Cell Phones and Driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cell Phones and Driving - Research Paper Example The second performance level comprises the skills required by a driver to move the car in the traffic. This level of performance is known as the tactical behavior. Deficits included in this level show up in the form of driver getting too close to the other vehicles on the road, or the driver’s lack of approach to other vehicles as he/she turns left on an intersection. Impacts of a driver’s conversation over a cell phone on the driving show up as change in speed, change in acceleration, and reduction in the driver’s tendency to quickly react to sudden changes in traffic. Strayer et al (2003) characterize the behavior of drivers influenced by consequences of using cell phone while driving during the first and the second level of performance as â€Å"sluggish†. Performance of the driver changes so that he/she starts getting slower. The third level of performance includes goal-directed traits of driving which are more managerial and project the strategic perfo rmance of a driver. Problems encountered by the driver at the third level of performance include failing to execute the planning and navigation tasks during driving. Presently, there is a lack of direct evidence which supports the observation of deficits on this level with the involvement of a driver in a conversation over a cell phone while driving. Ma and Kaber (2005) found that drivers using cell phone while driving experienced a considerable reduction in their awareness of the road situation. In addition to that, the perceived mental workload of such drivers relative to the adaptive cruise control conditions had increased a lot. Use of cell phones while driving decreases the tendency of a driver to appropriately react to the stimulated situations that call for an alteration in... This research paper discusses the implications of use of cell phones during driving for the society and discusses whether it is appropriate to ban the practice to make the driving experience safer. It is stated that there has been a tremendous increase over the years in the number of drivers who use cell phones while driving. This is a very dangerous and unethical practice as it increases the chances of accidents on the road. Drivers involved in this practice conventionally underestimate and overlook its negative implications and consider it too simple a matter to be taken seriously. A number of alternates to the use of hands to make or attend the call have been suggested including the use of hands free calling service. Nevertheless, this does not make the practice less risky as the fundamental element that increases the chances of accidents is the diversion of the driver’s attention, which is caused when a cell phone is used during driving irrespective of the use of hands. In order to drive safely, it is imperative that the driver is fully attentive towards driving. There has been a lot of research to prove the negative effects of use of cell phones while driving. Some researchers have found the danger inherent in this practice comparable to the danger involved in the practice of drunk driving. In conclusion, the researcher recommends that considering the implications of this practice on the safety of drivers, it is advisable for the government to ban the use of cell phones while driving.

Turn of the screw by Henry James and Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Example for Free

Turn of the screw by Henry James and Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay What role does the corruption of innocence play in Turn of the screw by Henry James and Lord of the Flies by William Golding? In the books Lord of the Flies and Turn of the screw, the corruption of innocence is used to show how easily evil can manifest itself in children. In Lord of the Flies, a group of young children are abandoned on an island with no adult supervision. They are convinced there is a beast on the island. This is the source of the evil, which eventually causes the group to start arguing and completely split up. In Turn of the Screw, a young woman is hired to look after two young children, Miles and Flora. She is convinced she can see the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel who used to look after the children. This slowly sends the woman mad and she kills Miles, trying to prove what she sees. In both books there is a corrupting force. In Lord of the Flies, the beast represents this. The beast brings fear to the children on the island, especially the littluns. It is a focus for their fears. The parachutist, which lands at the top of the mountain, is their first real focus for the beast. At this point in the book, the boys wanted grown ups to come and sort things out for them on the island. The grown up came but cant save them, as he is dead. The boys dont know this though. The twins, who were on fire watch, saw the parachutist and immediately thought it was the beast. They ran down the mountain to tell their chief, Ralph that they had just seen the beast. As the book goes on, the beast starts to break up the society formed while they were on the island. The group splits and jack becomes the leader of the new hunting group and decides they arent going to bother about the beast. When Ralph and piggy visit Jacks end of the island, they find jack painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol. The hunters do a tribal dance. They pretend Roger is the pig and they run around in a circle around him with their spears, as they supposedly would when they were out hunting. They all chant kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill the blood! Simon comes out of the bushes, after his encounter with the Lord of the flies and is killed. His name is never mentioned, he is called the beast throughout the killing, the beast was on its knees in the centre of the circle. In The Turn of the Screw, Peter Quint is the corrupting force. Peter Quint is real; therefore the beast is just a symbol. Quints appearance is different to what the governess has seen around. She immediately knows he is not a gentleman has he is not wearing a hat. Quint is seen as the stereotypical, dominant, male figure of evil who corrupts those around him. Quint seems to have an influence on Miles. He starts doing things just to prove to the governess that he can. An example of this is when he goes outside in the middle of the night. Flora and Miles were both in on the plan. When the governess asked why he did it he said it was so she would think me-for a change- bad! Miles is rebelling, but we dont know whether this is because of Quints influence or juts because he is messing about. This is because of the narrative it is written in. We presume that Quint has corrupted Miles and Flora because they both start acting out of character. The governess believes that Flora was aware of the ghost of Miss Jessel when she appeared by the lake. Two hours ago in the gardenFlora saw. Light and dark plays a big part in the books. Day and night is a main theme throughout both books. In Lord of the Flies, the parachutist arrives at night. The darkness again and stars a figure dropping swiftly from a parachute. The significance of this coming at night is that the boys have less control over what they can do. Things are less visible at night and it makes things look a lot worse than they actually are. This shows evil has already started to corrupt the children. The children automatically think the parachutist is the beast. If the children were still at their most innocent, it wouldnt have affected them in the way that it did. They would have been more likely to check out what was on the mountain before jumping to conclusions. They would have at least waited until morning to see what was up there. Another thing related with light and dark which plays a big part in both in both the books is fire and flames. In Lord of the Flies, the boys spent a lot of time making and keeping a fire alight on top of the mountain. This is because Ralph thinks that the smoke is their way to be saved. So we must make smoke on the top of the mountain. We must make fire. Here, Ralph is taking charge. He is trying to get the boys saved. But later on in the same chapter, the fire burns a whole side of the mountain. This shows the dual power of fire. It could save them, but it could also kill. Later on in the book, after the group split, the fire is used as a more tribal thing. The boys turned to savagery. The even stole piggys glasses so they could keep the fire going after the split. This is where you can really see how much evil has corrupted the boys innocence by the way they act. When they first arrived on the island they were very diplomatic and would have at least tried to talk to solve their problem. By the end of the book, they have to creep around to get what they want. In Turn of the Screw, candles are used a lot because of the time period the book is set in. One night, the nurse goes into Miles room. We see a lapse of innocence of miles. Why, the candles out! I then cried. It was I who blew it out dear. Miles says he is trying to show the nurse what he is capable of doing. However, some people may say it is just Miles covering up for the ghost or starting to be corrupted. Miles talks to her as if he is older. He sounds quite rude. Again, here is a time when Miles is covering for the ghost by trying to show to nurse he is in control. Another theme in the books is nature and surroundings. In Turn of the Screw, the house and surrounding gardens are always where the ghosts appear. The first time we see Peter Quint, he is on top of a tower on the house. Also, the first time we see Miss Jessel is across the lake. There was an alien object in view a figure whose presence I instantly and passionately questioned. We dont know if Flora can also see the figure, but the nurse points out that all spontaneous sounds from her had dropped. This then leads us to believe that the nurse thinks Flora can see the ghost. But we arent completely sure whether she is actually being corrupted at this point, as we dont know for sure what she can see, if anything. Leon Edel said that her Turn of the Screw of pain resides in her belief that evil has come in to the lives of the innocent. This would make us think that the nurse was convinced that the children could see the ghosts, even though she has no real proof. In Lord of the Flies, nature is one of the main themes. The island is partially covered in creepers. The littluns think this is where the beast or beastie is coming from. He says in the morning it turned into them things like ropes in the trees' The older boys try to explain there is no beast, but the littluns wont believe them. It is quite ironic that later on in the book they are all scared of the beast. The beast is the evil on the island, so the first mention of the beast would be where they first started to lose their innocence. This is right at the beginning of the book, soon after they all first met up. In conclusion, the corruption of innocence plays a big role by showing how quickly the children were corrupted. And how the force of evil is corrupting the innocent children, showing the power of it. However we dont know whether it is the beast and ghosts or just what is going on in the peoples minds. William Golding once said, The only enemy of man is inside him.

Essay --

Your arms can be your best accessories, especially if they're in good shape. A common problem area is the back of the upper arms; women often try to tone up this area, while men tend to work it to gain strength and size. The triceps pressdown, or triceps extension, is an isolation exercise that you can do to target the back of your upper arms. This exercise is beneficial, as long as your form is correct. About the Triceps The triceps is a three-headed muscle, consisting of the lateral, medial and long heads. It engages each time you extend your elbows to straighten your arms. Although many people focus on working the more visible biceps at the front of their upper arms, the triceps shouldn't be neglected, because they make up about 60 percent of your upper arms. Strong triceps can improve your athletic performance, and also protect your elbows; during sudden flexing of your elbows, they minimize stress by acting as shock absorbers. (See References 1, p. 108) Triceps Pressdown Exercise Triceps pressdowns work all three heads of the triceps. The exercise is done while facing a high...

Functionalist Perspective

Functionalist Perspective on Family Meeting The significant event I have chosen to observe using my new sociological lenses from a functionalist perspective is our family meeting due to preparations for Aunty Mal’s 21st birthday party. All age groups from grandparents to parents and children have gathered here at Opa and Oma’s house for one purpose and that is to plan and host the most fun and memorable birthday party.Our grandparents decided to have the party at their house seeing that it holds all our childhood memories, is easy to find, has enough space for our large amount of gathering family and friends and they also wanted to show off their newly renovated two-storey house. Everyone has been divided into groups and given certain roles to play and contributions to make. I will express my experience from these preparations and the celebration of one of our family member’s special day of her life. Turning 21 comes with expectations, it is the age where you are given a key and the key symbolises the ‘beginning or entering’ to a new matured world† or so the elder’s say. The first point I will talk about is the roles played by each family member. Secondly are the interactions between individuals within the groups, interactions between different groups and the interactions between the groups and guests. Lastly is the outcome of this experience.So by the end of my essay I hope you have an idea or you have managed to see through my sociological lenses of my experience from a functionalist perspective. First of all there were six groups we had been divided into. There was the children’s group, who were to choose games to play or movies to watch to keep them entertained and out of the grown-ups area. Then there was the girl’s group (I was in this group) who were given the role of decorations including cleaning up the house, setting up the tables which must have matching plates and cups and wrapping the cha irs when they arrived.The boy’s group were given the role of setting the lights, chairs, clearing out the backyard and providing the sound system including the DJ and by requests of the elderly people, they were to mix it up and have both old and modern music played. The men’s group were given the role of providing drinks and ice. The women’s group were obviously given the role of preparing the food and having all our mothers there, they had an advantage of knowing what we wanted to eat. Finally there was the elderly people’s group who were in charge of the guest list, tasting the food and nsuring everything is done and was in place. Secondly I witnessed interactions between individuals within groups. Through laughter individuals hit it off well seeing that they were within their own age groups and having the same idea or similar makes it easier to connect with each other. There was the interaction between different groups and then the problem started e. g. there was a disagreement between the girls and boys group about what songs are played, whether by a female or male artist.We came to an agreement that satisfied both groups. There was also the interaction between groups and guests. Serving with a smile by individuals in groups and cheerful compliments from guests on one side while catching up on gossips or mocking whoever is the night’s victim on the other. Endless conversations between duos, groups of threesome or more people interacting and moving from one circle to another meant that they were enjoying each other’s company and wanted to get to know others.Lastly as the night came to an end, the birthday girl said a little speech and she touched up on ‘importance of family and how seeing family and friends enjoying themselves and each other’s company makes puts a smile on her face’. She thanked her family and friends for being there to help celebrate her 21st birthday. She also mentioned Ã¢â‚¬Ë œthe night being fun and memorable and wherever she goes she will cherish the moments with her family and friends. The celebration would not have been possible if not for the hard work and input of her family.She is the woman she is today thanks to her family and she would not ask for anything else as she has everything she needs or wants in them. She is happy, so is everyone else and they are pleased with themselves and without everyone having a function the night would not have ended well. To conclude, due to individuals and groups putting in, playing a role or having a function to contribute to, the night has turned out to be successful. With each individual in groups playing their roles it has resulted in a smooth fun party and cherished memories.Without the interactions of individuals or groups the night would have been lame and boring and even though there was one misunderstanding they managed to make both sides satisfied. If one group had not played their role there would hav e been a conflict and the whole family preparation would have been ruined. The main point is that from my functionalist perspective, the purpose was achieved, that is to have a fun and memorable party. Socialising and interaction between individuals and groups contributed to the smoothly planned nights guest’s departing happily and all functions have been played accordingly. Thank you

Peace in Mindanao

The peace process in Mindanao still needs a lot of work. The path to peace on the Bangsamoro sector. The establishment of compromising and reaching of the meeting of minds has been conducted. What I want to see is how this will all played out. It is one big step and a giant leaf to a very narrow treacherous process to surpass from but the president assures that it will be done or happen when our countrymen will be willing to help them in their quest for peace.The people itself will have to give justification on the stipulation and not only must the president himself will be the one to fight for peace but also the people itself that must be as well involve for this is their nation to bring about the prospering of peace in the land. We all do want peace. But there is no real peace. Then has always been conflict. What action can we take in the name of peace? Can both sides change the politics of anger and resentment into a policy of cooperation?The Filipino’s lack of discipline e ncompasses several related characteristics. We have a casual and relaxed attitude towards time and space which manifest itself into lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management and in procrastination. We are impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward, resulting in the use of shortcuts, in skirting the rules (pasulot syndrome) and foolhardiness. We are guilty of ningas cogon, starting out projects with full vigor and interest which abruptly die down leaving things unfinished.Our lack of discipline often results in inefficient, wasteful work system, violation of rules leading to more serious transgression and a casual work ethic leading to carelessness and lack of follow-through. The path to peace is always a sensitive topic to obtain. In life there are no shortcuts and so we must be conscious not to show our weakness in character when we mean business. I just hope in this modernize world by while walking on the road with the right determination and enduran ce that it eventually lead to the right path and that is the path to peace.There is no need for haste because peace does not come out automatically, after all people do have safety precautions labeled on each one of us that trust does not easily be gain but you work for it. As the saying goes â€Å"hastes makes wastes†. Filipinos do have strength in characters as well. One of that is the pakikipagkapwa-tao where Filipinos are open to others and fell one with others. We regard others with dignity, respect and deal with them as fellow human beings.It is manifested in a basic sense of justice, fairness and concern for others. It is demonstrated in the ability to empathize with others, helpfulness and generosity in times of need (pakikiramaray), in the practice of bayanihan and the famous Filipino hospitality. Throughout human history, mankind has seemingly always been able to solve problems. So there is a possibility that this dilemma can be surpassing despite the obstacles that awaits it. Peace in Mindanao The peace process in Mindanao still needs a lot of work. The path to peace on the Bangsamoro sector. The establishment of compromising and reaching of the meeting of minds has been conducted. What I want to see is how this will all played out. It is one big step and a giant leaf to a very narrow treacherous process to surpass from but the president assures that it will be done or happen when our countrymen will be willing to help them in their quest for peace.The people itself will have to give justification on the stipulation and not only must the president himself will be the one to fight for peace but also the people itself that must be as well involve for this is their nation to bring about the prospering of peace in the land. We all do want peace. But there is no real peace. Then has always been conflict. What action can we take in the name of peace? Can both sides change the politics of anger and resentment into a policy of cooperation?The Filipino’s lack of discipline e ncompasses several related characteristics. We have a casual and relaxed attitude towards time and space which manifest itself into lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management and in procrastination. We are impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward, resulting in the use of shortcuts, in skirting the rules (pasulot syndrome) and foolhardiness. We are guilty of ningas cogon, starting out projects with full vigor and interest which abruptly die down leaving things unfinished.Our lack of discipline often results in inefficient, wasteful work system, violation of rules leading to more serious transgression and a casual work ethic leading to carelessness and lack of follow-through. The path to peace is always a sensitive topic to obtain. In life there are no shortcuts and so we must be conscious not to show our weakness in character when we mean business. I just hope in this modernize world by while walking on the road with the right determination and enduran ce that it eventually lead to the right path and that is the path to peace.There is no need for haste because peace does not come out automatically, after all people do have safety precautions labeled on each one of us that trust does not easily be gain but you work for it. As the saying goes â€Å"hastes makes wastes†. Filipinos do have strength in characters as well. One of that is the pakikipagkapwa-tao where Filipinos are open to others and fell one with others. We regard others with dignity, respect and deal with them as fellow human beings.It is manifested in a basic sense of justice, fairness and concern for others. It is demonstrated in the ability to empathize with others, helpfulness and generosity in times of need (pakikiramaray), in the practice of bayanihan and the famous Filipino hospitality. Throughout human history, mankind has seemingly always been able to solve problems. So there is a possibility that this dilemma can be surpassing despite the obstacles that awaits it.

Exploring the Causal Factors of Rape and Murder

Exploring the Causal Factors of Rape and Murder Hashtag: # Ãâ€"zgecanAslan (Ozgecan Aslan – Name of Turkish Student) Discrimination in Society Two of the three victims of February 10, 2015, Chapel Hill shooting were female university students at the University of North Carolina. A day later, # Ãâ€"zgecanAslan, a female university psychology student at Cag University in Turkey, was murdered and burned by three men. This brutality caused an outcry and thousands of women went to the street to protest her death and blamed Turkey government’s â€Å"systematic misogynist policy† for the rising incidents of abuses against women. The victims were university students, female, innocent or unsuspecting, brutally killed by a stronger male, and belonging to a similar religion. The female students in the Chapel Hill incident were Muslim, brutality shot in the head just outside their home, and murdered by a male anti-theist neighbor. Similarly, Ozgecan Aslan, a 20-year-old Muslim schoolgirl was on her way home from school when the three men (bus driver, his father, and a friend) who were trying to rape her stabbed her to death, burned and threw her body in a river. These incidents are similarly in some aspects. For instance, many people think that the Chapel Hill North Carolina incident was a â€Å"faith Hate† crime while protesters supporting think that # Ãâ€"zgecanAslan case is Misogyny, which by definition is also a Hate Crime but specific to femininity. They are both results of discrimination in society, crime against the helpless and perpetrated by ordinary men rather than known criminals. Get more information here: Womens Right to Education Contributing Factors of Student Suicides The Killing of Three Muslin-American College Students Students Right to Conscientious Objection Relieving Students School-Related Stress Misogyny according to literature is a male malady, a very primitive or stone aged view of women. Moreover, it is pervasive, persistent, and pernicious sexual prejudice. A government supporting this practice, therefore, is not only responsible for allowing continuity of such imprudent primitive concept but also encouraging violence against women. Female Students Vulnerability to Crime The result of study regarding victims of crime suggests that the real indicator of vulnerability to crime is not only helplessness but also a person’s lifestyle. Individuals spending time in public places such as working people, students, teachers, teenagers are most at risk. In fact, the survey shows that serious violent crimes against students often occurred away from school. Although anyone can be a victim, female students are more vulnerable than male. In 1990, four unsuspecting female students of University of Florida were brutally murdered inside in their college apartment by Danny Rolling, a man who instead of feeling sorry for what he did, repeatedly sang â€Å"None greater than thee, oh Lord† before he died in the chamber in 2006. Females are thought to be physically weaker thus is easier for a man to overpower a woman. For instance, the result of Crime Victimization Survey of students in Toronto High School in Canada suggests that 13% of female students experienced three or more sexual assaults while most violence occurring in school are hate crimes. However, like # Ãâ€"zgecanAslan, there are women that are resilient and take reasonable actions against their attacker. They can be aggressive and can afford to stand up to stronger men particularly when inhibiting violence.

Word Choice Quick vs. Fast

Word Choice Quick vs. Fast Word Choice: Quick vs. Fast Whooosh! Zooom! Wheee! Today, we have a need for speed, so we’re looking at the words â€Å"quick† and â€Å"fast.† Both terms are related to rapidity, but there is a subtle difference between them that many people overlook. So, join us for a speedy look at how to use these words correctly! Quick (Speedily or in a Short Time) One use of the adjective â€Å"quick† is to refer to something that happens at speed: John was always quick to respond. The emphasis here is brevity of action. We also see this in another use of this term, which is to show that something happens in a short amount of time: I’ll give your essay a quick look before you hand it in. These uses are similar, but the second doesn’t necessarily require speed. You could have a â€Å"quick nap,† for example, which would be short but static (unless you fall asleep on a skateboard at the top of a hill). Seems like a good spot for a â€Å"quick† nap.(Photo: John Chapman/Pyrope) The adverbial form of this word is â€Å"quickly.† â€Å"Quick† and â€Å"quickly† are sometimes used interchangeably, but you should always use â€Å"quick† for nouns and â€Å"quickly† for verbs in formal writing. Fast (At High Speed) â€Å"Fast† is another adjective that refers to something happening at speed: John was always fast to respond. However, it can also be used to describe something that is capable of moving quickly. Or it can indicate that something happens at a high pace: I’ve always loved fast cars. The fast pace of change took some by surprise. The key in these cases is that it about the sustained speed/rate of something, not the time it takes to occur. We say that a car is â€Å"fast,† for example, because this reflects its potential for sustained speed, whereas â€Å"quick† would imply a brief action. An important exception to this is â€Å"fast food,† which is so called because it is made quickly. It does not usually move fast unless you throw it across the room, which is widely considered impolite. If anything, eating it will probably slow you down. In addition, we can use â€Å"fast† as an adverb when describing an action: You always drive too fast. â€Å"Fast† has some other meanings, too, such as â€Å"hard to move† or to abstain from food for a period of time. However, these are much harder to confuse with the word â€Å"quick†! Quick or Fast? These words are often interchangeable when referring to something that happens at speed. But this is not always the case. The key to avoiding errors is therefore considering whether time is relevant. If you’re describing something that happens in a short time, it will be typically be â€Å"quick.† But if it is something that is capable of moving fast or that occurs at a high rate, the correct word will be â€Å"fast.† Quick = Happening at speed or in a short time Fast = Happening at a high speed or rate, or capable of moving at speed

How to Study for the ACT 10-Step Plan

How to Study for the ACT 10-Step Plan SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The ACT is quite possibly one of the most important tests you'll take in high school; it's vitalto go in prepared.With somany sources offering thesolution to your test preparation needs, how are you supposed to know which path to take? What follows is a summary of the best advice I haveto offer on how to studyfor the ACT, based on my extensive experience as a tutor.I'll cover when to start studying, where to find practice materials, and how to approach the process itself. This guide will give you a complete plan for studying for the ACT. 3 Guiding Principles of ACT Study We'll get to the specific recommendations in a minute, but first I want to establish the underlying tenets that should guide your ACT preparation. #1: Personalize and Individualize No two people are exactly alike- nor should their study plans be. Make sure your study plan suits your individual needs. We at PrepScholar know a lot about test prep, but you know the most aboutyou. Think about how you can use the flexibility in our suggested plan to serve you better. If you'd rather study two hours straight, fine. If you'd rather study for four half-hour increments, that's fine, too. Do what's going to work best for you! #2: Start Early Give yourself plenty of time for the test preparation process. Three months should be sufficient for most students' needs, but those looking for an extreme score increase might need to stretch this timeline out to six months. Of course, that means you should know which boat you're in at least six months ahead of the test, so you'll want to start paying some attention to the process that early. #3: Doing Something Beats Doing Nothing What if you don't have six months, or even three months, to think about test preparation? What if you only have 15 minutes a day that you can spend studying? What if you don't have four hours free to take a practice exam? Use what you have- even if it's just 15 minutes a day for a month and a half, it'll be much better than nothing. If you have to break your practice exam(s) into multiplesittings, so be it. Not being in a position to do something right shouldn't be an excuse for not doing it at all.A little preparation is better than none. Even very little outweighs nothing at all. The ACT Prep Process: 10-Step Plan Now that we've covered the basics, let's get into the detailsof how to study for the ACT. Step 1: Read Up on the ACT If you have any lingering doubts about the ACT'sformat, its scoring, or the implications of various scores on your college hopes, this is the time to sort those questions out. Being fully comfortable with the test will help you relax a little, not to mention study more effectively. Step 2: Take a Practice Test Give this first test your best effort so as to get a more realistic score. On that note, make sure you're using an official ACT practice test. These will give you the most accurate sense of the ACT as well as the most accurate results. Plus, they're available for free! While you're taking this practice exam, make sure to read the instructions carefully;getting used to these directions will be a vital part of your test preparation. They don't change from edition to edition of the test, and you don't want to waste time on test day reading the same directions you could have grown familiar with months ago. Besides, fully understanding the task will save you a lot of grief. Oftentimes, we tend to answer the wrong question because we don't fully realize what's being asked of us. Step 3: Score Your Practice Test Review each and every question you got wrong. See why you missed the questions you did. Which ones were careless errors, and which ones were genuine weak spots in terms of content? Pay attention to all these problems since they give you good information on your tendencies, including where you tend to get careless and where you need to understand the directions better. Many practice tests come complete with answer explanations,and these are a great tool to use when you're looking at the problems you missed. Otherwise, try plugging the correct answer in and working through the problem with the goal in mind; this might help clarify things. Don't forget you can also ask for help if you're still struggling to make sense of something. Once you've got a good handle on which questions you missed (and why you missed them), try to identify the patterns of your strengths and weaknesses. Treat this as a diagnosis for where to spend the majority of your time for the next fewmonths. Step 4: Set a Reasonable Goal You know how the ACT works and you know where you stand. How much do you think you could stand to improve? What's a bit of a stretch, but still realistic? If you're scoring in the low 20s, it's too much to expect to land in the 30s. If you're scoring in the mid- to high 20s, though, a goal in the 30s might be reasonable depending on how committed you are to the process and how many resources you're willing and able to use. To set a specific ACT goal score, you'll need to look at the average ACT scores of admitted applicants to the schools you're applying to.Your goal score must be higher than these averages to give you the best chance of admission. For more tips on how to set an ACT goal score, check out our step-by-step guide. Winning at darts while blindfolded isnot a reasonablegoal. Step 5: Decide What Tools You'll Use Whatever course you take for studying, you'll need some good resources. Official resources are always the place to start.If you need to supplement ACT, Inc.'s materials, though, make sure you're looking at the credentials behind anyproduct and the average results of the people who have used itbefore you. You might choose to work solo, using books,websites, and apps on your own. This is something you should be doing to some extent no matter what. Again, you're the expert on you,so it makes sense to work out some kinks on your own. It's one of the most efficient and cheapest ways to study. Many times, however, it's not quite enough. You might choose to take advantage of an online prep program. This is kind of a happy medium; you're still working on your own, but you're getting external guidance and expertise. The guidance is all based on your work and progress and uses very accurate algorithms. That being said, it lacks that personal touch of in-person contact. You might choose to join a group course. There, you can bounce ideas around with peers and a facilitator. You've got the in-person feel, you've got great accountability, and you can ask questions specific to your needs, but the true personalization will be somewhat limited by the format. You can also choose individual tutoring. The great thing about this option is that you can get the most specialized, individualized, expert instruction available.You also get that in-person need met, though the cost is frequently prohibitive and your time with your tutor will almost certainly be limited by logistical constraints. Generally speaking, you're going to get your best results when you mix and match.It would be ideal if you could work on your own while also taking a course or completing an online program and getting tutoring. Of course, you'll need to consider all the practical restraints such as budget.Figure out what's going to get you the results you need without causing undue hardship in the present time. Step 6: Practice Follow some sort of routine for your ACT practice. Generally, you should be studying between 30 minutes and three hours each time you study- closer to 30 minutes if you're studying pretty much every day, and closer to three hours if you're only studying a couple times a week. Try to usea combination of books, websites/videos, and in-person guidance. No matter what resources you're using, it's a good idea to switch things up once in a while so you cover all your bases and give your brain a degree of variety. Our brains thrive on change, so take advantage of this fact. Step 7: Take Another Practice Test This is where things start to sound a little repetitive. You'll want to take another practice test to measure your progress. This also serves as a chance to to continue getting more comfortable with the format and layout of the ACT. You're actually going to do this a fewmore times, too,if you have room in your schedule. There's nothing like a mock exam for practicing both content and format. Aim to take a practice ACT every three weeks. You can take them less often if testing so frequently doesn't make sense in your situation, or you can opt for more often if you're feeling shaky on the tasks. Regardless,aim for at least three practice tests before the real thing. It's best to take each practice test in a single sitting under actual exam conditions so you can acclimate to the environment. This means taking the test in a quiet room and using the same time constraints you'll have on the ACT. Afterwards, analyze your results with the same care you did the first time around and plan any necessary adjustments to your routine. Time for ACT practice tests should come around periodically. Step 8: Practice Some More Continue on with your ACT study routine, making any adjustments according to the results of your most recent practice exam. Keep using the resources that helped you the most during the last round of practice, and also keep incorporating variety into your drills. Whether you're working with a tutor or not, it's a great idea to find someone who's willing to help you by being a test preparation "buddy." This could be anyone from a parent to a friend to a school librarian, just as long as they hold you accountable to your process and encourage you along the way. Step 9: Repeat Steps 7 and 8 As I mentioned before, things become cyclical at this point. You're going to study and test, study and test, right up until exam time. Keep assessing your progress,and keep asking others who are following your effortsto weigh in. Always be open to adjusting your process according to what's working and what's not. The week before the test, start to slow things down. Don't take a practice exam in that final week, and don't study quite as much; you know what you know, and it's no use driving yourself into a frenzy trying to cram anyremaining factoids into your brain. A day or two before the test, stop studying altogether, and use that time to rest and recuperate. Step 10: Maintain Self-Care Throughout the process of studying, make sure you're taking good care of yourself, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself regular encouragement. Get ample rest and do some recreational activities. Reward your hard work with small treats, whether that's an ice cream cone or a walk in the park. While you should always pay attention to your sleep,it becomes especially crucial three days to a week before the test. Our bodies don't operatesolely onthe sleep of the night before but a night or two before that. Gather all your materials the night before the ACT, and don't forget to have a good breakfast and plan in plenty of extra time for getting to the test center. Also, remind yourself that while the ACT is an important test, it doesn't define you or your future success.Keep the test in perspective. Reminders for Your ACT Studying Reading is hugely important. Even when you're not officially studying for the test, reading many different styles and genres (and actively engaging with the texts) can help prepare you for the ACT, specifically the Reading and English sections. Set minor goals to help you achieve your overarching goal. It's great to see goals getting checked off the list, and having a set of actionable, achievable items to work toward will provide invaluable guidance when you're not sure where to go next. I've said this before, but vary the sources you use and the ways you study.Our brains tend to shut down after too much repetition, so throw yourself a few curve ballswhenever possible. Remember that study buddy I said to find? Seek them out for encouragement and use them to help you stay on track when things get difficult. They can talk you through any challenges that arise in your prep. People who will give you good counsel are invaluable. Conclusion: How to Study for the ACT Studying for the ACT can seem like an overwhelming task. However,by establishing a routine of studying and taking full-length practice tests, it can be broken down into manageable steps. Your ACT study plan should be personalized,but it should also include some basic elements like frequent practice tests and varied sources to use in solo study. Similarly, it's a good idea to pursue an ACT prep course (in-person or online) and/or individual tutoring. In all of this, though, don't forget to take care of yourself- the ACT should be serving you, not the other way around.Get good rest, and make time for the fun things in life. Remember that the ACT does not determine your fate all alone. What's Next? If you want to get started on reading up about the ACT,we've got an article that covers what exactly a good score looks like, along with tips on how to get there. Need help coming up with an ACT study plan?Check out our four sample plans, and get tips on how to study for the ACT if you've only got a month before test day. Aiming for a perfect ACT score?Then read our expert tips on how to get one, from a verified 36 scorer. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Key concepts of calculus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Key concepts of calculus - Essay Example It is basically the instaneous rate of change of f(x) with respect to x. Graphically, this is analogous to the formula for gradient that we studied in earlier classes that is . This is basically the gradient of the tangent line to the curve traced by the function. 5. An absolute maximum value is one which is greater than all other values of f(x) for all values of x. This means there is an absolute maximum at if for all values of x. A local maximum is one which is greatest value of f(x) within a given range of x. This means 6. is basically a summation of products of countless small rectangles which form a shape on a graph. Here, is analogous to the area of a rectangle where. The only difference is that as f(x) is traced along the graph, its height changes. The number n represents the total number of rectangles made and since it approaches infinity, it means that there width grows shorter and shorter and the whole sum effectively gives the area under the curve with minimum shoot over. The main difference between definite and indefinite integral in this context is that the former has a defined domain for which this area is being calculated while the latter has domain equivalent to all real numbers. Definite integral represents area bounded by x axis, the curve and the two vertical lines at limits of domain. Indefinite integral may or may not be bounded from right or left and also, the height of curve is also unknown. So the height of rectangles is also unknown. 7. For the definite integral, bounded below by and above by , of a function, the derivative is the value of function at and the limit is the proof of its continuity. This is true regardless of the value of

United States History, Reagan Revolution through President Obama Essay

United States History, Reagan Revolution through President Obama - Essay Example This took place in the last period of 19th century and continued in the first decade of 21st century. During the Reagan, administration the most significant turning point was the policy saw the economic boom during his period and revival of America military strength. In administration after Reagan, there have been changes in foreign policy. In foreign policy, the administration has focused on terrorism (Schachter, 2012). This paper seeks to discuss events that were influential during Reagan Revolution through President Obama and the impact they have had on America society. From the time of Reagan revolution through president Obama administration, there have been outstanding historical turning points that revolutionized and transformed America. In time of Reagan, administration there was massive economic revival through tax reforms and a powerful arm race never seen in America history. Moreover, there was a reduction in money to the welfare programs and other forms of aids. The other historic turning points were a change in foreign policy that focused on war especially the gulf war propagated by the Bush administration, and war on terrorism. Moreover, this period saw heightened fight against terrorism. This happened especially after 1993 attack and 9/11 attack. This will remain forever in America history. ... These reforms included cut in federal personal income tax, deregulation policy, and comprehensive tax reforms. As a result, there was control on both banks and oil industries. Moreover, he lifted the ceiling on interest rates, and federal price control on airfares. The deregulation resulted in increased bank rate competition. Natural oil price rose as well as the production and this led to reduced reliance on foreign fuel. Airfare was also reduced drastically, but fares for short distances rose. Consequently, at the time of exit from office the America economy was at the highest peak for a long period after World War II. The rate of unemployment also reduced significantly. The economy growth was also first, and less inflation was experienced since the mid 1960’s (Digital History, n.d). In addition, Reagan administration reduced funding to social programs. He considered these programs to be promoting laziness, promiscuity, moral decadency and other forms of social ills. In cont rast, this led to upsurge in various social ills in society. There was increased rate of drug use than witnessed in United States history. Moreover, during this period there was increased number of diseases especially the Aids pandemic that killed many people in the world. His administration was incompetent in handling AIDS epidemic. In terms of arm race, there was double military spending during Regan administration. This was to reduce the threat posed by communism during the Cold War period. As a result, the influence of Russia was curtailed, and this led to the fall of communism. This led to America becoming a world superpower as it is today. (â€Å"How great was Ronald Reagan?† n.d). Reagan left the America stronger, more prosperous, and more confident than he found it. The fight

Current State of the Economy in China Research Paper

Current State of the Economy in China - Research Paper Example This paper presents a thorough analysis of the current state of the Chinese economy. The main focus of the paper is on the potential of foreign and domestic trade activities in the country. Impact of the reforms in the economic policy, pertaining to the trade sphere, is also considered. The Chinese government in respect to foreign trade has worked to render some potential changes in this sector by removing some essential barriers pertaining to tariffs, and also reduced the level of monopolistic interventions of the different Chinese states. Even the foreign trade policies in relation to the export and import activities have been reformed by the Chinese government in terms of liberalizing the import licenses and enhancing the level of subsidies in regards to exports. The ascension of China to the WTO has also largely impacted the trade policies of China concerning the domestic trade activities. Government of China through the reduction of subsidies connected related to requirement of growth of import activities in such sector and thereby explicitly desired the reduction of dependence on indigenous materials. This activity is found to be impacted through the enhancement of American interference where the government of America strongly desired the reduction of the Chinese potential. American interference to alter the realm of government policies pertaining to Chinese domestic trade can be understood from the potential threat which the American government faces from growth of Chinese power. Thus American intervention is strongly observed altering the course of Chinese policy actions relating to domestic trade activities. The focus is rendered more on the energy sector of the Chinese economy which happens to render large amount of competition to the American region. Thus a fall in subsidies in the energy sector of China especially in the realm of wind energy helps countries like America to develop their potential in the international arena (Wolf). International and Domestic Trade Practices of China The trade practices of China pertaining to the domain of international trade of recent times is being widely accused for taking resort to a large amount of manipulation and adulterated activities. Developed countries around the world like United States and the European countries have in fact accused

Short Story Criticism Argument Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Short Story Criticism Argument Paper - Essay Example But in Chopin’s age such an attempt of a woman to seek for freedom which seems to be insulting to the male-dominated society usually ends in smoke like Louise, as Wang says in the following sentence, â€Å"By the death of Louise at the end of the story, Chopin clearly implies that any woman’s search for ideal feminine selfhood is impossible in an age dominated by patriarchs† (Wang 107). Indeed the textual evidences that Wang puts forth are not strong enough to prove his proposition as a fact. In this paper, I will prove that Wang’s claim about Chopin’s motif in the story is partially right and partially wrong. It is true that Kate Chopin explores â€Å"feminine selfhood in a patriarchal society† but not through â€Å"the heroine’s spiritual journey to freedom†. Again, unlike Wang’s proposition, Chopin’s heroine does not show any sign of attempt to search for her feminine selfhood. What Wang says in support of his c laim about â€Å"the heroine’s spiritual journey to freedom† is the textual reference to Louise’s reaction to the possibility of freedom at the possible death of her husband. Louise’s one-hour reaction to the possible freedom does not involve any struggle that could provoke the protagonist’s awareness of her imprisonment in the male dominated society. Therefore, Wang’s phrase, â€Å"the heroine’s spiritual journey to freedom†, is quite meaningless in the sense that Chopin’s protagonist does not make a journey to freedom. Indeed freedom once comes to her unexpectedly. Again, since Louise is ignorant of what imprisons her in a male dominated society, she can see only the minimal aspect of freedom. For Chopin’s protagonist, freedom means to live for herself, not for others, to live on one’s own will, as the narrator of the story tells Louise’s feeling for the oncoming freedom: â€Å"There would be no o ne to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature† (Chopin 89). Such perception of freedom rather reveals the protagonist’s immaturity and failure to perceive the greater responsibility that freedom imposes upon the one who enjoys it. When ‘to live for others’ is supposed to be one’s duty one’s freedom â€Å"to avoid it† should be considered as anarchy. Louise’s perception of freedom is ultimately flawed, because she seeks freedom from her responsibilities for others and because she does not seek freedom to be responsible. However, Louise herself is not responsible for such flawed perception of freedom; rather she is a mere production of the patriarchy that shapes her psychological development in such way. Unlike Wang’s claim that Louis e makes a journey to freedom at the prospect of her husband’s death, she remains far away from freedom in its true sense. Apart from this wrong interpretation, Wang righteously asserts that Chopin’s protagonist begins to form her selfhood hearing the news of her husband’s death. Though Wang claims that Louise searches for â€Å"ideal feminine selfhood† (Wang 108), Chopin’s portrayal of Louise’s nascent self is purely asexual, not a feminine selfhood. A man also can possess the self that Louise starts to form after hearing the death-news. It is the self (the asexual one) that defies any bondage and repression in any form and that always resists the suppressive power. Louise

Fear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Fear - Essay Example However, I can now attest that my most terrifying experiences of fear began with just one disturbing adventure in house cleaning that I had. At that time fear entered my heart never to leave again. This first fear experienced in early childhood now seems to have permanently scarred my mind with the shock, never to be undone. While it has now been over 30 years, I remember the event as if it were yesterday. Even writing about it now sends a chill thorough me and I can feel my flesh crawl just thinking about it. This all happened when I had just turned 8 years old. There was a cleaning trip to what I had heard was a haunted house. My cousins had been there and talked about it for many weeks prior and I wanted to see it for myself so I volunteered to help my family clean out this spooky old house which they had inherited. It had been closed for several years and was filled with junk, dust, and mold. My parents did not want me to go, they said I was too young for such work and would probably just slow them down. My cousin, Peter, who was only a year older, was already going to go and I thought that it was just unfair of them not to allow me the same experience of exploring this house. I was not really much of a tomboy, but I really wanted to see this place and see if there were ghosts there. So, I grabbed a broom and dustpan and proceeded to the car, my parents shook their heads and gave in to me, since they knew I was headstrong and would sulk for weeks if I did not get my way, a trait I som etime exhibit to this day, much to the chagrin of most of my friends and family. We arrived at the house in the early morning; the sun was casting long shadows from the banana trees that surrounded the property and the shadow of the house itself folded over us as we parked the car. There was a slight mist in the air and a cool chill, my mother was right as usual I should have worn a sweater, but I did not want to get it dirty. The front of the house had a

International Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

International Business Law - Essay Example But par (3) of the above section does not exclude inventions that were done outside employment; hence it is still possible that the invention is still free. â€Å"Shabana had reached an advanced stage of invention before her return to Australia. She completed work on the creation of the special widget a week later.† Hence, there is no issue that it was done in 10X during employment. The next question therefore is: â€Å"How would the employer acquire the tied invention? Is it automatic? Must it not do something to acquire the same in addition to employing Shabana? The answer to question is found in the German law which states, (1) Any employee making a service invention shall be under a duty to report the invention to his employer immediately in a special written notice indicating that said writing constitutes the report of an invention. Where two or more employees have contributed to making the invention, a joint notice may be filed. The employer shall inform his employee without delay and in writing of the date the report was received.† It appears on the basis of Section 5 (1), that it is the duty of an employee to report the invention which was not done by Shabana in this case. The facts of the case are clear on this. There was no mention of notice to 10X because the latter had known the invention only upon sale by Shabana. So the next question is: â€Å"What is the consequence of Shabana’s failure to report given the disposition made to Keg. Again the German law provide the answer as follows: (2) On the receipt of a written declaration of a limited claim, a non-exclusive right to use the service invention shall pass to the employer. Should an employer’s right of use unreasonably impede an employee’s further exploitation of his invention, the employee may request that, within a period of two month, his employer either make an unlimited claim to the service invention or release it to the employee. (3) Dispositions of a service invention made by an

Fear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Fear - Essay Example However, I can now attest that my most terrifying experiences of fear began with just one disturbing adventure in house cleaning that I had. At that time fear entered my heart never to leave again. This first fear experienced in early childhood now seems to have permanently scarred my mind with the shock, never to be undone. While it has now been over 30 years, I remember the event as if it were yesterday. Even writing about it now sends a chill thorough me and I can feel my flesh crawl just thinking about it. This all happened when I had just turned 8 years old. There was a cleaning trip to what I had heard was a haunted house. My cousins had been there and talked about it for many weeks prior and I wanted to see it for myself so I volunteered to help my family clean out this spooky old house which they had inherited. It had been closed for several years and was filled with junk, dust, and mold. My parents did not want me to go, they said I was too young for such work and would probably just slow them down. My cousin, Peter, who was only a year older, was already going to go and I thought that it was just unfair of them not to allow me the same experience of exploring this house. I was not really much of a tomboy, but I really wanted to see this place and see if there were ghosts there. So, I grabbed a broom and dustpan and proceeded to the car, my parents shook their heads and gave in to me, since they knew I was headstrong and would sulk for weeks if I did not get my way, a trait I som etime exhibit to this day, much to the chagrin of most of my friends and family. We arrived at the house in the early morning; the sun was casting long shadows from the banana trees that surrounded the property and the shadow of the house itself folded over us as we parked the car. There was a slight mist in the air and a cool chill, my mother was right as usual I should have worn a sweater, but I did not want to get it dirty. The front of the house had a

International Transactions Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Transactions Law - Assignment Example The harmonization rationale is meant to develop a comprehensive legal basis for the easy and free movement of trade across boundaries of nations. The aim of harmonization is to make the regulations of different nations similar. Such similarity leads to the adoption of common law principles which reduce the differences among states laws. International trade may be hindered by obsolete laws which are unsuited for business practice. The international law on the transaction for the sale of goods should aid in the harmonization of international trade (Scott, 2005). International laws on the sale of goods are generally similar in character. The common laws are continually reviewed through dispute arbitration and through the establishment of policies by international associations (Martinussane, 2006). The international laws have seen the creation of conventions that govern the contracts on the sale of goods internationally. Such conventions include the Vienna Convention, which has the merit of neutrality and hence more acceptable. There has also been the development of standard contracts, which aim to achieve a fair balance in the transactions of sales. Contracts for the international sales of goods (CISG) incorporate principles of common, civil, and socialist law (Bridge, 2009). The CISG compromises the principle of international trade from different legal systems. This has led to the complexity of international trade harmonization. This is because it does not apply to consumer transactions, the sale of the auction, and sale of stocks such as s hares and investment securities (Taussig, 2007). The CISG rules relate to offering and acceptance, which is a combination of civil and common law. There are several deviations, which lead to complexity of the rules that govern international transactions (Madl, 2002).

Understand and meet the nutritional requirements Essay Example for Free

Understand and meet the nutritional requirements Essay 1. 1-. Cognitive means the affect that dementia has on thinking skills e. g. memory, understanding etc. Functional is about the ability to perform actions such as feeding themselves. Emotional is about how they feel and react e. g. confusion can cause distress and aggression. As dementia progresses, eating and drinking can become difficult for some people. This factsheet looks at some of the difficulties that people with dementia may have with eating and drinking, and suggests ways to help. A person with dementia may no longer recognise the food in front of them. They may struggle to use a knife and fork as co-ordination becomes difficult. The person may not open their mouths as food approaches and may need reminding to do so. Food may be difficult to chew or swallow or they may not want to accept assistance with eating. 1. 2. Dementia can greatly affect a persons relationship to food and eating. The behavioural, emotional and physical changes that take place as dementia progresses can all have an impact upon a persons eating habits and on their intake of food and drink. It is important to do what you can to make sure that the person you are caring for enjoys their food and eats a healthy, balanced diet. Read more:Â  Essay About Nutritional Requirements As dementia progresses eating can become difficult for some people. However, by making a few changes you can help keep mealtimes as enjoyable and stress free as possible. 1-3-. Physical discomfort The person may be having problems with badly fitting dentures, sore gums or painful teeth, all of which will make eating uncomfortable. Lack of exercise If the person is not very active during the day, they may not feel hungry. Try to encourage them to move around during the day and take part in physical activities or exercise. 1. 4- culture, Identify and respect personal, cultural, and religious food preferences, such as eating tortillas instead of bread, avoiding pork or milk products, and not liking certain kinds of vegetables. Many caregivers have found that maintaining a sense of normality adds to mealtime pleasure, provides reassurance, helps maintain the person’s dignity, increases food consumption, and eases the tension that often arises during mealtimes 1. 5- The importance of adding a variety of food and drink – To maintain the individuals choice and Help the person drink plenty of fluids throughout the day—dehydration can lead to problems such as increased constipation, confusion, and dizziness. 2. 1- Mealtime cultures such as having strict meal times and sizes, a certain number of courses and in a certain order may not adhere to the needs of a person with dementia, their tastes may of changes and they may not wish to eat meals set out in a traditional fashion, they may not want to eat at the same time as everyone else or they may want to eat small amounts more often 2. 2- Assessing the mealtime situation can help caregivers identify and resolve problems and understand what is happening from the care recipient’s perspective. the visual aspects of the environment—for example, whether there is poor room lighting, too much glare or too many shadows in the room or on the table, unneeded items or too many food choices on the table, distracting patterns in the place setting, or too little colour contrast between the food and the dishes, how the food smells, tastes, and feels, If the care recipient has difficulty using utensils, replace some foods with finger foods such as small sandwiches, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Simple adaptive eating tools also can help some people remain independent and maintain a sense of personal control while dining. These include items such as plates with large rims, cups with lids and wide bases, flexible straws, utensils with large or built-up handles, and non-slip placemats or suction cups to keep dishes from moving on the table. 2. 3-Person centred approach -As dementia progresses, eating and drinking can become difficult for some people. A person with dementia may no longer recognise the food in front of them. They may Struggle to use a knife and fork as co-ordination becomes difficult. The person may not open Their mouths as food approaches and may need reminding to do so. Food may be difficult to Chew or swallow or they may not want to accept assistance with eating. If you are supporting a person with dementia at mealtimes it is important to remember that these reactions are not a deliberate attempt to be ‘difficult’, or a personal attack. The difficulties are likely to be related to changes caused by the person’s dementia. When supporting a person at mealtimes it can be a challenge to identify what the problem is, particularly if the person themselves is finding it difficult to find the words to explain, Meals should be relaxed and unhurried. Allow plenty of time and make sure that there are no distractions such as a television or excess noise in the background, do not feel you need to prepare elaborate meals – it is probably better to devote your energy to ensuring that the person eats and enjoys their food. Preferences and styles of eating may change, try to be flexible. If you have to assist a person to eat and drink, talk about what you are offering them to help remind them of tastes and flavours.

Century Medical Case Essay -- Business Case Study, Analysis

Case Background This case is about the development of new technology at Century Medical – a large medical products company based in Connecticut. For the past few years, the company had made significant progress by integrating technology into its systems and processes. Sam Nolan is the Chief Information Officer at Century Medical. He has been working with Century Medical for the past 4 years. He has taken initiatives and led projects to design and implement various systems for Century Medical. One of them was a benefits-administration system for the HR department of the company. The other was a web-based purchasing system that improved the purchasing of supplies and capital goods. These new systems automated the various office processes. This not only drastically reduced the time required to carry out the related tasks but also left the managers with more time so that they could concentrate on the value added activities. The projections showed that the system was to save Century Medical $2 million annually. This technology upgrade was possible because Sam Nolan was successful in making the people in the company recognise the various benefits (like information and knowledge sharing, integrated business processes, better team co-ordination, etc) associated with the new technology. Problem Identification Sam Nolan had proposed a new web-based job posting system for the organisation. The idea was to ease the hiring of personnel from within the organisation. The system would link Century’s managers, recruiters and the job applicants. This would lead to a lot of savings in terms of recruiting and training cost. Sam Nolan also gathered a project team to develop the idea. Later the project got endorsed by the executive vice-... ... system, Sam Nolan should approach Century Medical’s finance department and propose the same system to them. The finance department will then forward the proposal for the higher management’s approval. 4. Sam Nolan should talk to the CEO of Century Medical, explain the benefits of the new system and persuade him to support the initiative. Our Recommendations Based on the above analysis and the various alternatives, Sam Nolan should take the following steps – ï‚ § Sam Nolan should go ahead with the pilot implementation of the project. ï‚ § He should then present the cost-benefit analysis of the same to Tom Carr. ï‚ § Sam Nolan should use the results of the pilot project to persuade Tom Carr. He can also cite the examples of previous successful project implementations and the benefits derived from them. ï‚ § Thus Nolan should try to get a favorable response from Tom Carr.

A Critical Interpretation of Hans Kung?s Historical Analysis of the Dev

A Critical Interpretation of Hans Kung’s Historical Analysis of the Development of the Hierarchical Church   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The beginnings of the Christian church are shrouded in mystery. With the lack of evidence about that time in history, it is hard to draw conclusions of any type. However, the historical analyst, Hans Kung, has written a book to shed some light on the subject. In this book, Kung discusses his opinion on the development of the early church, and its hierarchical structure. In the following paper, I will address two of the chapters of Kung’s book, â€Å"The Beginnings of the Early Church† and â€Å"The Early Catholic Church†. The points that I will focus on are: The makeup and persecution of the early church community and why it was that way, and how, according to Kung, the founders of Catholicism went against how Jesus wanted the church to be governed by establishing a hierarchy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Christian church, according to Kung, began at Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came to the apostles and told them to go out and preach the teachings of Jesus it meant that the apostles could claim an identity separate from Judaism. The majority of the first Christians were Jews from Jerusalem that believed that Jesus was the Messiah promised to the Jews in the Hebrew Testament and they believed in the resurrection. â€Å"The earliest Christian community did not want in any way to part company with the Jewish community or nation, but to remain integrated into Judaism.†(P. 13). The differences in the beliefs of the Jews and the Jewish-Christians naturally created a separation in the two groups. When the Christian disciples started going out and preaching their faith to people, the Roman Empire saw them as a threat to their power and decided that Christianity would have to be stopped. Because Christianity and Judaism were one, the two most effective ways to persecute the Christians was to execute their leaders, and to destroy the Jewish places of worship. After the Romans burned the Temple of Jerusalem for the second time, a council of Pharisees decided that the Christians were to be excommunicated from the Jewish temple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If not for the early connection to the Jewish faith, the Christian religion would never have established as a major religion. The idea of having one God, called monotheism, was too radi... ... what they thought, there would be no extravagance in the lives of the church officials. Likewise, if the church truly believed in what Jesus taught, they would not be shunning the participation of women in the church; rather, they would be embracing all the people that truly wished to participate in the vocation of a priest or any position in the church for that matter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, the early Christian church had its problems in who was accepted into the new faith and why they were persecuted for it. This was because, during the height of the Roman Empire, any group of people that could be dangerous to Roman ideology would not be tolerated, and the Romans would attempt to put a stop to it. These persecutions of the Christians, however, strengthened, not weakened the Christian church to a point that there would be no way to disperse the community of believers. The main reason that the church stayed together like it did was because of the early establishment of a hierarchy, which, while Kung speculates, would not be the way that Jesus would have wanted the church to be governed, worked in establishing the Christian community into a world religion.

Doubt and the Acquisition of Knowledge Essay

Is doubt of any value in acquiring facts and knowledge? There are a number of approaches to tackling this question. If we were to look at various religious philosophies such as the teachings of Hinduism, Buddha and Christ, the disadvantages of doubt can be ascertained. The Bible says that there is a proper time for everything under the sun: â€Å"Every activity and every purpose has its proper time† (Ecclesiastes 3:17) This statement has bearing on the question as to the role doubt can play in acquiring knowledge. It implies that there is a proper time for doubt. I feel that one such time is when doubt serves as a driving force towards acquiring knowledge. Doubt certainly can be a stumbling block in acquiring knowledge and using it. Doubt can make an individual leery and hesitant. Yet, like most aspects of life, doubt can have both positive and negative effects on anything, including the process of learning and acquiring knowledge. While doubt can make one skeptical, it can also serve as a driving force to motivate a person to find the truth. In the opening quote, Dr. Bartus points out that insecurity and uncertainty can have value. Elsewhere in his book, he says that false assumptions and self-delusions are our greatest obstacles to solving problems (p. 107). This idea has bearing on the role of doubt in acquiring knowledge. Certainly, doubt can be an obstacle to acquiring knowledge, but when doubt causes a person to examine (or re-examine) his or her assumptions and discover his or her self-delusions, then doubt has served a valuable service that can lead to a search for answers and knowledge. While doubt can make people closed minded, I feel that doubt can drive people to ask probing questions that increase one’s knowledge when they pursue the answers to their questions. Columbus and Magellan doubted that the world was flat. They resolved to prove their point by sailing around the world to India. Even though the world is round, these explorers took a great chance. There was no guarantee that one could sail from Europe to India even if they were correct about a round world. They had no idea as to what dangers might lay ahead. There could have been scorching deserts, impassable jungles, large continents covered by marshland, hostile people, man eating animals, bitter cold or any one of an infinite number of unknown dangers. Whatever they encountered would have confirmed or refuted their doubts and added to the knowledge of the time. So, doubt can definitely assist one in acquiring knowledge. Attempting to answer questions that arise from doubt can cause/create insecurity. It takes courage to face the uncertainties that arise when challenging and facing your doubts and the unknown, but the reward gained in pursuit of the challenge can be worthwhile and valuable Ultimately, I must conclude that doubt can serve as both an asset and a hindrance in acquiring knowledge, but those who are willing to face their doubts may find their efforts rewarding. In the end, perhaps doubt leads to questions that bring about the acquisition of knowledge. I would like to think that is the best outcome and reward from doubt. We do not progress by being perfect. We progress by making mistakes and correcting them, and we do not acquire knowledge without doubt, but by having doubts and resolving them. Perhaps that is as it should be. The uncertainty and insecurity of doubt propels us forward towards greater knowledge.

Research Proposal on Childhood Obesity

Child obesity is a condition characterized by the child having too much fat in the body to an extent of his or her health being in danger. In adults, it could be described as a state of having a body mass index of more than thirty (Paxon, 2006). Parents feeding them with too many calories bring about obesity in children. The excess calories are converted to fats that accumulate in the child’s body. This child will develop a big body because he or she will add weight and become quite fleshy. Obese children are at a risk of getting very adverse health effects, some of which are fatal. The study found that high blood pressure in childhood was only a weak predictor of early death and high cholesterol was not associated with premature death, but experts suggested those factors were easier to control with medication. A rare study that tracked thousands of children through adulthood found the heaviest youngsters were more than twice as likely as the thinnest to die prematurely, before age 55, of illness or a self-inflicted injury. Being overweight during childhood and adolescence increases the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 11 diabetes as a youth. One disease of particular concern is Type 11 diabetes, which has linked to overweight and obesity and has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. Watching television, using the computer, and playing video games occupy a large percentage of children’s leisure time, influencing their physical activity levels. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. It is an extremely difficult cycle to break. An unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle are known risk factors for the three leading causes of death in adults: cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is the commonest problem facing man at present. Though the understanding of hypertension has improved considerably with an increased awareness of the disorder in the general population, the control of hypertension has been dismally poor. During my research, I personally have found that blood pressure levels often equate with low birth weight, body mass, maternal age, racial factors, childhood obesity, insulin levels, an elevated blood pressure during childhood, and a positive family history. In fact, children from hypertensive families generally tend to have higher blood pressure levels than kids from normotensive families. Besides, there is also a greater association in blood pressure levels between fathers and their children. One of the major causes of obesity to be addressed is eating excess calories from energy rich foods. Eating a variety of healthy foods is necessary for optimal growth and development, Protects against disease and provides energy to play, explore and learn. This is also accompanied by inadequate exercising or working out. This results in fats accumulating in the body. Parents should monitor their children’s feeding habits and take them for regular check-up. There are many ways that parents can help their children on a healthier path. Start early to establish healthy eating practices at home; be a role model, kids love to follow if lead by example. Plan healthier snacks that meet the nutritional needs and kids enjoy eating as well. To determine whether a child is obese or not, his or her body mass index is measured. It is then compared to the child’s height. In case a child is obese, treatment should be sought promptly before more damage is done by this condition. The diet should be balanced and meals should be eaten in a regular schedule. The child should also be assisted to shed the unnecessary weight. This should be done using the safest method. The child should also be encouraged to work out a lot and be very active. The find acquired so far include prevention and the long-term effects that would be brought on by by obesity. To prevent obesity from affecting one’s child, the parent should ensure that he or she eats low-calorie foods. The child should also increase the intake of fruits, vegetables and water. A child should be encouraged to participate in outdoor activities such as sports and games. If a child becomes obese and little or nothing is done, there are long-term effects. These include diseases like coronary issues and problems with respiratory system. Due to poor health, children may not live up to their potential. Parents’ spending a fortune for their child treatments brings non-satisfaction and potential depression (Kazaks & Stern, 2009). Mothers who have jobs do not directly cause weight problems in their children, but families that are busy not really having the time to prepare food that rely on fast food and frozen dinners. Addressing obesity in children is a very vital issue. It is important to understand what causes this condition, how to identify it, treat and prevent it. The health of our children is the most important thing. No parent would like their children to suffer terminal diseases or die at an early age especially because of obesity. Children would also want to live up to their dreams and achieve their best. Obesity has been noted to cause not only body disorders but also mental instability in children. A child who is obese will probably have low self-esteem, suffer depression and be very inactive. It is important to address the problem in order to avoid all the likely consequences caused by obesity.

Storm Born Chapter Eighteen

It was like deja vu. Two fights, two blackouts, and two â€Å"mornings after† back in my own bed. Talk about tedious. Only this time, I wasn't alone in bed. I knew Kiyo was with me even before I opened my eyes. I recognized his smell, the way his arms wrapped around me. They held me with delicacy now, not with the fierceness that usually seized him. â€Å"You don't quit,† I murmured, blinking the sleep out of my eyes. â€Å"Even wounded, you're still trying to get me back in bed.† â€Å"I've already got you here.† He lay on his side, his eyes staring into mine. Smiling, he ran a hand over my hair, smoothing it back. â€Å"I was so worried about you.† I snuggled against him, slowly dredging up memories from last night. â€Å"I was worried about you too. What happened? Why wouldn't you change back?† â€Å"I did†¦eventually.† Well, that was obvious. I waited expectantly, needing more. â€Å"Being a kitsune isn't just about the novelty of turning into a fox. It's more than that. It's like†¦I also can turn into – I don't know – a fox god. No. That's not right. I don't know how to describe it.† â€Å"A superfox?† His soft laughter vibrated against my forehead, and he kissed the skin there. â€Å"That's not quite right either. The foxes of the Otherworld are like the progenitors of mortal foxes in this world. They're stronger, more powerful, wilder. I can change into one of those, but to do so†¦I almost have to give up my humanity. They're too animal, too†¦I don't know, primordial. When I'm a normal red fox, I'm still pretty much the same as I am now unless I've been in that form for a really long time. Then the human part starts to go. But for your ‘superfox,' I'm already gone in one transformation. I can hang on to only a few human instincts – like that I had to fight that thing and that I had to protect you.† I took all this in, frowning. â€Å"But that doesn't explain why you didn't change back.† â€Å"It takes time to go in and out of that form. The change is more than physical. I have to give up my human nature to go in, my fox nature to come out. Both are hard. That's why it took me awhile to even help in the first place. I had to make a quick call, even though it left you undefended. I thought I'd do more damage in the other form.† â€Å"Yeah, you did do a pretty good job. But you sure scared me there.† I fell silent, recalling those terrible moments of uncertainty while I bled all over myself. â€Å"When did you finally change back?† â€Å"Not long after you passed out, I think.† â€Å"That would explain why I'm still alive.† He nodded. â€Å"You lost a lot of blood. You needed ten stitches.† I blinked. â€Å"Did you take me to a doctor?† He grinned. â€Å"You bet I did.† It took me a moment to catch on. I pulled back the covers and lifted the skirt of one of my racier and rarely used nightgowns – how'd I get dressed in that anyway? – and saw black stitches standing out starkly against my skin, off to the side of my stomach. â€Å"You did this?† I exclaimed. â€Å"You stitched me up? Without a doctor?† â€Å"I am a doctor. I do this all the time.† â€Å"Yeah†¦to cats and dogs. Not to people.† â€Å"It's exactly the same. We're animals too.† I eyed the stitches uneasily. The skin around them was red. â€Å"Was everything sanitized?† He made a disparaging sound in his throat. â€Å"Of course it was. The standards are the same. Come on, stop worrying. It was either that or let you bleed to death in the car. I had a kit in the back and used it.† â€Å"How'd you have enough light out there?† â€Å"The overhead lamp still worked.† I couldn't believe he'd stitched me up in a smashed car with a vet's kit. Improvisation at its best. â€Å"Did the car actually start?† â€Å"Sort of†¦I got us back to the freeway before it died. I found your cell phone and called Tim.† â€Å"Poor Tim. When I first told him I was a shaman, I think he thought it was as fake as his own Indian charade.† â€Å"Wait – he's not actually Indian? I've been trying forever to figure out what tribe he's from.† â€Å"He's from the tribe of Tim Warkoski. It's ridiculous, but – â€Å" The air in the room rippled, pressure building. I had to blink a few times to ensure the shimmering around us wasn't in my head. Kiyo propped himself up, alert and wary. The pressure abruptly faded. A rift from the Otherworld opened up in front of us, and suddenly Dorian stood on a small table in the corner. Not unexpectedly, it promptly broke under his weight, making a horrible crashing sound as its pieces and contents fell to the floor. To his credit, he sidestepped the disaster rather gracefully, easily landing both feet on the floor. I winced, seeing the anchor ring lying among the debris. I'd set it on the table, not considering the consequences of Dorian arriving exactly where it lay. â€Å"What the hell – † Kiyo started to climb out of bed, but I was in his way. I laid a restraining hand on his chest. â€Å"No, it's all right. He's here for our next lesson. Jesus†¦I can't believe it's that time already.† I'd lost a lot of time since the car. Dorian wore his usual simple but fine clothes, covered by another elaborate robe. This one was black satin, edged in silver and small seed pearls. If the present circumstances surprised him, he didn't show it. He kept his face typically unimpressed and sardonic. His smile twisted as he regarded us. â€Å"I can come back later if it's more convenient. I do so hate to interrupt.† â€Å"No, no,† I said hastily, sitting up and swinging my legs over the bed's edge. The movement uncomfortably tugged the skin around my stitches. â€Å"We were just, um†¦resting.† Dorian arched an eyebrow. â€Å"You rest in that?† I glanced down, flushing. I'd worn this exactly once when Dean and I had gone to Mexico for a weekend. The nightgown was pale green, its top and bottom hems ornamented with elaborate green leaves and tiny pink flowers. The mid-thigh-length skirt was sheer chiffon. Note to self: Never let Kiyo dress me again, unconsciousness notwithstanding. Tim chose that moment to walk in, summoned by the noise. â€Å"Eug, what†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His mouth dropped – and not just because of me. I looked around at us all: me in my nightgown, Kiyo bare-chested, Dorian in his extravagant robes, and Tim in his Native getup. â€Å"God,† I muttered, standing up, â€Å"we look like the Village People.† I pulled the terry cloth robe over me, wondering how I always seemed to be half-naked lately. Tim continued to stare, wearing the shocked look of one who has just walked in on his parents having sex. â€Å"Everything's fine,† I told him. He still didn't move, and I waved a hand in front of his face. â€Å"Hey, wake up. Think you can make some breakfast?† He blinked. â€Å"It's three in the afternoon.† I gave him a pathetic look. The familiarity of it seemed to snap him back to normal. He could never resist it. That, or he felt he owed me food for the free rent. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"Eggs and toast.† â€Å"Healthy or unhealthy toast?† I considered. â€Å"Healthy.† â€Å"Are your, uh, friends eating too?† I glanced at the other two men. â€Å"I'd love to,† replied Dorian with a cordial half-bow. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"Famished,† said Kiyo, eyes still narrowed on Dorian. â€Å"Thanks, Tim, you're the best.† I practically pushed him out the door. â€Å"Charming man,† remarked Dorian politely. He glanced around. â€Å"And a charming room.† The broken table aside, the room's other contents included: a pile of laundry, the wicker chair, a case of ammunition, a dresser, and a small desk with my laptop and a half-finished puzzle of the Eiffel Tower. The room didn't have a lot of space, so everything had been jammed in. It all seemed so chintzy compared to the opulence of his bedroom. Kiyo also got out of bed, wearing just a pair of jeans. â€Å"You want to tell me again what's going on?† â€Å"I already did.† I opened my dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt that said I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT on it. â€Å"We're doing my next lesson.† â€Å"She can't do it today,† Kiyo told Dorian. â€Å"She was in a fight last night.† â€Å"Unless I'm mistaken, she gets in a fight every night.† â€Å"This one was bad. She was injured. Didn't you see the stitches?† â€Å"My humble eyes had better things to occupy themselves with than her stitches.† â€Å"Hey, guys?† I snapped. â€Å"I'm still here, you know. Stop talking about me in the third person.† Kiyo walked over and touched my arm. â€Å"Eugenie, this is crazy. You need to go back to bed.† â€Å"Today's lesson will not require physical exertion,† said Dorian primly. â€Å"There, you see?† I said. â€Å"I've got to keep going with our deal.† Kiyo looked darkly from me to Dorian. â€Å"Your ‘deal' doesn't seem to be doing a lot of good. I thought it was going to keep your would-be rapists away.† I had turned my back to them, opened the robe, and started pulling my jeans on. I froze, considering. â€Å"The fachan wasn't trying to rape me,† I said slowly. â€Å"He wanted to kill me.† â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"He tried to throw me through a windshield. That's not very romantic.† â€Å"A fachan?† asked Dorian. I shed the robe and nightgown and pulled the shirt over my head before turning back around to face them. I gave Dorian the short version of what had happened. He stood up from where he'd been leaning against my desk and strolled over to the window, hands clasped behind his back. â€Å"A fachan,† he mused. â€Å"Here. Curious.† â€Å"Not really. Not compared to anything else that's happened to me,† I reminded him. He pointed out the window. â€Å"You live in a desert. Fachans like bodies of water. You have a lot of enemies, my dear, but I doubt any fachan would hate you enough to show up here of his own volition.† â€Å"What are you saying?† asked Kiyo. â€Å"That someone went to considerable trouble to summon him here. Someone with either a lot of raw power or simply an affinity for water creatures.† â€Å"Who could do that?† I asked. â€Å"Any number of people. Maiwenn could.† Kiyo took a few dangerous steps toward him. â€Å"Maiwenn didn't do that.† Dorian smiled, unfazed by Kiyo's intimidating presence. They were the same height, but Dorian's frame was lean and slim, Kiyo's broader and more muscled. â€Å"You're probably right,† Dorian said after several tense moments of silence. â€Å"Particularly since she's been so under the weather lately.† Kiyo's face grew darker. I glanced back and forth uneasily, uncertain as to what I was in the middle of. â€Å"Do you guys know each other?† Dorian extended a hand to Kiyo, cool and collected. â€Å"I know of you, but I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Dorian, king of the Oak Land.† Kiyo grudgingly took his hand. â€Å"I know who you are.† â€Å"This is Kiyo,† I said. â€Å"Delightful to meet you. You're a†¦kitsune.† Dorian said the word in an odd tone. It wasn't exactly disrespectful, but it clearly implied they were not equals. I grabbed both their arms and steered them out. â€Å"No pissing contests. Come on. It'll only take Tim about five minutes to whip up the food.† Whatever antagonism existed between Kiyo and Dorian, it took a break as the gentry king entertained himself with the rest of my house. He was like a kid, unable to keep his hands off of everything. Well, everything that wasn't made of plastic or an iron affiliate. My living room was a veritable wonderland, with everything conveniently piled up in junk heaps for him to explore. â€Å"What's the purpose of this?† He held a fluorescent pink Slinky, tossing it from side to side so he didn't have to touch the plastic extensively. My impression was gentry could touch the taboo substances in small doses with minor discomfort; prolonged exposure grew much more uncomfortable. Charge it up with power, and it could kill them. â€Å"It doesn't really have a purpose,† I decided. â€Å"You just sort of†¦play with it when you're bored.† He tossed it back and forth, watching it spring up in arches. â€Å"Let me see it,† I said. I held it, closing my eyes. My focus was back now with the excruciating pain vanquished. I concentrated on the Slinky, putting a small piece of my essence into it. I handed it back. â€Å"Wrap it up and take it with you. It'll be my anchor.† He grinned. With so many other distractions, we eventually had to drag him to the kitchen table when the food was ready. â€Å"Haven't you ever been in the human world before?† I asked, once we all sat down. â€Å"There you go again, assuming we all just traipse over here for no good reason.† â€Å"So you haven't.† â€Å"Well, actually, I've vacationed here a number of times. Not in this desolate place, of course, but several other nice spots.† I rolled my eyes and slapped butter on my toast. It was made of good, hearty bread, chock-full of whole wheat and about a billion other grains. You could use this stuff as sandpaper. I doused my coffee with sugar and cream, gulping it to chase down some ibuprofen. I might not be dying anymore, but myriad aches and stiffness filled my body. I didn't think I could handle regularly getting into high-magnitude fights every other night. When the whole prophecy thing had surfaced, I had joked that I preferred attempts on my life to sexual advances. I didn't really believe that anymore. At least when the bad guys wanted my clothes off, it bought me some time. That fachan, however, had had no intentions short of crushing me. And he'd done a pretty good job of doing that. I had never fought something so massive before. Most of my fights, before this all started, had been with spirits and elementals. I could take them out with barely any effort. The fachan had been in a different league. The spirit army from the other day had also been new. Dorian's words rang back to me. The fachan had been deliberately sent. But by whom? One of the many who had a grudge against Odile? Someone like Maiwenn who wanted the prophecy to fail? Maiwenn herself? This latter thought bothered me. She'd seemed more or less trustworthy, despite her bland personality. If she turned into an enemy, it was going to create some serious friction between Kiyo and me. We finished breakfast, and Dorian declared we had to go outside for our lesson. I took one look at him and the scalding sunshine and saw imminent disaster for that perfect, alabaster skin. Figuring he wouldn't want my prissy, vanilla sunscreen, I dug him out a wide-brimmed cotton hat of Tim's that looked only mildly ridiculous. â€Å"Are you going to be able to do this?† I asked, leading Dorian out to my back patio. Tim had left for drumming practice, but Kiyo followed us, still watchful. â€Å"Your magic's weaker on this side.† Dorian draped his elegant robes over a lawn chair. â€Å"Not me who needs to do the magic. And really, I doubt you will either. Not in the way you're thinking of. Hmm†¦yes, this area may work better than I'd hoped.† He surveyed the patio area and the small grassless yard surrounded by a stucco wall. Dragging up another chair, he set it near the center of the patio, facing the house, and beckoned me to it. I sat down. â€Å"Now what? More meditation?† He shook his head. â€Å"Now we need a bowl of water.† â€Å"Kiyo? Can you grab us one? There's a big ceramic bowl in the back of one of my cupboards.† Kiyo silently complied, looking as though leaving us alone for even one minute would result in Dorian trying something. I found that protectiveness endearing, albeit a bit over the top. And then Dorian did try something. â€Å"What are those?† I exclaimed. â€Å"Think of them as†¦learning aids.† He had produced a handful of silken cords from the deep pockets of his robe, all in different colors. â€Å"What are you – no. You are not serious.† He had moved behind my chair and grasped my hands. I jerked away. â€Å"You're trying to tie me up?† â€Å"Not for sinister purposes, I assure you, although if you'd like to experiment with them later, I'd be happy to show you their various and sundry uses. For now, simply trust me that they'll be useful.† I continued to regard the cords warily. He shook his head, smiling. Moving behind me, he gently ran his hands down my arms. â€Å"You still don't trust me. And yet you do. An interesting mix. You fear me but want to connect with me. Do you remember what I said the night we met?† He knelt down, speaking softly in my ear. â€Å"This is exactly the way it will be when you come to my bed. You'll surrender yourself, and though it'll scare you, you'll exult in it too.† â€Å"I think you're imagining more to our charade than there is. And I don't really see myself feeling exultant over being tied up.† â€Å"Have you ever tried it?† His fingers slowly slid back up to the sleeves of my shirt, like butterflies on my skin. It was†¦nice. I shrugged him off. â€Å"No. And I don't need to. Besides, whatever your kinky intentions are, it doesn't matter. I've got something going with Kiyo.† â€Å"Ah. Of course you do. From what I hear, he's always ‘got something going.'† I stiffened. â€Å"Don't try to cause trouble.† â€Å"I'm attempting nothing of the sort. Just stating a fact. A man with human blood is just as appealing to our women as you are to our men.† â€Å"I already know about Maiwenn.† â€Å"I see. What do you know?† â€Å"The truth. They used to be involved. Now they're not.† â€Å"Ah. And that doesn't bother you? Especially considering it's likely she'll try to kill you someday?† I turned around as much as I could and glared at him. â€Å"I meant it: Don't try to pick a fight. I trust Kiyo, and I like Maiwenn. End of story. Now if you're going to tie me up, just get it over with.† He rose from his crouch, the sensuality gone from his voice as he began the business of binding me. â€Å"I'd never dream of picking a fight. Your pet fox in there will break my neck if I so much as look at you the wrong way.† â€Å"Don't act like you're actually afraid of him. You can supposedly bring down buildings.† I relaxed back in the chair and let him tie my hands together behind me. He took a long time in doing it, like he was weaving or braiding. â€Å"Why, Eugenie, are you saying you'd wager on me in a fight? I'm touched. Very touched. Although, I do hear foxes have very sharp claws. How are those scratches on your back, by the way?† Kiyo walked out just then, carrying the bowl of water. He froze when he saw Dorian tying a cord above my breasts and around my upper arms. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"An awakening,† said Dorian. â€Å"It's fine,† I said. â€Å"Set the water over there.† Kiyo did so and then stood next to me, arms crossed and eyes on the gentry king. Again, Dorian took his time in tying my upper body. He used multiple cords, and able to see better this time, I realized he had indeed woven them into an intricate pattern. Aesthetic and functional. â€Å"There.† With a last tight knot, he straightened up and regarded his work. â€Å"Not bad. It seems I haven't forgotten how to tie a decent knot after all. One more thing, and we're set.† â€Å"One more thing† turned out to be a blindfold. â€Å"No way,† I said. â€Å"Eugenie, my sweet, your outraged protests are adorable, but they only continue to slow us down. If you want me to help you, then let me. If you don't, then take me to one of those places where human women wear revealing clothing and quickly lose their virtue through alcohol.† I let him blindfold me, feeling uneasy. I trusted Kiyo and sort of trusted Dorian, but the other bindings had already unsettled me. I didn't like being trapped or in someone else's control. The bright world went dark as fabric covered my eyes. â€Å"This is all giving me a bad feeling,† Kiyo said nearby. â€Å"On the contrary,† said Dorian, â€Å"it's giving me a very warm, very pleasant feeling. But I suppose we should return to the lesson at hand, hmm?† â€Å"Is this the part where you explain the bondage getup?† I asked. â€Å"Or where I find out you just did it for fun.† â€Å"No, no. As hilarious as that would be, I do have my reasons. Now. I'm going to pick up this bowl of water that Kato so kindly fetched – â€Å" â€Å"It's Kiyo,† came the irritated response. â€Å"So sorry. Anyway, I'm going to set it somewhere out here in this miniature wasteland, and you will tell me where it is.† â€Å"Oh. I get it. I'm supposed to, like, work on my non-visual senses? Listen to where you set it?† â€Å"You won't use any of your physical senses at all.† I heard him walk away, presumably with the water, but I couldn't tell where he set it. He paced and paced in circles, kicking rocks and scuffing his shoes so I was clueless by the time he returned to me. When he spoke next, his words were right by my ear again. â€Å"Now, given freedom, even with just a blindfold, you'd be inclined to move and want to use something – anything – to find the water. You'd turn around, sniff the air, whatever. Now you have to accept that all of that is gone. You cannot rely on what you usually can. You are trapped and powerless – more or less. Give in to that. Open yourself up to whatever comes. Find the water.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"By reaching out to it. Tap into a sense other than the usual five. Remember the exercises we did last time, about reaching beyond yourself – in this world, not the spirit one.† â€Å"I thought magic was inborn. Isn't that what separates humans and gentry?† â€Å"It is inborn. And your inner magic summons and controls storms. To do that, you must summon and control the appropriate elements. And to do that, you must be able to find them. Hence, you focus outward.† â€Å"How do I do that?† â€Å"Just concentrate. But relax too. Think about the water. How it feels, what it's like. Spread your consciousness out around you, but don't go into a trance and let your spirit slip out. That'd be cheating.† â€Å"How long does it take?† â€Å"As long as you need.† He retreated, and I sat there and waited for some revelation. Okay. Somewhere around me was a bowl of water. And something inside of me was supposed to be able to sense it. I wouldn't have believed any of it if the living room on the other side of the patio door didn't stand as proof of my supernatural powers. But I hadn't had to think to cause the storm. This was different. All I mostly felt at first was my own body. Dorian's binds didn't hurt me, but they were snug. The stitched-up cut stung a little. The back of my head ached. My leg muscles felt stretched and inflamed. I slowly took inventory of every part of me, assessing how each one felt. I could feel the beat of my own heart, the steadiness of my breathing. After that, I started concentrating on the stuff around me. I heard someone, Dorian maybe, slide up a chair and sit down. A plane droned overhead. One of my neighbors kept a bird feeder, and sparrows regularly chirped and squabbled around it. The harsher cries of less melodic birds sounded in the distance. My street had few houses and was removed from real traffic, but a block or so away, a car started and then drove off. I thought about water, its appeal growing as the sun beat down. I had put on my own sunscreen and was grateful for it. Still, I could feel sweat pouring off of me. Water would be cool, refreshing. My mom's house had a pool, and suddenly I wanted nothing more than to dive into that crystal-blue surface. I thought about the bowl of water, thinking of its cool temperature, the wetness on my skin. I tried to feel it, to call to it. â€Å"There,† I said at last. I don't know how much time had passed. Awhile. â€Å"Where?† asked Dorian. â€Å"Four o'clock.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"She means over there,† I heard Kiyo say. Presumably he pointed. â€Å"No,† said Dorian. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"Was I close?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Not even a little?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Damn it! Get me out of this.† I wriggled against my constraints. â€Å"Hardly.† Dorian's voice held mild surprise. â€Å"We must try again.† â€Å"Oh, dear lord. This might be even more boring than the meditation,† I grumbled. â€Å"Can I at least get something to drink?† He hesitated. â€Å"Actually, I think your odds will increase if you're thirsty.† â€Å"Oh, come on – â€Å" â€Å"Here we go,† said Dorian. I heard him get up and walk around again, and once more, I couldn't tell where the bowl ended up. When he returned to his chair, I tried again. More time passed as I concentrated my little heart out. At one point, I heard someone get up and move toward the door. â€Å"Who is that?† â€Å"Me,† said Dorian. â€Å"I'm bored.† â€Å"What? You're my teacher.† â€Å"The kitsune will call if you need me.† â€Å"I don't believe this,† I said when he was gone. â€Å"Hey, this was your idea,† said Kiyo. I heard him shift in a chair, getting comfortable. I was on the verge of my next guess when Dorian came outside again. â€Å"There. Nine o'clock.† Kiyo must have pointed again. â€Å"No,† said Dorian. He made me do it again, and by then, I was furious. My poor muscles, already put through enough, were locking up from lack of movement. The heat was unbearable. To make matters worse, Kiyo asked if Dorian wanted something to drink and then went inside. He returned, and I heard the sound of a two-liter of pop opening, followed by the filling of two glasses. After that, they started carrying on casual conversation. â€Å"Eugenie will be at my Beltane ball,† Dorian explained, â€Å"as my special guest.† â€Å"Sounds great.† â€Å"Your enthusiasm is palpable.† â€Å"Just not my thing, that's all.† â€Å"Ah, pity. Because if you wanted to come, I'd be happy to extend the invitation.† â€Å"I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble.† â€Å"It's no trouble at all. You could come with Eugenie. I always make special arrangements for dignitaries' entourages and servants.† â€Å"Will you two shut up?† I asked. â€Å"I'm working here.† They fell silent. Water, water. I needed that goddamned water so that Dorian would untie me and I could return to air conditioning. I'd also drink a gallon of water while I was at it. Maybe two or three. In fact, when I found that stupid bowl, I'd dump it over my head. Sweat pooled along the hem of my shirt and where the cords and blindfold pressed against my skin. I'd probably sweated away the sunscreen and would burn. As if my body hadn't been through enough. Where the hell was that water? Why couldn't I find it? I thought again about my mom's pool, vowing I'd pay her a visit tomorrow. God, it was so hot. I just wanted to be cooler. Water, water, water. I felt like Helen Keller. Or maybe one of those people in the Lakota sun dances where excessive heat exposure induced hallucinations. Maybe I could imagine the water. I sighed, and then, somehow, I felt coolness touch me. It was a reprieve from the heat. I straightened up as much as I could. Had I done it? Was this what it felt like to touch the water? The third time was the charm. Yes. There it was again. Like cool, moist air blowing at me from the east. I could taste its dampness, hanging around me like humidity in the sauna. I inclined my head in the direction I'd sensed the cool air. â€Å"I've got it. Three o'clock.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"The hell it isn't!† I heard Dorian get up. He sighed. â€Å"I think we'd better quit for the day.† â€Å"But I swear I had it! I could feel it! I was thinking about water so hard.† â€Å"I know you were.† He undid the blindfold, and I looked up. Billowing clouds, colored like lead, inked out the sky. Wind blew at me from the east – not imagined after all – picking up in strength. Great, heavy drops fell around us, landing with loud splashes. Water at last.