The Biggest Myth About An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics Exposed

The Biggest Myth About An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics Exposed At the close of the story she tears all of the wallpaper down and frees the woman. Life, to this guy, is just a dream which he holds of his freedom. He closed his eyes in order to repair his last thoughts upon his wife and kids. He is the round character because the entire story revolves around what is going on to this guy. The Fight Against an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics It is a rather effective and suspense filled story. No matter the case may be Ambrose Bierce produced a story that's captivating at each amount of reading. The story actually reads as though it's written by two authors. This story builds up all the suspense through these 3 points, then in the previous two paragraphs reveals all the hidden secrets. Origins in Bierce's hard experience for a soldier can be readily seen through the entire story. The orderliness of death is just one of the important plot themes. In the story there's a lot more symbolism and irony, like the noose in the story. Though death isn't unexpected for Farquhar, he's ultimately not able to accept it. The Tried and True Method for an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics in Step by Step Detail Still, every one of them would show up in the overall list. The third person point of view impacts the story in lots of means. Cite details from the story to back up your answer. Write about the part of family within this text. Instead, the text comes out of a third-person narrator, an entity that appears to know everything, but isn't a character in the story. A number of them spoke in words which he couldn't understand. In general, Bierce's use of distinct characters to help develop the major character played a tremendous part in the evolution of the story. Every one of these characters can be categorized as a flat character because they're not dynamic at all, because each one only provides one particular role throughout the entire story. an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics Fundamentals Explained Ambrose Bierce employs a particular time period as a technique of creating the reader's perception, of not merely the scenario, but of the character of Peyton Farquhar himself. Bierce's portrayal of Farquhar's imagination permits him to escape the truth of his situation, even if it's just for a couple of brief seconds. His senses start to broaden. After reading the majority of the story, we think he is the innocent victim in this scenario. Two, since he doesn't permit the reader into the minds of the characters a feeling of mystery is made. Sooner or later, but the reader learns that happenings of the full plot are just a dream. No individual, if confronted with a situation such as this, would have the ability to think clearly enough to use their senses to escape the scenario. The Battle Over an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics and How to Win It The principal reason for the war was slavery but many different aspects played a role too. The prisoner did not understand what he was doing. The key to eternal life is something which has mostly eluded us for millennia. Unfortunately, often times the situation isn't guaranteed. Annotation for this story is perfect for advanced students reading it for the very first time. Together with the topics, you'd come across loads of pa pers free of charge. You should be proficient in the topic, have an overall idea about the chosen issue and figure out how to get the best arguments to demonstrate your thesis. Think carefully about the next questions. This paper will request that you think about the ways that point of view shapes our knowledge of the story and the way that it could be constructed. The setting plays an important part as it is dived into three unique sections. While his method is quite sly, upon further investigation it's also quite boastful. It is the very first time now the setting changes. The Battle Over an Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge Critical Essay Topics and How to Win It He wished to do something to slow the development of the federal army through the south. Typically, it takes as much as two hours of time to comb through dozens of sites until you discover something exciting to write about. In addition, the simple fact that both stories feature people that are trapped somewhere an d just need to go home. A theme of which expresses the tragedy in the very last moments leading to the ending point of a person's life.

Herbal Medicine Efficacy - 961 Words

Discussion Herbal medicines are prescribed widely because of its efficacy, fewer adverse effects and relatively low cost. The antidiabetic potential of numerous medicinal plants has been reported, the efficacy might be due to presence of various bioactive phytoconstituents includes, alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, guanidine, glycopeptides, galactomannan gum, glycosides, hypoglycans, inorganic ions, peptidoglycan, polysaccharides, steroids and terpenoids because these active principles are capable of altering various metabolic cascades associated with diabetes, which results directly or indirectly attenuates blood glucose levels (Pranav et al., 2008). The present acute oral toxicity studies revealed the non-toxic nature of the HAEAD. It has been observed that HAEAD at high dose (2000 mg/kg, p.o) could not show any signs of toxicity, and all the animals were survived till the end of the study. According to the OECD 423 guideline (Acute Oral Toxicity: Acute Toxic Classic Method), LD50≠¥ 2000 mg/kg is considered as unclassified and found to be safe. The results of OGTT revealed, HAEAD treated dextrose loaded normal rats showed reduction in AUC glucose (0 -150 min) which might be due to activation of pancreatic insulin release. The low doses of alloxan induced diabetes through destroying pancreatic ÃŽ ²-cells partially, surviving and regeneration of beta cells is possible (Kalia et al., 2008). The hyperglycaemia in diabetes is primarily due to excessive glycogenolysis,Show MoreRelatedStudy Of Botanical / Herbal Medication1076 Words   |  5 PagesMaritza Molina Dr. Combrink CHEM 1370-101 24 March 2017 The Study of Botanical/ Herbal Medication in Natural Medications Over the centuries natural medications have become the origin of all medications like our well known ethical drugs and botanical and herbal medications. Throughout this paper among many supplements botanical/herbal medications carry along varies treatments alongside issues. Botanical/herbal medications most of which can be found from plants and other essentials as well. TheseRead MoreTraditional Herbal Remedies : Culture And Society Of Russia1315 Words   |  6 Pages HERBALISM IN RUSSIA Heather Riley RUSC 101: Culture and Society of Russia 4 October 2015 Thesis: Efficacy of traditional herbal remedies combined with a cultural faith in those traditions, combats modern medicine s inherent distrust of traditional healing. Change is when existing practices are heavily integrated. This is a reflection of belief in the practices a population is to using, and the faith in the herbalists as well as their remedies. This faith is grown through knowledge aboutRead MoreHerbal Medicine1235 Words   |  5 PagesChinese History(herbal) The first traditionally recognized herbalist is Shà ©nnà ³ng (, lit. Divine Farmer), a mythical god-like figure, who is said to have lived around 2800  BC.[2] He allegedly tasted hundreds of herbs and imparted his knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants to farmers. His Shà ©nnà ³ng BÄ›n CÇŽo JÄ «ng, Shennongs Materia Medica) is considered as the oldest book on Chinese herbal medicine. It classifies 365 species of roots, grass, woods, furs, animals and stones into three categoriesRead MoreCHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 6.1 Conclusions In summary, this study found that CHM group had better1200 Words   |  5 Pagesrational use of CHM. 6.2 Recommendations Safety and efficacy are the major concerns of the patients and healthcare providers. Therefore, more research, either in vivo or in vitro, should be carried out in the future, specifically on the efficacy of CHM; a complex mixture of chemical compounds in the various herbs should be assessed. However, modern medicine and TCM represent totally different philosophies towards health treatment. Modern medicine has methodologically looked at the structure and functionRead MoreTraditional Chinese Medicine ( Tcm )1443 Words   |  6 PagesTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known to the Chinese as ä ¸ ­Ã¥Å' » (zhÃ… ngyÄ «), is directly translated into English as â€Å"medicine of China† or â€Å"medicine of the middle kingdom.† It is a style of medicine that originated in China as has been used for thousands of years in the origin country as well as its neighboring states (Sun, 2013). To clarify, TCM is not just one herb or treatment, but encompasses a whole range of techn iques. Within these techniques include acupuncture, a form of martial art called tà  ijà ­Read MoreComplementary And Alternative Medicine ( Cam )1114 Words   |  5 PagesAlternative Medicine (CAM) has moved from a fringe movement to highly popular and widely used therapies in Western society that are being integrated into conventional treatment (Cherry Jacob, 2011). Although various forms of CAM have been reported for centuries, its use is increasing in the United States. CAM is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health, as health care with use or origins outside of mainstream medicine (KramlichRead MoreBlack Cohosh Superb Or Sinful1651 Words   |  7 Pagestincture form where its dosage that can be taken is 2 ml twice a day. Therefore, is not appropriate to conclude that this herbal medicine is 100 percent effective but definitely it does has short term effective. Talking about its efficacy, menopausal symptoms appears effective but RCTs are lacking and Black cohosh costs upto $16 to $23 dollars per month and its safe herbal medicine to use overall . Furthermore, Black cohosh caused some abnormal postmenopausal tests in two cases studied. Hormonol changingRead MoreThe Common Health Tradition Of Different Cultures Based On Cultural Heritage1162 Words   |  5 Pages(Nigerian). â€Å"Traditional medicine has a broad range of characteristics and elements of which herbal medicine is an integral part. They are diverse health practicess, approaches, applied knowledge and beliefs that incorporate plant, animal and or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises which are applied singularly or in combination to maintain well-being, as well as treat, diagnose or prevent illness† (Oreagba, 2011). Traditional medicine was practiced by all threeRead MoreHerbal Medicinal Products946 Words   |  4 Pagesworld’s population uses herbal medicinal products (HMP’s) [1]. As increasing number of consumers are persuaded by the benefits of plant extracts as an alternative to chemically derived active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), HMP’s have to meet comparable standards concerning the assessment of efficacy, safety and bio pharmaceutical quality as chemically defined synthetic drugs. The pharmaceutical quality of HMP’s is not well documented due to complex composition of herbal drug preparations, extensiveRead MoreHerbal Medicine : Medicine And Medicine1699 Words   |  7 Pagesdocument are acupuncture, hydrotherapy and herbal medicine. These therapies are either being used alongside prescribed medication. These therapies are becoming more popular because of the results people are getting but are the results reliable and trusted. This review will look into the different literature studying the different therapies to try to come to a conclusion on whether these therapies are to be used in practice or to be left to the human side of medicine. This review will also look into how

Non-Verbal Intercultural Communication

Question: Discuss about theNon-Verbal Intercultural Communication. Answer: Introduction Non-verbal intercultural communication relates to effectiveness of communication between clients, workers and other individuals who belongs to different cultures. Besides this, non-verbal communication and thought outlines are also included. There are various cultural differences are seen worldwide e.g: Arabic language is written from right to left and most of other languages are written from left to right. Among countries the way of greetings to each other is also different. For example, in India, people join hands to say namaskar, but in America people shake hand and even hug each other. As we can see intercultural communication differences among people from different land. Here it is necessary to discuss that why intercultural communication is needed. Following are some essential reasons for this: Intercultural Communication is required to be successful at international level. Due to intercultural communication people from different culture can work at global level. Intercultural Communication is good for worldwide marketing campaign of business. For growth of business at international level, non-verbal intercultural communication is required. (eu, 2016) Non-Verbal Intercultural Communication consists of two basic trends i.e. globalization and multicultural workforce. Globalization is a good way to reduce and remove barriers between national borders for facilitating flow of goods, services and labor. On other side, multi-cultural workforce states to the changing age, physical ability, ethnicity and race of employees at all types and places of work. From above discussion it is cleared that intercultural communication is required for business organizations and globalization plays an important role in it. Here is impact of globalization in every business field. (Internations.org, 2016) Impact of Globalization Globalization spreads multiculturalism and collaboration. E.g: in animation industry for handling complex projects help is taken from foreign experts. At level of international tourism and travel, globalization also puts great influence. With the help of globalization, business of travel and tourism can be spread at international level. In sports industry, globalization also plays an important role. FIFA World cup, ICC World CUP and Olympic games are world level sports due to globalization and to maintain this relationship, inter-cultural communication is required. Besides this, above important discussion of intercultural communication, there are also some other factors about intercultural communication that are necessary to discuss here. To main a healthy intercultural communication, avoid assumptions and jokes that are misunderstood. It is necessary to use symbols, pictures and diagrams Local and cultural differences are necessary to taken into account. Try to investigate perception of other culture which is necessary for a good intercultural communication. Cultural Factors are also necessary to find out. These above listed actions must be performed by individuals in intercultural communication. But following actions must not be performed by them. Same approach of communication must not be used worldwide Consideration of traditional knowledge and practices is backward. So must not be performed. Fail to take language barriers into account. These all above discussed factors are necessary to take into account by individuals worldwide. (Bharathi, 2016) Article on Intercultural Communication Here we have an article about intercultural communication Barriers in Intercultural Communication. In above discussion about intercultural communication, we have not discussed about essential barriers of intercultural communication. This is an important thing to discuss here. Ethnocentrism is one barrier in intercultural communication. It means an intercultural interaction will be influenced by ethnocentrism of an individual. Here beliefs of culture of an individual, puts influence over another cultures beliefs. Another barrier in intercultural communication is anxiety. This is happened due to communication obstacles such as someone language ability, differences in expressions of emotions and differences in communication styles both verbal and non-verbal. (Nacada.ksu.edu, 2016) These barriers can cause some problems in intercultural communication. So it is necessary to mitigate these issues. This can be done by conscious awareness of the messages and actions that are used while communication. We know that it is difficult to learn every detail about unfamiliar culture, so in this case we should take initiative to understand at least its basic forms and important forms for successful intercultural communication. (Study.com, 2016) References Nacada.ksu.edu. (2016). Identifying Barriers to Effective Intercultural Communication. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Identifying-Barriers-to-Effective-Intercultural-Communication.aspx Bharathi,.(2016). Intercultural communication presentation. Slideshare.net. Retrieved 20 September 2016, from https://www.slideshare.net/DhanBharathi/intercultural-communication-presentation Lanqua.eu.(2016). Intercultural communication. Retrieved 21 September 2016, from https://www.lanqua.eu/theme/intercultural-communication/ Study.com.(2016). Intercultural Communication: Definition, Model Strategies - Video Lesson Transcript. Retrieved 21 September 2016, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/intercultural-communication-definition-model-strategies.html Internations.org.(2016). Intercultural Communication. Retrieved 21 September 2016, from https://www.internations.org/magazine/intercultural-communication-15409

The Inauguration Essays - Blizzard Games, Windows Games, StarCraft

The Inauguration Arcturus Mengsk Fellow Terrans, I come to you in a wake of recent events to wish you a call to reason. Let no human deny the perils of our times. While we battle one another, divided by the petty strife of our common history, the tide of a greater conflict is turning against us, threatening to destroy all that we have accomplished. It is time for us as nations and as individuals to set aside our long- standing feuds and unite. The tides of an unwinnable war are upon us and we must seek refuge upon higher ground lest we be swept away by the flood. The confederacy is no more. Whatever semblance of unity and protection it once provided is a phantom - a memory. With our enemies left unchecked, whom will you turn to for protection? The devastation brought by the alien invaders is self-evident. We have seen our homes and communities destroyed by the calculated blows of the Protoss. We have seen first-hand our friends and loved ones consumed by the nightmary Zerg, unprecedented and unimaginable though they may be - these are the signs of our time. The time has come my fellow Terrans to rally to a new era, in unity relies strength. Already many of the disembodied factions have joined us. Out of the many, we shall forge an indivisible home consisting only to a single throne, and from that throne - I shall watch over you. From this day forward, let no human make war upon any other human, let no Terran agency conspire against this new beginning, and let no human consort with alien powers. And to all the enemies of humanity seek not to bar our way, for we shall win through NO MATTER THE COST

How marketing research determines the mamanement decision problem.

How marketing research determines the mamanement decision problem. The management decision is always connected with the problem or opportunity the company comes across at some point its business activity. It may be the decision about the introduction of the new product or adoption of the most effecting pricing or campaign.To help the client undertake the decision which action to follow, the market researcher starts with the research process, which first step is the problem definition. The researcher must understand what the needs and objectives of his client are and know how to translate the management problem into the market research problem. Market research problem unlike the managerial problem does not focus on action but rather concerns what kind of information is needed to come to the solution or make the decision. To be able fully understand what kind of information is needed the researcher often is required to consult with management (problem audit), industry experts, investigate the secondary data or undertake some qualitative research.Data analysisThe understanding of the problem comes also from the deep understanding the environmental context of the problem that means the background of the problem. The factors here are past information and forecast, Resources and Constrains, Objectives, Buyer Behavior, Legal environment, Economic Environment, and Marketing and Technological skills. The company exists with the complex environment all of its factors have an impact on it.The second step in the research process is the design formulation. It is the set of procedures and instructions, the blueprint of the research. It answers the following questions:a) What kind information is needed? (regarding a problem or population)b) How obtain and how use the secondary data?d) Whether the qualitative, descriptive or causal research is needed?e) How collect the qualitative data and what kind of measurement and scaling procedures use (how to...

Key Civil Rights Legislation, Court Cases Activities

Key Civil Rights Legislation, Court Cases Activities During the 1950s and 1960s, a number of important civil rights activities occurred that helped position the Civil Rights movement for greater recognition. They also led either directly or indirectly to the passage of key legislation. Following is an overview of the major legislation, Supreme Court cases, and activities that occurred in the Civil Rights movement at the time. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955) This began with Rosa Parks refusing to sit in the back of the bus. The boycotts goal was to protest segregation in public buses. It lasted more than a year. It also led to the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr. as the foremost leader of the civil rights movement. National Guard Called to Force Desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas (1957) After the court case Brown v. Board of Education ordered that schools be desegregated, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus would not enforce this ruling. He called out the Arkansas National Guard to stop African-Americans from attending all-white schools. President Dwight Eisenhower took control of the National Guard and forced the admission of the students. Sit-Ins Throughout the South, groups of individuals would request services that were denied to them because of their race. Sit-ins were a popular form of protest. One of the first and most famous occurred at Greensboro, North Carolina where a group of college students, both white and black, asked to be served at a Woolworths lunch counter that was supposed to be segregated. Freedom Rides (1961) Groups of college students would ride on interstate carriers in protest to segregation on interstate buses. President John F. Kennedy actually provided federal marshals to help protect the freedom riders in the south. March on Washington (1963) On August 28, 1963, 250,000 individuals both black and white gathered together at the Lincoln Memorial to protest segregation. It was here that King delivered his famous and stirring I have a dream... speech. Freedom Summer (1964) This was a combination of drives to help get blacks registered to vote. Many areas of the South were denying African-Americans the basic right to vote by not allowing them to register. They used various means including literacy tests and more overt means like intimidation by groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Three volunteers, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman, were murdered and seven KKK members were convicted of their murder. Selma, Alabama (1965) Selma was the beginning point of three marches intended to go to the capital of Alabama, Montgomery, in protest to discrimination in voter registration. Two times the marchers were turned back, the first with a lot of violence and the second at the request of King. The third march had its intended effect and helped with the passage of the Voting Rights of 1965 in Congress. Important Civil Rights Legislation and Court Decisions Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - This landmark decision allowed for the desegregation of schools.Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) - This ruling allowed for any accused individual to have the right to an attorney. Before this case, an attorney would only be provided by the state if the result of the case could be the death penalty.Heart of Atlanta v. United States (1964) - Any business that was participating in interstate commerce would be required to follow all rules of the federal civil rights legislation. In this case, a motel that wanted to continue segregation was denied because they did business with people from other states.Civil Rights Act of 1964 - This was an important piece of legislation that stopped segregation and discrimination in public accommodations. Further, the U.S. Attorney General would be able to help victims of discrimination. It also forbid employers to discriminate against minorities.Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) - No poll taxes would be allowed in any states . In other words, a state could not charge people to vote. Voting Rights Act (1965) - Probably the most successful congressional civil rights legislation. This truly guaranteed what had been promised in the 15th amendment: that no one would be denied the right to vote based on race. It ended literacy tests and gave the U.S. Attorney General the right to intervene on behalf of those who had been discriminated against. He Had a Dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr  was the most prominent civil rights leader of the 50s and 60s. He was the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Through his leadership and example, he led peaceful demonstrations and marches to protest discrimination. Many of his ideas on nonviolence were fashioned on the ideas of  Mahatma Gandhi  in India. In 1968, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. Ray was against racial integration, but the exact motivation for the murder has never been determined.

Citizenship in the Age of the Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Citizenship in the Age of the Internet - Essay Example In other countries, most of the public services are controlled by private authorities making the use of Government sites redundant. Part two of the article â€Å"How government online provision is currently organized and what it costs† talks about how the Government runs the online facilities and the cost associated with it. The major points are as follows: Part three â€Å"Future developments and strategy† discusses the strategy for the development of the Government sites in the future to facilitate the citizens of the country. The main points in this section are as follows: Part one of the article â€Å"Changes and challenges in information exchange across the department† points out the general practice of communication and the challenges the department faces because of it. The points discussed under this part are as follows: Telephone communication has reduced in importance, as it is not suitable for people not speaking English. Also it was seen that this mode of communication failed to provide new information to the Department. The third part â€Å"Pension credit† discusses the progress made by the Government to improve communication between the Department and the customers for the credit facilities. The points in this regard are as

The buccaneer journal of Dampier Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The buccaneer journal of Dampier - Essay Example The text was published in the name of â€Å"A New Voyage Round the world†. William Dampier has a unique regard as well: he circumnavigated the earth thrice in his life (Dampier). In the underlying text which was published in 1700, William Dampier expressed about nature and romance in the context of deep sea and oceans. He titled his work as a composition of mixed relations among places and actions (Pirates & Privateers). It was a strange phenomenon of the time which was unbelievable to be curtained that it could be published even being a very scholastic and romantic piece of writing describing nature of piracy or buccaneering. The former buccaneers were the hunters who resided at Hispaniola and Caribbean. At the time of William Dampier, he encountered with the buccaneers who were formerly log wood cutters. He found them when he got a job to bring logwood to London via boat (Dampier). During his travel for working, he was used to spend his time in search and exploration of several aspects of natural, plants and animals. As he used to surround around the deep blue sea, so his most concern was water related nature. He wrote a number of valuable daily records in his journal which afterwards came in to being as a book named â€Å"A new voyage round the world†. Dampier was so happy that he could form his fortune with the work through which he could earn as well as he could spend a plenty of time in non work activities like nature exploration. But meanwhile a storm came around all the way and caused huge damages. It forced Dampier to take accompany with some privateers. Throughout his text of new voyage, William Dampier has referred to a term named as privateers. But in fact these privateers were the real buccaneers or pirates. Dampier spent over a year with those privateers (in real pirates). He wrote details of only one attack of those buccaneers. They were caught on that raid but they however managed the escape from

Lego Branding Community Essay Example for Free

Lego Branding Community Essay Online communities are becoming â€Å"places† of belonging, information, and emotional support that people cannot do without. These social groups have a real existence for their participants, and thus have consequential effects on many aspects of behaviour. This article examines collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. It presents the main features of an online brand community, the process of value co-creation, and motivators for participating in online brand communities. These key factors jointly characterize collective value creation and empowerment. This netnographic study focuses on an online brand community called BrickBuilders, which is a meeting place for LEGO builders in Finland. BrickBuilders’ members feel a sense of belonging, they share similar motivations, and they create value together. Introduction A brand community can be formed by any group of people who share a common interest in a specific brand and who create a parallel social universe rife with its own myths, values, rituals, vocabulary, and hierarchy (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; Cova and Pace, 2006). Brand communities become more than a place. They become a common understanding of a shared identity, which can be found in both face-to-face interactions and in cyberspace (Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001). Analysts no longer question whether the concept of community should have a place in the domain of marketing (Cova and Pace, 2006). However, the concepts of brand community and online brand community are relatively new and have yet to find their place in the academic world. Traditionally, companies produced products relatively independently. Today, consumers and other stakeholders can create value more collectively. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. Main Features of Online Brand Communities Muniz and O’Guinn (2001) used three constructs to identify the distinguishing features of brand communities. First, a sense of belonging is a connection that members feel toward one another and the collective sense of difference from others outside of the community. The second feature is the presence of shared rituals and traditions that surround the brand. Rituals and traditions perpetuate the community’s shared history, culture, and consciousness. Traditions include certain behavioural norms and values. The third feature is a sense of moral responsibility, which is a felt sense of duty or obligation to the community. The sense of moral responsibility is what produces collective action. Heinonen and Halonen (2007) have identified motivators for online brand community activities. Members want to belong to something, build and strengthen their identities, get feedback from others, and create something new. The Process of Collective Value Creation Schau and colleagues (2009) have identified the process of value co-creation in online brand communities. The process consists of four thematic practices, which are social networking, impression management, community engagement, and brand use. Social networking is a practice that focuses on creating, enhancing, and sustaining ties among brand community members. These include welcoming, empathizing, and governing. These practices operate primarily in the intangible domain of the emotions and reinforce the social or moral bonds within the community. Impression management includes evangelizing and justifying. Online brand community members act as altruistic emissaries and ambassadors of good will. Members devote time and effort to the brand, share the news of the brand, and inspire others to participate in the community. Community-engagement practices are those that reinforce members’ escalating engagement with the brand community. These include staking, milestoning, badging, and documenting. Staking, milestoning, and badging mean that community members bring out brand experiences and proclaim openly that they are fans of a particular brand. Documenting occurs when brand community members construct a narrative of their brand experiences. Brand-use practices are specifically related to improved or enhanced use of the focal brand. These include grooming, customizing, and commoditizing. Grooming means that members share, for example, homemade tools and advice. Customizing means modifying existing ideas and discovering new ideas, which result in customized products. Commoditizing means that members rant or chastise some products, but at the same time, they have new ideas on how those products could be developed. Synthesis of the Theoretical Framework The main features of online brand communities, value co-creation, and motivators for participating in online brand communities (Heinonen and Halonen, 2007; Kozinets, 2010; Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; Schau et al., 2009) are the key factors that jointly – realized in various combinations – characterize collective value creation and empowerment in an online brand community. The collective value creation and empowerment in the online brand community may occur when its members have a sense of belonging, they create value together, and they have similar motives. The collective value creation and empowerment of the online brand community allows mutual interaction between the online brand community and the company as well as other stakeholders. Companies have an opportunity to communicate with consumers and influence their opinions (Kozinets, 2010) and vice-versa. We have moved away from one-way transactions to a relationship-based interaction model that emphasizes consumers’ and other stakeholders’ roles in networks and communities.

Time and Change in Poetry Essay -- Robert Herrick Thomas Hood Poems Es

Time and Change in Poetry Comparing and discussing two poems written by two different people in two different times on the subject of time and change. Time and Change I will be comparing and discussing two poems written by two different people in two different times on the subject of time and change. The subject time and change is part of our everyday lives and it affects our behaviour and attitudes. The first poem I will be studying is â€Å"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time† which I will refer to as poem 1 and is by Robert Herrick in the 16th Century. The title of the poem makes the reader think that it has a sexually orientated meaning to it. The second poem is â€Å"I Remember, I Remember†, which I will be referring to as poem 2 and is by Thomas Hood in the 18th Century. The title of this poem suggests to the reader that it is a personal poem based on the poets own life experiences. Both poems talk about time and change in different ways. Poem 1 is written to instruct young people what to do with their time and poem 2 is written in first person narrative and talks about how different life is. Both poems encourage you to read them and put the same message across to enjoy what you have while it lasts. I think the time and change topic is very important and by studying and analysing each poem carefully, you can see a new perspective on life. A theme is something that you can find throughout a poem, play, book etc. It lets the reader/audience know what it is about and lets you understand the meaning of the piece more clearly. The themes of the two poems look at the concept of the changes between being youthful to growing old and discuss how time passes quickly in your life. They both convey natur... ...It is always instructing young people what to do with their time and how to spend it, as well as a instructive advice. I feel the poem repeats its message too many times but this helps to put the point of the poem across more strongly for people to underrstand what it is about. I think both poems put the point of time and change across strongly in their own, unique way and it helps people to understand what the actual subject matter means and is trying to demonstrate. The poems are written well and both discuss how ageing affects you. Poem 2 make sme think of my childhood and my most precious memories whereas poem 1 makes me think of my future and what could happen. Both poems have the impact to make you think of the past, present and future and lets you know that all three are different and its down to you as to what you do with your life and time.

Change Model Essay

The aim of this essay is to critically analyse the background of the Qantas and its decision to launch Jetstar on May 2004 that operated around 800 flights a week across network of 14 destinations within Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Secondly, this essay will evaluate how Data Collection Feedback Cycle change model is used to gather major information and to critically analyse it. Thirdly, this essay will critically evaluate the background of Qantas and Virgin Blue and will also highlight various reasons that eventually led the Qantas group for the launch of the Jetstar. Fourthly, this essay will also critically analyse the revenue and profit performance of Qantas prior the introduction of Jetstar i.e. 2002. Fifthly, it will continue to critically evaluate the trend in Qantas and Virgin Blue in 2003. Then the sixth paragraph will also critically evaluate the trend in Qantas after the launch of Jetstar. Lastly, the essay will also look into the annual reports of the year 2005-2009 and critically analyse the significant value added by the Jetstar to the Qantas group; and will critically analyse whether the executive decision of Qantas to launch Jetstar in order to retain the 60% domestic aviation market from its competitors has been a strategic success or not. This paragraph will critically analyse the change management information gathered to launch Jetstar low cost airline in May 2004 by using the Data Collection Feedback Cycle change model. Nadler (1977) as cited in Cumming and Worley (2009:122) highlights that the Data Collection Feedback model consists of five phases that are (1) planning to collect data, (2) collecting data, (3) analysing data, (4) feeding back data and (5) following up on the data collected. In planning to Gather information to justify change Nadler (1977) argues that primary methods such as, direct interviews with CEO and key change agents, observing and identifying the need for change and the use of un obstructive measure as sampling technique, force field analysis and scatter diagrams, could be used to gather major information. In contrast Danaher have used various published data to trace the evolution of the Jetstar strategy of its initial position, to its efforts to attain price competitiveness and service parity, followed by its highly focused, cost-effective service delivery strategy. Based on it they have developed a hierarchical model with parameters estimated at the  individual level. This allows us to study not only how service design and pricing initiatives shift the perceived performance of Jetstar relative to its competitors but also how the airline can move market preferences toward areas in which it has competitive advantage. After done with the planning of the collection of data from competitors performance on its revenue, sales profits, passenger numbers and market share in 2002, 2003 and 2004 against Qantas key performance indicators for the same period between 2002, 2003 and 2004 from the Annual Reports of both Virgin Blue and Qantas domestic operations. Nadler (1977), after the data has been collected data they are analysed using the qualitative change data such as directors report, World Business Briefing /Australia: Airline Profit(2004).The reminder of this essay will critically analyse the data collected from secondary sources such as Annual Reports, newspaper articles and journal articles to analysis the data sourced to evaluate what would be the most effective change to be implemented by Qantas in responding to Virgin Blue competition the Australian aviation domestic sectors. This paragraph will evaluate the basic background of Qantas and Virgin Blue and will also highlight various reasons that eventually led the Qantas group for the launch of the Jetstar. After the deregulation of Australian aviation market there were several airline companies entering the market however the most significant entrance was of low fare airlines Impulse in June and Virgin Blue in August 2000. The arrival of Impulse Airlines and Virgin Blue doubled the number of players and dramatically challenged the stable duopoly of Qantas (after its merger with Australian Airlines) and Ansett, setting off a vicious price war (Traca, D., 2004). However, Impulse facing a major trouble in the cash flow agreed on May 1, 2001 to hand over its operations to its biggest rival, Qantas Airways. As per the deal Impulse stopped its passenger service under its own name on May 14 and leased 21 aircraft as well as cabin crews and pilots to Qantas. The deal led the stock of Qantas heaved by 26% closing at $3.40 per share giving Qantas a significantly stronger position in the Australian market (Gaylord, 2001). Qantas, Australia’s leading domestic and international carries launched a budget airline called Jetstar in May 2004 (Qantas annual report, 2004). With Jetstar Qantas’s aim was to cover the low fare segment of the aviation  industry, which came into existence in the year 2000 with its competitor, Virgin Blue. Virgin had been successfully eating up QANTAS market share by attacking it from below as a no frills provider. In 2001 the collapse of Ansett in domestic market, led Qantas to lease extra flights, add hundreds of special flights in order to help stranded travellers due to Ansett crisis. At the time Qantas flew more than 50,000 former Ansett passengers for free and other 65,000 on heavily discounted fares. Due to this Qantas was able to deliver a profit before tax of $631m and net profit after tax of $428 million at the end of 2002, 30 June, despite of the fact that the world’s aviation market was suffering from â€Å"constant shock syndrome†, due to the September 11 attack followed by bombings in Bali, the war in Iraq and of course the devastating outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Qantas annual report, 2003). The shutdown of Ansett also highly benefitted Virgin Blue, since the event provided a wide opportunity for Virgin Blue to grow rapidly and become Australia’s second leading domestic carrier. In 2000 it started with only one route (Brisbane to Sydney) with two aircrafts and a team of just 200 people. In 2001, with the opportunity to widen its market segment, 14 new routes were launched (virginaustralia – history). The aim of this paragraph is to highlight how Qantas and Virgin Blue became the only two players in the Australian domestic aviation market in 2002. It will also look in to the key financial indicators of both the companies so that a comparison could be drawn out. In 2002 there were only two companies that survived the fare war of 2000-2001. One of them was Qantas that gained 80% of the domestic market share following Ansetts cessation. Whereas, the number of international passenger declined by 11% which makes an average decline of about 25% in global aviation market (Traca, D., 2004). In the same year Qantas domestic carried 1485 million passengers making a RPK of $2034 million and the ASK of $2503 million (Traffic and capacity statistics, 2002). Qantas announced its financial results for the year ended 30th June 2002. As per the financial result the company had $631 million of profit before tax, a net profit after tax of $million, revenue of $ 10,968.8 million and earnings per share of 29.1 cents (Qantas annual report, 2002). The other survivor of the fare war, Virgin Blue managed to emerge as second Australian Domestic carrier, covering of about 20% of the domestic market  (Traca, D., 2004). Due to its strategic low operating cost and soaring market share, it was able to achieve net profit before tax of $34.8 million and revenue of $388.3 million. In this year the airline carried 3.2 million passengers, its traffic as measured by RPK’S was 3169 million, capacity measured by ASK’S was 3898 million (Virgin Blue annual report, 2004). In March 2002 Patrick Corporation, the premier port cargo handler, bought 50% of the airline. This change made Godfrey, chief executive of Virgin Blue confident about the enlargeme nt of the domestic operation and also expansion into the international market with service to South Pacific (Traca, D., 2004). This paragraph critically analyses the key financial indicators of the Qantas and the Virgin Blue of the year 2003. It will also highlight how Virgin Blue concentrating only of the leisure domestic market was slowly overcoming the market share of Qantas. In 2003 Qantas domestic carried 1768 million passengers making a RPK of $2262 million and the ASK of $2683 million (Traffic and capacity statistics, 2003). Qantas announced its financial results for the year ended 30th June 2003. As per the financial result the company had $502.3 million of profit before tax, a net profit after tax of $343.5 million, revenue of $11,374.9 million and earnings per share of 20 cents (Qantas annual report 2003). Speaking of announcements, in the Annual General Meeting held on 16th October 2003 it was announced that â€Å"the airline is investigating the establishment of separate domestic low cost airline to service the leisure market in Australia† (Preliminary monthly traffic and capacity statistics, July 2003).In this same year Virgin Blue carried 6.8 million passengers, its traffic as measured by RPK’S was 7194 million, capacity measured by ASK’S was 9078 million. Taking advantage of the fact that Virgin Blue had no other competitor serving the price sensitive market of Australia, it earned revenue of $914.6 million, compared to previous year the revenue earned up roared by 135.5% and the number of passengers carried also increased by 107% (Virgin Blue annual report, 2003). This paragraph will critically analyse the launch of Jetstar in May 2004 and the changes that it brought in the key financial indicators of Qantas and as well as of Virgin Blue. Following the announcement made in 2003 Annual  General Meeting Qantas Introduced Jetstar in May 2004. In the first year Jetstar alone carried 273,000 passengers. Prior Jetstar Qantas already had Qantas Domestic and Qantas Link serving domestic passengers. With these three Qantas in total carried 1973 million passengers. Compared to 2003/04 the number increased by 9.4% (Traffic and capacity statistics, 2004). In the same year Total Domestic (Qantas, Qantas Link and Jetstar) traffic was measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) of $2451 million while capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased to $3021 million (Traffic and capacity statistics, 2004). On 19 August 2004, Qantas announced its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2004. In the announcement it was stated that the company had achieved a profit before tax of $964.6 million and a net profit after tax of $648.4 million. Similarly, $11.4 billion of revenue, earning per share of 35.7 cents (Qantas annual report, 2004/05). Despite increasing domestic competition during the year Virgin Blue continued to show strong growth and profitability. During the year Virgin Blue carried over 10million (m) passengers, an increase of 53% compared to previous year. Doubling its passenger number the third time in a row in this same year it welcomed its 20 millionth passenger. Its revenue for the 2004 financial year was $1362.3million which is 49% more than the previous year. In the same year profit before tax was up by 45% to 226.2million and a Net Profit After Tax of 158.5million (Virgin blue annual report, 2004). Till March 31, 2004 Virgin Blue had 44 Boeing Net Generation 737 – 700 & 737 -800 aircraft out of which 36 were leased and 8 were owned. However, during the year the fleet was increased by 15 aircrafts. Since the day of establishment Virgin Blue was committed to keep its cost base low and they are continuously working through it so that they could consistently provide their customers with low fares travel. Their cost per ASK for the financial year 2004 was 8.16 cents whereas a year before it was 8.48 cents. A decrease of 3.5% put the company on a good front in terms of scale and productivity (Virgin blue annual report 2004). The Australian discount airline Virgin Blue, has won 30% of the market from Qantas, the national carrier, which will introduce a low-fare airline, Jetstar. Fare surcharges are being imposed by both groups as fuel pr ices rise (Shaw, 2004). Jetstar’s initially offered $48 for Melbourne to Hobart route and from $54 for Sydney to the resorts south of Brisbane. The price was similar  to what the price Virgin Blue was offering at the same period. All Jetstar flights offered one class of travel, with unreserved seating. In contrast Virgin Blue offered assigned seating and baggage connections to final destinations (Henly, 2004). This paragraph critically analyse the key indicators for Qantas and Virgin Blue for launching Jetstar in May 2004. It is very clear with the annual report that Jetstar has been profitable ever since it was launched in the year 2004 (Jetstar Media centre). However, the road wasn’t quiet smooth in the initial years. From its launch Jetstar was exclusively using a â€Å"low price† message in its communication, but it was lagging way behind Virgin Blue in terms of quality. The Jetstar overall quality disadvantage was greater at 22.3% (6.02 versus 7.75) (Danaher et.al, 2011. pp. 586 -594, Fig 3). Jetstar was already appealing on the price front, and then it addressed its deficit in quality and tackled that by focusing on some specific sub attributes (not disclosed by the company) that provided Jetstar a good opportunity to overcome the point of difference with Virgin Blue. Then the price perception of Jetstar relative to Virgin Blue dramatically improved from 6.9% deficit in March 2008 to 2.5% deficit in only 3months i.e. 7.42 versus 7.62 (Danaher et.al, 2011. pp. 586 -594, Fig 3). Since the establishment the main concern as a parent company for Qantas Group was that whether Jetstar would financially be profitable in its own right. Hence, it did by earning revenue of $1.020 billion, $1.414 billion, and $1.605 billion in the year 2007, 2008, and 2009 respectively. It was 7%, 10%, 12% of Qantas group revenue respectively (Qantas annual report, 2009). Similarly, in the same order the profit earned was $79 million, $104 million and $118 million (Danaher et.al, 2011. pp. 586 -594, Table 2). Similarly, speaking of market share of Jetstar, it has increased by 29% from the year 2008-2009. Earlier with the perceived mediocre price competitiveness and low quality it was in a poor position as compared to Virgin Blue, whereas, with the necessary remedies taken within the 1st quarter of 2008 it was in position almost equal to Virgin Blue in terms of covering the large proportion of the target market. Jetstar Market Share of Domestic Australian Leisure Air Travel was 14% in the first quarter of 2008, with the changes made the market share increased to 14.6% and it gradually kept on increasing and it had 18.1% of market share in March 2009. Further, with the increase in profit it improved its perceptual position, whereas,  Virgin Blue has remained relativ ely stationary. In conclusion if we are to pay close attention to the domestic growth strategies of the country’s largest airline company; Qantas, its decision of launching Jetstar seems be a successful strategic decision. It was matter of concern that the Virgin Blue an airline company focusing on the price sensitive market would whether survive the competition with 82 year old veteran airline company. However, with its striking approach of low fare Virgin Blue today covers 35% market share of the domestic aviation sector. By critically evaluating the financial indicators of both companies for the year 2002-2004 and also following the series of events, it becomes quiet clear that though Virgin Blue had started small it managed to cover 20% of the target market in 2002. In further years concentrating only in the no frill travel it was able to hold the 30% of the market share, which became a matter of concern for Qantas because though it was making more profits then Virgin Blue it was losing it domestic market grip, therefore, led to the launch of Jetstar. However, even after the Launch of Jetstar Qantas performance was not like it was expected because in the year 2004 Qantas domestically carried only 2061 million passengers which were only 88 million more than the last year. However, with the necessary major changes (not disclosed by the company) Jetstar alone was able to regain the market share of 18.1% by March 2009. REFERENCE LIST Gaylord, B. (2001). Qantas to Absorb Competitor As Fare War Takes a Victim. The New York Times; Business Day. 11Shaw, J. (2004). World Business Briefing /Australia: Airline Profit. The New York Times; Business Day. Henly, G, S. (2004). Travel Advisory; New Offshot of Qantas Offers Lower Fares. The New York Times; Travel Danaher. J. P., Roberts. H. J., Roberts. K., Simpson. A. (2011). Applying a Dynamic Model of Consumer Choice to Guide Brand Development at Jetstar Airways. Marketing Science, 30(4), 586 – 594. Doi: 10.1287/mksc.1100.0619 Traca. D., (2004). Virgin Blue Fighting With National Champion. INSEAD, 5179. Traffic and Capacity Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/investors-traffic-statistics/global/en Jetstar Media Centre. Retrieved from: http://www.jetstar.com/mediacentre/facts-and-stats/jetstar-group Nadler, D. (1977). cited in Cumming and Worley (2009). Organization development & change, 9th edition, South- Western Cengage Learning. Qantas annual report (2002). Retrieved from http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2002AnnualReport.pdf Qantas annual report (2003). Retrieved from http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2003AnnualReport.pdf Qantas annual report (2004). Retrieved from http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2004AnnualReport.pdf Virgin Blue annual report (2004). Retrieved from http://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/groups/internetcontent/@wc/documents/webcontent/~edisp/annual-rpt-2004-a3.pdf

Essay on Mobile Revolution Essay

Mobiles are no more a luxury or a life style product. Mobile phones, which were one of the beautiful possessions of anybody not until a decade ago, have now become a necessity to the common man. The entry of private service providers with CTMA, GSM and of course, 3G technologies has changed the Communication sector in India beyond imagination. Many new competitors have entered the mobile market resulting in reduction of the STD rates and Local call rates. Plans are also on anvil to enable mobile users to switch over to other service providers without changing their number, also called Mobile Number Portability (MNP). The mobile users in India have increased tremendously during the last decade. Youth, both in rural and urban India, have welcomed and accepted mobiles with open hands. The decrease in call rates can be imagined from the fact that it cost around? 16 per minute when mobiles were introduced in India and today it costs as little as 1 paisa per 2 seconds offered by companies like MTS. Even the size of mobile phones has changed to an unimaginable level. They have become very handy today compared to their walkie-talkie resemblance when they were introduced. The immense benefit offered by a mobile has triggered this revolution. With a mobile phone in hand, one can be available round the clock, and can get the up-to-date information on anything. The availability of internet on mobile phones has increased its utility tremendously. It has made mobile phones, to an extent, an essential item for carrying out a business transaction. The facility of sending short messages or pictures enables a person to send the message across without actually bothering to disturb the other person. For traders, it helps them get the price details of any products without even bringing the products to the market. The introduction of mobile banking helps people carry their bank in their mobile. Some people even carry their office in their mobile phones. However, mobile phones also have some demerits as they can be used to detonate bombs. Some instruments which have cameras in them can be used for taking unnecessary photographs. Constant use of mobile phones may create health problems and increase risk of accidents on road. In spite of these demerits, mobile phones are becoming popular day-by-day as their advantages fairly outweigh the demerits. In fact, the mobile revolution has occurred very fast in India. This symbolizes the country’s transformation from an inward looking tentative nature to a confident and resurgent global economic power. The mobile phone service providers have also increased manifold during the years. Some of the important market players are: Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, Idea Cellular, Tata Indicom, Tata DoCoMo, Reliance Communications, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, Videocon Telecommunications, MTS India and Spice Telecom. Even in rural India, mobile phone has brought a tremendous change to rural telephony, marginalizing the middlemen and empowering women, strengthened by the formation of self-help groups. It has vastly improved access to information and helped in the explosive growth in connectivity. Even at sea, fishermen in Kerala use the mobiles to keep track of rates for their catch in the market. The improvement in infrastructure and support from the Government has acted as a catalyst for mobiles to make tremendous inroads into rural India. The role of mobile telephones are varied, in that, they help assess the market information, coordinate travel and transport, manage remote activities and increase the remunerative working days. As a result, the rural marketing scenario has also undergone a change. Today, the rural consumer is better informed and price conscious. The total mobile penetration is increasing at a quick pace with companies like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Teleservices, etc. aving unveiled big network expansion plans and innovative marketing strategies specially tailored region-wise. Some of these companies are using a door-to-door marketing strategy in villages and B and C category census towns. They are involving members of gram panchayats and trained market-feelers to make residents aware of the usefulness of mobile telephony and how the system of pre-paid refills work. Handset manufacturers too are gearing up with Nokia incorporating nine Indian languages on certain handsets to promote sales. Value-for- money handsets priced between 1,000 and 1,400 with a plethora of tariff plans to choose from is also one of the reasons for driving subscription growth in these regions. Handsets are being imported in bulk by some service providers. It is expected that voice short messaging service will become a focus area in future, especially in rural areas and service providers are already planning implementation of the same. The pace at which mobile revolution has occurred in India can be attributed to the easy to understand operations. For an illiterate, mobiles phones were so easy to operate that they needed to understand only two buttons the green button for answering a call and the red button for disconnecting a call. Everything else can be learnt with usage and passage of time. Even today, most of the mobiles are used on this two button principle, which makes it a popular device. Gone are the days when people use to queue up before a Public Call Office (PCO) and wait their turn for an hour, only to end up without connectivity. Mobile phones have also removed the necessity to remember telephone numbers of other people. In-built phone books in the instruments enable a person to call the other person, without ever having to remember the other person’s number. Actually, mobile phones have become an all-in-one tool in the pocket, which has replaced even the old pocket diary. It is also slowly replacing purse, with the introduction of mobile transactions. No wonder, life without mobile phones have become unimaginable and unthinkable to many.

Axial age thinkers

Axial age thinkers Introduction It is evident that there have been radical changes in the political, religious and philosophical structures over time in the world history. One such transformational age was the axial age. Karl Jaspers, a famous German philosophy was the one behind the descriptions of the axial age.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Axial age thinkers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The axial age basically refers to the period between the 800 to 200BC (Morris 458). One of the significant attributes associated with the axial age was the spread of revolutionary thinking. The axial age was originally witnessed in the West, and further spread to Persia and India (Morris 460). The axial thinkers played a significant role in the determining of the nature of the philosophy of the post axial age. The revolutionary thinkers also had a great influence on religion, and they mostly shared common characteristics with respect to t heir places of origin. One of the profound and universal trends of the axial thinkers was their views towards religion and philosophy. The spiritual and philosophical frameworks that were laid by the revolutionary axial thinkers are still used in the present date (Freedman 234). The foundations of humanity during the axial age were laid by individual thinkers of the axis age. The Socrates, Plato and the Aristotle were greatly influenced by the teachings of the axial thinkers. The basic fact that all the axial thinkers had in common was the dire need to discover the basic ideologies of existence and their respective implications on human life (Achebe 67). Individual axial thinkers in China- Confucius China was a home to one of the many axial age thinkers: Confucius, Mo Tzu and Lao-Tse. The axial Chinese philosophers laid emphasis on the principles of ethical human existence (Freedman 243). This paper attempts to critically analyze the works of Confucius and how his philosophical pers pectives contributed to the transformations of the philosophical schools of thought, his implications on the on the ethical principles of human existence. Arguably, it is evident that Confucianism rose from the teachings of Confucius. Confucianism is considered as one of the world’s religion which originated from China and subsequently spread to Korea. It is based on ethical and philosophical perspectives of Confucius (Kung-fu-tzu), an axial age thinker. The works of Confucius focused morality, both at personal level and government level, the rightness in relation to social relationships, and justice. This ethical and philosophical value were soon integrated into Chinese culture, and as a result, gained dominance compared with other present schools of thought such as Legalism and Taoism (Freedman 249).Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Confucius teachings were widely accepted, and as a result, spread further into Europe. Confucius teachings widely drew on the ethical and moral perceptions of the society; his teachings were and still widely accepted as a framework for religious and ethical issues in the society. Confucianism is considered to be more rational compared to the western philosophical perspectives; it draws a correlation in terms of Christian ethics (Morris 470). An account of the Analects reveals that Confucius laid much prominence on the value of study; as a result he was always viewed as the Greatest Master. Confucius tried to establish a correlation between the theory of life and implications on the society, he wanted his students to analytically and critically study themselves and try to relate with the outside world. In his philosophical work, he used scriptures to relate moral problems that were present during the axial age (Morris 475). The basic teaching of Confucius was based on individual morality and political morality; hi s argument was based on doing what is right rather than doing what is to ones advantage. Simply put, it was the practice which was based on reciprocity, which implies that one should not do to others what he does not want himself or does not want to be done to him. Ruling was to be based on moral example rather than ruling through the use of violence. Confucius was of the view that a ruler who deployed the use of force can be termed unsuccessful in his ruling practice. The Analects depicts that the job of a ruler is to govern, rather than killing. The Chinese rulers at the axial time did not obey this principle towards the exercising of leadership. Confucianism proposes a government system that is based on ruling by example (Morris 480). Confucius argued that the laws established by the government were meant to put people in line, but governing by virtue would make people to control themselves with or without the presence of the laws and punishments of the government. The principle of self control is paramount for individual development; this explains why the Chinese have been successful, whenever an opportunity presents itself to do so. Interestingly, the Confucian school of thought condemns the desire to make high profits; this was a negative influence to the prosperity of the Chinese people. Evidently, this principle has been ignored over time (Morris 483). Another teaching of Confucius was based on the limitations of morality. Morality in itself is a limitation to towards the realization of self interest. Confucius however states that morality should not serve as an excuse to deny oneself. It is based on the principle that, if you do not want it for yourself, then you should not do it for others. Whatever you like for yourself, you should do for others.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Axial age thinkers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A similar implication is depicted in the Analects of Confucius, which is referred to as the principle of mutual profitableness. The principle mutual profitableness is also practiced by the Japanese. Helping yourself and others is the Confucian philosophy and one of the characteristics of Chinese civilizations. The Confucian school of thought is hostile to the desire to make high profits; this is contrary to the principle of mutual profitableness and the principle of self interest (Morris 490). A critical aspect of the implications Confucius philosophy was that it later became a widely accepted religion among the Chinese. The Confucius aspect of religion was later disputed by Socrates, whose lifetime was after the death of Confucius. It is somewhat interesting to note that the Socrates philosophical projects concerning religion was rejected by the Chinese; this later saw Confucius being made a Chinese god, with every temple in almost every city being dedicated to him. Conclusion The Confucianism practices do not conform to the phil osophical perspectives of Confucius; however, his perspectives played a significant role in shaping the aspects of Chinese religion. The Confucius ethical and philosophical principles significantly affected Chinese cultural background (Freedman 240). It can be argued that Confucius principles gained dominance because its basis drew a correlation with the Chinese traditions. His political philosophies were based on ethical perspectives of leadership by virtue of example. Achebe, Chinua. Things fall apart. Portsmouth NH: Heinemann, 1996. Freedman, Russell. Confucius: the golden rule. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2002. Morris, Ian. Why the West Rulesfor Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010.

Online Marketing Research Proposal Writing Tips

Online Marketing Research Proposal Writing Tips Online Marketing Research Proposal Writing Tips Would you ever decide to start your own business without business plan? If you are responsible enough, you have definitely said â€Å"no† to the question. Businessmen are really careful when the question is about spending marketing dollars, but the truth is that sometimes they do not pay due attention to the effective marketing research. When you need to deal with the marketing research proposal writing, make sure to follow simple tips mentioned below while planning the project. Aims and Objectives When working on this section, ensure to include the basic goals of the marketing research. Also, remember to provide specific objectives of the project. Your number one task is to explain the value of the research that you are going to conduct, stating why exactly your proposal should be approved and mentioning all useful and positive results and gains your research will bring. Magnified Market Research word illustration on white background. Framework Analysis Although this part of the marketing research proposal is tightly linked with the objectives and aims section, it must be more concentrated on depth of the background circumstances that indicate the reasons why the certain marketing research project is actually proposed. While the objectives and aims of the paper provide descriptions for the specific research outcomes, the framework analysis segment must show the practical standpoint of these outcomes. The author is required to provide information from trustworthy sources on the topic he is researching. Then one can demonstrate the certain need for the proposed research plan. Hypothesis As a rule, hypothesis includes only a couple of sentences and provides the reader with an overview of the research possible outcomes. Data Collection Make use this very part of marketing research proposal in order to provide a thorough description for each of the data collection methods that you are going to use during the research phase. Feel free to address the overall strategy or the methods of the individual data collection. As a rule, they include such methods as social networking research, focus groups, in-home tests, etc. Make sure to be clear and specific about every method. The thing is that the more detailed the section will be, the more chances you will have to see your proposal accepted. Research Methods This is where you can talk about the research methods merits. Make sure to discuss the implications of every data collection method, as well as to explain all the methods that you are going to use in order to interpret information. Besides, you will also need to discuss the means used to evaluate all data that has been collected. Budget Timeline This very segment must detail the timeline that your project research will follow. In order to get your proposal approved, make sure to pay due attention to the specifics. Provide a short and realistic budget projection for your marketing research proposal. Ethical Considerations These issues are highly crucial for any research. This is the section that you should use to delineate each of the ways that your research will abide by the ethical code in practice and method. Plus, among the rest of the responsibilities, address factors like data security, privacy, confidentiality and research participants consent. At you have a great opportunity to get professional research proposal help from highly qualified academic experts. Check it out!

Re-write of Curriculum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Re-write of Curriculum - Essay Example The element of time contributed to the great success of the workshop. Teaching the workshop in a five-day intensive allowed me to present the information in a more thorough and I believe cohesive way. I feel that the set up of the workshop, being intensive, created an outlet which allowed the participants to leave behind their â€Å"normal life† and delve into this process of yoga and leadership. The participants came ready and expecting this type of process to happen. They showed enthusiasm and eagerness to learn as much as they can during this five-day immersion in yoga and the Integrated Yogic Leadership Model. Because they had the same purpose, an instant connection was formed amongst the participants that greatly contributed to the development of a peaceful and harmonious relationship within the group. I feel that this five-day intensive workshop gave enough time for students to walk away from the mundane cares of the world, to listen and learn of new tools to support the m on their journey to becoming a leader. At the end of the workshop they returned to their own worlds confident and renewed, armed with a new perspective on leadership. To better understand the curriculum I will describe each day’s intention and briefly explain the experiences. Again, referring to the section of Emerging Adults where I explained the importance of highly experiential exercises for this age group. This five-day intensive workshop was held on June 6-10, 2010 at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the largest holistic retreat center in North America. This group of 19 emerging adults gathered to delve into this curriculum. Throughout the entire workshop the participants would go through an experiential exercise then move into a dyad or triad share and then come back to the larger group and have a group share. The sessions were: morning session 8:30-11:30am; afternoon session 1:30-4:00. Yoga sessions were scheduled in the afternoons at 4:15-5:45 and in the

Conjunctiva Histology and Anatomy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Conjunctiva Histology and Anatomy - Essay Example (Blue Histology: the eye) There are slight histological distinctions in the conjunctiva portions. The conjunctiva covering the lid margin and bulbar conjunctiva is a modified nonkeratinized, stratified squamous epithelium. The tarsal and fornix conjunctiva is covered by stratified squamous and cuboidal to columnar epithelium of diverse thickness which preserve some squamoidal characteristics, such as having numerous desmosomes and a microvillus surface. Goblet cells are profuse in the tarsus, fornix, and specialized areas as the plica semilunaris, while they are scant nearby the lid boundary and the cornea's limbus. A histological sagittal section of both eyelids and the eye are shown here: (1) cornea (2) lens (3) fornix part of the conjunctiva. (4) marginal conjunctiva (5) palpebral portion of the lacrimal gland (6) tarsal conjunctiva. The constitution of Goblet cells within the epithelium at each of these regions is fluctuant. (Anatomy of the Eye: Conjunctiva 2005) Function of Conjunctiva It moistens the eye' The production of the transparent mucous thick fluid acts as a lubricant It aids in tear production to maintain the eye cleanness. Protects the eye from pathogenic invasions Protect the eye from foreign material to directly come in contact like dust. References Anatomy of the Eye: Conjunctiva, Mission for Vision, 2005 http://www.missionforvisionusa.org/anatomy/2005/11/conjunctiva.html Blue Histology - The Eye, School of Anatomy and Human Biology - The University of Western Australia http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/CorePages/eye/eye.htm Chapter 7, Conjunctiva http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/courses/vet_eyes/conotes/con- chapter_7.html Establishment of a Cultivated Human Conjunctival Epithelium as an Alternative Tissue Source for Autologous Corneal Epithelial Transplantation http://www.iovs.org/cgi/content/full/47/9/3820 Ted M. Montgomery, 2007, Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology of the Human Eye,

American Inervention Policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Inervention Policy - Term Paper Example Throughout the twentieth centuries, most of the colonized countries gained their independence from the European nations, making rendering this traditional and overt kind of imperialism a much-hated memory of past exploitation. There are some who argue that in the absence of this controlling power of these Western European colonizing forces, the United States of America has now stepped in as a new kind of imperial player in world politics. In a recent book which provocatively calls the United States a â€Å"Rogue State† a great many incidents are mentioned which show the extent to which American governments have gone to ensure that American interests are actively promoted across the globe. A list of morally and legally dubious strategies is given, including deliberate assassinations of foreign leaders, regime changes, military strikes, and economic measures designed to cripple whole countries and regions which for whatever reason oppose American plans for the world. The author, American journalist and researcher William Blum, cites 40 incidences of assassination, for example, which are recognized as having been carried out by American forces and mentions evidence that convicted murderers were even recruited for this task: â€Å"The training of the carefully-selected recruits ranged from dehumanization of the enemy to acclimating them emotionally through special films showing people being killed and injured in violent ways† (Blum, 2000, p. 40). In its methods, then, it is clear that the United States has had occasion to use at least some of the hated tactics of colonial rule. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq bear some resemblance to imperialist interventions because they involve the explicit movement of troops and some administrative personnel to these foreign lands in order to effect political changes. There is no immediate danger of attack from either of these two countries on American soil, though the possibility of single terrorist acts fro m smaller groups which may well shelter in these countries is always present, as was seen to terrible effect in the 9/11 atrocities.  

Determination of the pKas for Glycine

Determination of the pKas for Glycine Name: Aleksandra Redlinska Lab Partner: Adrianna Czerlonko Lab Instructor: Jenq-Kuen Huang Lab TA: Chandra K.Ailneni Objectives: The purpose of this experiment is to titrate glycine and determine its pKa values. This is done to show that glycine is a dipolar ion. This experiment will help explain how pKa values and pH are closely related and will help show the importance of pH in amino acids. Background: Amino acids consist of an amino group (-NH3+) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). When they are in an acidic solution, the amino group becomes protonated and the carboxyl group gets dissociated. When in a solution with a neutral pH, amino acids will usually be dipolar and the amino group will be protonated while the carboxyl group becomes deprotonated. When amino acids are in basic solution, the protonated amino group is the only one that changes, by losing a proton (Biochemistry). The equation used to find the equilibrium constant, Ka, of a reaction is the products divided by the reactants. The Ka can then be used to find the pKa by taking the negative log of the Ka. The Ka value can be used to figure out whether the acid will dissociate or not and how strong an acid is. Glycine is an amino acid which contains both acidic and basic pKas. This shows that it can react to changes in the pH. By adding NaOH to glycine, the proton ion will dissociate. This dissociation will occur due to the tit ration done using the glycine solution. Materials: 0.1 N Sodium hydroxide (60 mL) Glycine (0.6 g or 8.0 meq) 0.1 N Hydrochloric acid (60 mL) Deionized water 100 mL volumetric flask Two burettes Four 250 mL beakers Funnel Graduated cylinder pH meter Procedure: Glycine (0.6 g) was weighed out and put in a 100 ml flask. Water was added to the flask to make 100 mL of solution. The sample (25 mL) was transferred to a 250 mL beaker and distilled water was added (100 mL). The solution was titrated with 0.1 N NaOH (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The pH and volume of base were measured after each 1.0 mL of NaOH added and the data was recorded and plotted. Distilled water (125 mL) was placed in a 250 mL beaker. The solution was once again titrated with 0.1 N NaOH (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The pH and volume of base were once again collected and plotted. The original glycine solution (25 mL) was transferred to a 250 mL beaker and distilled water (100 mL) was added. The solution was titrated with 0.1 N HCl (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The total volume of acid and the pH were recorded. Distilled water (125 mL) was placed in a 250 mL beaker and the solution was titrated with 0.1 N HCl (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The volume of the acid and the pH wa s recorded and plotted. Results: Table 1. Titration with NaOH. Table 2. Titration with HCl. Calculations: Determining pKa1 (HCl titration) At pH = 2.5, 30 mL of 0.1 N HCl was used for the glycine titration and 16 mL was used for water. 30 mL – 16 mL = 14 mL 14 mL = 0.014 L 0.014 L was used to titrate glycine at pH 2.5 The normality of HCl used was 0.1 N N = #eq/L 0.1 N = X/0.014 L X = 0.0014 eq 0.0014 eq = 1.4 meq It takes 1.4 meq of HCl to convert glycine to an acidic form The amount of glycine at the start of the titration was: (8 meq)(25 mL/100 mL) = 2 meq The amount of glycine left after the titration was: 2 meq – 1.4 meq = 0.6 meq Formula: pH = pKa1 + log [conjugate base]/ [acid] Conjugate base = 0.6 meq Acid = 1.4 meq 2.5 = pKa1 + log [0.6]/[1.4] 2.5 = pKa1 – 0.368 pKa1 = 2.868 Determining pKa2 (NaOH titration) At pH = 9.4, 18 mL of 0.1 N NaOH was used for the glycine titration and 1 mL was used for the water. 18 mL – 1 mL = 17 mL 17 mL = 0.017 L 0.017 L was used to titrate glycine at pH 9.4 The normality of HCl used was 0.1 N N = #eq/L 0.1 N = X/0.017 L X = 0.0017 eq 0.0017 eq = 1.7 meq It takes 1.7 meq of NaOH to convert glycine to an acidic form The amount of glycine at the start of the titration was: (8 meq)(25 mL/100 mL) = 2 meq The amount of glycine left after the titration was: 2 meq – 1.7 meq = 0.3 meq Formula: pH = pKa2 + log [conjugate base]/ [acid] Conjugate base = 1.7 meq Acid = 0.3 meq 9.4 = pKa2 + log [1.7]/[0.3] 9.4 = pKa2 + 0.753 pKa2 = 8.647 Discussion and Conclusion: The average pKa1 calculated for the titration using HCl was 3.013. The true pKa 1 for an acidic amino acid is 2.3. The average pKa2 calculated for the titration using NaOH was 8.863. The true pKa2 for a basic amino acid is 9.6. This difference could have been caused by dirty glassware or improper measuring of the 0.1 increments of HCl and NaOH using the burette. The error could have also been due to the absence of an analytical scale to make precise measurements of glycine and the pH meter not being cleaned thoroughly enough. Since there was not enough time for each group to complete both parts of the experiment using HCl and NaOH, each group only did one of the titrations. Since my group did not have time to do the HCl titration, we got the results from another group. This could have also caused an error because we did not monitor how precise the other group was. This experiment shows that the pKas of amino acids are important. They could be used to calculate the pH and strength of the amino acid. This observation is displayed in the data above and the graph. This experiment helped me understand how pKa and pH are related. References: Berg, Jeremy M., John L. Tymoczko, and Lubert Stryer.Biochemistry. 6th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, (2002). Cronk, J. (2012, January 1). BIOCHEMISTRY Dictionary. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/biochem/dictionary.cfm?letter=front Cronk, J. (2012, January 1). CHEM 440 lectures. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/CHEM440pub/L05-index.cfm Huang, Jack. Experiment 2: â€Å"Determination of the pKas for Glycine† Chem 421 Laboratory. Sep 15, 2014. Answers to Questions: 1. The pKa associated with a typical aliphatic carboxylic acid is 2.3 and the pKa associated with a typical aliphatic amine is 9.6. The pKas associated with an alpha-carboxyl group in an amino acid are between 2 and 3. The pKas associated with a gamma-carboxyl group in an amino acid are between 4.3 and 4.5. The pKas associated with an alpha-amino group in an amino acid are between 9 and 10. The pKa associated with an epsilon-amino group in an amino acid is around 10. The pKas associated with an imidazole group in an amino acid are between 6 and 7. The pKas associated with a guanidine group in an amino acid is around 12.5. The pKas for these groups are taken away once the amino acids are incorporated into proteins. The groups form bonds and the only pKa values that can still be seen are the ones that are at the C and N terminus of the chain. 2. The top equation is correct because the top equation contains a Zwitterion. This Zwitterion would cause it to be able to react with HCl (a strong base) and NaOH (a strong acid). The bottom equation shows no charges on the nitrogen or oxygen, making the reaction not able to happen. My data supports this because when adding HCl, the pH went down and when adding NaOH, the pH went up. This shows that ions were taken away and added causing deprotonation and protonation of the glycine. 3. The structure of Lys-Ala-Asp is: The N-terminal is the NH3+ on the very left side and the C-terminal is the OH on the right side. The net charge of this tripeptide at pH 2 is +2. The net charge at pH 6 is 0. The net charge at pH 13 is -2.

Cats Cradle Essay -- Cats Cradle Vonnegut Essays

The Human Vaccination Modern medicine has proved that the best way to prevent the contraction of a disease for humans is to inject a tolerable amount of the virus into the host and let the individual's immune system build a defense capable of withstanding future invasions of the same strand. The small pox vaccination, for example, has eliminated the disease from almost every nation on Earth. But what if the disease is psychological, a way of being or state of mind rather than a physical aberration? My interpretation of Vonnegut's statement to "poison minds with humanity †¦to encourage them to make a better world" leads me to think that he would approach the problem with the same method. Inject just a bit of stupidity, naivetà ©, and prideful ignorance directly into the cerebellum so that, hopefully, gradually, humanity will wean themselves of these traits. The technique must be subtle. The needle and syringe must appear nonthreatening or no one will take it. Therefore disguise the needle with cynicism and satire. The idea is to present forms of unwanted human behavior that all of us possess and practice throughout our daily lives and make the reader aware of them. Show the reader humans being human and make them aware of all the stupid, silly, rude things we do and say everyday. Consider the ignorance of Miss Pefko, who neither finds science the very antithesis of magic nor understands the meaning of the word antithesis, the rude curtness of Marvin Breed and Philip Castle, and the duping of the entire population of the Bokonon religion based not on God, but upon socialism and lies. Cat's Cradle is full of characters that display very human, very unwanted traits. By recognizing these traits and consciously thinking about... ...niverse, he his painting a clear picture of the pitfalls of life. It is very clear that in Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut views religion and science as an excuse to not be responsible for individual actions. The Episcopalian woman in Newport believed that by knowing God, she knew everything, and yet lacked the ability to read a blueprint (13). Dr. Hoenikker hid behind that faà §ade of science so that an institution could carry the burden of his inventions, and Jonah blamed Bokonon for the mass suicide, never once mentioning that each individual had a choice of whether or not to kill themselves (182). Vonnegut's use of satire coats the poisonous pen used to show his readers the inescapable consequences of stupidity and arrogance. Displaying the darkness and destruction of mankind allows his readers to see where changes can be made that would allow a better world to emerge.

Nebosh Fire & Risk Management Essay

There are a number of standard combustibles around the site all of which are not accessible to the public. There is an ongoing history of vandalism and arson attack on this particular site along with an ongoing major reconstruction and refurbishment of the building and site. However, in areas under NTR management there are good controls and housekeeping practices in place with the majority of fuels being routinely cleared and stored in the correct manner, ignition sources are generally few though some attention is necessary for the venue electrical infrastructure. Therefore an overall risk rating of medium to high is allocated dependant on the intensity of the ongoing capital project works. If the suggested electrical maintenance and upgrade measures are undertaken then this will be reduced to a low/medium risk. Assessment of risk of fire spread – H/M/L with justification In general there is a good level of compartmentation within the front of house areas of the building over the first two floors (public areas), currently due to breaches in external walls to the auditorium there is now a risk to the internal staff working within the two main office spaces over the upper two floors, this new risk requires the installation of two new temporary walls. The high degree of separation in FOH areas balanced by the very large open auditorium space and roof void create a risk rating of medium/high due to the ever changing risk from site works. Upon completion of the recommendation of compartmentalisation of the roof void and along with making good all minor/medium breaches in fire doors and compartmentation this risk rating will fall to medium until completion of capital rebuild operations. With the balance in maintaining modern fire safety standards in a historic heritage buildings with alternate restrictions this may be a continual problem in bringing the fire safety standards up to levels expected under Approved Document B. Assessment of risk to persons from fire – H/M/L with justification Due to there being a well tested fire detection system in place throughout all areas of the venue and with 24 hour monitoring of detection systems, then in general the risk to occupants is low. However as there is ongoing refurbishment of internal and external areas which implies new fire hazards this risk should be assessed as being medium overall. Though there is a higher level of risk to lesser abled occupants of the cafe spaces there is in place suitable controls to safeguard visitors, staff working in office spaces are no at increased risk with there now only being a single route of escape for each office though this is soon to be remedied and as such the risk is maintained at medium rather than high. Management systems are due to be heavily changed with the ever changing natures of the building and its reconstruction, regular amendments to the Fire Safety Policy & Arrangements will be necessary in order to uphold fire safety. This is the best time to spot personal/public (fire) safety failings in elements of the building and put right as a whole. Fire risk assessment review date – with justification (based on the findings of the fire risk assessment) With the ever changing nature of the venue during the major reconstruction and restoration process it is best that review takes place within 3 months or with any notable change in operations or introduction of new fire hazards. Further I would suggest a meeting between the NTR H&S Working Party monthly with the Project Management team in order to address highlighted concerns and to plan for upcoming hazards likely to take place on site during the course of its workings. All in house requirements under this assessments should be reviewed for adequate completion in 3 months also to assess sufficiency.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-eight

Catelyn My lady, you ought cover your head,† Ser Rodrik told her as their horses plodded north. â€Å"You will take a chill.† â€Å"It is only water, Ser Rodrik,† Catelyn replied. Her hair hung wet and heavy, a loose strand stuck to her forehead, and she could imagine how ragged and wild she must look, but for once she did not care. The southern rain was soft and warm. Catelyn liked the feel of it on her face, gentle as a mother's kisses. It took her back to her childhood, to long grey days at Riverrun. She remembered the godswood, drooping branches heavy with moisture, and the sound of her brother's laughter as he chased her through piles of damp leaves. She remembered making mud pies with Lysa, the weight of them, the mud slick and brown between her fingers. They had served them to Littlefinger, giggling, and he'd eaten so much mud he was sick for a week. How young they all had been. Catelyn had almost forgotten. In the north, the rain fell cold and hard, and sometimes at night it turned to ice. It was as likely to kill a crop as nurture it, and it sent grown men running for the nearest shelter. That was no rain for little girls to play in. â€Å"I am soaked through,† Ser Rodrik complained. â€Å"Even my bones are wet.† The woods pressed close around them, and the steady pattering of rain on leaves was accompanied by the small sucking sounds their horses made as their hooves pulled free of the mud. â€Å"We will want a fire tonight, my lady, and a hot meal would serve us both.† â€Å"There is an inn at the crossroads up ahead,† Catelyn told him. She had slept many a night there in her youth, traveling with her father. Lord Hoster Tully had been a restless man in his prime, always riding somewhere. She still remembered the innkeep, a fat woman named Masha Heddle who chewed sourleaf night and day and seemed to have an endless supply of smiles and sweet cakes for the children. The sweet cakes had been soaked with honey, rich and heavy on the tongue, but how Catelyn had dreaded those smiles. The sourleaf had stained Masha's teeth a dark red, and made her smile a bloody horror. â€Å"An inn,† Ser Rodrik repeated wistfully. â€Å"If only . . . but we dare not risk it. If we wish to remain unknown, I think it best we seek out some small holdfast . . . † He broke off as they heard sounds up the road; splashing water, the clink of mail, a horse's whinny. â€Å"Riders,† he warned, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword. Even on the kingsroad, it never hurt to be wary. They followed the sounds around a lazy bend of the road and saw them; a column of armed men noisily fording a swollen stream. Catelyn reined up to let them pass. The banner in the hand of the foremost rider hung sodden and limp, but the guardsmen wore indigo cloaks and on their shoulders flew the silver eagle of Seagard. â€Å"Mallisters,† Ser Rodrik whispered to her, as if she had not known. â€Å"My lady, best pull up your hood.† Catelyn made no move. Lord Jason Mallister himself rode with them, surrounded by his knights, his son Patrek by his side and their squires close behind. They were riding for King's Landing and the Hand's tourney, she knew. For the past week, the travelers had been thick as flies upon the kingsroad; knights and freeriders, singers with their harps and drums, heavy wagons laden with hops or corn or casks of honey, traders and craftsmen and whores, and all of them moving south. She studied Lord Jason boldly. The last time she had seen him he had been jesting with her uncle at her wedding feast; the Mallisters stood bannermen to the Tullys, and his gifts had been lavish. His brown hair was salted with white now, his face chiseled gaunt by time, yet the years had not touched his pride. He rode like a man who feared nothing. Catelyn envied him that; she had come to fear so much. As the riders passed, Lord Jason nodded a curt greeting, but it was only a high lord's courtesy to strangers chance met on the road. There was no recognition in those fierce eyes, and his son did not even waste a look. â€Å"He did not know you,† Ser Rodrik said after, wondering. â€Å"He saw a pair of mud-spattered travelers by the side of the road, wet and tired. It would never occur to him to suspect that one of them was the daughter of his liege lord. I think we shall be safe enough at the inn, Ser Rodrik.† It was near dark when they reached it, at the crossroads north of the great confluence of the Trident. Masha Heddle was fatter and greyer than Catelyn remembered, still chewing her sourleaf, but she gave them only the most cursory of looks, with nary a hint of her ghastly red smile. â€Å"Two rooms at the top of the stair, that's all there is,† she said, chewing all the while. â€Å"They're under the bell tower, you won't be missing meals, though there's some thinks it too noisy. Can't be helped. We're full up, or near as makes no matter. It's those rooms or the road.† It was those rooms, low, dusty garrets at the top of a cramped narrow staircase. â€Å"Leave your boots down here,† Masha told them after she'd taken their coin. â€Å"The boy will clean them. I won't have you tracking mud up my stairs. Mind the bell. Those who come late to meals don't eat.† There were no smiles, and no mention of sweet cakes. When the supper bell rang, the sound was deafening. Catelyn had changed into dry clothes. She sat by the window, watching rain run down the pane. The glass was milky and full of bubbles, and a wet dusk was falling outside. Catelyn could just make out the muddy crossing where the two great roads met. The crossroads gave her pause. If they turned west from here, it was an easy ride down to Riverrun. Her father had always given her wise counsel when she needed it most, and she yearned to talk to him, to warn him of the gathering storm. If Winterfell needed to brace for war, how much more so Riverrun, so much closer to King's Landing, with the power of Casterly Rock looming to the west like a shadow. If only her father had been stronger, she might have chanced it, but Hoster Tully had been bedridden these past two years, and Catelyn was loath to tax him now. The eastern road was wilder and more dangerous, climbing through rocky foothills and thick forests into the Mountains of the Moon, past high passes and deep chasms to the Vale of Arryn and the stony Fingers beyond. Above the Vale, the Eyrie stood high and impregnable, its towers reaching for the sky. There she would find her sister . . . and, perhaps, some of the answers Ned sought. Surely Lysa knew more than she had dared to put in her letter. She might have the very proof that Ned needed to bring the Lannisters to ruin, and if it came to war, they would need the Arryns and the eastern lords who owed them service. Yet the mountain road was perilous. Shadowcats prowled those passes, rock slides were common, and the mountain clans were lawless brigands, descending from the heights to rob and kill and melting away like snow whenever the knights rode out from the Vale in search of them. Even Jon Arryn, as great a lord as any the Eyrie had ever known, had always traveled in strength when he crossed the mountains. Catelyn's only strength was one elderly knight, armored in loyalty. No, she thought, Riverrun and the Eyrie would have to wait. Her path ran north to Winterfell, where her sons and her duty were waiting for her. As soon as they were safely past the Neck, she could declare herself to one of Ned's bannermen, and send riders racing ahead with orders to mount a watch on the kingsroad. The rain obscured the fields beyond the crossroads, but Catelyn saw the land clear enough in her memory. The marketplace was just across the way, and the village a mile farther on, half a hundred white cottages surrounding a small stone sept. There would be more now; the summer had been long and peaceful. North of here the kingsroad ran along the Green Fork of the Trident, through fertile valleys and green woodlands, past thriving towns and stout holdfasts and the castles of the river lords. Catelyn knew them all: the Blackwoods and the Brackens, ever enemies, whose quarrels her father was obliged to settle; Lady Whent, last of her line, who dwelt with her ghosts in the cavernous vaults of Harrenhal; irascible Lord Frey, who had outlived seven wives and filled his twin castles with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and bastards and grandbastards as well. All of them were bannermen to the Tullys, their swords sworn to the service of Riverrun. Catelyn wondered if that would be enough, if it came to war. Her father was the staunchest man who'd ever lived, and she had no doubt that he would call his banners . . . but would the banners come? The Darrys and Rygers and Mootons had sworn oaths to Riverrun as well, yet they had fought with Rhaegar Targaryen on the Trident, while Lord Frey had arrived with his levies well after the battle was over, leaving some doubt as to which army he had planned to join (theirs, he had assured the victors solemnly in the afterma th, but ever after her father had called him the Late Lord Frey). It must not come to war, Catelyn thought fervently. They must not let it. Ser Rodrik came for her just as the bell ceased its clangor. â€Å"We had best make haste if we hope to eat tonight, my lady.† â€Å"It might be safer if we were not knight and lady until we pass the Neck,† she told him. â€Å"Common travelers attract less notice. A father and daughter taken to the road on some family business, say.† â€Å"As you say, my lady,† Ser Rodrik agreed. It was only when she laughed that he realized what he'd done. â€Å"The old courtesies die hard, my—my daughter.† He tried to tug on his missing whiskers, and sighed with exasperation. Catelyn took his arm. â€Å"Come, Father,† she said. â€Å"You'll find that Masha Heddle sets a good table, I think, but try not to praise her. You truly don't want to see her smile.† The common room was long and drafty, with a row of huge wooden kegs at one end and a fireplace at the other. A serving boy ran back and forth with skewers of meat while Masha drew beer from the kegs, chewing her sourleaf all the while. The benches were crowded, townsfolk and farmers mingling freely with all manner of travelers. The crossroads made for odd companions; dyers with black and purple hands shared a bench with rivermen reeking of fish, an ironsmith thick with muscle squeezed in beside a wizened old septon, hard-bitten sellswords and soft plump merchants swapped news like boon companions. The company included more swords than Catelyn would have liked. Three by the fire wore the red stallion badge of the Brackens, and there was a large party in blue steel ringmail and capes of a silvery grey. On their shoulder was another familiar sigil, the twin towers of House Frey. She studied their faces, but they were all too young to have known her. The senior among them would have been no older than Bran when she went north. Ser Rodrik found them an empty place on the bench near the kitchen. Across the table a handsome youth was fingering a woodharp. â€Å"Seven blessings to you, goodfolk,† he said as they sat. An empty wine cup stood on the table before him. â€Å"And to you, singer,† Catelyn returned. Ser Rodrik called for bread and meat and beer in a tone that meant now. The singer, a youth of some eighteen years, eyed them boldly and asked where they were going, and from whence they had come, and what news they had, letting the questions fly as quick as arrows and never pausing for an answer. â€Å"We left King's Landing a fortnight ago,† Catelyn replied, answering the safest of his questions. â€Å"That's where I'm bound,† the youth said. As she had suspected, he was more interested in telling his own story than in hearing theirs. Singers loved nothing half so well as the sound of their own voices. â€Å"The Hand's tourney means rich lords with fat purses. The last time I came away with more silver than I could carry . . . or would have, if I hadn't lost it all betting on the Kingslayer to win the day.† â€Å"The gods frown on the gambler,† Ser Rodrik said sternly. He was of the north, and shared the Stark views on tournaments. â€Å"They frowned on me, for certain,† the singer said. â€Å"Your cruel gods and the Knight of Flowers altogether did me in.† â€Å"No doubt that was a lesson for you,† Ser Rodrik said. â€Å"It was. This time my coin will champion Ser Loras.† Ser Rodrik tried to tug at whiskers that were not there, but before he could frame a rebuke the serving boy came scurrying up. He laid trenchers of bread before them and filled them with chunks of browned meat off a skewer, dripping with hot juice. Another skewer held tiny onions, fire peppers, and fat mushrooms. Ser Rodrik set to lustily as the lad ran back to fetch them beer. â€Å"My name is Marillion,† the singer said, plucking a string on his woodharp. â€Å"Doubtless you've heard me play somewhere?† His manner made Catelyn smile. Few wandering singers ever ventured as far north as Winterfell, but she knew his like from her girlhood in Riverrun. â€Å"I fear not,† she told him. He drew a plaintive chord from the woodharp. â€Å"That is your loss,† he said. â€Å"Who was the finest singer you've ever heard?† â€Å"Alia of Braavos,† Ser Rodrik answered at once. â€Å"Oh, I'm much better than that old stick,† Marillion said. â€Å"If you have the silver for a song, I'll gladly show you.† â€Å"I might have a copper or two, but I'd sooner toss it down a well than pay for your howling,† Ser Rodrik groused. His opinion of singers was well known; music was a lovely thing for girls, but he could not comprehend why any healthy boy would fill his hand with a harp when he might have had a sword. â€Å"Your grandfather has a sour nature,† Marillion said to Catelyn. â€Å"I meant to do you honor. An homage to your beauty. In truth, I was made to sing for kings and high lords.† â€Å"Oh, I can see that,† Catelyn said. â€Å"Lord Tully is fond of song, I hear. No doubt you've been to Riverrun.† â€Å"A hundred times,† the singer said airily. â€Å"They keep a chamber for me, and the young lord is like a brother.† Catelyn smiled, wondering what Edmure would think of that. Another singer had once bedded a girl her brother fancied; he had hated the breed ever since. â€Å"And Winterfell?† she asked him. â€Å"Have you traveled north?† â€Å"Why would I?' Marillion asked. â€Å"It's all blizzards and bearskins up there, and the Starks know no music but the howling of wolves.† Distantly, she was aware of the door banging open at the far end of the room. â€Å"Innkeep,† a servant's voice called out behind her, â€Å"we have horses that want stabling, and my lord of Lannister requires a room and a hot bath.† â€Å"Oh, gods,† Ser Rodrik said before Catelyn reached out to silence him, her fingers tightening hard around his forearm. Masha Heddle was bowing and smiling her hideous red smile. â€Å"I'm sorry, m'lord, truly, we're full up, every room.† There were four of them, Catelyn saw. An old man in the black of the Night's Watch, two servants . . . and him, standing there small and bold as life. â€Å"My men will steep in your stable, and as for myself, well, I do not require a large room, as you can plainly see.† He flashed a mocking grin. â€Å"So long as the fire's warm and the straw reasonably free of fleas, I am a happy man.† Masha Heddle was beside herself. â€Å"M'lord, there's nothing, it's the tourney, there's no help for it, oh . . . â€Å" Tyrion Lannister pulled a coin from his purse and flicked it up over his head, caught it, tossed it again. Even across the room, where Catelyn sat, the wink of gold was unmistakable. A freerider in a faded blue cloak lurched to his feet. â€Å"You're welcome to my room, m'lord.† â€Å"Now there's a clever man,† Lannister said as he sent the coin spinning across the room. The freerider snatched it from the air. â€Å"And a nimble one to boot.† The dwarf turned back to Masha Heddle. â€Å"You will be able to manage food, I trust?† â€Å"Anything you like, m'lord, anything at all,† the innkeep promised. And may he choke on it, Catelyn thought, but it was Bran she saw choking, drowning on his own blood. Lannister glanced at the nearest tables. â€Å"My men will have whatever you're serving these people. Double portions, we've had a long hard ride. I'll take a roast fowl—chicken, duck, pigeon, it makes no matter. And send up a flagon of your best wine. Yoren, will you sup with me?† â€Å"Aye, m'lord, I will,† the black brother replied. The dwarf had not so much as glanced toward the far end of the room, and Catelyn was thinking how grateful she was for the crowded benches between them when suddenly Marillion bounded to his feet. â€Å"My lord of Lannister!† he called out. â€Å"I would be pleased to entertain you while you eat. Let me sing you the lay of your father's great victory at King's Landing!† â€Å"Nothing would be more likely to ruin my supper,† the dwarf said dryly. His mismatched eyes considered the singer briefly, started to move away . . . and found Catelyn. He looked at her for a moment, puzzled. She turned her face away, but too late. The dwarf was smiling. â€Å"Lady Stark, what an unexpected pleasure,† he said. â€Å"I was sorry to miss you at Winterfell.† Marillion gaped at her, confusion giving way to chagrin as Catelyn rose slowly to her feet. She heard Ser Rodrik curse. If only the man had lingered at the Wall, she thought, if only . . . â€Å"Lady . . . Stark?† Masha Heddle said thickly. â€Å"I was still Catelyn Tully the last time I bedded here,† she told the innkeep. She could hear the muttering, feel the eyes upon her. Catelyn glanced around the room, at the faces of the knights and sworn swords, and took a deep breath to slow the frantic beating of her heart. Did she dare take the risk? There was no time to think it through, only the moment and the sound of her own voice ringing in her ears. â€Å"You in the corner,† she said to an older man she had not noticed until now. â€Å"Is that the black bat of Harrenhal I see embroidered on your surcoat, ser?† The man got to his feet. â€Å"It is, my lady.† â€Å"And is Lady Whent a true and honest friend to my father, Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun?† â€Å"She is,† the man replied stoutly. Ser Rodrik rose quietly and loosened his sword in its scabbard. The dwarf was blinking at them, blank-faced, with puzzlement in his mismatched eyes. â€Å"The red stallion was ever a welcome sight in Riverrun,† she said to the trio by the fire. â€Å"My father counts Jonos Bracken among his oldest and most loyal bannermen.† The three men-at-arms exchanged uncertain looks. â€Å"Our lord is honored by his trust,† one of them said hesitantly. â€Å"I envy your father all these fine friends,† Lannister quipped, â€Å"but I do not quite see the purpose of this, Lady Stark.† She ignored him, turning to the large party in blue and grey. They were the heart of the matter; there were more than twenty of them. â€Å"I know your sigil as well: the twin towers of Frey. How fares your good lord, sers?† Their captain rose. â€Å"Lord Walder is well, my lady. He plans to take a new wife on his ninetieth name day, and has asked your lord father to honor the wedding with his presence.† Tyrion Lannister sniggered. That was when Catelyn knew he was hers. â€Å"This man came a guest into my house, and there conspired to murder my son, a boy of seven,† she proclaimed to the room at large, pointing. Ser Rodrik moved to her side, his sword in hand. â€Å"In the name of King Robert and the good lords you serve, I call upon you to seize him and help me return him to Winterfell to await the king's justice.† She did not know what was more satisfying: the sound of a dozen swords drawn as one or the look on Tyrion Lannister's face.