Friday, December 27, 2019

The United States s Reconstruction Policies During The...

By March 1863, Union forces had taken control of the sugar-planting region and reported that all the slaves had come within their lines. Fellow sugar planter Andrew McCollam reported that he had only a few hands left and he doubted he would be able to do more than manage the seed cane. Viguerie, along with hundreds of Louisiana soldiers, including William A. Bisland of Terrebonne, surrendered on May 26, 1865 in New Orleans. Viguerie was paroled to New Iberia, Louisiana on June 6, 1865. He was released shortly after. Louisiana was the only region deep within the Confederacy where Union authorities implemented experimental Reconstruction policies during the Civil War. Louisiana responded to President Abraham Lincoln s plan to readmit southern states into the Union by selecting delegates to write a new constitution. The Constitution of 1864 abolished slavery and disposed of Louisiana s old order of rule by planters and merchants, although it did not give African Americans voting power . It was the first state charter to incorporate Lincoln s conciliatory approach and was the leading test case for postwar policy. Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 did not apply to Union-held territory. Thus, slavery continued in the thirteen Louisiana parishes under Union control. After much debate, delegates to the constitutional convention agreed to abolish slavery without compensation for masters but not to give the vote to black men. The new constitution, however, authorizedShow MoreRelatedHow Did The Radical Republican s Rise For The Failure Of The Post Civil War Reconstruction?1619 Words   |  7 Pagesfailure of the post-civil war reconstruction? The time between 1863, when Lincoln passed the ten percent act, until the year 1877, when reconstruction was officially ended, will be evaluated with information provided by the sources. The investigation will specifically look to how the Lincoln assassination allowed for the rise in the Radical Republican Party from 1866 to 1868 and the party’s effect on reconstruction acts leading to the failure of the post-civil war reconstruction era. Eric Foner’sRead MoreThe Legacy Of Lincoln And Andrew Johnson1017 Words   |  5 Pagestime period I will tell you every event that goes on during that time period and how long is last. Basically I am giving you a research time lime from event to event. Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were out of sympathy with black suffrage, especially conferred by the federal government. Johnson s interpretations of Lincoln s policies prevailed the Congressional elections of 1866 in the North, which enabled the Radicals to take control of policy, remove former Confederates from power, and enfranchiseRead MoreU.s. Army And The Civil War965 Words   |  4 PagesArmy personnel were deeply involved throughout the process of reconstruction. Beyond their tremendous effort to strengthen the Freedman’s Bureau, the military oversaw voter registration and elections, established schools, prohibited alcohol, tried to settle property disputes, contracted labor systems and most importantly, maintained law and order. The violence that erupted in the South during the years of reconstruction was dreadful. With military occupation, white violence against blacks did notRead MoreThe Civil War Was A Grave Cause Of Many Events. Many People1663 Words   |  7 Page sThe civil war was a grave cause of many events. Many people may see the results of the war as a chain reaction to many following eras. One of the most prominent eras that emerged from the civil war was the reconstruction era. The reconstruction era emerged around 1865 and continued until 1877. This time period generally refers to the time in United States history in which the federal government set the conditions that would allow the rebellious Southern states back into the Union. The States wereRead MoreThe Surrender Of The Confederate Army Brought An End To1196 Words   |  5 PagesThe surrender of the confederate army brought an end to the civil war and the beginning of reconstruction. The country was divided with the newly freed slaves and the rebellious white southerners all attempting to be reintegrated back into the Union. The man America leaned on to help them was the same man who led the Union through the civil war, Abraham Lincoln. Although, on April 15, 1865, Lincoln wa s assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. While fleeing the seen Booth can be heard shouting â€Å"the southRead MoreEssay about Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States1564 Words   |  7 PagesUlysses S. Grant the 18th president of the United States who served two consecutive terms, Andrew Jackson being the last to do so, has border lined the average presidential ranking with a 23 in 2009 and a 33 in 2000. Grant’s legacy will include the huge impact of Reconstruction after the Civil War with much repairing left on his hands. Grant was Republican and supported Civil War values that included union, freedom and equality. Grant expanded federal law that protected African American’s civil rightsRead MoreThe End Of The Civil War1228 Words   |  5 PagesAfter the Civil War, the fact that slavery was abolished might seem to be the end of the story; however, the problems derived from the abolishment of slavery had yet to be addressed. During the Reconstruction Era, these problems were reflected on the political, social, and economic aspects. Which played several major roles in shaping America from the late nineteenth into the twentieth centuries.These three aspects, political, social, and economical, affected one another so much that they were inseparableRead MoreEssay on Reconstruction and Industrialization1259 Words   |  6 PagesReconstruction and Industrialization After the Civil War, the nation witnessed two major social-economic movements: Reconstruction and Industrialization, which changed the country completely and made it one of the greatest industrialized countries in the world. However, it changed not only the country, but also, the society, its way of life and traditions. The effort to rebuild the southern states and restore the Union was known as Reconstruction, a period that lasted from 1865 to 1877.Read MoreReconstruction : Johnson s Plans And His Battles With Congress1576 Words   |  7 Pages Reconstruction Johnson’s Plans and His Battles With Congress: Republican Abraham Lincoln chose Democratic Senator from Tennessee, in 1864, to be his vice presidential candidate. Abraham Lincoln was on the lookout for Southern support. He was hoping that choosing Johnson, would appeal the Southerners who never planned on leaving the union. Johnson also grew up in poverty. He hadn’t learned to write until he was around 20yrs old. He rose up to political power as a â€Å"backer† of a small farmer. InRead MoreSignificance Of The Reconstruction Act861 Words   |  4 PagesResponse Assignment 1 Part one – Define and describe the significance 1. Reconstruction Acts – after the civil war four bills were passed by the United States Congress in 1867 in order to bring the country back together, providing the process and criteria that would allow the Southern states with the exception Tennessee, readmission into the Union. (Ohio Civil War Central, 2015) The significance of the Reconstruction act was the division of the south into five military districts; loyal freed

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Essay on BCG Matrix - 6769 Words

1.1 SUMMARY OF THE CASE STUDY OF GASCOYNE GOLD Tropical Cyclone Steve has dumped so much rain in the northwest, which makes the Gascoyne River has broken its banks and tens of thousands of tons of rich red topsoil has been washed out to the sea. This has made their soil and their crops as well as irrigation lines and the year’s profits have washed away from the growers, which causing them to have huge losses that cost millions of dollars. After that, the growers are back in their business again and then they formed a group named as Gascoyne Gold. Gascoyne Gold has been formed with 7 shareholders, which they have invested more than $1 million, setting up a state of the art processing and packaging facility. Before they have†¦show more content†¦The BCG also allows a multidivisional organization to manage its portfolio of businesses by examining the relative market share position and the industry growth rate of each division which related to the other divisions in the organization. The BCG model is based on the product life cycle theory which can be used to determine which one of the product should be given the priority in the product portfolio of a business unit. It is usually based on the observations towards the company’s business units that it can be classified into four categories based on combinations of market growth and market share relative to the largest competitors that brings the name of â€Å"growth-share†. As to make sure that the long-term value creation is made, the company should have a specification of the products which contains both high-growth products in need of cash inputs and low-growth products that generate a lot of cash. The BCG matrix portrays the perspective of the product portfolio, which is the growth-share matrix. This framework of tool categorizes products within a companys portfolio or within the business units as stars, cash cows, dogs, or question marks according to growth rate, market share, and positively or negative cash flow. By using positive cash flows a company can capitalize on growth opportunities. From this analysis, it can be seen that the products that is growingShow MoreRelatedBcg Matrix ( Bcg ) Matrix1409 Words   |  6 Pages(BCG) Matrix. This type of matrix is used to recognize how a company is surviving in different markets. â€Å"The BCG Matrix graphically depicts differences among divisions in terms of relative market share position and industry growth rate† (Jones p. 177). (See Appendix D for and example BCG Matrix). Under Armour has two areas that are a major star for the company. Stars, represent the organizations best opportunities for growth. According to Williams (2015) Under Armour is continuing to seeRead MoreThe Bcg Matrix1694 Words   |  7 PagesBCG Matrix Opportunity - Threat Analysis Submitted to: Professor Clyde By : Parth Mithani Roll No. 60 F.Y.M.M.S. Alkesh Dinesh Modi Institute for Financial amp; Management Studies. 1) The BCG Matrix The BCG / Growth-Share matrix is a model developed by the Boston Consultancy Group in the early 1970’s. It is a well known tool for a marketing manager. It is based on the observation that a company’s business units can be classified into four main categories based on combinations of market growthRead MoreBcg Matrix Analysis2570 Words   |  11 PagesBCG Matrix Model BCG Matrix Model The BCG matrix or also called BCG model relates to marketing. The BCG model is a well-known portfolio management tool used in product life cycle theory. BCG matrix is often used to prioritize which products within company product mix get more funding and attention. The BCG matrix model is a portfolio planning model developed by Bruce Henderson of the Boston Consulting Group in the early 1970s. The BCG model is based on classification of products (and implicitlyRead MoreBcg Matrix1487 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is BCG matrix? The BCG matrix is a chart that had been created by Bruce Henderson for the Boston Consulting Group in 1968 to help corporations with analyzing their business units or product lines. This helps the company allocate resources and is used as an analytical tool in brand marketing, product management, strategic management, and portfolio analysis. Analysis of market performance by firms using its principles has called its usefulness into question, and it has been removed from some majorRead MoreBcg Matrix944 Words   |  4 PagesInternational Marketing – 3rd Assignment Portfolio Analysis Region 4 (Italy) June 2011 1 Portfolio Analysis – The BCG Matrix The BCG Matrix is a market growth-market share matrix developed by the Boston Consulting Group, which is used to support strategic decisions in order to optimize a business portfolio with regard to new, old, innovative or established products and/or strategic business units (SBU). Its underlying theories are the experience curve as well as the product life cycle. HavingRead MoreMatrix And Analysis : Bcg Matrix1361 Words   |  6 PagesBCG Matrix Business Unit Matrix and Analysis This matrix chart seeks to help companies analyze their individual business units or product lines to determine how to allocate internal resources. This matrix is used most frequently in brand marketing, product management, and strategic management within an organization. The matrix divides each product or business unit into four different categories based on a combined analysis of market growth and market share (Rothaermel, 2015; Ioana, Mirea, BalescuRead MoreGoogles Bcg Matrix1027 Words   |  5 Pagesappliance, mobile search, cloud computing and internet advertising. This article is divided as two parts---first part is to analyze Google’s businesses by using BCG matrix. [1] Then, another part is useful recommendations on how Google can formulate corresponding strategies to capture and sustain competitive advantage in each business. BCG matrix is commonly used to analyze business portfolio by comparing relative ratio of one’s market share to the largest competitor’s in the industry. Google’s searchRead MoreBcg Matrix Critique1958 Words   |  8 PagesMarketing Critique: BCG Matrix Your Name Here Table of Contents Introduction 3 Concept Overview 3 Functional Critique 5 Intellectual Critique 6 Ethical Critique 7 Political Critique 8 Conclusion 8 Bibliography 9 Introduction This paper will attempt to provide a broad critique of the Boston Consulting Group Matrix in light of the ideas of Hackley (2009). In his book Marketing:A Critical Introduction, Hackley presents a framework for analysing marketing models. He suggestsRead MoreBCG matrix Essay4376 Words   |  18 Pagesï » ¿Relevance. Widely used in the practice of strategic choice has received a two-dimensional matrix , developed by the Boston Consulting Group. Therefore, this matrix is ​​a matrix known as Boston Consulting Group or BCG matrix . This matrix allows the company to classify the products in its market share relative to its main competitors and the rate of annual growth in the industry. Matrix enables us to determine which products company occupies a leading position compared to competitors , whatRead MoreBcg Matrix Is A Model Developed Via The Boston Consultancy Group1691 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Æ' BCG Matrix The BCG matrix is a model developed via the Boston Consultancy group within the early 1970’s. It is a good known device for an advertising manager. It s based on the commentary that a company’s business models can be categorized into four important categories centered on combos of market development and market share, for this hence the name growth-share matrix. Market progress represents the industry attractive attractiveness, and market share stands for competitive knowledge. This

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Development and evaluation of instructional materials in mathematics free essay sample

Instructional materials are used to help transfer information and skills to others. These are used in teaching at places like schools, colleges and universities. These can include textbooks, films, audio, and more. Instructional materials are the tools teachers use to teach their students. The effectiveness of instructional materials matters in the classroom since students have different learning styles. For major instructional materials, they must be reviewed by a committee. If it is approved, then the materials are adopted into the curriculum. Some examples of instructional materials are Powerpoint presentations, videos, and computers. As technology advances, there are more effective instructional materials available which can greatly help students learn. There are many kinds of instructional materials: textbooks, visual aids such as posters and models, computer programs, videos, etc. The common characteristic of all of them is that they should enhance teaching in a meaningful, interesting way. What is a LEARNING MODULE? A learning module is otherwise known as a self-learning kit (SLK). We will write a custom essay sample on Development and evaluation of instructional materials in mathematics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It consists of systematic sequenced materials for learning. (F. Hidago, 1994) The teaching-learning module in a vast variety of subjects was proven effective as an instructional tool. This is an innovation in the education of new generation of learners who are described as self-directed learners. The significance of learning modules is based on the groundwork that college students may learn through different methods. Classroom discussion may turn to be effective but may omit essential part of learning and understanding. Planning on how students may learn still suggests that there is no single methodology in their learning process. Significant learning should be self-initiated and teachers should be there to guide and to supervise progress. We should let students discover what they would like to discover in the subject being introduced and give more responsibility to them.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Physical Violence Essay Example

Physical Violence Essay Physical violence is the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing injury, harm, disability, or death, for example, hitting, shoving, biting, arm twisting, restraint, kicking, or use of a weapon. It also include strangling, slapping, burning, chocking and murder Physical violence is more visible than any other type of domestic violence and is the one mostly reported probably because it is easier to give evidence. It is perpetrated by fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, in-laws and any other family member that is for one reason or the other dominating the family. Although husbands are notorious for battering their wives, cases of wives meting violent actions against their husbands have been reported. In fact such cases are believed to be more common than reported because many men shy away from reporting such cases first due to the fear of being loved at and secondly because of their superiority complex. This is possibly why some men disappear from their homes never to come back. Those who are brave enough seek divorce in order to liberate themselves from their battering wives. Whether originating from fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters or in-laws, the results are always far reaching as we shall see later in this work. We will write a custom essay sample on Physical Violence specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Physical Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Physical Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Why People Fear Old Age essays

Why People Fear Old Age essays In todays society every one wants to look young and attractive. We want to be able to stay independent, and in touch with modern times. Old age has become a social problem in our time. The reality of getting older is manifested through stereotypes and myths. Common stereotypes of aging view the old as out to the pasture, over the hill, and all washed up. We want to be able to stay youthful and enjoy life to its fullest. No matter what lengths we go to, to stay young, there will always be that fear in the back of our minds of getting old. Because of this we often look at aging as a negative perception. We fear the mental and physical decline. The thought of not remembering our past or even friends and families is scary, what is there to like about forget all the wonderful memories that took us so long to accumulate. And then theres the fear of physical decline, knowing that we risk the chance of not being as youthful as we would like to be. Missing out on all the fun of playing with the grandchildren, taking long walks at night or even those bike rides that we once enjoyed. The thought loneliness, being unwanted, or becoming a burden and dependent upon our friends and family members is another reason we fear getting old. It seems like when we get older our friends tend to diminish and our interests seem to clash with the younger generation, so they stop coming around as much. Then theres the thought of having to rely on other people to help us in our daily activities. The last thing we want is for someone to have to take care of us, and loosing our independence. No more being able to jump in the car and go to the store or friends houses. Finally theres the thought of disease and death, which people state are their biggest fears or old age. Who wants to think about all the health problems we will have to look forward to and all the doctors visits and pills that accompany these pr ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Calculate Concentration of Ions in Solution

Calculate Concentration of Ions in Solution This worked example problem illustrates the steps necessary to calculate the concentration of ions in an aqueous solution in terms of molarity.  Molarity is one of the most common units of concentration. Molarity is measured in  number of moles  of a substance per unit volume.   Question a. State the concentration, in moles per liter, of each ion in 1.0 mol Al(NO3)3.b. State the concentration, in moles per liter, of each ion in 0.20 mol K2CrO4. Solution Part a.  Dissolving 1 mol of Al(NO3)3 in water dissociates into 1 mol Al3 and 3 mol NO3- by the reaction: Al(NO3)3(s) → Al3(aq) 3 NO3-(aq) Therefore: concentration of Al3 1.0 Mconcentration of NO3- 3.0 M Part b.  K2CrO4 dissociates in water by the reaction: K2CrO4 → 2 K(aq) CrO42- One mol of K2CrO4 produces 2 mol of K and 1 mol of CrO42-. Therefore, for a 0.20 M solution: concentration of CrO42- 0.20 Mconcentration of K 2Ãâ€"(0.20 M) 0.40 M Answer Part a.Concentration of Al3 1.0 MConcentration of NO3- 3.0 M Part b.Concentration of CrO42- 0.20 MConcentration of K 0.40 M

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Response to the environmental impacts of tourism on Brecon Beacons Research Paper

Response to the environmental impacts of tourism on Brecon Beacons National Park - Research Paper Example The environment of the national parks have been providing great benefits to the government since it can help in developing business opportunities as well. Though national parks are considered a tourist places in most of the countries, it has its own problems. Places where tourism is given more importance have been prone to problems like pollution. The studies, researches and surveys reveal that tourism has a great impact on these national parks. Due to poor maintenance and business like activities, the parks have been affected by the environmental changes. Planning, management and maintenance of tourism will yield monetary benefits and will also lead to a better environment and protect them from harmful impacts. (Cohen & Amnion, 1994). The government must incorporate certain techniques which will control the problems related to environment and this in turn will reduce the impacts. The available resources can be utilized to maintain the national park in a much better way there by strengthening the resources. The research that was carried out earlier aimed at finding out the problems in Beacon national park as a result of the tourism impact. The impact of tourism on the environment and the study also concentrated on how the management maintains and manages the effects of the impacts. The research also included certain objectives which analyzed the effects of tourism and its related activities on places like national parks. The negative effects of tourism were also examined and the suitable methods were suggested. This was accomplished by conducting several researches and studies. These studies helped in investigating the problems that resulted due to tourism. The survey conducted among the residents of national park exhibited various results. Though certain results were contradictory, the outcome of the survey indicated that tourism will definitely have an impact on the Brecon Beacons national park. The best way to handle the tourism problem

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Strategic Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9500 words

Strategic Planning - Research Paper Example The main branch of Delta the (Headquarter) is in Texas, United State America. This report is focusing on conducting a strategic plan for Delta Corporation Qatar (Subsidiary). The importance of this report is to sustain long-term success for the corporation. Carefully planning helps the managers to go to the right place and achieve their goals in effective and efficient ways. This report is divided into different parts. The first section is about Delta Corporation history and brief background, the core activities performed by Delta Company. The second part is about the methodology of collecting relevant data about Delta. After collecting data about the company, we will discuss the SWOT analysis â€Å"Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats† to evaluate the company situation. The analysis includes the internal and external factors. Internal factors are such as the vision, mission, financial ratios, IFE tool (internal factors evaluation matrix) to know the strengths and the weakness of the company. Furthermore, in this section, we will discuss the strategic map and the EFE (external factors evaluation matrix). For the external assessment, we will evaluate the opportunities and threats. External factors are such as porter’s five forces model. After that, we will formulate SMART objectives and the tactics need to accomplish these objec tives. Furthermore, we will discuss the implementation plan. The last part of this report is to conclude all the information that we discuss and give some recommendations to Delta Corporation.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Leadership Development Report Essay Example for Free

Leadership Development Report Essay Leadership has a paramount importance in the business world. It is not about a position, but how a person can influence others in creating and working towards that common organisation’s goal, and to create meaning in the works that we do. This report begins with the servant leadership framework that covers what I value in leadership. Also included in this report are the self-assessments that measure my leadership potential and competencies. This report also covers the issues associated to the industry I have chosen to work in and address my person-specific issues. II. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODEL (175) Definition servant leadership Servant leadership is a type of leadership where the leader does order to be served; but focus on serving their followers in order to assist and guide them into more useful and satisfied people. This theory emphasize on the creation of moral purpose for leaders. It focuses on the impact that they leave on other people’s life to measure their greatness. Characteristics of servant leadership The servant leadership theory consists of ten key characteristics. These characteristics are; listening intently, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. (Miller, Skringar, Dalglish Stevens, 2012) Why servant leadership? My concept of leadership is someone who is able to influence their followers through inspiration, empower them to realize their undiscovered true potential, and bring meaning to their life. In addition, I believe that a leader needs to be able to listen to their follower’s need in order to put the will of the group above their own will on the group. I strongly uphold the need for empathy in my leadership concept, because I believe that a leader must be able to put themselves in their follower’s shoes and perceive things through the eyes of their followers in order to gain understanding from different perspectives and to empower the followers to bring out their passion and thus bring forward their fullest potential in making a meaningful work. As mentioned by a successful leader – Fred A. Mansk Jr, â€Å" The ultimate leader is one who is willing to develop people to the point that they eventually surpass him or her in knowledge and ability.† Therefore, I find Servant Leadership as the most suitable framework for my leadership plan. III. Diagnosis of Strength and Weaknesses To support the diagnostic process and to provide the information on my leadership strengths and weaknesses I am using the information from two personality tests; Carl Jung’s and Issabel Briggs Myer’s Typology Test and a standardized emotional intelligent (EI) test. Self Assessments Carl Jung’s and Issabel Briggs Myer’s Typology Test Carl Jung’s and Issabel Briggs Myer’s Typology Test is a psychometric assessment designed to measure the preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions based on their psychological preference. The aim of this test is to help people to have a better understanding of themselves, by understanding their strengths, weaknesses, possible career preferences and their preferred approach when interacting with others. This test puts one into four letter categories, where each letter stands for a specific personality type. (Briggs, Myers, 1998) After undertaking this typology test, I was classified under INFJ (Introvert, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging) typology. Firstly, introversion displays a characteristic that is reserved and highly private. This goes in line with my personal characteristic as I look within for meaning and understanding. Secondly, intuition indicates an emphasis on abstract ideas and focusing on the meaning of the bigger picture rather than solid details. Feeling focuses mainly on personal concerns and emotional perception rather than the logical and objective facts. Judging describes about the need to have control by planning, organizing and making decisions as soon as possible because of INFJs’ deep attention on the future. INFJ type is described as having the strengths of being determined and passionate, altruistic, decisive, insightful, creative, inspiring and convincing. Dr. Dranitsaris stated that INFJ leadership style is quiet and influencing. INFJ leaders often lead by inspiring and motivating people with their ideals, working hard to gain the cooperation of others rather than demanding it. In a business context, INFJ leaders also tend to genuinely care about the people and how happy they are with their job. (Dranitsaris, 2009). This describes the traits considered as strengths of the INFJ type: that of being warm, altruistic and passionate. The main motive for every work done is not focused centrally on gaining personal benefit but for the greater good of the broader society; to find value and purpose for every tasks. Also, INFJs are described to be deeply concerned about their relations with people and how it links to humanity. (Heiss, Butt, 1996) These are the strengths I believe I possess in myself and these characteristics go in line with the framework of servant leadership as explained previously. However, the very strong need to have a cause for every work done can serve as a weakness for INFJ. This is because it can become difficult to maintain the drive and energy to complete works when I am not able to derive any deeper purpose or relate the objective of the work to a worthy goal. The complexity INFJ is further seen with the tendency to be idealistic. When objectives are not in line with a meaningful goal, INFJ will incline to grow restless and demotivated overtime. This will affect the effort and end result. The result may deviate from the targeted aim which becomes a conflict with the need for perfection. These weaknesses are worsen with the reserved nature of INFJ which may trigger unexpressed internal conflicts. Emotional Intelligent Test (EI) Emotional Intelligent test, on the other hand is a psychological test which allow an individual to identify their social skills that facilitate their interpersonal behavior. It identifies one’s capacity for goal-oriented adaptive behavior. It focuses on the aspects of intelligence that govern self-knowledge and social adaptation. Below are the results that I have attained from this self-assessment: Strengths Potential Strength Weaknesses doing well in the area of emotional understanding chose good forms of resolution for others conflict situations on the test empathetic socially insightful driven towards self-development healthy approach in resolving conflict situations doing reasonably well in the area of emotional identification, perception, and expression act in accordance with your values lacking in self-motivation not very assertive need to strengthen self-esteem further development needed in personal resilience/hardiness. These strengths indicate that I possess some of the traits that are needed to display the characteristics of a good servant-leader. IV. Industry-Specific Issues Looking into the Hospitality industry, specifically Airlines, I will use Singapore Airlines as a basis of my evaluation. The extent of superior service is paramount for it to establish itself. In order to deliver the standard of service the company has set for itself, it requires highly passionate and motivated employees. One of the elements that contribute to the success of Singapore Airlines is its human resource that highly regards contribution of creative ideas in which rewards are later given. (Singh, 1984) To be passionate, to inspire and to encourage innovation are strengths found in INFJs that match with the traits of Servant Leaders who encourages and motivates the followers to making a meaningful and effective work efforts. V. Person-Specific Issues Gender, age and culture are important aspects to be considered in shaping one’s leadership development. Being someone coming from Asia, the idea of women becoming a leader will face cultural constraints. In the context of organization, becoming a female leader will be more challenging than the male counterpart because there is a strong notion whereby men are born to lead and women to follow or serve and men hold the leadership positions. (Carly, Eagly, 1999). This is still present in the traditional Asian culture. Even to the eyes of the followers, the figure that is seen to be capable of leading goes to male gender. The masculinity possessed becomes a symbol of strength and competency. (Schein, 2001) Instructions led by female leaders are more likely to be followed because of the idea of obedience to authority rather than being influenced through inspiration. The gender-bias corporate culture becomes a huge obstacle in making use of servant-leadership framework as a female. This gender bias is still evident in many office settings of Japanese corporations whereby higher ranking positions are given mostly to male; and in fact Japan seeing a near zero resemblance between women and managers. (Schein, Mueller, 1992) Besides that, age also becomes an issue in determining the level of experience of a professional. Younger age typically indicates limited exposure to the various real-life experiences and this may affect the extent of wisdom in making judgments. VI. Timeframe and Evaluation Plan The weaknesses based on the self-assessments are used to develop my leadership goals and the Michigan Leadership Competency Model serves as a tool to categorize the goals set and the timeframe for the plan. Time Frame Self-Developmental Goals Self-Management Conceptualization Servant leaders seek to nurture their abilities to dream great dreams; not just consumed by achieving operational goals. To develop characteristic and thinking process encompass broader-based conceptual thinking require discipline and practice. Leading Others Influencing/Persuasion Servant leaders seek to persuade and convince others through inspiration rather than coerce compliance. This requires a level of confidence, personal drive and energy to be emulated to the followers. As represented in one of my weaknesses from the self-assessment, I lack in self-motivation, self-esteem and assertiveness. These characteristics need to be developed in order to gain enough personal power to lead and guide others. Innovation Creativity Creativity is one of the key characteristics of servant leaders. Also, the hospitality industry takes great importance in areas of innovation to stay competitive and relevant. This is a characteristic that continually needs to be fostered and developed. Social Responsibility Ethically Social Servant Leadership highlights the importance of leading for the greater good for a deeper moral purpose. This emphasizes the need for moral awareness and ethical conducts when leading. This can be done by participating more in charitable or environmental causes which aim in improving social welfare of the broader society. Such participation allow exposure and knowledge-gaining. Evaluation by Multi-Step Action Plan 1 year Completing Bachelor of Business Degree 3 years Employment in Airline as Flight Attendant to gain exposure to new experiences, ethical conducts and ideas and insight knowledge on providing service in hospitality industry (Innovation Social Responsibility) 2 years Further study on Master of Hospitality Management to broaden conceptual thinking process. This also help to gain self-esteem and improve on the ability to influence (Conceptualization Influencing) Working in Management VII. Industry Leader Input Previously I focused my goals only on the trait developments. This was difficult measure because characteristics can only be proven once I’ve been put on the position to be a leader in a group. There was no tangible achievement to evaluate the success of my goal planning. Therefore, through his suggestion, I modified my goal timeframe by adding a multi-step action plan that cover the length of time to achieve each target. For example, the employment in an Airline industry will help me garner new experiences, perspective and practice discipline in work ethics. Feedback on my work performance from supervisors can serve as a form of evaluation. Also, the attainment of higher qualification will allow me to gain broader and deeper knowledge on the industry through research. The exposure and experience may help me to develop a stronger leadership characteristic and further evaluation can be done through taking re-test for EI. Wordcount: 1,509 words (Excluding References, Appedices, Headings Tables) VIII. Appendices 1. Michigan Leadership Competency Model Leadership Assessment Report Scores range from 1 to 6, with 1 indicating that you rated yourself low on that competency and 6 indicating that you rated yourself high. Introverted iNtuition Introverted intuitives, INFJs enjoy a greater clarity of perception of inner, unconscious processes than all but their INTJ cousins. Just as SP types commune with the object and live in the here and now of the physical world, INFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers. Unlike the confining, routinizing nature of introverted sensing, introverted intuition frees this type to act insightfully and spontaneously as unique solutions arise on an event by event basis. Extraverted Feeling Extraverted feeling, the auxiliary deciding function, expresses a range of emotion and opinions of, for and about people. INFJs, like many other FJ types, find themselves caught between the desire to express their wealth of feelings and moral conclusions about the actions and attitudes of others, and the awareness of the consequences of unbridled candor. Some vent the attending emotions in private, to trusted allies. Such confidants are chosen with care, for INFJs are well aware of the treachery that can reside in the hearts of mortals. This particular combination of introverted intuition and extraverted feeling provides INFJs with the raw material from which perceptive counselors are shaped. Introverted Thinking The INFJs thinking is introverted, turned toward the subject. Perhaps it is when the INFJs thinking function is operative that he is most aloof. A comrade might surmise that such detachment signals a disillusionment, that she has also been found lacking by the sardonic eye of this one who plumbs the depths of the human spirit. Experience suggests that such distancing is merely an indication that the seer is hard at work and focusing energy into this less efficient tertiary function. Extraverted Sensing INFJs are twice blessed with clarity of vision, both internal and external. Just as they possess inner vision which is drawn to the forms of the unconscious, they also have external sensing perception which readily takes hold of worldly objects. Sensing, however, is the weakest of the INFJs arsenal and the most vulnerable. INFJs, like their fellow intuitives, may be so absorbed in intuitive perceiving that they become oblivious to physical reality. The INFJ under stress may fall prey to various forms of immediate gratification. Awareness of extraverted sensing is probably the source of the SP wannabe side of INFJs. Many yearn to live spontaneously; its not uncommon for INFJ actors to take on an SP (often ESTP) role. References Briggs, K. C., Myers, I. B. (1998). Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Palo Alto, CA. Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). The Servant as Leader. Business Leadership: A Jossey-Bass Reader. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Miller, Skringar, Dalglish Stevens, (2012) Leadership and Change Management. 1st ed. Prahran VIC Australia: Tilde University Press. Maxwell, J. C., Dorvan, J. (1997). Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Schein, V.E. (2001) A global look at psychological barriers to women’s progress in management. Journal of Social Issues. 57, pp. 675-688. Schein, V.E., Mueller, R. (1992). Sex role stereotyping and requisite management characteristics: A cross cultural look. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 13, pp. 439-447. Carli L.L., Eagly A.H. (1999). Gender effects on influence and emergent leadership Powell G.N. (Ed.), Handbook of gender and work, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 203–222 Soo Min Toh, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli (2012) Cultural constraints on the emergence of women as leaders. Journal of World Business, Vol. 47, Issue 4, pp. 604-611 Karmjit Singh (1984). Successful strategies—The story of Singapore Airlines (SIA) Long Range Planning, Vol.17, Issue 5, pp. 17-22 Dranitsaris, A., (ed.) 2009, Personality Type and Leadership Behaviour: Jung’s Typology for the Workplace, e-book, accessed 25 April 2013, Central Michigan University, 2004, Leadership Competency Model, accessed 20 April 2013, http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/leader_model/CompModel/EDUMAIN.htm Heiss, M.M, Butt, J.,1999, INFJ, Typelogic, accessed 25 April 2013, HumanMetrics Jung’s Typology Test INFJ, 2012, accessed 25 April 2013,

Friday, November 15, 2019

Macbeth :: essays research papers

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, supernatural powers are used by the three witches. These powers are called familiars. A familiar is a spirit often embodied in an animal and is there to serve and guard a person. Each of the witches possesses a familiar except for the third witch. Her familiar is never laid on the table for us to see. In my paper I will show how the owl is the familiar of the third witch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First you must understand what a familiar is. In Websters dictionary the word familiar is defined as a closely acquainted; an intimate associate or companion, a spirit embodied in an animal and held to attend and serve or guard a person. The clichà © of a familiar is associated to witches and demonic characters. But, this is a very untrue statement. A pet can also be a familiar to a regular person. There are four types of familiars. The first is a physical creature who lives with and has an emotional bond with a human. The second type of familiar is a creature which attaches itself to a human for the purpose of aiding him or her. The third type of familiar is an element spirit. Some witches call upon a spirit to overcome an obstacle. The fourth type of familiar is the sprit of someone who has died. They come back for some reason or purpose usually to set straight an event. These are all different types of familiars, but the one of my focal point would be attachment. In Macbeth, the owl aides the witch and also offers protection and acts as an overseer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The owl is a familiar which is associated with both good and evil. In ancient Greece, the mythological Athena, the goddess of wisdom, held the owl as her bird. The owl served a s a protector to her and accompanied armies to war. The owl was also an inspiration in everyday life for the common man. Some village healers also used familiars to help diagnose illness and to find lost objects and treasures. But, most commonly, the owl is said to be the root of all evil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Roman mythology, a superstition was that witches transformed into owls and sucked the blood from innocent children. Another superstition which surfaced during the middle ages in Europe, was about an owls appearance at night. It is said that when people are helpless and blind, the owl is linked to the unknown, and if an owl called at night, the air would be filled with apprehension: a death was imminent with some evil

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Human Population Essay

Census Bureau of the United States has estimated that the current world human population is about 6,818,500,000 people. In 2009 the United Nation estimated the world human population to be around 6,800,000,000. This is an indicator that the human population is growing at a very alarming rate with an annual birth rate of approximately 134 million per year against 57 million deaths (Freeman. 1974). The alarming increment in the number of human on earth has raised queries as to whether the planet earth is becoming over populated. The human population is experiencing scarcity of resources due to the overpopulation. In order to them to counter this problem they have come up with ways that have in turn threatened the ecosystem. For instance there planet earth is warming up, the air is being populated, and the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have risen (Freeman. 1974). It is estimated America enjoyed a low population of less than 100 million in the years 1950s. During this period there was a series of epidemics that were believed to have been introduced by their encounter with the explorers from Europe leading high death rates. Evidences provided by archaeologists indicated that most deaths of the current world were cause by diseases by the old world such as influenza, smallpox, and measles. However, with time the natives developed immunity towards these diseases (Collinson. 2002). The life expectancy for children increased tremendously in the 18th Century and so did the human population due to introduction of vaccines, effective medication, and improved sanitation. As a result the United Kingdom alone is said to have doubled in every 50 years population. India’s population has since grown from 125 million in 1750s to 1. billion. The 20th Century recorded the highest increment in human population worldwide. This is also attributed to increased agricultural produce and improved medical knowhow (Collinson. 2002). Researchers have indicated that the rate of population growth has decreased except in the Middle East, Latin America and Sub-Saharan. However some countries such as Eastern and Central Europe and experiencing negative factors as a result of decrease in population. Japan and Western Europe are said to fact similar threats in the near future as a result of change in fertility pattern. A study done by the United Nation in 2006 showed that the drop in population growth was as a result of demographic transition. The report also indicated that should this pattern of growth remain unchanged, there might be zero rate of growth by the year 2050. Research indicates that Asia has the largest number of people of approximately 3. 8 billion, which is 60% of the world human population, while Africa has 12% (Zuckerman. 1996). Prediction The rapid increases in human population lead Thomas Malthus to predict in 1798 that the world would run short of food supply by the mid 19th Century. Paul R.  Ehrilich, in 1968 predicted that famine would occur in 1970s and 1980s. However various economists challenged them as various measures had been put in place to counter the foreseen problem. For instance, the massive awareness of green revolution lead to increase in food production whose increment has been concurrent with the rapid growth of the population. Analysts have however warned that despite the increase in food production, the prices are sky rocketing making its accessibility to those who have the means, and thus a larger number of human population experiencing malnutrition (Collinson. 002). Green Revolution The introduction of Green Revolution lead a 250% increase in food production for the year 1950 to 1984. However, the green revolution being supported by fuel irrigation among other things such as pesticides and fertilizers lead to acute prices of food. Therefore, despite the discovery saving the continent from dire famine, it has not entirely addressed the accessibility of food by the poor. United Nation reported that as at 2005 approximately 850 million people were facing malnutrition due to lack of purchasing power of food. The high production of oil is an indicator that oil is crucial for daily survival. Farming is now mechanized where by bio-fuel is required which has had an effect on the prices of the farm produce (Freeman. 1974). Overpopulation Overpopulation is said to be a serious threat for the next generation. Generally is a state whereby there are more humans on earth than the earth can handle; in terms of provision of enough resources that would make them live happily and live it a fit place for the next generation users. However some countries provide incentives for people to increase their birth rate. This is said to have an impact of the growth of the economy and military security. Other critics have challenged such countries saying that the world is overpopulated and that failure to control birth rate is in fact increasing death rate by default. On one hand, some politicians call for countries, especially MDCs to increase their population size to maintain their economic growth and military security. On the other hand, critics denote that one out of five people living here today is not properly supported and believe that the world is already limited in resources (Freeman. 974). Causes of Rapid Human Population Growth The world has seen a rapid increase in human population due to low death rate and increased birth rates. Above all the high skilled science and technological advancement have contributed in reduction of death rates. These innovations lead to increment in production and supply of food, the public health sector has been able to provide clean water and sanitation as wel l as introduction of effective antibiotics and vaccines which have contributed to prolonging human lives. In the past developing countries way of life was wanting. However, there has been the processes of education and global interactions that has lead to enhancement in their standards of living, and thus longitivity of lives. These innovations have seen discovery of treatment for diseases that once killed so many people such as measles, malaria, and flu (Zuckerman. 1996). Food Production and Distribution There also has been innovation in the agricultural sector, the biggest break through being genetically modified food as well as irrigation. For instance in the United states there was an increase in production from 631 million tones to 1. 65 billion tones between the years 1950 and 1984. This is an indicator that the amount of food produce increased tremendously that can cater for increasing human population (Hutchinson. 2008). These technologies has also allowed new breed of seeds, fertilizers and modern machinery which in turn has lead to expansion of agricultural sectors across the globe. Studies indicate the production of food has increased by 24% in the last 10 years. However, these expansion in food produce has not been witness evenly particularly in African Countries. Researchers have also confirmed that there is no food shortage in the world, but equitable distribution should be considered. There are very many people particularly in African countries that do not have sufficient cash to buy food (Collinson. 2002). Public Health Survival of daily living is depended on basic needs such as safety shelter, food, and clean water. Initially inaccessibility of clean water would contribute to wiping out children from cholera. Studies indicate that in the year 1990, less than 50% of the human populations were capable of getting access to safe drinking water, however there has been in increase of accessibility of clean water to 75% afterwards. It was forecast that the accessibility to clean and safe drinking water was to increase by 14% in the year 2000 throughout the world (Hutchinson. 2008). Housing Due to the rapid increase in human population, there has been the need to expand on housing. This has therefore resulted in evolution of urban centers which are highly populated. Due to high demand in housing, accommodation has become very expensive. As a result there has emerged high class, middle class, and low class societies. The poor are forced to live in slums, whereby women and children are exposed to threats such as rape and exploitation. There have been strategies by various governments throughout the world to eradicate poverty in vain. Cheap housing schemes have been designed by some governments; unfortunately the number of the poor is appalling (Collinson. 2002). Consequences Studies have confirmed that the poorest countries have the largest number of human population. Research has also confirmed that there is a correlation between poverty and fertility as well as high child hood mortality rate. Therefore the people who enjoy high standards of living have low fertility rates, these people also have a longer life span as opposed to the poor as well as lower infant mortality rate. In a nutshell poverty and overpopulation are associates of increase of death and diseases. This is because lack of adequate sanitary housing and clean drinking water lead to health issues (Freeman. 1974). Developing countries have the highest number of human population as opposed to the developed countries. For instance one in every five persons in the Soviet countries live below the poverty line, as opposed to one of every eight person in America. Poverty is said to have been caused by the acute increase in population after the end of the 2nd World War. Poverty has the lead to death of mankind. Instead of allowing poverty to persist, it is important to limit our number be-cause in dense populations too many lack adequate food, water, shelter, education and employment. High fertility, which has been traditionally associated with prosperity, prestige, and security for the future, now jeopardizes chances for many to achieve health and security (Hutchinson. 008). Many governmental and non governmental organizations have been set up to ensure that the projected population in the coming years will be concurrent with production of food, water, heath care, technology, and education. For instance the development countries have put in efforts to ensure that both the social and economic conditions are at par. Programmes such as World Food Programme have been designed to ensure equitable distribution of food especially in developing count ries.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Marquz – Destructive Consequences of Solitude IOP

Solitude is defined as remoteness from society or the state of being remote from others. In Marquez' OHYOS, solitude is what ultimately brings the village of Macondo to its tragic end. Throughout the novel we explore the interesting theme of the various forms and reasons behind solitude and its consequences. Psychological studies show that, on the individual level, various needs are assumed to promote growth and self-actualization. For instance, John Burton's Deviance, Terrorism and War specifies eight basic human necessities: the need for others' response (and consistency thereof); stimulation; security (for instance, freedom from everyday preoccupation with death fears); recognition (through which individuals receive social confirmations that their reactions to social stimulations are relevant and approved); distributive justice (not merely a consistency in response but a response or reward deemed appropriate in terms of individuals' experiences and expectations); the need to appear rational (which follows from the need for consistency of response– rationality calls attention to the fact that there is a need for consistent behavior in others); need for meaning to be deduced from consistent response; and the need for a sense of control. From this list are various â€Å"camps† promoting the centrality of their distinctive need systems. These include, for instance, the need to belong, to bond or connect with others; the need for meaningfulness and the need for transcendence. As put by Richard Nixon, â€Å"Unless a person has a reason to live for other than himself, he will die–first mentally, then emotionally, then physically. † Studies of terminally ill individuals reveal the need for assurance that they have a legacy, that their lives made a difference, and that others are who they are because of oneself and that these others will carry one's memory with them. The mere fact that isolation is commonly known as a form of torture demonstrates that too much solitude leads to destructive consequences. These studies are relative to my topic because throughout the novel we encounter situations in which characters are driven to insanity as a result of their solitude, even if it is a self-selected decision. To quote Francis Bacon, â€Å"Whosoever is delighted with solitude is either a wild beast or god. † One is the example of Jose Arcadio Buendia, the first great solitary of the novel. He becomes so obsessed in his pursuit for truth and knowledge that he neglects his family and ultimately loses all touch with outer reality. Another is the example of Colonel Aureliano Buendia, who retreats into the solitude of his sadness and becomes incapable of expressing emotion other than sorrow and resignation. Aureliano Buendia is an interesting character because, in the novel, he first expresses his clear preference for solitude after his encounter with a girl who is forced to sleep with other men in order to pay her debt to her grandmother. Because he feels uncomfortable in society, he retreats into the comfort of his own solitude, which brings me to introduce psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs is a sequential, graduating set of needs that a person must satisfy to reach one's full potential or self-actualization. The needs are ranked bottom from top as physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs, and self actualization. These needs must be satisfied in order to get to the top, but one may go backward as well as forward, which relates to the theme of time as a cycle, and the Buendia's inability to progress. Because they are unwilling to communicate outside of themselves, the Buendia family is never able to move forward but moves instead in cycles, or a downward spiral, collapsing in on itself. According to Marlow, when one is unable to achieve the needs of love and belonging, it is assumed they regress back to the stage of securing their safety needs, which is most clearly demonstrated in Aureliano Buendias case. The solitary characters are often contrasted to the antisolitary characters of the novel such as Ursula Buendias and Pilar Ternera, and other characters who combat their solitude. Ursula Buendias and Pilar Ternera both live very long lives and devote their lives to strengthening social bonds. In her younger years, Pilar Ternera comforts the Buendia men with her sex and bear many of their children. She is extremely prosperous as the madame of a nunnery, which stands for a bountiful sexuality. Many other instances in the novel indicate that sex and love is used to combat solitude, especially the notion of free love. The most obvious example for this is perhaps the cold, barren relationship of Aureliano Segundo and Fernanda del Carpio in contrast with his relationship with Petra Cotes, in which his farm animals begin to proliferate and bring him great prosperity. This instance conveys the message that sexual liberation leads to progress and prosperity. Incest is a secondary theme of solitude. Essentially, incest is the practice of keeping family members within the family, which demonstrates the Buendias' habit of isolating themselves from the rest of the community and their inability to reach out to others. The incest that occurs throughout the novel only perpetuates the Buendias' solitude, and reflects the eventual destruction of the town. From the very beginning of the novel, Ursula warns of deformity as a result of incestuous relationships, and ironically, the last of the Buendias is born with the tail of a pig, and ends the family line. The novel ends with an interesting passage, in which the narrator explains, â€Å"He had already understood that he would never leave†¦ races condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth. † Here solitude can be seen very differently, portraying the solitude of Latin America forced upon their race by the West, who denies their access to the opportunities of the developed world, in comparison to the Buendias inability to join the moving world. â€Å"The opposite of solitude is solidarity,† says Marquez. Solidarity is defined as a union of interests, purposes or sympathies among members of a group, or a fellowship of responsibilities and interests, an obvious lacking quality in the town of Macondo. Psychological studies show that social systems have various â€Å"needs† to function successfully. There is, for instance, the social need for a collectively shared sense of order and that rules for a society's game board of life are understood and respected by all social actors. An ordered world is a predictable world and the essence of society is the predictability of its members' actions. There are the needs for solidarity between social members (including, as anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn observed, â€Å"a set of common values that give meaning and purpose to group life†), their willingness to accept their social duties and to make personal sacrifices for the welfare of others, and their cooperation with each other. Further, if we perceive social systems to be analogous to organisms struggling to survive in potentially hostile environments, there are such individual needs as defense, coordinated action toward collective goals, and the ability to adapt to challenging new internal and external conditions. The Buendias are obviously lacking in this cooperative quality and often struggle with their meaning in life, which is reflected in the destruction of the town. In quoting HG Wells, â€Å"A downtrodden class.. will never be able to make an effective protest until it achieves solidarity. † In order for the Buendias to leave their solitude, solidarity must first be achieved. From this it can be concluded that Marquez is promoting the same message for the solitude of Latin America, having been so long controlled by the West, before they must suffer the consequences of Macondo and the Buendia family.

Friday, November 8, 2019

AND A HAPPY ________TO YOU!

AND A HAPPY ________TO YOU! As an ex-full-time greeting card writer for the once third largest greeting card company in America Norcross (Hallmark being #1 and American Greeting #2), I thought I’d pass on some info on this market from my years in the â€Å"humor† department. It was fun being paid to sit and fold white paper from 9-5 everyday and come up with clever (and nice) ways to wish people happiness and well-being. Even though Norcross is now defunct, the rules for writing greeting cards haven’t altered much through the years. Yes, more risquà © humor has entered the market, as well as controversial subjects (such as divorce cards) but the basics haven’t changed. The most important basic is to keep it conversational: write as if talking to a friend. Never invert words or force a rhyme. Some companies still buy rhymes, but greeting card verse is NOT poetry since it is always conversational in style. Rhyming can work when it’s used with familiar figures of speech that are popular in everyday language. However, the main ingredient in a card is a wish, a greeting, a compliment or an expression of appreciation. Always keep the message informal. i.e. don’t say: Just like flowers, our friendship blooms†¦ rather say: It means a lot to have you as a friend†¦ The more natural the verse, the more marketable the card, so if you wouldn’t speak it out loud, don’t write it. Keep it sounding genuine. A good idea before attempting greeting cards is to read and study the market (just like in any other market). Once you become familiar with what’s published (without borrowing anything you see), jot down some of today’s popular expressions. You can pick these up from TV, conversations, or hit songs. Then, think about what you would want to say to a friend or loved one on his birthday, anniversary or when they’re ill. The ability to put yourself in the other person’s shoes is a successful tactic in writing a greeting card wish. Of course, you’ll find it easier to be funny and nasty than funny and nice! But most companies are looking for a pleasant wish to pass along. In submitting ideas, try to limit the number to no more than 10 at one time. Nowadays, depending on the company, you either submit one idea per page with SASE or type your ideas in the body of an email (no attachments allowed). Set up the card like this popular onc I once wrote for Norcross: The very best thing about the Old Days is†¦Inside: They were the YOUNG Days!Happy Birthday! Or this rhyming verse for â€Å"Our Anniversary†I always knew that we would shareA happiness beyond compareThrough ups and downs, through thick and thinInside: I’m with you Ba Though both these verses have been around awhile, they are still viable for today’s market because the sentiment is sincere and the language colloquial. Also, while greeting cards are sent mostly to celebrate an important sentimental or emotional occasion, don’t get too sappy or you could embarrass the one receiving it. And lastly, do limit the personal pronouns (me, I, we) because their usage could limit sales (of course, that does not include Special Title cards for Wife, Husband, Sister/Brother or Sweetheart). In closing may I say: May your verse be sweet and funny And bring you lots of extra money! Seven Current Greeting Card Markets Avanti Press Blue Mountain Pays well, sometimes asks to test market first Designer Greeting Moonlighting Cards Pays $25. Looking for â€Å"love† cards Oatmeal Studios – Looking for humor CaddylackGraffix– funny and sarcastic cards

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Prisons essays

Prisons essays As the general population of America ages, so do its inmates. It is predicted that by the year 2010, at least one in ten will be age fifty or older. In Florida for example, the growth rate of geriatric inmates already exceeds that of the younger inmate. The reason for this epidemic is partially due to tougher long-term sentencing guidelines, resulting from the get tough on crime campaign. Because of these long sentences, seniors are concentrated in prisons well beyond their proportions in civilian public. Prisons can lose substantial litigation costs if heath care programs and concerns are not met. The older inmate will also need to be separated from the younger inmate who potentially could overpower a geriatric inmate easily. As the government struggles with the issues of elderly inmates, the problem is only getting worse. The creation of the supermax prison is due to the current dangerousness of the adult male prison situation. These prisons are overcrowded to the point of danger and are forcing administration to act. Because of tougher sentencing guidelines, and longer sentences, the prisons have filled up without a turnover rate that eases the crowding problem. Prison administrators are being forced to release non-violent offenders from prison back into the community, leaving the violent offenders all together in the prison. This creates a tense situation inside the prison, and creates an opportunity for deviance such as riots or fights. Intermediate sanctions are beginning to fill the gap between prison and probation extremes. They can range from fines to boot camps and expand options in the criminal justice system to better suite a crime with an appropriate punishment. The particular punishment holds the offender strictly accountable for their actions. With the limited recourses available for the criminal justice system, intermediate sanctions permit effective and effic ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Market Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Market Research - Essay Example For any new business to know about the market to be ventured into, it is necessary to conduct primary and secondary researches so as to collect qualitative and quantitative data to use in guiding its operations. It is advisable for a new entrant into the market to carry out a marketing research. This can be of great benefit to them. First, it will provide them with all the necessary information about the customers and whatever expectations they have about the new product. Besides, it can enable the investor to acquire much information about the market situations. Meaning, they will know about the available supplementary and complementary commodities, their prices, supply and demand. This will make it easier for the business to ascertain the level of competition existing in the market. By conducting a well organized and coordinated marketing research, the business will reap a lot of benefits from it such as knowing about the necessary steps to segment the available market based on the clients’ geographical, social, political, cultural, demographic, gender and age factors. This will be instrumental in knowing how to effectively utilize the available market without leaving any chance. Once the market is properly segmented, it will be easier to come up with strategies on how to satisfy each of their dynamic demands on the business’ products. The other important contribution of a market research to a business is that it can enable the management to conduct a SWOT analysis so as to be privy with the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Indeed, these are very important areas which should be adequately looked into before making the right decision on how to conquer the market. By ascertaining its threats, the organization will have to come up with creative and innovative strategies like sales promotion, quality improvement and implementing favorable pricing policies. These can put the business in a

Friday, November 1, 2019

Beauity Drama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beauity Drama - Essay Example Contrary, Bethany is intelligent and brilliant in that she is outstanding in school but she is not as beautiful as Carla (Martin 15). The beauty drama portrays discontent and jealousy of the two characters (Bethany and Carla). As evident in the story, the two characters have different personalities and fortunes. For instance, the author asserts that Carla is beautiful but a failure and with negative personality. Contrary, Bethany is not beautiful but a successful in writing appealing short stories. She hates her appearance and desires she was like Carla (Martin 1.10). The author was creative and imaginative in that he utilizes â€Å"the genie† to demonstrate the wishes and desires of Bethany to be beautiful and her unhappy with her life. â€Å"It is ironical that Bethany perceives beauty as a major significance than anything else in life because she thinks it will bring her good things than what she possess†. On the other hand, Carla says she understands the demerits and problems of beauty. Due to this, she attempts to tell Bethany not to desire to become beautiful (Martin 32). It is clear from the story that people are never satisfied with what they have in life. Further, human beings always view the negative side of their life and the positive side of others. In addition, it demonstrates that individuals value appearance more than intelligence and good personality traits. For instance, Bethany has a successful career as an accountant, she is intelligence and with great personality but she is not satisfied with her appearance and instead desires to be beautiful like her friend (Carla). Additionally, she does not recognize the positive side of her life and the good things she has acquired. These unreasonable view of her life makes her wish to be like Carla. According to Bethany, beauty will give her what she desires in life. However, Carla warns Bethany about her desires

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 6

Human Resource Management - Essay Example However, this method has been reported to be ineffective because it deny trainees with an opportunity of interacting directly with their experts. Coaching /mentoring is a method that involves an expert in a particular field who is responsible for administering training. Case study method provides trainee with an opportunity to identify and discuss key issues in the work place to see the areas that may require some improvements. Simulation method entails imitation of the actual work experience where trainees are given a chance to try out and learn by performing the actual task. Finally, technology based training involve utilization of various technological devices to learn. Therefore, managers have been recommended to apply the above methods of training but more emphasis should be placed to coaching and technological based training methods because they have proved to be very effective. Further, managers should apply the four key steps of delivering a training program in order to meet trainees’ individual needs as discussed. Introduction Human resource manager play a significant role towards ensuring that training methods have brought success. Normally, human resource managers design various training programs and administer them to employees in order to increase their efficiency and achieve organisation goals/objectives. Human resource manager further employ a combination of group and individual methods to improve employees’ performance as well as to increase their efficiency. In above connection, human resource managers administer various training methods with an aim of increase organisation productivity. On the other hand, training methods being administered may be help to motivate employees to direct their efforts towards realization of organisation goals (Thompson, 2013). Further, training methods provide employees with growth opportunities whereby, employees can be in a position to execute their task more efficiently and effectively. Therefore, human resource manager should carry out an evaluation to see whether the various training methods administered were effective. However, if a training method was not effective, the manager may decide to make necessary improvements to ensure that training method has brought success. In addition, effective training methods may not only be beneficial to employees and organisation but also to the supervisor. This is because an effective training program minimizes the time that supervisor could have spent in supervising employees and hence, does not have to worry since employees are competent with their job (Bianca, 2013). Therefore, this study aims to provide a review of the training methods used to deliver training. Review the training methods used to deliver training Human resource manager is responsible for choosing the training method used to delivering training among his/her employees. However, various factors should be taken into consideration in order to ensure that the method of training utilized meets employee’s needs. Some of the factors that human resource manager should take into consideration when choosing a method of training to be applied include: manager should consider whether the available time will be adequate to cover all the training topics. Secondly, employee’s knowledge should be taken into consideration because not all methods of training can relevant. Some methods might be too technical to some employees while other may appear to be irrelevant. Therefore, the

Monday, October 28, 2019

Translation Theory Revision Essay Example for Free

Translation Theory Revision Essay Translation – The process of translation between two different languages involves the translator changing an original text (the source text – ST) in the original verbal languages (the source languages – SL) in a different verbal language (the target language – TL) S. Bassnet def: Translation is rendering of a SL text into the TL so as to ensure that: 1) the surface meaning of the two will be approximately similar, and 2) the structures of the SL will e preserved as closely as possible but not so closely that the TL structures will be seriously distorted. Susan Basset: Telling the same things in a different language in a way that sounds natural, getting the point across. Translation types: Semiotic classification: Intralingual – an interpretation of verbal signs by means of other signs of the same language Interlingual – an interpretation of verbal signs by means of some other language Intersemiotic – an interpretation of verbal signs by means of signs of non-verbal sign systems. Binary classifications: Free translation translator replaces a social, or cultural, reality in the source text with a corresponding reality in the target text Literal rendering of text from one language to another word-for-word. Overt – is a TT that does not mean to be an original. The individual text function cannot be tha same for TT and ST since the cultures are different. Covert – ST is not linked to the ST culture or audience; both ST and TT address their respective receivers directly. Domestication vs foreigization: translation methods that move the writer toward [the reader], i.e. , fluency, and those that move the reader toward [the author] (domestication) , i. e. , an extreme fidelity to the foreignness of the source text (foreignization). Documentary (preserve the original exoticizing setting) vs instrumental (adaptation of the setting to the target culture) Text Type Theory: Katharina Reiss. Determine, what kind of text you are dealing with: †¢ Informative – plain facts (newspaper article) †¢ Expressive – creative composition (poetry) †¢ Operative – including behavioural responses (ads) †¢ Multi/audio-medial (films or visual/oral ads). Equivalence: Dynamic equivalence (also known as functional equivalence) attempts to convey the thought expressed in a source text (if necessary, at the expense of literalness, original word order, the source texts grammatical voice, etc. ), while formal equivalence attempts to render the text word-for-word (if necessary, at the expense of natural expression in the target language). J. C. Catford †¢ A formal correspondent – any TL category which van be said to occupy the ‘same’ place in SL †¢ A textual equivalent – any TL text or part of text that van be said to be the equivalent of the ST Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS) †¢ A firmly empirical (kogemuslik) discipline †¢ Describes and maps translations †¢ Proposes hypotheses as why the translations are like they are †¢ Avoids being prescriptive The aim of DTS is to acquire insight into the nature and function of translation as a cultural and historical phenomenon DTS leading figures: Gideon Toury, Andre Lefevere Early translation theory Cicero – senise-for-sense. Synthesized in Latin Greek philosophers. The founder of Western translation theory. The 1st to comment on the process of translation. Translation serves as the study and imitation of rhetorical models. Free translation that is focused on the meaning. Horace model – target orientation. Aesthetically pleasing and creative translation. Art of Poetry. Quintilian – remarks on translations are v much in the Ciceroian tradition. Makes a difference between: metaphrasis – replacing a single word with a single word; paraphrasis – replacing a phrase with a phrase. Jerome model – translation Bible – latin „Vulgateâ€Å" (405. y). Translated sense-for-sense, rather that word-for-word. German Romanticism: individual author’s vision. Author is a creator. Shlegel: all writings in act of translation: Schleiermacher: translator could take the reader along and make him walk with the author or in the other way around.. Word-for-word translation onorthodox view of translation. †¢ Herder, Goethe, Humbolt, the Shlegel brothers, Shleiermacher †¢ translations of Homeric epics, the Greek tragedies and Shakespeare †¢ Emergence of the German tradition as opposed to the French †¢ strive for an independent literary culture Goethe: 3 stages of translation: 1) aquainted us the foreign language in his own terms (Luther Kings’s Bible) 2) French tradition – use of its own criteria, own rules. 3) The same idendity between source and target language. Eugene Nida. Formal equivalence – attention to the transfer of message, both form and content Dynamic / functional equivalence – seeks the closest natural equivalence for the source language message Principles: 1. making sense 2. conveying the spirit and manner of the original 3. having a natural and easy form of expression 4. producing a similar response †¢ 1. give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work. †¢ 2. reproduce the style and manner of writing of the original. †¢ 3. have all the ease of the original composition. Nida’s equivalent effect criticized: †¢ too concerned with the word level †¢ difficult or impossible to achieve †¢ overly theological Nida differentiates between: †¢ Linguistic meaning. the meaningful relationship between words, phrases and sentences. †¢ Referential meaning. â€Å"the words as symbols which refer to objects, events, abstracts, relations† Methods: hierarchical structuring, componential analysis, semantic structure analysis †¢ Emotive meaning Toury? s norm theory: Defines social norms. Preliminary norm: concerned with translation policy. The initial norm: expressed through operational norms which direct actual decisions made during the translating process. Corpus studies †¢ Corpus – compurerized collection of documents †¢ A token – each word as it occurs †¢ A type – each different word The type-token ratio is a text? s lexical density(tihedus) Postcolonialism: †¢ Resist domination †¢ Emphasis on the impact and significance of translation in a context of political, military, economic and cultural power differentials (vahe) †¢ Is characterizied by hybridity (ristandumine) and self-reflection. English theory Early English translation of the Bible: John Wycliffe – published Bible’s English version (late 14th c). Tried to translate the meaning, but preserve its form. William Tyndale – 1525 Bible’s German version (Greek) The King James Bible 1611 Bible’s English version Early translations of the Bible in English †¢ Wycliffe Bible 1380-1384 revised by John Purvey in 1408 . Published Bible English version. Trying to translate the meaning but preserve its form (w-for-w) †¢ William Tyndale 1525 (w-for-w) †¢ Bishops Bible 1568. †¢ The King James Bible the Authorized Version 1604 -1611 John Dryden on translation: 1) metaphrase – word-for-word; 2) paraphrase – sense-for-sense 3)imitation – absolute freedom. Tytler 18th c: 1) translation should give source language complete context. 2) style and manner should be similar. 3) reader should see it as fluid as original text. Essays on the translations, self-standing thoughts on translations, artistic activity = transl. Edward Fitzgerald: Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Persian poetry, imperial attitude.  quatrain rhyme scheme: AABA Early theory and practice of translation in England: draws on two traditions: †¢ Classical Latin translation, from the Greek †¢ Early Christian Latin translation from the Scriptures, the Hebrew, Aramaic King Alfred (871-99) and his policy of translation. †¢ Augustine’s Soliloquies and Gregory’s Pastoral Care †¢ Gregory’s Dialogues †¢ Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People Benedictine reform a revival of monasticism, ?lfric’s homilies a need to educate the uneducated.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Geographically Based Multicultural Education :: social issues

Geographically Based Multicultural Education Many Whites in the United States have a strong sense of ethnic identity that is tied to their immigrant ancestors’ country of origin (Italian Americans, Irish Americans, Swedish Americans) or to their experience in this country (New England Yankees, Midwestern Hoosiers, Appalachians, and so on). There are many subgroups within the White experience, but ...[m]any United States Whites with a strong sense of ethnic identity do not have a strong sense of racial identity. Indeed, ...many Whites take their Whiteness for granted to the extent that they do not consciously think about it. Nevertheless, their identity as members of the White group in the United States has a profound impact on their lives. "White Racial Identity Development in the United States" by Rita Hardiman in Race, Ethnicity, and Self: Identity in Multicultural Perspective, edited by Elizabeth Pathy Salett and Diane R. Koslow (Washington, DC: NMCI Publications, 1994). Among the challenges that face all Americans is to explore race and to educate their children about its impact in society. America is the "melting pot" of society and the most diverse nation in the world. Making it seem from the media that flashes pictures upon our retinas almost everyday. In reality, we live our lives in increasingly homogenized communities composed of single races. Many people never learn or are taught the difference that divide and bring us together. There needs to be a change in the way history is shown to children in America, including whom is a part of it and how it is taught. We need to create an environment that promotes a geographically based multicultural education. In school our children have been historically educated and taught history, epitomized by the glorification, or at least passing reference to Christopher Columbus’ atrocities in the Americas. There is no conspiracy to neglect others views and the hardships of history. Rather the European dominance that forms the basis for the general American culture manifests itself in skewed views of history. The dominate societal segment always writes the text, but the problem now is that, white America, no longer controls the culture as much as it did. As other populations of people grow, their side of history is added to the texts. This change in education started back in the thirties as "white" students examined their cultural heritage. As the non-Anglo Saxon population of whites came into power and position, they also wanted their heritages to be explained and glorified.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 6

The weather didn't break by my engagement dinner a few days later, and even at five o'clock in the afternoon the air was hot and humid. In the kitchen, I'd overheard the servants gossiping that the strange, still weather was a result of the animal-killing demons. But discussion of the demons did not stop people from all over the county coming to the Grange Hall to celebrate the Confederacy. The coaches backed up beyond the stone drive and showed no sign of slowing their onslaught toward the imposing stone structure. â€Å"Stefan Salvatore!† I heard as I stepped out of the coach behind my father. As my feet hit dirt, I saw Ellen Emerson and her daughter, Daisy, walking arm in arm, trailed by two maids. Hundreds of lanterns lit the stone steps leading to the white wooden doors, and carriages lined the curved walkway. I could hear strains of a waltz coming from inside the hall. â€Å"Mrs. Emerson. Daisy.† I bowed deeply. Daisy had hated me ever since we were children, when Damon had dared me to push her into Willow Creek. â€Å"Why, if it isn't the gorgeous Emerson ladies,† Father said, also bowing. â€Å"Thank you to both of you for coming to this small supper. It's so good to see everyone in town. We need to band together, now more than ever,† Father said, catching Ellen Emerson's eye. â€Å"Stefan,† Daisy repeated, nodding as she took my hand. â€Å"Daisy. Y look more beautiful every day. Can ou you please forgive a gentleman for his wicked youth?† She glared at me. I sighed. There was no mystery or intrigue in Mystic Falls. Everyone knew everyone else. If Rosalyn and I were to get married, our children would be dancing with Daisy's children. They would have the same conversations, the same jokes, the same fights. And the cycle would continue for eternity. â€Å"Ellen, would you do me the honor of allowing me to show you inside?† Father asked, anxious to make sure the hall was decorated according to his exacting specifications. Daisy's mother nodded, and Daisy and I were left under the watchful gaze of the Emersons' maid. â€Å"I've heard Damon's back. How is he?† Daisy asked, finally deigning to talk to me. â€Å"Miss Emerson, we best be going inside to find your mama,† Daisy's maid interrupted, tugging Daisy's arm through the wide double doors of the Grange Hall. â€Å"I look forward to seeing Damon. Do give him that message!† Daisy called over her shoulder. I sighed and stepped into the hall. Located between town and the estate, the Grange had once been a meeting spot for the county's landed gentry but had now become a makeshift armory. The walls of the hall were covered with ivy and wisteria and, farther up, Confederate flags. A band on the raised stage in the corner played a jaunty rendition of â€Å"The Bonnie Blue Flag,† and at least fifty couples circled the floor with glasses of punch in their hands. Father had obviously spared no expense, and it was clear that this was more than a simple welcome dinner for the troops. Heart-heavy, I headed over to the punch. I hadn't walked more than five steps when I felt a hand clap my back. I prepared myself to give a tight smile and accept the awkward congratulations that were already trickling in. What was the point of having a dinner to announce an engagement that everyone seemed to know about? I thought sourly. I turned to find myself face-to-face with Mr. Cartwright. I instantly composed my expression into something I hoped resembled excitement. â€Å"Stefan, boy! If it isn't the man of the hour!† Mr. Cartwright said, offering me a glass of whiskey. â€Å"Sir. Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your daughter's company,† I said automatically, taking the smallest sip I could muster. I'd woken up with a terrible whiskey headache the morning after Damon and I spent time at the tavern. I'd stayed in bed, a cool compress on my forehead, while Damon had barely seemed affected. I'd heard him chasing Katherine through the labyrinth in the backyard. Every laugh I'd heard was like a tiny dagger in my brain. â€Å"The pleasure is all yours. I know it's a good merger. Practical and low risk with plenty of opportunity for growth.† â€Å"Thank you, sir,† I said. â€Å"And I am so sorry about Rosalyn's dog.† Mr. Cartwright shook his head. â€Å"Don't tell my wife or Rosalyn, but I'd always hated the damn thing. Not saying it should have gone and gotten itself killed, but I think everyone is getting themselves all worked up over nothing. All this discussion of demons you hear all over the damn place. People whispering that the town is cursed. It's that kind of talk that makes people so afraid of risk. Makes them nervous about putting their money in the bank,† Mr. Cartwright boomed, causing several people to stare. I smiled nervously. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father acting as host and shuttling people toward the long table at the center of the room. I noticed each place was set with Mother's delicate fleur-de-lis china. â€Å"Stefan,† my father said, clapping his hand on my shoulder, â€Å"are you ready? Y have everything ou you need?† â€Å"Yes.† I touched the ring in my breast pocket and followed him to the head of the table. Rosalyn stood next to her mother and smiled tightly at her parents. Rosalyn's eyes, still red from crying over poor Penny, clashed horribly with the oversize, frilly pink dress she was wearing. As our neighbors took their seats around us, I realized that there were still two empty seats to my left. â€Å"Where's your brother?† Father asked, lowering his voice. I glanced toward the door. The band was still playing, and there was anticipation in the air. Finally, the doors opened with a clatter, and Damon and Katherine walked in. Together. It wasn't fair, I thought savagely. Damon could act like a boy, could continue to drink and flirt as if nothing had consequence. I'd always done the right thing, the responsible thing, and now it felt as though I was being punished for it by being forced to become a man. Even I was surprised by the surge of anger I felt. Instantly guilty, I tried to squelch the emotion by downing the full glass of wine to my left. After all, would Katherine have been expected to come to the dinner by herself? And wasn't Damon just being gallant, the good elder brother? Besides, they had no future. Marriages, at least in our society, were approved only if they merged two families. And, as an orphan, what did Katherine have to offer besides beauty? Father would never let me marry her, but that also meant he wouldn't let Damon marry her either. And even Damon wouldn't go so far as to marry someone Father didn't approve of. Right? Still, I couldn't tear my eyes away from Damon's arm around Katherine's tiny waist. She wore a green muslin dress whose fabric spread across her hoop skirts, and there was a hushed murmur as she and Damon made their way to the two empty seats at the center of the table. Her blue necklace gleamed at her throat, and she winked at me before taking the empty seat next to my own. Her hip brushed against mine, and I shifted uncomfortably. â€Å"Damon.† Father nodded tersely as Damon sat down to his left. â€Å"So do you think the army will be all the way down to Georgia by winter?† I asked Jonah Palmer loudly, simply because I didn't trust myself to speak to Katherine. If I heard her musical voice, I might lose my nerve to propose to Rosalyn. â€Å"I'm not worried about Georgia. What I am worried about is getting the militia together to solve the problems here in Mystic Falls. These attacks will not be stood for,† Jonah, the town veterinarian who had also been training the Mystic Falls militia, said loudly, pounding his fist on the table so hard, the china rattled. Just then, an army of servants entered the hall, holding plates of wild pheasant. I took my silver fork and pushed the gamey meat around my plate; I had no appetite. Around me, I could hear the usual discussions: about the war, about what we could do for our boys in gray, about upcoming dinners and barbecues and church socials. Katherine was nodding intently at Honoria Fells across the table. Suddenly I felt jealous of the grizzled, frizzy-haired Honoria. She was able to have the one-on-one conversation with Katherine that I so desperately wanted. â€Å"Ready, son?† Father elbowed me in the ribs, and I noticed that people were already finished with their meals. More wine was being poured, and the band, who'd paused during the main course, was playing in the corner. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for: They knew an announcement was about to be made, and they knew that following that announcement there would be celebrating and dancing. It was always the way dinners happened in Mystic Falls. But I'd never before been at the center of an announcement. As if on cue, Honoria leaned toward me, and Damon smiled encouragingly. Feeling sick to my stomach, I took a deep breath and clinked my knife against my crystal glass. Immediately, there was a hush throughout the hall, and even the servants stopped midstep to stare at me. I stood up, took a long swig of red wine for courage, and cleared my throat. â€Å"I †¦ um,† I began in a low, strained voice I didn't recognize as my own. â€Å"I have an announcement.† Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father clutching his champagne flute, ready to jump in with a toast. I glanced at Katherine. She was looking at me, her dark eyes piercing my own. I tore my gaze away and gripped my glass so tightly, I was sure it would break. â€Å"Rosalyn, I'd like to ask your hand in marriage. Will you do me the honor?† I said in a rush, fumbling in my suit pocket for the ring. I pulled out the box and knelt down in front of Rosalyn, staring up at her watery brown eyes. â€Å"For you,† I said without inflection, flipping open the lid and holding it out toward her. Rosalyn shrieked, and the room burst into a smattering of applause. I felt a hand clap my back, and I saw Damon grinning down on me. Katherine clapped politely, an unreadable expression on her face. â€Å"Here.† I took Rosalyn's tiny white hand and pushed the ring on her finger. It was too large, and the emerald rolled lopsidedly toward her pinkie. She looked like a child playing dress-up with her mother's jewelry. But Rosalyn didn't seem to care that the ring didn't fit. Instead, she held out her hand, watching as the diamonds captured the light of the table's candles. Immediately, a crush of women surrounded us, cooing over the ring. â€Å"This does call for a celebration!† my father called out. â€Å"Cigars for everyone. Come here, Stefan, son! Y ou've made me one proud father.† I nodded and shakily stepped over to him. It was ironic that while I'd spent my entire life trying to get my father's approval, what made him happiest was an act that made me feel dead inside. â€Å"Katherine, will you dance with me?† I heard Damon's voice above the din of scraping chairs and clinking glassware. I stopped in my tracks, waiting for the answer. Katherine glanced up, casting a furtive look in my direction. Her eyes held my own for a long moment. A wild urge to rip the ring off Rosalyn's finger and place it on Katherine's pale one nearly overtook me. But then Father nudged me from behind, and before I could react, Damon grabbed Katherine by the hand and led her out to the dance floor.