Jollibee Foods Corporation Analysis free essay sample

Jollibee Foods Corporation Jollibee Foods Corporation claimed by the Tan family started in 1975 as an essential dessert parlor and in this manner extended its menu offering as sandwiches and burgers because of the expanded expense of oil and the President Tony Tan Caktiong (TTC) foreseen frozen yogurt costs to take off. The organization culture was created on the Five F’s: Flavor, Fun, Flexibility, Family climate and Friendliness. The years to follow, Jollibee Foods started to grow locally opening five stores and continued to fuse as Jollibee Foods Corporation. The family possessed Corporation quickly extended locally all through the Philippines. Jollibee Foods started to differentiate its item contributions by gaining Greenwich Pizza Corporation just as entering a joint endeavor with Deli France. The Corporation opened up to the world in 1993 which the family kept up most of proprietorship and control of the organization. Jollibee Foods first significant test was McDonalds entering the organization household showcase in 1981. We will compose a custom paper test on Jollibee Foods Corporation Analysis or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page McDonald size and notoriety as being one of the significant inexpensive food organizations was a worry for Jollibee Foods. Despite the fact that the residential customer favored the flavor of Jollibee burger the danger to the company’s piece of the pie was genuine. McDonalds started going into the Philippine market by opening six eateries inside two years. McDonalds started a broad promoting effort and continue to outperform Jollibee’s deals by 1983 which brought about a 27% portion of the market. The reaction to McDonald’s danger was another item called the Champ’s, which was bigger in size and spicier in taste that spoke to the Philippine buyer. In any case, in 1983 the political resistance pioneer Benigno Aquino was killed bringing about financial and political vulnerability. Remote interest in the Philippines eased back accordingly, which Jollibee exploited by promoting to expanding their menu to incorporate chicken, spaghetti and peach mango dessert pie for the nearby markets. When the political vulnerability was settled McDonalds started to consider extending in the Philippine market. Nonetheless, because of the development of Jollibee Foods to 31 stores coming about as a prevailing nearness in the market, McDonalds reexamined continuing with extension in the Philippine market. The procedure of growing to turn into the predominant supplier of item contributions (food) during the conservative and political vulnerability was basic to safeguard Jollibee’s residential market. Jollibee was the primary mover in the household advertise in the Philippines that formed the inclinations and desires for its clients. Jollibee’s continued to grow universally inside the Asian nations from 1986 through 1997 through establishments and joint endeavors. The new areas included Singapore, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Monsanto †Appointing, Legislating, and Lobbying Its Way to the Top Free Essays

string(47) may think nothing about the subject otherwise. Intrigue bunches are characterized as a â€Å"organized gathering of individuals that makes strategy related appeals† and they can profoundly affect our legislature and society (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 419). These gatherings speak to their inclinations in the political field in an assortment of ways; they can get government authorities delegated to government positions, campaign government authorities, and store media to publicize their message to assemble popular conclusion and influence voters. Organizations intrigue bunches specifically use these procedures, in light of the fact that there is a monetary motivating force in passing ideal laws and passing on a decent picture to government and people in general. We will compose a custom article test on Monsanto †Appointing, Legislating, and Lobbying Its Way to the Top or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now One business intrigue right now profiting by their communication with the Obama organization is Monsanto. Monsanto is a billion dollar organization liable for hereditarily changed seeds, the compound Roundup and its related Roundup prepared harvests, the poisonous concoction substance Agent Orange, cow-like development hormones (rBGH), and the manufactured sugar substitute known as aspartameâ€to name a couple. As a business intrigue gathering, it has been a fabulous achievement in utilizing government to push its plan, a lot to the disappointment of ecological activists, researchers, and concerned residents who need their legislature to manage organizations and secure people in general. This paper will look at how business intrigue bunches like Monsanto have had the option to assist their plan under the Obama organization through the arrangement of workers to government positions, campaigning, and utilization of media to prepare popular sentiment. ) Appointment to Federal positions The arrangement of representatives in business to positions in government is a typical event today and is regularly alluded to as â€Å"The Revolving Door†. This is the rearranging all through government and private division occupations, and it is awful on the grounds that it leaves these administration authorities with predispositions and the high possibility of being positive for their previous manager. In the Obama organization, there are at present numerous pistols from private industry (â€Å"Revolving Door†). One current gun from Monsanto who is presently settling on arrangement choices in regards to our sanitation is Michael Taylor. Michael Taylor was named representative official for nourishments at the Food and Drug Administration in January 2010 and is a previous Vice President of Monsanto’s Public Policy(â€Å"Meet Michael R. Taylor, J. D. , Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine†). This clearly makes a predisposition when settling on choices about strategies with respect to items made by Monsanto, for example, hereditarily changed nourishments or the cow-like development hormones utilized in milk. When Monsanto representatives like Michael Taylor get into these offices, they are normally good for their previous manager Monsanto when deciding. They likewise guarantee direct access for lobbyists to the offices they are in charge of; â€Å"many of Washington’s top lobbyists have close connections to significant individuals from congress or were themselves significant political figures, in this manner for all intents and purposes ensuring that customers will have direct access to government officials† (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 414). Taylor is a previous lobbyist and current government official who presently gives Monsanto full access into the dynamic of huge numbers of American’s choices about food. Sadly, he is only one of every a reiteration of government authorities who have personal stakes in the private area while as yet being permitted to settle on choices influencing the wellbeing and security of the American open. By getting representatives into government positions, organizations increment their odds of making a solid iron triangle framework that underpins their advantage gathering. The iron triangle is a â€Å"stable, helpful relationship that frequently creates among a congressional board of trustees, an authoritative organization, and at least one steady intrigue groups† (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 418). This iron triangle framework is incredible in making positive enactment and guideline for Monsanto; their great working relationship with authoritative boards and official offices permits them to help their motivation and further their business by straightforwardly molding arrangement results. 2) Lobbying individuals from congress Campaigning is a basic piece of how intrigue bunches speak to their motivation in government and look for entry of ideal enactment. A lobbyist’s objective is to impact strategy a specific way by â€Å"mobilizing singular residents to contact officials (grassroots campaigning), affirming at hearings, submitting composed remarks to an organization or panel, public statements, and other activities† (Hasen 217). Lobbyists likewise exploit their immediate access and â€Å"personal contact with officials and taff members† to impact strategy choices (Hasen 217). Monsanto is extraordinarily skilled in every one of these zones, and was the top campaigning customer in the agribusiness division with $8,831,120 spent in 2008 and $5,970,000 in uses in 2012 (â€Å"Annual Lobbying on Agricultural Services†). Business intrigue bunches frequently hall congress and the official branch to advance their plans and establish positive laws and guidelines. They do this by increas ing direct access to individuals from Congress and government organizations and making their inclinations heard. This is even supported by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) that â€Å"requires most government offices to give notice and a chance to remark before executing proposed new guidelines and legislation† (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 434). This permits organizations like Monsanto to meet with offices like the USDA, FDA, and EPA to say something regarding issues that influence them, for example, the benefits and wellbeing of hereditarily altered living beings (GMO’s), debilitating marking of GMOS’s, or implementation governs on synthetic compounds and pesticides. Research shows that business intrigue bunches have increased authoritative accomplishment through straightforwardly impacting the organization. As indicated by look into, the â€Å"significant attribute in intrigue bunch impact is the advantaged, regulated coordination of certain gatherings into open choice making† (Binderkrantz 177-78). In view of Monsanto’s elevated level of movement with government offices and their capacity to get access and campaign authorities legitimately, their conclusion is regularly incorporated into open approach. Another way Monsanto lobbyists gain impact is through the data they bring to the table the legislature. Research says â€Å"the most significant factor administering the impact of a gathering was the capacity of a gathering to give officials both specialized and political information† (Smith 235). Monsanto furnishes occupied government authorities with data about the issues that passes on power and touts inquire about support, settling on arrangement choices simpler for an administration official who may think nothing about the subject in any case. You read Monsanto †Appointing, Legislating, and Lobbying Its Way to the Top in classification Papers Indeed, numerous lawmakers state lobbyists are a basic piece of government; because of a 1978 bill extending campaigning revelations, Senators Edward Kennedy, Dick Clark, and Robert Stafford gave the explanation that â€Å"Government without campaigning couldn't work. The progression of data to Congress and to each other government office is an essential piece of our equitable system† (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir 431). This statement represents how lawmakers depend on lobbyists as a fundamental wellspring of data in regards to approach issues. Lobbyist’s job as conductors of this data to government is vital in light of the fact that they are in finished control of how data is presentedâ€and in this way how their plan is gotten. One late bit of enactment that Monsanto profited by due to the data their capacity to straightforwardly get to administrators was House Resolution 933, a crisis spending charge went to finance government tasks through September and deflect an administration shutdown. The bill, marked by President Obama on March 26th 20013, will keep on shielding this multi-billion dollar company from lawful implications of the security of its items. The spending charge, presently named the â€Å"Monsanto Protection Act†, embedded an inconsequential arrangement that awards Monsanto against lawful order for the following year and the capacity to keep planting seeds and reaping crops regardless of whether there are issues found with hereditarily changed creatures. Since they were attempting to surge this bill through to evade government shutdown, these obscure arrangements had the option to sneak through. The Missouri Senator who included the bill, Roy Blunt, concedes he worked with Monsanto in making the subtleties of this governing body (â€Å"New Law Spurs Controversy, Debate Over Genetically Modified Crops†). This bit of defensive enactment shows how enterprises can utilize their immediate access to government authorities to modify arrangement changes. In light of this preferred position of access and authority, business intrigue bunches like Monsanto are very effective in changing their plan into open approach. Generally speaking, look into indicates that there is a predisposition towards organizations. When contrasting remarks from business with nonbusiness analysts in government office hearings, there was an unmistakable champ in arrangement results. Organizations are bound to be convinced by lobbyists for business interests due to â€Å"the number of remarks originating from business interests† and the way that the â€Å"comments from business-related interests give more data and sign a more prominent degree of analyst ability, making offices react to the requ

How to Write Dialogue

Instructions to Write Dialog Instructions to Write Dialog Instructions to Write Dialog By Michael Discourse invigorates. Seeing quotes on a page has been demonstrated to build meaningfulness, which implies that perusers discover the page additionally intriguing. Furthermore, you need your perusers to remain intrigued. Discourse separates dim content and offers your eyes a reprieve as well. Exchange utilizes essential guidelines for accentuating and arranging: At the point when the speaker changes, hit Return and start another line (which Maeve Maddox exhibits in Formatting Dialog.) Put accentuation, for example, the end comma, inside the quotes. A colon can be utilized in a content, however in different types of composing, you dont routinely intersperse exchange with a colon. TOM POLHAUS: Heavy. What's going on here? SAM SPADE: The, uh, stuff that fantasies are made of. Here are a few proposals for progressively successful exchange: Accomplish something, dont simply talk. Struggle makes activity out of exchange. In the case of everything is discourse, its a play. In actuality, individuals get things done while they talk, and they dont talk constantly. Dont act naturally. New essayists need to discover their voice, however when you compose exchange, its not your voice now, yet anothers. On the off chance that they all stable like you, they all stable the equivalent. Make sense of what makes your characters not quite the same as you maybe age, beneficial encounters, or societal position and how those distinctions influence their discourse. Whos talking, it would be ideal if you On the off chance that its difficult to differentiate the characters, your peruser will be befuddled, exhausted or disappointed. Ali Hale gives a few arrangements in Dialog Writing Tips. For instance, you can have each character talk at their own rate, quick or moderate, curt or longwinded, huge words or little words, long sentences or short, discourteous or affable. Jargon can likewise recognize characters. They may communicate understanding in various manners: Aye, Yup, Ja, Okey dokey, Absolutely, For sure, buddy! Apparently. Breaking point outrageous lingo. During the 1800s, creators would speak to a local or social gathering by phonetically spelling their articulations, forgetting about dropped endings, etc: Och, dat wuz frightnin a no dout!. Lamentably, purposely including incorrect spellings and punctuations makes your composing harder to peruse. Maeve Maddox and Kate Evans give a superior path in Showing Dialect in Dialog and Writing Dialog In Accents and Dialect. You dont have them with Hello. Truth be told, start your discourse after the welcome. Forget about the cushion, merriments, and redundancy. Genuine discourse can be dreary to the point that proficient transcriptionists have extraordinary keys to abstain from composing words, for example, Okay and Fine. A few people can have a whole discussion utilizing just the word Fine. Be that as it may, dont put it in your novel. Skirt past the exhausting subtleties. Extremely, its not the subtleties that are exhausting, however the ambiguous parts. What's going on with you? Fine? Happy to hear it. How is your family? Fine? On the off chance that an exchange doesnt advance the plot or grow the character, overlook it. Individuals everywhere throughout the world state Looks like downpour consistently everybody can concur on the climate however you dont need to do it in your story except if the downpour would demolish a significant activity or item. You dont need to utilize total or syntactic sentences. Genuine discourse isnt like that. Individuals interfere with themselves, delay, alter their perspectives, etc. Show their inspiration. Or if nothing else, show they have inspiration, regardless of whether what it is stays a puzzle. They may not be coming clean or telling everything, except they have purposes behind saying what they do. Dont have the house cleaner mention to the steward what he definitely knows. Truly, discourse is an extraordinary method to take care of subtleties to your peruser, however it needs to reflect what your characters would have really inquired. Is Heathcliffe Manor dim and inauspicious? Truly, as you recall from working here for as long as thirty years, the past proprietor had the majority of the windows covered up. Give it a shot, for all to hear. Perusing your composing perceptibly to yourself (or another person) causes you choose whether your discourse is characteristic. It might make you abbreviate portions of it by giving you that you have to relax. Evade the data dump. Now and then toward the start and the finish of an analyst novel, somebody says: To start with, disclose to me all that you think about the homicide. Let me know, how on the planet did you make sense of that the head servant did it? Be that as it may, a data dump isnt as much fun as uncovering data normally. This gold mirror must be four feet wide! In what capacity will we get it ground floor? From this one bit of discourse, we can induce that outsiders are moving rich individuals out of a multi-story house. Breaking point the cast. The more characters there are, the all the more confounding the discussion can be. In the event that its difficult to recognize character voices spread through the story, its considerably harder to recognize them when theyre all talking immediately. About exchange labels An exchange label discloses to you who is talking. Scholars and educators differ about what else it ought to do. Call a taxi, she said. Taxi! he yelled. Where you wanna go? the driver said bluntly. A few educators need their understudies to look over the several options to stated, letting them know, Said is dead.: Stop the presses, he howled. There is no reason to worry, Kate consoled them. You all need to meet my grandson, she spouted. Just the Shadow knows, he murmured. J.K. Rowling is infamous for her verb-modifying discourse labels, which she for the most part puts in an exchange. Three models from a solitary page of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone: Gracious indeed, everyones commending OK, she said anxiously. You cannot accuse them, said Dumbledore tenderly. I realize that, said Professor McGonagall fractiously. Then again, Stephen King encourages scholars to maintain a strategic distance from verb modifiers and utilize only stated: â€Å"While to compose intensifiers is human, to compose ‘he said’ or ‘she said’ is divine.† He additionally says, â€Å"I accept the way to hellfire is cleared with qualifiers. Columnists are instructed to utilize just two action words in discourse labels: said and inquired. Including modifiers or utilizing progressively vivid action words bargain their objectivity. I concur with Stephen King. The word said doesnt divert from the discourse itself. It is unnoticed and subtle. Exchange is a character talking. A discourse tag is you talking. The journalists rule is appear, dont tell, and when you add a qualifier to an exchange tag, you are telling. You are additionally causing to notice yourself. With regards to action words, I recognize dynamic action words, for example, croaked or murmured and unmistakable action words, for example, compromised or encouraged. Saying he croaked shows your peruser the sound of the speakers voice, something which they wouldnt in any case know. Saying he compromised is a prop the peruser ought to have the option to see the danger in the discourse itself. I never state ‘She says softly.’ If its not effectively delicate, you know, I need to leave a ton of room around it with the goal that a peruser can hear that its soft.† Toni Morrison More recommendations for discourse labels: Dont utilize inconceivable action words. A few generally utilized discourse labels speak to activities that cant truly be performed while talking. That is redundant, chuckled Bob. On the off chance that this could occur, in actuality, this would sound progressively like: That is (ha) not (ha) important (ha), said Bob. Snickering and talking all the while is preposterous. Maintain a strategic distance from Tom Swifties. The creators of the Tom Swift undertakings of a century back didnt restrict themselves to said on the grounds that they had confidence in exquisite variety. Therefore, exchange labels with prominent action words and verb modifiers have been ridiculed in a class of plays on words called Tom Swifties. Somebody has let the soup bubble over! Tom said fervently. Its heavy storm outside, Tom raged. Sick hold the spotlight for you, Tom shot. I incline toward flapjacks, said Tom straight. Dont resemble Tom. Is this discourse label essential? Now and then you dont need one. In a discussion between two characters, the peruser can expect that substitute lines are spoken by a similar character. Heres a model from Leo Tolstoys War and Peace with a portion of the exchange labels expelled: Pardon me! Natasha said faintly. Excuse me! I love you, said Prince Andrei. Pardon Pardon what? Pardon me for what I didid. Would you be able to utilize an activity tag rather than an exchange tag? You dont need a discourse tag in the event that you have recently distinguished the speaker in an alternate manner. The criminologist unexpectedly snuffed out his cigarette. You should and me cooperating? For this situation, he peruser comprehends that the criminologist is talking. Discourse isn't only for fiction. Have a go at remembering discourse for all that you compose, even insightful papers and business updates. Seeing quotes lights up the eyes of an academician as much as any other individual. Rather than officially summing up what your bosses said to you, why not quote them in exactly the same words? Need to improve your English quickly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities day by day! Continue learning! Peruse the Fiction Writing classification, check our well known posts, or pick a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsThe Parts of a WordEbook, eBook, digital book or digital book?

Il Divo in the context of Italian political cinema - Literature Essay Samples

â€Å"We are very different. You are not my son, you are not my nephew. But you are a very good director.† [1] Upon seeing Sorrentino’s 2008 masterpiece, Il Divo, Francesco Rosi, one of the pioneering forefathers of the Italian school of cinema d’impegno civile – a brand of political cinema which promoted civic engagement and aimed to agitate the political sentiment of viewers, was at pains to convey to Sorrentino that, while he greatly esteemed his work, Rosi perceived him as separate from the canon of Italian political cinema of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Yet Rosi’s thinking is increasing being re-evaluated by many critics, who are quick to draw parallels between Il Divo, and its antecedents of the Italian cinema of the 60s to the 80s, citing the encouragement offered for civic engagement, the treatment of historical memory, and the profound analysis of an erstwhile era of politics – in the 1970s most commonly that of fascism, but in Il Divo, th e Christian Democratic party. It appears that neither party – Rosi nor a vast array of film critics – should be totally mistaken in their conclusions. Whilst there are ostensibly a great deal of commonplaces with the political cinema of the 1970s, such as the revisiting of recent political history, the focus on psychoanalysis, and the objectives of the directors to ignite a degree of political curiosity in the hearts of the spectators, there are at the same time differences in style, which prevent Il Divo from being immediately incorporated into the political cinematographic canon of the 1970s. For the purposes of this exercise, it seems opportune to focus on Bertolucci’s Il Conformista in dialogue with Il Divo in order to ascertain the similarities and differences between the two, and to place Il Divo within its historic context. The study of the recent past – in both cases the analysis of a political era roughly a generation ago, would be an obvious starting point for ascertaining whether Sorrentino’s film should be declared part of this body of film, in particular the study of organised crime. Whilst Il Conformista looks at some of the more nefarious elements of the fascist era, tracing the journey of Marcello under the watchful eye of Mangianello, in an attempt to track down and murder Quadri, his former professor living in exile who is a prominent antifascist, so too does Il Divo focus on egregious instances of organised crime in the recent past, most specifically looking at the Mafia and Andreotti’s alleged relationship with many of their g randees. These scenes are both conducted in a remarkably similar manner. For instance, upon visiting Quadri in Paris, we see a ling journey followed by a curious meeting in his dimly lit study. Likewise, when Andreotti goes to see Riina in Sicily – who is a Mafia boss – the ritualistic formality with which he does so is very similar. There are also, perhaps, homosexual undertones to both meetings. One notes for example the kiss which the two men exchange in Il Divo, and likewise the meeting in the darkened, private interior space between Quadri and Clerici in Il Conformista. Consequently, the subplot of illicit actions in both is a similar way in which the shady memories of the recent and problematic historical past is treated in both, prompting similarities to be drawn. Moreover, the aims of both directors, according to interviews conducted both by Bertolucci and by Sorrentino are similar and would seem to suggest that it would not be unreasonable to include Il Divo within the earlier corpus of Italian political cinema. In both cases, the directors were at pains to demonstrate that a key reason for their reviewing the recent past and incorporating political s candal of the generation which had just elapsed was in order to illuminate the fact that many of the corrupt elements of the Italian government had remained in place. Bertolucci replied, when asked whether he thought that Il Conformista was a film pertinent for contemporaneous viewers that â€Å"yes! That is why I say [it] is a film for the present.†[2] He also adds that â€Å"although the world has changed, feelings have remained the same.†[3] These statements come against a backdrop of intellectual dissidence against the political status quo: antifascism. It was beginning to be reconsidered, by a variety of academics, that actually a lot of the judicial and administrative equipment and personnel which characterized the antifascist era, was in fact no different to that of the fascist era. This school of thought is continued in Il Divo, as Sorrentino, in an interview with Cineaste voices a striking similar opinion on the state of contemporary Italian politics. He says that â€Å"while the government of Berlusconi is very different to that of Andreotti, the method of government is the same.†[4] Sorrentino says in the same interview that, whilst it is not necessary to have a full comprehension of Italian politics to take away many of the key messages from this film, he hoped to engage young people and alert them to the problematic aspects of government that had not been changed. As a result, we can see a further parallel between Il Divo and the established canon of Italian cinema d’impegno civile. The directors are both keen to convey a very similar message: while the Italian governmental personnel may evolve over the course of the years (although not necessarily – given that Il Divo focuses on Andreotti’s life solely between 1990 and 1992, ye t he was in fact involved with the Christian Democratic party in some guise from 1946), the administrative procedures and mechanisms of the Italian governments are something which will remain more or less constant. This constancy is painted in an unfavorable light, given the frequent allusions towards the corruption practiced by Andreotti. Although these films do have many similarities in terms of content, and to some extent in terms of treatment of the recent past and its impact upon the present political situation, the manner in which Il Divo treats historical veracity is not always in keeping with the treatment of historical fidelity which is seen in other films in this corpus. The referential language of Il Divo, which is characterized by a vast array of montages and filmic signs which frequently hint at the culpability of the protagonist Andreotti, is not at all similar to that of Il Conformista, or in fact many similar films from the cinema d’impegno era in the 1970s. A very striking feature of Il Divo is the wide range of virtuosic cinematographic techniques employed by Sorrentino, aimed at framing Andreotti as an all but culpable figure in many of his alleged crimes. The use of crosscutting is particularly efficacious at achieving this outcome. We note, for instance, that Andreotti is, like Attlee, an op aque figure in his personal life. This message is made abundantly clear to use by Sorrentino’s introduction of him in near total darkness, as he explains the severe headaches he has always suffered. Yet, Sorrentino does not allow him to live this reserved personal existence in his film, as he is constantly questioning the actions which he is alleged to have taken. For instance, the death of Falcone is something which the viewer is called to question Andreotti for, through the referential language chosen by Sorrentino. The crosscut between the burning car falling, and the somber minute of silence held in parliament for instance foregrounds culpability. In addition, when we see the men discussing the importance of keeping eyes fixed in Andreotti, subliminally conveys to the viewer that Andreotti should be seen as a figure of culpability – one to be foregrounded rather than one who can lurk in the shadows, as he appears to want to do in his personal life. This is especial ly the case when one analyses the following montage. After a short reflection about his personal life, when Andreotti’s interior monologue is privileged and we hear about the times in his life when he has cried, we then cut to two corpses, one in a field and a travelling shot of a man who has hanged himself, before switching over to an interview with Andreotti, where the journalist quizzes him about recent suicides. This treatment of historical veracity is rather different to Il Conformista. Whereas in Bertolucci’s film, it is never anything except evident that the protagonist is guilty for attempting to murder the professor because he is an antifascist living in exile, Andreotti is in fact a politician who was acquitted of many of the charges levelled against him. As such, Il Divo appears to be far more controversial, both stylistically and in the manner in which it treats the fidelity of history. As a result, whilst in many ways it would not be unreasonable to place Il Divo within the context of Italian political cinema generally, given the content, the focus on recent history, and the critique of the unchanging government methods of administration, when one considers the way in which the recent past is treated, Il Divo begins to look somewhat different. It is not merely a political exposà ©, but a highly controversial account of an equally controversial, although acquitted, politician. Thus, the treatment of historical memory, which is played with polemically by Sorrentino through a great variety of virtuosic stylistic techniques, is not entirely in keeping with the Italian political cinema of the post- 68 era.

Television Programs Essay - 692 Words

Television Programs There are many useful techniques greatly in television programmes and in their opening sequences. They are used to attract the viewers attention while also creating a great way to show what the upcoming program is about. One of these techniques is the use of split screening; this is a very attractive way to put across what a programme is about, tone or genera. In the television soap Hollyoaks the beginning shows a short clip of around thirty seconds to around a minute that gives a little incite into the episode, which is followed by the use of split screening in the opening credits. In this introduction there is a blue background, which shows a mellow tone while clips of†¦show more content†¦Using these techniques is clearly marking out what kind of programme is to come, through the used of humour shown in then opening scenes. The opening theme is slow and serious but also very catch. It could be linked to the likes of other police and emergency services documentaries lik e The Bill because they are very similar in tone. In the television soap Eastenders the opening credits starts on the centre of East London and pans out to show the larger area of East London. The most noticeable part of the introduction is the theme music used, it is a very catchy tune that even people who wouldnt normally watch the programme would recognise. The opening doesnt need to show any clips of other parts of its shows because unlike most television programmes it is continuously running so there is no need for it. The area shown is very grey and colourless showing a lower or even middle class type of place. People can relate to this type of viewing because the characters are based on working class people. This would also be Eastenders target audience because of these types of people would be able to relate to the programmeShow MoreRelatedTelevision Program For Children1687 Words   |  7 Pages Affections of television program to children in each cognitive development sta ge. There are so many different television programs out there designed for children, but the reality is when the word â€Å"children† includes kids of the age between births to 12 years old, the affection of those programs must be different in different stages of cognitive development of children between births till the age of 12. Therefore, my paper is going to talk about how those affections are different in each stageRead MoreReality Television Program1229 Words   |  5 PagesWhen people turn on their televisions at home or they are watching television somewhere else, they will possibly find a reality show somewhere. Reality television shows have been on television for numerous years and are changing. 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I have found that, in this season, the main impact of the huge influx of reality TV show based on information from the actors, writers strike, advertisers trying to reach a large part of the total population, and theRead MoreCan Pro-diversity Television Program Influence a Change in Preschooler’s Attitudes Towards Race?1304 Words   |  6 Pagesaverage, spend more time watching television programs than they do engaging with adults, siblings, or attending school (Feldman, Coats, Spielman, 1996). This finding introduces the challenge for big networks to use television to positively guide children’s social learning while they are home from school. Studies have shown that even a brief exposure to television can produce positive effe cts on learning during childhood (Rice and Woodsmall, 1998), and television programming can also positively influenceRead MoreTelevision Program Unfit For A Young Kid900 Words   |  4 Pagessince it displayed a lot of unforgivingly violent moments such as: how many chokes and gags Tom performed on Jerry and vice versa. It is a tough question to answer, as is the question of whether Tom and Jerry was considered â€Å"excessively violent† television program unfit for a young kid. However, in all honesty, it is up to the parents of the child to regulate what they believe personally to be the best fit for a young child to watch. 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For example, the rise of television programs like Elmo Street and Teletubbies demonstrates this upward trend of substituting media sources for teaching and learning. However, despite the increasing support from parents toward television programs, many researchers have mixed reviewsRead More VIOLENT PROGRAMS ON TELEVISION LEAD TO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR BY CHILDREN1015 Words   |  5 Pagescollected data that connects media violence, with violent acts. Conclusions deduced from this data prove that violent programs on television lead to aggressive behavior by children and teen agers who watch those programs. Television violence affects young people of all ages, all socio-economic levels, and all levels of intelligence. Today’s children view vast amounts of violence on television. A steady diet of death, killings, torture, and other grotesque acts may be viewed on any day by vulnerable youth

Human Development Middle Adulthood - 1068 Words

Human Development Reflection: Middle Adulthood Middle adulthood, or mid-life, is usually defined as ages 40 through 65. Experience Human Development authors Papalia and Martorell (2015) explain that during this phase, for the first time in life, development begins to deteriorate. Mid-life adults start to lose height due to shrinkage of the discs in the spinal column and their bones become more fragile. Skin becomes less elastic, hair may gray and thin due to declining melanin and hormone levels, and the senses begin to dull. Health concerns such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes become more common as well, even in previously healthy people. In addition, sexual functioning tends to change as hormone levels in both men†¦show more content†¦Occasionally this turning point can escalate into what has been termed a mid-life crisis. However, while some may experience turmoil during this period, others may feel at the peak of their abilities, while most fall some where in between the two extremes (Papalia Martorell, 2015). Erik Erikson s psychosocial stages continue into middle adulthood with the crisis of generativity versus stagnation, defined as finding meaning in one s life and committing to leaving a lasting legacy for future generations, versus becoming self-centered and stagnant. Socially healthy adults in this phase of life have developed their identities and the capacity for intimacy and now move on to mentoring younger generations as they face their life stages crisis. Many express this through parenting, grandparenting, teaching, and mentorship of younger generations. If mid-life adults are unable to find a positive outlet for their own generativity, they may run the risk of becoming disconnected from the community around them as they age (Papalia Martorell, 2015). Swiss psychologist Carl Jung suggested that mid-life was a time for â€Å"the emergence of the true self through balancing or integrating conflicting parts of the p ersonality, including those parts that previously have been neglected,† known as individuation (as cited in Papalia Martorell, 2015, p.471). 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How effectively does Harper Lee present the children and growing up in To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Example For Students

How effectively does Harper Lee present the children and growing up in To Kill A Mockingbird Essay In this essay I will be exploring Jem and Scouts journey to maturity throughout the novel; To Kill a Mockingbird. I will look at the techniques Harper Lee use and how well they work in portraying their growth to maturity. I will also explore influences on the children and the tree main themes in this novel: education, bravery and prejudice. The main them is prejudice which will be looked at in more detail. Jem and Scout represent a typical youth, naivety and innocence. In the first chapter, page 8, Scout says: Thereafter the summer passed in routine contentment. Routine contentment was: improving our treehouse that rested between giant twin chinaberry trees in the backyard, fussing, running through our list of dramas based on the works of Oliver Optic, Victor Appleton and Edgar Rice Burroughs They have no worries through the summer and have fun. The phrase routine contentment is repeated in the passage which gives the effect that this is what they usually do in the summer and were satisfied with the events they do. These are all things people generally do in their childhood and in summer. Some of the things they do seem to be menial such as fussing which also seems quite childish. The atmosphere of summer is created by what they do. In summer it is a time for relaxing; with no work to do. Improving our treehouse is one of these relaxing things which they can do in the summer due to the suitable, warm weather. An example of their naivety is Jems description of Boo Radley to Dill and Scout, also in chapter one, on page 14: six-and-a-half feet tall dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, thats why his hands were blood stained ong jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time. This description is probably quite exaggerated from the town rumours theyve heard. The exaggeration is shown with phrases such as dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch and drooled most of the time. It is unlikely anyone would eat raw animals or droll most of the time. The effect of long jagg ed scar, teeth he had were yellow and rotten and his eyes popped sounds like an evil, scary monster. They turn him into a horror story and is probably very exaggerated. The passage shows innocence as they believe the rumours about Boo Radley. The children have never seen Boo but they still make a judgement about him and the way he looks and lives. Their main role model in the novel is Atticus; their father. Scout is often critical of Atticus ways and how he brings them up. An example of this is the way that Atticus treats Mrs Dubose with kindness and compliments when she often throws insults at him. Scout does not understand why he treats Mrs Dubose so nicely. I think Atticus is a good role for Jem and Scout as he teaches them about prejudice by defending a black man in a racist community. When asked by Scout why he is defending a negroe he replies: if I didnt I couldnt hold up my head in town, I couldnt represent this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again you might hear some ugly talk about it at school, but do one thing for me: you just hold your head high and keep those fist down try fighting with your head for a change. This is on pages 83-84, chapter 9. Atticus says in this passage that if he didnt defend Tom he would be ashamed and would not be able stop Jem and Scout doing something wrong as he would be hypocritical. He also helps Scout to stop fighting physically by telling her to try fighting with your head for a change. He tells her that others will not agree with what he is doing as there will be some ugly talk and she must be aware of it. This is the first point in the novel where Scout learns about prejudice. Atticus is the most important role model as he helps them mature the most. Although he is their father, he does not treat them as children but as adults. He looks after them properly; however he does not play games with them. He talks to the often as adults. Atticus takes Jem and Scout to Tom Robinsons trial which other young children would not understand or find a terrible experience. Jem and Scout find it an experience which teaches them about right and wrong and racism. When Tom Robinson is found guilty they are really upset and cry at the unfair verdict. They know Tom is innocent but the society they live in will make sure he is found guilty. It was Jems turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd. It aint right, he muttered This passage from chapter 22, page 234 is after Tom is found guilty. The children show much maturity than the rest of the town as it says the cheerful crowd is happy at the verdict. They realise this is the wrong verdict as it says Jems face was streaked with angry tears. This passage shows the childrens maturity which they gained while watching the trial. Throughout the novel Jem changes socially, mentally and emotionally more than Scout. Symbolism in the Stranger EssayUncle Jack pinned my arms to my sides This passage shows she has a short temper which regularly gets her into trouble. She has a reason to be irritated with Francis, though if she was more mature at this point she would have dealt with the situation differently. Her childishness shows through by punching him and intending to go further. My left impaired, I sailed in with my right, but not for long. Young boys are often the more violent gender with one another and fight with each other a lot. The words knuckle, bone, teeth make the passage sound more aggressive and destructive. The uses of bones make it sound more violent. This passage also says that it took reasonable force to stop her from carrying on punching him as her Uncle Jack had to restrain her. Perhaps the reason behind her being boyish is that her main influences are Jem and Atticus. There is no female influence in her life apart from Calpurnia who is not very involved in Scouts life. Scout looks up to her brother when she is younger so she follows what he does. They spend a lot of time together and as he is still growing up himself he is not the best influence on her life. In the novel a lot of things she says are something Jem has told her and phrases such as Jem said and Jem was a born hero are used, as though she listened to every word he said. But as the novel progresses Jem matures and helps protect Scout and tells her when she is doing wrong. I think this shows that Harper Lee understands what children feel like and their consequent actions. In Jem and Scouts journey to maturity throughout the novel three major themes are touched upon. These are education, bravery and prejudice. Scouts school education is not as helpful to her as much as learning from Atticus. This is because she learns more about social issues from him. Jem and Scout can often be seen as being courageous by standing up for what they believe and defending their family as they know they are right compared to the hypocritical people around them. They know the others are being irrational, but very few people share the same views as them. But the main theme in this novel is prejudice. The novel centres on the trial of Tom Robinson; a black man convicted of the rape of a white girl. Atticus is defending him as a lawyer, even though he knows they will not win he knows that Tom did not rape the girl. Only the Finch family seem to realise other peoples irrational attitudes to race and class. In conclusion, I think Harper Lees portrayal of children living in the 1930s is realistic. The use of childish language can make you thin k about a young childs voice and recall your experiences as a young child. I like the idea of the novel being written by Scout as an older woman as it gives a different viewpoint on events. This novel deals with the issues of education, bravery and especially prejudice. In the southern states in the 1930s white people were very racist against black people. TKAM shows the racism with the unjust decision of Tom Robinsons case. Another case of prejudice is the way the town has built up an image of Boo Radley without seeing him or knowing him properly. During the novel Jem and Scout have a fairly joyful childhood dealing with issues that arise in childhood but the shocking moments really make them mature. Tom Robinsons trial matures them the most and I think it deals with racism very well. The reaction of the rest of the town after the trial, such as Bob Ewell attempting to kill them, makes them more determined to make others know that racism is wrong. TKAM is a good portrayal of maturing and learning what is right and what is wrong. But it is only the children who learn by these events. People in the town learn not to judge people without knowing them properly. A prime example is Boo Radley who no one had seen for years. When they find out he is not as demented or mad as they imagined and actually helps Scout realise they should not have gossiped or made snap judgement. Most of the characters learnt from the events and other characters in this novel and most seem to be wiser of prejudices in civilisation.

Mechanics of money

Introduction Barter system of trade was convenient in the primitive society because production was diversified and subsistence. Only the few commodities that one lacked could be obtained through exchange. However, as time progressed, the society shifted to specialization in the production process.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mechanics of money specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This necessitated for the need for an accepted medium of exchange to use for purchasing needed product and services. Anything commonly used as a medium of exchange is called money (Ashby 1). Money is a sensitive item in the economy and should therefore be controlled. If its supply is increased, people will buy in large amounts. During these conditions, orders will surpass the production leading to increased prices. As a result, there will be a sustained raise in the average level of prices, a condition termed as inflation. If the supply of money is low, people will not buy much. As a result, there will be more inventories. This condition will force some business to lay off some workers leading to unemployment. To encourage sales, some business will lower prices of their commodities leading to deflation. As a result, there will be a sustained drop in the total output of the nation’s producers, which is a condition called recession (Ashby 2). The Kinds of Money Anything can be used as money. Notes and coins are the currency that has been authorized by the government to be used as money. Another kind of money is the checking account balances. Checking account balances involves the use of checks, which are not money. If check were to be counted as money, it will mean that the balance portion not written on the face of the check is forgotten.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Debit cards, stored-value cards , smart cards, electronic funds transfer, web-based payment system, and credit cards cannot be considered as money and neither can they substitute money. Instead, they used in place of checks (Ashby 4). Coins, notes, and checking accounts balances are considered as money only if they are included in the measured money supply. If payments for the products and services are substituted with direct transfer of ownership of savings certificates, the saving certificates will be considered as money. The US Money Supply The money supply of the United States includes the coins and paper currency apart from the amounts in the vaults in the banks, Federal Reserve banks, and the treasury. It also includes the checking account balances for the USA dollar apart from those owned by United States treasury and domestic banks. This can be represented by an equation bellow M = CC + CA Where M is the money supply, CA the checking account component, and CC the coins and currency. From the equation, any activity that increases CC and CA increase the money supply and vice versa. The Federal Reserve banks, banks, and the treasure of US are the only entities with legal powers to create money.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mechanics of money specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The money they create and release are the only money accepted as money. This implies that dollars owed by the bank, Federal Reserve System, and the US treasury are not money. The supply of money can only be useful if it rises when there is a lot of money available for public spending and when it falls when there is little money for the public to spend. This scenario implies that a deposit of $2000 into an account will increase CA by $2000 and at the same time reduce the CC leaving M unchanged. This implies that the bank is a store that sells cash and checking account balances. On top of that, the bank also sells financial assets such as, certi ficate of deposits and loan checking account balance. Velocity of Money (V) Velocity of money refers to the average number of times a similar dollar is spent in a year for purchasing domestic output only. This velocity is determined by the people through the spending, earning, and saving behaviors. If money spenders spend it quickly, the velocity is increased and vice versa. On average, the Velocity of the US dollar is about 7.25. However, this figure seems less because of some factors such dollarization, limitation of V to domestic purchase, and little amount of money circulating in domestic market (Ashby 11). The velocity of money is allowed by the Federal Reserve System because it aids in determine the amount of money the economy needs. The total expenditure on the current domestic output cannot exceed the quantity of money multiplied by its velocity in one year. Money Producers and Regulators The money creation system of the United States is a three-tier system consisting of the treasury department, the Federal Reserve System, and the banking system. They are explored bellow.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More US Treasury Department The treasury is a department within the executive branch of the federal government concerned with the management of the financial affairs of the government. This department has an internal revenue service responsible for the collection of taxes and borrowed funds from treasury bills, which is used for settling its bills. The treasury is also responsible for the operation of the mint and the bureau of engraving and printing the US’s currency. The coins and notes mint by these agencies are not yet money and thus cannot be spend by the federal government. They are instead sold to the Federal Reserve banks for purchase by US’s banks. The whole process leads to a modest increase in the supply of money. The Federal Reserve System This is a specialized institution mandated with the task of stabilizing and controlling the money and banking system of the United States. Its operation is independent of the congress. This system was created following the fin ancial crisis of early 1990s (Ashby 18). It has twelve Federal Reserve banks that are owned as private corporations whose stock is owned by banks in their region. Functions The federal system regulates the size of the supply of money through manipulation of data on the same. It also serves as banks for the federal government whereby it maintains the checking accounts for the federal government. The Federal Reserve Bank further acts as a banker for foreign government and international agencies. This bank further works in conjunction with other regulatory agencies that are actively involved in the currency regulation, so as to ensure that all players within this industry operates within the required regulations. Banks Banks are institutions which offer transaction accounts whereby check or related instruments can be drawn to make payments. Traditional institutions subsuming commercial banks, savings associations, and credits unions are regarded as banks. The establishment of banks is ascertained by a charter after certify that the need for the same and the qualification of the institution. Since money is created through the banking system, the Federal Reserve System has to regulate the banking activities within the State. The depository institutions deregulation and monetary control act of 1980 streamlined the banking system by giving the federal government full control over all banks Banking Supervision and Deregulation Although banks are business entitled for profit making through their own goals, they are carefully regulated. The regulation is for several reasons. They include protecting depositors, stabilizing the monetary system, for protecting the consumer, and to check on the efficiency and competitiveness. They are discussed in details bellow. Depositor Protection Majority of the banking services are accessed through an account. When one opens an account with the bank, he deposits some money into the same and thereby becoming a creditor to the bank. Howe ver, the customer is exposed to default risk because the bank may fail to honor withdrawal request. This may happen when the banks become insolvent. Thus supervision guards the customer from the same. Monetary System Stability Financial transactions involve different instruments like checks, credit cards, cash machines among many. For effective functioning of the same, they need to be accurate, efficient, and fast (Ashby 22). Given the bulky nature of the transactions, supervision is done to enable their smooth operations. Efficient and Competitive Banking System Efficient operation of banks is aided by healthy competitions. Banks compete on various fronts such as interest on loans and efficiency of the services offered. In a market where banks are too many, it may not be possible for some banks to realize economies of large scale. This calls for regulation to check on the same. Also, regulation is extended on the competition between banks and institutions offering loan-able funds t o ensure that the competition is smooth and healthy. Consumer Protection Regulation and supervision is done on banks to ensure that they do not discriminate the public and at the same time to ensure that the public is protected from unscrupulous traders. Principle Regulators There are some agencies that have been given powers to regulate and supervise all banks. They bear the ability to levy fines, suspend or remove bank officials, issue cease-and-desist orders, and revoke charters. In order for uniform regulations, Federal Financial Institution Examination Council was created by the Congress in 1978 for these purposes. This council draws its membership from the following organs: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Thrift Supervision, National Credit Union Administration, and State Banking Agency. The Treasury and the Money Supply Taxes and Loans from the Public The management of the money of the nation is under the professional hands of the Federal Reserve System. This means that the treasury performs its activities with minimal effects on the credit market and money supply. Therefore it (the treasury) has created tax and loans accounts in all banks. In the event of paying government bills, the treasury transfers some of the money from the loans account to the nearby Federal Reserve Bank. This mean that banks loses similar amount of money hence reducing their loaning kitty. However, this is restoring by making a bill of payment. The treasury writes a check that is taken by the banks, which in turn demands for compensation for the face value from the Federal Reserve Bank. In this way, the banks would have restored their loanable amount. This process can be illustrated bellow. BANK FEDERALRESERVE Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities Treasury gets revenue from taxes or bonds Checking account balances reduces by $2000 Treasury tax and loan account increases by $2000 Tre asury transfers funds to the federal reserve bank Bankreserve account reduces by $2000 Treasury tax and loan account reduces by $2000 Bank reserve account reduces by $2000 Treasury checking account increases by $2000 Treasury spends the funds Bank reserve account increases by $2000 Checking account balances increases by $2000 Bank reserve account increases by $2000] Treasury checking account reduces by $2000 From the table, it can be seen that the government receives money for the tax or sale of bonds and spends them without a tilt on the bank reserve or money supply. It should be noted that if the dates for tax receipt and floating of bonds doe not coincides, the nation will suffer a credit crunch. However, the utilization of tax and loan accounts avoids such happening. The expenditure by the federal government, which is drawn for tax and bonds, does not affect the supply of money in the bank’s reserves because the same is replenished by sell of bonds and payment made by the government. Coins and Currency Creation The treasury is in charge of the US mint, which is used for manufacturing the US coins. It is headquartered in Washington DC. The treasury is also in control of the Bureau of engraving and printing, which prints the paper currency. The notes are sold for a cost while the coins are sold for their face value to the 12 Federal Reserve banks. The printed notes and coins are not yet money until they go into circulation. They can only go into circulation after the reserves in the banks runs low, prompting purchase of new ones. The process is illustrated in the table below. BANK FEDERAL RESERVE Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities Treasury sells cash to the federal reserve system Cash increases by $5000 Treasury checking account increases by $5000 Federal reserve sell cash to the bank Cash increases by $5000 Bank reserve account reduces by $5000 Cash decreases by $5000 Bank reserve account reduces by $5000 Customer withdraws the cash Cash decreases by $5000 Customer Checking account balances decreases by $5000 Treasury spends revenue from sale of cash to the federal reserve Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Customer Checking account balances increases by $5000 Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Treasury checking account decreases by $5000 For the case of torn or deformed coins and notes, replacement is done without increasing or decreasing the amount. If the bank lends to the treasury, the following table illustrates the situation BANK FEDERAL RESERVE Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities Treasury borrows Treasury bonds increases by $5000 Treasury tax and loan account increases by $5000 Cash increases by $5000 Treasury checking account increases by $5000 Treasury transfers funds Bank reserve account reduces by $5000 Treasury tax and loan account decreases by $5000 Cash decreases by $5000 Bank reserve account reduces by $5000 Treasury checking account increases by $5000 Tr easury spends funds Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Customer Checking account balances increases by $5000 Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Treasury checking account decreases by $5000 If the Federal Reserve lends o the treasury, the following scenario will arise BANK FEDERAL RESERVE Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities Treasury borrows Treasury bonds increases by $5000 Treasury checking account increases by $5000 Treasury spends funds Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Customer Checking account balances increases by $5000 Cash decreases by $5000 Bank reserve account increases by $5000 Treasury checking account decreases by $5000 Work Cited Ashby, David. Mechanics of Money. Monmouth: Western Oregon University Press, 1996.Print. This essay on Mechanics of money was written and submitted by user Guillermo Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Analysis on Electronic Health Record in the Contemporary Society Essays

Analysis on Electronic Health Record in the Contemporary Society Essays Analysis on Electronic Health Record in the Contemporary Society Paper Analysis on Electronic Health Record in the Contemporary Society Paper Due to advent of globalization and the immense occurrence of health problems in the contemporary society, healthcare practitioners divulge into a rather â€Å"modernized† conviction on how to improve the quality of their services for the benefit of humanity. Conceivably, the vision by which these practitioners are aided is a manifestation that the seeking towards the improvement of humanity’s way of living is constantly developing, hence, commencing on rather efficient means to cure and prevent manageable diseases which during the earlier decades were sought to be irrevocable (Gartee, 2006). In such delight, the mounting ability of technology on providing an efficient lifestyle is feasibly working on its utmost lead- the dilemma on paper works and compilation of medical patients has been conclusively time consuming thus, there appeared to be a remedy to such hassle- the electronic medical record. However, the access upon such records has been limited only to the hospital where the patient has been admitted and the other bureaus or offices which may need it in some circumstance were not given the â€Å"efficient† access to these records, making the â€Å"emergent† need time-consuming to comply. Consequently, the healthcare landscape came up with the revolutionized Electronic Health Record which enables the society to browse their medical record online, as well as with the other medical entities (JAHIMA, 2007). Current legislation surrounding its implementation In the year 2005, the United States of America gave a proposition to medical practitioners and hospitals as well that the pursuance of the project will not be of burden to them- giving them assurance that they are to grant the doctors with free electronic records system- which eventually triggered the publics consent on the feasibility and availability of the new system[1]. Consequently, several countries trusted the idea and have perceivably imposed the system and have catered such in a â€Å"shared† system[2] wherein the government and the hospitals both carve up their part in the maintenance of the EHR (Health Data Management, 2007). Hence, there appears to be a predicament on the case, since there are these critics who have observed a flaw in the program conveying the fact that the government is using this system and is allots a ‘larger’ amount compared to that calculated. There even involves politics in the imposition and various scrutiny on its ability to â€Å"develop life† and â€Å"change the future† of the healthcare arena constituted deliberative discussions- the standards in the system has not met the society’s expectation, although it has lessened the death rate in the country and the â€Å"donations† fraud[3]- seemingly float up in the whole gist of the story. [1] See nytimes.com/2005/07/21/health/21records.html?_r=2oref=sloginoref=slogin. [2] Ibid. healthdatamanagement.com/html/current/CurrentIssueStory.cfm?PostID=18930 [3] Ibid. http://emradvice.wordpress.com/category/ehr-legislation/

Explain the main aspects of the development of the chinese legal Essay

Explain the main aspects of the development of the chinese legal system since 1978 - Essay Example Since Chinese government did not impose any restrictions and policies to control the problems, there was no sign of legal excellence. This in turn led to legal battles between China and Western countries. The Western countries followed the Colonialism and the legal system of China could not manage the legal battle. The traditional system of law and its associated principles was considered to be ineffective, as the country could win against any of the well developed countries. This led to a situation where the people and the government thought of reforming the legal system. Chinese Legal System The Chinese judicial and legal system was dependent on the political and economic influence of the country. Reorganizing the legal system seemed to be a tedious task, as the traditional system was considered as the better option. The central government and the associated departments relied on the magistrate who would handle the legal issues and judiciary problems. The idea of implementing a new legal system was not preferred, as the impact of the old system was high. Though the centralized approach followed by the Chinese government was not favorable, the government officials were hesitant to impose a new legal policy. Development of Chinese Legal System The Cultural Revolution created a great impact on the Chinese government. Due to this, the Chinese government and the political leaders decided to restructure and reconstruct the country’s legal and judicial system. The initial stages of the Chinese government did not exhibit much of a development and this was also one among the reason why the political leaders preferred to modify the legal system. (USaid, 2004).The Chinese leaders played the major role in redefining the legal and judicial system. The positive aspects of the leadership contributed to the implementation of a flawless system. The leaders and the government realized that mere modification of the legal system will not be effective and efficient. (He, 2 007).This enabled them to include the social and economic factors of the country. Since the reformation of social and economic factors could help them improve the legal system, the government revived the idea of a new legal system. The new legal system was then born in the country of China by rebuilding the laws and judiciary boards. Legal institutions also went through a complete makeover and the country’s legal system was more effective than the one followed during the 1950’s. The market economy was reformed and the country looked forward to a drastic growth on the economic front too. (Zou, 2006). Other countries in the world looked upon China’s legal system as one of the most effective systems. From then China played a major role in the international economic market and the global economy. The import and export rate rose enormously and this helped the country to improve in almost all the fields. The share market also improved as the country gave rise to many industries. The industrial growth was a result of the economic improvement. (Lapres & Yuejiao, 2010). The legal issues involved in the import and export was resolved as the new system included features that would enable hassle free trading. The development of Chinese legal system was enormous as the country had a rapid growth in terms of the social economic market. The success was the result of the

Literary Analysis over the short story, The Ones Who Walk Away From Essay

Literary Analysis over the short story, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas - Essay Example The house does not have windows and is generally poorly ventilated. The incidence of the forsaken child in the Utopian City basically indicates a rotten foundation on, which the city rests upon. In addition, the author describes a scenario where the Omelas are informed that their success and general happiness can also be achieved by keeping the unfortunate child in a filthy and isolated room. Despite the fact that they are disgusted by this act, they later accept and their desire to achieve maximum happiness and success supersedes their humility towards the child. This is an incidence that symbolizes the selfishness of a Utopian Society; it symbolizes a scenario where the society is characterized by self-centered people who do not care about other people, rather focus on undertaking activities for their personal gains. Moreover, the writer goes further and indicates that indeed some of the residents of Omela were not pleased with suffering of the child and decided to leave the city never to come back. This is symbolism; it indicates a typical modern society where certain biased decisions are made by a few individuals to satisfy their personal interested, while less powerful people are compelled to adhere to the requirements of such decisions or forever never raise concerns. This is indicated by the elderly people who leave the city and never comes back. The residents of Omela are also not sure whether the child is human or not; some people claim that the child is sub-human and decide to refer to him/her as â€Å"it†. This is an indication that the society may be characterized by individuals who perceive other people as â€Å"less† humans can be subjected to torture as a symbol of sacrifice in order to benefit the society. The fact that some people may be perceived as sub-humans is a great symbol on how some people within the society feel more important than others and are

The Ties of Life into One Essay Example for Free

The Ties of Life into One Essay All works of literature are bound together in a deep, enigmatic way not visible to the eye at first look. Like pieces in a puzzle, even the most dissimilar pieces of writing fit together to construct the whole picture of the world of literature and life. Austerlitz and The Task of the Translator, taken together, demonstrate this idea. Though they are vastly unlike each other in their natures and features, their perspectives and their arguments, their style of written language and the category of writing in which they are found, they can still be drawn together and connected to form something distinctive and beautiful. If read and analyzed carefully, these two pieces of literary work can be put together to form another piece, one profound and exquisite, almost enigmatic and immense. They seem to be connected in some mysterious and unreachable way. From within them, a certain pull seems to issue, one intangible and indefinable, like the pull felt on viewing some veiled mystery in life, or on feeling or seeing something felt or seen in the past, in a dreamlike world. Both works have, in themselves, a meaning that goes beyond the surface, beyond sight and touch, and reach for the part of human life that lies Last name, page no. beneath and is unseen to the world. Both have these in common, there are profundity to them absorbs the careful reader into a soul-moving experience, but leave the quick, casual, shallow reader on the outside, wondering and uninformed, even bored or tired. The book Austerlitz is a highly descriptive narrative about Jacques Austerlitz, a German boy who lost his past in the ashes of the history of the Holocaust. Adopted by a Minister and his wife, he lived his life in oblivion to his own history, shrouded by fog and isolation he created for himself. Later, however, he experienced flashbacks and moments of vertigo, which began his search to discover his parents’ identity and the circumstances that led to his being left an orphan. The story is retold by a narrator who, by chance, encounters Austerlitz. Austerlitz tells him of his search for the past. Later, they plan meetings, and long descriptive and discourses follow as they speak of Architecture, Nocturnal Animals, and the Passages of the Paris library. Austerlitz seems to be simple at the start: it is about a boy who loses his parents in Germany and is adopted by a couple who raises him and keeps the secrets of his past from him until a later date. On the outset, it is a simple story of someone searching to find what has happened to him and who his true parents were. Then, confusion seems to build. The narrator of the book and Jacques Austerlitz seem to lose themselves in speaking of Architecture, Nocturnal Animals, and the passages about the Paris library. Where could these things lead, and relate to the theme and story of the book, to the lost boy trying to find his lost past? Last name, page no. But, if you dig deeper, and read carefully, you feel you are standing at the verge of a precipice with a whole sea of meaning beneath your feet. There is something behind the words, something that pulls your soul into it, but something you cannot grasp, or touch with human words. Jacques Austerlitz has lived his early life in silence and mystery. He seems to be going on quietly into the future, with the present a fog around him, and the past darkness. There is something about the strength of ignorance here: it must be a carefree life, but not a happy one. The minister and his wife later tell him about his past and his true name, but he does not seem to care to dig into his past, and is contented to live his life in that silent oblivion. Then, as he walked into a train station once, realization seemed to strike him like lightning. He suddenly experienced moments of vertigo, and flashbacks and memories came to him. Why a train station? It seems that he had been moving, like a train, steadily and mechanically toward a hazy, unknown future, but failing to realize that his past, too, was hazy and unknown, and he did not know the beginning of his destination. The clock, then, seemed to turn at this place. The train station depicted travel, and now his journey began, not into an unknown future, but into an unknown past. He seemed to turn around and reach for the things of the time that went before. The speeches with the narrator, which make up a large part of the book, are not confusing and contradictory, as they seem to be. Austerlitz speaks of architecture, in all its vastness and minuteness. Architecture is a vast subject, there are large arcs, large buildings, vast things; but it is also minute, there are corners, crevices, nooks, not seen by Last name, page no. the normal eye, but existing, anyway. These two elements are part of each other. They never can be parted and thought of separately. What could they have reminded him of? Why architecture? Could the forms of things, which hid a history of lives behind them, remind him of the past, of a warm hand to hold, of memories buried into great walls and hidden crevices, like the fog that enveloped him in oblivion? Philosophers and nocturnal animals have a lot of similarities. After all his arguments, this veiled idea lies beneath all, that philosophers, like night-animals, see when everyone else seem to be asleep. They seem to have reached a deeper knowledge, which bears them up above the everyday passages of human life, with all its superficial knowledge and unthinking ways and speeches. Philosophers seek to interpret the whole of human life within the cloak of a history not untold, and therefore the history must be told. The passages of the Paris library are veiled in mystery, like the mystery of life, like the many passages in memory. They are all built together to form one building, one life, but the many passages are lost in the dark, winding and winding, and not found until explored. All are mysterious, all are beautiful, and, though some are hidden in the dark, all must be part of the whole, and all must be found out: all the parts of his life, though some are hidden in the dark, must be explored and found out. The background of this story, of course, is the Holocaust. Though the narrative is silent, and seems to turn its head from looking into the face of that horrible time in history, the context embraces it and it hangs over the whole story like the sky hangs above us all. Every moment is enfolded in this history, a contrast to Austerlitz, who tries Last name, page no. to escape his past. But the cause of his trouble is the war itself, and though no passage looks at it directly, a silent voice seems to cry against it, and, like the passages of the library, all are a part of the whole. He seems to be saying, besides, that Germany must reconcile itself with its history of the Holocaust and should not hide in its oblivion, but embrace the moment, and the ground of its memory. â€Å"For instance, if I am walking through the city and look into one of those quiet courtyards where nothing has changed for decades, I feel, almost physically, the current of time slowing down in the gravitational field of oblivion. It seems to me as if all the moments of our life occupy the same space, as if future events already existed and were only waiting for us to find our way to them at last, just as when we have accepted an invitation we duly arrive in a certain house at a given time. And might it not be, continued Austerlitz, that we also have appointments to keep in the past, in what has gone before and is for the most part extinguished, and must go there in search of places and people who have some connection with us on the far side of time, so to speak? † (Sebald 257-258). He seems to be saying this: all of individual experience is at once vast and minute; the grief of history cannot be consoled; and the moment and its ground of memory and history is dazzling in its quiet mystery. He is speaking of life, with all its little gifts and mysteries, how all of life is connected to itself, how the ground upon which we stand is full of memory, how today reaches out and touches yesterday, and together, reach over into what will be tomorrow. There is his history, pulling him back, there is architecture, part of yesterday, and part of today; there are the moths forming arches over boys’ heads, Last name, page no. full of mystery and the gifts of today; there are the passages about the library, full of the past, and yet existing, full of today, if explored and embraced. The Task of the Translator is a very deep piece of writing which shows a number of things about translating from one language to another. The author speaks of translating an original work of literature and some of the misconceptions of people who undertake to do that work. He defines translation in a way unthought-of and deeper than life. He speaks of the kinship of all the languages of the world, and says that all must strive for the ‘pure language,’ which is untranslatable in itself. Translations must be faithful to the original, but they must add more elements to themselves to lead closer to that ‘pure language. ’ â€Å"Although translation, unlike art, cannot claim permanence for its products, its goal is undeniably a final, conclusive, decisive stage of all linguistic creation. † (Benjamin 3) This, according to him, is the task of the translator: to move closer to this language, which is above all, and divine truth. The Task of the Translator seems to puzzle more than Austerlitz does. The themes can be seen with careful probing in the latter, but in the former, there seems to be a depth quite beyond, a mystery that cannot be solved, but that must be interpreted by us in whatever ways will benefit us best. Walter Benjamin’s style is more dense and thoughtful-his points are scattered throughout the article, and merged here and there with common misconceptions and the truth. His point is hidden in a dark sea of language, but his points, as they come, rise here and there, like sudden burst of light upon the mind. Like Austerlitz, the article seems to be a practical piece of writing, one written to guide translators in the task of translating literature. His points, though, seem so deep and Last name, page no. so buried that it becomes confusing at once. IS he guiding translators in the way that they should go? Or is he writing some deep literature about language and divine truth, knowledge and what lies beyond? He buries his thoughts in language so deep and so dense, so full of meaning and so difficult to grasp at. At this point, when his work has been read and reread, there seems to be a depth beneath, the same depth felt on reading Austerlitz. The soul seems to be pulled higher, yet deeper, into something whose presence was never expected to exist. He speaks of languages and how they are all related to each other in that they are born to express what is common to us: life. â€Å" languages are not strangers to one another, but are†¦ interrelated in what they want to express † (Benjamin 2) There is relatedness about them, and they cannot be separated. Moreover, they are not like each other at all. Each language has its own element which the others do not; each is special in its own way, touched by the fingers of something deeper than what they seem on the outset. He speaks of a pure language, which is, in itself, untranslatable and, above all, the core of meaning. The original strives to relate itself to this pure language, but not any work of literature or art can aspire to it. Translations come after, after the original has passed, and modifies it, striving, in itself, to reach higher than the original has, for the pure language. Both works do not contradict each other. The original seems to have nothing to do with the translation, and the translation is not a mere copy of the original. Instead, both of them are like pieces in a puzzle, each aspiring to come together for the aspiration for the pure language, which is beyond, which is untranslatable. â€Å"In translation the original rises into a higher and purer linguistic air, as it were. † (Benjamin 3) Last name, page no. He seems to speak of this pure language as the language of God, the language of true meaning, the language of divine truth. He seems to say that all languages are united, seeking for the language of God. In this, divine truth is hidden. All are part of a whole, all are related. Nothing can be taken by itself; nothing can be read by itself. It does not matter of the reader, of the one who observes the art, it is the aspiration for the better, the pure, the Good, the Divine. He is full of contradictions. He seems to desire translators to follow some way, not to stick to the original, but to aspire for higher language, but he seems to say, in another and more hidden way, that this is impossible to do. It is not an article that teaches translators, it is a hidden work of the true language, of his beliefs that divine truth can come with the pure language. There seems to be a deeper relation between the two works than their mystery and depth. They seem to pull themselves into something: ONE. Austerlitz ties all life into one: the horrors of the past, the inconsolable pains of history, the gifts of today, the ground of the moment, and what stood on that ground before the moment existed, the passages leading to nowhere, but all proceeding from one, the secret heart. And the Task of the Translator ties all language (and all life, because language is only the expression of life) into one: one great language, one truth, one divine good, one pure language into which all things merge. All are part of a whole. All are united. All language, all life, come down to ONE. Appendix Benjamin, Walter. The Task of the Translator. New York: Routledge, 2000. Sebald, W. G. Austerlitz. New York: Random House, Inc. 2001.

Rosalind and the Masks in Shakespeares As You Like It :: Shakespeare As You Like It Essays

Rosalind and the Masks In this essay I would like to focus on Rosalind's - or rather Ganymede's - preoccupation with the outward show of things. Whether this is a result of her cross-dressing, the reason for the same, or the playwright's way of revealing his presence is not as yet clear to me, but Rosalind's constant insistence on the truth of masks and on the other hand her readiness to doubt this same truth fascinates me. When she decides to dress up as a boy, Rosalind seems to think a mannish outside sufficient to convince the world at large (I.iii.111-118). She is "more than common tall" and therefore all she needs is a "gallant curtle-axe", a "boar spear" and a "swashing and a martial outside" to hide her feminine anxiousness. Taking it for granted that noone will have the hunch to look beyond her male costume, she reasons that since cowardly men are able to hide these feminine qualities, she should be able to pass off as a man, simply by behaving mannishly. Being so totally dependent on her own disguise not being found out, it is funny how she proceeds to doubt anyone who does not put on an outward show fitting to their claims to feeling. The first to be put on the stand in this fashion is Orlando. As Ganymede Rosalind refuses to accept Orlando's claim to being the desperate author of the love-verses (s)he has found hanging on the trees on the grounds that he has no visible marks of love upon him. A lean cheek, which you have not; a blue eye and sunken, which you have not; an unquestionable spirit, which you have not; a beard neglected, which you have not (...) Then your hose should be ungartered, your bonnet unbanded, your sleeve unbuttoned, your shoe untied, and everything about you demonstrating careless desolation. (III.ii.363-371) He is, in other words, not exactly the picture of the despairing suitor. Neither does Jaques measure up to Rosalind's expectations of the melancholy traveller. She greets him with a "they say you are" (IV.i.3), and sends him off with the order of: Look you lisp, and wear strange suits; disable all the benefits of your own country; be out of love with your nativity, and almost chide God for making that countenance you are; or I will scarce think you have swam in a gondola.

The Golden Lily Chapter 18

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