Thursday, August 27, 2020

Economics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial matters - Assignment Example The two oligopolies and syndications are influenced by the expanded creation as in higher creation diminishes the costs of items and administrations. The two market structures, dissimilar to other market structures, can achieve a syndication on creation in the particular merchandise or administrations under their copyright (Albano and Lizzeri 1997). Monopolistic markets are exclusively constrained by a solitary dealer as it were. The dealer has outright capacity to impact showcase choices and costs. Customers accomplish restricted decisions, and they need to settle on a decision based on what is being provided at the market. Alternately, oligopoly is described by barely any merchants in the market. The market circumstance is agreeable to purchasers since it energizes rivalry among the venders (Spanjers 1994). A monopolistic market gets its capacity from three sources: these incorporate, legitimate, financial and purposeful. A monopolistic market will make into utilization the position it has for its potential benefit and totally drive out contenders. It can accomplish this either through decreasing costs to such levels that presence for another firm may turn out to be almost unimaginable or through ethicalness of monetary circumstances like enormous capital prerequisites when beginning organizations. In spite of the fact that an oligopolistic advertise circumstance doesn't have wellsprings of intensity, it, anyway appears simply because of the obliging character of different merchants as of now in the market (Spanjers 1994). A monopolistic market may provide exceptionally significant expense estimates in light of nonexistence of different contenders. The monopolistic venders will utilize their status of predominance in the market and augment their benefits. Oligopolistic markets, then again, guarantee rivalry in the market consequently more attractive costs for the buyers (Spanjers 1994). These are guidelines that are instituted to forestall passage of firms into the market. Hindrances to section into

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Online Test For Cognitive Or Intelligence Tests Essay Sample free essay sample

Online preliminaries for intellectual or mental improvement goals are truly made to help examine a person’s social capablenesss and limitations as a man. Likely. the said preliminaries are made to do examinations on a person’s existent conduct. With the introduced preliminary in the undermentioned site [ hypertext move convention:/www. essaywriters. net/sys/list. php? rate=20 A ; order=143033 ] . knowledge and enthusiastic stableness are seen as essential undertakings of felicity among human people today. Coherently. this particular undertaking is seen as a significant bit with which individuals can evaluate the amount they should cover with the distinctive condition of affairss that they are standing up to in their lives. Fitting to the article wrote by Adrian Furnham entitled â€Å"TRAIT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND HAPPINESS† . character and cultural dread concerning how it truly identifies with the judgments and the responses of the individuals has a solid association that joins them together as essential identifiers of why and how individuals should be content with their lives. We will compose a custom paper test on Online Test For Cognitive Or Intelligence Tests Essay Sample or on the other hand any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Their passionate being is likely a factor that should be considered in footings of their having the option to go up against their life successfully with bliss despite the fact that they are standing up to various issues. Therefore. the association between enthusiastic insight and felicity is firmly imagined through the outcomes of such on-line preliminaries as referenced inside the starter treatment introduced previously. Definitely. putting human capablenesss through such preliminaries had been presumably implied as an adequate way to comprehend human conduct. It could be seen that such preliminaries were other than used to perceive how much an individual is extremely ready to deal with the various issues that he is confronted with in his life. His trepidation of himself gives off an impression of being one of the a large portion of import gives that is considered dependably solid in footings of one covering with his ain individual issues that identified with his relationship to the general public as a man. Notice: Furnham. Adrian. Social Behavior and Personality. 2003. Quality EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND HAPPINESS. hypertext move convention:/findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa3852/is_200301/ai_n9209294. ( February 29. 2008 ) . Online Cognitive Psychology Test ( Thinking Quiz ) . hypertext move convention:/www. helpself. com/scholar. htm. ( February 29. 2008 ) .

Friday, August 21, 2020

BPMOnline CRMs Path to High-Performance Applications

BPM’Online CRM’s Path to High-Performance Applications Make Money Online Queries? Struggling To Get Traffic To Your Blog? Sign Up On (HBB) Forum Now!BPM’Online CRM’s Path to High-Performance ApplicationsUpdated On 11/01/2019Author : HBB Guest AuthorTopic : BusinessShort URL : https://hbb.me/2CilEZl CONNECT WITH HBB ON SOCIAL MEDIA Follow @HellBoundBlogSherry Edwards    Writer, technician, and analyst, I aim to show all eager executives exactly how to make the most from their customer relationship management. As a passionate staff writer for one of the world’s best management platforms, I’ll be answering the question “What is BPM’Online CRM” using real-life examples, and discourses will divulge key organization optimization upgrades. Once you learn the full value which your customer management can unlock, workflows pipelines will find their full potential. Advancements in management technology now allow non-programmers to develop their own analytical processing applications. This saves time, resources costs, and remove s the need for managerial staff to have any technical know-how to get started. Building apps is far more affordable than any form of app development. Buying applications exceed both costs to the point where it is not viable to most businesses. Not even large enterprises. Information technology has been at a constant struggle, trying to deliver reporting analytics which are easy to understand by the average staff member, while enriching their own insights by empowering them with process design.Infrastructure SavingsAnother key aspect of analytic computing is the wide-scale infrastructure costs associated with multi-component systems. Maintaining data-mining software, web analytics, decision-support, queue management, multiple databases, omnichannel communications and the demand for all this and more on a real-time basis is not optimal when you use independent platforms. Software support costs scale sky high when an organization resorts to implementing multiple technologies relying e ach on their own software. All-inclusive customer relationship management technology supply you with a singular interface that vastly simplifies complex tasks like process design.What is BPM’Online CRMDevelopers are rewarded with a framework which supplies a software frontend and libraries for drag-and-drop application development when resorting to leading CRM packages. Both structured and unstructured automation is made easy, while applications are deployed over a web environment. No back-ups. No maintenance. Universal access and extreme ease of deployment alongside the most flexible cross-compatibility and external integration are among its highlights. End-users and staff will love how simple it is to access information from complex data sources. You get all the information that you need and information delivery services keep getting better thanks to the insights available to your upper-level staff.READSolid Tips for Improving Your Click-Through Rate (CTR)Full Feature Delivery A cross All DevicesApplications are delivered to the client via a browser and full-support is offered for all popular software. Our combination of JavaScript, XML, and DHTML give you an interface with unparalleled screen control and browser performance. Reports and representations, graphs and design tools are all provided in real-time with no sluggishness to be found. Applications are afforded the maximum degree of flexibility for displaying and retrieving information. Non-programmers and programmers alike will be able to optimize existing processing and build their own. With everything delivered by your browser, the whole system is accessible to mobile users as well.All-Round OptimizationWhether you’re a sales manager analyzing the performance of a department or an individual rep, a marketing channel or even an internal workflow, the whole system stays straight-forward. Building complex information delivery services takes minutes instead of weeks. The best platforms supply secure s erver to session control, as well as advanced security protocols for both the end-point and database. Most rely largely upon the processing power of cloud-hosted database servers although some internal data-management is also featured. This removes the load from your technical teams and frees up time for optimization and expansion. You’re also saved a considerable cost.

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Law That Can Not Discriminate Against Hiring An...

company, or even the taxpayer. In addition, it is now law that employers cannot discriminate against hiring an individual due to pregnancy, or pregnancy related illness, or disability. In ATT v. Hulteen, the Supreme Court heard of a case in which four workers claimed that they were discriminated against and that their pension was illegally reduced because of their pregnancy. The Court ruled against the four workers claiming that the Act protecting pregnant workers does not constitute redressing past oppression. This is fundamental in understanding radical feminists who would assert that retroactive penalties should apply to ATT because of their past oppression of pregnant mothers. Punishments and penalties that are applied†¦show more content†¦Many maternity and labor law provisions argue for equality within the workplace using the Fourteenth Amendment. The key words within the fourteenth amendment are â€Å"equal protection of the laws.† Equal protection does not c onstitute that women are endowed to special protection under the Rule of Law. In the battle for special protection for expecting mothers, the court has shut down claims supporting extra benefits over their male counterparts. The Supreme Court examined a health insurance plan that provided pregnancy benefits for female employees, but did not provide them for spouses of male employees. The court struck down the plan, holding that it discriminated against male employees because, in treating pregnancy differently from other disabilities, it denied male employees the same benefits that female employees received. Other feminists argue that in areas such as pregnancy leave that women should be treated differently than men as to promote equality of opportunity between the sexes. Moreover, any benefit that caters to women’s needs over men’s is against fairness in the workplace and should be eliminated. FEMINISM AND EQUAL PAY One of the main issues that have been at the forefront of all political and social campaigns is the idea of women and men receiving equal pay within the workplace. This is not only a legal issue, but social and political as well. The

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Idioms and Expressions - Come

The following idioms and expressions use the verb come. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with come. You can also learn idioms in context with these stories, or learn further expressions with these idiom resources on the site.   Come apart at the seams completely lose emotional control Theres no need to come apart at the seams. Things will get better.On hearing of the death of his friend, Peter came apart at the seams. Come away empty-handed return from a meeting, situation or other event without any gain We came away empty-handed from the negotiations.The competition was so intense that our company came away empty-handed. Come by something travel by means of some vehicle We came by train.Did you come by plane or by car? Come down in the world lose financial or social prestige and position Im afraid Tom has come down in the world. Lifes been pretty hard for him lately.I think youre taking too much risk. You might come down in the world. Come full circle return to an original state At first life was very difficult for Jane. However, things eventually came full circle and she returned to power.Looks like things have come full circle! How does it feel? Come in out of the rain start paying attention to a situation If he doesnt come in out of the rain, things will get out of control.Alex, come in out of the rain! Open your eyes to what is happening! Come into ones own begin having success and satisfaction in life Since he was appointed to vice-president, hes really come into his own.Keep working hard. One day youll come into your own. Come of age reach maturity required to do something such as marry, drink, vote, etc. You can have a beer once you come of age.When this generation comes of age, theyll be more ecologically alert. Come out ahead to be in a position of profit, or advantage after an event It was difficult, but in the end we came out ahead.Yes, higher education is expensive. However, in the end, youll come out ahead. Come to a bad end end in disaster Im afraid Jack has come to a bad end.If you dont change your behavior, youll come to a bad end. Come to a dead end arrive at an impasse in a situation, not be able to move forward Well have to rethink everything. Weve come to absolute dead end.They changed strategies once they came to a dead end. Come to a head reach a point of crisis when action is called for Things are coming to a head, we have to make a decision.I think everything will come to a head next month. Come to an untimely end die before your time His crazy driving brought him to an untimely end.She came to an untimely end last year. Come to a standstill not able to make any progress forward Can you help me? Ive come to a standstill on this project.We came to a standstill and had to rethink everything. Come to grips with something deal with something difficult Ill have to come to grips with this problem if I want to succeed.I think you first need to come to grips with his complaints before you move forward. Come to light become known A number of facts have come to light which change everything.A new solution has come to light. Come to ones senses begin thinking clearly about a situation Alan, come to your senses! Its not going to happen.She finally came to her senses and left her husband. Come to pass to occur Everything I had predicted came to pass.The prophecy has come to pass. Come true Become real Hard work and patience can help make your dreams come true.Did his plans come true?

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Benefits and Challenges of Emerging Technologies in...

I decided to research the benefits and challenges of emerging technologies in distance education for interaction and collaboration. The first report I read was written by Dr. Michael G. Moore, Web 2.0: Does It Really Matter? In this editorial Dr. Moore discusses emerging technologies and how they are â€Å"being adopted voraciously by â€Å"digital natives† who have grown up with the Internet. Moore concludes that â€Å"social networking should make constructivist, collaborative knowledge-making more natural and popular among learners and also eventually with their teachers.† However, the implementation of the tool needs to be done within a high quality well designed course and not just a tool spontaneously added by the instructor. (Moore, 2007) In Distance Education Trends: Integrating new technologies to foster student interaction and collaboration, Yoany Beldarrain of the Florida Virtual School discusses current distance education trends and the benefits of using emerging technologies such as wikis, blogs, and podcasts for student interaction. The report discusses the rapid growth of online distance education and the need to revise delivery structures and the need for re-thinking pedagogical practices. The researcher notes that â€Å"researchers and practitioners are recognizing emerging technologies as powerful tools for building social interaction in constructivist learning environments.† The report concludes that research on educational uses of emerging technologies isShow MoreRelatedThe History Of Distance Education Can Be Seen In Mid 1940S1103 Words   |  5 Pages The history of distance education can be seen in mid 1940s when Sir Isaac Pittman founded a Correspondence College in England in which course material was delivered freely (Silverton, 2011). Over the years this form of education spread to other countries such as Germany, Australia and Canada until the world witnessed the establishment of the world s first exclusively distance teaching university, the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1946 (Tait, 2003). Distance education can be seen as aRead MoreComputer, Robotics, And Automation Are Driving More And More Of Production1225 Words   |  5 Pagesinnovation There are significant emerging opportunities and challenges for commercialisation and innovation resulting from technological changes to becoming a more sustainable, broad- based economy: Reducing the tyranny of distance, boosting trade and creating new business models but also promoting outsourcing of work overseas. Internationalising labour markets are expanding the skilled labour pool. Developing commercially functional goods and services from new technologies often takes a lot longer thanRead MoreThe New State Tax Revenues866 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Virginia Business Higher Education Council â€Å"there is great benefit to higher education† (Grow, n.d.). The enormous value from investing in higher education that tax revenue generated for the Commonwealth of Virginia by its public higher education system exceeds the amount the state spends on the system; current expenditures on public higher education boost the state’s economy by a factor of 13:1; benefits of yearly investment in Virginia’s public higher education system based on 2007 spendingRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of Global Integration1476 Words   |  6 Pagesenvironment, culture, security, and idea exchange between different countries. There are many factors that lead to the speedy globalization trends. This acceleration in globalization can be attributed to an increase in free-trade activities, emerging technologies, or the worldwide acceptance of markets. Globalization has affected cultures and economies on matters dealing with environmental destruction and availability of the already limited resources. Globalization has had diverse implications forRead MoreDiverse Populations1584 Words   |  7 Pageslevel is. According to their study, global e-learning has challenges at the level of communication, technology, and world cultures (2011). The study of Geert Hofstede was monumental and developed out of a curiosity Hofstede had about worker values as a worker himself at IBM. Hofstede collected 116,000 surveys between 1968 and 1972 that lead to his development of â€Å"bipolar cultural dimensions, ultimately have a great impact on education and e-learning (Wang, (2007); Theriault, (2016); Liu, Liu,Read MoreApproaches to Visual Communication809 Words   |  3 Pagescommunicating a very popular concept online education. Online education, or distance learning, rose sharply in the late 1990s. Today it is a convenient and common means of advancing ones education when work, career and family demands present challenges in making it into the traditional classroom (Boiling et al, 2012). Educators use a number of ways to promote their degree programs and emphasize key concepts flexibility, quality, and the power of modern technology. All three images that follow were foundRead MoreThe History Of Mooc s Have A Beginning With Educators Stephen Downes And George Siemens1539 Words   |  7 Pagesof Manitoba in Manitoba. Stanford University professors, Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig, offered a MOOC course called Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. (Marques, 2013). Subsequently, with the success of this MOOC and other MOOCs, elite education presidents, provost, and faculty came together and created the 3 largest MOOC providers. These providers are Udacity, Cousera, and edX. (LaBossiere, 2014) As of 2016, other institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, University of Iowa, DukeRead MoreDeveloping New Strategy Fo r The Cost Of Eeg Machines1714 Words   |  7 PagesInnovating for Emerging Markets Emerging trends that results in GE Healthcare developing new strategy for the cost of EEG machines. Per Immelt, Govindarajan, and Trimble (2009), â€Å"general electric and other industrial-goods manufactures based on rich countries grew by developing high-product at home and to distribute them globally.† The external influence has affected the healthcare practice in many hospitals, just because these external forces do not originate from the hospitals but are externallyRead MoreComputer Assisted Language Learning1101 Words   |  5 PagesComputer network technology has long been considered a tool for language learning within and outside the classroom. The advantages presented by computer technology are very beneficial. Computer Assisted Language Learning tools provide a wide range of materials and opportunities for communication. For Computer Assisted Language Learning (that will be referred to as CALL in this essay) to be fully implemented into classrooms, teachers and stud ents must prepare to embrace different roles. The decisionRead MoreInformation Systems Are Deployed By Government Essay1409 Words   |  6 Pageseffectiveness especially in the area of health, education etc, due to the use of the network to effectively share data (OECD, 2003). The adoption of information system within government organisations and other public sectors is becoming a tendency based on United Nations’ study that shows a large number of emerging nations are embracing the idea of e-government and developing its capability (UNPAN, 2008). 2. Literature Review Despite the recognition of the benefit from deploying information system in a government

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Strategic Information System Financial Revenues Favorable

Question: Describe about the Report for Strategic Information System of Financial Revenues Favorable. Answer: Introduction: The performance of an organization in a business is dependent on the scope of realization of financial revenues which could be favorable. Recordkeeping has been a significant attribute in the development of business organizations over the years and the implications of financial recordkeeping are formidable requirements in the strategy for framing business decisions. Information and communication technologies have created many prominent changes in the mode of business operations (Galliers Leidner, 2014). Consistent access to reliable information could help organizations to prepare sustainable strategies alongside emphasizing on the existing scenario. The information system is intended to establish a formal setting in which the data would be collected, interpreted into legible information and delivered to users (Shapiro Varian, 2013). The following report depicts a comprehensive illustration of the various types of accounting information systems and the application of different syste ms or software for selected case studies. Accounting information systems: The accounting information systems implemented by organizations are derived from concerns for various elements such a business processes and resources. The sustainability of an organization is dependent on the transparency of its financial records and the different inferences which can be drawn from the financial performance of the company. The application of information systems in the process of monitoring the financial documents related to an organization is considered as a cognizable approach for producing informative reports which can assist managers for building business decisions (Haux et al, 2013). However, the significance of tracking financial developments and pitfalls is observed in the collection, storage and processing of financial as well as accounting data has become more flexible with the introduction of computers and the internet. Connectivity is the keyword for development in the domain of business and hence the availability of necessary resources to establish the re quired framework can be apprehended as a promising platform for implementation of AIS or ERP systems. The sophistication of new business methodologies has also obtained drastic benefits from the utilization of AIS which can also be considered as a major outcome of transition from manual accounting information systems to computer based systems (Osman, El Beltagi Hardaker, 2015). The functionality of accounting information systems can be studied from a comprehensive illustration of the components and functions of AIS. The trend of growing inclination towards information systems is characterized by three profound requirements. The foremost objective of establishing formidable AIS is realized in the plausible collection and storage of data related to the financial activities of an organization. AIS utilize collection of transaction data through source documents, illustrating the transactions in journals and translation of data from journals to ledgers. Accounting information systems ar e also responsible for generation of financial statements and managerial reports which are necessary for managers to acquire information relevant to decision making requisites (Ward Peppard, 2016). Another profound function of AIS is observed in the establishment of formal controls for precise collection, interpretation and processing of data. Performance measurement systems must also be placed for evaluating the standards of performance followed by the organization in its financial domain. Multitude of functions and the proficiency of AIS in catering the strategic requirements of a business serve as credible indicators for implementing AIS systems or software in business applications (Waters et al, 2013). Components of AIS: Prior to the implementation of accounting information systems, an organization must be aware of the components of an AIS in order to ensure cognizable measures for addressing the needs of an organization. The AIS consists of six integral parts such as people, procedure, data, software, internal controls and IT infrastructure. Each of the components has a distinct role in defining the functionality of the system. People in AIS refer to the accountants, consultants, business analysts and managers who have the authority to access and use the systems (Uaktrk Villard, 2013). They must be aware of the other related factors and the expertise in managing the various interfaces and hardware related to AIS. Procedure in the AIS is related to the methodologies implemented for collection, storage, retrieval and processing of data. The procedure must be clearly outlined in AIS which would help in identifying distinct methodologies for identifying the concerns and prepare contingency plans (Wu et al, 2013). The procedure also assists in preparing a rough impression of the necessary requirements in terms of physical and financial resources. The third component of AIS is the crux of every information system i.e. Data. Data is the major content of an information system and financial data associated with an organization serve as data for AIS of the organization. Software required for running the various procedures for information management is included in the software component of AIS and is largely reflective of computer programs used for data processing. Information technology infrastructure serves as the hardware for operating the AIS and is considered as a complement of the software component (Pearlson, Saunders Galletta, 2016). The connectivity offered by evolved equipment in the domain of information and communication technology could account for higher efficiency of the information systems. Finally, the design of an accounting information system is completed by the esta blishment of internal controls which safeguard data from unfavorable practices. Internal controls can be perceived as security measures adopted by an organization to prevent unauthorized access to accounting information of the company. Measuring performance in AIS: The performance or the reliability of an accounting information system can be determined from a conclusive reference to five profound and acclaimed standards. The efficacy of accounting information system is primarily evaluated from the perspective of confidentiality, security, processing integrity, privacy and availability. Information systems which satisfy all conditions mentioned above are trusted for their efficiency and sophistication of performances. Security is verified through establishment of protocols for control and limitations on access to system as well as data (Amrollahi, Ghapanchi Talaei-Khoei, 2013). Confidentiality is ensured through safeguarding confidential information from unwarranted disclosure. The processing integrity criteria are satisfied by the verification of accuracy, completion and time required for data processing under proper authorization. Availability of a system is judged on the basis of its capability to address contractual and operational obligati ons. Finally, the prerequisite of privacy is evaluated by determining the collection and use of personal information of customers. If the personal information of customers is not subject to excessive exposure then the privacy criteria of AIS is fulfilled (David David, 2016). These criteria assist in comprehensive judging of the capabilities of an accounting information system which in turn would be helpful for resolving information management issues of an organization from the right perspective. In many situations, it has been observed that organizations fail to realize the implementation of AIS and thus face critical setbacks in terms of misappropriation of documents, confusion over the taxable returns and increased complexity of cash flow descriptions (Abdelhak, Grostick Hanken, 2014). Therefore, organizations must aim to develop information systems which could help them to acquire and collate relevant information associated with an organizations financial aspects. Types of Accounting Information Systems: Accounting information systems are characterized by variations owing to the changes in context of the business environment. Factors such as magnitude of business, data volume and nature of data are responsible for framing new information systems. Electronic data processing (EDP) and the traditional relational database management systems implemented for data management in business organizations are prolific examples of implementation of technology in storage of relevant data (Bernus, Mertins Schmidt, 2013). The accounting process is complicated and is characterized by the starting process of recording financial transactions and ranges to preparation of financial statements. The consistent development in information systems technology of business organizations can be considered as an initiative to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002. The classification of accounting information systems can be apprehended from the understanding of different types of business processes. Business tra nsactions are classified into revenue and return processes, administrative, conversion processes and expense and return processes. Revenue and return processes comprise of indication to massive volumes of daily sales and cash inflows. Conversion process includes transactions which are implemented in work in progress and raw materials transactions (Ali, Mohamad Tretiakov, 2013). Expenditure and return process imply references to payroll transactions while administrative processes involve capital, investment and borrowing transactions. The above mentioned processes are documented in the form of external and internal financial reports. Internal reports include sales inventory status report or schedule of receivable accounts while external financial reports comprise of balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. The types of accounting information systems used in the contemporary business scenario are also dependent on the nature and size of the organization alongside the organizational objectives. The two distinct classifications of AIS include manual and legacy systems. Manual systems are generally implemented by small businesses and home based enterprises. The examples of manual systems include requirement of source documents, special, general and subsidiary journals. Manual systems have been computerized in the recent times which require manual input and processing of data (Whittington, 2014). The computer framework utilized for the process is meant for storage of information solely. Legacy systems are considered as the sophisticated system of information storage and were implemented way ahead of the age of information technology (Willcocks, 2013). The information acquired from legacy systems is relevant to the historical data associated with an organization and could be apprehended flex ibly by the personnel of the firm. Furthermore, the implications of legacy systems are cognizable for the employees of the organization which accounts for higher sophistication of outcomes. Accounting software packages lack such type of customization as observed in legacy systems. Disk4u case study: The case study provided for analysis is related to Disk4U which is a business established in Australia. The company is a small family-owned business and is characterized by its four outlets in Sydney. The expansion of operations of the company through the internet and acquisition of orders via phone has prompted the organization to undertake computerization of its accounting information systems. The organization faces major issues in the domains of business reporting and accounting which can be addressed by taking several factors into account. The recommendations of an accounting and business systems consultant must be aligned with implications of magnitude of the business, nature of the business and the volume of data associated with the company (Haron, Sabri Zolkarnain, 2013). The implementation of manual system of accounting has been tried by the organization with limited results in terms of flexibility of maintaining information related to accounts, transactions, sources and int erfaces. Hence the recommended AIS for Disk4U would be QuickBooks which is a conveniently framed accounting software package. The selection of QuickBooks can be validated by the multitude of reasons such as flexibility of managerial accounting and scope for including diverse and customized space for accommodating data. Since Disk4U has ventured into the online business through eBay, the organization would be liable to experience a higher influx of data volume which can be catered only through an information system capable of dealing with an invariable rise in the volume of information (Reeves, 2014). Information systems, especially in the domain of accounting are largely concerned with associate factors such as customer behavioral preferences and comparative reviews of financial performance in various financial years. The sales of Disk4U on the online platform is executed through a third party i.e. eBay and hence the AIS for the company must accommodate ample fields in order to ente r data pertaining to transactional incentives which are exchanged between the organization and the vendor i.e. eBay which is helpful for reviewing the performance of an organization at any time. The company can find revenue which is lost in terms of product exchanges, replacements, supply chain costs and areas which are facing substantial barriers financially. The additional impact of the AIS for Disk4U includes the reference to cost accounting which depicts a clear representation of the costs pertaining to delivery of products and services along with a comparative review of the costs with the standards (Peppard, Galliers Thorogood, 2014). The revised accounting information system in form of QuickBooks can facilitate monthly reports to the organization in terms of sales reports, performance comparisons, cash flow statements and income statement. Translation of information is also a major challenge which emerges in case of Disk4U and its AIS. The information pertaining to the firm i s accessible in physical form and consists of descriptions of transaction documents, source documents and ledgers which have to be interpreted for inclusion in the new information system framework. The organization has to ensure that information associated with the manual accounting information systems implemented by the organization has to be reiterated precisely in the new information system. The sustenance of conventional information is necessary for inducing the characteristic of a legacy based system which can prove to be substantially helpful in reviewing the financial performance of the organization from the perspective of its past performance (Bajdor Grabara, 2014). However; the system has to be implemented with coordinated effort from all perspectives of the information management system. Negligence for any particular element could lead to massive consequences for the organization in terms of lack of information related to specific organizational issues, financial instabil ity and shortage of managerial effectiveness to cater the requirements of the company. Sungate Foods case study: The case of Sungate foods implies the organizations background in Victoria. The organizations primary products include rice. The resources and infrastructure available for the organization include processing locations, milling facilities, rail spur, pollution control equipment and farms. The resources of the organization are excessive and the magnitude of the organization can be purportedly determined from the expanse of operations and intensity of outcomes of the organization. Scope for error in the AIS framework is derived from volume of data, inefficiency of personnel and the ambiguous integration of information systems in the case of Sungate foods. The outcome of the faulty implementation of AIS can be attributed to these above mentioned causes and their replacement can be considered in the form of implementing a developed framework for collecting, interpreting and representing the data associated with distinct sectors of the company (Vernez, Culbertson Constant, 2014). The AIS system would be inclusive of distinct technologies for revenue process, expenditure process, conversion process and administrations process. Since Sungate foods is an organization with multiple resources and substantial potential for generating financial returns, the AIS for the company must be comprehensive and should indicate illustrated references to each of the business transactions observed in the company (Vernez, Culbertson Constant, 2014). The interrelation among the various business transactions is also a significant indicator of the complexity required in the accounting information system. First of all, the revenue of the company has to be maintained distinctly alike other transactions. Revenue of the company is observed in the form of sales, returns on sales and cash collection. The data pertaining to each component involved in the processes of revenue collection is included in AIS (Vernez, Culbertson Constant, 2014). The use of a generic accounting software package for Sungate foods cannot be considered as a plausible option since, the volume of data as well as variability could create certain concerns for the framework. The magnitude of the organization demands a customized framework for storing, processing and retrieving information related to the accounting aspects of the company. The extent of Sungate foods and its operations in the market also account for demands of AIS framework which can be understood effectively by personnel of the organization and thus the information system can be used effectively for the benefit of the organization. Sungate foods faces challenges in terms of financial resources in implementation of AIS which can be tackled by emphasizing on the critical aspects of accounting information such as cash flow and income statements rather than trivial issues. Detailing of individual procedures of an organization and the impact of each of the procedures is a mandatory requirement for the AIS that should be implemented in Sunga te foods (Vernez, Culbertson Constant, 2014). The recommendation assumes references to the inabilities of the existing AIS framework of the organization in reporting and accounting details. The formulation of the new accounting information system for Sungate foods is reviewed from the perspective of the companys magnitude of operations. The massive scale of the organization is noted as a preliminary requisite for framing the AIS since it is also responsible for the invariable rise in the amount of information related to the companys financial transactions. The output of the organization is derived through round the clock effort of employees and the diversity of the organization can also be observed from the processing locations, marketing office, milling facilities, farms and pollution control equipment. Therefore the recommended AIS system should be capable of interconnecting the information systems at each of the facilities which would assist in acquisition of real time data pert aining to collection from farms, processing data, stock details and data associated with packaging, distribution and sale of rice (Haron, Sabri Zolkarnain, 2013). As suggested in the recommendations, Sungate food should aim at deriving comprehensive AIS which would be able to capitalize on the existing framework of information systems and data silos available for data storage. The compilation of data from various domains of the organizations activities such as marketing, production, distribution, expenditures and sales into a single report creates ambiguities and hence the recommended AIS framework could facilitate viable prospects for management of accounting information related to the organization. Conclusion: The significance of accounting information systems has been depicted in the report with conclusive references to solutions of two case studies. The case studies were primarily directed towards the lack of proficiency in areas such as business reporting and accounting. The issues were addressed in individual cases through consideration of influential factors such as organization type, size of the organization and the resources available for the organization. The capability of AIS infrastructures has been a widely doubted entity in the domain of information management owing to the various customized or legacy frameworks adopted by certain organizations (Willcocks, 2013). However, AIS has the capability of addressing the performance requirements of an organization from the perspective of estimations of accounting transactions and maintaining them in a coordinated fashion. Monitoring the financial framework of an organization through accounting information systems has proved to be a subs trate for the development of packages and accounting software which could prove functional in keeping as well as monitoring records of business transactions and accounting reports. The emergence of online accounting software has also served as a vital boost for the domain of accounting information management as such platforms enable flexibility of interaction (Ali, Mohamad Tretiakov, 2013). The emphasis on components of an accounting information system, specifications of the organization and objectives could serve as significant attributes for framing a functional and productive accounting information system. References Abdelhak, M., Grostick, S. and Hanken, M.A., 2014.Health information: management of a strategic resource. Elsevier Health Sciences. Ali, R.H.R.M., Mohamad, R. and Tretiakov, A., 2013. The Determinants of Strategic Information System Planning (SISP) Success: A Proposed Framework for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).Journal of Innovation Management in Small Medium Enterprises,2013, p.1. Amrollahi, A., Ghapanchi, A.H. and Talaei-Khoei, A., 2013. A systematic literature review on strategic information systems planning: Insights from the past decade.Pacific Asia Journal of the Association for Information Systems,5(2). Bajdor, P. and Grabara, I., 2014. The Role of Information System Flows in Fulfilling Customers Individual Orders.Journal of Studies in Social Sciences,7(2). Bernus, P., Mertins, K. and Schmidt, G.J. eds., 2013.Handbook on architectures of information systems. Springer Science Business Media. Davenport, T.H., 2013.Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business Press. David, F. and David, F.R., 2016. Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts and Cases. Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014.Strategic information management: challenges and strategies in managing information systems. Routledge. Haron, H., Sabri, S.M. and Zolkarnain, Z.N., 2013, November. A situational analysis of Strategic Information System Planning in the context of a Malaysian SME. In2013 International Conference on Research and Innovation in Information Systems (ICRIIS)(pp. 539-543). IEEE. Haux, R., Winter, A., Ammenwerth, E. and Brigl, B., 2013.Strategic information management in hospitals: an introduction to hospital information systems. Springer Science Business Media. Kennerley, M.P. and Neely, A.D., 2013, June. Organisational Learning Through the Evaluation of Information System. InStrategic Management of the Manufacturing Value Chain: Proceedings of the International Conference of the Manufacturing Value-Chain August 98, Troon, Scotland, UK(Vol. 2, p. 457). Springer. Osman, E., El Beltagi, I.M. and Hardaker, G., 2015. The Impact of Leadership Orientation on Strategic Information System Planning Processes, with an Application to Libyan Organizations.Information Technology for Development,21(4), pp.601-627. Pearlson, K.E., Saunders, C.S. and Galletta, D.F., 2016.Managing and Using Information Systems, Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley Sons. Peppard, J., Galliers, R.D. and Thorogood, A., 2014. Information systems strategy as practice: Micro strategy and strategizing for IS.J. Strategic Inf. Sys.,23(1), pp.1-10. Reeves, M., 2014, June. Connect (Four) More: Virginia's Strategic Game of Interoperability. In2014 National STD Prevention Conference. CDC. Samara, T., 2016. Impact of the Modularity of ERPs on the Information Systems Disintegration.International Journal of Strategic Information Technology and Applications (IJSITA),7(1), pp.45-61. Shapiro, C. and Varian, H.R., 2013.Information rules: a strategic guide to the network economy. Harvard Business Press. Uaktrk, A. and Villard, M., 2013. The effects of management information and ERP systems on strategic knowledge management and decision-making.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,99, pp.1035-1043. Ward, J. and Peppard, J., 2016.The Strategic Management of Information Systems: Building a Digital Strategy. John Wiley Sons. Waters, K.P., Zuber, A., Willy, R.M., Kiriinya, R.N., Waudo, A.N., Oluoch, T., Kimani, F.M. and Riley, P.L., 2013. Kenya's health workforce information system: A model of impact on strategic human resources policy, planning and management.International journal of medical informatics,82(9), pp.895-902. Whittington, R., 2014. Information systems strategy and strategy-as-practice: a joint agenda.The Journal of Strategic Information Systems,23(1), pp.87-91. Willcocks, L., 2013.Information management: the evaluation of information systems investments. Springer. Wu, Y., Cegielski, C.G., Hazen, B.T. and Hall, D.J., 2013. Cloud computing in support of supply chain information system infrastructure: understanding when to go to the cloud.Journal of Supply Chain Management,49(3), pp.25-41. Vernez, G., Culbertson, S. and Constant, L., 2014.Strategic Priorities for Improving Access to Quality Education in the Kurdistan Region--Iraq. Monograph. RAND Corporation. PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138.

Friday, April 10, 2020

How to Start a Research Paper

How to Start a Research Paper Starting a research paper is always a great challenge to many people. In fact the way you start your research paper will determine its final outcome. That is why it is very important to start correctly so that you can end it in right manner. So the big question is, how can you start a research paper? In this article, we are going to guide you by giving you proper structure to follow when starting a research paper. 1. Decide on the topic One very important stage of starting a research paper is to choose the right topic. When we say the right topic we actually mean a topic that you are well conversant with. It needs to be topic that you are passionate about and you are willing to go all the way to ensure that you address the problem. You need to do some preliminary research to see if the topic that you have chosen has adequate information that you need. If you realize that the topic that you have chosen does not have enough information, don’t waste time, just look for another. 2. Construct thesis Once you have chosen the right topic and you are sure that you will get enough information, the next step that you need to undertake is to conduct the thesis. To do this, you first need to formulate several hypotheses. Hypothesis are basically potential answers to your research questions. You should use the knowledge that you have on that topic when coming up with potential answers. Thesis actually forms the back bone of you research paper. You therefore need to ensure it include all necessary information so that readers know what exactly you will argue on the inter course of the paper. In order to come up with an outstanding thesis statement, experts recommend that you should discuss it with other researchers so that you can get a bigger picture on the topic. 3. Conduct an extensive research Once you have formulated the right thesis, you need to collect information to back your claim. This means that you need to conduct an extensive research in order to collect accurate data to support the thesis statement. For instance, if you are doing a science based research, you need to conduct various experiments in order to collect accurate data. On the other hand, if you are doing an art base research, then you need to conduct research to collect both primary and secondary information that will be crucial for your research paper. 4. Start your research paper Once you have conducted extensive research and collected crucial information that is needed for the research, you need start writing your research paper. The first step through the process of writing is to first write an outline of what you are planning to cover. An outline will actually guide you when writing your research paper. When starting, ensure that you do so with factual statement about the subject that you are addressing. Most people usually like to start by addressing general topics before they finally narrow it down to their research topic. However that is not recommend. Experts recommend that you should first start by factual statement on the topic that you have chosen to address. When starting your research paper, it is also very important to tell your audience what other researchers have written on that particular topic, what they have found and what they have not and what you are planning to address. If you are still thinking it is too difficult to write a research pa per by yourself so just ask for help from reliable writing service and  pay to have paper written.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian

How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian The valedictory speech usually is delivered at the graduation ceremony by the valedictorian, the student with the highest grades in the graduating class, although some colleges and high schools have abandoned the practice of naming a valedictorian. The terms valedictory and valedictorian come from the Latin valedicere, meaning a formal farewell. Understand the Goal The valedictory should fulfill two goals: It should convey a sending off message  to the members of a graduating class and inspire them to leave the comfort and security of their school ready to embark on an exciting new adventure. You have been chosen to deliver this speech because you proved you are an excellent student who can live up to adult responsibilities. Now its time to make every student in your class feel special. As you prepare your speech, think about your shared experiences with the class and the people with whom you shared them, including popular and quiet students, class clowns and brains, teachers, principals, professors, deans, and other school employees. Its important to make everyone feel as if they played an important role in this shared experience. If you have limited experience in certain aspects of school life, ask for help in collecting important names and events you might not know about. Are there clubs or teams that won prizes? Students who volunteered in the community? Compile a List of Highlights Make a list of highlights since freshman year, focusing on the current year. Here are examples of events you could describe: Who received awards or scholarships?Were any sports records broken?Is a teacher retiring after this year?Did your class have a reputation with teachers, good or bad?How many students remain from freshman year?Was there a dramatic event in the world this year?Was there a dramatic event in your school?Was there a funny moment? You might need to conduct personal interviews to learn about these benchmarks. Write the Speech Valedictory speeches often combine humorous and serious elements. Start by greeting your audience with a hook that grabs their attention. For example, you could say the senior year has been full of surprises, or were leaving the faculty with lots of interesting memories, or this senior class has set records in some unusual ways. Organize your speech into topics describing these elements. You might want to start with an event thats on everyones mind, such as a championship basketball season, a student featured on a television show, or a tragic event in the community. Then focus on the other highlights, putting them into context and explaining their importance. For example: This year, Jane Smith won a National Merit Scholarship. This may not seem like a big deal, but Jane overcame a year of illness to achieve this goal. Her strength and perseverance are an inspiration to our whole class. Use Anecdotes and Quotes Come up with anecdotes to illustrate your shared experiences. These brief stories can be funny or poignant. You could say, When the student newspaper printed a story about the family who lost their home to a fire, our classmates rallied and organized a series of fundraisers. Sprinkle in quotes from famous people. Quotes work best in the introduction or conclusion and should reflect the theme of your speech. For example: The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.- Charles DickensYou will find the key to success under the alarm clock.- Benjamin FranklinThere is only one success: to be able to spend your life in your own way.- Christopher Morley Plan for Time Be mindful of the appropriate length of your speech. Most people speak about 175 words per minute, so a 10-minute speech should contain about 1750 words. You can fit about 250 words onto a double-spaced page. That translates to seven pages of double-spaced text for 10 minutes of speaking time. Tips for Preparing to Speak Its important to practice your speech before giving it. This will help you troubleshoot problem spots, cut boring parts, and add elements if youre running short. You should: Practice reading your speech aloud to see how it sounds.Time yourself, but remember you may speak faster when youre nervous.Focus on remaining calm.Get plenty of sleep the night before your speech.Eat well before your speech.Don’t try to be funny if it feels unnatural.If youre going to talk about a tragic event your class experienced (it might be awkward not to address it), make sure you do so tactfully. Consult a teacher or adviser if you have any doubts or discomforts. If possible, practice your speech using the microphone in the location where youll be graduating. Your best chance might be just before the event. This will give you an opportunity to experience the sound of your magnified voice, figure out how to stand, and get past any butterflies in your stomach.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

How does the practice of crisis management differ from that of Risk Essay

How does the practice of crisis management differ from that of Risk managementsupport answer with reference to appropriate exam - Essay Example Woods et al. (2008, p. 124) identified the core elements of risk management in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Core elements of corporate risk management Source: Woods et al. (2008, p. 124) 2.2 As indicated by Figure 1, the assessment of risks in the area of risk management is done consistent with organisational objectives (Woods et al. 2008, p. 125). The word â€Å"modification† on the left side of the diagram indicates a feedback process in which the lessons learned from risk management experience are used to review and modify management decisions and even organisational objectives â€Å"to ensure an acceptable and appropriate level of risk exposure on the part of the organisation† (Woods et al. 2008, p. 126). 2.3 The label â€Å"formal audit† on the right side of the diagram indicates that â€Å"formal audit† is the key route for identifying and managing risks (Woods et al. 2008, p. 127). ... ned in the event of a crisis; Provide the required focus for effective response; and Conduct exercises to validate and improve crisis response plans as well as improve staff training and awareness. 2.4 In 2009, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) identified some of the developments in country risk management that could be applicable for other forms of risk management (p. 29-38): Adoption of an all-hazards framework that considers all possible sources of risks; Use of new governance models for risk assessment; Involvement of all organisational units for risk management; Systematic approach to mitigation planning in anticipation of the possibility that some or all of the risks would materialize; Protection of critical infrastructure given the risks; Promotion of organisational resilience and continuity should some of the risks materialize; and Ensuring that financing policies factors in the possibility of crises from risks. 2.5 It is easy to see that some o r all of the developments for various countries risk management strategies apply to corporate and other types of risk management as well. This implies, for example, that: We must identify all sources of risk that threatens the survival or competitiveness of our organisation or population on which our organisation has a responsibility (with a priority emphasis on those that constitute as the biggest threat to our existence or competitiveness); We must adopt forms of organisation that factors in the realities of risks, We must involve all our organisational units in risk assessment even if we have a unit focused on risk management; We must have crisis-mitigation plans as part of our risk management system (the crisis mitigation plans are also part of our crisis management system); Based on

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Fund raising research assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fund raising research assignment - Essay Example no volunteer system despite being known for its charitable and volunteer work while the University of Cincinnati does not list volunteers as directly assisting in fund raising on their websites, but they were highlighted in foundation advertisement on other sites like Facebook and Youtube. The University of Oregon does not offer member benefits online like the University of Cincinnati does, where donors get free parking, library privileges discounts on university bookstore, recognition at annual Honor Roll of Donors, complimentary classes, and special invitation to special events. The Michigan State University is so different from both the University of Oregon and Cincinnati though the former has a gift level system, too. The annual gifts of Michigan State University are presidents club, Beaumont Tower Society, John A. Hannah Society, Jonathan L. Snyder society and Theophilus C. Abbot Society. Michigan state university is different from the other two universities since volunteers are the main contributors to their fund-raising, and the institution has a calling program run by volunteers. This program is important since it is a student led voice, and it is used to build strong relationships with alumni. On top of that, Michigan State University organizes events which supplement their annual fund-raising: Broad Art Museum event, Secchia Center event and Corporate Alumni event. There is a big gap between a university and a high school in terms of resources. In that regard, there was a big difference between the high school I researched and the research on the three universities. I believe that the high school could largely benefit from implementing some of the procedures that these universities have. Some of the programs this high school will have to implement include building a school website. The website will enable the alumni to get more information about what the schooling is aiming to achieve, reminisce and stay connected to the community and the high school.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Whale Rider Essay Example for Free

Whale Rider Essay The fate of the future of the people, you can not change it, you should accept it, you should be brave enough to face all the problems. Fate WITI Ihimaera novel Whale Rider is a very important topic. Kahus destiny is to become the first female chief of the Maori, the next Whale Rider. However, this fate is very difficult Kahu done alone. Firstly, Kahu get direct help to fulfill her destiny from the the Rehua, nannies flowers and Ravi Lane. Secondly, ironically, Kahu also indirectly help to fulfill her destiny of Koro and ancient cattle whale third , Kahu fulfill her destiny own fate is an important theme of this novel, is the fate of the Maori whale saved Kahu. The help of a lot of people directly Kahu to fulfill her destiny, such as the Rehua, nanny flowers and Ravi inside. First, Rehua Who wants to name the baby Kahu. Even if Rehua is weak childbirth, she is still hope. The Rehua To baby named Kahu, because she wanted children with her husbands tribe, and in honor of her husband. In addition, the fate of Kahu is very important, because the The Kahu ancestor the Kahutia special Rangi name Rehua hope Kahu nobody to tease her. Secondly, the nanny spend is a person who gave permission to the baby named Kahu. Therefore, the nanny spent out of ideas, defrauding Koro, she knew when she thinks Koro, he will go to the ocean ship, so she is only half of the oil in the ship, and Koro will stay in the middle of the ocean. This is very important Kahus fate, which is the name of the nanny spent to get her to support Rehua performance of Maori tribes. Third, Ravi go help nanny spent directly Kahu was born line. The Ravi was directly help the Kahu her bi rth line, this offer is very important kahu the birth of the line next to the the Kahutia special Rangi Kahu from large ancestors, Kahutia special Rangi. The Rehua, nanny flowers and Ravi inside directly fulfill Kahus destiny, they help Kahu is great, so that she can have a better life. Kahu, a lot of people to help her people, but she is also a person is ironic that those who help her. The Kahu been to help the Koro and, ancient cattle the whales through indirect help. First of all, When Koro pushs Kahu, Kahu is trying to make Koro and accept her.Kahu love her great grandfather Koro Moreover, she was always trying to do a good job, so that her great-grandfather is very proud of her. But she always just disappointed, because she knew she was a girl, can not become the next, which is why her great-grandfather does not accpet her, but she believed Koro accpet upcoming day. Secondly, Koro To test the child, who is the next president of the school, so Koro thrown stone carvings, middle-aged people to the ocean, but not brought back LITHOGLYPHS, Koro upsad, Finally, Kahu can find rock carvings in the ocean This Kahus fate is very important, because Kahu found LITHOGLYPHS, on behalf of her next, because no one can be found who are the next marine rock carvings The Kahus n ew lifel changes Koro not know it is Kahu with The back LITHOGLYPHS Koro traditional, he can not accpet next girl. Third, in the ancient bull whale back found to Wangji Glasgow gold master, but the Maori tribe when the whale is dead, they think their life will stop at that moment, when the ancient bull whale to reach the prosperous Glasgow, Maori people is SCARD their lives, they tried to get the whale back into the ocean, but the results whale whale no final Kahu talks, and riding a whale back into the ocean, but in fact, ancient bull whale that she is a gold master old mother she was not the golden egg, and then sent the Kahu back Wang Glasgow who is Whale Rider, let Koro to know the real situation is one of his great-grandson Whale Rider in the future of this offer. Koro and the ancient cattle whale Kahu told the ancient bull whale indirectly to fulfill her destiny, but also to ensure that Kahu is the future of Whale Rider. Kahu indirectly to help her know that she is the next Whale Rider, she completed her fate by her. Kahus destiny to fulfill its first female chief. First, Kahu interested in learning about Maori culture and language, this is the next should be aware of it. The Kahu efforts to understand the Maori culture, their own language, so she and Kahu hope that she can become the next Kahu spent a lot of time in learning all things Maori Koro proud. Second, a person who can negotiate the whale on behalf of his / her next, Kahu, she will speak of the whale, which is the the Kahu fate of the ability of future chief.This quotes is very important, because Kahu You can communicate with whales. This is the part of the chief, should have do.Third, Kahu meet her fate be the the next Whale Rider bite her great-grandfather is the important part: Whale Rider communication whale. First things should be a little Koro toes part become Whale Rider. To meet Kahu fate of almost help her become the first woman Whale Rider. Kahu help fulfill her destiny, she was a different person to complete her destiny. First, they allow direct Kahu great help in her life. Second the Koro and ancient bullfighting whale is ironic that, in order to ensure that Kahu is the future of Whale Rider. Third, Kahu help themselves to become the next Whale Rider. There are a lot of people with different ideas to fulfill Kahus destiny. Fate is very important Kahu fulfill her dream to become the next Whale Rider.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Elementary School Teaching Essays -- essays papers

Elementary School Teaching Elementary School Teacher Elementary school teachers teach pupils at levels kindergarten through sixth grade or, in some cases, through eighth grade a wide range of academic, social, emotional, and motor skills. They plan and present programs of instruction using methods and materials to meet the needs of the students. In order for all this to happen though, Elementary School Teachers must have a passion for educating as well as love children. Education requires dedication, organization, and thought out lesson plans on a daily basis. To ensure that the students get top-notch education, teachers attend staff meetings, serve on committees, and attend workshops or in-service training activities. When students get restless of being indoors, they have a special designated spot in their schedule reserved for outdoor activities, which they are responsible for. They must be willing to Prepare bulletin boards, correct papers and tests, and keep records and reports of the student. Every year, a teacher must evaluate student performance, and when need be, counsel pupils with academic and adjustment problems. Parents are always so interested in what happens in the school aspect of their child’s life, so teachers involve themselves in a Parent-Teacher conference day, in which they meet with the student’s parents to discuss the student’s progress and performance. Many of these tasks are done at the teacherâ€℠¢s home, not in class. Therefore, the teacher brings home more than an average career profession. As a result, they must not mind to take the papers home to read, check, and grade. But in class, they have an important job. Teachers may have up to 30 students looking up to them as an inspiration and... ...s, a teacher may teach one special subject usually involving music, art, reading, science, or physical education to a number of classes. Teachers often work with students from various ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. I am going to complete my studies for Elementary School Teaching at Schoolcraft College. Then from there, I am going to transfer either to the University of Michigan or Eastern Michigan University to finish up my remaining years required for the four year degree. When I transfer, I am going to get my major in my career and use it, to teach little children and open there minds, as well as inspire them in life. When I do get my degree in teaching, I am going to have it so I can teach at any level from K-12. With my drive of determination and my passion to make a difference, I believe that I will make a reliable Elementary School Teacher.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Last Sacrifice Chapter Four

AND WHEN I SAY THEY blew up, I mean they blew up. Flames and smoke unfurled like petals from a newly opened flower as those poor monarchs exploded into pieces of rock. For a moment, I was stunned. It was like watching an action movie, the explosion cracking the air and shaking the ground. Then, guardian training kicked in. Critical observation and calculation took over. I immediately noticed that the bulk of the statue's material blew toward the outer sides of the garden. Small stone pieces and dust rained down on the funeral procession, but no large chunks of rock hit Lissa or anyone standing nearby. Assuming the statues had not spontaneously combusted, whoever had blown them up had done so in a precise way. The logistics aside, huge billowing pillars of flame are still pretty scary. Chaos broke loose as everyone tried to get away. Only, they all took different routes, so collisions and entanglements occurred. Even the pallbearers set down their precious burden and took off. Ambrose was the last to do so, his mouth agape and eyes w ide as he stared at Tatiana, but another look at the statues sent him off into the mob. A few guardians tried to keep order, herding people back down the funeral path, but it didn't do a lot of good. Everyone was out for themselves, too terrified and panicked to think reasonably. Well, everyone except for Lissa. To my surprise, she wasn't surprised. She had been expecting the explosion. She didn't run right away, despite people pushing past and shoving her aside. She stood rooted where she'd been when the statues blew up, studying them and the wreckage they'd caused. In particular, she seemed concerned about anyone in the crowd who might have been hurt by the blasts. But, no. As I'd already observed, there seemed to be no injuries. And if there were, it was going to be because of the stampede. Satisfied, Lissa turned and began walking away with the others. (Well, she was walking; they were running). She'd only gone a little distance when she saw a huge group of guardians hurrying toward the church, faces grim. Some of them stopped to aid those escaping the destruction, but most of the guardians were on their way to the blast site to see what had happened. Lissa paused again, causing the guy behind her to slam into her back, but she barely felt the impact. She intently watched the guardians, taking note of how many there were, and then moved on once more. Her hidden thoughts were starting to unravel. Finally, I began to see pieces of the plan she'd kept hidden from me. She was pleased. Nervous, too. But overall, she felt– A commotion back at the jail snapped me into my own mind. The usual quiet of the holding area had shattered and was now filled with grunts and exclamations. I leapt up from where I'd been sitting and pressed against the bars, straining to see what was happening. Was this building about to explode too? My cell only faced a wall in the hallway, with no view of the rest of the corridor or its entrance. I did, however, see the guardians who usually stood at the hall's far end come tearing past me, toward whatever altercation was occurring. I didn't know what this meant for me and braced for anything, friend or foe. For all I knew, there could be some political fringe group launching attacks on the Court to make a statement against the Moroi government. Peering around the cell, I swore silently, wishing I had anything to defend myself. The closest I had was Abe's book, which was no good at all. If he was the badass he pretended to be, he really would have slipped a file into it. Or gotten me something bigger, like War and Peace. The scuffling died down and footsteps thundered toward me. Clenching my fists, I took a few steps back, ready to defend myself against anyone. â€Å"Anyone' turned out to be Eddie Castile. And Mikhail Tanner. Friendly faces were not what I had expected. Eddie was a longtime friend from St. Vladimir's, another new guardian like me and someone who'd stuck by me through a lot of misadventures, including the Victor Dashkov prison break. Mikhail was older than us, mid-twenties, and had helped us restore Dimitri in the hopes that Sonya Karp–a woman Mikhail had loved who had turned Strigoi–might be saved as well. I glanced back and forth between the two guys' faces. â€Å"What's going on?' I demanded. â€Å"Nice to see you too,' said Eddie. He was sweating and keyed up with battle fervor, a few purple marks on his face showing he'd met someone's fist tonight. In his hand was a weapon I'd seen in the guardians' arsenal: a baton-type thing used to incapacitate people without killing them. But Mikhail held something much more valuable: the keycard and mechanical key to open my cell. My friends were staging a prison break. Unbelievable. Crazy was usually my specialty. â€Å"Did you guys †¦' I frowned. The thought of escape filled me with joy, but the logistics were sobering. Clearly, they'd been responsible for the fight with my guards that I'd just heard. Getting down here in the first place wasn't that easy either. â€Å"Did you two just take on every guardian in this building?' Mikhail finished unlocking the door, and I didn't waste any time in hurrying out. After feeling so oppressed and smothered for days, it was like stepping onto a mountain ledge, wind and space all around me. â€Å"Rose, there are no guardians in this building. Well, maybe one. And these guys.' Eddie gestured in the direction of the earlier fight, where I assumed my guards lay unconscious. Surely my friends hadn't killed anyone. â€Å"The rest of the guardians are all checking out the explosion,' I realized. Pieces began coming together–including Lissa's lack of surprise over the commotion. â€Å"Oh no. You had Christian blow up ancient Moroi artifacts.' â€Å"Of course not,' said Eddie. He seemed shocked that I would have suggested such an atrocity. â€Å"Other fire users would be able to tell if he did.' â€Å"Well, that's something,' I said. I should have had more faith in their sanity. Or maybe not. â€Å"We used C4,' explained Mikhail. â€Å"Where on earth did you–‘ My tongue locked up when I saw who was standing at the end of the hallway. Dimitri. Not knowing how he was during my imprisonment had been frustrating. Christian and Tasha's report had been only a tease. Well, here was the answer. Dimitri stood near the hall's entrance in all his six-foot-seven glory, as imperious and intimidating as any god. His sharp brown eyes assessed everything in an instant, and his strong, lean body was tensed and ready for any threat. The look on his face was so focused, so filled with passion, that I couldn't believe anyone ever could have thought he was a Strigoi. Dimitri burned with life and energy. In fact, looking at him now, I was again reminded of how he'd stood up for me at my arrest. He wore that same expression. Really, it was the same one I'd seen countless times. It was the one people feared and admired. It was the one I had loved. â€Å"You're here too?' I tried reminding myself that my muddled romantic history wasn't the most important thing in the world for a change. â€Å"Aren't you under house arrest?' â€Å"He escaped,' said Eddie slyly. I caught the real meaning: he and Mikhail had helped Dimitri escape. â€Å"It's what people would expect some violent probably-still-a- Strigoi guy to do, right?' â€Å"You'd also expect him to come bust you out,' added Mikhail, playing along with the game. â€Å"Especially considering how he fought for you last week. Really, everyone is going to think he busted you out alone. Not with us.' Dimitri said nothing. His eyes, while still carefully watching our surroundings, were also assessing me. He was making sure I was okay and uninjured. He looked relieved that I was. â€Å"Come on,' Dimitri finally said. â€Å"We don't have much time.' That was an understatement, but there was one thing bugging me about my friends' â€Å"brilliant' plan. â€Å"There's no way they'll think he did it alone!' I exclaimed, realizing what Mikhail was getting at. They were setting Dimitri up as the culprit in this escape. I gestured to the unconscious guardians at our feet. â€Å"They saw your faces.' â€Å"Not really,' a new voice said. â€Å"Not after a little spirit-induced amnesia. By the time they wake up, the only person they'll remember seeing will be that unstable Russian guy. No offense.' â€Å"None taken,' said Dimitri, as Adrian stepped through the doorway. I stared, trying not to gape. There they were together, the two men in my life. Adrian hardly looked like he could jump into a fistfight, but he was as alert and serious as the other fighters here. His lovely eyes were clear and full of the cunning I knew they could possess when he really tried. That's when it hit me: he showed no sign of intoxication whatsoever. Had what I'd seen the other day been a ruse? Or had he forced himself to take control? Either way, I felt a slow grin creeping over my face. â€Å"Lissa lied to your mom earlier,' I said. â€Å"You're supposed to be passed out drunk somewhere.' He rewarded me with one of his cynical smiles. â€Å"Well, yes, that would probably be the smarter–and more enjoyable–thing to be doing right now. And hopefully, that's what everyone thinks I'm doing.' â€Å"We need to go,' said Dimitri, growing agitated. We turned toward him. Our jokes vanished. That attitude I'd noticed about Dimitri, the one that said he could do anything and would always lead you to victory, made people want to follow him unconditionally. The expressions on Mikhail and Eddie's faces–as they grew serious–showed that was exactly how they felt. It seemed natural to me too. Even Adrian looked like he believed in Dimitri, and in that moment, I admired Adrian for putting aside any jealousy–and also for risking himself like this. Especially since Adrian had made it clear on more than one occasion he didn't want to be involved with any dangerous adventures or use his spirit in a covert way. In Las Vegas, for example, he'd simply accompanied us in an observer's role. Of course, he'd also been drunk most of the time, but that probably made no difference. I took a few steps forward, but Adrian suddenly held out a hand to stop me. â€Å"Wait– before you go with us, you need to know something.' Dimitri started to protest, eyes glinting with impatience. â€Å"She does,' argued Adrian, meeting Dimitri's gaze squarely. â€Å"Rose, if you escape †¦ you're more or less confirming your guilt. You'll be a fugitive. If the guardians find you, they aren't going to need a trial or sentence to kill you on sight.' Four sets of eyes rested on me as the full meaning sank in. If I ran now and was caught, I was dead for sure. If I stayed, I had the slim chance that in my short time before trial, we might find evidence to save me. It wasn't impossible. But if nothing turned up, I was also most certainly dead. Either option was a gamble. Either one had the strong possibility of me not surviving. Adrian looked as conflicted as I felt. We both knew I didn't have any good choices. He was simply worried and wanted me to know what I was risking. Dimitri, however †¦ for him, there was no debate. I could see it all over his face. He was an advocate of rules and doing the proper thing. But in this case? With such bad odds? It was better to risk living as a fugitive, and if death came, better to face it fighting. My death will not be penciled in on someone's calendar. â€Å"Let's go,' I said. We hurried out of the building, anxious to get moving with the plan. I couldn't help but comment to Adrian, â€Å"You've got to be using a lot of spirit to pull off all those illusions on the guards.' â€Å"I am,' he agreed. â€Å"And I don't really have the power to do it for very long. Lissa could probably make a dozen guardians think they'd seen ghosts. Me? I can barely make a few forget Eddie and Mikhail. That's why there had to be someone they remembered to attract the attention, and Dimitri's the ideal scapegoat.' â€Å"Well, thank you.' I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. As warmth flowed between us, I didn't bother telling him I was a long way from being free yet. It would diminish his heroics. We had a lot of obstacles ahead, but I still appreciated him stepping up like this and respecting my decision to go along with the escape plan. Adrian shot me a sidelong glance. â€Å"Yeah, well, I'm supposed to be crazy, right?' A flash of affection shone in his eyes. â€Å"And there isn't much I wouldn't do for you. The stupider, the better.' We emerged to the main floor, and I saw that Eddie had been right about guardian security. The halls and rooms were virtually deserted. Without a second glance, we hurried outdoors, and the fresh air seemed to renew my energy. â€Å"Now what?' I asked my rescuers. â€Å"Now we take you to the getaway car,' said Eddie. The garages weren't far, but they weren't close either. â€Å"That's a lot of open ground to cover,' I said. I didn't bring up the obvious problem: me being killed if spotted. â€Å"I'm using spirit to keep us all vague and nondescript,' said Adrian. More testing of his magic. He couldn't handle much more. â€Å"People won't recognize us unless they stop and stare directly at us.' â€Å"Which they probably won't,' said Mikhail. â€Å"If anyone even notices us at all. Everyone's too worried about themselves to pay much attention to others in all this chaos.' Looking around outside, I could see he was right. The jail building was far from the church, but by now, people who'd been near the blast had made their way to this part of Court. Some were running into their residences. Some were seeking guardians, hoping for protection. And some †¦ some were going the same direction we were, toward the garages. â€Å"People are freaked out enough to actually try to leave Court,' I realized. Our group was moving as fast as we could with Adrian, who wasn't in the shame shape as dhampirs. â€Å"The garages will be crowded.' Both official Court vehicles and visiting guests parked in the same area. â€Å"That could help us,' said Mikhail. â€Å"More chaos.' With so many distractions in my own reality, I couldn't plunge completely into Lissa's. A light brush of the bond found her safe, over in the palace. â€Å"What's Lissa doing during all of this?' I asked. Believe me, I was glad she wasn't involved with this busting-me-out-of-jail madness. But, as Adrian had noted, her ability with spirit could have gone much farther than his here. And now, looking back on it all, it was obvious she had known about this plan. That had been her secret. â€Å"Lissa needs to stay innocent. She can't be linked to any part of the escape or explosion,' replied Dimitri, eyes fixed ahead on his goal. His tone was firm. He still regarded her as his savior. â€Å"She has to keep herself visible with the other royals. So does Christian.' He almost smiled. Almost. â€Å"Those two would certainly be my first suspects if something exploded.' â€Å"But the guardians won't suspect them once they realize the blast wasn't caused by magic,' I mused. Mikhail's earlier words returned to me. â€Å"And hey, where did you guys get a hold of C4? Military grade explosives are kind of extreme, even for you.' No one answered me because three guardians suddenly leapt out into our path. Apparently, they weren't all out at the church. Dimitri and I surged ahead of our group, moving as one, just as we always had in battle together. Adrian had said the illusion he'd stretched over our group wouldn't hold if anyone was facing us directly. I wanted to make sure Dimitri and I were the first line of contact with these guardians, in the hopes they wouldn't recognize the others behind us. I threw myself into the fight without hesitation, defensive instincts kicking in. But in those milliseconds, the reality of what I was doing truly sank in. I'd fought guardians before and always felt guilty about it. I'd taken on the ones at Tarasov Prison, as well as the queen's guard during my arrest. I hadn't really known any of them, though. Just realizing they were my colleagues had been bad enough †¦ but now? Now I was facing one of the most difficult challenges in my life, as small as it seemed. After all, three guardians were an easy match for me and Dimitri. The problem was–I knew these guardians. Two of them I'd run into quite a bit after graduation. They worked at Court and had always been kind to me. The third guardian wasn't just someone I knew–she was a friend. Meredith, one of the few girls in my class at St. Vladimir's. I saw the flash of uneasiness in her eyes, a sentiment mirroring my own. This felt wrong to her too. But, she was a guardian now, and like me, she had had duty drilled into her throughout her life. She believed I was a criminal. She could see I was free and in attack mode. Procedure dictated she take me down, and honestly, I wouldn't have expected anything less. It's what I would have done had our roles been reversed. This was life and death. Dimitri was on the other two guys, as fast and badass as ever. Meredith and I went for each other. At first, she tried to knock me down by virtue of her weight, probably in the hopes of pinning me down until backup could help grab me. Only, I was stronger. She should have known that. How many times had we sparred in the school's gym? I'd almost always won. And this was no game, no practice drill. I pushed back at her attack, punching her on the side of her jaw and desperately praying I didn't break anything. She kept moving through the pain, but–again–I was superior. I caught a hold of her shoulders and threw her down. Her head hit hard, but she remained conscious. I didn't know whether to be grateful or not. Maintaining my grip, I put her in a chokehold, waiting until her eyes closed. I released as soon as I was sure she was out, my heart twisting in my chest. Glancing over, I saw Dimitri had also taken down his opponents. Our group kept moving as though nothing had happened, but I glanced at Eddie, knowing there was grief on my face. He looked pained too but sought to reassure me as we hurried along. â€Å"You did what you had to,' he said. â€Å"She'll be okay. Banged up, but okay.' â€Å"I hit her hard.' â€Å"The medics can deal with concussions. Hell, how many did we get in practice?' I hoped he was right. The lines between right and wrong were getting confusing. The one good thing, I supposed, was that Meredith had been so occupied by the sight of me that she probably hadn't noticed Eddie and the others. They'd held back from the fight, hopefully keeping on Adrian's veil of spirit while Dimitri and I took the attention. We finally reached the garages, which were indeed more crowded than usual. Some Moroi had already driven off. One royal was hysterical because her driver had her car's keys, and she didn't know where he was. She was shouting to passers-by to see if anyone could hotwire the car for her. Dimitri led us purposefully forward, never wavering. He knew exactly where we were going. There had been a lot of planning, I realized. Most of which had probably happened yesterday. Why had Lissa obscured it from me? Wouldn't it have been better for me to have a heads-up on the plan? We scurried through the people, heading toward the garage on the very farthest side. There, sitting just outside of it and seemingly ready to go, was a drab gray Honda Civic. A man stood near it, arms crossed as he examined the windshield. Hearing our approach, he turned around. â€Å"Abe!' I exclaimed. My illustrious father turned and gave me one of those charming smiles that could lure the unwary to their doom. â€Å"What are you doing here?' demanded Dimitri. â€Å"You'll be on the list of suspects too! You were supposed to stay back with the others.' Abe shrugged. He looked remarkably unconcerned at Dimitri's angry expression. I wouldn't have wanted that fury directed at me. â€Å"Vasilisa will make sure a few people at the palace swear they saw me there during suspicious times.' He turned his dark eyes toward me. â€Å"Besides, I couldn't leave without telling you goodbye, could I?' I shook my head in exasperation. â€Å"Was this all part of your plan as my lawyer? I don't recall explosive escapes being part of legal training.' â€Å"Well, I'm sure it wasn't part of Damon Tarus's legal training.' Abe's smile never wavered. â€Å"I told you, Rose. You will never face execution–or even a trial, if I can help it.' He paused. â€Å"Which, of course, I can.' I hesitated, glancing toward the car. Dimitri stood by it with a set of keys, looking impatient. Adrian's words echoed in my memory. â€Å"If I run, it's just going to make me seem that much more guilty.' â€Å"They already think you're guilty,' said Abe. â€Å"You wasting away in that cell won't change that. This just ensures we now have more time to do what we need to without your execution looming over us.' â€Å"And what are you going to do exactly?' â€Å"Prove you're innocent,' said Adrian. â€Å"Or, well, that you didn't kill my aunt. I've known for a while you aren't all that innocent.' â€Å"What, are you guys going to destroy the evidence?' I asked, ignoring the dig. â€Å"No,' said Eddie. â€Å"We have to find who really did kill her.' â€Å"You guys shouldn't be involved with that, now that I'm free. It's my problem. Isn't that why you got me out?' â€Å"It's a problem you can't solve while you're at Court,' said Abe. â€Å"We need you gone and safe.' â€Å"Yeah, but I–‘ â€Å"We're wasting time arguing,' said Dimitri. His gaze fell on the other garages. The crowds were still chaotic, too busy with their own fears to notice us yet. That didn't affect Dimitri's concern. He handed me a silver stake, and I didn't question the reasons. It was a weapon, something I couldn't turn down. â€Å"I know everything looks disorganized, but you'll be amazed at how quickly the guardians will restore order. And when they do, they're going to lock this place down.' â€Å"They don't need to,' I said slowly, my mind spinning. â€Å"We're already going to have trouble going out of Court. We'll be stopped–if we can even get to the gate. There are going to be cars lined up for miles!' â€Å"Ah, well,' said Abe, idly studying his fingertips. â€Å"I have it on good authority there's going to be a new â€Å"gate' opening up soon over on the south side of the wall.' The truth dawned on me. â€Å"Oh lord. You're the one who's been doling out C4.' â€Å"You make it sound so easy,' he said with a frown. â€Å"That stuff's hard to get a hold of.' Dimitri's patience was at an end. â€Å"All of you: Rose needs to leave now. She's in danger. I'll drag her out if I have to.' â€Å"You don't have to go with me,' I shot back, kind of offended at the presumption. Memories of our recent arguments emerged, of Dimitri saying he couldn't love me and didn't even want to be friends. â€Å"I'll take care of myself. No one else needs to get in trouble. Give me the keys.' Instead, Dimitri gave me one of those rueful looks that said he thought I was being utterly ridiculous. We could have been back in class at St. Vladimir's Academy. â€Å"Rose, I can't really get in any more trouble. Someone has to be responsible for helping you, and I'm the best choice.' I wasn't so sure of that. If Tatiana really had made progress in convincing people Dimitri wasn't a threat, this escapade would ruin it all. â€Å"Go,' said Eddie, surprising me with a quick hug. â€Å"We'll be in touch through Lissa.' I realized then that I was fighting a losing battle with this group. It really was time to leave. I hugged Mikhail too, murmuring in his ear, â€Å"Thank you. Thank you so much for your help. I swear, we'll find her. We'll find Sonya.' He gave me that sad smile of his and didn't reply. Adrian was the hardest to leave behind. I could tell it was difficult for him too, no matter how relaxed his grin seemed. He couldn't be happy about me going off with Dimitri. Our hug lasted a little bit longer than the others, and he gave me a soft, brief kiss on the lips. I almost felt like crying after how brave he'd been tonight. I wished he could go with me but knew he'd be safer here. â€Å"Adrian, thank you for–‘ He held up his hand. â€Å"It's not goodbye, little dhampir. I'll see you in your dreams.' â€Å"If you stay sober enough.' He winked. â€Å"For you I just might.' A loud booming noise interrupted us, and we saw a flash of light off to my right. People near the other garages screamed. â€Å"There, you see?' asked Abe, quite pleased with himself. â€Å"A new gate. Perfect timing.' I gave him a reluctant hug too and was surprised when he didn't pull back right away. He smiled at me †¦ fondly. â€Å"Ah, my daughter,' he said. â€Å"Eighteen, and already you've been accused of murder, aided felons, and acquired a death count higher than most guardians will ever see.' He paused. â€Å"I couldn't be prouder.' I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Goodbye, old man. And thanks.' I didn't bother asking him about the â€Å"felons' part. Abe wasn't stupid. After I'd asked him about a prison that had later been breeched, he'd probably figured out who was behind Victor Dashkov's escape. And like that, Dimitri and I were in the car, speeding off toward Abe's â€Å"new gate.' I regretted not being able to say goodbye to Lissa. We were never truly apart with the bond, but it couldn't take the place of face-to-face communication. Still, it was worth it to know she would be safe and free of any connection to my escape. I hoped. Like always, Dimitri drove, which I still thought was totally unfair. It had been one thing when I was his student, but now? Wouldn't he ever give up that wheel? This didn't seem like the time to discuss it, though–particularly since I didn't plan on us staying together much longer. A few people had come out to see where the wall had blown up, but no one official had surfaced yet. Dimitri raced through the gap as impressively as Eddie had when he'd driven through Tarasov Prison's gate, only the Civic didn't handle the bumpy, grassy terrain as well as the SUV in Alaska. The problem with making your own exit was that it didn't come with an actual road. Even that was beyond Abe. â€Å"Why is our getaway car a Civic?' I asked. â€Å"It's not really great for off-roading.' Dimitri didn't look at me but continued navigating over the rough ground toward a more drivable area. â€Å"Because Civics are one of the most common cars out there and don't attract attention. And this should be the only off-roading we do. Once we hit a freeway, we're putting as much distance between us and Court as we can–before abandoning the car, of course.' â€Å"Abandon–‘ I shook my head, letting it go. We reached a dirt road that felt like the smoothest surface on earth after that jolting start. â€Å"Look, now that we're out of there, I want you to know that I mean it: you don't have to come with me. I appreciate your help in the escape. Really. But hanging out with me won't do you any favors. They'll be hunting for me more than you. If you take off, you can live somewhere around humans and not be treated like a lab animal. You might even be able to slink back to Court. Tasha would put up a fight for you.' Dimitri didn't answer for a long time. It drove me crazy. I wasn't the kind of person who handled silence well. It made me want to chatter and fill the void. Plus, the longer I sat there, the more it hit me that I was alone with Dimitri. Like, really and truly alone for the first time since he'd become a dhampir. I felt like a fool, but in spite of the dangers we still risked †¦ well, I was still overwhelmed by him. There was something so powerful about his presence. Even when he made me angry, I still found him attractive. Maybe the adrenaline pounding through me was addling my brain. Whatever it was, I was consumed by more than just his physical aspects–though they were certainly distracting. The hair, the face, his closeness to me, his scent †¦ I felt it all, and it made my blood burn. But the inner Dimitri–the Dimitri who'd just led a small army through a prison break–captivated me just as much. It took me a moment to realize why this was so powerful: I was seeing the old Dimitri again, the one I'd worried was gone forever. He wasn't. He was back. At long last, Dimitri replied, â€Å"I'm not leaving you. None of your Rose-logic arguments are going to work. And if you try to get away from me, I'll just find you.' I didn't doubt he could, which just made the situation more confusing. â€Å"But why? I don't want you with me.' I still felt a lingering attraction for him, yes, but that didn't change the fact that he had hurt me in breaking things off between us. He had rejected me, and I needed to harden my heart, particularly if I wanted to move on with Adrian. Clearing my name and leading a normal life seemed far away right now, but if it happened, I wanted to be able to return to Adrian with open arms. â€Å"It doesn't matter what you want,' he said. â€Å"Or what I want.' Ouch. â€Å"Lissa asked me to protect you.' â€Å"Hey, I don't need anyone to–‘ â€Å"And,' he continued, â€Å"I meant what I said to her. I swore I'd serve her and help her for the rest of my life, anything she asks. If she wants me to be your bodyguard, then that's what I'll be.' He gave me a dangerous look. â€Å"There's no way you're getting rid of me anytime soon.'