Impact of Financial Literacy on Financial Inclusion and...

Abstract: Financial inclusion has recently become the buzzword among the policymakers and bankers and in academic research. It is considered as an integral part of the efforts to promote inclusive economic growth. Financial inclusion has been the utmost priority for the government of India as well as the Reserve Bank of India. One of the executive at a prominent Public Sector Bank says, Financial Inclusion is a social obligation for the government, and social obligation, mandatory obligation as well as Business opportunity for the banks and financial institutions. Financial inclusion represents the access to safe, easy and affordable financial services for poor, vulnerable groups, disadvantaged areas for accelerated growth and for†¦show more content†¦Financial inclusion and financial literacy: Having understood the simple meaning of financial literacy, now its time to get an understanding of financial literacy and its impact on financial inclusion. Financial inclusion: Before entering the concept of financial inclusion, let’s have a look at some statistics: †¢ There are 403 million mobile users in India and out of them 46% does not have bank accounts. †¢ Nearly 400 million Indians have bank accounts and that is less than 40% of country’s population. †¢ Account holding pattern of India, 39% of rural population have bank accounts and while 60% of urban population have accounts. †¢ Only 5.2% of India’s 6,50,000 villages have bank branches. †¢ Nearly 80% of the Indian population is without life, health and non-life insurance coverage while whole life insurance coverage is 4%, and 0.6% have non-life cover. †¢ Rural India accounts for just 9% of total deposits, 7% of total credit and 10% of life insurance and 0.6% of non-life insurance. On one hand we talk about the increasingly aware Indian Middle classes who have access to disposable income and we also talk about how banks are providing them with various innovative new and attractive schemes and products and thereby are offering them with a safe and secure future. With all these and much more, by keeping in mind the recent statistics, can India really march ahead while the

Convergence of Military Revolutions - 1409 Words

Running Head: Convergence of Military Revolutions How did the convergence of Military Revolutions contribute to the costly and indecisive character of World War I? Submitted by [Name of Researcher] Name of Discipline [Area of Study] Name of Institution Logo of Institution 22 January 2012 Contents I. Introduction 3 II. Plans made in anticipation of the War and Doctrine failed. 3 III. Evolved weapons technologies resulted in prolonged stalemate and enormous losses of personnel and equipment. 5 IV. Both sides tried innovations to break the deadlock. 6 V. Conclusion 6 References 8 I. Introduction World War I was an epic war in the history of mankind. It is purportedly the sixth largest war in human history. And in its eventuality nearly 32 countries were involved. (Townshend, 1997 ) Both sides, the Allies and the Central Powers were fighting for power and world dominance, and both were equally strong and populous. Moreover, military tactics were old following from Napoleonic wars, whereas arms and equipment were innovated. Therefore, each side had to first learn the ways of using these weapons and in their experiments with the weaponry in war killed thousands of people with neither side being able to claim categorical victory. The war carried on for nearly four year, and while it may not have been the longest war, its nature was indecisive and had Germany not stopped and called for an armistice, there would have been more fighting and killing.Show MoreRelatedWorld War I: Military Revolutions and the Onset of a New Era828 Words   |  3 PagesQuestion: How did the convergence of Military Revolutions contribute to the costly and indecisive character of World War I? World War One: Military Revolutions and the Onset of a New Era World War I was the beginning of the idea of industrial war, involving the productive power of entire nations, and despite massive casualties and cost, neither alliance could achieve decisive operational or strategic victory. The onset of the industrial revolution in the 19th century, as well as the increasingRead MoreGreat Philosophers Like Adam Smith, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.1589 Words   |  7 PagesSarkar have proven revolutions to be a buildup of cyclical events. Political, economic, and social events have a pattern that they follow and move as never ending cycles rather than having specific starting and ending points. Revolutions originate from a convergence of cyclical economic, political, and social, events that work together to create an uprising or disturbance within a mass of people. The roots of these cycles are mother nature, the mentality of the masses, and military strength. EconomicRead MoreThe Security Industry And Its Effect On Its Functional Operation866 Words   |  4 Pagescreation of network products thus eliminating the need for human resources. As inter-connectivity is rapidly expanding and evolving, so to are emerging technological trends and their applicability to the security industry. As it applies to the revolution of cyber-technology, the security industry may choose to view this element through three lenses – internet-of-things (IoT), social networking and ethical approaches. The future of digital marketing and business opportunities will see the emergenceRead MoreThe Battle Of Khorramshahr And The War1412 Words   |  6 Pagescompromise with Iran over border disputes and the two countries signed the Algiers Accord in 1975, equally distributing the Shatt al-Arab river amongst Iran and Iraq and turning it into an International waterway. The Shatt al-Arab river, formed by the convergence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is on the southern Iran-Iraq border. This river is strategic because it is the primary point of access to the Persian Gulf for the two countries. Beginning in the sixteenth century, the Ottoman and Persian empiresRead MoreVietnam War : A Peaceful, Independent, And Unified Vietnam1606 Words   |  7 Pagesgovernment renewed the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty or ANPO with America despite large-scale domestic public opposition, and thus maintained the U.S. occupation and its military bases in Okinawa. The ANPO movement in Japan consisted of two causes during the 60’s. For one, it opposed the U.S-handed peace and democracy with implicit military strings attached, as vividly illustrated in Fig. 1. For another, it argued against the Kadena Base in Okinawa (Fig. 3 4) that enabled America to bomb Vietnam convenientlyRead MoreThe Warfare During The World War II Essay1137 Words   |  5 Pagesor guerr illa power, in a restricted area† (Frunzet), this is known as unconventional warfare. Most adversaries that the United States has faced can be classified as either a conventional or unconventional force. Since moving into the information revolution, there is another type of battle tactic that has come into existence: cyber warfare. This involves attacking enemies via the Internet, targeting anything that requires Internet access, such as power plants. Recently, U.S. forces and North AtlanticRead MoreU.s. Foreign Policy Policies1297 Words   |  6 Pageshalf of the wealth of the entire world, taking advantage from wrecked competitors and the industrial boom of the war (Chomsky, 2010). Washington found allies in right-wing military dictators that agreed to promote ‘open economies’ (Petras Veltmeyer, 2001:150). At the eve of the Cold War, and in the face of the Cuban Revolution and the rise of communist and nationalist parties, the strategy was the containment of C ommunism, which eventually designed the frontiers of the U.S. informal empire (PetrasRead MoreGellner1133 Words   |  5 Pagesavailable to the dominated, yet this is clearly not always the case as the case studie below will show. China Gellner claims that â€Å"the social organization of agrarian society, however, is not at all favorable to the nationalist principle, to the convergence of political and cultural units, and to the homogeneity and school-transmitted nature of culture within each political unit (Gellner, 1983, 38-39).† China is a complex country which, on some points, seems to break away from Gellner’s conceptionRead MoreModern War2230 Words   |  9 PagesWar. However each of these wars can be considered the first modern war based on different merits. These wars can share similarities between each other which can create confusion over the question what was the first modern war. Following the French Revolution the idea of the state was changed the boundaries and leaders soon began the rallying cry for people to fight for the nation. â€Å"The war of 1792 to 1814/15 thus became - first unilaterally by France and then by the belated and usually hesitant responseRead MoreFactors that Shape d the Invention and Development of Television in the UK Up to 19391753 Words   |  8 Pagesform. Akin to the telephone it could have been used as a two-way device and showing images of both of its users at either end of the communication; it could have been used for Air ministry purposes as a reconnaissance device for the military; but the changes that took place within its development were not only linked to technological achievements but to other influential factors as well. Social and Cultural factors =========================== New technologies

Matsuo Basho Natures Meaning Essay Example For Students

Matsuo Basho: Natures Meaning Essay Matsuo Basho: Natures Meaning BY mah36532 Meredith Hood Mr. Morris English 2210-020 19 September 2013 Natures Meaning Poets often use nature as a source of inspiration in their works. Nature, itself, is a very graceful subject and can be used to express an array of human emotion and feeling. One famous poet that uses nature to portray his inner spirits is Matsuo Basho. This is evident in his work Oku no Hosomichi or The Narrow Road to the Deep North. His piece is a travelogue, which captures the pilgrimage through the northern part of Japan he and his travel companion, Sora, took to emulate the experiences and nderstandings of the places, cherished by poets before him. This masterpiece is much more than merely a travelogue of his Journeys though, but also a composition of haikus, conversation, and Journal entries that encapsulates the emotions and feelings he experiences. Basho is able to express and reflect these feelings from each new experience in his writings through use nature, as a symbolic image of his inner spirit. In the beginning of the novel Basho describes his decision to take the Journey to the deep north, and uses nature to convey his worries and thoughts about traying away from home- l felt uncertain, wondering whether I would see again the cherry blossoms on the boughs at Ueno and Yanaka. Basho is using the cherry blossoms as a symbolic image to depict the disturbance he is feeling about leaving. In questioning that he may not see the cherry blossoms (a Japanese flower that only blossoms for a short period of time) again, he is referring to the way their splendor and beauty is only there for a time and is gone within only a short period. One can infer that Basho is suggesting that with the uncertainties, which lay ahead, he may ot return home for lifes beauty can be taken away in Just a moment, like the cherry blossoms. This sentiment can be portrayed in numerous other ways as well. The blossoms can also be used as a metaphor for his village in a sense that the brilliance and beauty he cherishes of life there now could possibly no longer exist upon his return, for everything is changing and moving with time, like natures beauty in the blossom. Overall, using both of these understandings of his use of nature, Basho is depicting his sadness in leaving a place he has known to love and treasure. (618) Basho then proceeds to exemplify his and his villiages emotions of his departure with the use of nature agian. He writes, When I disembarked at a place called SenJu standing at the crossroads of the illusory world, I wept at the parting. Basho then illustrates his thoughts of the leaving with a haiku: Spring going-I birds crying and tears/ in the eyes of the fish. The symbolic image of nature allows the reader to convey multiple meanings of his emotions at the time. One, with the knowledge of lines prior, can arrive at the image of birds crying and tears/ in the eyes of the fish efers to Basho as the bird crying and his friends and family as the fish in these sorrow filled stanzas. The bird can be thought of as Basho as he is torn away crying from his home or nest to explore nature. Also birds crying can be inferred as the Dlra Is unaDle to nolo DacK In tears In nls eyes, nor can Basno In a sense nolo DacK but must flow from his roots into new beginnings. With that being said, the descriptions of nature in tears in the eyes of the fish can be thought of as Bashos friends and the family mourning at his parting and must stay back, much like the ears of the fish. The fish then generates an example of how nature is representing the mournful village from which Basho is distraught. Additionally, in the first stanza, spring going-, is another depiction of nature giving numerous significances in Bashos hidden emotions. Spring going- suggests spring ending, a time of happiness and beauty also reflecting back to the cherry blossoms, and summer beginning, which is the time of the yearly migration of birds to the north, like Basho- the crying bird. There is no correct answer to what Basho was precisely meaning, but uch comparisons to nature displays his departure was filled with sorrowful emotion of both Basho and loved ones as he departs from home into the deep north. (618) Another instance when Basho uses nature to illustrate his inner emotions is when his pilgrimage truly begins. .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .postImageUrl , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:hover , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:visited , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:active { border:0!important; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:active , .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u458114c7a71805aa6ecad67b1ad1b8cc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Prevention Of Teenage Pregnancy EssayIt can be speculated that Basho emotions of sorrow has transformed into insightfulness and inspiration when describing the images of nature surrounding him after they reach Mount Nikko, also referred to as Light of the Sun. This mountian holds one of the holiest shrines in Japan and is where other ravelers Journey to meditate. Awe inspiring! on the green leaves, budding leaves/ light of the sun, Basho writes about the mountain and its natural beauty. In the haiku Bashos use of nature clearly depicts his inner change in spirit and displays a matured spirit. It can be inferred that Basho uses the image of green leaves, budding leaves/ light of the sun, to compare himself to a plant sprouting new life because of the light of the sun, or the mountain of Nikko. He associates the plant budding, as himself being renewed and inspired back to new life after the being on he mountain and not it has shed knowledge and growth on his inner spirit. (619) Additionally, another perception of nature informally exposing Matsuo Bashos inner emotion and feelings of his experiences is when they reach the Sutra Hall and the Hall of Light. He states that they had heard such wonderful things about the beauty of the halls, but upon seeing them he believes otherwise. He sets a tone of the halls, being strained by its surroundings- the doors of Jewels, torn by the wind; the pillars of gold, rotted in the snow. In these lines the weather, or nature, is symbolizing his ourney and how it has exhausted and weakened him, as are the halls deteriorating in beauty and substance. Basho then proceeds to state that the hall should have turned a mound of empty, abandoned grass, but the four sides were enclosed urviving the snow and the rain. Basho shows his emotion of the feeling that he too is fading like the halls and that he should have not have made it thus far. In describing how the hall is weathered and should have died away he is also depicting his emotion of himself being alone and worn from the troubling and gruesome ourney, yet they still continue to exist. Basho also writes this haiku to illustrate his feelings further: H ave the summer rains/ come and gone, sparing/ the Hall of Light? which perhaps relates natures role on the hall and himself again, sparing both of them. (623) As seen through these samples of Matsuo Bashos work The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Basho uses these many comparisons and images of nature to illustrate his moving experiences throughout his pilgrimage. Along with these lines Trom nls work tnere are many otner Instances tnrougnout Basnos travelogue In hich demonstrate these feelings he underwent in his travels. He was able to find some sort of inspiration from simple scenes of nature and use them to convey emotions and feelings in his poetry and writing as seen. Overall, nature is a perfect way for Basho to paint a picture, in a sense, of the emotions and feelings he has had- for nature presents an array of images to convey the thoughts he is having. Works Cited Basho, Matsuo. From The Narrow Road to the Deep North. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin OPuchner. 3rd ed. Vol. D. New York: Norton, 2012. 616-628. print.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha Essays - Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, Roddy Doyle

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha The novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha has no authorial presence at all, yet the reader gains a richer understanding of the situation than Paddy ? or any other 10-year old ? could ever have. With regard to the parent's break up, how does Doyle achieve this? There are many factors which suggest how Doyle has succeeded in creating a 'triangular relationship' between himself the reader and the narrator ? Paddy Clarke ? so that the reader has a greater awareness of the predicament that Paddy is in. Doyle's achievement is how he alternates the poetic and realistic without once lapsing into stream-of-self-consciousness; the only way we - as readers can tell it's written by an adult, is by the spelling. We see the violence in Paddy's life peripherally; Doyle tells us nothing more than what the child sees and comprehends. One of the reasons for Roddy Doyle's success lies in creating a realistic and convincing character for a 10-year old child. He does this by his clever use of language, and also in how he arranges his sentences to convey deep emotion and feeling than any emotive language could: ?He'd hit her. Across the face; smack. I tried to imagine it. It didn't make sense. I'd heard it; he'd hit her. She'd come out of the kitchen, straight up to their bedroom. Across the face.? ? P190 In this instance, Doyle has used short and evident sentences, to invoke a feeling of awe and confusion. The short sentences represent how Paddy is dumbstruck and lost for words, shocked by what he's heard ? this is also highlighted when he says here; ?I tried to imagine it. It didn't make sense.? Here, he also emphatically uses onomatopoeia ? ?smack,? ? which adds to the sense of fearful respect and also Paddy's child-like interpretation of events. Repetition is used here ? ?Across the face? ? heading his oft-repeated amazement. Another example of how Doyle uses repetition can be seen on pages 153 and 154: ?I waited for them to say something different, wanting it - Only now, all I could do was listen and wish. I didn't pray; there were no prayers for this?. But I rocked the same way as I did when I was saying prayers?.I rocked - Stop stop stop stop ? .? Doyle uses repetition to show Paddy's anxiety, when he repeats ?stop'. Here, Paddy is mentally commanding his parents to stop in desperation, as he thought he had done on page 42: ? - Stop. There was a gap. It had worked; I'd forced them to stop.? He believes that he has the power to make his parents stop arguing, as shown on page 42, but realisation dawns when he repeatedly tells them to stop on page 154, and it doesn't work. This reflects on the fact that Paddy Clarke is a child, and his inability to restrain his emotions is a facet of his youth showing through. Another childish aspect throughout the book is how Paddy ? like other children at that age would ? spouts offhand irrelevant knowledge that's he's picked up from class or elsewhere: ?Snails and slugs were gastropods; they had stomach feet?. The real name for soccer was association football. Association football was played with a round ball on a rectangular pitch by two sides of eleven people?... Geronimo was the last of the renegade Apaches I learned this by heart. I liked it.? Readers can relate to this, as we can all remember when we'd learnt something that we'd found particularly fascinating at school or the library, and recited it all the time, thinking we were clever. Another reason why the reader of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha has a higher understanding than is simply because the adult audience has more experience in family issues ? from our own experiences. We can see the violence in his life superficially; we are told nothing more than what the child sees and comprehends. A good example of this can be found on page 95: ?Ma said something to Da. I didn't hear it?. I looked at ma again. She was still looking at Da. Catherine had one of Ma's fingers in her mouth

The Dog Days free essay sample

Jasper Jones is an Australian novel written by Craig Silvey, from the opening line Craig Silvey puts the reader right in the action. Jasper Jones is written in the first person from Charlie Bucktin’s point of view, he is a teenage boy living in a country town called Corrigan. The novel starts when Jasper Jones pays Charlie an unexpected visit in the middle of the night. And the novel tells the story of how Charlie’s life changes from that moment on. Charlie’s recollection of events is shared honestly, making the story both tangible and humorous. The font cover of Jasper Jones The novel was short listed for the Miles Franklin award in 2010. Jasper Jones is a page turner a ‘whodunit’. Craig Silvey has created a tightly crafted novel and Jasper’s arrival foreshadows the beginning of the hero’s journey for Charlie. From the opening page Charlie and the reader want to know why, Jasper has come to his room in the middle of the night? The action of the story starts immediately. We will write a custom essay sample on The Dog Days or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Charlie is a teenager who has never snuck away from home, the fact that Jasper has sort him out is both thrilling and ominous. Jasper asks Charlie if he is ready! â€Å"What? Ready for what? † Jasper doesn’t give any details, â€Å"I tole you. I need your help, Come on. † Craig Silvey via his characters, raises engaging story questions to keep the reader involved. Charlie is conflicted, he tells us he is excited yet afraid, this inner conflict also adds to the drama of the first chapter, as we also get a sense of who these characters are. The scene is set in the first chapter, Charlie is following Jasper through the town, and like Charlie the reader has no idea where they are headed. Charlie describes where they are, and as he thinks the reader is introduced to the key characters in the town. Every detail raised in the opening chapter is paid off either in the first chapter or by the end of the novel. We learn about Charlie’s dreams and about the social currency of the small-minded Australian town, called Corrigan. Charlie’s thoughts give us important back story. For example they stop out the front of Mad Jack Lionel’s place, which Charlie hopes is not their destination. The reader learns about the local urban myth surrounding Mad Jack Lionel. And how to raise your social status in town- by stealing peaches from Mad Jack’s tree. This back story helps set up the story themes; of truth, courage and coming of age. Jasper Jones, explores dynamic relationships of love, friendship, loyalty and abuse. The characters are strong with a terrific commaraderie between Jeffery and Charlie. It is well worth a look, it’s not just for young adults but for adults who love reading a book that you can’t put down.

How does the hosting of the world cup 2022 affect Qatars economy

How does the hosting of the world cup 2022 affect Qatars economy Introduction Qatar is the first nation within the Middle East region to be awarded the right to host the World Cup in the year 2022. The country had tagged the phrase â€Å"Expect Amazing† to their bid to host the prestigious tournament. The committee anticipates an estimated half a million visitors in the country during the tournament. This number represents a large percentage of the total population of the nation. The committee projects that the tournament will have a substantial impact on the economy of the country.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How does the hosting of the world cup 2022 affect Qatar’s economy? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In line with development within the nation, the authorities had set aside a whopping $100 million to improve on the infrastructure before the announcement was made that they would host the prestigious tournament (Willis 132). This amount is close to 90 percent of the gross domestic product (Willis 127). The money was set aside to be spent on various projects under the vision 2030 master plan that many people considered being ambitious. The announcement only stoked the flames of the spending plans by fast tracking the entire program, which was expected to be completed by the year 2022. The grand plan involves government expenditure of over $40 billion while the rest of the funding may come from other bodies such as Qatar petroleum (Willis 132). There are quite a number ambitious projects included in the grand plan mainly in sectors such as education, health transport, housing and tourism. There are also major plans to revamp and improve on the railway and metro transport systems with a whopping sum of around $25 billion (Willis 132). There is already progress in the construction of the first phase of the New Doha airport that is going to cost $10 billion (Fromherz 94). The plan is to replace the airport entirely in the long run. The country planned to launch the first phase of the airport for open use in less than two years. The later phases are planned for the next 15 years. The capacity of the airport is expected to increase tenfold with the number of passengers projected at 24 million annually in the beginning (Fromherz 97). The plan is to expand this number to around 50 million people annually. There are other substantial projects such as the $1 billion link for crossing to the modern airport, and the $7 billion seaport in the deep waters as well as other projects in the northern side of the city (Fromherz 99). The road network will see an injection of $20 billion for expansion as well as enhancements. The bridge projects dubbed the Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge will also see a radical injection of $4 billion (Fromherz 99).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Differences that h osting the World Cup can make in Qatar By hosting the World Cup, Qatar will feel the urgency through the provision of stiffer deadlines for the completion of the projects. This will play a crucial role in displaying the country’s ability to host the tournament. The authorities have already publicized the inauguration of 200 projects, which they aim to set off in diverse regions (Willis 132). The plans to set off the railway and metro systems are expected to have been finished by the time the World Cup is going to start (Fromherz 179). This is in a bid to cater for the huge influx of visitors expected in the region at the time of the tournament. The pace at which the Qatar-Bahrain road is being handled will have to be picked up, with more attention being focused on the project so that it will be completed much faster than anticipated. It may be pertinent to note that most of the projects that have been mentioned in this paper were already in place before the major announcement that the country was going to host the tournament. Moreover, the region will also gain from further funding and spending on projects that will be undertaken principally for the World Cup tournament. There are two main areas that the country will receive major boosts. These are the hospitality and the sports sectors (Willis 132). The blueprint for the tournament in the country has included 12 stadiums that will be ready for use by the year 2021. They include the expansion of three existing stadiums as well as nine modern structures that will be able to hold over 40,000 people each (Willis 132). The total cost upon the completion of the projects is estimated at around $4 billion. There are additional plans to construct around 100,000 additional boarding facilities as much as the required number is 65,000, which is the number according to FIFA (Chaddock 138). For sure, the subsequent shot in the arm for the economy of Qatar ought not to be taken too lightly. There has never been a mor e opportune moment than this one. There are several instances that can be referred to as coincidences, such as the nation achieving its target of 77 million LNG production tons per annum in the middle of pessimism, regarding the country’s capability of sustaining the increased growth, following the completion of gas related projects. Projections of an increase of 20 percent in the coming year brought about elation and roused feelings of joy among the people of Qatar. The International Monetary Fund focused these projections. The country is already the second leading recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) after Saudi Arabia.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How does the hosting of the world cup 2022 affect Qatar’s economy? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The World Investment Report of 2010 from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) indicates that last year alone, Qatar more than doubled the value of foreign direct investments it received. This was from $4.1 billion to a stunning $8.8 billion (Chaddock 205). Wonderful progress in the field of energy, especially in the production of gas was attributed to this increase. The awarding of the prestigious tournament to the country will definitely see an increase in the foreign direct investment in the region. Implications to the country The general spending plans of the country are set to bring about major development in the region. Aside from the fact that the general plans are already massive, the World Cup is set to bring about major changes to the nation. All this spending is aimed at benefiting the country massively. One of the main outcomes will be continued economic growth, which would result from the injection of funding into the economy. The country had recently seen a marked increase in the growth rate that had been brought about by the massive buildup in volumes within the division of h ydrocarbon, which was almost ending (Rahman 234). The ambitious plan to spend vast amounts of money in order to accommodate the upcoming tournament will steer the economy away from its dependence on hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the corporate world will get a significant role to play when there is a marked increase in the input of non-hydrocarbon associated undertakings. Because enhancements in the set-up had not kept at par with the hastened development of the populace or the economic structure, the region will also experience some sense of relief from the deficiencies and bottlenecks that have been piling up over the years through investments in the framework. Additional progress in the years to come may be stimulated by innovative investments. The most interesting aspect about this is that it augurs well for the plans in the country by the authorities to make it a center of attraction by improving the tourism sector. The financial subdivision in the country will experience remarkabl e ramifications through the spending program. Sectors such as investment and banking will be some of the key legatees. Quite a number of projects that have been sponsored by the authorities, which have been influential in assisting the banking sector to recuperate following recent global financial catastrophes.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Financial institutions will be assisted to increase revenues that they raise through increased business fee generating projects as well as the acme column development via sustained plans for the years yet to come. There is also the projection that some firms will go for initial public offerings in order to seek for funding from the public, resulting in bottomless stock market reserves. The result of all this will be a marked improvement in Qatar’s competitiveness and attempts to make it the financial hub in the region. Effects on the entire region The six member states signed a treaty or pact offering assurance to the Gulf Cooperation Council companies who are likely to chase up on emerging business prospects that may be brought about by this magnificent sporting activity. The treaty offers GCC companies operating rights to some of the most lucrative businesses in the region. The companies may operate branches in member states. The key resolution was implemented in Abu Dhabi summit of 2010 at the 31st conference (Chaddock 145). The region is sure to experience a dramatic and significant boost in intra-regional trade. The countries that surround Qatar are sure to provide raw materials that are not found in the region. This will in turn increase the economies. The main financial organizations will gain a lot from the activities that will be taking place since they will be financing, as well as servicing the superfluity of ventures brought about by the illustrious sporting activity. Caution to be taken when evaluating the impacts of the projects Several aspects in terms of risks have to be contemplated in pursuit of successful implementation of the projects. In the first place, the administrations finances will receive unwanted pressure due to planned spending, which brings about this risk in most cases. The rate at which the administration is borrowing from local financial institutions has steadily risen in recent years. It has also increased its issuance of bonds in a bid to raise money for implementation of projects. In addition, as it mostly happens, the money that is spent may overshoot the planned costs causing the definitive bill to be revised in an upward direction over years. Nevertheless, the steep climb in spending estimates may always be softened by an immense reserve in foreign assets as well as sturdy revenues from the hydrocarbon industry. One more consideration worth taking note of is the expensive inheritance assets, which will stay in the country following the finale of the World Cup. There are aspects such as the excessive number of hotel rooms that will be built (Chaddock 215). They will be oversupplied. Another aspect is the stadiums that will be left after the tournament. The 12 stadiums will be grossly underutilized since the country will not be able to maximize on them after the tournament. Conversely, the administration aims to get around this issue by disassembling them and offering less developed countries with the structures as gifts. In any case, the need to satisfy the world football governing body FIFA’s rules regarding the World Cup does not interfere with the amount of money that they intend to spend on the projects. Prospects about brought by the sporting event The plans that have been put in place, and the forever growing gas business, in accordance with reviews proffered by statistical departments in the sector, the gas reserves in the country are a whopping 25.5 trillion cubic meters (Fromherz 77). This is equivalent to almost 14% of the justified reserves in the world. There are reports from various quarters such as the International Monetary Fund, which indicate that the prospects for the country are looking up for the people. The economy is set to experience a rise. The rate at which the economy is expected to grow is around 20 percent in the coming year. This is assuming that there is no catastrophic pressure on inflation. There are projections of the inflation ra te sticking at around the bear minimal of 3 percent in situations that there is no rise in the prices of energy. From a wider perspective, the chance to change the economy of the country is here, and the administration ought not to let it pass them by. This is the opportune moment to turn the economy into a worldwide economy. The major dreams that the people of Qatar have had may be finally realized with the coming on of the World Cup in the country. It may act as one of the strongest facilitators that may catapult the economic status of Qatar into one of the strongest in the region and the world collectively. Conclusion It is pertinent to note that some of the key divisions that are set to make gains from the advent of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar include the hospitality, construction, and the banking industries, as well as the infrastructure. It is obvious that there will also be sizeable gains for the allied and service sectors, which offer backing, as well as accolade to the divi sions that have been named above. This is the right time for many businesses to set up their operations in the country so that they may take advantage of the upcoming situation. Sports events will always make a monumental impact on any nation that they are held. The Middle East is one of the areas where there has been a lot of apprehension regarding any events. This is due to many factors including climatic, historical, and religious reasons. With enhanced security in the region and the world as a whole. The World Cup is set to take off in 2022 in some of the most secure places in the world. Chaddock, David. Qatar: The Business Travelers’ Handbook, Northampton, MA: Interlink Books, 2003. Print. Fromherz, Allen. Qatar: A Modern History, London, England: I.B Tauris, 2011. Print. Rahman, Habibur. The Emergence of Qatar: The Turbulent Years, London, England: K. Paul, 2005. Print. Willis, Terry. Qatar: Enchantment of The World, Chicago, ILL: Children’s Press, 2004. Print.

Evidence Based Nursing. Watchful Waiting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence Based Nursing. Watchful Waiting - Essay Example It is a solid guideline developed specifically for physicians when treating cases and complications emanating from AOM. The adduced evidence in the article is quite relevant to nursing practice owing to the many sources of data that have been used to develop it. In addition, the guidelines were compiled by specialists from different medical fields that are allied to AOM such as infectious diseases and microbiology. Although the steps outlined in the source are many, they are quite simple to follow for any medical practitioner. It completely discourages the automatic prescription of antibiotics for AOM cases. Block, S. L. (1997). Causative Pathogens, Antibiotic Resistance and Therapeutic Considerations in Acute Otitis Media. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 16, 449–456. This article can be classified as a filtered as well as summary of evidence which came about through a symposium that discussed the challenges of antibiotic resistance. In the recent past, there has been an unprecedented increase of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics which has affects the treatment of AOM. This is because antibiotics have been viewed as the choice of treatment and as such, their prescription has been abused. The evidence summary in the article summarizes way of handling antibiotic resistance and therefore makes it appropriate for nursing practice. Underlying causative microbes of AOM are different and it follows then that before prescription of antibiotics the causative pathogens must be known. Moreover, research has shown that some antibiotics are only effective in particular pathogens which underscore the need for proper diagnosis of causative pathogens. Kelley, P. E., Friedman, N., Johnson, C. (2007). Ear, nose, and throat. In W. W. Hay, M. J. Levin, J. M. Sondheimer, & R. R. Deterding (Eds.), Current Pediatric Diagnosis And Treatment (18th ed., pp. 459–492). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. The information contained in this source is on ears, nose and throat infections which in different ways are connected to AOM. As such, it is a filtered article which articulates the different pathogens that cause infections in ears, nose and throat. These three parts (ears, nose and throat) are in close proximity and therefore infection in one part can be easily transmitted to other areas. Moreover, the article is also an evidence based guideline due to the information that it avails on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of infections that are found within those three parts. The information here is detailed, well researched and presented thereby making it appropriate for nursing practice. Much of the information is summarized in a diagram that contains steps to follow when handling cases of AOM. McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of Acute Otitis Media In An Era Of Increasing Microbial Resistance. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 17, 576–579 Just like the previous three articles, this article is both an evidence summary an d a filtered source because it articulates the way forward when handling AOM cases. It synthesizes many peer reviewed articles and states that there is no single or clear way of treating cases of AOM. This is because the causative pathogens are different with varying levels of virulence and sometimes antibiotics may be used in combination. It follows then that there is no standard way of handling AOM cases due to factors such as efficacy of antibiotics, causative pathogens and their virulence. The appropriateness of this article to nursing practice is found in its excellent articulation and synthesis of

What the Arab States Can Do To Help Bring About Perpetual Peace Term Paper

What the Arab States Can Do To Help Bring About Perpetual Peace between Israel and the Palestinians - Term Paper Example Sadly, continued state of war is what brings Palestinians together and so they consider war to be the safer choice as opposed to perpetual peace. The Palestinian leadership has remained strong to demands they are sure will never be acceptable to Israel because they believe that negotiating peace with Israeli will probably end the Palestinian entity and it will disintegrate what holds the Palestinians together hence leading to loss of political control and cohesion. Therefore, according to Palestinian leadership, creating peace with Israel will only bring suffering to the Palestinians and so they feel safe with a perpetual state of war. 11 The rivalry between the Israeli and Palestinian has attracted the establishment of many agreements, but none has succeeded in bringing peace between the two states. Arguably, Israel and the Palestinians have mutually conflicting national interests, which are very difficult to be reconciled, and in both cases, these interests have a wide consensus. The Palestinian side focuses on an independent and autonomous state from which, it can establish a strategy aimed at eradicating Israel altogether, regain the East Jerusalem and eliminate all the settlements. On the contrary, Israeli’s side mainly stands against allowing Palestinian refugees to go back to their nation and division of Jerusalem. For this reason, Israel has been attacking and terrorizing Palestinians and killing innocent children. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians seem to last for long especially after the failure of several peace interventions and this has attracted further research on how to terminate conflict and reconcile the two regions and specifically, what other Arab States can contribute to resolve the issue. A qualitative research methodology is conducted in assessing what Arab States should do to bring peace between Israel and Palestine. In this case, the proposal will utilize a review of

Ethiopia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethiopia - Essay Example The major ethnic groups inhabiting Ethiopia are Oromo (40 percent), Amhara (20 percent), Tigrayan (12 percent) and Sidama (9 percent) (Cities of the World, 2002). Amharic happens to be the Official language of Ethiopia. The other languages spoken in Ethiopia include English, Italian, Tigriyna, French, Oromiffa, Arabic, Afara and Somali (Cities of the World, 2002). Nearly 45 percent of the Ethiopians happen to be adherents of Ethiopian Orthodox Church while an approximately the same number are affiliated to Islam. Since the fall of the Marxist regime in 1991, Ethiopia has decentralized its economic planning and has opted for open market policies (Cities of the World, 2002). Agriculture stands to be the most promising sector in Ethiopia that contributes more then 50 percent of its GDP and roughly 80 percent of all the Ethiopian exports (Cities of the World, 2002). Ethiopia has one of the most underdeveloped infrastructures in Africa. The economic problems in rural Ethiopia happened to be rampant and widespread. Thus, the unleashing of agrarian reforms in Ethiopia was essential to give boost to its ailing economy. The unique climate and topography of Ethiopia defined by dry deserts and drought and famine were primarily responsible for the pathetically low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The poor agricultural infrastructure and the recurrent famines in Ethiopia gave way to a large-scale poverty in the rural communities. The scarce rainfall depleted the fertility of the agricultural land and thus appropriate measures needed to be taken to improve soil fertility and the gross agricultural productivity. The Pattern of land occupancy in Ethiopia has been very intricate and complex. For example, in Welo province only there existed more then 111 types of land tenure systems (Economy Watch, 2009). Therefore, these utterly complex and confusing land tenure systems combined with very scarce knowledge and information about the land conditions made it difficult to estimate and qualify the land ownership throughout Ethiopia (Economy Watch, 2009). Thus, a pragmatic approach towards introducing land reforms in Ethiopia made it a must to grasp the nature of differences existing in the varied patterns of land ownership in the North and the South (Economy Watch, 2009). The prevalent patterns of land ownership in Ethiopia made it next to impossible the achievement of economic objectives like an increase in the agricultural productivity and an uplifting of the economic conditions of the Ethiopian peasants. Thus, the state and the intelligentsia in Ethiopia soon came to realize the inevitability of agrarian reforms to rescue Ethiopia from the economic morass in which it was caught. Sometime in the 60s, large sections of the student community started campaigning for the introduction of the land reforms in E

Criminology Essays Punishing Treating Preventing

Criminology Essays Punishing Treating Preventing Punishing Treating Preventing Punishing, treating and preventing crime An obvious question to pose regarding offenders is, how can they be prevented from recidivism? Examining the effectiveness of ways in which the judicial system responds to offenders will only enhance the understanding of how reoffending can be removed. One of the many ways in which a judicial system can respond to crime is by imprisoning an offender. Imprisonment can serve a number of possible functions including; retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and reform (Putwain and Sammons, 2002). Whether or not prison works is under constant review and there is much disagreement on which of the possible functions should serve its purpose (Bottomley and Pease, 1986; Home Office, 1994; Zamble, 1990). Together with questioning if it is an effective response to crime, there are numerous psychological effects of imprisonment (Dooley, 1990; Heather, 1977; Rasch, 1981; Zamble and Porporino, 1988). Besides imprisonment, legal systems all over the world have a variety of other means of punishing and rehabilitating offenders. Different countries favour different methods but in Britain and the US, the most common forms of non-custodial sentences are fines (Caldwell, 1965; Feldman, 1993; Walker and Farringdon, 1981), probation (Oldfield, 1996; Roshier, 1995) and community service (Evans and Koederitz, 1983; Schneider, 1986). There is evidence that, for some offenders, these forms of sentence are at least as effective as imprisonment and have a number of additional benefits. In particular, they are cheaper to administer than custodial sentences. You can get expert help with your essays right now. Find out more The various custodial and non-custodial measures employed by judicial systems are designed to serve a number of purposes of which rehabilitation is only one. The failure of judicial sanctions to make a significant difference to crime rates (Lipsey, 1992) has prompted a number of psychologists to put forward rehabilitation programmes based on psychological principles. These differ from judicial sanctions in two important ways (Putwain and Sammons, 2002). Firstly, their aim is solely to reduce the probability of reoffending, rather than exacting justice on the offender. Secondly, they are based on psychological theories of offending instead of the notions of ‘human nature’ on which judicial sanctions are often based. A large number of these interventions have been tried, however those behavioural and cognitive treatments for offending have had the most success for instance; token economies (Ayllon and Milan, 1979; Cohen and Filipcjak, 1971; Hobbs and Holt, 1976), social skills training (Blackburn, 1993; Goldstein, 1986; Spence and Marzillier, 1981) and anger management (Ainsworth, 2000; Novaco, 1975). All such measures, both judicial and psychological are forms of crime prevention insofar as they aim to prevent offenders from committing further crimes. However, this is only one approach to preventing crime and is not what is usually meant by crime prevention. Brantingham and Faust (1976) have made a useful distinction between primary, secondary and tertiary crime prevention. Primary prevention refers to reducing opportunities for crime without reference to the individuals who commit it. Zero tolerance (Bratton, 1998; Sherman, 1997; Wilson and Kelling, 1982) together with environmental approaches such as closed circuit television surveillance (Burrows, 1980; Horne, 1996), target hardening and defensible space (Newman, 1973; Feldman, 1993; Wilson, 1980) are examples. Secondary prevention refers to measures directed at those at risk of becoming involved in crime to prevent them from doing so. Tertiary prevention refers to preventing further criminal behaviour by those who have already offended such as anger management. It is evident that that the utility of judicial measures in preventing reoffending is limited. In particular, for most offenders, imprisonment seems to be no more effective than non-custodial sentencing, which may be seen as preferable, as it is cheaper for the authorities and less detrimental to the offender. There has been inadequate success with psychological interventions, though cognitive-behavioural techniques appear to be more effective than purely behavioural techniques. Finally, it appears that the large range of crime prevention strategies that reduce the incidence of offending have a key impact in decreasing crime in a particular area. Nevertheless, there is evidence that such crime is simply displaced to other areas. Rigorous enforcement of the law, even for minor offences suggests a reduction in crime but only if used in conjunction with other measures to improve the quality of policing in a particular area. Whilst all such measures have some impact albeit minimal in many cases, none can justifiably be called a solution to the problem of crime. References: Ainsworth, P. B. (2000) Psychology and Crime: Myths and Reality. Harlow: Pearson Education Ayllon, T. and Milan, M. A. (1979) Correctional rehabilitation and management: a psychological approach. New York: Wiley. Blackburn, R. (1993) The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Bratton, W. J. (1998) ‘Crime is down to in New York City: Blame the police’ in N.Dennis (ed.) Zero Tolerance: Policing in a Free Society. London: IEA Health and Welfare Unit. Cohen, H. L. and Filipcjak, J. (1971) A new learning environment. San Francisco: Jossey Boss. Bottomley, K. and Pease, K. (1986) Crime and punishment: interpreting the data. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Brantingham, P. J. and Faust, F. L. (1976) ‘A conceptual model of crime prevention’ Crime and Delinquency, 22, 130-146. Burrows, J. (1980) ‘Closed circuit television and crime on the London Underground’ in R.V.G. Clarke and P. Mayhew (eds) Designing Out Crime. London: HMSO. Caldwell, R. G. (1965) Criminology (2nd Ed). New York: Ronald Press. Evans, R. C. and Koederitz, G. D. (1983) ‘The requirement of restitution for juvenile offenders: an alternative disposition’ Journal of Offender Counselling, Services and Rehabilitation, 7, 1-20. Feldman, P. (1993) The Psychology of Crime. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Heather, N. (1977) ‘Personal illness in lifers and the effects of long-term intermediate sentences’ British Journal of Criminology, 17, 378-386. Hobbs, T. R. and Holt, M. N. (1976) ‘The effects of token reinforcement on the behaviour of delinquents in cottage settings’ Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis, 9, 189-198. Home Office (1994) Criminal Statistics. London: Home Office. Horne, C. J. (1996) ‘The case for: CCTV should be introduced’ International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention, 1, 317-326. Lipsey, J. W. (1992) ‘Juvenile delinquency treatment: a meta-analytical enquiry into the variability of effects’ in T. Cook (ed.) Meta-Analysis for Explanation: A Casebook. New York: Russel Sage Foundation. Newman, O. (1973) Defensible Space: crime prevention through urban design. New York. Macmillan. Novaco, R. W. (1975) Anger Control. the development and evaluation of an experimental treatment. Lexington: D.C. Health. Oldfield, M. (1996) The Kent Reconviction Survey. Maidstone: Kent Probation Service. Putwain, D. W. and Sammons, A. (2001) Psychology. London: Letts Educational Rasch, W. (1981) ‘The effects of indeterminate detention: a study of men sentenced to life imprisonment’ International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 4, 417-431. Roshier, R. (1995) A comparative study of reconviction rates in Cleveland.Middlesbrough: Cleveland Probation Service. Schneider, A. L. (1986) ‘Restitution and recidivism rates of juvenile offenders: results from four experimental studies’ Criminology, 24, 533-552. Sherman, L. (1997) ‘Policing for crime prevention’ in L. Sherman, D. Gottfredson, D. MacKenzie, J. Eck, P. Reuter and S. Bushway (eds) Preventing crime: what Works, what doesn’t, what’s promising. Report to the United States Congress prepared for the National Institute of Justice http://www.preventingcrime.org/ Spence, S. H. and Marzillier, J. S. (1981) ‘Social skills training with adolescent male offenders: II Short term, long term and generalisation effects’ Behaviour Research and Therapy, 19, 349-368. Wilson, J. Q. and Kelling, G. W. (1982) ‘Broken Windows’ Atlantic Monthly, 249 (3), 29-38. Walker, N. and Farringdon, D. P. (1981) ‘Reconviction rates of adult males after different sentences’ British Journal of Criminology, 21, 357-360. Zamble, E. (1990) ‘Behavioural and psychological considerations in the success of prison reform’ in J .W. Murphy and J. E. Dison (Eds) Are Prisons any better? 20 years of prison reform. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Zamble, E. and Porporino, F. J. (1988) Coping, behaviour and adaptation in prison inmates. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Nursing Homes are a Haven for the Elderly Essay -- Nursing Homes Perso

Nursing Homes are a Haven for the Elderly A.) Security 1.)Curfews 2.)Lost faculties (No need to drive) 3.)Away from con-artists B.) Activities 1.)Entertainment/Songs (Brownies example) 2.)Activities/Crafts (Beta Club example) 3.)People of similar age C.)Health Care 1.)Takes stress off of the family 2.)Help with prescriptions and medicine 3.)In case of emergency... The Nursing Home: A Haven for the Elderly Today's nursing homes are excellent environments for our elderly. These establishments provide health care, entertainment, security, and above all, a home for over 1,000,000 American citizens over age 70. There is no better place for an individual who is slowly losing his or her faculties. During one's "golden years," one should not have to worry about daily chores like washing the dishes or mowing the lawn. One should be able to relax and enjoy life. Nursing homes give the elderly a chance to do just that. Security is a primary focus in most nursing homes. Curfews exist to insure the safety and protection of the residents. Also, busses take the senior citizens to places of common interest, such as the grocery store and local shopping malls. This alleviates the everyday stress of driving for those residents who are losing some of their basic faculties, and creates a safer driving environment for everyone. In addition, these ol...

Romeo and Juliet Film Review

Probably the worlds most famous love story has been retold in 1997 under the watchful hand of Baz Luhrman (Also directed Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom) who is trying to give this old Shakespeare classic, a more modern touch. Baz Luhrman simply takes the tragedy from the past, and drops it into the 21st century. In this strange new setting, the swords are tossed aside for guns but the old language, remains. Also the film is refreshed by young popular actors such as Leonardo di Caprio. This creates a bizarre mix, where the audience is left to think whether this is still the same old tragedy or something completely different. The actors mostly play their parts very well, but I think that Pete Postlethwaite (Friar Lawrence) who was also seen in In the Name of the Father and Miriam Margolyes (Nurse) were outstanding at portraying their characters and the best actors on the set. On the other hand I found the performance by the main figures Leonardo Di Caprio(Romeo) and Claire Danes (Juliet) appauling and it kind of felt like they knew their lines, but had no idea what they were actually talking about. An example of this is how Romeo sometimes says his words without expression or with expression in the wrong place. I think that these roles should have been taken over by more experienced actors, who have played Shakespeare plays before but Leonardo Di Caprio will probably be a reason for many teenagers to see this film so the reason why he was cast is probably because he will attract a bigger young audience There are not many special effects in this film, but definitely many more than in other versions of the story. I think that the camera was one of the major participants in this film as Luhrman did so many different types of shots and scenes that it just makes this film much more viewable. Examples of this are at the very beginning of the film, there are about 30 different shots right after one another which creates a very fast pace. Other examples include long shots of Verona which are shown very often all through the film, where you can see two big buildings, one with a Montague sign and the other one with a Capulet and a twirl of the camera as transitions between scenes. As always in love stories or tragedies, music is also a major helper in this film. A slow, romantic song is played when Romeo and Juliet first meet and funky loud music when Romeo and his friends enter the ball. What Luhrman mainly tries to do with this film, is to make the story more interesting and more appealing to a younger audience, which has decided to try and achieve this with more action packed scenes and fighting. This does though sometimes make the film seem unrealistic, childish even, like a teenagers version of the tragedy. This is for sure the most modern and action filled version of the play and I think it can be described as something fresh and new and completely different. This film is a great way of getting a younger generation of people interested in Shakespeare, as it included lots of action and fighting but I am not sure if this film is really a better version of Romeo and Juliet. Although it may not be as interesting and action packed, I think I still prefer the old boring classic Shakespeare tragedy.

Free Essays on The First President

First President George Washington George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, VA, on February 11, 1731. Washington’s family made a living by farming, land buying, trading, milling, and in the iron industry. George had ten brothers and sisters, four of which were his half siblings. George’s mother, Mary Ball, was Augustine’s second wife whom he had six of the ten children with. Little is known about George’s childhood, other than that he received little formal education. At a young age he showed a great skill in mathematics and soon got into surveying land. At the young age of 16 George secured a commission as surveyor of Culpepper County. In 1752, at the age of 21, George inherited Mt. Vernon from his brother Lawrence. In the early 1750’s both Britain and France wanted to occupy the upper Ohio valley area. The governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, sent Washington with an expeditionary force to guard an intended British fort at the forks of the Ohio River. While enroute Washington learned that the French had taken the fort, so George advanced to within 50 miles of the now French fort and erected Fort Necessity. On May 28, 1754 Washington ambushed a small French detachment, they killed ten men to include the commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers. This incident started the French and Indian War. The French claimed that the detachment was on a peaceful mission, Washington thought it was spying. Washington returned to Fort Necessity, which a large French force attacked on 3 July. Washington and his men were only able to hold Page 2 out for one ... Free Essays on The First President Free Essays on The First President First President George Washington George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, VA, on February 11, 1731. Washington’s family made a living by farming, land buying, trading, milling, and in the iron industry. George had ten brothers and sisters, four of which were his half siblings. George’s mother, Mary Ball, was Augustine’s second wife whom he had six of the ten children with. Little is known about George’s childhood, other than that he received little formal education. At a young age he showed a great skill in mathematics and soon got into surveying land. At the young age of 16 George secured a commission as surveyor of Culpepper County. In 1752, at the age of 21, George inherited Mt. Vernon from his brother Lawrence. In the early 1750’s both Britain and France wanted to occupy the upper Ohio valley area. The governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, sent Washington with an expeditionary force to guard an intended British fort at the forks of the Ohio River. While enroute Washington learned that the French had taken the fort, so George advanced to within 50 miles of the now French fort and erected Fort Necessity. On May 28, 1754 Washington ambushed a small French detachment, they killed ten men to include the commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers. This incident started the French and Indian War. The French claimed that the detachment was on a peaceful mission, Washington thought it was spying. Washington returned to Fort Necessity, which a large French force attacked on 3 July. Washington and his men were only able to hold Page 2 out for one ...

Substance Abuse Adolescent Issues and Interventions

Substance Abuse Adolescent Issues and Interventions Abstract This paper has been aimed at discussing the problem of substance abuse among adolescents. In particular, it focuses on the factors that lead to dependence on drugs on alcohol, for instance, peer-pressure, low self-esteem, family problems, experiences of sexual abuse, and so forth. The proposed interventions include the following measures: 1) regular communication with both parents; 2) paying more attention to the friends of a teenager; 3) limiting the access to money; 4) organizing extra curriculum activities for teenagers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse: Adolescent Issues and Interventions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction Substance abuse among adolescents is the problem that requires the joint effort of parents, teachers, and social workers. It can affect families that have various social, racial, or economic characteristics and no one can say that he or she is insured against this risk. This paper is aimed at discussing the factors that contribute to substance abuse among teenagers. Moreover, it is necessary to propose interventions that can prevent adolescents from experimenting with drugs or drinking alcohol. The development of substance abuse The development of substance abuse among adolescents can be explained in different ways. The researchers point out that more than 40 percent of teenagers begin to take drugs or drink alcohol in the company of their peers (Ahmad, Khalique, Khan, 2009, p. 401). These people may believe that drug use is a sign of belonging to the group. As a rule, they do not want to criticize the behavior of their peers who may believe that drugs and alcohol are acceptable. In their opinion, the rejection of group values can make them outcasts. An adolescent, who has a strong attachment to the group, can abuse substance either to acquire new experiences or in effort to impress his or her friends (Ramirez et al, 2012, p. 39). Thus, peer pressure is one way to explain this problem. Certainly, peer pressure can also be a positive force, especially when a teenager’s friends lead a healthy lifestyle and do not approve of alcohol or drug abuse. This is the first issue that parents and teachers should take into account. Secondly, one should remember that this behavior can be caused by some problems within the family. Chassin and Handley believe, teenagers can resort to alcohol and drugs when they do not feel the emotional support and encouragement of parents (2006, p. 136). For them, substance abuse becomes a substitute for normal family relations. Such behavior is more typical of teenagers suffering from domestic violence (Caple Schub, 2012, p. 1). Additionally, one should remember that remember that for many teenagers attempt to raise their perceived status and self-esteem by drinking alcoholic beverages or using substances (Ahmad, Khalique, Khan, 2009, p. 401). In their opinion, this behavior signifies adulthood and independence.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certainly, this assumption is false but this is how many of them believe. Thus, this problem can be related to the way in which adolescents perceive themselves. These examples suggest that there are different paths that lead to substance abuse problems and intervention should account for various possibilities. Risk factors related to substance abuse Overall, researchers single out several characteristics of adolescents that may take drugs, namely, low self-esteem, psychological distress, lack of meaningful relations with parents, or contacts with people, usually peers who abuse drugs (Newcomb, 1986, p. 525). These teenagers believe that only peers can offer them help or encouragement. Usually, this belief is not justified, but it is very strong. However, there are other important indicators that should not be overl ooked. For example, statistical evidence suggests that teenagers, who suffered sexual or physical abuse, tend to drink alcohol or use drugs much earlier that their peers (Caple Schub, 2012, p. 1). These adolescents cannot give vent to their feelings, and they view drugs or alcohol as the only solution available to them. Additionally, one should remember about such a factor as the structure of the family. A teenager growing up in a two-family household is less likely to get addicted to alcohol or drugs (Caple Schub, 2012, p. 1). Surely, one cannot assume that adolescents from single-parent families are always prone to drug abuse or alcohol consumption. However, it is easier for teenagers to cope with stress when they can communicate with both parents. Parenting style can either increase or decrease the likelihood of substance abuse among teenagers. Over-permissiveness is strongly correlated with alcohol consumption (Caple Schub, 2012, p. 2). For example, adolescents are more likel y to use drugs if their parents give them unlimited access to money (McCrystal, Percy, Higgins, 2007, p. 26). Yet, authoritarian parenting can also lead to substance abuse. So, parents should find a balance between control over their children and permissiveness. The risk factors that have been discussed cannot be applied to every case of substance abuse among adolescents; yet, they are very widespread. Therefore, educators should pay more attention to the needs of these teenagers, because they are more exposed to the risk of substance abuse. The influence of addiction on self-identity Drug abuse and subsequent addiction affects the self-identity of teenagers. In part, this influence can be explained with the help of social learning theory developed by Albert Bandura. It postulates that an individual learns behavioral norms by observing those people who are close to him or her (Wodarski, 1990, 670). A teenager, who wants to appear stronger or more independent, may emulate the habits of older peers and these people may abuse drugs or alcohol (Wodarski, 1990, 670).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse: Adolescent Issues and Interventions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, one should not forget that mass media, especially television are full of images suggesting alcohol consumption is acceptable for adults. Thus, this person begins to think that substance is an attribute of adulthood. Such teenagers may believe that they are strong, self-sufficient, and independent of their parents. However, later they are not able to perceive themselves in this way. They understand that they have become addicted to drugs or alcohol. They see that they do not have any control over the situation. The awareness of this fact can lead to low self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness. Thus, it is possible to argue that addiction distorts the self-identity of an individual. At first, it creates an illu sion of power or independence, but eventually results into the feeling of helplessness. These are the main effects of addiction on the self-identity of a teenager. Interventions There are several interventions that can reduce the risk of substance abuse among adolescent. First of all, parents should remember that regular communication with both parents reduces the risk of deviant behavior, including drug abuse (Caple Schub, 2012, p. 1). Thus, parents should make sure that they can talk to a child at least once a day. Divorced parents should not prevent one another from seeing a child. A teenager should know that he or she can rely on other members of the family. As a result, this person will not feel the need to use drugs and seek the support of peers. Secondly, parents should learn more about the friends of their children. For example, they should know how they spend time, and what they are interested in. By doing so, parents can determine whether their children’s friends h ave a good or bad influence over them. This is why parents should not prohibit their children from inviting their friends to the house. Moreover, parents can even occasionally organize small parties for them. In this way, they learn much more about the friends of their children. The third intervention that researchers recommend is to limit a teenager’s access to money (McCrystal, Percy, Higgins, 2007, p. 26). The findings suggest that uncontrolled access to money at the age of 13 or 14 increases the probability of drug use (McCrystal, Percy, Higgins, 2007, p. 26). Thus, parents should be attentive to how their children spend money. Certainly, people cannot always know for what kind of purposes their children need money. However, they should be very careful when a child asks for extra cash because this cash can be needed for drugs or alcohol.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In turn, teachers should encourage children’s participation in school life when it is possible. Special attention should be paid to extra curriculum activities because a student, who has certain interests or goals, will be less attracted to alcohol and drugs. For example, schools can establish study groups for children who may be interested in different subjects like biology, chemistry, mathematics, and so forth. In this way, they can divert adolescents’ attention from drugs. Additionally, they should be very attentive to academic performance of students. The thing is that poor grades and continuous absence from school may indicate at some emotional problems or even substance abuse. At any rate, parents should be warned about these issues as soon as possible. Conclusion On the whole, drug abuse and alcohol consumption are the problems that can affect the life of almost any family irrespective of its income level, ethnic origins , or education background. The examples d iscussed in this paper suggest that teenagers are torn between their need for independence and the need for support. The proposed intervention are premised on the idea that the child, who feels the support of parents and who has some interests, is less interested in alcohol or drugs because they create no value for him or her. Moreover, this adolescent will be more resistant to peer pressure. Reference List Ahmad, A., Khalique, N., Khan, Z. (2009). Analysis of Substance Abuse in Male Adolescents. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, 19(4), 399-403. Caple, C., Schub, T. (2012). Substance Abuse in Adolescence: Risk/Protective Factors. CINAHL Nursing Guide, 1-2. Chassin, L., Handley, E. D. (2006). Parents and Families as Contexts for the Development of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 20(2), 135. McCrystal, P., Percy, A., Higgins, K. (2007). The cost of drug use in adolescence: Young people, money and substance abuse. Drugs: Education, Prevent ion Policy, 14(1), 19-28. Newcomb, M. M. (1986). Risk Factors for Drug Use among Adolescents: Concurrent and Longitudinal Analyses. American Journal Of Public Health, 76(5), 525-540. Ramirez, R., Hinman, A., Sterling, S., Weisner, C., Campbell, C. (2012). Peer Influences on Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Use Outcomes. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 36-44. Wodarski, J. S. (1990). Adolescent substance abuse: Practice implications.  Adolescence, 25(99), 667-688.

Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management - Assignment Example 3120 ETRA Prof. Booke September 11, 2012 (About two – three inches below, type and sign the following statement): By my signature below, I hereby certify that this is my own individual work and it has been completed without anyone else’s assistance. Print Your Name Your Signature Baruch College Prof. Booke Department of Management Fall 2012 Dealing With Dilemmas in Business Read the scenarios below and then answer the questions that follow. As you read, please understand that there isn’t any particular right or wrong answer to the questions. Rather, this is an assessment of your ability to recognize and resolve important issues that you might encounter in the business world. Please answer each question as fully as you can in complete sentences. Do not assume any specific facts except those provided in the introduction and in each individual scenario. Do not assume that facts in one scenario can be applied to any other. This is to be an individual assignment and s hould not be discussed with anyone. Introduction (applies to the first three scenarios) Robert is the managing partner of a small accounting firm called Accountants LLC. The firm, based in downtown Manhattan, employs 10 accountants and a 5-person support staff. It provides accounting and audit services throughout the metropolitan area. Scenario A After the company enjoyed a good year in 2010, Robert was thinking about giving bonuses of 15% for all members of his staff. Early in 2011, Robert received an e-mail from his cousin, Nancy, who graduated from Baruch College with a BBA in accounting in December 2010. Nancy is in the United States on a student visa. She tells Robert that if she does not get a permanent job in the United States within two months, she will have to return to her country of birth where there is little work for American-educated accountants. Although Accountants LLC was not specifically looking for an additional accountant, and after thinking about it for some tim e, Robert decides to hire Nancy as a entry-level accountant in order to allow her to remain in the United States. To find funds for hiring her, Robert decides to forego awarding the 15% bonuses he was considering and instead orders a bonus of 12%. 1. What do you see as the issues raised by the facts in the scenario? Describe as many as you see. There is a perceived circumvention of the law that Nancy was employed only to ensure her stay in the country. The other employees are deprived of their rightful increase because of one person. There is the issue of nepotism because Nancy’s hiring was mainly because of Robert’s cousin. 2. What do you see as the consequences of Robert’s decision? There will be overemployment since there is no need for another accountant that will further cost the company by compensating an unnecessary employee. The other employees may be also possibly alienate Nancy upon knowledge that their bonus was cut down because of her. 3. What altern ative courses of action did Robert have? Robert may have opted to forego his cousin’s plea since he does not need a new employee. Further, her addition may be detrimental to the dynamics of the company. 4. If you had been in Robert’s place, what would you have done? Explain. If I were Robert I would first look at Nancy’s qualifications and find out if she could possibly be an asset to the company. If I find that she will not

CTV Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CTV - Assignment Example Firstly, technology management issues must be identified and discussed. Secondly, the situation prior to the incident must be discussed. Thirdly, the events that occurred during the collapse of the building should be elaborated. In this context, lack of a predetermined evacuation process deserves special mention. Fourthly and finally, the aftermath of the incident should be analysed. In recommending solutions to the earthquake resistant building design issues as witnessed in this case study, it is considered an imperative to advocate for modernising the building code and construction methods. Moreover, supervisory committees consisting of engineering professionals must be created that can consistently monitor the cityscape on the basis of practical professional knowledge. This kind of overseer committees can provide more authentic technical evaluations in the context of commercial building maintenance and management. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Analytical discussion 4 2a. Issues in technology management 6 2b. Issues before the disaster 7 2c. Issues during the collapse 7 2d. CTV Building disaster aftermath 8 3. Summary and concluding remarks 8 4. Recommendations 9 Reference List 11 Appendix 13 1. Introduction The CTV Building disaster of February 2011 has become a landmark incident in the world of engineering and construction sciences. CTV Building disaster received much of the limelight because on the day this building collapsed due to an earthquake, other buildings in the vicinity remained far less damaged than it. The earthquake that hit Christchurch on 22nd February 2011 left scars of destruction all over the city but that did not reach the unprecedented disaster that took place at the CTV Building. According to MacRae and Dhakal (2011, p. 5), some buildings had suffered â€Å"partial collapse† (e.g. PGC Building) or â€Å"total collapse† (e.g. CTV Building). Several people died and things went wrong especially in the CTV building, w here over a hundred persons died. However, most of the other buildings across Christchurch withstood the shocks of the February earthquake. Buildings such as the Forsyth Barr building lost only staircases and noticeable distortion of concrete structures could be noticed mainly at the basement or ground floor areas. 2. Analytical discussion Although this paper is aimed at exploring the management specific issues of CTV Building disaster, technology related problems and contextual analyses of engineering issues cannot be avoided. In fact, technology management itself can be regarded as an integrated part of the whole commercial building management task which is a continuous and active process in itself. Christchurch is situated in an unsafe zone and a powerful earthquake had already hit the CTV Building back in September 2010. A very important note in this milieu has been explicitly mentioned by Isaac Davison from The New Zealand Herald: â€Å"The Royal Commission also found that aft er the first major quake in September 2010 the CTV building was "green-stickered" by a rapid assessment team and later by three council building officials, none of whom was an engineer.† (Davison 2012) In this observation, Davison has mentioned the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s final report regarding the disaster (see Final Report: Roles and Responsibilities 2012). This commission had been delegated the task to investigate the issues

Understand the basics of business operations Week one Essay

Understand the basics of business operations Week one - Essay Example Organizations that lack organization and clear management policies are likely to face problems. Having everything in order in the organization is likely to bring proper communication and understanding. New ideas and concepts will always present themselves in this day and age. It is, therefore, crucial to stay on top of things to ensure success. The need to have operations managers is rising. This ensures the productivity efficiency in the organization stays at the top (Wagner, 2012). Organizing how things operate and move is an enormous responsibility for those who take up the mantle of operations manager. However, it is a task anyone ready for a challenge will gladly take. To prosper in business operations, one requires skills and aptitude to execute the responsibilities at hand. This is regardless of the business he/she is undertaking. These skills are beneficial because they help in creating quality operations, which leads to the provision of quality products and services. Through business operations, people in charge get to understand every subdivision and department in the organization, and help to ensure everything runs smoothly (Wagner, 2012). In conclusion, business operations are fundamental in the growth of an organization. Business operations have to help an organization compete globally; therefore, there must be the introduction of experts into the operations department. They can shape the organization’s operations to suit their every requirement, hence; offering consumers what they want, and providing themselves with the right amount of profit from all

Effects of Early Marriage Essay Example for Free

Effects of Early Marriage Essay Mark and Jane got married eight years ago. They have two young children. Their initial love and attraction has turned into constant bickering and argument. They now realize how different they are from each other. Every interchange seems to be a battle and is affecting every aspect of their lives. They wonder what happened to the love and affection they felt towards each other at the beginning of their relationship. They have been arguing about money, and how to spend it. Mark thinks his hard work is not appreciated. Jane feels overburdened with taking care of the children, her part-time work and taking care of the most of household duties. They each feel the other is not contributing enough. They do not want to give up on their marriage, and have heard that mediation can be effective in working through the practical problems they face. They hope by learning to appreciate each other’s efforts their love for each other will start to grow again. They have tried individual therapy, marital counseling, and group therapy, without results. The first few years of a marriage are a very intense period of adjustment. It’s very common for the couple to learn differences about each other and encounter extreme bouts of negativity that they never imagined possible. A newly married couple (and any married couple, for that matter) should try anything at their disposal. Sometimes marriage counseling does not work. It does not mean that the marriage is over or that the counseling was insufficient or even that marriage counseling may not work at a future time. Couples need to try different things at different times in order to break the log jam of disillusionment. Marital Mediation or other professional support may help break the impasse. The mediator will explain to Mark and Jane that, just like a new hobby, learning how to be married is a learnable skill. The mediator will teach them conflict resolution skills that they can begin to practice at home. Things can improve at home, and Mark and Jane can continue to work on (and enjoy) their marriage. They might even try counseling again (perhaps with a different therapist), and may find that they are ready to gain insight from it.

Ethan Frome Essays -- essays papers

Ethan Frome ‘He was but the ruin of a man’. What factors have contributed to Ethan’s tragic fate? The first factor which adds to Ethan’s tragic fate is time. The book is mainly set in the nineteenth century and in those times things like divorce and adultery were less acceptable. Ethan would have felt morally wrong to leave this wife working on a poor farm or just leaving her money. Ethan’s birth into a poor family and in the time he was born, meant that he couldn’t really do anything so he was left unhappy. There was no welfare state in the nineteenth century America so again Ethan had to accept the burden of looking after his parents and wife, paying all of Zeena’s medical ’needs’ with no help. Ethan must have found these times hard because he received no help, he was the one who had to help everyone else. Ethan Frome’s wife Zeena is quite a hypochondriac, as we hear in the prologue that the post-master at ‘intervals’ would hand him medicine packages. Again we hear of this at page forty seven that Zeenaâ€⠄¢s last visit to the doctor cost Ethan twenty dollars, money he can’t afford to be wasted. We are also told about Ethan’s desire to learn about science but with no university grants at that time and Ethan being part of a poor health stricken family he had to stop studying and go back to ’caring’ just like he does for the rest of his days. He runs a farm which seems to be run down and again because of the time there were no farm subsides to help Ethan out so the farm worries add to his plight. Mattie’s ‘coming to [the] house’ was due to her having no work to do or anywhere to stay. After her father’s death she was ’left on her own to make her way on fifty dollars’. There were fewer job... ...up’. Ethan and Mattie realise that because they can’t be with each other because of these factors I have discussed they discide to end it together. Both Mattie and Ethan express their love for each other on the top of the slope, the first time that they actually kissed and expressed love for one another. They sooner realised ’what’s the good of either of [them] going anywheres without the other one now?’ ‘Some erratic impulse’ and their love drove them to try and commit suicide. Ethan suffered after the ’smash up’. He became ’the ruin of a man’ through his ’warped right side’ and ’red gash’ across Frome’s forehead. The accident scared both Mattie and Ethan for life and changed their life forever and with the mental factors for example the economic problems along with the last physical factor, the ’smash up’ has contributed to his tragic fate.

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Fifteen

Klaus screamed, a scream that reminded Bonnie of ancient predators, of the sabertooth cat and the bull mammoth. Blood frothed out of his mouth along with the scream, turning that handsome face into a twisted mask of fury. His hands scrabbled at his back, trying to get a grip on the white ash stake and pull it out. But it was buried too deep. The throw had been a good one. â€Å"Damon,† Bonnie whispered. He was standing at the edge of the clearing, framed by oak trees. As she watched, he took a step toward Klaus, and then another; lithe stalking steps filled with deadly purpose. And he was angry. Bonnie would have run from the look on his face if her muscles hadn't been frozen. She had never seen such menace so barely held in check. â€Å"Get†¦ away†¦ from my brother,† he said, almost breathing it, with his eyes never leaving Klaus's as he took another step. Klaus screamed again, but his hands stopped their frantic scrabbling. â€Å"You idiot! We don't have to fight! I told you that at the house! We can ignore each other!† Damon's voice was no louder than before. â€Å"Get away from my brother.† Bonnie could feel it inside him, a swell of Power like a tsunami. He continued, so softly that Bonnie had to strain to hear him, â€Å"Before I tear your heart out.† Bonnie could move after all. She stepped backward. â€Å"I told you!† screamed Klaus, frothing. Damon didn't acknowledge the words in any way. His whole being seemed focused on Klaus's throat, on his chest, on the beating heart inside that he was going to tear out. Klaus picked up the unbroken lance and rushed him. In spite of all the blood, the blond man seemed to have plenty of strength left. The rush was sudden, violent, and almost inescapable. Bonnie saw him thrust the lance at Damon and shut her eyes involuntarily, and then opened them an instant later as she heard the flurry of wings. Klaus had plunged right through the spot where Damon had been, and a black crow was soaring upward while a single feather floated down. As Bonnie stared, Klaus's rush took him into the darkness beyond the clearing and he disappeared. Dead silence fell in the wood. Bonnie's paralysis broke slowly, and she first stepped, and then ran to where Stefan lay. He didn't open his eyes at her approach; he seemed unconscious. She knelt beside him. And then she felt a sort of horrible calm creep over her, like someone who has been swimming in ice water and at last feels the first undeniable signs of hypothermia. If she hadn't had so many successive shocks already, she might have fled screaming or dissolved into hysterics. But as it was, this was simply the last step, the last little slide into unreality. Into a world that couldn't be, but was. She'd never seen anybody hurt like this. Not even Mr. Tanner, and he had died of his wounds. Nothing Mary had ever said could help fix this. Even if they'd had Stefan on a stretcher outside an operating room, it wouldn't have been enough. In that state of dreadful calm she looked up to see a flutter of wings blur and shimmer in the moonlight. Damon stood beside her, and she spoke quite collectedly and rationally. â€Å"Will giving him blood help?† He didn't seem to hear her. His eyes were all black, all pupil. That barely leashed violence, that sense of ferocious energy held back, was gone. He knelt and touched the dark head on the ground. â€Å"Stefan?† Bonnie shut her eyes. Damon's scared, she thought. Damon's scared-Damon!-and oh, God, I don't know what to do. There's nothing to do-and it's all over and we're all lost and Damon is scared for Stefan. He isn't going to take care of things and he hasn't got a solution and somebody's got to fix this. And oh, God, please help me because I'm so frightened and Stefan's dying and Meredith and Matt are hurt and Klaus is going to come back. She opened her eyes to look at Damon. He was white, his face looking terrifyingly young at that moment, with those dilated black eyes. â€Å"Klaus is coming back,† Bonnie said quietly. She wasn't afraid of him anymore. They weren't a centuries-old hunter and a seventeen-year-old human girl, sitting here at the edge of the world. They were just two people, Damon and Bonnie, who had to do the best they could. â€Å"I know,† Damon said. He was holding Stefan's hand, looking completely unembarrassed about it, and it seemed quite logical and sensible. Bonnie could feel him sending Power into Stefan, could also feel that it wasn't enough. â€Å"Would blood help him?† â€Å"Not much. A little, maybe.† â€Å"Anything that helps at all we've got to try.† Stefan whispered, â€Å"No.† Bonnie was surprised. She'd thought he was unconscious. But his eyes were open now, open and alert and smoldering green. They were the only alive thing about him. â€Å"Don't be stupid,† Damon said, his voice hardening. He was gripping Stefan's hand until his knuckles whitened. â€Å"You're badly hurt.† â€Å"I won't break my promise.† That immovable stubbornness was in Stefan's voice, in his pale face. And when Damon opened his mouth again, undoubtedly to say that Stefan would break it and like it or Damon would break his neck, Stefan added, â€Å"Especially when it won't do any good.† Only the truth would do. And Stefan was telling the truth. He was still looking at his brother, who was looking back, all that fierce, furious attention focused on Stefan as it had been focused on Klaus earlier. As if somehow that would help. â€Å"I'm not badly hurt, I'm dead,† Stefan said brutally, his eyes locked on Damon's. Their last and greatest struggle of wills, Bonnie thought. â€Å"And you need to get Bonnie and the others out of here.† â€Å"We won't leave you,† Bonnie intervened. That was the truth; she could say that. â€Å"You have to!† Stefan didn't glance aside, didn't look away from his brother. â€Å"Damon, you know I'm right. Klaus will be here any minute. Don't throw your life away. Don't throw their lives away.† â€Å"I don't give a damn about their lives,† Damon hissed. The truth also, Bonnie thought, curiously unoffended. There was only one life Damon cared about here, and it wasn't his own. â€Å"Yes, you do!† Stefan flared back. He was hanging on to Damon's hand with just as fierce a grip, as if this was a contest and he could force Damon to concede that way. â€Å"Elena had a last request; well, this is mine. You have Power, Damon. I want you to use it to help them.† â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie whispered helplessly. â€Å"Promise me,† Stefan said to Damon, and then a spasm of pain twisted his face. For uncountable seconds Damon simply looked down at him. Then he said, â€Å"I promise,† quick and sharp as the stroke of a dagger. He let go of Stefan's hand and stood, turning to Bonnie. â€Å"Come on.† â€Å"We can't leave him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes, we can.† There was nothing young about Damon's face now. Nothing vulnerable. â€Å"You and your human friends are leaving here, permanently. I am coming back.† Bonnie shook her head. She knew, dimly, that Damon wasn't betraying Stefan, that it was some case of Damon putting Stefan's ideals above Stefan's life, but it was all too abstruse and incomprehensible to her. She didn't understand it and she didn't want to. All she knew was that Stefan couldn't be left lying there. â€Å"You're coming now,† Damon said, reaching for her, the steely ring back in his voice. Bonnie prepared herself for a fight, and then something happened that made all their debating meaningless. There was a crack like a giant whip and a flash like daylight, and Bonnie was blinded. When she could see through the afterimage, her eyes flew to the flames that were licking up from a newly blackened hole at the base of a tree. Bonnie's eye darted to him next, as the only other thing moving in the clearing. He was waving the bloody white ash stake he'd pulled out of his own back like a gory trophy. Lightning rod, thought Bonnie illogically, and then there was another crash. It stabbed down from an empty sky, in huge blue-white forks that lit everything like the sun at noon. Bonnie watched as one tree and then another was hit, each one closer than the last. Flames licked up like hungry red goblins among the leaves. Two trees on either side of Bonnie exploded, with cracks so loud that she felt rather than heard it, a piercing pain in her eardrums. Damon, whose eyes were more sensitive, threw up a hand to protect them. Then he shouted â€Å"Klaus!† and sprang toward the blond man. He wasn't stalking now; this was the deadly race of attack. The burst of killing speed of the hunting cat or the wolf. Lightning caught him in midspring. Bonnie screamed as she saw it, jumping to her feet. There was a blue flash of superheated gases and a smell of burning, and then Damon was down, lying motionless on his face. Bonnie could see tiny wisps of smoke rise from him, just as they did from the trees. Speechless with horror, she looked at Klaus. He was swaggering through the clearing, holding his bloody stick like a golf club. He bent down over Damon as he passed, and smiled. Bonnie wanted to scream again, but she didn't have the breath. There didn't seem to be any air left to breathe. â€Å"I'll deal with you later,† Klaus told the unconscious Damon. Then his face tipped up toward Bonnie. â€Å"You,† he said, â€Å"I'm going to deal with right now.† It was an instant before she realized he was looking at Stefan, and not her. Those electric blue eyes were fixed on Stefan's face. They moved to Stefan's bloody middle. â€Å"I'm going to eat you now, Salvatore.† Bonnie was all alone. The only one left standing. And she was afraid. But she knew what she had to do. She let her knees collapse again, dropping to the ground beside Stefan. And this is how it ends, she thought. You kneel beside your knight and then you face the enemy. She looked at Klaus and moved so that she was shielding Stefan. He seemed to notice her for the first time, and frowned as if he'd found a spider in his salad. Firelight flickered orange-red on his face. â€Å"No.† And this is how the ending starts. Like this, so simply, with one word, and you're going to die on a summer night. A summer night when the moon and stars are shining and bonfires burn like the flames the Druids used to summon the dead. â€Å"Bonnie, go,† Stefan said painfully. â€Å"Get out while you can.† â€Å"No,† Bonnie said. I'm sorry, Elena, she thought. I can't save him. This is all I can do. â€Å"Get out of the way,† Klaus said through his teeth. â€Å"No.† She could wait and let Stefan die this way, instead of with Klaus's teeth in his throat. It might not seem like much of a difference, but it was the most she could offer. â€Å"Bonnie†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Stefan whispered. â€Å"Don't you know who I am, girl? I've walked with the devil. If you move, I'll let you die quickly.† Bonnie's voice had given out. She shook her head. Klaus threw back his own head and laughed. A little more blood trickled out, too. â€Å"All right,† he said. â€Å"Have it your own way. Both of you go together.† Summer night, Bonnie thought. The solstice eve. When the line between worlds is so thin. â€Å"Say good night, sweetheart.† No time to trance, no time for anything. Nothing except one desperate appeal. â€Å"Elena!† Bonnie screamed. â€Å"Elena! Elena!† Klaus recoiled. For an instant, it seemed as if the name alone had the power to alarm him. Or as if he expected something to respond to Bonnie's cry. He stood, listening. Bonnie drew on her powers, putting everything she had into it, throwing her need and her call out into the void. And felt†¦ nothing. Nothing disturbed the summer night except the crackling sound of flames. Klaus turned back to Bonnie and Stefan, and grinned. Then Bonnie saw the mist creeping along the ground. No-it couldn't be mist. It must be smoke from the fire. But it didn't behave like either. It was swirling, rising in the air like a tiny whirlwind or dust devil. It was gathering into a shape roughly the size of a man. Mist was flowing out of the ground, between the trees. Pools of it, each separate and distinct. Bonnie, staring mutely, could see through each patch, could see the flames, the oak trees, the bricks of the chimney. Klaus had stopped smiling, stopped moving, and was watching too. Bonnie turned to Stefan, unable to even frame the question. â€Å"Unquiet spirits,† he whispered huskily, his green eyes intent. â€Å"The solstice.† And then Bonnie understood. They were coming. From across the river, where the old cemetery lay. From the woods, where countless makeshift graves had been dug to dump bodies in before they rotted. The unquiet spirits, the soldiers who had fought here and died during the Civil War. A supernatural host answering the call for help. They were forming all around. There were hundreds of them. Bonnie could actually see faces now. The misty outlines were filling in with pale hues like so many runny watercolors. She saw a flash of blue, a glimmer of gray. Both Union and Confederate troops. Bonnie glimpsed a pistol thrust into a belt, the glint of an ornamented sword. Chevrons on a sleeve. A bushy dark beard; a long, well-tended white one. A small figure, child size, with dark holes for eyes and a drum hanging at thigh level. â€Å"Oh, my God,† she whispered. â€Å"Oh, God.† It wasn't swearing. It was something like a prayer. Not that she wasn't frightened of them, because she was. It was every nightmare she'd ever had about the cemetery come true. Like her first dream about Elena, when things came crawling out of the black pits in the earth; only these things weren't crawling, they were flying, skimming and floating until they swirled into human form. Everything that Bonnie had ever felt about the old graveyard-that it was alive and full of watching eyes, that there was some Power lurking behind its waiting stillness -was proving true. The earth of Fell's Church was giving up its bloody memories. The spirits of those who'd died here were walking again. And Bonnie could feel their anger. It frightened her, but another emotion was waking up inside her, making her catch her breath and clench tighter on Stefan's hand. Because the misty army had a leader. One figure was floating in front of the others, closest to the place where Klaus stood. It had no shape or definition as yet, but it glowed and scintillated with the pale golden light of a candle flame. Then, before Bonnie's eyes, it seemed to take on substance from the air, shining brighter and brighter every minute with an unearthly light. It was brighter than the circle of fire. It was so bright that Klaus leaned back from it and Bonnie blinked, but when she turned at a low sound, she saw Stefan staring straight into it, fearlessly, with wide-open eyes. And smiling, so faintly, as if glad to have this be the last thing he saw. Klaus dropped the stake. He had turned away from Bonnie and Stefan to face the being of light that hung in the clearing like an avenging angel. Golden hair streaming back in an invisible wind, Elena looked down on him. â€Å"She came,† Bonnie whispered. â€Å"You asked her to,† Stefan murmured. His voice trailed off into a labored breath, but he was still smiling. His eyes were serene. â€Å"Stand away from them,† Elena said, her voice coming simultaneously to Bonnie's ears and her mind. It was like the chiming of dozens of bells, distant and close up at once. â€Å"It's over now, Klaus.† But Klaus rallied quickly. Bonnie saw his shoulders swell with a breath, noticed for the first time the hole in the back of the tan raincoat where the white ash stake had pierced him. It was stained dull red, and new blood was flowing now as Klaus flung out his arms. â€Å"You think I'm afraid of you?† he shouted. He spun around, laughing at all the pallid forms. â€Å"You think I'm afraid of any of you? You're dead! Dust on the wind! You can't touch me!† â€Å"You're wrong,† Elena said in her wind-chime voice. â€Å"I'm one of the Old Ones! An Original! Do you know what that means?† Klaus turned again, addressing all of them, his unnaturally blue eyes seeming to catch some of the red glow of the fire. â€Å"I've never died. Every one of you has died, you gallery of spooks! But not me. Death can't touch me. I am invincible!† The last word came in a shout so loud it echoed among the trees. Invincible†¦ invincible†¦ invincible. Bonnie heard it fading into the hungry sound of the fire. Elena waited until the last echo had died. Then she said, very simply, â€Å"Not quite.† She turned to look at the misty shapes around her. â€Å"He wants to spill more blood here.† A new voice spoke up, a hollow voice that ran like a trickle of cold water down Bonnie's spine. â€Å"There's been enough killing, I say.† It was a Union soldier with a double row of buttons on his jacket. â€Å"More than enough,† said another voice, like the boom of a faraway drum. A Confederate holding a bayonet. â€Å"It's time somebody stopped it†-an old man in home-dyed butternut cloth. â€Å"We can't let it go on†-the drummer boy with the black holes for eyes. â€Å"No more blood spilled!† Several voices took it up at once. â€Å"No more killing!† The cry passed from one to another, until the swell of sound was louder than the roar of the fire. â€Å"No more blood!† â€Å"You can't touch me! You can't kill me!† â€Å"Let's take ‘im, boys!† â€Å"You can't kill me! I'm immortal!† The tornado swept away into the darkness beyond Bonnie's sight. Following it was a trail of ghosts like a comet's tail, shooting off into the night sky. â€Å"Where are they taking him?† Bonnie didn't mean to say it aloud; she just blurted it out before she thought. But Elena heard. â€Å"Where he won't do any harm,† she said, and the look on her face stopped Bonnie from asking any other questions. There was a squealing, bleating sound from the other side of the clearing. Bonnie turned and saw Tyler, in his terrible part-human, part-animal shape, on his feet. There was no need for Caroline's club. He was staring at Elena and the few remaining ghostly figures and gibbering. â€Å"Don't let them take me! Don't let them take me too!† Before Elena could speak, he had spun around. He regarded the fire, which was higher than his own head, for an instant, then plunged right through it, crashing into the forest beyond. Through a parting of the flames, Bonnie saw him drop to the ground, beating out flames on himself, then rise and run again. Then the fire flared up and she couldn't see anything more. But she'd remembered something: Meredith-and Matt. Meredith was lying propped up, her head in Caroline's lap, watching. Matt was still on his back. Hurt, but not so badly hurt as Stefan. â€Å"Elena,† Bonnie said, catching the bright figure's attention, and then she simply looked at him. The brightness came closer. Stefan didn't blink. He looked into the heart of the light and smiled. â€Å"He's been stopped now. Thanks to you.† â€Å"It was Bonnie who called us. And she couldn't have done it at the right place and the right time without you and the others.† â€Å"I tried to keep my promise.† â€Å"I know, Stefan.† Bonnie didn't like the sound of this at all. It sounded too much like a farewell-a permanent one. Her own words floated back to her: He might go to another place or-or just go out. And she didn't want Stefan to go anywhere. Surely anyone who looked that much like an angel†¦ â€Å"Elena,† she said, â€Å"can't you-do something? Can't you help him?† Her voice was shaking. â€Å"I can do something,† she said. â€Å"But I don't know if it's the kind of help he wants.† She turned back to Stefan. â€Å"Stefan, I can cure what Klaus did. Tonight I have that much Power. But I can't cure what Katherine did.† Bonnie's numbed brain struggled with this for a while. What Katherine did-but Stefan had recovered months ago from Katherine's torture in the crypt. Then she understood. What Katherine had done was make Stefan a vampire. â€Å"It's been too long,† Stefan was saying to Elena. â€Å"If you did cure it, I'd be a pile of dust.† â€Å"Yes.† Elena didn't smile, just went on looking at him steadily. â€Å"Do you want my help, Stefan?† â€Å"To go on living in this world in the shadows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Stefan's voice was a whisper now, his green eyes distant. Bonnie wanted to shake him. Live, she thought to him, but she didn't dare say it for fear she'd make him decide just the opposite. Then she thought of something else. â€Å"To go on trying,† she said, and both of them looked at her. She looked back, chin thrust out, and saw the beginning of a smile on Elena's bright lips. Elena turned to Stefan, and that tiny hint of a smile passed to him. â€Å"Yes,† he said quietly, and then, to Elena, â€Å"I want your help.† She bent and kissed him. Bonnie saw the brightness flow from her to Stefan, like a river of sparkling light engulfing him. It flooded over him the way the dark mist had surrounded Klaus, like a cascade of diamonds, until his entire body glowed like Elena's. For an instant Bonnie imagined she could see the blood inside him turned molten, flowing out to each vein, each capillary, healing everything it touched. Then the glow faded to a golden aura, soaking back into Stefan's skin. His shirt was still demolished, but underneath the flesh was smooth and firm. Bonnie, feeling her own eyes wide with wonder, couldn't help reaching out to touch. It felt just like any skin. The horrible wounds were gone. She laughed aloud with sheer excitement, and then looked up, sobering. â€Å"Elena- there's Meredith, too-â€Å" The bright being that was Elena was already moving across the clearing. Meredith looked up at her from Caroline's lap. â€Å"Hello, Elena,† she said, almost normally, except that her voice was so weak. Elena bent and kissed her. The brightness flowed again, encompassing Meredith. And when it faded, Meredith stood up on her own two feet. Then she went to Damon. He was still lying where he had fallen. The ghosts had passed over him, taking no notice of him. Elena's brightness hovered over him, one shining hand reaching to touch his hair. Then she bent and kissed the dark head on the ground. As the sparkling light faded, Damon sat up and shook his head. He saw Elena and went still, then, every movement careful and self-contained, stood up. He didn't say anything, only looked as Elena turned back to Stefan. He was silhouetted against the fire. Bonnie had scarcely noticed how the red glow had grown so that it almost eclipsed Elena's gold. But now she saw it and felt a thrill of alarm. â€Å"My last gift to you,† Elena said, and it began to rain. Not a thunder-and-lightning storm, but a thorough pattering rain that soaked everything-Bonnie included-and doused the fire. It was fresh and cool, and it seemed to wash all the horror of the last hours away, cleansing the glade of everything that had happened there. Bonnie tilted her face up to it, shutting her eyes, wanting to stretch out her arms and embrace it. At last it slackened and she looked again at Elena. Elena was looking at Stefan, and there was no smile on her lips now. The wordless sorrow was back in her face. â€Å"It's midnight,† she said. â€Å"And I have to go.† Bonnie knew instantly, at the sound of it, that â€Å"go† didn't just mean for the moment. â€Å"Go† meant forever. Elena was going somewhere that no trance or dream could reach. And Stefan knew it too. â€Å"Just a few more minutes,† he said, reaching for her. â€Å"I'm sorry-â€Å" â€Å"Elena, wait-I need to tell you-â€Å" â€Å"I can't!† For the first time the serenity of that bright face was destroyed, showing not only gentle sadness but tearing grief. â€Å"Stefan, I can't wait. I'm so sorry.† It was as if she were being pulled backward, retreating from them into some dimension that Bonnie could not see. Maybe the same place Honoria went when her task was finished, Bonnie thought. To be at peace. But Elena's eyes didn't look as if she were at peace. They clung to Stefan, and she reached out her hand toward his, hopelessly. They didn't touch. Wherever Elena was being pulled was too far away. â€Å"Elena-please!† It was the voice Stefan had called her with in his room. As if his heart was breaking. â€Å"Stefan,† Elena called again, but her voice came as if from a long distance. The brightness was almost gone. Then, as Bonnie stared through helpless tears, it winked out. Leaving the clearing silent once again. They were all gone, the ghosts of Fell's Church who had walked for one night to keep more blood from being spilled. The bright spirit that had led them had vanished without a trace, and even the moon and stars were covered by clouds. Bonnie knew that the wetness on Stefan's face wasn't due to the rain that was still splashing down. He was standing, chest heaving, looking at the last place where Elena's brightness had been seen. And all the longing and the pain Bonnie had glimpsed on his face at times before was nothing to what she saw now. â€Å"It isn't fair,† she whispered. Then she shouted it to the sky, not caring who she was addressing. â€Å"It isn't fair!† Stefan had been breathing more and more quickly. Now he lifted his face too, not in anger but in unbearable pain. His eyes were searching the clouds as if he might find some last trace of golden light, some flicker of brightness there. He couldn't. Bonnie saw the spasm go through him, like the agony of Klaus's stake. And the cry that burst out of him was the most terrible thing she'd ever heard. â€Å"Elena!†