Teachers should assign homework to students

â€Å"Homework†. The mere mention of this word would send groans and moans rippling through the classroom, as if the world has come to an end. Although majority of the students tend to view homework negatively, there are prominent reasons why teachers assign homework despite protests from students, concerned parents and irrational researchers. Although the amount of homework to be assigned is debatable, the good intention of teachers in assigning homework should not be questioned as there are many benefits to doing homework.Firstly, students should be assigned homework as it is platform for students to learn what they have practised. Except for the few geniuses in a cohort, who is able to absorb 100 percent of what they have learnt in class? Although there are many children who are auditory learners, most need further emphasis on the knowledge that they have gained during lessons through visual means, in any case, written homework. Some people believe that when we write down t houghts, ideas, quotes and more, we are actually imprinting them on our brains.Instead of relying on a fleeting memory, this is a much more effective way to contain what we have learnt in school. That is why we need to diligently complete our homework, especially when they are a replication of the content taught in school. Other than benefitting from doing their homework, students benefit from the feedback that they get after their teachers have marked their assignments. Teachers’ main aim when assigning and marking homework is to gauge how much each student has taken away from the lessons delivered and whether or not they fully comprehend what has been taught.Students themselves learn from marked assignments how they fare in the class and how much more effort they have to pour into the topics they are learning. For example, when an essay has been returned, students would know if their proficiency in English is up to standard based on the grade and comments given, and sometim es, the amount of red ink splashed onto their composition. This shows that homework is an effective communication tool between teachers and students in order to boost learning. Furthermore, students acquire discipline and time management skills as they plod through their homework.Just as adults have to complete projects, assignments and proposals in their workplace, so is homework an equivalent task for students. To ensure that they complete their homework, students have to force themselves to put aside the time and order their brains to answer the questions or solve the sums. This constitutes discipline. By following a schedule with enough time to play, rest and spend time with their family and friends, on top of finishing their homework, students will slowly develop their time management skills. Both skills will bring them far as they progress into a stressful and demanding society, such as the one in Singapore.In conclusion, I will still stand by the belief that homework is given for the benefit of students. As a student, homework is my responsibility and as a responsible person, I will make sure I complete my homework to the best of my ability. However, it is important that students are given time to acquire knowledge outside the classroom. Students should not be cooped up all day in a musty study room, learning things in the textbook; they should also pick up social skills through hanging around with friends and life skills such as cooking and repairing household appliances.

Ethics on Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative Essay

Abstract : . Kant’s ideas or his take on ethics was based upon autonomy (self-governance), and reason. He believed that unless a person freely and willingly makes a choice, then their action has no meaning much less any moral value. Kant also thought that every man when using reason when analyzing moral dilemmas would in fact agree with what he called the Categorical Imperative. In accordance with the good will aspects Kant’s claims on good will is the only thing that can be considered good without limitation. In this paper I will discuss several situations that I have been involved in where both the Categorical Imperative and a good will have applied to my personal experiences. Before I get started I would like to shed a little more light on the Categorical Imperative that Kant and others viewed as very valuable and vital if trying to understand the complexity of ethics and his moral philosophy. It is also important that one must clearly interpret exactly what the Categorical Imperative consist of before trying to administer or apply its formula to anyone. As human beings we tend to always have to have a logical answer based on reasoning from one source or another. Kant as a philosopher probably conceived ethics as the study of how it would be most rational to act, which is pretty straight forward indeed, but a few of the core aspects of Kant’s Categorical Imperative have many arguments posed against them especially from a Utilitarian perspective. I have done a lot of things that can merit a superior conclusion, and I have also committed acts that result in me being rewarded. Now as far as the inferior side of the coin goes, did I enjoy the rewards or gratitude given to me due to my actions that were viewed as moral or the right thing to do? Yes I enjoyed them and I will probably sub-consciously commit those same acts again. Now in accordance with the superior side of things I also have helped others I never even met just because I felt that it was a good will and I stand by those which make them a principle. Therefore I am superior in those particular cases. I do not believe that it is hard to find an individual that acts out of mere principle and expects no reward, I believe that it is just a lot of dishonest and naive people that are not willing to be honest about their true reason or rationalizing. The philosophical views from one of the greatest German philosophers to ever live continue to interest and influence scholarly opinions all around the world. Immanuel Kant was one of those brilliant thinkers or philosophers that were able to give valuable insight that surround many different ethical values of morality. Kant’s ideas or his take on ethics was based upon autonomy (self-governance), and reason. He believed that unless a person freely and willingly makes a choice, then their action has no meaning much less any moral value. Kant also thought that every man when using reason when analyzing moral dilemmas would in fact agree with what he called the Categorical Imperative. In accordance with the good will aspects Kant’s claims on good will is the only thing that can be considered good without limitation. In this paper I will discuss several situations that I have been involved in where both the Categorical Imperative and a good will have applied to my personal experiences. Before I get started I would like to shed a little more light on the Categorical Imperative that Kant and others viewed as very valuable and vital if trying to understand the complexity of ethics and his moral philosophy. It is also important that one must clearly interpret exactly what the Categorical Imperative consist of before trying to administer or apply its formula to anyone. As human beings we tend to always have to have a logical answer based on reasoning from one source or another. Kant as a philosopher probably conceived ethics as the study of how it would be most rational to act, which is pretty straight forward indeed, but a few of the core aspects of Kant’s Categorical Imperative have many arguments posed against them especially from a Utilitarian perspective. I have done a lot of things that can merit a superior conclusion, and I have also committed acts that result in me being rewarded. Now as far as the inferior side of the coin goes, did I enjoy the rewards or gratitude given to me due to my actions that were viewed as moral or the right thing to do? Yes I enjoyed them and I will probably sub-consciously commit those same acts again. Now in accordance with the superior side of things I also have helped others I never even met just because I felt that it was a good will and I stand by those which make them a principle. Therefore I am superior in those particular cases. I do not believe that it is hard to find an individual that acts out of mere principle and expects no reward, I believe that it is just a lot of dishonest and naive people that are not willing to be honest about their true reason or rationalizing. Just because one person may will a certain thing does not mean that the majority of people will follow suit. For example a key element of Kant’s theory is the concept of intentions or intent. To him the actual outcome or the consequences of a particular action doesn’t matter at all, it’s the intentional aspects he is concerned with. Imagine that you are a serial killer just walking down the street and you see a defenseless elderly woman walking in front of you. It’s no one else around and it’s very dark on the streets. You also have a knife to ensure a silent job and a very easy kill. Now let’s say you decide not to kill this elderly woman and spare her life, but not because you are worried about acting immorally but you did not want to risk her screaming and alerting anyone else that she was being attacked. In the end u decided not to act on your will then according to Kant you have not acted ethically. That’s where I find flaw in his analysis and theory. So our actions according to Kant’s philosophy doesn’t make us a better person because when you acted or (chose not to act), you weren’t considering action in terms of its morality. You actually abandoned the ideas of moral choice, and merely acted out of a sense of self preservation. However if you did chose not to kill the elderly woman because you suddenly realized that it was wrong to do so, then you would have acted morally according to Kant’s theory on Categorical Imperative. Can the Categorical Imperative even accurate enough and practical to be applied into a personal real life ethical dilemma? I do not believe that it could. My interpretation of Kant’s theory was the he thought that if everyone just used reason when trying to figure out their ethical duties, then everyone would come up with the same rules to follow. This may be true but I would say that it is very unlikely that humans will ever be unbiased enough to do this, and the Categorical Imperative fails to take into account the complexity of human beings and their relationships to one another. The formula that Kant used was the concepts surrounding universal law. By this universal law formula he was able to capture the concept that a maxim will work for everyone who it is applied too. The next formula Kant used was the end in itself which occurs when people try to use maxims, (rules that suit themselves) this formulation states that we must not treat others as if they do not have their own life, and respect their acts regardless of ethical belief. It may be my duty to give a small contribution of my earnings to charity, church, or to the homeless indeed, but a homeless man cannot demand that I do so for him because I am not a means to his end, and he has to respect that concept. The key thing to keep in mind here is that you can’t use people just as a means to an end because people are ends in themselves. For example you couldn’t kill a baby Hitler just because that will save a thousand Jews, according to Kantain perspectives. With the baby Hitler example the maxim would be â€Å"killing babies that will commit genocide when they grow up†. On the contrary what if that was a moral rule; like you must kill any babies that will grow up and commit genocide. If the maxim could function as a rule, then actions based on it will be morally right. These maxims also serve as a way to better understand the rigidly parameters that surround ethical issues. Now as I said earlier on I have a foot-hole in both aspects of this topic. I have done things to receive rewards especially when beautiful women are around. And I have also just given a pure stranger a ride home in the rain after seeing them struggle with groceries. And I never told a soul it was just a mere act of kindness and the ethical thing to do as far as good will goes. That is what makes Kant’s theory in my eyes as secondary to my individuality. I do not agree with him on some aspects of his analysis and some I can relate too. We all are presented with these scenarios and many of us as typical human beings tend to neglect the infrastructure behind morality of ethical issues. I would say that ethical theory must have examples attached to them; otherwise it wouldn’t be a very good ethical theory. These theories can never be applied practically if one could not imagine using them in different circumstances. The Categorical Imperative does sort of show any rational thinking person both how to tell the difference between right and wrong, and the moral necessity to choose to act in accordance with what’s right. Personally I fall right in between when it comes to this as I said I have done a little of both sides, being superior( acting out of principles), and I have acted to gain reward but not as much as I have been considered superior. I try my best to act accordingly with morality, and being a dedicated Christian this isn’t that hard. My main source of morality stems from the Bible. I use the Bibles principles as a guideline to how to act morally. I believe that this is the only true source of ethical acts, and that there is no man made doctrines or philosophies that can properly address this complex issue. As long as I understood Gods Laws and follow a righteous path, morality or acting morally comes like second nature. So to sum it all up about Kant’s perspectives I believe he was a little more concerned with a person’s intentions than a consequentialist with utilitarian views, but Kant did feel that if you didn’t act according to the Categorical Imperative you could be accused of acting unethically. It was clear that Kant like me was not content with the popular moral philosophy of his day. According to Kant, when we act upon a maxim that can’t be universalized or (willed by everyone else) we are contradicting ourselves. Meaning that without a will that everyone else views as objective then any action taken can potentially contradict one’s self. To further understand Kant’s philosophy I will walk you through a series of scenarios that I have experienced in my life. I can recall several occasions where the categorical Imperative aspect of Kant’s philosophy has shed light on my ethical or morally based actions. One afternoon I was riding down the street and I noticed a few guys struggling with groceries trying to get back to their school. I could have kept going and actually I did, but I decided to turn around and offer them a ride to their destination. Now according to Kant’s good will I acted on a matter of principle, and not to gain reward. There was nothing I expected to gain from my actions. Now if I had asked them for gas money or maybe some sort of payment for the ride then at that point I become inferior according to Kant’s Categorical Imperative. There was another instance when I acted morally and ethically in Kant’s eyes and that was the time I acknowledged an older woman attempting to put air in her tire at Kroger grocery store. Actually at the time I was in need of air for my tire too and the clerk had turned on the machine but before I got there to it she came and was experiencing trouble getting the air in her tire. I politely offered her assistance and she was very grateful and she insisted that I take five dollars for my actions. Now I in fact was not expecting to get paid for this, but she insisted that I take it. I made it very clear that I felt that this was a universal duty of mine to assist at a time when my assistance was clearly needed. She was older and having trouble with the air pump so I felt an obligation to assist her so I did so. Now did I act morally according to Kant’s Categorical Imperative and the good will? Was I superior or inferior? Yes I acted morally because Kant was not concerned with outcome or consequences he only focused on the intent of that particular action. Kant also emphasizes the absolute necessity of separating genuine morality from all empirical considerations. I find Kant’s formula to be a valuable tool but it neglects to define moral law as God-given.

Becoming an Effective Leader Essay

I have so many ideas of what an effective leader should be that I often feel overwhelmed and cannot imagine how I will become the ideal leader that I want to be. There are many effective leadership styles at my work place. I learn from them everyday. I have also read almost all the modules and sometimes I would read articles on leadership out of the magazines. In my research, I have discovered that there are many different styles of leadership and most are effective, if used in the right situation. What I have taught to myself is how to be flexible. Depends on the situations, e.g. when I started at Weber Mfg, I had to deal with employees who have lost their sense of commitment due to many circumstances. Their self-esteem was low and I strongly felt that my 100% support is very important in building their confidence. I needed to let them know when they did a bad job and very importantly when they also did a good job in order to boost their self-esteem. I do believe if an employee’s confidence and self-esteem is increased, their commitment, productivity and morale will definitely get better. Being a supervisor at WML, I feel that not only, do I have to make sure that jobs are done on time with the quality expected. I must also have a caring, respectful and responsible attitude towards to my team players. I need to have a lots of patience, must be very careful how I would approach in the conflict situations. I believe that â€Å"BALANCE† is the key of success to becoming an effective leader. I am glad; my company has given me an opportunity to take the MLCP courses. It definitely helped me to improve my skills and knowledge on Developing and coaching an effective team. I definitely appreciate the privilege.

Critically evaluate the development and application of the implied Essay

Critically evaluate the development and application of the implied duty of trust and confidence with reference to contracts of employment - Essay Example It would appear from the decided cases, that the primary purpose of the implied duty of trust is to ensure that the employer acts in good faith and does not unfairly or inequitably exercise his/her power under the employment contract.4 This paper explores the emerging concept of the implied duty of trust and confidence in the employment contract and argues that it is a significant development, used for the purpose of regulating and restraining the employer’s conduct in asserting his/her power under the employment contract. The implied duty of trust is a relatively new concept of employment law.5 The duty itself is most likely founded on the fundamental principle of co-operation required of parties to a contract generally.6 It is also part of the history of employment law and its shift away from the underlying tenet of the preexisting master/servant characterization of employment relationships. In this regard, the emerging duty of trust can be detected in Lord Slynn’s judgment in Spring v Guardian Assurance Plc [1995] 2 AC 196 in which Slynn J said: The changes which have taken place in the employer/employee relationship, with far greater duties imposed on the employer than in the past, whether by statute of by judicial decision, to care for the physical, financial and even psychological welfare of the employee.7 The duty of mutual cooperation merely dictated that parties to a contract tailor their conduct so as not to undermine the terms and conditions of the contract.8 In other words the duty of mutual cooperation did not impose upon the parties a positive duty. The implied duty of trust which was developed from the duty of mutual cooperation does impose upon the parties a positive duty to take specific action. For example in Scally v Southern Health and Social Services Board [1992] 1 AC 294 the court held that the implied duty of trust and confidence imposed upon the

CONSIDERING THE EXPERIENCE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IN YOUR Essay

CONSIDERING THE EXPERIENCE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IN YOUR AREA OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE - Essay Example Each individual contributes from within the limits of her/his scope of practice† (Canadian Physiotherapy Association 2009). It refers to situation when a number of professionals work with one another to enhance cooperation and the quality of care (Pungo n.d.). The collaborative process has also been defined as a dynamic process which requires that professional boundaries be surpassed if each participant is to contribute to developments in patient care while appropriately bearing in mind the qualities and skills of the other professionals (Canadian Physiotherapy Association 2009). Inter-professional collaboration is a process for communication and decision-making that encourages active involvement of each and every dimension in patient care and expands patient and family focused objectives and values. It allows for flexible and synchronized services and a capable and receptive workforce. Mutual understanding and group effort builds up effective multidisciplinary teams. This perm its professionals to work beyond the limitations of traditionally ascribed roles,  and facilitates efficient role substitution. This offers healthcare professionals with the imperative support of skilled workforce, for example nurse practitioners, pharmacists, etc. Similarly, inter-professional collaboration illustrates the interactions among individual professionals who might stand for a certain discipline or branch of knowledge, but who additionally bring their exceptional educational backgrounds, experiences, principles, responsibilities, and uniqueness to the process. It deals with phenomena of mutual respect, maximum utilization of resources, and understanding of individual responsibilities, and competence and skills within respective disciplines. It entails trust, communication, respect and fairness behind the professional relationship where different healthcare professionals work together to offer the best possible care to their patient (Martin et al. 2010). The phenomenon of inter-professional collaboration to enhance health outcomes is not novel; it has been and continues to be the foundation of the healthcare system. Public health collaborations comprise of not only the certified professionals but also systems of communities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector groups to deal with multifaceted health outcome (Zaccagnini & White, K 2010, p. 240). Previous research illustrates that collaboration entails common acknowledgement, consideration and respect for complementary roles, skills, and abilities of the inter-professional team (Zaccagnini & White 2010, p. 238). Effective collaborative partnerships support quality and lucrative care through a planned process that permits members to trade important knowledge and thoughts and later participate in a process of mutual decision making (Zaccagnini & White, K 2010, p. 238). The Institute of Medicine’s (OIM) 2001 report focuses on inter-professional collaboration and stre sses the need for care givers and institutions to actively cooperate with each other, trade information, and make provisions for care coordination because the needs of any persons or population are outside the expertise of any solitary health profession. Accrediting and regulatory agencies identify inter-professional collaboration as a necessary part of the avoidance of medical mistakes. It aims at enhancing communication and teamwork among care givers, personnel, and patients as ways

Albert Einstein Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Albert Einstein - Essay Example This man is considered as the father of Science for the extensive research done by him in this field. An insight into his life would enlighten any human mind. Albert Einstein was born on the 14th of March 1879 to Hermann Einstein (Father), an Engineer and salesman and Pauline Einstein (mother) who was also well educated (Peter D 1-3). He was born at Ulm in Wurttemberg, Germany and after six weeks the family moved to Munich. He began his schooling at Catholic elementary school from the age of five and later at the age of eight he went to Luitpold Gymnasium for his primary and secondary schooling education for seven years and Einstein was a good student As Einstein grew up he developed interest for science and began brooding over the theories behind every mechanism. He was inquisitive to learn and would do anything to understand a theory. During his course of learning, his family faced financial crisis due to a loss in the business but Einstein continued his studies at Luitpold Gymnasi um for some time. Later he wrote his first scientific work "The Investigation of the State of Aether in Magnetic Fields"(â€Å"Einstein symposium 2005†). He finished his secondary schooling in Switzerland. ... Later Einstein struggle finding a job for himself and has finally done that as an Assistant examiner at the Federal office for intellectual property. His job at his work place influenced him to form a group with his friends and colleagues at Bern, who when met, discussed about science. He presented many papers of his work and â€Å"The Principle of Relativity†, â€Å"Sidelights of Relativity†, â€Å"Space and time in pre-relativity physics†, â€Å"Relativity Field† and â€Å"Quanta† are a few to name and on the 30th of April 1905 he received his doctor’s degree. One of his famous works was the â€Å"Theory of Relativity† in which he proved that energy contained in a particle of matter is equal to the mass of that matter multiplied by the speed of the light. This actually proved that energy is actually concentrated in a particle. This theory put forward by Einstein has earned him worldwide acclaim. â€Å"Who could have guessed that an article by an unknown patent clerk, appearing in the German scientific journal, Annalen der physik, volume 17, in the year 1905, would turn the of science topsy-turvy?†(William 26) .This was simply put into an equation E = mc2 and this is also called mass-energy equation. After these events, he had his recognition and held several positions like lecturer, professor and director at several Universities like University of Bern, Humboldt University of Bern etc. Einstein worked hard in trying to find the relations between â€Å"Time and Space† and â€Å"Mass and Energy†. His efforts finally paid and he was awarded the â€Å"Nobel Prize in physics† in 1921("Albert Einstein - Biography") for his photo-electric effect.

Racism in todays High school Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Racism in todays High school - Essay Example Schools in the United States have been accused for propagating racist activities and practicing favoritism against minority tribes. Studies in schools across the country have showed increased racism today as compared to the times of Martin Luther King Junior, the human rights activist. Non-whites have been subjected to unequal treatment in ‘dropout factory’ high schools across the country in which most of them end up not graduating due to the poor learning education and ineffective teachers. Most of these students do not prepare for life after high school as the environment is non-convincing and the teachers do not encourage them to pursue their education beyond high school level. In this paper, racism in today’s high schools in the United States will be discussed, highlighting the challenges that non-white students’ face and how the system has done little to increase educational equality (Resmovits, 2014). Though the approaches used in the 50s to depict the minority as inferior in schools have changed, newer approaches have emerged in schools and these have continued to build racial animosity among students. According to a report released by the United States department of education, racism in high schools has advanced and minority students are finding it hard to graduate in time. Today, discrimination varies from the form punishment used on students, qualification of the teachers assigned to the minority communities and the use of IQ tests as a way of showing capability. The US department of education showed that black students and those from the minority Spanish Americans receive more severe punishment as compared to their white counterparts. This stems from the notion that has depicted the blacks as more prone to violence and with less ability to understand unless punished. Veteran teachers in school have more experience and are best placed to address the challenges

Banking System in the United Kingdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Banking System in the United Kingdom - Essay Example Investments will be conducted outside the fence and will be allowed to fail without the government stepping in. This report is predicted to be one of the biggest shake-ups in banking within the United Kingdom in a generation. This commission was formed by the United Kingdom in June 2010 by Sr. John Vickers and is comprised of two main proposals. One proposes a retail ring-fence for UK banking operations and measures to upgrade the loss absorption of UK banks. The second proposes improving issues affecting UK banking markets and focuses mainly on attention to financial stability. The following information will attempt to show how over reliance on the banking industry in the United Kingdom has affected the economy in an economic downturn or recession. It also will show what effects deregulation has had on the United Kingdom economy and the banks. It will also delve into the economic downturn, the history, its effects, and what is going on now. And finally how can the United Kingdom avo id a double dip recession. ... also says that it is necessary for the state or international entities to take part because business forces and normal banking activities are not able to provide the required funding. This thought can be justified if there is evidence present that shows market failure or any deliberate government policy that contributes to this sector. This gives the impression that dangers are present regarding how banks compete. Banks compete unfairly on terms of deposit, misdirected resources in any economy, and build losses that eventually have to be supported by the public through government budgets (Latter 1997). Latter points out that as a matter of principle, it is better to give support to regions of the economy in as clear means as possible and with as little damage as possible to the forces driving the market. He further adds that this could mean subsidies might come directly from the fiscal budget or interest rate subsidies rather than less visibly through the bank itself. All banks shoul d be able to compete for business and control their own subsidies (Latter 1997). Causes of the banking crises are continually being debated. Several have been attributed to the structure of the banking system, while others have been attributed to macro/micro forces or regulatory factors. Others include harmful strategies of specific banks, operational failings, and fraud. When dealing with macro forces, triggers can includes the collapse of asset prices in real estate, a sharp upheaval in interest rates, or a sharp fall in the exchange rate. Another trigger could be a sudden slowdown in general inflation or the beginning of a recession. Banks have typically prospered in a high inflation environment. Another problem that is noted is sharp shifts in related pricing, or dropping of subsidies

Some the schemes used to solve Latin America Debt Crisis of the 1980s Essay - 1

Some the schemes used to solve Latin America Debt Crisis of the 1980s can be use to the current EU Crisis - Essay Example The Baker plan and the Brady plan can solve the present economic crisis in Europe because they focus on growth of the economy. Countries in Latin America succeeded in solving their debt crisis in 1980s using the two schemes. According to research by economists in Europe, the Brady plan is more effective because it emphasizes on debt reduction. In Mexico, investors’ debts were cleared using the guidelines of the plan (Habermas & Ciaran 107). Interestingly, the Brady plan and the Baker plan are approaches that America use when handling financial crisis for the developing countries. The two plans advocate for sound economic policies when enhancing growth. According to Habermas, & Ciaran (14), the strategy should target least developed economies. The Baker plan identified the countries that needed aid before formulating policies that restructure the economy. This is an indication that European countries should classify their economies before coming up with corrective measures. According to the plan, extending governments should extend the maturity period for loans for countries such as Greece. This will cushion the citizens from crisis. Member countries in the European Union will have to restructure their financial system to improve the economy. The plan equally advocates for intervention by the IMF in aiding ailing economies. IMF should increase lending to commercial banks. Additionally, developed countries should voluntarily reduce debts for ailing economies. The EU government should seek support from Asian economies in creating a balance. For example, the government can encourage the swapping of bonds with creditors from China. This is preferable in the case of Greece. According to Habermas, & Ciaran (2), Latin America received support from Japan in averting their financial crisis. Although the strategy worked in Latin America, it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of a crisis using

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Essay

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) - Essay Example Equally important, IT must deliver services that promote effectiveness in the use f information systems. (Thibodeau 16-16) A large part f the challenge is the fact that organizations continually implement new business processes, discard flawed ones, or extend and modify current practices. Business systems that automate and actuate these business processes are continually in flux. But that's only the beginning. IT managers are also haunted by the specter f rapid, unceasing, technological churn, especially when the option f not adopting the latest innovations might put them at a competitive disadvantage. Moreover, today's business systems, radically different from their less-sophisticated precursors, are extremely complex and highly networked, and must support a new breed f multicompany, business-to-business applications. Web services, commonly defined as Internet-based applications that perform some type f business task, add yet another twist. (McLaughlin 39-42) As either a supplier or user f Web services, system or service failure has the potential to damage brand equity, as well as customer (internal or external) and trading partner confidence. Ultimately, it falls to in-hou... Thankfully, there are techniques that can mitigate risk, reduce complexity, and lessen IT costs. To date, the best approach involves the use f some combination f industry standards and proven process models. The term "IT Service Management" encapsulates all f the standardized processes and best practices that can be systematically applied across the entire range f IT services and support functions, to deliver superior services, while reducing risks and effectively managing costs. The use f standards and process models, however, while necessary, is not sufficient for delivering critical business systems. Organizations must apply the various approaches in an architected and deliberate manner, based on practices that have proven themselves in the field time and again. Introduction to ITIL It has been long understood that the value f IT services to the enterprise is reduced if delivery is inadequate and costly, or if implementation puts the business at risk. It is equally well known that the ability to deliver high-quality, low-cost IT services is enhanced if those services are based on proven methodologies and best practices. (Steinberg 22-30) To that end, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) is a U.K. government agency chartered with development f best practice advice and guidance on the use f information technology in service management and operations. Beginning in the mid-1980s, the CCTA surveyed the leading information technology companies from around the world to document and validate best practices in the disciplines f IT service management. The IT Infrastructure Library, more commonly known as ITIL, captures and codifies the

Ancient Theatres in Jerash Essay Example for Free

Ancient Theatres in Jerash Essay Modern technology has changed matters in documentation significantly and promises to continue to bring change. This paper attempts to present:1-How should we understand documentation of archaeological Sites, historic buildings and monuments according to their particularities, categories, types, components of documentation, taking into account the internationally agreed standards for the documentation of the cultural heritage. 2- The potential of the application of 3D laser Scanner and Photomodeler in documentation of the immovable cultural heritage. As a case study the ancient theatres of Jerash (the Southern and the Northern) will be presented. While the purpose of using different methods of documentation is to make comparison comparison of the advantages ,disadvantages ,the accuracy of the traditional method – total station –, 3D scanner method, and Photomodeler method. 1. INTRODUCTION As cultural heritage is a unique expression of human achievement, and since this cultural heritage is continuously at risk, documentation is one of the principal ways available to give meaning, understanding, definition and recognition of the values of the cultural heritage. As such it constitutes an important basis of orientation for subsequent restoration and maintenance measures. Furthermore all interventions acquire the character of evidence themselves and therefore, have to be documented. Article 16 of the Venice Charter emphasizes that in all works of preservation or excavation, there should always be precise documentation in the form of analytical and critical reports, illustrated with drawings and photographs. Every stage of the work, including technical and formal features identified during the course of the work, should be included. This record should be placed in the archives of a public institution and made available to research workers. It is recommended that the report should be published. Thus documenting the Cultural Heritage not only describes the context in which the materials were found, and their relationship in space and time to geological deposits and large architectural features, but also as monitoring of the remains of past human activities. The documentation process, which may be undertaken as an aid to various CRM activities, such as protection, identification, monitoring, interpretation, registration of stolen cultural objects, can benefit tremendously from various modern techniques that are available to us nowadays. (graphic documentation) Techniques based on conventional surveying to produce plans, elevations, and architectural details. Photographic e.g. photography, rectified photography,computer-rectified photography, photogrammetry, and 3D laser scanner. The photographical documentation should provide information on the important condition of a monument, i.e. before, during, and after restoration. 3. INTERNATIONAL CORE DATA INDEX There are three internationally agreed standards for the documentation of the cultural heritage: a) The Core Data Index to Historic Buildings and Monuments of the Architectural Heritage (1992), b) The Core Data Standard for Archaeological Sites and Monuments (1995), and c) The Object ID (1997) which was developed to provide an international standard for the information needed to identify cultural objects, in response to the threat posed by the illicit trade in the movable heritage. The evaluation of the documentation process can be carried out by comparison with such standards. Other considerations could be related to the particularity of the monument, the cost, the ability to benefit from modern digital techniques and the success in acting as a historical record of human activities. 4. ANCIENT THEATRES OF JERASH Few ancient towns are as well preserved and as complete as Jerash, a city complex that once was a thriving commercial zone and part of the Decapolis. Built in the 2nd century BC the city was conquered in 63 BC by the Roman General Pompey. The grand theatres and spacious public squares, plazas and baths, the Roman Cardo running 700 meters north from the Oval Plaza and pass sky-piercing columns flanking from both sides in Jerash make this site truly an archaeological park. 4.1 The Southern Theatre in Jerash The southern theater (Exterior Diameter 70.5m) today is one of the most impressive of Jerash’s public building. Begun at the end of the 1st century AD (during the reign of Domitian) and completed in the early 2nd century. On its completion, it became one of the most splendid civic monuments in the 2. CATEGORIES AND COMPONENTS OF DOCUMENTATION Regardless of the location of the activity, it type or philosophy of art and historical conservation, the documentation should address three questions: what it is, where it is, and when! There are three Categories and Components of Documentation: Written: should comprise an architectural description, the state of preservation , an interpretation of the results of all tests and analyses, a summary of the results of all investigations, and a report on the interventions executed. Non-photographic ________CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September – 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy________ developing city and certainly the finest of its type in the whole province. The cavea of the auditorium was divided into two sections, with a wide terrace (diazoma) describing the full half circle between them. The lower half was built into the side of the hill. While the top half was built above it. Although the auditorium has survived remarkably well, the top rows of seats are missing, and one cannot be sure of the exact original number.(Figure. 1) Figure. 2 Plan of the Northern Theatre The theatre itself probably had two main phases during its lifetime. It was dedicated, and probably completed, in AD 64/65. It was a small, probably, theatre used for poetry readings, meetings or more modest performances than the large dramatic events that would have taken place in the citys larger Southern Theatre. The theatre may also have been the city councils meeting hall. It was- modified several times and probably enlarged in the first quarter of the 3rd century. It finally went out of use as a theatre by the 5th to 6th centuries. On some of the seats of the lower cevea are inscribed in Greek the names of the voting tribes (phylai) that were represented in the bouleutirium, or city council except one tribe named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the others are named after Olympian gods. the theatre was also used as a bouleuterion, or city council meeting-hall. The theatres expansion in the first quarter of the3rd century AD included the addition of eight rows of seats, doubling the theatres capacity to around 1600 people. The three best preserved external vomitoria, at the western end of the upper auditorium, show their original construction of three independent, semicircular arches rising towards the exterior with evidence of large wooden doors that could have been opened or closed to control access to the theatre. The original scaena wall, facing the audience from behind the stage, was dismantled and replaced by a more complex scaena composed of two parallel wal1s. The elaborate scaenae frons was probably two storeys high, and was adorned with colored marble, free-standing Corinthian columns and broken entablatures, behind which were semicircular niches decorated with mosaics. Figure. 1 Plan of the Southern Theatre The front of the stage was divided into four sections with pedestals between them. Each section was decorated with a central pedimental niche flanked by arched niches .These elaborate architectural compositions are a common feature of Roman theatres. The front of the stage is decorated with pediment and arched niches. The wall rising behind the stage, the Scaenae Frons is pierced by three doors used by the performers to enter and exit the stage from the sides. The Scaenae Frons would have had second storey repeating most of the decorative and architectural elements of the lower level. Much of the outer (north) wall of the theater is a modern reconstruction. The rebuilding, however, of the rear wall behind the scaenae frons must be regretted, for we do not know what this wall was like and such suspect `restorations` run the risk of endangering the validity of the whole structure; for how can one be sure what is genuine and what is not? Happily, the greater part of the theatre is completely genuine. (Browning. Iain/ Jerash and the Decapolis) 4.2 The Northern Theatre The North Theatre complex is composed of the North Theatre (Exterior Diameter 43, 47m, orchestra Diameter 14,33m) itself and a plaza in front of it . A great deal smaller than the South Theatre, its orientation is determined by the northern decumanus upon which it opens and from which it is approached. The cavea shows the usual arrangement of four cunei in the lower half, and eight in the upper half .At the top of the upper section of the cavea there was scarcely room for passageway and colonnade.( Figure. 2 ) 5. METHODS OF DOCUMENTATION IN JERASH THEATRES The purpose of using different Methods of documentation of the Southern and Northern Jerash theatres is to make comparison of the advantages ,disadvantages ,the accuracy of the traditional recording method, 3D scanner, and PhotoModeler. Accuracy is the correctness of the measurement, regardless of its precision. Precision refers to the fineness of measured distinctions. Results of the case studies are presented and compared. The aim is to give (mostly nongeodetic) users recommendations, which method is suited best for what kind of application, or even if a combination of 3D scanning and PhotoModeler is advisable. Criteria like quality of the results, amount of cost and time, required equipment and occurring problems are to be considered. To investigate the advantages, disadvantages and ________CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September – 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy________ the accuracy of these methods, we carried out some case studies for the two theatres. Different typical objects were chosen and characteristically parts of them were recorded by tape, total station, PhotoModeler and 3D scanning. In this research project, we have installed a number of different test targets that allow an investigation in the quality of points recorded by laser scanners and the geometric models derived from the point clouds. 5.1 By using Total Station and AutoCAD Software: Conceptually, total stations are different from most measuring systems used by archaeologists because they are effective over a great range of scales and have an accuracy that is unusual in our experience. Limits on drawing precision that were once inherent in the use of scaled drawings have been removed by CAD systems. For example, it might be measuring the position of a point 1 km away from the total station and be accurate at least to the centimeter. This is equivalent to the use a tape to measure the distance to an object a meter away with .01 mm accuracy. The total station can be used to measure archaeological structures during an excavation. The precision with which a CAD system can maintain coordinates depends on the internal data structure chosen, but all standard CAD systems maintain coordinates at levels of precision beyond the scholars capacity to measure. A surveyor collecting data using preelectronic techniques could have used the tape to take the measurements, together with cross section for elevation information and quantity estimates. Or, the survey could have been completed using such polar techniques as transit or theodolite/EDM surveys. Electronic data collection with total station instruments permits the quick acquisition of a large amount of field data, together with the efficient and error-free transfer of the data to a computer. Once in the computer, the field data can be edited and analyzed for completeness of coverage and accuracy. For the documentation of the Southern theatre and the Northern theatre of Jerash more than 900 points were taken using the total station (Skoia). Tape measurement was conducted to record some of the dimensions of the theatre (the scene and some architectural details). The goal of these measurements was to collect more field dimensional measurement and other detail measurement for the documentation of the theatres. Full documentation for the Southern theatre of Jerash 2D and 3D was finalized with 2D documentation and reconstruction for the Northern theatre of Jerash. 5.2 By using PhotoModeler: While photogrammetry and metric surveying techniques can be suitable for archaeological sites and buildings, they present certain disadvantages for smaller and more complex objects. PhotoModeler is a windows software program that helps to extract measurements and 3D models from photographs. By using cameras as an input device, photomodeler is capable to extract accurate measurements and details. It is based on using several photos ( Figure 4 ) from different angles with known focal length, using control points ( Figure. 5 ). PhotoModeler can create 3D models and export the measured data as a dxf file. ADVANTAGES Contains information about surface detail (e.g. weathering patterns).Photographs are easier to interpret and recognize than drawing. DISADVANTAGES Essential high-skilled photographers.The enlargement of images should do accurately.Photographic format (analogue). PhotoModeler is one of the methods we used in documenting, measuring, and modeling the scene of the Southern theatre in Jerash. Several selected photos taken from slightly different positions were shot using digital camera. For calibration, some 3D points of the scene were obtained. For this purpose a modern integrated total station model Sokkia to collect more than 50 points to record the 3D points. These points were carefully chosen to be very well distributed on the scene in order to use them as GCPs (Ground Control Points). ( Figure. 5 ) With these data, we produce a 3D model, Orthorectified images (Photogrammetry) and measurements (x, y, z) or lengths for the stage of the Southern theatre of Jerash. For more accuracy we produced a detailed model for the scene features- the left Gate(Figure. 3 ) and then combined these detailed models together to produce the scene of the theatre. Figure 4. Camera Stations to produce a 3D Model for the the left Gate of the stage of Jerash Southern Theatre Figure 3 3D Model for the left Gate of the scene of Jerash Southern Theatre. ________CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September – 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy________ first implementation of the new technology seems to be very useful and promising. The main advantage of scanning is the fast and direct collection of large numbers of surface object points. The measurement process needs no attendance except for the set-up required when establishing a new viewpoint. The huge number of records formed a nice cloud of points, which very precisely matches the true 3D shape of the interested object (in our case the cavea and the scene of the two theatres). In the office there are two sophisticated softwared, which deal with the collected cloud of points. One of the software can import the clouds and get a nice three model of the object. The other software can also get the 3D model and rectify the model to get the measurements of the object. The final result can be exported to CAD software like Auto Cad or Micro Station. A couple of Million of 3D points were captured from different points of view. In addition to the 3D points, a set of 2D images were also been taken. In the Southern theater three stations were sat up to capture points of the theater from different angles of view as shown in (Figures 6, 7, 9). In the north theatre we used three stations to cover the whole theater and two stations to capture the surrounding area . All these stations and the cloud of points are shown in (Figures 8, 10). Figure 4. Several photos from different angles with known focal length, using control points for the Scine of the Southern theatre 5.3 By using 3D scanner. Laser scanning technology with its automated data capture capabilities is bringing new perspectives and can satisfy most requirements of this type of applications. 3D laser scanning represents today the most advanced technology available for measuring and documenting objects. Our scanner can measure on average about 1000 points per second. Terrestrial laser scanning technology is based on active range sensors measuring directly the distance between the sensor and points over the surveyed object. Objects that can be documented by 3D scanning, range from the sizes of coins or potsherds to whole cultural landscapes. Traditional heritage recording methods like close range photogrammetry are not suitable for all kinds of objects. Particularly when the objects have very irregular surfaces and not a clearly defined structure, scanning wi ll probably yield better results than photogrammetry. In contrast to photogrammetry 3D scanners directly produce a huge number of 3D points. The resulting point cloud can be used to extract CAD elements or by using point triangulation to create a 3D surface model. Additionally, images can be mapped onto the model to get a virtual copy of the real object. While both photogrammetric and laser scanning techniques can deliver similar type of products the end users are accustomed to have, other supplementary data such as line drawings, DTM etc., A main advantage as compared to close range photogrammetry is the availability of near real time 3D coordinates for irregular surfaces. The striking capability of collecting hundreds or even thousands of points per second is praised by producers and operators. On the other hand, questions concerning the quality and accuracy of the recorded points receive little attention. Specifications stated by the producers are not comparable. The main difference between scanning and photogrammetry is obvious: While photogrammetric surveying is an indirect data acquisition method (images are needed before measurements can be executed), scanning produces 3D points directly. As geodetic surveying instruments, scanners cannot be used when the object or the observation platform is moving. In these cases, photogrammetric images, which can be acquired with very short exposure times, are the only means of metric documentation. Although surveyors tend to see accuracy as a predominant consideration when comparing measuring equipment, for the practical use there are numerous other characteristics which may be decisive under certain project pre-conditions. Four stages for doing the work: scanning in the field, registration ,segmentation, modeling . To build up a precise 3D model of the South theatre and the North theatre we used the 3D laser scanner model †GS100 MENSI†. The results we’ve obtained were very precise and the Figure 6. Mesh part of the Scene and the cavea of the Southern Theatre Figure 7. Cloud Points of the Scene of the Southern Theater ________CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September – 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy________ ADVANTAGES Very precise measurements. A solution in situations where 3D measurement by other means may be difficult. Quick in data capture. On-sitescanning is possible. DISADVANTAGES Very expensive. Practical limits on the object size and height. May have difficulties on some material surfaces. May have difficulties on some Material surfaces Editing the data to produce meaningful results may be difficult. other applications. The software has the ability to export the final models and solids to Auto Cad using the solid SAD converter. 2) Real Works Survey. Provides the user a set of tools for processing 3D point clouds and 2D images in order to obtain the necessary information. Generally, this processing can be divided into two modes: the Registration mode and the Office Survey mode. During the registration mode we register several scans simultaneously by using data captured during target scanning. Several test fields using white spheres as targets have been installed to get information about the accuracy of distances in scanning direction and across. We also use the Geo Referencing tool to put the scanned data into a known coordinate system. During the office survey mode, we segment the point clouds into logical parts. We also extract measurements or different types of 2D drawings from the point clouds. These extracted results were exported into CAD systems. 6. LASER SCANNER DATA ACQUISITION The laser scanner MENSI GS100 was used in this project and scanning was performed from various positions so that the full coverage of the surface will be achieved with sufficient overlapping (Fig. 10 ). The specific scanner has a recommended range of 2-100 , with optimal range of m.. The system’s horizontal and vertical field of view is 60 degrees. Reflective targets distributed over the site allowed the easy registration of the scans during data processing. Although the laser scanning software provides direct and immediate access to the scan data by visually inspecting the point cloud in situ to identify possible problem areas in the data sets, it proved that some parts of the site were excluded and larger overlap was required for the complete merging of all scans. Figure 10. North theatre; Overlapping areas and gaps Starting with the question of accuracy, it must be understood that total stations have built-in limits on precision that are often ignored and that affect ultimate accuracy. Accuracy refers to the agreement of a value with the true value. Whereas the problem was once measuring as precisely as possible or as precisely as a scaled drawing could display, the problem is now to measure and record as precisely as required for the particular project. A comparative evaluation of the techniques in the data capture and modeling of the northern gate of the Southern theatre is shown and measurement results of the Tape measurement, PhotoModeler, 3D Laser Scanner GS 100 MENSI measurement are presented in table 1 Figure 8. Mesh view of the North theatre Figure 11. Cloud Points of the Cevea of the southern Theatre Figure 9. Mesh part of the northern gate of the Southern Theatre The office work included the use of two software packages: 1) 3Dipsos. Sophisticated software used to reconstruct 3D models from large sets of point cloud data captured by a 3D laser scanner. It is an intermediate data processing application between scanning and the use of environments reconstructed in ________CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September – 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy________ to 90 degrees as possible, 4. Ensure that all points appear on three or more photographs, 5. Ensure all point and line markings on the images are precise, and do not guess at a point location if it cannot be seen, is not distinct, is fuzzy or is hidden by some other object. Nevertheless, the precision supplied by total stations or photogrammetry software and recorded in CAD models must not exceed the limits on accuracy of the total system and must be appropriate for the job at hand. As already stated, every project has its own particularity. Those needs should be carefully determined, explicitly stated, and properly met by the survey methods and procedures. Laser scanning provides dense 3D information that can be implemented for the DEM and also for the determination of the ground coordinates of presignalized control points. The large sets of data obtained are an impediment to virtual computer visualization. Often it is very difficult to deal with the data without large RAM memory of the order of two GB. 7. CONCLUDING REMARKS The documentation of the Jerash theatre was implemented by a combination of photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning. Generally:†¢ Hand survey is labor intensive specially in the field. †¢ Computer rectified photography is the simplest method of producing drawings. Metric cameras are no longer needed and can be substituted for with simple digital cameras. †¢ The advantage of using photogrammetry is its speed and accuracy, especially over large and complex structures. †¢ Cost will inevitably be one of the deciding factors in choosing between different recording methods, but should not be used to decide the level of survey. The effort needed to get accurate and detailed DEM models by means of photogrammetric procedures only, is considerably high. There are limits on precision based upon a different group of contributing factors, lens distortion, precision of lens focal length measurements, size of photos used. PhotoModeler is an elegant measurement method used in documentation of cultural heritage applications. The shortfalls of this method, mainly associated with limited geometry of areas in the shadow of the object, are more prominent when the object is a large complex form. However its use does not involve large costs or sophisticated equipment, as only a calibrated digital camera is needed. The recent emergence of terrestrial laser scanning has shown that it has the potential to be of major value to the cultural heritage recording professionals. While data collection in this project using the PhotoModeler and Laser scanning methods indicated a small gain in time over laser scanning, the main advantage is the fully automated data capturing process using terrestrial laser scanning. Generally, laser scanning requires viewing the surveyed object from several viewpoints to resolve shadows and occlusions. To achieve the best accuracy in PhotoModeler: 1. Ensure that a well-calibrated camera is used for the project, 2. Use photos with good resolution. 3. Ensure that the angle between the camera stations is as close John Coles,† The Site Record and Publication† Conservation on Archaeological Excavations, Ed.N.P. Sanley Price, ICCROM, pp.59-69, Rome, 1995 Photogrammetric Measurement, Object Modeling and Documentation in Architecture and Industry, Ed. Petros Patias, ISPRS, VOol.XXXII, Thessaloniki, 1999 Documenting the Cultural Heritage Edited by Robin Thornes and John Bold ,Getty Information Institute,1998 MENSI 2001: Mensi training materials, German training course, May 2001. WWW 2001: An extensive collection of links to laser scanner producers and reports about applications in cultural heritage is maintained by the authors at http://scanning.fh-mainz.de -www.international.icomos.org/recording_fre.htm Browning.Iain/ Jerash and the Decapolis/ Chatto Windus.London/ 1982/ (Ds154.9 G47 B76 1982). and Carl H.Kraeling/ Gerasa City of the Decapolis/ Yale University/ Published by the American Schools of Oriental Research/ New Haven, Connecticut/1938. W. Boehler, M. Bordas Vicent, A. Marbs ( Investigatgn Laser Scanner Accuracy , The XIXth CIPA Symposium at Antalya, TURKEY, 2003. Harrison Eiteljorg, How Should We Measure an Ancient Structure?, Nexus Network Journal, vol. 4,no.4(Autumn2002),http://www.nexusjournal.com/Eiteljorg.ht ml) Boehler, W. , Heinz, G., Marbs, A. The Potential of NonContact Close Range Laser Scanners for Culture Heritage Recording,CIPA Working Group VI)2001.

Detroit Electric Essay Example for Free

Detroit Electric Essay 1. What organizational structure do you believe is being used to produce Detroit Electric vehicles? Detroit Electric concentrates theirs efforts on research and development of the motor, vehicle design, marketing and distribution. The company does not produce cars; the actual manufacturing of cars is outsourced. From the case I conclude that technology design is the core business of Detroit Electric. Technology changes rapidly and therefore Detroit Electric has to be flexible in conditions of change and uncertainty. Technical excellence and efficient use of resources is the key to compete and to avoid wastage as the cost of RD is high. Based upon the above observation, I believe that the organizational structure used is the matrix model. 2. How has differing organizational structures influenced the pace of development between these two companies? Ford and Detroit Electric are both car companies. The major difference is that Ford manufactures cars whereas Detroit Electric does not. Ford’s organizational structure will most likely resemble other manufacturers’ structure, i. e. functional departmentalization. A major disadvantage of this structure is that because specialists are working with and encouraging each other in their areas of expertise and interest, organizational goals may be sacrificed in favor of departmental goals; hence, the inability to coordinate efforts amongst competing department to achieve the goal of producing electric vehicles. Detroit Electric’s matrix structure on the other hand gives the organization the flexibility to respond to challenges faster in conditions of change and uncertainty; hence their relative pace (fast)in developing electric cars. 3. What issues may arise from this cooperative arrangement of international companies? The first issue is control. How does Detroit Electric ensure that their exact specifications are followed by their licensees? Regular audits will have to be conducted and these audits are costly. Who will bear responsibility if problems arise (faulty products) due to failure of any of its licensees do not follow procedures? The second issue is differences in objectives. For example, Detroit Electric’s performance and quality standards objectives may differ from their licensees.

Portrayal of Two Mothers in Blood Brothers

Portrayal of Two Mothers in Blood Brothers Compare how Willy Russell portrays the two mothers in â€Å"Blood Brothers†. Blood Brothers is a popular play by Willy Russell. It was written and first performed in 1981. The play tells of twin brothers, separated at birth, with one kept in a low-class family and the other is adopted into a wealthy family. The characters of Mrs Johnston and Mrs Lyons, the mothers, are total opposites. Mrs Johnston is a struggling, single mother of seven, with another two on the way, whereas Mrs Lyons is a privileged, yet childless, married woman. When we are first introduced to Mrs Johnston, she is a single mother ever since her husband left her for a younger woman. She is a low–class Liverpudlian, who is extremely hardworking. Mrs Johnston is described as a woman in her thirties, but looks sixty, because of the stress of work and her children. Mrs Johnston stutters at times, when shes under pressure, like when Mrs Lyons is persuading her to give away one of the twins, â€Å"Erm, well I think its the†¦ but, Mrs Lyons, what†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Act 1 Scene 5. Mrs Johnston is shown as unsure and pressured into something she doesnt want to do. The reader may find it disturbing, since not many mothers give away their children to their employers. Mrs Johnston realises what Mrs Lyons is talking about, but is still confused over the whole situation. When she talks, ellipses are used to show that she pauses in her dialogue, because she is uncertain about the consequences to what she is about to do, â€Å"At er†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Act 1 Scene 5. She is hesitating because she is in doubt and hasnt really decided. Mrs Johnston is lost for words and cant think of anything to say. Mrs Johnston is a superstitious lady, even though she denies it. The reader can see this in a scene between her and Mrs Lyons, â€Å"Mrs Lyons: [Twigging, laughing] Oh, you mean its superstition. Youre superstitious are you? The Mother: No. But you never put new shoes on a table.† Act 1 Scene 3. When Mrs Lyons laid shoes on the table, Mrs Johnston panicked. Mrs Lyons uses Mrs Johnstons belief of superstition against her when trying to keep her ‘son, Edward, one of the twins. Mrs Lyons contrasts really strongly against Mrs Johnston. At first, Mrs Lyons is shown as a bright person in her thirties, unlike the stressed Mrs Johnston who is the same age. Mrs Lyons is an upper middle-class woman. She is also a very patronising woman, who is forceful and pressurising. Mrs Lyons uses negative views about extra children so that Mrs Johnston will have to give away one of the twins to her. She doesnt do this in an aggressive way, but in a dangerously sweet manner, â€Å"Mrs Lyons: Already youre being threatened by the Welfare. With two more how will you avoid some of them being put into care? Surely, surely, Mrs Johnston, its better to give one child to me than to have some of them taken into care! If hes with me youll still be able to see him each day as you come into work.† Act 1 Scene 5. She gives Mrs Johnston reasons to give up a child. Mrs Lyons is shown to be self-centred, â€Å"My husband is due back tomorrow! I must have my baby now.† Act 1 Scene 6. She doesnt care about Mrs Johnstons feelings, Mrs Lyons only wants the baby because if Mr Lyons returns and doesnt see it, he will know that his wife was lying. Mrs Lyons is willing to take a child away from its mother, so that she can save her own skin. Mrs Lyons is a very sly and devious woman, as she uses superstition against Mrs Johnston, so that she can keep one of the twins, after Mrs Johnston tries to take him back, â€Å"Mrs Lyons: †¦ You know what they say about twins secretly parted, dont you? The Mother: [Terrified] What, what? Mrs Lyons: They say†¦ they say that if either twin learns he was one of a pair they shall both die immediately! It means, Mrs Johnston, that these brothers shall grow up unaware of the others existence. They shall be raised apart, and never, never ever told what was once the truth. You wont tell anyone, Mrs Johnston, because if you do you shall kill them!† Act 1 Scene 8. Mrs Lyons is being dramatic, but she knows that Mrs Johnston is convinced, because she saw how Mrs Johnston overreacted when she put shoes on the table. Mrs Lyons is very manipulative, but she conceals it very well. This superstition ends up backfiring on Mrs Lyons because Mrs Johnston soon forgets about it, but it continues to haunt Mrs Lyons decades later. She becomes paranoid and obsessive, believing that Mrs Johnston is following her to tell Edward the truth. This shows the reader that the superstition affects her instead of Mrs Johnston, the person it was intended for. When she is trying to convince Mrs Johnston to give away a twin, all she mentions is the materialistic advantages of her lifestyle, â€Å"The Mother: †¦ Hed be able to play on those lawns wouldnt he? And have his own room and†¦ Mrs Lyons: If he grew up here†¦ as our son†¦ He could have everything.† Act 1 Scene 5. Although she agrees with everything Mrs Johnston says, Mrs Lyons never mentions if she would love the child as if it was hers. The reader could think that Mrs Lyons could give him everything apart from love. The stage directions are in the text because Blood Brothers is a play. They are there because the dialogue doesnt describe how the characters are reacting or what the scenery is like. The stage direction gives the reader an idea of what is happening, without giving too much away, â€Å"The Mother: [Terrified] What, what?† Act 1 Scene 8. If the stage directions werent given, the reader wouldnt know how Mrs Johnston said it. She could have been curious or confused about the situation. The stage directions help with the readers imagination and interpretation of Blood Brothers. The Narrator is also a very good dramatic device. He acts as a shadow of the other character. The Narrator is there as a reminder of Mrs Johnston and Mrs Lyons agreement. The other characters dont acknowledge him which shows he is of a ghostly nature. The Narrator raises suspicion and builds up tension between the characters. He has no emotion and talks of the Devil, â€Å"Theres no use clutching at your rosary The Devils in the backyard, he can see Through the gaps in the curtains he sees it all, Theres no use hiding in the hall. When he raps at the knocker then he knows youre in; No you wont, no youll never get away from him No you wont, no youll never get away from him.† Act 2 Scene 1. The Narrator is trying to tell Mrs Johnston and Mrs Lyons that their pact wont work, because the truth will be known. He uses repetition and rhyme, so that his lines are more catchy and memorable. The Narrator is a creepy and disturbing character because he knows the future and talks about the Devil, which makes him God-like and all seeing. He is a neutral character because he doesnt choose sides and we dont know anything about him, other than he knows the fate of each character. The Narrator also represents superstition because he is there throughout the play, reminding the reader of the lie Mrs Lyons told. The dialogue of the two families is very diverse. Mrs Johnston uses ‘common English and Mrs Lyons uses ‘standard English. Mrs Johnston uses ‘common English in her dialect and many slang terms throughout the play, â€Å"Oh its, its smashing thank you, Mrs Lyons.† Act 1 Scene 3. This shows that she wasnt brought up in a rich family or she wasnt properly educated. Mrs Lyons uses ‘standard English in her language, since she is quite wealthy and possibly well educated. Instead of calling her son Eddie, she calls him Edward, â€Å"Edward! Edward its time for bed.† Act 2 Scene 3. Childhood is very prominent in the play. The reader can see a difference in the twins upbringing. Eddie seems to have grown up very fast because at the age of seven, he is already very polite and well spoken. His parents have influenced him because he is like a miniature adult. The reader can see that Mrs Lyons was very overprotective when she brought Eddie up, because he is already familiar with things like dictionaries at such a young age, â€Å"Eddie: In the dictionary. Dont you know what a dictionary is?† Act 2 Scene 2. Eddie speaks like he has used a dictionary a lot, whereas Mickey doesnt know what one is, but agrees to make himself look smarter. In contrast, Mickey is more wild and untamed. He plays childhood games, like mounted Police and Indians, and runs around with a toy gun. Mrs Johnston probably let him do whatever he wanted, because she had his other siblings to look after as well. This is something that Eddie never did, â€Å"Were playing mounted Police, and Indians. Im a Mountie. Mam, Mam, you know this morning weve wiped out three thousand Indians.† Act 2 Scene 1. A gun is mentioned throughout the play. At first, a harmless air gun is used a toy. This symbolises the fate of the twins. The child versions think its just a toy used to vandalise, but as they grow up, real guns are used. At the end of the play, when Mickey feels that Eddie has taken everything away from him, he produces an authentic looking gun. Even then it isnt real. The child and the adult Mickey thinks of guns as a relic of power. When Mrs Lyons moves to the countryside, she orders that poplars be planted, so that the council estate cant be seen. The poplars are a barrier between Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnston. Mrs Lyons wants sever all ties with the Johnston family, but they manage to move to the countryside as well. Superstition plays a big part in Blood Brothers. With the Narrator as a constant reminder, the reader sees that Mrs Lyons superstition affects every character in the play. Mrs Lyons is most affected. Simple things that a mother would tell a child would be nonsense to her, but knowing that Mrs Johnston is superstitious helped her get a child. At that point, superstition was an advantage to her. But when she faces the reality of what she has done, Mrs Lyons becomes deluded. The idea of motherhood and surrogacy is also present. Mrs Johnston and Mrs Lyons raise their sons very differently. Mrs Johnston lets Mickey be carefree and wild, but he isnt allowed to play near the ‘big houses in the park. Mrs Lyons raises Eddie the way she desires, but he finds his way back to his biological family. She becomes insane because of Eddies bonds with his real family. This reveals her real personality, compulsive and aggressive. Surrogacy is shown as a bad thing in Blood Brothers, because Mrs Johnston was reluctant to give away her child. Mrs Lyons manipulative personality is seen here, in her desperation to have a child, as she forces Mrs Johnston to give away her son. Blood brothers are also one of the themes mentioned. It started off as a childs alliance to his friend, but carries on until adulthood. The twins do forget about it at times in their life, but it keeps returning. The one who came up with the idea, Mickey, is the one who ends up dismissing it. He thinks nothing of it any more, â€Å"Eddie: [Pause] I thought†¦ I thought we always stuck together. I thought we were†¦ blood brothers. Mickey: That was kids stuff, Eddie, didnt anyone tell you? [Pause. Mickey looking at him. An ironic snort] But I suppose you still are a kid, arent you?† Act 4 Scene 2. Social class and division is also mentioned. Whilst Mickey and Eddie overcome that boundary, their mothers havent. Mrs Johnston is treated very badly because of her low-class status. When Mickey is in trouble with the police, the Policewoman is very patronising and shows Mrs Johnston no respect, â€Å"[to Mrs Johnston] And he was about to commit a serious crime, love, a serious crime. Now do you understand that? [The Mother nods] You dont want to end up in court again do you? Eh? [Shakes her head] Because thats whats going to happen if I have any more trouble from one of yours†¦ † Act 2 Scene 7. The Policewoman uses a threatening tone and rhetorical questions, such as ‘Eh? She also uses repetition because she thinks that Mrs Johnston is poorly educated and inferior to her. Since Eddie was also there at the time, the Policewoman paid a visit to his house too, â€Å"As I say, it was more if a prank really, Mrs Lyons. Id just dock his pocket money if I was you. But one thing I would say, and excuse me if Im interfering, but Id not let him mix with the likes of them in the future. Make sure he keeps with his own kind, Mrs Lyons, not running round with them at the other end†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Act 2 Scene 7. The Policewoman is more polite to Mrs Lyons. She refers to the incident as a crime to Mrs Johnston, but tells Mrs Lyons it was a prank. She doesnt use repetition with Mrs Lyons. She is inside Mrs Lyons house because Mrs Lyons is a respected woman and if the neighbours saw, people would talk. The Policewoman is very two-faced, treating one mother better because of her status. The town, where the characters live, is separated. The reader can see a definite social division. There is the wealthy ‘in the big houses near the park and the workers in the council estate.

The Rehearsal On Stage by Edgar Degas Essay -- impressionist movement,

Impressionism can easily be viewed as a captivating and revolutionary art movement, which took place during the Nineteenth century in Europe. Artists of this era began to contend with newer technologies, like the camera, for it possessed the capability to seize a spontaneous moment in time. Impressionists wanted to do the same; they strived to paint the picture of a genuine moment happening in front of them. One famous artist of this time period was Edgar Degas . Degas’ The Rehearsal On Stage, created in1874, reflects the characteristics of the impressionism period style of art as well as Degas’ own personal artistic style. By combining these two influences, Degas was able to produce a painting, which could be used to evoke a feeling of physical, sexual, and moral tension while also depicting modern-day life. Degas’ particular work, The Rehearsal Onstage, was created using pastels over a brush and ink drawing on a thin woven paper canvas. In fact, there is the second painting of Degas’, nearly identical to the one mentioned previously. However, it is instead known as The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage. Both variants of the composition are owned by the Metropolitan Museum in New York City . In addition to these two works, Degas seemed to be particularly interested in the subject of ballet across many of his other works as well. He focused on elements such as its elegant scenery, costumes, and movements made by the dancers themselves. He was fascinated by the spontaneity of the performance and yet the amount of restraint that must be exercised by its participants at the same time. More often than not, Degas chose to recreate the ballerinas who were off guard. For example he chose to depicting them as they stood backstage in an ... ...stern perspective. Fourteenth ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2014. "Grover Art Online Degas, Edgar." Oxford Art Online. http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T021805?q=degas&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit (accessed April 21, 2014). "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Edgar Degas: The Rehearsal Onstage (29.100.39). http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/29.100.39 (accessed April 23, 2014). "History of Art:The Impressionism - Edgar Degas." History of Art:The Impressionism - Edgar Degas. http://www.all-art.org/history480-5.html (accessed April 23, 2014). "Impressionism artists." Impressionism. http://www.artinthepicture.com/styles/Impressionism/ (accessed April 23, 2014). "Read a Brooke!." : Formal Analysis of Degas. http://babblingbrook3.blogspot.com/2012/04/formal-analysis-of-degas.html (accessed April 23, 2014).

Farewell to arms - Bravery :: essays research papers

Bravery is the quality of a person who displays courage and fearlessness in the face of danger. Such qualities show splendor and magnificence in a person. Fear and terror sometimes hinder the determination someone can show. Overcoming this fear is what portrays bravery. In Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, Frederick Henry shows bravery by freely joining the Italian army, risking his life for some ambulance drivers and swimming to freedom, being shot at the whole way. Frederick Henry grew up in America and in his early twenties, he decided to go to Europe and fight in the Italian army. Henry’s decision in the first place, showed courage and bravery. Fighting for another country over making a living in your own goes above and beyond what is remotely asked for. Even in my wildest dreams, I would probably not even think about fighting for my own country, let alone a foreign country. Times were tough, especially when the start of the winter came. With that winter came â€Å"permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera. But it was checked and in the end and only seven thousand died of it in the army.† (4) In the army, people die, and it is not the nicest place. Frederick Henry chose to enter this world and this portrays bravery. In chapter nine, Henry shows his brave character once again. In Paula, Henry was installed in a roadside trench. Some of the men were hungry so Henry volunteered to go and fetch some cold macaroni from the other side of the trench. The major advised him against it and said, â€Å"You better wait until the shelling is over.† Henry replied, â€Å"They want to eat.† (53) As Henry and the others came back to the dugout, shelling began and bombs burst around them. Then the blast furnace door swung open and Henry was badly injured. This incident showed his selfless courage and bravery. He did not have to do it, yet he went and got the food anyway. Henry risked his life for the others, and that is another true sign of bravery. Henry shows courage again in one of the last chapters we read. In the morning after a night of sleeping in a barn, Henry and Piani reunited with a group of soldiers. Suddenly two men from the battle police seize hold of Henry. Piani was led away, questioned, and then shot to death.

Different Types of Digital Libraries Essay example -- Computer Technol

Digital libraries are libraries in which collections are stored in a digital format. A digital library has also been known as a virtual or electronic library. In this essay, different types of digital libraries will be compared. This essay will provide an in depth look at the many different digital library programs that have had a profound impact on the field of digital libraries. Archival formats will be explored. Techniques for the conversion of textbased formats into digital formats will be analyzed and compared. This essay will also uncover the pros and cons of a digital library compared to a traditional library. Suggestions for the future of digital libraries will also be considered. In 1945, Vannevar Bush had a vision. In his article, "As We May Think," he describes a technical fix for the information explosion that begun after World War II. Vannevar named this technical fix the Memex. The Memex was descibed as "a device in which an individual stores all his books, records and communications which is mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility" (Bush, 1945). Vannevar was most certainly a visionary. His ideas were well before his time. His idea of the Memex can be considered the basis for digital libraries and maybe even the world wide web. In the 1980s, libraries card catalogs were being replaced by Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs). These were usually closed systems that could contain little more than bibliographic data. Most OPACs were are done in Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) format. It generally represents an individually published item or "information product," and describes the physical characteristics of the item itself (Brenner et al, 20... ... Materials. A Case for Full Information Capture. Digital Library Magazine. Digital Library Foundation (1995). America's Heritage: Mission and Goals for a Digital Library Federation. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.diglib.org/about/dlfcharter.htm American Memory, The Library of Congress. Mission and History. Retrieved April 24, 2007, from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/about/index.html Morgan, E (2007). Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.infomotions.com/alex/ Alexandria Digital Library Project (2007). About ADL. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/research/about/history.htm CSDL (2007). The Center for the Study of Digital Libraries. Texas A&M. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/csdl/center/center.html

Organizational Values Essay

The decision individual makes reflect their personal beliefs about what is important for them and the decision organization make reflect their personal belief about what they think is important. The personal and organizational value develops based on the decisions we make. Value alignment comes into place when the values of an individual are same as the values of their organization. If there is no alignment between the organization and employees, then the organization becomes in a more stressful condition. Companies who create a value alignment have very few problems. They know what their employees want and they know how to provide it. The value of the employees is important for successful for an organization. The values of an organization and the values of the nurse impact nurse engagement and patient outcomes. If the nurses have a happy environment in the hospital, it becomes a happy environment for the customers too. When nursing staff members feel empowered in the decision making process, they are energized to share their best talent, and skill. Nurses are the nucleus of the health care organization (â€Å"Nurses as implementers,† 2003). An alignment between hospital and nurses will increase nurses’ satisfaction as well as patient satisfaction. The importance of effective communication in nursing is important when it comes to interacting with patients, medical team members and doctors. Miscommunication causes misunderstandings, low performance, misdiagnosis and patient suffering. Therefore, nurses acquire effective communication skills in order to competently supervise. Communication in nursing practice serves a vital function in the building of helpful relationship patients, and coworkers. Taking time to listen to and understand patients experiences convey a message that patients feeling cared for and respected. Through communication a patient can be reassured and understand their sickness fully. Once, when I worked as a charge nurse, a patient wanted to inform me about something. She told me that her assigned nurse was not giving pain medication on correct time, and demanded for a different nurse. When I talked to the assigned nurse she told me that she gave all pain medication on time and that patient was ready to be discharged but the problem as that the patient didn’t want to leave. I checked the medication administration record and it indicated that the nurse gave all the medication on time. I didn’t change the assigned nurse instead I decided to take care of the patient. I talked with the patient asked her why she doesn’t want to go home. She replied saying that the pharmacy she gets her medication from is closed on Saturday and Sunday and she cannot get her discharge medication until Monday. She also complained about not having any ride back home after being discharged. I called the social worker and she arranged to get her medication for the patient from hospital’s charity for few days and also provided the patient with a cab voucher. I called the cab and discharged the patient home without any problem. The way I handled this situation was by communicating to the patient, and knowing her needs, and acting accordingly. By effectively communicating, problems can be solved easier without any further dissatisfaction from the patient. Nurses are able to prevent or manage conflicts by improving their communication skills. It is important for the nurse to try to understand the other party’s situation. Then the nurses can become focused about being understood. Typically during a conversation, an individual is already tries to think of a response to give to a person instead of just listening to what is being said (Marshall, 2006). Most importantly the nurse must have the patience to listen, and not interrupt while the other person is talking. A good communication skill allows the nurse to resolve his or her own conflicts or take appropriate actions for conflict resolution between other individuals. Communication is the key factor in response to any problems. Effective communication helps maintaining credibility by solving the problems that arrive. Effective communication techniques influence the values of other nurses and are effective in problem-solving processes in the organization and the profession. People use organization values to lead themselves throughout their lives. Organizational values and each employee’s personal values need to blend in as well as impact people’s behaviors and attitudes in the workplace. When employees fails to connections between taking responsibility for living their own lives and the accomplishment of organizational objectives, those organizations run the risk of falling short on promises made to customers, or worse, failing to meet ethical or legal standards.

Early Christian Architecture Essay

Early Christian Architecture We have spoken of how one style of architecture develops from another, and we are now to look briefly at a form which is chiefly important as being a link in the chain of styles. There are not many important buildings of the Early Christian style. It came into being at a time when not much building was going on that is, during the early centuries of Christianity, and what good examples there are, are nearly all churches. During the first three centuries of the Christian era Christianity was under the ban of persecution, and there was not much chance for it to manifest itself in great architecture. But, early in the fourth century, Constantine became Emperor and was converted to Christianity. He made Christianity the State religion. Constantine founded three large basilicas in Rome, all of which have been buried or destroyed. The chief objects to be thought of in these churches was to build without too much cost, to do it quickly, and to accommodate large congregations. A great structural principle which they used in roofing, or spanning spaces, is the truss. This is a frame of beams, or of beams and rods, so disposed and fastened as to make a continuous support or bridge across an open space. The truss was used by the Romans in roofing their basilicas. CHIEF FEATURES As the great Romanesque style grew out of this early Christian architecture, let us look at the main features of the earlier and simpler style. Some of the most important of these features are preserved also in the Gothic church and we shall wish to see, as we very easily can see, how they grew out of this first early Christian style. The buildings of this style were simple in form, but of noble proportions, and, though very plain without, they were often gorgeous within. A notable circumstance about the early Christian work is the fact that its monuments were built largely from ruins and fragments quarried from earlier Roman work. No doubt much beauty was ruthlessly destroyed in this way. Before the Christian era Cato borrowed from the Greeks their hall of justice; the first one being erected in Rome about 190 years before Christ. These basilicas usually had a large hall connected with a portico, and encircling galleries often enclosed the whole. When Christianity became a State religion these buildings came to be used for religious purposes. The basilica always had a central aisle; and this nave or central portion was usually separated from the side aisles by rows of columns. At the further end of the nave was the sanctuary or apse, in front of which stood the altar. In front of the whole was usually an atrium or fore-court, surrounded by a covered arcade. The exterior was extremely plain, and the interior resplendent with marbles and mosaics. A wooden roof covered the edifice. Figure 29 is the ground plan of a basilica which will show us the general arrangement, although this basilica does not happen to be an old Roman example. Above the columns that surrounded the nave there usually arose another story called the clerestory (clear story), the walls of which were pierced with windows. This is a feature which persists through later styles, and it is interesting to see its simple and plain beginning. Some of the Egyptian temples had clerestories, but the European examples date back only to early Christian architecture.

The Golden Lily Chapter 18

JILL DIDN'T GIVE ME any starry-eyed looks at breakfast the next morning, which was kind of a relief. Micah had surfaced again, and while they weren't as flirty as they'd been in the past, the two were chatting animatedly away about a science project she had. Eddie and Angeline were equally engrossed in conversation, making plans for when she was free of her suspension. Her blues eyes were alight with happiness as they talked, and I realized that she had legitimate feelings for him. She hadn't just been throwing herself at him for the sake of conquest. I wondered if he knew. It would've been easy to feel like a fifth wheel here, but instead, I was pleased and content to see my little cohort getting along so well. Stanton's conversation had still left me conflicted, but there was nothing wrong with appreciating the peace around here. I would've been happier still if Trey's behavior had also normalized, but when I reached my history class later, he was absent yet again. I had no doubt he'd claim he had family stuff, but my earlier suspicions were returning, about whether his family might be responsible for his injuries. Should I report my worries to someone? Who? I didn't want to jump to conclusions either, which left me in a bind. Eddie and I always sat near each other in that class, and I leaned toward him before the bell rang, pitching my voice low to address another concern. â€Å"Hey, have you noticed that Jill's been kind of acting weirdly around me?† â€Å"She's got a lot going on,† he said, ever quick to defend her. â€Å"Yeah, I know, but you had to have noticed her last night. In the library? I mean – keeping in mind I'm terrible at figuring this stuff out – it was like she had a crush on me or something.† He laughed at that. â€Å"She was kind of laying it on thick, but I don't think you have to worry about some romantic complication. She just looks up to you a lot, that's all. Part of her still wants to be a brave fighter who rushes out fearlessly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused as he savored that idea, a mix of pride and rapture on his face before he tuned back into me. â€Å"But at the same time, you're starting to show her there all sorts of ways to be powerful.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said. â€Å"I think. But speaking of her being a brave fighter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I studied him curiously. â€Å"Why don't you train her anymore? Don't you want her to hone her skills?† â€Å"Oh, yeah. That. Well†¦ there are a few reasons for it. One is I need to focus on Angeline. Another is that I just don't want Jill worried about that. I'll do the protecting.† Those were exactly the reasons I'd guessed. The next one was not. â€Å"And I guess†¦ the other thing is that I don't feel right being in contact with her like that. I mean, I know it means nothing to her†¦ but it means something to me.† Again, my social skills took a moment to kick in. â€Å"You mean, you don't like that you have to touch her?† Eddie actually blushed. â€Å"It doesn't bother me, that's the problem. Better for us to spend time together in a hands-off way.† I hadn't expected that, but I could understand it. Leaving Eddie to his own inner demons, I soon got caught up in the day and wondering what had happened to Trey. I'd hoped he'd come into class late, but he didn't. In fact, he didn't surface for the rest of the day, not even when I was finishing up my independent study. I'd thought he might come by again for homework. â€Å"You look troubled,† said Ms. Terwilliger, watching me pack up when the bell rang. â€Å"Worried about getting your project in on time?† â€Å"No.† I'd actually finished two of the charms, but I certainly wasn't going to tell her that. â€Å"I'm worried about Trey. He keeps missing school. Do you know why he's out? I mean, if you can tell me?† â€Å"The office notifies us if a student will be out for the day, but they don't tell us the reason. If it makes you feel better, Mr. Juarez's absence was called in this morning. He hasn't disappeared.† I almost mentioned my fears about his home but held off. I still needed more evidence. Between worrying about Trey, Ms. Terwilliger's work, the Warriors, Brayden, and all my other myriad complications, I knew I couldn't waste any of my free time. Nonetheless, I went to Adrian's after school on a mission I couldn't refuse. On our way to Wolfe's class earlier this week, Adrian had mentioned offhandedly that he hadn't had the Mustang looked at by a mechanic before purchasing it. Although my own novice assessment hadn't found anything wrong with the car, I pushed for Adrian to get the car examined – which, of course, meant I had to look up a specialist and make the appointment. It was just before my textile museum date, but I was certain I had time to make it all work. â€Å"The guy I bought it from seemed pretty trustworthy,† Adrian told me, after we'd dropped the car off with the mechanic. He'd told us he'd look at it right away and that we could hang around and wait. His shop was on the outskirts of a suburban area, so Adrian suggested we go for a walk through the neighborhoods. â€Å"And it ran just fine when I did the test drive, so I figured everything was okay.† â€Å"That doesn't mean there aren't problems you can't see. It's best to be safe,† I said, knowing I sounded preachy. â€Å"Bad enough you got a car you can't drive.† Glancing over, I saw a small, half smile on his face. â€Å"With your help, I'll be a pro in no time. Of course, if you don't want to help anymore, I'll just wing it and figure it out on my own.† I groaned. â€Å"You already know what I'd say about – wow.† The neighborhood we were in was pretty affluent. In fact, I'd say the houses bordered on being bona fide mansions. We stopped in front of one that looked like a cross between a hacienda and a southern plantation, large and sprawling with a pillared porch and pink stucco siding. The front yard was a mix of climates, green grass with palm trees lining the path to the house. The trees were like tropical sentries. â€Å"Gorgeous,† I said. â€Å"I love architecture. In another life, I'd have studied that – not chemicals and vampires.† As we continued on, we saw more of the same, each house trying to outdo the others. All of them had high fences and hedges blocking their backyards. â€Å"I wonder what's back there. Pools, probably.† Adrian stopped in front of another. It was as yellow as his car and showed another mix of styles, like a southwest version of a medieval castle, complete with turrets. â€Å"Nice juxtaposition,† he remarked. I turned, knowing my eyes were wide as I stared at him. â€Å"Did you just use juxtaposition in a sentence?† â€Å"Yes, Sage,† he said patiently. â€Å"We use it all the time with art, when we're mixing different components. That, and I know how to use a dictionary.† He turned from me and scanned the house, his eyes resting on a gardener who was out trimming some hedges. A sly smile crossed Adrian's lips. â€Å"You want to see the back? Come on.† â€Å"What are you – † Before I could say another word, Adrian strode up the granite pathway and cut across the lawn to where the guy was working. I didn't want anything to do with this, but the responsible part of me couldn't let Adrian get into trouble. I hurried after him. â€Å"Are the owners home?† Adrian asked. The gardener had stopped his clipping and stared at Adrian. â€Å"No.† â€Å"When will they be back?† â€Å"After six.† I was astonished that the guy was answering these questions. If I'd been asked them, I would've assumed someone was staging a break-in. Then, I saw the glazed look in the gardener's eyes and realized what was going on. â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" Adrian's eyes never left the other man's face. â€Å"Take us to the backyard.† â€Å"Of course.† The gardener dropped his hedge clippers and headed for a gate on the side of the house. I tried to get Adrian's attention to stop this, but he was outpacing me. Our guide stopped at the gate, entered a security code, and led us to the back. My protests died on my lips as I gazed around. This back property was almost three times the size of the front. There were more palm trees ringing the yard, along with a terraced garden full of plants, both native and non-native. A huge oval shaped pool dominated the space, its turquoise hue startling against the gray of the granite that surrounded it. On one side of the pool, several steps led up to a smaller, square pool. It could only hold a few people, and a waterfall poured out from it, down to the larger pool. Tiki torches and tables around the pools completed the lush setup. â€Å"Thanks,† Adrian told the gardener. â€Å"Go back to your work. It's okay if we're here. We'll see ourselves out.† â€Å"Of course,† the man replied. He walked back the way we'd come in. I snapped back to reality. â€Å"Adrian! You used compulsion on that guy. That†¦ I mean, it's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Awesome?† Adrian walked over to the steps leading up to the upper pool. â€Å"Yeah, I know.† â€Å"It's wrong! All of this. Breaking and entering, and compulsion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shivered, despite the sweltering heat. â€Å"It's immoral. Controlling someone else's mind. You know it! Your people and mine both agree.† â€Å"Eh, no harm done.† He climbed to the top of the pool and stood on its edge, surveying his kingdom. The sun brought out chestnut glints in his brown hair. â€Å"Believe me, that guy was easy to control. Weak-willed. I barely had to use compulsion.† â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" â€Å"Come on, Sage. Not like we're going to hurt anything. Check out this view.† I was almost afraid to go up there. It was so rare for any of the Moroi here to use their magic that it was easy for me to pretend it didn't exist. Seeing Adrian use it – the most insidious kind – made my skin crawl. As I'd told Ms. Terwilliger in our charm discussion, no one should be able to control another like that. â€Å"Come on,† Adrian repeated. â€Å"You're not worried I'm going to compel you up here, are you?† â€Å"Of course not,† I said. And I meant it. I didn't know why, but some part of me knew Adrian would never, ever harm me. Reluctantly, I went to join him, hoping that would encourage him to leave. When I reached the top, my jaw dropped. The intimate pool hadn't seemed that high, but it gave us a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance, rugged and majestic against the blue of the sky. The larger pool glittered below us, and the waterfall made it look like we'd entered some mystical oasis. â€Å"Cool, huh?† he asked. Adrian sat down on the small pool's edge, rolled up his jeans, and took off his socks and shoes. â€Å"Now what are you doing?† I asked. â€Å"Making the most out of this.† He put his feet in the water. â€Å"Come on. Do something bad for a change. Not that it's really that bad. We aren't trashing this place or anything.† I hesitated, but the water was intoxicating, as though it too could wield compulsion. Settling down, I copied Adrian and dipped my bare feet into the water. Its coolness was startling – and wonderful – in this intense heat. â€Å"I could get used to this,† I admitted. â€Å"But what if the owners come home early?† He shrugged. â€Å"I can talk us out of it, don't worry.† That wasn't exactly reassuring. I turned back to the gorgeous view and lush property. I wasn't always the most imaginative person, but I thought back to what I'd said about living another life. What would it be like to have a home like this? To stay in one place? To spend days by the pool, soaking in the sun, and not worrying about the fate of humanity? I fell into daydreams and was so caught up that I lost track of time. â€Å"We have to get back to the shop,† I exclaimed. Glancing over, I was astonished to see Adrian watching me, a look of contentment on his face. His eyes seemed to study my every feature. Seeing me notice him, he immediately looked away. His usual smirky expression replaced the dreamy one. â€Å"The mechanic will wait,† he said. â€Å"Yeah, but I'm supposed to meet Brayden soon. I'll be – † That's when I got a good look at Adrian. â€Å"What have you done? Look at you! You shouldn't be out here.† â€Å"It's not that bad.† He was lying, and we both knew it. It was late afternoon, and the sun was merciless. I'd certainly felt it, though the coolness of the water had helped distract me. That, and I was human. Sure, sunstroke and sunburns were concerns, but I loved the sun and had a high tolerance for it. Vampires did not. Sweat poured off Adrian, soaking his shirt and hair. Pink blotches covered his face. They were familiar. I'd seen them on Jill back when she'd been forced to play outdoor sports in PE. Left unchecked, they'd turn into burns. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"Come on, we have to get out of here before you get worse. What were you thinking?† His expression was astonishingly nonchalant for someone who looked like he would pass out. â€Å"It was worth it. You looked†¦ happy.† â€Å"That's crazy,† I said. â€Å"Not the craziest thing I've ever done.† He smiled as he looked up at me. His eyes grew slightly unfocused, as though they were seeing more than just me. â€Å"What's a little crazy here and there? I'm supposed to be doing experiments†¦ why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?† The way he looked at me and spoke unnerved me, and I remembered what Jill had said, how spirit slowly drove its users insane. Adrian hardly seemed insane, but there was certainly something haunted about him, a definite shift from his usual sharp wit. It was as though something else had seized hold of him. I remembered that poem line, about dreaming and waking. â€Å"Come on,† I repeated. I held out my hand. â€Å"You shouldn't have used spirit. We need to get you out of here.† He took my hand and staggered to his feet. A rush of warmth and electricity went through me, just as it had the last time we touched, and our eyes held. For a moment, all I could think about were his earlier words: You looked happy†¦ I brushed such sentiments aside and quickly got him out of there, only to discover the mechanic hadn't finished. At least in his shop, we were able to get Adrian some water and air conditioning. As we waited I texted Brayden. Running an hour late with family stuff. Sorry. Will be there as soon as I can. My phone chimed back about thirty seconds later: That only leaves an hour for the textile museum. â€Å"That's not nearly enough time,† said Adrian deadpan. I hadn't realized he'd been reading over my shoulder. I moved the phone away and suggested to Brayden we just meet for an early dinner. He concurred. â€Å"I'm a mess,† I muttered, checking myself out in a mirror. The heat had definitely taken its toll, and I looked sweaty and worn. â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Adrian told me. â€Å"If he didn't notice how awesome you were in the red dress, he probably won't notice anything now.† He hesitated. â€Å"Not that there's even anything to notice. You're as cute as usual.† I was about to snap at him for teasing me, but when I looked over, his face was deadly earnest. Whatever retort I might have managed died on my lips, and I quickly got up to check our status, in order to hide how flustered I felt. The mechanic finally finished – no problems found – and Adrian and I headed downtown. I kept watching him anxiously, afraid he'd pass out. â€Å"Stop worrying, Sage. I'm fine,† he said. â€Å"Although†¦ I'd be better with some ice cream or gelato. Even you have to admit that'd be good right now.† It would, actually, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. â€Å"What is it with you and frozen desserts? Why do you always want them?† â€Å"Because we live in a desert.† I couldn't argue with that reasoning. We reached his place, and I swapped cars. Before he went inside, I inundated him with advice about getting water and resting. Then, I spoke the words that had been burning inside of me. â€Å"Thank you for the poolside outing,† I said. â€Å"Your near-sun-stroke aside, that was pretty amazing.† He gave me a cocky smile. â€Å"Maybe you'll get used to vampire magic after all.† â€Å"No,† I said automatically. â€Å"I'll never get used to that.† His smile immediately disappeared. â€Å"Of course not,† he murmured. â€Å"See you around.† I finally made it to dinner. I'd chosen an Italian restaurant, filled with the scents of garlic and cheese. Brayden sat at a corner table, sipping water and earning glares from the waitress, who was probably impatient for him to order. I sat down opposite him, dropping my satchel beside me. â€Å"I am so sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I had to do this thing with my, uh, brother.† If Brayden was mad, he didn't show it. That was his way. He did, however, give me a scrutinizing look. â€Å"Was it something athletic? You look like you ran a marathon.† It wasn't an insult, not by any means, but it did take me aback – mostly because I was thinking of Adrian's comment. Brayden had had almost nothing to say about my Halloween costume, but he noticed this? â€Å"We were out in Santa Sofia, getting his car looked at.† â€Å"Nice area. Keep going up the highway, and you can get to Joshua Tree National Park. Ever been there?† â€Å"No. Just read about it.† â€Å"Iconic place. The geology's fascinating.† The waitress came by, and I gratefully ordered an iced latte. Brayden was more than happy to tell me about some of the park's geology, and we soon fell into our comfortable rhythm of intellectual discussion. I didn't know the park's specific makeup, but I knew more than enough about geology in general to keep up. In fact, I was able to talk on autopilot while my mind wandered back to Adrian. I recalled again what he'd said about the red dress. I also couldn't shake the comment about me being happy, and how that was worth his suffering. â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"Hmm?† I realized I'd lost the thread of our conversation after all. â€Å"I asked which type of desert you find more striking,† Brayden explained. â€Å"The Mojave region gets all the hype, but I actually prefer the Colorado Desert.† â€Å"Ah.† I slipped back into the flow. â€Å"Um, Mojave. I like the rock formations better.† This triggered a debate of the regions while we ate, and Brayden seemed happier and happier. He really did like having someone who could keep up with him, I realized. None of my books had said anything about the way to a man's heart being through academic debates. I didn't mind it, though. I liked the conversation, but it didn't exactly send thrills through me. I had to remind myself it was still early in our relationship – if I could even call it that. Surely the head over heels part would come soon. We talked for a long time after the meal was over. The waitress brought us an unsolicited dessert menu when we finished, and I surprised myself by saying, â€Å"Wow†¦ I can't believe how much I want gelato right now. That never happens.† Maybe the sweat and heat had leached my nutrients†¦ or maybe I still had Adrian on the brain. â€Å"I've never heard you order dessert,† said Brayden, sliding his menu away. â€Å"It's not too much sugar?† It was another of those weird statements of his that could be interpreted a number of different ways. Was he judging me? Did he think I shouldn't have any sugar? I didn't know, but it was enough for me to close the menu and set it on top of his. With no other scheduled forms of entertainment for the night, we decided to just go for a walk after dinner. The temperature was down to moderate levels, and it was still light enough out that I wasn't as concerned about the Warriors of Light jumping out from corners. That didn't mean I ignored Wolfe's teachings, however. I still kept an eye on my surroundings, watching for anything suspicious. We reached a small park that only took up one city block and found a bench in the corner. We sat down on it, watching children play on the opposite side of the lawn while we continued a discussion on bird watching in the Mojave. Brayden put his arm around me as we talked, and eventually, we exhausted the topic and simply sat in comfortable silence. â€Å"Sydney†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I turned my gaze from the children, surprised at Brayden's uncertain tone, which was very different from the one he'd just been using to defend the superiority of the mountain bluebird over the western bluebird. There was softness in his eyes now as he looked at me. The evening light made his hazel eyes take on a little more gold than usual but completely hid the green. Too bad. Before I could say anything, he leaned forward and kissed me. It was more intense than the last one, though still a long ways from the epic, all-consuming kisses I'd seen in movies. He did rest his hand on my shoulder this time, gently bringing me a little closer. The kiss also lasted longer than previous ones, and I again tried to let myself go and lose myself in the feel of someone else's lips. He was the one who ended it, a bit more abruptly than I would've expected. â€Å"I – I'm sorry,† he said, looking away. â€Å"I shouldn't have done that.† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. It wasn't so much that I'd been yearning for the kiss as it was that this seemed exactly like the kind of place you'd want to kiss: a romantic park at sunset. â€Å"We're in public. It's kind of vulgar, I suppose.† Vulgar? I wasn't even sure if we were really all that much in public, seeing as no one was next to us and we were in the shade of some trees. Brayden sighed with dismay. â€Å"I guess I just lost control. It won't happen again.† â€Å"It's okay,† I said. It hadn't seemed like that much of a loss of control, but what did I know? And I wondered if maybe a small loss of control wasn't such a bad thing. Wasn't that kind of the basis of passion? I didn't know that either. The only thing I knew for sure was that this kiss had been a lot like the last one. Nice, but it didn't blow me away. My heart sank. There was something wrong with me. Everyone was always going on about how socially inept I was. Did it extend to romance as well? Was I so cold that I'd spend my life never feeling anything? I think Brayden misread my dismay and assumed I was upset with him. He stood up and held out his hand. â€Å"Hey, let's go walk to that tea shop one block over. They've got this local painter's art on display that I think you'll like. Besides, no calories in tea, right? Better than dessert.† â€Å"Right,† I said. Thinking of the gelato didn't cheer me up any. The Italian place had had pomegranate, which kind of sounded like the best thing ever. As I stood up, my cell phone rang and startled both of us. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Sage? It's me.† I had no reason to be mad at Adrian, not after what he'd done for me, but somehow I felt irritated by the interruption. I was trying to make the most of this night with Brayden, and Adrian unsettled everything. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked. â€Å"Are you still downtown? You need to come over right now.† â€Å"You know I'm out with Brayden,† I said. This was pushy, even for Adrian. â€Å"I can't just drop everything and entertain you.† â€Å"It's not about me.† It was then that I noticed how hard and serious his voice was. Something tightened in my chest. â€Å"It's about Sonya. She's missing.† The Golden Lily: A Bloodlines Novel