Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Swiss style every life Essay

Helvetica was created in 1957. It was named the Swiss style. As you look around at every day life, you will find time after time, that the typeface that is most prevalent is that of Helvetica. After viewing the film named the same, it was evident that although the vast majority of those interviewed were in favor, and some times in awe of Helvetica, there are still issues and controversy surrounding its use. Many interviews, such as Massimo Vignelli, were indeed excited about the typeface. He explained that it had rightness about it; that the spaces between the letters were just as bold and important as the black. Proponents of Helvetica sight that the typeface is expressive, clear and legible. Some explained that it was good for â€Å"everything†. Michael Bierut may have explained it best with his description of the late 50’s or early 60’s when many corporations where changing over their current ads and brochures to Helvetica. He described a scene where a company would feel as if they were drinking a cold, crisp glass of water after seeing what their new logo would look like in Helvetica. Helvetica is the contemporary typeface of corporations, of science and many other industries as well. It has an ability to fit the style you wish to project. It was explained in the video, that when American Outfitters used it, it looks chic; when Crate and Barrel uses it, Helvetica appears clean and efficient. The video goes on to describe Helvetica as having a perfect balance of push and pull. It makes you believe it’s clean, it fits in, it won’t make you stand out. But not everyone is on the Helvetica bandwagon. Others are morally apposed to the typeface. Paula Schuler is one of them. When she first started a career in design, it was shortly after the end of the Vietnam War. She associated Helvetica with the evil corporations that were sponsoring the war. In her way of thinking, if you used Helvetica, you were supporting the war. However, other views were shown in the video that also apposed the frequent use of Helvetica. It was explained that typography should have personality and that we need to get away from the horrible slickness of Helvetica. We need vitality. Helvetica represented modernism which they say equals boring. As you can see, there is a fine line between simple, clean, and powerful and simple, clean, and boring. Whether or not you are for or against the use of Helvetica, it won’t be going away anything soon. We see it so often, that we don’t even realize we see it. It is in our print, on our walls, TV’s, and movies. Our records are labeled with it, our posters scream it. Like it or not, it is hear to stay; it is â€Å"unfixable†.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Alternatives to Incarceration Essay

In today’s economy keeping people in prison is becoming an ugly, expensive mess. There are now so many alternatives to incarceration that we need to explore and start using. Johnny Cash wrote a song called â€Å"Folsom Prison Blues† describing the angst of inmates, permanently immortalizing them in the publics minds. However, now that prisons across the country are running out of resources and space, it is the prison officials who are feeling the blues. There are a number of alternatives that are used for offenders who have committed non-violent crimes. The options can range from probation all the way to public shaming. For those who have been convicted of drunk driving, public shaming might have the most impact. In some states, convicted offenders will be made to drive around with signs put on their cars stating that they have been convicted. No one convicted of this sort of crime runs around announcing what they have done because its embarrassing. In general most prefer to keep it a secret because it is humiliating. With signs pasted to their vehicles, there is no way to escape the public knowing what they have done. Another option used for drunk driving is the use of a breathalyzer. This device is installed into the offenders car and the car is actually programmed not to start if they are intoxicated. This could put a definite damper on party habits. Another alternative that has popped up is based out of Texas. Texas is one of the last few states that enforces the death penalty and also has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Ironically, a state with such an â€Å"iron fist† reputation, has started to put offenders on probation and sentence them to read as opposed to prison time. This trend has slowly started to spread across the United States. Offenders and repeat offenders are ordered to attend a specific reading group where they get into discussions over classics like â€Å"Of Mice and Men† and â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird.† A study was done from 1997 to 2008 and it was discovered that only 6% were either sent back to jail or had their probations revoked. Another perk of this program is that it only costs taxpayers $500 a year as opposed to the $30,000 a year it takes to keep an inmate imprisoned. This programs seems to work best for those who have been convicted of crimes involving robbery or drug abuse. It gives them a chance to have a voice and even a sense of identity and confidence. Another tough crime to address as far as sentencing goes, is when a person is arrested and that individual is mentally ill. For the longest time when someone was arrested for drug possession, trespassing or any other non-violent offense, they were automatically sent to jail or probation, regardless of their mental instability. Now it seems, there is a new option of an alternative court type setting where attorneys, mental health organizations, and the judge work together to coordinate a treatment option that will ensure the offender will stay on the right path. So many people are incarcerated who have mental illnesses, yet have never had the opportunity to be officially diagnosed and continue to go untreated. Providing treatment is the right thing to do, it is humane, and is even more cost effective then incarceration. Overall the criminal justice system needs to really start to change the way certain offenders are handled and then pretty much lost in the system. It effectively helps to create more and more offenders and even encourages repeat offenders. Financially for taxpayers it makes more sense. It is cheaper to provide outpatient options and treatments then to pay to keep an offender confined in prison. Aside from all of this, the criminal justice system needs to remember these low level offenders are still human beings. We all make mistakes and deserve to do the appropriate punishments, but a lot of these mistakes might just benefit more from appropriate treatment programs and interventions. Hard prison time is not always the best answer. References: 1) The Economist, July issue, 2010 2) Nolo.com 3) American Psychological Association 4) The Guardian, July, 2010

SIWES Project in Computer Science Essay

1.1 Overview of SIWES SIWES refers to the employment of students nearing under-graduation in firms or organizations, which operate on activities related to the respective student’s major subjects. The course, CSC 3299 as offered in Ajayi Crowther University is a compulsory subject offered by every computer science student in the 2nd semester of the third academic year with the objective of enabling students to come into contact with real life applications regarding the knowledge and skills gained in both theoretical and practical courses of the university. The core courses of Computer Science offered by ACU are both theory and laboratory practical -based and aid in providing a theoretical concept or ‘base’ to the students so that they are equipped with sufficient knowledge for joining the work force after completion of under-graduation. SIWES on the other hand helps the students familiarize themselves with the experience of being employed in their field and effectively learning and applying the knowledge required by carrying out their activities in the offices and fields. 1.2 Objectives of SIWES The general objectives if SIWES are outlined as follows: Helping students break free from the theoretical world of ****books and class courses and leap into the real world of applications of knowledge. Enabling the students to effectively interact in a work environment within a hierarchy of employees. The efficiency in working in groups and under higher authorities is tested during this course. Helping students to express dependability, initiative, resourcefulness and professionalism in the tasks they are assigned. To evaluate the person’s ability to communicate and operate under pressure, if required. To help students enhance their creativity and efficiency in dealing with projects related to their field of study. To enable students to pick up skills from the experience and projects of other employees to apply in their own tasks. To enable the student realize their relative strength in a field with many practical applications and help students come out with final year projects that model real life industry challenges. 2.0 Origin of the Report This report has been prepared as a requirement of the internship program. The report was based upon the ICT department of the organization Nigerian civil aviation authority (NCAA). 2.1 ORGANISATION BRIEFS AND STRUCTURE OF NCAA Brief : Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria. It became autonomous with the passing into law of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 by the National Assembly and assent of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Act not only empowers the Authority to regulate Aviation Safety without political interference, but also to carry out Oversight functions of Airports, Airspace, Meteorological Services, etc as well as economic regulations of the industry. Nigeria has just successfully passed through the ICAO Security follow-up Audit of May 2006 and the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit in November 2006. Nigeria is now preparing for the American FAA IASA Category 1 Certification. With over 25 Airports, 30 Airlines, 590 Pilots, 19 Flight Engineers, 258 Air Traffic Controllers(ATC), 677 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, 1103 Cabin Crew and 4 Aircraft Dispatchers, Nigeria now boasts of improved aviation infrastructural facilities at the Airports, state of the art navigational aids, modern weather forecasting equipment and highly skilled manpower to ensure safety and comfort of the flying public. Airlines have started bringing in brand new aircraft to the industry 737-700 new generation, Regional Jet CRJ 400/900, Dash 8-400Q, Business Jet/Turboprop, Helicopters, B777, Dreamliner B787, Jumbo Jet Boeing 747-400 series as well as brand new Regional Jet Embraer. 3.0 NCAA STRUCTURE Senior Management : Director General: Dr. H.O. Demuren Director of Airworthiness Standards: Engr. P. Ekunwe Director of Licensing: Capt. Adamu M****ia (Acting) Director of Operations and Training: Capt. A. N. Aliyu (Acting) Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards: Mr. Lawal Haruna Director of Air Transport Regulation: Ms. I. Sosina Director of Finance and Administration: Mrs. Elemanya Ebilah Director of Consumer Protection: Alh. Abdullahi Adamu Company Secretary/Legal Advisor: Mrs. A.A. Gbem Organizational Chart: 4.0 BRIEFS ON ICT DEPARTMENT 4.1 Our Goal To provide high quality, customer and staff-focused Information and Communication Technology support for efficient and value-added service delivery. 4.2 What We Do Our purpose is to ensure that our structures – such as all communication-based procedures for the NCAA – within and outside – conforms to standard ICT platforms and practices, carefully targeted to meet our goal. 4.3 Objectives †¢ To deploy modern-based ICT facilities that will become catalysts in the innovative processes of effective aviation safety within our air-space †¢ To embark on an on-going process in which to foster better information and communication access for aviation service users †¢ To provide the means by which information and communication knowledge is developed, stored, aggregated, manipulated and diffused within and outside the NCAA and to become the major transformational medium of aviation safety reformation †¢ To technologically support and enable NCAA’s full participation in the global economy 5.0 Responsibilities †¢ Advice on adoption of most efficiently and effective ICT policy †¢ Ascertain proper and smooth operations of computer systems at the headquarters †¢ Draw ICT and ICT-related Budgets †¢ Assess the impact of ICT in economic growth and development †¢ Drawing up specifications to facilitate procurement of appropriate computer hardware and software related features within the organization †¢ Supervise the installation and commissioning of computer network systems †¢ Contact point on all ICT-issues.(i.e. ICT Management) †¢ Represents the organization in all forums on ICT-related issues †¢ Coordinate training of staffs on computer systems in line with E-Government Strategy to build a proper ICT capacity within the organization †¢ Advice the organization on information security in the use of computers and Maintain important information and data backups CHAPTER 2 DESCRIPTION OF WORK DONE During my six months SIWES at NCAA, I worked extensively in the Network and maintenance unit, Where I gained a lot of experience in network environment and system maintenance. 6.1 NETWORK STRUCTURE OF NCAA: 6.2 SUMMARY ON THE NCAA NETWORK NCAA uses a domain to organize the network environment. Domains are groups of PCs on the same network and are a method to isolate communications between the members in the domain and the other data traffic.. Anyone in a domain can communicate with each other and out bound, however PCs not defined in the domain can not communicate with those in the domain. Basically the network starts from when the satellite in space sends radio signals down to the satellite dish receiver (ku-band, ka-band, c-band e.t.c). This satellite dish receiver is connected to the private port of the internet modem then the public port of the modem is connected to the ISA server which acts as the gateway to internet access. The ISA server is connected to a domain controller which controls the domain environment by granting anyone who has a registered account on the domain access to the internet recourse. I.e. anyone who does not have an account or valid log on credentials cannot use the internet. Domain controller can also be used to control the network environment by restricting the rights to chance setting on the workstation so that only administrative rights can alter settings. The ISA server is also connected to an antivirus server which monitors the automatic updates and downloading of update for all workstation in the domain with a specific antivirus used for the network installed on them. The ISA server is also connected to a 24 port switch which is connected to the different switch cabinet in each directorate of office buildings (since it is a 24 port switch it take a maximum of 23 directorates, another switch can be connected to the first switch in case of more buildings). Ever building has a cabinet where LAN (local area network) connections are distributed to different offices. The cabinet comprises of switches and patch panels. The patch panel is a device that is used as a repeater so that signals don’t get loss over a long cable. One of the cables that comes from the main 24 port switch goes to the patch panel then a RJ-45 cable is connected from the patch panel to the switch (mostly a 24-port switch) in the cabinet (in case of two switches  we have two patch panels.). The patch panel then distributes the connection in the office or to other offices in the building as LAN port where workstations can be connected to by the use of RJ-45 cable (workstations can also be connected directly to the switch). As for wireless connection, a wireless router or access point is placed at every passage way in each building. The wireless access point is either connected to one of the switches in the cabinet or the main 24-port switch.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 17

Research Paper Example Understanding slavery requires firsthand experiences, which expose an individual to slavery issues in real life thus assisting these individuals oppose slave owners and slavery systems with all their might. Slavery was mainly advocated for by capitalists, who saw slavery as a way to reduce expenses and amass easy wealth. Slavery has been highlighted in several literature sources showing how much slavery was appealing to business owners. Merchants, for instance, and farmers mainly emphasized on the importance of slavery in reduction of costs and completion of large tasks within a short span of time. Farmers on the other hand, used slavery to plough their fields faster and even plough bigger lands. In the eyes of the slave traders, merchants, farmers and other business owners, slavery was not a bad thing, since it was an easy way to make money. Individuals who opposed slavery greatly must have experienced it first hand, and would have vowed to fight against it, and not support anyone who supported it as well. For instance, this has been highlighted in Daniel Defoe’s story "Robinson Crusoe† where Crusoe adopts both perspectives, having been a merchant and farmer, and also suffering the grave effects of slavery while in captivity. Crusoe who was initially anticipated to be a lawyer, by his father had decided to become a merchant, same as his father and in the event he had decided to pursue large scale farming in Brazil, where he had owned a large plot of land. After viewing the positive outcomes of slaves in the lands of other farmers as well, he had decided to go to Africa, to seek slaves. Crusoe’s quest for slavery shows the positive attributes of slavery in the perspective of the slave owner, thus giving an unrighteous justification for its existence. Similar to Crusoe, slavery even in the contemporary context has been emphasized by even large companies, for instance the likes of Wal-Mart and apple, which seek cheap labor in the low cost nations such

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Entreprenuership and small firms. How useful are the concepts of Essay

Entreprenuership and small firms. How useful are the concepts of enterprise 'push' and 'pull' in explaining the factors - Essay Example In developing countries particularly, the economic conditions drive many individuals to become entrepreneurs so as to redefine their economic conditions. The research field of entrepreneurship has been considered to be the major target of the most diverse area of study as presented by the enlarged range of theories and approaches and the trend is developing at a faster rate which is grounded on innovation, risk taking and proactiveness. The field of entrepreneurship has continually experienced attention from scholars leading to various theoretical frameworks being developed; however, new theories that are in line with the contemporary issues in the globe need to be developed (Islam, 2012, p.67). The growth of the business is influenced by the pull and push factors of starting a business. Entrepreneurs who start up a business out of the pull factors, such as desire to expand, will see their businesses growing successfully. On the other hand, entrepreneurs who are compelled into busine ss by, say, unemployment, the situation will not experience much growth. It is important to determine the major factors that influence entrepreneurs and make them start businesses since every business calls for different strategies and drive (Deakins and Freel, 2012, p.32). The growth and success of a business establishment will depend on the commitment made by the entrepreneur which usually differs in accordance to the motivating factors. Individuals with expertise, creative ideas, innovation, and demographic characteristics, including age and education of an entrepreneur, will influence establishment and growth of an enterprise. Young, energetic and highly educated entrepreneurs are served with advanced high-tech and knowledge required in running a business. The study endeavored to identify the concepts of enterprise ‘push’ and ‘pull’ that play a significant role in explaining the factors that influence the decisions of individuals to become self-employed and/or start up a business. This will help in understanding the reasons that motivate to become entrepreneurs and establish business enterprises. The findings from case studies indicates that the need for higher social status, profitability nature of the business, self-employment, need to make money, business tradition of the family and knowledge as well as personal experience are considered to be the pull factors (European Commission, 2012, p.1). Whereas, lack of formal education, dissatisfaction in previous occupation, family pressure and unemployment issues are considered to be the major push factors. Research Questions This paper intends to answer a number of questions including: 1. What motivates individuals to be entrepreneurs or enter into self-employment amongst the gender? 2. Is there a positive correlation between pull and factors and entrepreneurship? 3. Is the decision of starting up a business affected by gender, age, education, risk, finance, information availability and complexities of the entrepreneurship process? 4. Are women and the minority group predisposed to a unique pursuit of self-employment? Main Body The forces that propel individuals to set-up businesses despite the personal, financial and social risks that are associated with new venture are diverse. Individuals will decide to engage in businesses out of several motivations, some of which are positive and others negative. The positive factor â€Å"pull† and the negative factors ‘

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Week 6 Discussion Questions and Participation Questions Essay

Week 6 Discussion Questions and Participation Questions - Essay Example As a manager of a business I would optimize the utility of my human resources by investing in education and training. When employees improve their knowledge and skills they are able to produce more. The company can offer its employees a yearly education expense retainer between $5000-10000 a year. The money would reimburse the employees for educational expenses which include tuition, books, and other materials. Training is an effective wait to transmit knowledge to a large pool of participants in a short period of time. I have participated in company sponsored training initiatives. These trainings have helped me become a better professional through the acquisition of knowledge. My opinion is that the benefits of growth out weight the costs. Americans citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Due to this prosperity millions of people come to the country legally and illegally in search of a better future for themselves and their families. China is an example of a country that has ripped the benefits of economic growth during the last 30 years. The economy of China has achieved double digit economy growth during the past three decades. There are some costs to economic growth. Humanity has to protect the environment and the natural resources. As a manager I would pay close attention to the concept of implicit and explicit costs. The most common implicit cost is opportunity costs. I would evaluate different alternatives or opportunities in order to determine which can increase the profitability of the company the most. Another concept from the article that I would use in my managerial career is that people response to incentive. To increase the revenues of the company I would sell the merchandise online. A price discount of 15% on online sales is a way to increase the revenues of the company. FedEx and UPS are having record high quarters – I would interpret that the economy

Friday, July 26, 2019

Misbeliefs about languages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Misbeliefs about languages - Essay Example t in their language since the relational frame theory suggest that children naturally acquire their language through interaction with their own environment. â€Å"Skinner ( 1978 ) defined verbal behavior as any behavior on the speaker as reinforced through mediation of a listener who is trained by a verbal community so as to mediate such reinforcement† ( Hayes, et.al, 2001). Drawing from the post-skinner theories, it can be deducted that children learn through social interaction. Their own environment at home is enough to provide them with basic proficiency. For example, a toddler is usually taught by the parents to speak even baby words depending on the context of their culture. Later on, the parents are surprised by the ability of their children to speak some words that they haven’t taught. In fact, some homes are multi-lingual and children do not have a hard time acquiring a second or third language especially when it is frequently spoken at home. The second argument is that â€Å"the English language traces its ancestry back to Latin†. Again, this is a false statement since the roots of the English language is actually from Old English. History tells us that during the 5th century, the group of Anglo-Saxon settlers that invaded the eastern coast of Great Britain were the one s that brought this type of Old English. The modern English language cannot have its roots in Latin since it is considered a West Germanic language. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary cites the etymology of the word "English" which is actually derived from 12th century Old English  englisc  or  Engle, plural form  Angles. The English Club illustrates the historical development of the English language: These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what today is Denmark and northern Germany. At that time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But most of the Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the invaders - mainly into

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Cellular Mobile Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cellular Mobile Communications - Essay Example However, the question â€Å"how cell phone works† emerges in the minds of people (Brain, Tyson and Layton). The main intention of this research is to discuss and provide a detailed analysis of the new cellular telephony technology, mobile communication principles, cellular system architectures, and cellular system components that participate in establishing cellular mobile communications. Brain, Tyson, & Layton (2009) stated that it is a really interesting fact that cellular mobile communication technology is an advanced form of radio. In other words, it can be said that new mobile phones are very complicated radio; however it is not a radio. In addition, Alexander Graham Bell invented the present telephone system in 1876, and Nikolai Tesla invented the wireless communication technology and radio in 1880s. However, it was simply natural that telephone and wireless communication technology have been combined to presently offer us a great technology and communication advantage (Brain, Tyson and Layton; Hagn and Markwitz; Turban, Leidner and McLean). The fundamentals of mobile and cellular technology employ the traditional radio spectrum using the mobile system operators for offering the mobile services.  However, the mobile technology spectrum is normally recognized as a scarce resource.   In addition, it has conventionally been shared by different industries, such as mobile communications, broadcasting and the military. In 1993, at the World Radio Conference (WRC), the radio spectrum sharing intended for 2G mobile were decided based upon on expected expansion at the time.   In addition, at the World Radio Conference 2000, the declarations was passed regarding the enhancement in the spectrum and capacity to be employed for 3G, by permitting the utilization of present 2G radio spectrum blocks intended for 3G mobile technologies as well as offering and allocating 3G spectrum to an higher limit of 3GHz (ITU; Gupta and

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

IT projects risks, success and failures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IT projects risks, success and failures - Essay Example According to Lindquist (2005), to avoid this, Cox Communications did employee empowerment first. They did this by training them on how the system is used to increase ease of adaptability. They also monitored the whole process by drafting an implementation chart which gave timelines on implementation schedule. This helped it have a successful software addition which improved its data handling capabilities. Ford Motor Company decided to replace their old purchasing and procurement systems with a new system. This was to manage their huge transactions; it was also set to provide financial analysis tools which could provide real time results. It was christened the â€Å"Everest† project and was to move supply systems to an internet based model, powered by Oracle as the service providers. This program later has proven to be a costly and involved redistribution of IT staff who were sent to the outlets to upgrade the systems. The company had not fully appreciated the software because the project team gave no clear directions on implementation schedules. Luck has no place in determining success on projects initiated by companies or individuals. What it takes is an adoption of a working formula that ensures the various implementation steps are followed. The first activity done in such kind of a project is needs assessment which looks into the risk factors while at the same time assessing the pros and cons associated with the new system. The management then delegates duties to employees based on areas of competence.

Case study of Upton Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study of Upton Ltd - Essay Example This is a situation where the interests of the family members are more likely to conflict with the interests of the business such as adherence to the objectives, plans and goals of the company. In this regard, it can be predicted that if there is significant conflict of interest within the company a programmed decision of closure of the restaurant or part of its business units can be made. Samantha who is the manager of the toy department is engaged with her studies which mean that she does not have adequate time to play her role within the Toy department which serves significant activities and processes within the restaurant. This means that the productivity of the Toy department will deteriorate as a result of poor management or absentee manager. This can be used to predict the closure of this department within a programmed decision framework. Furthermore disagreement between Samantha and Albert, her uncle, reveals that there is poor communication within the management team which i s as a result of age differences and opinion of managers on the best strategy of conducting business activities. It is argued that when the management team is unable to come into a consensus over decisions because of divergent views and interests, failure in effective decision making is likely to result (Simons 34). Therefore failure in decision making which represents an important function of the management team leads to programmed decision for closure of the restaurant. From the Upton Ltd case, it is notable that the promotion of employees to the top management positions is rarely based on qualifications. This is illustrated by the fact that Claude who was a chef was promoted directly into the manager position in the restaurant. The management team of a company must be equipped with adequate skills, knowledge and competencies which are required for effective management. Failure of a manager to exhibit these skills means that his or her managerial roles will not be effective and as a result translating into business failure (Gorry and Morton 27). In this regard therefore the lack of qualifications among some managers within Upton Ltd can be argued to be a reflection of a predictable business failure and as a result reaching a programmed decision for the closure of the restaurant. Lack of the stock control system within Upton Ltd demonstrates a looming failure in the business processes of the restaurant which can be used to make a programmed decision for closure is nothing is done soon to solve the problem. This problem within the restaurant is further revealed by the fact that storage of stock is largely inadequate and ineffective. In addition, it is notable from the case study that the equipment that is used within the restaurant is old and rarely maintained. Inappropriate equipment within a business entity is said to be the main cause of business process inefficiency which would lead to possible discontinuity of business processes (Gorry and Morton 31). It is therefore reflective from the case study that the restaurant faces a risk of losing business continuity which makes a programmed decision for closure a reality in the Upton Ltd case. Customer service is inefficient within the restaurant as reflected by the fact th

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Afghanistan culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Afghanistan culture - Essay Example Even though Muslims constitute the majority of population in Afghanistan, it doesn’t mean that all Afghanis have same customs, traits and beliefs. It should be noted that Afghan Muslims are divided into different groups based on their belongingness in different tribes and ethnic groups. Perhaps Afghan Muslims are the most fundamentalist religious group in the world which is evident from the incidents happened in Afghanistan under Taliban regime. The story of a teenage girl called Ayesha Bibi was caught the attention of the media in recent times because of the atrocities committed to her by the Taliban leaders. Muslims in other parts of the world follow comparatively more civilized life than the Muslims in Afghanistan. This paper analyses Afghan culture from the views of two prominent authors; Thomas Barfield and John Esposito. The living condition of women in Afghanistan is worst in the world. Barfield (2010) pointed out that â€Å"Afghan women cannot attend any public functi ons and they have a strict code of conduct in public places. Moreover, they are banned from getting proper education† (Barfield, p.262). Esposito (2002) also expressed similar opinions about the pathetic life of Afghan women. He has mentioned that while women in most societies have access to education, Afghan women were not able to get education under Taliban regime (Esposito, p.100). Afghan culture treats women as second class citizens. It never allows Afghan women to come out form home take part in social activities as do by the men. In other words, the status of men and women in Afghan culture holds huge differences. Because of the adherences to religion, Afghan Muslims believe that girls must stay home and it is right to men to beat women if they disobey them. The story of a teenage Afghan girl called Bibi Ayesha, aged only 18, is relevant here. â€Å"At the age of 18, Aisha had her nose and ears hacked off by her husband as a punishment for trying to flee the arranged ma rriage, before being dragged to a mountainside to die† (Brave Bibi: The Time cover girl whose nose was cut off by the Taliban takes the New York subway). Stoning of adulteresses and the amputations of the hands and feet of thieves was part of Afghan culture under Taliban regime (Esposito, p.149). Stoning of criminals was an uncivilized punishment in the ancient period. However, it is practiced in Afghanistan even in the twenty first century. It should be noted that men who commit adultery may not get any punishment in Afghanistan whereas women who establish relationship with males other than their husband may get cruel punishments. Afghan Tribes are type of ethnic groups that defines its membership through the unilineal descent from a common ancestor, real or assumed. In Afghanistan, such descent is through male line (Barfield, p.22). It should be noted that a family with no male children has no significance in Afghan culture. In other words, Afghan people like to know their s uccessors in the name of their father rather than that of their mother. Male dominance is visible in every aspect of Afghan culture. Esposito also expressed similar opinions. He has pointed out that â€Å"In Afghanistan, crimes are punished at the discretion of a male Muslim judge or qadi† (Esposito, p.187). In other words, it is impossible to see a woman judge in Afghan courts. Afghan people believe that only the males have the abilities and intelligence to segregate between good and evil. Because of the above perception, only the male candidates are appointed in Afghan courts. Unlike other parts of the world, no groups in Afghanistan make mythical claims of having always been on the same plot of lands since creation. Instead one listens gravely to the stories of how the ancestors of one group conquered the land

Monday, July 22, 2019

Abigails Party Essay Example for Free

Abigails Party Essay My group and I are working on a play called the Birthday Party By Harold Pinter. The work is set in 1960s. The scene we doing is about a man, names Petey returning home from some sort of morning to job to a boarding house where his wife, whos called Meg and is the owner, fusses around him. We start to see that this routine is very basic and a sense of this what they do every day. As the scene goes on Stanley comes in and plays quite a grumpy teenager. I play the part of Petey. At the time of this plays setting, men had more of a dominant role in society and the women didnt work much and did more of the housework. This could mean that the male characters in plays around this time were more dominate and women did more housework and just like Meg, fussed around their husband as he was the only source of income, this could influence Meg as being fussy and concerning over Petey. The war would have been less than two decades ago so that may influence the characters in plays. Meg maybe fussing around he husband because he was a war-hero influencing her to very proud and caring of husband, or maybe Petey only has a morning job because he is slightly injured, this could influence his physical expression. This is different from the text that we have studied called Abigails Party because was set in the 1970s where women had a more dominant role than in the 1950s. The women were more out-spoken and more free to work have more social activities. In Abigails Party there was a lot more conflict and more fiery action between characters unlike in the Birthday Party it was Meg said a comment, which Petey may of thought was stupid, Petey just answered simply in a slow pace and showed no motivation to want to speak. In Abigails Party when a comment was made that one of the partners didnt like to hear they either fought about it or gave a sarcastic comment to show their annoyance whereas in the Birthday Party I, Petey, just gave short simple unmotivated answers to a persistent and fussing Meg. The two plays showed different ways of coping with situations as throughout the scene we performed Petey showed boredom and Meg carried on being quirky, fussy and questionable, in comparison to that in Abigails Party they handled situations in a more sarcastic, and argumentative. The two plays are humorous on different levels. The Birthday Party is funny because of we can see Peteys clear boredom of having this conversation and routine, which we can tell is a daily thing he goes through. Megs stupid comments just to speak and engage with Petey and in cases, to know out side life, is funny to us because the questions are stupid like when hes just got the corn flakes and she asks if they are nice and he hasnt even tasted them. However, the two plays have similarities. Pinter and Leigh are both known for naturalism. The scene on Birthday Party I performed was very natural and realistic nothing out of the ordinary happened it was very simple and plain but it was easy to relate to which made it effective and the birthday party as too naturalistic and perhaps more modern and in the effect of couple arguing and women playing more dominate roles. However, the Birthday Party as it goes on turns out to be more absurd and super-natural. Both plays also have fussy and inquisitive women. Meg is very questionable to Petey and wanting to know things, Bev. Tries to keep the gathering shes got alive and wanting people to pay attention to her likewise to Meg wanting Peteys attention. The historical and social setting is fairly similar as the man in Birthday Party does seem to have the dominant role as Meg does everything for him cooking, washing etc. Contrastingly to when Angie says something against Tony, like he is argumentative or wont do something, he takes action by shouting or grabbing her hand. Angie stops and doesnt protest showing men still had some dominant role in the 70s. We are presenting our play as the audience in a semi-circle in one end of the studio and us performing in the other half of the circle. This allows the audience to be the third wall, which is very in the style of Pinter and Leigh. This can give the audience more of a role and part, its very soap like, which is naturalistic, just as the plays studied, are intended to be. We are using different techniques and styles of performing such as giving each character more or less just one characteristic and not changing the pace much. For example when I play Petey I kept the same tone and tired motivation to tell the audience that Ive been doing this for a very long time. For Meg she kept her fussing and questionable ways and when Stanley comes down he was more mellow and got the attitude of Ive got my wrapped round my little finger. We used symbolism in our play, for example my paper. When I played Petey, the paper was my only bit of something new for that day, everything else was the same predictable self but my paper, which Im though out the scene reading or holding, gives me salivation from Meg and the predictable ways. We are keeping the style very naturalistic. This is different from the other play as the characters pace changed very much through the play. At one time they would be talking and the next minute there would be an argument to change the pace and the mood in which all the characters felt. You never felt the characters would stay for long at one place whereas Petey stayed in the chair all the time and kept his pace the same except it did change sometimes. The other text (Abigails party) influenced our performance by making Meg a little more dominate and persistent for Peteys attention.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

The Effects Of Gangs In Society Criminology Essay

The Effects Of Gangs In Society Criminology Essay How to define a gang has always been a matter of controversy. The relationship of the gang to its local community and the salience of race have been at the heart of academic and popular differences on the nature of gangs., according to the Gang Research. In the current essay I would like to describe the effects of gangs in the community and the effects of community policing. These two issues are important and cause many problems in society. Nowadays, the effect of gangs in community is negative and annoys people. People are disturbed by the groups of people trying to harm the society. Modern society faces many different problems, including terrorism and gangsters. People unite and form groups of particular interests, forming the gang. Gang is a group of people engaged in banditry.  Gangsters are the people in the criminal law that have committed one of the most dangerous crimes against the foundations of public administration and society, as described in Gangs and their effect on community.  Criminal laws of various states do not always provide special offense thuggery, but many countries are close to this type of crime compounds (burglary, various kinds of violent acts, etc.).   Banditry actions. Often there are referred to banditry actions of the various armed rebel groups and wars. For example, the used phrases like Chechen bandits, gang Makhno, etc. Use of the term among the bandits against members of such groups was intended to provide them common criminals rather than political opponents. It is also necessary to  note that participants in such anti-government groups may, together with political objectives and goals pursue personal enrichment (through robberies, ransom for the hostages, etc.), as stated in Gang research. The gang often refers to organized street gangs controlling a territory or a hood (neighborhood).  Street gangs are probably the most famous Bloods, MS-13, and Crips from South Central Los Angeles.  Members of street gangs are black with large majorities, followed by Latinos and Slavs.  They come from poor neighborhoods in North America and Central America.  Bloods and Crips have been the subject of many Hollywood movies depicting the life of gangster in Los Angeles.  Colors, with Dennis Hopper and Sean Penn are one of the first of its kind.  Other fraternities such as motorcycle clubs like the Hells Angels and the criminal organizations (Sicilian Mafia, Chinese triads and Japanese yakuza) are often referred to as gangs.  The first gangs emerged in Los Angeles in the black ghettos and then in other major cities like New York and Chicago, but Toronto and Montreal in Canada, to name a few.  Community negatively perceives the existence of the gangs and tries to avoid the m. The majority think that this problem has to be more effectively controlled by the government, as stated in Gangs and their effect on community. Environment and gang activity. Quite often in environments suffering socially and economically provide gang members (mostly youth) a sense of belonging and protection against other gangs. Through this ritual, the violent practices of dress codes, a code of honor   Often where the prospects of gainful employment are low, gangs provide illegal means of earning a living.  Such as trafficking in narcotics or stolen property, extortion, assault They are very diverse and different, and sometimes become targets of choice for some ideological and extreme beliefs, which influence and motivate them, as described in Gang research. Unfortunately, innocent people can get caught in the crosshairs, so all those who live in the community where a gang is present are in greater danger as a result of the affect of the gang on their society., according to the Gang Research. Gangs in New York. In the U.S., the term gang used for a street gang, back in the 1860s formed such criminal organizations, such as the Irish Boodles in New York City.  Pushed by the waves of immigration increased the formation of ethnically based street gangs.  In these Big Five were called classic bands, the Irishmen organized in the Whyos, Hudson Dusters, or Gophers, Italians in the Five Points Gang and Eastern European Jews in the Eastman Gang.  After 1900, there were essentially only the Eastman and Five Points left, as described in Gangs in America.   Almost all of these Big Five were from politicians of the Tammany Hall secured; gangs such as the Eastman Gang and the Whyos offered illegal services for a price list.  However, the Mafia and the Camorra in New York City had come.  About the Black Hand Gang, the Unione Sicilian was undermined.  The over-controlled Italian voices were certainly of interest of Tammany Hall, as stated in Gang research.  Funded by the alcohol prohibition were formed out of the five clans today known as La Cosa Nostra American Mafia, also called the Five Families.  Accordingly, it came to the dissolution of traditional street gangs of New York City to 1920.  While this entry focuses gangs in the United States, gangs are a recognized feature of urban life in areas as diverse as Johannesburg, Rio de Janiero, Paris, and Hong Kong., according to the official data. Gangs in Los Angeles. A hotbed of banditry in the U.S., the city of Los Angeles, California.  In particular, the district South Los Angeles is the most dangerous region of town.  Here you fight the Bloods and Crips, the 38th Street Gang, the 18th Street Gang, the Mara Salvatrucha, the mutually Florencia 13 and other gangs.  In addition, there are always conflicts between African Americans and Latinos, as stated in Gangs in America.  All these gangs lay claim to a particular territory and have their own distinctive mark, such as colors, clothing, tattoos, hand signs and graffiti.  Historically, returns the current path from Los Angeles to increasing conflicts between blacks and whites in the course of the 1940s.  At that time, many blacks moved to Los Angeles, but could find no ghettos in the then appropriate accommodation.  The attempt from the break ghetto and to purchase in other parts of the city housing, put the local white residents against strong segregation efforts, ranging in some ca ses up to the inclusion of racial restrictions in the land book and much of the city for non-whites out of reach made.  Only in the south and southwest, where the residential areas of the lower middle class were white, blacks still could not find housing, but also here met with the resistance, as stated in Effects of Gangs. Mid to late 1940s was against this background, black residents from the borders of the Central Avenue-ghettos terrorized by gangs of white youths as the Spookhunters. In return, were founded the first black gangs like the businessmen, Slauson or flips, which are often offered the only protection against racist attacks, but also constitute a cultural or social home, as described in Gang research. Mark Twain on Gangs. In his 1884 classic Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain described the elaborate oath that the imaginative Tom Sawyer creates for members of his potential gang. Now well start this band of robbers and call it Tom Sawyers Gang. Everybody that wants to join has got to take an oath, and write his name in blood., as stated in the Chapter 2. In Huckleberry Finn. This shows the simple way of the creation of a gang, and the consequences can be much more complicated for both- the society and members of the gang. Todays members of the gang are criminals and they can not be distinguished in their actions from the other criminals. Community relation to Gangs. Some people believe that the gangs have become a permanent feature of the urban landscape around the world, as described in Gang Research. Community strives to do anything possible to prevent gang crimes, to make the life safes and to create foundations that will be able to protect them. In the modern world cooperation and communication on the topic of gangs in extremely important, as today the number of crimes is very high and people feel less safe each day. Without the cooperation of the community and police it will be very difficult to protect the families and to live in safety. As a fact, an unsupervised lower-class peer group, with leadership, structure, and adherence to a local territory is formed in the society and make the living even more difficult and unforeseen, as described in Addressing Community Gang Problems. People are disturbed and nervous because of the gangs present in the cities, as these local groups are capable to do anything from the theft to murder. Scary stories about them and no clear changes of the government considering the gangs have not changes the situation for the better. The Effects of Community Policing. The concept of community police officers (called Community Policing and Neighborhood Policing) is based on the assumption that an effective fight against crime and antisocial behavior requires close cooperation between the Police and members of the community.   Community Policing is both a philosophy and an organizational strategy that allows police and community residents to work closely together in new ways to solve the problems of crime, fear of crime, physical and social disorders, and neighborhood decay., as stated in The Effects of Community Policing and Technology on Index Crime Clearance Rates. Assumptions concept. The concept of community police patrols involves increasing the number of pedestrians  Police officers (and other similar services), they should be the members of the communities in which they work.  Building mutual trust and faith in the rule of law continues in through the establishment of direct contacts with the people-police should be open to citizens by showing patience, understanding and willingness to help, even if you entrusted to the problems have no direct connection with the violation of the law.  Conceptually, the police officer has to be more a sort of friend than a civil servant and representative government.  You can then count on the active participation of community members in efforts to combat crime.   According to The Effects of Community Policing and Technology on Index Crime Clearance Rates, the man goals of the community policing are: to bring community resources together to solve problems, decrease fear of crime, to listen to and address citizen concerns, to increase public confidence in the Police Department, to impact specific crime problems, and educate the public about its Police Department. Social scientists have differed on whether or not gangs necessarily exhibit criminal and delinquent activity. Some hold that gangs are fundamentally the product of delinquent subcultures; others believe gangs are a response to social disorganization. The United States National Youth Gang Center reports there are about 25,000 gangs in the United States, with nearly three quarters of a million members., according to the Gang Research. In the past, the view prevailed that the task of the Police is merely react-in a manner provided by law-the fact of the crime (the repressive function).  There was allowed only interference with pathology.  Today, there are beliefs that the role of police is not only to ensure safety, but also to concern for the quality of community life.  The first step should be here to determine the needs (problems) given community (for example, homelessness, importunate begging, alcohol abuse), and then preparing and implementing programs tailored to these specific needs.  It is desirable here also active as organizing talks drugs or encouraging young people to play sports. Community Policing (the police public service), and neighborhood policing (neighborhood) is a strategy and philosophy of policing based on the belief that the cooperation and support of the public can contribute to the control of crime.  The public can help identify what is suspicious and police have focused on existing problems.  The community ahs to become involved in the life of humanity, as there can be presented many crimes with the help of cooperation. Strategy. When using the strategy of community policing officers and police departments, they are regarded as part of the public.  Cities and countries that have adopted this philosophy, directed more than traditional police departments to the concept of policing as a public service.  Community policing is usually more in the emphasis on walking patrol activity than that the police checked the place and also visited them in cars.  The basic idea is to build confidence and a sense of reciprocity between the police and the public.  This approach requires that the police were helpful, impartial and sensitive to the interests and concerns of others, and there is also known as a new form of police work. Although the police disagrees with the complainant (the developer), they should try to understand this problem.  The police would have to show empathy and participation, but not to be enrolled in the automatic way.  The police must also improve their planning, problem solving, organizati on, interpersonal communication, and most importantly in critical thinking, as described in Gangs, Gang membership, and comprehensive strategies.   A change in its police service to the public is how the police can identify what is truly high-quality service and how it subsequently provided to the public.  In the past, police always respond only to specific problems, and do so quite peculiar way and did not pay almost no attention to the proactive approach.  For this, the work of the police today is truly effective, and there is the need to:  take seriously the needs of the public, take into account the needs of police actions and programs, which are then focused on the public. It is in this sense that the police are becoming more receptive to public needs and can also better understand how their work has an impact on society.  It is said that this philosophy is created by Tom Potter, former police chief in Portland, Oregon, when a young policeman patrolling activities are performed.  Other legends were Sir Robert Peel, who came up with nine principles, on whom stands a modern police work. Community policing. Community policing- are the social attitudes in a system of relationships between people, the rules of mutual behavior and dormitories, the applicable laws, customs and traditions, and moral norms.  Public order is a whole set of systems of social relations, which develops as a result of social norms: law, morality, norms of public organizations, non-legal norms of customs, traditions and rituals. Public order and public safety are the main objects of protection in the work of the interior.  The socio-legal categories, covering specific sphere of social relations, are characterized by a number of features that define the content of the activities of internal affairs for the protection (security) of these relations, as described in The Effects of Community Policing and Technology on Index Crime Clearance Rates.   First, public order and safety apply to all citizens without exception, and from birth until death.  Second, public order and public security tend to focus on elementary actions, deeds and rules of human behavior.  They occur openly and publicly, and usually they are understood by others.  Third, public order and safety are governed by the law as well as other social and technical norms (morality, customs, traditions, and even fashion).  Fourth, in the sphere of public order and safety annually there are made a huge number of offenses, the tens of millions.  And all offenders, and that much of the population, one way or another can be subjected to the forced exposure of the police.  Fifth, in the field of public order and safety there is circulation of objects and subjects of high risk: the acquisition, storage, use, transportation and civil service firearms, explosive and highly toxic substances, radioactive isotopes, etc. Therefore, licensing and permitting activities o f the Interior  exercising state supervision and control in this area, allows preventing and suppressing the violation of the rules and thereby minimizing the occurrence of serious implications, as a rule, in violation of relevant rules, standards and requirements.  Sixth, with the sphere in question that is closely connected with such dangerous anti-social phenomena as drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, vagrancy and begging. That is why, in some cities there are special units, the so-called morality police.  Seventh, in the sphere of public order and public safety are regularly held various mass public events with a large concentration of people in different rooms or in a limited area, which often poses a threat to life and health, the normal functioning of organizations.  These include political (rallies, marches, demonstrations), economic (picketing, hunger strikes), cultural and entertainment (festivals, concerts, days, cities), sports (Olympics, football and hock ey competitions), religious and other public events.  Their implementation requires a great deal of organizational work of the interior, bringing order to ensure order and security of considerable forces and means of the police and interior troops. Community policing is described as the state of social relations, which enforced the law and other legal rules, one of the components of the social order.  This is the state of the actual settlement of social relationships, qualitative expression of the rule of law.  In addition to compliance with the law enforcement in society, it is ensured by the customs, norms and morals, the internal rules of organization, etc. The rule of law is characterized by a level of legality in the state and the degree of realization of the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as their performance of public authorities and duties conferred by law, as stated in The Effects of Community Policing and Technology on Index Crime Clearance Rates.   Solving the crimes in the local areas has always been challenging. When community policing is practiced in conjunction with some investigation variables, it has significant mixed (positive and negative) interaction effects on murder and robbery clearance rates., as described in The Effects of Community Policing and Technology on Index Crime Clearance Rates. Nowadays, technology has positive effects in investigation and in doing the corresponding research.   Positive interaction effect with community policing on different issues is beneficial for the society. Proper management of the situation and involvement of people who care about their safety is helping a lot, when the case is connected with the gangs. There is created a framework and the detection of crimes becomes more real and much quicker, and as well, this helsp to pertain to terrorism and national security Structure of the Community policing. Structure of the Community policing are the  legal organization of society (laws and legitimize their government agencies and non-state actors and citizens);  relationship and communication in society;  and certain (normative) order of these relationships and bonds (clear definition of the status of members of their subjective rights and legal duties, powers).   Community policing can be classified according to the territorial coverage (the rule of law in the state, city, etc.), as well as branches of law and legal coverage (constitutional, administrative, financial, etc.), according to U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented policing Services.   Classifications of the community policing: Symptoms: to allocate the following signs of enforcement:  Certainty.  Community policing is based on specific formal-legal regulations.  System: community policing is a system of relations based on a single essence of law, the prevailing form of ownership, the system of economic relations and provides a unified force of state power.  Organization: community policing occurs when there are organizing activities of the state, its bodies. State warranty: the existing rule of law is guaranteed by the state, protects them from violations.  Stability: arising under state law and ensures the rule of law is quite stable. Unity: based on common political and legal principles that will ensure the unity of the state and the rule of law, order for the whole country.  All these components are equally guaranteed by the state, any of the violations are considered violations and repressed by state coercion. It is obvious that the gangs affect the community in different ways, as it depends on where a person lives. According to the survey done by the  National Criminal Justice Reference Service, the specific results of a 2008 show that the gangs in the community cause: rise in violent crime and  drug  related arrests and rise in robbery and  homicide  cases, as described in Effects of Gangs. Considering these facts, there is a considering influence from the gangs on community, especially there is a negative effect, which leads to the increased crime and also to the higher risk for the people to get hurt. The gangs make people feel danger and insecurity in the community, as no one can protect people from the gangs if the measures are not taken. Conclusion All in all, it can be said that there are many issues that disturb the society and there is a considerable influence from the gangs. The effects of gangs in the community and the effects of community policing take place in the society, but there have to be taken more proper measures to ensure safety and living in comfort for the people. As a fact, the best way is to eliminate the groups of people who harm the society. Consequently, there has to be tighter cooperation between the community and police, there has to be developed the new of communication, etc. There have to be present the newest technologies that will allow police to take proper actions and to know everything in advance. Nowadays, the importance of the national security has become one of the main issues, as different circumstances lead people to committing different crimes, either in groups or individually. This problem has to be revised at the state level and its importance does not have to be underestimated under any c ircumstances.

The Edo Period Of Japan

The Edo Period Of Japan The Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period-taken from the name of the ruling Tokugawa family-was a long period of peace and order that lasted for about 250 years. This was a remarkable feat considering the fact that this period was preceded by devastating ordeals. The sengoku jidai (the age of country at war) was the Warring States Period of Japan during which numerous rival daimyos with their individual armies fought each other to gain greater jurisdiction of control over Japan, which was divided into about 260 countries. The term, Warring State Period was borrowed, among many other things, from the Chinese. But though the name was appropriate in describing the chaotic feudal warfare, it was more of a war (power struggle) among warlords. Regardless of the kind of war fought, the war took a toll on the cities and the Japanese people. The cost for the individual daimyo was tremendous, and a century of conflict would so weaken the bulk of Japanese warlords, that the three great figures of Japanese unification, beginning with Oda Nobunaga, would find it easier to militarily assert a single, unified military government.(Washington State University. n.d.) A rigid political and social structure was one of the determining factors for the long-lasting peace under the Edo period. Under the leadership of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the government transitioned from being a decentralized feudal government to a military government in the form of the bakufu. This centralized feudalism also maintained a controlled environment among the daimyos whose rivalry greatly contributed to the Chaos of the recently concluded Warring States Period. The key policies of the Tokugawa System were manipulating daimyo, managing the imperial court, controlling foreign relations, and sacralizing the Tokugawa legacy. (N.A. 1990) According to Tokugawa Japan: The Social and Economic Antecedents of Modern Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu made an extra effort to control the daimyos and minimize them in number. The adoption of the buke sho-hatto (laws pertaining to the military houses) restricted the daimyos tremendously-from the way they had to repair their castles to requiring their wive s and children to stay in Edo. A similar set of laws was placed on court nobles and it was called kinchu narabi ni kuge sho-hatto. Military authorities were in charge of keeping the court nobles in line and assured obedience through the punishment of exile in case of non-compliance. This control over the imperial court consequently assigned the emperor with a more scholarly (rather than military) and representative role. With regards to foreign policy, Ieyasus ban on Christianity was said to have sparked the seclusion of Japan (sakoku) from the rest of the world. Speculations indicate that this policy was implemented to create a monopoly on foreign trade and information from abroad because in exchange for exclusive trade with Japan, the Dutch and Chinese gave annual reports about the outside world The negativity toward Christianity began with Ieyasus fear of the increasing numbers of Christians revolting against him. This effort to eliminate Christianity left a path of death and des truction; these Christians worshipped Christ and placed him above the shogun, which apparently threatened and angered Ieyasu, who wanted the people to worship him instead. This led to a general fear of contamination from Western (or non-Japanese) cultures and ideologies and the eventual closing of Japans doors to the world. Though it had its own share of drawbacks, this cultural isolation, coupled with steady economic development from unparalleled agricultural productivity, led to the peace and eventual development of Japan as a unified country and served as a foundation for a rich distinct Japanese culture. The society was organized by means of a hierarchy in which movement in class was very difficult if not totally impossible. This rigidity was said to primarily be a strategy employed by shoguns to ensure their stay in power and the continuous benefits that came with it. Samurais comprised the highest class in society, followed by the peasants, then the artisans, then finally, merchants. This structure was strongly influenced by Confucian beliefs, much like many other aspects of Japanese culture, which borrowed heavily from that of the Chinese. The warrior class was headed by the Shogun, beneath him were the local feudal lords (daimyo) who were responsible for certain pieces of land. Each daimyo had a number of samurais who served as guards, advisers, and members of the private army. Some samurais carried on without the support and assistance of a master. These masterless samurai (ronin) became teachers, wanderers, or warriors for hire. Peasants provided the primary nourishment of the Japanese people and that earned them considerably high ranking. Differentiating artisans and merchants was a very tricky matter though; more often than not, their occupations overlapped. But despite this confusion, sword makers held a privileged position in society for their vital contribution to the samurais. The reason behind the subordination of merchants springs from the Confucian emphasis on not enriching ones self in the expense of others-which is why the merchants practice of making a living out of others hard work (craftsmen) was looked down upon. Entertainers, priests, and certain other people were not part of the class system. This detachment had its share of advantages and disadvantages. Freedom was the main benefit since the system was very limiting and strict. On the other hand, excluded from the protection of the system. Outcastes (eta) included people whose livelihoods were associated with death-leather tanners, animal carcass disposers etc-and people who were banished by their villages. The former were shunned by the rest of the Japanese community because strong Buddhist influences gave high respect to all living things. The latter were alienated for obvious reasons and will be described in greater detail later. In conclusion, it is evident that the government had a very militaristic way of structuring things. The power of the military as a means of intimidation and instilling fear among the people is a testament to this. Given the militaristic nature of the Edo period, criminal punishment was something ultimately utilized to discourage the people from committing any crimes or offenses, great or small. Their government structure gave power to the village-level administration with regards to dealing with majority of the crimes committed by individuals belonging to their corresponding areas of responsibility-leaving only especially serious crimes to be dealt with by the higher bakufu. Serious crimes included everything from theft to gambling and manslaughter. Aside from the crime committed, ones class or position in society was also a determining factor with regards to how he was sanctioned. Though regardless of class, the mode of punishment in the Edo period was harsh more often than not. Criminal Justice during the Edo Period Capital punishment was something only the bakufu could impose on the gravest of offenders; death penalties were in the form of beheading. On a local level, kyuri or banishment was the most serious punishment the village governments could impose. The legal system in their time affirmed the fact that a single persons wrongdoings could lead to the torment of his entire village. This substantiates the significance of banishment in a sense that the offenders village mates-who are presumably directly uninvolved in the criminal act-are absolved from any vicarious liability they may have incurred. Through the consent of the offenders parents, the village officials and a bakufu representative, the offenders name was literally erased from the population rosters. The banished (mushuku) were often marked with tattoos; non-samurais were commonly subject to Tokoro-barai, which meant that he was to be banished to a certain place and samurais were usually assigned to the post of Kofu in the mountain s west of Edo. Murahachibu (Ostracism) literally translates to eight parts out of ten. This pertained to the disqualification of an offender from receiving any assistance from his community in eight of the ten traditional facets of community life. These eight parts include: births, coming of age ceremonies, weddings, sicknesses, memorial services, travel, floods, and building and repairs. The only two facets in which they were allowed assistance were help in case of a fire and in preparation for funeral. This loss of residence or homelessness would degrade the banished and his family to an outcaste (hinin) status in a process known as hinin teka. Unfortunately, this descent in status was not confined to the person or generation that first occasioned the original ostracism, but extended in perpetuity. Unofficial ostracism, on the other hand, occurred when the individual was removed from the village through a votation (irefuda) without sufficient evidence (or any evidence at all for t hat matter). In such cases, the individual is merely asked to leave the village, while still remaining in the population roster. Irefuda was the votation of the village people to identify a particular offender, which they believe is responsible for whatever recurring crime they may be experiencing. Honesty and participation was key in this activity to the extent that villagers would make oaths before the gods and drink holy water to keep their words pure and those who dont vote are punished along with the guilty and his supporters. Another rather odd part of the Tokugawa law was the idea of rakushogisho, which means, dropped oaths before gods. Here, an anonymous paper with an accusation is dropped in front of the shrine and whoever picks this paper up first is obliged to implement it because this is seen as a sign from the gods themselves. For a crime such as theft, men could be punished with banishment and additional physical mutilation (cutting off ones nose and or ears) would arise depending on the severity of the theft. Women were forced to walk through the village naked, which was a punishment they deemed as even worse than physical mutilation. Mandatory community service(labor camps, gold mining, slavery), ostracism, distinct clothing, and the payment of festival expenses were other possible sanctions as well. One must note that the concealment of theft was a crime as severe as the theft itself-which means that the victim is treated the same way as the offender and is equally punished. Flagellation was another means of penalty for theft (and fighting). It was usually reserved for commoners of both sexes and knights and priests were exempted from it. This practice of stripping the offender to his underwear and striking his back and buttocks for, at most, 100 times, was eventually replaced by ear/nose cutting in th e early Edo period. Punishment for murder was dependent on the manner in which it was executed, ones involvement in the aforementioned crime, and the status of the person murdered. Accomplices to murder, execution of contractual murder, and the murder of inferiors were punishable by banishment. Premeditated, self-enriching, delivering the initial blow (even if it is not the fatal blow) and the masterminding of murder on the other hand were punishable by the death penalty. Through the bakufus discretion, additional additions such as gibbeting (hanging), crucifixion (for murder of a parent/husband), confiscation of property, or ones corpse being the sword practice dummy for a local samurai could be incorporated into ones sentence. Other variations of the death penalty include boiling, burning for those guilty of arson, decapitation, sawing, and cutting the accused in half. This was usually preceded by the parading of the accused around town, and then concluded with the public display of the severed head or body part/s. Torture was an accepted means of obtaining a confession, although a confession was a requisite for the death penalty and the central focus of a trial, it was not something that could be done on a whim (required approval of several levels of authority) and therefore, was hardly ever performed. Even in punishment, ones class is still taken into consideration; special distinction is especially given to samurais. The beheading of a samurai was called zanzai, whereas it is called shizai when done to a commoner. Seppuku, suicide by disembowelment, is also a special option reserved only for the warrior class. It is considered as a better alternative because if one performs seppuku, he dies with his honor intact. The Legal and Judicial System Japans modern legal and judicial systems trace their roots back to 1232 when the Kamakura shogunate (1185-1333) created uniform guidelines the Goseibai Shikimoku (Formulary of Adjudications) for its samurai, or warrior vassals. Drawn from the laws and procedures of such other older institutions as the imperial and provincial governments, private estates and religious orders, the bukeho (warrior house law) was not a legal code in the modern sense but, rather, a compilation of the most common and important court disputes settled by the shogunate. The Goseibai Shikimoku provided the foundation of Japans legal system for the next 400 years. The legal system of Japan evolved when it was unified by the Tokugawa shogunate . Iyesu Tokugawa strengthened the centralization of militaristic and economic power on the shogunates hands, but also replaced the laws issued by regional warlords with standard codes. Two important laws were made during this time, the 13-article Buke Shohatto(Laws for Military Houses) and the Kinchu Narabi ni Kuge Shohatto (Laws Governing the Imperial Court and Nobility). The final contribution of the Tokugawa or Edo period was the 742 Kujikata Osadamegaki (Official Provisions). For the first time a set of rules was made for the commoners and lesser samurais and not for those in the elite class. This had two parts. One was the administrative procedures and civil rules composed of 81 articles. The second, which composed the bulk is on criminal laws and penalties which is made up of 103 articles. This was the first time that the commoners who were under the shogun had to answer to a codified set of laws. Japanese Values behind the System The Japanese valued social responsibility and obligation very much. This can be translated as giri. Giri implies that people should behave according to what society dictates of you. The Japanese see this as very important that is why anyone who deviates from the law or from the expectations of society is punished for it. There is also a strong sense of community seen in the valuing of human relations and empathy because even those that are not the criminals are subject to be punished if they do not report the offender. More people will get hurt as crimes increase especially in the villages where there is voting on who the culprit is. If you want it to stop, then community as a whole must stop because everyone is affected. Confessing immediately is best rather than getting tortured to admit the fault or whose fault it is. Ninjo which is they psychological factor refers to a persons feelings and reactions which may or may not be in line with the giri. If one experiences conflict with t hese interests, one may suppress his feelings, close his eyes from all of these or worst case scenario, commit suicide. Samurais are known to do the last because of the common practice of seppuku. If a samurai does not reach the expectations society has for him he feels the need to kill himself for losing his honor. Here we see another important Japanese value, honor. The Japanese highly value this that some of the punishments just mainly strip away ones honor and dignity. Women parading naked, being proclaimed a criminal and many more are just some of the ways that the old penal system has stripped away the honor of many individuals. Loyalty and obedience not only to ones master, but society as a whole is also very important. Those who disobey may be executed or be tortured just for not following the law. Harmony and order is so important for them that they would do anything to maintain this. Even today these values are still practised in society. Honor for the Japanese is just as important before as it is today. One example would be how students study so hard to get into a good university that failing leads to a lot of suicides in Japan. By not passing one has not only disgraced his name, but more importantly, disgraced his family. This is why they would prefer death, similar to how the samurais would think. Japanese highly value social obligation that your responsibility to the community is far greater than to a transcendent god. From the past, Japan has relied on social rather than supernatural sanctions and they have always emphasized the benefits of having a harmonious society. They are also very disciplined people today and there is more often than not, fear of authority. The hierarchies present before are still present now. There are still people who have a higher status than you such as your parents. Loyalty and obedience has always been emphasized before and just like now any disloyal act against your parents is frowned up by society. Here the strong influence of Confucianism is seen and by following ones roles, order can finally be obtained. Although punishment today may not be as harsh before, the Japanese have kept these in their minds and have worked very hard to keep the order in their society which has made them one of the strongest and most influential countries today. From past to present: The Yakuza The militaristic nature of Edo period in Japan gave importance towards the use of physical might as well as more strict control over the people. The context during that time forced people to resort to more dire measures for survival and people were under pressure on a daily basis. Some people conformed to the harsh settings but others sought escape and lived defiantly, away from society. This strict way of living entailed the first beginnings of the formation of various groups that eventually led to a more famously known group in Japan: yakuza. Currently, yakuza are more popularly known as an organized crime syndicate in Japan, similar to the Mafia. They are known to be an extremely large and influential group in Japanese politics as well as business; having direct or hidden control over several businesses and political figures. The yakuza are infamous for their ruthlessness and for being forceful in their dealings with people, Japanese or foreign. The pop culture depiction of yakuza members varies from tattooed hoodlums and thugs to the high class suit-and-tie figure. They are infamous for their activities that range from political activities and assassinations to protection rackets and shady business dealings including drugs, weaponry, gambling, smuggling, etc. These income generating activities are generally called shinogi. Admirably, the yakuza are also famous for having a strong sense of honor and loyalty amongst themselves. They strictly follow a structure similar to that of a family, even referring to their superiors as oyabun or father and the followers as kobun or child. This structure allows the yakuza to have a systematic way of carrying out their work and helps in creating loyalty to the family. The early origins of the Yakuza during the Edo-period can be traced back to the emergence of two groups. First we have the kabukimono (crazy ones) which include people that are peculiarly dressed, have odd hairstyles and have volatile, violent behavior. Kabukimono groups usually consist of unemployed samurais or ronins that have resorted to violence, banditry and other vigilante acts instead of enlisting in other jobs. Another name for the members of this group is the hatamato-yakko, which means servants of the shogun, referring more to their previous affiliation with the shogun than their more recent deviant nature. Their constant harassment of local towns forced the townsfolk to find protection of their own, as the daimyos were less concerned over the common town and townsfolk. This led to the rise of the other group so called machi-yakko, also came to be known as servants of the town or local town heroes. These machi-yakko comprised of local people who have banded together to repe l the assaults of the invading bandits. The members of the machi-yakko were usually weaker than the kabukimono, seeing as they were usually untrained individuals. A remarkable aspect of both groups that is still associated with yakuza is the developed sense of family trust and loyalty among the members. The more common notion of most people would be to identify yakuza gangsters to have come from the line of the kabukimono or hatamato-yakko. However, from the yakuzas point of view, their claim is that they are descendants from the machi-yakko faction. We can note that the yakuza seem to have taken characteristics from both of these groups. However, it is unclear and erroneous to directly link the modern yakuza to any of the two groups. A second, but not entirely exclusive explanation as to the formation of the yakuza is that the yakuza derive from the two classes of tekiya (peddlers) and bakuto (gamblers). Basically, the tekiya is a group comprised of small-time peddlers that banded together. Although in the Edo period, they were considered to be of low social standing, their organized mass activities eventually gained them influence on commercial dealings and administrative duties. Tekiyas business activities were considered legal at the time and were eventually allowed by the Edo government for their oyabun (leaders) to have surnames and to carry swords, which was previously only available for samurais and nobles. Bakuto, or gamblers, were considered lower than tekiya, primarily because gambling was frowned upon and considered illegal. Gambling houses were present in more or less deserted areas in town, or on the outskirts and were looked down upon. Bakuto also dealt in loan sharking businesses and held their own security force. The bakutos way of doing business is what is more commonly associated for the negative image of the yakuza today. In fact, the term yakuza is said to have originated from a card game. Ya-ku-sa or the most useless hand in the game, caught on as a term to refer to the bakuto, seen as derogatory to society. It is also from bakuto that the infamous yakuza tattoos originated from, as the members of this group usually had on their bodies. To the yakuza, tattoos were a symbol for toughness and most yakuza had majority of their bodies tattooed. It is from the history of the tekiya as well as the bakuto groups that we can see how the structure of the yakuza began to form. Knowing the backgrounds of the tekiya, bakuto and kabukimono, we can see how the yakuza are also known to allow misfits and rejects of society into their organization. It is also from the four previously mentioned groups that we see the early stages of the kinds of transactions and dealings that the yakuza do. Basically, we can see how and why the yakuza are said to have origins from all of these different groups. The yakuza evolved into a larger, more organized and structured group after the Meiji Restoration period, which ushered in a more formal political format as well as military might. The yakuza also made motions to modernize their organization but they still held on to their former activities: businesses and gambling rings. They expanded recruitment and began to take interest in and dealt in politics. The yakuza were also vital during the American occupation years in Japan. During the occupation years, Japan was in a sunken economic state and the black market emerged as a more viable option for the people to survive. The yakuza, especially the tekiya group, took advantage of the black market. They proved to be an extreme difficulty for the Americans in controlling Japan. Eventually, another cluster of yakuza, called the gurentai emerged, who also dealt in the black market. The gurentai group is what is more closely associated to the organized and violent side of the yakuza (similar to the Italian Mob in America), portraying the more stereotypical gangster image. After the war, the yakuza continued its black market transactions and started to use more direct violence, which resulted in the group entitled boryokudan (violence gang). Post-war Japan started improving economically and dependency on the black market declined. As such, the yakuza continued to adapt and were able to prosper. The yakuza began to grow in number, but the yakuza also began to fragment into regional sub-organizations. Much of the post-war regaining of strength for the yakuza are attributed to Yoshio Kodama, an extremely wise and powerful man who worked his way through industry and politics to empower the different yakuza groups. The many opportunities in the market also bred competition amongst the yakuza subgroups. The existence of different yakuza gangs led to gang wars and has troubled both the yakuza structure as a whole and the law enforcement. There was a spike in the number rate of boryokudan arrests, which consisted of a lot of physical violence against other groups. These subgroups are usually headed by a single family. An example is one of the most famous and powerful yakuza clans to have existed: the Yamaguchi-gumi. This particu lar group is said to have been able to dominate a good majority of its territories. One particular head of this clan was Kazuo Taoka, known to be one of the most, if not the most effective leader of this clan. During his period as the kumicho (family boss), he was able to empower the Yamaguchi-gumi clan into one of the most powerful clans in his time. In the latter part of the 20th century, Japanese government has worked towards the stoppage of the violent and criminal acts performed by the yakuza. More specifically, they have even passed a law against the boryokudan; this law is called the Botaiho (passed in May 1991). Despite this, the yakuza are still at large in many other aspects and are usually conducting their work within the law. Their influence on business and politics is still significant but clandestine to most. Again, the modern day yakuza has evolved and has been able to adapt to the current context of the world today, and not just in Japan. In the end, the yakuza has always had an influential role on the lives and culture of the Japanese, even if their actions were never stated explicitly in the history books. Their early existence began during the Edo period and throughout Japanese history, they have evolved into what they are today: a formidable force in everyday Japanese life.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Pricing in a volatile market :: Economics

Pricing in a volatile market Questions : 1)What are the main causes of price volatility in a market? To what extent and how have this general causes applied in the pulp and paper market? First of all the fragmentation of the market causes prices to be volatile. Indeed a unique policy can not be set up and a sort of jungle's law is created. Each producer adapts its own prices as regard its operating costs, investments, volume of production. More over the working rules are different from one country to another and standards of living are world's apart so it can easily explain the gap between two prices. As no single producer has a large production compare to the others, it can not impose its prices to the market and that is why it is obliged to cope with. The volatility of the market is also created by the gap between a so to speak prosperity period during which the producers invest and the second period when capacity created is too much compare to the needs. The offer is bigger than the demand so prices fall. These general causes applied in the pulp and paper market because it corresponds to all that characteristics. Indeed it is a very fragmented industry. For example no single producer has more than 6 per cent share of the overall market and the 10 largest producers represent less than the half of the overall production. As we already said for a market generally speaking, in the pulp and paper market companies during a prosperity time invested in more capacity to take advantage of high prices but as two years are necessary to get a plant up and running, a down period appeared and demand has passed the peak and prices are lower. To cover their invest producer dump all their extra new capacity and it causes the prices to decline steeper. It is a vicious circle. An other element explains the price volatility in the pulp and paper market, it is the entry of lower-cost producers ( South American, Asian) compare to traditionally producers ( Scandinavian, European and North American). More over the Asian economic crisis played a role in price volatility. 2) What effect do you think consolidation in the industry will have on: - (A) the biggest producers The consolidation through takeovers and alliances for the biggest producers allows them to develop bigger global market share and by this way they may have a greater influence over market prices. They can be able to have a real power to decide prices. The joint ventures can also allow the producer to share their necessary investments or

Friday, July 19, 2019

Is Time Travel Possible? Essay -- Space Back to the Future Science Fic

Is Time Travel Possible? Time travel has always fascinated humans. The idea of being able to change the past or the future creates infinite possibilities. The most common form of time travel is through the use of a time machine, although in some cases, characters with mystical powers can transport others in time. The subject of time travel has been brought up in various blockbuster movies, such as Back to the Future series, the Terminator trilogy, and even Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.4 In the literary world, some well-known writers have written about time travel, including H.G. Wells, Issac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein and Madeline L’Engle. There are songs about time travel, from George Harrison’s â€Å"Any Road† to â€Å"The Timewarp† from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Time travel is also a prominent theme in commercials and advertisements, television shows, and art. In these media forms, time travel can be construed as good or bad. In some cases, the hero or heroine in the story travels back in time to save someone or change a bad outcome. In others, tampering with the past leads to tragedy in the future. A frequent topic on this is what happens if one were to meet himself in the past. Because we have no definite answers on the concept of time travel, the possibilities in entertainment are endless. Scientifically, there are currently three popular theories on how time travel may be possible: through the use of black holes, wormholes, and cosmic strings. There are two types of black holes. Schwarzschild black holes are the more well-known and consist of a singularity at the center that crushes all matter beyond recognition. Kerr holes are rotating black holes where the singularity is formed in a ring, much like th... ...htly older while his twin has long since died of old age. The consequences of time travel on society would be tremendous. Today’s moral systems are based on the concept that (as Shakespeare wrote) â€Å"what’s done cannot be undone.† A society in which the correction of past mistakes or the prevention of future ones was possible would most likely have a radically different moral system less focused on the consequences of one’s actions. (1)Hawking, Stephen. â€Å"Lectures: Space and Time Warps.† . (2) Pickover, Clifford. â€Å"Traveling Through Time.† 2000. NOVA Online. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/time/through.html. (3)â€Å"Sagan on Time Travel.† 2000. NOVA Online.. (4)â€Å"‘Time Travel’ Transcripts.† 1999. NOVA. .

Thursday, July 18, 2019

The worn path

Where was the old woman traveling to and why? She's traveling the worn path to go and get her grandson some medicine. She's been doing this for 3 years since he swallowed lye and burnt his throat. 2. What were some of the obstacles encountered by the old woman? She struggles intense fatigue and poor eyesight, as well as such obstacles as thorn bushes and barbed wire.She runs into a white hunter who drops a nickel and she picks it up and he points his gun t her but since she appeared not afraid he lowered it. 3. Why did the hunter point his gun at Phoenix? Was she in danger? Because she picked up the nickel he dropped but it's still really unclear of his motive as to why he pointed his gun at her. She's in danger because she's an elderly woman a who has bad eyesight and has a gun pointed at her. 4.Phoenix says that she is an old woman without education, does she meme to have any knowledge that the other characters lack? Although she did not go to school and isn't book smart at all, I do believe she knows a lot about life and hard it can become sometimes. She seems to be like an old person you know very wise, has a lot of wisdom. 5. What happens to Phoenix when she gets home? Well then story doesn't tell you what happens when she gets home. But I assume she started her long walk back to her grandson and gave him his medicine.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 14

The following(a) morning Elena nonice that Meredith stil looked pale and languid, and that her look slid away if Stefan happened to gleam at her. b arely this was a snip of crisis, and as soon as the eat dishes were washed, Elena cal ed a meeting in the parlor. at that place she and Stefan explained what Meredith had missed during the visit from the sheriffs.Meredith smiled wanly when Elena told how Stefan had banished them corresponding stray dogs. indeed Elena told the twaddle of her issue-of-body experience. It proved virtuoso ignoreg, at least, that decent was alive and relatively well. Meredith bit her stern talk when Mrs. Flowers verbalise this, for it only withstand her postulate to go and stand by fair(a) tabu of the Dark Dimension somebodyal y. however on the other hand, Meredith call fored to incumbrance and wait for Alarics photographs. If that would save Fel s performNo oneness at the boarding stick out could hesitation what had happened on the Island of Doom. It was happening here, on the other side of the world. Already a couple of parents in Fel s church building had had their children interpreted away by the Virginia department of Child Protective Services.Punishments and retaliations had begun. How more thirster would it be in advance Shinichi and Misao turned al the children into permithal weapons or let large- infrastandinged those already turned? How long originally some hysterical parent kil ed a kid?The group academic session in the parlor discussed plans and methods.In the end, they unflinching to make jars identical to those Elena and fairish had seen, and prayed that they could upchuck the writing. These jars, they were trus dickensrthy, were the means by which Shinichi and Misao were original y sealed withdraw from the rest of the Earth. accordinglyce Shinichi and Misao had once fit into the or else cramp accommodations of the jars. besides what did Elenas group puddle straightaway that c ould influence them back inside?Power, they unyielding. simply an amount of Power so groovy that it was irresistible to the kitsune twins. That was why the priestess had tried and true to lure them back with her own strain.Nowit meant every the liquid in a ful sense bal or blood from an extraordinarily all-powerful vampire. Or two vampires.Or three.Everyone was sober, sentiment of this. They didnt retire how much blood would be needed solely Elena guardianshiped that it would be more than they crumb afford to lose. It had for certain been more than the priestess could afford.And then thither was a relieve that only Meredith could fil . Im current youve al been enquire astir(predicate) this,she express, producing the staff affaire from thin air, as far as Elena could see. How did she do that? Elena wondered. She didnt throw away it with her and then she did.They al stared in the bright sunlight at the pat beauty of the weapon.Whoever do that, savorless said, had a twisted imagination.It was one of my ancestors,Meredith said. And I wont contend that.I fool a question,Elena said. If youd had that from the starting time-class honours degree of your training if youd been raised in that considerate of world, would you make up tried to kil Stefan? Would you assimilate tried to kil me when I became a vampire?I wish I had a trusty answer to that,Meredith said, her phantasm gray eyes pained. But I dont. I have nightmares about it. But how can I ever say what I would have done if Id been a different soulfulness?Im not asking that. Im asking you, the person you are, if youd had the training The training is brainwashing, Meredith said harshly. Her sedate fa?ade seemed about to demote.Okay, for grow that. Would you have tried to kil Stefan, if youd simply had that staff?Its cal ed a fighting stave. And were cal ed pack like my family, exclude that my parents dropped out hunter-slayers.There was a sort of gasp rough the table. Mrs. Flowers poured Meredith more herbal tea from the imbed sitting on a trivet.Hunter-slayers, ingeminate unconditional with a certain relish. It wasnt surd to tel who he was envisageing about.You can just cal us one or the other,Meredith was expression.Ive comprehend that out west theyve got hunter-kil ers. But we fly the coop on to tradition here.Elena suddenly mat like a lost petty young wo universe. This was Meredith, her big sister Meredith, saying al of this. Elenas interpreter was almost pleading. But you didnt tear down tel on Stefan.No, I didnt. And, no, I dont echo Id have had the courage to kil anyone unless Id been brainwashed. But I knew Stefan loved you. I knew he would neer make you into a vampire.The problem was I didnt neck enough about Damon. I didnt k immediately that you were fooling well-nigh so much. I dont gauge anybody knew that.Merediths voice was anguished, too. miss me,Elena said, flushing, with a lopsided smile.Dont look so sad, Meredith. I t worked out.You cal having to leave your family and your town because everyone knows youre dead, working out?I do,Elena replied desperately, if it means I bulge out to be with Stefan.She did her best not to withdraw about Damon.Meredith looked at her blankly for a implication, then put her looking in her hands. Do you indirect request to tel them or should I?she asked, coming up for air and lining Stefan.Stefan looked startled. You remember?Probably as much as you got from my mind. Bits and components. Stuff I dont want to remember.Okay.Now Stefan looked relieved, and Elena snarl stimulate. Stefan and Meredith had a hush-hush together?We al know that Klaus made at least two visits to Fel s Church. We know that he was completely slimy and that on the second visit he planned to be a ensuant murderer. He kil ed Sue Carson and Vickie Bennett.Elena fitful softly. Or at least he helped Tyler Smal wood to kil Sue, so that Tyler could be initiated as a loup-garou. And then Tyler got Carolean pregnant.Matt cleared his throat as something occurred to him. Uh does Caroline have to kil somebody to be a ful werewolf, too?I dont speak out so,Elena said. Stefan says that having a werewolf litter is enough. Either way, blood is spil ed.Caroline wil be a ful werewolf when she has her twins, except shel probably begin changing involuntarily before that.Right?Stefan nodded. Right. But getting back to Klaus What was it he was sibylline to have done on his first visit? He attacked without kil ing an old domain who was a ful hunter-slayer.My grandfather,Meredith whispered.And he supposedly messed with Merediths grandfathers mind so much that this old world tried to kil his wife and his three-year-old granddaughter. So what is abuse with this picture?Elena was truly frightened now. She didnt want to hear whatever was coming. She could seek bile, and she was iris that shed only had toast for breakfast. If only in that respect had been someone to take ca re of, like sightly, she would have felt better.I strive up. So what is wrong?Matt asked bluntly.Meredith was thorough red ink(a) into the distance again.Final y Stefan said, At the risk of sounding like a bad soap operaMeredith had, or has, a twin brother.Dead placidity fel all over the group in the parlor. level off Mrs.Flowerss Ma ma didnt put in a word.Had or has?Matt said final y, breaking the silence.How can we know?Stefan said. He whitethorn have been kil ed. gauge Meredith having to watch that. Or he could have been kidnapped. To be kil ed at a later time or to plump a vampire.And you real y think her parents wouldnt tel her?Matt de human beingsded. Or would try to make her forget? When she was what, three already?Mrs. Flowers, who had been quiet a long time, now rundle sadly. Dear Meredith may have get backd to block out the rightfulness herself. With a child of three its disenfranchised to say. If they neer got her professional helpShe looked a question at Me redith.Meredith shook her head. Against the code,she said. I mean, stringently speaking, I shouldnt be tel ing any of you this, and particular(prenominal) y not Stefan. But I couldnt stand it anymorehaving such undecomposed friends, and constantly deceiving them.Elena went over and hugged Meredith hard. We understand,she said. I dont know what wil happen in the future if you decide to be an active hunter I can promise you my friends wont be on my list of victims,Meredith said. By the way,she added, Shinichi knows. Im the one whos kept a secret from my friends al my life. non any longer,Elena said, and hugged her again.At least there are no more secrets now,Mrs. Flowers said gently, and Elena looked at her sharply. Nothing was ever that simple. And Shinichi had made a whole handful of predictions.Then she apothegm the look in the humble blue eyes of the old woman, and she knew that what was classical right then was not truth or lies, or even reckonings, but simply comforting Meredith. She looked up at Stefan while stil hugging Meredith and saw the aforementioned(prenominal) look in his eyes.And that made her sapidity better somehow. Because if it was truly no secretsthen she would have to figure out her feelings about Damon. And she was more afraid of that than of facing Shinichi, which was saying quite a lot, real y.At least weve got a potters wheel somewhere,Mrs.Flowers was saying. And a kiln in the back, although its al grown over with Devils Shoestring. I used to make flowerpots for orthogonal the boardinghouse, but children came and smashed them. I think I could make an urn like the ones you saw if you can draw one for me. But perhaps wed better wait for Mr. Saltzmans pictures.Matt was mouthing something to Stefan. Elena couldnt make it out until she heard Stefans voice in her mind. He says Damon told him once that this house is like a swap meet, and you can go anything here if you look hard enough.Damon didnt make that up I think Mrs. Flower s said it first, and then it sort of got around, Elena returned heatedly.When we get the pictures,Mrs. Flowers was saying brightly,we can get the Saitou women to take the writing.Meredith final y moved back from Elena. And until then we can pray that bonnie doesnt get into any trouble,she said, and her voice and face were composed again. Im starting now. clean was sure she could stay out of trouble.Shed had that strange inspiration the one about shedding her body, and going with Elena to the Island of Doom.Fortunately, it had seemed to be a real out-of-body experience, and not something she had to ponder over and try to find hidden meanings in. It didnt mean she was doomed or anything like that.Plus, shed managed to live by other night in this brown room, and Damon had to keep abreast and get her out soon.But not before she had a sugarplum. Or two.Yes, she had gotten a taste of one in the trading floor last(a) night, but Marit was such a good girl that she had waited for di nner to have any more. Dinner was obtained in the next story about the Dustbins, which shed plunged into this morning. But that contained the hatred of little Marit tasting her first hand-caught piece of raw liver, fresh from the hunt. decorous had in haste pul ed the little star bal off her temple, and had determined not to do anything that could possibly get her on a gentle hunting range.But then, compulsively, she had counted up her money. She had money. She knew where a shop was. And that meantshoppingWhen her bathroom break came around, she managed to get into a conversation with the male child who usual y led her to the alfresco privy. This time she made him blush so hard and tug at his earlobe so often that when she begged him to give her the signalize and let her go by herself it wasnt as if she didnt know the way he had relented and let her go, asking only that she hurry.And she did hurry crosswise the street and into the little store, which smel ed so much of m elting fudge, toffee creation pul ed by hand, and other piquant smel s that she would have known where she was blindfolded.She similarly knew what she wanted. She could picture it from the story and the one taste Marit had had.A sugarplum was round like a real plum, and shed tasted dates, almonds, spices, and honey and there may have been some raisins, too. It should cost flipper soli, according to the story, but comme il faut had taken fifteen of the smal coppery-looking coins with her, in case of a confectionary emergency.Once inside, Bonnie glanced warily around her. There were a lot of customers in the shop, maybe six or seven. wiz brown-haired girl was wearing spark just like Bonnie and looked exhausted. Surreptitiously, Bonnie inched toward her, and pressed five of her copper soli into the girls loony hand, thinking, there now she can get a sugarplum just like me that ought to embolden her up. It did the girl gave her the sort of smile that bring Dustbin often gave to Marit when she had done something adorable.I wonder if I should talk to her?It looks delightful busy,she whispered, ducking her head.The girl whispered back, It has been. Al yesterday I kept hoping, but at least one terrible came in as the last one leftover.You mean you have to wait until the shops countermand to ?The brown-haired girl looked at her curiously. Of course unless youre buying for your mistress or master.Whats your clear?Bonnie whispered.Kelta.Im Bonnie.At this Kelta burst into obtuse but convulsive giggles.Bonnie felt offended shed just given Kelta a sugarplum or the price of one, and now the girl was laughing at her.Im sorry,Kelta said when her ecstasy had died down. But dont you think its funny that in the last year there are so many girls changing their label to Alianas and Mardeths, and Bonnas some slaves are even being allowed to do it.But why?Bonnie whispered with such obvious original bewilderment that Kelta said, Why, to fit into the story, of course. To be named afterwards the ones who kil ed old Bloddeuwedd while she was rampaging through the city.That was such a big dole out?You real y dont know? after she was kil ed al her money went to the fifth part sector where she lived and there was enough left over to have a holiday. Thats where Im from. And I used to be so frightened when I was sent out with a message or anything after dark because she could be right above you and youd neer know, until Kelta had put al her money into one pocket and now she mimed claws descending on an innocent hand.But you real y are a Bonna,Kelta said, with a news bulletin of white teeth in rather dingy skin. Or so you said.Yeah,Bonnie said feeling vaguely sad. Im a Bonna, al rightThe next moment she cheered up. The shops emptyIt is Oh, youre a good-luck Bonna Ive been waiting two days.She approached the counter with a lack of fear that was very encouraging to Bonnie. Then she asked for something cal ed a blood jel y that looked to Bonnie like a smal mold of strawberry Jel -O, with something darker deep inside. Kelta smiled at Bonnie from under the curtain of her long, unbrushed hair and was gone.The man who ran the sweetshop kept looking hopeful y at the door, clearly hoping a escaped person a noble would sum up in.No one did, however, and at last he turned to Bonnie.And what is it you want?he demanded.Just a sugarplum, please?Bonnie tried hard to make sure her voice didnt quaver.The man was bored. Show me your pass,he said irritably.It was at that point that Bonnie suddenly knew that everything was going to go dreadfully wrong.Come on, come on, snap it upStil looking at his accounting books, the man snapped his fingers.Meanwhile Bonnie was running a hand over her sack-cloth smock, in which she knew short well there was no pocket, and certainly no pass.But I apprehension I didnt need a pass, except to cross sectors,she babbled final y.The man now leaned over the counter. Then show me your license pass,he s aid, and Bonnie did the only thing she could think of. She turned and ran, but before she could reach the door she felt a sudden stinging pain in her back and then everything went blurry and she never knew when she hit the ground.