Ethical Decision Making And Religious Faith Essay

Ethical Decision Making and Religious Faith Troy Gill MSCR680_X41_Rapid Decision Making Regis University Abstract The goal is to examine through literature review if religious faith is deemed to affect the moral or ethical decision-making process of United States Military personnel in a overall sense. But it might also be applied towards everyday civilian study as well. For instance, the United States Marine Corps have been built on a foundation of strong moral values. These are the principled beliefs that shape recruits into men and women of character. Equipped with this skillset they can and can be called upon to make hard rapid decisions in unfavorable situations and increase the likelihood of making solid ethical decisions. Thus the primary question is: How does faith in God or specific religious faith affect the ethical decision making process. Is it a key factor or minimal factor? Can or does it affect persons differently? What components of decision-making might be swayed by particular religious faith? We will simplify this essay to some degree as it could ge both a intensive and hot button topic depending on how in depth we delve into the religious aspect, particularly certain religions. Literature Review Outlining, distinguishing, and deciding ethical problems have been spotlight for abundant examination in sophisticated societies. Sociologists have generated considerable research such as studies and publications from, Ferrell Gresham,; Hunt Show MoreRelatedThe Ethical Issues Of Religion1421 Words   |  6 Pagesexplanations and what may be considered as solutions to the challenges people face. However, the role of religion when it comes to solving serious medical problems is relative, depending on strength of the religious faith and other personal characteristics and values. 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One of the most famous Atheists, Christopher Hitchens, asserts thatRead MoreMulticultural Communities and Multi-Faith Practices1103 Words   |  4 PagesIn the past decade, Ireland became an increasing multicultural community from different nationalities accompanying multi-faith practices.[1] Despite the acknowledgment of the fact that diversity of race, religion, language, and cultural background between people is crucial in the healthcare environment, it is more important to develop cultural competency in hospitals to ensure high-quality health care service exclusive of inequalities and responsive to the requirements of the diverse patients.[2][3]Read MoreThe, Science And Imagination, By Wendel Berry Essay1640 Words   |  7 PagesDualism in Ethical Eights The advancement in technology and science has triggered a new way of thinking among many people. What seems challenging is drawing the limits of this advancement in terms of what is ideal and imperative for humanity. 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In the article Ethical Issues for the Integration or Religion and Spirituality in Therapy, Fisher highlights ethical challenges involving Spirituality in Therapy including; competence and avoiding secular-theistic bias. Fisher goes on to further explain the effects of Imposing Religious Values, the importance of Informed Consent and the challenges that arise regarding faith and multipleRead MorePastoral Counselling And The Ethnic Church Context1614 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Counselling attempts to provide encouragement and guidance for those who are facing losses, decisions or disappointments. As a Christian counsellor we seek to bring people in to relationship with Christ and help them to find forgiveness and relief.† In this paper we will aim to analyse the Journal article written by Thomas G. Plante on Integration Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Ethical issue and Principles to consider. 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Specifically, the use of performance enhancing drugs through the public eye, are often not sanctioned as acceptable. With â€Å"the number of professional athletes using steroids [†¦] estimated to be fewer than 1%† (Petersen Kristensen, 2009). Throughout this paper the scenarioRead MorePersonal Reflection On My Personal Philosophy1329 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluenced my personal ethical development. By reflecting on my life experiences, I will explore how my upbringing, and my faith influenced my morals and values. This paper will also explore ethical issues in counseling, and ethical codes used to resolve the issues. In addition, this paper I will reflect how this course has changed me in certain aspects regarding ethics and legal obligations in counseling. Section I 1) Family influences My parents have definitely influenced the decisions I make. My parents

Explain The Relationship Between The United Kingdoms...

Relationship with the bloc The united kingdoms relationship going forward is most likely going to become non-existent. If they want to continue trade with European countries they will have to be ensure they’re complying to the blocs trade standards and rules, and other countries as well. The European Union has insisted that if the United Kingdom wants to continue trade with any of the EU countries, then the UK must continue to abide by the EU’s trading standards. This will become a big complication for the UK when creating trade deals with countries who have different standards. According to Reuter Magazine, â€Å" The bloc will also seek to ensure Britain adheres to EU rules - including any changes - during transition, and the possible avenue†¦show more content†¦Canada made a different approach at inviting the United Kingdom to trade. Instead of offering the opportunity to establish deals, they proposed inviting the United Kingdom into NAFTA and doing free trade with their bloc. Canada was a bit more interested in creating a relationship rather that a business deal. Australia has also stated that they would be interested in creating trade deals with the United Kingdom. In fact they stated that they would be interested in creating a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom post Brexit. Although they also stated that first they will look into free trade deals with the European Union as well. The United Kingdom and Australia already have a close relationship and will likely establish trade deals post Brexit. It’s very apparent that the U nited Kingdom has many opportunities to establish new trade deals around the world. Though they will have to ensure they are cautious of that countrys standards. Every country is going to do things differently than what they are used to. They are likely to run into some differences in the product standards required when establishing trade deals. Moving forward, it will be easier if the UK does not establish a future relationship with the bloc. The bloc is going to ensure the UK does not come out better in any trade deal, and if the UK wants to trade with any members of the bloc, then the UK must abide by the blocs tradeShow MoreRelatedThe United Kingdom ( Uk ) Left The European Union1804 Words   |  8 PagesCan you imagine that what will happen when the United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU)? Britain will hold the referendum on Thursday, 23 June. A referendum is a vote for everybody or nearly everybody of voting age can take part. Britons will be able to decide to stay in or exit the union. The referendum will give the opportunity to Britons show what they think again since 1975’s poll. Because of the EU from â€Å"Economic Zone† changed to â€Å"Countries Union†, it could affect UK’s daily livesRead More5 Hour Energy Shot Business Proposal for the United Kingdom Expansion10942 Words   |  44 Pages5 hour ENERGY Shot Business Proposal for The United Kingdom Expansion November 17, 2012 Florida International University – MBA Class 2013 – Group 7 Table of Contents Executive Summary.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.2 Which Product and Why?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 Target Consumer Market†¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦6 Labor Cost, Availability†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 Macroeconomic condition†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦12 Technology...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesEdition Reed−Lajoux and others . . . This book was printed on recycled paper. Management http://www.mhhe.com/primis/online/ Copyright  ©2005 by The McGraw−Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. This

Money Laundering Essay Example For Students

Money Laundering Essay Money LaunderingThe word money laundering, according to the myth, is derived from Al Caponespractice of using a string of coin-operated launderettes in Chicago to disguisehis revenues from gambling, prostitution and protection rackets. Its a nicestory but not true, money laundering is so called because it perfectly describesthe process of removing the stains and smells which money acquires whencriminals earn it. In this report I will go on to discuss the topic of money laundering in thefollowing order; firstly, I will begin by explaining what is money laundering?,why it is done?, and how it is done? I will then go on to explain the effectsof money laundering and the institutions/organisations that are at risk fromthese activities. I will also be discussing the current situation in the UKregarding money laundering and whether anything can be done to prevent orrestrict laundering activities, and will then go on to conclude my findings. Money laundering is the process by which criminals attempt to conceal the trueorigin and ownership of the proceeds of their criminal activities. If they aresuccessful they can then maintain control over the proceeds and, so, provide alegitimate cover for their source of income. J.D. Mclean defined moneylaundering in the International Judicial Assistance as:Although the proceeds of crime will be kept as capital for further criminalventures, the sophisticated offender will wish to use the rest for otherpurposes. If this is to done without running a risk of detection, the moneywhich represents the proceeds of the original crime must be laundered; putinto a state in which it appears to have an entirely respectable provenanceIt is important to bear in mind that money laundering is a process (often ahighly complex one) rather than a single act. In an effort to expose andanalyse this phenomenon it has become common to use a three-stage model whichencompasses an ideal money laundering scheme . The three stages are as follows:* Placement StageThis is where cash derived directly from criminal activity (e.g. fromsales of drugs) is first placed eitherin a financial institution or used to purchase an asset. * Layering StageThe stage at which there is the first attempt at concealment or disguiseof the source of the ownership of funds. * Integration StageThe stage at which the money is integrated into the legitimate economic andfinancial system and is camouflaged with all other assets in the system. Money launderers try to prevent authorities from tracing the source of theirill-gotten gains by moving their funds around financial and economic system. The funds are then spent as if they were legitimate money. The more blatant bythe money launderer will directly involve a person or a business in the crime. i.e. A launderer could simply ask someone for permission to use their accountfor deposits in return for a fee. Another scenario is for the money laundererto approach a business and ask them to set up transactions in which a sum ofmoney is regularly deposited in the companys account. The business will thensend the money back as a fictitious payment for non-existent goods. Althoughthis method is very popular amongst the criminal underworld, there are otherways of laundering money without a business becoming aware of being involved ina crime. e.g. The money launderer could place an order for an industrialmachine/robot to be manufactured to a specific standard. The company may askfor a 60% deposit with the understanding that the order wont be put through forthree months. Before the three months are up the money launderer cancels theorder and gets the deposit refunded minus a penalty. The money launderer willalways be willing to pay the penalty because although he/she will want to get asm uch back as possible, what he/she really wants is the money back clean. School documentaries EssayReporting to the police is not much help if the suspect is tipped off about theinvestigation. Tipping off, therefore, constitutes an offence when informationor any other matter which might prejudice an investigation is disclosed to thesubject of the investigation (or anyone else) by someone who knows or suspects(or, in the case of terrorism, has reasonable cause to suspect) that: a policeinvestigation into money laundering has begun or is about to begin, or thepolice have been informed of suspicious activities, or a disclosure has beenmade to another employee under internal reporting procedures. The Regulations require any person who carries out relevant financial businessin a business relationship or a one-off transaction with an applicant forbusiness to maintain certain administrative and training procedures designed toprevent money laundering occurring. It is a criminal offence not to maintainthe necessary procedures although it is a defence if the person concerned tookall reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing thisoffence. This applies to banks and building societies, investment businesses andinsurance business. Clearly some of this laundering will be assisted by people who know what theyare doing but may not know of the penalties they are risking if they are caught. Some of it will be helped by people who are not sure what is going on but areprepared to turn a blind eye for the commission they will earn. Many adviserswill be representing clients who appear to be running perfectly respectablebusinesses but are not. The dirty proceeds of drugs trafficking alone throughout the world are estimatedto be around 500bn annually. 2bn each year is thought to be laundered throughBritain. Businesses must know their legal obligations and in particularproviders of financial services must be aware of the new rules they must obey. Even though you can take effective steps to prevent hackers breaking into yourcomputers, financial crime often involves insiders. Even using the uniquefeatures of a computer security system, you can only prevent fraud where aperson acts outside his authority. No system prevents a senior officer withfull system access walking off with money or records in his custody. But now athreat is posed not only by the staff member setting out to steal from you butalso to staff members being susceptible to third party pressure to use your bankto launder money by doing nothing outside their normal authority. Another major problem with the prevention of money laundering is that it is nowspread over an international network and this makes it very difficult to controlor regulate. One countries regulation may prevent/decrease money laundering butwill just drive it towards unregulated territories or economies that have a varyrelaxed attitude towards money laundering. E.g. In exchange for a minimum $10msubscription, the Seychelle islands will grant diplomatic status toinvestors, making them invulnerable to action by international law enforcers. This clearly becomes a haven for drug barons and crime bosses, where they canlaunder millions and escape prosecution. The worlds third largest industry continues to grow rapidly and uncontrollably. Factors that affect this growth are the increasing emerging technologies,international barriers being removed, improved communications networks and lastbut not least individual/organisational greed that allows blind eyes to beturned in order to keep revenue coming in. BibliographyDirty Money William C. GilmoreMoney Laundering A practical guide to the new legislation Rowan Bosworth-Davies and Graham SaltmarshCrooks paradise Frank Kane, Adrian Levy, and Steve Haynes Sunday Times, 14thJanuary 1996. Steps against cash crime Jimmy Burns The Times, 5th June 1996. Governments gunning for money launderers Oliver August The Times, 1st October1996.

Steven Spielberg Essays - English-language Films, Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg It is hard to imagine a person who has not heard of Steven Spielberg. He is one of the most renown, if not the most renown, American filmmakers of the century. His films have captivated and helped develop imaginations of contemporary society and remain among the most successful films ever made. Spielberg was born in Cincinnati on December 18th, 1946. His father was an electrical engineer, and his mother a concert pianist. Steven seemed to get the best elements from both of them. Spielberg had an early fascination with cinema and began making amateur films at a very young age. At 13, he won a local contest for his 40-minute film, Escape to Nowhere. Ironically, Steven was unable to get into a film school, so he settled for majoring in English Literature at California State University. After graduation, he set out to Hollywood, where he was determined to be successful. In 1974, he received his first break for The Sugarland Express. The film went on to win a Cannes Film Festival Award for best screenplay. The following year saw JAWS explode. This very successful horror film, depicting a man-eating shark, captured the attention of the world and has become part of contemporary pop culture. The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and won several Oscars for technical categories and for its very distinctive score. JAWS was not the only film of his to make the 100 best films of the century list by the American Film Institute. Many of Steven Spielberg's works have been placed on that list, and many are so timeless, they will live in the hearts of generations to come. Such films as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park have become legendary. In Spielberg's down time, he stringed together a personal little film about a suburban boy who befriends an earthbound alien, also known as E.T. for Extra-Terrestrial. It hit theaters in 1982 and became an instant classic and is still the defining film of his landmark-filled career. This magical and exceedingly sentimental film surpassed even George Lucas' Star Wars to become one of the biggest domestic moneymakers of all time. He has the unparalleled talent of capturing people's imagination and dreams, but at the same time tapping into humanities darkest nightmares. In 1993, Spielberg made Schindler's List, a haunting epic that showed the Holocaust in its ugly truth. The film would eventually win him a Best Picture Oscar. It has now become part of the regular curriculum in many schools and is considered by many to be the most significant film of this generation. In 1998, Spielberg came out with Saving Private Ryan, which captured war in gory and shocking detail as his soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy. This again shows his willingness to deal with larger, more serious issues. Further profiting as a producer of other directors' its like Poltergeist, Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Spielberg became one of the richest and most powerful players in Hollywood. In 1984, he founded Amblin Entertainment and used the E.T. logo as its trademark. While this was doing well, Spielberg wanted more control over his projects and did not want any other studios interfering with his work. In 1994, along with several other industry hotshots, they created the first new movie studio in Hollywood in over 75 years- Dreamworks. The company covers all its bases and produces live action and animated movies, music, computer games, arcades, television productions, and distribution. Spielberg owns approximately 22% of Dreamworks and he is worth around 1 billions dollars. His average salary is $238 million a year! A defining characteristic of a Steven Spielberg movie is the elaborate costs of making movies, huge box office returns, and many award nominations. For example, Jurassic Park was a special effects-laden adaptation of Michael Crichton dinosaur disaster novel of the same game that cost $70 million to make. But, it grossed $100 million in nine days on its way to completely shattering his own record in E.T. Schindler's List finally earned Spielberg his long-awaited Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. Most people know that Steven Spielberg is a director, but not all know that

Mccaskey Case Essays

Mccaskey Case Essays Mccaskey Case Paper Mccaskey Case Paper Analysis: Martha McCaskey Harvard Business Review The Issue: This case focuses on Martha McCaskey. McCaskey is a relatively recent Harvard B-School grad on the fast track at Seleris Associates. She is a consultant who specializes in competitive analysis for corporations. McCaskey has been assigned as lead on project Silicon 6. She has a strong track record for delivering quality on her projects, which is why she was chosen as lead for this project. The focus of the project is to reverse engineer cost structure and manufacturing processes for the competitor of a key client of Seleris. This unnamed client is responsible for 20% of the revenue for this division. Therefore, the head of the division is invested in making this customer happy. The top managers promised McCaskey a promotion if she could successfully complete the project to the satisfaction of the client. McCaskey is extremely resourceful, but in the case of Silicon 6, she was having trouble gaining access to the required information. That is, until she tripped across an ex-employee of the competitor company who was eager to share proprietary information. McCaskey found this unethical. McCaskey brought the situation to the attention of her management. The managers, eager to please the clients, have encouraged McCaskey to â€Å"pay off† the ex-employee in exchange for the necessary information. Management has challenged her to come up with an action plan for the project and to meet with the head of the division to review the plan. Analysis and Opinion: McCaskey is faced with an ethical dilemma. In this case, she must decide whether to accept proprietary information, which will result in a satisfied lient and a promotion or follow her moral compass and attain the information using ethically acceptable industry standards. This is a clear case of an organization with a questionable ethical climate. An organization with high ethical standards encourages and shapes the behavior of its employees through policies, procedures and behavior. It is the responsibility of the management staff to build an environment with low tolerance for an y activities that can be deemed unethical. Management must focus on the means as well as the outcomes to ensure that they are operating not only within legal boundaries, but socially acceptable and responsible boundaries as well. Malone, McCaskey’s superior, is heavily directing her approach. When McCaskey went into the presentation with the clients, Malone was the one to make the promises to deliver through access from the ex-employee. Malone also authorized the increase in â€Å"pay† to the ex-employee. McCaskey cannot look to her immediate management to resolve ethical issues. The saving grace for McCaskey is, hopefully, Richardson, Malone’s manager. Senior associates often discuss case status directly with Malone and Richardson. McCaskey should use this to her advantage to go directly to Richardson with this dilemma to gain his buy-in to resolve the issues in a more ethical manner. In the past, Richardson has communicated his ethical expectations to the staff via lunchtime talks. Therefore, McCaskey may find a worthwhile advocate in Richardson. It is not clear if Richardson really believes in building an ethical culture as he has given direct management responsibilities to Malone. Richardson has to be aware of Malone’s practices, but has not taken a firm stand on stating and shaping the organization’s values and conduct by providing visible role models who exhibit ethical behavior. However, Kaufmann, an associate who publicly acknowledges unethical behavior, is not being rewarded, as he is one of the lowest paid associates. This leads the reader to believe that Richardson does not support Kaufmann’s actions. At the same time, however, Richardson has turned a blind eye to his practices and has reaped the benefits from his questionable behavior. McCaskey, to this point, has done everything correct. She has operated within ethical boundaries and has raised issues to her management. The true failure is with Richardson who has not fostered a culture rooted in prioritizing and rewarding ethical behavior. Unfortunately, he is McCaskey’s only hope to resolve this issue. McCaskey’s next steps are to raise the situation to Richardson in hopes he can direct her to move forward in a more ethical manner. With so much at stake, including fines and personal imprisonment, McCaskey should not do anything that could endanger the company or her personal well being.

Strategies for writing an ideal teacher resume -TheJobNetwork

Strategies for writing an ideal teacher resume -TheJobNetwork If you’re a teacher (or working on becoming one), you know that by the time you complete your degree(s), your training courses, and any standardized exams your state throws your way, the job search can feel like yet another daunting process. Or maybe you’re further along in your career and you’re ready for a scenery change, or a subject change. Whatever the case may be, your resume should be a painless part of the process. Let’s look at some strategies you can use as you craft your own teaching resume. Do a little pre-resume brainstorming.Before you start cranking away, here are some resume basics to consider before you even start working on your resume. Ask yourself:Who is going to be reading this? Will it be another educator or administrator, or a layperson? This can help you determine how much jargon or career shorthand you can use.What do I want to emphasize most about myself and my career? What are the assets that make you the most valuable hire?What is my goal with this resume? Are you looking to find your first job in the field, change jobs, or move up?Thinking about these things ahead of time helps you refine your resume before you’ve even begun. You’ve got ideas. Now you just need some structure for them†¦Open strong with a headline, objective, or summary.At the top of your resume will be your contact info, of course (don’t be that guy or gal who thinks that the cover email is enough contact info for this digital day and age), but after that is your opening statement. You could just dive right into the details of your resume, but think about it- this is a chance to really introduce yourself to the reader, and set the narrative for the rest of your resume. Chances are, whoever is reading your resume will also be reading a pile of resumes from other people who may be similarly qualified for the job. So you want to take every edge you can get, including a sentence or two to help set you apart from thos e others.Headlines are exactly what they sound like: a brief, bold one-liner about who you are. A headline is brief, and it doesn’t contain your life story, but it does tell the reader who they’re about to meet in the rest of the resume. Here are some examples:Columbus School District Teacher of the Year  Seasoned Educator and Expert Curriculum Builder  Creative, Metrics-Focused Elementary School Educator Objective statements are a couple of brief sentences letting the reader know your intent. The reader already knows you want a job, so you don’t need to be that explicit. The objective can be more about your short-term goals with this position. Are you looking to change your career? Start your career? Level up with a leadership role? The objective helps the reader see what you’re angling for, besides an interview. Here are some examples:Educator with 10 years of experience seeking an administrative role.Looking for a position as a special-needs teache r at Washington Academy, bringing a creative, high-energy approach to student outcomes.Seeking a position as a math teacher focusing on technology integration and curriculum best practices to improve student achievement.Summary statements are more of a brief collection of highlights that you want to emphasize about yourself. Resume summaries are sometimes called â€Å"qualifications summaries† or â€Å"competencies.† Here, you call out the skills and accomplishments that you want the reader to focus on. For example:Motivated, energetic teacher who values diversity and creativity in the classroomResults-focused leader with a record of improving student test scores year-over-year15 years of curriculum-building experience, and development of classroom activities in accordance with state standards and best practicesAgain, not the life story, but a bit of a sneak preview for the reader. You should be prepared to back up your intro statements with more detailed skills or exp erience bullets later in the resume.Make your experience work for you.As a teacher, you’ve got a lot of things already working for you on your resume: your education and certifications, which are essential elements. Those are concrete points that you don’t really need to finesse or wordsmith- they are what they are. You should highlight your education and credentials in a brief section near the top of the resume.After that, you can start being a little more creative with your resume structure. If you already have a ton of classroom experience, then you can go the traditional route and put your work experience next, followed by skills.If you’re a recent grad or a career changer, and don’t yet have tons of experience, consider going with a more skills-heavy format. This puts your skills and general qualifications front and center, giving it higher priority over the â€Å"experience† section. And even if you feel like you don’t have a lot of ex perience (yet), you do have things you can use to flesh out that experience section. Volunteer work, club or professional association activities, or extracurricular teaching work you’ve done can also be used here. That community writing seminar you ran at the senior center last year? Include it. Your three recent summers as a camp counselor working with elementary age students while you completed your undergrad work? Include it, if it applies to the teaching job you’re seeking. (If you’re seeking an early childhood education job, great- if you’re looking to teach calculus to seniors, maybe not as relevant). You can be creative here to fill in gaps.As you’re building your experience section, don’t forget to list accomplishments, not duties. The person reading the resume is more interested in what you’ve achieved in your career so far, not necessarily what your 10 daily duties were in your last job. It’s important to highlight on ly the most relevant experience points, related to the job you’re seeking.Be selective about your skills.Sure, you may have the highest Candy Crush score in the county, or play the harmonica intro to â€Å"Piano Man† so beautifully it’d make Billy Joel himself cry. Those are great skills to have. But they may not work on your resume. Your skills section, like the rest of your resume, should be laser-focused on the job at hand. These six skill sets are among the top skills for teachers, so you should concentrate on these areas:Communication skills. Teachers communicate all the time- they work directly with students, other teachers, administrators, staff, and parents on a regular basis. Make sure you emphasize your strengths when it comes to writing, speaking, presenting, and- perhaps most importantly- listening.Problem solving skills. Teachers are problem-solvers, and help others solve them as well. You can provide examples of how you solve conflicts, how you can adapt lesson plans in real time, and how you approach those unexpected moments in any classroom.Organizational skills. Hiring managers will be interested to know how you juggle a teacher’s many tasks (classroom teaching, meetings, grading, lesson planning, etc.). Your time management skills are crucial, so definitely emphasize those on your resume.Patience. Whether you’re teaching a classroom of six-year-olds or sixty-year-olds, one of the key characteristics of an educator is patience, and the ability to work with any student to help them learn and achieve. Not everyone has patience, so this is a good skill to include on your resume.People skills. Similarly, general people skills are an asset on your resume. The reader will want to know you can work with others in a productive way, especially students. But this applies to others as well, because teachers are very much team players, interacting with their colleagues and administrators every day as well.Technological s kills. We live in an ever-more-digital world, and teachers who can help bring technology into the classroom productively can be major assets for a school. The skills section is a good place to call out your career-relevant tech expertise.Don’t skip the editing.After you’ve written your resume, there is one more non-negotiable step: you need to review it carefully. Do you really need everything you’ve included? Is everything relevant to the job description? And most important, have you obsessively proofread it, and/or had someone trusted do it for you? It can be tempting to hit â€Å"send† as soon as you write the last word, but you should always, always take that extra step and make sure the whole document is exactly as it should be.For examples of teacher resumes (entry level, mid-career, and seeking upward movement), we’ve got you covered: How to Write a Perfect Teaching Resume (Examples Included). And if you need more inspiration, our Resume Lib rary is a click away as well.

Iconic shape of building relates with old city fabric Essay

Iconic shape of building relates with old city fabric - Essay Example Garz is one of the more important cities for the Slovene, in Austria, and considered as even more symbolical than Ljubljana in Slovenia. A student city for the huge daytime population of its six universities, Garz is a mix of old, historical architecture and new one, with Kunsthaus representing the new side. It is currently used as an arts and culture center focused on contemporary arts (Cook and Fournier, 11). It fits as another modern architecture for Garz as it did not follow conventional building methods but took from ship building as well as design of curves as popularized by the CAD program. The curved designs were cast and the materials were made of fiber glass using pressurized structure. As a portion of a city, the Kunsthaus Garz continues a tradition that made Garz what it is today – a popular destination for rich cultural exploration. Some of the more historical buildings include the clock tower, Karl-Franzens Universitat or the Charles-Francis University, the Unive rsity of Graz, and another contemporary urban project the Mur Island. Built environment is integral on the formation of cities or the urbanization process.

US Military History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

US Military History - Essay Example Immediately after the end of the Second World War, the Korean War broke at the height of Cold War with the two superpowers playing a significant role in influencing the war. The Soviet Union supported the North communist region as the U.S offered support to the South region that held the idea of capitalism. Although Russia failed to engage in direct combat during the war, it provided support through offering war equipment to the North region and eventually supporting Chinese communist military leading to the end of the war. The U.S involvement, however, occurred through providing support and engagement of U.S military in combat (Stewart, 2005). The primary objective behind the U.S engagement in the Korean War resulted from the fact that the U.S held a need of saving face as well as ensuring that it appeared stronger than communism. Therefore, it is indicative that America never held vital interests on Korea. In supporting the south anti-communists Syngman Rhee that was considered as tyrannical in the same manner as his North counterpart Kim II-Sung, the support offered by the U.S relates from the simple reason of the south region adoption of a non-communist approach. Furthermore, offering support to Rhee a leader that was equally corrupt and tyrannical served the negative policies that the U.S advocated. Again, the culminating factors that led to the involvement of Chinese military in the war served in portraying the weakness of and establishment of the superiority of the communist forces.

Herbal Medicine Essay Example for Free

Herbal Medicine Essay Anything that exists on the earth has a need for survival. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), herbal medicines refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or to maintain well-being. Different types of herbal medicines are widely applied in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to meet primary health-care needs. Herbal medicines have maintained its popularity in most regions of the developing world. The application is also rapidly spreading in industrialized countries. Worldwide, among all the different traditional medicine systems, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is currently the most popular, followed by Indian medicine. Herbal medicine refers to using a plants seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of use outside of conventional medicine. It is also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine. It is becoming more main stream as improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research show the value of herbal medicine in the treating and preventing disease. Herbal medicine is used to treat many conditions, such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer, among others. Herbal supplements are best taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider. Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 700 plant based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70% of German physicians. In the past 20 years in the United States, public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine use. Whenever a culture attempts to assimilate alien ideas, social stresses are bound to occur, especially when such ideas threaten the dominion of major economic and political interests. Mistakes are likely to arise while attempting to implement these ideas. In the case of Chinese herbal knowledge, its use by people unfamiliar with its rules and protocols invariably leads to mishaps; either the herbs or formulas fail to work as expected, or worse, side effects may result whenever herbs are used in contraindicated conditions. In the political and economic realms, government regulators unfamiliar with the unique characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine may impose restrictions upon Chinese herbal practice that inhibit its effective application and suffocate its future development within our culture. The effectiveness of modern herbal practice suggests that we begin our search by understanding the complete meaning of herbalism. Herbs are grown and collected from all over the world. There is nothing magical about an herb; effective medicinal herbs can be found everywhere that plants grow. There is indeed a necessity in making life better by introducing natural herbal dietary supplements in the country. Within the past decade, herbal medicine has gained increasing importance, with both medical and economic implications. In developing countries particularly, as much as 80percent of the indigenous population still depends on traditional systems of medicine and medicinal plants for healthcare. Some common herbs and their uses are discussed below. * Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory. Although not all studies agree, ginkgo may be especially effective in treating dementia (including Alzheimers disease) and intermittent claudication (poor circulation in the legs). * Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is said to elevate mood, enhance well-being and contentment, and produce a feeling of relaxation. Several studies have found that kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders. * Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is used by more than 2 million men in the United States for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A number of studies suggest that the herb is effective for treating symptoms, including frequent urination, having trouble starting or maintaining urination, and needing to urinate during the night. * Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular alternative to commonly prescribed medications for sleep problems because it is considered to be both safe and gentle. * Echinacea preparations (from Echinacea purpurea and other Echinacea species) may improve the bodys natural immunity. Echinacea is one of the most commonly used herbal products, but studies are mixed as to whether it can help prevent or treat colds. We chose to have a research study on this topic because I think this can be a way of spreading awareness among people that there can be cheaper way of treating from upset stomachs to headaches. They are also considered natural and therefore healthier and gentler than conventional drugs. So, why is there need to spend so much on expensive drugs uselessly when there is a better option.

The Summa Teologica By Thomas Essay -- essays research papers

The Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Born in Italy, Thomas Aquinas was one of the most educated men of his time. Aquinas, whose family were noble, was educated as a monk and later continued his education at the University of Naples followed by the University of Paris where he studied the ancient Greek thought of Aristotle. Educated in both philosophy and theology,Aquinas is thought to be one of the most important philosophers of Catholicism. One ofAquinas's most influential writings is the Summa Theologica. In this document, Aquinas clarifies four questions concerning the Church: Whether it can be demonstrated t Godexist? Whether it is always sinfuhatl to wage war? Whether it is lawful for Clerics and Bishops to fight? And whether it is lawful to fight on holy days? He answers each question thoroughly but indecisively; however, when he answers the second question it seems his conclusion have been manipulated in ways that can benefit the church without making them look double sided with their teachings. The second question is: Whether it is always sinful to wage war? In this question Aquinas states in his objection (1), 'It would seem that it is always sinful to wage war because punishment is not inflicted except for sin. Now those who wage war are threatened by our Lord with punishment; therefore, all wars are unlawful.'; (172) However, he justifies the act of war by giving three necessities. The first he mentions is only an au...

What Is a Moratorium On Foreclosures

The mortgage crisis in America is a political hot topic that has taken a front seat to many other topics of national importance. Even the upcoming presidential election has the potential of having this very topic at the center of each candidate’s agenda. However, with a matter of such national significance it would appear as though all most Americans seem to know is that the economy is bad and that about covers it. Many Americans are unaware of this economic crisis occurring and are even less aware of how it could affect them. Therefore, the apathetic and ignorant attitude towards such a dilemma could be explained. In order to assist in the eradication of this issue, one must examine the meaning of a mortgage and that will improve the understanding as to why foreclosures are occurring throughout the country. Furthermore, with this base understanding of this market we might better understand why Congressional and state legislators wish to place a moratorium, or temporary freeze, to the current foreclosure emergency. What is a Mortgage? First, let’s examine what a mortgage is. According to the Freddie Mac lending agency a mortgage is, â€Å"†¦ a lien on a property/house that secures a loan and is paid in installments over a set period of time. The mortgage secures your promise that you'll repay the money you've borrowed to buy your home. † There are also several types of mortgages available through lending agencies as well. Some of the following are the primary options available: fixed rate, adjustable rate, balloon/reset, reverse, and the hottest one that is being talked about the subprime mortgage. This is the one that should be hit on most heavily because this is the reason for the foreclosure crisis occurring right now. The problem with subprime mortgage lending is the fact that a subprime lender is predatory in nature, much like a loan shark. These companies prey on those who cannot receive a mortgage through mainstream companies as a result of poor credit or and/or a number of other factors. These companies then charge very high interest rates on the mortgages they extend to consumers. These interest rates are placed on the principle of the loan and essentially the individual paying on the loan will have to pay on the interest in lieu of the principle for a very long period of time. According to Reuters, â€Å"The crisis surrounding subprime mortgages extended to borrowers with spotty credit [can] unnerve financial markets and could deepen a slump in the U. S. housing market that some economists fear could put the economy close to a recession. † What is a Foreclosure? Second, Foreclosures occur when an borrower or owner of a parcel of property or home defaults on a loan payment, such as a mortgage payment, and the lender files a default notice, whereby a bank or mortgage company repossesses they property in question and the owner/borrower looses whatever rights he/she might have had prior to the default. The problem with foreclosing on individual’s property today is that there are a plethora of people in America that are defaulting on their mortgage payments as a result of the slowing economy, predatory lending, credit card debt; the list is endless. If the mortgage companies foreclosed on all those defaulting, there would be more homeless Americans than in U. S. history. What Is the Proposed Solution? Finally, let’s examine what has been proposed as a solution to the problem of foreclosures as a result of extended mortgages to borrowers, as it stands. The U. S. government is attempting to broker a deal with mortgage lenders to assist troubled borrowers with defaulting on their mortgage payments. However, many lawmakers also would like to see a moratorium occur; freezing all foreclosures so that financially-troubled borrowers can have some time to keep from losing their homes. Lawmakers believe this action will not only assist borrowers, but it will also help to stabilize the economy and the housing market as a result of homeowners having time to accrue equity. Furthermore, lawmakers have proposed to extend more than five billion dollars to the hardest-hit communities so that homeowners might be able to cope a little easier with the crisis. Florida, Nevada, California, Michigan and Ohio are key state in next year’s elections as well as some of the hardest-hit as a result of the mortgage crisis. With lawmakers steering at the helm for a solution to one of the greatest financial questions since the Great Depression all one can do is waiting to see what the next administration will do to assist with the issue at hand.

Ethical Dilemmas in Interpreting Essay

Ethical dilemmas in interpreting: case study 2 In the scenario, I am interpreting at a medical practice. The Service Provider (SP) is the GP practice and Service User (SU) is a patient. I arrive at the reception on time, the receptionist waves me in direction of the patient and then she answers a phone call. Then the patient is called into the consultation room. At the consultation room, I try to introduce myself and give my Code of Practice (CoP) to the doctor but he ignores me and asks what the problem with the patient is. I reply to him that he can ask the patient himself and I will interpret for him. Then the doctor ask me to take the patient back to the waiting room so I can interview her, while he sees another patient, then he will call us back. The following things went wrong during my job assignment: * The receptionist behaves unprofessionally because she shouldn’t leave me alone with the patient because this could cause me being partial and unsuitable to do this assignment. * The doctor ignores my introduction. The Code of Practice (section 5.24) says that Service Provider should â€Å"allow to interpreter to introduce him or herself†. Introduction is important because it allows me explain the rules and terms which I am going to follow during assignment. * The doctor should â€Å"address member of the public directly† (Code of Practice section 5.26). It is important that a service provider speaks directly to a service user, because it allows better communication and connection between, in this situation, patient and doctor, and SU doesn’t feel left out. * The doctor doesn’t want to interview the patient and ask me to leave the consultation room. The Code of Practice defines this problem as follows: â€Å"Conduct all of the interview yourself. It may be tempting to ask the interpreter to go off and have chat with your client, and then come back and tell you the relevant points, but the interpreter is not qualified to know what information to look for or how to process the information received.† (Code of Practice, section 5.29) I wasn’t sure what I should do as an interpreter to be in line with my Code of Practice. If I did what doctor asks, I wouldn’t be assertive and impartial (Code of Practice, section 2.4). If I refused to do what doctor insists, I would leave the patient without  any help. I decide to explain to the doctor what my job description is and ask him one more time to interview the patient. If doctor still refuses to do interview I ask him if would be possible to assign the patient to diffe rent doctor or nurse. After I finished assignment, I would report the incident with the doctor to the agency if I work for one or report it to practice’s manager if I am be freelance interpreter.

Global Warming and Sustainable Energy essays

Global Warming and Sustainable Energy essays Sustainability is defined as patterns of economic, environmental, and social progress that meet the needs of the present day without reducing the capacity to meet future need. Sustainable energy refers to those patterns of energy production and use that can support society's present and future needs with the least life-cycle economic, environmental, and social costs. Life-cycle is the cost of a product from acquiring its original raw material to manufacturing, transporting, and using it to its final demolition and disposal (Randolf and Masters 3). Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley (2005) that energy is as the top of the list of problems in our quest for sustainability. In his view, enough available, affordable and clean, efficient energy would enable resolution of all other problems and is a key to achieving a sustainable world system Randolf and Masters 4. But the supply of non-renewable energy sources - petroleum, natural gas, and coal - is at risk as the majority of our energy consumed (83% in 2009) is being generated from these sources (Renewable However, there are those who believe that over-consumption is more of an environmental threat than population, as expressed by Fred Pearce, in an article at e360 at Yale, "...a small portion of the world's people - those in the affluent, developed world - use up most of the Earth's resources and produce most of its greenhouse gas emissions (Pearce)." He goes on to mention the work of Stephen Pacala, director of Princeton Environment Institute, who calculates that the world's richest half-billion people - that is about 7 percent of the global population - are responsible for 50 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, while the poorest 50 percent are responsible for 7 percent of the emissions (Pearce). Mo...

A Brief History of the Chinese Yuan Currency

A Brief History of the Chinese Yuan Currency Literally translated as the peoples currency the renminbi (RMB) has been the currency of China for over 50 years. It is also known as the Chinese yuan (CNY) and by the symbol  ¥. For many years, the renminbi was pegged to the U.S. dollar. In 2005, it was officially unpegged and as of February 2017, had an exchange rate of 6.8 RMB to $1 U.S. dollar. The Renminbis Beginnings The renminbi was first issued on December 1, 1948, by the Chinese Communist Partys Peoples Bank of China. At that time, the CCP was deep into the civil war with the Chinese Nationalist Party, which had its own currency, and the first issuance of the renminbi was used to stabilize Communist-held areas which assisted in a CCP victory. After the defeat of the Nationalists in 1949, Chinas new government addressed the extreme inflation that plagued the old regime by streamlining its financial system and centralizing foreign exchange management. The Currencys Second Issue In 1955, the Peoples Bank of China, now Chinas central bank, issued its second series of the renminbi that replaced the first at a rate of one new RMB to 10,000 old RMB, which has remained unchanged since. A third series of RMB was issued in 1962 which used multi-color printing technology and used hand-engraved printing plates for the first time. In this period, the RMBs exchange value was unrealistically set with many western currencies which created a large underground market for foreign exchange transactions. With Chinas economic reforms in the 1980s, the RMB was devalued and became more easily traded, creating a more realistic exchange rate. In 1987, a fourth series of RMB was issued featuring a watermark, magnetic ink, and fluorescent ink. In 1999, a fifth series of RMB was issued, featuring Mao Zedong on all notes. Unpegging the Renminbi From 1997 to 2005, the Chinese government pegged the RMB to the United States currency at about 8.3 RMB per dollar, despite criticisms from the United States. On July 21, 2005, the Peoples Bank of China announced that it would lift the peg to the dollar and phase in a flexible mechanism of exchange rates. Following the announcement, the RMB was reevaluated to 8.1 RMB per dollar.

Weak Form Market Efficiency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Weak Form Market Efficiency - Essay Example However finance theory assumes idealistic models for the stock markets and formulates the investor utility functions and expectations accordingly. These models are based on perfect competition and passage of information in an unfettered manner. As Wikipedia (2007) seems to point out, "In economics and financial theory, analysts use random walk techniques to model behavior of asset prices, in particular share prices on stock markets, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. This practice has its basis in the presumption that investors act rationally and without bias, and that at any moment they estimate the value of an asset based on future expectations. Under these conditions, all existing information affects the price, which changes only when new information comes out. By definition, new information appears randomly and influences the asset price randomly. Empirical studies have demonstrated that prices do not completely follow random walk. Low serial correlations (around 0.05) exist in the short term; and slightly stronger correlations over the longer term. Their sign and the strength depend on a variety of factors, but transaction costs and bid-ask spreads generally make it impossible to earn excess returns. Researchers have found that some of the biggest prices deviations from random walk result from seasonal and temporal patterns. In particular, returns in January significantly exceed those in other months (January effect) and on Mondays stock prices go down more than on any other day. Observers have noted these effects in many different markets for more than half a century, but without succeeding in giving a completely satisfactory explanation for their persistence. Technical analysis uses most of the anomalies to extract information on future price movements from historical data. But some economists, for example Eugene Fama, argu e that most of these patterns occur accidentally, rather than as a result of irrational or inefficient behavior of investors: the huge amount of data available to researchers for analysis allegedly causes the fluctuations. Another school of thought, behavioral finance, attributes non-randomness to investors' cognitive and emotional biases". Taking an apposite viewpoint Leverton () states, "Without market fundamentals being able to predict prices, the investor is forced to learn new ways of investing.. Ratios and trend analysis are important to picking a winning portfolio. Subscribers to the adaptive expectations theory believe investors are backward looking in deciding on the correct price to pay for a stock". Realized and expected rreturns from the stock markets have been the subject of intense debate since a long period of time .Several theories suggesting various constructs and factors responsible for determining the returns from the stocks have been postulated thus far.It was not until the late 1960s and early 1970s that a fully-developed, empirically-supported theory of share prices' behavior emerged in the form of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH).Prior to the development of the EMH , analysts assumed some degree of dependence across successful price changes. Very many efforts were made towards identifying a predictable trading pattern which could be used for chasing profitable deals. From the mid-1950s to the early 1980s, a random walk theory (RWT) of share prices was developed based on the past empirical evidence of randomness in share price movements. RWT

Understand How To Lead Groups & Teams And Navigate Conflicts & Essay

Understand How To Lead Groups & Teams And Navigate Conflicts & Negotiation - Essay Example Understand How To Lead Groups & Teams And Navigate Conflicts & Negotiation Leader gives his priority attention to the internal and external customers and their wants or needs, he provide the resources, training and environment reasonable for work to his sub ordinates, he believed in continuous improvement in a positive manners, he encourage the collaboration between his team members and prefer to do work by mutual corporation instead of this working against each other in a team finally affect the future goals on which they are working, leader is a trainer of his team he help his sub ordinates to do their job in a better way, if there is a problem in an organizational environment due to the internal misunderstanding or due to the external factors he trying to cop upit and also get the precautions for the future operation that this mistake do not repeat in future, he trying to improve his communication with his sub ordinates and trying to remove if any communication gap between them he believe in to show by his own rather to communicate it to the sub ordinate s, he choice the resources on the basis of quality not the monetary reward, establish the good organizational environment or improve it and the leader know that who one give his best so he promote the individual reward as well as the team. Leadership is an important function of management which helps to maximize efficiency and to achieve organizational goals. Some of the points related to the importance of the leadership are as following: 1. A person who initiate the work, develop the policies and plans of achieving the goals and provide the guidance about from where to start work. 2. A person gives motivation to his employees by giving the rewards weather economic or non economic and gets his desired work from the employees. 3. A person is not just supervising the work of the employees he provides the guidance related to the work, to improve the efficiency of achieving the goals efficiently. 4. Confidence is one of the important elements which an employee has to express his through and explaining his ideas in front of others which helps to getting the goals. 5. The confidence in the employee is one of the necessary elements which and leader builds in his subordinates. Confidence is the inoculation to perform their liabilities to achieve objectives. 6. Management wants to perform their work through the people. When the environment is like the working environment this helps for the stable growth. Management has to pay attention the employee’s problem and solve them. Modern organizations are developing and shifting quickly and to develop effective strategies they need to hold change and growth. â€Å"Organization development is a wide application of behavioral science knowledge to the planned development and reinforcement of organizational strategies, structures, and process for improving an organization’s effectiveness† (Cummings & Worley, 2009). When people with different nature, behavior and goals are gathered and start working together t o achieve the same organizational goals and objectives then due to their difference in the nature and personalities and differing in their individual objectives some kind of conflicts. Conflicts mean that when two different persons have different opinion on one task and they start making the arguments which are not healthy. To resolve these conflicts the role of the leader according leadership is very important. When a team formed to perform a specific task it have diversity different type of peoples bring different skills like knowledge, experience, values, attitude, behavior and point of view. Every person has to share his skills with others to do the work efficiently and effectively, they all have their own

Rally Round the Trade Name Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rally Round the Trade Name - Essay Example Despite the fact that Gabby’s surname is Rally, it is not lawful for her to use it for her piazza business in the same jurisdiction as occupied by Rally motors. This is because, for one, a trade name is given under two different laws; common law and trade name registration law according to Tatum (2010). Under common law, an individual who first uses a certain trade name in a particular region for a particular purpose has exclusive rights for that name in the particular areas for that specific purpose. As a result, Gabby is not supposed to use her surname in conjunction with her business in the region. Doing this amounts to violating the law and infringing on trade name rights. According to intellectual property law, it is illegal to infringe on a trade name whether one posses the name or not. The issue of trade name protection goes beyond zones of reputation, expansion, and marketing despite being the first to be used in the region. Since Rally is linked with both pizza and motors, it is not a big conflict as it would happen if Gabby had decided to name her car dealership business as Rally Used Cars. It is unlawful for a similar business owner to possess two confusing names for his/ her business. Therefore, there is no problem with Rally’s association with pizza if only she does not use her name confusingly. This is because using this name does not imply that people might confuse pizza with cars. However, when two business uses the same trade name in a similar market region this can lead to a lot of confusion. The truth that Herman started utilizing the name Rally around forty years ago, protects him under both trade name registration law and the under the common law. He is also protected by the fact that he started using the trade name in the region first, before Gabby.

Reflective Employability Skills Assignment

Reflective Employability Skills Assignment Introduction With the rapid development of society, the competitions between companies are also increasing, what the employer want for the graduates are not only focus on the degree but pay more attention to their employability skills. In order to win their competitors in the fierce competition, employers want graduates who have a wide range of skills to bring to the work environment and need the employees with multi-skilled to fulfil many different roles. (Foster, 1998, p.4). So graduates who coming into the workforce must have the skills needed by employers. With the purpose of making ourselves become more competitive in the future job market first we should find out what the employability skills the employer want for graduates, then according to the employability skills do the personal SWOT analysis and make an action plan to improve ourselves. Discussion of employability skills What skills do employers want? Employability skills are defined as skills required not only to gain employment, but also to progress within an enterprise so as to achieve ones potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions. (DEST 2002a) Today, despite the degree, companies are paying more attention to the employability skills of the graduates, but there is no uniform standard of employability skills. What employability skills the graduates should have are depend on companys actual operating conditions and different companies have different standards. Through a wide range of literature research, the result of what the employability skills needed by companies are almost the same, and can be roughly divided into the following eight basic skills: Communication skills, Teamwork skills, Problem solving skills , Self management skills, Planning and organizing skills, Technology skills, Life-long learning skills and Initiative and enterprise skills. (MONASH, nd) Why do companies want these skills? Communication skills The CIPDs views are based on the latest CIPD/KPMG quarterly Labor Market Outlook, a survey of over 1,400 UK employers, the key attributes employers look for in school leaver recruits are communication skills (40% of employers rank this in their top three required attributes), work ethic (39%) and personality (32%). (CIPD,2006) .Communication happens all the time in the workplace, having effective communication skills can make us have a good relationship with colleagues and superiors ,thus can create a good working environment and help us complete the work more efficiently. Whats more , have good communication skills not only can make the existing customers become more satisfy with the products and services provided by our company but also can attract more clients cooperate with us . Teamwork skills In Todays society, only have the individual working ability is not enough, more and more works need a group of people to complete together .Work in groups can speed up the progress of work and also through brainstorming to create a better idea of the company Problem solving skills In this competitive world, companies will faced various problems at any time, solving the problem successfully enable the company ride out the storm or it will fail. Self-management skills Companies also need graduates have self-management skills to complete the work alone or almost alone, without the need for someone to stand over the employees constantly and tell them want to do.à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ Foster, 1998, p.14à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °. Planning and organizing skills Employers need graduates to make plans and organize the limited sources to achieve both short and long-term goals of company. Technology skills In the technological age, technology skills become increasingly important, company need employees proficiency in using computers and telecommunications systems, understanding current trends and developments managing information through technology. Life-long learning skills In order to make the company development sustainably, only require employee continuous learning can let the company keep pace with this rapid-developing society, and employees who have the life-long learning skills can also bring benefits to the company. Initiative and enterprise skills Employees recruited by the company are all with multi-skilled, the company may frequent transfer their employees to different departments and to take different roles within a company. (Heather and Peter, 2006, p.2) .So this require the employee have the initiative and enterprise skills to adjust themselves easily to new situations and can take the job quickly. Personal SWOT Analysis After identify the employability skills that needed by companies, I make a personal SWOT analysis based on actual experience and self assessment test through the internet. (S)trengths I have good team work and organizing skills. According to the results of my self assessment test, I have a great mark in humanistic-encouraging and affiliative. (See Appendix 1) In the group work I can build on ideas with other members and as team leader I usually will make plans to allocate tasks to the group members to make sure everyone enjoys the tasks they are assigned to. I am good at Self management. I can management my time well and get thing done without being pushed. Usually I will write down the things what I need to do and sort them out according to the importance and the time sequence. After that I will write them to the calendar so that I can know clearly what and when should I do next I do well in learning. I willing to put in time and effort to learn new skills. As a student, beside the major I also join the free English class and the Assessment Centres mini module to improve myself. I have technology skills. I am not only having the basic computer skills but also can use specialised software packages. Since I have learned the business decision modelling in my first year and now I also learning the applied management and decision modelling, all of them need to use the specialised software packages so I learned how to use them in the course. (W)eaknesses I have no employment experience, even the part-time job experience. I am weak in problem solving; when I face problems usually I can not see all sides of them and can not provide good solution of them. My Communication skills are weak. I am an introvert (result in appendix 1) and I am not good at communicate with others .I feel shy when I talking to strangers. (O)pportunities I can find a part-time job through the future of our school to learn new skills to enhance my CV. I am more employable than others if I get work experience in UK. 65% of international employers indicates that they are more willing to employ They are more willing to recruit graduates with overseas work experience (Archer and Davison, 2008.). I have an opportunity to get a good job if I return to China after I graduate. China is widely expected to become the worlds largest human capital market in the future, requiring an explosive number of talented professionals. Companies seeking to hire Mainland Chinese returnees: born and raised in China, studied/worked in the U.S. or Europe and then returned to China. They offer international experience, plus language and cultural skills but are in short supply (Davy, Lau). I can enjoy a variety of preferential policies for overseas student which provided by the Chinese government if I back to China. (T)hreats In recent years, explosive growth trends of Chinese overseas students choose to return home which will increase the competition of getting jobs in China. Employment pressure both in China and UK. not only Chinese graduates for job-hunting with anxiety, graduates of British also face the same problem. The jobs shortage was blamed on a substantial backlog in the number of jobless graduates from previous years creating additional pressure on the employment market in 2010. (Articlesbase,2010). Personal Action Plan After I finished the personal SWOT analysis, according to my own situation I make an action plan base on SMART Skill to be improved Communication skills: Specific Actions: Participating in the activities that organized by school community orinvolvingin the school communitydirectly. Make a lot of friends. Take the initiative in making acquaintances. Do not feel nervous when talking to strangers Next month Take the mini module about communication that provided by the future in our school Presenting and participating in class discussions Semester 2 Measure: Through the IELTS test to improve my English speaking, writing, reading and listening skills. Take the IELTS test Target date:  Christmas  holidays Problem solving skills Specific Actions: Apply for the volunteer opportunities provide by the futureHelping people solve problem while improving my problem solving skills. Become a volunteer Semester 2 Measure: Analysis the requirements of school assignments Meet the assignment requirements of teachers Target date:  Deadline of  assignments Initiative and enterprise skills Specific Actions:  Find part-time jobs in our school or become a volunteer Get part-time jobs, become a volunteer Measure:  Semester 2 Become a trainee of a company  for 1-2week Work in a company as a trainee Target date:  Christmas holidays Teamwork skills Specific Actions:  Working on group assignments Measure:  Do the Group work assignments Target date:  Deadline of group  assignments Planning and organisation skills Specific Actions:  Arranging study and daily lives at university Measure:  Make plans everyday and do thing according to plans Target date:  Everyday Self-management skills Summing up the  gaps in skills and knowledge Specific Actions:  Do self-reflection whenteachers give assignment feedback Target date:  At the end of semester 1 Learning skills Learning new skills that needed by employers Specific Actions:  Attend courses and finish courses Target date:  Semester 2 Technology skills Specific Actions:  Learn something about Photoshop or database. Participate the relevant courses Target date:  During semester 2 Conclusion There is no doubt that employees who having a good degree will gain an excellent starting point, since a good degree helps employees open the door of finding a job, however, a degree alone is not enough, employers want much more from their graduate employees, they want employees can bring benefits to the company and let the company in an invincible position during the fierce competition. Through extensive research I summed up eight kinds of employability skills that most needed by companies. And I made a personal SWOT analysis based on employability skills and self assessment test through the internet and actual experience which made me become more aware of myself. After that I made an action plan for myself. Ill stick to the plan and I hope that it would help me improve my employability skills after I finish it .And get a good job in the competitive job market after I graduate.

Immigration Effects in Midwestern Communities :: Illegal Immigration, Illegal Immigrants

Immigration Effects in Midwestern Communities Works Cited Not Included The immigrants that are moving into the small Midwestern towns in America not only negatively affect the predominantly white resident societies, but also have negative impact on the non-white immigrants. The adjustment that both cultures must make in order to live in the same communities is difficult. Prejudice makes life for immigrants in these small predominantly white American cities difficult. Some of the issues that are being addressed are the social boundaries that the U.S. residents make for none-residents. This may stem from the lack of knowledge and understanding about other cultures. Most immigrants who migrate to these small towns are poor. They have to take low paying jobs because they are not skilled for better jobs and they also have language issues. The jobs do not provide enough income to sustain the households that are sometimes large and the immigrants are forced to apply for government assistance and other welfare forms such as WIC (women, infants and children). In Iowa one in four families received assistance and the unpaid medical costs doubled in the past ten years. (Cooper 1997) Is this why medical insurance is so unaffordable for the average person who is unable to receive insurance through their job? Is this why hospital expenses are outrageous, because of their unpaid bills? It is difficult for workers to pay for insurance when they are unable to afford the basic necessities. Wages in the plants are low so that owners may make higher profits. In Wausau Wisconsin over 60 percent of the Hmong refugees were living on government assistance. The thought from the citizens that the Hmong will stay in a low economic status, could be a burden on the city. (Koltyk 1998) The residents who pay taxes may feel bitter about supporting these ?foreigners?. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform ?FAIR? (FAIR issue brief 10/02) over one million immigrants are coming into America every year and they are mostly poor. The cost of immigration by the end of 2002 was around sixty-six billion dollars in a country that can hardly support its native poor. (FAIR 2002) What impact does this have on the state welfare and the people that have to pay for these expenses, the taxpayers? Most immigrants, who work in the low paying plants, are living in substandard housing because their wages are so low they can not afford anything better.

Blood Promise Chapter Eighteen

Unsurprisingly, I woke up with a headache. For a few addled seconds, I had no idea what had happened or where I was. As drowsiness wore off, the events on the street came slamming back to me. I sat upright, all of my defenses kicking into action, despite the slight wooziness in my head. Time to figure out where I was now. I sat up on an enormous bed in a darkened room. No-not just a room. More like a suite or a studio. I'd thought the hotel in Saint Petersburg was opulent, but this blew it away. The half of the studio I sat in contained the bed and usual bedroom accessories: a dresser, nightstands, etc. The other half looked like a living room area, with a couch and a television. Shelves were built into the walls, all of them filled with books. Off to my right was a short hall with a door at the end. Probably a bathroom. On my other side was a large picture window, tinted, as Moroi windows often were. This one had more tint than any I'd ever seen. It was almost solid black, nearly impossible to see through. Only the fact that I could differentiate the sky from the horizon-after a fair amount of squinting-let me know it was daytime out there. I slid off the bed, my senses on high alert as I tried to assess my danger. My stomach felt fine; there were no Strigoi in the area. That didn't necessarily rule out some other person, however. I couldn't take anything for granted-doing so was what had gotten me in trouble on the street. There was no time to ponder that, though. Not quite yet. If I did, my resolve here was going to falter. Sliding off the bed, I reached into my coat pocket for the stake. Gone, of course. I saw nothing else nearby that would pass as a weapon, meaning I'd have to rely on my own body to do my fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a light switch on the wall. I flipped it on and froze, waiting to see what-or who-the overhead lights would unveil. Nothing unusual. No one else. Immediately, I did the first obvious thing and checked the door. It was locked, as I'd expected, and the only way of opening it was a numeric keypad. Plus, it was heavy and made of what looked like steel. It reminded me of a fire door. There was no getting past it, so I turned back around to continue my exploration. It was actually kind of ironic. A lot of my classes had gone over detailed ways of checking out a place. I'd always hated those; I'd wanted to learn about fighting. Now it appeared those lessons that had seemed useless at the time had real purpose. The light had brought the suite's objects into sharper relief. The bed was covered in an ivory satin duvet, filled to maximum fluffiness with down. Creeping over to the living room, I saw that the TV was nice-really nice. Large-screen plasma. It looked brand-new. The couches were nice too, covered in matte green leather. It was an unusual color choice for leather, but it worked. All of the furniture in the place-tables, desk, dresser was made of a smooth, polished black wood. In a corner of the living room, I saw a small refrigerator. Kneeling down, I opened it up to find bottled water and juice, assorted fruits, and bags of perfectly cut cheeses. On top of the refrigerator was more snack-type food: nuts, crackers, and some type of glazed pastry. My stomach growled at the sight of it, but no way was I going to eat anything in this place. The bathroom was done in the same style as the rest of the studio. The shower and large Jacuzzi tub were made of black polished marble, and little soaps and shampoos lined the counter. A larger mirror hung over the sink, except†¦ it wasn't actually hanging. It was embedded so tightly into the wall that there was absolutely no way it could be removed. The material was strange too. It looked more like reflective metal than glass. At first I thought that was strange, until I raced back out to the main room and looked around. There was absolutely nothing here that could be turned into a weapon. The TV was too big to move or break, short of cracking the screen, which looked like it was made of some high-tech plastic. There was no glass in any of the tables. The shelves were embedded. The bottles in the refrigerator were all plastic. And the window†¦ I ran over to it, feeling along its edges. Like the mirror, it was fitted perfectly into the wall. There were no panes. It was one smooth piece. Squinting again, I finally got a detailed view of my outer surroundings and saw†¦ nothing. The land appeared to be rolling plains, with only a few scattered trees. It reminded me of the wilderness I'd traveled while going to Baia. I was no longer in Novosibirsk, apparently. And peering down, I saw that I was fairly high up. Fourth floor, maybe. Whatever it was, it was too high to jump without breaking a limb. Still, I had to take some sort of action. I couldn't just sit here. I picked up the desk's chair and slammed it into the window-and achieved little effect on either the chair or the glass. â€Å"Jesus Christ,† I muttered. I tried three more times and still had no luck. It was like they were both made of steel. Maybe the glass was some kind of bulletproof industrial strength stuff. And the chair†¦ well, hell if I knew. It was all one piece of wood and showed no signs of splintering, even after what I'd just put it through. But since I'd spent my whole life doing things that weren't that reasonable, I kept trying to break the glass. I was on my fifth try when my stomach warned me of a Strigoi's approach. Spinning around, I kept a hold of the chair and charged the door. It opened, and I slammed into the intruder, with the chair's legs pointing out. It was Dimitri. Those same conflicted feelings I'd felt on the street returned to me, love mingled with terror. This time, I pushed through the love, not flinching in my attack. Not that it did much good. Hitting him was like hitting the window. He shoved me back, and I staggered, still holding onto the chair. I kept my balance and charged once more. This time, when we collided, he grabbed a hold of the chair and ripped it from my hands. He then tossed it into the wall, like it weighed nothing. Without that meager weapon, it was back to relying on my own body's strength. I'd been doing it for the last couple of weeks with our Strigoi questioning; this should have been the same. Of course, I'd had four other people then as backup. And none of those Strigoi had been Dimitri. Even as a dhampir, he'd been hard to beat. Now he was just as skilled-only faster and stronger. He also knew all my moves, seeing as he'd taught them to me. It was almost impossible to surprise him. But just like with the window, I couldn't stay inactive. I was trapped in a room-the fact that it was a big, luxurious room didn't matter-with a Strigoi. A Strigoi. That's what I had to keep telling myself. There was a Strigoi in here. Not Dimitri. Everything I'd told Denis and the others applied here. Be smart. Be vigilant. Defend yourself. â€Å"Rose,† he said, deflecting one of my kicks effortlessly. â€Å"You're wasting time. Stop.† Oh, that voice. Dimitri's voice. The voice I heard when I fell asleep at night, the voice that had once told me he loved me†¦ No! It's not him. Dimitri is gone. This is a monster. Desperately, I tried to think of how I could win here. I even thought of the ghosts I'd summoned on the road. Mark had said I could do that in moments of wild emotion and that they'd fight for me. This was as wild as emotion could get, yet I couldn't seem to call them. I honestly had no clue how I'd done it before, and all the wishing in the world couldn't make it happen now. Damn. What good were terrifying powers if I couldn't use them to my advantage? Instead, I pulled the DVD player off its shelf, cords ripping from the wall. It wasn't much of a weapon, but I was desperate now. I heard a strange, primal battle scream, and some distant part of me realized I was making it. Again, I ran at Dimitri, swinging the DVD player as hard as I could. It probably would have hurt a little-if it had hit him. It didn't. He intercepted it again, taking it from me, and throwing it down. It smashed to pieces on the floor. In the same motion, he grabbed a hold of my arms to stop me from hitting or reaching for something else. His grip was hard, like it could break my bones, but I kept struggling. He tried reason again. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you. Roza, please stop.† Roza. The old nickname. The name he'd first called me when we'd fallen prey to Victor's lust charm, both of us wrapped naked in each other's arms †¦ This isn't the Dimitri you knew. My hands were incapacitated, so I struck out with my legs and feet as best I could. It didn't do much. Without full use of the rest of my body for balance, I had no force to throw into my kicks. For his part, he looked more annoyed than truly concerned or angry. With a loud sigh, he grabbed me by the shoulders and flipped me around, pressing me against the wall and immobilizing me with the full force of his body. I struggled a little but was as pinned as the Strigoi had been when the others and I had gone hunting. The universe had a sick sense of humor. â€Å"Stop fighting me.† His breath was warm against my neck, his body right up against mine. I knew his mouth was only a couple inches away. â€Å"I'm not going to hurt you.† I gave another fruitless shove. My breath was coming in ragged gasps, and my head injury throbbed. â€Å"You'll have to understand if I have a hard time believing that.† â€Å"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Now, if you're going to keep fighting, I'll have to tie you up. If you stop, I'll let you stay unrestrained.† â€Å"Aren't you afraid I'll escape?† â€Å"No.† His voice was perfectly calm, and chills ran down my spine. â€Å"I am not.† We stood like that for almost a minute, deadlocked. My mind raced. It was true that he probably would have killed me already if that were his intent, yet that gave me no reason to believe I was even remotely safe. Nonetheless, we were at a draw in this fight. Okay, draw wasn't entirely accurate. I was at a draw. He was toying with me. My head was throbbing where his blow had landed, and this pointless fighting would only take a further toll. I had to regain my strength in order to find a way to escape-if I lived that long. I also needed to stop thinking about how close our bodies were. After our months of being so careful not to touch, this much contact was heady. I relaxed in his hold. â€Å"Okay.† He hesitated before letting me go, probably wondering if he could trust me. The whole moment reminded me of when we'd been together in the little cabin on the periphery of the Academy's grounds. I'd been raging and upset, brimming with spirit's darkness. Dimitri had held me down then, too, and talked me out of that horrible state. We had kissed, then his hands had lifted my shirt, and-no, no. Not here. I couldn't think about that here. Dimitri finally eased up, releasing me from the wall. I turned around, and all my instincts wanted to lash out and attack him again. Sternly, I reminded myself to bide my time so that I could gain more strength and information. Even though he'd let me go, he hadn't moved away. We were only a foot apart. Against my better judgment, I found myself taking him in again, like I had on the street. How could he be the same and yet so different? I tried my best not to focus on the similarities-his hair, the difference in our heights, the shape of his face. Instead, I concentrated on the Strigoi features, the red in his eyes and pallor of his skin. I was so fixated on my task that it took me a moment to realize he wasn't saying anything either. He was studying me intently, like his eyes could look right through me. I shivered. It almost-almost!-seemed as though I captivated him the same way he captivated me. That was impossible, though. Strigoi didn't possess those kinds of emotions, and besides, the thought of him still having any affection for me was probably just wishful thinking on my part. His face had always been hard to read, and now it was overlaid with a mask of cunning and coldness that made it truly impossible to know what was on his mind. â€Å"Why did you come here?† he asked at last. â€Å"Because you hit me on the head and dragged me here.† If I was going to die, I was going to go in true Rose style. The old Dimitri would have cracked a smile or given an exasperated sigh. This one remained impassive. â€Å"That's not what I meant, and you know it. Why are you here?† His voice was low and dangerous. I'd thought Abe was scary, but there was no competition at all. Even Zmey would have backed off. â€Å"In Siberia? I came to find you.† â€Å"I came here to get away from you.† I was so shocked that I said something utterly ridiculous. â€Å"Why? Because I might kill you?† The look he gave me showed that he thought that was indeed a ridiculous thing to say. â€Å"No. So we wouldn't be in this situation. Now we are, and the choice is inevitable.† I wasn't entirely sure what this situation was. â€Å"Well, you can let me go if you want to avoid it.† He stepped away and walked toward the living room without looking back at me. I was tempted to try to do a sneak attack on him, but something told me I'd probably only make it about four feet before getting backhanded. He sat down in one of the luxurious leather armchairs, folding his six-foot-seven frame up as gracefully as he'd always done. God, why did he have to be so contradictory? He had the old Dimitri's habits mixed with those of a monster. I stayed where I was, huddled against the wall. â€Å"Not possible anymore. Not after seeing you now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Again, he studied me. It felt strange. Part of me responded with excitement to the intensity of his gaze, loving the way he surveyed my body from head to toe. The other part of me felt dirty, like slime or muck was oozing over my skin as he studied me. â€Å"You're still as beautiful as I remember, Roza. Not that I should have expected anything different.† I didn't know what to say to that. I'd never really had a conversation with a Strigoi, short of trading a few insults and threats in the midst of a fight. The nearest I'd come was when I'd been held captive by Isaiah. I actually had been tied up then, and most of the talking had been about him killing me. This†¦ well, it wasn't like that, but it was still definitely creepy. I crossed my arms over my chest and backed up against the wall. It was the closest I could come to some semblance of a defense. He tilted his head, watching me carefully. A shadow fell across his face in such a way that it made the red in his eyes hard to see. Instead, they looked dark. Just like they used to, endless and wonderful, filled with love and bravery†¦ â€Å"You can sit down,† he said. â€Å"I'm fine over here.† â€Å"Is there anything else you want?† â€Å"For you to let me go?† For a moment, I thought I saw a bit of that old wryness in his face, the kind he'd get when I made jokes. Studying him, I decided I'd imagined it. â€Å"No, Roza. I meant, do you need anything here? Different food? Books? Entertainment?† I stared incredulously. â€Å"You make it sound like some sort of luxury hotel!† â€Å"It is, to a certain extent. I can speak to Galina, and she'll get you anything you wish.† â€Å"Galina?† Dimitri's lips turned up in a smile. Well, kind of. I think his thoughts were fond, but the smile conveyed none of that. It was chilling, dark, and full of secrets. Only my refusal to show weakness before him stopped me from cringing. â€Å"Galina is my old instructor, back from when I was in school.† â€Å"She's Strigoi?† â€Å"Yes. She was awakened several years ago, in a fight in Prague. She's relatively young for a Strigoi, but she's risen in power. All of this is hers.† Dimitri gestured around us. â€Å"And you live with her?† I asked, curious in spite of myself. I wondered exactly what kind of relationship they had, and to my surprise, I felt†¦ jealous. Not that I had reason to. He was a Strigoi, beyond me now. And it wouldn't be the first time a teacher and student had gotten together†¦ â€Å"I work for her. She was another reason I returned here when I was awakened. I knew she was Strigoi, and I wanted her guidance.† â€Å"And you wanted to get away from me. That was the other reason, right?† His only answer was a nod of his head. No elaboration. â€Å"Where are we? We're far from Novosibirsk, right?† â€Å"Yes. Galina's estate is outside the city.† â€Å"How far?† That smile twisted a little. â€Å"I know what you're doing, and I'm not going to give you that sort of information.† â€Å"Then what are you doing?† I demanded, all of my pent-up fear bursting out as anger. â€Å"Why are you holding me here? Kill me or let me go. And if you're going to just lock me up and torture me with mind games or whatever, then I really would rather you kill me.† â€Å"Brave words.† He stood up and began pacing once more. â€Å"I almost believe you.† â€Å"They're true,† I replied defiantly. â€Å"I came here to kill you. And if I can't do that, then I'd rather die.† â€Å"You failed, you know. On the street.† â€Å"Yeah. I kind of figured that out when I woke up here.† Dimitri made an abrupt turn and was suddenly standing in front of me, moving with that lightning-fast Strigoi speed. My Strigoi-nausea had never gone away, but the more time I spent with him, the more it faded to a low-level sort of background noise that I could more or less ignore. â€Å"I'm a little disappointed. You're so good, Rose. So very, very good. You and your friends going around and taking down Strigoi caused quite a stir, you know. Some Strigoi were even afraid.† â€Å"But not you?† â€Å"When I heard it was you†¦ hmm.† He turned thoughtful, eyes narrowing. â€Å"No. I was curious. Wary. If anyone could have killed me, it would have been you. But like I said, you hesitated. It was your ultimate test of my lessons, and you failed.† I kept my face blank. Inside, I was still beating myself up over that moment of weakness on the street. â€Å"I won't hesitate next time.† â€Å"There won't be a next time. And anyway, as disappointed as I am in you, I'm still glad to be alive, of course.† â€Å"You aren't alive,† I said through gritted teeth. God, he was so, so close to me again. Even with the changes to his face, the lean and muscled body was the same. â€Å"You're dead. Unnatural. You told me a long time ago you'd rather die than be like this. That's why I'm going to kill you.† â€Å"You're only saying that because you don't know any better. I didn't either back then.† â€Å"Look, I meant what I said. I'm not playing your game. If I can't get out of here, then just kill me, okay?† Without warning, he reached out and ran his fingers along the side of my face. I gasped. His hand was ice cold, but the way he touched me†¦ again, it was the same. Exactly the same as I remembered. How was this possible? So similar†¦ yet so different. All of a sudden, another of his lessons came to mind, about how Strigoi could seem so, so like those you'd once known. It was why it was so easy to hesitate. â€Å"Killing you†¦ well, it's not that simple,† he said. His voice dropped to a low whisper again, like a snake slithering against my skin. â€Å"There's a third option. I could awaken you.† I froze and stopped breathing altogether. â€Å"No.† It was the only thing I could say. My brain couldn't come up with anything more complex, nothing witty or clever. His words were too terrifying to even begin to ponder. â€Å"No.† â€Å"You don't know what it's like. It's†¦ amazing. Transcendent. All your senses are alive; the world is more alive-â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but you're dead.† â€Å"Am I?† He caught hold of my hand and placed it over his chest. In it, I could feel a steady beating. My eyes widened. â€Å"My heart beats. I'm breathing.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I tried desperately to think of everything I'd ever been taught about Strigoi. â€Å"It's not really being alive. It's†¦ it's dark magic reanimating you. It's an illusion of life.† â€Å"It's better than life.† Both of his hands moved up and cupped my face. His heartbeat might have been steady, but mine was racing. â€Å"It's like being a god, Rose. Strength. Speed. Able to perceive the world in ways you could never imagine. And†¦ immortality. We could be together forever.† Once, that was all I'd ever wanted. And deep inside of me, some part still wished for that, wished desperately to be with him for all time. Yet†¦ it wouldn't be the way I wanted it. It wouldn't be like it used to be. This would be something different. Something wrong. I swallowed. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could barely hear my own voice, barely even form the words with him touching me like that. His fingertips were so light and gentle. â€Å"We can't be.† â€Å"We could.† One of his fingers trailed down the side of my chin and came to rest on the artery in my neck. â€Å"I could do it quickly. There'd be no pain. It'd be done before you even knew it.† He was probably right. If you were forced to become Strigoi, you had the blood drained from you. Then a Strigoi would usually cut himself and bring that blood to your lips. Somehow, I imagined I'd pass out before I was even half-drained. Together forever. The world blurred a little. I don't know if it was because of my head trauma or the terror coursing through my body. I had envisioned a hundred scenarios when I set out after Dimitri. Becoming a Strigoi hadn't been one of them. Death-his or mine-had been the only thought consuming me, which had been stupid on my part. My sluggish thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened. Dimitri turned, shoving me away hard so that he stood protectively in front of me. Two people entered, shutting the door before I could even consider running for it. One of the newcomers was a Strigoi, a guy. The other was a human woman carrying a tray, her head bowed down. I recognized the Strigoi immediately. It was hard not to; his face haunted my dreams. Blond hair, about the length of Dimitri's, hung over the side of a face that looked like he'd been in his early twenties when he turned. He had apparently seen Lissa and me when we were younger, but I had only seen him twice before. Once had been when I fought him on the Academy's grounds. The other time was when I'd encountered him in the cave that other Strigoi were using as a hangout. He was the one who had bitten and turned Dimitri. The guy barely spared me a glance and instead turned the full force of his anger on Dimitri. â€Å"What the hell is going on?† I had no trouble understanding him. He was American. â€Å"You're keeping some pet up here?† â€Å"It's none of your concern, Nathan.† Dimitri's voice was ice. Earlier, I'd thought he conveyed no emotion in his words. Now I realized it was just more difficult to detect. There was a clear challenge in his voice now, a warning for this other guy to back off. â€Å"Galina gave me permission.† Nathan's eyes drifted from Dimitri to me. His anger turned to shock. â€Å"Her?† Dimitri shifted slightly, putting himself directly in front of me now. Some rebellious part wanted to snap that I didn't need a Strigoi's protection, except†¦ well, I kind of did. â€Å"She was at the school in Montana†¦ We fought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His lips curled back, showing his fangs. â€Å"I would have tasted her blood if that fire-using Moroi brat hadn't been around.† â€Å"This doesn't have anything to do with you,† replied Dimitri. Nathan's red eyes were wide and eager. â€Å"Are you kidding? She can lead us to the Dragomir girl! If we finish that line off, our names will be legendary. How long are you going to keep her?† â€Å"Get out,† growled Dimitri. â€Å"That's not a request.† Nathan pointed at me. â€Å"She's valuable. If you're going to keep her around as some blood whore plaything, at least share. Then, we'll get the information and finish her.† Dimitri took a step forward. â€Å"Get out of here. If you lay a hand on her, I will destroy you. I will rip your head off with my bare hands and watch it burn in the sun.† Nathan's fury grew. â€Å"Galina won't allow you to play house with this girl. Even you don't have that much favor.† â€Å"Don't make me tell you to leave again. I'm not in a patient mood today.† Nathan said nothing, and the two Strigoi stood there in a staring match. I knew Strigoi strength and power were partially related to age. Nathan had obviously been turned first. I didn't know by how much, but watching them, I got the feeling that Dimitri might be stronger or that it was at least a very, very even match. I could have sworn I saw a glimpse of fear in Nathan's red eyes, but he turned away before I could get a good look. â€Å"This isn't over,† he snapped, moving toward the door. â€Å"I'm talking to Galina.† He left, and for a moment, nobody moved or spoke. Then Dimitri looked at the human woman and said something in Russian. She'd been standing there, frozen. Leaning over, she carefully placed her tray on the coffee table by the couch. She lifted a silver lid up, revealing a plate of pepperoni pizza loaded with cheese. Under any other circumstances, someone bringing me pizza in a Strigoi home would have been ludicrous and funny. Now, in the wake of Dimitri's threat to turn me Strigoi and Nathan's desire to use me to get to Lissa, nothing was funny. Even Rose Hathaway had limits when it came to making jokes. Next to the pizza was a huge brownie, thick with frosting. Food I loved, as Dimitri well knew. â€Å"Lunch,† he said. â€Å"Not poisoned.† Everything on the tray looked amazing, but I shook my head. â€Å"I'm not going to eat.† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Do you want something else?† â€Å"I don't want anything else because I'm not going to eat anything at all. If you aren't going to kill me, then I'll do it myself.† It was occurring to me that the suite's lack of weapons was probably for my own protection as much as theirs. â€Å"By starving to death?† There was dark amusement in his eyes. â€Å"I'll awaken you long before then.† â€Å"Why aren't you just doing it now?† â€Å"Because I'd rather wait for you to be willing.† Man, he really did sound like Abe, except that breaking one's kneecaps seemed kind of soft-core in comparison. â€Å"You're going to be waiting a long time,† I said. Dimitri laughed out loud then. His laughter had been rare as a dhampir, and hearing it had always thrilled me. Now it no longer had that rich warmth that had wrapped all around me. It was cold and menacing. â€Å"We'll see.† And before I could form a reply, he moved in front of me again. His hand snaked behind my neck, shoving me against him, and he tilted my face up, pressing his lips against mine. They were as cold as the rest of his skin†¦ and yet there was something warm in there, too. Some voice in me screamed that this was sick and horrible†¦ but at the same time, I lost track of the world around me as we kissed and could almost pretend we were back together in the cabin. He pulled away as quickly as he'd moved in, leaving me gasping and wide-eyed. Casually, like nothing had happened, he gestured to the woman. â€Å"This is Inna.† She looked up at the sound of her name, and I saw she was no older than me. â€Å"She works for Galina too and will check in on you. If you need anything, let her know. She doesn't speak much English, but she'll figure it out.† He said something else to her, and she meekly followed him to the door. â€Å"Where are you going?† I asked. â€Å"I have things to do. Besides, you need time to think.† â€Å"There's nothing to think about.† I forced as much defiance into my words as I could. It must not have sounded very fierce, though, because all my speech earned me was one mocking smile before he left with Inna, leaving me alone in my luxurious prison.