Friday, December 27, 2019

The Intervention of the Judicial System in Violence...

The Intervention of the Judicial System in Violence Against Women Women in this country have been a part of violence for an enormous amount of time. This violence includes pornography, rape, and even domestic violence. The United States judicial system has intervened into the so-called private sphere and eradicated women in society, providing precedent and even updating statutes as well as other types of legislation. Without intervention women may still have no rights as human beings and the victims of much worse violence. Not to say that the violence that comes about is not extremely painful and an obscene amount of torture for women, but without our judicial system to minimize some of these violent acts would be in total chausses.†¦show more content†¦The last act of violence discussed will be domestic violence. Why women stay in relationships where they are being battered and abused? All of these acts of violence are dangerous and put lives in danger. The judicial systems intervention may not stop all of these horrible incidents but may protect the lives of those who wish to be protected. Although there are exceptions to every rule, depending on the type of porn and in what manner it is presented or acted out determines how violent it is perceived. According to Andrea Dworkin, ?Words alone, words and pictures, moving or still, creates systematic harm to women in the form of discrimination and physical hurt.? Although this may be true there are some women who have actually chosen this profession for pleasure and enjoy this type of industry. As we know pornography is legal and is considered freedom of speech, written in the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. There are two levels of speech, speech and non-speech. The courts recognize ?speech? as being protected and hold it to the highest level of scrutiny, but as for ?non-speech? rational basis is implemented. Unprotected speech consists of ?fighting words.? Also obscenity is unprotected speech. The whole reason we protect speech is part of us and therefore recognized as knowledge. Pornography has been considered as spe ech unless children areShow MoreRelatedIssues with Domestic Violence Essay1408 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic violence is a complex issue that plagues society regularly. Judicial systems all over the United States have attempted to create regulations to protect victims of domestic abuse. Furthermore, scattered scarcely throughout the United States are non-profit and small organizations which attempt to supplement the judicial protection with additional resources. Nevertheless, domestic abuse seems to be much bigger than any services these systems can maintain. Victims of domestic violence sufferRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women815 Words   |  4 Pagesrecent data available from 2015, it was disclosed that nearly 92,000 Canadians had report to the police an incident related to domestic violence; of this number, 80% of them were women (Burczycka, 2017). It is then no surprise that intimate partnership violence has been found to be one of the major causes of violence agains t women in Canada (Ministry of the Status of Women, 2015). Many agencies focus on supporting directly the female victims and providing them with secured shelters and safe spaces toRead MoreDomestic Violence As A Victim Of Domestic Abuse1686 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Although we lost Ellen Pence, a woman who changed how domestic violence is addressed, in 2012, there are many lives that are being saved to this day because of her work. Ellen Pence found her calling in 1977 when she began working for the Minneapolis Housing Authority that helped individuals relocate with housing complications (StarTribune, 2010). It was then that she immersed herself through domestic violence cases and set the standard for addressing these cases. Ellen Pence is especiallyRead MoreForms Of Violence Against Women1210 Words   |  5 Pages Forms of Violence Against Women Introduction In Pakistan, women live in a confined world that is structured by family, tribal, and religious customs. As such, women are subjected to not only violence but also discrimination on a daily basis. This has been brought about by the interpretation of Islam, the main religion in the country, which views women as persons needing maximum protection. This consequently leads to their oppression emotionally, physically, and mentally. They face various formsRead MoreSex Offenders And Sexual Offenders Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagessexual offence make up approximately 20% of prison population in New Zealand (Nadesu, 2011). In 2005, there were 703 in total apprehensions of sexual assaults committed against children 16 years and under in New Zealand. Since then there has been a rise with total of 1029 apprehensions recorded in 2014 (New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2015), thus may be a reason as to why there has been such interest around child sexual offenders in criminology. Further more, sexual offending tends to beRead MoreDomestic Violence And Immigrant Women1274 Words   |  6 PagesThe student documentary video regarding domestic violence and immigrant women highlighted a significant health and a human right problem all over the world. Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, male-development, or deprivation† (WHO 2002:4). AccordingRead MoreThe Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Adults Sexual Behavior1521 Words   |  7 Pagestheir own terms. Survivors may also struggle to set boundaries that help them feel safe in relationships (The National Center for Victims of Crime, 2015). 28 to 33% of women and 12 to 18% of men were victims of adolescent or childhood sexual abuse (Long, Burnett, Thomas, 2006) . According to the National child abuse and neglect data system, an estimated 9.3 percent of confirmed or substantiated child abuse and neglect cases in 2005 involved sexual abuse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Read MoreDomestic Violence Against Men and Women1449 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic Violence against Men and Women Sandra Marable Kaplan University CM-220 Professor Freiteg May 20, 2013 Whenever the thought of domestic violence comes to mind, more than often the visual picture is a women or a child. However, there is another side that has been ignored because it is pushed under the rug. The unfortunate fact is that men are the victims of domestic violence at least as often as women are. While the very idea of men is being beaten by their wivesRead MoreHow Domestic Violence Affects Children As Well As The Mental Health Of Its Victims1744 Words   |  7 Pagesextensive overview of the research topic. This chapter will provide a historical background on domestic violence, a historical perspective of the services provided and an overview of different forms of domestic violence. The goal of this literature review is to examine the statistical information that is presented as it relates to domestic violence. This literature review will also reveal how domestic violence affects children as well as the mental health of its victims. In addition, this chapter will includeR ead MoreKeny A National Leader Of National Unity1699 Words   |  7 PagesUnprecedented violence broke out in many parts of the country immediately Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity (PNU) was declared the winner of the presidential poll and sworn in on 30th December 2007. The violence escalated as the leader of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila Odinga, immediately rejected the outcome of the poll. Such violence had never occurred in Kenya before and it had devastating consequences. The violence, commonly referred to as Post-Election Violence (PEV), continued

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Compare and Contrast Essat Nathaniel Hawthornes Young...

compare and contrast essay Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Good man Brown and Thomas Wolfes The Child By Tiger @@@@@ ENGL: Literature and Composition 2011 Robert James Tebow 15 December 2011 Introduction: I. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and Thomas Wolfe’s short story â€Å"The Child by Tiger† show glaring similarities in many parts of each stories structure. Even though these stories were set in different time periods and different cultures, there is unity in their conflicts, themes, and author’s purpose. a. In Hawthorne’s piece the basic conflict arises early in the story, this is Goodman Brown’s choice to either join in the satanic activities or maintain his puritan beliefs. b.†¦show more content†¦l. Wolfe chooses to surprise the reader in his story, when one day Dick goes on a shooting rampage killing many people. By doing this he also showed how quickly someone can snap. Hawthorne’s style of writing is unique when compared to Wolfe’s because the conflict arises quickly and is at the forefront throughout. With the conflict constantly on the mind of the reader one can relate to Goodman Brown and sympathize with his disappointing conclusion. IV. Conclusion m. By reading these two stories in comparison one can extract the unison in theme, conflict and each author’s purpose. While these two stories are surrounded by different cultures and premise, they both clearly show society dictating a single person’s choices and what can come of them. 15 December 2011 @@@@@ Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and Thomas Wolfe’s short story â€Å"The Child by Tiger† show glaring similarities in many parts of each stories structure. Even though these stories were set in different time periods and cultures, there is unity in their conflicts, themes, and author’s purpose. In Hawthorne’s piece the basic conflict arises early, this is Goodman’s choice to either join in the satanic activities or maintain his puritan beliefs. Brown meets the devil in the forest unknowingly, after he realizes he has been following the devil for some time he then sees his old bible teacher Goody Cloyse, and

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

In Lord of the Files the story is in piling you are up lifted with compassion and concern for the children Essay Example For Students

In Lord of the Files the story is in piling you are up lifted with compassion and concern for the children Essay In Lord of the Files the story is in piling you are up lifted with compassion and concern for the children. The boys realize they are no longer in a place they would call home but in area that would seemly be described has the wilderness. The reason is because they were engulfed in sand that surrounded them, which lead to the mouth of the forest. These very boys realize they have some growing up to do, in the way they are going to encounter many obstacles ahead that other wise would seem in possible to deal with if they cant work together. This introduction is describing Civilization vs. Survival. The theme will set the tone were the motifs will support the main motive completing the story. On a deserted island a social formation has taken form. This social form is the Conch Shell it represents the communication with in the tribe this shell was the motif that set the stage in the play and from their the on fronted for control and greed. The shell is also a discipline tool for anyone who holds it. If anything happens to the shell this civilization, which they have instituted, will crumble and will continue to go down until there is nothing else left. PP. 10-18 Ralph is seen has the leader but lacks the ability of Piggy intelligent. Ralph doesnt like the fact he is begin disenfranchise by his own group and has a result this child endure the pain he lives in a world driven by fear and but has scent to bounce back from a hard time because his own group start to take order from another character in the story. PP. 2-46, 58-70 When Ralph is begin disowned by his own organization choose to compare him to Martin Luther a priest who believed that writing the bible in away that shows that everyone can understand what is begin written would help people get closer to God but many people had other ideas concerning the writing of the text which had different meaning towards other who challenge his idea writing. Roger is compared to the devil. The reason is because he thinks out a plan to c atch his victim then he waits to devoir them whole. This individual showed a physical and mental change during the time in which he plans to kill Simon . The way he kills him shows what type of character he has and what is his motive for doing it. He was a murder who wanted to make his present now throughout the tribe and the dishonestly that took an apart a socialize community. PP. 62- 72,149-155 Simon is compared to Jesus because he shows that helping others brings about change in side of you. When Simon finally dies his death is not remember like Jesus who rose again three days later instead Simon death brought pain so you see the dilemma between the two. Simon was the good guy he was a peacemaker who wanted good and understood the price it took to get it. PP. 7-12, 58-62, 150-155 The analysis information shared in the story and how I use the theme and the motif describes the feelings I have toward the story and the writer. My theme described the human nature and how your surroundings can affect you, but if you arent prepared for uncertain situations that are cause by your surroundings numerous amounts of damage can occur and finally this theme explains why the kids had to grow up so fast. My motifs compare the characters life style to important people throughout history and how they show their similarities and their difference.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Power Transmission Essays - Electric Power, Electrical Engineering

Power Transmission CHAPTER 1. GRID SYSTEM Power Transmission in a country is usually done through what is known as a Grid System. The Grid System consists of extensive interconnected transmission network supplying the whole country. Its supply from a small no. of very large and highly effective power stations. The basic network is usually 132kHZ. For a very high industrialised nation they use 275,475,800,1250 kV. Most consumers receive supplies from medium voltage distribution system of 3.3kV, 415V, 240V. For heavy industry consumer they may be supplied with 11 or 33kV. The generators produce electrical power at 11kV / 25kV and it is stepped up by using a step- up Transformer (X'mer) to a value of 132kV before it is transmitted. The receiver station will step - down the voltage to a value of 33kV at various distributions centres. Generating station 11kV / 25kV Step up X'mer 25kV / 32kV Sending station. Step down X'mer 132kV / 33kV Receiving station. Step down X'mer 33kV Heavy Industry. Step down X'mer 11kV Light Industry Step down X'mer 3.3kV Substations Step down X'mer 415V/ 240V Consumer fig. 1, Single Line Diagram . THE PURPOSE OF THE GRID SYSTEM. The purpose of the grid system is to maintain a secure supply of electricity at a standard voltage and frequency to consumers throughout the country. Having stated its purpose, we can now list several advantages that have resulted from its introduction: 1. security of supplies; 2. standardisation of frequency and voltages; 3. economy; 4. the ability to transmit very large loads for considerable distance without loss; and 5. the ability to transfer electricity to and from different parts of the country and to step up / down the voltages using X'mers (Transformers). 6. Easy way to convert A.C to D.C but the reverce is expensive FUNCTION OF THE GRID SYSTEM. In order to fill its purpose, The grid system must function in the following way. The National Grid Control Centre in association with the various grid control centres around the country, estimates the load required in different areas each day. This information is then used to arrange to purchase the countries power depending on the demand. In this way stations are used to their maximum efficiency, which in turn reduces the cost of generation. Due to the fact that the system is interconnected, bulk supply points can be fed from other areas, should a failure of the usual supply occur. DISADVANTAGES OF A.C TRANSMISSION:- 1. Skin effect - cable losses. 2. Heavy losses hence efficiency is reduced. 3. For high voltage higher harmonics are produced, hence it interferes with communication lines. SYSTEM LAYOUT OF A GRID. 3- f (PHASE), 4 WIRE SYSTEM . Vph = phase voltage VL = Line Voltage IL = Line Current Iph = Phase Current FOR STAR CONFIGURATION ( Y). VL= 3 Vph IL = Iph OB = 3 . OA 2 OB = OA 3 2 ? OC ? should be twice the value of ? OB ? , Hence OC = 2 x OA 3 2 OC = OA 3 VRY = OA 3 VL = 3 Vph FOR DELTA CONFIGURATION ( ) IL = 3 Iph VL = Vph If 3 loads are identical in every way i.e impedance and phase angle. Then the current in the 3 lines would be identical the resultant current returning down the neutral would therefore be zero. The load in this case is know as a balanced load. In actual practice its hard to find it exactly balanced. Hence the neutral wire is left to carry the leftover current. The advantages of this system compared with both a single phase and 3 phase 6 wire system is like this. Suppose 3 identical loads are to be supplied with 200A each. The 2 lines for a single phase would carry a total of 600A.. This conductor (C.S.A) would only need to be 1/3 that of single phase system but being 6 lines it would still be the 50mA current of conductor material. Hence the conductor saves an increase in the 2nd case where in the 1st case if the proper cable selection is not used overheating of the cable occurs, this will later result in a short circuit. POWER DISSIPATION IN STAR AND DELTA 3 - PHASE CONNECTION. P = VI Pph = Vph.Iph Pph = Vph . Iph [ Cos q] P3 - f = 3 Vph Iph Cosq

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Sun Also Rises - Betrayal Essays - English-language Films

The Sun Also Rises - Betrayal In the novel The Sun Also Rises , written by Ernest Hemingway the main character Jake, makes a decision to introduce the woman he loves to a young bull fighter. Jake makes this decision very much against the will of Montoya, which leads to the betrayal of both Montoya, Pedro Romero, Mike and himself. Jake does this because he is unconditionally committed to Brett, and is willing to do whatever necessary to bring her happiness, even if it is only temporary. Jake's first reaction to the news that Brett is interested in meeting and spending time with Romero is one of negativity. He learns of this from his friend Montoya and tells him not to give Romero the message. He does not think that it would be a good idea for Brett to have anything to do with Romero, and does not want him to receive the message that invites him to have coffee with their group. At this point it is clear that both Jake and Montoya do not approve of this proposed encounter. Montoya fears Brett will corrupt Pedro Romero and Jake is jealous of the possibility of them having a relationship. Jake's decision to introduce Brett and Romero ultimately leads to the greatest betrayal in the novel; the betrayal of himself. He betrays himself because he is unconditionally devoted to Brett, and her happiness. He is so in love with Brett that he will do anything for her even it means hurting himself. He is driven by the reality of his physical impotence and therefore gives up on Brett, although in his heart he will always love her. The last remark in the novel is very important in making us see how Jake ultimately betrays himself. He says "yes I said isn't it pretty to think so?" He is being sarcastic when he says this, he seems to have come to a realization that he stubbornly holds on to, that he and Brett will never work out because he can not have sexual relations with her. Brett thinks that maybe, just maybe they could work it out, but Jake kinda gives up on himself, betrays his true feelings, and throws away his possibility of a relationship he always wanted with Brett but was impossible. There is also a betrayal of pedro Romero. Jake betrays Romero and thus breaks the aficinado code. The code, almost like a code of chivalry has somewhat of an accepted theme which includes a loyalty to fellow aficinados, and looking out for their best interest. Jake breaks this accepted theme when he acts as an accomplice in getting the two of them together. Jake knows that Brett will corrupt the young bullfighter and thus betrays the bullfighter. Again he does this for his love of Brett, because he will do anything to make her happy. Jake also betrays Mike. Although they do not really get along, he should respect Mike and his plans of marriage to Brett, but he does not. He ruins Mikes chances with Brett when he helps get Brett and Pedro Romero together. To betray is to commit treason against; to be a trader. To be false or disloyal to. When using this definition of betrayal it is safe to say Jake betrays many in the novel as well as himself. In this story Jake is forced with a decision that will change a great deal of his life. His decision, ultimately costs him a good friendship, and takes away the respect that Montoya once had for him. It also ruins the chance that he might have had with Brett. He does this consciously and unselfishly without hesitation.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How campaigns effect the environment essays

How campaigns effect the environment essays The environment plays a large role in the way campaigns are run. Businesses are greatly affected by what politicians decide to do about the environment. Environmentalist groups are large and powerful groups. Campaigns must juggle issues between these two groups. Many Americans think it a stretch to put cans and bottles in a separate container for the garbage trucks recycling. Few are willing to pay more for oil to save gasoline; SUVs seem like Americas chariots (Gov In America p. 601). Attempts to control air quality or limit water pollution often affect political choices through their impact on business, economic growth, and jobs. And although Americans may be generally in favor of doing something about the environment, specific proposals to limit suburban growth, encourage carpooling, and limit access to national parks have met with strong resistance (p. 601). Ultimately, campaigns must answer to the demands of businesses and environmentalists Politics puts oil and energy at the forefront of its agenda. Americas oil is running low. Less and less of it comes from Americas own wells. About 60 percent of the oil we use comes form other nations; more and more of it comes from countries in the Middle East (p.601). And because the Middle East is amid turmoil, it is not a reliable and sure fast source of the oil that runs American society. Campaigns are going to make sure that oil is readily available because their voters need their energy to live. The United States has about 2 percent of the worlds oil, but uses more than a quarter of it (p. 607). Campaign reforms of the 1970s encouraged the spread of political act committees, generally known as PACs (p. 287). The 1974 reforms created a new, more open way for interest groups such as business and labor to contribute to campaigns. Any interest group can now get into the act by forming its own PAC to directly channel contribution...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Environment - Essay Example Its upscale class image and competitive prices attract customers looking for value for money. Like its main industry rivals, the company has business interests in banking and property development, two sectors that have been hit hard in the current economic recession. Sainsbury’s is older than its rivals and used to be the biggest and the most profitable, but management missteps some fifteen years ago allowed its rivals to surpass it, Tesco in 1995 and Asda in 2003. In a 2004 management revamp, a new CEO, Justin King, revitalised the business by refocusing on meeting the increasingly fickle and demanding needs of its customers, offering better products at affordable prices. The four-year Making Sainsbury’s Great Again (MSGA) Plan launched in 2004 exceeded expectations and a new plan, From Recovery to Growth, was crafted for the period 2007-2010 to build on the company’s recovery to expand and drive further growth. These ambitious plans were designed to combine ongoing improvements in boosting operational efficiency to develop a better experience for its customers (Annual Report 2008: 7-10). The new plan focuses on five strategic goals: offer great food at fair prices, accelerate the growth of complementary non-food ranges, reach more customers through additional channels, grow supermarket space, and active property management. Through its aggressive marketing strategies, information technology leadership, and clear grasp of the needs and wants of its customers, Sainsbury’s target is to catch its next largest rival, Asda. Given the current challenging economic environment, Sainsbury’s is confident that it has a good management team in place ready and able to execute on its plans with a high degree of success (Annual Report 2008: 11). Share prices (Appendix) of Sainsbury’s (LSE: SBRY) went up from 279.25p on 1 December 2008 to 319.25p as of 6 April 2009, an increase of around 14% for the quarter, which is

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Proposal - Essay Example ed to this are an increase in competition marketing cheaper imported goods; competitors using modern, and therefore more catchy business practices; and improved systems and methods to help to decrease their costs and the constantly changing demands of modern consumers, as well as a major depletion of customer awareness. The difficulties currently hampering QLG is that if they do not take immediate action, they will only be faced with more decreases in market share and profitability. We must also be prepared for continual losses of important and highly skilled staff members, as well as deterioration in the overall business performance and profitability. Our proposal outlines a progressive five stage process to address the objectives as identified by Queensland Leisure Group executives during the consultation process. These five stages will create positive change in a number of key areas: Business model change: QLG needs a flatter, more functional business structure which will reduce labour costs and increase flexibility to help them respond more quickly to the rapidly changing external environment, Following the analysis that we, NAHN Consulting, have completed, we have prepared this proposal for you which we believe will provide you with the guidance, tools and support that will greatly improve your current performance. We have forecast an improvement of 5% increase in your Net Profit in 2011 followed by a further 10% in 2012 based on the implementation of our proposed changes. It is also our firm belief that with these improvements you will increase your ability to attract and retain key talented staff members which will reduce costs associated with recruitment and training of new staff. The value to your organisation in meeting these objectives includes improving the overall productivity level and decreasing the costs of manual labour. In addition, the enthusiasm of human capital will be greatly increased, and employees will be more pleased, which will lead

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management Essay

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management - Essay Example Other cultures seek a more sensitive leader with empathetic and charismatic personalities and strategies. Not just related to cultural dynamics, I must understand the state of employees (as well as myself) if I am go build trust and confidence in my decision-making processes. This is why I felt to discuss my strength as a leader in relation to cultural sensitivity and awareness. I understand that most organizations have diverse populations of workers that hail from different ethnic, regional and just general lifestyle cultures. All of these individuals have differing beliefs, values and attitudes that must somehow find harmony when working with others in group settings. Fairholm (2009) describes the transformational leadership model, one in which a shared vision and mission must be established, where the leader role models desired behaviours, and also opens effective lines of communication. In order to provide any meaningful feedback or direction, others have to trust in my judgment. As a transformational leader, I must get the whole organisation on board with a singular vision. Having an understanding of the foundational concepts of long-term orientation, individualism, collectivism, and other important characteristics of diverse employees is highly valuable in understanding how to approach certain cultures. In a collectivist organisation, which is the goal of the transformational leadership model, people appreciate and find personal identity through group membership and social belonging (Hofstede, Hofstede and Minkov 2010; Hofstede and Hofstede 2005; Hofstede 2001). I realise it will be necessary for this type of culture to focus on group rewards, establishing collective rewards, and also promoting better socialisation among tacit and explicit knowledge holders. Understanding both the emotional states of others and their cultural values will assist in develop cohesive vision direction and promoting better work group outcomes. Whilst also providing strengths, I must be critical of my weaknesses. One of these is an inherent ethnocentrism, a belief in the superiority of my own cultural values. Even though I understand the needs of others, I am sometimes frustrated when what I view as over inter-dependency occurs between organisational members. I do not personally have much of a need for the social condition and belonging within the organisation since I trust in my own competencies and maintain very positive self-esteem. I have reached the self-actualisation stage of development, one that is highly motivated to succeed and do not require the affiliation nearly as strongly as others. Now, achievement is considered a significant strength in leadership. An achievement-minded leader gets intrinsic self-satisfaction from excellence in a task and reaching a standard of excellence (Kirkpatrick and Locke 1991). However, this over-confidence in my own abilities sometimes translates into frustration or disappointment for those who have not yet achiev ed the type of confidence that I have earned through experience. This is apparent in my body language, if not my words. It is something I must work on: finding balance between ethnocentrism, self-confidence and finding empathy for others that require more social approvals to build their self-esteem. A quality-focused leader must appeal to the needs of employees by first motivating and then inspiring followers (Kotter 2001). I have another strength which is excellent communication skills,

Friday, November 15, 2019

Types of Assessment and Evaluation

Types of Assessment and Evaluation Assessment and evaluation has become critical issues especially in the field of teaching and learning; it requires watchful consideration by every teaching practitioner in any educational institution. This is also the area where many teachers sink into the pool of confusion. But it has its key function, which is to collect information on the achievement of every individual student and judge their everyday progress. In other words, it serve vital role in the process of effective teaching and learning. Therefore, this essay will explain my understanding of assessment and evaluation from the perspectives of development, formal, informal, special needs, and standards in brief. However, to do this, we first need to define assessment and evaluation. The word assessment is derived from the Latin word assidere meaning to sit beside. It is obvious that simple tone of this phrase is soothing, and it suggests mutual confidence and understanding. So, it indirectly tells that existence of positive association between assessment and the process of teaching and learning in schools is necessary. By and large, assessment is a process of collecting information relative to some identified aims and objectives involved with students progress and achievement in the process of teaching and learning. More specifically, classroom assessment refers to the process of gathering, recording, interpreting, using and communicating information about their progress and achievement during the development of knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes. According to Lloyd-Jones and Bray (1986) assessment is referred to the process in which certain quality of a students education is measured, by the teacher, an examiner or the student.   It is means to measure worthiness of students performance.   Assessment, therefore, involves much more than testing. It is an ongoing process that encompasses many formal and informal activities intended to examine and improve teaching and learning in all areas of the curriculum. On the other hand, evaluation  is more or less defined as the process of judging relative merit, value, or worthiness of educational programs, or techniques by using realistic information generated through assessment. It helps in updating the nature and degree of learning; plays pivotal role in curricular decision making; and it favour better links between learning, and the aims and objectives of teaching. Moreover, it creates strong bond between learning and the environments in which learning takes place. Therefore, in educational setting, assessment and evaluation seeks evidence that the learning activities designed for students are effective. Assessment and Evaluation from the perspective of development Why do we assess and evaluate? This is the first question that knocks in my mind whenever I look assessment and evaluation from an angle of development. Generally, teachers plays vital role in developmental assessment and evaluation of students learning and programs for many reasons: Firstly, assessment and evaluation help teachers and student affair administrators to enhance their understanding of the needs of a persistently varying student population. In addition, it will help in identifying developmental delays in students and to develop strategies for intervention. For that, I would prefer to use the concept of integrated model of child development. It is because the model covers up all developmental areas such as sensory, behavioural, language, motor, perceptual, social cognitive and emotional skills. So it can also be used to improve holistic development of students as a student, self, and valuable citizen of the nation as it reflects their personality as well as their degree of achievement in the field of learning. Secondly, assessment is also meant to develop efficient educational institutional plans and policies to meet students developmental needs and learning styles. They are crucial for advancing the quality and easy accessibility of programs and services. Thirdly, we cannot avoid its greatest contribution in curriculum development. Through assessment and evaluation, we will be able to help curriculum developers for deciding how we might improve courses and programmes. At the same time, as a teacher we can contribute in doing revision on curriculum, course materials, teaching methodologies, etc. It is because assessment results can specially provide a potent rational for securing scaffold for curriculum changes, development and review. Formal and Informal Assessment and Evaluation A formal assessment is also sometimes known as summative assessment. And it is generally assessed in the form of quiz, test, or paper and is graded based on how well student is able to perform. A summative assessment is normally carried out at the end of unit or module. Furthermore, formal assessments are categorized into criterion-referenced tests and norm-referenced tests. Criterion-referencing is assessment based on certain criterion or principle, and norm-referencing is graded assessment based on the comparisons of learners achievement against one another from time to time. I prefer more of criterion referencing method than norm-referencing because it can be used to judge students achievement and progress on a series of key criteria set based on reasonably expected learning outcomes and objectives. Whereas, norm-referencing is based on the hypothesis, that a more or less similar range of human performance can be anticipated for any student group. On the other hand, Informal assessment is referred as formative test, and it is a continuous process of assessment and evaluation. Feedback plays vital role here as it allows both learners and teachers to evaluate learning and spot out the areas for improvement. But which one could be the best form of assessment, formal or informal? In my opinion, the use of informal assessments is best for the overall learning. It facilitate teachers to assess students through a range of classroom-based activities, identify students weakness then and there and start work for the improvement, rather than waiting at the last minute like informal assessment. Assessment and Evaluation for special needs students Students having problems such as: motor, linguistic, cognitive, behavioural, organizational, speech and physical disabilities are usually referred as special needs students, and it also includes gifted students. They should not be left out without normal education. Special arrangements or special needs accommodations should be offered to them in order to pursue their academic goals and achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency. Similarly they also need to be evaluated and identified their strengths, weaknesses and give guiding principles to make effective progress in attaining their academic goals. Other than teachers and peers, students family should involve in it. So, I feel that, by building an alliance with their parents; obtaining students developmental history and current family experience; and discussing issues with them would help greatly for addressing challenges in guiding special needs students to succeed like other normal students. Moreover, evaluation will be holistic and addresses all aspects of functioning. For that we should not forget to take students individual learning styles into account as all students do not have same learning capability and ways. Sometimes students with special needs are integrated in regular classrooms because the main idea of assessment and evaluation in this field itself is to see whether a student is able to adapt, make progress and met objectives in normal class like normal students. Assessment indicates whether the student learned the materials intended and what are some of the drawbacks areas to be improved. So schools and teacher must give all students an equal opportunity to education. Infect, they should provide counteractive assistance to special needs students. Never the less, we as a teacher, in order to select education program and activities suitable for our students, we must carefully evaluate our options and consider the specific needs of our disabled students. Standards based Assessment and Evaluation Here, it includes two types of educational standards, a content standard and a performance standard. A content standard defines the knowledge, concepts, and skills acquire at each grade level, while performance standard state the level of performance that is considered acceptable aligning to the benchmark set by the teachers. Standards-based assessment and evaluation is meant to identify students with different pace and capabilities in learning, so that we can design strategies to help them and make all of them achieve and master to the level that they are required to retain certain benchmark in learning. Understanding Standardized Test and its characteristics is necessary when we discuss about assessment and evaluation from the perspective of standard as it is one of the instrument required in standard assessment and evaluation process. Range of knowledge and understanding in specific subject is being assessed through standardized testing on students. And it is a snapshot in time where assessments are administered and scored in the same way for all students. For example, multiple-choice questions and written responses to be answered within a given time frame are examples of standard test. That means students are not allowed to use outer resources or references in order to complete the test. Their performance on these tests decides whether they will be promoted or not from one grade to the next. And this is what almost every school district now administers it. However, it is important for us not to get confused of Standardized tests with the standards movement, which approve definite grade-level content and performance standards in main subject sphere. Frequently, regulated uniform tests are not associated with state and district content standards, and these causes noticeably lose of connection between what is being taught and what is being tested. So as a teacher we have to process our teaching according to the curriculum. The standard evaluation will enable other school improvement plan and projects, and to bring advance changes in curriculum and pedagogy, and incorporation of new assessments. So standardized assessment and evaluation is uniformly regulated test which it refers to when every student at a particular grade level has to undergo the same test with same question, at same time frame in same year throughout the country. In the nutshell, we would find that the descriptions given in above paragraphs are all views from different perspectives constructed by hypothesizing the both special needs students and normal student as an active in structuring their own learning in the context of social interaction; role of educational institutions and teachers in establishing the childs stage of development in any aspect of learning, and that information collected through various assessment and evaluation methods will then be used to scaffold the next learning and curriculum development.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Joe and the Juice

Ind. Competence. Joe and the juice: Franchise – you pay royalty every month, whether you earn or not – You use the name. The concept have to be good and proved. Of course you need a lot of money to invest, because the main firm does not give a single penny for your business. When you see a concept that people like you have to carry on this wave. Partnership is not like franchise . There is no real influence with the concepts. You have to stick to what all think is a good idea. You got limitations. You can choose how to look like but you still get limitations about the main concept.Fremtiden – future : restaurant business is to rely the personnel. How you adapt different stores to different market? – number of personnel is different depending on how busy they are. Adjust the music, take best employees to make sure the new place is working good, adapt to peoples behaviour. Try to learn from mistakes and take much more time before you open a stoer, so you can know what the locals are and you can adapt to them. . Scandic hotel To give people away from home the feeling of being home. They run the hotels, they do not own them.Promises and missions are part of any hotel chain. People skills are vital and training is vital. Team members should speak their mind and discuss. More sales are more service. Self-service is no service, it is ignorance Customers pay grants for emotions. Every business has a potential. Brand is much more than a logo type. Brand platform needs to be relevant to the customers. It is an explanation to who we are. People away from home need warm and nice atmosphere and friends. Caring, casual, creative – these are the values of Scandic.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Balanced Scoreboard

Firstly, financial element is an organizational element which aims at examining whether implementation and execution of company’s organizational strategy are equally contributing to company’s improvement. It is characterized by measures which assess whether the company is able to manage its costs and operations. For Accounting Firm financial element is very important for enhancing performance because it helps to manage revenue growth, profit margins, net operation income and cash flows.Secondly, customer element aims at defining the value proposition to satisfy customers and to generate more sales. This element is used to measure the delivered value, costs and outcomes – for example, market share or customer satisfaction. In Accounting firm customer element will enhance operational performance, product leadership, customer satisfaction and intimacy. Thirdly, internal process element or perspective aims at creating and delivering the value proposition of customers .The task is to concentrate on key activities and processes to provide value expected by the customers the most effectively and productively. Short-term and long-term objectives are incorporated. In Accounting Firm this element is of great help for developing innovative processes and stimulating further company’s improvement. Internal process assists in improving asset utilization, establishing good relations with external shareholders, etc.Finally, element of learning and growth aims at founding any effective strategy which will concentrate on intangible assets, internal skills and capabilities necessary for value-creating internal process. Human capital, information capital and organizational capital are involved. This element plays important role for Accounting firm as it stimulates improvement in learning, decreases short-term financial loses and contributes to long-term development. References Cobbold, I. & Lawrie, G. (2002). The Development of the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management Tool. USA: Performance Measurement Association.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region

The Top Jobs in the U.S. Mountain Plains Region if you’re looking for a career change (or a change of scenery!), here are some of the fastest-growing jobs for 2016 in the mountain-plains part of the unites states. per the u.s. bureau of labor statistics, this region includes colorado, kansas, missouri, montana, utah, and wyoming. when you hear the lines, â€Å"o beautiful for spacious skies,/for amber waves of grain,/for purple mountain majesties/above the fruited plain!† in â€Å"america the beautiful,† chance are you’re thinking of u.s. heartland states like the mountain-plains region. once known for its prairie spirit, the region’s population is growing as the former frontier cities turn into (or grow their existing status as) major hubs.tech job outlook: technical support specialistsutah and colorado might be better known for mountain vistas and film festivals, but cities like provo and fort collins are fast becoming booming tech communities, with companies like hewlett packard, intel, and nu merous startups staking a claim. as technology companies expand operations in the region, tech support specialists are in high demand. these specialists help customers and companies troubleshoot computer software and equipment, and are often the front lines of defense when tech goes wrong.a bachelor’s degree is frequently required, but some openings require an associate’s degree or specialized classes. the median salary for these support specialists is $50,380 a year, with a faster-than-average 12% growth expected.administrative job outlook: actuaryactuaries are an essential part of many industries, but especially the insurance field. they use statistics, math, and financial theory to forecast financial risk, make predictions for their company, and then plan how to minimize that risk.the actuarial field usually requires a bachelor’s degree and offers on-the-job training for new hires. the median salary is $96,700 per year, with robust expected growth of 18%.othe r jobs like data entry specialist are easy to find, but not as much potential in term of promotion and learning.logistics job outlook: truck driverper an npr poll in 2014, the most common jobs in missouri in 1978, 1996, and 2014 were truck, delivery, and tractor drivers. that consistency doesn’t seem likely to shift soon- this region is a hotbed of distribution activity, and this trend will keep on truckin’ in 2016 and beyond.the median salary for truck drivers is $38,200, and the field is expected to grow by at least 11% by 2022.healthcare job outlook: emts and paramedicsthere are often shortages of qualified medical personnel, and no career path sees that as much as front-line emergency medical technicians (emts) and paramedics. these vital professionals offer emergency care for illness and injury, and are often the first responders in a variety of emergency situations.demand for these emergency workers is expected to increase by at least 24% in the coming years, and the median salary is $31,700. if you thrive on high-pressure situations and aren’t squeamish at the sight of blood, this can be a very strong career choice.service job outlook: nanny/childcare workeras the number of households with both parents working continues to increase, so do the needs for quality childcare. this field is especially trending in urban areas, as families look for alternatives to traditional daycare options. nannies and childcare workers are responsible for the daily care of children, and in cases of individual family employment, may also help run the household on a daily basis. the median salary is $28,000, with 5-10% growth anticipated in the coming years.so remember: while you’re seeking out those fruited plains and purple mountain majesties, there are many promising career options available to you.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Evolution Vs. Creation

03-03-02 Evolution vs. Creation. it has been a widely controversial issue widespread over the United States. We have a right as students and as parents to be taught creation and have creation be taught to our children if that is what we choose. Most of us did not have a choice in grade school to be taught creation in our Biology classes. We had to sit through being taught that evolution, (as a fact), was the way we came about, which could easily confuse a child because at home and at the church that some parents took their children to taught them creation. Shouldn’t we have the right for cirricullium to also include creation? I am now old enough to realize that I do not have to believe what my College Biology Professor teaches about evolution, but that does mean that I have to like it. I remember being in my high school biology class, and when we got to the chapter on evolution, I did not want to pay any attention to it because I did not believe in it. It is different being a child who is very impressionable, to be in an elementary Biology class and the teacher is teaching that we all came from monkeys, but offers no other explanation of how we got here when parents are teaching them at home something completely different. Parents have the right for their children to be taught creation if that is what they choose. It is the parents who agree with creation that also pay taxes that go toward school funding. According to David Greising of Business Week; nearly half of all Americans reject Darwins theory evolution, so that would be half of the tax payers also. Some states have already started a growing trend of teaching other theories. According to Michael Lemorick of New York TIMES, the school board of Hall County Georgia ruled that teachers must put forward a variety of theories on the origin of life, not just evolution. Started in fall of 1996, Alabamas text books must include a disclaimer inserted, stating that evolution is a ï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Evolution Vs. Creation Free Essays on Evolution Vs. Creation 03-03-02 Evolution vs. Creation. it has been a widely controversial issue widespread over the United States. We have a right as students and as parents to be taught creation and have creation be taught to our children if that is what we choose. Most of us did not have a choice in grade school to be taught creation in our Biology classes. We had to sit through being taught that evolution, (as a fact), was the way we came about, which could easily confuse a child because at home and at the church that some parents took their children to taught them creation. Shouldn’t we have the right for cirricullium to also include creation? I am now old enough to realize that I do not have to believe what my College Biology Professor teaches about evolution, but that does mean that I have to like it. I remember being in my high school biology class, and when we got to the chapter on evolution, I did not want to pay any attention to it because I did not believe in it. It is different being a child who is very impressionable, to be in an elementary Biology class and the teacher is teaching that we all came from monkeys, but offers no other explanation of how we got here when parents are teaching them at home something completely different. Parents have the right for their children to be taught creation if that is what they choose. It is the parents who agree with creation that also pay taxes that go toward school funding. According to David Greising of Business Week; nearly half of all Americans reject Darwins theory evolution, so that would be half of the tax payers also. Some states have already started a growing trend of teaching other theories. According to Michael Lemorick of New York TIMES, the school board of Hall County Georgia ruled that teachers must put forward a variety of theories on the origin of life, not just evolution. Started in fall of 1996, Alabamas text books must include a disclaimer inserted, stating that evolution is a ï ¿ ½...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

THE PAYG SYSTEM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

THE PAYG SYSTEM - Essay Example The tax tables under PAYG system are structured to result in a refund when an Income tax return is processed. This refund culture encourages strong compliance with annual returns. PAYG also provides flexibility, ability to alter the taxation payments based on the current income received. PAYG has removed lack of equity in payment timing between individuals and companies. Henceforth, tax payers need to file only one form and make one payment for each quarter. PAYG allows the netting off Liabilities and credits. Tax payers like Individuals, Corporate, Trustees, Mutual insurance associates, etc having Business and Investment income are subjected to PAYG Installment system. A taxpayer is subjected to PAYG installment system if his most recent income tax assessment shows more than $2000 of gross investment or business income or if his recent income tax return resulted in a tax debt of over $500. PAYG installments are generally payable quarterly. The due dates by which quarterly installments are required to be paid are 28th July, 28th October, 28th February and 28th April. Certain tax payers like primary producers and Special professionals can pay two installments per year. These tax payers need to pay 75% of PAYG liability by 28th April and the balance by 28th July. A tax payer is eligible to opt for paying PAYG installment annually under the following circumstances: Payments made to tax payers having income other than business or Investment income like Salaries and wages, Pension Annuity, Dividend, Interest, Royalty are subjected to PAYG Withholding system. PAYG withholding is also applicable to payments to other businesses who do not quote Australian Business Number. Employers deduct tax according to the published tables from wages and the net amount is paid to employees. Employers send the amounts withheld to taxation office, hence this system is called Withholding system. Tax payer has to determine the status of the payees like

Friday, November 1, 2019

Educational Philosophy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Educational Philosophy - Research Paper Example In my opinion, this transformation requires a systematic and organized development of the individual’s cognitive abilities as reflected in the acquisition of knowledge and skills in a manner that is consistent with the needs of the individuals and the society. On this score, it might be argued that education provides the compass that determines the destiny of both man and society. According to some educational philosophers, the precise value of education could be seen in clearer light from the imagination of a life without it. A barbaric society that lacks any organized system of education will ultimately push itself on the precipice of extinction. I think this is because such a society will lack an organized system that supplies and controls the development of knowledge and skills necessary for its own survival. The knowledge and skills that are supplied, developed, and organized within the profession of education are resourceful in management of the economic, social, and pol itical systems of the society. In this sense, it might be emphasized that the entire welfare of the society hinges on the profession of education (Matthews, 2005). In my consideration, this point brings out the utilitarian aspect of education as understood within the framework of skills and knowledge development. It lies within the profession of education to harness, organize, and disseminate knowledge and skills that are necessary for the general survival and progress of the society. Education does not occur in a spontaneous manner. It grows in sequence and in a longitudinal order, which entails the aspect of progress. It is also important to consider the value of education in terms of the combined effects of its impacts on the various disciplines that form the block of knowledge. An important consideration of the value of the education profession lies in the training of teachers. Teachers are the backbones that determine the manner in which knowledge and skills are developed and d isseminated to the general society. My approach to my learners would be consistent with the philosophy that knowledge is a participatory process. In line with this philosophy, I would seek ways that would harmonize relationships between my learners and me. I would wish to be regarded more as a partner in the learning process rather than an authoritative instructor. The classroom should not be a space for the transfer of authority from the teacher to the student but rather a conducive atmosphere that allows for the free flow of information from various sources (Hille, 2011; Marca, 2010). I would adopt an easy and relaxed approach, which would encourage the students to participate freely in the learning process. My goal would be to develop confidence in my students. Only by gaining their confidence will it be easy to condition their minds into the freedom of thought that is necessary in the general process of knowledge development. Studies have established that the development of the cognitive abilities of the students is largely dependent on the kind of learning atmosphere. The studies have argued that the creation of an appropriate mental atmosphere lies with the teacher. In the course of learning, teachers should strive to create atmospheres that the kind of environment that fosters the flourishing of interpersonal communication. This kind of communication should take place between the learners and the teacher and amongst the students. Studies

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

AUDIT & ASSURANCE - SCENARIO - AUDIT OF SUNSHINE LIMITED Essay

AUDIT & ASSURANCE - SCENARIO - AUDIT OF SUNSHINE LIMITED - Essay Example This particular aim is of significant importance for the reason that we would want to arrive and formulate the suitable and appropriate audit opinion based on a financial statement that is actual and exact. Further more, with this particular approached we will not only be able to detect material misstatements in the previous financial statement. But, it will also show to us how some factors like adequacy of internal controls, the nature of transactions that company utilises, how the company monitors and oversees the production, how responsive is the management in addressing issues, how the company responds to human resources and human relations concerns, the possibility of senior management oversight and similar concerns within the company itself may contribute to risk and to financial statement that is materially misstated. And as a rule of the thumb in the business environment, a materially misstated financial statement may lead to an inappropriate audit opinion. And an inappropria te audit opinion may in effect lead to estimations that are detrimental to the company’s growth, profit, and solvency. Second, the market of the company is highly competitive and volatile. As such is the market environment of the company, risk-approached will help us center on divisions and facets of the company that are more susceptible to risks and problems like sales, auditing, and personnel hiring. This specific strategy in auditing will allow us to focus and zero-in on the more ‘problematic’ departments and divisions of the company while maintaining the supposition that good policies are in placed and are being observed. At the same time, this style of auditing will present to us the conditions that allow the less problematic departments to function in a manner that is aligned to the company’s goals and objectives. Thus, allowing room for the possibility of coming up with a more

Monday, October 28, 2019

Google and Search Essay Example for Free

Google and Search Essay Mission Statement â€Å"Google’s mission is to organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful.† While other companies were busy cramming the most ads possible on their homepages or squeezing every last hour of productivity out of employees, Google created an enjoyable experience for every party involved in the company including users, employees, and investors. Google’s success has come as a direct result of keeping people happy. History of Google Google was founded by two Stanford University computer science graduate students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. When the two met in 1995, they argued about every topic they discussed except for the best approach to solving one of computing’s biggest challenges: retrieving relevant information from a massive set of data. By January of 1996 the two had begun collaborating on their first search engine. It was named BackRub for its unique ability to analyze â€Å"back links† pointing to a given website, and quickly earned a growing reputation among those who had seen it. By 1998, the two had bought a terabyte of disks to create their first data center and renamed their search engine â€Å"Google†; which was a play on the word â€Å"googol†, referring to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeros, a reference to their goal of organizing the immense amount of information available on the web. Initially, Page and Brin had unsuccessfully tried to find companies to license their technology, but ended up raising an initial investment of almost $1 million when they decided to build a business on their own. And, by the end of that year, Google was answering 10,000 search queries per day and began to receive public recognition. They appeared on USA Today and were named one of the Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines by PC Magazine. By early 1999 Google was answering over 500,000 searches per day, and their meteoric rise began. By the end of 1999, Google had raised another $25 million from venture capitalists, moved to their current headquarters in Mountain View, California, grew to answering over 3 million searches per day, and received a slew of recognition, including being named on Time magazine’s Top Ten Best Cybertech list of 1999. They also went global with the introduction of versions in ten other languages for users to search in their native tongue, and still they were just getting started. Google continued to grow, developing strategic partnerships, developing new features, developing new services, and fulfilling over 34,000 search requests per second. Ultimately, Google became the technology powerhouse that we know today. They achieved the status of having over 72% of the search engine requests in the United States. They also added a multitude of other services, including video, email, mapping, images, an operating system, an internet browser, internet protocol phone service, and many, many others. Executive Summary Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people find and use information. We maintain the world’s largest online index of websites and other content and, via our automated search technology, make this information freely available, nearly instantly, to anyone with the Internet connection. Google primarily generates revenue by delivering relevant, cost-effective online advertising. Businesses use our AdWords program to promote their products and services with targeted advertising. In addition, the thousands of third-party websites that comprise our Google network use our Google AdSense program to deliver relevant AdWords ads that generate revenue and enhance the user experience. Situation Google, currently headquartered in Mountain View California, is now a strong leader in the technology sector, specifically in the â€Å"Internet Information Provider† industry. With a market capitalization of $199.88 billion, Google is almost five times larger than its nearest competitor, Baidu Inc. They produce $10.29 billion in operating cash flow each year and have $33.38 billion in cash reserves. Clearly, they are a financially strong company with extensive resources. Their business, as originally founded, remains focused on search technology with the Google search engine available on more than 150 Google domains, presented in many different languages. They have also created a tool to enable users to translate search results between languages. Other search tools included the ability to search for stock quotes, sports scores, news headlines, local addresses, images, videos, patents, maps, and much more. And, for information that is not already available online, Google is working to digitize it with projects like Google Books and the Google News Archive. Google’s dominance in the search engine field allows the company to generate the majority of its revenue through advertising. Hundreds of thousands of advertisers use Google AdWords to target potential customers as they search for terms relevant to the products and services they offer. Advertisers do this by bidding to have ads appear with search results on a â€Å"pay-per-click† basis. They can even target a specific geographic area. Another product offered by Google in the advertising genre is GoogleAdSense, which allows blog and website owners to generate additional revenue by allowing Google to place relevant ads on their sites. In order to help advertisers, Google provides tools such as Google Analytics, Website Optimizer, Insights for Search, and Ad Planner which are tools to help advertisers measure results and be more efficient. Google also offers a variety of apps that are intended to make it simpler for people to share information and get things done together. Apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs, among others, allow users to have access to free programs and tools that are not accessed through individual computers, but are stored on internet servers. This is called â€Å"cloud computing† and it makes information portable, so that it is accessible anywhere and through any device that the user has internet access. Perhaps the most recent front of development, Google also has entered the mobile market. Through a variety of tools and partnerships, Google tries to make their products available on mobile devices so that users can access Google Maps, Youtube, and other services through any mobile phone. Taking this concept to the next level, Google has created and released the Android operating system. This is a free operating system that any developer can use and any hardware manufacturer can install on any device. This OS puts a comprehensive line up of Google products at the smart phone user’s fingertips, instantly. SWOT Analysis of Google: Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) Analysis Strengths: * Already number one search engine has established name, in which its users trust * Dependable, reliable, and fast * Needs very little end user marketing * Has a simple interface and it gives comprehensive results without confusing users * Many products and services (desktop, Mobile, web), allowing users to meet many of their technology needs through Google * Interface with 88 different languages Weaknesses: * Dependent on search based advertising for nearly all revenue * Weak in social networking presence * Search queries only answered with 50-60% accuracy * Rising cost for data center Opportunities: * Allow vendors to pay for advertising on localized search results * Develop social networking site or integrate products with existing sites * Develop feature to enable chat between Google users, especially those using Google products to collaborate on documents * Find entry into huge gaming market Threats: * Privacy issues regarding content ownership * Competition from Yahoo, MSN, Bing, Baidu, etc. * Imposed Censorship Porter’s Five Forces Model Rivalry Among Competing Firms: Low. There are certainly other search engines, but Google is clearly the dominant player in the field. Also, while other companies offer competing options for many of Google’s products, nobody offers nearly as complete a mix of products and services. This allows Google to keep consumers engaged across a wide range of products and inspires brand loyalty. For example, someone likes the Google search engine, so they decide to try Google Docs. After coming to see Google Docs in a positive light, they decide to use Google Group to collaborate on documents. Seeing the benefit of Google Groups, they decide to use Google Calendar for their scheduling, etc. Over time, Google comes to be associated with good quality and helpful tools, so when a new product offering comes out, consumers instantly assume it is a good product and want to use it. Also, in Google’s primary revenue stream, pay-per-click search based advertising, Google has no real competition, and as long as Google dominates the search engine field they have little chance of losing advertisers to a competitor. Potential Entry of New Competitors: Low. There are few technology companies that have the knowledge and resources to mount a serious challenge of Google’s dominance. Google has developed proprietary technology that is hugely successful. It would be extremely difficult for a competitor to enter the field and duplicate Google’s technology, so unless Google loses its position on the cutting edge and is surpassed by the next technological improvement, they are a difficult target for new competitors. Potential Development of Substitute Products: Low. Some of Google’s products face possible substitutes in the market. For example, consumers could use a GPS instead of Google Maps, but Google’s primary business is based around their powerhouse search engine which is difficult to substitute. It would be nearly impossible to effectively search the vast amount of information available through the internet and retrieve relevant information without the help of a search engine. As for Google’s primary revenue source, search based advertising; it is difficult to imagine a substitute product that would allow advertisers to pinpoint their marketing to potential customers who are actively demonstrating an interest in a related topic. Targeted advertising that the advertiser pays for only when it shows a measureable result will always be attractive to businesses as long as the pricing structure remains reasonable, and with Google’s auction style approach, it is virtually ensured that the price will not exceed what the market will bear. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Low. Since Google’s products and services are primarily technology and information based, it has very limited exposure to suppliers. Google is not buying raw materials to produce or manufacture tangible goods. Unless a massive societal shift occurs that limits Google’s access to information, Google will not be at the mercy of suppliers for their primary resource. The only aspect of Google’s business in which suppliers might exercise bargaining power would be servers. However, several manufacturers produce hard disks for storage of information and Google’s size and massive use of storage servers gives them the bargaining power. Bargaining Power of Consumers: Low. Most of Google’s products and services are offered at no cost. Google’s paying customers, namely advertisers, have no equivalent service to divert their spending to. Other search engines simply don’t have the volume of use or the supporting tracking and planning tools that Google has. Problem definition Summary statement of the problem: The primary problem that Google faces can be summed up in one word, â€Å"SIZE†. The size of Google makes it extremely difficult to maintain its past innovation and growth performance. Due to the success that Google has enjoyed in its relatively short history, it will be increasingly difficult to identify and capitalize on opportunities that are sufficient to continue to grow and develop at such an astronomical pace. At the same time, Google’s position as a dominant industry player puts it in a position to be an attractive target for competitors to emulate and challenge for market share. Summary statement of the recommended solution: In order to best address this challenge, Google must do several things simultaneously. Google must recognize and remember that its success stems from being on the cutting edge. Google cannot afford to sit on the sidelines when new technologies come to market. They must always look for opportunities to capitalize early. Similarly, Google should not only continue to seek attractive acquisition targets, but also invest in RD in order to keep the technology pipeline active. Structurally, Google must avoid a centralized control structure that views new growth opportunities from the perspective of their current size and performance, because truly great growth opportunities are not always easily recognizable in the early stages. What better example of that than Google itself?

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Longitude Essay -- essays research papers

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time is written by Dava Sobel. The book is called Longitude because it is about a clock maker who was able to determine longitude. Determining longitude was the superlative scientific question in the eighteenth century that Galileo and Newton were not able to resolve.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The principal inspiration behind the invention completed in this book is that many sailors were lost at seas as a result of their ignorance regarding longitude. So, without the competence to determine longitude, many innocent lives were disintegrated at seas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  England’s Parliament was desperate for an answer to this problem. So, in 1714 England’s Parliament offered 20,000 pounds to anyone who invented a method or a device for measuring longitude and then proved successful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a result, a Frenchman, sieur de St. Pierre, frowned on the moons of Jupiter as means of determining longitude. He theorized that longitude could be found by the position of the moon and select stars. At the time, Dr. Edmond Halley proved this theory wrong. After many observations, Halley concluded that the moon’s rate of revolution around the earth was accelerating overtime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Harrison was a simple clockmaker and a self-educated person who was accredited for finding longitude by means of a timeke...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 21

There was really only one thing I could say. â€Å"You're here to kill me.† That would have been a great cue for him to say something like, â€Å"No, of course not† or â€Å"Why would you think that?† Any of those responses, or a variation, would have been immensely reassuring. Instead he said: â€Å"Not yet.† â€Å"Shit.† I took a couple steps back, knowing it wouldn't do any good. Even if I'd been in full succubus mode, there was no way I could fight against him. Roman was a nephilim, Jerome's half-human bastard son. Nephilim were a kind of odd mix between lesser and greater immortals. Nephilim hadn't been around since the universe's creation, but they had been born immortal and could potentially possess the same range of powers as a greater immortal. Roman was every bit as strong as Jerome, but unlike my boss or his equals, Roman didn't answer to any higher power. He was rogue, which made him dangerous when he was pissed off. And he had every right to be pissed off at me. Angry at the way Heaven and Hell hunted their kind down, Roman and his twin sister Helena had gone on a vigilante hunting spree to get back at other immortals. I hadn't known that when he and I were dating, and eventually, I'd been instrumental in stopping them-and getting his sister killed. â€Å"What are you doing here then?† I asked at last. Roman's posture was casual as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He looked exactly as I remembered, enormously tall compared to me, with soft black hair and those gorgeous eyes. â€Å"You sound disappointed,† he said. â€Å"Do you want me to kill you?† â€Å"No! Of course not. But I can't really think of any other reason you'd be here. Somehow I doubt you're here for a social call.† Despite my fear, my sarcasm still managed to function. Carter had told me it was unlikely Roman would ever return to Seattle, knowing that he and Jerome would be on the lookout. Except, I realized uneasily, Jerome was no longer here to keep watch. â€Å"I'm here to help find my illustrious sire.† Roman's voice was smug as he spoke, and I was sure he was taking a great amount of pleasure in watching my reaction. I hoped he was satisfied because while my jaw didn't exactly hit the floor, it came pretty close. â€Å"Bullshit.† â€Å"Why don't you believe me?† â€Å"Because you have no reason to!† My fear was being overridden again, this time by incredulity. â€Å"You hate Jerome.† â€Å"Yeah, that's true.† â€Å"Stop playing with me then. You're not here to help.† â€Å"No? Then how come I helped you with the seal's notes?† â€Å"You didn't-† I froze for a moment. â€Å"Oh lord. That was you.† â€Å"Really,† said Roman amiably. â€Å"You should be a lot nicer, considering all the things I've done for you.† â€Å"Yeah? I don't recall you wasting your time wandering aimlessly along beaches.† â€Å"Nah. I've been too busy blowing up stoves and carrying injured damsels to bed.† I sank into a chair and closed my eyes. â€Å"It really wasn't Carter.† The angel had been telling the truth about noninterference. I opened my eyes again. â€Å"And you gave me the matches, didn't you? That's exactly the kind of fucked-up thing you'd do.† He put on an offended air. â€Å"That was pretty nice of me, considering how you looked like you were ready to have a withdrawal seizure then and there.† â€Å"This doesn't make sense. You can't be here to help find Jerome. What's really going on?† â€Å"Does the reason matter if I help find him?† â€Å"Yes! It matters if you want to find him, only so you can promptly destroy him.† â€Å"I don't want to destroy him.† â€Å"I have no reason to trust you.† His eyes narrowed a bit. â€Å"And I have no reason to trust you, if memory serves.† I shrugged, almost too weary to be afraid anymore. â€Å"Well, then, we're even, huh? Except, of course, that you can channel your mistrust into blowing me off the face of the earth.† â€Å"And you could tell the demon horde out there that there's a nephilim in the city.† Roman laughed. â€Å"Oh, they'd love that, wouldn't they? If one of them could hunt down and kill a nephilim, that'd pretty much cinch their position here.† â€Å"Yeah, like I'd get a chance to tell anyone.† I sighed. â€Å"Roman, if you're not going to destroy me, then what exactly do you want with me? Why did you save me all those times?† â€Å"Because you're the only one in this fucking town with any chance of finding Jerome. And you can move around a lot more freely than I can.† â€Å"Um, last time I checked, you're the one in the Junior Smiting League, not me. I don't have any pow-abilities right now to defend myself.† â€Å"Yeah, but if you're caught poking around, people aren't going to declare open season on you†¦I mean, aside from that bitch demoness.† I grimaced at the memory, and Roman pushed forward. â€Å"Look, Georgina, we can sit and argue whether I'm going to kill you or not, or we can try to figure this out and get your boss back. Then we can explore me killing you in more depth.† â€Å"God,† I groaned, standing up. I needed my cigarettes. Roman watched me light up. â€Å"New habit since I was last around.† â€Å"Old one, actually. And I'm not in the mood for lecturing.† I sat back down, feeling much more settled with my nicotine. Aubrey wandered out shortly thereafter, apparently not afraid of a sociopathic-yet still eerily sexy-immortal hanging out with us. â€Å"So, what's there to figure out? It was Grace. You said you saw the seal around her neck.† Roman eased himself into a chair from my kitchen table and scooted up. â€Å"I did. Makes sense that she'd keep it as close to her as possible, though that takes some balls to have it out in the open that much.† â€Å"So why won't you let me tell anyone, then?† He tsked. â€Å"Think, Georgina. Who are you going to tell? Which demon in this whole mess do you think you can trust? None of them like Jerome. None of them want him back.† â€Å"I was going to tell Hugh.† â€Å"You can't tell anybody . I was walking along with you today when Cedric popped in.† It figured. There was no telling how long Roman had been following me invisibly. â€Å"If he was telling the truth about not telling Nanette about your theories, then that means one of your friends tipped her off.† â€Å"No,† I said stubbornly. â€Å"It's more likely that Cedric was lying. None of them would have betrayed me.† To my complete and utter astonishment, Aubrey jumped on Roman's lap. He scratched her head absentmindedly. â€Å"Well, believe what you want, but I don't think it's safe to tell anyone yet. Except me, of course.† â€Å"Right. The guy who wants me dead.† â€Å"Eh, we can talk about that later. For now, let's go over what we know.† I wasn't really keen on the casual way we were tossing around my impending doom, nor did I like that I still didn't know why he was here. Keeping my mind on Jerome did help, though, and it was nice to finally have someone to truly brainstorm this stuff with. â€Å"We know Grace was the demon who helped with the summoning,† I said. â€Å"There could be more, you know.† â€Å"Yeah, but there's only one archdemon position.† â€Å"True. Just don't rule other possibilities out. She and that other demoness here are pretty tight.† I thought about Mei, whose poker face was as good as Grace's. â€Å"Yeah†¦although, they seem to be operating pretty independently now. But, for the sake of argument, we'll stick with Grace. So, we know she was part of the summoning and has half of the seal. What we don't know: where the other half of the seal is, who helped her, and where Jerome actually is.† â€Å"Kind of daunting,† he mused. A thought suddenly came to me. â€Å"Wait a minute†¦you might make this simpler. A greater immortal can break up Jerome's prison. With you, we don't need to actually find the whole seal to free him-or get the half we know about from Grace.† Roman turned sheepish. â€Å"Well†¦I don't know for sure that I can do that.† â€Å"Why not? You've got the same powers as Jerome.† â€Å"My strength is the same as his when it comes to fighting and whatnot, but I don't have exactly the same powers. I'm not truly a greater immortal. I don't know if I could break him out without the seal.† â€Å"Lovely. We're back to where we started.† â€Å"I don't know. We should just take this one step at a time. Let's keep trying to find him and figure out where the other half of the seal is.† â€Å"We're running out of time,† I murmured, stubbing out the cigarette. â€Å"So, why are you smoking again?† â€Å"That's not really important right now,† I snapped. â€Å"I don't know. If I had a mortal body, I'd be kind of worried about that.† â€Å"I'm not mortal. And I'll be back to my normal self in a few days at most. Probably much sooner.† â€Å"Is it because of Mortensen?† â€Å"We are not talking about that right now.† â€Å"Never thought you'd be one to take a break-up so hard, seeing how easily you deal them out. In fact†¦has anyone ever even broken up with you before?† I fixed him with a glare, so annoyed that I didn't care if he wanted to try to kill me. â€Å"We are not talking about that right now.† â€Å"Fine, fine. What other info do we have, then?† I racked my brain. â€Å"The cult†¦the Army of Darkness. I think there's a connection with Jerome's summoning and their activities. Whoever's controlling them-well, Grace, I guess-times their stunts to take attention away from other things.† I recapped what I knew of their stunts and what they lined up with. â€Å"Not all of their activities correspond exactly to some part of the summoning, though. At least not that I know about.† Roman was thoughtful. â€Å"Hmm†¦well, it's possible some may not line up with anything. A few may be red herrings, sort of to establish their presence. I didn't always follow you to Canada, so I don't know exactly what they're like.† â€Å"Wow. Your stalkerdom has limitations.† â€Å"Seemed like a big pain,† he said. â€Å"Aside from maybe going to Tim Hortons.† Nephilim couldn't teleport like greater immortals, so he was limited with normal transportation when following me around. Uneasily, thinking of my activities with Seth, I wondered just how much Roman had spied on me. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd taken a front-row seat to my intimate activities. If he wasn't going to mention it, I wasn't going to. â€Å"They've been quiet ever since the day of the summoning, when they were down here. I guess Grace has nothing left for them to do,† I said. â€Å"Likely†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His mind was still apparently spinning with suspicion. â€Å"But if I were you, I'd talk to them again.† I cringed. â€Å"No†¦I want to be done with them. You don't know these guys like I do. It's ridiculous.† â€Å"All I know is that you've got to turn over every rock you can find-no pun intended-if you're going to rescue Jerome.† â€Å"Oh, I've got to, huh?† I asked. I didn't really like the presumption in his voice. â€Å"I thought you were going to help find him too?† â€Å"I will. Tomorrow. When are you going to search again?† I thought about it. â€Å"Noon. After work.† There was a knock at the door, and I moved over to the eye hole. â€Å"It's Dante,† I murmured. To his credit, he usually knocked first before using his key. I rested my hand on the knob and gave Roman a questioning look. â€Å"I'll find you at noon,† he said. â€Å"Hold the door open a sec after you let him in.† Roman turned invisible, and I pulled the door open. Dante came in, and I stood there a few more moments until I felt the sweep of someone moving past me. Everything had happened so quickly today that I barely had time to realize that not only I had just made contact with the guy who wanted to kill me, but I'd also just made arrangements to spend time with him. Man. This was going to keep me up when I tried to sleep later. I shut the door and gave Dante a quick kiss on the cheek. He was carrying a bag, and I had to do a double-take. â€Å"Did you buy something from Macy's?† I exclaimed. â€Å"I somehow imagined you stepping into a department store would be like a vampire stepping into the sunlight-I mean, current situation aside.† Dante rolled his eyes and set the bag down. Crossings his arms, he leaned against the wall. â€Å"Well, maybe I'm in stasis too. Forget about this for a sec and tell me if you've gotten yourself on any demon's shit list today.† There it was again, the sweet concern in spite of his best efforts. â€Å"Not that I know of, but hey, the day's not over yet.† I glossed over the specifics of who I'd gone searching with, mainly emphasizing that my time at the beach hadn't turned up anything. I also mentioned Cedric's visit and his claims that he hadn't told Nanette about my suspicions. Dante seemed skeptical of that. Finally, I wrapped up with Grace's appearance, and at that point I faltered. I wanted to tell Dante about my amazing discovery, about how Grace had the seal. Yet Roman had urged me to keep it all to myself. Why? Was he really that mistrustful of everyone? Did he have his own ulterior motives? Against my better judgment, I bit my lip on telling Dante about my discovery. It killed me to do it, particularly since I had a feeling Dante could have some insight. Roman's warning was too strong, however, as was my fear that he might actually still be around invisibly. And of course, I could hardly tell Dante about Roman. Fortunately, Dante didn't pick up on any omission of information. â€Å"You had kind of a full day, succubus. Did the corporate demon ever come talk to you?† â€Å"Not yet. I haven't had a chance to talk with the gang to see if he's been making the rounds.† I eyed the Macy's bag, dying to know what was in it. Dante kicked it behind him. â€Å"What are you going to tell him?† I shrugged. â€Å"I don't know. I'll tell him what I know about Seattle, and as far as recommendations†¦well, I don't know.† I could no longer trust Grace, and Mei's role was still a mystery. Dante noted my change of feelings but not the reasons. â€Å"From what you'd said before, I thought you were a fan of Grace and that other demoness.† â€Å"Mei,† I supplied. â€Å"I don't know. It's all just wearying.† Eager to shift away from the subject, I pointed at the bag. â€Å"Are you going to tell me what's in that?† He gave me one of his mocking grins. â€Å"Why do you think it has anything to do with you?† â€Å"Because there's no way you'd shop at Macy's for yourself. You dress only marginally better than Carter.† Dante shook his head, wearing a long-suffering look. â€Å"Fine, fine. I'll keep it for myself.† He picked up the bag and headed off down the hall. After a few moments, I followed and tackled him in the doorway to my bedroom. â€Å"Come on! Give it up.† I snatched the bag away, but my victory was small since he didn't put up a fight. I opened it up and gasped at what I found. Folds and folds of shimmering purple fabric, silk the color of new spring crocuses. Hesitantly, I lifted it out of the bag, revealing a long, ankle-length robe. I looked up at him in astonishment. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"You're the one with years and years of higher learning,† he pointed out, looking extremely pleased with himself. â€Å"You tell me.† I held it up, gauging its height. It looked just about perfect. â€Å"It's gorgeous. What's the occasion?† â€Å"I was tired of hearing you bitch about that ratty one you've got. And tired of seeing it, to be honest.† He ignored my glare. â€Å"Besides, you've had a, uh, difficult time lately. Even for you.† I thought back to other things, like the flowers and breakfast. All the attempts at dinners. â€Å"Dante-â€Å" He pressed a finger to my lips. â€Å"Look, be quiet a second. I'm not blind. I can tell how much all of this is stressing you out. And fuck, if I could get my hands on that bitch demon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Anger glinted in his eyes, and he took a moment to shake it off. â€Å"Anyway, you can keep making your jokes or whatever and keep doggedly doing your best to sleuth away and find Jerome, but you're running yourself into the ground. You're depressed. You're distracted. When we talk, it's like your mind's somewhere else. Same with our sex life.† I opened my mouth to argue, but I wasn't sure what to say. He was right. I had been distracted, but a good part of that-particularly during intimate activities-hadn't had anything to do with Jerome. It had been Seth on my mind. Dante kept speaking before I could get a word out. â€Å"See, now, you're going to apologize. Because that's what you do-but there's no need, succubus. If anyone gets some selfish time right now, it's you. In another week or so, things'll be back to normal, and I'll be the selfish one.† Something in my heart twisted. Everyone said he was scum, but in the end, it turned out I was the untrustworthy one. I averted my eyes. â€Å"So where's the robe fit in?† â€Å"Something to cheer you up. Since your wardrobe's been trimmed.† â€Å"Dante, you've been getting me a lot of stuff lately. You don't have to throw money at me-money you don't have-to make me feel better.† â€Å"If I didn't have it, I wouldn't ‘throw' it,† he remarked dryly. â€Å"And anyway†¦I'm not really the kind of guy who does, like†¦the candles or the moonlit beaches or recites poetry.† I grimaced. â€Å"I don't mind staying away from beaches for a while.† â€Å"But,† he continued, â€Å"I know you well enough to know that mochas and silk make you smile, and that, at least, is something I can do.† My heart twisted further, and I reached out to catch hold of his hand. I understood what he was saying. It wasn't in his nature to do over-the-top romantic gestures, but material purchases were something he could handle, and it was the only way to show me he cared. My guilt redoubled because no matter what he said, I knew he was tight on cash. Yet, my actions and fixation with Seth were worrying Dante enough that he felt he had to do something. I was driving him to it. â€Å"You're sweet,† I said. â€Å"But don't worry. It'll be our secret.† He brushed his fingers through my hair. â€Å"Not that sweet. Look in the bag.† I did. Underneath the robe, unnoticed by me, was a bottle of bubble bath. I held it up questioningly. â€Å"I thought we could take a bath together.† I laughed. â€Å"That's almost romantic. You might be closer to moonlit beaches than you think. Although, my bathtub's kind of small.† â€Å"I know,† he said. â€Å"That's what I meant about it not being very sweet. Mostly I want to see what kind of interesting positions we can cram ourselves into while naked and in a small space.† â€Å"Well, thank God that in a world gone mad, some people never change.† It turned into a wet, soapy mess, but it was more fun than I expected. No matter what he claimed, the whole feat was semi-romantic. Conversation was easy and light, and we laughed and joked a lot. I almost forgot about Seth-almost. But when things started to get a little hot and heavy, I pulled back. No matter how sexy it was to be wet and naked with someone, it just didn't feel right if that person wasn't Seth. What made me feel worse was that Dante was accommodating about my mood. He figured my lack of desire was part of my stress, and so we eventually left the tub as chastely as we'd entered. We toweled each other off and then curled up on the couch and watched TV together while I tried not to feel too guilty about the purple robe wrapped around me. I decided the next day to finally add myself back to the bookstore's work schedule. I only put me down for part-time shifts until the demon business was settled, but at this point, it seemed unlikely I'd be recalled to Canada again. My limbo status couldn't last forever if I wanted to keep my job; Warren's leniency would only last so long. Roman and I had our plans to go to Edmonds at noon, so for my first official day back, I only worked a morning shift. Part of that shift involved coming in before the store was even open, and I welcomed the solitude. The store always soothed me, and if ever there was a time I needed soothing, it was right now. It was short-lived, however, since my other coworkers began trickling in not long after my arrival. Maddie was among them. â€Å"Hey,† she said brightly, popping into my office. â€Å"Is this another check-in or are you back for good?† â€Å"For good, I think. Not that it matters. It looks like everything's been fine without me.† She grinned and shut the door behind her. â€Å"Oh, we've missed you, believe me. No one's been here to referee my fights with Doug.† I laughed and watched her sit down. â€Å"Well then, I guess I got back just in time. Nice shoes.† Maddie extended her legs and admired her candy apple red pumps. â€Å"Thanks. Nordstrom's having a sale.† The brown leather Mia heels I currently wore were among my favorites, but after a week now with no shape-shifting, my wardrobe was starting to make me stir-crazy. It was kind of like my hair, I realized. I hadn't realized how dependent I was on shape-shifting to enhance my appearance. I'd lauded myself for living like a human when in truth, I'd been cheating the whole time. Seeing my wistful look, Maddie asked, â€Å"You want to go downtown for lunch and check it out?† I shook my head with regret. Looking at shoes sounded a lot better than looking at rocks. â€Å"Can't. I've got to meet someone.† â€Å"Ah, well, let me know when you get some time. You know I'm game.† Silence fell, and Maddie shifted uncomfortably. She bit her lip, like she wanted to say something. I started to prompt her, but she spoke first. â€Å"So, what did you think of the condo listings?† â€Å"Oh, they were†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Fuck. I'd never even read through them. Roman and Dante had spent more time looking at them than I had. Which one had Dante mentioned? â€Å"They were great. I really liked that new one-the one where you can still get in on the choices and stuff.† Her eyes lit up. â€Å"Ooh, yeah. I loved that one too. I actually looked them up on the builder's website. It doesn't look like there are many left, but there has to be at least one, or they wouldn't be listed. We should go down there and talk to them in person.† I smiled, feeling horrible about the lie. â€Å"Sure†¦but it may be awhile before I can get a break. We'll have to do it and the shoe trip at the same time.† Maddie nodded, face kind and sympathetic. â€Å"No problem. I understand.† More silence fell, and I realized it wasn't the condos that she wanted to talk to me about. That had been a distraction to build up her own courage. â€Å"Maddie, what's going on?† Her cheery look disintegrated into something much more glum. It was startling. I was so used to her always being in a good mood that the thought of something upsetting her was on par with the laws of physics breaking down. She met my eyes and immediately looked away. â€Å"Oh God. I can't believe I'm about to bring this up.† I was seriously worried now. â€Å"You can tell me. It's okay. What's up?† She sighed. â€Å"It's Seth.† Oh, fuck.