Global Financial Meltdown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Worldwide Financial Meltdown - Essay Example 2) The ruin of Iceland For the situation of Iceland, it was an ideal spot for a family to live work the administration chose to deregulate the banks and let multinationals misuse their normal assets. The outcome was a tragic effect on the earth and the banks fallen because of which joblessness significantly increased and a large number of the individuals lost their life reserve funds. At the point when the biggest banks were privatized, they acquired cash totaling to 120 billion dollars which was about multiple times the size of the economy. These banks and their exercises were upheld by American examiners, for example, KPMG and FICO assessment organization which compensated them most noteworthy type of evaluating; Triple A’s. At long last, controllers shaped the job of insignificant onlookers and sat idle. 3) Destructive development of United States budgetary division After the Great Depression, the monetary area was carefully directed; the greater part of the banks were neig hborhood and were not permitted to utilize depositor’s cash for any kind of speculation. In any case, at that point the speculation banks opened up to the world and that is the point at which the money related area went crazy. The speculation brokers presently were proprietors of gigantic measures of open cash. At the point when President Reagan came into power, he with his treasury secretary who was a CEO of Merrill Lynch, started a multi year deregulation plan. The main firms to be deregulated were investment funds and advances organizations. These organizations were deregulated which furnished them with a grant to utilize depositors’ reserve funds for hazardous hypothesis purposes. They fizzled and many went to prison. Deregulation proceeded in Clinton’s time and by the late 1990’s you could distinguish the major budgetary firms. The deregulation movement was managed by a Harvard monetary educator Larry Summers, a financial expert Greenspan and Robert Rubin a previous CEO of speculation bank Goldman Sachs. This plainly gives us how financial aspects was abused for individual increases, governmental issues was being affected by the monetary segment and the scholarly world debased. Further on, the narrative (Ferguson, â€Å"Inside Job†) illuminates us about how budgetary firms turned out to be solid to such an extent that they could break a law, be excluded by it for a year and afterward another law is passed to encourage their advantage. The merger between Citicorp and Travelers is an identical representation of the above explanation. While the money related area kept on getting ground-breaking, the web bubble crash gave the economy a colossal blow. We understand through the narrative that the web bubble was pre-arranged in light of the fact that speculation banks were associated with advancing firms which they knew would most likely come up short. Discussions between the faculty of venture banks named those organizations a s pointless while they were depicting them as impeccable speculation chance to general society. With deregulation occurring and the innovation progressions happening; subordinates entered the economy. They were built so as to make more benefit, yet actually it was unstable material that would make the market exceptionally unpredictable. So as to maintain a strategic distance from any conversation over its guideline, a bill was passed for de-guideline of subsidiaries. As the business was much more capably ruled by a couple of massive speculation banks, security and insurance agencies and FICO assessment organizations than previously; monetary area turned out to be considerably increasingly confused. 4) Complicated monetary items built to develop benefits Inside occupation gives

Plastic Bottles, Skin Pack Free Essays

Plastic Bottles, Skin Pack, Tin Can, Boxes, Shrink Wrap, Barrel, Crate, Aseptic, Container, Active, Flexible, Rigid Plastic, Metal, Flexible, Glass, Paper Board, Food, Beverage Packaging is among the high development enterprises in India. A high level of potential exists for practically all client fragments which are extending apparently Processessed nourishments, hard and soda pops, foods grown from the ground items, beautifiers and personalcare, office fixed and adornments, textures and pieces of clothing, white products and different durables, electrical apparatuses and supplies, amusement and different gadgets, shoes and calfskin product, diamonds and gems, toys and sports merchandise, synthetic substances and composts. Because of lower fabricating costs, India is quick turning into a favored center point for bundling creation. We will compose a custom paper test on Plastic Bottles, Skin Pack or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now The Indian bundling industry has made an imprint with its fares that contain leveled jars, printed sheets and segments, crown stopper, haul tops, plastic film covers, make paper, paper board and bundling apparatus, while the imports incorporate tinplate, covering and coating mixes and others. In India, the quickest developing bundling fragments are overlays and adaptable bundling, particularly PET and woven sacks. The market size for bundling materials frameworks for food, pharmaceuticals, beautifying agents, toiletries, Ind. items, materials, handiworks, and so on represents 4%, while inflexible semi-unbending plastic holders is about 9%. The metal and tin compartments represents 10%, glass holders 10% , ridged board boxes 23%, paper board 36% and other subordinate materials like tapes ties, names, cements, and so on †8%. Upgradation, both of usefulness and style, portrays the ongoing patterns in the business. Detailed and progressively costly bundling is infiltrating further into promoting of modern items and even agro-based items, similar to food and personalcare items, medications and pharmaceuticals, buyer durables and electronic items, particularly amusement items. Bundling market size in India is about Rs 65,000 crore is developing at the pace of 15 percent for every annum. At present unbending bundling appreciates over 65% piece of the overall industry however the conventional inflexible bundling clients are moving to adaptable bundling in a major manner. Market size of PET/BOPP and other adaptable film-based assembling section is evaluated at around Rs 25 billion. The cost effect of PET film and BOPP film on the general bundling cost ranges from 35-85% relying upon the item to be bundled. The principle players are Paper Products, Akar Group, Orient Press, India Foils, RT Packaging and Mukund Flex Pack. Akar Group comprises of Akar Laminations, Sharp Industries and Vishnu Vijay Packagers. The general development pace of the business has tightened to around 9%. The adaptable bundling industry is relied upon to develop at around 10-15% per annum in the coming years. The covered items are developing at around 30% p. a. There are around 600-700 bundling hardware producers, 95% of which are in the little and medium part found all over India. Step by step instructions to refer to Plastic Bottles, Skin Pack, Papers

Online Decisions To Be Released This Saturday

Online Decisions To Be Released This Saturday Hi folks, Im pleased to let you know that were on schedule to release decisions as planned at noon (Eastern Time) on Saturday March 17. Decisions will be available to those who meet all of the following criteria: You have applied for freshman admission (not transfer or graduate). Your intended entry year (as designated in your MyMIT account) is 2007. You applied in Regular Action, or were deferred in Early Action (the system is unable to display decisions for those who applied in Early Action and received a final action in December i.e. admitted or denied). What is the process for receiving my admissions decision online? In order to check your decision online, you will need to have registered for a MyMIT account and you will need to know your username and password. When decisions are released, simply visit https://decisions.mit.edu and log in using the same username and password that you use to log into your MyMIT account. There are no interim screens, so you should be sure you wish to receive your decision online before logging in to decisions.mit.edu. Please note that you can visit https://decisions.mit.edu now to confirm your username and password. We will not be in the office on the weekend that decisions are released, so to prevent any delays, you should confirm your username and password well in advance. What if Ive forgotten my MyMIT username or password? You may use our automated system to reset it. Simply visit my.mit.edu and click on the lost username or lost password link. What if I dont have a MyMIT account? If you do not currently have a MyMIT account and you wish to receive your decision online, you will need to register for one using your MIT ID, which was sent to you via postal mail soon after receiving your paper application (if you used the online application, you already have a MyMIT account). If you have misplaced your MIT ID, or if you never received it, you may call our office to get it (please note that you will be asked to give some personal information for verification). If you register without your MIT ID, your username and password may not work on decisions.mit.edu. Will there be any indication of my admissions decision in my MyMIT account? Admitted students will see the addition of the Admitted Student Portlet in their MyMIT account beginning on or after Monday, March 19. (Denied and waitlisted applicants will not see a change.) If you do not wish to receive your decision online, youll want to take a brief vacation from your MyMIT account until your letter arrives in the mail. Post Tagged #Pi Day #Regular Action Online Decisions To Be Released This Saturday Hi folks, Jess sent me an email a few days ago making fun of me for being completely awol from the blogs recently. Shes right, and I apologize; weve been working 7-day weeks since January reading all of your applications and selecting the class in committee. This time next week Ill be enjoying my first day off in quite awhile, and my blogging should return shortly thereafter. Im pleased to let you know that were on schedule to release decisions online at noon (Eastern Time) on Saturday March 15. They will be mailed via postal mail a few days later, most likely on Monday, March 17 or Tuesday, March 3/18. Decisions will be available online to those who meet all of the following criteria: You have applied for freshman admission (not transfer or graduate). Your intended entry year (as designated in your MyMIT account) is 2008. You applied in Regular Action, or were deferred in Early Action (the system is unable to display decisions for those who applied in Early Action and received a final action in December i.e. admitted or denied). What is the process for receiving my admissions decision online? In order to check your decision online, you will need to have registered for a MyMIT account and you will need to know your username and password. When decisions are released, simply visit https://decisions.mit.edu and log in using the same username and password that you use to log into your MyMIT account. There are no interim screens, so you should be sure you wish to receive your decision online before logging in to decisions.mit.edu. Please note that you can visit https://decisions.mit.edu beginning tomorrow (Monday, March 10) to confirm your username and password. We will not be in the office on the weekend that decisions are released, so to prevent any delays, you should confirm your username and password well in advance. What if Ive forgotten my MyMIT username or password? You may use our automated system to reset it. Simply visit my.mit.edu and click on the lost username or lost password link. What if I dont have a MyMIT account? If you do not currently have a MyMIT account and you wish to receive your decision online, you will need to register for one using your MIT ID, which was sent to you via postal mail soon after receiving your paper application (if you used the online application, you already have a MyMIT account). If you have misplaced your MIT ID, or if you never received it, you may call our office to get it (please note that you will be asked to give some personal information for verification). If you register without your MIT ID, your username and password may not work on decisions.mit.edu. Hang in there only a few more days of waiting! Post Tagged #Pi Day #Regular Action

A Collection of Anthropology Definitions

The study of anthropology is the study of human beings: their culture, their behavior, their beliefs, their ways of surviving. Here is a collection of other definitions of anthropology from anthropologists and other dedicated to defining and describing what Alexander Pope (1688 to 1744) called the proper study of mankind. Anthropology Definitions Eric Wolf: Anthropology is less a subject matter than a bond between subject matters. It is part history, part literature; in part natural science, part social science; it strives to study men both from within and without; it represents both a manner of looking at man and a vision of man—the most scientific of the humanities, the most humanist of sciences. James William Lett: Anthropology has traditionally attempted to stake out a compromise position on this central issue by regarding itself as both the most scientific of the humanities and the most humanistic of the sciences. That compromise has always looked peculiar to those outside anthropology  but today it looks increasingly precarious to those within the discipline. University of Florida: Anthropology is the study of humankind. Of all the disciplines that examine aspects of human existence and accomplishments, only Anthropology explores the entire panorama of the human experience from human origins to contemporary forms of culture and social life. Anthropology is Answering Questions Michael Scullin: Anthropologists attempt to answer the question: how can one explain the diversity of human cultures that are currently found on earth and how have they evolved? Given that we will have to change rather rapidly within the next generation or two this is a very pertinent question for anthropologists. University of North Texas: Anthropology is the study of human diversity around the world. Anthropologists look at cross-cultural differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs, and communication styles. They often seek to promote understanding between groups by translating each culture to the other, for instance by spelling out common, taken-for-granted assumptions. American Anthropological Association: Anthropology seeks to uncover principles of behavior that apply to all human communities. To an anthropologist, diversity itself—seen in body shapes and sizes, customs, clothing, speech, religion, and worldview—provides a frame of reference for understanding any single aspect of life in any given community. Portland Community College: Anthropology is the study of people. In this discipline, people are considered in all their biological and cultural diversities, in the present as well as in the prehistoric past, and wherever people have existed. Students are introduced to the interaction between people and their environments to develop an appreciation of human adaptations past and present. Western Washington University: Anthropology explores what it means to be human. Anthropology is the scientific study of humankind in all the cultures of the world, both past and present. The Human Experience of Anthropology Triton College: Anthropology is the study of humans in all areas and in all periods of time. Michael Brian Schiffer: Anthropology is the only discipline that can access evidence about the entire human experience on this planet. Western Kentucky University: Anthropology is the study of human culture and biology in the past and present. University of Louisville: Anthropology is, at once, both easy to define and difficult to describe; its subject matter is both exotic (marriage practices among Australian aborigines) and commonplace (the structure of the human hand); its focus both sweeping and microscopic. Anthropologists may study the language of a tribe of Brazilian Native Americans, the social life of apes in an African rain forest, or the remains of a long-vanished civilization in their own backyard—but there is always a common thread linking these vastly different projects, and always the common goal of advancing our understanding of who we are and how we came to be that way. In a sense, we all do anthropology because it is rooted in a universal human characteristic—curiosity about ourselves and other people, living and dead, here and across the globe. Stanford University: Anthropology is devoted to the study of human beings and human societies as they exist across time and space. It is distinct from other social sciences in that it gives central attention to the full-time span of human history, and to the full range of human societies and cultures, including those located in historically marginalized parts of the world. It is therefore especially attuned to questions of social, cultural, and biological diversity, to issues of power, identity, and inequality, and to the understanding of dynamic processes of social, historical, ecological, and biological change over time. A.L. Kroeber: Anthropology is the most humanistic of the sciences and the most scientific of the humanities. The Jam in the Sandwich Robert Foley and Marta Mirazon Lahr: Culture is the jam in the sandwich of anthropology. It is all-pervasive. It is used to distinguish humans from apes (everything that man does that the monkeys do not (Lord Ragland)) and to characterize evolutionarily derived behaviors in both living apes and humans. It is often both the explanation of what it is that has made human evolution different and what it is that it is necessary to explain... It exists in the heads of humans and is manifested in the products of actions. ... [C]ulture is seen by some as the equivalent of the gene, and hence a particulate unit (the meme) that can be added together in endless permutations and combinations, while to others it is as a large and indivisible whole that it takes on its significance.  In other words, culture is everything to anthropology, and it could be argued that in the process it has also become nothing. Moishe Shokeid: Anthropologists and their informants are inextricably bound together in producing an ethnographic text that integrates the impact of their unique personalities, their social incongruities, and their dreams.

Blackhorse Espresso Bakery And Bakery - 1820 Words

Many know BlackHorse Espresso Bakery as the spot to grab a quick cup of coffee, a fancy latte, a yummy panini, or get some studying in. Many, however, probably do not know how this local chain began. BlackHorse Espresso Bakery is a series of four small town coffee shops in San Luis Obispo. Since its establishment in 1995 as â€Å"Uptown Espresso,† BlackHorse is now renamed, under a new ownership, and has expanded from one to four locations throughout San Luis Obispo. According to AnnMarie Cornejo, writer for The Tribune, Randy Coates opened the first store, Uptown Espresso, on Higuera Street in 1995. Coates then introduced the name BlackHorse in 2007. The name is said to be in honor of the legend, O. L. Deloloy, a â€Å"poor, immigrant grandfather† who rode his black horse around Seattle stealing coffee beans from the docks and brewing them into coffee to give to his neighbors. In 2008, Randy Coates retired and sold BlackHorse to Tom Brown and Greg Hind, who in 2009 p roceeded to open a second location in Broad Street Village (Cornejo, 2011). BlackHorse continued to grow in 2011 when they opened their Foothill location and again in 2013 the LOVR location opened. BlackHorse is not just any espresso and bakery; it is a company that prides itself in a strong culture and vision for its aspirations. According to the company website, BlackHorse’s mission statement is to provide the best coffee and customer service by â€Å"equipping [their] baristas with top-of-the-line espresso machines,

Neuropathology and Etiology of Alzheimer’s disease Free Essays

Scientists have not yet fully come to full grips with the real causes of Alzheimer’s disease, however, one clear aspect of the development of this disease arise from a very complex chain of activities taking place in the brain over a long period of lifetime. It has been argued that genetic, environmental and even lifestyle factors have contributed to major causes of this disease. Risk and protective factors may include genetic, medical, biological, environmental, dietary, social and cultural aspects (Draper, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Neuropathology and Etiology of Alzheimer’s disease or any similar topic only for you Order Now In genetic aspect, APOE E2 is rare and creates protection against Alzheimer’s disease and in case it does occur in much later years than in people with APOE E3 and APOE E4. APOE E3 forms the most common Allele and is assumed to perform a neutral role in Alzheimer’s disease. This means it neither stimulates nor increases reactions that would lead to the development of Alzheimer’s. The APOE E4 occurs in the most common and occurs in approximately 40% in those who suffer from late onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is therefore common that people with APOE E4 are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (Kuhn Verity, 2007). It is infact known as the risk factor gene in that it increases one’s level of risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Early – onset Alzheimer’s disease, affecting few people is as a result of chromosome different gene mutations on specific chromosomes (MartinisonMusaswes, 1993). These include chromosome 21, 14 and chromosome 1 and all these produces abnormal proteins. Permanent changes in chromosome 21 lead to the creation of APP (Abnormal Amyloid Precursor Protein) while the same process in chromosome 14 leads to the formation of abnormal presenilin and mutation in chromosome 1 lead to creation of abnormal presenilin. Inheritance of even one of these genes from both or one parent is most likely to develop early onset Alzheimer’s disease. This kind of inheritance pattern is referred to as â€Å"abnormal dominant inheritance†. Another possible risk towards the development of Alzheimer’s disease is SOR1 (Roudier et al, 1991). This gene is solely responsible for the transportation of APP (Abnormal Amyloid Precursor Protein) within the cells and was discovered to be connected to Alzheimer’s disease. While it is present in low levels, beta amyloid levels increase and may have a negative effect on neurons (Ramanathan, 1997). The difference in genetic make up from one person to another either delays or completely prevents the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, also known as Familial Alzheimer’s disease. It is mainly inherited from parents and is caused by mutations in three genes. (APOE E2, APOE E3, APOE E4). There is a 50-50 chance of an offspring developing early onset Alzheimer’s diseases if one of the parents had it, averagely at the age of 30-60. As many as 5. 3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It is know to destroy brain cells and hence cause problems with behavior, thinking and memory severely enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social infract It has been graded the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States (Mace Rabins, 2007). There is no known cure to Alzheimer’s disease yet but an attempt to control it is going on. Scientists and researchers have come up with brain implants aimed to controlling it. These implants contain proteins called Nerve Growth Factors (NGF) which directly delivered to brain nerve cells, which in turn stimulates their growth and thus reduces the chances of their degeneration. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is responsible for controlling cell regeneration in the entire body but it is denied entry into the brain, this makes brain cells lack ability to self-regenerate (Taylor, 2006). Alzheimer’s’ disease has no cure however and irreversible. It is as a result of progressive brain damage characterized by the building up of amyloid plagues and neurofibrillary tangles, lack of connection in the brain cells and the eventual death of these verve cells. Symptomatic treatment in combination with right support and proper service can lessen the pain of living with this disease. Change in different forms of lifestyle choices can also reduce the prevalence of this disease. It is a complex disease to understand because it affects individuals differently in the order in which symptoms come to surface, their order of appearance, the duration it lasts before end point and variation in the duration of stage. Increased vigor worldwide to find a lasting break through in proper treatment of this disease is underway (Coste, 2004). These include efforts to delay its onset, reduce late of its development and eliminate it from the body. Research also suggests that different forms of lifestyle such as nutrition, social activities; mentally involving activities are factors likely to reduce Alzheimer’s disease. Progression of series of Alzheimer’s disease consists of five stages expanded to seven stages by the use of a Modified Global Deterioration scale (GDS). This scale assists doctors to measure the exact level of progression of the disease in a patient and administer right medication. Stages of Alzheimer’s disease include the early stage where the individual has mild impairenent arising from this disease (Pearce, 2007). Symptoms in this stage include rapid changes in mood and behavior, forgetfulness, and lack of proper communication. This group still contains most of their capabilities and thus needs very minimal life support. Further deterioration in this stage one leads to the middle stage. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which a person has memory problems greater than those expected for his or her age. However, people with MCI do not have the personality changes or cognitive problems that characterize (Callone, 2007). Memory loss, difficulty in identifying people and objects are symptoms of middle stage although there may be little awareness. The late stage eventually does not allow verbal communication or one to take care of himself. This level require external support although their lives. The fourth stage, at end of life, is when one comes close to death and comfort is the main focus. Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) or Reisberg scale provides care givers with a better accurate measure of the level of deterioration stage. References: Draper B., (2004); Dealing with Dementia: A Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias. ISBN-10: 1865088536, ISBN-13: 978-1865088532, Allen Unwin. Roudier, M. , Marcie, P. , Podrabinek, N., Lamour, Y. , Payan, C. , Fermanian, J. and Boller, F. , (1991): Cognitive Functions in Alzheimer’s Disease: Interaction of Cognitive Domains. Developmental Neuropsychology. Volume: 7. Issue: 2. Kuhn, D. Verity, J., (2007): The Art of Dementia Care. ISBN-10: 140189951X, ISBN-13: 978-1401899516, Delmar Cengage Learning. Martinson, I. M. and Muwaswes, M. , (1993) ; Care giving Demands of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal Title: Journal of Community Health Nursing. Volume: 10. Issue: 4. 1993. Page Number: 225. Ramanathan, V. , (1997);Alzheimer Discourse: Some Sociolinguistic Dimensions. ISBN: 9780805823554, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Mahwah, NJ. Taylor, R.. , (2006): Alzheimer’s from the inside out. ISBN-10: 1932529233, ISBN-13: 978-1932529234, Health Professions Press. Coste, K. J. , (2004): Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease. ISBN-10: 1864710632, ISBN-13: 978-0618485178, Mariner Books. Pearce, N., (2007): Inside Alzheimer’s: How to Hear and Honor Connections with a Person who has Dementia. ISBN-10: 0978829905, ISBN-13: 978-0978829902, Forrason Press Callone, P. , (2007): A Caregiver’s Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier. ISBN-10: 1932603166, ISBN-13: 978-1932603163, Demos Medical Publishing. Mace, L. N. Rabins, V. P. , (2007);The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life, 4th Edition, ISBN-10: 0801885094,ISBN-13: 978-0801885099, John’s Hopkins University Press How to cite Neuropathology and Etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, Papers

Whats a hero free essay sample

What would you consider a hero? Spider-man? Superman? Batman? Well to me that is nothing at all what a super hero is. Not many people would look at an old lady and think she is a hero or see a normal soldier in his casual clothes and think he is one either. A hero defined in the dictionary is, a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. A hero to me is somebody that I respect an I look up to, to do the right thing and is a good role model to not only me, but others as well. A lot of people consider a soldier a hero and I would strongly agree with them. Both of my older cousins serve in the armed forces and one makes his living working in the Air Force. We will write a custom essay sample on Whats a hero or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His name is Jordan and he is a hero to me because he has risked his life five times for his country and the people of the United States. He has been serving for a total of seven years and is the most dedicated person to his Job that I have ever seen! My other cousin, Jared, would have to be the second most influential person in my ife. He is a big role model to me for many reasons. He is the nicest guy in the world. He would do anything in his power to make anyone around him have a better time or make his or her life better. He is very honest and always does the right thing. Even though his was very mischievous as a youngster he turned into a very respectful man. He also served in the armed forces. He was in the National Guard for six years and put in a lot of hard work and dedication to the country. However, he only ever ent on one tour his experienced truly changed him for the better. My last example of a hero is probably the most influential and the most important woman or even person in my life today. My grandma. She has always been there for my sister and l. My grandma is the most caring and loving woman in the world, at least to me. If there is one better I have yet to meet her. She is supporting in everything I have tried and is encouraging to anybody and everybody. She would give the shirt off of her own back to help somebody she Just meet. My grandma has been through a lot in her long life and has lived it to the fullest. She is my idol, and my biggest hero. On the contraire many people might disagree that a soldier is really a hero. They might argue who cares there are thousands of heroes if one soldier is a hero. There are tons soldiers. They may also ask is how is a grandma a hero? How could an old lady be a hero? Most elderly women dont save peoples lives or chase down criminals. That is very true and in the dictionary it also states that a hero is a man of istinguished ability. Any normal person with a little courage and a caring heart can be a hero to anybody. It is Just a matter of how people view you and your actions. I view my cousins and grandmas actions differently then anybody else does. Thats why they are my heroes. They exhibit all the qualities to be a hero to me. Even though there arent numerous movies about elderly women or soldiers being heroes there are still normal people out there who are heroes to people. Whats a hero By parrott50

Marketing (BM3021) Case Study Essay Example

Marketing (BM3021) Case Study Essay Example Marketing (BM3021) Case Study Essay Marketing (BM3021) Case Study Essay Marketing (BM3021) Case Study Laura Ashley Marketing 1. How did Laura Ashley brand position as a product, company, country and a person? The use of brands is very important in modern market systems, it is usually a name or logo which differentiates the product from competitors as well as being something consumerswill recognise and buy again (loyalty).The brand Laura Ashley has always been a central part of the companies strategy. What did people expect from Laura Ashley?: a product that was floral, traditional, feminine, quality andstood the test of time, a product with a clear identity and character. It was Lauras ability to take old (often Victorian) designs and bring them into a modern idiom that caused the initial success. This all changed during the 90s when new fabrics and styles were used, and the brand was put on a diverse range of products. The brand image set by Laura Ashley as a company was complex and appealed to many types of people.It was a business that promoted strong, genuine, traditional family values, this was an excellent promotion tool. Laura convinced herself that the business was not merely a family business, It was her family. Anne Sebba, even by the late 90s a third of all shares were still controlled by Sir Bernard Ashley himself. The fact that the company started off as a local factory selling to only a few stores in London is appealing to the more patriotic clientele.Also then, we can refer to the retailing methodology that this company used, which was not reliant upon advertising.The retailer;s brand image was created through store ambience, and an overall enjoyable shopping experience.This would reflect also upon Laura herself in terms of her personal image and branding.Perhaps the larger stores in America were less successful due to a lacking in these departments, (the high staff turnover in the late 90s ).

Second Grade Math Worksheets

Second Grade Math Worksheets The following 2nd grade math worksheets address the basic concepts taught in the second grade. Concepts addressed include: money, addition, subtractions, word problems, subtraction and telling time. You will need the Adobe reader for the following worksheets. 2nd Grade Word ProblemsAddition - 2 more than.Ten MoreHundreds Chart ActivitiesCounting by 5 WorksheetsAdding DoublesAdding 5 more than.Mixed addition.Mixed addition.Mystery boxes.Number Sentences to 20.Addition: vertically.2 Digit Adding With Regrouping3 Digit Addition - No RegroupingWord Problems.More Word Problems.Basic Subtraction FactsSubtraction Facts with Missing Blanks2 Digit Subtraction - no regroupingBeginning FractionsCounting US coins to 50 centsShow the Money AmountsCounting Canadian coins to 50 centsTelling Time WorksheetsI Have, Who Has Math Game   Second-grade worksheets have been created to emphasize understanding of the concept and should not be used in isolation to teach a concept. Each concept should be taught using math manipulatives and many concrete experiences. For instance, when teaching subtraction, use cereal, coins, jelly beans and provide many experiences with physically moving the objects and printing the number sentence (8 - 3 5). Then move to the worksheets. For word problems, students/learners should have an understanding of the computations required and then exposure to word problems are necessary to ensure they can use the computation in authentic situations.    When beginning fractions, many experiences with pizzas, fraction bars and circles should be used to ensure understanding. Fractions have two components for understanding, parts of a set (eggs, rows in gardens) and parts of the whole (pizza, chocolate bars etc.)   I have, who has, is a fun game to enhance learning.

The Connections between American Legal Thought and Other Classes Assignment

The Connections between American Legal Thought and Other Classes - Assignment Example The course also studies the historic aspect of these philosophies and theories in relation to American history. This school of thought is different from other schools of thought that have been studied in the past. However, there is a thin line separating American legal thoughts and other school of thoughts taught in American law curriculum such as American legal theory. This essay will therefore investigate the relationship between American legal thought and American legal theory as the main courses taught in American law schools. American legal thought is built on issues that are of interest to the Americans. This includes social issues like legalization of gay marriages and economical issues such as American current position in international business. On the other hand, past schools of thought are established on formalist law sciences, American legal realism and social jurisprudence. The two schools of thoughts are essential to a law student. However, their significance or benefits can only be achieved if there is a close relationship between the two schools of thoughts. Unlike other schools of thought, American legal though deals or focus on legal theories and philosophy from an American perspective. Other schools of thought are established on universal laws or laws that are common worldwide such as criminal justice. American legal theory focuses on majority theories that are used to create American laws. Although this course is important to a law, student it does not provide a practical application o f these theories. American school of thought links the theoretical aspects of law with reality by relating it with modern day occurrences that are of legal concern. American legal thought has significant differences with other courses taught in the law school including the American legal theory. However, both American legal theory and American legal thought revolve on the legal aspects of American history2. American history is the chronological account of occur rences in America since the end of American civil war. In this context American legal thoughts deals with the implication of key events in the American history to the modern day American society. In addition, this school of thought also considers the influence of key historical events in the formation of modern day American law. On the other hand, American legal theory focuses on how American laws have been founded on the historical aspect of the country since the end of American civil war. This includes major issues such as how American history affects modern day court decision-making process. Legal theory also considers how American history serves as a proof to legal theories. The second relationship or connection between American legal thoughts and American legal theory is their incorporation of legal realism. American legal realism is a branch of legal philosophies that that defy the conventional analysis of US jurisprudence. In the orthodox version of the US jurisprudence, law is considered as a self-sufficient structure or rules and principles that courts use to make logical judgments in both political and judicial perspectives. This implies that the two schools of thoughts are against or challenge the ordinary view of American jurisprudence. This indicates that both the American legal theory and American legal thoughts are established on day-to-day views or occurrences on the American judicial system. This includes the social, moral, political

Youth Justice Sytem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Youth Justice Sytem - Essay Example Surely the aberrant youths cannot be prosecuted the same way as adults as there is a different degree of criminality. The young criminal is always considered as a troubled youth whose parents, the church, the state and its institutions must partake of the blame. He is deemed as a victim of circumstances, of the weakening and destruction of the family and the family values, of fads such as drug use, cults, gangs and even heavy metal music as well as a product of violence in the newspapers, TV and the cinema. On the other hand, youth crimes cannot just be handled with kid gloves or reacted to by a mere slap of the wrist as these are potent symptoms of the debilitation of the moral fabric of society and thus, the weakening of the bonds that hold tight the dam that preserves society. Surely, if youthful criminals are detained for a while and released prematurely to society, they will be back to wreak more and deadlier havoc. At first, most societies dealt with youth crime control by subscribing to the environmental theory of crime which believes that youthful crimes are caused by external and environmental factors that are mostly beyond the control of the youthful offender. When this proved to be a failure, most societies shifted to the classical theory of crime which holds that the individual's crime is a result of his exercise of his free will and thus he must be deterred from commission 2 of crimes by severe punishment (Olivo et al 52). Today, UK has decided to meet halfway and has come up with a legislation called Youth Criminal Justice Act 2003, which holds that the youthful offender must be punished but he must undergo rehabilitation, pre-emptive intervention, education and a host of other services like the concept of restorative justice offered by the Youth Justice System (Stephenson xvii). The above was triggered by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of which UK is a signatory. In 1990, UK has agreed to accede to the UN provision respecting "special protection measures covering the rights of children in the juvenile justice system" and the provision granting to each child offender the right to "family environment and family care" as well as the "right not to be subjected to torture" (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The UN Riyadh Guidelines 1990 also provided for early intervention which is a shared responsibility between state and the parents. Concomitant to the provisions of the Youth Justice System was the establishment of Youth Justice Board (YJB) by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Its role is to oversee and provide leadership for the improvement of the performance of the youth justice system (Smith 83). Its main responsibility is to prevent the commission of offenses by young persons (Ghate 1). Other responsibilities are the securing of facilities for the juvenile offenders, the development of models of restorative justice and the development of parenting programmes (Smith 86). The Act declared that its main objective is the reinforcement of the responsibilities of parents to exercise control over their offsprings.

The Causes And Effects Of Plagiarism English Language Essay

The Causes And Effects Of Plagiarism English Language Essay Plagiarism is not to do any research or quotation and cite other person`s thoughts or words as your own. It is a kind of cheating and a breach of academic ethics. However, the phenomenon of plagiarism becomes more and more common and happens every day. A shocking news by The New York Times (Christine Haughney, August 10th 2012)that Fareed Zakaria, a famous host of CNN and Editor-at-large TIME Magazine, was found to plagiarize several paragraphs from an April 23 New Yorker article on the National Rifle Association was written by Jill Lepore. Consequently, Time had suspended him for a month .CNN deleted  his  article  and  informed him of  further  warming. And then,  they  started to  investigate  his  work. There is no doubt that he would suffer from  an  abrupt  frustration. His lesson will keep alert the rising  phenomenon  of  plagiarism, especially in universities. An investigation taken by The Sydney Morning Herald (Alexander, 2006) discloses th e problem in Australia. For instance, the university of technology, Sydney recorded 362 counts of plagiarism in 2005, at the same time, the University of Wollongong recorded 134. Across eight Australian universities, it is approximated nearly 3500 students have been caught cheating or plagiarism since 2001. Another research journal in Australia was launched in 2005, the International Journal for Educational honesty, to solve the education and academic problems. According to this research plagiarism in Australia, particularly in relation to the country`s historically high number of international students(Cohen, 2007, p. A51). So, what do universitys students especially international students actually think about the concept of plagiarism and what does it mean to them? Penny cook (1996) states that he notion of ownership of text is a particularly Western concept. He indicates that plagiarism is a complex phenomenon. As a result, we have found that the reasons of plagiarism in universi ty are followed by ignorance, digital resources and personal factors. The first cause of plagiarism in university is some students` ignorance. So we can find , student are always confused whether the action is plagiarism, especially for international students. For example, Students from the areas out of the UK, may have been taught different rules and academic environments before they entered in the English academy. Matalene (1985) states that her Chinese students produced a writing assignment, she found their sources were too similar and students were surprised by her subsequent objections to what they saw as a valid writing method. Later, one of her students found this eloquent way of summing up the ensuing class discussion: In this case the students agreed that they had copied from their sources but believed that they just to borrow the language from a source and copying was appropriate. They did not want to violate academic standards or pretend that they had not copied. As a result, this phenomenon have been offered, due to different cultures bring out different attitudes for plagiarism. In addition to students` ignorance, Internet may be is another cause of plagiarism. So, internet provide so many different channels for students to get all binds of information in today`s digital age. For example. They can search whatever information they need in Wikipedia and Google, at the same time, they also can share and gain tens of thousands information in facebook and twitter. And there are incalculable number of words without the author attributed. So that is the important reason that some students even don`t realize they were plagiarizing. Figures obtained from an investigation by Journal of Second Language Writing (Yongyan li,2012,P165-180) reveal that the students` understanding of plagiarism and take an interview with a girl, for example, Her teacher found that approximately 25% of her essay overlapped. According to this interview, we can found that this student never intends to plagiarize by using internet, but always did not know how to dealing with it. Well, that is true. Sometimes, when we looking for some resources on internet, it is too difficult to make a choice because of there are too many information online. The last cause of plagiarism may be some personal factors which are attitude and procrastination. Specifically, may be most students will good faith effort to write their essays, there will always be some people just do not want to work hard. Steve Schriener, an English teacher in Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, who gave his students a poetry assignment:According to Schriener s experience, and there is a find that some students did not think their actions will be caught or bothered about the consequences of plagiarism. Meanwhile, procrastination may be one of the personal factors, especially for international students. When foreign students go to a country for studying, they will have many problems that they need to deal with. Such as the language barrier like not fully comprehending the assignment, adapt to new manners and customs. Sometimes they may have a little time to do their essays. So, some of them were forced to copy. Because of those causes, there are some serious issues of integrity, learning and relationships happened in college student. College-level plagiarism will product so many irreparable effects such as students betray trust with their fellow friends and professors. The serious punishment include expulsion from school, and when they plagiarize, they lost their original intention of studying. First of all, plagiarism is a disrespect of others, especially for teachers and classmates. For instance, Plagiarism taints teachers and students, creating a climate of suspicion. Specifically, teacher and student need to means teacher s want to rely on their students honesty. Students have to be able to trust each other. When you steal the job from other writers, you lost your credit. And maybe no longer can your teachers believe that is your own works. Also, plagiarizing teachers and the job of the independent whose work is a kind of plagiarized action. If you didnt care about the honesty of other peoples work, maybe later you would have to care about the relationship with people as well. For the classmates, if they help you before, they would think of you as a thief full of unfair, if students know that you are cheating and getting away with it, they may cheat Secondly, plagiarized is a disrespect action for yourself, especially for your leaning and motivation. When a student plagiarizes someone elses job, it means he lost a very important opportunity to improve his writing skills and the ability of thinking, as well as he waste the time and life. plagiarized work means that you spent so many time and did an insignificant job. In other words, the reason why teacher want you to writing an essay, is to expand upon what you have learned in lectures and carefully develop writing assignments. To make sure that students can articulate the knowledge they have learned by a clear way. On the campus when plagiarism is discovered, unofficial drawbacks can have serious effects. To sum up, there is no doubt that plagiarism is a kind of abominable action for yourself, your teachers and the school, even it produces a bad influence for the society. So we have to think about some serious questions that why we studying and what is the most important thing during our studying process. The answers are genuine understanding and you must make all of knowledge become your own mind. It is not just replaying something you have heard and looked. Writing is a kind of form to show your own mind to readers, and you have to achieve that the readers can distinguish what is yours and what is someone elses at a glance. At the same time, it is the very important and effective way to test whether you understand a topic authentically. However, plagiarism makes your learning become insignificance. You need to learn how to write a paper that can show your mind completely and equips your own styles, maybe sometimes you found an essay that has the same ideas as yours, it is clear and easy to understanding, so you may be influenced by it, then you would write the similar one, but it not means you have learned it, it just learns how to cut and paste. And we should think about another question that why you should believe me if without the reference. We always use so many references in our essay when we want to show our minds clearer and equip more persuasion, that is good but we have to recall what the most in our paper is, references or our own words. If just someone elses sentence, even they are from some famous people. It is true that your essay is very authoritativeness but it is a kind of plagiarism even so you are unintentional to do that. So in my opinion, plagiarism is not inevitable. In view of the above-mentioned causes in raising the output, I have written three reasons why plagiarism happens, if it happens just because there is no ability to accomplish it, we can find a solution for example the teachers can decrease the requirement and extend the time you make it temporary. It is not a way to relax just because of our only objective is we can learn and understand all of them authentically. And the second reason is internet, there is no doubt the internet can provide so many information for us, the great and the bad. I think if students can search the essay that has the same idea as them, they would copy them unhesitatingly because everybody can write the same words. So we can change the education environment like letting the students had the imagination and ability of creation when they were children, and how to pick the useful information up in the internet and become the own words not just cut and paste. The la st one is changing your attitude of learning, just thinking about plagiarism is from someone elses but not your own, it is an action to waste life.

Frostbite Chapter 14

FOURTEEN TWO GUYS I'D NEVER MET before were squaring off against each other. They looked to be in their twenties, and neither noticed me. The one who'd bumped into me shoved the other one hard, forcing him to stagger back considerably. â€Å"You're afraid!† yelled the guy by me. He had on green swimming trunks, and his black hair was slicked back with water. â€Å"You're all afraid. You just want to hole up in your mansions and let the guardians do your dirty work. What are you going to do when they're all dead? Who'll protect you then?† The other guy wiped the blood off his face with the back of his hand. I suddenly recognized him- thanks to his blond highlights. He was the royal who'd yelled at Tasha about wanting to lead Moroi to battle. She'd called him Andrew. He tried to land a hit and failed; his technique was all wrong. â€Å"This is the safest way. Listen to that Strigoi-lover, and we'll all be dead. She's trying to kill our whole race off!† â€Å"She's trying to save us!† â€Å"She's trying to get us to use black magic!† The â€Å"Strigoi-lover† had to be Tasha. The non-royal guy was the first person outside of my little circle whom I'd ever heard speak in her favor. I wondered how many others out there shared his view. He punched Andrew again, and my base instincts- or maybe the punch- made me leap into action. I sprang forward and wedged myself between them. I was still dizzy and a bit unsteady. If they hadn't been standing so close, I probably would have fallen over. They both hesitated, clearly caught off guard. â€Å"Get out of here,† snapped Andrew. Being male and Moroi, they had greater height and weight than I, but I was probably stronger than either one alone. Hoping I could make the most of that, I grabbed each of them by the arm, pulled them toward me, and then shoved them away as hard as I could. They staggered, not having expected my strength. I staggered a little too. The non-royal glared and took a step toward me. I was counting on the fact that he'd be old-fashioned and not hit a girl. â€Å"What are you doing?† he exclaimed. Several people had gathered and were watching excitedly. I returned his glare. â€Å"I'm trying to stop you guys from being any more idiotic than you already are! You want to help? Stop fighting each other! Ripping each other's heads off isn't going to save the Moroi unless you're trying to thin stupidity out of the gene pool.† I pointed at Andrew. â€Å"Tasha Ozera is not trying to kill everyone off. She's trying to get you to stop being a victim.† I turned to the other guy. â€Å"And as for you, you've got a long ways to go if you think this is the way to get your point across. Magic- especially offensive magic- takes a lot of self-control, and so far, you aren't impressing me with yours. I have more than you do, and if you knew me at all, you'd know how crazy that is.† The two guys stared at me, stunned. I was apparently more effective than a taser. Well, at least for several seconds I was. Because once the shock of my words wore off, they went at each other again. I got caught in the crossfire and shoved away, nearly falling in the process. Suddenly, from behind me, Mason came to my defense. He punched the first guy he could- the non-royal. The guy flew backward, falling into one of the pools with a splash. I yelped, remembering my earlier fear about skull-cracking, but a moment later, he found his feet and rubbed water out of his eyes. I grabbed Mason's arm, trying to hold him back, but he shrugged me off and went after Andrew. He shoved Andrew hard, pushing him into several Moroi- andrew's friends, I suspected- who seemed to be trying to break up the fight. The guy in the pool climbed out, fury written all over his face, and made moves toward Andrew. This time, both Mason and I blocked his way. He glared at all of us. â€Å"Don't,† I warned him. The guy clenched his fists and looked as though he might try to take us on. But we were intimidating, and he didn't appear to have an entourage of friends here like Andrew- who was shouting obscenities and being led away- did. With a few muttered threats, the non-royal backed off. As soon as he was gone, I turned on Mason. â€Å"Are you out of your mind?† â€Å"Huh?† he asked. â€Å"Jumping into the middle of that!† â€Å"You jumped in too,† he said. I started to argue, then realized he was right. â€Å"It's different,† I grumbled. He leaned forward. â€Å"Are you drunk?† â€Å"No. Of course not. I'm just trying to keep you from doing something stupid. Just because you have delusions of being able to kill a Strigoi doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else.† â€Å"Delusions?† he asked stiffly. I started to feel kind of nauseous just then. My head spinning, I continued toward the side room, hoping I didn't stumble. But when I reached it, I saw that it wasn't some kind of dessert or drink room after all. Well, at least not in the way I'd been thinking. It was a feeder room. Several humans reclined on satin-covered chaise lounges with Moroi by their sides. Jasmine incense burned in the air. Stunned, I watched with an eerie fascination as a blond Moroi guy leaned forward and bit into the neck of a very pretty redhead. All of these feeders were exceptionally good-looking, I realized just then. Like actresses or models. Only the best for royalty. The guy drank long and deep, and the girl closed her eyes and parted her lips, an expression of pure bliss on her face as Moroi endorphins flooded into her bloodstream. I shivered, taken back to when I too had experienced that same kind of euphoria. In my alcohol-hazed mind, the whole thing suddenly seemed startlingly erotic. In fact, I almost felt intrusive- like I was watching people have sex. When the Moroi finished and licked the last of the blood away, he brushed his lips against her cheek in a soft kiss. â€Å"Want to volunteer?† Light fingertips brushed my neck, and I jumped. I turned around and saw Adrian's green eyes and knowing smirk. â€Å"Don't do that,† I told him, knocking his hand away. â€Å"Then what are you doing in here?† he asked. I gestured around me. â€Å"I'm lost.† He peered at me. â€Å"Are you drunk?† â€Å"No. Of course not†¦but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The nausea had settled a little, but I still didn't feel right. â€Å"I think I should sit down.† He took my arm. â€Å"Well, don't do it in here. Someone might get the wrong idea. Let's go somewhere quiet.† He steered me off into a different room, and I looked around with interest. It was a massage area. Several Moroi lay back on tables and were getting back and foot massages from hotel staff. The oil they used smelled like rosemary and lavender. Under any other circumstances, a massage would have sounded great, but lying on my stomach seemed like the worst idea just now. I sat down on the carpeted floor, leaning back against the wall. Adrian walked away and returned with a glass of water. Sitting down as well, he handed it to me. â€Å"Drink this. It'll help.† â€Å"I told you, I'm not drunk,† I mumbled. But I downed the water anyway. â€Å"Uh-huh.† He smiled at me. â€Å"You did nice work with that fight. Who was the other guy that helped you?† â€Å"My boyfriend,† I said. â€Å"Sort of.† â€Å"Mia was right. You do have a lot of guys in your life.† â€Å"It's not like that.† â€Å"Okay.† He was still smiling. â€Å"Where's Vasilisa? I figured she'd be attached to you.† â€Å"She's with her boyfriend.† I studied him. â€Å"What's with the tone? Jealous? You want him for yourself?† â€Å"God, no. I just don't like him.† â€Å"Does he treat her badly?† he asked. â€Å"No,† I admitted. â€Å"He adores her. He's just kind of a jerk.† Adrian was clearly enjoying this. â€Å"Ah, you are jealous. Does she spend more time with him than you?† I ignored that. â€Å"Why do you keep asking about her? Are you interested in her?† He laughed. â€Å"Rest easy, I'm not interested in her in the same way I am you.† â€Å"But you are interested.† â€Å"I just want to talk to her.† He left to fetch me more water. â€Å"Feeling better?† he asked, handing the glass to me. It was crystal and intricately carved. It seemed too fancy for plain water. â€Å"Yeah †¦ I didn't think those drinks were that strong.† â€Å"That's the beauty of them,† he chuckled. â€Å"And speaking of beauty †¦ that's a great color on you.† I shifted. I might not have been showing as much skin as those other girls, but I was showing more than I really wanted to with Adrian. Or was I? There was something weird about him. His arrogant manner annoyed me†¦but I still liked being around him. Maybe the smartass in me recognized a kindred spirit. Somewhere in the back of my drunken mind, a light clicked on. But I couldn't quite get to it. I drank more water. â€Å"You haven't had a cigarette in, like, ten minutes,† I pointed out, wanting to change the subject. He made a face. â€Å"No smoking in here.† â€Å"I'm sure you've made up for it in punch.† His smile returned. â€Å"Well, some of us can hold our liquor. You aren't going to be sick, are you?† I still felt tipsy but no longer nauseous. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Good.† I thought back to when I'd dreamed about him. It had been just a dream, but it had stuck with me, particularly the talk about me being surrounded in darkness. I wanted to ask him about it†¦ even though I knew it was stupid. It had been my dream, not his. â€Å"Adrian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned his green eyes on me. â€Å"Yes, darling?† I couldn't bring myself to ask. â€Å"Never mind.† He started to retort, then tilted his head toward the door. â€Å"Ah, here she comes.† â€Å"Who- â€Å" Lissa stepped into the room, eyes scanning around. When she spotted us, I saw relief break over her. I couldn't feel it, though. Intoxicants like alcohol numbed the bond. It was another reason I shouldn't have taken such a stupid chance tonight. â€Å"There you are,† she said, kneeling beside me. Glancing at Adrian, she gave him a nod. â€Å"Hey.† â€Å"Hey yourself, cousin,† he returned, using the family terms royals sometimes used around each other. â€Å"You okay?† Lissa asked me. â€Å"When I saw how drunk you were, I thought you might have fallen in somewhere and drowned.† â€Å"I'm not- † I gave up trying to deny it. â€Å"I'm fine.† Adrian's usual expression had turned serious as he studied Lissa. It again reminded me of the dream. â€Å"How'd you find her?† Lissa gave him a puzzled look. â€Å"I, um, checked all the rooms.† â€Å"Oh.† He looked disappointed. â€Å"I thought you might have used your bond.† Both she and I stared. â€Å"How do you know about that?† I demanded. Only a few people at school knew about it. Adrian had spoken about it as casually as he might have my hair color. â€Å"Hey, I can't reveal all my secrets, can I?† he asked mysteriously. â€Å"And besides, there's a certain way you two act around each other †¦ it's hard to explain. It's pretty cool†¦ all the old myths are true.† Lissa regarded him warily. â€Å"The bond only works one way. Rose can sense what I'm feeling and thinking, but I can't do it back to her.† â€Å"Ah.† We sat in silence a few moments, and I drank more water. Adrian spoke again. â€Å"What'd you specialize in anyway, cousin?† She looked embarrassed. We both knew it was important to keep her spirit powers secret from others who might abuse her healing, but her cover story of not having specialized always bothered her. â€Å"I haven't,† she said. â€Å"Do they think you're going to? Late bloomer?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"You're probably higher in the other elements, though, right? Just not strong enough to really master any?† He reached out to pat her shoulder in an exaggerated show of comfort. â€Å"Yeah, how'd you- â€Å" The instant his fingers touched her, she gasped. It was as though a bolt of lightning had struck her. The strangest look crossed her face. Even drunk, I felt the flood of joy that came pouring through the bond. She stared at Adrian in wonder. His eyes were locked onto hers too. I didn't understand why they were looking at each other like that, but it bothered me. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Stop that. I told you, she has a boyfriend.† â€Å"I know,† he said, still watching her. A small smile turned his lips. â€Å"We need to have a chat someday, cousin.† â€Å"Yes,† she agreed. â€Å"Hey.† I was more confused than ever. â€Å"You have a boyfriend. And there he is.† She blinked back to reality. All three of us turned toward the doorway. Christian and the others stood there. I suddenly had a flashback to when they'd found me with Adrian's arm around me. This wasn't much better. Lissa and I were sitting on either side of him, very close. She sprang up, looking mildly guilty. Christian was regarding her curiously. â€Å"We're getting ready to leave,† he said. â€Å"Okay,† she told him. She looked down at me. â€Å"Ready?† I nodded and started to clamber to my feet. Adrian caught my arm as I did and helped me up. He smiled at Lissa. â€Å"Nice talking to you.† To me, he murmured very quietly, â€Å"Don't worry. I told you, I'm not interested in her in that way. She doesn't look as good in a bathing suit. Probably not as good out of one either.† I pulled my arm away. â€Å"Well, you'll never find out.† â€Å"It's okay,† he said. â€Å"I have a good imagination.† I joined the others, and we headed back toward the main part of the lodge. Mason gave me as strange a look as Christian had given Lissa and stayed away from me, walking toward the front with Eddie. To my surprise and discomfort, I found myself walking beside Mia. She looked miserable. â€Å"I†¦ I'm really sorry about what happened,† I said finally. â€Å"You don't have to act like you care, Rose.† â€Å"No, no. I mean it. It's horrible†¦I'm so sorry.† She wouldn't look at me. â€Å"Is†¦that is, are you going to see your dad soon?† â€Å"Whenever they have the memorial,† she said stiffly. â€Å"Oh.† I didn't know what else to say and gave up, instead turning my attention to the stairs as we climbed back up to the lodge's main level. Unexpectedly, Mia was the one who continued the conversation. â€Å"I watched you break up that fight †¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said slowly. â€Å"You mentioned offensive magic. Like you knew about it.† Oh. Great. She was going to make a play at blackmail†¦or was she? At the moment, she seemed almost civil. â€Å"I was just guessing,† I said. No way was I going to bust Tasha and Christian. â€Å"I don't really know that much. Just stories I've heard.† â€Å"Oh.† Her face fell. â€Å"What kind of stories?† â€Å"Um, well†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I tried to think of something neither too vague nor too specific. â€Å"Like I told those guys†¦the concentration thing is big. Because if you're in a battle with Strigoi, all sorts of things can distract you. So you've got to keep control.† That was actually a basic guardian rule, but it must have been new to Mia. Her eyes widened with eagerness. â€Å"What else? What kind of spells do people use?† I shook my head. â€Å"I don't know. I don't really even know how spells work, and like I said, these are just†¦stories I've heard. My guess is you just find ways to use your element as a weapon. Like †¦ fire users really have an advantage because fire'll kill Strigoi, so it's easy for them. And air users can suffocate people.† I'd actually experienced that last one vicariously through Lissa. It had been horrible. Mia's eyes grew wider still. â€Å"What about a water user?† she asked. â€Å"How could water hurt a Strigoi?† I paused. â€Å"I, uh, never heard any stories about water users. Sorry.† â€Å"Do you have any ideas, though? Ways that, like, someone like me could learn to fight?† Ah. So that's what this was about. It actually wasn't all that crazy. I remembered how excited she'd looked at the meeting when Tasha had talked about attacking Strigoi. Mia wanted to take revenge on the Strigoi for her mother's death. No wonder she and Mason had been getting along so well. â€Å"Mia,† I said gently, catching hold of the door to let her pass. We were almost at the lobby now. â€Å"I know how you must want to †¦ do something. But I think you're better off just sort of letting yourself, um, grieve.† She reddened, and suddenly, I was seeing the normal and angry Mia. â€Å"Don't talk down to me,† she said. â€Å"Hey, I'm not. I'm serious. I'm just saying you shouldn't do anything rash while you're still upset. Besides †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I bit off my words. She narrowed her eyes. â€Å"What?† Screw it. She needed to know. â€Å"Well, I don't really know what good a water user would be against a Strigoi. It's probably the least useful element to use on one of them.† Outrage filled her features. â€Å"You're a real bitch, you know that?† â€Å"I'm just telling you the truth.† â€Å"Well, let me tell you the truth. You're a total idiot when it comes to guys.† I thought about Dimitri. She wasn't entirely off base. â€Å"Mason's great,† she continued. â€Å"One of the nicest guys I know- and you don't even notice! He'd do anything for you, and you were off throwing yourself at Adrian Ivashkov.† Her words surprised me. Could Mia have a crush on Mason? And while I certainly hadn't been throwing myself at Adrian, I could see how it might have looked that way. And even if it weren't true, that wouldn't have stopped Mason from feeling hurt and betrayed. â€Å"You're right,† I said. Mia stared at me, so astonished I'd agreed with her that she didn't say anything else for the rest of the walk. We reached the part of the lodge that split off into different wings for guys and girls. I grabbed a hold of Mason's arm as the others walked off. â€Å"Hang on,† I told him. I badly needed to reassure him about Adrian, but a tiny part of me wondered if I was doing it because I actually wanted Mason or because I just liked the idea of him wanting me and selfishly didn't want to lose that. He stopped and looked at me. His face was wary. â€Å"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you after the fight- I know you were just trying to help. And with Adrian†¦nothing happened. I mean it.† â€Å"It didn't look that way,† Mason said. But the anger on his face had faded. â€Å"I know, but believe me, it's all him. He's got some kind of stupid crush on me.† My tone must have been convincing because Mason smiled. â€Å"Well. Hard not to.† â€Å"I'm not interested in him,† I continued. â€Å"Or anyone else.† It was a small lie, but I didn't think it mattered just then. I was going to be over Dimitri soon, and Mia had been right about Mason. He was wonderful and sweet and cute. I would be an idiot not to pursue this †¦ right? My hand was still on his arm, and I pulled him toward me. He didn't need much more of a signal. He leaned down and kissed me, and in the process, I found myself pressed up against the wall- very much like with Dimitri in the practice room. Of course, it felt nothing like how it had with Dimitri, but it was still nice in its way. I put my arms around Mason and started to pull him closer. â€Å"We could go †¦ somewhere,† I said. He pushed back and laughed. â€Å"Not when you're drunk.† â€Å"I'm not†¦ that†¦ drunk anymore,† I said, trying to pull him back. Giving me a small kiss on the lips, he stepped back. â€Å"Drunk enough. Look, this isn't easy, believe me. But if you still want me tomorrow- when you're sober- then we'll talk.† He leaned down and kissed me again. I tried to wrap my arms around him, but he broke away once more. â€Å"Easy there, girl,† he teased, backing toward his hallway. I glared at him, but he only laughed and turned around. As he walked away, my glare faded, and I headed back to my room with a smile on my face.

House Styles The Look of the American Home

The Value of Apple Certification

Apple certification is something not many people even know is available. One reason is that Macs are still not nearly as popular as Microsoft Windows in the corporate world. Still, it does have a specific niche in business. Creative organizations like advertising agencies and media outlets like newspapers, magazines, and video production facilities normally rely much more heavily on Macs than other businesses. In addition, a number of school districts nationwide are Mac based. And most large companies have a few Macs scattered around, especially in corporate art and video departments. That’s why it can make sense to get an Apple certification. Although not nearly as numerous as, for example, Microsoft certified individuals, Mac certified pros are valuable in the right setting. Application Certifications There are basically two certification paths for Apple: application-oriented and support/troubleshooting-oriented. Apple Certified Pros have expertise in particular programs, like the Final Cut Studio video editing suite or DVD Studio Pro for DVD authoring. For certain applications, like Logic Studio and Final Cut Studio, there are several levels of training, including the Master Pro and Master Trainer credentials. These can be handy to have if you’re self-employed and do contract video editing work, for example. If teaching is your thing, consider becoming an Apple Certified Trainer. The chief benefit of a certification like this would be for instructors and trainers working with students learning the programs. Technology Certifications Apple also offers a number of titles for the more â€Å"geeky† folks. Those who like computer networking and digging into the guts of an operating system are targeted here. There are three Mac OS X certifications offered, including: Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP). This is an entry-level credential for support personnel, equivalent to the MCP. It covers the Mac OS X client, but not Mac OS X server.Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC). The next level adds Mac OS X server support and is geared toward entry-level system administrators working on smaller networks.Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA). This is for high-end Mac system administrators, working in complex and often large environments. You should have several years experience working with and administering, Mac networks before attempting this one. Apple also has credentials for hardware and storage specialists. Apple’s storage device is called Xsan and offers two titles for experts in this area: Xsan Administrator and the Apple Certiï ¬ ed Media Administrator (ACMA). The ACMA is more technical than Xsan Administrator, involving storage architecture and networking duties. On the hardware side, consider becoming an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) Certification. ACMTs spend a lot of their time pulling apart and putting back together desktop machines, laptops, and servers. It’s the Apple version of the A credential from CompTIA. Worth the Money? So, given the range of Apple certifications available, the question is whether they’re worth spending the time and money to achieve since there are far fewer Macs in business use than PCs? One blog by an Apple fan asked that question and got some interesting answers. â€Å"The certifications are very useful and are valid industry recognised accreditation. Im pretty sure that a having Apple accreditation on my CV helped me get my current job,† said one Apple Certified Pro. Another compared the Apple certifications and Microsoft: â€Å"As for Apple vs Microsoft... MCSEs are a dime a dozen. Any Apple Cert is rare and if you have both (like I do) it is very marketable and valuable to clients. Scarcity is key to being valuable and my business in the past 18 months has exploded due to Apple and our requirement for dual certs.† One multiple-certification Mac expert had this to say: â€Å"The certifications definitely help, when it comes to showing prospective clients (and even future employers) that you know Macs.† Additionally, this article from Certification Magazine discusses how one college is starting to turn out Apple-certified students who are finding work, in part thanks to the credential. Judging from those responses, it’s safe to say that Apple certification is quite valuable in the proper situation.