Thursday, August 27, 2020

Painting Critique Research Paper of Salvador Dali Essays

Painting Critique Research Paper of Salvador Dali Essays Painting Critique Research Paper of Salvador Dali Essay Painting Critique Research Paper of Salvador Dali Essay 1. Choose 3 books from the McCormick Library assortment of craftsmanship books.List them beneath with their call numbers. a. Dali: The Salvador Dali Museum Collection, curiously large, 759.6, D143 b. Dalis Optical Illusions, 709.24, D143 c. Dali Dawn Ades, 709.24, D143, C.1 d. The Shameful Life of Salvador Dali, 709.24, D143 2. Page through these books until you discover a craftsman or painting or style that especially offers to you.List the work of art/craftsman/style underneath. b. Painting is the Persistence of Memory 3. Using a reference book of craftsmanship or other print assets, discover some data on the craftsman, painting, or style.List your resources(s) underneath. a. I picked the reference book and I discovered that Dali was conceived May eleventh 1904 and passed on January 23rd 1989. c. He is generally known for his oddity work 4. Using the web (at the library or home), visit a virtual exhibition hall to discover increasingly about this craftsman, painting, or style.List the web website here. a. moma.org/assortment/browse_results.php?object_id=79018 a. That this work of art hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.This painting was made to seem as though a fantasy like state. I accept that Salvador Dali was considered as the best craftsman of the surrealist workmanship development and perhaps the best ace of specialty of the twentieth century.Dali was conceived in Figueres, Spain on May eleventh 1904 at 8:45 in the first part of the day. His original name that was given to him was Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali Domenech.Needless to express attempting to murmur that name to a bit of workmanship just wouldnt look right to he abbreviated it to Salvador Dali.He was conceived as the second youngster to Salvador Dali Cusi and his significant other Felipa Domenech Ferres.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Blog Archive MBA News Stanford GSB Releases 2009-2010 Essay Questions

Blog Archive MBA News Stanford GSB Releases 2009-2010 Essay Questions On the heels of  HBS, which released its essay questions earlier this week, Stanford has released its essay questions ahead of the typical June/July schedule that most schools follow.or, at least, used to follow.  When he posted the essay questions, GSB Admissions Director Derrick Bolton  offered some insight  that we  believe is applicable not  just for Stanford applicants but for applicants to any school: Because we want to discover who you are, resist the urge to package yourself in order to come across in a way you think Stanford wants. Such attempts simply blur our understanding of who you are and what you can accomplish. We want to hear your genuine voice throughout the essays that you write and this is the time to think carefully about your values, your passions, your hopes and dreams. Stanfords essay questions are posted below. We will follow up with our essay analysis shortly. Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why? Essay 2: What are your career aspirations? How will your education at Stanford help you achieve them? Essay 3: Answer two of the four questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years. Option A: Tell us about a time when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations. Option B: Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization. Option C: Tell us about a time when you motivated others to support your vision or initiative. Option D: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined, established, or expected. Share ThisTweet Blogroll News Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)

Monday, May 25, 2020

Chris McCandless is NOT a Hero in the Book, Into the Wild...

Many people have read the story â€Å"Into the Wild† By Jon Krakauer, when mentioning the name Chris McCandless he is either viewed as hero or as a dumb man. The people who view him as a hero tend to believe that he was determined enough to want to do something. Others view him as an idiot who just wanted attention. Him being unprepared and not knowing much about how to survive in the wild made McCandless an idiot, the dumb jerk. Also causing him to be a poor role model to multiple people causing them to end up in dangerous situations that could be threatening to their lives. Having the right supplies for hiking or in Chris’s case going out to live in the wild is critical. Chris was lacking in this category. When Chris was found a few weeks later in the woods it was evident that he didn’t have the food supply he needed to survive. Matthew Power from Mens Journal The Magazine, brings up the point that Chris only brought a few things with him, â€Å"Setting off with little more than a twenty-two caliber rifle and a ten-pound bag of rice, McCandless hoped to find his true self by renouncing society and living off the land.† Chris later proved that even if you intend to live off the land if you are not used to it and living that way it is going to be extremely hard and may even result in death. Chris was on a death mission weather he realized it or not. He went into the wild and is now causing people to unintentionally cause self harm to themselves. Peter Christian added, â€Å"Some like

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Analysis Of If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things

Jon McGregor’s novel If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things follows the novel-in-a-day format and takes the reader through the day of a regular neighborhood in England. In Caroline Edwards’ â€Å"An Interview with Jon McGregor†, McGregor himself states that the neighborhood is based heavily on observations of small details or events, saying â€Å"This sense of observing†¦the idea of lives pivoting on single moments and lives being changed by passing remarks and stray comments and accidents and coincidences† (Edwards 220-221). While I agree with McGregor’s statement that lives can change in an instant because of a seemingly small detail, the more authentic connections that McGregor is making exist between the events of If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable†¦show more content†¦The reader will find it difficult to draw connections between these neighbors and themselves when they hardly even know many intimate details about the lives of these cha racters. However, this is because the reader is put into a position where they are viewing characters from an outside perspective in the same way that the neighbors view each other: with little information about their lives. This is backed up in Neal Alexander’s article, titled â€Å"Profoundly Ordinary: Jon McGregor and Everyday Life†, where Alexander comments on the anonymous nature of the neighborhood, stating â€Å"The calculated anonymity that results is clearly intended to make a point about the nature of contemporary urban life, where neighbors typically maintain a defensive reserve toward one another† (Alexander 729-730). The novel maintains a type of irony in that it must detach the reader from the story in order to connect them in the same way that the characters are connected. The other type of narration that McGregor uses is first-person narration. These sections are told three years in the future, she deals with the stressors of an unwanted pregnancy. Alexander comments on these two differing conflicts of the whole novel in his article, stating â€Å"By juxtaposing these disparate perspectives, McGregor explores tentative correspondences between neighbors who are also strangers and the ramifying consequences ofShow MoreRelatedSpeech for Recognition Day1293 Words   |  6 PagesLike most of you today, my feelings are really overwhelming. I know, you guys are as excited about this event as I am so excited to speak before you today. Not so long ago, I was seating exactly where you are right now and hearing an inspirational talk from a guest speaker back then. Yes, I am but a proud alumna of T. Paez and soon you too will be part of the Alumni. I never really imagined myself addressing you for your Recognition Day. I never thought I could be the right person to inspire youRead MoreMy View Of Economic Injustices1802 Words   |  8 Pagesreceive a peer response, which is unfortunate, but it made me focus more on the constructive criticism of my instructor as well as my own criticism. I learned by writing this comparative analysis that you should never let your opinion of something be set in stone. When presented with new information, you may find that things are not so clear-cut as you once thought. Candice Bailey Andrea Jefferson ENG 111_01L 02 February 2017 The Suffering Middle Class The war on the middle class has been the topic onRead MoreRole Of Discipline On Destiny Fulfillment Delivered By Ayotunde Okunowo2497 Words   |  10 PagesDESTINY FULFILLMENT DELIVERED BY AYOTUNDE OKUNOWO AT THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ILARO, OGUN STATE TODAY WEDNESDAY 18TH MAY 2011. Chairman of today s occasion, All academia present, Distinguished old boys, Ladies and gentlemen. 1 Today is indeed a remarkable day. 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Shaw -  ÃËœÃ ½Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð °Ã ½Ã ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ã' Ã ·Ã'‹Ð ºÃ‚  -Ã'€Ð µÃ'„Ð µÃ'€Ð °Ã'‚ | |Top of Form |Plan: | |Email |   Read MoreEssay on The Joy of Intolerance4723 Words   |  19 Pagesconsequence of the fact that each of us creates an ideal image of himself and a place in which he lives. We dream of a flourishing and cultivated garden-like city. Civitas humanitas can spread over the whole Earth and we do not lose hope in it. The only thing we do not know is who will be capable of building this civitas. (1) Charles Peguy, whose style was described by Andre Gide as a style of the advancing wave which consequently moves back in order to mark even wider curve on the sand, created a visionRead MoreManagement Process3385 Words   |  14 Pagesmanagement as slow moving or the slowing down of production. Patrick would rather pay more for highly efficient employees so less managing is needed. When asked what it means to be a manager he replied â€Å"being a manager means taking the work that nobody else wants, leading by example, and not asking someone else to do something you wouldn’t do yourself† (personal communication, 2015). Management Function of Planning: Planning entails ideas, old and new, and strategies that need to be implemented

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Innocence and Oppressiveness in Fahrenheit 451 and Animal...

In the book Fahrenheit 451 and the book Animal Farm characters who are unaware of their surroundings allow for characters such as Beatty, Mr. Jones, and Napoleon to take over. Often times it is necessary for an oppressive power to be forceful in order to take over. Hitler is a leader who used force to take over the German people. In the case of both of these books the naà ¯vetà © groups of people are used for their ignorance for the benefit of the leaders, and physical power is not required. Animal Farm and Fahrenheit 451 both have a group of naà ¯ve people who share the inability to question power, possess loyalty, and stupidity. In Animal Farm and Fahrenheit 451 the naivetà © groups failed to question their authority’s power. In the book†¦show more content†¦The animals along with the citizens from each of the two books are loyal to their leaders, they continue to uphold the information given to them and they embrace their power. In Fahrenheit 451 Mildred, the wife of Guy Montage is confident in the information she is given. Mildred spends her life watching and listening to that parlor walls and their local radio station. This continuous use of the same source nourishes her unawareness to the truth. â€Å"You want to give up everything? After all these years of working, because, one night, some woman and her books?--† (Bradbury 51) Mildred tries to explain to Montage that his dramatic decision to change his beliefs is corrupt. She tells him that he cannot just agree with what this woman is telling him and he cannot leave everything he knows for â€Å"some books†. Mildred is loyal to the principles instilled in her by their town’s government. â€Å"Napoleon is always right,† (Orwell 70) Boxer voices his opinion to the other animals. His broad statement gives evidence to the fidelity he has to his leader Napoleon. Mildred and Boxer both strongly agree with their leaders values and they encompass much trust with in their leaders. The succinct stupidity that the characters of the naivetà © groups in both novels have is reasoning for why characters are being able to be oppressed by characters like Beatty and Napoleon. Mildred is foolish because

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Students Absenteeism free essay sample

Absenteeism, according to Merriam- Webster dictionary means chronic absence. In the context of the school it is the habitual or intentional failure from going to school. It cannot be denied that every now and then, students may miss some school activities and lessons. But it becomes a problem if the student will be away from school for many days. Chronic absentee students are placed at a disadvantage both socially and academically. They miss out on critical stages of social interaction and development with their peers and at the same time impacts negatively on their academic progress. This can result to low self-esteem, social isolation, and dissatisfaction that could well have precipitated non-attendance in the first place. School absenteeism is an alarming problem for administrators, teachers, parents, and the society in general, as well as for the pupils in particular. Unaccepted absence has a negative effect on peer relationship which could cause absence. Also, prolonged absence can have deleterious effects for the child in later life. Students who are absent from the school are at the risk of dropping out of school early. Absenteeism also affects the teacher’s ability present class work in sequential and organized way. This can have an effect on the progress of all the students attending the class. One way of addressing this problem is to identify the causes why students become truant from school. Once they are singled out, understood and analyzed, specific actions and measures can be undertaken. This will eventually redound to the better performance of the students, teachers, and the school in general. II. Background of the study Jason Caringal is a student who belongs to heteroclass. He is already third year and he is not a shy type and silent student. He tends to sleep when he wants, and commit absences without informing his teachers. He have been absent two days in a week and though he will come to school he seldom participate in school activities. III. Review of Related Literature A child or student’s interest is the most basic element that makes a group learning system work in an organize way. From the head to the base members of this organization, the condition of one may affect the others. This kind of educational system is comparable to a series light connection where in the state of one greatly affect the others. Population and percentage within that population which causes negative feedbacks can be primary reason of a poor product. The group or classroom type of organized way of learning has given that impact to the community being the commonly used system. Its effectiveness has been proven and has never been out of fashion. The relationship between the student’s physical presence on the class discussions and their learning performance are greatly relative. Class participation is just one way of measuring a child’s learning ability. In a class, the teacher-student relationship is one of the most fundamental units in student’s learning. When a student misses a day of school he/she must have lost the chance to hear others, interpret and analyzing the lessons or joins the interaction within the class. This lost is being rooted to two different courses and varying factors under these courses. The inquiry might be a family situation or an individual problem. Then, under these courses are the factors that contribute to a child’s regular truancy. These may be finance concerns, disability, psychotic imbalance, poor school climate, family health, transportation problems, drug and alcohol use, and differing community attitude towards education, (Savers, D. et al, 2005). Absenteeism in one angle view point is one of the most common causes of degrading performances of the students. Especially to those who are included in the advance intelligence curriculum, absenteeism causes a great lose and may result to giving up an aimed position. It can also cause social repletion especially when a class is composed of a great number of students. This habit causes a dilemma to the school administration when big figures are involve and may decrease the school’s performance. On the other hand, contamination of sickness and disease can be avoidable because of the absences of a person (Marburger, D. ,2001) A student’s attendance may be the grounds of the results of his or her learning performance. School administration and faculty may also affect the absenteeism rate of their student, and so as the population of those who practice absenteeism affect the administration and the school itself. Absenteeism in students affects their school performances especially when they are in a group or teamwork for their assignments and projects. Since grouping will help develops the students’ cooperative and ability to share and gain knowledge from their group mates will also miss the opportunity of gaining knowledge from the absent student (Koppernhaver, 2003). According to Schmidt in 1983, absenteesm affects the students’ ability to get high scores in examinations which can cause the decreasing of grades or the student may fail and will cause him/her to repeat the same year level. Students who have spent time attending lectures or classes have a significant, positive effect on students’ performance. Students that participated exhibited higher grades and scores in examinations of the student. Marburger states tat the difficulty inferring the effect of absenteeism on performance because, once a student is absent in a class, he or she may miss the opportunity of learning other techniques. He found out that missing in class progresses the likelihood of missing examination material covered that day compared to the students who were present in the class (2001). It indicates that persistent absentees at an inner-city school in South Wales had significantly lower self concept self-esteem, more deprived socioeconomic backgrounds, lower intelligence level, and more educational problems to control groups. Suggest that remedial measures for absenteeism should focus on raising self-concepts and changing attitudes toward school (Reid K. , 1982). Absenteeism is the most significant factor to affect the functioning of assembly lines in the development of the School Administration. Those high level of absenteeism have negative repression colleges’ effect to the production of quality levels of well trained students because of work specialization. The analysis of hundred absentees reveals hundred of instances of negative effect of building well discipline students for the future. In contrast to the empirical evidence it confirms that absenteeism produce higher level of problems, that value specialization among student has been significant reduced in the students’ achievements (Mateo R, 1998). Here are some causes of absenteeism . Lack of Subject Interest 2. Lack of Personal Interest in studies. 3. Available opportunities for entertainment like malls, movie halls etc. 4. The mental capacity of a students does not matches with the the course opted. 5. Too much Pamperness from family. 6. The poor teaching skills of a teacher also keep away student from the school. 7. Lack of confidence 8. Ragging also cause absenteeism 9. Lack of allied activities also causes absenteeism like no sports program, no fresher’s or farewell parties ,no annual day celebration etc. 10. Poor food of canteen may also be consider as one of the reason for absenteeism. 11. Poor infrastructure facility in school such as no place in a library to sit is also one of the reason of absenteeism. 12 Excess of homework and sometimes fear from examination keep away students from school/college. 13 Preparation for the participation in TV shows in dance musical or acting,G. K. contest programs also increase the percentage of absenteeism. 14. Preparation for examination causes absenteeism. 15. If school or college is far off the percentage of absenteeism may increase. 16. Over expectation of parents also deteriorate the attendance of a student when s/he is unable to cope with parent nature of making comparison among their own children of with the friends of their child. 17. Too much socialization causes absenteeism. It mostly happens during teen age and college when the students forms a group to freak out . 18. Inferiority complex within student causes absenteeism. V. Solutions made by the Teacher to remedy the cause of the problem A. Counselling approaches As a subject teacherer I talk to him and gave some advices in regards with his attitudes. I explained to him that it is not good to be always absent because it will affect his performance. It will be very hard for him to cope up with different activities. B. Parental involvement programs Parents know everything that happened to their child, with this as a solution I seek an advice from our guidance and from my CT. I shared that there is a need to talk with the parents of the child. I told to my student who is related to him that I’m going to talk with his guardians, and if they can able to visit the schools during their free time. During the visitation we talk the problem of his son, it became clear to us real reason of his always being absent and I asked also for their help in order to minimize his absenteeism. C. Student – Centered Agreements My student and I made an agreement, that though he made absences he should make sure that he will complete all the outputs and requirements upon submission in order for him not to be late an all his task or responsibilities. We also agreed that he will not commit absences unless he cannot carry himself in school. VI. Results or Findings After adopting several solutions, I came up with this result. Student’s attendance is always affected by the health condition. Once the student is not feeling well the tendency of it is to absent on their class. If the teacher did not give any concern with the problem of the student, definitely the performance of the student will fail. Otherwise if the parents did not coordinate to the school in regards with their son, problem may really occur. VII. Recommendations Having the basis from the findings the researchers offer the following recommendations that can be taken into considerations: . The school administration with the parents of the concerned students must conduct and effective conference dialogue with the help of findings of the study. 2. Solutions to the different areas of difficulty due to absenteeism can be taken action by individuals in their respective fields. 3. Orientation and briefing on these students might be conducted to all least they would commit to absent eeism with the help of the study. 4. Removing Sickness Parents, teachers, can control sickness by emphasizing upon school students to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and health. Physical check up must be carried out as programme. These measures will not only check the absences but will improve the overall health of the school pupils. BIBLIOGRAPHY Internet Resources http: /Q/What_are_the_causes_of_absenteeism_of_students http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/absenteeism http://www. studymode. com/essays/Absenteeism-3-898789. html ACTION RESEARCH IN SOCIAL DIMENSION Submitted by: Kimberly Mae D. Rosales Jethro H. Salvan Sharmaine D. Fiedalan Angeli Rose E. Robles Shenalyn I. Ilagan Rolando L. Tampucao (ENGLISH MAJORS)

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Switching Network In Telecommunications Essays - Alcatel-Lucent

Switching Network In Telecommunications SWITCHING NETWORK IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS (AT&T 5ESS SWITCH) The direction of this paper is to describe a telecommunications switch and show its purpose and multitasking abilities. This paper will use the AT&T 5ESS Switch to give a real world example of a top rated telecommunications switch. The end result will be an understanding of how a switch works and what it can do. Also, it will show why the AT&T 5ESS Switch is #1 in today's telecommunication world. SWITCHING In today's world a person should be able to pick up his phone and dial to almost anywhere in the world. Without knowing anything about switching, one would think that there phone would have to have a separate line to everyone other phone in the world. This would be quite a lot of lines into just one phone and know that this is an impossible scenario. This is why the switched network was developed. A switched network brings each subscriber line into a centralized switching system, where connections are made for each call. The earliest telephone switches were hand-operated - that is, they required a human operator to make connections by plugging circuits into a switchboard. When the customer rang the central office, the operator scanned the switchboard and connected the caller by plugging into the requested line. The invention of the mechanical switch came about in the late 1880. Now, the mechanical switch replaced the human operator, who handled the physical connections. These early switching systems were based on the analog technology that was state-of-the-art electronics at the time. By the mid 1970's digital technologies were being introduced into the core of the public switched network. Digital switches fully capitalized on the strength of the computer revolution by routing both voice and data through the switch in the form of 0/1 binary coded information, which can be moved through the switch in a very short period of time. A single digital switch typically serves anywhere from under 1000 to over 100,000 subscribers. The typical digital switch has four components: the central processor, the switch matrix, a range of peripherals, and input/output controllers. Central Processor - The central processor controls call processing activities. Examples of some activities are assigning time slots and administering special calling features such as call forwarding. The central processor is also responsible for directing system-control functions, system maintenance, and the loading and downloading of software. The central processor is usually duplicated within a switch to ensure reliability. If the hot processor should develop a problem while a call is being processed, the system automatically shifts to the standby processor - without the caller noticing any interruption of service Switch Matrix - This is also referred to as the network. It handles the actual connection of calls to their destinations. Peripherals - These convert incoming voice and data signals into the digital format used by the switch and perform some low-level call processing tasks. There are usually a range of peripheral modules to interface the range of lines and trunks coming in from the network. Input/Output Controller - This system provides access to the switch for billing, maintenance, loading of software, and routine operations and administration. The primary function of a switch is Picture - lucent.com/netsys/5ESS/family to establish connections between telephones and data equipment for the transmission of voice or data. When a local call is placed, a digital switch performs multiple call processing functions. These functions are: ? Call Detection - Detection that the telephone receiver is off the hook. ? Dial Tone Provided - Provides dial tone to the caller. ? Digit Collection - Collects the dialed digits. ? Digit Translation - Translates dialed digits into a call number. ? Call Routing - Routes the call to its destination. ? Call Connection - Connects parties. ? Audible Ringing/Ringback - Signaling the called party by audible ringing, and the calling party by ringback. ? Call Termination - Disconnecting and terminating the call when a party hangs up. How does a switch accomplish all these functions? The answer is Software. The switch is a large scale, real time software based system. The switch itself, works through commands located in the software applications used. Software is the guiding command that makes the switch execute its processes. Now that the function and purpose of the telecommunications switch

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Critical Thinking and Decision Making Essay

Critical Thinking and Decision Making Essay Essay on Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision Making Critical thinking and decision-making are the most intricate parts of solving problems. Without it, we cannot begin to evaluate someone’s reasoning or grasp the rational being offered for acceptance as a point of view. In grasping and understanding reasoning we must understand critical thinking. In order to understand critical thinking, one must analyze the concept of reasoning. We use reasoning in communication. Reasoning is presented in language and is used to tell jokes, make insult, report factual information, describe a scene or a personality, tell a story, express our feelings, explain why we have acted in a particular way and ask questions. Sometimes we use reasoning to persuade others to accept the truth of a statement, by offering them reasons or evidence in support of this statement. This is the most central and material part of an argument. Arguments occur when someone believes some statement and presents reasons aimed at persuading others to adopt the same point of view. Often people do this without realizing that what they are saying is argumentative. When presented with an argument, critical thinking becomes an important part of the equation. Critical thinking is a systematic evaluation. This way of thinking is something we are not accustom to but we must learn how to use this system so we can judge situations and make more efficient decisions. Critical thinking allows a person to listen and make a decision based on all information that is presented in a problem. After acquiring all information, a person using critical thinking will evaluate and ask critical questions at the appropriate time in order to get the best decision or judgment. With critical thinking there are two thinking styles. They are the sponge and panning for gold. The sponge thinking style allows a person to absorb information and to retain knowledge for the purpose of understanding it. The sponge thinking style is also incredibly stolid and requires no participation in making a decision. All information is taken for what it is worth. A person believes exactly what is said and does not question the information. On the other hand there is panning for gold. Panning for gold thinking style gives a person a chance to take in information, listen and analyze all opinions. After listening and analyzing, a person takes this information and determines if the information has any worth and how it would influence the outcome. This type of thinking style allows a person to ask question about any given situation. Both styles are necessary for critical thinking. They compliment each other. The sponge allows a person to absorb information while panning for gold allows the person to digest and evaluate information that is present so decisions can be made based upon worthiness. Once a person has digested information and determined its credibility, a decision must be made. Decision-making is a common way of helping to determine an outcome. The decision-making process allows a person to focus on what’s important and is it logical and consistent. It also only requires information that is necessary to resolve a particular dilemma and is straightforward, reliable and easy to use. Decision-making allows a person to clarify uncertainties and risks. Effective decision-making demands that a person confront uncertainty, judging the likelihood of different outcomes and assessing their possible impacts. More than likely what we decide today could influence our choices tomorrow. This in turn will affect the outcome of our future. From a managerial stand point, decision-making can be based upon logical, rational and a systematic process. Managers and heads of organizations use the systemic process to correct or to solve problems. Even though the problems of corporations might be of a larger magnitude than the problems in everyday life we use the decision-mak ing process in the same way. Each must examine the problem and then begin to identify what choices have to be made. After identifying problem, everyone will rely on knowledge and action to help him or her to make a decision that is appropriate for that problem. Both critical thinking and decision-making is a large part of our everyday life. We must make use of critical thinking and decision-making to answer problems that arise in our lives. When confronted with a problem, we must assess the problem or argument and analyze all information that is put before us so we can make the best decision possible. Without the use of critical thinking and decision-making, our lives would be of no significance. We would be mundane beings and would believe what is told to us without question. Even the most insignificant problem or argument requires the use of critical thinking and decision-making. For example, when trying to decide what to wear to work in the morning, we use both critical thinking and decision-making. It is not a complicated problem but a decision has to be made and one must ask oneself certain questions in order to choose what to wear. You will find critical thinking and decision-making in every newspaper you pick up. Look at the letter s ections and the editorials. You will also find them use on television and radio broadcasts. Even when you join newsgroups, you will find that critical thinking and decision-making is being implemented to some degree. Critical thinking and decision-making compliments each other by allowing us to make tough decisions. Critical thinking and decision-making also allows us to confront a problem or an argument and test the validity of it. Once validity is tested, we need justification for the action that is being taken. The purpose of validity and justification is to validate conflicting points in an argument and can be used as a systematic way to decipher what a person is saying is true and is it justifiable. Even if a desire to discover the truth does not seem a sufficiently strong reason for being concerned about having good reasons to justify our actions and beliefs, there are various life situations in which the ability to interpret and evaluate someone’s problem or arguments properly may be crucial to someone’s well-being. Critical thinking and decision-making is an optimal system that ensures the best evaluation and interpretation in argument analysis. Within my department, critical thinking and decision-making is constantly being used. When implementing new program or new software, our programmers, network administrators and technicians have to make decisions that affect SCDNR. For example, the implementation of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) allowed remote users to access the network in half the time. In order for this to happen, the staff of data processing had to come together and figure out how to begin the process of establishing a VPN. Each staff member had opinions and arguments but critical thinking and decision-making allowed the managers to taken in all the information that was presented and make a decision based upon that information. Without critical thinking and decision-making, our VPN connection would never be in place and our user would not be able to access the network in an expeditionary manner. You can order a custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis or dissertation on Critical Thinking or Decision Making topics at our professional custom essay writing service which provides students with custom papers written by highly qualified academic writers. High quality and no plagiarism guarantee! Get professional essay writing help at an affordable cost.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Psychological science reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Psychological science reaction paper - Essay Example This paper will focus upon empirical findings that support the forgetting aspects of the cognitive process namely whether forgetting occurs as an implicit automatic process of cognition or does it occur as a direct reaction of an explicit traumatic event. The existence of an implicit repression process to prevent awareness of unwanted data is supported by Freud’s neurological model of voluntary repression (Anderson, Ochsner, Kuhl, Cooper, Robertson, Gabrieli, Glover, & Gabrieli, 2004). Freud explains that memory excludes unwanted data from awareness using an automated implicit process termed repression which may be affected by emotional related explicit factors (Anderson et. al.). Repression is a neural process observed empirically using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Anderson et. al. discuss that empirical findings using fMRI observations of participants during both uninhibited and inhibited forgetting episodes illustrate that neuro-chemical processes occur during the repression process. The two brain sections involved in the repression are the hippocampus and lateral prefrontal cortex. An observed increase of dorsolateral prefrontal activation reduces hippocampal activation which in turn impairs retention of m emory. Both regions are also essential to successful memory formation process and retention process of which repression occurs when retrieval to those two processes is inhibited. The experiment suggests further that the two brain sections have an implicit forgetting process that functions automatically and may be affected by chemicals that occur during emotional episodes. During the experiment when forgetting was reinforced by an introduction of an explicit emotional factor to induce forgetting the participants used their mental memories coupled with an emotion response in the repression process. The intensity of the emotion correlated to the mind’s perception of trauma. The results conclude that the brain recognizes

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Crowd safety by design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Crowd safety by design - Essay Example This will make the people in the concert to be in good safety. There will also be the management structure which will provide all the details needed for the planning of the design. This will organize on how the three sides of the concerts will be designed and the front hall be organized. When everything is well analyzed and planned, implementation of the crowd and safety will be given the first priority. This is a stage that will be very critical and it will be well analyzed by the team which will be in control. Under the implementation, there will be numerous proposals that will be forwarded to the crowd and safety team of the concert giving them the chance for them to choose from the best plans. There will be an understanding between all the parties when creating a design model of the concert. The roles and responsibilities of all the members involved in the process will be well analyzed and noted. This will lead to the creation of the statement of intent (SOI). The crowd manager is not supposed to control everything in the project and he should not be responsible of every responsibility because there are other seat levels that are responsible. SOI will be responsible for allocating responsibilities to the right levels in the management of the crowd and safety creation. It will assign a leader the only required responsibilities and omit the unrequited ones. In the design of the crowd management, there will be specific references and legislation that will be required giving a systemic implementation that will be very legal. Functions will be drawn that will be very important in the design where there will a thorough control over the stages and each of them with contribute to the creation of strategic, tactical and operational design processes of the concert seats which will be successful in the design. All the commands and control functions will be well

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

African American Press Essay Example for Free

African American Press Essay ?â€Å"We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentation of things which concerns us dearly,† written on the front page of the first African-American owned newspaper, Freedom’s Journal. Freedom’s Journal was published on March 16, 1827 by a group of free African-American men in New York City. Freedom’s Journal was published the same year slavery was abolished in New York and was used to counter racist commentary published in the mainstream press. Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm served, respectively, as its senior and junior editors where they worked together to publish four-page, four-column weekly newspapers. Though The Freedom’s Journal was not the first African-American paper published, it was the first Africa-American owned newspaper. Freedom’s Journal consisted of news on current events, anecdotes, editorials and used to address contemporary issues such as denouncing slavery, advocating for black people’s political rights, the right to vote, and speaking out about lynching. Cornish and Russwurm desire were to give African-Americans the freedom to voice their thoughts, ideas and opinions. They sought to improve conditions for more than 300,000 newly freed men and women living in the North. They fulfilled this desire, by employing 14 to 44 agents each year to collect subscriptions. Each agent was paid $3 a year for their work. To encourage black achievements Freedom’s Journal featured biographies of celebrated black figures and continued to promote better living conditions by printing schools that were open to blacks, job offering and housing listings. Freedom’s Journal, eventually, circulated 11 states, the District of Columbia, Haiti, Europe and Canada before ceasing publications in 1829. During that time, Russwurm became the sole editor of Freedom’s Journal, after Cornish resigned in 1827. Russwurm began to promote the Colonization Movement which was frowned upon by majority of the newspaper’s readers. The Colonization Movement was a movement that was conceived by members of the American Colonization Colony where they began repatriating free African-Americans back to Africa. When the Freedom’s Journal shifted in complete support of colonization, it lost most of its readers and in March 1829 Freedom’s Journal ceased publication. Even though Freedom’s Journal existed for two years, its two years of existence helped spawn other papers. Since then, African American press has evolved and has substantially increased in the population over the years. After Freedom’s Journal, African-Americans had begun establishing and owning newspapers. It began May 1829, when Cornish attempted to revive the Freedom’s Journal under the name The Rights of All, however, the publication was not successful and failed after a year. David Walker, hired as an agent for Freedom’s Journal, became a well known, anti-slavery writer which was inspired by his experience with Freedom’s Journal. In 1830, Walker’s published his most famous publication known as Appeal which called for slaves to rebel against their masters, â€Å"†¦they want us for their slaves, and think nothing of murdering us†¦therefore, if there is an attempt made by us, kill or be killed†¦and believe this, that it is no more harm for you to kill a man who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty,† (Walker). Another attempt at publication, Samuel Cornish, along with, Philip Bell, and Charles Bennett Ray launched The Weekly Advocate, January 1837. Later, the men changed the name to The Colored American March 4, 1837. The Colored American main purpose was to strengthen the moral, social, and political elevation of colored people as well as emancipation of slaves. The Colored American became well-known in the North because of the wide spread support of abolitionists, African-American churches and local abolition societies, and Caucasian allies. The Colored American published 38 articles, becoming an important paper of its time. The last edition of The Colored American was published on Christmas day in 1841. Other early African American newspapers include the Provincial Freeman, published in 1854, which was the first African-American owned newspapers to be published in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. The North Star was an anti-slavery newspaper published in 1847 by Frederick Douglas. He later agreed to merge it with the publication Liberty Party Paper with Gerrit Smith creating the Frederick Douglass’ Paper, in Rochester, New York. The National Era was published in Washington, D. C. in 1847 by the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. The Liberator was probably the best-known publication during the era, published by William Lloyd Garrison in Boston between 1831 and 1865. Other anti-slavery newspapers of note include the Friend of Man, published weekly for the New York State Anti-Slavery Society from 1836 through 1842. The Emancipator, originally known as Genius of Universal Emancipation, was one of the first anti-slavery newspapers published in the United States by Benjamin Lundy in 1819 and National Anti-Slavery Standard established in 1840. All of these newspapers advocated for the abolition of slavery and for the civil rights of all African Americans. By the start of Civil War, more than 40 black-owned and operated papers had been established throughout the United States. After the end of the Civil War, more than 100 newspapers were beginning to publish. Many of the major African-American owned publications include, Baltimore Afro-American, also known as The Afro, was founded by a former slave, John H. Murphy, SR. , in 1892. Today, The Afro is the longest-running African-American, family-owned newspaper in the United States. The Chicago Defender was founded by Robert Sengstacke. Abbott on May 5, 1905. The Chicago Defender included writing pieces from the well-known Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks and Willard Motley. The Pittsburgh Courier an African-American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1910. The Pittsburgh Courier became the most widely circulated newspaper in America for African-Americans. During its peak, the Pittsburgh Courier circulated around 450,000 publications, with more than 400 employees in 14 cities. The Pittsburgh Courier discussed major issues impacting African-American communities. It campaigned against segregation and poverty, and promoted the social advancement of blacks. In the 1930s, the Pittsburgh Courier urged Black voters to vote Democrat, creating a political alliance that still exist to this day. Other publications includes, The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), Atlanta Daily World (1931–2003), Cleveland Call Post (1934-1991), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934–2005), New York Amsterdam News (1922–1993), and Norfolk Journal and Guide (1921-2003). With African-American newspaper publication on the rise, organizations to help promote the publication began to form to support African-American journalist. In 1940, Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder of Chicago Defender, along with other African-American publishers, organized the National Negro Publishers Association. The members of the National Negro Publishers Association worked together, â€Å"harmonizing our energies in a common purpose for the benefit of Negro journalism†, (Sengstacke). Today, the National Negro Publishers Associations is composed of more than 200 black newspapers in the United States and the Virgin Islands. In 1975 in Washington D. C. , 44 African-American journalists founded the National Association of Black Journalists. The National Association of Black Journalist’ purpose was to provide quality programs and services to and advocate on behalf of black journalists. These organizations are still going strong today and have contributed greatly to the African American population. Today, there isn’t a firm count of how many African American newspapers circulating the United States, however, according to Allied Media Corporation, an ethnic marketing firm, they have listed 250 newspapers in circulation. The National Newspaper Publishers Association, better known as the Black Press of America, assist in the publication of African-American owned newspapers, counts more than 200 black-owned newspapers as its membership. As you can see, since the Freedom’s Journal, the number of newspaper publications has increased. It began with the main purpose being that Africa-Americans would stick together to fight the constant oppression they were under. Now that we don’t see African-American oppression, as we did then, publications has different focal points. Many of the newspapers provide news and insight on African-American culture, including a variety of perspectives from leaders, celebrities, trendsetters and great minds from the African-American community. The Freedom’s Journal created a new stepping stone for the African-American population. It provided the platform for issues and concerns pursuant to ensuring our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to preserve a legacy of black conservatism for generations to come. References 2, M. A. (n. d. ). Early African American and Anti-Slavery Newspapers | Marjory Allen Perez. Genealogy Family History | Search Family Trees Vital Records . Retrieved August 1, 2013, from http://www. archives. com/experts/perez-marjory/early-african-american-and-anti-slavery-newspapers. html Black Newspapers Listing | The Network Journal. (n. d. ). Black Business | Black News, Career Ideas for Black Professionals. Retrieved August 1, 2013, from http://www. tnj. com/lists-resources/black-newspapers-listing David Walker, 1785-1830. Walkers Appeal, in Four Articles; Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly.

Monday, January 20, 2020

A Comparison of Two Advertisements :: Adverts, Compare and Contrast

A Comparison of Two Advertisements I am going to compare the two advertisements l have been given, one is 'Save the children' and one is 'Barnardo's'. The points I am going to discuss are logo and contact information, slogan use of emotive language, use of repetition, pictures, use of 'you', message, appeal and target audience. The logo in the 'Save the Children' leaflet is the upper half of a body reaching upwards. It is encircled by a thick line with a gap before it reaches the body. The contact information is not clearly seen, it is in small print, in white writing, against a grey background below one of the logos and slogans. It is in a clear font style and states all of the necessary information. It includes the 'Registered Charity Number'. The logo is usually blood red on either a grey, white or black background. It is placed a lot throughout the leaflet but on the last page it is placed next to the contact information in a clear place so that the contact information follows the solution having a bigger impact on YOU making a donation. The logo on the 'Barnardo's' advertisement only appears once. It is three people holding hands; they are positioned so that they look like they are running. Two of them are bigger than the middle one, which looks as if it is running and being lifted by the adults. It looks as if the one having fun and as it they are free. It is in a light colour, most probably white (I have a black & white copy) and the background is black. The contact information is clearly stated in an 'easy read' font size and it is strategically placed at the bottom of the page so you see it last and it becomes the last thing on your mind so you remember it. The contact information is clearly stated in an 'easy read' font size and it is also placed at the bottom of the page. The sentence 'Make a donation' is placed just before the phone number.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Nine

Where r u? Elena texted impatiently. Stefan was supposed to meet her at her dorm room more than twenty minutes ago. Surely his study group was over by now? She was starving. She paced around the room, occasional y glancing at the dark tree branches beyond the windows. It wasn't like Stefan to be late. She checked her phone. It was too soon to try to reach him again. Outside, something dark moved, and she gasped. Then she shook her head. It was just the branches of the trees out there, waving in the breeze. She moved closer, trying to see past the reflections on the glass. Their room was on the third floor; there wouldn't be anyone sitting that high up. At least not anyone human. Elena shuddered. â€Å"Elena,† said a cool, clear voice from outside. With a squeak that sounded like a frightened rabbit, Elena jerked backward, pressing one hand to her pounding heart. After a moment, she stepped up to the window and threw it open. â€Å"Damon,† she said. â€Å"You scared me to death. What are you doing out there?† There was a flash of white teeth in the shadows. A mocking tone rang through his answer. â€Å"Waiting for you to invite me into your room, of course.† â€Å"You don't need an invitation,† Elena said. â€Å"You helped me move in.† â€Å"I know,† Damon said, smiling. â€Å"I'm being a gentleman.† Elena hesitated. She trusted Damon, of course she did, but this seemed so intimate. Damon outside in the dark, Elena alone in her bedroom, neither of her roommates around. He'd been in her room at home, but Aunt Judith and Robert had been just down the hal . She wondered if Stefan would mind her being alone here with Damon, but she shook off the thought. He trusted Elena, that was what mattered. â€Å"Elena,† Damon's voice was soft but insistent. â€Å"Let me in before I fal .† Rol ing her eyes, she said, â€Å"You'd never fal . And if you did, you'd fly. But you can come in anyway.† With a soft whoosh, faster than her eye could fol ow, Damon was suddenly beside her. She had to step back a pace. Eyes and hair as dark as night, pale luminous skin, perfectly cut features. He even smel ed good. His lips looked so soft†¦. Elena caught herself leaning toward him, her own lips parting, and pul ed away. â€Å"Stop it,† she said. â€Å"I'm not doing anything,† Damon said innocently. When Elena arched a skeptical eyebrow at him, he shrugged and shot her a brief, bril iant smile. There, Elena thought. That's why Stefan might mind Damon being here. â€Å"Oh, al right. I'm only teasing you.† He looked around the room and quirked an eyebrow of his own. â€Å"Why, Elena,† he said, â€Å"I'm almost disappointed. You and your friends are running so true to type here.† Elena fol owed his eyes. Bonnie's side of the room was a mess, a tumble of stuffed animals, rejected outfits, and Dalcrest paraphernalia. In contrast, Meredith's area was rigidly tidy, books lined up alphabetical y, a single silver pen on the desk next to her slim silver laptop, her bed neatly draped in a silk duvet in subtly patterned gray and white. Her dresser and closet were closed, but inside, Elena knew, Meredith's clothes would be organized by type, color, and season. Damon was right: just by looking at their parts of the room, you could tel that Meredith was rational, sophisticated, careful y control ed, and private, while Bonnie was fluffy, fun-loving, and disorganized. What about Elena's own things? What did they say about her? She looked over her part of the room with a critical eye. Framed art prints from her favorite exhibits, her silver brush and comb lined up on her dresser, deep-blue sheets that she knew set off her eyes and hair. Someone who held on to what she liked and didn't change easily? Someone who was very aware of what suited her? She wasn't sure. Damon smiled at her again, without the mocking edge this time. â€Å"Don't give it a second's thought, princess,† he said affectionately. â€Å"You're more than your possessions.† â€Å"Thanks,† Elena said shortly. â€Å"So, did you just drop in my window to say hel o?† He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. They were standing very close together, and Elena backed away a little. â€Å"I thought maybe, now that you're a col ege girl, we could go out tonight and have some fun.† â€Å"Fun?† Elena said, stil distracted by his mouth. â€Å"What kind of fun?† â€Å"Oh, you know,† he said, â€Å"just a little dinner, a few drinks. Friend stuff. Nothing too daring.† â€Å"Right,† Elena said firmly. â€Å"It sounds nice. But I can't tonight. Stefan and I are going out to dinner.† â€Å"Of course,† Damon said. He gave her a firm little nod and what was so obviously supposed to be a supportive smile that she had to stifle a giggle. Supportive, friendly, and unassuming were not natural looks on Damon's face. He was trying so very hard to be her friend even though they al knew there was more than that between them. Since he had died and come back, he had been trying to change his relationships with Stefan and with her, she knew, to be with them in a way he never had before. It couldn't be easy on poor Damon, trying to be good. He was out of practice. Elena's phone chimed. She read the text from Stefan: I'm sorry. The study group's running late. I think it'll be at least another hour. Meet later? â€Å"Problem?† Damon was watching her, the same innocent, friendly smile on his face, and affection for him washed over Elena. Damon was her friend. Why shouldn't she go out with him? â€Å"Change of plans,† she said briskly. â€Å"We'l go out, but just for a little while. I need to be back here to meet Stefan in an hour.† She texted Stefan quickly to let him know she was going to grab some food and looked up to see a triumphant smile on Damon's face as he reached to take her arm. Bonnie walked across campus, practical y skipping in time to the happy tune in her head. A date with Zander, la la la la la. It was about time, too. She'd been eagerly anticipating seeing Zander again al week, and although they'd talked on the phone, she hadn't laid eyes on him around campus at al , even though of course she'd been looking. At last she was about to see him. La la la la la. Lovely, gorgeous Zander. She had on jeans and a sort of silvery, draping top that at least made it look like she might have some cleavage. It was a good outfit, she thought, understated enough for just hanging out but also a little bit special. Just in case they decided to go out clubbing or something at the last minute. Zander hadn't told her what he'd planned, just asked her to meet him outside the science building. La la la la la, she hummed. Bonnie's footsteps slowed, and the tune in her head died off as she saw flickering lights il uminating a group of people up ahead. They were gathered in the courtyard in front of one of the dorms. Approaching, she realized it was a group of girls holding candles. The wavering light from the candles sent shadows across their serious faces. Propped against the wal of the dorm were three blown-up photos, two girls and a guy. Al across the grass in front of them were heaped flowers, letters, and teddy bears. Hesitant to break the silence, Bonnie touched the arm of one of the girls. â€Å"What's going on?† she whispered. â€Å"It's a candlelight vigil for the missing people,† the girl whispered back. Missing people? Bonnie scanned the faces in the photographs. Young, smiling, about her age. â€Å"Are they al students here?† she asked, horrified. â€Å"What happened to them?† â€Å"Nobody knows,† the girl said, her gaze serious. â€Å"They just vanished. You didn't hear about this?† Bonnie's stomach dropped. She knew that a girl was attacked – or something – on the quad the first night, but she hadn't known about any disappearances. No wonder her gut instinct had warned her to be scared walking across campus the other day. She could have been in danger. â€Å"No,† she said slowly. â€Å"I didn't hear anything.† She dropped her eyes and bowed her head, silent as she sent out a fervent hope that these three happy-looking people would be found, safe and sound. In the distance, a siren began to wail. â€Å"Something's happened.† â€Å"Do you think someone was attacked?† A babble of frightened voices rose as the sirens got closer. A girl near Bonnie began to sob, a hurt, scared sound. â€Å"Al right, what's the trouble here?† said a new, authoritative voice, and Bonnie looked up to see two campus police officers shouldering their way through the crowd. â€Å"We †¦ uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The girl who had spoken to Bonnie gestured at the photos and flowers against the wal . â€Å"We were having a vigil. For the missing people.† â€Å"What are those sirens for?† another girl asked, her voice rising. â€Å"Nothing to worry about,† said the officer, but his face softened as he looked at the sobbing girl. Bonnie realized with a slight shock that he wasn't much older than she was. â€Å"Miss?† he said to the crying girl. â€Å"We'l help you get home.† His partner looked around at the crowd. â€Å"It's time to break things up and head inside,† he said sternly. â€Å"Stick together and be careful.† â€Å"I thought you said there was nothing to worry about,† said another girl angrily. â€Å"What aren't you tel ing us?† â€Å"There's nothing you don't know already,† the man said patiently. â€Å"People are missing. You can never be too careful.† If there's nothing to worry about, why do we have to be careful? Bonnie wondered, but she bit back the words and hurried away down the path, toward the science building where Zander had suggested they meet. The idea of trying to have a vision, to see if she could learn anything about the missing people, nudged at Bonnie's mind, but she pushed it away. She hated that. She hated the loss of control when she slid into one of her visions. It was unlikely to work, anyway. Her visions had always been about people she knew, about immediate problems facing them. She didn't know any of the missing people. She bit her lip and walked faster. The excitement about her date had fizzled out, and she didn't feel safe now. But at least if she got to Zander, she wouldn't be alone. When she arrived at the science building, though, Zander wasn't there. Bonnie hesitated and looked around nervously. This corner of campus seemed to be deserted. She tried the door of the science building, but it was locked. Wellof course it was – there weren't any classes this late. Bonnie shook the handle of the front door in frustration. She reached into her bag, then groaned as she realized she'd left her phone back in her room. Suddenly, she felt very exposed. The campus police had said to stick together, not to wander around alone at night, but here she was, al by herself. A cool breeze ruffled her hair and she shivered. It was getting awful y dark. â€Å"Bonnie. Psst, Bonnie!† Zander's voice. But where was he? Bonnie saw nothing but the dark quad, streetlights throwing little circles of light on the paths. Above her, leaves rustled in the wind. â€Å"Bonnie! Up here.† Looking up, she final y spotted Zander on the roof, peering down over the side at her, his pale hair almost glowing in the moonlight. â€Å"What're you doing up there?† she cal ed to him, confused. â€Å"Come on up,† he invited, pointing to the fire-escape ladder on the side of the building. It was lowered to just a couple of feet above the ground. â€Å"Real y?† said Bonnie dubiously. She walked over to the fire escape. She could make it onto the ladder, she was pretty sure, but she was going to look clumsy and awkward scrambling up on it. And what if she got caught? She hadn't actual y read the campus regulations thoroughly, but wouldn't climbing the fire escape up to the roof of a closed building be against the rules? â€Å"Come on, Bonnie,† Zander cal ed. His feet clanging loudly against the iron steps, he ran down the fire escape, shimmied down the ladder, and leaped to the ground, landing catlike on his feet beside her. He went down on one knee and held his hands out together. â€Å"I'l boost you up so you'l be able to reach.† Bonnie swal owed, then stepped up onto Zander's hands and stretched for the ladder. Once she swung her leg up onto the bottom rung, it was a piece of cake, although the slightly rusty metal was rough against her hands. She spared a moment to thank al the powers of the universe that she had decided to wear jeans rather than a skirt tonight. Zander trailed behind her up the fire escape from one landing to another until final y they arrived on the roof. â€Å"Are we al owed to be up here?† Bonnie asked nervously. â€Å"Well,† Zander said slowly, â€Å"probably not. But I come up here al the time, and no one's ever told me not to.† He smiled that warm, wonderful smile at her and added, â€Å"This is one of my favorite places.† It was a nice view, Bonnie had to admit that. Below them, the campus stretched, leafy and green and mysterious. If anyone else had brought her up here, though, she would have complained about the rusty fire escape and the concrete roof, suggested that maybe a date should involve going somewhere. This was a date, wasn't it? She froze momentarily in a panic, trying to recal exactly what Zander had said when he suggested meeting here. She didn't remember the words themselves, but they definitely had a date-y feel to them: she wasn't a kid anymore, she knew when she was being asked out. And Zander was so cute, it was worth making an effort. â€Å"It's pretty up here,† she said lamely and then, looking around at the flat dirty concrete, â€Å"I mean being so high up.† â€Å"We're closer to the stars,† Zander said, and took her hand. â€Å"Come on over here.† His hand was warm and strong, and Bonnie held on to it tightly. He was right, the stars were beautiful. It was cool to be able to see them more clearly, here above the trees. He led her over to the corner of the roof, where a ratty old army blanket was spread out with a pizza box and some cans of soda. â€Å"Al the comforts of home,† he said. Then, quietly, â€Å"I know this isn't a very fancy date, Bonnie, but I wanted to share this with you. I thought you would appreciate what's special about being up here.† â€Å"I absolutely do,† Bonnie said, flattered. A secret little cheer went up inside her: Hurray! Zander definitely knows we're on a date! Pretty soon Bonnie found herself tucked up against Zander's side, his arm around her shoulders, eating hot, greasily delicious pizza and looking at the stars. â€Å"I come up here alone a lot,† Zander told her. â€Å"One time last year I just lay here and watched a big fat ful moon get swal owed up by the earth's shadow in an eclipse. It was nearly pitch black without the light of the ful moon, but I could stil see its dark red shape in the sky.† â€Å"The Vikings thought eclipses were caused by two wolves, one who wanted to eat the sun, and one who wanted to eat the moon,† Bonnie said idly. â€Å"I forget which one wanted to eat the moon, but whenever either a solar or a lunar eclipse happened, people were supposed to make a lot of noise to scare the wolf away.† Zander looked down at her. â€Å"That's a random piece of information to know.† But he smiled as he said it. Bonnie wriggled with delight under the sheer force of his smile. â€Å"I'm interested in mythology,† she said. â€Å"Druid and Celtic, mostly, but myths and stories in general. The Druids were into the moon, too: they had a whole astrology based on the lunar calendar.† She sat up straighter, enjoying the admiring look on Zander's face. â€Å"Like, right now, from late August to late September, we're in the month of the Artist Moon. But in a couple of weeks, we'l be in the month of the Dying Moon.† â€Å"What does that mean?† Zander asked. He was very close to her, gazing straight into her eyes. â€Å"Well, it means it's a time of endings,† Bonnie said. â€Å"It's al about dying and sleep. The Druid year begins again after Hal oween.† â€Å"Hmm.† Zander was stil watching her intently. â€Å"How do you know so much, Bonnie McCul ough?† A little smile played around his mouth. â€Å"Um, my ancestors were Druids and Celtics,† Bonnie said, feeling stupid. â€Å"My grandmother told me we were descended from Druid priestesses, and that's why I see things sometimes. My grandmother does, too.† â€Å"Interesting,† Zander said softly. His tone grew lighter. â€Å"So you see things, do you?† â€Å"I real y do,† Bonnie said, seriously, staring back at him. She hadn't meant to tel him that. She didn't want to weird him out, not on their first date, but she also didn't want to lie to him. So blue. Zander's eyes were as deep as the sea, and she was fal ing farther and farther into them. There was nothing above her, nothing below, she was ceaselessly, gently fal ing. With a wrench, Bonnie pul ed her eyes away from Zander's. â€Å"Sorry,† she said, shaking her head. â€Å"That was weird. I think I almost fel asleep for a minute.† â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Zander said, but his face looked stiff and strange. Then he flashed that warm, enchanting smile again and got to his feet. â€Å"Come on, I want to show you something.† Bonnie stood slowly. She felt a little strange stil , and she pressed her hand briefly against her forehead. â€Å"Over here,† Zander said, tugging her by the other hand. He led her to the corner of the roof and stepped up onto the narrow ledge running around it. â€Å"Zander,† Bonnie said, horrified. â€Å"Come down! You might fal !† â€Å"We won't fal ,† Zander said, smiling down at her. â€Å"Climb on up.† â€Å"Are you crazy?† Bonnie said. She'd never liked heights much. She remembered crossing a high, high bridge once with Damon and Elena. They'd had to if they were going to save Stefan, but she never would have been able to do it, except Damon had used his Power and convinced her she was an acrobat, a tightrope walker to whom heights were nothing. When he'd released her from his Power, after they crossed the bridge, her retroactive fear had been nauseating. Stil , she'd made it across that bridge, hadn't she? And she had promised herself she would be more confident, stronger, now that she was in col ege. She looked up at Zander, who was smiling at her, sweetly, eagerly, his hand extended. She took it and let him help her climb onto the ledge. â€Å"Oh,† she said, once she was up there. The ground swam dizzyingly far below her, and she yanked her eyes away from it. â€Å"Oh. No, this is not a good idea.† â€Å"Trust me,† Zander said, and took her other hand so that he was holding on to her securely. â€Å"I won't let you fal .† Bonnie looked into his blue, blue eyes again and felt comforted. There was something so candid and straightforward in his gaze. â€Å"What should I do?† she asked, and was proud when her voice was steady. â€Å"Close your eyes,† Zander said, and when she'd done that, â€Å"and pick your right foot up off the ledge.† â€Å"What?† Bonnie asked, and almost opened her eyes again. â€Å"Trust me,† Zander said again, and this time there was a rich undercurrent of laughter in his voice. Hesitantly, Bonnie lifted her foot. Just then, the wind picked up, and Bonnie felt like it was about to scoop her off the ledge and throw her into the sky like a kite whose string had snapped. She tightened her grip on Zander's hands. â€Å"It's al right,† he said soothingly. â€Å"It's amazing, Bonnie, I promise. Just let yourself be. Life isn't worth living if you don't take risks.† Inhaling deeply and then letting the breath out, Bonnie forced herself to relax. The wind was blowing her curls everywhere, whistling in her ears, tugging at her clothes and her raised leg. As she relaxed into it, she felt almost as if she was being lifted, gently, into the sky, the air al around supporting her. It was like flying. Bonnie realized she was laughing with sheer delight and opened her eyes, gazing straight into Zander's. He was laughing, too, and holding on to her tightly, anchoring her to the earth as she almost flew. She had never been so conscious of the blood thrumming through her veins, of each nerve catching the sensations of the air around her. She had never felt so alive.