Finance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words - 1

Finance Management - Essay Example The paper also assesses loans for the investment proposal and two suitable alternatives have been discussed. Analysis of Current Financial Performance: Ratio analysis has been used here to identify the company’s position in terms of the profitability, efficiency, liquidity and financial structure. (Drury, 2005) Here the paper analyses the financial results of the four divisions over the past three years, based on which the business improvements in terms of the aid planning, control and performance management in the future have been discussed. The results are as discussed below: Profitability: Based on the profitability ratios, it has been noted that the Quality Product Division has seen an improvement in terms of the net profit margins. The company has moved from a loss to a profit of almost 3.36% which shows growth. Also the Return on Equity has also grown from a negative result in 2007 to almost10% which is close to the company’s required rate of return. The gross pro fit margin for the company however has been stable. Quality Products Division

Melbourne Airport Runway Essay Example for Free

Melbourne Airport Runway Essay Rules and regulations serve as guide the aviation industry to promote the sole standards in the provision of the services and standards for location quality which are essential for the travelers. The service that is being offered should be valued in the same way as the physical locale for operation. Runways for the air vessel, more than just a strip of land solely functioning for the launch of air vehicle, is a subject for continuous planning, development and safety maintenance to respond with the growing demand for aerial transportation. Aside from the fact that airports represent a huge investment for capital that can range to the actual building of facilities, it can also support many employments outside its function such as the industry for taxi and delivery companies. It remained tough for commercial or even private airports and for the whole Aviation System of any flight to make sure that transferring from domestic to international sections was a breeze. Most people who are using the services of airport do not have any actual idea how complex the functions are being carried out and how important the impacts of airports as a community service provider can have in a society. Moreover, airports are part of transportation systems, thus, aviation activity defines portion of the economy as it acts to be vital in distribution process especially when it serves as a link between the producers and consumers. Melbourne Airport, sometimes called Tullamarine Airport, serves the second busiest city of Australia therefore we can expect heightened standard to be sufficient for the service demand. Melbourne’s Central Business District is the home of Melbourne airport which complements with its closest neighbor Avalon since they are about 40 km. apart. Their distance makes competition not necessary. Airports are vital assets making them look forward to the goal of having direct flights instead of passing through Sydney. The Government (national and local) is pushing for maximizing profits by promoting economic actions among the airports. Across Australia, it is apparent that the objectives of these companies are partly relative with the economic activity of their region. The ways their community responds to the quality of their service largely affect the standard being applied on their planning and strategies (Winston and de Rus 2008: 75-77). Background: Initiatives for development As shown in Melbourne Airport’s Master Plan (2008), they were preparing their aviation system to respond for the anticipated growth in the following 20 years therefore, they fortified agreements and legal relationship with the State departments. They wished to expand their service coverage as they were able to secure development pace with geographic control. Available lands, equipped with expansion and commercial potentials, surround the operational territory and they were subject for acquisition. Melbourne Airport, dubbed as a city inside a city for its dynamic location, handles its vast land area which has portions highly available for commercial purposes. With the location’s accessibility from the metropolitan primary locations, their property promised a wide range of opportunity for business partners. As per Melbourne Airport (2009), they also look forward to possible expansions and strategies for its further development for their long term goals as a commercial institution servicing over 22 million passengers and travelers per year in average. The business park, occupying the area for per, are became the home of initiatives for this development. How relevant is this expansion and development plan by Melbourne Airport? This move shows a particular necessity for the airport to adapt to the changing demand in the capacity of passengers. For example, according to Orlando Business Journal (2010) with the return of US Airways to them, the volume of passengers went up 75% compared to the volume last year. The strategy and hard work of the airport’s marketing department shows positive results. Materials and Methods: Melbourne Airport’s Master Plan 2008 In accordance to Part 5, Division 1, Section 67 of Airports Act of 1996, Melbourne Airport proposed their most recent Master plan last 2008 after the 2003 version which showcase the future development and strategic direction for commercial and aircraft operations of the airport and in the same year, The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government approved the proposal tackling the future capacity. Runways design seems to be one of the key considerations in making the master plan. The plan is set to work in the following decades thus, it is important to see how the runways are to be set in the future in compliance to the goal of its expansion, and development. The actual situation of the runway system, the pace of increasing volume of demand for it, and the structure framed in the plan should be analyzed to see its complementarities with the operational goal of the airport. Discussion: the Master plan for Runways and Facilities The master plan is not just a way to maximize the capability and function of the airport site in the present or to respond with the present requirement of the aviation systems, instead, it is a set of projected ideas for their long term goal of ultimate development. The Melbourne Airport currently has two runways, the North-South (16/34) and East-West (09/27), which are intersecting in directions and have taxiways and apron areas associated with each. In response to the volume of demand, apparent to their recent master plan, Melbourne Airport aimed to accommodate transportation functions faster. Runways (16/34 and 09/27) are planned to maximize runway capacity while waiting for the completion of the third runway by having taxiways for rapid exit and make 09/27 runway extended to the western side(Melbourne Airport 2008: 51-52). In totality, the plan included adding gates for passenger aircraft and apron areas, construction of a new runway with corresponding taxiways and upgrading both domestic and international terminals. The new runway is planned to be put west of the 16/34 runway in the early part to middle part of 2020’s as projected. They also project that it will not be completed and it is not yet necessary to have that added runway prior to 2020 at least, around 2017. The plan required computerized analysis of physical elements such as weather (particularly, the direction of the wind current), vessel type, length required for the runway and separations of aircraft, relative to the runway operations to end up having the closest to accurate design for its efficiency (Melbourne Airport 2008: 52-53). International Air Transport Association (IATA) has the standard that is followed by Melbourne Airport with the design of their terminal facilities. The level of Standard (LOS) ranges from ‘A’ being excellent to ‘F’ being the unacceptable quality (de Neufville 2010). Planning requires designs as designing the roads and terminals required well-defined standards and criteria to follow. In the Master Plan, Melbourne Airport (2008) specified the LOS to Level ‘C’ which indicates the standard minimum of service with acceptable comfort and service or flight delay but guaranteed a stable flow. While the terminals are based in IATA criteria, Melbourne Airport designed their roads using the Austroad’s Guide to road design which deals largely on its geometric elements and roadside considerations. Economic impact and Projected Effects The efficiency of Melbourne Airport relies on its interdependent functional elements which includes the function of facilities and the rest of the airport site. The measure of its effects can be seen in its contribution to the economic development. With the periodical study of the pace of passenger volume growth from 2007, the increase is steady among their passengers. As cited from Melbourne Airport Data, the international Passenger Transfers, as varied every 3 to 4 years, is increasing by 0. 2 million, thus it project that by 2017, the international traveler movement will be 7. 1 million. This is where the Master plan is intended for. This amount of people will contribute to the billion dollars tourism industry of Victoria which is believed to have an indirect relative to the quality of air transportation access (Sinclair Knight Merz 2008: 12-13). Aside from movement of people, air transportations are also beneficial for trades and commerce particularly with the function of importations and exportations of goods and raw materials. Melbourne Air’s goal to increase their capacity by maximizing runways complements with the purpose of trade. Airfreights’ volume is determined directly by the number of vessels capable of carrying them. Geographic elements remained to be the prime and competitive advantage of Melbourne Airport. It also has the initial advantage of established high number of locations for their services worldwide (Sinclair Knight Merz 2008: 18). Conclusion The initiative of Melbourne Airport in designing a plan to serve for its long term goals manifests a strong potential for future development in their vital service functions in which the travelers can look forward to. The runway, being the starting point of any travel defines the quality of the engineering, logistics and designing capability of the airport institution so it contributes to promoting the impression of the public. Any initiative done with careful and strategic planning should result to beneficial and continuous flow of economic elements. The trend in making sophisticated runway can be partially contributed by the evolutionary changes in sophisticated aircraft but far from that, it is important to value the projects implemented for the improvement of the runway facilities for the evolutionary changes in the way of the people in dealing with trades, commerce and tourism. List of References Winston, C. and de Rus, G. (2008). ‘Aviation Infrastructure Performance’. The Brookings Institution. [17 May 2010] Melbourne Airport. (2008). ‘Master Plan’. Melbourne Airport. [17 May 2010] Melbourne Airport. (2009). ‘Property’. Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Ltd. [online] available from http://www. melbourneairport. com. au/For -Business/Property/Overview. html[17 May 2010] Orlando Business Journal. (2010). ‘Melbourne Airport’s Passenger Traffic Up’. American city Business Journals, Inc. [online] available fromhttp://www. bizjournals. com/orlando/stories/2010/04/19/daily42. html [17 May 2010] de Neufville, R. (2010). ‘Defining Capacity of Airport Passenger Buildings’. [online] available from ardent. mit. edu/airports/ASP_current /Defining_Capacity04. pdf[17 May 2010] Sinclair Knight Merz. (2008). ‘the Economic Impact of Melbourne Airport’. Sinclair Knight Merz Pty. Ltd. [17 May 2

Metamorphosis of the Family in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis Essay

The Metamorphosis of the Family Before the caterpillar can transform into a butterfly, it must go through a metamorphosis. The cocoon in which the caterpillar hibernates is in fact just a conveyance towards another life form. Gregor, in Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis, is similarly a vehicle for such an important transformation, in this case the reformation of his family. The metamorphosis of Gregor facilitates the gradual change of his entire family, demonstrating that an outside source is sometimes needed in order to push people out of stagnation and into life. Before the family members begin to make their transformations, they rely heavily on Gregor. The dutiful son sets out to provide for his family after the failure of his father's business. He secures a decent job and the family gladly accepts this new way of life, with a steady income and means of support. Over time, "they had simply got used to it, both the family and Gregor; the money was gratefully accepted and gladly given, but there was no special uprush of warm feeling" (95). Each member of the family becomes accustomed to an easy life in which needs and wants are provided for. This routine causes the individuals in the family to stagnate and live unproductively. The family begins to follow a path of existentialism because of what their lives have become. Existentialism entails taking responsibility for one's own actions and finding meaning in life. Through the course of the novel, the family proceeds from a state of senselessness to a gradual form of existentialism. In the beginning, the lives of the family members mean nothing and have no purpose. They are not individuals, but rather mindless drones who take advantage of a convenient situation... ...ther, and daughter emerging arm in arm" (11). Gregor's death is a necessary sacrifice, for it is through his loss of humanity that his family is able to find humanity of their own. He forces them to understand their environment and their role in society, creating meaning in their lives. The transformation of Gregor is a catalyst for the gradual metamorphosis of each member of his family, illustrating the importance of discovering purpose in one's life. In order to truly experience life, people must find meaning in it. However, sometimes it is only through the changes of another, in this case Gregor, that people themselves begin to transform. The sacrifice of Gregor allows his family to leave its protective cove and journey out into the world, discovering what life has to offer. Works Cited: Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Mattituck: Vanguard Press, 1946.

The Guardians

The Guardians by Ana Castillo, is a promising and highly recommended novel set in times when people were demonized strictly for being brown. It takes place along the borderlands and in New Mexico where it follows a strong independent woman who is on a desperate path to find her lost brother Rafa who she believes has been captured by the coyotes. The story goes into depth during undocumented times when the border was a fearful place where friends and family were frequently disappearing and woman are being raped or stolen for their organs. It shows her path towards finding her brother ot only for herself but for the sake of other loved ones. Where disfigured souls attempt to put themselves back together and search for love once lost. The story is told from four distinctive perspectives: Regina, who searches for her brother after awaiting his arrival in the United States. Gabo, Rafa’s 16-year-old son who becomes highly interested in gang members which give him a strong sense of belonging. Miguel, Regina’s love interest who seems in search of a confidence boost to approach her. Then El Abuelo Milton, a difficult and sour viejito who pressures his grandson Miguel into action. Each character givers their own personal incite on the depth of every situation and works collectively together for readers to see the broken vision of humanity. Regina was widowed even before she actually married her fiance, and had just nicely settled into being a teacher’s aide and guardian of Gabo although she knew from now on life would never quite be the same. She tries to get her brother to permanently stay with her in the United States but he insists that he will only stay until he has enough money to build him and his family a house for themselves in Mexico. Regina is clearly he heart and soul of the novel, making her voice heard among the others and independently setting out on a search towards redemption. She seems to be skeptical of religious views of the church yet finds herself in a compassionate hold on people who have hurt her the most. She is secure in her own skin and acts as though she can play any role yet deep inside she needs help just as any other individual would. She commits herself to playing the role of his guardian, both mother and father, yet in reality finds it hard to commit herself to being tough towards Gabo because he has a mind of his own. She is a tough defender of her family and property to ensure that nothing happens that could have been prevented. She struggles to understand Gabo’s way, which applies to any parent trying to make sense of senseless teenagers. Yet she understands that even in tough times she must hold herself together to keep the closest thing she has to family from falling apart. From her ongoing search for her brother Rafa to her realization that the border treats everyone in a different way. Whether you’re religious views agree or differ. She seems to be a modern heroine along with the help of Miguel and Gabriel to ome upon a coyote’s house in El Paso. It happens to be where the disappeared women have been forced to stay and unfortunately also the place where her brother was killed by the coyotes. Gabriel, the 16-year-old son of Rafa, Regina’s brother is a hard-headed youth with a mind of his own. Set out to become Christ-like, he dreams of an eventual life in the clergy where his mind set will allow him to preach on others with the same religious view of life. With his strong life values Regina tries to talk him out of his bad choice of friends but soon comes to realize he is only searching for a brush of comfort in which he an call a group his â€Å"family† because of the one he lacks. Without Regina and his father he would be homeless and left to conquer the world on his own at such a young ago. In his desperate attempt to regain the love and care of his father him and his aunt set out on a adventure along with the help of Miguel, Miguel’s father Abuelo Milton and some of his gang banger friends. Him and his aunt Regina develop a strong sense of friendship while working close in the search for his father who they believe have been taken by coyotes just as his mother was seven years ago. They found her body disembellished in he desert where her organs were stolen and her body was mutilated beyond belief. Throughout the journey Gabo remains with no papers to make him legal the United States, yet the border control has no problems letting him come back and forth between Mexico and America with the help of his friends. In which Gabo eventually faces the troubles that comes along with dealing with the coyotes and the law. That ends with Gabo â€Å"Making a pact with the devil†. Regina and Gabo were evidently at the heart of this story in the pursuit to find their Brother/Father. Regina started off as a widowed women who was only left with er brother and nephew. Where their voyage begins on finding their loved one rafa, the only hope they have left of having a family. Gabo goes through the roughest times on the journey for his father. Gabo faces the realness of the boarder physically and consciously where he is able to go back and forth with ease but emotionally he struggles more then anything. Living in a town so close to the border comes with its difficulties within their own community and the citizens living there and the judgment that is passed around. To only find that people have their own story behind their talk The guardians is an admirable novel that shows the accurate role of the struggles family’s face everyday of living aside the borderlands. This novel shows the true story of the hardship people face on the daily basis that just over passes citizens even in your own town. Where an independent citizen can overcome her struggles to over pass the fears of life and stand strong to become a admirable member of their community. The novel conveys a unique delivery of a examination of what truly makes up a family, Where we can discover faith through the battle of conflicts emotionally and physically.

Directory Viruses

There are many ways to sabotage a computer. Some malicious programs create software that automatically replicates itself and spreads throughout a computer's file system to destroy it later. One of these virus types is called the Directory Virus. From its name itself, one can know that it attacks the directory and file system of a computer. The computer uses a large file that contains information about its subdirectories and files. It includes information such as the starting cluster, the name, the time and date it was created or modified, attributes such as being read-only, and other information.Every time a file needs to be accessed, it searches for the directory entry and the starting cluster, an index to the File Allocation Table or FAT. All the other cluster addresses are in the FAT. So a Directory Virus infects clusters and allocates it in the FAT. It then targets other clusters and infects other files. The destructive code is usually with executable files such as the ones endin g with . EXE or . COM. The location or paths to the computer's files will then be changed by the Directory Virus so that it can infect other files.This will be done transparently, without the user's knowledge, until the original files will be impossible to find. Eventually, the user's files become useless (Spam Laws, 2009). In May 1991, the DIR II virus was discovered first in Bulgaria. It is also known as Creeping Death and was written by the same programmers who coded the DIR, MG and Shake viruses. At that time, it was considered to be unique since directory viruses were still unknown. It changed directory entries only and did not change the files (Hypponen, 2010).It was eventually followed by variants such as the DIR III and DIR BYWAY viruses. The BYWAY virus appeared first in mid 1995 in Venezuala, but was possibly authored by a Chinese programmer named Wai Chan since the code is signed â€Å"By Wai Chan† (PR Newswire, 1995). It is similar to the DIR II family of viruses but alters the technique slightly by modifying directories and cross linking executable files to point to a file named CHKLISTx. MSx, containing the viral code (Paris, 2010).The BYWAY virus has an interesting story since it reveals that people from different countries often disguise themselves using other countries. The Chinese search engine, Baidu, for example was attacked by malware that showed an Iranian flag, but Baidu doubts that it was Iranian. They believe that it was American hackers who did it. In the same way, the BYWAY virus claims that it was authored by Wai Chan on August 1994. And then when the virus is triggered, it pops out a message saying, â€Å"Trabajemos Todos Por Venezuela† which means, â€Å"We are all working for Venezuela.†It also plays music simultaneously, mimicking the Venezuelan national anthem. But it is likely that the real author is neither Venezuelan nor Chinese since crooks are not likely to leave their calling cards at the scene of the crime. It is also possible to remove the virus without using disinfecting software. Simply rename all . COM and . EXE files with non-executable extensions. The virus will automatically correct the FAT. Then reboot using a clean boot disk to remove the virus in memory, and rename everything back to its executable extensions.Do this for all hard disk partitions and the virus will be removed. Unfortunately, because viruses are popularly known to wreak havoc on computers, there is an urban myth propagating in the world that every time a PC doesn't work properly, it is always caused by a virus (Rutter, 1999). However, the fact is that not all PC problems are caused by viruses. There may be manufacturer bugs in the software or incompatibility issues with the hardware or software. Or the computer may simply be malfunctioning like any other electronic device that eventually fails.

Free Essays on Western Imperialism

Western Imperialism Western Imperialism had a tremendous impact on the continent of Africa. This nineteenth century imperialism often referred to as the â€Å"scramble for Africa† was the second phase of exploitation in Africa, enacted by Europeans. In the late nineteenth century European powers had carved and colonized almost every country in Africa besides Ethiopia and Liberia. Imperialism subjugated African resources to every extent. The main impact that imperialism had on the continent of Africa was felt by the native people. Europeans took advantage of the African’s labor and created an industry of atrocious working conditions, soaring taxes and violated humanitarian rights. Thereafter there was the intrusion of English law and language in Africa, upsetting African societies. The natives not only had to struggle to preserve their beliefs and languages, their land was also in jeopardy. European settlers were gradually seizing the land of the natives. These land conflicts often led to the violent rebellions of native tribes with European settlers; however these wars were often unsuccessful. The recruitment of soldiers for European wars was targeted toward natives; this was an enormous impact on Africa. European recruitment often came in the form of slave raiding; this system snatched men away from their families all over the continent Africa. Blacks served as soldiers of wars and large numbers of the m died in wars that existed between Europeans such as the Dutch and the British, although the conflicts existed between whites. The main resources that the Europeans sought after were gold, ivory, diamonds, rubber and palm oil. Palm oil was used for European textiles, guns and manufactured goods. Gold and ivory and other metals were traded and brought great prosperity to West African nations. Native Africans were often disregarded, especially when conferences were held that decided land and resources which, natives were n... Free Essays on Western Imperialism Free Essays on Western Imperialism Western Imperialism Western Imperialism had a tremendous impact on the continent of Africa. This nineteenth century imperialism often referred to as the â€Å"scramble for Africa† was the second phase of exploitation in Africa, enacted by Europeans. In the late nineteenth century European powers had carved and colonized almost every country in Africa besides Ethiopia and Liberia. Imperialism subjugated African resources to every extent. The main impact that imperialism had on the continent of Africa was felt by the native people. Europeans took advantage of the African’s labor and created an industry of atrocious working conditions, soaring taxes and violated humanitarian rights. Thereafter there was the intrusion of English law and language in Africa, upsetting African societies. The natives not only had to struggle to preserve their beliefs and languages, their land was also in jeopardy. European settlers were gradually seizing the land of the natives. These land conflicts often led to the violent rebellions of native tribes with European settlers; however these wars were often unsuccessful. The recruitment of soldiers for European wars was targeted toward natives; this was an enormous impact on Africa. European recruitment often came in the form of slave raiding; this system snatched men away from their families all over the continent Africa. Blacks served as soldiers of wars and large numbers of the m died in wars that existed between Europeans such as the Dutch and the British, although the conflicts existed between whites. The main resources that the Europeans sought after were gold, ivory, diamonds, rubber and palm oil. Palm oil was used for European textiles, guns and manufactured goods. Gold and ivory and other metals were traded and brought great prosperity to West African nations. Native Africans were often disregarded, especially when conferences were held that decided land and resources which, natives were n...

Philip Webb, About the Architect of Arts Crafts

Philip Webb, About the Architect of Arts Crafts Philip Speakman Webb (born January 12, 1831 in Oxford, England) is often called the father of the Arts Crafts Movement, along with his friend William Morris  (1834-1896). Famous for his comfortable, unpretentious country homes, Philip Webb also designed furniture, wallpaper, tapestries, and stained glass. As an architect, Webb is best-known for his unconventional country manor homes and urban terraced houses (townhouses or row houses). He embraced the vernacular, choosing the comfortable, traditional, and functional instead of conforming to the ornate Victorian ornamentation of the day. His homes expressed traditional English building methods- red brick, sash windows, dormers, gables, steep-sloped roofs, and tall Tudor-like chimneys. He was a pioneering figure in the English Domestic Revival Movement, a Victorian residential movement of grand simplicity. Although influenced by medieval styles and the Gothic Revival movement, Webbs highly original, yet practical designs became the germ of modernism. Webb grew up in Oxford, England, at a time when buildings were being remodeled with the latest machine-made materials instead of being restored and preserved with original materials- a childhood experience that would influence the direction of his lifes work. He studied at Aynho in Northamptonshire and trained under John Billing, an architect in Reading, Berkshire, who specialized in traditional building repairs. He became a junior assistant for the office of George Edmund Street, working on churches in Oxford and becoming close friends with William Morris (1819-1900), who also was working for G. E. Street. As young men, Philip Webb and William Morris became associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Movement, a brotherhood of painters and poets who defied the artistic trends of the day and championed the philosophies of social critic John Ruskin (1819-1900). By the mid-19th century, the anti-establishment themes expressed by John Ruskin were taking hold across Britains intelligentsia. The societal ills resulting from Britains Industrial Revolution inspired the backlash, expressed by the likes of author Charles Dickens and architect Philip Webb. Arts and Crafts was a movement first and not simply an architectural style- the Arts and Crafts Movement was a reaction to the mechanization and dehumanization of the Industrial Revolution. Web was among the founders of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner Company, a decorative arts hand-crafting studio founded in 1851. What became Morris Co., the anti-machine-age supplier specialized in handmade stained glass, carving, furniture, wallpaper, carpets, and tapestries. Webb and Morris also founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1877. While associated with Morris company, Webb designed household furnishings and, no doubt, contributed to the evolution of what became known as the Morris Chair. Webb is particularly famous for his table glassware, stained glass, jewelry, and his rustic carvings and adaptations of Stuart period furniture. His interior decorative accessories in metal, glass, wood and embroidery are still found in the residences he built- the Red House has hand-painted glass by Webb. About the Red House: Webbs first architectural commission was the Red House, William Morriss eclectic country home in Bexleyheath, Kent. Built with and for Morris between 1859 and 1860, the Red House has been called the first step toward the modern house- architect John Milnes Baker has quoted German architect Hermann Muthesius as calling the Red House the very first example in the history of the modern house. Webb and Morris designed an interior and exterior that was unified in theory and design.  Incorporating contrasting materials such as white interior walls and bare brickwork, natural and traditional design and construction were modern (and ancient) ways to create the harmonious home. Many photos of the house are from the backyard, with the homes L-shaped design wrapping around a cone-roofed well and natures own garden. The front is on the short side of the L, accessed from the backyard by walking through the rear red brick arch, down a corridor, and to the front hallway near the square stairs in the crook of the L. Webb defied using one architectural style- is it Tudor? Gothic Revival?- and combined traditional building elements to create a simplified, livable space, inside and out. Architectural ownership of both interior and exterior space would in time influence the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) and what became known as the American Prairie Style. Built-in furniture and hand-crafted, custom-made furnishings became hallmarks of British Arts Crafts, American Craftsman, and Prairie Style homes. Webbs Influence on Domestic Architecture: After the Red House, Webbs most notable designs of the 1870s include No. 1 Palace Green and No. 19 Lincolns Inn Fields in London, Smeaton Manor in North Yorkshire, and Joldwynds in Surrey. Webb was the only Pre-Raphaelite to design a church, St. Martins Church in Brampton, 1878. The church includes a set of stained glass windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones and executed in the Morris companys studios. The Arts Crafts movement in the United Kingdom had a great influence on American Craftsman architecture as well as furniture makers such as Gustav Stickley (1858-1942) in the United States. Stickleys Craftsman Farms in New Jersey is considered the best example of original architecture from the American Craftsman movement. One look at Webbs Coneyhurst on the Hill, built in 1886 in Surrey, reminds us of Americas Shingle style homes- the simplicity of domesticity had become gentrified; the grandness contrasts with the small cottages inhabited by the working class. The Clouds House in Wiltshire, finished by Webb that same year, 1886, would not be out of place as a summer cottage in Newport, Rhode Island. In West Sussex, England,  Standen House with Morris Co. interiors could have been another Stanford White design like Naumkeag, an American Shingle Style summer home in the hills of Massachusetts. The name of Philip Webb may not be well-known, yet Webb is considered one of Britains most important architects. His residential designs influenced domestic architecture on at least two continents- in the US and Britain. Philip Webb died April 17, 1915 in Sussex, England. Learn More: John Ruskin, Todays 19th Century CriticTextiles of the Arts and Crafts MovementPhilip Webb: Pioneer of Arts Crafts Architecture by Sheila Kirk, 2005Arts and Crafts Architecture: History and Heritage in New England by Maureen Meister, 2014Clouds: Biography of a Country House by Caroline Dakers, Yale University Press, 1993 Source: American House Styles by John Milnes Baker, Norton, 1994, p. 70

The Battle of Palo Alto

The Battle of Palo Alto The Battle of Palo Alto: The Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846) was the first major engagement of the Mexican-American War. Although the Mexican army was significantly larger than the American force, American superiority in weapons and training carried the day. The battle was a victory for the Americans and began a long series of defeats for the beleaguered Mexican Army. The American Invasion: By 1845, war between the USA and Mexico was inevitable. America coveted Mexicos western holdings, such as California and New Mexico, and Mexico was still furious about the loss of Texas ten years before. When the USA annexed Texas in 1845, there was no going back: Mexican politicians railed against American aggression and fired the nation into a patriotic frenzy. When both nations sent armies to the disputed Texas/Mexico border in early 1846, it was only a matter of time before a series of skirmishes were used as an excuse for both nations to declare war. Zachary Taylors Army: The American forces on the border were commanded by General Zachary Taylor, a skilled officer who would eventually become President of the United States. Taylor had some 2,400 men, including infantry, cavalry and the new flying artillery squads. The flying artillery was a new concept in warfare: teams of men and cannons who could change positions on a battlefield rapidly. The Americans had high hopes for their new weapon, and they would not be disappointed. Mariano Aristas Army: General Mariano Arista was confident that he could defeat Taylor: his 3,300 troops were among the best in the Mexican army. His infantry was supported by cavalry and artillery units. Although his men were ready for battle, there was unrest. Arista had recently been given the command over General Pedro Ampudia and there was much intrigue and infighting in the Mexican officer ranks. The Road to Fort Texas: Taylor had two locations to worry about: Fort Texas, a recently-built fort on the Rio Grande near Matamoros, and Point Isabel, where his supplies were. General Arista, who knew he had overwhelming numerical superiority, was looking to catch Taylor in the open. When Taylor took most of his army to Point Isabel to reinforce his supply lines, Arista set a trap: he began bombarding Fort Texas, knowing Taylor would have to march to its aid. It worked: on May 8, 1846, Taylor marched only to find Arista’s army in a defensive stance blocking the road to Fort Texas. The first major battle of the Mexican-American War was about to begin. Artillery Duel: Neither Arista nor Taylor seemed willing to make the first move, so the Mexican army began firing its artillery at the Americans. The Mexican guns were heavy, fixed and used inferior gunpowder: reports from the battle say the cannonballs traveled slowly enough and far enough for the Americans to dodge them when they came. The Americans answered with artillery of their own: the new â€Å"flying artillery† cannons had a devastating effect, pouring shrapnel rounds into the Mexican ranks. The Battle of Palo Alto: General Arista, seeing his ranks ripped apart, sent his cavalry after the American artillery. The horsemen were met with concerted, deadly cannon fire: the charge faltered, then retreated. Arista tried to send infantry after the cannons, but with the same result. About this time, a smoky brush fire broke out in the long grass, shielding the armies from one another. Dusk fell about the same time as the smoke cleared, and the armies disengaged. The Mexicans retreated seven miles to a gulch known as Resaca de la Palma, where the armies would battle again the following day. Legacy of the Battle of Palo Alto: Although the Mexicans and Americans had been skirmishing for weeks, Palo Alto was the first major clash between large armies. Neither side won the battle, as the forces disengaged as dusk fell and the grass fires went out, but in terms of casualties it was a win for the Americans. The Mexican army lost some 250 to 500 dead and wounded to about 50 for the Americans. The biggest loss for the Americans was the death in battle of Major Samuel Ringgold, their best artilleryman and a pioneer in the development of the lethal flying infantry. The battle decisively proved the worth of the new flying artillery. The American artillerymen practically won the battle by themselves, killing enemy soldiers from afar and driving back attacks. Both sides were surprised at the effectiveness of this new weapon: in the future, the Americans would try to capitalize on it and the Mexicans would try to defend against it. The early win greatly boosted the confidence of the Americans, who were essentially a force of invasion: they knew they would be fighting against huge odds and in hostile territory for the rest of the war. As for the Mexicans, they learned that they would have to find some way to neutralize the American artillery or run the risk of repeating the results of the Battle of Palo Alto. Sources: Eisenhower, John S.D. So Far from God: the U.S. War with Mexico, 1846-1848. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1989 Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007. Scheina, Robert L. Latin Americas Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899 Washington, D.C.: Brasseys Inc., 2003. Wheelan, Joseph. Invading Mexico: Americas Continental Dream and the Mexican War, 1846-1848. New York: Carroll and Graf, 2007.

DNA repair mechanisms role in survival to nucleoside analogues Thesis

DNA repair mechanisms role in survival to nucleoside analogues treatment in S.pombe - Thesis Example Two methods of treatment where this is especially important to consider are topoisomerase inhibitors and nucleoside analogues. In both of these cases, DNA repair systems involve the use of the Mre11/Rad50/NBS1 complex. This project aims to examine how DNA repair mechanisms of Schizosaccharomyces pombe contribute to resistance to treatment with nucleoside analogues. This information should help to provide further insight into the way in which human cells are able to develop resistance to this form of treatment, and perhaps provide some indication of a method to prevent this. In everyday life, cells are exposed to external and internal agents that cause thousands of DNA mutations per day. These mutations range from being small, such as affecting a single nucleotide, to large mutations where accurate repair can be difficult. For the accurate propagation of the genetic information within cells, it is essential that the body has mechanisms of repairing damage in a reliable manner. However, while many methods for DNA repair exist, these are not always successful and mutations can accumulate, resulting in the development of cancer (Helleday et al., 2007). Understanding these processes, why they occur the way that they do and what can be done to influence these is crucial for knowing the way that cancer occurs, and determining methods of treating it effectively. In our modern society, cancer has remained one of the most well studied diseases and perhaps one of the least understood. The fundamental aspects of cancer are damage in the DNA of a cell that results in a lack of control over cell growth and replication, as well reducing the likelihood that cells will enter apoptosis. These cells are able to proliferate well beyond the normal constraints of the tissue that they are in (Loeb et al., 2003). With high levels of replication and low cell death, abnormal cells build up

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Consultancy ( team project Essay

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Consultancy ( team project individual reflection) - Essay Example 4). Each of its parts; from description to the action plan is carefully designed to cover virtually every element of a project reflection. Each and every step of the Gibb’s cycle will be closely followed with respect to the details of the teamwork during the project. Per say this consultancy project was not only vital for my personal growth, but also for my programme; I learnt a plethora of lessons, and the experience was nothing short of exhilarating. The project concerned the Port of Dover, a logistics sector owned, maintained and operated by the Dover Harbour Board. This port ranks among the busiest ports in Europe and handles approximately five million excess of vehicles each year. In context, my team comprised of eight members with a single leader (Willeke). Our project, as in the title above, was logistics and supply chain management consultancy. Each day, the team converged in the University Library, or sometimes in the Information Technology Lab. Procedurally, we began by each member of the group tabling their individual report works mostly during the morning hours. Then, a discussion of the progress for each member of the team ensued. Here, each member would present their hardships and everything appertaining to their progress with resp ect to the task allocated. After the discussion, Willeke, the team leader, would give her opinions regarding the overall progress and give her suggestions as well. Concerning task division, the leader began by giving out questionnaires to every member of the team to complete. This step solely applied the Belbin theory of team roles, which in some way, was meant to harmonise the working of the group (Belbin, 2009 p. 3). After that, Microsoft Excel sheets were given to every one of us that would be used for the period of two and a half weeks. Notably yet, all the tasks that would be allocated to the team were based on the two provided files. As one of the members of the team, my primary task was to

AIM in London Stock Exchange Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

AIM in London Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example The main advantage of this system is that it has reduced the regulatory barriers and constraints and has been able to attract new firms in the market and lot of investment in the market. Alternative investment Market is required to comply and abide by certain specified rules and regulations that has been established in accordance with the rules and regulations that has been established by the act of Financial Services and Market. The Alternative investment market does not include the corporate governance and therefore it has been advised that the NOMADS are required to follow the principles or regulations that have been introduced by the London stock exchange. The rules and regulations includes that the Nomads must be the member of the firm that is associated with professionals of corporate finance and it is required to be approved by the London Stock exchange. The exchange has also provided benefit for the private regulators that is an incentive will be offered for enhancing its value in the market. The main objective behind appointing the Nomads are that it is appointed as the private gate keepers or as the watch dog in deciding whether the companies that are willing to list their shares in the market are appropriate or preferable for the market and they are the supervisors for monitoring the companies or the firms for ensuring that the standards related to the exchange that is regulated by the corporate governance are fulfilled. The needs and requirements of AIM are very flexible in nature and it does not require market capitalization and also trading requirement. It measures the appropriate value of the cost of the investors. The regulators of Alternative investment market that is the nomads are engaged in the preparation of the working capital report, pro forma financial information, historical financial information and also the report on the financial procedures. The importance of AIM can be observed from the fact that AIM is flourishing and its

About german Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

About german - Essay Example The efficiency is admirable because if something is worth doing the Germans do it right. The obedience to the laws is also commendable. Laws are not created for citizens to pick and choose. They are for the betterment of society. Germans seem to understand this concept. As for the nudity when sunbathing, swimming, or in the sauna, this is laudable due to the shamelessness in the human body. Whether a svelte teenager or a wrinkled old woman the Germans are comfortable with their body. Americans are sometimes efficient, but not across the whole population. The efficiency personality varies among Americans. The obedience to the law is not as important to Americans. It seems that Americans pick and choose laws that are fair. If a law does not appear to be fair an American will fight to change it. For example at a red light in an emergency, an American will run the light. Germans would not. Americans enjoy nudity only for the good looking woman. Men can take off their shirts, but full nudity is obscene to Americans. Women can show everything but the chest and other private areas. Old people that are nude make the Americans disgusted. Germans and Americans are just different in these three

Literature Critique Antibiotic Trials for Coronary Heart Disease Lab Report

Literature Critique Antibiotic Trials for Coronary Heart Disease - Lab Report Example Myocardial Infection with Chlamydia) trial performed on 302 patients with ACS and seropositive for C. pneumoniae was conducted in USA. The patients were randomized to placebo or azithromycin 500 mg/ day for three days followed by 500mg/ week for three months. On the basis of the results of ACADEMIC trial in USA, Gupta etal designed a study with 60 patients in UK. These patients were survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) and elevated antibody titers against Chlamydia. Another trial called STAMINA (The South Thames trial of Antibiotics in Myocardial Infarction and unstable angina) (n=325) addressed both C.pneumoniae and H.pylori . Multiple drug therapy using amoxicillin (500mg/day) for H.pylori and azithromycin(500mg/day) for C.pneumoniae . both combined with metronidazole (400 mg twice a day )and omeperazole( 20mg twice a day )was administered to the patients. Follow up of this trial extended for one year. There were two more large and intermediate size trials made with randomized patient groups of ACS viz. AZACS and CLARIFY. AZACS (Azithromycin in acute coronary syndrome) This trial involved 1450 patients in Los Angeles and this trial recruited patients regardless of their serostatus for Chlamydia infection. treatment with azithromycin.was given for 5- days and duration of follow up was 6-months. Another trial CLARIFY (Clarithromycin in Acute Coronary syndrome patients in Finland) also studied the effect of antibiotic therapy on the secondary prevention of ACS on 148 patients. The patient selection criteria was subjects with acute non-Q-wave MI or unstable angina . These patients were randomized to blinded therapy with either clarithromycin or placebo for three months. The primary endpoint was composite of death, MI, or unstable...(Anderson & Muhlestein, 2004) Atherosclerosis is a disease of epidemic proportions in the western world. Hence a lot of studies have been directed towards this disease till date. Small pilot studies conducted showed a strong association of C. pneuminiae IgG antibody with clinical atherosclerosis. Morever, animal studies have demonstrated the ability of active infection with C. pneumoniae to stimulate or accelerate, and antibiotics to prevent, atherosclerosis ( Anderson & Muhlestein, 2004). and seropositivity to C.pneumoniae and randomized them to recive either placebo or 3 months of treatment with azithromycin (600mg/week).The primary endpoint was a composite of death, MI, hospitalization for unstable angina or need for repeat revascularization at 3 years. ANTIBIO (Antibiotic therapy after Acute Myocardial Infarction) trials examined treatment with roxithromycin (a macrolide antibiotic) versus placebo for 6 weeks in 872 patients with acute MI. In this case the study end point was death. The ISAR-3 (Intracoronary Stenting and Antibiotic Regimen 3) study investigated roxithromycin, an effective anti-chlamydia macrolide for the prevention of restonosis after coronary stent deployment.

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Personal Statement - Essay Example I have already proven the practical nature of my endeavors by transforming my graduation project into my own business empire. I particularly need this scholarship opportunity to reflect my intelligence and ability as a future scientist because my Math grades in the school have not been favorable. Despite being inherently good at Math, my grades were jeopardized by an inexperienced and unqualified Math teacher. I want something as weighty and reliable as this scholarship opportunity to counter the effect of my Math grades and advocate my intelligence and capability before my employers on my behalf. Our industry’s emphasis on Mathematically competent workforce is increasing as the work processes are becoming increasingly technological and innovative. Therefore, I intend to specialize in Mathematics after graduation and having secured a scholarship in the past will optimize my tendency to secure more scholarships in the future. This scholarship will give me the thrust to reach my dream destination in the long

Literature Critique Antibiotic Trials for Coronary Heart Disease Lab Report

Literature Critique Antibiotic Trials for Coronary Heart Disease - Lab Report Example Myocardial Infection with Chlamydia) trial performed on 302 patients with ACS and seropositive for C. pneumoniae was conducted in USA. The patients were randomized to placebo or azithromycin 500 mg/ day for three days followed by 500mg/ week for three months. On the basis of the results of ACADEMIC trial in USA, Gupta etal designed a study with 60 patients in UK. These patients were survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) and elevated antibody titers against Chlamydia. Another trial called STAMINA (The South Thames trial of Antibiotics in Myocardial Infarction and unstable angina) (n=325) addressed both C.pneumoniae and H.pylori . Multiple drug therapy using amoxicillin (500mg/day) for H.pylori and azithromycin(500mg/day) for C.pneumoniae . both combined with metronidazole (400 mg twice a day )and omeperazole( 20mg twice a day )was administered to the patients. Follow up of this trial extended for one year. There were two more large and intermediate size trials made with randomized patient groups of ACS viz. AZACS and CLARIFY. AZACS (Azithromycin in acute coronary syndrome) This trial involved 1450 patients in Los Angeles and this trial recruited patients regardless of their serostatus for Chlamydia infection. treatment with azithromycin.was given for 5- days and duration of follow up was 6-months. Another trial CLARIFY (Clarithromycin in Acute Coronary syndrome patients in Finland) also studied the effect of antibiotic therapy on the secondary prevention of ACS on 148 patients. The patient selection criteria was subjects with acute non-Q-wave MI or unstable angina . These patients were randomized to blinded therapy with either clarithromycin or placebo for three months. The primary endpoint was composite of death, MI, or unstable...(Anderson & Muhlestein, 2004) Atherosclerosis is a disease of epidemic proportions in the western world. Hence a lot of studies have been directed towards this disease till date. Small pilot studies conducted showed a strong association of C. pneuminiae IgG antibody with clinical atherosclerosis. Morever, animal studies have demonstrated the ability of active infection with C. pneumoniae to stimulate or accelerate, and antibiotics to prevent, atherosclerosis ( Anderson & Muhlestein, 2004). and seropositivity to C.pneumoniae and randomized them to recive either placebo or 3 months of treatment with azithromycin (600mg/week).The primary endpoint was a composite of death, MI, hospitalization for unstable angina or need for repeat revascularization at 3 years. ANTIBIO (Antibiotic therapy after Acute Myocardial Infarction) trials examined treatment with roxithromycin (a macrolide antibiotic) versus placebo for 6 weeks in 872 patients with acute MI. In this case the study end point was death. The ISAR-3 (Intracoronary Stenting and Antibiotic Regimen 3) study investigated roxithromycin, an effective anti-chlamydia macrolide for the prevention of restonosis after coronary stent deployment.

Assertion of the Supreme Court Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assertion of the Supreme Court - Research Paper Example Bill of Rights – was founded on this concern; inclusive of all its prohibitions, pertaining to various issues of legal justice and jurisprudence. In this regard, issues focused on within the prohibitions include: - the rights of all Americans against self-incrimination, right against unwarranted and unreasonable searches and seizures, and importantly; with regard to the issue under focus – the right to trial by jury. This right to a jury trial, plays a vital role within the American justice system; hence the need to not only understand prevailing weaknesses and strengths, but further still, on the critical function of the jury, within criminal matter contexts (Vogler, 2005). The American Supreme Court, has in recent history continuously asserted on the fact that a defendant is not entitled to a jury that is composed in part, or whole, by individuals of his/her own race or ethnic identity. These rulings are without doubt well-intentioned, given the sensitive nature of criminal trials in any given locality or state. While viewed as a positive way forward, the rulings in no way obligate the utility of racially mixed juries in given case scenarios, nor do they prohibit states from utilizing such a jury. In fact, as Jeffrey (1994) asserts, quite a substantial number of legal scholars and policy makers are of the view that the utility of racial criteria, can in fact aid in the promotion of racial diversity within prevailing American juries. Suggestions have been further provided, on the need to ensure larger proportions of racial minorities are included; by way of removing some of the majority-race jurors present (Jeffrey, 1994). According to the Sixth Amendment of the American Constitution, a jury trial is guaranteed to anyone facing all manner of criminal cases i.e. misdemeanor, felony, state or federal in nature. Presently however, as Forsyth & Appleton (2009) allude, it is more common to those individuals facing potential imprisonment, of at least six

Wilfred Owen War Poet Essay Example for Free

Wilfred Owen War Poet Essay The first Word War which took place mostly in Europe from 1914 to 1918 left millions dead and shaped the modern world. After World War I poets started to write about their experiences. Most of these poets had been soldiers who wrote the poetry to reflect the horror of their experiences in an immediate and realistic way. Trench warfare in particular and the chaos of war in general were the source of the poems indignation and disgust. The high death rate and the horrific conditions suffered by those fighting in the trenches meant that the concept of ‘heroic sacrifice’ in service to one’s country became meaningless. Patriotic poetry was therefore replaced with poems that were to symbolize the futility of war, protesting against the waste of life and forcing its readers to engage emotionally with reality. Within this essay I will look at the effects the war had on soldiers who fought in the trenches and how they dealt with the unimaginable numbers of deaths they encountered daily. I will explore the way they were able to cope with the grief and loss and how attitudes towards death and mourning changed as a result of the war. Throughout this piece I will focus on one particular soldier, Wilfred Owen, and the poetry he wrote about the loss of lives and the effect that his writing had on the mourning and memories of those left behind. In writings on World War 1, the enactment of grief is often overshadowed by the drama of battle, as in the wider conflict where loss is born; grief leaves no one unaffected by its devastation. Writing, whether in the form of poetry or letters, allowed the soldiers to share their anguish as a way of coming to terms with their harrowing loss and sense of guilt as survivors. Before the war there was a system of both public and private grieving and mourning. Mourners wore black and the period of mourning was dependent upon the relationship to the deceased. Funerals could be elaborate affairs depending on social class and many of these conventions were shaped by religious and Christian beliefs which enforced a public respectability in the grieving process. After the war broke out however, death in combat demanded that soldiers and their relatives express their grief in a new way. Without the remnants of a body, or the ritual of a funeral, their descriptions through their writings were more than just words. The details of death which soldiers conveyed, offered an emotional comfort to families, but at the same time their words would also scar those families for life. Surrounded by unimaginable numbers of their comrades who had died prematurely, soldiers fumbled to find a voice to convey the meaning of such circumstances. Letter writing for many became a way they could attempt to control the chaos which surrounded them, but a few soldiers began to make sense of it all through poetry. Some critics believed Wilfred Owen to be the most individual and best of the war poets. He forged a new kind of elegy upon the anvil of modern industrialised warfare. The best of Owens poems were to be written between the summer of 1917 and autumn 1918 after meeting another poet, Siegfried Sassoon, at Craiglockhart Hospital. Owens poetry after his experiences in the trenches moved his poems towards a powerful realism where the observations are disturbing, for him the war was a tragedy and beneath the surface disgust, lays a pity and compassion that raised his poetry above simple propaganda. Some of his poems from the war help us to rethink the elegiac triad of; mourning poet, mourning reader, and mourned victim, suggesting that even in war elegies; both poet and reader may partly create the victimisation they mourn. He brought a profound but sceptical understanding of the resources available to the mourning poet in the sonnets ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ and ‘Futility’; he resisted the traditional conventions of an elegy. ‘Anthem’ is a collective elegy for the nameless many and ‘Futility’ an elegy for a single man. Critics often treat the elegy as a therapeutic device: working through grief, creating an aesthetic substitution for loss, the elegist masters or at least manages pain. Many of Owens elegies do not fit this therapeutic model. Their task, it seems, is to maintain a certain amount of suffering, not to effect a cure; they produce not a yield of pleasure but an aggravation of pain. Some of Owens critics accuse him of consolatory mourning in ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ suggesting that Owen participates in the religious ideology of compensatory exchange, urging us to accept memory as a substitute for human lives. The enormity of the loss of lives precludes any of the traditional rituals of consolation mourning; all that remains is the suffering of unfocused grief down an endless recession of time, and ‘each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds’. ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ was written whilst Owen was in Craiglockhart with the encouragement of Sassoon. It is in sonnet form and is an elegy where he relates to the youth, these were very young men whose lives were most definitely doomed. Owen immediately engages readers with the use of questions as though interrogating them. He asks a question in the first line of each stanza, following with his answers for the remainder of the stanza. His first question ‘What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? ’ (1) suggests he feels the tribute made to dead soldiers is insufficient. Are they merely cattle being sent to slaughter whose lives of little importance? His second question, ‘What candles may be held to speed them all? ’ (9), shows his belief that people do not understand the nature of these deaths as he looks at how the community responds to their loss through ritual. Where we might expect the religious lexis to offer hope in a time of despair, he sees it as a mockery of the sacrifices being made. For Owen, it is not the outward show of public rituals, ‘the candles’ and ‘flowers’ that is meaningful, but inner reflection. The first part of the poem contains words made to sound like the war and weapons, ‘guns’, ‘rifles’, ‘shells’ which are ironically linked to religious imagery – ‘bells’, ‘orisons’, ‘prayers’ and ‘choirs’. In line 8 things switch from the fighting to Britain’s ‘sad shires’ where loved ones mourn, changing the tone to rueful contemplation from bitter passion. ‘And bugles calling for them from sad shires’(8) the Bugler’s ‘last post’ was traditionally interpreted as a strain of farewell at a serviceman’s funeral, whereas here Owen hears it as an unanswerable call to return to the alliterated ‘sad shires’. Owen being from Shropshire, thought of the typical Englishman as a ‘Shropshire Lad’ and the traditional, united country life where each individual was know as part of the community, his loss would be grieved by all. Owen carefully sets the chaos of the trenches against the subdued atmosphere of church. Phrases like ‘passing-bells’ (1) and ‘holy-glimmers’ (11) and ‘voice of mourning’ (6) symbolise the sanctity of life – and death – whilst suggesting also the inadequacy, the futility, even meaninglessness of organised religion against the cataclysm of war. Once again in lines 9 – 14 religious images and illusions are dominant. The ‘candles’ in the ‘hands of boys’ and the ‘pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall’ suggesting that these things are meaningless, you just need to look into their eyes and the pale faces of the women left behind to learn the truth about war, their silent minds stand as the most fitting tribute to the sacrifices made. Owens poem begins to envisage the chaos of war as an unending condition of modern existence with every individual bearing somewhere its scars. The constant reference to religious imagery seems symbolic, representations of the spiritual, which he sees as a ‘mockery’(5), just as in his eyes, ‘candles’, ‘flowers’ and the ‘drawing down of blinds’(14) are no more gestures in a public mourning which bears no resemblance to individual experience. This moving image of closure brings the sonnet to a quiet close. The ‘drawing-down of blinds’(14) is linked to the English tradition of closing curtains or drawing down blinds in a house of mourning. As ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ ends with the sun at dusk, the end of a day and a representation of the end of many lives, ‘Futility’ begins with the sun at dawn, the beginning of the day yet still the end of a life. Shortly after writing the poem ‘Futility’, Owen categorised his poems, placing this one under the heading of grief. Although Owen appeared to know the dead soldier written about, the anonymity allows it to be universal; it could be describing any soldier as he ponders nature’s power to create life, setting it against the futility of extinction. It takes the form of a short elegiac lyric where he uses the sun as a metaphorical framework. ‘Move him into the sun’(1), the poem begins with an instruction which seems a gentle command especially as many of the words throughout the first stanza reinforce this softness of emotion, ‘gently’(2), ‘whispering’ (3) and ‘kind’ (7). The sun is personified ‘gently its touch’(2), ‘whispering’ just as he uses personification in ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ to give a powerful images to demonstrate the lives that are ruined through war. Once again in this poem, along with ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, he refers to how young the soldiers were that died, ‘fields half sown’(3), a metaphor for lives not fully lived yet, they had not had time to experience life before they died at war. War for Owen was senseless, for so many men to lose their lives, especially at a young age, made him question the purpose of our existence. He was convinced that many of the people, who remained in England and hadn’t experienced the warfare, didn’t understand how the soldiers were suffering and therefore couldn’t express true sympathy. He felt by writing ‘Futility’ he would be able to portray the worthlessness of war, the uselessness of human life and arouse pity and grief in those who read it. (Mahmud 2008) The dead soldier in ‘Futility’ is not given a name perhaps to represent every soldier who was killed in the war. C. W. Gillam (1965) states that ‘the sight of the dead soldier makes the writer wonder why creation ever happened if it was to end only in such futility’. The persona wonders if we were created for this, and if this is the case, then our existence seems meaningless. Consequently, the experience of loss is universalised, the reader imagines this soldier to be a potential close relative or any human who is caught up in a chaotic world. The ‘O’ indicates the bitterness of this discovery, the poem produced an initial emotion of hope, but ends with the feeling of hopelessness. The contrast between the peacefulness of the first stanza against the grief and anger of the second makes this a poem that conveys its message of the meaningless of life and a protest against the wisdom of creating people only to have them die in such horrific circumstances. The First World War had a drastic effect on the poetry of many poets of the twentieth century. Poets like Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, as well as many others gave us their firsthand experience of war and described the fatal effects whether physical or mental upon those who participated and those left behind. Many of the poets suffered from psychological problems during and after the war due to shell shock and the horrible mutilation they witnessed on the battlefield. Some of the poetry can help us understand the sense of grief and anger at the pointlessness of war and the anger at the sheer numbers of soldiers sent to battle to be massacred like ‘cattle’. Early on the morning of 4th November 1918 Wilfred Owen was killed by enemy fire. When the telegram arrived to inform his parents of his death the local church bells could be heard, ironically linking him to his own poetry ‘passing-bells for these who die’ even though the bells were in celebration of the Armistice. Owens’s poetry is not for everyone as it combines graphic descriptions of war and the reality for those involved on the front line. He is generally acknowledged as being both the most successful, and best, poet of wars reality. The reason why may be found in the preface to his poetry, of which a drafted fragment was found after Owens death: Yet these elegies are not to this generation, this is in no sense consolatory. They may be to the next. All a poet can do today is to warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful.

The Published Financial Statement Accounting Essay

The Published Financial Statement Accounting Essay Annual report and accounts consists of different elements. A financial statement contains the financial information which is communicated to various users depending on their needs. The users can be internal or external users. The importance of this information varies, depending on the needs of specific users but according to the framework, the publication of financial information serves to reflect and to provide a clear image of the financial situation and performance of the entity which will help them to make a financial decision. Thomas and Marie (2012, 55). Users need financial information to assess the way the company uses its liquidity to fund its operations and investment, to be informed about its financial position and the nature of its resources for daily transactions, to estimate or predict the circumstances that may affect them, to be informed about the extent to which the company follows the laws and regulations. Usually the performance information is represented on the in come statement, the financial situation is represented on the balance sheet, and the information about changes in financial position is supplied in the notes to financial statements. Financial statements are the principal means of communicating financial information to various users. The framework defines seven essential users (Jill and Roger, 2007) but in contrast, Peter and Eddie (2002p 3) state that there are internal and external users who already have a relationship with the firm in economic terms or those who are interested in a future relationship. Starting with managers, Petter and Eddie (2002.3) noted that managers need information to assist them to make the decision and adopt and strategy of planning for the future. Furthermore, the manager who has been put in charge of presenting financial statements also needs this information to be sure that the management style, strategy and planning adopted are beneficial to the financial performance of the company. The conceptual framework states that the employees are principally interested in the type of information which permits them of having a clear idea about the stability and the performance of the company that they work for (Thomas and Ward,56 2012). Employees need information in order to ensure the stability of their jobs in the future, and to measure their ability to determine if there is a chance of getting a higher pay or promotion, and other benefits. The Investors need information about management policy, performance, stability and financial position of the company as well as to assess the risk and benefits provided by the investment in order to make a decision. Also, they need information to help them choose the proper time for transactions like buying and selling. Thomas and Ward (2012:56) Lenders are always taking risks which is why they choose the contract with lowest risk the framework noted that they are interested in information about performance and economic stability of the company, and also the information about the situation of liquidity available in the present and the future, in order to ensure whether the borrower is able to meet the deadlines for the payment of their loans and the interest. (Thomas and Ward, 2012:57). Regarding suppliers and other creditors, Thomas and Maries said that giving a loan and outputting goods without immediate payment is the same. This is the reason, they will be interested in the information that will help them at the beginning to decide whether to engage with company or not, and also to study the duration and the amount of credit to offer. According to the framework, suppliers and other creditors are interested in information that enable them to know whether they will be repaid at due date. Yet Suppliers and others creditors are interested in engaging with the enterprise for a shorter period compared to lenders who are concerned about liquidity position and the supplier seeks to know if there is a growth within the company and compare it with these production capacities. Jill and Roger (200741) states that the customers are interested in the information that enable them to evaluate the performance and ability of the company to continue its business and to know their capacity to meet the requirements of quality, the quantity and time to provide goods and services depending on customer needs. Governments and their agencies are composed by the tax authorities, financial and organization like central bank that has authority of control and regulations. Principally, the information is used as basis for calculating dues and taxes that the company has to pay. It has noted that the government and their agencies are interested in information about profitability and how it is distributed, with the aim of determining the tax policy, as they need information on the conduct of activities of entities to adjust them. (Thomas and Ward, 582012) The public is also interested in information about the performance of the company in order to define the level at which the company is progressing and its impact on economic development and social environment. To ensure that the information is useful to users for decision making, four qualitative characteristics need to be present in the information. Understandability the user must understand the information directly but should have basic knowledge of accounting and the economy. Relevance information must meet the needs of users in order for them to make decisions and enable them to compare the events of different periods. Reliability information must be reliable to give a real image of transactions and other operations. Comparability the information has to be available for comparison over time to determine the situation and the economic performance. (Jill and Hussey, 422007) It is true that the financial information addresses different user groups under standard characteristics, but it still has limitations on the usefulness of the information. The financial statement is based on historical costs. That is to say it is only monetary operations but the declaration is not correct. Also, with regards to the intangible assets there is no possibility of measuring the values of all of them in the sector of accounting. For instance, human resources are also ignored in most financial statements, and the brand value of the company is not on the statements either. Inflation is not included in the present value and all the information are based on estimates, so there is no real value on which the user can rely on. The financial statement does not take into consideration any anticipated financial condition that can happen in the industry and market which might affect the performance of the company and the decision taken by the different users of the financial statement which contains only financial information and ignores the non-financial information which is not sufficient for certain users as the case of public and employees. In contrast, investors are more concerned than other users by information presented in the financial statement. To conclude, the company is obliged to communicate the information under financial quality standards that are useful to different users, which are a total of eight. They are; managers, investors, customers, suppliers and other creditors, employees, lenders, government, and the general public. The objective of this information is to reflect the performance, position and stability of the company for the user to make a good decision. Despite the quality and control, the rest information is still not reliable and useful for certain users to make a decision.

Arapesh and Embedded vs. Disembedded economy :: Essays Papers

Arapesh and Embedded vs. Disembedded economy Polanyi says, regarding the economy, â€Å"the economic process†¦.is embedded in noneconomic institutions.† An embedded economy is an economy in which economic activities occur such as, production and distribution; however other activities, which are not economic also occur. Activities such as forming friendships or helping other people may be happening, but it might just seem like the normal economic process because it is an embedded economy. When Polanyi says that the economy is â€Å"embedded in noneconomic institutions† he means that while economic activity is occurring, it is occurring for noneconomic reasons. The economic activity may be occurring in order to continue a friendship or help someone. Activities in an embedded economy often seem like they are not economic activities. They seem like this because usually the reason the economic activity is occurring is for noneconomic reasons. For example, if two bakers both produce wheat bread, but do not eat their own, instead they exchange bread, because they want to have a reason to be friends. This situation does not seem like economic activity, it seems like two people sharing their food. It actually is economic activity, because the two bakers are both producing and distributing their bread. So, even though the bakers are only exchanging the bread because they want to maintain their friendship, what they are doing is an economic activity that would happen in an embedded economy. Today most economic activity is considered to be part of a disembedded economy. In a disembedded economy, economic activity occurs only for economic reasons, so it is the opposite of an embedded economy. Economic activity is completely independent from such institutions as family or friendship. An example, of activity in a disembedded economy is a person going to a grocery store and buying bread. There is no other institution involved in the economic process of production and distribution of the bread which is why this would occur in a disembedded economy. The producer of the bread is making the bread so that he can sell it and get money for it, the consumer is buying the bread so it will belong to him. Economic activities of production and distribution are perceived by the Arapesh to just be part of their society. Everything that the Arapesh use and take care of daily belongs to someone else, whether it is their trees or pigs. The Arapesh believe that they must share what they own with the other Arapesh to help them survive.

The History of Espn

$91, That’s all it cost to have ESPN incorporated back in 1978, when it was only run by three people, Bill Rasmussen, Scott Rasmussen, and Ed Eagan. Now if you take a look at ESPN today, you’ll see one of the world’s largest broadcast corporations. The History of ESPN is a long and pretty interesting story. Like stated above, the history of ESPN truly begins on September 7th, 1978, when the three founders paid $91 to have the company incorporated. After deciding to go with a 24-hour broadcasting schedule, ESPN debuted with Sports Center later that month, and then began to air a large variety of sports ranging from professional soft ball, to NCAA wrestling. Their fist dabble into a massive professional sport would be with the United States Football League, who’s games would be aired on the network. The league only survived for three years, but it gave the network the experience it needed when they gained partial rights to air Sunday Night football games, in 1987. Sunday Night Football would be on the network for nineteen years, till they switched to Monday nights. These are just the starting years to the massive behemoth that is ESPN. The 1990’s, a good a time period as any for ESPN. They gained rights to air MLB games, and also saw the founding of ESPN 2, in 1993. ESPN radio kicked of a year before ESPN 2, in 1992, making the company multi medial. 1996 saw the presence of Disney corperation, the parent company of ESPN, merge ABC sports and ESPN together. In 1997, ESPN started using SKYCAM to air it’s NHL games, and would soon put that innovative tech to use with the three other major sports leagues, MLB, NFL, and NBA. Company founders were long gone now, and things were looking really good for the future of the company.

Last Sacrifice Chapter Eleven

I BRACED MYSELF, EXPECTING TO see the Dashkov brothers appear again with some last minute â€Å"advice.' Instead I saw– â€Å"Adrian!' I ran across the garden I'd appeared in and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back just as tightly and lifted me off the ground. â€Å"Little dhampir,' he said, once he put me down again. His arms stayed around my waist. â€Å"I've missed you.' â€Å"I've missed you too.' And I meant it. The last couple days and their bizarre events had completely unhinged my life, and being with him–even in a dream–was comforting. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, enjoying a small moment of warmth and peace as our lips met. â€Å"Are you okay?' he asked when I broke away. â€Å"No one'll tell me much about you. Your old man says you're safe and that the Alchemist would let him know if anything went wrong.' I didn't bother telling Adrian that that probably wasn't true, seeing as Abe didn't know we'd gone freelancing with some backwoods vampires. â€Å"I'm fine,' I assured Adrian. â€Å"Mostly bored. We're holed up in this dive of a town. I don't think anyone will come looking for us. I don't think they'd want to.' A look of relief spread over his handsome face, and it occurred to me just how worried he was. â€Å"I'm glad. Rose, you can't imagine what it's like. They aren't just questioning people who might have been involved. The guardians are making all sorts of plans to hunt you down. There's all this talk about â€Å"deadly force.† â€Å"Well, they won't find me. I'm somewhere pretty remote.' Very remote. â€Å"I wish I could have gone with you.' He still looked concerned, and I pressed a finger to his lips. â€Å"No. Don't say that. You're better off where you are–and better not to be associated with me any more than you already are. Have you been questioned?' â€Å"Yeah, they didn't get anything useful out of me. Too tight an alibi. They brought me in when I went to find Mikhail because we talked to–‘ â€Å"I know. Joe.' Adrian's surprise was brief. â€Å"Little dhampir, you've been spying.' â€Å"It's hard not to.' â€Å"You know, as much as I like the idea of having someone always know when you're in trouble, I'm still kind of glad I don't have anyone bound to me. Not sure I'd want them looking in my head.' â€Å"I don't think anyone would want to look in your head either. One person living Adrian Ivashkov's life is hard enough.' Amusement flickered in his eyes, but it faded when I switched back to business. â€Å"Anyway, yeah. I overheard Lissa's †¦ um, interrogation of Joe. That's serious stuff. What did Mikhail say? If Joe lied, that clears half the evidence against me.' It also theoretically killed Adrian's alibi. â€Å"Well, not quite half. It would have been better if Joe said you were in your room during the murder instead of admitting he's a flake who doesn't remember anything. It also would have been better if he hadn't said all this under Lissa's compulsion. Mikhail can't report that.' I sighed. Hanging out with spirit users, I'd started to take compulsion for granted. It was easy to forget that among Moroi, it was taboo, the kind of thing you'd get in serious trouble for. In fact, Lissa wouldn't just get in trouble for illicitly using it. She could also be accused of simply making Joe say whatever she wanted. Anything he said in my favor would be suspect. No one would believe it. â€Å"Also,' added Adrian, looking dismayed, â€Å"if what Joe said gets out, the world would learn about my mother's misguided acts of love.' â€Å"Im sorry,' I said, putting my arms around him. He complained about his parents all the time but really did care about his mother. Finding out about her bribery had to be tough for him, and I knew Tatiana's death still pained him. It seemed I was around a lot of men in anguish lately. â€Å"Although, I really am glad she cleared you of any connection.' â€Å"It was stupid of her. If anyone finds out, she'll be in serious trouble.' â€Å"What's Mikhail's advice then?' â€Å"He's going to find Joe and question him privately. Go from there. For now, there's not much more we can do with the info. It's useful for us †¦ but not for the legal system.' â€Å"Yeah,' I said, trying not to feel disheartened. â€Å"I guess it's better than nothing.' Adrian nodded and then brushed away his dark mood in that easy way of his. Still keeping his arms around me, he pulled back slightly, smiling as he looked down at me. â€Å"Nice dress, by the way.' The topic change caught me by surprise, though I should have been used to it with him by now. Following his gaze, I noticed I was wearing an old dress of mine, the sexy black dress I'd had on when Victor had unleashed a lust charm on Dimitri and me. Since Adrian hadn't dressed me for the dream, my subconscious had dictated my appearance. I was kind of astonished it had chosen this. â€Å"Oh †¦' I suddenly felt embarrassed but didn't know why. â€Å"My own clothes are kind of beat up. I guess I wanted something to counteract that.' â€Å"Well, it looks good on you.' Adrian's fingers slid along the strap. â€Å"Really good.' Even in a dream, the touch of his finger made my skin tingle. â€Å"Watch it, Ivashkov. We've got no time for this.' â€Å"We're asleep. What else are we going to do?' My protests were muffled in a kiss. I sank into it. One of his hands slid down the side of my thigh, near the dress's edge, and it took a lot of mental energy to convince myself that him pulling the dress up was probably not going to clear my name. I reluctantly moved back. â€Å"We're going to figure out who killed Tatiana,' I said, trying to catch my breath. â€Å"There's no â€Å"we,† he said, echoing the line I'd just used on Victor. â€Å"There's me. And Lissa. And Christian. And the rest of our misfit friends.' He stroked my hair and then drew me close again, brushing a kiss against my cheek. â€Å"Don't worry, little dhampir. You take care of yourself. Just stay where you are.' â€Å"I can't,' I said. â€Å"Don't you get it? I can't just do nothing.' The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. It was one thing to protest my inactivity with Dimitri, but with Adrian, I needed to make him and everyone else at Court think I was doing the â€Å"right thing.' â€Å"You have to. We'll take care of you.' He didn't get it, I realized. He didn't understand how badly I needed to do something to help. To his credit, his intentions were good. He thought taking care of me was a big deal. He wanted to keep me safe. But he didn't truly get how agonizing inaction was for me. â€Å"We'll find this person and stop them from doing whatever it is †¦ they want to do. It might take a long time, but we'll fix it.' â€Å"Time †¦' I murmured against his chest, letting the argument go. I'd get nowhere convincing him I needed to help my friends, and anyway, I had my own quest now. So much to do, so little time. I stared off into the landscape he'd created. I'd noticed trees and flowers earlier but only now realized we were in the Church's courtyard–the way it had been before Abe's assault. The statue of Queen Alexandra stood intact, her long hair and kind eyes immortalized in stone. The murder investigation really was in my friends' hands for now, but Adrian had been right: it might take a while. I sighed. â€Å"Time. We need more time.' Adrian pulled away slightly. â€Å"Hmm? What'd you say?' I stared up at him, biting my lower lip as a million thoughts spun through my mind. I looked again at Alexandra and made my decision, wondering if I was about to set new records in foolishness. I turned back to Adrian and squeezed his hand. â€Å"I said we need more time. And I know how we can get it †¦ but †¦ well, there's something you have to do for me. And you, uh, probably shouldn't mention it to Lissa yet †¦' I had just enough time to deliver my instructions to Adrian–who was as shocked as I'd expected–before Dimitri woke me up for my shift. We switched off with little conversation. He had his usual tough face on, but I could see the lines of fatigue etched upon his features. I didn't want to bother him–yet–with my Victor and Robert encounter. Not to mention what I'd just told Adrian to do. There'd be plenty of time for a recap later. Dimitri fell asleep in that easy way of his, and Sydney never stirred the entire time. I envied her for a full night's sleep but couldn't help a smile as the room grew lighter and lighter. She'd been inadvertently put on a vampire schedule after our all-night adventures. Of course, Lissa was on the same schedule, which meant I couldn't visit her during my watch. Just as well. I needed to keep an eye on this creepy collective we'd stumbled into. These Keepers might not want to turn us in, but that didn't make them harmless either. I also hadn't forgotten Sydney's fears about surprise Alchemist visits. When late afternoon came for the rest of the world, I heard stirring inside the house. I gently touched Dimitri's shoulder, and he jerked awake instantly. â€Å"Easy,' I said, unable to hide a smile. â€Å"Just a wakeup call. Sounds like our redneck friends are getting up.' This time, our voices woke Sydney. She rolled over toward us, her eyes squinting at the light coming through the badly screened window. â€Å"What time is it?' she asked, stretching her limbs. â€Å"Not sure.' I had no watch. â€Å"Probably past midday. Three? Four?' She sat up almost as quickly as Dimitri had. â€Å"In the afternoon? † The sunlight gave her the answer. â€Å"Damn you guys and your unholy schedule.' â€Å"Did you just say â€Å"damn'? Isn't that against Alchemist rules?' I teased. â€Å"Sometimes it's necessary.' She rubbed her eyes and glanced toward the door. The faint noises I'd heard in the rest of the house were louder now, audible even to her ears. â€Å"I guess we need a plan.' â€Å"We have one,' I said. â€Å"Find Lissa's sibling.' â€Å"I never entirely agreed to that,' she reminded me. â€Å"And you guys keep thinking I can just magically type away like some movie hacker to find all your answers.' â€Å"Well, at least it's a place to–‘ A thought occurred to me, one that could seriously mess things up. â€Å"Crap. Your laptop won't even work out here.' â€Å"It's got a satellite modem, but it's the battery we have to worry about.' Sydney sighed and stood up, smoothing her rumpled clothes with dismay. â€Å"I need a coffee shop or something.' â€Å"I think I saw one in a cave down the road,' I said. That almost got a smile from her. â€Å"There's got to be some town close by where I could use my laptop.' â€Å"But it's probably not a good idea to take the car out anywhere in this state,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Just in case someone at the motel got your license plate number.' â€Å"I know,' she said grimly. â€Å"I was thinking about that too.' Our brilliant scheming was interrupted by a knock at the door. Without waiting for an answer, Sarah stuck her head inside and smiled. â€Å"Oh, good. You're all awake. We're getting breakfast ready if you want to join us.' Through the doorway, scents of what seemed like a normal breakfast drifted in: bacon, eggs †¦ The bread had gotten me through the night, but I was ready for real food and willing to roll the dice on whatever Raymond's family had to offer. In the house's main section, we found a flurry of domestic activity. Raymond appeared to be cooking something over the fireplace while Paulette set the long table. It already had a platter of perfectly ordinary scrambled eggs and more slices of yesterday's bread. Raymond rose from the fireplace, holding a large metal sheet covered in crisp bacon. A smile split his bearded face when he spotted us. The more of these Keepers I saw, the more I kept noticing something. They made no attempts to hide their fangs. From childhood, my Moroi were taught to smile and speak in a way that minimized fang exposure, in case they were out in human cities. There was nothing like that here. â€Å"Good morning,' said Raymond, carefully pushing the bacon onto another platter on the table. â€Å"I hope you're all hungry.' â€Å"Do you think that's, like, real bacon?' I whispered to Sydney and Dimitri. â€Å"And not like squirrel or something?' â€Å"Looks real to me,' said Dimitri. â€Å"I'd say so too,' said Sydney. â€Å"Though, I guarantee it's from their own pigs and not a grocery store.' Dimitri laughed at whatever expression crossed my face. â€Å"I always love seeing what worries you. Strigoi? No. Questionable food? Yes.' â€Å"What about Strigoi?' Joshua and Angeline entered the house. He had a bowl of blackberries, and she was pushing the little kids along. From their squirming and dirty faces, they clearly wanted to go back outside. It was Angeline who had asked the question. Dimitri covered for my squeamishness. â€Å"Just talking about some of Rose's Strigoi kills.' Joshua came to a standstill and stared at me, those pretty blue eyes wide with amazement. â€Å"You've killed the Lost? Er–Strigoi?' I admired his attempt to use â€Å"our' term. â€Å"How many?' I shrugged. â€Å"I don't really know anymore.' â€Å"Don't you use the marks?' Raymond scolded. â€Å"I didn't think the Tainted had abandoned those.' â€Å"The marks–oh. Yeah. Our tattoos? We do.' I turned around and lifted up my hair. I heard a scuffling of feet and then felt a finger touching my skin. I flinched and whipped back around, just in time to see Joshua lowering his hand sheepishly. â€Å"Sorry,' he said. â€Å"I've just never seen some of these. Only the molnija marks. That's how we count our Strigoi kills. You've got †¦ a lot.' â€Å"The S-shaped mark is unique to them,' said Raymond disapprovingly. That look was quickly replaced by admiration. â€Å"The other's the zvezda.' This earned gasps from Joshua and Angeline and a â€Å"What?' from me. â€Å"The battle mark,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Not many people call it zvezda anymore. It means â€Å"star.† â€Å"Huh. Makes sense,' I said. The tattoo was, in fact, kind of shaped like a star and was given when someone had fought in a big enough battle to lose count of Strigoi kills. After all, there were only so many molnija marks you could cram on your neck. Joshua smiled at me in a way that made my stomach flutter just a little. Maybe he was part of a pseudo-Amish cult, but that didn't change the fact that he was still good- looking. â€Å"Now I understand how you could have killed the Tainted queen.' â€Å"It's probably fake,' said Angeline. I'd been about to protest the queen-killing part, but her comment derailed me. â€Å"It is not! I earned it when Strigoi attacked our school. And then there were plenty more I took down after that.' â€Å"The mark can't be that uncommon,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Your people must have big Strigoi fights every once in a while.' â€Å"Not really,' said Joshua, his eyes still on me. â€Å"Most of us have never fought or even seen the Lost. They don't really bother us.' That was surprising. If ever there was a Strigoi target, a group of Moroi, dhampirs, and humans out in the middle of nowhere would be it. â€Å"Why not?' I asked. Raymond winked at me. â€Å"Because we fight back.' I pondered his enigmatic statement as the family sat down to eat. Again, I thought about the entire community's willingness to fight when we'd first arrived. Was it really enough to scare off Strigoi? Not much scared them, but maybe certain things were too much of an inconvenience to deal with. I wondered what Dimitri's opinion would be on that. His own family had come from a community that separated itself somewhat from mainstream Moroi life, but it was nothing like this. All of this spun in my mind while we ate and talked. The Keepers still had a lot more questions about us and Tatiana. The only one not participating was Angeline. She ate as little as Sydney and kept watching me with a scowl. â€Å"We need some supplies,' said Sydney abruptly, interrupting me in the middle of a gruesome story. I didn't mind, but the others looked disappointed. â€Å"Where's the nearest town that would have a coffee shop †¦ or any restaurant?' â€Å"Well,' said Paulette. â€Å"Rubysville is a little over an hour north. But we have plenty of food here for you.' â€Å"Its not about food,' I said quickly. â€Å"Yours has been great.' I glanced at Sydney. â€Å"An hour's not so bad, right?' She nodded and then glanced hesitantly at Raymond. â€Å"Is there any way †¦ is there any way we could borrow a car? Ill †¦' The next words clearly caused her pain. â€Å"I'll leave the keys to mine until we get back.' He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"You've got a nice car.' Sydney shrugged. â€Å"The less we drive it around here, the better.' He told us we could take his truck and that he â€Å"probably' wouldn't even need to use the CR-V. Sydney gave him a tight smile of thanks, but I knew images of vampires joyriding in her car were dancing through her head. We set out soon after that, wanting to be back before the sun went down. People were out and about in the commune, doing chores or whatever else it was they did with their lives. A group of children sat around a dhampir reading a book to them, making me wonder what sort of education process they had here. All of the Keepers stopped whatever they were doing as we passed, giving us either curious looks or outright smiles. I smiled back occasionally but mostly kept my eyes ahead. Joshua was escorting us back to the â€Å"parking lot' and managed to walk beside me when we reached the narrow path. â€Å"I hope you won't be gone long,' he said. â€Å"I'd wanted us to talk more.' â€Å"Sure,' I said. â€Å"That'd be fun.' He brightened and chivalrously pushed aside a low-hanging branch. â€Å"Maybe I can show you my cave.' â€Å"Your–wait. What? Don't you live with your dad?' â€Å"For now. But I'm getting my own place.' There was pride in his voice. â€Å"It's not as big as his, of course, but it's a good start. It's almost cleaned out.' â€Å"That's really, um, great. Definitely show me when we're back.' The words came easily to my lips, but my mind was pondering the fact that Raymond's house was apparently â€Å"big.' Joshua parted ways from us when we reached Raymond's truck, a big red pickup with a seat that could just barely hold the three of us. Considering the Keepers didn't leave the woods much, the truck seemed like it had seen a lot of miles. Or maybe just a lot of years of disuse. â€Å"You shouldn't lead him on like that,' Dimitri said, when we'd been on the road for about ten minutes. Surprisingly, Sydney had let him drive. I guessed she figured a manly truck deserved a manly driver. Now that we were moving, my mind had focused back on the task at hand: finding the other Dragomir. â€Å"Huh?' â€Å"Joshua. You were flirting with him.' â€Å"I was not! We were just talking.' â€Å"Aren't you with Adrian?' â€Å"Yes!' I exclaimed, glaring at Dimitri. His eyes were fixed on the road. â€Å"And that's why I wasn't flirting. How can you read so much into that? Joshua doesn't even like me that way.' â€Å"Actually,' said Sydney, sitting between us, â€Å"he does.' I turned my incredulity on her. â€Å"How do you know? Did he pass you a note in class or something?' She rolled her eyes. â€Å"No. But you and Dimitri are like gods back at camp.' â€Å"We're outsiders,' I reminded her. â€Å"Tainted.' â€Å"No. You're renegade Strigoi – and queen-killers. It might have all been southern charm and hospitality back there, but those people can be savage. They put a big premium on being able to beat people up. And, considering how scruffy most of them are, you guys are †¦ well †¦ let's just say you two are the hottest things to walk through there in a while.' â€Å"You're not hot?' I asked. â€Å"It's irrelevant,' she said, flustered by the comment. â€Å"Alchemists aren't even on their radar. We don't fight. They think we're weak.' I thought back to the enraptured faces and had to admit that a lot of the people there did have a weathered, worn-out look. Almost. â€Å"Raymond's family was pretty good- looking,' I pointed out. I heard a grunt from Dimitri who no doubt read this as evidence of me flirting with Joshua. â€Å"Yeah,' she said. â€Å"Because they're probably the most important family in town. They eat better, probably don't have to work in the sun as much. That kind of stuff makes a difference.' There was no more talk of flirting as we continued the drive. We made good time to Rubysville, which looked eerily similar to the first town we'd stayed in. When we stopped at what appeared to be the Rubysville's only gas station, Sydney ran inside to ask a few questions. She came back, reporting that there was indeed a cafe of sorts where she could plug in her laptop and try to look up what we needed. She ordered coffee, and we sat there with her, too full from breakfast to order anything substantial. After a couple dirty looks from a waitress who seemed to regard us as loiterers, Dimitri and I decided to take a walk around town. Sydney looked almost as pleased as the waitress about this. I don't think she liked having us hover around. I'd given Sydney a hard time about West Virginia, but I had to admit the scenery was beautiful. Soaring trees, full of summer leaves, surrounded the town like an embrace. Beyond them, mountains loomed, very different from the ones I'd grown up with near St. Vladimir's. These were rolling and green, covered in more trees. Most of the mountains surrounding St. Vladimir's had been stony and jagged, often with snowy peaks. A strange sense of nostalgia came over me, thinking back to Montana. There was a good possibility I'd never see it again. If I spent the rest of my life on the run, St. Vladimir's was the last place I could go. If I was caught, well †¦ then I'd definitely never get to see Montana again. â€Å"Or any place,'I murmured, speaking out loud before I could catch myself. â€Å"Hmm?' asked Dimitri. â€Å"I was just thinking about if the guardians find us. I never realized how much there was I wanted to do and see. Suddenly, that's all at stake, you know?' We moved off to the side of the road as an orange pickup came driving by. Children out of school for the summer screeched and laughed in the back of it. â€Å"Okay, suppose my name isn't cleared and we never find the real murderer. What's the next-best-case scenario? Me: always running, always hiding. That'll be my life. For all I know, I will have to go live with the Keepers.' â€Å"I don't think it'll come to that,' said Dimitri. â€Å"Abe and Sydney would help you find some place safe.' â€Å"Is there a safe place? For real? Adrian said the guardians are increasing their efforts to find us. They've got the Alchemists and probably human authorities looking for us too. No matter where we go, we'll run the risk of being spotted. Then we'll have to move on. It'll be like that forever.' â€Å"You'll be alive,' he pointed out. â€Å"That's what matters. Enjoy what you have, every little detail of wherever you are. Don't focus on where you aren't.' â€Å"Yeah,' I admitted, trying to follow his advice. The sky seemed a little bluer, the birds a little louder. â€Å"I suppose I shouldn't whine over the dream places I won't get to see. I should be grateful I get to see anything at all. And that I'm not living in a cave.' He glanced over at me and smiled, something unreadable in his eyes. â€Å"Where do you want to go?' â€Å"What, right now?' I glanced around, sizing up our options. There was a bait and tackle store, a drugstore, and an ice cream parlor. I had a feeling that last one would be a necessary trip before leaving town. â€Å"No, in the world.' I eyed him warily. â€Å"Sydney's going to be pissed if we take off for Istanbul or something.' This got me full-fledged laughter. â€Å"Not what I had in mind. Come on.' I followed him toward what looked like the bait and tackle store and then noticed a small building tucked behind it. Naturally, his sharp eyes had seen what I missed– probably because I'd been fixated on the ice cream. RUBYSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. â€Å"Whoa, hey,' I said. â€Å"One of the few perks of graduating was avoiding places like this.' â€Å"Its probably air conditioned,' he pointed out. I looked down at my sweat-soaked tank top and noticed a faint pink tinge to my skin. With my tanned complexion, I rarely burned, but this was some serious sun–even so late in the day. â€Å"Lead on,' I told him. The library was mercifully cool, though even smaller than the one at St. Vladimir's. With some uncanny sense (or maybe just a knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System), Dimitri led us over to the travel section–which consisted of about ten books, three of which were about West Virginia. He frowned. â€Å"Not quite what I expected.' He scanned the shelf twice and then pulled out a large, bright-colored one entitled 100 Best Places to Visit in the World. We sat down cross-legged on the floor, and he handed me the book. â€Å"No way, comrade,' I said. â€Å"I know books are a journey of the imagination, but I don't think I'm up for that today.' â€Å"Just take it,' he said. â€Å"Close your eyes, and flip randomly to a page.' It seemed silly, considering everything else going on in our life, but his face said he was serious. Indulging him, I closed my eyes and selected a page in the middle. I opened to it. â€Å"Mitchell, South Dakota?' I exclaimed. Remembering I was in a library, I lowered my voice. â€Å"Out of all the places in the world, that makes the top hundred?' He was smiling again, and I'd forgotten how much I'd missed that. â€Å"Read it.' â€Å"†Located ninety minutes outside of Sioux Falls, Mitchell is home to the Corn Palace.† I looked up at him in disbelief. â€Å"Corn Palace?' He scooted over next to me, leaning close to look at the pictures. â€Å"I figured it'd be made of corn husks,' he noted. The pictures actually showed what looked like a Middle Eastern–or even Russian–style building, with turrets and onion domes. â€Å"Me too.' Reluctantly, I added, â€Å"I'd visit it. I bet they have great T-shirts.' â€Å"And,' he said, a sly look in his eyes, â€Å"I bet no guardians would look for us there.' I made no attempts to conceal my laughter, imagining us living as fugitives in the Corn Palace for the rest of our lives. My amusement brought us a scolding from a librarian, and we quieted as Dimitri took his turn. Sao Paolo, Brazil. Then my turn: Honolulu, Hawaii. Back and forth we passed the book, and before long, we were both lying on the floor, side by side, sharing mixed reactions as we continued our â€Å"global tour of the imagination.' Our arms and legs just barely touched. If anyone had told me forty-eight hours ago that I'd be lying in a library with Dimitri, reading a travel book, I would have said they were crazy. Almost as crazy was the realization that I was doing something perfectly ordinary and casual with him. Since the moment we'd met, our lives had been about secrecy and danger. And really, those were still the dominant themes in our lives. But in those quiet couple of hours, time seemed to stand still. We were at peace. We were friends. â€Å"Florence, Italy,' I read. Pictures of elaborate churches and galleries filled the page. â€Å"Sydney wants to go there. She wanted to study there, actually. If Abe could have managed that, I think she would have served him for life.' â€Å"She's still pretty obedient,' Dimitri remarked. â€Å"I don't know her well, but I'm pretty sure Abe's got something on her.' â€Å"He got her out of Russia, back to the U.S.' He shook his head. â€Å"It's got to be more than that. Alchemists are loyal to their order. They don't like us. She hides it–they're trained to–but every minute with the Keepers is agony. For her to help us and betray her superiors, she owes him for some serious reason.' We both paused a moment, wondering what mysterious arrangement my father had with her. â€Å"Its irrelevant, though. She's helping us, which is what matters †¦ and we should probably get back to her.' I knew he was right but hated to go. I wanted to stay here, in this illusion of tranquility and safety, letting myself believe I might really make it to the Parthenon or even the Corn Palace someday. I handed the book back to him. â€Å"One more.' He picked his random page and opened the book. His smile fell. â€Å"Saint Petersburg.' A weird mix of feelings entangled themselves in my chest. Nostalgia–because the city was beautiful. Sorrow–because my visit had been tainted by the awful task I'd gone there to do. Dimitri stared at the page for a long time, wistfulness on his face. It occurred to me then that, despite his earlier pep talk, he had to be experiencing what I did for Montana: our old, favorite places were lost to us now. I nudged him gently. â€Å"Hey, enjoy where you're at, remember? Not where you can't go.' He reluctantly shut the book and dragged his eyes away from it. â€Å"How'd you get so wise?' he teased. â€Å"I had a good teacher.' We smiled at each other. Something occurred to me. All this time, I'd figured he'd helped break me out because of Lissa's orders. Maybe there was more to it. â€Å"Is that why you escaped with me?' I asked. â€Å"To see what parts of the world you could?' His surprise was brief. â€Å"You don't need me to be wise, Rose. You're doing fine on your own. Yes, that was part of it. Maybe I would have been welcomed back eventually, but there was the risk I wouldn't. After †¦ after being Strigoi †¦' He stumbled over the words a little. â€Å"I gained a new appreciation for life. It took a while. I'm still not there. We're talking about focusing on the present, not the future–but it's my past that haunts me. Faces. Nightmares. But the farther I get from that world of death, the more I want to embrace life. The smell of these books and the perfume you wear. The way the light bends through that window. Even the taste of breakfast with the Keepers.' â€Å"You're a poet now.' â€Å"No, just starting to realize the truth. I respect the law and the way our society runs, but there was no way I could risk losing life in some cell after only just finding it again. I wanted to run too. That's why I helped you. That and–‘ â€Å"What?' I studied him, desperately wishing he wasn't so good at keeping emotions off his face. I knew him well; I understood him. But he could still hide things from me. He sat up, not meeting my eyes. â€Å"It doesn't matter. Let's go back to Sydney and see if she found out anything †¦ although, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's unlikely.' â€Å"I know.' I stood with him, still wondering what else he would have said. â€Å"She probably gave up and started playing Minesweeper.' We headed back toward the cafe, stopping briefly for ice cream. Eating it while we walked proved quite the challenge. The sun was nearing the horizon, painting everything orange and red, but the heat lingered. Enjoy it, Rose, I told myself. The colors. The taste of chocolate. Of course, I'd always loved chocolate. My life didn't need to be on the line for me to enjoy dessert. We reached the cafe and found Sydney bent over her laptop, with a barely eaten Danish and what was probably her fourth cup of coffee. We slid into seats beside her. â€Å"Hows it–hey! You are playing Minesweeper!' I tried to peer closer at her screen, but she turned it from me. â€Å"You're supposed to be finding a connection to Eric's mistress.' â€Å"I already did,' she said simply. Dimitri and I exchanged astonished looks. â€Å"But I don't know how useful it'll be.' â€Å"Anything'll be useful,' I proclaimed. â€Å"What did you find?' â€Å"After trying to track down all those bank records and transactions–and let me tell you, that is not fun at all–I finally found a small piece of info. The bank account we have now is a newer one. It was moved from another bank about five years ago. The old account was still a Jane Doe, but it did have a next-of-kin reference in the event something happened to the account holder.' I could hardly breathe. Financial transactions were lost on me, but we were about to get something solid. â€Å"A real name?' Sydney nodded. â€Å"Sonya Karp.'