Road Safety Speech Essay

A very good morning to the Principal of SM Sri Mayang, teachers and fellow friends. As the chairperson of the school’s organizing committee for the ‘Road Safety Week’, I would like to give a talk on some safety tips for the students. As we know, there has been an increase in the accidents reported involving students of this school. I hope this talk will raise your awareness to be more responsible and careful when using the road. I would like to identify some of the reasons why road accidents occur. First, speeding beyond the prescribed limits is the main cause.Some drivers not only speed but also drive recklessly, breaking road rules and beating the traffic lights. Moreover, drivers who are tired after long distance driving or after a long day work, may not be able to concentrate on the road, thus causing accidents. Youngsters using the road as their racing track is another cause too. Drivers who do not check and maintain their vehicles often may be involved in ac cidents because their vehicle is faulty. Many potholes and uneven roads which contribute to the poor condition of the road too can cause accidents.However, these problems can be overcome with strict enforcement of traffic rules to those who flaunt the law. The offenders should be caught and fines should be increased. Only road-worthy vehicles, which have been maintained well, should be permitted on the roads. Awareness campaigns on safe driving should be carried out everywhere. Since young drivers are high on the accident list, their age limit should be increased. If the drivers are involved in any accidents, their licence should be suspended. I hope the short talk that I have delivered have given you some ideas of how to use the road safely. Thank you for listening.

No Phones in School Essay

Cell phones are good for education. Cell Phones are good for education for many reasons. First you can use cell phones for research purposes. Although most schools have at least 1 computer in the classroom and a computer lab, sometimes this still isn’t enough. It can also be expensive to provide a computer to each student at school, so a good option is to use cell phones for research instead. Next, I want to talk about why apps are good for education. Some people think that some apps are bad and kids will get distracted and use them in class. And the truth is that cell phones have many educational apps as well. Which do you think would be more fun and exciting for a student? Either studying with a boring book that is hard to understand, or playing an educational app that is still studying, but much more exciting. I would definitely choose the second choice. Here are some good features of phones that are good for school: 1.Calculator. It doesn’t matter if your phone is expensive or not, almost every single phone has a calculator. Lots of students are required to have a calculator as one of their school supplies, but if they have one on their phone, then they don’t have to get one. 2. Stop Watch. Lots of phones have a stopwatch, which can be used in science class. I know that when I was in public school we used stopwatches all the time for experiments, and the teacher only had 3 stopwatches so we had to take turns. 3. Dictionary. Cell phones can be used as a dictionary, which can be VERY useful in a classroom setting. You can always search on the Internet for the definition, or if you classroom or school doesn’t have wi fi, you can text to 466-456 the word you need defined and Google will text you back the definition of that term.

Crips and Bloods Made in America

To start with, a vast number of neighborhoods suffer from gradual increase of criminal activities. Black teenagers still build their own street-based gangs that provoke crime. Nevertheless, there are number of social theories that can explain such behavior.The documentary filmed by Stacy Paraeta, named â€Å"Crips and Bloods: made in America† reveal some vital facts about the reasons of criminal behavior in black neighborhoods. Different strain theories can also explain gang activity and gang violence. For instance, according to the documentary the black people often felt the sense of alienation and became culturally disorientated.White and black neighborhoods were separated and such distancing and hostility provoked a vast number of misunderstanding. In fact, the idea was not only a segregated society, but that blacks are inferior people and have to be treated as such, which contributed to development of self-hatred.Police was seriously controlling these borders. From 1950 ti ll 1956 the Los Angeles police department was commanded by Chief William Parker, who ran a police department as a military unit. He was extremely strict about preserving initial border lines between the neighborhoods. Thus, the cops were treating criminals as if they were animals in warfare.Such behavior and control enhanced the feeling of alienation in black American’s. There are invisible barriers and the primary job of police officers was to reinforce that barrier, because one was supposed to stay in his neighborhood Nevertheless, these tasks were brutal and violent.For instance, the people could have been shot by making the wrong turn into the wrong intersection. People were shot in the back, because police wanted to prevent looting. In this documentary, we hear the truthful words of African American, who said that this country uses violence whenever it chooses and then it legitimizes the violence.As a result, such violence increased the hatred of African Americans and ma de them feel inferior. As one man mentioned, they sent the message out that their lives had absolutely no meaning. This deep feeling of inferiority was gradually accumulated and had to be released.The man often wondered when and who get all this anger that was building up inside. The strain theory explains that deviant behavior is usually motivated by such restrictions. The blockage creates a strain that leads more people in the lower than in the upper classes to commit crimes.Strain falls especially hard on the lower classes. In fact, prior to World War two most of the black population lived in the south. Black people lived in the south because of the slavery and throughout the history they struggled and wanted to become the upper class citizens.World War II radically changed a black history, while black people were engaged in industrialization. Nevertheless, as the US economy moved to economy based on service and technology blacks found out that their skills do not fit in any of t hese demands, and they did not have the education or the training to obtain such positions.According to Merton’s theory, society establishes goals we all try to achieve – the goals worth striving for. Similarly, Black Americans cherished the idea of American dream and equal opportunities. They did not want to have the low-end jobs because they felt these jobs were jobs that American citizens should not have.Nevertheless, it was even impossible. According to the strain theory, although society establishes the goals, for some people, social structure blocks achieving them. Thus, black people could not even choose where to live, although they could afford it.For instance, in the LA county region, there was an effort to keep white neighborhoods free from blacks. Some times they wanted to keep the white neighborhoods free from any other race besides white. In addition, the factories gradually began to disappear and children overtime began to do worst than their parents.For the black in the ghetto the goal is surviving and a lot of people thought that crack was a way out. â€Å"Opportunity† is central to routine activities theory. The first variable identified in the list of crucial variables for the explanation of drug use is availability of the drug.For instance, in order to commit shoplifting, shops are essential, or car theft is impossible without an automobile. In short, opportunity to commit an offense as measured by available target is central to routine activities theory as an ecological theory and is completely compatible with â€Å"availability† as a crucial variable.The main reason of drug dealing lies in the social structure and their accessibility. In addition, the lower classes don’t have their fair share of opportunities to get rich by hard work. Social learning theories can also be used to explain gang membership.The social learning theories depend on the assumption that we’re blank states at birth and our pa rents, friends, teachers, religious leaders, and government write attitudes, beliefs, and values on our behavioral slates.In fact, the gangs that were internally created in black neighborhoods significantly shaped behavior of young males and enhanced criminal activity. Routine activities theory attempts to explain ecological variations in crime in terms of the availability and vulnerability of unguarded targets and proximity to motivated offenders.Variations can have a serious impact on criminal activities. For instance, in the presence of peers, deviant acts will be easier and more rewarding, the absence of authority figures also reduces the potential for social control responses to deviance; and the lack of structure leaves time available for deviant behavior.Thus, these gangs increased the feeling of alienation and hostility within the community. Criminal behavior, just like any other behavior, depends on our associations with other people. People were increasingly associating th emselves with particular territory and gang.Gangs have separated the geographic of the neighborhoods; even certain streets, alleys, schools and parks were claimed according to the gang. The gang was created to counterattack your enemy. It is also a matter of self-defense and a constant battle for superiority.The member of the gang will say they joined a gang not only for the protection but also for the family and for the love. The gang became a sort of family unit. In addition, state significantly contributed to such criminal behavior by legalizing guns. As youngsters in poor neighborhoods received their own guns, they joined gangs and started to threat and shoot each other.Parents also play a tremendous role in shaping values and behavior of their children. A lot of minds are messed up, because they do not have necessary parental support. In addition, there was an absence of the male father figure and role model in the home.Boys were taught to be men by fighting and killing each ot her. Young males were often misguided. As a result, a majority of African-American males were jailed or imprisoned. Unemployment provoked criminal situation. At the same time, these criminal activities are now being tackled. The grassroots movements are taking the first steps to battling the street violence.At the end of the documentary we hear wise words that summarize the whole movie. In our democracy we have the resources for the richest country on earth and it is absolutely outrageous, it is inexcusable that we have failed to meet the most elementary test of what it means to be fellow citizens and build a community.Therefore, the main ingredient of success is to start caring about other people. All in all, â€Å"Crips and Bloods: made in America† is a documentary that provides valuable information about criminal activity that can be backed up by social theories.Strain theories can perfectly explain gang activity and gang violence. Thus, diverse constrains, such as extreme police control or restricted borders enhanced hostility within black communities and accumulated hatred that was later exercised in the form of violence.Social learning theories also prove that the lack of effective parental control negatively impacts young boys, who join gangs from the young age. Overall, there are many reasons for such deviant behavior and there is much to be done to address this issue effectively.

Should government be involved in sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Should government be involved in sports - Essay Example There are key variables in sports, each of which plays a fundamental role given the desired outcome of the industry. There are arguments for or against government’s involvement in sports. However, the determining factor of government’s involvement in sports lies within the relationship between the stakeholders involved. Since time immemorial, governments have always had an upper hand in promoting sports. My position is that government should actively be involved in sports. Government involvement is a usual activity across different components of the nation. There are different roles played by the government in the light of promoting social welfare, thus, the need for interventions from time to time. The government operates under set goals and objectives with the primary principle being to maximize benefits to the population that puts it in place (Houlihan, 2007). For this reason, the government cannot concentrate on some components of its governance and ignore others. Sports are equally important to every direct or indirect participating person. The importance of sports is felt across all levels of different states. These are social, economic and political levels. The need for rules, regulations and laws in sports necessitates government’s involvement. Sporting activities are set in the context of rules and regulations. Numerous sports agencies are set up every now and then. There is a need to regulate and control such bodies in order to maintain an orderly society. The formulation and implementation of bills purely rely on the government. Such law making processes are not limited in scope, and therefore rules and regulations that pertain to sports lie in that docket. On the same note, the occurrence of disputes in the sports industry cannot be refuted. Responsible departments set to deal with these disputes may not always resolve them. The government therefore comes in through its instrumentalities and provides a resolution. Stewardship is

Negitive Leadership Experiance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Negitive Leadership Experiance - Essay Example Our job was quality control of the pictures that the users of this websites uploaded. We were looking eliminate undesirable photos that showed hate crimes, nude pictures, or excessive violence. Our job entailed looking at thousands of pictures everyday and flagging the ones that did not meet quality standards. The company started off well offering the employees prizes for the best monthly performance and offering a bonus of up to $5.50 an hour over the basic pay for extra production. Everyone in the company was very excited about the prospects of working for this firm. Things turn sour very fast as the leadership team of the company became a disgrace to the business world. When a company enters into a verbal contract with the employees you cannot go back on your word. That is what occurred at the company. A few months passed and the top performers did not receive the prizes promised. The company also was not paying the promised bonus, everyone instead was making minimum wage. The pri ze issue was a major fraud since these prizes were offered to us by a representative of the top client, MySpace. We believe that the administration kept the prizes to themselves instead of giving them to the employees. Things at this company continued to get worse. The bonus that the company was supposed to pay was for exceeding a quota of 10,000 pictures an hour. The bonus was supposed to be given for added production beyond the quota. The company on top of stealing our bonus decided to up the quota to 25,000 an hour without any extra compensation. The employees were extremely frustrated at the abuse from the administration. As we thought things could not get any worse the company began to pay our payroll late. Every paycheck would be paid two to three weeks late. Another issue was that the company began to steal hours worked from the checks of a lot of employees. I have never worked and I hope to never work at a company like this one again. The negative leadership the managers dis played is something that I thought would never occur at a corporation in the United States. As incredible as it is to believe there were others displays of negative leadership that were beyond belief. The company need shift leaders to keep track of the crews since the operation ran 24/7. The shift leader was a supervisory position that paid an extra $3 an hour. Typically those types of jobs would go to people with an education in business administration or workers that had previous experience in a supervisory role. This company decided to give these jobs to the most unqualified persons they could find. None of the shift leader chosen had a college education. I estimated that over 2/3 of the staff of around 200 employees were college educated many of them with masters including some with MBA degrees. I believe the reason the firm chose unqualified high school graduates was because they wanted to manipulate these workers since the firm was breaking numerous labor laws. Negative leader ship such as what occurred at the company I worked is a bad example of corporate behavior. Three attributes of negative leadership are unreliable, dishonesty, and irresponsibility (Rapidbi, 2011). Leadership is very important towards the success of a corporation. There are different ways companies can improve the leadership of its workers and of key personnel. A great way to improve the leadership skills of employees is by exposing employees to team

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 66

Assignment - Essay Example her, based on the above graph it can be observed that the maximum profits are obtained at a point where Marginal cost curve intersect with Marginal revenue curve. In addition the marginal cost curve intersect the average variable cost curve from below and also intersect the average total cost curve from above as shown in the diagram. The diagram above indicate that, in the long run, an increase in cost for a monopolistic firm it causes the market price to be equal to average total cost whereby marginal cost will be equal to marginal revenue as indicated in the figure above (Salvatore, p.345). The graph above indicates the equilibrium price and quantity which is derived at point where the demand and supply curve intersect. The equilibrium price is represented above using PE while equilibrium quantity is represented by point QE as shown above. 7. The demand for butter will lead to a decrease in demand of margarine because margarine is an inferior good whose demand decreases as consumer’s level of income increases. On the contrary, demand of butter will increases as income increase. 8. The reason why person marginal rate of substitution between two goods must equal to the ratio of the price of goods is because consumer could trade one good for another at a market price to obtain higher level of satisfaction. The graph above indicates that marginal cost curve intersect average cost curve from below and average cost at a point higher than that of average cost curve. It can be observed that, as the marginal cost increases, the average variable cost decreases (Salvatore, p.225). The graph above indicates the relationship between Marginal cost and average variable cost whereby, If marginal cost of production is greater than average variable cost it means that average cost is increasing and vice versa(Salvatore, p.225). The graph indicates that the firm average variable cost curve are U-shaped and it achieve its minimum at a lower than the average total cost curve

Discussion Topics for Management Course - United States Essay

Discussion Topics for Management Course - United States - Essay Example In this case, employees feel motivated and increase their dedication business practices, something that enhances its chances of success and quality outcomes. It is important for business executives to understand that risk and uncertainty are not actually similar. Uncertainty often concerns possible results and outcomes, which are not known to the business managers. On the other hand, risks can be described as certain kinds of uncertainties that involve actual probabilities of loss for various outcomes (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2005). In this case, it is evident that situations involving risks can be accounted for easily as compared to those involving uncertainties. The process of making decisions based on risky conditions has to seek, where possible to provide a definite identification of risks, quantifying and absorbing them. In this case, business executives have to understand that the quantity of a risk is often equivalent to the total of all the probabilities relating to the particular risky outcome, alongside the expected loss from the outcome. From the foregone discussion it is evident that business managers are better placed to account for the management outcomes that are made under risky situations that those involving certainties. One of the most important aspects of a business’ management decision-making process is accounting for the outcomes. Accountability, in this case is needed in the process of making assessments and evaluations, which are important in the growth and development stages of the business (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2005). Business managers are expected to avoid uncertainty situations in the business, this is because, they often lead to many losses in the management process. Risky situations can often bring positive outcomes depending on the effectiveness of the decisions made in the business. This is the reason why business managers that make effective decisions over

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in Neonates and Children Essay

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in Neonates and Children - Essay Example "SSSS is caused by the release of two exotoxins (epidermolytic toxins A and B) from toxigenic strains of the bacteria (or a germ) Staphylococcus aureus. Desmosomes are the part of the skin cell responsible for adhering to the adjacent skin cell. The toxins bind to a molecule within the desmosome called Desmoglein 1 and break it up so the skin cells become unstuck," reports Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (2006). SSSS can be detected by a fever, redness that has spread on the skin, and irritability. Fluid-filled blisters, which rupture easily, appear within 24-48 hours of the fever and widespread redness of the skin. After the blisters rupture, the skin looks like it has been scalded, or burned. Approximately 15-40% of healthy individuals are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus and as carriers, they carry the bacteria but no signs of the disease or symptoms are revealed. These carriers introduce the Staphylococcus aureus (without any sign of infection or disease) into the childcare facility. But these individuals, particularly infants, get SSSS from a localised staphylococcal infection, which is the producer of the two exotoxins (epidermolytic toxins A and B) and outbreaks can often be found occurring in facilities that provide childcare. The reason older children and adults commonly do not get SSSS is because throughout a lifetime, immunities are built. In children younger than the age of five (especially infants), there is a lack of immunity built up that can defend against the toxin. Also, toxins are removed from the body via the kidneys due to the immature renal clearance system. These are the reasons why infants are more at risk. (Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, 2006). Diagnosing SSSS can be as simple as looking at the appearance of the skin. Skin tissue can be examined with a microscope. The bacteria can be found by examining surface fluid or pus. Blood can be tested for the SSSS infection. (Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome, 2006.) Pathophysiology has revealed a connection with other complications. For example, staphylococcus aureus causes the autoantibodies and bullous impetigo, a generalized form of SSS, which in turn causes pemphigus. Pemphigus was known to be unrelated to the other conditions. However, a study by Stanley and Amagai (2006) of the molecular pathophysiology of pemphigus revealed that the molecular pathophysiology contributes to the mechanism of the formation of blisters in bullous impetigo and the staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome. Stanley and Amagai (2006) report the following: Staphylococcal skin infections are among the most common skin diseases in children. Classic studies more than 30 years ago showed that the blisters in bullous impetigo and the scalded-skin syndrome are caused by exfoliative toxin released by staphylococcusSubsequently, it was discovered that two major serotypes of this toxin, A and B, cause bullous impetigo and the scalded-skin syndrome in cases of the scalded-skin syndrome, it circulates throughout the body, causing blisters at sites Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome 4 distant from the infection.49 The risk of death from the

Foundamentional Concepts in Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Foundamentional Concepts in Application - Essay Example This article has helped me to recognize some of the key barriers to the provision of palliative care services. This study highlights the importance of palliative care nurses in facilitating communication between family members and patients, especially when family members disagree with end-of-life advance care planning. One of the findings of this study which was conducted on a small sample of patients in New Zealand was that, many of the participants were cared for by their spouses who were equally sick. Accessibility to services particularly in the rural setting also was also a challenge. One of the major issues identified in the study was the delay in making the decision to refer patients to palliative care by primary care physicians who felt that, â€Å"they were providing â€Å"good enough† palliative care themselves with the assistance of the district nurses and would refer families to hospice or hospital services when they felt it was appropriate† (McKechnie & Jay e, 2011, p. 413). It was interesting to note that throughout this research, the patients and their families were still identifying issues that need to be addressed despite the belief by their health professionals that they were doing their best. Threaded Discussion: Response to a classmate As required for this assignment, I have selected the article summary written by my classmate _______________(Name of my classmate) who has expressed her interest in the field of nursing informatics. Authors McGonigle and Mastrian remind us that, â€Å"the work of nurses revolves around data, knowledge, information and wisdom and that improvement in technology should ensure that the right care is given at the right time to the right patients at the lowest possible cost† (2009). In light of this profound thought, I appreciate the work of ______ (Name of my classmate) who has summarized an article on nursing informatics titled, ‘Examining the Unintended Consequences of Computerized Provi der Order Entry System Implementation’. After reviewing the summary, I feel that she has done a good job in summarizing the content of the article, highlighting the pros and cons of having a computerized provider order entry system. However, the write-up could have included information about facts that came as a surprise to her/him or reaffirms what she/he already knew or has experienced at the workplace. In light of the fact that President Obama has called for a massive effort to revamp the current health care system by incorporating standardized electronic health records in just about five years and slated more than $19 billion for health information technology, I would recommend my classmate to focus on the area of digital record keeping. The standardized electronic health records should be integrated and interoperable so as to ensure accuracy and quick access. Such a technology would benefit both the health care providers and the patients. Scholarly Databases at my Workpl ace At my workplace, I have access to the Mosby’s Nursing Consult and Lippincott’s Nursing Center. I utilize these scholarly databases frequently since it helps me to be in touch with the latest practices and findings in the field of nursing. Although one has to spend some time searching through these databases if they are looking for something specific, I believe that it is not very difficult to do so. Unlike other web search

In this task, you will use selected resources to research and report Paper

In this task, you will use selected resources to and report on the lifestyles, values, mores, and other characteristics of at least two minority cultures living in your state - Research Paper Example The ethnic heritage of Mexican nationals is primarily defined by a mix of European and Native American (as in native to the American continent) origins, thus providing a tie between those of Mexican descent and those of Native American descent (Gutierrez, 1999, p. 7). In an examination of Mexican Americans and Paiute Native Americans in Nevada, an interesting comparison can be made between cultures and heritage. The Mexican American population comprised 73% of the Latino population in the year 2000, and by 2006 increased to 78% (Timko, 2007). The Mexican American population makes up 14.3% of the total population of Nevada and in 1998 over 1 million businesses in Nevada were owned by Mexican Americans (Stacy, 2003, p. 583). According to Miranda (1997), the Mexican American population in Nevada is not oppressed by the same kind of discrimination that other border states tend to assert over their Mexican American populations (Nevada is not directly on the border, but within very close proximity). While this may have shifted a bit since the rise in the last ten years of immigration buzz word politics, the cultural acceptance of the Mexican American populations most likely has remained at the core of the way in which Nevada determines its position. There is an economic connection that is very strong between Nevada and Mexico. In 2001 Mexico imported the second largest number of goods produced in Nevada, thus tying the success of the state to the economic stability of Mexico. Nevada exports electrical equipment, lime, salt, plaster, and cement to Mexico as a result of the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) from 1994 (Stacy, 2003, p. 583). In the 1990’s there was a significant increase, however, of immigrants from Mexico into Nevada due to the economic downturn of 1991, thus creating a trend of an increasing population that has continued into the 21st century (Miranda, 1997, p. 209). There was a time

Diversification Strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diversification Strategy - Assignment Example With the help of ski patrol, ski guides, and ski teams from Dartmouth University, the school properly utilizes the almost ideal slopes of Ragged Mountains. I was also not surprised to learn that SNHU hosts and caters events through www.uniquevenues.com because of the campus’ convenient location on the border between Manchester and Hooksett (SNHU, n.d.). 3M offers products that balance the work and personal lives of the American public. For instance, 3M Command Strips are all-purpose hangers that users can use in bathrooms for towels, in the bedroom for jewelry, belts, photos, and accessories (3M, 2015). This makes 3M’s command strips ideal for users who rent houses since property owners do not allow them to drill into walls or shelves. However, in February 2014, products made by 3M and aimed at industrial and consumers were recorded to be underperforming (Govindarajan and Srinivas, 2013). One 3M business is Display and Graphics, particularly its Architectural Solutions in the United States. 3M’s diversification approaches in its Architectural Solutions form groundbreaking assets for individual and corporate clients. These approaches form the structure, methods, and tradition that allow clients to think and carry out tasks in different ways in an effort to accomplish exceptional success (Govindarajan and Srinivas,

Solving the Byod Problem for the Enterprise Essay Example for Free

Solving the Byod Problem for the Enterprise Essay Introduction Enterprise computing, as we know it, is facing a dimensional shift with the widespread diffusion of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) phenomenon. BYOD is the latest trend hitting businesses where employees are bringing their own personal mobile devices. Some of these devices include smartphones and tablets which are brought into their place of work, and used on the corporate network for purposes such as accessing files, email servers, and databases. Over the past few years, employees in many organizations are bringing their own personal devices to the work environment to handle business needs. With employees using their own devices, CIOs and IT departments across the nation are frantically trying to keep up with their employees by ensuring their networks are safe and secure. There is no doubting mobile devices have taking over a big part of our lives. These devices travel with us wherever we go while always being within a short reach away. People are beginning to realize the usefulness of getting work done from their own mobile devices. With this trend enterprises are in need of a policy for employees bringing their own devices to work. Although a relaxed BYOD policy can offer an organization many benefits, it tends to be a double edged sword. A lax policy leaves sensitive data vulnerable; an overly strict one stifles employees trust relationship with their employer. A balance must be struck between offering employees a pleasant and enjoyable work environment and maintaining the security of enterprise data. As the expectations of workspace personnel evolve, organization leaders must find ways to adapt and overcome the challenges that arise when corporate culture has a conflict with social standards and consumer trends. Management must consider the potential detriment to the workforce morale and how this could ultimately result in productivity loss. This is evident in the current 90% of employers who have chosen to allow personal devices at work with little or no precautions (Miller, Voas, and Hurlburt, 2012). Most workers consider themselves, not the company, to be responsible for the personal devices they use for work purposes. This all begs the question, how should an organization go about implementing a BYOD policy? Which policy can best suit a particular type of business? Should organization leaders place priority on protecting its data assets, or must they protect the health of their workers? If the latter is chosen, what compromises must employees be expected to make to ensure a necessary, minimal level of security is in place? These are all the major questions IT departments are seeking answers for when providing a BYOD environment. This research paper will provide a working outline with the correct steps needed for the development process for a BYOD work environment. The paper will touch upon key subjects addressing the careful decisions that must be made in order to set up the proper policies. An organization’s main goal is making certain your business has both a safe and secure network while keeping the employees satisfied. II. Key Issues. The key issues for the implementation of BYOD involve five main areas. The main areas are people, planning, management of technology, assessment and execution. The first main area, people, involves how management must communicate with the enterprise’s employees, provide leadership and proper governance. The second area, planning, management must provide a plan to implement BYOD into the enterprise that aligns with the business,   communicates the IT strategy to the business and provides sound quality control. The third area, management of technology, IT management should provide a flexible and standard BYOD policy for employees. The fourth area, assessment, management should provide a way to measure risk, eliminate risk and provide a sufficient audit of the BYOD policy. Lastly, execution of the BYOD policy should provide an implementation that coincides with the needs of the other key issues. III. Models and Frameworks. Models and frameworks provide the ability to analyze, â€Å"a structured set of essential components of an object for which clear expressions is necessary and perhaps even mandatory for creating, operating, and changing the object† (Zachman, 2008). The object is the enterprise and the ability to implement any new business policy requires structure from models and frameworks. The models and frameworks that relate to providing structure in implementing BYOD are the Zachman Framework, Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Risk IT framework and Val IT Framework. The Zachman Framework is the foundation for architecture of any kind and enterprises that are growing in complexity can be represented with the Zachman Framework. With bring your own device the enterprise architecture of an organization will need to change to fit with the architecture change that BYOD brings. The two columns from the Zachman Framework that BYOD will affect is the Where and W ho columns. The Where column involves the network and how the system of an enterprise will change in regard to BYOD. The technology will need to be provided by or to employees that will change the architecture of an enterprise. The system will be with employees everywhere which means the business will be with employees everywhere they go. Leaving the business in a more vulnerable state that may create the loss of important data, which will increase the need for employees to be more responsible. The Who column needs to interact with the Where column that provides a distributed system that will require Responsibility from the organization’s employees. The business role of the employee’s device will need to have specifications, be defined and represented. The engineer perspective will need to define for the devices role for both the device and employee. The architect perspective will need to   define the potential locations for the system and where it can reach. With a clearly defined system role for the devices themselves the business management perspective should focus on how the devices are defined for the employees. To implement BYOD the enterprise will need to focus on those columns of the Zachman Framework. While the Zachman Framework provides the structure organizations will need the Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory provides aspects of innovation that will help mold business policies that should increase the ability of BYOD to be implemented. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory provides four theory elements. The four theory elements are the innovation, communication, time and social system. â€Å"The innovation does not need to be new in terms of being recently developed, it only needs to be new to the person or organization that is adopting and implementing it† (Lundblad, 2003). The theory continues that there are five parts to the innovation that increase rate of implementation as each of these characteristics increase. The five characteristics of the innovation are â€Å"relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability (Rogers, 1995)† (Lundblad, 2003). Relative advantage is a perceived improvement over the current status. To implement BYOD their needs to be a perceived improvement according to the employee’s view. Planning the implementation of BYOD will help make sure the improvement is seen and the employees will accept the innovation. The characteristic, Compatibility measures how well the innovation aligns with organization. Implementing the system in line with the organization with good understanding of the business will increase the compatibility and make the implementation possible. The next characteristic is complexity which is the measure of ease of use. Knowing the end users of the implementation and what they want in a BYOD implementation will help them have a positive user experience and increase the rate of adoption. Another characteristic is trialability. It is the measure of testing and more testing makes adoption faster. Providing good quality control when testing will make sure that the implementation will be in line with the implementation planning. The last characteristic is observability and it is the measure of visibility others have of the innovation and if more visible the faster the adoption. Providing end users with a positive visible experience will make employees more willing to go along with the innovation. â€Å"The second element of Rogers diffusion of innovation theory is communication, or the process by which people develop and share information with each other to achieve common understanding (Rogers, 1995)† (Lundblad, 2003). The need for IT managers to speak the business’s language is very important. So an emphasis will need to be on communication for the IT department to ensure all needs of the business are being met. â€Å"Realizing value from business change requires effective communication† (IT Governance Institute, 2008). Time and social system are the last two theory elements. Time involves the different adoption rates of innovation and social system involves members in group or organization with a common goal. â€Å"Opinion leaders, change agents, and champions are the people within a social system who have the ability to influence the diffusion of innovation within a social system (Rogers, 1995)† (Lundblad, 2003). Winning over the most influential employees of the business will help influence other employees and ensure the business wants the implementation of BYOD to succeed. The last two frameworks needed to be taken into account when implement BYOD is Risk IT framework and Val IT Framework. The Risk IT framework needs to be taken into account when implementing BYOD or any other system. There are six Risk IT principles that will help effectively assess risk. The Risk IT principles are connect to business objectives, align IT risk management with ERM, balance cost/benefit of IT risk, Promote fair and open communication, establish tone at the top and accountability and function as part of daily activities. (ISACA, 2009) Effective enterprise governance of IT risk should have the potential amount of risk the enterprise is ready to take clearly defined with business objectives (ISACA, 2009). â€Å"Effective enterprise governance of IT risk always connects to business objectives† (ISACA, 2009). Controls should also be implemented to address risk. â€Å"Controls are implemented to address a risk and based on a cost-benefit analysis. In other words, controls are not implemented for the sake of implementing controls† (ISACA, 2009). IT risk should always be taken into account. â€Å"Risk management practices are appropriately prioritized and embedded in enterprise decisionmaking process† (ISACA, 2009). Val IT is another framework that should be assessed when implementing BYOD to ensure the creation of value with the implementation. Val IT is used with CobIT, â€Å"Val IT both complements CobIT and is supported by it† (IT Governance Institute, 2008). â€Å"CobIT processes manage all IT-related activities within the enterprise† (ISACA, 2009). â€Å"Val IT and CobIT provide business and IT decision makers with a comprehensive framework for the creation of value from the delivery of high-quality IT-based services† (IT Governance Institute, 2008). Four questions can be asked to assess the enterprise and ensure value. (IT Governance Institute, 2008). All the frameworks of Risk IT, Val IT and CobIT can interconnect and provide an efficient management of IT. (ISACA, 2009)With both Val IT and CobIT, Risk IT can help enhance risk management and should be applied to an enterprise that is implementing a BYOD policy. IV. Plan of Action PLANNING Planning should be considered a crucial part when creating a BYOD policy. Depending on how a policy is created will determine the success it has going forward. A lackadaisical approach during the development can cost a company immediate complications (Pendleton, 2012). The planning stage is where management will cover the concerns and questions related to creating a standard policy for the organization to administer. It is imperative the planning stage not be taking lightly. Planning should never be rushed or thrown together in an â€Å"ad-hoc† like manner. Carelessness shown during planning can have devastating effects for the company’s future (McKendrick, 2012). PEOPLE Developing a successful policy should promote an open collaboration between both the employees and the organization (AbsoluteSoftware 2012). Important details to include are the specifics for the guidelines set for users on the network. These areas of policy can become very blurry for both organizations and their staff to deal with (Kaneshige, 2012). It is vital to outline details for what usages are allowed on the network, a user’s classification on the network, the user restrictions for specific classifications, and the disciplinary actions for abusing the use. Personal ownership must be directly associated to the users on the network. Violations to the end-user agreement develop for network usage must be outlined with explanations that are clear and concise. Management must set a good example by following the regulations put into place just as any employees are expected to do. Realizing value from business change requires effective communication- a critical requirement difficult to achieve without widespread acceptance of a consistent set of terminology† (IT Governance Institute, 2008). MANAGING TECHNOLOGY When initiating a policy into the business structure there are key subject matters to be addressed. It is important to designate the governance for the plan being implemented. So there will be an enterprise wide discipline for the policy. Each device that is allowed to have access to the network becomes a problem waiting to happen if lost or worse, stolen with malicious intent. There are key strategies to keep in mind when preparing a solution for defending against possible vulnerabilities on mobile devices. The components offering the most reliable solutions are focusing on access control and identity management (Chickowski, 2012). The capability to have both the control and visibility on events on the company’s network is key for management. Lately, there has been various mobile security providers stating the solution is to control the data, rather than the device itself (Corbin, 2012). Personal owners are still strongly encouraged in taking preventive actions to securing th eir device. Nevertheless, IT departments can only do so much [software-wise] when taking security precautions handling devices on the network. In the case of IT being the direct barrier of prevention, the use of devices and   software the directed focus is more information-centric (Corbin, 2012). IT staff must direct attention towards securing data itself by blending the right amount of features to check authorizations and authentications. This layered approach centered at the information will provide more control over security wherever it should move or stop. The protection of corporate data is of utmost importance for a business. Any data obtained through lost or stolen devices would be a nightmare for an organization; but, having data fall into the wrong hands could compromise a company’s integrity to other competitors can be disastrous. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive measures are put in place to ensure the integrity of an organization and its data. A beneficial solution to security is to include proper hardware and software that facilitates automatic provisioning that can be administered by the IT de partment. The Identity Services Engine (IES) by Cisco is one great example to the controllability needed for security. This software offers an efficient way for enterprises to manage network connections through an identity and access control policy platform. With access to vital information in real-time, enterprises can make proactive governance decisions about access (Cisco, 2012). This is the type of authority organizations need to ensure a safer network for users while securing valuable data. In connection with the security policies established there are legal issues bound to arise from the control organizations place over data being transferred and stored on employee devices. This topic of rights can leave both sides feeling uneasy. Nonetheless, businesses must protect their data that accessed by users on the network. The development process of the BYOD policies is where organizations will want to include details pertaining to ownership. Such discussion must include the liability for the information being used, how and when should a device-wipe be used, and exit strategies taken for employees leaving the business (Hassell, 2012). A great example of this problem would be defining the jurisdiction concerning who has authority and rights of the data located on an employee’s device if he or she should be terminated or leave the company. These are all big issues that must be addressed depending on the vulnerability of your corporate data; otherwise, this going unstated that lead to annoying litigation for management. EXECUTION/ASSESSMENT Finally, once the components of execution and governance have been covered it is necessary for the organization to assess its current transition. It is here management must audit the new BYOD strategy to determine their Return on Investment (ROI). When reviewing the results of a recently implemented strategy there are two sets of key questions to measure the success of its use. The governance-related questions based from a Val IT approach include: Are we doing the right things? (The strategic question) and Are we getting the benefits desired? (The value question). The last set of questions are COBIT focused taking on an IT view. These two are: Are we doing them the right way? (The architecture question) and Are we getting them done well? (The delivery question) (IT Governance Institute, 2012). The combination of both the Val IT and COBIT frameworks create a synergistic relationship that will ensure a highquality IT-based service is creating value across the enterprise. V. Critical Success Factors The critical success factors for successful management of the BYOD policy are to plan, manage, assess, execute and communicate. Planning must be done first using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Zachman Framework as a basis to planning to ensure the BYOD policy is going to be accepted by the enterprise’s employees and align with the business. Communication needs to be an important part of planning to understand the business objectives. Planning must include how BYOD will be managed, executed, communicated and assessed. The management of the technology needs to ensure data safety using authentication and governance. The BYOD policy needs to be assessed before execution. â€Å"The risk that a large IT-enabled project will fail for lack of business change should be assessed by top management at the very conception of the project and by project management at key phases over the life of the project† (Gibson, 2004). Other frameworks to assess the BYOD policy are Risk IT, Val IT and CobIT. These are needed to understand the business risk associated with the BYOD policy, ensure value and assess the IT processes involved in the IT strategy switch. To execute, management needs to implement the policy with good quality control aligning it with the plan and technology management of the BYOD policy. Management needs to also communicate the governance and rules of the BYOD policy to ensure discipline. Explanation of consequences is also needed so employees understand the consequences of their actions using their own devices as a part of the enterprise. Lastly, the BYOD policy will need to be audited continuously to guarantee the safety and integrity of information while operating properly to attain the enterprise’s goals and objectives. Work Cited Aala Santhosh Reddy. (June 2012). Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Making It Work For Your Organization. In Slideshare.com for Cognizant Research Center. Retrieved , from http://www.slideshare.net/cognizant/making-byod-work-for-your-organization 13450463. BYOD Policy Implementation Guide. London: Absolute Software, 2012. PDF. Cisco Systems, Inc.. (2012). Cisco Identity Services Engine Software 1.1.1 (aka 1.1MR). In Cisco. Retrieved , from http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/vpndevc/ps5712/ps11637/ps11195/qa_ 67-658591.html. Ericka Chickowski. (June 19, 2012). Visibility and Control Still an Issue With BYOD Policies. I Network Computing: For IT By IT. Retrieved , from http://www.networkcomputing.com/security/visibility-and-control-still-an-issue wi/240002308. Gibson, C. (2004). It-enabled business change: An approach to understanding and managing risk. Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? ISACA. (2009). The risk it framework. Retrieved from http://www.isaca.org/Knowledge Center/Risk-IT-IT-Risk-Management/Pages/Risk-IT1.aspx IT Governance Institute. (2008). Enterprise value: Governance of it investments. the val it framework 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.isaca.org/KnowledgeJoe McKendrick. (October 23, 2012). 10 steps for writing a secure BYOD policy. In ZDNet.com. Retrieved , from http://www.zdnet.com/10-steps-for-writing-a-secure-byod-policy 7000006170/ Jonathan Hassell. (May 17, 2012). 7 Tips for Establishing a Successful BYOD Policy. In CIO.com. Retrieved , from http://www.cio.com/article/706560/7_Tips_for_Establishing_a_Successful_BYOD_Poli y. Kaneshige, T . (March 06, 2012). BYOD: Making Sense of the Work-Personal Device Blur. In CIO.com. Retrieved , from http://www.cio.com/article/701545/BYOD_Making_Sense_of_the_Work_Personal_De ce_Blur. Kenneth Corbin. (August 23, 2012). BYOD Security Demands Mobile Data Protection Strategy. In CIO.com. Retrieved , from http://www.cio.com/article/714550/BYOD_Security_Demands_Mobile_Data_Protecti n_Strategy. Lundblad, J. (2003). A review and critique of rogers diffusion of innovation theory as it applies to organizations.Organization Development Journal, 21(4), 50-64. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/197971687?accountid=7113 Miller, K., Voas, J., Hurlburt, G. (2012). BYOD: Security and Privacy Considerations. IT Professionals. 14 (5), 53-55. Retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org Mark Pendleton. (August 13, 2012). Top Concerns When Creating a BYOD Policy. In NEC Corporation of America . Retrieved , from http://info.necunified.com/bid/153070/Top Concerns-When-Creating-a-BYOD-Policy. Rob Humphrey. (March 07, 2012). Manage Risks Reap Rewards: BYOD. In Kensington Safe Zone with Rob Humphrey Blog

Paradise Lost Vs Genesis Theology Religion Essay

Paradise Lost Vs Genesis Theology Religion Essay Unlike the Biblical account of the fall in the Book of Genesis, with his epic poem, Paradise Lost, John Milton adds a lot of detail about the complete story of Man, the beginning of Satan, his rise and Mans Fall. Although the ideas for Paradise Lost came from a few pages in the Book of Genesis, Miltons account kept readers wondering what was going to happen next. Because he was going against the church already with Paradise Lost, it was more intriguing for him to take the same ideas in the Bible and extend them into more detail, making Satan look like the Hero and succeeding at what he wanted to do. Satan the perfect angel banished from nothing to the pits of Hell, with no chance of return, conjures up a plan to get revenge, building a legacy and an army to overthrow those who put him there. God created the Son, the angels, Man, Heaven, Earth and everything else. Milton faced a difficult task with creating tension about would happen since God already knew. In Paradise Lost, God is al most emotionless or aloof; he embodies pure reason and pure justice, and every response he gives seems to be cold. In Genesis God is wise and known as the creator and is more the narrator of what is happening than in Miltons epic. Also He is referred to as Lord God, instead of God, like Milton refers to Him. So, in close the start and fall Man to summarize the creation and reason for human nature is God gave Man free will, from Mans free will, sin and death came into the world. Paradise Lost was about Adam and Eve, how they came to be created, the fall of Satan and his journey to get back at God by corrupting Adam and Eve. The main plot of this took place in Gods creation called the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost is similar to the book of Genesis because its story comes from the main pages of Genesis, chapters one through four. My thesis is: While the Book of Genesis portrays Satan as an evil antagonist, Miltons Paradise Lost presents him as a more sympathetic character. Perhaps not a hero, but an anti-hero. An anti-hero is someone who lacks the attributes of a hero, such as courage or being morally good. In some ways, Milton presents Satan as a modern Prometheus. Prometheus was a Greek God, who at any cost gave fire to humans; just as it can be argued that, at an even greater cost, Satan gave knowledge to humans. An example of an anti-hero in popular culture would be Samuel L. Jacksons character in the film Pulp Fiction. His character quotes the Bible to ju stify his occupation as a hit man, The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brothers keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. [Jeremiah]. In summary, I am comparing Miltons story of Paradise with the Bibles story of the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost begins with a prologue by Milton which states his purpose and an epic description of Satan who is depicted on his back with the other rebellious angels chained to the lake of fire. Genesis starts out saying In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, And God said, Let there be light and there was light and God separated the light from the dark (Genesis). Milton depicts God as a being who you can converse with, as if He was an angel, and no higher than anyone else not even Satan. Before the rebellion, Satan was formerly known as Lucifer; he had been the greatest angel and second only to God. The other angels who revolted against God were defeated and cast down from Heaven into the fires of Hell with Satan. Hell is the place Justice made for those who rebel against God (www.clifnotes.com). For nine days, Satan and his followers were lying helpless in the fires of Hell, until Satan grew angry, thinking about all the pleasures he had missed and his unending pai n. Looking around, Satan saw a lot of suffering. But he only felt stubborn pride and hopelessness. He knew the fires would never go out and the torture would never end. As Satan looked to the left and the right, and saw all his defeated followers wallowing in flames and his right hand assistant that Satan later names Beelzebub(www.paradiselost.org). Surprisingly Satan finally speaks. Milton explains the reason why Satan was cast down into the depths of Hell because Satan became jealous of Gods son. In Book One of Paradise Lost Satan is speaking, as if he has free will. Satan is portrayed as this huge angel who rose up against God in jealousy towards Gods son and is now a leader who is frustrated with the limits put on him. Through pain and despair Satan speaks, he talks to Beelzebub and his followers he talks about a new way to get revenge and talks about a prophecy of a new world where demons and evil are welcome, And revenge on Gods creation (www.paradiselost.org). Satan then awakens all his legions and chiefs leaders to rise in numbers, he gives a speech that comforts them with hope of regaining heaven and lastly tells them of a new world. So they build a kingdom known as Pandemonium and create a council. A new kind of creature to be created, according to ancient prophecy or reports from heaven, to find out the truth Satan refers to his council of demons in the place of Pandemonium (www.cliffnotes.com). Satan takes on the voyage to go to Gods creation, but he encounters his offspring, Sin and Death, guarding the gates of hell. His daughter Sin unlocks the gate and Satan continues his journey across the great gulf of chaos between heaven and hell which ends Book Two. Before the Fall, Adam is nearly a perfect human being as imagined. He is physically attractive, mentally adept, and spiritually profound (www.gradesaver.com). He stands out in the Garden of Eden at the head of the hierarchical pyramid. Eve is the only one who compares to him, and only in physical beauty. When Satan becomes envious of Gods son, Satan creates sin from his head, and an incestuous relationship with his daughter Sin. They produce an offspring Death. Sin is a beautiful woman but at the same time hideous. She is half human and half serpent. Hellhounds that surround her and go in and out of her womb. The hell hounds are the product of her incestuous relationship with her son Death who was the product of the relationship she had with her father Satan (www.gradesaver.com). In the book of Genesis, it mentions nothing about the birth of Satan, Sin, and Death. In the book of Genesis, it mainly talks about the creation of the world, the seventh day as the day God rests, the creati on of Man and Woman, and their Fall. About the birth of Man and Woman, the Book of Genesis says, Then Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a Garden of Eden, in the east and there he had put the man he had formed, the tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.(Genesis) Miltons version of the birth of Adam in Paradise Lost is somewhat similar to the book of Genesis, The first human created by God from the dust of earth, who was created by God after the angels who rebelled were defeated (www.gradesaver.com). Similar in birth but Genesis did not mention much about the war between God and the angel nor a timeline of when the first man came to be. It was kind of like there was earth and now there is man in Genesis. In Paradise Lost it gave the back story of the war in Heaven and why God created man. As for the second birth, I would like to examine the birth of Eve in the two books and the birth of Sin. It is an interesting fact that these are two women one full human being and the other half human half serpent. In the book of Genesis, God caused sleep to fall upon man, and while sleeping, he took one of Adams ribs and made it into a woman and brought her to man, who later named her Eve. Her name is Eve because she was the mother of all living. In Paradise Lost, Eve is created from Adams rib as his helper to maintain the Garden of Eden. Before the Fall, Eve was created to serve man. But Sin was created to help destroy man. Eve was presented as submissive to Adam and to an extent dependent on him. Their births are both from the body of who they are serving and yet both books go into depth about only one of how they came to be; Eve from the book of Genesis and Sin from Paradise Lost light vs. dark. Milton adds a lot of imagery to the relationship between Sin and Satan, which ultim ately ends with the incestuous birth of Death. But Adam and Eve offspring, Cain and Abel, do not come until after the Fall of man and they are barely mentioned in Paradise Lost. In book three of Paradise Lost God sees Satan flying towards Earth and foretells the success of his evil mission to tempt man. God then explains his purpose to his son of grace and mercy towards man, but declares justice must be met (www.paradiselost.org). To get into Gods creation, the Garden of Eden, Satan disguises himself as a cherub. Satan then pretends he has come to praise Gods new creation and tricks an angel into showing him the way to the creation of mans home. Satan enters and lands on Mt. Niphates and has moments of doubt, he looks up and the light from the sun reminds him of the grace he had in heaven (www.paradiselost.org). Filled with pride, he goes to corrupt mankind. The Garden of Eden was protected on all sides by high walls of trees and plants. Satan gets past the walls, finds Adam and Eve, and all the animals playing peacefully and lying lazily beside them(www.gradesaver.com). Satan is speechless as he sees this beauty and the continuous joy of Adam and Eve. He ov erhears them talk about Gods commandment, not to eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan plans to change that and cause them to transgress. The sight of Adam and Eves joy and love crushes Satan, so he takes this opportunity to whisper to Eve what she was looking at and tell her she was the most beautiful thing he had ever saw. This is the start of the Fall of Man. Eve then thinks about the moments of her creation as she walks to the lake to get water. There she sees her reflection. Eve then sees Adam and notices he wasnt as beautiful as her in the reflection (www.paradiselost.org). Gods angels take notice that there is an intruder in the Garden, and Satan faces Gabriel. Before they engage in battle. Gabriel, one of Gods angels, tells him to look up at the stars to see how you are weighted (www.cliffnotes.com). It is clear to Satan that he will not win, so he leaves on his own accord. Later, God sends another one of his angels named Raphael to warn Adam and Eve about Satan. Raphael tells them how Satan was cast down, and how the world was created so mankind could one day replace the fallen angels in heaven. Satan then sneaks back into the Garden of Eden, disguised as a serpent. Finding Eve alone he induces her to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. In Paradise Lost, Satan circled the Earth seven continuous nights, staying on the dark side of earth. On the eighth night he found a secret way into the garden. But in Genesis it summarizes the creation of man and earth as done in seven days. Clearly Milton tries to keep the idea of something significant happening in seven days, whether it is Satan sneaking back or the creation of Man and earth. From the time of Eves creation she is linked to the flaw of vanity (www.gradesaver.com) and Satan uses this against her when he becomes a serpent in Miltons version of Paradise Lost. There is an implied idea that Eve understands her position in the hierarchical arrangement that her and Adam share, which leads me to think that when she sees her reflection, and compares it to Adam, she doesnt understand why she is beneath him if she is physically more beautiful than Adam, which than adds her insight for why and Satan fuels that. But in the Book of Genesis it refers to Satan as the serpent and how Adam and Eve are tempted by him. But it is unclear how the serpent came to be evil. Not in Genesis, but other parts of the Bible, the writers refer to the serpent as being a representation of Satan. In Genesis the serpent is craftier than any other beast in the Garden (Genesis). Satan said to the woman Did God actually say, you shall not eat of any tree in the Garden (Genesis)? In Paradise Los t we know Satan deceived her, but what exactly did he say? We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden, says Eve in the Book of Genesis. The serpent told the woman you will not surely die for God knows when you eat it, your eyes will surely be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil (Genesis). The woman then saw the tree as good food and with her desire to make one wise she took its fruit and ate and gave some to her husband Adam (www.cliffnotes.com). During this event, in the book of Genesis, Adam is said to be with her as she ate. After they ate, their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked. According to Miltons Paradise Lost, after Eve eats the fruit from the tree, she immediately changes. She thinks of ways of becoming equal to Adam or even his superior. But fearful of losing Adam to another female creation, she decides that he must eat the fruit also. Adam does so willingly, in fear of losing Eve. Milton presents a story and adds a swing more like a small drama of love between the two in order not to lose each other. In Genesis, after the fruit is eaten, the story jumps directly into the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day of man(Genesis). Not knowing what has happened until man confesses what has happened, the Bible story blames the serpent for Eves deception. In Miltons version, God already knows what has happened, and man runs and hides. When they hear Gods voice, they still hide. Then, right before God is about to pass judgment on man, He gives the reasons why in the Book of Genesis and also states what Man will suffer after being banished.

Akhilleauss Pride Essay -- essays research papers

Akhilleus’s Pride The Iliad is a classic story of a Greek warrior, named Akhilleus, whose anger causes many soldiers to die during the Trojan War. When Akhilleus becomes angry, there seems to be nothing that can stop him from totally destroying his enemy. While many consider anger to be the primary factor in motivating Akhilleus, the main reason Akhilleus acts the way he does is because he is extremely self-centered. Initially, Akhilleus lets his pride control him when King Agamemnon takes his prize possession, Briseis, away from him. Akhilleus begins to sulk and declares he will take his army and go home. Feeling dishonored, Akhilleus goes to his mother, Thetis, and requests her to go to Zeus and petition his assistance in dealing with Agamemnon. Akhilleus states to his mother, â€Å"If he ...

A Class Called Peer Listening :: Personal Narrative Education Essays

A Class Called Peer Listening Walking into a class called "Peer Listening" can certainly give a high school student a unique impression. It was my senior year of high school and all I wanted to do was take easy classes to finish off the year, and that's all I had heard about this class, no homework, it's easy, a "blow off class", so naturally it seemed to be the perfect class. Mr. Bihl I had known for a year and I found him to be a genuinely interesting, understanding person. I walked in the classroom and took the nearest seat to the window side of the room and waited to see who else was in my class. Bill walked in the door, he was a hockey player, jock and all around high achiever. Then came Lauren who was in the same "crowd" as Bill, but with those who liked to live a little more dangerously. Many of them have been into drugs in the past. Next Michelle, who I have heard a lot of rumors about, she is only sixteen and living with her boyfriend in their own apartment. After a minute or two, another kid named Bill strode through the door, he was an all around guy, he could fit into a group of people and manage to entertain them. Just as the bell rang, a girl named Nicole sat in the seat next to me. No one liked Nicole and I never really understood why. There were others that had come in, but most I didn't know. Once the bell had rung and I knew that none of my good friends were going to be in the class, the wave of dread washed over me. A whole semester of people I hardly knew. What a way to spend my senior year of high school! Once the class had started, there were only seventeen people. It was a very small class, compared to the rest of my classes, which topped thirty students. The classroom itself was located just inside the main hall leading to the entrance of the school. Room number 205. Inside, the classroom looked just like every other classroom in Clarkston High School, gray industrial carpeting speckled with burgundy, forest green, and an array of other colors. The walls were cinderblocks painted a hideous shade of off white, and lacked decorations. A gray Formica counter top lined one side of the classroom, complete with cabinets above and below.

Alcoholism In The 21st Century Essay -- essays research papers fc

Alcoholism in the 21st Century   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The dictionary describes alcoholism as continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks. However, this disease is much more complex. Alcohol abuse is a growing problem in the United States today, causing more and more deaths each year. It affects nearly everyone in the U.S. today, either directly or indirectly. Over half of Americans have at least one close relative that has a drinking problem. About 20 million people in the United States abuse alcohol. It is the third leading cause of preventable deaths, and about 100,000 people die each year from alcohol related incidents (Peacock 11).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcohol is not a new invention of modern societies. It has been around through many different ancient cultures, wine being the most prominent substance. Some cultures viewed alcohol consumption as good, while others perceived it good only in moderation. For example, the Greek god Bacchus was known for his excessive drinking while the Roman god Dionysus was known for teaching moderation in drinking (Peacock 20-21).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcoholism was also learned to have existed in history. Interpreted writings on the tomb of an Egyptian king who lived over 5,000 years ago read, â€Å"His earthly abode was rent and shattered by wine and beer. And the spirit escaped before it was called for.† This shows that he died from alcohol related causes. However, most cultures began to limit alcohol use when they learned how to efficiently produce the beverage. Babylonian king Hammurabi and Chinese emperor Chung K’iang executed violators of their laws concerning alcohol (Peacock 20). Even in the Bible, refrain from alcohol is stressed. â€Å"†¦Nor drunkards†¦ will inherit the kingdom of God† (Alcohol and the Bible). The United States was not immune to strict laws opposing alcohol. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed, limiting alcohol use. This period lasted for 14 years and became known as the Prohibition (Peacock 28).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ancient and modern literatures show that alcohol has been around longer than most people think. For example, in the ancient epic of Giglamesh, written 4,000 years ago, one character was the goddess of wine and brewing, Siduri (World literature 136, 139). The Chinese poet Tu Fu wrote about celebrating an old friend’s retirement with wine in his... ...rch on causes and treatment has increased substantially. There are many new and traditional treatment methods being tested to treat alcoholism. Looking toward the future, there is hope for a successful treatment of alcoholism, and prevention in generations to come. Works Cited Alcohol and the Bible: New Expanded Version. 29 April 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Botsford, Christy. National Children of Alcoholics Week. 29   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  April 2001. Clinton Signs Bill to Lower Drunken Driving Standards. Dallas Morning News. SIRS. 23   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  October 2000. Peacock, Nancy. Drowning our Sorrows, Psychological Effects of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alcohol Abuse. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. Selected Poetry of Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849). 29 April 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Williams, Steven. â€Å"America’s Drinking Problem.† Teen People. March 2000: 100-105. World Literature Third Edition. United States: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2001.

Movie Genre

Amanda Oman HUM 1900 Research Paper Dredd: Judge, Jury and Executioner In a dystopian era plagued by radiation, Dredd is one of the Judges, which is the only presence of law in the land. The most feared of all Judges, Dredd is on a mission to stop the distribution and use of a new drug, â€Å"Slo-Mo†. While training a new Judge, Dredd and his trainee are caught in a slum apartment where a drug lord, Ma-Ma, has gained control over almost all of the inhabitants. The two Judges must fight for survival when the futuristic apartment building’s security is taken over by the drug lord with one mission: to kill Dredd and save the business.Films are generally pretty personal things. What one person loves, another may hate, and there are many concepts that can or cannot be included to create the desired effect. Regardless, there are a few things a film needs that everyone can agree on; an interesting plot, believable characters, captivating dialogue, a realistic set design, and m ust have a destination (and get there in a reasonable time). Dredd accomplishes all of these with ease, and was a film worth seeing. The plot is pretty basic, and while the basic idea of clashing with authority and who will prevail isn’t relatively new, Dredd presents the concept in a fresh way.Thrilling and suspenseful, Dredd is very well written and captivates the audience. NPR reviewed the film, stating, â€Å"Dredd works because it's an action flick with wide appeal that takes risks it doesn't need to – in its delightfully off-putting violence and daring style – and those choices pay off in a singular and exhilarating movie experience. It's savage, beautiful and loads of fun. (ARNOLD)† Taking something so extraordinarily simple and making a masterpiece is what Alex Garland, the writer, has done. While there seems to be a constant flow of action scenes, the rising action isn’t typical backstory stuff.It offers the pertinent information, but in a n energetic way. The climax is certainly the definition of, with more guns and ammunition than you can shake a stick at. Dredd lacks in the falling action, but after the previous high point, any more action may border on too much. Judges are self-described as â€Å"Judge, Jury and Executioner†, being given the power to determine charges on scene, and execute the appropriate punishment immediately. This kind of power is overwhelming and one would expect anyone in this position to be a bit arrogant and demeaning.This demeanor is shown exceptionally well by the Judges at the end of the movie. Many are on Ma Ma’s payroll and corrupted Judges are aplenty. These characters act, as one would expect, prompting the audience to feel a bit of animosity towards them: aptly so, since they are part of the villainous crowd. With a plot as dramatic and intense as Dredd’s, the set must be equally astonishing. Set in a futuristic time, after bouts of radiation, Mega-City One look s drastically different than Earth in present day. Shooting in South Africa provided plenty of vast land to create the perfect set that accurately portrayed the ‘goings-on’.The set is authentic and eerie, and strangely draws you in to the point that when you leave the theater, you wonder where all of the sunlight came from. This kind of believable set makes the movie experience that much more enjoyable. â€Å"I am the law†. Potentially one of the most raw lines in the film, this is the overall theme of the Judge’s attitudes. Being a drama, the film must deliver dialogue that is as captivating as the other elements of the film. Audiences love wit, one-liners, and humor, of any variety. Christy Lemire, from Rotten Tomatoes states, â€Å"A wickedly dark comic streak breaks up the vivid violence. LEMIRE) (ARNOLD) (LEMIRE; WATERCUTTER)† While pretty dry, the humor exists in the form of simple lines, delivered mostly by Dredd himself. But, in fact, the mo vie is devoid of too much dialogue, giving the audience the ability to absorb the beautiful set and the extreme action shots that seem to never end. Dredd could have offered more in the way of ‘captivating dialogue’, but Karl Urban, who plays Dredd, makes up for it with the delivery, using his raspy, Clint Eastwood-like voice. Perhaps the most important part of the movie is the plot, and how the movie reacts and evolves around the plot.The natural progression of things, the speed of that progression, and the in-betweens of the plot are all extremely important in holding the audience’s attention and not boring them half to death, or leaving them in the dust, confused. Dredd’s plot is pretty simple; stay alive in a post-radiation era while trying to solve a crime and bring down a drug lord. With the wrong writer, Dredd could be very short, and very boring. However, Garland creates intensity and draws the viewer in with numerous action scenes and suspense wit h not knowing if they will survive or not.Wired. com calls Dredd, â€Å"a fantastic action spectacle set against the back drop of two people trying to escape hell on Earth. There are massive bombtastic fights, near-death face offs, and bro-ing out between new BFFs Anderson and Dredd. (WATERCUTTER)† The climax is reached in due time, with an ending that, as a viewer, you can’t help but shout a little â€Å"hoo-ra† at. Dredd is strong on the dialogue and characters, but shines on the set and plot areas. An astonishing set and a plot with non-stop action make Dredd an intense film you won’t want to miss.Works Cited WATERCUTTER, ANGELA. â€Å"Review: Dredd 3D Puts Splashy Slo-Mo Spin on Ultraviolence. † 21 Sept. 2012. Wired. Com. 29 Oct. 2012 ;http://www. wired. com/underwire/2012/09/review-dredd-3d/;. ARNOLD, JOEL. â€Å"Nothing To ‘Dredd' About A New Action Adaptation. † 20 Sept. 2012. NPR. 29 Oct. 2012 ;http://www. npr. org/2012/09/20/1 61272582/nothing-to-dredd-about-a-new-action-adaptation;. LEMIRE, CHRISTY. â€Å"Review: 3-D makes beautifully bleak `Dredd' pop . † 19 Sept. 2012. Rotten Tomatoes. 29 Oct 2012 ;www. rottentomatoes. com;.

Macro ad/as model

Let us first understand the components of the AD/AS model, so we can determine and identify the factors which play a part in the level of output in the economy, and learn how the government intervenes in order to implement macro-policies in order to increase output, and the effects of these policies on the economy. The AD/AS model shows the combinations of both the aggregate demand curve and the aggregate supply curve.The aggregate demand curve shows the combinations of the price level and level of output at which both the money market and good market are in equilibrium, while the aggregate supply curve shows for each given price level the mount of out of output the firms are willing to supply. As mentioned in the 10th edition of macroeconomics by Mc Grawhill â€Å"the aggregate supply -aggregate demand model is the basic macroeconomic tool for studying output fluctuations† (Pg. 98, Macroeconomics, Rudiger Dornbush).Let us first understand the market equilibrium price of the p roduct and then identify and analyze how factors such as change in demand and supply, elasticity, separating and pooling equilibrium, market structure determine the price of a good or service. In free market, equilibrium price is the price at which there is no surplus or shortage nd therefore quantity demanded equals quantity supplied (Sloman 2008). At equilibrium, any change in quantity demanded or quantity supplied will move the market towards disequilibrium Let's work through an example.For this example, refer to . Notice that we begin at point A where short-run aggregate supply curve 1 meets the long-run aggregate supply curve and aggregate demand curve 1 . The point where the short-run aggregate supply curve and the aggregate demand curve meet is always the short-run equilibrium. The point where the long-run aggregate supply urve and the aggregate demand curve meet is always the long-run equilibrium. Thus, we are in long-run equilibrium to begin. Now say that the Fed pursues ex pansionary monetary policy.In this case, the aggregate demand curve shifts to the right from aggregate demand curve 1 to aggregate demand curve 2. The intersection of short- run aggregate supply curve 1 and aggregate demand curve 2 has now shifted to the upper right from point A to point B. At point B, both output and the price level have increased. This is the new short-run equilibrium. But, as we move to the long run, the expected price level comes into line with the ctual price level as firms, producers, and workers adjust their expectations.When this occurs, the short-run aggregate supply curve shifts along the aggregate demand curve until the long-run aggregate supply curve, the short-run aggregate supply curve, and the aggregate demand curve all intersect. This is represented by point C and is the new equilibrium where short-run aggregate supply curve 2 equals the long-run aggregate supply curve and aggregate demand curve 2. Thus, expansionary policy causes output and the pric e level to increase in the short run, but only the price level to increase in the long run

The Return: Midnight Chapter 23

In the car, Matt sat by the sleeping Meredith with Saber crammed in at their feet, listening in shock and horror as they recounted Meredith's story. When they were done, he was able to speak about his own experiences. â€Å"I'm going to have nightmares al my life about Cole Reece,†he admitted. â€Å"And even though I slapped an amulet on him, and he cried, Dr. Alpert said he was Stillinfected. How can we fight something this far out of control?† Elena knew he was looking at her. She dug her nails into her palms. â€Å"It isn't that I haven't tried to use Wings of Purification over the town. I've tried so hard that I feel as if I'l burst. But it's no good. I can't control any Wings Powers at all! I think – after what I've learned about Meredith – that I may need training. But how do I get it? Where? From who?† There was a long silence in the car. At last Matt said, â€Å"We're al in the dark. Look at that courtroom! How can they have so many werewolves in one town?† â€Å"Wolves are sociable,†Stefan said quietly. â€Å"It looks as if there is a whole community of werewolves in Ridgemont. Seeded among the various Bear and Moose and Lions Clubs of course. For spying on the only creatures they're scared of: humans.† At the boardinghouse Stefan carried Meredith to the first-floor bedroom and Elena pul ed the covers over her. Then she went to the kitchen, where the conversation was continuing. â€Å"What about those werewolves'families? Their wives?†she demanded as she rubbed Matt's shoulders where she knew the muscles must hurt fiercely from being handcuffed behind his back. Her soft fingers soothed bruises, but her hands were strong, and she kept kneading and kneading until her own shoulder muscles began to swear at her†¦and beyond. Stefan stopped her. â€Å"Move over, love, I've got evil vampire magic. This is necessary medical treatment,†he added sternly to Matt. â€Å"So you have to take it no matter how much it hurts.†Elena could Stillfeel him, if faintly, through their connection and she saw how he anesthetized Matt's mind and then dug into the knotted shoulders as if he was kneading stiff dough, meanwhile reaching out with his Powers of healing. Mrs. Flowers came by just then with mugs of hot, sweet cinnamon tea. Matt drained his mug and his head fel back slightly. His eyes were shut, his lips parted. Elena felt a huge wave of pain and tension flood away from him. And then she hugged both of her boys and cried. â€Å"They picked me up on my own driveway,†Matt admitted as Elena sniffled. â€Å"And they did it by the book, but they wouldn't even look at the – the chaos al around them.† Mrs. Flowers approached again, looking serious. â€Å"Dear Matt, you've had a terrible day. What you need is a long rest.†She glanced at Stefan, as if to see how this would impact him, with so few blood donors. Stefan smiled reassuringly at her. Matt, Stillbeing kneaded pliant, had just nodded. After that his color started coming back and a little smile curved his lips. â€Å"There's m'main man,†he said, when Saber butted his way through traffic to pant directly in Matt's face. â€Å"Buddy, I love your dog breath,†he declared. â€Å"You saved me. Can he have a treat, Mrs. Flowers?†he asked, turning slightly unfocused blue eyes on her. â€Å"I know just what he'd like. I have half a roast left in the refrigerator that just needs to be heated a bit.†She punched buttons and in a short while, said, â€Å"Matt, would you like to do the honors? Remember to take the bone out – he might choke on it.† Matt took the large pot roast, which, heated, smel ed so good it made him aware that he was starving. He felt his morals col apse. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, do you think I could make a sandwich before I give it to him?† â€Å"Oh, you poor dear boy!†she cried. â€Å"And I never even thought – of course they wouldn't give you lunch or dinner.† Mrs. Flowers got bread and Matt was happy enough with that, bread and meat, the simplest sandwich imaginable – and so good it curled his toes. Elena wept just a little more. So easy to make two creatures happy with one simple thing. More than two – they were al happy to see Matt safe and to watch Saber get his proper reward. The enormous dog had fol owed every movement of that roast with his eyes, tail swishing back and forth on the floor. But when Matt, Stillchomping, offered him the large piece of meat that was left, Saber just cocked his head to one side, staring at it as if to say, â€Å"You have to be joking.† â€Å"Yes, it's for you. Go on and take it now,†Mrs. Flowers said firmly. Final y, Saber opened his enormous mouth to take hold of the end of the roast, tail twirling like a helicopter blade. His body language was so clear that Matt laughed out loud. â€Å"This once on the floor with us,†Mrs. Flowers added magnificently, spreading a large rug over the kitchen floorboards. Saber's joy was only surpassed by his good manners. He put the roast on the rug and then trotted up to each of the humans to push a wet nose into hand or waist or under a chin, and then he trotted back and attacked his prize. â€Å"I wonder if he misses Sage?†Elena murmured. â€Å"I miss Sage,†Matt said indistinctly. â€Å"We need al the magic help we can get.† Meanwhile Mrs. Flowers was hurrying around the kitchen making ham and cheese sandwiches and bagging them like school lunches. â€Å"Anybody who wakes up tonight hungry must have something to eat,†she said. â€Å"Ham and cheese, chicken salad, some nice crisp carrots, and a big hunk of apple pie.†Elena went to help her. She didn't know why, but she wanted to cry some more. Mrs. Flowers patted her. â€Å"We are al feeling – er, strung out, â€Å"she announced gravely. â€Å"Anyone who doesn't feel like going right to sleep is probably running on too much adrenaline. My sleeping aid wil help with that. And I think we can trust our animal friends and the wards on the roof to keep us safe tonight.† Matt was practical y asleep on his feet now. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers – someday I'l repay you†¦but for now, I can't keep my eyes open.† â€Å"In other words, bedtime, kiddies,†Stefan said. He closed Matt's fingers firmly around a packed lunch, then steered him toward the stairs. Elena gathered several more lunches, kissed Mrs. Flowers twice, and went up to Stefan's room. She had the attic bed straightened and was opening a plastic bag when Stefan came in from putting Matt to bed. â€Å"Is he okay?†she said anxiously. â€Å"I mean, wil he be okay tomorrow?† â€Å"He'l be okay in his body. I got most of the damage healed.† â€Å"And in his mind?† â€Å"It's a tough thing. He just ran smack into Real Life. Arrested, knowing they might lynch him, not knowing if anybody would be able to figure out what had happened to him. He thought that even if we tracked him it would come down to a fight, which would have been hard to win – with so few of us, and not much magic left.† â€Å"But Saber fixed 'em,†Elena said. She looked thoughtful y at the sandwiches she'd laid out on the bed. â€Å"Stefan, do you want chicken salad or ham?†she asked. There was a silence. But it was moments before Elena looked up at him in astonishment. â€Å"Oh, Stefan – I – I actual y forgot. I just – today has been so strange – I forgot – â€Å" â€Å"I'm flattered,†Stefan said. â€Å"And you're sleepy. Whatever Mrs. Flowers puts in her tea – â€Å" â€Å"I think the government would be interested in it,†Elena offered. â€Å"For spies and things. But for now†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She held her arms out, head bent back, neck exposed. â€Å"No, love. I remember this afternoon, if you don't. And I swore I was going to start hunting, and I am,†Stefan said firmly. â€Å"You're going to leave me?†Elena said, startled out of her warm satisfaction. They stared at each other. â€Å"Don't leave,†Elena said, combing her hair away from her neck. â€Å"I had it al planned out, how you'l drink, and how we'l sleep holding each other. Please don't leave, Stefan.† She knew how hard he found it to leave her. Even if she was grimy and worn out, even if she was wearing grungy jeans and had dirt under her fingernails. She was endlessly beautiful and endlessly powerful and mysterious to him. He longed for her. Elena could feel it through their bond, which was beginning to hum, beginning to warm up, beginning to draw him in close. â€Å"But, Elena,†he said. He was trying to be sensible! Didn't he know she didn't want sensible at this particular moment? â€Å"Right here.†Elena tapped the soft spot on her neck. Their bond was singing like an electric power line now. But Stefan was stubborn. â€Å"You need to eat, yourself. You have to keep your strength up.† Elena immediately picked up a chicken salad sandwich and bit into it. Mmm†¦yummy. Real y good. She would have to pick Mrs. Flowers a wildflower bouquet. They were al so well taken care of here. She had to think of more ways to help. Stefan was watching her eat. It made him hungry, but that was because he was used to being fed round the clock, and not used to exercise. Elena could hear everything through their connection and she heard him thinking that he was glad to see Elena renewing herself. That he had learned discipline now; that it wouldn't do him any harm to go to bed one night feeling hungry. He would hold his sleepy adorable Elena al night. No! Elena was horrified. Since he'd been imprisoned in the Dark Dimension, anything that hinted at Stefan going without fil ed her with appal ing terror. Suddenly she had trouble swal owing the bite she'd taken. â€Å"Right here, right here†¦please?†she begged him. She didn't want to have to seduce him into it, but she would if he forced her to. She would wash her hands into pristine cleanliness, and change into a long, clinging nightgown, and stroke his stubborn canines in between kisses, and touch them with her tongue tip gently, just at the base where they wouldn't cut her as they responded and grew. And by then he would be dizzy, he would be out of control, he would be hers completely. All right, All right! Stefan thought to her. Mercy! â€Å"I don't want to give you mercy. I don't want you to let me go,†she said, holding her arms out to him, and heard her own voice soft and tender and yearning. â€Å"I want you to hold me and keep me forever, and I want to hold you and keep you forever.† Stefan's face had changed. He looked at her with the look he'd worn in prison when she had come to visit him in an outfit – very unlike the grubby one she wore now – and he'd said, bewildered, â€Å"Al this†¦it's for me?† There had been razor wire between them then. Now there was nothing to separate them and Elena could see how much Stefan wanted to come to her. She reached a little farther and then Stefan came into the circle of her arms and held her tightly but with infinite care not to use enough strength to hurt her. When he relaxed and leaned his forehead against hers, Elena realized that she would never be tired or sad or frightened without being able to think of this feeling and that it would uphold her for the rest of her life. At last they sank down together on the sheets, comforting each other in equal measure; exchanging sweet, warm kisses. With each kiss, Elena felt the outside world and al its horrors drift farther and farther away. How could anything be wrong when she herself felt that heaven was near? Matt and Meredith, Damon and Bonnie would surely al be safe and happy too. Meanwhile, every kiss brought her closer to paradise, and she knew Stefan felt the same way. They were so happy together that Elena knew that soon the entire universe would echo with their own joy, which overflowed like pure light and transformed everything it touched. Bonnie woke and realized she had only been unconscious for a few minutes. She began to shiver, and once she started she couldn't seem to stop. She felt a wave of heat envelop her, and she knew that Damon was trying to warm her, but Stillthe trembling wouldn't go away. â€Å"What's wrong?†Damon asked, and his voice was different from usual. â€Å"I don't know,†Bonnie said. She didn't. â€Å"Maybe it's because they kept starting to throw me out the window. I wasn't going to scream about that,†she added hastily, in case he assumed she would. â€Å"But then when they talked about torturing me – â€Å" She felt a sort of spasm go through Damon. He was holding her too hard. â€Å"Torturing you! They threatened you with that?† â€Å"Yes, because, you know, Misao's star bal was gone. They knew that it had been poured out; I didn't tel them that. But I had to tel them that it was my fault that the last half got poured out, and then they got mad at me. Oh! Damon, you're hurting me!† â€Å"So it was your fault it got poured out, was it?† â€Å"Well, I figure it was. You couldn't have done it if I hadn't gotten drunk, and – wh-what's wrong, Damon? Are you mad too?†He real y was holding her so that she real y couldn't breathe. Slowly, she felt his arms loosen a little. â€Å"A word of advice, little redbird. When people are threatening to torture and kil you, it might be more – expedient – to tel them that it's someone else's fault. Especial y if that happens to be the truth.† â€Å"I know that!†Bonnie said indignantly. â€Å"But they were going to kil me anyway. If I'd told about you, they'd've hurt you, too.† Damon pul ed her roughly back now, so that she had to look him in the face. Bonnie could also feel the delicate touch of a telepathic mind probe. She didn't resist; she was too busy wondering why he had plum-colored shadows under his eyes. Then he shook her a little, and she stopped wondering. â€Å"Don't you understand even the basics of self-preservation?†he said, and she thought he looked angry again. He was certainly different from any other time that she'd seen him – except once, she thought, and that was when Elena had been â€Å"Disciplined†for saving Lady Ulma's life, back when Ulma had been a slave. He'd had the same expression then, so menacing that even Meredith had been frightened of him, and yet so fil ed with guilt that Bonnie had longed to comfort him. But there had to be some other reason, Bonnie's mind told her. Because you're not Elena, and he's never going to treat you the way he treats Elena. A vision of the brown room rose before her, and she felt certain that he would never have put Elena there. Elena wouldn't have let him, for one thing. â€Å"Do I have to go back?†she asked, realizing that she was being petty and sil y and that the brown room had seemed like a haven just a little while ago. â€Å"Go back?†Damon said, a little too quickly. She had the feeling that he'd seen the brown room too, now, through her eyes. â€Å"Why? The landlady gave me everything in the room. So I have your real clothes and a bunch of star bal s down there, in case you weren't through with one. But why would you think you might have to go back?† â€Å"Well, I know you were looking for a lady of quality, and I'm not one,†Bonnie said simply. â€Å"That was just so I could change back into a vampire,†Damon said. â€Å"And what do you think is holding you up in the air right now?†But this time Bonnie knew somehow that the sensations from the â€Å"Never Ever†star bal s were Stillin her mind and that Damon was seeing them too. He was a vampire again. And the contents of these star bal s were so abominable that Damon's stony exterior final y cracked. Bonnie could almost guess what he thought of them, and of her, left to shiver under her one blanket every night. And then, to her total astonishment, Damon, the ever-composed, brand-new vampire blurted, â€Å"I'm sorry. I didn't think about how that place would be for you. Is there anything that wil make you feel better?† Bonnie blinked. She wondered, seriously, if she were dreaming. Damon didn't apologize. Damon famously didn't apologize, or explain, or speak so nicely to people, unless he wanted something from them. But one thing seemed real. She didn't have to sleep in the brown room anymore. This was so exciting that she flushed a little, and dared say, â€Å"Could we go down to the ground? Slowly? Because the truth is that I'm just terrified of heights.† Damon blinked, but said, â€Å"Yes, I think I can manage that. Is there anything else you'd like?† â€Å"Well – there are a couple of girls who'd be donors – happily – if – well – if there's any money left – if you could save them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Damon said a little sharply, â€Å"Of course there's some money left. I even wrung your share back out of that hag of a landlady.† â€Å"Well, then, there's that secret that I told you, but I don't know if you remember.† â€Å"How soon do you think you'l feel well enough to start?†asked Damon.