Friday, September 4, 2020

Nuclear Fission Versus Nuclear Fusion

Atomic Fission Versus Nuclear Fusion Atomic splitting and atomic combination both are atomic wonders that discharge enormous amountsâ of vitality, yet they are various procedures which yield various items. Realize what atomic splitting and atomic combination are and how you can reveal to them separated. Atomic Fission Atomic splitting happens when anâ atoms core parts into at least two littler cores. These littler cores are called splitting items. Particles (e.g., neutrons, photons, alpha particles) for the most part are discharged, as well. This isâ an exothermic procedure discharging the motor vitality of the splitting items and vitality as gamma radiation. The explanation vitality is discharged is on the grounds that the splitting items are progressively steady (less vigorous) than the parent core. Parting might be viewed as a type of component transmutation since changing the quantity of protons of a component basically changes the component from one into another. Atomic parting may happen normally, as in the rot of radioactive isotopes, or it tends to be compelled to happen in a reactor or weapon. Atomic Fission Example: 23592U 10n â†' 9038Sr 14354Xe 310n Atomic Fusion Atomic combination is a procedure where nuclear cores are melded to frame heavier cores. Amazingly high temperatures (on the request for 1.5 x 107 °C) can drive cores together so the solid atomic power can bond them. A lot of vitality are discharged when combination happens. It might appear to be unreasonable that vitality is discharged both when particles split and when they blend. The explanation vitality is discharged from combination is that the two molecules have more vitality than a solitary particle. A ton of vitality is required to constrain protons close enough together to beat the aversion between them, however sooner or later, the solid power that ties them defeats the electrical shock. At the point when the cores are blended, the overabundance vitality is discharged. Like splitting, atomic combination can likewise transmute one component into another. For instance, hydrogen cores meld in stars to frame the component helium. Combination is additionally used to compel together nuclear cores to frame the most up to date components on the occasional table. While combination happens in nature, its in stars, not on Earth. Combination on Earth just happens in labs and weapons. Atomic Fusion Examples The responses which happen in the sun give a case of atomic combination: 11H 21H â†' 32He 32He â†' 42He 211H 11H â†' 21H 01î ² Recognizing Fission and Fusion Both parting and combination discharge colossal measures of vitality. Both parting and combination responses can occurâ in atomic bombs. Things being what they are, how might you differentiate splitting and combination? Splitting breaks nuclear cores into littler pieces. The beginning components have a higher nuclear number than that of the splitting items. For instance, uranium can splitting to yield strontium and krypton.Fusion consolidates nuclear cores. The component shaped has a larger number of neutrons or a bigger number of protons than that of the beginning material. For instance, hydrogen and hydrogen can circuit to shape helium.Fission happens normally on Earth. A model is the unconstrained splitting of uranium, which possibly occurs if enough uranium is available in a little enough volume (once in a while). Combination, then again, doesn't happen normally on Earth. Combination happens in stars.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Olde good thing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Olde beneficial thing - Essay Example Notwithstanding, the outrageous complexity of the tranquil Emma’s voice and the third world neighborhood environmental factors made despairing feeling. Like the title of the tune I was tuning in to, sometime in the distant past, the town had its Renaissance period; Things like road lights and huge structures were old, however they didn’t look modest. I was unable to locate the antique shop I was searching for, so I made a few alternate routes, and I at long last discovered it. In any case, since there was no parking garage, I needed to go to open stopping over the road. At that point, I needed to walk a hundred yards to get to the shop. Strolling a road like that was really frightful in Detroit even in daytime, yet there was something that disclosed to me it was alright to go for a stroll with a costly camera on my neck. Anyway, my impulse made me continue taking a gander at my back as an African meerkat. There were a couple of vagrants with basic food item trucks, howe ver no dangerous components. The structure I was strolling to was a straightforward rectangular shape with antique point by point trimmings around its windows. I get it was at one time an extravagant apartment suite. A fenced empty part before the structure caused the hood to appear to be significantly progressively ruined. One corner of the structure divider was loaded up with revolting spray painting. The structure was joined with two unique structures associated together; the large one was white-painted block building, and the littler one was a red block building. The red one had blurred ash around its windows. I thought there had been a genuine fire some time in the past. There were many traffic signs around the structure with wrote notes on some of them. Over the primary passageway, it stated, ‘Architectural Treasure’ in dark paint on white foundation. Close to the primary passage, a frightful jokester face around five feet tall was giggling at me. As tall as the alarming face, a major yellow p encil that had red eraser on the opposite side corner to corner remained close to the jokester. The store depended on an establishment of

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Nursing Homes And The Lutheran Home For The Aging Essay -- essays rese

Nursing Homes and The Lutheran Home for the Aging      Recently, I had the joy of having an individual voyage through the Lutheran Home for the Aging situated in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I picked this zone of study since it happened to be advantageous in area for me just as without any problem open to a wellspring of an interviewee that I felt OK with and who is additionally truly alright with myself. I think that its a lot simpler to direct an meet and get increasingly pertinent data from a source that I've just had previous contact with and furthermore settled a companionship with. I talked with, age 48, who was a social specialist at the Lutheran Home for the Aging for a long time until she changed profession ways that would profit herself more just as her family. moved on from the University of with a Social Work degree and is directly tightening a multi year Dental Hygiene degree(Associate Degree). She disclosed to me that at the time she was recruited at the nursing home it was most certainly not important for social specialists to need to step through an examination so as to get a permit what's more, a situation in the social work field, a place that she held for twelve a long time disclosed to me how she was "Grandfathered" into her social laborer position and didn't need to step through an examination for a permit until it was required following quite a while of mindful and expert work in the Home for the Aging.      The Lutheran Home for the Aging was established in 1906 by John C. Koch, with the inspiration and want to advance private consideration for his individual maturing Lutheran constituents. Alongside the steady interests of different Lutherans, he bought around eight sections of land of land. An enormous house on the property filled in as the Home's first structure and inside a time of its establishing, it had arrived at a limit of twenty individuals. Today a similar want and inspiration has expanded the private populace to 313 individuals, over the age of 65. The organizers of the Home accomplished more than give a spot to live to the Aging. They established a convention of greatness and quality consideration that proceeds even to this day. The crucial the house is to "take an influential position in inhabitant fulfillment by offering predominant types of assistance in a Christian environment that meet or then again surpass the desires for every inhabitant and their family" ("Lutheran Home for the Aging" 1). Through th... ...am B. "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society." Online. Web. Accessible http://www.wwilkins.com/wavcat- receptacle/journals_ops/ID0856948/0002-8614/nudge. "Code of Ethics." Online. Web. Accessible http://www.umanitoba.ca/resources/†¦tml#Ethical Duties and Obligations. Lutheran Home for the Aging. Wauwatosa: Lutheran Home for the Aging, 1996. "Long-Term Care and Nursing Homes." Online. Web. Accessible http://freenet.uchsc.edu/2000/senior/nurshome/menu.html. "Nursing Home, Home Health and Hospice." Online. Web. Accessible http://www.math.utah.edu/~c-pkse/medfile/hhh.html. "Nursing Homes and Long Term Care Facilities." Online. Web. Accessible http://www.medaccess.com/locator/nursehome/nsgh01.htm. Sager, M. Estimation of Activities of Daily Living in Hospitalized Elderly: A Examination of Self-report and Performance-based measures. Wisconsin: Geriatric Society, 1992. 457-462. "Senior Care Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid." Online. Web. Accessible http://seniors-site.com/promotions/medicare.html. Lutheran Home for the Aging: "A warm, caring spot where life consistently has quality, esteem and dignity."

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Essays

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Before we told our little girls that they could be anybody, or anything they needed to be, we disclosed to them that they must be what was satisfactory for ladies to be, and that they could just do things that were viewed as refined. It was right now, when the country was excited with the matter of war, that the ladies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League concluded that they could do and be whatever it was that they picked. These ladies broke liberated from the restrictions that their family and society had set for them, and openly broke into what had been a solely male game up until that time. To comprehend the centrality of the alliance (which will additionally be alluded to as the AAGPBL) you should initially have a comprehension of the job of ladies in the public arena right now. Post World War II, ladies had an extremely slight job in anything not concerning household issues. Open figures and leaders were male, and not many ladies were engaged with anything having to with business or governmental issues. Ladies were required to be cultured and polite consistently. Due to these components it was uncommon to discover a lady engaged with a game, particularly those overwhelmed by guys. The beginning of the war period went ahead the impact points of 10 years when ladies had apparently made a stride in reverse in social and financial advancement. The downturn of the 1930s had crushed the American economy. Ladies, particularly wedded ladies, had bore the biggest portion of the weight. To enable male laborers to land back on the position, national pioneers called for wedded ladies in two-salary families to surrender their occupations. A few states had passed laws banishing ladies from holding state employments. World War II carried intense changes to the American womans life. The abrupt race to do battle had left the country with a deficiency of labor. Because of this the legislature propelled an aggressive crusade to persuade ladies to join the war exertion. Out of nowhere ladies were being called from their kitchens to work in the manufacturing plants, being informed that it was their energetic obligation. The renowned Rosie the Riveter picture emerged from this development. Rosie turned into another picture for ladies, being depicted as solid, intense, and appealing. It was from this very picture the thought for the alliance was conceived. The class was the brainchild of Philip K. Wrigley, leader of the Wrigley biting gum organization, and proprietor of the Chicago Cubs National League baseball crew. Wrigley was worried about the fate of baseball. The significant associations had just lost the greater part of their players to the military. The small time were significantly harder hit. By the beginning of the 1943 season, in excess of 3,000 small time players had joined the administration or the war exertion. Just nine of the countries 26 small time had enough men left to play. Beside this explanation, there was worry over the continuation of baseball by a few open figures, including President Roosevelt. It was imagined that on account of the extended periods of time and requesting work of the war exertion that it was significant for the American individuals to have an approach to let loose a little. In the fall of 1942, Wrigley allocated a three-man group from the Cubs association to investigate building up an expert baseball alliance for ladies. His hypothesis was that if Rosie the Riveter could prop wartime processing plants up, perhaps Rosie the Right Fielder could do likewise for baseball. In the wake of getting positive criticism for the possibility of a womens baseball alliance, Wrigley dispatched thirty of his baseball scouts to look through the U.S. what's more, Canada for top ladies competitors. When searching for players, scouts were told to look at capacity and ability, yet in addition for ladies with high good standing, and womanliness. Introductory tryouts were held in twelve significant urban areas. In May 1943 exactly 280 of them were welcome to Wrigley Field in Chicago for the last choice procedure. In Chicago authorities looked on as players were gotten through a progression of tests and at long last 64 ladies were picked to be

Friday, August 21, 2020

Becoming a Better Leader

â€Å"You can’t clean a shoe †an appalling tennis shoe is a terrible tennis shoe. † When applied to a pioneer, a few people may feel that a decent pioneer is conceived. Nonetheless, history has demonstrated that pioneers are not actually conceived. While eyewitnesses are slanted to accept that each individual has inborn abilities of turning into a pioneer, not every person can create them.Biographies of incredible pioneers show that their readiness and innovativeness in tending to the requests of their condition built up their capabilities.A exemplary model was Gandhi of India who did nothing fabulous except for had the option to move a large number of his comrades to activity. By essentially remaining at home and utilizing his loom to weave his apparel materials, he had the option to show that it was workable for India to build up its own industry and become free of Great Britain (Blagg and Young, 2001).A great pioneer ought not just figure out how to state no and â€Å"I don’t know. † He or she ought to have the fearlessness to tell individuals the hard real factors regardless of how antagonistic, yet ought to have the option to assist them with adapting to such realities.As John Kotter once stated, â€Å"Great authority doesn't mean fleeing from reality†¦Sometimes the hard certainties may very well unsettle the organization, yet at different occasions sharing troubles can motivate individuals to make a move that will make the circumstance better† (Blagg and Young, 2001).Leadership, subsequently, includes meeting issues head-on and considering a spade a spade. The facts demonstrate that a decent pioneer pulls in reactions. He who is never reprimanded isn't doing anything generous or creative.Who was it who said that â€Å"One can’t please everyone? † Since brutal reactions originate from individuals who were not satisfied or were compromised by one’s activities, unquestionably others more likel y than not been fulfilled or delighted. It may be a platitude yet the facts demonstrate that a coin has two sides.In like way, a specialist at the Harvard Business School was once cited as saying that â€Å"There are bunches of individuals who look and act like chiefs, who have brilliant administrative abilities, and who don’t make a great deal of noise.Nobody is composing main stories about them† (Joseph Badaracco as refered to in Blagg and Young, 2001). A person who is never blamed, rebuked, or acknowledged, regardless of whether the person in question is an administrator isn't a leader.He is someone who isn't uncommon †somebody who is basically average. Reference Blagg, D. and Young, S. (2001). What Makes A Good Leader. Harvard Business School Bulleting. Recovered February 17, 2008 from http://www. graduated class. hbs. edu/release/2001/february/pioneer. html

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Time Difference

Time Difference So youre flying to college. Or youre flying anywhere alone, and youre me. You charge your iPod and your computer and pack extra underwear and think about all the new people youre going to meet in the next five hours. You think about smiling too much, laughing too hard, telling them youre a concert pianist working on her third novel. (Theyll never know, right?) You dont think youll miss your mom, but you think shell probably miss you, and youre excited because the airport youre going to has delicious breakfast burritos. Of course when you get past security, past your waving parents and sister and dog, you head for the burritos, and youre number 40. 33, the lady calls. Well, thats notso bad. 35. 36. 38. Progress! 37. No. No. Not BACKWARDS. 34. WRONG DIRECTION. You head closer to the stand and stare at the ladys name tag, mentally willing Angelas almost nonexistant hair to set on fire. Thats when you see the warning. NO GELS OR LIQUIDS MAY BE BROUGHT ON ANY AIRCRAFT. It is impossible for you to eat this burrito without ketchup, and Angela, head ablaze, is laughing maniacally. Another lady comes up to the counter with a bag. 42. Of course. 44. 43. 45. What if your plane left? What if you missed it already? What if the pilot thought the boarding time was actually the takeoff time? You just turned 18, so you dont get any of the fun privileges of unaccompanied minors, and regardless of your age they wont wait for you and your burrito. Especially with ketchup. You see a long line of people and feel slightly less unnerved, but cant properly see the gate number, so no luck there. 40! THANK YOU, ANGELA. Of course when you get on the plane (through a gate next to the line of people that was nearly empty), after practically inhaling the burrito (for which you did not have enough ketchup, ketchup they did not take away), you remember you checked your iPod, and you cant find your boarding pass. Ordinarily it wouldnt matter, but traffic was horrible and your hair was terrible when you woke up today so you were just borderline late, so youre pretty sure they put your baggage on the next flight, and youre going to need the boarding pass to prove you had two bags. After sticking one of your gigantic carry-ons into the opposite overhead compartment, you have to get up to check it again, and youre pretty sure that everyone else, including the people going to the same college you are, is aware of the late girl with the crazy hair in 7D. (At least you HAVE hair for them to set on fire.) And of course once you put it back you realize you were sitting on it. And of course the air conditioning is on while youre sleeping, and your nose is absolutely frozen when you wake up before you should have (but of course, after the free food service), to the sound of shrieking at which point you realize that kid, the one baby that everyone else is also hoping will get bitten by a snake on this plane, is sitting in the window seat next to you. So what do you do? You sit and write about it. Or you just sit and think about it, and feel your nose slowly sliding off your face. Mostly, you miss your mother and wonder if you have enough underwear and know for a fact that those two other people going to the college you are on this plane will tell everyone youre clearly not a novelist/concert pianist, and you feel frightened and anxious and terrified down through to your bones. You remember that aside from meeting 4,000+ new faces youre going for school, and youre terrified that everyone will know how to run a database while integrating a Taylor polynomial and the stages of mitosis when all you can remember is 8th grade geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem. And I wish I could tell you that you will be okay, that you will eventually adjust and you will soon be something other than an awkward wide-eyed college frosh and people will be nice to you even though they think you have terrible hair. I wish I could tell you this is the start of something great, and you will inevitably change but inevitably for the better, and that even though youre leaving a place where you knew everything and everyone for a place where you know nothing and no one you will be better for it. I would tell you not to be so scared, if I could. But Im just a ketchupless freshman in 7D getting her chair kicked by the four-year-old in 7F. What do I know?

Monday, June 22, 2020

Conforming Identity in Gilgamesh and There There by Tommy Orange - Free Essay Example

In the society, various things help us in relating to one another. One of them is identity where people classify themselves depending on who they are. The community is capable of educating an individual on specific things like where one came from, who are his ancestors and how people perceive him or her. There people who struggle with realizing their identity because their parents do not help usher them to their specific culture. However, the society where one is brought depends on the personality that he or she is going to acquire. There is a certain age where one reaches and reality kicks in, and you realize that I have some differences (I am not like the rest). There cases where people realize as they grow that they have some attributes, powers or physical qualities that are entirely different from the other societal members. For example in the religious communities where people believe in superpowers, there might be people with these powers, and they double up as everyday human beings. Also, there people who move to new places and they settle there. As a result, interracial marriages might take place and children born out of such relationship are different. When such children are young, they might not note that they are entirely different, but when they attain a certain age, they will try to reconcile with their identity. Therefore, Identity can be self-imposed or self-realized. When the person has certain physical features or characteristics that may cause others to distinguish them by; people try to conform to that identity or repel it completely, defined by experience. This paper will give examples from Gilgamesh and There There by Tommy Orange texts to support the argument. The Epic of Gilgamesh gives a view of culture and how a community (Indian) undergoes through civilization. The author shows the positive and negative attributes of civilization. There are several characters who happens to be in the process of self-realization, and they learn about features about features that distinguish them from others. The first character is Gilgamesh who is arrogant and tyrannical. The author gives him these traits to show the effects of self-realization. Gilgamesh is at the top of the human ladder socially, and that is why he is proud. He has access to all the treasures and the riches in that society. It is through the process of searching for information to understand more about mortality. He learns that he is half human and half a god. At first, this characteristic disturbs him, and he feels that he should try as much as possible to get out of it. However, he sees an opportunity in it, and that is why he works to conform to his nature. The process of complying comes along with all these negative traits. In society, when people are in the process of identity search, they may turn out to be good or evil characters. That is the case with Gilgamesh, his heroism is seen in his actions. The author aims at educating the reader on how the people realize their differences. It cannot happen without interacting with other people and even traveling. Identity realization is always part of civilization where one learns all the facts about his or her nature. It depends on the level of enlightenment when it comes to embracing it or repelling it completely. The other character who is in a dilemma while searching his identity is Engidu who is created by the gods to neutralize Gilgamesh. However, it takes time before he realizes his purpose and that is why he spends a lot of time back in the forest with the animals. He does not understand why he was created by and the reason behind it. That is why Gilgamesh takes advantage due to his ignorance, and he lures him to his world. Gilgamesh is wise because he has a large percentage of Gods nature and that is why sends the hunter who reported the existence of Engidu with a priest to come with him. Engidu does not understand the human world at all; it is strange to him. Through the process of civilization, Engidu decides to leave his former identity when he realizes who he was. He joins the world of humans, and he starts to behave like them. In the text There There, a lot of conflicts is seen when people decide to conform to their identity. Some dont even know how to make decisions, and that is why they end up in a side that they do not wish to be for the rest of their lives. There is an American character in the text which makes a bad decision of staying with an abusive partner. These are people who are half Indian and half White (Natives) as that is why they always find themselves with hard decisions to make in life. Thomas is the other character who has some drinking habits, and he has lost his job. Born from a White mother and an Indian, he has a lot of problems relating with people in the society. That is why he breaks to these bad habits which cost his life. He is in the process of making a decision, but the author leaves him at an indecisive state. The most important thing is that the author present to the reader a young character who represents the younger generation and has already realized his identity and he i s more than ready to conform to it. Orvil Red Feather is a bold character who understands the need to own a culture. He is a teenager, and he decides to make a move of earning how to be an Indian. He is in a foreign country, and the only thing he can learn is the foreign culture. However, he has realized he is different, and he should embrace his real culture (Indian). That is why he takes a bold step to learn how to be an Indian through google. He has taught himself several dances which he will perform to the people (they are Indian dances). In a nutshell, the two texts have a character who is running away from their identity after they realize who they are and there are those who have conformed to the new change. When you accept who you are, you will have peace of mind, and that is why we see several characters in There There living a good life. Conversely, there are those characters who decide to repel from their identity, and it has adverse effects on them. For instance, Tony Loneman and Octavio Gomez struggle with alcohol-related problems because they are running away from their status which is the cause of the stress and trauma that they undergo. Works Cited Gilgamesh, Mesopotamian Mythology. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gilgamesh (Oct 2018) Guide to the classics: the Epic of Gilgamesh (2017). https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-the-epic-of-gilgamesh-73444 (Oct 2018) Rowan Hisayo (2018) There There by Tommy Orange reviewNative American stories. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/18/there-there-tommy-orange-review (Oct 2018) Tommy Orange. There There. https://birchbarkbooks.com/all-online-titles/there-there (Oct 2018)

Saturday, May 23, 2020

TBLS BK3 WK3 Ch3 Asgn1 V02 - 970 Words

Part 1: Schedule Your UMA Mock Interview Appointment 10 points As a UMA student, you are expected to meet with a Mock Interview Specialist to prepare you for your formal interview. During this 45-minute session, you will practice answering questions and gain valuable information on how to professionally present yourself to a potential employer. In order to get credit for this assignment, you MUST schedule your appointment by completing the scheduling form below. If you have already completed a mock interview, still complete the assignment and check the box below. Choose 3 dates within the next 10 days that you would be available to meet with a specialist online in-front of a computer with a webcam. You will be contacted by a UMA Mock†¦show more content†¦This is your opportunity to think about how you might want to answer some of the questions that will likely come up. You may write out full sentences or bullet just the main points you want to cover. Use your answers to help prepare for your interview session with the UMA Career Servi ces Mock Interview Specialist. Employer: Tell me about yourself. 3 points You: Type answer here Employer: Provide an example of a time when you exceeded expectations in a current/past job. 3 points You: Type answer here Employer: Provide an example of a situation when you had to resolve a conflict with an angry patient or frustrated customer while care. What did you do? 3 points You: Type answer here Employer: Tell me what you see as being your greatest strength and your greatest

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Street By Anne Petry - 929 Words

Women have always been considered a minority in our society. They have always been seen as the inferior population. Throw the race card in the mix and it makes matters way worse. Anne Petry’s â€Å"The Street† took place in Harlem in the 1940s. In that time, Harlem was full of violence, poverty, and racial conflict. â€Å"The Street† is about Lutie Johnson and her struggles to achieve success for her and her son Bub. Lutie is a black woman who desires more than what she had to settle for in the past. She wants this for her and her son. Lutie is portrayed as a â€Å"classy† woman but she is very impressionable. She has goals set in her head and willing to do anything to reach those goals. Lutie embarks on this new life with Bub in a bad apartment building in Harlem where she meets very questionable characters. These characters â€Å"show a critical sensitivity to woman as spectacle, as a body to be looked at and made the object of male sexual desire and exploitation.† This whole novel is about the sexual exploitation of Lutie Johnson. Lutie is a vulnerable and beautiful woman that men want to take advantage of. She is looked at as a piece of meat that can be easily obtainable. In the novel, Petry also includes a female character, Mrs. Hedges, to show readers that not only men ridicule women but women do also. Three characters stand out from the story that objectifies Lutie and women in general. They are the super of the apartment building Lutie is living in, Jones, the lady who also lives inShow MoreRelatedNew Coke Failure3901 Words   |  16 PagesThe Failure of New Coke Wright State University MKT 3500 - 01 Marketing Research By Nicole Fore Taylor Gilliam Ashley Hatton John Petry Abstract During the 1980’s Coca-Cola was faced with a potentially company killing problem. They were losing market share quickly to their competitors. Pepsi was stealing a portion of the younger generation with their advertising campaign, and they proved that consumers liked Pepsi better with the â€Å"Pepsi Challenge.† To combat their falling market shareRead MoreIncome Taxation Solutions Manual 1 300300 Words   |  1202 PagesAlberta in the current calendar year. 4. A Manitoba corporation is controlled and managed by its British parent corporation. 5. A Canadian individual, who is a student at the University of Saskatchewan, earns income during the summer by operating a street-vending unit in Boulder, Colorado. 6. An individual has been employed in Canada by a large Canadian corporation. He accepts    a    transfer    to    manage,    on    a    permanent    basis,    the    corporation’s    operations    in    Denver, Colorado. He

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Helping Students Move Beyond General Goals

Once you have determined a general goal and you think you know why it appeals to you, you are ready to write it in a way that will help you make it happen. Goals Studies of successful people have shown that they write goals that contain similar elements. To write a goal like winners do, be sure that: It is stated in a positive way. (eg. I will... not, I might or I hope...It is obtainable. (Be realistic, but dont sell yourself short.)It involves your behavior and not someone elses.It is written.It includes a way to measure successful completion.It includes the specific date when you will begin working on the goal.It includes a projected date when you will reach the goal.If it is a big goal, it is divided into manageable steps or sub-goals.The projected dates for working on and completion of sub-goals are specified. Despite the length of the list, great goals are easy to write. The following are examples of goals containing the necessary components. General Goal: I will be a better basketball player this year.Specific Goal: I will get 18 baskets in 20 tries by June 1st of this year.I will begin working on this goal on January 15th.General Goal: I will become an electrical engineer someday. Specific Goal: I will have a job as an electrical engineer by January 1st.I will begin working on this goal on February 1st.General Goal: I will go on a diet.Specific Goal: I will lose 10 pounds by April 1st.I will begin dieting and exercising on February 27th. Now, write your general goal. (Be sure to start with I will.) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now make it more specific by adding the manner of measurement and projected completion date. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I will begin working on this goal on (date) _______________________________ Considering how completing this goal will benefit you is quite important because this benefit will be the source of motivation for the work and sacrifice needed to complete your goal. To remind yourself why this goal is important to you, complete the sentence below. Use as much detail as you can by imagining the goal completed. Begin with, I will benefit by meeting this goal because... _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Because some goals are so big that thinking about them makes us feel overwhelmed, it is necessary to break them into sub goals or the steps you need to take in order to meet your major goal. These steps should be listed below along with a projected date for completion. Creating Sub-Goals Since this list will be used to schedule your work on these steps, you will save time if you set up a table on another piece of paper with a wide column for listing the steps, and a number of columns to the side which will eventually be used to indicate time periods. On a separate sheet of paper, make a table with two columns. To the right of these columns, attach gridded or graph paper. See the image at the top of the page for an example. After you have listed the steps you will need to complete in order to attain your goal, estimate the date by which you can complete all of them. Use this as your projected ending date. Next, turn this table into a Gantt chart by labeling columns to the right of completion date with appropriate time periods (weeks, months, or years) and color in the cells for the times you will work on a particular step. Project management software usually contains features for making Gantt charts and make the job more fun by automatically changing related charts when you make a change in any one of them. Now that you have learned to write a great specific goal and to schedule sub-goals on a Gantt chart, you are ready to learn how to maintain your motivation and momentum.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

What Does The Stop And Search Essay - 1649 Words

Introduction/Methodology In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the stop and search process. Previous studies have primarily concentrated on whether the stop and search power is used against an ethnic minority background. In this paper, I will be looking at other studies and resources and their views on the stop and search. I will be reviewing what other reliable sources have established based on statistics, facts and opinions and what they believe to be the contemporary modern day issues and benefits of the stop and search process. There has distinctly been an express of concern towards the police conduct of the stop and search strategy which gives distinctive social components the chance to scrutinise law enforcement. Likewise, I will be exploring the impartiality of various races as it is accepted to assume a basic part to why police complete strategies in the way they do. Criminological hypotheses have additionally profited law authorization in making judgments of what could conceiva bly be classed as a criminal conduct . In this way, the distinctive extreme methodologies they take to keep crime from occurring and expanding through collective data based on stop and search. Findings Argument against Stop and Search The Division of Justice statistics in 2011 displays a staggering 12.8% of black motorists are pulled over than whites as 9.8% of whites are stopped and searched whilst driving. Sergeant Sean Whit-comb, public affairs director forShow MoreRelatedExploring A Topical Area Of English Law Of Your Choice1520 Words   |  7 Pageschoice. 2. Introduce the Police Powers to stop and search. 3. Explore the origins of stop and search. 4. Explain the current legal position in relevance to stop and search. 5. Outline the police power to stop and search. 6. Assessing arguments in proposition of the Act. 7. Assessing arguments in opposition of the Act. 8. Explore the relevance of ‘reasonable suspicion’ to the Act. 9. Analyse statistics for stop and search in the UK. Stop and Search under PACE 1984. This assignment will exploreRead MoreWhen It Comes To The Fourth Amendment And Searching A Person’S1634 Words   |  7 Pagesorder for an officer to search an individual’s car, they must have consent, otherwise the search is unreasonable and whatever evidence seized could be inadmissible in the court of law. However, it is possible to conduct a search without consent and seize evidence without a warrant but there ought to be probable cause or reasonable suspicion. The two differ in the sense that reasonable suspicion is based off past experiences and expertise. Probable cause is needed for a search to take place; converselyRead MoreEssay Legal Police Searches609 Words   |  3 Pageswithout a reasonable warrant and that people have a right to feel secure in their homes. There are acts giving police permission to do what ever they need to to keep drunks off the streets. There are also rules and regulations, kind of like a sports game, and, just like games, there are a lways ways to get around these rules. Like finding it legal to randomly stop cars to give people breathalyzer tests, or entering peoples homes and searching for things without a warrant. Unlike a game however, theRead MoreFourth Amendment Protections And Denials1299 Words   |  6 Pagespeople from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government† (What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?). This has provided citizens with a way to protect their privacy and prohibits the government and law officials from search through one’s personal and private belongings without having a cause to do so. The amendment â€Å"is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law† (What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?). Those who are not participatingRead MoreStop And Frisk, Automobile Searches, And Border And Regulatory Searches1341 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Fourth Amendment can lay the foundation of the laws of search and seizures and warrants, there are still many controversies as to what is classified as a violation of an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights. However, the wording of the Fourth Amendment can be confusing as different individuals interpret privacy in various ways. Terms that may be interpreted differently in the Fourth Amendment can include: 1) right of privacy, 2) search, 3) seizure, 4) arrest, and 5) reasonableness. This paperRead MoreThe Fourth Amendment in Criminal Procedure Essay1516 Words   |  7 Pagesall searches and seizures; if it is declared under law a person can be searched or seized. (â€Å"What does the Fourth Amendment Mean?†). There are some specific things that are governed by the Fourth Amendment that deal specifically with criminal procedure such as arrests with warrants, searches with warrants, arrests without warrants, searches without warrants, seizure of evidence, and different types of stops and seizures (Criminal Procedure). All of this migh t seem confusing to the average AmericanRead MoreSummary Of The Argument Of The Court 1058 Words   |  5 PagesOfficer Raymond’s initial stop is objectively justified under the Fourth Amendment and the New Setonia Statute. Because the truck was old, Officer Raymond’s experience being a police officer, and Mr. Jackson’s making movements towards the glovebox while Officer Billy was approaching the car, this proved there was reasonable suspicion to stop the car. Additionally, even if Mr. Jackson’s car was not a commercial vehicle, there were enough other factors pertaining to search of the truck that made theRead MoreThe Fourth Amendment Of The United States Constitution1747 Words   |  7 PagesThe Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution applies to a person and their home by providing protection against unreasonable seizures and searches. While it provides protection, not every search and seizure can be deemed unreasonable unless it is class ified as per the law, by determining whether there was: a) the level of intrusion of the individuals Fourth Amendment, and b) whether or not it pertains to the government’s interest, such as safety of the public. The right to protectionRead MoreA Perfect Utopia Of Democracy1185 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with 36 states having more prisoners than the next leading country, Cuba (Vice). One of the reasons why we have such a high incarceration rate can be blamed on the policy of stop and frisk. Although stop and frisk policies are implemented in order to better protect our society from drugs and weapons, the way it has been used by law enforcement violates the fourth amendment because of its loose regulations in terms of the use, as well asRead MoreRacial Profiling: Whats the Problem? Essay1289 Words   |  6 Pages There is an issue which is plaguing our community and making the job of a Police Officer more difficult -  Ã‚  Racial Profiling. Many have different opinions on why it happens, and what we should do about it if it does happen. The problem is nobody can come to a consensus on how to solve this problem. It seems to me that racism is still part of our society, and sadly, I think it always will be. We all have prejudices of some sort towards others. It may be because of race, sex, sexual preference, rich

Free Market vs Planned Economy Free Essays

A market economy is an economic system where the factors of production, are privately owned, consumers and producers are motivated by self interest, the level of competition in the markets is very high and resources are allocated through the price mechanism. The definition is supported by Lipsey (1992) who also state that decisions about resources allocation are made without any central direction but instead as a result of innumerable independent decision taken by individual producers consumers hence in the market economy the individuals or market makes the ultimate decision in allocation of resources. Whereas the planned economy is one in which the coordination of economic activity so essential to the viability and functioning of a complex social economy is undertaken through administrative means commands, directives, targets and regulations rather than by market mechanism. We will write a custom essay sample on Free Market vs Planned Economy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The dictionary. com defined this economic system as a socialist economic system in which production and distribution of goods and services are controlled by the government and industry is mostly publicly owned. Provision of public goods These are goods that are non rivalry in consumption and non excludability as alluded by Stanlake (2000) He also added the examples of public goods which includes national defences, the police service, flood control schemes, street lighting, pavements and public drainage hence they often have large external benefits relative to private benefits. In a market economy, production of public goods will not be provided or is limited because producers cannot withhold the goods for non –payment since there is no way of measuring how much a person consumes, there is no basis for establishing a market price. However in a planned economy there is provision of such goods because the government makes all decisions on what is produced. Hall (2010) mentioned that public goods cannot be provided privately because of their non diminishability and non –excludability that is consumers take a free ride since no one can be excluded from consuming them so it is almost impossible for a private firm to get anyone to pay for a public good. In a planned economy the state can finance the provision of public goods like defence and police service, by means of taxation and sometimes borrowing, local authorities provide street lighting and flood control can be provided by giving contracts to private sector firms. Production and consumption of merit and demerit goods According to Lipsey (1992), merit goods are those goods that the government compels or encourages people to consume, mainly because individuals are said to be unaware of the true benefits from consuming them. He also added that demerits goods are those goods which the state forbids people to consume mainly because individual are said to be unaware of the true harm they would suffer by consuming them. The best known examples of merit goods are health, education systems, insurance, inoculation and seat belts. The provision of merit goods in a free market economy tent to be under provided because spending on merit goods by the consumer would be determined by the private benefits derived from them. Like in United State of America where the free market is practised, the public health system compromised, people are advised to buy health insurance. The poor might not be able to afford this and some people might simply decide not to bother if they feel particularly health. In cases of seat belts consumers may fail to recognise their true private benefits hence less demand and less supply in a free economy. The demerit goods include cigarettes, alcohol and illegal drugs. These are over consumed in a market system because consumers may be unaware of the true cost of consuming them which includes negative externalities. As highlighted by Hall (2010) a planned economy there is an increase in the production and consumption of merit goods because the government considers them to be highly desirable for the welfare of the citizens. In this economic system the government has central authority to make decisions on the commodities to be produced hence emphasis will be placed on the production of merit goods and consumption of demerits will be reduced. The state can increase the production of merit goods by providing free state education and national health services. Contracts for services like refuse collection can be given to private sector firms. The government can also encourage the consumption of merit goods by providing information about the benefits of inoculation and passing legislation requiring vehicles to take and pass the vehicle inspection tests. In the command economy production and consumption of demerit goods is reduced with the purpose of reducing health problems for the economy. The government achieve this by taxing cigarettes and alcohol heavily and ban all dangerous drugs to prevent consumption. As well as roviding information about their harmful effects to the consumers. Consumer sovereignty Lipsey (1992:84) state that â€Å"market allocation are sometimes said to demonstrate consumer sovereignty that is to imply that the consumer is king and decides what shall be produced† This was supported by Stanlake (2000)who stipulates that the freedom of consumer choice is usually held to be the most important in the free econom y. It can be deduced that the consumer has the control, only the products that the consumer wants are produced. The more competitive the market structure, the more power the consumer will have. There is a higher level of consumer sovereignty in market economy than in planned economies. The government estimates the type of products it considers the individuals to want whilst in market economies producers are motivate by profit thus they have the incentives to respond quickly to change in consumer preferences. In a free market economy consumers benefit from lower cost goods and better services because business are forced to compete whilst in a planned economy there is no competition since the government is the only supplier. Equity in income distribution Equity is regarded as fairness. The market economy provides opportunities for people to earn income and acquire wealth but the opportunities for earning an income are no equally distribute. People do not have equal opportunities in education. Some are also limited in their capacity to learn or they may have acquired a skill only to find the demand for that skill is declining. If one starts a life with very little, and do not even get a good education, and then there will be very little protection from destitution. This discrimination in the free market economies distorts earnings and can result in people from minority groups and disabled earning less for the same work as able bodied. The market system does not guarantee that everyone will have the same opportunity to accumulate wealth and hence an inequality. It is argued that the planned economy can lead to more equal distribution of income and wealthy since the production factors are controlled by the state. A command economy mighty not have the efficiency and enterprise for the successful of many people but at least the government will try to make sure that nobody falls through the safety net. REFERENCES LIST Beardshaw,J. et. al (1998) Economics a student`s guide,5th Edition, Prentice Hall. Dictionary.com unabridged. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/market economy (accessed 3July 2013) Hall, R. and Lebierman,M.(2010)Microeconomic principle and application,5th Edition,Cengage learning Lipsey, R. and Harbury, C.(1992)Principals of economics,2nd Edition, Oxford: Oxford university press. Lipsey, R. and Chrystal, A.(1995)An introduction to positive economics ,8TH edition, London: Oxford university press. Stanlake, G. and Grant, S.(2000)Introductory economics, 7th Edition,London:Longman. How to cite Free Market vs Planned Economy, Papers

How Rap Music effects Children free essay sample

The urban youth of today are highly influenced by the lyrics of the music they listen to. This music can be narrowed down to todays version of hip-hop, or more commonly called rap. The youth are influenced by the lyrics and want to be like the rappers and live their lifestyle. What do these artists specifically talk about that want the youth to act this way? Most rap artists today produce the Images of drug abuse, prostitution, money, and other topics such as drug dealing.What can be done by parents to stop this widespread urge in youth to become an idol to others? The fact is that with the united States constitution, not much can be done due to our freedom of expression and speech. Also which artists have the largest effect on our youth? These are a questions that not many people or even parents think about before buying an album for the youth without even pondering about that little label that warns them of explicit material. No such federal ban on lyrics has ever taken place in our society, all they can do is stop minors from purchasing albums (Holland 1-2).One extremely controversial album in the late sasss was Amines album the Marshal Matters LAP. In the Columbia Journalism review, author Michael Hoyt stated that he witnessed a young man at a record store refuse to sell this album to a minor and his mother; and the mother had no idea what content was in the album. It is parents like these who need to stay up to date with the current news and know what and what not to let their children listen to(Hoyt 67).As for the topic of what it is that makes the youth want to act this way, it is the many topics covered in their lyrics that makes kids want to be bad or tough and be like their idols. These in fact might be the wrongs idols that kids need to live a successful life. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had an article of the negative influences of hip-hop, which was mainly directed towards young women. Many girls are shown images of scantily clad women in music videos vying life in the riches and just flaunting their sexuality.This is showing young women that if they act like this they could be rich and live a glamorous life. In reality, this is prostitution and these woman are just being paid to provide artists with sexual favors. The article also states that it is the image that sells to youth. Many famous rappers such as Kenya West have songs that are filled with degrading images and lyrics of women just being there for the money, which in return subjects them to believing that they are there just for sexual favors and money (Sangria C-1).Todays rap artists are like anarchists. This is because most lyrics are strictly trying to influence a lifestyle of breaking laws and rebelling against the government. The lifestyle spoken of in the majority of rap is making a life of doing wrongs to succeed. This is not the image children need to hear in their daily lives to succeed. Rap music was once used as a form of social protest for African American individuals who wanted to give hope and show a positive side of life for others.Rap used to be about how to get out of the ghettos and succeed, and in fact lyrics now revolve around keeping people in the ghettos and living lives of crime Grounding). Rap music over the years has embraced black talent and lead many people who lived troubled lives into a life of fame and glory. The problem is as rap music has evolved, the lyrical content has been highly focused around depicting negative images of the urban black community. It has turned from being positive to now just describing the life of drugs and riches. Songs range from depicting women as prostitutes, selling drugs such as cocaine and heroine, using drugs to get by in life, and spending excessive amounts Of money on expensive cars and jewelry. Washington Informer rite, Rudy Grounding, brings up a good point when she states, Can we overlook the targeting of young Black women with mean spirited and derogatory words and images that often prevent them from forming successful relationships(Grounding) She speaks of how in urban areas it is often overlooked or ignored how degrading the lyrics are and what they are doing.There are many good points as to what rap music could be causing in urban areas but there is no solid proof that rap music causes all to think or act on the music. On the contrary, there are many people that are against censorship and believe that we have the freedom of speech for a reason. Rappers are after all speaking about their life and their hardships they have went through. This negativity in current rap music could also teach kids a lesson of how to not live or even shed some light on the poor urban communities.Many rappers argue against their negative lyrics. For instance rapper 50 Cent, who has many controversial lyrics stated Watch what I do, not what I say, showing that he wants kid to learn from his actions not his words (Thames-Copeland). There are still rappers who like to put out positive images such as Nas. Nas has many songs with positive lyrics such as the song l Can, which was a song directed towards urban children and telling them to let nothing get in their way of what they want to do. Nas encouraged children in his song called, l Can by saying Ghetto children, do your thing. Hold your head up, little man, youre a king. Young Princess when you get your wedding ring. Your man is saying Shes my queen. The chorus goes, l know I can be what I want to be, if I work hard at it, Ill be where want to be (Thames-Copeland). The point Of this is that not all rap depicts negative images on the urban community, but most of the rappers that make it to the gig leagues are the ones that negative and attacking other artists through their lyrics.Overall it is the parents of the urban children who need to be aware of their children and what they are listening to . Parents need to monitor what their children listen to and make sure that they know it is not the life of money and fame for most youth. They also clearly need to make the point to their young girls that the life of a rappers girl is not in fact the way anyone should live and it is also illegal and degrading. Rap artists have the freedom of speech and can say whatever they would like, whether they elk about prostitution, drugs, money, or anything else.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Obamacare and small business free essay sample

Many people have a lot of questions when it comes to the new healthcare reform law. First off Obamacare is formally called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the healthcare reform law that was signed in 2010 and now many states have opened their health insurance marketplace exchanges as of October 1, 2013. This new healthcare reform law aims to increase the number of Americans that are covered by health insurance and also to decrease the cost of health care. Under this new law everyone in America will have to get health insurance of some form. Insurance companies can no longer deny people coverage because of a preexisting condition nor can than charge a higher premium if one has a pre-existing condition (Hamblin, 2013). Obamacare will also allow for young adults to remain on their parent’s policy until the age of 26. This will allow for many young adults to remain insured while they try to obtain a job that will provide adequate health coverage. Throughout this paper I will discuss the new health care reform law and how it affects small business. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010 but it does not feel as if much has changed, that is because the law will roll out changes in a ten year span. In 2014 a mandate will require all individuals to have â€Å"minimal essential health insurance coverage† (Hamblin, 2013). This has upset many people because many cannot simply afford healthcare due to the economy that we are currently in. Individuals may purchase health care coverage through federal or state exchanges that are being set up. To help people obtain health insurance those with moderate to low income are eligible to receive tax credits to help pay for the new health insurance. Many states are also expanding their state Medicaid programs. A chart that demonstrates each states decision on whether to move forward with the health insurance exchanges is provided below. The Pros of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act include that individual health care premiums will be reduced and the more than 33 to 44 million people who are uninsured or underinsured will gain coverage through the new state exchanges, Medicare or the newly expanded Medicaid in some states. For those who cannot afford to pay the health insurance premium could be eligible to use federal tax credits and subsidies to help save up to 60% of the current cost of health insurance premiums. This will make health insurance coverage affordable for up to 23 million Americans (Obamacare, 2013). Under the new health care reform law over 47 million women will have access to women’s services with no out of pocket costs for preventative and wellness services (Obamacare, 2013). The low-income individuals will have the opportunity of getting health insurance coverage through the state exchange, Medicare, or Medicaid; however some states have opted out of the Medicaid expansion in which some low-income individuals will not be eligible. Seniors and other individuals eligible for Medicare will see expanding benefits and coverage options; however there will be decreases in home health payments and hospital coverage as well. Obamacare will require businesses with over 50 full-time employees to provide affordable health insurance coverage to its employees however small businesses with 25 employees or less will receive federal tax credits to help offset the costs that a small business will face to encourage these businesses to provide health coverage to its employees (Obamacare, 2013). Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act businesses that have 50 or more full-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week, must provide its’ employees with healthcare coverage or they will face a penalty of $2,000 per employee. This will not only impact the business itself but will also impact the workers of small businesses because many businesses will decrease employee hours to have them remain under the 30 hours a week limit and they may also be hesitant in hiring additional employees in order to stay under the 50 full time employee limit (Davidson, 2013). The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will allow for small businesses to increase employee hours as well as hire additional employees until 2015 when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will take affect for businesses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may negatively impact some employees; if an employee has coverage through its employer the insurance premium must be less than 9. 5% of their income. For example if the employee premium is $3600 a year and the 20% share of the premium is $720 and the employee makes $45,000 a year; $45,000 x 9.5%= $4275 which is greater than $720. Therefore this coverage would be deemed affordable. However if this particular employee has a family of four the premium for the family would be an additional $7500 a year. In this case this individual would be eligible for tax credits to help afford the health insurance coverage if their employer did not provide health coverage (Lee, 2013). The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will help and hurt people at the same time. The delay of the healthcare reform law does not change the January 2014 deadline that mandates all individuals to get health insurance coverage or tax credits to help pay for it. The delay pushes back the deadline that mandates small businesses that have more than 50 full-time employees to provide adequate health insurance coverage to its employees or face a penalty. The new deadline is now pushed back to January 2015. The delay of the law may affect some workers who were depending on this new mandate to get health coverage before the January 2014 deadline (Cass, Alonso-Zaldivar, 2013). An individual who is already insured whether that be through their employer, Medicare, Medicaid or a private insurer will not be affected by the delay. Those low-income individuals who would be eligible to receive Medicaid under the new expanded program will however have to wait an extra year (Cass,Alonso-Zaldivar, 2013). A chart that demonstrates which states have decided to expand their Medicaid program is provided below. In my opinion the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has many aspects that can be very concerning and overwhelming for a small business. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will at first have a big impact on small business financials because a business that has 50 plus full-time employees must provide health care coverage to its employees and this could be very costly for a business who may not have as many financial resources as a large company may have. This mandate may cause small businesses to decrease employee hours to less than 30 hours per week and also hinder the business from hiring additional employees as to not fall into the over 50 full-time employees category. A study that was done by Kaiser Family Foundation found that 16 percent of small businesses plan on terminating their healthcare plan after reform has been fully implemented whereas only 6 percent of larger companies plan on canceling their plans once the exchanges go online and individual mandates and employer penalties become effective (Klein, 2012). I think many companies have decided to cancel their existing plans because it would be more cost effective for them in the long run, now the cost of health insurance is completely on the employees shoulders. In some circumstances this could be more cost effective for the employee as I demonstrated earlier. At first I believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be harmful to small business because it will require them to put out money that they may not have available to them in order to pay for employee health care coverage under this new mandate. However over time when everyone begins to adjust to the new healthcare reform law I think that healthcare costs will decrease and will ultimately save businesses money in the long run. However I believe that many small businesses that are on the verge of being over the 50 full-time employee will decrease employee hours and will hesitate before hiring any additional employees. This will not only affect the business but will also affect workers of those small businesses because if their hours are cut they will have to purchase health insurance through the exchange or see if they qualify for their state Medicaid program. Small businesses that have less than 25 employees will qualify for federal tax credits that will help with the cost of providing employees with healthcare coverage. The tax credits are meant to encourage small business that are not required to provided their employees with healthcare coverage to offer their employees healthcare coverage. If I were a small business owner I would fully corporate with the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because if I employed over 50 people and did not provide healthcare coverage to my employees I would face a penalty of $2,000 per each worker. This would put me at $100,000 in penalties. To me it is worth paying the premium for each worker than facing the penalty, which may cost me more in the long run than paying the premium. I believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will initially hurt small businesses because they have to pay upfront the costs that are associated with providing healthcare coverage to its employees. However over time after everyone adjusts to the new mandates small businesses will save money in the long run and will benefit from the new healthcare reform law. I also believe that many workers as well as other individuals will benefit from the new law as well. Many will benefit from the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid as well as the new tax credits that will help people afford their healthcare premiums.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

----------------------- Essays (367 words) - Physics, Nationality

+ ----------------------- wanted dead or alive Albert Einstein "Father of Modern Physics" REWARD $15,000 "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed." "An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels." "My passionate interest in social justice and social responsibility has always stood in curious contrast to a marked lack of desire for direct association with men and women. I am a horse for single harness, not cut out for tandem or team work. I have never belonged wholeheartedly to country or state, to my circle of friends, or even to my own family. " "Everybody is a genius." "" -Albert Einstein Early Life From the early childhood, Einstein showed signs of having an in-depth talent and skill for mathematics. During this time, he used to build models and mechanical devices, but those were for mere entertainment. It was at the age of ten that Einstein's fantasy for the mathematics grew, when he was handed over popular books on science, mathematical texts and philosophical writings by Max Talmund. These included Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, and Euclid's Elements. WANTED FOR: Theories helped us have a better understanding of the universe. His theories of special and general relativity helped us understand the relationship between space and time. With one famous equation, he showed how matter and energy are related. Without his theories and inventions, we would know a lot less about our universe. Ongoing History WWI WWII Honors 7 honorary doctarates Nobe Prize in physics 1921 Albert Einstein College of Medicine 4 Medals Benjamin Franklin Medal Major Contributions Special and Gneeral Theory of Relativity Photoelectric Law Photons and the Quantum Theory Manhattan Project (project was starterd because of his letter but he didn't take part) Big Bang Theory (debunked it) Born at Ulm, Wrttemberg, Germany on March14, 1879 Died at Pronceton, New Jersey on April 18, 1955 Attended elementary school at the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich Appplied for Polytechnic School in Zurich Attended high school in Aurau, Switzerland

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Writing with Speech Recognition Software

Writing with Speech Recognition Software Writing with Speech Recognition Software Writing with Speech Recognition Software By Michael A professional writer might add a thousand words a day to their rough draft. With speech recognition software, some writers can add several thousand. Thats one reason why more writers are choosing to dictate their books. Today the error rate of speech recognition software has improved to within a percentage point of a human being. According to IBM, even a human transcriptionist hears the wrong word 4 or 5 percent of the time. IBM reached 5.5 percent in 2017. Google claims even lower than that 4.9 percent in 2017. Speech recognition can be found in Google Docs, Windows 10, your smartphone and in various home devices. Dragon Naturally Speaking is the only commercially-available speech recognition software for consumers, mostly because they bought all their competitors. According to their website, Dragon is 3x faster than typing and its 99% accurate. For higher accuracy, Dragon can be trained to recognize your own voice and vocabulary. Tips for writing with speech recognition Dictate in complete phrases or sentences. Recent advances in accuracy have come not so much from speech recognition (thats a buh not a duh) as from language recognition (after the words eat or peel the sounds buh nah nuh are probably banana). I can sometimes see my software rewrite a sentence once Ive completed it, because it now has more of the context and so can recognize more of the words. Pause between phrases, not words. Thats mostly what I just said, but it bears repeating. Separating parts of speech with pauses (It was the best of times) can really confuse the software. It likes to sense the sentence structure as you speak. Pausing between phrases is also a good habit for public speaking, or for speaking in general, for that matter. Yes, you need to pause while you think, but you dont need to keep talking while you do it. Watch the screen. If there are any errors or omissions, you want to make sure theyre not so serious that you cant remember what you really meant to say. I can handle Dragon spelling to instead of too or member instead of remembering. But sometimes the software provides a perfectly spelled word that would make no sense later. In that case, I can usually dictate the correct word again, perhaps preceding it with or rather as a newscaster might. Or you may be able to train Dragon (and yourself) that you pronounce to as tu and too as te-yoo. Or restate your sentence in different words. Dont worry about polluting your masterpiece with synonyms its probably faster than hemming and hawing for the perfect word. You can perfect it when you edit it. Keep a consistent tone, speed, and volume. Shouting, whispering or pretending youre Robin Williams will make the software work harder. It doesnt appreciate or even recognize histronics. I did a stint as a professional voice transcriptionist, repeating the speech of another person more clearly so that Dragon could understand it better. We maintained a cheerful tone as we worked, but we werent dramatic. Dont stop for mistakes. Keep a consistent flow, where words come out of your mouth at approximately the same speed they come into your mind. Your mind will appreciate that. Dont stop to fix typos or punctuation errors. Talk around any blatant mistakes restate anything thats unclear but keep dictating. Your first transcription may not be smooth or free of mistakes. But mistakes inspire creativity, because they beg you to fix them. So dont worry about making mistakes when dictating. Dont try to speak the keyboard. Youre better off just dictating words and not trying to operate your computer with your voice. Yes, Dragon has many editing commands: Scratch that, Scratch that n times, Go back, Go to top, Stop listening, Search eBay for text (NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT TRY TO WRITE NOVEL AND SHOP ON EBAY AT THE SAME TIME.) But the main commands I use are Period and New line Im supposed to be writing not editing remember? and Ive turned off my internal editor. Dragons commands are great for people who cant use a keyboard they can say Open Google Chrome or Post to Facebook but the extra learning curve can sour other people on trying the software. Hands-free editing I keep Dragon in Dictation Mode, which ignores commands as long as Im dictating quickly. Otherwise, if one of my paranoid characters shouts, Stop listening, Dragon might take me literally and not transcribe anything else. So how do you edit without using editing commands? Dictate the section again, without the mistakes. Really. Its probably faster than using the commands. It may be faster than using a keyboard. Many writers with repetitive stress injuries say that what hurt their wrists was not the typing, it was the constant cutting, pasting and mousing. With dictation, the only movement is your mouth and your eyeballs. Dictation lets you hear your words again, which lets you decide if you really like them. It even lets you combine several versions. You could have both versions open on your computer and switch your eyes between them as you read your favorite paragraph with each. Or you could print out both versions, lay the pages all over the floor, rearrange them as you like, edit them with a fat marker pen, and then smoothly read them back into your microphone. When I first tried this technique, though, the new version wasnt much better than the old. I hoped that as I reread the passage, my mind would naturally find things to correct, as a storyteller does. But seeing the text in front of me made it harder to see areas of improvement. A better strategy might be to silently read both versions again, then close my eyes and retell the story into the microphone. Dictation software works better for some writers than others, and for some types of writing than others. At first you may miss the feel of the keyboard or the pen, or you may be distracted by the sound of your voice. But for many writers, speech recognition software can set their creative process free. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)Among vs. AmongstOppose and Opposed To

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Dietary analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Dietary analysis - Essay Example To be able to analyze the nutritional needs and status, a three-day tabulation diet was undertaken. The food records for three days are presented in the end on the report (Appendix 1). In addition, the pertinent analysis of the different types of foods that had been eaten is also included along with the different nutritional compositions and information (Appendix 2-4). A presentation of the personal information related to health and nutrition is important to be able to compare the diet on the standards that were set which is referred to as the Recommended Dietary Intake. In the analysis of the macronutrients and water content of the food intake for the 3 days that had been studied, there are different observations that can be perceived. For protein, the average of the three values is higher than the RDI. Even the individual protein content values for each day are comparatively higher than the RDI for both males and females. This can be considered still at the optimum level since no upper level of intake had been presented. This is important since it is the major building block of the body (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing National Health and Medical Research Council, 2005). In terms of the fats and fatty acids, upon estimation it can be determined that the daily intakes for the 3 days are above the RDI. For that matter, susceptibility to diseases related to fat accumulation can be one of the risks. No set values were given for carbohydrates because it is needed by the body for vital functions. The carbohydrate component of the diet then is useful for the body. The average and individual dietary fibre values are insufficient compared to the RDI. The water and water content in foods are also insufficient on the basis of the values presented by the RDI. Based on the said group then, there is a need to increase the dietary fibre and water intake to be able to achieve the sufficient RDI

Monday, February 3, 2020

Adult learning theory and research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Adult learning theory and - Research Paper Example Furthermore, the approach of learning can be enhanced by enabling the students to work autonomously, developing the feeling of self-belief and collaborating in an effective manner. On the other hand, development can be enhanced by inducing proper learning behaviour and mitigating any sort of query and issue that the people face in the course of developing new behaviours (Weimer, 2012; Vygotsky, n.d.). Correspondingly, theory and research are regarded as two different aspects wherein theory is regarded as the approach of widely acknowledged principles as well as explanations. Additionally, the aspect of theory is highly descriptive in nature and recognised to possess most reliable form of knowledge. Moreover, theories are highly recognised in logical form based on substantial evidences. On the other hand, research is regarded as the creative work undertaken to justify the utilisation of varied theories and develop new knowledge. Nevertheless, both theory and research is regarded as the scientific methods, which help the people to acquire knowledge and develop new practices. Relatively, the aspect of theory is based on the surveillance of phenomena and research emphasis over proving that has been inferred with the observations (Layder, 1998). In relation to the above context, in order to develop face-to-face and online presentation, the approach of transformation theory could be taken into concern. Besides, the application of the theoretical prospective will allow making significant transformation of learning behaviour that will encourage the students to build higher level of communication and interactive approach with the audiences. Additionally, theories are proved to be effective in producing valuable learning within the students and highly beneficial to understand the interaction patterns prevailing within the learning environment (Kitchenham, 2010).

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Prisoners Plight in Platos Cave Allegory

Prisoners Plight in Platos Cave Allegory Through the interactive oral, I learned about the prisoners plight in Platos cave allegory. In the allegory, there are prisoners, chained, and facing a wall with a fire behind them. Objects are held up, casting shadows on the walls. The prisoners are only able to see the projected shadows; therefore, the prisoners could mistake these shadows for reality. If a prisoner were to be released and leave the cave, they would be blinded by the light and realize their error. A recurring motif in Sophocles Oedipus the King is sight and blindness and this motif is revealed as the prisoners in the allegory are mirrored by the characters during their journey to enlightenment. Firstly, Tiresias, in relation to Platos cave allegory, is the individual outside of the cave who is all- knowing, understanding the falsity of what the prisoners perceive. His knowledge of the truth is clear as it is Tiresias who reveals Oedipus crimes to him, setting him off on a journey of self- discovery; however, Oedipus hubris enables him from realizing the entire truth. Another character seen as a prisoner in the cave allegory is Jocasta, who experiences life both inside and outside of the cave. When she is inside the cave, she lacks the vision and insight to see Oedipus true identity. However, once free, she is no longer blind; therefore, she realizes that she has not thwarted fate, but has fulfilled it by bedding her son, who is also her husband. Upon reflection, it can be seen that for Jocasta, ignorance is bliss; she would rather deceive herself and believe in an illusion, than live with the truth. The allegory can also apply to Oedipus who, like Jocasta, has spent most of his lifetime inside the cave. Though given a glimpse of reality by Tiresias, his tragic flaw, his pride, prevents him from understanding the entire truth. Ultimately, Oedipus realizes the truth, but his realization leads to his metaphorical demise as he blinds himself. In this way, Oedipus is forced to live in darkness though he knows the truth and is outside the cave. Considering the interactive oral, my understanding of the characters struggle of sight and blindness was further developed as the motif is illustrated through the prisoners in Platos cave allegory and depicted by different characters in Sophocles Oedipus the King. The Inevitability of Truth Sophocles was an Ancient Greek writer whose works are considered as classics to this day. His tragedies offer insight into the social and political condition of Ancient Greek and often have deep, underlying messages. In one of his best known tragedies, Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses the motif of sight and blindness as a metaphor for insight and knowledge. While the physically blind prophet Tiresias is the only character who has insight, the protagonist, Oedipus, is blind to the fact that he has already fallen into his fate. Likewise, Jocasta, the wife of Oedipus, is metaphorically blind to the truth and willing to live in ignorance rather than knowing the truth. Regardless of willingness to accept the truth, Tiresias, Jocasta, and Oedipus ultimately achieve sight which represents knowledge of the truth, paralleling the inevitability of fate. Though physically blind, Tiresias has far more insight and knowledge than the other characters, even knowing the truth about Oedipus identity. When Oedipus arrives in Corinth, Tiresias recognizes him and refuses to reveal the truth, knowing that truth is harsh. Only when Oedipus mocks him, Tiresias suggests that Oedipus himself is Laius murderer and the subject of the prophecy. TIRESIAS: That man, I say, is here: a stranger in our midst, they thought, but in a moment you shall see him openly displayed a Theban born, and shattered by the honor. Blind instead of seeing, beggar instead of rich, hell grope his way in foreign parts, tapping out his war with stick in hand. (Sophocles 26) Despite his blindness, Tiresias is not afraid of Oedipus because he knows the truth. Therefore, he holds an advantage over Oedipus and offers hints about the man he seeks, clearly stating that man is here. Though Oedipus has insulted Tiresias, he is unwilling to reveal the harsh reality. Instead, he leaves Oedipus with an ironic riddle in which he refers to Oedipus as a stranger in our midst since Oedipus is a stranger to himself; he does not know he is the man whom he so desperately seeks. Furthermore, Tiresias claims Oedipus will be able to see this stranger, which is also ironic since Oedipus, who can physically see at the moment, is unable to recognize the truth behind Tiresias message. Finally, he foreshadows Oedipus future as a poor, blind man; in this way, Tiresias directly refers to Oedipus peripeteia, the reversal of his situation. Therefore, Tiresias metaphorical sight allows him to recognize fate and its working, unlike Oedipus whose pride blinds him to his fate. Like Oedipus, Jocasta can see physically, but is a victim of metaphorical blindness and is willing to live a life of ignorance rather than live with the truth. Jocasta, too, receives hints of Oedipus reality throughout the play, but deliberately attempts to ignore them, choosing ignorance over truth. When Jocasta realizes the truth before Oedipus, she begs him to stop his pursuit in order to prevent future pain. JOCASTA: Yet be persuaded, please. Do not proceed. OEDIPUS: Persuaded from the truth? Pursuing it? I must. JOCASTA: God help you, Oedipus! Hide it from you who you are. (Sophocles 59) Learning the truth about Oedipus identity devastates Jocasta as she begs Oedipus in a frantic and desperate tone. Her despair is further established as she even pleads to God to help Oedipus; this is a bitter concession of her belief in the power of the gods over chance. Ironically, prior to Jocastas revelation of the truth, she was a strong believer in chance and mocked the gods, clearly rejecting the oracles sayings. Once she has achieved metaphorical sight, she has no choice but to acknowledge the power of the gods; however, the truth pains Jocasta and she wishes to revert to her old life of ignorance as seen in her attempt to dissuade Oedipus in his own journey to uncover the truth. She desperately begs Oedipus to hide from the reality of his identity. By hiding from his own self and the truth of his identity, Oedipus would be concealed from the knowledge of the bleak and bitter truth that he is the murderer of Laius who wed his own mother; his sight would be concealed and the tr uth would be prevented from being discovered. Therefore, knowing that the truth is harsh, Jocasta reveals her own wishes to live in ignorance rather than truth. Jocastas recognition of the truth points to the power of fate as she tries to prevent the truth from coming into the light, denying the veracity of oracle, which is ultimately all in vain and useless to the power of fate. Contrary to Tiresias, Oedipus has the ability to see physically; however, his fatal flaw shadows his ability to see the truth, which ultimately leads to his downfall. In his attempt to discover the truth about the murder of Laius, he seeks Tiresias. After being insulted and mocked, Tiresias reveals hints about the truth Oedipus is blind to: TIRESIAS: I say, the murderer of the man whose murder you pursue is you. TIRESIAS: I say that you and your most dearly loved are wrapped together in a hideous sin, blind to the horror of it. OEDIPUS: You think you can go babbling unscathed? TIRESIAS: Unscathed indeed, if truth is strength. OEDIPUS: It is. But not for you, you purblind man: in ears and mind and vision. (Sophocles 21) Despite the hints, Oedipus interprets Tiresias words as attacks of retaliation and cannot see past his own pride; he is unable to see the truth even though it is laid in front of him. Though Tiresias declares two truths, directly referring to Oedipus by using the words I say, you, Oedipus simply disregards the repetition of Tiresias declarations and essentially his pride blinds him from realizing the truth of Tiresias words that are so barely laid out in front of him. Furthermore, Oedipus goes on to mock Tiresias physical blindness, which is ironic given that it is in fact Oedipus who is blind to the truth despite his ability to see physically. Therefore, Tiresias is Oedipus only hope of knowing the truth; however, it is Oedipus own pride that prevents him from accepting the hints of truth. Since Oedipus had many opportunities to recognize the truth earlier and avoid his fate, his inability to detect these hints due to his fatal flaw makes his downfall even harsher. The skills and strengths that allow Oedipus to achieve status and glory also drive Oedipus to his destruction; therefore, his strengths also play as his weaknesses and lead to both his rise and ultimate downfall. Although many associated with Oedipus, including his parents, attempt to prevent fate, it is Oedipus true lack of knowledge caused by his pride, which leads to his downfall. When Oedipus discovers the truth, he gouges out his eyes, physically blinding himself from the reality. After learning about the harsh reality, he exclaims, How terrible- to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! (Sophocles 154).ÂÂ   Through this act, Oedipus makes a transition from metaphorical blindness to insight by physically blinding himself. Now that Oedipus is fully aware he has fulfilled the prophecy he tried so desperately to avoid, he becomes overwhelmed by the physical light in which he was metaphorically blind and seeks refuge in the dark. Since he is unable to handle reality, he chooses to live in physical darkness which allows him to reflect on his actions in an attempt to absolve his guilt. This act can also be seen as a way for Oedipus to punish himself, perhaps reducing his guilt and pain. Now aware of the reality, Oedipus acknowledges that along his journey, there were many truths laid out in front of him, but he was unable to recognize them. In this way, he realizes that the truth is only painful to the one who can see it. Ironically, in the end, Oedipus becomes physically what he has always metaphorically been: blind. Therefore, it is Oedipus own fatal flaw that blinds him from the truth and ultimately causes his downfall. Thus, by the end of the play, Tiresias, Jocasta, and Oedipus are fully aware of the truth, though it is too late to reverse or manipulate any of fates doings. Tiresias, who possesses the ability to see the truth, is physically blind and taken lightly by the other characters who fail to heed his warnings and recognize the truth laid barely in front of them. Despite Jocastas rejection of the oracles message and Oedipus decision to ignore the oracles words due to metaphorical blindness, the predictions become truth by the end of the play. Therefore, the opportunities to avoid or change fate depend on the ability to understand and see the truth. It is only if these opportunities are taken that fate can be manipulated; otherwise, fate will continue in motion.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirty-four

I DIDN'T WAKE UP IN the world of the dead. I didn't even wake up in a hospital or some other type of medical center–which, believe me, I'd done plenty of times. No, I woke up in luxury, in a huge bedroom with gilded furniture. Heaven? Probably not with my behaviors. My canopied bed had a red- and-gold velvet comforter, thick enough to be a mattress itself. Candles flickered on a small table against the far wall and filled the room with the scent of jasmine. I had no clue where I was or how I'd gotten here, but as my last memories of pain and darkness played out in my mind, I decided the fact that I was actually breathing was good enough. â€Å"Sleeping Beauty awakens.' That voice †¦ that wonderful, honey-like voice with its soft accent. It enveloped me, and with it came the impossible truth and its full impact: I was alive. I was alive. And Dimitri was here. I couldn't see him but felt a smile come to my lips. â€Å"Are you my nurse?' I heard him get up from a chair and walk over. Seeing him stand over me like that reminded me of just how tall he truly was. He looked down at me with a smile of his own–one of those full and rare smiles. He had cleaned up since last I'd seen him, his brown hair tied neatly back behind his neck, though he hadn't shaved for a couple days. I tried to sit up, but he tsked me back. â€Å"No, no, you need to lie down.' Soreness in my chest told me he was right. My mind might be awake, but the rest of me was exhausted. I had no idea how much time had passed, but something told me my body had been fighting a battle–not with a Strigoi or anything like one, but with itself. A battle to stay alive. â€Å"Then come closer,' I told him. â€Å"I want to see you.' He considered this a moment and then kicked off his shoes. Turning on my side– which made me wince–I managed to wiggle over a little to make room near the bed's edge. He curled up beside me. Our faces rested on the same pillow, only a couple of inches apart as we gazed at each other. â€Å"Is this better?' he asked. â€Å"Much.' With his long, graceful fingers, he reached out and brushed hair from my face before tracing the edge of my cheekbone. â€Å"How are you?' â€Å"Hungry.' He laughed softly and cautiously slid his hand down to rest on my lower back, in a sort of half-embrace. â€Å"Of course you are. I think they've only managed to get broth into you so far. Well, that and IV fluids early on. You're probably in sugar withdrawal.' I cringed. I didn't like needles or tubes and was glad I hadn't been awake to see them. (Tattoo needles were a different matter.) â€Å"How long have I been out?' â€Å"A few days.' â€Å"A few days †¦' I shivered, and he tugged the covers higher on me, thinking I was cold. â€Å"I shouldn't be alive,' I whispered. Gunshots like that †¦ they were too fast, too close to my heart. Or in my heart? I put my hand to my chest. I didn't know precisely where I'd been hit. It all ached. â€Å"Oh Lord. Lissa healed me, didn't she?' It would have taken so much spirit. She shouldn't have done that. She couldn't afford to. Except †¦ why would I still feel pain? If she'd healed me, she would have gone all the way. â€Å"No, she didn't heal you.' â€Å"No?' I frowned, unable to process that. How else would I have survived? A surprising answer came to mind. â€Å"Then †¦ Adrian? He'd never †¦ after how I treated him †¦ no. He couldn't have †¦' â€Å"What, you think he'd let you die?' I didn't answer. The bullets might be long gone, but thinking of Adrian still made my heart–figuratively–ache. â€Å"No matter how he feels †¦' Dimitri hesitated. This was a delicate topic, after all. â€Å"Well, he wouldn't have let you die. He wanted to heal you. But he didn't either.' I felt bad for thinking so little of Adrian. Dimitri was right. Adrian never would have abandoned me out of spite, but I was rapidly running out of options here. â€Å"Then who? Sonya?' â€Å"No one,' he said simply. â€Å"Well, you, I suppose.' â€Å"I †¦ what?' â€Å"People can heal without magic now and then, Rose.' There was amusement in his voice, though his face stayed sober. â€Å"And your wounds †¦ they were bad. No one thought you'd survive. You went into surgery, and then we all just waited.' â€Å"But why †¦' I felt very arrogant, asking the next question. â€Å"Why didn't Adrian or Lissa heal me?' â€Å"Oh, they wanted to, believe me. But in the aftermath, in the chaos †¦ the Court went under lockdown. They were both taken away and put under heavy protection before they could act. No one would let them near you, not when they still thought you might be a murderer. They had to be certain about Tasha first, even though her own actions were pretty damning.' It took me a moment to get past the idea that modern medicine and my body's own stamina had healed me. I'd grown too used to spirit. This didn't seem possible. As I tried to wrap my mind around the concept, the rest of Dimitri's meaning hit me. â€Å"Is Tasha †¦ still alive?' His face fell even more. â€Å"Yes. They caught her right after she shot you–before anyone else got hurt. She's detained, and more evidence has been coming in.' â€Å"Calling her out was one of the hardest things I've ever done,' I said. â€Å"Fighting Strigoi was easier than that.' â€Å"I know. It was hard for me to see, hard for me to believe.' There was a far-off look in his eyes, reminding me that Dimitri had known her longer than he'd known me. â€Å"But she made her choices, and all the charges against you have been dropped. You're a free woman now. More than that. A hero. Abe's bragging that it's all his doing.' That brought my smile back. â€Å"Of course he is. I'll probably get a bill from him soon.' I felt dizzy with both joy and astonishment. A free woman. I'd been burdened with accusations and a death sentence for what felt like years, and now †¦ now it had all disappeared. Dimitri laughed, and I wanted to stay like this forever, just the two of us, sweet and unguarded. Well–maybe not exactly this. I could've done without the pain and thick bandages I felt on my chest. He and I had had so few times alone, moments when we could really relax and openly acknowledge being in love. Things had only begun to mend between us at the end there †¦ and it had almost been too late. It might still be. â€Å"So what now?' I asked. â€Å"I'm not sure.' He rested his cheek against my forehead. â€Å"I'm just so glad †¦ so glad you're alive. I've been so close to losing you so many times. When I saw you on the floor, and there was so much commotion and confusion †¦ I felt so helpless. I realized you were right. We waste our lives with guilt and self-loathing. When you looked at me there at the end †¦ I saw it. You did love me.' â€Å"You doubted?' I meant the words jokingly, but they came out sounding offended. Maybe I was, a little. I'd told him I loved him plenty of times. â€Å"No. I mean, I knew then that you didn't just love me. I realized you really had forgiven me.' â€Å"There was nothing to forgive, not really.' I'd told him that before too. â€Å"I've always believed there was.' He pulled back and looked at me again. â€Å"And that's what was holding me back. No matter what you said, I just couldn't believe it †¦ couldn't believe you would forgive all the things I did to you in Siberia and after Lissa healed me. I thought you were deluding yourself.' â€Å"Well. It wouldn't be the first time I've done that. But no, this time I wasn't.' â€Å"I know, and with that revelation †¦ in that split second that I knew you forgave me and that I really had your love, I was finally able to forgive myself too. All those burdens, those ties to the past †¦ they went away. It was like †¦' â€Å"Being free? Flying?' â€Å"Yes. Except †¦ it came too late. This sounds crazy, but while I was looking down at you, having all these thoughts coming together in my head, it was like †¦ like I could see death's hand reaching for you. And there was nothing I could do. I was powerless. I couldn't help.' â€Å"You did,' I told him. â€Å"The last things I saw before blacking out were you and Lissa.' Well, besides the skeletal faces, but mentioning that would have killed this romantic moment. â€Å"I don't know how I survived getting shot, how I beat the odds †¦ but I'm pretty sure your love–both of you–gave me the strength to fight through. I had to get back to you guys. God only knows what trouble you'd get into without me.' Dimitri had no words for that and answered instead by bringing his mouth to mine. We kissed, lightly at first, and the sweetness of the moment overpowered any pain I felt. The intensity had just barely picked up when he pulled away. â€Å"Hey, what gives?' I asked. â€Å"You're still recovering,' he chastised. â€Å"You might think you're back to normal, but you aren't.' â€Å"This is normal for me. And you know, I thought with all this freedom and self- discovery and expression of our love stuff that we could finally stop with the whole Zen master wisdom and practical advice crap.' This got me an outright grin. â€Å"Roza, that's not going to happen. Take it or leave it.' I pressed a kiss to his lips. â€Å"If it means getting you, I'll take it.' I wanted to kiss him again and prove who really did have greater self-control, but that damned thing called reality set in. â€Å"Dimitri †¦ for real, what happens to us?' â€Å"Life,' he said easily. â€Å"It goes on. We go on. We're guardians. We protect and maybe change our world.' â€Å"No pressure,' I remarked. â€Å"But what's the â€Å"we' and â€Å"guardians' part? I was pretty sure we were out of that career path.' â€Å"Mmm.' He cupped my face, and I thought he might try another kiss. I hoped he would. â€Å"Along with our pardons, we received our guardian status again.' â€Å"Even you? They believe you're not a Strigoi?' I exclaimed. He nodded. â€Å"Huh. Even if I got my name cleared, my ideal future was that we'd get filing jobs near each other.' Dimitri moved closer to me, his eyes sparkling with a secret. â€Å"It gets better: you're Lissa's guardian.' â€Å"What?' I almost pulled away. â€Å"That's impossible. They'd never †¦' â€Å"They did. She'll have others, so they probably figured it was okay to let you hang around if someone else could keep you in line,' he teased. â€Å"You're not †¦' A lump formed in my stomach, a reminder of a problem that had plagued us so long ago. â€Å"You're not one of her guardians too, are you?' It had constantly been a concern, that conflict of interest. I wanted him near me. Always. But how could we watch Lissa and put her safety first if we were worried about each other? The past was returning to torment us. â€Å"No, I have a different assignment.' â€Å"Oh.' For some reason, that made me a little sad too, even though I knew it was the smarter choice. â€Å"I'm Christian's guardian.' This time I did sit up, doctor's orders or no. Stitches tugged in my chest, but I ignored the sharp discomfort. â€Å"But that's †¦ that's practically the same thing!' Dimitri sat up too and seemed to be enjoying my shock, which was really kind of cruel, seeing as I'd almost died and everything. â€Å"A little. But they won't be together every moment, especially with her going to Lehigh. He's not going †¦ but they'll keep coming back to each other. And when they do, so will we. It's a good mix. Besides †¦' He grew serious again. â€Å"I think you've proved to everyone that you're willing to put her life first.' I shook my head. â€Å"Yeah, but no one was shooting at you. Only her.' I said it lightly, but it did make me wonder: what would I do if they were both in trouble?Trust him, a voice in my head said. Trust him to take care of himself. He'll do the same for you. I eyed Dimitri, recalling a shadow in my periphery back in the ballroom. â€Å"You followed when I jumped in front of Lissa, didn't you? Who were you going for? Me or her?' He studied me for several long seconds. He could have lied. He could have given the easy answer by saying he'd intended to push both of us out of the way–if that was even possible, which I didn't recall. But Dimitri didn't lie. â€Å"I don't know, Roza. I don't know.' I sighed. â€Å"This isn't going to be easy.' â€Å"It never is,' he said, pulling me into his arms. I leaned against his chest and closed my eyes. No, it wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth it. As long as we were together, it would be worth it. We sat like that for a long time, until a discrete knock at the half-open door broke us apart. Lissa stood in the doorway. â€Å"Sorry,' she said, her face shining with joy when she saw me. â€Å"Should have put a sock on the door. Didn't realize things were getting hot and heavy.' â€Å"No avoiding it,' I said lightly, clasping Dimitri's hand. â€Å"Things are always hot with him around.' Dimitri looked scandalized. He'd never held back when we were in bed together, but his private nature wouldn't let him even hint about such matters to others. It was mean, but I laughed and kissed his cheek. â€Å"Oh, this is going to be fun,' I said. â€Å"Now that everything's out in the open.' â€Å"Yeah,' he said. â€Å"I got a pretty â€Å"fun' look from your father the other day.' He gave Lissa a quick, knowing glance and then stood up. Leaning down, he kissed the top of my head. â€Å"I should go and let you two talk.' â€Å"Will you be back?' I asked as he moved to the door. He paused and smiled at me, and those dark eyes answered my questions and so much more. â€Å"Of course.' Lissa took his spot, sitting on the bed's edge. She hugged me gingerly, no doubt worried about my injuries. She then scolded me for sitting up, but I didn't care. Happiness surged through me. I was so glad she was okay, so relieved, and– And I had no idea how she felt. The bond was gone. And not like during the jail escape, when she'd put the wall up. There was simply nothing there between us. I was with myself, completely and utterly alone, just as I had been years ago. My eyes widened, and she laughed. â€Å"I wondered when you'd notice,' she said. â€Å"How †¦ how is this possible?' I was frozen and numb. The bond. The bond was gone. I felt like my arm had been amputated. â€Å"And how do you know?' She frowned. â€Å"Part of it's instinct †¦ but Adrian saw it. That our auras aren't connected anymore.' â€Å"But how? How could that happen?' I sounded crazy and desperate. The bond couldn't be gone. It couldn't. â€Å"I'm not entirely sure,' she admitted, her frown deepening. â€Å"I talked about it a lot with Sonya and, uh, Adrian. We think when I brought you back the first time, it was spirit alone that held you back from the land of the dead and that kept you tied to me. This time †¦ you nearly died again. Or maybe you did for a moment. Only, you and your body fought your way back. It was you who got out, with no help from spirit. And once that happened †¦' She shrugged. â€Å"Like I said, we're only guessing. But Sonya thinks once your own strength broke you away, you didn't need any help being pulled back from death. You did it on your own. And when you freed yourself of spirit, you freed yourself from me. You didn't need a bond to keep you with the living.' It was crazy. Impossible. â€Å"But if †¦ if you're saying I escaped the land of the dead, I'm not, like, immortal or anything, am I?' Lissa laughed again. â€Å"No, we're certain of that. Sonya explained it, saying anything alive can die, and as long as you've got an aura, you're alive. Strigoi are immortal but not alive, so they don't have auras and–‘ The world spun. â€Å"I'll take your word for it. I think maybe I do need to lie down.' â€Å"That's probably a good idea.' I gently eased myself onto my back. Desperately needing distraction from what I'd just learned–because it was still too surreal, still impossible to process–I eyed my surroundings. The lush room was bigger than I'd previously realized. It kept going and going, branching into other rooms. It was a suite. Maybe an apartment. I could just make out a living room with leather furniture and a flat screen TV. â€Å"Where are we are?' â€Å"In palace housing,' she replied. â€Å"Palace housing? How'd we end up here?' â€Å"How do you think?' she asked dryly. â€Å"I †¦' I couldn't work my mouth for a moment. I needed no bond to realize what had happened. Another impossibility had occurred while I'd been out of it. â€Å"Crap. They had the election, didn't they? They elected you queen, once Jill was there to stand in for your family.' She shook her head and almost laughed. â€Å"My reaction was a little stronger than â€Å"crap,' Rose. Do you have any idea what you've done?' She looked anxious, stressed, and totally overwhelmed. I wanted to be serious and comforting for her sake †¦ but I could feel a goofy grin spreading over my face. She groaned. â€Å"You're happy.' â€Å"Liss, you were meant for this! You're better than any of the other candidates.' â€Å"Rose!' she cried. â€Å"Running for queen was supposed to be a diversion. I'm only eighteen.' â€Å"So was Alexandra.' Lissa shook her head in exasperation. â€Å"I'm so sick of hearing about her! She lived centuries ago, you know. I think people died when they were thirty back then. So she was practically middle-aged.' I caught hold of her hand. â€Å"You're going to be great. It doesn't matter how old you are. And it's not like you have to call meetings and analyze law books all on your own, you know. I mean, I'm sure not going to do any of that, but there are other smart people. Ariana Szelsky didn't make the last test, but you know she'll help if you ask her to. She's still on the Council, and there are others you can rely on. We just have to find them. I believe in you.' Lissa sighed and looked down, her hair hanging forward in a curtain. â€Å"I know. And part of me is excited, like this will restore my family's honor. I think that's what's saved me from a total breakdown. I didn't want to be queen, but if I have to †¦ then I'm going to do it right. I feel like †¦ like I have the world at my fingertips, like I can do so much good. But I'm so afraid of messing up too.' She looked up sharply. â€Å"And I'm not giving up on the rest of my life either. I guess I'm going to be the first queen in college.' â€Å"Cool,' I said. â€Å"You can IM with the Council from campus. Maybe you can command people to do your homework.' She apparently didn't think the joke was as funny as I did. â€Å"Going back to my family. Rose †¦ how long did you know about Jill?' Damn. I'd known this part of the conversation would eventually be coming. I averted my eyes. â€Å"Not really that long. We didn't want to stress you until we knew it was real,' I added hastily. â€Å"I can't believe †¦' She shook her head. â€Å"I just can't believe it.' I had to go on her tone, not the bond. It was so strange, like losing one of my key senses. Sight. Hearing. â€Å"Are you upset?' â€Å"Of course I am! How can you be surprised?' â€Å"I figured you'd be happy †¦' â€Å"Happy to find out my dad cheated on my mom? Happy to have a sister I hardly know? I've tried to talk to her, but †¦' Lissa sighed again. â€Å"It's so weird. Almost weirder than suddenly being queen. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to think of my father. And I sure as hell don't know what to do with her.' â€Å"Love them both,' I said softly. â€Å"They're your family. Jill's great, you know. Get to know her. Be excited.' â€Å"I don't know if I can. I think you're more of a sister to me than she'll ever be.' Lissa stared off at nothing. â€Å"And of all people †¦ I was convinced for so long that there was something going on between her and Christian.' â€Å"Well, out of all the worries in your world, that's one you can let go because it's not true.' But within her comment was something dark and sad. â€Å"How isChristian?' She turned back to me, her eyes full of pain. â€Å"He's having a hard time. I am too. He visits her. Tasha. He hates what she did, but †¦ well, she's still his family. It hurts him, but he tries to hide it. You know how he is.' â€Å"Yeah.' Christian had spent a good portion of his life masking dark feelings with snark and sarcasm. He was a pro at fooling others about how he truly felt. â€Å"I know he'll be better in time †¦ I just hope I can be there for him enough. So much is happening. College, being queen †¦ and always, always, there's spirit there, pressing down on me. Smothering me.' Alarm shot through me. And panic. Panic over something far worse than not knowing what Lissa was feeling or where she was. Spirit. I was afraid of spirit–and the fact that I couldn't fight it for her. â€Å"The darkness †¦ I can't absorb it anymore. What will we do?' A twisted smile crossed her lips. â€Å"You mean, what will I do. It's my problem now, Rose. Like it always should have been.' â€Å"But, no †¦ you can't. St. Vladimir–‘ â€Å"Isn't me. And you can protect me from some things but not all.' I shook my head. â€Å"No, no. I can't let you face spirit alone.' â€Å"I'm not exactly alone. I talked to Sonya. She's really good at healing charms and thinks there's a way to keep myself in balance.' â€Å"Oksana said the same thing,' I recalled, feeling hardly reassured. â€Å"And †¦ there's always the antidepressants. I don't like them, but I'm queen now. I have responsibilities. I'll do what I have to. A queen gives up everything, right?' â€Å"I guess.' I couldn't help feeling frightened. Useless. â€Å"I'm just so worried about you, and I don't know how to help you anymore.' â€Å"I told you: you don't have to. I'll protect my mind. Your job's to protect my body, right? And Dimitri will be around too. It'll all be okay.' The conversation with Dimitri came back to me. Who were you going for? Me or her? I gave her the best smile I could. â€Å"Yeah. It'll all be okay.' Her hand squeezed mine. â€Å"I'm so glad you're back, Rose. You'll always be part of me, no matter what. And honestly †¦ I'm kind of glad you can't see my sex life anymore.' â€Å"That makes two of us.' I laughed. No bond. No magical attachment. It was going to be so strange, but really †¦ did I need it? In real life, people formed bonds of another nature. Bonds of love and loyalty. We would get through this. â€Å"I'll always be there for you, you know. Anything you need.' â€Å"I know,' she said. â€Å"And actually †¦ I need you for something now †¦' â€Å"Name it,' I said. She did.