Structure 1 – Several Events, Single Effect The structure consists of multiple causes that result in a single effect. It should contain core points like introduction and conclusion in addition to 3-4 paragraphs deepening on the number of causes. Each paragraph should describe a particular event. Structure 2 – Single Event, Several Causes Vice versa. We have a single event that may result in several effects. The structure is actually the same as the previous one. The only difference is that paragraphs should describe causes, not events. Structure 3 – Casual Chain or Domino Effect This particular structure is the best bet whenever you have a single event that results in a single cause. At the same time, the cause is not a final destination of the process, as it may lead to another effect and so on. In other words, we have the domino effect that consists of various paragraphs describing the next stage. Cause and effect writing tips Once you have developed a clear outline, you only have to follow each step. The writing process is no longer a challenge. Make sure you strictly follow the plan and provide strong enough evidence and links. Now you have to highlight your acknowledgment of the topics. Make notes and use brainstorming to generate as many ideas as possible. Sort out the strongest ones and describe them in particular paragraph. Start with a powerful introduction that defines the core issues of the paper. End with a conclusion highlighting the key points in a short summary.

Mahatma Gandhi Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mahatma Gandhi - Coursework Example Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is usually addressed as Mahatma Gandhi, "Mahatma" meaning "Great soul". He led India through its struggle to independence and has been rightfully called the "Father of the nation" or "Bapu, meaning Father" in India. He was a great visionary and in his thoughts and actions were far ahead of his times. He lived his life for his principles of simple living and high thinking. He wanted to follow "satya" or truth and ahimsa or non-violence. In a world of crimes and death rows, he showed that spirituality and a deep concern for his fellow beings a can achieve a lot through the toughest of odds. In the Times Magazine, year 2000 Johanna McGreary, writes that, "In an age of empire and military might, he proved that the powerless had power and that force of arms would not forever prevail against force of spirit." Times magazine had nominated him as the runner up for the "Person of the Century". Gandhiji's autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth" makes gripping reading and one cannot but be amazed at the humble beginnings and simple circumstances which has led to the shaping of this great soul who served as a documented inspiration for celebrities like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa, and Aung San Suu Kyi. Set in the time frame of the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's it targets multiple audiences, which are riveted towards it for the different facets it presents. It walks us through his innocence childhood, youthful discrepancies and an emerging maturity as he sees the world and takes in the sufferings and the steeled principles, which eventually sees him, triumph. He is never at a loss for words because it's just a narration of the happenings in his life, his inspirations, both people and events, and a will to impart his education and knowledge to the readers. His autobiography is very simply written and starts honest account of what how his life began. He was born in Porbunder in 1869 on October 2nd. He was the youngest of three brothers. He was born in to a traditional, religious "Vaishnavite " family meaning a particular caste bound by specific religious beliefs and cultural codes. His father was a strict but very well respected "Divan" or official in the administration and was young Gandhi's role model. His mom is portrayed as a very religious person who put herself through fasts and saintly austerities and accepted every hardship as a will of god and did not flinch when things didn't go according to plan. Young Gandhi states that two of the most inspiring events in his life happened during his childhood.One of his first memories is the reading of a book about 'Sharvan", a son who stuck to taking care of his parents with unerring devotion and care. He was enamored by this fact and the proof that he imbibed it well is that when his father is bed ridden later in his life he was one of the prime nursing aides: even in his young age, he is supposed to have forgone time at the gym in order that he rushes home to be at his father's side. But at the same time, he also feels very badly when he spends time with his

The SNOW Mountain Hotel, Human Resource Management Essay

The SNOW Mountain Hotel, Human Resource Management - Essay Example The paper discussing different types of marketing approach using human resources management. Also, it represents internal and external drivers of the business partner model. The models internal drivers are majorly cost control. The organization makes great cost savings through a shared resource management base. It is also driven by the need to harmonize the various departments with the overall business strategy and goal. This ensures that the company maintains a steady trend of growth towards the present and future objectives of the organization. The model is also is implemented as a solution to a business need and as such it helps in solving the human resource problem such as the fire-fighting condition facing Snow Mountain Resort’s human resource department. The model operates as a solution to the problem of resource allocation. Form the external end, the model is driven by the need to provide uniformity in the level of quality accountability and professionalism in the deliv ery of services. Snow Mountain Resort is one among a stream of hotels of its nature and the customer associates the level of service of each of the hotels with the name. As such it important to ensure that the standard that is set by the company is maintained across all the hotels that affiliates with the name. The theory is also driven by modernisation especially in the face of technological development and the introduction of virtual management as an administrative option. This makes the reality of resource sharing more realistic. Value to the Business According to (Price, 2011), the adoption of the model presents certain value based issues that go to the approach and actual integral bottom line performance and productivity impact. Like the various other practical human resource models, the business partner model requires a particular set of skills from its proposed

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Final Exam - Essay Example Like men make no effort to prevent war and genocide, people need to increase public understanding (Cooper 2009). It is primarily because of men’s effort that war deaths declined so dramatically in the second half of the last century. Similarly, in her book The Girl with the Brown Crayon Vivian Paley represents black child, five year aged Reeny, and has the last say on what is good. In this light, there are important lessons that we discover from Paley’s pedagogy of equality when the reality that children along with teacher do not look alike introduces an obstacle to effectual instruction or an opportunity for teacher development. Paley clearly admires and teaches from Lillian Tully, an African American teacher, whose childhood stories in the segregated South form the core of her pedagogical approach. Any examination of Vivian Paley’s pedagogy of equality must give a well-known responsibility to her compositions as either a black children or white teacher, reflect ing the time Paley spent. Live The most Romantic Music Art chronicle that continues and discontinues from the classical to Romantic styles in art and music are found in live. As in the case in point, live describes how issues associated with romanticism, nationalism and environmentalism, have continued to be part of contemporary Western civilization’s intellectual heritage (Cooper 2009). Classical, romantic and contemporary music was a living organism both dynamic and diverse. Furthermore, music stretched from work songs and spirituals to protest commercial hillbilly and race recordings. Those who engaged in the art, therefore, believed in recording music that transformed access to authentic folk song. Part of a set of folklore is breathing, developing and changing thing, and a folk song sang through words and tunes, only symbolizes its exceptionally static fashion of a myriad-voiced reality of individual songs. It brought out a people’s way of life. The basement activ ities in which bands and crews were killing resulted in the most fascinating pieces of art. In fact, in the course of their preparation time, they thought that nobody will be concerned with hearing what they had prepared, but they were amazed to hear people singing part of their songs in holding hands and acting as the motivator for their freedoms (Cooper 2009). What individuals could hear, within this context, were the songs as they exist on the lips of the folk singers. Even as, Frederic Chopin promoted classical, romantic, and contemporary music as an ever-evolving genre, the entertainers insisted at the same time on the goal of authenticity. In performance style that meant the painstaking mastery of the skills displayed by the little-known geniuses on his library of congress recordings, but it also implied a level of commitment, an emotional investment. In my opinion, Frederic Chopin performing these pieces saw music as a living organism both dynamic and diverse. Furthermore, mu sic stretched from work songs and spirituals to protest commercial hillbilly and race recordings. The entertainers, with regard to the subject matter, believed in recording music that transformed access to dependable songs. At a quick glance, it appears that the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on rationalism, and Romanticism, with its stress on emotions, is

Reusability of Code Essay Example for Free

Reusability of Code Essay Designing a code can often take a lot of time, depending on the complexity of the coding. This is why code reusability has become a standard when it comes to computer programming. But to understand why you would reuse code, you need to understand what goes into creating code. This essay will compare and contrast procedural programming modules and objects. Also, it discuss the security terms in hiding code, passing of data versus data encapsulation, code reuse in more than one program, and how object-oriented methods are similar to procedural modules. According to Gaddis (2010) there are two methods of programming that are primarily used: Object-oriented and Procedural. Procedural programming is more focused on creating procedures; object-oriented programming is focused on creating objects. When dealing with procedures, the data items are separate from the procedures. Gaddis (2010) says this can cause problems, but at the same time it will help the program become larger and more complex. But where procedural programming separates code and data, object-oriented programming handles it through encapsulation and data hiding. Encapsulation takes an object and combines data and code into it. Data hiding makes it possible to hide code in the inside of an object from the code outside of the object. An object normally hides its data, but leaves the methods available for access. Gaddis (2010) states, â€Å"When an object’s internal data is hidden from outside code and access to that data is restricted to the object’s methods, the data is protected from accidental corruption.† There is also no reason to worry about formatting of the code inside the object, just the methods of the object. If you want to reuse codes, the best way to do it is to create modules. They let you duplicate code in a program so that you can execute whenever you  need the service. The Microsoft website (What Is Reusable Code?, 2013) says that code reusability can be used if the code doesn’t have to modified, and can perform a specific service regardless of what the application uses it. It just can be too complex of a code. Just as we use standards in everyday life, there are standard code that is used with computer programs. Venit and Drake say (2011) that inheritance goes along with code reusability. Inheritance takes the methods and attributes from old classes and uses them in new ones. In conclusion, there are different aspects between object-oriented programming and procedural programming. These two methods have different ways of functioning within a program. And as long as a code isn’t to complex, code reuse is very possible. References Gaddis, T. (2010). Starting Out with Programming Logic Design (Second Edition ed.). Addison-Wesley. Microsoft. (2013). What Is Reusable Code? Retrieved from msdn.microsoft.com: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa189112(v=office.10).aspx Venit, S., Drake, E. (2011). Prelude Programming Concepts and Design (Fifth Edition ed.). Addison-Wesley.

An Analysis of the Legality of Abortion :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

An Analysis of the Legality of Abortion In Abortion and Social Justice, Dennis Horan, J.D. et alii argue "The Legal Case For the Unborn Child": Abortion is not a private matter. The destruction of human life, even 'incipient' or developing human life in the womb, can never be considered a private matter under our law. The contention that it is a private matter would be too ludicrous and absurd to even argue were it not so often put forth under such intellectually impeccable auspices. Would those civil libertarians who argue that abortion is a private matter, argue that the exercise of civil rights is purely a private matter between the Black man and the man that thwarts them? Certainly not. Just as the civil right to vote must be protected by law, so too the most fundamental and basic of all civil rights - the Right to Life - must be protected by law.(105) In her book, Abortion and Dialogue: Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, and American Law, Ruth Colker explains why Roe v. Wade is considered an "activist" decision: Second, it [Roe v. Wade]set the tone for how activist the Court would be in our lives. Rather than simply rule for the plaintiff in Roe v. Wade, thereby invalidating the challenged Texas abortion statute, the Court outlined the parameters of a constitutional abortion statute. In other words, the Court drafted a model statute rather than simply striking down the Texas statute. Such judicial involvement in legislative activity is considered to be highly activist because the Court, in a sense, is displacing the legislature's role in society. Such activisim is often criticized for interfering with legislative dialogue, because the judiciary, an undemocratic institution, has substituted its judgment for that of the legislature. (102) Former president Ronald Reagan in his book, Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation, states how the Roe v. Wade decision is a violation of the Constitution: Make no mistake, aboriton-on-demand is not a right granted by the Constitution. No serious scholar, including one disposed to agree with the Court's result, has argued that the framers of the Constitution intended to create such a right. Shortly after the Roe v. Wade decision, Professor John Hart Ely, now Dean of Stanford Law School, wrote that the opinion "is not constitutional law and gives almost no sense of an obligation to try to be." Nowhere do the plain words of the Constitution even hint at a "right" so sweeping as to permit abortion up to the time the child is ready to be born.

Reaction Paper on Prejudice and Discrimination

The world that we live in today, although improving, is tainted with cruelty and hatred toward different races. Usually, we have stereotypes about people who are members of groups with which we have not had firsthand contact. We regularly make these stereotypical generalizations based on experiences we have had ourselves, seen in movies or television, read about in books and magazines, or have had related to us by family and friends. Though all these are equally significant roots for the stimulation of stereotypes, media however, is a giant force.When thinking of the topics or behaviors of prejudice and stereotyping, I synonymously think of the movie â€Å"Crash,† which exposes different kinds of social and multicultural differences, giving a quick example of how these conducts can affect a society. These behaviors are viewed as thoughts and feelings that almost everyone has felt more than once. In the first scene of the movie, a  Muslim  man inside a firearm store is atte mpting to buy a gun. The owner is a white Caucasian male that presents a negative attitude towards the customer because of his Muslim background.This feeling triggers in the owner, negative attitudes based on the assimilation and stereotypes with the Muslim race. Being immediately associated with the Al Qaeda terrorist group, which was responsible for suicidal bombers that have killed thousand of Americans. This negative attitude and violence observed in this particular scene, is an example of prejudice, known as a negative feeling and predisposition of behavior towards a group or any member belonging to that group.This is an issue not only found in America but in the whole world. In our  global  economy requiring functional and respectful relationships between nations, prejudice and stereotypes can be a destructive force both in the world and in individual societies, especially in diverse ones. Acting on ones hatred can lead to behavior to what we now in days call â€Å"hate c rime†, such as in the scene where they break into the Muslim's man business and vandalize the place completely.Such acts can lead us to many disgraces even death. This movie shows us the different point of view of people in our society, it gives us an insight of the stereotypes we have build within our society, within the world. It invites us to see and understand how such a small stereotype and negative attitude can go a long way and affect people in different ways. Prejudice is found between gender, religion, cultural, geographical background, and race.People have discriminated against others based upon these attributes. Besides, prejudice is largely a function of ignorance. Today, there are so many different people in this world that stereotypes are almost always incorrect, as many people choose not to be followers, but to be individuals. Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, and all other ethnic groups need to look past each other's physical characteristics and start looking inside a person to see who they truly are.After all, personalities do not lie on the outside of one's body, but in one's mind. I believe that society needs to raise today's children to accept all people, no matter what they do or do not believe in or what color skin they may have. In order to reduce prejudice and discrimination, it is considered that education for children is very important. For example, exchange student program that includes not only the one between different countries but also the one between different communities within the same area.If children are raised around people who are not the same as they are in school or community, then they will most likely not think anything different of people who do not look the same as them or believe what they believe. If humanity raises their children to believe all people are equal from the beginning, then prejudice will slowly disintegrate over time. The world needs to focus on not judging people before they kno w them for who they are. It is very important to let children have opportunity to know the differences and to be interested in differences because ignorance is the biggest source of prejudice

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Nine

â€Å"Well, at least I didn't get taken over,† Bonnie said. â€Å"But I'm sick of this psychic stuff anyway; I'm tired of the whole thing. That was the last time, absolutely the last.† â€Å"All right,† said Elena, turning away from the mirror, â€Å"let's talk about something else. Did you find anything out today?† â€Å"I talked with Alaric, and he's having another get-together next week,† Bonnie replied. â€Å"He asked Caroline and Vickie and me if we wanted to be hypnotized to help us deal with what's been happening. But I'm sure he isn't the Other Power, Elena. He's too nice.† Elena nodded. She'd had second thoughts about her suspicions of Alaric herself. Not because he was nice, but because she had spent four days in his attic asleep. Would the Other Power really have let her stay there unharmed? Of course, Damon had said he'd influenced Alaric to forget that she was up there, but would the Other Power have succumbed to Damon's influence? Shouldn't it be far too strong? Unless its Powers had temporarily burned out, she thought suddenly. The way Stefan's were burning out now. Or unless it had only been pretending to be influenced. â€Å"Well, we won't cross him off the list just yet,† she said. â€Å"We've got to be careful. What about Mrs. Flowers? Did you find out anything about her?† â€Å"No luck,† said Meredith. â€Å"We went to the boardinghouse this morning, but she didn't answer the door. Stefan said he'd try to track her down in the afternoon.† â€Å"If somebody would only invite me in there, I could watch her, too,† Elena said. â€Å"I feel like I'm the only one not doing anything. I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused a moment, considering, and then said, â€Å"I think I'll go by home-by Aunt Judith's, I mean. Maybe I'll find Robert hanging around in the bushes or something.† â€Å"We'll go with you,† Meredith said. â€Å"No, it's better for me to do it alone. Really, it is. I can be very inconspicuous these days.† â€Å"Then take your own advice and be careful. It's still snowing hard.† Elena nodded and dropped over the windowsill. As she approached her house, she saw that a car was just pulling out of the driveway. She melted into the shadows and watched. The headlights illuminated an eerie winter sight: the neighbors' black locust tree, like a bare-branched silhouette, with a white owl sitting in it. As the car roared past, Elena recognized it. Robert's blue Oldsmobile. Now, that was interesting. She had an urge to follow him, but a stronger urge to check the house, make sure everything was all right. She circled it stealthily, examining windows. The yellow chintz curtains at the kitchen window were looped back, revealing a bright section of kitchen inside. Aunt Judith was closing the dishwasher. Had Robert come to dinner? Elena wondered. The yellow chintz curtains at the kitchen window were looped back, revealing a bright section of kitchen inside. Aunt Judith was closing the dishwasher. Had Robert come to dinner? Elena wondered. Elena wished she could see more than just her aunt's profile in the flickering light of the TV. It gave her a strange feeling to look at this room, knowing that she could only look and not go in. How long had it been since she realized what a nice room it was? The old mahogany whatnot, crowded with china and glassware, the Tiffany lamp on the table next to Aunt Judith, the needlepoint pillows on the couch, all seemed precious to her now. Standing outside, feeling the feathery caress of the snow on the back of her neck, she wished she could go in just for a moment, just for a little while. Aunt Judith's head was tilting back, her eyes shutting. Elena leaned her forehead against the window, then slowly turned away. She climbed the quince tree outside her own bedroom, but to her disappointment the curtains were shut tight. The maple tree outside Margaret's room was fragile and harder to climb, but once she got up she had a good view; these curtains were wide open. Margaret was asleep with the bedcovers drawn up to her chin, her mouth open, her pale hair spread out like a fan on the pillow. Hello, baby, Elena thought and swallowed back tears. It was such a sweetly innocent scene: the nightlight, the little girl in bed, the stuffed animals on the shelves keeping watch over her. And here came a little white kitten padding through the open door to complete the picture, Elena thought. Snowball jumped onto Margaret's bed. The kitten yawned, showing a tiny pink tongue, and stretched, displaying miniature claws. Then it walked daintily over to stand on Margaret's chest. Something tingled at the roots of Elena's hair. She didn't know if it was some new hunter's sense or sheer intuition, but suddenly she was afraid. There was danger in that room. Margaret was in danger. The kitten was still standing there, tail swishing back and forth. And all at once Elena realized what it looked like. The dogs. It looked the way Chelsea had looked at Doug Carson before she lunged at him. Oh, God, the town had quarantined the dogs, but nobody had thought about the cats. Elena's mind was working at top speed, but it wasn't helping her. It was only flashing pictures of what a cat could do with curved claws and needle-sharp teeth. And Margaret just lay there breathing softly, oblivious to any danger. The fur on Snowball's back was rising, her tail swelling like a bottle brush. Her ears flattened and she opened her mouth in a silent hiss. Her eyes were fixed on Margaret's face just the way Chelsea's had been on Doug Carson's. Margaret's face just the way Chelsea's had been on Doug Carson's. But the snow, settling like a blanket around her, seemed to deaden the words into nothingness. A low, discordant wail was started in Snowball's throat as it flicked its eyes toward the window and then back to Margaret's face. â€Å"Margaret, wake up!† Elena shouted. Then, just as the kitten pulled back a curved paw, she threw herself at the window. She never knew, later, how she managed to hang on. There was no room to kneel on the sill, but her fingernails sank into the soft old wood of the casing, and the toe of one boot jammed into a foothold below. She banged against the window with her body weight, shouting. â€Å"Get away from her! Wake up, Margaret!† Margaret's eyes flew open and she sat up, throwing Snowball backward. The kitten's claws caught in the eyelet bedspread as it scrambled to right itself. Elena shouted again. â€Å"Margaret, get off the bed! Open the window, quick!† Margaret's four-year-old face was full of sleepy surprise, but no fear. She got up and stumbled toward the window while Elena gritted her teeth. â€Å"That's it. Good girl†¦ now say, ‘Come in.' Quick, say it!† â€Å"Come in,† Margaret said obediently, blinking and stepping back. The kitten sprang out as Elena fell in. She made a grab for it, but it was too fast. Once outside it glided across the maple branches with taunting ease and leaped down into the snow, disappearing. A small hand was tugging at Elena's sweater. â€Å"You came back!† Margaret said, hugging Elena's hips. â€Å"I missed you.† â€Å"Oh, Margaret, I missed you-† Elena began, and then froze. Aunt Judith's voice sounded from the top of the stairs. â€Å"Margaret, are you awake? What's going on in there?† Elena had only an instant to make her decision. â€Å"Don't tell her I'm here,† she whispered, dropping to her knees. â€Å"It's a secret; do you understand? Say you let the kitty out, but don't tell her I'm here.† There wasn't time for any more; Elena dived under the bed and prayed. From under the dust ruffle, she watched Aunt Judith's stocking feet come into the room. She pressed her face into the floorboards, not breathing. â€Å"Margaret! What are you doing up? Come on, let's get you back in bed,† Aunt Judith's voice said, and then the bed creaked with Margaret's weight and Elena heard the noises of Aunt Judith's fussing with the covers. â€Å"Your hands are freezing. What on earth is the window doing open?† â€Å"And now there's snow all over the floor. I can't believe this†¦ Don't you open it up again, do you hear me?† A little more bustling and the stocking feet went out again. The door shut. Elena squirmed out. â€Å"Good girl,† she whispered as Margaret sat up. â€Å"I'm proud of you. Now tomorrow you tell Aunt Judith that you have to give your kitty away. Tell her it scared you. I know you don't want to†-she put up a hand to stop the wail that was gathering on Margaret's lips-â€Å"but you have to. Because I'm telling you that kitty will hurt you if you keep it. You don't want to get hurt, do you?† â€Å"No,† said Margaret, her blue eyes filling. â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"And you don't want the kitty to hurt Aunt Judith, either, do you? You tell Aunt Judith you can't have a kitten or a puppy or even a bird until-well, for a while. Don't tell her that I said so; that's still our secret. Tell her you're scared because of what happened with the dogs at church.† It was better, Elena reasoned grimly, to give the little girl nightmares than to have a nightmare play out in this bedroom. Margaret's mouth drooped sadly. â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"I'm sorry, sweetie.† Elena sat down and hugged her. â€Å"But that's the way it has to be.† â€Å"You're cold,† Margaret said. Then she looked up into Elena's face. â€Å"Are you an angel?† â€Å"Uh†¦ not exactly.† Just the opposite, Elena thought ironically. â€Å"Aunt Judith said you went to be with Mommy and Daddy. Did you see them yet?† â€Å"I-it's sort of hard to explain, Margaret. I haven't seen them yet, no. And I'm not an angel, but I'm going to be like your guardian angel anyway, all right? I'll watch over you, even when you can't see me. Okay?† â€Å"Okay.† Margaret played with her fingers. â€Å"Does that mean you can't live here anymore?† Elena looked around the pink-and-white bedroom, at the stuffed animals on the shelves and the little writing desk and the rocking horse that had once been hers in the corner. â€Å"That's what it means,† she said softly. â€Å"When they said you went to be with Mommy and Daddy, I said I wanted to go, too.† Elena blinked hard. â€Å"Oh, baby. It's not time for you to go, so you can't. And Aunt Judith loves you very much, and she'd be lonely without you.† Margaret nodded, her eyelids drooping. But as Elena eased her down and pulled the bedspread over her, Margaret asked one more question. â€Å"But don't you love me?† Oh, stupid, stupid, Elena thought, forging through the banked snow to the other side of Maple Street. She'd missed her chance to ask Margaret whether Robert had been at dinner. It was too late now. Robert. Her eyes narrowed suddenly. At the church, Robert had been outside and then the dogs had gone mad. And tonight Margaret's kitten had gone feral-just a little while after Robert's car had pulled out of the driveway. Robert has a lot to answer for, she thought. But melancholy was pulling at her, tugging her thoughts away. Her mind kept returning to the bright house she'd just left, going over the things she'd never see again. All her clothes and knickknacks and jewelry-what would Aunt Judith do with them? I don't own anything anymore, she thought. I'm a pauper. Elena? With relief, Elena recognized the mental voice and the distinctive shadow at the end of the street. She hurried toward Stefan, who took his hands out of his jacket pockets and held hers to warm them. â€Å"Meredith told me where you'd gone.† â€Å"I went home,† Elena said. That was all she could say, but as she leaned against him for comfort, she knew that he understood. â€Å"Let's find someplace we can sit down,† he said, and stopped in frustration. All the places they used to go were either too dangerous or closed to Elena. The police still had Stefan's car. Eventually they just went to the high school where they could sit under the overhang of a roof and watch the snow sift down. Elena told him what had happened in Margaret's room. â€Å"I'm going to have Meredith and Bonnie spread it around town that cats can attack, too. People should know that. And I think somebody ought to be watching Robert,† she concluded. â€Å"We'll tail him,† Stefan said, and she couldn't help smiling. â€Å"It's funny how much more American you've gotten,† she said. â€Å"I hadn't thought about it in a long time, but when you first came you were a lot more foreign. Now nobody would know you hadn't lived here all your life.† â€Å"We adapt quickly. We have to,† Stefan said. â€Å"There are always new countries, new decades, new situations. You'll adapt, too.† â€Å"You'll learn, in time. If there is anything†¦ good†¦ about what we are, it's time. We have plenty of it, as much as we want. Forever.† † ‘Joyous companions forever.' Isn't that what Katherine said to you and Damon?† Elena murmured. She could feel Stefan's stiffening, his withdrawal. â€Å"She was talking about all three of us,† he said. â€Å"I wasn't.† â€Å"Oh, Stefan, please don't, not now. I wasn't even thinking about Damon, only about forever. It scares me. Everything about this scares me, and sometimes I think I just want to go to sleep and never wake up again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In the shelter of his arms she felt safer, and she found her new senses were just as amazing close up as they were at a distance. She could hear each separate pulse of Stefan's heart, and the rush of blood through his veins. And she could smell his own distinctive scent mingled with the scent of his jacket, and the snow, and the wool of his clothes. â€Å"Please trust me,† she whispered. â€Å"I know you're angry with Damon, but try to give him a chance. I think there's more to him than there seems to be. And I want his help in finding the Other Power, and that's all I want from him.† At that moment it was completely true. Elena wanted nothing to do with the hunter's life tonight; the darkness held no appeal for her. She wished she could be at home sitting in front of a fire. But it was sweet just to be held like this, even if she and Stefan had to sit in the snow to do it. Stefan's breath was warm as he kissed the back of her neck, and she sensed no further withdrawal in Stefan's body. No hunger, either, or at least not the kind she was used to sensing when they were close like this. Now that she was a hunter like he, the need was different, a need for togetherness rather than for sustenance. It didn't matter. They had lost something, but they had gained something, too. She understood Stefan in a way she never had before. And her understanding brought them closer, until their minds were touching, almost meshing with each other's. It wasn't the noisy chatter of mental voices; it was a deep and wordless communion. As if their spirits were united. â€Å"I love you,† Stefan said against her neck, and she held on tighter. She understood now why he'd been afraid to say it for so long. When the thought of tomorrow scared you sick, it was hard to make a commitment. Because you didn't want to drag someone else down with you. Particularly someone you loved. â€Å"I love you, too,† she made herself say and sat back, her peaceful mood broken. â€Å"And will you try to give Damon a chance, for my sake? Try to work with him?† â€Å"I'll work with him, but I won't trust him. I can't. I know him too well.† â€Å"I followed Mrs. Flowers today.† Stefan's lip quirked. â€Å"All afternoon and evening. And you know what she did?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Three loads of wash-in an ancient machine that looked like it was going to explode any minute. No clothes dryer, just a wringer. It's all down in the basement. Then she went outside and filled about two dozen bird feeders. Then back to the basement to wipe off jars of preserves. She spends most of her time down there. She talks to herself.† â€Å"Just like a dotty old lady,† said Elena. â€Å"All right; maybe Meredith's wrong and that's all she is.† She noticed his change of expression at Meredith's name and added, â€Å"What?† â€Å"Well, Meredith may have some explaining to do herself. I didn't ask her about it; I thought maybe it was better coming from you. But she went to talk to Alaric Saltzman after school today. And she didn't want anyone to know where she was going.† Disquiet uncoiled in Elena's middle. â€Å"So what?† â€Å"So she lied about it afterward-or at least she evaded the issue. I tried to probe her mind, but my Powers are just about burnt out. And she's strong-willed.† â€Å"And you had no right! Stefan, listen to me. Meredith would never do anything to hurt us or betray us. Whatever she's keeping from us-â€Å" â€Å"So you do admit that she's hiding something.† â€Å"Yes,† Elena said reluctantly. â€Å"But it's nothing that will hurt us, I'm sure. Meredith has been my friend since the first grade†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Without knowing it, Elena let the sentence slip away from her. She was thinking of another friend, one who'd been close to her since kindergarten. Caroline. Who last week had tried to destroy Stefan and humiliate Elena in front of the entire town. And what was it Caroline's diary had said about Meredith? Meredith doesn't do anything; she just watches. It's as if she can't act, she can only react to things. Besides, I've heard my parents talking about her family-no wonder she never mentions them. Elena's eyes left the snowy landscape to seek Stefan's waiting face. â€Å"It doesn't matter,† she said quietly. â€Å"I know Meredith, and I trust her. I'll trust her to the end.† â€Å"I hope she's worthy of it, Elena,† he said. â€Å"I really do.†