Photograph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Photograph - Essay Example The stretching position she is holding is one that is commonly undertaken by people prior to taking a jog or a brisk walk. The common stretching techniques include taking an upright or seated position, and hold it while either stretching their legs by gently pulling the ankle backwards or touching their toes respectively. The article highlights, through evidence from studies, the disadvantages of stretching before working out. When one undertakes a stretching exercise, they should not do it for more than 30 seconds and it should not be in a fixed position for the entire time. This explains the use of the photo of the woman doing a stretching exercise while seated on the ground. In that story, the photo editor selected a photograph of a woman on the road stretching, seemingly about to take a jog, in which the road acts as the line of the photograph, which essentially creates structure allowing the reader to view the photo from one end to another. This also adds symmetry to the photo which further draws a reader to the photo, and produce shapes, that add depth to a photograph. For this photo, the shapes are created from white rails visible on the left, just off the road. These rails are rectangular and elongated in shape forming a perception of the distance to be covered by the woman when she starts to jog. These two elements go hand in hand to produce depth and structure, allowing the reader to form a perspective on the context of the article i.e. the location or surrounding environment. The young woman seated on the road provides the element of a form that brings three-dimensionality to the photo. Three-dimensionality implies length, width and depth that draw the eye of the reader allowing them to look deeper into the photograph, then develop a perception for example whether they find it beautiful. The photos value enhanced by the shadows and light within a photograph, and these further

Culture Assessment Essay Example for Free

Culture Assessment Essay A widely accepted definition of organizational culture is it is the shared meanings, artifacts, values, beliefs, norms, and assumptions that dictate how an organization works and its existence (Cameron Quinn, 2006). Organization culture is shaped by more than one element; say individuals’ life experiences, background, education levels and so fourth. Undoubtedly, leadership also plays a critical role in defining what culture prevails in the organization and their actions have a major influence on how the rest of the organization follows suit. (Robbins et al, 2000) Additionally organization culture defines the strategies that a firm uses in handling things like competition, growth, resource management and the like. (Goffee Jones, 1996) A good assessment of the cultural orientation of a firm makes it likelier to promote interorganisational network and also implement changes that encourage member participation and productivity. The key indicators of organizational culture include organization structure, power and managerial styles, ways in which members of the organization interact and do their jobs among others. This paper takes a look at FedEx Corporation and gives a summary of the type of organization culture at FedEx, its benefits, hindrances as well as the recommendations of the company. Company overview FedEx Corporation is a large company headquartered in the US that deals in printing, courier services and logistics as well as cargo airline services. This company has been named one of the top 10 most admirable companies by Fortune magazine two years in a row. Since its founding in 1971 it has grown from humble beginnings a leader in air courier industry. Its brands include the FedEx home delivery, FedEx smart post and FedEx freight east and west, FedEx services among others. Its chief competitors are DHL, TNT, UPS, BAX Global and USPS. The company employs over 250,000 workers and has a net income of approximately 1. 8 billion dollars in 2006. Culture assessment The organization culture at FedEx blends various kinds of organization culture but perhaps the most predominant culture is flexibility discretion and dynamism. This has been its major strategy of staying ahead. To support this, FedEx takes pride in their ability to adapt to change so as to enhance effectiveness and competitiveness. (Cameron Quinn, 2006, p. 34) This it achieves by combining innovation, knowledge sharing, high experience and team work in its key strategies to attaining competitive advantage. A good illustration of FedEx external focus is evident in the numerous deliveries of relief supplies that FedEx made to hurricane Katrina victims for free in 2005, earning it more customers and goodwill. Adhocracy orientation at FedEx is fostered at top level management down to the junior staff. The CEO of FedEx encourages employees to be trend setters and nonconformist and dare to take calculated risk. The management encourages employees to be all ears on current events and look for opportunities. The guiding philosophy is that an innovation failed is better than a thousand years lost in risk averse dealings. Innovation at FedEx is held with high regard and employees are rewarded handsomely for developing fresh ideas. The management supports viable projects from employees financially or otherwise. This is one reason why FedEx distinguishes itself as an evergreen company in the air courier industry. This culture is underscored when creative attempts that fail are rewarded as well as the successful innovations. The familiar slogan ‘absolutely, positively gets it there overnight’ is made real by the culture ingrained in the employees towards importance of customer service, efficiency at work, speed and accurate scheduling. This culture leverages FedEx for competitive advantage. Basically, the FedEx corporate culture emphasizes urgency, speed and teamwork, exceeding customers’ expectations, initiative, flexibility and active listening (O’Reilly, Tushman Michael, 1997) Aside from the flexible nature at FedEx, it also adopts an outwardly and sensitive approach to the environment that it operates. Competitiveness fosters the company to always look for opportunities to expand and grow. While the opposite of this culture is to foster integration and unity within the organization as well as knowledge some elements of this culture are also present at FedEx. This is because FedEx emphasizes high skills among employees. Employees at FedEx are highly learned individuals as the company only picks the best of the best. Working ones way up the corporate ladder requires that ones knowledge base also increases. In addition, the internal focus of FedEx organizational culture provides an appropriate environment that enables employees to grow and exercise their skills as seen in the various training and task assignments delegated to employees. In order for knowledge sharing to be maximized then division of labor, job enrichment, team building and so forth have to be conducted regularly (Murray, Poole Jones, 2005) some aspects of these are present at FedEx. FedEx corporate culture values hard work and rewards such appropriately. It also disregards discriminations and fosters equal opportunities for its employees in areas of promotion, transfer and recruitment. The hands off team oriented management style promote progressive and diversified work culture. Communication is a key strength for FedEx organization culture and regular surveys on employees’ views on the job are taken to monitor and modify areas of universal discontent. Notably, the employees at FedEx are highly experienced and skilled individuals. The culture therefore is based on letting employees be free agents who direct their jobs in their own direction. The management ensures that employees are proactive and take initiative to learn from mistakes of others. The employees are not reprimanded or penalized for slip-ups rather management takes the blunder as an opportunity to teach the rest. Most of the tasks done at FedEx are assigned to teams which are given sufficient power and authority to fulfill their responsibilities and be accountable for the results. Seemingly this is the reason behind the great success of FedEx. The benefit of the cultures present at FedEx is that the company is maintains its competitiveness amid intense competition from the competitors. Additionally, it deals with fewer conflicts, fewer staff turnover and enjoys increase in employees’ job satisfaction, higher performance less resistance to change, higher productivity and better customer service and so forth. The hindrances of this kind of organization culture are that it requires major investment in time and money. The management needs to be patient with employee mistakes which are most times costly. Additionally it is difficult to monitor this practice in the FedEx Company because of the large workforce and the busy schedules that the employees have. Conclusion The organizational culture at FedEx has both benefits and detrimental aspects although many are the benefits. In the competitive faced paced industry that FedEx operates their culture seem most fitting. Perhaps the only thing that I would improve is the hierarchal structure and the communication channels for free flow of information and faster decision making throughout the organization.

Gilbert Ryle’s The Concept of Mind Essay -- Ryle Concept Mind Philosop

Gilbert Ryle’s The Concept of Mind Gilbert Ryle’s The Concept of Mind (1949) is a critique of the notion that the mind is distinct from the body, and is a rejection of the philosophical theory that mental states are distinct from physical states. Ryle argues that the traditional approach to the relation of mind and body (i.e., the approach which is taken by the philosophy of Descartes) assumes that there is a basic distinction between Mind and Matter. According to Ryle, this assumption is a basic 'category-mistake,' because it attempts to analyze the relation betwen 'mind' and 'body' as if they were terms of the same logical category. Furthermore, Ryle argues that traditional Idealism makes a basic 'category-mistake' by trying to reduce physical reality to the same status as mental reality, and that Materialism makes a basic 'category-mistake' by trying to reduce mental reality to the same status as physical reality. Ryle rejects Descartes’ dualistic theory of the relation betwen mind and body. According to Ryle, this theory attempts to separate mental reality from physical reality, and it attempts to analyze mental processes as if the mind were distinct from the body. As an example of how this doctrine can be misleading, Ryle explains that knowing how to perform an act skillfully is not a matter of purely theoretical reasoning. Knowing how to perform an act skillfully is a matter of being able to think logically and practically, and is a matter of being able to put practical reasoning into action. Practical action is not necessarily produced by highly abstract reasoning, or by an intricate series of intellectual operations. The meaning of actions is not explained by making inferences about hidden mental processes, but is ... ...ocesses which are distinct from observable behavioral responses. Acts such as thinking, remembering, perceiving, and willing are defined by behavioral actions and by dispositions to perform behavioral actions. However, Ryle criticises Behaviorist theory for being overly simplistic and mechanistic, just as he criticizes Cartesian theory for being overly simplistic and mechanistic. While Cartesian theory asserts that hidden mental processes cause the behavioral responses of the conscious individual, Behaviorism asserts that stimulus-response mechanisms cause the behavioral responses of the conscious individual. Ryle argues that both the Cartesian theory and the Behaviorist theory are too simplistic and mechanistic to enable us to fully understand the Concept of Mind. Works Cited: Ryle, Gilbert. The Concept of Mind. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1949.

High school essay on Robbery and burglary Essay

Developing conclusions based upon current trends with Robberies and Burglaries is a very difficult task. For many cases, many robberies and burglaries go unsolved. Unless the perpetrator is caught at the scene of the crime, these types of crimes are very difficult to be solved. Robberies and Burglaries are usually quick, sometimes planned out, and are over and done with before anyone knows anything is missing. The typical scenario of a crime today usually consists of the following. Masked and armed individuals, more times males than females. Forced entry, while the criminal uses fear as there main controlling factor. In and out kind of deal where they break in, steal the stuff and leave. However, more today than ever before, there are more high tech planned out, skilled criminals, rather than your average break in, get out criminals. Unfortunately, trends also show that many of these crimes end up getting ugly. When a person is involved, such as a break in when people are home, the perpetrator is usually armed with a weapon of some kind. Many times the robbery does not go as planned and robbery plus murder or attempted murder is committed. Trends also show that robberies and burglaries are also committed against certain kinds of people. These people are the ones that are the most vulnerable or naà ¯ve. Leaving your garage door open and unattended and walking around with large amounts of cash on you are two examples of things not too do, or someone might take advantage of you. Another thing the articles have proven is that criminals can be very tricky. For instance, the Spanish couple that robbed the Spanish speaking woman. That robbery was well planned out so that the woman trusted two strangers into her home, not knowing what would soon occur. In order to prevent these types of crimes from occurring, there are many logical things which the average citizen can do: a) Keep everything under lock and key. This means that everyone should make sure that there house, car, and other valuables are kept protected with a  good security system. b) Make sure everyone knows you are well protected. Everyone should know that if a burglar sees two identical houses, one of which has a sign showing which security system they use and one has nothing, the house with nothing is in for some trouble. Also find out if your neighborhood has a neighborhood watch program. If not, it isn’t a bad idea to create one. Criminals will always choose the easier target over a more protected one. c) Be alert. If an unknown individual comes to your door, make sure they show you an official badge or something which proves they are who they say they are. Anyone could carry some mail or a box and say they have a delivery for you. d) Never under-estimate the mind of a criminal. Criminals can be very tricky if they need to be. If a situation is beginning to look suspicious, don’t hang around to see what’s up. Leave the area, and make a phone call to the police.

Difference of Trademark Protection and Passing off Action Essay

Commerce cannot be denied to be an essential factor in the existence of one nation. This is so because commerce is considered as the backbone of economy. Being an indispensable aspect of economy, serious consideration has been taken to ensure the protection of those forming commerce. In the particular field of commerce, an existence of a business is considerably dependent on its name. A business name is a vital aspect of one business because it carries the reputation that has been built up by the business owner. A business name also has several values. Basically, it is used to distinguish a business from another. It will also ensure security and privacy as others cannot arbitrarily encroach or use it. Hence, businesses are required to be registered. The business name being registered is termed as trademark. In the world of commerce, where millions of business establishments evolve, trademark serves a vital role. With trademark, the goods of another are distinguished from that of another. Primarily, trademark serves as an identification of the origin and ownership of the product. Significantly, trademark will also protect the consumer from confusions as to the sources of the goods or services. Through time, some business owners were also established using the name of others. Some cases were deliberately done while other cases were unintentionally done. Due to acts of copying and using famous names, the other party suffered considerable damages. There were also case where famous trademarks or reputable names have been attached by other business owners in their products, goods or services primarily to attract or to deceive customers as to the origin of the goods or services. These situations have been considered as an impetus for the judicial actions of passing off and trademark infringement. Passing Off and Trademark Protection: Definition and Origin In distinguishing passing off and trademark protection, the two have a slim similarity in a way that both protect the business’ privacy. It has also similarity as both are purposely to prevent other business owners from thefts or unauthorized use of business names of others. In addition, both empower business owners to instigate an action in court in cases others have violated their rights to their business name or trademark. Nonetheless, passing off and trademark protection have various differences as to elements, principles, protection, among others. Basically, passing off has no definite definition. However, it has been commonly defined based on Lord Halsbury’s statement in one of cases he decided which states that, â€Å"nobody has any right to represent his goods as the goods of somebody else. † Contrarily, trade mark has been defined in Trademarks Act 1994 as â€Å"any sign capable of being represented graphically which is capable of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. † Furthermore, word, design, letter, numeral, or shape of the goods or packaging may constitute trademark. As to origin, Passing off have been recognized by the common law as early as16th century. Few cases tried under passing off includes, Southern v. How and Dean v. Steel . After a century, another passing off case was tried by virtue of Blanchard v. Hill. Although, it was not at that time recognized as passing off, the principle laid down was severally used in many cases. Meanwhile, in Blanchard v. Hill, the plaintiff applied for an injunction to forbid the defendant from using the Great Mogul as a trade mark in the manufacture of the latter’s playing cards. However, Lord Hardwicke refused to grant injunction and reasoned out that the court has no basis to grant an injunction. Besides the court recognized the right of trader to bear a mark for his products or services but it stressed the absence of any instance that will support an injunction. Nevertheless, after several years, through the decision in Blanchard, it has been established that each proprietor has an exclusive right to the mark used in his goods or services offered for sale. In addition, it was interpreted that when the use of other’s mark was stained with fraud, injunction can be granted. In the following century, the term â€Å"pass off† was used in Perry v. Truefit, and it was further interpreted and applied to mean that, â€Å"A man is not to sell his own goods under the pretence that they are the goods of another man. † In the early days, intent was considered as an essential element for passing off. However, in the 20th century cases, the element of intent was abandoned. On the other hand, trademark protection has its recognition in 1863 through Lord Westbury in Edelsen v. Edelsen. In this particular case, the court stressed that there exist a right to property in trade names which is transmissible and enforceable even against innocent infringement. Formally, trade marks were permitted to be registered under the Trade Marks Registration Act 1875. According to this act, anyone was barred from instituting an infringement proceeding provided that the trade mark was earlier registered. The act was further amended by Trade Marks Act 1995. For a mark to serve as a trademark, it must be distinctive by meeting any of the categories namely; arbitrary or fanciful, suggestive, descriptive, and generic. A mark is said to be arbitrary of fanciful if it has no logical relationship with the product it represent. An example is the trademark â€Å"Nike† which does not have logical relationship with shoes. The mark is suggestive if marks evoke or suggest the characteristic of the product like â€Å"Coppertone† which is suggestive of sun tan lotion. A mark is descriptive if the consumers would associate it to the producer rather than on product or services such as â€Å"Holiday Inn†. Lastly, a mark constitutes to be generic if it describes a general category, like â€Å"computers†. Difference Between Passing Off and Trademark Protection Fundamentally, the differences between the two lies on the protection it affords. In passing off, there is no property in the name or design of the business, while in trademark, the registered name or mark is the property being protected. In passing off, the law protects the ownership over the goodwill or reputation of one person which may be destructed by misrepresentation of other people regardless of intention. However, in trade mark protection, the law particularly protects the mark, name, or get- up which has been registered by a business owner. In other words, the property in passing off is the goodwill or reputation while the property in trademark is the trademark itself. Notably, there are three purposes for requiring marks to be registered. One is to guarantee to the consumers of the origin of the marked products or services to avoid the possibility of confusions and serves as a distinction of the goods of one from another having another origin. Second is to protect the customers from deception by other traders. Last purpose is to notify other traders or rival engaged in the same product or services from using the trademarks of another. Having the mark registered, the owner will draw various benefits. One of which is to put off people from using the trademark without permission. The owner can also initiate an action against unauthorized use. Finally, being a property of the owner, he has the discretion whether to sell or have it licensed by other people for a price. As to the acquisition of right, rights to property or goodwill in passing off are acquired in a gradual way because the business owner only builds his business reputation after a long period of time. This is so because a reputation or goodwill is dependent upon consumers, quality and service which necessitate handwork and persistence. Goodwill can also be established on the nature of the mark, degree of distinctiveness, figures of sales, expenses for promotions, marketing of the products and period of use. On the contrary, property right over the trademark and protection of such mark is acquired immediately upon registration. Moreover, goodwill cannot exist independently from the business which has created it even if such can be transferred or assigned to another. On the other hand, trademarks can be licensed or assigned separately from the business by the proprietor provided that such is not spurious or deceiving to the consumers. Furthermore, the two are distinct as to the remedy available in case of unauthorized use of the name or mark. In passing off, the claimant may institute a passing off action while trademark infringement is available in trademark protection. More specifically, a passing off action has been defined as a â€Å"remedy for the invasion of a right of property not in the mark, name or get-up improperly used, but in the goodwill likely to be injured by the misrepresentation made in passing off one person’s goods as the goods of another. † The former is a common law remedy while the latter is a statutory one. It is said to be a common law because it has its genesis from an unwritten law or fundamental practice in the olden days. On the other hand, trademark is statutory because the relief has been created by law or legislations by virtue of Trade Marks Registration Acts. Passing off and trademark protection also differ as to the elements that needed to be proven in seeking judicial intervention. Three elements are required to be satisfied in passing off action while trademark infringement only requires one. In passing off action, the claimant must prove the existence of claimant’s goodwill, the misrepresentation by the defendant, and the damage caused to the plaintiff’s goodwill or reputation. To explicate further, goodwill is the whole benefit derived from a reputation and connection of a firm which has been built up operating honestly and lavishly expending money for a considerable year or period. Likewise, reputation is the public’s opinion on the product that may be associated with the symbol or name under which the product is being marketed. It is considered as a private personal property which is being sold to customer. Through goodwill or reputation, the inherent worth of the product is recognized and the loyalty of the customers to the product is developed. The second element which is misrepresentation must be material one and actionable that is capable of creating real or tangible damage to the plaintiff. Moreover, misrepresentation need not be intentional in order to succeed in a passing off action and any defense of innocence, negligence, or recklessness is not acceptable. Even fraud or malice cannot affect the action but will have effect on the penalty to be imposed. Under misrepresentation, it is necessary for the plaintiff to prove that the public is deceived or is made to believe that the defendant’s goods or business have been authorized or licensed by the plaintiff. The plaintiff must further prove that the customers, actual or prospective, are influenced by the misrepresentation. Since passing off safeguards the good will of the plaintiff, it is important that the misrepresentation being alleged is or had caused material damage to such property. Absence of a clear damage may result in the failure of the action. The damages, tangible or intangible, may be in the form of loss of sales due to confusion or dilution of the reputation. It may be observed that proving damages is difficult, but plaintiff may employ surveys and other statistical methods to show reliable evidence of damages. On the contrary, a claimant in a trademark infringement needs only to establish that the mark alleged to be infringing is deceptive as it is identical or similar with that of the plaintiff’s trademark. The issue involved in passing off is â€Å"whether the use concerned is likely to affect adversely the goodwill of the business. † While injury or damage is necessary in passing off action, the defendant need not cause injury or damage in the case of infringement. It is only necessary that trademark is identically deceptive. This is because the trader considers the trademark as a property and is the only means whereby the manufacturer retains or invites the confidence of the public as to the quality and integrity of the product. From the given elements, it can be observed that it passing off protects the business as a whole which encompasses the name, get- up, style, mode, etc. of the business. However, in trademark infringement only protects the name or symbol of the business.

How to Prepare for a Remote Job Interview

How to Prepare for a Remote Job Interview Some job seekers may be under the mistaken impression that having a remote interview is easier that interviewing for a position in person. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, remote interviews are becoming more common as workers are hired to work from home in the millions. Because an individual being interviewed wants to make the best impression during a remote interview, a few tips can help. 1. Prep the Area for Your InterviewSetting up for your interview in a messy room with children’s toys or other personal items around can make you appear unprofessional. In addition, letting an interviewer see the way you live is giving out unnecessary information that does not pertain to the job. When you set up for your interview, look around at what the interviewer will be seeing in the background. Keep your background businesslike, clean and preferably neutral. If your desk will be showing, organize the top neatly and get rid of any clutter.2. Show Some EnthusiasmJust as in a regular interview, an individual who shows no enthusiasm for the company or position will not impress the recruiter. Those who act bored or restless during an interview are perceived as just going through the motions. In other words, employers want employees who are happy to work for them and will do their best at the job. Enthusiasm for the position gets the interviewee closer to getting hired.3. Dress the PartDress appropriately for your interview. The point is to blend in with the culture of the company, but you want to use caution to neither underdress nor overdress. Stay away from clothing with logos and splashy patterns because it is distracting, and the hiring manager want to concentrate on what you have to say and whether you are a good fit for the company and job. Choose your clothing to fit in with the company and look polished for the interview. Although you may be tempted to wear jeans with your dress shirt, jacket and tie, realize that t he entire ensemble can reflect your attitude, so don’t skip on the suit pants or skirt. If the company dress is more casual, go with that but make sure your clothing is in good condition, pressed and presentable. In addition, remember to get that haircut if needed and present yourself with a well-scrubbed and polished look.4. Do Your ResearchIt can be difficult to have a good interview for a company you know little about. Do your research, and learn about the company where you are applying for a job. Whether in a healthcare job, sales, desk job or another type of employment, check out the company background, major news and the person with whom you will be interviewing.5. Keep the Noise Level DownWhile you are being interviewed, keep the noise level in your home down. This may involve asking someone to watch your children at their home for a little while or taking the dog for a walk. Turn off the television and stereo. You don’t want anything that might distract either you or the interviewer from concentrating. Turn off your cell phone or house phone ringer until the interview is over.6. Don’t Show ArroganceThis is a big turn off with recruiters. Talk about what you accomplished for your previous employer, but be cautious about bragging. Mention how your expertise benefitted the company such as talking about how your sales contributed to the company’s earnings, not about how you are the best salesperson in the business.Properly prepping for an interview, whether in person or remotely, is important to make that next step into a job successful. The way in which you find that job is also important. TheJobNetwork can help by doing the job search for you in any field such as sales jobs, medical receptionist jobs and in many other areas. After you enter your qualifications and job interests, sign up with TheJobNetwork, and we search around the clock for jobs that match your description and send you these listings in the form of email alert s.

Is ACT Aspire An Accurate Predictor of Your Real ACT Score

Is ACT Aspire An Accurate Predictor of Your Real ACT Score SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In 2014, the makers of the ACT rolled out a new pre-ACT test: the ACT Aspire. Unlike the ACT Plan, which was given just to tenth graders, the ACT Aspire is meant to be given to 3rd through 11th graders, with the goal of testing Common Core standards as well as ACT readiness. The ACT Aspire has its own scoring scale, content, and goals compared to the ACT. But it provides a predicted ACT score based on your performance. So is that predicted score accurate? We’ll give you the answer. History: The Plan Test Before we get into the details of Aspire, it’s helpful to know about the ACT’s old pre-ACT test: the ACT Plan. It was an ACT-style test for tenth graders, shorter in length than the ACT, but with similar questions. Like the ACT, the Plan was a traditional paper and pencil multiple choice test. It did not include a writing section like the ACT Plus Writing does. The ACT Plan was essentially considered the ACT’s version of the PSAT – a shorter, less-difficult version of the same test. ACT also offered the Explore test for 8th and 9th graders. Explore was also a version of the ACT, but shorter and designed to predict the future success of middle school students. The Plan was scored between 1-32, whereas the ACT is scored between 1-36. It predicted an ACT score between 1 and 5 points higher than the Plan score. Table 1. Score predictions via ACT Plan. For example, a plan score of 32 mapped to an ACT score between 33 and 36. These predictions were by no means set in stone. Some students would score higher than the PLAN predicted because they didn’t really try on the Plan and took it without studying, whereas they would study for the ACT. It’s easy to find archived discussions online about Plan scores and ACT scores, with many students reporting they outscored their Plan predictions by 5-10 points. Sometimes, students would also fail to meet their Plan predictions, since the Plan doesn’t have the same depth as the ACT, especially on the math section (there was less plane geometry and no trigonometry on the Plan). The old ACT Plan website itself says to â€Å"Keep in mind that these scores are only estimates, not guarantees. Improving your study habits and taking more challenging courses are likely to improve your ACT scores.† So even with a test very similar to the ACT, the estimated ACT score was just that – an estimation. So what happens with something as different as the ACT Aspire? What Exactly Is ACT Aspire? Aspire is a new test for third through eleventh graders designed to assess the new Common Core standards and college readiness, with alignment to the ACT subject areas. That means it tests Math, Reading, English, Writing, and Science. Aspire can be taken with computers or on paper, though paper is more expensive, so most schools are using the computer-based test. This is different than the ACT, which is still given on paper. Aspire is still quite new. It rolled out in 2014 and schools are adjusting to the change. It’s more expensive than the Plan, and many schools are still new to giving computer-based standardized tests. Unlike the ACT, Aspire doesn’t just have multiple-choice questions. There are short writing responses, longer responses including essays and narratives, questions that have you construct an argument or timeline, math questions that have you explain why someone else’s work is incorrect, and lists that you have to select all of the correct answers from. To see sample Aspire questions, visit this ACT site to access login information for the all the test sections and grade levels you're interested in. ACT is hoping Aspire will become the national standard for testing college readiness and Common Core standards, similar to other achievement tests like the PARCC. How Is ACT Aspire Scored? Aspire is not graded like the Plan with an ACT-like scale. Instead, it assigns scores between 400and 460 for each subject. We have included the current score ranges for each subject below. English This score scale lists the score ranges for each grade from 3 to 10. Note that while the bottom of the range is consistent, Aspire expects students to steadily improve over time as they acquire more knowledge in each grade. Via ACT Aspire. Math The ACT Aspire website also provides score benchmarks for each grade, in addition to the score ranges. You can see the benchmarks for each grade for the Math test below. Via ACT Aspire. Reading Via ACT Aspire. Science Via ACT Aspire. Writing Via ACT Aspire. These score scales are obviously quite different from the ACT's 1-36 range, and even the Plan's 1-32 range. However, the ACT still uses those scores to map to future ACT scores, based on when you took the test. For example, they would predict a higher future ACT score if an eigth grader earned a 425 versus a tenth grader, since an eight grader has more time to learn and improve. Since Aspire is new, there isn’t a ton of data yet to see if their ACT score predictions match up with what students actually earn. It will take a few years of students taking Aspire and then going on to take the ACT as juniors and seniors to get a sense of how accurately Aspire maps to ACT scores. Still, we will examine some of the data ACT has released to give you a rough idea of how they predict scores will match up – and help you interpret a score you have already received! ACT Data Sample ACT has released a data sample of 50 students, showing their Aspire scores in tenth grade, and their ACT scores in eleventh grade. It's just one sample, but we can use it to start exploring how Aspire scores translate to ACT scores. Aspire English ACT English Aspire Math ACT Math Aspire Reading ACT Reading Aspire Science ACT Science 411 8 411 11 410 13 414 10 411 17 414 15 413 14 415 17 413 16 417 19 414 15 415 16 419 14 417 16 415 16 416 17 419 10 418 16 415 20 417 20 422 12 419 19 415 19 417 16 423 11 420 15 416 12 419 15 424 10 420 16 419 17 419 19 424 10 421 22 420 17 419 17 425 14 421 17 420 22 421 18 425 15 421 15 421 22 421 21 425 17 422 19 421 19 421 22 426 16 422 20 422 23 422 22 427 19 422 17 422 19 424 18 427 12 423 16 422 17 424 19 428 21 424 22 422 19 424 17 428 20 424 16 423 14 425 17 428 22 425 15 424 23 427 21 428 21 425 18 424 21 427 13 430 17 426 16 424 18 427 18 430 20 426 17 425 16 427 23 432 19 427 22 426 24 427 24 433 21 428 15 426 16 427 20 434 16 428 23 427 18 428 15 434 22 429 23 427 16 428 19 435 23 430 20 427 18 429 21 436 21 430 19 427 18 429 23 436 22 431 26 427 25 429 13 437 22 431 25 427 23 429 25 437 20 432 23 428 22 430 21 437 26 432 17 428 26 430 23 437 21 432 24 429 20 430 25 438 26 434 23 429 26 431 20 438 23 434 22 429 23 431 19 439 25 434 21 429 19 431 24 439 23 437 28 429 31 433 20 439 32 437 26 429 22 434 26 439 24 437 19 431 21 434 23 440 28 437 23 432 28 435 28 440 31 438 28 432 29 435 24 441 26 438 28 432 30 436 28 442 25 441 27 432 21 436 23 442 28 442 26 434 28 437 27 442 24 443 29 434 23 439 24 443 24 443 27 434 25 440 30 443 33 443 28 434 33 440 25 444 26 444 28 435 31 441 30 447 31 446 32 435 31 442 29 448 32 448 33 435 32 442 33 448 35 455 30 435 34 443 34 Table 2. ACT Aspire to ACT Score Equivalencies As the Aspire score increases, the ACT score generally increases, though there is no steady pattern or prediction for what kind of Aspire score will lead to a certain ACT score. For example, in the English scores, both a 440 and 447 Aspire score led to a 31 ACT, and 428, 434, 436 and 437 all mapped to a 22 ACT. From these tables, we can observe the following general ranges: Aspire 400-420: ACT 1-16 Aspire 420-430: ACT 12-24 Aspire 430-440: ACT 20-32 Aspire 440+: ACT 26-36 These ranges are just estimates. For example, note that there were no scores higher than 440 for the Reading section, though ACT scores in the 30s were still reported. Obviously, this isn’t nearly as neat as the old Plan predictions, where you could simply add 1 to 5 points to your Plan score to guess your ACT score. Plus, there are other complicating factors that make it hard to predict an ACT score based on the Aspire score. Complicating Factors for Aspire Accuracy Different Test Scales Since the test scales are different, the score predictions for Aspire aren’t quite as straightforward as they were for Plan. Whereas the Plan used an ACT-like scale, Aspire has to translate the 390-470 scale to the ACT 1-36 scale. Although ranges can be created, like we showed above, they are certainly less straightforward. Differing Questions As we’ve seen, the ACT Aspire and the ACT are very different tests. One student might do better on Aspire – since it has free response, short answer, and more question variability – while another might do better on a straightforward multiple-choice test like the ACT. Unlike the Plan (as well as the PSAT compared to the SAT), there isn’t as much similarity between the Aspire and the ACT, making score mapping difficult. Computer Versus Paper Furthermore, taking a computer-based test is quite different from a paper-and-pencil one. Since you can usually see only one question at a time on the computer, it could be easier for some students to focus on the Aspire. Also, it only takes a split-second to log an answer choice, whereas for paper-and-pencil tests, bubbling takes time. These differences could cause a student to do better on Aspire than the ACT – especially if they lose the paper-taking test practice the Plan used to give them. Different Test Conditions Taking the ACT, unless you live in a state where all students take it, is different than taking a test in school. You wake up early on a Saturday, make sure you have a very specific set of supplies (admission ticket, I.D., No. 2 pencils, calculator), and psych yourself up to do well. Taking a test in school, even required state testing, can blend into a regular school day. Students likely won’t feel the same motivation to do super well as they will when taking the ACT, since the ACT directly affects college admissions. Students may tend to try harder and focus more on the ACT than the Aspire, which could easily allow them to outscore their Aspire predictions. Extra Studying It’s much more likely students will do extra studying on their own for the ACT. It’s very unlikely a student would study outside of class for Aspire, since the test doesn’t matter to their personal college admission goals. Any studying for Aspire would likely happen in school, at the discretion of teachers. Because of that, it’s very likely a student who doesn’t do well on Aspire could still earn a very good ACT score by studying specifically for the ACT. It’s also possible a student who does well on Aspire, with its varying question types and computer-based format, will struggle on the ACT, which is nearly all multiple choice and has very intense pacing. The Bottom Line The ACT Aspire will give you decent information about your progress in school and likely performance on the ACT. For example, its data might let you know you are ahead of your grade in reading and science but are behind on some math concepts, which will help you focus your studying for the ACT on the math section. However, don’t take the predicted ACT score as fact, since Aspire and the ACT are so different, and the Aspire is so new. At the end of the day, a much better predictor of your ACT score is the amount of quality studying you put in before the test. Even if you have a super-high Aspire score, you can’t walk into the ACT without studying and expect a 36. It’s a very tricky test that’s quite different from Aspire. And if you’re really curious about how well you’ll do on the ACT, taking an actual ACT practice test is a better predictor. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you could add between 1 and 5 points – like the Plan did – to your practice test score to predict your ACT potential. But remember that you have the most control over your future ACT score. Instead of getting caught up in predictions, get caught up in studying! What’s Next? Speaking of studying, start planning out an ACT study schedule with our exclusive guide. Putting in the time, hour for hour, is the best way to improve your college admissions chances! Get some more in-depth resources on the ACT. Get tips for a perfect ACT math score, learn how to write an ACT essay, and get a list of the vocabulary you must know for the ACT. Learn more about how the ACT is scored to help you come up with a target raw score. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

How To Write More When You Dont Have Time

How To Write More When You Dont Have Time In our Better Blogger Survey, we found out two things about (most) of you: 86% of you plan to publish more content than you have been. 75% of you are on  a team of only two people or are blogging solo. Nathan suggested that I talk a bit more about this topic, partially because of the fact that I work as a solo blogger and write about 6,000 to 10,000 words each week, and also because you and I have similar goals (yep, I took that same survey and can vouch for these two concern points). Usually, I’ll push the idea that if you can’t handle more, you can’t do more. But for the go-getters out there who are insisting that you are going to write more  no matter what, here’s the ugly truth: Self-discipline and work lie ahead, not gimmicks or hacks. How To #Write More With Your Small Team via @JulieNeidlinger And, to get things off to a great start, let’s talk about distractions. Control The Distractions To Write More I’ve talked about distraction-free writing  in terms of the writing space itself, and how the visual distractions of the app you write in might hamper your writing efforts. Nothing derails my ability to write more, though, than the fact that I can check Facebook, my phone, Twitter, and every other non-work â€Å"information† source under the sun to avoid the work of writing. I blame my browser’s URL recognition and the fact that I can start typing â€Å"facebook† with just my left hand for sending me over there so much. It’s as if my hand starts typing â€Å"face† on its own at this point. Recommended Reading:  How To Improve Your Personal Productivity As You Blog These technology and computer-based distractions are a struggle to deal with, but there are some technological based solutions you  can use (e.g. Chrome plugins that limit time on social media, or a browser that locks you out of websites you’ve deemed distracting during work hours). But there are other distractions that have nothing to do with technology. I write at home, and since we’ve been having wonderful warm fall weather lately, I like to open up the windows for fresh air. The distraction? A neighbor who leaves the dog out all day while he is at work, leaving the neighborhood with incessant barking and howling the entire day. If you’re like me, once you hear a noise and really notice it, it’s all you hear. That white noise machine works great for putting you to sleep at night, for example, until one night you hear the loop and from that point on, all you can hear is the loop. So with Mr. McBarky in the neighborhood, I find I have to write elsewhere (basement, coffee shops, library) or keep the windows closed. If not, I inevitably end up enraged on a ridiculous level, calling animal control to report the dog. Control your #distractions to #write more content, grow your blog, and increase your impact.So what to do about the distractions that keep you from writing  more content and hitting your blog schedule goals? 1. Identify your distractions. Distractions can be digital, they can be audible, they can be hunger, they can be coworkers, they can be disinterest, they can be emotional- anything that sends your thought off track. Before you can defeat them, you have to be able to identify them. What am I doing when I realize I’m not writing? If you sat down to write and suddenly realize you aren’t, diagnose what happened. Write down what distracted you, and where you ended up. Write down what time of day it was, and the setting (where you were) when it took place. Note why you think you were distracted. 2. Find the distraction pattern. Distraction patterns often follow typical paths. We can focus better in the morning  (especially as you get older), while we almost look for distraction later in the afternoon. We can focus better if we haven’t been sitting still in the same place too long. We get sleepy after a big meal. Look at those moments of distraction that keep popping up. Can you see a pattern? Was it because you were bored, tired, or had just eaten lunch? Try to figure out when and why you are the most distracted, and see if you can plan your writing  to happen when you are least distracted. This is tricky in a team; the plans and meetings of others are inevitably going to force you into distraction zones. This is a valid topic of discussion with your team regarding the scheduling of meetings and other distractions versus the goal of writing  more content. Find your distraction paths to change your perspective productively. #writingYou may find one key reason for â€Å"distraction† is procrastination. Procrastination is its own beast, that horrible trap when you put off doing something you don’t want to do as long as you can. It’s certainly not a part of writing more content, though I could very well be a card-carrying member of Procrastinator’s Anonymous. I’ve mentioned before how you can work with your procrastinating tendencies and still produce, and I stand by the idea that you can work with it as well as overcome it to some extent. Procrastination is often at the heart of most distractions; we go looking for something else to do. We actively want  to be distracted. It’s the toughest one to deal with, and takes the most willpower. 3. Build on useful distractions. When I am trying to read something difficult that I know is good for me, I find my mind wandering. I will miraculously remember a million valid things I need to remember doing, things I don’t seem to recall unless I’m otherwise trying to harness my attention to something difficult. Keep a piece of paper handy and write down those to-dos, those â€Å"oh yeah† moments so that you can get it out of your mind and can get on with the main thing at hand. Otherwise, they just sit there and fester and make it impossible for you to get your writing done. How To Turn Negative Distractions Into Something Useful #bloggingAnd heck, you’ll probably end up with a fine task list when you’re done. Might as well capitalize on the inevitable distraction and turn them from something negative into something useful. 4. Kill useless distractions. Here’s where the meat of the whole â€Å"control your distractions† approach takes effect, and it won’t be fun or pretty. It’s going to hurt. I mean, if we are people who are checking our  mobile phones nearly once every six waking minutes of the day, we are clearly addicted to distractions. We give lip service to our disgust with experiencing distractions while we secretly crave any chance to be interrupted from work. So... Mobile phone.  Turn off your phone completely so there are no dings and vibrations. Or, turn off all app notifications. Or go into a room away from your mobile phone. Offline. Write with pen and paper, or even a typewriter (for reals, not ironically), so that you aren’t tempted to venture down any Internet rabbit hole. If you need the Internet to do research, write the outline  and basic post structure offline first. You can write in Google Docs offline, so turn off your Internet connection and use that feature. Get a door.  Find a quiet place that has a door and let your team members know (or your family, or your kids) that you cannot be interrupted until a set time. Get a clock placard and hang on the door with a note about interruptions if you have to. Limit messages. Forbid yourself from checking email more than three times a day. Two is even better. The same for social media that you use for messaging. Unless you are the social media manager or it's part of your planned  social media engagement program, get off of it. This is why planning is important for all content creation, including social media. Without planning, you sort of find yourself on Twitter, all the time. Whoops. Dominate your stomach. Have water nearby, before you write, unless you plan to break at regular intervals to walk and get water. But don’t eat too much before you prepare to do your most arduous content creation. Eating makes you sleepy. A little hunger pang during your writing isn’t going to kill you; it might sharpen your senses a bit. While fatigue can improve some aspects of creativity (because it wears down barriers you erect in your mind), writing a coherent blog post while drowsy doesn’t work. If you get great ideas while you’re sleepy, fine. Do the writing of those ideas while you’re sharp and awake. Rethink your hunger. No more â€Å"I think I need a snack† excuses. Most of the coffee consumed in offices is likely out of boredom. You just want to get up and away from your desk. Set a timer. Sometimes, I find it really helpful to inject a level of fake â€Å"stress† by setting a timer and saying, for example, that I have 1 hour to get a post written. Granted, I’ll have to clean it up and such, but it really turns the focus on when you’re racing against the clock. You produce. You can clean it up later. Move around.  Get up and away from your desk. Go for a walk before you sit down to do any major writing. If you’re one of the frozen chosen like we are up here in North Dakota and it’s too cold out, find a stairwell and go up and down a few flights to get the blood pumping. Procrastination problems. Admit you’re a procrastinator, and start working on the self-discipline to do the hard stuff first. That alone will decrease your distractions because you’ve removed the biggest contributor to the category of Distractions You Can Control. Tidy up.  Get junk and clutter off of your desk and workspace. No noises. No, you cannot do a good job writing with the TV going or music blaring. I know some people swear that they can’t write without music blaring through their earbuds, but I really doubt it. Perhaps there are some scenarios or rare situations, but generally, having the words of others wafting through the brain isn’t going to help you write a blog post. And sitting down in front of the TV in the evening with your laptop with the idea that you’ll write and watch Netflix at the same time? Liar. It will only take longer than if you did it without the background noise. If your team is serious about writing more content  and also realizes that distractions are a serious issue, you will need to essentially create a â€Å"clean room†, a place where distractions cannot be found. No phones, no noises, a door- whatever you’ve determined is derailing your writing  efforts. Stop Being An Island John Donne  said that no man was an island, and the same can be said for your team. There are other people out there who can help you write  more content through things like guest posts and interviews. It’s just a guess, but when most content marketers (particularly solo marketers) start thinking about the overwhelming state of writing more content, they are thinking as islanders. They are thinking it’s all on them. They are thinking that each piece of content is brand new, from scratch, all on their lonesome. A couple of truths about writing  content that can help get you off the island: There are great guest writers  out there. Find them on the blogs you already enjoy reading. Find them in the comments section. Ask them if they’d like to write for you. Please remember to reuse your content. Content curation  is a valid part of â€Å"your† content plan. Most ideas are derivative. You don’t always have to come up with new ideas every day. You can expound or rework your own, or other’s, ideas. In other words, you can include other people's content in your efforts to â€Å"write† more content, even if you didn’t exactly create the content. The big trap for you comes when you view writing  as starting fresh and new each day. You think you’re running a race on your own when you’re actually running a relay and passing off the baton. Writing is like running a relay and passing the baton. You're not alone. #bloggingThe overlap between growth and quantity. It’s not that you don’t already know those things in that list; we’ve talked about them a lot here on this blog. But I think it’s easy to think of them in terms of â€Å"these are growth hacks† and forget that they are also a part the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"writing more content† set. More content often leads to more growth, but if you step back and see it not just as part of your plan to grow but also part of how you’ll simply go about increasing your content output, it might help you approach these ideas better. Growth tends to be numbers we measure after something has occurred. Writing  a larger quantity of content is something that has to simply happen right now. So, if you have a list of things to do to grow your brand, and you have a different list of things to do to write  more content, and those lists don’t have these similarities, you need to rethink your approach. A Lack Of Resources Perhaps the stumbling block for writing more content  is that you lack resources. These might include: Time Ability Knowledge Money Well, that’s really all of it, isn’t it? Any kind of blogging resource falls into one of those biggies. I can’t conjure up more time for you, though I can talk to you about using it more wisely and defeating procrastination. I can also suggest a couple of things that might be consuming the limited amount of time and resources that you have. If you don’t have time to write long, long blog posts, don’t write them. Ideal blog post length  is really quite arguable. Different bloggers swear by different post lengths. Fresh and frequent content happens easier with shorter posts if you are short on time and blogging solo. You may love Blog X’s layout and gadgetry, and the success they’ve touted from using them, but if you don’t know how to create and/or maintain such things, why are you wasting so much time chasing it down for your own site? Just create good content and forget the bells and whistles for now. You may not know as much as the rest in your niche. So capitalize on that from two directions: Learn by reading the experts, and create content for your own audience based around what you found and learned from the experts. Eventually, you’ll gain the knowledge yourself. In the meantime, you write  more content and you bring your audience along for the education ride. You may wish to be the Oracle Of Your Niche, but it’s probably not going to happen. If you don’t have the time to search down 10 white papers for research for one post, find one really good piece of information and set your plan to create three pieces of content from the one. When tallying up what resources you think you need as you create your content marketing plan, list resources you actually have instead of resources others have that you want. You can still make great stuff with fewer resources. Remember, necessity is the mother of invention. The key to writing more content  from a small amount of input is to be creative with what you have, not what you think you should have.

Current Issue Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Current Issue - Coursework Example Being near green vacant lots was associated with an average heart rate reduction of more than five beats per minute, compared with non-greened lots. Further analysis concluded that the total net reduction in heart rate when near and in view of green vacant lots was more than 15 heart beats a minute. â€Å"We used heart rate as a physiologic marker of acute stress, and the reduction we found suggests a biological link between urban blight reduction strategies like vacant lot greening and reductions in stress,† lead author Dr. Eugenia South, a physician in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, said in a university news release. â€Å"Our hypothesis in the earlier published work was that transforming vacant lots from being overrun with weeds and filled with trash to a clean and green space may make it difficult for people to hide weapons and conduct illegal activities such as drug use in or near the space,† South

Management class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management class - Essay Example It is good that the people behind Merck have contributed a lot of their time and effort in searching for an effective drug that could treat onchocerciasis. Without the researchers and innovators behind Merck, a lot of less fortunate African people that lives in nearby rivers and works in the farm would still suffer from the said epidemic disease. Many of them would still go through the process of losing their eyesight and develop some uncontrollable itching, swelling, and thickening of the skin. (Salaam, 2002) If only Merck uses alternative methods such as ‘microdosing’ in new drugs experiments (Rowland, 2006) instead of using animals on their experiment, the result of the company’s success in developing Mectizan ® would have been so much better for all of us. When Vioxx ® was subjected to pre-clinical and clinical data, the drug was found out to have side effects particularly on gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal safety of the users. (Martin, 2006a) Despite knowing the harmful effects of Vioxx ®, the company decided to continue the selling of the drugs. In fact, the company collaborated with the FDA not to include the NSAID-class gastrointestinal warning on its label but instead, to modify it. (Martin, 2006a) As early as 1997, questions about the cardiovascular safety of Vioxx ® have been raised. (Martin, 2006b) Since Merck has modified the warning label on Vioxx ®, a lot of consumers were not provided with a more solid warning with regards to the use of the product. It was only in September 30, 2004 when the company formally declared the voluntary worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx ® from the market. (Kim, n.d.) Approximately four years after a numerous incidence of cardiovascular problems and a lawsuit against Merck were reported to be cause by the use of the drug. (CNN Money, 2004; Berenson, 2005) It is advisable for consumers to study carefully the possible side effects of the drugs they are planning to intake. Promotion of drugs can

International Business Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Business Communication - Essay Example All the experts who are working in the field of multicultural environment require guidance on developing a work environment that is conducive for their entire workforce; the researchers belonging to the fields of cultural anthropology, sociology, psychology and applied linguistics have studied various factors to demonstrate the importance of various cultures’ knowledge and their implications on conducting effective intercultural business communication (Bowie, 2008; Chaney & Martin, 2011; Zang & Zhou, 2008).When the businesses have adequate understanding about the cultures and differing aspects of various countries, there is a high probability that there are positive interactions among people and cordial and effective business relationships are developed (Jameson, 2007; Lewis, 2005). The main concern for every organisation operating in international regions is to develop an understanding about the culture, values, norms and attitudes of each area of operation so that there are less chances of the misinterpretation of communication.In order to provide guidance to the organisations that are engaged in the globalisation processes, the researchers have studied the cultural contexts of distinct nations and have provided in-depth insights about the intercultural business communication (Espinar, 2010), working cultures (Forey & Lockwood, 2010), work behaviours (Bowey & Thill, 2010), work etiquettes (Okoro, 2012), language barriers and subcultures present in the organisation (Zang & Zhou, 2008).

In the afterlife, will Leonard deserve punishment for the muders he Essay

In the afterlife, will Leonard deserve punishment for the muders he committed in the flim The Momentum - Essay Example For this essay, it means this: the willful, deliberate commission of a morally incorrect act. Also, for purposes of necessary brevity, let us say that Leonard was not morally justified in the homicides that he committed. It is the opinion of this writer that Leonard will not be punished for the killings he engaged in, due to the caveat in the above definition regarding deliberate action. This implies that the person committing the action must 1. Understand the difference between right and wrong; and 2. Voluntarily choose to do wrong anyway. Given this definition, what sort of acts would be excluded from it? First of all, acts that are purely the results of circumstances outside the person’s actions are not â€Å"wrong,† even though they may cause horrible suffering and tragedy. As an example, imagine a motorist driving along a busy commercial street when a child suddenly runs in front of his car and is truck and killed. Let us say that the driver is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and that he is within the speed limit and operating his vehicle in a manner consistent with the principles of responsible driving. Let us also assume that he did not see the child until she was in the path of his car, and that he could not brake in time to prevent striking her fatally. Neither did he have time to swerve his car in another direction. Intention to strike the child, no malice in his heart towards her. It was an unfortunate accident in the purest sense of the word. He should not be punished by the courts for his act, nor by God or some other entity that apportions reward and punishment in the afterlife. In a real sense, in fact, it can be argued that he did not â€Å"act† in this scenario at all. The real culprit in the sad affair was the laws of physics. The man had no knowledge of the coming event and hence was unable to act to prevent it.

Impact of Culture on International Business Essay

Impact of Culture on International Business - Essay Example However, in the USA, the level of power distance is quite low and this shows that the intensity of interpersonal conflicts is quite high among the members. So, the entrepreneur needs to communicate very tactfully, in order to maintain cooperation and coordination among all. Similarly as the rate of individualism in the USA is extremely high so the entrepreneur needs to offer equal opportunities and wages to its members. Then, the level of motivation and morale of each of the employees of any newly developed organization might get enhanced towards their assigned tasks. Thus if equal opportunities and facilities are offered to the members or employees of the organization of USA, then their rate of dissatisfaction might get reduced to a significant extent. By reducing the rate of dissatisfaction, the level of coordination and teamwork among the employees might get declined to result in amplification of the brand value of the organization (Hofstede, n. d.). Prior developing a business in the United States of America, the entrepreneur needs to be well-versed with the language, customs, habits, and etiquettes, along with cultural dimensions, mentioned above so as to make the enterprise extremely successful in long run. The citizens of USA speak both American as well as Canadian English at the time of conversing with others. The Americans desire to make friendships with all and offer gifts to retain their relationships for the long run. This type of attitude helps to maintain uniqueness and equality among all the members. Moreover, the American citizens always offer high attention to dress codes and shaking of hands to maintain the level of relationships. This is one their business etiquettes that helps to maintain uniformity and coordination among all of the employees of an organization or citizens of the country of USA.

In the afterlife, will Leonard deserve punishment for the muders he Essay

In the afterlife, will Leonard deserve punishment for the muders he committed in the flim The Momentum - Essay Example For this essay, it means this: the willful, deliberate commission of a morally incorrect act. Also, for purposes of necessary brevity, let us say that Leonard was not morally justified in the homicides that he committed. It is the opinion of this writer that Leonard will not be punished for the killings he engaged in, due to the caveat in the above definition regarding deliberate action. This implies that the person committing the action must 1. Understand the difference between right and wrong; and 2. Voluntarily choose to do wrong anyway. Given this definition, what sort of acts would be excluded from it? First of all, acts that are purely the results of circumstances outside the person’s actions are not â€Å"wrong,† even though they may cause horrible suffering and tragedy. As an example, imagine a motorist driving along a busy commercial street when a child suddenly runs in front of his car and is truck and killed. Let us say that the driver is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and that he is within the speed limit and operating his vehicle in a manner consistent with the principles of responsible driving. Let us also assume that he did not see the child until she was in the path of his car, and that he could not brake in time to prevent striking her fatally. Neither did he have time to swerve his car in another direction. Intention to strike the child, no malice in his heart towards her. It was an unfortunate accident in the purest sense of the word. He should not be punished by the courts for his act, nor by God or some other entity that apportions reward and punishment in the afterlife. In a real sense, in fact, it can be argued that he did not â€Å"act† in this scenario at all. The real culprit in the sad affair was the laws of physics. The man had no knowledge of the coming event and hence was unable to act to prevent it.

Medecine Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medecine - Personal Statement Example I exuberantly thought I would be showing my companions a wonderful sight of fireworks and they will be thankful they were with me. Nevertheless, my enthusiasm turned into a nightmare when our eyes started to burn. We bawled our eyes out because of the dreadful event and as a result of the tear gas fired by the army. I quickly turned back, pulling my brother and cousin who were already shrieking. As the older person among us, I strove to have my wits intact. I took my brother and cousin home. I went out again with a purpose in mind. On my way out, I saw several women, children and elderly people crying and screaming by the roadside as policemen scoured the area, striking civilians who fought. There were fear and cries of anguish all around and the sight was just unbearable. Covering my eyes with a cloth, I went to the nearest vegetable shack. I once read that onion bulbs can be used as protection against tear gas and so I bought as many as I can carry. I cut the onions in half and handed them to my family and some people who were suffering, crying for help outside our home. I instructed them to squeeze the onion s near their eyes so that the gas released from the onions will irritate their eyes and help get rid of the tear gas. When I was sure that my family members were safe in our house, I went out to see how things were going outside. There was chaos everywhere. Policemen were checking every person’s belongings as they tried to go home safely, vehicles were stopped for hours for the policemen to complete their inspections and those who fought against them were hurt. Masked, uniformed men were scattered around the area. They had shields to protect themselves from people who protested against such inhumane actions. Behind them were tanks where tear gases were expelled from. The army was in stark contrast with the unarmed civilians who wanted nothing but to stop the bloodshed and live peacefully. Bloody victims, destroyed cars, suffering and angry people, women

The Alternate Bibliotherapy for Frankenstein’s Monster Essay Example for Free

The Alternate Bibliotherapy for Frankenstein’s Monster Essay The Alternate Bibliotherapy for Frankenstein’s Monster The technique of bibliotherapy is one that can be very beneficial to those struggling with personal identity and confidence issues. It has also been a proven way to aid depressed individuals back to mental stability. But in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the Creature ends up with a poor collection of â€Å"helpful† content. He stumbles upon three works: Goethe’s Sorrows of Werter, Plutarch’s Lives, and Milton’s Paradise Lost. Upon reading these books, the Creature forms a predisposition against his creator Victor and the rest of society who have rejected him. In The Sorrows of Werter, it tells of a man who strives to win the heart of a married friend but later ends up taking his own life in sorrow and loneliness. The happening that the monster got a hold of this work is just as detrimental to dropping a match into a container of gasoline. This very novel was infamous for driving hundreds of Europeans to ending their own lives after reading this. Which supports the reason why the Creature ends up taking his own life. A more reasonable choice for the Creature to read would be one of the self-help genre. Despite the time period of this story, this type of literature would be most beneficial to a depressed individual, especially when lacking any sense of direction or leading. Books such as Stop Worrying and Start Living or The End of Rejection would give the monster incite on how to overcome the feeling of rejection and abandonment. Although some see these works as hoaxes, it would be a far more constructive influence then Goethe’s. The purpose of Plutarch’s classic work Parallel Lives was to plant qualities within the reader’s mind. Many believe this is how the monster gains a conscience shown in the conclusion of the story. But Plutarch expounds on battles and bloodshed, which reflected a negative effect on the Creature’s mindset. If the monster were seeking to find ethics and morals, it should have read and studied God’s Word. His Scripture is a foundational and fundamental basis for all of human morality and a divine instruction that every person, or monster, must comprehend to understand the meaning of life and love. Reflecting on Milton’s Paradise Lost, one could conclude that the Creature has simply taken the wrong point of view. It associates itself with the character of Satan, obviously an unfavorable connection. If only the monster could view the story with the same outlook that Adam had in the end when faced with the revelation of Christ’s pardon as a future sacrifice. Notwithstanding the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, Adam still found hope in the redemption God’s Son would bring in the future to mankind. I would still recommend that the Creature read this work the understanding of Christ’s love and sacrifice in the end despite the unfolding of deception and transgressions. This may enable the Creature to grasp the concept of forgiveness and express it toward its negligent creator. With these various choices in literary works, both modern and classic, one would be able to alter the character of the Creature and even the entirety of the story. Thus going to show the fate of the monster finding the original three works ignited the initial fury and vengeance, which drove the Creature on a vendetta throughout the tragic story.

The Chappaquiddick Incident

The Chappaquiddick Incident The Chappaquiddick incident was a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts on July 18, 1969. There was a lot of subsequent investigations pertaining to the case and It started to raise questions on his honesty and courage along with him being viewed differently by all. It happened after the party that Ted Kennedy hosted for a group of six women, including Mary Jo Kopechne, known as one of the boiler-room girls who was serving on Robert F. Kennedys 1968 presidential campaign. Ted was a U.S. senator, a spokesman for liberal causes, including civil rights, health care and immigration for 47 years from 1962 to 2009, and was a leader of the Democratic Party, he was known for his ability to work with those on both sides of the political aisle. He was the youngest of one of the wealthiest families in the nation, one of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He attended Harvard in college and shortly after being expelled he enlisted into the army, but m istakenly signed up for four years instead of two. After somehow fixing his years back to two instead of four, he attended law school at the University of Virginia, and was cited for reckless driving four times yet his Virginia drivers license was never revoked. After the assassination of his brother he became the acknowledged leader of Senate liberals and served as assistant majority leader in 1969-1971. Ted was devastated by his brothers death more than anything, as he was closest to Robert Kennedy among those in the Kennedy family. Ted at Roberts funeral eulogized: My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it In 1964, he was immensely injured in a plane crash, and hospitalized for several months. The test results done by the hospital at the time he was admitted had shown he was legally intoxic ated. He was legally married to Joann Bennett in 1958 and was identified to be interested in plenty of other women as well. The married couple had more than enough miscarriages before they had three beautiful children( which In 1973, Kennedys son Edward Kennedy, Jr., was discovered to have chondrosarcoma his leg was amputated and he underwent a long, difficult, experimental two-year drug treatment.) The situation put pressure on Joan, who has went to facilities for alcoholism and emotional strain several times and was arrested for drunk driving after a traffic accident. During the time frame of the incident Kennedys wife had high expectations for another pregnancy that she ended up miscarrying and blaming Ted saying that his personal scandal caused it, they then divorced and she received $4 million dollar settlement when the divorce went through in 1982. Kennedy and His 28-year-old(6 days shy of becoming 29) companion Mary Jo Kopechne were the only ones present during the scandal. T he surrounding circumstance was that Kopechne told him that she was very eager to leave, and if he would be kind enough to drop her back off to her hotel. Kennedy had his own testimony on the incident saying he accidentally drove his car off a one-lane bridge, losing control, and plunging into the water of Poucha Pond and into a dike, killing/suffocating/drowning Mary due to him not remembering any of the turns and not remembering the road or details in general, Kennedy said he repeatedly went back to the scene of the crash and dove into the water to try to save her but complained he wasnt successful and ended up surviving without any significant injuries, returning back to the party he came from afterwards. Ralph Chiumenti, an engineer who spends most his summers on Chappaquiddick island pointed out how someone driving very fast would not have noticed that the bridge is at a slight angle to the road. They would also have to be driving fast to land in the channel. The receptionist a t his motel also claimed that the senator appeared unbothered or severely natural when he came to her to borrow a dime to make a phone call two and half hours before he actually reported the tragedy to the police, leaving more unanswered questions and actions to linger over the events of the fatal evening. Kennedys reputation recovered somehow and he became one of the legislatures most effective members. His actions following the misfortune were not only disturbing but unhuman. He did not immediately report what had happened, in fact he reported it 11 hours after he had made a majority of 17 phone calls and texts. A young boy and some scuba divers noticed the sunken car and lifeless woman before Kennedy reported it. Due to such harm and procrastination he pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene, clouding his political future. Seeing that sex, alcohol, and tragedy have often been features of senator Kennedys personal life, it has been a feature in most parts of the family including his nephew, William Smith. There was an incident under investigation occurring on March 30th at the Kennedys seaside mansion in Florida where a 29-year old woman insisted that William, kennedys nephew raped her subsequently charging him with sexual battery. While running investigations on this conflict, Kennedy supposedly purposely dodged detectives, who were in fact looking to interview him. Making it look more suspicious that he was somewhat involved including the evidence of him asking his nephew, William how was she? Did you wear protection?. The alleged rape further damages the unforgettable familys reputation. Many rumors were never proven during this time of questioning of senator Kennedy regarding that he was a bloated drunk and he typically used his standing in the Kennedy clan to chase after vulnerable women, and that the CIA framed him due to them not wanting to assassinate Senator Kennedy. The government was immensely impacted due to Kennedy pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and receiving a two month suspended sentence (perform a period of probation), and his license was suspended for a year along with his presidential dream dying on chappaquiddick and causing him to rethink other elements throughout his life. Although the evidence collected that Ted could not be held fully responsible for Marys death only because her alcohol level when found was .09% (equivalent to 5 drinks.) The investigations given werent as serious as they should have been, the police failed to do the most common things including failing to interrogate Kennedy and not questioning any of the party participants. The aftermath of this catastrophe ended up with Kennedy second guessing to continue his political career and declined his presidential hopes although he still served as a U.S. senator of Massachusetts into the 21st century. Due to such catastrophe, Kennedy worked harder than ever afterwards. Not only politicians but Mary Jo Kopechne suffered because of its far reaching effects of sorely damaged hopes. There is no forgiving the incident that took the life of Mary Jo Kopechne. Her family and friends were emotionally unstable after the fact of the incident and in terms of a settlement, Mary Jo Kopechnes family eventually received $140,904.00 from Kennedy and $50,000.00 from his insurance coverage. It was said by mostly everyone that senator Kennedy was a monster who left a permanent stain on US political culture after the tragedy happened. There is no way to understand how Ted Kennedy managed any of it. Many people even question it today, but clearly he has had a lot of backup behind his ideas and opinions and has been a brilliant senator overall and always kept his personal life and political life completely separate even though hes had a lot of complications. When it was time for Marys funeral, Kennedy, for once, rose above his own character to show up and bring along his wife at the time. Once the gossip and talk died down, Ted carefully choreographed a televised speech where he admitted his behavior had been indefensible but denied it had anything to do with alcohol. Shortly after, there were not only books being made about this accident but movies as well. He later referred to his actions as inexcusable and said that Kopechnes death haunts me every day of my life, and continued to admit his mistakes. Ted was not very fond of everyone making it out to be a joke and he mentioned, for a few months everyone had to put on this show, and then I just didnt care anymore, I just saw no future, and thats when I truly became an alcoholic.(Columbia University Press) Like his father, he had every gift in the world except the length of years. He ended up passing away at age 77, in August 2009 after battling a brain tumor and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was diagnosed with a malignant glioma (any tumor formed in the glial, or supportive, brain cells, which are different from the better-known neurons.) Its the most malignant, the most aggressive, the tumor of the brain associated with the shortest survival, said Marc Chamberlain, a professor of neurology and director of the Brain Tumor Program at University of Washington. Kennedys personal life came to dominate his image although his political career was mostly outstanding. Ted Kennedy has went through so many tragedies in his c omplicated life and all his actions and reactions to all of them were slightly normal but also shady at the same time. Not all of the things that were reported and said by reporters and authors added up. There were more rumors and stories than anything on Teds legacy. Although hes had too much drama and complications in his life he is a person and human being like the rest of us and not everyone is perfect. The chappaquiddick incident had become a secondary part of his life and even years (anniversaries) after it is still commonly thought of and brought up in newspapers and books around the country.

The Bipolar Brain and the Creative Mind Essay example -- Biology Essay

The Bipolar Brain and the Creative Mind "Our hospital was famous and had housed many great poets and singers. Did the hospital specialize in poets and singers, or was it that poets and singers specialized in madness? ... What is it about meter and cadence and rhythm that makes their makers mad?" (1) The link between madness and creativity is one that has been hotly debated in both medical and literary circles for a long time. The two most common types of mental illness theorized to be an influence on creative people such as writers, artists, and poets were schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (2). However, various studies comparing the characteristics of schizophrenics, bipolars, and writers have concluded that schizophrenics do not share a common thought process with writers (2). In comparison, a study conducted at the University of Iowa declared that while both bipolar patients and writers tended to "sort in large groups... arbitrarily change starting points, or use vague distantly related concepts as categorizing principles" (p 107), the two differed in their abilities to control their thoughts (2). Where the exactly this line of control is located – or indeed if there is a line at all – is the debate in question. Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a complex and often cruel illness that takes sufferers on a rollercoaster ride of emotional highs and deep depressions. During the mania period, either euphoria or irritability manifest themselves, and sometimes a combination of the two, called "mixed mania"(3). A person in a manic phase can also exhibit symptoms known to physicians as the DIGFAST symptoms: distractibility is heightened; insomnia is present due to increased energy; grandiosity occurs in delus... ..., 1993. 3)Medscape article, facts on bipolar disorder http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/151096 4)An article on the Pendulum website, about the possible links between bipolar disorder and creative personalities http://www.pendulum.org/articles/creativity_troubled.htm 5)A website to support those with bipolar illness, with a list of famous manic-depressives http://users.frii.com/parrot/dead.html 6)The Serendip webpage, an article entitled "Creativity and Psychopathology" http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/serendipia/Serendipia-Preti.html 7)A website to support those with bipolar disorder, with an essay by a teenage girl about her bipolar illness http://www.pendulum.org/writings/label_maker.htm 8)An article posted from the Science News, about the relationship between creativity and bipolar illness http://users.lycaeum.org/~martins/M2/creativ2.html

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Chapters 10

Before I could process this, Riley roared out an animalistic shriek of rage. He was staring down at the ashy remains on the floor, his eyes bulging in fury. Everyone stood silent, immobile. We'd al seen Riley lose his temper, but this was something different. Riley spun and raked his fingers through a blaring speaker, then ripped it from the wal and hurled it across the room. Jen and Kristie dodged out of the way as it exploded into the far wal, sending up a cloud of pulverized drywal dust. Riley smashed the sound system with his foot, and the thudding bass went silent. Then he leaped to where Raoul stood, and grabbed him by the throat. â€Å"I wasn't even here!† Raoul yel ed, looking afraid – I'd never seen that before. Riley growled hideously and threw Raoul as he'd thrown the speaker. Jen and Kristie jumped out of the way again. Raoul's body crashed right through the wal, leaving an enormous hole. Riley caught Kevin by the shoulder and – with a familiar screech – ripped off his right hand. Kevin cried out in pain and tried to twist out of Riley's grip. Riley kicked him in the side. Another harsh shriek and Riley had the rest of Kevin's arm. He tore the arm in half at the elbow and threw the pieces hard into Kevin's anguished face – smack, smack, smack, like a hammer striking stone. â€Å"What is wrong with you?† Riley screamed at us. â€Å"Why are you al so stupid?† He made a grab for the blond Spider-Man kid, but that kid leaped out of his way. His jump left him too close to Fred, and he stumbled back toward Riley again, gagging. â€Å"Do any of you have a brain?† Riley smacked a kid named Dean into the entertainment center, shattering it, then caught another girl – Sara – and tore her left ear and a handful of hair from her head. She snarled in anguish. It became suddenly obvious that Riley was doing a very dangerous thing. There were a lot of us in here. Already Raoul was back, with Kristie and Jen – usual y his enemies – flanking him defensively. A few others banded together in clusters around the room. I wasn't sure if Riley was aware of the threat or if his rant came to an end natural y. He took a deep breath. He tossed Sara her ear and the hair. She recoiled away from him, licking the torn edge of her ear, coating it with venom so that it would reattach. There was no remedy for the hair, though; Sara was going to have a bald spot. â€Å"Listen to me!† Riley said, quiet but fierce. â€Å"Al our lives depend on you listening to what I'm saying now and thinking! We are al going to die. Every one of us, you and me, too, if you can't act like you have brains for just a few short days!† This was nothing like his usual lectures and pleadings for control. He definitely had everyone's attention. â€Å"It's time for you to grow up and take responsibility for yourselves. Do you think you get to live like this for free? That al the blood in Seattle doesn't have a price?† The little clusters of vampires no longer seemed threatening. Everyone was wide-eyed, some exchanging mystified glances. I saw Fred's head turn toward me in my peripheral vision, but I didn't meet his gaze. My attention was focused on two things: Riley, just in case he started to attack again, and the door. The door that was stil closed. â€Å"Are you listening now? Real y listening?† Riley paused, but no one nodded. The room was very stil . â€Å"Let me explain to you the precarious situation we are al in. I'l try to keep it simple for the slowest ones. Raoul, Kristie, come here.† He motioned to the leaders of the two largest gangs, al ied for this brief moment against him. Neither of them moved toward him. They braced themselves, Kristie baring her teeth. I expected Riley to soften, to apologize. To placate them and then persuade them to do what he wanted. But this was a different Riley. â€Å"Fine,† he snapped. â€Å"We're going to need leaders if we're going to survive, but apparently neither of you is up to the task. I thought you had aptitude. I was wrong. Kevin, Jen, please join me as the heads of this team.† Kevin looked up in surprise. He had just finished putting his arm back together. Though his expression was wary, it was also unmistakably flattered. He slowly got to his feet. Jen looked at Kristie as if waiting for permission. Raoul ground his teeth together. The door at the top of the stairs did not open. â€Å"Are you not able, either?† Riley asked, irritated. Kevin took a step toward Riley, but then Raoul rushed him, leaping across the long room in two low bounds. He shoved Kevin against the wal without a word and then stood by Riley's right shoulder. Riley permitted himself a tiny smile. The manipulation wasn't subtle, but it was effective. â€Å"Kristie or Jen, who wil lead us?† Riley asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. Jen was stil waiting for a sign from Kristie as to what she should do. Kristie glowered at Jen for an instant, then flipped her sandy hair out of her face and darted to stand on Riley's other side. â€Å"That took too long to decide,† Riley said seriously. â€Å"We don't have the luxury of time. We don't get to fool around anymore. I've let you al do pretty much whatever you feel like, but that ends tonight.† He looked around the room, meeting everyone's eyes, making sure we were listening. I held his gaze for only a second when it was my turn, and then my eyes flipped back to the door. I corrected instantly, but his glare had moved on. I wondered if he'd noticed my slip. Or had he seen me at al, here beside Fred? â€Å"We have an enemy,† Riley announced. He let that sink in for a moment. I could tel the idea was shocking to several of the vampires in the basement. The enemy was Raoul – or if you were with Raoul, the enemy was Kristie. The enemy was here, because the whole world was here. The thought that there were other forces out there strong enough to affect us was new for most. Would have been new to me, too, yesterday. â€Å"A few of you might be smart enough to have realized that if we exist, so do other vampires. Other vampires who are older, smarter†¦ more talented. Other vampires who want our blood!† Raoul hissed, and then several of his fol owers echoed him in support. â€Å"That's right,† Riley said, seeming intent on egging them on. â€Å"Seattle was once theirs, but they moved on a long time ago. Now they know about us, and they are jealous of the easy blood they used to have here. They know it belongs to us now, but they want to take it back. They are coming after what they want. One by one, they'l hunt us down! We'l burn while they feast!† â€Å"Never,† Kristie growled. Some of hers and some of Raoul's growled, too. â€Å"We don't have a lot of choices,† Riley told us. â€Å"If we wait for them to show up here, they wil have the advantage. This is their turf, after al . And they don't want to face us head-on, because we outnumber them and we are stronger than they are. They want to catch us separated; they want to take advantage of our biggest weakness. Are any of you smart enough to know what that is?† He pointed at the ashes at his feet – now smeared into the carpet and unrecognizable as a former vampire – and waited. No one moved. Riley made a disgusted sound. â€Å"Unity!† he shouted. â€Å"We don't have it! What kind of a threat can we pose when we won't stop kil ing each other?† He kicked the dust, sending up a smal black cloud. â€Å"Can you imagine them laughing at us? They think taking the city from us wil be easy. That we're weak with stupidity! That we'l just hand them our blood.† Half the vampires in the room snarled in protest now. â€Å"Can you work together, or do we al die?† â€Å"We can take them, boss,† Raoul growled. Riley scowled at him. â€Å"Not if you can't control yourself! Not if you can't cooperate with every single person in this room. Anyone you take out† – his toe nudged the ashes again – â€Å"might be the one who could have kept you alive. Every one of your coven that you kil is like handing our enemies a gift. Here, you're saying, take me down! â€Å" Kristie and Raoul exchanged a glance as if they were seeing each other for the first time. Others did the same. The word coven was not unfamiliar, but none of us had applied it to our group before. We were a coven. â€Å"Let me tel you about our enemies,† Riley said, and al eyes locked on his face. â€Å"They are a much older coven than we are. They've been around for hundreds of years, and they've survived that long for a reason. They are crafty and they are skil ed and they are coming to retake Seattle with confidence – because they've heard the only ones they'l have to fight for it are a bunch of disorganized children who wil do half their work for them!† More growls, but some were less angry than they were wary. A few of the quieter vampires, the ones Riley would have cal ed tamer, looked skittish. Riley noticed that, too. â€Å"This is how they see us, but that's because they can't see us together. Together, we can crush them. If they could see al of us, side by side, fighting together, they would be terrified. And that's how they're going to see us. Because we're not going to wait for them to show up here and start picking us off. We're going to ambush them. In four days.† Four days? I guessed our creator didn't want to cut it too close to the deadline. I looked at the closed door again. Where was Diego? Others reacted to the deadline with surprise, some with fear. â€Å"It's the last thing they'l expect,† Riley assured us. â€Å"Al of us – together – waiting for them. And I've saved the best part for last. There are only seven of them.† There was an instant of incredulous silence. Then Raoul said, â€Å"What?† Kristie stared at Riley with the same disbelieving expression, and I heard muttered whispers around the room. â€Å"Seven?† â€Å"Are you kidding me?† â€Å"Hey,† Riley snapped. â€Å"I wasn't joking when I said this coven is dangerous. They are wise and†¦ devious. Underhanded. We wil have power on our side; they wil have deception. If we play it their way, they will win. But if we take it to them on our terms†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Riley didn't finish, he just smiled. â€Å"Let's go now,† Raoul urged. â€Å"Let's get 'em out of the picture fast.† Kevin growled enthusiastical y. â€Å"Slow down, moron. Rushing into things blind isn't going to help us win,† Riley chided him. â€Å"Tel us everything we need to know about them,† Kristie encouraged, shooting Raoul a superior look. Riley hesitated, as if deciding how to word something. â€Å"Al right, where to begin? I guess the first thing you need to know is†¦ that you don't know everything there is to know about vampires yet. I didn't want to overwhelm you in the beginning.† Another pause while everyone looked confused. â€Å"You have a little bit of experience with what we cal talents.' We have Fred.† Everyone looked at Fred – or rather they tried to. I could tel from Riley's expression that Fred did not like being singled out. It looked like Fred had real y turned up the volume on his â€Å"talent,† as Riley cal ed it. Riley cringed and looked away quickly. I stil didn't feel anything. â€Å"Yes, wel, there are some vampires who have gifts beyond the usual super strength and super senses. You've seen one aspect in†¦ our coven.† He was careful not to say Fred's name again. â€Å"Gifts are rare – one in fifty, maybe – but every one is different. There's a huge range of gifts out there, and some of them are more powerful than others.† I could hear a lot of murmurs now as people wondered if they might be talented. Raoul was preening like he'd already decided he was gifted. As far as I could tel, the only one around here that was in any way special was standing next to me. â€Å"Pay attention!† Riley commanded. â€Å"I'm not tel ing you this for entertainment.† â€Å"This enemy coven,† Kristie interjected. â€Å"They're talented. Right?† Riley gave her an approving nod. â€Å"Exactly. I'm glad someone here can connect the dots.† Raoul's upper lip twitched back over his teeth. â€Å"This coven is dangerously talented,† Riley went on, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper. â€Å"They have a mind reader.† He examined our faces, looking to see if we got the importance of this revelation. He didn't seem satisfied with his assessment. â€Å"Think, guys! He'l know everything in your head. If you attack, he'l know what move you're going to make before you know it. You go left, he'l be waiting.† There was a nervous stil ness as everyone imagined this. â€Å"This is why we've been so careful – me, and the one who created you.† Kristie flinched away from Riley when he mentioned her. Raoul looked angrier. Nerves strained universal y. â€Å"You don't know her name, and you don't know what she looks like. This protects us al . If they'd stumbled across one of you alone, they wouldn't realize that you were connected to her, and they might have let you be. If they knew you were part of her coven, there would be no delay in your execution.†