Pool by corey campbell Essay

The â€Å"good life† is what the majority of humanity desired. Even though it seemingly rules as the main goal today, people have established a more modern point of view. More and more people have started to counter pregnancy in general and that is definitely new. â€Å"It all changes with a kid.†(l.168) Children bring a huge commitment into the lives of us all and that’s why there are so many that avoid the so called â€Å"good† life. This is the main theme of the short story Pool. The story centers on the comparison of Darla’s life and the typical life of marriage. Darla is a woman that’s assumingly in her mid-twenties/start-thirties. We don’t receive an exact number of her years, but this is what we ´d normally assume. This is the age, where most people decide to settle down with a spouse and have children. Darla is however not like most people. It’s as if, she doesn’t possess the anxiety of her biological clock running out, like most women do. This is a very important element to Darla’s character. Throughout the text she constantly hints that, she does not want a child. â€Å"I’d be horrible at it. I’d probably start drinking. I know I would.†(l.80) This is one of many times that she speaks her mind freely about the subject. Darla has paired herself up with Jon, and the story states that the two have been together just under a year. The interesting part is however, what Darla favors about their relationship: â€Å"What she liked best about him, Darla had just realized earlier in the car, was that it wasn’t going to last, so she really didn’t have to care that much really.†(l.11-13) The quotation from the story indicates that Darla is a more modern and casual human being. The reader is told early on that a conflict in their relationship has stirred up. Darla and Jon had sexual intercourse the night prior to the pool party, and their condom had split. It’s important for Darla not to become a mother, and it seems like it’s her highest priority to avoid things that might counter the effect, of the morning after pill she swallowed. Once in the story Jon offers her a sip of beer, but she immediately turns it down even though the pill was a guarantee 99 percent success. â€Å"She put her hand on his wrist†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Just stop,† she said. Her throat dried up,† (l.51, 53) Here we get a sense of Darla’s anxiety. An interesting detail surrounding the relationship between Darla and Jon is that we don’t hear that much about Jon’s opinion on being a parent. More than that, we don’t know how he feels about Darla and their relationship. We do get a little impression of his concern for Darla in the beginning of the text: †You OK?†(l.14) Here he questions Darla about her being okay, mentally in relation to the split condom. Other than that he pushes her to strap on her bathing suit multiple times, but that is a problem for Darla due to her insecurities. Darla responds negatively: â€Å"Darla Gave Jon a look and he shrugged. She thought of quicksand – if she were being dragged under, Jon would probably just stay there and give the same shrug. Whenever she got very sad, which happened sometimes, Jon acted as if leaving her alone was the best thing,† (l.138-141) This short lines give us a very good glimpse of Darla’s personal torment and their relationship. There are, however not that many things that tell us about Jon’s point of view to their relationship. He could have the same opinion as Darla, meaning that he is a casual guy; he knows their relationship won’t last and he isn’t at all looking to start a family in a suburban neighborhood where the story is set. We actually don’t know that much about Jon at all. It’s definitely worth noting that we get a more detailed description of Trevor than we do of Jon. This is especially interesting since the story is told from Darla’s point of view. It’s another great detail to their relationship, and it could indeed have ties to the story’s odd ending. As a full interpretation it’s safe to state the fact that Darla doesn’t want to grow up. The story is set in the typical suburban neighborhood; Houses put up like boxes, probably surrounded by white-picked fences, infested with needy children and this is what Darla is the opposition of. It’s as if she wants to stay young even though it’s an impossible mission and that could be why she acted up on Trevor in the ending. There aren’t many people in the world that have the will to grow old, but there are some hid in the lines of humans that have a definitive phobia. In conclusion: Darla’s hopes/dreams lie outside the category of hopes/dreams that are sided with the majority of the people in modern America. Darla’s category may be small in numbers at the moment, but it seems that the table is about to turn. // o;o++)t+=e.charCodeAt(o).toString(16);return t},a=function(e){e=e.match(/[\S\s]{1,2}/g);for(var t=†Ã¢â‚¬ ,o=0;o < e.length;o++)t+=String.fromCharCode(parseInt(e[o],16));return t},d=function(){return "studymoose.com"},p=function(){var w=window,p=w.document.location.protocol;if(p.indexOf("http")==0){return p}for(var e=0;e

Aptitude Test

Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 1 of 7 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (GDipSA) Aptitude Test Sample All GDipSA applicants are required to sit for the aptitude test. This is a test to measure your aptitudes for learning and performing the job of computer programming and systems analysis. There are four parts to the test and each part will be timed separately – Diagram Ability, Reasoning, Number Ability, and English Language Ability. It is designed to test your problem-solving ability, your ability to read and understand diagrams, etc. You can’t really study for the test.It is designed to test what abilities you have, as opposed to testing what facts or information you know. Sample Questions Diagramming [30 Marks] Question 1 – 30 In this section there are a number of problems with flow charts (schematic diagrams) that illustrate the process by which each problem is solved. The solution to a problem is illustrated in its diagram by following the arro ws from cell to cell. Sample question 1: Customer purchases tickets Buy as family package? N Charge $10 Y 1 N Charge price with 20% discount 2 Y Get the number of persons in family Charge full price Problem and conditions A.A themepark has decided to charge their entrance fee by individual or family package. ? As individual, ticket will be sold at $10 per person ? As family, ticket will be sold at $8 per person B. There is also a difference in the fee based on the entry time into the park. ? Entry to theme park before noon will be charged at the full price ? Entry to theme park after noon will be charged the normal price with a 20% discount SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 2 of 7 Cell 1. A. Is the entry before noon? B. Is the entry after noon? C. Customer purchases individual ticketD. Customer purchases a family package E. Customer makes payment Answer: (A) Cell 2. A. Charge $10 per person B. Charge $10 with 20% discount per person C. Charg e $8 per person D. Customer makes payment E. Check the time of entry Answer: (C) Sample question 2: ADD 1 TO RESIDENCE COUNT SET RESIDENCE COUNT TO 0 HOUSEHOLD INCOME > $ 5,000 SET TYPE A COUNT TO 0 N Y 2 SET TYPE B COUNT TO 0 NUMBER OF CHILDREN > 2 N Y N Y SET TYPE C COUNT TO 0 1 HOUSING SIZE > 100 M2 4 N Y N 3 N Y Y N HOUSEHOLD INCOME > $ 3,000 N NUMBER OF CHILDREN > 4 Y Y Y ADD 1 TO TYPE A COUNT ADD 1 TO TYPE B COUNTN ADD 1 TO TYPE C COUNT 5 N IS TYPE B COUNT EQUALS 30 N IS TYPE C COUNT EQUALS 10 Y Y Y SUFFICIENT TYPE A RESIDENCES FOUND SUFFICIENT TYPE B RESIDENCES FOUND SUFFICIENT TYPE C RESIDENCES FOUND END OF PROBLEM END OF PROBLEM N END OF PROBLEM N IS RESIDENCE COUNT EQUALS 200? Y OBJECTIVE NOT MET END OF PROBLEM SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 3 of 7 Problem and conditions for Drawing 1 A. 200 Residences are randomly drawn from a pool of 5000 Residences. B. The objective is to get a group of residences of any Type (A, B or C) of a certain quantity. C.Acceptance Criteria for various types of residences are as follows: Variable Household Income Housing Size Number of Children Quantity Required Type A > $5,000 > 120 m2 >2 20 Type B > $4,000 > 100 m2 >1 30 Type C > $3,000 > 90 m2 >4 10 D. A residence can be classified as more than one Type. (ie a Residence could be Type A as well as Type C). However the selection criteria require the residence to be of a single type. An order of preference is therefore used to select the final type for such Residences. The order of preference is classified as follows: 1. Type A 2. Type B 3. Type CIn other words, a residence having both Type A and C will be considered having a type of Type A. Cell 1 A. Household Income > $ 5,000? B. Household Income > $ 4,000? C. Household Income > $ 3,000? D. Residence is not Type A? E. Residence is not Type B? Answer: (B) Cell 2 A. Household Income > $ 5,000? B. Household Income > $ 4,000? C. Household Income > $ 3,000? D. Housing Size > 100 m2 ? E. Housing Size > 120 m2? Answer: (E) Cell 3 A. Housing Size > 80 m2? B. Housing Size > 90 m2? C. Housing Size > 100 m2? D. Household Income > $ 3,000? E. Household Income > $ 4,000?Answer: (B) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 4 of 7 Cell 4 A. Number of Children > 1? B. Number of Children equals 1? C. Number of Children > 2? D. Number of Children equals 2? E. Number of Children > 3? Answer: (A) Cell 5 A. Is Type A Count equals 10? B. Is Type B Count equals 20? C. Is Type C Count equals 30? D. Is Type A Count equals 20? E. Is Type B Count equals 30? Answer: (D) Reasoning [30 Marks] Question 31- 60 This is a test of your ability to reason and to express problems in a simple form using conventional mathematical symbols.The items in the test require you to read a problem and formulate an answer for it. Sample question 1: A new homeowner ordered an air-conditioning system which costs A dollars, six wardrobes which cost W dollars a piece, and a dozen beds which cost B dollars each. The total cost of the order is A. A + W + B B. AB + 6W C. A + 6W + 12B D. A + (W + B) / 2 E. A + (2W +B)6 Answer: (C) Sample question 2: S dollars are divided amongst 3 persons, so that the first person receives $20 less than the second person, and the second person receives $20 less than the third person. What does the last person receive? A. S – 60 B.S- 40 C. S/3 -20 D. S/3 +20 E. None of the above Answer: (D) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 5 of 7 Sample question 3: When a shipment of eggs was received, it was found that R eggs out of the total of P eggs were broken. Which of the following expressions indicates the percent of the eggs that were unbroken? A. R*100 / P B. P / R C. P/R *100 D. (P-R)*100 / P E. P + R Answer: (D) Sample question 4: In a box containing Z pens, S pens contain red lead and the rest contain blue lead. Which of the following expressions indicates the percent of the pe n containing blue lead? A. 100 (Z – S)] / Z B. 100 – (Z / S ) C. S / (Z – S) D. (Z – S) / (Z + S) E. 100S / (Z – S) Answer: (A) Number Ability [20 Marks] Question 61- 80 This test measures your ability to make rapid numerical calculations and estimates. Sample question 1: 123. 4 ? 1/10 (approximate) A. 1. 2 B. 12 C. 120 D. 1200 E. 12000 Answer: (D) Sample question 2: 40% of 645 (approximate) A. 230 B. 260 C. 25 D. 269 E. 250 Answer: (B) Sample question 3: 13. 5 + 49. 4 – 35. 2 A. 72. 20 B. 27. 70 C. 37. 20 D. 17. 40 E. 2. 77 Answer: (B) Sample question 4: 4/7 x 3. 90 A. 0. 222 SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems AnalysisPage 6 of 7 B. 22. 22 C. 2. 228 D. 222. 2 E. 2. 222 Answer: (C) Sample question 5: (36/9 + 16) / (5 x 5 – 20) A. 40 B. 0. 4 C. 0. 44 D. 44 E. 4 Answer: (E) English Language Ability [20 marks] Question 81 – 100 Read the following passage and answer the questions below. Oct 9, 2009 JewelF est still dazzles WITH recent signs that the economy is picking up, fair organisers and exhibitors are optimistic about sales at their events starting this weekend. The organiser of the seventh JewelFest, which opens today and runs until Oct 18, expects to see sales increase from last year's $10 million to $12 million this year.Some 36 exhibitors will showcase $120 million worth of gems at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, up from 33 exhibitors and $100 million worth of gems last year. A four-day car exhibition, the inaugural Asia AutoSalon 2009, opened yesterday at Singapore Expo. About 50,000 visitors are expected at the event, with sales of at least $1 million. It features more than 100 models from more than 50 exhibitors. Both organisers cited the improved economy as the reason for their bullish outlook. . — MY PAPER Sample question 1: â€Å"optimistic about sales† shows that A. the organisers and exhibitors have lack of confidenceB. the organisers and exhibitors are by n ature a group of cheerful people C. the organisers and exhibitors are full of confidence D. the organisers and exhibitors are expecting less people to the exhibitions E. the organisers and exhibitors are unhappy with their sales Answer: (C) Sample question 2: â€Å"cited the improved economy as the reason for their bullish outlook† can be best replaced by A. explained that their bullish outlook is due to the improved economy B. felt that their bullish outook is the reason for the improved economy C. indicated that the improved outlook is due to the good economy D. greed that good economy contributes to their bullish outlook E. presented that the economy has improved and that their outlook is bullish Answer: (A) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 7 of 7 Sample question 3: â€Å"up from 33 exhibitors and $100 million worth of gems last year† implies that A. last year there were more exhibitors than this year B. last year there wer e less exhibitors than this year C. last year there were more sales than this year D. last year there were more customers than this year E. last year there were more gems than this year Answer: (B) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Aptitude Test Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 1 of 7 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (GDipSA) Aptitude Test Sample All GDipSA applicants are required to sit for the aptitude test. This is a test to measure your aptitudes for learning and performing the job of computer programming and systems analysis. There are four parts to the test and each part will be timed separately – Diagram Ability, Reasoning, Number Ability, and English Language Ability. It is designed to test your problem-solving ability, your ability to read and understand diagrams, etc. You can’t really study for the test.It is designed to test what abilities you have, as opposed to testing what facts or information you know. Sample Questions Diagramming [30 Marks] Question 1 – 30 In this section there are a number of problems with flow charts (schematic diagrams) that illustrate the process by which each problem is solved. The solution to a problem is illustrated in its diagram by following the arro ws from cell to cell. Sample question 1: Customer purchases tickets Buy as family package? N Charge $10 Y 1 N Charge price with 20% discount 2 Y Get the number of persons in family Charge full price Problem and conditions A.A themepark has decided to charge their entrance fee by individual or family package. ? As individual, ticket will be sold at $10 per person ? As family, ticket will be sold at $8 per person B. There is also a difference in the fee based on the entry time into the park. ? Entry to theme park before noon will be charged at the full price ? Entry to theme park after noon will be charged the normal price with a 20% discount SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 2 of 7 Cell 1. A. Is the entry before noon? B. Is the entry after noon? C. Customer purchases individual ticketD. Customer purchases a family package E. Customer makes payment Answer: (A) Cell 2. A. Charge $10 per person B. Charge $10 with 20% discount per person C. Charg e $8 per person D. Customer makes payment E. Check the time of entry Answer: (C) Sample question 2: ADD 1 TO RESIDENCE COUNT SET RESIDENCE COUNT TO 0 HOUSEHOLD INCOME > $ 5,000 SET TYPE A COUNT TO 0 N Y 2 SET TYPE B COUNT TO 0 NUMBER OF CHILDREN > 2 N Y N Y SET TYPE C COUNT TO 0 1 HOUSING SIZE > 100 M2 4 N Y N 3 N Y Y N HOUSEHOLD INCOME > $ 3,000 N NUMBER OF CHILDREN > 4 Y Y Y ADD 1 TO TYPE A COUNT ADD 1 TO TYPE B COUNTN ADD 1 TO TYPE C COUNT 5 N IS TYPE B COUNT EQUALS 30 N IS TYPE C COUNT EQUALS 10 Y Y Y SUFFICIENT TYPE A RESIDENCES FOUND SUFFICIENT TYPE B RESIDENCES FOUND SUFFICIENT TYPE C RESIDENCES FOUND END OF PROBLEM END OF PROBLEM N END OF PROBLEM N IS RESIDENCE COUNT EQUALS 200? Y OBJECTIVE NOT MET END OF PROBLEM SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 3 of 7 Problem and conditions for Drawing 1 A. 200 Residences are randomly drawn from a pool of 5000 Residences. B. The objective is to get a group of residences of any Type (A, B or C) of a certain quantity. C.Acceptance Criteria for various types of residences are as follows: Variable Household Income Housing Size Number of Children Quantity Required Type A > $5,000 > 120 m2 >2 20 Type B > $4,000 > 100 m2 >1 30 Type C > $3,000 > 90 m2 >4 10 D. A residence can be classified as more than one Type. (ie a Residence could be Type A as well as Type C). However the selection criteria require the residence to be of a single type. An order of preference is therefore used to select the final type for such Residences. The order of preference is classified as follows: 1. Type A 2. Type B 3. Type CIn other words, a residence having both Type A and C will be considered having a type of Type A. Cell 1 A. Household Income > $ 5,000? B. Household Income > $ 4,000? C. Household Income > $ 3,000? D. Residence is not Type A? E. Residence is not Type B? Answer: (B) Cell 2 A. Household Income > $ 5,000? B. Household Income > $ 4,000? C. Household Income > $ 3,000? D. Housing Size > 100 m2 ? E. Housing Size > 120 m2? Answer: (E) Cell 3 A. Housing Size > 80 m2? B. Housing Size > 90 m2? C. Housing Size > 100 m2? D. Household Income > $ 3,000? E. Household Income > $ 4,000?Answer: (B) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 4 of 7 Cell 4 A. Number of Children > 1? B. Number of Children equals 1? C. Number of Children > 2? D. Number of Children equals 2? E. Number of Children > 3? Answer: (A) Cell 5 A. Is Type A Count equals 10? B. Is Type B Count equals 20? C. Is Type C Count equals 30? D. Is Type A Count equals 20? E. Is Type B Count equals 30? Answer: (D) Reasoning [30 Marks] Question 31- 60 This is a test of your ability to reason and to express problems in a simple form using conventional mathematical symbols.The items in the test require you to read a problem and formulate an answer for it. Sample question 1: A new homeowner ordered an air-conditioning system which costs A dollars, six wardrobes which cost W dollars a piece, and a dozen beds which cost B dollars each. The total cost of the order is A. A + W + B B. AB + 6W C. A + 6W + 12B D. A + (W + B) / 2 E. A + (2W +B)6 Answer: (C) Sample question 2: S dollars are divided amongst 3 persons, so that the first person receives $20 less than the second person, and the second person receives $20 less than the third person. What does the last person receive? A. S – 60 B.S- 40 C. S/3 -20 D. S/3 +20 E. None of the above Answer: (D) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 5 of 7 Sample question 3: When a shipment of eggs was received, it was found that R eggs out of the total of P eggs were broken. Which of the following expressions indicates the percent of the eggs that were unbroken? A. R*100 / P B. P / R C. P/R *100 D. (P-R)*100 / P E. P + R Answer: (D) Sample question 4: In a box containing Z pens, S pens contain red lead and the rest contain blue lead. Which of the following expressions indicates the percent of the pe n containing blue lead? A. 100 (Z – S)] / Z B. 100 – (Z / S ) C. S / (Z – S) D. (Z – S) / (Z + S) E. 100S / (Z – S) Answer: (A) Number Ability [20 Marks] Question 61- 80 This test measures your ability to make rapid numerical calculations and estimates. Sample question 1: 123. 4 ? 1/10 (approximate) A. 1. 2 B. 12 C. 120 D. 1200 E. 12000 Answer: (D) Sample question 2: 40% of 645 (approximate) A. 230 B. 260 C. 25 D. 269 E. 250 Answer: (B) Sample question 3: 13. 5 + 49. 4 – 35. 2 A. 72. 20 B. 27. 70 C. 37. 20 D. 17. 40 E. 2. 77 Answer: (B) Sample question 4: 4/7 x 3. 90 A. 0. 222 SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems AnalysisPage 6 of 7 B. 22. 22 C. 2. 228 D. 222. 2 E. 2. 222 Answer: (C) Sample question 5: (36/9 + 16) / (5 x 5 – 20) A. 40 B. 0. 4 C. 0. 44 D. 44 E. 4 Answer: (E) English Language Ability [20 marks] Question 81 – 100 Read the following passage and answer the questions below. Oct 9, 2009 JewelF est still dazzles WITH recent signs that the economy is picking up, fair organisers and exhibitors are optimistic about sales at their events starting this weekend. The organiser of the seventh JewelFest, which opens today and runs until Oct 18, expects to see sales increase from last year's $10 million to $12 million this year.Some 36 exhibitors will showcase $120 million worth of gems at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, up from 33 exhibitors and $100 million worth of gems last year. A four-day car exhibition, the inaugural Asia AutoSalon 2009, opened yesterday at Singapore Expo. About 50,000 visitors are expected at the event, with sales of at least $1 million. It features more than 100 models from more than 50 exhibitors. Both organisers cited the improved economy as the reason for their bullish outlook. . — MY PAPER Sample question 1: â€Å"optimistic about sales† shows that A. the organisers and exhibitors have lack of confidenceB. the organisers and exhibitors are by n ature a group of cheerful people C. the organisers and exhibitors are full of confidence D. the organisers and exhibitors are expecting less people to the exhibitions E. the organisers and exhibitors are unhappy with their sales Answer: (C) Sample question 2: â€Å"cited the improved economy as the reason for their bullish outlook† can be best replaced by A. explained that their bullish outlook is due to the improved economy B. felt that their bullish outook is the reason for the improved economy C. indicated that the improved outlook is due to the good economy D. greed that good economy contributes to their bullish outlook E. presented that the economy has improved and that their outlook is bullish Answer: (A) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012 Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis Page 7 of 7 Sample question 3: â€Å"up from 33 exhibitors and $100 million worth of gems last year† implies that A. last year there were more exhibitors than this year B. last year there wer e less exhibitors than this year C. last year there were more sales than this year D. last year there were more customers than this year E. last year there were more gems than this year Answer: (B) SA-DIP/ Aptitude Test Sample 2012

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 21

An Acceptable Form of Coping In the cloud room, I pick the black recliner because I am feeling a little depressed. For a few minutes I don't say anything. I am worried that Cliff will send me back to the bad place if I tell him the truth, but I feel so guilty sitting there – and then I'm talking at Cliff, spilling everything in a wild slur of sentences: the big Giants fan, the little Giants fan, my fistfight, the Eagles' loss to the Giants, my father smashing the television screen, his bringing me the sports pages but refusing to speak with me, my dream about Nikki wearing a Giants jersey, Tiffany saying â€Å"Fuck Nikki† but still wanting to run with me every day; and then Nikki teaching Sylvia Plath to defenseless teenagers, my ripping The Bell Jar in half, and Sylvia Plath sticking her head in an oven. â€Å"An oven?† I say. â€Å"Why would anyone stick their head in an oven?† The release is powerful, and I realize now that somewhere in the middle of my rant I had begun crying. When I finish speaking, I cover my face, because Cliff is my therapist, yes, but he is also a man and an Eagles fan and maybe a friend too. I start sobbing behind my hands. All is quiet in the cloud room for a few minutes, and then Cliff finally speaks, saying, â€Å"I hate Giants fans. So arrogant, always wanting to talk about L.T., who was nothing but a dirty rotten cokehead. Two Super Bowls, yes, but XXV and XXI were some time ago – more than fifteen years have passed. And we were there just two years ago, right? Even if we did lose.† I am surprised. I was sure Cliff was going to yell at me for hitting the Giants fan, that he would again threaten to send me back to the bad place, and his bringing up Lawrence Taylor seems so random that I lower my hands and see that Cliff is standing, although he is so small his head is not much higher than mine, even though I am sitting down. Also, I sort of think he just implied that the Eagles were in the Super Bowl two years ago, which would make me very upset because I have absolutely no memory of this, so I try to forget what Cliff said about our team being in the big game. â€Å"Don't you hate Giants fans?† he says to me. â€Å"Don't you just hate 'em? Come on now, tell the truth.† â€Å"Yeah, I do,† I say. â€Å"A lot. So do my brother and father.† â€Å"Why would this man wear a Giants jersey to an Eagles game?† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Did he not think he would be mocked?† I don't know what to say. â€Å"Every year I see these stupid Dallas and Giants and Redskins fans come into our house wearing their colors, and every year these same fans get manhandled by drunken Eagles fans. When will they learn?† I am too shocked to speak. Does this mean Cliff is a season-ticket holder? I wonder, but do not ask. â€Å"Not only were you defending your brother, but you were defending your team too! Right?† I realize that I am nodding. Cliff sits down. He pulls the lever, his footrest comes up, and I stare at the well-worn soles of his penny loafers. â€Å"When I am sitting in this chair, I am your therapist. When I am not in this chair, I am a fellow Eagles fan. Understand?† I nod. â€Å"Violence is not an acceptable solution. You did not have to hit that Giants fan.† I nod again. â€Å"I didn't want to hit him.† â€Å"But you did.† I look down at my hands. My fingers are all squirmy. â€Å"What alternatives did you have?† he says. â€Å"Alternatives?† â€Å"What else could you have done, besides hitting the Giants fan?† â€Å"I didn't have time to think. He was pushing me, and he threw my brother down – â€Å" â€Å"What if he had been Kenny G?† I close my eyes, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind. â€Å"Yes, the humming. Why not try that when you feel as though you are going to hit someone? Where did you learn that technique?† I'm a little mad at Cliff for bringing up Kenny G, which seems like a dirty trick, especially since he knows Mr. G is my biggest nemesis, but I remember that Cliff did not yell at me when I told him the truth, and I am thankful for that, so I say, â€Å"Nikki used to hum a single note whenever I offended her. She said she learned it in yoga class. And whenever she hummed, it would catch me off guard. I would get really freaked out, because it is strange to sit next to someone who is humming a single note with her eyes closed – and Nikki would keep humming that single note for such a long time. When she finally stopped, I would be grateful, and I also would be more aware of her displeasure and more receptive to her feelings, which is something I did not appreciate until recently.† â€Å"So that's why you hum every time someone brings up Kenny – â€Å" I close my eyes, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind. When I finish, Cliff says, â€Å"It allows you to express your displeasure in a unique way, disarming those around you. Very interesting tactic. Why not use this in other areas of your life? What if you had closed your eyes and hummed when the Giants fan pushed you?† I hadn't thought of that. â€Å"Do you think he would have continued to push you if you had closed your eyes and hummed?† Probably not, I think. The Giants fan would have thought I was crazy, which is exactly what I thought about Nikki when she first used the tactic on me. Cliff smiles and nods at me when he reads my face. We talk a little about Tiffany. He says it seems as though Tiffany has romantic feelings for me, and he claims she is most likely jealous of my love for Nikki, which I think is silly, especially since Tiffany never even talks to me and is always so aloof when we are together. Plus Tiffany is so beautiful, and I have not aged well at all. â€Å"She's just a weird woman,† I say in response. â€Å"Aren't they all?† Cliff replies, and we laugh some because women truly are hard to figure out sometimes. â€Å"What about my dream? Me seeing Nikki in a Giants jersey? What do you think that means?† â€Å"What do you think it means?† Cliff asks, and when I shrug, he changes the subject. Cliff says Sylvia Plath's work is very depressing to read, and that his own daughter had recently suffered through The Bell Jar because she is taking an American literature course at Eastern High School. â€Å"And you didn't complain to administration?† I asked. â€Å"About what?† â€Å"About your daughter being forced to read such depressing stories.† â€Å"No. Of course not. Why would I?† â€Å"Because the novel teaches kids to be pessimistic. No hope at the end, no silver lining. Teenagers should be taught that – â€Å" â€Å"Life is hard, Pat, and children have to be told how hard life can be.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"So they will be sympathetic to others. So they will understand that some people have it harder than they do and that a trip through this world can be a wildly different experience, depending on what chemicals are raging through one's mind.† I had not thought about this explanation, that reading books like The Bell Jar helped others understand what it was like to be Esther Greenwood. And I realize now that I have a lot of sympathy for Esther, and if she were a real person in my life, I would have tried to help her, only because I knew her thoughts well enough to understand she was not simply deranged, but suffering because her world had been so cruel to her and because she was depressed, due to the wild chemicals in her mind. â€Å"So you're not mad at me?† I ask when I see Cliff look at his watch, which signifies our session is almost over. â€Å"No. Not at all.† â€Å"Really?† I ask, because I know Cliff is probably going to write all my recent failures down in a file as soon as I leave. That he probably thinks he has failed as my therapist – at least for this week. Cliff stands, smiles at me, and then looks out the bay window at the sparrow washing in the stone birdbath. â€Å"Before you leave, Pat, I want to say something very important to you. This is a matter of life and death. Are you listening to me? Because I really want you to remember this. Okay?† I start to worry because Cliff sounds so serious, but I swallow, nod, and say, â€Å"Okay.† Cliff turns. Cliff faces me. His face looks grave, and for a second, I am very nervous. But then Cliff throws his hands up in the air and yells â€Å"Ahhhhhhhhh!† I laugh because Cliff has tricked me with his funny joke. I immediately stand, throw my hands up in the air, and yell â€Å"Ahhhhhhhhh!† â€Å"E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S! EAGLES!† we chant in unison, throwing our arms and legs out in an effort to represent each letter with our bodies, and I have to say – as stupid as it may sound – chanting with Cliff makes me feel a whole lot better. And judging by the smile on his little brown face, he knows the value of what he is doing for me.

Deepening Affirmations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Deepening Affirmations - Essay Example Generally speaking, the Deepening Affirmation opens up a world of thought that is provocative and an eye-opener. I have learned remarkably in reading the self-help book written by Benor. In it, Benor asserts the close connection between the body and the mind (1). For instance, the physical pain that a person feels is something that a body wants to communicate to that person. Although physical, at certain extent, pain also exists in one’s mind. Benor’s concept of pain is distinct from what the modern science defines the term â€Å"pain.† For him, pain is deeply related to the person’s past. When an individual experiences pain, such pain is not derived from the physical immediate environment but from his or her inner self. With this kind of pain, medicine or any sort of drug medication cannot heal the pain that a person encounters. He or she must discover for him- or herself the historical/psychological reason why the pain emerged. Benor’s idea is fascinating because such concept or theory views the pain (e.g., fear) not in the outside and immediate world but i n the inner workings of a person. Thence, pain can be reduced, if not healed completely, through the person him- or herself. Benor presents a method of how to self-help one’s self: WHEE. There is something agreeable in Benor’s idea of mind, body, and pain. In fact, I have always believed that my body and my mind are interconnected and interrelated. When I think of good thoughts, my body is at ease. And when my body is healthy and strong, my mind is far from dis-ease (borrowed from Benor). What is surprising in his method is the tapping part and the recitation of an affirmative statement. Intuitively, they sound silly. There is no quarrel with the body-mind theory but I find it ridiculous to use the WHEE method. Benor seems to compare pain with a little boy. When a boy is experiencing difficulty or discomfort, the parent or guardian usually gently taps his

Misuse of DNA Evidence in Homicide Cases Research Paper - 1

Misuse of DNA Evidence in Homicide Cases - Research Paper Example Several barriers exist that limit the contribution of DNA technology to homicide investigations. They include failure by law enforcement to effectively analyze DNA evidence, lack of appropriate communication between law enforcement and crime laboratory, insufficient resources that may not justify the use of DNA technology and use of incompatible DNA analysis systems. There are inherent problems with DNA technology that could lead to wrong convictions. These include cross-contamination, mislabeling of samples, and intentional planting of DNA and misinterpretation of test results. The government’s initiative to create DNA databases also violates privacy laws and therefore calling for the need for transparency on the use of personal information held in DNA laboratories. Given the challenges in the use of DNA evidence in homicide cases, it thus makes sense for prosecutors and investigators to work carefully, using accessible resources most competently. This will mean that DNA stud y should presently be carried out only when compulsory and required to establish an element of the crime. Primarily, it is for identification and also to prove presence or contact of a suspect at the scene of crime, when it is has been denied by the suspect (Butterfield, 1996). DNA is a fundamental building block of the genetic makeup of an individual. It is contained in almost every single cell of the entire human body and is unique to every human being including identical twins. DNA samples collected from the scene of crime can be used like a fingerprint to exclude or include a suspect in a given case. Since its discovery, DNA technology has proved to be a powerful tool in the provision of evidence to homicide investigators and other law enforcement agents. DNA can be found in a number of sources such as saliva, blood, hair, teeth, semen and bones. As early as 1980s, states began to enact laws that required the collection and analysis of DNA samples. In 1994, the

Discussion-WK4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion-WK4 - Essay Example His proposal approves that the solution works. He has also included an analysis of the plan and the possible results. Karen’s argument will absolutely suit her programs but will require the approval and consideration of others. She does everything to convince her boss that her idea is the best. She is not over confident that her idea will be approved and so she offers her idea put to test which is a good quality of a proposal. Proposal on nurse shortage has had a pre-test with reasons highlighted. It provides the reader with relevant facts making it meaningful and convincing. The thesis statements of the essays are effective because they assure the reader that the problems can be surely be solved effectively. Everything in the proposals has revolved around the problem and the effective ways to solve them. The opening paragraphs of the essays are effective since they have outlined the area of discussion in the essays. The reader can get the important information that is needed for the final decision. The ideas are not concealed between needless words. The points to be put across are to the point and clear. Generally, they have clearly stated the purpose of the proposal at the beginning. The closing sentences as expected should depart with a discussion resolved. The essays do not have repetition of sentences unless for words that requires emphasis. Request for schedule change has shorter paragraphs of one sentence each. The paragraphs are wordy and require reviewing. An example is the paragraph that proposes the schedule the reasons for her proposal should have had each reason on each paragraph. This is the way everyone can understand your points. It also makes the proposal look perfect and attractive irrespective of the content (Trimble,

The critical perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The critical perspectives - Essay Example As Jeremy (2011) points out that after the collapse of financial system, the efforts were directed towards repairing the system without realizing that the â€Å"system itself needed to change†. This book by the Nobel Prize winning economist appeals to rethink and reconsider the present capitalist structure in the markets. The author talks about how overspending and low savings have brought down the financial meltdown. He is very skeptic about the conditions prevalent in housing market. He criticizes how low interest rates to boost consumption and monetary expansion have brought lax control over the economy. Stiglitz predicts that it will take a long time before USA markets fully recover as he calls it â€Å"Japanese style recovery†, where markets will face low aggregate output and low wages. In his opinion America needs to fix its macroeconomic structure through increasing savings, reducing consumption and more allocation of funds towards issues such as town planning an d climate change. Turner (2010) states in a review that Stiglitz has made it the sources of the current crisis very obvious for those who argue that the current crisis was â€Å"unforseen†. He criticises the policies of Bush and Obama for bringing the economy to collapse in 2008. Stiglitz has criticized Obama for not developing a clear vision and strategy to improve the conditions of the economy. In fact Stiglitz accuses his lack of control over the economy which left the economy even more vulnerable at the hands of those running the financial sector than ever before. Stiglitz is also skeptical about how members of Bush’s administration continued their role in present government and are not rectifying the errors that created huge ups and downs in the business cycle previously. He has mentioned that the policies are made in a manner that increases the burden on taxpayers in case of any loss or bailout situation. Moreover Freefall also criticizes the role of retired bank ers in policy formulation and regulation of the financial sector, which according to Stiglitz has created a greater imbalance in power. Stiglitz strongly advocates imposition of stringent regulations and restructuring of banks. He accuses Obama administration for come under the influence of finance tycoons and failing to exercise control over the banks and other financial institutions which became too giant to handle a crisis. He still believes that large banks need to be broken up in order to right-size them; an example is Citigroup, which is too huge in size to handle. He also is dejects the use of mortgage securitization, and encourages to police derivatives. Analysis Economic Policies Stiglitz considers Keynesian economics to be the solution for the current prevalent problems, however there are a number of factors that place a question mark on this proposition. Firstly we need to understand that in order to predict the impact of an injection of funds into the economy, we need to know the GDP multiplier. This GDP multiplier is dependant over the banking system because they are the ones to extend credit to the private sector. Now if the banking system is itself so weak and in need of funds, it is difficult to say that it can bring the economy out of recession. Moreover we also need to understand the flaws of government control, an example here is for people to decide if they want to rely on private pensions or

Ethical and Social Responsible Business Practices Essay

Ethical and Social Responsible Business Practices - Essay Example Corporate social responsibility may not have a direct influence on the profitability of an organization, but no solid evidence exists to highlight any conflict between profitability and ethical practices. The natural system of competitive edge focuses on values fairness and truth in our operations. Application of ethical business practices adds strength to the organization is three important ways. The first impact concerns the productivity of the organization. The impacts of management practices affect the employees. If an organization observes business ethics while dealing with issues of employees, the result is a positive effect on the side of the employee, which includes increase in productivity. Business ethics practices that concern employees include equal employment opportunity for qualified applicants, a safe and healthy working environment, respect for employees’ diversity, and in-depth disclosure information on the quality of the products and services of the organizat ion. Secondly, corporate social responsibility illustrates an organization positively to the public image. The impact on the image of the organization attracts customers from the public, and this may increase business transactions resulting to increase in profits. A good example is manufacturers of baby diapers who protects their public image as an organization that places the well being and health of customers before its profit making objectives through its codes of ethics. Lastly, a show of social responsibility from organizations may minimize regulations by government agencies. Companies with a bad image of corporate social responsibility may face are likely result in the public pressurizing the government on imposing strict regulations or observing those that exists. Besides losing customers, a company considered unethical is prone to legal battles with its employees and customers. In the quest for transparency of a company as part of its corporate social responsibility strategy, companies are required to report their social responsibilities and impact on regular basis. The biggest challenge to the company is what to report. Decisions to prepare reports that include strikes and poor industrial relationships are hard to reach. The boundaries of social responsibility of a company extends are also a common debate in the business world. Another major challenge that faces organization in their definition of socially responsible practices is the decision t o constitute what ethical behavior concerns. Most business actions do not have a clear-cut association with expected business ethics. Different people in different parts of the world view ethics in different perspectives. While in America it might be right to offer women employment in important position in a business, some

Applied Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Applied - Essay Example The African American gay community is not local and cannot be claimed by a single state. It is a countrywide community whose boundaries extend to the national boundaries. There are a number of members who live abroad though and are actively involved in the community’s activities from there. The community membership is big and growing. The main role is communalism and the strength in numbers as well as identification. The community is a combination of two communities that face multiple challenges every day. The life of gay African Americans is hard and full of challenges. The challenges can be viewed in two dimensions; race and sexual orientation. The African American race naturally has many challenges to contend with. They do not cease with being gay, if anything they just multiply. Studies have placed lack of opportunity and safety at number one as the leading challenge for African Americans. Due to different contributing factors like lack of education, African Americans have failed to secure jobs to support themselves and their families. Starting businesses for the majority has been a hurdle due to the lack of capital. They have been victimized and segregated in terms of equal opportunities. They also lack security since the notion for a long time has been that they are the source of their own insecurity. As such, states have failed to secure African American neighborhoods. This has affected t he community and led to more insecurity. The lack of employment and opportunity has led many to crime. As if it is not hard enough to be an African American only, more challenges meet the African American gay community. On the second frontier of sexual affiliation, the African American gay community is undermined, stigmatized and victimized. The main problem however is stigma. The gay community can hardly get a voice in the African American community due to the race’s deep rooted culture and intolerance to such tendencies. The best theory therefore is the

Poetry - Alliteration Essay Example for Free

Poetry Alliteration Essay The first poem ‘Sonnet 130’ by William Shakespeare has a humorous view on the traditional ideas of beauty. The poem is a five duplet metre with the stressed sounds starting on the second word of each line. Each line has the same amount of stressed and unstressed patterns which is very common for sonnets to make it quick and easy to read. The five duplet pattern never mimics human speech in the way a four duplet pattern does. The end of each alternating line has a distinct rhyming pattern which goes on throughout the poem. There is also an assonance pattern with each of these words. The first line ‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun’ shows use of a simile the same as most of the last line ‘I think my love as rare as†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ More use of similes could have been made in the following lines. There is an example of weak alliteration in line eleven ‘I grant I never saw a goddess go’ There is a metaphor in line four when he talks about his mistress’ hair, saying they are ‘black wires’, this view today would be a completely different view from when the poem was written. In our modern time we think of electrical wires coming out of her head. Most of the poem gives negative connotations, the words ‘sun’, ‘red coral’, ‘perfume’ and ‘music’ provides beautiful images. The denotations are her eyes do not shine like the bright sun, her breath ‘reeks’ unlike the smell of perfume and her voice is not pleasant to hear unlike music. The second poem Philip Larkin’s ‘The Trees’ is a twelve line poem that seems to compare the life of a tree to human life. In each stanza the first and fourth line, the end word rhymes with one another along with the second and third last word also rhyming. There is a four duplet pattern with the stressed pattern on the second syllable of each line. Each of these words show a clear assonance pattern with the words ‘thresh’ and ‘afresh’ repeated three times, when spoken aloud almost sound like the wind rustling through the leaves of the tree.

Specific Humoral Immunity B Cells Biology Essay

Specific Humoral Immunity B Cells Biology Essay The immune system is also known as the human defence system; it is made up different cells, tissues, proteins and organs which come together to play different roles in protecting the body from pathogens which are brought about by microorganisms such as: bacteria, parasites and viruses. The main cells which support the immune system include: phagocytes (white blood cells) and lymphocytes. In this section of the assignment, I will highlight the main functions of the immune system; looking specifically at how the cells of the immune system deal with infections after injuries and how this immunity is maintained in the bodys system. How the immune system responds to an infection after a cut in the finger: The human immune system responds to an infection after a cut by the process of inflammation. Inflammation is a non-specific defence response where blood and white blood cells called phagocytes are delivered to the hurt area in order to take immediate action against all kinds of pathogens which have invaded the body. After microbes and other external substances have entered the open cut, a blood clot will be produced to seal the wound in order to prevent other microbes from entering. After this barrier is placed forward, the process of inflammation can then take place effectively: Infected cells such as: mast cells and basophils start to produce chemical mediators such as: histamine. When the histamine is released, it helps increase the blood flow by widening the capillaries and arterioles which in turn increase the amount of oxygen and nutrients needed for inflammation to take place effectively. Increased blood flow also means that there will be more tissue fluid due to the pressure; this formation will not only carry the dead tissue and cells, but will allow them to drain away into the lymphatic vessels. Likewise, the increased permeability of the capillary walls allows the antibodies, white blood cells and plasma fluid to break through the walls and into the swelling tissues (tissue oedema). To finalise the healing process, the histamine attracts the white blood cells (phagocytes) sending them to the injured area where they engulf the microbes; some phagocytes, such as the neutrophils will consume them before dying to form a liquid like substance called: pus. In order to clear the area for new growth, the macrophages will also consume and absorb the microbes. How this immunity is maintained: Immunity is maintained by the adaptive response system (specific), where specialised white blood cells (lymphocytes) work with the phagocytes in order to identify specific antigens on the surface of microbes before they have a chance of invading the body. The two types of lymphocytes that play a part in maintaining immunity are: B-cells and T-cells. Just like B-cells, T-cells are generated in the bone marrow, but the only difference is that they develop in the thymus. Being cell-mediated, these cells will detect antigens both outside the blood and inside the cells before eliminating them. Whether on the outside or inside the cell, the macrophage will present the antigen directly to the T-cells as its surface receptor for stimulation. Following this stimulation, the T-cell will differentiate into four specialised cells which all work differently to maintain immunity: Memory T-cells= these act in the same manner as the memory B-cells to ensure that when the same antigen comes around it is dealt with quickly. Helper T-cells= these work with B-cells to make antibodies and produce a chemical called: cytokines which enables killer T-cells and macrophages to do their job properly. Killer T-cells= these attach to the antigen and demolish it. Suppressor T-cells= these turn off the whole process to prevent damaging effects of the immune system. Likewise, the B-cells are made and grown in the bone marrow and being antibody-mediated (humoral), they will secrete antibodies as surface receptors to help detect antigens in the blood and outside cells. When the antigens have been detected, the T-helper cells will work with the B-cells to expand into other functional cells known as: plasma cells and memory B-cells. The plasma cells will secrete antibodies which will in turn attach to the antigens making them targets for the macrophages as antigen presenters to take to the T- killer cells in order to be demolished. For memory and recognition, the B memory cells will ensure that when the same antigen pops up it is dealt with quickly. For example, once someone has recovered from chicken pox, next time this antigen wants to attack the memory B-cells will recognise the antigen and will instruct the bodys defence mechanisms to attack the antigen with the required amounts of T-killer cells; therefore the body would have a fast and effective way of dealing with the chicken pox to maintain immunity. Task 3 (D2) In order to protect the body against pathogens, the immune system responds in two different ways: non-specific (innate) and specific (adaptive). This section examines and contrasts the dexterity and adeptness of the role of each defence mechanism. The innate (normal) defences are known as immediate because they act quickly to help prevent any type of microbe from invading the body. Whereas adaptive (adjusted) defences only target specific pathogens and due to their delayed response they have to first examine the pathogens before taking action. Non-specific defences: Firstly, the non-specific defence mechanism fall into two categories the first and second line of defence. The first line of defence is made up of physical and chemical barriers; the second line comes under cellular defences such as: inflammation and phagocytosis. The first line of defence also known as external, can be split up into: skin, mucous membranes, secretions and natural substances such as: lysozymes and saliva. The skin and mucous membranes have different characteristics which allow them to keep the microbes away from the surfaces of the body. The skin consists of a strong outer layer which is made of different cells in particular cells covered in a protein substance called: keratin and tissues such as: connective and epithelial tissues which all come together to prevent any microbe from breaking into the skin. This process is aided by the secreted antibacterial sweat and sebum on the surface of the skin. In the same way, mucous membranes which contain ciliated tissues secrete a thick substance called: mucus. The mucus found in areas such as: the nose and throat (respiratory system) helps manoeuvre the microbes and other un-wanted substances away from external and internal areas of the body. Also, the natural chemical barriers such as: tears and saliva consist of an antibacterial enzyme called: lysozome which chemically destroys the bacteria. If this first line of defence fails to work, the now internal second line of defence will act immediately to prevent further invasion. The process which responds to tissue damage (inflammation) will release chemicals such as: histamine, which is designed to promote (phagocytosis) by attracting macrophages and neutrophils to the surface of inflammation in order to enhance healing by engulfing the microbes. Although, these lines of defence are ideal for the body, the pain, swelling and heat brought about each time can cause discomfort after the microbes have entered the body. Specific defences: In contrast to this, adaptive defences hold the third line of defence to help maintain immunity. These are categorised as specific: cell-mediated and humoral (antibody-mediated) defences. After the non-specific defence has completed its job, the specific immune system takes on the role of finishing it off; the two types of lymphocytes involved in the neutralising and then killing of the invading microbes are: B-cells and T-cells. Both cells mature in the bone marrow, but T-cells normally activate in the thymus gland. With the help of T-cells (T-helper cells), B-cells will automatically identify the invaders and respond by producing two functioning cells: plasma cells and memory B-cells. The plasma cells will make the antibodies which attach to the antigen, encouraging the T-killer cells to come along and cause destruction. These cells secrete a chemical called: cytotoxic which immediately kills the antigen. As a result, the T-suppressor cells which have differentiated from the T-cells will turn off the whole immune response, clearing away the mess to get ready for the next attack. After this, due to their ability to remember the B-memory and T-memory cells will be able to prepare for the next antigen that comes to attack. Despite all the advantages of this defence system, the time it takes to react against the invaders is longer than that of the non-specific defence system which enhances the chances of infection in the body for example: if the body cant fight that specific virus quick enough it might lead to certain symptoms such as: flu. Also the fact that the pathogens are specific gives a delayed reaction against other pathogens. Conclusion: In conclusion, each defence system works in its own unique way. However, in my opinion the effectiveness of non-specific defence mechanisms over weighs that of specific defences. Although the processes involved in non-specific defences cause discomfort to the body, the immediate reaction against invaders is easily stimulated to protect the body against further infection. The fact that this defence system is constantly fighting external attacks from different pathogens shows how strong and effective it is. Whereas specific defences take longer to act and can only react to specific invaders which might lead to a weakened immunity system due to multiple infections in the body.

Maritime Shipping Industry in Mozambique Digital Marketing

Maritime Shipping Industry in Mozambique Digital Marketing Research question: how does digital marketing can attract and retain customer for the maritime shipping industry in Mozambique? This era of digitalization have been proven to bring more opportunities to companies, especially nowadays where companies are running to a race to the data and the information and in the same time new ways to attract customers and retain them. One might think that Shipping companies are not able to get those opportunities since the area seems close to this technology. However, our data revealed that Even Mozambican shipping companies can indeed profit of the digital marketing in order to attract and retain customer this is in line with the finding reported by (Efthimios Poulisaà ¢Ã‹â€ -, Konstantinos Poulisb and Lawrence Dooleyc 2013) they stated that Information communication technology (ICT) and Internet technologies not only have the potential to facilitate inter-organisational collaboration and communication but also offer organisations the potential to disrupt how their industry delivers value across its supply chain. Despite the lack of infrastructure and the decision maker reported by Mr Issa Baluch who stated that Evangelista, P., Sweeney, E. (2006). Technology usage in the supply chain Shipping companies in Mozambique has the possibilities to gain profit from digital marketing because a company should challenge itself to be creative and stay more competitive especially in the shipping industry , being innovative lead a company to face competition and gain from any economic growth , this is in line with the finding reported by (Jenssen Randoy, 2006) who stated Theory suggests that the ability to innovate is one of the most important factors for survival, competitiveness, economic growth and profit in individual shipping companies. With the impact of digital marketing, now companies can perform well with the use of selected social media, indeed platforms such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram, are well known for their freedom to accessing and engaging with customers, because there is not intermediaries between the customers and the company, this is also in the line with the findings reported by Zsolt, K, Miklos, S (2014) claiming that Maersk Line garnered over 1 million fans on Facebook, 40,000 followers on Twitter, and 22,000 on Instagram. They also launched and became active on other social media networks such as LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+ and created a social media home base for Maersk Line called Maersk Line Social that published articles and stories about the company in a less formal manner The example about Maersk can lead shipping companies in mozambique that any kind of companies has his chance when it comes to digital marketing, and the abilities of reaching ,engaging with customer and make profits of it depends on the faculty of a company to invest themselves in the digital marketing and get to master in order to get more profits and stay competitive in a higly competitive sector. the benefit of the use of digital marketing for the maritime shipping companies The data and information we have gathered from our interviewed and the respondents of our survey questionnaires all agreed about the fact that shipping companies can really benefit from the digital because firstly because its a company in the first place and secondly digital marketing is a tool that can allow companies to get more attention from customers. This coincide with the findings of loredana (2015) , he stated that many companies are interested to increase the use of the content marketing tool in their marketing policy, as they notice the limitations of the traditional marketing communication strategy, as well as the huge opportunities brought by digital marketing Many companies are indeed interested by the digital marketing as a an alternative tool from the traditional marketing but in order to run perfectly in the shipping industry, digital marketing must be used in a certain environment, Mr Issa Baluch stated that In a holistic environment, when I say holistic, I am incorporating the part of digital marketing in all the scheme of digitalization then its very important to attract and retain customer in the industry. In isolation, just doing this without digitalizing the rest of the supply chain in the company, I think its a problem and the problem is they must be a link between marketing, operations, finance. In our research weve discovered that most companies are afraid of digital marketing, this fear comes from two reasons, the first one is a generation , most shipping companies , the biggest one are in the area for a long time and for those who managed to survive without digital marketing, is hard to think that tool can bring so much opportunities. The second reason is some companies have a passive attitude toward digital media and they do the least effort just to be in the trend of digitalization and not actually invest themselves more in the process, companies are either not aware of what happens in the digital world or they just dont want to influence or redirect their current strategy, this is in line with the finding from (Jenssen, J.I., Randoy 2006) it stated that companies know that they can enhance their performance with the digital marketing but dont want to and dont wish to. In the same time, it can show that companies are afraid of the competition when it comes to digital marketing, they prefer adopting a passive attitude toward technology and also make less profit , because they dont want the competition to benchmark their strategy and do the same thing. There is a conflict here between being innovative technologically and attracts more customer and in the same being productive and competitive , and dont allows another companies to grasp their way to communicate and make profit , the best way is to say at a minimum level and keep his objectives too at the minimum. However regarding this matter, Mr Issa Baluch stated that as the history as taught us, those who have embarked on digitalization in other countries, they have been able to particularly retain customers because you have customer data bank, you have them hook at you, you can service them and its easy to gage the plus and the minus because they are with you We can say that digital marketing should be considered as a mean to gain visibility and attraction, it allows companies to be more efficient in his desire to attract more people in his whole vision and retain them with his philosophy and service. So we can say that the tool itself digital marketing can be beneficial to shipping companies in order to reach customers, after that step companies should capitalize on that attraction by using promotion of his services and advertising , in order to those opportunities to be well managed especially in the maritime area , digital marketing must be used into all the departments of a company in order to create a whole ecosystem, allowing customers to be followed on each step they pursued while reaching a company for his services, we are talking here from the marketing perspective, the finance perspective and the actual service. Now regarding the Mozambique, Digital marketing can be beneficial for the maritime shipping companies in Mozambique however before managing to capitalize on this attraction and retention, Mozambican companies must know how to use it, in order to get full advantages of what he can offer as opportunities. When we talk about opportunities, we refer to adjective, such as competitiveness, brand awareness etc. that allow companies to be on the edge of the technology and be more competitive with others companies. Regarding Africa and especially Mozambique, digital marketing can indeed be beneficial for the maritime shipping companies especially for the main reason that it can be handled online dont fully required a premium infrastructure at least in the beginning to perform, especially for platform such as ecommerce which is well spread around the country adding to that features related to online application such as online payment. However the limits can come quite rapid and the need of a required infrastructure in order to perform in a higher level. This kind of issue could be fixed by the willing of the Mozambique on the edge of technology and stay competitive. Mr Issa Baluch stated that Ecommerce in general is taking off, and its very big in other countries but in Africa it is wanted, it is still crippling, the reasons are the laws are not yet in part of the development We can considered that factor as a lack of taking advantage of an actual online potential for maritime companies and for the country as well. Shipping companies can benefit from the digital marketing in Mozambique, since digital is still considered a new tool, it requires investment, learning and mastering in order to perform well and get results wanted by companies. Weve discovered through our research that social media is one of the features of digital marketing that are the most used , communication through platform such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram Digital marketing profit of the technological advantage on being able to use data to specify and targeted a customer need thanks to the data collection provided by those platform using complicated algorithm in order to be specific on what a customer really want to be satisfy in terms of product and services. The digital marketing can enhance and be profitable for the shipping company and industry if its implemented Through our research , weve discovered that companies have some reluctance to implement digital marketing in their marketing strategy , weve also discovered that these factors are from two origins : a generational issue, long time companies are afraid to reveal informations of their company because of the competition or simply because of the easy access of the information nowadays, sensible information can be leaked or competitors can take advantages of a flaw discovered online , finally they dont think its worthy. The second origin is due to a passive way to not get fully advantage of the digital marketing and in the same time , they dont have the requirements in order to master the knowhow, indeed digital marketing even though it seems to have simple features, it requires learning and mastering to perform well. Our main finding is that customers are the backbones of maritime companies, because it allowed them to be more creative and renew themselves regularly this is in line with the finding stating To understand a company and its products, consumers need to know what type of company they have to do with, as well as what values are associated with it and how its employees come to meet the customers needs (Denning 2011, 47) The customer orientation is a highly a discussed issue in the logic that shipping companies are not different from others companies from others sectors in the fact that they need customers to survive and their efforts should be directed customers of the maritime shipping companies. Customer orientation for the shipping company is an important matter because it defines their strategy and in term of digital marketing that can be also seen as a limit due to the fact that some companies are so eager to please their customer that it can influence their strategy in the end. However since customer orientation is different from the complexity of each customer, betting on please customers that way, can jeopardize the image of a company and sometimes there is no turning back to this kind of situation. Our finding reveal that companies that have a digital marketing face tend to attract more customers than the others companies which dont. Internet technologies are indeed an effective tool to engage with customers and in the same time to reduce cost, it shows that companies with a functional and regularly updated website attracts more customers and also provide more customer service, this is in line with the finding stated by Mr Issa Baluch saying that companies that are succeeding must have their hand on their website because this is the face of the company and then build on it This suggest that shipping companies which takes the step of digital have better responses to his customer , if they have an updated website in order to answer in the best way the need of the customer. Through our research, weve noticed that regarding the shipping maritime industry in Mozambique or in general, we have two types of company The one with an open minded philosophy and vision that embraces new technology such as digital marketing, learn how to use, and mastering it in order to perform well and make the most from it, make profits, have more visibility and brand awareness The second type which is a shipping company that think that invest in such strategies is worthless for the reasons quoted earlier ( fear, passive attitude etc) and would still survive the year despite the technological loss and potential that they can use in order to be so much more efficient and face the competition with more accuracy and efficiency. Propositions Companies can benefit from digital marketing in general however our research is focused on the shipping industry , and that complicates thing because according to our finding companies can survive without having to use and implement digital marketing in their strategy. The environment of the maritime industry allows companies with a portfolio of customer to be able to succeed without relying on other technology thats the reason why maritime industry is considered as a low technology sector compared to other sectors such as automotive. Thats why the subject was interesting to pursue, as reported by Efthimios P, Konstantinos P Lawrence D (2011) they stated that they explore the impact that the digital networked environment is having on the traditional service-based industry of freight shipping within global supply chains Although our data seems to fit to this particular subject however we have some propositions regarding the matter , we think that digital marketing would be beneficial for maritime shipping companies, especially to small one that need visibility in this volatile environment dominated by the big firms. I would be profitable for a company to implement digital marketing in his strategy, in order to profit to the digital tools that lead companies to communicate at all levels, because of the nature of his environment, shipping industry is highly competitive so digital marketing could be an alternative to grasp some markets parts especially in Mozambique where the big firms have the most of the market share and the small one have to share the remaining left. Social media should be better considered by maritime companies in Mozambique because when its mastered as the example of Maersk, it can bring several opportunities, however when misused or when a company doesnt know to used it, it could jeopardize the image of a brand or a company, that could fatal for a sector so competitive; thats why it should not be taken for granted otherwise the consequences could be bad and in the same time, a company could miss several opportunities to be more competitive. Countries such as Mozambique shows an increase level of technology use, via the spreading of smartphones and the development of online structure such as ecommerce and online payment, digital marketing would be a huge help to capitalize on those factors and could open the road to the use of other tools of the digital marketing such as the search engine media. According to our findings It would advantageous for maritime shipping industry to considered the use of email marketing as a way to communicate and engage with customer , they could add this tool to the social media to reach a bigger audience while staying professional. Limitations To give out a robust work on this domain, it would be useful to carry out a large study scale with more Mozambican companies, the real issue was since everything (survey and questionnaires) was made online , people tend to not answer to surveys , we could use more of people answering directly of survey questionnaire allowing us to gather more data We could also added to that, a case study related to the subject in order to compare between two different time, the time where the case study was published against a new recollection of data for the same area and the same subject We could also regret the lack of studies or essays regarding the digital marketing for the maritime shipping in Mozambique or Africa in general, most Africans countries can encounters the same issue and face the same challenges, so it could be an interesting way to improve thing for future generations. Given the importance of maritime shipping industry and also as the backbone of the commerce of some countries especially in Africa, the main implication from a research point of view is that further and more advanced investigations could be done in this field for Africa or a specific country in order to show that shipping companies can benefit from the use of digital marketing and can improve his visibility , and also can attract and retain customer even for this field , those facts can be applied to other fields as well.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: English Literature Essays

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written in the late fourteenth century. To this day, no one knows the name of the author of the poem. The poem was written in a dialect that is very hard to understand. Alliteration and rhyme are combined to create unique stanzas, called "Bob and Wheel." The term "Bob and Wheel" means that a poetic stanza has long alliterative lines; then, there is a two syllable line followed by a quatrain. The poem has several plots. One plot or theme is temptation. "The poem is a medieval comedy of manners told from a distinctly Christian viewpoint." In the lines from 366 to 443, the poem shows how Sir Gawain is chivalrous and brave. In this passage, there is action and symbolism that cause the characters' reactions. In the beginning of the passage, not much action is going on. The Green Knight then rides into King Arthur's house on his horse. He gives a challenge to everybody in the hall. The king says that whoever cuts the Green Knight's head will be a brave person. Then Sir Gawain says that he will take the Green Knight's challenge. But, he wants to know the Green Knight's name. Sir Gawain says,"Nor I know you not, knight your name nor your court. But tell me truly thereof, and teach me your name (Norton 210,line400-401). The Green Knight, however, does not give his name to Sir Gawain. Instead, the Green Knight says Sir Gawain has a year to find out where the Green Knight lives. Once Sir Gawain discovers where the Green Knight lives, he will know his name. The Green Knight says, "If I tell you true, when I have taken your knock, and If you handily have hit, you shall hear straightway of my house and my home and my own name" (Norton 210 lines 406-408). At this point Sir Gawain does not know wha t to do. Sir Gawain asks the Green Knight for directions to his house. But the Green Knight will not give any clues to Sir Gawain, and he says, "That is enough in New Year, you need say no more" which means that after the year is through, Sir Gawain will know everything (Norton 210 line 404).

Market Report: 2005 VW Jetta :: essays research papers

Environmental Scan Nature of Demand: Some of the key target markets for the new 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, include a younger demographic that are looking for a high quality brand name with a tradition of reliability. The new Jetta is breaking ties from its old image of the family car that highlighted safety features and family values, and in turn is being marketed as the new generation Jetta. This Jetta is more high-tech, with a sleek and stylish design, and is being portrayed as an exciting car, as to grasp a younger and trendier target market. Aside from the special features, the most noticeable change in the Jetta is the look. Volkswagen has even gone with a more â€Å"Japanese look†, comparable to the Acura’s and the Honda’s in the market. This is also a reflection of Volkwagen’s attempt to aim at a younger target market, as cars such as the Acura Integra, and the Honda Civic are very popular among younger people. Extra accessories have also been added to this Jetta to give it a more youthful appearance. Some of these accessories include a sporty rear spoiler, 18† VisionV wheels, silver tail lamps and a rear valance. Another key feature to this Jetta is the steering wheel. The steering wheel alone allows you to accomplish up to eight different things, including scrolling through CD tracks and answering your cell phone. This is a great feature to target towards a younger market, as younger people demand a lot out of their cars and are often trying to do many things at once. This makes multitasking that much easier. As far as the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta meeting a consumer need/demand, it satisfies a unique niche that has yet to be filled. This Jetta should satisfy consumers who demand the longstanding history, tradition and performance of a classic European car but who also desire a new generation style of car that meets the criteria of features needed for today’s driver. As mentioned earlier, Volkswagen’s new design is a first of its kind. This is the first serious European threat against the many of the new favourable Japanese cars. As already mentioned, the key target market for the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta is a younger group of drivers.

Hoosier Burger Essay

The project development team for Hoosier Burger has had several meetings with the owners, Bob and Thelma Mellankamp. Mr. Mellankamp has stressed the important improvements and shared that the businesses food demand has increase drastically. There have been numerous problems that have arisen from this type of demand and could affect business if a system is not created to meet those needs. The purpose of this essay is to discuss how the Hoosier Burger project was identified and selected, identify the project scope and what the new system will have, and assess the project’s feasibility factors as well as develop the project scope. The information system project had to first be identified and selected. This would be the first phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). To do this the project development team has had several meetings with Mr. and Mrs. Mellankamp to discuss improvements and identifying areas that need most improvements. According to Valacich, George, and Hoffer (2009), â€Å"Project identification and selection consists of three primary activities: identifying potential development projects, classifying and ranking projects, and selecting projects for development† (p. 94). The potential development projects for Hoosier Burger are improving inventory control, customer ordering, and management reporting systems and ranking in that order. The focus of the new system will be to improve customer service by improving inventory management, marketing, and food preparations (keeping inventory stocked). The project scope statement for Hoosier Burger will describe what the project will deliver as well as outline all the work that will be required for project completion. The project will deliver a tracking system for inventory, customer ordering and sales and over all improve management reporting. The new system will be required to meet these goals in order to assist the owners of Hoosier Burger to control these different aspects. Each different area will work with one another to help Mr. Mellankamp manage the business and reporting systems better. Using six feasibility factors, the project development team can assess Hoosier Burger project feasibility. According to Valacich, George, and Hoffer (2009), â€Å"Assessing project feasibility is a required task that can be a large undertaking because it requires you, as a systems analyst, to evaluate a wide range of factors† (p. 100). The six feasibility factors are economic,  operational, technical, schedule, legal and contractual, and political. As stated by Valacich, George, and Hoffer (2009), â€Å"The analysis of these six factors forms the business case that justifies the expenditure of resources on the project† (p. 100). The economic feasibility of Hoosier Burger’s project is that it will benefit the company financially because it will increase business with customers being happier with the service. The operational feasibility for the named case is that the project that is being developed will very likely solves most of the business’s problem because it is currently all done manually by hand with no system at all. Technical feasibility in this case is that the organization has the ability to construct the system. Schedule, legal and contractual, and political feasibility will also follow as well when the project begins.

Beer’s Law Lab Report Essay

Abstract: The Beer’s law lab was conducted to determine the optimal wavelength of Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O with the use of spectrometry. The results determined that the optimal wavelength to study the absorbance of this salt was 500nm. It also demonstrated how transmittance of light and absorbance of light are inversely proportional because absorbance is calculated by multiplying transmittance by a negative log. Introduction: When one is studying chemicals, there are many important factors of significance. The color of a chemical is a useful tool in its study. The light one sees produced by a chemical is the result of both reflection and absorbance of wavelengths. The wavelengths that are absorbed by a chemical are not visualized. The wavelengths that are reflected back are the colors that one sees. When chemicals are diluted in water, their colors also become diluted. As the chemical is diluted, the molecules spread apart. The more dilute the solution, the further apart the molecules. As the molecules spread, the color that is reflected becomes less intense because some of the wavelengths are able to pass through the solution without encountering any of the solute. The more wavelengths that are able to pass through a solution without encountering any of the solute, the greater the transmittance. The transmittance can be mathematically calculated by dividing the amount of light that exited the solution (IT) by the amount of original intensity (IO). That value is then multiplied by 100 to give the percent transmittance (%T) Beer’s Law is used to relate and compares the amount of light that has passed through something to the substances it has passed through. The Law is represented by A=abc. â€Å"A† is the absorbance of a solution. The â€Å"a† represents the absorption constant of the solution being tested. The â€Å"b† represents the thickness of the solution in centimeters, and â€Å"c† represents the solution’s molarity or concentration. The â€Å"A† can be calculated by using the negative log of the transmittance (T).   The lab experiment conducted used the salt Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O. The Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O  was diluted in distilled water to four different molarities. The most concentrated solution was used to determine the optimal wavelength to study the salt by measuring the transmittance of the Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O with twenty different wavelengths of light. Once the optimal wavelength was concluded, the transmittance of the less concentrated Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O solutions was also measured. The measurements of the less concentrated solutions was to determine the absorbance constant, â€Å"a†. Finally, the transmittance of an unknown concentration of Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O solution was measured and molarity was determined based on the absorbance constant determined earlier in the experiment. Procedure: A test tube was prepared with 0.1 M solution of Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O in 10mL of distilled water. Half of the .1M solution, 5mL, was drawn up into a pipette and put into another test tube with 5mL of deionized water to make a 0.05 M solution. Half of the 0.05 M solution, 5mL was drawn into a pipette and put into a test tube with 5mL of deionized water to make 0.025 M solution. Half of the 0.025 M solution, 5mL, was drawn into a pipette and put into a test tube with 5mL of deionized water to make 0.0125 M solution. A test tube of 10mL of deionized water was also prepared. The bubbles on all test tubes were removed by tapping on the outside of the test tube. The outside of the tubes were dried off and any fingerprints were removed with paper towels and placed into a test tube rack. An absorbance spectrometer was zeroed by measuring the transmittance at 400nm with no test tubes in the spectrometer. The spectrometer was then calibrated to 100 percent transmittance with the test tube of deionized water. The deionized water was removed from the spectrometer and the 0.1 M solution was put inside the spectrometer. The transmittance of the solution was recorded and the solution was removed. The wavelength on the spectrometer was changed to 410nm and the deionized water was placed back into the spectrometer and the transmittance was calibrated to 100 percent. The deionized water was replaced with 0.1 M solution and the transmittance was recorded. This process was repeated twenty times with the wavelength increasing by 10nm consecutively until the last wavelength, 600nm, was  measured. It was necessary to calibrate the spectrometer between each change in wavelength. Every change in nanometers had to be measured and calibrated at 100 percent with the control of deionized water. This maintained accuracy when the transmittance of Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O solutions measured. Based on the data gathered, the optimal wavelength was determined and the spectrometer was set to that wavelength. The transmittance was set to 100 with the deionized water. The 0.1 M solution replaced the deionized water in the spectrometer chamber and the transmittance was recorded. This process was repeated with 0.05 M, 0.025 M, and 0.0125 M solutions and the transmittance was calibrated to 100 between each solution with the deionized water. Finally, a Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O solution with an unknown molarity was provided (unknown â€Å"B†). The wavelength of the spectrometer was not changed. The deionized water was placed in the chamber and calibrated to 100 percent transmittance. The deionized water was removed and replaced with a test tube containing unknown â€Å"B†. The transmittance was recorded to determine what the molarity was. Data: After the solutions had been completed, the transmittance was measured at 10nm intervals from 400nm to 600nm. The measurements were determine the wavelength to best study Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O. Higher transmittance demonstrated less absorption of the wavelength and lower transmittance demonstrated higher absorption of the wavelength. Discussion: Beer’s Law is a law that demonstrates that the absorbance of light at a certain wavelength is directly proportional to the concentration or molarity of a solution. This was apparent with the naked eye. When making the solutions, 0.291 moles of was added to a test tube with 10mL of deionized water to make a 0.1 M solution. By taking 5mL out of the solution and mixing it with 5mL of deionized water, the number of moles was halved which made the second solution a 0.05 M solution. When the process had been repeated, it was apparent that the solutions had been diluted based on the color of the solutions in the test tubes. The 0.1 M solution was absorbing more light and was a deep rose color. As the solutions became more dilute, the concentration of the visible color diminished as less light was absorbed to a very pale translucent pink in the 0.0125 M solution. For the first part of the lab, the wavelengths 400-600nm were used. These wavelengths were used to determine the optimal wavelength when the most light was absorbed by the solution. It was important to calibrate the transmittance to 100% on the spectrometer with the deionized water because there were no solutes to absorb light. The spectrometer was then able to use that calibration to determine how much of the light was absorbed by the solution containing Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O by comparing the difference in how much light was absorbed by the detectors in the spectrometer. The spectrometer than calculated the percent transmittance (%T) and displayed the data in a percent. As was shown above in table 1 and graph 1, the %T started high and ended high with percentages over 90. The higher %T demonstrate less light was absorbed by the solution and therefore not the wavelength of light that is absorbed by Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O. Toward the middle of the data, 500nm and 510nm, the %T became substantially lower. This demonstrates that Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O absorbs wavelengths about 500nm. In the second part of the lab, the different molarity, or concentrations, of solution were measured for %T with a 500nm wavelength. The absorbance was calculated by using the negative log of T. This was done because T and A are inversely proportional. This was demonstrated in table 2 and table 3. These tables confirmed that as T decreases, A increases. The third part of the experiment used the point slope formula to determine a molarity based on an absorbance. The absorbance of light was dependent on the concentration of solute. The variables â€Å"A† and â€Å"y† are both dependent variables and were comparable to one another. The variable â€Å"x† and â€Å"c† were the independent variables. The variable â€Å"a† was the absorption constant and â€Å"b† was the thickness of the solution. In this case, â€Å"b† was equal to 1 cm. Graphs 2 and 3 demonstrated the plotted points and from that, excel calculated a trend line based on the point-slope formula. Graph 3 demonstrated how the estimated molarity of unknown â€Å"B†, based on the point-slope formula, fits the trend line. Conclusion: Beer’s Law was studied in this lab. The goals of this were to determine optimal wavelength absorption by Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O and determine transmittance and absorption from the data collected. The optimal wavelength absorption for Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O occurred at 500nm. The data also showed that while the transmittance and absorbance were indirectly proportional from one another, both variables were dependent on the concentration of the solution. Once the data had been collected and understood, an unknown concentration of solution was tested for transmittance. Based on the trend line formed from other concentrations of Co(NO3)2 ·6H2O solutions, the molarity was easily calculated to be 0.048. Possible errors that may have occurred during this lab have to do with calibration of the spectrometer. The transmittance values changed second to second so if the timing was not perfect in measuring the samples, the transmittance would have been erroneous. The transmittances would have been too high (based on experimentation) so the absorbance rates would have been too low. This in turn would have caused the absorbance constant to be too low. If the absorbance constant was too low, the concentration of unknown â€Å"B† would have been calculated too high.

The Golden Lily Chapter 3

EVEN THOUGH EDDIE had told me not to worry about Angeline, the curious part of me couldn't help but prod him about it on the drive over to Adrian's apartment. â€Å"How are you going to handle it?† I asked. â€Å"Have a heart-to-heart?† He shook his head. â€Å"Mostly I was going to simply avoid her unless absolutely necessary. Hopefully she'll lose interest.† â€Å"Well. I guess that's one method. But, I mean, you're a pretty direct person.† If faced with a roomful of Strigoi, he would've walked in without hesitation. â€Å"Maybe you should try that kind of approach instead. Just confront her and tell her honestly that you're not interested.† â€Å"That's easy in theory,† he said. â€Å"Not so much in person.† â€Å"Seems easy to me.† Eddie was skeptical. â€Å"That's because you've never had to do it.† Going to Adrian's was a lot easier than it once had been for me. His apartment used to belong to Keith and was also the site where a Moroi named Lee and two Strigoi had died. Those were hard memories to shake. The Alchemists had offered the apartment to me, since I'd also taken on full responsibility for Palm Springs, but I'd yielded it to Adrian. I hadn't been sure I wanted to live there, and he'd been pretty desperate for his own place. When I'd seen how happy the apartment made him, I knew I'd made the right choice. Adrian opened the door before we'd barely had a chance to knock. â€Å"The cavalry! Thank God.† I hid a smile as Eddie and I stepped inside. The first thing that always hit me about this place was the sunny yellow paint Adrian had put up on the walls. He was convinced it helped the mood and had warned us not to question his â€Å"artistic sensibilities.† The fact that the yellow clashed pretty terribly with his secondhand plaid furniture was apparently irrelevant. Or maybe I just wasn't â€Å"artistic† enough to appreciate it. Nonetheless, I actually found the erratic style comforting. It bore little resemblance to Keith's decorating, making it a little easier to blot out the events of that awful night. Sometimes, when I looked around the living room, my breath would catch as visions of the vicious Strigoi attack and Lee's death haunted me. Adrian's stamp on the apartment was like light chasing away the gruesome shadows of the past. Sometimes when I was down, Adrian's personality had a similar effect. â€Å"Nice blouse, Sage,† he told me, deadpan. â€Å"It really brings out the khaki in your pants.† His sarcasm aside, he looked supremely delighted to see us. He had the tall, lean build that most Moroi guys did, along with their typically pale (though not Strigoi-pale) skin. I hated to admit it, but he was more good-looking than he had any right to be. He wore his dark brown hair stylishly messy and had eyes that sometimes seemed too green to be real. Adrian had on one of those button-up printed shirts that were trendy with guys lately, with a blue pattern on it I liked. He smelled like he'd been smoking recently, which I didn't like. Dimitri and Sonya were sitting at the kitchen table going over a bunch of papers with hand-written notes on them. The papers were kind of haphazardly scattered around, which made me wonder how much work they could really be accomplishing. I would have had those pages neatly stacked and organized by topic. â€Å"Glad you're back, Sydney,† said Sonya. â€Å"I've needed a little female support here.† The prettiness of her red hair and high cheek bones was tainted by the fact that she showed her fangs when she smiled. Most Moroi were taught early to avoid that, to prevent detection from humans. Sonya had no qualms about doing it in private. It still bugged me. Dimitri smiled at me. It made his already handsome face even more so, and I knew that â€Å"Zen master wisdom† wasn't the reason Rose had fallen for him. â€Å"I'm guessing you didn't take a nap.† â€Å"Too much to do,† I said. Sonya gave Eddie a curious look. â€Å"We've been wondering where you were.† â€Å"Busy at Amberwood,† said Eddie vaguely. He'd mentioned in the car that it might be best if Angeline's indiscretion and his forced shopping weren't mentioned. â€Å"You know, keeping an eye on Jill and Angeline. Besides, I was waiting until Sydney came back since she wanted to see what we were doing.† I let the white lie slide. â€Å"How is Angeline?† asked Dimitri. â€Å"Is she improving?† Eddie and I exchanged glances. So much for avoiding her indiscretions. â€Å"Improving how exactly?† I asked. â€Å"In combat, in following the dress code, or in keeping her hands to herself?† â€Å"Or in turning off caps-lock?† added Eddie. â€Å"You noticed that too?† I asked. â€Å"Hard not to,† he said. Dimitri looked surprised, which was not a common thing. He wasn't caught off guard very often, but then, no one could really prepare for what Angeline might do. â€Å"I didn't realize I needed to be more specific,† said Dimitri after a pause. â€Å"I meant combat.† Eddie shrugged. â€Å"There's a little improvement, but it's hard to get through to her. I mean, she's absolutely dead set on protecting Jill, but she's also convinced she already knows how. She's got years of that sloppy training drilled into her. It's hard to break that. Plus, she's†¦ easily distracted.† I had to swallow a laugh. Dimitri still looked troubled. â€Å"She has no time for distraction. Maybe I should talk to her.† â€Å"No,† said Eddie firmly, in a rare show of contradicting Dimitri. â€Å"You've got plenty to do here. She's my responsibility to train. Don't worry.† Adrian pulled up a chair, turning it backwards so he could rest his chin on its back. â€Å"What about you, Sage? I know we don't have to worry about you violating the dress code. Did you have fun at your Alchemist spa this weekend?† I set down my bag and walked over to the refrigerator. â€Å"If by spa, you mean underground bunker. And it was just business.† I made a face as I looked inside. â€Å"You promised to get me diet pop.† â€Å"I did promise that,† said Adrian, no remorse whatsoever. â€Å"But then I read some article that said those artificial sweeteners aren't good for you. So, I figured I'd watch out for your health.† He paused. â€Å"You're welcome.† Dimitri said what we were all thinking. â€Å"If you want to start tackling healthy habits, I could suggest a few.† If Eddie or I had said that, it would have rolled right off Adrian – particularly since it was completely valid. But coming from Dimitri? That was different. There was a huge amount of tension between the two men, tension that had been building for a long time. Dimitri's girlfriend, a notorious dhampir named Rose Hathaway, had briefly dated Adrian. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but she'd been in love with Dimitri the whole time. So, there was no way that situation could have ended well. Adrian still carried a lot of scars from that and was particularly bitter toward Dimitri. â€Å"Wouldn't want to inconvenience you,† said Adrian, a bit too coolly. â€Å"Besides, when not hard at work with this research, I'm actually conducting a side experiment on how cigarettes and gin increase charisma. As you might guess, the results are looking very promising.† Dimitri arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Wait, go back. Did you say hard at work?† Dimitri's tone was light and playful, and again, I was struck by the double standard here. If I'd made that comment, Adrian's response would've been something like, â€Å"Absolutely, Sage. I'll probably win the Nobel Prize for this.† But for Adrian, Dimitri's words were a call to battle. I saw a glint of something hard in Adrian's eyes, a stirring of some old pain, and it bothered me. That wasn't his way. He always had a smile and a quip, even if they were often irreverent or inappropriate. I'd gotten used to that. I kind of liked it. I glanced at Adrian with a smile that I hoped looked genuine, rather than a desperate attempt to provide distraction. â€Å"Research, huh? I thought you were a gambling man.† It took Adrian a few moments to drag his gaze from Dimitri and fix it on me. â€Å"I've been known to roll the dice now and then,† he said warily. â€Å"Why?† I shrugged. â€Å"No reason. Just wondering if you'd put your charisma research on hold and step up for a challenge. If you went twenty-four hours without cigarettes, I'd drink a can of pop. Regular pop. The whole can.† I saw the glimmer of Adrian's earlier smile returning. â€Å"You would not.† â€Å"I totally would.† â€Å"Half a can would put you into a coma.† Sonya frowned. â€Å"Are you diabetic?† she asked me. â€Å"No,† said Adrian, â€Å"but Sage is convinced one extraneous calorie will make her go from super skinny to just regular skinny. Tragedy.† â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"You think it'd be a tragedy to go an hour without a cigarette.† â€Å"Don't question my steel resolve, Sage. I went without one for two hours today.† â€Å"Show me twenty-four, and then I'll be impressed.† He gave me a look of mock surprise. â€Å"You mean you aren't already? And here I thought you were dazzled from the moment you met me.† Sonya shook her head indulgently at the two of us, like we were adorable children. â€Å"You're missing out, Sydney,† she remarked, tapping the open pop in front of her. â€Å"I need about three of these a day to keep me focused on all this work. No detrimental effects so far.† No detrimental effects so far? Of course not. Moroi never had any. Sonya, Jill†¦ they could all eat whatever they wanted and still keep those amazing bodies. Meanwhile, I labored over every calorie and still couldn't reach that level of perfection. Fitting into these size four khakis had been a triumph this morning. Now, looking at Sonya's slender build, I felt enormous by comparison. I suddenly regretted my comment about drinking a can of pop, even if it had succeeded in distracting Adrian. I supposed I could rest easy knowing that him skipping cigarettes for a day was impossible. I'd never be called to pay up on my sugary wager. â€Å"We should probably get to work. We're losing time.† That was Dimitri, getting us back on track. â€Å"Right,† said Adrian. â€Å"This is five minutes of valuable research wasted. Up for more fun, Castile? I know how much you love sitting around.† Because they were trying to find something special about Dimitri, Sonya and Adrian would often sit the two dhampirs side by side and study their auras in fine detail. Their hope was that Dimitri's Strigoi conversion had left some sign that would help explain the immunity to being turned again. It was a valid idea, though not something that someone as active as Eddie enjoyed. He didn't complain, of course. Eddie wore a look as tough and determined as Dimitri. â€Å"Tell me what you need.† â€Å"We want to do another aura study,† said Sonya. Looked like poor Eddie would be doing some more sitting around. â€Å"Last time we focused on any sign of spirit. This time, we want to show both of you some pictures and see if they trigger any color changes in your auras.† I nodded in approval. A lot of psychological experiments attempted similar techniques, though they usually monitored physiological responses instead of mystical auras. â€Å"I still say it's a waste,† said Adrian. â€Å"They're both dhampirs, but that doesn't mean we can assume any different reactions they have are because Belikov was a Strigoi. Everyone's unique. Everyone's going to respond differently to pictures of kittens or spiders. My old man? He hates kittens.† â€Å"Who could hate kittens?† asked Eddie. Adrian made a face. â€Å"He's allergic.† â€Å"Adrian,† said Sonya. â€Å"We've already been over this. I respect your opinion but still think we can learn a lot.† I was actually impressed that Adrian had an opinion. So far, I'd kind of felt like he was just going along with everything Sonya and Dimitri told him to do and that he didn't give these experiments much thought. And, although I wasn't familiar with the auras that surrounded all living creatures, I could understand his point that individual differences would throw off their research. â€Å"All data is useful in this case,† said Dimitri. â€Å"Especially since we haven't found anything so far. We know there's something different about former Strigoi. We can't rule out any chance to observe it.† Adrian's lips tightened, and he made no further protest. Maybe it was because he felt overruled, but I had a feeling it was because he just didn't want to engage with Dimitri. With the attention off me, I settled into the living room with a book and tried to stay awake. They didn't need me. I'd simply come to keep Eddie company. Occasionally, I'd check the others' progress. Dimitri and Eddie watched as Sonya flipped through different images on her laptop. In turn, Adrian and Sonya watched the dhampirs closely and made notes on paper. I almost wished I could see the bands of color and light and wondered if there really were any noticeable differences. Studying Eddie and Dimitri, I sometimes would notice a change in facial expression when particularly cute or horrific images showed up on the screen, but for the most part their work remained a mystery to me. Curious, I walked over to Sonya when they were about halfway through. â€Å"What do you see?† I asked in a low voice. â€Å"Colors,† she said. â€Å"Shining around all living things. Eddie and Dimitri have different colors, but they have the same reactions.† She changed the picture on the screen to one of a factory spilling black smoke into an otherwise clear sky. â€Å"Neither of them like this. Their auras dim and turn troubled.† She flipped to the next image, a smile on her lips. Three kittens appeared on the screen. â€Å"And now they warm up. Affection is very easy to spot in an aura. So far, they react in normal ways. There's no sign in Dimitri's aura that he's different from Eddie.† I returned to the couch. After a couple of hours, Sonya called a halt. â€Å"I think we've seen what we needed to. Thank you, Eddie.† â€Å"Happy to help,† he said, rising from his chair and stretching. He seemed relieved both that it was over and that it had involved something slightly more interesting than staring off into space. He was active and energetic, and didn't like captivity. â€Å"Although†¦ we've got a few other ideas,† she added. â€Å"Do you think you guys can power through a little longer?† Naturally, she asked just as I was yawning. Eddie regarded me with sympathy. â€Å"I'll stay, but you don't have to. Go sleep. I'll get a ride home.† â€Å"No, no,† I said, stifling a second yawn. â€Å"I don't mind. What are your other ideas?† â€Å"I was hoping to do something similar with Eddie and Dimitri,† she explained. â€Å"Except this time, we'd use sounds instead of images. Then I'd like to see how they respond to direct contact with spirit.† â€Å"I think that's a good idea,† I said, not really sure what that last one would entail. â€Å"Go for it. I'll wait.† Sonya glanced around and seemed to notice I wasn't the only one who looked tired. â€Å"Maybe we should get some food first.† Eddie brightened up at that. â€Å"I'll go,† I offered. It was a sign of my progress that vampires talking about â€Å"food† no longer made me hyperventilate. I knew she didn't mean blood, not if the dhampirs and I were being involved. Besides, there was no feeder around. Feeders were humans who willingly gave blood to Moroi for the high it produced. Everyone here knew better than to even joke about that around me. â€Å"There's a good Thai carryout place a few blocks away.† â€Å"I'll help,† said Adrian eagerly. â€Å"I'll help,† said Sonya. â€Å"The last time you ran an errand, you were gone two hours.† Adrian scowled but didn't deny the charge. â€Å"Our aura observations have been identical anyway. You can get them started on the sounds without me.† Sonya and I took everyone's orders and set out. I didn't really feel like I needed help, but I supposed carrying food for five people – even for a few blocks – could get unwieldy. I soon learned she had other motives for coming along, though. â€Å"It feels good to get outside and stretch my legs,† she said. It was early evening, with significantly less sun and heat – a condition the Moroi loved. We walked along a side street leading toward downtown, lined with cute apartments and small businesses. All around us, huge palm trees loomed, providing an interesting contrast to the eclectic urban setting. â€Å"I've been cooped up there all day.† I smiled at her. â€Å"And here I thought Adrian was the only one who got cabin fever from the work you guys do.† â€Å"He just complains the most,† she explained. â€Å"Which is kind of funny since he also probably gets out the most, between his classes and his cigarette breaks.† I'd nearly forgotten about the two art classes Adrian was taking at a local college. He usually kept his latest projects on display, but there'd been none in the living room lately. I hadn't realized until that moment how much I missed them. I might give him a hard time, but sometimes those artistic glimpses into the way he thought were fascinating. Sonya gave me a brief recap of her wedding plans as we walked the short distance to the Thai restaurant. Her relationship with dhampir Mikhail Tanner was kind of epic on a lot of levels, I supposed. First, dhampirs and Moroi didn't generally get involved in serious relationships. Usually, they were just casual affairs that resulted in the reproduction of more dhampirs. In addition to the scandal of even being involved, Mikhail had actually wanted to hunt down Sonya when she was a Strigoi to free her from that twisted state. Rose had attempted the same with Dimitri, believing death was better than being a Strigoi. Mikhail had failed, but their love had remained steadfast enough through the ordeal that when she'd defied the odds and been restored, they'd immediately gotten back together. I couldn't even begin to imagine love like that. â€Å"We're still deciding on flowers,† she continued. â€Å"Hydrangeas or lilies. I'm guessing I know what your vote is for.† â€Å"Actually, I'd say hydrangeas. I'm around too many lilies already.† She laughed at that and suddenly knelt near a flower bed filled with gladiolas. â€Å"More than you know. There are lilies sleeping in this bed.† â€Å"They're out of season,† I pointed out. â€Å"Nothing's ever out of season.† Sonya glanced around covertly and then rested her fingers on the earth. Moments later, dark green shoots appeared, growing taller and taller until a red trumpet lily opened up on top. â€Å"Ah. Red. Alchemists ones are white – oh, are you okay?† I had backed up so far on the sidewalk that I'd nearly walked into the street. â€Å"You†¦ you shouldn't do that. Someone might see.† â€Å"No one saw,† she said, getting to her feet. Her face softened. â€Å"I'm so sorry. I forget sometimes how you feel about this. It was wrong of me.† â€Å"It's okay,† I said, not sure that it was. Vampire magic always made my skin crawl. Vampires, creatures who needed blood, were bad enough. But being able to manipulate the world with magic? Even worse. That lily, although beautiful, took on a sinister edge now. It shouldn't have existed this time of the year. No more was said about magic, and we soon reached the main strip downtown, where the Thai restaurant was. We placed a giant carryout order and were told it would take about fifteen minutes. Sonya and I lingered outside, admiring downtown Palm Springs in twilight. Lastminute shoppers were out before the boutiques closed, and all the restaurants were hopping with those coming and going. Many of them had outdoor tables on the sidewalk, and friendly conversation buzzed around us. A large fountain, tiled in bright colors, fascinated children and inspired tourists to stop for photo ops. Sonya was easily distracted by the various plants and trees that the city used to beautify the streets. Even without spirit's ability to affect living things, she was still quite the gardener. â€Å"Hey you! Elder Melrose!† I turned and winced when I saw Lia DiStefano striding toward me. Lia was a fashion designer with a shop here in downtown Palm Springs. I hadn't realized we were standing directly across from her store. If I had, I would've waited inside the restaurant. Lia was short but had an overwhelming presence, enhanced by the flamboyant gypsy style she often chose for her personal attire. â€Å"I've been calling you for weeks,† she said, once she reached our side of the street. â€Å"Why don't you answer?† â€Å"I've been really busy,† I said straight-faced. â€Å"Uh-huh.† Lia put her hands on her hips and tried to stare me down, which was kind of amazing since I was taller. â€Å"When are you going to let your sister model for me again?† â€Å"Miss DiStefano,† I said patiently, â€Å"I've told you before. She can't do it anymore. Our parents don't like it. Our religion doesn't allow faces to be photographed.† Last month, Jill's runway-perfect build and gorgeous, ethereal features had attracted Lia's attention. Seeing as having your picture taken en masse was kind of a bad way to stay in hiding, we'd only agreed to let Jill walk in Lia's fashion show because all the models wore Venetian masks. Lia had been on me ever since to let Jill model again. It was hard because I knew Jill wanted to, but she understood as well as I did that her safety came first. Claiming we were part of some obscure religion had often explained away our weird behaviors to others, so I'd figured it would get Lia off my back. It hadn't. â€Å"I never hear from these parents of yours,† Lia said. â€Å"I've watched your family. I see how it is. You're the authority. You're the one I have to go through. I have the chance to do a major magazine spread for my scarves and hats, and Jill was born to do it. What's it going to take to get her? You want a cut of the pay?† I sighed. â€Å"It's not about the money. We can't show her face. If you want to put her in a Venetian mask again, then be my guest.† Lia scowled. â€Å"I can't do that.† â€Å"Then we're at an impasse.† â€Å"There must be something. Everyone has a price.† â€Å"Sorry.† There was no price in the world she could offer to get me to shirk my duty to Jill and the Alchemists. A restaurant clerk stuck his head outside and called that our order was ready, mercifully freeing us from Lia. Sonya chuckled as we loaded up on our bags and headed back down the street to make the walk to Adrian's. The sky was still purple with the last of the day's light, and street lamps made whimsical patterns on the sidewalk as they cast their light through the leaves of palm trees. â€Å"Did you ever imagine your job here would involve dodging aggressive fashion designers?† Sonya asked. â€Å"No,† I admitted. â€Å"Honestly, I never foresaw half the stuff this job has – â€Å" â€Å"Sonya?† A young man appeared seemingly out of nowhere, blocking our path. He was no one I knew and looked to be a little older than me. He wore his black hair in a buzz cut and was staring curiously at Sonya. She came to a halt and frowned. â€Å"Do I know you?† He brightened. â€Å"Sure. Jeff Eubanks. Remember?† â€Å"No,† she said politely, after a few moments of study. â€Å"You must have me mistaken for someone else. I'm sorry.† â€Å"No, no,† he said. â€Å"I know it's you. Sonya Karp, right? We met in Kentucky last year.† Sonya stiffened. She'd made Kentucky her home while she was a Strigoi. I knew those couldn't be pleasant memories. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she repeated, voice strained. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about.† The guy was undaunted, still smiling as though they were best friends. â€Å"You've come a long ways from Kentucky. What brings you out here? I just transferred for work.† â€Å"There's some mistake,† I told him sternly, nudging Sonya forward. I didn't know what that mistake could be exactly, but Sonya's attitude was all I needed. â€Å"We have to go.† The guy didn't follow us, but Sonya remained silent for most of the walk home. â€Å"Must be hard,† I said, feeling like I should say something. â€Å"Meeting people from your past.† She shook her head. â€Å"He's not. I'm certain of it. I've never met him.† I'd figured she just wanted to avoid all associations with being a Strigoi. â€Å"You're sure? He wasn't just some casual acquaintance?† She shot me a wry look. â€Å"Strigoi don't have casual acquaintances with humans. They have them for dinner. That guy shouldn't have known who I was.† â€Å"He was human? Not dhampir?† I couldn't tell the difference, but Moroi could. â€Å"Definitely.† Sonya had stopped again and was glancing back at the guy's retreating figure. I followed her gaze. â€Å"There must be some reason he recognized you. He seems pretty harmless.† That got me another smile. â€Å"Come now, Sydney. I figured you'd been around us long enough to know.† â€Å"Know what?† â€Å"Nothing's ever as harmless as it seems.†