Peggy Hettrick Essay

The Peggy Hettrick case has been a cold case for decades. The case from 1987 has been a mystery. August 10, 1998 Timothy Masters was charged for her murder. Timothy was released and charges were dismissed on January 22, 2008. The roles in this case were hard to follow. The prosecutor who has the role to present the state’s case against defense had to prove that Timothy’s knife collection, his drawings, failure to report seeing body, and the time frame of the crime was reasonably why he was the suspect in the murder of Peggy Hettrick. The police took several years trying to build a case and didn’t come up with much. Timothy Masters’ defense attorney, who has the job of representing the accused and to prove him innocent. They petitioned new trials due to the fact of lack of evidence. The original trial did not have the DNA and the defense attorneys had not been informed of other suspects. One of the other suspects was Richard Hammond. Richard Hammond also ha d a prior record of filming females in 1995. Hammond’s place of residence was 100 yards from the scene of murder with his bedroom facing the scene. Hammond committed suicide two days after arrest. The evidence of the prior suspect and reports from experts that said Masters was not guilty was enough for a judge to allow a new trial. The judge, who has the role to ensure justice and holds the ultimate authority and is responsible for balancing the rights of the accused and the interest of society, ruled that with all the evidence that was withheld a new trial would be allowed. The new trial found Timothy Masters not guilty and released from jail. Later the judges ruled in wrongful conviction and Timothy was granted millions. The roles of the Prosecutor were not easy in this case. The prosecutor was given old evidence that really had no concrete. The police had only a knife collection, drawings, and a date of Masters Mother’s death to build a case on. Masters defense attorney had the hard job of proving he was innocent. They took several years to come across a judge that would hear their case about the police withholding evidence from them. They also helped Masters get the settlement he deserved for being wrongfully accused. The judge had to rule that the case could be heard and all the evidence to be consi dered. After the new trial with DNA the judged ruled Master’s innocent.

Gillette Case Essay

President, new business development, Gillette Safety Razor Division (SRD) Problem: Ralph needs to achieve company targets for earnings growth for his division by developing a new business product. Ralph has commissioned an extensive investigation into the blank cassette tape market and he views this market as poised for substantial growth and opportunity over the long-term range of ten to fifteen years. Ralph feels that his division is well positioned to enter the market through utilization of its many core strengths. Market Overview The current blank tape market segment has many weaknesses, such as, lack of widespread distribution, lack of media coverage, poor product display and packaging, and lack of a true market leader. These weaknesses in the blank cassette tape market are all areas where Gillette has developed strong core competencies in their Safety Razor Division. The blank cassette tape market is segmented into three distinct product markets: Professional quality, Standard Quality, and Budget Quality and within those segments there are recording lengths of 30, 60, 90 and 120 minute cassette tapes. Bingham’s consultants have focused on the 60-minute cassette tape market in particular. Gillette Safety Razor Division Decisions Gillette has four product options: 1. ) do not enter market. 2. ) enter professional tape market 3. ) enter standard tape market. 4. ) enter the budget tape market. The professional quality market offers the greatest margin on products, but it is also the smallest segment in the market. The professional segment will also have the most competition as more established tape makers enter the market. As such, the fierce competition may potentially saturate the market and decrease the margins on these tapes and make it less appealing in the long run. Alternatively, standard tape market has moderate margins, but is a highly growing segment and is ready for a market leader, such as a company like Gillette. Lastly, the budget market has the lowest profit margins, the highest volume sales, but also requires a high volume of sales in order to be profitable due to the significant fixed costs associated with manufacturing. Gillette’s manufacturing constraints make it difficult for Gillette to enter the budget product market and Gillette would not want to damage its brand name by affiliating with a lower end product such as the budget quality tapes. (See appendix for quantitative analysis) Recommendations & Conclusions The Gillette Safety Razor division should enter the Standard Quality 60-minute cassette tape market and target the teenager and student market as it is a growing segment and offers much potential. Gillette should distribute the tapes using their established channels and wholesalers. Gillette should promote this new line through an aggressive advertising program as a high standard quality tape free from the defects of budget cassette tapes and with greater quality than the average standard tape. Gillette should leverage its brand name to promote the quality and value of these tapes. Gillette’s pricing for the standard quality tapes should be priced at the regular retail price with the design that consumers will choose Gillette’s product and pay more than the discounted brands due to Gillette’s high quality and brand name. In this scenario, Gillette’s monthly break-even quantity would be 518,758 units and it would make a monthly profit of $92,867 if it conservatively sells 750,000 units/mo. in year one. Annualized, the company’s net profit would be $1,114,400 at 9,000,000 units sold. Â  

Loyalty Programmes in Hotels Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 11750 words

Loyalty Programmes in Hotels - Dissertation Example As the essay stresses in a Loyalty Program, customers accumulate assets, points or rewards by accumulating their purchases from a focal firm which can be exchanged for goods or services, though not always associated with the firm. Usually this takes the form of points that can be exchanged for gifts, free product, or aspirational rewards such as air miles. According to the paper findings the objective of loyalty programme is not just to create satisfied customers, because satisfied customers may or may not be loyal. The purpose of loyalty programmes is in fact to build such relationships with customers (through constant interaction and communication) that they repeatedly opt for a specific product, despite available choices and even in the face of less expensive choices. Loyalty programs aim at building true loyalty (both attitudinal and behavioural ) . Loyalty Programs have three additional objectives. While there are several interpretations that exist on what customer loyalty means, for the purpose of this research it is assumed that loyalty is something that makes a customer purchase the same service/ product or brand more frequently and inhibits the customer from choosing other available options. Most firms design their loyalty programs by firstly conducting surveys, focus groups ,and researches to determine the core aspects requir ed in their loyalty programs in order to create a long lasting relationship with the customers. Last two to three years have seen the emergence of a lot of firms that take up the task of designing customized loyalty programs for other firms (Joshi, 2009).They also assist the other firms in finding the customer satisfaction levels with the current loyalty programs by means of

Causes of people purchasing fast food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causes of people purchasing fast food - Essay Example However, if a person eats this food regularly and has a diet mostly made up ofthis junk food, then it can cause health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. According to Readers Digest magazine (2012), health studies show that â€Å"over 60 percent of Canadian adults and 31.5 percent of Canadians aged 2 to 17 are overweight or obese.†(Readers Digest, 2012), It cannot be disputed that fast food plays a key role in these shocking statistics. The main causes for people choosing to eat fast food over cooking healthy meals are availability, convenience, low prices, and advertising. Because fast food is now available in many locations around the clock, it is now a part of many Canadians’ everyday meal plans because a wide variety of fast food restaurants are available to the public throughout the day and night. In Canada, there are over 62,600 fast food service outlets, and many of them are accessible 24 hours a day (Statistics Canada, 2009). Because of th e numerous food outlets that are available, many consumers now eat whenever they feel the urge to and not necessarily when the body requires food. In addition, fast food is not only available in restaurants but also in elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities. For example, many elementary schools have weekly pizza and McDonalds days, while a vast amount of universities proudly display the number of Starbucks and Tim Hortons located on campus. This availability allows students of all ages to routinely purchase fast food instead of learning how to eat healthily. As a result of fast food being obtainable anytime and toand night, and to all age groups, it is clear that availability is one of the key reasons for consumers eating fast food. Another major cause of people choosing to eat fast food is due to the convenience that it provides. It is quick and easy to locate any fast food restaurant simply through using a computer, phone, or telephone book. There are even apps fo r electronic devices to locate the nearest fast food restaurant. For instance, if an individual is driving to work and is feeling, then a simple push of a button on a phone or GPS to locate ‘nearest food’ will result in a location being found. Also, if you are driving and have little time available, you do not even need to get out of your car. Many establishments have full menus available at drive through locations, which makes it extremely easy and quick to pick up a meal on-the-go. This convenience allows fast food to fit easily into the hectic daily schedules of people who do not have the time to prepare healthy and nutritious meals or those who do not want to go to the hassle of making a meal. Consumers are also drawn towards fast food because of the low prices available. With the tight financial economy today, saving money is important for many families, and inexpensive fast food fits many budgets. Thousands of dollars are spent daily to purchase this unhealthy yet tasty product. In fact, 40 percent of the money spent on food in Canada in 2009 went to fast food outlets. This percentage converts to $58.4 billion dollars spent on fast food in a single year (Statistics Canada, 2009). One of the reasons why so much money is spent on fast food is that it is much cheaper to eat a full meal at a fast food restaurant rather than another location with a healthier option that likely includes fresh produce. If a consumer eats at

Finite element method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finite element method - Essay Example Consequently every computer program based on finite element analysis technique has some shortcomings because of the unresolved errors. Another important reason behind the errors which occur in the results is the incorrect operation of the software program by the user and mishandling of the data. The users of these software programs commit frequent mistakes in the selection of right type of program for analysis. There is a wide variety of possible mistakes which a user can make while using these software programs. These mistakes include the choosing an incorrect element, using a poor mesh, ignoring the key mechanical properties of members such as yielding and buckling, inputting incorrect end conditions is also one of the most frequent mistakes that the users make. There is always a difference between the actual behaviour of the structure and the simulated behaviour in computers. A computer program cannot replicate the actual behaviour of the structure, no matter how expensive it is and how efficient it is in its working and display of results. The outlook of computer programs, the innovation and the quality achieved in the graphical display have successfully concealed the inefficiencies in the operation. The users are satisfied with the graphical display of the interface and the way the results are presented and blindly rely on the results obtained from these programs. The finite element method of analysis has created unmatched possibilities in analytic process; however it is not the best option to use in all cases. At times, there are other easier and more accurate approaches to solve problems; computation of stresses using simple flexural formulas instead of three-dimensional finite element analysis is one such example. There are situations when experimental results are required to find out the material properties involved in analysis, in

Comparative politics wk1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparative politics wk1 - Essay Example However, as the other developing countries emphasize on industrialization to foster economic development, they should consider challenges that come with industrialization, which affect the biodiversity and the environment. As industrialization gets encouraged among nations, employment, trading, and production among other benefits increases, but the side effects are noticed later after having caused much damage within and outside their context far beyond the society, organization or the nations’ control. Industrialization as an economic development strategy has led to many environmental problems, which could challenge any newly industrializing country. Industrialization Ideology and Environmental Problems The economists believe in utilization of any space and scarce resources for production as sources for wealth generation. Industrialization has worked well towards this principle leading to different kinds of factories, companies, and production firms advancing the economy thro ugh increasing GDP, employment opportunities, exports, and household income flows among others. Industrialization is viewed as a concept of industrial revolution in an area based upon technology, factories, and commerce away from entire dependency on agriculture. According to Seshandri (1991), it occurs in two senses; as a procedure which has invariably been the accompaniment or a result of economic development, or rather as set of policies leading towards economic development. In industrialization, developing factories and industries make use of the idle population as the labor force among other capital, raw materials and land inputs, but the end products introduce more harm in the environment. Environmental degradation cannot be separated from industrial processes. The growth and expansion of most processing industries not only in production, but also in transport, lighting, and other supporting industrial sectors bring about pollution as a major effect on the surroundings. Taking an example of manufacturing industries, â€Å"the most common waste products are smoke, fumes and chemicals, which can pollute the air and water supplies† (Mweti and Wyk n.d., 9). Both air and water pollution has serious effects that spread into different regions, affecting climate changes and access to clean water respectively. Other environmental problems are noise pollution and disposal of solid waste material, either on the land or buried near human settlements. Technology has lead to development of new chemicals and reactions used in the different industries to fasten and improve qualities, where used in production. Environmental Problems Caused by Industrialization In the industries, especially in manufacturing factories of agricultural and chemical products, before the end product is delivered, the consumption of power and water are key features. Depending on the mode of heating, smoke becomes an issue that the neighboring society has to deal with. It is accompanied b y emission of harmful gases that affect the respiratory systems of human beings and animals, as far as it can reach through the air. More of this is the global warming impact influencing the climate of an area. Consequently, the rain schedules delay and patterns change adversely affecting the farmers, who rely on the available good climate for their crop production. For machines to operate efficiently, it has been a matter of improving

Country briefing paper mexico Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Country briefing paper mexico - Essay Example Then, when Mexico eventually got independence, Mexican rulers initiated many constructive measures, including in the health care sector. They established many government bodies for governing the health care sector, as well as developed sizable infrastructures. The population of Mexico has exceeded more than 100 million, and in that direction the country is currently undergoing demographic changes due to a steady decline in its mortality rate, which in turn is leading to increased life expectancy among its people. The other key indicator which presents a positive picture about Mexico’s health care and thereby impacts the demographics is the declining infant mortality rate. These positive changes in the infant mortality rate, in the life expectancy of adults and other health outcomes are mainly due to the advancements in living conditions, health-care, technology and more. Furthermore, the literacy rate in Mexico is at an increased level, when compared to the previous years. The developing educational infrastructures along with the government policies and funding, has greatly contributed to this high level of literacy prevailing in the country. These programs, which are primarily cash grants programs are not only improving the literacy but are also helping in the reduction of poverty and importantly helping in the management of health issues in the population particularly among the children. With the increased life expectancy and lowered mortality rates, one can understand about the positive role played by the Mexican health care sector. However, when viewed from another perspective, this is not the same all over the country, as indigenous and rural communities are fairing badly regarding health conditions. That is, when compared to the urban areas, life expectancy and mortality rates are on the negative side among these communities. The economy of Mexico is showing positive signs, as it is recovering aptly in the post-recessionary period.

History- peasants in middle ages -book of hours Essay

History- peasants in middle ages -book of hours - Essay Example Those are good days. This morning, however, we all awoke and had to begin work without any food to prepare us for the long day ahead. My task for the day was to work on the land for the Lord of the manor, starting to plant some of the crops for the year ahead. My father died at the age of 27, but before this he was a skilled craftsman, carving all the tools necessary for the horses of the manor. It was said that he was the best of his age and many other Lords had tried to buy his services, but he died before I was born so I could not learn his skill. I am therefore relegated to mere farm work. It is cold today, as it is early Spring and my hands are so sore from the weather that it is hard to work quickly. It may mean a beating from the Lord as time is precious when it comes to crops, as the fertilization needs to start next week or the manor risks losing profit. I am wearing my best woollen tunic and have managed to wrap the animal skin I use for a blanket around me, but still the weather is bitingly cold and it is a relief to finally see the sun rise. After hours of work, which I can only estimate to be 8 from the pattern of the sun, it is time to head back to the stables to see what food I can find. The other serfs from the manor estate are there, and everyone seems pleased that the sun is shining and work seems to be going well. Even my work on the farm has sped up since my hands have thawed out with the arrival of some spring weather. There are even some scraps of meat to have with the bread for lunch, which makes this an unusual day but we all go back to work comparatively well-fed and work continues in much the same way as it had this morning. The sky falls dark after a few more hours of work, and I know this is a sign that I need only work for a few hours more. Using the moon as a guide, work begins to slow down as accurate planting is impossible. My mother is ill, so after

Compare and contrast Drucker and Whyte's analysis of corporate Essay

Compare and contrast Drucker and Whyte's analysis of corporate bureaucracy - Essay Example In this case, the organizations had to make some changes, for instance, there was an introduction of cheaper cars, fast foods and smaller housing units, which were meant for the nuclear family (Whyte, 1956). This also led to a situation where managers became risk averse (Whyte, 1956). This was evident from the decisions that they took in the companies. The managers believed that if they made less risky decisions, the decisions would have no consequence on the firms, even if they had the potential of giving the best outcomes to the company. The aim was to maintain things as they were instead of changing the corporate world because, if something went wrong, they were the ones who would take the blame, and in doing this, they would maintain their jobs for a long time. This was the main reason for the bureaucracy in the companies. Whyte focused his research on many companies in finding the results indicated above. Conversely, Drucker focused on one company in doing his investigations. Drucker had worked for General Motors for several years, and he focused on this company for his research (Drucker, 1946). He specifically reviewed what happened inside the company and how this affected the performance of the company. He also studied the management of the company and the decisions that they made in order to access what caused the success or failure of the company (Drucker, 1946). Therefore, Drucker was interested the power structure, managerial decisions and its autonomy, and how other people in and out of the company reacted to these factors (Drucker, 1946). According to Drucker, the bureaucracy in companies started from inside the organizations where management aimed to maintain control of the organizations through centralizing power (Drucker, 1946). The management could dictate everything that was to be done a nd their orders were to be followed

Features of Chinese Economic Development Article

Features of Chinese Economic Development - Article Example This paper critically reviews recent trends in economic policies by Chinese government, leading to a rapid economic development of the country in the last decades. Economic development is the measure of the progress of an economy. China is an Asian nation that has a unique economy. Reforms in China began in 1978 and since then the economic development has undergone various changes and implementations. Following these reforms between 1978 and 2005 the gross domestic product was on average 9.6% per year. China’s financial industry is of importance to the political system as they depend on the banking sector for funding. The financial reforms after 1997 involved formation of Communist Party Central Financial Work Commission. By establishing the CFWC, the Zhu Rongji government used Leninist political means to bolster the financial market integrity and reform. Zhu Rongji was a key economic policy maker in China. The CFWC served as a coordinating and planning body for regulatory bodies. It was dissolved and a Banking Regulatory Commissionestablished as a separate banking watchdog in autumn. The formation of Ministry of Information Industry in 1998 marked the beginning of reforms in the telecommunications industry. It was formally in charge of the entire information industry. China’s leadership governs key sectors whose assets and wealth contribute to the national economy through the State-owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission. SASAC was established in 2003 and has since taken a regulatory role in China.

Homeland Security Essay Example for Free

Homeland Security Essay Homeland Security is a cabinet level agency in the federal government. Its birth came after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Its main goals were to deter terrorism on U. S. soil and the safety of the American infrastructure. It has been reported many times the trouble this department is having getting off the ground. â€Å"Hardly a day goes by without some fresh report on a contract gone bad, a new technology that does not work, a new Coast Guard cutter that is not seaworthy, or more cargo that slips through port without inspection† (Light, 2007). Every year new assessments of the department including Congress, the 9/11 Commission and the departments own inspector general gives it low grades for job satisfaction, management, and leadership. Just some of the problems it is having are high turnover, internal bureaucratic struggles and structural problems. So with all that said it is having problems reaching many of its outlined goals. It still needs funding, authority, better strategy for protecting American soil, personnel, better screening at airports for passengers and employees, and better technology to find weapons such as explosives. Improved intelligence capabilities are probably the most important. Border security issues were the founding fathers main focus when he was with the agency and I am in agreement. Securing our countries boarders on a daily basis is the Homeland security’s main concern. The military that has done that job up until now but with the world being global we need to separate the two and give each their own set of ground rules to operate at an optimum level. The merging of immigration and customs enforcement can only help in making this department function at a level the American public can be proud of with the goals of this office being completed (Magleby, O’Brien, Light, Peltason, Cronin, 2006). Even with all its imperfections I still believe that it is a needed department in our government. A somewhat more rigid department to handle military type action on homeland soil was needed and was realized on 9/11. We had been living in a glass house and it was just a matter of time. The partnership it is creating with state and local governments especially with intelligence from federal sources will build a safer America. After the disaster of Katrina in 2005 it was more obvious that this newly formed department would need some redesign in its structure. But I think with having Homeland Security it will help to build a better military. This would allow more forces to be deployed outside our borders when needed. I think now if Homeland Security had been up to par, would we still be in Iraq or would the troops the Republicans so desperately want to send be there and back by now? Reference: Light, P. (2007, Spring). The homeland security hash. Wilson Quarterly, 31(2). Magleby, D. B. , O’Brien, D. , Light, P. , Peltason, J. W. , Cronin, T. E. (2006). Government by the People: National, State, and Local 21st. Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Developing a Socially Stratified Society

Developing a Socially Stratified Society Reconstructing the society There are many categories in which we sort humans. Among the major categories we have race, class and gender. Race is a social concept that categorizes humans into large populations and groups that stand distinctively by cultural, anatomical, genetic, geographical and social affiliation. There is not yet an agreement on the best definition of class, but it can be defined as people belonging to the same same social, economic and educational status. Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining between masculinity and feminity, and also differentiating them. Alternatively, it pertains to socially constructed roles, behaviours and also attributes that a society considers right for both the male and the female gender. We can incorporate the films â€Å"La Haine† and â€Å"manufacturing consent† to illustrate this. In La Haine, we can illustrate the impression of class as a category in which we sort the human race. This is clear when there ensue a hard-hitting drama between the police and the disenfranchised French youth. The relationship that can be examined between these two groups is riotous because of the social class. There is a riot that took place after a second generation Arab was beaten by the cops. The following day, young men went to Paris and they were arrested by the police. They were interrogated, only to be involved in a rumble with skinheads later on. On their returning home, what they encountered was never suspected. Delving deeper into the film La Haine, we find the writer director Mathieu Kassovitz butting the European urbanity with the American style of the streets as clash with the police in suburban parts. The end result can be seen as an explosion scathing social commentary and generally the story-telling is dynamic. Closer scrutiny to the generaton; class and race are the major factors that divide the nation of France. Kassovits attacks the frontlines of power fearlessly but on a rather unreservedly pessimistic note. A riot in seen in the outskirts of paris where the police beat Abdel Ahmed Ghili, an Arab teenager, into a coma. This fuelled a lot of anger and hatred inside Vincent cassel, who is commonly reffered to as Vinz. Vinz was a Jew who was determined to whack the cops in the occasion the boy dies. The jocular admitted this to the cohorts of Vincent. He also approached Humbert, an African boxer, to speak to him of his rather evil plan as they embark on an adventurous voyage from the neighbourhood of immigrants. The time bomb ticks a fatal account of the society’s decline which is plainly one sided. The efforts of only one police who shows sympathy to the troubled youth are negligible and ineffective among an army of bullies and bigots. It can be seen that kassovits view situations in black-and-white which vividly explains the reason for striking a monochrome print. It is the conviction and broad discovery with which he writes the story that makes it really compelling. He lifts up a scene straight from the taxi driver where Vincent Cassel poses infront of the mirror with a gun. He asks his own image if it is talking to him. Humbert is seen to offset him with a cool self assurance. Taghmaoui performance was outstanding when he offers funny relief to neutralize the unbearable tension. He prompted a hitherto, unseen and executed it brilliantly. Racism has been seen to be a particular problem in the police force. The tense relationship between the policemen and the youth evidences racism. It takes place during a 24 hour period. When Abdul is injured and is critically in hospital, in the course of retribution, Vinz is caught in the possession of a policeman’s gun he had obtained in the riot. He swore to murder a â€Å"pig† if Abdul dies. This illustrates how race is a major class of sorting the humans We can construct a socially stratified reality that will help us save some of these racial, class and gender related problems. The most basic elements of the social structure is status. It stands for a social position that is recognized and of which an individual occupies in the society. There are duties and responsibilities usually in relation to complimentary positions. Secondly, we have the status set. Everyone in the society holds many status positions and not one. Status set can be defined as all the statuses that a person holds at a given time. One can be a male or a female, teacher or student, husband or wife among many others. When we talk of status, it can either be ascribed or achieved status. Ascribed status is achieved at birth or later assumed involuntarily in the course of life. Achieved status is a social position that is assumed voluntarily. Its can reflect the personal ability that one has or the magnitude of efforts with which he puts. Oftenly, we have a combination of both the achieved status and the ascribed status. However, there’s that status with an exceptional importance for social identity and that shapes a person’s personal life. This is referred to as a master status and according to our society, one’s occupation often comprises this position. According to the social diversity, physical disability becomes the master status for many people. Some other ascribed statuses like race or sex are other examples of positions which in one way or the other are a person’s master statuses. In the construction of a socially stratified reality, the concept of role is significant. By role, we mean the expected behavior that is attached to particular status. The expectations the society attaches to a role somewhat makes the role performance to differ. Since each status has several roles attached to it, a person has many roles than statuses. This number of roles attached to particular status is referred to as role set. An individual can creatively shape reality through social interaction. It is understood as a negotiation process which generates to shaping reality. People also build reality from the surrounding culture that varies widely within a given society. Analysis of social interaction in terms of theatrical performances is crucial. Individuals in various settings make attempts to create impressions in the minds of others, what is referred to as impression management. There are various reasons why discrimination arises and how it is perpetuated. Compounding effect of multiple grounds are always linked to a person’s experience of definition. For example, researches confirm that the elderly and persons with disabilities experience higher unemployment chances. Members of radicalized groups with such qualities may also be underemployed on multiple grounds. These are social harms and pains that come from such acts of discrimination. Another reason for discrimination is protecting persons associated with others protected by the code. The code could protect people who are not personally identified by one of the grounds. The big question arises on whether one is a member of a protected group. There should be considerable intent behind how u treat someone instead of analysis based on looks, myths and stereotypes. This is discrimination based on perceived grounds. Age could also be another reason for discrimination on may social area including employment. Younger job applicants may be discriminated on the grounds of stereotypes about youth and experience. Older employees may be discriminated on the grounds of health related and disability concerns. They should eliminate discrimination and instead base thneir decisions on the basis of actual merits, capacities and circumstances. Others are discriminated on the basis of underage and considered to as minors. Some are discriminated whenever employers state the maximum and minimum age. Disability is another major point of concern. This has been claimed by a quarter of all human rights. Employers are concerned with disability related concerns, and to prevent these claims and issues in a timely way, they opt to discriminate which should not be the case. They should instead apply measures such as inclusive design and develop accommodation issues. Family status is another major reason for discrimination. A person’s marital status has also become a major concern. To take care of this, policies and actions should not be based on social areas. Some stereotypes that a man or a woman is of a greater value than other types of marital status should be dropped. There is also race and race related grounds of discrimination. Language itself is not a ground for discrimination but it may be associated with any of the race related grounds. The same case applies to color. Ancestry and place of origin are also major causes of discrimination. Citizenship, sex, and record of offences, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation are also major causes of discrimination. However, discrimination may be stopped. These include setting the standards without placing blame. One should bring awareness on what is acceptable and what should be dropped. Whenever one experiences discrimination, it is good to challenge the behavior immediately. Sometimes it is good to address the challenge even if it means later in future. In the process of eliminating discrimination, it is important to know your audience your evidence and understand them. This makes it easier to drive a convincing argument and know what points you need to change. It is good to take your time and work out the best strategy in which you can address discrimination. You can also seek the advice of other in order to come up with the best strategy. One can also seek the help of others including a lawyer to know your rights. Discrimination has hazardous consequences. Some of the physical consequences associated with discrimination include change of appetite, decreased energy, stress related ailments, insomnia, headaches among others. It also has emotional impacts such as anger, depression, fear, feeling of isolation, self blame and guilt. Career and academic impact include absenteesm, decreased concentration, and reduced productivity whenever one fall victim. The grades or employment records suffer because of this. The vice of discrimination also has social impacts such as alcohol and drug abuse. It leads to physical and emotional withdrawal from friends and family. Financial impacts include decrease in professional reputation or academic standing, decrease in future job opportunities, actual loss of jobs, scholarships and recommendations. The organization may also suffer costs of discrimination such litigation, higher employee turnover, tarnished public image, frustration and loosing sides. In conclusion, impression management is very fundamental in our daily life. Talking of impression management we mean the process with which people attempt to influence perceptions of other people, object or even designs. It may extent to professional or even public relations. There are three types of intangible consequences that are associated with discrimination. These include fines, litigation costs and also bad publicity. Litigation expenses are associate dwith employment discrimination claims. These includes the attorney fees and investigative expenses. There are sums of costs associated with litigation. They include punitive damages and compensatory damages. Lost income and revenue is a tangible, though difficult to measure, cause of discrimination. When the media covers such issues there may be a considerable drop in sales hence lost incomes and revenues. There are no socially responsible customers that will want to be associated with supporting businesses that have been involved with scandals of social discrimination practices. Organizations use impressions such as branding as strategies to convey the brand image to external and internal audiences. Mangers have no option other than build the impressions they make on others, be it subordinates and business partners. The imperession they create is the overall effect on their understanding All in all, these are just but ways in which we create a socially stratified reality, or rather category driven realities. Works cited David M. Newman, Sociology, chapter 12, â€Å"The Architecture of Inequality: Sex and Gender.† Kate Bornstein â€Å"Gender Outlaw vintage books New York, 1995† David M. Newman, sociology, Chapter 14 â€Å"Architects of change: Reconstructing Society† David M. Newman, sociology, Chapter 10 â€Å"The Architecture of Stratification: Social Class and Inequality†

Re-establishment of Native Plants by Seed Germination

Re-establishment of Native Plants by Seed Germination Re-establishment of Native Plants by Seed Germination  in the State of Kuwait 1.1 Desertification Desertification and land degradation has become a matter of increasing importance both locally and globally. Due to heat fluctuations produced by climate change, arid and semi-arid areas are becoming easily susceptible and prone to desertification (Kassas, 1995). Conservation of natural desert habitats should be a priority for environmental agencies and governments especially in arid regions of the world (Stringer, 2008). Water scarcity is one of the factors provoking an increase of vegetation in arid climates, which can lead to land degradation and desertification (Dhief et al., 2009). The term desertification is used in diverse ways in the literature (Stringer, 2008). For this paper, it refers to land degradation in relation to loss of plant species diversity as well as loss of soil resources (Brown, 2003). The primary factor in the degradation of deserts is low rainfall, not to mention the huge impact on the deserts biodiversity from human activities such as camping, car racing or rallying (Brown et al., 2001), and unsupervised grazing by sheep and camels as well as the rapid increase of human population (Whitford, 2006). 1.2 Climate change and plant restoration Climate change is a global issue which is still rising and damaging our environment. Global warming is mainly caused and exacerbated by human influences and activities. Plant restoration is one way to reduce the effect of climate change (Dosery et al., 2012). Arid regions of the world are being effected by climate change the most. The issue of desertification primarily affects areas with less vegetation similar to those in desert areas (Hanafi et al., 2008) Restoration of plants to their natural habitats in arid climates with pressures from grazing and overpopulation is challenging. One way to vegetate these areas is germinating seeds of native species in lab condition to be transplanted in the desert. Plant restoration is a slow process, especially in ecosystems with unfavorable environmental conditions such as low rainfall, high evaporation rates and poor soil composition, precisely the conditions which are found in desert ecosystems (Bolling et al., 2000). Because seedbanks of desert plants can lie dormant for long periods of time, and can later germinate under favorable conditions (Brown et al., 2003) which can be replicated in lab facilities. 1.3 Seed germination and plant growth Seed germination is a process in which the seed emerges from dormancy and grows into a new plant. This occurs when environmental conditions are favourable including temperature, soil composition and water, (Derbel et al., 2007). This process is used to promote and establish plant seedlings for various desert species, which can contribute to increasing plant population for instance in arid and semi-arid climates. According to research on desert plants, temperature is one of the most important factors promoting seed germination, also it plays a big role in plant growth. Indeed, the optimal temperature for seed to germinate is usually close to the average temperature in the species natural habitat (Derbel et al., 2010). Knowledge of the life history, ecology and natural habitat of native species is important for a successful plant reestablishments. The most important part of the plant cycle is seed germination (Derbel et al.,2007). Scarification is a botanical term which refers to the process by which the coat of the seeds is opened, and it can be undertaken mechanically or chemically. Seed germination depends primarily on the level of moisture in the environment and temperature (El-Keblawy, Abdelfattah Khedr, 2015). This paper will examine seed germination treatment in the context of three different factors. The first is temperature: if the temperature is too high then the seed which has been planted for germination will die (Gorai, Laajili, Santiago Neffati, 2015). Low temperatures can also impact seed germination. The second factor which impacts seed germination is scarification of the seeds. The third factor relating to the pre-treatment of seeds for germination is soaking in water. It is important to soak the seeds in water prior to planting to give them the best chance of germinating (Gorai, Laajili, Santiago Neffati, 2015). 1.4 Use of peat moss for plant production Using peat moss to promote seed germination implies the use of stratification, which is a moist, cold treatment: this does not apply to desert plants, since they are mostly promoted by temperature and scarification[ES1]. It is reported that peat moss has growth-promoting substances, including antibiotics and oestrogens (Cox Westing, 2013). 1.5 Study area (add refrences) Kuwait is a small country located in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula, with a total area of 17,820 km2 and a human population of 4.3 million. Kuwait borders Iraq (north) and Saudi Arabia (west and south), while the east of the country lies at the tip of the Persian Gulf, reaching its highest elevation above sea level at 280 m (Brown Al-Mazrooei, 2003).   The climate of Kuwait is considered an arid climate, with summer temperatures ranging from 35-50 ° C. Summer lasts from May to September, with the hottest temperatures occurring from June to August. Winters are dry and cool with mean temperatures ranging from 6-20 ° C. Rainfall varies from year to year, with an average documented rainfall of 120mm (Halwagy et al., 1982). On average, evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation on a yearly basis (Halwagy Halwagy, 1974a). 1.6 The vegetation and soils of Kuwait The vegetation cover of Kuwait is less than 10 % (Brown, 2001). The dominant plant of Kuwait isRhanterium epapposum. There has been no documentation of native trees found in the deserts of Kuwait, while only one tree (6al7a) has been recorded as a native tree and protected in nature reserves (Brown Al-Mazrooei, 2003). Soil texture and composition is an important factor for plant regeneration in desert climates. The primary soil characteristics to be considered in seed germination are soil texture, depth, permeability, penetrability and fertility (Batanouny, 1990). Sandy alkaline soils are dominant in the deserts of Kuwait, and these have low water retention, which is a disadvantage for seed germination (Johns et al., 1984). However, rainfall on sandy soils can be more effective for seed germination than on clay soils (Carbon, 1975). 1.7 Native plants Calligonum comosum Calligonum is a genus of perennial shrubs from the Polygonaceae family. One of the striking features of the species is that it is covered with numerous bristled fruits, which are easily carried by the wind, thus avoiding burial in the sand. The Latin genus name comes from the Greek words callus (beautiful) and gonos (knee), and reflects the original shape of the twigs as they link to one another (Gouja, Garnatje, Hidalgo, Neffati, Raies Garcia, 2015). Calligonum comosum is a native plant to the state of Kuwait. It is a perennial shrub which grows up to 2m tall with a crown ranging from 1-2.5m. Its leaves are simple and green. The   flowering season runs from March to April, with the red flowers attracting birds. The most widespread use of this plant is to stabilise sand dunes and wind breaks, but it also fixes soil to provide protein for livestock, provides wood for fuel and burns without smoke. It is one of the most common plants used to fight desertification and is usually employed along with other native plants for rehabilitation purposes. The most critical stage for this plant is seed germination and seedling stabilisation (Qu et al., 2008). It is prone to heavy grazing since it is a major source of food for camels, as well as goats and sheep (fact sheet). The active ingredients include tannins contained within the green branches of Calligonum. The fruits are edible, and taste similar to an apple. The economic significa nce of these shrubs is very high. Their young branches and fruits, with a pleasantly sour taste, are readily eaten by sheep and camels. In winter, the sheep eat fallen twigs and fruit from the ground. The nutritional value of these products is rather high in conventional feed units. The timber produced by this tree is dense and heavy (it sinks in water), and the pink kernel is a good building material in the desert environment. The wood is also used as fuel for various crafts. Finally, Calligonum is excellent fixative of sand and is used for reclamation in areas of mobile sand. The plant can form new side (adventitious) roots at the base of the stalks after backfilling them with sand (El-Keblawy, Abdelfattah Khedr, 2015). Farsetia Aegyptia This is a perennial shrub that grows in coarse sandy soil, reaching a height of up to 60 cm. Its leaves are succulent and linear, its blooming season is from March to June, and it has greenish-brown flowers. The fruit has a winged seed. This plant has no documented or official publications (Farsetia aegyptia Overview Encyclopedia of Life, 2017). Rhanterium epapposum This is the national plant of Kuwait, and the most dominant plant found in the countrys deserts. This bush grows up to 1m tall, has small narrow leaves which fall in late spring, and becomes dormant during the summer season. Its flowering season is from March to May, with small yellow flowers. For this plant to germinate, the capitulum must be facing upwards, with the achene still attached to the capitulum. Seeds can be viable for more than 4 years (Ahmed, Al-Dousari and Al-Dousari, 2016), and the plant is mainly used for skin infections and for fuel in remote areas. Calligonum comosum, which does not require a lot of water to grow and tends to grow in areas with low rainfall (Gouja, Garnatje, Hidalgo, Neffati, Raies Garcia, 2015); Rhanterium epapposum, which is bushy and is produced naturally as well as with the help of vegetation[ES2]; and Farsetia aegyptia which is also used to combat desertification with the assistance of seed germination. The main objective of this study is to determine why seed germination is important and under what conditions it can take place. The study will discuss how seed germination occurs under different conditions and the factors which affect it. Three desert plants will be used in the   seed germination experiment The aim of this study is to induce seed germination using chemical treatments such as gibberellic acid in two different concentrations (ppm) and physical scarification treatment with two different intensity levels. The second part of the study will investigate four different ratios of peat moss to sand to measure plant growth of seedlings of three desert species in Kuwait. This study will contribute to increasing vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas such as Kuwait, and explore the conditions in which seed germination can take place, including environmental conditions and appropriate temperature (Gouja, Garnatje, Hidalgo, Neffati, Raies Garcia, 2015). As we know, the more plants are grown, the more we can protect our environment. Seed germination is one process for producing plants by artificial methods, which would participate in desert revegetation by transplanting native species back in their natural habitat. Seed germination experiment Three plants will be investigated in this study: Calligonum comosum, Rhanterium epapposum and Farsetia aegyptia. Ten seeds from each species will undergo two seed germination treatments, each with two different intensities. First is a physical treatment in the form of scarification using sand paper, with two different intensities of scarification. Second is a chemical treatment using two different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3). All treatments will be undertaken in the same environment and temperature conditions. The experiment will be replicated three times. Figure 1 Plant growth with peat moss For this experiment, seedlings from three species will be tested in five soil mixtures with different sand to peat moss ratios. A block of 15 seedlings, each with a different soil mixture (5 soil mixtures for each species) will be replicated 5 times (Figure 2).   Environmental factors such as temperature, soil moisture and pH will be measured for analysis. [ES3]Figure 2 A large data set will be collected over a period of 4-6 weeks, and daily logs will be completed for the final data analysis. Statistical data analysis using ANOVA will be applied to both experiments to compare the percentage of growth in different soil mixtures. As well as comparing seed germination percentages for four different treatments, ArcGIS software will be used to provide maps for this study if necessary. Petri dishes, paper filters and labels Sand paper Gibberellic acid (GA3). Native plant seeds (available at PAAFR*) Native plant seedlings (available at PAAFR*) 10cm plastic planting pots (75) (available at PAAFR*) Soil (peat moss and sand) (available at PAAFR*) Access to seed lab facility either at PAAFR* or KISR* (access fees may be applicabl For this study, safety precautions will be taken mostly when using seed lab facilities. Access lab safety check list Lab coat Long trousers Closed toe shoes Safety glasses Use of gloves Since this study will be done off campus, some expenses may apply, this is just a provisional budget plan Plane tickets (round trip from Aberdeen to Kuwait) (300  £) All materials mentioned previously might be available for use with no charge Onetime payment for seed lab access of 50  £ Petrol fees maybe applicable once experiment location is determined around 100  £ if the experiment is done over a period of six weeks. References Bolling, J. and Walker, L. (2000). Plant and soil recovery along a series of abandoned desert roads. Journal of Arid Environments, 46(1), pp.1-24. Brown, G. (2003) Factors maintaining plant diversity in degraded areas of northern Kuwait, Journal of Arid Environments, 54(1), pp. 183-194. Brown, G. and Al-Mazrooei, S. (2003). Rapid vegetation regeneration in a seriously degraded Rhanterium epapposum community in northern Kuwait after 4 years of protection. Journal of Environmental Management, 68(4), pp.387-395. Brown, G. and Schoknecht, N. (2001) Off-road vehicles and vegetation patterning in a degraded desert ecosystem in Kuwait, Journal of Arid Environments, 49(2), pp. 413-427. Derbel, S. and Chaieb, M. (2007). Germination behaviour and seedling establishment of two desert shrubs,Calligonum polygonoides(Polygonaceae) andSpartidium saharae(Fabaceae), under experimental conditions. Acta Botanica Gallica, 154(4), pp.533-544. Derbel, S., Touzard, B., Triki, M. and Chaieb, M. (2010). Seed germination responses of the Saharan plant species Ephedra alata ssp. alenda to fungicide seed treatments in the laboratory and the field. Flora Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 205(7), pp.471-474. Dhief, A., Gorai, M., Aschi-Smiti, S. and Neffati, M. (2009) Comparative phenological and water potential patterns of three Calligonum species in the eastern great Erg of Tunisia, Flora Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 204(8), pp. 581-592. doi: 10.1016/j.flora.2008.07.007. Dosery, N.A., Mathew, M., Suresh, N. and Al-Menaie, H.S. (2012) Kuwaits agricultural efforts to mitigate climate change, Energy Procedia, 18, pp. 1441-1445 Hanafi, A. and Jauffret, S. (2008). Are long-term vegetation dynamics useful in monitoring and assessing desertification processes in the arid steppe, southern Tunisia. Journal of Arid Environments, 72(4), pp.557-572. Kassas, M. (1995). Desertification: a general review. Journal of Arid Environments, 30(2), pp.115-128. Stringer, L. (2008). Reviewing the International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006: What contribution towards combating global desertification and implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? Journal of Arid Environments, [online] 72(11), pp.2065-2074. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196308001742 [Accessed 19 Feb. 2017]. Whitford, W. (2006). Ecology of desert systems. 1st ed. San Diego: Academic Press, pp.275-304. [ES1]This sentence wasnt very clear please read and check it and let me know if you think Ive accidentally changed the meaning! [ES2]Not quite sure what you mean by with the help of vegetation? [ES3]I would change the title of the Figure to: Illustration showing different ratios of sand to peat for three different species

The Elevator :: Creative Writing Essays

â€Å"Unconfirmed reports from Rikkers Islands says that one of their inmates hasescaped, and may be in the vacinity,† the DJ on Amy Batts’s car radio reported. ‘Great. Another thing to worry about,’ Amy thought as she pulled her car into the parking garage. â€Å"It is rumored that the prisoner that alledgedly escaped as a distingising tatoo on his right hand. Its suppossedly of a snake wrapped around a young girl,’ the DJ was saying as Amy parked her car. It was almost 8:30 on Tuesday night at Smith & Johnson’s Law Firm. At the tender age of 25 Amy landed an intership at the New York law firm. It was great! She got the chance to aid attorney in cases (mainly by doing reshearch, but hey it will look great on a resuma). Other than her footsteps, which echoed through out the parking gargae, the place was dead silent. If she hadn’t forgotten an importin law book she won’t even be there. Amy felt her heart beating wildly as she neared the elevator. â€Å"Get a grip Batts,† she said to herself. â€Å"Its not like you’re the only person here.† Which was true, a lot of lawarys burned the midnight oil at Smith & Johnson, working hard to prove their case. Still, she hesated at the elevator. Amy has always feared elevators. Who could blame her? Think about it for a minute. You enter a steel cage. You are cut off from all help. You don’t know anyone else in the elevator. Still, she stood there, forced to decide between her faithful stairs, or the cold, metal elevator. ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of,’ Amy told herself. ‘It’s just an elevator. There have been reports of muggings on stairs. The elevator is safer,’ she rationalized as she pushed the button to summen the steel box. The doors swooshed open, and Amy had to step back from the glare of the lights. Then, very timidly, she stepped inside the death trap, and watched as the doors clanged together behinde her. Her work area was on the 25th floor. Takeing deep breaths Amy stared back at herself relected in the mirror like doors. Her long blonde hair was slightly messed up, and there were bags under her dark brown eyes. She was all alone. ‘It’s not that bad,’ Amy thought to herself as the elevator slowly asended.

The Song Dynasty :: essays research papers

The Song Dynasty The Song dynasty lasted over 300 years, from 960 to 1279. Their history is divided into two periods of Northern and Southern Song. The Song period was one of China's most peaceful and prosperous era. However the Song government was corrupt and weak.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Song Dynasty, or Sung Dynasty was a period in which the Chinese government was very weak. In the beginning General Chao K'uang-yin, also known as Sung T'ai Tsu, was forced to become emperor in order to unify China. Sung T'ai Tsu created a national army under his direct control. He, and only he had control of the military. Once he had passed away his less competent successors were unable to keep the military under control, the military increasingly lost prestige. The weakening of China's military, coincided with the rise of strong nomadic nations on the boarders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the same time of the military's loss of prestige, the civil service rose in dignity. This was an examination system that had been restored in Sui and T'ang and was further elaborated and regularized. Selection examinations were help every three years at the district, provincial, and metropolitan levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only 200 out of thousands of applicants were granted the jinshi degree. This was the highest degree and appointed on government posts. From this time on, civil servants became China's most envied elite, replacing the hereditary nobles and landlords.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Song dynasty only extended over to the parts of earlier Chinese empires. The Khitans controlled the northeastern territories and the His Hsia controlled the northwestern territories. The Song emperors were unable to recover these lands so they were forced to make peace with the Khitans and the Hsi Hsia. They gave massive amounts of payments to the barbarians, under these peace terms, it depleted the state treasury and cause heavy payments on taxpaying peasants.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  About 100 years after the Songs first started ruling over China, their government started to go through a major decline. Officials that held important government positions were corrupt. Wealthy merchants that became rich from foreign trade found ways to avoid paying taxes. The peasants began to rebel when the heavy taxes were placed on them. The Song Dynasty had a lot of problems, in 1069 Emperor Shen Tsung appointed Wang An-shi as chief minister. Wang was a scholar who studied earlier Chinese governments. Wang noticed the corrupt government and made huge reform in the government. His reforms were based on the text of 'Rites of Chou'. Wang tried to get honest, intelligent officials by improving the university system. He made civil examinations more practical and reformed the merit system to reduce corruption among government officials.

Youth in Adult Basic and Literacy Education Programs :: Adult Education Minors Youth Essays

Youth in Adult Basic and Literacy Education Programs Wherever adult educators gather, whether at conferences, meetings, or in e-mail discussion groups, a topic on many minds is the challenge of increasing numbers of teenagers enrolled in adult education classes. (Smith 2002, p. 1). The increase in the number of youth under the age of 18 enrolling in federally funded adult basic and literacy education programs is a trend that is putting increasing pressures on programs designed to serve an adult population (Hayes 2000). A number of questions and issues surround this trend and administrators and teachers view it from different perspectives (ibid.; Smith 2002). After reviewing some of the trends and factors that are contributing to an increase in youth enrollment, this Digest provides an overview of how programs are responding to the challenge of serving young adults. Documenting the Trend Much of the evidence related to the trend of youth under the age of 18 enrolling in federally funded adult education programs is anecdotal in nature. Documenting the extent of the trend is difficult due to the way in which federal statistics on age of program participants have been compiled and variation in state policies (Hayes 2000). Fiscal Year 2000 was the first and most recent year that the number of participants aged 16-18 is shown as a separate category in the state statistics compiled by the Division of Adult Education and Literacy in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education; in that year, 16% of the total participants were in that category (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/2000age.html). Prior to FY 2000, youth aged 16-18 were included in the category "ages 16-24"; in 1999, 35% of participants were in that category. In 2000, the number of participants aged 16-18 (16%) combined with the number aged 19-24 (25%) totaled 41%, indicating t hat, overall, the number of younger participants is on the increase, but it is not possible to tell if the increase is among youth aged 16-18. State policies regarding at what age individuals may take the General Educational Development (GED) test as well as who is eligible to be served by adult basic and literacy programs vary: some states have more liberal policies that allow 16-18 year-olds to enroll in programs as a way of preparing for the GED so that they can complete high school (Beckwith 2002; Hayes 2000; Smith 2002). Figures from the GED Testing Service reveal something about the number of youth who potentially may be enrolled in federally funded programs.

A New Definition of Environmentalism

Environmentalism is believed to be a movement, â€Å"especially in politics and consumer affairs† (â€Å"Environmentalism,† 2007).   However, politicians and the media continue to disagree about the connection between anthropo genic greenhouse gas emissions and climate change (Oreskes, 2004).Those that actively work to protect nature against abuse are referred to as environmentalists or people who are part of the â€Å"environmental community† (Shellenberger & Nordhaus, 2005).   The essay about an individual working to protect nature by changing his or her habits and activities is, therefore, a breath of fresh air.   Indeed, it is possible for all individuals to work on protecting nature by changing their habits and activities.While politicians and the media may continue to disagree about the relationship between global warming and anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the individual who deeply contemplates the consequences of his or her habits and activi ties is wiser for sure.He or she does not need to join the so-called â€Å"environmental community† (Shellenberger & Nordhaus).   Neither does it matter that others may disagree with him or her.   Rather, it is the here and now that the individual protector of the environment is concerned with.The essay about the individual protector of the environment thereby calls for a new definition of environmentalism: it is a movement, especially in politics, consumer affairs and individual activities, â€Å"that works towards protecting the natural world from harmful human activities† (â€Å"Environmentalism†).Whereas politics and consumer affairs are concerned with the protection of the environment on behalf of the unaware if not ‘uncertain’ masses, it is the individual protector of the environment that refuses to accept defeat in this regard.   He or she does not doubt that his or her activities impact the environment.   As a matter of fact, his or her right-mindedness in this matter should be seen as the motive force behind environmental politics and consumer affairs.ReferencesEnvironmentalism. (2007). NineMSN Encarta. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from http://au.encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary /DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=18616Oreskes, N. (2004). Beyond The Ivory Tower: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change.Science 306 (5702): 1686. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686.Shellenberger, M., & Nordhaus, T. (2005). The Death of Environmentalism: Global WarmingPolitics in a Post-environmental World. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/01/13/doe-reprint/.

Experiments made in Transfer of Training or Learning Essay

The question of transfer has been definitely put to a test in order to show far training in one line influences other lines. Many experiments and studies in transfer of training have been performed by psychologists. Starch considered the problem of transfer in two fields: 1. Transfer in Specific Psychological Activities—The experiments performed in this field were the following: Experiments in memory, by James—William James was the first to attack the problem of memory-training experimentally. He investigated the effort of memorizing one kind of material on ability to memorize other kinds of materials. James himself memorized 158 lines from Victor Hugo’s Satyr and kept record of the time spent. He then devoted thirty-eight days (20 minutes per day) to the mastery of Milton’s Paradise Lost. After his Training in memorization, he selected another 158 lines from the Satyr and memorized them. He discovered that he needed more time to learn this selection than he had spent in memorizing the first selection from the Satyr. His result showed negative transfer. From their studies James was led to believe that formal discipline is not an efficacious means of improving the memory (National Society for the Study of Education, 2000). Experiment in perception, by Thorndike and Woodworth, in 1901— Thorndike and Woodworth studied the influence of special training on the estimation of magnitudes upon the ability to estimate magnitudes of the same general type, and the influence of training in observing words containing certain other letters. Thorndike and Woodworth concluded from the first part of the experiment that there was more improvement in the ability to estimate areas similar to the practice material than in the ability to estimate dissimilar areas. The result of the second experiment showed that practice in cancelling words with certain letters had an indirect effect on the cancelling words of words with other letters (National Society for the Study of Education, 2000). Experiments in judging weights of various sizes transferred to estimation of other weights, by Coover, in 1916—these experiments showed positive transfer. Experiments in maze-learning for both rats and human, by Webb in 1971—It was concluded from the results of these experiments that there were carry over effects from practice in one sensory-motor activity to another but the amount of transfer varied with the individual subject (Morgan, 1999). From these studies of transfer two conclusions may be drawn: (a) both negative and positive transfers occur between specific learning activities: (b) the more similar the specific activities, the greater the positive transfer. In other words, whatever transfer occurred could be expanded in terms of identical elements of procedure, habits, and methods. Transfer in School Subjects—Most of the experimental studies made of transfer in high school subjects were the following: From Latin to English by Thorndike and Rugger in 1923—Thorndike and Rugger found out that their studies that high school freshmen who studied Latin made slightly higher scores in an English vocabulary test than did students who had not studied Latin, the gain made on all words derived from Latin roots. So far as pedagogical practice is concerned, Thorndike’s and Rugger’s investigation established the fact of transfer of training (Skinner, 2000). From Latin to English vocabulary, by Hamblen in 1924—Hamblen concluded that transfer from Latin to English vocabulary was great when word derivations were stressed in the teaching of Latin (Skinner, 2000). In conclusion, experiments in the effect of cross-education, in observing and judging sensory and perceptual data, and in forming sensory motor association habits have been conducted in considerable number by other psychologists. A few experiments in special school functions have also been carried out. The results obtained from the experiments in those different lines, although confusing and sometimes contradictory, seem to warrant the belief that the old idea of a vast transfer, in some subtle and unexplained way, of special improvements to a general faculty, is false. It may be summed up by saying that the weight of evidence is all against formal discipline. The experimental evidence is against the idea that the faculties or powers of the mind can be trained like muscles so that the strengthening of these powers will automatically insure a high degree of efficiency in new and unrelated material or activities.

Cognitive Theories Essay

Cognition is the process involved in thinking and mental activity. Cognitive theories are not centred on the unconscious mind of the child but emphasized the conscious thoughts. In this essay I will discuss the cognitive theories of Piaget and Vygotsky, who were both influential in forming a more scientific approach to analysing the cognitive development process of the child. I will outline Piaget’s theory of the four stages of cognitive development and Vygotsky’s theory on the sociocultural cognitive theory. I will also discuss how cognitive theories can be applied to the education of the child. Jean Piaget (1896-1980) believed that children are active in the process of their cognitive development. As Bee and Boyd note in The Developing Child â€Å"the child is an active participant in the development of knowledge† (Bee and Boyd, 1939, p.150). Piaget said that children reason and think differently at different stages in their lives. He believed that children process through four stages of cognitive development. Each stage is characterised by an overall structure and a sequence of development. According to Piagetian theory, these structures consist of â€Å"schemes† or â€Å"schemas†, which are a way of organising experience. These schemes adapt through a continuous process of â€Å"assimilation† and â€Å"accommodation†, in an attempt to achieve â€Å"equilibrium†, which is the balance between the two. Assimilation is the process of adapting new experiences to fit into existing schemes. Accommodation is the process of adapting existi ng schemes to fit new experiences. (Piaget’s Theory, www. 6th February 2012). The first of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development is the sensorimotor stage. It occurs from birth to about two years of age. This stage is divided into six sub stages: reflexes, primary circular reactions, secondary circular reactions, coordination of secondary circular reactions, tertiary circular reactions and beginning of representational thought. He believed that this stage is a period of practical discovery, which happens by interacting with the environment through the senses. Infants discover a relationship between their body and the environment. The infant develops independent thinking, a sense of self and the beginning of symbolic thought. This stage promotes that thought is based primarily on action. (Bee and Boyd, 1939). As Santrock says in Child Development â€Å"their main task is to coordinate their sensory impressions with their motor activity† (Santrock, 1982, p.188). The second of Piaget’s stages is the pre-operational stage. It occurs from two to about seven years of age. Piaget believed that at this time children fail to â€Å"conserve†. This is the understanding that things remain constant in terms of number, quantity and volume regardless of changes in appearance. He believed that at this stage children begin to represent the world through symbols e.g. drawing, images and words. This stage is characterized by the development of symbolic thought, representation, egocentrism, centration and intuitive thought. (Bee and Boyd, 1939). The third of Piaget’s theories is the concrete-operations stage. It occurs from seven to about eleven years of age. He believed this stage is characterized by the ability to perform operational tasks such as classification, seriation and reversibility. The child now understands the conservation of mass, length, weight and volume. As it states in Child Development â€Å"Concrete operations allow children to coordinate several characteristics rather than focus on a single property of an object† (Santrock, 1982, p.193). Children can use abstract thinking as long as they can relate back to concrete examples. In the concrete-operations stage, he believed the child is no longer egocentric; they have the ability to de-centre. (Bee and Boyd, 1939). The fourth and last stage of Piaget’s theories is the formal operations stage. It occurs between eleven and about fifteen years of age, although Piaget says that some people may never reach this stage of cognitive development. He believes that in this period individuals are able to think and reason scientifically (Piaget’s Theory, www. 6th February 2012). Children have the capacity to move beyond definite experiences and think in more logical ways. This stage is characterized by abstract thinking, hypothetical deductive reasoning and idealism.(Bee and Boyd, 1939). In contrast to Piaget, Lev Semeonovich Vygotsky (1896-1934) did not believe in distinct stages of development. He saw the development of cognition as a continual process that is determined by the culture and social influences. He believed children are only as cognitively developed as the culture in which they live and that learning in conjunction with social interaction leads to cognitive development. As is says in The Developing Child â€Å"social interaction is required for cognitive development† (Bee and Boyd, 1939, p.163). One of the main ideas proposed by Vygotsky is the Zone of Proximal Development. This refers to the distance between the actual development of a child through individual problem solving and the level of development through problem solving under the guidance of an adult. A child’s actual development level indicates a child’s level of mental development at a particular time. It indicates the functions that have already matured in the child. A child’s zone of proximal development show the functions that have not matured yet, but that are in the process of maturing and developing. (Learning Theories, www. 7th February 2012). Vygotsky also believed that language played an important role in a child’s cognitive development. He believed language and thought develop independently and when the child is about two years of age they come together. Vygotsky describes three stages of development in language. The first stage is social speech or external speech. A child uses external speech to express simple thoughts and emotions such as crying or laughing. The second stage is egocentric speech, it is usually found in children between the ages of three and seven. The child will talk to him/herself during activities. They think out loud in an attempt to guide their own behaviour. The third stage is inner speech. As the child gets older he/she will begin to supress egocentric speech in the form of inner speech, and it is inner speech that becomes the child’s thoughts. Vygotsky proposed that language allows the child a greater freedom of thought and leads to cognitive development. (Santrock, 1982). As it states in Child Development â€Å"Children must use language to communicate with orders before they can focus inward on their own thoughts† (Santrock, 1982, p.202). Both Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural cognitive theory have a profound effect on the educational process and can be applied in many ways. Piaget and Vygotsky agree that the child actively takes part in his/her education and therefore require a style of teaching that provides opportunities to be active participants in their own learning. Both theories view the child as individual beings. They both agree with a child centred curriculum and see the role of the teacher as a guide and facilitator rather than a director. Both theories propose that the teacher has to have good observation skills and to have an understanding of the children in the learning environment. (Santrock, 1982). Vygotsky believed that education held a more important role in the child’s cognitive development. He proposed the involvement of the teacher to guide the child through his/her zone of proximal development and that instruction should be based on the child’s potential level. Vygotsky’s theory proposes using peers as tutors in supporting and guiding the child. He believed that thinking depended on language skills and is developed and maintained by social interaction. Learning involves at least two people therefore the probable scope of Zone of Proximal Development is dependent on the skills of both the child and the teacher. (Santrock, 1982). However, Piaget saw education as a method of refinement for the already developing cognitive skills. He believed cognitive development cannot be accelerated through instruction and concepts should not be taught until the child has reached the right stage. Piaget believed children are able to work best when they are active. He saw the child as a lone explorer discovering things for him/herself. He also believed the role of the teacher is a facilitator and guide to provide the correct materials and environment for the child. As it says in Child Development â€Å"Effective teachers listen, watch, and question students, to help them gain better understanding† (Santrock, 1982, p.197). Piaget’s theory suggests that the peers and not the adults in the classroom have a stronger influence on the child’s development. (Santrock, 1982). In this essay I have discussed the cognitive theories of Piaget and Vygotsky and how they can be applied to the education of the child. Piaget and Vygotsky’s impact on children’s cognitive development has been remarkable. Their cognitive theories have contributed to our understanding of the importance of developmental changes in children’s thinking and the cognitive processes. They looked at how children see the world and the influences that impact on the thinking process and saw that the cognitive theories are a positive approach to the child as they are active participants in their own development. For many years teachers have revised their approach in the classroom and applied the cognitive theories to the education of the child.

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Five

Monday, June 8, 11:15 p.m. Dear Diary, I don't seem to be sleeping very well tonight, so I might as well write you. All day today I've been waiting for something to happen. You don't do a spell like that and have it work like that and then have nothing happen. But nothing has. I stayed home from school because Mom thought I should. She was upset about Matt and Meredith staying so late Sunday night, and she said I needed to get some rest. But every time I lie down I see Sue's face. Sue's dad did the eulogy at Elena's funeral. I wonder who's going to do it for Sue on Wednesday? I've got to stop thinking about things like this. Maybe I'll try to go to sleep again. Maybe if I lie down with my headphones on, I won't see Sue. Bonnie put the diary back in her nightstand drawer and took out her Walkman. She flipped through the channels as she stared at the ceiling with heavy eyes. Through the crackle and sputter of static a D.J.'s voice sounded in her ear. â€Å"And here's a golden oldie for all you fabulous fifties fans. ‘Goodnight Sweetheart' on the Vee Jay label by The Spaniels†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie drifted away on the music. The ice cream soda was strawberry, Bonnie's favorite. The jukebox was playing ‘Goodnight Sweetheart' and the counter was squeaky clean. But Elena, Bonnie decided, would never have really worn a poodle skirt. â€Å"No poodles,† she said, gesturing at it. Elena looked up from her hot fudge sundae. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. â€Å"Who thinks of these things anyway?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"You do, silly. I'm only visiting.† â€Å"Oh.† Bonnie took a pull at the soda. Dreams. There was a reason to be afraid of dreams, but she couldn't think of it just now. â€Å"I can't stay long,† Elena said. â€Å"I think he already knows I'm here. I just came to tell you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She frowned. Bonnie looked at her sympathetically. â€Å"Can't you remember either?† She drank more soda. It tasted odd. â€Å"I died too young, Bonnie. There was so much I was supposed to do, to accomplish. And now I have to help you.† â€Å"This isn't easy, you know. I don't have that much power. It's hard getting through, and it's hard keeping everything together.† â€Å"Gotta keep it together,† Bonnie agreed, nodding. She was feeling strangely lightheaded. What was in this soda? â€Å"I don't have much control, and things turn out strange somehow. He's doing it, I guess. He's always fighting me. He watches you. And every time we try to communicate, he comes.† â€Å"Okay.† The room was floating. â€Å"Bonnie, are you listening to me? He can use your fear against you. It's the way he gets in.† â€Å"Okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But don't let him in. Tell everyone that. And tell Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena stopped and put a hand to her mouth. Something fell onto the hot fudge sundae. It was a tooth. â€Å"He's here.† Elena's voice was strange, indistinct. Bonnie stared at the tooth in mesmerized horror. It was lying in the middle of the whipped cream, among the slivered almonds. â€Å"Bonnie, tell Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Another tooth plunked down, and another. Elena sobbed, both her hands at her mouth now. Her eyes were terrified, helpless. â€Å"Bonnie, don't go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Bonnie was stumbling back. Everything was whirling around. The soda was bubbling out of the glass, but it wasn't soda; it was blood. Bright red and frothy, like something you coughed up when you died. Bonnie's stomach convulsed. â€Å"Tell Stefan I love him!† It was the voice of a toothless old woman, and it ended in hysterical sobs. Bonnie was glad to fall into darkness and forget everything. Bonnie nibbled at the end of her felt pen, her eyes on the clock, her mind on the calendar. Eight and a half more days of school to survive. And it looked as if every minute was going to be misery. Some guy had said it outright, backing away from her on the stairs. â€Å"No offense, but your friends keep turning up dead.† Bonnie had gone into the bathroom and cried. But now all she wanted was to be out of school, away from the tragic faces and accusing eyes-or worse, the pitying eyes. The principal had given a speech over the P.A. about â€Å"this new misfortune† and â€Å"this terrible loss,† and Bonnie had felt the eyes on her back as if they were boring holes there. When the bell rang, she was the first person out the door. But instead of going to her next class she went to the bathroom again, where she waited for the next bell. Then, once the halls were empty, she hurried toward the foreign language wing. She passed bulletins and banners for end-of-the-year events without glancing at them. What did SATs matter, what did graduation matter, what did anything matter anymore? They might all be dead by the end of the month. Oh, my God, I forgot how gorgeous he is, she thought. Elena, forgive me; I'm going to grab him. â€Å"Stefan!† she said. Then her mind wrenched her back into reality again and she cast a hunted look around. No one was in eyeshot. She grabbed his arm. â€Å"Are you crazy, showing up here? Are you nuts?† â€Å"I had to find you. I thought it was urgent.† â€Å"It is, but-† He looked so incongruous, standing there in the high school hallway. So exotic. Like a zebra in a flock of sheep. She started pushing him toward a broom closet. He wasn't going. And he was stronger than she was. â€Å"Bonnie, you said you'd talked to-â€Å" â€Å"You have to hide! I'll go get Matt and Meredith and bring them back here and then we can talk. But if anybody sees you, you're probably going to get lynched. There's been another murder.† Stefan's face changed, and he let her push him toward the closet. He started to say something, then clearly decided not to. â€Å"I'll wait,† he said simply. It took only a few minutes to find Matt in auto tech and Meredith in economics class. They hurried back to the broom closet and bustled Stefan out of school as inconspicuously as possible, which wasn't very. Someone's bound to have seen us, Bonnie thought. It all depends on who, and how much of a blab they are. â€Å"We have to get him someplace safe-not to any of our houses,† Meredith was saying. They were all walking as fast as they could through the high school parking lot. â€Å"Fine, but where? Wait a minute, what about the boarding house†¦ ?† Bonnie's voice trailed off. There was a little black car in the parking slot in front of her. An Italian car, sleek, svelte, and sexy looking. All the windows were tinted illegally dark; you couldn't even see inside. Then Bonnie made out the stallion emblem on the back. â€Å"Oh, my God† Three sets of eyes turned to him in shock. â€Å"Damon's?† Bonnie said, hearing the squeak in her own voice. She hoped Stefan meant Damon had just loaned it to him. But the car window was rolling down to reveal black hair as sleek and liquidy as the car's paint job, mirrored glasses, and a very white smile. â€Å"Buon giorno,† said Damon smoothly. â€Å"Anybody need a ride?† â€Å"Oh, my God,† Bonnie said again, faintly. But she didn't back away. Stefan was visibly impatient. â€Å"We'll head for the boarding house. You follow. Park behind the barn so nobody sees your car.† Meredith had to lead Bonnie away from the Ferrari. It wasn't that Bonnie liked Damon or that she was ever going to let him kiss her again as he had at Alaric's party. She knew he was dangerous; not as bad as Katherine had been, maybe, but bad. He'd killed wantonly, just for the fun of it. He'd killed Mr. Tanner, the history teacher, at the Haunted House fund-raiser last Halloween. He might kill again at any time. Maybe that was why Bonnie felt like a mouse staring at a shining black snake when she looked at him. In the privacy of Meredith's car Bonnie and Meredith exchanged glances. â€Å"Stefan shouldn't have brought him,† said Meredith. â€Å"Maybe he just came,† Bonnie offered. She didn't think Damon was the sort of person who got brought anywhere. â€Å"Why should he? Not to help us, that's for sure.† Matt said nothing. He didn't even seem to notice the tension in the car. He just stared through the windshield, lost in himself. The sky was clouding up. â€Å"Matt?† â€Å"Just leave it alone, Bonnie,† said Meredith. Wonderful, thought Bonnie, depression settling like a dark blanket over her. Matt and Stefan and Damon, all together, all thinking about Elena. They parked behind the old barn, next to the low black car. When they went inside, Stefan was standing alone. He turned and Bonnie saw that he'd taken off his sunglasses. The faintest chill went through her, just the lightest prickling of the hairs on her arms and neck. Stefan wasn't like any other guy she'd ever met. His eyes were so green; green as oak leaves in the spring. But just now they had shadows underneath. There was a moment of awkwardness; the three of them standing on one side and looking at Stefan without a word. No one seemed to know what to say. Then Meredith went over to him and took his hand. â€Å"You look tired,† she said. â€Å"I came as soon as I could.† He put an arm around her in a brief, almost hesitant hug. He never would have done that in the old days, Bonnie thought. He used to be so reserved. â€Å"I came as soon as I could.† He put an arm around her in a brief, almost hesitant hug. He never would have done that in the old days, Bonnie thought. He used to be so reserved. Stefan and Matt were looking at each other. Here we go, thought Bonnie. It was almost funny; the same expression was on both their faces. Hurt and tired, and trying not to show it. No matter what, Elena would always be between them. At last, Matt stuck out his hand and Stefan shook it. They both stepped back, looking glad to have it over with. â€Å"Where's Damon?† said Meredith. â€Å"Poking around. I thought we might want a few minutes without him.† â€Å"We want a few decades without him,† Bonnie said before she could stop herself, and Meredith said, â€Å"He can't be trusted, Stefan.† â€Å"I think you're wrong,† Stefan said quietly. â€Å"He can be a big help if he puts his mind to it.† â€Å"In between killing a few of the locals every other night?† Meredith said, her eyebrows up. â€Å"You shouldn't have brought him, Stefan.† â€Å"But he didn't.† The voice came from behind Bonnie, behind and frighteningly close. Bonnie jumped and made an instinctive lunge for Matt, who gripped her shoulder. Damon smiled briefly, just one corner of his mouth up. He'd taken off his sunglasses, but his eyes weren't green. They were black as the spaces between the stars. He's almost better looking than Stefan, Bonnie thought wildly, finding Matt's fingers and hanging on to them. â€Å"So she's yours now, is she?† Damon said to Matt casually. â€Å"No,† Matt said, but his grip on Bonnie didn't loosen. â€Å"Stefan didn't bring you?† prompted Meredith from the other side. Of all of them, she seemed least affected by Damon, least afraid of him, least susceptible to him. â€Å"No,† Damon said, still looking at Bonnie. He doesn't turn like other people, she thought. He goes on looking at whatever he wants no matter who's talking. â€Å"You did,† he said. â€Å"Me?† Bonnie shrank a little, uncertain who he meant. â€Å"You. You did the spell, didn't you?† â€Å"The†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh, hell. A picture blossomed in Bonnie's mind, of black hair on a white napkin. Her eyes went to Damon's hair, finer and straighter than Stefan's but just as dark. Obviously Matt had made a mistake in the sorting. They took seats on the decaying bales of hay, all except Damon, who remained standing. Stefan was leaning forward, hands on knees, looking at Bonnie. â€Å"You told me-you said that Elena spoke to you.† There was a perceptible pause before he got the name out. His face was tense with control. â€Å"Yes.† She managed a smile for him. â€Å"I had this dream, Stefan, this very strange dream†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She told him about it, and about what had happened after. It took a long time. Stefan listened intently, his green eyes flaring every time she mentioned Elena. When she told about the end of Caroline's party and how they had found Sue's body in the backyard, the blood drained from his face, but he said nothing. â€Å"The police came and said she was dead, but we knew that already,† Bonnie finished. â€Å"And they took Vickie away-poor Vickie was just raving. They wouldn't let us talk to her, and her mother hangs up if we call. Some people are even saying Vickie did it, which is insane. But they won't believe that Elena talked to us, so they won't believe anything she said.† â€Å"And what she said was ‘he,' † Meredith interrupted. â€Å"Several times. It's a man; someone with a lot of psychic power.† â€Å"And it was a man who grabbed my hand in the hallway,† said Bonnie. She told Stefan about her suspicion of Tyler, but as Meredith pointed out, Tyler didn't fit the rest of the description. He had neither the brains nor the psychic power to be the one Elena was warning them about. â€Å"What about Caroline?† Stefan asked. â€Å"Could she have seen anything?† â€Å"She was out front,† Meredith said. â€Å"She found the door and got out while we were all running. She heard the screams, but she was too frightened to go back in the house. And to be honest, I don't blame her.† â€Å"So nobody actually saw what happened except Vickie.† â€Å"No. And Vickie's not telling.† Bonnie picked up the story where she had left off. â€Å"Once we realized nobody would believe us, we remembered Elena's message about the summoning spell. We figured it must have been you she wanted to summon, because she thought you could do something to help. So†¦ can you?† â€Å"I can try,† Stefan said. He got up and walked a little distance away, turning his back on them. He stood like that in silence a while, unmoving. At last he turned back and looked Bonnie in the eyes. â€Å"Bonnie,† he said, quiet but intense, â€Å"in your dreams you actually spoke to Elena face to face. Do you think if you went into a trance you could do it again?† Bonnie was a little frightened by what she saw in his eyes. They were blazing emerald green in his pale face. All at once it was as if she could see behind the mask of control he wore. Underneath was so much pain, so much longing-so much of that intensity that she could hardly bear to look at it. â€Å"Then we'll do it. Right here, right now. And we'll see if you can take me with you.† Those eyes were mesmerizing, not with any hidden Power, but with the sheer force of his will. Bonnie wanted to do it for him-he made her want to do anything for him. But the memory of that last dream was too much. She couldn't face that horror again; she couldn't. â€Å"Stefan, it's too dangerous. I could be opening myself up to anything-and I'm scared. If that thing gets hold of my mind, I don't know what might happen. I can't, Stefan. Please. Even with a Ouija board, it's just inviting him to come.† For a moment she thought he was going to try to make her do it. His mouth tightened in an obstinate line, and his eyes blazed even brighter. But then, slowly, the fire died out of them. Bonnie felt her heart tear. â€Å"Stefan, I'm sorry,† she whispered. â€Å"We'll just have to do it on our own,† he said. The mask was back on, but his smile looked stiff, as if it hurt him. Then he spoke more briskly. â€Å"First we have to find out who this killer is, what he wants here. All we know now is that something evil has come to Fell's Church again.† â€Å"But why?† said Bonnie. â€Å"Why would anything evil just happen to pick here? Haven't we been through enough?† â€Å"It does seem a bit of a strange coincidence,† Meredith said drolly. â€Å"Why should we be so singularly blessed?† â€Å"It's not coincidence,† said Stefan. He got up and lifted his hands as if unsure how to start. â€Å"There are some places on this earth that are†¦ different,† he said. â€Å"That are full of psychic energy, either positive or negative, good or evil. Some of them have always been that way, like the Bermuda Triangle and Salisbury Plain, the place where they built Stonehenge. Others become that way, especially where a lot of blood has been shed.† He looked at Bonnie. â€Å"Unquiet spirits,† she whispered. â€Å"Yes. There was a battle here, wasn't there?† â€Å"In the Civil War,† Matt said. â€Å"That's how the church in the cemetery got ruined. It was a slaughter on both sides. Nobody won, but almost everyone who fought got killed. The woods are full of their graves.† â€Å"And the ground was soaked with blood. A place like that draws the supernatural to it. It draws evil to it. That's why Katherine was attracted to Fell's Church in the first place. I felt it too, when I first came here.† â€Å"And now something else has come,† Meredith said, perfectly serious for once. â€Å"But how are we supposed to fight it?† â€Å"We have to know what we're fighting first. I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But before he could finish, there was a creak and pale, dusty sunlight fell across the bales of hay. The barn door had opened. Mrs. Flowers, who owned the boarding house, smiled at them, her little black eyes crinkling into wrinkles. She was carrying a tray. â€Å"I thought you children might like something to drink while you're talking,† she said comfortably. Everyone exchanged disconcerted glances. How had she known they were out here? And how could she be so calm about it? â€Å"Here you go,† Mrs. Flowers continued. â€Å"This is grape juice, made from my own Concord grapes.† She put a paper cup beside Meredith, then Matt, then Bonnie. â€Å"And here are some gingersnap cookies. Fresh.† She held the plate around. Bonnie noticed she didn't offer any to Stefan or Damon. â€Å"You two can come round to the cellar if you like and try some of my blackberry wine,† she said to them, with what Bonnie would swear was a wink. Stefan took a deep, wary breath. â€Å"Uh, look, Mrs. Flowers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And your old room's just like you left it. Nobody's been up there since you went. You can use it when you want; it won't put me out a bit.† Stefan seemed at a loss for words. â€Å"Well-thank you. Thank you very much. But -â€Å" â€Å"If you're worried I'll say something to somebody, you can set your mind at ease. I don't tend to run off at the mouth. Never have, never will. How's that grape juice?† -turning suddenly on Bonnie. Bonnie hastily took a gulp. â€Å"Good,† she said truthfully. â€Å"When you finish, throw the cups in the trash. I like things kept tidy.† Mrs. Flowers cast a look about the barn, shaking her head and sighing. â€Å"Such a shame. Such a pretty girl.† She looked at Stefan piercingly with eyes like onyx beads. â€Å"You've got your work cut out for you this time, boy,† she said, and left, still shaking her head. â€Å"Well!† said Bonnie, staring after her, amazed. Everyone else just looked at each other blankly. † ‘Such a pretty girl'-but which?† said Mere-dith at last. â€Å"Sue or Elena?† Elena had actually spent a week or so in this very barn last winter-but Mrs. Flowers wasn't supposed to know that. â€Å"Did you say something to her about us?† Meredith asked Damon. â€Å"Not a word.† Damon seemed amused. â€Å"She's an old lady. She's batty.† â€Å"She's sharper than any of us gave her credit for,† Matt said. â€Å"When I think of the days we spent watching her potter around that basement-do you think she knew we were watching?† days we spent watching her potter around that basement-do you think she knew we were watching?† â€Å"And grape juice, don't forget that.† Matt grinned at Stefan. â€Å"Want some?† He proffered the leaky cup. â€Å"Yeah, you can take your grape juice and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Stefan was almost smiling himself. For an instant Bonnie saw the two of them the way they used to be, before Elena had died. Friendly, warm, as comfortable together as she and Meredith were. A pang went through her. But Elena isn't dead, she thought. She's more here than ever. She's directing everything we say and do. Stefan had sobered again. â€Å"When Mrs. Flowers came in, I was about to say that we'd better get started. And I think we should start with Vickie.† â€Å"She won't see us,† Meredith replied instantly. â€Å"Her parents are keeping everyone away.† â€Å"Then we'll just have to bypass her parents,† Stefan said. â€Å"Are you coming with us, Damon?† â€Å"A visit to yet another pretty girl? I wouldn't miss it.† Bonnie turned to Stefan in alarm, but he spoke reassuringly as he guided her out of the barn. â€Å"It'll be all right. I'll keep an eye on him.† Bonnie hoped so.