Sunday, August 23, 2020

Chinese Empress Si Ling-Chi Discovered How to Make Silk

Chinese Empress Si Ling-Chi Discovered How to Make Silk Around 2700-2640 B.C.E., the Chinese started making silk. As indicated by Chinese convention, the part-amazing head, Huang Di (then again Wu-di or Huang Ti) designed the strategies for raising silkworms and turning silk string. Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, is likewise credited as the author of the Chinese country, maker of humankind, originator of strict Taoism, maker of composing, and designer of the compass and the stoneware wheel all establishments of culture in antiquated China. A similar convention credits not Huang Di, yet his better half Si Ling-Chi (otherwise called Xilingshi or Lei-tzu), with finding silk-production itself, and furthermore the meshing of silk string into texture. One legend guarantees that Xilingshi was in her nursery when she picked a few casings from a mulberry tree and inadvertently dropped one into her hot tea. At the point when she hauled it out, she discovered it loosened up into one long fiber. At that point her better half based on this disclosure, and created strategies for taming the silkworm and delivering silk string from the fibers forms that the Chinese had the option to leave well enough alone from the remainder of the world for over 2,000 years, making an imposing business model on silk texture creation. This imposing business model prompted a worthwhile exchange silk texture. The Silk Road is so named in light of the fact that it was the exchanging course from China to Rome, where silk material was one of the key exchange things. Breaking the Silk Monopoly Be that as it may, another lady assisted with breaking the silk syndication. Around 400 C.E., another Chinese princess, on her approach to be hitched to a sovereign in India, is said to have carried some mulberry seeds and silkworm eggs in her hood, permitting silk creation in her new country. She needed, the legend says, to have silk texture effectively accessible in her new land. It was then just a couple of more hundreds of years until the insider facts had been uncovered to Byzantium, and in one more century, silk creation started in France, Spain, and Italy. In another legend, told by Procopius, priests carried Chinese silkworms to the Roman Empire. This broke the Chinese syndication on silk creation. Woman of the Silkworm For her revelation of the silk-production process, the previous ruler is known as Xilingshi or Si Ling-chi, or Lady of the Silkworm, and is frequently distinguished as a goddess of silk-production. The Facts The silkworm is a local to northern China. It is the hatchling, or caterpillar, phase of a fluffy moth (Bombyx). These caterpillars feed on mulberry leaves. In turning a casing to encase itself for its change, the silkworm radiates a string from its mouth and winds this around its body. Some of these covers are protected by the silk cultivators to create new eggs and new hatchling and in this manner more cocoons. Most are boiled. The procedure of bubbling relaxes the string and slaughters the silkworm/moth. The silk rancher loosens up the string, regularly in a solitary extremely long bit of around 300 to around 800 meters or yards, and winds it onto a spool. Then the silk string is woven into a texture, a warm and delicate cloth. The material takes colors of numerous hues including brilliant hues. The fabric is frequently woven with at least two strings wound together for versatility and quality. Archeologists recommend that the Chinese were making silk fabric in the Longshan time frame, 3500 -  2000 BCE.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Brief History of Computer Essay Example for Free

Brief History of Computer Essay ?First programmable PC: The Z1 initially made by Germanys Konrad Zuse in his folks parlor in 1936 to 1938 is viewed as the primary electrical double programmable PC. The main computerized PC: Short for Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the ABC began being created by Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and graduate understudy Cliff Berry in 1937 and kept on being created until 1942 at the Iowa State College (presently Iowa State University). On October 19, 1973, US Federal Judge Earl R. Larson marked his choice that the ENIAC patent by Eckert and Mauchly was invalid and named Atanasoff the creator of the electronic advanced PC. The ENIAC was designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania and started development in 1943 and was not finished until 1946. It involved around 1,800 square feet and utilized around 18,000 vacuum tubes, weighing very nearly 50 tons. In spite of the fact that the Judge decided that the ABC PC was the main computerized PC many despite everything believe the ENIAC to be the primary advanced PC. As a result of the Judge administering and in light of the fact that the case was never claimed like most we believe the ABC to be the principal computerized PC. Be that as it may, in light of the fact that the ABC was never completely practical we consider the principal useful advanced PC to be the ENIAC. The first put away program PC: The early British PC known as the EDSAC is viewed as the first put away program electronic PC. The PC played out its first computation on May 6, 1949 and was the PC that ran the main graphical PC game. The main PC: In 1975 Ed Roberts begat the term PC when he presented the Altair 8800. In spite of the fact that the main PC is viewed as the Kenback-1, which was first presented for $750 in 1971. The PC depended on a progression of switches for contributing information and yield information by killing on and a progression of lights. The Micral is viewed as the principal business non-get together PC. The PC utilized the Intel 8008 processor and sold for $1,750 in 1973. The principal workstation: Albeit never sold the main workstation is viewed as the Xerox Alto, presented in 1974. The PC was progressive for its time and incorporated a completely utilitarian PC, show, and mouse. The PC worked like numerous PCs today using windows, menus and symbols as an interface to its working framework. The principal PC or compact PC: The primary versatile PC or PC is viewed as the Osborne I, a convenient PC created by Adam Osborne that gauged 24 pounds, a 5-inch show, 64 KB of memory, two 5 1/4 floppy drives, and a modem.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Reflection on Buddhism and Ones Life Essay Example

Reflection on Buddhism and Ones Life Essay Name: Teacher: Course: Date: We will compose a custom paper test on Reflection on Buddhism and Ones Life explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom exposition test on Reflection on Buddhism and Ones Life explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom exposition test on Reflection on Buddhism and Ones Life explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer Reflection on Buddhism and one’s life The puzzle in all Buddhism supporters returns us to the absolute starting point, which is at the origination of Buddha. Buddha’s mother, Maya had a fantasy that gave her that a creature as a trinket and with six tusks had entered her belly. Subsequent to talking with her divine beings, (Das, 11) she discovered that the trinket represented incredible insight, and steadfast force, and she would before long bear an amazing kid. Her pregnancy developed, and not at all like other ladies, she didn't encounter torments during work. Newborn child she conceived an offspring while at the same time standing. This really exhibited this youngster was one of a kind. After the introduction of the kid, it was additionally understood that he was additional standard since as a newborn child he was a similar size as a six-month-old infant. He likewise had thirty-two signs of an extraordinary man. Typically these implied the kid would either be an incredible ruler administering quarter of the wor ld or a Buddha. The youngster was then named Siddhartha that delineated ‘he whose object is accomplished’. Tragically, seven days after his introduction to the world his mom kicked the bucket and her sister took over in raising the kid. The kid experienced childhood in a regal family and had all he wanted at the imprisonment of the royal residence. After this, the four experiences, which are otherwise called the honorable truth, came to being (Wilkinson, et al, 25). Once when Siddhartha was riding his chariots outside the royal residence, he saw an evil man and a carcass being conveyed by grievers. The site damaged him and promptly he needed to venture out from home to turned into a plain, and spurn majesty. At the point when Siddhartha was right around thirty years old and seven days away to being delegated as the following ruler, he made arrangements of his break. At that point, he had just gotten his first child. It was hard for him to leave, yet he had just chosen. He figured out how to escape without anybody seeing with the assistance of shallow forces. The initial six years subsequent to leaving, he went through with two renowned religious zealots, attempting to get familiar with their framework to get an enduring answer for human anguish. Be that as it may, he didn't feel like he achieved his crucial, he further joined an organization of five different religious zealots for all the more learning. He despite everything didn't get the fulfillment he seeked. One day when he was loose, he thought once more into his childhood and sunk into a quiet and tranquil state by allowing his brain to mind. He understood that his sentiment of harmony was the one thing he had been looking for (Nhat, Ha?nh, 50). This is the place the Buddhist intervention hypothesis appeared prompting the suspensions, which are known as four respectable certainties The principal respectable truth expressed that life is loaded with anguish and henceforth sooner or later in life everybody gets the chance to encounter enduring (Bstan-?dzin-rgya-mtsho, 23). The second respectable explanation was that enduring is brought about by connections. This implied the connections we tie ourselves with that cause languishing. For example, on the off chance that we tie ourselves with outrage and numbness, enduring will clearly tail us. Thirdly, the respectable truth expressed that deserting our connections carries discharge to torment. This unmistakably instructs us that in the event that we figure out how to relinquish ties, for example, agony and outrage, we can accomplish harmony, which consequently lessens enduring (Novak, Philip, 69). At last, the last respectable truth discloses to us that we can discharge ties by rehearsing the eight crease ways which comprises of, right conclusion, right intension, right lead, right exertion, right fixation, right disc ourse, right business and right care This specific Zen Koan is fairly intriguing as it demonstrates to us that care is especially significant (Huikai, 62). It expresses that on a breezy day, two men were contending about a shaking pennant. The first stated, â€Å"The flag is moving and not the wind†. While the second said that, the breeze was moving and not the standard. A third individual happened to pass by and articulated to them that it was neither the breeze nor the standard that was moving however the brains of the two men. To abstain from enduring one ought to see to carry on with an actual existence loaded up with great ethics, magnanimous conduct, intercession, diligence and in particular keep the four honorable facts on the most fundamental level. Work refered to Bstan-?dzin-rgya-mtsho. The Four Noble Truths. New York: Mystic Fire Audio, 1997. Sound chronicle. Das, Gupta S. Buddhism, Reflection on Religious Conversion. New Delhi, India: Cyber Tech Publications, 2010. Print. Gard, Richard A. Buddhism. New York: G. Braziller, 1961. Print. Gethin, Rupert. The Foundations of Buddhism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Web asset. Hirota, Dennis. Toward a Contemporary Understanding of Pure Land Buddhism: Creating a Shin Buddhist Theology in a Religiously Plural World. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press, 2000. Web asset. Huikai, and Thomas F. Cleary. No Barrier: Unlocking the Zen Koan : a New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguan (mumonkan). New York: Bantam Books, 1993. Print. Humphreys, Christmas. Buddhism. London: Cassell, 1962. Print.. Nhat, Ha?nh. The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy Liberation : the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and Other Basic Buddhist Teachings. New York: Broadway Books, 1999. Print. Novak, Philip. The World’s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions. San Francisco, Calif.: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. Print. Wilkinson, Philip, and Steve Teague. Buddhism. New York: DK Pub, 2003. Print

Capital Punishment :: essays research papers

There are five fundamental reasons that society utilizes while forcing the â€Å"punishment† that I’ve had the option to finish up from my readings. I will talk about these cultural ideas and show that capital punishment doesn't serve to encourage them. Discouragement      Deterrence is fundamentally characterized as â€Å"the discipline should fit the crime.† Under this idea, the individual carrying out the wrongdoing and society are kept from perpetrating this activity once more. On account of capital punishment, an individual slaughters another human and he is â€Å"punished† for it by death. Discipline should be an impermanent punishment for an illegitimate activity. Demise is a long way from impermanent. One is to gain from one’s mix-ups. In what capacity can the individual learn in the event that they are paying for their slip-ups with their life? By forcing capital punishment the individual doesn't gain from their slip-ups and neither does society. Economy      Under this idea, discipline ought to be practical. There are explicit expenses related with keeping a prisoner waiting for capital punishment, for example, uncommonly constructed jail obstructs, the requirement for greatest security, and costing the courts a lot of cash through many, numerous interests. These expenses unmistakably out gauge the regualr costs brought about to house a standard detainee. Discouragement is obviously not served by forcing capital punishment. Compensation      Society requests that the discipline should fix the mischief it has done. By condemning an individual to death no damage has been fixed. You can not bring the killed individual back by taking the prisoner’s life. Discipline isn't expected to retribution, counterbalance, or make up for the casualties enduring or to be estimated by it. Revenge The people group requests that equity be served. Would equity not similarly be served and in certainty might be ideally serviced by life detainment? I accept tit would be a more terrible discipline to experience a lifelong incarceration in jail. The individual is denied of freedom. He will at that point endure and live an incredible remainder inside three forlorn dividers and a lot of bars.

Thursday, July 9, 2020

The Importance of Explaining Your Topic With an Explanatory Essay

The Importance of Explaining Your Topic With an Explanatory EssayExplaining your topic with an explanatory essay is a lot easier than talking in class. An interesting way to get your point across without the embarrassment of not having an idea of what you are talking about.When you explain your topic in this manner, you can include information that is critical to understanding your topic. In doing so you are helping your reader to understand your topic even if you do not quite have the precise information as to why you are writing an explanatory essay. This will assist your reader to learn more about the topic that you are trying to explain in the article that you are writing.A good illustration of this is if you were teaching high school students how to design word documents. You might want to explain how tables are used in designing word documents. Instead of a simple introduction to the topic, or simple example, you could write about tables and how you can help a reader to gain a better understanding of the topic.When you are writing an essay on a specific topic, there are often certain words or phrases that you will want to use that are not appropriate to other topics that you might be writing about. You will want to avoid using words or phrases that do not fit with the topic. When you explain a topic in this manner, you are showing the reader how the topic fits with the rest of the topics that you have written about.Even though it may seem silly at first, your topic might not allude to all the topics that you have written about. It would be necessary to explain how one topic relates to another. This helps the reader to understand your subject, because they are seeing what you were talking about and what you meant by what you wrote.The importance of making sure your topic is easy to understand, even if you did not get every aspect of the topic, is that when you are writing an explanatory essay it is important to try to bring the reader to the end of your ar ticle. If your topic is not easy to understand you may have lost their interest.To get this information across to your readers, simply having this strategy in mind, which is to explain your topic in this manner, is a wonderful way to do this. There are a variety of other ways that you can help you explain your topic, but why settle for less when you can get more for your writing?

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Comic Cruelty in Twelfth Night - Literature Essay Samples

In a Shakespearean comic setting where chaos, asininity, and insolence reign, the very qualities of comic irreverence become virtues. A comic hero or side character who relentlessly pranks stooges and straight men for the audiences enjoyment is likely to win the viewers appreciation. Yet it is not just the straight mans suffering or even the comic effect itself which drives this audience reaction. Rather, the classic traits of charm, guile, wit, and stark honesty with which Shakespeares jesters and pranksters are all more or less infused come to the fore as eminent values in his several of his plays. One non-comic example: King Lears Fool, whose antics serve a didactic purpose for the guileless Lear, is maltreated for his insolence and forthrightness, yet is ultimately vindicated when his foreboding proves correct.In the ensemble of Twelfth Night, the boisterously comic characters of Feste, a protected fool, and Sir Toby, an playful alcoholic, embody these traits as their general m ischief both succeeds to great comic effect and ultimately goes unpunished. These two men thus enjoy a great license, one which appears to mirror the atmosphere of freedom that characterized the historic Twelfth Night holiday: drunkenness, merrymaking, and a reversal of rank and order. Sir Toby, ostensibly a nobleman, acts like a churl throughout the play. Similarly Feste, who secures his license as a fool at the plays outset, frequently taunts and speaks frankly to those above his own servile rank.On the opposite end of this reversal is the diligent steward Malvolio, a stern Puritan who is characterized entirely by his humorless demeanor. His name appears to be a derivative of Latin malus, bad/mean, and velle, an irregular verb meaning to desire/will (compare with other descriptive names Feste, Belch and Aguecheek). Malvolio desires to advance his rank to a County by marrying his master Olivia, for whom he, like several other male characters in the play, pines away. The victim of a prank by Sir Toby and the fool, Malvolio believes over the course of the play that he has at last an opportunity to secure Olivias love, only to be cruelly humiliated before the audience and the rest of the cast.Malvolio enters in Act I, scene v, where Feste, who apparently had been impermissibly absent from the household for some time, uses his wit to convince the still-mourning Olivia not to fire him. Instead of flattering Olivia, as many of her suitors attempt to do, he tries to prove her a fool herself, thus regaining her trust in him as an honest and reliable allowed fool. Malvolio takes part in this intercourse and comes out strongly against Feste, calling him a weakling and an unintelligent man despite the wit he exhibits, and urging his removal.Malvolios initial appearance establishes himself as a responsible steward and an antagonist to not only the insolent Feste but also to the cleverness and repartee that characterizes much of the plays humorous dialogue. Malvolios serv ility is his primary use in the next few scenes, yet the fact that he does not share in the audiences delight at Festes antics establishes a distance between his attitude and that of the viewer watching this comedy.In Act II, scene iii, Sir Toby and his profligate moron friend Sir Andrew are up late in Olivias house drinking, bantering, and singing loudly with Feste. Maria, a servant, enters and respectfully urges them to keep quiet for their own sake. Presently Malvolio enters and castigates them, threatening to have Toby and Andrew evicted. Feste and Sir Toby respond by making up a satirical ditty to taunt Malvolio, which they sing antiphonally while Malvolio interjects coldly. Malvolio exits essentially threatening to tattle to Olivia on the lot of them, including Maria. This provides the impetus for the group to scheme against him for ruining their fun.In this dialogue, there are two basic conflicts. The most overt is the tension between the loud guests and the owner of the home . In this respect, Malvolio is faithful to Olivia (although she has not complained) and ostensibly standing up for her peace; the men, meanwhile, come off as very disrespectful. The second is a broadly religious conflict injected by Sir Toby, as he suggests, Art any more than a steward? Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale? (102-104) Malvolios personal morality here is conflated with moralizing, as Toby accuses him of wanting to spoil their fun by the imposition of Puritan beliefs. After Malvolio leaves, Maria discusses his personality on an intimate level (that is, from her prior knowledge of the man), suggesting that Malvolio is haughty, pretentious, and obsequious. The group agrees to prank Malvolio by playing off his vanity and opportunism.Between these two scenes an interesting comic motif arises. Malvolio, in spoiling the fun of Feste and, later, the group of men, as well seems to spoil the audiences fun. While Malvolios motivation to protect Olivia seems valid, Sir Tobys argument that Malvolio is a spoilsport for the sake of it, gets more traction when one considers that if Malvolio had his way, the entertaining songs and witty palaver of the men would end in short, this wouldnt be a very funny play. The audiences anticipation of seeing Malvolio pranked, then, is driven less by enmity towards a villain, but rather the desire for further amusement.It is important to note that up to this point, Malvolio is probably the least interesting character in the play. The primary romantic plot is driven by comic misunderstandings and silly melodrama, which makes the main characters amusing while humanizing them. Malvolio speaks more plainly than anyone else, and seems to be nothing more than a minor functionary in the play thus, there is little emotional investment in him.Malvolios role is expanded, and his personality fleshed out, when he falls into the pranksters trap. In Act II, scene v, Malvolio soliloquizes at lengt h (albeit with the other characters on stage in hiding), giving the audience an opportunity to read his inner thoughts. Like Orsino, Viola, Olivia, et al, he is in unrequited love, yet he expresses himself more rationally, preferring daydreaming to brazen action or a surfeit of music. Tis but fortune, all is fortune, he sighs, contemplating the idea that Olivia could marry him (20). He fantasizes about becoming her Count, planning not to exploit Olivias inheritance, but to conduct himself austerely even in his greatest fantasy, he thinks of himself frowning. He envisions his revenge on Sir Toby, drawing the sequence out until anticlimactically revealing that he simply wants to ask Toby to amend his drunkenness and leave the loutish Sir Andrew, who is being duped anyhow.This is an oddly humanizing sequence, as Malvolios simple, albeit improbable, fantasy contrasts with the cruel trick about to be played on him. Malvolios desires reveal him to be a sad sack, and although the hiding m en make sarcastic asides, the audience must inevitably pity the steward. This situation is almost a comic reversal, where an mean action has been put in effect against a supposed antagonist who is actually revealed to be quite pathetic. It is almost enough for one to wish that the men would have a change of heart and call the prank off, simply by the realization of how pitiable Malvolio is.The forged love letter which follows is almost too much, playing off Malvolios vanity and simple hope and leading him to make a buffoon of himself. The fact that when we next see Malvolio, he has entirely turned around his personality illustrates less his capacity to put on airs, but more his ability to appear friendly and vivacious towards Olivia, despite his increased haughtiness to the servants. Malvolios monologue in Act III, scene iv heightens the pathetic aspect of this entire situation, as he is actually pleased with the very bemused reaction he receives from Olivia clinging to it, even. M ore importantly, though, Malvolio is actually funny in these scenes, albeit because of dramatic irony. His dialogue with Olivia here is the only part of the play where hes the one getting laughs, and someone else is acting the fools zany.After that, Malvolio reverts to a poor disposition, particularly during his confinement and humiliating verbal torture by Feste. The turnaround in that scene is remarkable: Malvolio must now actually prove hes the austere Puritan servant he was earlier.In his abstract comic function, Malvolio is essentially an objectified grotesque, a prig who gets his comeuppance. Yet Malvolios unfair imprisonment in an extremely dark room something dungeon-like and perhaps reminiscent of the princes locked in the Tower in Richard III, albeit with a comic ending is difficult to justify solely on the basis of his actions. While Malvolio is self-important and rather comically deluded in lovesickness (though the same is true of half the cast), his low rank doesnt s eem to befit such torture and humiliation (compare with any number of popular comedies in the past two centuries that show upper crust elitists getting their comeuppance at the hands of the lower class). Moreover, Malvolio attends to Olivia very faithfully, and his actions for much of the first half of the play, while dull, can be viewed entirely in terms of his strong sense of duty, a quality which is actually quite admirable and moral.Yet in a play which takes its name from a holiday that suggests drastic social mobility where guileful ambition results in success for the lead characters, Malvolios relatively honest ambition goes punished, entirely for comic purposes. The ensemble ending of the play proves Malvolio to be the only major loser, and the cruelty shown by Feste and Sir Toby is written off as an acceptable level of comic misbehavior, even if it is unjustified in the context of Malvolio’s character. The only moral of this comic plot, then, is that Feste and Sir T oby ought to be appreciated for their mischievous talents if only for the laughs the audience is provided. And although some of Malvolio’s traits are presented in a more heroic light elsewhere in the Shakespeare canon (hard work and diligent servitude are appreciated in some of Shakespeare’s pastorals), here they are made into an object of ridicule and mistreatment for the sake of laughter. Hence in a setting of joviality and licentious fun, the play and the holiday Twelfth Night, ambition, hotheadedness, drunkenness, guile and melodrama go unpunished – yet simply being boring is enough to land one in the dark for a night.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Praise of the Scribe Essay - 987 Words

Praise of the Scribe’s Profession Written by Cynthia Washington, Student And U.S., Africa and World History 201, Section 1 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:25-10:40 September 6, 2012 From what the reader know, and what historians know Egypt is one of the greatest civilizations to ever emerge in this world. A society ruled by divine kingship, and belief in polytheism. It was not because of what the Egyptians did but more so of what was left behind for other readers and educators to see. Considering the fact that the Egyptians established a very unique language and writing system also called hieroglyphics, the Egyptians had to establish a private society due to the fact that no other person was higher than the Scribes, who were the†¦show more content†¦The writer pointed out that the Egyptians truly honored and respected writing so much that it was believed to be more enjoyable than a mother’s giving birth. The reader was stunned after reading that piece of the writing because a mother giving birth is by far one of the greatest acknowledgments and truly respected now in the today’s world and is presented in everyday lives of many as well as in the media. Writing in the reader’s society is respected but not held with as much pride and respect as back when the Ancient Egyptians was sharing the craft of learning. While the reader further her knowledge on the Scribes she comes to be very interested in the way others was described as being worthless due to the lack of interest in its craft. The reader came across some insightful things the royal scribe had once said and she also realized the respect that was expected from others. In other words all occupations are bad except that of the scribe. It is quite believable that most of all the readers that know about ancient Egypt are from what the scribes wrote themselves. Which is why being a scribe meant that the Egyptian men were truly respected amongst the Egyptian society and were part of the professional class as well. Lastly, the scribes have definitely recorded history with their crafts. The Egyptians valued their scribes, as well as what the Egyptian men haveSh ow MoreRelatedImportance of Scribes in Ancient Egypt954 Words   |  4 PagesImportance of Scribes in Ancient Egypt In ancient Egypt scribes were thought to be essential to the continuation of their culture. The king and the upper class prized scribes because their ability to read and write was thought to be the highest intellectual achievement that one could attain, thus heightening their social status.1 Developing literacy in any culture is a huge turning point and accomplishment in the development of a more complex society. In â€Å"In Praise of Learned Scribes†, written inRead MoreComparing the Statue of the Royal Scribe Yuni and the Statue of St. John of Patmos539 Words   |  3 PagesComparing the Statue of the Royal Scribe Yuni and the Statue of St. John of Patmos Upon viewing the statue of the Royal Scribe Yuni (33.2.1) and the â€Å"Gothic stone† statue of St. John of Patmos (17.120.4), I noticed the few similarities and many differences they possessed when compared with one another. Both works reflexed the style of artwork done during it’s period. The statue of the Royal Scribe Yuni was found in the tomb of his father, Amenhotep. In this sculpture Yuni is shown kneelingRead MoreEssay on Christian Elements in Beowulf1568 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom investigations of the folk lore analogues. The manuscript was written by two scribes around AD 1000 in late West Saxon, the literary dialect of that period. It is believed that the scribes who put the old materials together into their present form were Christians and that his poem reflects a Christian tradition. The first scribe copied three prose pieces and the first 1,939 lines of Beowulf while the second scribe copied the rest of Beowulf. In 1731, a fire swept through the Cottonian LibraryRead MoreRoman Women as Rational Human Beings Essay1131 Words   |  5 Pagesjobs such as those requiring apprenticeships and skill trade jobs. Furthermore it was very common that there were â€Å" several female scribes and secretaries†¦ more striking the number of female doctors attested from all over the roman world.† It is remarkable that there were a number of Roman women able to read and write with a high enough standard as to become scribes and secretaries. Even more phenomenal is that Roman women took on the demanding role of doctors and, even at the time, able to takeRead MoreErasmus: Live Learn Love Essay examples1024 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the circumstances he was raised in. With his â€Å"The Praise of Folly† Erasmus shows his humanistic worldview, as well as tells people what they should change in order to live a better life. Erasmus was born in Rotterdam to unmarried parents. His mother was a widow, and his father became a priest sometime shortly after his birth. His father was a devotee of Italian humanism, who knew Latin and Greek and supported himself in Rome as a scribe. Erasmus had a brother, Pieter, three years older, andRead MorePsalms As Torah And The Psalter1727 Words   |  7 PagesFurthermore, the Psalms are prayers to be utilized during times of distress . The Psalter is considered holy, and memorization was encouraged . This book also acknowledges the importance of the scribes, and how their traditions were handed down from one generation to the next. The primary purpose of the scribes was to continue the Mesopotamian culture, and to show its lifestyle . In respect to the ethical standpoint of the Psalms, it is asked how a prayer might impact a person’s ethics? Or do ethicsRead MoreThe Role and Significance of the Monastic Life in Medieval Christianity1654 Words   |  7 Pageswell organised scribes and illuminators worked in a non-monastic, possibly virtuous, way of catering for the aristocratic educated members of the society. The form of many of the manuscripts were surrounded by notes, glosses and commentary, thus delimiting the scribes imagination and creativity. The scribes worked flourished during the Late Middle Ages and beyond the Benedictines serving as scholars and transmission of texts. The role of the scribe it would be said accordingRead MoreChapter 9 : Appeals For Divine Intervention1745 Words   |  7 Pagesgodly life . The Psalms are prayers to be utilized during times of distress . The Psalter is considered holy, and memorization was encouraged . This book also stresses the importance of the scribes, and how their traditions were handed down from one generation to the next. The primary purpose of the scribes was to continue the Mesopotamian culture, and to show its lifestyle . In regards to the ethical standpoint of the Psalms, it is asked how a prayer might impact a person’s ethics? Or do ethicsRead MoreChapter 9 : Appeals For Divine Intervention1724 Words   |  7 PagesFurthermore, the Psalms are prayers to be utilized during times of distress . The Psalter is considered holy, and memorization was encouraged . This book also acknowledges the importance of the scribes, and how their traditions were handed down from one generation to the next. The primary purpose of the scribes was to continue the Mesopotamian culture, and to show its lifestyle . In respect to the ethical standpoint of the Psalms, it is asked how a prayer might impact a person’s ethics? Or do ethicsRead MoreThe Last Dynasty Of Isin1558 Words   |  7 Pagesbrought the local dynasty to Isin. Ishbi-Erra continued a lot of the same practices of the Ur III dynasty in the Isin dynasty. This document, â€Å"A Praise Poem of Iddin-Dagan,† is considered Sumerian royal praise poetry, which often depicted and praised the various achievements, strengths and accomplishments of rulers in the ancient Near East. Royal praise poetry can be used to analyze the legitimacy of a king and how he ruled, how his people felt about him, and his relationship with the gods. Strong

Trends in African American Families Essay - 1455 Words

Research studies have shown that African Americans are currently the least likely ethnic group to be married in this country. This paper will examine some of the reasons why this trend exists when there was a time when marriage rates among blacks were about equal to those of whites. History, culture, economics and dominant culture influences have impacted the current trends in African American families. Many are choosing to postpone marriage, while others are finding alternative ways to cultivate family and raise children. Does the African American definition of family differ from that of the dominant culture? How has ecological systems influenced past and present trends in African American families? These questions and more are examined†¦show more content†¦Men were used as breeding machines to help make more slaves for the masters with no regard for the marital status of the men. Marriage during life on the plantations was even illegal. In spite of this, blacks were  "jumping the broom† (a traditional representation of marriage and commitment among couples that is still used in marriages today) and raising children with as much love and nurturance as they had to offer. The environment was filled with such constant emotional, psychological and physical trauma that, the dominant culture made sure that there was little to no room for cultivating loving, healthy families. With the end of slavery came the next 100 years of Jim Crow laws that allow for the continued terrorizing of African Americans in this country. When slaves were set free many had no resources or family to depend on. Men and women faced poverty and discrimination in limitless measures. Men and women were lynched for any reason that could be thought of in the minds of those in the dominant culture. They were left to get along in the best way that they knew how. Many gave up their dignity and their families in exchange for survival. When public welfare assistance was instituted, the laws were constructed so that black families could not be together and receive assistance. So many women and children were without husbands and fathers in order to receive the much needed financial assistance from the government. While the civil rights movementShow MoreRelatedAfrican Americans And African American Families921 Words   |  4 PagesThe number of two-parent African American households is dissolving. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the black family has declined from 80% in 1890 to 39% in 1990. The result of conflict, and warring souls in the African American community, this trend can be stopped and reversed. The African American family must first gain an understanding of what is causing this dissolution, then they can be taught about what principals and skills they must adapt in order to reverse it. Once this isRead MoreCauses of Friction in Interracial Marriages Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesCauses of Friction in Interracial Marriages The United States has witnessed a considerable amount of social and cultural desegregation between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, despite years of desegregation, social and cultural differences still exist. One of these differences that still exists is in the institution of marriage. Americans have been and are continually moving slowly away from segregation. In the past forty years, a multitude of changes have transformed schools, jobs,Read MoreRacial Discrimination : The And Public Order Perspectives1103 Words   |  5 Pagesrights and public order perspectives are such contentious issues in Contemporary American Society because racial tolerance continues to be a clear trend in American society. In the past six years, there has been a significant positive change in the perceptions of both African Americans and Caucasians regarding the present state of race relations. The change in attitudes have reached the point where an African American has participated in the race f or presidential election and won. Many of the issuesRead MoreTraditional Gender Roles During The United States835 Words   |  4 PagesMexico. The study revealed distinct differences between traditional gender roles perceptions held by Americans and Mexicans. The authors state that family settings in Mexico have been characterized by a dominance of the husband. The women are expected to make sacrifices for the sake of their families. They engage in household chores while the men are tasked with the role of providing income to the family. Some of the ultimate sacrifices that the women have to make include: the acquisition of educationRead MorePoverty And The Changing Family Structure1713 Words   |  7 PagesAfrican Americans have come a long way in the last few decades. We have more rights, more opportunities to grow and prosper and more independence than ever before. But the same cannot be said for African American families as a whole. The African American family and community is in trouble (Tilove, 2005). These families are facing many issues today that are contributing to their break down. These factors include poverty, diminishing health, welfare, incarceration, the struggle to find housing andRead MoreAfrican Americans : The American Dream Game Cartoon By David Horsey Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States is famous for its American dream, which ensures equal opportunity for all, but African Americans experience a more diluted form of the dream due to their innate reductions in socioeconomic mobility.   African Americans differ from White Americans physiologically only in skin pigmentation;   however, as depicted in The American Dream Game cartoon by David Horsey, a political commentator and cartoonist with extensive experience in social and political issues, various race-induced obstaclesRead MoreWhat Were The Principal Questions Facing The Nation At The End Of The Civil War?1276 Words   |  6 Pagesand repairs in the South remained. T he foremost question that both white southerners, white northerners, and African Americans faced was what did freedom mean: for white southerners, it meant freedom from the perceived tyrannical rule of the North; for white northerners, it started and stopped with emancipation with the exception of the Radicals and some Moderates; and for African Americans, many saw it as having the same political rights as whites with some even wanting a redistribution of the landRead MoreCapitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman1252 Words   |  5 Pagesmobility of African Americans following World War I and II despite the â€Å"temporary interruption† displayed by collectivist trends following 1945 (Friedman 11). African Americans, with newfound economic power, were able to curtail coercive political power held by whites. However, Friedman fails to properly address the chain of events which allowed for the establishment political freedom in the African American community. Despite economic freedom granted following emancipation, African Americans were unableRead MoreThe Childhood Of Fatherless Homes1196 Words   |  5 Pagesa child raised in a two parent homes? The growing epidemic of fatherless homes in America is a vastly growing trend. How far back through out American History can we trace this epidemic? Is there a close correlation between the absence of the father in the home, and likely hood of a child growing up to be a criminal? My primary focus will be on the affect this issue has on African American homes. Through out this paper I will address this issue, and give fact based reasoning for the matter in questionRead MoreThe Film Our Family Wedding1245 Words   |  5 Pages The film Our Family Wedding illustrated the diversity among and between families. The film depicted the views of different generations within a family and how an interracial marriage affected them differently. The film explores new contemporary marriage trends and challenges traditional f amily roles and marriage trends. This paper will explore different demographic trends as it relates to the social constructs of class, race, and gender, survey the recent trends and changes towards contemporary

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Problem Of Stem And Gender Inequality - 1784 Words

STEM, also known as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is the field that is advancing at a rapid rate. Within STEM, there are many occupations across the four fields. As the years go on, more and more people start to have a growing interest in STEM, but this can’t be said for women. Women almost take up half of the workforce, but when it comes to STEM, women only take about 24%, almost half of the women aren’t participating in STEM. The numbers continue to get worse. From 2000 - 2009, the numbers have remained at a constant 24%. At this rate, employers could potentially see a decline in women, but there have been efforts to change this rate (Beede et al par. 6). This could mean big problems for the world as more problems will arise and there’s nothing to be done because of companies are non-diverse and underemployed. The main problem employers are seeing is gender inequality. Gender inequality is when a group of people, in this case women, are exi sting with an unequal amount of opportunities and rewards. It’s a big issue and it specifically shows in STEM. Women are underpaid; even though the hourly wage is high, women aren’t present enough in STEM. To address the gender inequality gap, employers and schools should introduce women at a young age. Introducing women early is key because women are being underrepresented, not introducing STEM activities in school and women not being paid as much as men. There are reasons on why women are not present in STEM. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Female Advantage For Education877 Words   |  4 Pagesand Buchmann investigate this gender gap in education and argue that the female advantage in education is not necessarily a â€Å"boy problem,† but a problem of the American educational system that fails to motivate and accommodate for students who are capable of obtaining a college degree but decides not to. While women’s educational performance and attainment exceed th at of men’s on average, their low representation in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, disadvantage beyondRead MoreGender Inequality Within The Workplace1469 Words   |  6 PagesGender inequality in the workplace has always existed, but I don t know that you could say it s getting worse, you could say that it is spreading to new fields as they are coming into existence. The STEM fields we have today such as, Cyber Security, Cyber Gaming, and Nanotechnology are still very young fields but gender inequality has still managed to take a foothold in these new fields. This is probably the best place to start the movement toward equality because many of these fields simply relyRead MoreWomen s Rights For Women1627 Words   |  7 Pagesstill face problems and are underrepresented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields currently. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2011), only 34% of women are employed as ph ysicians and surgeons and 14% are architects and engineers. However, we see that that 61% were accountants and auditors and the 82% that are school teachers. Women are discouraged from entering STEM fields which widens the gender gap. Although some believe that the gender gap is primarilyRead MoreGender Inequality And The Science Of A Science Based Career As A Woman1715 Words   |  7 Pagesallusion that there is always equal job opportunity for everyone. But there is a critical shortage of women in science-based careers, and it ties back to gender inequality and stereotypes. These women feel inferior to men because of a man-controlled field. Scientists are mainly men, with women left to fill the small percentage. The root of these problems are the stereotypes of women being inferior to men throughout history. Women are being left in the race to success in science. Many historically acclaimedRead MoreRacial Segregation And The Educational Institution964 Words   |  4 Pagesindivi duals of every race, gender, and background experience while growing up. Since social class is determined in large part by education, the effects of education carry forward into the rest of each person’s life even after they’ve long left the institution itself (Roy, lecture 10). In his lecture on the institution, Professor Roy adds that education allows for a path to social mobility while also reproducing inequalities. This paradox can be seen in both race and gender – albeit in varying degreesRead MoreGender Inequality in Education757 Words   |  3 PagesGender inequality is frequent in all institutions in the world. From media to family to religion and even education there are inequalities that either males or females deal with on a daily basis. The culture that we live in is one dominated by masculinity and in each of these institutions, women are the who struggle to reach an equal level of men. In academia, which is education at the college and university level women are strongly unequal to their male counterparts. They are found to have lessRead MoreEssay on The Gender Gap in Medical Professionals651 Words   |  3 Pageswomen in STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which has remained prevalent since the beginning of these fields. Although women are underrepresented in these STEM fields, this is not due to ineptitude, but instead it is a result of the force of societal stereotypes coupled with their wider range of abilities. The recent increase in women’s association with STEM seems promising, however, it is not actually due to decreasing cultural stereotypes. The lack of women in STEM fieldsRead MoreGender Inequality In Australia Essay1622 Words   |  7 Pagesdominant partner, who belongs primarily to the public sphere. These historic gender norms have been deeply imbedded within Australia’s social foundation, and although society has gradually shifted away from these roles, evidence suggests that this gender inequality still riddles the modern day workplace. Liberal feminist groups have embraced this issue, and have classified it as being a true barrier to achieving the ultimate gender equality goal. Consequently, these liberal feminists along with generalRead MoreGender Inequality Of The Workplace1255 Words   |  6 Pages Fact or Fiction: Gender Inequality in the Workplace Will respect resolve the gender inequality issue in the workplace? While there s always going to be a person who craves more money because greed is a major factor in why respect is in decline in the workplace. Gender inequality is prevalent in the workplace, but we can bridge the gap if more people had respect for their counterparts. Enforcing this amongst employees will cut down on discrimination lawsuit cases and these companies can growRead MoreFeminism Theory Of The Political, Economic, And Social Equality1137 Words   |  5 PagesMerriam-Webster definition is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes (p.1). There are four major categories of feminist theories- Gender Differences, Gender Inequality, Gender Oppression and Structural Oppression. These theories analyze both women and men’s roles in society, they also question the roles of gender between men and women. This includes how class, race, ethnicity and age are viewed from a feminist perspective. The main reason that feminist theories are used

Freud s Theory Of Anxiety - 937 Words

ISTDP was developed based on Freud’s second theory of anxiety (Della Selva, 1996). Freud’s theory suggested that anxiety rise when forbidden feelings and impulses are expressed because anxiety acts as a signal for defenses. Defenses are activated so that it would ward off the â€Å"dangerous† emotions, and thus reduce anxiety (Malan Della Selva, 2012). According to Davanloo, â€Å"dangerous† could be any feeling, impulses, or action that could threaten an attachment bond, usually with significant others such as a caretaker (Malan Della Selva, 2012). Essentially, any feeling, impulse, or action that results in separation from a loved one is experienced as threatening. ISTDP see all hidden feelings as mixed emotions arising as a reaction towards a rupture in a significant relationship (Schrà ¶der et al., 2013). Davanloo stated that at the core or center of the human experience is our innate capacity and desire to find love and attachment and this typically starts with our caregiver (Della Selva, 1996; Malan Della Selva, 2012). He went on to say that when the desire to attach is not achieved, this cause us pain and grief, giving rise to retaliatory anger toward the depriving individuals. This anger is then interpreted as guilt and guilt increases anxiety because we recognizes that anger is now a threat to the very attachment bond that we are trying to form. Finally, if this pattern of not forming meaningful relationship occurs often enough, we will withdraw and begin to createShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Symptoms Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Essay1660 Words   |  7 PagesGeneralized anxiety disorder or GAD is described as excessive, exaggerat ed anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no logical reasons to justify it. Symptoms from this particular type of mental disorder include over exaggerated worrying and anxiety, an unrealistic view of situations in everyday life, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and more. Life becomes a constant state of worry and dread. Eventually, the anxiety overtakes the person s mindset so muchRead MoreSigmund Freud And Emile Durkheim On Religion1587 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper examines the works of Sigmund Freud and Emile Durkheim on religion, looking at how both theorists essentially viewed religion as serving an integral role in human culture. In particular, this essay considers how both theorists consider religious believers to be mistaken in their ontological beliefs, and the rational causes for this. While both Sigmund Freud and Emile Durkheim are concerned with the study of human behaviour as it relates to culture, each does so from within distinct traditionsRead MoreSigmund Freud s Theories About Psychoanalysis And The Unconscious Mind1003 Words   |  5 PagesPsychology, 5th Block Sigmund Freud s Theories about Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious Mind Sigmund Freud was well known for his theories on psychoanalysis, and it was used to help understand the unconscious mind better. In Freud s lifetime, he grew to be a very influential person of the twentieth century. The western society still uses words that he introduced in his time, some are libido, repression, denial, and neurotic. He was the founding father of the theory of psychoanalysis, which explainsRead MoreSigmund Freud. Briana Gates. Mr. Wiles. Psyc 43101-01:1611 Words   |  7 Pages Sigmund Freud Briana Gates Mr. Wiles PSYC 43101-01: History and Systems of Psychology February 25, 2017 On May 6, 1856, a baby by the name of Sigmund Freud was born, in a what is now known as the Czech Republic (Schultz Schultz, 2012). After moving around a bit, Freud eventually settled in Vienna, and spent most his life there. It is without question that Sigmund Freud is a well-known name, and that he can be considered the father of what is known as psychoanalysis, seeing as how heRead MoreSigmund Freud : The Father Of Freudian Psychology1492 Words   |  6 Pages Literary Theory Paper Sigmund Freud is the father of Freudian Psychology. He is considered a founding father of psychoanalysis and came up with the verbal psychotherapy. Sigmund Freud change the way we view childhood, personality, memory, sexuality and therapy. Throughout history, other doctors have added on to Freud s theories but at the same time remembering whose theories they are. Freuds theory of psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious aspects of personality. His theories consist ofRead MorePsychoanalytic Theory According to Freud and Adler1406 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Psychoanalytic Theory According to Freud and Adler Introduction The field of psychology has produced a variety of influential theories. The major schools of thought in the field have distinct philosophical and empirical foundations which have shaped their goals as well as their methods. Although no particular school of thought has given us an exhaustive understanding of human psychology, each has produced ideas that are useful for understanding particular areas of it. The modern period of psychologyRead MoreSociological Perspective On Psychology : Psychodynamic Psychology1067 Words   |  5 PagesSummarize Major Historical Perspective in Psychology Essay Psychodynamic Perspective- There is four major perspectives in psychology: Psychodynamic, Behaviorism, Humanistic, and Cognitive. Each theory represents a psychology approach to unlock the human mind. A psychology approach is known as a perspective; today there are many different approaches in psychology that contain specified beliefs about the mind and Human Behavior. Individually each perspective is different they have their strong pointsRead MoreThe Theory Of Oedipus Complex1469 Words   |  6 Pagesinitially used by Sigmund Freud as he developed a theory to explain the stages of psychosexual stages of development in an attempt to explain or describe the boy child feelings of attraction to the mother and anger and envy towards the father (Fear, 2005). Basically, the boy may feel like he is competing with the father for the belonging and possession of the mother. The boy sees the father as a threat for her affections, desires and attentions. In terms of the psychoanalytic theory, Oedipus complex mayRead MoreArgument Essay : Withholding The Missing Portion 1690 Words   |  7 PagesPortion. Fish s article argues that Freud s main concern in his writings is to influence the reader of the strength of his readings and the power of his theory through his clever use of rhetoric. In particular, Fish refers to the role of the unconscious in Freud s theory, arguing that it can be freely used by Freud in such a way that it can appear to account for any data acquired in practice. This attitude reflects the commonly-held view amongst modern scientists that Freud s theories are unscientificRead MoreSigmund Freud s Theory Of Psychology And Psychology1073 Words   |  5 PagesLuwanna Perry Theories Counseling 06/27/2014 Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud is considered to be the most important figures in the field of psychiatry and psychology. His ideas about psychoanalysis were developed in the 1800’s but are still being used today in the mental health field (www.studymode.com). Sigmund Freud was one of the pioneers/innovator of modern-day psychology. â€Å"As the originator of psychoanalysis, Freud distinguished himself as an

Case Study on Illy Cafe free essay sample

Illy Caffe   is one of the ten best companies in the coffee industry in Europe. It was founded in1933 by Francesco Illy, and in 1994 was given over to Andrea Illy. Since its formation, Illy Caffe’s main goal was to deliver the best quality coffee to its customers. Th e company wascareful when choosing its suppliers and always made sure it receives the best quality coffeebeans. However, after the last CEO has joined the company in 1994, Illy Caffe decided to changeits strategy and to become more responsible in the area of its business. The circumstances, whichthe coffee industry appeared to be under in 1989, was the first step toward the strategic changesmade in some companies, like Illy Caffe. Now, Illy Caffe buys highest-quality Arabica beansdirectly from Brazil, Central America, India, and Africa. The company has restructured itssupply chain completely, and has brought many innovations into the coffee industry in Brazil,making it the exporter of the best-quality coffee beans grower and producer in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Case Study on Illy Cafe or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thefollowing paper aims at analyzing the changes made in Illy Caffe in 1989 and identifying the key issues and their potential solutions in the company’s new strategy. Changes in Illy Caffe’s supply chain describes the strategy and its benefits In 1989 Illy Caffe’s management decided to change its supply chain from a regular one to adirect purchasing. The quality of the coffee played a significant role in Illy Caffe’s business.Company’s CEO and managers believed that coffee loses its quality after going th rough differentstages in the supply process. They believed that the more intermediaries they would have, theworse would be the quality of their coffee. Therefore, changing this situation through refusing tohave a single intermediary appeared to be the most appropriate thing to do. Illy Caffe became thefirst company in the coffee industry, which started buying directly from farmers. In return tohigh premiums, company expected to receive higher quality coffee beans from Braziliangrowers. Brazil was the largest producer of coffee at that time, however, had poor reputationbecause of the bad quality of their products. Illy Caffe was aware of the situation in Brazil,however, it could find required amount of growers only in that country. The company, therefore,decided to teach Brazilian farmers, how to become its suppliers. Since Illy Caffe was good atinnovation throughout its existence, it found a good way to attract coffee growers (not only fromBrazil but from all over the world) and to make them produce higher-quality coffee. The Illycaffe Brazil Quality Espresso Coffee Award was designed in order to find company’s potential suppliers among the farmers from Brazil. The main idea of this project was to create afeeling of mutual benefit from the partnership and to motivate growers to start producing higher-quality goods. Getting an award and winning a competition meant receiving a good opportunityfor the company in the future.The project became very successful, and hundreds of Brazilian farmers were accepted toparticipate in it. Illy Caffe succeeded in finding good producers and to make them become even better through selecting them among other participants to become company’s long -term partners.Illy Caffe wanted to make sure its relationship with Brazilian partners would be strong and longlasting

Pestle of Nestle free essay sample

PESTLE analysis is a process to help understand the overall market environment such as market risks, market growth or decline for a particular industry, business, product, or project. It is often a key part of strategic, marketing, and business planning. The political factors refer to the degree of intervention of government in the economy. For an example, if the government taxes increase, it will cause the selling price of Nestle increase, and therefore the number of customers and the sales of stock will also decrease. The economic factors have large impacts. Income distribution or interest rates can seriously affect the bottom line of a company like Nestle. For an example, if the income of the consumer increases, the demand of the product of Nestle may also increase. The sociological factors are cultural aspects and demographic variables which are closely linked to the market potential and customers need. For an example, the Nestle will make a marketing strategy according age distribution or gender role before produce a new product. We will write a custom essay sample on Pestle of Nestle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The technological factors have had a great impact. For an example, the technology of Nestle reduces costs and the quality also improves, the sold of the goods will also increases. The legal factors are related to the legal environment of an organisation and impact its demand and cost. For an example, Nestle was provided health and safety law for their members. Nestle will pay the compensation for their members via their free legal help scheme with personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors. Any large organisation has an environmental impact. For an example, Nestle respects the environment and is committed to environmentally sound business practices throughout the world, thus taking into account the need to preserve natural resources and save energy.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The Triple Bottom Line and the Global Reporting Initiatives

Introduction At present, many businesses have acknowledged the importance of paying a lot of attention to the issues of sustainability. Social equality and environmental concerns are being put to the fore by many organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Triple Bottom Line and the Global Reporting Initiatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is also necessary to note that the 2008 crisis which is often associated with the ignorance of principles of sustainability has also shown that it is essential to adhere to these principles (Jackson, Boswell and Davis 2011). The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) are aimed at developing a more sustainable business environment on the global scale. These initiatives are based on quite similar principles. Moreover, it is possible to note that GRI is a more comprehensive and detailed version of the TBL. This is the major reason why I wo uld choose this reporting initiative as a manager of a company. The Triple Bottom Line Reporting Initiative To understand major peculiarities as well as advantages and downsides of both initiatives, it is necessary to define them. The TBL reporting initiative is employed in business accounting â€Å"to further expand stakeholders’ knowledge of the company† (Jackson, Boswell and Davis 2011, 56). Robins (2006, 2) provides quite a precise definition of the TBL reporting initiative which â€Å"aims to extend decision making and disclosure so that business decisions explicitly take into consideration the impacts on society and the environment, as well as on proï ¬ t†. Clearly, this approach makes companies address three major issues when reporting, i.e. financial data, data on social and environmental sustainability. This approach was developed in the 1990s. Companies started including data on their social and environmental sustainability initiatives in their finan cial reports.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to surveys implemented in the early 2000s almost 70% of big European corporations and 40% of corporations in the USA exploited the approach in 2002 (Robins 2006, 4). Robins (2006) also stressed that the scandals of 2001 associated with such companies as Enron (the USA), the HIH (the Health International Holdings) (Australia) and other organizations made companies committed to adherence to TBL reporting initiative. Thus, huge corporations (usually operation globally) adopted the approach and started including data on social and environmental sustainability initiatives in their financial reports. However, it is necessary to note that the TBL initiative cannot be regarded as a comprehensive guideline to form reports. This is largely an approach, an idea, and companies are free to choose their own ways to report on their sustainability strategies. The Global Reporting Initiative On the contrary, though the Global Reporting Initiative is based on the principles of the TBL but it â€Å"provides criteria to measure a company’s behavior in each leg of the Triple Bottom Line† (Stenzel 2010, 1). The GRI is a specific guideline for the companies to follow. This initiative is aimed at providing a single format for companies to add transparency and accuracy to companies’ accounting. It is necessary to note that the GRI is used in Europe predominantly but it is spreading across the globe at a considerable pace. Such companies as National Australia Bank, Mauser Group, Coca-Cola’s divisions and many other huge corporations are participating in the GRI. Many researchers as well as business people claim that there are some disadvantages in this approach. For instance, it requires more time to create such a report and there is often lack of time.Advertising We will write a custom e ssay sample on The Triple Bottom Line and the Global Reporting Initiatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The GRI Is More Applicable I would choose the GRI due to a number of reasons. In the first place, the GRI provides a specific comprehensive format which can be used for reporting. Therefore, there is no need to waste time on developing an appropriate reporting framework for the company. It is important to note that the GRI provides a detailed reporting framework that addresses all three dimensions of the TBL reporting initiative. Adherence to the GRI format ensures transparency and comprehensiveness of a report. I would be sure that the report highlights all the necessary points which reveal the company’s involvement in the sustainability movement. Apart from this, the use of GRI can help create a favourable image of the company. Unified reporting format makes it clear for stakeholders that the company is moving in the ri ght direction. Investors, companies and customers want to be sure that the company is responsible and is following the principles of sustainability. A company that provides a clear and comprehensive report including financial data as well as data on social and environmental sustainability initiatives attracts more investors and clients, which, in its turn, can ensure the company’s development and growth. Conclusion To sum up, it is possible to note that the TBL reporting initiative and the GRI add transparency and clarity to accounting reports. These initiatives help companies follow the principles of sustainability. However, it is also important to note that the GRI provides specific guidelines to develop accounting reports while the TBL is rather a set of principles to follow in reporting. I would choose the former approach due to its comprehensiveness.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The GRI can help a company follow the principles of sustainability and develop a favourable image in the business world, which will inevitably lead to growth. Reference List Jackson, Aimee, Katherine Boswell and Dorothy Davis. 2011. â€Å"Sustainability and Triple Bottom Line Reporting – What Is It All about?† International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology 1(3): 55-59. Robins, Fred. 2006. â€Å"The Challenge of TBL: A Responsibility to Whom?† Business and Society Review 111(1): 1-14. Stenzel, Paulette L. 2010. â€Å"Sustainability, the Triple Bottom Line, and the Global Reporting Initiative.† Global EDGE Business Review 4(6): 1-2. This essay on The Triple Bottom Line and the Global Reporting Initiatives was written and submitted by user Al1a to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

How to Write a Sample Homeless Essay

How to Write a Sample Homeless EssayThere are several different formats to a sample Homeless essay, but the APA format is the most commonly used. This is because it has been used for many years and has many specific characteristics that make it easy to understand. It also requires no technical knowledge to prepare.One of the main things to consider when writing an APA format essay is that there are only four main parts. The first section is called the introduction. This will tell you what your topic is. It should be brief, so that you do not overwhelm the reader. Then, in the second section, you will present your argument.The third part is called the conclusion. Here, you explain how you arrived at your conclusion. Finally, you will finish up with a few examples of common homelessness situations.It is important to note that most people who write about the homeless have a strong bias towards the negative side of the homeless issue. This bias can cause problems when you begin to presen t your own experiences and give examples. You should avoid this by being as impartial as possible.The first thing to remember when writing a sample homelessness essay is that you do not need to write like the author. You can use your own experiences and add your own viewpoints to the mix. You should also be aware that the author of the original Homeless article was neither of these things, so you may want to avoid that approach as well.Once you have decided on a good example, it is time to write the introduction. This should tell a little about yourself and why you feel your perspective will help the reader learn more about the homeless experience. Your basic goal here is to make sure that you provide an example of how the person will learn about the homeless issue.In the conclusion, you will give some examples of the typical things that you will encounter when preparing a sample homelessness essay. These examples should also show how the issues are normally resolved in different si tuations. This is especially important for stories that involve violence. Often, such violence is mentioned in the case study, but you can also include the violence if you want to.Remember that this is not a substitute for becoming a Poverty Expert or having an academic degree. But if you need some information about writing a homeless case study, the APA format makes it easier to get started. So you can use it even if you do not have a PhD.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

The framework to apply the effective WBDL Essay Example

The framework to apply the effective WBDL Essay Example The framework to apply the effective WBDL Essay The framework to apply the effective WBDL Essay Figure3:TheframeworktoapplytheeffectiveWBDLtotheorganizationsHumanResourceDevelopmentPlan.Table1highlightshowWBTsuchasWBDLanalyzesthelearningimperativesessentialfortheHumanResource.Thefirstlearningimperativeisthediversificationofthelearningportfolio.TheimperativeassertthatHumanResourceinvariousorganizationsmustmaintainthehighleveloftalentsoastomeetthepresentcompetitivechallenges(Tannenbaum,2002).Theexpandedlearningalternativesareessentialbecausetraditionalclassroomtrainingcanmeetalloftheorganizationsrequirements.ThelearningalternativesprovideindividualcustomizationandpersonalizedtrainingsoastoexaminethediverseissuesHumanResourceandorganizationsface.TheWBDListhevaluableflexibleadditiontotheorganizationslearningportfoliothatcanofferacustomizedtrainingexperiencesoastomeetthediverselearningrequirementsoftheemployees.Forinstance,theorganizationmayhavethecompleteportfoliooftheWBDLcourses.Theemployeesmaytakeandaccomplishthecoursethatmeetsaparticularlearningrequirement.Indevelopingthetrainin gstrategy,anAmericanRedCross(ARC)realizedemployeeshavevaryinglearningstylesandrequirements.Forinstance,theARChasvariousemployeeswhoareself-drivenlearnersreadytotakeasuitablelearningresourceandmakethemostoftheirlearningfromthemedia.TheAmericanRedCrossadoptedtheWBDLdesigntomeetthestrategiclearningrequirementswhilepermittinglearnerstoparticipateanddetermineintrainingcoursesthataresuitabletotheirrequirements.Theemployeescandownloadcareerassessmentandotherplanningtoolssoastheycanreadandunderstandthelearningandtrainingopportunitiesrequiredtomeettheorganizationalgoals(RogersBecker,2001).AcceleratingthepaceoflearningisanessentialbenefitderivedfromtheWBDL.Thepresentworkenvironmentneedsanacceleratedpaceofworkerlearning.Learningrequirementsoccurquicklyandoften(Tannenbaum,2002).TheWeb-BasedDistanceLearningapplicationcanbeappliedquicklyandfairly,andoncedeveloped,theapplicationcanreachworkersimmediately.TheflexibilityoftheWBDLcanassistHumanResourcemeettheirlearningrequirementsunderseeminglyimposs ibleissues.ProvisionoftheopportunitiestogrowandlearnisanotheressentialstrategyfortheHumanResource.Competitioncreatestherequirementtomaintainandattracttalentfromvariousworkers.Anessentialactionofcreatingcompetitionistomakecertainthatemployeesbelievetheyhavevariousopportunitiestogrowandlearncontinuously(Tannenbaum,2002).Thepartofofferingtheenvironmentsoastosupportcontinuouslearningandtrainingistomakecertainthatemployeesatalllevelsoftheorganizationcanactivelypursuedevelopmentandtrainingactivities(Noeetal.1997).TheWBDLcanofferaccesstolearningandtrainingopportunitiesalalltheworkersthatcanaccessthecomputerthatisconnectedtotheInternet.TheHumanResourcecanprovideworkersthatdonotperforminofficeswithsharedterminalstolearnandtrainviatheWebapplications.Table1:BenefitsofadoptingWBLsuchasWBDLinmeetingtheorganizationallearningrequirementsEffectiveWBTHumanResourcedesigningtheWBTarerequiredtoconsidertheleanertraitsthatrequirementsindevelopingtheWBTcoursesthatfacilitateandindividualizeratherthanhinder trainingandlearning.ByanalyzingtheHumanResourceapplications,someessentialguidelinesfortheeffectiveWBTdesignmaterialize.HumanResourceissuesintheWBTdevelopmentandimplementationisthefirstguidelinefortheeffectiveWBT.TherapidgrowthofthetechnologysuchastheWBDLindifferentworkplaceshascausedvariouschangesintheworkercommunication.Theimplementationoftheelectroniccommunicationreducesface-to-facecommunication.Also,theimplantationoftheelectroniccommunicationhasreducedtheoverallcommunicationinvariousorganizations.Thelossofthecasualinteractioncandoharmtoanorganizationbecauseinnovativeinformationisoftenasaresultoftheinteraction.Theface-to-facecommunicationisabsentintheWBT.TeoptionofthelearnercontrolisanotheruniqueaspectoftheWBTdesign.Asdiscussedearlier,traditionalclassroomtrainingbarelyofferscontrolfortheinstructor.TheWeblearnerscanmovefreelythroughtrainingandearnandeveninteractwiththeWebsitesoutsideofthelearningcoursethroughtheuseofthehypertext.CollaborativelearningisanothereffectivenessofWBTforth eHumanResource.TheabsenceofthehumaninteractionintheWBTcreatestheconcernwiththeeffectivenessoflearningandtraining.CollaborativelearningisusefulinbuildingtheHumanResourceknowledgeconcerningthelearningmaterials.LearnercontrolisanothereffectivenessoftheWBT,andthelearnercontrolcanbeobservedfromdifferentperspectives.Thelearnercontrolcanbeobservedthroughthesequenceoftraining,contenttheychoose,andthecoursetheyexploreduringthelearningprocess.WBTcanbeevaluatedthroughHumanResourcesatisfactioninperformingtheirskills.RecommendationsWBTshouldbetiedtoparticularbusinessobjectivessinceseveralexamplesoftheapplicationsdesignedtosolveparticularissuessuchasadmittanceofremoteemployeepopulations.Also,theHumanResourceshouldconsidertherequirementandtheopportunityforthecollaborativelearningwhendesigningWBT.HumanResourceshouldcautiouslyevaluatethedesignandleveloflearnercontrolwithintheWBT.Lastly,theHumanResourceshouldevaluatetheirWBTefforts,whetherthroughformativeevaluationortraditionalevaluationefforts.TheWB Tshouldbeanalyzedtoidentifyifitismeetingthegoalsspecifiedintheplanninglevelsofthetraining.ConclusionTheWBThasthecapabilitytohavethesignificantimpactonthefutureoflearning,training,anddevelopmentofskills.However,tomakecertainthatWBTistheworthwhileinvestmentfortheorganization,itisessentialtohavetheimplementationplanthatispurposelytiedtotheorganizationsbusinessapproach.Withcarefulevaluationandplanning,WBThasthecapabilitytosolvevariousHumanResourcechallengesindifferentorganizations.FortheeffectiveuseoftheWBT,HumanResourcemustunderstandhowtomakeuseoftheWBTinthetrainingoftheiremployees.ReferencesKhan,H. (2001).TheFrameworkfortheWeb-BasedLearning.Web-BasedTraining.EJ;EducationalTechnologyPublications.Ladd,B. (1990), TheEarlyCBTremembered:Howwegotherefromthere,InteractiveTechnologies,pp.8-10.Drucker,P. (2000), Thelongview,TrainingandDevelopment,Volume54No.12,pp.27.Berge,Z.L. (1998), TheConceptualFrameworksintheDistanceTrainingandEducation:DistanceTraining:HowInnovativeOrganizationsAreUsingTe chnologytoMaximizeLearningandMeetBusinessObjectives,Jossey-Bass,SanFrancisco.Galagan,P. (2000), E-learningRevolution:TrainingandDevelopment,Volume54No.12.Kosarzycki,M.,Salas,E.,Firoe,S. Burke,C.S. (2002), EmergingThemesinDistanceLearningResearchandPractice:someFoodforThought,PresentedattheAnnualConferenceofSocietyforIndustrialandtheOrganizationalPsychology,Toronto.Tannenbaum,A. (2002), TheStrategicViewofOrganizationalTrainingandLearningCreatingorImplementingorManagingtheEffectiveTrainingandtheDevelopment,Jossey-Bass,SanFrancisco,CA,p.10-52.Rogers,N. Becker,S. (2001), FromTrainingEnhancementtoOrganizationalLearning:AMigrationofDistanceLearningatanAmericanRedCrossSustainingDistanceTraining:AnIntegratingLearningTechnologiesintotheFabricoftheEnterprise,Jossey-Bass,SanFrancisco,p.329-47.

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Blood Promise Chapter Two

He grabbed her shoulder, jerking her to him. He was fast-they always were-but I was on my game tonight. A swift kick knocked him into a neighboring building’s wall and freed Sydney from his grasp. He grunted on impact and slumped to the ground, stunned and surprised. It wasn’t easy to get the drop on a Strigoi, not with their lightning-fast reflexes. Abandoning Sydney, he focused his attention on me, red eyes angry and lips curled back to show his fangs. He sprang up from his fall with that preternatural speed and lunged for me. I dodged him and attempted a punch that he dodged in return. His next blow caught me on the arm, and I stumbled, just barely keeping my balance. My stake was still clutched in my right hand, but I needed an opening to hit his chest. A smart Strigoi would have angled himself in a way that ruined the line of sight to his heart. This guy was only doing a so-so job, and if I could stay alive long enough, I’d likely get an opening. Just then, Sydney came up and hit him on the back. It wasn’t a very strong blow, but it startled him. It was my opening. I sprinted as hard as I could, throwing my full weight at him. My stake pierced his heart as we slammed against the wall. It was as simple as that. The life-or undead life or whatever-faded away from him. He stopped moving. I jerked out my stake once I was certain he was dead and watched as his body crumpled to the ground. Just like with every Strigoi I’d killed lately, I had a momentary surreal feeling. What if this had been Dimitri? I tried to imagine Dimitri’s face on this Strigoi, tried to imagine him lying before me. My heart twisted in my chest. For a split second, the image was there. Then-gone. This was just some random Strigoi. I promptly shook the disorientation off and reminded myself that I had important things to worry about here. I had to check on Sydney. Even with a human, my protective nature couldn’t help but kick in. â€Å"Are you okay?† She nodded, looking shaken but otherwise unharmed. â€Å"Nice work,† she said. She sounded as though she were forcibly trying to sound confident. â€Å"I’ve never†¦ I’ve never actually seen one of them killed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I couldn’t imagine how she would have, but then, I didn’t get how she knew about any of this stuff in the first place. She looked like she was in shock, so I took her arm and started to lead her away. â€Å"Come on, let’s get out to where there’s more people.† Strigoi lurking near the Nightingale wasn’t that crazy of an idea, the more I thought about it. What better place to stalk Moroi than at one of their hangouts? Though, hopefully, most guardians would have enough sense to keep their charges out of alleys like this. The suggestion of departure snapped Sydney out of her daze. â€Å"What?† she exclaimed. â€Å"You’re just going to leave him too?† I threw up my hands. â€Å"What do you expect me to do? I guess I can move him behind those trash cans and then let the sun incinerate him. That’s what I usually do.† â€Å"Right. And what if someone shows up to take out the trash? Or comes out of one of these back doors?† â€Å"Well, I can hardly drag him off. Or set him on fire. A vampire barbecue would kind of attract some attention, don’t you think?† Sydney shook her head in exasperation and walked over to the body. She made a face as she looked down at the Strigoi and reached into her large leather purse. From it, she produced a small vial. With a deft motion, she sprinkled the vial’s contents over the body and then quickly stepped back. Where the drops had hit his corpse, yellow smoke began to curl away. The smoke slowly moved outward, spreading horizontally rather than vertically until it cocooned the Strigoi entirely. Then it contracted and contracted until it was nothing but a fist-size ball. In a few seconds, the smoke drifted off entirely, leaving an innocuous pile of dust behind. â€Å"You’re welcome,† said Sydney flatly, still giving me a disapproving look. â€Å"What the hell was that?† I exclaimed. â€Å"My job. Can you please call me the next time this happens?† She started to turn away. â€Å"Wait! I can’t call you-I have no idea who you are.† She glanced back at me and brushed blond hair out of her face. â€Å"Really? You’re serious, aren’t you? I thought you were all taught about us when you graduated.† â€Å"Oh, well. Funny thing†¦ I kind of, uh, didn’t graduate.† Sydney’s eyes widened. â€Å"You took down one of those†¦ things†¦ but never graduated?† I shrugged, and she remained silent for several seconds. Finally, she sighed again and said, â€Å"I guess we need to talk.† Did we ever. Meeting her had to be the strangest thing that had happened to me since coming to Russia. I wanted to know why she thought I should have been in contact with her and how she’d dissolved that Strigoi corpse. And, as we returned to the busy streets and walked toward a cafe she liked, it occurred to me that if she knew about the Moroi world, there might be a chance she also knew where Dimitri’s village was. Dimitri. There he was again, popping back into my mind. I had no clue if he really would be lurking near his hometown, but I had nothing else to go on at this point. Again, that weird feeling came over me. My mind blurred Dimitri’s face with that of the Strigoi I’d just killed: pale skin, red ringed eyes†¦ No, I sternly told myself. Don’t focus on that yet. Don’t panic. Until I faced Dimitri the Strigoi, I would gain the most strength from remembering the Dimitri I loved, with his deep brown eyes, warm hands, fierce embrace†¦ â€Å"Are you okay†¦ um, whatever your name is?† Sydney was staring at me strangely, and I realized we’d come to a halt in front of a restaurant. I didn’t know what look I wore on my face, but it must have been enough to raise even her attention. Until now, my impression as we walked had been that she wanted to speak to me as little as possible. â€Å"Yeah, yeah, fine,† I said brusquely, putting on my guardian face. â€Å"And I’m Rose. Is this the place?† It was. The restaurant was bright and cheery, albeit a far cry from the Nightingale’s opulence. We slid into a black leather-by which I mean fake plastic leather-booth, and I was delighted to see the menu had both American and Russian food. The listings were translated into English, and I nearly drooled when I saw fried chicken. I was starving after not eating at the club, and the thought of deep-fried meat was luxurious after weeks of cabbage dishes and so-called McDonald’s. A waitress arrived, and Sydney ordered in fluent Russian, whereas I just pointed at the menu. Huh. Sydney was just full of surprises. Considering her harsh attitude, I expected her to interrogate me right away, but when the waitress left, Sydney remained quiet, simply playing with her napkin and avoiding eye contact. It was so strange. She was definitely uncomfortable around me. Even with the table between us, it was like she couldn’t get far enough away. Yet her earlier outrage hadn’t been faked, and she’d been adamant about me following whatever these rules of hers were. Well, she might have been playing coy, but I had no such hesitation about busting into uncomfortable topics. In fact, it was kind of my trademark. â€Å"So, are you ready to tell me who you are and what’s going on?† Sydney looked up. Now that we were in brighter light, I could see that her eyes were brown. I also noticed that she had an interesting tattoo on her lower left cheek. The ink looked like gold, something I’d never seen before. It was an elaborate design of flowers and leaves and was only really visible when she tilted her head certain ways so that the gold caught the light. â€Å"I told you,† she said. â€Å"I’m an Alchemist.† â€Å"And I told you, I don’t know what that is. Is it some Russian word?† It didn’t sound like one. A half-smile played on her lips. â€Å"No. I take it you’ve never heard of alchemy either?† I shook my head, and she propped her chin up with her hand, eyes staring down at the table again. She swallowed, like she was bracing herself, and then a rush of words came out. â€Å"Back in the Middle Ages, there were these people who were convinced that if they found the right formula or magic, they could turn lead into gold. Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t. This didn’t stop them from pursuing all sorts of other mystical and supernatural stuff, and eventually they did find something magical.† She frowned. â€Å"Vampires.† I thought back to my Moroi history classes. The Middle Ages were when our kind really started pulling away from humans, hiding out and keeping to ourselves. That was the time when vampires truly became myth as far as the rest of the world was concerned, and even Moroi were regarded as monsters worth hunting. Sydney verified my thoughts. â€Å"And that was when the Moroi began to stay away. They had their magic, but humans were starting to outnumber them. We still do.† That almost brought a smile to her face. Moroi sometimes had trouble conceiving, whereas humans seemed to have too easy a time. â€Å"And the Moroi made a deal with the Alchemists. If the Alchemists would help Moroi and dhampirs and their societies stay secret from humans, the Moroi would give us these.† She touched the golden tattoo. â€Å"What is that?† I asked. â€Å"I mean, aside from the obvious.† She gently stroked it with her fingertips and didn’t bother hiding the sarcasm when she spoke. â€Å"My guardian angel. It’s actually gold and†-she grimaced and dropped her hand-â€Å"Moroi blood, charmed with water and earth.† â€Å"What?† My voice came out too loud, and some people in the restaurant turned to look at me. Sydney continued speaking, her tone much lower and very bitter. â€Å"I’m not thrilled about it, but it’s our ? ®reward’ for helping you guys. The water and earth bind it to our skin and give us the same traits Moroi have well, a couple of them. I almost never get sick. I’ll live a long life.† â€Å"I guess that sounds good,† I said uncertainly. â€Å"Maybe for some. We don’t have a choice. This ? ®career’ is a family thing-it gets passed down. We all have to learn about Moroi and dhampirs. We work connections among humans that let us cover up for you since we can move around more freely. We’ve got tricks and techniques to get rid of Strigoi bodies-like that potion you saw. In return, though, we want to stay apart from you as much as we can-which is why most dhampirs aren’t told about us until they graduate. And Moroi hardly ever.† She abruptly stopped. I guessed the lesson was over. My head was reeling. I had never, never considered anything like this-wait. Had I? Most of my education had emphasized the physical aspects of being a guardian: watchfulness, combat, etc. Yet every so often I’d heard vague references to those out in the human world who would help hide Moroi or get them out of weird and dangerous situations. I’d never thought much about it or heard the term Alchemist. If I had stayed in school, maybe I would have. This probably wasn’t an idea I should have suggested, but my nature couldn’t help it. â€Å"Why keep the charm to yourselves? Why not share it with the human world?† â€Å"Because there’s an extra part to its power. It stops us from speaking about your kind in a way that would endanger or expose them.† A charm that bound them from speaking†¦ that sounded suspiciously like compulsion. All Moroi could use compulsion a little, and most could put some of their magic into objects to give them certain properties. Moroi magic had changed over the years, and compulsion was regarded as an immoral thing now. I was guessing this tattoo was an old, old spell that had come down through the centuries. I replayed the rest of what Sydney had said, more questions spinning in my head. â€Å"Why†¦ why do you want to stay away from us? I mean, not that I’m looking to become BFFs or anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Because it’s our duty to God to protect the rest of humanity from evil creatures of the night.† Absentmindedly, her hand went to something at her neck. It was mostly covered by her jacket, but a parting of her collar briefly revealed a golden cross. My initial reaction to that was unease, seeing as I wasn’t very religious. In fact, I was never entirely comfortable around those who were hard-core believers. Thirty seconds later, the full impact of the rest of her words sank in. â€Å"Wait a minute,† I exclaimed indignantly. â€Å"Are you talking about all of us-dhampirs and Moroi? We’re all evil creatures of the night?† Her hands dropped from the cross, and she didn’t respond. â€Å"We’re not like Strigoi!† I snapped. Her face stayed bland. â€Å"Moroi drink blood. Dhampirs are the unnatural offspring of them and humans.† No one had ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we’d been out of salsa, so what else was I supposed to do? â€Å"Moroi and dhampirs are not evil,† I told Sydney. â€Å"Not like Strigoi.† â€Å"That’s true,† she conceded. â€Å"Strigoi are more evil.† â€Å"Hey, that’s not what I-â€Å" The food arrived just then, and the fried chicken was almost enough to distract me from the outrage of being compared to a Strigoi. Mostly all it did was delay me from responding immediately to her claims, and I bit into the golden crust and nearly melted then and there. Sydney had ordered a cheeseburger and fries and nibbled her food delicately. After taking down an entire chicken leg, I was finally able to resume the argument. â€Å"We’re not like Strigoi at all. Moroi don’t kill. You have no reason to be afraid of us.† Again, I wasn’t keen on cozying up to humans. None of my kind were, not with the way humans tended to be trigger-happy and ready to experiment on anything they didn’t understand. â€Å"Any human who learns about you will inevitably learn about Strigoi,† she said. She was playing with her fries but not actually eating them. â€Å"Knowing about Strigoi might enable humans to protect themselves, though.† Why the hell was I playing devil’s advocate here? She finished toying with a fry and dropped it back on her plate. â€Å"Perhaps. But there are a lot of people who would be tempted by the thought of immortality-even at the cost of serving Strigoi in exchange for being turned into a creature from hell. You’d be surprised at how a lot of humans respond when they learn about vampires. Immortality’s a big draw-despite the evil that goes with it. A lot of humans who learn about Strigoi will try to serve them, in the hopes of eventually being turned.† â€Å"That’s insane-† I stopped. Last year, we’d discovered evidence of humans helping Strigoi. Strigoi couldn’t touch silver stakes, but humans could, and some had used those stakes to shatter Moroi wards. Had those humans been promised immortality? â€Å"And so,† said Sydney, â€Å"that’s why it’s best if we just make sure no one knows about any of you. You’re out there-all of you-and there’s nothing to be done about it. You do your thing to get rid of Strigoi, and we’ll do ours and save the rest of my kind.† I chewed on a chicken wing and restrained myself from the implied meaning that she was saving her kind from people like me, too. In some ways, what she was saying made sense. It wasn’t possible that we could always move through the world invisibly, and yes, I could admit, it was necessary for someone to dispose of Strigoi bodies. Humans working with Moroi were an ideal choice. Such humans would be able to move around the world freely, particularly if they had the kinds of contacts and connections she kept implying. I froze mid-chew, remembering my earlier thoughts when I’d first come along with Sydney. I forced myself to swallow and then took a long drink of water. â€Å"Here’s a question. Do you have contacts all over Russia?† â€Å"Unfortunately,† she said. â€Å"When Alchemists turn eighteen, we’re sent on an internship to get firsthand experience in the trade and make all sorts of connections. I would have rather stayed in Utah.† That was almost crazier than everything else she’d told me, but I didn’t push it. â€Å"What kind of connections exactly?† She shrugged. â€Å"We track the movements of a lot of Moroi and dhampirs. We also know a lot of high-ranking government officials-among humans and Moroi. If there’s been a vampire sighting among humans, we can usually find someone important who can pay someone off or whatever†¦ It all gets swept under the rug.† Track the movements of a lot of Moroi and dhampirs. Jackpot. I leaned in close and lowered my voice. Everything seemed to hinge on this moment. â€Å"I’m looking for a village†¦ a village of dhampirs out in Siberia. I don’t know its name.† Dimitri had only ever mentioned its name once, and I’d forgotten. â€Å"It’s kind of near†¦ Om?† â€Å"Omsk,† she corrected. I straightened up. â€Å"Do you know it?† She didn’t answer right away, but her eyes betrayed her. â€Å"Maybe.† â€Å"You do!† I exclaimed. â€Å"You have to tell me where it is. I have to get there.† She made a face. â€Å"Are you going to be†¦ one of those?† So Alchemists knew about blood whores. No surprise. If Sydney and her associates knew everything else about the vampire world, they’d know this too. â€Å"No,† I said haughtily. â€Å"I just have to find someone.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Someone.† That almost made her smile. Her brown eyes were thoughtful as she munched on another fry. She’d only taken two bites out of her cheeseburger, and it was rapidly growing cold. I kind of wanted to eat it myself on principle. â€Å"I’ll be right back,† she said abruptly. She stood up and strode across to a quiet corner of the cafe. Producing a cell phone from that magic purse of hers, she turned her back to the room and made a call. I’d polished off my chicken by then and helped myself to some of her fries since it was looking less and less like she was going to do anything with them. As I ate, I pondered the possibilities before me, wondering if finding Dimitri’s town would really be this simple. And once I was there†¦ would it be simple then? Would he be there, living in the shadows and hunting prey? And when faced with him, could I really drive my stake into his heart? That unwanted image came to me again, Dimitri with red eyes and â€Å"Rose?† I blinked. I’d totally spaced out, and Sydney was back. She slid back into her spot across from me. â€Å"So, it looks like-† She paused and looked down. â€Å"Did you eat some of my fries?† I had no clue how she knew, seeing as it was such a huge stack. I’d barely made a dent. Figuring me stealing fries would count as further evidence of being an evil creature of the night, I said glibly, â€Å"No.† She frowned a moment, considering, and then said, â€Å"I do know where this town is. I’ve been there before.† I straightened up. Holy crap. This was actually going to happen, after all these weeks of searching. Sydney would tell me where this place was, and I could go and try to close this horrible chapter in my life. â€Å"Thank you, thank you so much-â€Å" She held up a hand to silence me, and I noticed then how miserable she looked. â€Å"But I’m not going to tell you where it is.† My mouth gaped. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I’m going to take you there myself.† Blood Promise Chapter Two He grabbed her shoulder, jerking her to him. He was fast-they always were-but I was on my game tonight. A swift kick knocked him into a neighboring building’s wall and freed Sydney from his grasp. He grunted on impact and slumped to the ground, stunned and surprised. It wasn’t easy to get the drop on a Strigoi, not with their lightning-fast reflexes. Abandoning Sydney, he focused his attention on me, red eyes angry and lips curled back to show his fangs. He sprang up from his fall with that preternatural speed and lunged for me. I dodged him and attempted a punch that he dodged in return. His next blow caught me on the arm, and I stumbled, just barely keeping my balance. My stake was still clutched in my right hand, but I needed an opening to hit his chest. A smart Strigoi would have angled himself in a way that ruined the line of sight to his heart. This guy was only doing a so-so job, and if I could stay alive long enough, I’d likely get an opening. Just then, Sydney came up and hit him on the back. It wasn’t a very strong blow, but it startled him. It was my opening. I sprinted as hard as I could, throwing my full weight at him. My stake pierced his heart as we slammed against the wall. It was as simple as that. The life-or undead life or whatever-faded away from him. He stopped moving. I jerked out my stake once I was certain he was dead and watched as his body crumpled to the ground. Just like with every Strigoi I’d killed lately, I had a momentary surreal feeling. What if this had been Dimitri? I tried to imagine Dimitri’s face on this Strigoi, tried to imagine him lying before me. My heart twisted in my chest. For a split second, the image was there. Then-gone. This was just some random Strigoi. I promptly shook the disorientation off and reminded myself that I had important things to worry about here. I had to check on Sydney. Even with a human, my protective nature couldn’t help but kick in. â€Å"Are you okay?† She nodded, looking shaken but otherwise unharmed. â€Å"Nice work,† she said. She sounded as though she were forcibly trying to sound confident. â€Å"I’ve never†¦ I’ve never actually seen one of them killed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I couldn’t imagine how she would have, but then, I didn’t get how she knew about any of this stuff in the first place. She looked like she was in shock, so I took her arm and started to lead her away. â€Å"Come on, let’s get out to where there’s more people.† Strigoi lurking near the Nightingale wasn’t that crazy of an idea, the more I thought about it. What better place to stalk Moroi than at one of their hangouts? Though, hopefully, most guardians would have enough sense to keep their charges out of alleys like this. The suggestion of departure snapped Sydney out of her daze. â€Å"What?† she exclaimed. â€Å"You’re just going to leave him too?† I threw up my hands. â€Å"What do you expect me to do? I guess I can move him behind those trash cans and then let the sun incinerate him. That’s what I usually do.† â€Å"Right. And what if someone shows up to take out the trash? Or comes out of one of these back doors?† â€Å"Well, I can hardly drag him off. Or set him on fire. A vampire barbecue would kind of attract some attention, don’t you think?† Sydney shook her head in exasperation and walked over to the body. She made a face as she looked down at the Strigoi and reached into her large leather purse. From it, she produced a small vial. With a deft motion, she sprinkled the vial’s contents over the body and then quickly stepped back. Where the drops had hit his corpse, yellow smoke began to curl away. The smoke slowly moved outward, spreading horizontally rather than vertically until it cocooned the Strigoi entirely. Then it contracted and contracted until it was nothing but a fist-size ball. In a few seconds, the smoke drifted off entirely, leaving an innocuous pile of dust behind. â€Å"You’re welcome,† said Sydney flatly, still giving me a disapproving look. â€Å"What the hell was that?† I exclaimed. â€Å"My job. Can you please call me the next time this happens?† She started to turn away. â€Å"Wait! I can’t call you-I have no idea who you are.† She glanced back at me and brushed blond hair out of her face. â€Å"Really? You’re serious, aren’t you? I thought you were all taught about us when you graduated.† â€Å"Oh, well. Funny thing†¦ I kind of, uh, didn’t graduate.† Sydney’s eyes widened. â€Å"You took down one of those†¦ things†¦ but never graduated?† I shrugged, and she remained silent for several seconds. Finally, she sighed again and said, â€Å"I guess we need to talk.† Did we ever. Meeting her had to be the strangest thing that had happened to me since coming to Russia. I wanted to know why she thought I should have been in contact with her and how she’d dissolved that Strigoi corpse. And, as we returned to the busy streets and walked toward a cafe she liked, it occurred to me that if she knew about the Moroi world, there might be a chance she also knew where Dimitri’s village was. Dimitri. There he was again, popping back into my mind. I had no clue if he really would be lurking near his hometown, but I had nothing else to go on at this point. Again, that weird feeling came over me. My mind blurred Dimitri’s face with that of the Strigoi I’d just killed: pale skin, red ringed eyes†¦ No, I sternly told myself. Don’t focus on that yet. Don’t panic. Until I faced Dimitri the Strigoi, I would gain the most strength from remembering the Dimitri I loved, with his deep brown eyes, warm hands, fierce embrace†¦ â€Å"Are you okay†¦ um, whatever your name is?† Sydney was staring at me strangely, and I realized we’d come to a halt in front of a restaurant. I didn’t know what look I wore on my face, but it must have been enough to raise even her attention. Until now, my impression as we walked had been that she wanted to speak to me as little as possible. â€Å"Yeah, yeah, fine,† I said brusquely, putting on my guardian face. â€Å"And I’m Rose. Is this the place?† It was. The restaurant was bright and cheery, albeit a far cry from the Nightingale’s opulence. We slid into a black leather-by which I mean fake plastic leather-booth, and I was delighted to see the menu had both American and Russian food. The listings were translated into English, and I nearly drooled when I saw fried chicken. I was starving after not eating at the club, and the thought of deep-fried meat was luxurious after weeks of cabbage dishes and so-called McDonald’s. A waitress arrived, and Sydney ordered in fluent Russian, whereas I just pointed at the menu. Huh. Sydney was just full of surprises. Considering her harsh attitude, I expected her to interrogate me right away, but when the waitress left, Sydney remained quiet, simply playing with her napkin and avoiding eye contact. It was so strange. She was definitely uncomfortable around me. Even with the table between us, it was like she couldn’t get far enough away. Yet her earlier outrage hadn’t been faked, and she’d been adamant about me following whatever these rules of hers were. Well, she might have been playing coy, but I had no such hesitation about busting into uncomfortable topics. In fact, it was kind of my trademark. â€Å"So, are you ready to tell me who you are and what’s going on?† Sydney looked up. Now that we were in brighter light, I could see that her eyes were brown. I also noticed that she had an interesting tattoo on her lower left cheek. The ink looked like gold, something I’d never seen before. It was an elaborate design of flowers and leaves and was only really visible when she tilted her head certain ways so that the gold caught the light. â€Å"I told you,† she said. â€Å"I’m an Alchemist.† â€Å"And I told you, I don’t know what that is. Is it some Russian word?† It didn’t sound like one. A half-smile played on her lips. â€Å"No. I take it you’ve never heard of alchemy either?† I shook my head, and she propped her chin up with her hand, eyes staring down at the table again. She swallowed, like she was bracing herself, and then a rush of words came out. â€Å"Back in the Middle Ages, there were these people who were convinced that if they found the right formula or magic, they could turn lead into gold. Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t. This didn’t stop them from pursuing all sorts of other mystical and supernatural stuff, and eventually they did find something magical.† She frowned. â€Å"Vampires.† I thought back to my Moroi history classes. The Middle Ages were when our kind really started pulling away from humans, hiding out and keeping to ourselves. That was the time when vampires truly became myth as far as the rest of the world was concerned, and even Moroi were regarded as monsters worth hunting. Sydney verified my thoughts. â€Å"And that was when the Moroi began to stay away. They had their magic, but humans were starting to outnumber them. We still do.† That almost brought a smile to her face. Moroi sometimes had trouble conceiving, whereas humans seemed to have too easy a time. â€Å"And the Moroi made a deal with the Alchemists. If the Alchemists would help Moroi and dhampirs and their societies stay secret from humans, the Moroi would give us these.† She touched the golden tattoo. â€Å"What is that?† I asked. â€Å"I mean, aside from the obvious.† She gently stroked it with her fingertips and didn’t bother hiding the sarcasm when she spoke. â€Å"My guardian angel. It’s actually gold and†-she grimaced and dropped her hand-â€Å"Moroi blood, charmed with water and earth.† â€Å"What?† My voice came out too loud, and some people in the restaurant turned to look at me. Sydney continued speaking, her tone much lower and very bitter. â€Å"I’m not thrilled about it, but it’s our ? ®reward’ for helping you guys. The water and earth bind it to our skin and give us the same traits Moroi have well, a couple of them. I almost never get sick. I’ll live a long life.† â€Å"I guess that sounds good,† I said uncertainly. â€Å"Maybe for some. We don’t have a choice. This ? ®career’ is a family thing-it gets passed down. We all have to learn about Moroi and dhampirs. We work connections among humans that let us cover up for you since we can move around more freely. We’ve got tricks and techniques to get rid of Strigoi bodies-like that potion you saw. In return, though, we want to stay apart from you as much as we can-which is why most dhampirs aren’t told about us until they graduate. And Moroi hardly ever.† She abruptly stopped. I guessed the lesson was over. My head was reeling. I had never, never considered anything like this-wait. Had I? Most of my education had emphasized the physical aspects of being a guardian: watchfulness, combat, etc. Yet every so often I’d heard vague references to those out in the human world who would help hide Moroi or get them out of weird and dangerous situations. I’d never thought much about it or heard the term Alchemist. If I had stayed in school, maybe I would have. This probably wasn’t an idea I should have suggested, but my nature couldn’t help it. â€Å"Why keep the charm to yourselves? Why not share it with the human world?† â€Å"Because there’s an extra part to its power. It stops us from speaking about your kind in a way that would endanger or expose them.† A charm that bound them from speaking†¦ that sounded suspiciously like compulsion. All Moroi could use compulsion a little, and most could put some of their magic into objects to give them certain properties. Moroi magic had changed over the years, and compulsion was regarded as an immoral thing now. I was guessing this tattoo was an old, old spell that had come down through the centuries. I replayed the rest of what Sydney had said, more questions spinning in my head. â€Å"Why†¦ why do you want to stay away from us? I mean, not that I’m looking to become BFFs or anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Because it’s our duty to God to protect the rest of humanity from evil creatures of the night.† Absentmindedly, her hand went to something at her neck. It was mostly covered by her jacket, but a parting of her collar briefly revealed a golden cross. My initial reaction to that was unease, seeing as I wasn’t very religious. In fact, I was never entirely comfortable around those who were hard-core believers. Thirty seconds later, the full impact of the rest of her words sank in. â€Å"Wait a minute,† I exclaimed indignantly. â€Å"Are you talking about all of us-dhampirs and Moroi? We’re all evil creatures of the night?† Her hands dropped from the cross, and she didn’t respond. â€Å"We’re not like Strigoi!† I snapped. Her face stayed bland. â€Å"Moroi drink blood. Dhampirs are the unnatural offspring of them and humans.† No one had ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we’d been out of salsa, so what else was I supposed to do? â€Å"Moroi and dhampirs are not evil,† I told Sydney. â€Å"Not like Strigoi.† â€Å"That’s true,† she conceded. â€Å"Strigoi are more evil.† â€Å"Hey, that’s not what I-â€Å" The food arrived just then, and the fried chicken was almost enough to distract me from the outrage of being compared to a Strigoi. Mostly all it did was delay me from responding immediately to her claims, and I bit into the golden crust and nearly melted then and there. Sydney had ordered a cheeseburger and fries and nibbled her food delicately. After taking down an entire chicken leg, I was finally able to resume the argument. â€Å"We’re not like Strigoi at all. Moroi don’t kill. You have no reason to be afraid of us.† Again, I wasn’t keen on cozying up to humans. None of my kind were, not with the way humans tended to be trigger-happy and ready to experiment on anything they didn’t understand. â€Å"Any human who learns about you will inevitably learn about Strigoi,† she said. She was playing with her fries but not actually eating them. â€Å"Knowing about Strigoi might enable humans to protect themselves, though.† Why the hell was I playing devil’s advocate here? She finished toying with a fry and dropped it back on her plate. â€Å"Perhaps. But there are a lot of people who would be tempted by the thought of immortality-even at the cost of serving Strigoi in exchange for being turned into a creature from hell. You’d be surprised at how a lot of humans respond when they learn about vampires. Immortality’s a big draw-despite the evil that goes with it. A lot of humans who learn about Strigoi will try to serve them, in the hopes of eventually being turned.† â€Å"That’s insane-† I stopped. Last year, we’d discovered evidence of humans helping Strigoi. Strigoi couldn’t touch silver stakes, but humans could, and some had used those stakes to shatter Moroi wards. Had those humans been promised immortality? â€Å"And so,† said Sydney, â€Å"that’s why it’s best if we just make sure no one knows about any of you. You’re out there-all of you-and there’s nothing to be done about it. You do your thing to get rid of Strigoi, and we’ll do ours and save the rest of my kind.† I chewed on a chicken wing and restrained myself from the implied meaning that she was saving her kind from people like me, too. In some ways, what she was saying made sense. It wasn’t possible that we could always move through the world invisibly, and yes, I could admit, it was necessary for someone to dispose of Strigoi bodies. Humans working with Moroi were an ideal choice. Such humans would be able to move around the world freely, particularly if they had the kinds of contacts and connections she kept implying. I froze mid-chew, remembering my earlier thoughts when I’d first come along with Sydney. I forced myself to swallow and then took a long drink of water. â€Å"Here’s a question. Do you have contacts all over Russia?† â€Å"Unfortunately,† she said. â€Å"When Alchemists turn eighteen, we’re sent on an internship to get firsthand experience in the trade and make all sorts of connections. I would have rather stayed in Utah.† That was almost crazier than everything else she’d told me, but I didn’t push it. â€Å"What kind of connections exactly?† She shrugged. â€Å"We track the movements of a lot of Moroi and dhampirs. We also know a lot of high-ranking government officials-among humans and Moroi. If there’s been a vampire sighting among humans, we can usually find someone important who can pay someone off or whatever†¦ It all gets swept under the rug.† Track the movements of a lot of Moroi and dhampirs. Jackpot. I leaned in close and lowered my voice. Everything seemed to hinge on this moment. â€Å"I’m looking for a village†¦ a village of dhampirs out in Siberia. I don’t know its name.† Dimitri had only ever mentioned its name once, and I’d forgotten. â€Å"It’s kind of near†¦ Om?† â€Å"Omsk,† she corrected. I straightened up. â€Å"Do you know it?† She didn’t answer right away, but her eyes betrayed her. â€Å"Maybe.† â€Å"You do!† I exclaimed. â€Å"You have to tell me where it is. I have to get there.† She made a face. â€Å"Are you going to be†¦ one of those?† So Alchemists knew about blood whores. No surprise. If Sydney and her associates knew everything else about the vampire world, they’d know this too. â€Å"No,† I said haughtily. â€Å"I just have to find someone.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Someone.† That almost made her smile. Her brown eyes were thoughtful as she munched on another fry. She’d only taken two bites out of her cheeseburger, and it was rapidly growing cold. I kind of wanted to eat it myself on principle. â€Å"I’ll be right back,† she said abruptly. She stood up and strode across to a quiet corner of the cafe. Producing a cell phone from that magic purse of hers, she turned her back to the room and made a call. I’d polished off my chicken by then and helped myself to some of her fries since it was looking less and less like she was going to do anything with them. As I ate, I pondered the possibilities before me, wondering if finding Dimitri’s town would really be this simple. And once I was there†¦ would it be simple then? Would he be there, living in the shadows and hunting prey? And when faced with him, could I really drive my stake into his heart? That unwanted image came to me again, Dimitri with red eyes and â€Å"Rose?† I blinked. I’d totally spaced out, and Sydney was back. She slid back into her spot across from me. â€Å"So, it looks like-† She paused and looked down. â€Å"Did you eat some of my fries?† I had no clue how she knew, seeing as it was such a huge stack. I’d barely made a dent. Figuring me stealing fries would count as further evidence of being an evil creature of the night, I said glibly, â€Å"No.† She frowned a moment, considering, and then said, â€Å"I do know where this town is. I’ve been there before.† I straightened up. Holy crap. This was actually going to happen, after all these weeks of searching. Sydney would tell me where this place was, and I could go and try to close this horrible chapter in my life. â€Å"Thank you, thank you so much-â€Å" She held up a hand to silence me, and I noticed then how miserable she looked. â€Å"But I’m not going to tell you where it is.† My mouth gaped. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I’m going to take you there myself.†