Systems Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Systems Development - Essay Example Different steps get used in order to achieve a successful system conversion and most crucial to give it a reasonable approach in trying to achieve the best out of it (Bernard, 2004). The first step in this is the planning, and this is the understanding of the whole system and its organization. This follows the analysis, and this is the identifying and predicting any potential problems that may rise, in the future in the system. The third phase is the design, and this determine show the system operates and the user interface involved. Also, known as the system environment, and it mostly deals with the internal structures of the system (Gautier, 2005). The last phase and the most crucial are the implementation phase which is time consuming of all. This stage includes activities like the user training and system maintenance. The best example in this is the plunge where it gets applied in the school. In this system, different phases used to combine information from different sources. Data can be sent to different members of the staff all at once by use of the data-centered approach. Programs can be edited before they get sent to the workers (Lorain, 2008). For example in my school, the SDLC used to analyze the fee statement for the students by grouping the data into one sheet. On the other hand, the data can be manipulated and shared by use of different user interfaces. The other example is the parallel method that makes use of the adaptive approach technique. In the initial stages, the data get tabulated after which the information get extracted from the raw data. This is possible by use of the object-oriented approach (OOA) which helps in maintaining accuracy in the data manipulation. The parallel method has extensively been used in my school, in the learning process the students can easily access the notes from the teacher through some codes installed already in the computer systems (Lorain, 2008). In

Constructivist Theory of Knowledge in the Curriculum

Constructivist Theory of Knowledge in the Curriculum 1. The Constructivist Theory of Knowledge This theory has emerged from psychological theories around human learning and knowledge acquisition. Within this theory, the main preposition is that people construct knowledge and infer meaning to concepts through experience. It is a theory which is principally credited to Jean Piaget, who used scientific data to prove that the theory was of some validity. In relation to education, constructivist theories have had a significant impact on pedagogy, even though constructivism is not a pedagogy in and of itself. Within constructivism, the idea is that people respond to new knowledge by internalising it and accommodating this knowledge into their existing internal schema, the personal constructs of meaning and understanding that are unique to them. This explains one of the key facets of constructivism as applied to knowledge acquisition, that learners learn individually, and their knowledge is individually constructed and, arguably, unique to them. Therefore, learning is derived from sensory input from which the learner constructs knowledge. This seems rather simplistic, but runs counter to a number of previous theories, particularly the long-standing belief that knowledge is universal, because instead the learner must engage with the world or their social context or environment in some way, in order to learn. In constructivism, theorists posit that learners learn as they learn, in that while they are learning knew knowledge they are learning on many levels, about more than just the facts they are acquiring[1]. For example, if the student is learning about different materials, such as wood, plastic and metal, they are learning about the nature of these substances, but also they are expanding their vocabulary, learning what these substances look and feel like, and, are also processing examples of how these materials are used, and why. Applying this knowledge to their social world allows them to test their new understandings and to see what elements of their environment are constructed out of these different materials. The construction of meaning is a mental process which is enhanced by physical activities[2], but cognitive engagement with learning is key. In constructivism, learners are central to the learning process, not the knowledge they are required to acquire. Learning is both context ual and social, and so in primary science, for example, collaborative activities and experiments engage learners socially as well as individually. Learners need time to learn, but they also need opportunities to review and revisit the new knowledge, as it becomes internalised and takes its place as a building block for further learning. Primary science teaching appears to fit very well with this approach to understanding learning, because it builds from initial concepts and exploratory activities into more complex activities. As time progresses, the curriculum is designed to revisit knowledge on several occasions, and to put that knowledge into practice. How far this works for primary science, however, may depend on a number of factors[3]. This does seem to be a very constructivist approach, and while it works well in primary science, this author wonders if there are other subjects which might not so easily suit constructivist explanations of learning. As a practical subject, science at all levels allows students to take more control of their learning experiences[4] and to engage fully with new knowledge[5]. However, this theory also acknowledges that learning requires a degree of motivation, and this may be the biggest challenge to any educator[6]. 2. Discuss the issue of progression in a child’s learning in the context of a critique of the materials and properties strand of the national curriculum and the associated QCA schemes of work. The notion of progression builds upon issues of constructivism by starting what appears to be a cascade of learning through directed activities. The guidance for the materials and properties strand of the curriculum, particularly espoused in the QCA schemes of work, seem to start with an initial encounter with key concepts, such as the nature of materials, through focused activities[7]. For example, children in reception to Year 1 might be asked to identify types of materials, such as glass, wood, metal, and discuss the ways in which these are used, such as, windows are usually made of glass, or doors are usually made of wood. This knowledge is then built on later on in their learning process by learning more in detail about the properties of these different types of materials, through new information, and testing that information to learn about the properties under investigation. For example, learning about stretchiness would allow students to understand both the concept and the kin ds of materials which display this property, whilst also acquiring the new knowledge of different terms and their application. So progression of learning requires the student to understand what a property is, and the kinds of words used to describe and to explore it. The learning process challenges the student to ask questions about different properties, and then, through these answers, to apply these concepts to other materials and their properties. Progression is thus based on the student engaging at all stages, and only once the student has grasped initial concepts can they move on to the testing of those concepts in more and more detail. However, the challenge of basing a curriculum and set schemes of work on this concept of progressive learning, in this case, is that all students do not learn at the same rates, and therefore the progression of the class may be limited to the speed of the slowest student rather than responding to individual learning. However, this approach also allows students to not only revisit knowledge but to simultaneously signpost their learning[8], which may help build confidence, self-esteem and self-efficacy. The continuous programme of study that is the National Curriculum aims to ensure progression from primary to secondary school, in particularly, is less marked and more straightforward, although this is not the case for many educators. However, in principle, within science, the curriculum allows students to acquire the fundamental understandings necessary to advance to more complex science and scientific investigation. 3. How does the recognition of concepts of evidence affect a teachers approach to progression and assessment of pupils understanding in Sc1? Concepts of evidence is a fundamental scientific principle in relation to the acquisition of any kind of real scientific knowledge and understanding. Every part of the progression from S1 requires that students can recognise and work with ‘evidence’ acquired from practical activities[9], such as information gathering, observation and recording of these observations, and experimentation[10]. Experimental and investigative work in this subject, at this level, requires students to engage in the following kinds of activities: planning investigations; deciding what to change, what to keep the same and what to measure; deciding whether a fair comparison was made; and using results to draw conclusions[11]. These require students to have internalised what constitutes ‘evidence’ in scientific studies. However, in science, cognition and learning, and in particular, reasoning, is characteristically different than in other subjects, because this reasoning is carried out using ‘evidence’. Learning to work scientifically relates to a rage of ‘concepts of evidence’, which might include the purpose of observation, and how to carry out observation for specific reasons, recognising what constitutes a scientific question that can practically be investigated through accepted scientific processes, the need to carry out multiple measurements, and the need to develop through these new skills in carrying out measurement processes, and different ways of recording data and presenting findings. It also involves understanding different kinds of experiments and the kinds of results that can be gained from these. However, these kinds of concepts must be learned from engaging in practical activities, and in relation to progression from Sc1, understanding the principles of scientific activities must be demonstrated through carrying out the activities and working through these to achieve specific goals. This runs somewhat counter to the notio n of individual learning, however. However, it is not enough that students can carry out the activity required, because they need to be able to see beyond establishing ‘facts’ and look for alternative explanations or interpretations to illustrate their ‘evidence’. Not only must they be able to frame their investigations in the right language, and choose the right kinds of questions[12], they also need to be able to learn how to make robust measurements, with support and input. What this demonstrates is that it is not enough for students to learn superficially how to do an experiment, and how to record results. For students to progress, they need to be able to discuss observations and inference, questions and areas of investigation, and the different ways to produce ‘evidence’ to explain relationships or causality. And the literature does show that even young children can develop these kinds of capabilities, if they are properly supported. Therefore, the modern approach to science education where knowledge acquisition appears to be fully constructivist, particularly in relation to testing of ideas and principles, appears well suited to students developing key scientific skills, which at the next stage of their education form the basis for deeper understanding and manipulation of more complex and challenging tests and variables. Yet it could also be argued that to teach almost by rote, by following the schemes of work set out by the QCA and DfES is also to stifle individuality in learning, because not all students will grasp these concepts at the same time, or even in the same ways. Science is about universal laws and the testing of theories[13], but in order to allow students to develop a true understanding of basic principles[14], perhaps it is time for educators themselves to reconsider what are their ‘concepts of evidence’ for readiness to progress to the next level. References Gibson, J. (1998). Any questions any answer? Primary Science Review, 51, 20-21. Gott, R. and Johnson, P. (1999) Science in schools: times to pause for thought? School Science Review81(295) 21 -28 Gunstone, R.F. and Mitchell, I.J. (2005) Metacognition and Conceptual Change Teaching Science for Understanding 133-163 Hollins, W. Whitby, V. (1998). Progression in Primary Science. Great Britain: David Fulton Publishers. Johnson, P. and Gott, R. (1996) Constructivism and Evidence from Childrens Ideas. Science Education 80(5); 561-577. Osborne, J. and Simon, S. (1996) Primary Science: Past and Future Directions Studies in Science Education 26 99-147 Paivi, T. (1999) Towards expert knowledge? A comparison between a constructivist and a traditional learning environment in the university International Journal of Educational Research31 (5) 357-442. QCA/DfES (2008) http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/science/sci3c/sci3cq2?view=get  Accesed 23-10-08 Reinhartz, J. Beach, D. M. (1997). Teaching and Learning in the Elementary School: Focus on Curriculum. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Shepardson, D. P. (1997). Butterflies and beetles: first graders ways of seeing and talking about insect life cycles. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 34(9) 876-889. So, W. M. W. Cheng, M. H. M. (2001). To facilitate the development of multiple intelligences among primary students through science projects. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 2(1), Article 4. Available at: http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v2_issue1/sow/. Accessed 23-10-08. Watts, M., Barber, B., Alsop, S. (1997). Childrens questions in the classroom, Primary Science Review, 49, 6-8. White, R. and Gunstone, R. (1992). Probing Understanding. London: Falmer Press. 1 Footnotes [1] Paivi, T. (1999) [2] Shepardson, D. P. (1997). [3] Gott, R. and Johnson, P. (1999) [4] Gibson, J. (1998). p 20. [5] White, R. and Gunstone, R. (1992). [6] Reinhartz, J. Beach, D. M. (1997). [7]QCA/DfES (2008) [8] Gunstone, R.F. and Mitchell, I.J. (2005) [9] Hollins, W. Whitby, V. (1998) [10] So, W. M. W. Cheng, M. H. M. (2001). [11] QCA/DfES (ibid). [12] Watts, M., Barber, B., Alsop, S. (1997). [13] Osborne, J. and Simon, S. (1996) [14] Johnson, P. and Gott, R. (1996)

A Comparison of Online Shopping at JCPenney and Kohls Essays -- compar

JCPenney Dominates Over Kohl’s in Online Shopping Being a multi-billion dollar retailer comes with its perks. JCPenney’s dominance over catalog merchandising has now extended into the cyber world at www.jcpenney.com. This website is multi-functional and easy to navigate, but how would JCPenney’s new e-commerce site stack up against its toughest competitor, Kohl’s, on the web? The answer may surprise you. This is an intriguing look at how varied retail comparisons can be. While JCPenney is struggling with sales on the retail floor, Kohl’s continues to exceed expectations in their stores. Online though, it is a completely different story. Kohl’s has a fledgling site located at www.kohls.com. The homepage for this site looks very modern and eye-catching with its large feature window and cute icons. Navigating into the site; however, a customer may notice that there are no opportunities to make online purchases or to view product. JCPenney’s homepage is dedicated to listing all departments and displaying several links to some of our strategic alliances. For instance, JCPenney’s ... A Comparison of Online Shopping at JCPenney and Kohl's Essays -- compar JCPenney Dominates Over Kohl’s in Online Shopping Being a multi-billion dollar retailer comes with its perks. JCPenney’s dominance over catalog merchandising has now extended into the cyber world at www.jcpenney.com. This website is multi-functional and easy to navigate, but how would JCPenney’s new e-commerce site stack up against its toughest competitor, Kohl’s, on the web? The answer may surprise you. This is an intriguing look at how varied retail comparisons can be. While JCPenney is struggling with sales on the retail floor, Kohl’s continues to exceed expectations in their stores. Online though, it is a completely different story. Kohl’s has a fledgling site located at www.kohls.com. The homepage for this site looks very modern and eye-catching with its large feature window and cute icons. Navigating into the site; however, a customer may notice that there are no opportunities to make online purchases or to view product. JCPenney’s homepage is dedicated to listing all departments and displaying several links to some of our strategic alliances. For instance, JCPenney’s ...

Crash Human Nature Essay

* Human nature is The general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioural traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans. * Crash directed by Paul Haggis presents to us an intertwining story set within the streets of LA, confirming and challenging racial stereotypes and at the same time reflecting the ever existing good and dark side of human nature. * Human nature drives us all to view â€Å"the other† as bad, evil and untrustworthy, it is complex and every man, despite differences holds the underlying values buried deep into our subconsciousness * In the film crash, Haggis has successfully portrayed the truth about human nature through the conventions of dialogue, camera shot and symbolism, confusing us as viewers, but also giving us an intruging insight into the reality of each and every one of us despite differences in race and background. * Haggis has successfully evoked feelings of uneasiness, confusion, anger and empathy at through the making of the film crash. * Human nature drives us to fear the unknown, the â€Å"other† in our eyes is seen as evil and that we should steer away from any communication. It may be in relation to race, ethnicity, age, gender or beliefs but in reality each one of us does not have the ability to fight this automatic discrimination against those who are different. * Haggis has successfully reflected this dark aspect of human nature through the convention of dialogue. * In one scene a Persian man is attempting to purchase a gun from a white American. The salesman calls the man â€Å"osama† and then continues to talk about 9/11, he then is aggressively told to leave the shop. * The white American man displays his fear of â€Å"the other† by racially discriminating him through his dialogue, he has his own racist, stereotypical image of this man in his mind automatically relating him to 9/11 and due to his human nature sees him as â€Å"the other† and as untrustworthy to be in his shop telling him he â€Å"has no right to buy a gun here† * In another scene a Hispanic locksmith is changing a white American couples locks on their door after their car had been hijacked. The American woman makes assumptions that this locksmith is going to sell their key to his â€Å"homies† purely because of the way he looks and his race and demands to get her locks changed again in the morning. * The American woman views the locksmith as â€Å"the other† and due to her human nature she fears him, and does not trust him to be in her house. Her judgement is not on personality or individual traits it is based upon the automatic assumptions she makes about him due to his tattoos, dress sense and skin colour. Little does she know that the Hispanic locksmith was in many eyes the only character in crash seen as completely innocent, but due to her ignorance she believed the opposite. * Through dialogue Haggis has successfully positioned the viewer to feel anger at both of these scenarios and causes us to question our own human nature and our own classification of â€Å"the other†. We are positioned to feel guilt as we feel partly responsible for these racial stereotypes as we too, through our human nature, instinctively stick to our own. * Human nature is complex, values at polar opposites could exsist in the same man, particular beliefs could be compromised and in reality no one can ever truly understand the extent of complexities embedded within each person. * Racsim and nobility can exsist in the same man. Haggis has successfully portrayed this idea of human nature through the narrative conventions of camera shot and dialogue. * In one scene a cop pulls over a black couple, he abuses his power and shows extreme racism seen through the convention of low camera angle while he molests her. * In another scene the same cop shows nobility while is seen rescuing the same black woman he molested, he ironically says things to her such as â€Å"im not going to hurt you† * The camera angle in the first scene is a panning low angle displaying the police officers hand stroking up the womans leg, emphasizing his sickening racist actions. In the second scene the camera angle is a close camera angle focusing on his remorseful worrying facial expression. The shot of the hand in the first scene could represent â€Å"a mans hand† where the shot of his face in the second scene presents him, and therefore suggests that although his racism and dark side of his human nature exsists the good side of his human nature is a representation of his true identity and we begin to question the reasons behind his actions. * These two scenes In the movie crash display to us that humans are extremely complex. A man can live a life full of sin but then commit a noble act just as a man can be a criminal but then save a life. * The concept of human complexities is hard to grasp, an individuals identity can determine why they act a certain way or do certain things. The cop in the film displayed racism due to the fact that a black woman would not help his sick father, but does this excuse particular values and behaviours? * Through the convention of camera angle Haggis has effectively positioned the viewer to feel both disgust and awe at the same man. We begin to question what drives humans to be so complex and we wonder whether it is ever possible for a man to be seen as completely innocent. * Instinctively human natures drives us to protect and stick to our own, just as we repel those who are seen as different. * This universal value embedded inside each and every human is represented by Paul Haggis in the film crash through utlising the narrative convention of symbolism. * Crash follows the story of a Hispanic locksmith and unconditional love of his.

Historical Development of Hr Manager (Ireland)

Historical Development of Hr Manager (Ireland) In explaining the historical development of the personnel function of the Hr manager, I will begin by giving a brief description of the 6 different types of personnel manager: The Social Reformer Before personnel emerged as a specialist management activity at the beginning of the 20th century there were those who intervened in industrial affairs to support the severely under privileged factory workers. The Acolyte of benevolence The first people appointed with specific responsibility for improving the lot of the employees were welfare officers who saw there role as dispensing benefits to the deserving and unfortunate employees. The motivation was the christian charity of paternalist employers who provided these comforts, partly because employees deserved them, but mainly because he was willing to provide them. The Humane Bureaucrat The first 2 phases were concerned predominantly with the physical environment of the work and the amelioration of hardship among â€Å"the workers† . As organisations increased there size, specialisation was emerging in the management levels as well as on the shop floor. This led to the growth of personnel work on staffing the organisation, with great concern about role specification, selection. Training and placement. The consensus negotiator Personnel managers next added expertise in bargaining to there repetoire of skills. Where the personnel manager could at best be described as a remembrancer of the employees the trader union official could be their accredited representative. Organization man Then came a development of the humane bureaucracy phase into preoccupation with the effectiveness of the organization as a whole, which should have clear objectives and a wide spread commitment among organisation members to those objectives. The approach was also characterised by candour between members and a form of operation supporting the integrity of the individual and providing opportunities for personal growth. Manpower Analyst The last distinct historical stereotype was the manpower analyst. The humane bureaucrat was concerned to get a good fit between a particular worker and a particular job: Employees were individuals. Next I will give a brief outline of the different eras in the development of the Hr manager in Ireland. 1940s and 1950s: The Welfare Stage It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when personnel management first appeared in Ireland. Barrington (1980:90) indicates that a personnel function had been established in the civil service after the First World War, but its official recognition in the private sector is probably best dated from the setting up of an Irish branch of the Institute of Labour Management, the forerunner of the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM), in Dublin in 1937. The meetings of the Institute of Labour Management were held in the recreation hall attached to the Jacob's Biscuit Factory and were attended by a small group of individuals, mainly women, who acted as welfare supervisors in Dublin factories such as Wills, Maguire and Patersons, Williams and Woods and Jacob's. These companies had strong Quaker traditions and were concerned with the health and well-being of their employees. The second issue which emerges from an analysis of the foundations of personnel management is its dominance in the early years by women. This appears to have resulted in difficulties for both men and women intent on careers in personnel management. For men there was the worry of developing a career in a profession with a female image. However, for many men this dilemma was resolved by the industrial relations focus which was to emerge in the 1970s in which bargaining and negotiating with trade unions became very much a male preserve and one with a much more dynamic image. For women the incursion of men into personnel management has created long-term problems. The 1960s: Growth and DevelopmentPersonnel management grew slowly in the 1950s and 1960s in Ireland; then as now the fate of personnel function was inextricably entwined with economic developments The 1970s: The Industrial Relations EraPersonnel management grew steadily during the late 1960s and early 1970s. A survey by the Irish Management Institute (Gorman et al. , 1974) estimated that the number of personnel managers working in firms with over 20 employees increased from around 100 to about 400 between 1964 and 1973. Throughout the 1970s this growth continued so that by 1981 there were an estimated 770 private sector firms with a designated personnel office. The main areas of activity associated with the personnel function were outlined in a submission by the IPM to the Commission: manpower planning; recruitment and selection; employee evaluation, training and development, career development promotion etc. ; remuneration and benefits; industrial relations (i. e. policy and practices in relationships with unions and union representatives, procedure agreements covering recognition, disputes, grievances, redundancy, etc. negotiations with full-time officials and with shop stewards); employee communications and consultation; organisation development (i. e. organisation and job design, various approaches to securing higher employee involvement and motivation, opinion surveys and survey feedback, etc. ); personnel administration – contracts, attendance, turnover, medical and welfare facilities, safety at work, employee performance indices etc. The 1980s: Cost CutterBy the 1980s, personnel departments were well established in Irish organisations. A survey by Murray (1984: 21) of 141 manufacturing firms found that 74 per cent had a personnel function and that the status of the personnel function appeared confirmed with many personnel managers having access to top management decisions. The economic difficulties of this decade are reflected in the themes of the IPM's annual conferences. In 1983 this was ‘Survival Management'; in 1984 it was ‘Job Loss: the Price of Being Competitive'; in 1985: Social and Political Change: the Implications for Personnel Management; in 1986 ‘The Uncertain Future'; and in 1987 ‘Meeting the Challenge'. The 1990s: Strategic Planner and Business ManagerThe 1990s have seen attention turn to the roles that the personnel practitioner might play as business manager and human resource specialist, these roles involving an active contribution to ‘competitive advantage'. The historical analysis of the development of the personnel management role raises several critical issues. Is there a dominant role in Irish organisations in the mid 1990s? Do the roles which have developed over time co-exist or have some disappeared? Are some roles better than others and, if this is the case, better for whom? A superficial analysis of the situation suggests that there has been a great deal of continuity in personnel management over the years and that the issues that have concerned the personnel manager and the personnel profession have remained remarkably constant, although perhaps portrayed using very different language. The analysis has revealed that many of the challenges facing the personnel practitioner have remained constant and the need to manage the employment relationship, no matter the terminology that is used to describe this relationship, is one which is central to the personnel role. The management of the psychological contract as a critical issue for the 1990s may represent for the personnel profession a return to its roots. Now we’ll examine the emergence of the Hr manager as a professional. Some industry commentators call the Human Resources function the last bastion of bureaucracy. Traditionally, the role of the Human Resource professional in many organizations has been to serve as the systematizing, policing arm of executive management. In this role, the HR professional served executive agendas well, but was frequently viewed as a road block by much of the rest of the organization. The importance of the human resource function has become evident especially with the onset of global competition. Not only do human resource managers have to think more strategically and in step with corporate planning managers, they have had to address real and hard issues about the impact of intense competition on employment stability. It is one thing to think with executives on how the human resource section can support corporate activities. It is another to actually implement cost-savings policies with regards employment. The role of the Hr manager must parallel the needs of his or her changing organization. Successful organizations are becoming more adaptive, resilient, quick to change direction and customer-centered. Within this environment, the HR professional, who is considered necessary by line managers, is a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate and a change mentor. HR directors, and occasionally HR managers, may head up several different departments that are each led by functional or specialized HR staff such as the training manager, the compensation manager, or the recruiting manager. Human Resources staff members are advocates for both the company and the people who work in the company. Consequently, a good HR professional performs a constant balancing act to meet both needs successfully. The role of the HR professional is changing. In the past, HR managers were often viewed as the systematizing, policing arm of executive management. Their role was more closely aligned with personnel and administration functions that were viewed by the organization as paperwork. When you consider that the initial HR function, in many companies, comes out of the administration or finance department because hiring employees, paying employees, and dealing with benefits were the organization's first HR needs, this is not surprising. In this role, the HR professional served executive agendas well, but was frequently viewed as a road block by much of the rest of the organization. The role of the HR manager must parallel the needs of his or her changing organization. Successful organizations are becoming more adaptable, resilient, quick to change direction, and customer-centered. Within this environment, the HR professional, who is considered necessary by line managers, is a strategic partner, an employee sponsor or advocate and a change mentor. At the same time, especially the HR Generalist, still has responsibility for employee benefits administration, often payroll, and employee paperwork, especially in the absence of an Hr assistant. Depending on the size of the organization, the HR manager has responsibility for all of the functions that deal with the needs and activities of the organization's people including these areas of responsibility. David O'Callaghan Carrigaline 2009

Interpersonal Reflection Essay

Interpersonal Reflection Essay Interpersonal Reflection Essay Introduction On September 2nd, 2014, I spent three hours interaction with patient B.A in his room which is at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital. The patient’s room is small, clean with two chairs pushed to the side near the window that shines light into the room. The bed is located in the center of the room which is nicely fixed. This area was chosen because it allows the patient comfort, a familiar surrounding and a private place to speak. The patient B.A., is a 59 year old alert and oriented male. The patient has short light brown hair which he styled nicely. He is properly groomed and is wearing a clean hospital gown with light gray pants. He is waiting for his wife to visit him later in the day. When I first entered the room to greet the patient, he presented himself as a friendly sociable and cooperative person throughout most of the interaction. He could perform all this daily activities independtly and only asked for assistance when needed. He shows eagerness to be discharged from hospital. According to Potter & Perry, â€Å"therapeutic communication is holistic and patient centered and engages the totality of the patient’s condition† ( 2005, p.78). The nursing goal of this nurse/patient interaction was to build confidence to allow ease of communication. The patient goals were (1) the patient will express feelings and thoughts about the diabetes that he has been managing for a couple of years. (2) The patient will express any concerns he has about his recent abdominal pain and the effect it has in his life. Nurse Verbatim Patient Verbatim Nonverbal Behavior of Nurse and Client Interpretation of interaction Alternation response with rationale â€Å"Good Morning Mr. B.A., how are you feeling this morning ?† â€Å"Better than I have been yesterday. I hope the doctor will come by and discharge me today.† Student nurse made eye contact with the patient. Patient smiles and responds in a clear and cheerful tone. â€Å" The doctor may be coming in to see you later today† â€Å"Yes, the nurse mentioned that earlier. My wife will be coming here at about 10 am.† Student nurse looks outside the window away from patient and patient moves around the room towards his phone. He clicks it on, and then puts it gently on the bed. â€Å"That’s nice. Do you work ? â€Å"Yes. I work building race car engines. It has been a job that I have done for about twenty years and I absouletly enjoy it. Student nurse walks over to a chair and sits in the direction of the patient. Patient explains his job excitedly to the student

Free Essays on The Scopes Trial

The Scopes Trial began as a lighthearted plot by a small group of men looking to bring attention to the town of Dayton, Tennessee, but it quickly spiraled into one of the most debated, heated and famous trials of the twentieth century. It was a trial that had been in the making since Charles Darwin first proposed the theory of evolution. It was a battle between the modernists and the traditionalists. Soon began the trial that would go down in history to become known as â€Å"The Great Monkey Trial† (Pierce 1), (Linder 1) Charles Darwin had stirred great controversy with his theory of evolution that he presented in 1858. His theory about human evolving from monkeys sparked arguments between scientists and religious leader. Many people thought it to go against the Adam and Eve story in the Bible. Included with those people who did not agree with Darwin were Fundamentalists. (McGowen 19) Fundamentalism was started by American Christians who thought that the Bible had to be true. During the 1920s, Fundamentalists were a major force in American religion and soon began attacking the teachings of evolution in school. In January of 1925, John Butler, Tennessee House of Representatives member introduced a bill that made it illegal to, â€Å"teach any theory that denies the story of the divine creation of man as taught in the Bible.† (Pierce 2) The Butler Act was passes into law by Governor Austin Peay, although it was not expected to be enforced. However, in April of 1925, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offered its services of legal and financial assistance to any teacher who would test the law. (Pierce 2), (McGowen 31) Then on May 5th, 1925, George Rappalyea, manager of an iron company on Dayton, Walter White, the superintendent of schools in Rhea County, and Sue Hicks, a lawyer in the town, were sitting in the local drugstore and discussing the new law that was passed. The gentlemen continue to argue their opinions on evolution w... Free Essays on The Scopes Trial Free Essays on The Scopes Trial The Scopes Trial began as a lighthearted plot by a small group of men looking to bring attention to the town of Dayton, Tennessee, but it quickly spiraled into one of the most debated, heated and famous trials of the twentieth century. It was a trial that had been in the making since Charles Darwin first proposed the theory of evolution. It was a battle between the modernists and the traditionalists. Soon began the trial that would go down in history to become known as â€Å"The Great Monkey Trial† (Pierce 1), (Linder 1) Charles Darwin had stirred great controversy with his theory of evolution that he presented in 1858. His theory about human evolving from monkeys sparked arguments between scientists and religious leader. Many people thought it to go against the Adam and Eve story in the Bible. Included with those people who did not agree with Darwin were Fundamentalists. (McGowen 19) Fundamentalism was started by American Christians who thought that the Bible had to be true. During the 1920s, Fundamentalists were a major force in American religion and soon began attacking the teachings of evolution in school. In January of 1925, John Butler, Tennessee House of Representatives member introduced a bill that made it illegal to, â€Å"teach any theory that denies the story of the divine creation of man as taught in the Bible.† (Pierce 2) The Butler Act was passes into law by Governor Austin Peay, although it was not expected to be enforced. However, in April of 1925, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offered its services of legal and financial assistance to any teacher who would test the law. (Pierce 2), (McGowen 31) Then on May 5th, 1925, George Rappalyea, manager of an iron company on Dayton, Walter White, the superintendent of schools in Rhea County, and Sue Hicks, a lawyer in the town, were sitting in the local drugstore and discussing the new law that was passed. The gentlemen continue to argue their opinions on evolution w...

Modernizing Liturgical English

Modernizing Liturgical English Modernizing Liturgical English Modernizing Liturgical English By Maeve Maddox A reader writes: In church, our liturgy has traditionally used a phrase such as Thou Who sittest at the right hand of God the Father to refer to Jesus, singular. As we have changed over from using the King James Bible translation, we have also gradually changed from use of thee and thou and the est forms of the verbs in the liturgy. I believe, then, that we should be singing You Who sit at . . . but those in charge have written You Who sits at . . . It disturbs me (only slightlyI know the intended meaning regardless of the word used) every time I sing it. Am I correct or just being picky? I dont think the reader is being picky. It makes sense that if editors are going to modernize a 16th century idiom, the changes ought to reflect standard modern usage. In the year 2009, you sits is not standard usage, neither spoken nor written. The confusion with the passage quoted lies with the word who, which may be either singular or plural: The man who is sitting on the wall can see the lighthouse. The men who are sitting in the tree can also see it. In the liturgical quotation above, who refers to singular thou. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father translates as You who sit at the right hand of God the Father. Personally I object to changing the old verb forms in liturgical use. When a student wants the most up-to-date translation, obviously the King James Version is not the one to rely on. If encouraging religious feeling is the goal, however, I cant think of anything more beautiful and stirring than a reading from the KJV. Most of the tongue-twisters can be avoided by substituting the sound /s/ for the -eths. Thats very likely what many of the original readers of the KJV did anyway. A.C. Baugh points out (A History of the English Language), that Shakespeare used both the eth and -s forms for third-person verbs, as in this passage from A Merchant of Venice (c. 1597): The quality of mercy is not straind, It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessd; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:†¦ Baugh quotes Richard Hodgess A Special Help to Orthographie (1643) in which the writer notes the disconnect between how verbs are written and how they are pronounced in ordinary speech: Howsoever wee use to Write thus, leadeth it, maketh it, noteth it, raketh it, per-fumeth it, etc. Yet in our ordinary speech (which is best to bee understood) wee say, leads it, makes it, notes it, rakes it, per-fumes it. Its refreshing to seein the 17th century, as in the 21stthe standard written dialect at odds with the standard spoken dialect. An Unexpected Question About You O Second Person Singular, Where Art Thou? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†Best Websites to Learn EnglishList of 50 Compliments and Nice Things to Say!

Rene Descartes in Philosophy - the Distinction between Mind and Body Essay

Rene Descartes in Philosophy - the Distinction between Mind and Body - Essay Example The book contains six different meditations and opens with Descartes discarding away all information and knowledge he had ever known before. This laid ground for him to begin a new search for knowledge and wisdom. The distinction between mind and body and the existence of other material things is the last piece of meditation in the book (Rozemond, 2006). The sixth meditation deals with the existence of material things and the difference between mind and body. This meditation has two main arguments that Descartes uses to prove that the mind and the body are two distinct realities. The first argument states that since it is possible to conceive the mind and the body as two different things, God can cause them to exist independently. This argument fulfils the traditional criteria for metaphysical real distinctions. The second argument states that while the body is divisible, infinite and extended into space, the mind is unitary, indivisible and un-extended into space. These two distinct natures of mind and body distinguish the two elements as distinct and independent realities. In this meditation, Descartes attempts to find proof about whether material things can exist out of self and God. He then proceeds to prove that the mind is distinct from the body. With regard to the latter, Descartes begins his proof by asserting that God is capable of creating anything that Descartes himself can clearly and distinctly perceive. He follows this argument by stating that if God is capable of creating things that are independent of the other, then such things are distinct and different from each other.

Critical investigation of frame relay traffic Essay

Critical investigation of frame relay traffic - Essay Example This is the reason why the Frame Relay interface does not include an underlying sublayer assigned with error and flow control tasks such as LAP-B in X.25. Subsequently, Frame Relay is suitable for existing private and public networks based on digital TDM transmission systems. This paper is divided into 4 chapters. This is an introductory chapter. Next chapter is dedicated to a review of the literature on the technology. Then comes the methodology part and finally the conclusion. ISDN represents another ideal carrier for frame relay traffic able to support a number of frame mode bearer services (FMBS). This plurality of frame mode bearer services was considered necessary by the CCITT because Frame Relay may have to be supported over segments of analog technology, at least during the early stages of ISDN. There are two types of Frame Relay connections: permanent virtual connections (PVCs) and switched virtual connections (SVCs). The establishment, maintenance, and release of PVCs are subject to local management operations. On the other hand, signalling is required to manage SVCs. Of course, dynamically allocated SVCs are much more attractive compared to PVCs which function much like dedicated private lines. At present, the Frame Relay implementations are only PVC-based. This is due to both the complexity of the required signalling [3] and it s unavailability on the local loop. However, PVCs provide a good immediate solution because LAN-to-LAN interconnectivity is the main Frame Relay application. But the need for products supporting SVCs is growing and a lot of work is being done in this area. Work on the definition of the Frame Relay interface has been carried out by several organizations during the past years. CCITT has produced a series of standards covering the support of Frame Relay over ISDN, the provision of several Frame Mode Bearer Services (FMBS) and the

Description of the role and importance of the NAACP for Public Research Paper

Description of the role and importance of the NAACP for Public Administration class greating writing skills needed - Research Paper Example This paper describes the NAACP influence in the development of new legislation, some of its social programs, defines its sponsorship role in various advocacy efforts, and also its influence in changing youth and labor laws that benefit not only black citizens, but general society as well. A riot which occurred in 1908 in Springfield, Illinois, the hometown of former President Abraham Lincoln, sparked social outcry about the ongoing victimization and violence against blacks. After these events, two notable white liberals that were direct descendents of individuals involved in the abolitionist movement, Oswald Garrison Villard and Mary White Ovington, coordinated a meeting to discuss this violence and prejudice in order to discuss matters of improving racial justice (africanaonline.com, 2009). There were sixty people in attendance to this meeting call and, interestingly, only seven of these individuals were actually African-American (africanaonline.com). From these discussions, the NAACP was founded with a mission to secure African-American rights by securing their liberties protected by the 13th – 15th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments guaranteed slavery’s abolition and equal protection under American law. Shortly thereafter, the NAAC P selected its headquarters to be based in New York and began organizing new members and coordinating research projects that are still ongoing today in favor of securing African-American needs. The NAACP has been an advocacy group working closely with public figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and has been integral in many social change policies and legislative improvements to advance this social groups’ needs, careers, and status position in American society. The efforts of the NAACP have paved the way for equal opportunity and other important black liberation movements. The association describes itself this

World Hunger Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World Hunger - Research Paper Example It should be noted that most of the countries are spending huge amounts of money for conducting wars whereas their expenditure for wiping off hunger from their soil remains relatively low. Many people have the false belief that hunger is a problem only in developing and underdeveloped world whereas it is not a problem in developed countries such as United Sates. According to Usborne (2008), â€Å"28 million people in the US will be using government food stamps to buy essential groceries in the fiscal year 2008, the highest level since the food assistance program was introduced in the 1960s† (Usborne). Some people believe that United States is responsible for world hunger whereas many others are of the view that it is illogical to blame America alone for the world hunger. This paper analyses various reasons of world hunger and the role of America in contributing to world hunger. The main argument against America with respect to world hunger is that America is spending too much money for defense purpose and conducting wars. The current war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan is causing huge poverty and food deficiency not only in the victim countries, but also in America as well. Being the only superpower in the world at present, America definitely has a huge role to play in eradicating world hunger. America has a decisive control over global economic and political matters. No other country enjoys the same power over global matters as America does. Even half of the amount spent for conducting war on terror can be enough for eradicating world hunger. It should be noted that America has a major role in the allocation of financial aids to poor countries from international bodies such as World Bank, IMF etc. Shah (2009) has pointed out that â€Å"being a major player of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, US actions can be felt around the world (Shah). However, United Sates is more interested in providing assistance to their allies and majority of t heir policies with respect to the dispersion of aids from international bodies are politically motivated. According to LaFollette, (2003) â€Å"decisions taken at one part of the world have economic ripples elsewhere† (LaFollette). In the current globalized world, the argument of LaFollette seems to be more relevant. It should be noted that the recent American economic crisis has been affected many other countries in different continents. Same way American policies and activities can cause severe problems to other countries, especially to the poor countries. In that respect also, one can argue that America is contributing heavily to global hunger or world hunger. Somali pirates believe that America like developed countries are dumping toxic wastes near their coastal region and destroying their marine wealth. As a result of that, poverty in Somalia and other African countries are increasing day by day since their major revenue sources is destroyed by America like countries. â €Å"Reports suggest that illegal fishing and dumping have disrupted Somalia’s coastal economy. Recent estimates by the United Nations suggest that Somalia may lose $95 million annually to illegal fishing† (Ploch et al, 2011, p.9). America on the other hand argues that they are not responsible for world hunger. They cite examples from Africa in order to substantiate their arguments. African countries are the worst, as far as world hunger in concerned. Majority of these countries do not have good governance and the autocratic administrators in this region are more interested in safeguarding their interests rather than safeguarding the interests of the

HND Organisation Behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

HND Organisation Behaviour - Assignment Example He added that since needs are many; they are arranged in order of importance i.e. from basic to a complex one. A person advances to the next level of needs after the lower level of need has been satisfied and he progresses up the hierarchy. This motivation theory lists the human needs from the lowest to highest as physiological, safety and security, love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. In Maslow's theory, the lowest level is physiological needs and money happens to be one of the physiological needs. According to Herzberg's two-factor model of motivation, money as a Physiological need in Maslow's theory is a motivator, though it tends to have a motivating effect on staff that lasts only for a short period. Maslow demonstrated that at the higher level of the hierarchy, praise, respect, recognition, empowerment and a sense of belonging are more powerful motivators than money. McGregor places money in his theory X and Y places money in theory X category and he feels it not a good motivator of work. He places praise and recognition in theory Y category and he feels that they are strong motivators than money. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members. (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, and Gupta, 2004) There is a number of leadership styles namely: Authoritarian, democratic and free reign. For effective management, a good leader should use all three leadership styles. Authoritarian leadership style is used when the leader does not want any contribution from his fellow employees because of the limited time, have all the instructions to solve a problem and the employees are well motivated. Democratic leadership style is used when the leader involves the other employees in decision making but he is usually the one who makes the final decision. This style is applicable if a leader has time and want to gain more commitment and motivation from their employees. Free reign leadership style is used when the leader has trust and confidence with the people below him and for this case he allows them to make decisions and delegate tasks. The employees are supposed to analyze the situation and determines what is to be done and how is to be done. The leader sets priorities and he is responsible for the decisions that are made. There is no one best leadership style but the three should be employed for the effective management of an organization. (Kouzes and Posner, 2002)

Analysis of a foreign film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of a foreign film - Essay Example The major characters are Li Mu Bai ( Chow Yun Fat), Yu Shu Lien ( Michelle Yeoh), Yu Jiaolong ( Zhang Zhi-Yi), Jade Fox ( Chang Chen). The movie’s plot is great due to its historical undertones and stimulating conflict which makes the story interesting for the viewers. Even from 100 critics nationwide, it was hailed as â€Å"Best Picture of the Year† according to Sony pictures. The over-all direction can be credited to Ang Lee who is also known for the masterpiece â€Å"Sense and Sensibility†. Thus, the fusion of evocative drama and balletic martial arts is enough to entertain even a jaded moviegoer. Moreover, the story’s theme does not only focus on revenge but also on a love story that is failed from the very start. The rating given to the movie is PG-13 due to martial arts violence and sexuality. Nevertheless, the movie is appealing to moviegoers of all ages. From the characters alone, one would observe that this movie is very Asian as ethnic Chinese actors were used in this movie. The first theme that one would see in the movie is â€Å"hidden love† that eventually became a failed love affair. Yu Shu Lien and Li-Mu Bai have feelings for one another but they have so much respect for the one person they both loved. This makes them live their whole life with so much longing for each other. Although both of them are considered might warriors, they are both cowards when it comes to expressing their love for one another. This a characteristic of Asian cultures where one would place self-sacrifice over personal gains. Here, love is forbidden because they chose to do so. It was excruciating to see them subtly expressing their affection for one another through looks or subtle verbal messages. Unfortunately, they both lose the chance to express that love since Li Mu Bai died from poison darts. Love is such a terrible thing to waste and Yu Shu Lien felt the pangs of regret. Aside from these two characters, another parallel love

HND Organisation Behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

HND Organisation Behaviour - Assignment Example He added that since needs are many; they are arranged in order of importance i.e. from basic to a complex one. A person advances to the next level of needs after the lower level of need has been satisfied and he progresses up the hierarchy. This motivation theory lists the human needs from the lowest to highest as physiological, safety and security, love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. In Maslow's theory, the lowest level is physiological needs and money happens to be one of the physiological needs. According to Herzberg's two-factor model of motivation, money as a Physiological need in Maslow's theory is a motivator, though it tends to have a motivating effect on staff that lasts only for a short period. Maslow demonstrated that at the higher level of the hierarchy, praise, respect, recognition, empowerment and a sense of belonging are more powerful motivators than money. McGregor places money in his theory X and Y places money in theory X category and he feels it not a good motivator of work. He places praise and recognition in theory Y category and he feels that they are strong motivators than money. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members. (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, and Gupta, 2004) There is a number of leadership styles namely: Authoritarian, democratic and free reign. For effective management, a good leader should use all three leadership styles. Authoritarian leadership style is used when the leader does not want any contribution from his fellow employees because of the limited time, have all the instructions to solve a problem and the employees are well motivated. Democratic leadership style is used when the leader involves the other employees in decision making but he is usually the one who makes the final decision. This style is applicable if a leader has time and want to gain more commitment and motivation from their employees. Free reign leadership style is used when the leader has trust and confidence with the people below him and for this case he allows them to make decisions and delegate tasks. The employees are supposed to analyze the situation and determines what is to be done and how is to be done. The leader sets priorities and he is responsible for the decisions that are made. There is no one best leadership style but the three should be employed for the effective management of an organization. (Kouzes and Posner, 2002)

Cultural and business impressions of Brazil Research Paper

Cultural and business impressions of Brazil - Research Paper Example â€Å"As Catholicism is the predominant religion in Brazil, many of these events have a strong Catholic influence.† (Doing Business in Brazil | Brazilian Social and Business Culture, 2009, p.1). The multiplicity of the Brazilian culture is additionally stressed by the widespread class variation, which pervades approximately each facet of the society. Brazilian companies have a tendency to maintain perpendicular hierarchies â€Å"where managers at the top make most of the decisions.† (Doing Business in Brazil | Brazilian Social and Business Culture, 2009, p.1). These points lean to be ruled by the male associates. However, women are gradually moving ahead in the employment of executive positions. Diversity in rank is still now very common in the Brazilian culture. Class is frequently grounded on financial position. The class discrimination in the arena of business is slight now. Brazil’s economic scenario and cultural aspects are quite different than that of USA. To begin a business is the key step that an American organization appreciates. It automatically generates a connection of the fresher in American business arena with a multitude of already established American business personalities. The development of an aptitude to sense and observe the behavior, notions of the business associates are important here. From the very initial contact with anybody in a wide range business in USA, there is supposed to be a considerate aim to study, that how the Americans perform in daily business conditions. It is based on the handling of as many customers one can manage at a time. A fast and compact training to develop such approach is necessary. â€Å"Training partners can be suppliers, business partners, people† (Baier, 2010) that a businessman meets on a trade conference. Even the telemarketers could be a source of such training. A specific sense of the work associates with whom one is dealing is also important. On the other hand, as a

Effect of Whipped Egg Whites on Soufflé Volume

Effect of Whipped Egg Whites on Soufflà © Volume R. Ardura THE EFFECT OF WHIPPING EGG WHITES OVER ITS LEAVENING CAPACITY IN SOUFFLES INTRODUCTION We may all agree with the grand statement Nicholas Kurti said over his presentation â€Å"The Physicist in the Kitchenâ€Å": â€Å"It is a sad reflection on our civilization that while we can and do measure the temperature in the atmosphere of Venus, we do not know what goes on inside our soufflà ©s† (Barham, 2001). Soufflà ©s, sponge cakes, meringues, and bread are some examples of baked foams. Foams â€Å"allow [the diner] a better perception of the texture of a dense mass in the mouth and enhance the perception of odors† (This, 2009). Understanding how foams work under dynamic conditions is crucial for any chef to achieve a better end product and give the consumer a greater enjoyment. Egg whites are commonly used as an aerating agent because of its foaming properties. Their foam assists in the leavening process, although the actual leavening agent is air. Foam simply allows air to be incorporated into baked goods (Figoni, 2011). The end goal is to capture and retain as much air inside the soufflà © to achieve an airy, light and delicate end product. Foams are a colloidal system of a gas dispersed into a liquid continuous phase (Pawel et al, 2014). In the case of soufflà ©s, the continuous phase is water with egg white proteins, lipids and carbohydrates dissolved in it—which will strengthen the dispersing medium—, and the dispersed phase is air (McWilliams, 2012). Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and some of the other components of air are mostly hydrophobic. In other words, air can dissolve in water but only in tiny amounts (MyHrvold, 2011). The mechanical action of beating pushes air bubbles into the continuous phase of the forming foam while the protein of the egg whites unfold to form a monolayer film at the surface of the air pushed inside. This stage of foam forming is called absorption (Cherry, 1981). The hydrophilic part of the egg white proteins will be attracted and bound with water and any hydrophilic component present in the solution, while the hydrophobic end will be oriented inwards surrounding the gas phase and stabilizing the bubble (MyHrvold, 2011). When talking about foams in food products, it is of interest to know the foam’s stability and volume. Any solids, such as sugar, present in the continuous phase of foam add viscosity to the liquid base. Different levels of viscosity, or resistance that a fluid poses to shear forces, changes the mouth-feel of the product and duration of the foam. In general, the more viscous a liquid is, the longer its bubbles last (Pugh, 1996). We should also keep in mind that a greater resistance to shear forces means a smaller increase of volume from air expansion. Therefore, the recipe used in this study has minimal foaming agents and foaming stabilizers to ensure that the outcome truly reflects the impact of the whipping stage on the increased volume and stability of the soufflà ©. The rate and extent in which albumin unfolds to form a film at the surface of the gas, also called the absorption rate, increases as shear force is applied to the egg white when beaten (Damodaran and Song, 1988). As protein unfolds and entraps gas to form new bubbles the overall volume of the solution grows. Foam becomes opaque and can be pulled into soft peaks. While some bubbles collapse, others are surrounded with a second monolayer. The second film covers any coagulated regions, caused by over beaten proteins, from the first monolayer (Cherry, 1891). The bubbles progressively become smaller and foam gets tighter until stiff peaks are formed (McWilliams, 2012). This is usually the stage egg whites are brought to for making soufflà ©s. It is a common belief that bringing the egg white foam to this stage will make a more stable soufflà ©. The normal pH value for egg whites is from 7-8, but as they age their pH goes up. However, the rate and area to which proteins unfold and reposition at the interface is conditional to the protein’s intermolecular limitation to form new bonds. The overall egg white foam stability is optimal at or near the isoelectric pH of albumin—pH5.5 (Cherry, 1981). This is due the convex shape bubbles take near the pI of albumin, which exhibit a slower liquid drainage rate than decay from gas diffusion and disproportionation (Damodaran, 1994). As a result of less liquid drainage the foam films remain thick enabling dry foams of high stability to be formed (Malysa and Lunkenheimer, 2007). Furthermore, the addition of an acid boosts the number of free-floating hydrogen ions in the egg white slowing down disulfide bonding and exposing hydrophobic regions that result in further adsorption sites (Murray, 2007). In order to generate the same variables for this study, all egg whites were ti trated to pH 5.5 creating a more suitable protein conformation for entrapping and holding air dispersions. Foam will start to form when the number of new and accumulated bubbles exceeds the number of rupturing ones. The stability of foam does not only depend on the solution’s composition but also the state of the bubble’s adsorption layers (Malysa and Lunkenheimer, 2007). Most studies focus on the stability of foams under static conditions where a tight bubble network and high stability are formed. Considering that in the soufflà © production process foam is subject under dynamic conditions, surface elasticity may become of significant importance when analyzing foam expansion and stability on such systems. In addition, even though it would seem logical that a highly flexible unfolded protein would cover a greater surface area than a compact folded protein, Damodaran and Song found that one of albumin’s folded intermediates occupies a greater surface area (Damodaran and Song, 1988). Therefore, in order for a protein to entrap the maximum amount of gas in foam and exert the most favorable reduction of the surface tension, it should be processed (whipped) until an optimum degree of unfolded and folded coils are achieved (Damodaran, 1989). The physical law that animates the phenomenon occurring in a soufflà © was discovered by the French scientist and balloonist J. A. C. Charles. Charles’ law states, â€Å"†¦the volume occupied by a given weight of a given gas is proportional to its temperature† (McGee, 2004). Some may conclude that the greater amount of air bubbles trapped the greater the volume will raise as the soufflà © is baked. Others may believe that it does not matter the stage the egg white has been whipped to because gas will always expand a fixed amount. However, bearing in mind Damodaran and Song’s discovery and the assumption that surface elasticity could play a determining roll on foams expansion and stability under dynamic conditions, there might be the possibility to believe that stiff peak is not the optimum stage at which the egg white must be whipped to achieve the maximum final volume in soufflà ©s. This study will focus on the effects different stages of whipped egg white foams have on the final volume of soufflà ©s. After this study a chef will know the best possible utilization of egg whites for soufflà ©s and other food preparations where egg whites act as a leavening agent. Learning about egg white’s surface rheology through measurements recollected over a range of timescales will help to understand how the protein structure on whipped egg whites relate to the final volume of soufflà ©s. It may also suggest a better way to produce other backed foam products as sponge cakes, meringues and bread. WORKS CITED Barham, P. (2001). The Science of Cooking. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag GmbH. Figoni, P. (2011). How Baking Works (3rd ed, pp. 258, 267, 300 303) Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. McGee, Harold (2004). On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen (1st ed.), Egg Foams (pp.109-113). New York, NY: Scribner. McWilliams, Margaret (2012). Foods: Experimental Perspectives. (Seventh ed., pp. 113, 114, 116, 384-387, 412). New Jersey: Pretince Hall. MyHrvold, N., Young, C. Bilet, M. (2011).The Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking(1st ed., Vol 4, pp. 74, 240-255). Bellvue, WA: The Cooking Lab. This, H. (2009), Science of the Oven. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Pawel, P., et al. (2014). The Physical and Linear Viscoelastic Properties of Fresh Wet Foams Based on Egg White Proteins and Selected Hydrocolloids. Food Biophysics, 9:76-87 Cherry, J. P. (1981). Whipping and Aeration. In Cherry McMaters (Eds.), Protein Functionality in Foods (pp. 150-153). American Chemical Society: USA. Damodaran, S (1994). Protein functionality in food systems. In N. S. Hettiarachchy G. R. Zeigler (Eds.), Structure-Function Relationship of Food Proteins (pp. 15-17). Chicago, IL: Institute of Food Technologists. Damodoran, S. (1989) Interrelationship of molecular and functional properties of food proteins. In J. E. Kinsella W. G. Soucie (Eds.), Food Proteins (pp. 21-22). Champaign, IL: The American Oil Chemists’ Society. Damodoran, S. and Song, K. B. (1988). Kinetics of absoption of proteins at interfaces: Role of protein conformation in diffusional adsorption. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 954:253. Malysa, K. and Lunkenheimer, K. (2007). Foams under dynamic conditions. Current Opinion in Colloid Interface Science, 13 (2008), 150-162. doi:10.1016/j.cocis.2007.11.008 Murray, B. S. (2007) Stabilization of bubbles and foams. Current Opinion in Colloid Interface Science. 12 (2007), 232-241. doi:10.1016/j.cocis.2007.07.009

Disneylands Fiftieth Anniversary :: essays research papers

Over the past fifty years, the Walt Disney Company has proven itself over and over again to the world. The Walt Disney Company as a whole consists of over twenty smaller companies: ABC, Miramax Films, and ESPN to name a few. Within the past half century the Disney Company has built eleven theme parks, three water parks, and countless resorts and hotels as well as a cruise line which cover the globe. Expanding from Anaheim, California to Hong Kong and Tokyo, the Disney theme park line expounds the globe. But let Walt Disney’s original â€Å"Magic Kingdom† not be forgotten as the globe celebrates the â€Å"Happiest Homecoming on Earth. Fifty years ago, Disneyland, the â€Å"happiest place on earth† opened to the public. But this dream was no snap of the fingers, no, it took years of hard work and money. Walt Disney, a man from the small town of Marceline, Missouri, had a dream. He wanted a place where both the typical American family could spend a day together in a clean environment and also that they may have some form of entertainment while they were together. Walt was already an accomplished filmmaker and had the funds he needed, of course not all of the funds. His proposed idea was no more than a small park right across the road from the Disney Studios in Burbank that consisted of no more than a train ride and a carousel. This was far from what Disneyland initially became but nonetheless, it was a start, and a start is all that Disney needed. Work began. Walt Disney’s dream had begun. One-hundred sixty acres of citrus trees had been cleared and several houses torn down in what would soon be the site of Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Work was long and difficult in the hot California sun making construction take a lot longer than expected. Unlike Walt’s other project in Florida, which would not come until much later, the Disneyland project was by no means a secret. The ABC television company made a deal with Disney to allow Disney to produce a weekly show that was â€Å"coincidentally† titled Disneyland and â€Å"coincidentally† had Walt as the host. Walt saw television as an open market to promote movies or in this case, Disneyland. Disneyland the show was fairly cheap to make and produce as Disney already had the film equipment necessary for filming.

Legalazation Of Cannabis :: essays research papers

These are some of the reasons that prohibition is a failure. When we realize that prohibition is a failure we can move on to more and better uses of cannabis. Abraham Lincoln once said this famous quote â€Å"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause o temperance. ...for it goes beyond the bounds of reasons In that it attempts to control a mans appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles that our government was fo ded.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If you would recall the government trying to prohibit alcohol in the earlier part of this century. Crime soared, criminal organizations became rich. People died or were crippled by unregulated products. Millions of untold tax payers dollars were spent the so called â€Å"Drug Wars†. The results had no effect on the wars and just dissipated tax payers money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Foreign drug cartels earning as much as the Gross National Product of some countries, only to send their illegal unregulated products to America. They tried to prohibit their drugs as well, but had the same results.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children killing children with auto-automatic weapons. HIV spreading like a plague. The absurd waste of tax payers dollars on a prohibition that doesn’t even work. Our prisons filling up over the edge. Why? For a prohibition of cannabis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cannabis is one of the single most versatile important agricultural products next to the soybean. Growing cannabis helps the environment as well. Lady bugs, which we all know helps everything, provide a source of extermination for the bugs that plague he cannabis crop. If you are running low on cash and are growing it you can sell it for a pretty penny. Of course you can’t until it gets legalized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Medical properties of cannabis are well documented. Just think how many people would benefit if cannabis was readily available for use. Why criminalize, or restrict access to find relief from suffering. Cannabis can ease the pain and sometimes take it ay. Why criminals for use as medicine?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now you will hear some peoples thoughts of why cannabis should not be legalized. Many of the people that want it to stay illegal are mothers of people under the age of 18. In fact 66 percent of those mothers want it to stay illegal. Most say cannabis smoked for fun or because of addiction. People kill for it and people kill each other for money for it.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Seven

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED to find Marcus, but I certainly wasn't going to argue against a gun. I raised my hands in the air and slowly stood up, keeping my back to the newcomer. Just as carefully, I stepped away from Marcus and set the vial on the floor. Fumes still wafted out of it, but the reaction would burn itself out soon. Then I dared a peek behind me. When I saw the girl who stood there, I could barely believe my eyes. â€Å"Are you okay?† she asked Marcus. He was unsteadily getting to his feet. â€Å"I left as soon as you called.† â€Å"You!† I couldn't quite manage anything more articulate. The girl standing before me was close to my age, with long, tangled blond hair. She still had the gun on me, but a small smile appeared on her face. â€Å"Nice to see you again.† The feeling wasn't mutual. I'd last seen this girl when I faced down the Warriors in their arena. She'd been toting a gun there as well and had had a perpetual snarl on her face. She'd pushed me around and threatened me, making no secret of how heretical she thought my defense of Sonya was. Although she seemed much calmer now than she had with those fanatics, I still couldn't dismiss what she was – or what the implications were. I turned to Marcus in disbelief. He was cradling the wrist I'd nailed with my elbow. â€Å"You . . . you're one of them! One of the Warriors of Light!† I don't think I'd ever been so let down in my life. I'd had so many hopes pinned on Marcus. He'd become larger than life in my mind, some rebel savior who was going to tell me all the secrets of the world and free me from being another cog in the machine of the Alchemists. But it was all a lie. Clarence had mentioned Marcus had convinced the Warriors to leave him alone. I'd assumed it was because Marcus had some incredible leverage he could use against the Warriors, but apparently, the key to his influence was that he was one of them. He looked up from his wrist. â€Å"What? Those nuts? Hell, no.† I almost pointed at the girl but decided it would be best not to make any sudden moves. I settled for a nod in her direction and noticed all the locks on the door had been undone. I'd been so caught up in the struggle with Marcus that I hadn't heard them. â€Å"Really? Then how come one of them just saved you?† â€Å"I'm not really one of them.† She spoke almost casually, but the gun contradicted her tone. â€Å"I mean, I guess I kind of am. . . .† â€Å"Sabrina's a spy,† explained Marcus. He looked much more at ease too, now that I wasn't assaulting him. â€Å"A lovely one. She's been undercover with them for over a year. She's also the one who told me about you.† Once again, it was hard knowing how to respond to that. I also wasn't sure if I bought this spy story. â€Å"What exactly did you tell him?† He shot me a movie star smile. His teeth were so white that I wondered if he had veneers. It seemed out of character for a rogue who lived on the run, but nothing about this day was really turning out like I'd expected. â€Å"She told me about this Alchemist girl who defended a Moroi and then helped lead a dhampir raiding party.† Lead? Hardly. No one – notably Stanton – had felt the need to enlighten me about that raid until I was in the middle of it. I didn't want to tip my hand too early though. â€Å"The Alchemists sanctioned that raid,† I said. â€Å"I saw the way you spoke,† said Sabrina. Her eyes flicked between Marcus and me, fierce for me and admiring for him. â€Å"It was inspiring. And we watched you for a while, you know. You spent an awful lot of time with the Moroi and dhampirs in Palm Springs.† â€Å"It's my job,† I said. She hadn't really seemed inspired at the time. Mostly she'd looked disappointed at not having a chance to use the gun on me. Marcus's smile turned knowing. â€Å"From what I heard, you and those Moroi almost looked like friends. And then, here you are, looking for me. You're definitely the dissident we'd hoped for.† No, this was not turning out at all like I'd planned. In fact, it was pretty much the opposite of what I'd planned. I'd been so proud of my ability to track down Marcus, little knowing that he'd been watching me already. I didn't like that. It made me feel vulnerable, even if they were saying some of things I'd hoped to hear. Needing to feel like I was in control, I tried to play it cool and tough. â€Å"Maybe there are other Alchemists about to show up,† I said. â€Å"They would've been here already† he said, calling my bluff. â€Å"They wouldn't have sent you alone . . . though I did panic when I first saw you. I didn't realize who you were and thought there were others right behind you.† He paused, and that cocky attitude turned sheepish. â€Å"Sorry about, um, punching you. If it makes you feel better, you did something pretty serious to my wrist.† Sabrina's face filled with concern. â€Å"Oh, Marcus. Do you need to see a doctor?† He tested the movement of his wrist and then shook his head. â€Å"You know we can't. Never know who might be watching at a hospital. Those places are too easy to monitor.† â€Å"You really are hiding from the Alchemists,† I said in amazement. His nodded, almost looking proud. â€Å"You doubted? I figured you'd know that.† â€Å"I suspected, but I didn't hear it from them. They deny you exist.† He seemed to find that funny. In fact, he seemed to find everything funny, which I found slightly irritating. â€Å"Yup. That's what I've heard from the others.† â€Å"What others?† â€Å"Others like you.† Those blue eyes held me for a moment, like they could see all my secrets. â€Å"Other Alchemists wanting to break free of the fold.† I knew my own eyes were wide. â€Å"There . . . there are others?† Marcus settled on the floor, leaning against the wall and still cradling his wrist. â€Å"Let's get comfortable. Sabrina, put the gun away. I don't think Sydney's going to give us any trouble.† Sabrina didn't look so sure of that, but after several moments, she complied. She joined him on the floor, positioning herself protectively next to him. â€Å"I'd rather stand,† I told them. No way would I willingly sit on that filth. After rolling around with Marcus, I wanted to go bathe myself in hand sanitizer. He shrugged. â€Å"Suit yourself. You want some answers? You give me some first. Why'd you come looking for me off the Alchemist clock?† I didn't like being interrogated, but what was the point of being here if I wasn't going to engage in a dialogue? â€Å"Clarence told me about you,† I said at last. â€Å"He showed me your picture, and I saw how you'd tattooed over the lily. I didn't even know that was possible.† The tattoo never faded. â€Å"Clarence Donahue?† Marcus looked genuinely pleased. â€Å"He's a good guy. I suppose you'd be friends with him if you're in Palm Springs, huh?† I started to say we weren't friends but then reconsidered. What else were we? â€Å"Getting this isn't easy,† added Marcus, tapping the blue tattoo. â€Å"You'll have to do a lot of work if you want to do it.† I stepped backward. â€Å"Whoa, I never said that's what I wanted. And why in the world would I do it anyway?† â€Å"Because it'll free you,† he said simply. â€Å"It prevents you from discussing vampire affairs, right? You don't think that's all it does, do you? Think. What stops it from exerting other control?† I pretty much had to just give up on any expectations for this conversation because every topic was crazier than the last. â€Å"I've never heard of anything like that. I've never felt anything like that. Aside from it protecting vampire information, I'm in control.† He nodded. â€Å"Probably. The initial tattoo usually only has the talking compulsion in it. They only start adding other components with re-inks if they've got a reason to worry about you. People can sometimes fight through those and if they do . . . well, then it's off to re-education.† His words sent a chill through me, and I rested a hand on my cheek as I flashbacked to the meeting I'd had when I was given the Palm Springs assignment. â€Å"I was re-inked recently . . . but it was routine.† Routine. Normal. Nothing like what he was suggesting. â€Å"Maybe.† He tilted his head and gave me another piercing look. â€Å"You do anything bad before that, love?† Like helping a dhampir fugitive? â€Å"Depends on your definition of bad.† Both of them laughed. Marcus's laugh was loud and rollicking and actually pretty infectious – but the situation was far too dire for me to join in. â€Å"They may have reinforced your group loyalty then,† he said, still chuckling. â€Å"But it either wasn't very strong or else you fought through it – otherwise you wouldn't be here.† He glanced over at Sabrina. â€Å"What do you think?† Sabrina studied me with a critical eye. I still had a hard time believing her role in all of this. â€Å"I think she'd be a good addition. And since she's still in, she could help us with that . . . other matter.† â€Å"I think so too,† he said. I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn't like being discussed as though I weren't there. â€Å"A good addition to what?† â€Å"Our group.† To Sabrina, he said, â€Å"We really need a name for it, you know.† She snorted, and he returned his attention to me. â€Å"We're a mix. Some are former Warriors or double agents like Sabrina. Some are ex-Alchemists.† â€Å"And what do you do?† I gestured around us. â€Å"This doesn't exactly look like a high-tech base of operation for some covert team.† â€Å"Look at you. Pretty and funny,† he said, looking delighted. â€Å"We do what you do – or what you want to do. We like the Moroi. We want to help them – on our own terms. The Alchemists theoretically want to help them too, but we all know that's based on a core of fear and dislike – not to mention a strict control of its members. So, we work in secret, seeing as the Alchemists aren't fans of those who break from the fold. They really aren't fans of me, which is why I end up in places like this.† â€Å"We keep an eye on the Warriors too,† said Sabrina. She scowled. â€Å"I hate being around those nuts, having to play along with them. They claim they only want to destroy the Strigoi – but, well, the things I've heard them say against the Moroi too . . .† I thought back to one of my more disturbing memories of the Warrior arena. I'd heard one of them make a mysterious comment about how someday, they'd deal with the Moroi too. â€Å"But what do you guys actually do?† Talking about rebellions and covert operations was one thing, but actually effecting change was another. I'd visited my sister Carly at her college and seen a number of student groups who wanted to change the world. Most of them sat around drinking coffee, talking a lot and doing little. Marcus and Sabrina exchanged glances. â€Å"I can't quite get into our operations,† he said. â€Å"Not until I know you're on board with breaking your tattoo.† Breaking your tattoo. There was something sinister – not to mention permanent – about those words, and I suddenly wondered what I was doing here. Who were these people, really? Why was I even humoring them? Then another, almost terrifying thought hit me: Am I doubting them because of the tattoo's control? Is it making me skeptical around anyone who questions the Alchemists? Is Marcus telling the truth? â€Å"I don't really understand that either,† I told them. â€Å"What it means to ‘break' the tattoo. Do you just mean putting ink over it?† Marcus stood up. â€Å"All in good time. Right now, we've got to get out of here. Even if you were discreet, I assume you used Alchemist resources to find me?† I hesitated. Even if these guys were legitimate and had good intentions toward the Moroi, I certainly wasn't going to reveal my involvement with magic. â€Å"Something like that.† â€Å"I'm sure you're good, but we can't take the chance. This place has been compromised.† He cast a wistful glance around the studio. Honestly, I thought he should be grateful I'd given him a reason to leave. Sabrina rose as well, her face hardening. â€Å"I'll make sure the secondary location is ready.† â€Å"You're an angel, as always,† he told her. â€Å"Hey, how did you know I was coming?† I asked. â€Å"You had time to hide and call her.† What I really wanted to know was how he'd seen me through the invisibility spell. I'd felt the magic fill me. I was certain I'd cast the spell correctly, but he'd discovered me. The spell wouldn't work if someone knew to look for you, so maybe he'd happened to glance out the window when I was scaling the fire escape? Worst timing ever. â€Å"Tony warned me.† Marcus flashed me another of those dazzling grins. I think he was trying to make me smile back. â€Å"Good kid.† Tony? Then I knew. The boy in the parking lot. He'd pretended to help me and then sold me out. He must have spoken to Marcus while I climbed the fire escape. Maybe Marcus only answered to some secret knock. At least I had the comfort of knowing I'd cast the spell correctly. It simply hadn't worked because Marcus had advance warning that some girl was coming after him. He began packing up his meager belongings into a backpack. â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye is a great book, by the way.† He winked. â€Å"Maybe someday we'll have a literary discussion.† I wasn't interested in that. Watching him, I saw that he kept favoring his uninjured wrist. I couldn't believe I'd caused damage like that and felt a little guilty, despite everything that had happened. â€Å"You should get that taken care of,† I said. Sabrina nodded in agreement. He sighed. â€Å"I can't. At least, not through conventional means. The Alchemists have eyes everywhere.† Conventional means. â€Å"I, uh, might be able to help you get it healed through unconventional means,† I said. â€Å"You know some off-the-grid doctor?† asked Sabrina hopefully. â€Å"No. But I know a Moroi spirit user.† Marcus froze, and I kind of liked that I'd thrown him off guard. â€Å"Seriously? We've heard of them but never met one. That woman they had – Sonya? She was one, right? She was gone before we could find out more.† Talking about Adrian made me nervous, but Sabrina probably already knew he existed if they'd been watching me. â€Å"Yeah, she was one, and there's another in Palm Springs. I could take you to him and let him heal you.† Excitement lit Marcus's features. Sabrina looked at him in horror. â€Å"You can't just go off with her.† Was that concern or jealousy in her voice? â€Å"Why not?† he asked. â€Å"She's taking a leap of faith with us. We can't do any less. Besides, I'm dying to meet a spirit user. The safe house isn't that far from Palm Springs. You make sure everything's in order and then come pick me up later.† Sabrina didn't like that, not at all. Maybe I didn't understand the dynamics of their group yet, but it was obvious she regarded him as a leader and was insanely protective. In fact, I suspected her feelings for him were more than professional. They went back and forth on whether he'd be safe or not, and I listened without a word. All the while, I wondered if I'd be safe heading off with some unknown guy. Clarence trusted him, I reminded myself. And he's pretty paranoid. Besides, with Marcus's wrist out of commission, I could probably take him. He finally convinced Sabrina to let him go but not before she snarled, â€Å"If anything happens to him, I'm coming after you.† Apparently her hard-core character in the arena hadn't been entirely faked. We parted ways from her, and before long, Marcus and I were on the road to Palm Springs. I tried to get more information out of him, but he wouldn't bite. Instead, he kept complimenting me and saying things that were only one step away from pickup lines. Judging from the way he'd bantered with Sabrina too, I didn't think there was anything particularly special about me. I thought he was just used to women fawning all over him. He was cute, I'd give him that, but it took a lot more than that to win me over. It was sunset when we pulled up to Adrian's apartment, and I belatedly wondered if I should've given him some advance warning. Too late now. We walked up to the door, and I knocked three times. â€Å"It's open,† a voice called from within. I stepped inside, and Marcus followed. Adrian was working on an abstract painting of what looked like a crystalline building from some fantasy world. â€Å"Unexpected treat,† he said. His eyes fell on Marcus and widened. â€Å"I'll be damned. You found him.† â€Å"Thanks to you,† I said. Adrian glanced over at me. A smile started to form – and then instantly dried up. â€Å"What happened to your face?† â€Å"Oh.† I lightly touched the swollen spot. It still smarted but wasn't as painful as it had been earlier. I spoke my next words without thinking. â€Å"Marcus hit me.† I'd never seen Adrian move so fast. Marcus had no chance to react, probably because he was exhausted from our earlier encounter. Adrian shoved Marcus up against a wall and – to my complete and utter astonishment – punched Marcus. Adrian had once joked that he never dirtied his hands, so this was something I never could have prepared myself for. In fact, if Adrian was going to attack someone, I would've expected something magical and spirit-driven. Yet . . . as I watched him, I could see that anything as thoughtful as magic was far from Adrian's mind. He had kicked into primal mode. See a threat. Go after it. It was yet another surprising – yet fascinating – side of the enigma that was Adrian Ivashkov. Marcus quickly got his bearings and responded in kind. He pushed Adrian back, wincing a little. Even with his injury he was still strong. â€Å"What the hell? Who are you?† â€Å"The guy that's going to kick your ass for hurting her,† said Adrian. He tried another punch, but Marcus dodged and managed to land a hit that knocked Adrian back into one of his easels. When Marcus swung again, Adrian eluded him with a maneuver that was straight out of Wolfe's class. I would've applauded him if I wasn't so appalled by the situation. I knew some girls thought it was sexy to have men fight over them. Not me. â€Å"You guys, stop!† I cried. â€Å"No one's going to throw you around and get away with it,† said Adrian. â€Å"What happened with us has nothing to do with you,† retorted Marcus. â€Å"Everything about her has to do with me.† The two circled around each other, waiting for the other to pounce. â€Å"Adrian,† I exclaimed. â€Å"It was an accident.† â€Å"Doesn't look like an accident,† he replied, never taking his eyes off Marcus. â€Å"You should listen to her,† growled Marcus. The easygoing guy I'd met earlier was gone, but I guess being attacked would do that to you. â€Å"It might save you from getting your pretty face wrecked. How much styling did you have to do to get your hair like that?† â€Å"At least I brush my hair,† said Adrian. Marcus lunged forward – but not directly at Adrian. He grabbed a painting off an easel and used it as a weapon. Adrian again managed a dodge, but the painting didn't fare so well. The canvas tore, and Marcus tossed it aside, ready for the next advance. Adrian spared the canvas a brief glance. â€Å"Now you've really pissed me off.† â€Å"Enough!† Something told me they weren't going to listen to reason. This required direct intervention. I stalked across the room and pushed myself between them. â€Å"Sydney, get out of the way,† ordered Adrian. â€Å"Yeah,† agreed Marcus. â€Å"For once he's got something worthwhile to say.† â€Å"No!† I held out my hands to separate them. â€Å"Both of you back off – now!† My voice rang through the apartment, and I refused to budge. â€Å"Back. Off,† I repeated. â€Å"Sydney. . . .† Adrian's voice was a little more uncertain than when he'd told me to get out of the way. I looked back and forth between them, giving each guy a healthy glare. â€Å"Adrian, it really was an accident. Marcus, this is the guy who's going to help you, so show some respect.† This, more than anything, seemed to derail them. â€Å"Wait,† said Adrian. â€Å"Did you say ‘help'?† Marcus was equally flabbergasted. â€Å"This asshole is the spirit user?† â€Å"You're both acting like idiots,† I scolded. The next time I had nothing to do, I'd have to get a book on testosterone-driven behavior. This was out of my league. â€Å"Adrian, can we talk somewhere in private? Like the bedroom?† Adrian agreed, but not before giving Marcus one last menacing look. I told Marcus to stay where he was and hoped he wouldn't take off or call in someone else with a gun. Adrian followed me to his bedroom and shut the door behind us. â€Å"You know,† he said, â€Å"under normal circumstances, you inviting me to the bedroom would be the highlight of my day.† I crossed my arms and sat on the bed. I did so out of simple fatigue, but a moment later, I was struck by what I was doing. This is where Adrian sleeps. I'm touching the covers he's wrapped in every night. What does he wear? Does he wear anything? I jumped up. â€Å"It really was an accident,† I told him. â€Å"Marcus thought I was there to abduct him.† Adrian, having no such hang-ups with the bed, sat down. He winced, probably from the blow to the stomach. â€Å"If someone like you showed up to abduct me, I'd let you.† Even when he was in pain, it never stopped with him. â€Å"I'm serious. It was just instinct, and he apologized over and over in the car once he realized who I was.† That got his attention. â€Å"He knew you?† I gave him a recap of my day in Santa Barbara. He listened avidly, nodding along, his expression shifting back and forth between intrigue and surprise. â€Å"I didn't realize when I brought him back here that you'd inflict more damage,† I said, once I'd finished the story. â€Å"I was defending your honor.† Adrian gave me that devil-may-care smile that always managed to both infuriate and captivate me. â€Å"Pretty manly, huh?† â€Å"Very,† I said dryly. I didn't like violence, but him doing something so out of character for me actually was kind of incredible. Not that I'd ever tell him that. â€Å"You did Wolfe proud. Do you think you can manage not to have any more ‘manly' displays while he's here? Please?† Adrian shook his head, still smiling. â€Å"I've said over and over, I'd do anything for you. I just keep hoping it'll be something like, ‘Adrian, let's go hot tubbing' or Adrian, take me out for fondue.'† â€Å"Well, sometimes we have to – did you say fondue?† Sometimes it was impossible to follow Adrian's train of thought. â€Å"Why in the world would I ever say that?† He shrugged. â€Å"I like fondue.† I didn't even know what to say about that. This whole day was getting more and more exhausting. â€Å"I'm sorry I'm not asking for something as glamorous as melted cheese. But for now, I need to find out about Marcus and his group – and the tattoo.† Adrian recognized the situation's severity. He stood up and gently touched the lily on my cheek. â€Å"I don't trust him. He could be using you. But then . . . I don't like the idea of this controlling you either.† â€Å"That makes two of us,† I admitted, losing some of my earlier toughness. He traced the line of my cheek for a few breathless moments and then dropped his hand. â€Å"It might be worth helping him to get some answers.† â€Å"Will you promise not to get in any more fights? Please?† â€Å"I promise,† he said. â€Å"So long as he doesn't start one.† â€Å"I'll have him promise too.† I just hoped their â€Å"manly† natures wouldn't get the better of them. As I ruminated on this, something I'd nearly forgotten about tumbled to the forefront of my mind. â€Å"Oh . . . Adrian, I've got one more favor to ask you. A big one.† â€Å"Fondue?† he asked hopefully. â€Å"No. It's about Ms. Terwilliger's sister. . . .† I told him what I'd learned. The amusement in his face faded and turned to disbelief. â€Å"You just mention this now?† he exclaimed when I finished. â€Å"That some soul-sucking witch might be after you?† â€Å"She doesn't know I exist.† I felt surprisingly defensive. â€Å"And I'm the only one who can help, at least according to Ms. Terwilliger. She thinks I'm some super-investigator.† â€Å"Well, you do have that Sherlock Holmes thing going for you,† he said. His joking didn't last; he was too upset. â€Å"But you still should've told me! You could've called.† â€Å"I was kind of busy with Marcus.† â€Å"Then your priorities are off. This is a lot more important than his band of Merry Men. If we need to take out some evil sorceress before she gets to you, then of course I'll help.† He hesitated. â€Å"With one condition.† I eyed him warily. â€Å"What's that?† â€Å"Let me heal you too.† I jerked backward, almost more shocked than if he'd suggested hitting me again. â€Å"No! Absolutely not! I don't need it. I'm in better shape than him.† â€Å"You want to go back to Amberwood with that on your face? You're not going to be able to hide that, Sage. And if Castile sees it, he really will come after Marcus.† Adrian crossed his arms defiantly. â€Å"That's my price.† He was bluffing, and I knew it. Maybe it was egotistical, but I knew he wasn't going to let me go into a dangerous situation without him. He did, however, have a point. I still hadn't seen the mark Marcus had left, but I didn't want to explain it back at school. And yes, there was a good chance Eddie would want to hunt down my assailant. Being beat up by an avenging dhampir might make working with Marcus difficult. Yet . . . how could I agree? At least the magic I used was on my terms. And although my tattoo had trace amounts of vampire magic, I took comfort in knowing it was tied to the â€Å"normal† four elements, the ones we understood. Spirit was still an unknown entity, with abilities that continually surprised us. How could I subject myself to rogue vampire magic? Guessing my inner turmoil, Adrian's face softened. â€Å"I do this all the time. It's an easy spell. No surprises.† â€Å"Maybe,† I said reluctantly. â€Å"But each time you use spirit, you're more likely to go crazy.† â€Å"Already crazy about you, Sage.† At least this was familiar territory. â€Å"You said you wouldn't bring that up.† He simply regarded me without comment. Finally, I threw my arms up. â€Å"Fine,† I said, with more boldness than I felt. â€Å"Just get it over with.† Adrian didn't waste any time. Stepping forward, he reached out and rested his hand on my cheek once more. My breath caught and my heart rate went up. It would be so, so easy for him to pull me to him and kiss me again. A tingling warmth spread over my skin, and for a moment, I thought it was just my normal reaction to him. No, I realized. It was the magic. His eyes locked onto mine, and for the space of a heartbeat, we were suspended in time. Then he removed his hand and stepped away. â€Å"Done,† he said. â€Å"Was that so bad?† No, it hadn't been bad at all. The throbbing pain was gone. All that was left was the constant inner voice nagging me that what had just happened was wrong. That same voice tried to tell me that Adrian had left a taint behind . . . but that was hard to believe from him. I released the breath I'd been holding. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. â€Å"You didn't have to do that.† He gave me one of those small smiles. â€Å"Oh, believe me, I did.† A moment of awkward silence hung between us. I cleared my throat. â€Å"Well. We should get back out to Marcus. Maybe we'll have time for dinner before Sabrina shows up, and you guys can patch things over.† â€Å"I doubt even a moonlight stroll would fix things between us.† His words reminded me of something else I'd meant to bring up when he got back to town, something that had taken a very low priority. â€Å"Your coat – you never took it back after the wedding. It's in my car.† He waved dismissively â€Å"Keep it. I've got others.† â€Å"What am I going to do with a wool coat?† I asked. â€Å"Especially here in Palm Springs?† â€Å"Sleep with it,† he suggested. â€Å"Think of me.† I put my hands on my hips and tried to stare him down, which wasn't easy since he was so tall. That, and because his words suddenly returned me to the disorienting feeling I'd had sitting on his bed. â€Å"You said you weren't going to bring up any romantic stuff around me.† â€Å"Was that romantic?† he asked. â€Å"I was just making the suggestion, since the coat's so heavy and warm. I figured you'd think of me since it was such a nice gesture. And yet, once again, you're the one who finds romantic subtext in everything I say.† â€Å"I do not. You know that's not what I meant.† He shook his head in mock sympathy. â€Å"I tell you, Sage. Sometimes I think I'm the one who needs to take out the restraining order on you.† â€Å"Adrian!† But he was already out the door, knowing laughter echoing behind him.