Argumentative Essay Topics for Philosophy - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesnt

Argumentative Essay Topics for Philosophy - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesn't Facts, Fiction and Argumentative Essay Topics for Philosophy Today, essays are frequently used by various well-known campuses to appraise prospective students as a foundation for assessing whether students have the ability to qualify to get educated with certain standards. The role of assigning an essay to middle school students is to make awareness and permit them to develop writing skills. Yet another thing a student may need is the way to produce a philosophy paper example. Another reason is to observe how well students argue on unique views and demonstrate understanding of the studied subject. It might be possible to shift the attitudes of young folks, particularly. Even if you're a specialist in a particular field, don't be afraid to use and cite external sources. Among the most prevalent issues in our world today is the matter of deforestation. You can find with a topic which examines the function of ethics in our society because it is today. You may continue to keep your argumentative essays for your upcoming job portfolio in case they're highly graded. If you haven't done the research, you can't do the outline properly. Although there are a few tips on the drafting process. Most commonly employed as they begin exactly the same standard guide on paper. Life is far better than it was 50 decades ago. Choice of the essay topic is important portion of your efforts to compose a fantastic essay. You might be among the individuals who just don't have persistence for composing articles. Recent argumentative essay topics that are related to society is going to do. Write down the definitions that are explicit. You don't need to struggle with jargon and content that you don't understand. Ruthless Argumentative Essay Topics for Philosophy Strategies Exploited Essays have a high status in the academic world. Abortion is murder and must be illegal in america of America. You have to make sure you remain on that 1 side during your whole essay. Philosophy essay writing service gives a vital input to students since they make an effort to compose their papers by offering essential methods for philosophy essay writing. The introduction should offer general information which will be included in the report. It lays the groundwork for the rest of the paper. The introduction as the foremost area of the essay ought to be concise and right to the point. An outline appears like the majority of the research project outlines. You will have to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and data also. To be able to create a brilliant essay, it's essential to pick a topic that interests you so that you are inclined and prepared to plunge in the research. It is essential to pick a great topic so as to compose a wonderful paper. There are lots of aspects about a sport that may be argued in an essay. The writer can pick from several referencing styles to use e.g.. On our site, you can locate many suggestions for themes for an argumentative essay. If you're feeling unsure at any time, you should go for inexpensive essay writing services readily available online instead of risking for any error. Generally speaking there are two sorts of philosophy topics. This essay topics will talk about the philosophical aspects of several diverse religions, along with topics that compare the similarities between the philosophies of distinct religions. The above-mentioned topics ought to help you discover the theme that you're interested in, that is quite related to your training course. Once you have decided on a topic from our philosophy paper topics list, you have to realize which idea that you want to convey to your future readers.

Developing Technologies For Fossil Fuel - 1100 Words

ESL Course: Bioenergy from microalgae Introduction: The past two decades biofuels hold much promise in alleviating climate change, greenhouse effect and in finite amount. Their combustion produces gaseous products: carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) that increase the amount of solar heat trapped within the planet× ³s atmosphere (T.R. Karl, 2003). It has also been predicted that the oil reserves may run out by 2050 (Harun et al., 2010). First generation bioethanol seemed to be alternative for fossil fuel. However, production of bioethanol from food crops leads to impact on food supplies, as well as rainforest and arable land. It leads to increased deforestation and food vs fuel debate (Cassman and Liska, 2007 and Fargione et al.,†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, the cultivation of lignocellulosic biomass may occupy the arable land, which is required for the production of edible crops. On the other hand, bioethanol produced from microalgae considered as third and fourth generation feedstock which is less resista nt to conversion from plant biomass into simple sugars. Some microalgae have high carbohydrates contents in their cell wall and there is no lignin and hemicelluloses content, in their cytoplasm with starch as the main carbohydrates source (Rosenberg et al., 2008 and Subhadra and Edwards, 2010). Consequently, the conversion of carbohydrates contained in seaweeds into ethanol does not require delignification. Moreover, the cultivation of seaweeds does not invade arable land and potable water (Mitsunori Yanagisawa). Based on these characteristics, seaweeds have been proposed as some of the most promising raw materials for efficient bioethanol production that would not compete with food. Carbohydrate composition in microalgae: Starch: Starch acts as an energy reserve in mostly green algae and some other groups of algae. Starches contains ÃŽ ±-glucans and are constituted of two molecules: amylose,and amylopectin (Stick and Williams, 2009). Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, and Dinophyta, contains starch as their main energy resource and its composition varies with the division. Chlorophyta composed of amylopectin and amylose and based on amylose content Cryptophyta is

Litigation Costs And Access To Tax Justice â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Litigation Costs And Access To Tax Justice? Answer: Introducation The contemporary case study is based on the ascertainment of whether the sale of land would be considered as the mere realisation of the land or whether the sale of land will be accounted as the isolated transaction[1]. From the current situation, it is observed that Mr Phillips had twelve hectares of land which he intended to sale in the current tax year. According to the Taxation Ruling of TR 92/3 profits that is generated from the sale of the isolated transactions would be considered as the isolated transactions and therefore they would be considered as the taxable proceeds under Subsection 25 (1) of the ITAA 1936. The term isolated transactions can be defined as the isolated transactions if those transactions are not inside the normal course of trade of the taxpayers performing on of a trade. It also comprises of the transactions that are entered by the taxpayers. Citing the reference of FC of T v The Myer Emporium Ltd (1987) the federal court passed its decision by stating that the amount that is concerned in the subject constituted a income from the transaction that though not inside the normal course of business of the taxpayers[2]. However, the taxpayer entered into the transactions with the with objective of deriving profit and was in the business course of the taxpayer. As evident from the present study of Mr Phillips an assertion can be bought forward that the sale of land has resulted in profit, which is although not in the ordinary course of the business, but was also entered in with the objective of deriving profit. Whether the profit from the isolated transaction can be considered as the income in terms of the normal concepts and the use of humanity is largely dependent on the situations of this case[3]. However, it can be defined that the profit from the isolated transactions is usually regarded as the income since the elements of the isolated transactions were present in the case of Mr Phillips since the intention or the purpose of the taxpayers was to gain profit. An important consideration to the present case is that the applicable purpose or the objective of the taxpayer is not considered as the individual purpose of the taxpayer. Instead it is intention of the taxpayer or the objective that is determined from the objective that is under considerations of the evidences and conditions of the case. In the present case of Mr Phillip, it is not compulsory that the ultimate objective or the drive of the profit making to be the solitary or leading purpose for going into the transaction. It is adequate if the income generation forms the significant objective of the transaction. As evident from the Taxation Rulings of TR 92/3 it is not obligatory that the profit that is derived as a means of specifically contemplated when the taxpayer entered into the transactions[4]. In the present case of Mr Phillips it can be stated that that the deal was formed with the objective of deriving profit in the most advantageous manner. The views that has been expressed in the case of FC of T v Whitefords Beach Pty Ltd (1982) and FC of T v. The Myer Emporium Ltd (1987) that the profits from the isolated transactions can be considered as taxable proceeds and should be observed at in relation of the evidences that is defined in the case of Mr Phillips[5]. The selling of land by Mr Phillips and deriving profit from the transactions can be considered as the mere realisation of the transaction since it contained the purpose of the profit making objectives. An important considerations of the federal court has been stated in FC of T v. The Myer Emporium Ltd (1987) contained that the decision of selling an asset is undertaken afterward its acquirement with no kind of purpose at the time of the management then the profit from the sale would be treated as capital and its proceeds would be treated as mere realisation. Considering the decision of the FC of T v. The Myer Emporium Ltd (1987) in the present case of Mr Phillips it can be stated that the profit from the meagre realisation of the investment is not considered as the revenue even though the taxpayer goes about the realisation in an resourceful manner[6]. The transaction entered into by Mr Phillips does not satisfies the element paragraph 35 of the Taxation Ruling of TR 92/3 and it can be considered as the mere realisation of the property. Computation of Capital Gains Profit and Loss Computations of Net Capital Gains for Mr Phillips For the year ended 2017 Description Law Amount ($) Amount ($) Sale price Section 26 (A) ITAA 1936 $4,000,000 Less: Cost of selling $0 Adjusted sale price $4,000,000 Purchase price $500,000 Add: Cost of purchase and ownership $13,000 Adjusted purchase price of asset $513,000 Capital gain/(loss) Section 26 (A) ITAA 1936 $ 34,87,000.00 CGT Old Regime Indexed capital gain/loss $3,487,000 Tax payable under old regime (marginal tax rate x indexation factor x capital gain) $1,678,575 CGT New Regime Tax payable under new regime (marginal tax rate x half capital gain) $832,978 Assumptions: It has been assumed that sales proceeds would be considered assessable under Section 26 (A) of the ITAA 1936[7]. Capital gains that is derived under Section 26 (a) of the ITAA 1936 would be treated as the mere realisation of the asset[8]. According to the Australian Taxation Office an individual making a subdivision of land and the income from the selling of subdivided land or ordinary income depends on the circumstances[9]. If a person subdivides the block of land such that the land on which a person resides and undertakes the decision of selling the newly created block of land, any profit is particularly treated as the capital gain that is subjected to capital gains tax. An important consideration in respect of capital gains has provided by the Australian Taxation Office. The considerations contain that subdividing the land does not itself result in Capital gains tax if the person retains the ownership of the subdivided blocks of land. This represents that an individual does not marketing capital gains or capital loss at the time of subdivision[10]. An individual only makes capital gains when they sell the subdivided block of land. From the current case study, it is found that Mr Phillips subdivided the land for the purpose of sale and selling of subdivided block of land would be considered as the capital gains for the profit derived. As held in the case of Scottish Australia Mining Co Ltd v. F C of T (1950) a capital gains or capital loss might occur if the CGT event takes place. Section 108-5 (1) of the ITAA 1997 it provides descriptions that CGT asset as any form of kind property or legal or equal right which is not a property[11]. Land is regarded as the CGT asset and the sale of the asset is regarded as the CGT. From the current case study of Mr Phillips it can be stated that the taxpayer has realised a considerable amount of profit from the sale of the subdivided block of allotments. Additionally, it can be stated that Mr Phillips will be considered for assessment for the profits derived under Section 26 (a) of the ITAA 1936. On assuming that sales originated from the mere realisation of the asset then the profits derived by Mr Phillips would be considered for assessment under Section 25 (1) of the ITAA 1936 in the form of income from performing or executing the profit making scheme[12]. Reference List: Barkoczy, Stephen. "Foundations of Taxation Law 2016."OUP Catalogue(2016). Blakelock, Sarah, and Peter King. "Taxation law: The advance of ATO data matching."Proctor, The37.6 (2017): 18. Davison, Mark, Ann Monotti, and Leanne Wiseman.Australian intellectual property law. Cambridge University Press, 2015. Fleurbaey, Marc, and Franois Maniquet. operations taxation theory and principles of fairness. No. 2015005. Universit catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE), 2015. James, Kieran. "The Australian Taxation Office perspective on work-related travel expense deductions for academics."International Journal of Critical Accounting8.5-6 (2016): 345-362. Lang, Michael.Introduction to the law of double taxation conventions. Linde Verlag GmbH, 2014. Miller, Angharad, and Lynne Oats.Principles of international taxation. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. Pope, Thomas R., Timothy J. Rupert, and Kenneth E. Anderson.Pearson's Federal Taxation 2017 Comprehensive. Pearson, 2016. ROBIN, H.AUSTRALIAN TAXATION LAW 2017. OXFORD University Press, 2017. Snape, John, and Jeremy De Souza.Environmental taxation law: policy, contexts and practice. Routledge, 2016. Tran-Nam, Binh, and Michael Walpole. "Tax disputes, litigation costs and access to tax justice."eJournal of Tax Research14.2 (2016): 319. Woellner, R. H., et al.Australian Taxation Law Select: Legislation and management 2016. Oxford University Press, 2016.

Oskar Essays - Rescue Of Jews In The Holocaust, Amon Gth

Oskar Schindler A Saint in Disguise? A deadly shot bellows through the air. People jump back in surprise. A young girl lays in a soft red puddle of blood, her shining Star of David glistening in the once delightful sun. Many glance, but most just pass on by. But one stares in astonishment. In anger. In disbelief. Though a controversial man of his time, Oskar Schindler, through bribery and lies, transformed the threatened lives of hundreds of Jews. Individuals can make a difference as far as human rights are concerned. Even though the initial motives for action may be less than honorable, the end may justify the means. The story of Oskar Schindler is a shining example. A German war profiteer of slave labor, a crook, an alcoholic, and a womanizer are all terms that have been used to describe Oskar Schindler. Why then, on his fifty third birthday did the municipality of Tel Aviv dedicate a plaque in the Park of Heroes describing him as savior of over 1200 Jews? Why was he declared a Righteous person in Jerusalem and invited to plant a carob tree in the Avenue of the Righteous? The answer is simple: To more than 1200 Jewish people held as prisoners in camps during World War II, Oskar Schindler and his factories are all that stood between them and death at the hands of the Nazis. Schindler's motives, even to this day, are not completely clear. As you learn about a man full of flaws just like the rest of us, I know that you too will appreciate the fact that an ordinary man can do extraordinary things. Oskar Schindler is a hero to over 6,000 Jews currently living across the United States and Europe. Schindler is a great example of loving one's neighbor. The people who Schindler saved made his morals a part of their life, also. Schindler motivated the Jews to be the best they could possible be. Oskar was once quoted as saying, "I knew the people who worked for me. When you know people, you have to behave towards then like human beings." Also, God's love is not selective. It is to include all people. Schindler tried to save as many Jews as he possibly could. Although he could not nearly save all, his attitudes and opinions stayed the same with every person. He wanted to help them, to feed them, to save them. Schindler performed faith with love-in-action. Instead of publicly speaking about the unfair treatment of Jews, he took many steps further. He opened up the factory, employed several hundred Jews, and put his beliefs into action. He believed that the truth will make one free, and that was the exact outcome of the war - the Jews kept their religion and pride throughout the years, and in the end, they came out successful. Oskar's father and mother, Hans and Louisa Schindler, were deeply religious. This resulted in a strong Catholic household for Schindler. The Schindler family was one of the richest and most prominent in Zwitlau and elsewhere. Schindler himself was a very tall and handsome man. Needless to say, he was adored by all the young women. His fancy, though, fell for a beautiful young girl named Emily. After only six weeks of courtship, they were married. Sadly, after only a few months of marriage, Schindler began to heavily abuse alcohol. He also had several affairs resulting in two children out of wedlock. In 1929, during the Great Depression, the Schindler family business went bankrupt. At this time, Schindler's father left his mother, and she died soon after. The picture being painted of Schindler is not exactly one of high class and morals. Indeed, Schindler was an alcoholic and a womanizer. This leads many to think, how can this man be considered a saint? What would possess him, with all of his power and money, to risk his own life to save the lives of thousands of people he has never met? How did he do it? It was no easy task. In all of this the question still remains, why? Why did he do it? The answer is that there is no answer. Schindler would never comment on what he did. He never truly gave an answer as to why he did what he did. Ludwik Feigenbaum gave the best description of Schindler that made sense of his actions. "I don't know what his motives were, even though I knew him very well. I asked him and I never got a clear answer

Shadowlands †The Story Behind One of the Greatest Christian Authors †English Essay

Shadowlands – The Story Behind One of the Greatest Christian Authors – English Essay Free Online Research Papers Shadowlands The Story Behind One of the Greatest Christian Authors English Essay Shadowlands. – C. S. Lewis, the celebrated Oxford professor, fervent Christian and childrens author, meets Gresham, American divorcee, poetess and mother. She comes to England as a fan, seeking out the admired author. He is intrigued by the bright and impetuous American. They become friends and they have a marriage of convenience to satisfy some immigration difficulties for her but then she becomes ill with cancer and Lewis, realizing his love for her, marries her again, this time in a religious ceremony. They enjoy a couple of years of happiness and then she dies. But it is not as simple as this plot. The film describes and leads the viewer to one of the most important of life’s questions. Does our suffering mean anything? The question that everyone asks himself at the worst moments of his existence, when we tend to think that we were the last person that would suffer the misfortune of the death of our loved ones. It is due to our love for other people that we suffer when we are abandoned for one reason or another. Therefore, we should think that it is not only a matter of the pain what we suffer but also the period of happiness we live or have lived. These states of mind, spirit and soul have and will always go together or at least continuous, one after the other; and assuming this irrevocable truth we ought to ask ourselves if we prefer to lament the pain of loss or give thanks that it was you and not your beloved relative or friend who lived the loss of the other. We are here to live, to experience everything: hate and love, illness and health, life and death because if we never encounter the negative sides of the world we would never appreciate as much as we do now its positive face. Research Papers on Shadowlands - The Story Behind One of the Greatest Christian Authors - English EssayMind TravelThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoWhere Wild and West MeetHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayCapital PunishmentPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Editing †A Tough-Love Statement

Editing – A Tough-Love Statement Here lately, the discussion from readers seemed  to be centered about where to find an editor (for cheap), or in some cases, just finding someone who will read a manuscript and offer feedback. My answers are pretty clear: 1) Hire an editor (and be willing to pay what it costs), and/or 2) Trade services with another writer on your level or higher (and be willing to invest time into their manuscript), and/or 3) Carefully select/start a critique group and be patient enough to workshop the story over time. Any wallet can work with one of more of those options. If you want someone to read your work, either pay for it or critique in return. We cant just be takers. But back to hiring an editor. Its tricky to find one you appreciate and can afford. A cheap editor doesnt always offer iffy quality. And an expensive editor doesnt always get it right. Thats why word of mouth is valuable when finding an editor. You want that conduit between someone you trust and the party youre hiring. Sometimes it takes more than one, or two. Which is why so many people ask me who I recommend. How do I get my edits done?  (Even with dachshunds in my lap?) 1) First, Im not a bad editor in my own right, so my manuscripts are fairly clean. Yours need to be, too. 2) Second, I used to use two critique groups, then outgrew them. With my first several novels, these two groups were invaluable. If you are in this stage, hunt high and low to find one or two that fit. Search online, too. And stick with them for a couple years or more. 3) Third, I gravitated to beta readers. Just a couple of serious critiquers, and I seriously critiqued their manuscripts in kind. 4) Fourth, I ultimately hired the strongest beta reader I knew. That is the stage Im in now. Being under contract, I cannot afford the time delay of a group. 5) Fifth, I am traditionally published, so I know my publishers editor will beat it up again another three or more times. For those who will ask (and those who already   have), the beta reader I use is now hiring herself out for edits. She is one of two editors at  Two-Step Approach, where youll receive two editors feedback on your manuscript. I love this combination because you receive two opinions for the price of one. Both of these women have reviewed my novels. One of them has critiqued every novel Ive ever written, and she knew me before I was published. I still use these two ladies for developmental edits, even with a traditional press. There are many fine editors out there. There are many fine critique groups. And many authors have synced with strong beta readers. It takes time (and sometimes money), but the resources are there. So, you invest time or money into edits, or both. Time is invaluable to everyone. Remember that fact when you ask people to read your manuscript . . . and how often you would do the same for someone else. And if you dont have the time, or feel you dont have the talent to critique someone else, then pay for it.

Discussion Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

Discussion Question - Essay Example A conjunction, disjunction, negation or ordering relation is all naturally available in practical examples so that it is basic to make use of this relationship. General approaches from duality can also be applied in order theory to Boolean algebras. The order dual of every Boolean algebra obtained by interchanging AND and OR is also a Boolean algebra. By interchanging 0 with 1, the law that applies to Boolean algebras can be changed into another valid dual law. Each Boolean algebra (A, AND, OR) produces a ring (A,,*) that defines a + b = (a AND b) or (b AND a) and a * b = a AND b. the 0 element of this ring matches the 0 of the Boolean algebra while the multiplicative identity element is the 1 of the Boolean algebra. a *a = a for all the rings in A. such rings are called Boolean rings. On the other hand, given a Boolean ring A, this can be turned into a Boolean algebra by the definition x OR y = x +y + xy and x AND y = xy. We can conclude that every Boolean algebra rises from a Boolean ring and vice versa. Goodstein

HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

HRM - Essay Example As a decision strategy, Thurlby was reported to indicate that â€Å"those who refused had less chance of being shortlisted for a future top job at the company† (Peacock, 2010, par. 1). In this regard, the essay aims to address the following objectives, to wit: (1) to identify three important HR issues that are raised by this scenario (from the article); (2) to review and summarize the most pertinent research evidence and contemporary thinking relating to these issues; and (3) to set out clear and concise research-based advice to HR professionals who face similar situations. Specifically, the above mentioned objectives would be tackled using the topics on international employees resourcing, resistance and managing cultural diversity in multinational organizations. Three Important HR Issues The article written by Peacock (2010) proffered three contemporary and critical issues that face global organizations: international employees resourcing, resistance and managing cultural div ersity in multinational organizations. These issues would be discussed in greater detail, as follows: 1. International Employees Resourcing The distinct characteristics of an international manager, known as an expatriate manager has been noted by Schneder and Barsoux (2003) as â€Å"a new type of cosmopolitan, multilingual, multifaceted executive who is operational across national borders (somewhat like James Bond)† (Schneider and Barsoux, 2003, p. 185). The plight and challenges experienced by expatriates are closely evaluated by Pires, Stanton & Ostenfeld (2006) in their discourse that aimed to provide guidelines to improve the adjustments and effectiveness of expatriates’ movement to ethnically diverse environments. Jordan & Cartwright (1998) depicted the most apt key traits and competencies that organizations should be aware of in selecting expatriate managers. Further, expatriation was seen as a promoter of change and an interrupter of status quo (Glanz & van der Sluis, 2001) that options need to be determined by organizations in terms of establishing a career plan to encourage the expatriate’s decision to move and determining options for the expatriates’ spouses. The Business Dictionary (2011) defines an expatriate as â€Å"a person who has citizenship in at least one country, but who is living in another country. Most expatriates only stay in the foreign country for a certain period of time, and plan to return to their home country eventually, although there are some who never return to their country of citizenship† (par. 1). In the case of Jaguar, the HR director specifically stated that the potential expatriate manager would be relocated to China on a three-year assignment. Concurrently, â€Å"those with partners, or children in schools, were often put off the upheaval of moving abroad† (Peacock, 2010, par. 2). The apprehension from the points of views of potential expatriate managers could be analyzed in term s of the potential problems identified as follows: (1) unprepared and ill-equipped to conform to the demands of a new environment; (2) failure

Library Media Center Essay Example for Free

Library Media Center Essay Libraries have always been a source of knowledge and almost unlimited information for students, lovers of literature, and researchers. The ability to find the information needed is in the hands of the Librarian. This individual is well versed in all library materials from microfiche to non-fiction books and the fastest way to access these materials. This reflection paper examines three programs and technologies associated with Library Media, along with the qualities required for an outstanding Media Library Manager. As technology has advanced so has its place in the library realm. Library Media Programs The media programs found in school libraries operated by certified teacher-librarians give students access to various resources that help the students become well versed in their academic world. The learning requirements for school students continue to advance and students need some help to meet that challenge. This is also an area that is important to the district as well as individual schools. The following is a list of five library media programs that will be beneficial to schools, teachers, and students. Reading Promotion Under this program literature gets a breath of fresh air. Stories and concepts that might have seem boring and outdated to modern day school children gain a new appreciation and critical thinking through activities such as readers advisories, booktalks, and awards programs (OSPI). Modern day students are several generations removed from the time of Shakespeare and the concepts of old English. It is important to show the students that Macbeth, Othello, and other classical forms of literature can teach them modern day life skills. By engaging the students in critical thinking to determine how classical literature can be used in their everyday lives keeps these magnificent works alive in the hearts of the next generation and they serve a functional purpose. Information Resource Management In order to ensure that all the materials students need are readily available, up to date and easily located there must be a high degree of resource management. Some ways to make sure these resources are properly catalogues are: library collections, databases, web pages, and/or instructional resources (OSPI). Children live in the world of ease of use and quick access. If students come into the school library and cannot find the information they need then they will not come back or only come back when absolutely necessary? Curriculum Instruction Collaboration As mentioned in the previous section students come into the library to find resources in order to answer questions about their homework, get information for papers, and study for tests. It is important that the teachers and the librarians stay in touch when it comes to the school curriculum (OSPI). Communication between the two parties allows for the right materials for the job and various forms of those materials to be distributed or available to the students. In this ways learning is made much simpler. Information Services This is the area where print and electronic information resources come together. It is imperative that students and teachers are taught the most effective means to access and use these materials (OSPI). Without specific training students may become frustrated and then waist time doing unproductive activities. Also, the teachers need to appear knowledgeable to the students. Students need to have the ability to access knowledge from print in traditional ways as well as the knowledge to gather electronic information in the modern way. Library Program Advocacy Communicate the school library programs vision, goals, and learning objectives to administration, staff, parents, and community to advance the program and its role in the learning environment (OSPI). Libraries like any other department or program require funding in order to compete with other departments and programs. The library is only known for dusty books  and as a place of study; this may not interest children or their parents. The community, the parents, and the children must all be well informed about the importance of the library for their own educational purposes as well as those of future generations. The next section is dedicated to the types of technologies that libraries use in relation to its media. Library Media Technologies There are different types of technologies to be had when dealing with the library. One of the most common is the personal computer that has been integrated into the system. There are also additional technologies such as Web 2. 0 and Library 2. 0, which will be discussed in detail in the next sections. Computers Computer is devices used to store, retrieved, produce, and search for resources. Personal computers are used by adults and children to surf the Internet, chat online, complete work projects and homework assignments. It stands to reason that computers would make their way into the library system. The card catalogue has been a long standing record keeper in the library world. This collection of information on materials and their location was often housed in big wood or metal cabinets that the students would need to access. The information about the materials was literally printed on cards that the children had to read in order to fiction, non-fiction and other assortments of resources. Now with the advent of computers the card catalogue has been revolutionized. All the information found on the cards in the card catalogue can now be found on the computer in an electronic database. This is much easier for the library patrons because any computer in the library will have the information and there is no longer a need to line up in a central location to get resource information. Also, the need to consult with the librarian reduces because the patrons can now find the information for themselves. There are even programs on the computers that tell the patrons exactly where to go to find the materials. If after all the information is given from the electronic card catalogue and the patron still cannot find the location then the librarian is summoned. At first this might seem like a bad thing because librarians need jobs but this new freedom allows the librarians to become better skilled at finding and teaching patrons how to best utilize the library media resources. This education includes ways to use both the regular and the electronic card catalogues. There is always the possibility that the Intranet or Internet will go down but that will not stop the need to study and get homework done. Speaking of the electronic means to complete assignments it is time to discuss Web 2. 0 and Library 2. 0. Web 2. 0 Web 2. 0 incorporates these concepts: collaboration, wisdom of crowds, personalization, community, web-based, and transparency (Vacek). This new program has broadened the horizons of Internet users. One of the hottest ideas was creating a personal websites that others could see, interact with, and then possibly leave comments. Now this idea has evolved into blogging websites. An individual can post a question or place a statement and then open the floor for several different users to provide their opinions and help exchange their knowledge. This is part of that sense of community discussed in the previous paragraph. It is important to note that anyone using information from websites such as blogs should double check the information with sources from the school library database and other trusted academic websites. These are the websites that end in . org and . gov. Moving patrons to another leave is Library 2. 0. Library 2. 0 Any service, physical or virtual, that successfully reaches users, is evaluated frequently, and makes sue of customer input is a Library 2. 0 service. Even older, traditional services can be Library 2. 0 if criteria are met (Vacek). Library 2. 0 can provide magazines online for students and adults to access at any point in time. It provides links to websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook which are types of community websites. The first is based on a community of professionals. Facebook, an important form of social media, provides a chance for students and adults to access company information and also to provide their information for potential jobs. Library 2. 0 has advanced features such as library suggestion box, globally available services, and making information easier to find and access (Vacek). Traditionally, the suggestion box was a box located within a building that was specifically designed to get feedback from patrons about a product or service that might need improvement. Now patrons can access suggestions boxes online in the form of feedback. Globally availability of services means that patrons are no long shackled to one location. Anyone with an online connection can access the information from any location. And of course as talked about previously the very usage of computers with the proper training provides ease of use for the patrons. The next section is dedicated to librarians and how they utilize the media in the library. Media Management Librarians It was previously mentioned that the librarian was the primary helper of the library patrons. These were the experts that performed almost all the library functions for the patrons. These individuals showed the patrons were the card catalogue was located, how to read the information on the cards and then directed them to the location of the sought after materials. In many cases the librarians had to go with the patrons to find the information which could be a hassle sometimes. While one person was being led by the librarian the other patrons would most likely have to wait depending on the number of librarians were available to assist. There were times when the librarian would actually retrieve the information for the patrons and then stamp the books to let the patrons know when the materials were due for return. In the modern world of library media management the entire process of finding and acquiring materials is very different. The librarian is still the resource person but in a different capacity. Since the advent of technology almost all the materials and resources the patrons need can now be found through the electronic database. This means that a patron can access the electronic card catalogue from any computer in the library. The location and availability of the resource in question will be displayed on the screen. The interaction between the librarian and the patrons becomes that of teacher and resource guide. The librarians now have the job of adequately training the patrons, new and old about the electronic databases and how to effectively use them to find materials. It is also important for the librarians to teach the patrons how to use the traditional means to find information like the actual card catalogue. There are certain characteristics required to make an effective media librarian such as certification to best satisfy and assist the patrons. Media Librarian Characteristics One of the main characteristics required for an excellent media librarian manager is certification. A professionally-trained library media specialist can optimize each of the other impact factors (quality of information resources, level of patron usage, and level of instructional collaboration), maximizing their program’s impact on student achievement (Spinks). The level of achievement that is obtained from having certified media librarian managers continues to increase. This does not mean the uncertified staff members no longer serve a purpose. These individuals would be better suited for positions such as clerical workers and operational task assistants. Another way that certification can help make the media library experience more effective is to link the curriculum of the teachers with the library materials that are available for the students. Sometimes when I teacher creates a curriculum or is given one for the students during a school year that are supplemental materials needed to complete the assignments. These materials may not be available with the original set of books for the class. When the certified media librarians and the teachers work together all the materials needed can be reasonability acquired. With the new tools provided by technology the students could easily get access to the materials through the Internet or the electronic database. The students could learn about new resources such as GoogleSholar if academic journals and materials are needed. There will be some materials that the students are not allowed to take out of the library but at least the students will have the information available for their use. The librarian can get a list of materials for the subjects that teachers do submit and then order those materials. The media librarian and the teachers  can communicate through e-mail or face to face in order to discuss any changes that need to be made after the order has come in. It has also been briefly discussed how additional training is needed and administered by the media librarian. The concept of the teaching is quite simple; the media librarian is an expert concerning the new technologies and programs that are used within the library. It then becomes the librarians responsibly to make sure that the patrons are familiar with the new technologies and programs so they can retrieve resources faster. Trainings can be conducted during the time the students are in the library or special times may be allotted for this type of training. The trainings can be repeated as needed when new material comes out, new technologies are implemented, or new programs have been added to the media library. Diversity is very important and the media librarian must take that into consideration when authorizing new technologies and programs. The media library materials need to include information about African Americans, Asian Americans, Islamic Americans, LGBT, and disabled patrons. Materials available in Braille and also that are voice activated would be very important to the learning process of the individual. Another benefit is the opportunity to learn about another culture from materials that are located in the library. Conclusion The sources of knowledge and information for the modern day patron are no longer isolated to printed materials and the traditional library. Even the traditional librarian has undergone a huge change. Programs like advocacy coupled with technologies such Library 2.0 are able to draw in more interested parties and with the help of a certified librarian the possibilities to new knowledge are expounded. The more the patrons become familiarized with the materials and how to get them the more time the librarian can take on improving his or her own skills concerning. In the near future there may be no need for these gladiators of the new library world. It would be possible for people to download information directly into their devices with a tutorial on how to use them. Only time will tell the wonders of this new media concerning libraries, librarians, and patrons. Let’s keep our eyes open. References  Spinks, A. (2009). Library Media Programs and Student Achievement. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://www. cobbk12. org/librarymedia/proof/research. pdf State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). (n. d. ). School Library Media Programs and Teacher-Librarians. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://www. k12. wa. us/SchoolLibrary/ Wools, B. (2008). The school library media manager (4th ed. ). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Vacek, R. (n. d. ). Technology Trends in Libraries Today Tomorrow. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://www. slideshare. net/vacekrae/technology-trends-in-libraries-today-tomorrow.

DArtagnan :: essays research papers

D'Artagnan is a young, impoverished man from the rural area of France called Gascony. He goes to Paris in hopes of becoming one of the king's musketeers. He has few assets and relies on his wit and charm to guide him. Despite his lack of juvenility, he still deeply believes in the idea of chivalry. It is that ideal that earns him the respect and friendship of his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. D'Artagnan is also a very passionate man. He pursues both his enemies and love interests with reckless abandon. An example would be D'Artagnan's pursuit of his 'evil-guiness,'; Rochefort. Also, his passion is exhibited in his quest to aid the queen. Such deeds also prove D'Artagnan's bravery. And, it is D'Artagnan's bravery that earns him the trust of the queen and allows him to pursue his love interest, Madame Bonacieux. D'Artagnan's bravery also allows him to become a soldier, and later, a musketeer. It also gives D'Artagnan the courage to battle against the cardinal, despite his power. Thus, his bravery also gets him into trouble. D'Artagnan is constantly at battle against the cardinal and his agents. However, D'Artagnan is not alone in his battles. His friends support him throughout the book. And, D'Artagnan is equally allegiant to his friends. He supports his friends whenever the need arises. An example would be D'Artagnan's choice to fight with his friends in their first melee with Rochefort. D'Artagnan is indubitably loyal to his friends, as they are to him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Loyalty is a prominent theme in the book. It is the very essence of the characters, 'All for one and one for all.'; The four friends are devoted to each other and prove it throughout the book. The friends all nobly stand by each other in their battle against the cardinal. On several occasions D'Artangnan calls upon his comrades to help him in his quests. D'Artangnan tells them nothing of the details simply that they are likely to perish on the journey. Yet, all the friends immediately and without query agree to assist D'Artangnan. Another example is D'Artangnan's extreme loyalty to the queen and his love Madame Bonacieux. D'Artagnan accepts several dangerous missions from the queen. He risks life and limb to help save the queen from scandal. And again endangers himself in an attempt to rescue his beloved Madame Bonacieux. It is D'Artagnan's loyalty that actually makes him a musketeer.

Motivating Culturally Diverse Workforce in an Organization Essay

Culturally Diverse Workforce in an Organization Muhammad Junaid Murshed Southern New Hampshire University Abstract In this research paper, I will be discussing some of the methods that may be used to effectively motivate a culturally diverse workforce in an organization. At first, I will present a brief introduction to motivation, some of the well-known motivational theories and cultural diversity. Then, I will look into a few reasons for demotivation among the workforce of an organization, followed by some of the distinguished and effective motivational techniques that may be utilized to ascertain and/or deal with the same, citing real-life examples. Finally, I will conclude the paper with a brief summary of the key points discussed in the paper together-with a personal opinion about the effectiveness of the motivational methods discussed above. â€Å"Motivation is defined as the desire to achieve a goal or a certain performance level, leading to goal-directed behavior† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 97). As can be seen from the above statement motivation may be directly linked to performance. Although the direct correlation, motivation alone may not be sufficient to elicit the desired result. This is so, as, it (motivation) usually is influenced by factors such as an individual’s ability (p. 97) to perform the task and the resources available (p. 97) to him/her to aid in achieving the objective(s). â€Å"Culture refers to values, beliefs, and customs that exist in a society† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 40). â€Å"Diversity refers to the ways in which people are similar or different from each other† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 9). The world consists of various different cultures (p. 40) entailing a diverse (p. 29) population base i. e. in terms of age, gender, race, religion, physical abilities etc. Therefore, motivating (p. 97) individuals require understanding their descent first, as, it is most likely to influence the dominant need in their personality. With the passing of time many scientists, philosophers and psychologists have developed various theories to explain and enhance an individual’s motivational level. For the purpose of my research paper, I will be focusing on some of it, namely, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (p. 00), the ERG theory (p. 101), the two-factor theory, the acquired-needs theory (p. 102) and the self-determination theory to base my comparisons and/or conclusions to cultural diversity. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs â€Å"The theory is based on a simple premise: Human beings have needs that are hierarchically ranked. There are some needs that are basic to all human beings, and in their absence nothing else matters. As we satisfy these basic needs, we start looking to satisfy higher order needs† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 99). Physiological needs: â€Å"The need for air, food, and water† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 100). Safety needs: â€Å"The need to be free from danger and pain† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 100). Social needs: â€Å"The needs of bonding with other human beings, being loved, and forming lasting attachments with them† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 100). Esteem needs: â€Å"The desire to be respected by one’s peers, feel important, and be appreciated† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 100). Self-actualization need: â€Å"The need to become all you are capable of becoming† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 00). ERG theory â€Å"ERG theory, developed by Clayton Alderfer, is a modification of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Instead of the five needs that are hierarchically organized, Alderfer proposed that basic human needs maybe grouped under three categories, namely, existence, relatedness, and growth† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 101). Existence: â€Å"A need corresponding to Maslow’s physiological and safety needs† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 101). Relatedness: â€Å"A need corresponding to Maslow’s social needs† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 101). Growth: â€Å"A need referring to Maslow’s esteem and self-actualization† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 101). Two-factor theory â€Å"By asking individuals what satisfies them on the job and what dissatisfies them, Herzberg came to the conclusion that aspects of the work environment that satisfy employees are very different from aspects that dissatisfy them† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 101). Acquired-needs theory â€Å"According to this theory, individuals acquire three types of needs as a result of their life experiences. These needs are the need for achievement, the need for affiliation, and the need for power. All individuals possess a combination of these needs, and the dominant needs are thought to drive employee behavior† (Bauer and Erdogan, 2010, p. 102). Self-determination theory â€Å"Self-Determination Theory (SDT) represents a broad framework for the study of human motivation and personality. SDT articulates a meta-theory for framing motivational studies, a formal theory that defines intrinsic and varied extrinsic sources of motivation, and a description of the respective roles of intrinsic and types of extrinsic motivation in cognitive and social development and in individual differences†. Bibliography: 1. Bauer T. & Erdogan B. (2010) Demographic Diversity. Organizational Behavior, 29. 2. Bauer T. & Erdogan B. (2010) Cultural Diversity. Organizational Behavior, 40. 3. Bauer T. & Erdogan B. (2010) Theories of Motivation. Organizational Behavior, 97. 4. Bauer T. & Erdogan B. (2010) Theories of Motivation: Need-Based Theories of Motivation. Organizational Behavior, 100-102. 5. Self-Determination Theory: An Approach to Human Motivation & Personality. Retrieved from http://www. selfdeterminationtheory. org/theory

Douglas Spalding Essay

Douglas Spalding was the architect of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. He started his research in the mid 1800s. His studies discounted British empiricist claims that animal skill regarding depth, distance; perception and sound localization were learned by the animals while they were young. Spalding study of ethology involved the determiner of behavior such as instinct is behavior that is predisposed or shaped by natural selection or innate pre-programmed behavior. To address the British empiricist claim that perceptual abilities did not require experience, he conducted an study dealing with instinct. He open a portion of an egg where chicks, baby chickens, not girls, where about to hatch and just before their eyes opened, he opened a piece of the egg, and covered the chicks head with a hood. After removing the hood; the chick showed no effects of not being able to see and was able to locate insects to eat, thus showing innate behavior is extremely valuable in animal behavior and not experience. Critical period research is learning that occurs at a specific age or life stage. Critical period is behavior that’s developed within a specific time frame. Spalding withheld chicks from the mother for 10 days. The chicks didn’t hear or see their mother for ten days. Spalding introduced the chicks to the calls of the mother; however, the chicks did not recognize their mother. Spalding observation showed at particular stages in life innate behavior is developed with a specific time. Spalding experiments and observations supported the claim that animals innate behaviors not experiences is a determiner of behavior.

The Boston Photographs Essays

The Boston Photographs Essays The Boston Photographs Paper The Boston Photographs Paper Essay Topic: Photo Dead Death in tabloids has been a pressing issue for decades. During Vietnam this was an especially prominent, and has continued into the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. No matter the place or the time people will always disapprove of death in photographs. It Just seems Like they feel It is disrespecting and disgraceful. I for one personally believe that some pictures should be shown In tabloids. Yes not all Images should be seen by the public, but there Is no better way for people to learn the truth particularly with the war on Iraq. The pictures of life and death are a mixed bunch. As such are the images taken by Stanley Forman on July 22, 1975, of the mother and child falling when a fire escape broke. For Stanley to even be able to take these pictures with the technology that was in use at the time is a great feat. He took an enormous amount of criticism for his shots. Yes It Is not the most pleasing Image a reader would Like to open up the morning paper too, and a lot of people had a hard time getting over that, but a person must look at the image as it was captured. With the disapproval aside if he had not taken these images not one morning reader loud have actually know what went on the night before. It would have just been another name with no face that died in a fire. Since he was able to get those shots, in my view it actually helped put the story together by showing me how the tragic event unfolded. At least a person could be thankful that both the mother and child did not die. The one boy actually landed on his mother and lived. All of the people that questioned the photos cannot get passed their first impressions and look at the bigger picture, which is death happens and it is better to learn then go blind about it. Charles Seibel, the former managing editor of the Washington Star writes any editor who decided to print those pictures without giving at least a moments thought to what purpose they served and what their effect was likely to be on the reader (248). Of course many people will probably disagree with me on the grounds that the images are too gruesome, but one cannot go sheltered their whole lives they must realize all aspects of life. The tabloids from Vietnam were not very accurate. Now granted I was not around for it, but all of the articles I have read, and a lot of the people that I have had the pleasure of talking with about this very sensitive subject have agreed with me. From what was actually going on to what was being seeing by the American public was portrayed in two very deferent views. Impossible some will say. You have all the wrong facts, Is what a lot of Americans were saying about the war. The images that were seen in the states were so far from the truth, that they were led to believe that it was the men and women in uniforms fault the so many lives were lost. The newspapers would only post the bad pictures. If one person had he guts to post photos of what a dead American looked like after a run in with the Viet c on. Yes I will agree with these people that this image should be respected and possibly not seen, but at the same time this Image could have helped the people the military. Going back to the advance in technology, if the reporters would have had the Nixon camera that Mr.. Foreman is said to have used, they could have a lot better action shots and hopefully would have done a better Job showing what was really going on. If a person looked at the news articles and all of the images that have been published on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars you would not see a lot of pictures about what it is like in a conflict or war. The Journalist often times only report on something to make the military look bad. While in Iraq, I experienced this type of event first hand. A lot of things that I saw never ended up in the tabloids. Anytime a marine was killed all that was heard about it was another marine died in Iraq. Sometimes it would have been helpful to have pictures on these events. Now yes some of these images no one should ever have to witness, but a good majority of the time an image loud have bettered the situation. People say they want the war to be over and bring all the troops home. The easiest way to do this would be to show a group of marines a picture of a fellow marine that had been killed in the line of duty, protecting the same people back in the US that say its disrespectful to show dead bodies, they get very aggressive when one of their own is killed. They would find where the picture was taken and would make sure it never happened again. Pictures also help put a closure on things. For those who were not around they can see the aftermath and might even be able to learn from that image. If Journalist would add a little more truth to the pictures they post, and not be afraid about what other people might say about them I bet people would have a completely different look about the Iraq war. Instead they are too worried about their image that they do not post depictions of what happens when a suicide bomber blows up a mosque filled with military and civilians. One time I know for a fact that this happened was a photo Journalist took photo of a building that had been destroyed by a suicide car bomber. In his Image all it showed was the wreckage of the explosion and a few dead locals. He failed to mention the two marines that lost their lives trying to save countless others, but in turned tried to blame it on them. With that rant and ramble off my chest, I will let you decide Mr.. Chief Editor of your big time newspaper, would you think twice about letting your photographers post images of the dead? I am not asking you to post every single image that appears of dead bodies, but I am asking you that you do not completely reject these images of life because death is a large part of the human life. Prone, Nora. The Boston Photographs. Convergences. Deed. Robert Atman. Nee York: Bedford/SST Martins, 2009. 244-249

A Timeline of the Building of the Chunnel

A Timeline of the Building of the Chunnel Building the Chunnel, or Channel Tunnel, was one of the largest and most impressive engineering tasks of the 20th century. Engineers had to find a way to dig under the English Channel, creating three tunnels under the water. Find out more about this amazing engineering feat through this Chunnel timeline. A Timeline of the Chunnel 1802 French engineer Albert Mathieu Favier created a plan to dig a tunnel under the English Channel for horse-drawn carriages. 1856 Frenchman Aimà © Thomà © de Gamond created a plan to dig two tunnels, one from Great Britain and one from France, that meet in the middle on an artificial island. 1880 Sir Edward Watkin began drilling two underwater tunnels, one from the British side and the other from the French. However, after two years, the British publics fears of an invasion won out and Watkins was forced to stop drilling. 1973 Britain and France agreed on an underwater railway that would link their two countries. Geologic investigations began and digging started. However, two years later, Britain pulled out because of an economic recession. November 1984 British and French leaders once again agreed that a Channel link would be mutually beneficial. Since they realized that their own governments could not fund such a monumental project, they held a contest. April 2, 1985 A contest to find a company that could plan, fund, and operate a Channel link was announced. January 20, 1986 The winner of the contest was announced. The design for a Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel), an underwater railway, was chosen. February 12, 1986 Representatives from both the United Kingdom and France signed a treaty approving the Channel Tunnel. December 15, 1987 Digging began on the British side, starting with the middle, service tunnel. February 28, 1988 Digging began on the French side, starting with the middle, service tunnel. December 1, 1990 The linking of the first tunnel was celebrated. It was the first time in history that Great Britain and France were connected. May 22, 1991 The British and French met in the middle of the northern running tunnel. June 28, 1991 The British and French met in the middle of the southern running tunnel. December 10, 1993 The first test-run of the entire Channel Tunnel was conducted. May 6, 1994 The Channel Tunnel officially opened. French President Francois Mitterrand and British Queen Elizabeth II were on hand to celebrate. November 18, 1996 A fire broke out on one of the trains in the southern running tunnel (taking passengers from France to Great Britain). Although all the people on board were rescued, the fire did a lot of damage to the train and to the tunnel.

WalMart - SHRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

WalMart - SHRM - Essay Example WalMart – HR Department: The company’s main values and beliefs are – respecting individuals, service to the customers and striving for excellence. In terms of the employees it is seen that although the company promises and portrays being very employee friendly in reality there is little care for the employees. The human resources team is very effective in choosing the right people for the job, however in terms of the management of the employees there is a clear lack on the part of the team. The HR teams are meant to focus on the needs of the employees and to provide the employees with the necessities to keep them motivated. Here however the company focuses on the amount of work that can be extracted from the employees, with not much in return both in terms of pay as well as other benefits. The HR team lacks a clear perspective on the priority and there is no attention given to the needs of the employees. SHRM and WalMart: The HRM team of the company does not cont ribute to the overall strategic growth of the company. It is important to note that although there is a strong strategy that the company adopts in terms of the recruitment process, there is little or no proper management post the recruitment (Dowling, Festing and Engle). The company clearly uses SHRM; however the main elements of SHRM are not taken into account here.

Plato's View of Immortality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Plato's View of Immortality - Essay Example The afterlife has been thought of as the connection between the present life and memories and the life of the being after the physical death. In religious circles, each religion has its own view and belief on these issues. There are those that uphold the belief that life continues into the afterlife and does not end even at death. Persons professing secular beliefs also have views on the afterlife (Corcoran 7). The materialists, for instance, believe the soul does not live on after death and thus perishes. This is because, in their view, life is a function of the organism. In pantheism, the belief is that the individual is absorbed and transformed into an infinite being. In the East, the belief is, however, different from the views held by other people elsewhere. It is believed that the soul of an individual, upon death, undergoes transmigration and animates humans or even animals. It means that the soul comes back to life but in a different form resembling another human being or the body an animal, and usually lower animals. There is also the belief that the soul of an individual undergoes the process of metamorphosis and its condition is improved. The history of the concept of death and immortality or the afterlife goes back from the time of Before Christ (BC). Different countries in ancient times had already developed views and beliefs about immortality. Egypt, for instance, had a rich belief in the afterlife. The pharaohs were buried with their property, mostly gold, and their servants. They were believed to continue ruling their subjects even in death. The Egyptians also offered sacrifices and offerings to the spirits of the dead. They also carried out proper funeral rights and embalmed or mummified the bodies of the departed. In India, the convictions of the afterlife were also there. They believed in Pantheism or the absorption of the soul into an infinite being. The belief of reincarnation also emerged in India. In reincarnation, a soul is transformed i nto other human beings or animals, but of a lower form. The doctrine of karma is also upheld among the Indians. It states that the human soul continues to exist through re-incarnations and depends on the past doings of the individual. Buddhists hold the belief that the soul is liberated from pain and labor and rests quietly. Therefore, it does not die or vanishes. This belief is found in the theory of Nirvana. In China, the belief of immortality also exists as evidenced by the act of helping the spirits of the dead through sacrifices. However, the Jews, as found in Judaism, did not believe in a future life. In Christianity, the belief is also strongly upheld and is supported by the Christian faith. Christians believe that the functions of the body cease upon death and that the body will resurrect (Corcoran 70). Having looked at the historical beliefs of the concept of immortality, we now look at Plato’s views of the same. Plato was a renowned scholar of ancient Greece and mad e enormous informed contributions to the different disciplines including geography and philosophy. He was a student of Socrates, another famous Greek thinker and philosopher. Plato was a believer in immortality. In philosophy, Plato’s views and teachings about immortality and the afterlife are found in his writings, which include the â€Å"meno†, the â€Å"Gorgias†, and the â€Å"Republic† (Wagner 15). Plato’s view on immortality is unique and differs significantly from other beliefs about the same. The soul, in Plato’

Biography of Nikola Tesla Annotated Bibliography

Biography of Nikola Tesla - Annotated Bibliography Example Nikola Tesla’s parents had migrated from Serbia to Croatia. His father was a priest, philosopher, and poet. The mental training that Nikola’s father gave him by making him do mathematical calculations without using a pen or paper was his initiation into the field of science. And his mother had â€Å"come from a family of inventors†. Nikola also made his first invention when he was a child of age five when he made himself a fishing hook and caught frogs. When Nokola was seven years old, his family went back to Serbia. In the new town, he became an instant hero as he repaired a newly modeled firefighting equipment which had failed to function on its first demonstration before the public. After his school years, Tesla decided to become an electrical engineer and joined Graz Polytechnic Institute in Austria. During his studies, one of his professors had demonstrated a dynamo which can produce direct current electricity and which was invented by Thomas Alva Edison, in the class. After watching the functioning of a dynamo, when Tesla opined that it might be possible to create an alternate current manufacturing motor, his professor refuted this idea as impossible. After a while, with the support of his father, he joined the University of Prague. But after one term was over, he left this course also and joined the telegraph department. While walking in the city park with a friend, the design of the ac motor suddenly came to his mind like a flash of lightning.

Nutritional Considerations in Geriatric Care

Nutritional Considerations in Geriatric Care Title of the Topic: Nutritional Considerations in Geriatrics Running Title: Geriatric Nutrition List of Cotributors: Dr.Veena B. Benakatti, Post Graduate student, Department of Prosthodontics, KLEVK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE University Belagavi Dr.Raghunath Patil, Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics, KLEVK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE University Belagavi Dr Ulhas N Amasi , Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, KLEVK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE University Belagavi Dr Veena Benakatti1, Dr Raghunanth Patil2, Dr Ulhas N Amasi3 Department of Prosthodontics, KLEVK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE University Belgavi. Abstract: Human beings need a wide range of nutrients to lead a healthy and active life. The nutrients required for different physiological age groups can be derived only from a well balanced diet. One of the major challenges for the success of health sciences in present scenario is increasing elderly population in the society. Nutritional deficiency, particularly of proteins is very common in elderly people. Over 60% of elderly people are malnourished, and there are many causes for this malnutrition and it is not always easy to differentiate the age related from the pathological. We always need to remind the phrase that it is of great importance to add life to years and not years to life. Here is an article reviewing the basics of nutrition in elderly people and role of prosthodontist in the same. Key words: Diet Counseling, Geriatrics, Healthy, Nutrition, Prosthodontist, Recommended Dietary Allowance. Introduction Nutrition is the basic human need and a prerequisite for healthy life. A well proportionate diet is essential from the very early stages of life for proper growth, development and maintatinance of normal body functioning, physical activity and, health.1 The three basic prerequisites to sustain life are air, water, and food. Human being is supposed to consume air, water and food in pure and naturally occurring condition. However, assuming air and water is being consumed in pure form, food is the basic requisite for healthy life which is in control of human being but still the one most neglected. The overall improvement in economy at the macro level and subsequent improvements in purchasing power (though unevenly distributed) among households have not resulted in the expected levels of improvement in the nutritional status of Indians mainly because of ignorance. The major food issues of concern are insufficient and imbalanced intake of nutrients.1 One of the major challenges in field of health sciences is the increasing number of geriatric population in the society. Also, it is expected that by 2050, 20% of the total geriatric population of the world would be in India.2 Nutritional deficiencies particularly concerning protein is very common in elderly. Over 60% of elderly people are malnourished, and many causes may be traced for this malnutrition and it is not always easy to differentiate the age related factors from the pathological.3 We need to always remember the phrase that it is of great importance to add life to years and not years to life.2 Nutritional needs of the elderly Nutrition in geriatrics needs a special attention considering factors that affect nutritional status of an aging individual. Physiological changes that occur with age, like Body composition (Annual decline in lean body mass of 1-2% and decline in extracellular water) reduced and impaired organ function, therapeutic drugs affect nutritional status of elderly people. Apart from these, Emotional problems, Insufficient funds, inability to shop and food preparation problems, adherence to specific diet, alcohol, above all the individuals’ taste play a more important role for the selection of food than does the availability of nurients.4 The main sources of energy in Indian diets, which are mainly plant food based, are Carbohydrates, Fat, Protein considered to be macronutrients. Other nutrients are Vitamins and minerals, which are considered as micronutrients. The required nutrients for different physiological groups can only be derived from a well balanced diet.1 Water Water accounts for 70% of total human body weight. It is a constituent of blood and other vital body fluids. A normal healthy person will require 8 glasses (2 liters) of water per day. During very hot weather and when undertaking vigorous physical activity, the requirement of water increases as a considerable amount of water is lost through sweat. Water should be free from disease-causing agents like bacteria, viruses, parasites etc., and harmful chemical substances like pesticides, industrial wastes, and heavy metals, nitrates, arsenic and excess of fluoride. Boiling for 10-15 minutes is a satisfactory method of purifying the water. Tablets containing 0.5 g of chlorine can disinfect 20 liters of water.1 Energy Body needs energy, to maintain body temperature, metabolic activity and for supporting physical work and growth. The main source of energy in the Indian diet is carbohydrates which derived largely from cereals. These cereals constitute 80% of our diet and provide 50-80% of daily energy intake. Elderly Men need 46kcal/kg/day (average 2730kcal/kg/day). Elderly Women need 41kcal/kg/day (average 2230kcal/kg/day).1 Carbohydrates Carbohydrates provide energy of 4 Kcal/g (Table 1). The simple carbohydrates, glucose and fructose, are found in fruits, vegetables and honey, sucrose in sugar and lactose in milk, while the complex polysaccharides are starches in cereals, millets, pulses and root vegetables and glycogen in animal foods. The elderly consume a large proportion of their calories as carbohydrates, possibly at the expense of other nutrients like protein, because of their low cost, ability to be stored without refrigeration and ease of preparation. Denture patients preferring soft foods high in simple sugars fat should be advised importance of complex carbohydrates. Fiber component of complex carbohydrates promotes bowel function, lowers glycemic response, reduce serum cholesterol prevents diverticular disease. Most of the fruits and vegetables (except potatoes, watermelon, sweet corn) whole grains, beans, lentils are low glycemic index foods.1 Proteins Dietary proteins should provide eight essential amino acids in a proper proportion and in adequate quantities to synthesize tissue proteins in the body. Particularly Egg protein is used as a reference protein against which the quality of other proteins can be considered. Vegetable proteins, like cereals, legumes and vegetables are of poorer quality than animal proteins. Cereal proteins are generally deficient in lysine and pulses or legume proteins deficient in methionine. However, when both cereal and pulses (legumes) are consumed in the diet in proper proportions, the proteins from these two sources will supplement each other and overcome each other‘s deficiencies in lysine or methionine to a significant extent. Daily requirement of protein is .8g/kg body wt (60g for males 55g for females per day).1 Fat The maximum amount of fat that can be consumed in the diet should not exceed 30 %E (about 60g visible fat / day). Fat intake if exceeds 35% E may increase the risk of diet related non communicable diseases and should be avoided. However, daily fat intake in the diet can be between 20-30%E (20- 40 g/day). Low fat milk and dairy foods should be consumed. Processed, premixed, ready to eat and fast foods should be avoided. Beef and mutton should be consumed moderately. Use of butter/Ghee should be limited. Intake of saturated fat (butter, ghee and hydrogenated fats) and cholesterol (red meat, eggs, organ meat) should be restricted. Excess of these substances could lead to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Use palm oil, sesame, rice bran, or cotton seed oils as they have higher thermal stability. For bakery items use coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil or their blends/solid fractions.1 Dietary fiber Dietary fiber is the remnants of the edible part of plants and is similar to carbohydrates which are resistant to digestion and absorption in the human small intestine with complete or partial fermentation in the human large intestine. Dietary fiber includes polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, lignin and associated plant products. Dietary fiber exhibits one or more of either laxation (fecal bulking and softening; increased frequency; regularity), blood cholesterol attenuation, blood glucose attenuation. Animal foods do not contain fiber. Cereals, seeds, beans, many fruits and vegetables, bran and whole grain are sources of fiber. In Indian scenario fiber deficiency is rare as it is consumed adequately in daily Indian foods. However, a minimum intake of 20-35 g of fiber is recommended for long-term good health.1 Minerals Minerals are calorie free and essential nutrients which regulate many biological functions. Minerals such as iron, zinc and copper aids in collagen formation, Wound healing, and regulate inflammation.5 Calcium and Phosphorous Average need of calcium over 60yrs is 1500mg daily, and of phosphorous 1gm/day. Elemental Ca:P ratio of 1:1 has to be maintained. Sources include Milk and milk products, Egg, Meat, Fish, millet ragi, Green Leafy Vegetables. Milk is Rich source of bioavailable calcium. Milk fat serves as a vehicle for fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E. Since milk fat is of the saturated type, those who need to be on a low fat diet can consume skimmed/toned milk. For strict vegetarians, milk is the only source of vitamin B12. Milk is also rich in riboflavin. Only pasteurized or boiled milk should be consumed to ensure protection from disease-causing agents. Osteoporosis is the most common disease affecting aging person and postmenopausal women resulting from calcium deficiency.1 Iron, Zinc, Sodium, Magnesium and Potassium – (Table No 2) Vitamins These are essential organic and calorie free molecules necessary for human body. They are further classified as fat soluble and water soluble vitamins.5 (Table No 3) As a person grows older, he tends to become physiologically less active and therefore need lesser calories to maintain their weights. The daily intake of oil should not exceed 20 g. Use of ghee, butter, and coconut oil should be avoided. They need foods rich in protein such as pulses, toned milk, egg-white etc. Therefore, the elderly need nutrient-rich foods rich in calcium, micro-nutrients and fiber. Apart from cereals and pulses, they need daily at least 200-300 ml of milk and milk products and 400 g of vegetables and fruits to provide fiber, micro-nutrients and antioxidants. Inclusion of these items in the diet improves the quality of the diet and bowel function. Flesh foods and eggs add to the quality of diet. The diet needs to be well cooked, soft and less salty and spicy. Small quantities of food should be consumed at more frequent intervals and adequate water should be consumed to avoid dehydration hyponatraemia. 6 Food preparation Fermentation and germination (sprouting) are common Indian food practices which definitely improve digestibility and increase nutrients such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Repeated washing of food grains like rice and pulses will lead to loss of minerals and vitamins. Cutting vegetables into smaller pieces will expose a greater surface area of the foodstuff to the atmosphere, resulting in loss of nutrients like vitamins due to oxidation. Cut vegetables should not be soaked in water for longer time, as water-soluble minerals and vitamins will get dissolved. Boiling being the most common method of cooking, will lead to loss of heat-labile and water-soluble vitamins like vitamins B-complex and C. excess water should not be used while cooking rice. Shallow frying uses much smaller amounts of oils than deep frying. Repeated heating of oils particularly PUFA-rich oils results in formation of peroxides and free radicals and, thus, should be avoided. Oils which have been repeatedly hea ted should not to be mixed with fresh oil. Microwave do not cook uniformly and leave some cold spots in the food by which harmful bacteria can enter into body, avoid large amounts and big pieces in the microwave oven otherwise mix the food in between for uniform heating or cooking.6 Natural fruit juices provide energy, vitamins (beta carotenes, vitamin C) and minerals (potassium, calcium). Fruit juices are potassium rich and are ideal for hypertension. Compared to natural fruit juices, synthetic drinks do not contain nutrients. Tea and coffee although relieve mental and muscular fatigue should be avoided at least one hour before and after meals due to presence of tannin that interfere with absorption of iron. Coffee known to increase Blood Pressure and abnormalities in heart beat, excess tea coffee is harmful to health as they contain caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee and tea can be consumed which are being marketed to obviate the adverse effects of caffeine.6 Role of Prosthodontist Teeth are not a prerequisite in healthy individuals for proper digestion. However edentulous subjects with poor masticatory function consume more medications than those with better masticatory function for their digestive problems. Impaired masticatory function may lead to adhesion to specific diet and an unbalanced diet in elderly individuals. Apart from masticatory efficiency several other oral conditions like painful mucosal disorders, oral dryness may also lead to nutritional problems.3 Adequate nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining health of aging oral tissues which in turn is going to influence the prognosis of prosthesis6. An adequate dentition either natural or artificial is not always essential for sufficient food intake for maintaining balanced nutrition in normal health, but is necessary to support extra demands of illness aging. Prosthodontist is in a strategic position to evaluate correct nutritional deficiencies that promote premature aging of oral tissues by providing a functional prosthesis. A prosthodontist need to understand aging patient his requirements provide prosthetic treatment to meet his demands helping him towards optimal health a happier life. Quality of denture wearing patient can definitely be improved by diet counseling. Creating nutrition awareness referral to physician or dietitian when required is of utmost importance. A careful screening, diet evaluation and regular follow ups will help to identify nutritional risk deal with it. Objective of diet counseling is to correct imbalance in nutrition that interfere with body as well as oral health.7 Older people with dry mouth are likely to prefer foods that are high in fats, oils and sugars due to ease of chewing and swallowing. Older people with altered taste and smell may consume more sugars as a way of making food palatable. Some people may not consume some foods that are good sources of dietary fiber due to problems with their teeth or dentures. For those with dry mouth, encourage frequent sipping of non-sugared, low acidic drinks such as water. The intake of sugar-containing medications should be limited. Ask the doctor for alternatives for the person in your care. Prepare chopped up vegetables or mashed vegetables for them. Avoid giving them stringy foods. Provide small bite-sized portions of fruit. Conclusion The geriatric population being a very important asset for our society, their experience and guidance in real life is indispensible. As a Prosthodontist, if we think what we can give back to the society? One of the answers could be obtaining detailed knowledge of diet and nutrition and guiding our patients during our long and repeated appointments. This way, Prosthodontist can bang a correct balance between profession and their responsibility towards society at a large and attain professional happiness.2The concluding principle is that proper nutrition is an important aid in preventive medicine in geriatric people in which the practicing Prosthodontist can play a vital role. References Recommended Dietary Allowances For Indians, Report Of Expert Group Of Indian Council Of Medical Research, National Institute Of Nutrition, Hyderabad. Palaskar J. Diet nutrition in geriatric patients- A matter of concern. J Dent Allied Sci 2012; 1(2):44. Philippie Mojon, Ejvind Budtz-Jorgensen, Charles-Henri Rrapin. Relationship between oral health and nutrition in very old people. Age and ageing 1999; 28:463-68 Nancy G sebring, Albert D Gluckes, Shou Hua, Mccarthy. Nutritional adequacy of reported intake of edentulous subjects treated with new conventional or implant-supported mandibular dentures. J Prosthet Dent oct 1995; 74(4):358-63 Snehal Sonarkar, Rucheet Purba, Shishir Singh, Rajesh Podar. â€Å"Components of diet and it relation to dental caries: A review†. Int J Contemp Dent Med Rev 2014 Dietary guidelines for Indians, National Institute Of Nutrition 2010 Zarb, Hobkirk, Eckert, Jacob. Prosthodontic Treatment for Edentulous Patients, 13th Ed. New Delhi, Mosby, Elsevier, 2013;28-33 Sheldon Winkler. Essentials of Complete Denture Prosthodontics, 2nd Ed. New Delhi, AITBS publishers, 2012,15-20 List of Tables: Table 1 Amount of energy derived from various macronutrients.1 Table 2 Recommended Daily Allowance and sources of micronutrients.1 Table 3 Recommended Daily Allowance and sources of vitamins.1 Table 1: Amount of energy derived from various macronutrients.1 Table 2: Recommended Daily Allowance and sources of micronutrients.1 Table 3: Recommended Daily Allowance and sources of vitamins.1

Welcome, You’ve Got a Brave New World :: Brave New World

Welcome, You’ve Got a Brave New World   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The task of predicting the future is difficult at best, yet Huxley’s predictions of the future have proven to be eerily accurate in several areas. Many of Huxley’s predictions are being realized today, have already been realized or will be realized in a few short years. These specific predictions, which are closely related to today are our sexual practices, an obsession with youth and beauty, the minimal role of parents and the practice of religion.  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World people treat sex as a form of entertainment rather than an expression of love between a couple.   Most forms of entertainment in Brave New World somehow relate to sex.   For example the feelies are pornographic movies with a more advanced plot line and the tremendous bonus of experiencing the same things as the actors on the screen.   The government encourages sex and promiscuity among its citizens, if a person is not promiscuous they are seen as outcasts. Sex in Brave New World is not a private matter and is openly practiced.   To ensure that sex’s purpose is for entertainment the government makes only thirty percent of the female population fertile. This ensures that the population will not view sex as a form of reproduction because the majority are not capable of sexual reproduction. The more partners a person has the more popular the person is.   A person is discouraged from having a long-term relationship with one person.  Ã‚   If they have a long term relationship their loyalty to the government and Ford is in question, as evidenced in the following excerpt: â€Å"And you know how strongly the DHC objects to anything intense or long and drawn out.   Four months of Henry Foster without having another man - why, he’d be furious if he knew†(page #) One night-stands are common and expected. Sex is discussed openly in Brave New World. It is not seen as dirty, shameful or something to be discussed behind closed doors.   From a young age children learn about sex and contraceptives.   Children are forced to use contraceptives every time they have sex. They are encouraged to participate in sex play from a young age.   Those who do not wish to participate are taken to a psychologist for an evaluation. Religion in Brave New World is also linked to sex.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning in an Online Class Essay

The advantages of asynchronous learning far outweigh the disadvantages and this approach has the ability to have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the overarching learning objectives for most courses. One such advantage is the result of the way asynchronous learning is employed. All comments from the students and the instructor are saved throughout the class and organized by discussion and date. This provides students with the opportunity to take in all of the materials that are presented and reflect on all of the concepts at an appropriate time. This advantage benefits students who generally take poor notes or are forced to attend extremely large classes by assuring they do not miss important information. One of the most prevalent and potentially problematic disadvantages of the asynchronous environment is the sense of being disconnected from the group that students may potentially develop. A student that does not feel connected with the class or instructor may lose motivation, interest and ultimately find that learning and retaining the material is nearly impossible. This disadvantage is exacerbated as students feel more and more isolated as time passes and no intervention takes place. The longer this sense of being disconnected continues, the more likely it is that course concepts will fail to become anything more than words on the screen causing a potentially serious disadvantage to become an almost insurmountable obstacle to success. In what ways should making money online have its limits? For example, is pornography, online gambling, etc, fair game? What are the ethical considerations involved? I honestly dont feel that there is a problem with making money online as long as its legal. When people have the opportuinty to take advantage of such things like porn and gambling,they get addicted to it and sometimes overuse it not know what the circumstances will be afterwards.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 34. Declared

I heard the music before I was out of the car. Edward hadn't touched his piano since the night Alice left. Now, as I shut the car door, I heard the song morph through a bridge and change into my lullaby. Edward was welcoming me home. I moved slowly as I pulled Renesmee – fast asleep; we'd been gone all day – from the car. We'd left Jacob at Charlie's – he'd said he was going to catch a ride home with Sue. I wondered if he was trying to fill his head with enough trivia to crowd out the image of the way my face had looked when I'd walked through Charlie's door. As I walked slowly to the Cullen house now, I recognized that the hope and uplift that seemed almost a visible aura around the big white house had been mine this morning, too. It felt alien to me now. I wanted to cry again, hearing Edward play for me. But I pulled it together. I didn't want him to be suspicious. I would leave no clues in his mind for Aro if I could help it. Edward turned his head and smiled when I came in the door, but kept playing. â€Å"Welcome home,† he said, as if this was just any normal day. As if there weren't twelve other vampires in the room involved in various pursuits, and a dozen more scattered around somewhere. â€Å"Did you have a good time with Charlie today?† â€Å"Yes. Sorry I was gone so long. I stepped out to do a little Christmas shopping for Renesmee. I know it won't be much of an event, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shrugged. Edward's lips turned down. He quit playing and spun around on the bench so that his whole body was facing me. He put one hand on my waist and pulled me closer. â€Å"I hadn't thought much about it. If you want to make an event of it – â€Å" â€Å"No,† I interrupted him. I flinched internally at the idea of trying to fake more enthusiasm than the bare minimum. â€Å"I just didn't want to let it pass without giving her something.† â€Å"Do I get to see?† â€Å"If you want. It's only a little thing.† Renesmee was completely unconscious, snoring delicately against my neck. I envied her. It would have been nice to escape reality, even for just a few hours. Carefully, I fished the little velvet jewelry bag from my clutch without opening the purse enough for Edward to see the cash I was still carrying. â€Å"It caught my eye from the window of an antique store while I was driving by.† I shook the little golden locket into his palm. It was round with a slender vine border carved around the outside edge of the circle. Edward popped the tiny catch and looked inside. There was space for a small picture and, on the opposite side, an inscription in French. â€Å"Do you know what this says?† he asked in a different tone, more subdued than before. â€Å"The shopkeeper told me it said something along the lines of ‘more than my own life.' Is that right?† â€Å"Yes, he had it right.† He looked up at me, his topaz eyes probing. I met his gaze for a moment, then pretended to be distracted by the television. â€Å"I hope she likes it,† I muttered. â€Å"Of course she will,† he said lightly, casually, and I was sure in that second that he knew I was keeping something from him. I was also sure that he had no idea of the specifics. â€Å"Let's take her home,† he suggested, standing and putting his arm around my shoulders. I hesitated. â€Å"What?† he demanded. â€Å"I wanted to practice with Emmett a little___† I'd lost the whole day to my vital errand; it made me feel behind. Emmett – on the sofa with Rose and holding the remote, of course – looked up and grinned in anticipation. â€Å"Excellent. The forest needs thinning.† Edward frowned at Emmett and then at me. â€Å"There's plenty of time for that tomorrow,† he said. â€Å"Don't be ridiculous,† I complained. â€Å"There's no such thing as plenty of time anymore. That concept does not exist. I have a lot to learn and – â€Å" He cut me off. â€Å"Tomorrow.† And his expression was such that not even Emmett argued. i was surprised at how hard it was to go back to a routine that was, after all, brand new. But stripping away even that little bit of hope I'd been fostering made everything seem impossible. I tried to focus on the positives. There was a good chance that my daughter was going to survive what was coming, and Jacob, too. If they had a future, then that was a kind of victory, wasn't it? Our little band must be going to hold their own if Jacob and Renesmee were going to have the opportunity to run in the first place. Yes, Alice's strategy only made sense if we were going to put up a really good fight. So, a kind of victory there, too, considering that the Volturi had never been seriously challenged in millennia. It was not going to be the end of the world. Just the end of the Cullens. The end of Edward, the end of me. I preferred it that way – the last part anyway. I would not live without Edward again; if he was leaving this world, then I would be right behind him. I wondered idly now and then if there would be anything for us on the other side. I knew Edward didn't really believe so, but Carlisle did. I couldn't imagine it myself. On the other hand, I couldn't imagine Edward not existing somehow, somewhere. If we could be together in any place, then that was a happy ending. And so the pattern of my days continued, just that much harder than before. We went to see Charlie on Christmas Day, Edward, Renesmee, Jacob, and I. All of Jacob's pack were there, plus Sam, Emily, and Sue. It was a big help to have them there in Charlie's little rooms, their huge, warm bodies wedged into corners around his sparsely decorated tree – you could see exactly where he'd gotten bored and quit – and overflowing his furniture. You could always count on werewolves to be buzzed about a coming fight, no matter how suicidal. The electricity of their excitement provided a nice current that disguised my utter lack of spirit. Edward was, as always, a better actor than I was. Renesmee wore the locket I'd given her at dawn, and in her jacket pocket was the MP3 player Edward had given her – a tiny thing that held five thousand songs, already filled with Edward's favorites. On her wrist was an intricately braided Quileute version of a promise ring. Edward had gritted his teeth over that one, but it didn't bother me. Soon, so soon, I would be giving her to Jacob for safekeeping. How could I be bothered by any symbol of the commitment I was so relying on? Edward had saved the day by ordering a gift for Charlie, too. It had shown up yesterday – priority overnight shipping – and Charlie spent all morning reading the thick instruction manual to his new fishing sonar system. From the way the werewolves ate, Sue's lunch spread must have been good. I wondered how the gathering would have looked to an outsider. Did we play our parts well enough? Would a stranger have thought us a happy circle of friends, enjoying the holiday with casual cheer? I think Edward and Jacob both were as relieved as I was when it was time to go. It felt odd to spend energy on the human fagade when there were so many more important things to be doing. I had a hard time concentrating. At the same time, this was perhaps the last time I would see Charlie. Maybe it was a good thing that I was too numb to really register that. I hadn't seen my mother since the wedding, but I found I could only be glad for the gradual distancing that had begun two years ago. She was too fragile for my world. I didn't want her to have any part of this. Charlie was stronger. Maybe even strong enough for a goodbye now, but I wasn't. It was very quiet in the car; outside, the rain was just a mist, hovering on the edge between liquid and ice. Renesmee sat on my lap, playing with her locket, opening and closing it. I watched her and imagined the things I would say to Jacob right now if I didn't have to keep my words out of Edward's head. If its ever safe again, take her to Charlie. Tell him the whole story someday. Tell him how much I loved him, how I couldn't bear to leave him even when my human life was over. Tell him he was the best father. Tell him to pass my love on to Renee, all my hopes that she will be happy and well†¦. I would have to give Jacob the documents before it was too late. I would give him a note for Charlie, too. And a letter for Renesmee. Something for her to read when I couldn't tell her I loved her anymore. There was nothing unusual about the outside of the Cullen house as we pulled into the meadow, but I could hear some kind of subtle uproar inside. Many low voices murmured and growled. It sounded intense, and it sounded like an argument. I could pick out Carlisle's voice and Amun's more often than the others. Edward parked in front of the house rather than going around to the garage. We exchanged one wary glance before we got out of the car. Jacob's stance changed; his face turned serious and careful. I guessed that he was in Alpha mode now. Obviously, something had happened, and he was going to get the information he and Sam would need. â€Å"Alistair is gone,† Edward murmured as we darted up the steps. Inside the front room, the main confrontation was physically apparent. Lining the walls was a ring of spectators, every vampire who had joined us, except for Alistair and the three involved in the quarrel. Esme, Kebi, and Tia were the closest to the three vampires in the center; in the middle of the room, Amun was hissing at Carlisle and Benjamin. Edward's jaw tightened and he moved quickly to Esme's side, towing me by the hand. I clutched Renesmee tightly to my chest. â€Å"Amun, if you want to go, no one is forcing you to stay,† Carlisle said calmly. â€Å"You're stealing half my coven, Carlisle!† Amun shrieked, stabbing one finger at Benjamin. â€Å"Is that why you called me here? To steal from me?† Carlisle sighed, and Benjamin rolled his eyes. â€Å"Yes, Carlisle picked a fight with the Volturi, endangered his whole family, just to lure me here to my death,† Benjamin said sarcastically. â€Å"Be reasonable, Amun. I'm committed to do the right thing here – I'm not joining any other coven. You can do whatever you want, of course, as Carlisle has pointed out.† â€Å"This won't end well,† Amun growled. â€Å"Alistair was the only sane one here. We should all be running.† â€Å"Think of who you're calling sane,† Tia murmured in a quiet aside. â€Å"We're all going to be slaughtered!† â€Å"It's not going to come to a fight,† Carlisle said in a firm voice. â€Å"You say!† â€Å"If it does, you can always switch sides, Amun. I'm sure the Volturi will appreciate your help.† Amun sneered at him. â€Å"Perhaps that is the answer.† Carlisle's answer was soft and sincere. â€Å"I wouldn't hold that against you, Amun. We have been friends for a long time, but I would never ask you to die for me.† Amun's voice was more controlled, too. â€Å"But you're taking my Benjamin down with you.† Carlisle put his hand on Amun's shoulder; Amun shook it off. â€Å"I'll stay, Carlisle, but it might be to your detriment. I will join them if that's the road to survival. You're all fools to think that you can defy the Volturi.† He scowled, then sighed, glanced at Renesmee and me, and added in an exasperated tone, â€Å"I will witness that the child has grown. That's nothing but the truth. Anyone would see that.† â€Å"That's all we've ever asked.† Amun grimaced, â€Å"But not all that you are getting, it seems.† He turned on Benjamin. â€Å"I gave you life. You're wasting it.† Benjamin's face looked colder than I'd ever seen it; the expression contrasted oddly with his boyish features. â€Å"It's a pity you couldn't replace my will with your own in the process; perhaps then you would have been satisfied with me.† Amun's eyes narrowed. He gestured abruptly to Kebi, and they stalked past us out the front door. â€Å"He's not leaving,† Edward said quietly to me, â€Å"but he'll be keeping his distance even more from now on. He wasn't bluffing when he spoke of joining the Volturi.† â€Å"Why did Alistair go?† I whispered. â€Å"No one can be positive; he didn't leave a note. From his mutters, it's been clear that he thinks a fight is inevitable. Despite his demeanor, he actually does care too much for Carlisle to stand with the Volturi. I suppose he decided the danger was too much.† Edward shrugged. Though our conversation was clearly just between the two of us, of course everyone could hear it. Eleazar answered Edward's comment like it had been meant for all. â€Å"From the sound of his mumblings, it was a bit more than that. We haven't spoken much of the Volturi agenda, but Alistair worried that no matter how decisively we can prove your innocence, the Volturi will not listen. He thinks they will find an excuse to achieve their goals here.† The vampires glanced uneasily at one another. The idea that the Volturi would manipulate their own sacrosanct law for gain was not a popular idea. Only the Romanians were composed, their small half-smiles ironic. They seemed amused at how the others wanted to think well of their ancient enemies. Many low discussions began at the same time, but it was the Romanians I listened to. Maybe because the fair-haired Vladimir kept shooting glances in my direction. â€Å"I do so hope Alistair was right about this,† Stefan murmured to Vladimir. â€Å"No matter the outcome, word will spread. It's time our world saw the Volturi for what they've become. They'll never fall if everyone believes this nonsense about them protecting our way of life.† â€Å"At least when we ruled, we were honest about what we were,† Vladimir replied. Stefan nodded. â€Å"We never put on white hats and called ourselves saints.† Tm thinking the time has come to fight,† Vladimir said. â€Å"How can you imagine well ever find a better force to stand with? Another chance this good?† â€Å"Nothing is impossible. Maybe someday – â€Å" â€Å"We've been waiting for fifteen hundred years, Stefan. And they've only gotten stronger with the years.† Vladimir paused and looked at me again. He showed no surprise when he saw that I was watching him, too. â€Å"If the Volturi win this conflict, they will leave with more power than they came with. With every conquest they add to their strengths. Think of what that newborn alone could give them† – he jerked his chin toward me – â€Å"and she is barely discovering her gifts. And the earth-mover.† Vladimir nodded toward Benjamin, who stiffened. Almost everyone was eavesdropping on the Romanians now, like me. â€Å"With their witch twins they have no need of the illusionist or the fire touch.† His eyes moved to Zafrina, then Kate. Stefan looked at Edward. â€Å"Nor is the mind reader is exactly necessary. But I see your point. Indeed, they will gain much if they win.† â€Å"More than we can afford to have them gain, wouldn't you agree?† Stefan sighed. â€Å"I think i must agree. And that means†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That we must stand against them while there is still hope.† â€Å"If we can just cripple them, even, expose them †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Then, someday, others will finish the job.† â€Å"And our long vendetta will be repaid. At last.† They locked eyes for a moment and then murmured in unison. â€Å"It seems the only way.† â€Å"So we fight,† Stefan said. Though I could see that they were torn, self-preservation warring with revenge, the smile they exchanged was full of anticipation. â€Å"We fight,† Vladimir agreed. I suppose it was a good thing; like Alistair, I was sure the battle was impossible to avoid. In that case, two more vampires fighting on our side could only help. But the Romanians' decision still made me shudder. â€Å"We will fight, too,† Tia said, her usually grave voice more solemn than ever. â€Å"We believe the Volturi will overstep their authority. We have no wish to belong to them.† Her eyes lingered on her mate. Benjamin grinned and threw an impish glance toward the Romanians. â€Å"Apparently, I'm a hot commodity. It appears I have to win the right to be free.† â€Å"This won't be the first time I've fought to keep myself from a king's rule,† Garrett said in a teasing tone. He walked over and clapped Benjamin on the back. â€Å"Here's to freedom from oppression.† â€Å"We stand with Carlisle,† Tanya said. â€Å"And we fight with him.† The Romanians' pronouncement seemed to have made the others feel the need to declare themselves as well. â€Å"We have not decided/7Peter said. He looked down at his tiny companion; Charlotte's lips were set in dissatisfaction. It looked like she'd made her decision. I wondered what it was. â€Å"The same goes for me,† Randall said. â€Å"And me,† Mary added. â€Å"The packs will fight with the Cullens,† Jacob said suddenly. â€Å"We're not afraid of vampires,† he added with a smirk. â€Å"Children,† Peter muttered. â€Å"Infants,† Randall corrected. Jacob grinned tauntingly. â€Å"Well, I'm in, too,† Maggie said, shrugging out from under Siobhan's restraining hand. â€Å"I know truth is on Carlisle's side. I can't ignore that.† Siobhan stared at the junior member of her coven with worried eyes. â€Å"Carlisle,† she said as if they were alone, ignoring the suddenly formal feel of the gathering, the unexpected outburst of declarations, â€Å"I don't want this to come to a fight.† â€Å"Nor do I, Siobhan. You know that's the last thing I want.† He half-smiled. â€Å"Perhaps you should concentrate on keeping it peaceful.† â€Å"You know that won't help,† she said. I remembered Rose and Carlisle's discussion of the Irish leader; Carlisle believed that Siobhan had some subtle but powerful gift to make things go her way – and yet Siobhan didn't believe it herself. â€Å"It couldn't hurt,† Carlisle said. Siobhan rolled her eyes. â€Å"Shall I visualize the outcome I desire?† she asked sarcastically. Carlisle was openly grinning now. â€Å"If you don't mind.† â€Å"Then there is no need for my coven to declare itself, is there?† she retorted. â€Å"Since there is no possibility of a fight.† She put her hand back on Maggie's shoulder, pulling the girl closer to her. Siobhan's mate, Liam, stood silent and expressionless. Almost everyone else in the room looked mystified by Carlisle and Siobhan's clearly joking exchange, but they didn't explain themselves. That was the end of the dramatic speeches for the night. The group slowly dispersed, some off to hunt, some to while away the time with Carlisle's books or televisions or computers. Edward, Renesmee, and I went to hunt. Jacob tagged along. â€Å"Stupid leeches,† he muttered to himself when we got outside. â€Å"Think they're so superior.† He snorted. â€Å"They'll be shocked when the infants save their superior lives, won't they?† Edward said. Jake smiled and punched his shoulder. â€Å"Hell yeah, they will.† This wasn't our last hunting trip. We all would hunt again nearer to the time we expected the Volturi. As the deadline was not exact, we were planning to stay a few nights out in the big baseball clearing Alice had seen, just in case. All we knew was that they would come the day that the snow stuck to the ground. We didn't want the Volturi too close to town, and Demetri would lead them to wherever we were. I wondered who he would track in, and guessed that it would be Edward since he couldn't track me. I thought about Demetri while I hunted, paying little attention to my prey or the drifting snowflakes that had finally appeared but were melting before they touched the rocky soil. Would Demetri realize that he couldn't track me? What would he make of that? What would Aro? Or was Edward wrong? There were those little exceptions to what I could withstand, those ways around my shield. Everything that was outside my mind was vulnerable – open to the things Jasper, Alice, and Benjamin could do. Maybe Demetri's talent worked a little differently, too. And then I had a thought that brought me up short. The half-drained elk dropped from my hands to the stony ground. Snowflakes vaporized a few inches from the warm body with tiny sizzling sounds. I stared blankly at my bloody hands. Edward saw my reaction and hurried to my side, leaving his own kill undrained. â€Å"What's wrong?† he asked in a low voice, his eyes sweeping the forest around us, looking for whatever had triggered my behavior. â€Å"Renesmee,† I choked. â€Å"She's just through those trees,† he reassured me. â€Å"I can hear both her thoughts and Jacob's. She's fine.† â€Å"That's not what I meant,† I said. â€Å"I was thinking about my shield – you really think it's worth something, that it will help somehow. I know the others are hoping that I'll be able to shield Zafrina and Benjamin, even if I can only keep it up for a few seconds at a time. What if that's a mistake? What if your trust in me is the reason that we fail?† My voice was edging toward hysteria, though I had enough control to keep it low. I didn't want to upset Renesmee. â€Å"Bella, what brought this on? Of course, it s wonderful that you can protect yourself, but you're not responsible for saving anyone. Don't distress yourself needlessly.† â€Å"But what if I can't protect anything?† I whispered in gasps. â€Å"This thing I do, it's faulty, it's erratic! There's no rhyme or reason to it. Maybe it will do nothing against Alec at all.† â€Å"Shh,† he hushed me. â€Å"Don't panic. And don't worry about Alec. What he does is no different than what Jane or Zafrina does. It's just an illusion – he can't get inside your head any more than I can.† â€Å"But Renesmee does!† I hissed frantically through my teeth. â€Å"It seemed so natural, I never questioned it before. It's always been just part of who she is. But she puts her thoughts right into my head just like she does with everyone else. My shield has holes, Edward!† I stared at him desperately, waiting for him to acknowledge my terrible revelation. His lips were pursed, as if he was trying to decide how to phrase something. His expression was perfectly relaxed. â€Å"You thought of this a long time ago, didn't you?† I demanded, feeling like an idiot for my months of overlooking the obvious. He nodded, a faint smile pulling up one corner of his mouth. â€Å"The first time she touched you.† I sighed at my own stupidity, but his calm had mellowed me some. â€Å"And this doesn't bother you? You don't see it as a problem?† â€Å"I have two theories, one more likely than the other.† â€Å"Give me the least likely first.† â€Å"Well, she's your daughter,† he pointed out. â€Å"Genetically half you. I used to tease you about how your mind was on a different frequency than the rest of ours. Perhaps she runs on the same.† This didn't work for me. â€Å"But you hear her mind just fine. Everyone hears her mind. And what if Alec runs on a different frequency? What if – ?† He put a finger to my lips. â€Å"I've considered that. Which is why I think this next theory is much more likely.† I gritted my teeth and waited. â€Å"Do you remember what Carlisle said to me about her, right after she showed you that first memory?† Of course I remembered. â€Å"He said, It's an interesting twist. Like she's doing the exact opposite of what you can.'† â€Å"Yes. And so I wondered. Maybe she took your talent and flipped it, too.† I considered that. â€Å"You keep everyone out,† he began. â€Å"And no one keeps her out?† I finished hesitantly. â€Å"That's my theory,† he said. â€Å"And if she can get into your head, I doubt there's a shield on the planet who could keep her at bay. That will help. From what we've seen, no one can doubt the truth of her thoughts once they've allowed her to show them. And I think no one can keep her from showing them, if she gets close enough. If Aro allows her to explain___† I shuddered to think of Renesmee so close to Aro's greedy, milky eyes. â€Å"Well,† he said, rubbing my tight shoulders. â€Å"At least there's nothing that can stop him from seeing the truth.† â€Å"But is the truth enough to stop him?† I murmured. For that, Edward had no answer.