Monday, September 30, 2019
Debate between booker T and dubois Essay
The debate between Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois turned out to be one of the greatest intellectual as well as inspiring battles in our United States history. This great debate sparked the interest of African Americans and whites throughout the entire country. Both men had distinct views on how blacks should go about progressing politically, socially, as well as financially here in the United States. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans; But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights, while Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites because He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create bitterness between themselves and white Americans. Dubois ridiculed Mr. Washingtonââ¬â¢s tactics believing Washingtonââ¬â¢s accommodations program asked blacks to give up political power, insistence on civil rights, and higher education for Negro youth. Although Bois was ridiculed by these tactics he still respected him he says ââ¬Å"Among his own people, however, Mr. Washington has encountered the strongest and most lasting opposition, amounting at times to bitterness, and even today continuing strong and insistent even though largely silenced in outward expression by the public opinion of the nation. Some of this opposition is, of course, mere envy; the disappointment of displaced demagogues and the spite of narrow mindsâ⬠(W. E. B Dubois 3) While their strategy may have differed, both of these remarkable men had a common goal in the uplift of the black community. Born into slavery on April 5, 1856 Booker T. Washington would become an educator, author, and before his passing one of the most influential leaders during his time. Mr. Washington views for social, economic and political growth differed immensely from his counterpart w. e. b Dubois. Unlike Washington web Dubois grew up free in a community that was relatively tenant and integrated, he would become the first African American to graduate with a doctorate from Harvard University. Booker did not believe having equal rights was a necessity evident by the Atlanta compromise speech Washington says ââ¬Å"In all things purely social we can be as separate as the five fingers, and yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress. â⬠(Washington). Booker T. Washington main focus was on having education for real life jobs that he believed would eventually turn African Americans in an economic powerhouse or at least dig themselves out of the financial whole they were already in. He believed by working hard and playing second fiddle to the white man would ultimately give black America the equal rights and respect that they always wanted. WEB Dubois focused on the exact opposite things that of Booker T. Washington. Unlike Washington, Dubois felt that inequality with whites was one of the utmost importance issues facing black America. Dubois demanded for all black citizens to have the right to vote, civic equality, and give our young blacks the right to a proper education. Dubois firmly believed that persistent agitation, political action, and academic education would be the means to achieve full citizenship rights for black Americans. His educational philosophy directly influenced his political approach. He stressed the need for liberal arts training because he believed that in order for blacks to obtain leadership skills was through education at a college. One of the biggest disagreements in philosophies between the two men was over the issue of black suffrage. In terms of voting, Dubois believed that agitating for the ballot was necessary, but opposed giving the vote to the uneducated blacks. He believed that economic gains were not secure unless there was political power to safeguard them. Washington, on the other hand, felt that the right to vote was not a necessity and the only thing that would come out of protesting for voting rights is the irritation of whites. In conclusion, the debate between W. E. B Dubois and Washington was nothing short of remarkable and genius. Although both men had two separate ways about doing things they both shared the same common goal, which was bettering the lives of African Americans. In my opinion, W. E.à B Dubois plan to go strongly for African American rights and equality was the better strategy. Not only did he help bring us together but he gave blacks a sense of self confidence that they didnââ¬â¢t possess before. For once blacks believed not only can you be as good as the white man but better. While some may agree that Mr. Washingtonââ¬â¢s plan to endure the second citizenship title was only degrading and keeping the black man down. Although Washington had honorable goals Dubois gave the people a strong sense of empowerment and worthiness that has helped the black race grows into what it is today.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Industrial Organisation Essay
This paper talks about the pros and cons of advertising and if it is a waste of societyââ¬â¢s resources or not. Previously, much emphasis was not being given to advertising and the marketers used the strategy of market aggregation but in todayââ¬â¢s world, the concept has changed and the demands of the society vary greatly because of which the advertisers have redesigned their marketing strategies in order to crater to their target market well. Media has great influence on the society and the marketers use advertising as their tool to persuade the consumers to purchase their products. Since advertising has a profound impact on the way the people understand life and their values, there are many things that the marketer must consider while promoting their products. Advertising can be simple as well as complex based on the product or service that is being advertised and it can be done on a small as well as on a large scale. To advertise, many kinds of media can be used depending on the nature and the complexity of the product. Similarly, advertising can be done for programs, causes and institutions as well besides which political advertising is also done. Since it has an indirect yet a very powerful impact on the society, ethics in advertising should always be ensured. Advertising has both pros and cons that have been discussed below. A lot of resources are consumed when advertising is done and today, it is being done everywhere and it is very difficult for the people to escape from its influence. Pros of advertising People who criticize advertising say that it is a waste of time and money and it corrupts the individuals and the society. However, advertising also has a significant potential for good and some of the benefits of advertising are mentioned below. Economic Benefits of Advertising Advertising contributes to the human development if it conforms to the moral standards and today, it is the best tool for utilizing the resources to respond to the socio-economic needs of the society. Advertising informs the people about the products that are available for their consumption based on which they can make their purchase decisions. Goddard, Lipczynski & Wilson 2009). Benefits of Political Advertising Political advertising contributes to democracy as well as it helps in economic well being of the society. It can contribute the society by letting the people know about the ideas and proposals of the parties and the new candidates who were unknown to the public previously. Cultural Benefits of Advertising Since advertising has a great impact on the media, it has the ability to exert positive influence on various decisions related to the media. Material that is intellectual and is of moral quality should be shown to the public in order to make the society better and to contribute in a positive manner. Moral and Religious Benefits of Advertising Companies are not the only ones that use advertising to market their products but advertising is also used by social institutions that also include the religious institutions that communicate messages that are not just helpful and constructive but they are also beneficial for the society and they help in motivating the people. Cons of advertising Despite of the fact of many positive areas of advertising, there are some grey areas of advertising as well. However, it would be more appropriate to say that there is nothing good or bad about advertising but it is all about the way it is being done. This tool can be used in a positive as well as in a bad way and the way in which it is used is what determines its pros and cons. Advertising harmful goods or making false assertions to exploit the human tendencies is not a good thing to do because this harms the society. (Jensen & Waldman 2005). Economic Harms of Advertising When the advertisers withhold important facts and misrepresent in the advertisements that are aired or are published in the print media, they tend to betray the people. Mostly, the advertisers not just use advertising only to inform the consumers about the product but also to persuade and to motivate them to purchase the product. Moreover, the brand related advertisement that is done can be creating serious problems as the advertisers might motivate the people to buy the product on the basis of the brand or status. It can act as an abuse for the humans and can harm the dignity of the people especially when it influences the attitudes and the values of the people through communications media. This affects the developing countries the most where most of the people are poor and these people are unable to buy everything but since advertising creates artificial wants, people are persuaded to buy the products. This makes the poor waste their resources instead of focusing only on the needs they really want to fulfill and the ones that are genuine because of which development falls behind. Governments that try to develop market economies find it difficult to function well. Harms of Political Advertising Although political advertising supports the governments in democracy but it also serves as an obstruction since the costs involved with advertising limit the political competition. Besides this, the politicians might also tend to distort the image of the other candidates by harming their reputation. Cultural Harms of Advertising The end result of advertising can be a corrupting influence on the cultural values of the people and it can harm the economic condition of the country. The main concern of the developing nations is that advertising not only dominates the people but it also manipulates them to convince them to make a positive decision. The communicators feel tempted in order to attract larger audiences that the advertisers can approach through them. Besides this, the communicators also tend to ignore the educational and the social needs of the society especially those segments that are poor and old. Moreover, stereotyping becomes common when advertising is being done and this places one group as disadvantaged when compared to their relation with the other groups. For instance, the women are being treated badly and are exploited in the advertisements. (Carlton & Perloff 2007). Moral and Religious Harms of Advertising Advertising can be morally uplifting but on the same side it can be vulgar and degrading as well as it can motivate envy and lust. Advertisers today are also showing immoral ads that they should not show to the people as the children and the under aged are also the ones who tend to view them. Pornography and violence have become common and the media is showing it without any legitimate restriction because of which the cultural norms are at stake. The darker side of the human beings is shown by people committing sins, violating rules and committing thefts and when the children and the youth watch all these kinds of things on the media, they tend to copy the people shown on the media that later disrupts the culture of the society. All this have created serious social problems and the youth and the children are being affected negatively. With this, it is apparent that advertising is playing a role of a threat to the religion and is causing many issues that fall outside the domain of the moral values and ethics. Religious themes and images are also being used by the advertises to sell their products and it is acceptable if they do this in an acceptable manner but when they cross their limits especially when they show things that are offensive or when they exploit the religion, this is when the idea turns out to be a total failure. In some cases, advertising is used by the media to promote the products and services and also to inculcate values in the people but the kind of advertising that is immoral should be strictly forbidden. Conclusion Advertising serves as a means of survival for the businesses that publish and broadcast operations as the revenue they earn from advertising is very important for them. Media is the one primary source through which the advertisers advertise and can reach their target market to deliver the message they want to. For this purpose, the advertisers make their content interesting and such that would attract the customers. Therefore, the media has a lot of dependency on the advertisers who place their ads either on the television or in the print media in the newspapers or magazines (Andreosso & Jacobson 2005). After reviewing the pros and the cons of advertising, we came to know that it can be good and bad at the same time but it is just the usage that makes it beneficial or a threat. I would therefore say that advertising is not a waste of resources if it is being done in a positive manner and by this I mean that there are some aspects that should be taken care of by the advertiser when making advertisements. Truthfulness in Advertising When advertising, the advertiser should ensure that the ad that is being made is based on truth and the ad should not mislead the people in any way. The idea of the ad should be to inform the people about the benefits and the features of the commodity but no misinterpretation should be done. The Dignity of the Human Person The people who are being shown in the ad should be treated with dignity and the women especially should not be exploited in any way. Advertising and Social Responsibility When the companies make profits, it is their duty to practice corporate social responsibility and to ensure that they are being ethical in every way. The companies should not only help in the up building of the society but they should also give messages to the public that would help in the betterment of the society. For instance, the pharmaceutical companies should give message for public awareness pertaining to safe water or typhoid.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
After you my dear Alphonse by Shirley Jackson
After you my dear Alphonse by Shirley Jackson Essay In this short story Shirley Jackson portrays how harmful Racism can be, even though theres no violence or murder involved. But it also shows how a white boy and a black boy can have a relationship to each other with no prejudices; they consider each other equal persons. The game the boys are playing where they are saying after you my dear Alphonse to each other, is one of the ways Jackson tells us that they are equal. Mrs Wilson on the other hand, does not consider Boyd as an equal person to herself and her son. Mrs Wilson is trying to hide her Prejudices by being polite and generous to Boyd. She cant stop asking questions to (About) Boyds background and his family. She assumes that Boyds family are poor in spite of the fact that she doesnt have any acquaintance (knowledge)of Boyds background and his familys social status. Even when her own son Johnny tells her that Boyds father is the foreman of the factory; she ignores it and continues her questioning of Boyd. She stigmatizes Boyds family as poor because they are black; witch (which) was normal at this time. And she thinks she is right about her vision on Boyd, because a lot of black people were poor in the 40s where (when) the story takes place. When the boys are served stewed tomatoes, Johnny replies to his mother that Boyd does not eat tomatoes, But Mrs Wilson replies back with extreme condescension Boyd will eat anything to point out that Boyds family is poor. She thinks that Boyd is grateful for anything he can get to eat, but when B oyd doesnt want to eat the tomatoes, Mrs Wilson realises that Boyds family might be just as successful as her own family is. Her last try to prof that she is better than Boyd and his family. She offers Boyd second-hand clothing to (for) his family. Boyd explains politely to her that they have plenty of clothes themselves and that his family can buy him anything he needs. Mrs Wilson lifted the plate of gingerbread off the table as Boyd was about to take another piece she gets angry over the fact Boyd is not grateful for the clothes she is offering him. She is thinking that she is doing something good. But she suddenly realises that she cant help Boyd, and then she want (wants) nothing to do with him, and she is not as polite and generous as before Boyd told her about his background. Johnny doesnt share his mothers views. He is completely unbiased. He acts naturally about Boyds presence, like he would probably do to his other friends; he has no prejudices about black people. Johnny is a good example of childrens innocence. He doesnt understand his mothers comments and the racism that is hidden behind them. He is wondering about his mothers strange statements. But he cant connect it to Boyd being black. It is a perfect example of how children have no prejudices. The title of the text is used to support this. Its a symbol of Boyd and Johnnys great friendship. It shows us how unaffected the boys are by Mrs Wilsons racist behaviour. The phrase After you my dear Alphonse is normally used in a situation where two people are so polite to each other that they cant agree who shall do it. It originally comes from a french (French) comic strip where Alphonse and Gaston cant (cant) agree who should go trough a door first, so they are stuck in the moment. The boys say the phrase when they enter the home, but they repeat it when they are leaving the house again. This tells us that the boys are not affected by Mrs Wilsons Biased opinions. The short story is written in 1949. I think Jacksons message with writing this story is to show that America does not live up to some of the fundamental principles that build the nation. READ: Blood brothers wasn't it EssayStatements like all men are considered equal and every man has the right to pursue Happiness is questioned by Jackson in this Short story. Mrs Wilson represents the average American citizen at this time despite the Declaration of Independence. Mrs Wilson attitude to Boyd also shows that it was very unlikely for a black family to be wealthy at this time. Mrs Wilsons prejudices towards black people are the main theme of this short story. Mrs Wilson will not believe that Boyds family Is wealthy, because she stigmatizes Black people as poor people.
Friday, September 27, 2019
The Nature of Reconstruction in African American History Essay
The Nature of Reconstruction in African American History - Essay Example à African Americans participated in huge numbers in the war as soldiers either enslaved by the confederate rulers or as loyalists to the Northern states due to their denouncement of slavery. The northern states, known as the Union, won the war in 1865 with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at McLean House Virginia. With the victory of North, and their policy of emancipation was universally implemented in the entire country. This along with other political and social measures taken in the aftermath of the civil war for reconstruction of the war struck areas and to ensure the integration of freedmen in the society are collectively referred to as reconstruction. As mentioned earlier, the reconstruction refers to the steps taken by the federal government to counter the effects of Civil War, specifically on the former Confederate States and on the freedmen. There were various objectives of the reconstruction initiated by the then President Abraham Lincoln and the Republ ican Congress in 1863. An administrative and political structure had to be re-established in the southern states which lost the war. Moreover, their incorporation in the Union itself, and the congress was also to be carried out in the long term. Moreover, even after the war ended, there was a huge following of the ex-Confederate leaders in the nationalist white men of the southern states (Horton, 2005). The status of the Confederate leadership had to be decided in order to avoid any conflict or chaos. Another, rather more serious, issue was to decide the social, economic and political rights of the freedmen under the constitution. Most important of them was the question that whether or not the freedmen should be given the right to vote. Hence, the reconstruction can be thought of as political, social, economic, legal and administrative restructuring of the southern states by the President and the Congress. There were two different approaches followed by the Union politicians during the Reconstruction era. The office of the president, under Abraham Lincoln, and after his death by Andrew Johnson, resorted mostly to administrative measures to avoid conflict, and contain the chaos caused by southern nationalists over the above-mentioned issues. The policy of both presidents was very lenient towards the southern states and ex-Confederate politicians. They wanted the Reunion of Southern States with the federal government as early as possible. Starting from 1862, military governors were appointed in ten out of eleven states which exercised administrative and legal powers. At that time, it was decided that these governors would give way to a political set up when at least ten percent of the white men in a state vowed allegiance to the Union and also accept the declaration of emancipation (the Ten Percent Plan). The states were then allowed to elect their own governor and legislative assembly and write a new constitution embodying concepts of emancipation and federatio n. These measures proved to be very effective in the immediate control of the riots, which had broken in the southern states.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Are immigrants valuable contributors to life in California or are they Essay
Are immigrants valuable contributors to life in California or are they not - Essay Example Immigrants are valuable contributors to life in California since they are vital in sustaining the economic prosperity of California through their labor supply and payment of taxes to the government (Bohn, 2005). Highly skilled immigrants have spearheaded Californiaââ¬â¢s innovation economy as evidenced by companies such as Google and Qualcomm. The immigrants are more likely to establish businesses and create demand for the manufactured goods thus contributing to the economic life in California (Portes and Rumbaut, 2006). The immigrants have changed the ethnic and cultural composition of California population since Latinos and African Americans form a substantial part of Californian population. Immigrants are valuable contributors to economic, social and cultural life in California. Immigrants are valuable contributors to Californian economy since they have played a critical role in California economy for the last two centuries. About a third of immigrants are likely to start businesses and immigrantsââ¬â¢ businesses account for about 5 million jobs across the US (Bohn, 2005). According to statistics, 36.6 percent of businesses in California were owned by immigrants and immigrant business owners contributed about 30 percent of the net business income in California. In addition, highly skilled immigrants have spearheaded innovations since 52 percent of the technological start-ups in Silicon Valley have at least one immigrant founder while global companies like Google and Yahoo are attributed to immigrants (Portes and Rumbaut, 2006). The immigrants contribute $ 30 billion in federal taxes and $ 5.2 billion in state income taxes. The purchasing power of immigrants is estimated at $ 310.5 billion. The immigrants have boosted earnings for Californian workers since more than half of the immigrants have a college degree (Portes and Rumbaut, 2006). Immigrants represent a
INFORMING PUBLIC POLICY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
INFORMING PUBLIC POLICY - Essay Example At first, the authors give us a ââ¬Ëbrief historyââ¬â¢ of the journal and examine the role eminent personalities such as Jeremy Travis in conceiving a journal for breaching the gap between policy research and criminal justice policy. According to Clear and Frost (2007), the best thing about the journal was that it sought to ââ¬Å"simultaneously maintain a high degree of academic credibility and inform public policyâ⬠(p.633). The journal upheld a dissemination strategy to avoid the confinement of policy-relevant research to the academic world. The American Society of Criminology (ASC), under the presidency of Lawrence Sherman, made the journal its official publication. From 2004 onwards, the journal was fully supported by the ASC. Because of this collaboration, CPP reached out to many policy framers through the organizational network of ASC. Importantly, the journal had a pan-American reach. Certainly, its widespread distribution was the result of an excellent media disse mination strategy involving U.S. Newswire and Rubenstein Associates. Criminology & Public Policy was a notable success in terms both circulation and quality. Among the newcomer journals, CPP holds its head high. The genre of ââ¬Ëreaction essaysââ¬â¢ was the major attraction of the journal, which was solicited from the writers by the editors themselves. The authors are of the view that engaging with the media is a difficult task and put forward the rather interesting statement about criminologists that they are ââ¬Å"very reluctant to offer definitive policy recommendations and frequently include a host of caveats to any of the implications that they do raiseâ⬠(p.636). They also give account of the difficulties pertaining to drawing concrete policy formulations from empirical researches. This problem arises out of the very nature of criminological empirical research, i.e. empirical
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
The Return of Depression Economics and The Crisis of 2008 Essay
The Return of Depression Economics and The Crisis of 2008 - Essay Example The book draws parallel between the great depression and 2008 financial crisis and it explores depression economics through lenses of the Japanââ¬â¢s Lost Decade and 1997 Asian financial crisis (Krugman, 45). In the book, he analyzes the history of market crashes, like the panic of 1907 and the Tequila Crash in the mid-1990s; through demonstrating how banks exposed themselves too much risk, hence resulting to loss of confidence thereby causing capital fight and panic. In The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008; Krugman warns that, just like a disease can become resistant to a vaccine, the economic difficulties that lead to great depression have made a comeback in the global economy. He argues that the 2008 financial crisis is because of the failure to properly regulate the financial sector thereby turning around the world economy hence deep recession. Through this book readers can understand the history of financial crisis, its effects and possible resolutions th e current financial problems. There were major financial crisis prior to 2008 financial crises. These include: the 1907 panic, the Great Depression, the Latin American Crisis of mid 1990s. The Savings and loans problems of the 80s, the Japanââ¬â¢s lost Decade and the Asian flu of the late 90s. ... Loss of confidence played a big role in fueling these financial crises. To get the economy moving especially during economic booms, the economic agents have a great deal of confidence, so much that large bets are placed on the prediction of continued success during the economic expansion. But a financial crisis starts with a minor change that reduces the level of confidence, hence leading to economic panics. The power of speculators can be felt in all aspects of the economy especially when there has been a collapse in confidence. Krugman demonstrates that speculators always hedge funds; however they rarely do much in the way of equivocation. Their main focus is to make profit and they are willing to do so whenever such opportunity presents itself even if it means sacrificing the welfare of the entire community. They leveraged their positions up to 100 to 1 with an aim of devaluing the countryââ¬â¢s currency for their own benefit. Their basic strategy is to exploit markets by short ing safer assets and then buying the riskier assets. However, when the market faces a financial crisis, these hedgers and speculators will create trades that will alter the stability of a nationââ¬â¢s financial markets with the local currency being the targeted element. The devaluation of the currency will cause great pain and hardship to the citizens but this social cost is not relevant to the speculators. According to Krugman, the hedge funds are in most situations unregulated and the speculators take the necessary actions to stay away from the regulators (Krugman, 108). The shadow banking system also parallels the speculators in fueling the financial crisis. In both cases, the profit maximization was the motivator. Leverage was used at mind boggling levels each
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
The development of key ideas in contemporary management and leadership Essay
The development of key ideas in contemporary management and leadership development - Essay Example The effects of technology and globalization on various sector of the worldââ¬â¢s economy had been satisfying. This is not to forget that sometimes the avenue may also find other inappropriate use. For organizations, there has been pressing need to adjust to such advances. For example, organization leadership has been greatly affected by globalization and technology. This is especially so given that various organizations try to make sure that they implement competitive quality management (Arendt et al., 2005). To do so, leadership and other management positions in many organizations have become highly competitive. Technology and globalization has affected management and leaderships of virtually global organizations in the following ways. Organizations are increasingly looking for very flexible, highly skilled and competent personalities to occupy their leadership positions (Rothstein and Burke, 2010). Strategic Human Resources Management There may be many explanations given to stra tegic human resource management (S-HRM). Even so, one may notice that irrespective of various definitions the common denominator usually points to the same meaning. S-HRM, therefore, is just the managerial process requiring human resource policies and practices to be linked with strategic objectives of the organization. The importance of a HR strategy is that it can be used as a tool to gain a competitive advantage. It is by that definition a key factor. Using the traditional approach to strategic management, one may observe that a strategic plan attempt to balance how best to utilize resources available in the business environment in order to meet some established desirable outcomes. S-HRM can as such also be seen as a set of managerial decisions and actions that determines how an organization will eventually perform in the long run. In fact, Mintzberg (1994) assert that a strategy defines an organization and reduces ambiguity. Given that organizations do go changes with time, orga nization development should therefore be approached from a strategic perspective that takes into account all the vital factors that are key to the success of an organization. A strategic management thinking that may impact on the productivity, performance and efficiency of an organization has to take into consideration the following. It should make address: mission and goals, environmental analysis, strategic formulation, strategy implementation and strategy evaluation (Ridderstrale and Nordstrom, 2002). For organizational development, the role and position of the senior management in the organization shall be assessed within the context of organizations missions and goals. The functions and duties of the management should be geared towards achieving the set organization goals, values and objectives. As the management team, they should make sure that they, together with all those who are below them in the organization hierarchy, work towards achieving the organization goals. Goals s hould be consistent with what the organization does so that every effort and input could be analyzed in line with duties allocated. The goals should be measurable especially in the short term (Bordia et al., 2004). Any decision that the management shall execute in line with organization change or organization development shall take into consideration analysis of internal environment and external environment. As pertains to internal environm
Monday, September 23, 2019
Evaluation Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Evaluation Summary - Essay Example Needs of the PPD women are not usually met at the earliest point because of its delayed diagnosis. While delayed diagnosis leads to criticality of depression. This delay occurs due to the barriers such as social stigma towards mental illness as well as knowledge deficiency regarding the situation. Other objectives included assessing and identifying high risk group of PPD and developing a health education program for improving early detection and treatment of PPD. Women with complex needs such as alcoholic or drug abusers, domestically or sexually abused women are considered at highest risk, and require multidisciplinary care throughout pregnancy and after birth (Logsdon et al., 2010). To enhance safe and effective patient care, is only possible through application of evidence based nursing practices. Therefore, the literature search on the needs of postpartum depression patient and its early detection led to the conclusion that for ensuring safe clinical care it is responsibility of the prenatal nurses and childbirth educators to assess, educate, and support (if needed) every women regarding the symptoms and sources of help for PPD (Logsdon et al., 2010). ... The tools that are normally used for PPD detection are Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), which is a 10 item self assessment questionnaire and focuses on the feelings of past seven days. However, the tool is highly validated. Other tools are also used, but are not as sensitive and validated as EPDS. However, the best assessment tool should include questions regarding risk factors such as social factors and quality of relationship with family members, abuse or history of depression prior to birth. By the end of the practicum it was clear that the application of prenatal psychosocial screening tool had better results in early detection of the PPD (McDonald et al., 2012). An informed decision making is possible after incorporating sound knowledge into it. Therefore, a review of current patient centered policy was undertaken as policy can be an important factor in the provision of quality patient care. It was found that the current regulations required healthcare providers to s ubmit annual data regarding screening of PPD and for this current screening method and data reporting requires to be expanded. The policy aims to utilize the information to provide optimal intervention for the patients (Mass.gov, 2013). Another objective of the learning program during the session was the evaluation of teaching methods to the new mothers regarding the symptoms of the PPD. It was found during the literature search that an individualized teaching plan is required that is based on womenââ¬â¢s existing knowledge of the PPD. Treatment seeking behavior of women is facilitated when communication between nurses and new mothers take place. This requires empathetic tone of the nurse, explicit observations of teaching styles, social persuasion as well as
Sunday, September 22, 2019
James Moore v Mack Trucks, Inc and Worldwide Equipment Inc Essay Example for Free
James Moore v Mack Trucks, Inc and Worldwide Equipment Inc Essay In the case of James Moore v. Mack Trucks, Inc. and Worldwide Equipment Inc. , the facts are that the Appellant appeals against the truck manufacturer and the distributor for recovery of business losses and losses associated with the trucks eventual repossession. The Circuit Court, Floyd County had summarily dismissed the contention made by the Appellant. After ruling that the appeal has been preferred in a timely and proper manner, the court goes into the merits of the contentions of the Appellant. The Appellant alleges that when he expressed concerns about the eighteen speed transmission of the vehicle, he was informed him the transmission had been completely redone by Mack. Appellant claims that he was informed him that the truck would suit appellants needs because the truck had a large rear differential and a larger motor, allowing it to get up and down hills. This, the Appellant contends created an express warranty. However, the court dismissed the contention as the warranty and sales agreement of the defendant disclaimed all implied warranties. In my opinion, the ruling is incorrect as even though the warranty agreements signed clearly disclaim any other implied warranties, a customer can ordinarily rely on statements made by the representatives of the defendants. While the second statement made by the representative is merely an opinion, as rightly pointed by the court, the appellant should not have to suffer as a result of relying on the first statement. It is conceded that the appellant should have perused the documents diligently, yet to state that a vendor is exempted from liabilities arising out of a default of his promises so long as there is an exemption clause protecting him, would put the buyer in a very precarious position. The ruling is somewhat contrary to Christian principles in that it legitimizes a certain amount of deception by the seller, allowing him to dupe and take pecuniary advantage. Ordinarily, the tenet of caveat venditor should be followed rather than caveat emptor. As per the Christian idea, we trust our fellow beings, and it would be of benefit and advantage to all. In the given case, the respondents are allowed to be exempt from their promises solely on the basis of a technicality in the contract.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Comparison of Marketing Strategies in Banking Industry
Comparison of Marketing Strategies in Banking Industry 1. Introduction There has been progress and advancement in the field of finance and business due to the widespread use of information technology. Banking Industry has proved that it is far ahead due to the implementation of several technologies and most of its industries and businesses are doing exceedingly well because of this. In todays times, when one is interacting with banks and other financial institutions there is a gap in services which is felt by the demanding and upmarket consumer. Due to this banks have had to pull up their socks and turn around their operations by introducing sophisticated means of conducting business. They have hence provided ATMs (automatic teller machines), computer and internet banking, phone banking and banking kiosks are proving to be alternative means to benefit from the banking services in a comfortable and convenient manner. According to scholars Wong (1998) and Kimball Frisch (1997), e-channel, also known as innovative distribution channel or online banking, as per Daniel (1999) or technology-intensive delivery system, says Filotto et al. (1997), is interpreted as the approaches used to deliver financial products using electronic media such as personal computer, the telephone and the Internet, say Dannenberg Kellner (1998). The ATM as a matter of fact is the most commonly used electronic distribution channel that aids the customers of a bank to conduct their banking transactions, which could be deposits, withdrawal or balance enquiry 24-hours a day. All banks in Malaysia provide ATM services coupled with the phone banking option. As the customer service department has been centralized services such as phone banking, account balance enquiry, instruction to issue bankers cheques and giving standing instructions are services which can be executed for all. Though a call will first reach an automated respo nse system, a customer may want to talk directly with a service representative. The phone banking facility is available 24 hours a day. Some examples are Direct Access of Southern Bank, Tele-banking of RHB Bank and Maybank. Phone banking, or also known as remote e-banking, self-service banking, home banking and office banking, is the third type of e-banking. There is internet banking as well which makes use of the Web. This is a comfortable way of finding out the balance in your account, if you need to transfer funds or request for a cheque book, and make the payment of bill, and can be done at home or while you are in office. Within three years, marketing companies believe that the financial services business over half of the customers will use the Internet to make themselves knowledgeable about the new financial services, products and search for more information, if they do need it. This number can even go higher in a short period of time. LIMRAs optimizing Opportunities with Online Consumers (2007) came to the conclusion that around out of 10 online customers, 7 say that they expect to check products, prices, grading and details of the company on the internet. These findings show that there is plenty of opportunity for people to make use of the internet to introduce opportunity within a large number of prospective customers. As the World Wide Web continues to grow, the expectation of the user and his behaviour are also changing. Potential customers now have the skill to develop content online and play a proactive part in creating and sustaining relationships with companies they are able to find online. This dissertation aims at exploring the effectiveness of e-marketing in banking industry and its impact on the industry. 2. Problem Statement In order to increase the customer base, the marketing team of a bank uses content and illustrations in direct mail or ad campaigns to attract and draw customers towards it schemes and products. Of late there has been an increase in tele-callers as well who persistently call and promote the various products available. On the Internet, which is fast-paced in form and function, banner ads and smartly written click-to-pay has become a trap to captivate customers. The other level is keyword buying from Google and other search engine providers, and especially the buying of regional keywords. This one is a fresh technique used to bring the surfer to a website, where he or she will find ways to do business with your bank. The use of technology in the marketing of service industry especially banking industry is not such a new concept. Its been used and have been in use for various countries but it should have a key focus which will be discussed in this research. 3. Research Question What is the effective e-marketing tool(s) used in bank industry marketing? Evaluate the comparison between UK and Indian Banks? 4. Research Objectives The key objectives of the research are: To evaluate the various marketing strategies used by the banking industry. To study the effectiveness of different marketing strategies used. To examine the various e-marketing methods used by the service industry. To study the effective e-marketing tools used by UK Banks. To study the effective e-marketing tools used by Indian Banks. To evaluate the comparative analysis between e-marketing tools used in UK Bank and Indian Banks. 5. Literature Review The Meaning of Marketing Marketing has a two-way definition when it talks comes to discussing corporate activities. Firstly, it is used to adjust its resources on a constant scale so as to satisfy its chosen customers and in doing so to offer social and financial benefits. This is being tagged as marketing concept and stresses on the accountability of senior management to keep an eye on the situation and acclimatize oneself to changing situations. The scholar Levitt (1983), is a promoter of this concept. The other definition is to perceive marketing as a subject of demand management, primarily a technology to affect the behaviour of customer groups. This method is tagged as marketing management and it stresses the accountability of operational management to stage-manage demand in support of the business. It handles the selection of target markets, collection of appropriate offerings and stresses on advertising. According to Anderson (1983), it has many advocates as this been in the thoughts of most marketing theorists to date. Marketing in Banking The UK clearing banks have a branch network which is similar the field sales force of a production company. It is through these branches that customers are able to make use of the services of the bank. The branches work as outlets through which the banks policies are put forth, its relationships with its customers is tackled and the markets are surveyed and intelligence reports are gathered. Hence the branch and its management seem to be pivotal to any marketing exercise and their behaviour towards marketing an essential element in its acceptance. It may be debated that technical transformations like cash dispensers, credit cards and other electronic modernization is taking the customer further and further from his branch and he is becoming a stranger with the staff of the bank. The branch of the bank is the main crossing point with the customer and these very alterations are likely to increase the value of the branch as a stage for business development and cut down on its role as a performer of money transactions.Whether marketing in the short term has improved the situation of a company by the results achieved in their branches, management is likely to introduce marketing. In the initial days when bank marketing was introduced in the UK, there were some doubts about the capability of a conventional line of work to acknowledge what appeared to be a different method to take up. The procedure and the concerns linked with the application of marketing to financial services is hence special interest to students of marketing and ba nking. Indian Banking Scenario In the 1960s marketing in banks began in its most conventional form of publicity and public relations. Even though they functioned within the stipulation that there can be only small changes among individual banks, the marketing environment of a bank has since then changed to a large extent. Today banks are facing strong opposition from the foreign, private and public sector banks, and there is a pressure from other financial institutions. Financial institutions are not only better placed statutorily, they provide higher returns and a handy product-mix which offer tax rebate benefits as well. A far as the supervision of their marketing function is there, these companies are better supervised and administered. While, it is discouraging to observe that the immense boost received by the banking sector thanks to nationalization has not been factored in in productivity and profitability, on the other hand, its cost of carrying business has gone up, its bottom line has dropped and the disp arity between the anticipated and perceived quality of customer service has also become broader. As a result, the banking sector has been under strong criticism by the Government and the public alike. In order to make their business environment more positive, in the last few years, banks have adopted various steps which are initiating creative schemes; organizing processes to reduce paper work and delays; introducing teller systems; competent enhancements in the look and feel of the banks branches; looking up the model, expert and service branches; offering extra boost to their publicity initiatives; creating customer service bodies at the banks offices; carrying out customer relations programmes; establishing customer service departments at the head office of banks; making courtesy weeks/fortnights, customer service campaigns and door-to-door surveys; setting up May I help you? counters and placing public relations officers in large branches. These reactions of the bank show that may be they have woken up to a logical way of marketing their financial services, and to think beyond the narrow course of marketing as publicity and public relations held so close by them. UK Banking Scenario In developed countries, though industrial and consumer goods industries have increased their marketing exercises, service companies and the banking businesses seem to be slow in taking up and enforcing the marketing concept, for case studies in various countries, say Watson (1982), Donnelly Berry (1981), Lewis (1981), Cramer (1968). To the best of the present authors knowledge, there are no researches of bank marketing in developing countries, more so in Turkey. As Turkey becomes more liberalized and industrialized, marketing of bank services becomes crucial to its economic development. Also, data about bank marketing is important for foreign bankers, international monetary agencies, domestic policy makers and overseas businesses which deal with Turkish markets. Technology Marketing in Banks The banking industry would not have been so sophisticated and evolved had technology not been harnessed to its maximum. There have been a number of factors responsible for its progress and evolution. Broad economic trends and social forces, toned down by government policy and controls, become the environment within which progress occurs, and the level of oppositions largely decides the rapidity of amendments. Technology is a way to prevail over obstacle and expenses, but in recent years it has become all-embracing and advocated change. It has also been accountable for the rise in superiority of marketing in the supervision of banks. There are two factors why only providing a gist of a single banking system at the present time would be insufficient to study the influence of technology. The first is that the application of technology is unequal among countries and period of time, and the other is that technology is growing very fast and will continue to do so. There is a time gap before technological developments are implemented and we need to know what decides this gap. The only way to move forward is by way of a historical study, sketching an outline of the parallel progress of technology and banking operations since the 1950s and perhaps into the future. Technology and Marketing It is a well-accepted fact that the value of marketing in dependent on the level of opposition in a certain market. Since 1950s, competition has shot up in all banking markets, and it continues to grow with the existing trend of de-control, which focuses on getting rid of structural barriers between types of institutions and market, while escalating the control for prudential objectives. In this environment and period, the growing worth of marketing departments is not alarming. Even a perfunctory glance at marketing literature reflects that the contribution of bank marketing has undergone a change in this period. Some writers have typified three different stages through which it has progressed the first stage was the one in which marketing was restricted to advertisements that reiterated the banks strong points; the second was one in which the bank was proactive in marketing its new products; and the last stage began when banks tried to find out and match the actual requirements of the customer. In the first stage there was not much that a marketing department could do, however, in the second and third stages marketing had a powerful role to enact in bank management. In the second stage, technology took on an important role in bank marketing, with the design of new products. One mode that was adopted was to put up accounts for depositors, which often had a layering of interest rates as per the size of balance or a rate that altered daily and weekly with money market rates. Others offered some connection between two different accounts, perhaps a current account and an interest-bearing account; when the latter account was operated by a building society or savings bank that had little influence to offer current accounts, transfers between the accounts included two institutions. It was typical of banks in the second marketing stage to get lazy and so slow down the customers from making the most of the power to minimise their current balances day by day; in the third phase they are expected to meet the customers requirements, but it is surprising how few of them have yet to provide sweep accounts so that the current account balance is exactly zero by the end of the day. These features of the new accounts would have been impossible without support from the computer. The third stage is the one in which marketing becomes the superior part in the strategy of the banks, when marketing departments lose their shine as the banks management, at the highest levels especially, must comprise of people who have experience of marketing. It is also a stage in which the method is to fractionalize the retail customer base. Banks which provide payment services can easily beat the rivals on the basis of their computer record of the traits and the financial behaviour of their customers. Technology is hence vital for this stage but it would be wise to remember that technological support for new products and segmentation has been in existence since 1980 in the form of mainframe computers; the only new thing is the addition of new software. 6. Research Methodology Research approach The researcher took on a case study method to get a detailed understanding of how e-marketing Industry. As per Denscombe (2000) when emphasizing on one or few research units with the objective of obtaining detailed information, the best method is to take up the case study approach. As per Yin, when the researcher has almost no control over happenings and when the stress in on a certain event in real life and to answer how or why questions, case study is the preferred method approach. Case selection By using random sampling techniques, the researcher found 4 banks which include 2 from each country i.e. UK and India. One public and one private sector bank was chosen for both the countries. As per scholars Hunt Shelley (2004), a qualitative method makes the researcher grasp and construe the qualitative character of the information. The way forward keeping the qualitative aspect of the study in mind will include an in-depth study and assessment of the existing research and techniques applicable to the specific research problems, involving environmental issues within the marketing mix and policies created by the companies. The purpose is to fully grasp the way the companies create marketing strategies to remain in the competitive market. Data collection Primary data: According to Denscombe (2000), for an in depth knowledge and understanding of the importance of e-marketing strategies in in Bank. The researcher used a face-to-face interview as the most apt method. This would not only enable him to seek information, but also give him an opportunity to seek detailed clarifications on the thoughts. Walshman (1995) had stressed on the advantages of personal interviews as one of the best ways to record the views and aspirations of the interviewee. The researcher faced problems such as limitations on the selective thoughts of one person, inconsistencies due to rigid beliefs of the interviewee, collation of voluminous data, transcription by using this methodology. To gather information from the interviewee, the scholar has suggested to use the semi-structured interview guide as interview questions would differ as cases had very different strategies. According to Walshman (1995) interviews provide the best way to understand the views of the participants regarding the actions and events, which have or are taking place and the views and aspirations of themselves and other participants. In qualitative approach there is the extra benefit of permitting the researcher to go back to the drawing board and assess the understanding provided by the respondent in more detail as compared to other methods. The interviews will be carried among managers of the companies who are accountable for the creation of green marketing strategies. The researcher documented the responses and also simultaneously recorded them to transcribe later. The researcher will be going for 5-10 interviews from each bank. Secondary data collection Secondary data is gathered from different sources such as websites, annual reports, books, journals and articles and case studies. The objective this information gathering is to find out the related data regarding strategies adopted by the Trident Solutions. Pilot study: A pilot study was carried out among interviewees to ensure that the terms used are correct and suitable. As per Denscombe (2000, p 135), interview will be held using the face to face approach in order to aid the interviewer to ask questions which were not in the interview guide depending on the respondents answers. Data analysis The information was studied using content analysis. After the interview got over, information was cut down to recognize the patterns and themes and obtain a clear understanding. As per Ghauri and Gronhaug (2005) information was explored, studied and classified based on the questions in the research questions. If more information was needed or when new questions arose, then another round of data collection would be conducted.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Impetous Actions And Their Tragic Consequences :: essays research papers
Impetuous actions can dramatically alter the life of anybody in many ways. The lack of thinking things through and acting solely on one particular emotion can lead to unanticipated results. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows how impetuous actions combined with the need for lust can lead to a tragic end. It wasn't fate but rather Romeo and Juliet's hasty actions that brought their untimely deaths. Love at first sight ultimately led to the premature deaths of the two lovers. At the Capulet party was where Romeo first sees Juliet: O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear- Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear is sight, For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. (1.5.51-60) At the very first sight of Juliet, Romeo immediately falls in love with her. He doesn't begin to think about her character, age, or even about whether she is married. If Romeo had taken his time and gotten to know Juliet and thought about what might come of this attraction, the tragic ending to their story could have been avoided. Romeo is not all to blame for the tragedy. Juliet felt exactly the same way about Romeo when she first saw him: My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me That I must love a loathed enemy. (1.5.152-155) Like Romeo, if Juliet had just taken some time to think things through, this disaster might have never occurred. After the two lovers had met, they made many hasty decisions and actions that only made their circumstances worse. The night the two sweethearts met the decided to get married: Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, By one that I'll procure to come to thee, Where and what tine thou wilt perform the rite, And all my fortunes at they foot I'll lay And follow thee my lord throughout the world. (2.2.149-155) The very next day the Romeo and Juliet were married in secret to prevent another fight erupting between the Capulet and Montague families.
Dreams Essay -- Essays Papers
Dreams Are dreams just the interpretation of the human unconcious mind? Do the dreams humans have represent unfulfilled wishes in there unconcious mind? Are feelings of de ja vue just those unconcious thoughts coming out in dreams and as such being thought of as all ready living that specific moment? All good questions that have plauged pyschologist since the age of Freud. Dreams have been seen in different ways by many different people. Some say that there are signs in dreams that point toward things that my happen in life such as omens. Other psychologist such as Freud say that dreams are just representations of our uncoucious minds at work. The world renowned psycologist also goes on to say, "Dreams are just unfulfilled wishes in our minds that come out in our dreams also known as our inhibitions (Freud 12). Dreams are so vast and come in so many forms, but the more they are studied they all point to Freuds view on the uncocious mind just trying to get out. Dreams occur when a person is just barely sleeping. Thier are five stages to sleep, the first being fully awake, the second stage which is barely asleep is where the dreams occur. At this stage in sleep people have what is called REM. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement which means the eyes are moving at a fast pace. When observed on an electrode machine the subject has a lot of alpha movement in the brain(Lefton 123). Alpha waves represent a large firing of nuerons in the brain. This indicates that thoughts are being processed. Durring the last stage of sleep the person shows delta waves occupy the movement in the brain(Lefton 123). Delta waves are long drawn out waves with a slow increase and a slow decrease in the peak. This means that the brain is only conducting i... ...nclusions out of. The first dream dealt with the want to win a championship in soccer. The conclusions that I drew from the dream was that she was a motivated person who plays soccer, but having never won a state championship caused her do have the dream to fulfill her need to win a championship. However the second dream dealt with marriage. This dream was a little harder to put a finger on. The dream vary vivid and even included a few descriptions of people there. To me the dream was just easing her desire to get married at this point in life. This was an unconcious wish she had in her mind. When I asked her about marriage she replied, "I havent talked about it with any one but a couple of days ago I was thinking about it." Ozimok then went on to say" I cant believe how accurate the dream was in comparison to what I was thinking about only a few days ago (Ozimok)."
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Cultural Evolution vs. Technological Innovation Essay examples -- Expl
Cultural Evolution vs. Technological Innovation Historically, in the relationship between human culture and technology, cultural evolution has lagged behind the pace of technological innovation. Technology is the human solution to fulfilling human needs. As these needs change, new technologies will supplement the old ones; inevitably changing the culture which created it, resulting in a co-evolution of technology and culture; and impacting the future of their culture. The disparate rate of cultural vs. technological evolution has consequences which cloud the prospect of the future of the human race unless we change the historical blueprint and try to thwart our disposition towards ignoring the responsibility we have today for the world we will live in tomorrow. Cultural evolution is the nature of human interaction, their relationship with the environment and the immediate and long term trajectory of these interactions as influenced by inherited knowledge, lifestyle and customs is how a culture adapts itself to the progress within and around it. Morgan "saw the history of human cultures as a progression from savagery, through barbarism to civilization" (Chant 54). This progression was inevitably caused by technology. Technological innovation is increasing human mastery over resources and sources of energy. Technology has developed because of humans' "fear of death that our consciousness keeps lurking in the background". Technology historically has given solutions to the problems of survival by creating more efficient ways to get food and energy. However, after humans establish themselves at the top of the food chain, although the threshold between survival and comfort is unclear; human focus shifts from brute survival... ...chnologies than to change the cultures. The earth has reached the threshold, of human life that can be supported; in order to survive, humans need to take a two fold approach- the industrialized world needs to put into practice green energies; and all human cultures need to anticipate the macroevolutionary consequences of the daily culture and lifestyle. Choices need to be made, keeping sustainability in mind. History has shown that human law, religion, government and policy greatly influence cultural macroevolution. Sources Chant, Colin. Pre-industrial Cities & Technology. London: Routledge. 1999. Cipolla, C. M. Epilog from ââ¬Å"Guns, Sails, and Empires: Technological Innovation and the Early Phases of European Expansion, 1400-1700.â⬠Sunflower Univ. Press, 1996. Ehrlich, Paul R., in Human Natures: Genes Cultures, and the Human Prospect, Island Press, 2000.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Concert Critique: La Vida Breve Essay
The concert was titled ââ¬Å"Guitar Escapades,â⬠the long- awaited guitar duo featuring Nobel Queano and Franco Maigue. The concert happened last September 8, 2011, 7 pm, at NCAS Auditorium. Nobel L. Queano is a graduate of Psychology and Music from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He was a former faculty member of Miriam College of Music Center, Colegio San Agustin Makati and the Temple Hill International School and a former member of the Baguio Guitar Ensemble and the Philippine Youth Orchestra. He was also a first prize winner and a recipient of the Most Outstanding Student of the Yamaha School of Music Guitar Competition in 1986 and 1987. Presently, he is working with some musicians of the Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong privately teaching and preparing international music students for the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music Exams. Franco Raymundo M. Maigue is a graduate of UP College of Music. He finished his Bachelor of Music degree as a cum laude. He is the first prize winner of the 2005 Competitions for Young Artists and top prize winner of the 2002 and 2009 National Music Competitions for Young Artists. He was also featured as a soloist accompanied by the manila Symphonic Orchestra at the First Philippine International Guitar Festival. He has been a member of the UP Guitar Orchestra, Kithara Quartet, Abelardo Guitar Quartet and the UP Jazz Ensemble. B. Musical theme and style Begun as royal entertainment in the 16th Century, these brief plays with songs were revived to combat enthusiasm for Italian opera, featuring uniquely Spanish settings and characters, all suffused with the potent and highly distinctive flavor of gypsy music. As outlined by Suzanne Desmarquez, the origins of this style were Arab, with intense and irregular rhythms, sharp attacks, rough endings, and wide vibrato, manifested through guitar accompaniment, castanets, zapateado (foot stomping and tapping), palmar (hand clapping), rapid triple meters, melismatic beginnings and ends of long held notes and harmonies based on open guitar chords. According to his student, Adolfo Salazar, Falla rejected basing his music directly on folklore, but rather used it as the seeds of his own style, extracting the substance of its sonorities, rhythms and spirit. To David Ewen, Falla was a mystic who sought out and assimilated the soul of Spain to produce a vibrant evocation rather than a literal depictio n. The performers presented Classical Music. II. Analysis of the elements A. Dynamics Dynamics is the loudness and softness of sound. In L a Vida Verde, B. Tempo Tempo is the speed at a regular beat. The first part of the piece is fast or allegro, then, there will be a pause, and a slower part (adagio) is played. C. Melody After hearing the piece, I remembered its melody. Melody is a series of single tones which add up to a recognizable whole. A melody begins, moves, and ends; it has direction, shape, and continuity. How the tones of a melody are performed can vary its effect, too. Sometimes they are sung or played in a smooth, connected style called legato. Or they may be performed in a short, detached manner called staccato. D. Other elements of music III. General reaction to the concert A. Describe the mood audience were amazed (may mabilis na part kasi)nakakaexcite! B. Images and ideas conveyed pre Spanish eraâ⬠¦ kamisa de chino for boysâ⬠¦ for girlsâ⬠¦ nakikipaglandian ung girls sa boys. may pakipot epekâ⬠¦ suyuan sa loob ng simbahan. may pamaypay ung girls. sisilipin ung boy tapos magtatakip ng pamaypay. It is a pre-Spanish era. There were men and women in a church. The men wore kamisa de chino while the women were dress in [damit ng girls? ewan!]. It is like the men were courting the women in the church. The women were shy while the men are aggressive and they are trying to pursue the women. C. Memorable feature of the concert The memorable feature of the concert was when they played the song ââ¬Å"Sana Maulit Muli.â⬠It is a popular song in the country, and everybody knows the song. Those who remember the lyrics sang the song. I liked the way they play the song; itââ¬â¢s refreshing and pleasing to the ear. The audience were lively. This is my first time to hear the song in an acoustic It is relaxing, as you listen to them play. D. Did you like the concert? Why/ Why not? I liked the concert. Why? I am a music lover. I appreciate all kinds of music. I believe that doing the classical songs in acoustic guitar is really hard. I admire the performers, I am a frustrated guitarist. For me to watched such astounding performance, I am overjoyed. I liked the concert because I liked to play guitar. Though there were times that I fell asleep, (well, it canââ¬â¢t be helped because what theyââ¬â¢re playing is classical music) and Classical music is like a lullaby to me. I usually listen to classical music when I canââ¬â¢t sleep. I am fascinated by their talent. I want to be a good guitar player too, conducting concerts and go to places and make people happy with my music. Iââ¬â¢ve never been to a guitar concert before but I think that the concert was awesome. Playing a guitar for such a long time is hard. And besides the pieces that they play were hard and complicated. Theyââ¬â¢re awesome.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Cultural Acceptance in Marjane Satrapiââ¬â¢s Persepolis Essay
Marjane Satrapiââ¬Ës graphic novel Persepolis is an autobiography that depicts her childhood up to her early adult years in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. Throughout the novel Satrapi incorporates character development, religion, and the conflict of freedom vs. confinement in order to develop a greater appreciation between two opposing eastern and western cultures. When analyzing the current relationship between eastern and western cultures, it seems as if tensions and conflict arise from a complex and layered set of problems. These issues range from political, economic and military stances to opposing cultural beliefs. The genesis of these issues arises in a lack of empathy for the people in each nation. Satrapi uses character development to form a persona surrounding her childhood that makes the reader understand the human aspect of someone they would otherwise not relate to. The focus on her childhood establishes innocence. This innocence is what initially gives the reader the ability to view a different prospective with an open mindset. Satrapi also builds on this innocence with events in her childhood that can be appreciated by both eastern and western cultures. When she interacts with her friends they talk about romance and the opposite sex, dreaming of their price coming to save them. This is not something that is exclusive to young Iranian girls, but to all young girls. This similarity pulls the readerââ¬â¢s attention away from the fact that Marjane Satrapi is Iranian and builds a focus simply on that fact that she is a person with the same emotions and feelings as the reader. Satrapi also establishes the persona of her childhood through her personal morals. Throughout Persepolis Satrapi is vehemently concerned with social injustice, and is seen as a very empathetic child. She gets mad at the suffering of those who are in a lower social class because she sees how tormented they are. In chapter 3 of the novel Marjane takes a bath for hours in an attempt to understand how her grandfather felt in a water-filled torture cell. The reader incorporates the beliefs, morals, desires, fears, and overallà likeness that Satrapi conveys in her novel and gains a greater understanding of relationship all people possess through human nature. Although humanity shares a similarity in their greater design, there are still strong ideals that have existed since the foundation of civilized society. History has shown that the ideals formed through religion have become the most confrontational between differing cultures; however, Satrapi chooses the general aspects of faith and devotion and uses them as a connection between eastern and western religion. The more obvious physical differences between religions that Satrapi presents are pointed out in Joseph Dardaââ¬â¢s article when he says ââ¬Å"In this set of panels1, Satrapi introduces the reader to a familiar image, an Iranian woman in traditional hijab. Satrapi describes how most women hated the outfit because of the heat and awkward fit, but also appreciated the sense of security it gave them.â⬠The hijab is something that the western audience cannot fully understand, however it is another example of how Satrapi is leading the readers to understanding Arabic culture. What stands out as the strongest tie between the east and west is the theme of freedom and confinement that both cultures value and desire. When comparing the Iranian revolution and the American Revolution the desire for freedom is a shared stake the two nations fought to obtain. The American colonies sought freedom from the British Empire and the corruption that was oppressing them. The Islamic Republic sought the same freedom from the oppression and corruption established in the Pahlavi dynasty, under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Even though the two ideals grew into conflicting ideals the reader is able to appreciate a universal right of freedom. By connecting the desired independence sought by both revolutions, the reader sees the seemingly opposed political powers were founded by the same ideal. Satrapiââ¬â¢s parentsââ¬â¢ desire for her education is what initially keeps the family from leaving. The reason then becomes the militant control of the city and the constant fightin g that prevents them. Eventually Satrapiââ¬â¢s parents see how dangerous it is and send her away, yet they make the choice to stay. It seems odd that her parents wouldnââ¬â¢t leave with her. When analyzing the statistical data presented in the ââ¬Å"Middle East Research Informationà Project,â⬠the casualties witnessed by Marjane and her family, ââ¬Å"rose near eight thousand just in their hometownâ⬠(MERIP, 3). The death of Iranian citizens was not only brought by the fighting of the Mujahedeen rebel army, but anyone that was seen as a threat to their new ideals. Executions were common and always practiced in public according to Keith Jonesââ¬â¢s article, ââ¬Å"Tragedy of the Iranian Revolution.â⬠In the face of this present danger it is hard for the reader to comprehend the logic in wanting to stay amongst the violence. What Satrapi presents as reasoning to the reader is the fact that her parents have always lived in Iran. They donââ¬â¢t know anything else. To evacuate raises a lot more internal conflicts for her parents than it would for their daughter who has not had time to settle in one area. Ultimately the decision not to leave goes beyond cultural ties, educational reasoning, or even being forced to stay. There is a natural tendency for man to become complacent and turn a blind eye to the evadable. Its human condition. People do not wish to think about the possibility of their entire lives being changed for better or worse. Even though this aspect of conflict is not shared by all of her readers, Satrapiââ¬â¢s descriptions instill sympathy and draw on the readersââ¬â¢ pathos in order to connect their emotions. Since the genesis of mankind, people have identified and sought their own uniqueness. Personal characteristics that define what they are viewed as. Manââ¬â¢s uniqueness does not have to be a source of conflict, but rather something to be appreciated. This is the moral that Satrapi is conveying by connecting eastern and western regions. Satrapi use of character development, religion, and values of freedom as a common ground for an understanding to be built between these two cultures. Ultimately Satrapi wishes for the reader to use her story as a way to not only appreciate personal uniqueness, but appreciate the uniqueness of others as well. As a civilization moving towards this concept of acceptance, a new ability to maintain peace and harmony will be nurtured. It seems ironic that an author such as Marjane Satrapi would be so bold in her value of mutual respect given all of the violence and persecution she endured throughout her early life; however, it is those negative experience s that give her the desire to live in dedication towards equality. Works Cited Darda, Joseph. ââ¬Å"Graphic Ethics.â⬠Theorizing the Face in Marjane Satrapiââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Persepolisâ⬠40.2 Iranââ¬â¢s Revolution: The First Year. Washington, D.C.: Middle East Research Information Project, 1980. Print. Jones, Keith. ââ¬Å"World Socialist Web Site.â⬠Tragedy of the Iranian Revolution. WSWS.org, 11 Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon, 2003. Print. Annotated Bibliography Darda, Joseph. ââ¬Å"Graphic Ethics.â⬠Theorizing the Face in Marjane Satrapiââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Persepolisâ⬠40.2 (2013): 31-51. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Journalist Joseph Darda discusses the implications of the Iranian revolution. In this article there is a focus on the political as well as social aspects that this conflict induced. This article was chosen because of its moderate stance on the Iranian revolution. Both sides of the conflict were presented. Iranââ¬â¢s Revolution: The First Year. Washington, D.C.: Middle East Research Information Project, 1980. Print. The Middle East Research Information Projectââ¬â¢s article presented statistical findings surrounding war time casualties, Iranian economy, and global market as well as psychological research. It was chosen mainly for its non-bias scientific reports and statistical data. Jones, Keith. ââ¬Å"World Socialist Web Site.â⬠Tragedy of the Iranian Revolution. WSWS.org, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Keith Jones focuses on class conflict and the consequences that the Iranian revolution has on the caste system in Iran during the late twentieth century. This article was chosen because of the cultural conflict Mr. Jones presents, and how it relates to similar conflicts in Persepolis Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon, 2003. Print. Marjane Satrapiââ¬â¢s graphic novel Persepolis tells the story of her childhood and the trials she faced with her family during the Iranian Revolution. This work was chosen because of its focus on the implications and consequences of cross cultural conflict Outline I Introduction a Background Information Thesis: Throughout the novel Satrapi incorporates character development, religion, and the conflict of freedom vs. confinement in order to develop a greater appreciation between two opposing eastern and western cultures. b Transition II Body 1- Character Development a Main Point: Character Development b Relation to novel c Explanation d Text Support: Descriptions of Marjanes childhood persona Chapter 3- taking long bath (empathy) e Tie into thesis & transition to next topic> III Body 2- Religion a Main Point: Religion is seen as opposing, but still carries same virtues b Relation to novel c Explanation d Text Support: Quote from Joseph Dardaââ¬â¢s article e Tie into thesis & transition to next topic> IV Freedom & Confinement a Main Point: The desire to overcome oppression and obtain freedom is a foundation of both cultures. Marjane and familyââ¬â¢s lack of freedom inspires emotion from the reader. b Relation to novel c Explanation d Text Support: Statistics from MERIP Quote from Keith Jones Article e Tie into thesis & transition to next topic> V Conclusion a Summarize main points and draw back to thesis b Reworded thesis c Personal moral learned/taught
Sunday, September 15, 2019
The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Six
Vickie's house was on a corner, and they approached it from the side street. By now the sky was filled with heavy purple clouds. The light had an almost underwater quality. ââ¬Å"Looks like it's going to storm,â⬠Matt said. Bonnie glanced at Damon. Neither he nor Stefan liked bright light. And she could feel the Power emanating from him, like a low thrum just under the surface of his skin. He smiled without looking at her and said, ââ¬Å"How about snow in June?â⬠Bonnie clamped down on a shiver. She had looked Damon's way once or twice in the barn and found him listening to the story with an air of detached indifference. Unlike Stefan, his expression hadn't changed in the slightest when she mentioned Elena-or when she told about Sue's death. What did he really feel for Elena? He'd called up a snowstorm once and left her to freeze in it. What was he feeling now? Did he even care about catching the murderer? ââ¬Å"That's Vickie's bedroom,â⬠said Meredith. ââ¬Å"The bay window in the back.â⬠Stefan looked at Damon. ââ¬Å"How many people in the house?â⬠ââ¬Å"Two. Man and woman. The woman's drunk.â⬠Poor Mrs. Bennett, thought Bonnie. ââ¬Å"I need them both asleep,â⬠Stefan said. In spite of herself, Bonnie was fascinated by the surge of Power she felt from Damon. Her psychic abilities had never been strong enough to sense its raw essence before, but now they were. Now she could feel it as clearly as she could see the fading violet light or smell the honeysuckle outside Vickie's window. Damon shrugged. ââ¬Å"They're asleep.â⬠Stefan tapped lightly on the glass. There was no response, or at least none Bonnie could see. But Stefan and Damon looked at each other. ââ¬Å"She's half tranced already,â⬠Damon said. ââ¬Å"She's scared. I'll do it; she knows me,â⬠said Stefan. He put his fingertips on the window. ââ¬Å"Vickie, it's Stefan Salvatore,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I'm here to help you. Come let me in.â⬠His voice was quiet, nothing that should have been heard on the other side of the glass. But after a moment the curtains stirred and a face appeared. Bonnie gasped aloud. Vickie's long, light brown hair was disheveled, and her skin was chalky. There were huge black rings under her eyes. The eyes themselves were fixed and glassy. Her lips were rough and chapped. ââ¬Å"She looks possessed,â⬠Bonnie whispered back, unnerved. Stefan just said, ââ¬Å"Vickie, open the window.â⬠Mechanically, like a windup doll, Vickie cranked one of the side panels of the bay window open, and Stefan said, ââ¬Å"Can I come in?â⬠Vickie's glazed eyes swept over the group outside. For a moment Bonnie thought she didn't recognize any of them. But then she blinked and said slowly, ââ¬Å"Meredithâ⬠¦ Bonnieâ⬠¦ Stefan? You're back. What are you doing here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ask me in, Vickie.â⬠Stefan's voice was hypnotic. ââ¬Å"Stefanâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ There was a long pause and then: ââ¬Å"Come in.â⬠She stepped back as he put a hand on the sill and vaulted through. Matt followed him, then Meredith. Bonnie, who was wearing a mini, re-mained outside with Damon. She wished she'd worn jeans to school today, but then she hadn't known she'd be going on an expedition. ââ¬Å"You shouldn't be here,â⬠Vickie said to Stefan, almost calmly. ââ¬Å"He's coming to get me. He'll get you too.â⬠Meredith put an arm around her. Stefan just said, ââ¬Å"Who?â⬠ââ¬Å"Him. He comes to me in my dreams. He killed Sue.â⬠Vickie's matter-of-fact tone was more frightening than any hysteria could have been. ââ¬Å"Vickie, we've come to help you,â⬠Meredith said gently. ââ¬Å"Everything's going to be all right now. We won't let him hurt you, I promise.â⬠Vickie swung around to stare at her. She looked Meredith up and down as if Meredith had suddenly changed into something unbelievable. Then she began to laugh. It was awful, a hoarse burst of mirth like a hacking cough. It went on and on until Bonnie wanted to cover her ears. Finally Stefan said, ââ¬Å"Vickie, stop it.â⬠The laughter died into something like sobs, and when Vickie lifted her head again, she looked less glassy eyed but more genuinely upset. ââ¬Å"You're all going to die, Stefan,â⬠she said, shaking her head. ââ¬Å"No one can fight him and live.â⬠ââ¬Å"We need to know about him so we can fight him. We need your help,â⬠Stefan said. ââ¬Å"Tell me what he looks like.â⬠ââ¬Å"I can't see him in my dreams. He's just a shadow without a face.â⬠Vickie whispered it, her shoulders hunching. ââ¬Å"But you saw him at Caroline's house,â⬠Stefan said insistently. ââ¬Å"Vickie, listen to me,â⬠he added as the girl turned away sharply. ââ¬Å"I know you're frightened, but this is important, more important than you can understand. We can't fight him unless we know what we're up against, and you are the only one, the only one right now who has the information we need. You have to help us.â⬠Stefan's voice was unyielding. ââ¬Å"I have a way to help you remember,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Will you let me try?â⬠Seconds crawled by, then Vickie gave a long, bubbling sigh, her body sagging. ââ¬Å"Do whatever you want,â⬠she said indifferently. ââ¬Å"I don't care. It won't make any difference.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're a brave girl. Now look at me, Vickie. I want you to relax. Just look at me and relax.â⬠Stefan's voice dropped to a lulling murmur. It went on for a few minutes, and then Vickie's eyes drooped shut. ââ¬Å"Sit down.â⬠Stefan guided her to sit on the bed. He sat beside her, looking into her face. ââ¬Å"Vickie, you feel calm and relaxed now. Nothing you remember will hurt you,â⬠he said, his voice soothing. ââ¬Å"Now, I need you to go back to Saturday night. You're upstairs, in the master bedroom of Caroline's house. Sue Carson is with you, and someone else. I need you to see-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No!â⬠Vickie twisted back and forth as if trying to escape something. ââ¬Å"No! I can't -ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Vickie, calm down. He won't hurt you. He can't see you, but you can see him. Listen to me.â⬠As Stefan spoke, Vickie's whimpers quieted. But she still thrashed and writhed. ââ¬Å"You need to see him, Vickie. Help us fight him. What does he look like?â⬠ââ¬Å"He looks like the devil!â⬠It was almost a scream. Meredith sat on Vickie's other side and took her hand. She looked out through the window at Bonnie, who looked back wide eyed and shrugged slightly. Bonnie had no idea what Vickie was talking about. ââ¬Å"Tell me more,â⬠Stefan said evenly. Vickie's mouth twisted. Her nostrils were flared as if she were smelling something awful. When she spoke, she got out each word separately, as if they were making her sick. ââ¬Å"He wearsâ⬠¦ an old raincoat. It flaps around his legs in the wind. He makes the wind blow. His hair is blond. Almost white. It stands up all over his head. His eyes are so blue-electric blue.â⬠Vickie licked her lips and swallowed, looking nauseated. ââ¬Å"Blue is the color of death.â⬠Thunder rumbled and cracked in the sky. Damon glanced up quickly, then frowned, eyes narrowed. ââ¬Å"He's tall. And he's laughing. He's reaching for me, laughing. But Sue screams ââ¬ËNo, no' and tries to pull me away. So he takes her instead. The window's broken, and the balcony is right there. Sue's crying ââ¬ËNo, please.' And then I watch him-I watch him throw herâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Vickie's breath was hitching, her voice rising hysterically. ââ¬Å"Oh, please, no-Sue! Sue! Sue!â⬠ââ¬Å"Vickie, stay with me. Listen. I need just one more thing. Look at him. Tell me if he's wearing a blue jewel-ââ¬Å" But Vickie was whipping her head back and forth, sobbing, more hysterical each second. ââ¬Å"No! No! I'm next! I'm next!â⬠Suddenly, her eyes sprang open as she came out of the trance by herself, choking and gasping. Then her head jerked around. On the wall, a picture was rattling. It was picked up by the bamboo-framed mirror, then by perfume bottles and lipsticks on the dresser below. With a sound like popcorn, earrings began bursting from an earring tree. The rattling got louder and louder. A straw hat fell off a hook. Photos were showering down from the mirror. Tapes and CDs sprayed out of a rack and onto the floor like playing cards being dealt. Meredith was on her feet and so was Matt, fists clenched. ââ¬Å"Make it stop! Make it stop!â⬠Vickie cried wildly. But it didn't stop. Matt and Meredith looked around as new objects joined the dance. Everything movable was shaking, jittering, swaying. It was as if the room were caught in an earthquake. ââ¬Å"Stop! Stop!â⬠shrieked Vickie, her hands over her ears. Directly above the house thunder exploded. Bonnie jumped violently as she saw the zigzag of lightning shoot across the sky. Instinctively she grabbed for something to hang on to. As the lightning bolt flared a poster on Vickie's wall tore diagonally as if slashed by a phantom knife. Bonnie choked back a scream and clutched tighter. Then, as quickly as if someone had flicked a power switch off, all the noise stopped. Vickie's room was still. The fringe on the bedside lamp swayed slightly. The poster had curled up in two irregular pieces, top and bottom. Slowly, Vickie lowered her hands from her ears. Matt and Meredith looked around rather shakily. Bonnie shut her eyes and murmured something like a prayer. It wasn't until she opened them again that she realized what she had been hanging on to. It was the supple coolness of a leather jacket. It was Damon's arm. He hadn't moved away from her, though. He didn't move now. He was leaning forward slightly, eyes narrowed, watching the room intently. ââ¬Å"Look at the mirror,â⬠he said. On the glass surface of the bamboo mirror two words were scrawled in Vickie's hot coral lipstick. Goodnight, Sweetheart. ââ¬Å"Oh, God,â⬠Bonnie whispered. Stefan turned from the mirror to Vickie. There was something different about him, Bonnie thought-he was holding himself relaxed but poised, like a soldier who's just gotten confirmation of a battle. It was as if he'd accepted a personal challenge of some kind. He took something out of his back pocket and unfolded it, revealing sprigs of a plant with long green leaves and tiny lilac flowers. ââ¬Å"This is vervain, fresh vervain,â⬠he said quietly, his voice even and intense. ââ¬Å"I picked it outside Florence; it's blooming there now.â⬠He took Vickie's hand and pressed the packet into it. ââ¬Å"I want you to hold on to this and keep it. Put some in every room of the house, and hide pieces somewhere in your parents' clothes if you can, so they'll have it near them. As long as you have this with you, he can't take over your mind. He can scare you, Vickie, but he can't make you do anything, like open a window or door for him. And listen, Vickie, because this is important.â⬠Vickie was shivering, her face crumpled. Stefan took both her hands and made her look at him, speaking slowly and distinctly. ââ¬Å"If I'm right, Vickie, he can't get in unless you let him. So talk to your parents. Tell them it's important that they don't ask any stranger inside the house. In fact, I can have Damon put that suggestion in their mind right now.â⬠He glanced at Damon, who shrugged slightly and nodded, looking as if his attention was somewhere else. Self-consciously, Bonnie removed her hand from his jacket. Vickie's head was bent over the vervain. ââ¬Å"He'll get in somehow,â⬠she said softly, with terrible certainty. ââ¬Å"No. Vickie, listen to me. From now on, we're going to watch your house; we're going to be waiting for him.â⬠ââ¬Å"It doesn't matter,â⬠Vickie said. ââ¬Å"You can't stop him.â⬠She began to laugh and cry at the same time. ââ¬Å"We're going to try,â⬠Stefan said. He looked at Meredith and Matt, who nodded. ââ¬Å"Right. From this moment on, you will never be alone. There will always be one or more of us outside watching you.â⬠Vickie just shook her bent head. Meredith gave her arm a squeeze and stood as Stefan tilted his head toward the window. When she and Matt joined him there, Stefan spoke to all of them in a low voice. ââ¬Å"I don't want to leave her unguarded, but I can't stay myself right now. There's something I have to do, and I need one of the girls with me. On the other hand, I don't want to leave either Bonnie or Meredith alone here.â⬠He turned to Matt. ââ¬Å"Matt, will youâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Everyone looked at him, startled. ââ¬Å"Well, it's the logical solution, isn't it?â⬠Damon seemed amused. ââ¬Å"After all, what do you expect one of them to do against him anyway?â⬠ââ¬Å"They can call for me. I can monitor their thoughts that far,â⬠Stefan said, not giving one inch. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠Damon said whimsically, ââ¬Å"I can call for you too, little brother, if I get into trouble. I'm getting bored with this investigation of yours anyway. I might as well stay here as anywhere.â⬠ââ¬Å"Vickie needs to be protected, not abused,â⬠Stefan said. Damon's smile was charming. ââ¬Å"Her?â⬠He nodded toward the girl who sat on the bed, rocking over the vervain. From disheveled hair to bare feet, Vickie was not a pretty picture. ââ¬Å"Take my word for it, brother, I can do better than that.â⬠For just an instant Bonnie thought those dark eyes flicked sideways toward her. ââ¬Å"You're always saying how you'd like to trust me, anyway,â⬠Damon added. ââ¬Å"Here's your chance to prove it.â⬠Stefan looked as if he wanted to trust, as if he were tempted. He also looked suspicious. Damon said nothing, merely smiled in that taunting, enigmatic way. Practically asking to be mistrusted, Bonnie thought. The two brothers stood looking at each other while the silence and the tension stretched out between them. Just then Bonnie could see the family resemblance in their faces, one serious and intense, the other bland and faintly mocking, but both inhumanly beautiful. Stefan let his breath out slowly. ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠he said quietly at last. Bonnie and Matt and Meredith were all staring at him, but he didn't seem to notice. He spoke to Damon as if they were the only two people there. ââ¬Å"You stay here, outside the house where you won't be seen. I'll come back and take over when I'm finished with what I'm doing.â⬠Meredith's eyebrows were in her hair, but she made no comment. Neither did Matt. Bonnie tried to quell her own feelings of unease. Stefan must know what he's doing, she told herself. Anyway, he'd better. ââ¬Å"Don't take too long,â⬠Damon said dismissively. And that was how they left it, with Damon blending in with the darkness in the shadow of the black walnut trees in Vickie's backyard and Vickie herself in her room, rocking endlessly. In the car, Meredith said, ââ¬Å"Where next?â⬠ââ¬Å"I need to test a theory,â⬠said Stefan briefly. ââ¬Å"That the killer is a vampire?â⬠Matt said from the back, where he sat with Bonnie. Stefan glanced at him sharply. ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's why you told Vickie not to invite anyone in,â⬠Meredith added, not to be outdone in the reasoning department. Vampires, Bonnie remembered, couldn't enter a place where humans lived and slept unless they were invited. ââ¬Å"And that's why you asked if the man was wearing a blue stone.â⬠ââ¬Å"An amulet against daylight,â⬠Stefan said, spreading his right hand. On the third finger there was a silver ring set with lapis lazuli. ââ¬Å"Without one of these, direct exposure to the sun kills us. If the murderer is a vampire, he keeps a stone like this somewhere on him.â⬠As if by instinct, Stefan reached up to briefly touch something under his T-shirt. After a moment Bonnie realized what it must be. Elena's ring. Stefan had given it to her in the first place, and after she died he'd taken it to wear on a chain around his neck. So that part of her would be with him always, he'd said. When Bonnie looked at Matt beside her, she saw his eyes were closed. ââ¬Å"So how can we tell if he's a vampire?â⬠Meredith asked. ââ¬Å"There's only one way I can think of, and it isn't very pleasant. But it's got to be done.â⬠Bonnie's heart sank. If Stefan thought it wasn't very pleasant, she was sure she was going to find it even less so. ââ¬Å"What is it?â⬠she said unenthusiastically. ââ¬Å"I need to get a look at Sue's body.â⬠There was dead silence. Even Meredith, normally so unflappable, looked appalled. Matt turned away, leaning his forehead against the window glass. ââ¬Å"You've got to be kidding,â⬠Bonnie said. ââ¬Å"I wish I were.â⬠ââ¬Å"But-for God's sake, Stefan. We can't. They won't let us. I mean, what are we going to say? ââ¬ËExcuse me while I examine this corpse for holes'?â⬠ââ¬Å"Bonnie, stop it,â⬠Meredith said. ââ¬Å"I can't help it,â⬠Bonnie snapped back shakily. ââ¬Å"It's an awful idea. And besides, the police already checked her body. There wasn't a mark on it except the cuts she got in the fall.â⬠ââ¬Å"The police don't know what to look for,â⬠Stefan said. His voice was steely. Hearing it brought something home to Bonnie, something she tended to forget. Stefan was one of them. One of the hunters. He'd seen dead people before. He might even have killed some. He drinks blood, she thought, and shuddered. ââ¬Å"Well?â⬠said Stefan. ââ¬Å"Are you still with me?â⬠Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Meredith's hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window. Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Meredith's hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window. ââ¬Å"There's a viewing of the body from seven to ten at the funeral home,â⬠Meredith added, her voice low. ââ¬Å"We'll have to wait until after the viewing, then. After they close the funeral home, when we can be alone with her,â⬠said Stefan. ââ¬Å"This is the most gruesome thing I've ever had to do,â⬠Bonnie whispered wretchedly. The funeral chapel was dark and cold. Stefan had sprung the locks on the outside door with a thin piece of flexible metal. The viewing room was thickly carpeted, its walls covered with somber oak panels. It would have been a depressing place even with the lights on. In the dark it seemed close and suffocating and crowded with grotesque shapes. It looked as if someone might be crouching behind each of the many standing flower arrangements. ââ¬Å"I don't want to be here,â⬠Bonnie moaned. ââ¬Å"Let's just get it over with, okay?â⬠Matt said through his teeth. When he snapped the flashlight on, Bonnie looked anywhere but where it was pointing. She didn't want to see the coffin, she didn't. She stared at the flowers, at a heart made of pink roses. Outside, thunder grumbled like a sleeping animal. ââ¬Å"Let me get this open-here,â⬠Stefan was saying. In spite of her resolve not to, Bonnie looked. The casket was white, lined with pale pink satin. Sue's blond hair shone against it like the hair of a sleeping princess in a fairy tale. But Sue didn't look as if she were sleeping. She was too pale, too still. Like a waxwork. Bonnie crept closer, her eyes fixed on Sue's face. That's why it's so cold in here, she told herself staunchly. To keep the wax from melting. It helped a little. Stefan reached down to touch Sue's high-necked pink blouse. He undid the top button. ââ¬Å"For God's sake,â⬠Bonnie whispered, outraged. ââ¬Å"What do you think we're here for?â⬠Stefan hissed back. But his fingers paused on the second button. Bonnie watched a minute and then made her decision. ââ¬Å"Get out of the way,â⬠she said, and when Stefan didn't move immediately, she gave him a shove. Meredith drew up close to her and they formed a phalanx between Sue and the boys. Their eyes met with understanding. If they had to actually remove the blouse, the guys were going out. Bonnie undid the small buttons while Meredith held the light. Sue's skin felt as waxy as it looked, cool against her fingertips. Awkwardly, she folded the blouse back to reveal a lacy white slip. Then she made herself push Sue's shining gold hair off the pale neck. The hair was stiff with spray. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Stefan oddly. ââ¬Å"But there's something else. Look at this.â⬠Gently, he reached around Bonnie to point out a cut, pale and bloodless as the skin around it, but visible as a faint line running from collarbone to breast. Over the heart. Stefan's long finger traced the air above it and Bonnie stiffened, ready to smack the hand away if he touched. ââ¬Å"What is it?â⬠asked Meredith, puzzled. ââ¬Å"A mystery,â⬠Stefan said. His voice was still odd. ââ¬Å"If I saw a mark like that on a vampire, it would mean the vampire was giving blood to a human. That's how it's done. Human teeth can't pierce our skin, so we cut ourselves if we want to share blood. But Sue wasn't a vampire.â⬠ââ¬Å"She certainly wasn't!â⬠said Bonnie. She tried to fight off the image her mind wanted to show her, of Elena bending to a cut like that on Stefan's chest and sucking, drinkingâ⬠¦ She shuddered and realized her eyes were shut. ââ¬Å"Is there anything else you need to see?â⬠she said, opening them. ââ¬Å"No. That's all.â⬠Bonnie did up the buttons. She rearranged Sue's hair. Then, while Meredith and Stefan eased the lid of the casket back down, she walked quickly out of the viewing room and to the outside door. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself. A hand touched her elbow lightly. It was Matt. ââ¬Å"You're tougher than you look,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Yes, wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She tried to shrug. And then suddenly she was crying, crying hard. Matt put his arms around her. ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠he said. Just that. Not ââ¬Å"Don't cryâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Take it easyâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Everything's going to be all right.â⬠Just ââ¬Å"I know.â⬠His voice was as desolate as she felt. ââ¬Å"They've got hair spray in her hair,â⬠she sobbed. ââ¬Å"Sue never used hair spray. It's awful.â⬠Somehow, just then, this seemed the worst thing of all. He simply held her. After a while Bonnie got her breath. She found she was holding on to Matt almost painfully tightly and loosened her arms. ââ¬Å"I got your shirt all wet,â⬠she said apologetically, sniffling. ââ¬Å"It doesn't matter.â⬠Something in his voice made her step back and look at him. He looked the way he had in the high school parking lot. So lost, soâ⬠¦ hopeless. ââ¬Å"Matt, what is it?â⬠she whispered. ââ¬Å"Please.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not so sure.â⬠Bonnie didn't even think she wanted to. It was too scary. But she was overwhelmed by an urge to comfort him, to wipe that lost look from his eyes. ââ¬Å"Matt, I-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We're finished,â⬠Stefan said from behind them. As Matt looked toward the voice the lost look seemed to intensify. ââ¬Å"Sometimes I think we're all finished,â⬠Matt said, moving away from Bonnie, but he didn't explain what he meant by that. ââ¬Å"Let's go.ââ¬
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