Positive and Negative Impacts of Postmodernism Essay

Having its roots in the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, modernism was the era of oecumenical legality which was objectively understood and interpreted by humankind. Postmodernism, the period outset around 1950s to present, rejects this notion of an objective and universal truth. Instead the postmodernist view of meaning is ambiguous and truth is relative to an individual or a group. Furthermore, postmodernism rejects the validity of grand narratives, such as religion, and their attempt to bear existence from within a single rational and linguistic material (IDH). Both positive and shun involves arrive from such notion. The positive invasion is that the goal of an individual or a group is to build kindred with God, no matter what religion they are. Therefore, the group becomes united. For example, Mega Church in Cleveland, demonstrates the country of God in its embrace of deal of whole races and religious backgrounds. The negative impact is expressed through the fallib le and multi-layered truth. It is impossible for an individual or a group to know the actual truth, and as a result, postmodernism undermines tribes beliefs. Postmodernism, an essay by Doy Moyer, a former priest who became a professor at Florida College, summarizes the negative impact of postmodernism. In cast to break d aver understand this aspect of postmodernism, one should take a closer reflexion at its impact.The postmodernist groups reject the idea of an absolute truth, or religion, because truth is relative to the community in which they participate (Sparks). The truth is based on their be of God by building relationship with Him. The Mega Church in Cleveland demonstrates such an idea. The perform consists of converted Muslim, completed Jew, Irish, Italian, a large delegating of Hispanic, Caucasian, and African-American members, of all walks of life (Mega). The churchs postmodernist pillowcase welcomes those individuals or groups who see God relative to themselves. A ccording to Michael Summers, director of church services at Wayland Baptist University, postmodernism focus on building relationships and connections. This ideal instantly affects how the church as an organization relates to the church as the body of God. snub the racial and religious differences, people are willing to unite and experience the truth as it applies to them. When it comes to choosing a church, postmodernists will search for a church that best fits them in terms of shaping relationship with God (Park). An individual or a group seeks God not by line up themselves with a certain religion, but through their faith and their emotions such as love for God. There is also a negative impact to postmodernism.Postmodernism undermines peoples beliefs and distorts the actual truth. The essay Postmodernism, by Doy Moyer, explains such contradiction. According to the postmodern worldview, there are no such things as absolutes All ideas, all actions, no matter how different from ours, must be accepted genius should be able to see how such a worldview is antagonistic toward those who suppose in the inspiration of the Bible To say that we must tolerate everyone, indeed refuse to tolerate those who dont kowtow to the movement, is sheer lip service (Moyer). It is evident that the truth is altered due to relativity and diverse ideas, views, and outlooks. such notion undermines peoples beliefs, leaving them with no idea what to retrieve in. Reason is to be distrusted because there is no way to know which mortals reason is reliable. There is no such thing as objectivity. There is no truth to appeal to for understanding history and culture. Texts, whether religious or philosophical or literary, do not have innate meaning (Beverly). Disregarding the concrete historical religious texts such as Bible and Koran, an individual or a group is left with its punic experiences and unsupported views. The truth, thus, becomes multi-layered and fallible.The Mega C hurch in Cleveland is a great example of a positive impact of postmodernism. It unites people of different races and religious backgrounds in order to build a relationship with God. The downside is that people rely on their own experiences and ideas, since no truth is gained from religious texts such Bible and Koran. Such impact is explained in the work of Doy Moyer, called Postmodernism. Postmodernism allows people to, through personal experiences, gain knowledge and truth about God, which in process becomes relative and, at the alike(p) time, fallible. It rejects the grand narrative, religion, and its attempt to conceptualize the existence and God from within a single rational and linguistic framework (IDH).Works CitedBeverly, James. Postmodernism. John star sign Ministries. 22 Apr. 2007 . IDH Staff. IDH Students Unit 5 Guide to Postmodernism. 10 Apr. 2007. IDH 2121. Valencia Community College. 22 Apr. 2007 Mega Church Official Website. 22 Apr. 2007 < http//www.megachurch .com/about.php>. Moyer, Doy. Postmodernism. 22 Apr. 2007 < http//www.inplainsite.org/ hypertext mark-up language/ postmodernism.html>. Park, Vivian S. Positive and Negative Impact of Postmodernism on Christianity. 7 Jun. 2004. Christian Post. 22 Apr. 2007 < http//www.christianpost.com/article/ 20040607/7138.htm>. Sparks, Noy. Postmodernism. Valencia Community College. 22 Apr. 2007.

Marcus Brutus

Marcus Junius Brutus was the son of Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder and Servilia Caepionis. His father was shovel ined by Pompey the Great in dubious circumstances later on he had taken part in the rebellion of Lepidus his mother was the half-sister of Cato the Younger, and later became Julius Caesars mistress. 2 Some sources refer to the possibility of Caesar be his verit qualified father,3 but this is unlikely since Caesar was 15 at the time of Brutus birth. Brutus uncle, Quintus Servilius Caepio, adopted him when he was a young man and Brutus was cognize as Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus for an abstruse period of time.Brutus held his uncle in high regard4 and his political career started when he became an accomplice to Cato, during his governorship of Cyprus. 5 During this time, he enriched himself by lending m sensationy at high rank of interest. He returned to Rome a rich man, where he married Claudia Pulchra. 6 From his introductory appearance in the Senate, Brutus a ligned with the Optimates (the conservative faction) against the First Triumvirate of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Gaius Julius Caesar. edit Senate careerWhen well-be pitchd war broke out in 49 BC in the midst of Pompey and Caesar, Brutus followed his old enemy and present leader of the Optimates, Pompey. When the Battle of Pharsalus began, Caesar order his officers to take him prisoner if he gave himself up voluntarily, and if he persisted in engagement against capture, to let him alone and do him no violence. 7 later on the disaster of the encounter of Pharsalus, Brutus wrote to Caesar with apologies and Caesar immediately forgave him. In his letter Brutus declared he was a difficult supporter of democracy and continually pushed it throughout the letter. citation needed Caesar accepted him into his inside circle and made him governor of Gaul when he left for Africa in pursuit of Cato and Metellus Scipio. In 45 BC, Caesar nominated Brutus to serve as urban praetor for the following year. Also, in June 45 BC, Brutus divorced his wife and married his first cousin, Porcia Catonis, Catos daughter. 89According to Cicero the unification caused a semi-scandal as Brutus failed to state a valid reason for his divorce from Claudia other than he wished to marry Porcia. 10 The marriage as well caused a rift between Brutus and his mother, who resented the affection Brutus had for Porcia. 11 edit Conspiracy to kill Caesar Main article Assassination of Julius Caesar Death of Caesar by Vincenzo Camuccini Around this time, legion(predicate) senators began to fear Caesars growing power following his appointment as authoritarian for life. 12 Brutus was persuaded into joining the conspiracy against Caesar by the other senators13. (In William Shakespeares play Julius Caesar, he overly discovers messages written on the busts of his ancestors, which have been forged by Cassius to make Brutus sense of smell as if he were doing the right thing for Rome.This, however, may just be dramatic license on the part of Shakespeare. There is no real evidence that Cassius ever planted phony notes. ) Eventually, Brutus decided to move against Caesar after Caesars king-like behavior prompted him to take action. 14 15 His wife was the only woman privy to the plot. 1617 The conspirators plotted to carry out their plot on the Ides of March (March 15) that same year. On that day, Caesar was delayed going to the Senate because his wife, Calpurnia Pisonis, tried to convince him not to go. 18 The conspirators feared the plot had been put together out. 19 Brutus persisted, however, waiting for Caesar at the Senate, and allegedly still chose to remain even when a messenger brought him news that would otherwise have caused him to leave. 20 When Caesar finally did come to the Senate, they attacked him. Publius Servilius Casca was allegedly the first to attack Caesar with a blow to the shoulder, which Caesar blocked. 21 However, upon seeing Brutus was with the conspirators, he cover his face with his toga and resigned himself to his fate. 22 The conspirators attacked in such numbers that they even wounded one another.Brutus is said to have been wounded in the hand. 2324 edit After Caesars assassination Marcus Junius Brutus After the assassination, the Senate passed an amnesty on the assassins. This amnesty was proposed by Caesars friend and co-consul Marcus Antonius. Nonetheless, uproar among the nation caused Brutus and the conspirators to leave Rome. Brutus settled in Crete from 44 to 42 BC. citation needed In 43 BC, after Octavian received his consulship from the Roman Senate, one of his first actions was to have the mass that had assassinated Julius Caesar declared murderers and enemies of the state. 25 Marcus Tullius Cicero, angry at Octavian, wrote a letter to Brutus explaining that the forces of Octavian and track Antony were divided. Antony had laid siege to the province of Gaul, where he wanted a governorship. In response to this siege, Octavian rallied his troops and fought a series of battles in which Antony was defeat. 26Upon hearing that neither Antony nor Octavian had an army big enough to defend Rome, Brutus rallied his troops, which totaled about 17 legions. When Octavian heard that Brutus was on his way to Rome, he made peace with Antony. 27 Their armies, which together totaled about 19 legions, marched to meet Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. The following battles are known as the Battle of battle of Philippi. The First Battle of Philippi was fought on October 3, 42 BC, in which Brutus defeated Octavians forces, although Cassius was defeated by Antonys forces. The Second Battle of Philippi was fought on October 23, 42 BC and ended in Brutus defeat. After the defeat, he fled into the nearby hills with only about four legions. Knowing his army had been defeated and that he would be captured, Brutus committed suicide.Among his last words were, according to Plutarch, By all means mus t we fly not with our feet, however, but with our hands. Brutus also uttered the well-known verse calling down a hex upon Antony (Plutarch repeats this from the memoirs of Publius Volumnius) Forget not, Zeus, the author of these crimes (in the Dryden translation this passage is given as Punish, majuscule Jove, the author of these ills). 28 Plutarch wrote that, according to Volumnius, Brutus repeated two verses, but Volumnius was only able to recall the one quoted.Antony, as a show of great respect, reproducible Brutus body to be wrapped in Antonys most expensive majestic mantle (this was later stolen and Antony had the thief executed). Brutus was cremated, and his ashes were sent to his mother, Servilia Caepionis. 29 His wife Porcia was reported to have committed suicide upon hearing of her husbands death, although, according to Plutarch (Brutus 53 para 2), there is some dispute as to whether this is the case Plutarch states that there is a letter in existence that was alleged ly written by Brutus mourning the panache of her death.

Music LessonBrandenburg

Write a brief explanation of Tonality Modulation agreement Chord Root First sexual inversion Seventh Chord Oh no its a Theory Byte Technical shape for the notes of the scale. As LIMIT ACID Key Relationships Key Signatures F C G DAD B Order of sharps C Semitone above = reboot of lynchpin. BEAD G CB order of flats Name of PENULTIMATE flat = key signature All major keys have related minor alike(p) key signature. Minor 3rd below key note e. G. G major relative minor is E Minor. stripe of Fifths Tonality and Harmony Class work Discuss 0 TonalPlan and Key Relationships CLC Modulations L Analysis of Chords and Cadences C Circle of Fifths. Private Study Tasks Continue working on your composition exploitation the feedback/targets we discussed. Dont forget Deadline One is 1 9th October. Make sure that your Brandenburg bring in notes argon fully complete as we will be working on questions next week in preparation for an assessment in the concluding week. Listen to the piece a numbe r of times use your annotated score to follow the music.Create a glossary of the key musical terms which physical contact to the Brandenburg Concerto. Add musical examples where appropriate. (Retooling, Basso Continuo, Figured Bass, Flute a beck, cancel Trumpet, Arpeggio, Sequence (rising, falling), Ripen, Concertina, Counterpoint, Tutu, Unison, Trill, Dominant Seventh, Dominant Pedal, Syncopation, Homophobic, Diminished Seventh Chord, Circle of Fifths) bare(a) help Extra support with composition -? please book a slot of time with me. Period 5 on Friday. Theory Support. Mr. reed is available on Friday periods 3 and 4.

Spiritual self-discipline Essay

Quest for moral determine in the whole kit and caboodle of gurudev rabindranath tagore Professor B. K. PatelHead, division of English M. G. Govt. Art and Science College, Kharsia, Chhattisgarh Abstract- Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was a noble thinker, staggering poet, dramatist, best teacher, keen essayist and unbelievable artist of ample excellence. He clearly asserts Let us reset our moral compass. His views on the spiritedness-style depend on the determine of commitwork forcet, patriotism and naturalism. In spite of his being a considerable thinker, he propagated the ideas of naturalism and pragmatism. The values that we gener everyy escort and enjoy in the literature and philosophies of Tagore be Idealism, Hu adult maleism, Naturalism, Patriotism, internationalism and so on. Tagore says that composition should identify the ultimate truth which will turn him from the life circle. touch according to him is the interview with whizzself. He trusts that the planet is t he mixture of both situation and impression. In Tagores point of view, troops is formed with unlimited power, which is unclaimed of his substantial existence. This superfluity is the infinite potentiality of tender nature and creativity. The thrown-away(prenominal) potentiality of man translates itself in persons spiritual religious and ethical activities. As an idealist, he was a keen promoter of facts, benefits and ideas. concord to him, by using art man can put through the completeness of the gritty standards of life.The peculiar artistry was nonhing but sincere and spiritual self-discipline. He said that trust on and worship of God could spiritualize plurality duties and works. As a Humanist, Gurudev Rabindrabath Tagore said the characteristics of man and man are created by superior power. in that location is a powerful bond between man and characteristics, so man should act natur completelyy to feel the conditional relation of tycoon within him. Knowing of self is the key to recognize the Godhood in self. As a Naturalist, he remains an excellent teacher that is not knobbed for man. Nature is kind, gentle and sympathetic like a mother. As a true Patriot, Rabindranath Tagore was an excellent poet, preacher, master and servant of the nation. His documents are filled with the true dogmas and doctrines.He had sworn during the independence movement to make the nation free from international slavery. His dedication for the nationwide service, sincere feeling, and certainty was great. Jana, Gana, Mana is the popular subject area Anthem which elicited a powerful a sense of agreement and nationalism. As a proponent of Internationalism he was in save of the one populace. He says that unity among social, color and spiritual diversities is the need of the time. school e consummations are significant in his literary creations and works of arts. Finally, he was a follower and promoter of Vedanta. He had faith on the one independent Being that he has called as the holy brahman. He finds unity in the diversities in the world and a spiritual oneness between man and man, man and characteristics. The relation between God and human must be like that of between love and joy. He witnesses God in all matters and soul. He believes that existence of Lord Brahma is there in all the living beings. Adequate answers of all the queries occur when we understand the lifestyle of Brahma within him. RABINDRANATH TAGORE AND HUMAN VALUESBiswajit BaidyaAsstt. Professor, Deptt. of Philosophy, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar College, Belonia, South Tripura.Abstract- R.N. Tagores philosophical works are so vast that it is a herculean task to do proper justice to the world class philosopher. From R.N. Tagores books, we can intimately surmise his own philosophical apprehensions and ideas. Looking at the raw times, there is a widespread feeling of hatred, enmity and distrust among religions, caste and nations. There is a competition to use religion in th e name of religionlessness. The ejaculate of such deplorable acts is not the aforesaid search for peaceful self-consciousness. Its source is restless self-consciousness. R. N. Tagores view of humanism and philosophical opinion never shows the unconscious principle of life and the feeling of division and conflicts as the ultimate goal of man. Tagore gives importance to Bhgavatgt which teaches that one knows oneself without the division of intelligence. The imperative spirit is everything, holds every things together.As a matter of fact, in this modern age of disdain, enmity, dismay, dishonesty, distrusted and suspicion among different religion castes and nations, R.N. Tagores Message and periodical Speeches serve as a panacea for the ills of human beings.Key lyric humanism, religion, values, human beings.QUEST FOR HUMAN VALUES IN RABINDRANATH TAGORES GITANJALIDr. Baburam Swami retainer Professor, Deptt. of English, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar College, Belonia, South Tripura.ABSTRAC T Tagores love for humanity is omnipresent. He shows great concern for the strife, sorrows and sufferings of humanity. His verse is full of lofty idealism and undaunted optimism. The greens objects of nature and human life are glorified and coloured in the radiance of his romantic imagination endowed with boundless love for liberty, fraternity and equality. He is a singer of the smiles and tears of human life. Spiritual human-centered finds out spiritual significance in the commonplace activities of life and divinity fudge in humble cottages. He condemns castes and creeds, which divide humankind. All human beings are equal to the creator there is no untouchable in the great body of God. He occupies front position in the congregation of the prophets of humanism for his songs. Tagores poetry Gitanjali reflects his desperate efforts to see the world to live in peace and harmony in reality.He strives hard to foster the values of humanity and bring happiness in the land by further the individuals to love one another and lead a harmonious life full of contentment. Gitanjali means song offering which are of the finite to the infinite. It is the poetry of the highest order and brings strange consolation to the human heart. It is poetry in which men converse with eternity. This paper focuses on the human values in the Gitanjali. It depicts the nuthouse and incoherence, the confusion of sensations and emotions that constitute the human consciousness. It similarly depicts multi-theme of human relationships. It is the study of motion and commotion for establishment of human values. It is an attempt to get a coup doeil of Tagores philosophy of humanism. It also aims at studying Rabindranath Tagores poetry Gitanjali that fosters almost all positive values not only in India but also abroad. THE HUMANISTIC APPROACH IN THE SCIENTIFIC reason OF RABINDRANATH TAGORESohini Deb (Nandi)Research Scholar, Department of Sanskrit, Tripura UniversityAbstract- The human val ues of the universal humane considerations reached the level of high standard in the cultural activities and literary productions of Rabindranath Tagore, one of the greatest poet and men of wisdom. The extraordinary and the multifaceted talent of the poet embrace the vicissitude of valuable ideas of which science is a potential element. The flight of his imagination was not wild but sensible. It helped him to realise the truth comprehensively. It also transcended the limits of material forces and inform him to true nature of the infinite. His realisation and the study of scientific literature do him rich enough in the awareness that the application of science should be used exclusively for the utility of the mankind and especially to improve hemorrhoid of the poor eradicating ignorance and superstitions. He studied books on science, went deep into the roots of the scientific principles and afterwards wrote books to make the ordinary people aware scientifically the surroundings of our society where we really live. He composed the books like Visvaparichaya and Taramandali abang Mahakasha. He also inspired other scholars of science to write for awareness of scientific thought in the ordinary mass. He also wrote articles and took such measures for qualitative convince in the technological know-how for agriculture.His experiment started in the Shriniketan and inspired his son Rathindranath for obtaining a degree in agricultural science. He was devoted to enrich the put life too. He also took out most care in the human and social environment so as to make a man of the society physically and mentally healthy. From the height of cosmos come out to the individual and material earth and the human societies with peculiar characteristics in the finicky surroundings, the poet Rabindranath try to catch the linking thread so as to have a clear conception to apply science for the good of mankind. It was inherent in the mind of the poet which has been revealed in his writings and activities that without invariable and concomitant association with the human value system, science is incapable of doing any good to mankind sooner it acts like Frankenstein.RABINDRANATH TAGORE AND HIS UNIVERSAL HUMANISMRajesh Bhattacharjee, Anup kumar BiswasM.A. in Bengali, Tripura UniversityAbstract- Now a days the moral values from human nature is abolishing. If anybody should be mentioned as handsome humanist in the India as well as in the world he is one and only Rabindranath Tagore .He earned a lot of experience in his whole life. He noticed the cruelty and destruction during the scrap World War. He realized that the moral values are diminish day by day.Then he determined to restore the human values and revive the moral ideas. In his essays like kalantar,Yourope probasir patra, Batayaniker patra, Lokahita, purba o paschim, Savyatar sankat he show his judgments about the humanism. Not only has this had his poems, proses, novels, and his short stories als o born the significance of his humanist attitude. After travelling the whole world he matt-up that most of the people are losing their identity, depriving by the upper classes, exploiting by the rulers. He declared loudly the winning song of humanity and restored our consciousness. So in today if we want to reconstruct our humanism we have to remember his pass on and preserve human values like love, faith, sincerity and devotion. We can discover his 150th birth anniversary and gave him proper honour through obeying his messages and his ideas.

Philippines Cultural Assessment Essay

The primary language that business is conducted in the Philippines is English. This is a result of the American influenced era which began in 1898. One should non turn out that just because English is the most commonly used language that some(prenominal) verbal and nonverbal forms of discourse atomic number 18 conducted the aforementioned(prenominal) way that they argon in America. The Philippines business environment is known to be highly psychealized. The communication style of the Philippines has also been perceived as difficult to comprehend collectable to its diplomatic and complex language which is derived from its Asian roots. (http//www.worldbusiness refining.com/Filipino-Business-Communication-Style.html) It is common in the Philippines, as well as most Asian countries, for people to have an highly difficult time showing no because they tend to try to ward off hurting others feelings. Saying no to someone can also be viewed by others as confrontational and unfrien dly.Because of this Filipinos would rather say yes even if they mean no. (http//www.worldbusinessculture.com/Filipino-Business-Communication-Style.html) Filipinos dialogue-oriented, rather emotional communication fair resembles Spanish, but is less forceful and exuberant. As a show of respect, Filipinos commonly address people by their titles (e.g., Architect Cruz, Attorney Jose, Dr. Romero). Over time, and aft(prenominal) a relationship is established, they may address business associate by their informal title or nickname. (http//www.telegraph.co.uk/ countersign/uknews/4205562/National-Cultural-Profiles-Philippines.html) In the Filipino culture a pervasive smile can easily be construe as agreement or affirmation in what has just been discussed. That same smile can easily be used to hide embarrassment, incitation on disagreement. Nonverbal signs of affirmation include the raising of an eyebrow and the arrhythmic of the head upward.A common sign for no include the flip of the head down. For example, if an individual says yes while pointing their head downward you can be fairly certain that they feel negatively about what you have been discussing. (http//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4205562/National-Cultural-Profiles-Philippines.html) Although in most cultures it is common for both men and women to shake custody with one another when they argon first introduced or when greeting distributively other, that is not the case in the Filipino culture. Any form of touching, curiously men touching women is frowned upon by Filipinos. (http//www.intercultures.ca/cil-cai/ci-ic-eng.asp?iso=phcn-2) The Philippines are split into third different regions called, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Gender roles in the Philippines are found in tutor systems, dating, marriage, and especially their families. When Filipinos are born they assume their sexual activity role by their sex.Males get more respect for the most secernate because fe masculines take later their m others and elder women to take less dominating roles, also being more feminine in the jobs they choose to h grey. Men are categorized into the more dominating roles in society. Men are brought up to take after their fathers or the elder man in their life. They are defined as being more confident, accomplished, and well-rounded individuals. School systems are strict on students, making them look presentable, especially males. Males are required to have short hair and females must wear skirts down to their shins. grooming inappropriately is not tolerated.Males and females got to the same school but they divide them into ii separate parts of the school. Attending a college or university for the average person is highly unlikely because there is no financial aid gettable so only the wealthy go and receives the higher education. Education is actually important to Filipinos and is stressed by their parents to have the best education come-at-able to be successful. Format for names, t he country being a predominant catholic, grey folks follow the old traditional way of name their children after the names of the saints. In Luzon, the largest island and where the capital sits, has a strong western influence, naming mostly patterned like the westerners.The country is patriarchal when it comes to family roles. The male or the fathers are always the head and of the household and the final word when it comes to domesticated affair. There are regions, like in south Mindanao, the grand party boss of the village is the eldest and the wealthiest of the family where his power over other members of the clan is important even on domestic affairs. The female or the wife is expected to be the care taker of the household, including keeping up with the children. They do not have voicing power compared to the husband (Heinrich 2008) Dating among the Filipinos is not usually done unless they are eighteen years old because education is most important. Even then when they start dating the male will pay for the female.

Maths Coursework- Matrix Investigation

Maths SL Matrix Investigation I will return to investigate in advocators of matrices (2&2152). Also, examine to find a designing, if there is one. A=pic exploitation my GCD calculator to help hyaloplasm A to antithetic powers pic= pic pic= pic pic=pic pic= pic pic= pic pic= pic pic=pic The pattern that I nominate chink is that when the power of matrix A is an dismantle purget e. g. 2,4,6,8 then the depart is pic the identity matrix. However, when the power is an funny number the matrix stays the alike so pic My prediction for pic matrix is pic using the GCD calculator I check over my answer and it is correct.The determinant for this matrix A is -1 because (1x(-1)-0x3), that means that if we multiply A with the inverse of A so pic the result would be pic identity matrix. pic= pic pic pic which basically shows us that the inverse of this matrix is the same as the original one. A general rule for pic(using algebra) When the n is an even number pic= Apic when the n is a n odd number pic= A(Apic Its basically genuinely simple one because of the determinant, which was -1, so when we take aim it as a cypher pic the result is still the same.Now, I am considering the matrix B= pic Using my GCD calculator I am calculating B raised to different powers. pic= pic pic= pic pic= pic pic= pic pic= pic The determinant of this matrix is -4 so probably the aspect from before would not work because its not an identity matrix. But what we can condition it is somehow related to the identity matrix. Because of the first result, which is just squaring, is 4xpic From these calculations I can see that the principle for an even powers would be pic= pic so pic= pic = pic pic= pic = picAnd when the power is an odd number det= -4 pic= picpic pic so pic= pic = pic=pic pic= pic = pic=pic My prediction for pic would be pic= pic = pic=pic= pic =pic As I checked it using my GCD calculator and it is right we can consider that the chemical formula is functional for matrix B, which has a determinant adapted to -4 Now I am tenseing to generalise this rule and try different values for a, b and n. pic Using the GCD pic= pic pic= pic Checking with the formula (the determinant is equal to -16) pic So pic pic= pic = pic= pic Using the GCD and formula to see if the pattern is working pic=pic pic So pic (the determinant is equal to -9) pic=pic pic=pic=pic pic=pic pic= pic The formula works so far, however now I am loss to try raise matrix to a negative power and see, if the formula is working pic I cant put it into the calculator.But we know that when we raise something to the negative power is the same as e. g. pic = pic pic=pic pic pic=pic pic= pic The rule for negative powers make sense, we would unendingly end up with 1 over matrix. So obviously saying when the n was a positive odd number the matrix was pic and when n was the same but negative the result was pic so well-nigh the same but every element in the matrix was 1 over the result from the pos itive. Now I am going to try a different value for b pic = pic pic= pic pic = pic pic=pic We could also consider the power n= pic pic Which we can rearrange as pic We cant genuinely use the pattern here because we cannot square root the matrices The results hold genuine in general because the third element(c) was always 0. Which made the determinant always a negative number and multiplication of two the same numbers game e. g. (2x-2) (3x-3) It is important because of the rule, so when we use odd numbers as a power a formula is that n-1 which makes it an even number, which then is divided by two.Now, I will consider powers of the form pic Using the GCD pic= pic the determinant is equal to(-4-4)=-8 pic=pic pic= pic so pic = pic pic= pic so pic pic= 64pic=pic pic determinant = -19 pic= pic =pic pic= pic =pic it doesnt work pic= pic =pic= pic pic= pic =pic= pic when I do pic= pic the formula doesnt work anymore so Ill try this one pic= pic pic = pic which is the same as in the calcul ator ets see with the other matrix pic the determinant= -19 pic= pic = pic pic= pic =pic= pic pic= pic pic = pic As we can see the generalized rule is For even powers pic= pic Now I need to find off the formula for odd powers pic= pic so pic pic= 64pic=pic pic pic the determinant =-19 pic=pic pic= 19 pic= pic pic=pic pic=pic Using my GCD I checked the answer and its the same. The general rule for odd powers pic= pic

Everyday Use by Alice Walker

In the early 1970s, the Black Power movement was non only a political slogan against racism, but also an political theory that promoted racial vanity and embraced the elements of the Afri pot glossiness. During this time, many Afro-Ameri terminates were encouraged to grow their hairs into afros, go in traditional African clothing, and reject their white slave predicts. In the report Everyday hire, Alice Walker presents a family with opposing views towards tradition and creates a part fooled by the Black Power movement.The author uses irony to reveal a meaning of heritage hidden under the perceived idea of dingy identity. From the source, the of age(predicate)est daughter, Dee, pretends to honor and embrace her roots, yet she rejects her past and her ancestors. When she comes home to visit mama and her sister Maggie, she wears an extravagant yellow dress, gold earrings, and dangling bracelets. She uses the African recognize Wa-su-zo-Tean-o and begs not be called Dee, but Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, since she does not want to be named later the people who oppressed her (Schmidt 350).Dee c menstruatees her name to reconnect with, what she believes is, her African heritage. However, this turns to be ironic because she was named later her aunt Dicie, who was named after grandmother Dee, and by changing her name, Wangero is evading the important aspects of her name and the traditions of her family. Although Wangero is very educated, she lacks the most valuable acquaintance. Through let out the yarn, she portrays an arrogant attitude of favorable position towards florists chrysanthemum and Maggie. mummy says, she used to read to us without pity forcing watchwords, lies, different folks habits, whole lives upon us, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice. She washed us in a river of make-believe, burned us with a lot of experience we didnt necessarily need to know (Schmidt 348). mum does not feel pride for her daughters accomplishm ents instead, she feels intimidated by Dees egocentrism. The irony comes when Wangero believes her knowledge puts her higher up her family, yet mums knowledge has a greater grade. Mama is a large, big-boned woman with rough, man- running(a) hands (Schmidt 347).She is proud of her hard work and ability to blooper bull calves and milk cows after all, she learned this from her mother, who learned it from her mother. This is the gentle of knowledge the author wants the reader to see and deemthe type of knowledge that conveys African-American tradition. Even though Wangero finds in a grind and darter her African-American identity, she is blind to the significance of these items. Dee values the churn and dasher because they be old, and her uncle whittled them back in the day.She says she can use the churn top as a centrepiece for the alcove table, and shell think of something artistic to do with the dasher (Schmidt 351). With this attitude, Wangero expresses her view towards th e items as frightening antique collectibles. Maggie, on the other hand, explains that Aunt Dees first husband whittled the dash His name was Henry, but they called him Stash (Schmidt 351). The accompaniment that she knows the story behind the churn and dasher illustrates her deep appreciation towards the items.Likewise, when Mama holds the dasher, she reflects on its origin and its meaning to the family You didnt compensate need to look close to see where hands pushing the dasher up and fine-tune to make butter had left a kind of throw in the wood. In f go, there where a lot of small sinks (Schmidt 351). The sinks in the wood represent the hard labor her family endured and the tenacious efforts Dee would, ironically, never eve acknowledge. Wangero also finds a connection to her African culture with Mamas quilts however, she does not study the traditional value of these items.Dee wants to commemorate the quilts to show off her heritage and hang them on her wall as decoration s she thinks her sister will not appreciate them and will put them to day-by-day use. Maggie agrees to give up her promised quilts because after all, she can member Grandma Dee without the quilts (Schmidt 352). However, Mama will not let Dee keep them because deep inside, she knows that Maggie deserves them. Maggie learned how to quilt from aunt Dee, who learned how to quilt from Grandma Dee wherefore, she will be able to keep their culture and their history alive. aft(prenominal) this decision, Wangero responds furiously, You just dont understand your heritage (Schmidt 323), and suggests that the quilts have a materialistic a value that has to be wieldd in order to maintain the familys African heritage. Ironically, the quilts are not valuable because they are old and their ancestors sewed them instead, they are priceless because they represent a tradition that many hard working black women followed for years. The author suggests that Maggie has an understanding her sister never will she understands the original meaning of African heritage.Wangero was one of the many African-Americans in the 1970s who struggled to make their identity within the framework of American society. She changed her name and her appearance in efforts to embrace her African roots and tried to collect antique items to preserve her familys heritage. However, Dees arrogant attitude blinded her from seeing the traditional value of the African culture, and left her with a superficial understanding about her heritage. Alice Walker uses Wangeros and Mamas strange ideologies to suggest that the substance of an object is more valuable than its style.Everyday mathematical function by Alice WalkerIn 1972, Alice Walker published Everyday Use in a collection of short stories In Love and tump over Stories of Black women. As better known Everyday Use stood out of the collection, it has become one of few short stories about the conflict black Americans spiritd after the Civil Rights Movement The struggle to maintain traditions, whilst include new-found freedom, and where the two worlds collided. Discussing the reoccurring themes, symbols and papers through the narrators perception, and actions will reveal if the character, and lastly the reader himself has grown or remained static in affect of the conflict.As stated above, once the Civil Rights movement ended and black Americans original the rights equal to a white American, a conflict sur largeed by the old world and the new world collided. The assimilation of black Americans into the American mien of life, the struggle to uphold traditions, and the quest to return to original African culture is a theme in Everyday Use. The narrators, Mama, perception of the world is small, in contrast to her daughters, Dee. When Dee returns, she has enterpriseed to re-forge her African based culture and dismiss her history and The people who oppress me (Walker 454).She arrives bejeweled in gold, flaunting a flashy yellow African style dress, alongside her pretended boyfriend Asalamalikim. The ignorance of Mama of this being a term in Arabic meaning Peace be upon you (Anthology 454), which instead she mistakes as his name, displays the differentiation between Mama and Dees exposure to the world. The way in which she chose to fashion herself exudes the point that she has no real understanding of African culture, and she is in favor of the American simulated construction of African culture.The quilts become a symbol of the coaction of their family histories into tangible evidence in Everyday Use, when Dee returns to the house for quilts and the carve dasher, proposing to hang them up for display. This upsets the Narrator, Mama, she makes reference to Maggie being able to put them to everyday use, and she can always quilt more while Dee adamantly protests. Mama makes a move to recover the quilts and Dee pulls them away and Mama thinks to herself They already belonged to her (Walker 456).In Mamas perspectiv e, the point of the quilts was the tradition of quilting, not the quilts themselves. She views Dee as soul to wants to act out the movements of appreciation of their culture, instead of passing it on. In the act of retrieving the quilts from Dees grip, and returning them to Maggie, Mama reveals herself as an unknowing, lot character that can re-act differently than what is expected of her. Mama stands up for the square traditions in the face of her daughter, although her daughter believes herself to be the all knowing one.As well as the theme of old black world verses new, we come across the motif of names and re-naming within the short story. Just as Dee comes home dressed in African styled clothing, she re-names herself Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo to represent her full transformation into a true African woman. Her boyfriends name Hakim. a. barber also hints to the fact that he also took up the Muslim faith in an attempt of reform. Mama makes an effort to educate Dee on her name how it was passed through generations and holds value in itself.Dee dismisses this fact, and it reveals Dees ignorance of the lineage of strong women she was born from. Dee and Hakim try to cover up or dissolve their actual history with the history that is more in favor with current society and hold no value in their true identities. In this instance, Dee can be portrayed as the round character, ever changing to fit her surroundings while Mama and Maggie, the originator who does not reveal their name, and the latter who has a normal name, can be portrayed as the plain characters.However, this can be contradicted. In the beginning of the story, Mamas perception of Dee is somewhat tainted by her personal differences from Dee. The fact that Mama was not able to complete her study completely, while still providing an training for her daughter served as a wedge in between the two. Dee looked down upon mama for her lack of education, and Mama felt victimized by Dees overwhelming need to prove her higher intellect. For example, Dees greeting Wa-su-zo-Tean-o (Walker 454), a term which her mother and Maggie she knew could not understand. In result, she always assumed Dees word to be true and unworthy of contradiction. However, in the end of the story, Mama realizes that notwithstanding though Dee might have a higher education and therefore exposure to the world, she still did not learn the value of the her true heritage. Something that cannot be learned through school work, and cannot be appreciated through study, was the legacy of her ancestors, something Dee adamantly dismissed as irrelevant.Mama then becomes a round character, than can overcome the overshadow of her daughter and prove that all the education in the world cannot help keep culture alive, and only family as well as true traditions can have that effect. In irony, Dee states that it is Mama that knows nothing of their heritage, when it is in fact Dee who has lost all find of their comely history. We can now conclude that the Narrator, Mama is an unknowing character by her reactions to the antagonist Dee, Mamas actions were made based off her preceding as well as current encounters with Dee.She is in a sense a round character that overcomes her impertinent daughters detestation of the word No, and sticks to old traditions. While also, Mama is a flat character, withstanding the exposure to Dees education to begin and end the short story in her yard, where she finds peace and control over her environment. Everyday Use did an delicate job in portraying the collision of black American freedom, and the impost of those that lived before the days of civil rights.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Emperors New Clothesthither lived a earthly concern he should still be alive now, even one would ilk to think that he had grown up a little.He fancied himself the It Boy of Western Super- Mare, he was the guy in the latest fashion, up to date hairdos and always had this months Vanity Fair tucked chthonic one arm.The fact that he was al well-nigh 38 and still lived in his parents triplet bedroomed semi-detached did non seem to deter him.Being a existence of simple pleasures, and having never had the intuition to actually move into a posterior of his own and get a career, his daily r permit onine had non changed much(prenominal) over the past twenty eld.No later than 8.30am each morning, his partial(p) and somewhat drink defeattrodden mother would creep into his bedroom, careful not to wake the big bucks of a son who lay snoring homogeneous a blabber in his bed. She would place his plate of sausage sandwiches close to his bedside and then(prenominal) piano le ave closing the door gently behind her.At notwithstanding 8.40am, he would take one last grotesque snore and then emerge from his top bunk, and haul his not so svelte aim down the two foot ladder that leant over against the side, which screamed in distress e very step he made in his descent. With one foul sliding board his slap-up hairy hand would shovel sausage sandwiches into his gawping mouth, two at a time.He would then make his way to the bathroom, where he worn-out(a) about two thirds of his life.Who would have thought that a bathroom barely capable of fitting in a bathtub, wash basin and fecal matter, could hold out the valety different cheap brands of beauty products that he had acquired over the years?Two and half-hours later and he is all ready. The better a man looks, the better a man isHe would bellow after flushing the toilet and bursting out of the bathroom with a quiff that no Elvis impersonator could equality to. He had a lengthy beauty regime that was sudd enly bouncy that he stuck to. How else was he going to pass off being the most vain person in the whole of Western Super-Mares hi allegory? unity gets the impression that some of the hair that once belonged on the crown of his passing play had quietly crept to join the vast amount of hair that covered the wait of his body. As most middle-aged men do, he himself had acquired a kinda prominent bald patch.This baldness did bother his small mind. But not enough so that he did not take ultimate superbia in every other inch of himself. later bathroom time, it was get dressed up time. To say that he took an hobby in fashion would be a laughable understatement. His grandly small bedroom was not someplace one could kick approve and relax, purely due to the lack of space.He did have a lot of clothes, even the odd sarong and kilt. If someone labeld had once worn it, or been seen in it, he would have it, or so he give cared to make out.Expense simply does not matter when you are no t paying for eachbody but your conceited self. dish the dirt about the town was that he surely must have had professional Being tattooed behind his ear, like the 666 in the Omen, but this guy was real.Once kitted out in an outfit that was about as un-flattering as he could by chance piece together,Its next season darling, anybody can see that he would jeer to anybody who dared to scoff at him.After blowing air kisses to his mother and father, he would run off to the seafront.When on the bus, he would lay out a former tissue on which to perch his bottom on, and cross his legs curtly. One whitethorn imagine that seeing a middle aged bald man with the ghastliest fake tan and atrocious dress sense and perspiration problem, would be a humorous thing, but the locals were completely used to him, and paid him no attention whatsoever.In the city he would flounce around obviously aimless, peering in at the most expensive shops and graveling lesser beings nasty looks.Then, he would go to his favourite caf, a low key seaside affair, that his vast Aunt happened to own. Here, he could get stark coffee and cream cakes. This was a privilege he had been abusing ungratefully for as long as his great aunt could remember.He was definately not one to say no to something free (as his unlucky relative had realised). This was his critical downfall.It was a day like any other in the caf, when he was approached by a young char complete with fake breasts, a fake smile, and an incredible amount of orange tree makeup on, a saleswoman.He glanced her up and down, his eyes did not catch upon an expensive lable, therefore he returned to his article without bothering to utter a word.Sir, sober to disturb you, as you look like a very finical manAt which point, his Aunt spluttered in the background.She continued,My company are the newest in follicle technology, we deal in complicated science procedures, to bring men like yourself back smiling, with a full drumhead of hair Which w as then her queue to throw him a dazzling smile with gleaming eyes. Luckily, she had his attention.Menlike myself? He growled ferociously, spraying her with saliva.The womans smile did not crack.I think it may interest you to know that we have a full waiting list of celebrities desperate to get their hands on this amazing product, I chose you, because you look like a person who knows what they want. And we are prepared to give you the full course, absolutely one hundred percent free There was a pause. within his head, cogs were turning slowly. Celebrities. Desperate. FreeHe took a deep breath in, stood up proudly, his nose in the air and slammed his great hairy fist down on the table smashing four empty mugs and declared,Ill do it nimble as a flash, his details were down on paper and he carry on with his coffee, smug, with the prospect of a full head of hair.A month or so later, at 8.30am a parcel arrived next to his sausage sandwiches. At first sighting, the grown man inside of him let out a high pitched squeak of excitement.He dropped to his knees like an eager child, tearing away the packaging in glee.Minutes later, sit amdist a sea of bubble wrap, he cradling his new elixir.Follicle SOS hair rejuvenator with added vitaminsHe gasped in awe at this magical product and once again felt smugly aware that he had been hand picked to use it.After studying the instructions, here began the treatment. This is not the kind of treatment he had in mind though. One must bear in mind, that his peers were not very fond of him.Every day he applied the magical cream, and every night, he checked his bald spot for improvement. No such luck. In fact, he wasnt entirely sure, but it looked like his hair was getting sparser.After three weeks of applying the cream, he was not a happy customer. He had even stop going out to the seafront for his regular coffee and cream cakes. For not lone(prenominal) had his bald spot stayed bald, but to his horror it had increased in size.He rang the helpline. Sitting there in his mothers favourite chair, on hold, for most of an hour. Until the corresponding lady who he had spoken to before answered.A whole train of violent abuse later, the woman replied,The treatment has to get rid of the original hair, in order to work on the head as a whole, and produce shiny healthy looking locks. Because you sir, are worth it She purred. zip like a cheap compliment to dampen his rage.So, religiously, he carried on applying it.Until the final day came, when he awoke one morning completely, outrageously bald, not to mention shiny. Alongside his sausage sandwich was a small letter.He opened it happily,Popular as ever he thought.Inside the letter, was a note written by hand. It readHave you never read the story about the Emperor and his new clothes?Oh, he and his bald head of Western Super-MareVanity is a highly un-attractive quality.Consider the lesson taughtOn the back of the note, were the signatures of every person in his neighbourhoo d.Hands shaking, he laid down the note gently. Promptly strolled downstairs, leaving his sausage sandwiches behind, picked up the yellow pages and looked up, source toupees.

Organizational Culture Essay

It is exdecadesively acknowledge that compositional husbandry plays an increasingly essential role in a successful company. However, in the mean valuewhile whether organisational farming should be dislodged cites a controversial issue. some(prenominal) managers assert that organisational culture must be tackd while fewer others argue that organizational culture fatalitys not to be swopd. As far as I am concerned, I am in favor of the former view. In this essay, firstly, I forget talk to the highest mark what is organizational culture and what do organizational cultures do.In the second place, I will discuss why organizational culture should be stird. Thirdly, I will analyze the ventures of organizational culture assortment. Fin onlyy, I will unfold how to pr planet jeopardizes of organizational culture change. What is organizational culture? A numerate of years back, I watched an Ameri screwing reality television The Apprentice, and I memorialise a player was as ked what he thought organizational culture mean by Doanld Trump. He said I crumbt let out it, however,I get it when I see it. Most people burn downnot define organizational culture accurately by concise word.However in that location seems to be widely recognized that organizational culture indicates a system of shargon signification held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations. (Becker, 1982, pp. 513-27 and Schein 1985 p. 168) This shargond system meaning is, on further investigation, a series of important features that the organization values. The investigation advises that there be seven main features that, gather up the threads, constitute the essence of an organizational culture. (Reilly III, Chatman, Jehn, 1991, pp. 487-516 and Chatman, Jehn, 1994, pp. 522-553 Ashkanasy, Wilderom, Peterson, 2000) 1.Innovation and adventure the boundary to which employees ar further to be make innovations and adventure. 2. Detail oriented the point to which employees are expect to exhibit meticulous, analysis and detail oriented. 3. Attention to outcome the extent to which counselling attach importance to results or outcomes rather than on the skills and processes used to get those outcomes.Attention to people the extent to which management termination reappearance into hear the influence of results on people within the organization. 5. Attention to team the extent to which course snatchivities are organized around teams rather than individuals. . Aggressiveness the extent to which people are aggressive and competitive rather than easygoing 7. constancy the extent to which organizational activities stress keeping the status quo by compare to growth and study. on that point is no denying that organizational culture is just a descriptive concept, because of organizational culture is paid attention to how employees perceive the features of their organizations culture, not with whether or not they like it. Further more, i t is obvious that a company tail endnot watch only one organizational culture.As we know, there are many employees who subscribe to contrary background or at different levels in a company, so they must deplete different perspective with organizational culture. In the mean time, there are 2 different cultures in one company, dominant culture and subculture. Dominant culture describes the core values that are shared by a intimately of the employees, when we talk about an organizational culture, we are referring to its dominant culture In general, subculture bristle in a big company to reflex concerted problems, situations or experiences that staff meet. What do cultures do?Culture has a mixed bag of functions in an organization. First, it creates distinctions between one organization and others. Second, it expresses a sense of identicalness for employees. Third, it precipitates employees not only care ones individual self-interest, merely also care whole organizational int erest. Fourth, it improves the stability of the organization. Finally, culture serves as a sense- making and control mechanism that guides and shapes the attitudes and behavior of employees. (Reilly, Chatman, Staw, Cummings, 1996). Why organizational culture should be changed?Compelling arguments can be make that organizational culture should be changed, immediately. The first point with respect to this is that our society is progress at an amazing speed in this day and age, more and more organizations face a dynamic and changing environment. As a consequence, all organizations must conform to the changeable society. Change or die is the exchange cry among todays manager publicwide. In the second place, with the development of engineering science and science, the sense of distance between people getting closer, our domain became a multicultural environment.Therefore, many companies have to do adjustment to fit environment. More precisely, many companies must spend large amou nt of property and much energy on training to improve skills of employees. Last just now not least, in this world, competition is a part of our lives, never disappear. curiously in the moving in society, the weaks are the prey of the strongs, increasing competition makes it fateful for builded organizations to defend themselves against both traditional competitors who develop hot products and services, and small entrepreneurial firms with innovative offerings.This makes sense in that a good organization will be the ones that can change according to the competition. They followed the steps of the times, able to develop forward-looking products quickly and put them on the commercialise. They accelerate production operations, cut back product cycle and constantly produce new products that can align to radically-changing environment. The risks of organizational culture On the other hand, colorable arguments can be made that organizational culture should not to be changed.This argument has large sexual morality in that every little change can bring abundant risks, especially for a business organization. For example, a change is scheduled and employees as soon as possible respond by voicing complaints, demotivation, even threatening go on strike and so on. In general, risk can be divided 2 big parts, individual risks and organizational risks. Individual sources of risk belong to primary human characteristics such as intendedness, characteristics and requirements. There are five different risks in individual resources. custom-made (Habit) Do you go to school or relieve oneself always by means of same route every day? Most peoples answer Yes Our lives are so complicated, we have to make hundreds of decisions. Therefore, face to life-times complexities, we lean upon habits or programmed responses. However, when approach with change, this tendency to respond in our usual ways becomes a source of risk. For instance, when your department moves to anothe r new building, it means you have to change your habits get up earlier ten minutes pass a new street go to work look for a new parking adapt to new purposes overall arrangement and so on. . Security People with a high need for security are likely to resist change because it threatens their feelings of safety.For example, when Sony&ampEricsson announced to lay off 17000 employees or cover will introduce new robots, these employees feel their job unsafe. 3. Economic Changes in work tasks or job specification can lead to economic fears if people are cared that they would not be able to adapt to new tasks or standards, especially when reward is closely related to productivity. 4. Fear of the mystical Change replaces vagueness and indetermination for the unknown.When we graduated from high school ready usher in university was a wonderful example. In high school, we understood that what things need to do, you by chance dislike high school life, provided at least, you know this s ystem. We faced a fresh and uncertainty system in university, you have to present your know to exchange unknown, it was associated with uncertainty fears. 5. Selective information processing Individuals are sinful of selective processing information in the cause of check their whole consciousness.They hear what they want to hear and they ignore information that challenges the world they have created. Organization is conservative for its essentially, it resist change energetically. (Hall, 1987) This phenomenon can be seen everywhere, for example, governmental agencies want to continue devote oneself to their work, no matter what the market need to change The organized religion has ineradicable history, changing unearthly doctrine need great perseverance and patience Many business companies also think change can bring many risks.There are six organizational sources of risk. (Katz, Kahn, 1978) 1. Structural inertia Organizations keep their stability by inner mechanism, like their se lection processes that choose employees in or out very systematically Training and other socialize engine room strengthen requests and skills for every concrete role Organizational normalization provides job specifications, rules and dominions to employees. After selection, the satisfactory employees can enter organization, then, organization will standard and guide their behaviors by kind of way.When an organization is meted with change, this structural inertia act as risk (even counterbalance) to maintain stability. 2. Limited Change attention Organizations are made up of a quantity of interdependent subsystems. One cannot be changed without influencing the others. More exactly, in the meantime, organizations just change technological process, and not change organizational structure for match it, so technological change cannot adapt to. It seems that limited change in subsystems tend to be nullified by the lager system. 3. Group inertnessEven though individuals want to change t heir behavior, class criterion may act as a force of constraint. For instance, an union member maybe accept job change from capital, but if union regulation provide that resist any change by capital one-sidedly change, therefore risk will appear. 4. Threat to professional knowledge Changes in organizational model may threaten the expertise of specialized groups. In 1980s, the process of adopting distributed personal computer was a good example. This computer can let user direct got information from host computer of company, but it encountered many information departments counterview.Why, because the use distributed computers can bring risks for special technology of information departments. 5. Threat to established berth relationships Any reapportionment of decision-making power can threaten long-established power relationships within organization. Participative decision and self-management work team are belong to this change, it used to be threaten by dependent managers. 6. Th reat to established resource distributions Groups in the organization that control considerable resources see change as a risk.They tend to be spoil with the way things are. For instance, whether change means their budget or members decreasing? Those groups which can get much benefit from existing resource allocations used to be threaten by future allocations. How to prevent risks of organizational culture change? Although Organizational change brings many risks, in some ways, this is positive. It regulates a degree of stability and predictability to behavior. If there were not some risks, organizational behavior would take on the representatives of chaotic randomness.According to these risks, there were six tactics have been suggested for use by change planners in spreading with preventing risks. (Kotter, Schlesinger, 1979) 1. Education and conversation Risk can be reduced through and through communicating with employees to help them understand the logic of a change. The fundame ntal assumption of this strategy is the agreement of producing risks that fights the effects of misinformation and miscommunication if employees see all facts and eliminate entire misread, risks should disappear. Our communication could through talk personally, group discussion, memorandum, report and so on.Indeed, research shows that the way the need for change is sold matters-change is more likely when the necessity of changing is box properly. (Dutton, Ashford, ONeill, Lawrence, 2001) By the way, when the risk of change definitely from miscommunication and labor relations character by mutual trust, this tactic does work if these conditions cannot be have, it does not work. 2. Participation It is difficult for individuals to hit back a change decision in which they participated. Before changing, those opposed can be brought into the decision process.Presuming that the participants have the professional knowledge to make a meaningful contribution, their participation can reduce ri sk, obtain promise, and improve the quality of change decision. However, this tactic has two disadvantages. First, it maybe has potential poor decision second, it would take much time. 3. assist and Promotion Change planners can provide a range of encouraging measures to reduce risk. When employees feel fear and worried, the company should offer recommendation and advise psychology, new-technologies training or a short paid leave of spend may promote adjustment.Research on middle managers has shown that when managers or employees have low emotional commitment to change, they favor the status quo and resist it. (Huy, 2002, pp. 31-69) 4. dialog Another way for the change planner to cope with potential risk to change is to exchange something valuable for waken risk. For example, if the risk is concentrated in some compelling individuals, a detailed payment scheme can be negotiated that will satisfy their individual needs. Negotiation as a tactic may be necessary when risk comes f rom a powerful provenience. But, planner cannot ignore its potentially high costs.On the side, if change planner negotiates with one party to avoid risk, he or she is open to the surmise of being extorted by other individuals which have power. 5. Control and Cooptation Manipulation deal with concealed influence attempts. Some illustration of this are twisting and mistake facts to make them more attractive, blocking undesirable information, and creating rumors to get employees to accept change. If managers threatens to unsympathetic down a extraordinary manufacturing plant if that plants employees do not accept an across-the-board pay cut, and if the threat is actually untrue, managers is utilise manipulation.Cooptation, on the other side, is a mode of both manipulation and participation. It see to find buy off the leaders of against group by handsome them an important role in the change decision. The leaders lead is explored, not to seek a good decision, but to get their auth orization. two manipulation and cooptation are comparatively low-cost and easy ways to put up the support of opponents, but the tactics can backfire if the targets become conscious that they are being tricked or used. If by any chance detected, the change planners reputation may drop to zero.It used by change planners in dealing with opponents to change that is, the application of direct thrusts or force on the opponents. The color is quite mandatory, if the company management indicated to in the previous discussion really is determined to shut down if employees do not agree with a pay cut. Other examples of coercion are threats of transfer, loss of promotions, negative performance appraisal and so on. The advantages and disadvantages coercion are similar to the benefits and drawbacks of manipulation and cooptation.For my part, after considering the arguments above, I would concede that organizational change can bring many risk, the members of conservative not support change. Neve rtheless, disrespect that I think the organizations should be changed, every day is different, anything would be changed as time goes on. Overall, I am convinced that with development of society, managers will split many effective change plans to adapt to market competition.

Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Leadership Essay

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is one of the human beingss richesiest investor and stemmaman. He has been up to(p) to gain connection in politics by means of and through entrepreneurship and international investments as an entrepreneur. He is a citizen of Lebanon and a member of the royal family, House of Saudi, in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Though not a member of the administrator charged with ruling, he usually gets involved in politics of Lebanon for suit in the case of President Emile Lahoud against claims assassinating Lebanese billionaire Rafik Hariri and usually criticizes both local anesthetic and international political issues in the media. He has so far been defeated in his efforts to lead the Lebanese Sunni community.During Alwaleeds archean ages, his Father Prince Talal Abd al-Aziz, a known activist and modernizer, actively engaged in matters concerning the political issues that existed in the traditional governing system in Saudi Arabia in the early 1960s.He opposed Modern pan-Arabism that was led by the then attraction of the United Arab Repulic, Jamal Gamal Abdel Nasser, which resulted to the suspension of his passport. He was forced to seek exile in Egypt. During this period, Alwaleed lived with his mother, Princess Muna al-Sulh who was the daughter of Riyadh al- Sulh, the first Prime Minister of the Independent Lebanon.In his early education, he attended elementary and middle schools in capital of Lebanon and generateed to Lebanon in 1973 to attend King Abdul Aziz Military Academy to gain more discipline skills. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science mark in Business administration from Menlo College California in 1979 and later enrolled for a masters Degree in Political Science from Syracuse University (Khan 2005).He rose to international fame in the early 1990s by acquire a substantial amount of Citicorp sh ars when then firm was undergoing monetary difficulties. He is an established investor and owns a chain of investments insti tutionwide in the major industries such as banking, building and construction companies, telecommunications, broadcasting and media, entertainment, hospitality and involvement in charitable activities across many regions of the world. He alike owns a dish come out of luxurious assets (Khan 2005). jibe to Machiavelli (2005) drawship qualities must be practical and not ideological in their application. In chapter 15 of The Prince, that leadership quality should be determined through consideration of soulfulnessality traits, nature and how a person conducts himself. A successful linguistic rule must know when, where and in what mood an upright person bequeath act when confronted with different situations.Alwaleed has been able to edge all these leadership qualities which are evident in the different criterias he employed in his investment activities throughout his life. He invested in shares of Americas Citicorp at the time when every investor was pulling out their capital f rom the firm and at a time when it neared its collapse due(p) to bankruptcy, a decision that elicited mixed reactions across the world.Machiavelli talks of qualities that a leader must posses on those things which politicians or Princes must do that efficiency either be acclaimd or blamed in the end. He intelligibly differentiates the two categories in which a leader must apply limited ideologies. Machiavelli identifies the world that we live in as a kind of world of forms and which contains imperfect alternatives that are required in the world of ideas.Alwaleed seemed to recognize the world of ideas and did things that other people in the world of forms thought that they were impossible to happen. Upon his return aft(prenominal) completion of his Masters degree, he invested in the banking field by purchasing shares in the United Saudi Commercial Bank. This go bad enabled the bank to gain enormous returns in terms of market appraise and also enabled the Bank to merge with S audi Cairo Bank. His fortunes increased immensely through these risky but strategic business ventures.These elicited admirations from financial strategists across Asia and other parts of the world. Economic observers in the Saudi domain and from other parts of the globe recognized his efforts and Alwaleed was thus chosen by the King as an advisor on economic matters. This enabled him improve on his unique strategic approaches to expansion of his business empire (Khan 2005). Alwaleeds character has been influenced through his grand father King Abd al-Aziz and the first prime see of independent Lebanon who were all honest, upright and bounteous in their actions. They got a plug of respect and loyalty from the entire kingdom. on the whole these characters can be displayed through his successful ventures and the ways in which he related to the people. His sudden amassment of wealth in a short period of time has led genuine institutions to question the mention of his wealth.Ac cording to the Economist online, Alwaleed is suspected to be a front man of other investors in the Saudi Arabian kingdom. All his sources of income are questioned and an account of his possible worth is calculated and the conclusion is that the source of his wealth is unquestionable because his business could not be in a position to accumulate such volume of wealth in a short period of time.Machiavellis leadership principle requires that a leader must engage in activities that may seem inappropriate, eliciting malicious interests and those that will require him to commit unethical ethics so long as it leads him to obtain success and power. What matters is the end result, the means doesnt apply. Alwaleed was able to progress to success and power irrespective of the means he employed to acquire his success. His experience from the risky venture has enabled him to acquire riches and build business empires in addition to gaining international respect and recognition through put in lo ng-term projects (Machiavelli 17).Machiavelli on chapter 13 and 14 in the Online publications Library the character of a Prince on matters concerning mercenaries and armies is discussed. They should be loyal to the ruler in fighting for the battle. In chapter 14, Machiavelli advises the prince to focus on the war and distract other issues that pertains military matters.He should gain knowledge to enable him to celebrate power stronghold throughout the battle. Prince Alwaleed was prepared in military matters after having attended King Abdul Aziz Military Academy and was prepared to lead shut in he found his chance to the throne. He was therefore armed to be safe lest he is threatened by opposing forces to his power. This enabled him to gain organized religion from the King and thus he found a position in the cabinet and became the Kings Economic advisor.Bridging the East and Western WorldsAlwaleed fame is recognized internationally through his involvement in bridging the Arab wo rld and the Western worlds. He has been involved in Islamic studies programs across Universities in the United States and other parts of the Globe. According to Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University, prince Alwaleed is committed to the fostering the splendor of peace and tolerance.They assert that the best way to achieve this is through the bridging of the appreciation between the East and the West. He is also committed in devising the world a better place. He is the champion representative of UNESCO and also supports charities for children.  He engages in cultural activities aimed at promoting mutual understanding. The prince also has funded an educational centre at Georgetown University that aims at improving understanding between Islamic and Christian religions. Other initiatives include cross cultural educational institutions in Europe, Africa and the Middle-East.This shows a connection with the qualities of a leader cited by Machiavelli . On generosity and miserliness, a leader is supposed to spend excess amounts of his fortune on things that will improve or heighten his publicity but by doing so keep in mind the consequences that might befall him in the until nowt that his fortune dwindles (Machiavelli 14). Chapter 18 tells the things that a politician must do which concerns his faith.Alwaleed has been able to extend his religion to the western world through mount foundations that touch on his Islamic religion. In this chapter Machiavelli asserts that private morality should go for over public life and in order to be successful, praise must come from other human beings even if it means doing things are wrong in different perspectives. Rulers must therefore be generous in utilizing their wealth and appear tough on running their businesses even if it means using cruelty. He has stood strong on his word of Bridging the eastern and west and has stood strong in his faith.

Marketing Influences Essay

IntroductionGenerally commercialize deals with get and selling a products or service. And consumer deportment is a branch of merchandising deals with the process that the consumer acquire or do not purchase the products and services (Quester, Pettigrew, & group A Hawkins, 2006). For the retailers and all other businesses consumer manner is analyzed for identifying key undefeated food marketing strategy. Marketing strategy is the combination of product, price, promotion, channel of distribution and market segmentation (Quester, Pettigrew, & angstrom unit Hawkins, 2006). There argon various factors that affect the consumer sort for purchase a product or services. And for making good strategical marketing decisions any firms or organizations need to understand those factors resembling cultural, individual, organizational etc (Quester, Pettigrew, & angstrom unitere Hawkins, 2006).Analyzing consumer behavior become genuinely main(prenominal) for this warring world. For ga ining competitive advantage its important to give more(prenominal) than value to the customer than the competitors (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). According to Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins (2006), customer value means the contrasts between the hit they get from the products and the cost that they spend for acquiring those products. Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins (2006) emphasize that giving scoop customer value mainly requires the firms to react immediate to consumer needs more quickly than rivals. This try is base on a typeface vignette with 3 movements. And these three suspenses will be discussed simultaneously.First question is based on describing the pointal influences that would affect the customer decisions for acquire a products and services. Second question is based on the case that Kate wants to purchase a deliver for her gents birthday and identify the three bital influences that affect the Kates acquire decisions. And the third question is describing the key marketing strategy by which a trafficker might be able to utilize the situation to a market specific type of products or dishonors.Question 1 wait onAs states before that this question is based on describing the situational influences that affects the customer decisions for purchase products. Any organizations or companies take a leak to understand that which situations is affecting the customer dealing decision of their products or services and how the traffickers could serve the best when those situations arise (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Marketers activities should be designed in the context of the situation the consumer faces which influence the customers for purchasing the product whenMKT510 Consumer behaviourM. M. Tamim 2 ID 11511633 they face such(prenominal) situation (Foxal & Yani-de-Soriano, 2005). A consumers choices are affected by various own(prenominal) influences such as mood and if there is limitation of epoch for purchase etc. Now-a-days raft are using electronic source for the initial information for purchasing the products (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Relating to consumer behavior a number of attempts beget been made to classify the situations and the classification has been made by Russel Belk (Belk, 1975). According to Belk there are five types of situation that influence customers decisions. They are physical environment, cordial surroundings, temporary perspective, toil definition and antecedent states (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006).Physical surroundings imply the location of the pedigree, interior decoration, smell, sound system, lighting, visible surroundings of the materials to the remark object (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Those surroundings can significantly influence inspiration of the customer and can convince to coming the store repeatedly. (Solomon, Dann, & RusselBennett, 2007). kind environment in bid manner affects custom er motives for purchasing products or usage of products. In a consumer environment if there are large number of people present so it could increase arousal levels. For example, in a store if there are huge number of people present then automatically arouses other consumer for buying products from that store (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Temporal factors is the era constraints for a customer. Some epochs consumer could situation for buying with limitation of time that also affects the consumer buying decision.Relative to past or future event for the situation time whitethorn also be measured (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). tax definition includes the intention regarding purchase the products or requirements to select the store or products. For example, consumer behaves differently when they buy products for apply compared to purchasing for themselves (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). For evaluating the purchase of products customer mood or p hysiological conditions at the time of purchase whitethorn have huge influence for making decisions (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Among those five influences permits elaborate on two situational influences.They are temporal factors and task definition. Temporal factors are situational influences which deal with time that available for purchase. The availability of time for purchasing the product has a big impact to the customers (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). In that context, the information search will be short if the time is hold in and the use of short information will be made slightly suboptimal purchase (Sim & Goh, 1998). As a situational influence time has a bug impact to the customer buying decision.MKT510 Consumer BehaviorM. M. Tamim 3 ID 11511633 For example, the consumers are less like to visit any departmental store if they have limited time but if they are not time pressured they would like to visit more (Kenhove & Wulf, 2000). The numbe r of product alternatives would be little for the time constraints. For this the brand loyalty might be increased for legion(predicate) customers. (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Some corners store and convenience store are the triple-crown considering this time factors as a situational influences. Task definition means the understanding for purchasing a product or influences the buying decision. The basis may vary to different buyers and user roles performed by the individual (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006).For example, gift giving is general reason but gift giving in occasion is specific reason that influence the behavior of the purchasing a product (Ruth, Otnes, & Brunel, 1999). Generally people increase their purchase in specific occasions. Best marketers understand these patterns of situations in which people more draw to buy (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). For example, in promotional activities bookstores invest heavily for the fall ou t up to Christmas because many people are tend to buy books as Christmas present and to stock for reading them during summer holidays (Solomon, Dann, & RusselBennett, 2007).Question 2 AnswerKate is struggling to make a decision and wants to buy her comrade a smart phone to his birthday and she was running out of time. The three situational influences that affect Kates purchasing decision are task definition, temporal factors and social surroundings. Task definition as told before is the reasons that influence the customer to buy a product or services (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). And the reason could be general and specific like gift giving in a occasion in which also influence the buying patterns (Ruth, Otnes, & Brunel, 1999). In this case the task is specific which the birthday of Kates boyfriend. notwithstanding people feel their needs of products or services for reason whether its general or specific.In this case, Kate feel need for buying a product for giv ing gift to her boyfriend in his birthday. So harmonise to Ruth, Otnes and Brunel (1999), the task was specific for Kate for purchasing the smart phone. Temporal factors as situational influences include the availability of time for purchasing any product (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). here(predicate) Kate had very limited time for making decision though the birthday of her boyfriend was very near. She had two options thatMKT510 Consumer BehaviorM. M. Tamim 4 ID 11511633 whether to buy iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy SIII. As given before that less time gives less information for making decision (Belk, 1975). So Kate had to make a decision so she couldnt consider the information very goodspring and she had to choose smart phone randomly from the given two options. conk situational influences that affect the Kates decision is social surroundings which means the presence of other people who could have an influence on the individuals consumers behavior (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Considering behavior social influence is very significant since the individuals behavior is visible and they tend integrate with group expectations (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006).In this case Kate has limited time for making decision that she had two options that iPhone 5 which is recommended by her boyfriends childhood friend who k invigorated Johns personality very well as well his character and another option is Samsung Galaxy SIII which is recommended by the salesmen who is expert in smart phone. Shopping and consuming goods in normal is highly visible activity which has several social influences others (Shim & Eastlick, 1998). though the buying patterns of Kate was not so highly visible activity like shopping and consuming goods in public rather it was individual buying decision. Though Kate had limited time to decide whether what to buy then she asked for tribute in two people one was sales person and another was friend of John which the y have influences for buying smart phone.Question 3 AnswerIn modern competition marketers need to give more value to the customer compare to the competitors (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Customer value is the difference between the advantage they get and the costs they spend for getting that advantage. So considering the situation marketers need to serve best to the consumer for purchasing product (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Marketing Strategy is the combination of product, price, distribution and promotion which emphasize a particular group of customers (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006).So using these key marketing strategies a marketer can utilize the situation to market a specific brand and product type by understanding consumer behavior. Lets cite the three key marketing strategies that how a marketer might be able to utilize situation for a specific type of product. harvesting type and caliber is very important for the marketer. However, th ousands of new products are introduced in the marketplace annually. So marketer need to satisfied customerMKT510 Consumer BehaviorM. M. Tamim 5 ID 11511633 by their products for successful business (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Also marketer needs to analyze and understand the needs and requirements of potential customer by which marketer can give the required product in such situation to the potential customer (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Price is another important marketing strategy and marketing mix as well. A marketer needs to understand consumer behavior in order to structure it mighty (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). For example a company desiring high quality brand and for this the price should be high. So, if the target customer believes that price-quality relationship. So considering the target market situation price might be structured (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006).promotional activities are another important term for the p roduct. By high quality campaign consumer might be convinced for buying that product. And also at any occasion or festival marketer could bring new promotions for the consumer that might influence the buying process (Foxal & Yani-de-Soriano, 2005). For example, any gift shops or bookshops spend more in promotional activities before Christmas that lead story the people for purchasing products or books for gift as they intend to buy (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). So considering task definition as a situational influences marketer could use these promotional activities.ConclusionUnderstanding of consumer behavior could make the dogged term success for the products (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). And to be successful its very important to understand the customer behavior considering the various situational influences (Belk, 1975). In this essay the theories of situational influences that affect their buying decision is discussed and after three of the situati onal influences is described in case of Kate who was struggling to make the best buy. And in last question how marketer might be able to utilize situation in aspects of using key marketing strategy is described. It is easy to understand that how situation could influence the buying decision process by this essay.MKT510 Consumer BehaviorM. M. Tamim 6 ID 11511633BibliographyBelk, R. W. (1975). Situational Variables and Consumer Behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 158. Foxal, G. R., & Yani-de-Soriano, M. M. (2005). Situational Influences on Consumers Attitudes and Behavior. Journal of Business Research, 518-25. Kenhove, P. v., & Wulf, K. d. (2000). Income and cartridge holder Pressure A Person Stuation Grocery Retail Typology. The International check up on of Retail, Distribution and Cionsumer Research, 149-66. Quester, P., Pettigrew, S., & Hawkins, D. I. (2006). Consumer Behavior Implications for Marketing Strategy. North Ryde McGraw-Hill Australia. Ruth, J., Otnes, C. C ., & Brunel, F. (1999). have Reciepts and Reformulation of Interpersonal Relationships. Journal of Consumer Research, 385-402. Shim, S., & Eastlick, M. A. (1998). The Hierarchical Influence of Personal determine on Mall Shopping. Journal of Retailing, 139-60. Sim, L. L., & Goh, S. Y. (1998). Singapores revise Concept Plan and Retailing Impact of the Tampines Regional Centre on Shopping Patterns. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 33-43. Solomon, M., Dann, S., & Russel-Bennett, R. (2007). Situational Effects on Consumer Behavior. Frenchs woodland Pearson Education.

Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 10

naan t previous(a) me that the only near mavenness who can send a shade back is the virtuoso who called it up, Thea verbalize. further the problem is that you choose to be able to see the spirit, you have to be close to it. then you can do the sending-back spell.Okay, Dani said, nodding. unless-Wait, Im getting to it. Thea got up and began to railway yard the few steps between her bed and Blaises. She spoke slowly at first, then more rapidly. What Im thinking is that this cant be the first time this has happened. Sometime, intimatelywhere, roundhow, some witch must have called up a spirit and permit it get away. And then had to go sur manifestation and get hold of it again.Im genuine thats true. But so what?So if we could find a record of how she did it-how she bring in the spirit raven-we might be in business.Dani was getting excited. Yeah-and it wouldnt correct have to be a case of a summoned spirit. I mean, some inspirit on the dot wont go to the other side a t all afterward theyve cronkd, wellhead(p)? Maybe theres a record most how one of them got move across the veil.Or a fib. Or a poem. Any national that would give us a clue some how to get them to stay in the comparable room with you while you do the spell. Thea stopped and grinned at Dani. And if theres one thing Gran has lots of, its records and stories and poems. There are hundreds of books in the work upshop.Dani jumped up, dark timber snapping. Ill call my mom and tell her Im staying over tonight. then- we find it.After Dani called her mother, Thea called Eric to key sure he was okay. Now that she knew there was a demented spirit on the loose she was worried ab tabu him.Youre sure youre all right? he said. I mean, I still feel awful about taking you to that place. I wishinged-well, Id uniform it if we could see each other without something wonderful happening.Thea felt as if someone had squeezed her heart. Me, too.Maybe we could do something tomorrow. If yo ure up to it.That would be good. She didnt dare to keep talking to him with Dani around. It would be too easy for whatsoeverone hearing to make believe her feelings.The first thing Thea noticed in the workshop was that Blaise had interpreted her new project with her.She must be close to finishing it.Ill break crush here, Dani said, standing in front of a large bookcase. Some of these look really old.Thea picked other case. There were books of every kind leather-bound, paper-bound, cloth-bound, suede-bound, unbound. Some were printed, some were handwritten, some were illuminated. Some were in languages Thea didnt cognize.The first shelf yielded nothing debar an interesting spell titled how to make an elixir of abhorrence, which works quite as well, or perhaps a little worse than the traditional Elixirs of Loathing or Detestation, and is less delicate and expensive than the Elixir of condemnation used by royals and members of the nobility, and go away also keep extremely we ll for a very huge time.HmmThea institutionalize that book aside. Shed looked through another half a shelf when Dani said, Hey, I found your family tree.Thea scooted over. Yeah, thats the one Gran keeps. It doesnt go anywhere near back to Hellewise. She laughed.Whos this fathead? Dani put her finger on a name. Hunter Redfern. I ideal the Redferns were that hotshot lamia family.Lamia family. I mean, theres a difference, you k at one time. Someone whos do into a vampire cant have kids.But whats the lamia blackguard doing in your family tree?Hes the one who did a kinship ceremony with Maeve Harman, back in the sixteen hundreds. She was the loss leader of the Harmans then. See? And were all descended from their daughter Roseclear.She did it with a vampire? Creepy.Thea smiled. She did it to stop their families from fighting-they had a feud spill on. And so at a time all of us forward-looking Harmans have a little vampire blood.Ill mean to watch out if you start looking at m y throat. Dani traced a finger down the tree. It looks analogous you and Blaise are the finale of the female Harmans.Yeah, were it. The last Hearth-Women.Thats a big responsibility.It was almost exactly what Gran had said. Thea suddenly felt uncomfortable with family trees. Yeah. Um, I guess wed better keep reading.It was several hours later when Dani said quietly, Ive got it.What? Thea went to sit by her. The book on Danis knees was bound in green with a crescent-shaped moon and three stars on the front-a Night World symbol for witches.Its a book of humorous stories, just theyre supposed to be true. This one is about a guy named Walstan Harman back in seventeen seventy. He died, plainly he didnt cross over. He just hung around town performing jokes on every soundbox-appearing at night with his head under his arm and forget like that. He never stayed in one place long enough for them to catch him, though.So how did they track him down?Dani flashed a winning smile. They did nt. They lured him in.Light dawned for Thea. Of course-Im so stupid. But how?Danis slender finger swept down the page. Well, first they waited till Samhain, so the veil between the worlds would be thinnest. thus Nicholas Harmanhad this big feast prepared, this huge table piled up with Walstans favorite food. Dani make a human face.Which happened to be mince pie make with bear meat and pumpkin, with a cornmeal crust. They have a recipe for it here, too. Gah.Never mind that. Did it work?Apparently. They set up the table with the pies in an empty room, then they spill a circle around it.Old Walstan was attracted to the food-I guess he just couldnt resist taking a look, even if he couldnt eat it. And when he came down to check it out, theyopened the door and nabbed him. Sent him speedily and handily through the narrow path to the airy void, Thea read over Danis shoulder. The story sounded genuine-only someone whod actually seen a summoning or a sending-back would know those words. So now we know how to do it, Dani said. We wait until Halloween and then we lure her. We just have to find something she likes-Or something she hates, Thea broke in as an idea struck her. They stared at each other. Like what she saw at the old gym, Dani touched. Something that reminded her of what they did to her.Yes, except Thea stopped. Her mind was rating on, but she didnt want to divvy up her thoughts with Dani. Except that the humans might already be doing something oh ? Halloween, something that would attract Suzanne. If the law of nature opened the old gym, the Halloween party would be an incredibly strong lure. every last(predicate) those horror boothsSo if I wanted to draw her somewhere else, Id take away to be doing something even worse, something that would remind her even more of what happened to her. And Id need bait, someone shed want to kill. A human. Somebody whod work with me, whod be willingnot Eric.Her thoughts came up short as she realized wh ere they were leading. She found that her hands were quick-frozen cold and her heart was pounding slowly.No. Not Eric, no matter what. Not even to save lives.She pushed the thought from her mind. Of course there was some other way, and shed find it. There was time.Thea? You still with me? Dani was watching her.I was just trying to figure it all out. Thea forced herself to speak calmly, to focusing on Dani. Urn, listen, theres one good thing I just thought of-we may have a little time. If Suzanne is still watching the old gym, it could work for us. As long as the gym is closed up, quite a little wont go in there, and she wont be able to get anybody.I apprehend so, Dani said. I mean, I understand wherefore shes upset, but cypher deserves to die the way Kevin did. Not even a human.Late that night, while Dani was ventilation system peacefully in Blaises bed, Thea lay and stared at the faint glow above the window curtains.It wasnt just visions of Kevin. Her mind kept returning to what Dani and Gran had said about her responsibility.Even if I send Suzanne back, even if Gran gets well, even if I manage to keep Blaise from killing Eric where am I?Im a renegade witch. And theres no future for Eric and me unless we run away. But that would mean him leaving his family forever-and us being hunted wherever we went. And me betraying the Hearth-Women and the Night World.One last thought glimmered before she could force her mind into blankness.Theres no way everybody is red to come out of this happy. The next morning Thea was late for school. And she had a herculean time tracking down Blaise-it wasnt until lunchtime that she and Dani found the Circle Midnight witches in the front courtyard.Please let us see it, genus genus Selene was proverb as Thea and Dani walked up. comely one peek. Please?I want to do a trial run first, Blaise said, looking very pleased with herself. She took a drink of iced tea, ignoring Thea and Dani.Hows Gran? Thea broke in without preamb le.Blaise turned. Better, no thanks to you. why didnt you call this morning?I overslept. After terrible nightmares about strangulate people.We were up late last night, Dani said. Its not Theas fault.Your grandmas really doing well, Vivienne said kindly. She just needs to rest for a while-Momll probably keep her at our place for a couple of days. Sleep heals, you know.Thea felt a tiny breath of relief, like a spring breeze. If Gran was getting better she had one less thing to worry about. Thanks, Viv. Please thank your mom, too.Blaise raised her eyebrows and made a tiny sound like Hmf. Then she tapped her chin with one long nail. A trial run she said again, gazing far away.She was togged up unusually, in a bronze silk crown with a high pick up that was zipped up to her chin. Thea had a sudden sinking feeling.What are you trying out? Dani asked.Blaise gave them a slow smile. Hang around and youll see. She scanned the courtyard and said sweetly, And there is the perfect mark. Selen e, will you go ask him to come here?Selene got up and languidly drifted to the boy Blaise had pointed at.Thea recognized him. He was Luke Price, a guy who drove a sleek red Maserati and looked like a severity-boy Hollywood star. He was fashionably unshaven and unkempt, had electric blue eyeball, andright now looked vaguely surprised to find himself following Selene back to Blaise. Luke, hows it vent? Blaise said pleasantly. Luke shrugged. Okay. What do you want? His electric blue eyes lingered on Blaise, but he was obviously used to playing the tough guy with girls.Blaise laughed shortly, as if taken off guard by the question. Nothing I can have, she murmured-and then looked slightly startled at herself. I want to talk to you, she said smoothly, recovering. And She tilted her head thoughtfully. Maybe the keys to your car.Luke laughed out loud. He leaned one hip against the concrete wall by the stairs, two fingers look for in his T-shirt pocket for a cigarette.Youre crazy, he sai d indistinctly.Dani coughed as smoke drifted toward her. Thea swirled her plastic bottle of Evian water in one hand.Blaise made a face. effect that out its disgusting, she said.Luke blew smoke toward her. If youve got something to say, say it. He was eyeing Blaises zipped-to-the-neck jacket with disfavor. Otherwise stop wasting my time.Blaise smiled.She touched the zipper at her throat. You want to guess whats under here?Lukes eyes went up and down the silk of the jacket, in particular where Blaise made it curve. Maybe youd better show me.You want me to show you? Youre sure, now?Thea looked heavenward, thumb playing with the opening to her Evian bottle.Luke was scowling, blowing smoke between tight lips. His electric blue eyes were narrow. I think youre some kind of dalliance.Blaise took the zipper between two fingers and slid it down.The necklace fit like a perk up, falsehood against the pale skin of her throat and the matte black of her simple blouse. And it was everything T hea had know it would be.It was delicate, exquisite, magical. Swirls of stars and moons in enchanted patterns. Gems of all kinds tucked into the mysterious curves. Green garnet, imperial topaz, sunstone, cinnabar. Violet sapphire, African emerald, smokestone.It seemed to move as you looked at it, the lines changing and flowing. wrench you into the center of its mystery, winding around you like strands of softly burnished sensory hair. place you fastThea pulled herself away with a physical jerk. She had to shut her eyes and put up a hand to do it.And if it does that to meLuke was staring. Thea could actually see the channelise in his face as the necklace worked its spell. Like some Oscar-winning actor transforming from bad boy to vulnerable kid right there on screen. His call down softened, his tight lips relaxed. The muscles around his eyes shifted and he lost his tense squint. He looked surprised, then defenseless. Open. Those electric blue eyes seemed dazzled, pupils widenin g. He sucked in a breath as if he couldnt get enough air. Now he looked awed now hypnotized now yearningSpellbound.Luke had been transformed. His whole body seemed smaller. His lips were parted. His eyes were huge and full of light. He looked as if at any second he might fall down and start worshiping Blaise.Blaise sit down like a queen, with her midnight hair tumbling around the necklace, her chest miserable slightly as she breathed, her eyes as brilliant as jewels.Put the disgusting cigarette down, she said.Luke dropped the cigarette and stamped on it as if it were a spider.Then he looked back at Blaise. You youre beautiful. He reached a hand toward her.Wait, Blaise said. Her face assumed a tragic, wistful expression. First, Im going to tell you a grim story. I used to have a little drop back that I loved, a cocker spaniel, and we would take long walks together around dusk.Thea gave her first cousin a narrow sideways look. Shed never heard such a lie. And what was Blaise talk ing about domestic dogs for?But he was run over by an eighteen-wheel Piggiy Wiggly truck, Blaise murmured. And ever since, Ive been so lonely. I miss him so much. She fixed her eyes on the boy in front of her. Luke . .. will you be my little dog? Luke looked confused.You see, Blaise went on, slipping a hand in her pocket, if I could just have somebody to remind me of him, Id feel so much better. So if youd wear this for meShe was holding a blue dog collar.Luke looked even more confused. Redness was creeping up his neck and jaw. His eyes filled.For me? Blaise coaxed, jingling the collar- which was way too big for a spaniel, Thea noticed. Id be so grateful.Luke looked as if he were having a tremendous internal struggle. His breathing was uneven. He swallowed. A muscle in his jaw twitched.Then, very slowly, he reached for the collar. Blaise held it down low.Lukes eyes followed the collar. Jerkily, as if his muscles were fighting each other, he knelt down at Blaises side. He stayed the re, stone-faced, as Blaise fastened the dog collar around his neck.When it was secure, Blaise laughed. She glanced at the other girls, then jingled the metal loop for the dog tag. Good boy, she said, and patted his head.Lukes face lit up with an excitement that bordered on ecstasy. He stared into Blaises eyes.I love you, he said huskily, still squatting.Blaise wrinkled her nose and laughed again. Then she zipped up the bronze jacket.The change on Lukes face was much quicker this time than his first transformation. For an instant he looked completely blank, then he glanced around as if hed suddenly woken up in a classroom.His fingers went to the dog collar. His face contracted in anger and horror and he jumped up.Whats going on? What am I doing?Blaise just gazed at him serenely. Luke tore the collar off and kicked it. Although he was glaring at Blaise, he didnt seem to remember the last few minutes. You-are you gonna tell me what you want or not? he snapped, his upper lip trembling. Because Im not going to wait all day. Then, when nobody said anything, he walked huffily off. His buddies across the courtyard were roaring with laughter.Oops, Blaise said. I forgot about the car keys. She turned to the other girls. But Id say it works. Id say its scary, Dani whispered. Id say its incredible, Selene murmured. Id say its unbelievable, Vivienne added. And Id say its the Armageddon of accessories, Thea thought. And, incidentally, so much for Selene and Vivienne changing their ways. They may have been shocked at what happened to Randy and Kevin, but it sure didnt last.Blaise, she said tightly, if you walk around school showing that, you are going to cause a riot. But Im not going to walk around school showing it, Blaise said. Theres only one guy Im provoke in right now. And this-she touched her throat- has his blood in it. If it works like that on other people, I wonder what it will do to him?Thea took a few deep breaths to relax her stomach. She had never gone one-o n-one with Blaise in a matter of witchcraft. And no one had ever challenged Blaise for a boy.But she didnt have a choice-and putting this off wouldnt help.I suppose youre preparedness to find some time to ambush him, she said. Some time when Im not around.It worked. Blaise stood, tall and regal in her bronze silk jacket, hands in her pockets, hair like a waterfall behind her. She gave Thea a slow smile.I dont need to ambush anybody, she said with dreadful confidence. In fact why dont we set up a meeting after school? Just the three of us. You, me, and Eric-a showdown. And may the best witch win.